Chapter Text
It's been months since Rex Lapis' Rite of Passing. Months trying to get into Inazuma but to no luck. Honestly, it makes Lumine want to bash her head against a wall. Unfortunately, she's been using the time to preoccupy herself with work until she could find a way into Inazuma.
"Um, Lumine?" Paimon pipes up. "Don't you think you're overworking yourself just a liiittle bit too much?"
"This is a good way to earn money and to spend our time until we find a way to get to Inazuma," she replies, letting out an exhausted sigh the moment she sits down.
"Yeah! But not if you're doing eight commissions a day!" Paimon huffs, pointing at her face. "And you haven't slept in weeks! It's seriously making Paimon concerned!"
"I've been getting enough sleep just fine," she swats Paimon's finger away. She does sleep, but lately, she's just been so… restless. Sleep doesn't come to her easily anymore—never has since she lost Aether, but it probably got worse after the battle with Osial.
"Paimon thinks Lumine is overworking herself!" Paimon bluntly says, her hands on her hips as she gives Lumine a scolding glare. She tries not to look at it. "Paimon understands that doing nothing won't help us get to Inazuma, but so won't a dead Lumine!"
"I'm not going to die Paimon…" she says wearily.
"Oh? Is that a certain someone I see~?" A familiar obnoxious voice calls out. Lumine's eyes snap wide open. She turns her head at the source of the voice, her eyes lock onto familiar ocean eyes. Childe's face breaks out into a grin, "Hey there girlie, it's been a while since we've met hasn't it?"
“It’s you!” Paimon points out. “Quick! Tell Lumine she’s overworking herself that she’s gonna die!”
Childe’s eyes wrinkle in amusement and let out a little snicker. “Well I certainly hope not, we still have a rematch to settle after all~!” He says before taking an actual look at her. “On second thought, you do look rather worse for wear.”
“Thanks.” Lumine deadpans.
“My pleasure~!” Childe chirps and Lumine groans. “You should be taking better care of yourself y’know?” He pokes between her eyebrows, grinning when Lumine’s face scrunches up. There’s a shift in Childe’s eyes—it’s a tiny shift, but something Lumine saw nonetheless. It looks like… concern. “After all, we can’t have you dying before our final battle! I won’t allow it!”
Ah, Childe’s battle declarations. Lumine hates the fact that they no longer weirded her out. Instead, she started finding them more… endearing? She looks up at Childe smiling pleasantly at her. Lumine’s heart does a questionable ‘thump’ and maybe she does think she’s dying.
Ugh, curse Childe’s stupidly boyish face and his eccentric vows that Lumine somehow found endearing and sweet.
She swats his finger away and averts her gaze, chalking up the fluttering in her chest as her body finally giving up on her. "I’ll still be able to kick your ass even when I’m sleep-deprived,” She huffs, something warm settles in her chest when she elicits a small chuckle from him. “What are you doing back in Liyue?" She asks, almost in an accusatory tone. Childe holds up his hands in defense.
"Relax girlie, I'm not here to stir up any trouble. Yet," he winks at her, smiling with more mirth when she glares even harder at him. "I'm actually here to pick something up before I return to Snezhnaya."
Lumine blinks, squinting to read his body language for any lies but finds none. It did interest her why Childe was being sent back, from what he has told her he was always placed far away from his homeland because of the amount of attention he always manages to gather. "You're going back again?"
"Indeed," he nods, then he leans in closer to her, his grin gets wider when a blush crawls on her face. "Why? Sad that you're going to miss me~?"
Lumine rolls her eyes, one hand placed on his chest to push him away from her personal space. "You wish," she lightly scoffs before looking at him again. "But didn't you return to Snezhnaya the day after Teucer left?"
A month ago, Lumine met Teucer, a little stowaway from Snezhnaya on his quest to find his big brother. Honestly, he was one of the cutest and innocent kids Lumine has ever gotten to meet. She has already fallen in love with the little boy before she even knew it. The fact he trusted her from the very start and looked up to his big brother with so much admiration made her want to wrap the boy up and shield him from the world.
