"I…love him." Zhongli blinked.

Tonia watched him curiously. "You didn't realize?"

"No." Zhongli placed a hand on his chest. "I…have never felt like this before. Not for anyone. But Childe…" He couldn't help but smile. "I love him. I love him."

"Are you and my brother going to get married?" Teucer, who apparently wasn't entirely following but at least understood what the word love meant, piped up.

Zhongli laughed. "No, we're not getting married."

"Yet," Tonia added slyly.

"Tonia!" Anthon's face was as red as if they were talking about his love life.

Zhongli tried to imagine it: being married to Childe. They already lived together. What would be so different?

Well…

Falling asleep next to Childe at night and waking up in his arms? That would become a daily occurrence. Perhaps Zhongli would get to cook for Childe, showing him his favorite regional dishes and teaching him to wield chopsticks. Perhaps Childe would cook for him in turn.

Zhongli would get to bring Childe back to his home in Liyue, teaching him about the culture and making him a true citizen of Zhongli's country. Their fingers would glitter with matching rings, a sweet reminder that they were each other's, then and forever.

Zhongli would get to kiss Childe. The phoenix to his dragon. They would be with each other always.

He wanted that. Zhongli was a little surprised at how much he wanted that.

"Just look at him! He's head-over-heels," Tonia whispered to her brother.

Zhongli cleared his throat. "Ajax and I cannot get married if we are not even partners yet," he explained to Teucer. "I cannot even be sure if he returns my feelings."

Tonia hummed thoughtfully. "I haven't seen my brother in almost a decade," she said, "so you probably know him better than I do at this point. But earlier, the way he looked at you…"

"You're all I've ever wanted."

"…I think you have a chance."

Zhongli laid a hand on her shoulder fondly. "Thank you, Miss Tonia. I do hope you are right."

Despite Childe's protests that it was much too cold, his siblings insisted on staying the night. Childe only conceded when Zhongli pointed out that it would be dark by the time they reached Morepesok anyway. The kids managed to all pile onto the bed together, and they were asleep in a matter of minutes, their energy completely drained from the day. Childe, too, went out like a light, snoring softly from where he lounged on an armchair.

Polina, on the other hand, looked like she had too much on her mind to sleep. "A penny for your thoughts?" Zhongli asked gently, crouching by her chair.

She looked tired. "I'm just thinking," she said. "About everything Ajax told me. It's…a lot to take in. All this about gods and the Abyss…" She sighed.

Zhongli nodded in understanding. "No child should have to experience what Ajax has. No parent should have to see their child go through it."

"Yes. It hurts me to see how much my children—all of them—have suffered because of all this, but at the same time, talking with Ajax earlier…" She looked thoughtful. "He has changed so much. He's grown. And not just anyone could have survived like he has, much less keep their character intact." She swallowed, voice growing thick with emotion. "I am so incredibly proud of him."

Zhongli's eyes flickered to Childe's sleeping form. "So am I," he said, "though I have known him for far less time. He's a wonderful man, and I am thankful we met…for his sake and my own."

Polina finally smiled. "I don't think I've ever seen him bond with a person so much. I could tell the moment I saw him look at you. I know we are just humble humans, but I hope he is as special to you as you are to him."

"You needn't worry about that," said Zhongli. "It is your humanity that makes you special—all of you, every single human in this world. But if I am being honest"—he laughed softly—"Ajax has enraptured me most of all."

Polina hugged him tightly, and eventually she, too, succumbed to sleep.

In the morning, Childe and Zhongli saw them off with heartfelt farewells, warm hugs, and multiple promises from Zhongli to come get them again when the time was right. With one last wave, they disappeared into the distance.

"I told you you had nothing to worry about," Zhongli said.

"Yeah, yeah." Childe shoved him playfully. "You were right."

Zhongli laughed. "You have such a lovely family," he said.

"I know," Childe said. "I'm…I'm really glad they took it well. One of the hardest things about all this has been wondering whether, if I ever got back to normal, I'd have a home to go back to. People to go back to. Sometimes, it made me wonder whether Skirk was right, and I should just give into the Abyss. Even if I hated it, it would at least always be there. But now, I know there's a life waiting for me on the other side of all this."

"And that life will be well-deserved," Zhongli said, taking his hand. "You've done well."

