Work Text:
"Do you think these clothes are enough? You basically grew up in such a cold place, so I imagine your definition of 'it isn't really cold' is far from my definition." Lumine pouts at her boyfriend.
Childe could only laugh this Question of but he appreciates her worries because it's true, that his homeland is pretty cold.
Oh how excited Childd is, that his wonderful Girlfriend is visiting his family, especially since he has some special plans during her staying. Only thinking of it makes him smile and her wondering, why he does it.
On their way they talk about various things like the newest fighting techniques or favourite new dishes or books or imitate one of Zhongli's long and never ending story's.
"Besides that, do you believe your family will like me?"
"Of course, of course my dear Ojou-chan, they will LOVE you. Not just because, I sent them once or twice a letter to them about my journey. Of course It would be impossible, to write these letters without mentioning my sweet petite Lumine." Childe chuckles at her and kisses her cheek, which makes her blush but still chooses to hide her head in the muscular chest of her idiotic boyfriend.
For things like that, it's impossible to write negative things about you to my family but to be fair, I still have to hold myself back, to make these letters appropriate for my little siblings to read.
When they arrive in Snezhnaya, Tartaglia feels refreshed by the cold and fresh air of his motherland. Lumine in the other hand feels like, if he hadn't give her Clothes especially made for this temperature, she would be frozen with a blink of an eye.
Walking through the City Lumine notices how happy and carefree everyone is. If Lumine wouldn't know, that this is the hometown, where most of the Fatui come from, she would have had a better opinion on Snezhnaya and their people. The first impression of the Fatui and their organisation, was of course them starting battles against each Nation they've crossed to get what they wanted. So no wonder that she couldn't trust most of them.
So it's kind of a wonder that she actually dates one of the infamous Harbingers. Lumine never started to date him because of his 'fame' rather of their shear endless battles between them. Both of them noticed how it became really difficult not to be near eachother and how much they think more of the other. So they wouldn't deny their feelings anymore and started to date and neither of them regret it for a single second.
Although Lumine doesn't think of Childe as someone famous, the Citizens of Snezhnaya do. Wandering around the City, there is no second where he won't be greeted, admired or asked about something.
Lumine could also feel death glares from Men and Women, who admired her boyfriend on a different scale. These People look first on Lumine and Childe holdings hands together and than look towards her with a despicable face.
Oh how jealous they are and to be fair Lumine gets quite of uncomfortable with it. Seeing all these good looking people, having interest at her boyfriend and not to think of that Childe could maybe gain more interest in them and looses his to Lumine.
It's not like Childe wouldn't notice, how everyone glares at Lumine. Since his early Teenage years, he was run over by possible admires of him, which he was never a fan of in the first place. Being in a relationship was never Childes first priority, especially with fulfilling his dreams and the one of her majesty the Tsaritsa. Childe calls it pure luck that he found Lumine along his way. There is nothing, that would make him loose ties with her.
Surviving the sea of endless people surrounding them, they got closer to Childes family home.
The house is placed in a rather isolated place and not so close to the City. The house facade has a rather older Design but in a good way. Like they have decorated glasses that looked old but with no sign of cracks or other damages.
Lumine is astounded by this big house. She wouldn't imagine that her boyfriends house looks like this.
"Hey Ojou-chan, do you still want to stay still like this or should we finally go inside?" He giggles at her and has his Hand on the wooden pillar of the front terrace.
After the steady and secure door is unlocked, Childe softly takes her hand and glides her through the doorstep. His eyes never leaves the ones of hers. He guides Lumine through the big archway to the entrance hall. There he takes of her Jacket and puts it on the Wardrobe.
He does the same and takes of his boots. There he lays them into a Shoe Cabinet and takes of another cabinet some slippers. These are in an Ocean Blue colour and in front of it two whales where his Birth Name 'Ajax' is knitten in.
Lumine isn't sure on how to react. Should she put her shoes of as well? She believes so but without Childe telling her, she feels nervous to do so. Lumine is also curious why he's rummaging through the shoe cabinet, he got his slippers from.
"Ah there they are." Childe takes some white-yellowish slippers of. "Mama always manages to outdo herself with her creativity." Smiling at the slippers he hands them over to Lumine and tells her to put these on.
She's surprised that she got her own slippers. They have blueish twirls around it similar to the white one on Childes. On the front they are flowers knitted on it, like the one she has on her hair. Of course her Name can be found on these as well. Lumine doesn't need to Question it, that these have been ordered by him and to be fair she likes them very much.
