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“Here you are.”
Childe looks up from the book he’s currently taking note from. Leaning on the door frame is his husband, who’s looking at him with an expression that he knows as fondly exasperated look.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.” Childe sheepishly says as he puts down his pen. The bright flames from the candles around him sway slightly from the opened door, before it settles down once again.
“It’s okay. I was just worried because I couldn’t find you back home.” Zhongli murmurs as he approaches his mate.
Childe leans his head up, receiving a peck from Zhongli who then stands behind him. He sighs softly when the older male’s warm and big hands massages his shoulder and he instinctively rests his head to the back.
“What are you doing, love?” Zhongli asks, his eyes actively scanning the books and papers all around the table with interest.
“I’m just doing a little research about my pregnancy.” Childe replies. “I’m getting a little bit tired with all the nausea as it starts to hinder my work too.”
Zhongli smiles grimly at the reminder. Unlike any pregnant mortals he has ever had the pleasure to meet, Childe’s morning sickness is particularly severe, almost to the point that he feared that Childe was poisoned or his body was rejecting the pregnancy on the first few days of the symptom. Combined with the fetus’ constant need for elemental or any adeptal energy, it always leaves Childe weak in the morning.
His heart aches for his mate and Zhongli genuinely wishes he can take Childe’s pain to his own body. Alas, even if he’s a (former) Archon, there’s no way he can do that.
“And did it bear any fruit?” Zhongli inquires as he gently massages the other’s neck.
“No.” Childe shakes his head. “But at least I don’t feel as weak since I’m in your domain.” He shrugs.
Zhongli hums thoughtfully. Being in his domain means Childe is constantly surrounded with his adeptal energy, which means his body won’t exhaust itself to supply it for their baby. “Should we move here permanently? It should ease the burden on your body.”
“Nah. I’d like to see the real sun and feel the real wind in my house. Not just some illusion you put here.” Childe refuses as he looks up to his husband. “I also have you as my portable adeptal charger. It’s more convenient than having to go back and forth between our house and your domain.” He continues with a cheeky smile, earning a good-natured chuckle from the former Archon.
“It seems that I have acquired another title from my beloved.” Zhongli replies. “What an honor.”
“I shall bestow you another honor, oh the reverend Consultant of Wangsheng.” Childe plays along. “You shall bring this one Harbinger back to the house and shall take this oneself out for dinner.”
“I humbly accept the glory and trust you have placed on me.” Zhongli says as he lifts the ginger-haired man’s hand and kisses his knuckle sweetly. “Shall we depart, my Love?”
“Lead the way, my Lord.”
.
.
Dinner’s uneventful and Zhongli’s persuasion to make Childe have something else than seafood soup remains unfulfilled. The former Archon sighs softly, as he watches his mate take a bite of a cut up squid, before focusing back to his own meal.
Any food is better than none, he supposes.
.
.
Zhongli is deeply asleep when he’s awoken with sudden and frantic movements within his hold. He blearily opens his eyes, but before he can assess the situation, he’s harshly shoved and he falls to his back. Still half-asleep and utterly confused, he tries to sit up as Childe frantically discards the blankets and the adeptal-energy-infused cloth he put on him last night. His movements are so chaotic and rough that it actually shakes their bed.
“Baobei?” Zhongli alarmedly calls as he helps his mate getting rid of the last piece of cloth.
However, he receives no answer as Childe immediately bolts out from their bed and into the bathroom. He glances at the clock on their nightstand and frowns when he sees it’s barely five in the morning.
It’s too soon for Childe’s usual morning sickness schedule.
Zhongli’s about to follow after his mate, when Childe appears at the entrance of their bathroom with a heavy grimace on his face.
“Love? What happened?” Zhongli concernedly asks as he slips out of the messy bed, wanting to assist the younger man. He touches Childe’s hands and forehead, but they’re perfectly in normal temperatures.
Childe only shakes his head a little, dismissing the dark-haired guess. “I suddenly feel nauseous and I want to vomit but…” He trails off as he’s led back to their bed.
“You’re unable to?” Zhongli accurately guesses.
The Harbinger simply nods as he gently sits on the bed. “The nausea is too-” Childe widens his eyes as the intense nausea rolls back within his body and he gags loudly at the sudden sensation.
