A/N: Mild spoilers and references to the Liyue Archon quests and Childe's story quest

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"Traveller! Hey, Lumine!" Footsteps as the male ran to the figure in front. "You aren't still that mad about what I did last time we met, right?"

Lumine sighed. "Childe... I can't say I'm over you trying to kill me, but I suppose I can put aside the fact that you pushed the responsibility of your little brother on me." She exhaled, seemingly remembering something. "I know how important family is."

Childe laughed. "You suppose? Well, I suppose that's better than nothing." I watched him look up at the sky, as if seeing something that others couldn't.

No, look back down. Focus on your tasks.

"Traveller!" a high-pitched voice rang. "Traveller, we're late!"

"For what?" Lumine demanded.

"Lunch! Duh! Paimon's hungry!"

Lumine rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "Come along, Paimon. We'll find you a restaurant."

"Oh!" Childe butted in. "Allow me to treat you both to a meal before we part. You'll let me, won't you?"

Lumine's mouth twitched to the side in contemplation, but the decision was already made for her. Paimon wriggled her little floating body in excitement. "Ooh, yes, please! Paimon thinks you owe us anyway, Mr Toymaker!"

Another laugh from the ginger. "You still remember that?" He inclined his head to a small restaurant nearby. "This one looks nice. Some of my colleagues from Northland Bank have recommended it to me."

Paimon read the name on the sign, slowly and carefully as if the words were some foreign language she hadn't laid eyes on before. "Crystallize... Tower... Paimon thinks it sounds nice! Let's go in!"

My ears perked up at that. Was he coming here? Here?

"Hey, Y/n! Why have you stopped scrubbing?!"

I huffed what could be taken as an apology as I continued to scrub away at the wooden counter at the reception window. Truth was, I had been listening in on their conversation since they came in range. Interesting people—a Traveller, staff from Northland Bank and a curious little white floaty person. And they were coming here.

But, of course, my manager wouldn't let me near them to save face. Cleaning things that were already cleaned—scrubbing at things so hard I uncovered a second skin—that was my job. I was right next to the counter—no one else was here—but if I so much as looked at our patrons, I'd be in trouble for sure.

I scrubbed harder in frustration. Slave—that's what I was. All I needed was a few shackles around my wrists and ankles and the look would be complete. Soon enough, I was envisioning my manager's face being scrubbed.

Do you feel that pain? How does it feel to be treated like a wooden board, you bastard?

I sighed. It was my own fault for being broke and as compliant as a doormat. But still, that silent rage lingered...

"Hello there. Can we get a table here?"

Oh Archons, oh Archons, oh Archons—

I cleared my throat and dared a glance upward at the blue-eyed man, who smiled down at me. My mouth opened slightly as I silently urged myself to say something. Too afraid to use my voice for fear of the consequences, I simply nodded and inclined my head to the door.

His smile wavered slightly—most likely due to confusion from my... strange way of dealing with customers—and my eyes darted back down to the bench where I continued scrubbing. The continuous motion made my muscles ache, but I'd do it for Mora—for the thing I needed to survive.

I sighed. Archons, it was like a prison. Even with the Mora I earned, it was quickly spent on rent my grandfather demanded. Cold as ice, heart of stone, he was unforgiving in every way possible. Just because I was his beloved granddaughter did not mean he treated me with any kindness.

I heard their footsteps as they entered the restaurant. There were quite a few other small groups inside, but they were quiet. This group was clearly not.

"Wow..." Paimon breathed, no doubt finding the establishment to be a little underwhelming. "It's so... small!"

I stiffened slightly at those words. The thoughts raced across my mind and I could practically feel my manager's rage from the kitchen. Oh, Archon, my manager, my manager, my manager—

"Charming, isn't it?" Childe said. "I think it'll be quite a nice place for us to settle down and enjoy a good meal."

I loosed a breath. Maybe he wouldn't have my hide. Everything that went wrong here was blamed on me, for whatever reason. Even though I had been forced to live by the motto I may be seen, but never heard, my very presence still somehow managed to screw everything up. I must've been a pretty damn good scapegoat for everything to be my fault.

I heard the croak of wood as someone leaned on the counter next to me. "Still cleaning, Y/n?"

I nodded. My throat ached as my brain tried to force a sound out of me but nothing came.

