Chapter Text
The last few weeks had been boring for Tartaglia, the 11th Fatui Harbinger. Incredibly tedious, to be honest. He had returned from Liyue to his cold, snowy homeland in Snezhnaya after his duties there finished about two months ago.
After an exhilarating and much appreciated short vacation at home with his siblings, he returned to his residence in the Zapolyarny Palace to resume his duties beside the Tsaritsa.
Much to his disappointment, not much seemed to be going on. His days consisted of extremely repetitive paperwork, training some new recruits and a little bit of debt collecting here and there in the capital. In his free time, he would train by himself until he was too numb to think. Then he would eat his meals without any company, because that was much better than the company of the other Harbingers, and then sleep in his way too large quarters, where he would freeze despite the roaring fire in the fireplace. He was growing restless and desperate to be sent elsewhere.
With Barbatos’s and Rex Lapis’s Gnosis in her hands, the Tsaritsa concentrated her efforts on the archons of other nations, more precisely Inazuma and Fontaine, where other Harbingers were stationed. And Childe apparently wasn’t needed in the frontlines for now.
He felt a dull ache in his chest, as he found himself missing his time in Liyue. The country was lively and colourful, the exact opposite of Snezhnaya. There was always a lot of work at the Northland Bank, many debts to collect and monsters to fight, and in the evening, he had luxurious and delicious meals and pleasant company. The harbour had somehow grown into his heart and felt like home. He missed the smell of the sea and the warmth.
Missing a city you will never be allowed inside again. Yeah, you deserve that, he told himself.
He was still mad at how things turned out, having the whole city thinking he was the only villain in the drama he didn’t know he was playing. Of course, he couldn’t be mad at the Tsaritsa, but his hate for La Signora intensified by a tenfold after her stunt in Liyue. Much to his surprise, he could not be mad at Zhongli, even when he tried. More so, he found himself feeling rather sad than anything else.
He didn’t have the opportunity to talk things out with him before leaving Liyue. But rather, he spent the last few days there desperately trying to avoid him and to be angry. Now, having had some time to think, he wanted to write him a letter, but his pride wouldn’t let him. He convinced himself that if he was ever anything else for Zhongli other than a pawn in his plans, the ex-archon would be the one to reach out to him somehow, so he waited.
He was also disappointed because he couldn’t spar with Lumine anymore. It had been an almost weekly experience during his stay in Liyue, and one of the highlights of his time there. He also enjoyed helping her with her commissions from the Adventurer’s Guild and smashing some hilichurls together, even though he didn’t need the money at all.
She was a mystery of a woman welding two elements without any Vision in sight. She was a challenge, and he was very much intrigued.
Yes, he had used her for his plan, and he would do it again if the Tsaritsa so needed. But still, he found himself enjoying her company and even reaching out for her, and was surprised when her presence and trusting attitude made him shed some of his masks. She hadn’t pushed him away and indulged him, which was more than he could say about most people.
Ah, their battle in the Golden House. The fierce look in her amber eyes. She was so strong, and so beautiful, like a rightful angel coming down to strike him. He hadn’t had such a gratifying battle in years. And then she beat him. For Childe, his interest for the girl only grew after that.
We wanted that thrill again, for them to go all out in another battle. Next time he wanted to have the satisfaction of pinning her down, having her surrender under him.
Of course, he knew very well that whatever delicate relationship they had shattered after that battle, because of course, for someone like her, relationships were based on trust, and not on whatever fucked up criteria Childe had. He wanted things to stay the same, but wasn’t naïve enough to hope nothing would change between them. So, no more weekly sparing sessions or adventuring together after that. No more of anything after that, since she wanted nothing to do with him.
She had been cordial enough not to kill him when he was weakened after the incident with Teucer in Dottore’s research facility, and he couldn’t ask for much more of her. Still, he didn’t want that to be the last time he ever saw her, and before he knew, he was asking her to visit him and his family in Snezhnaya.
Like hell she would. She hates your guts, his mind whispered darkly.
Where was she now?
He tried keeping informed about her whereabouts since he left Liyue. He knew she stayed in the city for a bit, and was often seen with Zhongli helping rebuild what was broken in the harbour after the battle against Osial, because of course she would.
He hoped the anonymous one million Mora donation he made helped somehow with the repairs. He did not regret setting the old god free, though, because in the end, his Tsaritsa got her will. He just didn’t like the idea that the poor fishermen in the harbour had their fishing boats destroyed or whatever.
