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lostsunlight · 16 days

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CHAPTER 13 - TRES AUTUEM FACIES PRAENUNTIUS

childe x reader, wc: 7.1k, masterlist, Ao3

cw: nsfw, violence, murder

The next morning came all too quickly. A ray of sunlight hit Childe directly in the eyes, he rolled over and pulled the blankets over his head to block out the world for a few sacred minutes.

You smiled and carded a hand through his hair, he tilted his head a little to the left. Childe could have sworn he was seeing an angel, soft sunlight illuminating your form, sheets pooling at your hips.

Childe rolled onto his back and you shuffled closer, the hand scratching his head trailed down to trace his jawline. You admired his freckles, the small nicks in his skin from battle. You moved your thumb over his lower lip and then down his chin and neck.

You leaned in and whispered against his neck “ Il n'y a pas de douceur comme ton péché ”

“тогда приходи и купайся в нем, дорогая ” He mumbled back, finger tracing down your spine.

You straddled him and slipped his shirt up over his stomach. Following every scar in an intricate pattern upwards. He gripped your hips to steady you. You traced up his abdomen to the dip in his clavicle. You were leaning over him, chest nearly touching his.

You traced the scar across his chest, the one he got when he first met you. He traced the scar across your upper thigh, from when you had made your escape.

You opened your lips, inevitably with a million questions. Childe cut you off before the first word. “I know there's a lot to talk about but can we forget the world outside exists? Even it its just while I’m in your arms”

You nodded “Okay” You closed the gap and sweetly kissed him. He held you close to him as you tasted him. He was tangy, with a hint of iron. You hadn’t intended on it being anything more than a kiss but you found your will to break away from him quickly fading.

In the end he was the one to break away, he looked at you with an expression you couldn't quite place. He used his thumb to pry up one side of your top lip, you opened your mouth ever so slightly and he traced your canine before pressing down on your tongue. You sucked and he made an unintelligible sound. He pulled it out and dragged it down your chin, leaving a trail of spit in its wake. He angled your jaw up to access your neck, kissing it in a way that made your core pulse.

He rucked your slip up so it bunched around your waist, you finished the job for him, pulling it off and throwing it somewhere on the floor. You removed his shirt in turn leaving the both of you in nothing but underwear. He traced the edge of your breast, you sucked in a breath.

He cupped them, swiping across your nipple, you let out a small whine. He grinned and repeated the action, causing you to grind down. You let out another whimper when you felt his hard length beneath you. He stopped for a second as pleasure shot through his body.

You ground down again, arching your back. He took your nipple in his mouth and gently sucked. You moaned as one hand supported your back and one pushed you down. He bucked his hips up. Your hands rested on his shoulders as your pussy fluttered, desperately trying to find leverage.

He stopped to get some air as one hand continued to explore your body, moving lower and lower. The other still circling your nipple. His thumb played with the edge of your panties, you lifted your hips up so he could slide them off.

You moved down and peeled his boxers, blushing at the sight of his cock. You wrapped your hand around it and gave it a few slow pumps. You looked up through your lashes to see him looking at you with an endearing intensity, his chest rising and falling with anticipation.

You gave it a few licks and he sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth. You move back up slowly, intent on teasing him. He lies back as you position yourself, teasing your pussy with the tip of his cock, wetness making it easy.

“Любовник, be gentle” He asks, still sore, he didn't know how much his body could take. He wished he was the one talking the lead.

“I’ll be as gentle as the breeze” you replied, sinking onto his cock. You let out a sound somewhere between a huff and a moan, it sounded like the holiest melody Childe had ever heard.

You bit your lip and rested your hands on his chest, trying to get used to the feeling of being so full, his cock hitting all the right spots inside of you. After a second you lift yourself up, relishing in the feeling.

You make tentative eye contact with Childe. You could melt in the sanctity of his gaze - a blush spread across his cheeks, his mouth slightly parted, small moans tumbling out. He skirts his palms up your thighs until he reaches the apex, right below your hip bones. You sink back down, riding him like you were made for it.

You placed your hands on top of his and then tugged trying to pull him up. He obliged, wrapping his arms around you and drawing you in for a kiss. He finds your clit and you gasp into his mouth at the feeling. Your cunt squeezed around him.