"Thank you Ajax, they look really beautiful and of course, I will also thank your mother for making these." She tells him while having a genuine smile on her face.
"I'm glad you like these and they look really good on you." He giggles at her with the same smile like her's.
"So do yours with your sweet whales on it."
After they finish talking about their slippers, they go further into his house. Lumine notices all these beautiful paintings and photos. These are from landscapes, Events or just their family members. She tries to look out for the ones that could resemble Childe the most.
They enter the big Kitchen, where there is currently cooked in. Two taller Women standing near the stove and two teenagers sitting at a table stirring and chopping vegetables.
Lumine also notices how a kid is standing on a chair trying to grab some herbs. These plants are on a net being able to grow for themselves. Nevertheless the boy standing on his toes almost being able to touch the herb but the chair started to tilt. The boy falls back of but Lumine could react fast, faster than anyone else in the room could notice it.
They only start to notice, when the sound of the falling chair reaching the ground could be heard. Everyone tilts their head towards the sound and see's the youngest child of this family being held by the blond lady with a white flower in her hair.
As fast as they notice what happened, everyone moves towards these two.
Certain boy looks up to their saviour and is happy to see this familiar face, especially it being in his house.
When everyone questions what happens or if everything is alright, he could only answer with
"Of course everything is alright, thanks to big sis." He giggles at them and holding close to his saviour.
Childe lays his hand on Lumine's shoulder and could only say with a relieving tone. "Thank you Lumine, for catching Teucer."
Now that the Name 'Lumine' is dropped in this room, the other family members look at her. They knew how heroic his girlfriend should be but now they are able to see her guts in the first place.
After she puts Teucer down, Childe introduces Lumine to the rest of the family. The younger Children, like Anthon and Tonia who are both in their early teenage years. Then there is his older Sister Anastaija, who has short curly blond hair, similar to Tonia's but hers is much longer. He introduces them with such a happy smile on the face.
Lumine always listened to Childe's Story about his family and how much he cares about them. Now that she see it, it makes her happy to see him like this.
He really loves his family
"Last but not least, this is my lovely mother." He puts his arm around her shoulder and gives her a little kiss on her cheek.
"Don't you have a girlfriend now, to do something like this, Aij?" She smirks at his son.
"Mama!" 'Aij' whines at her, like a kid that wasn't allowed to stay up late.
Lumine giggles at this sight.
"It's nice to finally meet Ajax family. He always talks about all of you a lot." Lumine waves with an honest smiles on her face.
Although Miss Nowikowa suggests the two lovebirds to rest a bit, they choose to help them making Dinner.
While making the Salad, Childe asks where his elder brothers and his father are. Anastaija tells him, that they are chopping some wood.
It actually didn't take to long, till the three bulky men step trough the back door. They carry many massive logs with them and are full of snow. They carry the logs into some kind of Storeroom and a few of these near the fireplace in a room, that looks like a Living room for Lumine. While putting these into their destined places, they walk with their snowy boots trough the floor. This is something unpleasant to look at for Miss Nowikowa, which she visible shows, with a death glare and a grunting murmur.
All of her kids know this expression of hers, mainly because that's the expression she always had because of Ajax and his turbulent behaviour.
When they get into the kitchen, they get scold by her for the mess they leave on their floor. Objections are impossible against hers. Before they can eat, they have to clean up the floor and to clean themselves, otherwise they weren't allowed to join them. The other have to look like they aren't amused by it, otherwise they would be scold by her as well.
On the eating table they talk about their day's Childe's and Lumine's Adventures. Of course in a Teucer friendly way. They also couldn't stopp questioning the two lovebirds about their relationship. Childe telling them happily about their romance, as said in a 'Teucer friendly' way and Lumi is flustered what he tells them.
When they finish Dinner, all of them help to clean up the dining table.
"Miss Nowikowa in which Cupboard should the plates go?"
"Oh Lumine thanks for helping us with cleaning up. Let me take the plates for you, you are our guests it was already so kind of you to help us cooking. Also you can call me Faina, if you want to." She smiles at her and takes of the plates of Lumine's Hands.
So that's where Ajax has his beautiful smile from.
"Thank you...Faina" Lumine smiles back at her a bows down a bit.
