Stay Forever Chap 5 Xiao

Chapter 5

Zhongli kept his promise to make Xiao a delicious freshly fried salmon steak while they waited for the pizza to arrive. It seemed odd to Zhongli and Teucer that Ajax hadn't rejoined them. In fact, even after Zhongli finally began putting the leftover delicious smelling pizza and the crisp lettuce salad he whipped up to go with it, into the refrigerator, Ajax was still not home.

It wasn't long after that when Teucer and Zhongli settled down to watch TV while they waited for Ajax.

Xiao didn't really know exactly why he felt uneasy tonight. But he could sense Teucer felt it too. The child had been on edge too, ever since Ajax had left to go talk to the "boss" who had summoned him.

Xiao wondered what sort of a man needed thugs to do his dirty work. Luckily, Zhongli didn't seem to sense either his or Teucer's restlessness. But about midway through the ridiculous reality show they were watching, Zhongli began to read a book.

Honestly, Xiao wasn't watching the TV either. He lay in a small ball of Zhongli's chest as he read. As the hour started to grow late, Xiao found himself taking a quick nap when the elevator finally announced it had returned.

Xiao intended to remain where he was, but Zhongli set him aside on the arm of the couch as he got up and went to the kitchen worriedly. Xiao followed him quietly.

Teucer noticed them heading for the kitchen and left the TV on as he bounced along behind them.

Even before the door opened, Xiao could sense that something was wrong. Ajax was very on edge and tense but he was trying to control it.

"Are you alright?" Zhongli asked as Ajax stepped inside. "What happened to your cheek?"

"It's a long story… I'll tell you later." The redhead said. He turned to look at his little brother. "Alright, I suppose we better start on your homework. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting."

Teucer only smiled. "Zhongli is way better than you at doing math. So I'm all done!"

"That's great, thanks," Ajax said to Zhongli. "I owe you big for that. But it's past your bedtime, Teucer."

"But you just got here," Teucer looked like a deflated balloon. "Weren't we going to watch a movie?"

"I'm sorry, Teucer," Ajax said. "I wanted to be home earlier. But I promise we'll watch it on Friday."

Teucer glared at him, trying not to cry. "B-But you promised last week that it would be tonight since I don't have school tomorrow! You're just like Dad! Always breaking promises…"

"I-" Ajax sighed as the kid stormed into his room and slammed the door. He looked sheepishly at Zhongli "Sorry, you had to see that."

"As I was an only child, I'm afraid I can't relate. But I think he'll be calmer if you let him cool off for a bit. He really was very excited all day, looking forward to pizza and the movie."

"I know. I hate disappointing him. It actually stings a lot that he brought up Dad right there. But it is his bedtime. And speaking of my father… I- there's some things that I need to tell you. Stuff that I probably should have said a long time ago."

"Really?" Zhongli arched one eyebrow curiously. "Alright. Do you want to speak here or in the bedroom?"

"How about out on the balcony? It would be best if Teucer didn't overhear a lot of this."

"Now you've got me worried. What's wrong?"

Xiao followed them back into the rooftop terrace and immediately hopped into his human lord's lap. But he remained quiet as Zhongli petted him absently.

"Wait," Ajax said, looking at Xiao. "Xiao won't try to escape out here, will he?"

Zhongli shook his head. "I don't think so. He seems quite attached to me too. And besides, he seems really smart because he listens to everything we say in a way that makes it feel like he actually understands us. It seems silly but it's like he's actually a person disguised as a cat."

Xiao's eyes widened but the two humans just giggled.

"That would actually be pretty cool. But anyway, I really should have told you sooner about what really happened to my parents. They were murdered and I want to prove it. The guy I met with tonight arranged for his goons to burn our house down. My parents were home alone at the time. So my sister and Teucer and I were all okay. But my parents never stood a chance of escaping. The fire was started from the basement- directly under their bedroom."

"That's horrible! Why didn't you go to the police?"

"I tried. But the chief of police is an 'investor' and a regular customer in my boss' illegal gambling ring. Whether his horse wins its race or not, the chief still gets a cut out of whatever the bets were worth on each race."