“I-I’m close” you whined, burying your head in the crook of his neck. He lay back down, knowing if he kept fucking you like that he would overexert himself, he would go too hard and as much as he wanted to see that he knew his body couldn’t handle it.

He kept rubbing your clit as you reached the edge. you sunk fully onto him, knowing you couldn’t fuck him through your orgasm. You moaned a little louder than usual letting the feeling envelop you. It was electric, making your mind go blank for a moment.

Your legs were getting sore but you were determined to take his orgasm from him. You picked up the pace ever so slightly. Childe lay beautifully underneath you, hands fisting the sheets, brows knitted in pleasure.

He moans deeply, flinging an arm across his face “C-Cumming”

Quickly you lifted yourself off him and gave him a few more pumps. He finished, white-hot ropes of cum splattering across your stomach. You kissed Childe again, lost in his being.

✧

After the two of you cleaned up, you went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Childe took the stove while you chopped some bacon

“That was surprisingly gentle compared to last time” You joked

“Don’t expect me to be so nice next time” he quipped back

“Next time?” Your raised a brow

Childe just smirked. “This morning was a nice surprise, but what were you doing in my bed?”

“You don't remember? you had a nightmare, woke up screaming. You asked me to stay when I came in. Something about a ‘Celestial Narwhal’ again” You frowned, moving over to place the bacon in the pan, it spat back at you

He frowned “No, I don't. I don't even remember a nightmare” He cracked an egg into a bowl and used a fork to break the yolk

“I still have questions about last night, you nearly electrocuted me you were so mad” He poured the egg mix into the pan with the bacon

Childe sighed deeply “Signoria got the gnosis, Zhongli is Rex Lapis and I was used by the both of them”

“So Rex Lapis lives in mortal form now? Why?” You asked, pulling two plates out from the cupboard and placed a piece of bread on each

“Retirement, He didn’t technically abandon Liyue, rather he’s leaving it in the hands of humanity” he snorted, dividing up the scrambled eggs

You leaned on the counter, trying to think. Wasn’t it his sworn duty to protect Liyue, man couldn’t defend against Celestia, at least not from what you’ve seen. Why not pass the torch to another god?

“And Signoria? Another Harbinger?” You picked up one of the plates and folded the bread in half, taking a bite.

“Yeah, the eighth, ‘Fair Lady’ is a dubious title at best. She’s the one who got Barbatos’ gnosis as well” he grumbled, if looks could kill this woman would be nothing but ashes.

You swallowed "So she's making you do her dirty work?”

“No, The Tsaritsa sent me for both assignments. She has her reasons, I’m sure the others have hundreds of years on me, of course she wouldn't expect me to pull this off on my own. I'm a warrior not a diplomat.”

“Then why make you a Harbinger?” You took another bite

“I don't have an answer for that, maybe because I’ll best serve as her weapon but the title of Harbinger requires me to act like a diplomat, I don't know. But next time, next time I'll deliver the gnosis straight to her feet myself.

You pick up his mask, “Then go out and prove yourself, Tartaglia. You may not be the most cunning, but when it comes down to the battlefield - you would leaving most of them dead”

He attached it to the side of his head “I will get stronger, just you wait”

✧

Baizhu had sent you outside the city to restock herbs, unfortunately for you most of the ones you needed seemed to be around ruins littered with Ruin Guards. You kept your catalyst drawn as you slowly made your way around the perimeter.

You had thought that you had made it away until you heard the mechanical rumbling of a ruin guard activating. Your entire body tensed as you whipped around. It was your turn to dance.

You drew water droplets from the air, forming a ring of daggers around your head and fired them at the Guard. Circling around the mechanical abomination , making sure to keep your distance to avoid its wide ranged strikes.

You repeated the same attack, just focusing on trying to survive. It stilled, bracing backwards, turrets perched on its body began to glow, aimed directly for you. Thinking fast you ran, forwards, sliding under the guard as the projectiles hit the ground with a sickening bang. You clenched your eyes shut at the sound. You stumbled up to face the back of the guard.

Drawing your power you created two streams of water twining around the Ruin Guard, briefly immobilising it. You pull in the pressure of the two streams of water and then release it. Causing it to stumble back a step.

It swung at you, knocking you to the side, you tumbled and skidded in the dirt, by some small miracle you landed upright. Clambering back to your feet you tried to regain your sense of surroundings. Your shoulder throbbed in pain.