Childe smiled. "I'm going to leave Skirk and the Abyss the fuck behind."

They went below ground again, to the cave beneath the watchtower. Zhongli watched as Childe cast the collection of weapons there, one by one, into the sea.

"I remember the first time she taught me how to use a mace," Childe said, considering the weapon in his hands. "It was so heavy. I dropped it on my toes at least twice." Chuckling softly, he let go and watched it splash into the water.

"This was Skirk's favorite axe. Razor-sharp. She only took her sword with her when she left, though." He tossed it into the ocean a little more

"This bow! Oh my gods, it looks so tiny. I feel like I'm going to snap it. Did you know the bow is the only weapon I haven't yet mastered?"

The last weapon to go was the least impressive: a rusty shortsword. It looked dull and old, hardly usable in a fight. Childe held it almost nervously, like it could shock him at any moment. He sighed.

"This was my father's sword," he said. "Each day when I'd come home from working with Skirk, I still wanted to keep training. I was obsessed with it. So I'd take my father's sword to practice. I brought it here with the other weapons after everything went down."

He seemed hesitant. Zhongli put a hand on his forearm. "You don't have to get rid of it," he said. "It has history beyond Skirk. It is not wrong to want to keep a family treasure."

Childe gave the sword a bittersweet smile. "No, it's time for it to go. I've spent too long valuing weapons over my family." And into the sea it went, sinking deeper and deeper into the dark water until they could see it no more.

"I'm proud of you," said Zhongli.

"It's all thanks to you, really," said Childe. "All the progress I've made."

"You did the best you could for nine years with no support system," Zhongli pointed out. "I'd say you deserve some credit for that."

"I suppose." Childe leaned into him a little. "…Zhongli, could I ask you to do one more thing for me?"

"Of course you can."

Childe's eyes were bright with determination. "I want to close the door to the Abyss that's in Morepesok. I don't want this town to have anything to do with it ever again."

Zhongli was briefly surprised. "There is a rift here?"

"Yeah, how do you think she got in?" Childe said, but the tease was light. "Come on, I'll show you. It's deeper into the cave."

The tunnel they took was long, winding, and so dark that even Zhongli could barely see Childe in front of him.

"So when Skirk said she wanted you to embrace the Abyss, she meant it literally," Zhongli said as he followed him.

"Yes," said Childe. "Traveling to the Abyss would allow me to better harness its power—and, of course, allow it more control of my body." He paused. "Skirk…always looked like a normal woman. She seemed normal. She never even showed me any Abyssal powers, just instructed me on how to use them. She had total control over her body, and I don't understand how. I've been wondering about it for years."

"Hmm." Zhongli frowned. "Suspicious, but that is an issue for another day. Let us deal with this rift first."

Childe made a noise of agreement, nodding rather stiffly. "We're almost there."

Zhongli knew, of course. He could feel the nausea rolling in his gut.

Childe didn't seem to be having a great time, either, his muscles all tensed up. "I hate this place," he muttered. "I never come back here."

"It'll be alright," Zhongli murmured. "It will be gone soon."

Zhongli heard him take a shaky breath. "It's hard to be so close," he said. "I can feel it…pulling at me. It wants me back. It wants to undo everything we've done."

Zhongli grasped his hand to stop him in his tracks. Childe turned around, blinking. "What?"

"I will go on alone," Zhongli said. "I want you to stay here."

Childe's eyebrows furrowed. "But—"

Zhongli tightened his grip. "Please. I refuse to let it harm a single hair on your head."

Childe softened. "Zhongli, I'll be okay," he said, placing his other hand over Zhongli's. "I have you with me."

"I would feel better if you were away altogether," Zhongli said.

"I know," said Childe. "But I want to be there."

Zhongli dipped his head. "Alright," he conceded. "I won't stop you, but stay close."

"Will do," Childe whispered, squeezing his hand.

The cavern where the entrance to the Abyss lay was bigger than the weapons cave, and nearly all of it was overtaken by a gaping hole in the ground. It was pitch-black, too dark and too deep to see the bottom. A wave of dizziness hit Zhongli at full force, and he slammed his eyes shut, inhaling deeply through his nose. He reached out for Childe's hand again, intertwining their fingers.

Breathe, he told himself. He needed to tap into his power.

