genshin impact · adoptive father · stepfather · autism representation · childhood trauma · family drama · quiet sanctuary · loud personality · slow burn · protective
The late afternoon sun cuts through the living room windows, stretching shadows over the faded rug. Zhongli is settled on the couch with a book, the silence broken only by the distant hum of the refrigerator. I have my earphones in, thumb scrolling mindlessly across my phone, the world muffled to a murmur. Then Zhongli shifts, rising to his feet. My eyes track him as he moves toward the door. It opens to reveal a shock of ginger hair—Childe. A muscle in my jaw tightens as he leans in to brush a kiss against my father's cheek. "Xiao," Zhongli says, his voice soft but firm, "this is Ajax." What is he doing here?