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khujoor · 7 months

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NEW & EDITED. SAY YOU'RE MINE. / CHAPTERS 1-2

wc: 2.7k+

whole plot synopsis: a loveless marriage slowly gains some unwanted feelings in the middle.

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"I hope you can understand my current commitment," Childe stated calmly, taking a sip of his coffee. He settled into his seat with an air of confidence that seemed to assert his authority over the place. With little interest in indulging in idle conversation, he added, "For all I care, you may have another romantic interest, but kindly refrain from interfering in my affairs."

His nonchalant words irked you, but you recognized that he meant no harm. "I understand," you curtly replied. "Perhaps we should limit our interactions to work-related matters? It would be wise to exercise caution, given the media's tendency to scrutinize any associations."

Just as your phone rang, you hastily excused yourself and exited the room, leaving Childe to ponder his thoughts. Despite knowing each other for a while, you'd never truly engaged in conversation. You had always seemed distant, exuding an air of superiority that both intrigued and intimidated him.

However, Childe's mind soon drifted to Lumine, his true love. She possessed all the qualities he desired in a partner – strength, intelligence, and striking beauty. Unlike others, she harbored no interest in his wealth or status; she simply wanted him. She was perfection.

Amidst his contemplation, Childe realized he knew very little about you. While your demeanor had always impressed him, he couldn't claim to know much beyond that. Since childhood, he had never made an effort to engage with you, assuming you'd dismiss him.

"My apologies, shall we continue?" You softly smiled, taking your seat across from him. "We'll need to convey deep affection for each other, even if we don't genuinely feel it. Those close to us may be aware of our situation, but the public shouldn't be."

Growing restless, Childe absentmindedly swirled his coffee cup. Pretending to be in love was uncomfortable for him, but he understood the necessity to safeguard both your reputations. He couldn't afford more negative publicity, especially with upcoming business deals.

"I understand," Childe reluctantly agreed, meeting your gaze with a hint of reluctance. "I'll do what's required, though it's not something I'm at ease with or particularly fond of."

You nodded, your eyes locking in mutual understanding. Both of you knew the task at hand, even if it wasn't your preferred course of action.

Neither of you desired this marriage. While Childe longed to marry Lumine, the choice of you over her puzzled him. Why were you considered the ideal partner, and not her?

"The engagement announcement party is tonight, so I trust you'll know how to play your part," you stated as you rose from your seat, heading towards your office.

The engagement announcement party loomed on the horizon, a grand event that would alter both your lives significantly. As you left your conversation with Childe and headed toward your office, you couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled within you. The weight of your impending engagement hung heavy on your shoulders, and you knew that the party would only intensify the scrutiny and expectations.

As the evening approached, you donned a stunning gown that had been specially selected for the occasion. The dress was exquisite, fitting the role of the radiant bride-to-be perfectly. You looked at yourself in the mirror, and it was as if you were seeing a stranger. The reflection staring back at you was the embodiment of the role you were about to play, a role that had been thrust upon you without your consent.

With a heavy heart, you descended the grand staircase of your family's mansion, where the party was set to take place. The ballroom was adorned with opulent decorations, a testament to your family's status and wealth. Guests, dressed in their finest attire, mingled and sipped on champagne, awaiting the grand announcement.

You spotted Childe across the room, resplendent in a tailored suit, and you couldn't help but admire the composure he maintained despite the brewing storm of emotions within both of you. As you approached him, he turned to acknowledge your presence with a polite smile.

The elegant ballroom buzzed with anticipation as the company dinner began. You stood by your father's side, your heart fluttering with nervousness. You knew what was about to unfold, and it filled you with unease. Your father, a prominent figure in the business world, had a habit of making significant announcements at these events, and tonight was no exception.

As the guests chatted and savored their meals, your father cleared his throat, commanding the room's attention. He wore a warm smile, seemingly proud of the announcement he was about to make.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "I have some wonderful news to share with all of you tonight." The room fell into an expectant hush. "My daughter, Y/N, has found a partner who perfectly complements her."

A soft gasp rippled through the crowd, and all eyes turned to you, "And it is with great pleasure that I announce her engagement to the esteemed Childe Tartaglia," your father continued, gesturing toward Childe, who sat at a nearby table, wearing an impassive expression.