Zhongli watches dumbfoundedly as the younger man already disappears from his sight before he can react. Seeing how fast Childe ran, a worry that the younger man would slip and fall surfaces within his mind.
“Childe-”
As soon as his name slips out of his mouth, Childe appears from their bathroom once again with a heavier frown on his face as he stomps his way to the bed.
“I still can’t.” Childe frustratedly says as he bites his bottom lips. “Whenever I crouches at the toilet it’s as if a dam has been built within my stomach and I can’t puke.” He hisses.
“Oh Baobei.” Zhongli says as he approaches the younger man and gently massages his back, comforting his distraught mate.
“I’m sleepy, tired and I just want to vomit and get this over with because my stomach feels heavy and suffocating.” Childe miserably says as irritation is also clear on his face. His eyes get slightly misty from the frustration and bearing the absolutely unpleasant feeling in his body.
“Let me put some warming oil on your body, it might help.” Zhongli hushes gently as he makes Childe sit on the edge of the bed again. He has just turned his back to get the bottle of oil, when he hears Childe gagging again.
Childe grunts loudly as he puts his hand on his mouth, trying to hold back as he constantly dry-heaves. His eyes immediately get hot with unshed tears from the held-down reflex and he tries to calm his body, when Zhongli suddenly appears right in front of him.
“Just vomit on my hands.” Zhongli seriously says as he crouches a little and puts both of his palms into a makeshift bowl in front of his mate. “If you can’t vomit it out on the toilet, just vomit on my hands here.”
Childe looks up to the older male, a little shocked with the offer and he immediately shakes his head in negative. What he didn’t account for is, the movement from shaking his head immediately worsens his nausea and another huge and strong uneasiness rolls up from his stomach. He loudly dry-heaves once again, and he immediately stands up.
The sudden difference in position disorients his mind and Childe staggers a little at his imbalance, which earns him another intense roll of nausea and for once, he actually feels the unpleasant bile on the back of his throat.
Childe is barely able to take a step when Zhongli blocks his path, with both of his palms opened. “Childe, let it out into my hands.” He orders sternly.
Completely panicked but also in fear that he’ll fail to vomit it out and has to suffer once again, Childe resigns to his fate and closes his eyes, as his hand leaves his mouth and grip on Zhongli’s arm. Just as immediately, he retches loudly as bitter biles come out from his mouth. He has barely closed his lips, when he vomits once again. Even though he can’t feel as much bile as the first attempt, there's still plenty of it coming out of his stomach, burning up his throat and leaving bitterness in his mouth. Sticky liquid is also smeared all around his lips and he grimaces at the feeling.
Panting, Childe tries to calm himself as the nausea starts to fade away and there’s a comfortable but not exactly pleasant emptiness in his stomach. He rights himself up and wipes his mouth, before opening his eyes. He sees the bile on Zhongli’s palm and can’t stop his disgusted grimace.
Childe expects Zhongli to be just as disgusted as himself, but boy how wrong he was when he sees nothing but unbotheredness on the older male’s face.
“Are you done? Do you still want to vomit, Baobei?” Zhongli asks before he briefly looks down on his palm and looks at his pregnant lover again. “Just let it all out, there’s still some space left on my palms.”
Childe’s jaw is slacked as he’s left flabbergasted by Zhongli's reaction, or lack thereof. Here he is, being icked and disgusted by his own vomit and yet the adeptus in front of him doesn’t even bat an eye, even as far as checking if his palms are still able to fit more vomit.
He accidentally sees the bile once again and Childe winces as he automatically gags once again. “Just throw it out first, Xiansheng.” He hoarsely replies.
Zhongli, who mistaken Childe’s gag as another bout of vomit, frowns. “Why? If you’re not done, just let them out Baobei, there’s still plenty of space left.”
Chidle closes his eyes in mixed disbelief and slight frustration. Why is he more disgusted than Zhongli? “No, I’m already fine just- just clean your hands.”
Zhongli stares at the younger man in concern, before nodding. “Very well. Just sit on the bed first, Baobei.” He says shortly before he turns his body and walks toward the bathroom, careful to not spill the vomit in his palms to the floor.
Following the adeptus’ advice, Childe unsteadily walks towards the bed and plops down on it with a tired sigh. While his stomach feels a lot better than before, the exhaustion he felt before seems to have multiplied. He slouches his shoulder down, as shivers wrack through his body.
