Archive of Our Own

"How the hell did a Fatui Harbinger get into Angel's Share?"

"Hey, now, no need to be so hostile." The Fatui scum walks to the bar like he owns the place, leans on the counter and fucking finger-guns into Diluc's face. "The name's Tartaglia, but you can call me Childe, and I heard-"

"I'd prefer not to address you at all," Diluc interrupts, rather rudely, but he really couldn't be bothered. He glares at Kaeya, who stands next to the Harbinger without a care in the world.

"Oh, come on, Diluc," he speaks and Diluc has to use every last bit of self-control in him not to throw a bottle at him. He's a civilized person, he won't destroy anything in the tavern just because Kaeya is standing there with the most annoying smirk on his face that looks like it's simply asking for a beating.

"Mister Childe," he throws an arm around the Harbinger's shoulders and Diluc grits his teeth, "is here on official business. As you know, the Knights of Favonious are in a diplomatic alliance with the Fatui and the duty to welcome our esteemed guest to Mondstadt fell upon me." Diluc wants to throw him out of the window. He could probably do it with one arm. "So, naturally, I chose the location best suited to showcase the spirit of the City of Freedom."

"Enough," Diluc says, arms crossed and his face in a horrible grimace. "This is hardly the only tavern in town." His glare settles on the Harbinger. "You can take your Fatui friend down the street to the Cat's Tail."

"That's no way to treat a guest, now is it?" Childe says, his chin in his hand, still fully leaning on the counter. "I'm only here for a drink, sir." He smiles and Diluc almost pulls out his claymore. "No need to make everything political."

Kaeya smiles in exactly the same way as Childe. Archons, there's two of them.

"The Cat's Tail's Dandelion Wine is nowhere near as exquisite as yours, Master Diluc," Kaeya says. If it weren't Kaeya who was saying it, Diluc might've taken the statement as a compliment. "And being the good host that I am, I wish to show my guest only the best Mondstadt can offer."

And Diluc knows it's no use arguing with them. He'll only end up making a scene and that most definitely isn't something he wants to do. He wishes Charles were here instead. Why did he arrange that date today? Couldn't it have been on a day when it was guaranteed that a Fatui Harbinger wouldn't show up at Diluc's workplace instead?

"Fine," he says in a voice even flatter than usual. "Take a seat then. I'll bring the wine over when it's ready."

"Appreciated," Kaeya says and drags Childe over to a table at the corner of the tavern.

Diluc hates his job.

The Traveler enters the tavern shortly after, Paimon flying next to them. They look straight at Diluc and both theirs and Paimon's eyes widen.

"Master Diluc! What happened to your hair?"

Diluc frowns. "What do you mean?"

"It's..." Traveler starts, their finger pointed towards Diluc's high ponytail, then heaves a sigh. "Never mind."

Diluc raises an eyebrow, about to ask again when Paimon speaks up, "We're looking for a... friend."

"What's with the pause?" The Traveler asks.

"Well, Paimon's not too sure what you consider him."

They shrug. "He's a great sparring partner and we've helped each other. If you exclude the whole almost flooding Liyue thing, I'm proud to call him my friend."

Paimon smiles. "Then so is Paimon."

Diluc stares at their exchange, not quite sure how to respond to any of that. Then Paimon turns to him again. "Have you seen an ugly ginger around?"

Diluc blinks. "Ugly ginger?"

The Traveler adds, "He's also freakishly tall. Hydro vision. Pale."

"Not a single spark in his eyes," Paimon says.

"Or a logical thought behind them."

Diluc stops pouring the wine, the bottle hanging from his hand mid-air. He looks at the two, expressionless. "You're friends with the 11th of the Fatui Harbingers."

"Yieks," Paimon says. "Master Diluc hates the Fatui."

"Yes, Paimon, I know." To Diluc, they say, "Listen, he's really not all bad, he's had some major character development recently-"

"And he's a really good older brother!" Paimon seems to say without thinking, to which the Traveler almost smacks the flying thing down through the floor.

Ouch. That stings.

Paimon seems to realise it quickly, "P-Paimon doesn't mean to say Master Diluc isn't a good-" Paimon is then grabbed by the Traveler and shoved behind their back.

"Anyway" There's an awkward pause. "Have you seen him?"

Diluc just points to the tavern's corner and watches the Traveler smile at him and walk over there, Paimon's muffled shouts heard behind them. He focuses on getting the whole wine bit over with.

~

"How do you two know each other anyway?" Childe asks, just to strike up a conversation with the Cavalry Captain. There is a weird air around Kaeya Alberich that he can't quite name, but he doesn't feel like he's a safe person to be around. Something about him is very... off.

Kaeya looks through the window, completely relaxed in his chair. His arm is thrown over the backrest of the chair next to him, his other hand playing with a coin on the table. Childe hasn't failed to notice how alike they are and that's precisely why he's so wary of Kaeya. He'd never trust himself.

"Master Diluc used to be a Knight of Favonious," Kaeya says after a couple of moments. "We go way back."

"Why'd he quit?"

Kaeya looks at him then. "Perhaps you should ask him that yourself. It was the same reason he hates the Fatui so much."

Childe scoffs. "Everyone hates the Fatui. That's no reason to betray something you swore your allegiance to."

The coin under Kaeya's finger stops spinning. Childe isn't sure what to make of the look in his eye. But in a flash, it's gone, and what's on Kaeya's face is a smirk as he leans forward and stares at Childe.

"What is it with all the questions? Are you perhaps," his smirk widens, "interested in Diluc? I can tell you that he's almost painfully single, so you should go for it."

Childe jabs back with, "How do you know that? Is it perhaps because you're the one interested in him?"

Kaeya's smirk is immediately replaced with one of the most dramatic grimaces Childe has ever seen and he can't help but let out a laugh. "Archons, no. That- that is so gross. Disgusting on so many different levels." He physically cringes. "Ew. No. Besides, I'm already taken."

Childe raises an eyebrow. He didn't take Kaeya for someone who'd just tell a stranger about his love life, as scarce as the information was. He's about to respond with further questions because he can when-

"Childe! There you are!"

Kaeya turns his head at the same time Childe looks behind him, a smile appearing on his face when he spots Traveler.

Traveler's hands are behind their back at first. As soon as they fall back next to their torso Paimon flies out and shoots them an angry look, one which Traveler thoroughly ignores.

Paimon then turns to Childe and Kaeya with a much friendlier expression. "Hi, Kaeya. Hi, Childe. We heard you were in Mondstadt so we wanted to say hi."

Kaeya raises one eyebrow (or both, Childe's unsure). "You came all this way to the 11th of the Fatui Harbingers, just to say hi?"

"We're friends," Traveler clarifies. "And I'm here anyways. It'd be rude not to say hi." They stare at the empty chair next to Kaeya for a moment. "Scoot over, I need a drink."

Childe tilts his head and says through a teasing grin, "Aren't you a minor?"

Traveler looks him dead in the eyes after they take their seat. "Aren't you a war criminal?"

Childe's grin twitches. "Touché."

Kaeya doesn't seem concerned about that in the slightest, which in turn slightly concerns Childe. Instead, he turns to Traveler and says, "Say, Traveler. What do you think about Childe and Diluc?"

If Childe had a drink, he would've spat it out.

Paimon frowns. "As like... a couple?"