He opened his eyes to check on Childe. His gaze was fixed on the Abyss, eyes widened and pupils unnaturally dilated. The Abyssal energy left inside him was flaring up. Zhongli took hold of Childe's face, gently yet firmly, and turned his head away. Childe blinked in surprise.

"I want you to focus on me," Zhongli commanded. "Do not look away. Can you do that?"

Childe looked a little dazed, but nodded. "Y-yeah, I think so."

"Good," said Zhongli. "I am going to transform now."

The dragon morphed into existence, as big as Zhongli could make it while allowing for mobility in the cave. He crouched down to be eye-level with Childe.

"You are to stay here," he rumbled. "I will be between you and the Abyss at all times." Childe, looking slightly more alert now with the influx of Celestial energy, nodded once again.

Zhongli had never spoken to him so strictly before, save for the first time he asked about Ajax's fate. But he could not risk anything happening to Childe, not after all they had been through. He would go to the ends of the earth to prevent it.

A jade shield materialized around Childe's body. Zhongli doubted he would need protection from any physical attacks, but the extra Celestial energy couldn't hurt. And when he stood up, his body was thick and tall enough to block Childe's view of the Abyss. Hopefully that would at least do something.

Zhongli turned to train his eyes on the Abyss again. It is time to end this. His eyes flared with light, and a ring of golden glow surrounded the hole in the ground. Steadily, Zhongli began to pour his geo energy into its area, beginning with the outer edge. He would close it up.

His ear twitched suddenly—what was that chattering sound?

Out of the depths of the Abyss sprang five angry Abyss Mages. They must have noticed a disturbance from their side of the rift. A growl rising in his throat, he swung his tail at them, smashing them into the cavern wall with enough force to shatter their shields and leave them stunned—all but one, whose confidence drained in an instant and frantically scurried back into the rift.

It will likely bring reinforcements. That could become a nuisance.

"Were those Abyss Mages I heard?" asked Childe.

"Yes," said Zhongli. "Don't worry. They are easy to deal with."

"Damn. They were quick to take action."

"Indeed."

The Mage that had retreated had certainly deciphered what he was up to. The creatures of the Abyss did not want a seal placed over their door to Teyvat; they would do everything in their power to stop him. He had to be ready to fight, and he had to make as much progress as he could between waves.

Zhongli returned his focus to the rift. Constructed geo had begun to grow around the edge of the circle, shrinking its circumference. Perhaps a normal geo construct would have been shattered easily, but once he was finished, it would take an extremely powerful being to break his seal. He was no normal geo user.

However, it was still difficult to concentrate while under attack. The next soldiers the Abyss sent were more powerful: two Abyss Lectors, armed with the powers of electro and pyro respectively. Zhongli cursed under his breath.

"Morax," one of them said venomously. Its voice was deep and warped, a familiar sound.

"He's trying to close the gate," said the other. "Stop him!" Zhongli bared his teeth, prepared to defend himself. The pyro Lector brandished its catalyst, forming a shield of flame around itself. However, it did not cast a single attack before a large mass barrelled into it, hydro blades slicing into the shield with a burst of steam and a loud sizzling noise.

"Childe, stay back!" Zhongli said.

"It's okay, keep doing what you're doing!" Childe shoved the pyro Lector to the ground, continuing to hack away at its shield while nimbly dodging attacks from the electro Lector. "I can handle this."

"Childe—"

"Trust me!"

Zhongli lashed his tail anxiously, but knew that Childe would not be convinced. He did as Childe asked and tried to focus on closing the rift, banishing the Abyssal energy that had seeped through it and up into Teyvat back below the surface. The best way he could help Childe right now was to end this as quickly as possible.

As he worked, Childe fought. Zhongli had gone head-to-head with him many times, but had never had the pleasure of watching him from afar. Childe danced around his opponents, darting in for a few hard hits, then slipping away again out of their reach. He truly was skilled.

The pyro Lector roared in frustration as its shield crumbled away, and Zhongli could see the catlike grin that appeared on Childe's face before, quick as lightning, he fused his blades into a long, deadly spear, stabbing it down at the glowing orb in the center of the creature's chest.

The electro Lector made a noise of outrage as more steam erupted from its comrade, its pyro abilities snuffed out and drenched by the power of water. The pyro Lector groaned.

"This matter…requires a higher power," it gasped. "Send for the Master!" The electro one briefly hesitated, then zipped back into the Abyss.