"Hehe, I can't believe, that such a polite and sweet Girl, is voluntarily in a relationship with that little Gremlin." Sadko snickers, while pointing at his little brother. Childe shows a death glare at him. Childe hates to be made up a fool, wether it's from a random person, an acquaintance, an associate, friends or family.
Lumine notices that face as well, or at least she has been told by Ajax. His elder brothers always made some shenanigans with him but during the years, it should've gotten worse. Childe being on the boarding school, for his trainee for becoming a Fatui, didn't really help either.
"You are just jealous, that you don't have such an amazing person as your partner. You scumbag." Childe barks to himself. He knows and doesn't want to create a big argument with his elder brothers, while his Ojou-chan is with him. This weekend should be one of the best in her life and something like this would ruin it.
Preventing an argument is also something Lumine wants to do. If she wouldn't want to make a good impression towards Childe's family, she would scold his brother.
She lets it slide, for this time. Rather they cut this theme of and Childe wants to guide her trough the rest of the House.
"So Ajax, do you believe we will see the two of you this evening again? Your Mom wants to do make some hot chocolate later, or do two already have other Plans for tonight?" Mr Nowikow asks his son with a questioning undertone during his lasts words.
Before Childe could turn his head towards his father to answer him, his older brother Mistislav was faster.
"Haha don't worry Papa. Whatever plans they have, these won't last long. At most a few minutes." He giggles to himself with Mistislav kinda joining him.
Although both of them found that really funny for the others it was second hand embarrassment for everyone else. Anthon even had enough of it and left with Teucer the room.
"Seems like someone is an expert on these very few minutes. I bet these are from own experiences." With a monotonous Voice and only her eyes in the direction to Childe's brother. Without going any further into that topic she leaves and asks Childe, where the house library is. He always told her about it.
Childe being perplexed by that line's. He knows that his girly is pretty feisty and no-one should take her on a bad side. Yet this is something he didn't thought of. It's not like he isn't proud of her, he rather enjoys it and has to hide his smirk and snickering while leaving the kitchen.
The only thing Lumine and Childe could barely hear when they left is.
"My dear Genadij seems like our Son really got his right Girlfriend. Someone that keep people to their right place. I mean there is the saying 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' Seems quite fitting don't you think?"
Childe shows her the rest of his big house. The library, where Anastaija prepares her lessons and Classes. She always tutored her siblings with their homeworks. It was no surprise she became a teacher. Childe also went often to the library because that's where his favourite Story's are and lectures of the 'Arts of War'. Also his Mother uses it to do her paintings here.
The Sauna and a small Indoor Pool in the basement. He tries to persuade her to use once during their staying.
The room where things like the fishing rods, snowboards, skates and sleds are stored.
Finally he showed her his room. It isn't all to furnished with personal stuff.
When he finished his trainee under the Fatui and becoming a harbinger, they let him decide whether he wants to live in the Zapolyarny Palace or back to his family. Although it would be an honour for him to live under the same house as his glorious Queen, he wanted to return to his family. Sadly he couldn't be all to long back home, till he was ordered to gather the Gnosis from the Geo Archon. Therefore he had to leave Shnezhnaya and his family.
Now his room has only the necessaries furnished and the rest is still in moving boxes that aren't unpacked.
Lumine is astound how big his room is yet to see the big glassed sliding doors. These give of the perfect view to the wooden balcony and the fantastic view of the snowy landscape.
"Wow your house is really big and beautiful. Also your family is so nice and loveable. No wonder you always talk so much about them." Lumine sits herself down next to him on the bed.
"I'm glad you like it here in this house and my family as well, lumi. I wouldn't lie when I would guess, that they like you as well. Which is really great for me." Childe gives her a little kiss on her cheek. "So do you want to take a bath first or should we get down first. Mama should've already finished the hot chocolate and the cookies she always makes with them."
No negotiation needed, so they get down. When they enter the big Living-room with the big carpet and the large fire place. Although in the fire place is already wood in it and some cookies on the table no-one is in it besides these two. Lumine notices the door that supposedly leads to the Backyard. What she sees their makes her giggle, his whole family having a snowball fight. Childe comes near her and gazes to the view of this battle. Looking at it activates his battle sense, it didn't take him to long, to convince Lumine to join them.
On the outside it is a battle against everyone, no-one is safe. That's why Anthon didn't notice that the snowball on his face wasn't from his sister but rather from their Guest. During this fight no room for Mercy is visible and of course Childe has the most hitting streak among them. Lumine is the only one that's rather difficult to aim to, just because she's so agile and flink with her movements.