Kaeya laughs. "Why, of course. My esteemed guest here seemed interested, though I can't say for certain that Diluc would easily give up his hatred towards the Fatui to pursue a more... sophisticated emotion."

Traveler looks at him like he's gone insane. "Why would you wanna set Diluc up with Childe? I get that you hate him but isn't he still your brother?"

Kaeya's smile falters.

Childe first looks at Traveler. "That's offensive." Then practically shouts at Kaeya, "You two are brothers?!"

"Khm." Someone clears their throat and Childe can't quite comprehend how someone managed to practically sneak up on them. He's about to investigate this intruder but when he turns his head... it's Master Diluc. “I don't remember consenting the Fatui knowing anything about my family affairs."

"You changed your hair," Childe says before he can think and widens his eyes when the words leave his mouth. He can hear Kaeya fail to suppress a laugh. Traveler at least gives it their best shot.

Okay, so perhaps he is interested.

Diluc's glare moves from Kaeya to Childe. "All I did was retie it." His eyes narrow even more. "What are you plotting?"

"I'm not plotting anything, Master Diluc," Childe responds, leaning his cheek against his palm, his composure returned. "I'm just waiting for my wine." He nods at the tray in Diluc's hand. "Shouldn't you give that to me now? It's only basic customer service. Have you no manners?"

The tray is slammed onto the table so hard Paimon audibly yelps. "Listen here, you Fatui scum-"

"If you wanna fight, we can fight," Childe shoots back with just as much fervour.

"Stop," Traveler says, putting a hand between them. "Master Diluc, do you really want to ruin Angel's Share because of a Fatui? You're better than this. And Childe, aren't you here on official business? What would the Tsaritsa think of you picking fights with one of the most influential people in Mondstadt? The Knights wouldn't just stand by and watch it happen."

"Oh, no, we absolutely would. I might just get food to accompany the entertainment as well," Kaeya says but raises his arms up in defence when Traveler glares at him. "Not helping. Apologies."

Childe still wants to fight him, though.

Diluc almost rolls his eyes, but lets out a sigh. "Fine." He quickly distributes the wine and places what seems to be grape juice in front of Paimon and the Traveler. "Finish your drinks. And leave."

They do not, in fact, finish their drinks and leave. Childe really doesn't know what prompted him to drink like this and it's very unlike him to do so around strangers, but he chooses to blame the Traveler. They're the person who stole so much of his wine they had to get another bottle. And another. Aaand another....

Kaeya doesn't look like he's doing much better than Childe, to be honest. It's a surprise to learn that Kaeya is a sleepy drunk, with his body slumped against the wall and eye fluttering open and closed every few seconds like he's trying really hard to stay awake. It's even more of a surprise to learn Diluc actually cares about him.

He's still all grumpy and glares a lot, but there's something very gentle and familial in the way he places his coat over Kaeya's shoulders. It reminds Childe of the way he is with Teucer.

"Is Albedo in his lab right now?" Diluc asks him. "Do you want me to get him?"

Kaeya lets out a yawn and essentially snuggles into the wall. "Mhm, please do. He got back from Dragonspine yesterday."

Diluc pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. He glances at Traveler. "I can't just leave the tavern."

Traveler lets out a similar sigh and stands up, stretching their arms over their head. "Say less. Paimon, get the fuck up."

"Paimon is tired."

"You didn't do shit, come on."

When Paimon grumpily floats after Traveler and Diluc sits into the chair next to the passed out Kaeya, Childe realises they're practically alone. Not that there isn't anyone else in the tavern, but it doesn't feel like anyone but him and Diluc currently exists. Obviously, Kaeya is still right there, but his state of consciousness makes him completely irrelevant to the situation at hand.

Diluc lets out a tired sigh as he glances over to Kaeya to make sure he won't slide down the wall and on the floor before Albedo gets here. He probably won't. He'll also have to wake up, considering the fact that Albedo can't carry his entire weight. But Diluc knows he can count on Albedo to be smart so he'll probably bring someone stronger along. No need to worry.

Then he looks across the table and meets the eyes of a Fatui Harbinger. A Fatui Harbinger with rosy cheeks and wide pupils who is staring at him with an expression that can only be described as dazed.

"Anything I can help you with?" he asks because he does, in fact, possess basic manners.

"You're really pretty."

Diluc freezes.

"Ever been told that before?"

"None of your business," Diluc says through gritted teeth. "I didn't realise the 11th would be interested in romance during his "official business"."

Childe pours himself another drink. Diluc does nothing to stop him. Then he remembers that it would be a horrible look for Angel's Share to have a Fatui Harbinger die of alcohol poisoning on the premises.

His hand is on the glass before he can think about what he's doing. He didn't accidentally drink anything, did he?

Childe's gloves look strange under his. Diluc yanks the glass out of his grip. "I think you've had enough."

Childe's hand stays in the position of holding a glass and he looks like he needs a moment to process that the glass is gone. Diluc's dealt with these kinds of people one too many times for it to be even remotely funny.

His eyes move to the glass in Diluc's hand and it looks like he gains some of his composure back. "Don't you think that's on the customer to decide?"

"Do I look like I want to start a war with Snezhnaya over you dying from too much alcohol consumption?"

"I'll stop drinking if you go out with me."

Diluc hands him the drink back.

Childe does not look pleased. "Oh, come on! I'm rich!"

Diluc cringes. "So am I. And I don't have any intention of mingling with the Fatui."

Diluc is extremely unimpressed by the glove that hits his chest and falls into his lap. "I challenge you then. We fight, I win, you go out with me."

"You look like you can barely stand."

"Tomorrow then!"

"No."

"What if I get rid of the Fatui in Mondstadt if you win?"

Diluc crosses his arms, looks at the Harbinger with a raised eyebrow. "You don't have that kind of authority."

Childe glares at the floor. "Shut up."

Diluc sighs. He's been sighing too much. "I don't know what you're planning but it won't work. Whatever evil scheme you Fatui have in mind-"

"If you win, I'll stop bothering you," Childe suddenly says, face lit up like he's just had a revelation. "But if you refuse to fight me, I'll come here every day to bother you while I'm in Mondstadt."

Diluc wants to see him dead. "How long are you going to be in Mondstadt?"

"Until I decide to leave," Childe says through the widest of grins. "I'll be here for the next couple of months, minimum. Maybe longer. It's better if you just fight me already."

Diluc absolutely hates where this is going. He doesn't want to see this stupid ginger every day. And it's not like he can stop him from doing what he wants without somehow damaging the diplomatic relationship with Mondstadt. Jean would never leave him alone. No, actually, Jean wouldn't dare bother him too much, but Lisa... Lisa would be a menace.

And sometimes, you have to choose the lesser evil. "Fine. I'll fight you tomorrow. If I win, you never show your face to me again."

Childe is still smiling. "And if I win, you go on a date with me!"

"What. The. Fuck."

Ah, that would be the Traveler.

Childe waves at them with a lot of enthusiasm. "Hi! Did you bring Kaeya's boyfriend?"

Traveler ignores the question. "Where's your other glove?"

Diluc picks the strange looking thing from his lap. It's barely a glove. The back of the palm is completely exposed. Entirely unpractical. He tosses it to Childe and it hits him straight across the face.

"Ouch," he says, but he barely even winced.

"Um, hello." Albedo appears behind the Traveler, Huffman in tow. "I am only here to pick up Kaeya." Diluc just motions to the passed out man next to him.

