Tags & Trigger warnings: Emetophilia, vomiting, sickfic, panic attacks, hurt/comfort, caretaking

Summary: In which during a meeting to discuss the Fatui's continuing operations in liyue as well as the Adepti's part in continuing to protect Liyue both Xiao and Childe have a very bad time.

Posted to Ao3: August 25th 2021

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"Sir, I apologize for questioning your judgment but wouldn't Cloud Retainer or Mountain Shaper be best for this?" Xiao asked softly.

He sat across from Rex Lapis, or Zhongli as he called himself now that he'd officially chosen to live life as a human. They sat on top of one of the many large cliffs overlooking Liyue, a stone chair beneath each of them and a stone table dividing them.

Two familiar teacups and a teapot rested on the table, one before Xiao and the other before Zhongli. While Zhongli had occasionally taken sips of his tea, Xiao's remained untouched.

The tea was not one enjoyed by humans, in fact, Xiao could frequently recall drinking it a few times in the past with Barbatos, but despite that, he found himself unable to pick up the teacup.

A strange almost jittery unease and nervousness had fallen over him ever since Zhongli had called him here. A small stupidly naive part of him had long hoped that when the Traveler had delivered the news of Rex Lapis's death to him that it had been some type of joke or test, because despite seeing many a god fall over the years Xiao found it deeply unpleasant to believe such a fate would befall his master.

While this is not what he expected when he answered the call of his name from Rex Lapis's lips it does help lift the weight that had been resting on his shoulders ever so slightly. Relief. Pure absolute relief is what Xiao manages to identify the feeling as.

Even so, that still does not stop the unease and anxiety that had burrowed its way into his chest.

Zhongli nodded. "I did consider Cloud Retainer or Mountain Shaper at first. However, this upcoming conversation with the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, Lady Ningguang, is merely a formality as the decision of how Liyue Harbor will be protected was decided when Osial rose once more," he explained. "So while this will be brought up during the meeting this will primarily be focused on the Fatui's continuing operations in Liyue."

Xiao simply nodded and Zhongli continued speaking.

"As the only Snezhnayan diplomat in Liyue at the moment, Childe will be in attendance. Lady Ningguang also requested the Traveler to invite Barbatos as the Anemo archon and Mondstadt representative as the Fatui caused quite the stir in Mondstadt. And any large decisions regarding Liyue should be made aware to them as well considering their close proximity. And finally, the Traveler will be there as an impartial party," he told Xiao.

"Barbatos will be there?" Xiao asked softly that one piece of information standing out to him more than any other.

Xiao had been aware that the Anemo Archon had finally awoken from his slumber, feeling the familiar elemental energy drift over from Mondstadt. However strangely enough and to Xiao's begrudging disappointment, they had yet to meet up considering that Xiao had been quite busy these past few weeks.

There was a faint thought at the corner of his mind that perhaps Barbatos did not wish to see him after all these years but he forces himself to ignore it. After all, to both of them, years passed in the blink of an eye, what was one more day or two.

Despite doing his best to hide the excitement, Zhongli can't help but notice how Xiao's eyes almost light up slightly at the mention of Barbatos. "The Traveler says that he goes by Venti while he walks among humans. Hopefully, he is not as much of a drunkard and a nuisance as he was years ago," Zhongli told him with a small smile.

Xiao glances away, forcing his expression to remain neutral despite the slight pink flush that coats his face. "I...see," he said softly. "Venti," he whispers to himself with a small nod.

The name feels familiar to Xiao despite only just now learning it. Warm and strangely comforting.

"I will be there as well but more as an overseer, although my relationship with Childe has been called into question by Lady Ningguang," he informed Xiao.

The Adeptus merely nodded his expression, remaining neutral. Xiao didn't care for Childe in the slightest, given the man's numerous transgressions towards not only Liyue but also Rex Lapis. However, his master seemed to enjoy the human's company enough to choose him as a mate and so Xiao would do his best to keep a tight clamp on his personal feelings on the matter.

"The meeting will be held this weekend shortly after sunrise," he told Xiao.

"Yes sir," Xiao said instantly. "If that is all, may I be dismissed?"

Zhongli chuckles, giving Xiao a small smile. "You may, although I would enjoy some company, I will not force you to remain."

Xiao hesitates, a scowl on his face, then he takes a deep breath and nods. "Thank you for your hospitality," Xiao murmurs as he finally picks his own teacup up and brings it to his lips.

Zhongli merely watches him with a warm smile as the two of them fall into a peaceful silence and enjoy the view of Liyue Harbor.

~~~

Xiao is admittedly not looking forward to the upcoming meeting this weekend, he's never done well around other people, especially not humans. He didn't understand them in the slightest and their behavior tended to leave him baffled most days.

Although a small part of him, well more than a small part, can't help but feel almost excited to see Barbatos after all these years. A strange restlessness settling in his body disrupting his thoughts. It was annoying and Xiao didn't understand why he felt like this but all he can do is hope it goes away soon.

It doesn't however if anything the feeling seems to only grow, settling in his chest like a rock. To help distract himself Xiao throws himself into his work and at first, it seems to help, but the moment the battle ends and peace settles over Liyue once more the feeling only returns.

By the time the day of the meeting arrives Xiao is exhausted, which he finds odd considering Adepti do not need sleep.

A dull ache has settled at the base of his skull and he sighs as he eats his almond tofu, a deep scowl on his face. Usually, whenever he ate the almond tofu made by Wangshuu inn it gave him a feeling of peace and warm nostalgia but for some reason today it only causes a slight queasiness to form in his stomach, which only adds to Xiao's growing irritation.

It wasn't rare for him to get slightly nauseous whenever he ate. Sometimes his body just didn't want food at all, even if it was a food that normally gave him no issues whenever he ate it.

Choosing to ignore it Xiao finishes his meal, takes a deep breath to prepare himself before making his way to Liyue harbor.

