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It’s not like she meant for this to happen. All Lumine has tried to do in earnest in this world is find her brother.
It doesn’t matter that she has accidentally ended up gaining more loved ones than anyone ought to have. It really doesn’t. They may be special, darling creatures with souls that shine like stars, but even so, they cannot compete with Aether. They can’t hope to.
“Another one, Traveler?” a finely shaped eyebrow raises.
What does matter, however, is the fact that she has accidentally fallen in love with the most beautiful creature she’s laid eyes on, and because of that her more problematic tendencies have been redirected. Her focus has been… diverted. Halved.
“Yeah!” Paimon exclaims, concern evident. “We were just traveling through the forest outside of the harbor, and boom! Found this guy unconscious in a Treasure Hoarder cage! What is going on? This is the fifth one this week!”
“Mm,” Baizhu hums, and Lumine watches how his hands wave over the man – middle-aged, plain – and his gloved fingers light up with grass green light. “It seems there is trouble afoot.”
A chill runs down her spine. He says it so knowingly, as if he has seen into her mind. Still, Lumine does not acknowledge it. He can’t know what she thinks of him, what that means for him.
“I worry for the next time I personally go to pick herbs.” The corners of his eyes crinkle, and all she can see is red eyeshadow. “Traveler, would you object to a commission as my bodyguard?”
“No,” she answers immediately. “I wouldn’t. When and where?”
“Oh? But I haven’t even mentioned pay.”
Fuck. Maybe that was too obvious.
Paimon puts her hands on her hips, huffy. “Lumine!” she scolds. “You can’t just say yes like that!”
“Why not?” Lumine says, attempting to conceal her eagerness. “We would just accept in the end, anyway.”
“… yes, but that’s not the point!”
“Please take him to the medical bay,” Lumine hears Baizhu instruct one of his workers. “Perform a standard exam.”
When he turns back to her, she already has a pouch of Mora out. He grins at her, gorgeous and fey. “I see you came prepared,” he drawls as he accepts the pouch, inspecting the coins inside. “Though, I suppose this is the seventh time this has occurred. Should this string of kidnappings continue, we may be seeing each other much more in the future.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” Lumine murmurs.
He tilts his head, studying her. “No,” he says after a brief silence. “I suppose it would not.”
She can’t handle such an ambiguous statement, so she says, “Were you serious? About the commission?”
“Ha!”
Changsheng lifts her pearly white head, tongue flicking out disdainfully. “This man here is physically fragile. Rare indeed is it for him to actually go out—“
Baizhu pats her on the head, smiling so hard his eyes shut. “Changsheng, dear,” he says, and Lumine wishes with all her heart he would address her like that, “wouldn’t you agree that it is good for the body to experience a little physical exertion every now and then?”
To Lumine, over Changsheng’s grumbling, he says, “Yes I was, actually. How about a thousand Mora per hour, this weekend? Additional money if an incident does occur.”
“You cheapskate!” Paimon yells at him. “We could get more delivering food!”
Lumine practically vibrates in place. “Acceptable,” she says, ignoring Paimon’s sputtering. “I assure you of the quality of my services.”
“Oh.” Baizhu seems to lean forward, serpentine eyes sharp and sultry. He smells of herbs. “I am assured everyday, my dear.”
Lumine’s heart is aflutter.
Lumine sighs as she leans on a balcony railing, watching the citizens of Liyue Harbor walk to and fro, merchants shouting their wares and fishermen docking at the wharf. They’re all so alive, so noticeable.
“Lumine!” Paimon bursts into existence, glaring. “Why are you people watching again? Go find a commission to make up for the loss you’ve just accepted!”
“What loss?” Lumine asks distantly, eyeing a woman’s beautiful dress. Must be rich.
“What loss? If you only work four hours, you only get four thousand Mora, without incidents!” Paimon calculates hotly. “Delivering food for Good Hunter gives us six thousand, in less time!”
“Your point?”
“Paimon wants a juicer, and she’s gonna get that juicer!”
“Hmm…” Lumine watches another woman pass by – mousy and obviously in a hurry, head down as she scurries through the hub with papers in her arms. “I think I can afford to bribe Albedo as I am.”
“Well then, get to it!”
“However, I’m a bit busy using that money for something more… important. ”
“What, paying Baizhu?”
Lumine pauses. It seems she’s been too obvious. “Maybe.”