Surprised murmurs filled the room. Childe, known for his daring business ventures and adventurous spirit, wasn't the conventional choice for someone as poised and reserved as you. Attendees exchanged puzzled glances, uncertain of how to react to this unexpected revelation.

Your best friend, seated at the same table, leaned closer and whispered, "Are you sure about this, Y/N?"

You mustered a small smile. "I... I'm still figuring it out myself," you replied, not entirely dishonest.

As people discussed the engagement among themselves, some raised eyebrows, expressing doubts about the compatibility of the couple. Others found the idea of such an unexpected union intriguing.

Childe, however, remained composed, sipping his wine as if the attention didn't faze him. But those who knew him well detected a trace of unease in his eyes.

Amidst the ongoing chatter, your father raised his glass, prompting everyone to follow suit. "To the happiness of my daughter and Childe, may their love and partnership thrive in the years to come!"

The toast received polite applause, but uncertainty lingered in the air. Your mind was filled with conflicting emotions.

Throughout the evening, you put on a brave face, engaging in small talk with the guests. But your thoughts were consumed by doubts and questions about your future.

As the night drew to a close, Childe approached you with a gentle smile. "You've handled tonight admirably," he remarked, seemingly unperturbed by the skepticism around you.

"Thank you," you replied, your voice tinged with uncertainty. You noticed him glancing at his watch, a worried expression crossing his face. "Is something wrong?"

"I have to leave," Childe said, his voice tinged with regret.

You nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for him. Despite his wealth and status, Childe didn't appear entirely content with his life. And neither did you, for that matter. But for now, you had to put on a brave face and navigate the situation.

"I understand. Take care, Childe," you said, watching him disappear into the crowd. As he departed, you couldn't help but wonder what the future held for both of you. Could you ever genuinely find happiness together, or was this all a facade for the sake of reputation and business interests?

Only time would reveal the truth. For now, you had a role to play, and you intended to play it well. Straightening your posture, you put on your most charming smile, bidding the departing guests farewell. It would be a long night, but you were determined to see it through.

As the guests gradually departed, you felt a sense of relief wash over you. The night had been tiresome, but you had managed to maintain appearances. All you wanted was to go home and unwind.

As you headed towards the exit, a hand grasped your arm. Turning around, you saw your father, his expression filled with conflict.

"I'm sorry, Y/N," he whispered, barely audible. "I know this isn't what you wanted, but it's necessary. For the sake of our families."

You gazed into his eyes, searching for sincerity. He appeared genuine, but his words deepened your unease. "I understand, Father," you replied softly. "But I can't help but feel that this isn't what I want. I don't want to be forced into a marriage for the sake of business and reputation."

He sighed, his expression softening. "I know, Y/N. I wish there were another way, but we must consider the bigger picture. Our families have much at stake, and we can't let it all crumble."

You nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation. But that still didn't change the fact that you were being thrust into a marriage with someone you barely knew, let alone loved. It felt like a recipe for disaster.

"I'll do my best to make it work," you said, your voice tinged with resignation. "But I can't make any promises."

Your father reached out to hold your hand, squeezing it gently. "I know it's not ideal, Y/N. But I have faith in you. You're a strong and capable woman. Who knows? Perhaps love will blossom between you two."

You forced a small smile and nodded, even though the idea seemed implausible. Love was an emotion that couldn't be forced or manufactured. It either existed or it didn't.

Furthermore, you couldn't help but wonder about Childe's feelings in all of this. What were his thoughts on this arrangement? Did he have someone else he loved, just as you did?

As you both parted ways, your father with a heavy heart and you with a sense of impending uncertainty, you couldn't help but reflect on the path that had led you here.

chapter two.

"Play with me!" You pleaded, tugging at the ginger's arm with all the earnestness a child could muster, while your light brown teddy bear dangled from your other hand.

"Get away from me!" Childe grumbled, his frustration evident as he struggled to free his sleeve from your relentless grip.

"What's the matter?" Someone inquired, approaching the two of you. It might have been a butler from Childe's family; their voice exuded a calm, soothing contrast to the high-pitched cacophony that surrounded you both.

"They won't leave me alone!" Childe lamented, half-dragging you along with him towards the newcomer.

Childe sighed as he gazed at the plain wall ahead, wondering if your clinginess had subsided at all. You had only met once before, yet you clung to him desperately, as though afraid of being left alone.

You had always struggled with attachment issues. Your mother had abandoned you at a young age, promising to return but never fulfilling that pledge.

