Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kaeya assumes his time has come. He saw it coming, of course.

Lumine has steadily been making very strong friends. Yanfei, especially, was a surprise, being an adeptus.

And his Honorary Knight’s reputation has only grown more secure, more impressive. There’s no reason she won’t be able to enter Mondstadt and find the strongest members to do her bidding.

He’s not going to make her feel bad for wanting the best around her. She deserves the best.

Amber runs at the front of the group, hand shielding her eyes from the harsh sun.

“Liyue really knows how to pack a punch, doesn’t it?” Paimon bobs, keeping close company so the Outrider doesn’t accidentally wander too far from the main group, a habit she’s wont to expressing on the best of days.

“It sure does.”

“I’m glad we’re going home,” Paimon says. “I missed Mondstadt.”

“Me too.”

He knows Amber has wanted to come back. She misses Eula, and has an assignment coming up from Jean.

Lumine offers him a bite of her food, which he takes, before blithely answering that he’s simply not hungry.

Her yellow eyes watch him close, before returning to her meal. It seems his lie won't last long, but it's unavoidable. His coin purse is almost empty.

He has to think to unclench his hand from his own arm.

Yanfei hasn’t taken notice, walking along with her nose in her book, as charming as ever.

“People trust me with their money, but," she's rattling off about her job. Kaeya's thoughts drift.

That adeptus they came across one day was certainly strong. It’s impossible to think that coming across more like-minded individuals wouldn’t result in Lumine’s team no longer having room for him.

He was, after all, one of the first people to meet her. She let him join out of his own insistence.

And it was some of the best fun he’d ever had.

But he's sure that fun like that doesn’t last. That, eventually, she’ll come to see him as a lack of strength, and move on from the man she’d once looked up at with admiration and joy.

Still. He's been able to make the team last back to Mondstadt, and he has a few people in mind to join her. Strong individuals, who he's sure will take her hand and lead her to the stars.

He glances down to her face once more, trying to memorize her before they part.

Lumine has the most adorable little clench between her eyebrows. “It seems you’ve got a lot on your plate, Yanfei.”

The woman looks up suddenly, green eyes catching the light, the whites in them looking like flowers.

“Hey,” she says, and by the tone of her voice Kaeya can guess what's coming. So be it. “I actually do need to get back to Liyue soon. I have a lot of summer work, and they’re going to need my help. You see, this is the time when people tend to move, or they get hurt in accidents, especially when building. You know at the moment they’re working on reinforcing the front docks and I have to be there to rattle through anything. I have enjoyed my time here, but, that being said I will need to retire.”

She says it as gently as she can, smiling over. “Oh, but if you need my services again for a short time, don’t hesitate!”

Lumine offers her a smile back, disappointed but not ready to show it. “No problem! Thank you, Yanfei. You’ve done wonderful for us.”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

“We’re almost home!” Amber lets out the cheer from the front of the group. Kaeya watches her whole face light up, Lumine's sinking quietly.

Chapter Text

Yanfei silently walks towards the nearest waypoint, her book in her hand, a serene smile on her face. Work was fun, but it’s time to get back to what she truly enjoys.

And she’ll have plenty of extra spending money to enjoy her summer with. Her inventory is practically full with all the coins she’s amassed! She even charged extra just to work the few extra days that she was kept.

Once, she looks back at the small group.

It’s fine leaving them with three. It certainly doesn’t break the rules of the Adventurer’s Guild, which is to have a team of 3 or 4.

Amber waves to Lumine, running up to her.

Though, Yanfei thinks, Kaeya will need to come up with a better strategy to keep the team together.

She hops up to the Waypoint and exits.

“So,” Amber says, clasping her hands behind her back. She suddenly looks apologetic.

“It’s okay,” Lumine says, already feeling her chest ache. “You can go on to Mondstadt. Thank you for working with us for so long.”

“Wait, really?!”

“Of course! I want you to be happy.”

Amber throws her arms around Lumine’s neck. “I thought you’d be upset! Oh, where did Yanfei go? I don’t want to leave your team with only 2 members, you won’t be able to adventure!”

“Oh, she just stepped out,” Lumine says. “Don’t worry!”

“That’s good. I just have so many jobs to do for Jean, and I know I’m an Outrider but I miss Mondstadt. It doesn’t feel right for me to go on to Liyue yet, not any more.”

She pulls back from the embrace, Lumine smiling up at her. “Thanks for everything, Amber!”

“No problem! Oh! Kaeya, I got your change." She drops a few coins in his hand. "Thanks for paying me for the extra days! You didn’t have to do that, but I do appreciate your insistence on going by the book! See you!”

Amber runs off, towards the same Waypoint, grinning ear to ear. Heading home.

Lumine glares up at Kaeya, who grins down at her.

Chapter Text

“You had to pay Amber?” Paimon bobs in the air, frowning angrily. “Paimon didn’t know about that rule.”

“Well of course, it’s only fair to pay those who spend extra time with us. Especially when they have jobs to fulfill.” Kaeya’s hand is outstretched, his self-satisfied smile working to distract from the worry in his eyes.

“Oh still!”

“And who would have thought you’d be the type to lie to our dear Amber?”

“It was necessary.” Lumine’s fuming, trying to choose her words.

“Wait, if you paid Amber to stay, did you pay Yanfei?!” Paimon gasps. "But she's so expensive!" The pixie gasps again. “Did you have to pay her extra?!”

"I couldn’t ask her to work for free, could I?” Kaeya retracts his hand, though his eyes are tighter than his grin.

“You paid to keep our team together,” Paimon says, and catches the one flash of panic in his eyes, before he smiles once more.

“Now, now dear Honorary Knight, I was simply doing my duty as the Team Captain. You did give me the position, after all.”

“This is why you didn’t eat this morning.” Lumine glares up at him.

"Ah," he stops, stunned that she noticed, before lapsing into an easy grin. "Now now, I did my best work. We're heading home soon anyways. And I assure you, my pockets won’t be hurt by something so small. I still live with Diluc, you know. I can go home and have a multitude of servants whip me up something special.”

“Methinks he doth protest too much," Paimon scolds.

"Methings you listen to the bard too much."

"Having a home to go back to and having spending money are two different things!”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Lumine says. “I’ll pay you back. Or ask Jean to reinstate you. I'm sorry, for all the trouble.”

Kaeya gives a sad smile. Reinstatement would mean he's no longer an active member of her team. It would certainly mean more pay, but who cares about that?

“We have no way to pay him,” Paimon states. “Without a third member, our team can’t go out under the jurisdiction of the Adventurer’s Guild. We can’t do our commissions.”

Lumine knows that. Her world is tilting under her.

“Let’s cook you some food, and discuss our next steps.”

Chapter Text

Everyone else she’s met with, worked with, or asked, is always busy.

Lisa, she knows, has this cough that won’t go away. The one time they talked about, Lisa admitted that she’s better working in the library. She only seems to find relief around certain people.

Xiangling is strong, and a great cook, but she has a regular job. Diona is fun to watch over sometimes, but she’s working hard at Cat’s Tail. And she doesn’t like to be far from her father for long.

Fischl prefers to go on expeditions with Benny and Razor, though sometimes she comes back to visit when she’s feeling up to it.

“Though, if Kaeya goes back to work with the Knights, they won’t keep docking his pay.”

That’s right. After pestering her on more than one occasion, always inviting himself along for one excuse or another, Lumine finally worked up the nerve to ask the Captain to join her team.

But since he was no longer in Mondstadt on a day to day basis, his pay was slightly reduced to compensate.

Which means…he has all the more incentive not to continue being a member of her team.

Lumine keeps walking, determined not to show on her face or in her step the feelings roiling in her.

Kaeya was one of the first people to ever approach her in Mondstadt. One of the first to be there for her.

And after his little treasure hunting test, he’d been with her ever since. Always tagging along. Always free to joke.

Getting her out of serious trouble and danger, more than once.

Even in Dragonspine, where he was at a substantial disadvantage. He’d always kept his head, taking her into the heart of the mountain, and right back out.

One of the few times they’d been separated was during the Stormterror fight, when he sent Diluc with her and went into Mondstadt to protect the city. He’d always found a way to surround her with the people she needed, in order to keep her safe.

And once that fight was over, he’d returned, doing his best to smile over the slight pain on his face.

Lumine can only imagine how much money Yanfei must have cost him. He does still live at Dawn Winery, so it’s not as if he has many expenses. Most of his pay as a Captain just goes in his savings, in case one day he decides to strike out on his own,
though it’s unlikely.

The mansion is plenty large enough to include multiple families, as it was designed for all three brothers, as well as Miss Adelinde to include any spouses and children.

Lumine shouldn’t have come to rely on him so much.

No, she thinks, that’s not a problem.

She appreciates him. She doesn’t want him to go.

But part of being a good friend is recognizing that he needs to do what’s best for him.

Mondstadt is in sight, and a nice spot to rest and cook, as soon as they take care of a camp of hilichurls near Vanessa's Tree.

Good, Lumine needs a moment to properly think.

Chapter Text

She's calmed down. After they cleared the camp, everyone splashed around in the streams beside Vanessa's Tree.

Then climbed up and said a prayer before it, asking for various wishes.

Lumine wished for her brother, but also for Kaeya to do what's best for his heart. And for Paimon to get lots of food, of course.

Kaeya thought to wish to be what Lumine needs, but he decided the kinder thing would be to wish for her to get the team she needs. One that's strong.

Paimon wishes for food. Oh, and a good team.

They rest at the camp, grilling up some fruity skewers.

Kaeya smiles, reaching out and patting Lumine's head, looking away. Wishing his eyepatch were on the other eye so she couldn’t see the tears welling.

He clenches his fist over his thigh, wishing he could be languid. Wishing he could lock his emotions away, like Diluc.

“Maybe Diluc would be a good accompaniment on your journey. He’s certainly strong.”

Lumine smiles. “I do want him in the future,” she admits. She looks so soft.

Kaeya kicks himself. He should have done more, with the time he had.

But there’s no time left.

“Well, I wish you luck on convincing your new friends to come along. I'll find you some of the best. They should work well for you.”

He gives her shoulder a squeeze, not meeting her eyes, and Lumine tilts her head, staring at him curiously.

“Aren’t you going to help me raise them?”

She asks so curiously, so kindly.

Kaeya’s world tilts, head slowly turning.

She’s staring at him, big yellow eyes expectant. Hoping, but expecting.

Sure that he’ll remain by her side.

The realization furrows into Kaeya’s heart. She never meant to remove him.

He crumbles forward, throwing his arms around her.

“Kaeya?!”

She returns the hug, his grip around her strong. His shoulders shake, her shoulder becoming warm with his tears.

“Oh, of course!” His voice is breaking in relief, all the emotions he’s tried so hard to hide for the past week, coming out. Kaeya wipes his eyes with one wrist, unable to hold them back. “Don’t mind me!”

Lumine’s heart breaks. “Are you crying?” She adjusts him closer, trying to pull his body along the log, against hers. She’s never seen her captain cry like this.

“No, of course not. Nothing is wrong at all.” He laughs, trying to stand, bending over so his arms are still around her neck, hiding his face over her shoulder.

Those hot tears haven’t stopped.

Lumine jumps up, unwilling to let him go. The two of them almost fall backwards.

Kaeya releases her at once, terrified she’ll be hurt. He stares down, eye more full of pain even than his tears.

Gingerly, Lumine places her hands on his face, an area she’s always felt was unreachable, too sacred to be felt. Her fingertips catch the hot tears sliding down, crystalizing as they slide off of his chilled cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she says. Perhaps she's been cruel. “I know I’ve kept you from Mondstadt. And you never complain, or leave. It means a lot to me that you’ve stayed.”

“Lumine.” His gaze softens. She wonders, ever so briefly, if this is how men look at their spouses. Lumine demands the thought to leave her head at once, focusing on the conversation. “This is some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“You should stay,” Paimon says. “You are our Captain. But if you ever don’t want to, you can tell us. We promise to let you go. It’s only fair. And,” she sniffles once, “you’ll always be our Captain.”

Kaeya laughs, another hot tear sliding down, which Lumine catches. The bit of ice falls to the dirt beside their feet. “Why, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Paimon.”

“Hmph.”

“You’re both adorable. I stay, dear Lumine, because I want to.” His eye settles on her, once more. So lonely, so desperate, so adoring.

Her eyes widen a fraction, tears stuck in the back of her throat, and she watches his expression as she begins to cry, unable to hold back in the face of such a man brought to such emotion.

“Don’t you start too.” He pulls her in, burying her into his chest. His skin is refreshing, and her eyes close, arms winding around his waist.

Just this once, she thinks, she can let herself cry a little.

“After all, your team would be lost without it’s Captain.” His voice rumbles in his chest, under her ear.

“That’s right,” Paimon says. “What would we do without Kaeya?”

“We couldn’t function,” Lumine agrees.

And that’s all the reassurance Kaeya needs. “So you see? I’ll stay. As long as you want me,” he whispers, into her hair.

She doesn’t tell him what she’s thinking.

That she doesn’t want him to go anywhere.

That she wants him to go everywhere, with her. Alongside her. As part of her team.

Lumine gives him another squeeze, releasing once her eyes are dried.

“Are you alright? I’ve rarely seen you brought to tears,” Kaeya says. “In fact, this may be a first.”

He holds out a tissue, but she only shakes her head, wiping her eyes quickly to ensure they’re truly dry.

“I’m fine.”

“Ah, me too.” His confidence restored, he holds out a hand for Lumine. “What do you say then, partner?”

Chapter Text

She takes his hand with a smile. Lumine looks up into his eyes, hers so lustrous.

“Don’t worry,” Kaeya says. “As your Captain, it’s my job to find you some teammates. Just go up to the Statue, and start praying.”

Kaeya watches them run off towards the waypoint, then flash over to Mondstadt. He begins walking towards Vanessa’s Tree, taking the long way.

So. She wants him to stay.

Relief floods him.

He stops in front of the Statue of the Seven, beneath the tree, and says another quick prayer.

To be the best for her.

Lumine sits in Barbatos’ hands, swinging her feet. The city beneath her and Paimon is luminous, full of people running to and fro.

“Many of them seem to be out tonight. Is there any special occasion?”

Lumine shakes her head.

“Hm. I wonder what all the fuss is about. Maybe it’s just a busy day for tourists.” Paimon shrugs. A moment later, the pixie sighs. "I've never seen Kaeya cry like that."

Lumine shakes her head.

"He'll be okay, Lumi. Paimon just thinks the silly Captain didn't know how to tell you he wants to stay. Probably got it in his head that he wasn't good enough. He seems to have that complex."

Lumine snorts. "We'll just have to reassure him, then."

Paimon nods. "Agreed!"

Lumine clasps her hands together, and begins to pray to Barbatos for good teammates to join her. Strong ones, who will get along well with her existing team.

With her, and Paimon, and Kaeya.

Chapter Text

Kaeya walks beside Rosaria, through the square. He just gave her a new polearm, something fancy he had found before Yanfei emptied his coin purse.

“I suppose I can be bothered,” she says, though in truth her step is light. He has to work extra hard to keep up with her long legged stride.

“Is that so?” Kaeya laughs, throwing an arm around his friend. “Ah, I’ve missed you, Rosie.”

“Same to you. You’re staying on the team, correct? That Honorary Knight still giving you the eyes?”

“She doesn’t have eyes for me.”

“She does, and you have an eye for her, though it’s the best you’ve got.”

“That was low!”

Rosaria chuckles, swinging a pendant around on her finger, since it’s safer amongst the crowds than a knife. And earns less looks.

Kaeya’s eyes drift into an alleyway. Empty of people.

No, something’s amiss.

Beside the alley is a man, walking. His dress is unusual, Inazuman. His hair is white, with a flash of red on the far side.

Kaeya runs over, smiling down at the man. Red eyes languidly rise to him. Too languidly.

“You want this one?” Rosaria sounds skeptical, and Kaeya doesn’t blame her. The man seems small, the male version of Lumine. But that’s exactly it.

This man must know how to fight. He moves with the grace of a dancer.

Kaeya holds his hand out. “Captain Kaeya of the Knights of Favonius. Are you looking for a team?”

Chapter Text

“Hey!”

Lumine opens her eyes, peering down from the statue.

Kaeya’s waving up at her, his arm around a woman, a short man beside him. A huge grin on his face.

“He did it!” Paimon blips into her pocket dimension while Lumine jumps off, gliding down in front of everyone.

“Welcome to our new team! Rosaria, you’ve met our Honorary Knight.”

“Pleased to meet you again.”

“Wow, you got Rosaria to come with us! Wait, can you get away from your nun duties?” Paimon’s ecstatic.

“They won’t miss me for a summer outing.”

“Oh, we have you for the summer then.”

“It’s better than nothing. Though if I get called back, I can’t very well help it.”

“That’s okay! Thanks, Rosaria! And who might you be?”

“I am Kaedehara Kazuha. I am a wandering traveler, and it seems the wind has guided me here.”

“Wow, you sound more of a worshipper of Barbatos than Rosaria here!”

“Barsabatos.”

Somewhere in Angel’s Share, sitting in front of Diluc, Venti sneezes.

“He has the Anemo vision,” Kaeya explains.

“Wow, really! Lumine uses Anemo too! Wow, so we have two Anemo and two Cryo! Well this is great! Thanks for joining, everyone!”

“Yes, thank you.” Lumine offers them each a smile, though her heart thuds at the thought of everyone joining. Rosaria is beautiful, though thorny, but completely reliable while she’s there.

Kazuha looks stunningly like her brother, thankfully his hair and eyes are a different color, but still. Even his voice is similar.

And Kaeya. Thank the archons, Kaeya is staying.

"You did good, Kaeya. I think these guys will really be something. Though, what weapons does everyone use?"

"We can make sure everyone is well equipped tomorrow," Lumine says.

"Mine got stolen on the way here," Kazuha says. "So...it may be some time before I'm at my regular strength."

"It's alright, we'll take care of you." Rosaria steps up beside him. "So tell me about yourself."

Kaeya falls in line beside Lumine, smiling down at her.

"You did wonderful."

"You flatter me."

"I'm thankful for you." She looks away, smiling, as the blush envelopes his cheeks, turning them crimson.

"Is that so? Why, Honorary Knight," he takes her hand, pressing a chaste kiss to her knuckles, "Anything for you."

Chapter Text

“Who attacked you?” Rosaria’s swinging her knife around, making the crowds before them part.

“I believe they were treasure hoarders, though they did not seem to be sent after me. I only came upon them in Liyue territory, before wandering here.”

“That’s a far way to travel without a good sword. You a fighter?”

“Yes, my family is…ah, excuse me.”

“Hmph.” Rosaria adjusts the arm tucked under her chest, watching as Kazuha blithely steps through the crowd, asking for some dishes from the local shop.

“Are you two okay?” Paimon’s voice cuts through the bustling crowd.

Lumine and Kaeya walk up, side by side, faces blushing furiously.

“Yes, they’re fine.” Rosaria seems almost bored.

She’s been watching Kaeya attempt to flirt with Lumine for the better part of four months. Every time they come back to Mondstadt, wandering into the tavern, she has to suffer through an entire night of them doing nothing about their feelings.

Kaeya will throw out a few one-liners, Lumine will brush them off like water.

Lumine will compliment Kaeya, right in front of Diluc, and probably god if she could. Venti will laugh. And Kaeya will make some excuse about ‘knight duties’ that don’t exist, wandering outside so ‘Lumi’ can’t see the blush that overtakes him.

The few times that Rosaria has followed him out, she’s found him in the alley behind the tavern, hunched over, hands icing his own neck to try and cool him down. Usually a good talking to is enough to get him moving again, and a stern reminder to breathe doesn’t hurt.

Their interactions have gotten so bad that Diluc and Rosaria have a running bet on who will make the first move, and whether or not the other party will become so flustered they pass out.

So far, Diluc is winning, though Rosaria supposes that’s not fair. She only recently learned that he’s actually living with Kaeya, a man who apparently had been adopted by Master Crepus. This fact she was stunned not to realize sooner, considering they had all attended school together as children.

Of course, Rosaria had been a couple of years ahead of the bunch, and Kaeya always tagged along like Diluc’s shadow, shy and bashful.

He really hasn’t changed much, she thinks, watching him glance down at Lumine, who seems unable to look at him.

Jesus, just kiss already. Idiots.

Chapter Text

“I suppose we’ll have to go after those treasure hoarders in order to retrieve your belongings,” Kaeya offers, gathering himself by the time Kazuha returns, Rosaria in tow.

“You owe me,” she grumbles.

“Yes…I do apologize for needing assistance. I do appreciate your aid.” Kazuha bites into his skewer.

“What happened?” Paimon flits up, as Rosaria passes out skewers to everyone.

“It seems those treasure hoarders took most of the money he had as well.”

“It’s truly not a lot, if I’m being completely honest.”

He’s so soft-spoken. Lumine feels a lump in her throat, in the best of ways.

“Did they beat you up?” Paimon flits closer. “We can take a trip to visit Benny first, if you need healing.”

Kazuha offers her a smile, and Lumine’s heart skips a beat.

Oh, god.

Thankfully, his smile isn’t quite the same, though it is sweet. He looks less energetic than Aether, somehow like a more mellowed version.

Is this what she would look like, had they never been separated?

The thought slams into her chest and makes a home there.

“No, nothing like that. I’m afraid it wasn’t a fight, but a bet.”

“You lost a bet?” Rosaria looks over shoulder, intrigued.

“Yes. You see, this is quite embarrassing to say, and I assure you I am not typically of such a demeanor. But on that particular night, when the moon was glowing so fervently, I decided to partake of rather inticing spirits. In essence, I ended up rather drunkenly agreeing to the match.”

“Oh you’ll fit right in,” Kaeya says.

Chapter Text

Lumine and Rosaria share a tent for the night, Kazuha preferring to sleep under the stars near camp. Paimon stays with him so he doesn’t feel lonely.

Lumine isn't sure what she expected from the nun, but a pleasant "good night" and an offer to use her makeup wipes wasn't it.

Still, Rosaria is meticulate about getting their small camp set up. She does offer to watch first shift, but Kazuha reassures them that he's used to working as a guard.

Still, Lumine doubts that Rosaria will be sleeping much.

She opens the flap once Lumine is under her blanket, staring out at the stars and the landscape, the light gentle on her.

Bruises have formed under her eyes, likely more natural than anything. Lumine thinks she resembles a flower, in that one moment. Or, rather, a cat amongst the flowers.

Kaeya heads back to Dawn Winery to get extra money, waving to Diluc in the hall.

"I take it went well?"

He grumbles a response, hitting his head on his doorframe when he walks in, passing out on his bed the second he falls face first on it.

Diluc sighs, doing one paranoid check of the man's bathroom, and under his bed, before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Kaeya wakes in the morning, shoes still on, no blanket, and drags himself through his routine of bathing and dressing.

His uniform is a bit strict, but still. He chooses one of the softer shirts, just in case he gets the chance to hug Lumine again.

Everyone enjoys breakfast, and then off they go, on the long trek back to Liyue, to catch some treasure hoarders.

“I actually have their camps marked out on my map,” Lumine says, reading through it.

This is the perfect chance to test everyone's strength, and ability to work together. For the time being, before they embark on any serious missions, Kaeya wants everyone to get used to each other.

The camps turn out to be pitifully easy to destroy.

In almost no time, Kazuha has regained plenty of his former strength, though his sword is still nowhere to be found.

“Maybe we can make you a new one,” Paimon suggests.

“Or shake down every treasure hoarder until we find the old one.”

“That’s not very nun-like to suggest!”

“Do I look like a typical nun to you?”

Kazuha pauses his grass playing for a moment. “Well, seeing as Sister Rosaria here is the nun, only she can truly decide what being a nun entails.”

“Paimon doesn’t think that’s how that works, either!”

Chapter Text

“What type of instrument is that?”

Kaeya watches the interaction between Rosaria and Kazuha, getting an idea in his head.

Rosaria has been his friend for a long time. The two of them suffered through the same type of treatment by those well-meaning folks around them, the citizens who prefer to put looks above personality.

While Kaeya’s grateful for being attractive, especially when he’s beside Lumine, he can’t deny the struggles it came with.

The constant rumors of him only using his family’s status, and his looks, to get to where he is.

The constant implied denial that his peers chose to make, of him being worth anything to anyone beyond what his looks could indicate of his physical prowess.

After enough years of that, it’s bound to wear on anyone.

Sure, he could talk to anyone he wanted to talk to. He could go anywhere, and be sure that he could find someone there to smile up at him.

But they’d only be looking at him, the same as a reflection in water. They wouldn’t truly be looking at his mind, or his emotions, or his thoughts. Heaven forbid anyone ask him his true thoughts.

And he wouldn’t be forthcoming with them anyways.

This heavy dosage of imposter syndrome was something that Diluc hadn’t been prepared to talk about.

Diluc grew up the prodigy, the respectable son, the heir to the unseated throne of Mondstadt. He was born, bred, and spoiled in the best ways, by a wonderful man who made sure, to the best of his abilities, that none of his sons felt ostracized or as if they were only to be used, not loved and appreciated.

Diluc's problems came from those around him choosing to see only the title. It was one of the reasons that Diluc became so jaded to romance, so early on.

Someone who did understand what it was like, to be seen and appreciated more for your looks than your duties, was Rosaria.

Another woman in a job that didn’t at all fit what she wanted out of life.

Someone desperate to be seen, but who also, for the sake of her safety and that of Mondstadt’s, someone who needs to hide.

Kaeya sees no small irony in the fact that both Diluc and Rosaria, people he’s close to, are moonlighters in the city that protect it.

At one point, he had thought that perhaps the two could make a good pair, but that thought was quickly lost.

Diluc is gentle, and sweet, and at the end of the day he needs someone who is just the same.

Rosaria needs someone who can handle her snark without getting their feelings hurt, and quite frankly Diluc wouldn’t last a week.

That being said, this curious man before them is not only a good drinking partner, but a man of curious talent with a sword.

His ability to manipulate Anemo is profound, involving him throwing himself in the air, then stabbing downward. Alongside Rosaria’s favorite ice spear ability, it’s rather intriguing.

In fact, Kaeya has a very good idea that he may finally be able to have something to tease Rosaria about. Finally, he can pair her up with someone, and watch her get entranced by someone she finds admirable.

He can get back at Diluc for their little betting game, some other time.

Chapter Text

"Today's commissions look a little...heh." Paimon's reading over Lumine's shoulder, wincing.

"How bad are they?" Rosaria checks her nail armor, glancing over.

"Well, they're all in Dragonspine."

Kaeya and Lumine exchange glances.

The last time they went to Dragonspine…like really into Dragonspine…Albedo found them curled up side by side, freezing cold under a blanket, with the world’s smallest fire to keep them alive.

Paimon had blipped into her pocket dimension, which apparently came temperature controlled.

Long story short, it was a bad time for both of them.

"Do you all feel up to it?"

Rosaria shrugs. "I think we can handle it, if not, we can check in with Amber again."

Kazuha nods. "Seems a sound plan. If nothing else, we can learn more about the commissions."

"True! Maybe we can get one done, or visit Harris!" Paimon's mouth is watering just thinking about his dishes!

Lumine nods her assent, and Kaeya offers a smile. "Sounds like a plan, then."

Chapter Text

These idiots are at the hilichurl camp next to Dragonspine trying to do a commission.

And they no longer have an archer so they’re trying to figure out how to reach the last guy as he’s shooting at them.

“Kazuha, can you use your skill to knock him down?”

“I will certainly try.”

Anemo swirls around the group, leaves forming out of thin air. Kazuha leaps in the midst of them, majestically arcing through the air. He sort of bats a few times at the hilichurl, before being forced to drop back down to the ground.

“Ah, I see.”

“Can you try it underneath the platform?” Rosaria points, then steps out of the way of another arrow.

“This guy’s really shooting, isn’t he?” Kaeya shields his eye, staring up at the archer.

“I will.” Kazhua stands almost under the platform, but unlike Kaeya he cannot teleport, and simply bashes his back against the bottom.

“Ow.”

Kaeya bursts out laughing. “I’m sorry. Rosaria, your turn.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Can you call your spear on top of it?”

“Won’t it just land on the ground before her?” Paimon blips back into existence, popping into her dimension as an arrow flies where she used to be, shattering against the shield Kaeya threw up.

He pouts in her direction before turning back.

“Can’t you just throw something at it?”

This team really needs to learn how to attack an archer on a platform. Especially when they themselves don’t have an archer.

Kaeya’s almost pinching his nose.

“What do you want me to throw, a spear?”

“Yes! Aren’t you a polearm user?”

“Hmph.” Rosaria turns away, then lobs a knife at it.

The hilichurl steps out of the way, laughing.

“It’s mocking us.”

“I see that.”

Kaeya lifts his arm, showering the creature with shards of ice from the sky. Being stronger than everyone else, his attacks have quite the range.

Kaeya’s grin then drops.

“He’s dodging everything!!”

“I’m sure they heard you up in camp.”

“Who does that?! What are you?!!”

“It’s a hilichurl, Kaeya.”

Seeing even her Captain has lost his cool, Lumine steps up in front of the enemy.

“Windblade!” She backflips, throwing Anemo energy as high as she can.

The tornado smacks against the platform, leaving no room to dodge the blast. The hilichurl drops to the ground, dead on impact.

Lumine’s dress sashays with her happy steps as she runs over, picking up his dropped loot.

She looks as pleased as a peacock, her smile self-satisfied.

“Ha! Good job! You found a way to deal with that. You, Honorary Knight, are exceptional. I’m quite proud that you figured out a way to knock an enemy down, especially something they can’t dodge.” Kaeya claps, turning to see Kazuha climbing a tree. “Excellent! You see a bird’s nest?”

Chapter Text

Back when they were younger, Diluc and Kaeya grew up side by side.

Diluc had high hopes of joining the knights. He was the kid who always wanted to protect everyone.

But this also meant that even during play hours, he was obsessed with training. He wanted to be the best, the strongest, the smartest.

He filled his and Kaeya’s hours with obstacle courses, archery, hunting, and horseback riding.

While Diluc preferred archery, with all of it’s careful patience and ability to force him to slow his busy brain, Kaeya loved horseback riding. He loved the thrill in it, the freedom he felt anytime he was able to move so fast, the wind hugging him and his mount.

When Diluc planned out strategic expeditions into the mountains, designed to include Kaeya’s horseback riding skills, and implement them in his own training, they’d take a weekend to test out their abilities. Kaeya would take the opportunity to learn how to predict the weather, the patterns of the animals in the area, and the plans of his brother.

It became a sort of game, where one would design the obstacles, and one would try to predict them and to form ways around them.

When Elzer was on break from school or from learning about the winery, he would join in. He became famous among them for forming obstacle courses the other two found themselves terribly perplexed by.

On more than one occasion, the kids had come home battered and bruised after accidentally veering far off course, and into a hilichurl nest. By the time Crepus and Knights got out there, they’d only discover piles of ashes and one of the boys’ many personal flags, hung triumphantly in the greatest hut of the enemy.

Always made by Adelinde’s lessons on sewing, which later became useful for closing wounds and mending clothes.

As Kaeya grew up, he was already well-trained to become a Knight. His brother did first, though with his age he had to ensure that those older than him would respect him. Diluc was kind, but also mischievous, and quiet-mannered in order to get what he wanted.

Kaeya, on the other hand, was allowed to be the reckless younger one. He was famous for encouraging his men into situations that seemed dangerous and dire, only to be completely right.

He relished the look in their eyes when they emerged unscathed, or at least with everyone alive when before the situation seemed hopeless.

Through his brother’s training and his own careful eye, he had formed himself into a rigorous planner, a strategic man whose greatest joy on the field was being one step ahead of the opposing side.

And so, Kaeya absolutely reveled in people who not only took initiative, but who did so while doing things that others may deem a bit terrifying. It’s one of the reasons he spent so much time with Benny.

That young kid is so willing to go the extra mile to accomplish whatever he’s set his heart on. And he does it often, always relighting his own heart if he needs to keep pressing on. A true fiery soul.

And at the moment, Kaeya sees a similar penchant for doing new things, within Kazuha’s climbing.

Which is when, perhaps too true to the legacy of those before him, Kazuha falls.

Chapter Text

“Oh,” Kaeya cusses, rushing forward.

Lumine is too far to throw out any skills to save him. Rosaria’s polearm appears in her hand, an anxious Paimon screeching. “Don’t stab him!”

Kazuha catches himself on a branch, yanking his arms a bit, but with a swing of his legs he’s spidering back up the tree.

Kaeya lets out a breath, and then a laugh, Paimon and Rosaria bickering behind him.

“Doing great! Keep going, just keep it steady!”

Lumine smiles over at him. This is exactly why he’s Captain.

Kazuha climbs up to the top of the tree again, slipping in the same spot. But Kaeya sees that he uses the slipping motion to slide off at a certain angle. So it was purposeful.

Interesting.

Kazuha glides across, gently intercepting the Anemoculus, and landing on the ground.

He hands the spirit over to Lumine to tuck away in her inventory.

“Wow!! We finally got it!!” Paimon does a backflip.

“Oh, is this a big deal? I saw it floating and thought it looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure I could read it. Thankfully, the winds guided me.”

“Well they sure did a good job! We’ve been trying to reach this for months! Poor Lumine and I couldn’t figure out a way to get up there! We tried everything. Wind currents, those little wisps, her burst, even throwing hilichurls up there with her skill! Nothing worked!”

“Yes, and I assumed shooting one down would be against our best interest,” Kaeya states.

Paimon jumps in the air, all grins. “But we got it! Nice work, Kazuha. Lumine got the hilichurl and Kazuha got the Amenoculus!”

"Anemoculus," Lumine corrects.

Kazuha offers a smile. “Clearly, Lord Barbados has blessed us Anemo users.”

Kaeya pouts for a second. “Well clearly Rosaria and I are blessed, our god is…the…duck.”

“Our god is the evil leader of the Fatui?” Rosaria swings her knife once more.

“Nevermind,” Kaeya says, hanging his head.

Paimon bursts out laughing. “I already told you, you can swear, Lumine is an adult she just doesn’t drink.”

“I know that but we have company!”

“I assure you, I’ve heard worse. Some of my traveling companions have been quite interesting.”

This piques Rosaria’s interest. “Oh really? I’d like to hear more.”

Chapter Text

"I initially came here as a temporary member of the Crux Fleet," Kazuha explains.

"The pirates?" Kaeya's interest, too, has grown.

"Well, yes."

"What led you to work with them?"

Pirates aren't the worst bunch, but it's odd to so willingly admit his friendly relations.

“Well, I found their crew to be interesting.”

“You’re from Inazuma, correct?”

“I am.”

“You used the pirates to get out,” Rosaria states.

“I did.”

“Huh. Well that makes sense. Isn’t the Crux Fleet run by Beidou?”

“It is, a most wonderful woman. I pray for her to have safe winds.”

“And do you plan on returning to her?”

“Yes, but I go where the winds take me. I’m sure I will return, eventually. All things that want to, return with the wind.”

Kaeya notices Lumine get quiet after that. He claps his hands. “Alright folks, good work here, on to the next commission, shall we?”

Chapter Text

“Duck this commission,” Rosaria whispers.

“Okay.” Kaeya stares down at the giant…frost…creature. “We need a pyro user.”

“Can’t you just ask your brother?”

“You have a brother?” Kazuha looks up, but evidently his voice carries on the wind.

The creature looks up to their hiding place, positioned on a rock behind the Seelie they led over. The Seelie that’s currently keeping all five of them warm.

Paimon sticks her head out from Kazuha’s robes, where she’s clenching them around her cheeks. “Did he hear you?”

“He can’t possibly come up here,” Rosaria says.

A second later, the creature jumps onto them, Kaeya’s shield narrowly preventing broken bones.

The team scatters, sprinting to the Waypoint nearby, the creature giving chase.

“Go, go, go!” Kaeya throws ice in it’s eyes, waiting for Kazuha, who’s protecting Paimon, and Rosaria, who’s not fit to fight this creature, to teleport out.

He looks back, trying to distract the beast, feeling a hand close around his own.

“Come on!”

Lumine drags him, the creature throwing an ice chunk at them.

She slams down her hand on her map, Kaeya shielding them both, his back over her.

“Look at those two.”

“In public!”

Kaeya looks down, seeing Lumine’s yellow hair, and the cobblestones of Mondstadt. “Silly, you didn’t even cover your head.”

Slowly, she looks up, as he releases her waist, stepping a respectable distance back.

Kaeya shoots a grin at the two nearby Fatui agents, who for once slink away.

Kazuha and Rosaria are panting nearby, Kazuha still ready to fight, Rosaria with her hands on her knees.

“I need a break,” she says, walking off.

Kazuha offers a small laugh. “Can we…take a breather tonight?”

Kaeya just nods, relieved that he doesn’t have a block of ice in his back, and that it didn’t manage to teleport with them.

“Of course.”

Chapter Text

“Why do they come back every day?” Paimon’s angry whisper amuses Kaeya.

“I don’t know, because they’re pathetic.” Rosaria isn’t even trying to speak quietly.

Treasure hoarders step below them, again in Liyue territory, beside Guili Plains. They’re discussing something about docking pay, close enough to be heard.

Amber will be available for the team later in the week, so in the meantime they get to explore Liyue, try to get stronger.

Kaeya rolls his eyes. “Rosaria, you feel up to this?”

“Yes.”

She leaps forward without another word, grunting as she flips off the edge, airborne for only a second before descending on the enemies, polearm aimed harshly down.

“Kazuha, back her up.”

Silently, the warrior jumps down after her, causing a swirl of wind with his skill, pulling them all into her burst.

The enemies quickly fall, having enough consciousness to throw down their smoke bombs and disappear.

“Every time. Just once, I’d like to be able to interrogate them,” Rosaria says.

“Excellent job.” Kaeya claps heartily, sliding down the edge and stepping over, Lumine and Paimon in tow.

“My, you’re in a really good mood,” Paimon says.

Kazuha collects the treasure hoarders’ loot, setting it into Kaeya’s outstretched palm.

“My, so gentle. Thank you. I am in a good mood, as a matter of fact. You see, these are going to make me stronger.”

“Oh, how so?”

“I call it Cold-Blooded Strike. It means that anytime I hit an enemy with a blast from my ice, specifically Frostgnaw, my favorite, I heal some.”

“How does that work?”

“I don’t know, how does Barbara bring us back from the brink of death?”

“Good point.” Paimon flits in front of him.

“In other words, I’m about to become much stronger.”

Rosaria snorts.

“That’ll be really good,” Lumine says, smiling broad.

Kaeya grins over with her, their hair almost mingling as he holds the ingredients in his hand. “Do you know how much healing I’m going to do?”

Rosaria snorts once again. “None, because we can’t get your attack any higher.”

Kaeya’s face deadpans.

No matter where they’ve gone, they’ve been unable to find any better artifacts for him. While Kazuha, a new member, is running around with an artifact that boosts his Anemo damage, and Lumine’s set is almost exclusively rare, poor Kaeya only recently discovered that the artifact Lumine had given him was…in fact…meant for Hydro users.

“I thought you could use it…since you know…it’s like…water, ice.” She’d smiled up at him, completely nervous that he hated her.

“It’s fine.” He’d patted her head, keeping his laughter choked inside him, worried she’d break out crying. “But let’s change it.”

He’d been sorely disappointed when he discovered that his strength didn’t increase by much. Amber laughed at him so hard he sent her out hunting that night.

Kaeya slowly turns to Rosaria, while Lumine snickers behind him.

“Wow, let’s call you Barbatos since you just SHOT ME DOWN!”

“Bartobas?”

Chapter Text

“A camp?” Kaeya jogs over, peering into the tent, looking for treasure.

Which is when treasure hoarders appear, seemingly out of nowhere with that same mysterious ability that allows them to escape so easily.

“Kaeya!” Kazuha rushes forward, calling the attention of the enemies surrounding him.

The Captain teleports behind the small tent, Kazuha’s skill sounding off a second later. The wind currents suck all the enemies towards him.

Kaeya throws out his own skill, mixing ice with the wind. Kazuha drops on the enemies, who quickly disperse.

By the end of it, Kaeya is laughing.

Lumine has just run up, feet sliding on the ground, Rosaria beside her, weapons in hand.

But the treasure hoarders have been thoroughly dealt with.

Kazuha slowly slides his sword back in his sheathe, before turning to face Kaeya. “Are you alright, Captain?”

“I am. That was very well done,” he praises, clapping Kazuha on the back. “I’m honored that you stepped in to save me so quickly.”

“It was my duty. I didn’t want anyone to be hurt on my watch. Still, it is to my relief that you appear uninjured.”

“I assure you, I am. Thanks to you.” Kaeya smiles at him once more, before looking to the rest, producing a notebook. “Shall we read the contents?”

“It’s a relief you weren’t hurt,” Paimon says.

Still, Lumine walks closer, circling Kaeya, checking him herself.

He hands the papers over to Kazuha, chuckling. “Well, how do I look, dear Honorary Knight?”

“You look like you almost died,” Rosaria states. Lumine nods, stiff, her jaw set. “Please be more wary, we are in dangerous territory.”

“I thought Liyue was peaceful,” Kazuha says.

“Peaceful it may be compared to Inazuma, but this is a land of trade, which makes it a priority spot for thieves and all sorts of troublemakers. We should remain on our guard.”

“Understood. Truthfully, it’s my fault. I should have smelled that they weren’t gone sooner.”

“Nonsense,” Kaeya says. “They were likely covering their tracks, waiting for any merchant to come along. Many of these merchants have dogs, so the treasure hoarders prepare. You wouldn’t have been able to sniff them anyways.”

“Are we ignoring the fact he said he could sniff them out?” Paimon bobs up.

“I have an excellent sense of smell,” Kazuha states simply.

“Right. Okay then. Lumine, how do I smell?”

“Hmmm. Like steak.”

“What?! Paimon at least smells like fruit. Tell Paimon she smells like fruit!”

“So you admit you’re emergency food.”

“Paimon admits she wants to know more about Liyue."

Chapter Text

“I’m not fighting this thing,” Paimon states, staring down at the ice monster from before.

“Well that’s fine,” Kaeya reminds her, trying for the fifth time to get the flint to spark, “because we are. Tomorrow. When we get a pyro user.”

“Who’s coming?”

“I’m not sure,” Rosaria answers. “Amber said she’d come up as soon as she was able to. Do you need help?”

She takes the flint, striking it against one of her nails. The sconce flares to life.

Lumine is huddled up next to Kaeya, Paimon’s head poking out of the top of Kazuha’s shirt.

Rosaria breathes a sigh of relief, her breath puffing out before her. “It’s safer to camp at the Waypoint. The heat is steadier.”

Paimon nods. “Okay. Only if there’s a fire.”

“Alright, we can make one.” Rosaria reaches down, using her taloned grip to lift the base of the sconce.

Kaeya hops down first, lifting his arms to help Rosaria down, then Kazuha, who’s able to use Anemo to mostly catch himself as he jumps, then Lumine who’s short enough to just jump into his arms.

He laughs, setting her beside him in the snow, putting an arm around her to push them both through.

He’s trying to keep in good spirits, but in reality, he’s much colder than he’s letting on. He can’t feel his fingers.

Lumine grabs his hand to lead him through the increasing storm of snow. She reaches out blindly, her hand grasping Kazuha’s. He grunts, pulling both of them in, hugging her close. He reaches beyond her, grabbing Kaeya’s arm and dragging both of them under the shelter of the tent that Rosaria is pitching, which Paimon is already set into.

The sconce burns in front of it, beside the Waypoint, sure to catch anyone who comes through on fire.

“Sure we can’t just wait in Mondstadt?” Kazuha pushes Kaeya and Lumine into the tent, settling in at the opening with Rosaria. They hold the cloth closed, sitting on the edge of it.

Lumine pulls an emergency blanket from her inventory, placing it over everyone’s legs. Paimon crawls onto her lap, shuddering.

“We have to watch the monster,” Rosaria says. “We’re unsure how far they can travel. Unfortunately, Albedo’s camp is up the mountain, and there’s a research camp at the base of the mountain.”

“So if he leaves, people could die.”

“Exactly. With the fire burning outside, and us being on the Waypoint, we can survive a few hours until someone gets here. Then we’ll fight the thing, and reconvene in the warmth of literally anywhere but here.”

“Don’t say that. We’ll get an extra-special commission from Albedo again and be stuck up here for a week.” Kaeya’s teeth are chattering.

“Move closer.” Lumine’s shivering.

Kaeya sets his arm around her, pulling her in easily, sighing as, finally, he begins to feel a bit warmer.

Chapter Text

“Hey guys!”

Kaeya wakes up to Amber’s greeting, and then a rush of cold air as she opens the tent.

One arm is around Lumine, draped across his chest. The other rests on Kazuha’s shoulder, his head securely on Kaeya’s lap. Paimon is nestled in his clothes still, resembling a cat.

Kaeya blinks awake, looking around with a start.

“Where’s Rosaria?!”

“Oh, she’s back in Mondstadt.”

Amber steps in with a smile, flaring the fire behind her heavily, so that the tent fills with warm air.

“She’s drinking away at Angel’s Share, complaining to Diluc and Venti about you guys.”

Kaeya relaxes, laughing as he pulls his friends in for a hug.

Kazuha groans, Lumine sucking in a deep breath, accidentally whiffing some of his white hair. She pats it away, turning her face into Kaeya’s chest, smiling against his skin.

He feels himself blush brightly, making and then avoiding eye contact with Amber. Then making it again.

“They got cold.”

“I see that. I’ll give free hugs!”

She holds both arms out, and Kazuha sits up, stretching, then drifts over to the pyro user, handing her Paimon.

“Hey silly! How’s Dragonspine treating you?”

“You know I hate it up here, but Lumine wanted to come. We have commissions to do.”

“I heard about that! Well, as soon as these cuddle bugs are awake, we can get them done. And then I’m yours for the week.”

“Whoa, really?”

“Yeah, if you’ll have me! Eula is working hard this week, Rosaria wants a break, so I’m free! And, I finally passed a big test, so I feel ready to explore Liyue with you guys!”

“Wow, congrats Amber!”

Chapter Text

They trek through the snow on the way back to the Frostarm Lawachurl.

Kaeya hangs in the back, scooping up some snow and throwing it on his face to cool down. And his chest.

He can still feel Lumine’s warm breath, feel her hand tugging on his shirt as she woke up.

Oh, archons.

Waking up to her sleeping on him was precious, but he can’t get a grip.

They climb up the tiny hill, crouching low so he doesn’t see them.

Amber lights the nearby sconce, appraising the situation.

“Okay, this isn’t so bad,” Amber says. “I can melt the shield, and from there we need to try to use as much fire as possible on him.”

“My elemental skill will enhance your flames,” Kazuha says.

“Lumine’s too,” Paimon says.

“Alright. Kaeya, you’re vulnerable here, so shield everyone and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry too much about fighting it. And remember, if we don’t beat it the first time, it’s fine! Focus on not getting hurt.”

The team nods, and Amber levels her bow.

She rains fiery arrows on the Lawachurl, Kazuha leaping from the ledge. He immediately jumps in the air, avoiding the Lawachurl’s fists. Lumine runs behind the Lawachurl, hitting him with her skill as Kazuha plummets.

The fire rages around the Lawachurl, and he roars. Amber continues to shoot, bringing him to his knees.

Kaeya keeps shields up in front of each member, while Kazuha and Lumine cut at the Lawachurl’s weak points.

And then it’s done, much easier than it would have been otherwise.

“Man, you guys made that look easy!”

“It’s only because Amber’s here,” Kaeya says, chuckling. He’s sweating, the effect of trying to keep shields up in front of everyone while fires burned before them.

“Good work, everyone! Let’s grab our loot and get out of here.”

Chapter Text

The team teleports to a temple in Mondstadt, staring up at it.

“Okay.” Captain Kaeya claps his hands together. “Here’s the thing. This is a trial. If we beat it, we get a lot of prizes, including being stronger and getting more money from the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“True, and then we can take on some major commissions,” Amber answers. “As well as bounties.”

“What are bounties?” Paimon flits closer.

“Basically, we get to hunt monsters for money.”

“Whoa, really?! Let’s get in there, and win!”

“Well, hold on. First, you need to wait out here Paimon.” Kaeya’s serious. “Second, we’re in danger in there. Last time, we didn’t manage to beat the Electro enemy. Lisa always comes along and stands on the sidelines of these quests, but she had to drag us out.”

“Oh, right. You and Lumine woke up in the Church.”

“Exactly. This is a very hard trial. I think we’re ready, but it won’t be easy. Is everyone okay with that?”

“How do you feel, Kazuha? You’re the newest member.”

Everyone turns to him, but he’s smiling, catching a leaf on the wind.

“The wind has guided me here, and I will go.”

“Spoken like a true adventurer. And you, dear Honorary Knight?”

Lumine nods. “I’m ready.”

“And you, Outrider Amber?”

“I’m ready.”

“Alright, then. Here we go, team.”

Chapter Text

Paimon waits anxiously outside, sitting on a rock. It’s a long time before her teammates come out, but they do eventually.

All grins.

“You guys did it!”

“Actually,” Lumine says, “this was mostly thanks to Amber and Kaeya. Kazuha and I watched them take it down.”

Kazuha nods. “We were wonderful distractions, but they were truly divine in their movements.”

“Kaeya does a lot of damage to the Electro Hypostatis,” Amber says.

“And Amber was remarkable getting it to a vulnerable state,” Kaeya says, clapping a hand on her back. “We did it Paimon, we’re officially stronger adventurers. Which means a better reputation, more money, and, above all, we can celebrate!!”

“Oh dear,” Paimon says.

“Everyone, follow me! I want to introduce you to my dear friends at Angel’s Share.”

Amber cheers.

“What’s Angel’s Share?” Kazuha leans closer to her, and she grins at him. “Oh, it’s the best tavern in Mondstadt! Our friend, Master Diluc, runs it. It’s where Rosaria is currently, and probably Eula, my girlfriend. And likely Venti, the best bard in Mondstadt.”

“This sounds remarkable. Do they have sake?”

“I don’t know, but we can certainly ask. What’s sake?”

Kaeya throws his arm around Lumine, pulling her against his side. “Hello dear Honorary Knight. You’ve outdone yourself this time.”

“You did all the work,” she says, smiling up at him.

The lines he prepared seem to freeze in his mind, or maybe that’s his breathing.

“You were amazing to watch,” Lumine says, looking away, thankfully.

He watches the curve of her eyelashes, the way her hands move as she speaks.

“You and Amber are seasoned fighters by this point.”

“That’s thanks to you. If not for you, I’d be stuck in my office day after day.”

Some part of him is begging her to keep him close.

To hold him, as he’s holding her.

To think, no, to feel, that he’s strong enough.

That he’s not so easily replaceable.

Some part of him wishes he could believe it.

But he can’t word this, and Lumine simply smiles.

Kaeya looks down, disappointed, watching his boots move across the road.

Then he feels an arm around him, and has to turn to see her. Of course, he put her on his blind side, to keep her safer.

To show how much he trusts her.

Lumine’s hand tightens around his belt, pulling him close, right up against her side. “You’re a wonderful Captain,” she says.

Her Captain.

“I’m glad you’re mine,” she adds, quietly, and he giggles, throwing his arms around her.

Paimon looks back in time to stare, completely done with the flirting. They move too slow.

“Come on, Captain. Let’s get back to Angel’s Share and tell everyone the good news.”

Chapter Text

The tavern is bustling tonight, the second floor full of patrons laughing, one person playing the piano. Downstairs sees plenty of patrons standing around.

“Ooh, it’s busy tonight.” Amber’s grin is wide.

“It’s exciting, to be among so many people,” Kazuha says.

Lumine and Kaeya watch him for any signs of discomfort, but he smiles, seeming to take it all in.

“Master Diluc!” Amber stands on her toes, waving behind the bar.

Rosaria turns, sharing a nod with Kaeya.

“Hello, how are our teammates? And you of course, dear Master Diluc.”

Diluc silently gets to work pouring apple juice for Paimon, and Lumine.

“Three Death After Noons, please. You can try it Kazuha, and if you don’t like it, I’ll finish your glass for you.”

“Sounds like a lovely plan.”

“How was your trip?” Rosaria grins at them.

“Wonderful, once you abandoned us in the mountains,” Kaeya says.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I had work.”

“Right. You see rather busy warming that seat.”

“It’s hard work for a cryo mage. None of you are hurt?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Paimon hated Dragonspine though.” She shuffles up beside Venti, who is staring at Kazuha. “It’s always so cold.”

“Hey.” Venti smiles. “You’re an Anemo user.”

“I am. And you are, too. The wind brought me here to Mondstadt, so I’m very thankful to it.”

“Well that’s good to hear!” Venti raises his glass high. “A cheer, to Lord Barbatos, and to Mondstadt’s winds!”

A few bustling members nearby cheer, stumbling past, from the bar to their tables with heaps of food or drinks.

Kaeya slides his arm around Lumine, tucking her in against him. He steps to her outer side, keeping her between himself and Kazuha.

Kazuha graciously takes a step back, so that no one can run between them.

Amber runs over, hanging on her girlfriend’s arm, kissing her cheek and telling her all about her day. Eula stretches, holding her hand out. “Care to drink with me, and after this drink we can dance?”

“Sounds like a plan!”

“Oh, but this isn’t dancing music,” Venti says. “We can hardly hear it.”

Kazuha is busy accepting his drink from Diluc, nodding to the man.

Diluc watches him an extra second, intrigued by Amber’s recounting to Eula.

“He’s incredible! I only set the Lawachurl on fire once, and Kazuha’s winds took him down! It was so much fun!”

“Sounds like your Captain was useless.”

“No, Kaeya told us all where to go, and in an emergency he’s the best one to have on hand.”

Eula sticks out her tongue at Kaeya, who returns it right back to her.

“How do you like the Death After Noon?” Lumine peers to Kazuha, Kaeya’s arm retreating from her back, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. Not wanting to linger.

“Ahh, it tastes like the fire we set off on the Lawachurl, if it had explosions. It’s very good, and quite different from what I’m used to.”

“What do you usually drink?” Paimon floats up.

“Sake.”

“It’s been awhile since anyone here has drunk sake. Should you come across some, I’m sure they’d appreciate a glass,” Diluc adds.

“Would you like some?”

“No, Master Diluc only drinks unromantic things, like grape juice and air.”

Diluc rolls his eyes to the ceiling.

Lumine swats Kaeya's chest.

Chapter Text

"Okay, my drink is done, let's go."

“That was fast!”

“I want to dance with you.” Eula’s fingernails tap her empty glass across the counter, closer to Diluc, as she rises.

She smirks, chin held high, holding out her hand. “Care to join this sinner?”

“That’s my line,” Kaeya mumbles.

“We don’t have the piano,” Venti grumbles, right as the patron up there gets off, bowing low. He gasps. “I got this!!

Rosaria pats his empty seat as the bard swerves through the crowd. She’s staring at Kazuha. “You may want to stay close. It’s about to get rowdy.”

“I see. I would prefer to sit and watch for the time being,” he admits, nursing his drink.

After he seats, she grabs the bottom of his stool, yanking him closer.

Just in time for a drunk to fall against the counter where he had just been.

She offers him a smug smile, while he stares up with a hefty blush. “I sorely appreciate that. My senses in a place like this are a bit…obsolete.”

“Overwhelmed?”

“In a good way. It’s not a bad experience.”

“I agree. It’s good, in a sense. Rest assured, a place like this is harmless. No one here is stupid enough to try anything with Captains and Master Diluc around.”

“Is that so?”

“You can bet on it.”

“I reached the piano guys!!” Venti screams down from the instrument, banging out quickly.

“Wonderful.” Kaeya steps forward, handing his glass off to Kazuha. He takes Lumine’s from her fingers, handing it off to Rosaria.

Then he bows low before Lumine, his hand behind his back, the other held out to her.

The patrons nearby move the FUCK out of the way of the Cavalry Captain. Even in the bustling atmosphere, Kaeya is a sight to behold, especially in person. Especially for those who are too drunk to bother hiding their stares.

The immediate group around him quiets, holding their breath to wait for her response.

“Ready?” Venti’s voice pierces down as he plays the introduction for the song.

“Miss Honorary Knight, may I have this dance?”

Lumine smiles, her hand settling in his. Oh, he’s going to blush so harshly once he rises and sees the look on her face.

She’s relishing the very idea.

“Of course, Captain.”

Chapter Text

His hand is blessedly cool in the heat of the tavern.

Lumine watches Kaeya straighten, wiping his bangs back from his face. His smile is huge, and he even giggles a bit, which, of course he does.

He draws her in by the hand he’s holding, though she lets go to hold his shoulder.

He’s never stood so straight before, swallowing hard.

His fingers are freezing on her back, even through her dress.

His eye, wandering to distract himself, falls on her arm. Kaeya smirks at her goosebumps.

“A little chilly?”

“It’s your fault.”

“Ready?” Venti’s shout comes down again.

“Just do it, they’re ready,” Diluc responds, earning a nervous giggle from Kaeya.

He steps back quick, drawing her with him onto the side of the floor.

Venti throws his head back, his fingers pampering the keys. Six-Fingered Jose, beside him, begins to strum the chords.

Kaeya’s grinning wide to hide his nervousness, his body moving to the beat even before they begin to step, all to keep him from shivering under her palms.

Lumine watches his bold grin, wondering how long until he blushes, or if he’s the type to simply pull her close.

She smiles at the sparkle in his eye.

He holds her a respectable distance, all of Crepus’ difficult training paying off for this moment. And all of his experience at balls.

Kaeya’s eye glistens.

And then he begins to sing.

“In my life, why do I give valuable time,” he sways his head to the beat, grinning at her, “to people who don’t care if I, live or if I die?”

Lumine didn’t know he could sing. Though they’ve traveled often, Venti usually makes some excuse as to why he can’t come along.

And Kaeya tends more towards quiet contemplation, much too shy to speak up yet.

His voice sounds perfect for the song, and he’s not trying too hard, though he is putting on a show for the room.

Or, rather, he is the show anyways, since the whole room is staring at either him or her.

“Your voice is so pretty,” she murmurs lightly, during the instrumental.

He gasps, immediately breathing in for the next line.

“What she asked of me at the end of the day,” he sings, letting Venti continue the rest.

He leans his head low to hers, his breath cool in the hazy air.

“And I naturally fled.”

His eye really is deep. Deep, and blue, and utterly stuck on her for the moment.

Kaeya blinks, using the moment to glance away. His fingers splay on her back, tightening against her skin a tad.

Lumine smiles, stepping backwards as they turn, and he narrowly directs them out of the path of a drunkard stumbling outside.

They step again, avoiding a man carrying drinks overflowing from him contributing one glass to the other in order to fit more of a refill in the first.

“This is a bit like fighting, though it should calm down in a moment,” he says, looking around.

