Chapter Text
"I.. I like you, Childe."
The word was spinning. No, Childe's head was spinning, yeah. That would explain why he felt like he was about to faint. Zhongli had just.. no, maybe he didn't mean it that way. 'Like' had many meanings after all, and its not as if Zhongli specifically said it with the intention to imply that he 'like liked' Childe, right?
No, he had to make sure, maybe he had misheard?
Childe tried to calm him wild heart as he cleared his suddenly dry throat.
"I- huh?" That did not come out how he wanted it to. He cleared his throat again to speak. "W- What did you say..?" Dammit, why was his voice shaking so much?
"I like you." Zhongli repeated, slightly louder. Now that he had said it once, Zhongli felt slightly braver, eyeing Childe cautiously for his reply.
Childe face instantly flushed bright red, causing him to drop his head entirely to block it from view.
"As.. a friend?" Childe winced at how small his voice had gotten. His heart roared in his chest so loud, he swore Zhongli could hear it.
"No." Now, it was Zhongli who reached over to raise Childe's head. Their eyes met, and Zhongli held his gaze the best he could, hoping that Childe would be able to see the sincerity in his eyes when he spoke.
"I do like you as a friend, Childe, but I have.. feelings towards you, and have been hoping that.. maybe we could be something more.. I cannot.. quite describe it.." Zhongli admitted softly. He felt naked, exposed, telling Childe his true feelings. But strangely enough, it felt good, even slightly relieving.
Zhongli liked him.
Childe's eyes widened, blurring over as he took in the news. His limb felt numb, his mind went blank, except for the constant 'No way's running through his head.
Zhongli smiled warily when he was met with silence from the other. "It's.. okay if you don't feel the same way, Childe. I just thought I'd let you kno-"
"I like you too-" Childe cut in, his voice awkwardly pitched as he hid his face behind his hands.
Zhongli's heart stilled. He reached out, pulling one of Childe's hand away from his face. "You do?"
"I.. do-" Childe stuttered as he watched Zhongli bring his hand up to his mouth, letting out a small squeak as Zhongli kissed the part of his wrist that wasn't covered by his glove.
"So cute.." Zhongli hummed. Although he did not show it, he was bursting with happiness inside. He kept his lips on Childe's skin for a moment longer, before he pulled back, his head starting to feel much clearer then before.
"I.. I'm not." Childe mumbled, blushing.
Zhongli laughed softly, admiring Childe for a moment longer before he decided to save the man from further embarrassment.
"The food, its getting cold."
"Ah! Yeah!" Childe shot up, reaching for the bowl. He picked up the fallen spoon, lifting it slightly towards Zhongli. "Uh- do you want to eat it yourself or do you want me to fe- A..ah!"
Without warning, Zhongli tipped his head forward, bringing his lips towards the out-stretched spoon, smiling as Childe gasped out, nearly dropping the bowl.
Childe sat, frozen, his hand stilled even after Zhongli pulled away from the spoon. W.. What just happened? Did Zhongli just..
"Thank you, Childe, this is most delicious indeed."
"Ah, no- no problem, heh-"
Scoop after scoop of the porridge later, Childe found himself relaxing, no longer so tense or scared whenever he thought about whatever just happened moments ago. Instead, he slowly felt happiness seeping though his shock. He had wanted this to happen for months now, and it finally did.
Childe looked down at Zhongli as he held the last scoop of porridge out. Although Zhongli had tried to hide it well, Childe knew that was was getting increasingly sleepy as the seconds ticked by.
"All done." Childe remarked as he sat the bowl back down onto the coffee table. He reached out to feel Zhongli's temperature again, his palm resting just above Zhongli's drooping eyelids. "Do you have any medicine at home, Xiansheng?"
Zhongli shook his head slowly, leaning into Childe's touch. "I.. don't, sorry."