But Childe was unaware of your past.

"Childe," you spoke, pulling him back from his reverie. "You have to tell me if this looks good."

You both clearly lacked any affection for one another, yet you were engaged. But wasn't love something reserved for those who chose to marry? Whatever you had with Childe seemed destined to be devoid of love.

He glanced at you, unable to deny that the dress suited you perfectly.

"It's fine."

"You have to be more specific," you muttered, your frustration evident. "You need to pick a suit that complements my dress, so your opinion matters too."

You had grown up with the maids in your home regaling you with stories of weddings. You had envisioned your own day with sparkling eyes, eager to marry, to be surrounded by friends, to wear a dress that would hold cherished memories for years and potentially be passed down to your future children.

Yet, this dress held no such significance for you.

It would only serve as a reminder of the day you married him.

Perhaps Childe felt similarly? You had no way of knowing.

"It looks fine; just choose what suits you."

As the tension between you and Childe continued to mount, a employee approached, concern etched on their face. "Is everything all right, you two? Weddings should be joyful occasions."

You exchanged a quick glance with Childe before replying, "Everything's just fine, thank you. Just a minor disagreement about wedding attire."

Childe nodded in agreement, and while the engagement had been anything but a fairy tale, both of you knew that putting on a facade of happiness was the only way to appear as if you cared.

"Whatever," you sighed, feeling a hint of frustration. You gently pressed your finger against your temple to ease the growing headache. "It seems like I misjudged your ability to help me choose a suitable dress. Have you made a decision about your suit yet or are you still undecided?"

Childe glanced up from his phone, choosing his words carefully. He took a few steps forward and studied you closely. "(Y/N), are you undressing in front of me right now?" he asked hesitantly, disgust creeping into his voice.

"Oh, please," you scoffed lightly, shaking your head. "I have more self-respect than that; I would never do something so demeaning just for someone else's sake, especially not for you." You gracefully slipped out of the dress, revealing a nude-colored leotard underneath. Carefully, you placed the dress aside and began walking around the room.

Childe followed your movements with his gaze, his eyes studying every part of your body. You couldn't help but notice his indiscreet perusal and inwardly smirked at his sudden change in demeanor, from dismissive to almost predatory. Perhaps it would be wise to keep your distance from Childe after this encounter.

"You can find your suit across the street. They're known for their quality," you said, matter-of-factly.

"Are you sending me off alone?" he asked, a hint of amusement lacing his voice.

"Of course I am. Clearly, you have no interest. Maybe you'll find a new companion for yourself," you replied nonchalantly.

Childe raised an eyebrow at your words, a small smirk forming at the corner of his lips. "And what makes you think I'm interested in companions?" he asked, stepping closer to you. His presence sent a shiver down your spine, partly from the chilly air conditioning and partly from the sudden proximity.

You turned to face him, your eyes locking with his. "Oh, I don't know," you said slowly, tracing a finger down his chest. "Perhaps because you already have feelings for someone who isn't the woman you're going to marry?" You whispered in his ear, curious to elicit a reaction.

Childe's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face before being replaced by a sly grin. "Oh, so you've been paying attention to me, have you?" he teased, his hands resting on your hips as he drew you closer.

Your heart raced in your chest as you looked up at him, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "You mentioned it when we first met that day," you reminded him.

"Hmm?" he hummed playfully.

"You seemed uninterested in me at the time," you said, recalling the memory.

"I did, didn't I?" he agreed with a playful grin.

Childe's breath hitched, his eyes narrowing slightly. He leaned in closer, his lips dangerously close to yours. "And what makes you think I love anyone?" he murmured, his voice low and husky.

"Don't underestimate me," you replied, your own voice lowering to a sultry tone. "I can see it in your eyes, the way you speak about her. It's obvious."

He chuckled softly, his lips brushing against your ear. "Well, you're quite perceptive, aren't you?" he murmured. "But who's to say I can't love more than one person?"

"I am a powerful woman, Childe. I can easily discover who this woman is and reach out to her as soon as I do," you spoke with a hint of determination, as if holding a dagger to his throat.

"And if she doesn't believe you?" he questioned.

"Fine," you paused, taking a deep breath. "She might not believe me, she might even think I'm jealous. But I always get what I want, Childe."

You didn't care about Childe's opinion of you. Whether he saw you as a spoiled brat or an attention seeker was inconsequential.

