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"I think you're beautiful."
Like the stars and the northern lights, he told her before, once or twice. Maybe thrice, maybe more.
And I think you're insane, she would usually say. (As she turned away to hide her blushing cheeks, of course.)
But this day was a good day; the sky was clear and the weather was warm. Although blood was beginning to dry and set in her white dress, it was still a pleasant day.
Lumine simply hummed and tried to wipe the blood off her cheek with the back of her hand. "You say that all the time."'
Tartaglia grinned when he noticed a familiar pinkish hue coloring her cheeks — whether she was blushing from his words, or it was a stain from the hilichurls' blood, it made her even more beautiful. "I mean it, you know."
She crossed her arms, quietly watching the man as he slowly approached her with a confident, languid stride. It always went like this; he would call her beautiful, completely out of blue, then she would try to hide how much it made her heart race every single time.
But after that, he would simply smile and talk about other things, leaving a million what-ifs running aimlessly through their minds.
So like always, Lumine tried not to think much of it. "Sure, you want me to say it back or what?"
He casually stepped over a hilichurl's body, then stopped within an arm's distance from her. His figure towered over the traveler, even his shadow was much larger than her entire body; it used to bother her whenever he stood so closely like this, but lately, she didn't mind it too much. It made her feel safe and protected, and that wasn't an unpleasant feeling.
She knew why she felt that way, but she didn't know when it started and how it happened.
"Nope, that's not what I want."
"What do you want then?"
"Well, something much better than a compliment," Tartaglia answered, still smiling his usual foxy smile. The smile that used to irritate her, and the same smile she now loved to see.
Whenever these thoughts came up, Lumine used to either ignore or deny them — refusing to acknowledge the small, gradual change in their relationship. It was something that had remained uncertain between them for a while. She'd assumed that the bond between them would stay like this, nothing less and nothing more, but...
Maybe because it was such a good day — a perfect day to be made special, he finally told her, "I want you to be my girlfriend."
"You want..." Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickened. She tore her gaze away and stammered, "w-what are you..."
She trailed off, and chewed on her bottom lip as his fingers came up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, that's what I want."
It was irritating, his unwavering gaze that held so much confidence. It was maddening, the effects that he had on her. It was infuriating, the fact that he already knew what her answer would be.
Because they both knew her answer wouldn't be anything other than: "fine."
His grin only grew wider. For a man drenched in blood he looked surprisingly childlike and playful. Without hesitation, Tartaglia leaned down to kiss her.
"W-Wait," she stopped him with a hand on his lips. "I'll be your girlfriend, on one condition."
He raised a brow. "Oh? I have money!"
"Not money, you smooth brain. It's just that..."
Despite their feelings for each other, they both knew why it had taken them so long to get to this point.
The hero and the villain. They were like the sky and the ocean; they weren't supposed to mingle. Breaking that fundamental rule would be like erasing the skyline.
And so she said:
"We have to keep this relationship a secret."
No pet names.
No kisses in public.
N-Not even on the cheek! No!
No romantic gifts like flowers and accessories. But mora and seafood are okay. In fact, greatly encouraged.
You can't look at me with those eyes either.
...
Those eyes? Care to elaborate, sweetheart?
...
Like you're doing right now, the soft puppy eyes! And what did I say about pet names?
...
Heh. Sure, sure. Back to comrade it is.
...
Comrade... Hmph, fine. Most importantly, no L words.
She wanted to keep their relationship a secret, but luckily he didn't seem to mind. He told her he would be okay with anything as long they were together. He said it was fine to love in secret, it didn't mean his feelings weren't strong enough. Cute bastard.
But... Lumine set those rules, so it shouldn't bother her, and yet...
"Baby, it's Windblume festival. Can we spend all day together doing each and every lovey-dovey couple thingy?"
Lovey-dovey? Lumine gritted her teeth. She never did lovey-dovey couple thingies with Tartaglia...
"Of course, honey! In fact, I have these flowers to convey my love for you!"
She clenched her fists. She never received flowers from him too...
"Oh, darling! That's such a lovey-dovey couple thing, and in public too!"
Especially not in public for obvious reasons. It was all because of the rules she made, so she shouldn't be this irritated, but...
"My love for you shall not be hidden away from the world, my dear!"
Lumine summoned her sword and Paimon shrieked, "whoa, whoa! What's wrong, Lumine!? You've been in a bad mood all day, Paimon is scared!"
"I have to go beat up some slimes."
"Now!? But Viktor asked for flowers, not slime condensates!?"
"Windblume, a festival for lovers?" Lumine kicked a slime, one that happened to be Hydro too. "More like boyfriend-is-too-busy awareness festival."
