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It was Childe’s idea to have this Christmas party, and yet he appeared to be too busy pouting on the couch to actually enjoy it. Yelan shook her head at the sight. Holiday music blasted from speakers all over the house as people chatted and laughed. Nearly everyone in Liyue was there. Hu tao sat comfortably beside Childe, trying her best to impress Yanfei with jokes and smalltalk. On the couch across from them sat Zhongli and Baizhu, who were both taking care of Qiqi. Baizhu let her sit in his lap while Zhongli told her stories. In the kitchen, Beidou and Ningguang took turns embarrassing each other. Yelan had appointed them with the task of baking treats, but they seemed more focused on frosting each others’ noses than frosting the cookies. She can’t really say she’s surprised. Even so, she’d have to tease them for it later. Xinyan, Xiangling, Chongyun, and little Xingqiu were currently out playing in the snow while Shenhe and Yunjin kept watch. Even Xiao seemed to be having a decent time, quietly observing the party.
How sad it is, to be sulking at your own party. This has got to be the worst Christmas party Childe’s ever thrown– in his opinion, at least.
Unlike everyone else, Yelan knew exactly why he was pouting. She hadn’t failed to notice the unusual amount of mistletoe hanging up. In fact, just a few minutes before, she had accidentally witnessed Keqing and Ganyu kiss under one. She knew that Childe was the one who put all that mistletoe up. She also knew why he had put all that mistletoe up. Yelan had decided that she wouldn’t let him hide behind the excuse of holiday tradition. Flirting was never easy with her. She was nothing if not a huge tease. And so, like the tease she was, she avoided both the mistletoe and Childe– leading to the latter pouting on the couch.
Life went on and the party continued, despite his brooding. Yelan was enjoying herself thoroughly, laughing it up with everyone she happened to talk to. As the night went on, she found herself alone in the kitchen, snacking on the semi-frosted cookies that Ningguang and Beidou had made. They weren’t half bad.. but next year she’ll just let Xiangling handle the food. She was mid-bite when she heard a familiar voice drag out her name.
“Yelan..” Childe whined, entering the kitchen and quickly making his way to her. His arms found comfort in wrapping around her stomach as he embraced her from behind. He sighed as he started to bury his face in the curve of her neck. “You’re being so mean to me.”
“Oh? How so?” Yelan decided to finish her cookie off before glancing at him. She smirked, not with her lips but with her eyes. She was beautiful, devilishly so, Childe thought.
“You’ve been avoiding me all night,” He complains. “It took forever to put up all that mistletoe you know. If you don’t want to kiss me, you can just say that.”
“Similarly, if you want to kiss me , you can just say that. Or better yet,” she pauses, purposefully adding tension, “ask me for a kiss.”
“I’ve never met a woman who plays this hard to get.”
Yelan’s response is almost instantaneous. “I’ve never met a man who’s this easy to get.”
For a few moments, they’re both silent. Yelan takes to eating another cookie while Childe still clings to her, trying to think of a decent comeback. She knew her worth and her power, something he both loved and hated. She hummed to herself as she ate, wondering how his coworkers would feel about his behavior. She’s sure Pantalone would die on the spot if he ever saw Childe like this. To think that she’d have a whole harbinger wrapped around her finger— the Tsaritsa ought to view her as a threat, honestly.
“Are you going to hold onto me all night?” Her voice holds no malice. He can tell she wants to kiss him but only after he asks for it. That’s just the way she is, he supposes.
“Maybe.” The harbinger replies stubbornly. One of Yelan’s hands runs through his ginger hair, just the way he likes, and he lets out a huff. “Alright, alright. You win. Can I have a kiss?”
“I can’t believe one of the mighty Fatui harbingers is in my kitchen, begging for a kiss—“ She starts to tease further, but Childe interrupts her.
“Yelan. Please.”
The desperation in his voice is barely concealed. Now, she had really won. She turns around and Childe lets go, backing up a bit only for her to come in close. They’re nose to nose and if he's being truthful, he can’t tell at all what she’s thinking. He’s fought many battles but this one, this battle of dominance with Yelan, had to be the one of the most thrilling.
“Alright. Since you asked nicely..” she murmurs before leaning in and pressing her lips to his. She rewards him with a heated kiss, one that leaves them both breathless. Her arms wrap around his neck as she goes in for another and then another. Her response was more than what he had wanted and he found himself leaning into her every touch. If Childe had known that she’d kiss him like this, he would’ve asked much sooner.
She’s about to give him his fourth kiss when they both hear giggles from the kitchen entryway.
Dammit. Just when things were getting good.
He lazily glances over to the entry area to check for the source of the noise. His eyes soon spot Xinyan and Xingqiu and he chuckles a little. Of course it was them.
“Yuck, Auntie! You should get a room for that stuff!” Xingqiu can barely get the words out between his giggles. Xinyan isn’t any better, laughing at both Childe and Yelan (but mostly Childe). It doesn’t take long for the two of them to make a run for it after seeing Yelan’s expression, though.
“Xingqiu? Xinyan? Get out of here!” She yells, pulling away from Childe to chase after them. “You nosy brats!”
The harbinger is left alone in the kitchen, laughing to himself as Yelan runs around the house. He grabs a cookie and hums. Not the best Christmas party he’s thrown, but with Yelan around, it’s definitely not the worst.