𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 [ 𝘼𝙐 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙘𝙝𝙞 ]

8: What the light does not see

Two days had passed since the Lantern Rite, and Zhongli had gone to Fontaine on a business trip the day after the festival. Childe kept thinking about what happened, he didn't process the facts well. He had been hugging Zhongli for quite some time, plus Zhongli had kissed him on the knuckles. The redhead finished cleaning the stain that had been resisting for more than ten minutes stuck to the floor, he passed his forearm over his sweaty forehead, sighing as he sat on the spot. Aether brushed past him with the broom, stopping to look at him.

"Good work," he smiled.

In the morning Childe had apologized to him for not picking up the phone, Aether apparently was going to ask him if he would attend the Rite. Childe got up from the ground, while he looked at the palm of his left hand, his wounds were healing so he no longer needed the bandages, just be more careful.

"Likewise," he replied to the blond. Aether looked at his hand, widening his eyes.

"Oh and that?" He pointed, moving closer to see him better.

"Well... I tripped," It was the worst lie he could have made, the crescent shape gave him away completely. Aether looked at him incredulously, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, really?" The blonde pulled away from him. "And what else?"

Childe sighed, not wanting to discuss the call with his father.

"It's nothing, I just got a little lost."

"I think it takes a lot more to injure yourself inadvertently, Childe," Aether shook his head. "Anyway, I'm not going to get anything by asking you, but know that I'm going to keep an eye on you."

"Yeah, well..." They walked to the cleaning room and put the utensils away.

"You haven't told me what you did in the Lantern Rite," Aether set the broom in their place, turning to look at the redhead. "You can tell me that, right?"

Childe shrugged, avoiding the other's eyes.

"I guess... But Kaeya better be there," Aether was surprised to hear an affirmative answer, smiling.

"It has to be something incredible for you to want to tell us, right?" He widened his smile. "The bad thing is that he has been back in Mondstadt, so you will have to settle for a video call."

"Seem right..."

"Great, would you like to go to Wanmin for dinner and we call him?"

Childe pursed his lips. "I can't..."

"Oh..." Aether knew of his delicate family's financial situation, although he was not aware that now he was even worse. "Okay, we call him now, don't worry."

"Thanks."

Scaramouche leaned against the doorframe of the room, staring at his two companions. Childe looked away when he saw him.

"I've seen the new schedule," said the jet, staring at the redhead. "You have put in more overtime."

"Well, I don't think it's any of your business," he snapped, turning to look at him.

"Childe, we've known each other for quite a few years, you should stop pretending we're enemies or something. I'm not telling you I can be friends because I can't stand you either, but at least we could talk to each other like normal people."

Childe narrowed his eyes, not even remembering why they were getting on badly. Something from high school probably. "Maybe you are right—"

"About the schedule," he repeated.