Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Childe sat under a tree , his bow on the ground next to him . He watched over the Dawn Whinery . He knew Diluc didn't like him much but Childe just enjoyed pretending .

As the sunset he spotted Diluc walking home along a path from the forest . Childe looked over and watched , from how far away he was it was hard to see details but he was sure Diluc was looking as lovely as ever .

Noticing a slime that was followed behind Diluc he grabbed his bow . Childe rested his arm on a rock , holding the bow more like a large gun . He aimed for a second and let go of the string . The arrow flew through the air , hitting the slime and killing it causing Diluc to jerk and look behind him .

Diluc looked to the area which the arrow came from , his tired eyes made it a bit blurry but he could see the ginger hair and knew who it was “..ugh” he groaned and continued walking . Childe waved to him happily .

Childe watched as Diluc went into the Whinery . after a bit he decided to get up from his spot and run off for whatever else he needed to do .

–

Diluc was setting everything up in the tavern when he got a knock , it was his loyal non-spender , DIluc gave the bard a dirty look before closing the door , not yet allowing him in . it wasn't normal opening time and Diluc was not the type to open early .

Once the clock hit 12 he unlocked his door , allowing people to enter the tavern , the first being venti .

Venti tried to talk Diluc into free drinks . He was too tired to fight but he hated giving in . “no. you have to pay for it , no free drinks” he spoke in a harsh tone “welll could i pay with a song?” the bard pulled out his lyre “no.” Diluc answered

“you're no fun!” Venti continued to whine . Diluc wasnt paying too much attention when someone else entered the tavern , until he spotted the ginger hair , it was him again

Childe entered the tavern , glancing at Diluc for a second . sitting down at a table in the back

Diluc didnt like the idea of a fatui member in his tavern , he found most of them creepy. He stopped listening to Venti and walked out from behind the bar , walking over to the table in the back

“Why are you here?” he asked , cutting straight to the question . Childe looked up , giving a weirdly bright smile “to get a drink of course~” he answered , looking Diluc up and down
“I just opened , the only people here this early are alcoholics” Diluc scoffed. “Well who says i'm not an alcoholic ?” Childe let out a laugh and continued to smile at Diluc who did not return it “alcoholics have a smell , and a look. Ive seen enough to tell”

“Doesnt matter, this is a open tavern correct? I dont see anyone saying i cant be here” Childe frowned for a moment before smiling again “well i'm saying you cant be here and its my tavern. Get out “ Diluc pointed back to the door . Childe frowns , standing up , he rolls his eyes “alright then , ill leave” Childe starts walking to the exit “And stay away from my house.”

Childe glances back “we’ll see about that one” he laughs and leaves

Diluc sighs and goes back to the bar , seeing Venti with an open drink “Where did you get that?? I said no free drinks” Diluc took the bottle from Venti’s hands “hey!”

Diluc worked in the tavern for his usual hours , fighting with kaeye , getting yelled at by diona , and venti’s whining . although luckly Childe had stayed out of his head all day

After work he got home , one of the maids brought him a box , one of old pictures . Diluc takes the box to his office . he didnt like remembering his past but something called to him

He sat at his desk , looking through old pictures . most of him and family , but then he found another .

A picture of Diluc , looks to be before his father died , he was sitting in the roses with another kid , a ginger boy with blue eyes.. Diluc sat up straight as he looked at the picture “is that..?” he flipped the picture over , the back reading “Diluc Ragnvinder , Ajax “ , he didnt remember the picture being taken , his last name was spelt wrong , he was sure he didnt know childe during this time and the name ‘Ajax’ held no meaning to him

Diluc stared at the picture , trying to come up with something to explain all his questions . He looked through more photos but found nothing else of him and the other boy . The eye’s of the other boy looked like childe’s , more than just the color , Diluc had looked into Childe’s eyes many times before , he could recognize those eyes anywhere .

