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“The sky is crying,”
His voice sounded out as his body leaned back against the trunk of the tree. The leaves of said tree gave them ample covering from the sudden downpour, with the exception of a few droplets slipping their way through. He had accompanied her on one of her commissions today– not that she really agreed to him joining her, but he declared he was coming along with ‘his favourite traveller in all of Tevyat’, anyway. His head tilted to the side in a curious manner as he gazed at the grey sky of Liyue, the ocean void of his eyes reflecting nothing as per usual. “Who do you think upset it?”
“Childe, what are you on about?”
The Harbinger couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle at the girl's response, a smile tugging at his lips as he stood up a bit straighter. Lumine let out a small huff at that stupidly charming laugh of his, watching as his face brightened up ever so slightly.
“It’s just a little question, girlie. Who upset the sky enough to cry?” The smile on his face may very well be called a smirk. Yet, he seemed persistent in getting an answer from her, despite how silly it sounded. It was so easy for him to talk to her about anything – if not a topic she could relate to, then a simple thought that he deemed entertaining enough for her. It was almost like their relationship was normal. Lumine pursed her lips as she stared at the wet, muddy ground, a slight frown pulling at her brows as she mused over what he was saying.
“Maybe…–”
“You’re thinking so hard on this,” He couldn’t help the giggle that slipped past his lips, seeing her focussed face on such a silly question that he asked her. Lumine’s face flared as he spoke, that teasing, mocking tone of his meeting her ears. “I was just going to suggest that it got rejected,” He joked, putting a finger under his chin while he tucked his other arm, having them now half-crossed across his chest.
“Childe!” She put her hands on her hips, that adorably frustrated expression donning her face. Her lips in a slight pout, with red dusting her cheeks, it only made him all the more amused to see that familiar look on her face. It was pretty common to see, with a guy like him around her. She let out a disgruntled sigh, putting a hand on her face as she did so and lightly shaking her head, “You’re unbelievable,” She spoke, a groan of annoyance following.
“Unbelievable? You wound me, girlie.” He dramatically spoke, acting as if he was truly offended by her ‘harsh’ words. He used enough force to push his body off the tree without much movement, before leaning himself onto her. “Can’t you be a little nicer for lil’ ol’ me?” She couldn’t see his face from this angle, but she could hear that stupid look on his face. That stupid grin he loved to wear was plastered to his face, a mischievous glint in his eye as she continued to stare at the mud.
“There’s no reason why I should be nice to you, Childe.” She scoffed, folding her arms across her chest this time and moving swift and subtle enough to make him lose his balance and stumble forward a step or two. He whined in response as he regained himself, backing away from the dripping water and resuming his spot with his back on the tree. He watched as she looked back at him, standing just a few steps ahead of her though still under the shade of the tree. She rolled her eyes before looking back forward, “I don’t think you deserve my kindness.” She added in a haughty, mocking tone. She didn’t even have to turn around for him to know the expression on her face. That subtle smile that was pulled out of her
“Oh, please. You’re so mean to me, girlie~” He stuck his tongue out at her, making her let out a soft snort of amusement. He returned to his more idle position, though mimicking her pose by crossing his arms as well. “You should at least play pretend… you know, considering how much mora I’ve lent you…~” That sly, foxy look came across his face as he said those words, knowing just how much of a sucker for mora she… Well, more so Paimon, is. He felt a little satisfied to see her pause, her body stilling for a moment as the word mora registered in her brain. Her shoulders slumped as air left her mouth in a sigh, before she shuffled back to be beside him again.
“I hate you,” She said plainly.
“You don’t,” He smiled.
“I don’t…” She mumbled under her breath, “But sometimes I wish I would. So I wouldn't have to keep your money around me. And so I wouldn’t have to take pity on you whenever you act sad.” She kept her gaze on the pelting rain, her eyes reflecting a certain sadness in them. “And so I wouldn’t feel bad when I do something to hurt your feelings.”
“Hurt my feelings? Girlie, you’ve never-”
“You’re stupid if you think I don’t know,” Her hand poked his shoulder a few times while she gave him an annoyed look, though there was something softer behind that gaze. “I’m observant, Childe.”
He chuckled, turning his head sideways to give her a fond look. He opened his mouth to speak; praise, maybe, but she cut him off quickly by speaking first.
“The rain’s getting lighter.” She commented, dropping the topic of conversation. His face fell as she suddenly switched the topic, but he relaxed back once again and decided not to speak about it… for her sake that is. “We should be able to get back soon… Paimon’s probably worried sick at the Inn.” She had an almost guilty look on her face, but it’s not like it was her fault the storm suddenly came over them. “I told her it wouldn’t take more than an hour…”
“Relax, girly. Your little fairy friend knows you’re strong, doesn’t she?” He hummed, ruffling her hair, much to her annoyance. She swatted his hand away, fixing it back up with a grumble.
“Yeah… strong…” She let her hands slowly fall.
Strong.
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Strong…
She was always strong. Countless battles worth of experience, going against Gods and the like and slowly regaining her lost power… she would always come out victorious, wouldn’t she?
So why now, couldn’t she smile after coming out victorious once again?
“Hey…”
She nudged the broken body underneath her, watching as the pouring rain washed away the blood from his face and clothes, yet simultaneously making everything around them stained red. She watched. Watched as that fluffy hair of his looked more and more wet and dishevelled. Watched as his eyes refused to open, and his chest refused to rise and fall.
“Ajax… what upset the sky?”
Her voice quivered, just as her body was as she was staring down at what she’d done. What she had to do, right? To protect everyone. To thwart the Tsaritsa’s plan, and prevent the war that was sure to spawn from it. Yet it meant that she had to be here – kneeling on the ground next to her friend. She knew. Of course, she knew that something bad was going to happen eventually, their happiness wasn’t made to last. She knew that she needed to save this world… that the world depended on her, yet a happy ending wasn’t waiting for her.
It’s not like it’s her fault the storm suddenly came over them all.
For a single moment, she thought she saw the man look at her – almost pleadingly, as he shook his head in an attempt to tell her it wasn’t her fault – to tell her that things would be fine. That he wasn’t mad at her. That he didn’t regret coming to this end, if it meant it was by her hand. She had satisfied his greed for battle, after all, and granted his wish.
She killed Childe.
She killed Tartaglia. She killed the eleventh Fatui Harbinger. She killed Ajax. Just like he wanted, it was the traveller who took his life in the end; an even more pleasing end to him than accomplishing the Tsaritsa, her Majesty’s will.
He wanted this; She had to bring him down. So why couldn’t she smile, why couldn’t she be at peace with herself, when this is the outcome that should have made everyone safe and happy? A choked sob left her throat, burying her face in her hands. The tears were flowing freely now, her whole body shook violently from the intensity of it, unable to stop any longer as they poured down her cheeks, soaking into her palms. She felt like crying. She felt like screaming. She felt like everything was wrong. She cried out in her broken voice,
“I’m sorry.”