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

-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 + 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄-

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•

The buzz of the tv quietly came from the living room. A dozen or so newspapers were sprawled against the royal bronze table, all sharing a similar headline(s). Either they spoke of Zhongli's bad reputation and any little thing to complain about him, or, as most of the headlines read, of Childe's amamzing success and rapidly growing career. Most people were assuming right now that Zhongli was so jealous of his co-star rising the ranks while Zhongli's own dark "secrets" had been revealed, but it was the opposite, really. Zhongli felt such a sad pride in his chest. The little boy he knew grew up and was going beyond expectations. Of course Zhongli was proud. He had helped Childe achieve his dreams, and was only saddened he couldn't be there to watch Childe continue to grow.

Zhongli was packing his things currently. He was going back and forth from bedroom and living room. He was carrying some books towards his bedroom when he stopped at a photograph hung on the wall. The picture portrayed Zhongli and Childe on their first date; when Childe took a selfie of them. He was smiling so brightly, his blue eyes full of happiness, and meanwhile Zhongli looked so confused. But it was their first picture together and it meant a lot to Zhongli. Hence why he hung it up.

He smiled a bit to himself as he took the frame off the wall and looked it over. Letting go self sink back into the past and memories as he dwelled on loving thoughts. He held the picture close, gently grazing his fingers across the face of the more smiley man in the photograph with a light chuckle.

"Why are we going back?" Asked a voice, snapping Zhongli out of his thoughts. Xiao was standing by the doorframe of the kitchen. He wasn't making eye-contact. He just kept his scowl lowered and avoided looking at Zhongli at all. "I'll come with you... but I don't entirely understand."

Zhongli took a moment, looking at the picture then back at Xiao. "I'm going to retire and go home." He said, walking over and placing a hand on Xiao's shoulder. "I've been traveling far too much I suppose.. and perhaps seeing home would do me some good. The acting aspect of myself, I.."  he trailed off before shaking his head and leaning back up. "Will you help me pack up the books from the study? It seems my back is already getting old." Zhongli mentioned with a hum as he left.

Though as calm Zhongli acted about this entire situation, Xiao felt at edge. He had known Zhongli for a long time, ever since the actor stumbled across Xiao when Zhongli was a teenager and Xiao was a little boy. It seemed Zhongli almost took him in like a parent, and had been raising Xiao since.

So Xiao knew when something was wrong. The way Zhongli was slower, quieter, and dazed. Something was eating up in his mind. He was on the verge of collapsing; he hadn't slept in a week. Xiao noticed the eye bags and heard Zhongli often tossing and turning lately. Or how Zhongli would barely eat and spend most of his time reading the newspapers, paying such close detail to the updates about Childe's public life. Was that Zhongli's way of keeping an eye on him? What did he expect to do since they broke ties? Xiao hadn't a clue. Zhongli already turned off his phone and put it away, and hardly left the apartment. Xiao was guessing Zhongli didn't want to run into Childe somehow.

But then again, Xiao didn't neccesarily care much about Childe or if he was heartbroken.

.
.
.

By that night, the media was already aware of Zhongli's state to retire. He told his directors and managers he wasn't planning on doing any movies after contacting them, and the journalists and reporters went nuts. They pounced on every scrap of information they could get a hold of from the people that worked with Zhongli. The idea that the world famous actor was retiring was news of the century.

But to Childe, it was the worse thing he had ever heard.

He waited until the usual security guards that patrolled the area weren't looking and snuck past. Childe went straight to Zhongli's apartment and began to knock as loudly (and quietly) as he could.

"Mr. Zhongli! Mr. Zhongli!" Childe called out, his words frantic, and as calm as he tried to keep himself, his eyes were filled with worry and he was internally freaking out. There was this horrible dreading feeling in his gut and he couldn't shake it off.

"Mr. Zho—" Childe was raising his hand to knock again when the door finally opened, but it wasn't Zhongli who was there. It was Xiao.

"What are you here?" Xiao asked, frowning. Shocker. But what Childe noticed was how empty the apartment looked behind Xiao.

"Zhongli! Where is he!?" Childe asked frantically, grabbing Xiao's shoulders as if the smaller guy kidnapped Zhongli. "I need to see him!" He shouted, but Xiao pushed him off while snapping back- "Mr. Zhongli is gone."

That's what that bad feeling Childe was feeling really sank it.

Xiao sighed, dusting his shoulder off as he looked away. "Mr. Zhongli left about an hour ago. And his plane leaves in less than half of that. You'll never make it in time." Xiao stated without hesitation or much care. It took twenty minutes at least to get to the airport itself. And with evening traffic, even longer.

Finally the life drained tremendously in Childe's eyes as his head lowered.

Zhongli left. He left without even saying goodbye.

Would Zhongli really do that? Why? Was their goodbye at the movie premiere really going to be their last of seeing each other?

"No.." Childe couldn't believe it. As much as he tried, it wouldn't process to him. That Zhongli really had left somewhere without him, leaving Childe behind. More than anything, Childe wanted to be with Zhongli, despite the acting career. Didn't Zhongli understand what Childe truly wanted all this time?

"I loved him.." Childe murmured so quietly under his breath it could barely be heard. But his words were so hurt; he was so hurt. It was like he just couldn't understand why the man he loved was gone without warning.

It seemed like an hour, but it was only about ten seconds before Childe slowly turned away to leave. But Xiao grabbed Childe's wrist.

"He forgot this."

When Childe turned around, Xiao had put a folded up scarf in his hand.

"Mr. Zhongli forgot this.. It's cold, and he hates the cold, though he doesn't admit it." Xiao mentioned before stepping back and closing the door.

Childe looked down at the scarf he was now holding. It looked so worn, so old. It had a few loose strands here and there, and even a couple of little holes. But what really was noticable was the name Tartaglia,  embroidered on the edge in gold thread.

Like a rocket going off under his feet, Childe began to run. He ran faster than he ever did until he made it outside.

"Taxi! Taxi!" He called out, but to no avail. Every taxi was either full, or ignored him. It only took Childe a second to screw it though, and chose to just run down the sidewalk, not waiting for the crosswalks, either as he dodged any cars that threatened to run him over. Even as it began to snow, Childe bolted. He didn't stop. He just had to get to Zhongli in time, and that's what he was going to do.

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•