Work Text:
Ajax is a firm believer in the fact that his relationship with Lumine is going incredibly well. Amazingly so. They are the cutest couple ever, cuter than any other couples he knows, married or not (yes, that very much includes his parents).
Seriously, their chemistry is, in his humble opinion, out of the charts. The best to ever exist. They get along just well. He loves to fight. She loves to punch him when he’s being an idiot—perfectly matched.
(And then she would kiss it better and other things would happen…)
But yes, the fact remains, that Ajax is 100% convinced that he has to be the luckiest man in the world to be allowed to date Lumine. The little sister everyone adores. The starlight of Teyvat.
Perhaps it’s because of this deep-seated conviction that he does not expect what will occur in the next 20 minutes. It’s a normal Wednesday evening (more like 11 pm nearing midnight), his groupmates and Ajax are sitting in the living room, doing the probably most important thing of their week.
Watching Lumine’s interview.
That’s probably one of the few times where there aren’t any arguments breaking out or someone being an annoying ass on purpose—listening to Lumine is simply too important to disturb those moments.
She skillfully answers every question thrown her way, keeping a relaxed but warm smile on her face and managing to look as ethereal as always. Ajax’s smitten beyond help. His girlfriend is too adorable. Too perfect.
The questions aren’t anything too outrageous. In fact, they are the usual basic ones that every single interviewer seems to ask—seriously, where’s the fun in that? The game shows tend to be a more interesting variation of an interview and they don’t even try to be an interview. Despite the obviously boring preparation for the said interview, Lumine seems to make the whole thing better just with her appearance alone. Sure, a part of it is because of how well-loved she is through the nation but it’s mostly her skills. Lumine has always been good with twisting and turning words and situations to her advantage, a skill she shares with her twin. Right now, she’s going out of her way to “decorate” her answers. She adds information or presents it in a refreshing way, trying her best to keep the whole thing entertaining. Seriously, way too much effort than the whole show deserves but it’s still amazing to observe, especially as someone who’s part of the industry.
It’s then that the interviewer leans forward a bit, his eyes sparkling in a telling way. Ajax tenses, knowing that his groupmates are also alert (from the corner of his eyes, he can see Kaeya tilting his head slightly to the side). There it comes. A problematic question.
“You’ve shown before that you’re a big DCKZ fan, right?” The interviewer starts speaking.
Ajax can hear Zhongli groaning and bites his lips to suppress a chuckle. Their leader wouldn’t appreciate being laughed at.
“Yep!” Lumine’s cheerful voice echoes around the room. “I love their music! I have their latest album on loop! Love it.”
His heart warms at these words. She isn’t even lying—he’s caught her more than thrice listening to their newest album in the past week. She also did send them a wall of text, complimenting their songs and gushing about the music video.
(It’s kind of funny. Off-camera, Lumine tends to be more on the quiet side, talking only when needed or when she’s feeling really relaxed. Or basically, when Aether’s in the vicinity. The twins are outright hellspawns when together, even worse if Venti joins them. But over text? A total chatterbox.)
And then it comes. The one question Zhongli probably dreaded. The catalyst to ultimate conflict and a big headache for the oldest member of the group.
“So, do you perhaps have a bias? The fans are curious!”
You can totally tell the show’s aim, only by listening to the voice of the interviewer at that moment. The excitement mixed with something akin to Schadenfreude speaks for itself.
As Lumine tries to evade the situation to the best of her ability, Ajax leans back, his relaxed grin turning into a self-assured smirk as he stares at the television.
“Well, this is unfair for you guys… it’s obviously me—”
“We get it,” Kaeya interrupts him, typing away on his phone, “you’re dating.”
His heart beats with pride. They are. It’s a dream come true, really.
“Oh, come on!” The irritating high-pitched voice of the interviewer continues on babbling, “Surely you prefer someone over the rest—who’s voice do you like best?”
“Well, if I had to choose one… I guess I like—”
Here it comes! Ajax leans in, anticipation coursing through his veins. She’ll say his name for sure!
(After all, she always worships his voice in the dark under the blankets.)
“—Diluc best.”
Wait, what. What? Huh?
“His voice is soothing… I just like deep voices….”
Ajax drops down on the couch, eyes wide and mouth agape as the sound of her giggles continues to play in the background, only seconds later, followed by Kaeya’s loud laughter.
He processes Zhongli moving closer to his view, concern visible in the older man’s eyes. But he’s too caught in his lover’s words to make a sense out of what the leader of their group is saying.
He can’t believe it.
Diluc? Seriously?
“You clown!” The main dancer’s voice echoes around the room. “He was so sure of himself…”
Ajax balls his hands into fists and tries his best not to snap. He can get his revenge on Kaeya later. He can. He just needs to ignore the man’s spot for the time being and calm down.
But at that moment the door opens and the most annoying human being walks in.
