Tags and trigger warnings: emetophilia, vomiting, sickfic, hurt/comfort, alternate universe-Modern/college setting

Summary: A sequel/follow-up to my fic Work break where after taking care of Zhongli, Childe finds that he's caught the flu as well.

Posted to Ao3: May 11th 2021

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Childe was pretty sure that it was nearly impossible for him to get sick at this point in his life. Growing up in a big family with quite a few siblings will do that to you, so typically whenever Zhongli got sick Childe was the one who took care of him with the opposite rarely happening.

So when he leaves the classroom after the last class he and Zhongli taught he is convinced that he may be a bit tired. After all, he was on his feet most of the day operating the projector, the laptop as well as passing out any handouts Zhongli had prepared for the students.

His throat felt a bit dry, sore almost too but that could be explained by the fact that he was thirsty. He yawned, stopping in front of one of the vending machines lined up against the walls. He's in the middle of deciding what to drink when a voice startles him.

"Wow, you look like shit."

Childe jumped slightly looking up to see Xiao standing in front of the vending machine next to him.

Normally he would've heard someone walking up to him, and considering he didn't it, maybe it was the hint he needed that he was actually sick. That or Xiao was getting quieter.

Running a hand through his hair Childe glared at him. "Thanks for the compliment, " he huffed, wincing as his throat ached.

His head was pounding and had been since he woke up early this morning, although Childe was no stranger to migraines getting them frequently if he stayed up all night playing video games or watching tv. Still, the slight nausea he had at the moment in addition to the sore throat should've clued him in on something being wrong.

Xiao snorted as he opened his can of soda. "Where is he?"

Typically wherever Zhongli was, Childe wasn't too far behind; it was rare for Xiao to see one without the other.

"Preparing for the next class, " Childe mumbled, as he pushed the green tea button on the vending machine. "I figured we could use something to drink real quick."

As Childe reached down to grab the two cans of green tea, the world seemed to sway for a moment. Blinking away the dizziness he let out a shuddering breath gritting his teeth slightly as the headache seemed to get worse.

Straightening out he glanced over to see Xiao still standing there watching him.

"What?"

"You are so screwed, " Xiao chuckled and Childe rolled his eyes.

"Fuck you, I'm fine, " Childe huffed ignoring the way his stomach seemed to churn slightly.

Xiao gave a low hum and nodded, sounding completely unconvinced before walking away.

He's just being an asshole again, I'm fine . Childe reassured himself as he made his way back to the classroom.

Zhongli was at his desk reading like he usually did in between classes. He looked up, a smile on his face when Childe walked in. "Welcome back."

Childe returned the smile as he gave Zhongli one of the cans of green tea. "I thought you finished that one, the other day," he said as he leaned against Zhongli's desk.

Childe opened his can of green tea, taking a small hesitant sip. His stomach was aching on top of the headache and he really didn't want to risk making it worse, when the first sip didn't upset his stomach he took another.

"I finished the first book, it's a series," Zhongli told him as he showed Childe the front cover.

Childe chuckled softly, shaking his head, something he instantly regretted when a jolt of pain shot through his eye. "You go through books faster than I ever will."

Zhongli grinned. "Now you know how I feel watching you play video games."

Childe gave a soft hum. "Still feeling okay?" He asked after a moment.

Zhongli looked up at him, turning his attention away from his book once more. "I feel fine now, even better now that I'm back here in the classroom," he told Childe, a warm smile on his face. And it is the truth this time, Zhongli feels energized, refreshed almost now that he'd gotten over the flu.

"Good," Childe said, checking the time on his phone. "That's good. You were practically moping while you were sick so I was worried."

"I do not mope," Zhongli muttered and a small smile crossed Childe's face. The man sounded almost offended.

Childe gives a soft hum taking another sip of his tea as he turns his attention to his phone. Feeling Zhongli's eyes on him he looks up again to find him staring at him.

"What is it?"

"How are you doing? You appear quite tired," Zhongli asked as he reached out and grasped one of Childe's hands. As he looks at him, Zhongli laces their fingers together.

"Honestly I kind of am," Childe admitted. "But other than that I'm okay." As Childe spoke he shifted a bit stretching slightly, his joints feel stiff whether from standing in one place or just tension he doesn't know.

Childe is not the least bit surprised when Zhongli stands up and reaches out drawing Childe close as their foreheads touch. After all, it was a bit unusual for Childe to admit that he was feeling anything short of fine even to his husband. Zhongli gives a small hum looking slightly surprised. "You don't have a fever."

Childe gives a small snort a smile on his face. "I told you I was just tired." He ignores the way his head is throbbing, leaving him feeling as though his brain is being turned into mush.

Zhongli gives a small hum as he returns to his chair, still looking at Childe. He does look a little bit pale but other than that he seems fine. "If you would like, you can go take a small nap. The next class isn't for another twenty minutes," he suggested.

Childe frowned as he checked the time again, biting his lip. Zhongli sees the hesitation in his eyes. "Ajax, go rest. I'll be alright," he reassured him.

Zhongli knows how worried Childe had been while taking care of him, how scared he'd been. And Childe was not exactly someone who was easily terrified.

