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It had been a normal day for an Official Guild Adventurer and his flying companion, roaming over the planes and rocky mountains of Liyue under the scorching sun, running errands and completing commissions.
“Comrade!”
That was, until they had been intercepted by the Fatui. More precisely, A Fatui. The first one that had ever tried to kill them and still had somehow become their friend. The 11th Harbinger, Brother of Teucer and Alleged Toy-Making-Extraordinaire: Tartaglia.
They could see him in the distance, almost like a mirage, waving excitedly and making signs for them to wait as he shouted. His voice was carried away by the wind and never reached Aether and Paimon, but they knew exactly what he was saying.
Paimon was of a mind to fly off and try to hide, but the vegetation was too sparse and Childe’s field of vision too open for them to vanish successfully now. She crossed her arms in irritation and watched as the Harbinger made their way towards them.
Aether was thoroughly amused by the situation, ever willing to see what surprises their chance meetings brought. He had grown to look forward to them, instead of dreading them. Perhaps the events that took place in Inazuma not too long ago should make him dread seeing a Harbinger again. He could not bring himself to dread this one, though.
Childe had walked endless miles to try and follow the clues to them and it was exhausting. Those two traveled far too fast. He could barely run anymore now, but he was still panting with excitement, his smile growing larger with each step closer. His ginger hair glowed under the bright sun, almost creating a halo of warmth around him.
There was something contradictory about how genuine and pure his intentions were towards these two, even though he often found himself doing things that spoke otherwise. But he was sure their relationship now ran deeper than their rocky start. Aether had helped preserve his little brother’s unbroken childhood and joy, and even Paimon had shown concern for him when he lost himself inside that domain in Inazuma.
Surely things were heading the right way. Or at least, the way Childe wanted them to.
“Comrade! I have been looking for you!” He paused to catch his breath. Tartaglia was wearing a heavy winter coat and a bright red scarf, and Aether felt sweat gathering in his brow just from looking at him. Without even asking, he reached out and unwrapped the scarf from around the Harbinger’s neck with an expert tug and used the cloth to actually fan him.
“What are you doing here?” The adventurer asked.
There was a brief frown of confusion on Childe’s features, as if his reason should have been obvious, but he was too pleased with Aether’s helpful actions to dwell much on it. “I have come to join you for a day of adventuring!”
“How…random. “ Paimon squeaked in her high-pitched voice.
Her words were reflected in Aether’s eyes. “Why..?”
“Well, Teucer told you how I often consider dropping everything else and joining you, didn’t he? I figured I could…try my hand at it! Prepare for the future.” Childe’s smile was disarming. Perhaps that was his greatest secret weapon as a Fatui, even more than his battle prowess.
Aether stopped his scarf-waving motions after a moment and folded the scarf. “You should take that coat off too, you will overheat. Why did you dress like that on a day like today?”
“Oh…” Childe grinned, but his smile suddenly had a foot firmly planted on shyness. “I wanted to look nice when we met.” He reached out to take the scarf back, his hands making sure to rest over those of the shorter man, eye contact unwavering.
“Oh boy…” Paimon groaned. She knew Aether would be face-palming if his hands hadn’t been trapped by the Harbinger’s own. “Paimon thinks this is a trick! He wants to test us, or…or get intel for the Fatui!”
“What? No! Not at all.” Childe shook his head, his shoulders sagging a little. “You must remember I suggested we meet up and that I had…” He trailed off as he saw no recognition of the words in either of their faces. “Nevermind! Hah. I just missed you both. You two always remind me of my best version and after this visit back home I feel I need some reminding.” He grinned, though there was a grain of sadness in the corner of his eye, tugging his features into a nearly imperceptible frown. Had they not received his letter? Or had they already forgotten about it?
Childe blinked it away quickly. “Surely you will not deny me? I came all the way from Snezhnaya thinking of seeing you.”
Though his words could easily be meant for both, his eyes were trained on Aether. The light chuckle was ever-present as removed his coat, but it could not mask his fatigue. It must have been one long journey, Aether thought.
Childe tucked the coat under his arm, having nowhere else to store it, and made a show of tying the scarf as a sash around his hip. That massive coat and the extremely warm wool scarf he had worn all the way from home to impress the Traveler…And now he could not even look cool wearing them without fainting.
Aether pursed his lips, apparently trying to hold back a smile. “We could put your things in our teapot, if you like.”
“Oh?!” If Childe had been a dog, his ears would be perked up and his tail wagging furiously just then. “I would love to visit…actually.”
“Later!” Paimon cleared her throat. “We are not changing our plans for you. You just tag along.” She flew around him with a warning look on her face.