Deanna—my coworker who was nice but often blunt—sighed, waving a pipe in her hand. Clearly, our manager had favourites if she was allowed to do that. "You must be interested in these customers for you not to ignore them completely. If I put in a good word for you, maybe Old Haughlan will let you serve these guys. You haven't spoken a single word to others since I started working here—which was four months ago. It's bad for you."

There simply wasn't a need to. As I met her gaze, she understood the answer and clicked her tongue.

"I'll take that as a no." As she walked off to go tend to our new customers, she suddenly stopped to address me once more. "Listen, Y/n, I'm going to offer you a piece of advice. You're weak—weaker than Haughlan—but that means you need to be firmer than others when it comes to standing up for yourself. If I won't do it, who will?"

My scrubbing slowed as I thought to myself. I knew this treatment wouldn't end until I made sure Haughlan knew his place—but I couldn't do it. For reasons I couldn't explain to anyone without them failing to properly understand.

I heard Deanna ask for the customers' orders and I frowned. They seemed so... interesting... I wanted to talk to them but I—I couldn't. And it frustrated me that it was so easy for everyone else!

I moved to another surface—again, away from people—and began cleaning there for a few minutes, the thoughts still running through my mind so fast I could barely make sense of them. A shaky sigh left my mouth when I heard my manager call out to me and I stiffened. "Y/n! Come over and serve these here customers!"

What? Did he really want me to serve them? Me? Really?

I straightened and pushed aside my questions as I strode over towards the kitchen, where I was given four awfully large plates of food to balance on my arms. "Don't. Screw. Up," Haughlan ordered me. "Deanna convinced me to let you help out—but if you mess up in any way, you know what happens."

I gulped down my fears—punishments for failure were often grave and maintained highest order, which was why this restaurant seemingly functioned so well—and strode out of the double doors towards our guests. I offered a small smile, doing my best to be friendly and civilised as I set down their plates.

"Well, thank you very much," Childe smiled at me.

I urged myself to say something as all the other waitresses and waiters did—it simply wouldn't do to have a silent waitress—but nothing came out. My mouth didn't even open.

I dared a glance at my manager through the kitchen window and he looked like he was going to throw the knife he was holding straight through my skull. I snapped my gaze back to Childe and—not knowing what else to do—dipped my head slightly in a bow before walking back.

But I didn't make it into the kitchen doors. Haughlan stalked out like a beast cornering its prey, fury in his eyes, forcing me to take steps backwards. He grabbed my wrists and I winced in pain. "You call that serving? Not even a sound for your patrons?" He yanked me closer and a quiet eep left my mouth.

I would've been surprised for the noise—celebrated it, even—had the thoughts of silent rage not crossed my mind again. What I did was nothing to be mad about. It was absurd! How he could pick on me only because I lacked the ability to stand up for myself—how it was likely a way to make me stay so I could continue working because I couldn't leave from lack of Mora. I was basically a free worker! 

But the hate in his eyes quieted my rage, transforming it into fear. "I knew you were useless," he snarled. "Good-for-nothing granddaughter. You don't deserve to live here if you can't earn your keep."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Deanna startle slightly at that revelation and the reason for my compliance seemed to be clear to her.

"Years and years of incompetence. I should've just let you rot on the streets with your good-for-nothing parents. One more mistake and I'll—"

"You'll take your hands off her."

Haughlan paused and looked up from my face to the young man who faced him, arms crossed, a half-smile on his face. He must've seen the fear in my eyes because his smile suddenly disappeared.

"What was that?" Haughlan demanded in a soft tone.

My gaze drifted from Childe to the Traveller and her companion, her hand within casual reach of her weapon. A sword—a whole Archons-damned sword she had brought into this restaurant.

"I said you'll take your hands off her," he repeated, this time with more forcefulness. "I don't deign to dine in places where employees are not treated with respect."

Haughlan snarled, "Patrons have no right to criticise how my business is conducted. You wouldn't understand, pretty boy. She's my employee and I'll deal with her as I see fit."

Childe grabbed my shoulder firmly, but not enough to hurt me, and twisted me out of Haughlan's harsh grip. "Then I guess she's not your employee anymore."

A glorious look of shock spread across his face. "What?"

"You heard me." He looked down at me—at the vulnerable shocked expression on my face. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

I exhaled a soft noise in confusion, but he didn't seem to notice as he led me out—or maybe just didn't care.

"Come on, Paimon," Lumine said, already on her feet.