An Anemo slime showed up, and like magnets both slimes stuck together, trying to protect each other. The traveler narrowed her eyes and kicked them both.
"Or sucks-being-enemies and having-to-keep-our-relationship-a-secret awareness festival."
She let her weapon dematerialize and sighed as the two slimes hopped their way back together, both shaking in fear. She sighed, she probably shouldn't have taken it out on these poor blobs. It wasn't their fault her boyfriend wasn't there with her for Windblume.
Did Tartaglia even know about the Windblume festival? Then again, he probably only cared about events that involved fighting. That monkey.
"Lumine, are these enough...?" Paimon slowly approached her, carrying a few windwheel asters in her arms. She had volunteered to pick up flowers for Viktor's commission, so Lumine could freely swing her weapon at any living beings unlucky enough to be at Windrise.
"Mhm. Thanks, Paimon." She plucked a flower out of Paimon's grasp and tossed it to the slimes. The pair of slimes blinked and held the flower between them. "Let's beat up Viktor next for making us do menial tasks."
"You're a little violent today, Lumine..."
"Thanks, traveler. I would've picked these flowers myself for that little girl, but..." Viktor sighed. "Those guards outside would be suspicious of me if I had gone out."
Lumine folded her arms and shook her head. "Excuses, excuses..."
"It's true! I can't even go to the restroom without those people giving me the stink eye." He cleared his throat and fished something out of his coat. "Well, anyway... Here's something for you."
It was a small white box with a blue ribbon on it. She raised a brow in suspicion. "What's inside, a ticking bomb? Delusion?"
Beside her, Paimon perked up. "M-Mora?"
"See for yourself." Viktor lowered his voice to a whisper, "it's actually from one of the Harbingers. Open it in secret, will you? You don't wanna get us in trouble."
From a Harbinger? "Which Harbinger?" Lumine threw him a wary look when Viktor only shrugged. "Thanks, I guess."
Though Viktor told her to open it in secret, Lumine couldn't wait any longer. As soon as she left the cathedral, she took the box out of her pocket and stared at it. There was no name, address, or anything to identify whom it was from.
But the shape of the blue ribbon was familiar, it reminded her of a riptide mark. Was it a gift from that idiot boyfriend of hers?
"It's from a Fatui Harbinger...?" Paimon tilted her head and hummed. "Which Harbinger do you think it's from? Paimon hopes it's not the scary guy with the massive hat! Or the icy lady with massive... personality!?"
"Who knows." Lumine pointed somewhere far in the distance. "Paimon, go fly over there and close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"I think it's a nuclear bomb inside."
Paimon gasped. "A... A what!? O-Okay! Just be careful and don't die!"
Lumine waved a hand as Paimon flew far, far away in fear. Once she was sure Paimon wasn't looking, Lumine slowly opened the box.
"Oh..."
Inside, there was a small object delicately shining, reflecting the sunlight to her. Tartaglia had gifted her a flower hairpin it seemed, one that was simple enough but still pretty. Knowing him, it was likely custom-made, just like all the other gifts he had sent to his loved ones. A small card fell, and she swiftly picked it up.
Sorry I can't be there with you for Windblume. I hope this will do for now?
From you-know-who
Lumine would recognize that handwriting anywhere, especially the tiny doodle of him and her at the corner — how adorable... She held both the accessory and the note close to her chest.
Though he couldn't be there with her, it was really sweet of him to send her something like this.
"I thought I told you no gifts allowed, you cute idiot."
But maybe gifts are okay.
"Still no pet names, kisses, and the L-word though! D-Don't look at me like that..."
"Hm? Like what?"
"Like that!"
Lumine reached up and covered Tartaglia's eyes with her hands. He laughed and embraced her, encasing her smaller form in his arms. "Aw, come on... I can't help myself. I missed looking at your pretty face."
"No!"
He peeled her hands off his eyes and planted small kisses on her palms, ignoring the hiss she threw at him like a cat. "I can't believe you went to those islands without me. My feelings are hurt, comrade."
"I didn't know you'd wanna come," she mumbled. That was a lie, she knew exactly how badly he wanted to come with her.
"But I did send letters!"
That he did. Too many of them. He whined so damn much in his letters, at some point she even considered tossing them away. (She didn't though, she could never throw his letters away no matter how stupid half the things he said were.)
Golden Apple Archipelago? Lumine, I wanna go too.
Lumine, don't go without me. Let's go together, I promise I'll behave.
Lumine, you know I love the ocean! Let's catch some sea monsters, I'll teach you how it's done!
