random-genshin-things

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 12

Link to Ch 11

Link to Ch 1

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Warning: Slight blood and gore

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It was still early in the morning as Jean-Pierre stepped through the doors of Northland Bank. The night prior he’d finalized his plan and asked around for directions and information that led him to the Snezhnayan owned bank in Feiyun Slope. It would be the best place for him to find Tartaglia. This early in the morning, Jean-Pierre was hoping the Harbinger would just be arriving at work or at least stop by to see what needed to be taken care of today. As he approached the young clerk at the front desk she spoke up.

“Welcome to the Northland Bank. How may I assist you?” She asked, clearly bored with the researcher already.

“I’m looking for the Eleventh Harbinger, Tartaglia.” Jean-Pierre tapped his fingers leaning on the desk as he spoke.

“Do you have an appointment?” The woman behind the desk gave him a blank stare, speaking in a bored customer service tone.

“Not exactly but-” Jean-Pierre started but she cut him off.

“I’m afraid it will be nearly impossible for you to see Lord Tartaglia without an appointment.” Jean-Pierre grit his teeth.

“Well then. I’ll wait here.” Jean-Pierre hissed out his words.

He pushed himself off the desk and slowly took a seat in one of the chairs along the wall. Not knowing how long he would be here frustrated Jean-Pierre but he had no better way to find Tartaglia. Waiting turned out to be a fruitful endeavour however when Tartaglia emerged from a back hallway flanked by two fatui soldiers. Tartaglia locked eyes with Jean-Pierre almost instantly and both settled into a glare. Tension began to rise as the air seemed to crackle with electricity around the two men exuding vexation at the presence of the other. Tartaglia did not like your fellow researcher. It was clear to him that Jean-Pierre held affection for you. With how Jean-Pierre looked at you and attempted to persuade you into leaving, he was very quickly testing Tartaglia’s already thin patience. Tartaglia was the first to speak, breaking their silent stare.

“What brings you here?” Though his tone was light, the words were dripping with disdain.

Jean-Pierre had to fight back the shiver that ran down his spine. He was doing this to save Y/N. He could not afford to back down now.

“I’ve come to challenge you to a fight.” Jean-Pierre tried to sound confident but it’s clear that he was shaking in his boots.

One of Tartaglia’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”

Jean-Pierre continued. “The winner gets to keep Y/N.”

Tartaglia crossed his arms in contemplation. While he didn’t agree with Jean-Pierre views, you should clearly have a say in deciding where you wanted to be and who you wanted to be with, you weren’t an object, however this might be a great way to get rid of this nuisance. Tartaglia didn’t even really need to hurt the guy. Jean-Pierre was already clearly intimidated by Tartaglia. Just ruffing him up a little bit would be enough for him to turn tail and run. Tartaglia grinned watching how Jean-Pierre became stiff with fear at the small gesture.

“I disagree with your terms, but I’ll take you up on the offer of a battle. Tonight just north of the city.”

It was decided. As Jean-Pierre and Tartaglia parted, the two soldiers behind them shared a look of understanding.

…..

A warm breeze flowed through the harbor as you leisurely made your way to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. In the time that you had spent in Liyue, you had gotten to know Zhongli quite well and considered him a friend. By virtue of Anya’s research on the Archon Wars, she had formed a close relationship with Zhongli as a mentor while she was here. You’d often tagged along for many of their trips to different historical sites and heard many of Zhongli’s stories. As a result, you became fast friends with the funeral consultant and would sometimes share meals with him, time permitting. Today happened to be one of the days when neither you nor Zhongli had plans so you agreed to meet up and head over to Third-Round Knockout. Upon arriving at Wangsheng you found Zhongli waiting for you outside.

“Oh I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” You said as you arrived.

“Not to worry. I just finished work myself. Shall we?” Zhongli spoke in his signature deep tone as he responded. You nodded and followed alongside Zhongli.

Once arriving at Third-Round Knockout, you sat outside looking forward to tonight’s tale from Iron Tongue Tian. The two of you talked about your days and about your research before placing your order. Zhongli was incredibly knowledgeable in many areas of expertise. Speaking with him has helped tremendously with your understanding of herbs native to Liyue and Liyue’s medicinal practices giving your fodder for your research paper. As your food arrived, Zhongli asked a particular question that gave you pause.

“Have you seen Tartaglia today? I was hoping you could talk him down.” Zhongli asked out of the blue. You looked up at Zhongli slightly taken aback.

“No I haven’t. And what would I need to talk him down from?” You replied confused and worried.

In the time that you’d known both men, you had fallen into a bit of a pattern where Tartaglia would mention a fight or something offhandedly to you or Zhongli and Zhongli would send you to talk Tartaglia out of any completely unreasonable new fight he was picking. Together you had managed to talk the Harbinger out of wreaking total undo havoc… most of the time. You usually let Tartaglia handle himself but sometimes you would step in if he was planning something ridiculous like fistfighting an Archon. Honestly you wouldn’t put it past him. Zhongli took a slow, graceful sip of his tea before continuing.

“Well he stopped by the funeral parlor this morning ranting about, in his words, "some fool with a death wish” that challenged him to a battle.“ Zhongli’s voice was deep and soothing but his words gave you a bit of dread.

You didn’t like where this was going. In the time that you had gotten to know Childe and had been in a relationship with him, you knew that he adored a good battle. And while you wished he wouldn’t come to find you covered in blood and dirt, it nearly gave you a heart attack the first time when he approached smiling and waving while wearing his blood soaked jacket like a badge of honor, you knew it wasn’t something about him that would change. More importantly, you didn’t try to change him. If you couldn’t accept and love every part of him, if you felt the need to change something so integral to his being, then why would you be with him?

You had come to terms with his work and how complex of a man he was a while before your decision to stay with him. You loved him for who he was, including his penchant for battle and drive to get stronger. Honestly, it was the same as your drive to become the best doctor; the same passion and drive just different focuses. Your only ask was that he would allow you to treat his wounds or at least seek medical attention after a fight. He respected your concerns for his well-being and had kept his word allowing you to treat the cuts and scrapes he came back with. Sometimes if he got really out of hand you would step in with the help of Zhongli and try to talk him down. Usually if he knew about an upcoming confrontation he would warn you in advance even if he couldn’t give you details. So why hadn’t you heard about this?

Zhongli continued. "He informed me that tonight he would be battling a man named Jean-Pierre.”

Oh…. OH! Archons no! You dropped your chopsticks at Zhongli’s words. You had to stop this. What was Jean-Pierre thinking? Challenging Tartaglia to a battle? You were going to smack these fools when you found them.

“Where and when exactly?” You asked Zhongli. You had no time to spare.

“Just northwest of Liyue Harbor near the road past Mt. Tianheng.” Zhongli calmly replied either unaware of your building concern and fury or unfazed.

“Sorry Zhongli! I’ll pay you back but I need to stop an idiot from getting killed!” With those words you shot up from the table, yelling over your shoulder as you left.

…..

Tartaglia had chosen a place outside of Liyue Harbor so the millelith wouldn’t get involved, but he intended it to be a quick fight. Jean-Pierre didn’t stand a chance. All Tartaglia intended was to give him a few bruises and a lesson not to mess with the Eleventh Harbinger. He shouldn’t even need his weapon really. Tartaglia cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders as he took position. His bow and several arrows were a few meters behind him but not impossible to reach should he need them.

“If I win, I get Y/N and we’re going home.” Jean-Pierre spoke across from him.

Tartaglia let out a snort. “When I win, you leave us alone.” Tartaglia had had enough of this nonsense and his tone conveyed it.

The two men began circling each other. Jean-Pierre charged towards Tartaglia swinging his fist aiming for Tartaglia’s left side. Tartaglia quickly stepped to the right and parried, grabbing Jean-Pierre’s forearm. Using the man’s own forward momentum, Tartaglia flipped Jean-Pierre over his shoulder and into the ground.

“You’re going to have to try much harder than that comrade.” Tartaglia taunted the man lying prone on his back.

Jean-Pierre let out a growl as he rose back to his feet ready to take another swing. This time however, Tartaglia took the lead, landing a hit on Jean-Pierre’s jaw before kicking him in the stomach, sending him stumbling several steps and gasping for breath.

“There’s still time to back ou—” Tartaglia was cut off.

“Childe! Pierre! Stop right now!” Both men were startled by your sudden shout. Tartaglia turned to see you rushing towards them, stopping a few meters off to catch your breath.

“What are you two thinking? I nearly lost it when Zhongli told me about this!” You shouted as you stopped to breathe.

Ah. So that was how you had found out. Tartaglia gave you a sheepish smile scratching the back of his neck before opening his mouth to respond. Except he didn’t get the chance.

“He was trying to kill me N/N! He asked me to come with him for a walk then attacked me!” Jean-Pierre lied through his teeth.

Tartaglia felt his blood run cold like the winter wind in Snezhnaya.

You wouldn’t actually believe that right?

But if you did… did he have any way of defending himself?

No one except Zhongli knew… but Zhongli had heard it from him.

Tartaglia watched your eyes narrow in rage.

“Don’t you dare lie to me.” Your tone and words were spat like poison.

You were absolutely furious and Tartaglia knew. He stuttered trying to piece together anything that would defend his innocence. Jean-Pierre had asked him to fight. He would never attack one of your friends for fun. However, you blew straight past any attempts Tartaglia made to speak and continued on your rage fueled rant.

“Zhongli told me that you challenged Tartaglia to a fight. And I ran into two Fatui soldiers on my way over here who confirmed that they witnessed you challenge Tartaglia at Northland Bank.” Your voice was full of rage as you descended on Jean-Pierre like a pack of wolves.