Lumine headed back to Mondstadt afterwards for some time, and apparently enjoyed some harmless fun like shooting balloons and gliding during the Windblume festival with her friends. She even received some kind of honour from the acting Grandmaster. Nothing unexpected, for her to be the star everywhere she went. She shined that brightly.
Last he heard of Lumine from his informants, she was in Guyun Stone Forest, boarding a pirate ship headed to Inazuma in the dead of night along with two male companions from Mondstadt. This happened a few weeks ago. Information from inside Inazuma was practically impossible to get, and he didn’t hear anything else about her.
She would like Inazuma. This time of the year, the cherry trees would be at full bloom and the temperature pleasing. Hopefully she would find some leads on her brother, or better, just find him.
He hoped against hope she would stay out of harm’s way this time, and that the Sixth Harbinger would get Raiden’s Gnosis without much fuss and that they never, ever crossed paths. Lumine had the tendency to cause trouble wherever she went. Or was it that trouble inevitably came find her? Either way, she always wormed herself into things that were none of her business by trying to do the right thing or help people.
He hoped she was safe.
He pictured her exploring the lands and battling some unique electro monsters. She might have learned some new tricks. Did she learn to use another element already?
He imagined her walking around a local spring festival wearing a cute flowery kimono, playing games, having fun with her friends and eating beautiful, colourful sweets. Maybe she could get her hands on some rice wine or plume liquor and get tipsy.
Then he involuntarily blushed as he thought about her relaxing in an outdoor hot spring bath after a long day.
Nope, let’s not go there.
Maybe she was sleeping, curled in a futon, in a safe, cosy and warm inn, at this very moment.
Was she sharing the room with her companions like she once shared shelter with him when they got caught by surprise in the middle of a thunderstorm while adventuring? Maybe one of her companions was more than a friend. Could she be sharing her bed? Was one of them keeping her warm at night?
He groaned at that thought.
I wish I could accompany her in her travels instead of being here.
“Enough rest, back to training,” he sighted, shoving strands of damp ginger hair tickling his checks back behind his ear.
He was standing in one of the many modern training facilities in the underground of the palace, working on his bow skills.
His technique was as bad as always. Adapting to the bow was no easy task for him. He was used to the fluid flexibility and speed of using daggers and swords, and using a bow required stiffness, concentration and precision. It felt like going against his very nature and element.
His arrow blows lacked power because of his wrong posture, and he was trying to fix that without losing his speed, and, after many days, he felt he wasn’t making any progress at all. “This is pointless,” he muttered.
He was tired and sweaty and his hands hurt while shooting arrow after arrow at the stupid training dummy he couldn’t break. His fingers were raw and his underarms full of hematomas and cuts from where the bow string always hit him.
The sound of hasty steps coming from down the hall made him stop the abuse of the training dummy.
“Lord Harbinger Tartaglia, Sir! I am sorry to interrupt,” one of his subordinates opened the doors of the training facility and marched in, bowing deeply.
He raised an eyebrow, as it was uncommon for someone to interrupt him during his training, and this late at night non the last. “What is it?”
“Excuse me, Sir. La Signora requires the immediate attendance of all present Harbingers for an emergency meeting. She is waiting in the large boardroom.”
Not today, he thought desperately, I don’t have any patience left for this.
“Hm? That is unusual. Tell Signora she can fuck herself.”
“L-Lord Harbinger! P-please, she insisted. She said it is of upmost importance that you attend,” the poor recruit was so flustered, he almost took pity on him.
There was no way he could avoid Signora anyway, if she really wanted something from him.
“Fine. Please take care of my mess here and I will be on my way.”
Upon arriving in the room, he glanced at Signora, and then at the other present. Dottore was of course there, since he rarely left the palace, and Pedrelino as well. Surprisingly, Scaramouche was in the middle of the room, along with some of his subordinates.
That was most unusual indeed, since he was supposed to be in Inazuma. He walked across the room and realized Scaramouche’s agents were holding other people tightly on the ground at Signora’s feet.
No.
It took him all of his self-control and all of his years of training to not let an undignified noise out of his mouth. He settled to lightly raising one eyebrow at the sight of the prisoners.
The red-haired man was Diluc Ragnvindr, ex-knight and well known noble and rich wine producer from Mondstadt. Also well known for his hate of the Fatui and for always interfering with their plans. He was pressed down on his knees, arms held behind his back, looking absolutely furious. His clothes were scorched in different places.