This snowball fight lasts for quite some time but after the finished, they can gladly enjoy their hot chocolate with cookies next to the warm and cozy fireplace.
The next day Lumine wakes up, to the bright morning sunlight that flashes through the glassed windows of the sliding doors. Although she wants to get out of the bed, two big, strong, scarred but soft hands, grabs her body closer.
"Ojou-chan why are you already awake? I was supposed to wake up my printessa with kissing your lovely and soft lips." The not fully awake Childe pouts at her.
"And why were you supposed to?"
"Because today is a day, where we are supposed to show of the love you hold for special people around you. That's why, I insisted you to visit my homeland these days. I wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day with you and I'm glad that I can do it now."
"Wait what for a day?" She turns around to him and his bright smile. "You...you invited me here to celebrate Valentine's Day, you called it with you. That's really kind of you but please don't tell me, you did plan something ridiculous for today."
"You know 'ridiculous' is my middle name."
"No it's not." You are just lucky I'm in love with this Idiot."
"Yes this Idiot, is the luckiest person in the world, to have such an amazing Girlfriend like you."
They start to kiss for some time, before they head down to the kitchen. Arriving there Lumine gets flashed by the delicious smell of heart shaped pancakes. Everyone is already downstairs fully awake and talking with eachother, giving hugs and saying nice and sweet things to one another. Nothing less to expect from such a big and loving family, in the land of love.
"Seems like our two lovebirds are finally awake." Genadij greets the two while taking a sip from his mug.
"Yeah here we are Papa." While saying, he grabs two plates and lays the heart shaped pancakes on them.
They didn't really stayed all to long for breakfast because of the plans Childe has for Today. So they finished eating, dressed up and leave the big house of his.
"So where are we going Childe?"
"First of all, to the City buying you some presents I layd back for Today." He smiles at her. " Later on Ice skating and one or two other surprise. I'm pretty sure you will like these."
Lumine should or would like to scold him, that he planned way too much for today. Instead she just tightly hugs him and say's
"Whatever you give or plan for today, thank you Childe. I love you. I don't deserve you."
Because he knows the discussion of 'Who loves whom more/who's more lovable' would go into infinity and beyond, he just smiles and nods his head.
Holding eachother hand, they trail trough the City. Once he's in the City again, he isn't greeted as the family son Ajax anymore but as the 11th Harbinger Childe again. Everyone greets him, giving him presents and say how much they admire him. Of course people either ask about the lovely girl besides him or as the day before show death glares towards her.
Although Childe enjoys the attention of the people, today's priority is making his girlfriend happy. Therefore he takes Lumine to the places he got her presents from.
Lumine is genuine surprised that one of his presents for her, is a yellowish Bear with a plush heart on the Bear. She cuddles the bear near her head.
"That's so sweet of you. Although you should know, that this sweet thing could take away your place in my bed." She sweetly laughs at him while not leaving his eyes.
"Girly you really want to replace me? How cruel of you." He pouts at her.
Next step is of course the jeweler.
'Only the best materials are allowed to be layed on the wonderful body of my Girlfriend' - That's how Childe tried to find the perfect jewelry for her.
He insists to put the big necklace with pure withe diamonds on her neck.
"Please this must have cost way to much, how expensive this looks like." She looks down to to see how Childe lays down the necklace.
"For you, my dear Ojou-chan, I live by the saying 'You can't put a price tag on love'. So I didn't choose this because of the price, this was the least worry of it. I rather choose it because it could come close to the beauty, your whole body holds." He turns around to her seeing her with the necklace. "Also it goes splendidly well with your beautiful eyes." He strokes hear cheek.
She blushes at his words. Yet he's right, you can't put a price tag on love, especially if you really love the certain person. It's not like Lumine hasn't made him extraordinary gifts like this as well. She once asked Zhongli to help her making a bow for him. She will always remember his joyful expression, when he got the bow. Also she will always remember that day because afterwards she couldn't walk for a week properly.
Nevertheless she puts the hand of her cheek down to reach his lips to kiss them.
"So Comrade, I think it's time, to head to our next destination? The Ice rink is waiting for us."
As they leave the jeweler a whitish Carriage is standing near the shop, like it's waiting for their customers.
Lumine is astound by it and how graceful it looks, especially the horses.
"They are really beautiful, don't you think? These are really common here in Shnezhnaya."
