Nickname | Chilumi

Nickname

"Hey girlie!" An upbeat voice echoed across the flowery meadow, carried by the crisp spring air.

As Lumine's golden hair gently swayed in the breeze, she saw a familiar figure approaching, his hand waving energically at her like an excited puppy.
A playful glint of mischief danced across his deep blue eyes, like sunlight sparkling on a wind-tossed ocean.

"Childe," she greeted, her voice laced with exasperation, "why do you keep calling me that?"

He stopped a few inches away, hands clasped behind his back as his features curved into a whimsical frown.

"Well, you weren't exactly thrilled with 'comrade', were you? I figured 'girlie' could be a step in the right direction, wouldn't you say?"

Lumine raised an eyebrow. "More like a step towards guaranteed annoyance."

Childe feigned hurt, his lower lip jutting out in a comical pout while his hand dramatically reached for his chest. "Ouch. You're so mean! Here I was, trying to forge a meaningful bond with my beloved partner in crime."
He winked, the cheerful spark in his eyes accentuated by the warm afternoon sun.

"We're not partners in crime."

"Mh, well, if that's the case, I'll think of a new nickname for you, girlie."

While Lumine sighed deeply, Childe looked completely immersed in his thoughts. There was no way of stopping him now, and unfortunately, she knew that very well.

"I got it!" He declared after a short while, a triumphant grin splitting his face. "How about Lumi? Simple and effective."

"...Lumi? You just shortened my name."

"Exactly! That's the point of nicknames, isn't it?" He leaned in conspiratorially, his voice suddenly dropping to a husky whisper.
"Besides, I think it's cute. Just like you."

"Cute?" She scoffed. "Did you forget the way I kicked your butt two days ago?"

Childe threw his head back and laughed, a carefree sound that echoed across the air.

"Oh, Lumine," he teased, his voice now laced with a hint of flirtation, "you are cute especially because you kicked my butt."

She couldn't help but grimace, her face contorted in a disgusted expression, contrasting with his confident smirk.

"If you're going to butcher my name, Childe, then just stick with it." She added, choosing to ignore his previous comment.

"Oh, c'mon, Lumiiiiiii! Don't be so stubborn."

Seeing the roll of eyes he had just earned, Childe spoke again, his tone mockingly disappointed.

"Welp, I've got no more ideas." He sighed. "Why don't you try to give me a nickname?"

She was about to refuse, but his eyes began to sparkle with such eagerness that she just couldn't bring herself to.
Unwillingly, she started to ponder, tiny flecks of gold dancing within Childe's impatient eyes, reflecting a wellspring of unbridled enthusiasm.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, not of exasperation this time, rather of a reluctant, yet somehow sweet, acceptance.

"Seriously, you're so stubborn, Tortellini." A smug grin curved her lips.

Childe's proud grin faltered for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise. A sputter escaped his lips before he could form a coherent answer.

"Well?" She pressed, laughter beginning to bubble up. "Cat got your tongue, Tortilla?"

The moment the full impact of her words hit him, a rosy blush bloomed across his cheeks. He averted her gaze, muttering something inaudible under his breath, his cocky demeanour now completely vanished.

Lumine couldn't contain herself anymore and yielded to the laughter that was tickling her throat nonstop, filling the field with its infectious melody.

Seeing him so disconcerted made her feel strangely satisfied, as if she had just succeeded in a mission she had tried to accomplish for years. For once, it was her who caught him off guard.

Her crystal clear voice gradually subsided, and a comfortable silence settled between the two of them, punctuated only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the warm breeze.

Lumine found herself letting out a peaceful sigh. Only then did she realise how relaxed she felt now that he was standing next to her.

It had been a while since they last met, and many things had happened. She wondered what he had been up to. If he managed to visit his beloved family, if he embarked on some dangerous mission once again, and if he had missed her as much as she realised she missed him.

Their little banters were a breath of fresh air she enjoyed way more than she was willing to admit. He somehow always managed to distract her from duties and ease her troubled mind. And if his ability to see through her tough acts might have initially irritated her, it wasn't long before she began to find solace in his understanding.

Lumine turned around to look at him. Now that she was paying attention to it, he looked rather tired. She wondered when was the last time he rested and if he did so properly. When alone, he always neglected his wellbeing and became reckless.

The thought of him being alone in the dark before a miserable fire sent a wave of compassion through her.

"Ajax." She murmured with no more than a delicate whisper, easily swallowed by the spring air. The name bloomed on her lips spontaneously before she could realise.

Childe froze on the spot.

His eyes widened once again, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. His lips parted to form a reply, but the words died on his tongue. He darted his gaze around, searching, questioning whether what he'd just heard was real or just a figment of his imagination.

"Did you just...?" A feeble whisper left his now trembling lips as his cheeks grew rosier and his gaze softened.

Lumine found herself unable to meet his gaze. She could feel her face burning up as the realisation slowly hit her.

"Well," Childe started, more hesitant than usual, his hand scratching the back of his head. "It's... not exactly a nickname, but..."

He stopped for a moment as if trying to cope with his heartbeat fastening and his cheeks blushing.

"...I do like it. If it's you the one saying it, I do."

The words made her heart skip a beat. Somehow, she managed to muster enough courage to look at him in the eyes: crossing his childlike face was a pleased, yet surprisingly awkward smile.

And she couldn't help but smile back, as she felt her heart being wrapped in a warm embrace, knowing they had finally managed to grow a little closer.