> N. To give a smile or a small pleasant laugh
The sound of the bustling activity in the harbor stirred the slumbering man, who was used to the quietness outside his room, the occasional sound of footsteps in the halls.
Vanya was no stranger to solitude and the cold in Snezhnaya, but to say he was missing his home wouldn't be too far-fetched. Moving from his bed, long blonde hair tumbled over his back whilst he peeked out the window, watching the life thriving before his gaze.
Merchants and people haggling, citizens roaming the streets with children weaving through the crowded roads, giggles bouncing here and there until the Snezhnayain closed the window, just as an unwanted superior barged into the blonde commander's room, "Hey there comrade! I see you're raring to go, why not have a spar with me?" The ocean blue eyed ginger greeted albeit to enthusiastically for the blonde's liking.
"Not even the blackest coffee will carry me through the day.." The poor man groaned out while he shooed the blood thirsty maniac away who tried to urge his very reluctant partner to spar with him. After managing to get the damned gingy out of his room, he began changing his night wear to more daily wear.
Wearing his crisp uniform was his main option, which he gladly took. Stepping out of his room, he was immedietly bombarded by the Harbinger, "Since you didn't like my codenames for you, why not go for Liyuean ones? Like, you know that "Childe" means "The Young Noble" in Liyue right? Why not go for "Beijixiong" which means Polar Bear, or maybe just "Xiong" which is Bear."
"Tartaglia, requesting for you to leave me alone." Vanya said in a stern, and cold tone, "Request denied!" the bug replied cheekily, "What do you want then, sir." the blonde seethed, while Tartaglia gleefully bantered with the blonde until they reached their destination.
"FINE, I'LL TAKE XIONG! ТЕПЕРЬ УЙДИ ОТ МЕНЯ [NOW GET AWAY FROM ME]!!!" the blonde relented with a shout while struggling to get the fish eyes man off his body, "Awwww, you're no fun Xiong~" Childe boo'ed like a child, but released his only source of entertainment and looked at the sign above them, "Wangsheng Funeral Parlor." he read out loud just as a hand grasped his shoulder, "Boo"
Instead of whipping out a blade of hydro like Vanya expected, the ginger shrieked in 'fear', backing away from the stranger, who happens to be a young girl, nearly 5-7 years younger than the two men. "Aiya! I didn't think a foreigner would be THIS scared!" the girl giggled albeit weirdly, her flower pupils stood out to the blonde, but he didn't comment.
"We're looking for the director of the parlor, can you direct us to them?" Vanya intruded politely, bowing in greeting towards the dark brunette who bowed back in greeting, "Oh! That would be me! Why? Are you here for a coffin? We're offering discounts of a 'Buy one get one free coffin'! Oh, this is unpolite of me to not invite our two guests inside, come in come in, I'll have one of my employee's make up some tea!" she chirped with a wide smile.
Vanya gave a fairly wary smile in return while Tartaglia whistled and followed the director inside. They moved to a room, while the young lady, Hu Tao, stepped out to call for someone to prepare tea and papers to write up a contract.
"While we wait for my dear consultant to finish up with the tasks I have given him, shall we talk about what sort of business shall we have with you?" The sudden light air turned heavy. The young girl was serious and now being more professional despite the carefree smile on her.
"The Fatui would like to exchange information with the parlor, along with that, we provide your funeral with money in exchange, and maybe a body or two if accidents happen." Childe said with an easy going smile. "I see, however, I would like to ask that if whatever you have in plan fails, please do not bring down this parlor with it. But we can provide you information in return. The best person to go for who knows everything and all of Liyue happens to be my consultant. I suggest becoming friends with him if you wish to delve into more secrets of Liyue."
The door opened revealing a familiar man towards the Blonde, "Oh, Vanya, it's a pleasure to meet you again so soon." the now revealed consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli, greeted with a smile while Childe stared between the two along with Hu Tao.
A more genuine smile crept onto the foreigner's lips, "I wasn't aware we'd meet this soon, Zhongli. A surprise, but not one I would unwelcome." The ginger's eyes bulged at the commander's words and face, much more was that he was more nicer, maybe even warmer to the consultant than towards him. A feeling of envy rooted itself in the ginger's heart.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"You two have met?" Hu Tao questioned before the thought came into mind, "OH! This must be the Vanya you have mentioned to me yesterday! This is quite an unexpected outcome! It seems that the fates are smiling upon you two!" Hu Tao clapped her hands, pleased with this occurance and settled back in her seat.