“Don’t think Paimon hasn’t noticed how you look at him! It’s sweeter than a mint jelly, and grossing Paimon out.” Paimon crosses her arms, annoyed. “At this rate, you’ll have bribed your way into a date with him before we make it to Sumeru.”
“You really think so?” Lumine asks, feeling pleased.
“Bah! Don’t look so happy, that wasn’t a compliment!”
Lumine raises a hand, patting Paimon on the head, and rises from the railing. “Don’t worry about it, Paimon,” she soothes. In the corner of her eye she sees a man, dressed plainly in grey and blue, sitting despondent at a corner table. “Promise, I have everything under control. Now, why don’t we talk to that guy over there? Looks like he could use a pick-me-up.”
Paimon turns to see where she’s gesturing and nods. “Why not? He might even give us a commission.”
They share a look.
“Let’s be real,” Lumine says.
“He’s definitely gonna give us a commission,” Paimon says flatly.
Clasping hands in harmonious friendship, they head over to their newest opportunity.
“Thank you ever so much,” Baizhu says, reaching up into the trees to pluck leaves, “for agreeing to do this for me.”
Lumine, who is on the ground holding his legs on her shoulders to keep him stable, says, “Glad to be of service. I’m sorry I couldn’t pick the plants myself.”
They’ve been out for about two hours now, darting from tree to tree in the Guili Plains in search of leaves with names that make her head spin. Paimon has opted not to come, on account of the disgust she still bears for Lumine’s infatuation. Lumine doesn’t mind.
“Well, they do require a discerning eye.” Baizhu sighs. “As convenient as that could have been, it is an idea my dignity as a doctor requires me to reject. I’m not in the habit of endangering my patients, you see.”
Lumine thinks this is rather awkward now, so she replies, “Perhaps you could teach me? I’m a very fast learner.”
“I could teach you some plants,” Baizhu agrees, patting her hair to signal his descent. Lumine dutifully lowers herself so that he can get off, practically slithering back onto the ground. “But not all of them. I am sure your search for your brother would not allow you the time.”
“I have time,” Lumine says, and can almost hear the echo of her brother’s voice as she softly repeats, “We have always had enough time.”
(She wonders if her brother ever fell in love on his journey before her.)
(She wonders what happened if he did, if he gave it up in his war against the thrones.)
(Is that… going to happen to her?)
“Well,” Baizhu looks at her, all feminine beauty and masculine grace, a miraculous combination of color and life, “if you’re certain, I suppose I wouldn’t be opposed to more time in your company.” His lips curl up. “Perhaps, I would even welcome it.”
Does he understand what he does to her whenever he talks like that? Lumine wishes she could show him the results of his mere existence, but she knows it’s not normal. It’s not commonplace to express intense emotion without taking the time to cultivate a relationship stable enough to accept it.
It makes sense. Lumine’s not against such unspoken rules in relationships. It’s what keeps her loved ones happy.
But it’s so constricting.
“Though, I imagine a collaboration with the Traveler herself would bring great business,” Baizhu muses aloud, tone clinical.
She would frown, except her presence could help her darling. What does it matter if he likes her for business? It’s still something.
(Besides, Lumine will never be content with just that. She can play a long game. She knows how to wait.)
“It might,” she agrees mildly.
“Oh?” he chuckles, a sound that has been perfected and refined to be uncomfortably pleasant. “I would have expected you to be upset.”
“Why? It’s not like I don’t know you’re a businessman.”
Baizhu places a hand on his hip, smile softening for the first time in this whole outing, and with the lowering sunlight as his halo he shines brighter than any star. “I,” he says, looking away, “am glad to hear it, sweetling.”
Sweetling, she thinks gleefully. He called me sweetling.
She won’t swoon. She won’t. He might think she’s weak.
“Come, I must search for lavendergrass.” He groans, rolling his shoulder. “Mingyun Village has a good reserve, though I’ve never been good at climbing, or walking such long distances.”
“I can climb,” Lumine offers unthinkingly. “And I collect lavendergrass too, so I know what I’m looking for. As for the walking…” She holds her arms up. “I can carry you. If you want.”
Baizhu looks at her, eyes wide. “The whole way over?”
She nods. “It’s no trouble.”
“Why, sweetling.” He raises an eyebrow, tilting his head as if to look at her better. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you’re attempting to gain my affections. You really go above and beyond, Traveler.”
She shrugs, disappointed he’s dismissed the idea of her courting him. “It’s just my way, I guess. And…” She fidgets, unsure of herself. Lumine’s fallen hard, but does that mean she can do this just because? “You can… call me Lumine. If you want. I do like the nicknames though!”
