Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Marry me."

They are in the midst of their weekly spar, slashing and slicing into each other relentlessly, trying to outsmart the other and achieve victory. Winning, it’s always about overtopping the other, reaching the goal just a bit faster, doing just a bit better. 

Childe's clearly enjoying the provided thrill—his barren eyes filled with a rushing turmoil that isn’t always visible. He’s seamlessly switching between weapons, calling out to her and laughing aloud. She doesn’t mind. It’s the only time she truly sees him alive, breathing, dreaming, hoping . Yet, she’s glad that he’s enjoying their battles.

He's, after all, the one who constantly drags her into the spars, ignoring her refusals (although, she ends up enjoying most of their fights anyway, unable not to).

So, she must admit to being a bit baffled once the man—whilst dodging her sword, twisting his body to the side—casually utters these words.

She doesn't stop in her movements though, unsure if he might be trying to trick her into letting her guard down.

(Although she knows he isn't into underhanded tricks. Lumine is the one more likely to pull them because Childe likes confrontation and she loves keeping things tidy and quiet).

Stepping onto her heel, she twirls around and dashes straight at him, their weapons clash against each other, echoing in the large room, creating a buzz of elemental energy trying to outlive each other.

Then she carefully lifts her gaze to meet his and blinks. 

Oh .

His proposal is spoken in earnest.

"Childe," she starts but he raises an eyebrow at her. Lumine sighs.

"Tartaglia," she corrects herself to which he smirks like the idiot he is, "we are enemies."

Which, to be fair, should be something he knows without her having to point it out. Which is something that cannot be changed nor go on unnoticed—yet here they are. 

Unimpressed, Childe keeps staring at her. "And?"

Ah, that man. He's truly impossible. And obtuse. 

"We are fated to kill each other." She speaks these words slowly, trying to make sure that he really understands them.

Fated might be a strong word for it, but neither of them can allow themselves to be delusional about it—one day, one of them will fall at the other's hands. And it won’t be a kind day for both of them. So, they should just make it easier for themselves, keep that distance that they have maintained for so, so long now. 

But Childe grins at her, kind of warm and a bit sharp—just like him after a spar, or when he’s reading letters from his family.

(Isn’t it weird? He reads them aloud to her when they have a meal together, not caring the slightest that she’s his enemy.

“What are you fretting about, pretty girl? We both know you wouldn’t harm them.”

“Do we now?”

“Of course, you are just the same as me, after all. You would start wars for your family.”

You are starting a war for your family , is left unsaid between them.)

"That's exactly why we should marry—our time together is limited. So, we shouldn't waste it."

She sighs. There’s no changing his mind off that notion it seems.

"Alright, presuming we marry—what then?"

He waits for her continuation.

"Either I'll kill you or you will kill me? What after you kill me—your wife ?"

Childe's face lits up like fireworks in the sky, eyes blazing with excitement.

"Then I'm a widowed man," he tells her as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

To him it probably is. And that’s, unfortunately, one of the things that she adores about him. 

"No one else will date you once they hear you murdered your wife, " she points out. He smiles even wider.

"I don't need anyone else, my beloved."

That’s bullshit. She tells him as much.

“Be realistic, Childe. We are going to try and murder each other in cold blood at some point. Marriage with me won’t be worth it. Plus what will you do when you meet someone you can actually love in peace? Kill me sooner?”

She knows she’s being harsh, but something about the whole thing seems to aggravate her nerves easily. 

Except the other is suddenly eerie silent and when she stares at him, a serious and somewhat scary grimace rests on his face.

“Lumine,” he speaks up and her eyes widen before narrowing—he rarely uses her first name. “Shut up.”

That’s a bit unexpected since usually, she’s the one muttering these words.

Seeing her subtle flinch, he relaxes and sighs. “Love in peace? Where did you get that bullshit, pretty girl? Come on, you know me better than that.”

Then he grins at her and she’s suddenly reminded that they are still in the midst of a battle —he dashes towards her, blades drawn out and bloodthirst swirling like mania in his eyes. Lifting her sword, she dodges his blades and sweeps to the side, escaping being cut down.