"Oh, so it's a workplace romance," Childe comments. "Hello, Mister Chief Alchemist. I believe we've met."

Albedo nods, already next to Kaeya. "Yes, we've met in passing, Childe of the Fatui Harbingers." He looks at Kaeya, shaking him lightly. "Kaeya," he calls in a quiet voice, "wake up."

"Hm?" Kaeya's eye slowly opens, a smile gracing his features as soon as his gaze meets Albedo's. "It's you."

"Let's go," Albedo says, throwing one of Kaeya's arms over his shoulders. "Huffman is here to help me carry you if you can't walk."

"I can walk," Kaeya mumbles, tries to stand up, and immediately falls into Albedo's embrace. Albedo seems to be strong enough to hold him up, but not to move from their current position. He sighs, calls Huffman over and together they drag the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonious out of the tavern.

"Traveler," Diluc says. "It's late. May I trouble you with the safety of the Harbinger's return to the hotel?"

Traveler barely looks at him before yanking Childe up. "Paimon, hold his other arm." Paimon does just that, with a lot of effort.

Childe seems to be able to stand just fine but he still leans his entire weight on the Traveler, who looks a split second away from pulling out their sword. He then proceeds to wink at Diluc, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

Diluc doesn't respond.

While they walk past him, he hears the Traveler mumble to Childe, "What the hell did you get yourself into..."

Childe sleeps like a baby that night, but the headache he wakes up to renders him unable to do anything but glare at the sun rays hitting his face through the window. He doesn't even have the strength to get up and close the curtains. He thought his Snezhnayan roots had made him strong enough to handle any sort of alcohol but this... this is too much.

His head pounds as he sits up and he has to hold his forehead for a good minute before he feels ready to at least try to stand up. Now would quite literally be the perfect time for someone to burst in and try to assassinate him. He wouldn't even be able to throw something at a potential intruder. He'd just sit there and die. He probably wouldn't even feel being stabbed over the agonizing pain behind his eyes.

He stumbles through his room, has to walk next to the wall to keep himself upright and he feels so fucking pathetic. Should've known better than to drink with Mondstadters. They're all insane. He remembers Thoma from Inazuma. Thoma is probably better off in Inazuma. Then he remembers the Yashiro Commissioner and decides Thoma just wasn't born lucky.

Childe somehow manages to get to the door and holds up his hand, knocking twice. He hears three knocks back from whichever agent is guarding his door and says as clearly as he can, "Get me some hangover medicine."

He hopes the agent understood him because he most definitely isn't going to open the door for anyone while he's in this state. The world is hazy and blurry and he can barely reach for the power of his Vision, let alone any other weapon in case whoever was in front of the door was feeling less than friendly. He's not taking chances.

As he stumbles back into bed, he starts wondering if this was some kind of elaborate ploy to poison him. Even if it wasn't, he definitely should've been more careful, drinking with the enemy. He has a responsibility towards the diplomatic relationship, but he knows what the people here think of him. The only reason he or any of his agents haven't been set ablaze in the town square was because of the Acting Grand Master.

Okay, maybe burning on a pyre is an exaggeration on his part, but he's from Snezhnaya, the land of progressing technology. Mondstadt, as pretty as it is, feels like the land of barbarians.

Barbarians he consciously let to poison him. He can barely even remember what happened last night and for some reason, he thinks it would be best not to try summoning the memory. He's been through enough, no?

But then memories start flooding in and if Childe didn't already have a tremendous headache, he'd consider bashing his head through the wall.

He opens his eyes wide. He's supposed to fight Diluc Ragnvindr today.

Truth be told, he's in no state to do it, and if he loses, he loses all his chances of ever talking to Diluc again. Which really shouldn't be that big of a problem. He's not politically important, he's extremely gloomy, and Childe's pretty sure he's one of the very few people banned from Snezhnaya. Even so, Childe would love to try his hand against him. Even if he loses, he tries to convince himself, he'll have fought a powerful person. And there is not a single thing Childe wants more.

Then there are three carefully timed knocks at his door again and there is no way he can get up and open it in a short enough time for it to not be suspicious. So he gives up before even trying, settles with just sitting up as he feels a painful pang through his skull, and shouts, "Come in!"

The door is carefully opened, and he recognises the agent entering through it. Viktor, that's his name. The one who's been posted in Mondstadt for a long time. Childe wants to arrange him a visit home, if the Tsaritsa permits it.

He's a bit sceptical when he notices that Viktor isn't carrying anything with him, but that is quickly replaced by pure shock when he sees who's walking behind him.

That. That is Diluc Ragnvindr. In Childe's bedroom. With a bag in his hand.

Now what-

"I hope you don't mind sir," Viktor speaks before Childe can. Being away from any real authorities must've destroyed his manners. In any other situation, Childe would've disciplined him in the same way he had been, maybe would've given his visit home a second thought. In this situation, however, he's most grateful. He doesn't know what he would even say. He'd probably just sit there with his mouth open wide in shock and confusion.

"Master Diluc is the only one I could ask for this since hangover medicine is extremely scarce in Mondstadt and he insisted-" Viktor continued but Childe wasn't really listening. He stared at the man behind him, who looked amused at the whole situation. Childe wasn't used to being the laughingstock, and he certainly wasn't going to let this guy mock him over something he had zero control over.

Well, he could've drunk less. Or not drunk at all.

Diluc definitely has a hidden agenda here. He's come to strike Childe down at his weakest so he wouldn't have to deal with him ever again. Childe didn't take him for such a coward.

He waves Viktor off with a single motion. "Thank you. You're free to go."

Viktor nods respectfully and is out the door faster than Childe can look at Diluc and enquire about his motives.

Diluc speaks first. "I brought some medicine for our esteemed guest. However, chances are none of it will actually be helpful to you. We don't have hangovers here."

Childe wants to snatch the bag away from him and drown whatever is in it in a single gulp, but he can't move a muscle. Even Diluc is becoming blurry in front of him. "You're all a bunch of alcoholics."

"Or we just know how to drink responsibly."

"Your brother didn't look very responsible last night."

If Diluc feels anything towards those words, he does not show it. "And he'll wake up perfectly normal and ready to be as annoying as usual." He takes out packs of medicine and lays them on the bedside table one by one. There are like five boxes. "This is the order you should take them in, one by one. I told Viktor to go fetch some water. I suggest you drink a lot of it, and sleep the day off."

"Are you trying to further the poison?" Childe asks, perhaps a little delirious with pain. His head is throbbing. He just want to close his eyes, but he's sitting up and there's a stranger in his bedroom and he doesn't trust himself not to topple over the second he lets his consciousness go. He still has a reputation, damn it.

Diluc just raises an eyebrow in amusement. Childe doesn't know how to feel about the soft chuckle he hears. "If I really were out to poison a Fatui Harbinger, you'd be long gone and buried," he says casually. "I don't enjoy being underestimated."

"So you're actually helping me then? Why?"

"I believe I've agreed to a fight. Might as well have it be fair. And it's the least I can do, considering my wine is the reason you're..." Childe knows he's suppressing another one of those chuckles. "Bed ridden. Unless, of course, you wish to settle the score through a calm game of chess. I happen to have a set on me."

Childe raises an eyebrow, ignoring the flame it sends through his forehead. "You carry chess with you?" he scoffs. "You'd get along splendidly with the Tianquan of Liyue."