It’s no issue.

“Relax, everyone’s getting situated,” Rosaria murmurs, her head close to Kazuha.

He tilts towards her, too. “It seems interesting. I can’t wait to see more.”

“Of what?”

“I haven’t seen this style of dancing.”

“Hm. I can’t say I’ve danced this way in awhile.”

“Care to teach me?”

Her wine eyes flick to his, and he offers a small smile behind his glass, staring sideways up at her.

Rosaria leans on her hand, against the bar. “I wouldn’t be adverse to it.”

Kazuha nudges his chair a bit closer, and she rests her boot on the bottom rung.

Chapter Text

Someone hollers from the back of the tavern, “Get a room!”

Venti’s laugh bursts out over the din in response, and his fingers drill into the beginnings of the next song. “Ooh love, ooh lover boy!”

Kaeya looks down to Lumine. “That’s because I’m a good old-fashioned lover boy.” He sticks out his tongue, cheeky as ever.

She grins, and he swings her around, their pace quickening, steps widening through the center of the room.

Their pace slows once again with the song, the onlookers contributing their voices.

Diluc fades the lampfire, giving them a dim setting to work with.

Oh, Kaeya will have to buy him flowers later.

Venti’s singing rings clear, “I’d like for you and I to go romancing.”

Kazuha and Rosaria lift their glasses, cheering.

Kaeya pauses in the midst of the floor, as other dancers crowd on with their partners. Though he’s holding Lumine’s hand, he looks in her eye, bringing her hand nearer to his face.

“Just say the word your wish is my command.”

They find themselves surrounded by partners, having to step closer to not lose one another or be separated by the crowd.

A wide-eyed Diluc looks on begrudgingly, not due to the romance although his chest does pang a bit, but due to the overwhelming number of sweaty drunks in his tavern at the moment.

For such an angelic place, it’s going to be hell cleaning later.

“Ha!” Rosaria hawks a laugh, observing Kaeya tripping over someone’s shoelace.

Lumine grabs him, her hand gripping his shirt, over his heart.

Of course, she stumbles into him as she’s holding him up, and when her eyes open she’s staring directly at his chest.

“Oh no. She’s been playing it cool this whole time.” Paimon, hanging out with Venti by the piano, covers her eyes and peeks out between her fingers.

Lumine turns bright red, trying to blink and look away.

Kaeya forgets to breathe, seeing her momentarily stare into his chest. He wonders if she felt his heart try to leap out of his ribcage and into her hand where it belongs.

The thought makes him even more nervous.

“They’re falling apart,” Diluc observes drily.

Goddammit, he and Crepus taught Kaeya better than this.

“I’ll save him,” Rosaria says, rising with her glass.

“What are you planning?”

“I can dance.”

“I was thinking we could lift him,” Kazuha says.

“Don’t interfere,” Diluc whispers, leaning in close behind them to get a better view.

Lumine releases Kaeya’s shirt. “Whoops.”

Instead, she places both hands on his shoulders, keeping the two of them close in the growing surge of people.

Their dancing melts down to simply swaying in place, since there isn’t much room for elbows or complicated steps.

Lumine smiles into Kaeya’s face. “Sorry about wrinkling your shirt.”

“It’s no problem at all. You can do whatever you’d like to it.”

Her eyes shoot wide open.

Diluc’s forehead slaps into his palm.

Rosaria bursts out laughing so loud it’s almost louder than Venti.

Paimon has her eyes covered still, and though she can’t hear Kaeya’s words, she sees the grin. “Help him,” she mutters.

Venti jumps up, knocking over the bench in his haste to grab the railing and shout down, “Hey boy, where’d you get it from? Hey boy, where’d you go?”

The whole tavern raises their glasses or gives a shout, each of the couples blissfully unaware of the others.

It gives Kaeya the perfect out.

He stands up straight, retrieving his hand from Lumine’s waist to behind his back.

He holds his other hand over his heart in a Mondstadt salute. “I learned my passion in the good old-fashioned school of loverboys.”

Lumine laughs, pulling him down closer.

He throws his arms around her in a hug, his fingers chilling her back once more, saving her from the heat of the room.

His whole body is pleasantly chilled.

Kazuha’s foot is tapping along to the tune.

Rosaria flicks him. “Enjoying yourself?”

“I am.”

“Everything’s alright, just hold on tight, and that’s because I’m a good old-fashioned lover boy,” Kaeya sings, quietly, shyly, but his smile afterwards is quite large.

Chapter Text

With the floor being quite full of couples, Venti switches to a slow song.

Kaeya wraps his arms around Lumine’s shoulders as couples press ever closer, a new wave entering through the door and attempting to track through, bringing with them a blessed breeze of night air.

His elbows are the only barrier keeping her short head from getting jostled.

Lumine smiles up at him. “Thanks for protecting me, Captain.”

Kaeya freezes, his arms stiffening. He works to loosen them, pulling her closer as he bites his lip.

The din of the tavern grows ever louder.

“I don’t think I heard you right. Could you say it again?”

He leans down, so their noses are almost brushing.

Someone slams into his elbow, and he barely notices, though they scrape skin.

A roar of laughter starts up in another area of the room.

“I said your cape is going to be hard to clean.”

“Oh, is that so? I assure you, it’s easier than it looks. Otherwise I wouldn’t wear it all the time,” he mutters, admitting not to his own habits but simply alluding to his attempts not to work poor Millie to death.

“Nothing’s gonna hurt you baby,” Venti sings, his solemn voice wafting through the air, like a promise they can taste.

Kaeya’s eye flicks up, to where Diluc is grabbing a customer by the collar, leading them out the door.

Rosaria smirks, Kazuha beside her pointing out some other troublemakers for the wine tycoon to spot.

Unbeknownst to Kaeya, the man Diluc is singeing the neck hairs of is the same one who jostled his arm.

“Nothing’s gonna take you from my sight.”

Kaeya’s heart aches as he stares down at Lumine, watching her watch the crowds.

Her arms around him tighten, just as he hoped they would. Just as he wanted.

But how does he know if this will last?

If she will stay?

If she’ll keep him forever?

Her arms could unloop at any moment, and leave him behind, while the sun runs off to find a new someone to clutch to. While she searches for a new future.

While she finds better things than him.

Lumine leans up on her toes, her lips parting. “Nothing’s gonna hurt you baby,” she sings, her voice breathy beside him.

Kaeya listens, his hands trembling along her back.

“Nothing’s gonna take you from my sight.”

She smiles up at him, her eyes crinkling, and he feels his heart fall out of his chest and hit the floor.

Chapter Text

It’s late by the time the festivities are over. Late by the time they exit the tavern, Venti stumbling along ahead of the group.

Diluc sighs as he turns his key in the lock. “Wait up, bard. Please, don’t let him get too far ahead.”

“I’ve got him,” Rosaria responds. In one hand she has Venti’s cape, in the other she has an ochoko full of Kazuha’s sake.

He’s carrying the rest in his arms, along with a bottle of wine complimentary from Diluc.

Kaeya grins at the group, taking Venti’s cape from Rosaria. “I’ve got him. Come here, little drunk bard.”

“I’m hardly drunk. Just waiting for Master Diluc to hurry up so I can eat some yummy grapes.”

“Master Diluc, you might as well offer him a room for the night along with the rest of us.”

The Master sighs, tucking his keys away. Venti’s eyes follow his hand. “I might as well house him for the week at this point.”

“You’re housing a bard?” Rosaria raises an eyebrow. She still thinks something is odd about Venti, but it’s a running guess for how long until she figures it out.

Lumine’s bet is 30 years.

Venti’s is 3 years.

Master Diluc’s bet is a month but she won’t tell anyone that she figured it out for another 5 years, due to her secrecy.

“Why not? Free entertainment.” Diluc pats his pockets again. “Come on. No time to waste.”

“Oh? Do you have somewhere pressing to be?” Kaeya pokes the man’s arm, teasing him.

“Ooh, does Master Diluc have a date?” Venti grins up at him.

Diluc checks automatically down the street for his least favorite stalker, but she’s not there.

“I do not. I simply want to get home and bathe after a night like that.”

Kaeya snorts. “Someone doesn’t like the smell of having fun.”

Diluc doesn’t bother responding.

“Where are we staying tonight?” Kazuha’s voice wafts up from the back of the group, where he meanders with Rosaria.

Kaeya’s never seen her walk so slow. She's keeping the man right beside her, too.

Kaeya smirks, then shrugs. “We can stay at the Winery. It won’t be an issue, there’s room aplenty for all of you.”

“Just make sure your rooms are clean,” Diluc requests.

“Certainly. And we’ll even tie in little bows to all of our curtains.”

Diluc walks faster to get away, Venti running to catch up with him.

“You shouldn’t tease him so much,” Lumine says to Kaeya.

“I think it’s written in to my job description as a Knight.”

Chapter Text

“What is there to do at a winery?”

“Sleep,” Diluc grumbles.

Kazuha isn’t drunk but he’s definitely stumbling a tad. His head hits Rosaria’s arm. “Oh, gentle Rose, I’m sorry.”

“It’s all good Kazuha. Maybe hand me the drinks.”

“No, no, no, I can’t possibly expect you to carry these. Let me pay my way by making sure they’re escorted safely.”

“Let’s take the Waypoint,” Diluc says, though they’ve already crossed the bridge.

“Sounds like a plan.” Paimon leads the way up the hill to the nearest one.

“My, Master Diluc, it’s not like you to take the lazy way out.” Kaeya sidles up to the redhead, winking, or, blinking, as he and Lumine pass him.

“It’s not lazy, it’s ideal. I want to make sure everyone gets home safely.”

“Even me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“So you don’t want me to get home safely?”

Diluc stops walking, Kaeya snickering and going on ahead.

“Thank you for making sure we get home safely,” Lumine says, smiling to the wine tycoon.

“Be nice, Kaeya!” Paimon looks over her shoulder, frowning. “Master Diluc is housing us, and you can sleep outside.”

Kaeya flinches.

Venti swings an arm around Lumine’s neck. “Yahoo! What do you think we should do once we get there? Play a game? Read a book?”

“Maybe Master Diluc will read you a bedtime story,” Kaeya teases, though his smile falters.

“I have work to do,” Diluc says, “but you should find plenty to entertain you in the main rooms. Kaeya knows where everything is.”

“Right.” Kaeya looks away, swallowing hard.

Chapter Text

“Here are your rooms. Please, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to find me.” Diluc is very serious, even as Kazuha is practically drooling with joy.

“Pardon him,” Rosaria says, holding the man up with one arm. “It’s been awhile since he’s slept indoors. He was telling me on the way over.”

“That’s no good. If you would like, you can stay here an extra day, just to recover. Your strength is important before you head out.”

“Wow, Master Diluc, that’s very kind of you,” Venti says, walking up.

Diluc huffs, glancing away. “It’s not. You get your own room, Venti.”

"Someone's getting spoiled," Paimon grumbles.

"You would be lonely without me," Lumine responds.

"True."

Venti pops a grape in his mouth. “Kaeya, why haven’t you ever invited me here?”

Kaeya feels a pang in his chest, and forces a smile. “Why, I wasn’t sure you’d like it, coming out here to the middle of nowhere.”

In truth, he barely feels welcome in the mansion of his former…in Master Diluc’s house. He wouldn’t dare invite guests on any regular occasion.

But his friends got a bit too tipsy tonight, and having everyone sleep outdoors seemed less than ideal.

“Of course we like it.” Paimon sticks her tongue out at Kaeya. “Paimon thinks you just didn’t want us to visit for some reason.”

“No, nothing like that.” Kaeya rubs his head, glancing over to Master Diluc, who’s staring at him with a dark expression.

Does he want him dead once more, or is it simply that the very sight of Kaeya brings shadows to Diluc’s mind?

Kaeya can’t tell either way, but he looks away, his eyes meeting Rosaria’s.

She knows what’s up, but while a guest there isn’t much she can do to alleviate the pain he feels.

“Thank you,” she says instead, to Master Diluc, who takes his leave. “Let’s…go play a game,” she suggests, with a curt nod.

Kaeya’s fingers dig into his arm.

Chapter Text

“Master Kaeya, I don’t think I understand this game very well.” Paimon sighs, throwing down her cards, hanging her head off the back of the couch.

Kazuha is sleeping soundly on Rosaria’s lap, toppled over ages ago. She sets down her cards, in front of Lumine, who’s counting on her fingers.

Kaeya quirks a smile. “Quite obvious, Miss Lumine.”

She pouts up at him from the other side of the table, the candlelight flickering off her features.

Kaeya manages to hold the smile until she looks back down, resuming her counting.

Rosaria’s eyes reflect the firelight as well, staring at him, and Kaeya tries not to flinch.

He doesn’t like flames anymore. Doesn’t like the way they flicker near his friends’ hair. Doesn’t like how they seem to dance, to taunt him, to steer closer before drifting away.

He doesn’t like the way they pattern across Lumine’s skin, the light curving.

If she knew who he is, the person he’s become, would she still pout at him?

Or, like Master Diluc, would her gaze turn harsh and cruel?

Would her eyes begin to close, blazing with an unnatural light? Would her hands raise against him?

With her Anemo energy, she could easily send a whirlwind of fire her way. It wouldn’t even be difficult.

With Kazuha’s help, the two of them could trap him. Even his teleporting wouldn’t save him.

He would be unable to save himself.

Kaeya shudders.

He fought against Diluc, or rather, the cursed Vision on his hip fought for him.

But against Lumine, would he be able to do the same? Would he defend this life he’s built for himself?

He watches her eyes flicker across the page, and her fingers count.

He’s not sure.

If she turned against him, he’s not sure he could do anything at all.

“Captain.”

The word is soft, and Kaeya looks up to Rosaria’s eyes. Her gaze is solemn, gentle.

“Are you tired?”

“Oh.” Lumine raises her head, seemingly searching his face. Her eyes settle on his, and then she smiles, rising.

She's so attentive.

“No, no. I assure you,” he says with a wave, “I’m fine. I’m enjoying our game.”

No need to make her worry.

“Me too. But let me get you something to drink. You look like my brother when he gets sad.”

At first, Kaeya smiles.

Lumine struts off, energetic to help him, stepping into the shadows. Her yellow hair turns gold, then red in the candlelight.

As she exits the room, his mouth curves downward.

He looks to Rosaria, who’s gently petting Kazuha’s hair.

“That may be the worst thing she’s ever said to me.”

Chapter Text

Paimon is snoring, her head tossed back, laying on a pillow for extra comfort.

Kaeya watches as she falls off, collapsing onto the couch with a bounce. She wraps around the pillow, opening her mouth and trying to eat it.

He snorts, accidentally shifting the weight on his lap.

Nearby, Kazuha is draped along the couch, alone, but with a blanket wrapped over him. He’s turned away from the light of the candles, his hair stretching long behind him.

It’s very pretty. Anyone would be proud of hair like that.

Rosaria is standing by the unlit fireplace, smoking, tossing her ashes on top of the others. Miss Adelinde might have her head tomorrow for dirtying it, but Kaeya doesn’t think it should matter.

Besides, he can sweep them up later.

Lumine is sitting across from him, still counting.

His own eyes are growing heavy, but she seems so invested in this game for some reason. She hasn’t stopped playing it.

“My Miss Lumine, you’re really quite determined, aren’t you?”

Rosaria looks up at the sound, then strides outside, leaving them alone.

Lumine looks up, smiling at Kaeya.

He feels happiness, even as he’s sure she wouldn’t be smiling at him this way if she knew anything about his history. Anything about why Diluc hates him.

Anything about why he’s never brought her here, not for fear of her being harmed.

The thought has crossed his mind, the idea of Diluc harming someone he loves. Or of anyone else tracking them down.

Jean, or Lisa, or Varka, going out of their way to hurt Kaeya. To hurt his loved ones.

Should they find out his true heritage.

He knows it’s absurd, but still. It was enough to keep him from seriously pursuing anyone, for a long time.

From getting into a romantic relationship.

When the time comes, when he’s known as a traitor, anyone he’s loved could be brought down too.

It almost hurt his chances of making friends, too, but that was unavoidable. He's terribly lonely.

Rosaria is able to fend for herself, and she wouldn’t mind leaving a place she has no attachments to.

Venti can play off his knowledge, likely claiming he knows nothing. He’s simply a bard, who would expect him to stop a spy?

But Lumine? Lumine could easily come under fire.

Kazuha too.

Both of them are outsiders, travelers, and suddenly, their whole relationship with him would be examined.

It’s best Kaeya doesn’t get close to either of them.

Not the man who saved his life, and not the woman who he adores.

“I want to make you happy,” Lumine says, and Kaeya’s heart splinters.

He leans forward, jerking Venti, who’s sleeping on his lap. The bard groans.

“Sorry. What?”

She smiles, her eyes soft. “You looked sad, Kaeya. Not looked. Felt. So I,” she yawns. Kaeya can see circles lining her eyes, normally so energetic. She looks exhausted, her fingers trembling.

She must be staying awake, playing this game, for his sake.

He slides the bard onto the couch, standing. Walking closer. “Lumine, you didn’t need to do all this for me.”

“But I care about you,” she says, rubbing her eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can’t let you,” she yawns again, “be sad.”

He kneels beside her, watching her face, seeing the way her eyes droop. He kicks himself.

Of course. “I was selfish. So lost in my own emotions, I couldn’t see how tired you were. Dear Lumine, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Lumine simply nods, and falls over onto his shoulder, sighing out in relief as her eyes close.

Kaeya feels the weight of his lies burning into him. He looks up, briefly, to the balcony, imagining Diluc standing there.

But of course, Diluc stepped outside ages ago. He’s nowhere near them.

Kaeya looks down to Lumine, sleeping on him as soundly as if he were an angel.

Sleeping peacefully on the shoulder of a traitor.

Chapter Text

“She’s precious.” Rosaria leans over a bit, staring at Lumine.

Kaeya is still kneeling on the hardwood floor. “Yeah, well, my knees are dying, so please help.”

Rosaria snorts, a sound that rouses the bard. She reaches down, lifting Lumine from Kaeya’s shoulder, settling the woman in her arms.

Kaeya watches for a moment. “It’s a good thing you’re a cryo user.”

“Why?”

“She likes the cold.”

"Hm."

“Kaeya,” Venti says, rubbing his eyes. His voice is broken by sleep.

“Oh, did we wake you?”

“Don’t worry about it. She," he points, half awake, then slides off the couch, "really likes you,” Venti says, lifting the bottle before him to his lips.

One that Kaeya borrowed for the group.

“She doesn’t need to,” Kaeya catches himself saying. Oh, well.

It slipped out.

He must truly be exhausted.

“Doesn’t need to? Don’t say that. She adores you.” Venti stretches, standing. “Well, I’m off. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Kaeya looks over to Rosaria. “I’ll carry her upstairs, and then him. You get the pixie.”

Kaeya nods. He’s much too tired to carry anyone. He’s not even sure how he’ll get up the steps.

“And Kaeya?”

He meets her maroon eyes.

“You’re doing good.”

He only nods, then smiles briefly.

She can see through that part of his façade.

She heads upstairs, and he gathers the pixie, pillow and all, into his arms.

“Oh, well, Master Diluc. You didn’t really need this pillow anyway. Or I’ll buy you a new one,” he mutters.

Chapter Text

Morning light streams through the window, landing on Kaeya’s face.

A knock sounds at his door. “Master Kaeya! We brought food!”

Paimon.

He groans, wiping a hand down his face, rubbing his eyes. Then grabs the eyepatch and sets it on.

He’s still massaging his face, trying to get the lines out of his forehead, when he mutters, “Come in.”

Man, he stayed up too late last night. It’s already past 8, and he’s normally up early.

The door swings open.

“Good morning,” Kaeya says, sitting up in bed.

“Hey.” Lumine walks in, circles still under her eyes. She’s smiling, but it’s immediately broken by a yawn.

Kaeya smirks. “My, visiting me while so tired? Trying to get in my bed, perhaps?”

She shakes her head, too sleepy to come up with a good response.

“Kaeya,” Paimon scolds.

“Oh? I’m sure Master Diluc wouldn’t mind finding you something to do.”

Lumine sticks her tongue out at him, and the sight is so cheery Kaeya bursts out laughing.

He’s glad she’s able to be so playful first thing in the morning, as well, though she seems half asleep.

She’s never been much of an early riser from what he can tell. He wonders if her brother is the same, but there’s no reason to bring the mood down.

“We came here to bring you breakfast, but there’s still time for Paimon to eat it all.”

“Come now, don’t be like that. We’re all friendly.” He swings his legs out of bed, standing with a large stretch.

“Miss Adelinde really pulled out all the stops,” Lumine says, plopping down at his desk. Even exhausted, she manages to appear elegant.

She definitely belongs in a place like this, surrounded by luxury and riches.

Perhaps she would prefer to be with someone rich, and kind, and strong.

“Kaeya, it’s way too early for you to look so depressed.” Paimon pokes his cheek. “Did you have a nightmare?”

His eye flits from her to Lumine, panicked. He’s not used to being seen quite so early, and he hasn’t had time to hide his worry.

“Uh, no. Of course not.”

Lumine frowns, lazily setting a bite of her own breakfast in her mouth.

“If you say so. Say ah, then. Paimon thinks you’ll like this.”

“Thanks, Paimon.”

Chapter Text

Rosaria apparently left after getting everyone to bed, and isn’t back by noon, though she does send a note not to wait up for her.

Diluc’s door is closed, and his snoring can be heard throughout the hall. Kaeya rolls his eyes, sucking in a deep breath and belting out some impressive tunes.

Miss Adelinde promptly escorts the team from the house for the remainder of the daylight hours, during which the Master is trying to sleep.

Luckily, Amber is the one delivering the message from Rosaria, so she joins up for the day.

Daily commissions are rather easy to sort through. Just some slimes by Dawn Winery, some hilichurls by the pond, twice, and walking a townsperson home.

"Easy," Kazuha says, cleaning off his sleeve of dirt.

"Paimon agrees!"

The team teleports to Liyue, leaping from the railing and gliding across the water, landing on the beach.

Paimon flits closer to Lumine, staring up at the Geoculus. "Why aren't we stopping at Wangshu Inn? I thought we had to go there."

“We were just there,” Amber says. “We could have stopped, if you had someone to talk to.”

"I heard there's a pretty adeptus there," Lumine says, taking off across the grass. "So we're saving the best for last."

"Ah, I see."

Kaeya pouts. ‘Pretty’?

He looks around, scrambling up the rock under the Geoculus. If he can get this, maybe Lumine will think he’s pretty too.

He jumps, but he can’t quite reach it.

He jumps once more.

He holds his sword high above his head and leaps, shaking it in the air.

Not even close.

Kazuha climbs up on the rock beside him, belt tinkling. He gets somewhat under the Geoculus, leaping into the air with his elemental skill.

Too far away.

He tries again, but try as he might, he can’t grab the damn thing.

Amber lifts her bow and shoots.

"What did we say about shooting?!" Paimon's screech can probably be heard across the water, at the inn.

“That’s out of respect for the god.”

“Exactly! The geo archon!”

Amber shrugs. “He’s dead anyway.”

Paimon rolls her eyes, turning completely around. “Paimon isn’t paying witness to this.”

Kaeya and Kazuha both clutch their guts, laughing maniacally. One doesn’t fear god and the other is expecting fate to get him eventually, so it’s fine.

They do not manage to get the Geoculus.

Chapter Text

“Hey, there’s a Seelie. Why don’t you shoot that too, since we’re disrespecting god today?”

“Oh, hush.” Amber sets off in pursuit, then gets distracted. “Whoa, look at that bird!”

“Guys.” Kaeya steps up to the glowing creature, holding his hand out gently. Lumine sees a soft smile grace his features. “We should always show respect to these little guys. It's good to lead them home.”

He takes off, jogging after the Seelie while the others follow a bit behind, watching him run around the map.

He jumps up onto a pool’s stone edge.

“Careful,” Lumine calls out.

And Kaeya falls in, water splashing out all around him.

The Seelie moves on, back over the plains. Kaeya’s head pokes out of the pond, a lilypad falling off of him slowly.

He leaps out of the water, bracing the stone edge. Lumine watches his hands as he drops his feet down.

Kaeya gives chase to the Seelie once more, a huge grin on his face, quite evident to the rest of the group.

“Does he even notice he’s soaked?” Paimon floats next to Lumine.

“It’s okay, he’s happy.”

“Right.”

Which is about when Kaeya sprints up a hill, still leading the Seelie, only for his face to fall immediately. He gives out a short shout.

Lumine and Kazuha waste no time running after him, especially since they know what happened that one time with the Treasure Hoarders.

Sure enough, an enemy stands before them. A Fatui agent, and a strong one at that.

The enemy turns, fixing them with crimson eyes.

Paimon gasps. "A Fatui Pyro agent!"

Lumine's sword appears in her hand, locked in an iron grip. “I fought him once,” she says. “I lost.”

“You fought him?” Kaeya’s face is a growl as his eye roves up their opponent.

The agent stands at least a head taller than Kaeya. Red eyes narrow in anger.

“Paimon forgets where it was, but it was really scary!”

The fear in her voice makes anger throb through Kaeya's veins. He shoots out his skill, blasting the Fatui in the face with cold ice.

The agent goes invisible, becoming merely a light blue outline, rapidly moving between them.

“Oh shit!” Paimon leaps back, blipping into her other dimension.

Amber, who is down the hill since she had gotten distracted by the birds earlier, shoots an arrow which soars between Lumine and Kazuha.

Unfortunately, the Fatui man appears behind Kaeya.

Kazuha shouts, leaping into the air, in an attempt to pull the enemy towards him with his wind.

Kaeya teleports instantly, though it’s not fast enough. He appears behind the outlined enemy, grunting in pain and stumbling forward, his sword held low before him.

Drops of blood fall to the ground.

“Kaeya!”

Lumine's vision spins from him to the middle of Kazuha's descent.

She roars, leaping in towards the enemy as Kazuha plummets towards the agent.

The enemy briefly shows himself, eyes flashing crimson.

Kazuha lands, the agent dodging. He activates his elemental burst, keeping the Fatui trapped.

The Fatui turns, spinning like a ballerina, weapon knocking Kazuha back. He looks once more to Lumine, watching her falling sword, heading for him.

She only sees brief flashes of light as he leaps out of the way, dashing faster than they can watch.

Then Kaeya is tackling her and Kazuha, one arm around each of them, pushing them far out of the way. His hand is freezing cold on Lumine's back.

Amber’s fiery rain hails down, mixing with Kazuha’s burst to create a tornado of fire.

Kaeya lands on his knees, Lumine and Kazuha tucked against him on the ground. He shields them both from any remaining damage.

Lumine gasps, head tucked safely against his chest.

Her hair shifts with his breathing, which remains heavy with pain.

Lumine pushes him back, standing. Kaeya's arm, which had been around her shoulders, falls limply around her legs.

Kaeya's head falls forward, narrowly caught as he forces himself to stay awake, more stunned than injured.

The enemy leaps towards them, out of the fiery tornado. His knife arcs downwards, towards Kaeya's back.

Lumine holds one arm out, her face set with determination. Her elemental skill sings out, catching the Fatui agent in the face.

Kazuha stands, his knee against Kaeya's arm, holding the sweating Captain up.

The Fatui's blade falls wayward as he tumbles backwards.

Kazuha blocks the wayward blade from hurting Kaeya or himself.

Amber shoots once more, hitting the Fatui man’s hood, knocking it back to reveal a bloodied face.

Kazuha stabs down but the man rolls out of the way.

Kaeya grins, his eye sparkling.

And then, as Kazuha leaps into the air once more to avoid a weapon to the face, Kaeya activates his burst.

Kaeya surges into the fight ahead of the others, Kazuha leaping down behind him to pull the enemy closer.

Kaeya is relentless as he steps nearer the agent, expertly driving the Fatui’s weapon out of the way.

Normally, Diluc would destroy any threats like these, long before they have a chance to get into Mondstadt. Or Amber would notify everyone and then Jean would send a letter to her favorite non-Knight.

But there were years when Diluc was not around.

When Miss Adelinde, and Elzer, and the youngest son of Crepus were high targets.

Years that Kaeya spent slaughtering the Fatui on backroads, wiping the blood from his cheek with a handkerchief, before heading back to the tavern to drink himself into a stupor.

His brother might be known for his hatred, but Kaeya doesn’t need his motives to be known to get his point across with a blade.

Chapter Text

The Fatui agent does not last long.

Before Kazuha's feet land, before Lumine is able to drive her sword home, Kaeya has already ribboned the enemy.

Lumine pulls up beside him in time to see a spark of anger in his eye, brow drawn, as Kaeya watches the agent dissipate.

He lets out a long sigh, anger twisting his grip over his hilt.

How dare someone try to hurt her.

She watches frost twist in the air above his mouth.

“Kaeya, you’re hurt.”

Amber can see his back clearly from her vantage point down the hill. She sprints up.

Lumine sits Kaeya down, gently pushing on his shoulder. Her face is impossibly sweet, so close to his. “May I see how bad it is?”

He nods, a smile on his easygoing face, though his eye is dilated much too small, brow pinched with worry. “Of course. But don’t fret, your Captain has seen much worse than this.”

“I’m sure.” Lumine gently pulls off his scarf, and works on unclasping his necklace. She sets the scarf down on his trembling hands first, covering them so no one else sees.

Kazuha finishes gathering supplies from the fallen Fatui man, sighing as he wipes his blade. “Thank you, Captain, for getting me out of the way.”

“Of course.”

“Oh, that’s my fault,” Amber says, rubbing the back of her head. She pulls out a medicine kit, sliding it over for Lumine.

“No, Amber and I have been fighting together for a long time,” Kaeya explains. “It was perfect to shoot right then."

“I see. Well, it certainly did the trick on that one," Kazuha says.

Kaeya wonders if he has any issues with murder.

Killing the Fatui is a bit different from going after treasure hoarders that simply disappear.

But the wanderer doesn’t seem to mind.

"At any rate, the fire tornado was quite impressive,” Kazuha says, wiping off his blade.

Oh, well. It’s a good thing to see his reaction this soon, anyways.

Kaeya still has a bad feeling about this Liyue trip.

He shivers involuntarily, though he can't help but grin at the blush on Lumine's cheeks.

"Enjoying the view, sweetheart?"

Her brow furrows in concentration. "Shut it."

"Aw, come on. Are you going to tell me you don't enjoy seeing me with my shirt off?"

"I'd enjoy seeing you with a bit less blood." She spreads some ointment on the wound, as gentle as can be.

The worry in her eyes is even more endearing.

Kaeya blushes despite himself.

Amber shrugs at Kazuha, standing lookout while Lumine's fingers flit over Kaeya's back.

“That tornado was nothing. Master Jean and I have formed some truly disturbing ones in the past."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. She's Mondstadt's Grand Master, the Dandelion Knight. She's incredibly strong."

"Well, I'd like to meet her sometime."

"Good luck! To get an audience with Jean, you'd have to wait a long time."

"Or have some kind of emergency," Paimon says. "Like your cat running off."

Kaeya notices when Kazuha flinches.

Chapter Text

Kaeya wonders how cats have made Kazuha sad. Likely, the man lost an important being to him, or perhaps saw some great tragedy.

Isn't that the fate of all those who have wandered into Mondstadt? Someone who has lost someone?

Or something.

Or everything.

Kazuha sniffs, looking out towards the inn. "At any rate, it was interesting how the previous burns interacted with your burst, Sir Kaeya."

"Oh? How so?"

Kazuha tugs at the bindings on his hand, almost at the same time that Lumine tugs at the bindings on Kaeya's shoulder.

He does notice her hand lingering for a moment on his chest, double checking the bandages there.

Kaeya can't help the smirk that curves his lips.

He glances at her but she's steadfastly rearranging Amber's medicine kit, her cheeks a burning red.

He'll have to properly thank her for this treat, later.

Kazuha's voice brings him back.

"I have a feeling that Cryo hurts worse once the target has been burned first.”

Kaeya feels another shiver run down his body, though this one is subdued.

Only Lumine seems to notice, looking up at him, her hand just barely reaching out, fingertips brushing his arm.

How he longs for her to just hold on to him. To clutch him close.

He adjusts the cuffs in his trembling hands, hidden under the rest of his shirt, giving his antsy fingers something to do.

“Oh, is that so? I hadn’t heard it before. Truth be told, I haven’t met many Cryo Vision Holders.”

“Is that so?” Kaeya's voice comes out steady, years of training saving him.

Of course they're talking about burns.

Look at the poor man's bandaged hand.

It seems that perhaps, he and Kaeya are more similar than the Captain initially imagined.

Kazuha looks out across the setting horizon. “Not yet.”

Lumine's fingers land on Kaeya's arm, gently holding him.

He thinks he could die in this moment, and be perfectly content, though he can't bring himself to look at her.

It takes a moment of internally fighting before he can glance over, seeing her eyes on him.

The depth of her gaze is enough to send him shivering once more.

Chapter Text

Lumine notices her Captain's trembling.

She laid her hand on his arm to soothe him, but he's still shaking.

She leans in, feeling cold coming off of him in waves. It's pleasant, in the Liyuean heat.

"Are you okay?"

Her voice is low, but Kazuha turns suddenly, skipping down to Amber, pulling her and Paimon aside to 'find a place to camp'.

He places a hand on both of their backs, wandering down the hill, giving Lumine privacy.

"The sun is already beginning to set."

Kaeya's voice brings her attention back, but when she looks to him, his eye is looking somewhere far beyond the Inn. That blue iris shimmers ever so delicately.

A fragile smile has graced his lips, turning them up. A desperate plea for some form of tenderness on his hurting heart.

Lumine lays a hand on his chest. "Captain?"

Kaeya's eye flits to her.

"Thank you for protecting me."

He fought the Agent once he realized that the Agent posed a danger to her. He tackled her out of the way of the attack, then shielded her from harm.

"Even when you were stunned, your first instinct was to protect me."

Something in Kaeya's eye shakes, some untold emotion. Some horrible, hidden pain tucked away under those layers of blue, screaming to come out, screaming to stay in.

"Couldn't let my best girl get hurt," he says quietly.

His voice cracks.

There's more truth in that sentence than he's fully admitted for another in awhile.

The pain of it lances through his stomach, feeling chilled. Lumine gasps at the sensation, then grins, as content as a cat for one brief moment.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. Your skin got cold."

Her hand is still resting on the bandage near his heart, somewhere just under his shoulder.

She's sitting with her legs tucked under her, looking as elegant as can be. As if they're on a picnic.

"Oh, is that so? Come closer, and maybe you can warm me up."

Lumine merely smiles at him, a far cry from her usual banter.

Kaeya feels his heart speed up, chest rising.

Oh. His heart thuds against her fingertips. His eye flits from her hand to her face.

She can feel that.

He blushes and looks away, but she merely smiles and leans in. "Here. Let's get you dressed, Captain. You can sleep in my tent tonight, since you're injured."

Chapter Text

Kaeya rolls backwards, doing a somersault partially down the hill.

When he lands, he’s smiling so wide his eyepatch nudges, cheeks lifting.

He giggles, at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say, Miss Honorary Knight. Inviting me to sleep in your tent is quite bold.”

She huffs, setting away a roll of bandages into Amber’s kit. “I’m inviting you to make sure you don’t get hunted down by any other Fatui agents.”

“I ran into this one.”

“For all I know, you’ll begin sleepwalking and wake up in Inazuma.”

“Sleep bridging.”

Lumine laughs, closing the kit and storing it in her inventory.

“Oh?” Kaeya crawls closer, sitting beside her once more. He’s still shirtless, hoping her eyes lower just a bit. “You’re not going to bother giving Amber her medicine right away?”

Lumine fixes him with a stare so bold he swallows, hard.

She reaches over his lap, taking his hands, though his shirt still covers them. “No. Not until you’re comfortable. You seemed uneasy."

His heart speeds up. He wanted to tease her.

He wasn't expecting her to look out for him.

He wasn't expecting care and love.

The fuck is this?

Lumine's voice is gentle. "Do you need me to leave you alone?”

Kaeya starts to laugh, a nervous reflex that he can’t control, but at her last sentence his eye roves madly away. “Please don’t.”

Another truth.

His hands turn colder, enough so that she can feel them through the cloth.

Lumine slowly unwraps the shirt from his tight grip, settling her hands in place within him palms instead, feeling his muscles relax, thumbs curved over hers.

“There.”

Kaeya lets out a small breath, staring at their hands intertwined.

What is this?

“Is this better?”

She willingly put her hands in his.

“I really don’t deserve you,” he murmurs.

Lumine stares for one moment, then flicks his forehead.

He starts, then settles his gaze on hers, eye alight. His voice is low. “You’re pretty brave to flick a Captain of the Knights.”

“You’re pretty brave to say such a stupid thing in front of me.”

Somehow, her glare is so fierce he actually backs down, eyebrow quirking. A smile plays on his lips.

“Oh? And what will you do to me if I question you some more?”

“Hmph.” Lumine stands, releasing his hands. “I’ll eat all the marshmallows.”

Kaeya thinks for a moment, frowning. He catches her sneaking a glance at him, though she looks away once more.

“What’s a marshmallow?”

The pink on her cheeks tells him she likes what she saw.

“You won’t find out if you won’t admit that you’re my Captain.”

“I’m your Captain,” he says, breathlessly, immediately.

Lumine smirks to herself.

There’s her boy.

Off in the distance, Wangshu Inn is lighting up, as dusk settles around them.

Once they get done with sorting through their troubles in Liyue, they’ll be able to explore the city. She wonders how bright it will be, and how fun.

Chapter Text

“Well that was a pleasant day,” Kazuha says, stretching his arms out in front of him, a myriad of cracks rising from his joints. “All things considered.”

“I agree. It went rather well, don’t you think, Honorary Knight?”

Lumine nods, smiling softly. Kaeya notes her quiet demeanor. Save for when the two of them are alone, it’s been more active lately.

She seems to almost shut down, becoming more reserved.

He wondered at first if she was simply shy around new party members. But she warmed up to Rosaria and Kazuha just fine.

She even went out of her way to visit him this morning, to bring her Captain food.

Kaeya’s eyes dart between her and Kazuha, wondering if perhaps he made a mistake in choosing the young warrior. If, somehow, she’s unhappy? Uncomfortable?

But she smiles to Kazuha as he’s telling his story, and hands him another marshmallow, their hands briefly grazing.

If Kaeya for a moment thought she was unhappy, he would have stepped in. Done something.

That being said, a pang he can’t quite place runs through his heart, seeing their hands linger as Kazuha speaks.

Kaeya’s eye narrows, watching the young man. Of course, most people would want their hand to grace Lumine’s for an extra few seconds.

But still.

Kaeya’s fingers twitch, but it’s not as if he can reach out and hold her hand. He has no claim to her.

He forces himself to sit back, languidly against a log.

Lumine helped him put his shirt on earlier, so he wouldn’t have to lift the arm that’s part of his injured shoulder. But she wouldn’t hand back his corset for some unknown reason.

When no one’s looking, Kaeya tugs his shirt open just a tad more.

If he can’t pull Lumine onto his lap, fine. He’ll just have to impress Kazuha to the point the man won’t think of her.

Meanwhile, Kaeya thinks back to the pictures up around Mondstadt. The townsperson they had walked earlier also mentioned something about Kazuha seeming familiar. For all intensive purposes, he shouldn’t.

One of those photos is in Kaeya’s inventory, and he pulls it out, reading over Amber’s handwriting.

His eyes flit from the paper to the Inazuman man.

It must be the resemblance.

Kaeya noticed it too, though in truth it took a few hours of sleep in a real bed and a trip to Liyue before he realized what was going on.

Speaking of which. “Hey, may I have another marshmallow?”

“Certainly.” Lumine’s hand settles into his outstretched one, though he addressed the group as a whole.

Her hand lingers for a moment, warm, though his palm curls around the soft food.

His eye flits from the poster to her gaze, which has settled on the paper in his hand.

“Sorry,” he murmurs.

She just smiles softly, eyes roving over her brother's image, like she’s memorizing it, though Kaeya knows she knows her own face.

In truth, he memorized the page as well, when she first came to Mondstadt. He spent hours pouring over the material, and messaging old contacts throughout Teyvat from the days when he spied on Diluc.

But of course, nothing came back.

Her fingertips curl around his, and their hands lower to the ground together, linked between them for a moment before she lets go.

It takes several moments for Kaeya’s heartbeat to calm, time that he spends looking from the sketch to Kazuha.

Lumine and Kazuha look remarkably similar, and after studying Amber’s Missing poster for hours upon hours, and talking to Albedo about his sketches of Aether, Kaeya’s certain of how Lumine’s twin must appear.

Certain that Kazuha, perhaps, is reminding her of her brother.

Kaeya doesn’t think this is a bad thing at all. If anything, Kazuha’s resemblance is a reminder of what they’re working so hard for.

Of their ultimate goal, to find Aether. To rescue him from whoever separated him from Lumine.

Kaeya knows that eventually, they’re going to have to go up against some terrifying forces. Stormterror, he’s sure, was only the beginning.

Lumine spends almost every day fighting, and although she spends time amongst townspeople, it’s good for her to remember who she’s fighting for. Not just for daily commissions, or those folks that find themselves in need of someone stronger.

But also for the man who, someday, may need her more than this town.

Kaeya knows how difficult it can be to have to choose between families, between the one that has found you, and the one that was with you in the past.

He doesn’t want Lumine to only have one choice.

Though the sorrow flashing in her eyes every few hours is a bit painful, and he knows she’s hurting. He’ll do his best to reassure her, to bring her happiness on their journey.

So that, regardless of what she chooses at the end of the road, she knows she’s loved and appreciated.

Chapter Text

Kazuha plays them some music during the evening, writing out poems.

Kaeya watches the crackling firepit, keeping a good distance from the flames. He stretches out on his back, hand resting on his stomach, and tears his eye away.

The stars are bright tonight, but they feel far away.

He watches them for a time, wondering if Diluc is out and about. If Rosaria is busy keeping Mondstadt safe tonight.

Wondering how they’re doing without him.

Wondering if perhaps he should simply go home, stop dragging this moment out endlessly. If he should push Lumine away, before she throws him out.

But no. He knows he can’t abandon her.

He wants to be here, on this journey, on this terrible ride.

Which will no doubt end either in his death, or in her choosing someone else.

There's no doubt in his mind.

Or, even worse.

Perhaps, she will love him.

Perhaps, she will slip her hand into his once more.

He'll tell the truth once again. The truth of his feelings for her.

Welcome her into his arms, close to his heart.

Perhaps one day she’ll learn who he is, learn why there is a star in his eye. And her own will eyes will lose the sparkle she looks to him with.

And he’ll have to watch her walk away.

A blonde head appears over him, making him flinch.

He must be more tired than he thought, to react outwardly like that.

“Hey,” she says. She reaches down, pinching his cheek.

Kaeya's eye half-closes at her warm hand, a smile curling his lips.

Dream Lumine is walking away from him, but the waking one is holding his face.

No, perhaps the dream and the awake Lumines are switched?

He’s too shy and sleepy to think of a good response.

“Are you alright still camping outside? You can go home, sleep indoors.”

Why would he sleep in that empty, old house? When he could be here with her?

But the day he admits that is the day it’s all over.

The day she starts asking questions.

And with her resolve, and Diluc’s friendship, it’s only a matter of time before she discovers the truth.

It’s not that Kaeya thinks Diluc will betray him again.

It’s that Lumine is too damn smart.

It’s a wonder she hasn’t figured it out already.

“Why, I’m already too tired to move, dear Honorary Knight.”

Some heavy emotion settles on his chest, though it remains open to the winds rattling across Liyue.

Even Cryo mages can get cold, and if loneliness were a temperature, he would be frozen solid.

“Your back is still hurt,” Lumine says, her gentle voice peeling back the layers of frost.

“I understand.” He smiles up at her, and she lays down beside him, their arms in contact.

He’s never regretted wearing a shirt so badly. She’s so warm it’s refreshing.

It’s nice, to be this close to another person.

And she’s even laying on the side without an eyepatch, so he can see her.

“I didn’t always live in a nice mansion, you know.”

She watches him, quiet.

He doesn’t know what allows him to speak to her. Why, out here in Liyue, the land of contracts, he feels more free.

Perhaps it’s the distance from Mondstadt, where he has to lie.

Perhaps it’s the knowledge that if Kazuha hadn’t been there today, he could have died without protecting Lumine.

That Fatui’s hit was from behind. Despite his years of training, and practice, and experience, there’s only so much one can do if they don’t know the blow is coming.

And he doubts Lumine, and Amber, would have been able to fight that thing off alone.

He doubts Amber would leave Lumine behind.

Likely, only Paimon would make it out alive.

Perhaps the pain in his back lets him speak more directly, his voice soft and lingering.

“Once, I lived outside like this.” His hand drifts in front of him, as if his finger can reach the stars. Slowly, he lets it fall back to his chest.

It’s perhaps the most vulnerable Lumine has seen him.

“It’s very free,” she says. “Though a bit lonely without company.”

He snorts, looking away. She read my mind. “I can’t be lonely when you’re keeping me awake.”

He curses his lashing tongue a moment later, swallowing hard. Why do I always push away the people who mean the most to me?

She can see the blush tinging his cheeks.

Her hand reaches out, ever so gently winding around his upper arm. His skin is so cool, it’s refreshing. She resists the urge to curl around his arm, to pull him ever closer. “Is that so? Good thing I’m here then.”

Good thing she’s here.

She wants to be here?

She wants to…to what? To care about me?

He smiles, but she’s not done.

“Maybe to repay me for saving you from your dire loneliness, you could tell me which stars are your favorite.”

He starts laughing, nervous, having to face away from her to hide.

Of course. He wouldn’t accept love without giving something, and it’s almost like she knows this.

“Lumine.” His hands cover his face, shoulders shaking. He wants to shout with joy. Wants to wrap her in his arms and crush her to him. Wants to bury his face in her chest, and listen to the heartbeat of someone alive, and cry.

But she wouldn’t want him anyways.

He’s not the man she thinks he is.

He’s a traitor. No, worse than a traitor. A traitor is someone who used to be on the good side, and is now, permanently, an enemy.

Someone who hurts their friends for the fun of it. Someone who threw everything away, in order to betray everyone.

He’s not a traitor. He never had the chance to be.

He was a monster when he was only a child.

He was never good.

Chapter Text

Lumine feels Kaeya freeze. She watches as his whole body grows tense in an instant.

Kaeya’s breath hitches, his hands covering his face.

His arms feel chilled to the bone, endlessly cold, like he’ll never feel warmth again.

It was stupid to think she would love him.

All she loves is the idea of who he is.

And who he truly is, is so far from that.

“Yes, dear Captain?” Her voice wavers a bit, as she leans in, trying to see if he's hurt or simply panicking.

An anxious Knight is nothing surprising to her, especially with the day he's had.

But it's still worth caring about.

“Hey.” His voice is suddenly harsh, cheeks red as he looks back. “Don’t play with my feelings.”

This is the only way.

Pushing her away is the only way to keep her safe. Pushing her away keeps him safe, too.

How could he love someone who doesn’t know him?

How could he love someone who might, someday, learn the truth about him?

He couldn’t put her in danger like that.

Lumine retracts her hand, hurt. It’s not a good feeling to be treated as if she was only toying with him.

But as her eyes trace his face, her centuries of experience tell her at least an inkling of the issue.

Kaeya won’t allow himself to be loved.

She knows he must feel horribly, torn between wanting to accept affection, and being sure that it’s only being given in order to receive something from him.

Has he ever truly been loved? Has he ever truly been held, with no expectation of who he is, or who he’ll become?

“I wasn’t,” she says. “I didn’t mean…to come across that way.”

Kaeya’s heart shatters.

It’s all fun and games to tease someone. But he didn’t quite mean to hurt her.

But still. His walls are even higher than Diluc’s, and that’s for everyone’s sake.

Kaeya sets his head down on the grass.

His voice breaks. “I know. Sorry.”

The only way for Lumine to make sure he's okay is by leaving him to think through things on his own.

He can't handle all the emotions inside him, and he won't reach out to her for help.

Lumine gets up, tossing a blanket over his shoulders. He blinks away tears as she turns away.

Even hurt, she’s tender?

Why did it have to be her?

Why couldn’t he have fallen apart, long before this moment?

Lumine sets off, away from the camp, taking deep breaths.

The air soothes her face, and she tries to ignore the urge to turn around.

She knows that somewhere behind her is a man who’s terrified of being held, of being loved, of losing once again that which he holds dear.

There’s nothing wrong with loving someone. There’s nothing wrong with being scared to be loved.

But there’s nothing wrong with her admitting how hurt she is.

How much it stunned her to be spoken to so harshly, regardless of how much she wanted to help.

No matter how much she tries, Kaeya doesn’t seem to understand that she loves him.

But at the end of the day, that’s not her fault. It has nothing to do with her.

Clearly, someone hurt him. At some point.

To the degree that he doesn’t think he’s even worth loving.

Chapter Text

When Lumine returns, she lays back down, beside Kaeya.

She keeps her back to him, watching the quiet hills around them.

A breaking, quiet whisper rises. "You came back."

"Of course. I can't leave you out here," she says.

A moment later the Captain clears his throat. “Let’s…not go to sleep upset.”

“I’m fine,” she says, like a liar, then thinks if that’s the entirely right approach. “I…please tell me if there’s anything you need.”

Kaeya sounds miserable. “You sound like Diluc. Always putting others ahead of you.”

“Good. Maybe you need someone looking out for you.”

He sniffs, another sharp intake of breath. She hears cloth rustle as he wipes his nose.

Is that why Kaeya is so aggressive towards Diluc?

Because he fears someone actually caring about him?

“I don’t need anyone. You need to be cared for.” He turns on his side, watching her.

“You sound like Master Diluc.”

His hand clenches into the dirt, just as it used to when he was young.

Kaeya ponders this for a moment, his hand slowly releasing as the tension eases out of his body, realizing he’s unharmed.

That he’s here, in their campsite, beside someone.

He’s…getting what he wanted.

He’s not alone.

“Perhaps. Shall I try to find a meteorite?” He lets out a half hearted chuckle.

Please look at me again.

A small sigh behind him.

“We don’t have that in tomorrow’s schedule. Or any.”

“Hm.”

A moment passes.

“Did you want to leave?” Lumine’s voice is tiny, hurt.

Accepting, just as badly as he is, the idea of their separation.

“No,” Kaeya admits, though he tells himself not to. The idea of lying to her in this moment is worse than the fear of being found out.

And if he’s going to damn himself, he might as well do it thoroughly.

Please look at me.

“Not even a little bit.”

Lumine rolls towards him as well, lying on her back, staring at the stars. “I’d like if you stayed.”

That’s all he needs to hear. His eye, exhausted from crying, slips closed.

Lumine stares at the stars for awhile after that, hoping their twinkling lights keep them all safe.

She glances at the tear tracks on his face, but there’s nothing she can do to wipe them away while he’s this nervous.

His hand is curling around the dirt again. She slides the edge of her scarf under his palm, giving his fingers something to hold onto.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says, “without you.”

On the other side of the camp, Kazuha’s chest rises and falls. Beside him sleep Amber and Paimon, the pixie tucked beside the pyro user out of habit, though it’s too hot for cuddles.

Kazuha’s eyes are open.

He’s become quite the light sleeper while on the run, though in truth he trained before then.

Their conversation haunts him, though not in a way where he would choose not to feel the pain.

Rather, it’s the idea.

That idea of loving someone, but of not knowing how to tell them, lest they soon be disappeared.

Kazuha rolls over, thinking it terribly irresponsible of both parties.

The threat of loss is the reason to hold on even tighter, while they still can. To enjoy every waking moment.

You cannot hold the wind back, but you can choose to sing with it, to dance in it, or you can simply cry as it passes you by.

Kazuha would rather dance.

Chapter Text

The most amusing part of waking up in Liyue isn’t Kaeya finding a treasure chest and a stash of metals to share with everyone, nor is it how excited he gets jumping up and down in front of the pillars they find.

Though this does leave Lumine giggling quietly behind him, enamored with the gleam in his eyes and the way he holds his hands out, high above his head, the sunlight shining off his nails and gloves.

By far, the most amusing moment so far is when he’s stuck in an eerie forest, chasing “those damn flying bugs.”

Lumine rests her chin on her hand, grinning like a cat.

“Die! Die! Burn! Freeze! FUCK!”

“Burn?” Paimon snorts. “Does he know who he is?”

Kaeya dashes forwards, then back, trying to use his skill to knock the Cicins down. Or freeze them. Or do something!

“Come on! Where’s your stupid,” he starts, but one electrocutes him and his whole body jolts for a moment.

Kazuha giggles, hiding his mouth behind his hand.

“Oh dear,” Amber says, looking away quickly. It’s not right to see your Captain struggle so mercilessly.

Kaeya shakes himself, Electro sparks falling from his fingertips. He glares up at the Cicins with a look of hatred and annoyance. “I’ll kill you.”

“Isn’t that the point?” Paimon leans to Lumine to whisper.

Lumine has to struggle not to burst out laughing.

Kaeya’s at it again. “Where’s your damn Cicin mage? I know she’s around here somewhere!”

Kazuha leans over. “Isn’t that the Fatui we destroyed earlier?”

“Yes it is,” Paimon responds.

Kaeya leaps forward, his toe tapping the water.

“Oh no.”

Zap.

He falls to the ground this time, groaning.

The Cicin zaps him again, right when his fingers are turning frosty with his skill.

“OW!”

Lumine stands but Kazuha pulls her right back down. “This is a matter of pride.”

“If you interfere, we’ll never hear the end of how useless Mister Kaeya thinks he is.” Amber’s whispering behind her hand.

“We’ll never hear the end of it anyways. But Paimon agrees, this is hilarious.”

Kaeya’s on his feet once more, activating his elemental burst.

“Sir Kaeya! That might not be,” Amber tries, and sure enough he’s zapped almost immediately, electricity traveling from a Cicin, to his icicle, through the snowy air to him, “the best idea.”

“Wow she sounds like Sucrose.”

“Paimon, hush,” Lumine says.

Kaeya roars, running in a circle, sword flailing wildly.

“Well that’s one strategy,” Kazuha says.

“I’ve never seen that technique before,” Amber states.

“Something tells Paimon it’s not to be brought back to the Knights.”

Kaeya slips, landing on his ass, then flips over to his stomach and moves his arm like he’s swimming, slapping the Cicin mage down.

He wriggles, grinning ear to ear.

“Right.” Amber jumps up, clapping. “Oh! He got one. He got one!”

“So he did.”

“HA!” The man’s eye opens wide as he lets out a maniacal shout of joy, lifting his sword to check if it’s dead.

The Cicin rears from the ground, one behind him zapping him in the back of the neck.

He groans, crawling forward, and slips into the water once more.

“I hate this.”

It’s about five minutes of entertainment before Kaeya’s destroyed them all.

He’s a sweaty mess, stripping off his scarf, his cape, his coat, and even his vest. He stands in only his long sleeved shirt, billowing fabric open wide, the bandages around his shoulder peeking out from his chest.

He looks to Lumine, pouting heavily, and looks away dramatically, toeing the water.

“I’m surprised he’s not afraid of the water after all those zaps,” Paimon whispers.

Lumine coughs a laugh, watching as Kaeya’s eye flits to her. She grins at him, rising.

“Come here, we need to treat your wounds.”

“My wounds are fine.”

“Your pride will do better when you’re sitting in front of me getting rebandaged.”

In seconds, Kaeya is shirtless, seated on the grass before her. His shirt flutters slowly to the ground.

Kazuha pulls it in with the wind, closer to them, then lays back on the stonework, playing on his grass.

Amber wanders around, chasing small sprites through the air, and fireflies.

Lumine takes her time unbandaging Kaeya’s shoulder, though he shivers about a million times. “Sensitive from all those zaps?”

“Hardly.”

Right.

She tries not to laugh at him again, just in case he truly is embarrassed.

For Kaeya, every brush of her fingertips is sending small sparks through him. They’re no longer painful, but damn if it’s something he can keep from shivering from.

“Where do you want to go next?”

He groans. “To hell. Oh! I saw a fun opening down there,” he points, “while I was running around.”

“Ooh, really? I’m gonna go look.” Amber takes off running.

Kazuha flips off of the stone, following her quickly. Lumine thinks that perhaps he’s only interested in the sites, until he looks over his shoulder, winking at her.

“Paimon, come on. I need your expertise.”

“Oh! Coming!”

Kaeya watches them leave, his heart pounding.

Did they purposefully give him alone time?

With Lumine?

“My heart is in a terrible amount of pain.”

“Is it all the Electro?” Lumine is still tying up the back of his bandages.

“Or the misery of losing to a bunch of bugs.”

She bursts out laughing then, and he smiles at the sound.

Worth it. It was totally worth it.

He managed to make her laugh.

“Where do you think the mage is?”

“Oh, we defeated her earlier.”

“Shouldn’t her Cicins have disappeared with her?”

“I think it’s something to do with the area. There seems to be something secret over there, but I don’t know how to open it.”

“That’s right, you’ve been holding onto Anemo.”

“I’ll switch over soon. I’m just…worried.”

“Oh?” He tries to turn his head to look over at her, but she ducks behind his head as she works.

Unusual. Is Lumine hiding?

“We have Kazuha for Anemo.”

“Yes,” she says. “Kaeya, mind if I fix your hair?”

“Ah, be my guest.”

She fluffs her hands through the base of his ponytail, getting his damp hair off the back of his neck.

He freezes.

Only her words bring him back, her hands still brushing his skin. “I just…I’m worried that I won’t be strong enough. I’ll be starting from the bottom again.”

Kaeya’s eye widens.

He couldn’t imagine losing all the power he’s amassed towards his skill and burst. All the strength in his Vision, which he has come to rely on.

And what’s more, she doesn’t know if she’ll be strong enough.

Which means she knows she can’t rely on her team to protect her.

Or perhaps, like him, she doesn’t want to be helpless.

That’s understandable.

But his chest still wracks with guilt.

Kaeya turns, remaining on his knees. “Lumine.” His hands grace her arms, spreading goosebumps along her skin.

His hair tumbles over his shoulders, the scarred skin under his shirt looking hopelessly comfortable.

Lumine stares at his eye, watching as he looks from her chilly arm to her gaze.

“Please don’t feel helpless. Or useless.”

His grip tightens, ever so slightly, still remaining gentle.

This feels personal.

“You have a good weapon. You’re strong. You’re an amazing fighter. Those are things you haven’t lost. And we’ll do our best to make you as strong as we can, should you choose to change elements.”

Lumine swallows hard, staring at him.

The next moment, her arms are around his neck. She pulls him in tight, almost suffocating him against the soft space between her shoulder and her chest.

He has to fight the overwhelming urge to press his face further against her skin. To breathe in her scent. To kiss her clavicle.