You had to disable it somehow. How had Tartaglia done it? An arrow to the eye right?

Having nothing to lose you made another dagger and aimed for its eye, it flew past splashing on the stone behind it. You tried again, moving backwards as it advanced menacingly towards you. This time the hydro dagger hit its mark, it came tumbling down.

It was only a matter of time until it reactivated. Concentrating, you wove a hydro sword from droplets. Approaching it you gathered all your strength and struck it. Once. Twice. Thrice - the last strike plunging directly into its eye. It let out its last cry and it lay felled before you. Its body disintegrating into nothing more than black smoke flecked with red ashes.

You collapsed to the ground on one knee, hydro sword holding you up. You panted, trying to draw enough air to satisfy your burning lungs. The sword broke into droplets wetting the stone underneath you, causing you to fall further down. You felt no satisfaction from the fight, rather relief you made it out alive.

In the distance you could swear you heard the faint voice of a child. “Hey! Hey you! Come look at this!”

Slowly you drew yourself back up, you stuffed the herbs you had collected in the bag Baizhu had given you. Reforming another hydro dagger just in case you stalked over to one of the inactive Ruin Guards. Behind one of them you found a small child, no older than six clambering over its arms.

“Have you ever seen something so brilliant?!” he exclaimed with great enthusiasm.

Shielding your eyes from the sunlight you could see the boy was wearing foreign clothes, perhaps Snezhnayan. He had flaming red hair and large blue eyes sparking in the sun. He bore a striking resemblance to Childe.

“You should get down from there, you could hurt yourself boy. Ruin Guards are dangerous things” you exclaimed back

“Nuh-Uh, Mister Cyclops would never hurt me! And what kind of a stupid name is ‘Ruin Guard' anyway?” He sat on its shoulder rather precariously.

“Mister Cyclops?” You asked, that was a creature from old legend.

“That's what my brother called them!” He grinned widely, showing a gap-toothed smile “He’s the best toy seller in the world! He's working at the Institute for Toy Research in Liyue. That's where all Mister Cyclops’ come from”

“What's your name?” You ask, trying to get this kid back home to safety

“I’m Teucer! I came all the way from Snezhnaya on a boat to find my brother in Liyue. I can’t find him though…” He frowned

“You came all the way from Snezhnaya alone” You laughed a little in pure shock. This was Teucer, Childes' younger brother. One of the two who didn’t know what he actually was. ‘Toy seller’ must be the excuse he's using to disguise his true role as a Fatui Harbinger until they're ready to learn the truth.

“Uh-huh!” He slid down the Ruin Guards arm “This is the part where I give you this” He presents you with a huge bag of mora

“My brother said to find a nice person and give it to them so they’ll take good care of Teucer”

“He must make a lot of money selling toys then”

“You best believe it! He sends it home to help us as well! Alright now we've gotta make a pinkie promise”

“Why do we need to make a pinkie promise?” You ask

“You need to promise to keep me safe!” He extends his small pinkie and you wrap yours around his after a moment of hesitation

“You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life. You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue so you never lie again” He recited, his tone too jaunty for the rhyme he just spoke.

“I think I know where to start looking for your brother” You said, crouching down to face him eye to eye. He didn’t have a vision but so long as he held on tightly enough you would be ok.

✧

You waited at the top of the red lacquered stairs in front of Northland Bank waiting for Teucer to scramble up the remaining steps. As soon as he reaches the top step he sprints towards the open door, you follow languidly behind him. Childe is by the desk talking to what seems to be the receptionist in Snezhnayan. You recognised her as one of Childe’s informants.

He seemed to be doing a little better, or at least he's good at hiding how terrible he feels. If you look close enough you could still see small bags under his eyes.

“Ajax!” Teucer exclaimed, he snapped his head around you see Teucer barrelling towards him, he slams into Child's leg and hugs it

Ajax?

He switches to Common Tongue “I would know that voice anywhere! Teucer!” He laughs ruffling his hair, his tone significantly lighter than before. “I thought I would have to wait to go home to see you again. How are the others, Tonia? Anthon?”

Teacher unclasps himself from Child's leg “They all miss you alot! Мама and Tonia pray for you at dinner every night. Папа is still a little sick but he's getting better every day with the medicine you sent!”

