#SIGHHH hes finally dead (is bawling eyes out) thank god (just broke furniture) he wont be missed (just jumped off bridge)

[anonbinaryweirdo]

"hopeful promises" childe x reader

(angst, hurt/no comfort.) major character death, one mention that captain guy, a bit rushed

gn reader, unspecified pronouns or descriptions for reader. this was in my drafts for two months. enjoy :}

you can recall every other time you were able to make it to the docks upon his arrival.

from the time you went to bed the night before, to the time you push past crowds of dozens just to reach his embrace, your heart exhilarated just at the thought of seeing his face once more--no matter how long the separation lasted.

and you knew that he, too, was always beyond ecstatic to spot you in the crowds of many. it didn't ever matter how many people in the crowd had similar traits as yourself or wore the similar clothes as you, as he would always make a beeline to you the moment he's off his ship. there could be a thousand identical to you around you both, but he'll always know where you are, amidst the crowd.

and so you waited today, waited for that familiar freckled face to disembark the large boat and become one of the many on land again. eventually, the sun started to set, and no more ships entered the harbor. disappointed, you went back to your home.

you checked the date again, and the last letter he sent you impending his return, which swore that today was the day.

but, alas, you knew of his job. you knew what you signed up for.

so you kept going back to wait, day after next, for him to come back to you.

today marks day eleven of stepping out onto that bridge, and the sun was already out of the sky, descending behind the hills over by the shielded horizon. you sigh, and drag yourself back home.

as you were about to stick the key into its keyhole, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a sealed envelope resting on the chair you two had planned to throw out. he had bought it for you a long while back, but recently decided to throw it out as he had planned to get you another one as, he says, "royalty only deserves the best reserved spot to rest their weary legs," he couldn't have you sitting on something uncomfortable.

you smile and grab the envelope, readjusting it so you can properly hold the key between the middle joint of your index finger and the pad of your thumb, pushing it into the knob and twisting it before making your way inside.

you kick off your shoes, and immediately work on unsealing the envelope, pulling out the paper hidden inside, for your eyes only.

to your surprise, it wasnt from him or his family. rather—from another harbinger—the one he would always tell you about.

your heart skipped a beat, but not in the way it usually woul whenever he had something to do with it. you didn't realize you were holding a breath, your eyes scanning down the words that read;

"to [name]; Ajax's partner,"

you didn't have to read far to have your heart stop beating in your ribcage, feelin like all beats were skipped entirely, as you read;

"we're sorry for your loss. but we are afraid that Tartaglia won't be making it home today, or any time coming forward. as you may know, the eleventh was always up for a challenge, always willing to push past his limits to proclaim victory against even the strongest of foes.

however, that wasn't the case this time — for he had lost his head in battle, and his corpse was frostbitten; hardly recognizable.

this was a battle that not even her highest, the tsaritsa's most loyal soldier could win. im sorry.

all regards,

Il C."

no.

that was—

... you simply couldn't believe it.

but even as you tried to fight reality, every teardrop that fell onto the trembling paper, which was now crumbling with wetness, brought you back again.

there was a reason as to why his eyes got more dull than present whenever he promised you—pinkie promised you that he'd be home. there was a reason he looked guilty everytime he promised his return would be set in stone, and you both knew that reason all too well.

and yet, you still couldn't believe it. how could you?

there was also a reason as to why he left that same, nearly torn up scarf with you, everytime he departed from home. he told you, "keep it. if there comes a day where I don't return to your arms, you'll still have something of me you can hold, even then."

maybe you could have taken this better if only he hadn't promised he'd be back.

no, no, that's not the case. it's not like.. it's not like he lied.

but..

that's exactly what he did.

he left you with hope every day, and each day that hope would turn to be true—each day except today, where you falsest of hopes were being forced to endure.

"baby," he would say, turning to you with a smile on his face—one that never seemed to reach his eyes. "im heading out now."

and you would respond, "for how long?"

"a couple of weeks." he heaved a sigh, already dreading being out of your reach for longer than an hour. "but it's alright.. I'll be back. it's nothing I can't handle."

you nodded, "I know." yet, there was a falter in your gaze that only he seemed to catch, reaching for your cheek to cup it as he pressed your foreheads together. "do you have my scarf?"

you nod again. "it's under your pillow." he laughed—and it would be the last you'd hear it.

"good.." he stared down at you, those blue eyes swirling with contemplation, before being replaced with the faintest of guilt as he holds up his pinkie.

you hesitate—just like all the other times—but link your own with his.

and always, he starts off—always, for—unbeknownst to you—he deliberately makes sure that the last line is yours to recite. everytime, without fail.

“you make a pinky 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.." he trailed off, and he can feel the pit in his stomach grow as he awaits your finish to the lullaby.

and now, that pit in your stomach was twice as big, now that you were thinking back on everything. oh, how you regret making such promises with him. ones that, even you knew would fail to be upheld one day.

yet, you foolishly finished; "and the frost will freeze your tongue off, so you never lie again.”

oh.

how true it turned to be.

#SIGHHH hes finally dead (is bawling eyes out) thank god (just broke furniture) he wont be missed (just jumped off bridge) #🖋️ oli writes stuff #childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #ajax x reader #childe x you #tartaglia x you #ajax x you #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #childe angst #genshin angst #genshin impact angst