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When Lumine realized that she had been locked in the Domain, unable to leave for an indefinite time, and with the company that was beginning to cause her a monumental migraine, they made her prefer to be in The Edge of Thought, than a full domain. of monsters with an idiot like Childe. Before she had the suspicion that the gods hated her, now she was sure of that.
- It seems that this time I will not spend my days alone. - Childe hums as the monster he just defeated turns into a paper figure.
Lumine makes a face, and looks at him in bewilderment. Before saying something, she prefers to ignore him, it did not make sense to start a conversation if there was a great possibility that they lived together for days in that place and there were high possibilities that they would end up arguing. As always, she would strive to maintain neutral territory, though she didn't mind turning him hostile if he broke her patience. She sits on one of the boxes and starts looking for the supplies in her bag, if she ignored him, he would go looking for a fight in the other rooms.
Childe walks over without taking his eyes off her. Put aside his jovial and thirsty attitude to fight, to continue analyzing his small changes that he had noticed since they met the first time. It had been such small details, almost unimportant.
Details such as the hem of her scarf had been patched when he saw it, though it was now frayed in places, a result of the struggles they'd had in the domain. Her boots, now stained and scratched, had appeared to him to be new, but had only been polished. Her hair had grown out a bit, but you could tell that someone had cut it off to keep it in the shape that made her look angelic. They were minimal details, which can go unnoticed by anyone who did not know her, but not him.
- Wow! - Childe sits next to Lumine. - What have you got there?
- Blood. - Lumine responds as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Since Childe didn't move, she turns to look at him confused. - What happen?
He tries to get closer with a handkerchief, which she has no idea where he got it from. She slaps it and looks away.
- Leave me, I can alone.
- You are being very rude, Ojou-chan.
- You insist on ruining my existence, and am I the rude one? Stay away, Tartaglia, I don't want to be involved in your shady deals.
- I don’t understand you!
- And are you going to yell at me?
- But you have started. I offer you my help and you despise it, I try to be... kind to you and you get confused like a cat on your back. - He grabs her chin and forces her to look at him. - Now stay still, I'm going to remove all that blood from your face, you are full of scratches.
Lumine lets herself be attended to, fighting to keep her cheeks from turning red. He looks briefly at Childe, his blue eyes seemed to shine, perhaps it was from the light of the place, but he had never seen him shine like this. Suddenly, she felt very small, and silly. And was he cheating on her? If she allowed her heart to continue, would she be more naive than she imagined? No, she wouldn't allow herself to give in, not after everything that happened with the Fatui on Inazuma, although Childe seemed to always be different. «This is not healthy. I just want to heal my wounds and keep going until we can get out of this domain».
Childe gazes at the purple feather sticking out of her hair, bigger and in a different way, which stood out from the other two that now looked pale in her hair. He asks where he found her, while he finished cleaning her face. She looks away and responds with sorrow that it had been given to her by Ruu, a boy who had lived on Tsurumi Island, and she let him keep the pen as gratitude for having cleansed the land of the "curse" by helping him. for Kapatcir's pain to fade. He had promised to show her the outside world and hoped to explore it together in the future, but for now he had decided, to stay on the island for the time being to rest. Childe smiles at her words, always helping others like the star that she was, guiding everyone home. Even him.
- Do you know Ojou-chan? You are one of the most amazing people I have ever met.
Her blood runs cold and her cheeks flush, like the apple she held between her hands. He'd said it so casually, with a heartfelt, sweeping smile, that she couldn't stop her heart from pounding against her ribs.
- These amulets are interesting, did you buy them at Ritou? - Childe's new question takes her out of her reverie.
He fiddled with the amulets given to Yae Miko and Thoma, both of which hung in his travel backpack. Responds in a whisper, that they were "memories of friends." The pink omamori had been crucial in the plane of euthymia, but now it was only an ornament and something to remember Yae.
- As for the red omamori, he told me that it brings good luck. - She loses her gaze on the amulet, caressing its golden details. - Maybe it's true. - he murmurs.
«Was there a “he”?», she made friends easily, so there were many “he”. However, the way his lips twitched slightly in a smile, the way his eyes shone slightly and his fingers fiddled with the red charm, gave him the warning that this "he" was different from the others. Childe stands up abruptly, startling Lumine who almost throws the apple, turns to encourage her to continue investigating the domain while they can leave. He needed to ease the tightness that settled in his chest.