“Plus, really, who could be more worthy of my affections than you?”

Ah. That idiot.

He's always like that—making her heart beat faster with his unpredictable declarations. She can already imagine Paimon's reaction.

Moving out of the way of an attack, she twirls around and grabs Childe's arm. He's letting her—expecting an answer.

She stares directly into his eyes, into the depthless abyss. Marrying that man would mean falling—never finding a ground to drop onto. It's not something she should desire. Anyone would warn her off of it. Desire to fall is the desire of the uncertain, it is something that could break or make one. So, she really shouldn’t desire him.

But Lumine does anyway.

"Alright," she speaks up and stares at him, "let's get married."

There it is. The mood around them shifts and her heart’s trying to escape her ribcage at that point. She can't bring herself to look away from the other. Something in his gaze lits up and he smiles at her—her heart clenches at how genuinely happy and relieved he seems. That’s more than enough sincerity for her. They might be threading a thin, thin line but this gaze alone reassures her—they are going to make it out fine, maybe a bit battered but fine. 

"But you better be prepared to spoil me,” she adds on, getting a bit overwhelmed by genuine affection visibly directed at her. 

And then, without a warning, he drops his blades in one moment and before Lumine can progress anything, she’s up in the air. He's holding her up by the waist, staring into her eyes, grinning brightly. 

She can’t talk. Utter one single word. Say something.

She can’t.

His happiness, those eyes, that smile.

Childe is cruel, that’s a fact she won’t argue with. He’s a harbinger, after all, there’s a lot of blood on his hands (on hers as well though, so she never brings up the murders with him). His gaze is desolate, lacking a lively shine—makes him see dead and beyond salvation.

But she’s seen him interact with his brother.

Seen him smile so brightly, so alive.

"The whole world," he tells her with undeniable conviction in his tone. "I'm going to give you the whole world."

Lumine and her brother have conquered many worlds, a number unimaginable for him—and yet. They have wandered so many, many planets and fought so many, many wars. Gotten so much out of all those worlds.

And yet.

His offer containing one meekly world fills her with more excitement than anything the rest of the universe had ever offered her. 

Caressing his cheek gently, she smiles at him—the first smile that day, no, that week. It’s not lost on him. Lovingly, they gaze at each other.

And then, as if practiced a thousand times, he lets go of her to gather his blades as she twists around for a good landing whilst summoning her sword.

They glance at each other, something boiling.

Without wasting a second, they dash at each other, grins on their faces and eyes filled with thrilling excitement.

They have to celebrate the good news properly, after all. 

Paimon’s reaction is as much as Lumine expected.

The tiny girl blinks, eyes wide with confusion swirling in them before her brain catches up.

“Wait what?”

“What do you mean you’re getting married?!”

And because Childe has always been and always will be a bastard, he chooses that moment, to dramatically lift her up into a bridal carry whilst smirking at her companion. Paimon huffs at that action, glaring with as much wrath as possible at the harbinger.

(Both found it to be rather cute instead of as threatening as it probably should have been.)

“Paimon thinks this is a terrible idea!”

Both Lumine and Childe stare at each other for a moment. The Fatui harbinger shrugs his shoulders. There’s no visible reaction from Lumine.

But both look at Paimon and nod.

“Yeah, it probably is.”

“It is.”

Paimon shrieks at them before erupting into a chain of complaints. 

(Under the dawn she falls even more and more into the depths of his hollow eyes, markings on her skin and sweet promises on his tongue, both reach out, letting the quiet light coat them gently, like a warm blanket.

"It has to be you," he tells her, positioned under her, staring up at her glowing golden eyes, "anyone... anyone else won't do."

He sounds so sincere, so raw. Unlike him.

She smiles, as warm and genuine as possible, and grabs onto his hand, interweaving their fingers before lifting his arm and kissing the inside of his wrist. His breath stutters. She closes her eyes as she holds onto his hand.

Almost as if she's desperately praying for something.