"A higher power?" murmured Zhongli.

Childe barely seemed to notice, his talons gripping around the neck of the other Lector like an animal hunting its prey. He shivered—Zhongli could tell the close proximity to the Lector as well as the Abyss itself was intoxicating.

"Ajax," he said gently.

Childe's head snapped up sharply in surprise. He glanced up at Zhongli, and the wild look on his face softened. "I'm okay," he said.

Zhongli lowered his head to his level. "You are worrying me," he said softly.

Childe freed one of his hands, placing it on Zhongli's snout. "I'll be…"

The voice died from his throat as his head snapped back towards the rift, now almost half closed. He squinted at it in disbelief—then his jaw dropped. Zhongli followed his gaze.

The creature the electro Lector had brought back with it—the Master—was not a creature at all. It was a woman, scarred and dark-haired, gaze cold and dead as she surveyed the situation. A wicked-looking blade hung from each of her hips. She looked…familiar.

"Master Skirk?" Childe breathed.

Zhongli felt stunned.

Skirk's eyes widened subtly. "Childe. You're still alive?"

Childe faltered, his grip loosening. The pyro Lector wriggled away from him—rather ungracefully—and back to its fellow, both of them flanking Skirk from a short distance after a flick of her hand.

Skirk stared at the slowly closing rift. "What the hell are you trying to pull?"

"Master, I can explain," Childe said weakly.

"That was a rhetorical question. It's quite clear to me what's going on." She looked up at Zhongli, displeasure in her face. "You've become a pawn of the Seven. Tell me why. And tell me what they did to you." She frowned at his form, softer and more human than she must remember it.

Childe bristled slightly. "I'm not a pawn. We're equals."

"Equals with an archon?" Skirk said. "That's one I haven't heard before. The gods do not let anyone other than themselves stand on their level."

"I take that as an insult," Zhongli cut in, his voice filling the room, "not on my own behalf, but on behalf of Childe. He stands on the same level as I not because I allowed him to, but because he climbed here himself, long before I ever met him. He is a man who has my respect, and I will not have you insinuate otherwise."

"The great Geo Archon speaks," she said, monotone. "You respect him, yet you reject the parts of him you do not like? You exterminate the Abyss from his body, molding him into a creature of your own design rather than what he decided to be?"

"That is hypocritical," Zhongli countered. "Did you not attempt to mold him into the Abyssal warrior you desired?"

"It was his desire to learn from me."

"He was fourteen," Zhongli growled, "and you allowed him to make a life-changing alteration to his body such as that. Thank Celestia he was not destroyed completely and managed to retain his mind and sanity."

"You should not speak of things you have no knowledge of," Skirk said scathingly. "The Foul Legacy transformation does not affect the functionality of the mind."

"I beg to differ."

"Stop." Childe's voice was firm. "I chose this, Master. I asked him to make me human again."

Zhongli could see the message in his words. Childe was his own man now, uncoerced by the lull of the Abyss, brain matured and developed and fully in command of his own life.

"No one controls me," Childe said. "I make my own choices."

"So it was your own decision to waste your potential." Skirk quirked an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Easy." He shrugged. "By leading a human existence, maybe I'd be wasting my potential to be the strongest fighter I can be. But by joining you in the Abyss, I would be wasting my potential to live a full life, surrounded by people who love me." He cast a glance at Zhongli, the ghost of a smile flickering across his lips. "I had to sacrifice one, and for me, there was no choice."

Zhongli's heart swelled with pride in the young man.

"And you really believe he can fix you?" Skirk asked. "Look at you. He's had you for nearly a decade and barely managed to make a dent in your appearance."

Childe frowned. "…This is the product of a couple weeks' work. Morax and I only met a few months ago."

Skirk stared at him in disbelief. "Then what in the name of Teyvat have you been doing all these years?"

Childe shrugged half-heartedly. "Surviving."

Skirk looked bemused. "You really are one of a kind. Many students have refused to join me initially, but upon realizing they'll never fit into the human world again, they either came running or killed themselves in misery. None have decided to simply…exist, living in limbo between humanity and monstrosity. Were you seriously holding out hope that you could one day turn back? You had to have known that was a chance in a billion."

