The morning sunlight slipped quietly through the curtains, spilling across the bed in a soft golden haze. For once, Childe—Ajax, as Zhongli always called him at home—was the first to wake up. That alone was rare enough to make him grin. Usually, Zhongli was the early riser, always up before dawn to make tea and read the paper like some perfectly put-together husband out of a movie.

But today was their day. Their anniversary.

Childe rolled over, his messy ginger hair brushing against the pillow as he looked at his husband. Zhongli was still fast asleep, long lashes resting softly against his cheeks, his hair slightly tousled in a way Childe swore was illegal. He looked peaceful, almost too perfect, and Childe couldn’t resist reaching out to brush a strand of dark hair away from his face.

“Morning, old man,” he whispered, smiling. “Guess I beat you to it this time.”

Zhongli didn’t stir, and Childe took that as permission to slip quietly out of bed. Padding across the wooden floor in nothing but his pajama pants, he moved into the kitchen, determined to make breakfast before Zhongli woke. He wasn’t the best cook, but he could manage pancakes—or at least, he hoped so.

The first few attempts went… questionably. Smoke curled up from the pan, and he quickly waved a towel around, muttering under his breath. But after a few tries, he got it right. A neat stack of pancakes, some fruit, and coffee—strong, just the way Zhongli liked it.

When he came back into the bedroom, Zhongli was awake, sitting up against the headboard, calm and elegant as ever despite still being in his sleep shirt.

“Good morning, Ajax,” he said, voice warm and amused as his eyes took in the sight of Childe proudly holding a breakfast tray. “You’re awake early. That’s… unusual.”

Childe smirked, setting the tray on his husband’s lap. “Don’t get used to it. It’s our anniversary—I figured I should do something to surprise you.”

Zhongli’s lips curved in that small, fond smile that made Childe’s heart do a ridiculous little flip. “You always surprise me, dear.”

Childe laughed, climbing back into bed beside him, their legs brushing beneath the sheets. “You mean that in a good way or a bad way?”

“In both,” Zhongli replied, chuckling softly as he took a bite of the pancakes. “These are quite good.”

Childe beamed. “Told you I can do domestic.”

Zhongli leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. “You’re perfect, Ajax.”

Childe blushed, hiding his grin behind his coffee cup. “You’re not so bad yourself, old man.”

They spent the rest of the morning there, sharing breakfast in bed, laughter mingling with the quiet hum of the city outside—a perfect start to another year together.