Chapter Text
One thing Childe had learned while gliding continuously from the Skyfrost Nail to Mondstadt: you don’t.
Half an hour had passed since he soared over the frosty landscape slowly melting into green, yet he had only reached the outer edge of the lake. To his luck, a flock of birds rushed to fly right in front of him, having to spit out loose feathers and sneezing the rest of the trip.
His shoulders burned from the strain, eyes struggling to keep open against the cold air. “Almost...there.” Clenching his teeth, he could feel the water part as his body lowered further. He was literally only a few meters away though it seemed that gravity had other plans.
“Ah, screw it!” Childe quickly abandoned the wind glider, leaving it to sink to the bottom of the lake as he desperately swam to shore. Even as his muscles ached, even when the freezing water seeped into his clothes, he was determined to make things right.
At long last, his fingers touched solid ground. He pulled himself up in a single heave, breathing heavy and frantic, yet didn’t stop there. In a matter of seconds, he was already climbing right up the stone wall, striding past the garden, past the Knight’s Headquarters and taking the numerous flights of stairs by two.
On the inside, his brain raced to think of what he would say the moment he saw her again. This wasn’t unlike any battle he’s faced before. He had no weapons, no words of trickery or deceit, he would simply be Childe, an odd combination of bloodlust and brotherly love, a warrior who was unfortunate to have fallen for someone on the opposing team.
Reduced to a humble fool of a boy, standing (or kneeling, that would work too) in front of a girl , asking her to like him once more.
His heart rang louder the nearer he got to the plaza, waves of fervent cheering echoed against the concrete. He ran like an absolute madman, hair completely frazzled and clothes clinging to him like a second skin. He paid no heed to the strange looks, everyone else but Lumine be damned.
He’d understand if she would never speak to him again, gods, he’d deserve to be ignored for the rest of eternity. It would be delusional for him to believe that she would want to be in his company after purposefully hurting her like that.
Yet he promises to all the stars shining down on him that very night, if Lumine would still look his way, if she still reach out her hand, if her eyes still softened just right above that heart-tugging, breathtaking, mind-boggling smile of hers,
“Zvedza moya will outshine even the brightest sun.”
Meanwhile…
“Lumi, you don’t have to do this if you’re not feeling well.” Venti frowned at his stubborn friend, huffing once more when she shook her head then gave him yet another one of those smiles.
Lumine spoke, “I’m fine and I really want to do this.” She did a twirl to emphasize her point, posing much like how Barbara usually would. “See?”
He never dared to point it out to her, but Lumine truly was a terrible liar. That fake smile, the slight shake in her voice, the scars on her legs and knees along with the red streak that marred her palm were enough to tell the whole story of what happened that night.
Venti was no healer but he did all he could to stop any bleeding that would endanger his friend any further. Unfortunately, he did not have the power to mend a heart as broken as hers.
“You may not be mortal,” He gripped her hand in his, careful not to squeeze it. “Yet your heart is just as fragile.”
“D-Don’t give me that look.” Lumine looked to the side. If it weren’t for the somber atmosphere, Venti would have been showering her with a flurry of compliments just from the sight of her alone.
Hair slightly curled and un-accessorized, small flowery earrings decorated the sides of her head with a dress that flowed just above her knees with a longer tail in the back, somehow similar to her usual outfit. It took her some time to get comfortable with the shimmering neckline, a nearby breeze sending a chill up her exposed back and arms. In place of her boots, thin translucent stockings meticulously embellished with rhinestones gave off the illusory image of a glistening sky splayed across her legs.
The whole team did an amazing job to transform the already otherworldly adventurer to an even more ethereal goddess, Much like how she was able to control the constellations in the sky, Lumine might as well have been sitting among them.
Yet he knew that beneath the ruffled collar and dainty gloves, the pain from literal and emotional scars could never be erased.
Lumine pulled her hands away from her grip, opting to sneak a peek just beyond the red curtain. It was impressive how this whole stage was set up merely hours ago, lights flickering with various colors along with the festive music blasting from the speakers shipped straight from Fontaine.