"I don't understand- how does he get away with that?"

"I don't know. I just know that my former boss at the club has been working with him for decades. They're like two peas in a pod. His officers wouldn't even take my statements seriously last year after the fire. I tried to tell them that my father had evidence that Pantalone was a scumbag who was involved in drug distribution, prostitution and a gambling ring. But none of them actually took any notes."

"I'm sorry that happened. But how did someone like that end up becoming your boss?"

"Well, I've told you my dad was an accountant. But I didn't tell you that he loved betting on the horse races in Mondstadt. He lost a lot- but he wouldn't stop. He was just sure that tomorrow he would get lucky. Well, he ran out of money pretty quickly with his sizable bets. So he started borrowing from Pantalone. Eventually my dad owed him exactly a half a million dollars. And of course he had no way to pay it back. So Pantalone had his goons grab me after school."

"You were kidnapped?"

"Yes," Ajax nodded. "They called him to the club and he was drunk and basically penniless when he finally showed up. So Pantalone offered him a deal. Dad became Pantalone's accountant and was responsible for making it look like there was no gambling ring, that the boss was clean- for free. Dad did his dirty work for five years in exchange for my family keeping our fancy house and the cars and stuff. That way no one at home or at his office would know anything suspicious had happened."

"But didn't they let you go? Why were you still involved? Weren't you still just a kid?"

"Yeah. But Pantalone said he 'liked me' that day. After the first time, I couldn't focus in class or on the basketball court. I lost my scholarship and my family was scraping to get by. It made my temper so bad that I couldn't keep a normal job. I just-"

Zhongli moved to sit next to him. "It's okay. You don't have to say more."

Ajax blinked, suddenly fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I had taken several years of karate as a kid, before I got interested in basketball. Knowing martial arts and being angry all the time actually proved useful in a fight. One day after he was done with me, one of the bouncers said something snide. I took down three of them at once. That was when he offered to start paying me to deal with people 'like my dad' who 'refused to pay what they owed him'. I hated working for him knowing what he was doing to me and my father. It didn't matter to Pantalone that these people were scared and as desperate as I was. I- Sorry-"

"It's okay. You were young and in an impossible situation. Anyone would have lashed out under those circumstances."

"I can't imagine you skulking through back alleys and putting people in the hospital on a semi weekly basis."

"True," Zhongli said. "But I'm no angel. After I graduated from that last boarding school at seventeen, I ran off. I was enjoying my freedom from my grandfather's rules way too much. I got addicted to Synth and even spent a few nights in a Sumeru jail cell for prostitution to pay for it. Finally, after my so-called best friend ran off with our money and the drugs in Fontaine, I almost got tossed in the Fortress of Merepid. That's when I finally learned my lesson. Of course my grandfather would literally rather die than admit that he used his connections as a politician to get me out of both situations and keep them far away from my record. But, I finally did get my head out of my ass and went to college. And after my grandfather made a very large contribution to the museum to make sure I didn't lose my job that had turned into an internship, I even got a promotion."

"So you're a real live nepo-baby?"

"What was your first clue?" Zhongli snorted. " But what's really bothering you? I can't help if you don't talk to me. I won't judge you."

"Thanks," Ajax sighed reluctantly. "I just hated working for that club and that bastard. But one day out of the blue, my dad told me he had an idea about how to expose Pantalone. Unfortunately, he got caught and almost half the dirt he had on the guy was destroyed. And worse, Pantalone didn't confront him or me about it. Instead, he told his minions to burn my parent's house to the ground so they did. My dad never told anyone that I was the one holding the rest of the evidence to expose everything, or I would be dead too."

"That's horrible!"

"Exactly. That's why I was so lost until I met you…"

"But why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

"Would anyone believe it? Uh, let me see, I'm a college drop out, a part time debt collector for the man who murdered my parents and now I'm raising my little brother because no one else wanted to?"

Zhongli smiled. "I could see you had a good heart the day we met. You saved a girl from a street gang without grandstanding and me from dying of boredom at my boss' birthday party. Actually, I'm pretty sure I still owe you for the second one."

