"Ah, this is bad," Thoma sighed."Why?" Childe, who had just gotten out of the bath, still soaked in water, leaves only the towel to cover his lower half."There's only one mattress. We need to share," Thoma sighed heavily again.Childe smiled. "Well, I don't mind," Childe whispered softly into Thoma's ear. Thoma turned his back and saw an unpleasant view of a half-naked man he wasn't close to enough."Wh-WHAT! PUT SOME DAMN CLOTHES!" Thoma flushed. Thoma backed away and threw some clothes to Childe as he averted his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact. Thoma could feel that his heart was beating so hard.Childe smirked, feeling that he had successfully teased Thoma. "I don't want to," Childe slowly walked towards Thoma. Thoma tried to back off so hard, but there was no space left. His room was too small to escape. He didn't want to sleep outside because the guards had their own duty tonight. If he decided to sleep outside, it felt like stepping on a landmine."Where do you think you are running? I can grasp you easily," Childe chuckled at Thoma's behavior.'I'm going to take a bath!' Thoma pushed Childe away, knowing that only in the bathroom could he get away from Childe.
Childe's eyes were plastered on Thoma, who was running away. "Need some help?" Childe shouted to Thoma, who was already in the bathroom. "Shut up!" Childe chuckled.
"Well, that's an interesting expression," he said to himself.
Thoma took his bath time, expecting Childe already sleep. That's what he was expecting. As he came out of the bathroom, "What a pleasant view," Childe said to Thoma, making Thoma jolt a little."What, you haven't slept yet? Why? Don't you want to sleep with a mattress? Sorry, if you want to sleep in bed, you need to go to the inn from the previous time I sent you there," Thoma ignored Childe as he walked to the wardrobe. Childe's eyes followed the half-naked man in front of him, defenseless. Thoma looked back at Childe, who was silently watching. "What?" Thoma asked Childe, who crossed his arms while wearing a grey singlet and black pants. Thoma, aware of the atmosphere around him,become different.
"You smell just like a flower," Childe's tone turned cold.Thoma gulped. He grabbed the clothes to throw in order to protect himself from Childe. He felt butterflies in his stomach. He could feel that he was already gasping for air, and his cheeks flushed. His legs were trembling, "C-Childe," he called Childe, hoping that Childe wouldn't do 'something' to him. Childe enjoyed the view as he saw Thoma trembling. "You should wear your clothes fast, or you will get sick." Childe turned his back."I'm starting to count. Only ten. Then I turn around. 1, 2,..." Childe started to count. Thoma wore his clothes as if his life depended on that count. Childe seemed to enjoy teasing Thoma.
Later that night, Thoma slept soundly while Childe stared at the ceiling for the past 40 minutes. He seemed to be thinking, or rather, his mind was somewhere else. He kept looking at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep. He had already changed positions many times. Somehow, in the depth of his heart, he craved the touch of someone who could give him warmth at night, releasing all the anxiety and stress inside him. He still needed some explanation as to why Zhongli would do that to him. There's no way a single man suddenly misses their old lover after all the hardships they had been through together. It didn't make any sense. He kept questioning. He felt a little bit stupid for not asking Xiao when he visited the balcony at Wangshu Inn. He sighed.
"Can't sleep?" Childe jolted a little bit when Thoma looked at Childe with bright eyes."Dude, you are scaring me. Kind of. Why? Can't you sleep?" Childe asked Thoma back."I can sleep easily, but since you keep sighing, you are disrupting my nice sleep," Thoma replied. Childe just smiled, "Sorry, man." Childe shrugged. "If you are planning to stay awake, come on. I got some secret places to show you." Thoma got up from the mattress."Where to?" Childe felt a little bit confused.Thoma smiled, "It's a secret after all."
"You... want me to climb over the hill?" Childe exclaimed."What? It's called exercise! Come on." Thoma left Childe behind. 'The fuck, this is fucking torture.' Childe cursed to himself.
After reaching the destination, Childe walked slowly to Thoma, who was standing there with his hand wrapped around his waist. He walked until he reached next to Thoma."Beautiful, isn't it?" Thoma asked Childe while his eyes were fixed on the view in front of him.Childe looked at the view. "It's only full of skies and clouds . What the hell do you call beautiful?" Childe was smug. He never saw this kind of view when he's doing his mission or going date with a people he ever date. Thoma watched silently. "20 years ago, before I got taken by Lord Kamisato Ayato Clan, I actually lived in Mondstadt with my family. It's so memorable, if I can say to you." Thoma started to tell stories to Childe.Childe just listened to the stories from Thoma quietly.
"My father ran a business, an antique collector. He was such a kind young man; he often got scammed by people around him. My mom helped him stabilize the business by traveling around. I liked traveling with them. Every day from Fontaine back to Mondstadt, Sumeru back to Inazuma, and back to our homeland, Mondstadt." Thoma paused a little. Childe looked at Thoma silently, wanting to know what happened next. He looked at Thoma, with a heavy look on him. "If you want to cry, just go on. I don't care," Childe looked at the view again.Thoma just smiled a little while holding back a few tears. "Everything was good until one day on the sea, the weather changed." Thoma was silent. Probably he wanted to say 'You know the rest,' Childe assumed since Thoma was quiet."I'm sorry that I ruined the mood. The sunrise view up here is beautiful; can you accompany me a little bit?" Thoma's voice trembled."That's so uncool for you. Well, since you gave me some place to sleep, why not?" Childe just stood there silently, watching the view.
"Ouh, here it comes! Isn't it beautiful?" Thoma shouted happily.Childe looked at Thoma, with sunbeams shining on him. He was radiant in front of his eyes. His heart beat a little, his stomach felt funny."Yeah, I do have an eye," Childe looked away from the view to avoid making eye contact with Thoma. "It's beautiful."
Looking at you.