Lumine, most importantly... Don't wear a bikini without me, I beg you with all my heart —
"You didn't wear a swimsuit while I wasn't there, did you?"
"No."
"Good. My prayer ritual worked." He rubbed his chin. "And here I thought the Enjou guy that crawled out of the pentagram was merely a fraud. I couldn't believe it when he said he could grant any wish at the cost of two donuts, but it seems he'd kept his promise."
Lumine stared at him in disbelief. "What the heck did you summon this time?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all..." Tartaglia rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously. "Still, I really wanted to go with you, comrade. Imagine all the fun we could've had together; sparring under the blazing summer sun, destroying hilichurl camps under the starry sky, burying dead bodies in the pure white sand." He sighed dreamily. "Aah, comrade. That's almost like a honeymoon. What a missed opportunity!"
Truthfully, there were times she wished he was there with her too. It would've been fun terrorizing hilichurls together with him and Tartaglia definitely would've loved fighting the Mango Kinky guy thing, but still... "The Favonius Knights were there. And Master Diluc hates the Fatui with a burning passion — pun intended — so it would've been a bad idea to have you there."
"Oh, I bet I could take on all of them..." He gulped when Lumine glared at him. "I mean, I would've disguised myself under the name Ailgatrat, the 11th Fatooey Adventurer! They wouldn't have suspected a thing."
Did he seriously believe that would work...? "I mean, the weather was really hot too. You would've died of heat. Or vaporized away, I guess."
Tartaglia laughed and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, holding her tight, muffling her little complaints. "I know, I know. You didn't want me to come along because you were afraid they would find out that we're a couple."
Lumine bit her lip when he cradled her cheeks and tilted her head up. "Sorry."
"It's fine. We can always find a way to go back there together another time."
"I guess."
Tartaglia beamed at her. "I mean, Zhongli is a dragon too. Maybe we can ride on his back next time."
Lumine gasped. "No! He's a senior citizen, we can't do that to him! But yeah... Next time, we'll tame another taxi dragon."
"Mhm." With a satisfied smile, Tartaglia pressed his forehead against hers. His gentle gaze was all she could see; the eyes that she had missed so much, the shade of blue prettier than even the depths of the ocean. She missed those eyes, and his voice, especially when he said, "I missed you, my comrade."
Oh this silly man and the power he held over her heart. "I told you not to look at me like that..."
"Too bad," he whispered. "I missed you too much, I'll look at you as much as I want."
Ugh... Fine, maybe the stupid puppy eyes are acceptable too...
"Lumine! Mister Moneybags! Where are you?"
"Traveler! Red!"
"Let's go check under the tables!"
Once the voices faded out, Lumine folded her arms and returned her attention to the Harbinger, eyeing him suspiciously. "So... Why are you here, Tartaglia?"
"Why? Am I not allowed to be here?" Tartaglia beamed at her, posture relaxed with a hand on his hip. "You know I wouldn't miss a chance to train myself, of course I had to come by and check this place out!"
Her eyes narrowed. "That's surely not the only reason you're here."
"Yeah, I heard you ran into some life-threatening situations in Inazuma." Tartaglia chuckled and scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Gotta make sure the lady friend is safe and sound, you know?"
Her heart skipped a beat, but she ignored it and stomped her foot on the wooden floor. "Be serious!"
He raised his hands in defeat. "Aw. You always see right through me. But it's true, I wanted to fight and check on you! Though I admit there's one more reason, but I'll tell you that later."
"Promise?"
"Mhm. Promise." Tartaglia winked and patted her head before making his way to the sliding door. "Alrighty, shall we move on? The kids are looking for us."
"Wait!" He nearly choked when Lumine pulled on his scarf none too gently. "Oops, my bad."
Tartaglia coughed dramatically. "Wow, girlie... You've dealt more critical hits to me in a span of a split second than all those monsters combined. As expected, my comrade is truly the strongest of them all."
This idiot. She rolled her eyes. "You're such a drama queen, you know that?"
"Haha!" Tartaglia flashed her a smile and fixed his scarf. "So? What's this? You just like having me all to yourself?"
"Maybe." She turned him around to face her, then patted the dust off his jacket and helped fix his outfit. "Move your arms."
"Hmm?"
"Idiot." Tartaglia blinked when she threw herself into his arms, then as naturally as he breathed, his arms gently snaked around her waist, holding her close. She looked up at him, resting her chin on his chest. "My stupid idiot."
"Your stupid idiot, huh. For someone who's incredibly persistent about us dating in secret, you're surprisingly affectionate. You're truly the most formidable opponent I have ever faced, comrade."
