Chapter Text
Daubed was his vision with an ink-black sight, seeing nothing but a void of darkness that made him unable to register his surroundings. Shifting fiery reds that desperately scanned from left to right, gazing at every corner his eyes could lay on; but to his dismay, he was given nothing as an answer. Blessed was he with the throbbing sensation that greeted his pitiful situation- if he was only given but a single clue to his puzzling concerns, perhaps this aching feeling against his temple wouldn’t have been so bothersome.
The match of confusion and uncertainty lit up his chest, burning up with emotions he couldn’t understand himself. The concept of eternity was not a belief he had faith in, yet in this very predicament he was experiencing himself, he couldn’t help but wonder how long the agonizing feeling haunt his state. With a force drawn from nowhere but within the abyss of his determination, light had seeped through the covers of his lens.
Alas, his doubts were still left in that pitch-black dark, the false hope of uncovering the truth left a bitter taste. Although his mind could perceive images and lay sights on the environment around him, albeit blurry and faded, it only led him to a crossroad of paths without a map in hand. He stood there immobile, with futile attempts of movement and only a groan escaping his lips, he scavenged the depths of his mind trying to remember the moments before he ended up in a dilemma. Seconds trudged one by one, streaming a timeline of minutes.
1.
2.
3.
The moments of recollection hit him like a rock.
No— he was, quite literally, hit by a rock.
Carefully lifting his arm which had finally gained its ability to move, he rubbed his eyelids clear as a reflex. It was at this moment that he felt grateful for his limbs and muscles regaining their flexibility and mobility; imagining a world where he felt caged and chained was a world he’d pray will stay as an imagination. His sense of sight may have returned, yet the soreness and irritating pounding were too stubborn to leave him alone. Brushing it aside, he decided ignorance was the answer; it was just some foolish headache, that shouldn’t be enough to stop him from finding solutions.
That was the ideal course of action he had in mind, however, the sphere that set ablaze as the source of life and light on Teyvat seemed to have burned in unbearable heat, its rays blinding and pushing him into a haze. He fought off the dazed feeling, what he needed at this moment was concrete concentration and focus, wiping off the sweat that trickled his forehead.
The sweat had triggered a few actualizations. Upon inspecting the damp feeling that elicited a reaction from his fingertips, he noticed he was no longer wearing the warm, obsidian gloves he wore for protection when wielding his claymore, enabling him to discern the textures of objects more freely than before. One after the other, it dawned on him that his very own weapon was nowhere to be found either, despite the twists and turns of his head in the hopes that perhaps his weapon was simply misplaced. Expected yet disappointed, he was led to the conclusion that his belongings were lost. The gloves and weapon he relied on were one thing, however, the disappearance of his thick coat was another suspicion he was lost on.
Though, the latter was one he was not particularly troubled with; a plain, chalky, button-up shirt layered with a black vest was enough clothing to suffice. That certainly didn’t stop him from questioning where in Teyvat could they have ended up in. But the real question was how he ended up stuck underneath a cave, towered over by boulders with a gaping hole that allowed sunlight to pass through in the first place. His inspection phase led him to his eyes glaring with rage, seething anger as he figured out the perpetrator.
It was no ordinary rock, who was he kidding? It was a boulder. A fucking boulder was the cause behind this chaos.
Dilated pupils revealed genuine shock at the response they received, their blond hair swaying from their sudden change of stance from standing to crossing their arms. “Are you absolutely sure about this? You don’t mind at all?” They reiterated their statement, their intent not out of distrust with his reply but wishing to receive one last confirmation. A curt nod followed by a deep, authoritative voice, “Consider it as compensation for all of the hard work you’ve accomplished.”
His initial reply was “Consider it as a token of gratitude,” but frankly, he’d rather spend a day with Kaeya and Venti’s drinking session than admit a phrase he considers flustering to himself. Brushing off the wrinkles on his clothes and the specks of dust that have gathered quite a bit, he stood up from his pine wooden desk and swiftly held tight on his weapon resting at an angle beside him.