Childe nodded quickly. “Of course.”
Next came the finger wagging. “And don't report any of this to your Fatui friends!”
“Never…Here…I’ll keep my pouch in your teapot too then, I doubt I'll need Mora to kill monsters.” His old tactics of giving people Mora to turn them into friends seem to still be a rule he lived by. He handed Paimon all of his belongings, the fairy nearly sinking to the ground like an anchor due to the weight of all of it. Specifically the money pouch.
“Hee-hee. No worries! Paimon will keep it safe and you can go visit and relax with us in the teapot later.” She smiled. Paimon looked so friendly it was a little frightening.
Childe’s attention was more focused on his outlander friend, though, who had remained quiet through all of that exchange. “Is this really ok?” His voice was clearly hopeful and his eyes more affectionate than usual.
Aether nodded, but seeming to realize he hadn’t said much, spoke up a bit “Yeah, let’s go. We’ll get the work done more easily if it is the three of us. We have commissions and a few requests to get to. Oh, you’ll enjoy the bounties the most I think.”
Bounties. That sounded interesting. “Alright! And…maybe we could go into some domains together?”
“Hmm…” Aether scratched his chin. “We routinely face a couple of dragons and a huge wolf…you might enjoy that.”
“I love that! You are the best adventurer. We’ll have a great time.” Childe snapped his fingers and pointed at Aether, a winning smile and a wink completing the picture.
“Let’s just go…” Aether laughed out loud, shaking his head. He could sense something off about Childe. He seemed…needy, in a way? It was something odd and yet endearing and he thought he was ready to make an effort and give the man some nice fights to brighten his day.
As of late they had run into a few too many Fatui with sad stories and softer pasts than they could have ever expected. They had even gone out of their way to help them, despite the clear possibilities of getting tricked and getting no information in return in the end. Doing something nice for Childe seemed easier and more natural than any of that. They even knew his little brother. Aether thought someone who loved his family that much couldn’t possibly be a real villain. Or so he hoped.
He was in no position to judge someone with a kind heart who seemed to be fighting for the wrong people. At least not until he could fully understand his own sister’s motivation. Perhaps he was a villain to both of them too, in the end.
-
And it had been a good day. A great one. Childe added humor and energy to what had otherwise become routine to Paimon and Aether. He seemed delighted at the simplest things he learned, extremely eager to impress, but also highly annoyed at the menial tasks Aether was asked to do.
They had fought a rather large-sized dragon which Childe feared would crush his little friend with his rather impressive belly. A lovely pyro regisvine, all sorts of ‘churls’ he had ever seen and then some more. When it came to fighting Fatui they had all felt it best for him to hide in the bushes, and it had given the Harbinger the chance to admire his companion in action. Truly admirable. And lovely.
He had tried to fly on top of anemo slimes, caught dozens of crystal flies, and Aether had come to wonder if Teucer and Childe had changed bodies, because Tartaglia had never looked this much like a happy child before. All of that innocence he had fought to protect in his brother…perhaps he had not been fully stripped of it himself.
Even Paimon could not help but give in and have some fun. They had foraged the woods for food, gathering berries for a pie Childe wanted to bake, wheat for his famous fresh pasta, and dozens of other recipes the man seemed intent on making. He was almost too eager. And it was almost too sweet.
Aether could tell Childe was mildly horrified at the fee they were paid once they stopped by the Adventurer’s Guild to collect, but it had also been nice to see him impressed by all they could accomplish in a day “and still save the world,” as the Harbinger had teasingly put it. It really had been a nice day, and it reminded both Aether and Paimon of how they sometimes missed these adventures along with friends.
It made Aether think of his little vacation at the Archipelago, and what it would have looked like if Childe had been there too. What would his mirage look like? He could not help but shudder a bit and think they might not make it out of that one alive. Though perhaps if Childe *had* been there, those other Fatui would not have fallen to madness. If will power was what set them apart, Childe had it in spades and could probably infuse them with some.
“That. Was. Amazing.” Childe panted as he lay on the fluffy lawn before Aether and Paimon’s teapot home. “This…is amazing.” He laughed. He had noticed Aether’s eyes growing slightly vacant and lost somewhere in his own mind, and he felt slightly jealous of what could be interesting enough to rob him of the present. It was easy to fix, though. He just had to be more interesting. Or louder. “This house! Do I get to have a room?”
“Why would you…” Aether was quickly interrupted by Paimon, however.
“Sure! We can keep your Mora safe for you.” She smiled sweetly. “ And maybe glimpse at some Fatui intel in the process” She whispered to Aether.
