Zhongli

"Yes. Please meet me at the Northland bank tomorrow. I'll let you meet him."

-TOMORROW, NORTHLAND BANK-

You were seated on a random chair in the Northland bank, waiting impatiently. After 30 minutes, no one had arrived but you.

You

Where is Zhongli? He didn't trick me, did he?... Nah... That's not like him.

You heard the door open while fidgeting with the chair's material. When you jerked your head back to see who it was, all you saw was a clueless orange-haired man.

???

"...!"

You

"You?!"

You could see Zhongli following close behind him.

You

"Zhongli, this is the friend you chose to help me?!"

Zhongli

"... Childe, Y/N, you already know each other?"

Childe

"Give it back!"

Childe charged up to you and slammed you to the ground, his body on top of yours.

You

"Wait!-"

Childe

"Give it! I know you have it!"

Zhongli

"Childe!"

Ekaterina (Receptionist of Northland Bank)

"Hey! What's going on here?!"

Zhongli and the receptionist were at a loss for what to do; they couldn't get involved for fear of being hurt. Childe had already pinned both your arms to the ground as you attempted to push him off of you.

You

"Get off, dumbass!"

Childe

"Where is it?!"

You

"I don't fucking have it!..."

Childe

"..."

Zhongli

"... Ahem, may I ask why is it that you're... Beating each other up?"

Childe

"Y/N's a goddamn thief! They're the leader of the-"

You managed to pry one of your hands out of Childe's grasp and covered his mouth with enough power.

You

"Shh!"

Childe

"?!..."

You

*Sigh* "Your polearm's in the underground."

You whispered. Childe calmed down gradually, and you were able to withdraw your hand from his mouth.

Childe

"Where is... Where's the underground?"

You

"It was that restricted area you went to yesterday."

Childe

"..."

You were able to get up after Childe was completely off of you.

You

"Zhongli, I knew I asked for help but... I didn't know you were talking about a fatui harbinger."

Zhongli

"He was the first person who came to mind."

Childe

"Wait... Tell me how you two know each other?"

You

"We're close friends. How do you and Zhongli know each other? Are you dating?"

Childe

"What?! No!"

Zhongli

*Cough* "Pardon?"

You

"Jeez! I was just joking!"

Childe

"... Zhongli and I are also close friends."

Zhongli

*Sigh* "Now that you two are here, I shall take my leave."

You

"Wait, Zhongli! Don't leave me with this dumbass!"

Zhongli

"He's the only source of help that I can provide to you."

You

"Ugh..."

You stood by Childe as you saw Zhongli leave the bank.

Childe

"... So, what do you need help with?"

You

"No way- You're actually willing to help me?! Me, Y/N?!"

Childe

"Well... I'm already here and I really need my polearm back, so..."

You

"My god... I need help with finding a device."

Childe

Device?...

You

"It's supposed to revive the dead, and I want to revive my friend that's six feet under, so... That's what you're here to help me with."

Childe

"It... Revives people? Ah- I'm very sorry for your loss..."

You

"Yeah, are you deaf? And it's fine, really, he'll be back if I can find that device."

Childe

This is my chance... They're looking for the same exact device. With Y/N, I might be able to find it. "Y/N, you know your way around the underground, right?"

You

"Know the underground? I own that shit hole."

Childe

"Own?!"

You

"Yeah. But!... Don't tell anyone that I do and that it exists. It's a restricted area for a reason."

-UNDERGROUND, LIYUE-

Childe

"Wow... You're well known here, aren't you?"

As Childe followed you, he noticed that nearly everyone who lived underground approached you and interacted with you.

You

"Well obviously, I practically built this entire place."

As Childe followed you, he saw a few stares from the people in the underground.

You

"Oh yeah, since you're new here, you'll get tons of looks. Just ignore it, honestly. As long as you're with me around these parts then you won't get hurt."

Childe

"Eh... What's the whole point of this place anyway?"