Kaeya turns his head away, keeping his bare cheek against her.

He can hear her heart, from where his ear is pressed to her collarbone.

He can’t see.

She settles one hand to the back of his head. “Oh, Kaeya.”

Oh, Kaeya.

He stiffens.

This is what he wants to hear.

But he’s terrified of what she’ll say next.

“Thank you so much for being here with me.”

That’s all?

That’s…such a given.

He has to laugh, and she pulls away, and he hates that he laughed.

“I think this time together has been good to me,” he says. “Or perhaps it’s making me soft.”

Lumine smiles. “Good. I’m glad you’re safe and comfortable enough to be soft. But please don’t go easy on the Cicins anymore,” she says, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

She threads her fingers through the back of his hair, eyes lingering on the way the strands move.

She hadn’t truly thought much before holding him, but the emotions within her well up.

He’s always been there for her.

He teases his teammates, and he’s truly manipulative with his enemies.

And when she’s scared, or insecure, he’s there. He’s reliable, and steady.

Steadier than many people she’s traveled with in the past.

She tucks his hair behind his ear, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Kaeya is truly someone that Lumine trusts, perhaps not with what he says, but with his actions.

He would protect her with his life.

Her eyes fall from his ear to his chest, bandaged up.

Then to his eye, staring at her with an open look.

“You’re very reliable,” she says.

Kaeya watches Lumine’s eyes as they trace his figure. As her hand brushes his ear.

As he feels himself falling deeper into the expanse of emotions he’s been trying to hide under a sheet of ice.

Her eyes flicker with guilt when she sees his bandages.

No.

The very thought of her feeling guilt over him makes him feel pain.

And then she looks to him and says three words he’s been dying to hear.

Kaeya stands, his resolve renewed. His emotions on his sleeve. “Don’t worry. I was just having a bit of fun,” he says, about the Cicins.

He knows his words will come out as a tease. Will come out as if he's simply messing with her.

He turns away, retrieving his shirt from the stones where Kazuha set it.

Lumine smiles, for she knows the promise within his meaning.

That he offers her both fun loving, and being there when she needs him.

Chapter Text

“So, okay. We need to talk to Ella Musk.” Paimon shuffles through the commissions, placing that paper on top. “It looks like it’s supposed to be around Vennessa’s Tree, so we’re in the right spot.”

“Hey guys!” Kaeya and Kazuha run up, all smiles.

“We just defeated that hilichurl camp,” Kazuha says, pointing over with a grin.

Paimon’s jaw drops.

Amber is laughing behind them, bloody hilichurl masks clutched in hand. “Yeah, it was really easy. They had these explosive barrels – what?”

Paimon screams, a high pitched shriek that makes everyone flinch. They ready their weapons, standing back to back, looking around.

Her breaths come out quick and angry. “You killed the hilichurls?!”

“Well not one of them,” Amber says. She adds in a whisper, “He wasn’t doing anything, so we left him alone.”

Paimon slaps her own forehead, holding out the paper for the Knights and Kazuha to see. “Guys…we have a commission for Ella Musk.”

Lumine makes her best stern face, but her lips are quaking in laughter.

“Oops,” Kaeya says, lifting his brow, eye twinkling in delight.

"Who's Ella?" Kazuha leans towards Amber.

"A girl obsessed with hilichurls."

"Then we did good? We can bring her a mask."

"No, she likes talking to them."

Paimon sighs, though her arm shakes in anger, the paper clutched tight in her fist. “It’s alright. Come on, let’s go find Ella. No one tell her what we did.”

They find Ella easily enough, though she’s hiding behind a rock. Amber elbows Kaeya when he starts to ask about that.

“It means she didn’t see anything,” Amber hisses.

Ella asks them to find a hilichurl, scolding Lumine when she offers to drag one out. “Don’t wake the others up!”

Lumine and Kaeya share a glance, and he has to turn around, fist pressed to his mouth to keep the laughter in. He has to work very hard to keep his shoulders stiff, though they’re hunched over his back.

Kazuha, eyes wide and smile on, steps between Kaeya and Ella, trying to hide the laughing man from the petulant child.

Ella watches curiously. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Oh he um, ate something bad today,” Amber says. “His tummy hurts.”

“Oh. Go get that hilichurl, maybe he’ll have a cure.”

Kaeya wheezes, and Kazuha pushes him away quickly.

Amber bows out from speaking to Ella, hurrying after the men. They sidle up beside a row of rocks, about twenty feet from Ella.

“Wow Amber, Paimon didn’t know you’d lie to a kid.”

“Well I’ve done it before,” Amber admits. “I don’t want her feelings hurt! She’d be devastated if she knew what we did! And she wouldn’t let us do her commissions anymore.”

“Aha. So even Amber can be swayed by money.”

“Sticky Honey Roast doesn’t pay for itself! And I have two houses you know. One in town, and one outside that was my grandfather’s.”

“Two?!”

“Yes! So let’s make this go smoothly.”

“It’s fine,” Kazuha says. He and Kaeya are peering around the rock nervously.

“What’s wrong?”

Kaeya taps his finger on the rock, yawning. “The hilichurls are back.”

“How did so many appear so quickly?”

He shrugs, his fur scarf lifting more visually than his shoulder. “Don’t know. But we’re in luck. She won’t notice a thing.”

“Won’t she notice the dead bodies of the other ones?”

“You didn’t burn them?”

"We're not Pyro mages," Kazuha says.

Paimon huffs. "Amber is!"

“Guys?”

Their eyes flit back to settle on Ella, who snuck up, staring at them blankly.

“What did you not burn?” She tilts her head, watching them curiously.

“No, no!” Amber’s hands wave before her.

Kaeya sneaks off when she’s trying to explain, grabbing the hilichurl by the shoulder and walking him over.

The creature stares at him, seemingly stunned, but he smiles and apparently his charm works on all types.

“Here. A hilichurl.”

Chapter Text

“Man, Dawn Winery sure has a lot of monsters around it today. Paimon thought Rosaria and Diluc would have worked on this.”

“Why would they?” Amber looks perplexed, hands on her hips. “Diluc doesn’t fight anymore, and Rosaria is drunk at the tavern when she’s not with you guys.”

“Right.” Paimon’s wide eyes flit to Lumine. She forgot her audience.

Lumine shrugs. Amber hasn’t seemed to notice, and Kazuha is busy fighting Cryo slimes, while Kaeya collects pinecones, still yawning.

“Did you sleep at all last night, Captain?”

“Sort-of. I kept dreaming about fire beasts.”

“What is a fire beast?”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

“I’m sure we’ll see one in Sumeru,” Lumine says suddenly.

“Oh. That won’t be fun for you and Kaeya then,” Amber says. “And Kazuha, if he wants to head off that far.”

“Do you want to come with us to Liyue, Amber?” Paimon flits forward.

“Sure! I know I wasn’t sure before, but I think it could be a fun experience. And I’d hate to leave you guys on your own. Rosaria and I agreed that we’re happy helping you two as we can. Though, when Eula is on her breaks, I’ll be coming back to Mondstadt.” She grins just at the thought of seeing her girlfriend again.

“Alright!” Paimon does a full backflip. “Then we can really get started on our fights in Liyue! We do have a murder to solve, after all.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.”

“You forgot?!”

“It was awhile ago.”

Kaeya, who heard Amber refer to him as traveling with Lumine even to Sumeru, allows himself one small smile.

“Why am I collecting pinecones?”

“I don’t know,” Lumine responds. “But I’m sure they’ll be useful.”

Kaeya shrugs and picks up more.

Anything for his lady.

The team heads off to Springvale after that.

“Wait until you see it! It’s a really cute town,” Paimon says.

“I’m sure.” Kazuha gets his legs under him, jumping up the rocks.

Lumine steps in front of Kaeya.

"Ready?"

She nods to him, and he places both chilly hands on her waist, lifting her up.

Amber reaches down, taking her hand, pulling her up the boulder quickly.

"This is a shortcut," Amber explains.

Kaeya turns to Kazuha, offering his hands for him as well.

Kazuha tries not to blush. This feels a lot like when Tomo lifted him into a tree.

He turns, clearing his throat. "Ready."

Kaeya's hands are colder than he thought they would be, and his eyes widen slightly when he's lifted.

Amber grabs his uninjured hand, pulling him up by his arm so as not to hurt him.

Kaeya grabs Amber and Lumine's hands and is up a second later.

Kazuha stands, looking around the small village for a moment.

“This is already much different from Inazuma.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Well, for one,” Kazuha laughs, “not everything here is trying to kill me.”

Paimon gasps. “Is that really true?”

“Yes. We haven’t even seen lightning yet. Or at least, nothing to be afraid of.”

“Paimon’s afraid Benny would disagree with you.”

“That may be so. Who’s Benny?”

“He’s a kid who lives in Mondstadt, and he's incredibly unlucky.”

Kazuha looks around while Kaeya runs off to talk to some of the locals, catching up with them and getting necessary cooking ingredients and a new blanket.

“So, are you doing okay?” Paimon flits over to him, though he’s smiling, standing by the wind mill.

“I am. This is all very new to me. I don’t have much left from my homeland, except for my sword.”

“Just your sword? It must be odd running around Mondstadt.”

“It is.”

“And we haven’t even gotten your sword yet,” Paimon says. “Sorry, Kazuha.”

“No, don’t worry about it. Perhaps one day we will find it again. That being said, this blade you’ve gifted me will keep me safe throughout our travels. For that, I am grateful.”

“We are too! You’re a good team member, Kazuha.”

“Come on!” Kaeya waves from one of the houses, bundled goods settled on his arm. “Let’s go!”

“Ooh, time to visit Brook! She always cooks the best things.”

Brook is loaded with food, as usual, and Kaeya hands over the team’s supply of meat. It’s not even a fraction of the goods that he has stockpiled in his inventory, frozen solid.

They all sit down for a good luncheon, laughing for awhile while they chat.

Walking through town and speaking to townsfolk, Lumine suddenly gasps, grabbing Kaeya’s arm.

“What is it Lumine?”

“Draff is Diona’s dad?”

They stare at each other for a moment, the only sound the windmill above them, and Paimon’s palm slapping her forehead.

“Well I didn’t know!”

“Pfft, Lumine.” Kaeya turns away, breaking out in laughter. “Oh, dear. Miss Lumine, yes, yes, Draff is Diona’s dad, and in case you were unaware, Jean and Barbara are also related.”

She swats his arm. “I knew that from the Archipelago.”

Ah, yes. One of the few times they were separated.

Kaeya had taken a few days off after being injured, only for Lumine to go to a deserted island. Without him!

He lied about the treasure quest on the note. It just said ‘Lumine went’ and he dropped everything.

He even spoke to Diluc, and then found himself on a dragon.

Luckily, both Jean and Barbara were able to heal him, and he paid them off to keep quiet about his injuries. Lumine had thought he was just on break from adventuring for a few days.

But still. The only time he left her alone, and she immediately rode a dragon to an unknown place. With his boss!

“You didn’t know before?”

“No! No one tells me these things.”

“Oh my good lord. Did you know Sister Rosaria is a nun?”

Lumine pouts up at him.

“I’m only teasing. It’s interesting to think that our dear Lumine would be so far removed from the relations in our city.”

“Paimon thinks Lumine spends so much time taking care of this city, she rarely gets to hang out with it’s citizens.”

“Makes sense. Well then, it seems I’ve sorely neglected you. When we get back from Liyue, let’s take a few days to truly meet everyone in Mondstadt. They’ll adore you anyways,” he promises, taking her palm.

Kaeya kisses the back of her hand, smiling. The sun glancing off his necklace.

He’ll enjoy the sun as long as he can.

Lumine smiles back, warm as ever.

Chapter Text

“Why are we doing this again?” Kazuha blocks the hit with his sword, getting knocked back with a grunt.

“For a bounty,” Amber says, back straight. She shoots easily at the target, which remains immune to fire if not to her arrows.

“Why do you bother charging the shot if it won’t die to the flames?” He groans, rolling away from the oncoming elemental storm.

“Habit.”

“Doing great guys,” Kaeya says, clapping, though his sword remains in hand.

He runs behind the storm as it falls once more, slashing through it with physical damage.

“I thought you did more elemental damage than physical,” Amber says. “I was sure those were the artifacts Lumine gave to you.”

“Yeah.” He grunts, slashing with all his might. “But I still do more damage than any of you, in either category.”

Amber stares across the clearing at Lumine, but she’s enraptured with the muscles moving under Kaeya’s shirt, and the veins flexing in the bit of forearm that’s exposed.

Amber gets the unfortunate sight of Lumine licking her lips. “Eugh. Oh my archons.”

But she refuses to despair, lifting her bow and shooting once more, as the elemental storm begins to rise right as Kaeya activates his burst.

“What’s even the point of your burst here?” Paimon’s fists are at her sides.

“It makes me feel cool,” Kaeya says. He looks back at her with a grin and a wink, though how anybody can tell it’s a wink they’re unsure. Maybe it’s how exaggerated it is.

Kazuha gets under the storm, activating his skill, leaping up to hit it as it rises.

“Oh wait! Kazuha!” Kaeya’s sword evaporates as he reaches out.

Sure enough, the storm, which may not seem so scary, slams into Kazuha mid-air.

The air leaves his lungs in a choked rush.

He falls back down into Kaeya’s arms, the two bundling to the grass beneath them.

Kaeya grunts, his knees slamming on the ground. He rises, throwing the man onto Lumine, then diving out of the way of the storm.

“Come get me!”

“Look here, you buffoon!” Amber fires off another arrow, so the storm turns to her.

Lumine sets Kazuha on the grass nearby with Paimon as protection, then stands with her sword. “Come get me!”

Kaeya grins just at her using his words, but his brow is taut with worry. He likes taking chances in fights when it’s with silly Knights, not so much the team he’s Captaining.

Not when one got knocked out so easily.

“What is this storm immune to?” Amber shouts across the clearing as Lumine dodges once more.

“Pyro!” Paimon checks her notes. “Cryo! And Anemo!”

Kaeya swears.

“Real nice bounty we picked guys.”

“Oh shut it! This one pays well, and Paimon is hungry!”

“It won’t pay well when we factor in the cost of bandages!”

“I’m fine,” Kazuha says, lifting up. He’s wheezing.

The storm dodges Amber’s shots, earning a frustrated grunt.

“Hold still!”

“It can’t.”

Lumine waves her sword, the glint calling the storm’s attention. It veers off course from where it was heading for Kaeya, slamming towards her.

Kazuha waves his sword from the ground and the storm veers once more, heading for him.

His eyes widen, and Kaeya and Lumine dash forward from opposite directions, but it’s too late.

The storm slams into Kazuha, whipping his head back and knocking him down into the grass once more.

Amber’s arrow soars into the storm a second later, dropping it just beyond Kazuha.

Lumine retrieves the man, dragging him out of the area while Kaeya destroys the storm for good.

Huffing, Kaeya turns around only to see his worst nightmare.

Kazuha, lying on Lumine’s lap.

He rushes over, hitting his knees, grabbing a fruity skewer out of his inventory. “Come on Kazuha, wake up. Time to wake up! Chew, chew, chew.” He pats Kazuha’s cheek a few times, splashing water on the man’s forehead. “Eat please.”

Kazuha groans and takes a bite.

The Captain sets his arm under Kazuha, lifting him up from Lumine’s lap. “That’s a man. Come on up, up. We’ll get you back to Jean. I’ll carry you.”

“No, it just knocked my breath out again. I’m okay.”

Paimon has to stifle her laughter at the halting look on Kaeya’s face.

Oh, so he wasn’t even unconscious.

Chapter Text

“Kaeya, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” He's frowning, his entire body deflated, brow pulled down.

"Are you sure?"

"Is he hurt?" Kazuha whispers over to Amber, who's helping him hobble around until his breath comes back.

"Jealous," she whispers back.

"I'm perfectly okay," Kaeya states.

Paimon flits beside him, snickering. “Okay, cause you seem a little bothered by something.”

The Captain wilts even further.

It’s raining, which makes him stronger. Too strong.

He’s tried everything since the fight with the storm.

He got into a fight with a Pyro Abyss Mage.

He won.

Easily.

He got into a fight with a Cryo Abyss Mage.

He destroyed it with his physical damage.

He ran ahead and got into a fight with an entire team of hilichurls, including not one, but two mitachurls!

He slaughtered them all by the time one of Amber’s arrows flew over his shoulder.

And he just looked back at her and pouted. “You missed.”

She laughed.

Paimon looked at him, and then at Lumine, and said, “I don’t think he was joking.”

He was not.

If he got hurt, then surely Lumine would hold him on her lap.

Surely, he would get to have his head on her warm thighs, and look up into her bright and smiling face.

But alas, whatever he wants is what he’s doomed to never quite have.

And so, it rained, and he was made to be strong, and he was so strong that he fought everything with ease.

“Let’s go do another bounty,” he grumbles.

Maybe this one will be resistant to Pyro.

“I think we need to talk to Jean,” Paimon says, eyes wide.

Kaeya perks up. Yes, yes.

Jean will surely send them on a dangerous mission, and then he can get patched up.

“Or, perhaps…Diluc?”

His face falls again.

He wants to get patched up, not be killed.

Dammit.

His day only gets worse from there.

They get a commission from Alfred, and Kaeya’s whole attitude changes. He stands up straight, pulling his companions close, offering them a sad smile.

“Hey, let’s do this one right. Come on, we have the flowers. Everyone, on your best behavior.”

“Why? Who’s it – oh.” Amber leans over Lumine’s shoulder, reading the name at the top of the commission page.

“Someone you know?” Kazuha looks up.

Amber merely nods. “You’ll see.”

They head up to the Cathedral, then behind it, to an area Lumine and Paimon haven’t been to too much, but unfortunately that Kaeya has grown familiar with.

This area is the testament to his own personal mistakes.

Each one of these people, the recent ones at least, are people he failed to save.

People who fell to accidents, to diseases, or to adventuring fights.

The people they managed to bring home, that is.

People that he should have been there to protect. That he should have known to take care of, in their hour of need.

People that a better cavalry captain would have been there for.

The guilt in seeing these graves haunts him.

He’s spent many, many hours sitting on top of the waypoint tower, or on top of the cathedral, staring down at this point.

Wondering what he could do differently.

Asking why he was put in charge, when he's clearly deficient in more than just love.

The wind blew his bangs back, and he took a deep breath, and then went out and defended Mondstadt once again.

Trying to save her from the demons in this world.

Alfred is standing before his daughter’s grave.

Lumine approaches, Paimon beside her. The pixie reads the name on the grave and her eyes grow wide.

Lumine offers Alfred the flowers, and he thanks her, explaining why he’s there.

What happened to his daughter.

Kaeya looks away, biting his lip, but forces himself to look back.

Stories like hers are proof of there being no justice among the archons.

Why would a child like her be allowed to die, when a monster like him was allowed to live?

No, not even allowed.

His eyes drop to his Vision.

Saved.

Why would he be saved?

Why couldn't the child have been granted a Vision instead?

Not a Cryo one, not a curse from trying to save a life.

But perhaps Anemo? Or Hydro? Something with healing?

Something sweet, and gentle, and soft, perfect for a child who could see her father soon.

Surely, when he heard word of her illness, he would have rushed home to her.

Surely, he would have fallen to his knees beside her bed, and taken her in his arms, and severed his concerns for arbitrary things.

Of course, being able to pay bills is important.

But so is singing to your daughter.

Her becoming sick at all would have been enough to teach him to care more.

She didn't have to die.

Lumine’s footsteps tap across the stones quietly, calling Kaeya's eye. Her jaw is set.

She rejoins the group, looking back to listen from a respectable distance as Alfred plays, leaning ever so slightly against Kaeya.

This is his role.

Comfort.

To bring a moment of comfort that he'll never be able to feel.

There isn’t a dry eye by the time his song is finished.

Amber sets her hands on Lumine and Kazuha’s shoulders, and steers them away.

"Where should we go?" Paimon wipes her eyes, her voice stuffy and her cheeks swelling.

The tavern would be the obvious choice for a distraction, but neither Rosaria, nor Diluc, nor Venti are there tonight.

“Terribly dry,” Kaeya says. His throat feels like embers are trapped in it.

But should anyone in Mondstadt see their Captain cry, they would surely worry.

Then Diluc would get involved, and Jean, and Lisa, and the kids, and it would be a mess.

And for what?

Alfred is back there crying as they speak, and who's there to comfort him?

Kaeya looks about the tavern, at the citizens who have never felt relief at a dead relative.

Surely they deserve to be here, the most.

Not him.

He taps his finger on the countertop, reveling in how numb he is. The only part of his body he can feel is his shoulder, where Lumine's hand rests as she speaks to Amber about their plans.

Even Charles is out on business.

They don’t stay long before boredom gets the best of them, and they can’t seem to shake the gloomy feeling.

Everyone leaves soon afters, heading to Dawn Winery.

“Let’s see if we can get our moods up a bit.” Kaeya offers them a bright smile.

Amber tries to smile back, but her forehead is creased. She’s trying.

Kaeya pulls her in for a side hug. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“I remember her.”

“I do too. She was a very happy girl. She wouldn’t want to see us all sad.”

Chapter Text

Dawn Winery is the obvious choice of a retreat for the night, for a number of reasons.

It’s safe, so Kaeya won’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt.

Diluc spends every waking moment ensuring that his personal employees, and his family, won't wake up one day to "terror at the throat". So as much as Kaeya feels a familiar tremble whenever he walks up the steps to the deck, he knows his companions are likely more secure there than anywhere else in Mondstadt, with the exception perhaps of Jean's personal office.

Of course, thinking of that office reminds him of Amber's grandfather, formerly in the office Kaeya now owns.

Maybe nowhere in Mondstadt is safe from the cruelty of enemies.

The second reason Dawn Winery is safe is because this is Diluc’s land, so Amber won’t have to worry about any rules or regulations.

She doesn't have to think if she can glide off the cliffs or land on a roof, and that saves her precious moments of hesitation which could one day be her downfall.

Though Kaeya respects her, he watches her with the worry of a childhood friend who has seen her launch herself off the edge of the world a few too many times, begging the archons for blessings and fate for luck.

Kaeya knows those things can be taken from anyone, for any whim.

The third reason he enjoys the land is that they’re allowed to be there, per Diluc’s statements last time. It will be nice to see how far that sentiment can be stretched.

If, say, the dirt outside the house ends up muddied, or the river ends up frosted over, would Diluc be mad then?

Would he once more attack his old, dear friend?

The Captain kicks a rock on the path, getting his own thoughts back on track.

And finally, Kaeya can take Lumine off by herself, to process their thoughts.

They head over to the river, Kazuha and Amber veering off in one of the gardens, eager to converse with Paimon. Eager to speak amongst themselves, getting their minds at ease.

He wanders to the river on accident, only to feel the back of a hand tap the back of his.

Lumine looks away, as if she hadn't quite meant to do that, or at least she's pretending not to have.

The purse in her lips tells him different.

Kaeya smiles, bowing low, every bit the prince he used to be, when he lived in his brother's shadow. When he was raised to be sweet, and gentle, and fun.

Before that became the mask he wore to hide every tear.

"Milady, would you like to join me on the grass?"

"Certainly."

She pats the ground beside her, so that he joins, looking out across the water once more.

Just this simple interaction did more for his mood than the entire walk back.

Lumine taps their feet together, then moves closer so their arms are in contact. Just something so they both know the other one is there.

“May I put my arm around you?”

“Yes.”

Kaeya settles an arm around her waist, though his hand rests on the grass beside her. It’s a loose hold, meant for comfort.

They’re silent for awhile, eyes roaming over the water, then up to the trees.

Kaeya glances down, watching Lumine watch a bird.

How must it feel, to come to this city, to see this beauty and then learn the ugly truth?

In fact…he glances down at himself, seeing his chest, with bandages peaking out from the shoulder she wrapped yesterday.

Is that not what I am?

Something beautiful, ugly on the inside?

Kaeya’s fingers dig into the dirt once more, feeling it slide under his nails. At least he can still feel.

At least he hands haven’t gone so numb he can’t hold a glass.

At least he isn’t trembling, sitting here beside her.

But still.

What would she think, if she truly knew who he was?

If she knew who he could be, and what he’s done, would she remain here by his side?

Would she have said yes?

Kaeya retracts his arm slowly.

He shouldn’t have asked.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

A lie. Another lie, scratched into his throat.

He thinks it would hurt more to tell the truth.

No.

The Vision resting on his thigh is a reminder that it does hurt to tell the truth.

It burns, in fact.

He glances back, over Lumine’s head, at the figure in the window.

The curtains drops back down, a splash of red hair disappearing into the dark.

Perhaps Diluc can tell her instead. Can inform her of the person he truly is.

But no. Kaeya knows better.

Diluc has never betrayed him. And regardless of how he may feel about Miss Lumine, his intentions won’t change so easily.

Or at least, Kaeya hopes that’s the case.

Chapter Text

Kaeya wakes up to a Cryo slime nibbling on his hair.

He yells and leaps backwards, landing on Lumine. They tumble through the grass, one over the other, him landing over her.

She stares up into his face as if staring down at a bug.

Clearly not a morning person.

He pouts a moment, knowing full well they're not in immediate danger from the slimes, before her hands press on his shoulders, heaving him off of her.

She’s on her feet in an instant, looking absolutely perfect, destroying the slimes in the area with ease while he sits with his bottom lip puckering.

Well, an easy smile settles on him. She looks quite wonderful for having slept in the grass beside him.

She looks even better whilst destroying a hoard of slimes, sword in hand.

He makes sure the pout is back when she turns to him, though. She rushes over, placing both hands on his shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

Oh, dear. Her face is so worried, that he can’t help but melt.

Kaeya smiles. “Don’t worry. I’m alright.”

“You’re still injured from yesterday,” she says, kneeling beside him. “May I?”

His eye widens a fraction, seeing her gaze drop from his face to his chest.

“Oh, sorry. I should bring you to Jean, to heal you.”

Kaeya almost loses his mind at the slight glimmer he saw in her eyes. He grins, leaning in. “Oh?”

But Lumine is much too smooth for him. “I need you in tip top shape in order to fight, Captain.”

He pouts once more. He had thought she was jealous of their Grand Master, that the little gleam was her begging him to see someone else, but it seems not.

Why can’t she be all soft and tender with him, dammit?

He looks away, huffing. “I can take care of myself, though your concern is amusing.”

Lumine rolls her eyes. “Suit yourself, let’s go.”

They find Kazuha and Amber inside the mansion, happily in guest bedrooms.

“Why didn’t you guys think of that?” Paimon rubs the back of her head, yawning.

Venti looks up from where he’s reclining on one of the couches. “Oh, good morning guys.”

“Morning Venti.”

“Kaeya, are you hurt? You should get that checked out.” His fingers slide over his lyre's strings, a tune flowing through the air that doesn't at all match the pace of his plucking.

“You should get that tuned.”

“It is – f you.”

Paimon gasps, as if she didn’t once sit down with a drunk Venti and take note of swear words to use in emergencies later. “Venti!”

“What, no ‘tone deaf bard’ today?” Venti sticks his tongue out at her.

Paimon huffs and turns away, crossing her arms. "See if I bring you any apples," she mutters.

"No no, please!"

"No, it's too late."

Kaeya cuts in before they get too loud. "Have you seen Master Diluc? I want to thank him for spying on me yesterday."

"It's his house," Paimon mutters.

"Still on team Pyro, I see."

"Hmph."

"I'm surprised you want to see him so badly," Venti says, an evil glint in his eye.

Lumine sighs. "I wanted to see him, actually."

"Oh?" Venti grins, looking from her to Kaeya quite pointedly, though she's still too tired to notice.

Kaeya feels his lifeforce draining from this conversation. He flips off the bard.

"No, Diluc isn't here."

"Guess we missed him. Ready, team?"

Paimon yawns. "Ready."

Chapter Text

“Why are we fighting another elemental storm?” Amber dodges, falling to one knee to aim.

“What a shot! That was impressive, Amber.” Kaeya claps once more, his sword clutched tight as it was yesterday.

“Thanks!” She jumps up, smiling at him as if at an older brother. Her headband twitches like ears.

“It’s an easier one than the other day,” Paimon reassures her, reading off from the bounty paper as Kaeya sprints past her, slamming his ability into the storm.

It shudders with damage, but lifts again, suddenly.

The storm knocks Kaeya’s sword back towards his face, forcing him to teleport to get out of the way.

Amber can't shoot with him standing in front of it.

The storm takes the moment of safety to veer off towards Kazuha, who’s resting on the sidelines under strict orders to “observe, not fight” after his injuries from the day before.

Kaeya twists, eye widening in horror.

Lumine shouts, getting Kazuha's attention. His head snaps up.

The samurai lifts his sword, barely unsheathing, before the storm slams into him, knocking him off of his log and onto the grass.

Paimon screams, but it’s overshadowed by Kaeya’s shout.

“No!”

The sound reverberates off the cliff walls nearby, enough to make everyone scared.

Kaeya and Lumine are already sprinting from two different directions towards the storm, trying to prevent it from raising it’s wind onto Kazuha’s prone figure.

His body is shuddering under the weight of the wind berating him, Paimon nearby crying, the commissions forgotten, rolling away across the ground.

They can’t tell if he’s unconscious, or bleeding, or worse.

Lumine is the farthest one out, having been distracting the storm to try and lure it away from Amber.

Amber shoots a hefty shot, full of as much flame as she can add without messing up the arrow’s trajectory. It slams into the storm’s shield, and it twists midair, stopping it’s assault on Kazuha.

“Yeah!”

She gives out a shout of momentary victory, but Kaeya skids to a stop right outside of the target area, eye wide and full of horror, which only Paimon is at an angle to see.

“No, no!” He turns away from Kazuha, sprinting for Amber, who looks from the storm to him, confused.

The storm races for her, sucking air towards itself as it moves, throwing Kaeya backwards onto the grass.

"Amber!"

He pulls his leg under him, looking over in time to see the storm knock into the younger Knight's shoulder, throwing her back.

Her body slams into Lumine’s arms, both women tumbling over each other as they land on the grass.

Only Lumine’s groan sounds up.

Kaeya’s heart nearly stops.

Did I just get her killed?

He leaps forward, tumbling, as the storm throws itself at Lumine, who’s still moving under Amber. A tornado slams into her, knocking her face back, but she's still conscious.

She leaps to her feet, raising her sword, while Kaeya’s hand closes on the fallen bow.

He lifts it a second too late, firing off an arrow, still lit, which scorches his fingertips.

The storm slams into Lumine, the arrow a moment later, reminding him of that perfectly horrid moment yesterday, when a different storm hurt Kazuha.

Lumine manages to roll, and shield Amber at the same time, but she gasps for breath, clutching her side.

The storm got her.

The storm drops from the fiery arrow, and Kaeya sprints for it, roaring.

He’s not usually one to lose his cool in the midst of battle. He’s the one who can keep his head, who can fight carefully.

But that last wave of wind from it made him tired of playing games, and he’s more sore than he would prefer to be.

And he just watched every teammate be knocked down in succession, so he’s a bit pissed.

Luckily, the melt effect on the storm is more than strong enough to hurt it.

It rises again, and there’s no one both awake and moving, though Lumine is groaning in the grass.

He hopes she’s merely knocked down, and not seriously injured.

“Lumine! Lumine?”

She merely groans in response, but it’s a response.

“That’s good, you’re doing great. Keep listening to my voice,” his voice hiccups with exertion as the wound on his shoulder pulls, muscles taut, “okay?”

It’s a fight to keep himself sounding steady, but he needs her to stay awake.

“Okay.” She sounds alright. Tired, maybe. A bit out of it.

Paimon rushes over to her side, holding her shoulder. "She'll be okay, right?"

"She'll be fine!" Kaeya grunts, slamming into the storm again.

Lumine probably took a bit hit to either the ribs or the chest, and it stunned her a bit.

As long as nothing is broken or bleeding, she’ll be fine.

But he’ll have to get her back to Jean.

“Hey, we’re going to visit Jean soon,” he says.

The storm stays close to land, close enough that his skill can keep knocking it down.

No response.

Sweat breaks out on Kaeya’s forehead, his eye widening.

Why did they take this commission?

They shouldn’t have done it with Kazuha still injured.

He shouldn’t have approved it.

His sword slams into the storm with the force of his self hatred, pieces chipping off. Oh, Wagner is going to pull his ear like he’s 14.

His voice is gentle, a bit distressed. “Lumine? Wake up.”

No answer.

“Lumine!” It’s not sweet anymore, ragged.

His blind eye starts filling with visions of her, lost. Mondstadt, full of flowers and a casket.

Him, unable to breathe from the weight of his mistakes.

“Yeah!” She calls back like she’s barely waking up.

“Sit up.”

His sword slams again into the storm, until it falls apart, dissipating.

There isn’t a moment to spare before he’s running to Amber and Lumine, panting heavily, chest slick with sweat.

Lumine is sitting up, trying to lift Amber.

He throws Amber over his shoulder, quickly unclasping the armor of his other, able to spot Paimon in the distance fretting over Kazuha’s prone body.

The man hasn’t moved. Not good.

At least two of these members will need to be carried, and Lumine is in no condition to do any of the carrying.

“Come on, up up.” He helps her, an arm around her, the three of them rushing to Kazuha.

“He won’t wake up.” Paimon’s crying, pushing on the man’s back.

“It’s okay. He’s just tired,” Kaeya says, grabbing Kazuha by the side of his clothes, secretly feeling for broken ribs.

They feel whole, though he can feel where one was broken before.

He sets the man over his shoulder, more gently than he had Amber. Kaeya knows of her old injuries, mostly in her leg, but Kazuha is a mystery to him, and likely hurt much worse.

Amber is already groaning. She just passed out.

“Good, no concussions.”

Kaeya turns back, to where Lumine looks about to fall over. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Well, he didn’t mean to let that out, but so be it.

She topples over as he catches her, grunting.

Three people?

Kaeya's eye rolls up to the blue, slightly cloudy sky.

Archons help him.

He lifts Lumine in his arms, gasping for breath from the weight on his shoulders, trying to crush his ribs.

“The nearest Waypoint is here,” Paimon says, pointing to the map, tugging him. As if he doesn’t know.

He forces himself to see the tears streaking down her face.

No time to be rude.

“Come on. Let’s go," she says.

He nods in response, following along.

His breath is ragged, but it’s fine. Jean can put his spine back together later.

Right now he needs to get them all to safety.

Chapter Text

It’s a bit of a rustle when Kaeya slams to Vanessa’s Tree, his exhausted arm slipping as he's choosing the Waypoint from the map Paimon's holding, her hands shaking.

Jean isn’t there today, but Barbara is, looking for her sister.

She quickly heals Kazuha, growing tired after healing his concussion fully.

He’s fine, but she still heals Lumine, yawning heavily.

“Head back,” Amber says, leading the girl over to the Waypoint. She pulls out Barbara’s map.

Kaeya, behind them, is icing his burnt fingers.

It's been awhile since he got scorched like this, and he's not enjoying the feeling.

Barbara absentmindedly presses the Waypoint for Mondstadt. She's going to need a long nap. She looks over her shoulder at Amber. “Wait, what about your injuries?”

And she’s gone.

The Knight chuckles, retreating back to where Kazuha and Lumine are stretching, working the sores out of their muscles.

"Man, I feel great," Kazuha says.

"Same." Lumine lets out a long sigh.

Hands on her hips, she and Kazuha turn to Amber and Kaeya.

“Aren’t you hurt?”

“Nah, we’re fine,” Amber says. “Though the Captain carried us, so he probably needs medical attention.”

He makes a face behind her. She’s supposed to be on his team. Traitor.

She throws up a peace sign at him.

“Knights are never injured," Kaeya mutters.

“What kind of fucked up logic is that,” Lumine says, so quick he starts laughing.

Oh, archons. His ribs. His ribs, his ribs.

“He must have gotten hit in the head,” Paimon says.

Fuck fuck fuck.

“Come here. We need to get you to a doctor.” Kazuha stands, holding out his hand to slide under Kaeya's arm.

Amber and Kaeya exchange a glance.

“Time to go,” the Captain says, pulling out his own map. The others grab for him for various reasons, Amber to tag along, Lumine and Kazuha and Paimon to scold, while he follows Barbara to Mondstadt.

Barbara is already out of sight, and Kaeya quickly snatches the commission list from Paimon the second she appears in front of him.

"Ahh!"

He throws half of the pages to Amber, and the two of them take off in opposite directions.

“Come back!” Kazuha races after Amber, who laughs, though her leg is bleeding. “You need medical treatment!”

“After I get these done! For Mondstadt!”

Kaeya laughs. “I really should rein her in. I didn’t mean to teach her that.” Though, he knows, he’s not the one who did…DILUC.

He smiles over to Paimon and Lumine, who are glaring him down.

Lumine makes a grab for him and he races around the Fatui gossipers, gliding down to the fountain. She follows, and he backtracks, racing up the wall like a spider, using his height to his advantage.

He grunts along the wall though, feeling his shoulder wound reopen.

He hisses, vaulting the fence, taking a moment to peer back down at her.

Lumine is pissed, but she's healed, so she's fine to climb.

“Kaeya!” Lumine whispers so as not to bring too much attention to their predicament, though of course he won’t listen.

“You’re injured as fuck,” Paimon whispers beside her, talking about him.

He just rushes off, disappearing into the shopping crowd, and they give chase.

This goes on for a short while, until he's winded, finally, collapsing into a chair.

When Lumine finally claps a hand onto Kaeya’s shoulder outside of Angel’s Share, he knows it’s over.

She’s chased the man throughout Mondstadt, from the cliffs to the pond, from statue to statue, as he’s finished commissions faster than she can run to him.

Damn height advantage, and stamina.

“Let’s go see Jean,” she says frostily, dragging him behind her by the hair.

"No, she'll worry! Dear Honorary Knight, this is hardly ethical."

She's stalking through Mondstadt, his hair pulled down over her shoulder, angry as can be.

"You should have thought about that before leading me on a wild goose chase. You're bleeding on your fur coat."

"I told you, I'll be fine."

She releases his hair as they turn onto the main street, where people are meandering, grabbing his hand instead.

"And you're burnt." She looks to his other hand, where his fingers' bandages are falling off.

Lumine looks up to his face.

Kaeya is staring at her, blushing.

"Are you feverish too?"

She stops walking, standing on her toes to feel his forehead.

He thinks he feels his heart stop, right then. His eyelashes flutter.

"No. I'm okay."

More than okay.

She's so sweet, and precious.

He just...is happy.

She's worried about him.

He's so happy.

A commotion draws his attention, and he looks forward to where Jean is staring sternly at Amber, whose caught in Kazuha's iron grip beside the fountain.

Lumine follows his gaze. "Oh, good."

"She can scold you," Paimon adds, though at some point she found time to grab food.

Kaeya almost rolls his eye.

Until Jean looks his way.

He shudders.

Chapter Text

"A week leave?!" Paimon stares down at Kaeya, who sighs and nods.

"Without pay."

"Wow, that's harsh."

He shrugs. "It's fine. All worth it, for the fine citizens of Mondstadt."

Lumine's stare could freeze his heart. "You could have just let us patch you both up. Then we could have all done the commissions."

"Heh." Amber's still letting Kazuha wind bandages around her arm, his face in fierce determination as he wraps. "So, how did we survive that storm, anyways? I don't remember much."

"Me either," Kazuha says. "I just saw it suddenly coming towards me."

"It's my fault," Kaeya says, immediately. He stands, bowing low. "I'm sorry, Kazuha."

Amber gapes, Lumine staring in shock.

Kazuha shakes his head. "Please, there's no need."

Kaeya plops back down. "As your Captain, I shouldn't have had us try to fight that while you weren't fully healed. It's my fault you got hurt."

"No, it's mine. Even if I was out of the fight, I should have been paying attention."

"Well I couldn't shoot from where I was," Amber says, "but I failed to get out of the way, so I'm sorry for that."

"It's not your fault," Kaeya says. "I couldn't get to either of you in time."

"The storm was moving too fast," Paimon says. "It knocked you out, Kazuha, and then knocked Kaeya back. It went after Amber, then tossed her into Lumine. It went after Lumi, but Kaeya shot it down."

Amber jolts up. "You shot it down?!"

"Yes. Diluc and I used bows when we would go hunting."

"Wow, I didn't know that."

He nods, messy hair swishing over his shoulders.

Lumine moves behind him, pulling it up, winding it into a bun.

"Lumine hit it pretty hard, and then Kaeya just kept hitting it with his sword until it collapsed."

"That's how we won?" Amber stares in awe.

Kaeya nods. It feels so nice to have his hair off his neck.

To feel Lumine behind him, safe and warm.

It's entirely worth the pain in his shoulder, and the burnt fingers.

"Wow Captain, you're incredible," Kazuha says.

Kaeya grins, looking away. "Aw, I wouldn't say that."

"We would," Paimon says. "Once again, Captain pasty eye got us out of danger."

Lumine grins, settling both hands on his shoulders. "Thank you, Captain."

He turns bright red.

"Then again," Paimon says. "I know why Diluc says Knights are nothing but trouble. Look at all the time we had to spend chasing you!"

"But we did get the commissions done," Amber is saying.

Kaeya can't concentrate.

Lumine hasn't removed her hands.

She's so warm. So soft. So gentle.

And she thanked him.

He wants to think of anything kind, anything smooth, but he can't.

He doesn't think he'll ever recover from this moment.

"Anyways," Amber says, "Aren't we supposed to go to Dragonspine?"

Lumine removes her hands. "Oh, Kaeya. We can visit Albedo while we're there, if you want? Or you can, while we do our commissions."

"Oh that's right!" Paimon leaps up. "Kaeya has a crush on Albedo."

All the mushy feelings he was having promptly fly away.

He's never wanted to strangle the pixie so bad.

He needs to set this straight.

"I - excuse me. I did have a slight attraction to him at one time or another, but in truth I have since moved on."

Amber gasps.

"There's someone else?!"

Oh, he must be more tired than he thought.

He didn't think through that sentence enough.

Even Paimon looks shocked, her eyes darting to Lumine and back.

Wait, to Lumine??

Fuck fuck fuck did I just blow my chance?

Kaeya grins, growing more content under the pressure. "Of course, I have to flirt quite often to get the information I need."

"So you were just talking to him to flirt," Lumine says.

Sigh.

"I think what Captain pasty eye was trying to say, is that he no longer has any crush on Albedo. So we can just go to Dragonspine and do our commissions as normal."

"Right."

"Hmm," Kazuha says.

"Interesting," Amber states. "Oh, I have your scarf. It's clean." Her arms are crossed, the fur tucked over them.

"Thanks." Kaeya accepts the scarf, reaching around himself.

Lumine takes it from him, clasping it on to his coat. "You shouldn't move your shoulder too much."

Kaeya turns bright red once more.

Chapter Text

"Kaeya, do you have a fever?" Paimon glances down at him.

"I fucken wish," he mutters, Lumine's hands on his shoulder once more. He could get soooo used to this.

"What?"

"I said you fucken wish." He stands abruptly, clapping. "Let's go, come on, we're not frozen in place and all that."

Amber snorts. She's known him since they were kids, and he's not getting his antics past her. "Captain! That is not how a Knight conducts himself. And don't roll your eye at me!"

"Do they both roll?"

Everyone stares at Kazuha.

His jaw drops. "I'm...so sorry. That wasn't supposed to be said out loud."

Kaeya rolls his eye again. "Eyes tend to move together, unlike you lot of lost pigeons. I swear, if a hilichurl held bread in front of him, you'd all line up to be clubbed."

"Kaeya!" Paimon wheels back. "Captain pasty eye, what's gotten into you?"

Red tinges his cheeks. He can still feel Lumine's hands on his shoulders, though of course they're not there anymore.

She's too short to reach him like that when he's standing.

Thank archons, or he'd have a heart attack and another archon would have to step up and say "Not yet, bitch!"

Maybe Paimon would get the new Vision, something healing.

That would actually be super useful.

He realizes he's been staring at Lumine's hands.

"Sorry, fruity skewers. If Rosaria were here, I'd say wine."

"I'd say wine for you! You're one bad weekend away from being an alcoholic!"

"I don't drink that often since joining your team." He crosses his arms, pouting. "I go to so much trouble for you lot. Can't be inebriated when you inevitably get yourselves in trouble with the Abyss Order in the dead of the night."

"It seems to be a common Mondstadt trait," Paimon retorts.

Amber looks between them, confused. "What? Is that true?"

"They're exaggerating," Lumine says.

Kaeya's eye widens. She's lying?!

His heart speeds up more.

"How long have you guys been together?" Kazuha asks, walking along. Kaeya nearly feels his heart stop, but somehow his feet keep moving.

"I thought you would be too nervous to ask questions," the Captain teases, laughing to hide his sudden nervousness at the wording, throwing an arm around the man. "I'm glad you're not. Um...goodness, I don't know."

"Not long enough," Lumine says.

Kaeya has to look at her to know if this is meant as an insult or not.

His grip on Kazuha tightens, and he makes himself release the man before he crushes him.

She's smiling.

"I hope to travel with you all for some time," she admits, eyes soft, cheeks rosy.

Amber flushes red. "Wow, Traveler! I didn't see that coming."

Neither did he.

Kazuha sees the surprise on Kaeya's face. He thinks his Cavalry Captain must be blind in both eyes, not to notice any sooner.

"Do you say that to all your traveling companions," Kaeya teases.

"Only the useful ones."

His jaw drops.

"Oh, you've unlocked sassy Lumine," Paimon mutters. "He's in for it."

Kaeya feels his knees go weak.

Sassy Lumine?

Dear archons, there's a reason he's lived this long.

He could drop to the ground and pray right this moment.

If there weren't an audience.

He's suddenly very happy with his lot in life.

Amber hides her mouth with her hand, whispering to the pixie. "Is that a bad thing?"

Kazuha smirks for one brief moment when Kaeya glances at him, almost as if he can read his thoughts.

Archons, Kaeya hopes not.

They mostly involve Lumine holding him, Lumine kissing his cheek, Lumine and him on long walks, Lumine Lumine Lumine okay they're all her.

The samurai's smirk is gone when Lumine looks back, offering him her hand to get up a boulder, and then Amber.

And then it'll be his turn.

"No, it's bound to be interesting for us."

"I can't imagine seeing Kaeya and Lumine teasing each other."

Oh, archons.

He can't either.

He has to wipe his hand on his pants leg to get the sweat off.

She looks back at him, reaching out.

"If we get some fruity skewers, it'll be entertaining," Paimon promises.

He places his hand in hers. She's so warm.

"Oh, I'm sure." Amber giggles.

Lumine pulls him up, turning away before she sees the way he has to take a deep breath.

Paimon flits beside her companion. "So where are we headed?"

Lumine looks back at them, grinning. She lifts her hand to the Waypoint and opens the map. "Oh, you'll see."

Chapter Text

“Dragonspine is as cold as ever,” Paimon complains.

Yes yes yes YES YES!

Kaeya could fall to the ground and kiss it.

He'll for sure get a fever if he hangs around here enough.

"I'm going to climb that mountain!" He points straight up, getting a running, jumping headstart.

Paimon's voice follows him. "WHAT?! Captain! Kaeya! What are you doing?!"

Uhh.

He looks around for an excuse, pointing, almost slipping off the rockwall.

Kazuha rushes under him, arms out, as if they won't both get crushed.

"I'm grabbing that ruby crystal!"

Yeah! Lumine will love him for that!

Two birds, one Cavalry Captain.

It's a perfect plan.

"Kaeya, that's not safe," Amber calls up.

He waves her off, causing a very worried Kazuha to readjust under him once more.

"It's fine! I have plenty of experience."

"It's not safe to do alone," she says, appearing next to him, carried up by Lumine's tornado.

He stares beside him for a moment, worried she's stealing his spotlight.

No, wait. His burnt fingers hurt for a reason.

She can light up the campfire sconces at the top of the mountain.

Kaeya grins. "Perfect. Come along, Outrider Amber. We have much work to do."

He climbs higher, her keeping up easily.

"You got it boss!"

This leaves Lumine and Kazuha on the ground, moving around sticks between each other.

"We can go fight something," Paimon offers, staring at her pouting lips.

"We got left behind," Kazuha states.

Lumine nods quietly.

Paimon rolls her eyes, looking up under her hand to the Knights. They've made it to the top of the mountain, bright clothes obvious in the white landscape.

Though it's clear from their expressions.

"I don't think they can see us," Paimon says.

She looks over to see Lumine and Kazuha placing bets on who falls first.

Kaeya.

Kazuha hands over his bet money.

Lumine hands back half. "To buy your silence."

The Captain glides back to the mountainside, climbing up.

They can't hear Amber clearly, but she's yelling.

He turns and leaps off again, this time hovering over the ruby crystal, lowering slowly to catch it, then dropping down to them, grinning triumphantly.

"Got it!"

Lumine leaps up. "Good work, Captain. Ready to head to the beach?"

He stares at her for a moment, then looks away.

"Even his chest is blushing," Paimon whispers to Amber.

Kaeya's head snaps to them. "It's the cold!"

The Outrider rolls her eyes, headband flapping in the wind. "Right, you're cold. Come on, let's go make a campfire guys, he's cold."

"Right. A campfire. Yes," Kaeya says. He hands over the crystal, pulling out his map, and pointing. "Let's move."

"As if he wasn't the one standing still," Amber whispers.

Kazuha is very glad that he's gotten very good at not bursting out laughing.

Lumine is just wondering when Kaeya will admit his feelings for her.

Maybe she needs to chat with him.

Chapter Text

They fly down from the Waypoint to the coastline, Kaeya leading the way. Amber starts a fire as soon as they land, and Kazuha runs around mining while she cooks up supper.

Kaeya stretches, heading out for the water. As cold as it is, he’s enamored with the peaceful landscape, and finds himself walking along, searching for seashells.

“Find anything good?”

He jumps, turning, spotting bright yellow hair, barely taller than his elbow.

“Lumi. I’m surprised to see you out here,” he says. Their camp remains down the beach, the other three all exchanging cooking ingredients, laughing loudly.

"You know," he says, pointing back to them. "Without the two of us, something will blow up."

She shrugs. "Then we can have emergency rations."

He stares open-mouthed at her.

Lumine smiles sweetly back.

His heart flutters.

He holds out his hand, Crepus' old teachings about being a gentleman coming back to him. “Care to take a walk with me?”

Her brows raise, and she settles her hand in his.

Archons, she's warm.

Lumine's voice breaks his thoughts. “I haven’t seen you so confident since the Archipelago.”

His eye widens and he chokes on spit, coughing to hide it. And to cover his reddening face.

The Archipelago.

A giggle rises up in him, his voice lowering.

“We had fun, didn’t we?”

They had veered away from the rest of the group, on the premise of finding treasure. Paimon stayed behind with Klee to catch dinner.

And at one point, they found a quiet place to be together, just the two of them.

They didn’t plan it that way, but it was certainly fun.

“We did.” Lumine squeezes his hand. “And here I thought you’d forgotten.”

His head whips around, eye peering down at her.

Did she really think that?

Did he fail to make her feel special?

She’s watching the ocean strategically.

Ah, so this is another tease.

He relaxes, sighing.

“Why, Lumine, I wouldn’t forget a moment with you.”

“Oh? I did.”

He stops walking, jaw dropping.

Excuse me?

She grabs her own chin, making a show of thinking. “I forgot how you got us out of that battle with the elemental storm earlier.”

She's going to tease him and then change the topic entirely?

Kaeya begins laughing by the time he looks down at her. He gives her hand a bit of a squeeze, then just…doesn’t stop holding. Tighter and tighter.

As if he can hold her hand tight enough to stop her from leaving.

“I uh, you really had me going there for a moment.”

He offers a smile, and the next moment it’s crumbled, the same as the rocks will someday into the sea.

She turns as he keels over, dropping onto her shoulder, the exhaustion of the day and the fear of losing her culminating up through him.

His body trembles, tears leaking out, dropping onto her collar as ice crystals.

"You must be so sick of me breaking down on you," he says, trying to laugh, but it only comes out choked.

His body is so cold that she has goosebumps. She winds her arms around him, feeling as if she's hugging living ice. Lumine pulls Kaeya against her, trying to warm him up.

She saw this coming.

This walk was really only going one of two ways.

Either Kaeya would admit his feelings for her, or he would break down once more.

Which means he's not accepting her love and affection.

Which means there's a reason he thinks he's so unlovable.

Something much, much deeper than he's ever told her.

She suspected as much.

“Lumi,” he whispers.

“Come here.” She tugs him down, so they’re sitting next to one another, her arm around his waist.

The tears don’t stop, slipping off his chin.

She reaches up with her free hand, catching them.

She looks at him until he looks to her.

She points to her lap, offering.

He lies down, head over her skirt, eyes half lidded.

“Today was rough.” His voice sounds muffled, broken.

She strokes her fingers through his hair, pulling his bangs out of his eye. His lashes flutter with the strands tugging through them.

“It was.”

Her voice is perfect for the setting. For staring out over the cold water.

She almost died. He can't quite believe it.

If he hadn't shot that arrow, if it hadn't hit the storm...she could have died.

He holds his hand in front of him.

"It was worth it," he says quietly.

Jean healed his more serious injuries, so she couldn't do much for the burn. Lumine wrapped it herself.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me," she says.

He laughs. "I didn't do it for you," he tries to claim, "I just did it so you wouldn't," his eye widens. So you wouldn't leave me.

Her hand stalls.

He feels his world dropping out from under him.

Telling the truth only ruins his life.

But he already made the decision to just...tell her things.

To not ruin this.

If he does, the only one who will be harmed, is him.

“I thought you were trying to leave me, yet you’ve dragged me out here, to the middle of nowhere,” Kaeya jokes, trying to smile.

He laughs, bitterly, lifting his head.

“I just…can’t get rid of you, can I?”

Lumine’s fingers tangle around his hair, tugging a bit.

He lays his head back down, eye wide.

“Diluc already told me you mean half of what you say.” Her voice is icier than the Vision on his hip.

“Oh yes.” That’s even worse to hear than many of the things he imagined hearing, and yet he's relieved. It's not an outright dismissal. His chest aches. “Diluc, who knows me so well. Who knows everything about me.”

The last sentence is but a whisper.

The pain in Kaeya’s chest climbs.

Why doesn’t he just tell her the truth?

Get it out there.

About him. About Khaenri'ah.

About how much of a monster he truly is.

Then she can leave, just like the rest, and he can swallow down these emotions.

Instead of trying to talk to her about their good moments, only to break down in the grief of knowing they're likely to never happen again.

He's drowning in this sick inbetween, held back by his own past.

But he hears Amber laugh, in the distance, at something Paimon says.

He closes his eye.

He can’t…undo what he’s done for Mondstadt.

He became a Captain to protect her citizens, her fellow Knights, when Diluc left.

He lied about his origins, for so long, in order to keep Knights alive.

He didn’t work so hard to give up the second he feels like it.

Kaeya sits up.

She's another Knight he has to protect.

He won't fail.

In that moment, his heart is set once more.

He can love her, he can care for her.

But he has got to stop thinking he can chase after her.

He's got to be more realistic.

He's got to admit he can't love her the way she deserves, that he's not who she wants.

“No,” Lumine says, stunning him.

He stares.

“I took it to mean that half of what you say, has a different meaning. When you say you can’t get rid of me, you’re begging me not to go.”

She meets his eye with hers.

He swallows hard, greatly resembling who he must have been when he was abandoned.

That kid, terrified of the world, terrified of leaving it, terrified of being in it, left behind by the one person who should never have left him.

Left not to fend for himself, not to save himself, but to kill.

His only mission left, his only purpose for surviving, to murder, and then take the fall.

He was never supposed to make it this far, to sit at 22 years old beside a woman who looks at him like that.

“Kaeya, I know you’re terrified of something.” She brushes his bangs back, then retreats.

Her hand, her gaze, she's so warm. So comforting.

He longs to throw himself down, to let her love him. To let her hold him.

But he's frozen in place, or perhaps in time, a decade earlier.

“I just…want you to know. That I’m not concerned with the things you can’t speak about. I’ve seen you. My Captain is the one who fought a storm that was immune to Cryo.” She rests her hand on his shoulder for a moment. He can feel her pulse, beating because of him. “And I’m very proud of him.”

Lumine starts to walks back to camp to give him some space, and Kaeya nearly does a backflip.

Fuck his earlier thoughts, he wants her.

His chest is soaring.

He slips in the snow, scrambling up, grabbing her hand.

“Wait for me,” he says.

Chapter Text

“You and Diluc still haven’t reconciled, have you?”

“Pfft.” Kaeya retracts his hand, looking away. This was a trap! “Please, that would require him knowing how to hold a conversation.”

He glances down in time to see Lumine roll her eyes.

“Hey guys!”

For once, the shout is excited rather than fearful.

“Well that’s a nice change of pace,” Kaeya says, not needing to explain this thought, since Lumine is already nodding assent.

Kazuha waves over.

“Hey, guys! I found another frozen boar! Captain, do you want to take this one?”

“Sure thing!”

Kaeya grins, though he makes no move to run over any faster, preferring to walk beside Lumine.

She purses her lips. “Seems he already looks up to you.”

“Oh? Jealous? I think he has a thing for Captains, Honorary Knight.”

Lumine sticks her tongue out at him. “Jealous of what? If I wanted to be a Captain, I’m sure it could be arranged.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

She meets his eye. “I’d rather be the Traveler who took down a dragon.”

His sticks his tongue into his cheek, at a loss for words.

She grins. “Twice.”

Kaeya stops walking for a moment, watching her run on ahead to check out the boars encased in ice, her hair bobbing as she bounds through the snow.

Archons, he adores her.

The frozen boars are fun to hunt, and they end up having target practice with Amber in the snow for awhile.

After that, the team sits around the campfire Amber built, the food finally completed.

“So, what should we do next?” Paimon looks up to their Captain expectantly.

He sighs. “Well, in all honesty we’re all fairly injured.”

Everyone deflates.

“Relax. You’ve all found yourselves on the wrong end of swords lately. But we have things we can do to stay busy.”

They all perk up.

“Workaholics, all of you.”

“I just like food,” Kazuha admits.

“I need money for food,” Paimon admits at the same time.

They make the most adorable faces at each other, making Kaeya grin.

“I got it. Let’s get this polearm we found back to Rosaria, and we’ll visit Timaeus. We’ll see how much stronger we can make our weapons, and then we’ll see if our abilities can be made any stronger.”

“Kaeya,” Paimon says with reverence, her little eyes as wide as they can be, her hand in front of her mouth.

His eye widens, as he leans away. “I wasn’t expecting to hear you say my name like that. What is it, emergency food?”

She throws a pebble at him. “Shut it, Paimon is trying to be nice.”

“Throw snow, not rocks!”

“You started it!”

“Paimon,” Lumine warns. She points to the cooking pot, making a clear threat.

