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There’s something special about first impressions.They make an impact on your view of a person forevermore, and sometimes they never change, even with time. However, Kazuha’s first impression of him turned out to be completely incorrect.
The first time he saw Childe from across the way in Liyue Harbor, he thought he must have been the most snobbish person he could ever have the displeasure of meeting. Sitting in his seat on the patio of Xinyue Kiosk, one of the harbor’s most extravagant restaurants, Childe proudly waved his hands about. He almost hit his company in the face as he animated his discussion. Although Kazuha believed that every person had good qualities, to him it seemed that Childe’s were hidden very very deep down. The man fumbled with his chopsticks and had crumbs of food all over his face. Quite unseemly.
That said, Kazuha was also not a blind man, and knew when to appreciate a pretty face. From his unkempt red hair to his obnoxiously crooked smile, Childe was cocksure and confident. Kazuha couldn’t say he disliked that in a man. But he would like it more if the man knew how to hold his cutlery properly.
“You’re staring.”
Kazuha turned to Aether, who he was supposed to be out with; they’d said they wanted to find a gift for Paimon.
“My apologies. I was simply concerned for his lack of proper chopstick usage. It seems a shame to eat food so patiently prepared with your chopsticks held in two separate hands.” He couldn’t help but laugh a little as he watched the man try to pick up a jade parcel with a chopstick fisted in each hand. He looked a bit like a toddler still learning how to eat properly.
Aether hummed, “Yes I would agree if it weren’t for the fact that I’m pretty sure he’s helpless. I think the whole of Liyue Harbor has tried to teach him.” They shoved another bit of chili chicken into their mouth.
Kazuha returned to his dish, and within the next few days he’d forgotten about his non-encounter with the etiquette-less man.
+ + +
On occasion, when he was getting changed in the bathroom, Kazuha would see the word boldly tattooed on his left shoulder. In a handwriting he still didn’t recognize, it read ‘Pretty.’ Honestly, it was a bland first impression for his soulmate to have. He hopes that his second impression is about something other than his face. At least he knows his soulmate finds him pretty, though.
Today was one of the days where he spent quality time in front of the mirror admiring the script on his shoulder. The looping ‘Y’ and messily linked letters are one-of-a-kind and he wouldn’t trade them for anything.
So, as he dresses today, he decides that he’s going to heed his soulmate’s words and dress as prettily as possible. He puts on his favorite flowy skirt and tops it with a nice fluffy sweater and boots. He even tops it off with a smudge of red eyeliner. He thinks he looks lovely, and that’s enough for him, but he checks with Aether just to make sure.
They respond within seconds with an enthusiastic “OMG BESTIE SO HOT,” which Kazuha took to mean that he did, in fact, look pretty. With such excited confirmation, he leaves the house confident that, in the event he somehow ran into his soulmate today, he would be looking beautiful while doing it.
His walk to the local coffee shop was quiet, with only the occasional passerby on the phone. Mornings like these were Kazuha’s favorites. When the sun rises as he drifts by colored homes and storefronts. The breeze is gentle and the leaves are slowly falling to the ground. His gaze follows a trail of leaves falling along the street toward a quaint bookstore. Standing just outside the window, reading the “Now Hiring” sign on the window is the pompous man from Xinyue Kiosk yesterday. He seems much more put together than before, a gray winter coat slung over his shoulders and a red scarf wound around his neck. Kazuha was slightly confused because, although the wind was brisk, the weather was good. It wasn’t quite cold enough to be pulling out either scarves or winter coats. Kazuha wonders if he runs cold.
Suddenly red hair whirls around and their eyes meet. The man’s eyes widen and his eyebrow furrow into his forehead. Kazuha feels a slight tinge in his shoulder and feels an urge to walk towards the strange man. It seems they both had the same idea because they meet in the middle.
“Ah. Hello,” Kazuha offers a hand for an awkward shake, “And who might you be?”
He hesitated for a moment, eyes still wide and mouth opening and closing like a fish. Then, he shook Kazuha’s hand.
“Childe…With an ‘E.’”
“Childe.” Kazuha tested the name on his tongue. It felt like it belonged there. He watched as Childe’s face slowly grew red with embarrassment. The splotches framed his freckles, and suddenly Kazuha was overtaken with overwhelming awe. This man was beautiful.
“How lovely to meet you, Childe. I feel as though I’ve been anticipating this moment for years. My soul moves toward you as the wind to the sea. My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. Please, call me Kazuha.”
Childe is flustered in a way he’d never been before.
“Kazuha.” He whispered.
“Yes?”
“You’re very pretty.” He was holding Kazuha’s hand in both of his, and Kazuha briefly recognized that he did run cold like he’d thought. He huffed a small laugh.
“Childe, would you like to get coffee with me?” Childe looked both astonished and excited. Kazuha took that as a yes.
Hands joined, Kazuha drags Childe off to the local coffee shop. Leaves crunch beneath their feet and the sun warms their cheeks. Childe tucks his face into his rouge scarf as he follows behind Kazuha.
When Kazuha stops, they’re in front of his favorite local shop, and he looks Childe directly in the eye as he says, “You’re the furthest thing from a pompous jerk, Childe.”
Written on Childe’s right wrist in smooth cursive letters and an uncrossed ‘J’: ‘Pompous Jerk.’ It was him.