One brief step upon exiting the doors of Dawn Winery and the dark figure cast by the absence of light has given away what time of day it already was. With their shadow striking at a 12 o’clock figure, it was relatively easy to assume how long the traveller’s favour may take. As per request, they had wondered whether Diluc was available to accompany them for a short while on their journey from Mondstadt to Liyue Harbor. If this scenario were to be played at a different time and asked by a different person, it would have given him an entire day to respond as he ponders on his itinerary for the week. However, seeing as he was rather free with only a few pieces of paperwork to assess and approve on, he figured there was no other day perfect than now. At an estimated time, they would most likely reach Liyue Harbor within a day or two, and he doubted his absence would be detrimental to the winery at such a short juncture.
Make no mistake, the Traveler and their floating companion were strong enough to journey on their own, a hilichurl camp here and there was a child’s play for someone like them. Surely, this has piqued the curiosity of the winery owner. Why would an adventurer, who has fought against a mythical beast deep in the Wolvendom Forest and a dragon companion of the Anemo archon, ask him for a small-scale trip? As they strolled past through the bushes and berries of flora scattered out, the red-haired man had brought up his question, the Traveler turning their head as they listened. With a short hum and a shrug of their shoulders, “No particular reason,” was the main idea of their answer. They simply thought Diluc’s knowledge and refined communication skills with all of his business transactions would be helpful for them in familiarizing themselves with the new nation.
Before they even realized it, lanterns and lights that lit up the path had begun glowing and providing service on the patchy road. The sun fell shortly upon reaching Guili Plains, the moon hovering over the night sky as their new source of light. A day and a half of travelling before they reached their destination, it wasn’t too bad though they were certain they would’ve gotten further if they weren’t constantly ambushed by archers and slimes wandering around. Stopping in their tracks to catch their breath, Traveler had spoken up, inquiring about Diluc’s state. “Would you like to stop here for a while? We still have two more commissions to finish so we’ll be back in a few hours.”
“No need. A few commissions would be finished in a few minutes. Let’s go, Liyue Harbor is close.” His response was prompt and short, their stamina far from the average people.
“Finished in a few minutes,” was a statement that held only truth, but when treasure hoarders along with mitachurls and samachurls pounced at them all at once, it was reduced into nothing but a lie. Just when they thought their goal was at a hair’s breadth, it was all a blessing in disguise, resulting in them unleashing a series of attacks one after the other. Stuck beneath the cliffs of Mount Tianmen, where they had to pass through due to them taking a detour for Traveler’s commission, led them straight to a shameless trap and got tangled in this mess. The combination of monsters and mortals fighting in one area was not the loveliest sight to see, but rather a recipe for disaster; perfect for anyone interested in an endless battle and sparring to improve their strength. Unfortunately for them, they were far from interested and would prefer if they could reach the harbor and finally take a rest.
Sigils, bones, and insignias littered around the burnt patches of grass, it was finally down to one last hoarder between the Traveler and Diluc. The knight’s eyes scanned cautiously with the environment they were enclosed in, his chest thumping with anxiety as he couldn’t help but feel something else was out there. Someone, something, but where? The unsettling thought occupied his mind as he stood still in a guarded posture, he was uncertain whether he was exaggerating or his intuition screaming at him. In his trance, the Traveler and their newfound geo elemental skills prepared to send it smashing onto the ground, with debris and residue of soil flying to their faces though that was the least of their concerns now.
It was then Diluc realized what his instincts were telling him.
The moment the hoarder had been taken down and disappeared into smoke and ashes, so did the boulder sitting atop of the cliff that had been waiting for its freedom due to the vibrations and uncontrollable shaking that resulted from their battle. Adrenaline spiked within Diluc’s nerves and in the heat of the moment, he took Traveler’s place and pushed them aside, the boulder nearly knocking them both out.
He could only imagine the stinging vibration against his cheek as he mentally slapped himself with the idiocy that struck him. The more he thought about the absurdity of the situation, he knew that he would’ve never acted this rashly, this indecisive; and yet because he chose to act upon the wrong decision, here he was, paralyzed from the torso to his legs, facing the consequences. Incoherent swears left his lips as he grumbled and muttered, still not fully able to comprehend the foolishness he exuded yet he was left with no choice but to accept. Acceptance was the only key to unlocking the other puzzles that needed his attention as well, denying would take him nowhere but stuck at the very beginning.
