Desire, that makes us Hide Away - Desire, that makes us Open Up

Chapter 3: A sense of fellowship

Sooooo... Ehmm.. 9 days... 7 days... Who really DOES count? °XD

No I am sorry! I am really, really, really sorry I lost track of time again. I am working on chapter 4 right now, but I can't decide in a situation which of the two scenarios I would rather have. Well it's not a major decision so it shoud be alright.  Anygays- please enjoy your stay~

The moment the door closed behind them and Childe and the bluenette were back on the corridor, the ginger immediately turned to the one eyed, who quickly hold his hands up in defense despite the cocky grin on his lips as if he had the upper hand here. „ Woah easy there comrade~ Didn't you say it yourself, that we are friends?" „ We! Will talk! Right now!" „ Hoooh~ I don't see why though? Are you that stupid, that you still didn't get, that I am a mere student just like you Childe?" „ First: I am not stupid! Second: I know that you are a student! Third: I said what I said pretty boy!" Smirking the other looked him up and down before cocking an eyebrow. „ So I am pretty?" Gritting his teeth in a forced smile Childe tried to suppress the blush that was playing at the corners of his cheeks and just grabbed the blue eyed's arm, dragging him along. Dramatically whining he followed Childe reluctantly, not that he had a choice, until they had found an empty room. Without giving him another look the ginger locked the room behind them only then dared he to look into the single eye, that was judging him all the time, which made him slightly uncomfortable. „ So?" The blue haired didn't really seem interested and just settled down on the window sill putting one leg up. „ Well don't you think I wouldn't be suspicious of you, when I had a fight with you last night, with you having the key phrase, that you only get from associating with the fatui, an illegal underground organization, and then you suddenly appear at the university I am studying at, Mr. Alberich?" As if he were in thoughts the other averted his gaze. „ I guess you would be, since you are quite the wary person, aren't you Tartaglia?" A low growl escaped Childe's throat at the bluenette's teasing words. „ Don't you dare use that name here!" Amused the other looked at him as if he wanted to fight him again, but instead he lowered his head before jumping from his seat and began approaching him with a more carefree smile. „ Okay how about we go get something to eat? I am hungry and I can think of a few much better suited places to talk about this kind of... peculiar matter, wouldn't you agree?" Not completely dropping his guard, but accepting the logic he was presented with, he let the bluenette take the lead.