"Alright," he responded calmly, creating some space between the two of you. "I'll go."

"Great," you said, maintaining your composed demeanor.

You sighed out of relief as you watched him walk away, thankful he was finally gone.

TAGLIST (comment/ask): @crisdamoon @zamorazz @esthelily @duckyyyx @yuumaofc @chuuyajax @seawater-aurelia-writing

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june-again · 10 months

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CHILUMI: # a chasmic mistake.

CHAPTER I: descent.

chapter summary. in which Lumine makes a decision she will regret; in which Childe has everything under control.

wc. 3.4k. genre. enemies to lovers, adventure, pining.

table of contents / next chapter

Lumine’s muscles tensed as she felt the ground beneath her feet give way. She should have seen this coming, having ignored the signs placed around the area warning against trespassing. She’d never been the type to pay them much attention, nor had her target. And Paimon wasn’t around to drag her back, either—her floaty friend was left behind somewhere as she’d scaled the mountains and skidded back down them, only willing to stop for one thing.

That one thing would be her blade to the neck of the Eleventh Harbinger.

Paimon had said this whole thing was pointless, that “Mr. Moneybags” would only get them both into danger. Lumine had initially agreed, but seeing Childe, the man who had tried to kill her and wipe out all of Liyue Harbour, recklessly hunting a bounty across the nation had driven her to devote herself entirely to stopping him.

He had never resisted her, of course. Countless duels had commenced over the last few weeks, and Lumine had contributed greatly to the chaos that followed in his wake. He liked resisting her, and she liked that she got closer to defeating him every time. But it was because of Childe. It was all his fault. Him, and those damn Fatui.

Lumine had caught word of a bountied creature, some kind of rare animal belonging to a Sumeran noble. She had already understood that this was his goal. But she found it very suspicious of the deceptive (and wealthy) Snezhnayan to chase just any bounty. Surely it wasn’t just over some Mora, because that was definitely not worth falling several hundred meters into the so-called solar chariot ruins known as the Chasm. Thus, she had been keeping an eye on him. A very close, hunting eye.

He had told her about his plans himself during one of their duels, saying, “You can’t blame me for bounty hunting. You’ve done enough of that to understand the thrill of it.” And this, she could not deny. In a way, he was her own target, the unattainable bounty being satisfaction.

Lumine had never been great at saving herself from near-miss falls, but whatever ability she could muster would momentarily have to come into use. She would grab ahold of something—anything—to keep from getting herself stuck in the abandoned mines. She slid down a crumbling slate of rock, which angled her closer to the gaping black hole below. The Qixing had claimed to have sealed it off completely; how could it be that there was now a wide mouth to the dark caverns below?

Making quick use of Anemo, she managed to propel herself to the edge of the gap, scrambling up to uncertain safety. Only once she was assured the rock would hold her did she venture to peer down the hole.

“Hey, girlie! You sure you wanna go down there?”

The nauseatingly charming voice echoed dramatically from somewhere above her and she looked up.

Childe stood on some jutting rocks further up the opposite side of the cavity, waving his fingers at her from over the edge. “Hello!”

She didn’t respond, making a face she hoped he could read from his distance.

“Someday you’ll be happier to see me,” Childe said. “Come now, no need to look at me like that. Suppose I’ll catch you later, then, traveller. Careful on the way down!”

With that, he took a step and a hop over the edge, soaring confidently towards the depths of the Chasm. A flash of grey and ginger later, and he had disappeared into the darkness. Lumine crawled to the overhang’s edge, gazing down into it again.

She had no defensive logic for the decision she was about to make, and yet… she had to. He was dragging her down with him without even touching her. She had to follow him, no matter what.

—

The first thing Lumine noticed upon landing was an ache in her legs. Her glider had served her well for most of it—but the amount of time it took her eyes to adjust to the low light level still had her legs nervously tensing for most of the descent.

It smelled of dank cave, metal, and some bitter scent she couldn’t place. She immediately took to a rock that was just the right size for leaning on, and regained her wits as she looked around. There was no exit; that was clear. The cavern appeared to be fairly large, narrowing towards the stone ceiling from which she fell, assuring no simple clambering out. She’d find a way out eventually, as she always did, but escape seemed to be quite out of reach for now.