Oh thank the Tsaritsa! You didn’t believe Jean-Pierre’s lies and you weren’t angry at him. Well actually you probably still were angry at him, but you were apoplectic with rage over Jean-Pierre. Which was all that mattered right now. Tartaglia could handle a rant later but he couldn’t handle losing you to this lying bastard. It was honestly kind of hot when your rage was directed at not him. Now it was Jean-Pierre’s turn to find a stuttered excuse.

“I-I was doing this to protect you!” His words came out in a rush.

“To protect me!” You let out an indignant scoff.

“He’s not good for you! He’s only going to use you and harm you. I bet he doesn’t even really love you! I love you far more than he ever could. You belong with me! I was going to save you from him. He’s an evil monster! He works for the Fatui! You know they’re evil! I’m the only one who will protect you and save you!” Jean-Pierre’s self righteous and delusional rant only served to make you feel sick.

Nausea was beginning to form in the pit of your stomach as you listened to the man you considered a friend talk about you as an item; a damsel in distress that he was going to save… and own.

“Stop! Just stop Pierre. I’m a person you know. I can make my own decisions and I don’t need you to… attempt to protect me… Just go home. I don’t need you here.” You turned away from your former friend.

Jean-Pierre’s eyes grew cold as he trained them on Tartaglia’s back. This has been all his fault. That Fatui bastard had taken away and brainwashed the love of his life. Jean-Pierre reached into his pocket and left the firm handle of the short dagger he always carried. Wrapping his fingers around the dull instrument, what was left of his resolve snapped like a thread. He got to his feet and charged. Before Jean-Pierre could even take a full breath, he had embedded the knife in the back shoulder of the man he despised most in this world.

Tartaglia let out a brief shout, clutching his right shoulder that had begun to drip a deep crimson liquid. He could feel the tell tale searing burn of a blade ripping through his flesh. In an instant his knees had given way as the result of a sharp kick to the back of them.

You whipped around when you heard Tartaglia cry out in pain. Before you stood one of your closest friends, hands smeared with the blood of your lover. Jean-Pierre was standing over Tartaglia with his foot on Tartaglia’s back and a rock in his hand. There was the oak wooden handle of a blade sticking out Tartaglia’s shoulder. Your breath stopped in your throat. Your only thought being that if you didn’t do something,

Jean-Pierre was going to kill the man you love.

Then you noticed it. Tartaglia’s bow was right at your feet. Without thinking you grabbed the weapon in your shaky hands, clammy with cold perspiration. Quickly you nocked an arrow and took aim. The wood was smooth to the touch as you drew back the string of the bow. As Jean-Pierre was lifting the rock over his head… You breathe in slowly and shaky then let go of the string.

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You released an arrow right at Jean-Pierre.

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A/N: Should we kill Jean-Pierre?

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Link to Ch 13

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 11

Link to Ch 10

Link to Ch 1

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It had been days since you parted with Anya in Liyue Harbor. You hoped she had a safe trip back through Port Ormos. It would take a few days for her to travel from the port to the capital. Still, knowing it would take time for her to return to Sumeru City didn’t help with your restlessness. You wanted to petition the Akademiya for your extended stay in Liyue as soon as possible. The quicker that was handled the quicker your anxieties could be put to rest. And the sooner you could properly get back to your papers. You had been writing about the advancement in medicine in Liyue and possible applications of Liyue’s herbs to medicine in Sumeru to improve their potency. Sending the first draft with Anya, you had hoped it would convince the Akademiya to allow your extension, but now you were left with only your notes. It was difficult to make edits to a paper that you didn’t have.

Tartaglia was busy this morning but he’d promised to find you once he was finished. Having little to do with no word from Anya or the Akademiya, you decided to walk along the port in Liyue Harbor. You loved looking out on the vast expanse of ocean. It almost reminded you of the views from Port Ormos, minus the rainforest plants. Monika loved spending time there to celebrate finishing a paper and would subsequently drag you and Jean-Pierre with her. The three of you had spent many a weekend in Port Ormos relaxing in a tavern or enjoying the laid back atmosphere. You never quite understood why Monika felt a perpetual need to always leave Sumeru City to celebrate, but you had a feeling Port Ormos became the spot of choice since the Akademiya had less sway and control there. Looking out over the waves and reminiscing made you feel connected to your friends even if they were so far away.

Over the past few days you thought about them more and more than you had during the months prior, because in the back of your mind you knew they would be furious when they found out why you were still in Liyue. You had considered writing to them but you knew it would do little to soften the blow. Maybe if they met Tartaglia he could charm them as he had you and Anya. Now that was just wishful thinking. You doubt he’d be able to so much as utter his name before Monika would come in swinging with accusations. She probably wouldn’t even give him time to speak to defend himself before throwing her arm around you and dragging you away. Monika was always hot-headed. You just hoped you’d be able to eventually convince her. Eventually. As you walk along the docks, ships pulling up and unloading, you let your minds wander. Until you heard a voice calling your name.

“Y/N!”

That couldn’t be right… that was Jean-Pierre’s voice…. You turned to look behind you and to your amazement, and possible horror, there he was waving his hand and practically running towards you. This could be bad. This could be very bad. Had Jean-Pierre run into Anya? Did he know that you’d chosen to stay? What was going to happen when he met Tartaglia?

Oh Archons, he was going to meet Tartaglia.

You froze feeling as if your entire body had been doused in ice water as Jean-Pierre continued to close in with fast paced steps.

“Y/N. It’s good to see you.” Jean-Pierre moved in for a hug but you stopped him with a quick question.

“Jean-Pierre, what brings you to Liyue?” You kept him at arm’s length as you asked. Jean-Pierre’s classic smile faltered slightly but he quickly recovered.

“I came here to bring you home.” He sounded so sure as if there was no question about why he would be here. Your timid smile slowly dropped.

“O-Oh well… I’m planning to stay here for a while- to continue my research! You’ve heard of Bubu Pharmacy-” You tried to explain but Jean-Pierre cut you off.

“I already know… about him.” The vitriol in his voice has taken you back a bit.

Oh Archons no. You let out a deep breath through your nose.

“So… you spoke with Anya…” You ventured cautiously. You knew how Jean-Pierre felt about the Fatui and you had to tread carefully. Jean-Pierre steeled himself before responding.

“You stayed for a Fatui Harbinger.” His tone alone told you that he was barely keeping himself together. Yeah this was very bad.

“I know that sounds bad but he’s really not a bad person-” As you tried to reason with Jean-Pierre and explain yourself, he cut you off with a condescending smile.

“Oh Y/N. I know how deeply you care about your patients and you’re so trusting. It’s honorable really. But (N/N) you don’t actually know this man. He could just be using you. And you’re trusting him because he used to be your patient. Just come home with me. Everything will be okay.” His words were sickly sweet as he spoke to you like you were a child.

Your stomach was twisting into knots and you felt like you were swallowing iron.

Had Jean-Pierre always thought like this?

Has he always been this condescending?

It wasn’t just his tone the shocked you but the words and expressions he wore as he practically belittled you without even listening to what you had to say.

“Pierre… I’m… serious about this.” You tried yet again to reason with him hoping against all odds that this was a fluke in his behaviour.

“And I’m serious about taking you home.” Jean-Pierre reached out to brush your hair as he spoke and you almost flinched.

Jean-Pierre’s hand stopped just short of your face and it took you a moment to realise that someone else’s hand was holding Jean-Pierre’s wrist. Your eyes followed the black gloved hand to the black cuff lining of a grey jacket.

“Hey there.”

Light bounced off the ruby red earring he wore as he turned his head, fixing his gaze on the man whose wrist was in his hold.

“And who might you be?”

Tartaglia’s tone was teasing but the look in his eyes was sharpened like a blade. Jean-Pierre stood straight as a pin before coming back to his senses and ripping his hand out of Tartaglia’s grip. As the two men silently began sizing each other up, you knew you needed to step in.

“Um Childe, this is Jean-Pierre. He’s one of my fellow researchers. He was part of the expedition to Dragonspine. And Pierre, this is Childe. He’s the Snezhnayan man I found in the avalanche.” You introduced the two men but it did nothing to lessen the tension between them.

Tartaglia was the first to speak after your introduction. “I’m Tartaglia the Eleventh Harbinger of-”

“I know who you are.” Jean-Pierre’s harsh tone and words cut through Tartaglia’s attempted introduction and shot down any attempt at goodwill between the two of them.

“I don’t know how you’ve managed to manipulate Y/N to stay with you or swindled her into trusting you but that ends now. I’m taking her back with me.” What had been left of Tartaglia’s smile disappeared immediately and he slowly crossed his arms as Jean-Pierre spoke.

“It seems we don’t quite see eye to eye on this matter. I have not manipulated Y/N nor have I forced her to stay here in Liyue. Personally, I think it should be her decision to stay or leave, not yours.” Tartaglia’s tone was light but it was clearly a challenge.

Tartaglia’s blue irises were cold as ice as he stared down Jean-Pierre. They were the eyes of a warrior. Any sane man would tremble and apologize for his offense. Except Jean-Pierre, while slightly intimidated, would not back down. In his mind, it was up to him to save the woman he loved from the evil man who stood before him. At the sound of your voice, both men turned to face you.

“Pierre, please try to calm down. I’m not being manipulated. I chose to stay here with Childe… I love him.” Your eyes darted to Tartaglia’s as you spoke. As your gaze met, his eyes softened and a small genuine smile crept onto his face.

However, you both missed how Jean-Pierre’s eyes grew wide and his lips pursed.

How could you possibly be in love with this man?

You’d just met him. He was a Fatui Harbinger! Jean-Pierre had known you for much longer. He was also a good man and clearly a much better choice. But you had chosen this… monster. There had to be a way to bring you to your senses. Jean-Pierre would find a way. Soon you’d see that this man was a heartless monster and then Jean-Pierre would be there to comfort you. All he needed was a plan.