She gulped at the sight of the crowd, it seemed that everyone in Mondstadt along with the rest of the neighbouring cities were here. About one-third of the crowd consisted of young women raising random signs illustrated with impressive portraits of both Diluc and Kaeya, Donna leading the group. Aside from Marjorie and Guy, it seemed that Ella also decided to step out of the library for once while beside her was the ever-reliant Huffman ensuring that the crowd wasn’t getting too out of hand. Heck, she might’ve also spotted Viktor within the massive audience, accompanied by Lily, Jilliana and Rudolf.
She was also able to spot a few more faces among the throngs of people. Xiangling raised Guoba up as the little bear munched happily, Chongyun struggling to stand straight right next to Xingqiu who had barely noticed his friend slipping to the ground due to the light sticks he was waving in such an oddly elegant manner. She could pick out Klee and Diona standing right in the front row, Albedo and Sucrose making sure that the little girls wouldn’t run off to the stage. Lumine could see Bennett, Fischl, Mona and Razor standing a ways away from the group, the first of the four a lot more boisterous as his cheering could be heard even from such a distance.
A voice from behind her interrupts her train thought, seeing Kaeya walking towards them looking absolutely dashing in his fancy white suit. “Hope you’re not getting cold feet on the night of the performance, starlight.”
“I wouldn’t blame her for getting nervous, you were barely present during practice.” Diluc grumbled next to him, hair pulled up in a high ponytail, highlighting his open collar-ed outfit that would surely make all of the girls swoon.
Right when Kaeya was about to retort, Jean laid a hand into his chest, face stern while locking eyes with the mischievous cavalry captain. “Please refrain from vexing Sir Diluc any further, we’ll need to be focused as much as possible during the performance.”
While the trio bickered, the rest of the knights began filing backstage, Noelle fiddled with her ribbons as Lisa tried to soothe the nervous maid. Amber was chatting nonstop to a taller, stoic woman with sky blue hair, though it seemed that she was more amused than bothered. Rosaria was the last to enter along with the other members of the orchestra, noticing someone staring at her as the sister gave Lumine a slight nod before returning to fine tune her instrument.
Lumine was still amazed at how the knights were able to gather so many people for a single performance. She was astounded by the fact that so many people offered to perform this very night, though this should have probably been expected from a city that valued music and free expression above all.
She couldn’t let them down, not even when her body threatened to spew out the dinner she ate earlier.
Venti remained standing next to her, though instead of speaking he simply placed a comforting hand on her back. “You’ll do fine, we’ll be right behind you.”
Lumine smiled though in her mind, she wished that a certain pair of deep blue eyes still stood right in front of her.
“Thank you very much for that passionate display of enthusiasm, Alfred!” Childe witnessed said man having to be dragged by the knights nearby offstage.
“It’s Albert, Barbara-sama, I truly admire you and-” The rest of the crowd muffled the rest, still abuzz from the last performance. He could barely push through past the dense crowd, having to murmur quick excuses here and there, barely managing to reach the center. Lively whispers and animated conversations bustled all around him as everyone awaited the finale.
He was holding his breath while trying to fit in between two particularly burly men when Barbara began speaking once more. “The Windblume Festival concert is finally nearing its end! How about a cheer before I present our final performer, rather, performers for tonight!?”
The applause was enough to deafen his hearing for a few good seconds, barely hearing the girl through the noise. “Here they are! Accompanied by our very own Favonius Orchestra is the one, the only, Lumine Rhiannon!”
He doesn’t even have time to question how she never mentioned having a last name, gentle strums beginning the last song of the night. Even the large group of girls went silent when the lights first focused on Diluc sitting to the right, hands masterfully gliding along the brown guitar in his hands.
The rest of the strings began to play while Childe desperately searched for the one person he wanted to see.
In a troupe of lights, he lost sight of his beloved star.
The gentle click of a light had him wondering, “Where are you, zvezda moya?”
Only to be standing right in front of her.
“In the sun, by the gardens
Humming birds danced in the daylight”
Her first notes were painfully shaky but even that wasn’t enough to break him from his slack-jawed stare.