It was dark when they left the domain. Xinyan to go to his inn to write songs that inspired him mastery. Lumine told her that there was no problem, that she could go ahead, for that reason she was left alone with Paimon and Childe. She looks up at the sky, full of stars to the firmament. “You are like the stars in the night sky, my friend. - Childe had told her - You never stop surprising me ”. What did he mean by that? Lumine couldn't understand why her heart leapt at that moment, a throb of glee that left her chest aching.
Looking back to the front, Childe and Paimon were chatting happily, oblivious to the embarrassment Lumine felt. Perhaps she had said that without any apparent intention, since he had turned away after saying it without waiting for an answer, so it must have been a casual comment, right? «right?». It was silly to lie, she wanted him to have said it with the reason that she wanted, why her heart had been agitated. She looks back at him laughing in front of her, as if he hadn't done or said anything. Sighs. Some stories are short-lived, and it was clear that she and Childe were going nowhere.
She stops in front of a cherry tree, the breeze swaying its branches causing a shower of petals. Lumine closes her eyes to enjoy the sensation of the breeze on her face, and push away the doubt that was settling in her. Maybe tonight, she would allow herself to be herself and let her feelings come out, take a chance. Childe stops a few feet from her, regretting not having a daguerreotype to capture that moment, he had been fascinated by the sight of Lumine under the cherry blossom petals, with a calm that conveyed that it cradled his heart.
She turns to see him, his eyes shining in the moonlight, drawing constellations and galaxies. He wanted to touch her, hug her, kiss her under the moon and the cherry tree. Take a step towards her, she would extend her hand and ask her to dance the memory of phantom music. He didn't care, he just wanted her close to him and just for him.
Lumine looks up at them, feeling her cheeks flush at the deep gaze Childe gave her, making her wish he would come up to her and take her in his arms. She was going to be brave, but at that moment she was speechless. Above Paimon, he manages to see the entrance to the inn in the distance. Previously he would have felt relief, because he would rest and sleep so fast that he would not have time to think about Childe's words, or at least that is what he expected. However, at that moment she wanted him to stay with her tonight.
There was a person at the entrance, Lumine tries to detail it better. He recognizes her, it's Thoma. It was at that moment that Childe discovered that "he", the one that Lumine had spoken about while they were locked in the domain. The Kamisato Clan's housekeeper greeted Lumine with a beaming smile and open arms. This man, called Thoma, holds Lumine in his arms and Childe feels that his own heart is being pressed.
- The scarf was unstitched again, it must have been an incredible battle. - Thoma was holding the end of the scarf, analyzing the damage. - I can fix it, like I did before. You can give it to me, I'll give it back to you tomorrow. They must be tired from all the fighting.
- Yes, Paimon is exhausted from fighting with all those monsters. - Paimon says with a long sigh.
- Did you fight? - Lumine asks wryly.
- Of course I did. - Paimon crosses his arms and steps on the air in a gesture that emphasized his indignation.
- Sure it was. - Thoma laughs at the interaction of the two friends. He gently tucks a lock of Lumine's hair behind her ear, and smiles at her tenderly. He notices Childe's presence, and greets him politely. - Oh, excuse me, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Thoma, a pleasure.
- Tell me Childe.
- Childe? - Thoma takes his chin in a thoughtful gesture. He looks at Lumine in surprise. - That Childe? - Lumine assists with her head, a tender flush lit her cheeks. - Oh, wow!
Childe didn't quite understand the code conversation they just had in front of him. He gives her a confused look, going from Lumine to Thoma and then to Paimon, Thoma just widened his smile.
- Paimon, do you want to be my star taster for a recipe I'm creating?
The question not only took Childe by surprise, Paimon took seconds as he processed the information. Scream with joy, happy for a free meal plan. Lumine smiles nervously, and hands the scarf to Thoma. I knew what he had in mind, but she was nervous just the same. Thoma says goodbye to both of them, winks at Lumine, and walks off to Paimon, leaving them alone. «What just happened?».
He feels his scarf being pulled and he turns to see Lumine, who was looking at him with a faint smile. His eyes were shining just like his purple feather at that moment. He didn't know if she had been aware of that, but Childe rejoiced when she interlaced her fingers with his, and guided him to the entrance of the inn.
- I learned several typical Inazuma recipes, do you want to try them?
Why had Lumine suddenly become so shy when speaking to him?
