Great Pretender | Chilumi

by annetisocial

Summary:

Paimon is gone, everyone has forgotten about the famous duo that took Teyvat by storm. Everyone but Childe, or at least they hoped... at least Lumine hoped.

After rushing her way to Childe, she discovers that it wasn't what she was expecting. Yet, she found herself staying by his side still. Did he really forget? Or was it all in her head?

Notes:

this is the first time i'm posting my work here in ao3 idk how this platform works bear with me pls lmao

Chapter 1: Fateful Encounter

Notes:

this is the first time i'm posting my work here in ao3 idk how this platform works bear with me pls lmao

Celestia was not happy. After the Tsaritsa collected all the Gnosis, she challenged the heavenly principles, leading to the current situation they were in.

Their surroundings. It was all crumbling down. Everything was slowly just... Disappearing.

It was Khaenri'ah all over again.

"I should never have helped the Fatui." Lumine muttered under her breath.

"Yeah." Childe stood beside her, watching the absolute shitshow that's going down. "I never should've offered." He said.

Lumine sighed. "Well, it was my fault for accepting." She said.

It was a miracle the two were able to talk amidst the chaos. Screaming, swords clashing, the world literally crumbling. That type of chaos.

"I'll make it up to you." Childe said.

"Sure, if we survive this I'll actually finally go out with you." Lumine said, scoffing a bit.

"I'll be taking that seriously." Childe smirked.

***

"You're really serious about us going out together?" Childe asked.

"Don't read much into it, it's just going to be out of courtesy." Lumine rolled her eyes jokingly.

"Oh too late, I'm reading waaay waaaay into it." Childe chuckled.

Lumine raised an eyebrow at him. She couldn't really hide her smile though, he just had that kind of effect on her.

Then there was a short silence. Well, it wasn't completely silent but it was quiet enough for the two to feel out the surroundings.

Lumine tugged at Childe's pinky finger, to which Childe intertwined his own before fully holding her hand.

"Be careful out there." She said.

"You too." Childe replied. "I don't know what I'd do if something happens to you out there."

Lumine chuckled. "You'll do fine." She said.

Childe squeezed her hand lightly. "No." He muttered under his breath. "This war costed me more than enough. Losing you would be my last straw." He looked at her straight in the eyes.

Lumine sighed and gave him a tight hug. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid." She said.

"I'm just taking responsibility to the other stupid things I've done. I promise no more other stupid shit." Childe said laughing.

Lumine glared at him.

He smiled and cupped her cheeks. "Alright, I promise."

***

"Lumine! Paimon! I heard an explosion. Are you okay?" Childe ran hurriedly to their direction. As he got closer he could see Paimon's tear stained face.

"Paimon... What's wrong?" He asked, his chest starting to feel heavy.

Explosions were not stopping. Everything was looking more and more chaotic. But amidst all that, Childe felt like he was slowly getting deaf.

"Paimon... Where's Lumine?" He asked.

Paimon slowly sunk to the ground, like her flying ability was slowly wearing out.

"Paimon... why aren't you answering?" His voice was slowly starting to raise, just as his heart beat faster.

"Lumine... Aether. Paimon thinks... Childe, Paimon thinks..."

"What? What happened?" He kneeled down to Paimon's level.

"Childe, Paimon made a mistake. Lumine... She- she-"

"Take a deep breath." He said, putting his hand on Paimon's shoulders to try and calm her. It was ironic because his hand was shaking of nervousness.

"Lumine went with Aether." Paimon finally said. "But they... they..." Paimon couldn't finish. All she could do was break down and cry.

Without even hearing what happened, Childe could only join Paimon. "No." His shaky voice kept repeating.

***

Lumine's disappearance quite literally became a catalyst of what's to become of Teyvat. A barren wasteland.

No nation was spared. It was only in a matter of weeks until Celestia was done with its wrath.

It was only after that when Teyvat's simulation was to be reset.

"Childe. Paimon needs you to keep a secret." Paimon said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. For a moment, Childe was taken aback at the seriousness of her tone. "Lumine will come back. But, there's a huge chance that you're not going to remember her." She added, confusing Childe more.

"That's impossible, I'll never forget about her. Ever." Childe said, clearly offended by Paimon's words.

Paimon sighed. "Paimon appreciates your enthusiasm but Paimon's just trying to tell you the truth. Teyvat will reset. Possibly around the time Lumine wakes up." Paimon explained.

"... What?" Childe's eyebrows furrowed.

"I know you have enough delusion on you to actually pull this off." Paimon said. "And I need you to... For Lumine's sake."

"What do you mean? Pull what off?" Childe asked, suddenly, the seriousness began to catch up on him.

"I have a feeling Lumine will be restarting this Teyvat chapter with her memories intact. And I have a feeling you would too." Paimon smiled weakly.

"Childe, this would be the last time I'll accompany Lumine." Paimon said. "It was fun, but seeing her struggle so much is hurting me too."

"Paimon..." Childe looked at her with concerned eyes.

"I haven't really been completely honest haven't I?" Paimon paused. It was only then that Childe noticed her tone, it was more serious. And most notably, she wasn't referring to herself the usual way. "I've been her companion for a lot longer than you think. Way, waaaay longer."

Paimon looked at him, eyes staring into his, almost begging. "This is the closest she's gotten to the truth." She said.

"Childe, I know I can trust you. In every run of this world you're one of the most consistent person we run into. But this is the only run that she's grown this close to you." Paimon said.

"Okay, I'm not following but go on." Childe said, clearly confused but equally intrigued.

Paimon sighed. "I can't tell you what the truth is but I can help you help Lumine." She said.

"How?"

"Just..." Paimon paused. "Remember her." She gave Childe a small smile.

"That's a given." Childe said. "I'll never forget."

Paimon smiled, this time, a bit more genuine. "Yeah, that's the spirit! Paimon likes how you responded to that!" She said, her tone back to her usual cheery one.

"But first, always keep this with you." Paimon removed her head accessory. She then handed the black star to Childe, who reluctantly accepted.

"Just remember, help Lumine. Don't worry, I'll be with you two along the way... In a way." She said, muttering the last part.

"What do you mean?" Childe asked.

"You'll understand in a few hours." Paimon laughed. "But for now, we should go head to bed. Paimon's exhausted."

Childe paused for a moment before sighing. "Need me to tuck you in?" Childe offered.

Paimon paused. "Hmmm, yeah. Paimon would love that." She nodded.

***

Childe woke up, surrounded by walls that were supposed to be from his distant memory. He wasn't in the usual tent he'd called home for the past few weeks. There was a roof above him. Proper walls. Glass windows bathed in moonlight.

He stared at the moonlight, trying to process his surroundings. Wood, the lattice, the papered scrolls along the wall. Liyue.

He felt a little disassociated with where he was. Like this wasn't where he was supposed to be, but maybe it was just him adjusting.

"I need a drink." He whispered under his breath, standing up from his bed.

Metal clanged on the floor, his eyes searching for the sound.

There was a small glint after the moonlight hit it. He instantly grabbed it, recognizing the shape. Paimon's accessory. His breath hitched as he ran outside his room.

After stepping out, he realized where he really was. The old house he was staying at during his Liyue mission. His piles of paper on the coffee table caught his eyes.

Instantly, he scanned through them. Gnosis retrieval mission. The information about the Rite of Descension. Morax's identity. Zhongli's name was nowhere to be found in the papers.

He was back in time.

He let out a shaky breath and sat down the couch as he run his fingers through his hair, eyes still glued to the paper.

Paimon was right. He did return. With his old memories no less. "What the fuck." He muttered under his breath as he stared at the accessory.

"What. The. Fuck." He repeated.

Then a thought crossed his mind, heart instantly racing. "Lumine." He stood up, grabbing another piece of paper and a pen.

He began to scribble, hand lightly shaking. "I can't forget. I can't forget." He kept telling himself as he wrote like his life depended on it.

"Blonde. Outlandish clothes. Blue and white flower. Don't forget. NEVER forget. Lumine."

Notes:

edited it cause i just found out about the rich text option here. added some emphasis on certain words with bold and italicize o(￣▽￣)ｄ

Chapter 2: in the midst of it all

A few days had passed, or maybe it was a couple of weeks, Childe has totally acclimated to Liyue like it was just a return from a short break.

He still hasn't fully wrapped his mind around the fact that he returned back in time, he spent his days on autopilot just retracing his steps from last time.

Mundane field work paired with even more mundane office work.

Fatui work used to be enough to deafen the noises in his head. Busy hands, busy mind, less thoughts that'll come.

Your trauma can't catch up to you if you run from it fast enough. At least that's how Childe used to deal with it.

A kid from a small fishing village in Snezhnaya, turned into a weapon for the Fatui at 14. He became a Harbinger at a very young age.

After all he's been through, you'd think that the recent event won't be any different from his past traumas brought by war.

But the last war he faught at was different. It was a war where he lost everything. His colleagues, his home, his family. Her.

And now he has the chance to redo everything again.

Part of him wanted to diverge from the original path he once took. He already knew who Morax was, and technically, no one was stopping him from contacting Morax himself.

But another part of him is scared. Scared that if he diverts from the old timeline, he'd be transported back to the same barren wasteland that he once was at.

He shivered at the thought.

He doesn't want to wake up one day and return to his original timeline. The timeline where Celestia brought Teyvat to ashes and blood.

The timeline where he lost Lumine.

"Felix, send a letter to our contact with the sigils. I want to know the progress of the research." Childe instructed, handing his assistant an envelope. "I need to step outside." He said before leaving his office.

***

He imagined that the moment he found Lumine, it would be like one of those drama reenactments where everything goes slow.

But then again, whenever she showed up in his dream everything felt fast. A little too fast.

Maybe him hoping for that slow motion moment was just him hoping he'd see her for longer. Dreams don't usually last too long after all.

"Childe?" The moment he heard it, his heart skipped a beat.

It was a familiar voice. Her familiar voice.

He turned around to look. Blonde. Outlandish clothes. Blue and white flower. It was her. It really was.

Out on the streets of Liyue. It was her, Lumine. His heart ached as he stared.

"Childe." Her eyes instantly teared up. She began to run to his direction. She instantly tackled him to a hug. A soft, tender hug. "I've been looking all over for you." She said.

There were like that for a while, embracing each other in the middle of the street. He can hear her softly softly weeping as her grip on him tightened.

"I thought I lost you too." She muttered, but it was loud enough for Childe to hear.

He felt a pang in his chest. Lumine was standing right infront of him, alive and well. She felt warm.

Childe could only caress her hair, trying to calm her down, or at least help her feel lighter.

Then he remembered. He wasn't supposed to meet her yet. It wasn't until the Rite of Descension that they crossed paths.

She was early. A little too early.

This made Childe panic a bit.

He spent so long trying to keep following his old tracks, making sure he doesn't do anything that would possibly break the timeline.

But here was Lumine, embracing him so tightly that the air in his body struggled.

His heart was beating fast, he could feel his eyes tear up a bit as joy enveloped his body.

He gave a small smile, battling his inner voices from trying to just lift her up and run away with her. Take her somewhere far, where they can live a peaceful life away from everything.

Then panic began to creep in him once more as the thought of losing her again crossed him mind.

He pulled away from the hug, surprising Lumine.

"May I help you?" He asked, struggling to keep eye contact with her. It hurt that he had to act like that, but the thought of losing her because he diverged from his timeline hurt more.

"What?" Lumine took a step back. "What do you...?" She paused, slowly processing the question.

Her face went through a million emotions all at once before settling to an embarrassed expression.

"O-oh. You don't... remember me too." Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"What?" Childe's eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm sorry." She instantly took as step back, her hands also starting to tremble. More tears welled up her eyes. "I think— I'm sorry... I... mis- mistook you for someone e-else." She could barely say as she kept retreating.

Childe felt a grip in his heart as he saw how hurt she was. He immediately wanted to take back his words.

"I heard you say my name." He said, grabbing her wrist before she could run.

"Different Childe." She looked away, trying to hide her face with her free hand.

It was like a knife went through his heart. That's right, Paimon did say that Lumine might remember the old timeline too.

"You practically ran toward me." He said, not being able to hold back. He didn't plan on pressing further but it hurt him that she was avoiding his gaze.

Ironic because he was doing the same earlier.

Lumine took a deep breath. "Please I had a long day, spare me from more embarrassment please." She muttered while she tried to pull her hand away.

"You're Lumine, aren't you?" He wanted to say it. He wanted to say her name just to confirm that it was really her in front of him.

But this interaction was already far from their supposed old timeline. This rattled him.

I shouldn't. He told himself. But he couldn't bring himself to let go of her hand.

"You know me from somewhere, right?" He asked, curious. He knew that she knew him, her tight hug said as much. But her trying to pull away from him gave him a fear he didn't think he'd have to face.

"I... I don't think so. Wrong person. I'm sorry." Her voice cracked.

He doesn't want her to go. But he also doesn't want her to stay too close to him at that moment. Childe stared at her, slightly tightening his grip on her as she tried harder to pull away.

"That hurts." She muttered, snapping Childe back to reality. His grip softened, or maybe the better term was weakened.

Lumine was able to pull her hand off successfully, her face now tear stained. She instantly began to wipe her tears and took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." She said between sniffles.

Childe's hands instictively reached out, attempting to wipe her cheeks but Lumine turned away.

"I should go." Was the last thing he heard before Lumine ran off.

Childe stood there, hands reaching out, unable to say anything.

He wanted to call out to her, but it was like his voice was taken. He wanted to run after her but his feet felt like it was glued to the floor.

Somehow this felt familiar. The feeling.

He could only stare as her blonde hair slowly disappeared in the crowd.

"Shit." He muttered under his breath.

Chapter 3: he still did not learn

Paimon didn't give Childe instructions. All she told him was "remember her" and remember her he did.

After their last interaction, Lumine never left Childe's mind. She appeared in his thoughts uninvited, at all hours, for no reason at all.

He kept to his duties, the same routine as before. But everyday, without fail, he checks up if she'd show up again.

She didn't.

Not even a glimpse of her.

Maybe she was just off being the traveler again—saving the day, meeting new people, rebuilding her name.

Then the day of the Rite of Descension came.

The day he was looking forward to the most.

He went on his position, where he was before, waiting for her, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the crowd. Every time a flash of gold passed, his breath caught. But it was never her.

He lingered, waiting for the familiar chaos—the moment she'd be mistaken for an assassin, the moment he'd swoop in, just like before. But minutes passed, then it turned to hours.

She wasn't coming.

In fact, there were no signs of her coming at all. There was no talk of a blonde traveler that was mistaken for an assassin. No one for him to temporarily save.

"Where are you?" Childe muttered to himself before leaving. He wanted to keep waiting. But he had duties to fulfill.

With a sigh, he went back to his Fatui business, Lumine's whereabouts looming in his mind.

***

"You alright?" Childe asked.

Lumine looked at him, sighed, then shook her head. "I... I'm a little tired."

Childe chuckled before sitting beside her. "A little?"

Lumine laughed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. A lot." She said, getting comfortable with her new seatmate.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked.

Lumine smiled weakly. "Stay." She said as she put her hand on his.

***

It bothered Childe that they went from her not wanting him to leave, to not being in the same space.

"I should've just told her." He kept scolding himself.

But there was nothing he could do, he can't take back the fact that he played his cards that way. It was his fault that he didn't come clean about him remembering the old timeline.

As he proceeded with the Fatui's plan, everything felt new to him. Despite following through with the old steps he took, it wasn't the same. Lumine wasn't there.

The traveler was such a key component during the preparation of the Rite of Passing that her presence was glaring to Childe.

Before, Lumine served as a direct pawn to him, or at least, that's what he tried to believe. She was the one who asked the questions, smiled at Zhongli's quirks, played the part of the naive traveler. Childe just had to linger in the background, hands clean, smiling with half-truths.

But now, there was no Lumine to step in between.

Now it was just him and Morax, dressed like a civilian, pretending like they hadn't already been through this farce once before.

"Ah, Childe. You're late." Zhongli greeted him like an old friend.

Of course he did. In this point of the timeline, they still had to play as teammates.

"Had a few things to take care of," Childe answered, his smile sharp but hollow. "You know how it is."

He hated how casual it sounded. Like they were back to square one. Like Zhongli hadn't once handed over his Gnosis to a different Harbinger. After all the work he did. He didn't really contest to it before, he knows the Fatui plays dirty. He knows it too well.

The thing that bothered Childe most, though, was that he didn't have to let it happen again. Not this time. The contract between Zhongli and the Tsaritsa—it was clear. The Gnosis was meant to go to the Fatui, and Childe, as a Harbinger, could have it instead of Signora.

He could make the call, take it directly, and bypass the bureaucracy altogether. It made perfect sense. After all, the Tsaritsa didn't trust just anyone with that kind of power, but Childe had earned his position. He had influence now. All he needed was to make the right move.

But even now, even with the plan laid out before him, he stayed his hand. He could feel Zhongli's gaze. Calm, measured. He might know the deal, but that was a trap Childe wasn't sure he wanted to fall into just yet. There were too many risks, too many diversions from the old timeline.

"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor also plans to procure..." Zhongli began to list the things for the Rite of Passing. Childe just kept his polite smile, half-listening to what Zhongli is saying.

"Stay." Her voice echoed in his mind. One moment. One word. Still haunting him.

"And for the other materials..."

Childe shook his head. He was in the middle of a meeting, he can't begin to linger on the thoughts of the old timeline now. So he kept playing his role, nodding through explanations about rituals and preparations. But every word Zhongli spoke felt like a slow twist of a knife—because this time, Childe understood exactly where the blade came from.

Because this time, Childe knew that Zhongli's calm demeanor masked centuries of strategy. He knew that every step of this had already been decided behind closed doors. He knew that Zhongli, the Morax, was just using everyone in Liyue as a pawn to get his quiet retirement.

And the worst part?

He had to let it happen again.

Because if he changed too much, the story might bend more than it already has. And if that happens, he might lose his only chance to find her again.

So he smiled, and nodded, and played diplomat.

But in his chest, something splintered a little more each day.

***

At first, he didn't plan to go the Golden House. He knew getting to the exuvia was worthless since there was no gnosis in that place to begin with.

But the Qixing didn't know that. It was a necessary step. Without it, the Qixing wouldn't move.

So he did. He forced himself to retake his old steps, again.

"This would've been the part when we meet again. Right?" He sighed before taking out the Sigils of Permission. "Would've been fun to monologue all my plans with you." He chuckled.

He then stared straight at the blood bath he created just to get inside. "Shame. You're not here."

Follow through with the plan. That was all in his head.

Infiltrate the Golden House. Summon Osial. Inevitably lose. Watch as Zhongli hands over the Gnosis to Signora.

And with a swift motion, it began.

He thought repetition would bring familiarity. Predictability. Her. It didn't.

Without Lumine, there was a missing variable that played a bigger role than he let on.

The city didn't react the same way. Without Lumine stepping in, the Adepti didn't help out. He knew Lumine had influence, but he didn't know how big of an influence she had until he saw Liyue scrambled to take care of this chaos.

Oh how his plan to follow through backfired.

Chapter 4: bitter victory

Osial has been on a rampage for almost whole day now. Before, it only took a few hours before he was put back in his place. This time, without the help of the Adepti, Liyue struggled to defend themselves.

Even Childe felt bad for summoning Osial in the first place.

But that was the plan wasn't it?

The plan to make Liyue's Archon show himself. His past self was onto something when he said that Morax was still alive, even before he knew his true identity. Past him wouldn't have expected that Morax was Zhongli though, but it made sense despite him never suspecting it. 

No normal person would have as much knowledge as he does. 

But he began to wonder if his plan on using Osial to draw him out was a solid plan. He didn't like it, even before. It was his back-up should he be unable to extract the Gnosis himself.

And as he watched Liyue suffer, he realized how flawed his initial plan was. If Lumine didn't foil his plan in the old timeline, the result that would've happened was staring him right in the face.

Despite being on the winning side, it felt wrong.

"What's he doing?" He cursed under his breath as he noticed Zhongli standing at Liyue Harbor. Just... Watching.

His eyebrows furrowed, seeing how much the old man was willing to hold back just to see his own plan to come through.

To the Qixing's credit, they managed to keep Osial from reaching the harbor itself. Maybe that's why Zhongli still haven't budged. But as Osial inched closer, the more frustrated Childe became.

If Lumine didn't help out, if she didn't stand by Liyue, this is how long he'd be waiting for Zhongli to reveal himself as Morax. 

It would've driven him mad.

Hell, he's already going crazy that moment. Everything was not as he remembered and the longer Osial wrecked havoc, the more uneasy he got.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Childe hissed, half to himself. But the words tasted bitter, and his legs had already started moving before he could stop them.

"You're really going to let them die?" Childe demanded, anger coating his voice in frost. It was ironic coming from the person who initiated it in the first place.

