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Today is another busy day in Liyue Harbour.
It’s not really different from the usual, with ships coming after ships, people crowded in nooks and cranes, along the hustles and bustles that could make waves go numb. But today, it seems like the docking space has been minimized as a somewhat significant space, for the appearance of a large fleet. It’s not hard to know the origin of the said fleet, for the flag of Snezhnaya is flying proudly at the top of the biggest ship.
It’s also not that hard to figure out who is the leader of the fleet, for he is sitting on the cargo right at the foot of it, fiddling with a stick with clear boredom. The Eleventh Fatui Harbinger’s name did not go unheard in all of Liyue, especially when the “incident” involving one specific Geo Archon hasn’t even been a month ago.
A little bit of Childe doesn’t want to go home yet. It’s not like he doesn’t miss his family, Archons knew his love for his family wasn’t that shallow (in a ridiculous way, nonetheless), but still, he yearns to stay, just for a while. Liyue is a beautiful land, filled with sunshine and warmth. And even though he has to painfully admit that he was basically a clown in that one Archon’s play, but then, he still has some prizes to carry home at the end of the day.
The battle with the Traveler was certainly a highlight. Hell, Childe could even call it one of his most satisfying battles so far. That little girl has surpassed his initial expectations, and the feelings are so vivid, that it could make his blood boil every time said memory of this battle resurfaced. It has been so long since he participated in such a battle, and their weekly sparring session is certainly that one tiny (read: huge) reason why he doesn’t want to leave Liyue yet.
The two of them had made a deal, in which the loser had to treat the winner to dinner that day, and somehow after all these sparring sessions, the little loudmouthed fairy had made herself familiar with almost every fancy restaurant in Liyue. Childe didn’t mind paying of course (to be honest, it’s not his money anyway), if it means he gets to meet up with his little lady and fight her, then it’s an extremely profitable investment for him. Besides, his time with her was always filled with excitement, and Childe craved those moments in his life. It’s not a surprise for them to go destroy Hilichurl towers or hunt down Treasure Hoarders while they are together. Not a dull moment passed by when he was with her, and there was more than one occasion when Childe absent-mindedly wanted to ditch everything in the Fatui and accompany her on her adventure.
He casts a glance at the wooden stick in his hands. He had told Lumine about him leaving on their last sparring date and asked her if she would come to see him. Contrary to Paimon’s disappointed face when she realized no one was going to pay for their luxurious meals any longer, the little Traveler only smiled, and answered that maybe, just maybe, she would.
He is well aware that they are having a strange relationship, with the label dangling somewhere between friends and enemies. He would willingly point his weapon at her face at the order of the Tsaritsa, going as far as taking her life without hesitation if victory calls his name. Meanwhile, Lumine is also always ready to raise her sword to plunge through him when the time comes, and of course, she would do it without a moment of uncertainty. But for now, they still have a weekly sparring practice, he paying for their weekly meal, or strolling alongside her in Liyue’s chilling nights. Childe even trusts his little brother in her care more than his Fatui underlings, and that alone has proven many unsaid things in his mind.
(And also that invitation to his home. A moment of impulsiveness, but he’s not going to talk about that though).
Does Childe know he is entering a dangerous zone?
Yes, he does.
Is he willing to step back? Of course not. He lives for those daring moments anyway.
“Tartaglia.”
He looks up smiling.
“Good morning, ojou-chan.”
Lumine actually came. The corner of her lips curls up, she chooses to sit on the cargo next to him.
“Bored?”
“Yep. Bored.” He shrugs. “I literally have nothing to do. Can’t really go out there and load cargos as a Harbinger, am I right?”
She nods, seemingly agreeing with his words. After all that had happened, including him dropping a few whales bonus some stabbings, it is a surprise that she can still address him with such calmness. Childe kind of impresses with her skill of walking on that thin gray line – perfectly balanced, to be honest.
“So, when will all this packing be done?” Lumine asks, golden orbs glancing around the busying dock.