"Are you kidding? You opened your house to me and my brother not to mention our dog. You've been far more than generous!"

"What can I say, you made quite the impression on me," Zhongli said. "But why are you telling me this now? What happened- what changed?"

"Some big guy named Pierro showed up in Pantalone's office with him tonight. He wants something called a heart stone. You probably won't believe this, but he thinks they're magical. And he thinks you have them."

"He's half right," Zhongli sighed. "In about two weeks the heart stones will be brought to the museum. And unfortunately, I do know a guy named Pierro. He's tall, with white hair, built like a brick wall and his eyes are really cold and blue? Is that who you mean? He barged into my office about three weeks after the artifacts were discovered. He demanded that I sell all four of them to him even though he knew I hadn't even seen them myself yet. Somehow he knew that I was getting ready to go and inspect them that day."

"He came to see you too?" Ajax felt his heart constrict. Zhongli had no idea how lucky he was to still be alive after such an unpleasant encounter… "I didn't see his face or his eye color, but yeah, he is tall and definitely built like a truck-"

"I see," Zhongli continued. "If all goes according to plan, I will be receiving them for the museum in two weeks. But they are not for sale. They will absolutely remain the sole property of the Qixing. But they will go on permanent display in an exhibit about Liyue's adepti that is still under construction."

"Okay, so they're real, but I don't get it- what are they really?"

"According to legend, they are all that remains of a fallen adeptus. When their physical form dissipates, a single crystal core or heart is left behind. Usually these stones are placed inside a statue made in the likeness of the adeptus who has died. The heart stone is a symbol of their will and embodies the last traces of their magic. Some legends even say that these heart stones can actually bring the adeptus back to life if Liyue ever again needs protection."

"Are you serious?"

"I don't know- I never actually thought they might even be real until about six months ago," Zhongli shrugged. "I mean, I've heard countless stories of them, but of course I had never seen a heart stone with my own eyes until I was summoned to the Qixing offices. I met an archeologist there who said he found four of them. And if he's right, each is a priceless treasure. But they are not diamonds or any other normal crystal gemstones ever discovered. The colors, growth patterns and chemical makeup is all wrong. The best gemologists in all of Liyue have no idea what they are or where they came from. So, the Qixing have decided to let the archaeologist who found them call them heart stones."

"Who discovered them?"

"I only met him briefly, his name is Albedo Kriderprinze and he is from Mondstadt, but he was extremely well versed in the lore as well as many artifacts connected to the Adepti of Liyue. I don't quite believe that the stones are authentic proof of the existence of the Adepti, but I am very excited about the exhibit that will present them to the world."

"Well, it's ridiculous," Ajax said quietly. "But when this guy, Pierro, told me he thought they were magical he meant it."

Zhongli smiled. "Legends of magic are a dime a dozen where I work. Hundreds of the objects at the museum are credited to the adepti, the vision holders and sometimes even darker magic."

Ajax nodded reluctantly, "Okay, I can see how it might sound ordinary right now. I mean, so called vision holders haven't existed for over a thousand years. But Pierro attacked me- with magic. An actual icicle that he literally summoned out of thin air. It sliced my cheek. He could've killed me if he wanted to."

Zhongli leaned over and looked more closely at the mark on his lover's cheek, but he didn't believe that was what caused it. That was impossible. "That's impossible… Magic doesn't exist. No one can conjure ice out of thin air."

"I know! But I saw him do it twice with my own eyes! And I still can't believe where the other icicle went. He was easily the creepiest bastard I've ever met. I don't know how he did it, but he was completely cloaked in shadow and he disappeared through a portal as soon as he was done talking."

"What did he say, exactly?"

"He asked, 'How much do you know about your boyfriend's job?'" Ajax shivered thinking back to it. "Then he said "About a thousand years ago magic died in Teyvat when the Skyfrost Nail was destroyed. Vision wielders, magical creatures from across the map and even the remains of the dead gods like Orobashi all but vanished almost overnight. One of the few things to survive this magical extinction was a small group of Liyue's adepti and I am going to find out why."