Diluc nods. "I do. Now sleep. Viktor will wake you up when he gets back. You dying would look bad for Mondstadt."

And Archons, Childe wants to sleep. He finds his head sliding down to the side and he barely registers the sound of his door closing.

Diluc questions his life choices. Jean should be glad he's a sensible man who treasures their friendship and his nation, or their peace with Snezhnaya would've dissipated the first time they let a Fatui Harbinger step foot into his tavern. Instead, here he is, leaving the hotel like some kind of mistress after bringing medicine to the enemy. If it were up to Diluc, he would've left the bastard to rot and die. But it was never up to Diluc these days, was it?

Not for the first time, he wonders what would've happened if he stayed with the Knights. He would've been even bitterer than he is now, but maybe he'd manage to rise to the position of Acting Grand Master. There used to be a time when he wanted it. Would his bitterness have let him run the nation as peacefully as Jean? Or would he have started a war with the Fatui the second he got the chance?

It doesn't matter. He wasn't a Knight anymore and he never would be again. Still, a part of him wondered, what would've happened if he let himself stay led by hatred, the same way he was during his little cross-Teyvat trip. Nothing good, he assumed. It was best not to let his imagination wander.

"Did you rescue our guest?" Charles asks when Diluc walks back to Angel's Share. He'd been there when Viktor came searching for Diluc, and he heard everything.

"No," Diluc says flatly. "I left him there to rot and die."

Charles hums thoughtfully as he dries a glass, "Does that count as treason?"

Diluc only shrugs. "He came to the nation of wine and didn't expect said wine could kill him. He's got only himself to blame."

That's when a green head is raised from the counter. Diluc noticed he was there, but absolutely refused to give him any sort of acknowledgement.

"Dandelion wine can't kill anyone!" Venti shouts, wasted in the middle of the day. "It was blessed by Barbados."

A nun beside him speaks up. Diluc can tell she's drunk as much as Venti, though she doesn't show it. "His name is Benadryl."

Venti turns to her, a gush of wind that by all accounts shouldn't be there surrounding him, "I think I would know the name I-" the rest of his sentence is muffled by Diluc's glove.

Close to the bard's ear, he whispers, "One more word and I'm kicking you out of the tavern. That means no more wine."

Rosaria looks like she hasn't registered that whole exchange and simply turns back towards the counter. Archons, she's more gone than he thought. He releases the now silent bard and decides that that was enough Mondstadt for today.

To Charles, he says, "I'm going back to the Winery. There's still work I need to take care of."

Charles only nods. This is, after all, a part of the routine. "Have a nice day, Master Diluc."

"You too," Diluc replies and soon he's out of the door.

He spends the rest of his day locked up in his office, filling out paperwork and all the other boring stuff. It's enough to distract him from all of his gloomy thoughts until he notices the sun has set. There is still enough time for him to finish his work and be on his way. The work never ends, does it?

By the time he's standing in front of Mondstadt's walls, the city has already quieted down. What remains is an eerie silence and the sound of wind, comforting because it feels like a hidden guardian of the city. At least it used to, back when Diluc was a child. Now he knows that the wind spends his days singing and drinking and that the hidden guardian is actually him.

He wouldn't have to do this if the Knights actually did their job, but oh, well. Inefficient till the end.

Last night was quiet, after he managed to empty Angel's Share and finally leave. Too quiet. He still wasn't entirely sure what the Abyss Order was planning but he knew the Traveler knew something. He could only hope they trusted him enough to tell him. After all, he had already assumed their connections with the Abyss ran deeper than even they knew.

So, there he stands, afraid of missing something important and being unable to protect his city from danger. He realises he really can't just stand still and considers going into the woods to investigate. Maybe there's trouble in Springvale he hasn't heard of yet. He should offer assistance, just in case.

Then there are two sounds of water splashing. The first one is quieter, like an arrow hitting its mark, while the second one sounds exactly like a body hitting the water. Someone just fell into the lake.

Diluc has trouble discerning where it came from and by the time he's run up the hills around Mondstadt, there's only a single person standing by the cliffside.

A ginger.

Said ginger seems to have heard him because he turns his head towards Diluc, a bright smile on his face, shining in the moonlight. It's a slightly disturbing sight, judging by the fact that Childe has just thrown someone off a cliff, but Diluc has seen worse in his lifetime.

"What did you just do?" he asks, taking careful steps in his approach. He didn't underestimate Childe when he agreed to a fight - this was a Fatui Harbinger after all - but he certainly didn't expect the man to be up and ready to spread violence just a day after consuming so much Dandelion wine for the first time.

Childe only grins wider at him, pointing down towards the lake with the tip of his bow. "There was an uninvited guest at my window. I've... eliminated the threat."

Diluc looks down, but there's nothing in the water. Abyss mages can teleport. He meets Childe's eyes again. "Inside the city?" he asks in disbelief.

Childe doesn't share his surprise. "Yes, I believe that that's where my window is." Diluc isn't impressed, and Childe continues, "These walls of yours may be tall and mighty, but they're more of a prison than a protection." When Diluc still shows no reaction, he frowns. "All right. This isn't the first time the Abyss Order has tried to contact me since I came here. They seem to have a serious score to settle with Mondstadt, and this one..." he motions towards the now empty lake, "had something against you, in particular, Master Diluc. Unfortunately, I ran out of patience before I got around to properly questioning it."

Diluc doubts that's all there is to it, but he knows Childe won't give him any more information about it. "Did you see anything else?"

Childe takes a moment to think about it, a smirk on his face. He looks nothing like the broken shell of a man he was this morning. Maybe Mondstadt's hangover medicine does work.

"How about a trade?"

Diluc doesn't like where this is going. "A trade?"

"You tell me what you're doing here, and I tell you everything I saw," he holds out a hand for Diluc to shake. "And then we fight. Unless, of course, you would deny me of a friendly spar?"

Diluc glances at the dark sky above him. "You want to fight now?"

Childe shrugs. "I suppose it can wait. Now that I think about it, you might have some more pressing matters to take care of."

This causes Diluc's eyes to narrow. "What did you see?"

"What are you doing here?" Childe shoots back.

"Investigating."

"By yourself? You wouldn't mind if you joined you, then, would you?"

Diluc grits his teeth. He really doesn't like this man. "If you have any information worth my time, you're welcome to do as you please."

"Perfect," Childe responds before the aloft air around him suddenly disappears. He is a fighter, after all. Diluc shouldn't forget it. "They want to stage an attack on your church. Destroy the statue or something, kill a bunch of people with it, corrupt your winds themselves. They were so sure I'd join them because of my... well, I do think throwing their messenger off a cliff was a pretty clear answer on my part. I'm not sure when they're planning to put this plan into action-"

"Windblume," Diluc says without thinking. "That's when there will actually be people near that statue." His gaze darkens. "To think they would dare..."

"That's soon right?" Childe says. "That means they'd have to have a base somewhere close by. It's probably where everything and everyone they need is located, the Abyss can't afford many domains at the same time. If we destroy the base..."

"...we sabotage the attack," Diluc agrees. "But we need to find it first. Don't tell me they told you where it is."

Childe scratches the back of his neck. "Well, not exactly. But I can find it."

Diluc had already been suspicious, but this is nearing the limit. "How?"