Childe frowns “Wait a second Teucer, what are you doing in Liyue? How come I haven't heard anything about this”

Teucer looks at the ground guilty “I snuck onto a ship back home, they said they were shipping toys to Liyue.., a-and I really wanted to see you! When I got off I just kept walking and walking until I found a Mister Cyclops”

Childe sighs and holds his head in his hand, crouching down and places his hands on Teucer’s shoulders “What you did was extremely dangerous, I’m happy to see you, really I am. But just promise you won't ever do that again. Poor Мама must be worried sick”

He clasped his hands behind his back swaying from side to side “Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you, I care about your safety, that's all. Just promise to never do that again, OK? If this nice lady hadn’t found you things could have been a lot more dangerous for you. Did you say thank you to her?”

“I promise” The both of them look at you “And thank you Miss. Nice Lady!”

You shook your head “It’s really no bother, I just wanted to make sure he got back to his brother safely” You said, putting on your best performance you could, you were no actress but you had a feeling you were somehow pulling it off.

“I can't thank you enough Miss…?”

“Yulia” you supplied

“Could I trouble you to take care of him for a few more hours? I have some business I need to attend to” He asks

“As long as you’re alright with me taking him to Bubu Pharmacy, I guess I could show him some of Liyue”

“Thank you so much” The receptionist hands him a small pouch of mora, he walks up and hands it to you “Consider this as Teucer’s entertainment fund” He whispers the next bit “Thank you for not revealing anything, he's still too young”

He steps back and turns to the receptionist “Ekaterina, I’ll death with that outstanding debt collection right away”

“But Master Childe wouldn’t it be a little improper to ask you to deal with a debt collection?” Ekaterina asked tentatively

He shrugged “I made a bet with and agent and I lost, might as well get a littler exercise out of it”

He walks out, pausing just before he exits “If you need me I’ll be by Qingxu Pool”

You and Teucer took to the streets of Liyue, he flitted around fascinated by the city.

“Did you know that Anthon thinks the people in Liyue are made of stone. Ajax sent us a letter telling us they were boring old humans” He said, skipping ahead of you.

You made your way to Bubu Pharmacy to drop off the herbs. You left the package with the new Herbalist Gui

“Let Baizhu know I’ll be in tomorrow for my shift!” You said waving goodbye.

Teucer tugged your hem “I’m hungry!” he whined

“How about we head to Wamin Restaurant? The chef and his daughter are the best cooks in Liyue”

Teucer nodded enthusiastically and bolted down the stairs, you chased after him “Hey! Wait! You don't know where you're going!”

The boy didn’t seem to care, weaving through the crowds of Liyue without a care in Teyvat. You filled behind, trying to keep track of him. You caught back up to him and steered him across a bridge to another part of the city.

Teucer scrunched his nose as soon as he stopped “It smells… choking in here”

Chef Mao evidently overheard that was you winced

He took in stride as he gave a booming laugh “Choking smell? You must be referring to our signature jueyun chillies!”

“Chillies? But… I can’t easy spicy food”

“What do you like to eat, Teucer?” you asked calmly

“Hmmm, something with lots of sugar and extra virgin olive oil!”

You looked at Chef Mao and apologised “I’m sorry, well go find somewhere else that caters to Teucer's tastes”

Chef Mao waved his hand nonchalantly “We can do special requests no problem”

“Are you sure?” you asked slightly taken aback

“Easy work! Go find yourselves a seat”

“Thankyou” You and Teucer chirped

You and Teucer found a free table near the back corner of the restaurant, he scrambled up on the seat and swung his legs, he looked around, clearly fascinated by Liyuean culture.

“Are you the Yulia that Ajax told us all about in his letters?”

“S-sorry” you asked, trying not to choke on the sip of water you just had

“You have the same name and you look like the way Ajax described in his letters! Why didn't he know you at the bank?”

You were silent for a second, trying to come up with a good enough lie “Sometimes people in the toy industry have to pretend to not know each other, so when they announce a new toy everyone’s surprise”

A terrible lie but it would have to do but Teucer seemed to buy it judging by the way his eyes lit up.

You wouldn't believe Childe mentioned you in his letters home, and what was with ‘Ajax’, was that his true name?

“Really! You’re a toy maker too!”

Thankfully one of the waitresses came around with the food, Teucer gave it a suspicious look before taking a small bite with the fork given to him.

