Work Text:
The cold bit through Ajax’s jacket, sending a familiar shiver down his spine. After wandering around Dragonspine for the last hour, he’d finally begun to have a shred of familiarity. Today was Tonia’s birthday. The family was probably celebrating right now, going all out like they usually did. The ginger bit the side of his cheek and tightened his jaw.
He loved the Tsaritsa. He loved his duty, his obligation to the queen of frost. But it didn’t make the pain sting less. He could visualize their happy faces, grinning, laughing, enjoying a possible fresh snow. Mom and Dad would be watching with a small smile, joining in the singing around the cake. And Ajax was stuck here. In a world that was far too warm for him.
Another cold gust of air drifted down from the top of the mountain. The snow siwrled around him, playing with his coat and scarf. So close. So fucking close to home. But it was ruined by the ugly, yellow grass that coated Liyue. He knew that it was the land of Geo, but did even the grass have to mirror that? The cuisine was okay, the chopsticks were confusing, and it was always so god damn warm.
The harbinger huffed out a breath. He had come here to relax, and to be alone. But now that he was alone with his thoughts, he was getting even more pissed off. It was times like this that his dilusion felt heavy on his heart and hip. The hydro one weighed him down even more. The God of Wisdom thought that he deserved a vision? What a shame. Got to him before the Tsaritsa. He would have had fun with a cryo vision.
That’s when his mind wandered. It wandered to the stories he had heard about a certain traveler. Lumine was… so confusing to him. So refreshingly different from the boring scenery. Powerful, so very very powerful. But she bounced so quickly to look like such a family woman. She was looking for her brother, wasn’t she? That was something for him to note. She would fit him and his lifestyle so well… able to take care of kids, family, and also beat the shit out of him. Perfect.
Tartaglia shook his head. No… he shouldn’t be indulging himself in these thoughts. Lumine was so out of his reach it wasn’t even funny. Like she was apart of the Celestia, but right in front of him. Well, he supposed that Zhongli was the same way. Rex Lapis, Zhongli, whatever the fuck he was. Dragon, human, god, didn’t matter. Tartaglia felt the need to beat the prick’s face in whenever he faced him.
Another sigh left him. This wasn’t going to work. His mind was… not very focused. The pier looked off, back to Liyue. He dreaded going back. He didn’t know which side did, but he did. He’d have to deal with the dumbasses that he was in charge of, and deal with the heat, the ass-showing he’d have to show the people of Liyue from his grand show with Osial.
But… there’s a chance to see Lumine.
Without thinking, he stood. Yeah, that was the affect that little girlie had on him. Just enough motivation to not go apeshit. He grit his jaw and clenched his fists. Why’d he have to choose the most unattainable girl in all of Teyvat to get attached to? He wanted to find whatever Archon thought this was funny, and have a nice talk with them. But, he had to put on a face again. A couple of Fatui were wandering his direction, traveling along the shore of the chilled river.
“Lord Childe! We’ve been sent to retrieve you!”
Of course you fucksticks did.
“Coming!” He called, taking one last look at the Almost Home he craved so badly. So cold, so white. Maybe these Fatui would be willing to paint the snow? It was one big canvas, anyways. He could easily dismiss it, what with his power and all. But his brain flashed to the smiling faces of his family, and was grimly reminded that they all had one, too.
So he decided to let his homicidal tendencies pass, just this once.
——
“And so, that’s the latest report,” Signora finished.
Childe nodded. “So, we’ll have to secure more of the chasm business trade to get the require amount of cor lapis for the deal, correct?”
Signora raised an eyebrow. “Cor lapis?”
Tsk. So incompetent. How could someone like her be a harbinger? Share the same rank as him. But Childe smiled, a hand on his hip. “There’s another deal that I believe you might have overlooked. Dealing with the initiation of recruits is simple, something I can easily do in my sleep. I’d like to also instil some blind loyalty, though, and we need a tad bit more cor lapis to secure a trade with a—ah, hidden—member of the Quixing.”
