Work Text:
It was another evening at Angel’s Share, and the atmosphere was livelier than ever: All thanks to Mondstadt’s unconventional power couple.
Kaeya Alberich, one of the founding members of this couple, reaches for a glass of Death After Noon. He takes a long sip before sharing a laugh with his partner, “I thought you’d have an easier time holding your liquor, considering your homeland.”
The partner in question, known across Teyvat as Childe, was busy drinking his fourth shot of Fire-Water. His face was flush, only getting hotter thanks to the disheveled tawny hair covering his face. Still, he persevered, managing a coherent sentence, “Heh… Don’t underestimate me just yet. I can keep going.”
Kaeya chuckles. His eyes glance around the tavern as he takes another drink. He peeks at another couple sitting across from them: a man and a woman. The man reveals a small ornamented box and gifts it to the surprised woman; she opens the box in complete awe. Her shaky hands unveil from it a silver necklace that sparkled in the lamplight. They exchange words that Kaeya could barely make out within the tavern noise. One word in particular felt the need to part his lips.
“... anniversary…”
“Hm?” Childe mumbled aloud.
Kaeya smirked deviously. He turned his simper toward his semi-buzzed partner with an offer, “How about we try a more interesting challenge?”
Childe’s face perked up instantly, “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, our one year anniversary is in three days. Why don’t we see who can give the other the best gifts and dates by then?”
Childe raised an eyebrow, “I’m listening.”
Kaeya continued, his own smile growing wider, “Whoever can surprise the other the most wins the challenge; the reward will mainly be… eternal bragging rights. Sound like a fair game?”
Childe paused, imagining how nice it would be to see Kaeya’s surprised face. This fantasy escalated to him seeing himself in the future, teasing Kaeya when they were in their golden years. As they’d reminisce about when they were young, Childe would mention how he managed to sweep Kaeya off his feet so many times, the retired Captain had gotten used to being carried. Yes, carried by his ex-Harbinger… husband.
Impassioned by this sudden word association, Childe quickly gulped down his last full shot of liquor to cool off. When the burn in his throat ceased, Childe shook Kaeya’s hand and coughed out, “Deal.”
With a strong handshake and determined, flirtatious glances, the two began what would inevitably be known to them as- the Cavalry Captain x Fatui Harbinger’s Sweetheart Showdown!
The next morning, Kaeya dealt with more than just his typical hangover symptoms. His pounding headache collided with the strong scent of Sweet Flowers and Cecilia. Much to his surprise and frustration, he awoke to a bouquet of flowers being pushed against his face, some of the petals falling onto the sheets like half-hearted confetti.
“Good morning, Kaeya! Lovely day for flowers, isn’t it?” Childe’s smug grin peeked behind the bouquet, his smile beaming brighter than the sunlight fighting Kaeya’s vision. Believing the surprise of the sudden gesture would be enough to win the challenge, Childe celebrated in silence as he patiently waited for Kaeya’s surrender.
Kaeya expected as much, but he thought Childe would have a little more tact than this. It was time to show him how to be a true gentleman.
“It sure is, Ajax. But y’know what else would be lovely for today? Something sweet.”
Near his nightstand, Kaeya slid out a delicate rectangular box with ornate wrapping around it. He handed it to Childe, who reluctantly took the package and slowly opened it. The contents of the box revealed an assortment of chocolates, all uniquely adorned with colorful and elegant icing flourishes. Kaeya picked one up from the box and popped it into Childe’s agape mouth. He mentally photographed the moment when Childe’s eyes dilated, lips curling with delight.
The challenge proved to be far from over, but Kaeya’s sleep schedule had just started. As he sank into his bed, he yawned, “Can’t wait to see what you come up with next, Sailor.”
Childe left the room, trying to hold back an audible groan. He knew now that if he wanted to win, he’d have to go a bit further than just startling Kaeya out of nowhere.
After a long day of fighting hillichurls and treasure hoarders, Kaeya returned to Mondstadt with Childe waiting for him at the front gates. It didn’t really surprise Kaeya, but he did find comfort in being welcomed by a familiar face.