"It can only be you," she tells him," for no one else knows how to carve my heart out of my chest.")

Chapter Text

"Even if I kill you or you kill me," he mutters, wrapping his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face into her nape, his hair tickling her in the process. "At least we'd be forever each other's."

Oh.

She blinks and his arms tighten. It doesn't hurt.

They are sitting on the ground, just having sparred for a bit. Childe has always been affectionate but after his, well, proposal he turned it up. It took a bit to get used but eventually, she did.

Admittingly, she might have agreed to the marriage but she was always a bit uncertain about his reasons—no doubt they were sincere but why?  

This explains it.

"Archons," she mumbles as she lays her hands over his, "you're too possessive."

She wasn't better though—a large part of herself wanted this just as much as he did.

"Can you blame me?" He shots back. "Look at you—who wouldn't want you?"

She sighs. "Come on, everyone's too afraid to stare at me nowadays. They are convinced you'd track them down."

She can feel his lips form into a smirk.

"Glad to see that they know."

"Childe," she chides.

He only grins in reply. 

They sit in silence for a bit before the harbinger shifts and tugs at her, until she turns around to face him.

The expression on his face is unusual, gentle in a way that she rarely gets to see.

"Would… would you mind if we get married in Snezhnaya?"

She stills and stares at him. His eyes don't leave her but she can tell he's getting nervous at her silence.

Lumine nods her head, "It's okay. I don't mind."

He looks relieved at that—no doubt, wanting to have his family there for such a joyous, rare experience.

She wishes Aether was there for a moment, her heart aching quietly. She loathes it a bit, this unbearable pain. Smoothing her expression, she hopes Childe doesn't notice.

The hand clutching hers though, tells her otherwise.

"Lumine… let's have a second ceremony after you find Aether."

She looks up, shock is written all over her before twisting into something sad. "Thank you, Childe… but it's ok. I…" I might not survive until then. Or you. 

The words won't leave her mouth.

But he hears them nonetheless.

"We will," he tells her, confident. He truly believes it. What changed his opinion so suddenly?

"... Alright, let's do it."

He smiles at her and her heart stops for a moment.

(Their limbs are entangled. Neither minds, moving closer to each other, seeking warmth.

"Want to do it next month," he asks her as she moves to hide her face in his chest.

"Sure… Childe?"

He moves a hand onto her head, his fingers weaving through the strands.

"Yeah?"

"... Will I be alright in Snezhnaya? I mean… the Fatui…"

He stills and for a moment she can feel her heart drop.

Then he moves to lift her head gently, so she has no choice but to stare into his eyes. They are serious and cold.

But not unkind.

"Without a doubt, I promise, Lumine."

She learns to breathe again at that moment.)

Snezhnaya's cold doesn't reach her not when Tartaglia is holding onto her hand, humming quietly. They are on a Fatui boat but no one is paying her any attention—doing so would incur the wrath of the 11th Harbinger, after all. She's been a bit nervous about the boat ride but her fiance promised her she'll be fine. 

"Almost there," he tells her, a bright grin etched on his face. 

Right, he must be happy about this. He hasn't seen his family for months now. She smiles at that thought. Lumine is glad for him.

"Ah, you're as cute as always when you smile."

A faint blush settles on her cheeks.

"Childe…"

His eyes are sparkling, sincerity in them. He’s been quite overjoyed in the past months, holding onto her whenever possible, humming songs, and playing out theatrics to make her laugh. She is truly grateful to be able to experience that side of him. 

Tightening her own hold onto his hand, the traveler stares up at the sky and sighs. 

“Are you alright?”

“Just thinking about stuff.”

Stuff being the harbinger’s family. 

Maybe she was fine pretending this will go well despite their affiliations for the past months but now where they are approaching closer to the moment where she’ll meet his family, it all comes crashing down. 

What if they meet her… and don’t like her?

Childe loves his family. He cherishes them beyond everything and there’s no guessing what he’ll do if they don’t like her. Call off the marriage? Even go as far as to end any form of contact they have? Lumine doesn’t think she could handle that—not now, not when she’s letting herself hope that this will turn out okay, that she can have and keep this.