The other handsome man with one eyepatch was obviously Kaeya Alberich, cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius, known for his vast information network, sharp tongue, and of course stunning appearance. His visible eye showed nothing less than murderous intent, but his demeanour was calm and calculating. He was bloody, and his left arm bended in an odd angle.
What a group. Ragnvindr was the brawl, Alberich the brain.
He didn’t want to look further because he knew who the girl next to the captain was. Her amber eyes looked defiant and frightened at the same time. She was dirty, battered and bruised, her blond hair tainted with red dried blood.
Lumine would obviously be the heart.
While she was struggling against the agent’s grip, her dress rode up, exposing most of her pale legs. His hands held her tightly by her hair. The agent was not even trying to hide his lustful looks toward her. He battled the urge to draw his blades and cut his fingers one by one. Unfortunately, that was not an option.
No. No, no, no, no.
Not even hours ago, he was hoping she was somewhere safe. And there she was, on the ground of Zapolyarny Palace. She was not supposed to be here. She was supposed to be in Inazuma.
She was supposed to be safe.
And those men were her companions. They were supposed to protect her.
Hoping for anything is truly meaningless, he chastised himself.
Her eyes looked straight into his and widened. He knew that look. He saw different emotions pass through her face. Surprise, fear, hope. He didn’t let his own emotions reach his face. He couldn’t give Lumine the comfort she wanted. He wasn’t an ally. He was not going to help her. He couldn’t keep looking at her and averted his eyes.
“It seems we are complete.” Signora declared, when she saw Tartaglia march inside. “Please, Scaramouche, do tell us what happened.”
“What is there to tell? You wanted me to get you the girl, so here she is. Had to take her guard dogs too, though.”
Signora had wanted Lumine? And he knew nothing about this! How much did he not know? Why was he kept in the dark again?
“Hm. I do know this one. The cavalry captain. Such a pretty face,” Signora went down on one knee to take Kaeya’s face in one of her hands, holding him up. The captain’s lips turned upwards into a dangerous smirk. Diluc grunted and waggled next to him, and was pushed face first on the floor.
“He almost crossed my plans in Mondstadt, watching my every move. But since the Tsaritsas orders didn’t mention what to do with him, I let him be. What is your name again, dear?”
He didn’t answer and looked at her with defiant eyes.
“Hm. It does not matter.” She glanced at the other man on the floor. “Another prominent Mondstadt figure. Do you share the girls desire to cause trouble?” A rhetorical question. She stood back up and glanced to Scaramouche. “How did you catch them?”
He smirked. “Ambushed.”
“Do elaborate.”
“This… rats were snooping everywhere in Inazuma. So, I had the idea I could use them in my plans instead. As you know, I planned to steal the country’s confiscated Visions to rile Raiden up and draw her out of her hiding, and give them to the Tsaritsa,” he explained.
“They made the mistake of trusting Kamisato Ayaka. She told them pretty stories about freedom, and how she wanted to steal the Visions to give them back to their rightful owners, and free Inazuma of Raiden’s restrictions. They walked right into my arms, then. And the Visions are in my possession.”
Oh, no.
Kamisato was one of Scaramouches most faithful generals.
Why, Lumine?
She should know better! She should have learned her lesson after the incident with him. After he betrayed her trust. Don’t trust anyone.
Never trust anyone.
“Well, this is very fortunate. The Tsaritsa will be pleased to have them out of her way.”
“And where is her royal highness now?”
“She is away, but will be back soon. In the meantime, I would like to ask our prisoners some questions. Take the men somewhere else. Give me the girl,” She snarled to the agents.
“No!” Ragnvindr was struggling against the many men dragging him. “Leave her alone! Take me, instead.”
Weak flames were forming in his hands. Scaramouche grabbed him by the neck in lightning speed and shocked him with purple sparks; the redhead groaned in pain. “Don’t worry, if she dies, you can be next,” he said.
“They still have their Visions?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, they can’t do much, they are drugged. Injected them with Dottore’s new elemental blocker,” said Scaramouche flatly, shocking Diluc once more with his sparks.
“How interesting! Do pyro allogenes metabolize the blocker faster? I have to test this further; this is very intriguing indeed…” Dottore muttered from the other side of the room.
Signora rolled her eyes and looked at Childe. “Tartaglia, confiscate their Visions.”
He wanted to snarl back that she didn’t get to order him around, they were the same rank, but he did as he was told, and snapped the cryo and the pyro vision of both men’s belts, before they were escorted out of the room, still struggling and screaming.
His mind was racing. How could he get Lumine out of here?