Tartaglia quickly moved to your side, intertwining his fingers with yours and turning back to look at Jean-Pierre.

“Well you’ve heard Y/N. Now we must be going. We have dinner reservations.” Tartaglia smiled and waved mockingly at Jean-Pierre.

“See you later comrade.” With that final jab from Tartaglia, the two of you left Jean-Pierre behind to ruminate.

He would find a way to get through to you; to show you that this man was undeniably evil. With that thought, Jean-Pierre flipped through the notes and statements he’d gathered for his trip. Prior to leaving Sumeru, Jean-Pierre has used the Akasha to gather basic information on the Harbingers, slowly narrowing down which one his love had met. He already knew it was Tartaglia by the time he boarded the ship in Port Ormos. Asking around some of the Snezhnayan students and even fatui soldiers he’d come across had only solidified his analysis. As Jean-Pierre flipped through his notes, a single line caught his eye.

“The Eleventh Harbinger has a penchant for battle and will never back down from a fight, even if it means certain death.”

This was it. You were always kind and caring, valuing human life above all else.

How could you ever love a man who threatened the life of your dear friends?

Jean-Pierre let a smirk tug at the corner of his lips as the cogs in his brain turned formulating his plan. Tartaglia was a danger unto himself and others. All Jean-Pierre had to do was highlight that to you. Snapping his notebook shut, Jean-Pierre looked off in the distance where you had disappeared hand in hand with that vile man.

“Enjoy your dinner Harbinger. For today will be the last day that Y/N ever looks up to the likes of you.”

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Link to Ch 12

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 10

Link to Ch 9

Link to Ch 1

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After Tartaglia’s confession, you spent the next few weeks together. On slow days and days off, Tartaglia would take you all over Liyue, from Mt. Tianheng to Qingce Village. He would take you to see the most incredible places during the day, telling you stories about how he’d found the place or retelling what he remembered about what Zhongli said. Every now and then as you were marveling at the views Tartaglia would sneak in a comment.

“If you love seeing new places you should come to Snezhnaya.”

“This lake is beautiful. You know in Snezhnaya when it gets cold enough we skate on the lakes. I’ll teach you when you come to visit.”

“The view is lovely. You’ll love the views of Snezhnaya in the winter. When everything is frozen, covered in snow and ice the trees sparkle and gleam. It’s incredible.”

At night, you would often eat in Liyue Harbor. Tartaglia liked to take you to the most renowned restaurants in Liyue: Luili Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and Wanmin Restaurant were common. He always insisted on paying stating that it was his treat. While you had tried to protest and at least split the bill, you were never successful and he would often swipe the bill when you were distracted. The one time you had managed to pay he brought you flowers for a week saying it was to make up for dinner.

On the days when he was busy with work, you would travel around with Anya and sometimes Zhongli. It was on one of these days that you were having dinner with Anya at a restaurant that Zhongli had recommended called Third-Round Knockout. It was a tavern located in Chihu Rock just across the bridge into Liyue Harbor. Third-Round Knockout was located in a fairly large building with outdoor seating. The building had multiple eaves and gables and green tile roofing. Zhongli had recommended it particularly because of the storyteller Iron Tongue Tian, but you and Anya were excited about the reasonable price for a good meal. Sitting at a table outside, you were telling Anya about an adventure with Tartaglia to Minlin to collect Qingxin flowers. As there was a lull in the conversation Anya spoke up.

“You really do like him don’t you?” She gave you a look that said she could read you like a book.

You nodded with a soft smile not even trying to deny it. “I do.”

Anya gave a wry smile “He’s at least treating you well. After all, how many times has he taken you to Luili Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk?” She said playfully teasing you.

“Anya!” You rolled your eyes at your friend as she giggled.

“But in all seriousness, Have you spoken with him about what happens when you leave? We’re getting back on a boat in two days.” Anya raised a good point.

Your smile dropped. Two days? Was it that soon? Honestly, you had lost track of time. Which meant you hadn’t even told Tartaglia how soon you were leaving, let alone discussed what would happen when you did. Anya could read your thoughts on your face.

“Oh Archons. You haven’t talked with him yet have you?” She questioned already knowing the answer.

Biting your lip, you nodded solemnly. “I… hadn’t even thought about it myself…” You needed to speak with Tartaglia. Anya brought her cup carefully to her lips and took a sip of her tea before replying.

“Well, are you seeing him tomorrow? If not, you’d better find him, unless you want him to think you’ve disappeared.” Anya was right.

Tomorrow you will find time to speak with Tartaglia. He needed to know and you needed to come up with a plan if you didn’t want this budding relationship to come to an abrupt conclusion.

…..

The next day you were standing in Northland Bank hoping to find Tartaglia. Suddenly, two fatui soldiers stopped in front of you. One of them elbowed the other and frantically gestured to you.

“Oh you’re Lord Tartaglia’s lover!” A voice called out to you.

Your head shot up to look at the two men who you soon recognized as the soldiers you spoke with when you returned Tartaglia’s jacket. They both bowed in greeting.

“Are you here to see Lord Tartaglia? Unfortunately he’s not here right now, but we can inform him that you’re looking for him.” The man on the right in the red uniform said, offering a smile.

You smiled at the two men as you replied. “Thank you. I’ll wait for him here.”

The two soldiers left you with a wave. You waited for another few hours before a pair a black boots stopped in front of you.

“Ah so you really did wait here. Two of my subordinates came to find me and told me you were waiting here for me.” Tartaglia smiled down at you. “How about we head to Luili Pavilion for dinner? My treat since you were so kind as to wait for me.”

The walk to Luili Pavilion was short but you were filled with dread knowing that you were about to inform Tartaglia that you were leaving in less than twelve hours. You kept going over phases in your head trying to pick out the best way to start the conversation and break the news to him. But everything you come up with just felt wrong. Worse it seemed Tartaglia was starting to pick up on how quiet you were being. As the two of you sat down, he gave you a serious look.

“What’s wrong? You’re remarkably quiet today.” His tone was filled with concern and a hint of dread.

You sighed deeply. “We… need to talk…” Your words trailed off again as you struggled to find what you wanted to say.

The look on Tartaglia’s face hardened as he looked away from you.

“You don’t want to see me anymore.” His tone was self deprecating and full of dejection. You jumped at that conclusion immediately trying to rectify the misunderstanding and assuage his fears.

“No! That’s not it at all!” Your outburst drew looks from the patrons around you. You cleared your throat before continuing.

“I don’t want to leave you…. But I have to return to Sumeru… tomorrow.” You barely got the words out. It felt like your chest was constructing and suffocating you as you waited for his reply.

Tartaglia’s eyes widened in both shock and understanding. “You’re leaving tomorrow…” He sounded like he almost couldn’t believe it.

“Yes. I meant to talk to you sooner, but I lost track of time. I was having so much fun, I didn’t even think about leaving. I want to keep seeing you. I really like you.” You cut your rambling off as you watched Tartaglia lean his face on his hand smiling at you. He reached his other hand out to hold yours, running his thumb over your knuckles in a soothing manner.

“I’ll find a way.”

He didn’t elaborate any further, but he spoke with such conviction that you naturally found yourself trusting him. For the rest of dinner, you both spoke as if nothing was going to change until Tartaglia walked you back to your inn for the final time.

You didn’t want to part from him. Your affections for the Harbinger had only developed further the more time you spent with him. You had slowly grown to love this man that you had risked your life to save just a few months ago. So when he stopped in front of the inn to wish you good night you couldn’t contain yourself. You threw your arms around his shoulders and held him close. Tartaglia slowly returned your embrace, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you closer. You rested your head in the crook of his neck. No words needed to be said for you two to understand one another. Both of you stood silently, just enjoying the feeling of being in one another’s arms under the stars and lantern lights of Liyue Harbor.

…..

The boat back was leaving at the crack of dawn so you would not have time to find Tartaglia again before departing from Liyue. And even if you had time it’s not like he was going to be hanging around Northland Bank at all hours with nothing better to do. You and Anya had brought your trunks to the docks to be loaded onto the ship. Anya glanced back at you and one look told her everything.

“Sad to be leaving? It’s written all over your face. You miss him already don’t you?” There was no teasing in her voice, just the earnest remarks of a caring friend.

You gave a solemn sigh, forcing a smile then nodding softly.

“Hey, maybe he’ll come to the docks to see you off.” Anya’s attempts to cheer you up were appreciated but not quite helping.

As the captain gave the signal to board, you could hear the creeping of heavy footsteps running on the wooden floor boards of the docks.

“Wait!”

You knew that voice. You turned just in time to see Tartaglia before he pulled you into his chest.

“Don’t go. We can petition the Akademiya to have you stay here and continue your work. I-I can get you accommodations here, you wouldn’t have to leave.” You looked up to see Tartaglia’s eyes pleading with you.

He continued. “I have some time off coming up. I was planning to go home to Morepesok, you can come with me. You’ll get to meet my parents and siblings. They’d love to meet you. I know they’ll adore you!” You could feel Tartaglia’s grip tighten as you considered his offer.

“I know it’s a lot to ask. But..” He locked eyes with you pausing for a moment. Tension was rising as you waited with baited breath for his next words.

“I love you. I love you so much and I don’t want you to go.”

And you loved him. You didn’t even stop to think. Without a moment of hesitation, you brought your lips to meet his. The kiss was soft but full of your feelings. Tartaglia froze for a moment before his hand came up to the back of your head and tangled in your hair deepening your kiss. You pulled apart slowly and Tartaglia beamed with pleasure.

“Does this mean you’ll consider staying?” His words were filled with a level of hope that scarce allowed himself. Your lips parted to speak but you were cut off before you had the chance to reply.

“I’m going back. I’ll help petition the Akademiya and inform them that you’ve chosen to stay here to continue with your research.” Both of you whipped your heads to Anya at her offer. You were quite startled.