Paimon huffed and followed them out. "Even food as good as this turns rotten when made by a rotten person."

I risked one last glance at my manager—former manager it seemed, for even if I went back, he would surely refuse me—and saw him gawking at me and my new companions. And for the first time in a while, I smiled a real smile, a hateful grin spreading across my face.

Free—that was the feeling I felt for the split second after I stepped outside of the restaurant, breathing in deeply as the air suddenly felt... fresher. Then the situation washed over me. Now what would I do? No income, no residence, no nothing.

"Sorry we couldn't finish our meal," Childe said to the Traveller.

She smiled and waved her hand in gentle dismissal. "I don't think dining there was a good idea anyway."

"You said it!" Paimon chimed in. "Hey! Let's go to Wanmin Restaurant instead! Chef Mao always cooks something good!"

"I'll meet you there," Childe said. Lumine nodded and walked off, Paimon at her heels. The man then turned to me and I stiffened slightly. "Let's go for a walk."

What?

But I nodded and walked beside him as he strolled in the opposite direction from Lumine towards the wharf. After a while, I had calmed enough, which Childe seemed to notice as he finally began to speak. "Grandfather, huh? I knew you were under some sort of stress, but I didn't think it'd be that."

I hummed—hesitantly. Another noise... It surprised me. He was a stranger but... so willing to talk—so able to draw sounds out of me as I hadn't in a long time.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

Right on the bullseye. I opened my mouth to say something in reply but no words formed, so I simply shook my head.

"Stop here." I did as told and turned to face Childe, the sun bathing half his face in golden light as we stood above the wharf. "Start off with something simple. Say ah."

I looked at him in confusion. My expression must've been amusing because he laughed.

"Come on, it's not that hard. Ah. If you don't speak now, you might never speak again." Something in his eyes softened as he smiled at me. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. You're alright here."

I exhaled deeply, my eyes travelling to the ground as I mustered up the courage to say something—anything. When my gaze lifted again, I opened my mouth, prepared to say something. When nothing came out at first, I tried again. "Th...thank... you." Surprised—I felt surprised that I did that. And proud.

He offered a bright closed-eye smile. "What's there to thank me for?"

"Helping... me." It was so... weird to be talking again after having gone without for so long... but it was nice, as well. "You helped me... leave that awful place. Thank you." A pained smile spread across my face. "My grandfather... looked... after me since I was a kid. And... demanded complete... submission. I just... learned it was better to stay quiet. A—and one day I just... stopped talking." I paused. "Why... did you help me?"

His expression softened and he gripped my shoulder in what might have been comfort. "Because I know how important family is. Members should look after each other. What happened in your life was not deserved—never is. I couldn't imagine doing that to my siblings."

I nodded. Despite myself, I asked another question. "Do you think... I'm going to be ok?" The innocence, the longing, the vulnerability in my voice—just hearing myself speak again was one thing, but to know, to hear that it did in fact hurt me enough for it to be so clear in my tone...

"Well, step one—finding your voice—is complete. Everything else will fall into place." He gave me a light punch on the arm. "How 'bout next time you try standing up for yourself, hey? Next time something happens, I might not be there to help you out."

"N—next time?"

"Oh, there's always going to be someone who picks on you." His face brightened as he thought of an idea. "Oh, I know! You have no job now, right? Why don't you come work for me? I'll help you out until you can stand on your own two feet. It's my fault you're unemployed now, anyway. Meet me at Northland Bank later this evening. I'll be waiting. For now, I gotta hold up on my promise to treat my friends."

I nodded and he turned and began to leave. But... this warm feeling inside me... It wasn't like Deanna, who—despite her overly blunt comments—was my friend, but more like... I wanted to see this man more often, wanted to experience his kindness, wanted to offer my gratitude in any and every way possible.

And without thinking, my lips parted. "Childe!"

He stopped and turned back to me, smiling as he walked. "What is it?"

"I, um..." My gaze drifted to the side before I stood on my toes and planted a light kiss on his nose. He turned crimson as I did so and I felt myself laughing despite myself. I bowed slightly in thanks, before turning and walking down to the wharf to bide my time.

Evening, he said. I smiled. I think I would look forward to working with this peculiar man.

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A/N: Vin Diesel shall be pleased... La famille est important

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Completed: 7-06-23
Published: 12-06-23
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Fanart credits: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/588634613818732990/