Travelers Handy Sword - Genshin Impact Childe X Reader

25 - Two out of Three

AN : yes we are ignoring my disappearance since October, but if it gets me any forgiveness its my birthday today! (Dec 16th) and heres a chapter for you! its a short one but its here so yay?

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You made your way down from the Northland Bank, speeding up your pace when the familiar sight of the Wanmin resturant came into view. The usual sounds of advertisment for the resturant and other close-by food vendors hadn't started up yet as you made note that most of them had only just started the fires in their ovens.

You hoped that meant you would be able to find the person you were looking for easier since business for the day hadn't started yet.

You rounded the doorway, seeing Chef Mao drying some plates, he seemed a bit shocked at your sudden appearance in his establishment but it quickly turned to a warm smile "ah, hello there! it's nice to see you again, I'm sure Xiangling will be very pleased that you've returned" he beamed.

You returned the smile, noticing that he was alone in the resturant as you asked "its' good to see you, too, uhm, where is Xiangling?"

"She headed out to top up some of her ingredients, it usually takes her two or three days at most"

"Do you usually go with her?"

"Sometimes, but someone needs to stay and run this place during the day" he chuckled "though I usually head out at night to gather a few things and look out for her returning. Where you hoping to see her? you're more than welcome to stay until she returns-"

"No, its' okay, I can come back when she returns. Tell her I said hi" you smiled as you moved away from the door, breathing a small sigh of relief knowing that Xiangling was out of Liyue and would be safe from whatever plans the Fatui were cooking up.

With the knowledge that Xiangling would be safe, and hopefully her father, too, you made your way to your next stop. The Golden House.

You hadn't quite made a plan yet, though last time you visited the golden house you didn't exactly have a plan then either so hopefully you'd know what to say to Childe when you got there. 

Hopefully.

As you approached the large emblazoned front doors, you paused, it was quiet, the area around the house usually had at least one or two people guarding it either from the millileth or fatui. But right now, there was no one. Just you.

There was barely any soung either, despite the light early day breeze that had been rustling the leaves in the nearby trees, you couldn't hear it. An unnerved feeling crept into you, and you paused your hand that had been outstretched towards the front doors.

Memories of your last visit flashed through your mind, and you felt the since healed injuries you had sustained start to itch. A lot had happened since then, but clearly the feelings from that day still remained, if not stuffed at the very back of your mind since then.

For a brief moment you regretted your choice to come here, you had no idea what you were going to say, you didn't even know what was going on or have the slightest inclination of what the fatuis plan and end goal here was. What were you going to say to Childe? Confront him that you sort of, or maybe, or not at all, knew of what the fatui were planning? demand that he tell you?

And even if he did tell you, what then? you were one star-traveled traveler who fell into this world and happened to be decent with a sword, but even you knew you wouldn't be able to save everyone, even if you knew exactly what was going to happen, you couldn't save everyone.

You shook your head as if to shake those thoughts away, you didn't have a plan and that was okay, right? even if you could only guarentee the safety of your friends in Liyue, that would be enough, you would have at least saved them. Afterall, you owed it to them, as they were the ones who saved you.

You started to move your hand again, inches away from pressing it flat against the surface of the door when you suddenly heard the wind rush through the nearby tree, and the soft sound of boots coming to stand behind you having snuck up on you unnoticed.

Hands snaked around your waist, a light breath tickling against your neck as he rested his chin gently on your shoulder.

"You only have eight hours left" he murmered "I'm sorry that you're getting less than what I originally promised but our plans have changed"

You placed your arms over his, sinking into the embrace as you noted out loud "this feels comfortable" disregarding the current outward situation you were in. You felt one of Childes arm shift around your waist, pulling away before his hand appeared in front of you holding the stolen fatui emblem in his gloved palm.

You felt your heart thump loudly as you felt his body stiffen in agition and his cold stare burn at your neck. He exhaled shortly, burying his face against your neck as he placed the emblem into his own pocket before returning his arm around your waist, for a moment you thought you were getting away with it until he placed a dry kiss against your neck, murmering "you're playing a dangerous game"

He released you from his affectionate hold "remember your promise" he stated simply as he walked passed you towards the doors of the golden house.

You blurted out "what will happen if I stay?"

"If you stay, I can't guarentee your safety or my protection-"

"I don't care about not having those things if it means helping" you protested. Childe laughed, the laugh the same one he gave that night on the pearl galley; amused and cold.

He turned to face you, a challenging smirk on his lips, paired with an almost maniacal gaze "then, fight me for it" he held one hand out towards you while the other started to push against the door behind him "persuade me to let you stay"

"A kiss won't work as persuation, will it?" you suggested jokingly.

He grinned "unless thats your new name for you sword, then sorry o/jou-chan, not this time"

You huffed, knowing that he was relishing in the simple thought of an impending fight, but perhaps you could use this to your advantage. Afterall, you knew Childe loved nothing more than a good fight, so even if you lost perhaps persuading him to ignore your defiance would be much easier in his post-fight euphoria.

"Fine, best two out of three!" and with that you walked passed him through the open doors.