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The first thing Lumine registered when she woke up was the ache in her chest. It was different from the ache she had before the surgery.
The ache before was three parts crushing gripping ache, (like someone had her lungs in their fist and was squeezing tight, cutting off her air supply) and two parts heartache.
Though who caused her that much heartache was a mystery. She didn’t remember who it was nor did she care. If she couldn’t remember them, maybe it was for the better.
This ache though that she was feeling now was refreshing. She could actually breathe now. Her lungs inhaled and exhaled smoothly with only the slightest hitch to them.
Lumine groggily opened her eyes to reveal a hospital inpatient room.
“Lumine. I am so glad you came through okay. I was worried for a minute there.” A familiar voice called full of relief.
Lumine turned her head to see Tighnari in a white coat sitting uncomfortably in a hard plastic chair you always found in hospitals.
Lumine smiled to the best of her ability. “So I made it through, doc?” She teased the fox carefully.
Tighnari’s ears twitched in annoyance. “I’m not a doctor. But, yes. You will be okay.”
Lumine sighed and turned to face the white tiled ceiling. “Any idea when I can be let out of here?”
“In a few days.” Tighnari stood up and stretched his arms. His tail looked a little messy. He gave it a quick shake. “You will still have to come back in two weeks after being released for a checkup. Then one more visit two weeks after that for a final check. I would not travel far and don’t strain yourself fighting too big of enemies. Slimes and fungi only. No hilichurls, no samachurls, no Mitachurls, no treasure hoarders, no whopper flowers, no Lawachurls or Ruin anything. No fatui. One bad hit on your ribcage and you will end up right back here. This time I won’t let you out until your full recovery.”
Lumine’s jaw dropped. “But…”
“No.” Tighnari frowned at her. “I mean it, Lumine. One wrong hit will damage you enough that you might need another surgery.”
Lumine snapped her mouth shut. “Okay.”
Tighnari looked at her carefully. “Promise me?”
“I promise. No fighting anything larger than your average slime.” Lumine laid back and closed her eyes.
Tighnari’s footsteps headed away from her. They paused where she assumed the door would be. “You have people here waiting to see you. Are you up for guests? I will send them in a few at a time. It seems you are well-loved, Lumine.”
Lumine opened her eyes and tried to sit up. Her lungs hurt but she would not receive guests just lying down. Tighnari came over and raised the bed. He moved pillows behind her back with one hand. He made sure she was secure before stepping back.
“Thanks, Tighnari. For everything.” Lumine met his gaze. To her study of him, he seemed a little sad. “Can I ask you to keep the Hanahaki a secret? I don’t want anyone to know.”
“Of course.” Tighnari’s ears twitched as he heard something beyond her hearing. “I’m glad I got here in time. I will send the first people in shortly.” Tighnari left the room quietly.
Lumine sat and waited patiently for her guests to arrive. She knew she worried her traveling companions greatly. They all were meeting here in Liyue Harbor because they claimed they were going to go to The Chasm to fight. It turned out they all gathered because they were worried about her.
It was sweet for them to worry. She didn’t tell them anything. She only told them she had surgery planned in two days for what was making her so sick. Her guess was that they were likely going to be worried and protective for a bit.
Maybe Zhongli would let her crash at his place for a month. She wouldn’t actually stay in his apartment but she needed a place to put her teapot so nobody would steal it.
A commotion came from out in the hall. There seemed to be people arguing.
It got louder as it grew closer. She was able to pick up on Paimon’s high-pitched voice and another lower unfamiliar one.
“Why should Paimon let you go first?” Paimon’s shape came across the doorway. She was blocking the door with her arms spread wide.
“Let me by,” The unfamiliar voice growled.
“Paimon doesn’t get why she likes you so much. You are such a bossy mean man. If only Paimon could think of an ugly nickname for you.” Paimon snapped back.
“Step aside. This is your last warning.” The voice sounded really angry.
There was a crackle in the air. Whoever it was, must use electro. He was threatening Paimon. That wasn’t going to fly with her.
“Let him in, Paimon.” Lumine tried to see who it was that was going to get a scolding.
A tall ginger stepped into the room with dull blue eyes, short messy hair, and a bright smile that looked forced. He had handsome features despite the sparkless eyes. His clothes were gray and black with a little red thrown in. His hair was a mess with the ends facing in every direction and an unfamiliar red mask was pinned to the side of his head.
“Hey, Girlie. I’m glad you are okay.” The man stepped closer and grabbed her hand. He squeezed her fingers tightly.
Lumine twisted her hand out of his overly familiar grasp. “Look. I don’t know you. I’m asking you to please stop harassing my friend.” Lumine wanted to continue but the split second of heartbreak on the man’s face made her pause.
“Lumi… I…?” The man seemed at a loss for words. His mouth opened and closed a few times. It looked like he wanted to say something but was unsure as to what exactly he should say.
“Lumine? What do you mean, you don’t know him? This is Childe. The meanie you insisted on joining us over and over again. Don’t you remember Liyue and…” Paimon flew over to her and fluttered around her head. “Did something happen to your head? Do you really not remember Childe?”
“No. I don’t remember him. My head is fine Paimon. I feel much better after the surgery.” Lumine never took her gaze off the danger she sensed from this man in her room.
“Do you remember Zhongli? Kaeya? Beidou? Xiangling?” Paimon reached out and laid a small hand on Lumine’s forehead. “What kind of surgery did you have? Tighnari wouldn’t tell us.”
“Is everyone else okay?” Lumine reluctantly turned away from the intriguing stranger to Paimon. “When can I see them?”
“Well, Tighnari said only two at a time.” Paimon scowled at the quiet ginger. “Childe insisted on being one of the first.”
“Since I don’t know him, I don’t know why he is here.” Lumine pointed out carelessly. What was wrong with her?
The ginger seemed to turn to stone in his countenance. “I see. I shall leave you to catch up with your friends.” He spun on his heel like he was in the military and marched from the room with his head high.
Lumine watched him go uncaringly. She didn’t know him. She shouldn’t care about him. She shouldn’t. So why did she feel regret for saying that to him?
“Who is he, Paimon?” Lumine turned to face the faerie. “Why was he here?”
“That was Childe.” Paimon twisted her hands together in her shirt. “Maybe we should wait to see everyone else. Paimon doesn’t want to rush you.”
“I’m fine, Paimon. I feel better. I want to see everyone. Please?” Lumine readjusted on the pillows. “I want to see my friends.”
Paimon looked unconvinced. “Okay. But don’t blame Paimon if you hurt any more of them. Poor Childe. He might be mean but he didn’t deserve that.” Paimon murmured as she headed for the door.
Lumine flinched at the faerie’s words. Did she really hurt him? Why did her chest hurt at that? Shouldn’t she be better?
She winced when her head started hurting. Why didn’t she remember him?
*****
Childe would not let anyone see his hurt. He strode down the hall of the hospital trying to contain his emotions. He needed to fight something. Anything. He would take a slime right now, no matter how disappointing that would be.
He didn’t pause as he stalked past the room where they all were waiting for Lumine to come out of surgery. He didn’t know what kind she had but he saw no scars on her head so her memory loss couldn’t have been caused by head trauma.
“Childe! How is she?” He heard Zhongli call out after him.