So to find out this angel of a boy is related to Childe of all people was equally surprising and not once she connected the resemblances.
Lumine doesn't trust Childe, hasn't trusted him since the very beginning he announced himself as one of the Fatui's Harbingers. Her opinion of him was always negative; granted he always painted himself in the limelight as the bad guy.
So to put Lumine in the care of his little brother—someone that she knows he cherishes with all his heart, would go through such lengths to protect him—was… strange.
Their relationship is complicated. Their fight at the Golden House and respectful jobs left a sour tone between them, and yet, Childe always manages to find a way to complicate things even further. It still confused Lumine just what they are. Enemies? Rivals? Friends? She just could never get a wrap of what they were, perhaps this was another factor for her restlessness.
Lumine witnessed a whole different side of Childe that she and Paimon weren't expecting. He doted on Teucer, willing to go all out to keep up the act that in his brother's eyes that he was a toy-seller. Childe was even begging for them to help him continue this act, even risking his body by using Foul Legacy again, just to protect Teucer's dreams.
It… it was actually sweet of him.
Childe's unconditional love for his family and to let children continue to dream and have their innocence? Lumine finds herself—where she'll never admit it out loud—admiring that aspect of him.
Childe was no longer just Childe: Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui Harbingers to her. He was Childe—Tartaglia and whatever other names he has in his pockets—a Harbinger, but a family man, doting big brother, and defender of childhood dreams.
Lumine has to respect that at the very least. Even from someone as battle-hungry as Childe.
At the mention of his brother, Childe scratched the back of his head. "I did, he was quite disappointed though that I didn't bring 'Miss Nice Lady' back home, even tried to make me promise him to bring her back the next time I see her." He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "And then Anton and Tonia started ganging up on me. Kids right?" He sheepishly laughs.
A fond smile makes its way on her face, imagining the scenario of Childe's three siblings gathering around him with puppy-dog eyes, begging for a stranger that they've only read in letters, to come home to them. It honestly makes her a little prideful in that fact. "Sounds like to me I'm starting to become their new favorite person, even beating the 'greatest toy-seller'." She says cheekily.
"Hey now, don't push your luck," Childe playfully growls. "Anton and Tonia are just a little envious of Teucer for seeing you first. Besides, Teucer keeps hyping them up with that promise you guys made, a little reminder," he winks at her.
Lumine rolls her eyes, a slight smile on her face. "I'm going to fulfill that promise." She says with confidence. "After all, I eventually have to go to Snezhnaya at one point, though who knows how long that'll be?"
"Why not come now?" Childe asks so suddenly that Lumine almost got whiplash from how hard her neck snapped. Luckily Paimon spoke the words right out of her mouth.
"Isn't it dangerous for us to be at Snezhnaya right now? You're trying to get us killed!" Paimon accuses. Ok, maybe she didn't speak the words out of her mouth.
Childe raises his hands. "Killed? Quite the contrary!" He places a hand over his chest, a gesture that Lumine noticed that he always does when he's being truthful. "As I said before, I don't resort to those sorts of methods. Besides, I’d never want you dead."
"The fight at the Golden House says otherwise," Paimon says crossly.
"Kinda an unfair comparison don't you think? And I thought we've long past that." Childe sheepishly scratches the back of his head. Then he turns toward Lumine, a serious expression settles on his face. "Let me just get straight to the point: I came back to pick you up. I would like for you to come back home with me."
Lumine blinks. Once. Twice.
Then she just feels her brain fry.
That… that kind of proposition could be taken out of context so badly it makes Lumine want to combust on the spot.
"Ah let me clarify," Childe speaks up once he sees the bewildered expression on her face. "My parents will be out of town by the time I go back to Snezhnaya, leaving me in the care of my little siblings." Wait a minute. Why does this feel familiar?
