His Eyes Never Change (Gold like Cor Lapis, Blue as Noctilucous Jade)

Golden Hour

The nostalgic rustling of bare branches in the cold breeze was interrupted by a poorly suppressed sneeze. Childe rubbed at his nose. Perhaps his resistance to the cold had been a trait specific to his future self.

A wide blue sky reflected in his eyes as he watched autumn change places with winter. Childe sat against a great sandbearer tree in the courtyard surrounded by piles of fiery leaves. The sweetness of sunsettias from breakfast still lingered on his tongue.

Ever since the festival, Morax had made a point to join him for at least one meal every day no matter how much activity there was at the borders. It was a welcome change, one that never failed to improve his mood. They had made plans for the afternoon, and Childe was counting down the minutes.

Morax had promised to continue their previous lessons on archery and qinggong. Perhaps he could convince the god to spar with him?

"Blegh, seeing you with that lovesick smile on your face makes my stomach turn."

Childe startled with a jolt and was sent into a fit of coughing, scattering the leaves around him. Xiao Ping stood beside him, leaning against the tree as she casually inspected her fingernails.

"I'm starting to think I should attach a bell to you," he grumbled.

"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow at him. "You know, I believe I recall that a certain someone promised to convince Rex Lapis to part with the Cleansing Bell. Maybe he'll finally uphold his end of the deal?"

Before he could cut back with a response, Xiao Ping plopped down to sit next to him. She looked him over unabashedly, propping her head on a hand as she did so. Childe blinked at her.

"What are you doing?"

"Look, I know you have a crush on my Lord," she placed a hand over his mouth, effectively smothering him before he could say anything. "Not judging. You can crush on whoever you like, no matter how boring they are. But he is my friend, so I need to make sure you're worthy of him."

Childe raised an eyebrow at her before licking the hand that covered his mouth. Xiao Ping yelped and smacked him in the face.

"Not helping your case!" she chided as she wiped the saliva off onto his clothes.

Childe stuck his tongue out at her, "That was entirely justified."

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes. "Point is, Rex Lapis isn't just anyone, so he can't be with just anyone."

"Weren't you playing matchmaker with us not that long ago? You didn't seem too concerned about it back then."

"I was just having some fun teasing you before, I didn't realize it'd get this serious," she shook her head. "So what do you bring to the table, hmm? You don't even have a job."

Childe made an affronted sound, "Does guarding the borders and being a teacher not count as a job? I contribute plenty."

Besides, in the future I have the ability to fully support Zhongli's ridiculous spending habits with ease.

Not that he could say that out loud, but it got his mind off the fact that Xiao Ping did have a point. He might think highly of himself, but even he was aware of the gap between himself, a mortal, and the person of his affections, a god with power beyond comprehension.

Childe supposed he would just have to prove himself. Nothing he wasn't used to. He was determined not to let something as ridiculous as self doubt plague his mind again.

He'd had enough of that in the past few weeks, thank you very much.

Childe sneezed and Xiao Ping frowned, her original line of questioning lost.