"No problem, I always carry some around with me, haha-" Childe replied as he reached into his back pocket, his other hand still stationed obediently on Zhongli's forehead. "Have you swallowed pills before?" It was s stupid question, but Childe knew there was a chance that Zhongli was still new to all this.. medicine taking things.
True enough, his question was answered with a slight shake of Zhongli's head. Childe hummed, "Ah, well, it's quite simple.. you just put the pill at the back of your throat and well.. swallow it without gagging."
Childe handed Zhongli a small round pill. "It's quite strong, so you may feel tired after eating it, but I guess it is for the best."
"Mm.. okay." Zhongli replied, not waiting for further instructions as he placed the pill in his mouth. The item felt rough against his already sore throat. Zhongli's eyes shot open as he struggled to swallow it.
"WAIT.. You need to take it with water!" Childe panicked as he watched Zhongli put the pill into his mouth. He scrambled to stand when he heard a weird sound come from Zhongli's throat. "H- Hang on, I'll go get some.."
Childe raced to the kitchen, grabbing another glass and filling it with some water, before he raced back to the couch.
Sitting down, Childe pressed the cup against Zhongli's lips, sighing as he started to drink from it slowly. "You never fail to amuse me, Xiansheng.." Childe smiled, "but please, don't scare me that much."
"I will try.." Zhongli returned a small smile.
"Let's get you back to bed, alright?" Childe asked as Zhongli finished the last sip of water.
"Okay.. what about you, Childe? Are you not tired as well?"
"I'm used to not sleeping." Childe replied. "But uh, I can sleep here, if you want." He added, pointing to the couch.
Zhongli did not reply as they slowly walked down the corridor to his room. When they entered the room, however, Zhongli opened his mouth to speak.
"Childe.. was- was my bed comfortable the last time you slept here?"
The question caught Childe off-guard, sending his hands flying up to covering his face as he blushed slightly. "Uh.. yeah, it was.. very comfortable, in fact.."
Zhongli smiled. He considered asking Childe to join him while he slept. But well.. Maybe it was still to early for that..
"Why do you a- ask?" Childe said, secretly hoping that Zhongli would invite him to lie down together.
"Oh, it's nothing much.." Zhongli answered as he looked away, missing the way Childe's eyes curved down in disappointment. "Though, if you'd like, you can always lie down on it again any day." This time, Childe smiled.
"Enough about me. Let's get you lying down, yeah?" Childe helped Zhongli over to the side of the bed, watching as he slid under the covers. Childe wished that he could be under the blanket together with Zhongli, but controlled himself, sitting down on the nearby chair instead. Let Xiansheng recover to full health first..
Childe watched as Zhongli laid down, flipping his body over so that he faced Childe.
"Thank you."
"Huh? For what..?" Childe stared, not quite understanding what Zhongli was thanking him for.
"For coming over to check on me. I know you had the rest of the day off today, but yet you took it upon yourself to spend that time with me." Zhongli mumbled, the drowsy effects of the medicine stating to kick in. "Why is that?"
"Because well.. I told you earlier, I care about you, Zhongli."
"Mm, I care about you too, Childe."
"I know."
Zhongli smiled.
"You should get some rest, I see the medicine is staring to take its effect on you." Childe noted.
"Stay with me?" Zhongli asked, his eyes lightly shut. He places a palm on top of the sheets, right next to Childe's knee.
"Of course." Childe replies, taking the hand in his, rubbing it lovingly as he lifted the covers up to Zhongli's chest.
"I.. I love you, Childe." It was a easy four words to say.
"I love you too.. Z- Zhongli." But yet it was difficult not to stutter.
It was going to be a long night, not that he cared. In reality, after Zhongli's sweet confession and the fact that Childe was now holding Zhongli's hand as he slept, Childe wished that this night could last forever.
He smiled, feeling rather tired himself as he leaned against the bed's backboard. Childe closed his eyes, dozing off within seconds. However, although Childe was asleep, Zhongli's still hand remained tightly gripped in his as the night dragged on.
And the smile from before? That did not fade away either, not even as early morning rolled around.