Childe ignored him as he moved around doctors and nurses in the halls. Footsteps sounded, hurrying after him.
Childe sped up and was almost at the doors leading out when a hand clamped on his shoulder and spun him around. Childe used the momentum to slam the person behind him into the wall. He pressed his forearm across a dark gray collared throat. He stared into troubled cor lapis eyes. “Leave me alone. Or you will regret it.” Childe bit out angrily. He pressed his forearm down harder. “Don’t follow me. I’ll be back later.”
Childe released the startled dragon archon. He turned and headed out of the hospital, trying hard to control the monster roaring within.
He needed to fight something. Anything.
*****
Lumine knew something was wrong with her. She tried really hard to hide it and show care for her companions. The ones who have been by her side through dangerous lawachurls and countless times where they fought regisvines and hypostasises. Even minor fights like hilichurls and killing slimes near Dawn Winery.
She tried her best but she noticed Zhongli watching her when nobody else was looking. She tried to care when Xiangling went on about a special treat she had thought up and couldn’t wait to try. She tried to be attentive when Kaeya started fussing over her. She tried to listen when Beidou offered to take her out for drinks as soon as she was able to. She tried to not get annoyed when Paimon began talking excitedly about food and what to sneak her into the hospital. She honestly tried.
But something was wrong. She just… couldn’t get out of her head that split second of heartbreak in that ginger’s dull beautiful blue eyes.
“Is something wrong, Lumine?” Zhongli turned those devastating cor lapis eyes on her.
Lumine tried for a reassuring smile. “I feel better, Zhongli. The surgery really helped.”
“I’m just curious as to why Childe left here visibly upset. He is your best friend and sparing partner.” Zhongli’s gaze was sharp as he watched her.
Lumine was fed up with everyone mentioning this person she had no memory of. Beidou had said something about not inviting Childe anymore to drinks because the Snezhnayan could out-drink her. Xiangling had wished that Childe would be available to try her dish because he was always eager to try new things. Even Kaeya had made a comment about Childe missing all the fun.
Lumine had had enough!
“Because I don’t want him here, Zhongli!” Lumine snapped harshly.
The whole room went silent.
“Did something happen between the two of you?” Kaeya cleared his throat harshly. “I know things had been getting a little tense between you before but…”
Beidou snorted and mumbled something about it being an understatement.
Lumine’s face scrunched up. “We really were that close?”
Immediately she knew she made a mistake. Several pairs of various eye colors focused on her with concern.
“Lumine?” Zhongli stared at her.
Lumine looked away from his worried gaze.
“What kind of surgery did you have? I see no signs of…” Zhongli reached for her hand.
“Yeah. Why did you need surgery?” Kaeya raised his eyebrow.
“She was sick before. She was looking pale and she was losing a lot of weight.” Xiangling put her hand to her chin. “Maybe we should…”
“Paimon thinks something is really wrong. She was really mean to Childe when he came in here.” Paimon wrung her little hands together.
Lumine subtly reached her free hand towards the button for the nurse. This was getting too close for comfort and she needed her space. Lumine pressed it a few times. Not three seconds later a nurse barged into the room.
“Hey. She is only allowed two guests at a time. Visiting hours are over as well. I’m afraid I will have to ask you all to leave.”
As one the group stood up and began packing their things to leave. Voices talked over each other as they gathered their bags and coats. One by one her friends leaned down to give her hugs or pats on the shoulder.
“Paimon will hide. Paimon is not leaving Lumine.” Paimon declared before disappearing into a spark of pink and bright stars.
“We will see you tomorrow. Hopefully, Childe will be able to join us then.” Zhongli was the last to leave her room. His eyes did a sweep over her body. “Sleep well, Lumine. Goodnight.”
Lumine sighed when they all left. Her chest ached. More than usual. Maybe it was just the pain of having surgery?
Lumine let the nurse check her vitals and give her pain meds. She rolled over to sleep, not knowing what her dreams would reveal.
****
“Hey, Girlie. Hold still…”
“I’m not asking for your blessing, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me anyway.”
“Not bad. But this is going to cost you!”
“Hey, I’m sorry about all that with the Lord of the Vortex and everything. It was just a job.”
“No need to get so angry, Girlie. I’m always up for a spar if you need to blow off steam.”
“Hey, Girlie. How have you been?”
“Are you sure about this? It looks like a normal if very large teapot.”
“Is there something you aren’t telling me, Girlie?”
“Hey, Girlie.”
“Hey…”
“Girl…”
“Li….”
“He-”
****
Lumine jerked awake with an aborted cry lodged in her chest. What was that? She couldn’t remember what she was dreaming about but she knew it was confusing and had voices overlapping at the end. She was glad she didn’t wake Paimon from wherever the pixie went when she was not in this world.
Lumine chanced a glance at the window. It was just before dawn. There was a glow on the horizon to the east.
Lumine huddled under the thin hospital blanket. The ones in her teapot were so much better. Thicker and fluffier. Warmer with mugs of citrus tea in hands. Laughter and playful banter. Blue eyes try their best to shine and ginger locks fall into them. Smack talk between sparring partners and best friends.
Lumine clenched her teeth as the memories came as fast as they went. She didn’t remember. She didn’t remember him. He must have been the one she was dying over.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she wondered if she made the right choice in the end. Lumine rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Her mind was haunted by the ghost of his laugh and the heartbreak shining in his blue eyes.
*****
True to Tighnari’s word, Lumine was released in a few days. Three days after waking up from surgery, Lumine was discharged from the hospital and was sternly reminded to not fight anything larger than a slime.
Zhongli was there to take her and Paimon to his home.
Lumine entered his apartment and pulled out her teapot. “Where can I…?”
“Allow me. You did just have surgery.” Zhongli lifted the teapot from her hands and set it carefully on his table.
“Will it be okay there?” Lumine gently hovered her hand over the surface of the pot.
“It should be fine. I believe Tubby has been anxiously waiting for you to come back.” Zhongli was at her back. “I just… It’s just…”
Zhongli was never at a loss for words.
“What’s wrong, Zhongli?” Paimon fluttered around him and his house.
Lumine arched an eyebrow at this uncharacteristic display. “It’s just what…?”
“Might not be exactly how you remember it is all.” Zhongli moved away from her and the teapot. “As it is not bedtime right now, can I make you anything? Or can I get you anything? You can rest on my couch for now. I do remember Xiangling saying she would be over with lunch soon.”
Lumine let her hand fall away. She clenched her hand into a fist. She took a deep breath. He wouldn’t let her be. Everywhere she turned she was haunted by that stupid ginger. Why can’t she remember him? Why didn’t she just woman up and tell him? Did she make the right choice?
“Zhongli?” Lumine spun to face him. A demand rose up on the tip of her tongue about the ginger but she faltered when she saw him.
Zhongli was staring out the window with a sad expression on his face. His eyes were distant and looked hollow.
“Zhongli?” Lumine stepped closer to him. She reached out and rested her hand on his arm. “I would like some tea, please.”
“Paimon can make it!” Paimon zoomed into the kitchen.
“Paimon! Wait!” Lumine caught Paimon’s eye and motioned to Zhongli with a jerk of her head.
“On second thought, Paimon will help Lumine to the couch.” Paimon reversed her course and led the way to the couch in the living room.
