Chapter Text
Nine years had passed since Childe had last held Lumine in his arms.
He had left the Fatui and was now a wanderer, a lost soul without his anchor, drifting aimlessly through Teyvat.
But no matter how far he'd travelled, how many mountains he'd scaled and oceans he swam, every step led him back.
Back to the shore where he had parted from Lumine, with a small blue starconch in his hands. It was his singular most prized possession. Though her voice in the shell had long faded, if he placed it to his ear, he could almost hear the memory of her voice echoing from within.
His siblings - Tonia especially - had tried, many times, to get him to move on, but he couldn't.
She promised him that she'd come back, someday, if only he waited for her. And whether that day was tomorrow, or in ten years, or during his dying breaths, he was willing to wait.
For he had nothing left but her, now.
So for now, Ajax stood alone under the night sky, eyes closed, face tilted towards the stars and bare feet upon the sand. Pretending he could hear her voice in the shell he held to his ear, between the steady crash of the waves, pretending her warmth was by his side. One name, a single breath, falling from his lips like a sacred prayer, as he whispered to the stars that merely continued glittering mockingly down at him.
"Ajax." Her voice was soft, melodic, like the brush of a falling leaf in autumn. Even after all this time, he remembered the sound of his name falling from her lips.
"Ajax." A soft, fluttering touch to his back, the feeling of warmth on his skin. His eyes snapped open, and though he knew it was a hallucination (he often had those), he couldn't help turning around, couldn't help the compulsion that shuddered through his body at her phantom touch.
Lumine stood before him, bright gold eyes staring up at him, framed by soft golden lashes that fluttered in the slight breeze, a smile upon her lips. Her hair was much longer now; soft golden strands tumbling to her hips. The starlight traced her jawline and shimmered gently upon her hair. She looked breathtaking.
Though Ajax knew, if he tried to run his fingers through those golden locks, she would disappear.
She always did.
Except this time, his fingers brushed against her cheekbone, the warmth of her skin.
"O-ojou-chan?" His voice was hoarse, he hadn't talked to anyone in a while. He found no reason to open his mouth when her answering laugh, soft and melodic and for him, no longer echoed in his ears when he spoke.
"It's me," said Lumine, a soft smile gracing her lips, "I said I'd find my way back to you, didn't I?"
"Ojou-chan..." Ajax's hand on her cheek trembled violently, "Is it really you?"
"Shh, Ajax. This isn't a dream, I'm really here. I've come back." Lumine said softly, and tugged him into her arms.
Her body felt as small and fragile as ever in his embrace, as he cradled her to his chest.
"You're back." He repeated softly. "I've missed you."
* * * * * *
Ajax blinked his eyes open against the soft glow of morning, instantly missing her presence.
"No!" He sat up straight, glancing wildly around the room. The other side of the bed was cold and empty, the blanket folded and untouched. His heart dropped.
No. Not another dream. Not again. He didn't know how much more of these dreams he could take, each realization crushing him harder than the last, each realization that Lumine, his Lumine, wasn't by his side.
"Ajax?" A tentative voice came from the doorway. "I heard a shout..." His head snapped up to see Lumine hovering by the door with a breakfast tray in her hands. "Are you alright?"
"Ojou-chan..." The relief that rushed through him was overwhelming; his head felt light and, in a daze, he registered the liquid on his cheeks. Was he crying? Ah. Tears. It had been so long since he had last cried, hadn't it?
Lumine put the tray down on the nightstand and wrapped her arms around him in comfort. She didn't ask questions, didn't laugh, just allowed him to break down in her arms.
"Ajax, I'm here. I'm here." Lumine said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple.
"I'm here."