Work Text:
(3rd person pov):
It was a bitter-cold winter's day, the snowflakes glistened as they fell like precious diamonds from the sky.
Childe brought his hands up to his mouth, making an effort to warm his frost-bitten fingertips. The weather was painfully cold, making Childe feel numb all over.
He let out a soft sigh as he looked at his surroundings, everything was smothered with snow. It was like a white blanket was enveloping the world.
Dragonspine seemed to be more chilling than before, almost like it was giving out a warning to all life.
(Childe's pov):
Why are they so late? It's been 15 minutes since our agreed time. I huffed, feeling annoyed that I had to stay out here longer than needed, it's Teucer's birthday today and I would've preferred to stay with Teucer all day but I have work to do first.
I'll be able to go back to Liyue soon though. Thankfully the traveler is looking after him.
The cold air stung my face. I started pacing backwards and forwards on the snow as it made a soft crunching noise beneath my feet. I hear footsteps behind me.
I turn around and see the treasure hoarders I arranged to meet with.
(3rd person pov):
The treasure hoarders approached Childe as he said "You're finally here, what took you so long? We were supposed to meet quite a while ago."
Childe narrowed his eyes, he felt nothing but pure hate for these people, he didn't know why but he loathed them with every fibre in his body.
"Aha, we apologise. We had to run some errands first ." The 2 treasure hoarders seemed suspicious, they were friendlier than usual and they wouldn't make direct eye contact with the harbinger.
Childe noticed this but held back the urge to confront them. He smiled but then paused and turned his head, looking around, "where's the other 2? They were with you the last few meetings".
This made the more muscular and slightly taller treasure hoarder suddenly jerk his head towards Childe. He said slowly in a heavy voice, "they caught a cold, nothing to stress over" giving a wry smile.
Childe felt a shiver run down his spine, and it wasn't from the cold. "Ah, right.. ok then" he cleared his throat, "in our last meeting we agreed that you'll bring the money today, do you have it?"
The slightly shorter treasure hoarder nodded, "yes, 5 million mora, right?" "Right."
The treasure hoarder took his backpack off, reaching into it. But as he pulled out his hand, Childe noticed the glint of a weapon. Before he had a chance to back away the man took the weapon out and pointed it towards Childe with astonishing speed, the tip of the sword hovering against childe's neck.
Childe let out a small breath. They had all agreed to not bring any weapons so Childe was defenceless, but he wasn't going to die here.
He knocked the sword out of the treasure hoarder's hand and swiftly turned around to retreat but was stopped by another 2 treasure hoarders.
Realising that he'd been played, Childe couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What do you think you're going to gain by trying to kill me?" He stopped and stared straight into one of the treasure hoarder's eyes with murderous intent. "You really want to play games with the fatui? You must have a death wish."
Childe was going to fight off the treasure hoarder's but his blood ran cold when he noticed a familiar little boy behind the 2 men in front of him.
Teucer was in Dragonspine.. did he come to find his big brother? How did he get here? Why isn't the traveler with him? Millions of thoughts ran through childe's head, he didn't want to kill anyone in front of his little brother.
As he was frozen in shock, the treasure hoarder behind him drew his sword one last time and pierced Childe's heart. Childe let out a small gasp. He could feel his heart pounding inside of him.
The treasure hoarder's ran off, thank Celestia for that. He felt so dizzy and tired. Then he remembered about teucer. The little boy was running to him with absolute horror and panic in his eyes.
Tears were falling down his young, adorable face like glittering streams. He looked so confused. Childe smiled gently as he fell to his knees. He no longer felt cold, his chest felt light and his body was soothingly warm.
The wound throbbed and warm, red blood was spilling down his shirt. Teucer cupped Childe's face "big brother are you ok?! Please, please dont leave me!"
Childe closed his eyes briefly, gently pushing his cheek into Teucer's cold, pale hand. "I'm sorry Teucer.. I-I was going to come back to Liyue after business.. being a toymaker takes up a lot of time..."
He opened his eyes again, looking up at Teucer's innocent face. Teucer paused, looking into his brother's sorrowful and pitiful eyes. "Y-you aren't really a toymaker.. are you..?"
Childe took in a shaky breath, unable to deny it anymore. A small teardrop formed in Childe's eye. "I've failed you Teucer.. I'm sorry" the teardrop ran down his face. It felt cold against his skin and it caused another shiver to run down his spine.
Teucer burst into tears once more and tightly hugged Childe, "don't apologise big brother, I.. I'll never forget you, I'll always love you.. no matter what!" He sniffled.
Childe couldn't help but tear up even more as his vision started blurring and the world around him started to blacken out. Childe fell to the floor, his whole body turning limp, he couldn't hear anything anymore.
He couldn't hear the cries of his little brother, he couldn't hear the howling of the wind. He couldn't even feel anything anymore, he no longer felt cold or warm. He couldn't feel the frosted plants around him nor his brother's frozen, shivering hand on his face.
He used the last of his strength to part his lips and whisper "happy birthday..Teucer..." Childe closed his eyes and took his last breath as every last bit of life in him disappeared and his hydro vision faded.
And the boy next to him? Oh how he cried and weeped over his brother's lifeless body. He wouldn't let go, not until a significant blonde boy appeared and pulled Teucer away, with tears in his own eyes too.