A/n: art by me, dark!lumine x childe does shit to my cold, weeby heart. Featuring a gender neutral!reader, enjoy ;) Warning:...

A/n: art by me, dark!lumine x childe does shit to my cold, weeby heart. Featuring a gender neutral!reader, enjoy ;)

Warning: Implied character death, dark themes, Spoilers from the new update, if you haven’t seen the whole new childe situation, i recommend you don’t read :D

There was no way to stop him now. He had transformed into something entirely different than what he once was.

Burning, orange hair was slicked back behind a masked helmet and his body had now donned the signature armour of the Fatui, only it held more grandeur and intimidation that from what you’ve seen on the lesser recruits.

Childe - no - Tartaglia smirked, though, you could not see it behind his mask. His figure was condescending and haughty as he stood over your exhausted body, looking upon you in victory.

There was also a sense of pity and slight disappointment. He hasn’t ended you yet but he will if you deny him one last request.

His arm gradually outstretched towards you, hand opening as an invitation.

“Join me.”

You, however, were still struggling to breathe - wherever Paimon had disappeared off to, she certainly wasn’t in your sights.

Seeing no other place to focus on, your e/c orbs scanned over Childe’s clawed, metal gauntlets.

If you chose that path, it would mean a point of no return as soon as your hand connected with his. Jean and the knights would be heavily distressed, not to mention Zhongli. Everyone you’ve ever known would never see you as the same person again.

But you didn’t flinch or move a muscle as you thought of the worst that could happen to them - they’ve never really done anything to help you so why should you care?

You’re finally thinking now, finally viewing the facts: Paimon is nowhere to be seen, no one has come bothered to look for you or even send help and you’re at your enemy’s mercy with the remnants of your weapon disintegrated at his feet.

“Why do you linger on the past? I can give you power, more than those pathetic knights have ever given you. All you have to do is take my hand…”

Childe’s alluring words are seductive and poisonous. One part of you hates how you’re listening and the other part is tempted and drawn like a moth to a flame.

But you’re only listening, only considering.

And as your mind makes its decision, as your hand finally collides with his palm, Childe pulls you up to your feet and tucks you securely by his side like a freshly acquired trophy that he intends to show off to his subordinates.

His fingers perform several complicated gestures in front of him and before you know it, Paimon’s body is carried by water and tossed in the air from a hidden spot behind a geo boulder. You do nothing as she’s screaming and brought mercilessly to her knees at your feet, ropes of liquid tying her down.

“I’ll have to make sure you prove your loyalty before you join my cause first,” Childe’s masked helmet disconnects bit by bit in fragments as a result of a mechanism beneath the object. His face is now visible and his smirking lips are pressed to your ear, warm breath grazing the firm skin of the shell, “Finish her.”

You can feel his metal claws tenderly caress your shoulders up and down and his cold, solid front against your back.

His venemous chuckle fills your ears as Paimon whimpers and struggles against the hydro bounds.

“Y/n, please, no…”

The hilt of a sword is slapped into your hand and you don’t hesitate to raise it above your head and-

Heavy sweat lines your brow and forehead as you leap up from your bedroll. Petite hands are gripping your arms and shaking you, a voice yipping in worry.

“Y/n! Y/n!” Paimon screams, her little face twisted in concern.

Your breaths are full and overwhelming as your head shoots in multiple directions before finally landing on your travel companion.

“W-what happened…?” You inhale deeply, swallowing another breath.

“You were thrashing around in your sleep! Are you okay?”

“I…I think so…”

It was all a dream, you realise.

But as relieved as you are to know that it was fake, you’re also full of guilt to be disappointed that it wasn’t real.