“Stop it, Lumi. They’ll like you just fine.”

She blinks and stares up at the man, confused. 

He grins at her. “In fact, I believe they are going to love you. So, no worries!”

“... But—”

“No buts! I’d know! My family!”

Well, she can’t argue with that but still. The feeling of anxiety won’t leave.

“...And they are going to be your family too now.”

She bits her lips. 

(Hope’s building up in her, twirling and asking to be let out. She’s not sure if she should let it be.)

“... Plus honestly, it’s not like they expected me out of all people to get married.”

She stills at that. “Childe… ?”

There’s an expression on his face which she sees rarely. It tugs at her heartstrings. 

“I myself can’t really believe it,” he eventually tells her, sighing. “Really, Lumi, you’re like an angel… will you vanish when I close my eyes and open them again?”

Then he smirks at her. “Or have I caged you to the point that you can’t escape?”

That’s just how he is .

Everything, he’ll tackle on, without doubt, ready to beat it down. But what he hides behind Tartaglia or Childe? It just seems to be difficult for him. Almost impossible.

So, she’ll have to draw him out again.

She leans in and bites his nose.

He flinches and then narrows his eyes at her, ready to question her.

But Childe halts, all annoyance gone.

Lumine is smiling at him, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Look! That’s more like you.”

Oh.

A smile forms on his face. This is ridiculous. Just a few words from her and everything seems to be fine again. 

Wrapping her arms around him, she buries her face into his chest.

“You know… there’s no cage. We both know you wouldn’t put me into one… but regardless, I don’t mind staying with you forever.”

His eyes widen and his heart speeds up.

Someone who willingly will stay with him, huh?

Really, what did he do to deserve her?

Chapter Text

“Believe me,” Ajax’s older brother says, grinning at her as he swings an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “That is the ugliest shit you’ll ever eat but it tastes great.”

He's referring to the wrapped container of food Childe is carrying. The day before he hogged the kitchen to prepare the dish.

Ajax smiles—the one where he closes his eyes and looks really strained like he’s barely holding back from starting an international war, “I guess that’s what your husband thinks of your face.”

Lumine blinks, eyes wide. For a second, she’s worried that they’ll start an argument and she’ll have to stop them from tearing each other’s throat open (something she’s practiced in, thanks to her acquaintance with Diluc and Kaeya).

But Mischa only laughs, shaking his head. “You can relate then, no? Your fiance must also think that whenever she sees you.” Then he winks at her.

Lumine sighs in relief and then settles her gaze onto Ajax, only to freeze at what she sees. 

He’s grinning, his eyes sparkling with delight. She blushes when she realizes why— ”Your fiance.” 

Truthfully, she’s still baffled that he’s so smitten with her. They are supposed to be enemies but instead, they are here in Snezhnaya, days away from getting married to each other. And he's so happy about it that it takes her breath away.

Mischa smirks. "How cute."

And the two brothers end up in an argument just as she expected. Sighing, she shakes her head, unable to stop the smile forming on her face. It’s kind of nice to see having Childe a dumb spat with his sibling. It makes him more humane in her eyes and she can’t help but appreciate that. 

“Ah, these two never seem to stop,” a voice, softly mutters from her right. She turns her gaze towards Ajax’s mother and blinks. Oh. Right. She's meeting his family.

His mother smiles warmly at her.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Lumine. I’m Natalya, Ajax’s mother.”

Lumine feels her heart speed up—the woman was absolutely stunning with her azure colored eyes but that smile? God, that smile was everything good in this world. Stumbling over her words, still unused to Snezhnayan, she introduces herself. The woman’s smile only brightens upon that, giggling at her starstruck expression. 

“You’re just like he described you in his letters—very adorable!”

Oh, Archons. What did Childe write about her in his letters? 

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry my husband can’t greet you right now. The weather’s been pretty unpredictable here in the few last days, so he set off to get our two oldest and their families. They should arrive in time for the marriage.” 