Not even the hottest sun nor the brightest star could ever hold an ember to her beauty .
Not when he kept staring at her, not when her eyes finally met his, not when he was left teetering off the edge, threatening to fall over.
“Adventures here, everywhere, waiting just for us
So why not take a step and enter this paradise?”
She faltered if only for a second, before looking back to meet his gaze once more. A meager smile was all he could offer, all he could dare to muster. His hands were sweating profusely while his heart threatened to burst out of his chest.
She’s sung this song so many times, he’s heard these words leave her mouth long before this very night. Yet no matter how he was already humming along, he would never get tired of hearing her voice. If she would still have him, if she would give him another chance, would he ever be able to hear his star sing so sweetly just for him?
Lumine stood in the center of the stage, quite possibly frozen on the spot. Her eyes darted back to him then to the crowd before she closed her eyes.
Even if it was just a second, he was already missing those molten-gold orbs. “Please, will you still look my way?”
“‘Cause when you’re with me, beside me
It’s always summertime”
Only to open them once more to beam at him so brightly it would have blinded him.
“Take me through the clouds and past the trees,
Where sunshine meets the sea”
Where her golden orbs, the twins suns themselves, met his own deep blue irises. Where she was the one to reach out to him and pull him up for air, leaving him undeniably breathless just by her gaze.
Even when his cheeks hurt and his throat burned from singing along with the rest of the crowd, seeing Lumine grow the courage to take her first step towards the audience made his heart swell with pride. She even swayed along much like how he taught her, seemingly enjoying the song as the music resounded further and further, echoing throughout the city.
He was lost in her words, in her song, in the light that continued to shine within her heart. His walls were tumbling down faster than his heart could beat, Lumine’s light seeping through the cracks and slowly melting his heart.
There will be a price to pay for all of this, he knows that very well.
But he was but a lone sailor out at sea, lost in the melody of his celestial siren’s song.
The last note hangs in the air like a spell, spreading through the crowd till the silence is broken by an array of loud cheering and applause.
“She did it.” He couldn’t stop smiling the whole time. At this point a sudden spark of electricity ran through him as the rest of the audience kept shouting for an encore.
“Bravo!”
“Amazing! What a wonderful performance!”
“Truly remarkable! The Honorary Knight is amazing!”
The rest of the performers did one last bow before exiting the stage, Lumine slowly stepping away while trying to catch the flurry of roses thrown at her. “T-Thank you very much, I-”
Her gaze meets his once more only for an arm to pull her behind the curtain.
Childe was quick to pursue, weaving his way off to the side before running to meet her backstage.
The rest of the crowd had begun to disperse, many of them heading for the plaza below in order to celebrate the last day of the festival. Only a few remained, namely those who were closer with the performers that night along with some passionate, though obsessive, fans.
With a single reach, he pulled out the half-alive and half-dead bouquet of Windwheel Asters along with the white box he had been storing away this whole time.
He reached out a hand to try and tame his wild orange locks, checked his breath and tried to straighten his outfit. Even when it all seemed meaningless, he did his best to look even the slightest bit presentable.
Unfortunately he was not immediately greeted by golden orbs instead only to be glared at by none other than the faux pirate knight himself.
“Sir Ajax. You’re still here, I see. I feel so sorry for your secretary.” Kaeya stood before him, smirking.
He glared back. “How- Never mind, is Lumine there? I need to talk to her.” Childe tried to push past him yet he didn’t even budge an inch.
“Only the production crew, performers, and dear friends of the performers are allowed backstage.” Kaeya sneered. “So unless you either one of the three I suggest you-”
“Kaeya?” Childe’s ears perk up at the voice. “Who’re you talking to?”
“Just some thick headed idiot who doesn’t seem to understand the words,” The knight sneered. “Back. Off.”
“Kaeya, I’m sure they don’t mean any ha-” Lumine came to a halt when her eyes met Childe’s. She pulled at her fringe, barely meeting his gaze. “I, um, hi…”
Just a single glance has his heart doing flips, anger instantly dissipating. “Hi.”