Lumine left him alone after the dragon archon sighed and shook himself. “Yes. I will have your tea ready shortly.” Zhongli murmured before staring out the window again.
Lumine headed for the couch leaving Zhongli staring and mumbling under his breath. Lumine thought she heard the word fool but brushed it off. It was none of her business what Zhongli was remembering.
Lumine got onto the couch. Paimon carried a blanket over and draped it across her lap. Small hands tucked the edges around her knees.
“Get some rest, Lumine. Paimon will watch over you.”
*****
“Lord Harbinger!” Danila saluted him with ease.
Childe stared out the window of his office in nonchalance. He couldn’t afford to let his underlings see just how… betrayed he feels about all this happening with Lumine. (Not hurt. Never hurt. Tartaglia of the Fatui Harbingers did not get hurt)
“Report.” He commanded shortly.
“The Traveler and her floating companion have been released from the hospital. I followed them successfully to a residence in Chihu Rock. They have been there for the past hour. Temur is now there for the second shift.” Danila saluted after he finished his report. “I will go rest now and relieve Temur in four hours.”
“Danila. Wait a moment.” Childe thought hard about all this. He thought about the time before Lumine went into surgery and conveniently forgot all about him.
He did know she was sick before she went into the hospital. She was extremely pale and towards the surgery date, had put off their weekly spars. She had stopped taking commissions too. She spent most of her time in her teapot huddled in bed.
Dendrobium flowers had been everywhere when Childe went into the teapot to check on her. He was one of the chosen few that had been given unrestricted access to her teapot so he could visit anytime. He knew of only four others who were given the same privilege. All others needed to be with her to enter.
He didn’t know what happened to cause her to lose her memory of him. And only him. From Danila’s past reports she remembers everyone else very well. Why was it just him?
“Sir?”
Why did she only forget him and everything about him? Was it the medicine? Did someone slip her something while she was in the hospital? What surgery did she even have in the first place? Everyone is being tightlipped about that.
“Lord Harbinger?”
Childe knew that a specialist was called in to actually perform the surgery. Based on past reports he wasn’t even a registered doctor or surgeon. He was a forest watcher from Sumeru. What was so special about him that they needed him to come to Liyue and do surgery?
“I don’t know what to do. He won’t respond.”
“Give him a moment.”
He now had two… no three goals. One… find out more about this Tighnari who performed the surgery. Two… send someone to the hospital to investigate. Three… he needed back into the teapot to do a little investigating of his own.
“Sir!”
“Ekaterina. Danila. I have missions for you.” Childe turned around to face his subordinates. “Danila. Get inside the hospital and find out what kind of surgery Lumine had and what medicines they had given her, both recorded and possibly not. Ekaterina, send someone to investigate Tighnari. I want a full dossier on him by this weekend.” Childe turned around and stared out the window towards Chihu Rock.
“Boss you can’t use our resources for your own personal gain.” Ekaterina protested loudly.
Childe turned back around and leveled her with a cold gaze. “I have given you a lot of free rein Ekaterina because you are good at your job. Don’t make me take that away.”
“But…” Ekaterina continued to press.
Danila was backing away slowly. Smart man.
“Someone poisoned her. If someone can take out the Traveler who has defeated both Osail and Dvalin and is our greatest ally against the Abyss Order, do you not think they can turn that around and attack us?” Childe was furious. The monster under his skin was baying for blood. Someone had harmed what was his. The person who did so would not live to boast about it.
“We will start right away, Lord Harbinger.” Ekaterina bowed and left the room.
“Danila?” Childe called after the geochanter.
“Yes, Lord Harbinger?” Danila turned around by the door.
“Tell Javert to trade off with Temur every four hours. I want constant eyes on her.” Childe moved to his desk. He had plans to make.
An enemy must have poisoned her. Why else would she forget him? Childe had his money on Scaramouche. This seemed like an underhanded tactic from a Harbinger. If Signora were still alive, Childe would have bet on her.
Someone poisoned her and Childe would not rest until he uncovered who it was and how to restore her memories. They would pay for this. They would pay for ruining his chance with Lumine. Because he loved her. He loved her for her strength and also for her gentleness with others.
He loved her, but she didn’t remember him.
Childe slammed his fist on his desk. He refused to let others know how hurt he was. He saw the glass narwhal she had gotten for him on her travels. He picked it up carefully. He set it down next to his workspace.
“I promise you this, Lumine. I won’t rest until I get you back.” Childe swore. He sat down at his desk and got back to work. He had things to do.
*****
Lumine sighed as she sipped at her tea. She had asked for a warm citrus one and this one was nice but it wasn’t cutting it. It wasn’t the same one she was craving. She didn’t know how to ask Zhongli for a different one after he had gone through all the trouble to make her this one.
This cup of tea had taken a lot of muttering and banging of things before Zhongli strode outside saying he forgot something. He had come back empty-handed five minutes later with a remark about how he remembered where he had stuck it.
Lumine had kept quiet and rested on the couch. She talked quietly with Paimon about their plans for the next month. Zhongli came out of the kitchen a few minutes after he had come back. He had been carrying a teapot and cups on a tray. He poured and offered her a cup.
“What is wrong?” Zhongli asked from his place across the room. He set down the thick book he was reading.
Lumine hummed and looked at him. “Nothing is wrong.”
“You have been sighing into your tea for the past five minutes. Something is wrong.” Zhongli pointed out carefully. “Is the tea not to your liking?”
Lumine gave up on her mission to sip this one and keep quiet. That craving was getting to her. “It’s just… not what I was expecting.”
Zhongli frowned. “What were you expecting? I can get a different blend that will-”
“I was wanting something warmer, with more spice and much more citrus flavor than this. I can’t remember where I had it before or if I even did but…” Lumine trailed off at the face Zhongli was making. It was one part mild distaste and two parts worry with one more part that was unknown to her. “Now something is wrong with you.”
“I might have some left. Give me a moment.” Zhongli stood up and took the cup from her hand he moved into the kitchen.
There were a few slamming of cabinet doors and muted whispers about where that ‘rascal’ had put it.
“Paimon is going to help Zhongli. Back in a moment.” Paimon flew into the kitchen. More muted thuds and whispering reached her ears.
Zhongli and Paimon came back into the room, right as a knock happened on the front door. Zhongli passed her a warm mug with an orangish liquid inside. There was no teapot. Maybe Zhongli had hot water left over from the other one?
The knock came again more firmly and loudly. “Zhongli! I know you are home!”
It was Kaeya. Lumine cradled her mug and took a sip. This was perfect. This was what she wanted. Perfectly warm and citrusy with just the right amount of spice.
Zhongli opened the door. “Hello, Kaeya.”
“Do you know your house is being watched?” Kaeya crossed his arms across his chest.
“Yes. Lumine? Please give us a moment. Paimon? Would you join us?” Zhongli motioned for the pixie to come with them.
Paimon looked between Lumine and Zhongli before flying over to them. Zhongli stepped outside and shut the door.
Lumine was tempted to listen in but couldn’t be bothered to get up. She was warm here and had her warm spiced tea. Lumine sipped from the mug and let her mind drift. Where had she had this before? This drink was so familiar.
Broken memories ran through her head, there and gone before she barely managed to register them. All she knew was this drink brought safety. This drink brought warmth. This drink brought her vague memories of warm blue eyes and an arm draped around her shoulders. A friendly heated debate between what counted as proper tea and what did not.