~~~

"Are you sure you are feeling well, Childe?" Zhongli asked as he looked over at him.

They stood outside Liyue harbor waiting for Xiao, the Traveler, and Venti.

Childe nodded yawning. "Yeah, just had to stay up all night going through a mountain of paperwork that was delivered to me at the last minute. Knowing Lady Ningguang it was done on purpose," he mumbled, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

Childe had not gotten any sleep last night, as right after he returned to Northland bank Ekaterina had informed him of a large amount of paperwork that he needed to take a look at. Childe had admittedly not been pleased as paperwork was one of his least favorite aspects of being a harbinger, his irritation had only grown when he saw who exactly the paperwork was specifically for.

To put it lightly Childe was not feeling his best, there was a dull ache forming in his head signaling an oncoming migraine and he was exhausted. Wanting nothing more than to return home and go to sleep, preferably while in Zhongli's arms but it didn't really matter.

"If you like, the meeting can be delayed momentarily," Zhongli suggested. He really didn't like how pale Childe looked at the moment, not to mention the slightly dazed look visible in Childe's usually sharp eyes.

Childe gives a small snort as he shakes his head. "No, I'm fine. Might as well get this over with." He sighs, running a hand over his face. "I'm gonna go on ahead, wouldn't wanna keep Lady Ningguang waiting. See you soon, okay?"

Zhongli nodded. "I will be there once Xiao arrives, as well as the Traveler and Venti."

Childe merely nodded, giving Zhongli a small yet warm smile before he turned and began making his way into Liyue harbor. Zhongli can't help but watch him walk away, a slight sense of unease growing in his chest. Something didn't feel right and was it just him or did Childe seem slightly unsteady on his feet. Childe had looked pale but he didn't look like he had a fever and Zhongli hadn't felt one when Childe greeted him with the usual hug and kiss.

Shaking his head slightly Zhongli closes his eyes for a moment as he pushes those thoughts to the back of his mind. Perhaps he was just nervous about the upcoming meeting, while it was more of a formality than anything that didn't make it any less important.

Zhongli opens his eyes sensing Xiao before he actually sees him, he turns looking in the direction he'd felt the adept energy come from and a second later Xiao appeared.

"Good morning Xiao, I hope you are well," Zhongli told him with a slight smile.

Xiao nodded. "Yes sir, I'm ready." Xiao does not mention the strange restlessness in his chest nor the queasiness that's settled in his stomach, because it's not important. His master wanted him to do a job as such his personal feeling didn't matter, he'd do his best to complete it.

"Good," Zhongli said with a small nod. "Ah, it would seem as if the Traveler and Barbatos have arrived," he muttered, staring at the approaching pair over Xiao's shoulder.

Xiao's eyes widened slightly, that strange restlessness that'd been weighing down his chest lifting slightly as he turned around following Zhongli's gaze.

There's a strange warmth replacing the restlessness that'd Xiao had felt as he lays eyes on Venti talking to the Traveler, a carefree smile on the Anemo Archon's face.

A slight smile crawls across Xiao's face at the sight, although it disappears as he looks away turning back around, his expression turning neutral once more.

Venti was happy and safe, at least from what Xiao could see and that was honestly the only thing he needed.

Venti's eyes widened and he paused in the middle of speaking to the Traveler when he noticed Xiao standing beside Zhongli. A grin spreads across his face as he leaves the Traveler's side and darts forward practically leaping onto Xiao as he wraps the Adeptus in a hug giggling.

"You're really here!" Venti said cheerfully. "How did you get him to come?" He asked, looking over at Zhongli, knowing first hand just how hard it was to get Xiao to agree to go somewhere with a lot of people, much less a lot of humans.

Xiao can only stare wide-eyed and frozen as a red blush slowly spreads over his face.

Venti giggles again looking back at Xiao. "Nice to see you again after all this time," he told Xiao, his voice full of nothing but warmth.

It takes Xiao a moment or two to speak, seemingly searching for his words. "It's nice seeing you as well," he muttered, glancing away.

He shifts slightly trying to break out of Venti's grasp, because not only is it embarrassing but also because the way Venti is clinging to him is placing an uncomfortable pressure on his stomach.

That slight queasiness he'd been feeling earlier only growing stronger and with it came a strange heaviness, a dull ache settling inside his gut as his stomach began churning.

Thankfully Venti eventually releases Xiao, choosing instead to grab Xiao's hand.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road. I wanna try some of Liyue's wine when this is done," Venti said excitedly.