Yes, he was convinced acceptance was the supposed answer;
But how does one simply accept the fact when your physical state has disappeared into thin air and all that’s left is a ghastly-looking version of yourself, when in fact, you do not believe in superstitions or ghosts?
Putting all the pieces together that had lit up in his mind, it was no wonder why he could only imagine him slapping himself. It was no wonder why, despite the soreness that enveloped his muscles, his body felt like it was floating regardless of its ability to move; It was no wonder why he was still alive in all of his glory despite his skull nearly getting crushed underneath the cliff’s blessed gift for him. It was no wonder, no wonder at all, because he turned into a fucking ghost.
Was he in a position to deny this revelation? Certainly not, he was aware, not stupid. Especially not when he’s idly sitting around losing his mind, all alone, in a cave built of rocks by nature just for him. Did that fact imply that he thinks this truth is a logical answer? To celestial heavens, no! Could things take a turn for the worse? The possible conclusion for this dreadful thought was something he dares not to entertain, he prayed to the archons for even the slightest salvation or a sliver of hope to bestow upon him. Time flipped through the pages of seconds and minutes, the agitated feeling that coursed through him still unable to settle down.
But as soon as he had come to terms with reality, he had gathered his thoughts and collected the possible courses of action; if he wasn’t going to start now, then when would he? He would be getting nowhere if he wouldn’t act soon and act smart. Step by step, before he dived into the main problem, finding Traveler would most likely ease the concerns he had. Considering he was the one who turned into a floating spirit and not them, at the very least, that meant they were safe, right?
A sigh found its way to the exit, the weight on Diluc’s shoulder bearing more than he expected. All he could do for now was find his way to Liyue Harbor, assuming he wasn’t unconscious for days and Traveler was still there; in solving this case, he needed a vital lead. That, and find out how to maneuver and get used to being a spirit without a vessel and phasing through objects as he pleased.
Uncomfortable was an understatement to his experience, a very much unfitting word for how bizarre it is. Confining and intolerable, it was reminiscent of the summer season in Mondstadt where the warmth was tormenting as the sun pricked needles with a moment of basking underneath it. He felt free, in the aspect of flying and travelling, however, his mental and emotional state could not keep up with the fast pacing of situations life had thrown at him. Perhaps the only convenience he was delighted to take advantage of was that he needed not to walk but to hover to his heart's content, shortening the time length from the distance of Mount Tianmen to Liyue Harbor. Surely, surely, things wouldn’t stray just by a simple stroll in the harbour, finding a wanted Traveler by asking the locals?
Surely, that should’ve been the case, and yet as he stepped foot (or more accurately, hovered over) in the entrance of the bustling city, only then did he understand and wrapped his mind around the concept of being stuck in the essence of his soul. Being able to phase through walls and trees was not limited to only objects, definitely not. If he was unaware that there was a god of buffoonery, then he was a hundred percent convinced of their existence now. There was no doubt that they were the winner in this tiny little battle in their own world, taking note of the number of times they had caught Diluc in between their thumbs as if he was some puppet lying around and figured he was the perfect candidate to mess around with.
To have your spirit wander around was convenient when travelling, Diluc would admit– but not when you’re trying to grab a Milileth’s attention who couldn’t acknowledge his existence. He was running out of options before he could even catch up to them, dumbfounded he stood there as he racked his brains out, knowing that this possibly can’t be the end. If others can’t notice him, there must be at least a single person out there who would, and it would even be luckier if that person ended up being a Traveler. But Diluc wouldn't push his luck, he'd take anyone at this point just as long as they're willing to help him somewhat. Was it desperation speaking, Diluc wondered, but he knew he wasn't in any position to be picky either.
Giving up was a phrase that never once occurred in his vocabulary; rather than feeling dejected with this newfound information, annoyance burned as his eyebrows furrowed in irritation. High and low, far and wide, he scavenged and explored the entirety of the city as he disregarded the concept of time. Clear blue skies that staged the scorching afternoon sun, little to no clouds offered shade for the people yet they carried on with their lives as if the heat were air and water.
