Winter's Fever. || Zhongli X Childe

Part 2

Childes phone rang.

"What do you want?" Childe answered.

"Childe! Where are you? I'm getting worried," Zhongli's voice on the other end said.

"I'm fine, and why should you care where I am!" Childe put his hand in his pocket.

"I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you, but I only yelled! I tried to make myself stay calm. Just, please just come home." Zhongli sounded like he was crying.

"I'll come home when I want too." Childe hung up and put his phone back in his pocket.

Childe overreacted quite a bit, but Zhongli thought he would understand.

"Stupid.." Childe said under his breath.

———

It's been about an hour now, and Childe didn't know where he was going. He was freezing.

Where am I?.. 'Wangsheng Funeral Parlor'? Isn't this where Zhongli works?

Childe was interested, he's never been to Zhongli's work.

Maybe I can ask his boss if they know why he's so stressed. But it's late.. no, it's only 9:32 I'm sure they are still open.

Childe found out that the door was unlocked so he went in, it wasn't really warm but, it wasn't cold either.

It was quiet. Their were candles for lights and a bunch of wood planks in a corner.

"Hello!!" Someone with brown hair, a hat, and a pyro vision said.

"Oh, hello." Childe waved, he had to look down since he was very much taller then her.

"Your Zhongli's.. boss?" Childe asked, "Yup! That's me! Hu Tao. Boss of the funeral Parlor." Hu Tao smiled.

"We—I was about to close up, what brings you here so late at night, was it a quick one?" Hu Tao asked, "Wh—What?" Childe let a little bit of sweat drop from his cheek.

"A quick death is what I mean. Or did you come here for another reason?" Hu Tao was a bit confused.

"Oh, well it's about Zhongli.." Childe rubbed the back of his head.

"Oh? What about him? You two friends?" Hu Tao asked.

He hasn't even talked about to his boss?

"Yeah..friends." Childe replied.

"Alright! What is it you want to ask?"

"Do you know why he's, stressed?" Childe asked.

"Well, he doesn't really talk about his personal life that much but, the only reason I could think about why he would be stressed, work related, would be..." Hu Tao had to think for a moment.

"Well, I don't know actually. He acts fine at work. Though at lunch breaks, he's been getting calls often, from a lady. He always seems like he needs to cry after." Hu Tao said.

"Cry?" Childe repeated as a question.

"Mhm, once when I asked him who it was he said it was 'nothing important.' Must really bother him." Hu Tao's mood changed.

"Thank you for telling me this. I've got to go now!" Childe smiled and started walking toward the door, right before he was gonna open it he said, "I'm his boyfriend by the way.".

. . .

"Wha?!" Hu Tao was surprised.

Childe laughed a bit then went out the door.

"At least we have one thing in common." Hu Tao giggled then Yanfei came out from the bathroom.

"What are you laughing at?" Yanfei asked, "You know Zhongli? My co-worker? He's gay too!" Hu Tao smiled then went over to Yanfei and kissed her.

——
( With Childe )

"Zhongli!" Childe ran into the house and tried to find Zhongli.

"Zhongli where are you!" Childe looked in the bedroom and couldn't find him.

"Zhongli?!" Childe then rushed to the kitchen, he saw Zhongli on the floor with his phone out. He must've fallen asleep.

"Zhongli.." Childe kneeled down to see Zhongli.

"I'm sorry.." Childe picked up Zhongli and kissed his forehead.

Bringing him to bed he heard Zhongli's phone ring.

Childe laid Zhongli on the bed and covered him up then answered the Zhongli's phone.

"Hello? I'm sorry but Zhongli's asleep right now." Childe said quietly to not wake up Zhongli.

"Childe?!" Childe heard a familiar voice on the other end.

It was Signora.

"Signora?! What are you calling him?!" Childe asked.

Signora hung up.

"Bitch." Childe turned off Zhongli's phone and placed it on the table.

"Goodnight Zhongli." Childe smiled then went to get dressed for bed.

——

( Next Day )

Zhongli yawned while getting up, "Childe.." Zhongli said softly, he was still half asleep so he couldn't think straight yet.

. . .

"Childe?!" Zhongli's eyes widened at the sight of Childe, he didn't think he would come home.

"Mm..Fatui..Greatest toy salesman in Snezhnaya.." Childe rolled over. "Zhongli..?" Childe opened his eyes.

"Morning love.." Childe smiled.

"I didn't think you would come back.." Zhongli looked away.

"I'm sorry.." Childe sat up.

"I shouldn't have said all those things, I was just mad. I shouldn't have been, you were stressed you didn't mean to yell." Childe kissed Zhongli.

"I love you. So much." Zhongli smiled and hugged him.

"I love you too." Childe hugged him back.

"Can we stay like this for awhile?" Zhongli asked.

"Of course." Childe hugged him tighter.

I sure hope nothing bad happens!  - Author