𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 [G.Impact x Fem! Reader]

𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈; 𝐀 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

The next day your head was clouded due to the lack of sleep and even if you had less energy than usual, you were, to say the least excited to meet Childe. The only thing that fought your drowsiness were Aether's questions about the seven nations: from the phony facade of Fontaine's courtiers to the infamous Zapolyarny Palace in the lands of everlasting winter and other exotic places, both those you had visited in the first person and those you learned about from the gossips of the locals and the stories of travelers.

The three of you stepped inside the Northrand Bank, also known as the living nightmare of those who got in debt with the Fatui in Liyue, and you couldn't help but observe your surroundings.

It was an unique place that seemed to be the union of the architecture of Liyue and Snezhnaya. You didn't know whether it was a whim of the architect or else, but you couldn't deny that it was captivating.

You stopped just behind Aether, not wanting to engage into a conversation with the Fatuus on the front desk.  Beside your sleepiness you decided to try to follow the conversation

You knew that not everyone inside the organisation were ruthless criminals but after hearing how they conducted experiments on humans and how they practised blood feuding in their homeland made you act more carefully, even if the latter was more like a rumor.

You kept paying attention to the conversation, trying to find something that could catch your attention while you were trying your best to ignore the furtive glances the watchmen were sending you.

"--Childe is currently at Liuli Pavilion"

You glanced unconsciously at the receptionist while a soft 'geez' escaped from your lips.

"Liuli Pavilion?" Aether asked puzzled.

You shrugged your shoulders. "A restaurant in Feiyun Slope"

You turned toward Paimon as she cleared her throat. "There are two styles of cooking in Liyue, known as Li style and Yue style. They have been competing for centuries, but neither has emerged as the clear winner" she began. "The flagship restaurant of the Li style is the Liuli Pavilion. The owner especially chose to open the restaurant at Feiyun Slope, so they could compete face-to-face with the Xinyue Kiosk, which is the flagship restaurant of the Yue style"

You stared at her quizzically. "Precisely" you echoed.

Aether chuckled. "Trust you to only know these sorts of things..."

"Don't talk to Paimon like that!" she huffed. "Anyway, Paimon's hungry. Let's get moving"

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"Aha, you made it!" the Fatuus welcomed you in front of the pavilion. "As promised, I have found someone who can help you. Someone who can solve the mystery of why the Liyue Qixing would hide the Geo Archon's vessel"

You cleared your throat. "Are you sure I'm not disturbing you?" you asked hesitantly.

Childe smiled purely. "Of course not, a friend of the traveller is one of my friends. Plus, I assume that you're someone trustworthy"

Despite being partly on edge you found yourself biting the inside of your lip to prevent yourself from smiling sarcastically. It was a common sense among the Knights --or at least among those who didn't spend all their years of service making patrols around the walls-- that the Fatui defined people as their friends as quickly as they announced their enemies.

"I see, I guess I'll have to consider you a friend too then" you said, sending him a bright and fake smile.

Childe said nothing and smiled back, perhaps satisfied by your words.

You entered the restaurant after being received by a waiter who led you to a room. It was furnished in the traditional style of Liyue and had a fir table for eight people in the centre, underneath  some lanterns that illuminated the room.

At the head of the table sat a man with a tall stature and a relaxed expression. His clothes gave him a formal and traditional appearance. He wore a leather-coloured waistcoat and had his long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail.

His amber eyes turned towards you and Childe and you felt a shiver running down your spine.

You recognised that feeling instantly.

It wasn't a twisted excitement or anything similar, no.

It was fear.

You bit the inside of your lip until you tasted a metallic flavour.

His golden eyes hid something.

You were no stranger to secrets but that. That seemed to be something your soul dreaded.

What was that ineffable sense of fear?

Plus, he was only a stranger, right?