“How do you feel?” Zhongli asks after he exits the bathroom and approaches the Harbinger.
“Better.” Childe deeply sighs and immediately winces when he can faintly smell the acidic scent of his vomit in the air.
“What’s wrong, Baobei?” Zhongli asks as he takes the eucalyptus oil from their nightstand.
“I can still smell the vomit.” Childe scrunches up his nose. “Eugh.”
Zhongli glances at the clock and immediately opens the bottle, putting some oil into his clean palm. The minty scent of the eucalyptus immediately spread through the room, but Childe still winces in distaste. “Let me lather you up with this first and let’s go out. It’s still a little bit too early, but the fresh air will be good for you.”
.
.
Childe sighs contently as the crisp, morning air fills his lungs. He’s now in the pavilion of their house, with the light from the early sun warming his body. The nausea has completely disappeared, although the unpleasantness of it all still lingers. He’s famished though and Childe hopes that this whole morning sickness period will end soon. The image of Zhongli offering his palms without hesitation or any disgust even when his palms were full of vomit flashes through his mind and Childe can’t stop the frown on his face.
Right, he should talk about it later.
His attention is soon diverted when he sees Zhongli’s figure coming out from the house, with a tray in his hand.
“I brought you tea and some crackers.” The former Archon says as he puts the tray down on the low table.
“Thank you, Xiansheng.” Childe gratefully says as he takes the warm cup of tea. Another content sigh escapes from him after he takes a sip, as the warm tea goes through his throat.
“How do you feel, Baobei?” Zhongi asks as he too, takes a sip of his tea.
“Better, definitely.” Childe exhales resignedly. “Who would’ve thought that it’d hit me when I was still asleep?”
“It certainly was more severe than the previous days.” Zhongli nods in affirmation. “Was it perhaps caused by the food last night?” He guesses.
“I don’t think so.” Childe shakes his head. “I only had seafood soup last night and I didn’t eat any snacks in the evening. Nothing out of the ordinary.” He frowns in distaste at the implicit accusation that his favorite food is the culprit.
“It’s just a suggestion.” Zhongli amicably says, sensing the dangerous zone he’s suddenly stepping into. “Perhaps we should visit Baizhu later for a consultation.”
“Maybe we should.” Childe hums, before he clears his throat and approaches the topic. “Anyway Xiansheng, please refrain from doing something like that again next time.”
“What did I do?” Zhongli puzzledly asks.
“Let me vomit on your hands.” The Harbinger scrunches his nose in disgust as he’s reminded of the unpleasant memories again.
“And why is that?” Zhongli inquires with the same confusion. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
The unexpected answer baffles Childe. So Zhongli’s calmness and indifference towards it was because he’s genuinely not bothered? “That’s- Aren’t you disgusted?”
“Why should I?” Zhongli replies evenly. “It’s merely bodily fluids, Baobei.”
“But-”
Zhongli chuckles at the absolute flabbergasted expression on his mate’s face. “Do you wish for me to act surprised and disgusted with the whole thing?”
“It is disgusting, Xiansheng.” Childe exasperatedly says.
“It doesn’t, love. Also, you’re suffering like this because you’re carrying my offspring.” Zhongli reminds him kindly. “I really won’t mind, so don’t worry about such trivial things, Baobei.”
Childe takes a deep sigh, having no argument to deny it anymore. He is not sure whether to kiss Zhongli silly and be grateful to the extent the former Archon is willing to do, or scolding him because that’s straight up cheating. Anyone would’ve melted with this level of dedication and love. “Alright, but next time, just fetch me a bowl or trash can, okay?”
“I’ll try.”
“Xiansheng.”
“Your well-being is my top priority, Baobei. Something as inconsequential as mere human fluids won’t stop me from taking care of you.”
“Okay, fine I understand.” Childe sighs as he raises his palms in defeat.
“I’m glad that you do, Baobei.” Zhongli smiles. “Shall we head towards the port now? Chef Mao should’ve opened his restaurant by now and you need to refill your empty stomach.”
.
.
“Are you sure it’s okay for you to order seafood soup again, love?” Zhongli rather worriedly asks as they wait for their meals to be delivered.
Childe rolls his eyes. “It’s fine, Xiansheng. You worry too much.”
“Well-”
“Sorry for the wait! Here is your seafood soup, rice and wonton soup!” Chef Mao says as he arrives at their table. The middle aged man has just put the seafood bowl, when Childe suddenly gags and runs out of the restaurant.
