Work Text:
“Why are you making me carry all these swords?”
“They are your collection,” Xiao says. “It only makes sense for you to be the one to carry them.”
“Yeah, but still.” Childe starts their walk pouting, but it quickly morphs into a grin. “You know, I could always make more work for you, Reaper.”
Xiao glances over, utterly exhausted. Circles line his eyes in purple. Venti giggles. “As if he hasn’t been working hard enough as is. The poor man hardly has a second to breathe!”
“He doesn’t, actually,” Lumine says. She takes two of the swords from Childe’s arms. “Found that out in the pond.”
Venti gasps, grabbing Xiao’s hand. “You don’t breathe?! And you didn’t TELL ME?!”
Xiao stares back, utterly unmoved. “Uh-huh.”
“We gotta go do things! I gotta try this out! Guys, we’ll be back!” He drags Xiao into the woods, popping his head out from behind a bush a moment later. “And uh, there’s some Fair Folk over there,” he points, “so like maybe don’t wander that way?”
“Only if we want to die,” Childe jokes.
“Yeah try not to,” Venti says, giving a nod before disappearing again.
Lumine sighs, setting down their equipment beside Childe. She takes his swords from him. “I’m impressed you can carry this much.”
“Impressed enough to want to throw yourself into my arms?”
“I take it back.”
“You know,” Childe says, leaning in with a grin, “I’m the first one of the group that you kissed.”
Lumine fights the urge to roll her eyes this soon into the conversation. Otherwise, they’ll end up over the hill. “Yeah, so?”
“So, you must have liked me a lot, right from the start.” Childe crosses his arms, leaning against a tree. He props one leg up, appearing for all intents and purposes to be a traveling warrior, with a ripped crimson coat, and one eye. “And, I’m ahead of the others.”
“You were dying,” Lumine complains. She looks up sharply, to where the man is idly stepping into the treeline. “Where are you going?! There’s enemy Fair Folk that way.”
“Well if I die again, then you know, maybe you’ll kiss me.”
“Oh my fucking god you’re so stupid,” Lumine says, the words running together. She pinches the bridge of her nose, nearly losing her temper. “We’re trying to march to Camelot, to go help out the future ruler of the nation! I can’t have you dying on me.”
“Again?”
She winces, crossing her arms to glare up at him. Her toe taps on the dirt menacingly.
Childe gives a nervous laugh, arms out as he reenters the small clearing. “Aw, come on girlie, I wouldn’t really abandon you like that.”
“You better not.” She stuffs one of his swords along the strap of her bag, tying the sheath tight. “I’ll carry this for you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
She side-eyes him. He’s becoming more solid the more time he spends around their little group, since her energy is really all he needs to grow a new body. But still. He’s a high target for enemy Fair Folk, who want to consume him, as well as for other phantoms, who want to steal his life force.
And on top of that, of course, he only recently lost his eye and his life. He shouldn’t have to deal with heavy burdens.
“Hey,” she says, “if you want, I can carry all of it.”
“What do you mean?” Childe gives her a little smile, eye soft. “You don’t think I’m capable of carrying my own weapon collection?”
“Your arms are looking a little thin is all,” she quips, lifting her nose into the air.
He gasps righteously, but she merely smirks, walking on.
Xiao and Venti still haven’t returned by the time the last of the sunlight is beaming through the trees.
Lumine stops walking for a moment, watching Childe as he admires the forest. The sun shines on his hair, drawing out the red. It looks like he’s a King, wearing gold and rubies. He’s the reason they call it a crown of hair.
“How are they going to find us?”
“Oh, they have their ways.”
His voice is soothing too, just the right cadence to be endlessly energizing. He’s the type of person she doesn’t mind waking up beside. He always seems to be able to move forward, endlessly adapting to the situations he finds himself in, no matter how difficult or foreign.
Lumine wants to ask him about his life so far. About where he came from. About how a man who makes the forest look dull ended up stabbed to death on the side of some battlefield he singlehandedly turned the tide of. About where he’s from, and who his brother is, and why he supports a king he knows barely anything of.
Well, she knows the answer to the last inquiry. After all, he made his attraction to King Diluc quite obvious. And of course, that is the King who pulled Childe’s Excalibur from his headstone.
But the nice thing about Childe is his consistency. Even death couldn’t keep him from her.
For someone immortal, as she is, that’s all she really needs. Freedom, loyalty, and someone who remains.
In other words, she doesn’t have to delve into difficult topics today. “Xiao can smell you from a mile off, and Venti has no trouble tracking me down.”
“Doesn’t that mean other Fair Folk have no trouble tracking you down?”
“I gave him a weapon awhile ago,” Lumine says, grinning. “He owes me, and he can’t resist the pull of the favor.”
“Sly girl.” He grins, skipping over, chains on his outfit ringing like bells. “So, when do I get to feel the tug of your fervor?”
“Favor, but nice try.”
“If I ran off, would you reel me back in like a fish? Ooh I know! Maybe you could harpoon me like a whale.”