“Mmmm! Just how Tonia makes it” He ate the whole meal and licked the plate clean.

After paying Chef Mao with the money Childe gave you, you promptly left the restaurant.

Teucer already had a look on his face that suggested he knew what he wanted to do next. Out of the corner of your eye you spotted an older lady selling kites on the wharf.

“You wanna go check the kites out Teucer?” You asked

He gave a vigorous nod and bolted off. You were again left to catch up to him. By the time you approached the stall the old woman was giving a Teucer a through explanation of what kites even were

“Snezhnaya is too cold and windy for kites! They would just get stuck in the snow” He said inspecting every single kite “I don't see one of a Mr Cyclops..”

The woman looked confused and you leaned in to whisper “He means a Ruin Guard” She gave you a warm smile in thanks. “I do do custom builds but it’ll be extra and I’ll need a few days to complete it”

You nodded, Childe could always pick it up and send it Snezhnaya, he was paying for it anyway. After haggling for a few minutes you agreed on a price and Teucer looked satisfied knowing that he’ll get a kite soon.

You walked along the harbour marketplace “Do the people here ever freeze?”

“I don't think it snows in Liyue at all”

“Never?” He asked, confused

“Never” you chucked back, for all his rambunctiousness he was a cute kid. Teucer was distracted again by a fish merchant peddling his wares.

“Wow! The fish here are so small!”

The merchant looked like he just got slapped “Whose fish are you calling small! I’m trying to run a business”

Seemingly oblivious to the merchants offence he prattled on “The fish in Snezhnaya are double, no, triple the size of this”

You stood back, as much as you wanted to intervene you did find the merchant's annoyance amusing, especially towards a clueless child.

“Are you gonna buy a fish or not?” he seethed, glaring Teucer down

“In Morepesok there are legends of giant fish and it's supposed to be super yummy. I told my big brother about it and he went hunting. A few days later he returned with a giant fish slung over his shoulder. Anthon and me were so happy!” He yapped on

Morepesok, so that's where he's from

The merchant looked just about ready to punt Teucer, sliding in you bent down to Teucer's eye level “How about we go find your brother”

Teucer looked about ready to explode with excitement when you said that. Taking that as a yes, you whisked him away to Qingxu Pool.

✧

Approaching Qingxu pool you would see Childe conversing with a blond Fatui agent. A group of pissed off treasure hoarders lingered nearby.

Childe glazed over looking floored to see you and Teucer approaching, the Fatui agent raised a brow and ignored the two of you.

“As I was saying, after Signoria’s departure you are the only Harbinger in Liyue. You need to initiate the new recruits. They’re just south of Lingju Pool” He reported in a thick Snezhnayan accent

Childe turned to look down at Teucer “I’m really sorry but I have to work”

Teucer looked about ready to burst into tears “But.. But I just got here”

You placed a hand on his shoulder “Hey, it’s OK, we can go back to Liyue Harbour and look at more toys? Why doesn’t Yulia take you to Wangshu Inn?”

Teucer hung his head, looking utterly dejected “Fine”

As you started to walk back Teucer broke free of your grip, bolting after his brother. Rushing after him you barely caught up. You had no idea how he was able to run for so long as he weaved through the underbrush and through the ruins.

Finally catching up to the small child, you caught him peeking over a rock at his brother giving a speech

“You can't do that!” you forced out trying to catch your breath, ducking beneath the rock with him

“Shhh! I’m trying to hear Ajax speak!” he whispered to you, placing a finger to his lips to emphasise the point

“From this day onwards you will honour the oaths you have made to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, and you will stop at nothing to bring victory to Snezhnaya. You shall sweep through the lands like the icy winds of the furthest north, as strong as the hoar frost of Zapolyarny Palace” He spoke to the newest recruits, inducting them into The Fatui, a smile of passion gracing his face

“Her Majesty expects of you loyalty, ruthlessness and precision. For the trials we face are harsh and our enemies are like..” Teucer popped his head over the rock and waved. Taraglia looked like lighting had struck him

“... Like kites and rattle drums. Who shall become reputable foes of Mr Cyclops in the marketplaces of Liyue.” He let out an unsure laugh as the recruits looked around in confusion.

