[ he waits, and he waits, and he waits. one might assume that someone of childe's obvious temperament lacks in patience — which is an astute perception. childe's impatient as hell, except when it comes to things worth waiting for.
that is to say, he's about to vibrate out of his skin. maybe he ought to have offered the gift in person, but then kaeya would have postured away all of his honesty. childe likes giving gifts — he likes seeing people's faces blossom in excitement and awe. it makes him feel powerful and purposeful, in ways that have nothing to do with violence.
and then kaeya swoops in and takes the damn package into the tavern.
okay. childe could try to find a vantage point inside the tavern itself, but that probably won't work. scratch that, no matter childe's caution, that definitely won't work. kaeya knows to watch for him, if he'd known enough to remove himself from childe's field of view.
he's too good, childe thinks, caught between annoyance and admiration. it would have been another thing entirely if kaeya just bent to his whims - childe might have grown tired of him by now, if so. instead --
childe shoves his journal somewhere into his satchel, and levers down the tree. he stalks into the tavern and makes a beeline to the table where kaeya has situated himself. a leaf is caught in his hair, belying his former hiding spot. ]
You robbed me of my entertainment this afternoon, so you're going to order me a drink.
[ childe announces as he drops into the seat beside kaeya's. not quite petulant, because he's still wearing that preternatural smile, but there's a restless energy to him that calls to mind the moment before a strike. his gaze drops to the package, still neatly wrapped, and then, pointedly, back up to kaeya's face. ]
[while kaeya waits for childe to make his presence known—because of course he will—kaeya imagines what, exactly, is in the long, relatively thin box taking up a majority of his small table. he has an idea, of course; he'd bet good money on it, but it's still fun to imagine what someone like childe could think to give to someone like him. what if childe wanted to threaten him? what if childe wanted to win him over? what if—
—well.
kaeya's only taken a sip of his drink by the time childe finds his way to the empty seat across from him—and it would be a lie to say that kaeya doesn't enjoy the sight. childe's frustration is palpable; it isn't so much in his expression as it is the rest of him, given the way he sits, strangely tense, at the very edge of his seat. kaeya, in comparison, is settled back in his? smiling over the lip of his glass while greedily soaking in every bit of this impromptu show, because he does so love being an annoyance.]
Did I, now? My sincerest apologies. I merely thought that you might like a better view.
[he doesn't bother to keep his amusement in check as he leans forward, first setting his drink atop then table, then setting an elbow beside it. to steady himself, you see, as he reaches out to pluck that leaf from childe's hair, making sure to smooth back what he can in the process.]
But if it isn't pleasing—
[then it's no skin off his back! or: he sits back in his chair, holding up the leaf—see, he was totally being legitimate—before using it to catch the bartender's ever-watchful eye. another drink, please.]
—you are free to climb back up your tree.
[he can put two and two together, childe! and he's even more amused by it, as evidenced by the way he waggles this leaf back and forth.]
[ see, childe's supposed to be the annoyance. that's the way the world works, kaeya, didn't you get the memo?
and it's not like childe's truly upset about being outplayed. not really. not over something so petty. kaeya hasn't deviated from his baseline of aloof playfulness he'd exhibited from the start, except for his jaunt into desperation when childe had attempted to kill him. this shouldn't surprise him.
but, alright, maybe childe did want the instant gratification of seeing kaeya's expression warm and sweeten. because of a gift from childe. maybe he'd wanted to bask in that warmth and sweetness for awhile. gift-giving is a self-indulgence in and of itself, after all, and this gift came with several: to please an interesting friend, of course, but also to remind kaeya how useful childe is. how thoughtful. how resourceful.
kaeya stealing the leaf from his hair doesn't help. no, not even the caress afterwards, as it calls to mind an attempt to smooth down ruffled feathers. in fact, he'd seen kaeya soothe their erstwhile mount in a similar manner.
(yes, he's a petty asshole.)
childe gives kaeya an abbreviated once-over, gaze flicking from face to chest, lingering, and then traveling slowly upwards again. an idle thought, divorced from the clumsy attempt at nonchalance: what sort of knight leaves so much skin bare? childe could kill him seventeen different ways solely targeting that ridiculous little chest window.
regardless. ]
The view is a bit better, I'll give you that.
[ childe grumbles, pointedly ignoring the leaf between kaeya's fingers. the thread of conversation lost as a server brings over his drink, which lightens his sulk. he doesn't yet bring the cup to his lips, as he's more interested in nudging the package in kaeya's direction. ]
[childe is always interesting; it's why kaeya's eye has a way of wandering back to him time and time again—but this, kaeya decides, is how he likes childe best? frustrated. just barely maintaining the veneer of civility. kaeya thinks of an incense-fueled childe driving him back, back, back, offering him no quarter, and wonders to what depths a sober childe would—will?—sink to. it isn't as though childe has anything to lose in this world, aside from his life.
how fun.
but kaeya is aware that he can only take this so far. everyone has their limits, and childe, it seems, is swiftly approaching his—hence kaeya's amused hum as he drops that leaf right into childe's untouched drink. a nice little garnish, floating atop the ice. please enjoy.]