Childe looks like he's contemplating something very important. "You forge a weird connection with the Abyss when you fall into it," he says quickly, as if ripping off a band-aid.

Diluc just stares at him blankly. "Alright. Lead the way."

"Just like that?" Childe asks, blinking in surprise.

"I'm not about to ask you about your traumatic past," Diluc answers like it's the most obvious thing. "Tell me or don't, I don't care. But help me do this, and I promise to put up a good fight."

The smile that graces Childe's features makes Diluc want to punch himself in the face. A Fatui Harbinger does not have the ability to look gorgeous and Diluc needs to get his shit together. "Deal."

The next few hours turn into a scouting mission. Childe may be able to sniff out the Abyss, but there are many Abyss monsters looming in the forests around Mondstadt. He's honestly surprised Springvale is still a thing. He can't imagine how difficult things must be for merchants. If only there was a lone Traveler with enough time on their hands to kill all these monsters...

They finally reach a domain that Childe claims, with utmost certainty, is the one they've been looking for. Diluc nods and tells him,

"You should wait here."

"Absolutely not," Childe replies before Diluc is even fully finished with speaking.

"We can't afford you being seen right now. They might try to reach you again, it's a valuable source of information."

"I threw their messenger off a cliff. Do you really think he didn't snitch on me right away?"

"Still, we can't afford you getting hurt here. How is Jean supposed to explain this to the Tsaritsa?"

Childe stares at him, his mouth agape in what can only be described as the biggest offence he's ever heard in his entire life. "You don't think I can hold my own in a fight." It's a simple statement, and the way Diluc refuses to meet his gaze tells him he guessed correctly.

"That isn't what I said. I'm only worried about the Mondstadt's diplomacy-"

"Cut the crap," Childe snaps because wow, he's actually never been this offended in his life. The audacity of men- "You just don't want me in there because you think I'll be a burden. Did you miss the part about me falling into the Abyss? I know the ins and outs of those things and if anything, the one that would be a burden is you!"

Diluc looks at him then, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, really? Then I suppose you want the fighting fully left to you?"

That's exactly what Childe wants. He can feel the thrill of battle already and every muscle in his body is pulling him towards that door. Time for bloodshed.

"Mister Tartaglia," Diluc continues, the 'g' completely silent in a perfect accent. There's a shiver down Childe's spine. "I must remind you that you are still on Mondstadt's grounds. On my mission, nonetheless, and while I do appreciate your help I will not hesitate to leave you in the dust." His red eyes burn into Childe's skull. "My word is final, understood?"

Childe gulps, slightly nods. Archons, why was that so hot?

"But since you seem so keen on following me, fine. I'll allow it. For now."

He remembers the files he requested from Viktor when he woke up again. Files that very distinctly marked Diluc Ragnvindr as one of the most powerful vision holders in Mondstadt, only rivalled by the Knights' librarian who seemed to meddle with ancient magic. He can't be sure how true that information was, but he's about to find out because Diluc wastes no time in getting them into the domain.

At first, it's silent. Like any other domain, the inside is a lot more spacious than the outside would suggest but so far there don't seem to be any mechanisms or puzzles. It looks like it was set up in a hurry.

Childe frowns. It isn't like the Abyss Order to rush things. Or was this a trap? Did they trick Childe, knowing he would never agree to help them? Did he just take Diluc to meet his untimely doom?

"We should be careful," Childe says. "This could be a trap."

Diluc looks at him over his shoulder. "What's that? A Fatui Harbinger afraid of a little trouble?"

Childe grits his teeth. Maybe there really was a family resemblance between him and Kaeya. "I'm only worried about the diplomacy of Snezhnaya. If you die here, it'll be troublesome to prove it wasn't I who killed you."

"And do you plan to kill me?"

"Not before our friendly spar."

"Come along, then," Diluc motions for Childe to follow him inside. "There's work to be done."

Childe has never been one to fawn over people. Or to idolize people, really. He's met plenty of strong fighters, fought more than half of those and witnessed the beauty of it all more times than he can count.

He's never seen a man do a summersault with a flaming claymore, however. Or summon a phoenix. How are his water blades supposed to block a phoenix???? He can't be expected to go full Foul Legacy mode during a spar, can he?

"Are you just going to stand there?" Diluc says, the sound of scorched flesh hissing all around him. "Don't let them escape!"

That brings Childe back from his trance slightly, though he'd really prefer to sit there and watch Diluc do his thing. He's seriously rethinking challenging him now, not gonna lie.

But he's not just going to stand there and be useless. He merges his blades into a spear, swings it once and sends the running hillichurls scattering. Not as cool as Diluc's giant bird on fire, but it works. He reaches for his Delusion, sends a tick of electricity to mingle with the Hydro, leaving the poor creatures unable to move a muscle. Childe's very glad not to have a conscience.

He looks back at Diluc, who seems busy with grabbing an Abyss mage by the nape and throwing it head first into the wall. Childe wishes that were him I mean what.

The Abyss mage stands up, wobbling, and says in that awful voice they all share, "This is only the beginning. You cannot dream of stopping the lectors," there's a creepy giggle and Childe considers shooting an arrow through the thing's head. "They will bring ruin and destruction like you've never seen before, Darknight Hero. Your efforts are futile."

Darknight Hero? Diluc seems to cringe at the name. Then piece by piece, everything falls into place. Childe's heard about the Darknight Hero during his time in Mondstadt, but it seemed more like a myth than anything.

Why else would Master Diluc be patrolling the walls in the middle of the night? It made perfect sense. Diluc Ragnvindr, a vigilante.

That, also, shouldn't be that hot.

"I don't remember asking you anything," Diluc says in response. He slams the claymore down into the floor next to the mage, so hard it stays there when he lets go of the handle. "You speak when I say you can speak."

The mage's resolve seems to wither ever so slightly, like the courage of its previous words was dissolving. It stays silent.

"What are these lectors you speak of? Are they going to attack during Windblume? Where are you keeping them?"

"We don't need to keep them here. Their teleportation ability far exceeds my own," the viciousness is back in its voice now. "You won't expect them and they will destroy you."

Diluc flicks his hand, the claymore lights up, the flames catch onto the Abyss mage before it can even comprehend what's happening and with a shriek, it disappears into ashes.

Childe stands there in disbelief. "What- Why did you do that?"

Diluc adjusts his glove, single-handedly throws the claymore and it disappears into the air. "I wasn't going to get anything useful anyway."

"Wha- You don't know that? There were so many more questions you could've asked!"

"I didn't need to." He reaches inside his coat and pulls out a folded piece of paper. "The Abyss is terrible at keeping secrets if you know where to look." He tosses it to Childe, who sceptically unfolds it.

His eyes widen. "This... this is a picture of an Abyss lector."

Diluc nods. "And a list of its abilities. If it wasn't purposefully set here for me to find and isn't actually filled with nothing but lies, it can be very useful."

"And how are you so sure it isn't a trap?"

Diluc pats his shoulder as he walks by towards the exit of the domain, "Because I have an Abyss expert who can authenticate the information for me."

He fucking winks.

Childe wants to rip all of his hair out and scream. He follows Diluc, ready to throw a mini-tantrum. "This has to be some sort of bullying, right? You're just using me."

Diluc hums in thought. "Well, if that's how you truly feel maybe I should modify the terms of our agreement."

Childe stares at him blankly. "Huh?"