Lumine winced as her head ached. She opened her eyes to see a concerned blue one staring back at her. Not the right shade and way too lively ran through her mind before Lumine’s headache worsened.
“Are you okay Lumine?” Kaeya asked carefully.
“Lumine!” Paimon was by her side in an instant. Hands fluttered around her cheeks.
“Yeah. Just have a headache.” Lumine set her cup to the side and touched her temples. She rubbed small circles on them. “What’s wrong?”
“Since you have been grounded, so to speak, I am going back to Mondstadt for the next month.” Kaeya reached out and rubbed her forehead with a cool hand.
Lumine sighed and sank back into the couch. Kaeya’s cold touch was perfect for her migraine. Lumine cradled her mug of tea close. She didn’t want to let it go. She didn’t want to lose that sense of safety.
“Get some sleep, Lumine. I’m not leaving until tomorrow morning.” Kaeya’s hand moved from rubbing the middle of her forehead to resting against her brow. “We will talk later.”
Lumine reached out for him when he pulled away. “Don’t go?”
“I will be here. Night, Lumine.” Kaeya pressed his hand to her forehead.
“Night.” Lumine closed her eyes and fell asleep.
*****
“Hey, Girlie? Are you up for a spar? What’s wrong? You seem a little more worked up than usual.”
“Family drama.”
“Oh? Is this about your brother?”
“I found him. He didn’t want to leave with me. He left me behind.”
“Hmm. Do you know what this calls for? Tea. Not the stuff Zhongli likes. We need a good proper mug of Snezhnayan tea.”
“What’s the difference?”
A loud offended gasp. “Don’t let Zhongli hear you say that. You will get an hour-long lecture on proper tea. Trust me. Lesson learned the hard way.”
“But… there is a difference?”
“Yes. A very big difference. Snezhnayan tea is the best to warm you up after a long day working in the cold. Or playing in the snow.”
“And here you are. One mug of good Snezhnayan tea. My own mother’s recipe.”
“This is really good. I like it.”
“See? Much better than the tea Zhongli likes.”
“Don’t let Zhongli hear you say that. You will get an hour-long lecture on proper tea again.”
“Oh ho, Girlie. You fight back nicely.”
“This swill is not tea. Tea should be…”
“Hey, good Zhongli impression, Comrade.”
“Did someone say my name? I saw you two come in from your spar and was wondering who the victor was?”
Laughter.
“Okay. I think they have lost it.”
“Did I say something funny?”
“Girlie? You are the best.”
****
“So she doesn’t remember him? At all?” Kaeya’s voice filtered through her dreams that were quickly fading from her memory.
“Paimon is sure of it. You should have seen the way she acted around him. Poor Childe.” Paimon’s higher voice muttered quietly in pity.
“I don’t believe so,” Zhongli murmured. There was the soft rustle of turning pages of a book.
“That’s…” Kaeya’s hands stroked her head.
Lumine opened her eyes and turned to face him. Kaeya was sitting on the couch with her head in his lap. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”
Seriously? After all she had been through to actually be here with them and not rotting in the ground with Dendrobium flowers growing from her chest, and they want to talk about her without her being present?
“Ah, sorry. We are just worried about you and why you can’t remember Childe.” Zhongli lowered the book he was reading to his lap.
“Not this again.” Lumine groaned. She sat up carefully and leaned back into the cushion. “So what if I don’t remember him? Maybe it’s for a reason. If you guys are going to keep bringing this up I’m just going to go into my teapot and rest there.”
“See? That is not like you. The Lumine we used to know would never forget one of her friends who she loved so dearly.” Zhongli pressed on.
Lumine was getting angry. Love. There was that word referencing someone she clearly had no memory of. But… if she had Hanahaki and she can’t remember this Childe person… he had to be the one who gave her it in the first place. She obviously chose to forget him. For good reason too. It sounds like he doesn’t love her back.
“Not my problem anymore. I’m going into my teapot now. Goodbye Kaeya and I wish you luck traveling back to Mondstadt and boring paperwork.” Lumine made a beeline to her Serenitea pot and pressed her palm to it. The world went foggy with clouds of adepti energy. She closed her eyes and opened them to her home away from home.
*****
Lumine walked around her home carefully. This was not how she remembered it. There were different subtle hints to it she didn’t remember adding.
Like that sparring ring. Did she use it for her sole training? But it was way too big for just her and why was there a river through the edge of it?
The kitchen was way too big and homey looking for just her and her friends. Why was there a specialized stove in the middle with chairs around it? Why did she have countless mugs and boxes of this powdered stuff with no label hidden behind all the tea? Why did she have so much tea in the first place?
There were one too many bedrooms than what she remembered making. There was one that was done in blues. It had star conches displayed on shelves and piles of papers on a messy desk. Pencils were placed in a mug on the edge. The bed was neatly made with a soft fluffy blue blanket. More blankets were stacked on a chair. A red and black bow was leaning against a wall like its owner would come back at any moment to reclaim it.
This place… why did it make her head hurt?
Lumine winced and clutched her head. This was agony. Was this Childe’s room? Was this the place he lived in?
“Lumine!” Paimon shrieked.
Lumine hit the floor of the blue seashell room and stared at the ceiling. Her mind was racing. What was happening to her? Lumine’s vision went white. The last she heard was Paimon’s frantic calling for Zhongli.
****
“Hey, Girlie. Hold still…” A man jumped over the top of her and fought off her attackers.
“Not bad, but this is going to cost you!” A fight breaks out amid piles of golden mora.
“Hey, I’m sorry about all that with the Lord of the Vortex and everything. It was just a job.” A hand run sheepishly over the back of a pale neck and blue eyes peered at her through a curtain of red bangs.
“No need to get so angry, Girlie. I’m always up for a spar if you need to blow off steam.” Hands held up in defense.
“Hey, Girlie. How have you been?” Arms slung over her shoulders. A kiss pressed playfully to her temple.
“Are you sure about this? It looks like a normal if very large teapot.” A hand reaching out for hers.
“Is there something you aren’t telling me, Girlie?” Worried blue eyes were carefully hidden behind jokes and frostiness.
Coughing up flower petal after flower petal for weeks before she knew she had to do something. Dendrobiums coming up the back of her throat and choking her. Tears rolled down her cheeks in the dead of the night as she cried silently in fear of waking the others. Contacting Tighnari for advice. Her chest felt tighter and tighter to the point she was afraid to even walk down steps.
No. This wasn’t supposed to happen to her.
Remembering Tighnari’s solemn expression and down-turned ears as he explained the price to be paid for the surgery. Setting up a date. Being cornered by her friends, Childe included as they tried to help her.
Tears dripped off her chin as she went under anesthesia and tried frantically to remember every last memory of Childe before she was out.
Waking up and feeling something missing. A hollow empty ache in her chest hurt more than the actual Hanahaki.
What was happening?
Childe. Childe. Childe. Childe. Remember him.
No. She was supposed to forget him. She wasn’t supposed to remember him. She didn’t want to go back to that. He didn’t love her. What was wrong?
Lumine was pulled towards a hallway echoing with laughter and teasing taunts and jeers. Lumine took another step closer against her will. She needed to do this. Maybe there was a way to survive in the end.