Zhongli simply sighed in response, perhaps he'd made a mistake when he'd agreed to Barbatos's presence at this meeting. But he says nothing as they begin making their way into Liyue harbor.

~~~

Xiao doesn't know what is happening, or why this is happening but something is clearly wrong with him.

He sits in the meeting room, with Zhongli to his left and Venti to his right.

Ningguang is speaking to Childe about something but Xiao finds himself unable to follow along.

He didn't know if that was because his head was throbbing so viscously that he could actively feel his brain turning numb or if it was the strange ache that seemed to be determined to twist his stomach inside out.

The nausea hasn't faded either, if anything it's gotten worse and Xiao can't help the sense of unease settling in his chest because this nausea somehow feels very different from the type he gets when his body just doesn't agree with food.

Usually, when that happened the nausea would eventually fade as the day wore on but this time it just seems to be getting worse and worse, leaving Xiao feeling almost light-headed as he stares down at the table in front of him.

Scowling, he discreetly places a hand on his stomach that feeling of unease only growing when he feels it churning violently, the organ practically bubbling and writhing beneath his fingertips. The skin there is taut, almost bloated his normally form-fitting clothes feeling as though they're digging into his abdomen.

Xiao didn't think he was injured, in fact, he knew he wasn't so he had no clue what could be making him feel like this.

Xiao's eyes widen slightly when his stomach makes a small gurgling noise, and while he can only pray that neither Zhongli nor Venti hadn't heard that, the brief glance Zhongli gives him says otherwise. While Zhongli does not say anything about it Xiao can't help but glance away, his gaze falling back to the table as his face flushes slightly with embarrassment and shame.

He doesn't know what's wrong with him but he needs it to stop, he has a job to do. One that Rex Lapis had so graciously bestowed upon him and Xiao didn't want to fail him.

Xiao takes a deep breath to try and focus, to calm himself down when an intense wave of nausea and a deep ache practically sucker punches him in the stomach and he tenses gritting his teeth as he struggles to take a single breath.

It hurts. Oh, Archons it hurts like nothing Xiao has ever experienced before. He was used to the pain of broken bones or his flesh being torn open but this, it felt as though something had a vice grip around his stomach, squeezing the organ inside of him.

The pain slowly begins to ease up allowing Xiao to drag in small hushed breaths, the pain doesn't leave completely settling into a deep ache across the entirety of his stomach. It feels as though it's in knots, the nausea reaching almost unbearable levels as his stomach churns violently writhing like a ball of upset snakes beneath his fingertips.

His stomach makes another soft gurgling noise although this time it sounds almost tense, ominous and Xiao swallows thickly trying to clear the near river of drool suddenly building up in his mouth. Another horrible cramp twists at his stomach and Xiao tenses again, gritting his teeth against the pain once more.

For some reason, it feels strangely almost disgustingly warm. While Liyue has many humid days this heat is entirely different, leaving Xiao feeling as if he's burning from the inside out. It does nothing to help his nausea in fact it feels as though he can actively feel the contents of his stomach curdling inside of him.

He closes his eyes for a moment when a vicious ache shoots across his head, the bright lights of the meeting room practically stabbing him in the eye.

Ningguang suddenly sighed. "Perhaps it would be best to take a temporary break. To calm ourselves," she suggested with a small smile. While she is speaking to everyone in the room she is clearly talking about Childe who is looking at her, his expression neutral but frustration clear in his eyes.

Xiao opened his eyes, scowling as he resisted the urge to give a sigh of relief. His hand falling away from his stomach as he carefully gets to his feet, despite him being careful; however, just the motion of standing up has his stomach sloshing like someone violently shaking a water balloon.

Xiao swallows almost frantically when he feels something burning at the back of his throat, slimy and disgustingly bitter and sour. It takes everything Xiao has not to dart out of the room, because he needs to get somewhere quiet and secluded where he won't be bothered. He doesn't know what's wrong with him, but he has a sinking feeling that if he stays here something awful is going to happen to him.

He makes his way into the hall, his eyes darting around as he keeps swallowing back that disgusting vile tasting liquid trying to climb up his throat. He keeps walking until he eventually comes upon a door, a little ways down the hall, he sees no one coming in or out of it so he quickly makes his way inside.

It's a bathroom he notices as he stumbles inside the door closing behind him. There are a few stalls and across from them are one or two sinks on the wall. Xiao's stomach gives a low tense growl right before a cramp twists it, pain stabbing at his stomach as it suddenly heaves. A splash of bile fills his mouth, the liquid burning, slimy and bitter, Xiao frantically clamps a hand over his mouth, his eyes wide as he takes in small panicked breaths in through his nose.

Swallowing rapidly in an attempt to force the bile back, Xiao stumbles his way into one of the stalls, his entire body trembling. He leans over the toilet, one hand on the stall wall to support himself considering how badly his legs were shaking beneath him.

Xiao's stomach heaves again pain shooting across it as it forces more of its contents into his mouth, the force of it has some of the vomit spurting through his tightly sealed lips and through his fingers. It trickles down his fingers, the pale, murky off white bile dripping down onto the toilet seat.

His stomach is in absolute agony, his body trembling almost violently from the exertion of trying to hold everything in, it's unbearably hot and he can feel sweat trickling across his skin.

Xiao squeezes his eyes shut as he takes shuddering breaths in through his nose. The sharp bitter and sour taste of the vomit sitting in his mouth is nearly overpowering making his nausea even worse, his stomach continuing to let out low gurgling noises as if threatening to send up more of its contents. Xiao hates this and he tries to focus on anything else as he forces himself to swallow hard a few times, tears gathering in his eyes as he forces the contents of his stomach back inside of it.

A shudder of revulsion shakes him, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he hiccups and pants that ache that'd already been present in his stomach only growing worse along with the heaviness as his stomach continues to churn and writhe its contents practically bubbling inside of him.

Xiao knows he should go back to the meeting room before one of the others gets suspicious of his whereabouts but Xiao can't move, not right now, not only because of how his legs are shaking beneath him but because he still feels awful. He has no doubt that he looks as bad as he feels and just the thought of returning to the room in this state has his face burning with shame.

He keeps his hand clamped over his mouth, as hiccups continue to leave his mouth jolting his body and sending pain streaking across his stomach. It's a struggle for him not to gag around every breath he takes at this point, his nausea making him feel dizzy, almost delirious as he swallows struggling to clear the saliva still rapidly gathering in his mouth.

Then Xiao hears something, a familiar voice that makes his blood run cold, an almost visceral sense of panic and fear gripping him. Xiao desperately wants to vanish but he barely has the energy to stand let alone use his powers, so all he can do is wait as he hears footsteps approaching.

