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The soft rays of the morning sun came in through the window, stirring him awake. Lazily opening his eyes, Childe began to get a bearing of his surroundings.
The tan walls adorned with Liyueian decor wouldn’t have meant much to just anyone, but he knew this decoration like the back of his hand. He had stared at these walls during daytime and nighttime alike, waking up like he was now and before falling asleep too.
Lumine’s serenitea teapot was like a second home to him by now. He had lost track of how many times he had visited. She had been reminding him for a while now that this was his house as much as it was hers.
It still felt like a daydream. The fact that they shared a life together was hard to believe every so often. Especially when, feeling around the bed sheets for her, he couldn’t find Lumine within reach.
Why did they have a bed as big as they did? They didn’t need that much space. He certainly didn’t want it. If he could sleep with Lumine safely in his embrace every night, he would.
She would probably bicker about it if he actually did it, but would he be a good husband if he didn’t annoy his wife every now and then? Even if it was for old times’ sake?
Turning toward her side of the bed, he could discern her silhouette at the opposite edge of the bed, holding a book in her small hands.
Far away. Soooo far away.
His heart clenched at the sight of her. Part of it was in admiration of her unequivocal beauty, and part of it was because of how distant she seemed to be.
Or maybe he was just exaggerating? Nah, she was definitely further away than she should be from him at this early hour.
Time for the sneak attack.
He idly stretched his upper limbs, not missing the way she glanced sideways at him. The small peek of a smile adorned the corner of her small, plump lips.
But she wouldn’t move closer to him. How rude!
As he finished with his stretching, he tumbled his body toward her, reaching as far as he could to get to her. Unfortunately, she was still too far away. But if the Eleventh Harbinger was known for something (other than his bloodlust, his strife to get stronger and the big amounts of Mora in his pocket) was for his stubbornness.
So he persisted.
Propping himself in her direction with his legs, he was able to spread further beyond and cover a larger distance on the bed. The tips of his fingers grazed the porcelain skin of her thighs.
He could practically smell victory at that point. And hear it in the form of Lumine’s light giggling too.
Spreading his whole body just a bit more, Childe finally made it so that his head rested on her lap. The book she had been reading had been unceremoniously shoved aside, making room for him and his need to be snuggled by his pretty wife.
“Good morning sunshine,” she said with a soft chuckle and a roll of her beautiful honeyed eyes. At this point in their relationship, Lumine wasn’t a stranger to her husband’s shenanigans anymore. She had learned to just roll with it, enjoying every second of them.
“I can’t believe you’re avoiding me this early,” he groggily said, his voice still raspy from having just woken up.
“I’m avoiding you? Mr. Harbinger, you’re the one sleeping in today,” she chided him playfully as she began to comb through his coppery tresses with her fingers. His hair was more disheveled than usual thanks to the tangled mess the pillow had made of it overnight. Childe reveled in her caresses.
“That doesn’t give you the right to scooch over to the farthest corner of the bed, Mrs. Harbinger,” he lazily complained.
A wholehearted laugh left Lumine’s lips then.
“I’m sorry! I just didn’t want to disturb you in your sleep!” She exclaimed, amused.
“You disturbed me by not being by my side when I woke up,” he whined, prompting more chuckles from the blonde.
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen ever again“ she teased him, leaning in to kiss him on his forehead.
“Thank you, much appreciated,” he mocked in response, encasing her in an embrace so he could hide his face on the skin of her belly. He basked in her lavender scent, in her touch, in everything that was hers.
“I love you,” she whispered softly.
Archons, he was the luckiest, happiest man in all Teyvat.
“Love you more.”
“Nope,” Lumine firmly said as she tugged at a strand of his hair.
Childe smiled against her, the familiar competitiveness they both shared getting the best of him.
“Yes I do,” he said in a sing-song way, starting an argument that would probably end in tickles or kisses.
Either way, he was already a winner for being able to share his life with hers.