“Sorry, everyone. I need to remember.” Lumine stepped down the hallway, getting lost in her memories.
*****
It had been a few days since he had sent out Danila to the hospital. The geochanter fatuus was due back to report any minute now.
Childe knew he looked like shit. He had been up day and night for the past three days trying to figure out what happened to Lumine. He got a few snatches of sleep here and there but for the most part, he had been researching various medicine and poisons from around Teyvat trying to figure out what one was used on her.
Childe slammed another useless book shut and leaned his head on his desk in minor defeat. All of these had complete and total memory loss, not just a specific person and their history.
“Lord Harbinger!” A knock came at his door. “You have a visitor.”
Childe raised his head and straightened his desk. “Send them in.”
He was expecting Danila with his report, not the one who actually entered his office with a swagger.
“You look like shit, Kid.” Captain Beidou sauntered over to him with a concerned look in her eyes. “Have you gotten any sleep in the past week? What am I talking about? This is you. Of course not.”
Childe opened his mouth to speak his offense but Beidou steamrolled over him.
“I don’t know if you heard yet but Lumine was found collapsed inside her teapot not even an hour ago. Zhongli took her to the hospital. We don’t know how long she has been that way.” Beidou stepped back when Childe surged to his feet.
“What?” He snapped in the coldest tone ever. He muttered darkly about what he is going to do to Temur and Javert. Whoever was watching her.
“Hey! Childe!” Beidou pushed her hands against his chest. “Slow down a moment and think!”
Childe froze and lifted his lip in a snarl at her. “We are friends Beidou so I will let that slide. I’m going to the hospital and then I am going to have a chat with my subordinates.”
“Zhongli told me to come here and get you. He wants everyone to meet at the hospital. He has an idea about what caused this.” Beidou led the way to the door.
Childe stood still. He didn’t even think about adepti illnesses. Lumine was not from this world. Could one of the adepti have poisoned her? Childe grit his teeth. It didn’t matter. He would fight whoever did this to her. Adepti or not.
Childe pulled on his jacket and scarf. He followed Beidou from the room. He barked at one of his men to let Danila know he would be heading to him and to be prepared for a report.
Childe led the way out to the lobby. His mind was racing and he couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling.
****
Childe entered the hospital and zeroed in on Xiangling pacing back and forth while petting Guoba’s head. Zhongli was sitting in a chair with a book next to him. Kaeya was leaning against the wall playing with a coin by flipping it up in the air and catching it. Paimon was missing. Childe didn’t know where nor did he care where she was.
Childe stalked over to Zhongli and stared him down. “Talk. What happened to her?”
“I am not one hundred percent sure on this. I don’t have all the information I need. Sit down and we can-” Zhongli motioned to a chair.
Childe growled under his breath and sank into a hard plastic chair. “What do you need?”
“I’m going to ask a bunch of questions and I need answers.” Zhongli set his hand down on the book. “Has she been coughing lately before the surgery?”
“Yes.” Kaeya caught his coin one last time and pocketed it. “I heard her a few times. It was a really bad cough. I want to say a choking one.”
Childe tapped his foot impatiently against the floor when Zhongli hummed.
“Has she been limiting her exercise?” Zhongli looked up and met his gaze. “I think you will know this one best, Childe.”
“Yes.” Childe bit out annoyed. “She hadn’t been doing as many commissions and we haven’t sparred for a month before the surgery. She kept saying she wasn’t doing good.”
“Last one… has anyone noticed any influx of flowers or flower petals? It could be any flower from anywhere.” Zhongli raised his eyebrow at everyone else.
Childe thought back. He straightened up in his chair. “Yes. Dendrobiums. I noticed because they are my favorite ones. She had them in vases on her dresser and desk. She had a collection of petals in a pouch in a drawer. I thought it was odd because we haven’t been to Inazuma in months.”
“What are you getting at Zhongli?” Beidou stepped closer.
“Hold on. She had surgery but we don’t know what kind she had. She needed Tighnari brought in but he’s not a doctor. That’s not where his skills lie.” Zhongli tapped his chin before reaching for his book. “Without knowing what surgery she had I cannot be entirely sure what she…”
“I can find out.” Childe noticed Danila in a white coat standing in the corner of the room. “Danila. Report.”
“Sir.” Danila saluted him before launching into what he has found out. “One Miss Lumine had been scheduled for chest surgery with Mr. Tighnari as the lead on this. From what I have gathered sir, it was an unheard-of case and Miss Lumine is lucky to be alive.”
“Chest surgery or lung surgery?” Zhongli pointed this question at Danila.
“Sir?” Danila frowned down at him. “Is there a difference?”
“Yes. A major one. Was it chest surgery or lung surgery?” Zhongli stared him down.
“Lung, sir.” Danila bowed to Childe. “That is all I have found out so far. Temur is outside her room and down the hall. I will go relieve him.”
“Lung surgery.” Zhongli mused. “Oh, that foolish girl.”
“What is wrong with her, Zhongli?” Childe stood up and glared down at him. “I have had enough cryptic games.”
With one word, Zhongli brought Childe’s world crumbling around him.
“Hanahaki.”
*****
Lumine carefully opened another door. She didn’t know how long she had been down this hallway, opening doors and remembering things. Childe had been a huge part of her life. Some good. Some are not so good.
Lumine peeked in on a memory of walking along the beach just outside of Liyue Harbor. They had been doing a commission for cleaning up a nest of hilichurls. Childe had spotted a star conch sea shell and head waded out into the water to get it.
"Look, a perfect shell." Childe held it up with a bright grin.
"It's just a seashell." Lumine shrugged. "What's so special about it?"
"Just a seashell?" Childe repeated. He handed the shell to her. "Put it at your ear."
Lumine knew where this was going. She had been to countless worlds and knew very well the myth of conches. If you hold it to your ear you can hear the sea. It all was fake. You only heard your heartbeat echoing from your racing heart.
"But…" Lumine protested. She lowered the shell away from her.
"Just… it's not what you think. Try it." Childe grabbed her hand and raised it and the shell to her ear level.
Lumine rested the shell against her ear. A smile bloomed on her face when Childe comes up beside her and rests his head on the opposite side of the shell.
“This is my people’s legend of the star conch. Long ago there were two lovers that had to be separated…”
Lumine softly closed the door. She took another step down the hall towards the next door. This one had laughing and cheering coming from behind it. Lumine cracked it open.
She poked her head into the room. She remembered this! This was her birthday party! Was there something she had forgotten about it though?
Lumine stepped into a warm room with a crackling fire roaring in the grate. Blankets were tucked around everyone. Kaeya was talking with Beidou. Both had glasses of alcohol in their hands. Zhongli had dozed off with her grey cat Gia on his chest. Xiangling was scribbling in her notebook about the various recipes Lumine had brought up that night in remembrance of her homeworld and their birthday traditions. Paimon was in the corner passed out in a sugar coma from all the cake and ice cream she had devoured.
Childe was seated next to her with a soft blue blanket wrapped around the both of them. “Here.” Childe handed her a small box. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“What’s this?” Lumine picked at the white bow wrapped around it. “You already got me a present.” Lumine waved at the new sword resting on the table above their heads.
“This is from Teucer. He pestered me into giving this to you.” Childe shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.