Even on a normal day, one could still admire their dedication to their stores and shops, the lively children playing around without a care in the world, or the busy chit-chatter that rang in the ears of a certain winery owner from Mondstadt. The noise was far from disturbing; its presence made itself to be a great companion to distract his nomad thoughts. Even when the source of light had fallen and the shining, beaming moon had risen and taken the spotlight of the navy blue sky- he never once stopped in his tracks, determined to even see a glimpse of a blond hair adventurer with their unique companion.
Bright and colourful. That was how Diluc viewed their appearance, perhaps odd, peculiar even. Their other-worldly clothing definitely stood out from the common folk, so more or less, he was confident he would be able to spot him unless, worst case scenario, Traveler and Paimon had taken their leave and he would be back to square one. The slow, yet continuous flicker of lights illuminated the streets soon to be enveloped by night, yet the people of Liyue persevered in their hustles and carried on with work or friendly conversations.
Golden glows and orange-stricken rays of light coloured his vision, even when he was laced with troubles that pestered him at the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but find beauty in the city regardless of such. Though enchanted and charmed he was by the mesmerizing craftsmanship and detail of the lanterns that hung across from building to building, following the trails of the people who simply passed by him- it was as if fate was reminding him of the harsh, bitter truth that the world continues to move on and carry along with their work despite the disappearance of his body. The fishermen, saleswomen, and businessmen from Snezhnaya all the way to Fontaine; suddenly, the world felt minuscule in comparison to him. ‘The show must go on,’ or so the adage says, perhaps his past life was as an antisemitic merchant and karma were paying its price in his current life.
Or, maybe, this was all just the first act of the play directed by the Gods who wish to torment him. And their plan was most definitely working, with the unusual thoughts and ideas circulating in his mind, haunting him, and losing a grip on reality.
Before he knew it, his body had led him to the southernmost part of the harbour, near the seas and where the docks were located. Greeted by the aromatic smell of the distinguished Liyue cuisine, his eyes shifted and observed the origin of the scent, a muscular man who was enthusiastically cooking the dishes that caught his attention. He faintly remembers the taste of the meals they served, though he couldn’t enjoy them as much as he would love to as he ate them during a confidential and urgent business meeting. Floating towards the direction of the restaurant, he took a mental note to order someday and perhaps appreciate the culture wholeheartedly, this time.
By some miracle, just when he had made up his mind in heading to Mondstadt for searching help, a familiar colour of yellow and white had dashed by his peripherals; the speed his head had turned was unbelievable that even he couldn’t believe it. Traveller and Paimon, were right in front of him in plain sight, along with another man who he couldn’t recognize with his front turned against him and his back facing him. Erupted from the depths of his vocal cords was the most reverberating cry his throat could muster, a near-plea calling out their names. With a yell so puny , his heart was anticipating the moment they turned their heads, a shocked expression plastered on their face, in disbelief upon laying their eyes at Diluc’s state.
And yet, even in the moment of his desperation, they never looked back. Not a single glance was spared. No, it wasn’t Traveler or his wandering partner who turned around; instead, it was the man standing beside them, who had heard the faint screaming from the distance.
The stairs of luck Diluc had relied on was another railing in disguise, vanishing into insignificance as he fell into a void of twists and turns, unforeseen encounters, or accidental meetings. There was just no way, no logical or reasonable explanation as to why he , out of all the people in Liyue- in Teyvat , for archon's sake, was the only one who took notice, who could hear him out, and see his translucent, spirited form.
Was this the miracle granted to him? Was this truly the epitome of his luck? The only person who he managed to grab the attention of, was no other than a harbinger from the organization he abhorred with his entire being. Yet as they locked gazes with each other, struck in a moment of utter shock and terror, it had only confirmed both of their suspicions that they were indeed, starting at each other at this very moment, with an expression undecipherable to one another. Pupils of dark crimson that contrasted his sky-blue eyes both wore an inexpressible shock as their pursed lips gasped open, despite not a single world escaping from their frozen state. One held the look of hostility, burning in vengeance and aching for retribution; on the other hand, he was cautious however clearly troubled, the situation was too vague and ridiculous to react accordingly.
“D-Diluc…?” The man, who was distinctly wearing Snezhnayan clothing, hesitantly spoke with their eye contact not once breaking apart.