It was loud enough for Childe to hear it clearly, but he did not seem to care. One day seemed enough to have changed her attitude towards him quite a bit. Childe knew she liked him deep down. She had worried about him in the past, and helped him with his brother, but it amused him to no end to see the glint in her eye when Mora was involved.
He watched as the fairy flew off into the house to put away his winter coat and other belongings. “It was a great day! The best bir-ginning of the week” He checked himself quickly. Childe’s intention was not for them to know this was a special day, he just wanted to spend it in his own special way. And this was it.
“We are in the middle of the week.” Aether corrected him.
“Well…beginning for me! I was on vacation. Either way, today has been a true gift to me. Thank you.” He quickly covered up for his little blunder. Of course a proper celebration might be nice, but he did not want it to be a forced one.
Childe noticed Aether was watching him. Or trying not to, from the look on his face. It made the Harbinger smile. He knew he looked good even disheveled after a day of battles. Or perhaps especially after one. “It was amazing to battle that big lizard.”
The Harbinger sat up, sliding closer to where Aether was, scooting over slowly, a smile on his face. Despite being inside the adeptal realm, they had a fire going outside, enjoying the setting sun and the sprinkle of stars beginning to show in the sky as they roasted some meat and vegetables in the open fire. “Here…” Childe smiled innocently as he took off his gray jacket and put it over Aether’s shoulders “It is a little chilly.”
The smaller one of the two of them almost drowned in the gray fabric, but he could not bring himself to reject it. Aether wrapped his arms around it, eyes pointedly avoiding analyzing the new discovery of what the Harbinger wore under that jacket. “Thank you.”
“Say…Comrade…” Childe inched a little closer still, bumping his shoulder against Aether’s. “How have things been for you, since we last met?”
Aether found the question a little strange. He looked up at Childe, but found only genuine worry and affection in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but sigh and feel his cheeks heat up a little.
“Well? And for you?”
“Ah, things are always good for me! Life is like that when you love a challenge as much as I do” He chuckled. “But you look a little skinny. And overworked.” Childe cleared his throat. He sounded like a mother hen “I heard tales of you in Inazuma…you faced some real danger, I was worried.” He licked his lips. It was dangerous conversation territory.
Aether snorted “Partly due to your Harbinger companions…”
“Indeed.”
The two of them shared a moment of silence. Aether looked small and vulnerable wearing that oversized coat. He was not, of course, but Childe wondered if he ever wished he had someone to take care of him, the way he seemed to always be taking care of others. His gaze lingered, and it finally made Aether speak up, their tender silence broken by his quiet voice.
“Are you sure you are not here to exact revenge for Signora?” Golden eyes observed dull-blue ones carefully. Each little expression counted, but the earnest concern was all that remained in them.
“You didn’t kill her.”
Aether felt his mouth dry. He had still not come to terms with being indirectly responsible for the fate of someone in that way. “She died because I defeated her.”
Childe nodded. “She knew the risks. We all know the risks. Also, the Tsaritsa would not let any of them harm you. She hopes to meet you.”
A soft sound of mistrust and disbelief spilled from Aether’s lips. “We are still on opposite sides.”
“Not all of the time.” Childe whispered. “And not opposite from me. I am on your side. Perhaps you cannot see it yet.”
“You can’t say that.” Aether resisted. “You don't know what you will be asked to do next.”
The Harbinger was quiet once more. Aether was not wrong. He poked the fire with a stick, both of them watching the embers fly like moths around the flame. “Can I ask you something about the things we did today?”
“Mhm..” Aether nodded.
Childe observed the smaller man next to him. “You are the best warrior I have ever fought. Are you really ok with the menial jobs people ask you to do? People pay you to collect elemental particles and…deliver food and flowers? It is unworthy of your skill level.”
Aether shrugged. “It is an honest way to earn Mora. Also a good way to meet people and possibly get closer to finding…what I am looking for.”
Childe nodded. It did make sense. As much as Aether had become a hero of Teyvat, he was still somewhat new to this place. No one seemed to know exactly where he came from, but if he was an outlander everywhere, it must be hard to find a home anywhere. He sighed, returning his thoughts to the topic at hand.
“But who do you even deliver those elemental particles to? Or are they paying you to voyeuristically watch you collect particles?” Childe’s voice grew harsher as his level of annoyance rose. Imagining people using Aether that way bothered him profoundly.
“It’s fine. I mean…I am growing a bit tired of it, but also so used to it I can just do it automatically, without thinking much.”