“Well, hey there. I thought you’d be waiting for me at home.”
“I didn’t want to wait any longer,” Childe explained, handing a small box to Kaeya.
Intrigued by the sudden gesture, Kaeya took the gift. He spent some time unfurling the ribbon and packaging, their contents revealing a thin glass bottle of liquid. A small spray nozzle invited his curiosity. He pressed it, and the bottle returned a calming scent of Violetgrass mixed with a cool breeze of Mist Flower: a floral combination that immediately brought this stressed out Cavalry Captain a small wave of relaxation and rejuvenation.
“It wasn’t supposed to be your gift until your birthday, but I figured now would be the perfect time. It’s a special commission from Liyue.”
Kaeya put the bottle back in its box, looking at Childe’s silly smile. He laughed to himself about his lover's kid-like behavior as he was fervently seeking praise, then smiled back with gratitude, “Thanks so much for this. I’ll always wear it to remind myself of our times together.”
Jackpot! Childe thought. He figured this meant victory for him. With his head held high, he acknowledged Kaeya’s sincerity with an arrogant, “It was my pleasure.”
Kaeya hummed and nodded back as he placed the present in a small knapsack. When he put the bag away, Kaeya suggested with a smile, “How about we head to Angel’s Share? I’d like to treat you to a drink.”
Childe nodded, blissfully unaware of what the last statement implied as they took their stroll toward the tavern.
When they arrived, Kaeya walked to the main counter. He leaned over to the bartender, whispering softly in his ear so Childe could not hear their conversation. The bartender just winked as he headed to a small case within the back shelf of the bar. Unlocking the container with a decorative key, the bartender carefully opened the doors of the case, and slowly pulled out a wine bottle. He wiped a small layer of dust off it before handing the bottle to Kaeya, who gestured Childe to come take a seat next to him.
As his lover poured their glasses, Childe asked with suspicion, “What is this?”
Kaeya presented the bottle and an explanation behind his devilish grin, “Well, you’ve never really had a chance to experience Dawn Winery’s selection, so I figured I’d indulge you with one of their best: A twenty-five year Valberry Hard Cider. Time really does enhance the flavors of alcohol. And the wait for such flavors can be quite... expensive.”
Already hooked by these selling points, Childe sipped his glass. Much like the chocolates he had that morning, he became instantly smitten by the drink’s slight floral sweetness. While Childe began gulping it down like juice, Kaeya prepared for the big reveal, unfurling his receipt for the bottle.
PFFFFFFT! The usually stone-faced Harbinger did a spit take after seeing so many zeroes on one piece of paper.
He choked back his drink as he argued, “You did not spend that much!”
Kaeya failed to hold back his laughter, his warm smile turning arrogant, “You’re absolutely right. I didn’t. Just one of the perks of working for the Knights of Favonius. Hope you enjoy every last drop~” He clinked his glass near Childe’s before taking his own prideful drink.
Childe cursed between sips of booze. It seems that they were at another draw. He decided it was time to kick things up a notch.
… Right after he finished his drink.
The next day seemed a bit too peaceful to Kaeya’s liking. His mandatory deskwork definitely bored him senseless as usual, but more importantly, Childe was hardly around the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Kaeya immediately suspected his love had some kind of scheme waiting outside of the building.
He spent a good amount of time away from his office, eyeing the hallways for Childe’s uniform, sneaking around the library shelves, even pestering his coworkers if they saw the man. Still, even this task became dull to Kaeya, so he returned to his desk to start being productive- only to find a piece of parchment laying atop his paperwork!
Kaeya’s hands moved just as quickly as his eyes, unfolding a hurriedly scrawled message that condescendingly read:
To my beloved Show-Off,
You may have bested me twice, but as you already know, I am a Fatui Harbinger. And we do not surrender so easily. Meet me at Good Hunter tonight once you’re finished with work.