“That’s so mean!” The pixie pouts. “Anyways, my point is, that Kaeya will have more healing once he's stronger!"

“You have healing?” Kazuha stares at him, utterly jealous.

“It’s very selfish,” Kaeya explains. “But yes, technically, when I hit enemies with my blast of Cryo to the face, I am unexplainedly healed by that.”

Kazuha’s jaw drops. “You’re so strong!! You actually did tell me about this before, I completely forgot.”

"He's truly blessed," Paimon states.

“That’s why he’s our Captain,” Amber says, “other than being super strong and very intelligent.”

Kaeya points. “Thank you, but don’t talk with your mouth full, Amber.”

“Sorry, Cap’ain.”

Kazuha observes this and is very careful to swallow his food first. "Is that why you also get the best materials lately?"

Lumine chokes, needing to be pat on the back several times by Amber before she gets her breath back.

Kazuha stares from them to Kaeya, leaning forward. "My, Captain, that's a rather interesting shade of red you're turning. You don't suppose you're sick, correct?"

Lumine's head whips around. "Are you?!"

Before Kaeya can run away or protest, her hand is on his forehead, the woman on her knees beside him.

"You do feel rather warm," she says.

"I'm not feverish, it's the fire." He points to the flames, which everyone is sitting quite close to.

He hadn't even realized that he got the most upgraded items lately, and the strongest weapon, and the most resources put into his skills.

Didn't he used to work with the worst abilities, so everyone else could be kept safe?

He can't look at Lumine.

When did this happen?

They all stare down at the dinner pot, then Lumine collects herself and sits beside him once more, as elegant as if nothing ever happened.

"And I am spoiled, but that's because I'm the Captain."

"He's the strongest," Lumine says.

"He's been fighting the longest," Amber says, which isn't entirely true, but Lumine and Paimon exchange a glance and let it slide.

"And so we pour most of our finances and other items into building his. Timeaus knows us pretty well because of it," Paimon adds.

The Captain is busy staring at his lap. He's very grateful, but hearing them praise him like this is overwhelming.

"My, Kaeya," Kazuha says, leaning forward again. He has that same tone to his voice.

Kaeya glares over at him, head down.

"You must really be too close to the fire. Even your ears are red."

Lumine has to try and hold back another laugh, failing unsuccessfully.

Which is right about the same time that a wild horde of Cryo slimes shows up.

Lumine, Amber, and Paimon barely get a moment's rest before watching Kaeya leap over the fire, sprinting to fight the slimes.

Kazuha stands with a mischievous grin, bowing low. "I'll see you all shortly." He goes off to join the Captain.

"You okay?" Amber's staring at Lumine, who's watching Kazuha leave.

She nods, a bit absent, lost in her thoughts. "Yeah...he looks like my brother sometimes."

"I did notice the resemblance," Amber says. "If he were a blonde I'm sure he wouldn't have made it into Mondstadt without five different people jumping on him."

"Paimon's surprised the guards didn't stop him."

"Exactly! But anyways, was there something about him just now that reminded you?"

Lumine nods, her eyes wistful. "That look on his face. That's the same look my brother would make before trying to set his friends up with one of their crushes."

Kaeya runs in circles to hit the slimes, doing almost no damage.

Every time he hits them with his skill, he heals a bit, his muscles becoming less sore, his scrapes and bruises disappearing.

But every time he hits them with his skill, they wiggle with delight, their shields reinforced, before hitting him once more.

His feet slip in the snow.

This is really rather frustrating.

Kazuha leaps in the air, drawing them in.

Kaeya watches with a proud smile.

When the man lands, he has only to hit once more before he’s able to collect slime condensate.

Kaeya slices through the last injured one, stepping back with a sigh.

He pads over, clapping Kazuha's back. “Good work.”

“Thank you! Captain?”

Kaeya bites his lip, turning away quickly, hiding his face.

Not quick enough.

Kazuha grabs his sleeve, feeling it pull taut.

“Captain, are you hurt?”

“No." His foot taps against the snow.

Kazuha presses again. "Were my words too harsh?"

"No. I do no damage. To a bunch of slimes.”

“You killed that one.” Kazuha points. “Besides, they’re Cryo. That’s very difficult for you.”

Kaeya stares back with a pained eye.

Kazuha chews the inside of his cheek, trying to remember the teachings of his friend. “Are you…worried about something?”

“Lumine replacing me. With someone with a better…Vision.”

Like Pyro.

Someone who can more accurately help her.

Kaeya is expecting Kazuha to stutter out a response, or walk away.

He isn’t expecting the man to laugh.

His eye widens. Is this man alright in the head?

He can always take him back to Jean for a concussion.

“Kaeya. It is as Diluc says. You Knights…truly are dense.” Kazuha straightens from where he was bent double, fixing Kaeya with a mirthful smile.

Oh, this man is a cold-blooded killer, through and through. Something’s seriously wrong with him.

“You are the most beloved Captain of your dear Lumine.” Kazuha pokes him in the chest, his voice coldly serious. “Don’t forget it.”

Chapter Text

“We’re finally going to Wangshu Inn? Are you sure?”

Lumine nods steadily. “We’re ready.” She looks to Kaeya. “Captain, lead the way please.”

Pride swells his chest, or maybe it’s the way the light is hitting her eyes that makes him feel he could jump off a cliff and somehow grow wings.

A new country.

He’s bringing her with him to Liyue.

He’s bringing her with him on the start of their real journey. On the beginning of the thing she's spoken about for months.

Traveling Teyvat. Searching for her brother.

They're finally ready.

“Wow, we’re really going,” Amber says.

She's been here since the start too, one of the first members Kaeya ever managed to recruit for Lumine's team. She had meant to leave after helping out that one time, but he made the biggest puppy dog eyes, and how could she resist the call of the wild?

She also had planned on dipping out once they went off to Liyue, but he had been talking to her almost every day about how strong she is, and how good of a team they make, and how much of a shame it would be to have to work without her.

Needless to say, eventually she relented.

She really wants to see the world as well, after all.

“May you explain a bit more about it to me?” Kazuha is curious. What could Liyue mean to them?

“Liyue has Rex Lapis has their archon,” Amber says. Her grandfather is from the country, so it makes sense for her to explain. “But when we went before, we…well, we watched his death.”

“Saw his body, more accurately,” Kaeya says.

“Oh, I did hear about that,” Kazuha admits.

“Did you have anything to do with it?”

“Without my sword, that would be quite a feat." They exchange a grin together.

Lumine feels an old pain in her chest. It's almost word-for-word something her brother would say.

She wonders...if perhaps...someone Kazuha knew, met her brother once.

She's heard that when people spend enough time together, they begin to use the same words.

"If there’s any archon I would like to fight, I’m afraid that would be the Inazuman god.”

Interesting news.

Kaeya files that away for later.

“That being said,” Amber states, “we were kind of blamed. Not that we did anything!” She throws her hands up. “Yanfei herself even showed up to help us get out of trouble! It’s just…ya know…we were there, and we’re outsiders.”

Kazuha nods. “I understand. It’s easier to blame you than to think a citizen of Liyue did it.”

“Exactly,” Amber states. “So it was testy for awhile, and we gave time for the adeptus to travel to Liyue to hopefully speak to the Qixing. But if Lumine says it’s time, then it’s time.”

“There’s one more adeptus we have to visit,” Paimon says. “The Conquerer of Demons, the Vigilant Yaksha. He’s supposed to be a very important figure in ancient Liyuean history.”

“There’s even an annual festival, where we craft Xiao Lanterns.”

“Amber, do you go to that?”

“Well,” she rubs her head, “when I can get leave.”

“So it sounds,” Kazuha states, “like Xiao is a super important person. How do we meet him?”

“Well, he actually doesn’t meet with mortals often," Lumine says.

7 eyes turn towards her, with varying degrees of questioning and surprise.

Amber speaks up first. "How will you see him then?"

“She’ll be fine,” Paimon states confidently, offering no explanation.

"Bribery," Lumine says.

They just accept this without question, each more concerned with the possible fights ahead of them.

Well, not the pixie. She's thinking about food.

Which is exactly how they end up in Liyue, with Lumine and Paimon running upstairs.

And Kaeya left outside, waiting.

Amber wanders around, asking the patrons at the tavern important information. Even while she’s technically able to be off-duty, she’s gathering information for the Knights, working hard.

Kazuha is playing with the stray cats, waving reeds over them.

Kaeya watches with a smile. He usually avoids the cats when in public, not for any reason other than Venti’s horrible allergy.

But while on leave, he can safely pet them.

“There she is!”

He turns, looking to Paimon pointing in the distance.

Kaeya frowns, but when he turns his head his eye widens in shock.

A ghost is standing before him.

He scrambles up, staring down at the child.

She pouts, running off.

“Chase her!”

He starts running after the child, looking over his shoulder at Lumine, following behind.

“Why am I chasing a ghost? I thought you were talking to an adeptus!”

“We are,” Paimon says, answering none of his questions.

Kaeya rolls his eye, accidentally kicking a mushroom he didn’t see.

“Ghost first, adeptus after,” Lumine calls.

Okay, sure sweetheart. That makes sense.

He reigns in his annoyance. He just wasn’t expecting to go for a run when he wanted to pet a cat.

Kaeya picks up the pace, seeing the kid in the distance.

He barely makes it there before some sort of angry ruin guard lifts up.

“Oh, shit!”

“No, this is the one we almost died to!!” Amber’s shrill shriek sounds out.

An arrow thwacks into the side of the monster.

Kaeya turns, seeing the determined Knight in the distance, on the path. Her headband is drooping. Commission scrolls are tied tightly to her belt.

Leave it to her to be a busybody.

“Guess we know where these things came from!”

“Why would it be in Mondstadt if it’s a local monster?”

That’s Kazuha, standing in front of Lumine, sword readied.

"Wonderful question, but wait," Kaeya reminds.

The storm blasts over to Amber, who expertly dodges it, rolling to her feet. She turns and shoots once more.

“Ha! I dodged it.”

“Excellent job,” Kaeya praises, running in. He hits the ruin guard with his skill, then turns out of the way.

Amber shoots again, setting it on fire.

Kazuha leaps into the air, drawing the ruin guard closer to himself, but encircling it in flames.

Amber runs between the trees where it (hopefully) can’t reach her.

“Good job, guys,” Kaeya commends. Pride swells his chest.

“Wow, so coordinated.” Paimon is watching from the sidelines, absolutely shocked.

And for once, not sarcastic.

Lumine slams her skill into the ruin guard, knocking it far back from her, the beast's back hitting two trees.

Kaeya runs in again, hitting it with his own skill, and it falls to the ground, breaking.

“We did it,” Amber says.

“That was way easier than last time.” Kazuha, who’s barely sweating.

“Yeah, none of us got knocked out!”

He laughs, sheathing his sword slowly.

“Good work, team,” Kaeya says, giving them a collective nod.

They mirror his movement, like a nest of birds.

He smiles to himself, and turns to the singing ghost.

Chapter Text

“So, we still don’t get to meet this adeptus?”

Lumine is looking away, her eyes closed, so that she doesn’t see Kaeya’s puppy dog eyes and give in.

“Not yet,” Paimon supplies. “No complaining.”

“Hmph.” He crosses his arms as they walk away, grumbling. “But I did all the work.”

“What?”

He looks to his elbow, where Amber is standing.

“Oh, hi fellow Knight.”

“Hi Kaeya.”

She pulls a sheathe of scrolls from her belt, holding them over his crossed arms.

He’s very practiced in turning down work. Most people would take the papers automatically.

Amber stares him down. “You can help me with commissions.”

“I have work to think about,” he says, turning on his heel.

“What work?!”

She just does not give up. Well, this is why she has a Pyro vision.

Literally. Didn’t she get it it from her persistence?

“Special mission.” He waves his hand alongside him, as if she’s a crystalfly who might choose another flower. “You didn’t get it.”

“What?! Jean didn’t tell me you had a special mission.”

He freezes in place, remembering that they had seen Jean just a short while ago.

When she was…berating him.

His pauses in the road, eye shadowed.

Bunny ears hop before him, and he looks away, trying to think of a good lie.

“Kaeya?”

He had been berated for an hour. An hour.

By Jean. A woman he respects a lot.

Which means he actually had to listen.

“Cavalry Captain?”

“Hm?”

Oh, he forgot he was speaking to her. He waves her off.

“Run along. Go do your job.”

“Kaeya! You should be working.”

“I’m…thinking. Busy.” What are my usual excuses? Yellow eyes jump into his head. “I have a special mission for Lumine.”

“You said it was for Jean.”

“I mixed up my blondes.”

“Kaeya!”

He’s at the end of the dock. Kaeya smiles at Amber, and then jumps into the water.

“Captain!”

He begins swimming away.

As he thought. Pyro users don’t like getting wet.

“Thanks for holding onto my scarf,” he calls back, flashing her a grin over his shoulder.

“Huh?” She looks down at the fluffy white scarf held over her shoulder.

Kazuha is already running across the bridge, to catch up with Kaeya on the other side.

He really does look up to me.

Kaeya looks forward again. He’ll find some work to do, to have some fun.

Something to impress Lumine with.

But Amber shouts once more, stuck on the end of the dock with a bundle of commissions and no team.

“THIS DOESN’T EVEN GO WITH MY OUTFIT!”

Chapter Text

Once Lumine finishes up with the Xiao mission, she heads downstairs to round up her team members, but only Amber can be found.

She's at the base of the steps, armed crossed, tapping her muddy boot. The poor bunny girl is as overworked as can be, having done a whole list of commissions around Wangshu Inn.

“Where are the boys?”

Amber’s bunny ears seem to deflate with the wind, and she stares over with a look that makes Paimon shrink back.

“Sca-ry.”

“They left,” the normally bouncy Outrider states.

Lumine swallows hard. “Let’s get you some food.”

She sets a hand on her back, steering everyone to the nearby stalls.

The ladies treat themselves, then head off for the beaches, Amber in much better spirits.

Sure enough, they find the boys over at an abandoned camp, roasting some fish and slime condensate, playing a board game between them.

Kaeya and Kazuha had spent time hunting down treasure hoarders, in order to get their precious coins. They’ve really been working hard to get stronger.

Of course, when Amber sees them, she nearly eats them both alive.

But Lumine sees the sheen of sweat on Kaeya’s skin.

She tugs his sleeve, and while Kazuha expertly calms Amber down with his poetic turns of phrase and careful compliments, which he had thought up while trailing after Kaeya through Liyue, Lumine pulls Kaeya to the side once more.

Paimon, the bottomless pit, sits staring at the fish with wide eyes.

Kaeya sighs, settling his back against the ship. He rests his arms on each knee, relaxing in the shade.

It's hard for him to even look at her, in the bright sun of the beach.

He turns a worrying shade of red, summoning ice in his fist to cool himself down. Even his neck is blushing.

“I’m bleeding,” he admits, watching the ice in his hand melt.

Lumine glances at the veins nearly popping in his arm. “Alright. No one can see you here. Do you mind if we take off your shirt?”

“I don’t mind if you see me.” He smiles, then loses the grin, setting his head back for a moment, with a groan.

“Kaeya?" She reaches out without thinking, pausing just shy of his shoulder. "How hurt are you?”

“I got sand in it, in that last fight. Honestly, you should be looking after Kazuha.”

Lumine peers up, over the top of the ship.

“Oh, Rosaria’s here," she says.

The maroon haired nun leans over the white haired man, pulling his clothes right open shamelessly while he giggles up at her.

Amber quickly looks away, shielding her eyes. “We’re on a beach!”

“Yeah, and I need to help him,” Rosaria mumbles, the water's breeze carrying her words to Lumine’s ears.

“The people at the inn can see you!”

Rosaria looks over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. She offers Kazuha a hand, which he takes, his own gaze somewhere between awe and glee.

She leads him off to the side, under some shade, to dress him up.

Amber and Paimon sit together at the campfire, staring at the fish.

“I guess I’m still hungry,” Amber says.

Paimon nods enthusiastically.

Lumine sinks back down to her knees in the soft sand, sighing. “Rosaria’s here.”

“Rosie’s here?!”

Kaeya lifts up, but Lumine gives him a look that says she needs to treat him first.

“She’s treating Kazuha.”

“Yes ma’am.”

He sinks down, lowering his closest leg out straight, setting his hand in the sand.

“Feel free to treat me as you will,” Kaeya says, with a grin.

Lumine starts with his corset, undoing the lacing at the bottom near his hip.

He takes shallow breaths, glancing away. The veins on his arm are about to pop with how tight his fist is.

"Does it hurt so bad?"

He laughs, not meeting her gaze. "You're so worried."

"Of course I'm worried," Lumine mutters.

She pulls on the laces, all the way up, to make the corset loose.

“It’s going to be a pain to pull off,” he admits, starting to lift his injured arm.

She gently places her hand over his elbow, not making contact in case he's hurt. “I can just pull it down, if that’s alright with you.”

“Oh, yeah.” He reaches down to unclasp his belt.

“Kaeya?”

“Yeah?”

“If you’re comfortable, I can do it.”

His eye meets hers.

She’s blushing, but holds his gaze steady. “That way, you don’t…hurt…your arm.”

Even her ears are red.

Kaeya smiles for one brilliant moment, so bright, and his eye so tender, that Lumine stares openly.

Then the moment has passed, and she blinks, and he’s chuckling, leaning back once more. “My, Honorary Knight, I didn’t see that coming. Be my guest.”

“I just want to help,” she says, leaning over him, resting one hand on his belt, over the clasp. “You’re my dear Captain after all.”

He lets out a deep, cooling breath, stirring the hair that’s slipped over her collar. He brushes it back over her shoulder, setting his hand on her skin.

“Your Captain owes you quite a bit.”

“No. He doesn’t owe me a thing.” She puts both hands onto his belt, pulling it open, then reaching around his waist, leaning close enough to smell the perfume on his neck.

He wonders if she can hear his heart trying to leap out into her hands once more, the same as when they were dancing.

“But I owe him everything,” Lumine whispers.

“Hey,” he says, voice suddenly low. “Don’t do this just because you think you have to."

Lumine pauses, and his heart aches.

"You don't owe me any - Lumi?"

She glances up at him with such a look his fears are abated, practically growling at him.

“Oh, okay." Kaeya flicks some of her hair back, grinning easily at the pout she's wearing. That's more like it. "I was worried.”

“Kaeya?”

“Yes?” He perks up, as eager to please her as a puppy, dropping his hand into the sand once more.

She tugs his belt off, it sliding around his waist gently, then sets it down right beside him.

His cold Vision barely taps his pinky finger.

Lumine looks up, close before him.

“I owe you my life, but I want you here anyway.” Her breath is soft against his lips, and it’s more than his heart can take.

His eye grows wide.

That one sentence.

A reason to stay that a man like him, who can’t believe he would be loved, would believe.

She owes him her life, so this is a transaction relationship.

But she wants him here anyway, so it isn't only a debt to be repaid.

She's the one who wants this friendship with him.

An idea that she knows he can’t believe yet, but that he desperately wants to.

With one sentence, she’s appealed to both the man he pretends to be, and the man he wants to be.

Kaeya smiles at Lumine, his finger curling around the edge of his Vision.

The words leap into his chest. This is why I adore you.

Holding them back is hard.

Chapter Text

Lumine stares at him with wide eyes, and a red face.

Kaeya merely says, “Hmph,” and glances up the beach, to the sunny cliffs and the grassy fields.

Anything other than her sun-kissed shoulders, dotted with freckles, and the way her eyes are glimmering ever so slightly.

“Did I make you cry?” The words tumble from him all at once.

Lumine smiles then, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye. “No,” she lies, and he falls even more in that one moment.

How could someone so tender lie to protect me?

He catches the tear in his hand, staring at the water for answers that don't come, then looking to her.

Did I mess up again?

But the look on her face is the same one Diluc gave Kaeya when Kaeya became a Knight.

A look of pride, and adoration.

“The beach is simply raining,” she says, and tumbles forward, clumsily throwing her arms around his neck.

He breathes deep, feeling something in his chest seem to crack.

He adjusts slightly, hearing his back pop.

Kaeya doesn’t have it within him to put his arms around her, to ask her to resign herself to the fate of being there with him.

But for one moment, the breeze lifting his bangs, he thinks that perhaps he doesn’t need to worry about being so selfish.

Maybe he was thinking about this the wrong way.

Why worry, if she loves him?

What matters is loving her, for as long as he can.

Didn’t he resolve himself to this already?

“Why are you crying?” His voice is almost whimpering.

Please, if anyone is going to cry, let it be me.

She shudders, only a fraction.

Let me be the hurt one, not you. Not you.

His fingertips press down between her shoulder blades, pulling her closer even as his heart aches with the fear buried within.

Her forehead settles on his shoulder, so that her words spill over his heart. “You keep getting hurt.”

Kaeya chuckles. He can’t help it.

Out of all of the things wrong in your life, this is what’s brought you to tears?

“I believe you’re more upset over this than I am,” he says gently.

“Maybe I am. But maybe I’m crying for both of us, or maybe I’m just being selfish,” she says.

Lumine laughs a little, still clinging tightly to his waist, as seaweed does to an ankle, begging it to stay underwater for a moment longer, even if it doesn’t belong there.

Kaeya laughs again, a little huff which lifts the flowers in her hair. “If this is you being selfish,” he says, his lips close to her ear, “then I think you should greed for the whole world.”

Her arms tighten just a fraction. “Who says I wasn’t?”

That’s my girl.

For one moment, for one blissful, horrible moment, Kaeya can picture...no.

For the first time in a long time, something in his chest turns bitter at the very thought of what normally would have been his escape.

Bennett, at home, still needs him to return. The kid won’t last forever alone.

Klee needs her big brother to return and take her for walks.

And Lumine needs her Captain.

He’s got no business going anywhere yet.

And like that, he shoves the thoughts which have been plaguing him to the side, and sighs.

“I’d like to hold onto you for awhile,” Lumine says, her arms sliding along his skin when she backs up.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but you’re letting go.”

Lumine huffs on him in sudden frustration, laughing a moment later.

Thank goodness.

“Dear Honorary Knight, if the beach is raining then you should get on the ship.”

He pats the side of the one behind him with an elbow.

She latches onto his arm, dragging it down with a severe pout.

“I better fix you up first,” Lumine says.

Rosaria frowns, peeling off the layers to Kazuha’s outfit. “Are you sure you want me doing this?”

Kazuha’s eyes are wide, a smile gracing his lips. “Please do.”

She sighs again, for about the fifth time.

He tilts his head up. “Please keep doing that, if you don’t mind.”

Her eyebrows crease, and she stares down at him with a look of disgust, though her eyes are glittering somewhere between worry and delight.

“Doing what?”

Kazuha relaxes against the crate he’s sitting in front of, grinning. There’s that smooth voice he’s been waiting to hear while running around Liyue.

“Oh, your breath is quite icy. It feels so refreshing on this hot beach.”

“Hmph.” She resumes undressing him, setting his armor to the side in the sand.

“Did you have a safe trip here? I hope we were able to remove most of the threats.”

“You did. Made it hard for me to find any good things to kill,” she says, seeing if that phrase will scare him.

“Ah, my apologies. In the future, I shall leave at least one small camp perhaps. Though I do hope it won’t hurt any passersby.”

Rosaria sighs, resigning herself to his silly endeavors. “That would be a waste of time.”

“Oh?” His finger taps his lip.

“It’s faster for me, put your arm down, if I have less camps to fight.”

He perks up again, and she has to fight the urge to ruffle his hair.

Rosaria realizes she’s staring. “Your hair is mussed up.” She unclasps the belt across his chest.

“That’s okay.” He leans forward a bit. “You want me to keep my arm down, right?”

“Are you asking me to style your hair?” She pulls off the piece over his shoulder, setting it down beside the armor for his shins.

“No. I’m not asking for anything.”

“Are you alright with me undressing you like this?” She winds bandages around her forearm, preparing the long strands.

He smiles. “I am. I find it impossibly respectful that you continue to ask.”

Rosaria fixes him with a stare. “Very well then.”

She slips his final layers off of his collarbone, then over his shoulders, with both hands, and down his arms.

His bare skin is left to the sea breeze, and the laughter carried up from the campfire.

Rosaria flinches, glancing over, before realizing it’s only Amber and Paimon.

Maybe Kaeya is finally...no, he won't be able to flirt one on one. Hopefully Lumine gets some sense into him.

“Thank you for being ready to protect me,” Kazuha says when she turns back, in an effort to prevent her from feeling embarrassed.

“I was protecting myself,” she says gruffly, not meeting his eyes.

“That’s all the better. For I want you to be safe as well.”

She meets his gaze then. “So you’re a selfish man?”

He merely smiles. “Is it selfish, to want us both to succeed in life, and remain unharmed for as long as possible, despite our occupations?”

“Would it perhaps be,” Rosaria says, lifting a cloth to the flesh wound along his ribs, “due to our occupations?”

“Oh?” His heart speeds up, and she rests one hand close to his chest, ice spreading along her fingers, cooling his skin just from being so close.

She wipes the bleeding wound, then retracts both hands, grabbing the sewing needle she stuck in the bandages earlier, in order to keep easy track.

“A regular farmer isn’t in danger in the ways we are. So while we hope for the traveler or the merchant to be safe on the way home,” she slips the needle into his skin, continuing to speak a moment later, “we are the ones who are less likely to make it without stopping first, in order to make the way clear for the others.”

She stitches his wound rapidly, his breaths shallow for a moment from the pain, hand trembling along his stomach.

Rosaria grips the ends of his bandaged fingers, ever so gently, with the same hand she’s using to steady the skin along his wound. She’s straddling one of his legs by this point, on her knee, leaning far down to properly see what she’s doing.

Her makeup is starting to smear from sweat.

She’s also listening to Kazuha’s breathing.

He waits.

“So is it better for us to pray for ourselves, or pray that for the merchants? Their safety does not ensure ours, but ours ensures theirs.”

“I see,” he says.

It’s at that moment that he sees what he wants in this life.

That he adds a new goal to his list.

He has wandered for awhile, and been lost ever since the maple leaves turned red last year, stained with the blood of his friend.

He has made friends, from Beidou to Lumine, from Kaeya to Paimon, and Amber, and Rosaria.

His heart is racing.

She closes the wound, offering him a small smile. “It’s a lot to think about. Give me your thoughts when you feel better.”

Kazuha nods.

His thoughts are full of her.

Chapter Text

“Oh? You’re going to undress me now, Honorary Knight?”

Kaeya may be shy, but he hasn’t spent years learning how to flirt not to use it on someone he’s wild for.

“It seems so,” she says, “since you didn’t listen to me and keep getting injured.”

His eye widens, and he struggles to keep his grin from breaking into a silly smile.

Sassy Lumine strikes again.

Would admitting how much he likes her like this be considered rude?

Lumine slips his corset down to his hips, which he lifts, and she slides it down his legs, all the way off, tossing it into the sand behind her.

His eye widens, head turning.

Black corset? In the sun??

“Lumi?” His voice squeaks.

“Yes, dear Cavalry Captain? Is there something else I may help you with?”

She tugs his shirt down to check his lopsided bandages, her expression stormy.

He takes a deep breath, grinning, sitting up.

“No, dear.”

She meets his eyes with something like mischievous pleasure, gripping the bottom of his shirt, then lifting it over his face.

She just holds it there for a second, blinding him, leaving him pouting.

“You look fine,” she says simply.

“My injuries are on the other side,” he says, grinning.

Of course she won’t let him see her face.

“Oh.” She throws his shirt over the top of his head, then pulls it all the way up, lifting his unhurt arm.

He watches her face, blushing wildly. “Lumi…you're treating me well.”

“I know.”

She lifts his shirt over his head, only needing to slip it off his injured arm then.

Then she’s slicing off his sweaty bandages with Rosaria’s blade, tucking them underneath his belt, to be burned later.

“You’re still bleeding,” she says.

Kaeya turns so she can see the wound, which has only partially closed.

“Some of it is holding well,” she says, fingers tracing along his back.

He begins to hum softly, swaying while she pulls out a cloth and water jug, getting to work cleaning the wound.

He’s not worried about it still bleeding, or about the bruises dotting his skin.

He’s reliving that happiness in her eyes.

He feels lighter than he has in years, as if he can take a full breath.

Lumine’s hand settles on his back once more, covering the healed portion of his wound, in order to bring the cloth over the other parts.

“I’m sorry if this stings,” she says, though a moment ago she was scolding him.

He knows he’s safe, in these arms.

Should a monster come upon the shore, right here, he’s sure she would defend him.

A bit of guilt gnaws around his gut. Would she defend him if she knew of his lineage?

Kaeya stares out over the water. He isn’t sure.

But Lumine doesn’t seem the type to care about things that other people might hate him for.

It still doesn’t solve the issue of her safety, and it does nothing to make up for the years he’s spent lying.

But for the moment, he can breathe in deep, and force those worries down, relaxing under her fingertips.

“So,” Lumine says, “I remembered something, on the way over here.”

Kaeya grins. “How stunningly handsome I am in a suit?”

Her fingers still.

He leans closer. “Oh? Imagining it?” She hasn't seen it, unless Jean showed her an album.

“No, I don’t trust you to wear so many clothes.” She drops a bandage beside them, overflowing with blood.

“Oh please. You know, back when I was a fresh Knight, I used to be the more conservative one, between Diluc and I.”

He watches her eyes widen as she tries to imagine it.

“Want to see pictures?”

“Hey! You’re changing the subject!”

Kaeya laughs, watching the sunlight dance on her hair. “Guilty as charged.”

Lumine bends closer, one of the strands sliding on his shoulder. She angrily shoves it back, only for it to flop forward again.

“Hold this.”

“Oh of course, anything our dear Honorary Knight requests, she shall receive. As I was saying,” Kaeya begins, pinching the hair between his fingers.

So soft!

“No, you’re going to tell me something,” Lumine says, getting frustrated with the knotted bandages. She pulls hard, ripping the cloth with her bare hands.

Kaeya’s eyes widen, both at the sight of something which shouldn’t be possible with the bandages he buys, and at the sight of her muscles flexing.

Frost slides out across his body, trying to cool him down.

“Kaeya!”

“I can’t help it! What did you want to ask?”

“You called me sweetheart,” Lumine says.

Kaeya stares at her for a full second before trying to leave the scene.

She grabs his arm, holding him in place. “Stay. I need to bandage you.”

“It’s fine, I won’t die. Maybe of embarrassment.”

Lumine sinks her knee against his thigh, effectively pinning him while leaning over his shoulder to get the last of the old bandages off.

“I just needed to confirm,” she says, “I liked it.”

He sputters for a moment, covering his mouth with his hand.

Kaeya’s cheeks are beet red.

Lumine grins, a twinkle lighting her eyes, though he’s looking away and doesn’t see.

“My, Captain, you’re looking awfully red, did you get sunburnt? Do you need to rest?”

He takes a moment to think while she cleans the wound, grimacing at the blood.

“Is it that bad?”

“Not at all.”

Even the man’s ears are red.

Lumine keeps her snickers to herself, patiently waiting while she puts ointment on the wound, grabbing a fresh role of bandages.

“Wait.” Kaeya’s voice is a whisper.

She braces herself as he figures it out.

“YOU LIKED IT??!”

She snaps the bandages in her hands. “What’s not to like?”

Kaeya’s eye drops to the bandages, then her, then the bandages, then her.

Lumine shrugs. “Everyone likes being called something sweet, right?”

The poor man’s heart is beating so fast he can’t hear himself. Can’t even hear Amber and Paimon, still giggling at the campfire.

“Oh, so do you have any nicknames for me?”

Her smile is so bright. “Captain.”

Dammit.

“That’s not a nickname.”

“Oh, fine, fine.”

Kaeya breathes a sigh of relief. For a second there, he almost thought she caught feelings, and then what would he do?

It’s fine though. He can breathe, and relax, and be bandaged up by Lumine, and everything is good.

“So,” Lumine chirps, “we met Xiao at the top of Wangshu Inn.”

Kaeya pouts.

Lumine tosses the bloodied bandages onto the fire. “Where’s the fish?”

Off to the side, Rosaria and Kazuha are arguing over how many layers he has to put on.

“Are they serious?” Kaeya throws a thumb in their direction, looking to Amber.

She nearly chokes on her fishstick, covering her mouth. “No. They’ve been like this ever since his wound was getting bandaged. They’re not even being serious.”

He grabs his own sticks, everyone all at once hearing the camp grow quiet.

They glance over to where Rosaria and Kazuha are kissing.

“Oh, well then. I don’t feel completely lonely,” Amber states sarcastically. “Missing my girlfriend or anything.”

Kaeya snorts.

“At least you guys are single too.”

She grins over at Kaeya, who is no longer smiling, his mouth hanging open.

Lumine swallows quickly. “So as I was saying, I met Xiao.”

“What did he say?” Amber's wriggling, happy dancing.

Kaeya has not recovered.

“The adeptus are going to Liyue, they know we’re innocent, and we have to try and stop them from destroying the city.”

“Oh, that’s…oh.” She pouts, looking out over the water.

“Yeah.”

“So we need Childe’s help.”

“Yeah.”

Kaeya watches the exchange, both confused and annoyed. He cracks his back, taking another bite.

His shirt is billowing around him, belt back on.

He remembers how nice it was when Lumine clasped it on him, ruffling his hair immediately after.

It’s still mussed up, the hairtie Rosaria gave him not holding up.

He reaches to fix it at the same time she appears behind him, tugging it out with a snarl.

“I see you messed up your hair too,” she says.

“I missed you, Rosie. And it seems you missed our samurai.”

“I did.”

His eye widens.

Why can’t I be like that?

She just says what’s on her mind, and is quite blunt with her feelings.

The type of person he would like to be, but knows he cannot.

Lumine smiles at him, as Rosaria fixes his hair.

Maybe…perhaps…it’s not so bad, the way he is.

Kazuha slips beside Paimon, yawning. He compromised with Rosaria, wearing half of his usual layers, resigned to not sweating in the heat.

His armor has been rebuckled, and he has bandages just barely peeking out on his neck.

“You okay?”

He looks to Kaeya, nodding, his cheeks red. “Yes.”

Kazuha’s eyes are glowing.

Kaeya chuckles. “Good. Eat up, we worked hard.”

“I like your hair,” Amber says.

“Oh, thank you.” Kazuha turns to show her, his hair featuring several thin braids, leading to his ponytail.

“But why is it still lopsided?”

“Ah, that’s held over from an old friend.”

“He wanted it like that,” Rosaria says, fastening a new ribbon into Kaeya’s. “There.”

“Thank you,” he says, offering her the last fish stick. “Did you eat?”

“Yes. Diluc gave me breakfast before I came.”

He blinks at her, shocked.

“What? We worked together last night, thanks to Venti getting in trouble with an entire team of robbers.”

Lumine stares over, looking personally offended by the bard’s actions. “Why?”

“He stole from them,” Rosaria says.

“Of course.” Paimon face palms.

“Some wine. So Diluc and I got involved.”

“Is he okay?” Kazuha leans forward.

“Yes, he’s fine.”

“Well that’s good,” Amber says. “Well then.” She looks to Kaeya. “Shall we head off to meet Childe?”

“Depends. Rosaria, are you able to accompany us?”

She nods.

“Good. I have a feeling we’re going to keep getting split up.”

“You think the adepti will keep wanting to meet with Lumine alone?” Paimon looks over.

Their Captain nods. “I do. It makes the most sense. So for the rest of us, we should be focused on winning fights and getting stronger. With five team members, Lumine and Paimon can be speaking to whoever they need to speak to. One of us will keep an eye on them, depending on terrain. And the others will be shopping for supplies, or destroying treasure hoarders, or opening ley lines."

“Alright, any special instructions?” Kazuha cracks his knuckles.

“Yes. We’re going to need to work on our strengths, and be careful not to get into any major fights. We may have to fight a larger enemy at any time.”

“Like the Fatui,” Paimon says.

“Like a Harbinger. Keep your eyes on Childe,” Kaeya instructs.

They nod, watching him.

He grins. “Good. Let’s go to Liyue.”

Chapter Text

“I don’t like him.”

“I know you don’t.”

“I don’t like him.”

“I know you don’t.”

“I do not like that man.”

Lumine sighs. “Kaeya.”

The drama queen turns, pouting down at her, leaning slightly closer.

She's only barely left the Bank after speaking to Childe once again, and the Fatui has put off everything until tomorrow for reasons he can't state. Another day without their names being cleared. Which means it's another day that they can't safely spend in Liyue. Even standing on the balcony is probably risky, and yet her Cavalry Captain seems not to remember that.

Kaeya's breath on Lumine's forehead is chilled, and his eye reflects the ocean behind them.

For one brief moment, she imagines him kissing her.

“Did he hurt you? Did he say anything cruel?”

His voice is so soft. She could just reach up, brush his hair.

If he weren’t so insistent on only giving love, rather than receiving it.

“You’re looking for a reason to punch Childe, aren’t you?” Paimon cuts in at the worst time, as her teammates are staring into each other’s eyes.

Kaeya turns away, coughing, losing his nerve in a quick second. His ears burn and he actually reaches up one cold hand to cool them down.

Surprisingly, no one stopped them when they were running through the streets, despite Kaeya’s warning to be cautious.

And speaking to Childe went smoothly, all things considered.

Lumine sighs, turning to Paimon.

Kazuha and Amber are standing behind her, making twin faces, unsure of how to react.

“So. Childe! Ehe,” Amber tries, “he seems like an interesting fella. Never seen him here before. I mean, when I came here alone. Before Rex Lapis’…thing…happened.”

“He must be here on a special mission,” Kaeya says. His eye flits to where Rosaria leans against the railing, her knife spinning around her finger. “We should find out what it is.”

“How do we do that?” Paimon looks over his shoulder, around Liyue.

Kaeya’s foot is tapping once more. He looks bothered.

Lumine sighs. "We can't do anything without the Millelith trailing us. For the time being, it's best we go back to Mondstadt. It's only for one more day."

“Yes!" Amber throws her fist into the air, cheering. "Come on! Let's not waste time!" Amber loops an arm with Kazuha’s, her closest victim, dragging the bewildered man along.

"Well, I wouldn't mind more wine," he says.

“She seems energetic,” Paimon says, darting after her.

“She always does,” Rosaria says, keeping up with the pixie.

“She probably wants to see Eula,” Kaeya explains, not moving.

“Yes…her girlfriend…she wants to see her girlfriend," Lumine deadpans. The sun is shining right into Kaeya's eye.

Which is on her.

Her cheeks are burning, and she clears her throat, looking away.

So! Close!

If only the one she fell for was a little bit less clueless!

“I was…going to go off alone,” Kaeya admits. "Try to get more information on the city."

“That doesn’t make sense,” Lumine says. She sighs, watching the sky.

“You know, we don’t have to follow them,” she says. “We have a whole day before we have to meet up with Childe once more.”

It’s perfect weather in Liyue. Perfect for a date. For walking hand in hand along the shoreline.

“Of course we do,” Kaeya says, frowning. “We have to keep the team together.”

[Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted]

“Lumine, are you okay?” He brushes her bangs out of her face, the sea breeze knocking them around. He has to pinch her hair between his fingers to hold it back, leaning down once more. His breath is cool on her pouting face. “You look mad.”

Lumine balls her fists up, trying to hit him with her thoughts. KISS! ME!

She stares back.

Even Childe isn’t this dense.

Still staring.

“Lumine?”

He looks so concerned. His eyebrow raised slightly, his eye focused on her.

So…worried.

This is a far cry from the man she had thought she met, when he came to that cave with a fake treasure and teased her for trying to steal from the Knights.

This man is staring at her like he’ll break if she’s hurt.

Her heart warms.

“Come on Captain,” she says, offering him her hand. “Let's go back to Mondstadt."

When Kaeya sets his palm into hers, she can feel his heartbeat throbbing in his ring finger.

SO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY!

The door to Angel's Share slams open, the Cavalry Captain sprinting through, hitting the counter with such force he almost falls over the top.

“Diluc,” Kaeya gasps out.

The other man nearly drops his glass, looking up, shocked.

It’s been a long time since Kaeya has come running into the tavern, out of breath.

“What?”

“I need help.”

Diluc leaps the counter, sword in hand, staring down at him.

Kaeya’s back slams into the wall as he throws himself back, eye wide and arms up. “Whoa! Whoa, whoa!”

He activates his elemental burst without even thinking, making Diluc back up.

“What’s wrong?!” Diluc shakes his sword, looking out the door for an enemy.

“Nothing, what’s wrong with you?!”

“Guys,” Venti says, his previously-cold drink steaming and his lyre, in his other hand, falling silent with frozen strings. “Please calm down.”

“I need help with Lumine,” Kaeya says.

“Where is she?!” The redhead’s sword lights on fire.

“No! With a relationship!”

Diluc blinks at him for a moment before the claymore extinguishes, and he stumbles back, beet red.

“Good thing the tavern is empty,” Venti grumbles, tossing his lyre and cup onto the counter. “Sit down, you two.”

“So…you need relationship advice?” Diluc taps his chest. “From me?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure this is a good idea?”

“Yes, I am.”

Kaeya can't believe this. Who else could he possibly go to for advice??

It really felt like Lumine was flirting with him earlier.

“Why?”

“Because a virgin would know how to treat a lady well.”

Because you know that I'm from Khaenri'ah!

“Get out.”

“Not without an answer.” Kaeya braces both hands on the counter, fully whining.

“I don’t know, Kaeya, how to woo a woman.” Diluc turns away, sighing.

"As if that wasn't obvious," Venti mutters into his fresh drink. It begins steaming. "Oh, come on!"

Kaeya's pitch goes even higher, to be heard over the bard. “Half the women in this city love you!”

“I don’t know why!” Diluc turns back then, throwing his hands up. "They're obsessed! That's not what you want!"

“It’s because he’s rich and hot,” Venti says. “And they love brooding men.”

“So I should brood?” Kaeya crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair. His foot, up on his knee, taps. “I mean…I can do that.”

“Can you?” Venti looks at him in disbelief.

“Yeah, totally.” Kaeya tries to shrug, sticking his lip out.

“You look constipated,” Diluc says.

“You look like that all the time!”

“What do you think the guys are up to?” Amber leans over, setting her flower crown onto a nearby bunny.

“I don’t know,” Lumine says. She’s lying on her back, surrounded by woodland creatures, her crown slipping off her hair.

Amber readjusts the braid she wove into Lumine’s bangs, as the blonde yawns.

Paimon is weaving a flower scarf. “Though Kaeya is a mystery, but I saw him running off to the town, so maybe he’s reporting to Jean.”

Amber pouts. “Probably taking credit for my work.”

“Don’t despair,” Paimon says.

“Yeah, we’ll tell Jean the truth,” Lumine says. “Maybe we can make the Cavalry Captain clean out the merchants’ stables for a week.”

Amber snorts. “I’d like that.”

“Well, I know what Kazuha’s up to,” Paimon says.

“Oh?” Amber looks over her shoulder at the pixie, plopping a crown onto her halo, spilling over with blue and yellow flowers.

“So pretty! Yeah, he and Rosaria went off alone. So you know they’re together.” Paimon winks.

“Ooh, they’re having fun,” Amber says, laughing. “Too bad Kaeya’s too shy to grab our Honorary Knight here.”

“He’s so dense, if you tried to blow him off a cliff with Anemo, he would simply not fall,” Paimon says.

“Not your best, but you tried,” Lumine states.

“Have you seen the way he looks at you?” Amber’s eyes get soft. “It’s so precious. He really adores you, you know. I’ve never seen Kaeya, in all the years I’ve known him, look at anyone that way.”

“Wow, really? Paimon thought he would be a flirt.”

“Oh, he is. But he never actually got with anyone that I know of. As Lisa said, he’s the type of person who’s too shy to actually love someone to their face.”

“Oh, Paimon sees. So he just does stuff for them instead.”

“Yeah! He’s the type to bring gifts, or to work hard for someone, and it may seem unconventional but that’s how he shows his affection.”

“Hm, like when he works hard for the team, that’s him showing that he cares?”

“Have you ever seen him work like that for the Knights? He’s always running away from our commissions.”

“Good point.” Paimon grins. “Lumi, it sounds like he really likes you.”

“I know,” she says simply.

“You do?!”

Amber comes right over, setting her hands on Lumine’s knees. “Did he ask you out?!”

“No,” she says. The stem she’s trying to weave snaps.

Amber’s eyes follow it as it falls to Lumine’s stomach. “Oh.”

Lumine sighs. “He’s still got something holding him back. I hate to pry, but any idea what it could be?”

“You’ve known him a long time,” Paimon says.

“Oh yeah, since Master Crepus took him in.” Amber turns, leaning against Lumine’s knee to hold herself up. She reaches towards the sun, as if she can hold it in her palm.

“Well,” she says, “he did used to be quite different. Growing up, he was always in Master Diluc’s shadow.”

“Really?!” Paimon flutters up, an array of flowers and their petals falling down around her. She picks an apple from a branch, falling back down and biting in.

“Yes.” Amber nods. “Remember, Diluc used to be quite outgoing. They called him the ‘Smiley Knight’.” She smiles just at the memory. “He was so bright, and happy all of the time.”

“It’s hard to picture Diluc like that,” Paimon says.

“Oh I know. Imagine our shock when he returned home to Mondstadt, the way he is now. But Kaeya used to be so shy, and always second guessing himself. He would ask Crepus or Jean for instructions, and he never wanted to mess anything up.”

Amber sighs.

“Then, when Diluc left, Kaeya stepped up in his place. He was awarded the Cavalry Captain title, since the two of them were so similar in their training and love of horses.”

“I’ve never actually seen Kaeya ride a horse,” Paimon says.

“That’s because Varkas took them all. Kaeya slowly started blossoming into the young man you know now, and I’m very proud of him. He’s certainly grown in confidence.” Amber giggles, taking the apple Paimon offers her.

“He used to be shy,” Lumine says.

Amber nods. “I wonder if he’s still like that, on the inside.”

“Well, we’ll see,” Paimon says. “But I still think he should ask you out already.”

Amber grins, appraising her apple. “Give him time. I know it seems odd for him to love you so much and not say much about it, and not ask you out. But I promise, unlike some other people, he’s not stringing you along. He’s just soft.”

She looks down to Lumine, pointing. “So treat him with care, alright? Or I’ll have to unleash my Knightly powers on you!”

They erupt into a sea of giggles, tucked under the leaning branches of a flowering tree, out in the fields of Mondstadt.

“Did you get that fish?” Rosaria glances down at where Kazuha is laying on his stomach, arms hovering over the water beneath him.

She has a fishing pole in hand, her polearm behind her. It’s glittering wet in the sun, with a line of fish on it, their scales reflecting a rainbow back to her.

Kazuha’s arms dart into the water with a splash, and he emerges, getting up on his knees with a triumphant grin.

The fish between his hands doesn’t flop for long, as with one pinch of his fingers he breaks the creature’s neck, tossing it onto the pile to join the others.

“There. We’re going to eat well tonight.”

“Didn’t you say we could use the scales for something, as well?”

He meets her eyes, his glimmering with delight. “Yes, I did. The fish skin itself can be preserved on ice, and saved for skin grafts.”

She nods.

“So should Captain Kaeya be injured as he was, although I’m not sure if it would be necessary, the skin could be used to keep the wound shut. And of course, should any of us save Paimon become scraped, it would help us.”

Rosaria nods. “That’s wonderful. Good planning.” She lifts her staff. “Shall we?”

He bows to her, joining her side. “Of course.”

Chapter Text

Lumine and her team walk out of the Northland Bank, heading a short ways from Vlad.

Liyue is hot today, though they finished their commissions this morning and got to the bank quickly. Already the sun is beating onto their necks, making sweat drip down Kaeya’s collar.

The bank trip was unpleasant.

“It sounds like they’re brainwashed,” Amber whispers.

“What was that about the ideas of mortals being fluid?” Kazuha shivers. “I hate it when archons think they can just change peoples’ minds.”

“We have to remember,” Kaeya whispers, “a lot of those people in the Fatui truly believe they’re doing the right thing. They were likely recruited when they were young, or when they were down on their luck. So the Fatui is the best thing that’s ever happened to them.”

“Yeah,” Amber says, glancing over her shoulder at Vlad, who looks away, “but it seems pretty bad for everyone else.”

“You would think they could tell the damage they’ve done to the citizens.” Kazuha sighs, disappointed. “I can’t believe it’s common knowledge that those in debt to them go missing.”

“It’s truly repugnant,” Rosaria says, frowning. She tagged along today too.

“Wait a minute,” Paimon says. “Isn’t that what Childe does?”

Kaeya nods, his arms around Lumine and Amber tightening just slightly. “Yes, he’s a tax collector for the Fatui.”

Amber recognizes the look on his face. It’s the same look he made once upon a time, when there was a dangerous enemy in Mondstadt. That enemy ended up going missing shortly after, but she was always worried over what might happen to Kaeya if he hadn't. “There he is,” she says, pointing down from the bridge.

Childe is standing below the Bank, in the midst of the road, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Speak of the Abyss,” Kaeya mutters.

“Let’s go!” Paimon jumps off with Lumine, gliding down easily enough. Kazuha looks to Kaeya, who gives him a nod, and the samurai follows, just to ensure their safety.

Amber looks to Kaeya, giving his arm a squeeze. “I know you’re worried, but this won’t be like last time. It’ll be okay.”

Amber…one of the few people who knows the truth of the attack on Crepus and Diluc. One of the few people who believed that the attack wasn't an accident, who stood up for the sons, back then.

One of the people who, even before she was a Knight, used to go out on expeditions with Kaeya. She would travel with him to the outskirts of Mondstadt, waving him off as he went out in search of information, trying to ensure Diluc’s safety as he always had.

She releases his arm, and they leap down after the others.

They stare up at Liuli Pavilion. Kaeya's foot taps impatiently on the sidewalk, his arms crossed, like a child left out of the fun. “Okay,” he says, “so he paid really big money for this.”

Kazuha nods solemnly.

Liuli Pavilion is closed off to much of the public, with reservations being made months in advance. Since Childe didn't know Lumine was coming, either he had already made a reservation for an 'extra seat', or he bought out someone else's reservation, who had had the same number of seats reserved. Since anyone would be hard-pressed to turn down their plans for the pavilion, and many of the guests were wealthy people celebrating business ventures, marriages, and the like, Childe would have had to pay an exorbitant amount to even get his head in the door.

Childe grins to himself, as he leads Lumine and Paimon up the steps, to their private, reserved dinner.

“And we’re not allowed in,” Amber grumbles. No one likes being left out. Kazuha and Kaeya exchange glances.

“I’m sure it’s for business,” Kazuha says. “Lumine must have her reasons for needing to see Childe and his associate, so it’s best if we don’t get involved.”

“Well said,” Kaeya says, clapping the man's shoulder with his good hand. He adores someone who understands discretion. “So why don’t we focus on getting some work done?”

Amber fixes him with a stare that can only be described as ‘lethal’. “You didn’t want to do work this morning.”

“Well, no, but we have some time on our hands,” Kaeya explains. “Right Rosie?” He looks in his blind spot but she’s not saving him from certain death at the hands of the Knights, this time.

“Oh,” Amber says, waving, “she already left.”

“Where to?” Kazuha’s voice is as gentle as ever.

“She’s finding the best drinking spots in Liyue.”

“Without me,” Kaeya grumbles. He's stuck supervising a Harbinger.

From outside.

“We could at least go observe the surroundings,” Kazuha suggests briefly.

None of them move.

In truth, no one wants to leave Lumi behind with the psychopath.

Kaeya sighs again, looking down the city street. It’s starting to bustle with newcomers, coming off the docks and flowing up from the poor side to the rich side. He would love to be out there, among them, searching through crowds. Meeting new informants. Picking up news from other countries.

“And besides, who just leaves us outside?” Amber sighs, plopping onto the curb. “It’s not fair for us.”

Kaeya can’t help but agree. The only other rich redhead he knows would have paid for the reservation to be more accommodating. "Diluc would never make us wait out here," he mutters.

Amber snorts.

Lumine stalks out of the restaurant with a sour expression, stepping down to the others. Amber bolts up from where she’s sitting, playing with ants and a leaf.

Kazuha stands as well, looking relaxed except for his eyes, which are steadily trained. He looks all too eager to get into a fight with Childe.

Kaeya is frowning, arms crossed, still standing. “Are you two alright?”

Lumine nods, though she doesn’t meet his eye.

“It doesn’t look it,” Amber says.

“He knew we were looking for all of the Seven,” Lumine says quietly, keeping her voice low though there’s no one near them on the street.

“And he threatened us!” Paimon is clearly pissed.

Kazuha’s hand slams into Kaeya’s diaphragm, his arm shaking with the force of holding the Captain back.

Amber’s eyes widen when she looks up. She’s rarely seen Kaeya so mad, his jaw grit. His entire body, including the muscles flashing visibly on his chest, has turned tense.

“I’m gonna fight him,” the Captain says, smiling wide. His pupil is dilated so small it looks like a tiny, black star.

“You are absolutely not!” Amber grabs his arm, clutching it to her. It feels just like when they were kids, when Kaeya and Diluc tried to rescue her from a hilichurl horde. Diluc had stood his ground in front of everyone else, with the sword his father gave him, flames roaring. But Kaeya wanted to leap in, even without a Vision. In the end, Amber could only shoot haphazardly at the hilichurls, while Kaeya sprinted ahead, shielding his brother best he could.

Crepus had not been pleased to see the three of them returning, all beat up. Amber still remembers the look of fear and worry. She thinks for one split second of the look on Jean's face if they come back after fighting a Harbinger, and tightens her grip on Kaeya's arm.

Rosaria runs back then, stepping between the man and the front doors of the establishment. “Come on. It’s not worth getting kicked out of the city.”

“I beg to differ,” Kaeya says, his voice velvety.

“Kaeya, you won’t be able to help us if you get arrested!” Paimon searches for any way to get him to stand down. “Besides, Paimon thinks he was joking?”

But the anger in his heart aren't due to silly words, but are due to the stormclouds in Lumine’s eyes, which haven’t left. She’s the priority.

Kaeya stops struggling all at once, stepping closer to extend his palm to her. "Come now, we won't let him lay a hand on you."

She nods, dropping her hand in his. "I want to kick his ass."

Kaeya lets out a loud laugh, pulling her in to his arm. He winds it around her protectively. "Oh, Lumine." He rubs her head, holding her against his chest for a moment, glancing up at the door to the restaurant.

No one’s watching them, this time.

Besides, she’s cute when she’s angry.

"We all want to fight him, don't you worry." He looks down to her for one moment, booping her nose. "The feeling is mutual."

"That's right!" Paimon leaps up. "And we will, soon enough! Paimon's sure of it!"

“How’s Zhongli?” Amber is the most energetic of the group.

Kaeya has his arms crossed, his pout permanent since they dropped Lumine and Paimon off. Although in the moment he could only think of smashing Childe's face in, with time to think his unease has grown. To think that Childe would so blatantly state his intentions, then try to cover it up with humor. Is he simply trying to warn them of his Tsaritsa's orders? Or is he toying with the mice before pouncing?

Kazuha, in the wake of his Captain's unsteady emotions, seems almost eerily calm.

“He just tried to spend all of our money,” Paimon says.

“I’m gonna fight him,” Kaeya mumbles, burying his face in his crossed arms for a second.

Amber huffs. "You can't fight everyone!"

Lumine's foot is tapping as well. "No, I want to fight him too."

Paimon gasps. "Lumine!"

“So,” Kazuha says, breaking the moment, “are we camping tonight, or finding an inn?” He's been watching Kaeya pace for the better part of an hour, so he's a bit restless to go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

“Ah, about that,” Paimon says. “Going back to Mondstadt. We'll be camping outside of Dadaupa Gorge with Mister Zhongli.”

“Yay!” Amber cheers.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“We’re only escorting Mister Zhongli there, in order to quickly dispel some hilichurls and cook up some jade. And then we have to return just as fast," Paimon says, "according to Mister Zhongli."

“Sounds like Mister Zhongli is wary of someone in Mondstadt,” Kazuha says. “Why else would he not want to visit the city, or stop by the tavern for a quick drink?”

“Paimon just thinks he’s wary of uh…spending too much time out there. Though now that you mention it, it is a bit suspicious.”

Kaeya is less than pleased.

He’s not surprised that one of Childe’s friends is a suspicious individual, but that doesn’t mean he’s excited about this development either.

Having more dangerous people around a younger Knight, and a harmless pixie, and a wandering samurai who looks up to him, and around Lumine, is not really his favorite thing.

He smiles. “Rest assured, dear Paimon, whether he’s a friend of the Knights or another foe, we will handle him accordingly.”

“Paimon likes the sound of that! We can cook him in the giant pot if he tries anything.”

“Oh, really? My, you sound more like Diluc every day.”

“Do you really think so?” She drops her voice. “I will protect Mondstadt.”

“Throw a few allusions to demons in there, and you’ll have people thinking you’re the heir.” He makes a mental note to send Diluc a messenger falcon, to keep the man in the loop. Something along the lines of "I found a ginger who's more rude than you" and "there's this old man who spent Lumi's money, can you reimburse us?" and "a Harbinger treated Lumi to dinner, wanna kill him for me?"

Just nice things like that.

They're setting up tents when the next problem arises. There's only three.

"Oh, I seemed to have forgotten mine," Zhongli says. The skewer stick in Lumine's hand suddenly snaps. She lets the pieces fall to the ground.

"Alright!" Paimon stomps her foot. "Now even Paimon wants to fight him!"

Kaeya looks abruptly to Rosie, thinking she's going to go with Kazuha, and Amber will have to go with Lumine so they're both safe, and that'll leave him with Zhongli! He won't get a wink of sleep, he's sure the man snores. He looks like he snores.

But Rosie is busy climbing into a tent with Amber, Paimon in the Pyro user's arms. His bestest everest friend, to whom he clearly owes a bottle of wine, gives Kaeya a wink. Kazuha heads right over to Zhongli, offering their honored guest his half of his tent, which is a gift from Amber anyways.

Kaeya looks to Lumine, and coincidentally decides to forget about that extra tent in his inventory.

She smiles over at him, offering her hand. "Come on, Captain. You're with me tonight."

He mentally thanks every archon he can think of the name of.

"Mister Zhongli, are you okay?" Kazuha's peering down at the guest.

Off to the side, the man winces, clutching his head. He yawns a moment later. "Yes, just had an unpleasant thought. It's nothing. Good night, children."

"Children?" Kaeya frowns, looking over once more.

Lumine tugs on his sleeve then, and his attention is quite thoroughly taken.

"Come on," she says, closing the tent flap the second he's inside. She yawns, a pillow clutched in one hand, trying to hand it over with both eyes closed.

She ends up smacking Kaeya in the face with it, since he's lying on his back like a turtle, trying to pry his boots off. "Ow."