“From Teucer?” Lumine arched an eyebrow. She shook the little box. It made no noise and was incredibly light.
“Yes. He sent it over from Snezhnaya last week.” Childe nudged the box closer to her. “Open it. Even I don’t know what’s inside.”
Lumine pulled the end of the bow and lifted the lid of the box. Resting inside the box was a small childlike bracelet. It was made with string and beads. A heart was woven into the string and beads outlined the edges. Two pieces of paper were tucked underneath the present.
One said Ajax in big letters and the other said, Miss Lumi.
Lumine handed the Ajax one to Childe. She opened hers and smiled widely at the note. In big block letters, HAPPY BIRTHDAY was spelled out.
Happy Birthday, Miss Lumi. I made this for you. I hope you like it. Tell Big Brother Ajax he was too slow.
Childe was suddenly pressed next to her reading the note over her shoulder. He looked down at the bracelet resting in the box. “That rascal.” He muttered fondly. “It seems that you, Miss Lumi, are stealing the hearts of boys everywhere.”
“What?” Lumine moved to face him. Their faces were inches apart.
“Let me tell you a little bit about Snezhnayan dating customs.” Childe laughed when Lumine elbowed him in the ribs. “Okay, okay, Girlie. No need to get violent. Sheesh.”
Lumine took the bracelet out of the box and wrapped it around her wrist. Childe had an unreadable look on his face.
“What?” Lumine frowned at him.
“Nothing. Just mentally penning the letter to send back to Teucer.” Childe brushed it off.
Lumine leaned into Childe’s warmth. “I know I said I wanted some colder weather but I’m freezing.”
“Come here Girlie.” Childe held out his arm. He wrapped it around Lumine’s shoulders. “There we go. Here, have some tea.”
Zhongli jerked and sat up with a yawn. “Did someone say tea?”
Childe smirked. “Yes, Zhongli. Here.” Childe handed him a mug.
Zhongli must have been exhausted because he barely paused at the fact he was handed a mug and not a teacup. He took a drink and made a face. He sighed deeply. “Childe. How many times do I have to tell you this is not how tea should be?”
Childe burst into laughter at the highly exasperated look Zhongli wore. Lumine giggled next to him.
“Sorry, Zhongli. Here.” Lumine took the mug and traded it for a fresh teacup.
Laughter broke out between Beidou and Kaeya.
“You are joking! He did not!” Beidou chuckled and raised her glass to gesture wildly out towards the north. “Master Diluc is the epitome of a gentleman. He did not make a scene that big at the Windblum festival.”
“No. I’m serious. He literally set his pants on fire.” Kaeya sipped from a glass of wine.
Lumine smiled and stepped back out of the room. One door left. This one had sobbing coming from it. Lumine slowly approached. Did she dare open it?
Lumine gripped the doorknob and turned it.
Oh. This was that memory.
Lumine sobbed quietly into the night on the bathroom floor. She had just choked up her first full flower. She needed to talk to Tighnari again but it was way too late to do anything about it at the moment.
Lumine clenched the flower in her hand and stared down at the crimson dripping from the petals. She didn’t want to sound all teenage heart broken up about it but he really didn’t love her as she loved him. And she was dying because of it.
It had hit her tonight that she was dying from unrequited love. Dying. And her only choices were forgetting him entirely or dying for real. She didn’t want to tell him. Why would he love her? He only saw her as a friend. She didn’t want to die though. Surgery it was. It was her only option left. Maybe after she forgot him and he still stuck around they can keep being friends. They would just have to make new memories.
Lumine went still as a light flipped on in the hallway. It could either be Paimon or Childe. Both were spending the night in her teapot tonight. Kaeya was out at the tavern and said for them to not expect him back tonight.
Lumine swiftly shoved the dendrobium into the cabinet. No matter which person it was she did not want them to see the flower.
Footsteps walked down the hall towards her. It was Childe. He paused outside the door.
“Girlie? I heard something and just wanted to come to check on you. Are you okay?” Childe knocked on the door softly.
Lumine swiped the tears from her eyes and opened the door. She tried for a smile but it ended up watery. “I’m fine,”
Childe said nothing. He just watched her with those shrewd blue eyes. “I was going to make a cup of tea. Do you want some?”
Lumine nodded her head and followed him down the hall. She wished she was brave enough to tell him she loved him. She wished it didn’t have to be this way.
But all the wishing was hopeless. As Childe called her Comrade and made her a cup of tea she bravely asked what they were. She had a lot of mixed signals. He called her friend but he gave her lots of presents and sparred with her to cheer her up. He watched her back when she went out to do commissions. When news of her brother got her down, he would make her smile or laugh by teasing her or taunting her into a fight to make things better.
“What are we? Friends, I believe. Close friends.” Childe had spoken with his back turned to her. He was making their tea.
Lumine closed her eyes sadly. That was it then. She would have the surgery, forget all about him, and hopefully never fall in love with him ever again.
Lumine backed out of the room and shut the door.
Her heart ached. Seeing him like this only made her hurt worse. She still won’t say anything but she needed to get back. She needed to tell him sorry and that she was his friend. Even though it would crush her, she was his friend. Friends don’t give up on each other like that.
Lumine ran back down the hallway she had come from. She needed to get back. This little trip was nice but she needed the real deal now. She needed him.
Faster and faster she ran.
It didn’t matter if he never loved her. She loved him and was content being his friend.
“Lumi… ome ba… to me.”
Lumine poured on the speed. A white light began overtaking her vision. She needed to go home.
*****
“Hanahaki,” Zhongli announced grimly. He ticked his nails against the book in his lap. “Everything makes sense with this… including why she forgot only Childe.”
“Hanahaki,” Xiangling repeated with a nervous look. “Isn’t that only in Inazuma?”
“In most cases, yes. But we all know Lumine is an outstanding exception.” Zhongli sat forward in his chair. “This would be the first case I have seen in Liyue for centuries. The last one didn’t go so well.”
“Forgive me but I’m not entirely familiar with Hanahaki.” Kaeya moved to sit in a chair across from Zhongli.
Childe stared into space as Zhongli went over the different symptoms and cures of Hanahaki.
Did Lumine really think so little of them and their relationship that he wouldn’t return her feelings? Why did she do the surgery in secret without telling any of them? Something could have gone wrong and she would have been hurt or might have not woken up. Did she really think he didn’t love her and was not serious about her? He didn’t let just anybody know about his family. He didn’t let anyone write letters to them and he definitely didn’t let his family know about anyone from his job.
He also did a bunch of other things he wouldn’t trust just anybody to do. Among those but not limited were… falling asleep in someone else’s home, fighting and actually trusting the other to watch his back and not stab him when he wasn’t looking, and showing the other the full scope of his power and what he can do. (That whale trick wasn’t public knowledge. He didn’t even think anyone other than the Tsaritsa knew about it.)
All of those he did with her. He introduced her to his family. He knew that she wrote letters to Teucer and Anthon and Tonia. And he knew they wrote back.
He still remembered Teucer’s note to him on her birthday. The little scamp had told him to hurry up or she was going to be snatched up by someone faster than him.
The hairpin she wore from him. The dates he had taken her on, where they fought before getting a meal afterward. The Lawachurls, the Ruin Graders, the trips into Dragonspine to the Frostbearing tree… All the little gifts he had given her, surely she knew what they meant, right?