"Instead of you staying away from me if I win our 'friendly spar', how about you just tell me what you know about these lectors?"

"What makes you think I know anything about them? The Abyss constantly evolves and it's been a while since I've been there."

Diluc points his chin towards the paper in Childe's hands. "Nowhere in that picture does it say that thing is called an Abyss lector, and yet you, Mister Tartaglia," there he goes again with the perfect pronunciation that makes Childe's skin crawl, "recognized it immediately. Need I say more?"

Childe heaves a sigh, trying to pretend he doesn't like this deal more than the first. It's not like he's on the side of the Abyss anyway, and he probably would've told someone in Mondstadt everything he knew about them to strengthen their diplomatic relationship. But this way, he doesn't have to risk having to leave Diluc alone.

"Fine. Beat me, and I'll tell you everything I know. Lose, and you still have to go on a date with me."

Diluc rolls his eyes, but shakes Childe's hand nevertheless.

It's late in the afternoon when they meet each other again, as agreed, to finally have the long awaited fight. Diluc suggested a spot just above Springvale that was devoid of any structures in a hopefully large enough radius. He did not want this meaningless battle to bring any destruction upon innocent civilians. It would be highly disgraceful.

The sunset is the same colour as Childe's hair, Diluc notes, when he sees the man's head emerge as he's climbing the hill.

"It's such an ugly shade of orange," he mumbles, quiet enough so that Childe can't hear precisely what he said, but also loud enough for him to know that it wasn't anything nice.

Childe narrows his eyes in challenge. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Diluc replies, as innocently as he can muster. He pushes himself off the broken piece of wall he's been leaning on with his arms crossed, and walks up to meet Childe in the middle of the empty circle.

"Let's set some ground rules first," Diluc says as soon as he sees Childe draw his bow. "No Delusions." Childe opens his mouth to disagree, but Diluc interrupts him. "No. The Traveler told me what happened the last time they saw you use it and I am not interested in explaining why a Fatui Harbinger on a diplomatic trip is half-dead when I bring you to the Church for healing, thanks."

"Snitch," Childe grumbles, probably to the Traveler, who unfortunately isn't around to hear it. "That just happens when I use Foul Legacy. I'm fine using a bit of Electro once in a while, you know. Or maybe..." there's a grin on his face that tells Diluc he's not going to be a fan of whatever he's about to hear. "You're scared I'll beat you if I use my Delusion."

Diluc remains thoroughly unimpressed. "You can use every element in the world and you'll still be no match for me, so no, that is not why. And... Foul Legacy? What the hell is that?" Then he has to suppress a chuckle. "You named your Delusion transformation?"

"Hey!" Childe looks offended. Diluc seems to have a gift for offending him. Good. "It's not funny! They all have names, it makes things easier."

"Of course," Diluc chooses to indulge him. Then he changes his mind, "But Foul Legacy? That was the best you could think of?"

Childe's bow suddenly disappears and in his hands are the twin water blades Diluc saw in their fight with the Abyss. "Are we here to fight or trash talk? Besides, it fits. It looks like I stepped straight out of a nightmare."

Diluc shrugs. "Well, how would I know? I haven't seen it."

"Do you..." Childe meets his eyes then, with a hopeful look Diluc has never seen before. "...want to see it?"

For some reason, Diluc doesn't think no is the right answer. "Will it leave you half-dead?"

Childe takes a second to think about it, which should already be enough of a red flag. "Just the transformation? No, probably not."

"Probably?"

"I mean, it'll feel like I ran a couple laps, but I can recover from that fairly easily."

That's all Diluc needed to hear. "It does not sound safe. And I'd rather fight you at full strength."

"That's very sweet of you to say," Childe says with a grin. It takes all of Diluc's willpower not to pull out his claymore and slam it straight across his face. Then the grin melts into something far less teasing but Diluc still wants to slam his claymore straight across his face. "I want you to see it." In a lighter tone, he adds. "Maybe you'll finally fear me."

"Alright. But don't overdo it." He's learnt that there is no use arguing with Childe once he sets his mind on something. He just hopes it won't look like it was Diluc that tried to kill him.

Childe only nods at his words. Diluc takes a careful step back once purple lightning starts surrounding the Harbinger, merging with Hydro as it wraps around his entire body, lifting him off the ground.

Diluc takes a few more steps back. Archons, what has he got himself into?

"I do feel like the purple death ray is a tad too dramatic," he says when the transformation sequence ends and in front of him stands... floats... that.

Foul Legacy, huh.

Then it speaks. By Celestia, that almost gave Diluc a heart attack.

"It's all a part of the process."

It still sounds like Childe but at the same time it doesn't. Diluc doesn't like it. Maybe if it hadn't come from a parasite feeding on the user's life, he would've been more appreciative.

It does look like a pain to defeat though. Still...

"I could take it," he states, arms crossed, eyes travelling up and down what is essentially Childe.

"In a fight?"

"Right."

"Wanna try?"

"Absolutely not. I've seen enough."

"You are one very boring man."

"At least I'm not one foot in the grave, o esteemed Mister Harbinger."

"Mister Harbinger?" Childe scoffs as the waves around him dissolve Foul Legacy with ease. "Just call me Tartaglia," he says, takes a moment to catch his breath once he's on the ground again. "I... like when you call me Tartaglia."

Diluc only quirks an eyebrow.

Childe visibly panics. "I mean it sounds nice- I mean you say it properly, not many people say it properly, hell even I don't, so I just meant that it sounds nice when you do it because it's correct and- I didn't mean anything weird!"

Diluc lets him have that small ramble. "Alright." He makes no further comments. Frankly, he doesn't want to. "Ready to start our friendly spar? Or do you need a moment?"

Childe looks like he expected Diluc to be mad at him or something. Diluc does not have the time and energy for that. If the Fatui Harbinger likes his voice, so be it. He doesn't particularly care about who's crushing on him at this point, not really. Maybe he has a built up tolerance.

"I'm fine," Childe answers, drawing his blades again, apparently more than eager to move to the familiar grounds of battle. Good. Diluc feels the same way.

And he doesn't hold back. Neither does Childe, it seems.

After a particularly hard blow, Childe steps away, wipes the blood from the corner of his lips and what appears on his face is a twisted smile of someone thirsty for blood. Diluc, remembering the days after his father's death, knows the look well. It might even be on his face, too, right now. He can't remember the last time he's had this much fun in a fight.

There isn't a single burn mark on Childe's body because he has quick reflexes and knows how to use Hydro to shield himself from Diluc's flaming claymore. The phoenix seems to trouble him, though, as if he hasn't quite figured out how to counter it, because every time Diluc's used it, Childe's just run away as far as possible. Diluc wishes he could have more control over his aim.

Every clash of their weapons ends with a hiss of steam instead of a clang of steel and it's exhilarating. Diluc has a very bad memory of fighting skilled swordsmen and he would prefer to never hear that awful sound again.

Childe is fast, faster than the claymore allows Diluc to be, and he finds it very difficult to evade the arrows physically thrown his way. It's not only Childe's movements, but also how he switches weapons that's smooth and quick. Diluc was once countered with a Hydro claymore the size of his own, but it appeared that Childe's arm strength couldn't match his. Childe quickly realised that and immediately moved out of the way, switching to his blades and aiming for Diluc's throat. Diluc had managed to lift his claymore just in time for the Hydro to disappear into the Pyro, but he didn't think he'd get that lucky again.