"Trust me, I wouldn't hesitate to drop my duties if it meant some time with my siblings, but unfortunately I got some loose ends to tie up back home and I'm not comfortable with leaving my siblings with my subordinates so…"
Lumine stares Childe dead in the eyes. "So you're making me babysit. Again. Really now?"
Never in all her years of traveling would Lumine think she would be having to look over her rival's younger siblings. And she thought some of the commissions she had to do was weird.
Childe claps his hands in a prayer gesture, even bowing his head slightly down. "I know it's a crazy request, but when I said that I was at ease knowing that Teucer was in your care, I truly meant that and there's no doubt that in my mind that you would be great with Tonia and Anton."
Her eye twitches, either from exhaustion or from irritation. Maybe both. But Childe was definitely trying to butter her up and god damn it, she feels her will slipping away already. Lumine places her hands on her hips, half-glaring at him. “And what makes you think I’m not busy with my own things?”
Childe hums, tapping his chin with his finger. “Well for starters, you’ve been here for what? Months now? And still haven’t found a way to Inazuma? Which I don’t blame you for, hell, it’s even hard for us Fatui to seek entry in for business purposes.” He smirks at her grumbling about him finding out about her predicament. “And besides, I think even the glorious hero of Mondstadt deserves a little break every now and again~”
“Lumine does deserve a break,” Paimon pipes up, nodding along. Lumine stares at her, just who’s side are you on?! Paimon catches her staring and huffs, “Don’t look at Paimon like that! Paimon may not agree to Childe wanting to take us back to Snezhnaya to babysit, but Paimon agrees that Lumine deserves a vacation!”
“Babysitting hardly counts as a vacation.” Lumine points out. “Also why are you making it seem like I’m agreeing to go in the first place?”
“Welll,” Paimon draws out, awkwardly laughing. “If you babysat for Childe that would mean he would pay lots of mora right?” She wisely looks away from Lumine’s raised eyebrow stare. Childe chuckles at the scene.
“Oh don’t worry about that, I fully plan on paying you for your services regardless.” Paimon lets out a little triumph ‘yes!’ and Lumine stares at him with a tired expression. Childe continues, “I won’t argue with you about that, but I promise it’ll be more relaxing than taxing.”
Then his gaze becomes much softer, exposed. It catches Lumine’s attention immediately, feeling like she’s now in the spotlight. “You have every right to not take it, and I’m well aware that I have no right to be speaking let alone request such a thing. But I ask for you to consider, if not for me but for the little ones?” Then he tilts his head, puppy-dog blue eyes staring into hers just begging. If Lumine squints hard enough she could probably see imaginary dog ears flat on his head.
He seems pretty desperate to get me to accept, Lumine muses. They have this staring contest for a good few seconds before Lumine sighs.
“...just as long as there’s no abandoned Ruin Guard facility I have to chase Teucer through…” She mumbles, turning away when she can practically feel Childe’s gaze at her, all surprised and in awe. God damn it. When did she grow so soft? For Childe of all people?
“Great!” He beams a little bit too enthusiastically for her liking. She makes the mistake of peeking at him because she catches a glimpse of his gaze, much softer, more real. It makes Lumine’s stupid heart skip a beat. “Thank you, truly this means a lot to me,” Childe sincerely says.
“I’m not doing it for you.” Though a little nagging voice hits her in the back of her mind; who was she doing it for? Teucer? Herself? Whatever made her agree, she refuses to believe it was because of Childe. “When are we leaving?”
“Hm? Oh, tonight,” Wait, w—
“What?!” Paimon screeches in on Lumine’s behalf, she pinches the bridge of her nose. “And you’re just telling us now of all days?!” At least Childe has the decency to look ashamed, or at least somewhat. This guy…
“Well there’s still plenty of time left, and it has been a while since we’ve hung out.” He gives her a lop-sided grin. “So how about it? Got any commissions you still need help with? Any enemies you need slaughtering? Hilichurls? Treasure Hoarders? Our own Fatui agents?”