- A
Kaeya lightly chuckled at how serious his precious Sailor had gotten. After signing some papers to help appease Jean‘s workload, he decided to call it a day and ventured to Good Hunter. When Kaeya reached the corner of the plaza, Childe waved to him from behind a table, crowded by an incredibly hearty cuisine.
“Hey there! Fancy a feast for two?” Childe offered.
The table was covered in plates filled with decadent foods. There were small tapas-style dishes containing various items: samples of Fisherman’s Toast, fruity skewers, and an assortment of small sandwiches, pastas, and desserts, all freshly made and ready to eat! The prize meal on this table, though, was this incredibly large plate of Sticky Honey Roast. The smell of savory pork and sugary honey, mixed by the sight of such an alluring maroon color on the roast, nearly made Kaeya’s mouth water.
“Go ahead and grab yourself a seat. I’m sure you must be hungry after the long work day.”
Kaeya subtly wiped his mouth with the side of his hand before smoothly taking his seat. Childe offered him a fork and an already made plate containing a few slices of the roast. Kaeya cut the big chunks into smaller pieces, then took a bite. His expression remained a bit stoic, but his mind was overwhelmed with flavor. The smoky sweetness he was used to from this dish became too delicious to bear. He struggled to keep himself from delightedly humming at such a delectable dish.
Childe playfully nudged Kaeya, “Do you like it?”
Kaeya remained calm, removing the fork from his mouth, “Well, of course. In fact, I believe Sara has truly outdone herself this time.”
Childe’s impish smirk grew, ready for his big reveal.
“Actually, Sara didn’t make this dish… I did.”
Cl-cla-ank! Kaeya’s fork slipped right out of his fingers and banged onto the edge of his plate. Childe grew pleased at these results; his voice announced to the world just as proudly, “Yup! Took a bit of time to understand the recipe from her, but this roast was made by yours truly!”
Kaeya’s cheeks turned rouge, his hand covering a hard to hide smile from his lips. According to Childe’s own grin, this meant victory.
Still, Kaeya refused to give up.
“...Well, my compliments to the chef, then,” he said weakly.
Th...That’s it?!? Childe huffed and pouted like a toddler; his big, celebratory moment now hushed away as if they were in Lisa’s library. Instead, they continued finishing their meal together, having lighthearted conversation between each bite. When their evening ended, Kaeya elegantly wiped his face with a napkin, then mentioned, “Now, I believe it’s my turn next, correct?”
“Hey! Don’t say it like that,” Childe argued, “If this is a challenge on who can surprise the other the most with gifts, then you shouldn’t be giving away your shot like this!”
Kaeya laughed, never tiring from teasing his partner, “Sorry, but I do think you’ll still be quite surprised with what I have in store for tonight.”
After the plates were clean of food and a paid check, Kaeya led Childe toward the side gate of Mondstadt, where they reached the sizable lagoon of Cider Lake. A small wooden boat was tied to a nearby dock. Kaeya took Childe by the hand as they stepped aboard the tiny vessel. Then, he took the boat’s oars and rowed them as far as they could go; far enough for Mondstadt to look easily extinguishable by the pinch of their fingers.
When they reached the middle of the lake, Kaeya’s gaze turned to the sky, and he whispered, “Beautiful night tonight, isn’t it?”
Childe followed Kaeya’s lead, expecting the surprise to be pictured above them. Instead his eyes met a glitter of stars, sprinkled over a large, soft blanket of midnight blue. The moon hung above their heads, lighting the night like a gigantic spotlight. It was enamoring to experience such natural beauty, but it wasn’t… surprising.
“Sorry, Kaeya,” he confessed with an obvious smile, “Don’t think you won this ti-”
Mwah! Kaeya’s lips planted onto Childe’s. When he pulled his head away, Kaeya lightly laughed at his partner’s dumbfounded face. A light pink color rose on Childe’s cheeks as he played off his frustration with subtle teasing, “Heh, Is that the best you can do?”
Kaeya continued to chuckle, pointing a finger downward. Following the finger’s path, Childe’s eyes met his once open palms, his grip now holding something within them. Turns out the kiss was a mere distraction; Kaeya’s ultimate goal was to place a gift into his beloved’s hands. And that gift dropped Childe’s jaw instantly to the floor of the boat.