"Zhongli, can you write up the contract with these two? I trust your abilities to come up with the terms with the Fatui." The director asked with a playful sparkle in her eyes, "Of course. Well then, shall we discuss the terms of the contract, gentlemen?"
Hu Tao left the room, her consultant taking her seat while his cor lapis eyes lingered on the commander who took no mind to his staring, of course, the ginger didn't like the sight of his companion being eyed without the said blonde not scowling towards the stranger. And thus, they began the work of the contract for majority of the day.
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"And with this, our contract is sealed. I shall deliver this to Director Hu Tao, but if you would wish to stay longer for my return, I can introduce you to more Liyuean cuisine." Zhongli's eyes were mostly directed to the blue eyed commander, who was taking the copy of the contract and folded it neatly to be delivered towards the Funeral Parlor's director.
"I don't-" "Actually, we do mind." Tartaglia hissed out, gripping the commander's wrist in an iron grip, "Childe." The blonde warned, eyes narrowing to slits at the ginger haired harbinger who was scowling at the consultant.
"Sir Childe, I don't believe I have caused anything to you to be hostile." The brunette eyed the blue fish eyed man's hand gripping the Vanya's wrist, a dark shadow flashed across his well sculpted face, catching the blonde off guard, but he didn't comment about Zhongli's behavior.
"Просто отъебись уже! Я хотел поспарринговать с командиром! [Just fuck off already! I wanted to spar with the commander!]" Childe cursed in their mother tongue while a flash of dark anger went across the consultant's face.
"Why don't you BOTH let go of me and let ME decide. Tartaglia, I am not obligated to follow your orders, you may be a high ranking officer in the Fatui, but I am not under your jurisdiction nor subordinates. Zhongli, I appreciate your request for a late lunch, and I would like to accept." A nasty cold glare was sent towards his superior as the blonde spoke in contempt towards the ginger harbinger who reluctantly released the commander's wrist, similar with the consultant, but recieved a more calmer expression from Vanya.
It was obvious to see pride swelling up in the brunette, eyeing Tartaglia with a fairly smug expression which caused the said ginger to scowl, clenching is jaw before turning away, storming off somewhere. Vanya sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose, "For a Harbinger, he's childish." He grumbled before turning to the consultant and bowed his head apologetically, "I apologise for causing trouble to you and to your workplace. I'll be paying for the meal." The long blonde hair slipped over his shoulder while he bowed whilst saying his apology.
"It's no problem at all, Vanya. Or would you like to be called Xiong?" The brunette stroked his chin slightly, eyeing Vanya with an unreadible expression, "I don't mind either, whichever is easier for you." he replied without thought while checking the time which he had adjusted to Liyue present time.
"I'll go ahead and deliver the contract to ms Hu Tao, you can wait for me at the front of the Parlor." And like that, the two went to their designated locations. As soon as Vanya came out, a messenger from his squad came by his side, "La Signora." she whispered in his ear while handing the letter over, "Bring a lighter." he said whilst opening the letter, reading the contents.
The messenger brought the lighter from her pocket and gingerly gave it to her commander, watching him flick it open and burn the letter, "Вот ваши заказы. Подготовьте отряд «Беовульф». [Here are your orders. Prepare Beowulf Squad.]" he rumbled out to the messenger who saluted before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
He watched the letter burn into ashes before flowing into the wind.
"sorry to keep you waiting Vanya." The person who he was waiting for, finally stepped out.
"It's not a problem." An eerie glow came from the blonde's eyes as a cloud overshadowed his form. An onmious feeling in the brunette's stomach, leaving him unsettled. "Shall we go have lunch now?" The blonde tilted his head slightly, "I shall leave the destination to your choice, Zhongli." A shiver crawled up the said man's back, the way he said his name felt wrong. But he shivered, he never shivers.
The sunlight shined down on the two of them, and the brunette's breath was taken, never had Zhongli seen someone appear so delicately perfect, like glass, or ice. It was so unfair on how pretty the man is, how shining he looks beneath the sun, Zhongli nearly had to squint in order to see Vanya's face properly.
"Of course, friend. I'll introduce you to a young chef for today." He hummed and began leading the way, having the blonde trail after him. Unaware of a knowing and cold glint in the mans eyes.