"He mentioned the Skyfrost Nail?" Zhongli's eyes widened and he looked confused.

"Yeah, even I tried to tell him he's crazy," Ajax nodded. "All he said was 'most of Teyvat would agree with me. But he knows he's right. Because he's the one who destroyed the Skyfrost Nail.'"

"What?"

Ajax shrugged. "I know. He's got to be completely insane to believe any of that. No one can live for a thousand years let alone destroy something that never existed. But that's what he said."

Zhongli thought for a moment. "Well, when I met him he didn't seem crazy, but I could tell immediately that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. But as I said, the Qixing is adamant that the Heart stones will remain government property while on display."

"Hey? You guys are talking about heart stones of the Adepti? Awesome! We learned about those at school when I was little!" Teucer asked wide eyed from the patio doorway. The boy's hair was wet and he was wearing his pajamas. "They're really real? Can we go see them?"

"You're supposed to be heading for bed, Teucer," Ajax said. "We'll talk about all of this later, okay?"

"You promise?" Teucer hopped up and down excitedly. "Ok! Goodnight, Zhongli! Goodnight, Xiao! Oh! Wait! Can I bring Xiao in my room to sleep tonight?"

"I think Xiao is perfectly happy in Zhongli's lap right now," Ajax grinned. "Go on."

"Fine," Teucer sighed, but he yawned as he closed the door to the balcony. "Goodnight everyone!"

"Goodnight, Teucer," Zhongli smiled. But when he looked back at Ajax he was serious. "Now then, you are actually starting to look even more nervous. What else happened?"

Ajax pretended to consider the question. "I could tell you how much I love you?"

Zhongli rolled his eyes. "You're not getting out of this discussion with sex."

"I-" Ajax gave a deflated sigh. "Do you remember me saying that Pierro created two icicle darts?"

"Yes, but you never said why."

"Pierro sought me out hoping to get to you. He wants me to get these stones for him. And to do that, he visited my boss. And when my boss complained about being ignored, Pierro said nothing- he just created another ice dart and it hit my boss dead center in his forehead. It killed him- instantly. But that isn't all that worries me. Pierro dragged that bastard's dead body with him through the portal and he said that he will use it to tie me to his murder if I don't give him what he wants."

"Wait- what? Pierro actually killed your boss? Why?"

"It was a warning to me that he's serious. I think Pierro intended to kill him even before I arrived. He is deadly serious about these heart stones and I really don't want to think about what he'll do next."

"Okay. That's terrifying. But it's not like he can walk out the museum's back door with them and no one will notice." Zhongli said. "What do you want to do?"

"I have no idea. That's why we need to be ready for anything."

"Well, if you're right and this guy is really using magic, I'm not sure anything can stop him. But I'm not willing to lose such a huge piece of Liyue's past. If even one of these crystals really is the remains of an adeptus, then who knows what other legends might also have been real. It's exciting enough to turn the known history of Teyvat upside down."

Xiao sighed. Well, at least now he knew what Cloud Retainer had been so worried about that she gave up the last of her power to bring him back to life. He wished he could talk to her.

But, given Pierro's determination to find the Heart Stones, he was probably the one who had nearly killed Xiao yesterday. And if that was true, there was no telling how strong the bastard was or what he might do next. And it was almost certain that Pierro wasn't working alone. He had sensed that the men searching the alleys and doorways last night had been hunting him.

But if the heart stones were not at the museum yet why would Pierro have tried to approach his lord in the first place? Wouldn't it have been better to lie in wait for the chance to simply wait and steal the heart stones quietly? Unless Xiao had figured out Pierro's hiding place and attacked him first?

Xiao almost growled. Why did he still have amnesia now of all times? If that was true, Pierro must be more dangerous than the three humans could ever understand. So it was up to Xiao to protect them. He hadn't forgotten what Changsheng said, that Cloud Retainer's death had happened six months ago.

Xiao was glad that he must have been watching over his lord from a distance that whole time. Unfortunately, he couldn't exactly run around town again looking for the bastard now. So like the humans he would just have to wait and let his mind and body heal, at least until he remembered Pierro's face.