“You mean… you’ll help us?” You ask ready to squeeze your friend to death.

Anya crossed her arms and gave you a knowing smirk.

“If you came back with me now you’d be nothing but miserable. And while I don’t particularly like the Fatui, it’s clear that he strongly cares for you and that you return his feelings with full force. I’m not heartless enough to ruin my best friend’s happiness due to my grievances. However…” Anya turned to Tartaglia. “If you hurt her, I will come down on you with all the force of a Snezhnayan blizzard. Understand?” Her words were as frosty as the glare she held.

But Tartaglia just nodded and happily grinned. “I promise I’ll take good care of her and keep her away from Snezhnaya’s darker sides.” And his promise was worth everything.

Anya gave a single nod. “You’d better.” If looks could kill, Anya’s glares could take out an entire army. She turned to the stevedore and requested that your trunk be unloaded. Soon the ship was off with one less passenger. You and Tartaglia waved to Anya as the ship embarked on its journey to Sumeru.

..……

The trip to Sumeru had been calm except for Anya’s swirling thoughts. She knew it was the right decision for you to stay in Liyue, but how would she explain to everyone else that she’d left you in Liyue in the care of a Fatui Harbinger? A Harbinger who was now your lover. Everyone would lose it! Especially Jean-Pierre. Anya had her suspicions that Jean-Pierre’s feelings for you were a bit stronger than friendship. And the Fatui had practically ruined his family. If there was one person in the world who would take this news the worst, it would be him. Monika wouldn’t be too pleased either. Mondstadt might have been political allies with the Fatui on paper, but Mondstadters despised the Fatui. Anya had no idea how she was going to explain the situation to them without them immediately getting on the next boat to Liyue in an attempt to bring you home.

As the ship docked in Port Ormos, Anya’s fears began to manifest. Both Jean-Pierre and Monika were waiting at the docks for you. This would be fun. As Anya disembarked and approached the two Jean-Pierre was the first to speak.

“Where’s Y/N?” He wasn’t making any accusations yet but his tone wasn’t happy go lucky either. Anya could sense herself begin to fidget with the strap of her satchel.

“S-she chose to stay in Liyue to continue her research.” Anya’s voice wavered slightly when faced with the onslaught of both of your friends.

Jean-Pierre’s jaw dropped and Monika spoke up.

“You let her stay there alone?” Monika was not having it.

Anya fumbled for a good answer.

“She’s not alone… you know the man she saved in Mondstadt? Turns out he works in Liyue.” Anya knew that wouldn’t placate them entirely but she hoped her words would settle them a little bit.

Jean-Pierre recovered but was quickly growing enraged. He and Anya never got on well at all.

“You mean you left her with some guy?!” He was practically fuming as he spit out his words.

Anya was also getting annoyed with him.

“He’s not some guy. They’re… close now. Besides, he’s far more powerful than any of us. If anything he’d be able to protect her better than you could.” Anya shot back, not being able to resist taking a dig at Jean-Pierre. Monika raised an eyebrow at Anya’s words.

“A powerful man from Snezhnaya?”

The instant those words left Monika’s mouth Anya knew she had messed up. Badly.

“Who exactly is this man?” Jean-Pierre seethed through gritted teeth.

Anya searched for an answer, any answer, as another researcher stepped off the boat.

“Oh are you talking about the Harbinger?” The offhand comment made by the other researcher who happened to witness the exchange sank any attempts Anya could make to defend you.

Everyone froze. Anya could feel the cold sweat running down her back. This was not good.

Jean-Pierre spoke up. “Harbinger?”

“Yes. I overheard and assumed you were talking about the other researcher that stayed in Liyue with the Eleventh Harbinger.” The research replied completely oblivious to the growing tension. Anya had lost all colour in her face as Jean-Pierre and Monika took in this new information before turning heated glares to her.

“Did Y/N stay back in Liyue with a Fatui Harbinger?” Jean-Pierre’s eyes were deadly cold.

“S-She saved his life. He’s completely devoted to her. He won’t harm her.” Anya could sense that she was only digging a deeper hole.

“Devoted…. You said they were close… How close?” Monika had crossed her arm and while she was slightly calmer than Jean-Pierre, her jaw was clenched tightly.

“I-I—” Anya’s words were quickly cut off by Jean-Pierre.

“Forget it. I’m going to Liyue and I’m bringing Y/N back. I’ll kill that bastard if I have to.” Jean-Pierre had started walking away with his statement.

“Wait! You can’t just leave! You’d have to petition the board for permission!” Anya called after him in a desperate attempt to stop him. Jean-Pierre slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder at the two women. His eyes were steely and cold.

“Watch me.”

With that he turned on his heel and was gone.

.

Link to Ch 11

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 9

Link to Ch 8

Link to Ch 1

.

The trip back from Guili Plains was a blur and you honestly don’t remember much of it. Tartaglia kept glancing at you as if making sure you were still there, even though he had a firm grip on your hand. When you two had finally let go of each other and made the decision to return to Liyue Harbor Tartaglia had offered his hand to help you up and couldn’t bring himself to let go. Your scream kept replaying in his mind like a broken record. Along with all of the thoughts of what could have happened to you that plagued his mind.

He could have actually lost you.

That thought struck real fear into the heart of the battle hungry trained warrior. Fear was something Tartaglia hadn’t felt in a long time. The feeling only served to reinforce the inkling that he had grown fond of you and attached to you. In the back of his mind, Tartaglia knew how he felt. La Signora had scoffed at him and told him to let it go. Scaramouche had laughed at his efforts to find you. But Tartaglia knew the moment he woke up in Mondstadt.

He was absolutely in love with you.

There were so many things he wanted to experience with you. He couldn’t lose you now or ever. He hadn’t had the chance to take you to dinner, just the two of you; or walk along the harbor at night and look at the stars. He hadn’t had the chance to show you all of the fun places he’d found in Liyue. He hadn’t taken you to Snezhnaya!

You still needed to experience a Snezhnayan winter and meet his family. Tartaglia could picture it perfectly. The two of you, sitting drinking warm sbiten after a snowball fight with his siblings. His siblings would adore you. Teucer would be so excited to meet you and play in the snow. Tonia and Мамочка (Mamachka) would fawn over you, excited to welcome another daughter and sister into the family. They would be especially excited to teach you how to cook traditional Snezhnayan dishes. Tartaglia would also get the chance to cook dinner for you. He wanted to show you that he could be a good partner. He wanted you to know that he would take care of you, provide for you, and love you with everything he was worth.

Your voice broke Tartaglia out of his daydream. “Thank you for saving me… I guess this means we’re even huh.” You kicked a rock along the path and watched it bounce in front of you.

Tartaglia smiled slightly. “It was never about that.” As his soft words reached your ears you lifted your head giving him a clear view of the confusion on your face.

“Everything I’ve done wasn’t an effort to repay you… It’s because I want to be with you.”

Tartaglia clarified. He was laying bare his inner thoughts for you to understand.

He watched your face morph into utter shock as you mumbled his statement back at him

“You… want to be with me….” Your voice trailed off as the realisation really began to set in. The true meaning behind his actions washed over you as he spoke his next words.

“You don’t have to give an answer right now. But I plan to court you until you tell me to stop.”

.…….

You were in absolute shock as Tartaglia let you in on his innermost thoughts. He had been courting you the whole time and that reality was only just now sinking in.

“I want to be with you.”

“I plan to court you…”

He was in love with you. You felt a warm feeling wash over you at his confession. A smile was pulling at your cheeks and you couldn’t stop it if you tried. How could a few words make your entire body feel so tingly? Was this what people meant when they talked about butterflies in their stomachs? It must have been. What shocked you almost more than his words was how delighted they made you feel. Maybe Anya was right.

You had fallen for Tartaglia.

You were grateful that he was giving you time to sort through your thoughts and feelings. While one part of you undeniably wanted to throw your arms back around him, your more rational side knew it wasn’t that simple. Anya had already expressed her dislike and hesitation. And you knew Monika and Jean-Pierre would be even harsher. Not to mention to truly love him you had to accept all sides of him. That meant loving the man who was a Harbinger with a penchant for fighting, not just the sweet family man who loved children and was showing you around Liyue Harbour. There was a lot to consider and likely many things that would come up later that you hadn’t even thought of yet. Love and life were rarely ever simple. But one thing was certain in your mind: you wanted to keep seeing him.

You gave Tartaglia’s hand a squeeze. “I can’t give you a complete answer… But I like you. A lot.” It was the best response you could give at the present moment and you hoped it would portray your wishes to keep seeing him and getting to know him more.

Tartaglia’s whole face lit up as if your words had given him a hope he’d rarely allowed himself to even dream of. He gave you a dazzling smile and squeezed your hand in return.

“That’s enough for me. I’ll just have to try harder to make you fall for me completely so you can tell me confidently that you want to be with me too."  His words were full of confidence and he laughed as he finished speaking. It was a playful laugh full of pure joy.

.……

It was dark by the time you returned to Liyue Harbor. The harbour is beautiful at night when the buildings are lit up and the lights bounce on the water. Tartaglia walked you back to your inn where Anya was waiting outside for you. She looked down at your intertwined fingers before locking eyes with you.

"So… where have you two been?” Anya’s voice mimicked that of an accusatory father. Oh boy. You weren’t getting out of this one.

“We went to Bubu Pharmacy then I headed towards Guili Plains to find you.” You knew your words sounded like a sad excuse but it was also the truth.

Anya raised a brow. “But you didn’t make it to Guili Plains, did you?” Her voice made it clearly had a thing or two she’d like to ask you.

“I ran into a ruin guard… Childe saved my life.” You replied, tightening your hold on said man’s hand. You didn’t want her thinking the worst of him when he’d saved you.