Maybe Childe does want to kill him, but Diluc isn't going to make it easy.

By the time the sun has fully set, they're still not done. Diluc's coat lay discarded on a nearby rock, Childe's scarf tucked underneath. Chests heaving and hearts thumping wildly, they meet with a release of steam, again and again, until Diluc decides this fun little game has lasted long enough.

After one final step back, he adjusts his gloves and rushes forward, faster than he has durning this entire thing. Childe looks surprised, but he regains his composure quickly, blades ready to meet the claymore for the nth time. Except they don't.

Childe surges forward as Diluc's fist meets his stomach, then falls down in a matter seconds when Diluc kicks his feet from behind, pinning him to the ground.

But there's a Hydro blade pressed to his neck at the very same time his claymore pulls to a stop right above Childe's throat.

"That was dirty," Childe says, adjusting his fingers around the handle.

"I don't ever recall being in a fair fight."

"You tired me out on purpose."

"All a well-thought out strategy, Mister Tartaglia." He's not sure if Childe sucking in a breath was because of what he said, or because of the edge of Diluc's claymore resting on his neck, pressing into the skin. Doesn't matter.

"I still win."

Diluc blinks at him. "I have you pinned to the ground."

"I know."

"If I loosen my grip on this claymore even a little, you die."

"And if I turn my wrist, you die." Childe smiles like a madman. "Isn't that what they call a tie?"

It isn't a tie. Diluc could easily move out of the blade's range, but there is no way Childe could evade getting decapitated. It's fine, though. Maybe not in a friendly spar, but if it ever came to a real fight, Diluc would easily win. Childe can't be trusted not to use his Delusion if he thinks he needs it, and if used in a fight against Diluc, it would probably kill him before Diluc even got the chance to try.

But fine, he'll play along. "What about the bet then? It's off?"

"Well, it wasn't really a bet, Master Diluc. It was more of an... agreement. I say we do both."

Diluc rolls his eyes. "Of course. How about neither?"

"Don't be like that, Master Diluc," Childe almost whines and Diluc 'accidentally' lets the edge of his claymore press hard enough into his throat that he lets out a yelp. Still, that doesn't stop Childe, "You need the information. And I need a pass time."

A pass time.

Diluc stands up. "I don't think anyone would agree to go on a date as a mere way to pass their time."

Childe stays on the floor, frozen at his words. Good.

"Wait- I didn't mean it like th-"

"But fine," Diluc interrupts. "It'll be my pass time too. And nothing but that. Deal?"

Childe scrambles to his feet, blades gone and a strange look on his face. "Diluc, that's not what I meant-"

"I don't care what you meant." The sooner they get this over with, the better. For both of them. He doesn't look at Childe as he says, "I expect a letter containing all the information on Abyss lectors you can provide. In return, I'll meet you... wherever. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some work to take care of."

~

Childe sits at one of the table that occupies the office of the Knights of Favonious' Cavalry Captain, a glass of water in hand because that was the only drink he had been willing to accept. He will not be making the same mistake twice.

He's pretty sure that Kaeya is mocking him, if that weird smirk he wears behind a glass of wine is anything to go by. But, unfortunately, Childe had nowhere else to turn. Not when this was the subject of conversation

"I just don't know how to get through to him!" He all but shouts, trying to explain the situation to Kaeya in a way that won't make him want to burst out laughing every five seconds.

"I think you would prefer to get into him." Now that wasn't even Kaeya.

Childe deadpans, glaring in the purple witch's direction. "Why does she have to be here?"

"Because she's funny," Kaeya replies. "And you were stupid enough to ask me for help." Then he makes a cringing expression. "But Diluc? Of all of the people in Mondstadt?"

Lisa hums at that, flipping through the pages of a giant tome in her lap as she sits on Kaeya's desk. "I know how much you hate to admit this, but Diluc is one of the most desirable young men to wed in Mondstadt."

Childe splutters, "W-wed?"

Kaeya ignores him. "That is just idiotic. How come I'm not the most desirable man in Mondstadt?"

Lisa offers him a warm smile. "Because you have the reputation of a whore."

Kaeya doesn't even look offended. "Their loss."

"Can you help me or not?" Childe asks because he's growing tired of this.

"That depends," Kaeya says, the smirk still prominent on his face. Childe can feel the raised eyebrow behind his eyepatch and wishes he were here to cause a war instead of strengthening a diplomatic alliance. "What do I get in return?"

"Don't you mean we?" Lisa adds.

Childe shakes his head. "There is no 'we'. No one invited you."

Then he feels a strange tug of Electro, unfamiliar to him in its purity and... that power. He couldn't even dream of achieving that with his Delusion. It feels like raw electricity running through his body for the shortest of seconds and he swears the sky just turned purple. He remembers the reports about the Knight's Librarian. Meeting gazes with Lisa, who wears a satisfied grin of a sadist, only sends shivers down his spine.

Still, habits are hard to shake off. "Do you want to fight me?"

Lisa tilts her head. "From my understanding, this is your weird flirting tactic, but I must say I'm already taken." She waves her hand through the air. "Perhaps if I wasn't, I could let even a puny boy like yourself feel what true power tastes like."

"Lisa, don't scare the Fatui Harbinger," Kaeya scolds lightly, although he doesn't look like he wants her to stop at all. If anything, he appears to be highly amused by all of this.

Childe sighs, "It's not a weird flirting tactic, I fight basically everyone I meet."

Lisa grimaces. "That dry, huh."

"I did not come to a foreign country to discuss my sex life!"

"Oh yeah?" Kaeya asks. "Why are you asking me about Diluc then?"

Childe glares, cold like the mountains of Snezhnaya. Kaeya looks entirely unfazed. Like he's seen worse. That's a scary thought.

"I can leave."

Kaeya shakes his hand. "No. I'm gonna be the bigger person here and help my virgin ass brother to get laid."

Lisa scoffs. "Diluc is not a virgin."

Kaeya visibly cringes. "I don't actually wanna know. Gross."

Lisa just shrugs. "No, but our esteemed guest might."

"I literally don't care," Childe counters. "The only thing I want right now is for him not to hate me."

Kaeya takes a moment to think, a coin in his hand, between his fingers. "He probably doesn't hate you. What you said was incredibly stupid though."

"I didn't mean it like that!"

"Then how did you mean it?"

Childe pauses. "I- I just didn't want to scare him. I thought he was just going along with the date thing to pay me back for helping him with... something, so I pretended that we were on the same wavelength."

"And failed miserably," Kaeya adds.

"That's beyond idiotic," Lisa joins in.

"I know! How do I fix it?"

Kaeya spins the coin between his finger and the desk. "Just tell him."

Lisa nods. "Go up to him, confess your feelings and hope for the best."

Childe blinks. "Just like that?"

"It's good to be straightforward," Kaeya says. There's a strange glint behind his eye. He looks almost... regretful. "Lies are a heavy burden."

"Diluc likes honestly," Lisa says. "He might reject you, but at least he won't hate you."

"And hey, worst comes to worst and you can always just run back to Snezhnaya and never see him again," Kaeya says, unhelpfully.

"Why did I think you could offer any sensible advice?"

"Telling the truth is sensible advice!"

There's a quiet click of a doorknob and Childe turns around just in time for Kaeya's office door to reveal... the Chief Alchemist.

