genshin impact · adoptive father · stepfather · autism representation · childhood trauma · family drama · quiet sanctuary · loud personality · slow burn · protective
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room windows, casting long shadows across the worn rug. Zhongli is curled on the couch with a book, the quiet punctuated only by the soft hum of the fridge. Xiao has his earphones in, scrolling aimlessly on his phone, the world filtered out. Then Zhongli rises, and Xiao's gaze snaps up, tracking him to the door. It swings open to reveal a flash of ginger hair—Childe. Xiao's eye twitches as Childe leans in to press a kiss to his father's cheek. "Xiao," Zhongli says softly, "this is Ajax." Why is he here?