The agent holding Lumine lifted her up from the floor by her hair and she gasped, his other hand stroked the naked skin in the back window of her dress. She wiggled against him trying to escape the touch. The agent licked his lips.
Don’t touch her. Get your dirty paws off her or you will lose them.
His hands twitched involuntarily and he balled them in a fist.
Lumine was roughly pushed and fell on the floor near Signora.
“Alright dear. Be good and no one will have to get hurt,” Signora approached Lumine again, kneeling in front of her. “Where is Raiden hiding?”
Dread grew in Ajax’s stomach. This won’t be good.
No answer.
“Where is Raiden?”
Again, no answer.
She slapped Lumine across the face backhanded. It split her lip. Childe kept his impassive face.
“Did you meet her? What is she scheming with the confiscated Visions?”
“I won’t tell you anything.”
She summoned a sharp ice dagger, and took Lumines arm.
Shit! Think, Ajax, think! Come up with something.
Because, of course, it was Ajax who felt helpless. Not his Childe, not his Tartaglia. Childe was curious and annoyed about being kept in the dark again. Tartaglia couldn’t be bothered.
He needed a reason to stop this. Any reason. The was thinking hard, but couldn’t come up with any excuse the other Harbingers would consider valid.
“Let’s try something else.” And she stabbed right through her underarm. Lumine let a shrill scream out.
Goosebumps broke out all over his body. He momentarily forgot how to breathe.
No! No, no, no!
Signora twisted the ice dagger in Lumine’s arm and a second howl followed.
Childe felt all the colour involuntarily leave his face. He shuddered. No, he had to keep it together. He knew better than to show any kind of emotion right now.
She is not going to stop torturing her until she gets what she wants. Just cooperate, Lumine, dammit!
“So?” Signora insisted.
“I didn’t meet Raiden! I swear!”
“Hm. We will see about that. Change of subject, then. Where is Barbato’s Gnosis?”
Huh?
Lumine was panting, a puddle of blood forming under her arm, where the icicle was still lodged.
“With… The Tsaritsa.”
Signora snarled. “Don’t play dumb, girl! You were with him there! Where did he hide it?”
Tartaglia was obviously missing some information here. Signora stole it months ago from Barbatos, she had been very smug about that, and the Tsaritsa had it in her possession. Or didn’t she? Was this the reason the eighth Harbinger wanted Lumine captured?
“You took it from him! If the Tsaritsa doesn’t have it then I don’t know where it is!”
“It was a fake! An illusion! And you know it! Tell me, where is the real one?” Signora summoned another icicle and jammed it in the girl’s exposed tight.
Another strangled cry. The sound was barely reaching Childe’s ears. Cold sweat broke out of his skin. He had to think of a way to stop this, or she would get killed. He was trying desperately to keep his heart rate in check, the way it was jamming at his ribcage was much too loud. He couldn’t show the other Harbingers what he was feeling.
But what was he feeling? Why was he affected by this?
It is because of the screaming. You just don’t like the screams, any normal person would react this way, he reasoned with himself.
But he was hardly a normal person. He was a Harbinger. He enjoyed stuff like this. The bloodier, the better.
It is because she doesn’t deserve this. She is a good person.
To show any emotion now would be very dangerous. For him. For her! If the other Harbingers knew he was affected, they would kill her right in front of his eyes just to make a show.
You are a bloody hypocrite. You have tortured many good people before and didn’t even bat an eye.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ragnvindr yelling Lumines name from the other room. He sounded like a wounded beast.
Ah.
So, he is the one she is sleeping with.
Personally, if he was a girl, he would have preferred the captain. At least he could fake a nice smile.
Does it make her feel more vulnerable, knowing her boyfriend could be the next to be tortured? Or does it soothe her to know he is nearby?
“Did he give it to someone else before I attacked? Who did he give his Gnosis to?” Tears were now flowing across Lumines cheeks. She whimpered, and Signora slapped her across the face once more.
Ajax didn’t know how long this had been going on. Minutes, hours? How long before she finally gave out Barbato’s secrets? How long before they broke Lumine for good?
She doesn’t deserve to die like this.
“I don’t know, please… PLEASE!”
Childe had a lingering feeling that Lumine actually knew.
Signora grabbed the icicle in Lumine’s leg, pulled it out and stabbed her leg once more. There was a large pool of blood forming under the girl. Signora must have hit a large vessel. She was bleeding out on the white marble floor.
Lumine screamed.
… and screamed. And screamed.
Archons, please, make this stop.
