#soft childe

Anyone who saw you might think you both are a couple. That wasn't the case, but it seemed like it at times. After all, they had never seen Kaeya spend so much time with one person. Nothing more and nothing less than the entire day.

Kaeya gives up the day because you are already sleepy after watching a film at your house. It's no longer the place for Kaeya to stay there, is it?

He gets up off the couch, causing you to lie on it by letting you fall onto your side. Kaeya turns, a small smile is drawn on his face, hopelessly dazzled by the tenderness of your sleepy face. He doesn't even know if you're still lucid, so he opts for a short goodbye.

“Sweet dreams, y/n. Today was a nice day.” after those words, he turned with the intention of heading to the door, but something stopped him. You had reached out your hand and held Kaeya's with a weak grip. “Wait.” you murmur. The boy looks at you curiously, kneeling to be at your height, wrapping both of his hands around yours.

“Tell me. Need anything from me before I go, hm?” he asked in a lower tone. Your hand moved a little under his touch, causing Kaeya to grab it a little more firmly, wondering whether to move his thumb and caress you or just stay still.

“Please stay tonight... I want to be with you longer...” you opened your eyes, your face flushed directly at the sight of Kaeya, who was a little too close. He raised his eyebrows and parted his lips at your words. “Oh? Is that some kind of indecent proposition?”

The heat on your cheeks increased considerably, and Kaeya noticed it, proceeding to chuckle. “N-no! I just want your company... but you don't have to if you want to leave.” You wanted to hide your face, but he kept holding your hand as if he strategically knew that was going to happen. “There, there. I understood you perfectly fine, it's just that I find it quite amusing to tease you.”

You frowned with a cute little pout. Kaeya finally released your hand, now running it through your hair, burying his slender fingers between the strands of your hair, a genuine and unconscious affectionate expression on his face while doing it. “You look pretty cute when you blush.” he admitted, lips curved on a soft smile. “Kae... N-not funny...” you stammered, so nervous that you couldn't form a complete sentence without stuttering. His heart melting everytime you speak with that cute mouth of yours.

“I've stopped teasing you a while ago.”

You haven't seen Childe this happy for a long time. I mean, really happy. And what you did was nothing more than spend the whole day together, a while fishing, another time looking at the clouds, relaxing in the sun. He would leave the training and the fights for another day, today he was completely dedicated to you.

At night, after finishing a movie together at your house, both of you were quite tired, especially you. While you were yawning, Childe got up from the couch. “Well, y/n. Will we repeat this day soon?” he started his goodbye, tilting his head to look at you. You lowered your gaze, eyebrows arched in disgust. You didn't want him to leave yet, his company... felt very different when you two were alone. It was so nice... you didn't want it to end yet. “y/n? Something wrong?”

You shrugged your shoulders. How were you supposed to say something like that to him? “It's nothing” you lied, and he wasn't an idiot. Obviously something was going through your mind. “Of course. Come on, tell me. Whatever it is, tell me.” Childe flopped down on the couch next to you again. “Aw, don't keep me waiting...”

You sighed resignedly. “It's just... I don't want you to go yet.” you settled into your place embarrassed, refusing to look at the boy next to you. He was silent, and your heart began to beat rapidly, wondering if it would've been better to keep your mouth shut.

“... really?” you finally glanced at him after his words, a soft pink adorned his cheeks and his eyes were wide with surprise. You nodded in response to his question “Why were you so scared to tell me? Come here.” he extended one of his arms in your direction, inviting you to lie on his chest.

“I don't know, maybe it sounds strange or uncomfortable for you.” you commented, resting your head on his shoulder and your hand on his chest. You could feel that the boy was also a little nervous.

He let out a laugh as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder. “Well, thank goodness you don't read thoughts.”

It was the very title that one day would spread a little far too wide in all of Teyvat that his younger siblings would hear of it. Where they would find out he worked as a villain in this cruel world; where his secret that he tried so hard and so long to keep; a secret to keep his family from being involved in dark business that could risk putting them in danger. Childe had to — no, Ajax — this was what he was keeping them from.

A world of monsters, nothing but ruin and lies — a cryptic and unapologetic dimension where if he asked as gently as he could, no one would bat an eyelash to help. A world so corrupted that despite not wanting to turn out a villain, Ajax turned into a fine asset on the battlefield. A world so unkind that just a simple witness to bloodshed would make one’s skin crawl and burn. A world where a young Ajax was forced to be brought into the Fatui because his desire to pursue violence was uncontrollable.