"I did know," Childe said. "In fact, I was sure it would never happen. But even if it was futile, I had to try, just so I could say that I did. If nothing else, no one would be able to say I didn't love my family. And, hey," he said with a crooked grin, "it worked out pretty well for me, didn't it? A chance in a billion."

Zhongli narrowed his eyes. "Wait," he said. "You have had other students?"

He could hear a quiet intake of breath from Childe—the comment had clearly passed him by. Skirk looked like she was resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Of course I have," she said. "Do you really believe I showed up in Morepesok by chance? I scout out all of Teyvat for potential candidates. That is my job."

"Candidates…for what?" asked Childe apprehensively. "What would you have had me do?"

Skirk snapped her fingers, and the two Abyss Lectors came forward to float beside her. "Meet your peers, Childe," she said. "Loyal agents of the Abyss Order."

Childe's face contorted in horror, and a chill went up Zhongli's spine. In his experience, Abyss Lectors, while certainly sentient, had a one-track mind. Their existence revolved solely around serving the Abyss Order, obsessed with its total domination. They acted as if brainwashed.

That is what she wanted to do to him.

Childe could not tear his eyes away from the Lectors. "They're…they were human?"

"Indeed," said Skirk. "Natural-born fighters with a thirst for battle. I gave them exactly what they wanted. The Abyss satiates them. Just as it would satiate you."

"But…" Childe blinked. "I don't look like them. My Abyssal form looks so different from theirs."

"Oh, you would not have been a Lector," said Skirk. "Had you joined me in the Abyss, I would have taught you about the Order's hierarchy. The Heralds are above the Lectors, the Lectors above the Mages. And, above the Heralds…" She looked almost wistful. "You would have been our Childe. Our young knight. One of the nobles, the highest rank below our Prince. That is how your potential would have paid off."

Zhongli curled the tip of his tail protectively around Childe. "You say this, and yet you simply let him go?" he rumbled. "You did not return to claim him?"

"I wished to," Skirk said. "But His Highness does not wish for servants with divided loyalties. They must put the Order first and foremost—they must come to the Abyss themselves. As I said, when Childe did not show, we assumed he had killed himself in anguish."

"You underestimate the willpower of humans," Zhongli muttered, half to himself. What if there are others still out there?

"Perhaps," Skirk said. "But it matters little. You are here now." She turned to Childe, scowling a little at the golden shield still encircling him. "There is still a chance for you, boy. Not all is lost."

"No." Childe shook his head. "Master, I appreciate everything you've taught me, but there is no way in hell I'm joining the Abyss Order."

"Think about it," Skirk pressed. "The respect you would have. The opportunities, the power. Is that not what you always wanted?"

"I thought it was," said Childe, "when I was fourteen. I'm a different person now, Master." His voice was soft. "The separation from my family made me realize how much I truly need them."

"We can offer you so much more than them," said Skirk. "You will build a community among us."

"No." Childe shook his head. "That's my final decision, Master. I'm sorry."

"Then you realize by doing this—by consorting with Morax, by closing the rift—that you are making yourself our enemy? My enemy?"

Childe looked regretful for a brief moment, then sighed, hardening his expression. "I do. I'm closing this rift, Master. I don't want my town to have anything more to do with the Abyss."

"So be it." Skirk, too, looked like she could be regretful somewhere deep inside herself, but she took a battle stance nonetheless. Zhongli growled, and Childe looked up at him.

"This is my fight," said Childe. "Let me have it."

Part of Zhongli wanted to argue. Let me protect you. Let me protect your home. But the fiery blue of Childe's eyes stopped him, and he nodded.

Skirk made the first move. She was fast, aggressive, and dangerous, lashing out hard with each attack. She didn't bother with feints, knowing they would be less effective against another skillful fighter, so she cut hard.

Childe managed to flit out of the way of her first lunge, but for everything he dodged, there was another thing to avoid coming from the other side. Initially, he seemed overwhelmed, unable to get an attack of his own in. Zhongli flinched as a blade slashed at Childe's skin, spraying crimson blood across his leg and causing Childe to hiss in pain.

But Childe was no novice, and he adapted quickly to his master's style. Light on his feet (quite literally), he learned to multitask, dodging Skirk's blows and simultaneously aiming a swipe of his claws.