He recoiled inside as he heard his name uttered by his voice, disgusting, filthy— He hoped he’d never say it again.
“...Fatui.”
He knew who he was. No, rather, he was awfully aware of his entire existence.
Tartaglia ‘Childe’, the 11th of the Fatui Harbingers. He was affiliated with the association Diluc had buried hatred within; ‘ And the only person who knows I exist,’ the thought is bitter as he couldn’t help but laugh inside with the irony played out. He wonders why it couldn’t have been the blond-haired ally he met or even the floating companion they were attached to, but nonetheless, he couldn’t change this reality as much as he wanted to.
Speaking of the former, the two had turned their attention towards Childe upon hearing him mention Diluc’s name. Both of their eyebrows raised, with Traveler crossing their arms and Paimon doing all the talking as they had the same thoughts and questions. “Diluc? Childe, are you alright? You didn’t hit your head anywhere, did you?” More than confusion, Paimon’s voice was laced with bewilderment as she stared at the harbinger with insanity; why in Teyvat would he be mentioning his name out of the blue— and even more intriguing than that is what induced this.
His lips fell numb, unable to speak out the words to explain himself, much like his mind he was uncertain of whether he dropped it along the way or the man from Mondstadt was truly standing and staring at him from Wanmin Restaurant. “He’s… he’s standing right… right there, though?” Even his voice hinted at a tone of hesitation, with every word he enunciated, he could hear how deranged he must appear to others. As he was completely focused on the red-haired man, unable to tear his eyes away from him, the duo simply glanced at one another, their faces morphing into one with concern with the harbinger’s unusual behaviour.
Paimon had raised her hand with a mind ready to speak out her thoughts, yet before she could even start, Childe had cut her off shortly, no longer interested in explaining himself but rather gaining some explanation for him. He was afraid that if he ever so turned around for even a moment, he would be gone before he knew it, and so he was unable to spare a second to the two adventurers. “My bad, comrades. I thought I had caught a glimpse of him but my eyes were only deceiving me!” Oh, how he prayed that was the truth. “You should go and rest now, we still have a sparring session tomorrow, don’t we?”
Unusual it was that Childe had ushered them to go back to where they were currently staying, someone like him who was persistent in fighting the traveller as practice whenever he caught them during their free time. Yet for whatever unknown reason to both the adventurers, they were both left with no choice but to comply with Childe's persistent urges to make them leave him alone.
(“Are you sure Childe hasn’t gone off the rails? Surely he isn’t deranged yet, right, Traveler?” Her voice whispered in a pitch too high, resulting in a harsh hush from the latter. That doesn’t mean Traveler disagrees with her thoughts, of course.)
Childe’s words seemed to have lingered in Diluc’s mind, the cogs slowly turning with one another. The phrase “sparring session tomorrow,” had clicked in his mind, if his memory serves him right, he was certain that the Traveler goes on to do his routine every Monday, at 4 A.M. This very information may have been troubling, as far Diluc remembers, they set foot on their journey on a Wednesday afternoon, 12:30 P.M sharp. Yet as concerning the aspect of time may be, the undeniable swift glance from the pair of blue eyes he met seemed to speak more trouble than ever.
The moment Traveler and Paimon had left the scene and went off to do their own venture, the subtle motion of Childe’s hands wasn’t left unnoticed by the spirited Diluc. In their unspoken agreement, the red-haired knight begrudgingly followed wherever the harbinger may take him. As hesitant as he may be with the flow of tides that seemed to be rushing way quicker than he would’ve hoped for, he was in a position where he was forced between the options of getting stuck in this ghost-like state or sticking around with one of the Fatui.
To even think about starting a friendship with the Fatui harbinger seemed almost as good as being presumed dead, but Diluc will have to decide for that later once they’ve reached a more secluded area for their clandestine meeting.
To possess both connections and power was truly something else, but expected for a person like him. Though Diluc stood in awe at his ability to book the sought-out and in-demand Liuli Pavilion, where a single reservation has a minimum of 3 months, he was also assured of the fact that he does not wish to know about his methods in reserving such a high-class restaurant. Some affiliations were better kept as secrets, and Diluc would know that better than anyone else.