“You deserve better.” Childe said and straightened up his posture. “Work for me. Be my adventurer. I’ll be your guild. I’ll give you commissions and pay you handsomely. Three…five times more than what they offer.”
Aether laughed “And in the end I would go from Honorary Knight to Honorary Fatui?”
‘No! I wouldn’t ask you to do Fatui stuff. Just…just stuff. We could just go fight monsters together. Make the world safer for people. And your job would be as my…sparring partner, fighting…trainer?! Even better than commissions.”
Aether could not deny it all sounded more tempting than guiding balloons to safety and gathering wood for Neko’s statue.
“Just…think about it? While you do that, I’ll go in and cook you my special dish I told you about.” Childe wriggled his eyebrows. “I am not only sure you will come work for me, but also marry me, after you taste it.” He winked and hurried off before Aether had a chance to react. Childe had made himself quite at home already, it seemed.
Aether was left smiling and shaking his head. Something about that lunatic always made him smile. And it felt strangely familiar and…homely.
He could hear voices coming from inside. Paimon’s high-pitched voice was always hard to miss. They seemed to chatter for a bit before Paimon resurfaced from the house. She had a strange look on her face, eyes wide and urgent.
“What’s with the look? Did you eat something rotten?”
“No! Paimon needs to talk to you.” She flew in close, making sure to keep her voice low. “We forgot to read our mail early today, there was a letter from Childe!” She shoved the paper against his chest.
Hey, comrade! Where have you been adventuring recently? If you’re available, how about we meet up sometime?
I made a trip back home and told my family about you.
Before I left, they made it a point to stuff a lot of homemade food into my bag and specifically asked me to bring it to you.
Of course, I still know my manners, so I’ve also prepared my own share of local specialties for you. Don’t worry, it’s alright if you’re not used to the flavor. I’d be glad if you will try a taste.
Anyway, let’s set all those quarrels and fights aside today and focus on things that make us happy — family, food, weather, or even previous combat experiences… Rest assured, together, we’ll never run out of topics.
Aether looked over the letter and frowned. “So is this why he looked a little awkward when we met? Because he thought we were expecting him?” He ran his eyes over it again, his brain racing. “Did he go back home because of…Signora?” Aether tensed up a little, a shiver running down his spine. “But he also said he spent time with family and…Today, his sudden appearance…he said the day felt like a gift to him, all of that suspicious behavior…Oh…” Aether gasped. “It must be his birthday. He’s trying to celebrate his birthday with us.” His face turned red. Surely he could have stayed home celebrating, but he chose to come to him. And Paimon, of course…
“Aww..” Paimon buzzed around her friend. “Ooh! Paimon knows! He is trying to have a date with you! Hee. It is not really the first time, you know.”
“Paimon!” The fairy quickly avoided a stick being thrown at her.
“You should give him a birthday gift…”
Aether paused. “Why…are you being so nice to him all of a sudden?” He asked, but he already suspected the answer.
“Isn’t it obvious? Because his mora pouch weighs more than Paimon does!”
“Oh you…little golddigger.” Aether covered his face with his hand, as he often did, and took a deep breath. “I feel like I am being sold off in an arranged marriage by a greedy parent.”
“Is that so bad? He is handsome, he is rich, he fights well, he is a family guy…Better a handsome and rich Fatui than…an ugly and poor abyss mage?”
The conversation was making him dizzy. “Did he put something in your soup?”
“Nope! Soup isn’t ready yet! And Paimon is going to go eat hers in her room! Give Aether some privacy” She smiled. “Be nice.”
“Traitor.”
“Hey! Paimon is looking out for our best interest.” Paimon did not bother to complain much though. As soon as she spotted Childe coming out of the house, she flew away without another word.
“Where did she go off to?” Childe asked as he approached with a tray filled with food.
“I don’t know. I thought you two were in it together.”
“In what together?” He asked curiously, setting the tray down. The food looked amazing and Aether could tell it included some of the items Childe mentioned in his letter.
“I’m sorry…” Aether sighed. “We actually just read your letter now.”
“Oh” Childe paused for a moment, watching Aether, and then broke into a smile. “I figured you hadn’t read it. But now you know I have lots of food to give you. I have some here for you to taste.”
“Very thoughtful of you.” Aether nodded in thank you. “Did you really tell your family about me?” He was not sure why he asked that. He was feeling extremely uncomfortable. Paimon had suddenly turned this into a date in his mind, and he could not erase that notion.
“Well…they have to know about their future son-in-law…Can’t just spring you up on them some day.” So it wasn’t just Paimon.
“Childe…” Aether rolled his eyes, but could not help but laugh. “You are absurd.”