Perhaps I was enjoying my view. But if you insist—
[then yes, sure, he will finally shift his attention to this gift? will pluck at the ribbons holding it closed, albeit so, so slowly. some people prefer to take their time unwrapping their gifts, and kaeya has no problem pretending to be one.]
Any hints?
[a last-ditch effort to further annoy childe, because as he carefully slides the ribbons off one corner, then the next—he can only stretch this out for another few seconds, sure, but oh, he's enjoying himself.]
[ meanwhile, childe finally takes a long draught from his glass, upending the entire thing down his throat. in fact, he makes a show of chewing the leaf and swallowing it.
why?
why do anything in life?
besides, eating a leaf is better than showing distaste by fishing it out and/or flicking it at kaeya. if he's going to use kaeya as a target, his projectile is going to be a lot more interesting than a leaf.
the alcohol is weak, kaeya is unruffled, and the sword is still hidden from view. childe drops his chin into his palm, attempting an unaffected air — he's a fair hand at deception, but today he's letting the loose ends of himself visibly fray. kaeya has that effect on him. the ability to worm under his skin.
because - a hint? fat chance. instead, childe snorts inelegantly and murmurs - ]
Remind me to wrap a lump of coal as a present for your birthday, whenever that might be.
[eating that leaf is—well! okay! it takes all types to make the world go round—and kaeya knows that he, himself, is bordering on obnoxious. it isn't as though childe needed to think of him? and yes, sure, there's a very real chance that he'll open this box to find that childe thinking of him may be... less than a good thing, but still: childe brought him something. childe deigned to join him in this tavern, if only to sit there and sulk, and he repaid such kindness by dropping a leaf in the man's drink.
...well. never let it be said that kaeya can't be kind.]
Luckily for us both, you just missed it.
[kind of. what is time? does kaeya's birthday line up with this world's calendar? a mystery—which kaeya pays little mind as he finally lifts the lid from this box. expectations: low. childe has no reason to go out of his way for anything, and yet:]
Oh.
[a (breathless?) noise of genuine appreciation as kaeya leans forward, getting a better look at the sword resting within the box. forged in this world, obviously; the ornamentation makes that more than clear, but above that, as kaeya just barely squints—]
Is that bone?
[he's running a finger down the blade as he awaits the answer.]
[ as kaeya finally - finally! - unwraps the gift, childe too cranes forward over the table, forgetting his ire and all discussions of birthdays and coal all at once.
because kaeya's reaction had been equivalent to a shout of surprise, had it come from anyone else. it isn't an actual shout of surprise, which would have stroked childe's ego to his satisfaction, but it's as close as someone like kaeya can manage.
he smiles, gaze drawing down to the sword as well. he reaches over, catching kaeya's wrist so he can lead his touch down the blade to the intricate knot of bone at the guard. the smith had done a remarkable job, really. ]
Better yet, it's dragon bone.
[ a beat, then - ]
Or "wyvern" bone, as they call the beasts around here. All the dragon bits minus the fire-breathing. That one nearly killed me about eight times over.
[ he sounds ... proud? go figure.
before he can go into the specifics of the fight (because kaeya's most definitely getting the play-by-play, there's no negotiation to be had), childe tilts his head up to look at kaeya - and then he interrupts himself with a laugh. ]
—Sir Kaeya, you appear to have fallen in love.
[ with the sword, for the record.
he looks very pleased with himself, lingering bitter leafy taste notwithstanding. ]
[let it be known that, were it anyone else catching kaeya's wrist, kaeya wouldn't hesitate to twist free—but it's both the way childe holds him (re: surprisingly gently) as it is the fact that childe brought him a dragon bone sword? or, correction: a wyvern bone sword. there is something special about that, to be sure—which is why kaeya allows childe to guide his fingers first down the length of the blade, and then right back up it. so this dragon-slash-wyvern almost (allegedly) killed childe, and yet childe kept at it...
...hmm.
of course such a claim appeals to kaeya's vanity; he'd like—love—to believe that he inspires such acts simply by existing, but the fact of the matter is this: childe is not just anyone? kaeya doubts that childe is easily enamored, which makes this gift as dangerous as it is lovely. childe could ask all manner of favors in return for such a gift; kaeya would deny the worst of them, of course, but he'd soon find himself between a rock and a hard place. a happy harbinger is better than an angry harbinger.
and yet.]
And if I have? [kaeya's fingers find their way back to the guard, tracing that bit of bone the smith chose to highlight. it is pleasing. every inch of this blade speaks to quality craftsmanship, hence kaeya's satisfied sigh.] It's a fine sword—as it should be, if you went through such trouble.
