Work Text:
With a deep breath, Zhongli made his way to Childe's door, his garments and footwear slightly dampened by the heavy rainfall. He knocks on the door with his free hand, holding his umbrella in the other as he waits rather impatiently for Childe to open the door.
"Ah, Zhongli." Zhongli raised his gaze from the ground upon realizing that Childe had opened the door. "Hello." Childe snickered as he looked at Zhongli's slightly irritated expression due to all the rain that had been pouring down.
"Anyone ever tell you how adorable you look when you're annoyed?"
Zhongli froze a bit at that.
"Always with the teasing. And I am not annoyed."
"Uh huh, sure you aren't. Now come on in before you get even more wet."
Childe opens the door, ushering Zhongli inside of his home. Zhongli hurriedly enters, a wave of relief washing over him, satisfied to no longer be walking in the pouring rain. He closes his dripping wet umbrella, not knowing where exactly to put it. He didn't want to get the floor wet, after all. It looked like Childe had just mopped. He looked over at Childe who had just finished closing and locking the door. "It's alright, go ahead." Zhongli smiled slightly as he placed his umbrella on the floor, before hanging his black trench coat on the coat rack beside the sofa.
He then looked around the place, the living room looking both messy and clean. Sure, the floor was squeaky clean, but there were newspapers scattered across the glass coffee table, blankets strewn all over the couch, and shelves looking quite disorganized. "Have a seat." Childe says with a smile, as he walks towards the kitchen.
Zhongli sits down on the sofa, letting out a deep breath. "Y'know, you shouldn't have been walking out there with nothing but an umbrella. It says there’s gonna be a severe thunderstorm soon."
Zhongli looks over at Childe, watching him pour tea he had been brewing into the two cups. "Ah? I was not aware." Childe chuckles. "Is that so? I'm surprised, Zhongli. You usually always watch those boring weather channels."
"Merely being informative does not entail being boring nor dull." Childe sighed.
"To each his own. Tell me, Zhongli. Do you even know what fun is?" Childe adds while walking towards the sofa with the two cups.
"That is a silly question. I am certainly aware of the concept of enjoyment, for your information."
Childe laughs as he sets the cup of tea in front of Zhongli, while setting his cup beside it as he sits down on the sofa.
"So how's that girlfriend of yours doing, hmm?" Childe asked, making an effort to engage in conversation. Despite his genuine tone, his face was full of jealousy as he discreetly took a sip of his tea.
"She is doing well, thank you for your concern." Zhongli replied before taking a sip of his tea as well.
"Oh yeah? I'm surprised she let you come over. That sneaky little manipulator." Childe says, muttering that last sentence. Zhongli raises an eyebrow inquisitively.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Ah, i-it's nothing. Wanna watch some tv?" Childe inquires while grabbing the remote control from off of the coffee table, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Of course. Could you please switch the channel to the weather forecast?" Zhongli takes one last sip of his tea before setting it onto the coffee table. Childe laughs lightly as he sits back, turning on the weather channel. He then observes Zhongli, who maintains impeccable posture, sitting in a poised manner on the sofa. "Come on, sit back and get comfortable." Childe gently placed his arm around Zhongli's waist, drawing him closer. Zhongli was taken aback by the unexpected gesture, causing him to appear slightly flustered. Once he became more accustomed to the current position, he leaned his head against Childe's shoulder, eliciting a smile from Childe as they both remained focused on the television.
A bit over 60 minutes later, the rainy evening had subsided, with the thunder and lightning becoming faint in the background, much to Zhongli's satisfaction. They were seated on the sofa, still in the same position as they engaged in watching a movie, with Childe drifting in and out of consciousness.
Zhongli's phone then rings abruptly. As he retrieves it from his pocket, he notices it's his girlfriend calling him. He sighs deeply as he turns his phone off. "Perhaps I should take my leave now.." Zhongli murmured softly as he stood up from the sofa. He suddenly felt a hand grasp his own, prompting him to turn around, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Stay with me." Childe asserts, looking up at Zhongli. Making it sound like more of a command than a request.
"Please..?"
Zhongli smiled.