Chapter Text
Rain in Liyue was uncommon, but not impossible. However these few days proved to be different. It could be sunny one moment, and rainy the next.
Childe was never one who looked at the sky, predicting when the next downpour would hit, but for some reason, he noticed himself observing the clouds more and more as the week passes.
It had been raining on and off for the past five hours and Childe was thankful that he had stayed indoors. He stood on the bridge outside the bank, smirking as the wind picked up, flipping the umbrellas of people below.
Childe had not been able to have dinner with Zhongli for quite some time due to the rain, and he found himself longing to be next to the man again badly.
Well, ever since that night Zhongli had cooked for him.. Childe's eyes dilated as he started into the distance, replaying the events of that day in his head. Zhongli's warm hand.. his beautiful scent.. his delicious food..
A sharp flash of lightning, followed by a loud clap of thunder snapped Childe out his daydream. He scowled at the sky for ruining his mind-movie of him and Zhongli sharing a soft kiss.
Then it hit him. (a sudden thought, not the bolt of lightning)
Maybe..just maybe- Childe straightened up. Maybe he might not have to wait any longer. He had the rest of the day off anyway, and Wangshun Funeral Palour was just down the road.
With newfound purpose, Childe hurriedly borrowed an umbrella from the bank, before he practically flew down the stairs, his boots splashing every step of the way down. Even as the storm raged on, the only thing Childe could think of was Zhongli.
Zhongli. Zhongli. Zhongli.
Childe had just made his way up to the stairs when he was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Hey! Did any of your new recruits wind up in some horrible accident that tragically ended their lives?" came the voice as Childe dragged him umbrella shut.
"Good afternoon , HuTao."
"As I was saying-"
"No need." Childe smiled. "Most of our dead recruits have been long reduced to ashes and used as plant fertiliser."
"Hmph."
Childe gazed at the girl in front of him, still not quite understanding how she could possibly be Zhongli's boss.
"Have you seen Xiansheng?" He asked, remembering why he had even came here.
"You mean that old man Zhongli?"
"Yeah.."
HuTao sighed and shook her head slightly. "He didn't look too good yesterday so I told him to go home."
Oh. "Did he show up for work today?"
HuTao shook her head again. "He has been extra boring these days, and that's saying something. All he has been doing is moping around like a ghost, talking to himself about having dinner with someone." She huffed.
"Oh, alright. Thank you." Childe said, his eyebrows furrowing as he processed the words. He turned to leave before whipping his head back to face the Director. "Oh and uh, I'll bring some bodies next time."
"Just bring Zhongli's back." She replied jokingly, waving.
Childe nodded, departing back into the rain. He knew the way to Zhongli's house, the directions etched permanently in his head since his last visit. Childe's heart raced. If what HuTao said was indeed true...
Please be okay, Xiansheng...
Childe's eyes (and heart) were fixed on Zhongli's door as he hurried his way down the darkened ally. The whole trip to Zhongli's house, Childe's brain had been churning up the worst case scenarios that Zhongli could have fallen into.
"Please be okay.." he thought as he approached the familiar porch.
Despite his urgency, Childe's clenched fist still hovered by the door, unsure, before hastily knocking on the wood. The rain had quietened down enough for Childe to make out a soft shuffle behind the door, as someone behind it fumbled with the lock.
Childe held his breath as the door slowly cracked open.
Zhongli swung the door open, not expecting to see Childe at his doorstep, soaked by the rain. "Oh.. Childe." Zhongli said, surprised but happy. He too, had been longing to see Childe for a few days now. Although he felt tired, he was truly glad to see the man at his doorstep.
Childe noticed that Zhongli's voice sounded a little off from its usual sound, perhaps slightly scratchier.
"Xiansheng!" he had to tense up his shoulders to stop himself from pouncing on Zhongli with his wet clothes. But when Childe took a closer look, though, his smile slowly turned into a concerned frown. Zhongli looked.. well.. awful. Not 'awful' as in ugly, but 'awful' as in the man looked like he was absolutely exhausted.