"Why is that last one even an option?!" Lumine asks, bewildered. Childe edges in closer and closer to Lumine’s personal space, getting a little too pumped up with each suggestion. Lumine takes a step back, pushing Childe away from her again. "And before you continue, I've already done all my commissions for today." Lumine quietly huffs.
"Ah, that's no fun~!" Childe pouts like a disappointed toddler, putting his hands in his pocket. "We should still go out and adventure around for the time being, come on girlie don't you want to see how much stronger I've gotten~?"
"Stop trying to get Lumine to fight more already you nasty Fatui Harbinger!" Paimon shrieks, flying over the Childe with her tiny fists ready to whack him on the head. It does nothing to hurt him, of course, but it's amusing nonetheless.
"Alright alright!" Childe laughs, barely even attempting to shield off Paimon's tiny fist blows before looking back at Lumine. "Are you guys hungry? We can go get something to eat before we depart, my treat." He offers and Lumine's half-tempted to take it because she would be a fool to refuse a free meal.
But if she was going to meet Teucer and the rest of his siblings…
She looks up at the sky, the sun about to set.
"I'll pass," Lumine replies, shocking both Paimon and Childe. "There's one more thing I need to do before the sun fully sets—and you can’t come along!” She rushes out as soon as Childe even opens his mouth to suggest. She’d have to do this without him knowing, as dubious as it sounds.
Childe blinks, his eyes assessing her as if trying to figure out her behavior. "Fine, let's meet up at Northland Bank. I got some gifts for you to prepare for the harsh coldness of Snezhnaya." He then leans down closer to her face, his ocean gaze piercing into hers. "Remember: the ship to Snezhnaya departs tonight, and I would rather not resort to having to track you down girlie." his tone gets darker, his gaze sharper, more threatening even if subtle. It makes Lumine tense up, muscle memory wanting her to be in a defensive position but she forces herself to stay calm. He thankfully pulls back, playful smile back on his face. "Unless you're asking for it. I'll be happy to provide of course~"
“I’ll be there before the boat leaves, no need to threaten me.” Lumine’s frown deepens hearing him hum, almost like he didn’t fully believe her. It annoyed her a little bit.
“If you say so~ Just remember girlie, I’m expecting to see you at our spot before night falls so you better not be late.” He begins to walk away from her, stopping to look back, “Oh, one more thing! There’s one condition I need you to fulfill once we’re in Snezhnaya.”
Lumine raises an eyebrow, immediately suspicious. Childe continues, “How do I put this? But I need you to not get involved with our business. I’ll turn a blind eye now, but I can’t have you running amok in prime Fatui territory.”
“I think you’re mistaking me for yourself in terms of running amok.” Childe laughs at that.
“Fair! But really, to paint a lesser target on yourself and my family it’s best not to get involved. Don’t be the Traveler, hero of Mondstadt, and defender of Liyue. Just be… you,” He gestures vaguely toward her. What the hell does that mean?
“But I’m already me?” She asks, tilting her head. Childe sighs, turning back to face her.
“What I mean is: don’t think about your duties or any obligations you feel like you need to complete. Surely you were someone before you were a hero. Not Lumine the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, just Lumine.” Lumine freezes, and at that moment she’s brought back to a time before Teyvat. When she was just someone traveling the stars with her brother, exploring worlds, laughing carefree with Aether by her side.
She misses those times.
Without realizing it, a wistful expression glazes over her face. Childe sees this and visibly softens his gaze. “I know how it feels to have your title be the weight on your shoulders. After a while it gets tiring doesn’t it?” His tone is so tender that it stops the initial protest Lumine had. She would be lying to say she wasn’t exhausted for being wrapped up in so much drama just to find the Seven. Just to find her brother.