Zhongli turned to him slowly, expression unreadable. "I am but a consultant," he said gently. "What power do I have to turn the tides?"

It snapped something in Childe.

"Cut the bullshit, Morax."

Zhongli's eyes flicked wide. Just for a heartbeat. A crack in the mask.

Childe stepped closer. "You're still pretending? Even now? Look around you. That thing you sealed away — it's killing them. And you're just watching the nation you built suffer."

Silence stretched. Heavy, like a knife can cut through it.

"...The people of Liyue can handle it, they're strong enough." Zhongli said at last, voice low and steady.

"So it's a test then?" Childe chuckled. "Is that what this is to you?!" Childe's voice cracked.

Zhongli's expression wavered. "Was it not the same for you?" He shot back, making Childe shut up for a moment.

With a sharp breath, Childe began to laugh. Really laughed. "You're right." He said, bitterness dripping in his voice. "But between the both of us, you have more power." 

He pointed to the battle happening before them. "You could stop that."

"So could they." Zhongli said. 

And just like some twist of fate, a blinding flash envelopes their surroundings momentarily. The two diverted their attention to Osial and the band of heroes fighting him.

There were new additions to the fight. The Adepti.

Childe doesn't know why they came, he never did. He could only assume that they began to feel bad for not lending a helping hand sooner after watching how hard the mortals suffered fighting the ancient god off.

Zhongli watched with a small smile while Childe, on the other hand, watched in horror. As the battle went on, the more Childe realized how stupid he looked before Morax.

He was right. The Liyue people could handle it. Without the help of an archon. Without the help of Lumine.

"I trust that you understand their capabilities now, Mr. Childe." Zhongli smiled politely, putting his hand on Childe's shoulder before walking away.

Childe stood in place; wet, frustrated, at lost of words.

But he didn't like how Zhongli had the last word. He hated how it made him question every step he took.

"So they passed your test then?" He yelled before Zhongli could get far.

Zhongli stopped on his tracks and paused for a moment. Without looking back, he answered, "Liyue is ready to stand as a nation lead by its people." 

Childe couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. That cocky bastard.

"Then your contract-"

Zhongli finally faced him. "We'll talk about it in a more... private location."

***

In another unexpected twist, Childe was given the Gnosis. No Signora. No sleight of hand. Just quiet thunder in his chest as Zhongli placed the Gnosis in his hands like it meant nothing.

"As per the contract, the Tsaritsa would like to have this in her possession." Zhongli handed it out.

Childe barely had time to compose himself, they headed straight to his office where he was handed the very thing he never got to touch in his old life.

Everything was out of whack already anyway, why bother continue to retrace his old steps?

"Thanks. Your cooperation is very much appreciated." Was all he could tell Zhongli, as he accepted the rewards of his mission. 

He didn't know whether to be happy or not. That's what he wanted, right? The Gnosis to be in his hands. But what can he even do with it now?

Old him would've celebrated. Current him just stood there, wondering what the hell he'd actually won.

Even after Zhongli left, he stared at the Gnosis intently, studying its appearance. Even just by touching it, he could feel the power it contained. He imagined he'd feel more giddy once he takes a hold of power like that, but he just felt indifferent.

He felt nothing.

The silence in the room deafened him. His thoughts slowly eating him away.

His Liyue mission is now over. He should pat himself at the back. It was very successful too, he retrieved the thing that the Tsaritsa wanted him to get. But he hated every second of it.

It felt empty. Like it was handed to him, just like how the Gnosis ended on his hands.

It felt more fulfilling when he didn't get the Gnosis. He would've preferred if Signora took the Geo Gnosis too... if it meant he got to meet Lumine again.

Maybe all he did need was to meet her again.

He clenched the Gnosis before tucking it away. He abruptly stood from his seat and called for his assistant.

"Felix!" He said, his voice coming out hoarse. 

"Yes sir?" Felix answered, entering the door.

"I want eyes on every nation. We're looking for someone of this description. Blonde. Amber eyes. Wears outlandish clothes. Blue and white flower. Did you get that?" He instructed, watching as his assistant frantically jotted down notes. Before Felix could respond, he began to talk again, with more authority on his tone.

"I don't care how, I don't care what it takes. Every informant, every agent, every rat in the sewer — I want them looking. And if she sets foot in any region, I want to know before she breathes the air."

Felix finally finished writing, looking very confused at the urgency of Childe's tone. 

"Sir, may I ask why-"

"Because I said so." Childe cut him off. "Once you find her, I want you to directly inform me... I don't want her caught in the crossfire." He added.

Felix, though still confused, just nodded. He could never understand what goes on the Harbinger's head, he just learned to go with it and not press. 

"That's all. Hop to it." Childe said, dismissing him. After that, he was once again left alone.

Childe sighed and plopped down his chair once more, bringing out the Gnosis again. "If I don't find her, this better be worth it." He hissed.

 

Chapter 5: a fair trade

Childe expected that the search would take longer. As much as he wanted it to take only a few hours, just a day after sending out orders was far too quick for trying to find someone like Lumine.

He thought he'd have a harder time than that.

But he underestimated the efficiency of the Fatui.

"Sir, we have her whereabouts." Felix said.

"Great, where?" Childe instantly asked.

"Sumeru..." Felix began to hesitate to read out the report as Childe's intense eyes stared straight into his soul.

"Is that all that you found?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No sir-"

"Then spit it out." Childe clicked his tongue.

"The Doctor..." Felix started, making every bone in Childe's body shiver. "...he has her under his custody."

Childe stood up from his seat. "What?" He glared. "I told you specifically to report straight to me when-"

"She was caught infiltrating one of his sites. Messing with his, um, test subjects. She was already in his hands before your instructions sir." Felix explained.

Childe gripped on the table, fighting the urge to throw it across the room. Great, just when he didn't want the other Harbingers involved.

"Shit." He muttered under his breath before taking a deep breath.

He then turned to Felix, who flinched at the coldness of his eyes. "Get a carriage ready. We're heading to Sumeru."

***

Childe barged in the facility, beating up anyone and anything that tried to stop him. His icy glare could be sensed by Dottore even before he opened the door.

"You're awfully full of energy." Dottore greeted him, unbothered by the fact that Childe literally kicked a door open.

"Hand her over." Childe's voice full of venom.

"I don't know what you mean." Dottore finally faced him, a vial of unknown liquid in his hand.

"Don't play dumb. I know you have her. I want her released. Now." He glared.

Dottore watched, amused. Childe never raised his voice at him like that. He hummed, a smile forming on his lips. "And here I thought your concern was just a rumor. How intriguing." He said.

"What?" Childe scowled.

"Is this your instructions?" Dottore tossed a piece of paper. Written was a description of Lumine that he told Felix and notes of what to do when they spot her.

"Yeah, and reports said she's here." Childe said, bluntly. "I'll be taking her. Thank you." He clenched his fist.

Dottore glanced at Childe's stance before chuckling. "What's in it for me?" He asked.

Childe looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "What do you even want with her? I'm here to get her out your hair." He scoffed.

"She's a liability. She's seen the inner workings of my research. She could expose years of progress. Why would I hand her over for nothing?" Dottore said with confidence. He could see how worked up Childe was getting, it wouldn't hurt to rile him up even more.

See how desperate he is.

"Then name your price." Childe answered, almost too quickly, which surprised Dottore.

"Now that is curious. I didn't take you for a sentimentalist." Dottore chuckled. Childe just glared at him.

Dottore shrugged and set the vial down a container. He then turns to Childe while he adjusted his gloves. "For you to be worked up about this. She must be worth a lot." Dottore smirked.

Childe kept his glare.

"Tell me, why go to such lengths to come all the way to Sumeru just to retrieve this girl?" Dottore began to pace around the room, throwing around hand gestures like he was waving a wand. "Looking for her using every Fatui dispatched is already odd enough, it's not like she had a huge bounty on her."

"Or did you already know she'd infiltrate Fatui facilities?" Dottore looked at Childe intently. He flinched. It did sound like something Lumine would do, but when he gave his orders, that was the last thing that was in his mind. "Did I hit a nerve?" Dottore smirked.

Childe just scoffed. "Are you handing her to me or not?" He asked.

"What do I gain?" Dottore insisted.

What's Lumine worth for?

Childe hesitated—for a second. Then he quietly reached into his coat. Dottore watched intently, waiting what he's about to pull out. Mora? Valuables? A weapon?

His interest was piqued.

Then a faint glow began to come off Childe's hand. It was golden.

It was more than valuable.

Childe stared right into Dottore's eyes as he set it down the table. "Her. For this." He said, finally revealing the Geo Gnosis.

It was unmistakable. Even with its faint glow, the power it radiated would never make you doubt its authenticity for anything else.

Dottore laughed, an unhinged laughter. He couldn't contain it. Not with the evident desperation that Childe was showing. 

The Geo Gnosis. He certainly wasn't expecting that. And he certainly didn't expect it from Tsaritsa's favorite pawn. For him to use that as leverage, this isn't the Childe he knows.

"Now we're talking." Dottore chuckled. His excitement showed the moment he took a step forward.

Childe instantly covered the Gnosis with his hand before Dottore could reach. "Hand her over first, then you could get it."

Another laugh. "Deal." Dottore said before yelling to his underlings to lead Childe to her.

At the depths of Dottore's facility, there was a huge cage. One that no man, even a vision bearer, can escape. Knowing Dottore, it was probably designed to keep even a god contained inside.

The world stopped. She was there—motionless, curled like a question he couldn't answer. Childe didn't think. He was at Dottore's throat before the thought finished forming.

"What did you do?" He said, voice sharp as a knife.

Dottore raised both his hands up. "She wouldn't stop resisting. I had to sedate her," Dottore said with a mock sigh. "She's quite the handful."

Childe just squinted his eyes at him.

Dottore rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Don't worry. She's fine. Look." He said, tilting his head toward her.

Childe followed his gaze and saw her move. He instantly dropped Dottore and walked his way to her. 

She's waking up.

"Let her go." Childe said, eyes not leaving Lumine. He was shaking.

"The Gnosis." Dottore reminded.

"Not until she's with me." Childe glared, finally facing him.

Dottore scoffed and rolled his eyes. He fidgeted on something and with a click, Lumine was falling from the bubble.

"Shit." Childe muttered before running to catch her.

"A-Ajax?" Lumine said, barely a whisper, as stared at him as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Her voice was hoarse, confused. She looked pale.

After hearing her say his name, something in Childe just broke. "You're okay. I've got you," Childe whispered, or more like a whimper, though maybe it was more for him than her. 

"I've done my end of the deal. Pay up." Dottore yelled, before Childe could even say anything else to Lumine.

Without even looking at his direction, Childe threw him the Gnosis. "I expect that's enough for you to keep away." He said before leaving, carrying a very confused Lumine in his arms.

"Oh, I'll keep away," Dottore mused, rolling the Gnosis in his palm. 

"So long as you do the same." He added as his eyes followed Childe like a hawk watching prey retreat.

***

The moment they stepped outside and felt the breeze, Childe felt his legs almost give out on him. He wobbled his way back to the carriage all while trying to save face. His stern expression was maintained, but the way his body kept shaking as he held a sleeping Lumine on his arms created an odd combination.

"Where to, sir?" Felix asked as Childe boarded the carriage.

Childe paused for a moment.

He didn't know.

He didn't think that far ahead.

Where should he take her? Where is safe?

Where do they go now?

Childe sighed and set Lumine down the seat, letting her lay down comfortably. "Just a sec." He told Felix as he took off his coat and folded it to a pillow, setting it down under Lumine's head.

Felix waited patiently for the next order, watching as Childe carefully moved the person they just retrieved like she was delicate glass that might break if Childe makes a wrong move.

After Childe finished, he faced Felix, his eyebrows furrowed, eyes full of confusion.

Classic Childe, acting on his emotions before thinking it through. This was just like when he let his emotions take over and used Foul Legacy to fight Lumine in the Golden House.

No contemplation. No thinking it through. Just jumping to conclusions and acting on it.

Perhaps if he treated it like a mission for the Tsaritsa, he might've formulated a plan to execute. He might've thought ahead. Even his Liyue mission had a Plan B. That's how prepared he was back then.

But whenever it comes to her, it seems all logic just goes away.

He just never learns.

He noticed how his assistant stood in front of him, waiting patiently for the next order. He just said what popped in his mind. "Liyue."

Felix nodded, as if he truly understood. "And try not to rattle the carriage too much. Go as slow as we need if it comes to it." Childe added. Another nod from Felix.

Childe then dismissed him, finally joining Lumine inside the carriage. 

His heart ached as he examined her condition. Pale, almost lifeless, her clothes was a mess. What the hell did Dottore do to her?

He sighed, reaching for her hand. "I'm sorry." He said, choking on tears he tried so hard to hold back. "I should've searched for you sooner."

 

Notes:

photo is my drawing for that scene in this chapter just bc i thought it would look so angsty lmao. you can find the post on twitter/x ! my username is keianfa if you're interested ヾ(≧▽≦*)o

Chapter 6: recovery

Lumine felt like she was in some kind of dream. Like a trance. Perhaps it was the drug that Dottore gave her, but none of her reality at that moment felt real, so to speak.

"Ajax?" She called out, and there he was, practically running toward her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, walking straight to check up on her.

She just smiled and shook her head. "You came." She said, barely a whisper. Her voice was still trembling.

"You called." He smiled back.

Childe didn't know that meant to Lumine.

Didn't know how much she cursed the gods then pleaded for their mercy as she messed up her cover and ended up the the grasps of the Fatui in Sumeru. Didn't know how badly she asked them, begged them, to let her see him one last time. Just once.

"You called," to her, meant he heard her silent cries as she was taken in a cell similar to what they caged Nahida with.

It meant that she hasn't lost him. That even if he didn’t remember her—at least not the way she remembered him—he was still there.

And he came to her rescue.

"Do you need anything?" Childe asked.

Lumine shook her head and just pulled him in for a hug, tears welling up her eyes.

"Don't worry. I'm here now. It's okay." Childe hugged her back, lightly stroking her head as if he was calming a frightened child. "You're okay."

He said that too, when she first woke up. His voice sounded so scared whenever he did.

Lumine still hasn't fully processed where they were. Maybe it was part of the dream, her not being able to pin point where they were, if it was a dream.

Well, if it was the case, she'd rather not know. She'd rather not wake up.

If this was sleep paralysis, she'd gladly stay asleep if it meant staying like that for longer.

She clung to Childe like she was holding on for dear life.

But everything felt real. His voice. His scent. The way he holds her.

It was warm. Familiar.

It was like the Childe she yearned for was right there before her.

But that felt too good to be true. The Childe she came across didn't even know her. So him stepping in like that, coming to her rescue, it didn't feel real.

It felt like wishful thinking.

As their hug tightened, she felt a stinging pain on her side, making her hiss.

"Ah, shit. Sorry. Did that hurt?" Childe instantly panicked, pulling away from the hug and scanning her.

Lumine looked down on her waist, slowly processing the pain she just felt. Dreams don't hurt like that.

"Tell me which hurt." Childe said, his hand trembling as he tried to feel out Lumine's expression while he hovered his hand over her body.

Lumine just touched the same spot that made her wince, screaming in pain the moment her hand landed on the same spot.

"Fuck." She cursed, pulling her hand away. This isn't a dream.

Childe stood up and ran to the door. "Hold on, I'll get the first aid kit."

With that, Lumine was alone. Suddenly, the air felt sharper, the light looked less golden.

The room felt cold.

She carefully pushed down her skirt to check her sides. Bruised. Badly.

It was staring at her, glaring. A reminder of how rashly she acted when she got to Sumeru.

"What was I even doing?" She muttered to herself.

Before she could spiral further, the door flung open.

Childe had a box in his hand, his expression so sharp it could’ve cut through bone.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked right away, setting the kit down beside her, already reaching for a different set of gloves.

Lumine stared.

The practiced way his hands moved. The tension in his jaw. The new scars on his arms—ones she didn’t remember, ones she hadn't seen before.

This was real.

He was real.

"Ajax." She called again, just to test.

“Yes?” he answered, not even hesitating. Not even flinching.

It disarmed her. “It’s you… right?” Her voice cracked. She wasn’t sure she could survive it if he said no.

He paused, looked at her. Looked at the way her fingers trembled where they curled over her skirt. Then, finally—he sighed, soft and quiet.

“Who else would it be?” His gaze was tender, it made Lumine whimper a bit.

She didn't say anything after that.

"Can you tell me where it hurts?" Childe asked one more time.

Lumine took a sharp breath and nodded before revealing her bruise.

Childe flinched at the sight. Dottore just had to make sure to leave a mark, didn't he?

Childe took a deep breath before reaching for the disinfectant. "I'm sorry." He muttered.

"Why are you apologizing?" Lumine asked. "This isn't your fault." She said, fully aware that it was a product of the consequences of her actions.

"I'm sorry." Childe just repeated. His hands began to tremble.

Then silence. For a moment, Childe struggled to apply the ointment while trying gently move over her clothes.

As Lumine watched, she felt herself having a hard time about it just as much as he did.

“Hold on,” she whispered, reaching behind her back. Childe blinked, confused—until he heard the soft click of her dress coming undone.

His eyes widened before he instantly turned around, realizing what she was doing.

Then a soft thud was heard as her white dress fell on the ground. She sat back down, in front of Childe, on her bloomers and leotard.

It was only then that she noticed how mangled the leotard was. Perhaps she should try to find a replacement soon.

She sat back down, facing Childe, now in only her bloomers and leotard—torn, stained, the seams fraying like her thoughts.

“You can look now,” she said softly. Her voice was steady. Braver than she felt.

Childe hesitated first, but still turned around. He can't exactly heal her if he doesn't see what he's supposed to be applying shit on.

And the moment he laid his eyes on her, it was like there was a punch on his stomach that he didn't anticipate.

Childe had seen battlefields.

He’d seen bodies mangled by war, by his own hands, by worse. But nothing in Snezhnaya, in Liyue, not even in the Abyss prepared him for the sight of her like this.

Bruised. Quiet. Still.

He was staring again.

She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, arms wrapped loosely around her middle, like she was trying to keep herself from falling apart. Her white dress lay discarded beside her, and all he could think about was how small she looked—how human.

Not a god. Not a savior. Just Lumine.

His Lumine.

He forced his eyes away.

He hated how familiar some of those bruises looked—Dottore always left the same kind of damage. Calculated. Lingering. Designed to humiliate more than destroy.

He shivered at the thought that Dottore might have used her as a test subject too.

And he hadn't been there to stop it.

“It's worse than I thought,” he muttered under his breath, but of course she heard.

"You should see the other guys," she said, smiling like it didn’t hurt to do so.

But it did. He could see it now. The microflinches. The subtle inhale she took every time she moved.

His hands clenched.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Not again. Not when he had a second chance.

She was sitting right in front of him, trusting him. Letting him see everything—pain, scars, weakness. And all he could do was patch her up with trembling fingers and prayers he didn’t know who to aim at.

“I think I might need more,” he said, standing before he let the rage in his chest eat him alive.

More bandages. More time. More chances to fix this.

"I'll be right back." He said before exiting the room.

His heart rang in his ear the same way the door slammed shut. His body was shaking in anger as the image of her scars flashed in his mind.

He failed her. Again.

"Damn it." He cursed.

 

Chapter 7: retracting

He only left for a couple of minutes. Yet he returned like a completely different person.

Someone detached from reality.

Was it the drugs finally leaving her body that made her finally stop hallucinating the version of Childe that he wanted?

"There, all patched up." Childe said, with a smile that felt empty.

His eyes, they were missing that glow. It looked so dull. So lifeless.

"Thanks." Lumine murmured as she reached for her dress.

Childe stopped her. "I'll have that cleaned first. Just use these." He handed her a fresh pair of clothes.

"They might not be your style, but it's all we could find." He added.

"Thanks." Lumine repeated, quieter this time.

Childe then stood up and sighed. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call for me. Okay?" He said, his voice sounding softer at the end.

Lumine wasn't sure if that was because he intended that, or if she was hearing it the way she wanted again.

Eitherway hurt.

"Okay." Her voice cracked.

Back to reality.

Back to missing him.

***

"I'm back." Childe waved.

"That was fast." Lumine commented.

"I couldn't possibly be away from you for too long." Childe grinned from ear to ear making Lumine roll her eyes.

"Okay that's cheesy." Lumine laughed.  "But lucky you, I just finished cooking lunch. I'll go get the plates ready." She said heading to the kitchen cabinets.

"Paimon already ate?" Childe asked.

"Not yet. She's with  Xiangling  and the others. I told her to go fetch them while I get this place ready." Lumine said as she arranged the plates.

Childe smirked and walked up to Lumine. "So it's just the two of us here right now?" He hugged her from behind.