“I-It’s no problem,” Lumine speaks up, “I’m sorry for the troubles.”

Natalya blinks before laughing in amusement. “Troubles? Don’t worry about it—this is anything but trouble for us. We’re elated! Our most troublesome child is getting married to someone so sweet as you…” 

She puts a hand onto her cheek and sighs. “Although it was on a very short notice.”

Guilt gnaws onto her heart, sneaking through her body, wanting to be let out—but before she can apologize, an arm settles around her shoulder, dragging her closer to someone’s chest. She looks up and Childe’s smiling down at her, reassurance in his gaze.

“Ah, sorry, mother dearest,” he speaks up, smiling brightly, “we were just too excited to wait!”

Natalya blinks before her eyes widen in realization and she turns to stare at Lumine, an apologetic expression on her face. “Oh, sweetie, no. I didn’t mean that as a bad thing—I’m quite happy too!”

Relief settles in her and she quietly sighs out, before nodding her head. 

Mischa laughs. “She’s right, you know? Without you, no one would want someone as ugly as Ajax after all.”

Childe glares at his brother. “Your appearance sure didn’t stop your husband from marrying you, you know.”

“Of course not, I’m quite attractive unlike you after all.”

Natalya sighs at her children, taking Lumine’s hands into her own. “I’m sorry these two always need to start a fight. Must be quite annoying to see, no?”

And Lumine can’t stop herself from speaking her next words out aloud. “Oh no, miss. It’s okay! Ajax and I fight, like, all the time.”

She freezes once she realizes what she’s said and stares at the woman. Lumine doesn’t know how much Childe has told them about her and their relationship. Dread settles in her—was this a bad thing to admit? 

But it turns out she doesn’t have to worry because Natalya grins at her, eyes sparkling with something akin to happiness and pride. “Of course, he would find someone to marry that could keep him in check. I’m more than relieved at this, my dear.”

“Also,” the woman raises a hand to gently lay it on Lumine’s head, ruffling her hair, “it’s mother to you, you hear me?”

Then she twirls around, leaving the blushing woman no choice to reply, and claps her hands loudly. 

“You two! What if the young ones see you like this?”

Mischa grins. “Good for them, they’ll start to think I’m the cooler brother then.”

Ajax scoffs. “Please nothing in the world can turn you cool.”

They both start throwing insults around again and Natalya narrows her eyes. Oh no. Lumine decides that this is probably a good moment to remind Childe that they are still standing outside on the pouch in front of his home. 

Stepping closer to him, she grapes the hem of his jacket and tugs. He immediately moves his attention to her, eyes asking if something is wrong.

“Sorry, it’s getting a bit too cold…”

Eyes widen and he wraps his arms around her, pressing their bodies against each other. 

“I’m sorry, Lumi,” he mutters, “we’ll go inside right now.”

Natalya lets out a squeal and even Mischa ‘awws’ at them. Blushing, the traveler hides her face in his chest, trying to calm the feeling of embarrassment washing over her. 

“Well, then! Let’s go inside, I’m sure the kids will be happy to meet you.”

Biting her lips, she nods as Ajax lets go of her, instead, moving to grab her hand and tug her inside the house.

It’s quiet at first but then the harbinger grins, eyes filled with excitement. 

“Aww, don’t I get a warm welcome from you? It’s been a while, after all.”

Then she hears noises coming from a room at the other end of the hallway, and little steps making their way closer.

Teucer is the first one that appears, running straight into his brother, laughing loudly. 

“Brother! You’re home!”

Childe ruffles the kid’s hair, smiling cheerfully. “Sure am!”

Then Teucer shifts his focus onto her and his eyes sparkle in delight. “Miss Lumine!”

He jumps over to her, arms wrapping around her waist.

“You came to visit just as promised!”

“Yeah,” she mumbles, patting his head, “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you again, after all.”

He grins only brighter at that. How cute.

It’s then two other kids barrel into her fiance, shouting his name out loudly. He laughs as he catches them, stumbling backward a bit. Misca aids him by haltering the movement with a hand on his back. 

