Genshin College Modern AU

Chapter 3

When the four of them got to the bar, Angels Share. Kaeya and Childe burst through the door,
"Hey Charles- DILUC?" Kaeya yelped. A man with long red hair that was tied into a low, messy ponytail was standing behind the counter cleaning a glass.
"Oh for fucks sake not you three again, who's this guy?"
Zhongli introduced himself while Venti ordered a Dandelion Wine and twelve shots of Vodka for the four of them to share.

Childe and Kaeya sat down at a nearby table. Zhongli joined them, taking a seat next to Childe.
"Look, I usually don't drink that much and I heard Dandelion Wine is barely passed by heavy drinkers." Kaeya snickered,
"Oh don't worry, I'm sure you'll have fun, especially when this ones here." He pointed at Childe who was still blushing over Zhongli's voice. With that, Venti sat down opposite to Zhongli, next to Kaeya.
"One bottle of Dandelion Wine and twelve shots of Vodka?" The bartender serving them arrived at their table, his nametag read "Charles". Zhongli assumed that was who Kaeya was expecting to be behind the counter earlier.

"Whoever's drunk first has to do a dare," Kaeya declared, all heads turned to Zhongli, obviously he was going to lose. The men took one shot. Zhongli looked a bit weary, but he hadn't passed out on the floor yet–that was a good sign.
"Ready to take another?" The three men took another shot. Zhongli hesitantly took another, too. This was all he could handle, he was already extremely drunk, only after two shots. If it were anyone else, Childe would burst out laughing and call him an amateur.
"Welp I guess the old man's out, he has to do a dare now," With that comment escaping Venti's mouth, Childe grinned, now was his chance.

All eyes were laid on Childe as a devilish smile snuck onto his face,
"Zhongli, I dare you to kiss the hottest person in this room." Zhongli, still extremely drunk, went red in the face, scanning his unfocused eyes over the room. Finally, his gaze landed on the person sitting beside him, none other than Childe. He leaned in, their lips smashing into each other. Suddenly Childe's eyes opened wide, the first thing he noticed was the thick taste of vodka, but as the kiss went on, he also tasted a tinge of something sweet that Childe couldn't make out amidst the alcohol.
"Uh, guys, it's been like a minute of you two making out, you good there?" As Venti said that Zhongli quickly pulled away, Childe was almost as red as his hair, forget butterflies in his stomach, he felt fucking birds.

Did I really just kiss him?

Zhongli sat back in his seat as he usually did, it was still painstakingly obvious that he was drunk, but he didn't seem as tipsy as he did earlier. God, Kaeya will never stop teasing Childe about this, nor would Venti with Zhongli.

The four of them decided to head back to Zhonglis' dorm after nobody else offered. The man took his phone out.

Xiao

Zhongli: Hey Xiao, I have some friends coming over so stay in your room please.

Xiao: fuck off

Zhongli: Okay ☹️

As the four of them walked in, the first thing they saw was Xiao taped to the fucking ceiling. "ZHONGLI HELP. THIS BITCH ITTO TAPED ME TO THE CEILING!" A few paces behind Xiao, a man with long matted white hair was practically on the floor laughing, just like Childe, Kaeya and Venti.
"Xiao, calm down."
"I CAN'T FUCKING CALM DOWN IF IM ON THE CEILING."
"I'll help you get down, then."
With that, Zhongli helped Xiao get down, having to get on Childe's shoulders.
"Is it comfy? I can shift your position a bit if not?" Zhongli shook his head,
"No it's alright." When they got him down the man left,
"The red head's gay like you." Xiao uttered, a door slam heard in the background. By then, Itto had swiftly apologised and left the building, leaving the four half-drunk men standing in Zhongli's dorm.

The four men all went their separate ways, Zhongli and Childe were sitting on the couch together while Kaeya was sitting near the breakfast bench.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Venti slurred, staggering up the stairs and into the first room he saw. His face flushed as he saw a similar aged guy laying down on a messy bed with half eaten chip packets strewn across it and a laptop.
"What are you doing here?" The guy's voice was coarse and rough; a bit intimidating but it made Venti smile.
"Oh sorry I was looking for the bathroom, I'll go now." Trying to get out of the door the raven was stopped,
"Stay here, I'm bored either way and Zhongli's an ass." Venti got a bit flustered at the fact this guy wanted him to stay.
"I never caught your name, I'm Venti,"
"Xiao." Venti immediately realised it was the guy who was called 'emo' on the groupchat and took a seat next to him. The two sat together, chatting about random topics that enthused them. Anything from video games to books to music... As the day went on, so did the list.
"Want to stay over? I don't think Zhongli will mind, he's old and grumpy either way." As he said that, a gentle tap was heard on the door before Zhongli entered.
"Ah, that's where you were, the others left already. You can stay over if you please. Venti, may I speak with you?"
Venti nodded, following Zhongli into the hallway, watching as the man's demeanour completely changed, flashing him a dangerous look. "If you fucking dare hurt Xiao in any way I will have your head on a stick by graduation, am I clear?" Shivers ran up and down Venti's spine. Despite being quite close with Zhongli, he'd never really seen this side of him. He only heard the man swear when he was black out drunk, with that he promptly nodded, not particularly having any choice, before returning back to the company of Xiao. A new friend–maybe even his new boyfriend.