On the first morning, Childe noticed that Thoma kept zoning out. Concern etched on his face, Childe asked softly, "Hey, what's bothering you?" But Thoma just shook his head, forcing a smile and brushing it off as if nothing had happened. Childe's worry lingered, but he decided to give Thoma space, hoping he would open up when he was ready.
As they approached the familiar establishment, the scent of delicious food wafted through the air, making Childe's stomach growl. They stepped inside, greeted by the warm and inviting atmosphere of Sara's Good Hunter. The hostess, Sara, looked up from her counter with a welcoming smile.
"Hello, welcome to Sara's Good Hunter," she said cheerfully. "What can I get for you today?"
Thoma's eyes scanned the menu, but his mind seemed elsewhere. Childe squeezed his hand gently, trying to anchor him in the present. "Thoma, how about we order the same thing? Maybe the famous breakfast here?" he suggested, his voice laced with concern and affection.
Thoma blinked, focusing on Childe and nodding. "That sounds good," he replied, though his voice lacked its usual enthusiasm. Childe's face showed clear dissatisfaction, a mixture of concern and frustration.
"We'll have one set of Teyvat fried egg and a Chicken-Mushroom skewer," Childe said with a smile at Sara. She quickly jotted down their order and handed it off to the kitchen, then returned with two steaming cups of tea.
As they sat down at their table, Childe studied Thoma, his heart heavy with worry. He reached across the table, placing his hand over Thoma's. "What's bothering you?" Childe's voice was soft, filled with a genuine plea for openness.
Thoma looked up, his eyes meeting Childe's. "Don't brush me off like that," Childe said, reaching for Thoma's hands.
Thoma took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to their joined hands."Childe, tell me that you are not just any average toy maker, aren't you?".
"What do you mean by that?" Childe asked, his voice laced with confusion and concern.
Thoma took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Don't lie to me, Childe. What's your real name?" He squeezed Childe's hand, his eyes searching for the truth in Childe's face.
Childe's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and apprehension crossing his features. He looked away for a moment, the weight of the question settling heavily on him
"Here is your order. I hope you enjoy it," Sara said slowly, placing their meal on the table, her voice cutting through the tension between them.
Thoma bit his lip, knowing Childe wouldn't bring up the issue again. It was clear he didn't want to explain, so pushing him wouldn't help. Childe, on the other hand, knew his boyfriend was desperate for answers.
"I have something to give you," Childe said, taking a picture from his book. Thoma watched him curiously.
"This is an old photo of me. Where did you get it?" Thoma asked, surprised as Childe handed him the picture.
"Well, that's in the past. Eat the food before it gets cold," Childe said, taking a bite of the chicken skewer.
Thoma glanced at Childe once more, noticing his unbothered demeanour. He had a strong feeling that Childe was definitely hiding something from him.
"Thoma!"
Thoma turned around and beamed when he saw Venti holding a lyre in his right hand. Childe, standing beside him, smiled at Venti.
Venti shuddered as the memory of the tavern incident flashed through his mind.
"Heading home already?" Venti asked, greeting Thoma and Childe properly.