"No, there's Tubby outside." Lumine looked back to face him.

"You know what I mean." He said before giving a peck on her lips.

"Lunch. You mean lunch." Lumine turned away. "The others will be here soon. No funny business from you mister." She said.

Childe laughed. "Come on, I just wanted a kiss." He said.

"You already had one." Lumine looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Just one more?" He pouted.

Lumine sighed and smiled a little. "Just one." She said before leaning in to give him a kiss.

As their lips met Childe pulled her in a little closer, making her blush at the feeling of his hand on her lower back.

It wasn't long until the two heard chatter and laughter from outside which made them pull away from the kiss.

"Lumine we're back!" Paimon's voice echoed through the halls. "I brought guests!"

"We're at the kitchen!" Lumine yelled back.

"We're here!"  Xiangling  waved enthusiastically. She was then followed by  Chongyun  and  Xingqiu .

"Oh you have another guest." She commented. "I hope we weren't interrupting anything."

Lumine blushed. "No, we were just waiting for you guys." She said.

"Yep, I'm helping out on the prep." Childe said. "Which reminds me, I'll go get the dishes."

"Use the big bowl." Lumine reminded.

"Got it!" Childe said before doing as he was told.

***

"Ajax." Lumine called out, her voice lower than a whisper, scared of the reaction he'll give if he heard.

But, of course, since it was so quiet, only she heard it. Childe barely moved from his seat.

"Aj-" she stopped herself. "Childe." She said, a little louder this time.

Childe looked up, facing her. "Hmm?" He hummed in response.

"What happened back there?" She finally asked.

Childe's back stiffened, looking away from her gaze. "Dottore he... That bastard gave you something." He said, venom dripping on his voice.

"I know that." She said weakly, catching Childe off guard. "I meant to ask how you knew I was there." She added.

Childe took another pause. "You mean how I knew you were in custody of another harbinger?" He asked, as if the question was enough to satisfy her curiousity.

"I mean how you went to fetch me." She said, finally telling him what she really wanted to ask. "I was so sure I'll be stuck there for at least a few centuries or so." She laughed bitterly.

"I heard you were there. I just had to come." Childe said.

"Why?" She looked him straight in the eye, almost begging.

She needed to hear him say it. Say what she meant to him. Say what made him go through the length to do what he did.

"Because..." Childe started. "Because I wanted to." He said, looking away.

He couldn't say it. Even when he was given the perfect opportunity to come clean, he still chose to stay quiet.

He was scared. Scared that she'd leave once she knows he held back such information. That he chose to pretend to not know her when he clearly did.

He just chose to do it again. Hoping the same choice will keep her.

Lumine just sighed. "Is that all?" She asked.

"Do I need to have more reasons?" Childe raised an eyebrow.

Lumine laughed. "I'm guessing not." She looked down.

Then a short silence.

"Are you pretending not to remember me again?" Lumine asked, making Childe's whole body freeze up.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"It means exactly what it sounds like." She said, her voice starting to sound hoarse. "Just tell me the truth for once."

Childe opened his mouth, ready to make-up an excuse, but he was cut short. A knock. Saved by the bell.

They both turned their attention to the door. Childe sighed before standing up to head to the door.

He proceeded to open it, just a sliver, just enough to see who it was. "Felix." He greeted.

Felix was holding a piece of paper in hand. A report. "The Liyue mission report had already reached headquarters sir." He informed Childe, who clicked his tongue, disappointment evident in his expression. "We tried retrieving it but it was already archived."

Childe let out a low chuckle. "This is like deja vu." He muttered. He then sighed and proceeded to exit the room, closing the door behind him to try to muffle out their conversation from Lumine. 

"And the response?" He asked, crossing his arms.

Felix just shook his head.

"They'll probably ask where it is huh?" Childe muttered, he meant to only think it but it slipped out his mouth before he could stop it.

Felix looked at him, a bit concerned. "Should we take precautions?" He asked.

Childe shook his head, holding up his hand. "We'll talk about this later in my office." 

Felix nodded before taking his leave.

Childe stood in place for a couple of seconds, taking a deep breath as he tried to put on a mask of false confidence. 

He then returned inside to see Lumine staring right into him. "What was that?" She instantly asked.

Childe tried to pass it off, brushing past her like nothing happened. "Just work stuff."

"Work stuff that made your entire posture go rigid?" She asked, probing his expression.

Childe just sighed. "Top secret Fatui stuff. Don't worry about it." He said, grabbing his coat from his seat. "There's an emergency meeting, I'll be right back."

"What happened with your Liyue mission?" Lumine asked before Childe could reach for the door knob. He froze once more, just for a moment, before regaining his composure.

"You already know how that went." He said. There was something about his tone, how dismissive it was, that Lumine didn't believe it. Not for a second.

Yet, the way he tries so hard to avoid her made her just drop it. She knew pressing further would lead to nothing, so she just sighed, looking away.

"I'll be back." Was the last thing Childe said before leaving the room.

Lumine curled into her bed, hugging her knees while she sat. She stared at the chair that Childe once sat on. "Will you?" She muttered to herself.

 

Chapter 8: familiar

Lumine finally went out of the small clinic she was held in. After negotiating with Childe for a bit, she managed to convince him that a short walk outside will help her with the recovery.

Just walking it off.

But as she walked around, she found herself unable to do much. She didn't really have many friends there considering she didn't stay around Liyue longer than she did before. When she first got there... from her old timeline.

All she could do was observe the streets from an outsider's perspective.

"I should've just stayed inside." She muttered to herself as she made her way down the stairs heading down the harbor.

And just as she was on the last step, a familiar face greeted her. The Geo Archon himself, strolling around Liyue harbor with his boss.

"Oh, h-" Lumine stopped herself before she finished her sentence. "Ah, they don't know me yet." Lumine chuckled to herself, sounding a little defeated.

She shook her head lightly and continued to walk.

A few blocks away she ran into Chongyun and Xingqiu.

"I heard it's around the stone gate. If we wait until sundown we might be able to catch a glimpse of it." Xingqiu said.

"And you say your sources are...?" Chongyun raised an eyebrow.

"Credible. Trust me." Xingqiu said with confidence. Lumine couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

This caught Chongyun's attention, and for a small moment, Lumine locked eyes with him.

"If you don't believe me then I guess I'll just have to go there by myself." Xingqiu said, interrupting their little staring contest.

But Lumine kept her eyes on Chongyun, with a small glimmer of hope. Maybe he recognized me?

"No, I'm... I'm definitely joining you." Chongyun said, catching up to Xingqiu who was walking faster.

And with that, the two left on their own world. Lumine simply stood there, watching the two.

"Hah, who am I kidding?" She mumbled as she looked on the ground. She saw a small pebble on the ground and gave it a small kick.

"Maybe walks aren't that ideal afterall." She told herself, trying to find a good spot to sit down. Somewhere far from the crowd.

As Lumine approached the Stone gate, she noticed the sun begin to set. She stopped for a moment to enjoy the view.

"I'll never get tired to seeing this." She said with a small smile.

She walked her way near the cliff and sat down on the grass to watch the sun slowly come down.

From a distance she could hear Chongyun and Xingqiu's bantering and in a way... it soothed her. Some things do stay the same.

A small smile crept to her face as she reminisce her past. How she would sometimes tag along with them, or maybe go on separate adventures with Chongyun then in another with Xingqiu.

She remembered the Lantern Rites they would attend. She remembered her other friends from Liyue; Xiangling, Xinyan, Hu Tao, Zhongli, Ningguang, Beidou... It was then that she realized how many people were in her circle. It was then that it really sank in how much she built up before.

And how much she'll need to build back up again...

"You know what, maybe I don't have to." Lumine told herself. "Maybe I don't really need to." She added.

She sighed. "Maybe if..." She paused, her flying companion coming into her mind. "Maybe if you were here I'd know where to head next." Lumine looked over to her side, where Paimon usually was, and sighed again.

By then the sun has completely gone down, it was already getting dark. Stars were starting to show up.

Lumine stood up and dusted herself off. The moment she turned around, she saw Childe standing from a distance, looking around frantically.

She let out a small tired chuckle. "Were you looking for me?" She called out, half-joking.

Childe turned her way, and the moment he saw her, his expression instantly softened. It was like his eyes flickered for a moment.

"There you are." He said, his voice was shaky but it sounded so full of relief.

"I thought you left Liyue again." He said, voice cracking at the end, lightly panting from possible running around.

Lumine just shrugged. "I told you I will just be out for a walk. I was gonna head back after." She said.

Childe just sighed, eyes on the ground as he walked closer to her. "Yeah, but it was getting dark and you weren't back yet so I thought..." He looked up to face her.

Their eyes locked for a moment, and before he knew it, his hand reached for her cheeks.

Lumine's breath hitched, and she instinctively took a small step back, her gaze darting away for just a split second.

"Childe—" She started to say, but the words got caught in her throat.

Childe froze, his hand hovering just shy of her face, his pulse suddenly racing. For a brief, suspended moment, it felt like the world around them had paused. "What am I doing?" he asked himself.

He already told himself he'd hold back. That trying to get close was only going to do him worse. But his body betrayed him that moment. Was it instinct? Impulse? Whatever it was, Lumine clearly didn't want it that moment.

Then, without another word, Childe withdrew his hand, exhaling sharply as though breaking free from something that had been pulling him too close.

"We should head back." He muttered, loud enough for Lumine to hear.

"Mhm." Lumine hummed, nodding.

The silence stretched the two began to walk their way back to Liyue Harbor. Lumine walked ahead while Childe followed from behind.

Childe could only observe as Lumine walked slowly, her hands playing with the fabric of her outfit. The crowd was starting to pick up, Liyue Harbor always seemed more lively at night.

Afraid that she'd be drowned out by the people, Childe took bigger steps to keep up with her, returning to his original pace when he caught up. He was near her, not quite walking beside her, but close enough.

The two didn't speak a word to each other, they just let the bustling crowd of Liyue fill the quiet.

The awkward quiet.

The walk felt like it took so long, like the world slowed down around them as Childe's thoughts consumed his mind. Still stuck in the moment where he almost leaned in to Lumine and the way she took a step back from it.

He wondered what went through his head. What went through Lumine's head.

If she didn't leave by choice earlier, now she might actually have a reason to again. First he pretends to not know her, then suddenly he acts this way around her.

Childe was well aware of how stupid he was acting. But as much as he didn't want to contradict himself, it was him against himself.

He stared at his hand, feeling the warmth that he didn't get to hold this time. He sighed and clenched his fist, turning his attention to the door they were approaching. They finally arrived to their destination.

They were greeted by the guard, giving a small nod before they entered.

As they walked through the halls, footsteps echoing, Childe finally spoke up. "Sorry for... making things weird back there." He said, guilt eating him up.

Lumine didn't respond right away. Her silence felt even more uncomfortable than his own. And for a moment, he wondered if she was feeling the same way.

Finally, her voice came, quiet and soft. "It's fine, Childe." She said, reaching for the door of her designated room. She had a sad look on her face, almost like she was just tired. Just done.

Childe took a deep breath, unable to find the words to continue the conversation. 

"I'll go rest up now." Lumine said, finally opening the door.

Childe pursed his lips, nodding as he looked down. "Okay."

***

"Felix, write a draft for a letter of request." Childe instructed. Felix just readied his pen and paper. "I want to drop out of the Gnosis Retrieval Operation."

 

Chapter 9: a new path

"The 11th Fatui Harbinger is requesting his removal from the Gnosis Retrieval Operation." The people at the table exchanged looks with each other.

"Didn't he just get the Geo Gnosis?" The masked maiden scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Apparently, it's in Dottore's custody now." The young man snickered, the ornaments on his hat swaying. "I heard he handed it over himself."

A soft chuckle followed. "That's suspicious." The masked maiden squinted her eyes. "Must be some part of a scheme." She tapped the lace edge of her mask.

"Well, whatever his scheme is, he better keep it to himself. I don't want him messing with our mission."

***

Lumine woke up to a soft knocking on the door, a female voice calling her out to deliver breakfast on the other side.

She groggily stood up from the bed to accept the delivery.

"Good morning ma'am, here's the breakfast prepared just for you." The maid smiled, gesturing to the tray of foods.

Lumine stared in awe at what seems like a full course meal. "Did Childe order this?" She asked the maid.

The maid laughed awkwardly, not answering. She didn't really have to.

Of course Childe would be the type to go over the top like this. He would've probably cooked it himself if he had the time.

"Thank you, I'll just-" Lumine took the tray from the trolley, "thanks." She said again before nodding her head and going back inside with her food.

She set it down on the table and sighed. "Glad to know you haven't changed that habit." She muttered to herself as she checked the dishes with a lid one by one.

Her eyes landed on the dessert, a smile creeping to her face.

"You better not be thinking of eating only that," a voice said from behind, low and amused.

Lumine spun around. There he stood, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed and head tilted, one brow raised like he'd been waiting there longer than he let on.

"When did you get here?" Lumine asked.

Childe just chuckled, walking over to her. "Not long." He said. He leaned over to check the contents of the tray and nodded to himself. "I came after the maid left." He explained, facing Lumine.

Lumine watched him, silent.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stared at each other—matching raised eyebrows—until Childe's expression shifted, his gaze softening in confusion.

"Aren't you going to eat?" He asked.

Lumine shook her head and sat down. "Not hungry yet," she said, brushing off the swirl of thoughts about the way he was acting now... after last night.

Childe glanced at her, then at the tray. "It won't be as good later," he said casually.

She sighed. "Are you like this with all your guests?"

He tilted his head. "Hm?"

"Barging into their rooms and doting on them?"

That earned her a soft laugh. "I was just checking up on you," he said, sounding almost sheepish.

"Mhm." Lumine hummed, obviously doubtful of the answer. "So you check up on your guests like this everytime?" She asked.

Childe just shrugged. "It's to ensure the guest is enjoying their stay." He said, thinking of the excuse on the spot. He was always quick on his feet when it came to that. Perhaps it was from working with the Fatui that he got so good at it.

Lumine stayed silent, finally picking up her chopsticks. "Thank you for the hospitality." She said, quietly.

She pressed her hands together, as if she was about to pray. She didn't really know how the prayer goes, she never learned the words, but she thought it was customary so she just mirrors the locals.

She reached for one of the dishes with the chopstick before turning her head to Childe who had his eyes glued to her. "Are you really going to stay here and watch?" She asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Childe's eyebrows raised for a moment, like the question surprised him. "Oh, sorry." He laughed. "Don't mind me." He waved his hand.

Lumine sighed and shook her head. She then took a small bite, glancing at Childe to check if he's still looking. He was.

"Don't stare too much. It's embarrassing." She muttered as she chewed her food. 

Childe didn't say anything, he just gave her a smirk but still stared. Lumine just shook her head again and tried to hide her face by tilting to her side.

For a few minutes, the room was filled with the sound of cutlery as Lumine continued to eat her meal. It was wood hitting porcelain, it sounded a bit more therapeutic than Childe imagined. He never understood what his mother meant when she said she gets full just by watching him and his siblings ate but now, he thinks he understands it a bit better.

It wasn't until a knock on the door was heard that his train of thought was interrupted. Lumine was about to stand up to check but Childe told her to just finish her food. "I'll get it." He said.

The person behind the door didn't have to speak, it only took Childe a short glance to understand why they were there. Felix was about to say something but Childe held up his hand. He turned back inside to talk to Lumine. 

"Looks like duty is calling." Childe said, his voice upbeat, like his usual teasing self. "Will you be staying inside or you going to head out for a bit too?" He asked.

Lumine paused, finishing the last bite of her dessert. "Actually, I was thinking that it's about time I went on my way." She said. 

Childe stood there, stunned. "What?" His eyebrows furrowed.

Lumine laughed awkwardly. "I'm very grateful, Childe. But you've done more than enough already... I don't want to overstay my welcome." She said.

"Nonsense, you're still more than welcome to stay here for longer." Childe tried to argue.

"And thank you for that but... I do think I should go." Lumine said. "I still have to go and try to find my brother." She added.

Childe's eyebrows furrowed. "Your brother?" 

Lumine paused. "Oh, I didn't tell you about him yet?" She asked, sounding a bit saddened. It was then that she realized that she never really told him about it. 

For a while, she was still assuming that Childe did remember. Him being surprised about the information gave Lumine a confirmation.

Unbeknownst to her, the question was only because Childe was wondering why Lumine was still looking for her brother. Since he knows Lumine has her memories from the old timeline, it was odd that she didn't already know her brother's whereabouts.

"We'll talk about this later." Childe finally said. "After I get back from work." He added.

"But-"

"It'll be quick. I promise." He said. "Just... don't leave yet. Please." He said, his voice softening. Almost whispering the "please" at the end.

Lumine stared at him for a moment and sighed. With his expression like that, she's too weak to say no. "Okay. I'll be waiting."

***

The moment Childe and Felix arrived in his office, he immediately sat on a sofa, not bothering to sit on the chair in front of his desk. 

"Make it quick, I have other business to do." Childe snapped.

Felix nodded. "We have reports that the request for your removal from the Gnosis Retrieval Operation has arrived at HQ." Felix started. "The Tsaritsa has yet given her response. However, it seems the news of it has reached the lower ranks." Childe clicked his tongue. 

"Word spread fast however it has devolved into baseless rumor about your removal from the ranks." Felix said, making Childe laugh. A mocking one.

"That's rich." He said. "Are they speculating that I fell off too?" He sneered.

Felix looked at him surprised. "Yes sir, have you-"

"No. That's not new." He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. The lower ranks will always try to find a way to look down on me." He chuckled.

Felix stayed silent. He didn't know that. Before he became Childe's assistant, Childe has already made quite a name for himself. He thought that being a Harbinger automatically came with the respect from those below them.

"Is that all?" Childe asked, snapping Felix from his surprised state.

"Uh, yes sir." He said.

Childe took a deep breath and stood up from the seat. "Great. Dismissed." He headed to the door, unbothered.

Felix followed. After exiting the room, he gave a short bow, watching Childe who walked his way straight out the building, eager to go back to where he was before he was summoned for a meeting.

Harbingers are truly something else.

 

Notes:

happy to announce that I'm now a skirk haver!! as a chilumi writer i feel obliged to pull for his master lmao (literally told this to my friends and they were like "of course you are" lmaooo

anw, i hope anyone pulling for her will also be skirk havers! Goodluck on your pulls! (ﾉ*ФωФ)ﾉ

Chapter 10: deals and talks

Childe didn't feel his nerves get to him until he got back at his temporary home. The meeting with Felix was short, but to him it felt like it took way too long.

Perhaps it was because they had to walk all the way from the harbor then up the Northland Bank.

He would've just done the meeting with his assistant on the same building, but he'd rather not risk Lumine overhearing their topic.

He still hasn't told her.

He still hasn't told that in order to find her he had to use his position as a Harbinger to order the lower ranks to look for her.

That he basically disregarded the danger of barging in Dottore's facility when he knows well he keeps it guarded for a reason.

And that in order to free her from Dottore's capture, he had to trade the Geo Gnosis.

She's only been staying under the same roof as him for two days, three if you count the first night when they just got back from Sumeru. Yet here she was, telling Childe that she might be overstaying her welcome.

Childe didn't like how she worded it. He didn't like how she kept referring to herself as a mere guest.

She technically was. Childe just forgot the fact that Lumine might want to leave again.

Or maybe he did remember and just didn't want to consider that as an option.

Again, he was contradicting himself. He knows that he should just tell her.

Tell her that he knows about her more than he lets on. But her reaction scares him more than anything else.

He's scared that she might end up pulling away again. Just like that night.

He sighed as he looked at the door. His nerves were finally getting to him. Does she really have to go now?

"Lumine, I'm coming in." He announced before opening the door.

He was greeted by Lumine who was folding her clothes, beside her was her bag. She was packing. She was really serious about it.

"Oh, hi." Lumine awkwardly waved, stopping what she was doing to face Childe.

Childe gave her an awkward nod and entered the room. "Is there anything I can do to change your mind?" He blurted out.

Lumine stared at him, a bit confused.

"You could stay for longer you know. I mean, I think you should stay until you fully recover at least." Childe added.

Lumine's lips formed into a line, her eyes flinched before turning away again. "Thank you but I still have to look for my brother." She muttered.

"What if I don't let you?" Childe asked, making Lumine shoot her head to Childe's direction. She noticed Childe's furrowed eyebrows, his eyes looking like it's pleading. Almost.

Just that alone was enough to confuse Lumine. Why he was acting like that in front of her again. She was a stranger right? One he happened to come across his colleague's lair. One he happened to come across once, with an odd first impression.

Lumine already told herself that Childe's fascination toward her was because of that time she clung to him crying. Perhaps he felt compelled to know her better because of that. It was possible, Childe seemed like a person who would do that.