[on my behalf, too, his playful tone implies. oh, my. but after tracing the guard one last time, kaeya swiftly twists his wrist, fingers finding, and then curling about, childe's—all as he shifts his attention upward, finding, and then holding, childe's gaze. hey, hi, hello; enjoy this ever so slight smirk.]
Are you hoping that I'll want to put it to the test?
if this were harbinger business, the roundabout would be the road most travelled by. glance askance instead of forward. take a word, a phrase, anything meaningful, and wring it dry of substance.
but childe, no matter how kaeya currently views him, hasn't approached their friendship with ulterior motives other than what he clearly stated: an interest borne of experiences he still doesn't understand. a hunger for more, whether that take the form of more information or - more of this strange standstill. kaeya's fingers twisting about his own, sinuous and sly, as meaningful and meaningless as anything a true harbinger might do. uncharacteristically, perhaps, childe's gaze flicks down to kaeya's hand instead. expressive and opaque in the same moment, just like its owner.
childe grips his hand firmly, fingers slotting in between kaeya's. it feels shockingly intimate; it's with that thought that he meets kaeya's gaze again. he's smiling again, the expression sweet and steely, just like his newly-forged gift. ]
Of course I want to fight you again.
[ understatement of the century, okay, moving on - ]
But this was a gift, not an invitation to battle. I would urge you not to read ulterior motives where they don't exist.
[of all the things kaeya expects, in this moment, childe's fingers sliding between his is not one of them—and it's uncomfortable? undeniably so, both because kaeya does his best to maintain a certain distance from others—and because this contact is not entirely unwelcome. it's fun, the way childe pushes even as kaeya pulls. it leaves kaeya wondering if this touch isn't some carefully calculated act, meant to send kaeya pulling away or looking for some other way to retaliate.
(after all, looking for—hoping for—reactions is one of kaeya's favorite games.)
but there's something... honest, about childe. frank. he has everything in the world to hide, and yet he meets kaeya's eye as though he's an open book—which kaeya likes. it isn't every day he meets someone who is both fun to play, but also keeps him on his toes.]
Oh? I see. How disappointing.
[he's only teasing—or is he? with the way his smile widens as he leans that much closer, childe may never know.
but also, so low as to be almost intimate:]
And this? [a light squeeze of his fingers, his nails lightly catching the back of childe's hand.] I shouldn't read anything into this?
[ childe, despite himself, doesn't manage to take that question in stride. it's not that he flusters openly, nothing so gauche as that, but he does open his mouth and shut it, staring with a strange sort of intensity at kaeya's face. except it's too close to stare at the face as a whole, so he takes it in kaleidoscopic parts of the whole: an eye, pupil slit two ways, a smiling mouth, lips too near. hair grown purposefully to drape over the eyepatch. beauty is a silly thing to be distracted by, given childe's nature, but he's distracted nonetheless.
he'd reached out to guide kaeya's hand out of excitement, because childe gets carried away. not because he'd intended to make his preoccupation known, nor to baldly seduce as kaeya seems to be implying. is he ready to make a complete fool of himself? oh, that's a stupid question - the answer is always yes, as long as the payout is worth the rest. besides, childe's reasons for cleaving to kaeya don't end with physical attraction. or elemental attraction, given the crystals around their necks.
childe gaze cuts away. he seems to be thinking, hand limp under kaeya's fingers, expression blank.
it doesn't last a great deal of time. too quickly afterwards, he's grinning again, clearly having come to a conclusion. ]
Even kids hold hands, you know. I'm an innocent guy.
[ the grin says otherwise. ]
That said - lucky you, you're getting two gifts today.
[ and that's all the warning kaeya's will get before childe's leaning forward, too quick to easily avoid, and pressing a kiss onto that infuriating mouth. chaste but insistent. ]
[the stakes—in this moment, at least—are low; kaeya sees little harm in teasing this person he does not fully understand, because the truth of the matter is that kaeya wants to understand him? both for future plans, whether they take place here or back in mondstadt, and for the simple fact that childe is that rare type that kaeya finds genuinely interesting. easy to predict, in some ways; altogether impossible to predict in others. as kaeya sits here, holding childe's hand while noting the way childe's eyes slide to the side, kaeya can't quite tell what childe is thinking. it's thrilling.
and made all the better by the way that childe, apparently determined to one-up himself at every turn, abruptly closes the bit of space between them, pressing his lips to kaeya's as though it's the most natural thing in the world.
ah.
honesty doesn't come naturally to kaeya, these days; he's made a career of lying his way through life, but this kiss is so wonderfully unexpected that kaeya finds himself smiling into it? humming, softly, as he tilts forward, introducing just enough pressure to make it clear that his lingering kiss is far more than friendly. never let it be said that boldness does not pay off.
but they are still two almost!strangers sitting in a very public space—hence kaeya's slow withdraw, his smile remaining in place as he settles back into his chair. every bit the cat that got the cream...]
My, my. You are full of surprises.
