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

-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄-

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•

"So.. what happened next?"

"You curious?.." Childe held his glass up, swishing around the boba tea he was enjoying under the umbrella outside a cafe along with his manager: Aether.

"Well..." Aether glanced to the side, uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly I don't even believe most of what you said."

"That me and Zhongli-sensei kissed?"

"That and that you're telling me about your love life !" Aether shouted in an exasperated tone. He sighed and burrowed his face into the table, not even noticing his blonde braid was getting caught in his milkshake, to which Childe pushed away for him. "I'm supposed to be your manager, not your diary.." Aether mumbled with defeat, but Childe only let out a heart chuckle of amusement.

"My bad, but I suppose Xiao hasn't been pleased with me, either. ."

Now Aether looked up. "Why hasn't Xiao been pleased with you?"

Childe laughed, smiling as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Haha, well when I saw him last, I—" Pause. "Hold on a moment, comrade. Do you know —"

But Childe never got an answer because his phone began to ring and he quickly caught notice of something odd; there was a person ducking behind a white van  across street a few stores down. For a second Childe thought he must've imagined it, but when he saw a head pop back up momentarily before ducking back down, he was sure he saw it. He couldn't make out the facial features, or even if it was a woman or man.

"What is it?" Aether asked curiously,  tilting his head as he watched Childe stare at something behind him. Aether glance around but the person left just as he did.

"Oh, nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew." Childe excused with a causal smile "Either way, I should get going. I got lines to go over and don't want to not be at ny best." The ginger got up, leaving some cash and a tip on the table. "Let me know if anything comes up. I know I can trust you, manager comrade !" He saluted before leaving.

Childe took the crosswalk and walked towards the direction he saw the person at. But as he got closer, that white van started up and drove away.

.

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.

The next morning, Childe was greeted by a familiar co-star at work.

"Good morning, Childe."

Said person stopped when he noticed Zhongli standing down the hall to his right by a vending machine– who which seemed to be giving Zhongli trouble.

Childe smiled immediately and hurried over with a wave. "And a good morning to you, sensei ! How have you been?"

"Good, thank you."

There was a bit of silence between the two. Yeah, they both had the same thing on their minds. No secret what that was.

"A-ahem. So what are you getting?" Childe quickly spoke up randomly, his head gesturing to the machine that Zhongli kept feeding coins. "I'm sure you put in enough."

"I thought so as well, but its saying otherwise." Zhongli sighed, giving up and pressing a button so his change came back out the dispenser. "My fault for losing my credit card, I suppose. I'm waiting for a new one."

Childe's jaw dropped. This guy... "You're a bit careless with money, sensei. Here, let me." He swiped his credit card ( which was much more convenient than carrying change, but Childe had a feeling paying with physical money was something Zhongli just preferred ) and Zhongli pressed the button for a bottle of green tea, which came tumbling out the bottom of the machine.

"I apologize. It seems I'm always using you for financial aid." Zhongli mentioned as Childe gave the bottle of tea to him. "It must be troubling on your part."

"On the contrary, I do not mind it." Childe promised, getting a juice for himself before he and Zhongli walked together to set.

.
.
.

After a day of practice, Childe was heading towards the car that was picking him up outside when he was stopped by Zhongli.

"I.. had a question." The older male confessed, clearing his throat quietly before taking a breath. Whatever it was seemed to be something weighing on his mind because Zhongli looked... slightly nervous  for once. Finally he held out two carnival tickets in front of the other.

"I acquired these a few days ago. Someone gave them to me as a gift. I.. wasn't actually sure what to do with them.." Zhongli started, tugging at the collar of his sweater.

[ A FEW DAYS AGO ]

"I do not understand. You're giving me these because–"

"Because you deserve a break!" Kaeya explained, crossing a leg over the other as he leaned back into his chair, his fingers fanned the tickets as he spoke. "You've done so much as of late.. and not to mention, you're our biggest actor on this movie. If we overwork you, it be just terrible on my name." He held out the tickets for Zhongli to take. "Not to mention, it would be a shame if these went to waste~..." he added.

"Take someone out to see the speculator carnivals Japan has to offer. Maybe ask someone who is, I don't know, new to Japan ? " Kaeya innocently suggested with a shrug.

.
.
.

Zhongli's gaze  found itself merely looking to the side, avoiding Childe's face completely. Somehow the cars parked outside the studio looked absolutely fascinating tonight. "Going to the carnival isn't something I make a habit of, but I thought perhaps you'd like to go–"

"Are you asking me out on a date, sensei ?" Childe asked, jaw dropping, eyes frozen on the other. He couldn't believe, not once in a million years, Zhongli would have the guts to ask him out like this.

Zhongli couldn't deny it, because, well, that was sort of his intent. But he couldn't help but feel this wave of nervousness over asking such a simple question. Was asking people out always this nerve-wracking?

"I thought it would be a new and enjoyable experience.." he answered quietly under his breath, not exactly saying yes to Childe's question, but definitely not saying no , either. And that caught Childe's notice.

"Well, what can I say. I'm a sucker for fun activities. I'd love to go, Zhongli-sensei. " Childe answered, taking the ticket and looking it over, which made Zhongli instinctly look at him . "Let's see... Alright. I'll let my manager know I need this day off." Childe told Zhongli — whom was far too stunned to answer. Mostly because.. Childe agreed rather easily and that wave of nervousness..

"See you then, Sensei!" Childe called out with a little goodbye wave before getting in the car waiting for him.

Yeah, that feeling of anxiety that Zhongli was feeling, went away immediately. And something much more warm and exhilarating took its place.

For once, Zhongli was looking forward to something.

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•