“Hey,” he speaks up, drawing the attention of his little siblings, “don’t I get a hug either?”

The little girl with bright, ginger hair pulled into a braid, tilts her head, “but we see you, like, every day.”

The other two boys nod their heads at that and the one Lumine doesn’t know scoffs. “You’re literally our neighbor, Mischa.”

Mischa dramatically places a hand over his chest. “Ah, you’re wounding me! My heart’s breaking into pieces. Really!”

She can’t help but laugh out at that—it’s just something Childe would do as well. He sure takes after his older brother. 

Now the other kids, Anton and Tonia, gaze at her, eyes wide. She smiles at them. 

Letting go of her brother, Tonia steps up closer to her, blushing slightly. “You’re very pretty, Miss Lumine.”

Now, that's adorable.

“Why, thank you, Tonia. I think you’re very beautiful yourself.” 

The girl blushes, even more, mumbling a shy thanks. 

“My name’s Anton,” the boy mumbles, “it’s nice to meet you.”

The traveler nods her head. “I’m glad to be able to meet you as well.”

His cheeks turn a shade of red and he looks and turns to stare to the side.

Oh god. They were all so adorable—no wonder Childe spoils them rotten. 

“Oh no, Lumi. Look at you—you’ve charmed them already,” Ajax mutters, pouting, “now I won’t be able to have you all to myself.”

She shakes her head, a grin settling on her face. “It’s ok you’ll have enough of my time for the rest of your whole life.”

She blinks. Right. 

Turning to gaze at Ajax, he is staring right back at her, his expression gentle.

They’ll have many and many years together from now on.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice soft and delicate, “for the rest of our whole lives.”

Chapter Text

He finds her sitting outside on the porch that evening. 

“Lumi?”

She’s staring at the sky but then moves to face him upon hearing his voice. The gaze in her eyes… it’s strange. Almost uncomfortable. But then it fades away and she smiles at him—he doesn’t like that smile, it’s forced. He knows it’s forced.

Stepping closer, he sits down beside her and moves an arm around her shoulder, dragging her closer to his side.

“Is something wrong?”

Does she feel uncomfortable? Is it because of his family? They’ve been incredibly smitten with her just as he predicted, but maybe that was too much for her. He doesn’t want her to feel anxious, nervous, or overwhelmed. Lifting his hand to gently caress her cheek he frowns at how… sad she seems. 

“No, not really.”

She’s doing that thing—she’s been doing it since he met her since they’ve gotten closer after she found Teucer that day. Every time she’s bothered by something, every single time she’s close to breaking down—she shuts down and pretends she’s fine. How many times did he bother her for hours, so that she finally admitted something was wrong. Tartaglia remembered that one time, they went to travel somewhere together for a bit. What she didn’t tell him back then as they walked for hours, is that she had a terrible leg injury. How did she walk for so long without letting the pain show? It took him hours until he noticed. It took him one more until she admitted it. 

“Don’t lie to me.”

Without wasting he presses a kiss onto her nose, their foreheads slightly touching as he stares right into her eyes. “Please.”

She sighs but he can tell that she’ll talk.

“I just… I guess this is surreal?”

Then she smiles at him. “Seeing your family… so close and affectionate.”

Oh.

“The siblings… I’ve been surrounded by so far, have never really gotten along or been close.”

Diluc and Kaeya didn’t get along.

Jean and Barbara barely talked.

Her eyes turn a bit dazed as memories flood her.

“Seeing you so close with all of your siblings… ah, sorry.”

He narrows his eyes at her. “Don’t apologize.”

But his chest is aching with pain. Seeing her so… vulnerable. He can’t take it, can’t let it be. 

“It’s alright, Lumine,” he speaks, voice clear and without any doubt. “Come on.”

He stands up, reaching a hand out to her. She blinks confused, but nonetheless, she grabs his hand, allowing him to drag her up. Then he walks inside, right to the living room, his fiance right behind him. 

“Tecuer! Lumi wants to play hide and seek!”

