Death of Me [Tartaglia]

chapter 9

I open Childe's door to find him packing a backpack. He looks up surprised, then a smirk covers his face. 

"I see you still haven't learned your lesson about knocking, traitor." 

I wave of emotions wash over me, "Don't call me that." 

"Hm? Defensive are we?" he teases. 

"Shut up," I mutter. "Where are you going?" 

He glances at the leather backpack and blushes slightly, "To visit my family, actually." 

The surprise must show on my face because he lets out an embarrassed laugh. 

"What motivated that? I thought we were supposed to be looking for the traitor." 

"Um, you did actually, talking about your mom and all." 

"Oh," I say. 

I don't know how to react. I definitely can't go with him to his family home, but what else can I do if I can't help him investigate? The Tsaritsa sure doesn't want to see me. Maybe I could go train... Why would you train Yn, you haven't done that in years? 

"Do you want to come with me?" he asks. 

"What?" I ask surprised. "You want me to come?" 

He looks away, as if embarrassed for asking, "I don't know, sorry that was weird. You don't have to." 

"It's fine," I pause. "I'll come." 

"Alright," he says slightly hesitantly, then grins. "Great, I'm sure they'd love to meet you!" 

"How long are you planning on staying?" I ask eyeing his bag. 

"Oh this? It's full of gifts for them," he says proudly. "Alrighty, it's a 30 minute walk so grab a coat."

I pause, I haven't left the palace in over 10 years, "Um, I don't own a coat. I just stay inside with the Tsaritsa, all the time." 

"Oh," his brow furrows. "Do you want one of mine?" 

The offered kindness makes me blush, "If you don't mind, I guess that would be nice." 

He smiles and walks towards his closet, pulling out a large, grey trench coat. He hands it to me before slipping on his own black jacket and hat. I pull on the coat, the sleeves are long and the hemming almost touches the floor, but I can tell it will keep me warm. It faintly smells of wood and salt, a nice pairing. 

He stands by his door, "You ready?" 

I nod, buttoning up the coat he lent me. I follow a stride or two behind him as we descend to the base level of the castle. Six guards meet us at the exit, but don't bother questioning either of us as Childe is a harbinger. They pull the large wooden doors open letting in a blast of frigid air. 

The wind is much colder than the small drafts that blow through the small library window, and I burry my face deep into the neck lining of Childe's coat. He strides confidently out into the whirling snow, giving me no time to adjust to the frozen air. 

Once we are off the Fatui property it occurs to me that now would be the time to run. Following behind Childe, the dense snow would hide my disappearance well. I shake the idea out of my head because they would still find me. Childe turns back, his blue eyes stunningly bright against the gray and white around us. 

"Come on, Comrade! Don't make me walk up here by myself." 

I obey, quickening my pace so I can walk in line beside him. The silence between us lingers, the only sound the crunch of meters of snow below us and the wind in our ears. After another kilometer of walking dull yellow lights begin to shine in the distance. 

"That's our town," Childe yells out against the wind. "Let's hurry before my toes fall off." 

We quicken our pace, arriving in front of a snow covered, two story home. He pauses, glancing at me. 

"Yn, some of my younger siblings don't know that I'm a Harbinger," he says awkwardly. "They think I'm a toy maker, so just play along, please." 

"Sure thing," I say through my chattering teeth. 

He knocks his gloved hand against the door. There is only a momentary pause before a small boy with hair the color of Childe's opens the door. 

He beams at the sight of his older brother, "You're here!"

Childe laughs, patting the boy's head and walking inside. I follow awkwardly behind him, second guessing coming on this trip.

"Hello, Tuecer," Childe says squatting down to be at eye level. "This is my apprentice, Yn. She wanted to come meet you guys!"

The boy, Tuecer, looks over his brother's shoulder at me, "Hi Miss. Yn!!"

I laugh in spite of myself, "Hello, Tuecer! You don't need to call me Miss, I'd like you to be my friend and my friends don't call me Miss."

His eyes sparkle, "Yay! A new friend!"

He runs around his brother and hugs my legs. I smile down at him, patting his hatted head.

Childe stands up and turns around to face the two of us with a grin, "Tuecer, where is everyone else?"

"Tonia and mommy and daddy are all at work, but Anton is upstairs. ANTONNN!!!" he calls. 

Footsteps can be hear from the floor above us, then another boy, older than Tuecer runs down the stairs. He beams at his big brother, revealing a missing front tooth, and jumps to hug him. Childe laughs hugging his little brother back. 

"Me and Yn made you two presents," Childe says with a cheeky grin. 

Tuecer immediately detaches himself from my legs and runs to join his brother surrounding the backpack. Childe pulls out a series of intricate and foreign toys from regions I've only dreamed of. Tuecer grins grabbing a figurine of a ruin guard, cheering about it being 'Mr. Cyclops.' Anton rummages deeper into the bag pulling out a toy that looks like a Fontainian poodle, if I remember correctly.  The two giggle with their new toys. 

"Will you two play with us?" Tuecer asks hopefully. 

Childe laughs, "Of course we will!"