But there was something about how he treats her. Something about how he hung around her. Something about how his eyes lingered on her. It confused her so much. What's his reason?

Lumine set down her clothes down the table, frustration showing. "Why?" Lumine blurted out. She didn't mean to say that word, she meant to ask something else. But it was the thing she was itching to ask.

Childe's breath hitched. "Because..." He paused, trying to find a good excuse. Anything. Just say something other than the truth. "... I-" Another pause. Nothing was coming to him.

"You don't have to do this Childe." Lumine said, noticing his discomfort.

"No, I want to." He instantly said. "I just- I don't think you should go yet." He stumbled in his words.

"I think I stayed here long enough. I don't think I can keep abusing your kindness." Lumine said, finally returning on folding her clothes.

Kindness? That was the last thing that Childe would imagine hearing as a Fatui. From a person who just got saved from another Fatui's grasp no less.

"Do you even have another place to stay at? Where are you headed if you go?" Childe began to bombard her with questions. He should've started with that question, if he did he probably would've had a better argument if she didn't have a concrete plan.

"I'm heading to Sumeru." Lumine admitted. Upon hearing that, something in Childe just clicked. Or perhaps it was a snap.

"What?" He asked in disbelief. Sumeru? Did it have to be Sumeru? He just got her from Sumeru, and that wasn't a great trip.

"My brother could be there." Lumine said.

"Could?" Childe's voice began to raise. He couldn't help it. All that trouble for a probability?

"I know someone who could help me with my search. She's the only one that I think- no, that I know would be able to help." Lumine said, keeping her eyes on her clothes. Even without facing Childe, she could feel the chill of his gaze.

"You're not going back to Sumeru." Childe said, his voice firm.

"Why not? Is it a no entry zone now?" Lumine raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dripping on her voice. Childe was getting worked up, and the more he acted like that, the more Lumine felt angry.

If he didn't know me that well, why is he acting like he cares so much? Surely there was something that she doesn't know, the reason why he's acting so protective of her.

They only met twice, and the second time they meet he already took her in. He housed her, cared for her, even checked up on her regularly even though he didn't need to.

"I can't let you go back into Sumeru." Childe just repeated.

"What, is it like a deal with you and Dottore that I don't go back there?" Lumine finally faced him. Maybe that was it, maybe it was a deal between harbingers that Childe can keep her as long as she keeps away from Dottore's experiments.

She wasn't far off.

In fact, she was very close about it. Her thinking was quite spot on. She could tell it from Childe's shaken expression.

"So, did you trade my freedom for something from Dottore?" Lumine stood up from her seat, clarity finally dawning on her.

Maybe the fact that cared so much about her was because he saw her as a possession. Perhaps that was it. As the thoughts clouded her mind, her anger rose even more.

Childe stood there frozen. She didn't know how nervous Childe was, or maybe she did, just not why.

"Is that it?" Lumine snapped.

"My freedom... for something else?" She asked. "What did you get from him?"

Childe took a deep breath. Was he caught? Should he just tell her?

"You." He said, his voice low.

"What?" Lumine paused. "Me?" She repeated. She wasn't sure if she heard it right.

It didn't make sense. Is that all that he took from Dottore? There has to be something else, something she was missing. Right?

He was asked by Dottore to keep her away, right? Shouldn't he get a different reward? Dottore is the one that got the good deal if she gets barred from his experiments, right?

"I'm sorry. I had to." Childe's expression began to shift. Frustration turning into guilt. In his mind, it was the perfect time to come clean. But it was eating him up just to admit what he gave up for her.

"Had to what?" Lumine began to press. She was confused. She thought she understood, but what did Dottore do? What dirt did he have on Childe that all he got was her?

"Protect you." He whispered, looking down.

"What?" Lumine froze. What was he saying?

"I had to give it to protect you." Childe's voice cracked.

"Give what?" Lumine's voice raised. Childe was the one that gave something away? Nothing was making sense to her.

"Just... Stay. Please." Childe said, defeated. He didn't want to say it aloud. Not when the situation's consequence finally came crashing in on him. How stupid he was that moment.

How he can't just admit that he gave up the Gnosis without a fight. Just for her.

Blinded, that's what he was. And if he tells Lumine his stupidity, she might hate him more than he thinks she already has. So he stayed quiet. Hoping she won't press.

But that's a pipe dream. He knew too well how that would be impossible. Then the question he was dreading finally left Lumine's lips.

"What... did you do, Childe?"

 

Chapter 11: dumb decisions

"Me? Reckless? Please, maybe you're talking about yourself right now." Lumine chuckled.

"Well, it takes one to know one." Childe said.

"I can assure you this plan is foolproof." Lumine argued. "I'm going."

"Well, I didn't exactly say you can't go." Childe said. "What I'm trying to say is that you can't go without a backup."

"I have a plan b and c, for your information." Lumine said.

"Not that backup." Childe sighed. He leaned in and slammed the table. "Me. I'm backup."

"No-"

"Please, I wanna come too." Childe began to follow Lumine.

Lumine sighed. "That's why you were so against it? Because you weren't part of it?" She raised an eyebrow.

Childe just gave her a cheeky smile. A short stare down commenced, with Childe maintaining his teasing look.

"I won't get in your way, I promise." Childe raised his hand.

A glare, and a sigh. "Fine. Pack your bags." Lumine said, defeated.

***

Childe was never the type to dote on her. If anything, he encouraged her to dangerous missions. As long as he could come with her. It would be a waste if he passed on the chance to fight alongside a strong warrior like Lumine.

What changed? 

He wanted to know himself. He wanted to know why he's now so shaken at the thought of Lumine engaging in any battle.

It was ironic because he was one of the people who always enthusiastically asked for a sparring session with her. Or maybe he was the only person who was persistent about it.

So what changed?

"You gave up... what?" Lumine held his collar, eyes burning in rage.

"I had to!" He argued.

"No, you didn't!" Lumine pushed him away and began to pace around the room. "What makes you think handing a fucking Gnosis to someone like Dottore was a good idea?" She glared at him.

"Do you think he would've handed you to me without a good trade?" Childe tried to defend himself.

"A trade? Is that all this is for you?" Lumine scoffed, shoving the clothes she never got to finish folding to her bag. "What the fuck is wrong with you." She muttered.

"You think I had other choices?" Childe walked over to her.

"Yes!" She flung her bag on her back. "If you only stopped to think about the consequences, you should've known better."

"Well, I don't know any better." Childe admitted. "I couldn't just stand there and watch your limp body dangling on his cage." 

"Why do you even care so much?" Lumine snapped. "You didn't have to-"

Childe couldn't help it anymore. He was at his wits end, his desperation was catching up to him. 

"Because it's you, Lumine!" He held her shoulders. If he didn't have gloves on, his nails would've probably dug on her skin. 

He noticed her wince, and immediately, his expression softened, his grip on her loosened. "I care because it's you."

Lumine stared into his eyes, her expression unreadable.

"You're not making any sense." She told him flatly.

Childe just stared at her, stunned. The silence that followed made him notice the loud pounding of his heart. He let his hands fall to his sides.

He took a deep breath. She's slipping right through his fingers, he could feel it. But he doesn't know what else to say anymore. There was nothing else to say. Except one...

"Lumine... I do remember. About you, about Aether... Paimon." He said.

Lumine's eyes widened for a moment. It was the first time she heard of that name. She never told anyone about her brother's name. She specially never told anyone about her old companion's name. He remembers? How much does he remember? Why didn't say it sooner?

But despite the revelation, despite the questions running in her mind, she kept quiet.

"I'm sorry, I just..." Childe paused, his mind racing on what to say. He had a lot he wanted to say, but he was scared that if he takes too long she might lose patience with him. "I care because I remember you, and how I loved you even before." He admitted.

He looked into Lumine's eyes. He still couldn't read her expression.

"Should I thank you then?" Lumine asked, coldly.

Childe's expression flickered. His heart was racing more after that. 

"You just endangered all of Sumeru because of your dumb decision. I hope you're happy." She said bitterly, turning her back on him.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to save a nation from the mess you created." She headed to the door.

Childe wanted to reach out, but he knew nothing he says will make her stay now. Not when he knows how right she is. He could only watch as she stormed out the room, not even looking back.

"Damn it."

***

"Sir, the Tsaritsa responded." Felix handed Childe an unopened letter.

Childe sighed and accepted it, leaning back on his chair as he opened it.

"Request denied." It said in bold letters. His grip on the paper tightened, crumpling the sides a bit. 

He cursed under his breath as he read the other content of the letter. Details of his next mission.

Felix just stood in front of him, waiting for the next order to come. Childe stayed silent for a moment, fighting the urge to just rip the paper into shreds.

"Felix." He started, making Felix correct his posture at the coldness of his voice. "Ready a ship. We're heading to Inazuma."

***

"What are you doing here?" Signora sneered at him. Childe just ignored her, coldly passing by her before heading to his assigned room.

"I thought you were backing out?" She pressed even further.

"You think I'm here because I wanted to?" Childe finally snapped back. "You can continue your schemes however you plan. I'm just here for formalities." He said before heading inside his room.

Signora rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist before walking away. "What's gotten him so worked up?"

She huffed before heading outside the inn they were staying in. Shaking off her annoyance that the Tsaritsa clearly sent him there to "help" in the Gnosis Retrieval. After his request to back out of it, it just annoyed her that a dead weight was given at her side.

"She should've just let him go his merry way." She thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Childe sat at the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall as he looked back on all that has just went down.

His confession. Lumine leaving for Sumeru. His mission.

Everything was getting heavy for him. He thought he could shake it off. But it clung to him like the ghost of his past haunting him, following his every step. And now, he was in Inazuma. 

He didn't even know why he was eager to leave Liyue. He didn't want to go to Inazuma. But he couldn't go after Lumine either. It would make her mad at him more. He can't stomach that.

"Maybe I should just step down from the ranks." He muttered to himself as he removed his insignia, gripping on it enough that it left a mark on his hand. He stared at it, letting it glisten under the sunlight. 

"Maybe if I wasn't a Fatui, she wouldn't have known." He chuckled to himself. It sounded stupid, just by saying it he knew that would be impossible. She'd have known even without the connection. She just got there faster because of it.

He took a deep breath and just reattached the insignia to his uniform. He then felt something poke on his chest. He pulled it out and stared at the accessory. He forgot he had that.

"I'm not doing this right, aren't I?" He said, as if he was talking to the black star. "What should I have done Paimon?"

 

Chapter 12: diplomat

The days in Inazuma felt like it was so long to Childe, quite fitting for the nation of eternity. But he didn't like it. Not one bit.

He spent his every waking hour just trying to lay low, avoiding Signora so she wouldn't berate him for "getting on her way". He didn't have the energy to deal with drama like that.

Usually, he would report his accomplishments to the Tsaritsa. But he didn't really have any accomplishments to talk about. There was no report to be made but him just going around Inazuma.

The one thing that he made himself busy with was revisiting spots he and Lumine used to go to at the old timeline. It was interesting seeing the shops and all the sights in Inazuma while the Sakoku Decree was still up. He never got to experience it before.

It was also quite interesting meeting the people who used to be friends with Lumine, how they are without her. Or more accurately, how they were prior to meeting her.

Yoimiya, as expected, was still a bright cheery girl. He did meet her before he knew her connection with Lumine, it was an interesting first meeting.

There was something different about Yoimiya during the Vision Hunt Decree. She felt more... serious. In a way. Still cheery, but there was always a different tone in the surroundings when there is war involved.

Conflict always meant bad things. Childe knew it too well.

"Fake visions?" Childe stared at Yoimiya's craft in amusement.

"Pretty neat huh? They can't tell the difference." She said proudly. "I can make you one if you'd like. Pretty rough out here for us vision holders."

Childe laughed. "No... I'm good." He said.

He never knew the lengths that people had to go through in Inazuma just because of that Decree. It was hard enough that they couldn't leave the country, it was another for the vision holders to be in hiding.

The Fatui always knew how to stir-up trouble.

"Who is this for anyway?" Childe asked, diverting the attention from him.

"Oh, it's for a friend. I'm about to hand it out to him later." Yoimiya said. "If you want, you can go help with the hand-out. I feel like I could trust you." She said.

"Trust me?" Childe looked at her surprised. Quite a surprise to hear an Inazuman citizen complimenting a Fatui Harbinger for being trustworthy.

"Yeah, I saw you playing with some kids earlier. I know anyone who knows kids like that can't be someone bad." Yoimiya said with a smile on her face.

"Oh, that's just because I have a lot of younger siblings." Childe laughed.

"Still, those kids aren't your siblings but you were still great with them." Yoimiya nodded to herself. "So, are you up for it?" She offered her hand.

Childe just gave a small smile. Is this how Lumine got roped in with her antics last time too? "I have nothing better to do, so sure." He shook her hand.

***

The next few days consisted of the same routine. Travel around Inazuma, meet new people, learn more about them.

He was acting more like a diplomat than he intended. The only difference is that he wasn't flaunting his connection to the Fatui. 

Oddly enough, he did build up quite a connection. He's sure that it's annoying Signora, how effortlessly he was blending in with Inazuma, but he did have the upper hand of already knowing Inazuma's history from the lens of the old timeline.

This was like trying to experience a chapter from a history book he once read.

"What are you plotting here?" Signora eyed him carefully, a swirling the wine in her glass.

"What do you mean?" Childe asked.

"Oh, you know what I mean." She scoffed. "You already snatched the Geo Gnosis under my nose and gave it away to Dottore. Are you planning to do it again here?" 

Childe laughed. "The Geo Gnosis was never yours to begin with." He argued. "I was assigned the Liyue mission." He said.

"And I'm assigned to the Inazuma mission, but here we are." Signora rolled her eyes, taking a sip of the wine.

Childe chuckled once more. "What? Afraid I'll get the Gnosis even after all the dirty work you laid out?" He taunted.

Signora paused to give him a glare. She then sighed and set her glass down carefully. "No." She said confidently. "I'm afraid that whatever you're doing right now will ruin what I am working towards."

Childe scoffed. "Relax. I'm not even going anywhere near your Delusion Factory." He said.

"Good." Was all that Signora said, before finishing up her wine. "Keep it that way." She set down the glass, this time a bit more aggressive that it made a soft thud.

"Because I'm close to getting the Gnosis." She said before leaving the room.

Childe laughed. "Yeah right." He muttered to himself. She's nowhere near it, and he knows it. The person she's trying to warm up to never had the vision in the first place.

However, the person who was really in possession of it...

Childe gave a sly smile, checking the paper in his pocket.

"Come to the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Guuji awaits you." The note said.

"Guess all that diplomat work made you curious, huh?" Childe thought to himself. He then began to think of what that note implies. He just laughed and shook his head.

Nope. Not opening that can of worms. 

He intends to lay low, and meeting up with Yae Miko sounds like the opposite of that. "Sorry, maybe next time." He pocketed the note once more.

Perhaps sleeping would be a better move for now.

***

"Lumine. Lumine please wake up." Childe cried as he held her in his arms, visibly shaking.

"Lumine. Please." He called once more, his hand cupping her cold cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't make it fast enough." He held her tight.

"Please..." He cried louder.

"Childe." Paimon put a hand on his shoulder, she too was crying.

"There- there has to be a way... a way to undo this." Childe stumbled through his words.

"Paimon please tell me there's a way." He faced Paimon who was crying beside Lumine, holding her cold hand.

Paimon looked at him, tears streaming down her face.

Her lack of words breaking all his remaining hope.

"No." He said.

"No no no." He shook his head.

"Someone! Anyone! Help!" He yelled, looking around.

It was a wasteland where they were. The crater sized hole they were in didn't help with him trying to find anything. Of course his tears blocking his eyesight didn't make it any better.

"Anyone!" He yelled, his voice cracking at the end.

He turned back to the person he was holding. Her cold, unresponsive body flailing in his arms.

"No. Lumine..." His shaky voice called out once more. "Please... Don't leave me."

***

Childe shot up from his bed, his breath heavy, heart beating faster than a drum. He was sweating, tears were streaming down his face.

That dream. Again.

He looked around the room as he tried to catch his breath.

As his eyes scanned the room he slowly got control of his breathing. Maple wood walls painted black and white, yumemiru bed, maple wood floor lamps. He was in Inazuma.

Still in Inazuma.

He sighed in relief but he was still shaking. He leaned back his headboard and held his chest, feeling his racing heart.

"Relax. It's just a dream." He told himself. "That's not reality right now."

His hand reached for something from his bedside table. What that something was, he didn't know himself. He just had to hold something.

Anything that can ground himself to this timeline.

Then he felt a paper. The note.

He couldn't help but laugh. Was this the archons giving him a sign?

"Come to the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Guuji awaits you." 

He took another deep breath.

Perhaps he should. Maybe it was about time he started moving. And the sooner he does, the sooner he can leave.

The sooner he could go to Lumine.

"That's it. Time to finish this mission." He cracked his knuckles. He took a deep breath and stared at the note again. "I'll make this quick."

 

Chapter 13: tea party with the devil

The Grand Narukami Shrine was truly a sight to behold. A large shrine built on top of a hill that is guarded by the Sacred Sakura, the sight of the shrine itself was already a treat, the breathtaking view of Inazuma City from above was a cherry on top.

It wasn't the first time Childe went there, certainly won't be the last, but there was a moment when he forgot what it used to look like.

After living through a war that spared nothing, seeing the Sacred Sakura still standing tall was something he never thought he'd witness again.

Lumine liked that tree so much. Her fascination with it somehow infected him, or at least he thinks.

"You can go closer if you'd like." A teasing voice said, making Childe turn around.

"Guuji Yae." He instantly bowed his head, making Yae chuckle.

"It's okay, you don't have to bow." She said. "I'm not one to let diplomats lower their head." She laughed.

Childe paused, head still bowed. "Oh, I didn't-"

"I jest." Yae said, laughing once more.

Childe just tried to laugh along before straightening his posture.

"Still... there's something peculiar about you," Yae said, circling him slowly, eyes sharp and amused. Childe's eyes followed her.

"You are Fatui, yes?" Yae raised an eyebrow.

"Is it important if I am?" Childe asked. His confusion was palpable, yet there was an underlying feeling that he wasn't quite surprised about the interaction.

It was almost like he saw it coming.

Yae always did feel that he saw a lot of things coming. She prided herself as being 3 steps ahead, but Childe felt like he was already uphill before she reached him.

"Interesting." Yae muttered.

She chuckled and finally stopped her pacing, heading straight to the Sacred Sakura. "You seem to know a lot about Inazuma." She commented.

Childe chuckled. "Oh, it's just because the locals are welcoming." He bluffed.

"Right, and you always seem to know which local to come to for everything." Yae said, admiring the tree before her, not bothering to look at Childe.

"Not really." Childe said, trying to act humble. But he can't outright deny the fact that she was right. He did know where everything is, knew who manned them, and knew how to get on their good side.

At that point, it was as if his role as a diplomat and his knowledge from the past timeline had blurred together. Using that kind of knowledge to gain something personal—what a Fatui thing to do.

"Have you tried the ramen?" Yae faced him. "There's a stall by Ogura Textiles & Kimonos that sells some good kitsune ramen. Yukio is the vendor's name, if I remember correctly." She added.

Childe shrugged. "Can't say I have. But if you're recommending it, how could I refuse?" He said.

"Hmm." Yae nodded, smiling. "Speaking of recommendations..." She glanced to a miko standing by the door and gave her a signal. Childe followed her gaze, watching the miko retreat inside.

"I saw you reviewing some books from the Yae Publishing House. Shigeru said you've made some interesting comments." She said, giving Childe a look.

Childe squirmed for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "I hope I didn't get to any author's bad side." Childe chuckled, nervously.

Yae shook her head. "No no." She laughed her usual teasing laugh. "It's just that... Shigeru said it's almost like you knew of chapters that weren't even published yet."

Childe's back stiffened. He forgot that he has read some novels from the same series from the old timeline, he did know the chapters already. Way before the author wrote them in this timeline. "What can I say? The author has a way in foreshadowing what might come next." He tried to shrug it off.

"I say it's a talent to be able to get that just be reading a few chapters." Yae went along. "I should take you as an editor too, if you'd accept the offer."

"Oh, I can't. I'm not that good." He shook his head. "Creative work is not my forte." He admitted with whole honesty.

As if on cue, the miko returned, piles of paper on her hand.

"Shame." Yae said. "I was about to offer you exclusive rights to take a peek of the current trending novels we have." She motioned to the miko.

Childe stared at the papers. "A tempting offer... but I really won't be much help if that happens. Those novels will be a success even without my input on it." He said.

It was true, the novels that he checked out before were big hits on the old timeline. It will for sure be the same in this timeline too.

"I see." Yae frowned, she then motioned for the miko to return again. The miko just bowed and did as she was told.