With a single glance at the waitress whose face was plastered in anxiety and dejectedness, it was enough details for Diluc to realize he was no longer curious about the actions and measures the harbinger took for a booking of a single night, with the maximum of 2 hours stay. Of course, even with his questionable process and the lengths he goes to for a trivial matter, that didn’t wholly distract Diluc from the beauty of the Liyue interior design of the pavilion, from the Sandbearer woods that were glazed and polished to perfection, to the wooden and floral screens detailed with patterns and the silhouettes of the Liyue mountains that stood with pride and honour.
The sudden cough and whisper of the voice of the male beside him brought him back to the reality of his situation, remembering that he wasn’t here as a tourist but rather a lost soul who can only be seen by the former. “We’ll have… more privacy if we eat here…” His pupils shifted back and forth in caution with his surroundings, assuring the place had no other presence other than himself while he conversed with the non-mortal knight who seemed to have a permanent scowl every time they locked gazes with each other.
The wooden chair creaked not even a tiny bit, its soles were smooth and created no friction against the hard-crafted floors. Childe sat patiently in his seat as the uncomfortable sweat dripped from his forehead, stuck in silence and tension they were both unexpectedly creating. As much as Diluc loves the silence and has no interest in idle chat— especially with someone like him, he couldn’t help but admit how much he despised the awkward silence that didn’t seem to disperse any time soon.
As the dear saviour for this impassive situation, the door’s bell chimed and echoed in the room, signalling the entrance of the waitress who would be taking their orders. “My apologies for serving you in a tardy manner, we had to fix a few reservations before we could proceed…” Licai, her name tag reads, coughed nervously as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears, the lack of eye contact she had with the harbinger was too telling as an outsider. Despite the tense expression her face morphed into, Childe diminished this thought and still gave a crafty smile, an obvious tactic of his playful personality. Diluc couldn’t help but frown even more, if possible, with his lack of tact.
“It’s not a problem at all, thank you for your— consideration.” Uncertain about the choice of words, his doubts sent a shivering chill at the thought of it. “Very well then! Here’s our menu, feel free to order whenever you’re ready. Enjoy your stay!” Her waitress façade seemed to have been back in play, the customer-service smile prancing on her lips as she left the room with a click of the door.
The breaths they had been subconsciously holding had escaped with a heavy sigh of relief, neither of them aware of this very fact. With the waitress finally out of sight and they were back to their private space, Childe could finally ask him the hundreds of questions that had been piling up ever since they saw each other in the harbour. But out of those hundreds of questions, he coughed and stumbled upon his words, asking the most mundane query out of all of the thoughts in his mind.
“Can you… can you eat, anything?”
The internal twisting of his guts with his lunatic question drove his appetite away. Obviously, that’s a perfectly normal question to ask first with a ghost acquaintance. But in his defence, it wasn’t completely an out-of-the-world question as he indeed needed the confirmation of whether his body was able to digest anything. Observing his translucent state, he wondered whether any part of him was still functioning like a mortal.
Diluc’s expression softened ever so slightly with hints of hostility no longer present, his face morphing into a genuinely speculative look. He was clueless about himself, too. “Unfortunately, it seems as though my appetite is nonexistent. Though I’d be quite surprised if I could even consume anything when I—“ Diluc’s finger phased through the glass in front of him as Childe simply gawked in awe, the scenario playing right in front of him proving it to be even more real, “—Can’t get a hold of anything. Simply put, I can go through walls and concrete with ease but so does everything else I could previously touch.”
‘It can’t get any worse than that, can it?’ Diluc thinks, but perhaps even that is a bit of wishful thinking. Reality proved to be a path full of hurdles, he couldn’t simply stroll through it and demolish everything in its path— unless Diluc was forced into the situation, he’d consider the option. A heavy sigh left his mouth as soon as he finished explaining, the bright side was that he didn’t need to worry about buying ghost food or any essential materials; that is if those exist in the first place.
For sure, Childe has had his fair share of unusual experiences and encounters; but to see it occur with someone he personally (though not close) knows, the world never fails to surprise him. As much as he loves to spice up his life and take new challenges, he prayed to the archons in the back of his mind for this experience not to happen to him, seeing the annoyed expression that never left Diluc’s face from the moment they arrived at the pavilion. Or was that a permanent scowl on his face?