Teucer nodded as if this was normal “Uh-huh kites are fun too”

“This is of course an analogy, as they say - the marketplace too, is a battlefield” He glanced back over to Teucer and you, you bit your lip trying not to let out a laugh with how absurd the situation was.

“So as your… Sales manager I demand you obey every order. A refusal shall be considered a betrayal and the price of betrayal is to be dishonourably discharged from the…Liyue Institute of Toy Research” He finished the speech with an awkward look on his face

The recruits still looked at each other and Tartaglia in confusion. Muttering among themselves.

“Forget it. Perhaps some hands-on training will suit us better. After all a strong body is proof of one’s capacity” He says jumping down

Some of the recruits chattered in excitement at the possibility of a Harbinger himself wanting to spar with them personally.

Thinking fast you covered Teucer’s eyes and whispered “Were going to play a game where you have to guess what's going on OK?”

Teucer, seeming delighted at the prospect of a game, eagerly nodded “Alright!”

Tartaglia, still weak from the abyss, took on each new recruit with ease, a master of battle with mere beginners.

Teucer hummed “He’s showing them how to make a Mr Cyclops isn't he?”

Before you could answer he pried your fingers apart to see what was actually happening.

He stared amazed, focused on Tartaglia’s movements as not a single blow landed on him. After all the recruits had had their turn Tartaglia dismissed them, they signalled off and left for the nearest camp to officially begin their training.

As soon as he dismissed the recruits he made a bee-line right towards Tartaglia “Ajax! You were amazing”

“Teucer, Yulia, what are you doing here? I thought Yulia had taken you to play at Wangshu Inn” He laughed but he looked at you for an answer.

“I wanted to see you so I ran away from Yulia” He said proudly

“He’s rather slippery you know, reminds me of someone I already know” You commented

Childe chucked and Teucer bounced up and down on his toes “I wanna learn to fight like you! I wanna look cool like you”

“Fighting isn't about looking cool, you know. If you want to get better you need to have a reason as to why you're fighting. I’ll teach you but you've got to know why you're doing it”

Teucer gave it a second to think “I want to learn to protect Tonia and Мама and Anthon!”

“That's a good answer, but now you need to go home, Tonia must be worried about you” He said, trying to coax Teucer home in any way possible

Teucer frowned “Only if you do one small thing for me” Cleary resistant to the idea of leaving his brother again

“And what would that be?” He cocked his head

“I wanna see The Liyue Institute of Toy Research” Childe’s jaw twitched

“Let’s see, yes, The Institute is just south-east of here isn't it?”

✧

The three of you stood outside the abandoned factory, leaned in and murmured to Childe “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

He murmured back “Dottore abandoned this place a few months ago when he lost interest, it’ll be fine” He said dismissively

You grabbed his arm forcing him to look at you “Do you even know what it’s like inside?”

“Well.. no, but you have me and it's my duty as a brother to protect Teucer.” He spoke to his brother “You ready?”

He pushed his way inside of the factory, Ruin Guards littered the floor. “Ajax, Yulia said that Mr Cyclopes are dangerous”

“Did she now?” He gave you a look and you raised your eyebrow. Your catalyst floated alongside you just in case. “What a silly thing to say. Maybe don’t go repeating that though, your far too young to think about such things” He added tentatively

“Yeah! Mr Cyclops is my friend and he’ll defeat the bad guys and protect the world” Teucer relied, skipping along the path in delight

“Right. With Mr Cyclops around the bad guys won’t ever hurt you” You said, stepping over a loose arm. Without even replying Teucer ran off to play. The grated door shut behind him.

“Teucer! Hey! Wait up!” You yelled, voice echoing against the walls

“C’mon there's another way up there” The two of you ran, Childe drew out his bow and activated the hydro monument flooding the empty pool in front of you. You ran and he skated over the short distance.

A few pyro slimes littered the way to the console, within a few seconds you hand Childe had vaporised them. He pressed the console and opened up the door to meet up with Teucer

“Oh, the door opened! Was that you?” He said, not even bother to look at Childe

“Yeah, Teucer give me a moment I need to make sure everything's -” Before he could finish his sentence Teucer had gone off into the next room.

He pulled a hand across his face “Maybe I shouldn't have spoiled him so much” he grumbled.

“Let's go, we've got no time to lose” You made your way carefully to the next room. Steam making it harder to see.