She then took a deep breath. "Truly a shame." She said. "But, it can't be helped." She smiled.

"I appreciate you accepting my invitation, Tartaglia, and I'm a little saddened that you refused my offer but I guess you do have other work to do as a Fatui envoy." She said, a little sarcastically. 

Childe couldn't help but laugh. "So you did know my codename." He blurted out.

Yae just smirked, teasing. "Anyway, I do have other duties to attend to as well." 

Yae began to walk her way back inside the shrine temple. "Enjoy the view. It's especially beautiful out here with the Sakura trees in full bloom."

Before she could enter, Childe turned. "How much do you know?" he asked.

Yae chuckled, not bothering to look back. "Just enough."

Then she glanced at him, eyes gleaming. "But I'd love to know what you know."

 ***

After that exchange, Childe found himself having regular "tea parties" at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Every once in a while, he would bring snacks to make it seem more like a cultural exchange. There was also a time he brought fire water, which he wasn't sure if it was allowed in a place like a shrine.

He found an unlikely ally in the shape of a sly fox. 

She would test him from time to time, checking to see if he really did have no other bad intentions. Of course she could never truly read him, she found that interesting too. She can't tell if it was him masking, or if he was just like that. Plain and simple.

Childe told her, point blank, what he intended to do on their second meeting. And that surprised Yae.

"You need someone to go to the Plane of Euthymia, right?" He just said. "If I can prove to you that I can, will you give me the Gnosis?"

Yae couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of what she just heard. It wasn't just because he was spot on, but he was confident about it too. Like, if he was questioned on how he knew, he already knows what to say.

"How did the Fatui know intel like that?" She asked.

"The Fatui doesn't. Ajax does." He said.

Chapter 14: a rift in reality

It was a huge bluff for him to say he had the means to go to the Plane of Euthymia. He never set foot in it, nor did he know where it was or how to get there.

He only heard about it through Lumine.

Everything always led back to Lumine. What did she do before? How did she do it? And if she were to do it again, how would she do it?

If there was something that he knew, it was the fact that Ei always knew about the Fatui's involvement. She knew it was bad, she knew how calculating they were. But she chose to put a blind eye on them if it meant she could pursue eternity for her people.

It would've been a good thing for the Fatui. They would've gotten away with it. 

If it weren't for Lumine.

And in this timeline, it could very well turn into the Fatui's favor. Except, that wasn't the deal Childe and Yae had.

It shouldn't matter, right? Their main goal is the Gnosis after all. And if they wanted the Gnosis, it would be smarter to please Yae's wishes than their archon's. Or so that's what Childe is convincing himself with.

"The Fatui..." Childe started, gripping the teacup in his hands. "The shogun is not going to stop them." 

"Hmm?" Yae raised an eyebrow.

"Ei knows." He mumbled, Lumine's voice echoing in his mind, recounting her time in Inazuma.

"And how did you know that she does?" Yae eyed him.

"Same way I knew you had the Gnosis." He said flatly.

Yae chuckled. "I'm supposed to believe Ajax is some all-knowing being?" She sipped her tea.

"I'm not all-knowing." He rolled his eyes. "I just happen to know some things not many people do." He said.

"That doesn't explain much." Yae set her cup down.

"I'm not the perfect soldier that can enter the Plane of Euthymia." He admitted. "Someone is more fitted than me, someone effortlessly perfect."

His gaze on his tea lingered, staring at his faint reflection as the liquid swirled around the cup. He didn't sound frustrated, just defeated.

"And where is this perfect soldier?" Yae pressed.

"Sumeru." He answered almost immediately. "Cleaning up my mess." He laughed bitterly.

Yae stared at him, no snarky remarks, no teasing, just a soft gaze on the person before her finally letting his guard down. They shared a lot of tactics in their recent meetings, never once did he falter from dancing around with words.

Yet, here he was, admitting his weakness.

"A friend of yours?" She asked.

Childe laughed softly. "Used to be." He gave the cup another swirl, clouding his reflection further. "Now... she probably hates me."

For the first time, Yae didn't know what to say. It was the first time someone was that vulnerable with her, it was almost a joke.

"Well..." Yae started, clearing her throat. "Perfect soldier or not, you don't have the luxury of messing this up." She returned to her grin.

Childe shook his head and grinned. "I know."

"Good, because if you mess it up—deal's off." Yae said. 

***

Childe played with the idea of just asking the Raiden Shogun. He thought, maybe it would be the easier route than stress himself over it. Afterall, he had no time to spare.

The longer he stayed in Inazuma, the longer he's apart from the person that keeps haunting him.

"May I speak to Ei?" He asked so casually, like he knew of the archon personally.

The silence that followed felt heavier than the air before a storm. The puppet turned to him, her expression unreadable.

"The Shogun does not entertain idle requests." Her voice was sharp, mechanical. Final.

"I need to talk to her." He said it simply. Too simply. 

"Irrelevant." The shogun turned her back on him, already done with the conversation.

Childe clicked his tongue. "It's important."

"The Fatui does not have enough luxury to be speaking to the Shogun as lightly." The Shogun glared.

"Will the Fatui have the luxury if Inazuma's quest to eternity is on the line?" He said flatly.

Shogun's glare remained unchanged. "You speak as if your presence holds significance to this nation's eternity."

"It doesn't," Childe said. His voice was steady, but his fingers twitched. "But if you knew what I knew, you'd realize you can't afford to ignore me."

She turned slowly, gaze sharp enough to cut. "And what is it you believe you know?"

"You're doing the wrong move trusting the Fatui in pursuit of eternity." He chuckled.

Shogun raised an eyebrow. "And what's that to mean, coming from a Fatui?" 

Childe leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "It means I know what happens when you let them think they can get away with anything. You've been chasing eternity, but you can't even see what's right in front of you."

His words hung in the air between them, charged with a weight far greater than any mission the Fatui could offer.

The Shogun's gaze softened, just a fraction, before her expression hardened again. "And how am I to trust a man whose hands are stained with the same blood as those he accuses?"

Childe's grin faltered for a second, a bitter edge creeping into his voice. "You don't have to trust me. I don't need your trust, just five minutes. I just need to talk to her."

***

When he opened his eyes, he was covered in cold sweat. He was surrounded by red sand, the sky darker than the night.

He's not in Teyvat. It didn't look like Teyvat. 

The only thing that grounded him was the large Torii gates that looked the same as the ones in the Grand Narukami Shrine. Aside from that, there it was just a vast area of nothingness.

"What purpose do you have to rouse me from my state of eternal meditation?" A calm voice asked. 

Just by hearing it, his whole body stiffened. He could feel it, the presence of a god. 

He turned around and was greeted by Inazuma's current archon, Ei. "I assumed that the Fatui does not constitute a threat to eternity, it seems I am proven wrong." She glared.

"The Vision Hunt Decree-"

"Is something the Fatui wanted, is it not?" Ei cut him off. "I let them roam free since it does not get in the way of the pursuit of eternity."

"It's useless, the Fatui is giving out Delusions in replacement for Visions. Inazuma is in a far worse state than it was." Childe told her, bluntly. "Unless your eternity includes Inazuma without its people, you're on the wrong path."

Ei paused, processing what he just said. "And why is a Fatui telling me this?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Because this Fatui is sick of scheming to get things that they want." He admitted.

"And what is it to you that you have to entangle yourself with Inazuma's affairs?" Ei crossed her arms.

Childe paused for a moment. Why? He didn't have any answer to that. He didn't have ties with Inazuma in the first place. He never had.

"Because someone who cared about this place would've done the same thing." He said. "I heard that when visions get stripped away, their ambition goes with it."

"Ambition has no place in eternity. It will only meddle with the chances." Ei said.

"Ambition is the only reason why I'm here right now." He said. 

Ei observed him carefully, noticing the blue vision on his side. Hydro. "I assume as a Fatui, you have a Delusion too."

"Anything to make me strong." He said. 

"Foolishness." She muttered.

"Celestia thinks otherwise." Childe retorted, making Ei flinch. 

"Abolish the Vision Hunt Decree if you want Inazuma to survive. You'll never know when Celestia will suddenly unleash their wrath again." He said, his tone serious as the images of the cold war flashed in his head.

"What bearing does your confidence come from?" Ei asked.

"I've lived this world before." He finally revealed. It wasn't his intention, but with his lack of cards to put on the table, this time, he really didn't have a choice. "And you managed to achieve a healthier eternity for Inazuma when you finally let the people live as they are intended to. As they wanted to." 

"Who's to say you're lying?" Ei asked.

"Who's to say I'm not?" He shot back.

Ei took a deep breath. "If you're trying to persuade me through cunning words, I'm afraid you'll have to think of a better method." She said. "You've wasted my time long enough. Begone."

And with the blink of an eye, he was back to where he was standing. In front of the Shogun, who just eyed him, judging him and every action he made.

He just clicked his tongue and walked away. Perhaps the Guuji would've been a better fit to talk to her in the first place.

 

Chapter 15: duality of man

"So you taunted her with the mention of Celestia?" Yae looked at Childe, amused, before letting out a fit of laughter. "That's pretty bold for a mortal."

"It seems to have shaken her though." He said, shrugging. "But I think I fucked all my chances on speaking with her again after that."

Yae snorted. "No kidding." She said. "Guess you weren't kidding about not being the perfect soldier."

"Maybe not in a non-combat position." Childe raised his cup, making Yae laugh once more. 

"You are as brave as you are dumb." She said, flipping through the book in front of her.

"I like to call it goal-oriented." Childe shrugged once more, shifting on his seat.

"And your Fatui accomplices don't find it odd that your pursuit of those goals includes frequenting the shrine?" Yae teased.

"Signora thinks she's close to the Gnosis." Childe said, glancing at Yae. "Should I tell her how wrong she is?"

Yae smiled, a calculated one. "If you want competition."

Childe scoffed. "She won't bite your taunts." He laughed. "She's too blinded by her own self-image."

"What's with the pursuit of the Gnosis, anyway?" Yae finally asked, her curiosity leaking through.

Childe raised an eyebrow. "You mean for the Fatui?" He asked.

"No." Yae closed her book, leaning in to face him. "I mean, to Ajax."

Childe paused for a moment before laughing. "Well, I didn't expect that personal of a question from you."

"You're asking to take a personal belonging from me, I think it will be a fair trade." She said. Childe's back stiffened, understanding the weight of the question.

He then took a deep breath, fingers tightening around the ceramic cup. "Getting the Gnosis means I get to see my friend again." He said.

Yae raised an eyebrow. "The perfect soldier?"

Childe gave her a weak smile. "Yeah."

Yae huffed. "Seems to me like she's more than a friend to have you go to these lengths. Did the Fatui get in the way between you two?"

Childe squirmed on his seat a little. "I guess you can say that."

Yae hummed. "Well, I guess if you can help me one last time... I'll hand it to you." She said. "The Gnosis."

Childe looked at her, eyes gleaming. "I'll give it my all."

Yae smirked and stood up. "Excellent. Then you better get training." She said. "I'll turn you into a perfect soldier myself."

***

Lumine thought having memories from the old timeline would help her get through her mission faster. She didn't expect it to hurt this much.

There was this heaviness in her chest every time she ran into someone she used to know. People she considered friends. Now she had to pretend—had to remind herself she was still a stranger to them. And then try to push past that anyway. Start over. Make new bonds.

At first, she turned it into a game. How long will it take before they like me again?

It stopped being fun when people started looking at her weird. Too friendly. Too eager. She didn't realize how much easier things used to be with Paimon around until she had to do it all without her.

Still, she kept going.

They didn't have to remember her. As long as they could tell she meant well—that was enough.

"Lumine, I've already contacted Nilou about the plan. Should we proceed?" Tighnari asked in a hushed tone.

Jnagarbha Day. The final phase of the plan. This was the make or break. She can't mess this up, not again. 

Jnagarbha Day is the perfect day for infiltration, so if they do mess it up, they're done for.

"I'll go tell Al Haitham." Lumine nodded, running to her position.

Just like last time, they just barged into the Akademiya. Al Haitham also did the same spiel, letting the person that stopped them come to their own conclusion as to why Al Haitham was with an unknown traveler barging in the Akademiya like it was nothing.

And just as planned, they were confronted by the Grand Sage, ending to Lumine's capture. 

It's time to wake her up. The very person she came to Sumeru for. Nahida.

"Nahida!" She called out. No response. 

"Nahida wake up!" She called again.

She walked over, a faint glimmer catching her attention. A bubble. She forgot there was a barrier there.

Lumine took a deep breath, and with all her might, she used the power that was lent to her. "It's been a while since I used this, I might be a little rusty." She muttered before conjuring up a ball of air. "Windblaaaaade!" She screamed as she pushed it directly on the barrier.

"Nahida! Nahida, I'm right here!" She kept yelling as she continued to break through the barrier.

Shatter. It was like glass breaking, the barrier was gone. "Nahida?" Lumine called out, softly.

"Lumine..." Nahida stared at her in surprise. "Did you wake me up? Why are you here?" She asked. 

"We're here to rescue you. Are you alright?" She asked, a sense of deja vu washing over her. This was the exact same thing she told her in the old timeline too.

"I'm fine." Nahida nodded. "It's just..." She looked down. "When I think of everything that's happened to me. I feel really angry now." 

Lumine smiled. "You should." She let out a soft laugh. "You should've been angry ages ago." 

***

It scared Lumine a bit, how far along the Akademiya's god creation plan has been going. How different was it from before? How much further did Dottore get this time?

Is Scaramouche still part of the project this time along?

Lumine was worried. A part of her wanted him to not be there, but she knows that Scaramouche needs it. She knows that his participation in this Fatui ploy in Sumeru is what eventually leads to his redemption.

To his rebirth. To him finding a new family with Nahida, a love that he never got to receive in his long painful life. And the new purpose that he gave Nahida in return. 

Lumine didn't know if it will stay play out that way, given that the Gnosis that Dottore acquired was from Childe, not Scaramouche.

"This is heavy." She muttered, her heart pounding in her chest as she threaded her way through Dottore's laboratory.

It seemed different. The place was more guarded than before, which makes sense because she already did a number on it when she first infiltrated. Then there was also when Childe came to her rescue.

She didn't know what Childe did specifically to get there. Knowing Childe though, he probably destroyed everything in his path just to get to her.

"I care because I remember you, and how I loved you even before." His voice echoed in her head.

Loved. Did he mean to say it in past tense?

Did he say all that just to make her stay for longer? Was it a ploy?

She hated how it stuck with her. She walked away first, yet here she was clinging to his confession.

If he wanted her to stay so badly, why didn't he come and find her? Why didn't he just come with her in the first place?

Why is he the one she's thinking of at that moment?

"Lumine, I think we're close." Nahida snapped her back, finally realizing where they were.

Lumine's breath hitched. "Not quite." She stared at the facility around them. Where she got caught before being imprisoned. "I think this is the wrong way." 

"Indeed it is." A voice from behind them said.

Lumine shot her head to the direction, instantly conjuring up her sword into position.

"Looks like someone just can't help but stick their nose on other people's business." Dottore laughed, before turning to Nahida. His smile disappeared instantly.

"You're not supposed to be here." His cold voice said.

"You're the one who doesn't belong here." Lumine shot back.

Dottore laughed once more. "Playing the knight in shining armor, are we?" He asked. "Don't forget, you failed the first time you went here."

Nahida turned to Lumine, who just clicked her tongue. "I'm not-" Lumine started but was cut off.

"Should I expect that your boyfriend will come to your rescue again?" Dottore looked around. "Or did you ignore him like you ignored our deal?"

Lumine just stood there, frozen. Why couldn't she move? She had no idea. It's like her own body was betraying her that moment.

"Whatever." Dottore shrugged. "Looks like we can test our little experiment earlier than intended."

And with a clap from Dottore, a loud mechanical sound began to echo through the whole facility. Lumine began to look around, finding the source from below. Looks like they were a few floors off from finding the false god.

Dottore began to walk away, laughing maniacally. "Good luck."

 

Chapter 16: cold sweat

The smell of oil, rust, and a faint scent of blood covered the trail that Nahida and Lumine traversed as they headed to the lower level. They saw a few Fatui guarding the way, but it was lesser than what Lumine expected.

Did they all flock near the entrance?

But the lower floor was where the valuable experiment was. It made no sense. Unless someone went ahead and cleared a path for them... But who?

They had no time to question it. Less guards, less struggle. That's what Lumine focused on.

The fewer the fight they have to engage in, the sooner they can get to the false god.

Normally, one would question the convenience of it all. But knowing the arrogance of Dottore, it was probably intended that way. Or at least, that's how Lumine framed it.

She had no time to linger on the details when the very thing they came to stop was being set in motion.

There were hints of Scaramouche being chosen as the false god of Sumeru, the visions from the scholar Lumine and Tighnari was with being one of them. But Lumine still couldn't help but wonder if he was the one that came through.

The butterfly effect that might have been caused by Dottore's acquisition of the Geo Gnosis still worried Lumine.

The effect did show.

They came across Dottore on their way. That didn't happen in the old timeline. Because of Dottore's appearance, everything was kickstarted a little earlier than intended.

The false god didn't start up until they were there face-to-face with it.

Everything was not as it went out before. Who's to say that the experiment had a different pilot?

"Lumine, are you okay?" Nahida asked as they ran to their target.

"Yep, never better." Lumine faked a smile, trying not to show her nervousness. But even with the best of her effort, Nahida could tell.

"I'm guessing you already know who we're about to face?" Nahida asked.

Lumine took a deep breath as they waited for the door to open. "Well, I hope I do."

***

"I'm guessing deal's off?" Dottore asked the bloodstained intruder who had his blue eyes glowing in anger.

"It's fair game if I'm not pointing the sword toward you specifically, right?" He grinned, wiping off some of the blood on his sleeve.

"Didn't think you'd be the one looking for loopholes on this. I thought you didn't care about the Geo Gnosis." Dottore chuckled. "You did immediately offer it up in exchange for her."

"Hah. If I knew you were creating your own god, the Tsaritsa wouldn't like me to hand it to you either." Childe scoffed.

"Like you know what the Tsaritsa wants." Dottore mocked. "I heard about your request. And how it was declined."

Childe just gave him a glare. "Yeah. It was declined. That's why the deal's off."

Dottore just laughed. "Is that it really?" He taunted. "Or is it because your little princess refused to stay with you?"

Childe couldn't say anything, he could only glare. He was right, Lumine didn't stay with him. Lumine chose to go back.

"That's not really my fault if your card ended back to my deck." Dottore shrugged.

"I'm just here to make sure she doesn't get hurt." Childe admitted.

Dottore stared at him, amused. "Hmm." He smirked. "And I'm just here to make sure my experiment goes well."

***

Lumine felt more relieved than nervous when she realized that it still was Scaramouche behind the giant mechanical suit. It was like all her worries earlier was given a solution.

Now all she had to do was retrace her old steps to defeat him.

Easy enough, right?

"Here, he'll help you." Nahida handed her a small companion. The same one she had when she first faced Scaramouche in the old timeline.

And without wasting much time, their match started.

She did struggle a bit at the first few minutes, but once she found her rhythm, it came to her like how dancing came to Nilou.

In record time, she managed to outsmart him. Perhaps it was because his moves were already familiar to her. And just like before, she managed to defeat him.

Just like clockwork, Nahida approached Scaramouche. The moment that Lumine thought would be taken from Scaramouche.

The start of their friendship. Their companionship.

Lumine couldn't help but smile. They did it. They rescued Nahida and foiled the Akademiya's plan on creating a false god.

Was it finally over?

"Let's go." Nahida held Lumine's hand. "Somewhere safer."

***

"Looks like it's your loss." The two observed as Lumine and Nahida walked away from the facility with the Geo Gnosis in hand.

Dottore huffed. "I guess it's back to the drawing board for that."

"You're still going to try again?" Childe looked at him, surprised.

"One failure shouldn't be enough to halt my vision for greatness." Dottore laughed. "Well played, I can see why you like her so much now." He offered a hand.

Childe just glared at him.

"Relax, I'm not gonna go after her like a petty animal. I know how to take my losses well." Dottore rolled his eyes. "Besides, the Dendro Archon probably has a target on my back already. I'm taking my business elsewhere."

Childe raised an eyebrow, still keeping his mouth shut.

Dottore, noticing Childe's lack of initiative to converse with him, sighed and waved his hand. "See you in the next meeting." He began to walk away.

***

"Lumine... Did you ask for other back-ups when we went to Dottore's laboratory?" Nahida asked.

Lumine's eyebrows furrowed. "No, why?"

Nahida paused, her hand resting on her chin. "I see." She muttered. "Then it must have been an unlikely ally that aided us." She said.

"What?" Lumine asked, surprised of what she was hearing. "You saw someone else in the facilities?"