Your statement shocked Anya. She let out a gasp and her tone immediately changed. “Oh my Archons. Are you alright?” She looked you over like a concerned mother checking for injuries.

“I’m fine thanks to Childe. Just exhausted.” The rush and fall of adrenaline had taken a toll on your energy.

“Then I guess it’s time for me to say good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Tartaglia gave a kiss to the side of your temple before letting go of your hand.

“Goodnight Childe.” You watched as he turned to leave until Anya stopped him.

“Wait.” Anya let out a sigh clearly swallowing up some of her pride. “Thank you for saving (Y/N)’s life… but don’t get too comfortable.” Anya crossed her arms over her chest and stared down Tartaglia.

Tartaglia let out a laugh, seeming completely unfazed by Anya’s frosty words. “Good night to you both.” Then he left with a wave. Once he was out of sight Anya turned to you.

“You have a lot of explaining to do. First, what was that?” She asked, propping her hands on her hips.

You gave Anya a sheepish smile. “Would you like to talk inside?”

Anya rolled her eyes but followed you to your room. Once inside, Anya crossed her arms over her chest and gave you a bored look.

“Now spill. Why were you holding hands with the Harbinger? And why is he kissing you good night?” Anya wasn’t about to let you get away without explaining. You could feel yourself cringe.

You were never going to live this down.

“Well we’ve been spending a fair amount of time together…” Your reply trailed off as you tried to find a way to lessen the tension.

Anya’s expression hardened. “You’ve known him for forty eight hours. You can’t possibly form a relationship that quickly.” Anya’s reply was straight to the point and no nonsense just like she was.

“We’re not in a relationship.” You tried to defend yourself from the onslaught of your friend, but Anya gave you a knowing look. She knew that wasn’t the whole story. You sighed in defeat.

“He told me he wants to be with me.” You dejectedly admitted.

“So I was right. He’s in love with you. If you don’t set this straight he’s never going to leave-” You cut Anya off.

“What if… what if I don’t want him to leave.” Your eyes darted anywhere except Anya. You didn’t want to see your friend’s disappointment.

Anya was silent for a moment. “Are you serious?” Her tone was more shocked than anything else. It was if she was trying to process this new information that hadn’t been a part of her previous calculations.

You nodded your head slowly. “He’s so sweet to me, Anya. And he fought to save me. I know why you have reservations and I’m sure Monika and Pierre will be even more upset. But I really do like him. When he confessed, I felt so excited; I was shocked by how strongly I felt. I’m not quite ready for a relationship. I do want to get to know him more. But I can’t just walk away… when I might actually be in love with him.” Your words came out in a hurried, jumbled mess as you tried to defend the way you were acting and feeling. But you needed Anya to understand where you were coming from.

Anya listened intently and sighed, bringing a hand to rest across her face. “I knew he’d be a problem… But if you really, truly… like him… I’ll support you… I only want you to be happy. You’re my closest friend. It would pain me greatly to see you hurt.” She looked you straight in the eye as she spoke. Truly all she wanted was for her friend to be safe and happy.

You smiled in relief. “Thank you for understanding.” You offered her a hug with your words.

Anya returned your hug and smile. “If he hurts you I’m making his life a living nightmare.” She said before letting you go. You laughed as your friend bid you goodnight leaving you alone.

You were incredibly grateful for Anya’s support knowing that even if your feelings continue to grow your other friends will not be so easily swayed. You could only hope that somehow they would come to respect your judgment and decision. But those were issues for another time. That night you fell asleep still thinking about Tartaglia’s warm embrace and the soft kiss he’d left you with.

.

Link to Ch 10

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 8

Link to Ch 7

Link to Ch 1

.

You grabbed Tartaglia’s jacket as you headed for the door. This morning you were planning to meet with Anya and let her know about your plans for the day before heading to Northland Bank to return the jacket to its rightful owner. Last night you’d tried to ring as much  water out of the jacket as you could before hanging it to dry. It was slightly wrinkled but at least it wasn’t damp or soaking wet.

Anya was already waiting for you outside the inn and her face morphed into shock upon seeing the jacket.

“Please tell me you didn’t have a one night stand with the Eleventh Harbinger who left behind his coat.” You could tell by her tone that Anya’s words were mostly joking, but they also left just enough room for you to admit to anything.

Your cheeks started to burn at the implication. “No! He gave me his coat when it started to rain and I forgot to give it back!” Your tone came out more defensive than you had anticipated.

Anya let out a sigh of relief and a chuckle. “Honestly you really had me worried for a minute. Have you told him you’re not interested yet?” Anya had assumed given the history of the Fatui that you would have no interest in getting involved with one of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers. And seventy-two hours ago she wouldn’t have been wrong. But now that you’d actually meet Tartaglia, he didn’t seem like a bad guy. At least not an entirely bad guy.

You started to fiddle with the jacket in your hands. “Well no… I’m actually heading to Northland Bank to return his jacket…” Your voice trailed off. How exactly were you supposed to tell your friend who hated the Fatui that you were about to go spend the day frolicking around with a Harbinger?

Anya smiled. “Perfect you can tell him then that he doesn’t need to repay you for doing your job and that you’re not interested in a relationship with him. He’s a dangerous person and you need to distance yourself as quickly as possible.” Anya’s words make sense in any other scenario, hell you would have agreed with them on the boat to Liyue, but now you weren’t so sure. You knew she was coming from a place of care.

Pausing for a moment, you tried to collect your thoughts. How do you explain to your friend that you actually wanted to get closer to him? Not quite romantically! But you thought he was a nice enough guy to get to know.

“Teyvat to Y/N.” Anya snapped her fingers in front of you to get your attention.

You blinked, your focus back on Anya. “Oh sorry. I was just thinking he’s really not that bad of a person.” You knew your argument would sound foolish at first glance.

Any gave an exasperated sigh “Oh my Archons. You fell for him.” She pinched the bridge of her nose as she spoke.

“I did not. I just think we misjudged him. He spent two hours in the rain running through the streets of Liyue Harbor to help a lost little girl find her father. You should have seen him. People that are all bad don’t do things like that.” Your outburst seemed to shock Anya and she looked slightly taken aback before regaining her hardened, logical self.

“Man. You’ve got it bad. How do you know that it isn’t all for show?” Anya replied, crossing her arms over her chest and giving you that look that only friends can give that says “don’t screw up.”

Your brows furrowed as you contemplated your friend’s words. “I guess I won’t know until I get to actually know him.” You said with a shrug. It was true that there was a lot of risk involved with anything even close to the Fatui.

Anya let out another sigh. She knew she couldn’t dissuade you from interacting with him if it was what you wanted. It was your choice in the end and all she could do was show up with a getaway boat if things went south. It would also be hypocritical on her part to tell you to stay away from him. Anya knew that people had told you to stay away from her when you first met. It was your very obstinate nature, wanting to get to know someone rather than listen to hearsay, that she had benefited from in the past. Anya still did not trust Tartaglia. If he hurt you he would pay. But she chose to trust your judgment.

“Just be careful. It could all be smoke and mirrors.” You gave Anya a nod of understanding and she continued, “I’m going with Zhongli back to Guili Plains today. If you need anything you can come find me.”

Bidding Anya goodbye, you headed to Northland Bank.

Upon entering the bank, you looked around at the architecture. There were columns lining the side inlaid with lacquer panels and bank boxes. You could see an upper level with more bank boxes that wrapped around the room. The ceiling was coffered with two hanging six sided lanterns. There were people on either side of the room chatting and a single woman standing behind an intricate desk. She was dressed in a purple and black Snezhnayan uniform and wore a signature fatui mask.

You walked up to the desk and she addressed you. “Welcome to the Northland Bank. How may I assist you?” She barely looked up at you as she addressed you clearly bored.

“Is Childe here?” You ask, clutching the jacket just out of sight.

The teller gave you a forced customer service smile. “Lord Harbinger Tartaglia is not in at the moment. Would you like to wait or shall I take a message?” Her words dropped with false care and slight condescension.

You lifted up the jacket that had been at your side causing the teller to gasp and two men off to the left in fatui uniforms to hone in on you.

“Can you tell him that I still have his jacket? He forgot it last night.” Your words cause even more of a stir. The teller seemed to go pale for a moment.

“G-Give me one moment please.” Then she slipped away into the back.

The two men now approached you. “Excuse me. Are you the doctor that Lord Harbinger was searching for?” The two men exchanged a look as one of them asked you their question. You turned to the men surprised by their words. Had Childe asked around to get help looking for you?

“Umm, I guess so. I am a doctor. Do you two work under Childe?” The man on the right perked up immediately at your words. He was rather tall and wore a red Fatui uniform complete with a signature Fatui mask.

“Yes! Thank you for your assistance to Lord Harbinger Tartaglia!” He bowed to you as he spoke, taking you by surprise.

“We are honoured to serve under Lord Harbinger Tartaglia!” The other soldier chimed in. He wore a blue uniform and you could see a hint of a smile under his mask. It seemed like these two were overzealous fans of Tartaglia. The man in red nods along fervently with his colleague’s words.

“The Harbinger can be very harsh, you see. Lady La Signora hands out threats like greetings, Lord Scaramouche will kill a subordinate if they anger him, and Lord Il Dottore even runs experiments on his recruits.” The one in blue let out a shiver at that thought almost as if he’d witnessed some poor sap who was a part of Dottore’s ’experiments’.

The man in red continues, “But Lord Tartaglia is kind; he never threatens us and never uses lethal force! He even honours us with a spar from time to time to help us hone our skills.” He seemed so thrilled about this as he spoke to you.

You stood there shocked for a few moments just taking in the information they freely offered. These men were happily singing Tartaglia’s praises. It almost felt like you had wandered into a fan club meeting. Finally, they froze and stood at attention.