.
“Shut it, Xiansheng.” Childe grumbles under his breath as he stares longingly at the seafood soup that has been taken away from their table.
“I didn’t say anything, love.” Zhongli says appeasingly, before he orders another bowl of wonton soup.
“I’m your mate. I can sense that grin deep inside your heart.”
“It’s simply your imagination.” Zhongli dismisses with an easy smile on his face. “However, I think it’s wise for us to completely avoid seafood dishes for now.”
“Hmph.”
Even though the culprit of Childe’s sudden intense nausea has been found, it still couldn’t fully soothe his heart. So even though it’s barely eleven, Zhongli finds himself returning to their home.
When he ventures into the house, he raises his eyebrow when he fails to see the ginger-haired man. He even checks into their bedroom and the bathroom and yet Childe is nowhere to be found. Frowning, Zhongli’s about to check into his domain when he sees the door to their backyard is opened.
“Baobei?” Zhongli calls as he walks out from the shelter of his house. He turns to the right and immediately freezes as his heart feels like it has stopped upon seeing where his pregnant mate is currently.
Perching on the rather high apple tree is where Childe is. His legs are dangling from the rather thick branch, while said male in question is happily munching on the red fruit.
Zhongli opens and closes his mouth several times, too stunned with the sight and not knowing where he should start to say or what to feel anymore. Should he feel amused, upon seeing his beloved mate apparently was able to climb a tree while he’s pregnant or should he be concerned because his pregnant mate climbed a freaking tree and it’s so dangerous considering his state, or should he feel resigned because, well, he’s marrying Tartaglia the Eleventh Harbinger and he knows Childe hasn’t really adapted to the new quiet and careful lifestyle he has to embrace because of his pregnancy.
When he sees that Childe is now happily swinging his legs, Zhongli takes a big sigh and quietly approaches the younger man.
.
He really, really should look for a maid, or a guard for Childe.
.
Childe has just finished another apple when he hears the soft rustling of steps on the grass. Surprised, he turns his head around and sees Zhongli is walking towards him.
“Baobei... what are you doing up there?” Zhongli asks as he stops right in front of him and puts both of his hands on his back.
Oh.
That doesn’t look good.
The only time Zhongli’s in that posture while questioning somebody is when he’s about to give an earful to whoever it is and by Tsaritsa, his husband can be too much when he’s nagging someone.
"Don't look at me like that." Childe says as he instantly goes on a defensive mode. “I was really bored and I had nothing to do here.” He semi-whines, trying to justify himself.
“What if you fall, love?” Zhongli patiently questions with that look.
“I won’t.” Childe unconsciously scowls as he crosses his hands on his chest, not noticing the slight stagger from the former Archon at his movement. “Also, I was craving for apple.”
Zhongli takes a very deep breath to calm his turbulent emotion. “You could’ve just bought it from the market.”
“But I want this tree’s apple.” Childe insistently says.
“Then you should’ve waited for me to get them for you.” Zhongli replies, a little bit impatient at his mate’s ridiculous reasoning.
“I’m not a fragile vase, Zhongli.” Childe sharply says, instantly aggravated with the excessive babying from the older male.
“Indeed, you aren’t.” Zhongli agrees as he softens his tone, choosing to back down rather than irritating his mate further. “I’m merely worried, love. Next time, just ask me or call Xiao for it, alright? For me?” He coaxes gently.
“Fine.” Childe huffs, uncrossing his arms.
“Now, won’t you welcome your husband?” Zhongli asks as he stretches both of his arms towards the Harbinger.
Childe rolls his eyes and lets himself fall from the branch. Just as expected, he’s perfectly caught within the former Archon’s hold.
“Hello, Baobei.” Zhongli chuckles as he leaves a kiss on Childe’s forehead.
“Why are you already here?” Childe inquires as he’s carried back towards their house.
“I miss you.” Zhongli answers with a straight face, flushing the younger man at the rather blunt affection.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“So I’ve been told.” Zhongli chuckles before his expression turns more solemn. “Childe, please refrain from doing something like that again.”
“I won’t fall, Xiansheng.”
“Childe.”
“Fine, I won’t do it again.”
“Good boy.” Zhongli kisses the younger man’s forehead once again. “Let’s grab something to eat, shall we?”