Kaeya looked at Lumine then at him, sighing. “Just...Make sure to be back at the quarters before midnight, alright?”
Childe would be the one to have to break that agreement, they had much to talk about after all.
Lumine nodded at him, staring at the retreating captain’s back before peering at him, arms crossed. They stood at almost equal height at that moment, Lumine stood on the steps while he remained rooted to the cobblestone floor. “So…”
He almost forgot the flowers in his hand, deciding to return the box to his void for now. “Here, these are for you. I didn’t have time to pick fresher ones so they’re a little wilted. They’re not as beautiful or as fragrant but-” He clicked his tongue, the mini-speech he had prepared for this very moment immediately thrown out of the window. “Please, just take them.”
“Thank you…” Childe gulped. He was never the type to be so star-struck yet he had trouble forming coherent thoughts inside his mind. “What are you doing here? I thought...you were already back in Liyue.”
“I came here to see you,” Was what he wanted to say but something else came out. “Figured I might as well complete my trip with a bang.”
“I see.” Lumine muttered. “Well, thank you for watching our show. Did you need anything else?”
He let out a deep exhale. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“I want to…” The next word seemed stuck in his throat.
“Want to what?”
“I want-” Godsdamn his pride, “-to apuh, apo…” Swallowing the lump in his throat, he managed to mumble. “Apologize.”
Lumine raised a brow at him. “You don’t sound sincere about it.”
“Will you just please hear me out?”
She glanced behind her. Luckily no one else seemed to notice the odd exchange between her and the Harbinger, though she thought she saw Venti peering from behind the stack of crates on the other side of the stage.
“Fine. But not here.” She didn’t take ahold of his hand like she usually did, a gesture that Chidle completely understood even though it still stung, leading the way to the other side of the plaza.
It was a lot quieter now that the whole city was abuzz below, sounds of laughter and reckless merriment similar to the first time he stepped inside the city gates resounded along the streets.
“Before you start, I want to do something first.”
Childe nodded. “Of course, what is-!” He groaned upon feeling her fist come into contact with his left arm. Normally it wouldn’t hurt this much had he not just been flying, swimming and frantically climbing for the past hour before this.
“That’s for leaving me out to bleed.” Lumine snarled. “And this-” Another punch was thrown at the same exact spot. “Was for being a huge pain in the ass.”
“I deserve that.” He grunted through gritted teeth. “Are you-gah!”
“And you just had to show up at the last minute, right when I was about to puke all over the stage!”
“Okay, okay, I get it.” He didn’t dare grab her hands, waiting for her to calm down until he could hear her heavy breathing. “Did you get all of it out of your system?”
She threw him one last punch before huffing. “Mmm.”
He leaned forward on the cold balcony, relishing how the cool stone felt against his warming skin. “Even if it’s pointless, even if you won’t believe it, I really am sorry.”
Lumine kept silent, prompting him to continue. “I didn’t mean to ruin the rest of the festival for you. I just...really wanted to see you since, well,” He scratched his cheek. “I barely got to see you the whole time during the Lantern Rite.”
“Childe, I-”
“Ajax.”
Lumine sighed. “Childe, I am seriously not in the mood to play one of your little mind games right now.”
He was practically digging his grave at this point. “Ajax is...my real name.”
It took her a second to reply. “Ajax.”
“Yes?”
“Your real name...is Ajax.”
“Yes.”
“So you used your real name, your actual name, mind you,” Lumine’s tone seemed to be a mix of disbelief and teasing. “For a cover name?”
He couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “It’s stupid, I know.”
“You’re telling me, that you were willing for people, the whole of Mondstadt in fact, to know the true name of the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui.”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“I mean, it’s the dumbest undercover tactic I’ve ever heard.”
“Well then what about your name, hm? You never told me you had a last name.” He gave her a side-eye glance. “Unless your name’s not really Lumine Rhiannon.”
“Would you believe me if my real name was Fart McFart of Fartington?”
“Honestly, it suits you a lot better.” Childe got a smack on the shoulder yet again.