“You have the loyalty of a member of the Qixing?” Even Signora was impressed, which was hard to do. But realistically, this was something that Childe could do easily. dancing around the social constructs of Liyue was easier than Snezhnaya, since not everyone was afraid their neck was on the line. Though, sometimes he enjoyed the latter more, since spilling blood was ten times more effective than business obstacle courses.
“I do, but he had requested help in securing some quality cor lapis. This, of course, is simple, but the information he could give us if we act swiftly…”
Signora nodded, understanding immediately. “Very well. I’ll go and initiate the new recruits. While I’m doing that, would you like to start the existing Fatui here on the cor lapis order?”
“Already started, my dear harbinger,” Childe smirked. The dear part felt bitter in his mouth. That should be reserved for special people only, but Signora was under the impression that he was carefree with his affection. Oh, how wrong she was. “I do have a couple of other tasks that I need to complete before the sun sets, however.”
She nodded, waving her hand to dismiss the conversation. How absurd, as if she had more power of him. Just because she was here longer didn’t discount his skill. But he simply nodded back and walked past her. There was a desk specifically for him, one that had been piled up with paperwork that he desperately needed to attend to.
He knew that his work would do the Tsaritsa proud. The information they could get from a member of the Qixing was vital. Childe had hit a gold mine there. The member wasn’t a high up member, granted, but that was a door that opened up hundreds—no, thousands—of doors. Information liked the trickle down, and the lower members of the Qixing liked to get drunk and talk. Which was great for Childe, maybe not so much for them.
But hey, that was their loss, and his gain. Maybe then he’d actually get some recognition from his Queen. Though… recently… that Queen had been alternating from the ice cold Archon and the strange, sunlit traveler.
——
Ajax blew out a breath, leaning back in his chair. It was far too late. The sun was about to rise, and he had been up all night doing paperwork. Liyue was starting to come alive, and he felt like dropping dead. He rubbed his tired eyes, groaning and yawning. He still had one last, extremely important piece of paperwork to complete.
He frowned, taking the delicately wrapped stack of letters from home. Signora had delivered them to him when she visited, and he felt his heart ache. How much did his parents have to go through to get an express delivery from a harbinger? Ajax stood, setting his quill back where it belonged, and wandered outside. Northland bank was quiet, not a soul around, his steps echoing off the tile floor. He felt guilty for liking it better that way. It meant less work for him.
It was times like this were Liyue could be beautiful. The sun was starting to turn the dark sky to a green, giving him just enough light to read. He wandered through the tired city, leaning against a fence and pulling off the seal of the first one. Tonia. Telling him how excited she was about turning an age, and how much she missed him. And she mentioned that she wanted him to ask Miss Lumine what her favorite color was. She wanted to make her a scarf, since Teucer had mentioned she would be coming to Snezhnaya soon. Couldn’t have her freezing, after all!
Anthon loved the various books Ajax had sent in his last letter. He was sad that he was unable to see his big brother on his beloved sister’s birthday, but he knew that the work he did was important, and he hoped that it was going smoothly. And lastly, he asked what Miss Lumine’s favorite book was. He wanted to explore the tastes that this mysterious woman held.
Teucer was all over the place as usual, but he was focused solely on asking Miss Lumine questions. Favorite color, favorite animal, favorite toy, favorite story, favorite food, how old she was, did she plan on visiting Snezhnaya anytime soon, and when the wedding between her and her big brother was.
Wait. What?
Ajax had the read the letters over an over again. Maybe he was just tired, since he had just pulled an all nighter. But no, each and every letter mentioned or talked about Lumine, and how much they wanted to meet this sweet woman. The girl that had taken Teucer in and cared for him, even when she didn’t know who his brother was. Who cared for Teucer and entertained him, taking him to the Mr. Cyclopes toy factory… Apparently, he always had more to add on about his stowaway journey to Liyue.