"Sorry."

Usually, he can lay out on a bed to pry them off. And there's not enough leg room in the tent. Kaeya lays down, lifting his hips to try and pull them, unsuccessful before he throws his head back, over the side of his fluffy scarf pillow. "Lumiiii."

"Need help?"

"No, I thought perhaps I could lie here, sleeping in my tight shoes throughout the night."

"Oh, well that's fine then. Don't let me stop you."

He bursts out laughing, staring up at the tent ceiling happily. "It's my shoulder," he admits, covering both eyes in embarrassment. "I can't bend enough to get them off right now. If it's not too much trouble, please be a doll and rip these off of me."

"I know. Come here." All at once, Lumine's voice is very close to his ear. "I don't mind helping."

He can feel the blush on his cheeks. Kaeya moves his arm over his face, turning away. "I suspect ulterior motives, Miss."

"Ulterior motives have nothing to do with an Honorary Knight helping out a Captain," Lumine states proudly. Her grin says otherwise.

Kaeya thinks for one moment through that sentence, snorting. "And here I thought you were complimenting me."

Lumine stares at him for .02 seconds before slamming her pillow into his arm.

"Ow!"

"Oops."

"Oops?! Lumi, I'm injured!" He adds a whine to his voice, hoping for sympathy.

"Your face isn't," she says, staring down impassively.

Kaeya pouts. "You could bruise it though!"

"With a pillow?!"

There's a humongous sneeze from outside, across the clearing.

Kaeya and Lumine share a look and burst into quiet laughter. She grabs his boot, tugging hard to get it off his leg.

"Why do you wear such tight clothing?"

"To look good."

"You would look good in anything," Lumine complains, tossing one and then the other at the bottom of the tent.

Kaeya chuckles, shoving his fluffy scarf off to the side. It doubles as a pillow. "I am simply ensuring that I look my best even when fighting our enemies. Appearances are important in my line of work, after all."

Lumine has her own shoes off, stretching.

"Are you changing? I can turn over." He sits up, working off his coat, dragging it off with a grunt.

She waves at him, looking away. "I have to get out of this dress."

"Dadaupa Gorge is usually filled with monsters," he says, looking away, sure that if he stops talking, one of them will be forced to confront the sound of his beating heart. "Careful that you don't rush out to fight them, not wearing anything at all."

"Sounds like something you would do."

Outside, Amber and Rosaria laugh loudly at their own conversation.

Her dress lands on his hands. Kaeya laughs, folding it neatly for her. His coat is slung over one shoulder haphazardly, shirt unbuttoned as far as he can get it. "Perhaps I shall," he offers.

"Don't. Someone will die of a heart attack."

His belt falls to the floor, and he lies back down.

"Hey! Keep it down!" Amber's voice floats across the camp, though they're unsure if it's directed at them, or at Zhongli and Kazuha. Peepaw is reciting what sounds like an entire book to the samurai, who's eating it up.

Lumine looks down at Kaeya, snickering.

He spares a glance at her, through his fingers, palm facing up. He only whispers. "My, look at the Honorary Knight, getting herself in trouble. Too bad I can't pull you out of it this time."

"You can't pull yourself out of your shoes," she says back, voice low.

He loses it then, turning on his side, the embarrassment coupling with his nervous energy making him double over, laughs erupting. She's beside him again then, her knees pressing lightly at his back. His belt chinks as Lumine drags it up by his pillow, where his Vision pulses gently.

She peels his coat from his shoulder, tugging it down behind him so she doesn't move his shoulder too far. "You're bleeding again." Her voice is serious once more. "I'll treat it, don't worry."

"You don't have to."

The pillow hits his face again.

Lumine stretches, her back turned to him. Kaeya has to look away, so antsy his leg is bouncing.

She turns back, yawning. "Hold still."

"I can't help it, you make me excited. And you're not very commanding when yawning," he says, though he mimics her a moment later.
When he can see again, Lumine is grinning beside him. She's changed to a tank top, one with a Favonius logo embroidered over the heart, in red. "Is that one of Amber's?"

"Hm?" Lumi glances down. "Oh, yeah. May I treat everything?"

"My Dear Knight, are you trying to see me shirtless?" He says this, but looks away, cheeks a flushed red. Lumine snorts, lifting his shirt off his bad arm carefully, and then tossing it haphazardly. His jaw drops. "I beg your pardon, didn't I fold your clothes neatly?"

"If it wrinkles, you can't wear it," Lumine responds, lifting a wet towel to his back.

"What? How did you think of that?! And when did you have time to get the towel wet?"

She grins down at him. His heart leaps into his ears. "Anyways, I would appreciate it if you could hurry up and heal. I'm getting antsy, wanting to fight Childe."

"Ah, you've seen it coming too?"

She nods. "I have half a mind to just drag him into the streets and demand to know what he's doing, but logically I know it wouldn't go over well."

“He wouldn’t admit anything, otherwise you or I would be hard pressed at beating Rosaria to the task.” Kaeya sighs at the feeling of ointment, warmed by her fingers, spread on his sore wounds. "You could be a medic."

"I'll wrap this loose tonight, and change it in the morning." Lumine yawns again.

"You take such good care of me. I think you're more worried about my injuries than I am," he says, propping his head up on his good arm, so that he has an excuse to look completely away.

Lumine can see the tinge on her ears. "One of us has to be," she says, intending to be stern, but she ends up yawning again.

He glances over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of her pink cheeks. "When you're done, I'll offer you my other arm."

"Is that one hurt too?"

"Not to wrap, but to sleep on. The tent is stuffy, and the night is warm, and you know, Cryo holders are quite chilled. My arm may provide some refreshment you wouldn't have otherwise."

Lumine begins wrapping his shoulder. "Does this offer perhaps come with a package deal?"

"Oh? Whatever you want, is yours, within my power of course." One of Diluc's lines, but he's sure the man won't mind it being borrowed.

She doesn't answer until she's done, focusing steadily on the work before her. "May I sleep on your chest tonight?"

Kaeya thinks he'll burst from blushing, but she looks so sweet, and so very tired. "Of course you may. Whatever I can do to make you comfortable, is what I would most like. So, come join me, and lay here for awhile."

She crawls over his lap to his other side. The tie on his bandages comes undone when Kaeya lifts his arm to pull a blanket around her shoulders, but he smiles. No reason to tell her. She's so tired, and she still took care of him first.

He wraps his arm around her, placing his hand on her head once more, guiding her to his chest before laying them both down.

"You're so cold," she says, sliding her arm around his waist. She pulls closer, smiling, tucking her head against him.

Kaeya can feel her heart beat under his hand. He lets himself smile, glancing down, smoothing her hair back.

When her breathing steadies, he slips off his eyepatch, tucking it up with his Vision. "Sleep well, my dearest Honorary Knight."

Chapter Text

Kaeya finds himself running through a field. Immediately, he knows he’s dreaming, because Lumine isn’t next to him.

His Vision is clutched in one hand, freezing his fingers. His sword is in the other, at the ready. Kaeya groans. This isn’t just a dream, but a memory.

Hilichurls surround him, having come upon his hidden tent. He certainly didn’t expect any to come out this way, or perhaps at the time he was a bit too far into the bottle to worry about where they might turn up. Either way, he woke to them beating the sides of the tent. And he had scrambled out, dick swinging, utterly naked.

All things considered, even in the dream it’s not too uncomfortable. It’s the middle of summer after all.

Kaeya makes quick of the hilichurls, too tired to worry about how he looks or whether or not he’s doing a good job. In fact, it’s nice to be this relaxed. That’s why he came out to the meadows in the first place, after all, he remembers. Kaeya smiles, closing his eyes, tilting his face to the sun. He just wanted some peace and quiet, away from the knights.

Before he knows it, he’s walking off his hangover, sword swinging, Vision warming up in his palm. And then he stops walking, opening his eyes.

Jean is standing before him, plenty of paces away. As if in slow motion, she turns. They make eye contact.

Kaeya realizes he had forgotten this part of the memory. He guffaws, and Jean slams both hands over her eyes, shouting apologies which ring out across the fields.

Kaeya leans closer, squinting to see her. If he knows her how he thinks he does, then he knows what she’ll do next.

She peeks once.

He hawks a laugh, bending over, stumbling. He ends up on the ground, hands clutched over himself, Vision covering not much at all. His laughs rain out in all directions.

Jean hurries over, turning her head away, her capelet pinched between two fingers. She drops it on him, apologizing over and over.

Kaeya accepts, of course, sliding it over his lap. He sits on the dirt, smiling down at the capelet, running his hands over the grooves in the fabric. This was when Jean wasn’t a Grand Master yet. She was a Captain. It was a couple years after Diluc left, when Kaeya was going through one of his drinking phases. He was only, what, 19?

Jean’s still apologizing, but the memory is growing hazy. “It’s okay, Jean,” Kaeya says, reassuring her once more.

He stares out at Mondstadt, lingering for a moment in the feeling of being 19 once again. “Someday soon,” he says, “I’ll get to meet Lumine.”

Kaeya wakes up in the morning on his back. Through the hole in the top of the tent, he can see the sunshine barely tinting the sky pink. Which means it's dawn.

His lips curl in distaste. The Cavalry Captain greatly prefers the night, and had thought being an adventurer would get him out of his early mornings. But all of this is instinct, and emotion.

The first cohesive thing he thinks is, oh shit, a storm is coming.

The second is him wondering what the weight is on his body.

Kaeya looks down to find Lumine sprawled across him, using him as a bed. He lifts his arm, the shoulder so sore he struggles to do so. He wraps it around her back, his tired brain knowing mostly that he doesn't want her to wake up and feel alone.

It takes a moment for him to fully understand the position they managed to lie in, but once he does, he blushes several shades of pink, screaming silently, mouth closed. Luckily, she doesn’t stir.

Lumi is lying on top of him, though part of her is falling off. One of her hips is tucked between his, warm and comforting. Her leg extends down, toes tickling his shin. Her other leg is lifted over his, thigh heavy on his own, muscles tensing as she readjusts. At some point she slipped under his blanket, pressing her skin against his. It feels like she was craving the cool feel during the hot summer night.

Kaeya forces himself to try and take a deep breath, but his lungs keep rising, faster and faster. And that’s not the only thing. His heart is pounding in his ears.

He throws his head back, trying not to look at the angel on him for a moment. His focuses his eye at the top of the tent, not daring to move lest he disturb her. He can't even let himself enjoy the feeling of his arm around her, or her breath on his bicep, because what if his body moves on it's own and she feels it? He realizes he's not doing a good job of focusing on the weather, and yells at himself to try again. The sky isn’t lighting fast, indicating clouds on the horizon. It will rain soon.

Perfect weather for fighting.

Kaeya pouts, turning his thoughts to anything acceptable, running through lists of inventory, and old Favonius reports on boring topics.

A few moments later, he breathes a slow sigh of relief. He gives Lumine a little squeeze with his arm, heart flipping at the thought of her wanting to be here. At the feeling of her breathing, once again. How trusting she is.

He looks to her head, tucked on himself, and feels his familiar insecurities wrapping around him like a blanket. Whispering that he doesn't deserve this moment.

But just once, he wants to enjoy it. He pushes the thoughts away, stubbornly, imagining them burning.

Kaeya sets an arm under his head so he can elevate his chin more, so he can breathe easier. It's not her weight, it's that he can't believe she's here with him. He squeezes her again, breathing deep. She smells so good. Kaeya tugs his scarf more firmly under his head, hand sinking into the fur. His body relaxes, and Lumine stirs, her hand clutching over his heart. Her fingertips slide against his skin, as if searching for fabric to hold. Well, she’s probably trying to grip his shirt or something, but he’s not wearing one since she ripped it off of him last night, so she’s just grabbing his boob.

Kaeya's hand slips out from under his head, freezing between them. His eyes soften. “You’re so sweet.” He slides his thumb under her fingers, gently lifting them. He holds her hand off of his skin. Crepus taught him well. “Please wake up.”

Barely have the words left his throat than Rosaria opens the tent flap, staring down at them for a moment.

“It’s not what it looks like,” Kaeya says, staring up, Lumine’s hand in his own.

Rosie’s eyes droop. “Did you confess?”

“No.”

“Did you kiss?”

“What?!” His legs scramble as he tries to think of a way to get out of this conversation. But it's not like he can pull out from underneath Lumine! I would disturb her! "Get out," he hisses.

Rosie stares over, clearly judging.

“What’s taking so long?” Amber peers in the tent then, eyes widening. She smirks.

“It’s not what it looks like,” Kaeya says. She turns away, her loud laughter coming right through the thin walls of the tent. "No, stop," he says.

"Right. Come out when you lovebirds are done." Rosie closes the door once more, turning away. Kaeya can hear Kazuha laughing at something Zhongli's low, rumbling voice has said.

Lumine sucks in a breath, cracking her back, inadvertently pressing her hip against him even further. Kaeya releases her hand, covering his eyes once more. “Please get off of me.”

“Oh, sorry.” Her voice is wonderfully groggy. She rolls off onto the tent floor, stretching right as he uncovers his eyes. Of course, his one eye being closed, and his other not able to see that far, he doesn’t notice Lumine’s elbow until it smashes into him.

“Ow!” Kaeya swears, turning away, clutching his face.

Rosaria, who’s tugging on her shoes outside of the tent, standing guard so none of the others see Lumine or Kaeya half-dressed, bursts out laughing.

Kaeya just hears a “What’s so funny?” from Paimon.

And then Lumine’s elbow smacks into his back, and she turns away, curling up. Kaeya groans. When he sits up and looks over, the sleepy woman is clutching his scarf to her chest, rolled up around it.

Kaeya pokes her shoulder. “Get up. Come on Honorary Knight, it’s morning.”

“Go the fuck away,” she mumbles into his scarf. He watches her drool for one moment, staring in disbelief. Did she just grind her hip into him, elbow him, and then fall asleep?

He pokes her cheek. "Hey. Why are you such a violent sleeper?"

Lumine mumbles some response that makes no sense. She turns away, slapping his fingers. She's not gentle when she's like this.

Kaeya huffs. He stares over, pouting. "You stole my scarf."

"Fuck off," she says.

Kaeya has managed to dress entirely, except for his scarf. Which Lumine is drooling on.

He doesn't have the heart to say anything to her about it though. He pulls on his boots, yawning once more.

Kaeya emerges from the tent, fully dressed. The sky is turning interesting shades of red. Zhongli and Kazu are eating breakfast, sort of. Kaeya looks over to Rosie, who tried to sleep through some of the night, but is sporting a new forehead bruise courtesy of Paimon’s angry sleeping kicks. “She’s your problem.”

Paimon flits up in front of the groggy group, who’s still wiping sleep out of their eyes. She's as energetic as ever. “So what are we getting up to today?!”

Zhongli clears his throat. “I believe it would be amenable for us to check the location of this cooking pot, in order to check the stones.”

“Yeah,” Kaeya says. Out of the tent bounds Lumine, half asleep. Her face slams into his shoulder, thank the archons the uninjured one. To steady herself she sets her hand against the small of his back. Kaeya freezes, sucking in a breath which swells his chest. Her fingers slide off and she yawns, stepping around him. Lumine stretches noisily.

Meanwhile, Kaeya is trying to catch his breath. He can't tell if he's happy or dying. He never knew he had a sensitive back, of all things. He gives Lumine a look like it's her fault.

Rosie snorts, covering her mouth from laughing too hard at her best friend.

Kaeya gives her a sour look. “Come on Kazuha, let’s clear the camp of nuisances.”

Kazuha looks up, eyes rimmed red. He appears to have gotten zero hours of sleep. "The hilichurl one, right?"

Kaeya feels for him. Paimon really is violent. "Yes, the hilichurl one." The sooner he gets away from Rosie and Lumine, the better.

“I’m still making breakfast,” Amber says around a mouthful.

“Yeah, that’s fine. We’ll clear out the hilichurls for you.” Kaeya yawns once more, strutting off towards the Gorge.

Kazuha stands, just in his robe and a belt, half asleep. “I’m ready,” he mumbles, or something like that. Eyes closed, he walks off for the cliff.

“Wait!” Kaeya runs after him, arm out. “You’re not wearing a glider!” He catches the man’s shoulder, turning back, catching the glider that Amber tosses to him. “You have a deathwish,” he says to the samurai.

“No, I just figured the wind would catch me.”

Kaeya pats his shoulder frantically, smiling but very, very concerned. “Please don’t do that again.”

Chapter Text

The Noctilucous Jade in hand, the team takes a Waypoint out of Mondstadt. Zhongli visibly relaxes once they reappear on the rich side of Liyue. He leads Lumine and Paimon up to the dias where Rex Lapis' body was found, alone, so that the three of them may speak for awhile. Zhongli informs them that Childe is paying for the ingredients to the Rite of Parting, and that the Qixing are paying for the location. He then mentions needing to get perfume as the next step. "But, I suppose that can wait until tomorrow," he says. "Please meet me then." He steps up to the railing, staring out across the city.

Though she feels for his sorrow at losing his archon, Lumine is a bit peeved herself. Her and Paimon have been left without any guarantee to their freedom, for another day. Once they're out of earshot, Lumine huffs. “It’s a wonder we haven’t been arrested yet,” Paimon says as they crest the top of the stairs, looking down on the ponds. “Anyways. We can find our team and spend the day getting other work done. Let’s see where those guys…are.” They stare at their team members. It seems this action has become a spectacle on the boardwalk, as the Liyuean couples which came out for a romantic evening walk are also spellbound.

Kaeya is sitting on the edge of the water, his bare feet dangling, a fishing rod between his hands. His shirt is wide open, revealing tanned skin. He smiles over to Kazuha. “I’m going to catch so many fish for Klee!”

“Oh yes, perhaps we can dry them, and bring the whole treasure to her tomorrow.” Kazuha is busy drying himself on one of their towels. His hair is down, dripping all over the sidewalk, rivulets traveling along his bare chest. His wet shirt is hanging beside him on the railing, next to Kaeya’s coat. A woman moves her hand a more respectable distance away, making a face.

"She had clearly thought she would go for an evening stroll with her fiancé, only to be met with these idiots," Paimon mutters. Lumine's eye is twitching. She hasn't quite tamed the beast in her throat enough to be able to speak.

Amber is a little ways away, sitting on the grass. She's currently scaring the fish away from her corner of the pool, by washing her cape in the water. The dependable Knight stands, wiping her forehead. “There! Allll clean! Get anything yet, Captain?”

“Yup!” Kaeya’s grin is so wide his eye is closed. “Three fish already!”

Lumine stares down at them, her hands in fists. Paimon leans closer to her. "You okay?"

Her voice is low. "I'm wondering if murder is legal in Liyue, because this definitely isn’t."

“Guys!” Paimon’s shout is abrupt, enough to wake the slumbering Millelith nearby. “This is not Mondstadt,” she whisper-shouts.

Kaeya looks up with a cute little pout. “But I got fish.” His eye slips to Paimon’s companion, instantly lighting up, his chest puffing visibly, smile growing. “Oh hey, Lumi! I got a lot for us.”

“She looks mad,” Kazuha says, grabbing his wet shirt and throwing it on. He keeps dressing without looking at what he’s grabbing, only growing confused when his hand lands on Kaeya’s fluffy white scarf, already around his neck. He pats it a few times, lips scrunched up.

“Yeah I see that,” Kaeya whispers. He’s slowly pulling in the fishing line with both hands, the pole trapped between his knees. He smiles charmingly. “So Lumi, did you have fun? Did you get the ingredients given over to Mister Wangsheng?”

“It’s Zhongli,” Paimon says.

“Close enough,” he hisses, clearly frazzled. The fishing line gets tangled in his fingers.

Rosaria runs in then, right past the nice couple, carrying a bunch of sticks. She's switched over to her black clothes, a large basket in her arms. “Alright guys. I got stuff to hold the fish. Where are we roasting dinner?”

“Uh,” Amber says, her still wet cape around her shoulders. She's shivering. "Change of plans Rosie.”

The Sister follows Amber's pointing finger, looking up to where Lumine is staring down at them, arms crossed. The Honorary Knight's foot has begun tapping. Rosaria grimaces. “Fuck.”

“Paimon can’t believe you guys thought that was a good idea!” They're walking through the city, quickly at Lumine's behest. Her hand is pressing onto Kaeya's back, fingers flitting over his spine. He's all too happy he chose the thin shirt this morning.

“It seemed fun,” Kazuha says. Kaeya's scarf is flouncing with his every step. The rest of his clothes are piled up in Amber's arms, armor clinking.

“Seemed?! As if we didn’t catch you right after you came out of that pond!” If Paimon had a weapon, she would surely be swatting them.

“You have no proof.” Kazuha turns his nose up, leaning away, hands settled on the scarf on his shoulders.

“No proof?! You were soaking wet! Your hair is still dripping!!" The pixie's gaining the small team attention, and Lumine nudges them on, a little bit faster.

Rosaria steps up beside Kazuha, setting her hand on his shoulder. “That’s right, there was a mysterious rain shower.”

Amber starts laughing, while Paimon beats the air with her fists. “Oh, that’s not accurate! You even went to get a basket for fish! You're carrying it!”

Amber skips a few steps ahead, turning around to address the pixie while walking backwards. "Oh come on Paimon, we're going to make you lots of delicious food!"

The four of them pull ahead of Lumine and Kaeya.

Kaeya’s shirt is open, the front lacing undone, strings flittering as they hurry down the steps. His ponytail is high enough for his hair to bounce, leaving wet marks on his shirt. One hand holds his fishing pole, not yet tucked away into his inventory. His other hand reaches automatically beside him, Lumine’s fingertips abandoning his back in order to graze his pinkie. He slides his fingers between hers, his smile positively brilliant. “How did it go?”

“The meeting with Zhongli went very well. We have more to do tomorrow, picking out perfume, but not until the evening.”

Kaeya untangles his hand from hers, his heart already about to beat out of his chest. He can't stand the contact with her without feeling like he'll burst, but he craves her all the same. His fingers twist in one of her longer strands of hair. “Ooh, so you're telling me I get a whole day with you?” Lumine tilts her head every so slightly, up against his arm. Kaeya's intake of breath is audible, and then they're stepping onto the bridge leading out of Liyue and he's looking away. She watches her hair slip off of his fingers. “We should get to work then,” he says, arm out to get the group’s attention. They've stalled in the midst of the bridge, Amber's toe tapping as she waits. "The sun isn't down yet men. We can split up in town, asking the Millelith if they’ve seen someone who looks like our dear Honorary Knight.”

“I’ll put up posters,” Amber offers. “Actually, I already did. There’s one back at the pond.”

“I’ll ask the Millelith and shopowners if they’ve seen your brother,” Rosaria says, setting the basket on her hip. "I need to set out the fish to dry anyways, so give us a few hours before dinner."

"What?!" Paimon's jaw drops, but they got out of the city safely so everyone is fine with it.

“Kazuha,” Kaeya states, “go with Rosie. I want you to get focused on getting stronger materials for your Vision. Your skills need to be honed by the time a large fight comes up. Amber, get another bow from the blacksmith just in case yours breaks. Rosie, you have those poles we gave you?” One materializes in her hand, flipping easily through the air, almost effortlessly. Kaeya smiles a bit, pride evident. “Wonderful.”

“It’s very nice,” she says.

“Then I trust that you’re set for the time being. I’ll commission Yanfei for tomorrow, and Amber once you’re done with your morning duties, I’ll need you as well.” He splays his fingers towards her.

“Alright Captain!” Amber’s bunny ears seems to wave at him, though it’s the sea breeze. “What am I doing?”

Kaeya’s fist closes slowly, a grin spreading. “Tomorrow, we’re going to go destroy that Cryo Regisvine.”

“Alone again,” Lumine says, watching the water.

Rosaria and Kazuha went off by themselves ‘to find a nice camping spot’, or to inquire about staying at one of the inns. They'll be fighting treasure hoarders along the beach on the way. Amber and Paimon ran off to find Yanfei for a commission, since they’ve worked with her before. On the way, they'll check the posters, and get Amber's new weapon.

“Seems so.” Kaeya shrugs. “That’s not so bad, is it?”

The breeze lifts Lumine's hair, goosebumps appearing along her skin. He stares for a moment, watching the lights reflect in her eyes. She smiles up at him, as warm as the lanterns overhead. “Not at all.”

But Kaeya can see past that smile, to the pain underneath it. He leans on the railing. “Miss Honorary Knight, you seem rather down.”

“Your hand was unusually cold tonight," she says, looking out at the water. "Are you coming down with something? I heard there's a pharmacy in town, if you need to visit it."

“Lumine.” He turns to her, lifting a hand to swipe that long strand of hair out of his way. “What’s wrong?”

She stares up at him with an indiscernible gaze warring in her eyes. That’s something much different from the fear of the Millelith. “I miss my brother," she says.

For a moment, Kaeya is 17 again. He's staring up at Jean, standing on the roof of the Knights' Headquarters. It's storming, or about to, the wind whipping around them. His Vision is cold in his hand. She's stepped out, and brushed his bangs from his eyes. An eyepatch, one she had made for him, is dangling from her lips. She's frowning down at him, asking why he's there. And he's saying the same thing.

Kaeya's heart aches, and goosebumps settle up his arms too. He sets Lumine's hair behind her ear, retracting his arms. "Since coming here,” she whispers, “we’ve just been stuck doing errands. I like Mister Zhongli, don’t get me wrong, but I feel as if…as if we’re missing something.”

“Is that so?” People are walking by, glancing at the beautiful Traveler. But she has tears in her eyes. Kaeya lifts a hesitant hand to her cheek, barely setting his fingers against her skin, hiding her expression from those wandering by. ‘The walls have ears’ goes the old saying. Lumine nods, and once the people pass he drops his hand. “Your worries are valid, you know. We are dealing with quite a lot in this city. The death of an archon. The loss of your brother." But his chest feels like cracking open, like the emotions hidden within are about to emerge. The fear at the loss of his brother. The terrifying implication that it's his fault. Kaeya steps closer, lowering his voice. "I can certainly keep an eye out, watching for whatever’s incoming.”

“I do trust you,” she says, and her eyes are so open for a moment that he can read that her words are true. That she trusts him more than he thought anyone would.

Kaeya’s muscles grow rigid. He has to fight himself, not to jump into the water.

Then she looks away, out into the sea. “Just…be prepared,” she says, sounding at once as if she’s done this a hundred times. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

Kaeya wonders how many of those times people like him survived. Or if they ever got to love her.

“There’s a fight coming," she says. He watches her lips move, as if her mouth as gone numb, "and I want us to be ready.”

“Oh, silly Lumine.” That’s why I’m fighting that damn overgrown plant tomorrow. At the panic growing on her face, Kaeya slips back into his easy grin, like donning a mask. Someone he loves is standing on a cliff's edge. This is his time to shine. “Don’t you worry your pretty blonde head. Come now,” he gives her a little tug on her hand, away from the railing, though his fingers have gone so numb he cannot feel hers. “Come enjoy this evening with me. For if tomorrow we must fight,” he leans low to her, his breath cool on her face, a side effect of the panic gripping his heart, “then tonight we must celebrate.” Kaeya lifts her hand to his lips, pressing softly. He grazes her knuckles as he speaks, his determination to protect her outweighing any shyness he feels. “And there’s no one else I’d rather celebrate with.”

Lumine stares up into his eye for a moment, watching the lights play, the result of people moving amongst merchants in the city. The breeze knocks his hair into his mouth and she reaches up, hooking her finger, tugging the strands out. Kaeya seems to freeze in place, so Lumine steps back a bit, stretching. She looks for a topic to talk about. “Oh, that reminds me.” Kaeya isn't expecting the scary look on Lumine’s face. He stares down, perplexed. She sighs. “I need help.”

“Anything.” Kaeya nearly groans. He can feel a blush enveloping his face. Lumine giggles, her worries successfully placated for the moment. Kaeya nearly melts. He bows low, wishing he had a bouquet in his hands. “What can I do, to please this dear Honorary Knight, while in a faraway land?”

“My," she says, plucking a wayward piece of grass out of his hair, "one would think you’re straight out of a storybook.” As he straightens she turns, leaning over the railing for a moment, nearly giving him a heart attack. Kaeya has an arm around her waist before he realizes what he’s doing. Lumine merely laughs, her head brushing his chest.

Sly girl, he thinks.

“Relax Kaeya, did you think I was falling off?”

His heart is pounding, though he kicks himself for it. He did sleep under her last night. But he can never get enough of this enchanting woman. “I didn’t know what to think.”

She twists the grass between her fingers, holding it over the water far below, this time tilting against his arm rather than the railing. “I would be fine even if I fell.”

“I don’t know Liyue as well,” he admits, peering over at the wine-dark waves. “If there were a rock, you could be injured. And hitting the water from too high of a height is a sure way to become Alfred’s new friend, rather than seeing Klee again.”

“Alfred?" She looks at him for a moment, before the name registers. Lumine gasps. "Kaeya!”

“What?" He leans on the railing once more, crossing his legs. The muscles in his arm flex with his laughter. "I’m just saying, you need to be careful.”

She leans over again, and by this point both of his hands are around her waist, holding onto her gently but absolutely not about to let her slip away. "That's what you're here for." Lumine holds the grass far out, twisting it. “Make a wish,” she says.

“Does it have to be the same wish as the dear holding it?"

She can't tell if he's flirting to make her feel better, or flirting because he wants to. But his thumb presses on her side, and Lumine inadvertently smiles. “I’ll leave that for you to decide.”

“Is that so?”

“Hurry up.” The grass has almost twisted out of her fingers.

Kaeya watches for a moment, thinking to wish for the same thing he always does. For Diluc to be okay.

But then he thinks about it for a moment. Diluc is back in Mondstadt. Where Donna is surely wishing for his safety. Where the waters are clear. Where the dangers are familiar.

He leans over the railing a bit, looking from the shops to the unfamiliar waves beneath them. Even the air smells different here, full of merchants' spices. And the salt feels odd on his skin, though he adores it all the same. Lumine is warm beside him, under his palms. He wants to hold her like this. He wants to see the lanterns reflecting in her eyes. He wants to watch her hair lifting. He wants to feel his shirt drying. I wish for Lumine and I to have more moments like this.

The grass falls, Lumine turning away before it hits the water. She’s already cheery again, smiling brightly. He releases her, heart warming a bit at the look on her face. “What did you wish for?”

“I can’t say,” she says. “Now come on, Knight, show me around this city.” She offers her hand, eyes shining.

Kaeya grins wide, another mission successfully completed. “Of course.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, the team wakes on the roof of Wangshu Inn.

Kaeya groans, lifting his head, his arm completely numb. He still has a bottle in his hand, though it's full of milk as opposed to the wine he expected to see.

Upon turning his head, he realizes Lumine is lying on his arm. His heart nearly leaps out of his chest. Her hands are tucked under her chin, his coat draped over her shoulders.

Kaeya glances up, at where Rosaria is sitting, staring over at him. Kazuha is draped across her lap, quite knocked out. She yawns once. "I think I'll sleep while you all head out for the day."

Kaeya blinks at her, trying to process so many emotions he doesn't know where to begin.

"We couldn't get a room," Rosie reminds him. "So we all slept here. On the roof. Where no one would find us."

"Right." Kaeya sighs, his breath nudging Lumine's bangs. She tries to stretch, Kaeya having to whip his head away before he's blinded in both eyes. "Damn, Lumi, you're going to knock me out one of these mornings."

On his other side is Paimon, having found the perfect thermodynamic mix. She's between Kaeya and Amber, feet pressing painfully against his kidney, balled up fist tugging on poor Amber's hair. The Pyro user turns over, brushing away Paimon like she's a gnat.

"Time to get up," Kaeya says, tapping Lumine's shoulder to wake her. She can deal with Paimon and Amber's impending fight.

He would like to get some breakfast.

True to form, Rosaria stays back, draping one of Kazuha's layers over her eyes to fall asleep on the rooftop.

The rest of the team heads to the Cryo Regisvine, staring down at it from the cliff.

"Time to kill this thing again," Amber says, wiping her eyes, glaring down.

"Once we do this, we can head to Liyue and see what's happening with everyone," Kazuha says.

"And more importantly," Paimon adds, "we can get some food."

"That's a plan. Let's go!" With a jovial grin, Kaeya leaps from the cliff, gliding out over the angry plant. He aims his sword and drops, striking it before it's even fully awakened.

"Whoa, jumping in there!" Amber tosses her Baron Bunny under the plant's leaves to help, running back to stay out of the way while it turns, trying to whip the Knight standing under it.

Kaeya grabs the stalk, his tongue lolling out of his mouth in a happy grin as he avoids the attack.

"You're crazy," Kazuha says, diving onto the plant, only to immediately jump up as it slams onto the ground. He avoids the hit, dropping onto it's head with his sword, the Anemo energy from his skill combining with Amber's fiery shot.

Lumine's skill backs them up, slamming against the Corolla, and the plant goes down.

The four pounce, Amber dropping her burst of flaming arrows. Kazuha pulling his sword fully from her sheathe in order to create a vacuum.

Lumine backflips, her tornado narrowly avoided by Kaeya, who's just hitting the flower's head like he's practicing his moves on a dummy.

He's the last one to hit the Cryo Regisvine, before it dissipates, utterly destroyed.

Lumine stares at the fallen plant.

“Until tomorrow,” Kazuha says, walking off his throbbing foot.

"You okay?" Paimon frowns over at him, worried.

"Yeah, I landed heavy," he explains, setting his hands on his hips.

“I feel that,” Amber says, referencing his statement about returning tomorrow, when the flower has respawned. She’s been fighting this thing since Lumine learned about it.

Almost every day, the three of them have traveled here. They used to come with Yanfei, and now with Kazuha.

"But to defeat it so quickly." Lumine is in shock, staring at the spot where the Cryo Regisvine used to be. "That thing used to knock us out. And we just...destroyed it. Easily."

Kaeya is behind her, grinning to himself, holding in his hand the last Hoarfrost Core. It dissipates between his fingers, entering his Vision.

All of a sudden his Vision glows even brighter than before.

Lumine's eyes, wide from the fight, flit over to stare at his hip. The glow is nearly blinding for a moment, before settling down.

She sucks in a breath, glancing up at him, in awe.

Kaeya slowly grins, giggling. "Why, I think I'm getting stronger." He looks down, making a fist and flexing once.

Any other time, Lumine might burst out in laughter at his theatrics, or take the opportunity to flirt back, until he's a blushing, flustered mess.

This time, she slams against him, holding him a tight hug. She's too moved to even speak, lost for a moment in all the memories of their times together.

All the times he used to shout out instructions, taking hits from the Regisvine just to keep her safe.

The time he had to throw up a shield to block one of it's blows.

The time he was the only one to remain standing, and had to drag everyone else away to safety.

And now? Now he's getting even stronger?

Kaeya's voice rumbles under her ear. "Why do I have a feeling you're happier about this?"

She glances up, brow furrowing. His voice is velvet, but he gives her a sad sort of smile. His arms cross on her shoulders, tucking her in to his chest.

His next breath shudders, and for one horrifying moment Lumine's thoughts are filled only with a terrible vision. Of Kaeya, hurt, and falling over. Of him not telling her of his injuries.

It's enough to nearly scare her into screaming.

But a moment later she realizes it's not him. It's just a memory, of another man, in another world, many years ago.

Of another person who used to hide behind a smile, who used to make everyone around him joyous.

Who didn't see his own worth.

Lumine smiles, giving him a squeeze before stepping back. "I'm proud of you, Kaeya."

And for a moment, his eye lights up.

"Hey guys?"

Amber is staring at her Vision as well, and Paimon gives a little gasp.

It's lit up, casting a starry pattern about the cave, in glowing fragments of light.

Lumine skips over, opening Amber's hand to see her constellation.

The first star on the bunny is lit up. Lumine gasps, staring at it for a moment, and then gasps again. "Amber!!"

"What what? Is this good? I've never seen this before!"

"Yes, you have! Look!" Lumine holds her own palm out, her constellation appearing over it, a tiny pattern.

Everyone crowds around, the tiny stars illuminating their faces.

"Wow, you have two lit up!" Amber looks from hers to Lumine's.

"I do," Lumine says. "I got them after the Stormterror incident. They made my abilities stronger, and they should do that for you, too."

"Wow, congratulations!!" Paimon does a backflip.

"So," Amber says, looking to their Captain. "We both got stronger?"

"It seems so," Kaeya says, arms crossed. His heart is still pounding from Lumine being against him. He thinks his chest must be moving, and is trying desperately to cover it before someone notices.

Kazuha, having noticed, smiles to himself, filing that away as something to tell Rosaria later. "What a good day for the Knights."

"This is cause for celebration!" Paimon cheers.

"You just want breakfast," Lumine says, packing up the rest of their items. Her and Kaeya hand over the drops to Paimon, who stores them away.

"I mean it's true, but I'm still happy for them!"

"I agree, let's celebrate."

Chapter Text

“Oh, aren’t you two sweet? How long have you been together?”

The shopkeep smiles down at Kaeya and Lumine, resting side by side, their dinner laid out before them.

“Oh." Caught off guard, he giggles, watching their eyes flit from him to Lumine. The shopkeep bites their lip staring down at the pretty Traveler, who glances up from her menu a moment later.

“We’ve been traveling together for a long time,” Lumine says, smiling brightly.

Kaeya can't tell if he's relieved or disappointed, but she keeps speaking.

“Not long enough, though.” She bites into her food, already adept with chopsticks, as if she said nothing at all.

Kaeya blinks for a moment, lifting his chopsticks to his mouth. Amber’s grandfather taught him, thankfully, or he’s sure he’d be too flustered to think straight enough to learn at the moment. The wood taps his lips and he tries to remember how to open his mouth.

He wasn’t expecting her to say that last part.

“Is something wrong?” The shopkeep peers at him, a glint in their eyes.

Years of dealing with hagglers and informants makes him want to bite their head off, or lure them to a secluded area and threaten them silly, but this is a business side of town, and they obviously are just interested in his companion, who is now known to be quite single.

He grins up, a shark assessing a fish. "No," Kaeya drawls, sweet as saccharine.

The meat falls off of his chopsticks, killing his vibe.

Kaeya's eye twitches.

“Look, you do it like this.” Lumine takes his hand in hers, each finger closing in succession. The rest of the restaurant falls away, out of sight, no longer mattering in the slightest.

Lumine guides Kaeya's hand down, snatching up some of the food on his plate. It involves many more vegetables than he initially included.

I wish I didn’t know how to use chopsticks. Can I unlearn a skill? How about I injure both hands and then she’ll feed me.

He manages to snap himself out of this tirade of thoughts long enough to smile at her. The sun is in her eyes, turning them a shining gold. Archons, she's beautiful. Kaeya finally understands why people melt gold across their meals. It seems delicious. “Thanks Lumi.”

“Thanks?" Her brows quirk up, eyes soft. "I’m just feeding you.” She gives one of those award-winning smiles which could kill a man, eyes glittering. “Nothing special.”

When she teases him, he feels safe.

He’s left staring at her as she drinks, looking slowly to the shopkeep, who’s giving him a knowing grin.

Ah, that’s the look Rosie used to give him.

Before she wanted my head on a silver platter.

He digs in.

“Get in the tent,” Amber says, pointing to the ground.

“Paimon! Doesn’t! Wanna!”

“Paimon needs to!”

“NO!”

“Paimon,” Rosie says, taking the pixie in her arms, “is drunk.”

Unfortunately, the pixie mayyyyy have been accidentally left behind in the tavern. See, while Kaeya and Lumine were enjoying two seats to a dinner Zhongli and Childe were intending to go to before Zhongli got called in to work, the rest of the party went to the local alcohol joint and got, well, shit faced.

Kazuha had to be carried off by Rosie, but the normally responsible lady was ill prepared for the heavier liquor she found. "Angel's Share has nothing like that," she mumbles, clutching her forehead. "Diluc was right."

They made it partway to the Inn before realizing Paimon was missing. Amber got lost on the trip back too, but they found her by a (very illegal) fireworks stand, playing with sparklers. "You're going to get us killed," Rosie had muttered, mother goosing the other idiots to a makeshift camp hardly outside the city, where Kaeya and Lumine found them by sheer luck hours later.

“She’s my problem then,” Lumine states, holding her arms out for the angry little ball of fluff who’s about ten seconds from passing out.

Kazuha’s hair is sticking up around his head, and he yawns mercilessly, robe slipping off his shoulder. “Why is she drunk?”

Kaeya holds back a laugh. That’s the question of the hour.

Amber flushes bright red. “Well, you see, Paimon and I were eating at the restaurant, and I didn’t realize our drinks got switched, so I thought I had a good countenance finally, and then she burped really loud and that’s when I knew.”

Lumine sighs, looking down at the little demon, who’s asleep, clutching her hair.

“Well, it is what it is,” the Honorary Knight says, kicking open the flap to her tent. “Night.”

“So,” Kazuha says, staring up at the stars.

“You poked holes in my tent?” Rosie's voice gets angrier with every word, her red eyes widening, a grin spreading on her face maniacally.

“No. A magician came by,” a hand slaps onto his mouth, shutting him up.

He looks over, smiling against the cold.

“Save it,” Rosie says, getting under the covers he’s holding up for her. She lies down, sighing. “I just realized this is yours.” She retracts her hand. “I apologize.”

“Don’t feel the need to apologize. Having your hand on my face is an honor I would gratefully accept again.”

“Do you get your lines from Kaeya, or Venti?”

“Who’s Venti?”

“An Anemo user I know,” she says, eyeing the Vision loosely wrapped around Kazuha’s shoulder, held close even in sleep.

Living in Inazuma must have been hard for him, with the Vision Hunt Decree.

“Maybe it’s a shared trait among you Vision holders,” she says, looking slowly to his eyes, which seem to glow in the nighttime.

Kazuha grins over at her. “So, why so worried about Kaeya and Lumine? Don’t get me wrong, I want them together as well. But you seem especially amped up.”

Rosaria sighs. “You seem to have sobered up quick."

"Acting drunk is an art form I learned aboard the Crux."

"And making me carry you?"

He gives her a grin. "You aren't drunk either."

"No, but I thought the Traveler might be angrier that her little friend is," Rosie says, twirling her dagger around on one finger.

Kazuha's grin wanes away. Rosie is an incredibly tough woman, which in no way means she isn't prone to loneliness, or worries over how her friends might view her.

She breathes deep after a moment, eyes opening. "Diluc and I have a bet running.”

“Ooh, is that so?”

She looks over to him, leaning in slightly. Kazuha’s grin is both alluring and sensual, his eyes glittering in the dark, as bright as the stars above.

“I want in," he whispers.

“Aren’t we going to go destroy the Cryo Regisvine again?” Paimon bobs before the group, frowning at them, arms crossed.

She hasn't forgotten last night, and she refuses to forgive.

“Plans have changed,” Lumine says. “Kaeya is still injured from his other fights, as is Kazuha. Rosaria and I found out when discussing it this morning.”

Both boys have the decency to look sheepish, though they share a grin with each other.

“All those who fail to report their injuries,” Rosie says, “will be charged a fee from here on out.”

“Fuck,” Kaeya mutters.

“That’s another for the cuss jar,” Amber says, holding out a glass bottle. She sighs, one cheek pink from sleeping on her jacket on the ground.

He drops five Mora in, eye wide. “And when did you buy this?”

She jingles her new coins. Written on the paper tied with ribbon is ‘Klee’s Fund’. “Last night!”

"We shouldn't have let her run off," Rosie says, covering her eyes. Kazuha snickers.

“Klee doesn’t need a fund,” Kaeya mutters, “Jean is the fund.”

“That’s not nice Kaeya!" Amber huffs, giving the jar a jingle. "She’ll need it when she’s older.”

“Jean will probably pay for her then too,” he says, falling back on the grass with a sigh. “So, dear Honorary Knight.”

He can’t help but admire how she looks in the sunlight, all yellows and whites and blues. Like a soft painting come to life, reaching out for his bare hand, embracing him.

He blinks a few times, shocked when he looks at his hand, outstretched. And sees hers in it.

Everyone else is acting normal, and they're still moving so the world hasn't frozen. Kaeya peers up at the sky, as if it's falling. As if everything is ending.

He looks back over to Lumine, who's blinking at him with big, beautiful eyes. “What plans do you have for us today?”

“I just want us to explore today,” she says.

“It seems you’re in better spirits than yesterday.” Amber grins. “That’s a relief.”

“Yes, I was pretty upset with Mister Zhongli’s behavior in Mondstadt. So for today, I think we should try to learn more about Liyue. Let’s go do our commissions, and explore that beach we keep ending up on. I want to keep track of where treasure hoarders are, and maybe do some work for the people of the town.”

“Oh? Shouldn’t we be worried about seeing Mister Zhongli?” Amber stretches. "The Rite of Parting and all that. Not that I mind taking another day to ourselves."

“We don’t need to meet him until later,” Lumine says. “And I don’t want us to become jaded, forgetting what we’re fighting for, or why we’re working so hard.”

“Makes sense.” Paimon shrugs. “Well, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do!”

“First, we do need to go find employees,” Lumine says, pulling out a sheet of paper from her chest.

“Lumine! Where did you pick up that trait?”

“That’s where I hold my lighter,” Rosie says.

Kaeya facepalms. “Sorry. They got it from me. Crepus told me not to do it anymore,” he mutters, “and this is why.” He grins, admiring his nails. “And he was wrong.”

Lumine swallows hard, self-conscious.

At first, she had planned to barter with employees for the Rite of Parting. But then Zhongli showed up and offered his assistance in the matter, and there was no real reason not to do this part of the quest. It seemed an easy enough task.

But then they gained a lot of attention.

Kaeya has tagged along, of course, ever present as Lumine's guard. His arm is crossed against his stomach, elbow perched on it so he can hold his chin.

Most of the people on the boardwalk turned their attention to the elaborate party. There’s the tall, well-dressed gentleman (until they recognized him as the broke Zhongli of that troublemaker Hu Tao’s Wangsheng Funeral Parlor). There’s a woman who rivals Zhongli in elegance, as bright as a flower, and as regal as a princess (Lumine, who’s so focused on business that she’s at once entrancing merchants, and secondly breaking the hearts of everyone who dares to attempt complimenting her, only for her to seemingly not notice).

There’s a man in the group who could break necks, and more than one passersby chokes on their food when he strides through the city square, past the small reflection pool, with an easy smile and the grace of a feline (their gazes fall into delicate pouts when they realize Kaeya is solely focused on Lumine, and therefore must either be her lover or her Knight. “Or both,” an elderly lady remarks to her friend, who nods). And should the eyes of the onlookers not be moved by those three members, they have risen up, up, up, to the floating pixie (Paimon, one who some whisper is an adeptus, and others whisper must be a Mondstadt Seelie, and others claim to be an elf, and on and on and on, until they almost wonder to ask or make offerings).

For the record, a few do make offerings to Paimon, handing her dishes or snacks along her travels, or a few coins.

Her eyes go wide, reflecting the Mora in her hand. “WOW! The people of Liyue really are generous!”

“They seem to think you’re some sort of being capable of bestowing good luck,” Zhongli says, worrying his chin.

Paimon’s ignoring him, speaking to her new patrons. “And good luck to you. And good luck to you. IS THAT STICKY HONEY ROAST??! Oh, blessings to you and your family!”

“Come on Paimon,” Lumine states, sliding by on her way to the next prospective employee. Kaeya’s finished with the first, who walks away shaking his head, cheeks tinged red.

Her Captain leans against the wall, grinning like a cat. He tosses some coins into the air, catching them again.

Paimon gasps. “How did you get so many?!”

“Oh, you know.” He licks his lips, making them shine in the bright morning sun. “I’m good at my job.”

“Maybe Paimon can become a Knight too.”

“Ah, but think, surely an archon's job is appreciated more than the thankless tasks of a Knight.”

The nearby café patrons gasp, hands exchanging quick bets over the price of drinks, levied while the team wandered in moments ago. To them, archons are a part of everyday life, and though they choose to worship Rex Lapis, or at least many of them do in some regard, they acknowledge that more than The Seven rulers exist.

One older lady grins mischievously, eyes peeking over the top of her fan. She’s an informant to the Young Lord Xingqiu, sending the author inspiration for his new books. A young Knight serving his elegant lady is a juicy plotline.

And what’s more, by learning who Kaeya is, she just won a bet against her lunchmate.

Kaeya grins down at Lumine, eye twinkling.

"You're impressive," she murmurs quietly.

Satisfied, he saunters off to relinquish aid from the next unwary docksman.

“Paimon still doesn’t know how he got someone to do work for us, and got paid doing it. And he’ll get paid by the Knights for doing it!”

“Yes, perhaps I could learn a thing or two,” Zhongli is saying, his eyes wide.

It’s been a long time since he’s met a man like that.

“What are you up to?”

Kazuha’s fervent whisper shocks Rosaria, whose clawed nails dig into the rock she’s holding on to. Her polearm materializes in hand, sliding under his chin before she registers who the man is.

“Tck. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m used to it. So, who are we shadowing?” If he had a tail, she’s sure it would be wagging. The man is grinning, eyes bright.

Rosaria stares at the man, who is clearly unhinged, for a moment, feeling her heart speed up. She slowly dissolves the polearm. “Aren’t you worried that I just threatened you? I could have killed you?”

“Yeah, I’m not worried.”

“You’re not speaking in poems either.”

He gives a little sigh, his smile soft. “Miss, your tales are as numerous as the clouds are scaled before sweet summer rain hits the sidewalk.”

“And what’s that mean?”

“That I’m curious about our little trip here.”

“Hmph. I’m on ‘watch-Childe’ duty.”

“And Amber?”

“Busy at the crafting table. She’ll be there all day.”

“Oh,” he flicks a coin out of somewhere on his person, staring at the Silver Insignia. “Is she getting these?”

“Yes.” Rosie swipes it out of his hand. “And these are for Kaeya.”

“Yes ma’am. So, what’s Childe up to?”

Rosaria sighs, handing over the telescope she bought from the antique shop earlier, sounding bored. “See for yourself.”

Through the scope, Childe can be seen resting at a table across from Scaramouche. He’s grinning, while the purple haired man is clearly yelling, though his words are muffled by the thick glass of the Fatui window.

“Interesting. And how long have they been doing this?”

Rosie shrugs, looking up at the sun to gauge the time, rather than a watch.

This piques Kazuha’s interest. She is like him, more used to being outdoors than relying on the kindness of strangers’ machinery.

“A couple of hours.”

“Sounds fun.” He produces a fruity skewer from archons-knows-where, holding it out, still warm. “Want one?”

Her claws close around the stem, right above his hand. “As a matter of fact, I do. Thank you, Kazuha.”

“It’s no problem.”

“And that is all of them,” Kaeya says, grinning wildly. His hand is overflowing with Mora, Paimon flitting beneath him to catch them.

“Wonderful. I will take my leave then. Please meet me tomorrow in order to discuss the next steps,” Zhongli states, wandering off into the crowd.

Kaeya can already see Amber farther down the way, shielding her eyes to peer for them among the docks.

He throws an arm around Lumine. “What do you think, dear Honorary Knight?” He pinches her cheek. “You don’t mind your Captain flirting with a few dockmen in order to get you some extra Mora, do you?”

“First off, I don’t think you flirted,” she says, though her words are a bit muffled. She pulls her cheek away, though his cool fingers feel wonderful in the heat, sticking her tongue out at him.

He mirrors the action, joyous as ever at having a whole day off with her.

“Second, I noticed they paid you.” She gives him a happy little grin, impressed.

“Well, they’re all employees of Liyue." Kaeya nearly giggles, delighted with her reaction. "I gave them information on upcoming jobs, and trends in the market.”

“So why did the first one leave with red cheeks?” Paimon flits over in front of them, dumping the coins into Lumine’s inventory, for sorting between the teammates later.

Lumine leans down to pet one of the dogs, his ears shaking merrily.

“Oh, I flirted with that one,” Kaeya says shamelessly, sliding his arm from her shoulders. “He had nice eyes.”

“Oh, really?” Lumine scratches the dog's head, standing again.

“Yes,” he grins brightly, “are you jealous?”

“Not even a little bit,” Lumine says.

“Oh? Come on Honorary Knight, I could offer him a position. Why, they would even make a nickname for him based off of those irises!”

“Good, he would be celebrated and you would have one additional supporter.” She pokes him in the chest, carefully over his shirt. “Why would I be bothered by someone finding you beautiful?”

And with that, leaving Kaeya sputtering in the middle of the street while Paimon tugs on his scarf to get him to move, Lumine walks off towards Amber.

The lady in the cafe grins, by this point her entire meal being paid for by bets she placed on the handsome young man, and his companion.

“I win,” the dame says, rising from her seat.

Chapter Text

“So this is the beach,” Amber says, staring out at the water for a moment, hands on her hips. Waves crash the shoreline, the only obvious sound. Her smile is plastered on her bored face. “Yup. It’s a beach!”

"Forgive her," Rosaria mumbles to Kazuha, who's snorting into his fist, trying to hide his laughter. "She grew up swinging between Mondstadt's lake, and here. She's seen it all before."

"Yup! I grew up here!" Amber's eyes are absolutely dead. "And we're here in a storm."

“Oh hush, I’m sure we can find something to do,” Rosaria says, eyeing the nearby grasses, hoping an enemy leaps up from the ground. They rustle and her shoulders rotate back in anticipation, but it's just the wind.

“Why are we here again?” Kazuha leans in, quiet. “Aren’t we supposed to watch Childe?”

“If he’s not doing anything,” Kaeya says, wringing out the bottom of his shirt into the sea, his scarf tucked safely away in his inventory where the fur can’t get wet, “then there’s no point in wasting a good day off.”

Lumine quickly looks away from smooth hips, occupying herself with wringing out her own dress.

Thankfully, Kazuha catches on and loudly continues his conversation with Kaeya, red eyes wide. The storm doesn't bother him much, not when he's seen worse at sea. He's absolutely delighted to witness his team's reactions. "Captain, why did you bring us here?"

"I just figure it's a place most of us haven't explored," Kaeya says.

"And you couldn't bring us on a day it wasn't raining?" Amber is grumbling, pouting by this point. "I can't show you guys any cool water tricks if my fire will just go out."

"I didn't know it would rain," Kaeya says, turning back from the storm.

“Anyway, it’s raining.”

"The sky is blue," Rosaria says as a point of repetition. She glances up. "Grey."

Amber tugs her bunny ears down around her cheeks. “Why did we have to pick the beach today?”

Rosaria nods. “We could take a Waypoint somewhere else.”

“No,” Lumine says, trying to defend Kaeya's idea. The weather isn't his fault, and even if it were, she would hate to see him disappointed. “I think we should come to appreciate Liyue, if we’re going to be protecting it. We spent a day and the morning exploring the city and it’s people, but we haven’t spent too much time in the countryside.”

"Methinks she doth protest too much," Kazuha whispers.

Rosie elbows him in the side, thankful her ship is finally sailing. "We haven't spent time here aside from hunting treasure hoarders."

“Exactly," Lumine says. She glances to Kaeya to see if he's happy with this turn of events, but the poor Captain is furiously rubbing his eye.

Rosaria nods. “Alright. Are you okay with that Amber?”

The bunny is already running across the rainy beach, grabbing conches. Her attention span hit it's limit, and her mind is fully occupied. “Look at that! There’s so many over here!”

“Yeah, she’s fine,” Paimon says.

The rain quickly picks up, sheets falling onto Lumine's eyes, so that she has to tug her bangs from her lashes.

By the time she can squint enough to see forward, Paimon clinging to her hair, a decently sized wave is heading for them.

Kaeya is still rubbing his eye, water frayed across his lashes, the poor lighting rendering his spacial recognition nearly useless. He swears, pressing the heel of his hand to his face. Rosie leaps forward, grabbing his arm before a wave slams into their knees. Kaeya stumbles but doesn’t fall, and she holds fast, sticking close to his blind side, walking in the deeper section of the water so he doesn’t slip.

Lumine has been splashing through the water. She takes his other elbow gently. "Do you want me to help too?"

"Yes," Kaeya says, winding his arm fully around her shoulders, crushing her to his side. Paimon climbs onto his back, her tiny arms acting as a helmet.

"This fucking sucks," Kaeya says, completely blind with the amount of water in his eye. He shakes his head, hair slapping Lumine and Rosie in the faces. The ladies say nothing, knowing the Captain is just trying to see.

Lumine holds onto his waist, arm flush with Rosie's, so that Kaeya can let go of her long enough to wipe his eye again. Paimon lends him her sleeve, and he gives a little gasp of relief when he can see again.

Kazuha’s walking before them, his arms out, the rain peltering his bare skin. “True, but it’s so warm I doubt we’ll get sick.”

Amber runs back to the slow moving group, grinning wildly as she holds up another conch. “Look guys! I got one more! Oh shit, that’s a wave.” She flinches back, completely out of her element against the ocean.

Rosaria holds one hand out, freezing the incoming wave, which cracks from the force behind it. The ice pools down, too heavy to survive for long in the warm salt water.

Kazuha stares in shock at the pretty lady, Lumine having to poke his back to get the samurai moving once more. “Okay, remind me never to fight you guys,” he says, giggling.

“Nah,” Kaeya says, “we don’t even have to spar, with all the enemies we fight all the time.”

Amber frowns, looking out across the empty beach, though no one can see far with the rain and fog. “Are there any known enemies this way?”

“No,” Kazuha replies, “but we always have to be careful of those Fatui. And, I can’t quite tell where things are in this storm.”

“We’ll be careful. Don’t worry! You have Knights to defend you!”

“I’m quite honored.”

Paimon points ahead of them, to something large appearing through the mist created by their splashing feet. “What’s that?”

“It looks like...a house?” Amber leans forward, squinting. She tries to burn away some of the surrounding rain, but the structure is too far.

“It doesn’t look manmade,” Paimon says, clinging to Kaeya's hair for an anchor as she floats up a bit, trying to get a better view. He pouts.

“A hill?” Lumine is trying to see it as well, standing on her toes.

“Oh, the conch,” Kazuha says.

“The conch?”

“Yeah, you’ll see. I came by this way in my travels."

The rain abates slightly once they're closer, enough for Kaeya to employ Paimon's thick sleeve once more, wiping his eye free. "I can see!"

Slimes hear his happiness and leap from the sand, bouncing towards them.

Kaeya sees their movement before he can make out their shape. He laughs, freezing them easily. In a few strokes, they're destroyed. He leans down, scooping up the condensate, handing it up to Paimon to be added to later ingredients. "I know you love slime dishes."

"You're the best," Paimon says, kicking her little feet. She turns back to Lumine, whose grip on his waist is starting to release.

Rosaria lets go of Kaeya completely since he's safe. She follows Amber over to a fortune teller resting on the sand, Kazuha offering her his hand as they walk.