“This- this is- the Morepesok Mainline Fishing Rod!”
“Correct~,” Kaeya sang.
“But- how did you get this without leaving Mondstadt? I mean, it’s an incredibly expensive and rare pole, practically a Snezhnayan trade secret!”
“I have my methods,” Kaeya answered, looking at his nails in an arrogant fashion. Satisfied by Childe’s cute little outburst, he leaned close to his lover’s face again, gently caressed his cheek, and whispered, “Happy Early Anniversary, A.”
The morning after, now the exact day of their anniversary, defeat weighed on Childe’s heart. No matter what he tried, Kaeya seemed to be one move ahead of him. He didn’t want to throw in the towel, though: all he wanted was to find a stronger gift. The present to trump all presents! Something that would make Kaeya’s face turn redder than wine, and cause his lips to flutter the words, “You win.”
As he walked down the streets of Mondstadt, Childe’s eyes crossed a familiar merchant from Liyue. She called out to an inattentive crowd, practically begging people to buy the latest jewels and treasures she brought from her homeland. For his last resort, Childe figured buying from her wares would help him gain this extraordinary gift.
It just came down to the right item. From the selection, though, there weren’t many options left to choose from. There was a slightly cracked goblet with encrusted emeralds, a flower brooch with a leather belt as its fastener, and a plain bronze pocket watch that looked older than the Archons themselves. Although these items were nice and definitely worth their affordable prices, none of them spoke to Childe as that special something for Kaeya.
“Do you have any other items in stock?” He asked, “I’m looking for something to give to my boyfriend. Something special for our anniversary.”
The woman sighed, “Sorry, this is all I have right now. I won’t have any new stock until next Monday.”
Childe followed her exhale with his own, “I understand. Appreciate the help, anyway!”
He began his walk of shame back to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, expecting Kaeya to tease him about this competition of theirs from now until they’re feeble old men.
“W-wait!”
A voice halted his tracks. Childe turned to meet the same merchant again who offered, “There is a jewel that may be what you’re looking for. But it is something that has yet to be discovered.”
Really? Well, no matter! So long as it existed verbally, this Harbinger will gladly chase even fairy tales and legends, if only to make his own Prince Charming happy.
“Go on.”
Long ago, before the fall of a black dragon, a Kingdom of Ice and Snow lived within Teyvat. Due to the land's intense freeze and severe snowstorms, the princess of this domain remained alone. No royalty outside her realm was brave enough to battle such terrifying weather.
One day, all this changed. A young gentleman appeared, wearing clothes unfamiliar to the kingdom’s customs. He had knelt at the princess’s throne, asking for her hand in marriage. Shock petrified this woman for receiving such a sudden request. Fearing this to be a dream or some cruel jest, she refused.
“I do not wish to hurt you, Princess.” The man said back, “All I want is to stand by your side so you never feel alone. And I know just how to prove it to you.”
He left that night in silence. The Princess ignored his leaving at first, but as days rolled by, worry for his safety burdened her. During the stormy nights, fears roamed her head instead of dreams. What had happened to this poor gentleman? Had he returned to his own home safely? Or have the storms of her kingdom overwhelmed him?
Her worries almost caused her to leave her castle walls to search for this helpless stranger, when one fortunate night, he returned, shivering, practically freezing to death. The princess’s defensive walls returned, but her concern also stayed, worrying about the man’s wellbeing. The gentleman just smiled on, removing from his torn adventuring bag a large, glimmering blue gem. The item entranced the young woman, for she knew it was a rarity among her kingdom.
Celestite: a crystal that shares its name with the known island of the gods. Legend says that if such a gem is found and given by a loved one to their destined partner, the couple will receive a divine blessing from Celestia, guaranteeing their eternal happiness.
The man huffed, shaking and breathing heavily from the long trek back, “Wi… Will you accept my proposal, dear Princess? I… ha… I promise that with this gem… I’ll stay by your side...and keep you happy… even, hah… even if we must bear these storms alone… together...”
