Trust. Childe tries to keep up the toyseller lie for his younger brother, Teucer. But when it finally reached its end, he

Trust.

Childe tries to keep up the toyseller lie for his younger brother, Teucer. But when it finally reached its end, he turned upon the pale woman next to him.

“You wouldn’t kill me in front of my little brother.” his voice was weak, but certain. It pissed Ayame off, knowing he saw right through her. Either that, or he hoped she’d feel bad and spare him. Either way, he was right, and she hated every second of it.

Ayame laughed, a sound so cruel it surprised even her the second it left her lips.

“You think highly of me! I wonder how long till that illusion is shattered.”

Childe’s expression was unreadable, his lips a thin line and his eyes as dull as ever.

Her clothes where slightly torn from running around in this weird place trying to catch up with Teucer and make sure he didn’t get hurt from all the ruin guards, her boots where dirty and wet from all the puddles she ran through, and her hair messy and dusty.

The evening light that trickled in through the windows all around her bathed her in an ethereal light, making her look like a Goddess from a story book looking down upon a bleeding warrior.

“However, I shall humor you for now.”

“Next time we meet though, I’ll kill you.” a whisper, quiet and breathless, yet still present.

She smiled, looking down at the man sitting next to wooden planks and crumbling stone.

He knew she didn’t mean it. As hard as she tried to convince both him and herself, Childe saw that deep down, she still had a bright ray of kindness in her heart. And like the setting sun, it was as beautiful as a legacy left behind by a true warrior that fought to the bitter end.

He chuckled weakly, digging around in his pockets, he pulled out a plushie made to look like a ruin hunter.

“Give this to Teucer for me.”

For a moment her eyes softened, her glare wasn’t as cold, or as piercing. Instead, she looked at Childe with a deep understanding and compassion. Almost as if she knew what it meant to give up everything for your family, almost as if she did the same all those years ago.

For centuries, a corruption had grown, blooming like a delicate flower while its roots twist and spread their thorns deep below sight. They wrap around her heart, suffocating the fragile trust she placed in those around her, staining her view of the world an ugly brown like dried blood on rotten grass.

The sun kissed the golden sky goodbye as the moon rose in its place, moving the clouds and bringing the stars in the vast wonder that where the constellations smiling upon Ayame.

She couldn’t help but think of Childe and Teucer everytime she saw or fought a ruin hunter. Fresh memories of him invinting her to meet the rest of his family back in Sheznaya.

Ayame laughed, a soft sound that carried itself in the gentle breeze, hoping to find what she’d been looking for all these years. Her eyes fell fondly into the distant sunset, the colors of the sky so beautiful and serene.

Thoughts of Childe overtook her mind, how he managed to find a special little corner in her heart, how he’d been able to make her feel safe even after all that happened, how he’d managed to befriend her and truly make her see him as a good friend.

And as Ayame wondered about what fate had to give her, she sighed softly, closing her eyes as the dim light finally died over the horizon.

And she thought, maybe for a second, maybe, she could trust him.

Perhaps the world wasn’t as bad, and if two people that had to grow up too fast and throw away everything they had to protect their siblings met, maybe they’d be able too see the good in each other, and see the world for what it truly is, a cruel, twisted lie, but also a beautiful and heartwarming gift.

And so, a friendship bloomed. One that could mend their wounds, the ones times couldn’t touch.

Or simply, a lie based off of mind games and manipulation.

One, Ayame would surely win.