He brings a hand up to cover his giggle, and oh how she wishes he wouldn’t hide his smile from her. “You continue to surprise me today, Lumine.”
He walks towards her, looking unsure. “Ahem, how should I…?”
Lumine places a hand behind his knees and the other on his back, then proceeds to scoop him up into her arms. He’s light. Almost scarily light. And soft. “Like this.”
He exhales a breath, pushing a stray strand of hair out of his face. It brushes past her chin like the tip of a butterfly’s wing, then falls back onto his skin.
“Very well,” he says, subtly flustered. Lumine counts it as a success. “Onwards to Mingyun Village.”
Of course, they have to run into trouble as they return to the harbor. A stray camp of Fatui this time, which she might have avoided had it not been for the man held hostage in a cage (the cage is of better make than Treasure Hoarder ones, she notices).
Baizhu takes one look at him, purses his lips, and says, “That man is injured. How unsightly, these Fatui.”
That’s all the incentive Lumine needs to put him down behind some bushes, gives him her spare Jumpty Dumpty (kindly given to her by Klee) in case of an emergency, stays to hear him kindly explain that he does have a Vision, and heads out to do what she does best – cause utter destruction and save damsels in distress.
If she takes the opportunity to show off to the one who holds her bleeding heart, no one needs to know.
Lumine thoroughly bashes the Fatui’s armor and fancy gadgets in, shreds their tents, and knocks them all out. Each one falls with a satisfying thunk.
She loots the camp in her search for the key to the cage. Once the captured man is released he looks at her with wide eyes and shaking arms.
“Thank you,” he says to her, voice trembling. His grey and blue outfit is mildly damaged and dirtied. “Traveler, this is twice you’ve helped me now. How can I repay you?”
She inspects him – a few bruises, even a slightly swollen finger – and juts her chin in Baizhu’s direction. “Let yourself be checked up by my friend,” she tells him. “Don’t worry about the fees, I’ll cover them.”
He takes her hands in his own, gingerly positioning his injured finger. “Thank you,” he tells her, eyes shining with tears that threaten to spill.
This is wrong. So terribly wrong.
But Lumine accepts his goodwill because she’s not a good person, and even leans in to give him a comforting hug. “It’s okay,” she tells him, rubbing his back. It’s the least she can do. “It’s over now. We’ll get you fixed up and back home.”
He buries his face into her shoulder and sobs quietly.
Baizhu comes out of the forest, an odd expression on his face. His normally perfect hair is disheveled by wind and time, but that just means his beauty has transformed into something else.
He watches them in silence, fingers handling the explosive Jumpty Dumpty with a lover’s touch.
The sun has gone down. It’s dark and cold within this forest.
“How is he?” Lumine asks.
It’s adorable how her expression hardly changes, perfectly matching her toneless voice. “He’s alright,” Baizhu informs her, moving away from the door to his newest patient’s room. “A little bruised and shaken, but that is easily remedied with a paste and a touch of time.”
“Ah.” Lumine shifts in her seat, the only way he can tell she feels guilty. “I see.”
“Your ever generous sponsorships single-handedly keep my clinic running at this point,” Baizhu tells her, watching carefully for her reaction. “The people of Liyue Harbor may feel saddened once you go. Who will pay for their medical bills then, once they’re so reliant on you?”
Her eyes widen. Clearly, she hasn’t considered that. “Oh,” she breathes. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t think—“
His heart races as he watches her mouth shut the moment he raises his hand. Lumine’s golden eyes watch him with an intense sort of focus, like he’s the only thing she can see, the only person she can think about. Like despite his contrasting traits and tendencies, she believes he is the most precious creature she could ever hope to find.
It’s very addicting, being looked at like that. It’s probably why Baizhu has taken so long to slow her… troublesome antics.
“It’s alright,” he says gently. “As a traveler, a city’s economy only matters when it comes to food prices and the occasional medical tincture. I understand, which is why I tell you this now. I know you have a kind heart, along with a sharp mind.”
Lumine doesn’t look very comforted by his words, and Baizhu knows why.
“Still, I don’t think it will harm our medical practice if you only cover the expenses for this mysterious string of kidnappings.”
That finally cheers her up, the corners of her lips lifting. She reaches a hand up to tentatively adjust the feathers in her hair, cheeks dusting prettily with pink. Baizhu has to reassess his words, wondering if he has accidentally said something flirtatious, because her reaction is just that baffling.