And one day, maybe that flickering grace of sanity in him would one day snap into a wisp of a flame.

Tartaglia couldn’t bear to picture his beloved younger brother look at him with soulless eyes, with indescribable disbelief as he would give him a look of incredulity if he saw his hands dirtied with wet gooey blood. He wouldn’t be able to fathom his surroundings; he might lash out; he might hurt—

No.

Tartaglia shakes his head, trying to rid of the negative thoughts in his head. He shouldn’t be thinking about such things in such an atmospheric calmness. He should be having fun; enjoying the scenery and resting. A good Harbinger shouldn’t break his mind over little things, no?

No. He had to stay calm; stay sane.

His family was waiting for him in Snezhnaya. Returning home into their arms with a broken mind would be like exposing his dark and poisonous behavior to his loved ones when it’s but a part of him.

‘Do not forget, Ajax, you are here to provide for your relatives and to serve the Tsaritsa as she sees fit. She wouldn’t like you questioning your abilities because she is never doubtful of your skills as one of her trustees.’

The ginger-haired male nearly lets out a laugh — would his family still look at him the same? Like he is a proud warrior who fights for the better good, someone who brings his family’s name to honor by selling toys that all children alike enjoy the toys he make? Would Teucer still look at him with those sparkling, bright jewels in his ocean-blue eyes, gazing up at him with unparalleled admiration? Or would they all turn their back on him, realizing that they’d been admiring a murderer in disguise?

Archons, he needed a distraction—

“Ajax?” A soft whisper brings him back to reality. The hallucination of his family staring at him in horror disintegrated into dust, his lifeless eyes blinking to turn his head sideways. His eyes met (e/c), and he felt his heart soften.

The girl he loves, the woman of his dreams, the queen he would rightfully do anything for so long as it was in his power. You were beautiful, inside and out. Your smile as your lips curl up onto an upwards curve, showing off that perfect smile that would brighten up his days to no end; your eyes that shined in the darkest of nights that not even the moon could compare; your hands that he loved holding even if there was no reason to — if people asked him if you were some sort of divine being, he would’ve responded yes. There was no one like you in the world.

The woman that loves him, the woman that cares for him, the woman that he keeps coming home to because he was high off on paradise every second he spent with you. There, next to him on the grass, you lied next to him with your hands resting on your chest as your head was tilted to face him.

“Yeah… what is it?”

You gave him a disapproving frown, brows furrowing. “You had this look again.”

“Did I?” The Snezhnayan male chuckles awkwardly as he rolled over to his sides so his right arm now supported his whole weight while his left hand caressed your cheek gently, a portion of his body hovering over you as he leans down to gently rub his nose with yours. “Sorry, I tend to… overthink sometimes.”

You bit down the giggle that almost slipped out from the eskimo kiss, your arms instead wrapping around his neck as you brought him closer. “That so? Mind if I know what it was about?” Your lips pecked his, and in just that split second, Tartaglia forgot what he was thinking of earlier.

God, he was drunk on love. And he wanted to bathe in it more, especially because it was you.

“Take a guess, I’d like to know too.” He teases, his pearly white teeth flashing as he coyly stares at you with a boyish grin. “I wonder what I was thinking about.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either.

You giggle, pushing his hovering body off of you and instead topping him by placing your two hands on either side of his body. Tartaglia was taken off guard, eyes flitting towards yours in slight surprise since you didn’t usually attack him first. You leaned down, lips brushing against his before letting out a short giggle.

Ajax nearly feels his heart jump out of his chest at your teasing, his cheeks reddening at what you were trying to do. His heart pounded hard and he was sure if you listened closely, you would hear the rapid noises it was making. But he focused on you solely — noticing how close you were and how he could practically feel your breath fanning on his lips every time you parted just a bit of those lips.

You were constantly in his vicinity after every battle, always in his line of vision, always so close to him — so close that he loved getting all too many opportunities to hug you, to hold your hand, to touch you, to kiss you any time he wanted; he loves simply just being there with you.

Every moment, to him, mattered.

It was when the ginger-haired male had finally grabbed all courage inside his heart to bring a hand up to the back of your head and push you closer. His head raised up a bit to meet your lips in a gentle kiss; one that, although you didn’t see coming (you probably did), you returned with just as much gentleness. Your lips and his moved in synchrony but unfortunately you both had to pull away for breath.

