"Tch!" Your forearm blocked a particularly heavy strike from Childe. It was sure to be bruised tomorrow, but the pain was so freeing. Maybe you should be attacking the Fatui more often if fighting made you feel THIS good.
"Don't tell me you're tired already," Childe smirked. "I haven't even gotten to see you use your vision yet!"
The lanterns lighting the city below vaguely illuminated the mountainside in which the two of you were fighting. It was the perfect view of both city and sea. Childe was interested in seeing the fantastic firework show, but the way things were going right now, he was more interested in you.
"Enough about that already," you growled and thrust your elbow into his side. The small 'oomph' that he exhaled made you a little too happy. He's wanted a fight with you ever since he came back that day, and even more so since you reunited. Who were you to refuse him now? Sure, you've refused in the past, but the anger and bitterness that came flooding back while you were at the festival needed relief. Ajax needed to know how much he hurt you all those years ago, whether you directly told him or not.
Childe, oblivious to the reason behind your sudden willingness to fight, was more than delighted to fight you. You must've been pretty desperate to change the subject of your phobia if you chose fighting as the alternative! That didn't stop him from feeling a little bad for pushing the subject, but the thrill of battle soon overcame the guilt and a new fascination overwhelmed his senses.
He was right. You are like him, even if it's just when you're angry. He can hone that: train you into becoming a warrior to be reckoned with. Childe held no intentions to convince you to join the Fatui, but instead prevent your potential from being wasted. He'd give you the opportunity to grow from amateur to expert. If you managed to surprise him in this moment, only archons would know exactly what he thought of you.
The harbinger steadied himself and threw his forearm out in time to block your swing, then countered with one of his own to your gut. It wasn't often that he trained in hand-to-hand combat, but that didn't make him any less deadly. He had to pull his punches to prevent from hurting you--though if we're being honest, he completely forgot to do that after the first couple minutes. It's not like you minded anyway. Childe was also slightly impressed at your strength; your looks were definitely deceiving and it worked to your advantage. He had underestimated you.
No wonder his men were complaining about the vigilante so much.
He caught your roundhouse kick aimed for his head and threw you off balance. The grass didn't soften your landing. The sole of his boot sat square in the middle of your chest as he towered over you. "Not bad," he praised with a raising of his lips. "I can see why you chose antagonizing the Fatui as a hobby." Something flashed in your eyes, but Childe wasn't sure what it was.
Your fist slammed into the side of his knee, knocking him off of you. As he fell you grabbed his arm so he'd land on his back. You were the one on top of him now with your knees pinning his shoulders into the grass. "Do you even remember?"
Childe blinked, and the bloodlust and thrill that was in his eyes vanished. Remember? What are-- You were struggling with something dark; your hands pulled the grass out from besides his head, eyes wavering with the slightest bit of hope swirling in the depths of pain. Seeing your expression, Childe parted his lips. "Reed--?"
"Heh, forget it," you sniffed, swiping the bottom of your nose with your thumb and sitting up straighter as you vacantly analyzed the blood that now painted your finger.
BOOM! C-r-a-c-k-l-e....!
The Mingxiao lantern exploded somewhere behind you. The lights from the explosives cast a prolonged glow that illuminated Childe beneath you, but you were still staring at your hand. It was hard not to think about that night with your father. What could you have done to change the outcome? What could have helped you reach Ajax when he returned a different child? Based on your fight just now, he's never stopped looking for something to take his anger out on; a cruel contrast to the friendly toy seller demeanor. Meanwhile, Childe: What would've happened if you had fallen into the Abyss with him? You two could've been an unstoppable pair that towered over every foe.
