Besotted | ChiLumi

one : he was the first

QUICK DISCLAIMER: I will be making the characters a bit OOC to fit better into the story. Hopefully you don't mind!

This story takes place in the canon Genshin universe after the defeat of Osial (Chapter I Act III: Turning Point)

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Childe could see it clearly.

It was so obvious in her gaze.

"I see. So you will be staying a while?" Zhongli asked as he gripped his chin, a small smile creeping up his lips. His eyes directed towards Lumine who was walking beside them as they roamed the loud bustling streets of Liyue harbor.

"Mm." Lumine nods as she smiled back, a little skip in her steps. Her cheeks were tinted a little pink as she shyly stared at the fine man. "I'm thinking of staying for the time being. Is it unreasonable to ask you to help me...?"

"Of course it's not." Zhongli chuckles, gently guiding her forward towards the docks. Liyue harbor was lively; showing how they could survive without their archon who was casually strolling around with the traveler who was now branded as their hero. "I'll help you to the best of my abilities."

Lumine's ears turn red from his statement, her face turning away from him as she bites her lip to stifle a giddy grin. The two were having such a lovely vibe wafting around that they didn't notice Childe was still following behind them, filled with hidden animosity.

"What about me, Lumi? Aren't you forgetting about me?" Childe finally butts in, inserting himself in the middle of the two in order to hog Lumine to himself. "Don't you want my help? You've tested my abilities first hand. I'm pretty strong."

His arm wraps around her body, lips aiming to kiss her forehead before she pushes him away by the face. "Ugh, stop that. You're so annoying." She grumbles out, wiggling out of his embrace. "If you were strong, you would've defeated me."

"Aw~ But Lumi~"

"Tsk." Childe's happy facade fell as he heard Zhongli click his tongue in annoyance. "You rascal, isn't it time for you to depart from Liyue? Go back to Snezhaya already."

"And what if I don't want to?" Childe sneered back, his arm snaking around Lumine's body once again. "I don't think I can leave my Lumine after she defeated me.. I think I'm quite attached."

"Gosh, stop joking around like that, you creep." Lumine rolls her eyes as she smacks his hand that held her waist. "Get off me, you're heavy!"

"Shall I deal with him swiftly?" Zhongli raised an eyebrow as the latter chuckled.

"No need, Zhongli. You know he's just weird like that." Childe is immediately pushed aside while she went to stay beside Zhongli once again. "Now, where to?"

And just like that, Childe's position was back to walking behind them, watching the scene that unfolded. It fit them, honestly.

A compassionate girl and an upright man. Even their ages weren't that far apart. It was as if Celestia had meticulously hand-picked them and paired them together.

He clenched his gloved hand. It was unfair. He was the first. The first to find her, the first to help her. The first to test her abilities and prove she was worth more than she thought.

Were all those things just small kindness to Lumine? How annoying.

They soon arrive at Third-Round Knockout, the two immediately taking a seat beside each other as Zhongli asked for the menu.

"Do you even have mora?" Childe snickers as he scoots his seat closer to Lumine, placing an arm around her shoulder. She paid no mind as she continued to read the menu.