I'm truly the what now?
"Oh, why do you look so confused? 'Lovers' is just another name for 'the ultimate arch-enemies,' no?" Tartaglia nodded to himself, seemingly proud of his questionable logic. "I mean, every time you act adorable like this, I just want to attack you. At the same time, you make me feel very vulnerable. So we are being vulnerable together while also wanting to attack each other; isn't that the strongest bond two people can have?"
"You're a much better boyfriend when you shut the hell up."
"Haha! Sorry, sorry. I'm shutting the hell up."
"Good." She shut her eyes and breathed in his scent. She missed his scent, though right now he was kinda... "Uh... Yuck. Stinky."
"I know. I've been drenched in sweat and blood for two days straight." He placed his hand on her head, an affectionate and protective gesture that she always liked a lot. "I can't help it."
"It's okay, I still like it. Stinky." She snuggled closer to him, basking in the comfort she always found in his presence. "Warm too."
"So, what's up?" Tartaglia rested his chin on top of her head. "You missed me that much, firefly? My strong, super firefly."
She was silent for a moment, simply enjoying his touch and warmth. He didn't seem to mind, silence was always comfortable between the two of them. Being with him always reminded her how nice it was to be deeply cared for and loved. A warm, gentle feeling that made her believe she could get through even the hardest times.
When she finally answered, her voice was soft and frail, unlike her usual confident self. "But I haven't been very super, you know."
"Hmm?" As if sensing her vulnerability, he began rubbing her back. "What do you mean?"
"Don't laugh." Her arms tightened around his torso. "But I was scared. Just a little, though."
"Ah." Lumine felt him kiss the top of her head, and her heart fluttered like tiny waves in a peaceful ocean. "Why would I laugh? My underlings told me everything that happened before I got here." He sighed and buried his nose in her hair. "I'm glad you're fine."
"Mm."
"I wish I was there for you, though."
"Ye—" Lumine tilted her head to meet his eyes with a pout on her lips. "I mean, no! Your stupid ass would've challenged the Raiden Shogun and made things worse!"
"But I wouldn't lose, not with you by my side." He grinned and brushed her bangs aside. "I promised, didn't I? I won't let anyone kill you, and I won't fall into anyone's hands other than yours too. Me and my super firefly, we are unstoppable."
"What the... You always say stupid things like this." Lumine let out a quiet sigh. Though she had to admit that made her feel better knowing that he meant everything that he said. "Fine. I'll only kill you if you cheat on me."
"Wow, I'm not ready to be an immortal." He laughed. "Man, I missed being with you like this."
"You're so silly." Lumine buried her face in his chest.
They stayed like that for a while, holding each other close, both thinking of how lucky they were to be together at this moment.
"Hmm... When did it get so quiet outside? Did the kids stop looking for us?" Tartaglia placed his hands on Lumine's shoulders. "We should go check on them. Might be dangerous."
"Ah, right. Those wolves have been eyeing Paimon too. Can't let them steal my emergency food."
"Ahaha! You're always so funny, little firefly."
Lumine let out a tiny gasp when he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Hey!"
He shot her a wink before sliding the door open. "It's for good luck, pretty girlie."
Maybe cute pet names and small kisses are okay too...
Another thing Lumine realized was that somehow, he was always there when she least expected him to be.
Lumine blinked once, twice, frowned, then pointed at him with her mouth agape. Tartaglia laughed at her reaction and touched her nose with one finger. "I know, I know. Missed me?"
She shoved his hand away and bared her teeth at him. It was the Lantern Rite festival, and they were right in the middle of a crowd. Neither of them was ever good at blending into the background.
Though all the couples spending their time together made her think of him, she didn't expect him to be there. "Why are you here!?"
Tartaglia shook his head, yet still smiling. "Why is it that, every time I show up, that's the first thing you ask?" He placed a hand on his chest. "Not the cutest way to greet your boy—"
Lumine's hand slapping his mouth silenced him right away. "Not here, idiot!"
His fingers gently wrapped around her wrist, and he pried her hand away with a small laugh. "Fine, let's go somewhere else then? Just the two of us."
"Huh? But Paimon—"
"I ran into her just now, near the food stalls. I gave her mora, it should be enough to keep her busy for a while." He took her hand and tugged at it. "Come on, princess. Hurry up if you don't want to be seen with this big bad Harbinger."
"People are going to think you kidnapped me..." She protested, though she let him string her along anyway, following him through the crowd.
"Heh, no one will think that. I bet they think you kidnapped me."
He wasn't wrong, everyone knew she was the feisty one between the two of them. She sighed and started picking up her pace as he speed-walked. "Okay but slow down! You long-legged monkey!"