“Lumine is an outlander. She’s not from this world so hopefully, this disease will affect her differently.”
Zhongli kept talking to the others but Childe’s mind was stuck on that little part.
“Lumine is an outlander.”
Lumine was an outlander. She probably didn’t understand. Dating culture didn’t seem like it would be high on any outlander's list of things to know.
Childe crossed his arms as he thought. He needed to let her know somehow that he did love her and that she wasn’t alone in those feelings.
(He tried to ignore his monster raging at the fact they did this to her. Not anyone else. And that he needed to fix it before they lost her for good.)
How did he fix it though? How did he show in a way she would understand that he loved her?
(Bring her proof of a good battle. Fight a Ruin Grader and bring her back its head.)
Childe shook his head. Ugh. He needed to think! Childe got to his feet and strode down the hall.
“Where are you going, Childe?” Zhongli called after him.
“Out! I need to think!” Childe shoved open the waiting room door. He froze outside in the hall, wondering where he should go or what he should do.
Someone came out next to him. Xiangling stopped when she saw him.
“What are you thinking?” Xiangling patted Guoba on the head when he waddled over to her.
“I’m… I…” Childe was at a loss. He was drawing a blank on how to show Lumine he loved her more than he already has.
Xiangling hooked her arm through his. “Come on. I know where we can go.”
Childe followed behind the younger Liyuen woman. She led him down the halls and out into the fresh sea air. Xiangling whistled once and Guoba came close to their sides. As a group, the three of them walked the streets of Liyue Harbor to a food cart that sold grilled tiger fish and not much else.
Xiangling accepted three skewers and led the way to a table behind Wanmin Restaurant. She sat down and passed one to Childe and handed the other to Guoba. With a warble, Guoba headed for the backdoor of the building.
Childe looked down at the skewer. “Isn’t this like…”
Xiangling sighed deeply. She lowered her fish from her face. “Look. Even I don’t feel like cooking for myself some days and Chen the Sharp has some good fish. I can probably make it better but I don’t want to even try because what is the point of being the best at everything with no actual competition?”
Childe raised an eyebrow at her. “You sure do have some hidden surprises, Xiangling.”
“Don’t we all. Now, spill. What are you going to do about this? Obviously, you both love each other and you both are oblivious fools.” Xianling quickly held up her hands in surrender. “Not my words! Zhongli said that!”
Childe turned to look at the sea in the distance. He ripped off a bite of fish and chewed slowly. Should he confide in the young chef from Liyue or not?
Childe thought it over for a few minutes while he finished his fish. When the last bit of meat was eaten, he crossed his arms and faced her. He began by telling her he thought he had made his intentions clear. He ended by saying that he realized that Lumine was an outlander and may have gotten confused.
Xiangling closed her eyes and tapped her fingers against her chin. She hummed lowly as she thought. Her eyes opened a crack. “You could just tell her with the actual words?”
Childe scoffed at that. “Yeah. Right.”
“Men,” Xiangling muttered under her breath.
Childe pretended not to hear her. He cast his gaze around the space they were in while Xiangling thought out ideas.
Slowly an idea came to his mind.
This area was mostly closed off with a cobblestone wall at the edge dropping down into a small bluff with a river below. The other end had a fence because there was an alley for a food cart next door. The last side not taken up by the restaurant had a fence with an arch and gate.
If they hung some lanterns and with the night sky and some candles this could be… and they’d need food. What were her favorites again…? He knows she likes baklava. She can’t eat enough of it when she travels to Sumeru and even got someone there to teach her how to make it.
“Xiangling. I have an idea.” Childe leaned forward and explained what he wanted.
Xiangling’s eyebrow crept higher and higher. “I still say you should just tell her but okay. I can make the food and have Beidou and Kaeya help me decorate. Zhongli and Paimon can distract her while you get everything else ready. Do you have recipes for the food? I know how to make everything else but I haven’t been out to Sumeru at all and have yet to try anything authentic of theirs.”
“I can get it. She keeps it in her teapot. That’s easy.” Childe moved on to the next part but Xiangling’s slack jaw made him pause. “What?”
“If she keeps it in the teapot then it won’t be easy. You need her to get into the teapot.” Xiangling sighed and scrubbed her hand down her jaw. “Do you know of any other dessert she will like? Is there’s dango from Inazuma? Or I can even try my hand at a Mondstadt dish?”
“Hold up and back up.” Childe still his anxious tapping. “What do you mean you need her to enter the teapot? I thought all of us can enter without her there. I can do it. I thought the rest of you can too. At least, Kaeya, Beidou, you, and Zhongli can?”
Childe trailed off at Xiangling’s shocked look.
“No. Idiot. I guess it’s something she only did for you. Zhongli was right, you both are fools. Now, if you can get me that recipe and gather all the other ingredients I can probably have it all ready in two weeks.” Xiangling pulled out a notebook and began scribbling in it.
Childe sighed and rubbed his eyes. “That’s too far away. What will it take to get everything sooner?”
Xiangling snorted. “I need to go out to Qingce Village and get Jueyun Chilis. I need to also go to Dihua Marsh and gather Lotus seeds. I need to also find someone to cure some ham for me and depending on that Baklava recipe, might need to source or come up with some substitute ingredients for it. That will take a while. Not to mention I have never made Baklava before and will have to try my hand at it to perfect it. That will take time. Dad won’t let me go with you guys to Sumeru so I haven’t tried it on my own.” Xiangling snapped her book shut. “Not all of us have enough mora to throw it at people and solve all their problems.”
That got Childe thinking. “What if I say I know a guy who can get you ham for a low cost? I can also put up some commissions at the Adventure’s Guild for their members to get you your ingredients. They will be sent directly to you and I will have nothing to do with them except supply the mora for it. I can get you the recipe by tonight for Baklava and I know Lumine has some ingredients hidden away in the kitchen of her teapot that she has collected from Sumeru.”
“I would say that cuts down on the time to four days from now. I still need to perfect the baklava recipe.” Xiangling tapped her chin. “Yes. Would this weekend work for you?”
“Yes.” Childe stood up. He gathered the skewers and threw them in the trashcan by the fence. “I will go and set up those commissions. Jueyun Chilis, lotus seeds, and what else?”
“Sweet flours. We will need to make sugar. I’m pretty sure.” Xiangling stood up. “Guoba?” She called out.
The little bear came running from the restaurant like his tail was on fire. He chuffed at her in question.
“We need to go shopping.” Xiangling let him out the gate. “Recipe! Don’t forget!”
“I won’t.” Childe crossed the street to the Adventure Guild’s outpost. “Hi, Kathryn. I have a few commissions to post for Xiangling of Wanmin Restaurant?”
*****
Childe located the teapot in Zhongli’s home. He stood before the door and knocked. Zhongli answered it while holding a cup of tea.
“Can I help you? You left the hospital before we knew of anything concerning her.” Zhongli cradled his teacup and took a sip from it.
“You can fill me in while I get something.” Childe stepped into his apartment when Zhongli moved to the side. He made a beeline to the teapot sitting on Zhongli’s table.
“You do know you won’t be able to enter without her, right?” Zhongli raised his cup to his lips. He set it down on the table next to him.