“There you are. I believe I promised you a visit to Bubu Pharmacy.” The voice that reached your ears was that of none other than the subject of your conversation. You turned to Tartaglia who was standing behind you wearing a deep burgundy button up and his usual grey pants and red scarf. He grinned as he saw you.

“You left this last night.” You said, handing back the jacket that you had carefully folded up for him.

Behind you, you could hear his subordinates chatter. “I didn’t realize they were lovers.” The man in red whispered, leaning into his buddy.

“Hush. They’ll hear you.” The man in blue replied, elbowing his comrade.

Oh Archons, everyone is getting the wrong idea this morning. You chose to let it go with a sigh. After all, it didn’t really matter and Tartaglia did seem to care in the slightest. After putting on his jacket, Tartaglia slung his arm around your shoulder and led you away to Bubu Pharmacy.

“Your friend isn’t with you today?” He remarked, smiling at his good fortune to have you alone for the day.

You shook your head. “No Anya’s actually with Zhongli. They went back to Guili Plains.” You thought that was probably for the best or she might be glaring down Tartaglia for the entire day.

The two of you walked to Bubu Pharmacy chatting amongst yourselves. You were quite excited to discuss the different medicines and medicinal herbs that were native to Liyue. Bubu Pharmacy was a rather large building without a door. There was a single counter and behind it the walls were lined with drawers, each labeled with different medicinal herbs. When you arrived, you introduced yourself to the pharmacist while Tartaglia stood leaning against the doorway. The pharmacist, Gui, informed you that Baizhu, the owner, was out at the moment, but he was still happy to answer any questions you had. You spoke with him for a bit on the medicines and herbs you’d read about, taking notes on his responses. You were particularly interested in the effects of Glaze Lily and Qingxin since they are not native to Sumeru.

“Ah Qingxin is a bitter herb used in a wide variety of Liyue medicine. It is used in the treatment of sore throats and headaches, in herbal blends meant to aid in digestion, help recover from chronic illnesses or poisoning, and in fatigue-alleviating balm.” Gui said as he pulled out some for you to look at.

“Fascinating. It has so many uses. In Sumeru, we use Henna Berry paired with Mint for treating headaches.” As you spoke with Gui, a fatui soldier suddenly arrived and addressed Tartaglia.

“Lord Harbinger…” Tartaglia listened to the hushed whispers of the soldier before turning to you.

“It seems I’ll have to leave you for now. Work always seems to find me at the worst times.” Tartaglia spoke with a sigh and smiled sheepishly. It was clear he didn’t want to leave quite yet.

“It’s alright. I’ll see you later.” Tartaglia grinned at your response and gave a quick nod.

“I’ll try to make it quick.” And then he was off.

You continued to speak with Gui for a little longer before deciding to get lunch at a stall nearby. Tartaglia had been gone for a while. After waiting for a while longer it began to appear that he would probably be busy for the rest of the day. Deciding you could go find him tomorrow, you began to make your way to Guili Plains in search of Anya.

The trek to Guili Plains was long, especially on foot. You weren’t even half way when you heard a peculiar noise. It was a mechanical buzzing and clanking like that of a large machine moving. You froze at the realization of your own thoughts. There shouldn’t be any machinery out here unless… A feeling of dread settled in the pit of your stomach. Frantically looking about you saw the source of the sound, and the source of your dread: An active ruin guard. And it was heading right for you. You were completely unarmed and unprepared. Realising that you had little in the way of options in a fight you chose the next best available option: flee.

Immediately you took off in the opposite direction. The ancient machine was slow, so while you stood no chance unarmed in battle, you might be able to outrun it until it lost track of you. It was your only hope. So you ran dodging attacks as you struggled to get away. Your lungs were burning with the fast intake of breath as you tried to keep up your pace and keep your blood pumping. Sweat was beginning to collect on your brow and make your clothes stick to your body. But you kept going.

Until you felt your ankle give way. You let out a short scream as your hands and knees suddenly scraped the ground. Your left foot had been caught in a small ditch bringing you straight to the ground. Knowing you wouldn’t be back on your feet in time, you searched for anything you could use to defend yourself or buy more time. Pulling free a rock you threw it as hard as you could in the directing of the raging machine. But it was still getting closer. You frantically search the ground around you for something, anything that could assist you.

At that moment, you saw a flash of blue whip past your face accompanied by the beating of fast paced steps getting closer. You looked up in time to see Tartaglia burst past you, rapidly firing arrows and clashing with the ruin guard. Using his battle prowess and vision, Tartaglia sliced down and tore through the ruin guard. With a final shot to the core, the ruin guard froze, sparks flying, then collapsed to the ground. Tartaglia was breathing heavily, chest rising and falling as he turned to you. In an instant, he was back at your side, arms wrapped around you cradling your head to his chest. His grip on you was tight as he clung to you. It was hard to tell if he was comforting you or himself at that moment.

“I-I thought… I thought I’d lost you when I heard your scream.” His voice crack with emotion has held you close, pressing you into his chest like you were the most precious thing in his world.

The sound of his voice made you realize how scared you felt. Your cheeks felt warm and wet and it took you a moment to comprehend that it was your own tears that were starting to run down your face leaving a salty, shimmering trail in their wake.

“H-how did you….” Your voice trailed off as your lungs fought the intake of air coupled with your churning emotions. Tartaglia’s grip on you tightened slightly at the trace of fear in your voice as your tears wet the front of his jacket.

“I went back to the pharmacist but he said you’d left. I figured you must have gone to find your friend, so I went to find you.” He finally pulled back just enough to bring a hand up to your cheek. Using the pad of his thumb, he softly wiped away your tears as if handling delicate glass. But they just kept coming.

“I was scared. I-I thought I was going to die.” Your voice wavered slightly as you spoke, betraying the emotions welling up in your chest and springing forth through your tears. Your fingers wrapped around the fabric of his jacket as clutched it in your fists trying to ground yourself and seeking his comfort. Tartaglia pulled you back into his arms in a warm embrace.

“I was scared too… I was scared I’d lose you just when I’d finally found you.” Tartaglia’s body shook slightly as he spoke and indication of how truly scared he felt when he’d heard your terrified scream cut off abruptly. His hand tightened its grip on your shoulder as if he was trying to remind himself that you were still here in his arms, and you were safe.

You stayed in his embrace until your tears had ceased. Even after you had calmed down neither of you made a move to separate. You don’t know how long you stayed like that wrapped up in his arms. But it didn’t matter. They were firm and offered the promise of safety. At that moment, you never wanted to leave them.

.

Link to Ch 9

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 7

Link to Ch 6

Link to Ch 1

.

The walk to Luili Pavilion was rather short, but in the small amount of time Zhongli and Anya had become completely immersed in their discussions of the Archon Wars. You couldn’t keep up with their conversations so naturally you found yourself in discussion with Tartaglia.

“Do you often work in Liyue?” You inquire hoping to get a better picture of the man walking beside you.

Tartaglia grinned, seemingly pleased that you were interested in getting to know him. “I’m usually stationed in Liyue unless Her Majesty the Tsaritsa gives her order for me to work elsewhere.”

You glanced back to check on Anya, who was still hanging onto every word spoken by Zhongli. Turning your gaze back to Tartaglia you asked, “So your stay on Dragonspine was a fluke?”

Tartaglia chuckled in response. “Actually no one was supposed to know about that mission. It was a clandestine operation; It was supposed to stay secret.”

Oh no. That meant you certainly weren’t supposed to be there. You hoped the saving the life of a Harbinger would be enough to offset any knowledge you weren’t supposed to have. “O-Oh…. Do you often… work in secret?”

His ocean blue eyes hardened as he looked ahead. “No. I despise schemes, I only resort to such methods when the Tsaritsa deems it necessary. I prefer a fair battle with equal strength and I don’t like involving innocents.”

That was interesting… Everything you had heard about the harbingers indicated that they were secretive and ruthless; some even killed their own recruits. But, Tartaglia had shown open disdain for such methods. It confused you. Who was this man?

“Here we are.” Tartagli held open the door to Luili Pavilion for you. Once you were seated, Zhongli and Tartaglia began recommending dishes and quickly everyone had ordered. As if on cue, Anya and Zhongli picked up right where they had left off and were now lost to the world. You turned once again to Tartaglia.

“So do you like your- um- job?” It was a cringe worthy question but you weren’t quite sure what else to ask.

Tartaglia glazed over your hesitation. “Of course! I’ve dedicated my entire life to the Tsaritsa and I am proud to serve as one of her Harbingers.” The pride and loyalty was clear in his words and the way his chest swelled.

“It must be difficult to work so far from home and travel so much. Your family must miss you.” You slowly raised your cup of tea to take a sip after your statement.

Tartaglia eyes suddenly gained a far off look. “I miss them too, everyday. I write letters and send gifts and money as often as possible. I know it’s not the same thing as being there, but I want them to be happy even if I can’t be there. I have three younger siblings. They are the best kids ever. When I’m able to go home in winter we have snowball fights. They would love you, especially Teucer. If you get the chance to come to Snezhnaya, I’ll bring you to Morepesok and you can meet them.” He smiled brightly at you as he spoke. It was as if he truly wanted to take you home to meet his family.

You nearly dropped your tea. This was a side that you certainly weren’t expecting. The harbinger was a family man and more importantly, he was inviting you to meet them.

“I doubt they’d be interested in meeting me. I’m nobody.” You sheepishly smiled and let out a self-deprecating laugh. Truly you couldn’t imagine why he’d want you to meet his family. You were just a doctor doing your job.

However, Tartaglia didn’t see you as “nobody,” you were his saviour. Suddenly he was looking straight into your eyes with a look you couldn’t quite place. But it was a look smouldering with an intensity that you hadn’t seen from any man before. He caught your gaze and it seemed impossible to look away.