“What’s with all this noise? It’s 12 am.”
Zhongli immediately turns to the red-haired singer, rambling on about bad timing. No, it’s perfect timing.
Slowly, he turns around, fixating his gaze on the singer.
“Deep voice? You sound like a pigeon on fire.”
That’s apparently the last straw because Kaeya falls over, his laughter somewhat even louder than before. Zhongli only sighs as he closes his eyes in resignation. Diluc doesn’t even fall into one of his temper bursts, too confused by the situation.
Having said at least something about the situation, Ajax grabs his phone from the table and leaves for his room. He’ll have to wait at least one hour but then his lovely girlfriend should be available.
Now, Ajax isn’t that arrogant nor a controlling asshole. Lumine is allowed to like anyone’s voice and he has no say in it, nor any problem with it.
(Even if, admittingly, it does kind of irk him, that Diluc out of all people outdoes him. Zhongli would have been understandable, men get boners at hearing that man’s voice—)
So, no, he’s not mad at her and he won’t call her for some weird dick-measuring contest with Diluc. He isn’t stupid either, so he knows that a good part of her answer is probably to avoid suspicion of them. Their fans already have formed a large rumor mill about their relationship, guessing it’s more of the romantic kind. Obviously, they aren’t wrong.
She doesn’t take long to pick up her phone, she probably already has expected a call from him.
“Hello, my gorgeous goddess of light!”
“I’ll hang up, Ajax.”
How cute. He can hear the embarrassment in her voice.
“Well, to what do I owe this pleasant call?”
“Can’t a man just call his girlfriend in peace?”
“Perhaps when it’s a decent time and not almost 2 am. I only got home from work.”
He leans back, sighing.
“I… I’ve watched your interview, Lumi.”
“... You did?”
There isn’t any hint of surprise in her voice. She’s used to him keeping track of all her appearances in different shows.
“Mhm, I’ll admit that I’m a bit hurt.”
“Hm?”
“Diluc doesn’t have a voice that’s more soothing than mine. It’s just not possible!”
He can hear her sigh over the line. A grin forms on his face.
“Hey, I’m not lying! You fall asleep when I sign you lullabies.”
“Yea, I’m sure I’d sleep even better if it was Diluc singing those lullabies.”
The rapper pouts. “Hey, he better not!”
Then she starts laughing. His pout turns into a smile at the sound of it. Archons, it’s such an incredibly warm and kind sound. Like sonorous bells echoing through the place. Something in his stomach churns.
“Hey,” he speaks up, waiting for her laughter to tune down, ”why can’t we just go public with our relationship?”
Her laughter stops immediately. What a stupid question of him. He knows exactly why.
“...You know the people wouldn’t take it too well, Ajax.”
But despite knowing that, it’s irritating him. He scoffs.
“And what if? I don’t care about their opinion on our relationsh—”
“Ajax, it could ruin anything your group built up until this point.”
He bites his lips. Lumine’s right. She always is.
“What if… what if it’ll be fine instead? I’m sure Dain could handle it?”
Dain is Lumine’s manager and he’s well-known for having dealt with one of the most talked about conflicts in the idol industry—literally, evading any damage to his reputation, as well to the idols involved in the conflict.
“Ajax,” her voice echoes through the speaker, stern. “You know what that did to his mental health.”
He winces at the reminder. Dain’s and the idol’s reputation may have survived, but…
“Plus, Aether would murder you.”
Recognizing her words as an escape from the heavy topic, he replies immediately.
“Honestly, that would be so hot of him.”
“Eww, he’s my twin brother for Archon’s sake!”
“Explains his appeal—”
“Ajax!”
“Sorry, sorry.”
He chuckles at her reaction. She’s just too adorable.
“Well, why did you call me again?”
“Honestly? I just wanted to hear your voice today,” he replies truthfully. “I’m glad I got to hear it.”
“... I’m glad to have heard yours as well.”
“And yet you chose Diluc—”
“Ajax!”
“I’m just kidding! … But as mentioned, it did hurt a bit… so I want compensation.”
“Hm?”
“Go on a date with me tomorrow.”
“What if I don’t have any time tomorrow?”
“I know for a fact, that your schedule is free for the whole day.”
“... And how do you know that?”
“That’s a secret.” He’s not about to tell her that he bribed Zhongli into asking Dain for Lumine’s schedule for the upcoming months.
“... Well, alright then. Is 2 pm fine? I probably won’t be up before 1 pm anyway.”
“Yeah, no worries. I’ll come and get you around then.”
They chat for a while longer before it’s time to end the call.
Smiling at his phone, Ajax decides that he probably should settle down for the day. Or well, morning. He has to be in his absolute best condition, so he could enjoy Lumine's company to the fullest.
(In the end, though, he clicks onto YouTube and searches for videos on voice deepening techniques. Damn it— Diluc out of all people.)