[ Childe doesn't know how to respond and simply scowls at Zhongli attempting to insist that Childe didn't need him around. It may be true that Zhongli and Venti put him into such a state, but the fact of the matter is that their power between them being archons and their cursed abilities with none of their sanity to be had was a vicious combination. If Zhongli hadn't been there afterwards or hadn't managed to come back to his senses when he did, he would have absolutely been dead.
Childe is about to retort back in insistence but is caught off guard by that sudden snappy denial from the other at the accusation. That's... extremely unlike Zhongli: the raising of his voice, the lack of control, and the very apparent frustration of it all as the archon bangs his fist against the arm of the chair he's in.
What? What is going on? What's wrong with him? A slight panic rises in Childe, wondering if he went too far this time and was deserving of being scolded, but something about this behavior— even that flash of anger— doesn't seem directed at him or the kind that comes from being fed up with an individual's bullshit.
Anything he could have or would have said is slapped right out of him at Zhongli's sudden admittance, the fact that he was actually scared of losing Childe, that he thought he lost him ... like everyone else? Could it be possible Zhongli really somehow equated him as that important in his life that he could be one of the people he so cared for that he's lost?
That has to be impossible, and yet... those tears aren't fake. This are real emotional tears, the kind a confused deeply empathetic and emotional human cries when they give and feel and love too much and are hurt in the process no matter their age. Speechless, Childe stands there before finally stepping forward to gently reach and cup Zhongli's face carefully, tilting his head back slightly to have him look at him even as the Harbinger leans down some. ]
... Xiansheng, don't cry... I promise I'm going to do everything possible to not leave you behind like that ever. [ Childe's voice is soft, clearly concerned and a little frantic at seeing these tears spilling from Zhongli, and he's trying to sound assuring, but he's a little bit too concerned about what is actually happening to the other to be able to be a fully soothing presence in terms of sounding confident in his words. It's clear he's looking for the words that will calm and assure Zhongli, but since Childe's not all that calm now himself, it's a bit of a messy execution.
Nevertheless, he will move his hands from the other's face in order to embrace him even as Childe brings one knee to rest on the edge of the chair so he can better hug Zhongli to him as close as he can in an effort to comfort, even pressing a gentle kiss to the top of the archon's head. The bitterness he was feeling moments ago is gone. ]
no subject
Childe is about to retort back in insistence but is caught off guard by that sudden snappy denial from the other at the accusation. That's... extremely unlike Zhongli: the raising of his voice, the lack of control, and the very apparent frustration of it all as the archon bangs his fist against the arm of the chair he's in.
What? What is going on? What's wrong with him? A slight panic rises in Childe, wondering if he went too far this time and was deserving of being scolded, but something about this behavior— even that flash of anger— doesn't seem directed at him or the kind that comes from being fed up with an individual's bullshit.
Anything he could have or would have said is slapped right out of him at Zhongli's sudden admittance, the fact that he was actually scared of losing Childe, that he thought he lost him ... like everyone else? Could it be possible Zhongli really somehow equated him as that important in his life that he could be one of the people he so cared for that he's lost?
That has to be impossible, and yet... those tears aren't fake. This are real emotional tears, the kind a confused deeply empathetic and emotional human cries when they give and feel and love too much and are hurt in the process no matter their age. Speechless, Childe stands there before finally stepping forward to gently reach and cup Zhongli's face carefully, tilting his head back slightly to have him look at him even as the Harbinger leans down some. ]
... Xiansheng, don't cry... I promise I'm going to do everything possible to not leave you behind like that ever. [ Childe's voice is soft, clearly concerned and a little frantic at seeing these tears spilling from Zhongli, and he's trying to sound assuring, but he's a little bit too concerned about what is actually happening to the other to be able to be a fully soothing presence in terms of sounding confident in his words. It's clear he's looking for the words that will calm and assure Zhongli, but since Childe's not all that calm now himself, it's a bit of a messy execution.
Nevertheless, he will move his hands from the other's face in order to embrace him even as Childe brings one knee to rest on the edge of the chair so he can better hug Zhongli to him as close as he can in an effort to comfort, even pressing a gentle kiss to the top of the archon's head. The bitterness he was feeling moments ago is gone. ]
Please don't cry...