𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆 𝑿 𝒁𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔!

𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤

It had been days since Childe returned home. He was always busy working for the Fatui. He would return for only a few days and return to the battlefield. Zhongli, the retired, well-known geo archon, was commonly alone when the ginger was gone. However, he did have a job at the Wangsheng funeral parlor for a part-time job, he was considering switching full time due to Childe being gone so much.

It was a typical day for the brunette. He woke up to the golden sun of Liyue and the smell of all the food vendors starting their stands back up. He put on his usual attire and walked to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. "Hiya Zhongli! Get well-rested?" His boss said adjusting her hat. Zhongli nodded. "I did. Thank you, Miss Hu Tao." She raised an eyebrow. "I told you just to call me Hu Tao, we're not seeing any clients today Mr." Zhongli laughed to himself and walked to his secluded office.

His workspace was relatively small but it seemed to fit him quite nicely. There wasn't much in it, but it was nice to not have it too cluttered. On the brunette's desk, there were many papers that the director put there for him to work on. Along with the documents was a plate that said 'Parlor Consultant' That Hu Tao got him for fun. There were pictures of him and Childe that sat on his desk as well.

"Oi Zhongli I'm going out to get legal papers from Yanfei" Hu Tao said through the wooden door of Zhongli's office. "Okay, I will be here," Zhongli said loud enough for the girl to hear. Though she said she was going for legal papers Zhongli knew damn well she wasn't going just for the papers.

—-

A couple of hours later, Zhongli headed out of the parlor and ate lunch with the travelers who happened to be in Liyue today. "Whatever happened to Childe? The last time I was here he followed you around everywhere." Lumine said, slurping her noodles. "That's a little personal don't you think?" Aether said eyebrowing his sister. "No? That stupid dumbo almost blew up Liyue, remember?" Lumine hit him softly. "That's when I left you" Lumine turned to him slowly and started to beat the shit out of him while Zhongli sat there at the table calmly sipping some tea.

"Well, It was a pleasure having a meal with you two." The twins nodded and paid for all three of them since they obviously knew Zhongli didn't carry any mora on him at all. The brunette waved goodbye to the twins and walked back to the funeral parlor noticing Yanfei and Hu Tao in the front. "Ah, Yanfei, what a surprise," Zhongli said calmly. "It's good to see you Mr. Consultant." The pink-haired girl said with an enthusiastic tone. Zhongli nodded. "Oh please, Yanfei! I didn't mean to.." Hu Tao begged practically on her knees. "Okay well bring your Mora tomorrow you're going to pay me back. Every. Last. Mora." Yanfei crossed her arms while Hu Tao frowned. "Aren't you my girlfriend? Can't you pay for lunch for me once?" Yanfei shook her head. "No." "You're so mean." Zhongli quietly laughed at the two girls 'arguing' in front of the office.

The rest of the workday passed quickly and Zhongli began to pack his things up into his brown briefcase and head back home. Arriving at his small abode, he reached for the doorknob and realized it was unlocked. Had he forgotten to lock it? No, he never forgets!  The brunette opened the door slowly and the heat was already turned on. Had someone broken in maybe? He set his briefcase down on the kitchen table and slowly walked around his house. He peered into the kitchen, and the stove was still hot from use. Looking into the living room there was a blob of blankets and an empty ramen bowl on the side table.

"Boo!" a voice said, scaring the absolute shit out of Zhongli. The brunette instinctively reached for the figure, a hand around their neck. "A-Ah Sensei, You're g-going to kill me" Zhongli realized it was his beloved Childe. "Ah, Childe, I'm so sorry," The brunette said, hugging the ginger. "Ahaha it's okay, I'm happy to see you again, its been a while." Zhongli smiled. "It has. I've missed you too."

Achoo! Childe let out a sneeze, and Zhongli noticed his quite pale face. "Childe, why are you back all of a sudden? You didn't write that you were coming back today." Childe wiped his nose. "I got sick and the tsaritsa wouldn't let me on my mission anymore so she sent me home." Zhongli kissed his forehead. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you while you're recovering. I'll ask Hu Tao for some days off."

The brunette dialed his director. "Wassup Zhongli," the girl said. "Hi, Director, Childe came home today and he's sick, can I have a few days off of work?" Hu Tao let out a loud "Mhm" and hung up. "Ajax, we're good to go" The ginger smiled and nodded.

The brunette started to boil water for tea to help with his fever he noticed by the contact with his forehead. He cleaned up Childe's ramen disaster and made him an actual meal. Childe lay on the couch, happy as a clam. Honestly, it was a blessing in disguise that he got sick; he hadn't seen Zhongli in so long, PLUS the bonus attention because he was sick. "Here, Childe, drink up; it's tea to help your fever and soothe your throat." Childe mouthed a 'thank you' and started to sip on the tea Zhongli made extra sweet for him because he didn't like the taste of weak tea.

—-

"Sensei, You've been taking care of me for days now, I think you should rest," Childe said laying on the couple's king-size bed wrapped up in three blankets. "No, you are not better yet. It is my responsibility that you are healthy." Childe's cheeks dusted with pink. All the attention he was getting from his significant other was amazing. "Zhongli sensei, cuddles?" The brunette nodded and climbed into the bed, embracing the other, resulting in them both falling asleep.

—

Childe woke up feeling energized and way better than he did with his sickness. On the contrary, his husband didn't. The brunette sat up tiredly and rubbed his eyes. Childe noticed how pale the other was and put both hands on his shoulders. "Zhongliiii are you okay?" "I'm oka-" Achoo "Oh dear, it seems like you got sick from me-" Childe apologized many times but Zhongli honestly didn't care. "I can take care of you this time!" The ginger said proudly. "Don't you have to work?" The brunette said, pulling the sheets back over himself. "It'll be fine, her majesty didn't say when I had to go back so it's okay."
—
"Ahaha! I didn't know you would be this stubborn." Childe held up a spoon with medicine on it, and Zhongli strongly resisted. Childe gave the brunette a 'you gave it to me so its your turn' face. "Want a kiss instead?" Zhongli cocked his head but nodded. Quickly, Childe kissed the brunette and then shoved the spoon with the medicine in his mouth. Zhongli stuck out his tongue. "That was disgusting." The ginger laughed kissing him more.

(1231 words)

HIII its been a bit but here you go, ALSO, I published a Ayathoma (AyatoxThoma) oneshot book as well when I have Zhongchi writers block so if you're interested check that out! Thank you for 3.15k reads! Its greatly appreciated!