[Ever since things fell apart with a certain someone, he's been rather on edge with regards to certain relationships in his life, worried that he might make the same mistakes -- or that those mistakes might have already been made, and can no longer be undone. But he didn't exactly know how to address something like that -- more so, given the incident in question isn't one he wants to talk about anymore.]
[Perhaps that's why he feels immediately relieved and at ease at Zhongli's rather simple answer. So... this was okay? He wasn't going to lose their friendship should his own feelings ever blossom into something more than that?]
[It feels like a physical burden has been lifted off his shoulders -- one of the many that's been weighing him down this past month. And though his face is still quite red from the earlier focus of the conversation, his expression has melted into a soft smile.]
[He opens his mouth intending to say something about what a relief that is to hear, and how grateful he is that Zhongli is such a kind and understanding person, and that Aether really appreciates their friendship and it would make him happy to explore something more intimate between them.]
[But this thread started out way too cursed for something that pure, so what actually comes out is--]
I would hope so, since Childe already told me it was both of us he--
1/2
[Ever since things fell apart with a certain someone, he's been rather on edge with regards to certain relationships in his life, worried that he might make the same mistakes -- or that those mistakes might have already been made, and can no longer be undone. But he didn't exactly know how to address something like that -- more so, given the incident in question isn't one he wants to talk about anymore.]
[Perhaps that's why he feels immediately relieved and at ease at Zhongli's rather simple answer. So... this was okay? He wasn't going to lose their friendship should his own feelings ever blossom into something more than that?]
[It feels like a physical burden has been lifted off his shoulders -- one of the many that's been weighing him down this past month. And though his face is still quite red from the earlier focus of the conversation, his expression has melted into a soft smile.]
[He opens his mouth intending to say something about what a relief that is to hear, and how grateful he is that Zhongli is such a kind and understanding person, and that Aether really appreciates their friendship and it would make him happy to explore something more intimate between them.]
[But this thread started out way too cursed for something that pure, so what actually comes out is--]
I would hope so, since Childe already told me it was both of us he--