Always turning up empty on any leads. Always expecting to lend a helping hand—which she will always offer regardless. But truthfully, when’s the last time she ever got to unwind? To be careless as she always was with Aether? Too long, it’s been far too long…
She knows she won’t stop searching all over Teyvat for him, but she can practically hear Aether scolding her for not taking better care of herself. Aether would want her to take a break, even if it meant losing time she could have been using to look for him.
Lumine’s lips press into a thin line, then she looks up at Childe with a firm gaze. “Fine. But under the circumstances where the kids are involved, I’ll do what I must in order to protect them. Even if it involves the Fatui.”
His smile widens, almost like he was pleased with her answer. Childe goes to ruffle her hair, ignoring her little indignant squawk ‘Hey!’. “I’ll hold you to that girlie~ And don’t worry, the Fatui won’t bother my family. They know the repercussions if they did, so the same will be applied to you if you're around them."
“That’s reassuring,” Lumine brushes his hand away, fixing her hair, ignoring the feeling in her chest of missing his warmth already. Was she really that touched-starved or just exhausted beyond relief? “Are you done threatening me now?” Even if it hasn’t been long into their conversation, every bit of time was precious if she wanted to get what she needed.
“So you’re just going to leave little o’ me with nothing left to do?” He playfully feigns hurt. “And after coming all this way for you~” Lumine rolls her eyes, fighting off the natural urge to smile at his playful behavior.
“You’re Childe, you can find something to do without me like, I don’t know… Harbinger things...” Childe lets out this bark of a laugh, almost surprising Lumine at how genuine it was. Then again, everything Childe does can surprise her even when she expects it. “Tonia and Anton… what are they like?”
His eyes immediately light up and it’s kinda endearing to see this proud expression on his face when he starts talking about his other siblings.
It’s very endearing actually.
“Not as mischievous as Teucer for sure! They’re good kids, you’ll love them. Tonia’s my little princess, a sweet and clever girl really. Anton’s a pretty serious kid who tries to do things by himself, but that’s because he’s trying to stop me from babying him.” Childe whispers in a low tone like he was dropping the dirtiest secret to her. “Never going to happen by the way, but you didn’t hear that from me~” He badly winks at her on purpose and Lumine has to stifle the little snort she almost lets out.
But a tiny smile does make a way up on her face and Childe’s eyes twinkle with mirth to seeing that.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to do whatever it is you need to do,” He waves his hand. “Don’t forget to meet up at our spot, and don’t be late or else~!” There’s this little teasing smirk on his face that she so badly wants to wipe off, but as the metaphorically bigger person, she doesn’t and opts to just turn around and start walking away.
Paimon’s immediately by her side. “Why’d you refuse Childe’s lunch offer?!” She whines. Lumine tunes out her floating companion’s complaints, already pretty used to it.
“Well, you could have gone with him if you were that hungry.”
“Paimon would rather not eat all alone with Mr. Moneybags…” She says, slightly pouting. “What could be more important than food?”
“As I said before, there’s something I want to do before we leave. Though I wish he didn’t tell us so last minute,” Lumine mutters the last sentence under her breath. Seriously, who does that? But even so, why her specifically? Surely just because she helped out looking over Teucer once doesn’t mean she qualified as a go-to babysitter.
“Oh yeah! What is it that you’re going to do?” Paimon asks, tilting her head.
“A little something,” Lumine hums, her hand already touching a waypoint. Since Childe’s siblings are aware of her to the point that Teucer was able to recognize her from letters, it’s only fair that she acknowledges that she has heard of them in her own way right? After all, she’s going to be looking after Childe’s siblings for a few days, it’d be best to get along with them.
Taking a break from commissions. From finding any clues about the whereabouts of her brother. Spending these next couple of days with someone else’s family in an attempt to unwind for once. It was all so surreal.
“You want to help me pick out some gifts?” Paimon’s eyes lit up excitingly as she began to chatter away with the possibilities that range from simple things to the most mundane items.
Lumine hopes she won’t regret her choices.