Work Text:
There’s blood on his hands.
It was the dead of the night, the stars twinkled dimly, clouds overtaking the moon. The Kamisato Estate rests quietly. There was a creak of wood, as an unwelcoming guest took a step from a room. The door shut softly behind him, his teeth seeming to glow in the moonlight. The air felt cold, and tight. The cold biting him fondly, nearly feeling like home. The Harbinger that infamously was known as Childe tip-toed through the estate that did not belong to him. His sneaking was for many reasons, not only was he not invited to this place, (being his reputation would keep him shut out regardless,) his boots smeared red across the once clean floor. He raised his gloved hand up to his lips, rubbing it thoughtfully as his dull gaze landed on the doors ahead of him. Across from where he came from, resided the current head of the Kamisato Clan’s room. Childe felt a pang of dark anticipation, spotting that the door was cracked open, no light from inside. That caused the Harbinger to wonder if the head was home.
No matter, the deed had been done as far as he knew, and now he needed to leave the way he came. He continued to slip against the wall, his stormy eyes peaked around the corner, his heart drumming through his ears. How exciting it was to sneak around after a crime! There was no-one in his sights, excellent, only a few steps closer to the window that was ajar, his escape. He proceeded forward, slow, careful not to make any more sound than his soft steps below him. The window seemed to grow larger as he got closer, his hand outstretched to it. He paused, hearing a sudden creak behind him. He felt his mouth go dry, whipping around to look at a traumatized figure behind him. The man’s mouth and eyes wide, Childe hearing gasps of true horror escaping him. Childe couldn’t help but grin in the other’s fear. If the Harbinger remembered correctly, he was standing in front of non-other than the housekeeper of the estate. Childe straightened up, the air growing thinner and thinner as they continued to stand, hushed. Childe kept his own gaze trained on Thoma’s green one, his own foot sliding closer to the window, challenging a getaway. But before he could move any further, Thoma spoke, his voice shrill.
“You- you killed her! You killed Ayaka!”
Childe’s fists closed firmly, and his throat closed up. His eyes twitched with seemingly delight and misfortune mixed. Someone caught on quick, and they too were quick to call him out on the assassination he just departed from. Childe’s hand rose to his forehead, gripping thick strands of his ginger hair as he exhaled promptly. He gave another huff, one of mocking laughter. Thoma’s expression contorted from alarm to angered disgust. He gave a shriek of battle, pouncing forward and grabbing Childe’s collar with a firm grip. Childe choked back, adrenaline now kicking back in, but it didn’t help. He let out a loud grunt as the housekeeper threw his back into the wall, raising his open fist to deliver a savagely violent punch to Childe’s nose. Crimson liquid splattered from his nose to his cheek and the wall, Childe giving a bark of excitement. Childe seized Thoma’s neck in turn, Thoma preparing to use the same attack again, but was cut off. There was an audible order of halt beside the two, causing them to freeze and turn their heads to it. Childe’s head lolled to the side, his wide crooked smile from battle faltering as he saw who it was.
“Enough, allow me.” The head of the Kamisato Clan took a few stomping steps forward. Thoma’s hold on Childe loosened, dropping him harshly. Childe’s smile had now faded, but his exhilaration only grew. Oh, what a beautiful scene! Thoma backed away from the two, his eyes locked on the side of Childe’s head, his expression one of great judgement. Ayato’s hand waved at Thoma, Thoma departing the scene as ordered. Ayato’s sharp gaze met Childe’s crazed one. The Kamisato continued to walk towards him, leaving no space between the two of them. Childe slid back towards the wall; their stares sealed. Soon, the Harbinger had nowhere left to go. The window was beside him, finally breaking their tensing looks to glance at the exit. He felt a colder breeze crawl down his neck and spine, shuddering and smiling to it. Though, it was short lived, the Kamisato’s hand sliding and locking it shut, his eyes unmoving from the other. As he lowered his hand, he leaned forward, Childe’s heart pounded so loudly that his ears began to ring.
“Now,” Ayato began, his voice colder than the winters of Childe’s own home, “just what exactly was your thought process when you came here and assassinated my own sister?”
Childe listened with a guiltless heart; his head titled up, allowing the blood to trail down his nose onto his lips. His tongue resting on his top lip, the salty taste of iron filling his senses. Ayato’s eyes flickered with revolt. Childe’s silence continued for a few seconds longer, needing to take in and enjoy is crime before giving a prideful reply. Ayato’s patience had snapped like a twig long ago, but now it roared with his rage like the thunders of Seirai Island. Ayato’s eyes became slivered, his face only yet barely visible via the moonlight. He managed to almost intimidate the insane culprit before him. The corners of Childe’s mouth twitched upward, Ayato hearing a crackle of retort in his mind. Ayato’s claws snapped at Childe’s jaw, his grip crushing. Childe’s eyebrow twitched in slight pain, his silence carrying throughout the estate. Ayato stared him down, a raised eyebrow awaited response.
“Just a job.” Is all the ginger said. Ayato gave a yelp of exasperated disbelief, his shoulders and brows raising, his expression gave away how much he wanted to kill him right then and there. Ayato soon came into a howl of sharp laughter, his head lowering against his own chest from how hard he did. Childe gave his own puff of confused tittering, his eyes squinting in a hollow way.
”Just a job? Just a job?!” Ayato crackled, there was a new light that came from below him and the Harbinger, Ayato’s vision glowing in a similar shade of the moon that softly peered through the window next to the two. Ayato limply raised his free hand above his shoulder, bubbles of Hydro accumulating in his mitts. Childe’s equally blue gaze flicked to it, his breath stopping.
“Humoring, I must say you really know how to take people aback with your filthy deeds.” Ayato rasped, his hot breath wafting against Childe’s face. His face wrenched in discomfort. Childe’s own vision began to flicker alight, his fists extending against his legs. Ayato’s sword came into fruition, his movement swift, his sword swung towards Childe’s neck. Ayato was quicker than the other would have liked, but as Ayato made his move, Childe managed to retaliate with his own blades of Hydro. There was a splash at the clash, Childe grunting as his spine dug into the wall behind him, Ayato’s movements pushing him. Ayato’s other hand didn’t cease, or even loosen. Childe stirred, his own daggers began to slide as he held them awkwardly, his heart quickening speed to it. Ayato’s head bent over, tilting marginally. His head hovered over the other’s shoulder, his chin resting on his own blade. Childe felt a piercing shiver climb up his spine as he met eyes with the Kamisato.
“So let me make this crystal clear. If you really think you can get away scot-free, even as a Harbinger, you’re sorely mistaken.” The Yashiro Commissioner snarled, his voice in a frigid hush. Childe’s chest clenched up; the ambience felt suffocating. Childe’s hold on his own weapons loosened. The moon began to become swallowed by the trees.
“Then what is one man like you going to do? Turn me in to the Tenryou Commission? The Shogunate? I think I’ll slip away just fine.” Childe challenged, his teeth gritting through his words. Ayato frowned, moving back inchingly as he looked to the side. His blade and hand finally retreating, but his body did not, Childe was still very much pinned in his place. Ayato gave a thoughtful hum, his eyes watching the moon vanish, and his lips rose to a thin smile.
“They won’t know of this yet. I’d rather deal with you myself personally first, I have a few ideas in mind.” Ayato looked back; Childe exchanged a slick smile before replying too.
“You’re on.”