i'm stirring awake a fury

[adulte]

[continuation of this au.]


[The treasure hunters had deserved it. They'd been drunk, and loud, and causing trouble, enough trouble that a bystander had already run off to get the guards. They really were the perfect target for Childe, because fighting them in no way broke his promise to his master. He'd just walked up, said a few words, and they'd taken it as a challenge, so he'd had every right to retalite and beat the crap out of all of them.

Except of course that slaves don't have any rights. He'd been careful not to kill them, careful not to cause any property damage, and when the guards arrived he'd immediately thrown aside the weapons he'd taken off the treasure hunters and surrendered. But the guards, unfortunately, had recognized Childe as a slave. And they'd immediately decided he was the problem. After all, he shouldn't be out in the middle of the night without a good reason, he shouldn't be fighting, and he shouldn't have any weapons at all unless his master is there to grant persmission.

Which is why Childe is the one who's spent a night in a cell. He's the one chained uncomfortably to a wall, hands behind his back, barely able to move. He got a few extra bruises from the guards before they realized he wasn't resisting, and then they'd dragged him here, while the treasure hunters had been allowed to leave. He's thinking, at this point, that he really should have just beat up the guards as well if they were going to be that stupid, except that he'd promised his master. And he does keep his promises.

At the very least they'd agreed not to tell his master until morning. Childe had promised not to inconvenience him, too, and being woken up in the middle of the night would most likely count. He's been meditating since they chained him up there, eyes closed, his mind elsewhere, only distantly aware of the pain and discomfort his body is in. He doesn't mind waiting like this.]

Comments

[xiansheng]

[Zhongli is awoken with unpleasant news. Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised, but hearing that his slave--Childe--is in custody and has been for the duration of the night is none too pleasing. The agreement he'd made was that Childe could fight as long as it didn't inconvenience him, and this is most inconvenient.

He sets out after his morning tea, because admittedly Zhongli is slightly worried at what the guards might do to a slave unauthorized to be out at night. He certainly hadn't given Childe permission, nor had he been asked. So what had he been doing out there? Breaking the agreement between them? A sigh of frustration, as Zhongli is greeted and taken right away to the cell they've thrown Childe into.

At least he looks more or less in one piece, chained though he is. It doesn't seem like he's fighting to get out, either, which alleviates Zhongli's irritation a bit. He'd meant to ask the guards what exactly had happened, but he knows they wouldn't have cared enough to get the story--they'd likely seen the aftermath, or the fight itself, the slave outside at night, and now here he is.]

Childe.

[Zhongli waits as the cell door is unlocked; the guards seem at the ready, as though Childe might attack him. Even were that the case--and it doesn't seem so, with how calm Childe appears--Zhongli is perfectly capable of defending himself. And he's sure if Childe had wanted to fight, there would have been far more for him to deal with.]

[adulte]

[Childe's eyes open when he hears his master's voice, immediately focusing on him while ignoring the guards, even as they come into the cell to release him. He wonders if his master is angry. No, he wonders just how angry he is, and if he's disappointed as well. He shouldn't be, Childe thinks. He knew what kind of slave he was buying.]

Good morning.

[He smiles as he says it, like nothing is wrong at all. Behind him a guard is unlocking his chains from the wall, but not from his ankles or wrist, meaning he can stand up and walk, but barely. He does it anyway, chains clinking as he gets to his feet, taking a few steps towards his master before stopping again.

Another guard gives Zhongli the key to the chains, apparently deciding it's his responsibility and his problem if Childe attacks. But Childe won't attack.]

I hope they didn't wake you. I really tried to avoid inconveniencing you.

[xiansheng]

[Zhongli isn't angry. Disappointed, maybe, but they haven't known each other for all that long, so disobedience isn't unexpected. It's simply something he'll have to correct, and at least Childe hasn't done anything worse. Nobody died, or he'd have heard about it.

He accepts the key given to him, but doesn't yet move to unlock the chains. The guards may stay or leave; he doesn't really care if they hear his business. At Childe's comment, Zhongli's brow lifts, as though he doesn't quite believe that there was an attempt to not inconvenience him.]

You were out at night. Surely you didn't think you wouldn't be caught.

[The fighting... they will discuss that too, of course. But Childe hadn't asked to leave, which means he'd sneaked out, and while Zhongli doesn't particularly care if he has business to attend to then--this certainly is an inconvenience. He ought to have asked and gotten permission, and then they might not be in this situation.

Ah- No, they probably still would be.]

