firewater • a chiluc collection

LOVE ALIKE (BEACH SPECIAL)

ACCOMPANYING MUSIC: love like you sad piano version

OR
rises the moon - liana flores

⟐

The crashing waves of the sunlit sky pulse upon the shore in a steady rhythmic beat; it's truly a haven of peace. Though, what do people enjoy in such tranquility? In the late afternoon, some people stretch out on the warm sand and enjoy the gentle rays of the sun. Others find the call of the ocean irresistible, with its water flashing in the evening light. Yet, the comfort I find lies in standing ashore watching the crashing waves lace the beach. With a flourish of romantic hand, the sunset blossomed red and gold. I walked along the shore, my gaze often fixed on the small traces of blue that were a beautiful shade of starconch. Although my legs had ached from standing perched on a rock during the day, I still wished to hear the soft sound of sand as my feet planted themselves within it. The salty breeze kissed my cheek and played with my hair, obscuring my vision. Suddenly, I paused and placed my feet lined together, as I gently moved my head to face the ocean.

"What are you doing here?" I asked sternly, furrowing my eyebrows as my expression tightened.

"I believe I'm not the one who should be asking such questions, Diluc." replied the familiar and rather irritating voice, accompanied by the sounds of light footsteps.

"When a question is asked, you are expected to answer," I reply, tilting my body gradually to meet the figure whilst fixing my coat, "not ask another question, Childe." He was no more than a metre apart from me, looking at me with a mocking grin.

"I'm flattered you recognise me just by the sound of my voice, Diluc." he replied, though it was unclear if it was a genuine statement or just a ploy to get a rise out of me. After all, with this man, it's difficult to distinguish between the two.

"I simply came out here to enjoy the view, that's all." he added, though it was heavily implied by his tone of voice that the view he was describing was not the ocean. I scowled and let out an irritable sigh, though I had initially planned on an enjoyable evening, it seemed that was not what was planned for me.

"Why don't you join me for a swim, comrade? After all, swimming is but another way to test and prove your skills." he swiftly continued, as such, it truly amazes me that this man never wastes a moment to grow stronger, it's almost... obsessive.

"I'll have to decline, unfortunately. I don't exactly have an interest in sharing an evening swim with a member of the Fatui." I answered, wavering my words and crossing my arms loosely.

"It wouldn't hurt to loosen up just a little, would it now, Diluc?" he sighed, with a surprisingly pitiful, defeated expression on his face.

In that welcome amber glow, the time of slower thoughts had arrived. We both took a seat in the fine sand. The sunlight highlighted his masculine structure, hitting his skin in all the right spots. His scars were glistening, rivalling the glow of the sea. One, two, three, four, five, six... I counted the number slowly, realising how deep many of them were.

"I thought you were going swimming." I said abruptly, attempting to fill the silence created by my long observations.

"There's not much motivation for me to do so if you won't be joining me, so I thought I'd just enjoy the scenery." he replied calmly, tilting his head as the sunlight's rays bounced off his scarlet earring. It went silent again, with only the whistle of the wind playing a tune. Sighing, I slowly removed my cumbersome boots and placed my feet in such a way that the waves hugged my skin, crashing gently. The harbinger took notice of the rather uncharacteristic act of mine, but did nothing but smile at the golden scenery.

As per usual, I was unsure of what to say to him; he was unlike any other harbinger I had encountered. He was a curious character, one that I could not read so easily. The sunset then came as a settled heart to the horizon, as if the sky itself could speak of love. At that moment, he spoke.

"I miss Snezhnaya, my home... my family," he chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere, "but not in the same way you do, I'm guessing,"

"I apologise, that was quite the insensitive comment. Forgive me, comrade." he added after taking a long pause, avoiding my cold gaze.

"Kaeya..." I replied without thinking. For unknown reasons, my mouth opened by itself and wanted to fill the air with fruitless words. I've never been one to talk very much, but around him, it annoyingly seemed to happen on its own.

"Sir Kaeya? What about him?" he questioned, looking surprised I even entertained the thought.

"...Forget it. Forget I ever said anything." I answered quickly, fiddling with a Starconch shell, no larger than a sweet flower. Why I chose to even open my mouth in the first place, I haven't a clue. I wasn't sure how to explain it, but he made me feel weak. Though, not in a sense that I'm beneath him, but rather, in a vulnerable way. I didn't understand it, nor did I take a liking to it.

"Sir Kaeya and I," I continued, before abruptly sighing, "let's just say we have... conflicting views."

"Ah, so the famed bachelor with the bothersome scowl decides to finally open up?" he laughed, finding amusement in my statement, "Don't mind me. Please, do continue." he said, pushing his luck with that smug grin of his. I smoldered with resentment. I felt a flicker of irritation as I swallowed down my frustration, still peering over at his now grinning face.

"Whether or not it's hard to believe, we used to collect shells together on a beach not very different from this one. When we were young, he was like a brother to me." I finally said, pausing between my sentences whilst looking at the shell I had in my hand.

"And now?" he asked, curiously.

"Dead to me." I replied, as I let the shell fall through my fingers and fall onto the sand, making a dent.

"As he's a member of the knights, I simply cannot agree with his views." I continued, still looking at the shell, only now buried in the fine sand.

"Is it not the same for me?" he asked, not breaking his mischievous smile, as I turned my head to meet his gaze. Although I couldn't tell whether or not it was a genuine thought of his, it certainly irked me. Sharing such a conversation with a harbinger, it wasn't something I ever thought of doing.

Water trickling down his arm, he put his fingers through his hair, visibly cold from the breeze. He then met my stare, only gently smiling after he saw the blush in my cheeks from the sun.

"You know, your red hair is truly special, comrade. I love it." he said suddenly, as I widened my eyes in surprise.

"I'm sorry?" I replied, visibly confused with the outlandish remark.

"Its vibrance and colour. Although it seems that you've lost yours, it doesn't seem like your hair ever did." he added, only continuing to perplex me with various emotions.

"That was rather... poetic." I said, tilting my head upwards slightly.

"Take it as you will."

There was far more behind those pale blue eyes of his than I initially thought. At first, I hadn't wanted anything to do with them, but at that moment, I only wished to know more.