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Childe was overworking herself and she knew it. Her new second job was at her favorite restaurant, a waitress that unfortunately translated as babysitter to her own coworkers, because they were working worse than toddlers would.
That new work rhythm was certainly not the most healthy, but the extra money was nice and she needed a temporary solution since she was finally living on her own, in her own house.
Despite how it looked, she had no problem in keeping her promises. Like that evening, where she was waiting for her girlfriend to come out from her office so they could walk back home. More like, she waited for ten minutes then entered the building herself, knowing where Zhongli worked by memory at that point.
Everyone knew her and they didn't mind and Childe was quick to find the older woman still sitting on her chair, writing down something on a boring looking paper.
Childe knocked at her half opened door, waiting for Zhongli to look at her before entering the office.
“Hello there, do I need an appointment?” Childe giggled as she walked closer to Zhongli's desk. “Your carriage is waiting for you, my lady.”
“Childe, sorry, I just… I’m just very distracted today.” Zhongli smiled, but didn't move to greet her.
That day, Zhongli was wearing an elegant waistcoat and a pair of white pants, Childe remembered watching her getting dressed while still half asleep.
“It's not a problem.” Childe smiled, noticing how awfully tired Zhongli looked. She was also paler than usual.
Childe's gaze was captured by the calendar on the wall, making the mental note that Zhongli's period shouldn't be far away and they needed the extra chocolate and pads.
“Childe… do you happen to have a pair of spare pants?” Zhongli asked, her polite face had the smallest frown.
“I'm afraid I don't… but I have a jacket.” Childe didn't hesitate to take it off, waiting for Zhongli to get up from the chair and wrapping it around her waist.
Childe always had a useful backpack with her, where she kept her and Zhongli's stuff. She had Zhongli's little squared purse, where the woman kept lipstick, spare pads and anything a woman might need.
“I'll get changed, then we can go back home.” Zhongli assured her, but Childe was in no rush. The older woman took what she needed from the bag and Childe followed her to the closest bathroom.
Zhongli was always so polite, nobody would know the menace that woman actually was. Even with that into consideration, period was that time where even Zhongli was a victim of mood swings. She would try to hide it well, apologizing herself for the little things and being less of a menace than usual.
Childe hated that such a natural thing happened to bring so much distress. Especially when they had different jobs and Childe couldn't be there for her girlfriend. She didn't trust her male coworkers to be considerate of their words, she didn't trust anyone else around Zhongli when she was most vulnerable.
Yet, Zhongli carried herself well, already looking better as she exited the bathroom.
“I am ready to go back home now, Childe.”
***
Once back home, Zhongli was quick on feeling awful again, the sitting position that was granting the less cramps, was now interrupted and she could feel her tummy ache again.
“Take something.” Childe took painkillers out from her backpack, pouring some water for her girlfriend.
“Thank you.” Zhongli didn’t need to be told twice.
“I need to do some quick laundry, is that alright?” Childe kissed her on the head, briefly massaging her shoulders.
Zhongli nodded, even if probably she would have preferred to bed rot while cuddled to her. She refused to voice that need as she felt like it would be too childish.
“Give me your pants, put on a pair of mine.”
Childe had already disappeared to recover a pair of black sweatpants and some underwear. They weren’t at Zhongli’s place but that didn’t mean Childe wasn’t prepared.
“Those are the unicorn panties.”
“Lumine thought she was onto something when she gifted me these…”
Zhongli chuckled as she got changed, a little ashamed for the red stain that she refused to look at.
“You still can’t admit that you like unicorns?”
“I don’t! They are horses but… magical and stupid?” Childe pouted as she helped the other woman get into comfier clothes. “How is your tummy?”
“Mmmh… a little better.”
“Still awful, I see. I will put these into cold water and I will be back to you.” Childe kissed her again, before disappearing to her laundry room.
“I can do it myself, Childe…” She followed her, but the other woman stopped on her track, shaking her head.
“Nah, it’s okay. Go lay on the bed or the couch, I will make osmanthus tea.”
Zhongli didn’t fight against that, despite being sorry to bother Childe after she was probably as tired as her. She walked away to Childe’s bedroom, checking herself on a mirror. She could feel how her face was the first victim of that menstrual cycle and make up wasn’t going to be able to hide everything. Usually she wouldn’t care that much, but she couldn’t stand it in that moment. She felt bloated and terrible, turning away from the mirror to sit on the bed.
Childe reappeared with a tray, a cup of tea and some cookies. Those were Zhongli’s favorites, the ones that were heavy filled with chocolate, pistachio or jam.
“Maybe the couch was better, because my room is always a little colder.” Childe chuckled, but still placed the tray on the bed. “You look so pale, I should get you more sugar.”