Why were you fighting?

[He doesn't really need to ask; it's within his right to punish Childe however he sees fit. But for Zhongli, the punishment really must fit the crime, and he's unsure of how much Childe broke the rules.]

[adulte]

[He hadn't thought he'd be caught. He's pretty good at getting around unnoticed, and he'd figured he'd be able to sneak back in while everyone was still asleep. If he hadn't picked that fight, and if the guards hadn't turned up when they did, he would have been able to get away with it. He won't say that, though. He just broadens his smile a little.

The chains are heavy and uncomfortable around his wrists, but he won't say anything.]

They attacked me.

[It's the truth, though Childe had known they would when he approached them. He can always recognize the type.]

They were drunk, and causing trouble. They were scaring some people.

[Also the truth. He's not expecting to be believed, though - he knows the guards don't believe him - but he'll still state the facts. He doesn't shy away from it when he knows he's guilty.]

[xiansheng]

[Perhaps he shouldn't, but Zhongli does believe Childe. He'd been straightforward talking about his previous master, and has so far never tried to hide anything. He regards Childe silently, before stepping forward and unlocking the chains on his wrists.]

I believe the agreement was that you wouldn't cause me any inconvenience.

[Still, if it's true that they attacked Childe, it is within the bounds of what he'd allowed, and if they were scaring people, then perhaps there had been a good reason for Childe to pick a fight. But surely there was some other way to settle things...

But that isn't really the issue here. Zhongli now has to deal with whoever Childe had offended, though he'll hardly apologize unless his slave was in the wrong. He has never liked bullies.]

You still snuck out at night, without permission.

[This really must be an absurd sight to the guards--Zhongli having a civil conversation with his jailed slave rather than beating some sense into him right there.]

[adulte]

[The guards are watching Childe warily, ready to move if he attacks, but all he does when the chains come off is absently rub at his wrists. They'd been a little bit too tight, but he doesn't really mind, and he's doing it more because he hates standing still than because of any pain. Though he does also want to make sure to restore any circulation, because his main focus is always to be ready to fight.

Which is why beating some sense into him has never had any effect.]

I did. And I got caught by the guards.

[Which was inconvenient for his master. He knows he should probably apologize, but he's never been the type to grovel, and he wants to wait until he knows what Zhongli plans to do next.]

I told them to wait until morning to contact you, so you could sleep.

[As if that really makes it any better.]

[xiansheng]

[Something about that is... vaguely amusing. As though waking Zhongli would be more of an inconvenience than having to collect a wayward slave whom he had specifically instructed not to trouble him.]

When I told you I didn't mind you fighting, I did not intend for you to fight whoever you please whenever you please.

[Childe knows he's not meant to be out at night. He also knows that fighting will get him into trouble. Zhongli hadn't expected to run into it so soon, but he supposes he ought to have taken the rumors seriously--that Childe really will fight whatever he can.]

Explain the situation.

[ He doesn't yet remove the chains around his ankles. Zhongli's displeasure hinges on whether or not the fighting was justified, but the fact of the matter is that Childe still inconvenienced him, and there will likely be someone Zhongli has to apologize to.]

[adulte]

[His master doesn't seem to be accusing him of lying yet. That's an unexpected surprise, but he does appreciate it, even if he's not sure if it will last. After this, the guards will give their version, or maybe one of those treasure hunters will actually come in to complain about him and demand compensation, and that's the story everyone will accept as truth.

But Childe is truthful. He always has been.][He shrugs a little, looks at Zhongli with wide eyes, like this is all reasonable and natural and fine.]

When the guards showed up, I threw aside my new weapons and surrendered. They let those people go, and brought me here.

[Childe doesn't care that they also hurt him. Sure, he hadn't deserved it (in his opinion), but he craves all forms of violence, even if it's aimed at him.]

[xiansheng]

[It’s true that Zhongli had not been told that Childe had injured any guards — Zhongli is sure that if such a thing had happened, he’d have heard about it immediately. Fighting is one thing; attacking guards is entirely another, and while Childe has clearly been injured, he’s still able to stand and talk, another sign of him not having put up a fight.

He’ll accept this for now; Zhongli has never particularly enjoyed interacting with guards.]

We’ll discuss this further at home. [He motions Childe to stay still, crouching to unlock the chains around his ankles. It’s clear they were a bit too tight.

Handing the key to one of the guards, he offers an apologetic bow.]