[to say the least!! one last squeeze of childe's hand, then, before kaeya slips his own hand free, allowing it to rest near his drink as he continues studying the man he is now Invested in pulling apart piece by piece.]
But don't you know that you're setting a dangerous precedent? A sword, a kiss— [hmm!] However will you manage to outdo yourself, the next time we meet?
[ childe would be offended if he knew that kaeya described them as "almost strangers", just for the record. they've fought. they've held each other's lives at the edge of a blade. and kaeya's still alive, heart beating behind that tantalizingly displayed chest. that means something, in childe's mind.
which is why he isn't put out when kaeya moves further away instead of closer to him — he'd reciprocated, after all, and he'd accepted the sword despite his obvious enjoyment at dragging the process out. ]
The way I see it —
[ he settles back in his own seat, though it's clear that he's struck through with restless energy. he'd rather dart back into kaeya's space. to fight him, maybe, to reignite his heart with the thrill of kaeya's attention upon him, or to kiss him again, until kaeya's the one chasing his lips. either way, he wants to be centered upon the stage. the spotlight gilding him.
that's not the way of it, though. kaeya's not a fellow fatuus, falling into step with childe by ties forged by patriotism; he's never known the all-encompassing love of the tsaritsa. he's not truly a man of mondstadt, either — he wears his deception like a string of pearls around his neck. glinting in the light. that's the true goal, for all that childe feels giddy in the aftermoments of the kiss. desire flares all the brighter when he doesn't have to separate childe the man from childe the monster — both of them want to be here, pinned and flayed by kaeya's infuriatingly smug gaze. he wants to rip that string of pearls away with his teeth.
childe tilts his head, affecting nonchalance. he might have danced upon a liyuen stage once and again, but his acting skills need refinement — his eyes gleam and linger. ]
You've gotten two gifts from me, and my hands are still empty. Next time, shouldn't you be offering me a gift instead?
[of course kaeya enjoys the attention childe is all but lavishing on him; a peacock will accept any opportunity to preen—but there is an undeniably dangerous undercurrent to everything that childe does? everything that childe offers, knowingly and unknowingly. they're far from teyvat—far from the call of the abyss—and yet, each time they find themselves in close proximity, kaeya has the feeling that he's standing in the shallows of some unfathomably deep ocean, a step or so away from a sandbank that will give way beneath his feet.
childe wouldn't hesitate to pull him under.
but kaeya, despite himself, remains curious, eager to piece together this puzzle. what's life without a little risk? what's life without a bit of fun. it isn't as though he has any pressing responsibilities in this world, other to find his way back to mondstadt before childe brings about the death of him...]
Empty hands? You have a curious way of viewing things.
[gifts should be freely given, etc, etc, but as kaeya is also kind-of-sort-of guilt of bending that particular rule:]
You see, I've always thought a kiss benefits both involved parties—unless it's a disappointment, of course. Too much, or too little. [he cants his head, brow raising every so slightly.] Did you find our kiss disappointing?
[ kaeya has mastered the art of lighting fires with word and gesture alone, and childe still can't decide whether his preferred response is admiration or irritation. right now, with the warmth of kaeya's lips still lingering on his own, it's heavy on the former, but the latter never quite dissipates.
because it's his mannerisms, too: the practiced way that he tilts his head, showing off the elegant curve of his neck. his dark hair falling against his cheek. childe's accustomed to acting upon instinct, but this particular dance requires a measure of finesse.
he holds up his hands, palm up, as if to emphasize how empty they remain. ]
I'd hoped you wouldn't make me spell it out.
[ with all the temerity of a man who means nothing that he's saying. ]
Then again, I surprised you with a kiss. [ with particular emphasis on the directionality of the action: i surprised you. no, we're not letting up on the insistence that childe's giftlessness needs to be remedied. ] You didn't have time to prepare yourself.
[ he leans forward, elbows propped on his knees. too eager, despite the air of blasé he's attempting. ]
That said, I'm willing to give you a second chance.
[if you give a mouse a cookie? if you grant a harbinger one (1) kiss. childe certainly is a greedy little thing, always eager to see just how far he can push the boundaries, just how much he can get away—and kaeya can't help but to be genuinely amused by it. it's always fun when someone is willing to play their (ridiculous) part. even as kaeya remains aware of the ever-present danger lurking beneath that playful façade, he finds himself leaning forward once more, not even bothering to hide his amused exhale as he closes the gap between them.]
How generous. I do hate to disappoint—
[and surely childe expects kaeya to stop just shy of kissing distance? surely childe expects kaeya's smile to shift from smug to perfectly Pleasant, because childe set this up so well; it would be a shame for kaeya to ignore the opportunity.]
—so I'll be sure to prepare myself for the next time we meet.
[no, kaeya isn't swayed in the slightest by the sight of those empty hands. c'mon.]
