Here With Me (ZhongChi)

II

   Childe buried his face into his hands while Lumine's laughter from their video call filled his bedroom.

   "Okay okay- I'm sorry, I know this isn't funny but- oh wow-"

   She struggled to regain her breath, and once she managed, Aether came into view, and she bursted into giggles once again.

   "You doing ok, Childe?" he asked.

   "Yeah... At least I'm not expelled yet," he muttered.

   "I'm sorry for suggesting it in the first place," he frowned. "There were so many better ways now that I think about it, and I-"

   "Don't worry, Aether." Childe looked up at his screen. "I think I deserved it, to be honest," he sighed. "Now I really know I'm out of his league," he said with a deadpan smile.

   "Don't say that!" scowled Lumine. "You'll probably get detention again before he graduates, so you'll definitely be able to talk with him again."

   "Doesn't help that he's probably already taken by that first year."

   Aether hummed. "He doesn't seem like the type to go for people in younger years though..."

   "We're one year younger," said Lumine.

   "Thanks for rubbing it in."

   "That's not what I mean!" he exclaimed, waving his hands to dismiss their ideas. "I just mean that... well. You know Hu Tao. She's not exactly mature, and I feel like Zhongli looks for people more on his level."

   Lumine hummed. "I can see that, actually."

   "Huh. So, I truly have no chance," sighed Childe. "I'm legit in suspension. If that doesn't scream immature, I don't know what does."

   "Hu Tao does."

   Lumine chuckled. "Anyway, let's just leave this to the side for now," she said, shaking her head. "I've been told to give you all the work on Friday, if you're alright with that?" she asked.

   "Yeah, I'm good with that. As long as I have it, you know?" he shrugged. "Did... did the teacher say anything else?" he asked.

   "Well. They did tell us that we're not really allowed to see you during your time off-school, but who gives a fuck about that," she grinned. "We'll come visit you on Friday," she smiled. "Me, Aether, and probably Paimon too!"

   "I might invite Venti along," said Aether.

   Childe raised an eyebrow. "Venti? Who's that?" he asked.

   "A friend of mine," he clarified. "He's friends with Zhongli, but that aside, he's been wanting to meet you ever since you've been brought to his attention," he shrugged.

   "What."

   Childe blinked.

   "You talked about me to him? How much," he asked.

   "Apparently he heard about you from Zhongli first, and was told you are our friends, and he's been begging me to introduce you to him since," he chuckled.

   "What. Zhongli did? How come he... Ah."

   Lumine raised an eyebrow. "What? What happened? Did something happen and you didn't tell us?!" she asked, pressing on.

   "Right, uh. Before I was told I could leave with my dad, uh, I was told to stand outside the office while my dad talked to the secretary about rules and stuff. Zhongli saw me. He also saw my dad inside," he explained, grimacing.