Childe sighed, muttering soft curses in Snezhnayan under his breath as he entered the bathroom, his head feeling as if it were on the verge of splitting open and his stomach churning as if it were throwing a tantrum inside of him. He's exhausted which is no surprise considering he hasn't slept in over twenty-four hours, but between that the migraine he currently has and talking to Ningguang about the Fatui, and by extension Northland Bank's, continuing operations in Liyue he feels absolutely drained.

He yawns, grimacing a sharp pain stabs at his stomach the low lights of the bathroom feeling as though they were drilling into his eyes. Childe takes a deep breath, he just needed to splash some cold water on his face, calm down a bit then he could return to the meeting feeling more awake and aware.

Childe pauses in the process of approaching one of the nearby sinks, when he hears a soft, muffled hiccuping noise along with a strange, loud gurgling noise coming from the direction of one of the stalls just ahead.

Curious, Childe walks forward a bit more then he stops his eyes going wide in surprise at what he sees. Xiao is standing there, his back to the doorway of the stall. He had one hand stretched out placed on the wall of the stall, seemingly in an attempt to hold himself up if the way his entire body was trembling was anything to go by.

Xiao's body suddenly jolts as he makes a strange noise that's somewhere between a muffled hiccup and wet burp, his entire body tensing up as he makes a strangling gasping noise.

Confused and slightly stunned Childe watches as a small amount of pale, watery vomit trickles from the cracks in Xiao's fingers some of it splattering onto the toilet seat while the rest drips into the tiny puddle of slimy, pale vomit at Xiao's feet.

Childe sighed loudly, running a hand down his face as he closed his eyes for a moment feeling his own nausea growing, as his stomach continued to churn. He really, really didn't have the energy or patience for this, not today.

Grimacing when another vicious throb shoots across his head Childe steps forward laying a gentle hand on Xiao's back. He's trembling beneath Childe's touch, heat rolling off of his body and sweat soaks his clothing. "Hey-" Childe begins with a sigh.

"D-don't...touch me," Xiao manages to force out as he swallows rapidly trying to force back the bile threatening to climb up his throat. His face is burning, shame and embarrassment feeling etched into his very being. There are a lot of people Xiao didn't want to see him like this, Childe of all people is at the very, very top of that list.

While Childe may have been the person Rex Lapis chose as a mate that did not mean that Xiao could trust him, it just meant he had to keep his personal feelings about the man to himself.

Childe sighs again, rubbing a hand over his eyes when his vision seems to blur before his eyes for a moment. "Look, please don't do this. Not now," Childe muttered. "Do you want me to get Zhongli or something to help you," he asked Xiao, no teasing, no jokes he is throwing Xiao a lifeline he so desperately seems to need at the moment.

Xiao goes quiet in shock, his body still trembling beneath Childe's touch as his stomach continues gurgling loudly, hiccups bubbling out of him filling the silence between them for a few moments. He doesn't sense any malice in Childe's words or tone if anything the man sounds almost tired and irritated.

It takes Xiao a moment or two but eventually, he gives a slow almost stilted nod. Xiao listens to Childe's retreating footsteps, still slightly shocked that the man had offered to help him, although some part of Xiao can't help but still believe that Childe is going to leave him here to suffer.

Childe leaves the bathroom making his way back to the doors of the meeting room where Zhongli stands waiting, he's alone right now thankfully because Childe doubted that Xiao wanted anyone else knowing about his current predicament.

"Childe? Are you alright?" Zhongli asked, looking up when Childe approached him. Childe still seems a bit unsteady on his feet and his skin is incredibly pale.

"Yeah, just tired and a migraine. I'll be," he said quickly, waving away Zhongli's concern. "Look, I think Xiao's sick and he asked me to get you," Childe told him, keeping his voice low. He wasn't even sure if Adepti could get sick and at the moment with how badly his head hurt he didn't have the energy to bother wondering.

Zhongli scowls looking slightly confused as if he hadn't heard Childe correctly. "Xiao?"

Childe nods but stops that when it sends pain shooting across his head. Blinking to clear his blurring vision, Childe speaks, "Yeah, he's in the bathroom right now," Childe said, pointing over his shoulder.

Zhongli closes his eyes for a moment, nodding before he sighs. "I shall go tend to him then."

Childe begins walking past Zhongli to return to the meeting room but stops when Zhongli calls out to him.

"Ajax, take some time to rest as well," He told Childe biting his lip for a moment.

Childe gives a small snort, a slight smile on his face. "I will if Lady Ningguang can stop being so relentless."

Zhongli says nothing more, taking his words as a no. He begins walking, making his way to the bathroom where Childe said that Xiao was. At first, he doesn't see him, then he here's soft muffled hiccuping coming from the direction of one of the stalls.

"Xiao?"

Xiao freezes, his eyes wide, or at least he tries to with his entire body trembling, it's kind of hard to do. He swallows a few times forcing back the bile climbing up his throat, his body tensing up. His stomach is in absolute agony gurgling loudly as if screaming at him to just let himself throw up already as pain stabs at it. He can feel his clothes soaked with sweat clinging to his skin, making him feel as though he's being smothered.

Xiao squeezed his eyes shut, tears gathering in them as his stomach heaves and it's contents flood his mouth. He clamps his mouth shut curling in on himself slightly as he desperately forces himself to swallow, it hurts and only makes the heaviness in his stomach grow worse. A deep ache settling across his entire abdomen, his clothes feeling as though they're constricting around his stomach.

"Xiao?" Zhongli said, laying a gentle hand on his back, a low hiss leaving his mouth when he feels the heat rolling off of Xiao's skin. He glances down noticing the small puddle of pale vomit at Xiao's feet and splattering the seat of the toilet as well the vomit coating the hand Xiao has clamped over his mouth.

"S-sir...I-I'm sorry. I can't do it," Xiao manages to whisper, his voice shaking as hiccups continue jolting his small frame. A soft whimper leaves his mouth before he can stop it as pain practically punches him in the stomach leaving him gasping for air as he struggles to breathe for a few seconds.

He can't help but feel ashamed that he's failed Rex Lapis, especially after the man had already done so much for him as it is. In his eyes, there was no bigger disgrace.

Zhongli sighed as he rubbed small circles gently along Xiao's back. "Xiao, I would like you to listen to me if you can. You have not failed me, you are sick, it is something you can not help, and even so, I would not be mad at you for this. Is that understood?"

Xiao nods slowly, another whimper leaving his mouth in between his hiccups. His vision swims for a moment and he doesn't know if it's the dizzying nausea or the horrible headache he has, but he feels light-headed everything is too hot and bright.

He wincing when a loud, wet burp suddenly leaves his mouth and his stomach feels as though it flips inside of him. Its contents sloshing inside of him like an overfilled glass. "S-sorry, sir," Xiao said, his voice wavering as he swallowed rapidly.

He can feel something warm leaking from the corners of his mouth and he can't tell if it's the near river of drool overflowing in his mouth or the rancid bile still trying to climb up his throat.

Zhongli shakes his head. "It is fine. Also please, Rex Lapis is no more, call me Zhongli."