Damn. If only she could contact Venti to fly her out. But then, even if she could, the last time she had seen him he was too intoxicated to fly straight. It wouldn’t serve either of them well. Also, as lovely as Venti was as a friend, he was one of the last people she’d like to be stuck underground with. Childe was further down that list, of course.

Around herself, she could make out the shapes of different rocks and minerals, dismally glowing cave-dwelling blossoms, and in the distance, the faint silhouettes of abandoned mining equipment.

And no Paimon. Paimon would have no idea where she was.

Lumine had no chance to grieve this lack of communication, because she heard footsteps and disfigured yelling just a moment later.

“Who’s there? Name yourself!”

She said nothing, hopping over the rock and gliding further down into the cavern. Unfortunately, she noticed the Fatui camp’s fire all-too-close to where she landed.

“There’s an intruder!” The distorted voice of a Pyroslinger broke out and she groaned internally. Not even a minute to catch her breath? Really?

Lumine’s attacks came naturally, blowing down the Fatui’s elemental shields and stunning them with Anemo vortexes. Finally reaching the last enemy, the Pyroslinger Bracer, she took slow steps towards the corner she’d blasted him into. She always soaked up the last moments of her victory for what they could offer: the Pyroslinger’s arms raised to protect himself, muttering curses just loud enough for her to enjoy, and the inevitability of his defeat. Her movements halted, suddenly, though it was neither her doing nor the Fatui skirmisher’s. Her vision was dimming, and she looked around herself to see strange dark mud covering the ground. Her nose was overwhelmed by the bitter smell now, and her legs were leaden.

Three shots from the recovering Pyroslinger now struck her chest, knocking her off her balance. She collapsed to the ground with hands cushioning her fall in the egregious mud. She looked up as the Pyroslinger repositioned his gun to aim again. She couldn’t pull her hands out of the mud fast enough to reach for her sword, which had fallen to her left.

“Stand down, comrade,” a tenor voice said from somewhere behind.

The Fatui skirmisher looked up from her and cocked his head. “Who gives you the authority?”

A second later, two arrows had struck each of the skirmisher’s shoulders, just hanging onto the top of the fur, and a third zipped directly into the feather on his hat, knocking it clean off.

“Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, grants me absolute authority.” Childe stepped into Lumine’s view, giving a cold smile to the skirmisher. “Can’t recognize one of the Eleven Harbingers, comrade?” A dim flash bloomed above his gloved palm in a shapeless lantern of elemental energy, casting an eerie blue glow on his visage.

The skirmisher stood straight, giving an awkward salute. “Forgive me, sir.”

“You’re off the hook, but don’t go aiming your gun at me again,” he chided. “Her Majesty will hear about it.”

“No, sir. But—” he gestured to Lumine “—she took down my whole squad.”

Childe peered into the shadows, noting the unconscious or incapacitated forms of said squad. “I see.” His dim elemental lantern extinguished and he offered Lumine his hand, which she greeted with nothing but an offended stare. “Good work, girlie. You know, you really don’t have to attack ‘em unprovoked, hey?”

“Oh, you’re one to talk,” she spat, getting to her feet without his assistance and dusting herself off. This mud would surely leave quite the stain.

“Don’t I get a ‘thank you’?”

“I had that under control.”

“I’d beg to differ,” he said, leaning over to her to wipe a bit of muck out of her hair. She froze, at first, and then stepped away from him, slapping his hand away. Fetching her sword from the mud, Lumine nearly stormed off.

But then she realized, with much consternation, that she had nowhere to walk away to. Her goal had been to stop him. She wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.

By now he should have prompted a duel, as had happened each time before. She’d interrupted him chatting with (interrogating) innocent civilians in Qingce Village, prevented his discovery of Albedo’s camp, and taken clues for herself. Rumours were everywhere, of course—and yet they had both been acquainted with similar directions to the earthquake zone which had dropped them here. The targeted creature was last spotted and chased away by guards of the Chasm. The guards were the reckoned finish line of their race for intel. But the guards were at the Surface, and they were down here.

Childe grimaced at her movement. His eyes didn’t leave her.

Lumine cleared her throat. “You didn’t, by chance… end up talking to the…”

“The guards? Nah, I didn’t make it that far. You thought I might have come back for you, girlie?” He sniggered.

Lumine stared at him blankly. She wanted to ask him, what now? But she also didn’t want to be confronted about her decision to come down here in the first place.

He turned to the Pyroslinger. “When’s your relay over?”