“Chil—”

The boy comes rushing down the stairs, ignoring Tonia’s warning shout, and jumps straight into the traveler’s arms, looking up at her with sparkling eyes.

“Really?”

Childe grins at her. Can’t say no now, huh?

She sighs but nods her head at the little boy.

“Yes, I’d like to play with you.”

“Yay!”

He watches as she gets dragged around by Teucer, him rapidly talking about the game rules and what to watch out for, as well getting Tonia and Anthon to play as well. Childe smiles and then nods his head.

This should get him enough time to go through with his plan. 

He wakes up when it’s still dark outside.

Come to think off, it was also that dark when he ran away from home, not looking back once. Weird . The 14-year-old Ajax didn’t look back when he left his home behind for grander adventures. Tartaglia though? He always glances back. Once, twice, thrice.

Never does he not look back.

It’s oddly silent—but there’s a sound.

He looks down and there she is, nestled into his arms, face pressed against his bare chest. 

Lumine.

When Ajax was 14 years old, there wasn’t anyone quite like Lumine there. Sometimes he wonders. If he never fell down the Abyss… would he even have met her? She seems so fleeting sometimes as if she’s going to vanish anytime soon.

He holds her tighter, inhales her scent, and hopes .

So close. He is so, so close to spending an eternity with her. 

Archons, 14-year-old Ajax had nothing but too much curiosity and the Abyss. But he. Tartaglia.

He has Lumine.

And she has him. 

He wants to wake up to this sight forever. Wants to wake up holding her in his arms, hearing her quiet breathing, feeling her warmth. He wants it all so badly, it almost consumes him in such a strange way. He knows it has to be her. It has to. Who else could make him feel this alive? Not even the thrill of battle can catch up anymore.

Tartaglia freezes.

Not even the thrill of battle can catch up anymore.

Oh.

He strokes his fingers over her cheek and blinks.

When did she—

Childe wakes once again in the morning when sunlight coats his room in brightness. He awakens to the feeling of a gentle kiss on his forehead. Opening his eyes, the sight of Lumine’s smiling face greets him. She’s pretty like that. Messy bed hair and still half-dazed eyes looking at him. 

A smile forms on his face as well, and he lifts his arm to push her head down and kiss her forehead. Then her nose.

And then her lips.

Once they pull apart, he looks into her eyes resembling stardust, and greets the morning star.

For once, the act of waking up brings no uncertainties. 

It’s three days later that the whole chaos unfurls with the arrival of two people. 

Chapter Text

“Getting married without telling us, Lumi…”

She doesn’t know how they found out. Did the wind tell Venti? Did the earth carry a message to Zhongli? She just knows that they are here now and Venti’s subtly insulting Childe the whole time. Childe, by the way, seems to find this rather amusing. In fact, he’s been behaving quite suspiciously and the arrival of those two hasn’t fazed him even a bit. It just leads her to one conclusion and even though there's still a bit of uncertainty swirling in her mind, she decides that she'll have to ask Childe later.

"And to that harbinger too," Venti mutters, pouting a bit.

"Hm? Tartaglia might be an adequate choice. He'll be sure to provide you with anything needed."

Of course, Zhongli would focus on the mora. 

"But does he have his heart in this?"

They turn to look at Venti. He has a smile on his face—and there's a glint in his eyes, one that doesn't promise anything too beneficial for Childe.

The anemo archon looks up, staring directly at the traveler.

"I have a fun idea."

Oh archons, it's going to be anything but fun.

Before she can react though, Venti grabs her arm and makes a run for it, dragging her behind him. Zhongli follows with a tired sigh but does nothing to stop the bard.

"Wait? Where are we—"

"My dear traveler, the cruel harbinger needs to overcome a challenge!"

Huh?

"I'm not handing you over to him that easily! Not until he proves his heart to me!"

At that moment, she sees the door which would lead them outside the house. She wants to stop, tell the bard to get it together but before she can do so, Zhongli's calm voice calls out to her.

"Let him be," he mutters, a thin smile on his face, "it'll do him well to get some sort of reassurance."