"Just a glimpse. I saw them get ahead of us." Nahida said. Then the next words that she added cleared every suspension Lumine had. "They cleared a path for us."

Lumine's breath hitched. She doesn't think any of the Sumeru gang would just barge in Fatui facility if it wasn't part of the plan.

She only knew one person who was boldfaced enough to barge in there on their own. Someone who will not hesitate to fight even those who should be his allies on paper.

"I think I know who it is."

 

Chapter 17: electrocharged

Childe found himself hiding by a nearby bush, watching as Lumine and Nahida finally returned to the surface. To safety.

It was only then that he could breathe easier.

A small smile instantly crept to his face as he watched them walk to a nearby bench to catch their breaths. Perhaps he should've done the same first.

He felt like it was more highstakes than Yae Miko's intensive training. It was like he zoomed by the last few days, the days leading up to when he finally got the Electro Gnosis.

Yae even joked about how much more passionate he looked the closer he got to the Gnosis. There was a teasing tone to it. She knew the Gnosis was just a prerequisite. There was something else he was looking forward to. Or rather, someone else.

Perhaps that was the reason Yae trusted him enough to hand the Gnosis to him. He wasn't in it for the power. It was for something deeper than that.

When he finally finished the Inazuma mission, he didn't waste any time. He headed straight to Sumeru. Straight to Lumine.

And he was just in time for Jnagarbha Day. He had to refrain himself from helping out, worrying that it might mess up Lumine's plan. That was the last thing he wanted.

Then he overheard. They were going back to Dottore's lab. That's when he couldn't just stay idle.

He had to intervene some way. Or at least help out. Even just a little bit.

And help he did.

"I think I know who it is." He heard Lumine say, sending shivers down his spine. He noticed her looking around so he just hid himself better.

I don't think I can face her just yet. I haven't earn that right. That's what he told himself.

"But I'm not sure if it's really him." He heard Lumine add.

Childe pursed his lips. Was she talking about him? He wasn't sure. He hoped she was.

He hoped that despite the fact that they fought before parting, she'd still want him to be there for her. Otherwise, she'll just be mad at him again for interfering.

Childe sighed and sat on the grass, staring at the stains of his clothes. They were now dried.

The blood of other Fatui soldiers. He made sure to not badly injure them, but he had no choice but not hold back on the others.

Panic makes you do more bad decisions.

"Are you okay?" A gloved hand appeared in front of him, making him lean back.

He looked up and saw a young girl with green hair. Her purple eyes conveying a look of concern.

"You look like you're injured. Do you need help?" She asked.

Childe instantly shook his head. "No no. I'm fine. Thank you." He said, standing up.

"It's... Not mine." He muttered to himself, eyes landing on the bloodstains once more.

"Oh..." Was all the girl could say.

It was only then that Childe realized the attention they were gaining. "I should go." He excused himself before retreating back to the shadows.

He could've sworn she saw him, but he didn't take his time to check. If she really did, then checking will only make her recognize him more.

Damn, just when he said he didn't want to reveal himself yet.

***

Childe didn't really have a place to stay at in Sumeru. He came on his own. Without a chaperone, without his assistant, without any Fatui ties.

So after running away from the crowd, all he could go to was at the north of Sumeru city. By the water, he sat peacefully as he tried to wash off the stains on his uniform.

He was silently cursing himself for not hiding well enough. He knew there were better places to hide himself, but none of those spots gave him a better look of Lumine.

It was a risk that he took and now regret.

He watched as the clear water temporarily turned red as he dipped his glove in.

It's gonna take a while to clean his sleeves.

He sighed and removed his gloves, setting one beside him as he washed the other.

"You do know that counts as vandalism right?" A familiar voice said from behind, making him freeze up. He didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

Childe's breath hitched before finally facing her.

Blonde hair. Amber eyes. Blue and white flower. Lumine.

"Did you miss me already?" Childe said, the grin coming a second too late to look natural.

Lumine didn't answer immediately. She simply stepped closer. "Where have you been?"

Childe looked away, trying to keep himself busy by wringing out the glove he was cleaning before Lumine showed up. "Inazuma." He lied as he cleaned the blood off the glove he was holding.

Lumine hummed before sitting beside him. "Another mission?" She asked.

He paused. "Yeah." He muttered under his breath before wringing out the glove.

He then turned to Lumine. They both met eyes for a moment, but both of them immediately looked away.

It's been weeks since they last saw each other. Well, for Lumine that is. Childe saw Lumine earlier by helping her in the backgrounds, but this was their first real interaction since they parted.

It was the first time they're speaking again since they had a huge argument.

Childe wasn't sure why Lumine approached him. Honestly, Lumine wasn't sure either. She just... knew. The moment the thought crossed her mind—that Childe might be in Sumeru—she couldn't let it go.

And now here they were.

As much as she wanted to talk about where they left off, it felt too awkward to bring it up. Sure it's the first time they're talking to each other, but it has been weeks since then. She doesn't even feel any grudges about it, bringing it up would just feel odd.

"... How's Ei?" She asked, trying to strike up a conversation. 

Childe paused for a moment. "Better. She reunited with Yae." Childe said with a small smile. "Yae convinced her to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree."

Lumine nodded. "Good." She muttered. Another pause, her eyes following a falling leaf as she tried to bear the silence. "And Signora?"

Childe hummed. "Probably on her way back to Snezhnaya." He laughed. "She was pissed she didn't get the Gnosis."

Lumine looked at him, confused.

"Don't worry. I won't trade it out anymore." He joked.

Lumine looked at him wide-eyed. "You have it?" She asked.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?" Childe asked back.

"How-"

"Yae gave it to me." Childe answered before Lumine could finish the question.

"I didn't use brute force if that's what you're worried about." Childe looked away, setting down the other glove to dry.

He then sighed and adjusted his sitting position to straighten his leg. "If you don't trust me with it, I can hand it to you." There was a tint of sadness when he said that. He said it a little too quickly, offering it a little too eagerly. 

Their last argument about the Geo Gnosis was still eating at him. If she was still mad about it, he wouldn't blame her. 

Lumine didn't say anything. She just watched as Childe leaned back, hands on the grass, eyes staring at the scenery around them.

But that wasn't what Lumine thought of. No, she wasn't focused on the fact that she thought Childe couldn't be trusted. It was the thought that Childe was offering it to her so easily. 

"But I thought you wanted to get stronger?" Lumine asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Childe's eyes glistened for a moment, a tint of sadness showing. "I thought so too."

Lumine also looked at the direction he was looking at, hugging her legs tightly to her chest. Like if she didn't, her heart might slip out.

Quite the opposite of Childe, whose open posture made it seem like he's letting her see all of him. Like he has nothing to hide anymore.

"What changed?" She asked.

Childe gripped on the grass and let out a low chuckle. "I don't know." He lied, that was the one thing he can't admit just yet. But he knew. He knew too well what changed.

He knew he changed.

If it's for the better or for worse, that he wasn't sure of. All he knew is that his priority isn't his obsession with getting stronger anymore.

"Will you be staying around for long?" Lumine asked, glancing at Childe with longing eyes.

Childe took a deep breath before finally facing her with a small smile. "Only if you'd let me."

 

Chapter 18: a breather

"Lumine, you're back." Nahida waved. Lumine gave a weak smile, waving back. "I was wondering why you suddenly left." 

Nahida's gaze shifted to the man trailing behind Lumine, fidgeting uncomfortably with his clothes. For a moment, they met eyes and he just gave an awkward smile before returning his gaze back on his clothes.

"The boyfriend." Nahida blurted out.

"What?" Lumine instantly flushed. She didn't think Nahida remembered that off comment.

Nahida just let out a small chuckle and shook her head. She didn't say anything else, just looked at Lumine then Childe before turning to Collei.

"Is he the one you were talking about earlier?" Nahida asked.

Collei's eyes sparkled in amusement. "Yes. How did you know?" She asked. "Is this the true power of the Dendro Archon?" She asked.

Nahida laughed and shook her head. "I think he just matched the description you gave."

Childe looked at their direction out of curiosity, noticing who Nahida was with. "Oh. The girl from earlier." He muttered. 

Collei awkwardly waved. "Sorry for startling you earlier." She lightly bowed her head. 

Childe shook his head, mirroring her bow. "No, sorry for running off." Lumine let out a soft giggle, making him look at her with confusion.

"Don't worry about it Collei, he just panics when he gets caught." Lumine joked. 

Childe's eyebrows furrowed. "No I don't." He argued, but was ignored.

"You know him?" Collei asked, curious. Lumine turned to Childe then back to Collei and smiled. "Yep."

It wasn't long until they were joined by the other Sumeru Gang, congratulating them about a job well done. A place Childe never thought he'd end up in — not if he'd managed to stay hidden.

After their short celebration, they decided to call it a day. Everyone was understandably tired. It was an adventure filled day for everyone.

"Where are you staying at the moment?" Lumine turned to Childe before the gang dispersed.

Childe paused, unable to think of a place. He didn't know what to say, he wasn't as knowledgeable of Sumeru, especially not in this timeline. "I'm still looking." He answered honestly.

Lumine glanced at Tighnari, who was on his way with Collei, then back to Childe. She was supposed to come with them, but after a short contemplation she sighed. "I'll book us a room." 

***

"This is my side, you take that one." Lumine pointed to the bed directly across hers. 

Childe looked at her with a bit of confusion in his eyes. "We're sharing a room?" He asked, a bit amused.

"You don't want to?" Lumine raised an eyebrow as she fluffed her pillow, her eyes glued on Childe.

Childe laughed, shaking his head. "No. I'm just surprised." He said. Must have been the last available room, he thought to himself. 

"So, should I head to the shower first or are you going in?" He asked, taking off his jacket, revealing his maroon quarter sleeve shirt. He set it down a nearby chair and sighed. He then turned to Lumine, who still had her eyes on him.

"If you keep staring, I'll melt." He joked.

Lumine paused for a moment before rolling her eyes. She then turned her attention back to the pillow she was holding. "Go take a shower, you reek of Fatui." 

Childe laughed. "Sorry for bringing that stench then." He said, taking off his gloves and setting it down the same place. "Do they give laundry services here?" He asked.

"I think the blood on that jacket will freak out anyone who'll see it." Lumine commented. "I borrowed some clothes from Al Haitham, I think you should be the same size."

"Looks like you made some new friends here." Childe said, heading to the bathroom door.

Lumine let out a soft chuckle. "Just reunited with them. I don't know if new is the right word."

Childe noticed her sad gaze and decided not to press. "Well, I'll go try out if it fits me." He said, before finally entering the bathroom.

"Okay." Lumine replied. 

Then the sound of water running echoed in the room as Lumine sat on the edge of the bed. In her moment of silence, she found herself staring at the jacket that Childe just took off.

It was filled with a mixture of dirt, blood, and a bit of oil. That's going to be a nightmare to clean. She then turned to her own clothes, same stain, same difficultly to clean. Probably even more difficult on her case, at least Childe's jacket was grey, her dress was white.

She sighed and began to take it off, leaving on her underclothes. A black leotard and her bloomers. She then reached for the robes left in their room and instantly covered herself with it.

Another pause, her eyes landing on his jacket once more, realizing the proximity that she put them in. She's back to sharing a space with him, and this time she chose to have that. Part of her wonders if she should tell Childe that she chose the room herself, but another part wants to keep it to herself.

At least if she doesn't say, she's not admitting how badly she wants him to stay close.

Childe might've opened himself to her, but she doesn't know if she's ready to accept all of him. Not yet.

Lumine sighed and shook her head, like it would shake off the thoughts away. She then grabbed her and Childe's and put it on a basket. To keep her mind off the current situation, she just diverted elsewhere. If she washes their clothes now and dry it up with her anemo powers, it should be good to wear again. At least that was her plan. 

She'll do it tomorrow. For now, she was too tired to do that labor.

She then returned to the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall.

"Hey... uh... can you hand me a towel?" Childe peeked out the door, his drenched hair dripping water on the floor as a small steam came out the bathroom.

Lumine turned to him with surprise. "Uh, yeah. Sorry. I forgot to put one there." She jumped off the bed and grabbed a towel from a cabinet.

She shyly walked over the door, eyes struggling to not look at Childe and his current state. A small tint of red crept to her face as she handed the towel.

"Thanks." Childe quickly grabbed it before closing the door once more.

Lumine sighed, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She began to question her own decision. Why did she choose to share a room with him in the first place?

Not long after, Childe emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing the clothes he was lent, a black skin tight top and black pants. Lumine was right, it did fit him.

"Your turn." He said, wiping his hair with the towel aggressively as he walked to his bed.

"Sorry I took long, it took a while to work out the water heating thing." Childe said. "It should be good now though, I tried to get it to the temperature you liked after I finished."

Lumine looked at him a bit surprised. "Thanks." She muttered. She didn't think he'd remember that.

It was like Childe was operating on the same wavelength they left off before. Back when the whole timeline mess hasn't happened yet.

Perhaps it was because they were sharing a space again.

Lumine shook her head. That's a reach.

"That's just Childe being his usual flirty self." She told herself. 

Still, she couldn't help but smile at the small gesture.

***

After freshening up, both Childe and Lumine headed to bed. There was silence in the room, like both was just trying hard to fall asleep. 

But the silence wasn't the comfortable kind. There was just too many unsaid things that hung in the air, it made it hard to find peace in that quiet.

"You didn't get hurt earlier, did you?" Childe asked, finally breaking the silence as he stared into the ceiling.

"No." Lumine answered, a bit dismissive. Another short pause. "Did you?" She asked, this time, more inviting. Concern evident in her voice.

"No." Childe said softly.

"Good." He heard her mutter.

Suddenly, the air didn't feel as thick. It felt a little more comfortable.

"I didn't think you'd come." Lumine blurted out, turning to Childe's side.

"Why?" Childe asked, surprised.

Lumine paused, hand gripping on her pillow. "Because I was the one that walked away." 

Childe let out a small chuckle. "That never stopped me before. Why would it stop me now?"

Lumine gave a small smile, even though Childe wouldn't see in the dark. "Flirt." She muttered, hugging her pillow tightly.

Another laugh. Childe shifted on his bed, facing Lumine too. There was a considerable distance between them, they we nowhere near arm's length, yet it felt like the small shift made them closer.

"I'm serious though." He said, his voice not faltering. "I'm here to stay. Are you?"

Chapter 19: his circumstance

"Lumine. Lumine please wake up." Childe cried. It was starting again. The dream... Or rather, his nightmare.

"Lumine. Please." His words echoed in his mind as he watched himself struggle. "I'm sorry. I couldn't make it fast enough."

"Please..." He cried louder.

It played in his mind like a broken record. Twisting a knife in his heart as he tried his best not to do the same thing he did last time.

It was a dream. He was aware of it. He thought that maybe, at least in his dream, he could change her fate.

"Someone! Anyone! Help!" He yelled, looking around. "Anyone!" He yelled once more, his voice cracking at the end.

He didn't want to look. But that was part of it, he couldn't just change what happened. Not in that memory.

"No. Lumine..." His shaky voice called out once more. "Please... Don't leave me."

"Childe." He froze at the sound. That's her voice. He can't mistake it for anyone else. That was her.

"Lumine." He called out, his voice shaky. The setting has changed. No longer was he in the wasteland that is his nightmare.

But he was in the middle of nowhere still, with nothing but darkness around him. "Lumine." He called again, this time reaching his hand out.

"Childe wake up." She said.

"What?" He looked around, confused.

"Wake up." She repeated. "Childe, WAKE UP."

His eyes shot open, gasping for air. He was drenched in sweat and tears, shaking from the experience he just had.

Then he noticed he figure before him. Lumine. She was leaning toward him, staring at him with a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay?" She asked, holding his hand tightly.

Childe's breath hitched, realizing where they were. Sumeru. He's in Sumeru. He's with Lumine.

She's right there. Really right there. With him.

He sat up and instantly pulled her into a hug, tears still streaming down his face. "Please tell me I'm not dreaming anymore." He said.

He was still shaking. His voice, his body.

"It's okay. I'm right here." Lumine patted his back gently. "You're not dreaming anymore." She said in a hushed tone.

Childe stayed quiet, letting it all in. Her voice, her warmth, her presence. He just gripped on her tighter as he tried to control his breath.

For a moment, they stayed like that, in a warm embrace as the moonlight shone on them.

They didn't say anything. Childe's soft sobbing filled the room as Lumine kept on caressing his back. Trying her best to calm him.

"I'm sorry." Childe's voice cracked. "Please... Don't leave me."

***

Childe woke up with the sun shining directly on his face, almost blinding him with the brightness. He furrowed his eyebrows and blocked it with his hand before he sat up the bed.

"Good morning." Lumine greeted, a cup of coffee on her hand, sitting cross legged on the edge of her bed.

"Morning." Childe mumbled.

Lumine just hummed, setting down her cup on her bedside table. "Breakfast is on the table. You should eat up." She said. "There's coffee too, it should be warm by now though."

Childe yawned before doing a stretch. "Thanks." He said, sitting at the edge of his bed too. 

For a moment, they had eye-contact. Childe just cleared his throat and stood up. "Did you eat your breakfast?" He asked, walking to the table.

"Mhm." Lumine nodded.

Then a pause. There was silence in the room, both refusing to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Lumine looked tired, Childe's eyes were bloodshot, still, they refused to address what happened that night. Lumine wanted to ask what his dream was about. Why he was crying. Why he held her like that when he woke up.

What he meant when he was crying in her arms.

"This is a lot of food." Childe laughed awkwardly, trying to break the silence. 

Lumine didn't say anything, she just continued to drink her coffee.

Childe cleared his throat again before silently eating his food. He could sense it, Lumine's sharp gaze on him. He knew she's waiting. Waiting for his explanation, but he doesn't even know when to start and how to unpack it.

"Childe-"

"I'm sorry." He cut her off. Lumine paused, looking at him with a soft expression. "I probably woke you up last night."

Lumine let out a soft chuckle. "That's what you're worried about?" She asked, amusement evident in her voice. "Seriously, it's like I don't know you anymore." She put her cup down again and crossed her arms as she faced Childe.

 "I don't care about-" She started, but then caught herself and sighed. "What- why were you crying? What were you dreaming about?"

Childe paused, thinking of the right words to say. If there were right words to say. "You." His voice cracked. 

Lumine froze. Her? It never fails to catch her off-guard whenever he says that. Especially when he sounds so hurt whenever that happens.

"If you're joking, it's not funny." Lumine said.

Childe let out a soft laugh. "I wouldn't joke about that." He said, his eyes suddenly beginning to water as the image of his earlier dream flashed in his mind. "I'd never joke about that." He choked.

"Was it a bad dream?" Lumine asked, something in her heart tugged. She was scared of what he'll say, but she felt like she had to ask.

"Worse." Childe looked at her, but it felt like he wasn't exactly looking at her. It's like he was seeing a version of her that she isn't what she is. Isn't who she is. 

Maybe it was someone who she used to be. Somehow that stung more.

"Should I be worried?" She asked, noticing the tears threatening to fall on Childe's eyes.

Childe's breath hitched. "No." He said. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen."

"Should I know what you mean?" Lumine furrowed her eyebrows.

Childe looked away. "Probably. But not now." He said, barely a whisper. "Not yet."

"Is it part of the reason why you didn't tell me right away that you remembered me?" Lumine asked, clearly hurt.

"I'm sorry." Childe just repeated. He didn't have to say yes, but Lumine understood. So she just nodded. "Okay."

Then another short silence. As much as Childe wanted to fill the silence, he didn't know what to say. The air still felt heavy. No amount of joking will come through it that moment.

He quickly finished his food, tidying up the plates and cutlery on the tray before returning on his bed. They met eyes for a moment and exchanged smiles before looking away. 

"You look good on those." Lumine spoke up.

"Hmm?" Childe furrowed his eyebrows.

"You fit Al Haitham's clothes surprisingly well." She teased. 

Childe looked down and remembered his change in wardrobe. He then chuckled. "You didn't ask for his clothes so you can check me out on them, did you?" He raised an eyebrow.

Lumine's cheeks flushed. "No." She said, in a rather defensive tone, making Childe laugh again.

"No, you're right though. Fits me well. Shows all my assets in the best way." He grinned.

Lumine rolled her eyes, looking at every direction but his way. "Okay show-off." She muttered. She could feel Childe's teasing smile even without looking.

"I'll go wash our clothes." She stood up, holding up a hand to cover her periphery of Childe's direction.

"I'll help-"

"No. I can handle it. Stay there." She pointed at him, finally facing him. That moment, she instantly noticed Childe's smug look. "What?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"You're blushing."

 

Chapter 20: her circumstance

"We're going to hold a feast at the Grand Bazaar and celebrate Cyno's reinstatement as the General Mahamatra! As heroes of Sumeru, please be sure to attend. I'll wait for you." Said the letter from Nilou.