“These Ruin Guards have all been strung up, I wonder where they're being taken to?” You mumbled, looking at the countless mechanical weapons above you

“I don’t know - but if it's any chance where Teucer is we need to get there before things get ugly” He replied, voice getting tenser. You made it past the elemental slimes and through the metal labyrinth. You saw Teucer’s form through the iron bars.

Childe called out “Teucer! You see that stone cube over there? I'm going to count to three and were going to press it together. One, Two, Three” The gate ground open and Childe hugged Teucer.

“Are you hurt?” he mumbled into his hair.

“Hurt? No way this has been so fun!” He grinned

“Fun for you maybe, we've been scared to death” you said, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Wait… what's over there.” He takes a step forward “A giant room full of Mr Cyclopes! Is this where he takes his friends when they come to visit?”

Childe sighed, just about done with Teucer’s antics “It is. Impressive isn't it? Now, how about a game of hide and seek?”

“Uhh.. Now? But” Childe cut him off

“I have a surprise for you” Teucer brightened up “You can look for it later but now you need to close your eyes, turn around and count to sixty”

“But sixty is a really long time” he whined, obliging anyway.

You stood next to Childe, preparing yourself for the onslaught. The guards came down, and you drew your weapons. A ring of hydro daggers floated behind you while Childe drew his dual blades.

“There’s not much time, let's clear this place out” he said to you, you nodded in return

You didn't bother with the theatrics Childe put on as you aimed for the eye plunging through it with your hydro sword. Teucer’s countdown creating unhelpful background noise.

“Forty-eight, forty-seven forty-six, forty-five...”

You found yourself surrounded by a circle of Ruin Guards advancing towards you, Childe bursts through and takes a few of them down, one approaches him behind his back, you disable it, jumping off one of the disintegrating bodies to end it for good.

“Twenty-six, twenty-five, twenty-four...”

“Hey! You skipped a few numbers!” Childe exclaimed as he dodged an arm coming down towards him. The ground shook as it made impact. You tried to swallow your growing fear and keep quiet for Teucer’s sake.

A Ruin Guard nearly hit you, you retaliate, swinging your sword at it blindly. An arrow thrown by Childe hits it and you finish it off.

“Five, four, three, two…” You use the last second to throw your sword at the mechanical sentinel and rush over to Teucer to block his view. Childe stood alone surrounded by endless enemies.

“One! Are you ready” He asked, ready to play

“Just ten more seconds. Still hiding” he bit out as calmly as he could

“Hmph! Who’s the cheater now? Fine, ten seconds that's all you get” He replied indignantly

He laughed and turned as a guard was just about to punch him.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

A flash hydro turned to electro as he dashed towards the centre of the room, creating a shockwave that blasted the guards back. His Foul Legacy emerged, jumping up followed by a cape of stars he plunged down destroying everything in his wake.

“Four, Three..”

He landed and looked directly at you, a glint of light emerging from his eye. He dashed off into an unknown corner.

“Two, One! Coming ready or not!” Teucer turned around to see the corpses of the guards laying around in the steam, a few still sparking. He stood in awe before giggling and running to clamber over the guards

“This.. This is everything I ever dreamed of!” He yelled in pure excitement

“This is the surprise your brother prepared for you, what do you think?” You prompted, scrunching your nose at the faint traces of the abyss.

“I love it! I’m gonna go find my brother!” He sprints off looking behind the guards.

You approached the dark corner Childe was hiding in. You found him slumped against the wall, he peered up at you

“Thank the Tsaritsa you found me first” he coughed. “I don’t know what I would do if Teucer found me like this. It would just about shatter the dreams I’ve worked so hard to build for him”

“You need to get home now” you knelt down in front of him taking his pulse, his skin was cold and clammy and his heartbeat was slow. Using his Foul Legacy form so soon after the last time must have wiped him out.

“No, I can get myself back. J-just get Teucer to the bank. I’ll get one of my agents to take him from there” He coughs again, hacking up that signature black-flecked phlegm. He presses a small figurine into your hands “Give this to Teucer won't you?”

Reluctantly you stood “Get back safe alright?”

“I always do” He took a deep breath and stood up shakily.

“Pinkie promise me” you asked, he gave a small, soft smile and hooked his pinkie with yours. You started the first part of the rhyme “ You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life.”

“You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue so you never lie again. Teucer taught you that?”