“Teucer would certainly like to meet you. After my more recent letters, he’s expressed great interest in meeting the kind lady that saved my life.” His words were softly spoken but had a firmness to them that told you he was quite serious about the matter. It wasn’t his words that had caught you off guard, but the layered meaning behind them.

Wait. He’d told his family about you? You were starting to get the sense that Tartaglia cared more about you than you had previously anticipated. Little things he had said were starting to weave together like a tapestry painting a larger picture.

“I’ve finally found you.”

“Why don’t we all head to Luili Pavilion. My treat.”

“I’m planning to spend the entire trip with Y/N!”

“I’ll bring you to Morepesok and you can meet them.”

But before you could continue with that train of thought, the waitress brought over your food, placing down the steaming hot dishes in front of you and reminding you of each dish. After she left, you noticed Tartaglia staring down at his chopsticks as if sizing up a new opponent. He gave out a nervous chuckle as he picked up the utensils and glanced up at you to notice that you were already holding them and helping yourself to the crystal shrimp.

“Ah I’ve never quite gotten the hang of these chopsticks.” He gave you a nervous half smile scratching the back of his neck. It was interesting to see the ever confident man nervous about something. You just couldn’t resist the urge to tease him, just a little.

“And how long did you say you’ve been working in Liyue?” Your voice had a slight teasing lilt to it. Just enough to poke fun at Targalia without being biting or harsh. Yet to your utter surprise, it was Zhongli who joined your conversation.

“Long enough that I’ve taught him how to use chopsticks….. twice.” Zhongli’s face held a nearly indiscernible hint of a smile. Had it not been for the teasing gleam in his eye no one would have been able to tell that he too was now teasing his friend.

The friend in question looked shocked at Zhongli’s words. You had to fight the urge to snicker as Tartaglia’s expression took on the quality of a kicked puppy at his friend’s betrayal.

“Next time I’m ordering soup…” he dejectedly muttered under his breath.

You giggled slightly at his words causing a strawberry blush to rise to Tartaglia’s cheeks. But he didn’t look upset as a dreamy smile graced the corners of his lips. Instead he seemed pleased to be the cause of your sudden short laughter even if it was at his expense. The meal continued with pleasant conversations until suddenly Anya shot to her feet.

“Let’s go then!” Anya looked ready to run out the door.

Confusion etched across your face. Wait what? Go where now? You hadn’t been listening to the conversation taking place between Anya and Zhongli too caught up in your own conversation. But if you had to venture a guess, it seemed like Anya had just found a new location to explore and excavate. Anya’s love for history was one of her greatest passions, and one of her easiest distractions. You were no stranger to her moments of suddenly dropping everything to go look at a new sight she had found.

“Very well.” Zhongli replied, gracefully setting down his cup of tea and moving to stand as well. Now you had to say something before these two disappeared into the wind.

“Where are we going?” Your voice cut through their planning. Anya looks at you as if just now dawning on her that her friend was still sitting next to her.

“Oh! Mr. Zhongli and I are going to Guili Plains. There are some ruins there from the war. I’ll catch up with you later!” Anya’s reply came hurriedly as if she couldn’t wait to leave. She ushered Zhongli out asking him questions the entire way. And with that they were off leaving you and Tartaglia alone.

“Well I had offered to pay for lunch, but I wasn’t expecting them to just run away.” Tartaglia spoke, still looking over his shoulder at where your two friends had disappeared.

You would have laughed at his statement if you weren’t still in shock at the turn of events. Anya, your calm and calculated friend, had just disappeared, leaving you with a man that she openly didn’t trust. She was never quite this impulsive. Whatever Zhongli was telling her about must have been a huge deal.

“It must have been a fascinating piece of history.” You replied with a shrug, finally tearing your eye away from the door and back to Tartaglia.

When your eyes met, you both burst into a laughing fit drawing stares from the other patrons. Once you had calmed down, Tartaglia spoke again.

“Why don’t I settle the bill and then we can head to Bubu Pharmacy. After all, I promised to take you and I always keep my promises.” Tartaglia stood as he spoke and went to pay.

Soon you were back to walking through the streets of Liyue Harbor. Tartaglia had offered you his hand when leaving Luili Pavilion, so now you were side by side, holding hands, walking to Bubu Pharmacy. The streets of Liyue Harbour were calmer in the evening when everyone was packing up to head home for the day. You were slowly making your way to Bubu pharmacy still chatting with Tartaglia, who by now you were beginning to see as more of a friend than just a mere patient or acquaintance. At a lull in the conversation a comforting silence fell upon you both. The kind where one doesn’t need to say anything at all and merely find themselves enjoying the company of their partner.

That’s when you heard a soft sound that made you abruptly stop. It was faint and could have been a trick of the mind, but you thought you’d heard it and stopped to listen. Your connecting hands pulled Tartaglia to a stop as well. He looked over his shoulder at you, giving you a look of slight concern and confusion.

“Is something wrong?” His words were soft and filled with care as if it would bring his great sorrow to find you uncomfortable in his presence. You glanced around the street trying to pinpoint the noise you heard.

“I thought I heard something….” Your words trailed off as you strained your ears to listen.

There it was again: A soft sob accompanied by some sniffing. You looked behind yourself to see a little girl who couldn’t have been much older than seven sobbing quietly to herself. Her hair a little longer than chin length obscured her face but it was clear she had her face buried in her hand and was crying. She wore a purple traditional dress with her knees curled up to her chest leaning against a wall. Tartaglia followed your gaze and quickly understood. Both of you slowly approached the girl trying not to frighten her. Kneeling down you gently addressed her.

“Hi there. Are you okay? What happened?” Your voice was soft and warm as you spoke to the little girl hoping to offer some semblance of comfort to her.

The little girl gasped and her head shot up. She looked back at you with red eyes puffy from crying.

Tartaglia, who had also crouched down to her height, spoke in a soft voice that almost shocked even you. “We mean no harm. Have you lost your parents?”

The little girl nodded her head slowly then parted her lips to speak. “I-I-I lost my daddy….”

Tartaglia gave the girl a gentle smile. “We’re going to help you look for him, okay. It’s alright we’ll find him, I promise.” His words carried a weight to them that said he would spend any amount of time to reunite this child with her father. Even if it took him all night long.

Her eyes widened. “Y-you will?” Her lower lip quivered softly with her question.

Now it was you who responded. “Of course. We’ll find him.” You reached out as you spoke and took her hand, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze.

You helped the little girl to her feet and continued to hold her hand as you searched. The little girl introduced herself as Ming and informed you that her father was a merchant in the harbour. He’d most likely been packing up his goods and finishing his day when the two got separated in the crowd of tired people heading home for dinner. The three of you walked around questioning people for about an hour when it started to rain.

The rain began to pick up rapidly. Tartaglia had taken off his jacket when the rain began, giving it to you to hold over yourself and Ming to keep dry. But it was swiftly becoming not nearly enough to keep you both dry. Tartaglia brought you to a section with an overhanging terrace.

“Wait here I’ll be back.” He quickly turned to rush back out as he spoke.

You moved to grab his wrist stopping him. “Wait. You should take your coat. It’s tipping down.” You said handing him his jacket. Tartaglia had been running in the rain in just his wine red button up and a leather harness. By now, the shirt was almost drenched through and clung to his frame. His shirt was so soaked that you could see the movement of his muscles through the fabric. He only spared a glance and a soft smile.

“Keep it.”

And with those words he was off again searching through the streets in the pouring rain.

You waited with Ming for a few more minutes when Tartaglia came running back down the street followed by another figure. You let out a sigh of relief at the sight of his tall frame. Any longer and you were worried he’d catch a cold in all this rain.

“Daddy!” Ming called out and ran up to the man who kneeled down to hug his daughter.

“Oh Ming.” The man looked over his daughter as any good father would before turning to you and Tartaglia. “Thank you both so much for helping my daughter. How can I ever repay you?” His tone conveyed all of his relief and gratitude that his daughter had been safely found and cared for.

Tartaglia waved him off with a smile. “It was no problem at all. We’re glad she’s safe. I would want someone to do the same if it were my family.” Tartaglia’s words were exactly what he felt. He was happy the child was safe and didn’t need any form of repayment.

The man smiled. “You must be wonderful parents.”

The man’s smile widened as he spoke. However his words had caught you completely off guard. You froze in shock at the misunderstanding.

“Oh, we’re not…” Your words trailed off as you struggled to find the words to explain. A soft blush of embarrassment painting your cheeks.

The man only chuckled. “Then you will be.” He seemed so confident in his words that you weren’t sure you even wanted to break it to him. Luckily Tartaglia saved you from even needing to try.

“Thank you. You two have a safe night.” Tartaglia smiled as he spoke, waving to the man and Ming as they left before turning to you.

“Seems like we won’t make it to Bubu Pharmacy today. Why don’t I walk you to your inn for the night. We can meet tomorrow at the Northland Bank.” Tartaglia offered. Nodding your head, you decided to take him up on it.

Once Tartaglia had escorted you to the inn you were staying at, he bid you good night and you were left alone with your thoughts. Your thoughts that were now filled with him. He’d been so kind to you and to that little girl. He’d gone out of his way to give you his jacket, to keep you both dry while he ran through the rain searching for her father. He didn’t need to do any of it but he had. He had gone so far out of his way. It was clear he loved children. You’d alway thought of Harbingers as cruel and uncaring. But Tartaglia wasn’t like that at all.

He cared for his family, he cared for Ming, he cared about not hurting innocent people with his work, he cared for his work and loyalty to his country and Archon, and… he cared for you.

He’d made that abundantly clear in the manner that he spoke to you and in the things he said.

“Teucer would certainly like to meet you. After my more recent letters, he’s expressed great interest in meeting the kind lady that saved my life.”