“...Yes. Yes, I accept.” the woman cried, running into the man’s arms.
That day, the heart of this frozen kingdom, slowly but surely, began to thaw.
It wasn’t long before Childe decided to head to Dragonspine. His headstrong attitude kept him from telling Kaeya where he was going, especially since he didn’t want to spoil the potential surprise.
By the time he reached his location, the blustering tundra of the mountain blew across his frame, yet Childe ignored it as if it were a slight breeze. For hours, he climbed and searched each rocky surface that layered the mountain. Adventurers camps and small treasures were found, but nothing even hinted of where this Celestite gem could be.
Still, Childe pushed onward, climbing up the mountain, rarely taking breaks at the nearby torchlight and campfires that trailed his path. For Kaeya, he didn’t want to blink until he could find that jewel. Returning to Mondstadt emptyhanded wouldn’t even be fair. Not after Kaeya gave such lovely, thoughtful gifts these past few days.
But no matter how much pride or encouragement he carried, this Snezhnayan Harbinger was still human; his footing began to slide on the snow-covered ground. His breathing visibly grew longer and heavier, the palms of his hands struggled as each bend of his fingers twinged in bone-cracking pain.
His legs nearly gave into this struggle, when at last, something unique and shimmering reached Childe’s vision. Beyond the clouded azure winds, a chest appeared: one much larger than those Childe passed, with a lavish golden border gilding its casing. Seeing the skyline darken, Childe decided enough was enough. That this was the last treasure chest he would plunder before heading back to Mondstadt. He didn’t care if this box wasn’t what he was looking for; maybe the Celestite jewel didn’t exist, or it would never be found in his lifetime. Time was short, and he’ll do whatever he can to swoon Kaeya’s heart by the end of its deadline, even if it means spending the rest of his free hours crafting a budget charm bracelet for his beloved.
“What do you think you’re doing here, gingerbread?” A voice interrupted these plans. Within the flurrying storms appeared a small group of men, their silver treasure hoarder badges jingling in time with their cackling laughter. Childe expected a fight when he first left Mondstadt, but his reddened hands predicted disaster, struggling to grab his bow.
“Get him!” A barrel-chested man barked orders as he charged at Childe with his shovel. Others shot at him with crossbows, lunged his direction with hammers, or threw bottles containing elemental magic that kept their victim paralyzed. Although the Harbinger managed a couple of shots against his opponents, Childe knew he was cornered. As the bandits circled in, preparing their final blow, Childe's eyes flickered as he slowly formed apologetic thoughts.
‘Kaeya... Kaeya I... should’ve stayed with you... I’m sorry…’
Fwooosh! A blur of bluish hues passed Childe’s diminishing sight. A couple blinks refocused his vision; two of the treasure hoarders were found knocked off their feet. Standing triumphantly in front of them, sword in hand, was the Cavalry Captain himself.
“My, my,” he teased whilst parrying and dodging his enemies, “You got yourself in quite the predicament, Ajax. I thought you Snezhnayans could handle the deadliest of snow storms.”
Cold be damned, Kaeya’s lines were enough to fire Childe back up, his hands grabbing his bow with ease and firing multiple shots at those that targeted his partner. Back-to-back, the duo twirled around the wintery battlefield, their elemental combination of hydro and cryo being put to good use. The crowd of enemies shrank once they realized they couldn’t escape their frozen fate from these two.
As the last treasure hoarder bolted out of sight, Kaeya and Childe shared a laugh. The latter lightly complained, “You know, there are better ways to bring me back on my feet than just taunting me, right?”
Kaeya laughed, pinching Childe’s cheek, “Yeah, but nothing beats you being flustered. It’s a show I’m willing to watch anytime!”
The pinch left a red mark that stung Childe’s skin; Kaeya walked back to the downward mountain path, still taunting during his strut, “Let’s head back to Albedo’s camp. If you stay any longer, you’ll probably become a monument that rivals the Archon statue above us.”