[ to childe's credit, he remains still as kaeya draws near. perhaps he's finally starting to understand the rules of engagement with kaeya; more likely, he wants to prove a point.
nonetheless, when kaeya puts on his Customer Service face again, childe can't help the flicker of disappointment. it's not about the absence of a kiss - or, that is, it isn't only about the absence of a kiss.
childe's spent so much time sharpening his edges that he's forgotten, in fragment after fragment, how fulfilling the warmth of another body feels. not writhing in pain or fury. simply existing in the same space, trading words instead of blades. of course he has ulterior motives. but they're his own, with no bearing upon the gods and heroes of a foreign land.
he nudges the sword of wyvern bone in kaeya's direction. ]
Of course.
[ of course, he says, like he hadn't been staring at kaeya's mouth a second earlier. ]
Know that I'll hold you to that - perhaps at swordpoint, if you'd enjoy that.
[ and, just like that back, he's returned to his preternatural cheer. ]
[to childe's credit, he handles disappointment well; kaeya is mildly impressed, especially as he watches childe fall back on an act that is obviously as well-practiced as his own. two fakers, sitting face-to-face... it's as fun as it is worrisome, but—]
I might, [kaeya says, slowly, as his smile turns somewhat more genuine.] You would.
[holding kaeya at swordpoint? being held at swordpoint? why not both? childe seems like that type of person—which, as kaeya allows his eye to slide down to childe's lips, kaeya must admit that he enjoys. it's boring to always come out on top, uncontested; it's far more fun to make plans and still remain unsure of their outcomes. a rare risk, these days.]
A spar, then. Next time. [his eye crawls back up to childe's, all as he presses his fingers to the flat of his new blade.] If I'm not mistaken, that's two gifts for you.
[ two fakers, sitting face-to-face; but this one has no qualms with wearing his heart on his sleeve. it beats like a heart, steady and true, but perhaps its weightier than any other. childe wouldn't mind if kaeya reached out and took it in hand.
it's how these things work — you swallow mouthfuls of gold, until you're coated in it. he'll kiss kaeya again, and perhaps press a blade to his throat, and each time he'll leave prints of his body for kaeya to keep. limned in gold, like a precious thing.
childe likes the smile kaeya wears now: it lacks in mirth but teems with something like honesty. he'd like to feel the shape of it against his own mouth. craning forward, deliberately does not demand another kiss. letting kaeya dictate the terms, this time. ]
Alright. Just us, the next time, without the incense interfering. I'll show you what the Abyss gave to me.
[ another flicker of a smile, childe reaching out to cover kaeya's hand with his own. his voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, though their foreign setting makes it unnecessary. ]
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no subject
that is to say, he's about to vibrate out of his skin. maybe he ought to have offered the gift in person, but then kaeya would have postured away all of his honesty. childe likes giving gifts — he likes seeing people's faces blossom in excitement and awe. it makes him feel powerful and purposeful, in ways that have nothing to do with violence.
and then kaeya swoops in and takes the damn package into the tavern.
okay. childe could try to find a vantage point inside the tavern itself, but that probably won't work. scratch that, no matter childe's caution, that definitely won't work. kaeya knows to watch for him, if he'd known enough to remove himself from childe's field of view.
he's too good, childe thinks, caught between annoyance and admiration. it would have been another thing entirely if kaeya just bent to his whims - childe might have grown tired of him by now, if so. instead --
childe shoves his journal somewhere into his satchel, and levers down the tree. he stalks into the tavern and makes a beeline to the table where kaeya has situated himself. a leaf is caught in his hair, belying his former hiding spot. ]
You robbed me of my entertainment this afternoon, so you're going to order me a drink.
[ childe announces as he drops into the seat beside kaeya's. not quite petulant, because he's still wearing that preternatural smile, but there's a restless energy to him that calls to mind the moment before a strike. his gaze drops to the package, still neatly wrapped, and then, pointedly, back up to kaeya's face. ]
no subject
—well.
kaeya's only taken a sip of his drink by the time childe finds his way to the empty seat across from him—and it would be a lie to say that kaeya doesn't enjoy the sight. childe's frustration is palpable; it isn't so much in his expression as it is the rest of him, given the way he sits, strangely tense, at the very edge of his seat. kaeya, in comparison, is settled back in his? smiling over the lip of his glass while greedily soaking in every bit of this impromptu show, because he does so love being an annoyance.]
Did I, now? My sincerest apologies. I merely thought that you might like a better view.
[he doesn't bother to keep his amusement in check as he leans forward, first setting his drink atop then table, then setting an elbow beside it. to steady himself, you see, as he reaches out to pluck that leaf from childe's hair, making sure to smooth back what he can in the process.]
But if it isn't pleasing—
[then it's no skin off his back! or: he sits back in his chair, holding up the leaf—see, he was totally being legitimate—before using it to catch the bartender's ever-watchful eye. another drink, please.]
—you are free to climb back up your tree.
