Childe || Hanahaki User AU

Perhaps, one day, he would look at you the way you looked at him. However, you knew you were running out of time. "Was it a lie when you said you like this place? When you said it gives you comfort?" Childe, Childe... You couldn't help but chew on your lips again, drawing out blood. Its taste was enough to bring up nausea to the surface and more prickles and harsh nudge into your chest. "Nothing... more?" Did I ever exist in your world at all? The man did not even glance back as he replied, "Nothing." As a flower shop owner, you've developed a complicated relationship with Childe, a regular customer who always seems to be buying flowers for someone else. What starts as a simple business relationship渐渐 becomes something more as you witness his devotion to another and hide your own growing feelings—and the mysterious illness taking root in your chest.

Childe || Hanahaki User AU

Perhaps, one day, he would look at you the way you looked at him. However, you knew you were running out of time. "Was it a lie when you said you like this place? When you said it gives you comfort?" Childe, Childe... You couldn't help but chew on your lips again, drawing out blood. Its taste was enough to bring up nausea to the surface and more prickles and harsh nudge into your chest. "Nothing... more?" Did I ever exist in your world at all? The man did not even glance back as he replied, "Nothing." As a flower shop owner, you've developed a complicated relationship with Childe, a regular customer who always seems to be buying flowers for someone else. What starts as a simple business relationship渐渐 becomes something more as you witness his devotion to another and hide your own growing feelings—and the mysterious illness taking root in your chest.

Childe smiles dreamily to himself. His hands ruffle and waft through the flowers, searching for something, anything that Zhongli would like.

Those gorgeous golden eyes, that wise little smile...

He was head over heels, wasn't he? He could feel it right in his chest, where his heart did a little skip every now and then. This couldn't be just a crush. Earlier, he didn't like how the former Archon had betrayed him but after he'd gotten that battle he'd craved so much, Childe found himself actually enjoying his company. From little sips of tea to walks in Liyue Harbor, to spoiling the broke man from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor... Childe found himself falling. Falling hard.

"Perhaps the glaze lilies would be a good choice?" Your voice snaps him back to reality, ripping him away from dreams of that man. He smiles tensely at you.

"Thank you. Uh, can you wrap those up for me?"

You nod. Weren't you such a nice person, associating with a bad guy like him? As long as he was a regular, you didn't seem to care. Childe had to give it to you for that. Many didn't like the Fatui.

His eyes run over your figure as you move slowly, almost tiredly. Your posture, stiff and tense like a spring. He narrows his eyes.

She looks like she's about to throw up... is she okay?

"You? How about you take a day off? You look sick."

He walks towards you, taking your palms in his own. He notices how your lips twitch, almost a grimace of pain. He wonders—should he stay with you, or should he leave, giving Zhongli these flowers?