As Kaeya walked down to where the pathway turns, Childe’s head turned back to the chest behind him. Although his body wanted to run to Kaeya and the welcoming campfire as soon as possible, his competitive nature desired a necessary conclusion.
Another snug cover of midnight blue spread over a relaxing twilight sky as the duo reached the nearby campsite. Kaeya walked in to light a nearby fire pit while Childe observed the area. Shelving and tables were strewn about the space, books and vials equally dispersed outside them. Childe wondered how the Chief Alchemist could accomplish anything with his workstation in such disarray. Then, he noticed the empty alchemy table to the left of him. His body shuffled towards it and dusted off its bowl-like surface. The ornaments within its clay structure glowed a bright Mondstadtian cyan, signaling it was ready for use.
Kaeya watched the Harbinger stare at the bowl curiously and teased, “Planning to make us a blanket now? Why not inscribe my name upon it, along with some words of my victory? You can easily use it as your flag of surrender in the morning.”
Childe laughed the idea off, “You can joke about my ambitious nature forever, but that just stresses the last part especially.”
Childe turns to Kaeya with a serious, loving glance. His left hand reveals a silver chain, a couple mora, and a beautiful blue gem that gleamed beneath the moonlight. Dropping these items into the alchemic table, Childe stressed his next sentence with importance.
“I want you to stay a part of my life- till our inevitable ends.”
A fiery white glow encapsulated the cavern, blinding both Kaeya and Childe from view of the object. When the light dimmed from his eyelids, Kaeya turned back to the alchemy table, and instead was met by the alluring Celestite gem.
The jewel sparkles violet and sapphire against its pale blue surface; its gemstone now smoothly cut and enclosed in an amulet necklace. Childe smiled again, no smugness present on his face. Instead, his smile carried kindness and warmth that enveloped Kaeya’s heart like a loving embrace. With the amulet in his hand, Childe pointed to Kaeya’s neck and asked, “Can I?”
Kaeya nodded as Childe turned toward the back of his head, untying the man’s hair that matched the night sky, lifting the tresses upward, and then placing the beautiful necklace around his neck. Kaeya remained enraptured, speechless in the moment, staring down at the gem before him like it was an eye of an angel pulling him to the heavens.
All his life, Kaeya felt a small shame, a guilt in who he was. He was profoundly lonely due to his mistrust in himself and others. After losing Diluc’s companionship, he thought that he was destined to be ostracized; that he must keep himself hidden behind a web of lies for everyone’s protection. He didn’t plan on maintaining friendships for very long, and he never imagined himself falling in love or even staying with someone for the rest of his life.
But Childe- no - Ajax changed things.
For the first in a million moments, Kaeya’s eyes glimmered with hope. Hope that he won't remain alone forever. That someone out there sees him, and doesn’t care about his past or his flaws. Ajax sees Kaeya, much like Kaeya sees him: as an individual. Someone that is more than just the Cavalry Captain, the adopted son of Crepus Ragnvindr, or a lost child of Khaenri'ah. Ajax saw Kaeya as a person with aspirations outside of these pressures, someone who just wished to be held close and appreciated, to be told as they were embraced-
“Thank you, for everything.”
Kaeya failed to notice Childe’s hands cradling his back until those faithful words were spoken aloud. He didn’t expect starlight to glisten under his eyes either, but he brushed them off anyway. He laughed away his freudenstränen, “Well, I guess this means you win the competition. Congratulations.”
“No,” Childe interjected, removing his embrace and giving Kaeya a serious look, “You blew me away just as much, probably way more than me. So… how about we call this a draw? Fair?”
Surprise populated Kaeya’s face again from just how much his lover had grown in these past few days. His smile turned just as caring as Childe’s, and he happily answered, “Fair.”
Sitting near the campfire, the two prepared a spot to lay next to each other, and stare into the night sky. They spent a few moments nuzzling, eskimo kissing and actual kissing, before they began starwatching for different constellations.
A familiar mischievous smile cornered one of their lips, asking, “How about we see who can find the other’s constellation before we head to bed?”
The other smirked back, “You know, I’d love another good challenge.”