Chilled Grip (a chaeya fanfiction)

Chapter Seven: Family Ties

Kaeya tightened his corset, wrapping the strings around it twice.
"Doesn't that hurt?"
Asked Childe, his voice laced with concern.
"As they say, beauty is pain."
"I think you're beautiful without it."
The knight laughed.
"You're horribly biased, my love."
"I think my mom will love you no matter what you wear."

Kaeya blushed softly, not expecting the flattery.
"You're quite the adamant flatterer, no?"
Childe slid on a red tunic, pairing it with a large hooded coat.
"Only when it's you."
The harbinger made sure to check each buckle on Kaeya's coat, making sure to count the layers.
Shouldering his bag, he held out his hand for Kaeya, pulling him into the teleport waypoint.

He was immediately tugged into a swift walk.
"Don't stay still. Keep walking."
Making a noise of protest, the knight allowed himself to be tugged through the deep snow.
Ice had begun to form on his eyelashes, and Kaeya had to blink frequently.
They reached solid ice, where he could see whales deep below them.
"This seems safe."

Childe snorted.
"Yeah, like we're going to fall through thousands of feet of ice."
"It's so clear..."
"It was a flash freeze, the cryo archon was pissed."

Kaeya laughed.
"Quite the temper tantrum."
They neared the edge of the frozen ocean, where a small cluster of cabins stood.
Their windows held silhouettes of families, lit up by the candle chandeliers.
Childe led him up the steps of a dark oak cabin, knocking quickly, before nudging him inside.
"Hey mom! I'm home!"
Three children ran full speed at them, the youngest tumbling down the last few stairs.
"Ajax! We've missed you!"
The man laughed.
"Tonia! How are your studies?"
The girl grinned.
"School's been out for ages, silly."
"Ah, I see.."
The taller boy stood stiffly in front of his older brother.
Childe tugged him into a hug, rustling his hair.
The youngest, who Kaeya believed to be Teucer, clung to his brother's leg.
"Ajax, Ajax! Guess how old I am now!"
The harbinger screwed up his face in mock concentration.
"I'm guessing, 23."
Teucer giggled.
"No! I'm 9!"
"Oh, I remember now! I have just the thing for you."
Reaching into his bag, pulling out a small figurine.
"Look who it is, Teuc."
The little boy gasped.
"It's mister Cyclops!"
Squinting, Kaeya could make out the rough shape of a ruin guard.
He made eye contact with Childe, who shot him a look that said, humor me.
Nodding quickly, the knight began tugging off his coats, placing them in the closet by the door.
Now that the excitement was over, the siblings turned their attention to Kaeya.
"Ajax, who's she?"
Childe winced.
"Teucer, that's a he. And he's my..."
He struggled for an excuse.
"I'm his coworker. We work together, for the uh.."
"The toy factory."
Finished the harbinger.
Kaeya stared at him.
They exchanged silent conversation.
Childe: don't ask.
Kaeya: What the hell was that?
Childe: talk later?
Kaeya: whatever.
Breaking eye contact, the knight noticed a woman in the doorway.
Childe dropped his entire happy facade.
The woman pulled him into a tight hug.
"Oh Ajax, how I've missed you."
"Mom, there's so much I need to tell you."
Pulling away, she touched his face lovingly.
"I'm making dinner, care to help?"
The pair left for the kitchen, Childe sliding on an apron.

As they sat at the table, Teucer and Anthon talking to Kaeya animatedly, Childes' mother smiled at him fondly.
"So, Ajax, you've been working away from home a few years now, have you found any women you fancy?"
Childe choked on his soup.
"Mom..." His eyes flicked to Kaeya, who sipped his Borsch silently, avoiding eye contact.
Catching his gaze, his mother's eyes seemed to widen in realization.
The ginger met her stare, his face heating up slightly.
His mother cleared her throat, standing up from the table.
"Mind joining me for a.. Conversation?'
"Ah... sure." Replied Childe hesitantly, shooting an apologetic look at the knight.
Kaeya simply waved his hand in dismissal, his eyes promising that they would talk later.
Following his mother down the hallway, she crossed her arms, the familiar v crease in between her eyes.
"So when were you going to tell me?"
Childe flinched.
"I didn't know how you were going to take it- you know how the people here are, and-"
She cut him off.
"Ajax, I am your mother."
The harbinger felt his face heating with anger.
"I didn't trust you! Okay? You've mentioned your distaste for years, and I don't exactly want to be hated by my own mom."
It was his mother's turn to flinch.
"I know you don't come home for me anymore, son. I know it's only for Teucer."
Rubbing his temples, Childe struggled for a way to phrase his words.
"When were you ever there for me? When you needed therapy? When you wanted someone to take out your anger on?"
"You know that isn't true-"
"Mom! You know that it is! I was the one who took care of Teucer- I was the one-"
He choked on the tears that were pricking in his eyes.
"I didn't have a childhood, and that's partially your fault."
His mother scoffed.
"You were the one who ran away."
Childe's eyes flickered with rage.
"Yeah. I was. And who took care of your children then?"
His mother raised her hand in anger, and he flinched, extending his hand to block the blow.
There was a curt knock on the door behind them.
Leaning against the doorframe was Kaeya, his eyes containing fire, similar to when they sparred.
"May I know what's going on here?"
Lowering her hand, the ginger haired woman's eyes burned with shame.
"We were simply having a discussion."
The bluenette laughed.
"I doubt that, as you were just about to hit my friend here."
Backing up, Childe moved to stand beside Kaeya, his nails digging into the palms of his hands.
The knight wrapped his arm around his shoulder tightly, holding the harbinger against his side.
He rested his head in the crook of the bluenette's neck, inhaling deeply.
Though he hadn't showered yet, Kaeya smelled clean, like calla lilies and mint.
The knight pulled him back towards the table, holding Childe's hand in a firm grip. Teucer's eyes lit up as his brother returned to the table. The little boy sat by Kaeya's chair, playing with his ruin guard figurine. Head resting on the table, the ginger man's copper hair glinted under the warm chandelier.
Kaeya bit his lip in concern, tapping Teucer's arm softly.
"Hey buddy, would you tell your mommy that your big brother and I are going upstairs?"
His blue eyes wide, the little boy looked up at him.
"Of course, Mister knight man!"
Kaeya couldn't help but grin.
"Thanks Teuc."
The little boy nodded.
"Big brother looks sleepy, are you going to tuck him in?"
"I am."
Teucer giggled.
"My big brother tucks me in every night, and gives me a big kiss on the top of my head!"
The boy tapped his forehead, his little eyebrows creased sternly.
"So make sure to give him a kiss for me, okay Mister?"
Kaeya's throat seemed to close up with emotion.
"Of- of course."