~~~

For once in his life, Childe can't help but wish that La Signora had stuck around a little bit longer, if only because he wouldn't be the highest-ranking Snezhnayan diplomat in Liyue at the moment. Then he wouldn't have to be suffering through this long arduous meeting where Ningguang relentlessly questions him and him alone, while he tries to use what little remaining energy he does have to dance around the questions he can't give the answers to.

The vicious pounding of his head is making that more difficult than it needs to be, making it a struggle for him to form a coherent thought. He takes a sip of his tea to calm his frayed nerves but it only makes his nausea worse, tasting like nothing but pure sickly sweet sugar as he drinks it.

He instantly regrets drinking it, swallowing thickly when it feels as though its clinging to his throat. Childe scowls when Ningguang says something, the words sounding as if they're going in one ear and out the other. This is frustrating and Childe doesn't know how much more he could take, if he didn't think it'd be detrimental to the Fatui's continuing operations in Liyue he might've walked out to get himself some fresh air.

Childe feels like absolute shit and he folds his hands on top of one another on the table when he notices they've started trembling. This wasn't good, not for Childe but especially not for the Fatui. A harbinger was a pillar of strength and power, showing weakness was not an option.

Gritting his teeth against the pain in his head, he swallows hard as salvia begins to rapidly gather in his mouth, his nausea only growing with each passing second. The meeting hasn't resumed yet so Childe can leave temporarily if he wishes, but he doesn't because he can feel Ningguang's eyes on him as she makes small talk with the Traveler.

She's looking for a weakness, a crack in his armor like a shark circling blood-infested waters, and Childe really doesn't want to give her an opening. No, he refuses to.

