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

-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 + 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•

As Zhongli and Childe left hand-in-hand from the airport, they of course got plenty of second glances and looks, but it didn't bother them. They just continued on their way until they were heading back in the city of Inazuma, Japan, and not in the direction of leaving it.

"What do you want to do now?" Childe asked suddenly. He bashfully glanced over at the other, making Zhongli bashfully look away.

What would they do now? If Zhongli quit acting now, like he's always wanted to finally do, would that mean Childe would quit, too?

"Well.. actually there was something I wanted to ask you, Childe—" Zhongli quietly began to speak up, reaching his hand into his jacket's inner pocket, only to hear the buzz of Childe's phone ringing instead.

When Childe answered it, he pressed it against his ear and listened for a minute. Suddenly his face went a bit pale and tense as he was hearing whatever he was being told. Then Childe hung up and Zhongli looked concerned.

"What is wrong?" Zhongli asked with concern.

Childe had looked sad and he pinched the bridge of his nose with frustration. "It's.. my manager's little sister." He began, squeezing Zhongli's hand.

"She's dying." Childe said.

.
.
.

Never had Zhongli seen Childe as sad as he had back in the airport when he thought Zhongli left the county. Childe knelt by the side of the bed, holding Lumine's hand and Aether held her other hand as she layed unconscious. Her appearance was no longer of a sleeping angel; her face was pale white, her lips purple and her body had lost so much weight she was barely recognizable. Her thinning yellow hair was sprawled across the pillow, and she looked more of a ghost than a girl.

"It's her kidneys. They're failing and getting worse rapidly." Aether began to explain, but it was clear the poor guy could barely speak or keep it together. "There aren't any matches for a transplant that anyone can find. And she's too low on the list to find something soon enough.." 

It was a truly mournful sight in the hospital room. Xiao and Aether sat next to each other, and Childe had never seen Xiao look so upset for someone else before. Even Zhongli was unaware Xiao had gotten so close to these siblings. But here was Aether's sister rapidly dying and no one could do a thing. There was only silence besides the occioanly beeping on the monitors.

"Stay here a moment." Zhongli said, exiting the room. Childe followed.

"Where are you going?" Childe asked, catching up to the other. "Is something wrong?" He took Zhongli's hand to hold it as they walked.

"I want to ask the doctor something. It will only be a second. You should stay with the others.." Zhongli was saying, but stopped in both words and tracks when they turned the corner and saw a group of paparazzi.

"Childe! Is it true your manager's sister is dying!?"

"Are you planning on firing Aether!?"

But once people caught sight of the two holding hands, it was game over.

"Childe are you and Zhongli holding hands!? Can you give us more entail on that!?"

Now everyone was bombarding them with questions on what their relationship was. Zhongli and Childe couldn't get away as the paparazzi surrounded them. Finally Zhongli took one of their microphones and held it to his mouth.

"Excuse me, would any of you be willing to help us? We need a kidney transplant for a young girl, and the waiting list she's on is too long to guarantee her safety—"

"Is it true you're madly in love with the star sensation Childe!?" The reporters interrupted. "We heard that you've been trying to convince him to run away with you."

Now Zhongli was a bit stunned. He looked confused by the questions.

"We are trying to find someone with a compatible kidney—"

"What are your thoughts on the questions!? Answer the question! Are you trying to force Childe to go away with you!?"

"No, I-"

*smack*

One of the microphones hit Childe in the head as the reporters crowded in closer, totally unaware of hitting him with their equipment.

In a flash, Zhongli managed to push through the reporter and get to Childe. He pulled him close away from harm's way and glared at the reporters and paparazzi.

"I suggest you all learn personal space." Zhongli warned them, pushing his way through, leaning Childe through, and holding a hand against his head to protect from any other blunt objects hitting it.

Once they lost the reporters and manage to find a small empty common room, Zhongli made Childe sit on a small couch. "Stay here. You're bleeding." Zhongli murmured. He adjusted his coat Childe was still wearing then kissed his cheek. "I'll find you someone to help." And Zhongli left. A few minutes later a nurse came by. Childe was confused where Zhongli was, but he didn't come back until the nurse was done and left.

"Where did you go??" Childe asked. He now had a patch of gauze on the side of his head. "I was worried you might've got caught up with those reporters again."

Zhongli shook his head. He sat down on the couch and so did Childe. "I was speaking with Lumine's doctor, and it seemed one of my kidneys would be sufficient for her."

Childe was at a lost of works for a minute. He opened home mouth, then closed it, then opened it and spoke. "Are you saying you'd give her a transplant."

"Thr doctors already believe both of my kidneys are in good enough shape and condition. All she needs in one. I would say I have plenty to spare."

.
.
.

Once it was settled and the doctor confirmed Zhongli could make the transplant for Lumine, it seemed there was some cautious hope in the air. As soon as Zhongli told the others he would do it, both Xiao and Aether fell into both awe and tears. Well, maybe not Xiao. But who knows. He refused to look or speak to anyone.

"Mr. Zhongli.." Aether wasn't able to say anything but bow respectfully, eyes full of tears. If he was able to, he would've made the donation himself, but seeing someone else offer to, meant so much.

The doctor ran some blood test. Some x-rays, too of Zhongli's kidneys. He had no blood pressure issues and was quite healthy. Somehow nobody was surprised by that. But the tests went on all early night and early morning, and by eight in the morning, Zhongli left to go for the surgery to have one of his kidney's removed.

"It shouldn't take too long." Zhongli reassured Childe who was hugging him tight. "I promise I'll be alright. Please do in the meantime take care of yourself and—"

"I love you, Mr. Zhongli." Childe told him, glancing up, and Zhongli smiled before kissing him gently.

"I love you too, Tartaglia." Zhongli whispered back, hugging Childe for a moment more before he was wheelchaired out by the nurses.

•´¯'•. . .•´¯'•