[ Zhongli's hand stops midway from reaching to take Childe's shard, entire being balking at even the thought of leaving the other unattended in such a weakened state. ]

No. No, of course not.

[ Never mind that no one was really capable of leaving anyone here trapped as they were under the roots of the Great Tree. But Zhongli knows that is not what Childe is referring to. He knows that this is some other kind of abandonment that he fears though he is unsure the cause of it. But that doesn't matter. Right now that matters least of all. For just as Childe predicted, Zhongli reacts instinctively to that vulnerability with protection and reassurance. He takes the Shard carefully (reverently), even as he produces his own from above the hollow cavity in his chest.

(He does not see through the act. Not here, where Zhongli does not understand what Childe could gain in deceiving him.) ]

I will stay here with you as long as you wish.

But before then, let us see if we can alleviate some of your symptoms.

[ Zhongli's already cut his palm multiple times now so it takes very little to reopen the wound and press it against Childe's shard, staining it more red than necessary in his hastiness.

If they can just stabilize his energy, then surely--- ]