Chapter Text
"Comrade, do you know why you're so important to me?”
Childe was staring at her, blue eyes squinting at her from across the fire. Lumine blinked and shifted herself in his direction, a bit curious.
She raised an eyebrow, unsure of how to respond to his question. "I didn't know I was important."
That was a lie, of course. She remembered what little Teucer had told her about Childe's letters to his family. It was funny how she ended up being more of a liar than him despite his ties to an organization like the Fatui.
Midnight was fast approaching with Paimon fast asleep in the tent they had pitched. The three of them had been traveling around for a day or two, taking commissions and overall exploring. Childe had initially approached her with the idea, claiming he hadn't had much time to adventure in the week or so before the Rex Lapis fiasco, and wished to do so before he had to go back to Snezhnaya.
"There's no one else I'd rather go with," he had explained, a cheeky grin on his face. "After all, there'll be plenty of opportunities to test our strength."
It had taken a bit of bribing for Paimon to get on board with the idea, but after promises of free meals she was convinced. Lumine had agreed and their little team had been formed. Their days had been filled with climbing, swimming, and fighting, which brought them now to rest at Yaoguang Shoal.
Childe laughed, and turned to face the ocean as it drew in and out. He closed his eyes as if he were thinking, and turned back to her once again.
"I'm going to conquer the world one day, you know," he affirmed, drawing a symbol into the sand. "It's why I'm always getting stronger."
Lumine held back a fond scoff with her hand. Of course that's what he wanted. "Is that so?"
He nodded and looked up at her. The fire between them reflected into those eyes that normally were dull, and Lumine felt challenged to keep her eyes level with them.
"And when I've brought the world to its knees," he continued, "you and I will have our final fight atop it."
She raised her eyebrows. "To the death?"
"Of course, comrade. What else would it be?"
This time, Lumine did snort. "That's really dramatic." Childe's face pinched together in a pout, and Lumine laughed.
Across from them, Paimon stirred in her sleep, muttering something about a sweet flower and a pigeon, and the waves of the sea inched forward and backwards on the sand. Lumine relaxed and laid down, letting out a sigh. It wasn't the first time she had felt at peace in this world, but she could count on one hand the number of calming nights like this she had experienced.
Nights like these made her yearn for Aether even more, her heart being pulled in whatever direction he was in. Was he also looking up at this sky, these stars? Lumine ached at the thought of him, and brought a hand up to the flowers in her hair- a reminder of lost time.
"You're looking a little gloomy over there," Childe's voice cut in, sharp as salt. "What's on your mind?"
"My reason for getting stronger," she replied, still looking up. Was it worth it to tell him?
"Oh? Do tell. Unless you wanna spar instead. I'm alright with that too."
Lumine snorted. "It's way too late for that." But she turned to look up at him, still sitting up by the fire. Well, he'll find out sooner or later.
"I'm looking for my twin," she started, formulating how exactly to summarize the story. Childe's gaze was fixed on her, waiting for her to continue, and an almost nervousness blossomed in her stomach.
"We travel together, usually. When we arrived in Teyvat we were separated, and I've been searching for him ever since."
"And that has something to do with the Seven?" Childe asked.
"Yeah."
That was the simple way to put it, anyways. Lumine supposed she'd explain more at another time. She looked at the sand in the ground and sketched the constellations she had been looking at earlier. Childe's gaze remained.
He let out a soft laugh. "No wonder you helped me out with Teucer."
Lumine could only nod in response.
A haze settled over them as the fire crackled and sparked. They were both on their backs now, looking at the sky above them.
"Do you know what you'll do after you find him?" Childe asked, voice oddly solemn.
"I don't know," Lumine answered honestly. "Maybe we could travel this world together. My home is wherever he is so… as long as we're together again I'll be okay."
Childe hummed in agreement.
They lay in silence for a while, an unspoken understanding lingering between them. Many minutes passed before Lumine turned her head to check on Childe. His eyes were lidded, and she could tell he would fall asleep any minute now. But his eyes flickered over to her to make contact one more time.
"Promise me," he murmured sleepily, "that we'll fight together one last time before you leave this world."
Lumine sighed. "If that's what you wish. Pinkie promise."
Childe smiled lightly and reached his hand out to connect with hers. Their pinkies squeezed, and Childe turned away from her to sleep.
It was all quiet then, save for the ocean and the other creatures awake at this time. Lumine didn't quite need to rest like most mortals, so she took the moment by herself to reflect. Reaching her hands up to the sky, she wondered if she would ever reach those heights again.
Fates, what do you have in store for us?