Chapter Text
Childe slowly opened his eyes, the place he woke up to feel unfamiliar. He realized that he’s lying on a bed, surrounded by curtains which prevented him from looking further. His senses might not work properly yet, he could smell antiseptics in the air so he concluded that he is in a hospital.
Safe to confirm that I’m not in the abyss, he thought. Memory of the battle with the celestial narwhal and a brief reunion with his master slowly coming back to him. He wouldn’t call it brief actually, he was already on the verge of losing consciousness when she appeared in front of him. Was it also her who brought him here?
He woke up to sit on the bed, the slight movement made a creaking sound and he heard footsteps coming near. Shortly, part of the curtain was pulled back by someone from the outside. Childe was glad when he knew the person who came was his comrade.
“Aether..?”
The traveler appeared from behind the curtain. He looks unfamiliar without his usual outfit. Though, his outfit was unfamiliar to Teyvat to begin with.
“You’re awake!” he shouted in joy. Childe never saw him this delighted, at least in front of him. Aether used to not hesitating on showing his wariness in front of him most of the time, but lately he seems to be more friendly and trustful. That was probably thanks to him appearing often on Aether’s journey through Teyvat.
“You were out and bleeding in the head, I was scared to death back there.” Aether sat in a chair beside the bed, leaning back and let out a relieved sigh.
“What happened to me?" Childe felt the bandage wrapping his head with his hand. His head does hurt, but it’s not something that would make the traveler scared to death. Their usual sparring sometimes dealt more damage than this.
“We were fishing by the stream, you slipped and your head hit the rocks.”
Childe tilted his head in confusion. He expected Aether to tell him what happened after he lost consciousness after the battle.
“I thought you were joking, but you didn’t move and answer me. Then I found out your head was bleeding and ran to the nearest hospital quickly.”
Am I still dreaming? Childe might not fully awake yet, but he was fully aware that was not the situation he was in.
“If you were to die, your wife would become a widow at a young age.”
“..Wife who?”
His comrade’s statement managed to awaken him completely. Something’s definitely wrong, Childe doesn’t recall having a wife—let alone a girlfriend. The situation he is in feels like someone decided a partner for him without his approval. Even the god of love herself doesn’t meddle with his love life.
“Lumine, my sister. You always correct me whenever I say "my sister” instead of your wife, there you have it.” The brother answered nonchalantly, but soon he realized the man in front of him would not joke like that.
“Why..do you act confused as if you’ve forgotten..her..” Aether looked at him weirdly, at which Childe could only reply with silence and confused face.
Aether realized something didn’t sit right, stood up and called for help from nurses nearby.
“I need a doctor to check on him. I think there’s something wrong with my in-law’s head .”