“How is sugar the solution?” Zhongli asked with a smile, maybe Childe’s presence alone was all she needed. “Unless you plan to feed me from your hands.”
“I have no problem with that.” Childe split a cookie in two, waiting for Zhongli to open her mouth. Zhongli chuckled and did it, allowing for the other woman to feed her the cookie. “You are very cute.”
“I don’t know about that… my face is like the moon’s surface right now.”
“Mh-Mh…” Childe looked at her. “Yeah, must be itchy and annoying. Do you need some cream for that? Your skin care is expensive but you don’t have the snezhnayan finest products.”
Zhongli smiled. “No need, it’s just… makes me want to peel my face off.”
“I know the feeling my dear, but your face is still very beautiful.”
“Thank you, Childe.”
Zhongli appreciated the woman’s kind words and she trusted the honesty, even if she didn’t feel beautiful at all. Despite everything, she still felt like she was acting a little bit too childish for a woman like her. She couldn’t help herself, Childe brought up a side that it couldn’t stay buried. Even her, from time to time, liked to be spoiled and taken care of.
Once the tea was finished, Childe pulled her in the bathroom to remove the make up. It was an annoying process for those kind of bad days, but her girlfriend made it sweeter. Every little gesture accompanied by kisses and gentle smiles. Again, Zhongli felt guilty, but also loved.
Childe helped her clean up, because a full bath wasn’t what Zhongli felt like doing. A sponge and her favorite soap will suffice until the morning after, just because she really didn’t feel like it.
“Would that be too bad if I spent the rest of the day in bed?” Zhongli asked, enjoying the gentle massage to her skin.
“I don’t think you need to ask permission, my dear. You always take such good care of me, I did the bare minimum so far.”
It was true, Zhongli always overdid it when it came to spoil her girlfriend, but that didn’t mean that it was some kind of competition. It all came natural, because they loved each others and they needed to show it.
“You did a lot, I also… wouldn’t mind if you’d just join me.” Zhongli knew how active Childe was and that she actually wasn’t always prone to enjoy just laying in bed.
“Just let me take a shower and I will, okay?” Childe kissed her on the head and the older woman couldn’t help but smiling.
***
Childe was filling the cart with so many snacks, despite Teucer not being with her. She wanted a total refill: Chips, candies, cookies, chocolates, bars… anything. All because she was helpless and in love and an adult with a job (well, more than one).
Zhongli was acting as if they just started dating and it was so cute, because usually she wouldn’t have any problem on getting spoiled rotten. After all, she was a fancy woman that knew what she wanted. At the same time, an incredibly stubborn individual that was late in realizing what she needed. Always prone to help, more difficult to read when she needed help.
Difficult, not impossible.
Of course, Chidle wasn’t the only one opening her wallet or doing all the spoiling. She wouldn’t stick with a woman that didn’t treat her right, of course.
Period was a bitch, as one would say. That morning Zhongli felt so mortified for a stain on the bed sheets as if Childe didn’t remember that one time when she was on her period, on Zhongli’s lap and suddenly she sneezed.
Well, Zhongli was wearing white pants.
Yeah, sometimes it was that bad.
It didn’t happen very often, but sometimes Zhongli got like that, insecurities were always behind the corner even for a goddess, uh?
She was going to leave her wallet on a simple morning out for groceries, yes.
***
“The second day is awful like the first.” Childe was sitting on the bed, while Zhongli was checking herself at the mirror. She was feeling so bloated and feeling her tummy and hips with her hands.
“You still look good, Zhongli.”
“I’m not sure about that… but thank you, my love.”
Zhongli walked closer to the bed and Childe grabbed one of her hands, pulling the woman toward herself to place a kiss over her belly.
“The only bad thing is menstruating, but god needed to put this debuff on women or they’d be too powerful.” Childe chuckled, leaving another skin on the hot skin.
“Is debuff another one of your gaming words?”
“Yes, it means a status that makes you a little weaker.” She explained, not for the first time. Maybe Zhongli just liked hearing the other woman explaining all those terms. Zhongli wasn’t that old school, but some terms about gaming were still a mystery to her.
“I see.” Zhongli smiled fondly at her. “You are very cute, Childe.”
“The you should listen to me more, right?”
“Right.”
Zhongli ruffled her hair, feeling her heart overwhelmed by love. She was way too lucky to have such a caring person at her side. She was going to buy her something nice after those nightmarish days.
***
Libido was another uncomfortable affair, because Zhongli didn’t feel like being touched or touching herself during those days, but also, she ended up feeling horny nonetheless. Just Childe changing clothes for the day would bring Zhongli to feel lust, to pull the woman in for a heated session of kisses. The energy to do more than that was nowhere to be seen.
Cuddles were, however, always welcome.