You

"It's just a place where runaway criminals stay. See, most of the people here are treasure hoarders, but they look like normal people you'd see in Liyue Harbor. Tch, proves that criminals also have lives, y'know."

Childe

"And the treasure hoarders basically work under you?"

You

"Correct."

Childe

"... Anyways!... Where's my polearm?"

You

"Actually, I don't trust you."

Childe

"What?! Hey come on now, I've agreed to help you!"

You

*Sigh* "Let's make a deal. If I end up finding the device with your help, I'll give you back your polearm. Deal?"

Childe

"Wait, wait- But what weapon am I going to use?!"

You

"You have your bow, no?"

Childe

"I- But-"

You

"Just deal with it. I really need this device."

Childe

"Uh-" *Sigh* "Fine... Deal."

He shook your hand.

You

"You better not call the deal off."

Childe

"It's fine Y/N, we're comrades now!"

He wrapped his arm around you in an attempt to befriend you.

You

"Eugh, don't do that."

Disgusted, you knocked his arm off and began wandering to another random location in the underground to search for the device.

You

"So, I've already looked in all the places that are marked on the map. The ones that I've circled are the places I want to search for."

Childe

"Goddamn! Why's the map so filled?!"

You

"Because I've been searching for him for what?... 182 days. So, do you want to split up or-"

???

"Hey!"

When you heard a voice behind you, you both turned around.

Childe

"...!"

You

"... Huh?"

Someone was approaching both of you. He nearly dropped to his knees as he arrived, having to run such a long way to catch up with you.

???

"Jeez... Y/N, was it?"

You

"... That's me."

???

"Yeah! Your people down here are crazy!"

You

"What?- Sorry- Who the hell are you?"

Childe

"Scara? How'd you find me?"

You

"Scara?... Who-"

Scaramouche

"Hey! You can't call me that!"

You

"Okay, okay... Why's he here?"

Childe

"Uh... I actually don't know what he's doing here either."

Scaramouche

"I'm here to join you, duh!"

You

"... Who is this?"

Scaramouche

"My name... Is... Gah, you tell them Childe!"

Scaramouche struggled to speak clearly as he attempted to catch his breath. You and Childe simply stood there, watching Scaramouche struggle to keep his balance with his hands on his knees and his heavy breathing.

Childe

"He's Scaramouche, the 6th of the fatui harbingers. I don't remember asking for his help though... Scara, how'd you find me?"

Scaramouche

*Cough cough* "Uh... Well... I kinda... Maybe?... Followed you to the Northland bank?..."

Childe

"You did?!"

Scaramouche

"Hey, I'm bored, okay?!"

Childe

"Bored?! You could've picked your ass out of curiosity if you're bored! You heard a lot of things that you weren't supposed to!"

You

*Cough* "What?"

Scaramouche

"Come on, Childe! I won't tell anyone!... Come on Y/N, you trust me, right?"

You

"... I don't even know you. But, you better keep all that you heard in the Northland bank a secret."

Childe

"Wait, is this your way of saying that he's joining us?!"

Scaramouche

"Ha!"

You

"I mean... The more the better?"

You told Scaramouche about the way the people of the underground were staring at you as you walked along the route. Scaramouche slowed down to speak with Childe as you went ahead of them, still leading the way.

Scaramouche

"Hey, you know that even if the Tsaritsa gave you orders to get the device, I'm in this too, right?"

Childe

"How the hell are you-"

Scaramouche

"Ah, forget it. I'm just bored, honestly. After that day when I played around with the Traveler in Inazuma, my life's been so boring. You're only 'helping' Y/N out because you want the device, right?"

Childe

"Yeah?..."

Scaramouche

"Then, you've got to learn to not get attached to them. It's gonna be a real problem if you two get close, then Y/N's gonna find out you're a backstabbing hoe."

Childe

"Hey- I am not a backstabbing hoe!"

Scaramouche

"Childe, look me dead in the eye and say it with your own mouth that you're not a backstabbing hoe."

Childe

"..."

Scaramouche

"... That's what I thought."