Childe was silent then after a moment, he nodded. "Okay... I'll go take a quick nap in the teacher's lounge," he sighed. While a part of him was still hesitant to leave Zhongli alone, between the headache seemingly draining him of his energy and his stomach sloshing the other part of him just wanted to fucking lie down.

"If you need anything just call me okay?" Childe told him, when Zhongli nodded Childe left the classroom.

The teacher's lounge wasn't too far away but to Childe, it felt like a mile-long walk. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, his stomach was still aching in fact he could practically feel the green tea he'd drink sloshing inside of him.

Thankfully the halls were empty right now, with most students either in class or the cafeteria. Ducking into one of the nearby bathrooms Childe walked over to one of the sinks, a grimace crossing his face as he caught sight of himself in the mirror.

While Xiao had been wrong about him looking like shit, he was definitely paler than usual and sweating as well. Childe gave a soft sigh as he splashed some cold water on his face, hoping to wake himself up a bit and cool down slightly.

He was in the middle of drying his face with some paper towels when his stomach made a soft gurgling noise. Childe froze for a moment as he raised one hand to his stomach, his eyes widened slightly as he noticed that the flesh there felt slightly bloated and tender.

Letting out a soft hiss he attempted to rub it, only to lurch forward slightly, gagging over the sink as he touched a spot he probably shouldn't have.

Childe sighed as he did his best to blink again the dizziness and stars filling his vision. "Shit," he whispered as he wiped his mouth with a paper towel, besides some cloudy saliva though nothing else had thankfully come up, although his stomach and head were now aching even worse than before.

Rubbing a hand over his face Childe exited the bathroom pretending as though nothing had happened. He never got sick, therefore he couldn't be sick. It was as simple as that.

When he finally arrived at the teacher's lounge waves of exhaustion were rolling over him, he was so tired in fact that he didn't even spare Xiao a second glance as he laid down on one of the nearby sofas.

He could feel Xiao staring at him as Childe set an alarm on his cellphone so that he'd be able to wake up in time for the next class. But thankfully Xiao didn't say anything which was fantastic because Childe just did not have the energy to deal with his bullshit at the moment.