Blinking rapidly when his vision blurs for a moment, Childe glances over at Zhongli's still empty chair. He hadn't returned and neither had Xiao, which wasn't surprising considering how sick Xiao had looked when Childe left the bathroom but he can't help but long for Zhongli's soothing touch.

Childe's stomach makes a low tense growling noise and he freezes doing his best to keep his expression neutral. His nausea is reaching almost unbearable levels, adding to the lightheadedness he was already feeling from the lack of sleep and his migraine. He swallows rapidly, feeling bile burning at the back of his throat as his vision wavers again, a cold sweat prickling at his skin.

A sense of panic opens wide in Childe's chest as he realizes his body isn't giving him a choice, he needs to leave now before something truly embarrassing happens.

"Please excuse me," Childe said as he got to his feet, ignoring the way everyone looked at him. While Ningguang merely smiles at him, Childe thinks he sees something close to pity or worry in both Venti and the Traveler's eyes.

He says nothing more as he leaves the room doing his best to take slow deep breaths as the world blurs and swims before his eyes, only visible as a smear of color, lights, and sound.

Childe got migraines often, he was pretty sure it came with the job and while they could get pretty bad he typically did his best to power through it. There's a sinking feeling in his chest that settles alongside the panic still gripping him as he slowly realizes that, that may not work this time.

He tries to push that feeling away as he starts making his way to the bathroom, he just needed to splash some water on his face to wake himself up. He hadn't had the chance to because he found Xiao sick and had to get Zhongli for him, but Childe convinces himself that if he can just do that this time, he'd feel well enough to return to the meeting and continue speaking with Ningguang. Then when this meeting was over he could go to Zhongli's apartment and sleep for the rest of the day.

Childe pauses in the middle of the hallway reaching out to lay a hand on the wall to steady himself as he just stands there for a moment, his gaze on the floor. There are black spots appearing in his vision and no matter how much he blinks they only return not even a second later. He swallows, a soft hiccup leaving his mouth as his stomach makes a low gurgling noise churning like a whirlpool inside of him.

Childe can feel drool dripping from his mouth, but he finds it very hard to care about that when he feels as though no matter how many breaths he takes, none of the air makes it into his lungs. His limbs feel strangely numb all of a sudden and as the dark spots in his vision grow Childe suddenly feels a rush of heat run along his skin only to be replaced seconds later by a deep chill.

Childe is unconscious before he even hits the floor.

"Xiao perhaps we should go to one of the rooms Ningguang has given us, so that you may rest," Zhongli suggested as he continued rubbing Xiao's back.

Xiao had been nearly hyperventilating as he dry heaved and gagged emptily over the toilet for quite a few moments now. Tears in his eyes as hiccups and loud burps jolted his body. His trembling had gotten so bad that Zhongli was beginning to worry that his legs may collapse beneath him, which is why he was standing behind Xiao, his arm wrapped loosely around his waist and his other hand still rubbing Xiao's back.

Xiao's stomach hitched slightly beneath Zhongli's fingertips causing Xiao to begin gagging again bringing nothing up. His head was throbbing, his brain feeling like it was falling out of his ears. It was hot, so disgustingly hot that Xiao felt like he could feel the contents of his stomach curdling inside of him as it continued to churn violently with no sign of relief in sight.

He hated this, Zhongli had said that Xiao was sick but with what? Xiao didn't think he could catch human illnesses, at least it had never happened before but then again Xiao didn't exactly interact with too many humans directly. For once he disliked how little he understood in regards to humans, because had no answer for this and if he was being honest that did scare him quite a bit.

Xiao groans weakly, dripping from his lips and into the toilet, the current pain he was feeling winning out just slightly over the humiliation and embarrassment. He didn't know what he had to do but he just wanted this to end.

"Please...make it stop," he whispered practically begging for relief at this point.

Zhongli can't help but grimace when he feels Xiao's stomach writhe violently beneath his fingers it's no wonder he feels so awful. "You are going to lay down and rest perhaps once you awaken the pain shall ease up," he told him, it's not a promise but more of a reassurance. One that Xiao desperately needs right now.

Xiao is quiet for a few moments, the soft hiccups leaving his mouth and loud gurgling of his stomach filling the silence between them. Then he gives a small stilted nod which Zhongli takes as the cue to begin leading him out of the bathroom.

It takes Xiao a few dedicated tries to be able to stand on his own two feet and even he's still trembling and shivering so badly that Zhongli needs to reach out to steady him a few times. Xiao says nothing as he begins walking his arms wrapped around his stomach every step leaving him feeling as though the floor is swaying beneath his feet as dizzying waves of nausea continue to crash over him. And Xiao has to take small careful breaths, each one threatening to make him gag.

As they make their way out of the bathroom however and begin walking down the hall Zhongli suddenly pauses, slowly blinking a deep scowl on his face as if he can't believe what he's seeing at the moment. Xiao pauses as well, confused as to why Zhongli had stopped, until he follows his gaze, his eyes widening slightly.

Childe is laying on the floor in a heap, clearly unconscious. His body limp and his breathing ragged.

