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

-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍-

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•

A couple weeks later had flown by and it was hard to realize Childe and Zhongli had been dating for almost a few months now. At least for them; things had been going well, but their schedules had only been getting so busy more and more, that they barely had time to spend together. Not to mention, with the growing rumors about Zhongli's latest movie having a potential gay kiss in it, it only fed the starving media more gossip to create, and in the end, more talk being thrown at the actors involved.

Was such a rumor over a gay kiss a reason to create such chaos? Of course not. But it was the type of thing people were automatically going to make a fuss over. Already was there talk about boycotting the movie or even worse— and replacing one of the leads with a woman actress instead.

It was beginning to get on Childe's nerves. Not that he blamed Zhongli— not in the slightest. But was rather more upset at the public.

It was a dream of Childe's to star side-by-side by his favorite actor. Zhongli had inspired Childe since his childhood; when Chikde first watched Zhongli's movies, he was no older than seven, and the actor starting out around fourteen or fifteen. So Childe had plenty of time to admire him. His entire reason for leaving home was to eventually meet up with Zhongli! It just happened sooner than expected.

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One day, during break between filming, Childe approached Zhongli.

"Hey Sensei. That was a tough scene, huh? I'm still sure I could've done better on it." His attempt to make conversation was slightly and unintentionally ignored.

When Zhongli realized Childe was there, he snapped out of whatever daze he was in and apologized.

Childe's gaze narrowed briefly before sitting beside Zhongli. "Is something on your mind, Sensei?" He asked with concern, but Zhongli shook his head, dismissing it as calling it just a headache.

And the next couple days, whenever Childe asked what was wrong, Zhongli said he had a headache and had an excuse to leave– to which he did.

Eventually the not talking to each other was getting to Childe and he noticed quickly how distracted Zhongli was. It wasn't a surprise by what either; over the last week, reporters had been trying to talk to Zhongli whenever he left the studio and question about the incident with the obsessed fans and the kiss in the movie. Of course Zhongli wouldn't respond, but as Childe would watch how his senior actor reacted, he always caught sight of a dark loneliness in those dear amber eyes that once held such a pleasant warmth and kindness, but now were being muddied by the stress and overwhelming sense of cameras and shouts.

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"How can after all we've ventured through, how can you push me away!?" Ajax asked, desperately grabbing onto Rex Lapis. "Back there, did your eyes not show longingness for someone ?! Was that someone not me !?" He shouted, confused, upset– but froze once Rex Lapis put his hands on Ajax's shoulders. 

"I... can never return the sort of feelings you hold for me. It would be best if you and me decided to part ways .. " Rex Lapis told him quietly, his gaze refused to meet the ones that began to softened and brim with sadness. Ajax quickly looked away so Rex Lapis couldn't see him cry.

"I think I'm starting to really cry.. What's wrong with me ?"  Childe thought, feeling his body tremble a bit. It was acting, but he wondered how much of it was. Zhongli was doing so well, just as he always did, but perhaps Childe was getting a bit paranoid after their relationship lately and now this sort of scene.