"Why are you yelling?" Is the first thing Albedo says, eyes on Kaeya as he walks over to the table and places some papers on his desk. He offers Childe and Lisa a nod each.

"I'm only trying to help Mister Tartaglia overcome his own stupidity." He lifts one of the papers. "What's this?"

"You do realise I could declare war on you right this second?" Childe questions.

"Jean isn't in her office. Those are reports of my latest findings, give them to her when you see her. Or look over them yourself."

Kaeya nods at Albedo, then turns to Childe. Childe's pretty sure he just winked. "You'd need to ask the Tsaritsa first." He turns to Albedo again, "Why didn't you ask Sucrose or Timaeus to bring these? I thought you were in Dragonspine."

Albedo shrugs. "I was. I finished this part of the research and decided to come back and take a break. They were busy, anyway. I don't have assistants just so I can have someone to run errands, you know."

"You just got back? Let's go have lunch then."

Childe feels like a third wheel. Lisa winks at him with a look he can only read as 'that could be you if you weren't a fucking idiot'.

Albedo nods. "Sure." Then he, surprisingly, turns to Lisa and Childe. "Would you like to join us?"

Lisa jumps off the table, slamming her giant book shut. "I'm going go find Jean instead. I'll make sure she gives your reports a look."

"And I have a couple of letters to sign and send off to Snezhnaya," Childe says, because there's no way he's going to third wheel a whole lunch.

"A war declaration?" asks Kaeya.

Childe nods. "Yes. Consider this an early notice."

"My, how polite of you," Kaeya replies. "I'll add the war with Snezhnaya to my agenda."

"I hope it won't take up too much of your busy schedule," Childe says.

Albedo shakes his head. "If Jean heard you, she'd have a heart attack."

"No giving Jean a heart attack," Lisa says before she's out of the door.

Childe says his goodbyes and follows shortly after.

He doesn't actually have any letters to sign and send off. He did all of that this morning so that he wouldn't end up wallowing in self-misery all day. He needed something to get him out of bed, and work was the best thing he could think of.

He could just leave Diluc alone. Give him the information he needs and leave Mondstadt and never return. That would, actually, be the ideal course of action. An out of sight out of mind kind of thing. Childe has forgotten many people before, and he's bound to forget many more in his life, so why not let Diluc Ragnvindr be one of those?

"All I can think about is Diluc!"

Childe freezes. He looks up to where the sound came from. A woman stands in front of what is probably her house, hands on her chest, looking dreamily into the distance, talking to, presumably, no one.

Childe leans down to the florist girl's height. Was her name Flora? "Hey, what's up with that?"

The girl pauses tending to her flowers to look him up and down, eyes questioning when they land on his Vision, probably because of the foreign shape, but she doesn't ask him anything. "That's just Donna. She's always like that."

"Who is she talking to?"

"The air," Flora says without hesitation. "She's hoping Master Diluc might hear her and come propose or whatever. It's weird."

"Has he ever heard her?"

Flora shrugs. "Probably. He never uses this street when she's here. I think he might've developed a sixth sense or something."

"Does this sort of thing happen often?"

Flora looks at him with confusion.

"I mean... people throwing themselves at Diluc."

Flora nods. "Oh, yeah. You should see Windblume. Flowers for Master Diluc make up like half of my income." There's a grin on her face. "It's already starting."

Childe blinks. "I see." He hasn't considered this.

"Do you want to buy him flowers, too?"

"I-" Childe pauses. Does he? It's not really like he's planning to... court... Diluc, he just wants to apologise and clear the air. It just so happens that a confession is the most practical way to do that. Nothing wrong with that.

So, no, he does not want to buy Diluc flowers. He doesn't even know what kinds of flowers Diluc likes. Not that he would buy the flowers if he did know. He still wouldn't buy flowers. What is he, 17? Buying flowers, please.

Which is why, later that day, he says, "I brought you this Everflame Seed as a token of good will. I had to go to Liyue and kill an angry ancient flower to get it. Hope it serves you well."

Diluc looks down at the thing in Childe's hand, wrapped in Hydro to prevent it from burning through Childe's gloves.

"What the hell?"

"I... thought it would be a nice gesture."

Diluc stares at him. He's standing behind the counter at Angel's Share, he's tired from dealing with customers, there is a pre-Windblume-typical pile of flowers waiting for him at Winery and he just wants to get this whole day over with as soon as possible.

Now, he can only stare at the flower in Childe's hand, feeling the Pyro radiating from it. He reaches out a hand.

"Thanks." Using the power of his Vision, he effectively extinguishes the Pyro enough to be able to hold the seed in his hand. He has no clue what to do with it. He just knows it's rude to decline gifts. Even when the gift has the potential to set the whole place on fire. "Why?"

"I want to apologise-"

"What for?" Diluc inquires like he has no clue what Childe's talking about.

"For what I said to you yesterday," Childe presses on. "I didn't want to sound like a jerk, I just thought saying anything else would scare you away."

Diluc raises an eyebrow at that. "Scare me away?"

"Yes," Childe says, refusing to meet Diluc's gaze. "I know you don't like me in a way that would make you want to go on a date with me, and I thought it would make the whole thing easier on you if you thought I was the same."

Diluc isn't sure he likes where this is going. They've only known each other for, what, a few days? If this is about to lead to a confession, Diluc doesn't know how he would even respond. He doesn't really hate Childe as a person, but he is a Fatui Harbinger, and that fact alone is enough to make his blood boil. He wishes nothing but the worst upon the Fatui, and there is no changing that.

He looks at Childe, who's waiting for his response, and remembers the moment he learnt about Childe's fall into the Abyss. He also remembers the living conditions in Snezhnaya and thinks things are probably never as simple as his hatred towards the Fatui would prefer they were.

Truthfully, he knew. He figured that Childe didn't mean to reduce the 'date' to a simple and meaningless pass time, but that he was just an idiot. He'd hoped his reaction would push Childe away far enough for him to give up, but that clearly wasn't the case.

"And are you?" Diluc asks, for the lack of better words. "The same?"

Childe doesn't even pause to think about it. "No. If I have the opportunity to go on a date with someone as amazing as you, I want to do it properly."

And Diluc sighs. What else is there to do?

"You didn't have to fight a mystical flower to tell me this, you know?"

Childe shrugs. There's a grin on his face now, one Diluc finds himself not wanting to look away from. "No, but it was a good stress reliever."

Diluc chuckles. "Was this really that stressful?"

"Yes," Childe says. "I want to get to know you, Master Diluc. Why would I let such a great opportunity to do so out of my grasp?"

None of this is an outright confession, not really, but Diluc can clearly see what Childe is getting at. He doesn't mind this subtlety at all. It's a nice change of pace, when you take into account the strangest kinds of confessions Diluc has received in his lifetime.

"Okay then, Mister Tartaglia." Diluc doesn't miss the way Childe's grin widens. "Let's enjoy our time together."

"Perfect, because I actually already have a place in mind that I want to take you to."

"Oh?" Diluc tilts his head. He wasn't expecting Childe to actually be prepared.

"Yes," he sounds excited now. "Meet me at Starsnatch Cliff around... eight? Tonight. Deal?"

Diluc almost rolls his eyes at how happy a Fatui Harbinger can look about the prospect of him going on a date with said Fatui Harbinger. "Deal."