Chapter Text
Childe sat under a tree , his bow on the ground next to him . He watched over the Dawn Whinery . He knew Diluc didn't like him much but Childe just enjoyed pretending .
As the sunset he spotted Diluc walking home along a path from the forest . Childe looked over and watched , from how far away he was it was hard to see details but he was sure Diluc was looking as lovely as ever .
Noticing a slime that was followed behind Diluc he grabbed his bow . Childe rested his arm on a rock , holding the bow more like a large gun . He aimed for a second and let go of the string . The arrow flew through the air , hitting the slime and killing it causing Diluc to jerk and look behind him .
Diluc looked to the area which the arrow came from , his tired eyes made it a bit blurry but he could see the ginger hair and knew who it was “..ugh” he groaned and continued walking . Childe waved to him happily .
Childe watched as Diluc went into the Whinery . after a bit he decided to get up from his spot and run off for whatever else he needed to do .
–
Diluc was setting everything up in the tavern when he got a knock , it was his loyal non-spender , DIluc gave the bard a dirty look before closing the door , not yet allowing him in . it wasn't normal opening time and Diluc was not the type to open early .
Once the clock hit 12 he unlocked his door , allowing people to enter the tavern , the first being venti .
Venti tried to talk Diluc into free drinks . He was too tired to fight but he hated giving in . “no. you have to pay for it , no free drinks” he spoke in a harsh tone “welll could i pay with a song?” the bard pulled out his lyre “no.” Diluc answered
“you're no fun!” Venti continued to whine . Diluc wasnt paying too much attention when someone else entered the tavern , until he spotted the ginger hair , it was him again
Childe entered the tavern , glancing at Diluc for a second . sitting down at a table in the back
Diluc didnt like the idea of a fatui member in his tavern , he found most of them creepy. He stopped listening to Venti and walked out from behind the bar , walking over to the table in the back
“Why are you here?” he asked , cutting straight to the question . Childe looked up , giving a weirdly bright smile “to get a drink of course~” he answered , looking Diluc up and down
“I just opened , the only people here this early are alcoholics” Diluc scoffed. “Well who says i'm not an alcoholic ?” Childe let out a laugh and continued to smile at Diluc who did not return it “alcoholics have a smell , and a look. Ive seen enough to tell”
“Doesnt matter, this is a open tavern correct? I dont see anyone saying i cant be here” Childe frowned for a moment before smiling again “well i'm saying you cant be here and its my tavern. Get out “ Diluc pointed back to the door . Childe frowns , standing up , he rolls his eyes “alright then , ill leave” Childe starts walking to the exit “And stay away from my house.”
Childe glances back “we’ll see about that one” he laughs and leaves
Diluc sighs and goes back to the bar , seeing Venti with an open drink “Where did you get that?? I said no free drinks” Diluc took the bottle from Venti’s hands “hey!”
Diluc worked in the tavern for his usual hours , fighting with kaeye , getting yelled at by diona , and venti’s whining . although luckly Childe had stayed out of his head all day
After work he got home , one of the maids brought him a box , one of old pictures . Diluc takes the box to his office . he didnt like remembering his past but something called to him
He sat at his desk , looking through old pictures . most of him and family , but then he found another .
A picture of Diluc , looks to be before his father died , he was sitting in the roses with another kid , a ginger boy with blue eyes.. Diluc sat up straight as he looked at the picture “is that..?” he flipped the picture over , the back reading “Diluc Ragnvinder , Ajax “ , he didnt remember the picture being taken , his last name was spelt wrong , he was sure he didnt know childe during this time and the name ‘Ajax’ held no meaning to him
Diluc stared at the picture , trying to come up with something to explain all his questions . He looked through more photos but found nothing else of him and the other boy . The eye’s of the other boy looked like childe’s , more than just the color , Diluc had looked into Childe’s eyes many times before , he could recognize those eyes anywhere .
He put the picture down “This is to much for me to think about right now “ he spoke to himself as he got up from his desk , walking over to his bed and laying down
Childe sat on the doorstep of the dawn Whinery , one of the maids had made him leave earlier but he had just came back . in his hands was an arrow , he stabbed it into the wall of diluc’s home ,dragging it along the wood , drawing out a heart “he’ll love that..or his maids will just clean it up again ..i guess” Childe spoke to himself
Suddenly one of the maids opened the door “Out! Off , go now!” she shouted , childe laughed as he got up “ok okk , take a chill pill , you clearly need it “ he took his bow and ran off . doing actual work through the rest of the night