“Come on…it’s not a bad prospect. I can be your home.” He grinned, feeling proud of his choice of words. “Go ahead, try some.” Childe did not try to spoon feed his hopefully-future-spouse out of awareness he would get the bowl of food thrown at his face, but he still nudged it over and watched with a smile full of expectation.
Aether started eating quietly, but was soon forced to react. The food was far too good. “This is great.” He did try to make it sound only half-great, though.
“It will be even better when you get to eat it fresh. In my home, I mean.”
Aether meant to cut him off, but he stopped himself, deciding to just eat quietly. Let him win one. Once he was done with his plate - and with being observed so closely while he ate, Aether finally spoke again in a quiet voice. “Today is your birthday, isn’t it?”
“Ah…” Childe’s easy smile grew even easier and brighter. “You figured it out.”
A blond head nodded repeatedly. Childe could only see the top of that head, since its owner seemed to refuse looking at him.
“Why…celebrate it with us?”
That did rip soft laughter from the Harbinger. “Can you really figure out today is my birthday, but not why I would want to celebrate it with you ?”
Aether’s cheeks were becoming abused by the constant rushing blood. Again they were suffused in red, the soft blush making him look shy and warm. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you! It has been! A happy birthday, I mean.”
Aether shifted uncomfortably, fidgeting nervously for a moment. I suppose you deserve a gift then.”
“Oh.”
They both paused. Perhaps this was not a good idea. Aether tensed. He shouldn’t have said anything. Who know what outlandish things Childe might ask for. But now it had already been spoken.
“Is there anything you want? That I can give. And don’t ask me to marry you.”
Childe’s posture disarmed into a bright smile, his eyes running over his companion’s face, mirth and gentleness in his eyes. “A kiss.”
He held back a chuckle when he saw Aether’s eyes widen.
“No way.”
“ Why not, he is rich and good looking! ” Came the muffled shout from deep within the house.
Aether looked bewildered. He glared in the direction of the house, then turned back to the birthday-boy, speaking between his teeth. “Did you put something in her food? She never liked you that much before.”
“Only if she ate the one I meant for you to have.” Childe teased.
“Childe! You can’t make that sort of joke with the history you have of tricking me.”
“Sorry, sorry!” The Harbinger grinned. “I would never try to win you over through poisoning.” Childe shook his head, taking big mouthfuls of the food to prove his point. It seemed to appease Aether a little though, who even cracked a little smile.
The great Tartaglia lowered his head, knowing he would be chided like a bad dog if he carried on. He focused on his food and watching the fire. He had spent the day fighting alongside Aether, being on his team. They were now chatting and sitting together, shoulders touching. It was enough. For now, it was enough.
Or maybe not.
He had not been expecting it, but suddenly there came the feeling of soft warmth against his cheek and the crip sound of a smack. Lips. Aether’s lips. On his cheek.
Childe turned on impulse, their faces less than a millimeter apart. He could just lean in a bit…It could even be blamed on his shock. On accident. Fate.
“W-what was that?” He licked his lips nervously. To their utter shock, they were so close in that eternal split second, that his moving lips touched Aether’s. Both of them jumped back slightly, but Childe regretted it immediately.
“A compromise” Aether mumbled, turning away. However, scarlet ears were quite visible to Childe, and it made him melt with tenderness.
“Thank you. It really has been the best birthday. And the best gift.” He shook the other’s shoulder gently, tugging at the sleeve of his own coat like a whiny child, trying to relax the sudden tension around them.
Aether shrugged him off, trying to ignore the pout forming on the Harbinger’s lips. Lips that had just touched his own. How inappropriate to still be thinking of it…
“Come on…don’t look away now. It’s our first kiss.” Childe bit his bottom lip excitedly. Any more happiness coming out of him and he might start to bounce around.
“Childe!”
The Harbinger could not help but laugh wholeheartedly. He loved teasing and infuriating the fierce yet gentle warrior next to him.
Aether turned his eyes to him, golden eyes narrowed and filled with suspicion. “You know I am a lot older than you, right?”
“Yes. You have mentioned.” Childe nodded dutifully.
“So. This…” Aether pointed between them. “...Is creepy.”
Childe’s expression was slightly comical. “I don’t think so. Not when I’ll be the old man with a hot young boyfriend someday. Sounds like a winning situation to me.”
Aether could not help but roll his eyes and groan in frustration. “I am not your boyfriend.”
“Not yet.” Childe grinned a playful gleam in his eyes. He leaned in dangerously close. Instead of attempting another kiss, though, he tilted his head slightly to whisper into Aether’s ear. “But there’s next year’s birthday wish.”
~