The Harbinger mumbles. “Let's see, some more hours? I need to find something to do or else…”
His line of sight falls on Lumine’s pretty flowers, pinned neatly on her hair. He has never seen the flowers anywhere in Teyvat – at least there is none in Snezhnaya and Liyue, and probably so is Mondstadt. They seem fragile, but he knows for a fact that they have been on his pretty lady’s golden locks through many battles – even when she defeated a dragon, plunged a castle down an ancient sea monster, and beat Childe in his Delusion form. Such fearsome strength for two little flowers, he thinks. Speaking of pretty little things staying on those silky golden locks, he does think that a hairpin would be perfect for the girl. And although Childe has enough Mora in his pocket to buy all the loveliest hairpins in all of Liyue Harbor, he somehow wants to do something different. It will be a long time before their next encounter, so maybe something more, hm, sincerely, would be more suitable for the occasion.
“So, ojou – chan, do you mind staying with me for now?” He needs some time to work this out, and if Lumine only comes by to see him for a few minutes, then this whole plan is already screwed.
The traveller raises her brows at the young Harbinger. It’s not like she has anything to do today, since Paimon is still sleeping soundly at their inn, basically, she is having a free day to herself. So Lumine nods, indicating that she is true could wait for him.
“I have nothing on my hands today anyways.” She adds.
“Wonderful.” Childe smiles.
This won’t take much time, or so he hopes. To be honest, he has never tried to do this ever before.
He searches wildly in his sachets laying next to the cargos, then magically pulls out a block of sandalwood. Lumine can only stare dumbfounded when she sees Childe form a small water knife in his hand, the other still holding onto the piece of wood. With the concentration he usually puts in when he goes fishing on ice back in his hometown, he starts the process of carving the wood, seemingly forgetting about everything.
And though Lumine doesn’t quite understand what the Eleventh Harbinger is doing, but then just as she said, she is free today. So she decided that sitting on the cargo and admiring the harbour view was not a bad idea at all, except for some not-so-friendly glances from certain Fatui members. But that doesn’t make her too concerned, after all, she is still stationed next to their master for all that matter.
Childe had heard somewhere the saying “Experience is the best teacher”, but he certainly didn’t think it could be applied to the current situation. He usually doesn’t do the carving, save for the exception of making carrot flowers for his little sister, but he has to admit that the process is going absolutely smoothly.
Thank you, my hands. You have been a great help.
“Finished! Look, ojou – chan!” He is practically beaming when he shows the traveler his accomplishment.
A small wooden hairpin sits innocently in his palm, shining under the sunlight, and radiating with Hydro energy. Soften enough to be comfortable when decorating someone’s hair, but also harden enough to endure many battles. Childe even went as far as to carve two little flowers onto the pin, the same flowers that Lumine is wearing on her hair.
He takes her hand in his and gently places the hairpin into her hand.
“Here, a parting gift for you. Just in time, perhaps?”
Lumine admires the hairpin before her eyes, then peeks at Childe.
“I didn’t bring you any gift though, Tartaglia.”
“I don’t need any gift, ojou – chan.” He cracks his knuckles, voice laces with fondness. “The weekly sparring sessions were more than enough.”
And those dinners. The wanderings around the harbour. The toy factory adventure with Teucer. And so, so many small commissions were done together.
Childe quietly laughs. Yes, those are more than enough for him. He also doesn’t think that the hairpin is going to nest nicely on his pretty lady’s hair, but hey, one can always dream, right?
The female traveler hesitates for a moment before beginning to secure the hairpin up her hair. She puts it under the flowers with competence, hiding the pin in plain sight. Then, Lumine tilts her head, showing the result to Childe.
“How about this? It won’t fall off this way. Pretty nice. Isn’t it?”
Childe literally freezes. He couldn’t believe that Lumine would actually use the pin, since yeah, a gift from a Harbinger who had tried to drop a (few) whales on her made in a whim is honestly not the best gift ever. Also considering their positions in the whole story, sparring weekly and paying for meals could pass, but receiving a sincere gift? That is left for debate. Really.
“We are friends, after all,” Lumine says, barely above a whisper.
But he hears it. He doesn’t know how to react to that, nor how much truthfulness his pretty lady put into those words, but at the moment, when he is about to leave Liyue, he decides that he’ll trust her words.
So yeah, they are friends. A thinly-veiled friendship, but still friends, nonetheless.
He’ll contend with this for now.