Please send any requests for compensation to my home. [If the claim is with merit, then absolutely he’ll pay it. If not… they can discuss that later.] Come then, Childe. There’s no reason to stay longer.

[adulte]

[Once he's been freed and Zhongli has moved back again, Childe does a little hop, landing on one foot then the other, like he's excited to finally be free again, or he's making sure his feet still work. The guards look a little nervous at the sudden movement. That's a bonus, really. And there's that tingly sensation of blood rushing back to his feet, but he'll ignore it, push through it and simply stretch his whole body for a second.]

I'm guessing they already told you their side?

[Meaning the guards, of course, though they came in late enough that Childe doesn't think their side should hold any weight at all. He knows it does, though, and some frustration is definitely slipping into his voice at that. But he'll still wave at the guards as he starts walking after his master. It's only polite to say goodbye.]

I told the truth.

[Once it's just the two of them.]

[xiansheng]

[There will definitely be gossip about this, but Zhongli already has plenty of gossip about him floating around and never pays it any mind. Or perhaps half the time he doesn’t notice. He’s more than ready to return home, to get back to his business and his routine and the things he needs to do before all of it was rudely interrupted by Childe’s antics. And yes, he’s a little annoyed about that, but the fact remains that Childe may not have actually broken any given rules. And that is a failing that would be Zhongli’s fault.

The morning sun is soft as they step out into it.]

They did tell me their side. Now the matter to contend with is: who am I to believe?

[Zhongli turns to Childe, a serious look on his face.]

You left at night, which you are not supposed to do. When I said I’d permit you to fight, I meant during reasonable hours, and this is an inconvenience.

[adulte]

[Childe allows himself to catch up, because it's awkward having a conversation if he's walking two steps behind, like he probably should. Zhongli would just be stuck turning his head back to look at him, and Childe would struggle to actually catch his words. He'll fall behind again if they stop talking, or if his master demands it, though one thing he's learned about his master already is that he doesn't care much about common rules like that.

And he'd expected this. To defend himself against the guards' story.]

I know I broke those rules. I tried to avoid inconveniencing you, but just trying doesn't mean much.

[He's not really sorry for having snuck out, or for getting in a fight. But now that they're away from the guards, and he's no longer putting on an act for them... He realizes that he doesn't like that his new master is upset.

He likes to keep his promises. It's why he should know better than to make them.]

tags back a thousand years later

[xiansheng]

[Zhongli doesn't particularly care if Childe walks close to him; in his opinion, two steps behind is inconvenient, and when he has somewhere to be, he is a fast walker. On other days, during meandering walks around the city, he is far too slow. Right now, it's somewhere in between.]

You're smart. [It's not necessarily a compliment, but an observation.] Surely you can find better ways to keep yourself out of trouble.

[Quite honestly... the inconvenience in itself is not terribly troublesome. It's the broken promise that needles Zhongli. Not because Childe is his, though he is; it's because Zhongli expects anyone who makes an agreement or deal with him to hold their end of the bargain. He would expect the same from a wealthy acquaintance, or a business partner.]

its fine im the original thread dropper in this au

[adulte]

[Childe has no problems keeping up either way. He prefers fast walks to slow ones, but now, considering how serious the conversation is, this pace makes it easier to focus on talking.

Though he knows he's about to disappoint his master.]

I'm afraid I'll never be able to stay out of trouble. Didn't they warn you when you bought me?

[He knows they did. But Childe did promise not to cause any inconvenience for Zhongli, so the issue really is how to get himself into trouble - into fights - without that trouble ever reaching his master.]

But I'll be more careful next time. I did promise, so this won't happen again.

[Maybe if he makes sure to kill all witnesses next time.]

[xiansheng]

[They did warn him. It's not the trouble Childe gets himself into that is the issue, though; it's causing trouble for Zhongli that he dislikes. If he wants to fight and not leave any witnesses, it's fine.

But getting him out of jail? People will surely talk about this.]

It had best not happen again. I dislike broken promises.

[Rather, Zhongli simply can't tolerate them. He would rather not get his hands dirty with punishment, but... well.]

[adulte]

[Sometimes he's thought about running away. He probably wouldn't get far, even with his skills, but at least he could do what he wanted until he got caught. But Zhongli is a good Master so far... He likes him. He doesn't want to disappoint him.

No, he'll do better. He refuses to leave unfinished business, which means he has to make up for his broken promise first, and prove that he's a man of his word. He can't think about anything else until then.]

So what's my punishment?

[He's not really worried about punishments. No one has managed to make him care in the past, at least.]