“Twenty-seven days.”

“Rations?”

“We’re fine. There’s water sources down here, and mushrooms we can roast in the worst case.”

“Good. Carry on, comrade.” He eyed a Fatuus in the shadows, who was groaning in pain. “And… try to take care of your squad, will ya?”

“Acknowledged.”

Lumine almost felt guilt for causing this group all the trouble. But then she remembered. They were Fatui.

And so was Childe. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and glared at him. He turned to her with an amiable smile, ignoring her stance.

“Now, then, traveller, whaddya say we explore a little?”

Lumine tightened her hand’s grip on the hilt. “For what?”

“Well, for fun, of course.”

She gave him a hard look. “Okay,” she said slowly, relaxing her hand, “let’s explore. For fun.”

—

Oh, it was excruciating walking alongside her enemy like this. Lumine hated how he walked a little bit ahead, how he pointed out directions they should go, how he made small talk. How he attempted banter and she fell into the trap of responding. How he never hesitated at a single turn, offering light from his vision in case she found the dark to be too much (which she declined, affronted by the preposition that she was afraid of darkness).

“It seems to narrow into a smaller cave, here,” Childe was saying, “why don’t we—”

“You should let me walk ahead,” she interrupted.

He cocked his head at her, Fatui mask in his hair shifting with the movement. “Why? You want to protect me?”

“No, idiot. I don’t trust you.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust his intuition—it was sharp, she could admit—but that she hated being out of control. She was used to the “why don’t we—”s from Paimon, but rather than observant reminders as it was with her pixie companion, it sounded like suspicious schemes. Anything he said sounded like a part of a ploy, a puzzle to unravel. Some kind of evil mission, probably. It always would be with him.

He tch’d, but gestured for her to walk ahead. “You have so little faith in me.”

“I wonder why, Childe,” she spat his codename. “I wonder why.”

With a pause, he sent Lumine a more serious look. He spoke carefully. “I think it would help,” he said, “if you took the time to hear me out a little, girlie.”

Lumine studied his expression. It wasn’t often she got to see his expression reveal anything more than military, wiley, or bloodthirsty. The corners of his lips were nudged back, his brows were slightly gathered, and his eyes were direct. And his Fatui mask was as red as ever.

“I respectfully disagree,” she said, taking the lead ahead. “No amount of explaining can justify your actions. And don’t call me that.”

“I’m not trying to challenge your morals, traveller.”

She threw her arms out. “Then stop acting like you want me to fancy your ass.”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it about, Childe?”

He hesitated again, boasting an irked expression. “I don’t need a babysitter, but you’ve been following me for weeks. Why?”

“You have the codename ‘Childe’ for a reason, don’t you?”

He went silent. Lumine looked over her shoulder to see his brows lowering.

“Giving up on your own case already?”

His gaze set into hers. “Do you hear that?”

Lumine listened, and then latched her eyes onto an ominous shape in the darkness. There was a soft, rattling snarl, which she recognized as that of a Geovishap only a second before it was too late. She leapt before Childe, raising her sword just in time to deflect the pounce of the dragonish Creature. Its claws scraped against the stone floor as it fell back, gearing up to leap again. Childe dashed past her and the Geovishap, and aimed a shot right at the nape of its neck, causing it to freeze milliseconds before lunging. It twitched, falling to its curved back.

For a second, Lumine thought he’d slain the Geovishap in a single shot, but it then began to twitch, spin, roll, towards Childe this time. He dove out of the way, narrowly escaping one hit which only seemed to aggravate the Geovishap more, landing directly in front of him with its claws out. Lumine always thought of Childe as rather tall and altitudinally advantaged, but when standing before an adult Geovishap he looked so small. Fleeting fear overtook her mind and with a leap from behind she took a steady blade through its skull.

Childe stepped back as it crumpled in his direction, Hydro blades dissolving into elemental energy as he gave her a taunting look. “You know, I had that under control.”

A proud smile spread across Lumine’s lips. “Ha. I’d beg to differ,” she said, planting one foot on the creature’s back, almost too high to reach, and driving her sword heavily into its back through scales.

His gaze shifted between the hilt of her sword, her overstretched leg, and her expression. A grin bloomed gradually, blessedly, on his own face and he laughed jovially. “Alright, then. You can lead the way.”

Lumine cleared her throat and withdrew her blade, swinging it inattentively before sheathing it. She forced her smile down. “Yes. Good. I will.”