They were both masters of the art that was combat. Zhongli could see the reflections of the same style in each other, but also the differences and personal spin they gave their performances. Their eyes were locked on each other constantly, laser-focused and intense with concentration. Childe had the size advantage, but it remained true that Skirk had been the one to train him, not to mention her years and years of experience. She had a knack for predicting his movements, and where she was successfully making the occasional quick cut, he could not land a single hit on her.

He cannot beat her, Zhongli thought gravely. He can hold out for a while, but she will wear him down over time. He lashed his tail again.

And then, for a split second, Childe looked away from Skirk to make eye contact with him. His gaze was fervent, insistent. There was a message there: Do it!

Zhongli could have smacked himself. Of course. Childe was smarter than this; he knew he could not beat Skirk. This was a distraction, a chance for him to work on closing the rift. And once it is nearly done, we will throw her in and be done with it.

Glancing away from Skirk was not without consequence for Childe—she took the opportunity to land a solid punch just below his eye, following it up with a fierce swipe of a sword that he just barely managed to dodge, gasping.

Zhongli bared his teeth. That was his fault; he hadn't picked up on Childe's plan quickly enough. He'd need to pick up the pace.

The geo he had generated spread further and further across the hole in the ground, bathing Childe and Skirk in golden light. Zhongli could see a scowl appear on Skirk's face—she knew he was up to something—but Childe was good enough to keep her occupied until there was only a small ring of space still open, large enough still for a human to fit.

Childe was slowly driving her towards it. Hovering, he inched closer and closer to the hole. Skirk followed almost a little too easily, not seeming to heed the danger.

Alarm flickered in Zhongli's chest. Yes…too easy.

When she reached the hole, Skirk willfully leaned backward, letting gravity pull her back from whence she came, but not before she grabbed Childe's wrist in a death grip, pulling him down with her. Caught off-guard, Childe was yanked forward and began to fall.

The image of the darkness on the verge of swallowing him was too much.

No. No.

"Ajax!"

Zhongli was after them in an instant, diving halfway into the hole and catching Childe by the ankle. More viciously, he grabbed Skirk with his other set of talons, ripping her away from Childe. He held her close to his face, mere inches away from a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and a set of golden eyes that flashed with fury.

"He is not yours to take," Zhongli snarled. "He never has been, and I will defend him with my last breath. You will not take him from me." And he dropped her. He did not bother to watch her fall.

Zhongli pulled himself out of the hole, taking Childe with him, and with a last burst of energy, sealed the remaining open space. The room glowed brightly for a moment, then dimmed save from the light emitting from Zhongli's eyes. He let out a massive exhale, and as he did, released his form, allowing himself to turn human once more. Childe looked shaken, and he had a black eye, the rest of his body littered with small wounds Skirk had inflicted, but he was not in danger. He was okay. Zhongli wrapped his arms around him in a strong, tight embrace, just needing to feel him.

Childe hugged him back, and his touch was grounding, anchoring. "It's okay," he whispered. "I'm okay."

"It is over now," Zhongli murmured, half to himself and half to Childe.

Childe paused. "I've…never seen you like that before," he said a bit tentatively.

"I…" Zhongli swallowed, a little surprised at himself, if he was being honest. "I was frightened. I do not know that I have ever been frightened like that. I feel anger, and I feel grief, but fear is rare for me."

Childe leaned back to look at him, eyes soft. "Oh, Zhongli," he said quietly. He clasped Zhongli's hands in his, and Zhongli could not care less that he was still wearing his gauntlets.

Zhongli attempted to compose himself, a grimace flashing across his face. "I am sorry," he said. "This is not about me. It must have been difficult to face your master after all these years."

"It was, a little bit," Childe said, "but only at first. Once we started fighting, it was like all my doubts went out the window. I wonder what that says about me." He looked thoughtful. "But," he added, "I'm okay. I promise. And because I'm okay, I can be here to help you." His voice was soothing, kind. It was the only thing Zhongli wanted to hear.

"I wish never to lose you," Zhongli confessed quietly. "Not ever."

"And I you," Childe said. He gave Zhongli a small smile.

Beautiful. He is so beautiful.

"So let's not," Childe continued. "I'll stay by your side if you stay by mine?" It was a playful question, but at the same time entirely sincere.

The air was crisp around them, but Zhongli felt warm. "My dear Ajax," he said, "you do not even have to ask."

They returned above ground in victory, their fingers intertwined.