𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 [𝘼𝙐 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙘𝙝𝙞 +18]

10: Greedy

Childe sighed, the jets of hot water hitting his bruised back. He reached for the largest scar, located on his upper back, brushing the skin with his fingertips. He stifled a gasp, jerking his hand away instantly as the stab of pain shot through his body. Occasionally that scar ached, only when he made sudden movements or when he touched it. It was a real burden.

He sighed, turning off the water faucet after realizing that he had been on it for too long. Besides, he had finished showering several minutes ago.

Childe stepped out of the shower, placing his feet on the bath carpet and drying himself with the towel, running it gently down his back. He glanced sideways at the clothes he'd laid out before showering, laying the towel over his shoulders as he reached over to grab his underwear, getting dressed. He and Zhongli had arranged to go to the casino that night to try to talk to Beidou, and it was only half an hour before they left to go there.

Childe had never been to a casino before, and he was curious to go for the first time, even if it was just for FBI stuff. He wasn't quite sure why he was still collaborating with Zhongli, after all, they weren't going to get anything fixed.

Like, of course, he was grateful for the help and wanted to be free... But was that even possible? They had no idea what they were dealing with, and to top it off they had no clue whatsoever.

Childe sighed, pulling on his pants as he buttoned them up. His fingers were trembling slightly for some reason, so he clenched his fists and took a deep breath. He was afraid. Afraid of what? That everything would go back to the way it was before? To go back to jail? He hated that place, he didn't want to go back there. But eventually, that would happen, either because Zhongli gave him up at will or had to give in for some other reason.

His release was conditional. Nothing more.

He hated that he had gotten used to it despite his efforts to make the experience unpleasant. Zhongli was a curious guy, someone who at first seemed like just the typical cop he'd want to punch in the face. And he... Well, Childe kept wanting to punch him, but then he would probably apologize and pat him on the shoulder with a smile. Zhongli was an idiot at times, he was a very dense person many times. But he was the first person who had truly helped him, even when his hands were bloody to everyone he knew.

He liked Zhongli.

Zhongli was quite attractive as well, and his personality was also striking. Childe didn't know if the brunette was his type, though he had never given much thought to what it might be. He had slept with very few people, and only going by physical appearance. Superficial? Yes, but for just one night he wasn't going to stop to think if that person could make conversation with him, or even if he could have chemistry beyond the sexual.

Zhongli began to get on his nerves, but during the relatively short time that he was living with him, Childe could realize that it was much more entertaining to bother him. And it worked. Surprisingly, Zhongli played along on several occasions.

Childe unclenched his fists, seeing how his fingers had stopped shaking.

Zhongli had shown him that he was going to try to get him out of this mess he had gotten himself into four years ago. He would have to keep putting in a bit of his part.

They would go to the casino, talk to Beidou or whatever, and she would take them to Ningguang. With a lot of luck, they would get more clues or even a guilty name... Although all that was asking a lot. To be honest, Childe had no hope that Ningguang would help them, or at least be of any use.

He would go back to jail, or the FBI would kill him first.

He had to take advantage of the time he was alive, right?