Not far away from their campus was a fast food place. Despite his companion, who ordered a full meal, Childe just went with a milkshake and simple fries. „ Come on! Don't be so tense.~" Cocking an eyebrow he looked at the one eyed doubtful, but sighed in conclusion. „ So? What was last night? As you might know by now, I hate the concept to which we played along, but I am not the one who makes the rules. Still I would like to be presented with a reason, if I am told to do it." Expectant he stared at his opposite, where the blue haired calmly looked back at him, no traces of what he was thinking or what he would decide to do. „ Mhm you are quite demanding. What do I get out of it?" A sly grin appeared on Childe's face as he popped a fry in his mouth. „ Well I might not beat you up for ruining my fun last night.~" „ Hoohh? I don't think the other harbinger would forgive you for scaring their source of money away." „ Let that be my problem. Believe me I have my ways to deal with them." „ Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken you with some other Tartaglia, that has been beaten to a pulp, because he had disobeyed the rules of his gang, my bad." Shock, anger and shame flooded his mind until aggression was burning his insides. „ Well aren't you well informed. But if you know oh so much about me, then you surely are aware, that I will not hesitate to shut anybody down, if I so desire, despite anything the fatui could do to me! I will not back down, because some little rat is thinking he has the upper hand, because he is doing business with my boss." Tartaglia had lunched forward and was holding the blue haired by his collar, so that he could whisper these words for no other to overhear. And yet... despite his clear threat... he was laughing. „ I must say you are certainly living up to your reputation, Tartaglia. I would really love to taste the passion of your fighting once more, but... I think we should delay this for now." His voice was still so irritatingly amused and still Childe let him free himself from his grip. Rearranging his clothing the one eyed took a minute before looking back up at him, this time with a warm almost genuine smile on his lips. „ I am an informant, also known as the Eye of Khaenri' ah, a pleasure to make your acquaintance Tartaglia, 11th of the fatui harbingers. Last night I made a deal with someone to get some important information, which your organization was interested in. With my ace to manipulate the fight, so that I would win, that being the key phrase some of your colleagues gave me, I thought I would make easy money. But well I guess we both got a little too caught up in things, once we had gotten into it, no?~" Smirking the other ended his explanation with grabbing his drink and bringing it to his lips. It was a coffee with milk and sugar, Childe was not much of a coffee drinker himself, but when he did, he also mixed it with milk and sugar. Not so the professor, who enjoyed his daily one pure, bitter black. „ So you have a crush on Professor Zhongli?~" „ WhAT?" Ajax voice was definitely to high pitched to not give him away and even if one would put it aside, the intense blush that covered his cheeks was proof enough, that the other was right. „ Come on! You couldn't be more obvious." Rolling his eyes with a laugh the bluenette now started to dig into his meal, which he had put aside during their little warming up to each other phase. „ ...well either I am not or he is trying to ignore it." Sighing Childe composed himself again and also went back to his fries. „ Mhmm that sucks. But I know where you are coming from. I mean he is one hell of a handsome gentleman. And also really amusing once he gets frustrated... though he is very scary when he is really annoyed or pissed of." „ So... you have a crush on him too?" Surprised his new friend looked up from his food. „ I guess if I say it like that, it does sound so, huh? Nahh I have my own problems with someone, you know?" Childe nodded slightly in understanding. Being rejected didn't resolve anything if it involved the heart. Well... at least the professor hadn't rejected him openly so he still had a chance. It was still frustrating... „ Ah by the way. What's your name? I mean, I can't call you by that alias." „ Hahaha I guess you're right. My name is Kaeya Alberich and I am studying criminology, nice to meet you again." Kaeya, huh... A distant smile hushed over his lips. „ I am Childe... well it's my nickname, but everyone calls me that. I am studying economics focused on taxes." „ I would have never guessed that one. Doesn't sound like something you would do..." „ Well for the fun part I have my ‚part-time job'." As they both fell silent and finished their food, Childe observed Kaeya still trying to figure this man out. „ What is it?" His voice was alluring, sultry and carefree... He really seemed to enjoy this little meeting. „ Why did you decide to tell me?" Not much surprised by his question Kaeya played with the spoon in his drink as if he didn't know the answer himself or wasn't sure how much of the truth he should tell him. „ Well for one reason I'd say I find you quite intriguing and I respect you as a good opponent... I meant it when I said, that I had fun during our little sparring! For the other... I guess I wouldn't mind your company once in a time." Surprised by this answer it was now Childe's turn to play with his drink as he tried to understand the other. But deep inside there was a feeling of fellowship and empathy. Especially the second reason... it gave of a feeling of loneliness, that he was oh so familiar with. Without another word he stood up and grabbed his now empty tray. Surprised Kaeya looked up to him, but Childe reassured him with a cocky grin. „ Well, then I hope you can give me the fight I was hoping for sometime in the near future, Kaeya." And with a wink he left the perplex blue haired alone. Whatever would sprout from this meeting... he was already looking forward to it.

