Sharing an umbrella

Umbrella

Childe may not be a simple man, but he had a simple desire.

To others he may appeared as casual as always, when he strolled down the street, but he himself knew that he was everything but his usual self. He was nervous. The rain was already falling and everybody was packing up to be at home as soon as the storm really hits the harbor.

After some searching he finally found her. Lumine stood under an abandoned stall and looked a bit helpless. Obviously she had forgotten her umbrella. As the gentleman he was, he approached her and offered her to take her to her hotel.

Hesitantly she accepted. He wondered, if it was because of him being a Fatui or because she didn't like him. Maybe she was just shy.

"You know, when you share an umbrella with someone, you have to walk close next to them or else one of them will get wet."

They mostly walked in silence. Lumine has never been a talker, so it was on Childe to keep a conversation – with himself. He gave up his monologue after two minutes and decided just to enjoy Lumine's presence in silence. It was a start.

The last weeks had been full of rain, so Childe always carried around an umbrella – just in case he happened to run into Lumine. From what he had heard, she somehow always forgot hers. Maybe she didn't even possess one. He should buy her one. Luckily, he just happened to pass by a shop that sold umbrellas. Carefully he selected one out of the many available.

Sadly just a few minutes later he realized that his action were unnecessary. After turning around the corner, he saw her with Zhongli. Both stood under a canopy of a shop, looking a bit helpless. However, before Childe could take acting and help those two lost causes, Lumine suddenly pulled out an umbrella from her invisible pocket.

The sight was one to behold. Lumine was so tiny next to Zhongli, but still demanded to be the one to hold the umbrella and to shield them from the rain. Zhongli on the other hand seemed to carry their groceries – or whatever Zhongli had Lumine convinced to waste money on.

Childe gained another regret that night.

Spending time with Lumine often involved spending time with Zhongli. Childe had nothing against the other man, but he would love it to have more alone time with Lumine. He also disliked how those two were eating out together or in general spent so much time together. Every now and then he invited himself in on their not-date. So far, they had never pushed him away. Maybe that was a good sign?
Childe refused to acknowledge the fact that both of them were his enemies – he shouldn't have all those feelings!

On a mild night, the three walked down the streets of Liyue. They just came back from a long and eventful stroll, when it started to rain out of nowhere. Lumine's magical pockets be thanked, they at least had one umbrella. An awkward silence arose between them. In all her tininess Lumine tried to hold the umbrella above Zhongli and Childe, but there with was exposed to the rain herself.

"Don't worry, I saw Xingqiu just now. I will share an umbrella with him."
And off she went, leaving Zhongli, who was now in charge of the umbrella, and Childe behind.
"If you share an umbrella, you have to stand close to the other one or else you will get wet," Zhongli stated serious and looked expectantly at Childe.