“Not to me. Hold on. I need your help.” Childe reached for the teapot with one hand and grabbed Zhongli with the other. He focused the way Lumine taught him and the teapot began spewing its fog and golden streams of adeptal energy.
Childe shot a grin at the shocked Zhongli. He closed his eyes tightly and opened them again to the familiar sight of Lumine’s home.
Childe landed on springy grass and sighed. He was such an idiot. Maybe this was one of Lumine’s ways of showing she cared. So much time wasted. Not anymore.
Childe left Zhongli standing in the middle of the front yard. He passed Tubby and greeted the teapot spirit with a bright grin and a gift of a new blend of tea he had spotted on his way between the Adventure Guild’s outpost and Zhongli’s apartment.
Tubby lit up when he handed it to her. “Would you like to join me for a cup?”
“Not today Tubby. I have something to do. Do you know where Lumine keeps her recipes? I’m looking for the baklava one and the ingredients to go with it.” Childe patted the bird on the head.
“Kitchen. I moved them there for you. Tea tomorrow?” Tubby blinked up at him.
“Yes. Tea tomorrow. I need to plan out some things and would love some advice and company.” Childe hid a smile as Tubby bounced in her own pot and turned to face Zhongli. “Welcome to the teapot.”
Childe led the way into the home and straight for the kitchen. He found the recipe card sitting on the counter with a bag of flour, butter in a dish, a jar of sugar, and a box of weird-looking tree nuts. He skimmed the recipe and nodded to himself. He put the butter back in the ice box. He set the flour on the shelf. He tucked the box of nuts under his arm and grabbed as much sugar as he could. He slipped the recipe into his pocket.
Zhongli entered the kitchen with a thoughtful look on his face. “Do you see now what she has done and shared with you?”
Childe froze in placing jars of sugar into the box of nuts. He might want to look for some ham while he was at it. He didn’t know how much Javert can get his hands on in the amount of time they needed.
Childe shot a look at Zhongli when he moved over to the icebox to search for ham.
“Take a look around you Childe. This isn’t just her home. This kitchen even was made with you in mind. The outside sparring ring? Do you honestly think the rest of us would ever train with water in an easily accessible location? Beidou uses electro, Xiangling uses pyro, I use geo and Kaeya uses cryo. None of those, besides Kaeya’s cryo, works for an easy training session with hydro. And the outside patio area? None of us besides Xiangling will use it. Don’t get me started on the weather patterns in here.” Zhongli shivered and moved closer to the stove.
Childe shut the icebox with his hands full of the ham Lumine had made. Another empty box appeared on the counter. “Thank you, Tubby,” Childe called out. He set the ham in the box. “I know. It’s cultural misunderstandings gone really wrong.”
Zhongli sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you want to hear how she is doing?”
Childe lifted both boxes in his arms. “Let’s go. You can tell me while I feed the dog and cat.”
Childe left the kitchen. He set the boxes of food on the table in the main area. He whistled for both animals.
Icicle the husky came running at his call. She bounced around his legs and yipped in greeting. She ran at Zhongli and sniffed him before coming back to Childe with a ball in her mouth.
Gia came much slower. The gray cat made an unimpressed face at the dog before purring and rubbing against Zhongli’s legs.
Childe handed Zhongli Gia’s empty dish and motioned for him to fill it. “Start talking. How is Lumine?” Childe gave into Icicle’s pleading and chucked the ball down the hall. He bent down and got the dog’s dish and filled it with food.
“She is not relapsing. She just isn’t waking up. The doctors think she needs something to come back to. We know better. Paimon is with her. She refuses to leave her side.” Zhongli scratched Gia under her chin and set her smaller dish on the floor.
Icicle came bounding back over to them. She dropped the ball and dove into her food.
With the chore done, Childe lifted both boxes and turned to the door. “Come on. Before they notice we are leaving.”
Childe shut the front door. With another promise to come back tomorrow for tea with Tubby, Childe left the teapot with Zhongli in tow.
****
Childe entered the hospital room quietly. It was two days before his planned date. Xiangling and the others were hard at work. It was now his time to do his part.
Childe sat down on the bed next to her unresponsive form. “Hey, Girlie.” He began slowly. He picked up speed as he entreated her to come back. “You can’t leave me like this. We are partners remember? You owe me some good battles once you are back. We still have to defeat that Ruin Grader on Dragonspine, remember? We want to beat our record. I also have something planned and you can’t be late. I see now what you were doing and this is all just a mess. Come on, Girlie. Come back to me.” Childe picked up her hand and held it tightly. “I know you can do it. So come on. Xiangling made your favorites.”
Golden eyes blinked open, once, twice, before settling on him.
“Hey, Girlie. Glad you are back with me.” Childe held her cold hand tighter.
Lumine squeezed it weakly back. “Ch-ilde.” Her voice cracked halfway through.
Childe grabbed the cup of ice chips on the side table. He placed one between her lips.
“Hey.” Lumine stared up at him. “Sorry for the mess.”
“It’s okay, Lumine. You are not from this world and I should have realized that and made things more clear.” Childe laced his fingers with hers.
“Me too.” Lumine stared at the tray on the table. “I am sick of hospital food.”
Childe laughed. “Get better then. I have a surprise for you when you are. Let’s say… two days. Are you up for the challenge? If you get discharged in two days, I will treat you to something special.”
“I will win.” Lumine turned her gaze back to him. “Childe I-”
“I know, Lumine. Me too.” Childe pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “Now. Two days and you will have the best food you ever tasted.”
*****
Two days later and Lumine was amazed. She was discharged from the hospital and whisked off by Zhongli and Paimon to get ready for the surprise.
Sunset came and went. Lumine waited for him to show up. He eventually did and handed her a bouquet of glaze lilies.
“I had a feeling that dendrobiums would not have gone over well.” Childe held out his hand.
Lumine took it.
“Paimon wants her back by eleven, Childe. Or Paimon will be mad.” Paimon called after them.
“Come on, Girlie. I have the best place to take you.” Childe led the way through the streets of Liyue.
“You always do take me to the best places.” Lumine laughed when they ducked down the side alley by Wanmin. “Where are we going?”
Childe led the way through the gate into a lantern-lit dinner for two. “I told you I had Xiangling make your favorites. I will never lie about that.”
Lumine took a seat at the table. Halfway into their meal, she paused. “I feel…”
“Bored?” Childe finished for her. “Like you want to fight something? Me too, but… Doctor’s orders and all.”
Lumine nodded her head. She sighed and moved her chopsticks around her plate. “As soon as I get the clear, me… you… and that Ruin Grader on Dragonspine. I want to put it out of commission for at least a week.”
Childe’s blue eyes lit up as much as they ever would. “Deal.”
Lumine smiled and ate more food. “These whole few months have been a mess… but I’m glad I have you. I love you.”
Childe didn’t say anything back, but Lumine knew he loved her too. It was in the little things he did. Trusting her to watch his back. Sleeping in their teapot. Having her interact with his family. It had been there all along. Even the dates they went on.
“Zhongli is right. We are fools.” Lumine mused later as they were walking up to Zhongli’s apartment.
Childe laughed. “Oh, Girlie. He truly has no idea.”
“Childe! Paimon said eleven!” A shrill voice shrieked. “Not eleven-thirty!”
"Good luck." Lumine kissed his cheek and headed inside.
Childe stared after her. He loved her so much.