He put the picture down “This is to much for me to think about right now “ he spoke to himself as he got up from his desk , walking over to his bed and laying down

Childe sat on the doorstep of the dawn Whinery , one of the maids had made him leave earlier but he had just came back . in his hands was an arrow , he stabbed it into the wall of diluc’s home ,dragging it along the wood , drawing out a heart “he’ll love that..or his maids will just clean it up again ..i guess” Childe spoke to himself

Suddenly one of the maids opened the door “Out! Off , go now!” she shouted , childe laughed as he got up “ok okk , take a chill pill , you clearly need it “ he took his bow and ran off . doing actual work through the rest of the night

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The morning came quickly . Diluc woke up as normal , although still with a lack of sleep . He felt so tired , there were too many stressful things in his life at any point it was hard to get a good rest . before leaving the bedroom he looked over to his desk

Picking up the photo of him and ‘ajax’ he takes another look at it “hm..” he can't help but think over and over about it . He left it on his desk , although once dressed went back over . He quietly stared at it before sliding it into his jacket pocket .

He went down stairs , food already cooked by one of his maid’s . After eating he decided to leave early for work , usually he hated the idea but he figured he could do some shopping before starting anyways.

As he walked out the door he saw one of the maids kneeling on the ground fixing up some of the wood on the Whinery “what happened?” he asked , looking down at her “oh just some termites” she answered casually “termites? Well thank you, i'll be sure to hire the traveler to come get rid of them” Diluc spoke and than began walking away

When he walked into his front yard he started to get the feeling he was being watched. Every Morning when he left the house he felt it , by now its not much of a thought, just something a bit annoying .

–

Childe had been getting annoying messages from the fatui , telling him what to do . he didn't care for the mission anymore if he was being honest , although there was no way he could say that to his coworkers

Lost in thought Childe misses Diluc leaving his house , only noticing once he already begun walking into the forest “huh?? Wait what time is it” childe pulls out a sun clock , checking the time , it's much earlier than normal “hm” Childe quickly stood up , grabbing his bow he ran to catch up to Diluc .

Childe watched as Diluc walked through the forest . The trees blocked some of his vision but to see Diluc was wonderful. Childe wondered what he thought of the heart he left , Childe wasn't even sure if Diluc would notice it

Hearing a monster camp ahead, Childe quickly runs ahead of where Diluc is . jumping off the hill he was hiding on , he begins to use his bow , quickly taking out enemies but it isn't fast enough for him . He takes the bow in one hand and uses it like a spear which quickly finishes the fight

He stands there , picking up all the stuff the monsters dropped . He hears Diluc walk up behind him , turning around Childe gives a warm smile to Diluc “good morningg”

Diluc didnt even look back , just ignored Childe . which childe took as a challenge
Childe walked next to Diluc “soooo why are you out so early?” he asked , no reply , Childe signed “did you like my gift?” he asked happily . this time Diluc looked over

“What gift?” he asked , a tired voice . Childe smiled brightly “the heart!” Diluc looked confused

“You're just trying to confuse me again , shut it.” Diluc looked away “..okk rude” he scoffed , trying to seem more playful

Diluc went quiet again , not looking at Childe continued walking next to him , talking about random things , Diluc wouldnt know he wasnt listening

-

Diluc enters into the city , while Childe is stopped by guards , asking him questions

Spending his time out shopping was nice , usually his maids did it but he had forgotten how peaceful it could be . he got the food needed for his home and then ade his way to the tavern

Leaving the bag of store goods behind the counter he starts cleaning up from the day before . he hated cleaning the tavern every morning , the mess would only come back within a few hours , it felt like a loop of suffering

A knock at the door , althought it seems a bit too early to be Venti , DIluc is use to Venti coming later

He opens the door , outside is Kaeya “oh. Hello Kaeya” he lets the man in and stares at him “Hi Diluc”

They both stare at eachother , its awkward, its always awkward when they talk “.so why are you here?” Diluc asked . avoiding eye contact

“Well i know you dont exactly trust me , but I did see someone in your yard well i was passing by lastnight” Kaeya says

Diluc groans “ginger?” he questioned , his brother nodded Diluc rolled his eyes “you know speaking of him” . Diluc reaches into his jacket pocket , taking out the photo “do you remember this? “ he handed the picture over

Kaeya looked at it , each second he looked more confused “I remember you know who taking a picture of you in the rose bushes but i have no clue who the other kid is”

Taking the photo back he slides it into the pocket again “great. You can leave now “ Kaeya nods awkwardly and leaves . Diluc returns to behind the bar

The work day is normal , Kaeya didnt show up for drinks but Diluc knew that was fine

Diluc never saw himself to be a paranoid person but being stalked was making that change even just slightly .