Childe laughed out loud sitting by the window of the room, Lumine shared the laugh sitting across from him. They had finished eating, and were enjoying a drink while recounting events that occurred during the time they were apart. He was happy to be able to enjoy the moments with her, despite feeling unease in his heart, the thoughts that there was someone else in her life kept him overwhelmed. He should never have let her absence pass so long, perhaps he should have gone on a trip with her in the period he had free, so he would have had the opportunity to win her heart. It seems that the letter to his brothers was not going to be so pleasant. I would wait a little longer to break the news.
- Tomorrow we can go to Yoimiya to buy some fireworks. - Lumine takes a sip of her drink and then gives him a sweet smile. - I'm sure your brothers will love it.
He smiles at her affirming his words, he was also sure that his brothers would enjoy it.
For a gesture, which he does not know why, it was an impulse to see her so beautiful in the moonlight, smiling so warmly that it tickled his heart. He stroked her hair so softly and gently that it sent tingles through Lumine's body, making her purr and moan, but not loudly, she struggled not to, even though her flushed cheeks gave her away. She holds back, wanting more of his delicacy, aching for it, but knowing she must push him away.
- They are taking good care of you. - Childe whispers with a sad smile, while taking a lock of her hair absentmindedly.
Lumine takes a long time to respond, she wasn't sure what he meant by those words.
- You must have hit yourself very hard with that Mitachurl's shield, you're already talking nonsense. - She didn't know why, but she was feeling nervous.
- You don't have to deny it, Ojou-chan. Your outfit and your hair have given me proof that he has taken the dedication to serve you very well.
Childe strokes Lumine's cheek, leans into her ear and whispered:
- I just wanted to accompany you on your adventures, and for you to be by my side when I conquered the world.
His words, the way he said them, so soft and seductive, and his hot breath tickling her neck, and the phantom kiss on her cheek, were too much for her heart. She couldn't handle so much emotion. She was ready to pass out in that instant, or hit him with her anemo. He would die completely, or something like that. Something ultra dramatic and embarrassing, for her or for him. Childe's eyes stayed on her, on her lips, then looked back into her eyes.
- You make me feel cheap, Childe. - Lumine looks away at the window. A mischievous smile forms on his lips as he begins to understand what was happening to him. - Are you jealous that it's not just yours?
- Ha! What things do you say, Ojou-chan? - Childe turns away from her and gives her a half smile on her lips, which Lumine found cute. She had shattered his illusions of behaving properly in seconds. - If you were only mine, I would take you to that bed and do so many things to you that you would beg for more. But you're not mine and I'm not interested, so...
Childe looks away at the night sky and drinks what is left in her glass. Lumine didn't know how to act, so she chuckles.
- How dirty and charming you are, my dear Harbinger! Are you really jealous?
She asked as direct as ever, «How cute!», Childe thinks as she ponders that she would have the drink.
Again it was spoiled. Tonight he was getting tired of playing the rejected idiot, running up to her eager to snatch a kiss from her, but all he got was a beating every time she beat him, getting a "date" after betting a lunch. Something inside him ignited, he would not allow a newcomer to take away his affection from her, no matter how much he had cared for her. His eyes danced with amusement, with a playful look. He would dare to risk it, not caring if there was a possible "someone else".
She screamed annoyed enough to want to murder him for stealing a kiss, and she would make him pay. She would force him to be her pet, she would subject him to such painful punishments that she wished she were not conscious and she would force him to look only at her… Yes, that would do with that fifth Harbinger. He was so cute, it always triggered her killer instinct.
- How dare you? - Lumine wanted to sound annoyed, but her annoyed whimper had sounded like a moan. She had been happy that he kissed her, but the shame wouldn't let her.
- What is it, Ojou-chan? Are you worried about Thoma finding out? - Childe asks mischievously.
She looked at him as if to say: So it was because of him this whole situation. But then she looked at it like: Don't try anything else, although of course you're going to try to do something. She couldn't deny that he was cute, and she was happy that he kissed her. That seemed to be what he was saying, because he widened his smile.
- Ayaka and Thoma are good friends, they have taken good care of me during my stay. If there was something between him and me, I assure you it would not be here with me. Have you ever wondered why Thoma took Paimon and left us alone?
Friends? The way he was taking care of her, it made her seem like there was more to it than friendship. However, he had wondered, but he had been so overwhelmed and depressed by the relationship the two of them had, that he had not analyzed the situation. Lumine kisses him on the lips, and smiles with amusement. In that moment Childe understood everything, and he felt a little foolish.
- You are a fool. - Lumine says amused, in turn surrounding him with her arms. - Honestly, what am I doing with you?
- I do not know. Do you want us to discover it together? - He responds with a flirtatious smile, corresponding in her embrace and kissing her on the neck.