The air around them seemed less tense, as Lumine offered him a smile. “So back to your apology.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat, this time around it was his turn to avoid her gaze. Was it him or was it getting hotter again? “What I’m trying to say is, I’m truly sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Lumine made a show to think about it. “Hmm, apology denied.”
Childe blinked. “Huh?”
“It didn’t sound like you were meaning it, therefore I refuse to accept it.” She shrugged.
“What-c’mon girlie!” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m really trying my best here, you know I had to do because-”
“Because you value your family above all, I understand that.” Lumine stared ahead, the corners of her mouth lowering to a frown. “I just...I thought you trusted me enough to make the right choice.”
To put his and his family’s lives in her hands, surrender all he had and lay at her mercy.
Something about that thought made his stomach churn uncomfortably. She was practically asking the impossible from him, this close from falling off the edge yet the very idea of yielding made his skin crawl. Was this the true price to pay for such foolishness?
“Is there anything else that I can do to make it up to you?”
Lumine didn’t utter a single word, instead she attempted to climb atop the stone balcony. Childe looked away right as a gust of wind lifted her skirt a little higher than intended, he may be a cut-throat warrior but he still held the same value of respect for everyone around him.
He opened his eyes to see Lumine’s hand stretch out to him. “One dance.”
And for the umpteenth time that night, he was left dumbfounded. “What?”
“Just give me this one dance, then you can decide whatever comes next.”
He stared at her hand then to the empty space behind her. “You know that the ground is on the other side, right?”
The music from below grew louder as she huffed. “Do you trust me?”
“Lumine-”
“Do you trust me?” She echoed, eyes solely focused on him, intense and striking. Even when she spoke with a stern tone, he could still hear the tremble in her voice. Honestly, this girl, this petite, annoying, beautiful woman was putting up such a tough facade despite the fear that shone in her eyes. To have the courage to offer her hand to the same man that had rejected it three times before and almost killed her twice.
Who was he to deny such a remarkable display of bravery?
Without a word, he takes her hand in his, stepping up to meet her atop the stout column where they stood.
“Don’t let go.” She muttered, taking a step backward. Childe was scared that she would fall, scared that he was gripping on to someone who was about to drop straight down towards the ground.
Yet he forgot that stars twinkled in the sky for a reason.
She stepped backward once, then twice, finding her footing in the empty air. His hand was still gripping her own, though he couldn’t help but look downward. If he were to step, would he be left plummeting below?
“Look at me.” Lumine’s voice rang through his ears, blue eyes drawn in by her twin suns. “Do you trust me?”
He clenched his teeth. Closing his eyes, he took a step-
And Lumine’s hand was still entwined in his.
He didn’t dare open his eyes until Lumine stopped pulling at him. “Chi-um, Ajax, you can open them now.”
Childe marveled at the sight below him. They truly were walking on air, the warm glowing lights of the streets were blurry beneath the familiar glow of Anemo that swirled beneath their feet yet he could still hear the sweet melody of music floating upwards.
“How did…” His remaining inhibitions were thrown out the window once she guided his other hand to wrap around her waist, letting out a small sigh before swaying beneath him.
It took him halfway through the dance to realize that she was the one leading him. She made the first move, dared to take the first step and here he was, a bumbling mess stumbling after her.
His hands cupped her back, moving along to the rhythm of the music. He dared to take her smaller hand in his, gripping it tightly before twirling her around.
She let out a slight giggle, the sound alone left a fire in its wake as it spread all over his chest, to his arms until finally he got the courage to grip her hand in his.
To and fro, they swayed in the air, feet gliding rhythmically as if this was a dance that only the two of them knew. Picking up the pace, he spun her once, then twice, getting drunker and drunker from her voice alone.
Why did he doubt her? Before this dance, before he watched her sing, what was it he was so afraid he had chosen to point his blade at her? Was it the spell she casted over him? Was it the warmth she offered? The light she radiated?
Yet it was that very same light that melded into his touch. Her giggles, her smile, her everything, it was all because he was here, dancing with her.
Her warmth seeped through her gloves, right into his bare palms. The same hand he pushed away was now the same one he was holding so gently. Hers looked so small compared to his and yet...