“What’s up with you today?” You laugh softly as you pulled away. “You’re quite soft today, not that it’s a bad thing.” You mused, seeing your lover’s expression convert into slight embarrassment, his cheeks tinted red.

He clears his throat, flushed cheeks. “Ah… well…”

You giggle and roll off of him, back onto the grass that tickled your cheeks. The silence that ensued after wasn’t uncomfortable in the least bit. Any moment with you was shared special, no matter where there are interactions or not. He counted them all and described each one as heavenly.

“Hmm… this is… a little random but,” this time, Ajax turned his head to look at you in curiosity, “what is home to you?”

He’d known beforehand what you’d lived as before he’d crossed paths with you — you were a victim of domestic abuse, and he was very much aware how much torment and pain you’d went through before stumbling upon him in dirtied garments. He had the option to ignore you, but the fear in your eyes triggered something in him — reminding him of himself from when he’d fallen into the Abyss.

Tartaglia was slightly apathetic as you asked, but as soon as you did, two things appeared in his head. One of his family in Snezhnaya and you, his beloved. The male hums in ponder, eyes darting upward, squinting slightly as they were blinded by the literal sun.

“You are my home.”

“Huh?”

“I would’ve honestly answered my family but,” he turns to you, eyes as dead as ever as he confesses, “they are my heart instead.”

You frowned. “Technically, in this given scenario, aren’t they the same?”

“They’re different for me. I can live without a home, but a heart I know I can’t go forward without.” He spoke, an aching in your chest stinging as he finishes.

And it hit you just how cold the meaning of his words meant. It was simple and straightforward, there was nothing to not get. That if he had to choose between his family and you, he wasn’t going to hesitate dropping you onto a pot of boiling lava for his own blood-related loved ones.

“I-I see… I’m sorry… for asking.” You apologized meekly, shying away now that you realized your worth in comparison to his family paled by a stretch away. What hurt, really, was that he didn’t even think twice about his decision. You knew already that he would pick family over you, but it still hurt.

“But,” he pauses again and you perked up, eyes darting to him in nervousness, “without a home, I’m lost and alone.” Ajax turned to you, eyes softening a great amount as his thumb brushes over your cheek lovingly. “You are my home, (Y/n). You make me feel safe and protected—make me feel like I can be myself without a hindrance, make me feel comfortable. You…” He trails off, his forehead leaning on yours. “I love you. And that even if I can live without you, I wouldn’t.”

Your heart beat erratically, your nose turning red as you sniffled. “Oh…” You tear up, hiding your face in your hands as he continued to caress your skin in a graceful manner.

“I… love you too. You’re my home too, Ajax—and I… I’m so glad you’re here…” You stammered, choking on your sobs before wrapping your arms around him. Under the bask of sunrays and amber light, you two held each other in a moment of peace and serenity.

background - i’m a dancer myself actually :) - i’ve danced for around 5 years now (i started super late and i’m still catching up but i don’t really mind). and i dunno something about childe just being obsessed with dancer! reader - esp in a musical theatre setting…

—

liyue is as cheerful as a city as mondstadt is. not really described as one as much as the latter is, but such is evident in the way the children, like the birds in the bright blue sky, chase each other from bubu pharmacy to the docks and above wherever the millelith wasn’t as present.

you were peacefully awaken by the sounds of children playing right outside your residency located in the heart of liyue. you groaned as you stretched in bed, completely oblivious to your supposed ‘duties’ as an adventurer. and what time of the day it was, and what day it was at all. “tart.. tartaglia..?” you groaned through half opened eyes and a yawn that followed suite. throwing your arm over his side of the bed where you expected to hit him in the face as you always used to do on the rare occasions you would wake up earlier than him, you were greeted by nothing but a cold pillow, and a mattress that was tartaglia-less. and this shot you right awake.