Lumine received it two days before the event. She spent the days leading to it checking up on her Sumeru peers, making sure they'll come. Childe happily accompanied her with that.

"Is this how you and Paimon did back when you first saved Sumeru?" Childe asked.

"More or less." Lumine laughed as they walked their way back to Caravan Ribat. They just finished talking to Cyno and Cadance in Aaru Village and were planning to pass some time in Caravan Ribat before heading to the Grand Bazaar.

"I could imagine her complaining about how hot the desert is." Childe joked. 

"Oh, you have no idea." Lumine rolled her eyes. "It's either 'Paimon's thirsty' or 'Paimon's hungry'." She tried imitating Paimon's voice, only to fail spectacularly when she burst out laughing.

"Well, Childe's thirsty." Childe turned to her.

"Don't-" Lumine put out her hand. "It doesn't suit you." She snorted.

The two has significantly grown closer. In the past days that they've spent together, it was like they just slowly clicked into the old banter that they used to have. It was nice being able to talk about the old timeline freely.

Granted, some topics still felt like walking on eggshells to tackle, but having a choice to talk about the other topics was surely a load off their shoulder. Some topics just got lighter the more they talked about it though. Paimon specifically.

At first, Lumine would tense up when talking about her. But the more she and Childe brought her up, the lighter she felt about it.

It was mostly Childe always bringing up positives that Lumine was able to cope about the loss of her best friend.

Perhaps it's not in a sense of moving on, you never truly move on from that, you only learn how to live with the feeling.

"It's impressive how you managed to save to Sumeru twice. Twice." Childe said.

"I wouldn't have had to save it a second time if it weren't for a certain someone." Lumine crossed her arms.

Childe raised his hands up. "I'm sorry. I'll find a way to repent for the Sumeru people." He said. "Maybe have their hero fight me or something."

Lumine chuckled and rolled her eyes. She walked over to him and gave him a light punch. "Like that's a punishment for you?" She raised an eyebrow.

Childe just grinned. "I'll be repenting during the sparring session." He said.

Lumine just shook her head.

"Well, you can spar with me in your imaginations." She began to walk ahead. "I, for one, would be eating lunch."

"Wow, it's like I'm speaking with Yae." He joked, following her right after.

"Sounds like you two got closer in your time in Inazuma." Lumine raised an eyebrow.

"Me and Yae? We were practically besties." He bragged.

Lumine scoffed. "Yeah right."

"You can ask her yourself." He said smugly. "I have the Gnosis to prove it." He whispered in her ear.

Lumine pulled away and gave him a look. "Okay show-off."

***

At the Grand Bazaar, Childe found himself mingling with Lumine's friends. Since he accompanied Lumine during the invitation of her friends, he was able to grow a little closer to them. At least close enough to be able to open up a conversation.

"So... Al Haitham, enjoying the party so far?" Childe approached the fellow with a familiar outfit.

Al Haitham looked at him for a moment before giving a short nod. "Atmosphere here is quite good." He answered.

"Yeah, very lively." Childe agreed. "Didn't think you'd be the type to enjoy this. You seem more like you'd enjoy quiet better."

Al Haitham smiled. "I quite like celebrations like this. When people truly enjoy it from the bottom of their hearts, you'll feel it too." He said.

Childe nodded. "I get what you mean." He stared at Lumine, watching her socialize with the other guests. Al Haitham followed his gaze, a thought forming in his mind.

"So, how long have you been friends with Lumine?" He asked.

Childe paused for a moment. He turned to Al Haitham and then back to Lumine. "A while." He said.

"Hmm." Al Haitham hummed. "I'm surprised she had friends outside of Sumeru. I thought she was just a lonely soul that wandered off here." He said bluntly.

"A lonely soul?" Childe furrowed his eyebrows.

"Not dissing on her or anything, but she just seemed a little too eager to make friends when she got here." Al Haitham said.

"That's totally dissing her." Cyno chimed in. "But I get what you mean, I was suspicious of her when she first approached me too."

Childe stared at them, waiting for them to elaborate. "Eager to make friends?" Childe asked. "That's an interesting way to call friendly."

"Oh, she's friendly." Cyno nodded, but his lips were pursed together. "But some said it was too friendly."

"Really? Was she too intimidating?" Childe furrowed his eyebrows. "I get that if we're talking about Lumine. She just has a strong aura."

Cyno shrugged. "I thought she was pretty timid when we first met." He said. "It's like someone was forcing her to make friends with me or something."

"Oh, so you were the intimidating one then." Childe joked. But at the back of his mind, he doubted what Cyno said. Timid? Lumine? Doesn't sound like her.

"I bet the intimidation disappeared when you cracked a joke." Al Haitham chuckled.

Cyno snorted. "No, she beat me to it." He shook his head. "I was about to crack a joke, but it was like she read my mind. That's when I knew she can't be a bad guy. That and other things." 

"All it takes is a joke to get on your good side?" Childe asked, amused.

"It has to be a good joke." Cyno pointed out, Al Haitham just shook his head. Childe laughed, imagining what kind of joke Lumine might've she said that she got on the good side of the General Mahamatra.

"What I'm more surprised about is how she got you to play a part in the plan." Cyno turned to Al Haitham.

"It was smart of her to reach out to allies." Al Haitham praised. "I respect her dedication to saving Lesser Lord Kusanali."

Childe paused, imagining Lumine acting like how they were saying. It seemed off. He thought Lumine just naturally just found her friends, just like before. Or maybe that was because she had a companion with her then, maybe Paimon made her less suspicious.

Maybe if he was with her, they would've found her less suspicious.

But he was Fatui, would it really have been better?

He didn't know anymore.

He looked over to Lumine once more, only to realize she was making her way to them.

"Anyway." Cyno leaned over to Childe. "She seems way friendlier with you though." He raised an eyebrow to Childe.

"Well-" Before Childe could finish, Lumine arrived in front of the three, smile stretching wide across her face.

"Mind if I borrow him for a moment?" Lumine asked, holding Childe's hand with both her hands, lightly pulling on him.

"By all means, enjoy." Cyno nodded.

"We'll be back." Lumine waved before pulling on Childe once more. "You have to see this." She said excitedly.

They approached a stall with stuffed toys. "Look." She pointed at a carved aranara with a big hat. "Doesn't it look like Scaramouche?" She snickered.

Childe couldn't help but laugh. "A little bit. Yeah." He nodded.

"Should we get one?" She asked, excitement evident in her voice.

"Boss! How much for that one?" Childe asked the person by the stall, pointing at the one that Lumine was talking about. 

And with a quick exchange, Lumine was given the figurine. Her smile was even wider than last time. 

"Thank you." She said, satisfied.

"Did you really just drag me all the way here to use me as a wallet?" Childe raised an eyebrow.

Lumine scrunched her nose, grinning as she shook her head. "I see why Zhongli likes you now." She joked.

Without any warning, Childe pinched both her cheeks. "You're lucky you're cute." He gave her a look. Lumine didn't deny it, she just stuck her tongue out.

Childe just laughed, letting her go.

"That hurt." Lumine pouted, rubbing her cheeks.

Then a short cheering caught both their attention. Nilou was performing. Lumine looked at Childe, the same excitement on her eyes. "Let's go check it out?" He asked.

Lumine just smiled and nodded.

Again, hand-in-hand, they went to their next attraction.

Notes:

uploading a chapter early bc it's childe's birthday! (o゜▽゜)o☆

Chapter 21: reflections

The party ended without a hitch. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, leaving the Grand Bazaar with wide smiles on their faces.

It was late at night, Childe and Lumine were finally heading back to their lodging.

Compared to the loud and lively party that they came from, the walk was quiet. Peaceful. They could hear the crickets singing as they continued on their path under the moonlit streets of Sumeru City.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Lumine asked, glancing over to Childe.

"Very much." He said. "And I'm stuffed." He patted his stomach.

Lumine let out a soft chuckle. "Me too."

She then turned her attention to the aranara figurine on her hand. "Thank you." She smiled.

"What for? I should be the one thanking you for letting me tag along." Childe furrowed his eyebrows.

Lumine shook her head. "No. I mean... Thank you for being here. In Sumeru." She said shyly as she fidgeted with the figurine.

Childe smiled, reaching for her hand. "I told you. I'm here to stay, as long as you want me to." He said softly.

Lumine nodded. "Thank you." She said once more.

They soon arrived at their temporary home, the room that they both shared for the past few days.

"I'll go take a shower first, I think I've been sweating like a sinner in a church." Childe joked before heading to the bathroom.

"Okay, I'll get the towel ready." Lumine responded.

Whenever they got back from adventuring around, it's like they have a certain rhythm that they follow in the room. Childe would go shower first, then Lumine, then they would sit at the edge of their respective beds as they reminisce about the old timeline, occasionally comparing it to their current one.

They shared theories on how the events would go now that Lumine isn't actively helping out, like a fun thought experiment.

It wasn't like big events would not be happening if Lumine wasn't there, it just so happens that Lumine is on the right place at the right time.

Childe used to think that Lumine made all the amazing things she did happen through her own abilities. She is, after all, the famous Traveler.

Inazuma changed his view of that. It opened his eyes from his bias that made him put Lumine on a pedestal.

Now he sees her, the true her.

Maybe it was his bias of her that was the reason why they couldn't truly be together in the old timeline.

He just idolized her too much.

"Childe, towel's on the door knob." Lumine said, knocking on the bathroom door.

"Thanks." He replied before continuing his shower.

Perhaps he wasn't doing as good of a job as he thought. Because when Paimon said "remember her", he thought it would be easy.

But maybe it wasn't her that he remembered. He remembered the Traveler, not Lumine.

And now, he's truly getting to know that Lumine.

It was only when he successfully separated Childe from Ajax that he realized his mistake.

"Your turn." Childe opened the door, towel on his hips and the other hanging on his shoulder.

"Thanks." Lumine replied, walking past him to take her turn on the shower.

For the next few minutes, Childe did his own routine. Dried his hair. Got clothed. Picked up something to keep himself busy while he waits for Lumine to finish her shower. This time, he chose to read off a manuscript that Yae insisted he keep.

He already knew what would happen on that story. He read it before in the old timeline. But it was interesting how the manuscript had a slightly different direction from the one he knew.

Despite thinking he knew what would happen, it would occasionally throw him off because of some twist he didn't know about.

"What's that?" Lumine approached him.

Childe set the paper down beside him. "Oh, just a manuscript from Yae publishing house." He casually said. "It's for the Volume 5 of Princess Mina of the Fallen Nation."

"Hmm." Lumine nodded as she patted the towel on her head. "It's still on going?" She sat down beside Childe, surprising him a bit.

"Uh- yeah." He looked at her with a bit of confusion. "Do you want to check it out too?" He asked.

Lumine shifted on her position, sitting further down Childe's bed with her legs crossed. "Are you done reading it?" She asked.

Childe shrugged, turning to face her. "Well, I already know what happens here." He handed her the paper.

Lumine let out a light chuckle. "Does that mean the content of this is the same as the one in my old collection?" She asked, referencing her collection of books in their old timeline.

"No, just gets the same beats." He said.

Lumine nodded as she accepted the paper. "Well, if that's the case..." She then put the paper down beside her.

"You're not gonna read it?" Childe asked.

"No hate on Princess Mina, but I prefer A Legend of Sword by Zhenyu." Lumine shrugged.

Childe laughed. "Fair." He shifted once more to sit closer to her. "You know, you never fail to surprise me." He glanced to her.

Lumine raised an eyebrow. "And what brought this on?" She asked.

Childe shook his head, looking at the bedside table like it had the next line ready for him. "Well..." He paused to think. "For starters, I don't think I could ever read what's on your mind. Even with everything I know about you—past and present—I still don't know what you'll do next."

Lumine shrugged. "Maybe it's also because I know the old timeline?" She tilted her head.

Childe laughed. "Maybe." He agreed. He then paused with a smile, glancing over to Lumine. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he never quite knew how to word it.

"Peaceful night again." Lumine commented. There was something in the air that moment. Warm. Solemn.

"Yeah." Childe nodded lightly. "It's nice."

He glanced over to Lumine once more, then his eyes landed on her hands. It was a good thing Lumine didn't put the paper between them. A small smirk crept on his face as he reached for her hand.

At first, Lumine flinched at the contact. But instead of pulling away, she moved it closer to his.

There, as they sat quietly on Childe's bed, hands intertwined, were they finally facing each other. Looking at each other with their eyes smiling, a certain calm mixed with a bit of excitement as both their hearts pounded in their chest.

"I wish it would stay like this. Forever." Childe said softly.

Lumine chuckled, momentarily looking away as she laughed, but looking right back to his eyes after.

"I'd love it if you stayed." She said.

A pause. Childe's heart was beating louder than earlier.

"...I mean," Lumine added, a little more quietly, "not just in Sumeru."

Childe blinked. His thumb brushed gently over the back of her hand, trying to ground himself. "Then where?"

Lumine looked down, shy smile tugging at her lips. "Wherever I am."

There it was.

The beat skipped in his chest.

"I thought I already said I'd go wherever you wanted me to." He said, voice softer now, like he was afraid saying it too loud might scare the moment away.

Lumine's eyes flicked up to meet his. There was something in her eyes, something that wasn't there earlier. It was a strong emotion, one can't pin point it easily. But you can feel it.

"That's not what I mean," she said. Her voice was steadier now, steadier than his heartbeat for sure. "I want you here... because I want you. Not as someone trying to fix things. Not as someone trying to fill Paimon's place. Just... you, Ajax."

Childe's breath caught. For a second, he didn't speak—his mind spinning, trying to believe that this was really happening. He couldn't fully wrap his head around what she was saying. And paired with her calling him that name, his brain short-circuited completely.

"I really can't read you." He chuckled lightly. "I am understanding you right... right?"

Lumine also laughed, her grip on his hand tightening just slightly.

"Is it that odd that I'm asking you to stay with me?" she murmured.

"No. I'm just... surprised." Childe admitted. "I mean, I know I joined as a companion on the old timeline but I feel like I just happened to be at the right place at the right time." He looked down, staring at their intertwined hands.

"I was afraid I'd overstep if I tried that here too." He said softly. "I'm just... I feel like I'm not really the same Childe from that time."

Lumine lifted his chin. "But I liked your company. Before, and now. Both timelines." She said.

It was then her turn to look away. "I just didn't know how to express that back then."

"And I was afraid I'd ruin what we had if I did." Childe said.

They both laughed—quiet, nervous, full of release.

Then Childe leaned in, just a bit closer. His free hand hovered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear like it was something precious. He waited for a bit, checking if she would turn away again. Or worse, step back like last time.

But she stayed still. Watching him.

"I wanna hear you say it." He whispered. "Tell me. And I'll stay. Not just here. Everywhere."

Lumine looked at him, really looked. No past. No roles. Just him.

"...I love you." She said. Simply. Her hand lightly gripping his as she finally said it out loud.

And Childe—

He stared for a moment, like his entire world had just rearranged itself into something beautiful. Then, with the kind of smile that only comes after surviving heartbreak and memory and time.

"...I love you too." Childe's said as softly as he could.

Lumine's breath hitched, as her lips formed a smile. Childe's hand shifted to her cheek, slightly shaking. He held it like he was holding a delicate flower, like one wrong move he'd ruin its beauty.

The moment their skins touched, it was like there was an electric shock that flowed in his body. It was real. She was real.

This was really happening.

"You know, I used to think this whole timeline restart was some sort of torture." Childe chuckled. "I thought I've been doing so bad at this that you'll end up hating me."

"Why would I hate you?" Lumine's eyebrows furrowed.

Childe looked away, laughing. "You know. I've done pretty stupid stuff... bad stuff... Horrible stuff." His voice getting lower as he went on.

Lumine shook her head. "That never stopped you before." Lumine pointed out.

"I know." Childe once again looked down. "But I just... Didn't want to mess this one up. Again."

Lumine held up his chin once more, noticing the slight fear in his eyes. Her expression softened for a moment. And without any hesitation, she leaned in. Crashing her lips on his, almost pushing him back a bit from his sitting position.

Childe barely processed what happened, and as soon as he did, he wrapped his hand around Lumine's waist.

It was a bit awkward, given that Lumine didn't know what she was doing. Her hand didn't know where to stay, her rhythm was slightly off. But something about it made it even more endearing.

Childe easily guided her, making sure she was comfortable as they went.

Their hearts were pounding on their chests. Childe had to refrain himself from pushing a bit too far because it was starting to get heated.

They pulled away, trying to catch their breaths.

"You're not messing this up. I'm not letting you." Lumine said with a determined look, which was quite a sight considering she was as red as a tomato.

Childe chuckled softly, before leaning in once more. "I'll make sure not to." He said, pulling Lumine for another kiss.

 

Chapter 22: two to tango

"You just saved Sumeru, got your questions answered by the Dendro Archon herself. What's next for the great traveler's agenda?" Childe asked, walking closely beside Lumine as they headed back to the room they've been sharing for the past few days.

They just returned from the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Lumine and Nahida had a short talk, asking her about a few things and catching up with each other in the process.

"I'll be honest..." Lumine paused. "I don't know." She sighed.

"Paimon used to help me decide on those things." She muttered.

Childe nodded. "Well, she was your guide back then." He agreed.

A short silence. Then an idea popped in Lumine's mind. "Actually, I think I know where to next."

"Hmm?" Childe turned to her.

"Fontaine." Lumine answered with a smile. "That was the old order Paimon and I went to last time. It would be perfect to go there again."

"Fontaine?" Childe's expression soured.

Lumine nodded, not noticing Childe's reaction. "I don't know if my reputation around here is good enough to get the same result as last time though. But if it does turn out that way, I already know when and where to look for clues so we could solve their mystery."

"Or we'll just go there as tourists." Childe suggested trying to stir the conversation away from another problem waiting to happen. "You don't need to save every nation you go to."

Lumine let out a small chuckle. "I know. But a lot of my friends from back in the old timeline live in Fontaine." She reasoned.

"You have friends in every nation Lumi." Childe pointed out.

Another chuckle. "I guess. But remember about the primodial water problem that they had? They need help."

Childe sighed and shook his head. "Of course. What will I do with you?" He said, turning his frown into a weak smile. "I guess I have no choice but to help out too, huh?"

"Just try not to get arrested this time." Lumine joked.

Childe shrugged. "Don't worry, I already have my escape plan memorized."

Lumine raised an eyebrow, to which he just replied with a cheeky smile.

***

"Think we can actually have a peaceful vacation here?" Childe asked as they walked through the streets of the Court of Fontaine. They just got off the aquabus and are now on their way to find lodging.

"I didn't get stopped right at Romaritime Harbor by the Archon herself, that's a good sign." Lumine laughed.

"Fame has its downsides too, huh?" Childe teased.

"Well, I'm only famous in Sumeru now." Lumine shrugged.

"Right." Childe nodded. "For now."

Lumine eyed him. "I thought I 'don't have to save every nation I go to'?" She raised an eyebrow.

Childe chuckled. "Well, you said it yourself. This nation needs your help."

Lumine shook her head. "Not my help specifically. It's not like every nation needs me." She said. "You handled Inazuma quite well yourself."

Childe paused, then shook his head. "Well handled wouldn't be the word I'd describe it." He said. "I would've lost my mind out there if it weren't for you."

"Again with your cheesy lines?" Lumine raised an eyebrow.

Childe laughed. "I'm serious." He reached for Lumine's hand. "All I kept thinking about was that if I wrap up my work faster, I could go to you faster."

Lumine rolled her eyes, a huge smile plastered on her face. "Sure." She said, jokingly sounding skeptical. But deep down, she knew he was being genuine about it.

"Anyway. Where should we head? I only remember two hotels here and the other one I'd like to avoid." Childe said.

He didn't have to elaborate. Lumine knew exactly which hotel he was talking about. "So... Hotel Debord?" Lumine suggested.

"I'll book the room." Childe instantly agreed. "One bed is okay, right?" He grinned.

Lumine raised an eyebrow. She was about to protest but the Childe took the smile plastered on her face as enough answer.

"I'll get the king sized one."

***

He was right. Despite deliberately choosing not to go to Hotel Bouffes d'ete, his ties to the Fatui always seem to follow him.

"The Knave formally invites you to the House of Hearth's-"

"No thank you. I'm just here for vacation." Childe closed the door behind him.

"Who was that?" Lumine asked, curious. She was in the midst of unpacking when someone knocked on their door.

"Room service." Childe lied. Lumine raised her eyebrow. Room service doesn't come knocking at your door the moment you check in.

"Master Childe-" the person from the other side of the door knocked once more.

"That doesn't sound like room service." Lumine commented after recognizing the voice.

Childe sighed. "I don't want to go to the House of Hearth." He complained. "I want to enjoy my time here in Fontaine with you, not work."