Xiao glances up at Zhongli seeing concern and worry flare to life in the man's eyes in an instant. Zhongli sighs, closing his eyes for a moment as he takes a deep breath before leaving Xiao's side to go to Childe. He kneels beside him, his hands moving over him for a moment as he checks Childe's temperature, while Childe does not have a fever thankfully Zhongli is very worried about how pale he was at the moment.

He grabs Childe, carefully lifting him up from the floor and moving his body to lean against the nearby wall before he turns to Xiao. "Please remain here with him, I will go retrieve Barbatos," he told him quickly.

He does not wait for Xiao to answer before he's getting to his feet once more and making his way to the meeting room.

As Xiao stares down at Childe he can't help the strange sinking feeling that opens up in his chest that his current condition might be Xiao's fault. No matter how much of a bastard Childe was, he was still a human meaning the corruption Xiao carried could latch on to Childe.

His mind briefly flashes back to the moment Childe found Xiao in the bathroom, he remembers Childe touching his back.

Xiao grits his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut as that deep ache flares to life in his stomach, stealing his breath away for a few seconds. No, if the corruption had latched on to Childe and affected him somehow then Zhongli surely would've said something when he examined the man.

Xiao knows this, a part of him knows that Childe was probably just sick with something. Humans are fragile after all but that doesn't stop Xiao's mind from running through the worst-case scenarios one after another, because after all, humans are fragile.

~~~

"You didn't eat anything strange did you Xiao?" Venti asked him softly as he rubbed Xiao's back.

They were in one of the bedrooms that Ningguang had allowed them to stay in for the duration of the meeting. The meeting which was postponed until further notice considering Xiao and Childe's current conditions.

Xiao shakes his head slightly, only to raise the trash can he was holding to his mouth as his stomach sloshes and he gags emptily, drool dripping from his mouth.

Venti sighed gently brushing Xiao's hair from his face, Xiao was still shivering despite the fact that he had a blanket wrapped around him although his fever still remains strong. Venti glances over to the bed where Childe is laying, his head in Zhongli's lap as he sits on the edge of the bed biting his lip as he gently cards his fingers through Childe's hair.

Childe had not stirred since Zhongli had carried him here, remaining completely dead to the world. Zhongli knew Childe needed rest which is why he'd resisted the urge to try waking him up despite the worry he was feeling.

"Maybe you caught something from one of the people at the inn," Venti muttered more to himself than anyone else as he stared at Xiao. He's worried of course but knows that if he shows it that'll only make Xiao's panicking worse.

"I-I'm not human," Xiao reminded him, his voice wavering. He groans curling in on himself slightly, drool dripping from his lips into the trash can as his stomach makes a loud gurgling noise, pain streaking across it as if someone were squeezing it.

If Xiao had the energy to do so he might've glared at it since his stomach has not shut up, gurgling loudly since this whole ordeal started. But he doesn't so all he can do is sit there, tears gathering in his eyes as he muffles the hiccups jolting his body and making the ache in his stomach worse. Each time he breathes his stomach hitches threatening to make him gag and bile tries to climb up his throat.

"You may not be human but you have a human form. So you can get sick like one," Venti informed him gently.

He wasn't surprised Xiao didn't know this especially considering he didn't understand humans. And Zhongli while he understood them a bit more, he'd only chosen to live as one recently, so Venti isn't surprised in the slightest that Xiao didn't know something like this could happen.

Childe groans softly and Zhongli's hand stills in his hair as both Xiao and Venti look over at him.

Childe grimaces, his eyes fluttering open slightly. The first thing he registers is pain, his head feeling as though it's being squeezed in a vice grip and an intense wave of nausea coming with it and Childe groans again. His head hurts, he feels sick and he doesn't know where he is or what's happening around him but he can hear noise and see a bright light filling his vision.

All of it is way, way too much sudden stimuli for Childe's already frayed and overwhelmed nerves.

Zhongli reaches down quickly grabbing the trash can he'd placed beside the bed when the color seems to drain from Childe's face and he begins gagging. Zhongli brings the trashcan to Childe's mouth as he chokes up a surge of watery tan vomit.

Childe groans coughing and spluttering as he struggles to sit up seemingly more aware than before.

"There you are Ajax, get it up," Zhongli said softly as Childe retched another thick wave of watery vomit into the trash can, the force of it causing it to spray from his nose as well.

Venti sighed as he quickly looked back at Xiao, who is staring at Childe looking absolutely horrified, and as his breathing hitches and his eyes begin darting around in panic, hiccups still bubbling out of him Venti realizes that he needs to calm Xiao down before he has a full-on breakdown.

"Hey, Alatus, look at me. It's fine, you're going to be fine," Venti said, taking Xiao's face in his hands, forcing Xiao to look at him.

"I-is that my fault?" Xiao asked his eyes darting back to Childe who's retching up another wave into the trash can.

Childe coughs, blinking the tears from his eyes as his head continues throbbing star bursting in his vision. "R-remind me...to assassinate La Signora...in the streets when I return home," Childe mumbles when he gets the brief chance to breathe, his gaze briefly shifting up to Zhongli.

Childe spits into the trash can, the sickening sweetness of the tea combining with the sharp bitter and sour taste of bile reminding Childe of poison as he retches again, stars bursting before his eyes as another smaller wave of watery vomit gurgles up his throat cascading into the trash can.

He can feel Zhongli's hand on his back, and he can't be sure right now but he's pretty sure that hand is trembling.

While Zhongli is speaking to him murmuring soft words of assurances Childe can also make out another voice speaking, it's lighter and softer than Zhongli's. It takes a moment or two for Childe to recognize it as Venti's.

"Hey, no, this isn't your fault, okay? I promise," Venti said as he continued trying to calm Xiao down.

Xiao's hiccuping is getting more violent as he practically hyperventilates, tears in his eyes. It hurts, his stomach hurts so bad and he can barely breathe, drool freely leaking from his mouth. It's hot and he wants to take this blanket wrapped around him off because it's only making things worse.

"I should've just listened and postponed the meeting...I should've never gone into the bathroom in the first place," Childe mumbles in between his panting once he can finally speak.

Both he and Zhongli look up when Xiao whimpers loudly. Childe merely blinks, looking slightly stunned when he sees the tears rolling down Xiao's face.

Childe has seen quite a few expressions from Xiao in the brief time he's known him, disgust, anger, irritation, apathy but this is entirely different he can see fear and panic clear in Xiao's wide glassy amber eyes.

Xiao's breath catches as one of his hiccups turns into a loud, wet gurgling burp that has him bringing up a wave of thick, lumpy, off-white vomit that resembles spoiled milk.

"Oh, Alatus," Venti whispered nothing but sympathy and concern in his voice. "Okay, it's alright I'm right here," he told him gently as he brushed Xiao's hair away from his face, tucking the longer strands behind his ears.

Zhongli sighed grimacing when Xiao gave a violent sounding retch, the noise practically clawing its way up from his torture stomach bringing another large wave of pale vomit with it.

He looks at Venti. "Perhaps it would be best if I took Ajax home. Will you tend to Xiao for me?" He asked him despite already knowing the answer.

Venti merely nodded, not even looking at Zhongli as he continued trying to comfort Xiao.

"It's alright, I'm right here," Venti murmured, pressing a brief kiss to Xiao's forehead once they were alone.

"M-my stomach hurts," Xiao sobbed, his nerves completely shot by this point. He whimpers, the noise getting cut off as another large wave of vomit surges up his throat, practically choking him as it catches him off guard. It overshoots the trash can slightly, splattering on the edge of it and onto the floor before Xiao quickly bows his head burying it in the trash can.

The vomit is thick, practically congealing as it falls from Xiao's lips.

"I know, have you been feeling bad this whole time?" Venti asked him when he thinks Xiao could speak. Xiao clearly had a bad fever, bad enough where he was shivering and his skin soaked with sweat, Venti knew from experience that it couldn't have gotten this bad out of nowhere.

Xiao nodded quickly as he retched up another large wave, a loud gurgling burp coming with it.

His stomach is still churning violently there's also a strange gurgling sensation lower in his gut along with an odd pressure. It's uncomfortable and his gagging and retching feels as though it's making it worse.

"B-bathroom, please," he manages to choke out urgently, hoping, no, praying that Venti understands him or Xiao's day is going to get a whole lot worse.

Thankfully Venti does his eyes growing slightly wide before he quickly begins helping Xiao to his feet.

