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You ever wonder how human stupidity could be so irritating.
On the ground lies a incapacitated Childe, hugging a wine bottle and snoring. Just - how many drinks of alcohol did it take to make a Harbinger lie on the ground laughing silly, with his legs resting on the edge of the table?The chair he sat on before was on its side and the table with it was an utter mess.
And why on earth was Lumine roped into this? Of course, she decided to go have dinner at Wanmin Restaurant at the wrong time.
“I'm sorry, but could you help him get out of the restaurant?" Chef Mao asked. So this was the emergency he called Lumine for? "He’s disturbing other customers, and you’re the only one I know who’s capable of handling this guy. And this is the third day straight. Everyone is scared that he’ll kill anyone who goes near him.”
“I always end up cleaning up everyone’s messes…”Lumine sighs. It didn’t help that all her commissions today were going around Liyue being the number one errand girl. Honestly, why was she still doing this, she owes nothing to this town. And on New Year’s of all days? God I wish I can just blow this town and be done with Teyvat overall .
Lumine was so busy contemplating her life problems that she missed Paimon flying towards Chef Mao and ordering her favorite dishes. Great, first life problems, now money problems. Thanks for being helpful Paimon . Paimon flew back and told her, “Well I ordered take out, and I can carry them back to the tea pot.”
“What about this problem? You’re not gonna help me carry this mess of a Harbinger.” The ginger started rolling around the floor like it was his bed and trying to find the sweet spot to sleep into.
“Hey. Wake up. I need you to work with me if we wanna get back to your place.”
“Hey back off! Huh? Tonia?”
This is going to be a long night.
Childe clings onto Lumine and rubs his face all over her arm. “Oh my dear sister Tonia! you came all the way from Snezhnaya! I’m so happy!”
He thinks I’m his sister, how much did he drink?! Well at least he doesn’t recognize me. I don’t know what he would do if we saw each other sober…
~~
Three days ago…
It was supposed to be a simple commission of people getting ill. Who would have thought it involved the Abyss causing the disease, the Fatui, and annoying Heralds. Out of reluctance and similar missions, Lumine and Childe worked to hunt down and find their base. Lumine approached this with seriousness and dread, as dealing with the Abyss meant dealing or running into her brother, who briefly left her not so long ago. It was a relief to see him well, but she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. It isn’t right until they’re together again.
But she can’t focus on it. Not when she’s irritated by her “comrade” who sees this as some game to just beat every Abyss monster that comes his way. They used to be people, and yet Childe doesn’t hesitate to strike his blade.
As they approached closer to the heavily guarded domain. Childe decided on another plan: to fight the Heralds guarding the gate and sneak in. What a stupid idea. But a great way to get attention from other Heralds and maybe a brother who’s behind them.
“Hey Childe... I think we should stop.”
“Huh? Stop what?”
“This whole plan. I don’t want to risk opening a can of snakes.”
“But we’re just sitting geese here. We have to-“
“Is fighting all you think about? You really don’t care about your own well being, or anyone else.”
“No, I’m doing this in the quickest way possible if we have any chance of defeating those Abyss Heralds. They killed all my men and stole important information.”
“That you can’t tell me about.”
“Oh yeah? And what are you here for? You didn’t seem to disclose any reason to me why you’re joining me on this dangerous mission.”
I can’t tell him that I’m searching for Aether , she thought to herself. Of course getting family involved was another can of snakes she didn’t want to open, especially with Childe. “They have something important to me. But we can’t do this when Ruin Guards and Lectors are guarding every opening. I’m not going through with your plan to just barge into their base.”
“You can’t. I can’t do this without you.”
Lumine glared at him with an irritating look. “You look fine on your own from where I stand. If you want me to help you, then you should listen to what I have to say.”
“And what’s that?”
“Stop this nonsense. We can think of another way to do this. Like I said, let’s reconvene with, I don't know, Zhongli, or the Adventurer’s Guild, and-“
“Tell us to wait longer? I don’t think so. We could make a warning to surrender, and just when they think they’re given mercy - “
“You’re saying the same gibberish over and over again. I bet you didn’t hear me again when I said I told you to stop.”
“Stop this, stop that. You’re not my mother, Lumine. If you want things done, you’ll have to do it yourself. You’re so dense to know what the situation around you calls for sometimes.”
“Oh really? What can I not read? The fact you’re being stubborn?”
“That you’re not smart enough to hide something from me. I don’t like secrets. Plus, you need me Lumine. You really think you can get in there by yourself.”
“That’s it. I give up. I can’t work with you.”