After closing up , Diluc almost didnt want to go home , but he didnt have anywhere else to go . grabbing his bags he made his way home . getting home safe

–

Childe watches as Diluc gets home . Childe slides down from the hill to the winery’s front yard . he jumps the fence and looks at the house . smiling brightly .

Something in his brain tells him that he has to see Diluc . listening to the feeling he begins checking each window looking for him .

A bit of wall scaling later Childe watches Diluc at his desk from the window . He looked at Diluc’s hands as he wrote , Childe found every little detail of Diluc to be lovely .

When Diluc gets in bed , Childe’s eyes light up , he watches as the man falls asleep , which doesnt take too long . Childe tries to open the window , which isnt too easy from outside . getting annoyed at the window he reaches for an arrow .

Using the arrow he stabs it into the lock , after enough messing with it and brute force he gets the lock open and easily pushes the doors open

Even for Childe the feeling of being in Diluc’s room was overwhelming , he felt so exhilarated

Quietly he walked over to Diluc looking at him as he slept

Chapter Text

Childe stared at the angel in front of him . so badly did he want hold his hand , but Childe had a feeling it would wake Diluc

He sat on the floor , just looking at diluc’s gentle sleeping face . Childe fell more in love with each second he saw him . Childe almost fell asleep while sitting there , he wished he could sleep next to Diluc but he knew that was a long way away

Standing up, Childe walked over to Diluc’s desk

He began to quietly look at the stuff on the desk , opening a drawer or two to check thoses . the paper and pen called to him , he wanted to leave a note for his future lover , but what would he even write

Picking up the ink pen Childe made a few small drawings of diluc and himself . He wasn't very good at art but he liked it . he looked over and spotted the photo , the one of him and diluc . he smirked as he picked it up , flipping over to the back childe grabbed the ink pen , and wrote a small note ‘true love’ , he put the pen down and put the photo back . he sighed and got up

Walking back over he sat down by the bed , ready to watch his beloved for the night . Taking a risky move Childe gently brushed diluc’s hair from his face . Childe felt like he was melting , he had never seen the man so peaceful .

Diluc began to stir it , rolling over in his bed . Childe took that as his sign to get out . he walked back to the window , crawling out , closing it the best he could .

-

When Diluc woke everything felt off . He quickly noticed the window , the idea of someone breaking into his house caused a bit of worry .

He started checking around the room , to see if anything was stolen , on the desk he found a piece of paper , covered in drawings of him and childe . suddenly he knew who had broken in , looking at the photo left on his desk , he grabbed it , throwing it into a drawer

Putting his head in his hand he sighed . Childe was causing diluc to feel paranoid , he always felt watched . At this point his hate for the guy has gotten higher than he thought it would be .

Leaving for work at his normal time he could see the tracks left behind from Childe clearing out monsters before Diluc got there .

Diluc found it all confusing , why would Childe even be doing all this ?

Entering the city he walked up to Katheryne

“Mornin. Need to put out a commission” he gave a slight wave

She nodded and slid a paper to him to fill out “what kind of issue today if i may?” She leaned over to watch Diluc write “just some wild animals i need taken care of” Diluc spoke as he wrote down his commission “lovely! Ill get that sent out “ taking the paper she put it on the board

Diluc walked off without saying anything . making his way to the tavern . Venti asleep on one of the outside tables . Going inside he found a note taped to the bar counter ,reading ‘wolvendom midnight’

An annoyed sigh came out as he looked at the note, trying to find anything else “ really shouldnt have just written more” he mocked , speaking to the note as if it could hear . he put it down “doesnt matter” .

-

On his walk home after work he looked at the small note “i mean..wolvendom isnt to far from here.” he thought to himself . “It could be a trap. I'm not going”

As he got ready for bed it went over in his head , maybe he’d get answers about something but he doesnt even know who left it . it could be the fatui for all he knows.

-

The moon was high , midnight was here and Childe sat in the forest , alone

Childe looked at the bow in his lap , a hopeful look on his face but as the time passed he started to feel disappointed , where was Diluc? He was meant to show up.. Did he decide to not show?

He stood up , looking around , checking ahead of the path . no one was coming to see him , he was hoping to talk with Diluc , make everything better , make himself happy .

Walking back to the winery , Childe climbed back up to Diluc’s window

He was asleep

Childe would never get him , Childe knew Diluc would never forgive him , forgive feel anything good for him , he got down .

Maybe it’d be better to just leave