[he can put two and two together, childe! and he's even more amused by it, as evidenced by the way he waggles this leaf back and forth.]
no subject
and it's not like childe's truly upset about being outplayed. not really. not over something so petty. kaeya hasn't deviated from his baseline of aloof playfulness he'd exhibited from the start, except for his jaunt into desperation when childe had attempted to kill him. this shouldn't surprise him.
but, alright, maybe childe did want the instant gratification of seeing kaeya's expression warm and sweeten. because of a gift from childe. maybe he'd wanted to bask in that warmth and sweetness for awhile. gift-giving is a self-indulgence in and of itself, after all, and this gift came with several: to please an interesting friend, of course, but also to remind kaeya how useful childe is. how thoughtful. how resourceful.
kaeya stealing the leaf from his hair doesn't help. no, not even the caress afterwards, as it calls to mind an attempt to smooth down ruffled feathers. in fact, he'd seen kaeya soothe their erstwhile mount in a similar manner.
(yes, he's a petty asshole.)
childe gives kaeya an abbreviated once-over, gaze flicking from face to chest, lingering, and then traveling slowly upwards again. an idle thought, divorced from the clumsy attempt at nonchalance: what sort of knight leaves so much skin bare? childe could kill him seventeen different ways solely targeting that ridiculous little chest window.
regardless. ]
The view is a bit better, I'll give you that.
[ childe grumbles, pointedly ignoring the leaf between kaeya's fingers. the thread of conversation lost as a server brings over his drink, which lightens his sulk. he doesn't yet bring the cup to his lips, as he's more interested in nudging the package in kaeya's direction. ]
Now open it. Before I open it for you.
[ his impatience reaches critical levels. ]
no subject
how fun.
but kaeya is aware that he can only take this so far. everyone has their limits, and childe, it seems, is swiftly approaching his—hence kaeya's amused hum as he drops that leaf right into childe's untouched drink. a nice little garnish, floating atop the ice. please enjoy.]
Perhaps I was enjoying my view. But if you insist—
[then yes, sure, he will finally shift his attention to this gift? will pluck at the ribbons holding it closed, albeit so, so slowly. some people prefer to take their time unwrapping their gifts, and kaeya has no problem pretending to be one.]
Any hints?
[a last-ditch effort to further annoy childe, because as he carefully slides the ribbons off one corner, then the next—he can only stretch this out for another few seconds, sure, but oh, he's enjoying himself.]
no subject
why?
why do anything in life?
besides, eating a leaf is better than showing distaste by fishing it out and/or flicking it at kaeya. if he's going to use kaeya as a target, his projectile is going to be a lot more interesting than a leaf.
the alcohol is weak, kaeya is unruffled, and the sword is still hidden from view. childe drops his chin into his palm, attempting an unaffected air — he's a fair hand at deception, but today he's letting the loose ends of himself visibly fray. kaeya has that effect on him. the ability to worm under his skin.
because - a hint? fat chance. instead, childe snorts inelegantly and murmurs - ]
Remind me to wrap a lump of coal as a present for your birthday, whenever that might be.
no subject
...well. never let it be said that kaeya can't be kind.]
Luckily for us both, you just missed it.
[kind of. what is time? does kaeya's birthday line up with this world's calendar? a mystery—which kaeya pays little mind as he finally lifts the lid from this box. expectations: low. childe has no reason to go out of his way for anything, and yet:]
Oh.
[a (breathless?) noise of genuine appreciation as kaeya leans forward, getting a better look at the sword resting within the box. forged in this world, obviously; the ornamentation makes that more than clear, but above that, as kaeya just barely squints—]
Is that bone?
[he's running a finger down the blade as he awaits the answer.]
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because kaeya's reaction had been equivalent to a shout of surprise, had it come from anyone else. it isn't an actual shout of surprise, which would have stroked childe's ego to his satisfaction, but it's as close as someone like kaeya can manage.
he smiles, gaze drawing down to the sword as well. he reaches over, catching kaeya's wrist so he can lead his touch down the blade to the intricate knot of bone at the guard. the smith had done a remarkable job, really. ]
Better yet, it's dragon bone.
[ a beat, then - ]
Or "wyvern" bone, as they call the beasts around here. All the dragon bits minus the fire-breathing. That one nearly killed me about eight times over.
[ he sounds ... proud? go figure.
before he can go into the specifics of the fight (because kaeya's most definitely getting the play-by-play, there's no negotiation to be had), childe tilts his head up to look at kaeya - and then he interrupts himself with a laugh. ]
—Sir Kaeya, you appear to have fallen in love.
[ with the sword, for the record.
he looks very pleased with himself, lingering bitter leafy taste notwithstanding. ]
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...hmm.
of course such a claim appeals to kaeya's vanity; he'd like—love—to believe that he inspires such acts simply by existing, but the fact of the matter is this: childe is not just anyone? kaeya doubts that childe is easily enamored, which makes this gift as dangerous as it is lovely. childe could ask all manner of favors in return for such a gift; kaeya would deny the worst of them, of course, but he'd soon find himself between a rock and a hard place. a happy harbinger is better than an angry harbinger.
and yet.]