Lumine chuckled "I'm surprised that they already know you're here."

Childe looked away. "Classic Fatui intel." He muttered, eyebrows knitted.

"You think it's something important?" Lumine tilted her head. "What if you have another mission and you just happened to walk into Fontaine just in time for it."

"I wouldn't have come if I knew." He groaned.

Lumine shifted on her seat. "Well, if you want to decline, you can." She said. "But if my memory serve me well..."

"They'll pester me about it." Childe clicked his tongue, finishing Lumine's sentence.

He looked over the window as if it held the answer to his current dilemma. "I guess I can just go to there just so they won't say I ignored them." He said, defeated.

Lumine gave him a soft look, walking over to him and holding his hand. "Don't worry. I'm coming with you."

Childe smiled, glancing over to Lumine and giving her forehead a quick peck. "Thanks."

Then a short pause. Lumine squeezed his hand as her eyes landed on a certain accessory.

"Think your Vision will malfunction again?" Lumine asked, looking up to face Childe, her concerned expression evident.

"Oh." Childe reached for his vision subconsciously. There was a hint of unease when he realized what Lumine just said. "I forgot that happened when we were here." He lied.

Lumine's eyebrows furrowed. "You even left it on my care just so it won't get in the way of your duel with Clorinde." She reminded him.

"Yeah, I know." Childe said, trying to shrug the thought off. "I just forgot when it happened."

Another knock.

"You should probably answer that." Lumine said, earning another exasperated sigh from Childe. "Fine."

***

In the end, he did go to Hotel Bouffes d'ete, much to his dismay. He got convinced by Lumine to hear out what Arlecchino wants to say to him.

"What if it was you that this nation needs?" Lumine told him.

He knew she was just saying that to make him actually listen to Arlecchino, but what can he do? It's basically Lumine asking him to help out. How could he say no to her?

"She's probably going to talk to you about the prophecy." Lumine said.

"If I get involved, that's a guaranteed trip to fighting the narwhal again." Childe furrowed his eyebrows.

"Well, we already know who's behind the disappearances." Lumine pointed out. "Surely you won't be involved enough to get yourself jailed in the Fortress of Meropide again."

"That glorified scale has it out for me. I was innocent back then, it still said I was guilty." Childe gritted his teeth. "That thing is rigged."

Lumine chuckled. "Then make sure you won't be in a position where the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale will have to judge you."

Childe scratched the back of his neck, looking away from Lumine for a short moment. "Easy for you to say." He muttered.

In the midst of their conversation, they were once again approached by Lyney.

"Father will be here shortly." He announced.

Childe just gave him a short nod, then again they were left alone.

"Can't wait." Childe said, sarcastically.

Lumine held his hand and gave him a look. Childe used his other hand to put on top of hers, massaging it gently like a fidget toy. Noticing Childe's discomfort, she started to worry a bit.

Perhaps she was a bit too pushy? She underestimated how much her words affect Childe's decisions. At that moment, she began to question herself if choosing to go to Fontaine was really a good decision.

A few more minutes, Arlecchino did show. She had her arms crossed, eyes icy as ever.

"So you are in Fontaine." Arlecchino said, surprised.

"Yep. Here for vacation." Childe nodded.

Arlecchino didn't pay attention to what Childe just said, instead her head was turned to face the person beside him.

"I see you're with someone." She noted.

As an instinct he reached for Lumine. Realizing how overprotective it might come across, he cleared his throat and faced Arlecchino with a fake smile plastered on his face.

"This is Lumine." He held both her shoulders. "Lumine, The Knave." He said, as if he was introducing his colleague for the first time.

"Pleased to meet you." Lumine offered her hand.

"Pleasure is all mine." Arlecchino shook it. It was strong and firm. Intimidating Lumine a bit.

"Have you seen the sights here already? Fontaine has many great shops that you may fancy." Arlecchino said.

"Well, we were about to sightsee after unpacking. But since we were invited here, we figured we should go here first." Childe said, trying his best not to sound sarcastic.

"My apologies, my children were a little too eager to meet a colleague with a reputation such as yourself." Arlecchino said.

"All good things I hope?" Childe asked.

"Of course. I heard many praises from the Tsaritsa about you. Especially out of late." Arlecchino said.

"And is this related to why you asked to see me?" He asked.

Arlecchino chuckled. "Heading straight to business, are we?"

"Look, I'm really just here for vacation. I don't want work right now." Childe sighed, sounding more tired as the conversation continued.

Arlecchino, sensing his mood, shifted her weight. Then she turned to Lumine, who was just intently listening in their conversation. "I see." Arlecchino said. "Well, that's a shame." She muttered.

"I shouldn't take much of your time then. Should you need a hand in something here, the House of Hearth will gladly assist." Arlecchino said.

"Thank you for the offer. I'll keep that in mind." Childe said, with a smile not quite reaching his eyes.

***

"That was her, wasn't it?" The masked lady asked, fidgeting with the edge of her lace.

"She seemed like a nice person." The lady in white and red answered, her long nails tapping on the teacup. "Do you think she's a threat?"

"Could be. Why is he so... attached to her?" The masked lady whispered, brows knitting. "He's only ever like that with family."

"I don't think that's their relationship." The lady in white and red gently set her teacup down.

She then turned to the door, and as she anticipated, a knock was heard. "That must be the children." She stood up.

"Father, we have the reports for the relief operations." Lyney bowed after opening the door.

Arlecchino sighed. "Bring them to me."

She then turned to her colleague, who was untangling a stray lock caught in her mask. "Are you going to stay in Fontaine long?... Signora?"

 

Chapter 23: still waters

"I'm beat." Childe plopped down the bed, face first, groaning on the pillow the moment he met contact.

"I guess you can't just easily escape work." Lumine joked, sitting at the edge of the bed. There was a brief moment when she finally realized that there really was just one bed in the room.

Everything had happened so fast earlier that she hadn't even thought to question it.

It wasn't like sharing a bed with Childe was new. They'd done it before, under far worse conditions. But this was the first time it was just the two of them, in a peaceful room, with no excuse for the closeness.

At least in Sumeru they had two, they had the choice to sleep on different beds.

Still, sharing a bed wouldn't be such a big deal, right? They were lovers now, after all.

"I just want a vacation." Childe groaned once more, interrupting Lumine's train of thoughts.

Childe tilted his head so he could breathe better. "I can't be the only one who finds it weird that they reach out to me the moment I get here." His eyebrows furrowed.

"It seems you have a better reputation than before. Must be doing to well as a Harbinger, Mr. Tartaglia." Lumine teased, scooting over so she was closer to Childe.

"Doing well? I was being mocked for giving up the Geo Gnosis to Dottore." He scoffed.

"That was pretty stupid of you." Lumine pointed out, laughing. They were finally at the point where they could joke about him trading the Gnosis for Lumine's freedom.

Lumine didn't make him forget how incredibly reckless it was. But since the false god in Sumeru is now defeated, and the whole project has been scrapped, there were no more hard feelings about it.

"I know. I know. That was my bad." Childe sat up, tilting his head on Lumine's direction so he was directly looking at her from above. "But it's your fault for being caught by him in the first place."

"Rookie mistake. I didn't do it again though." Lumine shrugged.

"Uh-huh. You're lucky Nahida was with you the second time around." Childe shook his head.

"Why?" Lumine raised an eyebrow.

"I would've dragged you out the facility myself if you were alone." Childe chuckled.

"And leave Scaramouche on a rampage?" Lumine crossed her arms, eyebrow still raised.

"I'd defeat him after I get you out." Childe said, playfully giving her a peck on the lips.

"In fact, I would've taken back the Gnosis myself." He bragged, making Lumine laugh.

"Sure." She rolled her eyes before rolling off the bed.

"I'm hungry. Is the dinner menu already available?" Lumine asked.

"Want to get room service?" Childe asked back.

"I was thinking of eating downstairs though." She pulled out a small pouch. "They have special desserts around this time."

Childe laughed. "Of course." He muttered.

He then jumped off the bed and followed Lumine. "Sounds like fun. It's our first night in Fontaine, might as well go big."

***

"Should we just go get dinner elsewhere?" Childe asked as he stared at the performers that were before them.

"Huh, well what do you know. Perhaps it was a coincidence that the Fatui knew where you were." Lumine muttered as she stared at the twins who went on with their show. "It seemed too odd that they instantly approached you afterall."

Childe met eyes with Lyney for a moment, and within that timeframe he was given a playful smile and a small nod before Lyney went back on his performer mode.

"Or they booked tonight's show to tell me how big their reach in Fontaine is." Childe muttered.

"I'm sure tonight was just a coincidence." Lumine tried to assure him.

Childe just sighed. Noticing his annoyed expression, Lumine held his hand as she guided him to a table away from the small crowd.

"I have a feeling the show won't add to your enjoyment." Lumine teased.

Thankfully for Childe, they weren't given any more interruptions during and after their dinner. It was actually quite peaceful.

Despite being in the same room as Arlecchino's beloved children, they were left unbothered in the dining hall.

After that, Lumine suggested they go out for a walk, to which, Childe agreed to. Reluctantly.

"I'll just go look around some of the shops." Lumine said.

They visited a few familiar spots, caught glimpses of people who they once interacted with in the old timeline, and even made friends with some of the old marchants as they shopped.

They ended up with bags and bags of goodies as they made their way back to the hotel. Childe never wastes a day to flex his bottomless wallet, even while they're in a different nation he just has to show it off.

"Now we have snacks, toys, and even new clothes." Childe excitedly unboxed their haul of the night.

"It's like you're planning on staying here." Lumine joked as she reached for the clothes that Childe chose for her.

"Do I even need these much?" She put the dress infront of her, draping on top of her body.

"This is a lot." She added, as she draped the other dress on her hand.

"Can't help it, you looked good in all of 'em." He said without missing a beat, a large grin plastered on his face.

Then he remembered an item that he picked up. "You could go wear this tonight if you want." He pulled out a pair of pajamas from a bag.

Lumine reached for it, eyebrows furrowed. "When did you buy this?" She asked.

"When I saw it had a pair." He said pulling out another pair of pajamas, same pattern, but on a different color.

Lumine bursted out laughing at the realization. "You got matching ones?" She asked, reaching for the other pair to compare.

"What? You don't like them?" Childe laughed, standing up beside her to look her her admiring it.

"They're cute." Lumine giggles. "But I just can't imagine you wearing this, let alone buy it yourself."

Childe shrugged. "Well, you don't have to imagine it because you'll see it with your own eyes." He grabbed the pajama from her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go freshen up and change into the comfiest clothing I'll ever sleep in."

***

It was quiet that night. Fontaine gave them a familiar yet new feeling, nostalgic. The sights were familiar, the people, the vibe.

But in that room they were in, it felt different.

"I honestly didn't think you'd follow through with one king-sized bed." Lumine finally commented.

Childe chuckled, pulling her close to him with a hug. "Not big enough?" He joked.

Lumine shook her head. "It's huge. I don't have to worry about falling off." She laughed.

"Good. Cause we're going to be staying here for a few more days." Childe said.

"Just for how long did you book this room for?" Lumine raised an eyebrow, facing him instead of the ceiling.

"10 days." He said.

"That's how long you intend to stay here?" Lumine asked.

"We could always extend if you want." Childe shrugged, scooting over to bury his face near Lumine's neck. His hands played with the hem of the pajama that Lumine did end up wearing, despite her making fun of it.

Lumine's face instantly flushed as she shifted herself to a more comfortable position. Now, Childe was gently hugging her sides as his face rested on her shoulder.

She could feel his breath on her, sending shivers down her spine.

"I thought we were going to explore around other parts of Fontaine?" Lumine asked, finally regaining her composure.

"We could do that. Whatever you want, I'll be there." He said, his voice low. He was starting to get sleepy, Lumine could feel it.

"Hmm..." She hummed. "I'll think of our itinerary then."

In the quiet of the Fontaine night, wrapped in each other's arms, the two dozed off.

 

Chapter 24: a new chapter

"Lumine. Lumine please wake up." Childe heard someone say. Well, it wasn't just anyone. It was his voice. He braced himself, recognizing what is coming to him.

"Lumine. Please." He flinched as the image replayed in his head, his nightmare. This nightmare. Again. "I'm sorry. I couldn't make it fast enough."

"Please..." His voice cried. Oddly enough, his own voice felt distant. Like it belonged to someone else.

Then his eyes landed on the person in his arms, the very image he feared looking at every time this dream reoccurred. Lumine, in her white dress. It was all tattered and soiled with dirt and blood. The image alone made him shiver.

He could see himself yelling, but it was like everything was muted. Only a single note rang in his ear as he watched himself in this dream cry his eyes out. Yelling until his throat hurt, like it would change the outcome.

It still hurt.

But part of him had moved on from that. Or at least he liked to think.

That was the old timeline, he lost Lumine there. But in this timeline, they're together. Happy. Peaceful.

It was odd that he was seeing that dream again.

"No. Lumine..." He heard himself say. He never noticed how hoarse his voice sounded then. "Please... Don't leave me."

Then a flicker. Like a small glitch, shaking Childe's vision temporarily. His heart started to race as he looked down once more.

Still Lumine in his arms. But she was wearing something different. Her clothes... it was the pajamas that she was wearing when they fell asleep.

His breath hitched.

"What...?" His voice sounded real now. Too real.

"No." He shook his head, his body starting to shake as he stared at Lumine.

"No. No no no." He took a step back. "Lumine...?" His heart dropped as he started noticing the little details.

Aside from the clothes, it felt less like the Lumine in his nightmare and more like the Lumine he knows now. The Lumine in his current timeline.

"No. Please." He reached for her hand, anticipating warmth but met with the cold. One that could rival the frost of his home country. "Lumine..."

Then, the same voice rang in his ear again. His voice, haunting him, targeting the fear he tried so hard to hide. "You failed her again."

"NO!" Childe yelled, snapping back to reality. He sat up the bed, cold sweat running down his face as he tried to catch his breath.

He instantly scanned the room, panicked. They were still in Fontaine. Still in Hotel Debord. Still in their room.

"Childe?" He heard the person with him say, making him hold his breath for a moment before facing her. "What's wrong?" She asked.

Just by hearing her voice, he felt so relieved. His shoulders dropped to his side as he gave her a weak smile.

"No." He said, in his shaky voice. "I'm... It's fine. Just... Just a little nightmare. But I'm good."

Lumine sat beside him, eyes half open. She instinctively pulled him in for a hug, chin resting on Childe's shoulder. "It's okay. I'm right here." She said softly.

Childe couldn't help but chuckle a little. She didn't even know what the dream was about, yet here she was, half-asleep, telling him it was going to be okay.

He returned the hug, feeling the fabric of her pajamas for a brief moment. Then a flash of the same image he just saw in his dream came up his head, making him flinch. A reminder of how twisted that nightmare quickly became.

His grip on her tightened as he buried himself deeper on the hug.

He was still shaking.

Lumine, noticing the slight shift on his behavior, pulled away for a moment to face him. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

Childe remained silent.

Did he? He told her before that he'd tell her eventually, but can he truly talk about it now without breaking down like he did in Sumeru?

He looked Lumine in the eyes and gave her a small smile before sighing.

"It's okay if you don't..." Lumine's voice trailed, her hands reaching for his cheeks. She gave him a soft smile and brushed his cheek with her thumb.

"But you need to tell me how I can help you." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Okay?" She asked, tilting her head a bit.

For a moment, Childe's brain just clicked. That small kiss. That's what he needed. More of that.

Without missing a beat, he leaned in to kiss her. Both his hands cupped her cheeks as he pressed his lips on to hers. He didn't even give her time to react, all he knows is that whatever they were doing, it's working for him.

His kiss felt so desperate, so full of passion. Like all the words he couldn't say were going to get communicated to her through it.

And in the midst of it, Lumine tried her best to respond. Tried.

As his hands made its way down her waist, Lumine rested her hand on his shoulder. It was getting heated really quickly. With Childe not holding back, it had no signs of stopping at that point.

As the kiss deepened, Lumine found herself being pinned on the bed struggling to catch her breath. Her hands couldn't stay still, she didn't know where to place it. His back? His nape? His cheeks?

She lightly patted his back before her nails accidentally clawed him. This finally made Childe stop.

There was a slight pause as he pulled away, staring at Lumine and her uneven breaths. Her face was as red as a tomato, her hands finally landing on his chest.

"Oh, shit." Childe muttered. "Sorry. I'm-" The air failing to reach his lungs for a moment. "Sorry."

This time, it was Lumine that didn't say anything. Her hands landed on his cheeks once more, planting another peck on his lips before laying down the bed again with a smile.

Childe let out a shaky breath before letting his body relax a little. He was still on top of Lumine, he just used his arm to make sure his weight was not crushing her. He positioned his head so it was beside Lumine's, his hair lightly brushing her cheek.

"I'm sorry." He repeated.

He felt Lumine's hands snake its way on his waist. And with a light pull, his balance was completely thrown off, landing him on top of Lumine.

"Oof-" Lumine let out an involuntary exhale when they made impact, then began to giggle.

"What are you doing?" Childe asked, clearly confused.

"Hugging you?" Lumine tilted her head.

Childe furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Lumine's equally confused expression. Then he just found himself laughing, using his hand to cover his slightly flushed face.

"This is so stupid." He told himself, before grabbing Lumine the same way she's holding him.

He then shifted his weight to the side to they'd roll over. After a small squeal from Lumine, she was now the one on top of him.

Again, before Lumine could react, Childe gave her a small peck on the cheek, then the lips.

"A little warning next time." Lumine said, pulling away for a moment to glare at Childe.

Childe just laughed.

Lumine rolled her eyes before getting comfortable on laying down on him. Head resting on his chest, listening to the loud beating of his heart.

"Do you feel better now?" She asked. She was still trying to catch her breath from what just escalated earlier.

Childe hummed. "I don't know. I think I need another round." He joked.

"I'm serious." Lumine lightly hit his chest before rolling off the side to lay down beside him. Childe shifted himself to face her.

"Sorry." He muttered.

Lumine sighed. "What am I gonna do with you?" She shook her head, pulling him in to cuddle.

"Thanks." He whispered in her ear as he closed his eyes. "I do feel better. A lot."

Lumine hummed. "Good." She said.

Then a short silence, Lumine faced the other way to look out the window. Childe's hand was still resting on her waist, giving her a back hug.

She intertwined her hand with his as she glanced at the night sky illuminated by the moon. "Did you dream about it again?" She asked.

"Hmm?" Childe hummed.

"Earlier. Was it the same dream that you had in Sumeru?" She tilted her head, not quite reaching to face him, but enough to see his face from her peripheral vision.

Childe's grip on her tightened, instinctively pulling her a little closer. He didn't need to answer, that was enough for Lumine to confirm it.

"What happens to me in that dream? Do I hurt you there? Do I-"

"You..." Childe cut her off, but not quite finding the courage to continue the sentence. "...I lose you." His breath hitched, finally saying it.

"I lose you in that dream." His voice cracked.

Lumine let his words settle. Finally understanding, finally realizing just how much she means to him. Just how much he means it when he says "I love you".

"Well, I'm not leaving you this time." She face him once more, noticing the tears that are threatening to fall from his eyes. "I'm here to stay." She assured.

Childe gave her a small smile. He pulled their intertwined hands closer to him, giving Lumine's hand a soft kiss. "Thank you."

Their eyes met. It was like there was a force that drew them closer, both of them slowly leaning in.

And just like that, once again, their lips met. This time, gentler. There was the same passion as before, but the rhythm didn't leave Lumine struggling to keep up. If anything, they were pretty much in sync.

Again, Childe found himself on top of Lumine, their kiss deepening by the minute.

Childe pulled away for a moment. "I love you." He whispered, before going back in for a kiss.

He felt Lumine push him a bit, so he stopped once more. "I love you too." She said, then pulling him back.

Lumine's hand naturally landed on his back, softly moaning as their kiss continued. Childe's head was going on spirals.

The longer they stayed on that position, the more he craved it. The more he craved her.

"If this keeps up, I won't be able to hold back." He chuckled, hands gripping on the sheets. Lumine giggled, hand resting on his chest.

"Then what's stopping you?" She asked, her eyes gleaming with something new as she pulled him in for another kiss, her grip on him tighter now.

Childe's heart was beating louder than ever, it felt like it would jump out of his chest. "You're sure you're not gonna regret this?" He asked.

Lumine's breath hitched as he felt his hand reach for her clothes. "You think I'd let you get this far if I didn't want it?" She asked back, letting out a soft breath.

"Oh Lumine..." Childe's gaze deepened, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this." He murmured.

He leaned in close, voice dropping to a whisper in her ear. "You better get ready then. Because once we start, there's no turning back."

Notes:

is... is it getting steamy in here (⊙_⊙;)