He supposes that, under the circumstances, it is a comforting permission that he has said. Lumine is free to keep finding targets to knock unconscious, unceremoniously dump them by hostile camps, ‘rescue’ them, and pay Baizhu to care for them. An elaborate scheme to show off her heroism, compassion, and ability to provide for him.
Perhaps he wouldn’t have caught on, except even normal citizens aren’t so thick as to stumble upon Treasure Hoarder camps and eavesdrop every two days.
Typically, it’s every five days. People are rather… unwise in their decision making.
It’s kind of funny, in a pathetic way, how Lumine never physically harms the people herself. She has to have others do it, because she can’t bear that sort of guilt. Or maybe she’s just good at plausible deniability.
It’s not like Baizhu’s much better, though. He shamelessly schemes people out of their Mora, being the money-hungry, death-fearing man he is.
(Not to mention how much he would have liked to leave his newest patient to suffer a little while longer under his injuries. Arrogant trespasser, laying his hands on what isn’t his to touch.)
(Sly Lumine, letting it happen before Baizhu’s eyes. Presumptuous in how she encouraged it by embracing the trespasser first.)
Baizhu is forced to remember his fragile condition as his body aches something fierce. He’s exerted himself more today than he has in a long time, which means he’ll probably be laid up in bed for a few days after tonight.
(He wonders what it says about him that he is willing to undergo such discomfort for this traveler from far away.)
(Is he really so pathetic as to become weak-kneed at the thought of someone desperately clawing for his attention, resorting to morally wicked methods to accomplish it? Someone who sees him for what he is, not just an image she’s created in her head, and loves him for it?)
Not liking how his face flushes, Baizhu clears his throat and attempts to gain control of the situation. “Well, despite the unfortunate circumstances of the journey back, I can say with confidence that today was a very efficient trip. I’ve gathered many herbs essential to our stocks, and some that would be troublesome even to our best gatherer. Their price tends to be on the high side because of their location.”
“The price isn’t going down,” Lumine states, looking completely fine with the idea.
What a lovely, wicked lady. “No,” he agrees, feeling his mouth curl up in a smirk. “It isn’t.”
She giggles, bringing a hand up to daintily hide her mouth. Baizhu wishes she wouldn’t. He thinks her smile is rather pleasant to look at. “Well, my fair doctor, I believe it’s time I leave. Paimon has been left alone to cause trouble for too long.” She looks up at him through her lashes, bashful. “Or, is there something else you need?”
Ha. As if he’s going to make this easy for her.
(Baizhu is still so, so terrified he’s just a passing fancy. Fleeting, ephemeral.)
(So he tests her love for him, too scared to love her back before she proves she is absolutely loyal.)
“Not today,” he confirms, shaking his head. “You’ve done more than enough, Lumine. I’ll have your payment ready by tomorrow morning. Now, it is time to unwind and rest. We’ve earned it, I believe.”
“You definitely have,” she agrees with a nod, even as her mood remains a little downcast.
Ah, what the hell. He throws some of his caution to the wind and idly says, as he passes by her, “I don’t know, I’ve never felt more safe in anyone’s arms before. I’d say that earned a peaceful repose, wouldn’t you agree? Sweetling?”
He peeks over his shoulder, and sees her grinning foolishly at the ground, hands clenched into fists.
His heart flutters, and he fights the urge to swoon. He can’t let himself swoon just yet, or else she might think he’s sweet for her. Foolish, loveable Lumine.
She’s utterly wrecking his life’s plans, and he’s loving every damned second of it.
Lumine sighs happily as she gazes up at the stars from her bedroll.
He still doesn’t know. He’s given her permission to continue, albeit unknowingly.
He’s even said he liked being in her arms.
She blushes as she thinks back on it, giggling.
Her burst of affection leaves an ache in her chest, a desperation to be back by his side, to simply exist with him.
She wishes she could hold him, run her fingers through his lovely locks, keep him where she can always see him, hold a knife to his throat and have him laugh it off because he trusts her.
The rush of emotion, tinged with bloodlust and anger, causes her to study the stars once more. She connects them to create a boy holding a sword, and smiles.
“Fuck you, Aether,” she hisses to the night sky. “You want me to learn about Teyvat? I damn well will, and I’ll come out happy. Just watch me you thrice-damned bastard.”
Lumine lets go of her vice grip on her heart, and coils around her new one.