Childe began to wonder if, and, how, would Diluc look as his lips curled in ways he’d never seen. But those thoughts are for the abyss to know, and for him to seal away; he couldn’t dare entertain such thoughts.
“So…” Childe spoke once again, wishing for more confirmations before he decided on any set decisions. Being rash in this situation could bring more harm than good, and as much as he knows the redhead in front of him was no liar and held a good reputation, it wouldn’t hurt to take a few steps back and act cautiously, right?
“You’re… Diluc, right? Do you remember anything that happened before this?”
He may have lost his body, but he’s quite grateful that his memories were retained and weren’t lost in the process as well. He shuddered at the prospect of it, he can’t afford for things to go south further. He sighed and boredly crossed his arms as he hovered above the chair where he was “seated”, his voice as nonchalant as it can get.
“While fighting with Traveler, a boulder decided that where we were both standing was the perfect decision to crash and fall.” Saying the timeline of events that had transpired made him comprehend how preposterous he must’ve sounded to an outsider; but at this point, in whichever way Childe may take it, he couldn’t care less as his belief lay on the concept of “what’s done is done”...
Well, perhaps he might’ve cared slightly about the way Childe would possibly react; since he was the only one after all who can see and communicate with him as the messenger to the humans who could help him. With the way Childe simply nodded to his story and not much of an overreaction, Diluc wondered whether he should be grateful for his unwavering expression or be on guard with the lengths the harbinger takes just for someone like him. It was… odd, though it’s not like his circumstances were normal in the first place.
“Alright then… I guess that’s sufficient to confirm your identity.” Childe ruffled his hair in distress as he racked his brains out. It seemed to line up with the Traveler’s retelling and lacked holes of untruth. “Now, on to the main part.”
Diluc huffed, “If you’re going to ask me how this happened, I have no idea myself either.” His irritation seeped through every word, unhappiness was an understatement with the negativity swarming in his chest. “As if the Archons were playing against me, you’re the only one who could see me.” He continued, yet he muttered under his breath ‘why was it you out of all people?’ Archons, he’d be even more relieved if it was someone like Kaeya or even Lisa, but instead, he got stuck with Childe. He just swore to himself that he wouldn't be fastidious with what he was given, yet that was being proven difficult by the second.
It was even more unsettling as to what were his reasons for stealing a reservation just to have a private one-on-one chat, uncertain whether he had any hidden agendas in lending a hand or whether he was the one behind all of this. But, seeing his shocked gaze and mouth left agape, that wasn’t a reaction from someone who would plan someone’s near death to turn them into a ghost. Especially when the person in suspicion was concentrating on his tiny little world as he tries to figure out what to do with his situation. The harbinger’s brow raised, noticing his choice of words.
“Wait, I’m the only one who could see you? No one else?” In disbelief, he figured there might’ve been at least 2 or 3 other people who could aid him; which was exactly what Diluc thought at first as well, but then that false news led them to this very moment. Childe continued to interrogate, gaining and puzzling each piece of information bit by bit. ‘ So that’s why they were trying to find Traveler and Paimon’ , the ginger hummed, slowly beginning to understand the full picture.
“Have you tried going to the Milileth? Adepti?” But with a hopeless groan that followed right after his question, he already knew what the answer of the redhead was. “I’ve tried but each attempt was futile.” Red pupils rolled in irritation, recalling how he spent the entire day trying to grab anyone’s attention only to be left in the dark, talking to the wind.
“I’ve even tried to yell and waved my hands in front of their faces in hopes they’ll notice yet—“
The stifling laughter that met Diluc’s ears had put an abrupt stop to his storytelling. As he expected, it was from none other but the most annoying and cunning person he had ever met; and that certain person was right in front of him, shoulders shaking uncontrollably as he held in his laughter. Trailing off from his voice were chuckles and laughs that seeped in failure of containing his amusement, the mental image of the stoic man waving his hands around was far too comical in his mind. While the other had a huge grin and a burst of unrestrained laughter, contrasted with the ticked-off grimace the ghost had. “S-sorry, sorry, I just—” In between his insincere apology were bits of laughter, clearly entertained with his imagination of Diluc’s entertaining tales of desperation. “It’s just— it’s just that, you , waving your hands around and yell-yelling— It really doesn’t fit your image.”
