The 12th Fatui Harbinger

Lesson One

Childe arrived at the crack of dawn to Zapolyarny palace. The horizon was still pretty dark outside, with slivers of orange bursting through the dark navy skies. The few clouds in the sky began turning purple and pink as the snow on the ground began to glitter like ember, slowly spreading as the sun began to rise.

A servant had greeted him at the entrance and began leading him to her chambers. "If you would wait one moment, my lord-- I believe Lady Falena is still sleeping."

He held his hand. "No need." He brushed the servant away and made his way into her quarters. It was almost pitch black in her room. He could see a small figure curled up in blankets, her chest falling slowly and evenly as she deeply slumbered.

He reached for the curtains. "Rise and shine, sweethe--"

Before he could even finish his sentence, a force locked around his left foot, and he tumbled downwards onto the bed with a big flop. And suddenly, a dagger was to his neck with a weight on top of his body. He could hear the wind pulsing and howling as the sharp blade rested dangerously next to his pulse.

It was Yuria. Her bare legs were on either side of his abdomen, straddling him as her shoulders huffed from the sudden movement. Her pink hair was a little ruffled on the sides as she had literally just been sleeping a few moments ago.

He was impressed.

Her glacier cold eyes shifted when she recognized the familiar face. But before she could loosen her grip on him or her weapon, Childe summoned a small stream of water to flick her wrist, causing her to drop her jagged blade. He then grabbed the back of her waist, using the momentum to switch positions.

Yuria blinked. Her arms had been pinned above her head and it was Childe who was peering down on her now. He again had that stupid pretty smirk on his face. The one that made her heart beat a little faster. But also the one she wanted to smack off his face.

Childe decided he liked the sight of her underneath him. The scent of cherry blossoms and intoxicating sweet berries hit him first. One of her shoulder straps on her silk nightdress had fallen off to the side, highlighting her prominent collarbones, just begging to be bruised. Her hair pillowed out against the white sheets, like flowing streams of sakura buds as her eyes twinkled with mirth and a hint of annoyance. He chuckled. This was probably not how she was expecting to wake up today.

She kneed him in the gut promptly. Shoving him to the side as she got up and tied her hair into a ponytail. Her scent wafted towards him, testing his patience yet once again. "You're such an ass." She grumbled.

A leather glove suddenly landed on top of her right shoulder, and Yuria shivered as his glove was still slightly cold the chill of the outdoors. Childe pulled her closer to him, and she landed his arms, her back facing him. He had her caged in his arms. Childe couldn't help but notice how she felt so right.

"Lesson one, comrade..." He whispered into her ear. "Don't be so defenseless, or I might just eat you up the next time." He laughed as he let her go.

Yuria stepped on his foot and Childe hissed in pain.

"Lesson one comrade," she said as she imitated his voice almost perfectly, "Don't be such a creep or I might just beat you up the next time." She mocked triumphantly.

------

Explosions continued to shake Zapolyarny palace that day, and the basement chamber continued to flash vivid shades of jade and sapphire.

Childe smirked as he dodged a hit. He wouldn't be surprised if they accidentally blew up the chamber. Yuria was a natural. She had already been able to summon the first phase of her delusion and she was proccing swirl left and right. Thankfully, he put out any fires with his hydro vision that she was causing, but each explosion shook the core of the building. She was going to be quite a force.

Yuria was the most beautiful when she was fighting him, Childe decided. Her sapphire blue flames danced across the floor, enveloping her in a protective barrier, highlighting her own crystal blue eyes, narrowed in concentration. She moved gracefully and quickly, poised to strike. He doused the blue flames with water, creating a steam cover for him to move stealthily under.

Yuria transformed herself into a gust of wind, dispersing the steam as she quickly struck him down. Childe fell flat on the floor. She was fast. 

Yuria laughed as she helped him up. "I don't think stealth is your forte." She observed in amusance.

"You're doing amazing for your first day of delusion training, pretty girl." Ignoring what she said, Childe beamed as he dusted his butt.

"Well since I'm doing so amazing, can I teach you how to shoot your arrows?" Yuria challenged as she put her hands on her hips.

Childe faltered. "Hey, the bow is the weapon I am the least adept with. That is precisely why I use it."

She laughed, her voice chiming like bells on a clear spring day. "Childe, you literally sometimes fling the bow like a caveman."

Yuria went over to the area where there were some small boxes she hadn't yet set on fire and stood on top of them, signaling him to come over. Her hair was messy, and she was a little sweaty with a few scratches. He found himself inexplicably gravitating towards her despite his pride, enchanted by her smile.

Now that Yuria was standing on the boxes, she was a little taller than him. "I'm sure you could wipe the floor with me with your swords, but I happen to be good at ranged combat, including the bow, so shut up and listen to me for a second."

Yuria guided his bow into his hands. Her hands gingerly touched his back. "Your posture is horrible when you shoot." He could feel fire burning in each spot she touched.

"It's been bothering me for a while." She said as her hands moved to his shoulders, pushing them down gently. "Lesson one, relax your shoulders a little, you want nice perpendicular shoulders for a good shot."

She conjured rings on the other side of the chamber to serve as a target against the wall. Yuria then put her hands over his to position his shot, and Childe could feel her chest pressing on him right against his back.

"Okay now hold the arrow-- and shoot." They both let go of the arrow simultaneously, and the hydro-imbued arrow flew well over 100 feet and met its target perfectly.

"See, isn't that so much better?" Yuria beamed.

Childe wanted to kiss her. So bad. Even more than the first day he met her. The way she could put up a fight and actually challenge him was exhilarating. But the way in which she also pushed herself to the limit in the few days he'd known her was just so attractive. The way she got down to cause chaos and dirty in a battle despite her fragile appearance... he didn't want to hold back anymore. He wanted to ruin her.

Without much more thought, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down for a kiss. The force caused her to lose her balance on the boxes and fall into his arms. He was half expecting her to push and shove, or yell at him. But he suddenly felt her soft lips moving against his.

Fuck yes.