𝑰 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐘 𝐂𝐎-𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 [𝐙𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈 𝐗 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄]

-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍-

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•

Drinking a cup of warm tea was usually how Zhongli started each morning. Most enjoyed coffee, he preferred tea. Something like a smooth and lightly sweetened flavor was more enjoyable than something bitter and strong. For someone like Zhongli at least who never had a like for anything bitter first thing in the morning.

He had left Childe alone in bed. Somehow he found himself unwanting to even do that; he had an urge stay in bed— where Childe ended up sleeping with him all night— but forced himself out to start the day.. and to get a grasp of his thoughts.

"I.. like you, sensei.."

Those words Childe murmured in his ear the previous night were on repeat like a broken record in Zhongli's head.

And even morning tea did not fix the broken record. No, not in the slightest.

He was currently sipping tea at the kitchen table, overlooking a newspaper as he did. Zhongli wasn't one to scroll social media. In fact, the only socials he owned were a small few run by his manager, and she took care of those things for him.. Though in most cases she was more of the boss— that was the one thing she did for him. Mostly because Zhongli could handle modern day technology as well as a baby could drive a car.

"What did he mean by that..?" He wondered, holding his chin in thought. Zhongli couldn't come up with many reasons, if any.

Did Childe— no, no. It was ridiculous..

"He wouldn't—"

"Good morning, sensei.." Childe sleepily greeted with a yawn. And his tired, sleepy appearance caught Zhongli's eye.

"I didn't think; You don't have a change of clothes."

Childe blinked. Then sheepishly smiled and rubbed his nape. "Don't worry about it, Sensei. I already feel a lot better.. Oh my. I didn't miss any calls from the studio, did I ??" He asked out loud, glancing around quickly for his phone, which Zhongli picked up.

"The director called yesterday after you fell asleep, but I informed you were sick and would need a couple days to recover. Consider it.. a break.. Get some rest. " And Zhongli stood up from his seat and put a hand on Childe's shoulder, leading him back to towards the hallway. "And I'll get you some clothes." He said, figuring Childe's clothes he's been wearing for the last couple days would need of wash, and though the idea of tempting, he felt his heart race being this close; it raced more when Zhongli led them to the bathroom.

"Erm.. sensei, why are we in here?"

Zhongli was midway of pulling his sleeves back when Childe asked that. He paused. Then answered. "You sweated much during your fever. Cleaning up would be good. Hygiene is always important." And with that, he continued to turn on the bath water, filling the tub.

Now, the bathroom was spacious, with a shower in the corner and a large round tub against the furthest wall. A double sink right across that with a large mirror behind it. It was nice, but the water on the floor by the showerhead made Childe have the assumption Zhongli already showered that morning. And that made his mind start to wander until Zhongli walked past him.

"I'll get you some clothes." And he left.

Finally Childe sighed. "He really insists taking care of me like I'm a kid.." he murmured, but still... it felt kinda nice. Back home, it was Childe who was taking care of his siblings, and not vise versa like this.

Actually, nobody really took care of him like this.

Childe stripped down, not realizing how sticky and smelly his clothes had really gotten until he tossed them off and kicked them to the side before showering himself off. The cool water felt nice, but the hot water in the bathtub felt even better against his tired muscles.

"This is nice.." he hummed to himself, staring up at the lights on the ceiling before he flinched when the door opened and Zhongli was setting a towel and clothing on the counter.

Childe watched the other set the items down, but bit his lip then stopped Zhongli before he could exit the bathroom.

"Sensei."

Zhongli paused. His eyes wandered down to how Childe was gripping his sleeve, then to his shoulder, and bare rosy chest, his abs and muscles looked so defined at the moment in the steamy water–

"Ah, yes?" Zhongli asked and Childe looked away, almost shamefully.

"I.. feel bad about you doing all this.. taking care of me.."  After all, someone like Zhongli had to have been quite busy, and yet he took two out-of-the-blue days off to take care of Childe, who had gotten himself sick. Sure he was only trying to help Zhongli get better, but still. Childe should've been more careful. Yet Zhongli hadn't batted an eye to taking care of him like this.

The older man was silent for a second. As if he was putting together his thoughts. Finally Zhongli kneeled down beside the tub, putting his hand on the one holding his sleeve.

"I did this because I wanted to. You don't owe me a thanks.." and that was the truth. Zhongli did this out of his own desire. Yes, it felt a bit guilty after how Childe treated him, but even if he hadn't, Zhongli wouldn't just let the other suffer sick. It made him.. worry seeing Childe ill. And ot kinda made him wonder of that's how Childe felt when he first came over and saw Zhongli sick.

"I.." Zhongli struggled to come up with the words, then fell into defeat seeing as he might as well be honest. "I.. was worried.." he confessed, looking away, which was good because his cheeks had heated up a bit.

*  BA - THUMP *

"He was..."  Childe swallowed, totally in awe. ".. worried for me ..?"

The man who could be as stoically similar as a rock was worried ? Worried for Childe ? Who shared a shameful past of accidentally hooking up with while drunk ? Childe was sure that last part alone would make everything between them awkward forever, and yet that didn't seem entirely true.

Suddenly Zhongli began to pull away, about to excuse himself, he felt his knee slip against the apprently-wet floor and he felt forward, his hand pressing against the rim of the tub behind Childe, and Zhongli was much closer to the ginger than a second ago.

Zhongli and Childe both stared at each other for a moment in shock, then their expressions relaxed as they leaned in closer. Ever so slowly,  ever so carefully. Their lips mere centimeters apart as they got closer; Childe could smell the tea leaves off Zhongli's breath and Zhongli could feel Childe put his hand on his.

"I like you, Sensei."

Those words flooded back into Zhongli's mind— the ones Childe told him last night when he was sick. And Zhongli never felt so lightheaded. Was he about to faint? But his body burned with some sort of excitement, like fire crackers sparkling through his body to his fingertips. Everything was going so fast, but so slow at the same time.

And finally they kissed— making everything feel so perfect in this entire moment.

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•