Kaeya gives a little chuckle, feeling Lumine's hand sliding from his waist. He has half a mind to kiss her palm, but settles for grinning down at her, too flushed from the feeling of her against his side to look at her directly. "Thanks for holding tight to me," he says, giggling. A moment later he hopes the sound is lost in the rain, and pretends she simply didn't hear it.

Lumine smiles. "I'm all too happy to help," she says.

"Well, I appreciate you escorting me here safely," he says.

The rain here is lighter, a slight drizzle, revealing the enormous shell before them.

Kaeya and Lumine stare at it, immediately say, “Conch Hotel,” and walk in.

There’s an older woman standing under the awning, speaking softly.

Kaeya watches as Lumine steps forward, asking her about her life.

Granny Chu explains that she’s speaking to the voice of her husband. They grew up together in the same village, working on the sea.

He smiles at the sweet story, thinking that perhaps her husband is in the back of the shop. But when Kaeya walks past Granny Chu, there’s nothing in there except boxes.

He freezes in place, a sick feeling covering him. As if the mist clinging to his arms is full of ghosts.

Granny Chu sniffs, explaining to Lumine that her and her husband went out to the sea one day, when a storm came.

Goosebumps break out along his skin. Rain patters the roof of the conch, though it’s a dull sound, and outside the storm rages, much like it must have that day.

A moment ago, they were playing in the water, walking along easily. Everything was fine. Now Kaeya finds himself thankful for being able to hold back his shudder as the story wanes on.

Granny Chu describes her last moments with her husband, who saved her life by lashing her to the wreckage of their ship, which kept her afloat. He probably only had rope for one of them, or perhaps his strength was failing him and he could only hold on for so long.

Either way, his decision to save her, to send her off hoping that she would survive, left him not knowing if she would make it. And likely, he did not.

Kaeya's jaw trembles. He turns around, the inside of the conch dry enough that he has a clear view of Lumine, over Granny Chu's shoulder.

Her golden eyes are wide, tears brimming along the bottom. She's frozen in place, swallowing hard. He feels his heart clench, but Lumine steadily asks Granny Chu what the legend is. She wipes her tears from her face with her wrist, as if it’s nothing more than rain slipping over the conch shell, onto her head.

Granny Chu admits that he’s likely gone, but says that she came here to hear him, then warns them to be careful.

Be careful, be careful, be careful.

When Kaeya and Lumine exit the conch, they both tilt their heads up to the rain for a moment.

He sets an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in to his side.

“It must hurt to lift your arm that high,” Lumine says, trembling. Her Captain's shoulder is injured after all. Any sort of movement must cause him pain.

“Yeah,” is all he can manage. He squeezes her tighter, unwilling to let her go for a second.

His palms can imagine the feeling of rope. The fear in having to lash someone he loves to some floating bit of broken hope.

He looks up, blind for a moment staring into the dense fog, and closes his eye.

Lumine is warm against him.

Without her, all he would have to direct him would be the sand beneath his feet, and the Vision on his hip.

Something unsteady and foreign, and an unwanted gift from an unknown source. Whether Tsaritsa or Celestia, it can’t be a source that truly loves him.

Kaeya looks down, opening his eye, and for a second, when all he can see is rain, panic overtakes him.

Lightning flashes, the brilliance of it scalding his eye, not truly burning but certainly feeling terrifying. "Earlier, the storm was rainy, not thundering." Kaeya gasps, his tongue suddenly thick and dry.

"Not a fan?" Her voice is quiet.

"No," he forces out, thoughts filling his mind, images of Diluc crying, of lightning flashing, of his father walking away.

His arm trembles against Lumine’s back, torn between wanting to push her away, and needing her closer. Between saving her from destruction, as he should do for anyone he loves, and pulling her close so that he's not alone.

"May I hold you?"

Her voice is soft, and Kaeya freezes for a moment, his shoulders tense. He looks to her, heart pounding. He always tells himself he likes the rain. That it’s fine. That there’s nothing terrifying about it anymore, as an adult.

But the lightning is not something he missed much.

He sucks in a low breath, pressing his face to the top of her head. "Please do."

“All of that, to hear his last words,” Paimon says, sniffling.

The other team members wander over, their faces worried, and subdued. The fortune teller sent them, having heard Granny Chu’s story a thousand times.

None of them look remotely okay.

Kaeya tries to think of a way to comfort his team. He is, after all, the Captain. “That was a very poignant story, wasn’t it? To think, that she would choose to live out here, just to hear the last words he spoke.”

Lumine clutches his shirt, for a moment trying to hold back the emotions which threaten to overwhelm her. Surely, I’ve dealt with worse. Surely, I don’t need to cry.

But that’s not quite how it works.

She leans forward slowly, the way a tree falls without wanting to, head resting on Kaeya’s chest, fingers digging into his shirt.

“That,” she says, “is the saddest thing I’ve heard in a long time.”

Lumine has traveled for countless centuries. She's been alive to see stars rise and fall. She's lived like a queen, like a shining star, like a last hope, as a hero. She's seen many tragedies.

But losing someone and not knowing if they'll make it?

Kaeya places a hand on her wet cheek, but he can’t tell if she’s crying of if it’s the rain. It’s only when warm tears slide across his cooled skin that he can tell the difference.

He strokes her cheek, Lumine’s fingers resting on his wrist. She works hard to keep her shoulders steady, so that she won’t look weak.

"I hate that," Kazuha says, wiping his nose. He looks away, out to the water. Perhaps it's a sort of comfort to him.

“It’ll be okay,” Kaeya says, because he doesn’t really know how to make any of them feel better.

He knows how to make people feel better in taverns, when they’re drunk. When he can mess up and try again tomorrow. When his reputation and beauty are enough to render all of his words meaningful.

But here, none of his words seem good enough. They dry on his mouth, never making it to his mist-covered lips. Sounding wrong, and insufficient, to help the grief which is welling up out of his friends.

And the other words he wants to say, the ‘dear’ and ‘sweetheart’ and ‘I’m always here for you’ can’t be spoken. They’re locked behind ice, and it’s not the right time, and he never thought to learn the phrases inbetween friendship and declared devotion.

Kaeya snaps to his senses, imagining for a moment that he’s speaking to Jean. “Lumine. Guys. I know. This time it wasn’t okay. It didn’t work out well.”

“He died,” his traveler says, her voice barely a whisper. “Saving her.”

“I know. And he did a good job. She’s alive. He kept her alive.”

"He did," Kazuha says. Amber has her face pressed onto Rosaria's shoulder, crying.

Lumine shakes her head. “It’s dumb, why couldn’t they both make it back?”

“There probably wasn’t enough rope, or perhaps enough driftwood," Kaeya says.

“He didn’t even know if she would make it back.”

Kaeya hopes she doesn’t look up, so that she won’t see his tears.

One idea keeps pressing his mind, and all at once he can’t hold it back.

The overwhelming realization that, if he and Lumine were stuck in the same situation, of course he would lash her to driftwood and send her off.

He wouldn’t hesitate.

And as her shoulders shake so hard he can feel her trembling in his ribs, Kaeya is quite sure she’s thinking the same.

He doesn’t have time to pull his coat off and wind it around Lumine, though she’s pressed against his wet shirt, and shivering. The mist thickens around them.

“Are you okay?” Amber, one of her oldest friends here, wipes her eyes frantically, trying to pull herself together.

"Let's...get out of the storm," Rosaria says.

"Yeah," Kazuha and Paimon say.

Mostly silently, the group follows the nun, around the Conch Hotel, across the sand until the rain falls away. They end up on land once more, staring at a decrepit house and a few sparse trees.

Rosaria and Kazuha, the newest members, take a hint and wander off together to burn some steam off chopping wood for a fire. Lots of wood. So much they could sell it.

Lumine is still crying, pressed up against Kaeya.

“Hey, it’s okay! It’s okay.” Amber’s crying too, but she doesn’t really want to be hugged, standing beside them. She shakes her head at Kaeya when he opens his arm to her.

“It’s not,” Lumine says. “It’s bad enough that they got separated.”

Paimon’s gaze becomes very dark. "Oh, no, Lumi."

Amber and Kaeya exchange a glance, Amber looking back to Lumine, holding her shoulders gently. That’s what this is about.

“But he got hurt trying to save her," Lumine says, pressing her hand to her mouth to try and stem the way her voice breaks.

Kaeya deflates, kicking himself for not realizing it sooner. Asking her brother how they became separated isn’t a kind topic, but it’s safe to assume it wouldn’t be anything good.

He still remembers the look on Addy's face, when he wasn't allowed to be the Young Master anymore. When he left the Winery. The righteous anger in her eyes, and the way he could hear her screaming at Diluc through the closed windows.

He can imagine Albedo destroying Mondstadt if anything happened to Klee.

“People go to great lengths to save someone that they love,” he says.

Lumine nods. “But she stayed for him. And never gave up, not even to find him again. Just to hear his voice. Just...something he left behind.”

And she doesn’t have anything.

Paimon’s eyes rove her quickly, looking for anything that might have been Aether’s. Maybe...her scarf? But all of Lumine’s outfit looks so put-together, from the flowers to her boots. None of it seems to be someone else’s.

Kaeya’s thinking much the same. So they didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye.

Lumine is just picturing the last moment she saw Aether, when he was crushed by the unknown archon’s power.

When she moved out of the way, and he wasn't able to. When he was so determined to save her, and always rushing in to fight things head on to protect her, and always getting into fights he couldn't handle.

She survived, but that doesn’t mean he did, or that he’s uninjured.

She’s sure she would know if he were dead, that her heart would tear in a way she couldn’t mend for a hundred millennia, but still. Still!

Just like Granny Chu, she would always be waiting for his last words. For his last thoughts. For a story of how he lived his life, and of how his final moments were, and if he was scared when he died, which her poor husband must have been.

Grief twists in Lumine's heart, the grief of being separated from family, the fear of not knowing what's to come, and the knowledge that she's leading her team against something that she and her brother couldn't beat at their full power.

What am I doing? Goosebumps break out on her arms, and Lumine hears Kaeya's heartbeat, strong under her cheek.

What am I guiding him towards?

"But," Kaeya says, and his voice is soft. Pleasant. A stream in the middle of a battlefield, still moving. "she followed him out to the seas willingly that day."

"They thought that would have fun," Amber says, sniffling.

"True. But they knew of the dangers," Kaeya reminds them. "She didn't want him to be alone out there, so she went with him. At least they had that morning before the night."

Lumine's spine stiffens.

The morning before the night.

That's it then.

That's the moment that she decides, that if she's going to go up against something awful, that if she finds her brother and he's against something too strong for her friends, that she'll leave them behind. That she'll leap into the storm, and trust that they find their ways home.

It's the only way to protect them.

But grief has a funny way of gripping her peace and demanding attention. Her shoulders hunch again, a sob caught in her throat. She swallows it down. “She waited just to hear the last thing he said to her. Just for a chance to hear him again.”

What happens if they wait for me? Am I strong enough to get home?

Is Aether ever going to come home to me?

Well, Amber can understand waiting for someone. She throws her arms around Lumine’s neck, and this time, she’s crying as well.

“I feel the same about my grandfather,” Amber admits. “He’s the reason I became an Outrider. I’m doing the same as Granny Chu, just...waiting for some piece of news. Hoping I’ll find a trace of him.”

Lumine nods, holding her arm. “You understand.”

Kaeya has to look away, cheek pressed to the top of Lumine’s head. Waiting for news of those who left is not always...to know if they're safe.

Sometimes it's to know what their plans are.

“But...I have a place to go back to, where my grandfather was." Amber sniffles. "You know, it’s the office upstairs, next to Kaeya’s. Mine now. I can always walk in, and remember him being there. But...you’re not from here.”

Lumine shakes her head.

“So there’s...no place for you to go back to. So you have to wander, and search for your brother.”

Kaeya’s heart breaks, his arms tightening around Lumine’s waist.

Amber lost her grandfather.

Lumine lost her brother.

And somewhere far away, whether a decade or some centuries, he lost his family. His country.

His duty.

His hope.

His eyes look, for one blistering second, almost dull.

Back in Mondstadt, Diluc frowns, giving a shuddering sigh. He’s leaning over his desk, red hair spilling down over his shoulder, hands braced.

Suddenly, the redhead feels as if he can’t breathe. Something is wrong.

He tugs the loose tie out from his hair, throwing it back up, frustrated. He takes another deep breath, and then another.

He can’t calm down.

Diluc shoves open the window, looking out.

All’s quiet, and calm, a few birds flying ahead in the distance.

For one brief moment, he wonders if there’s something he forgot to check on, but the thought refuses to materialize, too painful to be accessed.

Diluc closes the curtain, and heads outside for a walk.

“We’re going right back to Liyue,” Kaeya says.

He finally got Lumine to stop crying, and now she’s trying to subdue her hiccups while Amber holds Rosaria’s ice cubes under her eyes to quell swelling.

Lumine’s cheeks aren’t quite dry, still glistening in the sun, which is shyly peeking out to check the damage after the latest storm.

Amber, who holds onto the hope of finding her grandfather again, has already recovered. She’s always been like this though, as most Pyro users are. They’re able to move on to what needs to be done, rather than dwelling on the past.

Paimon frowns. “You’re much better at that than Master Diluc.”

“That guy? I have way more control than him,” Amber says. “I may not be a prodigy, and I’m warmer than Kaeya certainly, but I’m not so hotheaded to melt these too fast.” She drops one immediately. “Oops.”

Rosaria hands over another cube wordlessly.

“Thanks.”

“Well,” Kazuha says, wiping his eyes. The team has become so close that seeing Lumine’s puffy gaze and pout is making him sad. “At least we became closer, right guys?”

Rosaria grips his shoulder, holding an ice cube to his mouth, then popping it in when he opens up. “Yup, we’re better friends now.”

Crunch.

“Which means we can go have fun somewhere that isn’t a depressing beach.”

Crunch.

“Isn’t that what I first said?” Amber pouts.

Crunch.

“Paimon wants ice.”

Rosaria hands her some as well.

Kaeya sighs, rubbing his temple. He can already feel a headache coming on. “Come on, let’s go...commission a kite or something. Or you know what?”

“We can find a job to do,” Kazuha says, mumbling it around his snack. It worked, he’s not crying anymore.

Kaeya eyes Rosie for a moment. That’s a trick used on children!

“Exactly,” the Captain says, a bounce returning to his step. Amber tosses the ice cubes into the grass beside them, taking Lumine’s hand. “We’re going to head off into the land of Liyue on a quest, and this is going to help us learn more about the people, and appreciate the land, and it’s productive.”

Paimon checks the time. “But isn’t Zhongli waiting on us?”

“Fuck him. I gave him some extra cash, so he’ll be fine for awhile.”

Amber sighs, holding out a familiar jar. “Okay Captain Cuss, want to throw some extra change in the Klee Fund?”

Kaeya eyes it for one second, thinking of the extra Mora he got this morning. He has some to spare.

Lumine notices the look on his face and lets out a little laugh, wiping her leaking eyes.

Without hesitation, Kaeya says, “Fuck.”

Chapter Text

It’s been a rough couple of hours for the Captain. Lumine’s crying eventually made Kazuha break out in tears. Amber tried to console him with fire in her palm in the shape of animals – a trick she learned from Diluc, who as a child used the same method on her and Kaeya once, when they got lost in the woods tracking a group of hilichurls.

The fire leapt into the air when Kazuha sneezed, catching on the awning of the half-destroyed hut they were seated beneath.

Rosaria, with quick-thinking, lobbed some ice at it, the same method which Kaeya had begged her to perform back when they were trying to get the Anemoculus outside of Dragonspine’s base camp.

Kaeya had congratulated her on an excellent performance, thinking the crackling, groaning sound they were hearing was the ice settling.

And then the weight of it made the whole wooden structure collapse, kicking up dust which Lumine cleared out of the way.

“What?!” Amber had jumped up, waving her hand in front of her face, using one hand to hold Kazuha’s scarf before his face.

Rosie had jumped far away, ready to attack.

“How could it collapse from that?! Not from a whole rainstorm, but from some ice?!”

Kazuha laughed. “I don’t know if the rain storm reached this far, it’s fairly dry here.”

“Oh good point.”

But Kaeya was busy looking across the water, to where someone on the balcony was watching them destroy property in the country of contracts and duty.

“We should leave,” he said, “like right now,” pressing on their backs to steer them clear.

Overhead, a falcon cawed loudly, and he groaned, already knowing Jean would receive a full report on this instance.

He stuck his tongue out at Diluc’s bird, hoping she would go back and report that to the brooding redhead.

And then, while climbing the hill and walking backwards, he was attacked by a mitachurl.

He saw the flash of it moving in the reflection of Rosie’s claws, so he teleported out of the way.

But as he landed, he saw Lumine’s face, etched in horror at the thought of losing him. Especially so soon after Granny Chu’s story.

Amber evidently had the same thought, lodging such a strong blast to the mitachurl, that by the time Kaeya had hopped backwards, the fire was overtaking the shield.

And there was Kazuha, of course, taking personal offense to the attack, leaping into the air so that the fire caught on the surrounding grass.

Where Kaeya was standing.

He had to try and put the fires out hurriedly, and then stab the mitachurl before it hurt any of his friends, all while Rosaria watched out for incoming enemies.

Lumine was upset after that, so he held her hand for awhile, but had to let go soon after to get ready for Liyue.

He wasn’t having the best day.

So by the time they make it to the Liyuean gates, he’s throwing his arm around Lumine’s shoulders, waving the others in a not-so-subtle, clearly-threatened hint to go find a tree to climb.

And, happily, the two of them cross the bridge into Liyue.

“Let’s go check out those kites,” Kaeya says. “Perhaps we can order one for one of the upcoming festivities.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Lumine thinks for a moment, unused to not having Paimon’s thoughts running for the both of them. The pixie can get away with saying things that a normal person cannot.

“So,” she says, “what type of kite would you like to get?”

“Oh that’s right, Zhongli was able to choose different styles. Perhaps...hm, shall we do something from Mondstadt?”

Or no, since you’re not really from there, and I didn’t used to be?

Lumine smiles. “Yes, since it shows that it’ll always be a type of home for us to return to.”

He wonders then if she’s guessed who he is, or what he is, or that he can’t return home.

“It is, isn’t it?”

Suddenly, Kaeya cannot feel the warmth of her back, only the cold chill in his own bones.

“But I think, we should make it more like you,” she says, one of those lines that catches him off guard, just in the way he likes.

“Oh?”

“Of course. A kite is supposed to be meaningful.”

“Do you find that much meaning in me?”

Lumine stares at him for a moment as they walk through the streets, as if reading him. “You’re my Captain,” she says, as if it’s the most simple and obvious answer in the world.

If only Captain was a synonym for love, or perhaps for destiny. No, if it were, the archons would surely rip it out of the sky, and stomp it beneath their feet. There’s no love left for those who want it, nor for those who beg for it.

“That I am, dear Lumine.”

But there’s a future for those who fight for it.

Granny Shan’s gaze tells him that she’s quite the businesswoman. She has the same shrewd eyes of Elzer, who kept a legacy running for years without either master.

“Oh, are you two a couple? I know just what to make you. And where do you hail from?”

Kaeya’s mouth feels dry.

“Mondstadt,” Lumine says, with a bright smile and an easy step.

“Oh, the city of freedom! Birds, then, birds it is.” Granny Shan smiles at Kaeya in particular. “That’ll suit you then. I’ll have your kite ready in a few days, please be back to pick it up.”

“We will!”

They turn to leave, almost bumping into a Manager who’s freshly out of work.

“And, we got ourselves a commission!”

Kaeya grins loudly, whipping his scarf around in a circle, calling on the attention of his teammates sitting by the pools, along with the people in the vicinity. A bit of ice is still melting, Rosaria staring him down, daring the flamboyant mess of a man to ask her a single question.

He may be overacting to keep their mood up, but he’s not about to argue with her.

He sticks his tongue out.

“Oh?” Amber jumps up.

Paimon grins. “What did you get?”

“The manager asked us to check out a chasm,” Lumine replies, handing the commission papers over to her favorite pixie.

“Let’s see here...not too far. Lots of monsters! Wait, isn’t Zhongli waiting on us?”

Kaeya shrugs nonchalantly.

“Yeah,” Lumine says, “but we’re a bit upset, and people need to work to eat. These guys are all out of work right now.”

“Good point.”

“I think I said it before,” Kaeya mentions, “but I gave him enough money to hold him over for a couple of days.”

“Still. I do feel bad about the Rite of Parting being pushed off another day,” Rosaria says.

“Not to sound rude,” Lumine says, “but if we have to forgo the tasks for the dead in order to care for the living, so be it. He should find someone else if it’s that pressing. Come on. We need to figure out what’s going on at this chasm.”

“How about this,” Kaeya says. “Loathe as I am to split off from you, the adepti seemed particularly concerned about this Rite of Parting. Should their support of you falter, we could all find ourselves writing letters to Master Jean via Messenger bird, begging for our release from prison.”

Paimon pouts. “Where do we even get a messenger bird?”

Everyone looks to her, silently.

After a second Paimon huffs, hands on her hips. “Oh.”

“Exactly,” Kaeya says. “We have 5 capable fighters here, so I believe it’s time we split up. Myself and Kazuha should be more than enough to handle the fight. You ladies can head off and help Mister Zhongli.”

“Hold on,” Paimon says, frowning. “We would have 4 fighters. Teams are 3 or 4 people. Take Amber with you.”

“Thank the archons. I like the city but I need to get outside,” Amber says. “We need to hunt or we can only eat at restaurants for the next few days.”

“Sounds good to Paimon!”

“How’s that?” Kaeya looks down to Lumine, needing her approval. Her assent.

But she merely nods to him once before turning and walking away.

He stares after her, feeling empty inside.

Kaeya blinks rapidly, wondering if perhaps he’s seeing this wrong. Maybe rain is still lodged in his eye, after the attack?

Did I say something wrong?

But Lumine is quickly walking away, and it’s a damn curse that her hair is so perfectly bright that she isn’t lost in the crowd quickly, so that he can see her walking from him without a care.

“Well that was cold,” Rosie says.

“Don’t mind her,” Paimon says. “She’s not too sure how to, you know, make people feel better.”

“She’s shattering,” Kaeya says. “Take good care of her, Rosie.” Then he paints a smile back on his face, clapping a hand onto Kazuha’s back. Amber is already far ahead of them. “Come on, time to get to work.”

Clearing out the chasm is an easy task for the Cavalry Captain.

“Sir? Kaeya?”

He turns back, to see Kazuha standing there, admiring him. Kaeya’s scarf is around the man’s neck, covering the red marks lining up the side of his throat, courtesy of Rosaria. “Yes?”

Kazuha’s eyes seem to reflect the light, as he steps closer. Behind him, Amber gives a shout, running off after the prey she successfully got. “You’re hurting, aren’t you Captain?”

Kaeya stares for a moment. His lips try to close, but they’ve gone too numb for him to properly feel. He opens his hand, staring at it for a second. He expects himself to tremble, or to cry. But instead he smiles, the same way he always has. Why is it, that when things go so wrong, he can only split his lips apart and show his teeth? In situations that would make other people cry, there I am, smiling. Always fucking smiling.

“I’m fine, Kazuha.”

He can almost hear Kazuha’s next words, imagining them to be a kind ‘I know you’re not’.

“That’s bullshit.”

Kaeya’s eye flicks up to his friend’s. Kazuha is leaning closer, peering up at him with the wisdom of a man who’s been forced to wander for a long time. Kaeya thinks for a moment how opposite their lives have been.

Kazuha was born to fight, into a strong family. But he lost everything, forced to wander the plains, and that let him learn poetry to become kind and gentle. Kaeya on the other hand was born gentle, and scared of everything. But he joined a strong family, learning to fight. His poetry became just another way to keep his blade sharp.

“You’re not alright,” Kazuha says.

“I don’t know why I’m sad,” Kaeya admits. A moment later he regrets it, but the words are there, hanging between them in the air. Unable to be frozen, or burnt away. His head tilts. “Do you?”

“Of course.” Kazuha heaves a breath. “To say it plainly, Lumine seems to be pulling away from you.”

Kaeya feels the breath on his lips turn icy. It hurts.

“But she’s not.” Kazuha’s eyes are blazing, and he looks so much like Diluc for a moment, his mouth pouting, that Kaeya laughs.

“Oh, come now. Surely, she’ll have to move on eventually.”

“Who cares?”

Kaeya stops moving, staring down at Kazuha. At this man who had to leave his home one day.

“You’re the best she has right now. She’s terrified of losing you. And she’s angry over being asked to do small tasks when her brother is in trouble, when the people of Liyue need help. Imagine putting together a funeral for a god you never met when you don’t know if your brother is alive or dead, or trapped somewhere.”

Kazuha loses his breath for a moment. “She’s the only one who can do the large things. She’s the hero of Mondstadt. She’s the savior everyone depends on. But she grew up wanting to do the small ones.”

“She wants to do everything,” Kaeya says, and his lips are still curling but he’s not smiling. It’s so plain to see.

Lumine is so much larger than a silly Knight, and none of this is about him. This is about her, this is about her pain, her duties, her responsibility to her family.

Stop being selfish.

“Exactly. So she needs you to pick up the slack. But you can’t protect her if you’re not next to her. You want to protect her, not run errands,” Kazuha says.

“It does feel a bit like being a Knight, minus the pay,” Kaeya admits. "It's what I'm good at."

“And you became a Knight to protect someone else,” Kazuha says, a bit too close to the truth.

Kaeya looks down to him, suddenly glad they’re on the same side. “You’re perceptive, aren’t you?”

“I care about you,” Kazuha says, in earnest. “You’re an important man, and I’ve learned a lot from you. I don’t want to see you run off to fight god, only to never come home.”

What a way to word it. “What an interesting turn of phrase. What are you asking from me?”

“Protect Lumine,” Kazuha says. “Let’s get stronger while we have the day off. We’ll fight treasure hoarders, and anything else, in order to get the materials we need.”

“So, you’re saying to disobey the ladies, even though we’re injured?”

“Of course,” Kazuha says. “I heard from Zhongli we’ll be stopping by the pharmacy later anyways. We can grab anything we need there.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m afraid their prices are more than we have to offer.”

“I see. Then, all the more reason to pick up our own supplies,” Kazuha says, his eyes flashing.

“Hmph.” Kaeya watches him for a moment, before sighing. “Very well. You have a sound mind, Kazuha,” he says, offering the softest smile he can muster. Kazuha’s warm grin, and hand squeezing his arm reassuringly, tell him that he doesn’t even need to try. The friendship is already set in stone. “Come to me if ever your thoughts begin to cause you pain.”

“Same to you,” Kazuha says.

Kaeya laughs, leaping backwards, his teleport pulling him out of the range of the treasure hoarder. The man before him whirls, grimacing in confused anger, mask slung around his neck. The setting sun glints off of his knife as he lunges forwards, aiming for some sloppy place under Kaeya’s heart.

The Captain takes another quick step back, his confident grin melting into an awkward smile as his boot slips on the mud of the bank.

He tumbles forwards, overcorrecting as his muscles strain to pull him backwards, out of the range of that damned knife.

He falls, crashing into the water coursing over the small cliff. Kaeya somersaults in the air, the back of the normally graceful swimmer slapping into the surface of the water.

“DUCK!” Kazuha yells across the field, trying to move closer to the Captain while fending off three men who are very, very angry that they were thrown into the air like childrens’ balls.

Amber is close too, and being a ranged fighter she would prefer not to have to do anything hand to hand. Kazuha can’t fetch Kaeya without putting her in danger, but he leans out in order to see if the Captain is okay.

Kaeya surfaces, cinematically streaming water from his mouth. He gives them a big thumbs up, eliciting a huffing sigh from Amber which catches her arrow on fire.

Amber looks to Kazuha, who grins like a demon.

A moment later, the treasure hoarders are screaming, beating the flames out desperately before disappearing into puffs of smoke.

By the time Kaeya has climbed up the cliffside, grabbing Amber’s sooty hand, inadvertently leaving clean streaks on her skin, Kazuha is bouncing up, snatching another Geoculus for Lumine.

And with that stunning win, they head off to find the rest of their team.

Chapter Text

“We have to find a cocogoat.”

Kaeya's eye widens. "Dear Honorary Knight," he begins, leaning close to her and lowering his voice, "what is a cocogoat?"

They're standing together on a bridge which is positively overflowing with doggos, which Kazuha is burying his face into the fur of, murmuring something about, "You remind me of Gorou!"

"Pfft." She makes the most adorable face, leaning up to him. "I have no idea," she says behind her hand. "But Qiqi wants one."

"Ah, the kid." He straightens. "Well, any idea where we may find this elusive creature? The goat, not the child."

It's worth feeling Lumine swat his chest. Kaeya chuckles, skipping away.

Lumine leads the team towards the giant bow wielded by the adepti.

"Paimon can't imagine why you would need a weapon this big."

"It's to protect Liyue," Lumine says, as if that explains everything.

"Yeah, but from what?"

"I don't know, let's not find out."

Lumine and Paimon head off to try and figure the damn thing out with Mr. Zhongli.

While everyone else is talking, Kaeya and Rosie have snuck off, trying to break into the armory for a chest they spotted.

“Help me lift this door,” he says, grunting.

“Get it yourself,” she says, crawling along the wall, trying to lift her arm over the top to get onto the roof.

Kazuha steps to the edge of the roof, peering down. “Hey guys, there’s no way down from here.”

“You damn grasshopper,” Rosie says, leaping back down. Kazuha gives her a cheeky grin.

Kaeya lets loose a sigh, pounding his fist on the metal barricade. “Stop flirting and help me figure out how to open this damn door.”

"Hold on one moment," Lumine says, striding over.

Kaeya steps into shadows, content to let her work at her own pace, not wanting to get in her way.

He smiles when he hears the gate to the armory open behind him, turning around from where he's kicking a stone. “She makes it look easy,” he says, the light shining in his eye for a moment as he admires her.

It’s only when Lumine turns back, waving at him, that Kaeya’s heart lifts, and Kazuha’s words come back to him.

“Come on Captain,” she calls. “Come open this treasure chest for us.”

For us. For us? For us.

A bounce in his step, Kaeya, her dearest Knight, happily complies.

The rest of the day is rather boring comparatively. At least Kaeya doesn’t get wet again, though he changes from his stiff clothes before their fateful ascent to the Jade Chamber. Kazuha holds up a blanket to obscure him from view while Lumine sorts through his clothes for something fancy. At the end of it, he's managed to get her to wear a fluffy fur scarf, in white of course, to match her dress.

Once up there, everyone is quite awed. Kazuha runs off to explore, Amber on his heels to keep the man who lived with pirates from getting into more trouble.

Kaeya, however, steps to the ledge. The wind lifts his hair, which Amber tied back into a tight ponytail earlier. His earring is jostled against his neck, the tip cold and worn. Jean is the one who rounded it out, claiming it might cut his skin if he wasn't careful.

He remembers when he bought it, shortly after Jean was named second in command. When he was Captain of the Cavalry, back when he had one.

A merchant had come through Mondstadt, handing out jewelry to anyone willing to pay with a story. Kaeya chose one of many, sitting down, weaving a magnificent tale of a prince who found a home.

At the end of the story, the merchant's eyes were full of tears. They handed over the earring, and left Kaeya with a wish. "I hope you find your home."

Now, the Captain stares down from the landing, at the rest of the city beneath him. Watching tiny versions of people walk along the pathways.

Rosaria is down there somewhere, trailing Childe. Zhongli is too, doubtless working diligently for Hu Tao, trying to get more business. Especially since he spent half the day fixing an old weapon, something he likely can't mention to potential clients.

And somewhere in Mondstadt are Kaeya’s faithful friends. Jean, who’s hopefully not working herself too hard.

Kaeya bought some sweets earlier, having them delivered to his favorite Grand Master. She’ll like the surprise, along with a handwritten note from him.

He thought about sending some to Diluc, too. Not for any particular reason. Certainly not because thinking of the Conch Shell got him thinking about family, or what it means to truly be there for someone in their rough patches.

Or what it means to be willing to sacrifice everything just to protect someone else.

A coin slips off of his thumb, almost without him thinking, twirling through the air.

A slender hand reaches up and tries to catch it, her forefinger knocking it offline. The coin flips towards the edge.

Kaeya grabs the Mora out of thin air, turning with a sly grin towards his blind side. As if he couldn’t feel the wind change, as if he couldn’t smell the unmistakable, rich perfume of flowers he hasn’t seen in ages.

Lumine, standing beside him, a twinkle in her eyes, her hands behind her back. "Sorry," she says, giggling nervously.

As if he could be upset with her for messing with his coin. "It's alright," he reassures, chuckling. He flips it again, watching her eyes watch the Mora. "Though you know, if this had landed on someone from this height, it would have killed them."

Lumine pouts. "What a lovely topic, Captain."

“As always,” he says, holding the coin under her chin to see the glow on her skin. An old fairy tale about gold under a chin comes to mind. “To what do I owe the pleasure, princess?”

Lumine melts, her eyes crinkling with delight. “I just wanted to know your thoughts.” Her voice is rather mellow tonight, and still hoarse from their earlier tears.

“I was thinking how quick people are to endanger such important places,” Kaeya says softly, his words slipping out almost without him understanding his own thoughts.

His eye widens at the implications, and he turns away lest Lumine notice the goosebumps along his arms.

Sometimes, he speaks far too candidly about her. And he’s not sure yet if that’s a good or a bad thing.

"The coin?” Lumine steps up on his good side, letting him see her even as her bangs obscure her vision of him.

Kaeya gets the urge to pull the golden strands from her lashes, to tuck them back behind her ear.

His begins to reach out, a curious fear tugging at his heart, at the thought of her falling.

“Step back a bit, will you?”

“I have a glider,” Lumine says confidently, her hands behind her back, but she obliges, taking a couple steps back from the ledge.

Kaeya follows, sighing through his nose so the sound isn’t so obtrusive.

Of course, to Lumine, nothing he does really ever is obnoxious so much as adorable.

"The coin," he lies, pain clear on his face.

“I see." Lumine swallows hard, points out at the city. "There, see? We can see the lanterns quite nicely.”

It isn’t until Kaeya smiles, looking to Lumine’s haunted eyes, that he realizes perhaps he is the one who needed to step back.

“I want to talk to the people here,” Lumine says.

"Feel free. Anyone here would be honored to speak with the Honorary Knight, the Savior of Mondstadt."

She looks up at him quite pointedly, hands clasped behind his back. It makes him nervous, and he sets an arm around her neck, pulling her close. "Come now, let's go see these people. Can't let you walk around without a Knight escorting you."

"Not when you're here," she says quietly.

So Kaeya joins her, listening to the guards, listening to them flirt, wondering how in his mind he ended up here. He grins at all of their compliments thrown towards Lumine though, helping to refine each one.

“You must be quite strong,” one says to Lumine.

“She’s wonderful,” Kaeya says, his chest swelling with pride. “You should see her in action. Everywhere she goes, hilichurls fear her.”

“I’m not sure about that,” Paimon says with a giggle. “If they did, we would be out of a job!”

“I’ve heard of someone like that,” the guard says. “They say evil spirits are terrified of him, so they avoid him at all costs! He makes good money though, and it sounds like an easy job!”

Paimon gasps happily. “We need to learn that!”

“What about sparring? Do you ever spar?” The guard’s brown eyes are warm, reflecting the stars.

Lumine smiles back, loving being able to talk to people normally. It’s easier, for her, in the quiet peace of the Jade Chamber. “Yes, I do. Would you like to join sometime?”

“If I can get time off,” the guard says.

Kaeya is happy for her. But in the lonely kind of happiness that one feels when they want their friends to be happy, yet see them all hanging out together and not inviting him.

“Kaeya’s one of the best fighters I know,” Lumine says with a smile. “He’s always good at finding strengths in someone’s skill, you know?”

“That’s true! He makes for a great instructor,” Paimon says.

“Really? Then, I would be honored to learn under you sometime.” The guard turns that glamorous smile towards Kaeya, and for a moment, the Captain doesn’t feel so cold.

“What are you doing?!” Paimon’s angry hiss can be heard throughout the chamber. “You’re going to get caught, and then you’re going to get into huge trouble!”

Kaeya watches one of the lower balconies, where Ningguang simply pulls the curtains shut. He snickers, turning away. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Lady Ningguang gave us free rein.”

Paimon points right at him. “You’re lying!”

Wow, the pixie figured it out faster than Diluc. If only he had a traveling companion. Kaeya chuckles, fully gripping the roof above him before realizing that he was the traveling companion.

His eye widens and he nearly lets go, but Kazuha and Lumine grab his wrists, yanking him up to join them. Amber huffs, setting Paimon on her shoulders. "Are you trying to die?!"

"Sorry, sorry," Kaeya says, brushing himself off.

She just lifts her arms into the air, waiting to be pulled up after everyone else. Kaeya crouches, taking her forearm to tug her up, one handed. When he glances up, the sun is in his eye, and as he stands, Lumine is glancing away, her tongue pressed to her cheek.

Kaeya blushes red, wondering if she was looking, perchance, at him.

“One more roof to go,” Kazuha says, looking up. “I want to climb to the top.” Wind gathers under him and he leaps up, fingers barely grabbing the edge. Kaeya reaches up, straining to reach Kazuha’s feet in order to give the samurai a boost.

“Made it,” Kazuha grunts, his feet disappearing over the edge. Then his head pops into view, crimson eyes bright. “It’s so beautiful up here,” he says.

“Me next!” Lumine reaches up, taking a deep breath, full of excitement.

Kaeya blinks in surprise for a moment. Ever since yesterday, she’s seemed a bit...upset? Dimmer, than normal? Like nothing could cheer her up.

Yet today, high up in the sky, she’s full of energy.

They spent the night in the Jade Chamber, and much of the next day, with explicit instructions that they could enjoy it to their leisure. Which is how Kaeya has found himself up here, playing around with everyone while Kazuha climbs to the very top of the building, up onto the lightning rod decoration at the top.

"Please don't fall," Kaeya says wryly, grimacing at the very thought.

"The wind knows me," Kazuha says, dropping his voice, only to giggle over at them.

Kaeya makes a face. "I'm more concerned with you reenacting some of the Inazuman torture methods I've heard of."

Kazuha laughs, bending double, his face contorted. "Captain."

"Well! You don't want that thing...anywhere," Kaeya says, sticking his tongue out.

"Thank you for that mental image, Captain," Amber says drily. When Kazuha jumps down, Lumine is the next one up, with everyone snapping her picture. Then Amber, with Paimon on her shoulders. And finally, it's his turn.

"Go on, Kaeya!" Amber grins up at him, fitting her hands together. "I'll help you up!"

He steps onto her hands, and then up to the rod, grabbing it with both hands, toes straining as he climbs up.

At the top, Kaeya teleports, landing on the very top.

"He makes it look easy," Amber complains, hands on her hips.

"That's for sure," Paimon says. "Go Kaeya!!"

"Shh, we're gonna get caught!"

"No we aren't," Kazuha says, stepping back to snap a picture. Lumine grabs his sleeve, narrowly preventing him from walking off the edge of the roof.

"Maybe I should take it," she says, taking the Kamera from him. Her face scrunches in concentration as she lifts the device, facing Kaeya.

He smiles down at her, eye twinkling, admiring the sunset on her hair. His coin flips up, twirling over and over, and as the gold color shines, Lumine snaps the photo.

"I want to jump," Kaeya announces.

The team dogpiles him. Kazuha grabs his waist, Amber grabs his arm, and Lumine full-on tackles his legs out from under him, so that the Captain falls onto Amber, who catches him.

"Guys! GUYS! I meant with a glider!!"

Lumine and Amber look to each other. "Oh."

Paimon flits away, releasing Kaeya's hair, which she had bunched into her fists. "Sorry, Captain."

He's left sitting on the landing of the Jade Chamber, rubbing his head, frowning.

Kazuha clears his throat. "The sky is blue, the ocean is wine red. This evening, may we join the winds in our descent on the city of Liyue."

Kaeya pouts up at the man. "Are we going to pretend like you didn't all just tackle me?"

Kazuha turns his nose up. "Hmph."

"You said you were going to jump!" Amber sticks her tongue out at Kaeya.

"We were worried," Lumine agrees, offering the man a hand, which he takes eagerly, scrambling up to do so. When he stands, he smiles at her, all goofily.

Lumine wonders how long she can hold on.

She lets go.

"Come on," Kaeya says, stepping up to the edge. "Let's go! We have a city to see, a Rite of Parting to complete, and a ginger Fatui to fuck with!"

"Sounds good, Captain," Lumine agrees.

Kaeya jumps.

The city is beautiful. Especially when he's gliding down, admiring the view of the lit lanterns, and the reds and oranges far below him.

"This is really something," Kazuha calls out, his voice carrying on the wind.

"It is," Amber agrees, Paimon clinging to her hair to stay safe.

"It's a bit far for me to glide," Paimon says, "but it's pretty!! Paimon is grateful you guys are here to take her."

"We wouldn't leave without you," Lumine reassures, arms out wide. "I'm in a fighting mood. Let's grab some food outside of town tonight."

"You're that ready to get everything moving? We did spend a day resting, Paimon guesses that was a lot for you."

"I need to fight," Lumine says, laughing.

"That's not very Knightly of you," Amber jokes.

"Come now," Kazuha says. "Do Knights not fight?"

"Good point."

"Then it's decided," Kaeya says, grinning.

"I'm glad I have you here to agree with me," Lumine says.

Kaeya looks to her, grateful he's been flying since he was a child. The lanterns in her eyes are like stars, and surely enough to topple someone's focus.

"I adore you," he whispers, the sound lost on the wind.

"Hey!" Kaeya shouts out. "Let's land at the gate."

"Sounds like a plan," Kazuha says, grinning to himself. He, of course, heard everything.

Lumine's hairpiece is flapping in her ear so she heard almost nothing, she just follows the tilting gliders in the same direction.

Chapter Text

“That settles that,” Kaeya says, falling back on his ass. He’s breathing heavy, the wound in his shoulder aching.

“The Fatui are the culprits,” Paimon says, eyes wide.

After leaping down from the Jade Chamber, everyone gathered on the bridge. Rosie joined them, stating that she had lost sight of Childe earlier. Kaeya told her to go make sure all the citizens were safely indoors. She also dropped that she hadn’t seen Scaramouche, so the assumption is that he’s left Liyue altogether, or worse, is with Childe.

But once they came out here, to the place Lady Ningguang’s map indicated, a fight broke out. Fatui attacked, trying to protect their mock sigils.

Kaeya pants, sweat making his bangs curl. He looks over to Kazuha, who’s clutching his wounded side, wincing. The samurai pushes himself up on the wall, sitting on it a moment.

“Is it me,” Kaeya says, “or does it feel like someone’s watching us?" He can feel the scarring injury on his back, though it doesn't feel like it's opened. A small blessing he's rather happy about.

“I feel it too,” Kazuha says. He and Lumine were the largest fighters against the Fatui. In such a small space, Kaeya had trouble maneuvering, even if he held his own.

Amber looks to Lumine, brows pushed up with worry. She spent most of the fight trying to keep Paimon safe. “Lumi?”

Lumine’s grip on her sword tightens, as she looks back at the city, anger pulsating through her. She remains silent, as she always does when she's upset.

“Lumine?” Paimon flits towards her friend, worry clear on her voice. “Do we know who did this?”

But without answering, Lumine takes off for the nearest Waypoint.

They slam back to Liyue, in front of the bridge, only to find Zhongli in direct contrast with the Millelith and Fatui at the front gates.

Kaeya’s gaze grows dark. He doesn’t like the idea of anyone acting innocent while people are more than likely to be killed.

The weather, too, has changed, and Kaeya has learned from Mondstadt that that is a definite sign of nothing good happening.

"Good thing you told everyone to stay indoors," Kazuha says, eyes on the clouds.

Amber looks to the roiling skies. “That can’t be good.”

“We’ll be alright,” Kazuha reassures. “Paimon, stay back with Amber when we get there.”

“What?” Paimon looks to him, eyes wide. She grabs onto Amber’s hair, landing on the woman's shoulder. “Get where?”

“Come on,” Lumine says. Her eyes are crackling with anger. “I know where to go.”

Kaeya watches Zhongli as they walk past, seeing the way the man’s eyes follow Lumine. For one moment, the assistant’s gaze is lit up, pleased with the outcome of events.

Kaeya glowers at him, feeling the man’s eyes bore into him as he runs across the bridge, following Lumine into the dark city.

“Hold on for a moment,” Kaeya says, stopping everyone by the crafting table. “Get over here.” He holds his arms out, taking their weapons one by one and making them as strong as he can.

“What are we doing?” Amber’s voice is concerned, her head turning to look around the city. Wind is whipping her hair about her shoulders, so that it's entangling Paimon to her. Citizens are scurrying inside, worried about the impending storm. “Shouldn’t we be stopping this thing?”

“We have no idea what we’re up against,” Kaeya explains, grinning as he slides a new adjustment onto her bow. “There. She should be stronger now.” He hands it back, accepting Kazuha’s Vision to inspect the talents.

“Oh, I haven’t thought about those in a long time,” Kazuha says, leaning over to stare at the glittery figures.

“It’s alright,” Kaeya says. “To be honest, you probably didn’t have the Mora to officially strengthen them.”

“It’s a damn pain that it costs anything to get stronger,” Paimon says, her arms crossed. “Why are gods so greedy?”

“We don’t even know if gods create Visions,” Amber says, pulling on fresh bracers, courtesy of Kaeya’s inventory. They’re detailed with the Knights’ emblem. “Where did you get these?”

Kaeya sighs, wondering what he can say. “They came from a...donor,” he settles on. “The shipment arrived to the Jade Chamber yesterday.”

He hands back Kazuha’s Vision, working on his own artifacts with skilled, speeding hands. His gloves shine with refined metal.

Amber lifts her bracer to her nose, breathing deep. “Smells like the Winery,” she says simply, hinting at a time when children ran between vineyards, before running to the blacksmith’s table, where a redheaded man with a booming laugh was working on gifts.

“So interesting how well your nose works so far from home. Maybe round up those dogs, get them out of the way of the waves?” Kaeya focuses on himself, trying to strengthen his hits as much as his resolve.

Kazuha and Amber take the hint and rush off, Paimon attached to the archer. They make cute sounds for the doggies on the bridge, guiding them to higher ground, just in case.

"We should thank him," Lumine says quietly. Lightning on the horizon crackles in her eyes. "When all this is over."

"Be my guest," Kaeya says simply. "Let me know how it goes."

She tilts her head back, breathing deep to smell the salty air. "How do you think it will go?"

"We'll win," he says, eyes narrowing on her sword. It's clean, but now as strong as he'd like. He does all he can for his artifacts and hers, too. Better that Kazuha and Amber don't know how much he's spoiling the Traveler, but this is, after all, her team.

"Put a bit more into your own," she says.

"Why?" He obeys, but pouts in doing so.

"Everything for my Captain," Lumine says simply, grinning up at him. "That way, if I start to die, you can still save the day and write the reports."

"You sneaky lady. You want me to do all the paperwork?"

"And then some."

"Perhaps I should apply to the Jade Chamber."

"They only hire women."

"Pfft. Rosaria would love it," he mutters.

"She can't drink with you if she has to clock in and out."

"Good point," Kaeya says. And then, as strong as he can remember being, he looks to the crafting table. He curves his fingers to hide the trembling.

He's been in many fights. He's been in charge of other peoples' safety for a long time.

But it's still nerve wracking.

"We're ready," he says, giving Lumine a smile. He ruffles her hair. "Hang in there, Princess. We'll have a good meal when this is over."

He grins at the way Lumine's cheeks turn pink, grabbing his sword and the remainder of the Mora from the bench. He sets it into her palm, giving a soft look most people would kill for. "Let's go."

“You know they’re in trouble, yet you don’t join them?”

Diluc frowns, rubbing his sword with a handkerchief.

“You should just invite yourself,” Venti says, perched on the desk. “They thought you were joining during the Stormterror incident anyways. You missed how disappointed they looked when you didn’t stay on the team afterwards.”

Diluc rolls his eyes. “I thought Kaeya was going to stab me with an ice pick for daring to come near his little lady.”

“Oh, please.” Venti kicks his legs, a bit more forcefully than perhaps necessary, pushing plumes of air against Diluc’s bangs. "Not like you're into most women anyways," he mutters.

The heir sighs, brushing strands from his eyes. “I see you haven’t found a team yet.”

Venti giggles, leaping onto the wooden floor. “I have work to do! Things to see, people to talk to! You know, the sort!”

Diluc remains unconvinced, eyebrow quirked. “I have much the same, I suppose.”

“But you’re worried. That’s why you sent extra money, and extra weapons materials, and the such.”

Diluc sighs, staring at his reflection on the blade. “I just wanted to help. They should arrive soon anyways. My intel says the Fatui are on the move in Liyue, but I doubt they’ll move that quickly.”

“It’s not too late to join them.”

“Hmph.”

“Alrighty then.” Venti claps Diluc’s shoulder. “You did well, kid.”

"Kid?"

Venti puffs his chest out, so he can speak like a geezer. "I, the grandfather of Mond, doth sayeth kid."

"You're cut off for the evening. Not even juice."

"Damn kids these days have no respect."

"Venti."

"Sir?" Venti grins up at him, snickering. He skips over to the door, pulling it open. "Come on Diluc, we have work to do!"

Chapter Text

“I guess the exuvia really is here,” Amber says, looking from the dragon to Childe, who knocked out every guard on his way to the body.

“I’m going to kick his ass into next week,” Kaeya says, grip tightening on his hilt.

Childe has been going on and on about readying to fight Lumine. About her figuring out where the gnosis lay. About needing to do the Tsaritsa’s bidding. And about not killing the Traveler, but battling them.

Kazuha leans towards his friends, standing behind Lumine. “Did he just say this is Lumine’s fault?”

“Yeah,” Amber says.

Kaeya’s hand tightens on the hilt, his glare turning quite sour on the ginger. “Permission,” he says quietly.

“Hold on,” Lumine whispers.

Childe never breaks his stride, steadfastly ignoring everyone else as he speaks. He laughs, saying he can’t be beat. Lumine’s scoff rings out loud in the cavernous space. For a moment, her teammates hold their breath, waiting for his reaction. She rolls her eyes, arms crossed, not giving him the satisfaction even of her looking at him.

Childe’s glare tightens on them, his fingertips twitching.

“Permission,” Kaeya asks, a bit antsier. He’s still standing behind her, just by a fraction.

“Hold on,” Lumine says, lifting a hand to fend him off.

The Harbinger laughs. “You want a fight?” He steps back, lifting his bow. “Come and show me what you’ve got.”

Kaeya watches, feeling as if he’s stuck under water, as Childe slowly nocks an arrow. The bow begins to climb through the air as he pulls the string back, angling towards Lumine.

“Permission,” Kaeya says. His body tenses, ready to fling her out of the way if need be. Ice slips around his fingertips, so he can shield them if need be. He only hopes he’s strong enough to summon it in time.

Lumine watches Childe’s bow climb, ensuring it’s aiming for her and not the exuvia. “Go,” she says quietly.

Before her weapon has appeared in her hand, Kaeya and Kazuha have dashed forward.

For a moment, the Golden House fills with the sounds of Kazuha’s unhinged laughter. Time seems to slow, as Childe frowns, utterly confused. Then the air that Kazuha used to launch himself forward catches up, berating everyone’s sense.

“I’ve been waiting too long for this,” Kaeya says, slamming his blade down at Childe, two-handed for once, unafraid of the arrow the man shoots directly at his chest.

It doesn’t hit anyways, snatched away in Kazuha’s hand. The watery projectile snaps in half with the force of the wind whirling around the samurai, controlled to a terrifying degree. It neither harms Kaeya’s exposed face, nor steals his breath, and yet Childe finds himself coughing from the force.

Kaeya’s laughter rings out then. Childe is forced to block the angry blade with his bow, barely catching it before it lodges against his neck. The side of Cool Steel nicks into his shoulder and he grunts, kicking out.

But Kazuha is there, swirling the Harbinger’s own Hydro around him, redirecting it so that it slices into Childe’s clothes, trying to shake the resolve holding his weapons and arms steady.

Kaeya releases his weapon to one hand, shooting his skill into Childe’s face.

“Oh!” Childe swears, head snapping back, eyes shutting. He squints, trying to see past the ice on his lashes.

Kazuha has leapt into the air over them. He comes down, unleashing an unholy tornado on them, freezing cold.

“What the fuck,” Childe cries out. He’s on the defensive, barely holding back Kaeya’s angry slashes with both hands, and dodging Kazuha altogether.

He has a few more tries of blocking two attackers at once, and a fiery arrow that Amber shoots between everyone.

“Wow, I could use popcorn for this,” Paimon says, watching happily from the sidelines.

Lumine’s jaw drops. She hasn’t even had time to run across the full expanse of the floor yet. “Let me in!” Her blade swings back as she approaches.

Kaeya’s eye wheels back to see her, and Kazuha ducks, the two men side stepping to allow Lumine room to fit between them.

A beat up, bloody Childe is revealed to her, his nose dripping. His head lifts, snow buried in his lashes, his anger palpable.

Lumine rushes forward. She slams her sword down towards Childe, intending to knock him off his feet. His bow comes up once more, catching her sword. Holding steady.

At that moment, his Delusion activates.

Chapter Text

Kazuha shouts, as he and Lumine are thrown back from the electric shock. Kaeya teleports out of the way, bouncing as he watches with a wide eye.

Lumine is thrown back, rolling along the floor. Paimon cries out, rushing to her side as Lumine rises, glaring at Childe.

Childe laughs once more, spinning his shashkas in hand, connecting them into a polearm. He slips it around his back, grinning from behind his deranged, mirthful mask. His entire uniform changes, darkening, his hair stark against the contrast.

“Bastard.” Kaeya lifts his chin, noting his location somewhere near the sidelines. He’s fallen to one knee, hand clutching at his shoulder. The old injury still hasn’t fully healed. In his delirious delight at finally putting another Fatui enemy down, he stretched the scarring wound too far, opening a thin slice in his back. The Captain tries to stand, gasping, desperate to hold the sound back so he doesn’t worry his friends. It escapes his lips in a choked cough instead.

Amber readies another arrow, firing off at Tartaglia, who knocks it away from his chest with distinct lack of effort. She flinches back from his sneer, flipping him the bird.

The arrow sings through the air, right towards Kaeya’s face. His muscles tense as he tries to throw himself into a roll, shoulder locking. At the moment he feels himself stiffen, body stuck against his will, his eye widens in a moment of panic.

Lumine’s been running since Amber fired, having already predicted what Tartaglia would do. Her blade lifts between the two men, catching the arrow’s tip, shattering the remainder of the wood. Two broken pieces fall to the ground.

Lumine’s heel digs against the stone floor as she turns to the enemy, lip curled.

He says nothing, but his jaw sets, the closest she’ll get to him admitting he wasn’t expecting that.

Kaeya’s thoughts a bit more of a jumble. ohmyfuckinggodIlovehershejustsavedmylifeIthoughtIwasagoner.(“oh my fucking god I love her she just saved my life I thought I was a goner”).

“Son of a bitch,” Lumine says, flicking her sword to get any excess splinters off.

For a split second Kaeya pouts, eye wide as he tries to decipher how he’s at fault here.

Until Lumine surges forward, on the offensive even more than when she had been excited to fight the Harbinger the first time.

Kaeya sighs in relief.

Her blade slams against Tartaglia’s polearm, his arm shaking with the force.

“Oh, shit,” he says, trying hard to keep in place, but giving up and falling back a moment later. Lumine approaches once more, Lumine leaping to the floor on the side of him. Kazuha jumps over her shoulder, air swirling around his feet, lifted before Tartaglia’s face. The wind steals the enemy’s breath, deafening his ears to Kazuha’s laugh.

While his attention is focused on the swordusers, Amber fires once more. And right after the arrow has hit, flames sparking off of the brooch on Childe’s chest, Kaeya’s hand guides a gust of ice against the man.

The Captain stands beside them, shoulder stiff, arm stuck at his side, but the rest of him quite agile.

At least it’s not his dominant hand, Lumine thinks.

The melting ice lands on Childe’s exposed neck, making him roar. Lumine’s feet hit the ground and she twists, slamming the blunt of her sword against Childe’s shoulder blades, pushing him forward.

Kazuha lands on his back, shoving him towards the ground while Kaeya runs in to slip his blade under Childe’s falling torso.

Electricity crackles, and Childe is no longer there.

“It was no work getting through his first form,” Paimon says happily.

“Yeah! We were way over prepared,” Amber says, giggling.

“He has more tricks up his sleeve,” Kaeya says, backing up as he watches Childe run through the arena. “Be careful!”

Childe whirrs, intending to electrocute Lumine. He barely makes it two steps before the Captain runs in, blinding him once more, then teleporting behind him before Childe can recover. The Harbinger clutches his face, screaming.

“Didn’t he just say to wait?” Paimon stares in shock at Kaeya’s lithe form, his face twisted in determined anger.

He won’t let the Harbinger lay a hand on Lumine, not without a good fight.

An angry red line appears along Tartaglia’s back, his uniform opening under Kaeya’s blade.

“It’s working for him,” Amber says, nocking another bow. She rains her burst down onto Tartaglia, Kaeya skipping backwards, out of the way.

Kazuha runs inbetween the arrows, leaping into the air to drag the flames up, then dropping them once more.

Kaeya’s Burst is ready and he activates, rushing back in. His icicles gruel against Tartaglia’s polearm. The weapon sizzles with electricity, driving the Harbinger back.

“How did you get so strong?!”

“I have something to protect!”

“Cheesy asses,” Paimon complains, but she cheers a moment later, when Kaeya’s blade slams against Childe’s, and the Harbinger is the one forced back.

Until Kaeya is running forward, into empty space. With no force against his blade, he’s stumbling, about to land on his face.

Kazuha gasps, watching as Tartaglia moves with the speed of his Delusion, appearing behind the Knight. A sick look in his raging eyes, he angles his weapon down.

Kaeya twists, ready to catch the blade, though to do so his back will have to land sickeningly on the ground.

A tornado catches him, throwing him out of the way.

Suddenly Tartaglia is the one angling down, with no blade nor body to catch his swing on, leaning too far forward.

And Lumine is the one slamming into his back, bringing him down with the hilt of her sword against his shoulders. He twists, intending to knock his polearm against her as he falls, but she ducks under his arm, grinning.

“Yeah!!” Kaeya cheers from the sidelines where the tornado has dropped him on the steps, upside down. “That’s my girl!”

Childe grunts and rolls, rising to his feet. He rushes Kazuha, who begins to jump, only to be slammed, rolling along the ground. Lumine runs to his side, hooking an arm under his. She drags the samurai up, readying her sword for when Childe runs towards them once more.

