Liyue had suffered from the consequences of what was probably one of the most violent attacks on the harbour to date - that was obvious in how store owners worked together with customers and millelith to restore their stands to their former glory and cleared the flyaway objects such as stray pots, boards and food off the streets.
The glory of the nation of contracts had returned in a matter of hours, something Childe couldn't help but smile at as he walked through the busy chattering merchant street.
"Come! Come try Liyue's finest dish!"
"You! You look like a man of class, how would you fancy my beautiful Liyue ores? Beautiful gifts for anyone around!"
"Thirsty? Our tea is known across nations for its delicacy!"
It was really a sight to see, one that the harbinger never missed when visiting the rich nation. And no matter how loud the yelling, he smiled and kindly rejected his way through the street - only stopping at the door step at the old tea shop of an elderly lady he had met on one of his very first missions in Liyue.
The store itself looked brand new - having been taken care of beautifully. Sadly, to his knowledge, the old lady that had taken him in with such kindness had long passed, leaving the store to her son and his wonderful family.
"Childe." The man smiled, eyes wrinkled with time but colour sparking so warmly it made him feel safe.
Hearing the familiar name, another face popped out from behind a rich mint green screen - a black bun coming loose from the fast movement as the wife of the man came bouncing out the kitchen. "Childe! It's been so long!"
"Hello." He chuckled, greeting the man with a shake of his hand before respectfully embracing the woman. They both smelled so wonderfully all the time - every time smelling like a different type of tea he could never put his finger on. "I hope you don't mind the sudden intrusion, I had invited a business partner here to discuss something important over tea."
"Of course not." The two laughed, only the man gesturing to the other, empty, tables. "Service is appreciated. Take a seat, go on. Would you like a cup now or when your guest arrives?"
Humming, he rested his chin on the palm of his hand. "I'll order one now, the usual please."
"Coming right up."
The tea itself wasn't something Childe would die for - there was a better store down the street if he really wanted - but the little shop tended to be visited very rarely throughout the day which immediately made it the best place to have invited you to sit and speak about what he had discovered. On the table laid a single pouch of documents and photos he hoped would convince you to hear him out, if they didn't scare you off first, that is.
When the tea he had ordered had cooled down from a hot to a warm and the sun was rising to its highest point in the sky, the bell atop the door of the store jingled. The man turned, scowling when failing to spot you and instead meeting eye to eye with Ningguang. This was a very bad sign.
"Not who you expected?" The woman's smug smile made him wanna gag. Ignoring his obvious dismay, she walked over to his table and took the seat across from him - grabbing the spare glass and pouring herself a cup of tea.
Childe hesitantly sat back down. "You knew I'd be here"
"What? Did you really think I'd let a harbinger meet with a Snezhnayan runaway?" She snorted. "You know, it's not only the fatui who have eyes and ears all over Liyue. Was this your letter?"
With two fingers, Ningguang held up a brown tinted folded piece of paper with a red stamp - one Childe didn't need to look at twice to recognise as his official harbinger stamp. He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, isn't it against the law to open mail that isn't designated to you?"
She hummed. "Not when an officials fears the mail could be dangerous. So tell me, Tartaglia, what important documents did you wish to share with them today?"
Childe hesitated. She was a dangerous woman with her power and status, although she sat alone in the shop with him, one word from her could get him killed - or worse. "None that concern you. This is personal documents to do with their family and past."
"But I fear they do concern me." Her fingers twiddled with his unanswered letter, folding and crinkling it until fisting it in her hand - letting it fall to the ground as a crinkled ball. "You see, so long as y/n is out of the nation, all of their matters and businesses are passed onto me to handle."
Out of the...- "What did you do to them." Childe frowned, trying to keep composure as the woman's lips pulled into a thin line.
"Don't make assumptions Tartaglia, they're perfectly safe. Either way, why would you care for them? Was it not on your missions to apprehend the fugitive? Why are you suddenly so worried?"
He was stuck, he could feel it in the way his outfit because itchy and tight - suddenly conscious of the way the fabric felt on his skin. His neck and forehead felt hot and the atmosphere uncomfortable. All the proof he needed to get you away from Ningguang was sitting in the thin little folder on the table, but was Ningguang aware of that? Was that why she came here and had you sent off?
Striking crimson eyes trailed to the folder on the table. "Why don't you make this easier for the both of us and show me what you had to offer them?"
He wouldn't. Without another word, he sharply stood, grabbed the folder and left the store - leaving Ningguang to rest her head on her hand and watch him disappear.
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One of your biggest nightmares was coming into play - something you never imagined would ever happen.
Your feet skipped and tripped as you gasped and cried out, bumping into walls and holding yourself up with the little, barely capable energy and strength you had. It was like a horror book you had once read when you were a young teenager. The ship moved and rocked and with each hurried step you desperately ran towards the open door, you dreaded the sound of crashing waves and stinging smell of salt water. Escaping the seemingly never ending wooden hallways and running out onto the bright, open deck was like a blessing and a curse all at once.
The crew laughed and sung as they guided the ship towards unknown land - further into waters you couldn't see the end of. Deep blue surrounded you, and your aching head only spun as you turned on your heels and ran up the stairs towards the back of the ship - tripping onto the wooden railing that showed you the sight of the beautiful city of Liyue slowly fading and disappearing into the blue skies horizon.
They had left Liyue. Set sail while you were asleep. Beidou had not even allowed you a chance to try and find another place to stay.
"Y/n! Be careful!" Turning, you met Kazuha as he reached out to your arm, grabbing it and scanning you up and down as if in search for further injuries. "Are you okay? Why'd you run out like that?"
"Kazuha! Why didn't you let me off!" You snatched your arm out of his gentle grip, staring at him as if he had betrayed you. To some degree, he did.
The boy seemed conscious of that too as his eyes trailed down and brows furrowed together. "Ningguang had said that you weren't stable enough to stay in Liyue since there was no one who could look after you. Staying on the ship was the safest option."
"But I'm not safe here!" You cried, throwing your arms up before letting them fall to your side. Your eyes stung, you wanted to cry - you wanted to find your dad and cry in his arms the way you did when you were young. Everything was so frustrating, you felt so vulnerable.
No one seemed to listen. Not even Kazuha. "I know you're confused but we'll keep you safe here. We all care about you, we wanna see you recover." You didn't budge, staring blankly at the last patches of red, green and gold of the disappearing Liyue buildings. Kazuha placed a hand on your back and rubbed soothing circles with his thumb. "Come on, everyone is worried about you after running off like that. Let's go find you something to eat."
And what could you do? You were stuck on a ship, in the middle of nowhere.
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Those Willing to Drown | Beiguang x GN! Reader
Fanfiction"Someone will remember us, I say, even in another time."