“The moment I get back my body will be the day that mouth of yours will shut up.”
“Oho, how are you going to ‘shut my mouth’ ‘Luc?” The edges of his lips curved a cunning smirk.
“Daresay that nickname again and I’ll—“
As Diluc was about to retort, the sudden cough from 2 meters away had broken off the banter between the two.
“S…sorry to disturb you, sir. Are you ready to order?”
Or in this case, the banter of Childe against… air.
In the eyes of Childe, he could clearly see Diluc; but in the eyes of bystanders, Childe was alone.
Now it was Diluc, who, for once, had a triumphant smile on his face, pleased by the flustered state of the harbinger in front of him who constantly toyed with him with all of his flirts and jokes.
There was absolutely, certainly, no possible way he was bringing himself back there, not even if he was offered a lump sum of Mora. Not even 10 million mora could bribe him enough to revisit the place; though the only exceptions were either for business purposes or if his little siblings begged him to have a taste of the Li Cuisine. But even then,
“The embarrassment isn’t worth it if I ever visit again…” He muttered as his face was buried in his gloved hands, cheeks tinting hue as he recalled the mortified expression of the waitress who had caught him talking to ‘himself’ as she entered discreetly. Caught up with Diluc’s entertaining reactions to his neverending teasing, despite his usual alert stance and sharp senses, he didn't expect to get that distracted to the point where he couldn’t even hear the door unlock and a presence enter the room. ‘I need to train more,’ was the instinctual thought Childe had.
"Alright…" Diluc was exasperated before he could even summarize. “To set things straight, Traveler and you carried my body all the way to Bubu Pharmacy, and currently, that body is in…?”
"Wangshu Inn."
"Wangshu Inn... And I've been gone for 5 days?" He kept repeating his words as if it would make them any less true.
For once, they both had a mutual frustration evident in their faces."Now that you know where your body is, and the fact that your… conscience? is floating about here—” Childe’s gaze shifted towards the vessel-less Diluc, still quite the unusual sight. “The only thing we need to solve is how to get it back, right?" Childe said as if it were an easy task, polishing his bow and arrows in preparation.
If only it was mere child’s play, perhaps something similar to frying an egg or demolishing hilichurl camps. In Childe’s standards, it was certainly much more effortless to wreak havoc with a calculated plan rather than this illogical no-step process where the only lead they have was the esteemed doctor located in the high-rise pharmacy. The once busy and bustling street had its noise die down once night had entered the scene, a much calmer tranquillity enveloping the harbour, contrasting the landscape of the early morning or the industrious afternoon.
But even in the state of peace that could urge any adventurer to set foot on their travels, both the harbinger and the ghost opposed to the idea, they were no strangers to estimating the time it takes to travel from Liyue Harbor to Wangshu Inn, adding on to that fact, they needed to seek for guidance from beings with wisdom regarding paranormals.
The golden glow of the street lanterns illuminated the surface of the metallic doorknob, its clicking sound signalling its unlocked state. In a subtle manner, Childe shifted his gaze at Diluc, turning his attention fully to him. “I’m aware that you don’t need to sleep or eat, but feel free to do whatever you want.”
The bedroom he rented was simple and plain, not exactly what Diluc had in mind, however, its convenience and minimalist features are what exactly made it a perfect stay for someone who was constantly outside. Unravelling the covers and bedsheets, Childe had laid and rested on his bed, seemingly ready to sleep, however, the coy smirk said otherwise. “Unless,” he shrugged his shoulders,
“You want to sleep with me?”
If getting stuck with this man was the only solution to getting back his body, he’d endure no matter how long it takes if it means he gets to throw the man out of the window with no hesitation.
“Tch, do you think I want to spend another minute with you?” A sour reply left his lips, unnerved by the audacity of the harbinger.
“Well, I certainly do! I’d gladly take up the offer.”
“...Shut up and go to sleep already.”
‘Childe:Diluc, 1:1’
Diluc let out his hundredth sigh of the day, he couldn’t believe he was competing about such petty matters and banters with someone like him.