Lumine bits her lips. She knows he's right—Venti needed something like that or he'd never find his peace with the marriage. At least not soon. 

"Plus I'm sure this will prove itself to be interesting."

Of course.

Lumine sighs. Seems like she has to play along now. 

They exit the house and she wonders what the bard has planned for her fiancé. By the look on his face, she can tell it's going to be chaotic.

In the meantime, alerted by sudden loud noises, Ajax's mother walks into the living room, expecting to see any of their guests. Of course, no one is there.

"Oh my," she muses out aloud. "I should probably tell Ajax, hm?"

She doesn't even have to take a step further before she hears a crashing sound and said son comes running down the stairs.

He blinks, his gaze immediately setting on her.

"Mama," he speaks up after averting his gaze to look around the living room. "Where's Lumine? And the other two?"

Natalya shrugs her shoulder at him.

Abyss.

At that moment, a paper crane flies in. The harbinger catches and unfolds it to reveal a short letter.

Dear Harbinger,

Let's have a scavenger hunt!

If you can find your beloved before sunset

The wedding bells will chime a song of glory and affection

But if you dare to lose this benevolent bet 

You will face my objection

Ajax takes a long breathe, crumbling the letter unconsciously. Then he smiles at his mother. 

“I’ll be back with Lumine before lunchtime.”

Natalya blinks. “And her two friends? Venti and Zhongli, if I remember correctly.”

He chuckles. 

“Ah, I fear they might have to go back sooner than anticipated—both of them lead a busy life.”

“Oh no, that’s too unfortunate.”

“It really is,” he mutters in agreement, grabbing his and Lumine’s coat. 

(How dare the bard forget to take her coat as well. She must be freezing so badly!)

“He isn’t… going to really stop me from marrying, right? He’s the God of Freedom, after all.”

Zhongli chuckles at her question, shaking his head slightly. “You know the answer to that already.”

She does. Undoubtedly. Venti is merely trying to have his fun here, and he understands how precious the freedom to choose and love is. He would never ruin this for her.

But he’s also just as chaotic as Childe.

“Do we really have to do this?”

The anemo archon turns around to face her with a grin. 

“Of course! It’s such a joyous occasion, after all!”

Then he goes on about his way, greeting the people they pass by with a cheerful hum and tunes on his lyre.

“He’s purposely drawing attention,” Zhongli points out to her. “To leave hints for Tartaglia.”

Lumine’s busy thinking though—considering what to do. There’s no point in trying to change Venti’s mind—he’s having way too much fun as it is, therefore he definitely won’t stop as easily.

Oh right. She remembers something suddenly. The rest of Childe’s family arrives today.

That’s when the gears start to turn in her head. A small grin forms on her face and she turns to tug at Zhongli’s coat, catching his attention. A bit in front of them, Venti stops as well, staring at her with curious eyes.

And then she voices a request towards the consultant. 

“Could you go back?”

Venti frowns at these words, walking up to them, with his hands on his hips. 

“Hey,” he speaks up, the frown turning into a pout, “The harbinger has to find you on his own.” 

“I know,” she reassures the bard, “I’m asking Zhongli for something else.”

Knowing she has both their attention for sure, Lumine speaks up and tells them what exactly she wants to do.

“I’ve seen them near the food market.”

“Oh, that bard? He was quite lovely with the lyre! I think it was around that one restaurant…”

Childe’s running through the village, asking around for a bard clothed in teal and traveler with sunkissed hair. He gets a surprisingly large amount of replies—perhaps too large. Just about everyone seems to have seen the bard and the traveler, accompanied by a rich-dressed man. It’s frustrating. He doesn’t know where to search because according to everyone’s reports, the missing people were everywhere. 

Right as he feels frustration settle in him, a little child calls out to him. 

“I saw the pretty people near the forest....”

Archons . That bard did not. Drag Lumine into that forest. He did not.

Dread settles at his core for a moment before vanishing, shoved aside by him.

“Thank you,” he mutters before turning on his heel and dashing towards that forest. 

Forests in Snezhnaya? 

They only promised horror stories.