And if I have? [kaeya's fingers find their way back to the guard, tracing that bit of bone the smith chose to highlight. it is pleasing. every inch of this blade speaks to quality craftsmanship, hence kaeya's satisfied sigh.] It's a fine sword—as it should be, if you went through such trouble.
[on my behalf, too, his playful tone implies. oh, my. but after tracing the guard one last time, kaeya swiftly twists his wrist, fingers finding, and then curling about, childe's—all as he shifts his attention upward, finding, and then holding, childe's gaze. hey, hi, hello; enjoy this ever so slight smirk.]
Are you hoping that I'll want to put it to the test?
[he isn't opposed.]
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if this were harbinger business, the roundabout would be the road most travelled by. glance askance instead of forward. take a word, a phrase, anything meaningful, and wring it dry of substance.
but childe, no matter how kaeya currently views him, hasn't approached their friendship with ulterior motives other than what he clearly stated: an interest borne of experiences he still doesn't understand. a hunger for more, whether that take the form of more information or - more of this strange standstill. kaeya's fingers twisting about his own, sinuous and sly, as meaningful and meaningless as anything a true harbinger might do. uncharacteristically, perhaps, childe's gaze flicks down to kaeya's hand instead. expressive and opaque in the same moment, just like its owner.
childe grips his hand firmly, fingers slotting in between kaeya's. it feels shockingly intimate; it's with that thought that he meets kaeya's gaze again. he's smiling again, the expression sweet and steely, just like his newly-forged gift. ]
Of course I want to fight you again.
[ understatement of the century, okay, moving on - ]
But this was a gift, not an invitation to battle. I would urge you not to read ulterior motives where they don't exist.
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(after all, looking for—hoping for—reactions is one of kaeya's favorite games.)
but there's something... honest, about childe. frank. he has everything in the world to hide, and yet he meets kaeya's eye as though he's an open book—which kaeya likes. it isn't every day he meets someone who is both fun to play, but also keeps him on his toes.]
Oh? I see. How disappointing.
[he's only teasing—or is he? with the way his smile widens as he leans that much closer, childe may never know.
but also, so low as to be almost intimate:]
And this? [a light squeeze of his fingers, his nails lightly catching the back of childe's hand.] I shouldn't read anything into this?
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he'd reached out to guide kaeya's hand out of excitement, because childe gets carried away. not because he'd intended to make his preoccupation known, nor to baldly seduce as kaeya seems to be implying. is he ready to make a complete fool of himself? oh, that's a stupid question - the answer is always yes, as long as the payout is worth the rest. besides, childe's reasons for cleaving to kaeya don't end with physical attraction. or elemental attraction, given the crystals around their necks.
childe gaze cuts away. he seems to be thinking, hand limp under kaeya's fingers, expression blank.
it doesn't last a great deal of time. too quickly afterwards, he's grinning again, clearly having come to a conclusion. ]
Even kids hold hands, you know. I'm an innocent guy.
[ the grin says otherwise. ]
That said - lucky you, you're getting two gifts today.
[ and that's all the warning kaeya's will get before childe's leaning forward, too quick to easily avoid, and pressing a kiss onto that infuriating mouth. chaste but insistent. ]
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and made all the better by the way that childe, apparently determined to one-up himself at every turn, abruptly closes the bit of space between them, pressing his lips to kaeya's as though it's the most natural thing in the world.
ah.
honesty doesn't come naturally to kaeya, these days; he's made a career of lying his way through life, but this kiss is so wonderfully unexpected that kaeya finds himself smiling into it? humming, softly, as he tilts forward, introducing just enough pressure to make it clear that his lingering kiss is far more than friendly. never let it be said that boldness does not pay off.
but they are still two almost!strangers sitting in a very public space—hence kaeya's slow withdraw, his smile remaining in place as he settles back into his chair. every bit the cat that got the cream...]
My, my. You are full of surprises.
[to say the least!! one last squeeze of childe's hand, then, before kaeya slips his own hand free, allowing it to rest near his drink as he continues studying the man he is now Invested in pulling apart piece by piece.]
But don't you know that you're setting a dangerous precedent? A sword, a kiss— [hmm!] However will you manage to outdo yourself, the next time we meet?
[because of course there will be a next time.]
