Work Text:
Scaramouche hates the rocking of a boat, he hates it especially when he is trying to sleep. He doesn’t sleep very often either. He often goes out to missions in all different areas so he never really has time to sleep, he needs to constantly be ready.
Another thing he hates is people sleeping with people.
He rarely made exceptions. This is one of those times he did.
Laying next to him, was a tall figure. His face nestled into a blanket, he’s resting peacefully. It almost distracts him from the moving of the boat. Childe seems at peace when he’s sleeping, calm which is always hard to see him like. He’s always full of life, energetic and smiling. Now his lips droop, not into a frown but more into a neutral look.
Despite this, he looks peaceful.
Scaramouche sighs.
He’s laying on his side, his hand finds its way to Childe’s face. His skin is smooth, soft even and he rubs his thumb on Childe’s cheek. He would never do this to him while he was awake, never accustomed to showing affection like this.
He’s known Childe almost all his life, always laid with him and slept, always ate together, trained together. They did everything together, ever since they were young. They took care of eachother, they were always there for one another.
“What’re you doing?” Childe grumbles, his tone soft and full of slumber.
Scaramouche pulls his hand away, only a little. “You had dust on your face” he answers, placing his hand back on his side.
“Did I?” Childe perks up a bit, he rubs his eyes tiredly. He shifts a bit, there's a window in their little room. A small one that shows the time of day, it’s still dark out and once seeing this he lays back down. “You took it off?”
Scaramouche nodded. He doesn’t speak much, if he talks too much Childe ends up getting excited and it’ll be hard to go back to sleep.
“Why aren’t you ‘sleep?” Childe asks, he closes his eyes slowly. “Bad dreams again? Or is it the boat”
“The boat”
“You know, I’ve been in a boat most of my time here. After they separated us, sent me to an actual mission. I got used to it” Childe says. It’s going to be a pain getting him to sleep again. “I was so jealous of you, how you got to be at home. In the snow, you could fish! Could feel the bitter cold on your face. While I had to face the heat, the rocking of a boat. I think I got used to it, as a warrior should”
“Yeah, I know,” Scaramouche mumbles. “We can discuss this later, Tartaglia, we need to sleep now” he says, firmly this time.
Childe hums, amused almost. “You can’t sleep, I don’t want to sleep by myself”
“You’re not sleeping by yourself, idiot,” Scaramouche huffed. “I’m here with you”
“When was the last time we slept together? It feels like forever, I haven’t seen you since we were both at home” Childe asks. Scaramouche can hear the drowsiness in his tone.
He could also hear the fondness in his tone as he said home, like it was their home. Scaramouche did not belong there. But for Childe, he thinks he can suck it up and try. The last time they were together they sat in the snow, watched the sea together. It was a beautiful colour that day, reflecting the setting sun so beautiful that it was the only thing Childe could focus on.
It was so surprising to see, to see such a loud man fall silent. It could almost make Scaramouche laugh, though he also remained quiet. Not wanting to break the man from his thoughts.
They kissed that night, then never spoke of the incident after.
Though it’s the reason they continue to lay and sleep together, to wish each other farewell at the docks, it felt like an unofficial relationship.
“Before you went to Liyue,” Scaramouche answered.
“It must’ve slipped my mind” Childe murmurs.
“Or you’re tired, you should go to bed already. You’ll whine about it in the morning if you don’t” Scaramouche says, rolling his eyes a bit before turning to his other side.
“Don’t move..” Childe whines, he leans forward and wraps his arms around Scaramouche’s thin waist. He pulls him back a bit, so they’re settled in a spooning position.
Scaramouche groans a bit, irritated as he feels Childe lay his chin on his shoulder. “You’re annoying” he doesn’t make any moves that he wants to move away.
Childe hums in response.
---
The next morning, Scaramouche was awoken by the sound of the crew. He could hear their footsteps, their talking and laughter especially. He would definitely be at their throats for waking him up so early in the morning.
He grunts as he sits up, Childe’s arms slink around him as he does so. He shoves Childe;s arm a bit when he’s finally sat up fully. Childe lets out a groan of annoyance.
“Let me sleep”
“We need to get up”
Childe shakes his head, he grabs Scaramouche’s shoulder. The touch is brief, yet he can feel Childe’s calloused and gentle hands as he pulls him back to bed. He doesn’t lay down uncomfortably, he could thank the gods for that. He sighs, irritated as he attempts to get back up but Childe only brings him back down like it's a sort of game.