Zhongli's hair was out of his usual ponytail, and it wasn't like the strands that were still in the hair tie was that neat either. His clothes were crumpled in a way that implied that Zhongli had been tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
"I.. apologise.." Zhongli mumbled, making Childe look him in the eyes again. He was vaguely aware that that Childe was staring him down, making Zhongli uncharacteristically self-conscious. "If you are here to invite me for dinner, I may not be in the b- best condition to go out with you today, Childe."
Childe smiled back sadly. "Hutao already told me." he said. "I'm just here to come to check on you." It broke him slightly to see Zhongli in this state.
"Oh." that was all Zhongli could get out before he felt something catch in his throat. He stumbled backwards, raising a hand to muffle a small wave of coughs. His other hand gripped weakly at the door frame as he shook.
Childe stared, shocked, his mind going blank. It was only when Zhongli started to top sideways did Childe react, his arms flying out to catch the man.
"Xiansheng! Ahh- careful!" Childe yelped as he caught Zhongli.
Although it was no longer raining, the air outside the house was clearly colder than it was inside. Childe frowned as he felt Zhongli shiver in his grasp, against his chest. He sighed, worried, before he nudged the both of them further into the house, kicking off his shoes and closing the door with his heel.
"Can you stand?" Childe asked. "My clothes are a little- uh, wet.."
Chllde felt a tiny nod from Zhongli as the man tried to straighten up. Using Childe (and some furniture) as support, Zhongli manages to make his way to the couch. He avoided eye-contact, embarrassed that Childe had to see him like this-- weak and tired. He never appeared this way in front of anyone, even during the war years ago.
Zhongli is so fucking adorable, Childe thought as he watched the other shuffle to the couch. He had never seen Zhongli like this before, and he wanted to do everything he could to fix it.
"Xiansheng, you don't happen to have any dry clothes, do you?"
"My room.. top drawer.." Zhongli whispered. His throat hurt like hell after coughing.
"Ill be right back, okay?" Childe said as h hurried down the corridor.
Zhongli's room was every bit the same as Childe remembered, except for the crumpled bedsheets that suggested a sleepless night, and the floor was littered with random bundles of tissues.
Zhongli had a bad nigh, huh.
Childe changed out of his uniform, dawning a simple shirt and pants that were slightly too big for him. Before leaving, Childe straightened out the covers, scooping up some of the tissues and throwing them away.
He remembered a few weeks ago when he had woken up in the same room, with Zhongli staring him down as he slowly got up..
Childe rounded the corner just to catch Zhongli in another coughing fit. Childe quickened his pace, heart beating wildly. He reached out a hand, placing his palm on Zhongli's trembling back.
"Shhh.. Xiansheng, it's gonna be okay.." Childe whispers as Zhongli bends over, weak whines escaping from his throat as he tried to form a sentence.
"W- Water.." he chokes out.
"Oh! Right away!" Childe scrambles towards the kitchen, snatching a glass from the cabinet, beginning to fill it with water. The glass shook unsteadily in his hands as Childe filled it, an indication of his fear. Get a hold of yourself. He thought. Don't panic.. why are you panicking? Just fill the freaking cup.
As he turned to exit the kitchen, Childe's eyes widened as he caught sight of Zhongli trying to stand up from the couch. In that split second, Childe felt absolutely lost of words and actions. He had never felt this way before, not even when he got cornered by an uncountable number of ruin guards in battle. He always knew what to do.. why was he rooted now?
Zhongli blinked as he gripped onto the armrest of the couch.
Fuck.
Childe slammed the glass onto the tabletop, not caring when he heard the glass shatter behind him.
"Zhongli!" Childe gasps, jumping over the coffee table, barely catching the man before he hit the ground. Shit. Shit. "A- Are you okay..?" Childe's voice trembled. Was that seriously what he sounded like? He thought as he tightened his grip on Zhongli's body.
"C- Childe.." Zhongli breathed. "My head.. h- hurts.."
Childe's heart screamed out as Zhongli's pupils shrunk, his body going limp, collapsing in Childe's shaking arms.