Once he'd set the alarm Childe placed his phone down on the coffee table between the two sofas before laying down and closing his eyes. He was asleep within seconds.

~~~

It is five minutes before the next class when Zhongli goes to get Childe, slightly surprised that he hasn't returned yet.

He is about to open the door to the teacher's lounge when someone else opens it from the inside.

"Oh, you're here," Xiao said as he slowly blinked up at Zhongli for a moment.

"Yes I am, why?"

"I think something's wrong with your idiot in there," Xiao huffed. "He's mumbling to himself and being an overall nuisance."

Instantly a jolt of worry shoots through Zhongli. "Something's wrong with Ajax?" When the man had left the classroom earlier he'd been a bit pale and looked tired but he hadn't had a fever or anything, Zhongli had been sure to check just in case.

Xiao nodded as he gave a small hum. "Mmmhmm, told him he was screwed," he muttered before walking away.

Zhongli entered the teacher's lounge his eyes darting around briefly before he caught sight of Childe laying down on one of the sofas. As Zhongli got closer he could tell that Childe had a fever without even checking, the red blush coating his face, the small shuddering breaths, and sweat dotting his forehead was all the evidence he needed.

Biting his lip Zhongli reached out and gently shook Childe's shoulder, a small hiss leaving his mouth when he felt the heat practically radiating off of him. "Ajax, wake up darling, can you hear me?"

But despite Zhongli's attempts to wake him, Childe remains asleep practically dead to the world. He is seriously considering calling an ambulance when the alarm Childe set on his phone suddenly goes off, and Zhongli jumps slightly as Childe groans softly.

"Ajax," Zhongli sighed incredibly relieved that the man had woken up.

Childe said nothing as he slowly sits up, his eyes narrow as he slowly blinks. His head is killing him and it feels way too hot leaving him feeling as though he's melting. "What time is it?" He asked, running a hand over his face.

"Three-thirty, but that isn't important right now. How long have you felt sick, Ajax?" Zhongli asked him.

Childe frowned as he looked at Zhongli. Was it just him or did Zhongli look really worried for some reason? "What do you mean I feel fine," Childe mumbled, despite the glassy look to his eyes, he is way more lucid than Zhongli thought he'd be.

"Since the end of your second class, he looked fucking awful when I saw him earlier," Xiao said as he reentered the room. He walks past the pair and goes to his desk.

Childe glared at Xiao but considering his condition it doesn't have any real malice behind it. "Well fuck you too. Don't listen to him, I'm fine. I was just-"

Childe is suddenly cut off as he lurches forward with a wet retch, a thick stream of vomit falling from his mouth. Xiao laughed at him almost immediately although the look Zhongli gives him makes him stop.

"Xiao, you're the oldest between you two please act like it," Zhongli sighed as he rubbed Childe's back.

"Yes sir."

Childe groaned his arms wrapped around his stomach as he coughed. "Yeah, but only by like one year," he grumbled. His stomach was killing him and his throat which had already been sore now felt very, very raw.

Xiao rolled his eyes but said nothing as he picked up a nearby trash can and handed it to Zhongli for Childe. Good thing he did too because the moment it was placed in front of Childe, he lurched forward with another wet retch saliva dripping from his mouth as his stomach heaved.

"Take him home, he's a mess," Xiao sighed, his face twisting with disgust as Childe gave a loud burp more vomit falling from his lips. "I'll take over for you."

"I'm fine," Childe choked out. "Just...give me a minute."

Zhongli takes a deep breath before giving Childe a look that basically says please be quiet. "Thank you, Xiao. The students are just doing presentations today, so it shouldn't give you too much trouble. But there is an outline on my desk in case you need it."

"It's no problem, you should probably get your idiot out of here before he faints or something," Xiao said before leaving the room.

Childe glared daggers at the door he'd left through. "Who does that asshole think he is," he grumbled under his breath. The bitter taste of bile coating his mouth has his stomach churning again and he dry heaves for a moment, nothing but saliva coming up.

"Why are you like this," Zhongli sighed, sounding slightly exasperated. He walked over to the box of tissues sitting on a nearby desk and grabbed a few of them, handing them to Childe.

Childe takes them a small but strained and exhausted smile crawling across his face. "I don't know what you mean, Xiao started it," he said, wincing as his throat ached as though he'd swallowed glass.

Zhongli sighed but said nothing. "Do you think you're finished for now? Can you stand?" Zhongli asked him after a moment, holding out one hand for Childe to take.

He nodded before carefully pulling himself to his feet, when he did a wave of dizziness washes over him for a second and he felt Zhongli grab his arm to steady him as he swayed. "I got it," Childe said, trying to reassure Zhongli. "I'm fine, let's go."

Zhongli watched him for a moment, Childe was pale and trembling slightly, however when Zhongli was sure that he wasn't going to faint on the spot he began leading Childe to the car.

"Did you know you were sick?" Zhongli asked as they entered the parking lot.

Childe gives a soft hum. "At first I didn't think I was, but I kinda realized it when I nearly threw up earlier," he admitted after a moment.

Zhongli instantly looked at him, eyes wide. "You did? Why didn't you come get me?" Zhongli had figured that the bulk of the symptoms Childe had now, had come on rather quickly but between what Xiao had said and what Childe had just told him this was far from the case.

How hadn't he immediately figured out something was wrong? Childe wasn't someone who readily admitted when he wasn't feeling well, the fact that he'd openly admitted to Zhongli that he'd felt tired should've been the first and only clue he needed.

Biting his lip Zhongli unlocked the car, helping Childe climb into the passenger seat before he got into the car himself.

"I didn't tell you cause I didn't want to worry you. At first, I thought it might've been a migraine but I get those all the time, then everything went to shit," Childe muttered. He yawned, glancing out the window as Zhongli began driving.

"Even if it was just a migraine I'd rather you come get me than try to deal with it yourself," Zhongli told him.

"That's how I felt when you were sick to-holy shit he was right," Childe said as though he'd suddenly had an epiphany.

"Who? Xiao?"

Childe shook his head. "No, his boyfriend."

"Venti? What did he tell you this time?" Zhongli asked, no stranger to the weird and sometimes slightly cursed things that Venti would frequently say. Despite being about the same age, Venti rarely acted like it with Zhongli being the more mature of the two.

"He said that you have rocks for brains and that you and I share one brain cell between the two of us," Childe sighed, chuckling slightly.

Zhongli opened his mouth as though he was going to say something but closed it. "I'm not surprised he said that," he muttered, shaking his head.

Childe merely gives a soft hum and closes his eyes, he's still exhausted and the movement of the car is beginning to make him nauseous.

He intends to try and go to sleep until they get home, but his churning stomach makes that hard. His stomach gives a soft gurgle as saliva begins to rapidly fill his mouth.

Zhongli glances over when he hears Childe's stomach gurgle again. "Ajax?"

"Pull over," Childe forced out a shaking hand coming up to cover his mouth.

Scowling Zhongli quickly pulls over, he barely has time to turn on his hazard lights before Childe practically flings the passenger open and retches over the road.

He coughed fumbling with his seat belt as saliva drips from his mouth onto the pavement. Childe feels Zhongli's hand on his back rubbing soothing circles as he retches again, a strangle belch gurgling up his throat along with a wavy of bile.

Childe swallowed, panting as he tried to catch his breath for a moment since his stomach wasn't trying to turn itself inside out right now.

"This fucking sucks," he groaned one arm wrapped around his aching stomach. He gagged bringing up more bile, his body trembling.

"I'm right, here Ajax. I have you," Zhongli told him softly. Childe's skin is still blazing hot beneath his fingers and that only makes his worry that much worse.

Groaning Childe sits back, eyes closed as he wiped a hand over his mouth. He's absolutely exhausted and Zhongli can see him fighting to stay awake.

Grabbing one of his hands, Zhongli laces their fingers together. "Just rest, Ajax. I'll wake you when we get home."

Childe was silent for a moment before he slowly nodded as his eyes drifted shut. Everything would be fine, after all, Zhongli was with him and that was all he needed right now.