He took to walking behind her, and she hated that more, because she could not see him. After a few minutes, she commanded, “Walk beside me.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Shut the hell up.”

He took to her right side with an expression like a satisfied fourteen-year old who just won a match of cards. “We should find somewhere to set up camp pretty soon, no?”

Lumine huffed. She did not want to set up camp with No. 11 of the Fatui Harbingers.

“Unless you want to go back and find my subordinates. I’m not sure how pleased they would be to host you after your unprompted attack, but I am great at convincing.”

“You’re not always so great at convincing,” she said, still unable to admit he had a point. She had no way to tell the time but she knew it had been late afternoon upon their descent, and they had been walking for several hours. Her legs were in need of rest.

“I’d like to think sometimes it takes longer than other times, but the job always gets done.”

“You’d like to think a lot of things.” The tunnel around them was widening rapidly as they walked. “I’d like to think this is our way out, but how likely is that?”

He pointed ahead. “There’s actually a bit of a semi-cave there, under that overhang, you see? You wanna set up there?”

She squinted into the darkness. “You’re joshing. There’s nothing to see.”

“Come on.” They walked in the direction he had gestured towards, and there was indeed a semi-cave, three walls but a big enough opening on the fourth side that there was no chance of getting trapped. “Is this to your liking, girlie?” he asked, like they were touring a couple’s apartment.

“Could be worse,” she conceded, and dropped her bag against the wall. “Now, by setting up camp, what is it you’re actually referring to?” Lumine crossed her arms, eyeing him. “Fire, food, shelter, and comfort? Or do you just conk out for a few hours on the ground?”

“Do you think I’m a savage?” he asked with a laugh. “I carry a leather blanket in my bag. I can make a fire with wet wood. I know how to turn a snowy tree into a cozy shelter. Hm… But we haven’t got any kindling, so shall we find some cave grass?”

Lumine, slightly insulted that he supposed her straightforward method of setting up camp to be savage, sauntered towards the greater opening of the cave and surveyed the area. There was still a strangely sufficient amount of light, though perhaps not enough for her to pick up on details such as potential grass locales. She squinted, trying to decide quite how far away the other side of the cave really was.

“Let’s walk this way.” Childe waved her over, providing his blue glow with elemental energy. She wished she knew how to do that. But she didn’t dare ask, knowing that sharing any trade secrets with a Fatuus would be both humiliating and disgusting.

“Childe,” she said, instead, and then hesitated. The forthcoming inquiry was terrible, but had to be inquired nonetheless.

“Yeah?”

“What are we gonna… or rather, what are you doing down here, and…”

He met her eyes without a tinge of sass. “You’re really asking your sworn enemy to reveal his plan to you?”

“Uh…” Lumine sucked air through her teeth. This was atrociously painful. “What’s the plan?”

Childe’s face broke into a wide grin and he howled. “You are so cute.”

“Answer the damn question, Harbinger.”

He chuckled some more. “Alright, since you asked so nicely. I already have enough leads that I know the bounty’s down here.” He shrugged matter-of-factly. “Shouldn’t take longer than a few days to reach it.”

Lumine narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you… know the Chasm well?”

He clicked his tongue. “Not particularly, but I don’t get lost.”

“You don’t get lost? Not even in massive, cursed cave systems?”

“Nope!”

“Do you have much experience underground?”

“Oh…” he said. “Yes, a bit.”

For a fraction of a second his smile flickered, and this Lumine noticed with suspicion. However, she decided not to push it, keeping a watchful eye on him as they descended deeper into the cavern.

Wherever they were going, Lumine would have to stay on her guard for the deception that the Fatui Harbinger inevitably had in store for her. She knew how to survive, but she did not know the Chasm. She had not even seen a map of it before, and only had a trifle of knowledge about what had happened here. She was aware that it was related to the cataclysm 500 years ago, but its role was a mystery to her and the reason for its hushed nature in Liyue was just as mysterious. It was unclear whether Childe knew the Chasm, but he was of this world and was therefore at an advantage.

That, and he was the one who had some kind of true motive for being down here.

And Lumine’s only motive was to prevent him from accomplishing it.

author's note. please reblog if you enjoyed. thanks so much for reading! i'm so excited about this series man i poured my soul into it

— table of contents / next chapter

➳ GENSHIN MASTERLIST

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