But he’s too fast, and electricity crackles all around his body. Lumine is knocked back, leaving Kazuha kneeling. He cries out from the shock, fingers trembling, hand closed painfully tight on his sword.

Lumine tries to chase Childe, Kazuha following suit. But electricity pools around their feet, dragging them down.

And then Kaeya’s there, having sprinted the length of the Golden House’s arena floor. His skill slams into Childe, and they’re in a one-on-one, Cryo versus Electro.

“You son of a bitch,” Kaeya growls, staring down the Harbinger, blades crossing. Electricity surges into Kaeya’s fingertips, making his shoulders shake. His injury hurts so bad his eye stings.

Blood drips down the ginger’s lips, leaking from his nose, and he sneers. “All for my Tsaritsa.”

“Taste this,” Kaeya says, stepping back smoothly, extending his sword arm. Ice bursts forth from the blade, slamming against Childe once more. The Harbinger winces back as tiny shards slice into his skin, crying out.

And for some of the blood drawn, Kaeya’s injuries begin to heal. He smiles, sick with the knowledge that the more he ribbons the other man, the more he himself will be able to survive.

Childe’s eyes flick to the closing injuries along the Captain, the thin slice on his cheek that disappears. “I see you’re built for long fights,” Childe says. “And yet you want to finish this quick.”

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence before Kaeya’s whaling on him once more, forcing him backwards.

Childe tries to sprint underneath Kaeya’s blade, out of the corner he’s been backed to.

But Lumine is there, her Anemo skill blasting his side, pushing him off course.

He falls back, rolling along the ground.

Chapter Text

Kaeya gasps, pain riddling up his body, causing his muscles to tense. He can’t keep a grip on his sword, can’t even look at it, though he vaguely hears it clamor to the floor. Kaeya’s head raises against his will, panic enveloping him. His mind spins, trying to understand why he has no control over his body, and why his vision is overtaken by purple lightning.

Childe left a pool of electricity beneath the men.

Someone cries out, and Kaeya’s eye wheels wildly. His jaw clenches, vision focusing on Kazuha’s writhing form, before blurring once more. He tries his best not to shout, not to do anything that might break Lumine’s focus.

Amber, he knows, is unshakable. She must be the only reason a watery polearm isn’t weaving through his intestines at the moment.

Sure enough, the trusty Outrider is standing on the sidelines, still shooting at Childe. Sweat pours down her forehead, to the point where she heats up her body in order to turn it to vapor, trying to keep her sights clear.

She’s shot at Childe, over and over, fully charged hits.

And he keeps knocking them aside, so that her broken arrows clatter to the floor, their flames extinguished.

It’s bad enough when he smiles at her, cheeks pulled too far back along fangs that are too long to be human. But then his eyes lock on the Traveler.

Her arm is bleeding, and she’s clutching her shoulder, rising from the ground she landed on when he escaped her.

Tartaglia lets loose a choked laugh, like a roar that’s been strangled within his throat. He lunges for Lumine. She blocks with her sword, but he’s throwing his full weight at her, backed with a wave beneath his feet. He levels his own blades against her, lifting her feet from the ground as she’s thrown backwards.

“Childe!”

Lumine shouts, a moment before her shoulder blades slam against the ground of the Golden House.

Amber shouts again, raining arrows down onto Childe, hoping they won’t hit Lumine, willing them not to. It takes so much concentration that she wobbles as she tries to run forward, staggering to a stop.

Lumine’s blade is still sliding along the floor, far out of reach. Paimon flits over to it, screaming the whole way.

The sound reverberates in Amber’s ears, making her vision swim.

Childe is blocking the barrage of flaming arrows, their power enough to open burn marks along his arms as if oversized cigarettes were put out on his sleeves, eating through to his skin and continuing on.

He cries out, the guttural sound utterly inhuman. Amber hits her knees, but levels another shot at the Harbinger.

She damn well has his attention now, and he turns away from Lumine.

Kaeya and Kazuha dropped from the electric pool when Tartaglia lunged at Lumine. The men land hard on their knees, half blind with pain, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Kaeya is on his knees, gasping for breath, one hand clutching at his breast as if he needs to claw through his skin to let air into his lungs. His arm is bleeding profusely, the blood mixing with the crackling remains of electricity skittering across the floor around his boots.

Kazuha is on his back, unable to cry out, flopping like a fish as he tries to get any air in his lungs.

Tartaglia twists midair, dodging Amber.

Kazuha gasps, air entering his chest. His eyes settle on the hazy figures across the floor, and he spins, grabbing his sword in a tight fist. Years of training pay off, as in a moment he transforms himself from a beached fish, to a vengeful man.

Lumine hacks, the wind knocked out of her when she fell. She gets up, Paimon flitting to hand her her sword.

Tartaglia spins on her wildly, spit flying from his mouth. His polearm extends from his grip with fierce precision. Lumine rolls away, rising in time for Tartaglia’s polearm to pierce through the air towards her.

There’s nowhere to run.

She lifts her hand, using her skill once more, concentrating all of her Anemo energy right before her palm.

“Barbatos, help her!” Amber’s cry rushes through the chamber, calling Kaeya’s attention, but he can’t yet see clearly. Tears have stained his good eye, turning the entire arena into a hazy fog. He gasps, trying to rise to his feet, chest still constricting.

“Fuck,” Kazuha says, black entering his vision. He knows that he is nearly down for the count. He blindly closes his hand on a hilt, gasping out, “Captain!,” and shoving it up to Kaeya.

Pain ricochets up Lumine’s arm, from the force of trying to hold back Tartaglia’s blow. And it’s fucking terrifying, to see his determined face. To remember all the moments they spent together, eating and laughing and trying to pretend things could go any other way.

Paimon is behind her. If she loses, then it’s all over.

Lumine cries out, foot sliding on the ground as she holds her stance. Geo rocks dig into the ground, curving up in domino effect on their way to attack Tartaglia. They shove him out of her way, throwing him back.

Lumine breathes a sigh of relief.

Tartaglia’s laugh rings through the arena.

In the next moment, he’s behind her, floating beside the Exuvia, or standing on it, she can’t tell. There’s too much sweat in her eyes.

She’s forced to cover them when he tries to remove the gnosis, only for the man to let out an angry roar. He surges past her, electricity crackling through her hair and clothes, to the center of the arena.

Kaeya has his blade in hand, one arm wrapped around his stomach. He’s breathing hard, but standing.

Tartaglia begins to transform.

“What is he,” Lumine says angrily, “a magical girl?!”

“Fucking looks like it,” Kaeya says, using the back of his wrist to wipe tears from his eye. He tries to walk forward, but he’s on the other side of the room from Lumine. Kazuha, beside him, is beginning to get up.

Tartaglia laughs, polearm in hand. He slams it down.

Which is when the floor drops out from everyone.

“Lumine!” Kaeya shrieks, reaching out for her, pain forgotten, though he’s far too far away. Rocks tumble between them, hiding him from view.

“No!” Kazuha’s crackling voice breaks, and he rises, only for the floor to fall out beneath him. He goes quiet, accepting the fall for what it is, catching himself and Kaeya on the wind before they hit the ground.

He settles himself onto one knee, looking up from behind his arm with burning eyes.

Amber glides down most of the way, a rock smashing part of her glider as she falls, goggles pulled over her eyes. She doesn’t land as roughly as the others, but with her glider pinned her shoulder is momentarily stuck. She grabs a hunting knife and starts cutting through the thick strap that’s keeping her in place. Sparks fly as she tries to burn it, to make the leather softer.

Paimon pops up from a pile of rubble, hurrying over to Lumine. The Traveler had pinwheeled through the ground, unable to summon their glider in time, unable to fly, their scrambled thoughts begging for their wings to save them.

She landed hard, on her chest and arms, feeling her breath rock around inside of her lungs and chest. Curiously enough, it seems that this knocked the breath into her.

Or maybe, she thinks as she rises onto her hands and knees, I’m just sick of getting thrown around by this guy.

Amber is the first to call out. “Here!”

“Here,” Kazuha groans. He’s on a slab of rock, growling. “I’m fine.”

“He doesn’t sound fine,” Paimon says, voice pitching in panic.

“Here,” Kaeya grumbles, lifting first one arm, then his head, then his other arm. He’s gasping on top of the rocks. His head is bleeding, his eyepatch partially disaligned, eye squinted shut. “Good job Kazuha,” he whispers.

He was saved from the fall, but the tumbling rocks landed on his face. He glares up, judging the distance from the floor they had been on.

There’s no quick way out of this level of the Golden House. Especially not at the speed Tartaglia moves at.

Fight or flight is no longer an option. Fight. Win.

Kaeya stands, sword in hand.

"It’s alright,” Lumine says, or tries to, but her breath comes out in a wheezing gasp as she rises.

“We’re here,” Paimon says, voice wobbling.

Lumine watches as Tartaglia floats down, a glowing purple orb visible through the dust. There’s some sort of sound, which she vaguely registers as an engine, which is crazy because she hasn’t been in a world with engines in a long, long time.

The thing that used to be Tartaglia, no, which he became, scatters the dust, throwing rocks at all of them.

Kazuha, being the lightest in the group, cries out as he’s thrown back, blinded by the dirt. He pushes it from his face angrily.

Amber grumbles, tightening her grip on her knife. “It’ll be okay!” She calls it out for the sake of Kazuha, who clearly needs medical attention. “I have to cut through this,” she grumbles to herself.

And then Tartaglia is standing before them, a massive creature in the center of the arena.

A cloth strap slips into the Captain’s good eye. Kaeya silently reaches up, tugging the eyepatch off of his face. With numb fingers, he drops it to the broken ground, walking out from a pile of rubble, stones falling off of his ankles as he steps forward.

“I know your attacks,” Kaeya roars, rushing in.

Tartaglia’s head swivels to him, but Kaeya’s Friday-night jazz hands are finally coming in handy. He trembles his sword midair, and Tartaglia’s head jerks back as he tries to make sense of where the man is.

I know your weaknesses, Kaeya thinks, because they’re mine.

Amber’s knife jerks forward, through free air. The strap is broken. She rolls, landing with her bow in hand, and shoots. The arrow slams against Tartaglia’s polearm as he knocks it out of the way, only able to focus on an easy to spot object.

Kaeya’s ice hits Tartaglia in the face. The Captain, no longer laughing, silent and all the more terrifying, dodges the electric attack he knows is coming. He has no want of being hit by that pool once more.

Paimon has tugged Lumine up, putting her sword into her hand. The Traveler runs in towards Tartaglia’s other side, blood dripping down her chin. She has no air left to yell at the Harbinger, but she’ll do her best to draw his attention away from Kaeya.

Amber drops Baron Bunny.

But he’s hard to dodge. Every slash from Tartaglia’s polearm is longer than his height, and horribly lethal. Lumine is forced to leap back, unable to get closer.

Until Tartaglia turns on Kaeya, who screams up at him profane insults, his proprieties gone.

His mind is quite steady, even as a wicked smile leaps across Kaeya’s face. Putting on a good show, keeping an enemy’s attention; this is the shit he lives for.

He has to keep his mind fruitful, to keep everyone else alive. Kaeya faces off with Tartaglia, who slices at him again. The Captain teleports through the blow, landing on the other side.

His eyes settle on Tartaglia, one cold as ice, one with a surface like snow. The Harbinger whirls on him, slashing down. But the Knight’s blade deflects with a slight turn of his wrist, pushing the polearm up, far away from his own body.

Tartaglia stares in shock, for the split second that their gazes meet.

It’s the more practiced version of the leverage technique he had used on Lumine earlier.

The exposed muscles in Kaeya’s torn shoulder flex, the only betrayal of the force he put into his rebellion. His eyelids narrow. He knows who the better fighter is now. He rushes back in, teleporting through Tartaglia’s downward slash which threatens to cut him in half.

Lumine rolls backwards, landing on her feet, springing forward at the monster’s back. Her blade is steady, set to pierce the flesh of a former friend.

She’s no longer concerned about hurting him.

The beast rushes away, throwing a spinning wheel of electric energy at them, which is easy enough to run away from. Lumine lands on one foot, leveraging her weight forward, leg sprung up behind her.

She’s fucking dancing, Tartaglia thinks, noting that he’s seen the move more than once in figure skaters. Hell, he’s done the move.

Unluckily for him, he doesn’t notice who he’s landed beside. Amber rains down her arrows again, shouting, “Now, Kazuha!"

The vengeful samurai unsheathes his sword, elemental blast surging upwards, trapping Tartaglia in the midst of a fiery tornado once more. Wind roars against their ears, masking the sounds the Fatui had been using to keep track of his enemies.

Kaeya rushes in, struggling to control his elemental burst as he activates it between two clutched hands. The power grows, and he releases in one horrible shout. Icicles flare out around him, hands dropping, frost painfully receding along his palms. It feels so good.

A hilt appears against his leather glove before the frost has had a chance to disappear, and Kaeya bears down on Tartaglia with a righteous fury and a steady hand.

Lumine uses her elemental skill once more, barraging Tartaglia with her Anemo, only increasing the damage done to him from Kaeya’s frost.

The Harbinger screams, but his enemies are past the point of mercy.

Lumine arcs her blade sideways, hitting him with an extra burst of damage, and the man’s back arches.

Tartaglia shudders in mid-air, as if affected by his own Electro, as if stunned. For a moment, Lumine is almost sure she can see his bones.

Then he drops to his feet, human once more.

Childe’s eyes half-close, and he hits his knees, inadvertently kneeling before Lumine. She keeps her blade close, watching him with an hateful gaze.

His stomach does a flip. Her hand trembles, but a moment later, seeing Kaeya limping closer, her hand steadies. Childe’s eyes have fixated on the tip of her sword, too afraid to see her anger. As he watches the blade steady, his body shudders with fear, and disappointment.

He never meant for the fight to go this far, but that’s what he did. He has no one else to blame.

But still. No one died. It can’t be that bad, right?

That’s what he tells himself, as he throws out a few sentences about how it’s not a waste anyways, about how they’re doomed, about how Liyue will fall. And then he makes his exit, leaving the fallen team on a bottom floor of the Golden House.

“I hate him,” Kaeya says, stumbling over. He’s holding his shoulder, the old scab reopening during all of this, but he smiles. Then his eye flicks down.

Breaking all propriety, he reaches out for Lumine, pulling her into a hug so tight she can almost not breathe.

But she’s scared too, and her hands dig into his sleeve.

“Guys, we need to get this closed. And fast,” Kaeya says, over her shoulder. He’s bent so that his head is resting against her skin, his breaths coming in gasps, the electricity making his legs quiver in place.

“Lumi, you’re hurt,” Paimon says, scrambling for bandages now that Tartaglia is gone. She pulls out a Dodoco, frowning. “Oh, this would have helped for sure!”

“He’s the one who’s hurt,” Lumine says, frowning down at her Captain’s back. The soft fabric of his shirt is torn, revealing the jagged wound in his shoulder, not only reopened but added to. Chainmail peeks out from his layers, stained with his blood.

Kaeya giggles, just thankful that he can feel Lumine breathing. He’s trembling.

The moment he watched her fly backwards away from Tartaglia’s hit is replaying in his mind, over and over, even as Amber speaks loudly, and Kazuha tries to disguise his pain as a cough, and Paimon squeals in fear.

“Guys I need help,” Kaeya says, disreputable if he tried to hide such obvious wounds.

“I have to close up Kazuha’s arm before anything,” Amber says. “It’s not looking good.” Bandages rip, as she throws them around his upper arm. His clothes are cut through, and she’s staring at muscles. He’s lucky the artery isn’t severed, or she would have to cauterize it. As is, they might be able to save the limb. If they can get him healed.

“Just tourniquet it,” Kazu says, jaw set as he watches his embracing companions. “Better an arm than a teammate.”

“It’s not that bad is it?” Amber ties without looking, her practiced fingers doing the bunny loop and running into the tunnel. She’s done this plenty of times, for Benny, for Kaeya when they were kids, even for Master Diluc on the off chance that she finds him injured in the woods.

“Guys!” Kazu tries to lift, but holds himself in place while Amber’s fingers work. “Whose blood?”

When Amber looks over at Lumine, she sees the Traveler holding Kaeya up. It’s clear she’s the only reason he’s still standing.

Blood is dripping down the front of her dress like someone threw a bucket of grapes at her, thick and pulpy.

“Oh dear god,” Amber says, her fingers slipping on the knot.

“It’s fine,” Kazuha says, jumping up. Suddenly his sword is dissipating, and he’s running. “Come on! I’ll lift us out of here. We have to get him to Qiqi.”

“I need to close it first,” Amber says, “or we won’t make it that far.”

Though she’s been very, very brave through all of this, that’s the point when Paimon begins to cry.

Chapter Text

Amber reaches with splayed fingers for Kaeya, digging them against her friend’s stomach. “I’m sorry,” she says, as heat rises.

Kaeya cries out, turning his face against Lumine’s shoulder. Tears leak onto her skin, burning warm compared to the chilled forehead of her Captain. Deep pain courses through him, making his legs tremble.

Lumine's arms pull him even closer, as if she can hold him together.

“I’m sorry, but we have to stop some of the bleeding. They can heal it all, I promise you’ll be okay,” Amber says, heat flaring from her fingertips.

“We’re not anywhere near the Knights,” Kaeya says, gasping by the end, unable to carry on the conversation like normal. His words catch in the back of his throat, and he catches Lumine's scarf between his teeth, clamping down with a sick moan.

“No,” Kazuha says, grabbing a strip of bandages, winding them around the Captain’s hips, “but we’re near Qiqi.” He waits for the moment that Amber retracts her hands, gasping. Kazuha drags the bandages up along the Captain's skin, under his shirt, pulling them tight.

Kaeya cries out, the sound strangled, as for a moment his diaphragm spasms with pain. His spine curves, dragging his thighs up. Lumine holds him even tighter to herself, stumbling a bit, immensely grateful that enough adrenaline is coursing through her that he weighs nothing, leaning against her.

Kazuha has the string between his teeth, holding each piece clenched in his hands. Lumine slips her fingers over the interlaced bandages, pressing down over Kaeya's wound. "Hold still," Kazuha says. He pulls hard, catching Lumine's fingers in the knot, but squeezing to keep Kaeya's bandages from loosening. She slips her reddening fingers out all at once, the knuckles cracking. Kaeya gasps, the scarf slipping from his open mouth as his legs give out. His teeth slam against Lumine's shoulder, and she gets her arms under him, lifting the Captain into her arms.

"Good," Kazuha says, pulling the bandages as tight as he can.

"Will he able to breathe?" Paimon shrieks nearby, her heavy tears falling on the floor.

"Of course," Kazuha says. "His diaphragm is up there. He can't shit, but who needs to right now?"

Kaeya moans in response, tears leaking down his cheeks, mingling with his spit.

"Let's get him out of here," Amber says. "That can't feel great."

"He looks awful," Paimon says.

The Captain has sense enough about him to look, incredulous, to the pixie.

Lumine sees his recognition and holds him close, trying to smile. “Look at you. At least your blood pressure’s good.”

Her voice is strained, but he catches on quick. Lumine smiles down at him, her eyes saying that if he dares to die here, she’ll head to the Underworld, fish his rotten soul out of it’s husk, and drag it up into a new clay body.

“Fuck,” Kaeya says out loud, swallowing down his worries. Suddenly, years of lying seem to have a purpose. His entire life being a sham is alright, because for this one moment, he’s able to smile at her, even as he swears he feels his heart strings pulling taut, ready to collapse one by one, or all at once if the gods will be so merciful this time around.

Kaeya laughs. If he can laugh at his dead father, surely he can laugh here, watching Lumine cry, knowing he's the cause.

"Should have dodged, I guess," he says.

Kazuha is doing something off to his side, but Kaeya can't see them clearly. Darkness is fading in at the edges, and he's willing it away with the fear in Lumine's eyes.

“It shouldn’t have been like this,” he says, as Kazuha readies his elemental skill. As Amber grabs the sobbing Paimon to hold her close.

Lumine stares at him silently, unable to remember how to speak when her thoughts are carving holes into her.

Surely, people can't die this easily, right?

Amber strokes the top of Paimon's head, a rope tied around her waist to keep her close to Kazuha. It'll be faster than trying to climb out of here.

The Outrider’s gloves are burnt through at the tips, her fingerprints sacrificed, the cloth soaked through with her friend’s blood.

Kazuha throws open the front doors of the Golden House.

The guards outside aren’t yet awake, though the dogs are gathered around them, barking erratically.

“We should have been standing here together,” Kaeya says, gasping. His hand is pressing to the side of his wound, a fragile attempt to stem the blood flow. "Sorry to make you all worry."

“On to the next thing,” Lumine says, seemingly ignoring him. Her fingertips clench into his bare skin, through the rips in his shirt.

Wasn't it just the other day, she was nearly pulling it off of me? For a moment, his happy thoughts trigger some blood rushing to his cheeks, but there's scarcely any to spare. The resulting rush of elation calms the Captain though, and he can take a breath without feeling his intestines clenching.

Lumine is looking up, watching the Jade Chamber flit by them. Her gaze is fixated, and determined, and her hand flexes against his side, nails sliding against him. It's as if she’s holding her sword. Or his soul.

It’s in Amber’s inventory for fucks’ sake, because Paimon couldn’t carry it anymore. Kaeya holds his eye wide open, letting the wind hit it, drying the tears.

His team’s heads are swiveling, watching the Jade Chamber, watching the ships in the harbor, seemingly at a loss for where to go.

“We have to get to Qiqi,” he reminds them. Barbatos, let me live. These idiots can’t survive without me. He drags a hand down his face, smiling a bit when he feels blood smearing, only to stare at a stained palm. “You would be lost without me, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course, you stupid Captain,” Amber mutters. “You should have held back! I could have just shot him a bunch!”

They begin to run through the sleeting rain, keeping an eye out for any enemies. Kazuha’s hand is on his sword, though he doesn’t dare draw it, for fear of needing to catch the Captain in his arms at a moment’s notice. He's not sure how injured his fellow Traveler might be. “We didn’t have time,” the samurai says, his voice laden with the honor Kaeya has shown him today. “Surely more people would suffer, had we taken any longer. Our Captain protected our team, and the city, quite well.”

“Please don’t talk about me like I’m dead,” Kaeya says.

Kazuha can’t look at him, eyes roaming the alleyways they sprint past. He spots a flash of blonde hair, but tucks it away in his living memory as the flickerings of a ghost.

The streets are empty, the Millelith long since dispatched.

“I never knew how fucking far of a walk it was,” Kazuha says, stopping so abruptly a less-trained man would break his own toes. He reaches out, grabbing Kaeya’s wrist.

The Captain’s hand is tight around Lumine’s scarf, and he hasn’t the mental acuity to let go, so when Kazuha yanks, Kaeya’s wrist is wrenched as he tries not to tug his lady like she’s on a leash. He feels joints crack that he’s sure haven’t in years, and aren’t supposed to.

In reality, one of the smaller bones in his wrist is fractured, a detail neither man needs to know.

But there’s Qiqi, walking out of the main building alongside Baizhu.

“Help!” Kazuha runs towards her, and Baizhu’s reaction time is slow as shit, but Qiqi runs to Kazuha, recognizing a friend.

He grabs her, lifting her up, turning and pointing her, like a cat, over at Lumine and Kaeya.

“Qiqi will help,” she says, blessing them with her healing.

Qiqi's talisman springs out from her hands, landing on Kaeya's forehead, glowing for a moment.

Relief finally settles his brow, his eyes growing soft. “Thank you, Qiqi.”

“Good thing the Jade Chamber has an emergency Waypoint,” Amber says, as they land on the ground.

“Not that I’ve ever found it,” Lumine grumbles. Blood stains the front of her dress, through the rain is washing it down, watering it out, so that from afar it appears pink.

But their Captain is fine. His injury was mostly along the flesh, incredibly painful, but not deep enough to kill him once Qiqi stopped the bleeding. He just has to keep it wrapped for the time being, and he'll need better stitches than the cobbled ones Kazuha insisted on giving him while he laid in the street, as Qiqi brought them all back to a decent level of health.

Amber hurriedly ties on Kaeya’s eyepatch, tightening the back so much he’s sure the indent will be there permanently. He pulls strands of hair out from underneath the strap, and it settles nicely in place.

“Good work, Outrider.”

“I have plenty of practice.”

“How do you feel about fighting at such a height?” Kazuha's hand is perpetually on his hilt.

"Don’t like it,” Paimon says, earning a giggle from Amber, and a relieved, trembling chuckle from Kaeya.

With his friends safe, and his injuries sated enough so he can fight another round, the fear of the fight is crawling into his stomach.

But Lumine has a fierce look on her face, one that he knows well.

“Let’s show those Fatui bastards who they fucked with,” she says, as they run towards Ningguang, and the adepti, gathered at the front of the Jade Chamber.

Chapter Text

Ningguang looks over at the approaching group, her brow furrowed. “What happened?”

“It’s alright,” Kaeya responds solemnly.

“Childe’s a bitch,” Amber says, restringing her bow.

Kaeya stares at Lady Ningguang’s platform before them, eye wide. He leans onto Kazuha for support, addressing his team in a low voice. “Did you know she could do that?”

“I’m still trying to figure out how my sword can disappear from my hand, and reappear on my back,” Lumine says, “so no.” She rushes forward, onto the platform, looking out at the rising beast that is Osial.

“Well this is fucked,” Amber says, every curse word she’s ever held back in private company spilling out under the stress. Her fingertips are partially healed by Qiqi, but still burnt pink. They’re second-degree, and she doesn’t have time to worry about anything that isn’t Priority Number One right now. "What do we do when more Fatui show up?"

"Slaughter them," Kaeya says. "Childe wasn't trying to murder us."

"Didn't he tell us to die?" Kazuha is...less forgiving.

"Yeah, but he didn't escape. Lumine let him go," Kaeya says, out of the corner of his mouth.

Lumine's face is set. At the moment, she looks quite terrifying, her usual mercy left somewhere in the Golden House.

"He's not our enemy," Lumine says. "He's just an idiot who did his job, and also did his best to warn us."

"Didn't he raise Osial?" Kazuha points at the writhing beast.

Goosebumps line Lumine's arms. "If he had left the job to another Harbinger, it would have been a death match. Perhaps we would have lost," she states.

"In that case," Kazuha says, drawing his blade. "I'll have to thank him when I see him again."

Amber's staring at portals which are forming around the platform. Three of them, to be exact.

“Fatui!” Keqing shouts out, sprinting past them all. “We must stop them before they reach the adepti!”

“Amber!” The poor Knight flinches like she’s being scolded by Jean, but Lumine only holds her sword out, pointing to the far right of the platform. “Go!”

The Outrider wastes no time sprinting across to guard the adepti there. Paimon follows suit, fists embedded deep in Amber’s hair.

“Kazuha!” Lumine points to the left.

“On my way my lady,” he says, sprinting the moment he realized they would need to be guarded.

“That leaves you and me,” Kaeya says, worried for a moment that perhaps Lumine is more injured than he thought. Why else would the two strongest people be joined in the middle?

That is, until his strategies catch up with his familial panic, and his eye hones in on the center portal.

More enemies are flooding through this one than the other two.

One of the front soldiers gives a giddy jump as he steps on Ningguang's platform, twirling his weapon in his hand.

It makes Kaeya sick to his stomach, to see them so joyful over the thought of murdering his friends. Over the thought of destroying a country.

Childe, at least, was clearly acting under someone else's orders. He's nothing more than a pawn who did his very best to make the fight look good, without actually murdering the people he cared about.

And though Childe may not be good at pulling a punch, he certainly didn't try to win.

That's why Kaeya watched the Harbinger 'escape'. That's why Lumine let him go.

Lumine looks terrified, and angry. Her sword flashes for a moment, reflecting the adepti's bursting shots, which arc far over their heads. "This is bigger than us," she says. "Than feeling betrayed."

"Childe hurt our feelings, and our bodies, but he's a child throwing a tantrum."

Rain beats down onto Kaeya, fuzzing his vision, making it hard to tell how far away the enemies are.

The Fatui are laughing, boasting about tearing their enemies apart. Giggling, in pure glee, at the thought of finally disposing of people they have willfully grown to hate.

"Show them no mercy," Lumine commands.

Keqing flips over the incoming Fatui, slicing through their bodies with ease.

But a Cryo Skirmisher shoots her as she's running, stunning her in place.

Kaeya teleports to her, grabbing the woman out of the way. He twists away, blocking the next hit with a barely-formed shield. He cries out, falling to his knees just from the force of the Fatui's shot.

Lumine rushes past them both, stabbing up at the bastard.

He tries to block with his gun, but her sword slices through his hand.

The terrorist cries out, voice warbling as he drops his weapon to reach for his hand.

All the better for her. Lumine's sword flips around her fingers, until she's holding it like a long dagger. She jumps onto his shoulder, stabbing down into his head, and he falls to the ground, dead.

Keqing growls, the ice holding her still breaking. Kaeya gives her a tiny toss, the woman teleporting herself midair so that she lands standing, on her feet.

He turns back, blocking a Pyro Skirmisher that's attempting to hit him with a gun.

Amber's voice rings out. "Captain!!" She's panicked, defending against too many enemies at once. By this point, her bow is useless, so she has an old short sword in her hand.

Kazuha looks as well, but it's all he can do to keep the enemies pouring in front of him from getting near the precious adepti. And only the adepti can manage the machines to keep Osial at bay.

"Go!" Keqing runs in, knocking the Fatui's gun out of his hands, freeing up Kaeya.

The Captain wastes no time, sprinting across the platform, his arm held out before him.

Amber ducks down, blocking a sword swing. Years of archery have made her shoulders strong, and she shoves the soldier back.

Kaeya runs past her now, throwing the asshole off of the platform. He blasts another in the face with ice, watching him slip off of the edge, screaming, arms flailing as he falls.

"They would do the same to us," Amber says, bow back in her hand. She fires at close range, catching an enemy in the face.

"No, they would make us beg," Kaeya says, blocking a downward swing. The muscles in his injured shoulder feel like fire burning under his skin. He looks dead in the eyes of the enemy, and feels the strength in his body.

Kaeya's sword lifts higher and higher.

The man he's fighting against stares back, watching in hatred, and then in horror.

Kaeya smirks. Amber fires an arrow into his enemy's chest. Kaeya grabs one of the swords, twisting, his icicles shaking out around him.

Across the platform, Kazuha cries out, fighting alone.

Amber turns her attention to him, fighting shot after shot to protect their friend, while he's twisting in the air. Fire erupts around him, and his laughter tells them he's alive.

“Madame Ping’s ability is a bit overloaded,” Amber admits, crying out in pain as she releases another arrow. She’s standing in the center of the platform, under the adepti, firing either to help Kaeya or Kazuha, depending on who needs her more.

Her arrow slams into an enemy, a shockwave ringing out from the falling body. Kaeya’s teeth are grit, and he waits a moment for the stunning reverberations to course through him. “Keep pressing!”

“We don’t have a moment to waste,” Kazuha mutters, leaping into the air once more, his elemental skill the only thing that saves him, at least partially, from the vibrations. His legs are aching from the aftershocks as he lands, grunting in pain.

He chances a glance at Lumine, spotting her flipping through the air, slamming her dustdevil into another small group. She laughs as she lands, bouncing on the ground, momentarily gleeful just for the small victories.

She looks much better than she did when she was fighting Childe.

Lumine lands easy, slipping her sword through an enemy’s neck, slicing his head from his body.

Landing from her teleport, Keqing kicks the head, launching it clear off of the platform.

Ganyu’s voice floats to them, as kind as ever, stating her intentions to save them from the pain inflicted. Trying to help them survive.

Lumine feels her arms throb, but she manages to step in the way of an incoming blow, knocking it back with hardly any power at all.

It’s hard to tell if it’s the fear of watching a polearm slice through a Millelith’s shoulder, or if it’s the anger from knowing this was all preventable, or even if the emotions roaring within her are a result of Madame Ping’s adeptal loan, but Lumine raises her sword, bearing down on the incoming Fatui. The blow slices through one man, splitting him, though in the next moment she’s dodging Osial’s attacks, and his body disintegrates.

Vaguely, she wonders if any of her more human friends has noticed the cruelty she’s inflicted. But she decides she can save that conversation for a better time, when they’re all alive to be angry with her.

Her eyes land on Osial again.

Anger, or something else, courses through her, tightening her grip on her sword.

She’s terrified. Of course she’s terrified. With monsters like this in the world, who knows what Aether has faced?

But more than that, on the inside, deep within, she’s laughing.

This, is a god?

This, is what could destroy all of Liyue?

This, is what Tartaglia spent his time trying to summon?

This tiny worm, that’s only a fraction of who she used to be?

In her prime, she could have flown over him, and turned his silly heads into a lovely, fishy dish for Paimon.

But for now, Lumine pirouettes, sword slicing into a man’s heart for a brief instant, breaking through his ribs.

She catches Kaeya, glancing over his shoulder, checking to see if she’s alive.

He doesn’t look afraid, but only proud. And all too knowing of that rage-induced look in her eyes.

Amber gasps, watching Lumine sprint across the platform. The Honorary Knight flips in the air, narrowly slicing down at the Fatui who almost wrung a sword around Kaeya’s neck.

Their Captain is flinching backward, feet pedaling, scared to teleport lest he end up off the edge of the platform.

Lumine grabs his shoulder, kicking off of the Fatui. She pushes Kaeya forward, to safety.

The enemy arm carrying the weapon which nearly took the Captain's head falls to the floor, unconnected to a body.

“How did she move so fast?” Amber steps back, raising her arms to shoot one last time, at the last enemy coming from Kaeya’s gate.

But the adeptal energy leaves her body in a rush, taking her own energy with it.

Her arms quake, then her body becomes heavy, aching, then too heavy to hold. It’s as if her legs are sandbags. Amber falls to her knees, unable to open her mouth enough to cry out.

Her arms are throbbing, trembling in her lap, at turns numb and burning. She opens one hand, watching the way the adepti’s power courses through her, turning her veins gold before leaving by her fingertips.

Before her, Kaeya has recovered, his trembling withheld with throbbing muscles. He takes one more step to help Lumine with those bastards at the front of the platform.

But his legs fail him as well, and he falls to one knee. The madman yells, throwing his sword as hard as he can. It flips over and over, landing in the skull of one Lumine has been fighting. She elbows the bastard down, grabbing Kaeya’s sword, standing for a moment with two.

Keqing scrambles backwards before the same issue hits her. She teleports to rest beside Amber, breathing hard.

Kaeya is left on his knees, ice spreading around him to slow his enemies, with a stolen sword in his grip. He tries again to stand, taking a shaking breath, but cannot push himself up.

Lumine steps before him, taking on the next wave of enemies, from all sides, alone.

“She looks like an avenging angel,” Amber whispers, caught in the fear and grace her friend exudes. The woman has a sword in each hand, bearing down with the might of a god on the Fatui before her. The next wave comes, and they do not last. Golden energy swings off of Lumine’s swords, slicing down everything before her.

Protecting everyone behind her.

“Are you alright?” Kazuha, whose breath hits the back of Amber’s neck. His hand lands on her shoulder. The poor man is panting.

Amber can’t turn her head. “Yeah.” Her spine feels as if someone is pinching it, holding her in place like a kitten caught by their cat. She doesn’t think she could stand and run if she had to.

But she has to.

Kazuha’s arm pulls on her waist. “Come on.” With the willpower amassed over years of training, he does his best to lift her, and Amber does her best to stumble along with him, Paimon worriedly tugging her hair until the pixie flits off to get to Kaeya, and then Lumine.

The adepti attack at once, their power gathered within the Ballistas.

Lumine’s focus is on her enemies. For a moment, every one of them is the Unknown God. Is another roadblock on her way to getting her brother. Is the family who abandoned them. Is the personified destruction of her home world. Is the loss of her identity, which was torn from her centuries, millennia, ago.

She cuts through them, getting dangerously close to the edge of the platform herself, very nearly leaping through the portal before her. She does think about it, thinking about how it would feel to get that close to the Fatui. To barge into their lives, and swing her sword at them in their beds, and take them from their families. To show them what anger looks like.

She wonders if their mothers know what their sons have done today. She wonders if they were ever children, who once had thoughts of being heroes. Or if they think that descending onto an innocent city with the intent to drown children in their beds is somehow glorious, or forgivable, or acceptable?

Did they expect for all of Liyue to just let them in? Or did they forget that every inch they invaded would be met with some form of resistance.

If Lumine weren't here, she is certain that Liyue still would not fall. Even if Rex Lapis is dead. Even if Xiao had to break all of his promises, and slaughter the humans before him, Liyue would not fall.

The terrorist Fatui soldiers could slaughter every member of the Millelith. They could singlehandedly destroy every Guhua disciple, every lord's son with a sword, every adepti. And still, they would open a house only to find an angry peasant woman with a bottle of wine and a lit cigarette. Ready to turn him to ashes if it means getting rid of one more parasitic invader.

For every house they took, for every bag of rice they stole and sent home, for every sword in a citizen that is unfairly lodged, they will see more losses on their side. The Fatui won't get away with senseless slaughter. Whether it's due to a foolish leader who hates Liyue, or a senseless nationalistic pride, or any other excuse they can come up with for attacking without fair warning, for the war crimes they're attempting to perform, for the ones already done, they will not get away with it.

"Liyue will not fall," Amber screams out, trying to support her friend. She can't lift her arms.

Millelith, standing on the Jade Chamber, rush forward, lifting her, Kazuha, and Keqing to safety.

The Fatui pouring through the central portal laugh at the Knight's words, until they lay eyes on the amassing bodies of their fellow soldiers.

The weakest ranks were sent first, Lumine thinks, to wear us down.

"You killed them!" The Fatui points a sword at her, as if she's the monster.

"They could have surrendered," Lumine responds, cutting through the man standing before the one shouting.

And when the one screaming has not lowered his sword, she cuts through him as well. He's a soldier. He knew what he was signing up for, and he chose to leave home and come here. He walked through the portal. He invaded Liyue. He could have walked through with his hands held high, and been given a new life.

Lumine doesn't have time to waste watching his body fall from the platform. She has more enemies to destroy.

Lumine lifts a bloody sword, knocking against the rushing terrorists.

But her eyes lift over the falling heads, over the screaming, pathetic men before her. Osial is in the distance, in all of his wormy glory, swaying. His heads combine, evidently stealing the adepti’s idea for a power move of his own.

A beam appears above his head, and someone yells a warning alarm. Maybe Ningguang? Maybe Paimon, who’s trying to flit closer but whose leg has been grabbed by Kaeya.

“Come back!” He throws the pixie backwards through the air, seeing what will happen before it does.

She lands near a Millelith, who even in his panic bravely grabs her as he flees, running safely onto the surface of the Jade Chamber.

“Please,” Ganyu says, hands clasped, pointing them to one of the emergency floating platforms. Soldiers are crowding onto it, slowly being lowered to the ground. “All Millelith need to evacuate. Get on.”

On Ningguang’s platform, Kaeya tenses his legs.

Though it feels like he's pulling his muscles apart, and though he isn't sure he'll stand again after this, he springs forward, throwing himself off of the ground. He forces his legs to stretch, so that he can run forward, though his moving is slow.

Kaeya reaches for Lumine, who is still several paces ahead of him. Several...wagons, could easily fit between the two of them.

For a moment all he can see is Diluc's hair through the rain, a broken wagon beside him.

He yells in fear, hand stretching out far before him, fingers spread. Between them, he can see Osial writhing, in joy perhaps, for another god is about to take his light.

His right eye squeezes shut involuntarily, twitching with fear. But Kaeya cannot run any faster. The adeptal energy is pulsating through him, making his skin glow gold, making every burning step stumble. His body won’t move as he wants. Won’t obey him. Won’t rush forward.

It feels like he's in a nightmare and he cannot force himself to move any faster.

He swears he can feel raindrops on his forehead, but in reality it’s scattering pebbles.

Kaeya screams again.

Lumine is very near to the edge of the platform, when Osial’s attack closes in.

Her head lifts, eyes traveling up higher, higher, higher, landing on the blue meteors which want to crush her.

Kaeya sees her blonde hair, glowing flowers between his fingers.

She turns back at his voice, sucking in a terrified breath, too late, too late. Lumine’s eyes land on his, as she begins to run, and Kaeya is reaching for her, his thighs screaming, a worse sound trapped in the caverns of his throat, when the first godly burst lands between their outstretched hands, separating them.

The platform shatters.

Kaeya does scream then, but it’s strangled. Keqing, who in all matters of grace is astute, grabs the Captain by his collar.

Lumine falls first, tumbling backwards through the air.

Xiao appears, grabbing her, and Kaeya thinks he might die at least knowing she’s alright. With the debris near him, he doesn’t dare try to extend his glider, knowing it will only be broken long before he reaches the waves far below.

Then he feels a tugging on his shoulder, and in a second realizes Keqing is falling with him. She can’t die here. He wraps his arm around her back, holding her close to shield her from the falling rocks.

They land hard, onto something he can’t see. Kaeya’s hand closes on a strap, the wind knocked out of him as their ascent begins.

He can only assume that one of the adepti has also caught them, and his trembling hand knows a bridle when he feels it.

It’s not until he’s kneeling on the Jade Chamber that he’s able to turn, looking up to see Cloud Retainer over him. She mutters something about, “Couldn’t let a friend of Ganyu’s die.”

Keqing blushes quite pink.

Kaeya chuckles to himself, making a mental note to treat the ladies to a wonderful meal once he has the time. "Thank you," he gasps out. "Forever."

"Hmph. As if you have the time to offer."

He looks forward, to see Xiao holding tight to Lumine, not letting the lady get anywhere near the edge alone again. Kaeya smiles to himself, thankful they’re all alive.

On the other side of the platform, he can see Amber and Kazuha, just barely able to shakily get to their feet. They both appear as if they haven’t slept in days, large circles around their eyes.

More pebbles land on his forehead. Keqing huffs, pressing a tissue to Kaeya’s temple. "You need medical attention."

"Again?"

"What do you mean again?! Were you already hurt?! I thought the blood on Lumine's dress was Childe's!!"

"Yeah, I wish," Kaeya says, chuckling. "Though now I think it's everyone's."

"Mortals," Cloud Retainer mutters, spreading her wings to shield Kaeya and Keqing. "One will allow you one more ride, but you must hurry."

Everything happens quite quickly after that, at least for the exhausted, relieved, trembling Captain. Somehow, the last of the retreating Millelith get him onto Cloud Retainer's back. Somehow, Keqing climbs on with him, since her legs aren't nearly as injured.

"I didn't push myself like you did," she says, tying him on.

Kaeya thinks this is the most unusual horseback ride he's ever been on. Thankfully, he doesn't say it out loud, or if he does, Cloud Retainer ignores that statement for the time being.

Lumine steps to the middle of the platform, glowing once more. Ningguang drives the entire Jade Chamber over Osial.

Everyone else is flown away, on the backs of the adepti, carried by their kindness.

Except for Lumine, who for a moment stays on the platform, accompanied by Xiao. Once everyone is far enough away, she looks down to the Jade Chamber, sword between both hands.

Kaeya can swear he sees tears running down her cheeks, reflecting off the light emanating from her.

"She really does look like an angel," he whispers. Even the tears are gold.

Then her sword slams into the floor, and the entire fucking chamber splits.

Xiao grabs her, spiriting them out of there, getting them far, far out of the way, so that she can watch the chamber explode. So that she can watch Ningguang’s house land on Osial, shoving him back beneath the waves.

Chapter Text

Kaeya stands on the dock with the others. They’re a ways back from the ‘main group’.

“I guess,” Kazuha says, watching Ningguang and Cloud Retainer exchange words, Lumine between them, “we simply wait.”

“Phew.” All at once, Amber collapses onto the dock, moving so quick the others flinch forward, before realizing she just sat down. “I’m winded.” She looks up into Kazuha’s worried face, and then at her Captain, whose eye is planted on Lumine, though his arm is still outstretched to her.

Slowly, Kaeya straightens with a tired sigh.

Kazuha sinks to a squat beside Amber, his bare fingertips tracing the rough wood of the dock.

“That was...quite a lot,” Kazuha says. “Now that we have stopped moving momentarily, the wind brings the fears of the city to my ears. Almost no one slept last night, and I wonder if some will sleep forever.”

They look out then, collectively, to the water. Preparing themselves to see floating bodies, or the wrecked boats which people once lived on. The beautiful sunrise is marred by the sight of cut ropes attached to the dock at intervals, their lengths stretching to ships that won’t see the shore again.

But no bodies float to the surface, and roving eyes don’t see any wooden beams reaching from the water.

Amber and Kazuha shiver, goosebumps showing on their shoulders. It's too soon to be elated, isn't it? Or is life just one series of relief before being shoved back under the waves? Their attention catches suddenly when Lumine appears before them, her scarves tattered but attached, her smile as radiant as the sky above them seems.

It’s as if they’ve broken through the surface of the ocean, and stared in confusion at the blue sky, which a moment before was as foreign to them as a hatched chick.

Kaeya finally blinks, his eye solemn but face soft.

“Perhaps...maybe, the adepti caught everyone,” Amber suggests.

“It seems so,” Kazuha says, his face turning pale. He rubs his eye furiously, bandaged hand clenched tight. “Kaeya? How are your injuries?”

The Captain rips his eye away from Lumine for scarcely a moment before watching her once more. “I healed quite a bit, actually.”

“Right,” Amber says. “We should have just had you beat up Tartaglia earlier.”

“We didn’t have time,” Kazuha says.

“It would have killed him,” Kaeya says.

“Better him than you,” Amber says, arms crossed, to which Paimon heartily nods.

“We’re taking you to get healed first,” Lumine says, despite the protests leaking from Kazuha.

“I don’t need healing, I just need rest and sake.”

“You little alcoholic,” Rosaria says, slipping an arm under him. She’s appeared seemingly out of nowhere, the team’s senses dulled with the knowledge that there’s an adepti and several top members of the Qixing behind them, intending to keep them safe.

“Rosie oh my god, you’re okay.” Amber rises at once, a bit shakily, stumbling. Kaeya catches her arm and holds her up.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Amber is already glaring at her Captain with narrowed eyes. “As if you didn’t nearly die earlier. Look at you acting all cool.”

“He did what?” Rosie’s voice is sharp, dark circles of makeup stained down her face.

“Flesh wounds,” Kaeya lies. Exhaustion pulls at his balance, but Lumine reaches out, taking his free elbow.

“Kazuha and Kaeya nearly got twin headstones,” she says, lifting a brow at Rosie, dropping it.

“Let’s get these idiots to Qiqi.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll come with you,” Kaeya offers.

“Sure. We’re going to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”

“He’s not there,” Rosie says, giving up and lifting Kazuha onto her back. He promptly falls asleep.

Lumine sighs in anger, momentarily closing her eyes, the memory of the adeptal strength surging through her.

Kaeya pokes Kazuha’s shoulder, but the man doesn’t budge. “Guess that’s held over from sleeping anywhere, huh?”

“He normally wakes up though,” Amber says.

Rosie glares over her shoulder, the effect dull when tufts of Kazuha’s hair, still drying into fluff, taps against her cheek. “Are you saying something about me?”

Amber claps her hands together. “Just that you must be very comfy.”

Lumine, having barely made it through her own headache, sighs, opening her eyes. Paimon is staring at her, bows tucked up high.

Rosie’s gaze softens. “I’ll take him to Qiqi. You go finish your quest.”

Lumine nods back at her, circles heavy under her eyes. “Come on Captain, Amber, Paimon. Let’s go pay a visit to the Northland Bank.”

The walk there is rather silent.

For one, Amber and Kaeya have their own aches and pains. And Lumine is pissed.

Townspeople are only barely starting to feel comfortable looking outside, peeking out through slit blinds at them as they walk past.

And though they’re used to seeing adventurers with bandages wound about their bodies, there’s a difference between seeing the aftereffect of someone released from recent medical care, and seeing someone fresh from a fight.

Kaeya has a bloody handprint down his face. Lumine’s dress is more red than white. Amber’s hood is swinging, nearly completely ripped off. She threw her hair up at one point too, so the ponytail is revealing the scrapes down the back of her neck.

Lumine eyes them for a moment, picking tiny stones from her friend’s skin. “Did this happen in the Jade Chamber?”

“Yes.”

Lumine’s hand balls into a fist. “I see.”

Paimon flits over to sit on Kaeya’s shoulder, since he’s the best off of all of them. The adeptal energy left his legs shaking, and he still needs to rest and eat, but he was able to heal while fighting the hordes of Fatui.

“Lumi? Are you angry at someone?”

“So very,” she responds, and pushes open the door to the bank, leaving a streak of dirt and blood to mark it.

Childe, Zhongli, and Signora are standing within the Bank.

Childe and Signora are arguing, Signora blatantly admitting that she messed up his plans, whatever those were.

Lumine feels her heart thunder, wondering if she has it in her to take on both of them at once.

If Childe has had time to find a healer, or to clean up, she’ll be screwed. Granted, he looks like the only thing holding him together at the moment is his anger.

But the adeptal energy hasn’t left her body yet. She has a few more minutes, at least, to speak her mind with a sword following close.

Even the attendants of the bank have been sent away, so that the room is utterly empty, save for some bandages and a bucket of water left abandoned on a chair nearest the ginger.

Signora says something about taking things from Venti, but Lumine’s anger is making her blood throb within her ears. She can barely hear the Harbinger.

Paimon says something about staying calm, but Lumine knows already. She isn’t stupid.

She stares Signora down like she could put her on a plate and devour her, forcing her to cough up the gnosis she ripped out of Venti’s chest.

Off to the side, Childe begins to speak as well. Paimon responds, but everything is cloudy to Lumine.

She’s sick of translating their words. Sick of thinking. Sick of talking.

The fight with the adeptal energy took it’s toll, and if she weren’t so stressed she could be sinking into a bed right now. She could be feeling the strength ebb from her, letting it go, instead of trying to clutch burning sands in her fist.

Something in Childe’s voice sounds like he’s mocking her. Lumine tunes back in, enough to hear him blame Signora and Zhongli. A hint of anger enters his tone.

Only then do Signora and Zhongli step up to one another.

And Lumine gets to watch the gnosis, as if it’s a key to deciphering her brother’s fate, be handed over to the enemy.

Paimon is surprised, to say the least. “Show of hands,” she whispers, “who knew Zhongli was the geo archon?”

Amber’s gasp is enough to tell her friends that she had no clue.

Lumine is too tired to play along.

Kaeya is busy watching the corners of the room for any signs of...rough members.

Zhongli stares straight ahead, not even bothering to glance at Lumine, far too ashamed to do so. Or perhaps too full of himself.

She stares him down as he speaks about the contract being between him and the Tsaritsa, and no one else. Essentially, he’s claiming that the entire affair is none of Lumine’s business.

I just fought for your country, Lumine says, which makes it my business. Or should I have let everyone here die?

Zhongli begins to explain that he’s lived for a long time, that he wanted a retirement, that he needed an escape. That this is a new age, and he needs humans to care for themselves.

All Lumine hears is that a god grew so complacent to the wishes of another, that he was willing to entrust his entire city to a single alien, and yet give the regular people credit for something they could never have achieved, against a force they should never have to fight.

Mid-life crisises are supposed to mean getting a new tattoo, not knowingly pitting your friends against each other. You son of a bitch, did you not learn social graces in your 6000 years?

The cussing within Lumine’s mind mostly stays within her head.

“What a bitch,” Amber says, quietly, out loud. Childe snickers.

So glad to have been a member of his play.

Paimon says something about Zhongli being ready to take control back.

But Lumine is thinking about the slash across Kaeya. He may be healed, but he’ll always remain scarred. And that’s...fine?

What, am I supposed to be happy receiving praise from him now? Is he truly so disillusioned with the pain he has caused? Here he is, just happy that everyone passed his test, never wondering for a moment if it was alright to do.

Lumine’s eyes meet Childe’s, and in an instant, no longer are they enemies, but those who completely understand what it is to be used.

Tears alight in the ginger’s eyes, as he realizes his friendship with Zhongli was nothing more than a facade. Nothing more than another part of the older man’s plans.

But then, is that what he deserved? Had Childe not tried to drown the city, including of course the man he believed to be mortal?

Lumine doesn’t much care at the moment, until Childe speaks up.

She wonders if the ginger ever truly thought that Liyue would drown. Or if his fight with her was a clear way for him to show her that he has no choice.

Is it possible, for a man as powerful as he is, to be trapped in a gang? To be unable to make his own decisions?

She thinks of Aether, and has to struggle to keep tears from leaping into her eyes.

“We were...fooled,” Lumine says, her one note of kindness to the Harbinger earning a look of shock from Zhongli.

She ignores the archon, hoping bitterly that his thoughts mesh within his head, turning over and harming him late into the evening.

But when Signora leaves, Lumine turns to Zhongli, daring to ask him what is going on with the gnosis. Why he would leave it. Why he would empower someone who harmed Venti? Without saying so, of course.

He dodges the question again, but says it was his last contract as the official archon. And says to find it out on her own.

“Nice to know that I can save your city for you, the adepti and Qixing get the praise for a job they couldn’t do alone, you get to retire, and at the end of it all my brother isn’t found.”

“Well, I can’t give you the information,” Zhongli responds, a flash of hurt in his eyes.

“Really? Had I paid Signora to find out, it seems you would have written her a book.” And with that, with Childe left staring at a defeated Zhongli, whose pride has overriden any shred of loyalty he dared to feel, Lumine exits the Northland Bank.

She makes it to the bookstore next door before collapsing.

Kaeya swings Lumine up into his arms. Paimon settles onto his shoulder, her hand stuck out to grip Amber’s ripped hood.

The Outrider is walking with her eyes closed, carefully following as they walk down the long flight of stairs.

“Are you okay, Amber?” Paimon looks down at her with concern.

“My eyes,” she says. Kaeya’s head swivels. “Or my head? It hurts so bad.”

“It’s the adeptal energy leaving you,” Kaeya says. The only reason he hasn’t collapsed is that he was able to heal some of the effects away. If he hadn’t used the adeptal energy at all, he would likely feel much better off.

Because he’d be dead.

But Lumine is warm against him, and her head is turned into his shoulder, and she’s crying, and he couldn’t possibly leave her like this.

Kaeya glances up once, while they walk under the red bridge which spans the two sides of Liyue.

Childe is standing at the top, watching them, tears in his dark eyes. A drop falls, landing on Kaeya’s cheek, sliding down.

Chapter Text

Kaeya is never surprised when people betray him. He’s rather used to the world tilting out from underneath him. He’s so used to it, that if his current life were a ship. If his friends, his career, his family, and his team were all on the deck, and nothing but uncertainly lay in the water. If they for a moment found him undesirable, he would step onto the plank and walk backwards with a smile, never one to wait around to be shoved off the edge.

Never again, anyways.

But as he crosses the bridge leading out of Liyue, bone-tired, he happens to glance up to the rocks.

And for just a moment, for one horrible second, he sees a man with blue hair sitting up there.

He’s so shocked that he physically responds, flinching back, reflexes managing to move him despite years of training in subterfuge. Or perhaps, years of training in avoiding real danger is what moves the Captain.

It’s only a moment later than his back protests, since he is after all carrying Lumine. The bundle of lady might be short but her muscles alone make her far heavier than her frame might hint.

But the man isn’t real.

That man died long ago. And even if he didn’t, he’s certainly not here. Not here in Liyue. Not looking after his son.

Kaeya, staring at the boards, takes a deep, deep breath. All he saw was the result of a stress-induced, mini flashback. Nothing to worry about. And, more importantly, nothing that he has time for.

He may be used to falling apart, but his teammates should never have to worry about losing themselves. Even if one day one of them does fall, the very thought turning his mouth dry and curling his fingers into Lumine’s flesh, he will ensure that their moments are as sweet as can be. That they know they’re loved, at least, at the end.

Kaeya is well-aware that his fingertips are digging into Lumine’s skin, but he’s trembling, and he can’t seem to let go.

She wakes up, of course, it would be horrible if she didn’t. And she looks up at him, exhausted, face red from the over-exertion.

The sunrise is beautiful. The sky is streaking with orange and yellow, overlaid over the blue, reflecting green. And off in the distance is the rising sun, burning through the water on their clothes. He can feel the heat on his bare arms.

Kaeya realizes then that Rosaria and Kazuha are ahead of him on the bridge. That Amber and Paimon are with them, talking about what they saw in the Golden House, and then in the Bank. Amber is crying, but she’s smiling, too. A trick learned by nearly every young Knight.

Because no matter how hard things are for you, the best thing you can do for your team is to offer them a smile.

Kaeya’s spine is tight. He can hear Diluc’s words, see the Captain before him.

“It seems this whole bridge is haunted,” he murmurs, and finally, he releases his tight grip. He looks to Lumine then, and his eye crinkles, because at least she’s breathing.

At least she’s not limp in his arms. She’s covered in blood, but her eyes are open, and she’s blinking.

He stares at her, smiling, until he’s sure he’s seeing her correctly. Until he’s positive she’s actually breathing. Until he’s watched her chest rise with her heartbeat, which he realizes out-of-context must appear terribly lewd.

Lumine rests her knuckles somewhere under his sternum, just barely where she can reach without having to move her arms. Kaeya can guess how injured they must be, how terrible her tendons and muscles must feel. Luckily, Liyue has some of the best medicine and tonics available, so he lets out a sigh that ends in a smile. And forces a chuckle of sorts.

She releases some pressure on his chest, feeling his heart speeding up.

Kaeya takes a deep breath. “You scared me for a moment there. Look at you, making a Captain all worried.”

Lumine grins, lips tilting up at the corners, but she’s exhausted. It’s not as if they slept last night.

She’ll be unconscious again by the time we cross this bridge, he thinks, simultaneously making a mental note of all of the medicines he’ll need to acquire for his teammates. Amber’s fingers will be in pain. Kazuha’s shoulders will be sore. Rosaria, oh archons he hasn’t even had a chance to talk to Rosaria. And what does Paimon want?

Food. He makes a face, a real smile at last, a tiny quirk-up of his cheek. At least she’s always easy to shop for.

He takes a deep breath, but something in him has shifted a bit. Some change in him has occurred. Even if he didn’t leap into the water, Kaeya fears he walked onto the plank.

And it seems his entire team, rather than letting him fall, or letting him jump, or letting him and Childe fight themselves into the roaring waves, would rather steer the entire ship to keep them on it.

Have I taken them over the edge?

Goosebumps break out on his arms, as he realizes the implications of what happened last night. Of Amber screaming his name. Of Kazuha cutting down Tartaglia, no matter what it meant for him. Of Lumine standing strong to guard his dying body from a man three times her size, who had nearly cut her in half already.

Of Paimon tugging his hair to get him off of the platform. Of watching Amber jump over a man’s head, narrowly avoiding losing a leg. Of Keqing running past, keeping the incoming wave off of him. Of Kazuha, the rain slashing his eyelids as he refused to look away, timing everything perfectly. So that he was the one injured, and not a single one of the adepti who could surely have handled it.