“What’s a whale? Nevermind, tell me later. I wouldn’t have to. I’m sure you would come running back.” Lumine’s brow cinches. She wants to ask, but her pride is screaming not to.
“Oh don’t worry,” Childe says, as reassuring as ever. His eyes crinkle in delight, the pink on his cheeks lifting with his smile. “I don’t plan on going too far from you, pretty lady.”
Pretty lady. Lumine nearly does a happy backflip. “Shut up and help me make this campsite.”
“Shut up, she says,” Childe imitates, grabbing sticks around the clearing. “You want me.”
She just sighs, happily.
“So pray tell, what is a whale?”
“Oh it’s this giant animal.”
“You mean Venti after eating apples?”
“Nonono,” Childe starts explaining, having to stop to laugh. He’s sitting beside Lumine, who’s tending to the fire. He insisted on being on the ‘outer layer’ of camp in order to protect her, which is chivalrous in itself.
And which also places them close to each other, of course.
He has a stick in hand, drawing out a gluttonous shape before them.
Lumine stares, perplexed. “A finch?”
“That’s a fin.”
Oh, not a wing. “A bird in the water, interesting.”
“It is,” Childe says. “So let me tell you, a story I learned during my travels. As you may know, I’m from pretty far North of here. And I spent time on a ship, of course. And traveling along the coast.”
She didn’t know, actually. Lumine knows he’s from some sort of important family, or maybe an apprentice to one, in order to have his fine crimson coat, and his armor. But other than that, he’s a mystery. An enigma. As much a stranger to her, as she is to him.
“I came across this tale, of a whale out at sea. Now, I don’t know if you know this, but whales communicate in deep, mournful tones. They sound like my belly after a rough dinner if you know what I mean.”
Lumine stares at him, wondering if she really needed that detail, and yet delighting in his ability to tell the story so that she can picture the sound so clearly.
“Well, there’s this one being. They call him ‘The loneliest whale’.” For emphasis, Childe, while grinning, draws a little tear under the whale’s eye.
Lumine pouts, looking at the drawing. “Why is he crying?”
“Well cause he’s lonely.”
“This story better have a happy ending.”
He bursts out laughing, and begins drawing something above the whale. “Don’t worry, it will. I tell these to my siblings, you know!”
“Good.”
“Anyways my little dove, this one whale sings in a lower tone than all the rest. And so, the other whales can never hear him. He just swims through the ocean, endlessly searching for any other being who can understand him. And yet, he never seems able to find them.”
Childe glances over to Lumine, whose legs are pulled up.
“So of course, when we were by the ocean, we would pray for the whale to be given someone like him. Not even a whale, mind you. Just someone who could understand him, and who would speak to him and be heard.”
The clearing is quiet for a moment, as Childe draws a bird over the whale.
He sighs then, tossing the stick down, and lying back. “That’s the story of the loneliest whale.”
The fire crackles. They’re lying side by side, watching fireflies float through the woods.
“Raoouuuer.”
Childe slowly looks over. “Lumine?”
“Yes?”
“Please tell me what type of bird uses that as a mating call?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“So that I,” Childe starts, but his snorting laughing cuts him off, “so that,” he snickers, “so I can know not to eat it, lest I become possessed like you.”
“Shut up. I’m making a whale call!”
“Thought you didn’t know what they sound like!”
“I’m going off your drawing!” She points. “It’s big, so it should sound big!”
“Girlie, I don’t know what to tell you.” Childe throws his head back, his laughter ringing out, loud. He accidentally kicks out, his heel removing the tear from the whale.
Without thinking, Lumine reaches out, tangling her finger in his hair, right beside his eye. Tugging the strands out of his lashes, and smiling over at him.
His eye opens, head tilting so he can see her. “Hey.”
“The loneliest whale could do with a song,” she says.
“Maybe the whale fell in love with the most beautiful bird,” Childe says. “And he couldn’t be with her while he was in the water. But the bird looked down and saw that the whale had been harpooned.”
“What’s a harpoon?”
“It’s like...a spear. It latches in, and pulls the whale ever closer,” he says. Her finger traces down his cheek, sliding over his lips. Childe grins, catching her finger in his mouth. “Look, see? I’m hooked on you.” He bursts out laughing, rolling away, cheeks flushed red.
“Come back.”
He rolls back, taking the opportunity to lift his arm high, so that he’s resting on the ground beside her. “As I was saying, the whale was grievously injured. And when he died, his one wish was to transform into something which she could hold onto. Something she would take with her, out of the sea, into the world of the sky, which the whale had previously only been able to glimpse through the waves. And so, when he died, he lifted out of the water, and his spirit was so light it floated up to the bird.”
“And they lived happily ever after.”
“No, everything thought the whale was a minnow and tried to eat it, and everyone else wanted him to carry all his cool harpoons.”
Lumine bursts out laughing. “He’s the one who keeps finding them! It should be considered a talent.” She glances over, seeing someone standing behind Childe. “Hey Xiao!”
Xiao is staring down at Childe, pretending to be horrified. “You...fell in love with me?!’