Even when it was just Childe allowing Zhongli to glue herself to her body, they could talk about anything until one of them would fall asleep.
Eventually, any unresolved desire was going to be satiated days later and surely they both couldn’t wait for it.
***
It was another awful day, but more awful when combined by the fact that… Childe wasn’t there. She was… just in the other room, busy with a video call with her friends. It was something that happened since forever, Childe weekly call with her best friends. Zhongli took friendship very seriously and since she was often aboard, she kept continuously in touch with her friends group. Childe was less social than Zhongli but managed to maintain a healthy friendship with the same three people that were always with her through the best and the worst times.
Zhongli admired that her girlfriend was such a shining star into people’s life, no matter what she did.
The distance between her and the room where Childe was having her call was becoming unbearable.
Zhongli… was feeling like her girlfriend just went to a long trip somewhere, leaving her without food or anything. She was supposed to be a strong and independent woman, right?
She missed her so much… even if Zhongli could hear her voice, the sound of her laugh and how loud and happy she sound.
How unforgivable… Zhongli contemplated just walking in the room and just act like some tabletop and wait for attention, but the cramps suggested to not even try to raise from the nest she built for herself.
“I do think Yoimiya might have overdo it, but who’s gonna say no to extra free food at a party?” Childe entered the room with her phone in a pocket and her wireless headphones. She kept talking, meanwhile sneaking in back at Zhongli’s side. The older woman raised an eyebrow, but felt Childe’s arms wrapping around her to bring her body closer.
Zhongli could hear Lumine’s voice, but she wasn’t sure on what they were talking about. She didn’t ask or cared, just closing her eyes. Childe pressed her lips on Zhongli’s forehead and used her free hand for a slow massage on her tummy.
There was no reason to stay awake at that point, no matter the numbers displayed on Childe’s clock up on the wall. Zhongli fell asleep so easily, lulled by the sound of her beloved’s voice.
***
”You don’t have to go back to the office at all, Why working when you can just have me buying you everything?” Childe wrapped her arms around her girlfriend waist, chin placed on her chest as she tried to stop Zhongli to go back to her job.
“You have more than one job and I still need the money to spoil you back.” Zhongli chuckled, kissing Childe’s forehead. “But you are very cute.”
“You can be my housewife.” Childe insisted.
“Or I can save money so together we can buy our dream home.”
“Very smart, I still prefer my solution.” The younger woman grinned, a foxy smile that made Zhongli chuckle fondly at her. Childe loved that laugh, that fond gaze, made her feel warm and wanted. Zhongli was so beautiful and precious, who wouldn’t want to spoil her? “You always do a lot for the people around you, Zhongli. Sometimes you need to sit back and accept something in return.”
Childe knew that Zhongli acted so much behind people's backs but in the best possible way. They didn't even notice sometimes, but she always looked after her friends and family. Taking care of her monthly wasn't enough, obviously they both wanted to leave inside each other's skins until it became a problem with no solution.
Who would want a way out from Zhongli?
“I could say the same about you, dear.” Zhongli blew an eyelash away from her face, smiling still. She used her thumb to stroke at Childe's lips. “Be a good girl and we will spend even more time together once we are done with work.”
Childe just placed her face on Zhongli's chest, sinking between softness and warmth. She was trying her best not to blush.
Zhongli just stroked her hair, she didn't force her to let go until Childe eventually released the woman from the tight embrace. It was really late in the morning and Zhongli was still half dressed and maybe also supposed to be at her desk an hour ago.
While Zhongli got dressed, Childe just stared at hwe, since she was free that morning and in no rush.
“Another kiss?”
“I am late, Childe, I–”
“Just one, please.” Childe even closed her eyes, moving her lips like a fish and hearing Zhongli's laugh as an answer.
The kiss was delivered nonetheless. Childe pulled the fully dressed business woman on the bed again to claim another kiss, and another, and another one….
***
“You have something red on your collar…” Venti smirked as the two women sat for their lunch break. “Is that lipstick? Also your makeup is a little messy, Miss Zhongli… “
Venti was a short, petite woman. She and Zhongli have been friends since High School, even.
“Yes, I know… But from what I see, I guess Xiao must like your neck a lot.” Zhongli replied back, aware of that little purple bruise that was badly hidden.
Venti started laughing as an answer.
“Yeah…” She stopped all of a sudden, getting dreamy. “Yeah…”
“Enough of this…” Zhongli pushed her away, jokingly. “I had a very good week, you should be happy for me.”
“I am! I am for real. It's just funny, I didn't know that woman could get the Zhongli all messy for work.”
Zhongli sighed, knowing she will have a long day ahead of her.
Yet, the final reward was making her eager to get to work. Childe had that effect on her, after all.