"Haha!"
"Gosh..." Lumine panted and took a deep breath. "Did we have to climb up all the way up here?"
"The view will be worth it, trust me." Tartaglia settled near the edge and patted down the spot beside him. "Sit here. Don't worry, I'll hold your hand."
"You don't have to. I'm not scared of heights." She plopped down with a huff. Lumine couldn't believe she let him drag her along all the way to the cliff overlooking Liyue. "Hm. I guess the view isn't too bad. I rate it 4 out of 10."
"4? Haha, I promise that number will go up in a bit!"
"We'll see..." She rubbed her shoulders. "It's a little windy, though."
"Worry not. I came prepared," he said with a wink.
Lumine raised a brow when he took a cute narwhal blanket out of his bag and draped it over her shoulders. "Oh... Does everything you own have little cartoon dugongs on them?"
"Just my blanket and underwear. And they're narwhals, girlie, not dugongs!"
"You look like a dugong."
"So mean."
"Or river dolphin."
"I don't even know what that is..."
"Something ugly and cute, like you."
"Hm? Did you just say—" He was about to tease her for calling him cute when the fireworks in the distance startled them both. "Oh, it seems they're starting the fireworks early."
"That was loud," Lumine remarked as she watched the burst of colors in the sky. "But pretty."
"So?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, then whispered in her ear. "10 out of 10 yet?"
She let out a soft hum. "8."
Tartaglia laughed and placed his fingers under her chin, turning her to face him. "Better be 9 after this."
Before she could react, his lips had covered her in a sweet, gentle kiss. Her eyes widened for a moment, then fluttered close, the sounds of fireworks in the distance filled her ears, along with her pounding heart.
A reminder that she might be missing out on the loveliest fireworks... But that was fine, she would rather cherish the feeling of his lips on hers anyway.
Lumine slowly opened her eyes when their lips parted. "You're adorable," she heard him whisper. "I love you."
She gasped and grasped the front of his shirt, despite her blushing cheeks. "That was... That was the last rule and you broke it too!"
"What?" He blinked a few times, feigning innocence. "That was the L-word? I thought it was leprechaun."
She shook him back and forth. "You're leprechaun! Idiot... Why would it be leprechaun!?"
"Aw, sorry!" Tartaglia chuckled, unapologetically. He slowly raised his hands and held her wrists, stopping her from shaking him any further. "I'm just kidding, I know it was love. But I just really, really love you, my comrade."
"You really never listen, do you?" Lumine sighed and moved her hands to cup his cheeks. "Hm. Fine! I guess I'm an idiot too for loving someone like you."
Tartaglia grinned, and let her pull him down for another kiss. The loud sounds of fireworks drowned their small laughs and quiet, whispered I-love-you's, like their own little secret.
And maybe, as possessive as it sounded, no one else needed to know how perfect he was for her.
"You know, you can make one more rule that I may or may not break."
"What now?"
"That I'm not allowed to marry you."
"...Stupid river dolphin."
"Oh, hey! Paimon!" Came Hu Tao's chirpy voice right when the fireworks ended. "You alone? Where's mom and dad?"
Paimon frowned as she continued munching on her grilled fish. "Paimon's not their kid! And Lumine probably kidnapped Childe again. It happens all the time."
Hu Tao laughed behind her hand. "Man! They're probably out there doing mushy things, yuck! I feel bad for you, having to pretend you're unaware of all the gross things they do."
"Haah..." Keqing crossed her arms. "After what he's done, Tartaglia is not exactly welcome in Liyue. I'll let him be for now, but only because Lumine is dating that man. If he causes any trouble, I won't hesitate to kick him out though."
Paimon took another big bite of her grilled fish. "Don't worry, he always behaves when Lumine is around. A-And Paimon is not just saying this because he gives Paimon money."
"Hehe, he's such a simp! It's so funny that they think they managed to fool everyone!" Hu Tao tapped her chin. "Hmm, maybe I should sell them a promotional coffin set for a couple of totally-not-lovers! What do you think, Mr. Zhongli?"
Zhongli sipped on his tea. "What would be the point of that?" He set down the cup on the table and rubbed his chin. "Wouldn't the usual best friends' coffin set be enough in that case?"
The director blinked and tilted her head. "...What?"
He nodded. "I have to admit it is surprising to see the traveler and Childe have become such good friends. Nevertheless, I'm still glad they get along well. True friendship is not easy to find, especially among warriors."
Hu Tao nearly tripped and Paimon dropped her half-eaten grilled fish. Keqing simply stared at him.
"They fooled one person!?"