Work Text:
Usually Zhongli would wait until after his work day ends to pack his briefcase to leave. It feels somewhat disrespectful for him to pack it beforehand.
However, today is different. Today he packed up minutes before the end of his work day, leaving him nothing to do afterwards but watch the clock as it ticks closer and closer to 5pm.
Why is today so special?
Well, It's date night of course.
Over the past week Childe has been very busy at work and so they haven't had a chance to meet. They have planned to go to Wanmin Restaurant, and Zhongli is looking forward to spending some time with the ginger after a week apart.
At 5pm on the dot he picks up his briefcase and strides out of the building. He has a date to prepare for.
As he’s walking towards the train station, his phone rings. It’s Childe.
“Hello, Childe.”
“Hey, Zhongli.”
Zhongli frowns. Childe sounds exhausted, which is unsurprising given the week he’s had.
“I’m terribly sorry but I don’t really feel up to going out for dinner tonight. We could watch a movie at mine instead?”
Zhongli turns around. The train station he was originally heading to doesn’t have a train that can take him to Childe’s apartment. The one in the opposite direction does, however.
“Anything you want, Childe. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks. Love you.”
Zhongli smiles. “I love you too, Childe.”
As promised, it doesn't take him very long at all to reach Childe's apartment. He rings the doorbell and waits patiently until the door opens.
As he feared, Childe looks like he's ready to drop. His skin is pale and the shadows under his eyes are significantly darker than when Zhongli last saw him the previous week. Instead of his usual bouncy demeanour, he seems weighed down, as if whatever he's been doing this past week has taken a severe emotional toll as well as a physical one.
Childe has never told Zhongli what he does for a living. Nor anything about his past, for that matter. He likes his privacy, and so Zhongli has never pressed.
"You got here faster than I expected." Even Childe's voice is less energetic than normal. "Did you come straight from work?"
Zhongli sets his briefcase down on the floor and pulls Childe in for a hug. "You sounded like you'd had a difficult few days." He pulls back just far enough to leave a kiss on Childe's forehead. "Also I missed you and wanted to see you."
He watches in amusement as the ginger's face turns bright red.
"I-I-I should go make us each a cup of tea." Childe starts to pull away before stopping. "Wait a minute. You're still in your work clothes. You can't watch a film like that. Your suit will get all crumpled! I probably have clothes that will fit you. Wait here."
Childe returns with a t-shirt, a soft black hoodie and some jeans. Zhongli steps into the bathroom to change while Childe makes the promised cups of tea.
He emerges as Childe is setting two mugs down on the table next to the sofa. Childe glances at him as he enters the room, and appears to freeze.
"Childe?" Zhongli walks over to him. Childe's eyes tracked his movements, but the other has yet to speak. He seems a little flushed so Zhongli reaches up a hand to feel his forehead. Normal. "Childe, are you alright?"
Childe blinks and his ocean blue eyes rise to meet Zhongli's golden ones. "I'm fine, it's just..." His cheeks get redder. Ah, he's blushing. "Those clothes really suit you and it's not often I see you in casual clothes so I just... yeah..."
Zhongli smiles. Childe is very cute sometimes. "Thank you."
Childe clears his throat and looks away. "So... what film do you want to watch?"
"I don't particularly mind." As long as it's something Childe will enjoy.
Childe glances back at him. "I would like to watch something you will like, but you don't really have a favourite genre, do you?"
Zhongli nods. "That is correct. As long as the film itself is good, its genre doesn't really matter to me."
After thinking for a moment, Childe seems to have a realisation. "You said that you enjoyed the Pride and Prejudice tv show, didn't you? I recently bought a copy of the film. Want to compare the two?"
Hmm. The tv show was very good, with just the right pacing and cast. It would be interesting to see how they fit it into just the length of a film.
"That sounds interesting."
Childe smiles, and it lights up his face in a way that Zhongli has missed over the past few days. Unfortunately his beloved's current sickly complexion makes it a bit difficult for him to enjoy. He will have to pamper the ginger until he's back to his normal self.
After putting in the film and grabbing the remote, Childe brings the fluffiest blanket he owns to the sofa. The two sit down and Childe drapes the blanket over their legs before pressing play.
As the film plays, Childe slowly edges closer to Zhongli, seeming to want physical contact after their days apart but too shy to ask. Zhongli wraps his arm around the other's waist and pulls him into his side. Childe relaxes in his hold and snuggles closer to him.
Not even halfway through the film Zhongli feels something heavy fall onto his shoulder. He looks to see Childe, eyes closed and breathing steadily, asleep.
Zhongli knew this would happen. Childe has a tendency to fall asleep during films, except those in the action and horror genres. That, coupled with the obvious exhaustion the ginger was exhibiting, made him falling asleep all the more likely.
It's good that Childe finally gets to rest.
Zhongli carefully manoeuvres the ginger so the other's head is resting in his lap, and he gently strokes his hand through the orange locks as he resumes watching the film.