“What?!” Childe sits right up. “When did you get that idea?! I mean you’re gorgeous, and you didn’t steal my soul, and you have nice lips, and hair, and pretty eyes.” He grins, brow flicking. “I mean I totally could. But I’m loyal to Lumi!”
Xiao looks from Childe to her. “He’s too energetic. Keep him on a shorter chain.”
“I’m not keeping him on any sort of chain,” she complains. “Where’s Venti?”
Xiao’s lips curve up at the corners. “I threw him into the middle of the lake and told him to swim out.”
Childe’s eye gets very wide.
“What? It’s not like he can drown.”
“Go get him. Now.” Lumine glares up at him, her finger tapping on the dirt, mercilessly.
“Fine.” Xiao pouts, stalking back into the woods.
After a moment, Childe lies back down, playing with a twig he grabbed from the ground. “Why does he remind me of a kid sometimes?”
“They’re dramatic,” Lumine muses.
“I was in a traveling theatre once.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“But that, dear Lumine, is a story for another night. Unless you would like it tonight.”
She stares at him, until he looks to her. Lumine smiles softly. And then makes the most atrocious whale noise.
He breaks out snickering, and while he’s busy laughing she grabs his cheeks with one hand, leaning over him.
Childe gasps, his smile wide.
She smiles down at him, feeling his soft skin beneath her fingertips. “May I?”
“Please do. I’ve been waiting. Hoping. Praying. Can ghosts pray? What do I even pray to?”
She lets him ramble for a moment, admiring the way the firelight is playing along his cheeks, highlighting his freckles. It’s good that they’re so vibrant. If his body is reacting to the sun, that’s a sure sign he’s going to be as corporeal as her, soon.
Childe’s smile is large, and his eye soft, almost closing in his happiness. “Please?”
“Sure, Childe.” Lumine holds herself up by one arm so she doesn’t crush him, pressing her lips to his, softly. It would hurt if she pressed too hard and fell through the poor man.
But his lips are cool, and gentle, and eager. And quivering with his giggles.
Lumine sighs, lifting up to stare down at him, unable and unwilling to hide the amusement in her gaze.
“I’m so happy I think I could fly,” Childe says.
“Just kiss me,” Lumine says, and leans down once more to his lips.
He’s eager, lifting up ever closer. Pressing their lips closer. And then he’s pecking her face, filling her cheeks with the soft, brushing feeling of gossamer.
Lumine keeps her eyes closed. “It’s like being kissed by butterflies.”
“Oh yeah?” Childe snickers, mischievous thoughts enveloping his mind. “What sound do butterflies make?” He lifts up, pressing a feathery kiss to her lips. And then, kissing Lumine, he makes the most atrocious whale noise yet.
She breaks off, unable to stop laughing. “What is that?”
He sits patiently, pouting. When she bites her cheeks, covering her mouth to hide her laughter, he has to fight to hold back his own giggles.
Lumine sighs. She leans in close, chirping at him.
Which is about the time when Xiao and Venti step in on the edge of camp.
“Did we walk in on something?” Venti’s voice barely contains his mirth at catching Lumine kneeling over Childe, the two of them making noises.
“We can give you two some alone time,” Xiao says, setting his arm around Venti, who Lumine realizes is soaked.
She can’t even think of a response.
“I’m a whale,” Childe says.
“How?” Xiao falls right into the trap.
Childe points down. “Well you see, I have a giant,” he starts, but Venti shouts.
“We gotta go! Sorry Childe,” he says, taking Xiao’s hand, “but our Xiao is too young for this conversation.” He drags him into the woods, probably to try and trick him into giving him extra apples.
Childe stares after them for a moment. “Which one is older?”
“I’m not sure,” Lumine says. “But they’re both far older than you.”
“Yeah? So teach me a thing or two?”
Lumine stares down at him for a moment. She wipes some dirt off of his cheek. “I’m so glad I found you, in those woods.”
Childe’s eye widens, and then softens. He wasn’t expecting a dose of seriousness in this conversation, but he takes it in stride, grinning as lovingly as he can. “I’m so glad you came and kissed me. And stayed with me.” Mischief flashes in his eye. “And put my sword between your breasts.”
“Childe what the fuck.”
“I’ve been waiting to make that joke,” he says, throwing his head back. “I missed you. I feel like, before I met you, I missed you. Like,” he points up high, at the sky that’s barely visible through the branches, where the stars twinkle. And then he redirects, at the fireflies. “That’s you, Lumine.”
“What?” She stares for a moment at them, and then down to Childe. He’s humming idly to himself, drawing dicks in the dirt.
She can’t decide if she wants to kiss him or choke him.
She blinks a few times.
“Still deciding what method you want to murder my new body with?” He grins, peering up at her.
Lumine stares at him, her heart all aflutter. How does he go from making me flustered to making silly jokes? Or better yet, how is it that I entrance him?
“I haven’t decided yet. I was thinking...death by kisses?”
“Yes!!” He perks right up, eye wide.
“Or perhaps death by whale noises.” She shakes her head in his face, scrunching up her nose, all grins and giggles.
Childe falls just a little bit more, enamored with her, and she gets to watch.