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Childe should’ve known something was different when Zhongli missed his birthday.
When he started to refuse going out with him.
When he stopped coming home .
But Childe was in love. So all these red flags waved a rosy pink, twisting his thoughts and dismissing his concerns.
Zhongli had a lot on his mind. Why would he remember such an unimportant date?
He remembered Zhongli’s birthday.
Zhongli just didn’t want to go out. That’s nothing to worry about.
There was never a day before that Zhongli would refuse an outing.
Zhongli was busy. And their home is a bit out there. Nothing strange.
He had been getting charged an awful large amount for inns recently…
Childe shook his head, praying that his split mind would silence for once. Everyday was a battle with himself; a battle he was not very keen on. Seeing every single sign but being blinded to them all just the same. Gods, he was a mess, wasn’t he?
A mess for a god who stopped loving him.
If only it was that easy for Childe. Every whisper of wind carried the scent of stone and ground, every golden gleam reminding him of Cor Lapis eyes.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Half of him filled with dread while the other bubbled with excitement. Either way, it left him feeling nauseous.
“Ah, Zhongli. You’re home.” Childe refused to let his tone give away anything, making sure his voice was a calm casual.
Zhongli walked into the kitchen, uninterested eyes glancing around. “... the house has changed.”
Childe slowly nodded after a break of eye contact. “I thought the house could do with more decoration.”
“Hm. I see.”
How could Childe not have seen before? The awkward air that hung around them so thickly it strangled him.
“I’m almost finished making dinner. Why don’t you set up the table?”
“If that’s what you want.” Zhongli replied uncarringly, grabbing ceramic bowls from the cupboards.
Childe finished the dinner in silence, brain numb. While he was glad for the silence, for once, this wasn’t quite what he wanted. His body felt like he barely had any control over it, only able to move from the years of learning.
When he came to, he was sitting at the table. Both bowls were full. Zhongli was looking at the food, disgusted eyes betraying his stony demeanor. “You made seafood ?”
“Yeah. Your favourite.” Childe forced extra chipper to his voice, picking up basic wooden chopsticks.
If Zhongli had noticed, he made no comment. “Have you only been eating… this recently?”
Childe took his time to finish chewing, dragging his tongue over his lips to draw in any stray soup.
“Yeah, I've improved the recipe a lot as of late. Y’know, I’ve had plenty of time to practise since you’ve been sleeping around.”
The awkward atmosphere suddenly turned icy. Emotionless blue eyes staring into shocked gold. It wasn’t a casual comment. It was an accusation.
“My, I leave for a few days and you imply I’m sleeping around? This is unlike you.” Zhongli chuckled, danger an undertone.
Childe traced the bowl’s rim with his finger, face unreadable. He remained silent, paying no attention to the archon.
“... Childe, answer me. I won’t play these stupid games of yours.”
“Please Zhongli, you think I’m an idiot? I advise you choose your next words very carefully.” The circling finger stopped, cool words punctuated with a glare.
The god’s tongue weighed in his mouth, opening uselessly before shutting again. Seeing the pitiful excuse for a lie only pissed Childe off further, his eyes bearing daggers. “My gods, Zhongli. Even a blind man would be able to tell!” He slammed his fist on the table, rattling the barely touched bowls. His carefully built dam burst all at once, rage and hurt spilling without control through his body. Tears began to burn his eyes, anger keeping them from spilling. Pain coated the venom spitting from his mouth, “Zhongli… why? Why do you sit there and play an idiot?”
The man in question kept up his silent act, face blank and eyes an unfamiliar jaded. Even when Childe had held a knife to his throat… he never looked at him like that. It twisted the muscles along his heart, burning his blood. “I think it would be wise of me to leave.”
Childe scoffed, jumping out of the chair. He ignored it falling uselessly to the grown with a soft thud. “So you’re running away? Just like you did all your responsibilities? Just like you did to all your people?”
“Childe, recall who you’re talking to.” Zhongli stood up with the same grace as he always had, a contradiction against his words coated with danger.
Childe, in fact, did not care about the titles shared by his partner. “Are you fucking serious?” He scoffed, gripping the side of the table until his knuckles grew an unnatural white. “What the actual hell is wrong with you?!”
“I think I should leave. I feel as though I am unwelcomed in my own home.”
“You’re right.” Childe relaxed his grip, feeling all energy drain from his body at once. It took all he had to not collapse onto the ground right then and there, every limb feeling slack all at once. The tears that were blocked prior now spilt freely, burning trails into his flesh. “Get out.”
Childe wasn’t aware when Zhongli had reached the door. His head was spinning, nausea scarring his esophagus. The god hesitated in the doorway, expression breaking into something Childe didn’t have the energy to care about.
“Don’t come back.” His voice broke, freely telling his exhaustion. “We… I can’t stand this anymore. Go have fun with whoever you want. I don’t care anymore.”
Zhongli sucked in a sharp breath, pressing his lips together as thought stole that disgusting expression. “... okay, Childe. If that’s what you wish.”
And as fast as he came, he was gone.
For the first time since the Abyss had trapped him in its dark maze, he broke down. Fell to the ground with his knees to his forehead, arms wrapped around his legs. Childe sobbed until his throat was torn raw and his eyes burned like never before.
It was over. Finally, finally over. His first love slipped between his fingers as smoothly as the creation from his vision.
Everything was finally over.