“Tch. Fine. I’ll just do this on my own. I don’t need you.”
~~
Childe was very heavy. Lumine would have expected that he would be conscious enough to ease the weight on her shoulders, but he was just flat out cold, only turning his head and small nudges to shake off the alcohol.
“Hey! Can you at least walk with me?” she yelled at him. She glared at the messy ginger hair, mask put away, and when he looked up her expression changed when she saw those blue eyes and flushed complexion up close. Why does he look so cute like this? What am I even thinking? She tries to avert her gaze below, but sees the V-cut of his shirt is larger, probably to cool off from the alcohol.
Lumine, why are you thinking like this?
“Aaaaaa I'm tired. I don't wanna think or do anything right now…” After a moment of awkward silence, Lumine glanced at his face and noticed that Childe went from an exhausted drunk face to a more serious expression. Lumine would have thought he was about to say something serious if it wasn’t for the intense blush across his face. “Actually, there’s been something that’s been bothering me, Tonia. there’s this girl, I wrote about her in the letter I sent you.”
That letter….the one that Teucer talked about?
“We got into a bad argument with each other, and she won’t ever talk to me. I wish she did, but it’s all my fault that this happened. What should I do? I don't want her to hate me. She's special to me. Everything about her is so interesting, I want to know more about her.... But I feel like she’s way out of my league, even if I’m close to her in fighting and social abilities.”
“W-well, I’m sure she doesn’t hold a grudge against you.”
“But what if she does? I don't want to disappoint anyone again. I’ve already disappointed you, mom, dad, maybe Teucer if he ever finds out about me… but with her I don’t want to lose all the trust that I worked hard to get back. Hah, I don't deserve to be with her. I really did say awful things to hurt her. Maybe I should just admire her from a distance.”
Lumine wasn’t sure he could trust him. He is a Harbinger after all, her enemy. That’s how it’s always been from when they first met...and yet somehow - every time they reunite, or clash for a spar, they make it like they can rely on each other. Like a comrade in Childe’s terms. It’d be stupid to think to trust a Harbinger, but the things he does remind her of her brother. And yet he also left her to do their own thing. Her heart drops every time Childe’s words echo in her head: “I don’t need you.”
What’s going on with her to have those four little words bother her? Maybe because while everyone in town needs her help with their problems, the two people she cares the most, the source of her problems, have no need for her to be at their side. Then what’s she supposed to do if she’s not needed?
She shouldn’t say anything. Just guide him to his hotel in the drunken guise of his sister and forget this night never happened.
And yet…her heart pushed her to spew her honest thoughts.
“What if...what if she feels the same. From the way you describe her, she sounds like she doesn’t belong anywhere, and maybe because of that, she can only look at people from a distance too. But, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t long for a relationship. She searches for the people that she wants to be with the most; but they hurt her. What you should do is give her some space, and wait until she comes back to you. That's when she’ll be ready to talk.”
“But what if she never wants to talk to me? What then?”
“Have some faith in her. If this girl is as special as you described her, then she wouldn’t leave a loose knot untied.”
“….okay…I can wait. However long that takes, I will wait for her.”
Lumine couldn’t help but smile at the soft answer from Childe. He really does show a soft side when no one is looking. And that’s when another thought popped up in her head. After some hesitation, she asked him.“On another note, my memory is fuzzy from the letter you wrote. What were the things that you admire about the girl?”
…as the long list of Childe’s adoration for Lumine goes on, she instantly regrets asking the question.
~~
Lumine was a blushing mess from Childe’s rants about her. But she was glad it was over now that they reached his hotel room.
“Well, we’re here. Where are your keys?”
Childe patted around his body and groaned. “I dont knowwwwwwww. I must’ve dropped it somewhere.”
“Are you serious?!” Well she couldn’t leave him here. Not when they poured out some of their feelings in a weird way tonight. She breathed another sigh, “Alright, I have an idea, hold on.”
She summons her Serenitea Pot from her pocket dimension and transports them to her little home dimension. She drags his body to a guest room and drops him on the bed.
“Okay, you can stay here.” She started to leave the room but was stopped by a hand on her wrist. “Wait! where are you going Tonia?”
“I’m heading back.”
“Back to Snezhnaya? No stay here, and then you can leave in the morning.”
“But-” It was too late. A big force pulled her into the bed and she found herself trapped in his arms. She tried to move out, but then Childe let out a big snore and pulled her closer.
“This is gonna be hard to explain when he wakes up.” She looks up at him and stares at his calm yet handsome face.
He won’t do anything…