~~~

This day is possibly one of the worst, most embarrassing days of Xiao's life, he can't even look Venti in the eye right now hoping that he mistakes the red blush on Xiao's face as being caused by the fever rather than the sheer amount of shame he's feeling.

"So probably the stomach flu," Venti muttered to himself

Currently, he and Xiao were in bed, Xiao curled up in his lap still clutching the trash can in a death grip. Venti gave a soft hiss as he carefully rubbed Xiao's stomach, the skin was bloated and taut beneath his fingertips the organ writhing and bubbling as tense gurgles continued to come from it.

Xiao groans, his body tensing up in Venti's grasp, then a second later he burps lurching forward slightly as he frantically brings the trash can to his lips bringing up a small wave of pale bile.

He says nothing as he coughs shakily lifting his head, drools dripping from his mouth as he slowly blinks looking heavily dazed, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispers, his voice breaking on the word sorry.

"Shhh, hey, it's okay. Please don't cry," Venti said softly as he wrapped Xiao in a hug as he began sobbing.

Venti can tell that Xiao is clearly frustrated and exhausted, he's struggling to even keep holding the trash can at this point.

Venti begins humming softly, as he runs his fingers through Xiao's hair. Trying to help him in any way he can, Venti doesn't even know if this'll help calm Xiao down but he's willing to try anything at this point.

So even Venti is surprised when Xiao's sobbing gradually begins quieting down, his body slowly relaxing in Venti's grip.

As his breathing evens out and he falls asleep Venti gives a soft sigh of relief. He shifts slightly, doing his best not to wake Xiao as he gets more comfortable in bed. He knows it's gonna be a long night and an equally long day tomorrow so he might as well get some sleep while he can.

"Good night Alatus," Venti said softly, pressing a brief kiss to Xiao's forehead as he closes his eyes and goes to sleep.