Lumine’s head lolled in his direction, and amber eyes met his once more. They were red from crying, and more tears were still escaping trough her lashes and spilling down her checks. He didn’t look away this time.
Does looking at a familiar face do you any good? Does it give you any comfort, knowing you are not alone?
He couldn’t breathe. His chest was unbelievably tight and ached with every heartbeat.
For the first time in many years, he felt a single tear escape his eye, quickly roll down his face and fall to the floor. He didn’t feel it coming. He couldn’t stop it. But he couldn’t pull his hand up to wipe the wetness away, he couldn’t risk drawing any attention to himself. If any Harbinger saw his face now, it could pass through as a glint of sweat. So, he just stood there, as motionless as possible, wondering if she had noticed his tear.
If she was conscious enough to notice anything, at this point.
There was a loud noise outside, and his eyes averted from Lumine’s towards the door.
“Hey, you! Go check if everything is alright,” Scaramouche snarled the orders to one of his agents.
Awoken from his brief trance, Ajax started assessing his chances. He could kill the few lower ranked Fatui easily. There were four Harbingers beside himself in the room. He could take, one, maybe two of them out? He had to be fast, before all of them realized what was happening and reacted. He was not sure he would be able to kill Signora or Scaramouche in a fight. Could Ragnvindr and Alberich end the ones left? Not likely, since they were drugged. Lumine probably could, in a normal situation, but she was in no condition to fight.
What the hell are you even thinking? This is treason…
The door slammed open and Ragnvidr and Alberich raced inside. Without being watched by a Harbinger, they apparently managed to subdue the agents and escape, even without their Visions. And they stole some weapons. Scaramouche was the first to move, sending sparks in their direction, and they expertly dodged being hit.
Childe’s feet were still planted on the ground, and he realized he was still holding on to their Visions tightly in his hands.
How can I help without raising attention from the other Harbingers? He blinked across the room.
“Don’t move!” Signora raised to her feet, holding Lumine tightly against herself, another ice dagger pressed under her jaw, superficially breaking the skin and drawing a droplet of blood. Lumine whimpered and struggled softly against her grip. “Come any closer and you will watch her die.”
The men stoped.
“Let. Her. Go.” Ragnvidr snarled at her and motioned forward. He was held back by the captain’s arm.
“Alright. Alright. Just don’t hurt her.” Alberich reasoned and dropped the stolen sword.
And that’s when hell broke loose.
Childe was slammed back by a powerful gust of wind, hitting his head hard against the wall and his vision blackened, briefly disorientated. He wasn’t sure if the crack he heard was the wall or his skull. He felt hot blood running from his head to his nape.
He saw the small fairy that usually accompanied Lumine floating towards the fallen girl, and a boy in green clothes slamming Signora on the floor like she was a straw dummy. Oh right. The fairy had been missing.
He was brought back to his senses by Alberich roughly jacking the visions out of his grasp. In the middle of the chaos, he made no effort pretending to fight back, and let himself get slammed against the wall again.
The boy he recognized as Barbatos scooped Lumine lightly on his arms. Somewhere across the room, Scaramouche screamed, and the air filled with static and heat. Tell-tale sign he was charging his Vision and Delusion at once. He saw him point his hand in the boy’s direction. In Lumine’s direction.
Fuck!
He couldn’t get to her quick enough. Next thing he saw was the explosion caused by overload. Pieces of furniture and broken marble floor flew all over, and he barely managed to protect his face, some pieces hitting his arms and torso making small cuts.
Dust filled the room. He coughed. His body protested and he couldn’t see, but he walked through debris in the rough direction where Lumine should be.
He saw the boy, wide eyed and dirty, holding his abdomen, where a blood pool was forming. Alberich was helping Ragnvindr up near him with the small fairy apparently unconscious in his other arm. The boy glanced across the room and jumped towards both men, enveloping them with his arms. And just like that, with another gust of wind, they disappeared.
Lumine!
Did she get away?
The other Harbingers were battered, but none life threateningly hurt. He blinked trough pain and moved forward.
As the durst settled, he found the girl. He desperately wished he didn’t have. She was laying completely unmoving in a hole in the floor, covered with pieces of marble and wood. Her eyes were closed and she looked finally peaceful.
He saw the very discrete rise and fall of her chest. He almost wished she wouldn’t be breathing. Being dead would have been better. Being dead would be a blessing.
Her companions had left her. That stupid god saved them, and fucking left her here. How dare he only save his own people? She was now alone in the snake’s den.
Come back!
For the first time, he prayed to another god.
Please, come back and take her with you!