zhongli x childe short stories

in the name of fanservice (it's me, I'm the fan)

Childe flashes a smile he knows to be dazzling as the girl in front of him shakes with laughter.

"Oh, Childe, you're so funny! You certainly live up to your reputation," croons the girl interviewing him.

"Aw shucks," he replies with a bashful smile.

He shifts uncomfortably. It's starting to get a little sweaty under the lights of the studio. 

"One last question before we take a break!" the girl says cheerfully. Finally. Does her face ever hurt from constantly smiling? Childe's sure does.

Zhongli's eyebrows lift at him from behind the camera, two cups of coffee in hand. The smile on Childe's own face blossoms into something different, more real, as he looks at him.

He's snapped back to the interview by the mildly irritating voice of the girl. Oh, how he wishes he could just get this over with.

"Are you seeing anyone right now?"

There it is. The same question asked every time without fail. Childe has to hold himself back from rolling his eyes. Seriously?

He does enjoy his job, promise. But he does have to say the singing and dancing part of it is much more rewarding than giving the same practiced answers to the same personal questions each time he's interviewed.

Zhongli does roll his eyes from where he's sitting behind the camera, and Childe has to bite back a laugh. There truly couldn't be a better partner for him. One could say he's almost as annoyed by the intrusive questions as he is. Childe shoots the question down immediately every time he's asked, despite how obvious the answer is.

After all, who better to know exactly which colors to use on his face, than someone who already spends his hours mapping out his features? Who better to do his hair, than someone who wakes up to his bedhead every morning?

Yes, world. He's known as the industry's best lyricist because all his love songs were inspired by the dust on his ceiling, and certainly not a devastatingly handsome makeup artist. It's funny. He wears the proof of Zhongli's affections, gentle strokes of glitter and gold around his eyes, so proudly under the lights of a thousand cameras, yet no one bats an eye. Talk about hiding in plain sight!

A mischievous glint flashes in his eyes. Surely it would do no harm to tease his lover a little.

A practiced smile spreads on his face. "Oh, I certainly am!"

The interviewer exaggeratedly lifts her eyebrows. Childe just wants this to be over.

"They're the sweetest I could ever ask for, and they take great care of me," he continues, letting a fond smile spread on his face.

This part comes easily, as he only has to think of Zhongli waiting patiently behind the camera. He could go on and on about Zhongli's various charms, how he glows under the sun, or how he never fails to look dazzling, even after just rolling out of bed. But alas, that is better saved to echo eternally in the racing rhythms of his music than this little interview.

How perfect they were for each other, Childe immortalizing his affections for the other in a melody to be played throughout time, and Zhongli leaving his own mark on his lover's face, so anyone who sees him will see his work as well.

Zhongli, the man himself, quirks an amused eyebrow at him from behind the camera.

"And might you tell us who this lover of yours is?" the interviewer prompts.

Oh, how he wishes he could. That'd stop the questions. But Childe can only dream. "My fans of course! My heart belongs to those who never fail to give me their love and support through all my endeavors!" he says, shooting a wink at the camera.