“I hate you” Scaramouche decides to say after a minute.
“You love me”
“I hate you more”
“I love you too” Childe smiles playfully, he places an equally playful kiss on Scaramouche’s neck.
Childe was much more affectionate, especially with holding and kisses. He was horrible at both though, his kisses were wet and his grip was tight. He guessed it was because Childe was either really protective or he just had a strong grip from wielding weapons most of his life.
“I hate when you do this”
“You barely slept a wink”
“I don’t care, I want to get up”
“Scaramouche…” Childe says, quietly.
He sounds a little upset, the younger one is so sensitive sometimes. Scaramouche thinks its because he was too nice to him when they were younger, that it made him upset when he was mean to him. He needs to remind him he isn’t soft but before he can say something Childe cuddles up on him.
Childe hates showing weakness, he hates it when he has to be weak in front of people but when he’s in front of Scaramouche, laying with him and sleeping which is the most vulnerable position. He is comfortable showing it. His arm is around his chest now, holding him closely and Scaramouche eases into him.
Scaramouche is weak.
He is weak for him.
There is silence now, Scaramouche reaches out and rubs Childe’s cheek. His thumb grazed against him slowly, affectionately. The ginger seems pleased by this, he leans into the touch and let’s the smaller one trace his features. He closes his eyes as Scaramouche continues to do this.
“Your face is ugly” Scaramouche mumbles, he leans forward a bit. Their lips are very close, almost touching and Childe leans forward.
They lock into a kiss. It’s a sweet kiss, soft and long. It’s wet too, but that's courtesy of Childe. The man couldn’t kiss right to save his life. It makes Scaramouche smile, he pulls back a bit.”Your face is uglier, and you look like a teenager” Childe teases.
‘I’ll kill you” Scaramouche growls. “You annoying ass wet kisser”
Childe laughs, a sweet noise. “Oh gods, but you still kiss me” he continues to laugh, he gives another kiss to Scaramouche. It’s more playful.
“Stop, you're going to drool all over my face like a dog” Scaramouche pushes his face away.
Childe huffs. “I can’t believe you just compared me to a dog,” he frowns.
“Are you hurt by that?” Scaramouche scoffed. “It was a compliment really, you’re stupidly loyal, energetic, and you slobber all over me”
“Hmph, if you didn’t want me to I wouldn’t have” Childe pulls away fully, he makes a face.
“You’re a liar, you would have kissed me regardless”
“Maybe..”
“Liar”
Childe laughs more. “Whatever”
“Can we get up now? You’re already fully awake” Scaramouche asks.
“You don’t want to lay in bed with me? It’s better than dealing with the crew, they’re boring and weak. No fun in fighting with them at all. All they have is their food and tales, things I’ve had before” Childe sounds unamused now, he often sounds like this when talking about people he sees beneath him.
“Oh I know, those shitheads are horrible” He gets up, he’s wearing Childe’s dress shirt and his undergarments. He walks towards the dresser, before picking through the clothing.
“Do you think the crew would be amused if they saw you wearing my clothes” Childe sits up, smirking as he watches Scaramouche poke through their mixture of clothing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew of our relationship by now” Scaramouche answers. “The other Harbingers should know by now” he also adds.
“I wouldn’t either” Childe answers, he stands up as well. He’s only wearing his garments, as well.
They both put on their clothes, Childe sends flirty remarks towards Scaramouche as they do, which he just ignores him.
“Come now, Balladeer” Childe keeps with his teasing tone as he exits their little room. “What would you like to eat, comrade? Fish?” He gives a bright smile.
“I always eat fish when I’m with you” Scaramouche grunts.
“Fish is good for you” Childe counters. “It’s said to make you live longer, my ancestors said so” he says in a matter of factly tone.
They walk on the steady boat, it rocks softly now and Scaramouche feels less sick now. This would’ve been nice last night, he thinks to himself before responding to Childe.
“Your ancestors said so,” Scaramouche says, bemusedly. “That sounds like nonsense, Tartaglia” he shakes his head.
“It’s not! That’s why I look so young and am so powerful, fish is the reason” Childe grins a bit.
“Oh really? It sounds iditoic to me”
“It’s not” Childe insists in a whiny tone.
“It is” Scaramouche taunts as they walk towards the kitchen to eat and then to spend the rest of their day together, like they did before and they will continue to do now.