Ajax couldn’t help the blush he got. He eventually had to look away, trying to his red face with his arm. Shit. This was bad. They were so head over heels for Lumine, and only Teucer had met her. And yeah, sure, she was beautiful. And talented and smart and strong and powerful and alluring and… and…
Way too perfect for someone like him.
He didn’t realize the tears that wandered down his cheeks until they started to drip onto the paper. Through a sniffle, he wrapped up the letters again, sticking them in his inventory and shakily sighing. Fuck. He missed his family so much, but… there was something more now. He didn’t realize just how lonely he had gotten. And how much he wanted Lumine to be with him, by his side, fighting with him. How many times had he ached for her touch, or his blade against hers? To see the smirk when she beat him, or the strength she had when she pulled him up from the ground, bloodied and beaten. Or just… even if he could be selfish enough to get a smile and a hug from her…
“Childe?”
His blue eyes darted up to those golden eyes, Lumine standing roughly ten feet in front of him. No one else in the square. No reason to put on a facade. Not he like he could with her either way. She always brought out this side of him… this side that ached to love and to give it out. He couldn’t do anything but stare at her as the tears dropped to his jacket.
“Lumine…?” He managed to get out.
That pained look she gave him… it would hurt less to pull his heart out. She wandered closer to him, and a million questions ran through his head. Why was she here? Why at this time of the morning? Did she have some kind of alert when Ajax needed her? Because she always seemed to pop up whenever he was about to stab someone.
“Are you okay?” She said with a pout. She reached her hand out and wiped a tear away. Ajax held her hand against his cheek when she tried to pull away. Thank the Tsaritsa that she didn’t try to fight it. Her tiny frame seemed so far away, though she was but a foot away. She smelled of wind wheel asters, and in the light, he could see that her hair was still wet a little.
“Do you want the lie or the truth?” He asked with a slight smile, sniffling as more tears dripped over her hand.
“Give me the lie.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” His voice was but a whisper. He studied Lumine’s pained face. Pain for… him. Did she not like seeing him like this? Did she care that much? Even after the fights in the golden house?
“What’s the truth?”
“If I don’t get some time with you, Liyue will be flattened in the next hour and a half.”
Finally, a hint of a smile. It was so cute, the way she suppressed a giggle because of the heavy air. He shouldn’t be doing this, wanting her company so badly. Their goals were so opposite that it hurt. She would never be able to be there 24/7. His love was never something that could be properly reciprocated, especially with so many men and women pinning after her already.
“I suppose I can spare a day,” she purred, closing the gap and wrapping her arms around his torso. “What’s in it for me?”
“Anything. Anything you want. Mora, expensive jewelry, a new sword, whatever. I’ll do anything.” Finally… as he wrapped his arms around her, he felt himself align. Her cold hair felt nice against his cheeks, lips and nose. She had just taken a fresh bath, and the cold morning air had frozen some bits of it. Maybe that was a message from the Tsaritsa. Her skin had some goosebumps on it, and it gained more as one of his hands lovingly traced his fingers up and down her bicep. The other held her close, scared to let go.
“You don’t need to buy my love, Childe.”
“I don’t know any other way to show mine.”
Why must you stay?
“We’ll work on it, then.” Her giggle was heavenly.
Why must fate be so cruel?
“You make it seem like a training course.” He couldn’t help the smile he got.
Why must I fall for someone like you? Don’t you know I’m dangerous?
She hummed against his chest, sending a shiver through him. So close.
Don’t you know that I’ll only hurt you more?
“Even you need some training sometimes,” she chided.
Don’t you understand how much I love you? How much I pine for you constantly?
“…I look forward to it.”
I love you. Don’t hurt me. Please.
I can’t take much more.
Leave while you still can.
“Well, Paimon is asleep. Let’s wander around a little bit.”
Damn it, Lumine.
“…Okay. I’d like that.”
You damn guilty pleasure of mine.