“So warm...Have they always been?”
Childe let her go once, spinning around, only to be left yearning, immediately clinging to hers once more. The music below slowed down, both of them panting for breath while still standing close to each other.
They dance once again though this time the tempo was a lot slower. Childe suddenly recalls something else that happened that night.
“That night...You wanted to tell me something else, right?”
“Hm?” Lumine hummed. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot…”
“What was it?”
She looks down to the ground. “It’s not important anymore.”
“A little too late to be saying that now, girlie.” He could no longer deny it. “I wanted to be here more than anywhere else, all because of you.”
Lumine buried her face in his chest. “You’re lying.” She muttered, though muffled.
Chidle chuckled. “I swear I’m not.”
“Promise you won’t...run away again?” She looked up at him only for Childe to witness how adorable she looked, completely out of breath, cheeks aglow along with those familiar gold eyes he swear he could get lost in for hours.
“I promise.”
“I had a weird dream before...before that happened.” She let out a sigh. “I somehow met my brother in that dream.”
“Oh?” He’s well aware of her search for her twin brother, that was the exact reason why she was even travelling all around Teyvat in the first place.
“Mhm. In that dream though, he acted differently...Almost like he didn’t want me to be there. He kept mentioning some sort of promise he made, something he had to do before he could come back to me and we’d be able to travel together again.”
It was as though he was coming down from an adrenaline high, slowly crashing down to cold realization.
“I was mostly confused, which is why I wanted to talk to you, but it seemed like that dream was a hint, you know?” She chuckled bitterly.
It finally dawns on him. He pushed her away immediately after she was pushed away by the one person she was desperately searching for. Her brother was the one to pierce her heart, he was the one to twist it and rip the blade right out of it.
He was so wrong. He was absolutely, horrendously, wrong.
Childe couldn’t come up with a reply. In a daze, he stepped away, fingers slipping out of hers. But the moment he let go, his feet stumbled and he felt himself slipping.
‘I deserve as much’ He thought. He deserved to fall straight to the ground, he made her go through all of that alone and even the thought of what he did sickened him to the core.
Yet a pair of arms snaked around his back.
He saw golden eyes gaze at him, devoid of any scorn or hate. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
She had him, gods, she was still holding him so closely to her own body, heart pulsing against his own.
One dance. It only took him one dance to have him plunging deep into the unknown, falling and falling until all he could think of was her.
What once was something so unattainable, something that was out of his reach for so long, now held him with such tenderness he’s never known before.
Even when Lumine helped him stand, he was forced to sink to his knees. “Ajax? ”
He couldn’t find the strength to reply, instead he slowly slipped off the glove with his longer fingers. He could hear Lumine hold her breath as he stared at the wound running across her palm.
The moment his lips kissed her palm, a spark ran up his whole body upon hearing her quiet, yet heavenly mewl.
He was certain now more than ever. His future will forever be binded to her and her alone.
He rose up from his spot, grabbing her by the waist to press a kiss on her forehead. Without letting her go, he bindly grabs for the white box, handing it to her. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you since the Lantern Rite.”
“But, Ajax, what-”
“Just, please open it.” He couldn’t afford her to see him in such a state, if it were possible, his irises would practically be hearts at this point.
Her small gasp was enough for him to know. “Ajax, this is beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you are.” Oh fuck, he was already spewing cheesy pick-up lines, archons help him.
“A little too soon, Ajax.” She laughed. “Help me put it on?” He was quick to follow her request, pulling away slightly but not before pressing another chaste kiss on her forehead. Even with heels she was still so smaller than him, it was as if she was made to be showered with kisses by him.
Lumine looked so complete with the pin placed delicately on her head, dress shimmering in the moonlight. He wasn’t able to notice the crystal flies that had been released earlier that night, but now that he could clearly see them in her eyes, those specks of green and blue that danced within those twin suns of hers, one thing was for sure.
Dancing with her here wrapped in his arms, was a new dream, a completely different path, an unknown future that he was ready to explore.
“Zvedzda moya, my beautiful shining star.”