Winner Takes All

chapter 7

Childe was rotating between crying, throwing up, and passing out. Zhongli's rejection had hit harder than he ever thought it would. He'd only just been able to accept the feelings he'd been harboring for Zhongli. Now, it felt as if his heart had been shattered.

Mikhail had served as a shoulder to cry on.

For four days.

"Shh, shh, it's okay," Mikhail soothed. "You'll find love again."

"You don't get it!" Childe sobbed. "It needs to be him! It can't be anyone else!"

"I thought the same thing about my ex. He was a stupid Alpha who had very rigid ideas about the roles of Alphas and Omegas. He treated me...poorly. When he left me, I thought my life was over, he had destroyed my self esteem that much."

"How- how'd you get through it?"

"With support. My mothers, my big sister Olga, my friends, and Maria...they all pulled me out of that hole. I want to be someone like that to you."

"Thank you...that-" Childe sniffled loudly. "That makes me feel better."

The dumbwaiter made a noise. Mikhail walked over to check what it was. Inside was a bowl of soup and a note.

"That smells really tasty..." Childe mumbled.

"I think it's for you," Mikhail brought over the note.

I hope this soup will suit your palette. From Zhongli

"This bastard..." Mikhail tossed the note behind him, then went to the communication device.

Childe slowly went over to the soup.

"Yes. Hi, is there a Zhongli around? I need to speak to him," Mikhail said curtly.

Childe took a small sip of the soup. It felt like a warm hug in his stomach. The taste...there was no mistaking who made this soup.

"I have quite a few things to say to you, mister Zhongli, but I will keep things brief. I don't know what you said to the Lord Harbinger, but he's been inconsolable since speaking to you. I'm in my heat as well, and all my energy that should be going into taking care of myself is going into soothing my Lord Harbinger," Mikhail explained.

Childe had no more tears to cry. He only sipped on the thin soup slowly. His stomach churned, but he didn't want to reject a gift from Zhongli.

Mikhail's composure broke. "You broke his heart! How could you do that during an Omega's heat!? I- I don't care if you're looking out for his best interest! He took it as a rejection! Think about how he's feeling!"

Stomach cramping, Childe dropped the empty bowl of soup, which clattered on the ground, and ran to the bucket. Everything came out. His throat burned, his vision filled with spots. His head pounded. He felt hot, so hot. So tired.

He put the bucket down.

He walked over to the bathroom, swaying, to wash his face. The tiles below him warped and blurred in his eyes. Gripping onto the sink, he tried to steady himself. He took a handful of water and splashed it on his face.

When he gripped the sink again, his hand slipped. When he opened his eyes again, he was on the ground.

He tried to get up, but his body had no more energy left. From the bathroom, he could see Mikhail angrily talking to someone.

Through heavy breaths and rapidly fading consciousness, he let out a whine. Mikhail turned around, and dropped the receiver for the communication device.