Work Text:
Zhongli walks into the darkened living room, the only source of light coming from the moonlight streaming in from the glass windows.
"Dearest, I'm home."
He doesn't expect any reply, given how late at night it already was. In fact, he had hoped that Childe would long be asleep before he came home. The way he tended to over-exert himself, Zhongli was glad that Childe finally took a break.
Taking off his coat, he made his way to their shared bedroom. Upon approaching the room, however, Zhongli froze mid-step, his heart catching in his throat.
A faint sniffle, almost going unnoticed, could be heard from behind the door. Zhongli closed his eyes, wishing, praying, that he had misheard. But after a few seconds, a soft and desperate intake of breath could be heard from inside the room.
What was going on? Zhongli's heart raced as he nudged the door open, his eyes frantically searching around the darkness, until they fixed upon a small, trembling lump right in the center of the bed.
"Childe, beloved, is that you..?" He asked, voice filled with worry.
The blanket ruffled a little, before a shaky hand emerged from it, pulling the sheets down. As the cloth was lowered, Childe's face slowly came into view, the sight breaking Zhongli's heart.
"X- Xiansheng.. you're home.." Childe was speaking, Zhongli could tell from the movement of his mouth. But.. but the sound that came out.. it was not the confident voice of Childe's that Zhongli loved to hear. It was timid, like a small lost animal.
Childe's eyes shone with unshed tears, threatening to fall at any moment. His cheeks were flushed pink, evidence that he had been crying for quite some time now. But why? Zhongli wished he had an answer.
"Sweetheart.. Ajax dear.. why are you crying..?" Zhongli asked softly, afraid that he might break Childe more than he already was.
Bunching up the blanket in his hands, Childe lowered his head before giving his answer. "O- Oh.. it's nothing, really.."
"It isn't 'nothing' if it made you cry dear.." Zhongli sighed, stepping closer to the bed. "Tell me what's wrong.. please?" he really wanted to help, needed to help. He hated seeing his beautiful lover in tears..
Childe's breath caught in his throat as another tear slid down his cheek. He shook his head slowly, "it's rea- really nothing.."
"Alright.. is there anything I can do to stop your tears..?" Zhongli asked. He still wanted to know the reason behind Childe's misery, but knew better than to keep pushing for answers.
Running a hand down Childe's covered back, Zhongli stared deep into his eyes, as if to say: I'm here for you.
"J- Just.." Childe mumbled, feeling small under Zhongli's gaze. "I- I just.. really want a hug right now.. please..?"
In a second, Zhongli was huddled under the covers, his arm wrapped around Childe protectively. His head was positioned right above Childe's, his pushing comfortably upon the other's hair.
"T- Thank you.." Childe sniffled, his head nuzzled against Zhongli's warm chest.
Although his crying had calmed down a lot since Zhongli had first laid eyes on him, minor hiccups would still escape from Childe's lips once in awhile. He felt his tears seep into the shirt, staining it. Would Zhongli be mad? he wondered, lifting his head slightly to look up.
But all Childe saw was the worried look in Zhongli's eyes, staring deep inside him.
"Don't cry.. Ajax.. I'm here for you." Zhongli reassured, pressing Childe's head back down against his chest. He leaned down, pressing a long loving kiss upon his lover's forehead.
"Really..?" Childe asked.
"Of course."
Childe felt a small smile ghost his lips despite the tears that continued to trickle down his cheeks. Never in his life had he felt so loved, so cared for by someone that wasn't family. He wanted Zhongli to stay. Wanted Zhongli to stay forever.
Childe lifted his head, his voice breaking at the next line he spoke, "Thank y- you.. Zhongli.. you h- have no idea what this means to m- me.." He choked out, barely managing to muffle his sobs into the blanket. "I- I love y..you.."
"And I love you too, Ajax.." Zhongli whispered back, trailing kisses from the base Childe's neck up to his lips, licking away the satly tears that once dripped down his cheeks. Zhongli smiled against Childe's wet skin, before reaching in to plant a delicate but firm kiss right on the edge of his eye.
"I'll always be here to kiss your tears away, dearest. Don't worry about that."
"Always..?"
"Always."
Childe exhailed shakily, the last of his tears rolling down his cheeks, causing darkened spots to appear on Zhongli's white shirt. He snuggled deeper into the man he loved so, so much, grateful for how lucky he was to be loved by a God.
As the bliss of sleep started to drift Childe out of consiousness, the last thing he registers is a comforting squeeze around his body, followed by a soft, warm voice.
"Rest well, Ajax, I'll be right here when you wake. And I love you, always."
The next morning proved to be true, when Childe woke up to the sun shining warmly into their bedroom. Zhongli was still asleep, his arms still wrapped around Childe tightly, like he was afraid that he would loose his beloved.
And although the tear stains on Zhongli's shirt had dried up over the course of the night, leaving nothing but a mere crumple in the fabric, the events of last night was already imprinted into both their hearts, bringing them closer than ever before.