“oh my archon.. i overslept.. again!!” you say to no one but yourself, quickly making haste to get ready. and as you stumble and fall around your shared bedroom with the tall ginger who is no where to be found, you make a beeline for the front of your home. you’ve already come to the conclusion that he’s out doing what he does best; a ‘morning walk’ to him was a brawl with the infamous traveler from another world, a ‘brunch’ was an all-you-can-eat buffet at wanmin restaurant, and the ‘little gifts’ he would send you when far from liyue on an expedition was nothing short of but only the best, rarest crystals in all of teyvat. 

the man has no concept of a wallet, nor a budget. no limits on the topic of mora, and in coming up with ways to show that he utterly cares for you.

just as your hands reached out to twist the doorknob, another pair on the other side had swung it open before you in a swift enough motion to knock your nose off your face. “AAH!!” you yelped in response and so did the very ginger male you were just (always) thinking about is standing right in front of you. with a face coated with sweat, blue eyes that once carried no reflection, somehow glimmered only for you, he greeted you with a smile that made your tummy tingle in the loveliest of ways.

“(y/n)! you’re up-”, tartaglia pauses as his eyes dart from you to the clock on the wall behind you, “-early.” he teases as always. you roll your eyes playfully and can’t help but return the smile he continued to carry on his lips. “yeah? would you say it’s my new record?” you place both hands on your hips in a proud motion. and all he does is laugh at how adorable you are. and as he does, you scan his attire that was very much casual, an attire that you thought he would never flaunt in public. he carried a simple black coat that accompanied a simple black shirt with minimal liyue patterns on the side. a few accessories from his signature outfit hanged on the coat, and he had his favorite combat boots on as always. “what- did the harbingers suddenly get a new change of clothes? you know i’m tired of having to wash mitachurl blood off your clothes that get mixed in with mine-” he caught you off with another soft laugh that, no matter how many times you’ve heard it already (and only you get to make him laugh this much. besides the laughs he does when he isn’t quite literally getting high in the middle of a battle), made you feel like you were floating in air. 

“no..” he trails the word sweetly, closing the door behind him before walking past you, your shoulders barely touching as his soft scent tails behind him. “..i just wanted to wear something more comfortable..” he continues to talk with his eyes affixed on the shiny, wooden floor beneath him and his back faces you. “...on my day off..” he throws his coat over a chair, before turning back to face you as he leans casually on a table with his muscular arms crossed. “..that i so kindly requested from the ‘higher’ harbingers.. 

to spend time with.. well, 

you.”

you could feel the blood rush to your cheeks in both embarrassment and in total adoration for the other. it wasn’t a negative kind of embarrassment. but the kind that made you fall so utterly speechless at how he knows just exactly what to say to catch you off guard. and he knows exactly what he’s doing. he knows that he’s so good at making you feel so important. so loved. 

you both knew in each other’s hearts—no words or reassurances had to be muttered—that everything you both said, you both meant. 

“so how about you lose that huge backpack of yours, get into the clothes i know you prefer wearing, and we go out for a late lunch at wanmin? that alright with you, comrade?” he smiles gently at you.

“that sounds perfect, comrade.” 

You look like an angel. But angels don't hang out with bad guys. However, there you are... Resting under the stars next to the most troublesome boy in Liyue.

But anyway, you have a good relationship —very good I must add— and you both get along so well. How to say it... ? You two are like yin and yang. One has what the other lacks, and you both feel complete when you are together.

Tonight... is the weather better or is it just Childe's thoughts? More peace... more silence. It is as if the tangled lines in his mind become one.

A straight, clean, perfect line.

He tilts his head to look at you. A bit of the grass blocks his vision, but he manages to focus your face. Your pretty face.

Your features relax while you sleep, you seem such an innocent creature in his eyes thirsty for chaos.

You make him want to protect you at all costs.

No one can corrupt you.

Just him.

You open your eyes and turn your head a little. Those pretty blue orbs admire you under the moonlight and the billions of headlights that accompany it.

A gentle breeze moves your hair while you feel how the crescent moon looks at you carefully from above, and only she is present in this scene of yours.

You notice that the redhead is blushing despite the darkness.

What is your trick to bring out his most tender side, huh?

A curious hand approaches yours cautiously. His fingers brush yours, as if asking permission to continue on his way. You stretch your fingers a little more to approve their timid request, and you feel your hand fill with warmth when you sense the complete touch of the other's while taking your hand and intertwining your fingers delicately.

The breeze is cool, but your bodies radiate a pleasant warmth.

Especially the fatui. You have him crazy about you.

But is he the best decision for you? Sure you can aim higher and look for someone better than him. Or not? Is it very selfish to want you just for him?

He is afraid.

For the first time, he is afraid. To rejection. To YOUR rejection.

The silence is broken by Childe's brittle voice.