Unwittingly, or perhaps quite perfectly, Kaeya has found himself in a team of martyrs.

“And you’re the worst of them all,” he murmurs, unable even to glance down at the sleeping form in his arms, because he’s trying to keep the tears from slipping down his uncovered eye, and because on the other side they are already soaking his new patch.

Her heartbeat is pounding under his arm, far too fast for someone who should be resting. But at least it's not pale and hard to decipher.

Her halo of hair, outlined with a god’s fury. Her swords, tipped with blood. Her mighty shouts, her flips through the air, the vengeful way she cut anyone who opposed her down. The way she protected everything behind her, refusing to give up the line and yet refusing to die easy.

And how, despite it all, she was stronger than anyone else. Only to return home and not receive a shred of information for the one person she wanted to find.

He looks down at her then, his anger for her situation overlying any grief he feels for his own. His cheeks are wet, but the rising sun will dry them, staining his skin, and for that he is welcome.

His eyes roam over her face, over the scrapes and cuts, but more importantly over her expression. At least she's sleeping soundly. He looks another moment, just to placate his panic.

And to remember she’s breathing.

Kaeya tries to feel what he felt when he first came across the bridge. He thinks he’s been standing here for minutes, for hours, but in reality he’s only barely paused, barely had time to speak.

In reality, Amber hasn’t even gotten to talking about the Bank yet. She’s still rattling on about the Golden House, and Rosaria is holding her polearm, hand backwards on her hip, looking all the world as if she might walk into the Bank, put Childe over her knee, and give him the whacking of his life.

Kaeya thinks that Lumine could hold a sword to him tomorrow, could threaten his life, and he would be fine. As long as she did him one solid, and put him out of his misery, before walking out of his life.

He swallows hard, changing the subject again. Rushing through them, flipping through his emotions and the sounds of them, trying to find one that isn’t filled with screaming.

He didn’t see spies in the corners of the Bank, so that’s good.

The smallest things in the city are threats to regular people, as they always have been. And he is a Knight, as he always needs to be.

He sees himself grabbing a rope dangling from the ship, pulling himself back up.

He’s known for a long time that he would have to fight thieves. When Diluc left, he learned he could. When Jean struggled to keep her power, he learned he could fight demons.

Now he knows he can fight gods too.

He sees himself climbing up that rope, and when he looks beside himself, the waves lashing at his uncovered face, he sees Childe. His red mask is slipping from his hair, but he’s holding on for dear life, because he’ll be damned if he falls in that water again.

He can’t lose everything he worked so hard for.

And Kaeya comes to a decision. He can’t just walk the long walk off the pier.

Not yet.

Not when there’s people dangling over the whirlpool.

In his head, he sees himself reaching out his hand.

When Kaeya takes another deep breath and looks up, he has to blink a few times. Everyone has moved in the second since he thought he was last looking. Apparently it’s been a few minutes.

Kazuha is off the bridge entirely, kneeling beside the pond off on the far side. Qiqi is beside him, and he’s showing her the different birds.

Life moves on.

The birds have returned to Liyue, a sure sign that the gods’ wrath is over. That Zhongli is off sipping tea, and that Osial is trapped once more.

Rosaria is talking to Amber, though she keeps glancing up to make sure he’s not dead on his feet. She lifts an eyebrow, and after a moment he realizes she’s not only got lines of dirt on her, but her dress is soaked. It couldn’t be salt water if it’s not drying even after all this time.

She must have gotten tossed into one of the ponds behind Liyue, meaning she was on the tail of someone. Perhaps, without her interference, yet another threat would have entered Liyue.

So while everyone was trying to escape the flood, they would have run into the maws of another waiting enemy.

He smiles at her then, a tight-eyed thing that says, “Hey, you look like shit,” but affectionately.

She flips him off, and then Amber looks back and gives him a big bird too.

Chapter Text

The smallest things in the city are threats to regular people, as they always have been. As he is a Knight, as he always needs to be. And now he knows to fight not only the tiny humans, the run-of-the-mill thieves. Now he knows he can fight gods too.

He should feel terrified. He should feel angry. He should feel something about the weight of the responsibility. It should make him tremble.

He is trembling.

But he’s elated.

Kaeya steps onto the bridge which leads into Liyue, walking out. Amber is on his right, doggedly carrying Paimon, looking about to collapse.

Rosie is ahead of them, with a healed up Kazuha, Qiqi showing him the birds in the pond, who have already returned, a sure sign that the wrathful gods have gone back to their drinks, to leave alone the bustling humans.

Kaeya wishes they would leave everyone alone, forever, until another vengeful force comes to harm the world.

But for once, he feels like it might be possible for people to save themselves, if only they have the time to learn how.

Or maybe, he doesn’t care so much about all of that.

Some small part of himself is just grateful that Lumine is in his arms.

His tired mind might be whirring ahead, to the fights in the future, but somewhere in Liyue he’s just glad to have her soaked dress against his bruised skin. To feel her breathing deep, to have to readjust her against his ribs.

The guards at the front of the bridge all salute them as they pass. Lumine watches the clouds recede in the early morning sky, before letting her eyes close, enjoying the sun on her face.

“That was awful,” Amber says, resting her head on Rosaria’s shoulder.

“I know. I’ll get Jean to come heal you once Qiqi is done,” Rosie says, her arm around Kazuha reassuringly. “Everything will be okay. And your rooms are ready at the inn.”

“I’m...I would rather,” Kazuha begins, then lets out a sigh. “Very well. Thank you, for everything you’ve done. The sky this morning is shining on us, is it not?”

Kaeya’s heart breaks a bit, to hear the man slip back into his old way of speaking. “Yes, it is. And what a gift it is to see it.”

“Do you think, that Liyue sees the gold, and feels their god is watching over them?”

Kaeya thinks only of the gold in Lumine’s eyes. He glances down to Amber’s fingertips, burned pink.

Rosaria follows his line of sight, her own eyes widening when she sees the scabs forming.

Kaeya is very grateful that he is a very, very good liar. He smiles bright. “Well, that wasn’t so bad.”

The cut along his stomach, so poorly stitched but stitched with love nonetheless, pulls open just a bit more, and Kaeya’s eye becomes tense.

He wills himself to cool down, for his eyes to stop welling with tears. The eyepatch tied so tight to his face captures the moisture, and he knows in another moment a tear might slip out.

He keeps his head tilted back, staring at the sky. “We’re alright.”

Rosie gently takes Lumine from his arms.

“Yes. And the wind will bring news of our arrival, and our victoy is laden with leaves,” Kazuha says.

Amber pulls herself upright to throw an arm around his waist, accepting his weight. “Gee, I need to work out more.”

The path before them is littered with green leaves after the storm. Some of the trees are bare, their branches seeming to wave at the team. The trees are alive.

They’re alive, Kaeya tells himself, feeling his chest tighten.

Jean gets the news in her office.

Thankfully, she knows where to go to. Months ago, her and Kaeya had worked out a plan for where to meet depending on which country he's gone missing in. For Liyue, it's Wangshu Inn. For Inazuma, Tsurumi Island, which he heard was abandoned. For Mondstadt, Dawn Winery. Of course.

“Where the fuck are they?”

Diluc’s words are none too quiet, as he lands in Liyue, looking around him with a fierce expression.

He sees hardly any townspeople, but many, many soldiers.

“Excuse me. Have you seen a Knight? Or, no, a blonde woman? A blue haired man?”

“Yes, sir. They saved us on the Jade Chamber,” one responds.

“Where is it now?” Diluc looks to the regular spot in the sky, but it’s gone.

“Oh, sir. Didn’t you see?”

Diluc looks the length of their pointed fingers, past ripped ropes on the dock, past missing ships, feeling his skin grow pale.

“They sunk it into the ocean.”

A falcon lands on an arm outside of Wangshu Inn.

“I’m alive,” Kaeya says, smiling. It’s lopsided, and large enough that Diluc knows it’s a lie as he approaches. He’s leaning against the wall, one leg propped up.

“What the fuck happened?”

“Nice to see you too.”

“You fucking,” his hand waves, flapping, “flamingo. Why didn’t you,” he starts, but takes a deep breath. “Jean?”

“She’s upstairs with our Honorary Knight. And Kazuha. His arm was nearly cut off.”

A muscle in Diluc’s jaw works, but his eyes are sadder than his form. He keeps his shoulders back, since there’s others around, though they aren’t close enough to hear the men.

“We’re alright,” Kaeya promises, with a little nod. “Though it’s unusual to see you out.” His eye sparks with mischief.

“Liyue and Mondstadt were just attacked,” Diluc says. “It’s natural for the Grand Master to need an escort. No other Knights were available and strong enough, so she reached out to the Adventurer’s Guild.”

Kaeya stares at the man who hates lying but is oh-so-good at coming up with acceptable stories to explain his life away. Pride swells in his chest.

And bitterness, because if Diluc can get away with it, why can’t he?

But he lets the pride overtake him, feeling that curious moisture fill his eyepatch again. The man smiles.

Diluc frowns, obviously shy for a moment, handing over a small package. “Take this.”

“Alright,” Kaeya promises. “Thank you for coming out.”

“It’s...no problem at all,” Diluc says.

Jean comes down the stairs then, and for a long while afters, until he’s walking upstairs alone, the scent of wine and Jean’s perfume lingering on him, Kaeya has a certain sorrow in his eye.

He turns over the package in his hands, walking all the way up near the top floor. He pulls the string, and opens it, revealing several eyepatches, a variety of colors. In case he and anyone else needed them.

And several colored bandages, with expensive thread to tie each one off.

And at the bottom, is a receipt and a business card. Telling Kaeya where he can go to pick up his new uniform, to replace the one he lost.

He walks into his room, sitting on the bed.

Kazuha is nearby, lying on his own, staring at the ceiling.

Their clothes were all destroyed. Kaeya’s leggings were still shocking him as he originally walked back to Wangshu. Now, he’s in some spare ones that were held in his inventory, and a billowing white shirt that clearly shows off his injuries. Not in the least because it’s partially see-through. He’s enjoying the hot weather in Liyue.

Kazuha is undressed nearly completely, wearing clothes which slip off of his shoulders, and shorts with little slits in the side to allow greater airflow.

Amber’s uniform was messed up too, mostly from the fall in the Golden House. But she already had a backup, and Jean brought it with her. It’s a bit fancier than her usual wear, with golden trim, but it suits her.

Lumine’s dress was slashed up, and stained, but she didn’t want it thrown out. At the moment she’s wearing a sundress that Amber happened to have in her inventory, and the things it’s been doing to Kaeya’s heart aren’t good. But he’s sure that with Diluc’s gift, he’ll be able to afford having her clothes mended.

“Meanwhile,” Kazuha says, seemingly reading his thoughts, “she can simply wear something in Liyue’s fashion. That won’t be so bad, right? Perhaps Beidou can offer something, or Lady Ningguang.”

“It won’t be so bad,” Kaeya agrees, picturing Ningguang’s outfit on Lumine, tailored to her height of course, the fabric embroidered with silk patterns of stars and Inteyvat blooms.

He falls back on the bed. “Maybe I should be thanking Tartaglia.”

Kazuha snorts and throws a pillow at his face.

Beidou comes through after all. Her and Lady Ningguang arrive soon after, joining Miss Jean and Lumine in the Traveler’s room, where she’s staying with Amber, a shy Rosie who has slipped out, in a new uniform brought from Jean, handmade by Barbara in Rosie’s fashion, and Paimon, the latter in the midst of testing every dessert on the menu.

“We brought you some clothes,” Beidou says.

“Sorry it took us so long,” Ningguang adds.

“She wouldn’t choose with fabric to go with,” Beidou says. “She said silk, I said it needed to be tough so it wouldn’t rip.”

“That is a tough decision,” Jean says. “The clothes I prefer to fight in are certainly different from my regular outfits.”

“It also needs to be flame-proof,” Amber says. “I’m a bit of an issue, otherwise.”

“You’re not an issue,” Jean scolds, glancing for a moment with lonesome eyes at Amber’s bandaged fingertips.

“Say, you’re matching Kazuha there,” Beidou says gently. “What happened?”

“Oh, I had to suture Kaeya’s wounds shut,” Amber says. “No biggie.”

“No biggie?” Ningguang’s hand lands over her heart. “To think you did all of that before even being able to reach us. You five saved Liyue, you know. You have our utmost gratitude.”

“Oh, it was nothing,” Paimon says, giggling when Amber rolls her eyes at her.

Lumine, exhausted and sleepy, just smiles in bed.

Jean runs a cloth over her forehead. “She’s been a bit feverish. I hear it’s a lingering effect of the adeptal energies used.”

“Yes, they helped the Traveler and her companions to fight in the battle against Osial,” Ningguang responds. “I’m afraid the toll it takes on a human body is greater than we imagined.”

“Well,” Amber says, leaning back. “Lumine also handled all three powers. None of us could handle one for more than a few minutes.”

“No wonder you’re sick,” Jean says, switching out the cloth on Lumine’s forehead.

Their Traveler frowns for a moment, turning her head to look up at the Grand Master, whose hair is down over her shoulders.

“Aether?”

Jean freezes, before turning back so Lumine can see her face. She smiles gently at her Honorary Knight, feeling her heart twist. “I’m sorry. We’re here.”

Lumine just frowns, and closes her eyes to drift off to sleep again.

“She’s asking for her brother again,” Kazuha says, his arm under his head.

Kaeya looks up sharply from the clothing catalogue he’s holding.

“They’re all with her,” Kazuha says, waving him off without looking. “I can hear them.” The man has seemed...curiously agitated lately. Not at anyone else.

Kaeya sets down the catalogue. “Kazu.”

Red eyes swivel over to him, swollen with tears.

“What’s going on my friend? You seem rather upset, though not at me.”

“My apologies.” Kazuha tries to sit up, the pain spurring up his arm when he’s almost risen, and he flops back onto the bed, painfully.

Kaeya swings his legs out of his own, walking over. He fluffs Kazuha’s pillow, and produces the ribboned bandages. “Red, for your outfit to match? Or would you prefer blue, for a little surprise?”

“What color does Rosie like?”

“Red it is.”

Kaeya begins unwrapping the bandages wound around Kazuha’s shoulder, only the top layer. He just changed the other layer a couple of hours ago. He winds the fresh one around, tucking in the herbs Diluc sent in the package.

“That smells good,” Kazuha says.

“It’s silk. It’s perfumed to keep bugs away, and keep the inflammation down.”

“Both are very important in a hot environment such as Liyue,” Kazuha says, his knuckles to his forehead. “Your thoughts are as boundless as the sea, and as ordered as a trusty ship.”

“I am your Captain,” Kaeya says.

Kazuha stares up at the ceiling, swallowing hard. “How did you...I mean. How do you keep track of every herb you need?”

“Years of learning. I was raised to be a Knight,” Kaeya lies. He was raised to be a Captain’s assistant. He was raised to get Diluc to the status of Grand Master.

But when Diluc left, he elevated Jean instead.

He was raised to keep people alive.

It’s his job.

Anyone he stands beside is supposed to succeed.

A flash of blue eyes in his mind, and blonde hair, and a shout of a distant captain, flood his thoughts.

Memories of someone speaking rapidly, teaching him how to dress a wound, as buildings crumble and burn in the distance, sear into his mind.

Kaeya flinches, but recovers instantly, drawing in a shaky breath.

Kazuha’s eyes linger on him.

Kaeya wonders if the man can hear his sins coursing through his blood, or if the man can simply hear the tremor of his trembling heart.

Chapter Text

When Paimon awakes, she’s alone.

She frowns, looking at the tangled blankets on Lumine’s bed. “Well someone didn’t sleep well,” she says, trying to sound as normal as possible. But her gut twists.

Everyone else is in other rooms on the top floor of the inn, occupying space typically reserved for Xiao. Diluc left already, though Paimon suspects he’s the reason all the camps around Wangshu have been emptied of dangers. Xiao must still be licking his wounds after helping to defeat Osial.

Jean and Lisa are visiting as well, but they’re staying with Rosaria at the moment. And they’ve been up all day taking care of Kaeya’s fever.

Paimon stretches, flitting across the bed, only to glance down at the side of it and give a loud gasp.

Lumine is here after all, sitting beside the bed, arms huddled around her legs.

“What are you doing there?! Did you fall or something?”

Paimon is on her friend’s knees in an instant, flitting close to her face before realizing something is terribly wrong.

Lumine’s eyes look dead, dull. Full of some roiling energy that Paimon doesn’t recognize. She’s staring at nothing, awake, circles digging under her lashes like heavy bruises.

Paimon reaches out, lifting limp bangs to feel Lumine’s forehead. “Lumi? What’s wrong?”

She’s burning hot, either feverish or at the very least too warm. The room feels impossibly stuffy.

“I’m going to open a window, okay?”

Lumine gives no indication that she truly understood the word. For one moment, her eyes widen, enough that Paimon actually flinches back.

The pixie flies to the nearest window, cranking it while staring at Lumi. Despite her obvious trouble with getting the damn thing to lift, Lumine doesn’t look at her. Doesn’t move.

Paimon has to concentrate to even see her friend’s chest moving as she breathes.

She whimpers once, pushing on the window to try and lift it, finally succeeding with a gasp and a huff, nearly toppling out.

She looks back, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Lumi would never let her fall.

Lumi isn’t even looking at her.

“Hey.” Paimon flits back over, hesitating for a moment. Lumine looks sick. Her face is red, and her eyes are dark, and the rest of her face is so pale she likely lost blood of her own.

Paimon sets a tiny hand on Lumine’s knee, leaning more to look up to her. Lumine isn’t scary. She can’t be scary. She’s just…hurt, and it’s terrible to see.

“Hey, everyone is alright. Do you remember Kaeya? He’s perfectly fine! Well, sort-of. He has a fever, but he’s gonna recover. Master Jean is with him now! And Lisa. And you know if anything happened to our Captain, Miss Lisa would go to the gods and demand him back, saying he owes a library book or something.”

She tries to laugh, hoping that her friend maybe can as well.

Lumine’s eyes seem to lower, and her shoulders droop. Tears fill her vision.

Paimon gasps, but because she’s crying, or not only because, but due to her friend’s breathing stopping entirely.

She shakes Lumine’s shoulder frantically, until her friend gasps and meets her eyes, though they drift away soon afters.

“What is wrong with you?! No,” Paimon says, putting her hand on Lumine’s cheek. “You pay attention to Paimon! Tell her what’s going on!”

“I sold all my swords.”

Lumine’s voice sounds so gravelly and low that it takes a moment for Paimon to figure out what she said at all. When she does, she gasps. “Wait, Lumi? What do you mean? All of them?”

“It was an accident. Well, it wasn’t.”

Lumine takes a deep breath then, which is good except that it seems to Paimon very clear that the woman is breathing manually at this point, and that’s a good way to die if you’re not, like, a shark.

“Why?” Paimon can get the details later. Her heart is pounding.

Lumine meets her eyes then, desperation plain, as if she’s watching someone dying on her lap.

“Because Liyue has to be able to defend itself.”

Paimon shuts her mouth momentarily, staring down at her friend in disguised horror.

“What?”

“Liyue, they…they were invaded,” Lumine says, moving her arm around her, as if she’s gesturing. Her eyes are trained on a map only she can see. On battle plans that haven’t been written out. On the horrible things buried in her mind which she has been unable to put words to. “They’re all going to die if they don’t fight.”

“They have people to fight,” Paimon tries to explain, but maybe it’s no good when she’s talking to the person who had to save them all.

Lumine doesn’t even hear her. Perhaps there’s too many tears in her body, and they’ve drowned out her ears as well as her eyes. She’s trembling, though Paimon doubts she knows it.

“They’re all going to die if they can’t defend themselves,” she says, and she’s been crying for so long that her voice is quite broken.

“Right. Paimon doesn’t think that’s how it works. People like Xiao will save them, and there’s plenty of alternatives.”

“I sold all the swords.”

“They probably don’t know how to use them,” Paimon says aloud.

“The blacksmiths can’t work fast enough. And the forges are probably ruined anyways.”

“The forges are fine. We passed one on the way here. And they could import swords. And they use polearms.”

“And they’re going to die,” Lumine says. She’s rocking now, staring at a future only she can see. One in which each of her friends are draped around her, like in every nightmare she has. In which, once again, she isn’t strong enough to save a single person.

There’s a careening sound which spills from Lumine. Paimon watches her break apart, not knowing what to do or how to fix it. She gasps again, as Lumine begins to cry so hard she clearly can’t breathe right.

Jean has burst into the room at the first sign of trouble. Maybe years of taking care of Klee has honed her instincts. “What the hell,” she says.

Lumine doesn’t hear her either. “I’m going to lose everything. Again.”

“No, no, no you’re not. Paimon, what happened?”

“If I can’t even protect my brother, how the hell can I protect anyone else?” Lumine is begging now, maybe begging some entity to save her friends. To keep her team from the same horrible fate.

All she can see is Kaeya before her. All she can feel is his breath on her neck. Is see his warm blood spilling off of him, all onto her, turning her dress red, red, red.

Jean is on one knee before Lumine, a hand on her shoulder. “Hey. Honey. Hey.” She brushes Lumine’s bangs back, sucking in a quick, reserved breath when she sees how red her friend’s bruised eyes are.

Lumine is covered in injuries. Since Jean has primarily had to worry about Kaeya’s stomach and Kazuha’s arm, she hasn’t been able to heal Amber’s overworked shoulders, or Lumine’s bruises. The poor woman’s arms have turned green and red from the force of the sword blows when she was fighting.

“She must have burst veins,” Jean says, taking one of her arms, turning them over.

Lumine limply lets her, leaning on the bed for comfort, still crying. Still falling apart, separate from everyone else around her.

“Is she going to be okay? Your brother will be fine, Lumi,” Paimon tries, not knowing who to talk to first.

“She’ll be okay. Knights have gone through this too,” Jean says, thinking mostly of Kaeya after Crepus died, or of Amber after her Grandfather went missing, but she keeps these thoughts to herself.

And it’s not as if it’s the first time she’s come upon someone overworked, though last time of course they were aware of her presence in the library, and they smiled at her and told her everything was fine, even though Jean could sense their lying heartbeat and quick breaths when she turned away.

Jean opens her eyes to find that she’s pulled Lumine into a terribly tight hug, the two of them locked together on the floor.

“You’re going to be okay, Honorary Knight. Everything is going to be okay.”

“Not when they’re dying,” is the cruel, unadulterated response.

“Everything isn’t going to be awful forever,” Jean says, squeezing Lumine. She didn’t realize how small the other woman is. She needs to eat more. It’s like hugging Kaeya, and again, guilt racks through her.

“Everything is always awful,” Lumine says, thinking of Kaeya’s shoulder being torn open. “Kaeya’s shoulder, and the crying on the beach. And we can’t stop crying.”

She’s thinking of the Conch shell story, of how sometimes people die trying to save someone else. She doesn’t think of how the man lashed his wife to the pole, proud that he could use his last act on the planet to save the person he loved the most. She doesn’t think of how the woman built an entire home to hear his last words.

To her, the world begins and ends the moment that people who are supposed to be together are separated.

“I should have stopped it,” she says, because of course she was alive fifty years ago when it happened. She was alive when her brother was taken.

“You couldn’t,” Jean says.

“Then what’s the point of being alive? What’s the point in my existing, if I can’t help anyone? If I can’t save them.”

Jean pulls back, looking down into her eyes. Knowing now that she’s looking at herself. “You don’t have to save them.”

“They can’t save themselves,” she says. Lumine is still begging for someone to tell her she’s doing the right thing. Or the wrong thing. For any direction at all. “I have to do it, I’m strong enough to.”

“You’re pushing yourself too far, Lumi,” Paimon says. “You need to rest.”

“I need to fight!”

“You can’t fight without swords and rest,” Paimon tries.

“There’s nothing to fight,” Jean says, much more sternly.

Lumine looks up to Jean with watery, leaking eyes. She can’t see much except a blonde figure, blurred by the dimness of the room in contrast to the bright sunlight coming through.

She frowns, quiet for a moment as she stares up. “Aether?” But Aether’s eyes aren’t blue. Aether isn’t that tall.

“No,” Jean says. “I’m Jean. Your Grand Master. You need rest.”

“Jean.” Paimon breaths a sigh of relief. Lumine is at least looking vaguely near Jean’s eyes. “People are going to die.”

“There are people to defend them.” Diluc is downstairs, Jean thinks. The surly vigilante certainly won’t let anyone here be harmed while he’s around, and able to fight.

“There weren’t,” Lumine says, gesturing halfheartedly behind her.

“Paimon thinks she means at the Jade Chamber. Lumine saved all of us.”

“You did,” Jean says, rubbing Lumine’s forehead. The woman on the floor is staring downwards again. Jean fears she’s losing her. “You did save all of us. And without you, everyone would have struggled.”

Struggled? They wouldn’t have died? Lumine can imagine that if she fell, someone else would have saved the day. Keqing perhaps, or Xiao, or Ningguang, or maybe even a late showing Beidou. “But was it pointless? Would someone else have stepped up?”

“There was no one else right then. You stepped up.”

“But does it matter that I was there at all?” Someone else could have done it. They didn’t need me at all.

“Of course it matters.”

Lumine can picture the people falling off of the sides of the Chamber. She lifts her eyes, trying to escape the terrible images, to stare into Jean’s.

“But that means I could have saved more of them,” Lumine says, in the same cadence that someone kneeling on an altar says, exhausted of begging for mercy.

“You can’t save them all,” Jean urges.

“But I can try,” Lumine says, and looks away again, slumping against Jean’s hand, th only thing still holding her up. Jean pulls her in to hold her again. “I tried to save them all.”

“You saved plenty. Trying to save them all is a risky endeavor. Better to care for yourself.”

“But doing that got Kaeya hurt.”

“Kaeya will be fine.”

“He bled all over me and almost died.”

Jean is squeezing her then, but Lumine is all out of empathy for anyone else. She cannot take the words back.

“And if he had died, it would have been defending you,” Jean says, looking down into Lumine’s eyes.

“It would have been my fault.”

Jean grabs her chin, forcing her to look up. “It would have been Childe’s. And the Tsaritsa’s. And the stupid Fatui’s. It isn’t your fault if people die who you are trying to defend.”

For a moment, hope sparks in Lumine’s eyes. And then she thinks of her brother. “But I tried, and I failed.”

“Then you did good enough.”

“Not to the people who died.”

“Maybe they don’t get to judge that. And I doubt they’re nearly as mad at you as at the people who ripped them from your arms. Do you understand? Losing people isn’t a fault of yours. It’s the fault of the people who separated the two of you.”

Her words are said so fiercely, that for a moment Lumine wonders if she has hurt her friend. But her ability to ask slips away, and she swallows. It’s easier now that her neck is craned, at least.

And she can feel her fingers again.

“I sold my swords. I can’t defend anyone now.”

Jean sighs. “When Diluc said this morning that he bought a bunch of Mondstadt swords, I couldn’t possibly fathom why. I’m assuming he figured something was off when he saw them on the market, and purchased them all already. How did you even sell them? You’re supposed to be staying in bed.”

Lumine shrugs. “Walked down the stairs. No one noticed.”

Jean sighs again, more forlornly. Regretfully. “Actually, both Verr and Venti said something. But I was busy with Kaeya?”

“Is he dead?”

Paimon nearly throws up at the blunt question.

“No,” Jean says. She was expecting it.

“Is he dead?,” Kaeya asked, looking up at her, eyepatch off, sitting in her living room in front of the fireplace.

She was busy bandaging the burns along his arm.

“No,” she says again, hearing for a moment the tone in her voice she had as a teenager, which she thought she had lost. Maybe growing up really is becoming an amalgamtion of you at every stage.

A disconcerting thought, if you ever hated yourself, or what you couldn’t accomplish.

She shifts Lumine’s weight onto one arm, feeling the lady’s forehead with her other. “You need sleep. Rest. We can talk when you’re awake. Everyone is alive. No one has lost any limbs. You have a fever.”

Lumine stares up at her, sore, barely comprehending her words.

Jean is on her last leg of patience, but she drums up some of what she normally reserves for Kaeya. “Paimon, get on the bed.”

“Uh, okay? Why?” The pixie flits over to sit on the pillow. “How is this helping anything?"

Jean looks to Lumine, pointing at Paimon. “Look. Your friend is on the bed. You don’t want to leave her alone, do you?”

Lumine narrows her eyes at Jean.

“She needs a hug,” Jean says.

“Paimon didn’t agree to this,” Paimon mumbles. “But yes, Paimon would love a hug.”

Lumine crawls into bed, and promptly passes the fuck out.

Jean sighs, walking back into the room where Kaeya is sleeping. He’s on his back, head tossed to the side. Eyepatch on the nightstand.

She has a block of ice at the foot of his bed. She lifts a hand, summoning a breeze to blast cold air across him.

His face is red with his fever, the result both of overworking himself and of the adeptal power.

Kazuha is on the second bed in the room. Whereas Kaeya sleeps snuggled into his blankets, impossibly sweet, Kazuha is as reckless as a man who grew up in a proud house. His arm, which was somehow saved and which is now tied with the red ribbons Diluc donated, is held up by his head. His other is on his stomach, robes in disarray, feet kicking his blankets off. Jean isn’t sure how he’s sleeping at the angle his neck is at. She walks over and fluffs his pillow, slipping it under his ear.

His eyes snap open. “You’re sick. Stay asleep.”

She used up all of her patience taking care of Lumine.

Kazuha’s eyes open further.

Jean cusses in her head.

He glances aross the space between the beds, at Kaeya. “Is he ill?”

“You’re all feverish.”

“Adeptal energy,” Kazuha mumbles, before passing out again.

Once more, Jean readjusts his head, ensuring he’s actually getting air down his throat. The man’s jaw is bruised. She makes a mental note to inform Smiley downstairs, but thinking of that makes her think of Diluc, who’s likely waiting anxiously for word. Though if she had to guess, he’s sitting downstairs pretending to be doing anything else, and doing a bad job of hiding his true intentions.

Jean and Paimon find Diluc sitting at a table in Smiley Yanxio’s dining room. His arms are crossed, and his shoulders are tense.

He’s a far cry from the happy-go-lucky man who used to rush towards her in the open fields of Mondstadt. For a brief moment, Jean feels her heart wrench within her.

They’re a Winery tycoon and a Grand Master, now. They can’t embrace. She can’t throw her arms around him and try to appreciate his very existence. It’s not like when they were kids.

Stiltingly, she pulls out a chair and joins him, along with Paimon who sits right on the table, too tired to bother with floating.

Diluc gasps, looking up to both of them. “What’s the news?”

Evidently he had been lost in thought. “They’re fine,” Jean says. “All of them are feverish.”

“Who’s doing the worst?” Diluc’s brow grows a tiny wrinkle of concern.

Behind them, Smiley seizes the opportunity to dip into his own room, leaving them some privacy. Jean makes a note to thank the man before realizing that Diluc likely already has.

“Lumine is,” Jean begins, not sure how to politely word her thoughts.

“Lumine’s gone crazy,” Paimon complains.

Jean’s look to the little pixie is slightly sharp. “Weren’t you suppoed to stay with her?”

“Paimon got bored. She cuddles me rough. And she’s too warm.”

“I see.” That burrow in Diluc’s forehead is growing. Somehow, it makes him look younger. He sighs, setting his chin on his hand. “We could give her remedies, and at the same time she likely needs to heal. Her body must be exhausted from the adeptal energy she used. Same in the rest of them.”

“I concur,” Jean says. “Kaeya is feverish.” Diluc’s eyes flit right to hers. “The wound on his stomach re-opened several times, so I’ve been checking to ensure it stays closed. Keeping him cool is a pain.”

“He used to get cold too quickly,” Diluc says.

“Perhaps.” Jean uncrosses, recrosses her legs, trying to think of how to turn this conversation. “Kazuha nearly lost his arm. He appreciates those bandages you sent over.”

“And Amber?”

“She’s doing the best out of all of them. She’s staying with Rosaria. Her shoulder muscles are torn from overuse, but with my healing she’ll be fine in a few days.”

“Good to know. So what happened with Lumine?” He looks right to Paimon. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but she’s normally level-headed.”

“Eh, sort-of,” Paimon says, thinking of all of the times Lumine has slaughtered her enemies with a giddy smile. Then she thinks of Diluc on that bridge in Mondstadt that one time with the Abyss Mages, and thinks he’s probably a similar brand. “Normally, she’s as normal as you, Master Diluc. But now, she’s freaking out. She thinks she has to save everyone in Liyue.”

He frowns, looking to Jean for an explanation. “She feels responsible for the injuries of her teammates.”

“Ah,” he says, eyes bright with pain for a moment.

Jean was dreading that look, and feels relief once it arrives, because now she can look past it once it fades. “She’s the one who sold all those swords.”

“Yes, I bought them.”

“You did?! She can have her swords back?!”

“Of course,” Diluc says. “We should put them in her inventory before she wakes. We can explain everything when she’s…more stable.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jean says.

Paimon swallows her drink, tapping the counter. “And what about for the future?”

“Keep trying to find her brother,” Jean instructs. “As for her health, keep an eye on her. If she’s getting too stressed trying to save everyone, remind her that she can’t. That the small things that she does do matter, but that she doesn’t have to do them until she collapses.”

“Paimon doesn’t think she’s going to listen.”

“Yes well,” Jean says, looking straight at Diluc, “stubborn, self-sacrificing martyrs rarely listen to those who care about them.”

Under her gaze, he shudders, gulping down his drink to save himself from having to respond.

Chapter Text

Lumine sees Kaeya lying on his side. His stomach is torn, blood seeping over his shirt. One hand rests idly on the wound, as if he’s only resting. The other has reached out to a white flower on the ground.

His face is turned away from her.

She tries to rise from here she’s lying, reaching out for him.

She hears laughter as she approaches, and sees his head turn to glare up at her, with Signora’s haughty face.

Lumine wakes with a start, gasping.

She can feel the tears on her face, reaching up to ensure they’re not blood.

“Oh, are you finally awake?” Paimon flits over into view, looking down at her with cheeks covered in crumbs.

Lumine scowls up at her. “Where is everyone?” Her throat feels like hell. Paimon carries over some water, not even needing to be asked.

“Their own rooms. They all had fevers. Amber is alright now. Kazuha needs another day to recover. Kaeya’s still sick.”

“Kaeya’s sick?”

“Yes. Did you hear Paimon? Paimon said they all were! But you’ll be fine.”

“I don’t care about me,” Lumine says, flinging the blankets off of herself to sit up.

Paimon presses one hand to the woman’s forehead, holding her in place. “You should start,” she says, in as commanding of a voice as she can.

“I hope this works,” Jean says, her fingers curling, shy.

Rosaria is lounging in her new dress, smiling languidly. “I love it, Miss Jean.”

“You don’t have to call me Miss,” Jean says, sitting beside her, clasping her hands. “Barbara made it for you.”

“Miss Deaconness?” Rosaria fingers the fabric. “I don’t remember such fabric being found in the Favonius Cathedral, unless they’ve underwent uniform changes since I’ve been gone.”

Jean blushes. Caught, Rosie thinks.

“I may have, supplied the fabric.”

“And it takes awhile to make a dress.”

“Only a night,” Jean protests, hands on her knees.

“If the fabric is pre-made,” Amber says, emerging from the bathroom, her hair wet.

Rosie breathes deep to smell the air, moaning. “Gee, Lady Ningguang went all out with that bath stuff.”

“I smell like a flower field,” Amber says. “And I love every second of it. Jean, you have to take some.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t.”

“Oh no, you need to. You clearly planned for a situation like this. Look at the uniforms you made us!” Amber holds hers up in front of her towel, all smiles as she turns in circles. “And this is even gold-threaded! Besides, we have an abundance.”

“I’m sure the men will like smelling like things bees kiss as well,” Jean says.

“Oh Ningguang gifted them too,” Rosie says, pulling from her inventory a new whip. “And Beidou replaced or is busy repairing our weapons.”

“Did you get in any fights?” Amber is busying sorting through the top drawer of the inn, which is full of gifts from Keqing. Being practical, she brought everyone underwear. Ganyu supplied fresh flowers, to keep morale up, though Amber supposes it’s probably also for a snack.

“Hmm, I thought about kicking Signora’s ass.”

Jean looks up sharply with a little gasp.

“But I let her go. Good thing too, she was being trailed by that Zhongli guy.”

“Oh yeah,” Amber says. “He’s the god around here.”

Jean shakes her head. “I don’t envy Lady Ningguang’s position. Archons are always tricky to contend with.”

“Aren’t you angry?” Amber turns back, silk pieces laced between her fingers. “I mean, he had the power to stop everything. He was just testing us.”

“I am,” Jean says hollowly, but with the strength of her name she draws breath. “But, gods can’t always interfere like we think. Think about it, gods who try to fight every creature, end up destroying mountains, causing storms. They destroy the world around them. Who’s to say that Rex Lapis could go against Osial safely? Last time, he made the stone forest, and caused a tsunami. The current Liyue couldn’t last against such a force.”

Amber’s hands still over the drawer. “Wait, what?”

“How many people would die?”

“Surely he knows how to hold back?”

“But we don’t know that,” Jean says. “To us, it’s difficult to learn how to swing a sword and stop the swing before it connects. In fact, if we don’t do it correctly, we can rip our own tendons, or tear our muscles. What if it’s the same for a god?”

“Trying to do things on a smaller scale just doesn’t seem their style,” Rosie says, playing with a garland of flowers woven from Ganyu’s gift. Their scent wafts to her, making her drool, memories of being a child living off of these entering her mind. “If that’s the case, then you gotta hand it to him.” She snips a bud off and pops it in her mouth. “Zhongli’s plan was immaculate.”

“But we don’t know,” Amber says.

“Sorry Amber,” Jean relents. “I don’t mean to argue with you. After all, you’re the one who saw the aftermath.”

“Mm.” Amber closes the door, closing some of the soap gifts in with her clothes, to perfume them. “I suppose my point of view is dependent on the lives affected, and the scars we bear. But on the other hand, the gods likely know how many more could be lost.”

“I think it’s important to be critical,” Jean says. “Maybe there was a better way to do things. We shouldn’t assume malice, but we also shouldn’t assume perfection.”

Rosie stretches out, for a moment as restless as a cat, before letting out a long sigh. A stem flutters out of her mouth. She catches it. “I guess we’ll never know. Or maybe, we just have to wait until the end of this journey.”

“My concern,” Amber says, sinking to the bed slowly, still wrapped in her towel, “is if we’ll make it that long.”

“Amber!” Jean turns back to her.

“We almost lost Sir Kaeya back there. Imagine what Crepus would think.”

Jean grabs her scabbed hands. “He would think you did amazing. You saved his life.”

“But I had to,” Amber says, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Go cuddle Kaeya,” Lumine says, pointing up at Paimon. Stay with me.

“I’m staying with you.” Paimon crosses her arms stubbornly.

Thank god. “Rapscallion.”

“Trouble maker.”

“Scallywag.”

“You’re making up words!”

“I’m not! Kazuha taught it to me!”

“When did he have time to do that?!”

“I have no idea,” Lumine says, turning in bed, groaning.

A moment later, her face pressed near to the pillow, she falls asleep again.

Paimon floats down to the bed beside her with a little sigh. “You’ll feel better soonn. Just rest.”

Kaeya takes with fever that evening.

Kazuha sighs with fear, staring down at his sweating face.

Beidou and Lady Ningguang are long gone, needed in Liyue, needed to lead the entire city.

Jean is loyal by the bedside, having left Mondstadt in Lisa’s capable hands, and under Diluc’s watchful might. Venti is staying at Dawn Winery, safe and sound, she tells Rosaria.

The Traveler awakes to the door opening, to Amber rushing into the room. She grabs a bundle of sheets. “Oh, you’re awake! Sorry, I was keeping the light off.” She flits a finger, and the candles blare to life. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

“Tired,” Lumine says, extending a bare leg on the blanket. Her ankles are bruised dark, with tiny injuries up her skin.

“I bet,” Amber says, rummaging through the drawers.

“What are you doing?”

“Kaeya has a fever. Stay here though, you could end up passing yours back and forth if you get too sick.”

Lumine sinks back down into the covers as Amber flits to the door.

The Outrider looks back over her shoulder with a bold smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back to see you in a bit, okay?” She rushes out the door.

But Lumine has been alive for a long time.

She’s seen people die from less. Especially when they lost blood, when their body is fighting infections at the wound, even if the wound isn’t technically infected.

Kaeya must be exhausted.

That night, Wangshu Inn fills with a song that most wouldn’t understand. It’s sung in a language that the onlookers cannot place. It’s in a tune that doesn’t fit anything they’ve oft heard.

“It almost sounds like something Venti sings sometimes,” Amber says, readying another cloth for Kaeya’s head. She’s run back into the room from where she was keeping watch with Lumine, holding the lady’s hand while remaining a distance away to keep her heat from affecting the figure huddled on the bed.

By this point, Kaeya’s Vision has kicked in, cooling him down little by little.

Kazuha sighs in relief, changing the bandages on Kaeya’s legs with one arm, the other stiffly slung over his chest. Under Jean’s watchful gaze, he doesn’t dare mess with the arrangmenet. “At least it’s familiar. That’s a good sign. It’s very pretty as well.”

Jean recognizes it as a song Barbatos has sung only a few times, and usually outside of the tree of Mondstadt.

Jean is a smart woman. She has a million guesses about why Lumine is singing it, or how Barbatos knows the song, or why it would be sung to Kaeya. Maybe Lumine is running off of instinct. Or maybe the wind whispered to her to sing it.

But she’s not willing to ask.

The wind picks up in the room once more, and Jean and Kazuha glance to each other.

Jean puts her hands together before her. “Barbatos, guide us. And keep him safe.”

Kaeya’s fever breaks during the night, only a few hours after it began.

Jean cries in relief, exiting quickly with Rosaria holding the door open for her.

Jean knocks on Lumine’s door to find Amber. Lumine has once again fallen asleep, her meal stubbornly worked through.

Amber, who’s been waiting by the window, rushes out to catch up with her Grand Master. The three women, all three in new clothes, head outside, to get fresh air and eat some food made by Smiley Yanxiao, who has stayed up through the night making tonics that, thankfully, blessedly, have worked.

Later that evening, Rosaria excuses herself from the festivities. Amber is quite intoxicated, and Jean is soberly leading her friend through a game of checkers.

Rosaria heads back up to Kaeya’s room, knocking once before peeking her head in. Kazuha is sitting by the bed, where he’s been humming. He’s not supposed to be playing his grass tunes with an arm that’s healing.

Kazuha rises as well, leaving the fresh dressings on Kaeya, joining Rosaria in the other room they reserved. He falls back onto the bed, groaning dramatically until she looks over at him.

“Did you need something?”

“You? Attention?”

“You’re terribly spoiled,” she says, crawling in beside him, pulling the man close to her chilled skin.

“Yes, but it’s a hot night, and you’re a welcome relief.”

Kaeya stares at the far wall for a long time.

Lumine stares at him, brushes the hair from his forehead. Her fingers are cool compared to his hot skin.

His lips part, pulling at each other. He doesn’t know what to ask first. A small breath enters his lungs, leaves slowly. His heart is beating steady, and he’s not sure how.

He swallows.

Lumine holds out a small cup of water. “Want a drink?”

He was half convinced she wasn’t real. He looks over to her silhouette, bewhildered, still a bit out of it.

There’s no eyepatch covering him, and at once he realizes how exposed he is. How she can see him here, as close as she can get to the truth of his existence. How she can see the scars along his collarbones, how she can see the burns along his shoulder. How she can see them all.

He lifts onto his shoulder, reaching over, feeling the cold summer night air on his too-warm skin.

His hand rests on her skin. “Why are there raindrops on your cheek?”

“Thunderclouds in the room,” she says, voice strained.

It should have never come to this.

He shouldn’t have been so injured.

Kaeya, and Amber, and Kazuha. They’re only human. They’ll only live for so long.

They can only handle so much.

The scars on Lumine’s skin will fade. They do that, after 30, 40, 200 years. They fade, until eventually they’re replaced with new skin, with new scars, with new injuries.

But the scar on Kaeya’s stomach, right underneath his belly button, will remain until his voice booms across the room, taut with age.

Lumine thinks of the bodies she’s heard of, found encased in ice thousands of years after they laid on grass, that still have herbs tattooed on their skin. Kaeya’s scar could be like that.

There’s never enough fucking time, is there?

And what is she doing? Taking time from him, to use for her own selfish good? Putting him on her team, running around Liyue with him, watching him put himself in danger?

Kaeya looks up at her then, his eyes soft. Giving her all of himself, every bit which he can give.

So in love she can smell the fear coming off of his skin, and the relief brought about by her very prescence.

But if he wasn’t near her, he wouldn’t have been harmed.

And while her heart fills with elation at the look on his face, her mind fills with horror at the realization that this could so easily be ripped away from her.

What is she doing?

She has to fight a god. She just fought Osial. She has to go through five more mystery archons, and even more than that is the Unknown God is none of them.

Will he survive all of that?

Could Kaeya survive all of that?

But at the same time, Lumine realizes, her fingertips trembling, she couldn’t survive on her own. She needed him.

If her Captain hadn’t been there, surely she would have fallen.

“Your skin has goosebumps,” Kaeya says, smiling. “Too cold?” He lifts the blankets off of himself, grabbing a clean one left on the side of his bed. He winds it around Lumine’s shoulders, rising to head to the bathroom.

Lumine stares at the door long after he leaves, and wonders when she should.

“Human lives are so short,” Lumine said, blowing a dandelion on the cliff.

Aether was sitting beside her, laughing to himself. “You’re so picky,” he said. “Just pick someone, and love them.”

“No. I’d get my heart broken.”

“Oh, please. You love dogs, and they don’t live forever.”

Lumine drops her flower to the ground. “Yeah, but I always feel responsible for humans. I love someone, and they die saving me. It’s not like I’ll die the same way they will. I was never in danger like they were, and yet they always want to die for me.”

“You can still die, Lumine.”

“I’ve never died,” she protests. “If I did, I’d likely just end up in the next world.”

“Only if I went with you.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of losing people. It’s that I know I keep being the reason they die.”

“It’s not your fault. Bad people exist in the world. But the good ones adore you.”

“And their adoration gets them killed.”

“No, bad people get them killed. Adoration gives them happiness while they live.”

“Better a mediocre life than a dead one.”

“Sounds boring. Besides, isn’t that coming from a former queen? What did they call you? ‘The Rebel Queen’? Quick the nickname!”

“Shut up.”

“Hmph.” Aether looks to the sky. “What do you think would happen...if...you know, if we got separated? Could we leave this world, alone?”

“Would we even want to?”

“No, but...could we?”

They stare for a moment at the clouds above them. “I don’t think so,” Lumine says. “I doubt it.”

“Well, still,” Aether adds. “I want you to meet my friends here. You don’t mind, do you?”

“No. I’d love to.”

Lumine wakes up before the sky in her dreams turns red.

She fell asleep in her own bedroom, so that for a moment she isn’t truly sure whether she snuck out to visit Kaeya, or fell asleep in her room and dreamt everything.

When she begins to cry, staring at the books lining the walls, she tries to take a deep breath and remember what Aether said about everything being worth it.

But Lumine cries until dawn rises, and then she drifts asleep, her secrets tucked close to her heart, her flowers on the nightstand.

When she wakes, she stares at the wall for a long time before getting up.

She stretches. She opens the window. She looks out at the trees and the leaves.

It's still standing, she thinks, though it isn't much reassurance when she thinks of this tree in the face of the ancient gods.

But she can't let herself think like this.

She looks out at the horizon, where the sun is climbing. The sky is absolutely beautiful.

And she can see it. And so can her team.

They're all alive. They're all okay.

For the time being, there is something important to wake up to. There's a sky to look at.

It may have memories of monsters in front of it. It may at once have been filled with an explosion.

But the worst thing she can do right now is hide in her room, when there's a city to rebuild. When there's people who need her help.

When her teammates have waited on her.

Lumine takes a deep breath. She's still sore, lined with bruises and scrapes. Most everything else is healing, to some degree.

She's tired, and she needs to eat, and drink plenty of water and juice.

And then she's going to get dressed properly, and get her team up, and get everyone into the city.

It's time to return.

Chapter Text

“Why did you do this to me, Beidou?”

“Oh, I think it looks cute,” Amber says, tugging on her thigh highs.

“Cute? It’s cute, if I’m going to a club,” Lumine mutters, tugging at the...underwear? Lingerie? Shorts?

“Why would you wear that to go to a claymore? And what do you mean ‘go to’? Like, to buy one? Ooh, if you want, Eula can help!” Amber does a little jump in place, her high ponytail flopping.

Lumine stares at her for a moment, not quite awake enough to fully remember which world she’s in this time. “That does sound fun,” she says finally, falling apart internally.

Amber gives her pouty eyes, and Lumine gives in to the pretty dress. She tosses her towel on the bed, and begins pulling on what she tells herself is a pair of shorts. It’s pretty similar to what Beidou wears, except the entire dress is as short as she’s used to hers being only in the front, and slit to reveal both thighs.

“At least they left the halter cut,” Amber says, taking care not to stare at the jagged scars on Lumine’s back, as she helps to tie the dress at the top. She lifts the ribbony pieces left trailing from the back of the dress, under Lumine’s shoulder blades. “These are cute. They’re like a scarf, but they won’t choke you. Oh, they’re not tied very tight. I think they break right off.”

“They thought of everything,” Lumine says with a smile. She grabs her hair and braids either side, tugging on them for a moment. “Do I look like Venti?”

“Tone-deaf bard would get a kick out of this,” Amber says. “In fact, we should head to the balcony and take some pics. You look so cute! Oh yeah, do you want a Knight’s uniform?”

“Maybe someday,” Lumine says. “How do you think everyone would like it?”

“I think Kaeya would die on the spot.”

Lumine’s cheeks are instantly pink. She giggles, turning away, clipping her flowers back into her hair.

“It even shows a little cleavage,” Beidou teases.

“So does my regular one.”

“Yeah, but the Captain’s going to go crazy seeing you in that.”

Lumine throws a pillow at her face.

“Oh, your braids are coming out already,” Amber says, frowning over at Lumine as they descend the stairs. A wave of summer heat hits them as they walk out of the cool inn. The sunlight on the deck is surely warming the floorboards out there.

“We’ll have to get you some ribbons,” Kazuha says, pushing off of the wall he’s been leaning against, his arms crossed. He smiles in their direction. He’s wearing shorts reminiscent of someone specific they’ve seen wandering through Liyue, whose nose is often in a book. His top looks like one of Xiao’s spare ones, white and red. His arm is heavily bandaged, and tied with red ribbons.

“I can handle that,” Kaeya offers, approaching with an easygoing smile.

Until his toe hits the first step leading into the inn. Kaeya trips, stumbling forward, only for Lumine to reach out to steady the man.

He glances down for a half a second.

He blushes deep red, eye lifting to steady somewhere above her face.

Lumine’s brow lifts, her hands on his shoulders. “Did you get a sunburn?”

Kaeya freezes like a deer in headlights.

“She’s talking to you,” Kazuha says, with a hint of teasing in his normally calm tone.

Kaeya finally stands, staring somewhere around her eyebrows. “No. Yes. Do I look red?”

Lumine glances down at his chest. “Not sure.”

“You didn’t even bother trying to cover up,” Amber scolds, hands on her hips while she looks up at the Knight. “We’re supposed to be dressed professionally at all times.”

Beside her, Beidou holds back a laugh so hard that she snorts. Kazuha slips a handkerchief from his sleeve and hands it to her so she can wipe her nose as she walks past them. “Double standards,” she hides in a couple of the barking laughs.

“Hmph. It’s too hot for covering up,” Kaeya drawls, crossing his arms. Pumping his chest up a bit. His hair is pulled into a bun, wispy pieces teasing his neck.

“Even in winter,” Amber says, sighing. “Whatever, fix her braids Casanova.”

He’s wearing a white button down, simple enough. Except the front is open, trapped in a revealing rectangle between his exposed neck (which does have a suntan line from his typical choker), and a blue corset. He’s got leggings on again too, though Lumine notices (totally not from staring) that there’s mesh along either side.

Her heart speeds up considerably, and she bites her tongue, lifting her eyes quickly to his face. Down to his belt. Up to his face. Down to the embroidery on his corset, which is golden and which matches the threads in her outfit.

Up to his face. Her brows rise.

His eye is on her, mirthful as ever. His leg is bobbing.

He turns away first, taking a deep breath and fixing Kazuha with a tight grin.

Lumine shamelessly watches his chest rise, before ripping her eyes away once more.

“Here,” Kaeya says, distracting himself by pulling ribbons from his inventory. He sneaks a peek at Lumine’s thighs and nearly falls down the stairs. Amber has to put a hand on his arm to steady him, patting his shoulder as she passes.

Kaeya gives a nervous giggle, turning to Lumine, swallowing hard. He tries to give his usual suave smile, but is so excited that his exhilaration leaks through into his expression. Like the sun breaking through clouds.

Lumine wants to kiss him.

“Would you like blue, or perhaps the golden one?”

“Hm?” Her head bobs forward. Golden lips?

She’s hopeless. “Both,” Kazuha says. “Obviously. And give Amber the other red ones, so that we match.”

This samurai is the best wingman in the world. “Rosie took the white ones,” Kaeya explains. The breeze lifts the blue ribbon which is holding his hair up.

Lumine steps around him, admiring the braid, the ribbon swirled into the style. “Your hair is so pretty.”

“Thanks. Rosie did it for me. I wanted to look nice since this is our first day back in Liyue.”

Kaeya pulls the bows taut. “There. You’re one curious bloom of flower.”

She narrows her eyes. “Let’s hope when we go to Liyue no one tries to pick me.”

“Now, now,” he says, producing his sword quite easily. “They wouldn’t dare.”

She winks at him, in a moment of confidence, and strides away, leaving the Captain gaping at her open back.

Kaeya nearly falls on the stairs, dramatically grabbing the railing, one hand over his heart. Lumine has rushed out the front door to find and thank Rosie before she leaves. Paimon points and laughs at Kaeya, scurrying after her Honorary Knight.

Amber laughs out loud.

“Did you e’er see a sight so fair?” He thinks his heart is bursting.

“Captain, you see her everyday.”

“And yet I agknowledge every sunrise.”

“You cursed at the sun the other morning because it got in your eye,” Kazuha says, wryly, pushing off of the railing to scurry past the silly man, who’s leaning so far back he’s almost lying on the stairs.

“Oh, the misery! The pain! She’s as beautiful as a torch, and as bright as a star.”

“Yes, and as far away as one if you don’t hurry up,” Amber says, toeing her Captain as gently as she can.

“Oh! Oh! How can my heart stand it!”

“Stand up or I’m throwing you into the river,” Rosie says, arms crossed behind him.

“They just ran out to meet you,” Kaeya whines.

“Yes, and I missed them. Bathroom break.” Rosie shrugs, giving him the wild eyes.

Kaeya scrambles up, rushing out the doors. “Lumi, wait for me!”

Chapter Text

“Lumi, wait for me!” Kaeya’s long legs carry him as if he is flying. Liyue’s good for running - all long grasses mowed down by jumping frogs, and he avoids every one on his way to the golden girl in the sky.

Gods, she is like a dandelion. Standing proud and tall, as tall as she can at her height, looking out with a peculiar gaze at the mountains in the far distance.

He should have asked what she was looking at, but all he saw was her.

The Liyuean bridge is empty, this early in the morning. Fog still curls off of the water, as if it is all boiling. It shimmers with the dawn.

His hand curls over the back of her head, smoothing out the crazed ruffles from where each lock tries to raise to the sky above. “Hey, Lu- Lumi,” he corrects, smile tugging a bit.

The breeze lifts his hair in front of him, but he has two hands and brushes it aside because he can. Spices from early-morning vendors haven’t reached them yet, but there’s a faint scent of tea, and Kaeya lilies tossed into the water last night.

He raises his glance, trying to look out to the horizon, but long before his eye focuses, she’s looking up at him, and gods, he doesn’t want to miss this.

Her sweet face, all moon-like. His hand curving down a cheek he’s oft looked-at, oft held. Oft bandaged, usually on the floorboards of wherever they’re staying. Whatever hobble they’ve fallen into and made a home. “What’s this?”

“Just looking for breakfast.”

“Breakfast, or your next adventure?” He smooths over her cheek, tugs it once until a smile graces her features. But she always looks down. She has such dark lashes - it’s so rare with such light locks.

“Only with good company.” She looks up again, and the sun crests over the sea at his back. Barbatos’ breeze stirs his scarf, but does not yet call him back.

He feels his heart stir, reach just once more. A finger tangles around spun gold. “We’ll have to find some place to have dinner, too.”

Her lips curve up at the edges. “Of course.” And then, it’s like she comes alive - her head jerks back, chin proudly raised, her hands on her hips. “Someplace with food for us all.”

“All?? We’ll need to do an extra quest just to afford your little friend, there.”

“Paimon isn’t up yet.” Lumine winks.

Kaeya smiles like a squire, a blush coloring his cheeks. “So I suppose we have some time, then?”

“Plenty.” For once moment, she crosses her wrists over the railing. Koi dart by, orange and spotted. Under them, larger fish, who never dare to eat the smaller ones - for there are silvery ones which cut through the water to eat what they want and fight what they may.

“Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy a fine wine? And the ones worth waiting for, of course, are the hardest to obtain.”

“Only if you don’t know where to look,” she says, a moment before lifting onto her toes to kiss the stars.

She tastes like summer. Like the sun grazed the leaves of a strawberry plant, like the juice is running down his chin and he’s with her in the Golden Apple Archipelago again, her skirts tangled around her hips and her laughter pealing. He always wants to jar it up and carry it about his neck.

His head tilts and he curves down, always, wrapping her waist in his hand, dragging her lower back up until he has her, all of her for a moment. Warm, breathing once, twice-

And then she rips from his hands, giggling, and runs off.

“You always did tease me,” he says, eye squinting with delight. A wry smile graces him, his thumb brushing the sweet scent of her from her lips, but never gone. Just…on his hand, now. Reaching, missing the fabric.

Looking over her shoulder, that long scarf a ribbon in the air, a battleflag, a shooting star with an end point glinting in the sun, she beams.

Her eyes are shining, pools of gold underwater. She’s covered in bandages, and his ribs tug as he steps forward. It’s hard to lift his leg still, but it is the only thing to do. There’s plenty to go back to, but home is ahead of the way home. Home is ahead of the way home.

She giggles and stumbles halfway, turning around to see him behind her. “Come on, hurry up Kaeya!”

His smile only grows. He has half a mind to stop walking, to make her come to him.

But he always follows.

He is, after all, her Captain.

~The End.~