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which is why he isn't put out when kaeya moves further away instead of closer to him — he'd reciprocated, after all, and he'd accepted the sword despite his obvious enjoyment at dragging the process out. ]
The way I see it —
[ he settles back in his own seat, though it's clear that he's struck through with restless energy. he'd rather dart back into kaeya's space. to fight him, maybe, to reignite his heart with the thrill of kaeya's attention upon him, or to kiss him again, until kaeya's the one chasing his lips. either way, he wants to be centered upon the stage. the spotlight gilding him.
that's not the way of it, though. kaeya's not a fellow fatuus, falling into step with childe by ties forged by patriotism; he's never known the all-encompassing love of the tsaritsa. he's not truly a man of mondstadt, either — he wears his deception like a string of pearls around his neck. glinting in the light. that's the true goal, for all that childe feels giddy in the aftermoments of the kiss. desire flares all the brighter when he doesn't have to separate childe the man from childe the monster — both of them want to be here, pinned and flayed by kaeya's infuriatingly smug gaze. he wants to rip that string of pearls away with his teeth.
childe tilts his head, affecting nonchalance. he might have danced upon a liyuen stage once and again, but his acting skills need refinement — his eyes gleam and linger. ]
You've gotten two gifts from me, and my hands are still empty. Next time, shouldn't you be offering me a gift instead?
[ tl;dr: kaeya! admit that you like him too! ]
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childe wouldn't hesitate to pull him under.
but kaeya, despite himself, remains curious, eager to piece together this puzzle. what's life without a little risk? what's life without a bit of fun. it isn't as though he has any pressing responsibilities in this world, other to find his way back to mondstadt before childe brings about the death of him...]
Empty hands? You have a curious way of viewing things.
[gifts should be freely given, etc, etc, but as kaeya is also kind-of-sort-of guilt of bending that particular rule:]
You see, I've always thought a kiss benefits both involved parties—unless it's a disappointment, of course. Too much, or too little. [he cants his head, brow raising every so slightly.] Did you find our kiss disappointing?
[curious minds would like to know!]
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because it's his mannerisms, too: the practiced way that he tilts his head, showing off the elegant curve of his neck. his dark hair falling against his cheek. childe's accustomed to acting upon instinct, but this particular dance requires a measure of finesse.
he holds up his hands, palm up, as if to emphasize how empty they remain. ]
I'd hoped you wouldn't make me spell it out.
[ with all the temerity of a man who means nothing that he's saying. ]
Then again, I surprised you with a kiss. [ with particular emphasis on the directionality of the action: i surprised you. no, we're not letting up on the insistence that childe's giftlessness needs to be remedied. ] You didn't have time to prepare yourself.
[ he leans forward, elbows propped on his knees. too eager, despite the air of blasé he's attempting. ]
That said, I'm willing to give you a second chance.
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How generous. I do hate to disappoint—
[and surely childe expects kaeya to stop just shy of kissing distance? surely childe expects kaeya's smile to shift from smug to perfectly Pleasant, because childe set this up so well; it would be a shame for kaeya to ignore the opportunity.]
—so I'll be sure to prepare myself for the next time we meet.
[no, kaeya isn't swayed in the slightest by the sight of those empty hands. c'mon.]
A gift to look forward to, wouldn't you agree?
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nonetheless, when kaeya puts on his Customer Service face again, childe can't help the flicker of disappointment. it's not about the absence of a kiss - or, that is, it isn't only about the absence of a kiss.
childe's spent so much time sharpening his edges that he's forgotten, in fragment after fragment, how fulfilling the warmth of another body feels. not writhing in pain or fury. simply existing in the same space, trading words instead of blades. of course he has ulterior motives. but they're his own, with no bearing upon the gods and heroes of a foreign land.
he nudges the sword of wyvern bone in kaeya's direction. ]
Of course.
[ of course, he says, like he hadn't been staring at kaeya's mouth a second earlier. ]
Know that I'll hold you to that - perhaps at swordpoint, if you'd enjoy that.
[ and, just like that back, he's returned to his preternatural cheer. ]
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I might, [kaeya says, slowly, as his smile turns somewhat more genuine.] You would.
[holding kaeya at swordpoint? being held at swordpoint? why not both? childe seems like that type of person—which, as kaeya allows his eye to slide down to childe's lips, kaeya must admit that he enjoys. it's boring to always come out on top, uncontested; it's far more fun to make plans and still remain unsure of their outcomes. a rare risk, these days.]
A spar, then. Next time. [his eye crawls back up to childe's, all as he presses his fingers to the flat of his new blade.] If I'm not mistaken, that's two gifts for you.
[leaving empty-handed, kaeya's ass.]
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it's how these things work — you swallow mouthfuls of gold, until you're coated in it. he'll kiss kaeya again, and perhaps press a blade to his throat, and each time he'll leave prints of his body for kaeya to keep. limned in gold, like a precious thing.
childe likes the smile kaeya wears now: it lacks in mirth but teems with something like honesty. he'd like to feel the shape of it against his own mouth. craning forward, deliberately does not demand another kiss. letting kaeya dictate the terms, this time. ]
Alright. Just us, the next time, without the incense interfering. I'll show you what the Abyss gave to me.
[ another flicker of a smile, childe reaching out to cover kaeya's hand with his own. his voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, though their foreign setting makes it unnecessary. ]
Other than you, of course.