Sighing Zhongli opened the door towards the break room. He was still not done with working on the final tests for some of his lectures and the deadline hit as always too close to home. „ You look awful Zhongli, dear." A small smile tugged at his lips as he heard his colleague and friend pitying him. „ I am quite aware, thank you Ningguang." With a much needed cup of coffee, the white haired women approached him and held the drink out for him. „ Thanks as always." „ No problem. Which of the brats was it this time, blue or ginger?" Smiling exhausted Zhongli took a sip of the hot drink. „ Unfortunately both." „ Oohh? I didn't know they knew each other." „ Well... apparently they happened to encounter each other at ‚training'." „ So that's how he got the new ones." As professor in the field of economics she had Childe quite often in her lectures. Despite how polite the ginger appeared when he was talking with Zhongli, the other professors always complaint about his provocative personality. Ningguang was an exception though, since she had the same silver tongue Childe used. So their conversation were always a bit heated but by far aggressive since they both held a lot of respect for the other one. It was always an interesting exchange to observe.

„ I am not sure if it was a good thing they found each other... Even though Kaeya always seems very composed and rational, he has an underlaying sense for chaos, which, combined with Childe's own destructiveness, could be dangerous for the both of them." Worried Zhongli's grip around the mug he was holding unconsciously tightened. A gentle hand on his own made him snap out of his thoughts and disoriented he looked up into a pair of calm pink eyes. „ I know what you mean, but for now how about you trust them? It's not good to always think about the negative possibilities, I told you that! If they really get into trouble I am sure to help you helping them, but they are grown ups. They have to realize that too. Testing out ones boundaries is something we all have to do and especially those two need to do that. All that aside I think you are still quite occupied by your finals, aren't you? So how about you get them done before your deadline and worry later, hm?" The last sentences was like an unexpected stab in the back and immediately flooded his mind with guilt. „ I suppose that's true... I should definitely get back to work." Seeing him like this Ningguang broke out into a laugh and patted him encouraging on the back. „ Don't worry you got this. You are never late so I trust you to have them done by time as always." „ Yeh jus' don' get distracted by some pretty boys, ay?" Surprised by the sudden loud voice they turned around to find a tall bruenette approaching them. She wore tight, ripped, black pants with a fine belt and a tugged in bordeaux dress-shirt. Her one eye was covered with an eyepatch, some of her long hair was tugged into a dutt while the rest hang loosely over her shoulder. Her wrists were covered with bracelets of all sorts and she wore a simple necklace with a dragon jewelry around her neck. A gift Ningguang had picked for her for sure. „ You are early dear." A hearty laugh filled the room as the brunette walked up next to the white haired. „ You know... I couldn't wait any longer to see you my love.~" „ Ohhh~? I suppose I didn't properly teach you patience then?" „ Maybe~?" Uncomfortable Zhongli coughed lightly to make his presence known to the flirting couple. „ Ahahahaha sorry mate. If you are not done with work yet I can wait for you Ning." „ No it's okay I was just about to leave, but I wanted to make sure our poor Zhongli here is okay before." „ Ay, you had a tough day? Certainly look like it..." Chuckling nervously he put his hands up in defense. „ No don't worry I am mostly fine. Just the usual problems. Please go on and enjoy your lunch together." „ Hah... dear please don't try to ignore your problems or to solve them all by yourself." Ningguangs encouraging words brought a warm smile to the brunette's lips and reassuringly he squeezed her hand, that she had placed on his chest. „ Don't worry I will let you both know when I don't feel good." Nodding Ningguang locked arms with her girlfriend. „ We will be going then. Good luck with your work." As they disappeared Zhongli's thoughts shortly went back to the two troublemakers, he was worried about, but he quickly shook his head and focused back on the pile of papers that was awaiting him at his desk.

Weeeeeeell? How do you like the plot so far? We are getting closer to actual action, the stage is almost set up and in the next or next next chapter our lovely redhead should appear too. I don't know if I did a good job with Zhongli's POV but I am pretty pleased with what I did. 

Since I still have learn for one of my classes I will have to look when I have the time to continue writing. But since I greatly enjoy doing it, there is no doubt you guys will get something sooner than later. ^^

I wish you all a great weekend (Yes still some time left till then but shhh) stay safe and be nice to each other~

Signing Off Lesley