firewater • a chiluc collection

A SILENT VOICE

ACCOMPANYING MUSIC: dawn winery theme + soft rain

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The cool breeze of the night had whistled. He looked at me with that same infuriating smile he once did when he first entered the tavern, yet only now did I notice his gentle gaze and how his eyebrows were lower and pulled closer together. As he blinked, his face relaxed slightly, but I could still see the faint sorrow in his eyes—eyes which didn't seem to sparkle like they should've in Mondstadt's moonlight. Even the corners of his mouth seemed to fight against his normally mischievous expression, and his once charming smile had now looked like one of a hurt child as I leaned back to view his face in its entirety. I had no idea someone like him was capable of expressing such complex and confusing emotion just through a smile, not that I cared too much.

"Taking in the view, Master Diluc?" he chuckled, as the distress on his face had remarkably disappeared. It hadn't occurred to me that I'd been looking at him for longer than I should have.

"Don't flatter yourself, Fatui." I sharply replied, keeping a stoic expression on my face.

"Hahaha! Then tell me, what reason could you have for staring at me?" he laughed before switching back to his normal, cocky tone.

"I was simply... making observations." I said before turning away, making sure not to give in to his foolish antics.

"Is that so? Well, I'm curious. What exactly did you gather from those 'observations', Master Diluc?" he said with that same, stupid smile. Strangely, instead of during battle, it was times like this I wanted to rip out his throat the most.

"It's none of your concern." I replied, with a cold expression, slightly annoyed.

"So you're really not going to entertain me this evening? That's a shame, I was looking forward to teasing you a bit more, or at the very least have you threaten me." he sighed, with a strangely defeated look on his face before leaning back and propping himself on his arms.

"I told you, I don't like chit-chat." I said before shifting my view to the wide, night sky.

"And here I thought our comradery had strengthened through battle," he sighed, "but alas, I suppose we're not at that point yet." His cocky expression had now become a calm one, and he had released the leaf he had been fiddling with into the cold wind of Mondstadt.

There was then a tranquil silence that filled the air, and the only noise you could hear was the melody played by the whistles of the Anemo Archon's wind. Peace. How is it that I felt so calm and safe next to him of all people at this moment? Perhaps it's the atmosphere or the softly lit scenery, and he just happened to be the one sitting next to me while I witnessed it. As much as I wanted to reflect on everything that happened this past month, all that seemed to come to mind was the harbinger's lingering presence in my head. No matter how little I cared for him, he certainly had an impact on me, whether it be positive or negative.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" he said out of the blue, whilst keeping his gaze fixed on the large light he had so mentioned. Before replying, I noticed how the light from the moon had hit his face perfectly, accentuating his sharp jawline and bringing out the gorgeous blue in his eyes. His masculine frame was highlighted by the moonlit sky, and you could see the slightest scar on his cheek. I absolutely despised this man, but there was no questioning that his beauty had brought shame to the moon when in comparison. Truthfully, I was taken aback at his statement, as he only continues to perplex me. How could such a simple-minded man whom I hated so much, move me with just six words?

"Yes, I suppose it is." I replied calmly, while also taking in the marvellous view.

"How funny is it that we finally agree, and it be something as simple as the moon?" he chuckled, still not taking his eyes off of the sky. I paused for a moment, and sighed in deep breath before finally voicing my thoughts.

"Though we have our differences and I frankly find your company exasperating, it is a nice evening, so I'll make an exception. And in truth, I hope one day I'm able to understand you better. Whether it be your weaknesses or strengths, you're certainly a curious person, Childe. I don't want to water you down to just any old Fatui scum, you're not deserving of that. Someday, we will have our final battle, but until then, I want to spend my time figuring out who exactly you are." I said softly, slowly shifting my eyes towards the harbinger until we eventually made eye contact. Childe looked at me with a surprised look on his face, but he also looked strangely at ease.

"That almost sounded like a confession, Diluc. And it appears you dropped your peculiar honorifics." he laughed, quickly breaking his tender expression.

"You must've misheard, and please address me as Master Diluc, we shouldn't forget our formalities." I said before looking away, flustered.

"Whatever you say, Diluc."