"Yeah, yeah it's really pretty."
"So would you like to try a ride with?" He smiles at her, takes her hand to guide her near it."
"I...I mean yes bu-but we can't just ask them. I would not believe these are for free Ajax." She stumbles wether it is from her words or her feets.
Then he speaks to the Woman, who is currently sitting in front of the carriage and holding the reins of the pure white horses in front of it.
"Excuse me, I've reserved a carriage under the Name 'Tartaglia'."
"Ah yes Tartaglia, that must be you? When you enter it, we could start."
"You heard her Lumine, get in we still have plans to do." He reaches for her hand so he could help her enter it.
Although she's flustered that he really ordered a Carriage for them, she shyly but gently takes his hand.
When they sit down, they hear how the horses start to move. Lumine likes how you can see the buildings fading away from behind. Looking left and right, she couldn't miss the people looking up to the Carriage and the couple inside it.
"Ojou-chan they are pretty jealous of us, don't you think?" He tilts his head to her.
"Well I mean, it's pretty fancy to be carried around like this. So I'm not really surprised that they gaze at these carriages passing the streets. I don't think a citizen didn't ever want to sit in one of these things."
By now they passed the city and are surrounded by a forest.
"You know Lumine that I wasn't really fond with these romantical things since... well ever." He stares at the along sliding trees. "Every time I saw these things riding down the streets, I thought of them as unnecessary spend Money. Now that I have you by my side" squeezing her Hand. "I understand why these pairs choose to use them. This is definitely well spend money."
"Ajax..." She leans herself close to his body. "...I love you, very much."
He puts his arm around her shoulder. "I love you to Lumine."
The rest of the drive, if you can call it like that, they stayed quite in each others arms.
When they arrive at the Ice rink and wanted to put on their skates, Lumine remembers something.
"Hey Childe, I think you are about to put on the wrong skates."
"No....these are my ice-skates."
"Nope. These are yours." She puts out a pair of ice skates of her bag. "Since you destroyed your old ones by trying to use them to defeat an ice Mitachurl."
"Yet I defeated it." He exclaims proudly
"That's not the point."
"I think it is."
"Nevertheless....after they've been destroyed, I wanted to make you a new pair and it would be them. Now thinking of, this is my present for you, for today's day. I hope you like them."
"These are very beautiful, thanks Comrade." Putting them on with a smile on his face.
Afterwards he smoothly guides her hand, to the ice rink and start to move to the rhythm of the music around them. Moving like an union with full trust in the other person, they spend their time dancing around the iced place. They dance around like no-one else is there using the rink and to be fair the other people freely leave it because they got intimidated by how carefree they behave. Both didn't really care about it.
Although they could've going on longer, if they want to, they decide to stop. It actually got pretty late by now. So they start to leave the rink and wander around the lightening path where the carriage is supposed to pick them up.
They hold hands and it feels like they are about to let the day come to an end.
"Thanks Ajax, this day, no this whole staying is so perfect. Well... a perfect person knows how to make something perfect."
"And a perfect person notices when something is perfect." He exclaims confidently.
Being a little bit embarrassed by him calling her perfect, she slightly pushes her. That makes him giggle, he loves seeing his Comrade becoming so blushy.
"It's also interesting Ojou-chan, that you notice that this day is perfect, although we haven't gotten of today's highlight."
"What do you mean, we aren't finished? What else is supposed to happen next?" In Lumine's mind she couldn't think of anything at all.
"What else is supposed to happen?" Childe questions to her, while moving his knees to the ground and taking something out of his pocket.
"I want you Lumine, to ask for your hand in Marriage and to become my future Wife."
Childe presents her an expensive ring that matches her necklace.
.
.
.
.
This second feels like an eternity.
Lumine is surprised.
Her mind doesn't respond at all.
Her fight or flight intention aren't functioning.
It takes her some time to realise what happens.
"I-I...Ajax I will gladly become your wife." Tears of Joy start to tear down her reddish cheeks. "There doesn't exist a single reason, why I shouldn't marry you." She throws herself into her now fiance.
Hearing her answer makes him start to tear down as well.
For doesn't know how long, they stay like this before they apart themselves to look at eachother with the most lovable eyes. During it he starts to slide the ring on her finger and starts to come to closer to her. Starting to kiss eachother, they make out for a few minutes before he takes her bridal style to the carriage. It's like they are already married and on their way to their honeymoon.