“Yeah…” You glanced to the room seeing Teucer was nowhere near the two of you. He just gave a small laugh and limped back towards Liyue Harbour

You found Teucer still looking around the Ruin Guards mumbling to himself “I can’t find him anywhere.. Where did he go…”

“He already left” you said, walking up to him

“What? Without me?” he said, upset

“A huge number of people wanted to buy Mr Cyclopes. Here he gave me something to give to you” You handed him the small action figure of a Ruin Guard

“Wow! I didn’t know they came in this size. Ajax really is the best big brother ever!” He turned the figurine around in his small hands

You gave him a soft smile “C’mon, don’t you reckon it's time to head back to Snezhnaya?”

✧

As soon as you approached the bank a stern Fatuus spoke “Ma’am, young master Teucer, I've been waiting for you. The Lord Harbinger extends his gratitude to you miss. A boat has been arranged to take you back to Snezhnaya young master”

“But what about my brother?” He questioned, sadness lacing his voice

“The Lord Harbinger has instructed me to tell you that you will see him soon in Snezhnaya” He replied coldly, leaving no room for questions. Teucer looks up at you and you crouch down to give him a hug

“Stay safe OK? Let your brother know when you get home”

“I will! I can’t wait to tell everyone that I finally met you” He let go and stepped back, being led away by the Fatui Agent. You see Childe signal to you out of a shadowy corner. You went over to see him holding himself up with one arm on the wall.

“Why didn’t you say goodbye to him?” You place him arm over your shoulder

“Partings are special moments, I don't want his last memory of me to be of me like this. All haggard and weak. Still… I wish I could have seen him off” He gave a sad smile as he looked down at the red-lacquered wood of the bridge.

You began to escort him back to his apartment. He shook you off and walked a short distance ahead of you. Eventually he unlocked the door and collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. Groaning as he finally let his body rest.

“You told your family about me” You comment, voice flat

“That I did” he mumbled, You felt the rage quell in you, rage that he put you and Teucer in danger like that, that he pushed himself so hard. You took a deep breath in, trying to calm down.

You spoke softly, sitting down on the couch. His head in your lap, you tangled your fingers in his hair gently. A lock of his hair was lighter than the rest, something new.

“Why?” You looked down at him, he looked tired and yet content

“I-I don’t know.” He admitted. He coughed violently.

“You. Childe, Tartaglia Ajax. Harbinger, Abyssiling, Boy. Are a man of inherent contradictions. You care so deeply about your family's safety and mine to the extent that you had me make contracts with you and yet, you put us in dangers way. You took Teucer and I to an abandoned factory of Dottore’s for what? Your brother's entertainment?”

You took a breath and continued “You told your family about me, what if those letters got intercepted?” You spoke evenly

You looked into his eyes, the purported windows of the soul only to find they were shut. letting nobody in. You realised that he not only contradicts everything you initially stood for, but everything he lived for. He didn’t want to release Osial but he did anyway. He hates the Fatui’s deception but deceives his own siblings. He acts so genuine and yet he wears a mask.

“You could have gotten yourself killed like that” You try not to scold him

“I nearly did, transforming that fast fucking hurts. But it's something I need to do to keep my family safe. The abyss taught me that wrath will always be the cost of protection” He fully relaxed into your lap

“What happened to Ajax, What happened in the Abyss?” You prodded further, no indication of anger in your voice

“Truths you wouldn't want to know, what Celestia did to Khaenri'ah, the roots for my loyalty to the Tsaritsa. Ajax died in the Abyss by my own hand”

“Then who are you if not a loyal dog to the Tsaritsa, Ajax?” There was a faint glint of light in his eyes as you spoke his true name.

“I am nothing but her vanguard, without her I am a soul lost in the snow. The boy who clambered out of the abyss and attempted to grasp the gods”

“Ajax isn’t dead is he? Buried somewhere in the snow he still lives and breathes” Your fingers twitch in his hair

“Don't try and crack this mask” He said, not even having the energy to try and be intimidating

“Watch me break it in two” You replied

Translations! Tres autuem Facies Praenuntius -> Three Faces of the Laughing Harbinger Il n'y a pas de douceur comme ton péché/тогда приходи и купайся в нем, дорогая -> There is no such sweetness as your sin/Then come and bathe in it darling Любовник -> lover

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