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Childe had a childlike bounce in his step the whole time to the domain, elated that the traveler had sought him out for an abnormally tough domain. The harbinger had an excited grin that didn’t make the feral gleam to his eyes. “I just need to clear this out for a commission. It’s been too dangerous for anyone else to take on but me, though I’d rather not go in alone.” Aether was walking at a pace behind Childe, arms crossed. He didn’t like the fact that the harbinger’s face was the first to pop into his head as he thought about companions he could bring that wouldn’t get hurt running this with him. That or maybe he wouldn’t mind if Childe did get hurt, and that’s why he thought to invite him....
“Don’t worry, traveler. You can practically sit back the whole time, just relaxing. You know I’ll be the one to clear this out faster anyways.” Childe watched from the corner of his eye as the annoyed look Aether gave him broke down into that competitive glare he loved seeing. Surely, no one was as quick to take up a competition with the Harbinger quite like his strange friend.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Aether’s tone and face were apathetic on purpose, the goaded undertone breaking a small smirk upon his face before he could hide it. “I seem to remember beating you before.”
“Yeah!” Paimon gloated as she popped out of the air in a burst of shifting stars, as if she had been the one to battle him. “We kicked your butt!”
“I seem to remember holding back.” Childe sniffed, crossing his own arms and letting his pace fall back with the younger man and his floating companion.
“Oh?” Aether grinned, enjoying the annoyed pout of the almighty Harbinger’s face. “Then maybe you shouldn’t do that anymore. I’d hate for people to think you’re weak, just because you wanted to hold back.”
“I’ll make sure to keep that in mind, kid.” Childe sneered, pressing down on Aether’s fluffy golden hair as he ground the heel of his hand down. The traveler squealed despite himself, backing up with a flushed, fuming face. The kid was too easy and Childe laughed as he went ahead. Aether’s nasty remarks followed a string of ‘ugly nicknames’ from his companion, none of which were remarkable in his opinion. “I see it up ahead now.” Childe called, mind starting to zero in on his favorite pastime. “Shall we make a true competition of it?”
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They had each kept count as they moved quickly through the domain. It was perhaps the fastest Aether had ever managed to go through a domain, let alone such a hard one at that. “You’re slowing down, traveler. Not getting tired are you?”
Aether rolled his eyes. “I’m just being cautious. You never know when there’s a tra- Childe?!” The traveler watched with a gaping mouth as the Harbinger suddenly disappeared with a slight yelp. He heard the sound of Childe’s hydro blades dig into rock and a sickening crack. There was a low groan coming from the bottom of the newly formed hole, as Aether leaned over to see the Harbinger crumpled upon the floor. Even from here, he could see the squirting blood and the twisted, flinching muscles contracting around the newly exposed bone. Aether’s eyes grew wide as a panic flittered in his heart. “Oh archons, are you okay? You idiot! What did I tell you? Oh gods...”
“I didn’t know you cared so much.” Childe joked, his voice barely even revealing any pain. Was he not in pain? Aether worried his lip as he looked around for something to pull the man up with. “Good luck with that, traveler. The walls are very smooth and weak. I couldn’t even stop my fall, my blades cut through them like butter.” Sure enough, Aether could see the deep gashes in the walls, smooth like they were naturally made. Where they, naturally made, if water was technically used? He pondered for a moment, until he leaned too far forward and felt the ground give under the tip of his shoe. He collapsed down to prevent falling forward into the hole. “Careful! Not to be dramatic, but we might be a bit screwed if we both fall in here. Of course, this would be a perfect opportunity to leave me to die, starving down here. I’ll have to eat my leg to survive. Luckily, it’s already opened up for easy access.”
“You are disgusting.” Aether scolded, still feeling the adrenaline of almost falling beating through his bloodstream. “Are you sure you’re okay? What if something attacks you while I go get help?” Childe looked up at him with a skeptical face, the Harbinger obviously not worried at all.
“I’m more worried about missing my date with Mr. Zhongli.” Childe sighed, shaking his head. “What do I do if I have to sit for an hour listening to the importance of always being on time when you promise to be somewhere? With a broken leg no doubt.”
Aether had gotten up, pacing a bit as he tried to figure out the best way to perfectly handle this situation. “I thought you loved listening to Zhongli?”
“Oh I do. I was joking. Kind of.” Childe laughed, a slight tenseness to his voice. “And not that I can’t handle it-” Childe called up, poking at the exposed bone with a slight fascination as if it was not his own. “But I would prefer you hurry. It’s damp down here.” He pouted up at Aether, whose face calmed down a bit from the Harbinger’s jokes. He nodded, his voice still not steady enough to joke back. Childe listened to his footfalls grow softer, sighing. “I’m an idiot. I got too excited to play around with him and now look at me.” He tore off strips of his shirt, doing his best to stop from bleeding out and covering the open destruction he called his calve. With nothing to do but sit with the pain, Childe tried to fall asleep. It would be a while before the traveler returned with Zhongli to help get the Harbinger out and to safety.
Not even a week later, Aether was forced to accompany Childe again. Despite still having a cast on, the Harbinger was laughing maniacally as he slaughtered monsters for the traveler’s commission. “He is the real monster.” Paimon’s face was scrunched up in disgust and a bit of horror as the Harbinger managed to leap and slice open a head while landing perfectly on his good foot.
“It is impressive.” Zhongli just smiled, as if the bloody man before them was just having some harmless fun instead of looking like a psychopathic killer.
“Right... There’s definitely something impressive about this.” Paimon’s mouth pulled back, obviously thinking both older men were a bit off in the head.
“Indeed.” Zhongli nodded. Aether just smiled at the exasperated look his friend gave him, shaking her head in disbelief. “At least babysitting is an easy commission for you today, traveler.”
“He would be upset if he heard you.” Aether was relaxing in the shade of the tall tree they were all sitting under, actually indeed enjoying a rather chill day. It was easy for the hero of three countries to ignore the sounds of battle and bloodshed going on in front of him, knowing there was no actual threat towards any of them with the battle-hungry man playing around.
Zhongli chuckled, going back to fondly watching their friend. “Perhaps so. I’m sure he’d find the humor in it, though. He has decided that you are worthy of his respect. I doubt he would be too off put to hear you refer to him in such a friendly manner.”
“Bet he would prefer your tender loving care over mind, though.” Aether smirked, noticing the dusting color growing on the old god’s cheeks. He coughed, waving a dismissing hand. “Sure, as long as I’m getting paid, I’ll shut up.” It was nice to be able to fully relax for once, knowing his current companions would not require his immediate help just for some monsters. In fact, maybe he should be worried about the monsters instead. By the time they went back home, Aether was convinced Childe had just wiped out the whole population in the area!