“We’re going to help you look for him, okay. It’s alright we’ll find him, I promise.”

“Keep it.”

“It was no problem at all. We’re glad she’s safe. I would want someone to do the same if it were my family.”

“Why don’t I walk you to your inn for the night. We can meet tomorrow at the Northland Bank.”

Seeing all these different sides and emotions only made you want to know him more. Maybe that was dangerous, after all he was one of the strongest and most powerful men in Snezhnaya. But there was more to him than the title of the Eleventh Harbinger. Maybe it was worth it to give him a chance.

You slowly began removing your wet clothes looking forward to a bath when you noticed the jacket. The grey jacket that belonged to him. And for some reason just seeing it brought a smile to your face. Guess you’ll have to give it back to him tomorrow.

.

Link to Ch 8

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 6

Link to Ch 5

Link to Ch 1

.

Tartaglia’s breath stopped and he stood almost frozen for a second. As if a single breath might disrupt Celestia and he’d wake up to find you were just a dream once more. A mere mirage or figment of his desperate mind pleading to find you. But as he watched a look of recognition wash over your face he knew. He knew his sweet savior was really, truly standing in front of him. Your voice was even more exquisite than he remembered.

“I’ve finally found you.”

His voice was just barely above a whisper as he moved in closer to place a hand on your cheek. He wanted to engrave your features into his memory. The once hazy metal image of what he could recall from his feverish state now was full of detail. From your bright eyes, filled with light, to your nose, lips, and cheeks, Tartaglia would remember every part of the face of the woman who’d saved his life. Your hand came up to grasp his and he noticed the cast. He softly caught your hand turning it to get a better look.

“What happened here?” Tartaglia ran the pad of his index finger slowly along the bandage. It hurt him inside to know that you were hurt.

“O-Oh, I broke it during the avalanche. But it’s almost healed now.” Your soft reply came and Tartaglia was struck once again by your kindness.

You had pulled him out of the snow and ice of Dragonspine, tended to him and hand fed him, then brought him back to Mondstadt, all with a broken wrist. It must have been incredibly painful, not to mention difficult, but you had done it all for him. Tartaglia couldn’t help the smile that rose to his cheeks. You must have been sent from Celestia to be so sweet to a man like him; A man steeped in the dark side of Snezhnaya, who gains pleasure out of thoroughly beating his enemies in battle. Your melodic voice pulled him from his thoughts again.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but I haven’t gotten your name….” Your voice trailed off as you addressed him. That’s right. He hadn’t even introduced himself.

“Ah, my apologies. I am Number Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, Tartaglia, but you can call me Childe.” Tartaglia gave you a soft grin.

Just then the door to Northland Bank opened and a petite woman with chin length blonde hair stepped out. She stopped when she saw Tartaglia and looked back to his savior before fixing a stern gaze at him.

“Who exactly are you? And what do you think you’re doing?”

……..

You were in complete shock. Honestly you assumed you’d never see him again, but now you had. And your suspicions had been confirmed,

“I am Number Eleven of the Fatui Harbingers, Tartaglia.”

He seemed so happy to see you. Archons, the first thing he said was,

“I’ve finally found you.”

He had been searching for you! Have you done something wrong? He didn’t seem mad but with the Fatui one could never tell. You finally snapped out of your thoughts when Anya exited the Northland Bank.

“Who exactly are you? And what do you think you’re doing?” Anya spoke with suspicion resting her hands on her hips as she eyed Tartaglia. You turned to Anya ready to explain when you noticed the glare she had fixed on Tartaglia. Oh no this could get really bad really quickly.

“Anya! Um this is Childe, he’s the man that I found in the avalanche and treated in Mondstadt. And Childe, this is Anya. She’s a fellow researcher at the Akademiya and a good friend of mine. We’re here for her research into the Archon Wars…..” Your voice trailed off as the two became locked in a staring match. Even after your hasty introduction the two seemed to be sizing each other up before Tartaglia finally broke the silence.

“It’s nice to meet you, Anya. If you’re interested in the Archon Wars, then please allow me to introduce you to an acquaintance of mine. Zhongli is a consultant for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and is quite well known for his ancient knowledge of the Archon Wars. If you have had lunch yet, why don’t we all head to Luili Pavilion. My treat.” Tartaglia happily offered, giving a boyish grin.

You and Anya both gasp. Luili Pavilion is one of the most renowned, and most expensive, restaurants in Liyue. Neither you or Anya had the funds to even step foot in Luili Pavilion let alone cover a full meal for four people. In your peripheral, you could see Anya beginning to waver.

She knew better than to trust a man that she’s just met, especially a Fatui Harbinger; they were not exactly known for being the kindest people. But she had also already heard of the great renown of Mr. Zhongli. Everyone she had spoken with sung his praises and it seemed like he knew the Archon Wars so well that he might as well have been there to witness them. She would be a fool to pass up the opportunity to meet Zhongli in person. Anya looked at you and nodded in a manner that was her signature for signing off on an idea, leaving the final decision to you. You turned to Tartaglia who was looking at you with a hopeful gaze and bright smile.

“We would love to join you and Mr. Zhongli for lunch.” You replied. How could you turn him down when he looked so desperately hopeful that you would join him? Tartaglia gave a delighted grin before throwing his arm around your shoulder to lead you away to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Along the way, he started asking you questions. Where were you from? How long have you been at the Akademiya? What made you want to study medicine? At one point he promised to take you to Bubu pharmacy. Anya who had been mostly silent raised an eyebrow at this.

“What do you mean you’ll take her to Bubu pharmacy? I thought we were having lunch. Are you planning to spend the entire day with us?” Anya’s voice was almost accusing as she kept her guard up and her suspicions raised. She was rather like a mother hen in that manner but you knew it came from a place of care. She didn’t want to see any harm befall her friends.

Tartaglia chuckled at this. “I’m planning to spend the entire trip with Y/N! Work permitting of course.” Tartaglia replied quickly, seeing absolutely nothing wrong with admitting his intentions upfront. After all, Tartaglia didn’t like secrecy, a fact that set him apart from his fellow Harbingers.

Anya’s jaw dropped and you could hear her mutter. “The entire trip….”

You were also quite shocked at this news. You barely knew this man and he wanted to spend your entire trip with you. Had your small act of kindness truly had such a large effect on him? Your thoughts were interrupted by Tartaglia’s voice and sudden stop.

“Ah, here we are: Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. You can wait here while I go find Zhongli.” With that Tartaglia disappeared into the building leaving you and Anya together.

Anya looked pointedly at you. “He wants to spend the entire trip with you, showing you around Liyue? Don’t you think that’s kind of coming on strong?” Anya was still in disbelief. A Fatui Harbinger wanted to spend as much time as possible with her friend? Not a chance if she had any say in it.

You nodded at Anya’s words. Honestly you couldn’t deny it, she wasn’t wrong. “I don’t disagree with you. I suspect he feels the need to repay me for helping him.” You voiced your thoughts trying to rationalise his behaviour. It made sense that he would feel that way considering that you had a hand in saving his life. It’s only natural to want to thank the person who rescued you. Right?

Anya rolled her eyes at your naivety. “I think you saved his life and now he’s madly in love with you. Did you notice how much he stares at you and ignores everything else? I think you need to tell him immediately that you’re glad he’s alive but you have no interest in getting to know him further.” Anya crossed her arms as she replied. There was no way she was going to let her friend get involved with a Harbinger and get hurt.

You were silent after Anya’s statement. Madly in love with you. You of all people. You doubted Anya’s words. But you didn’t have long to think about them as Tartaglia soon emerged from Wangsheng with another man in tow.

Zhongli was a tall man, taller than Tartaglia, with an air of elegance and eloquence to him. His long dark hair was pulled back at the base of the neck. He wore a dark brown suit with ornate silver trim and epaulets, and elaborate gold detailing on the tail and interior. As he exited the funeral parlor, Tartaglia introduced him.

“This is Zhongli. He’s a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and incredibly well versed in Liyue’s ancient traditions and history, including that of the Archon Wars.” Tartaglia gestured to his friend as he spoke.

Anya was drawn to Zhongli instantly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Zhongli! I am Anya, a researcher from the Sumeru Akademiya studying the Archon Wars. I am so grateful for the opportunity to speak with you!” A tinge of excitement filled Anya’s voice as if she was meeting someone who she’d long admired and looked up to.

At that moment, you knew you had lost Anya for the rest of your outing. You’d be lucky to get in any words that weren’t pertaining to the Archon Wars. Tartaglia clasped his hands together gathering everyone’s attention as he spoke.

“Now why don’t we head to Luili Pavilion.”

.

Link to Ch 7

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 5

Link to Ch 4

Link to Ch 1

.

Tartaglia had been back in Snezhnaya for not even a week and for once he was desperate to leave. Due to his injuries, he was to stay in headquarters and complete paperwork. He’d even been given express orders not to spar with the recruits. It was suffocating to spend days sitting at an office desk reviewing outstanding debts for Northland bank. Debts he wasn’t even going into the field to collect on. Tartaglia was utterly trapped.

What made it worse was he couldn’t go searching for his savior. It had to have been nearly three weeks since he had seen her. Tartaglia had spent nearly every day of those three weeks either trying to gather information or convince the other harbingers to let him go to Sumeru. Both had failed miserably. Scaramouche had even laughed at him.

With only a first name, general location, and fuzzy description he was getting nowhere with his intel. Tartaglia also knew he couldn’t assign his subordinates to search for her. It would be a blatant misuse of power and, more importantly, a hassle if the others found out. The other Harbingers wouldn’t allow him to just run off to Sumeru. He had no assignments there and Il Dottore was already stationed in Sumeru.

Tartaglia couldn’t even spare the time to go visit his family. It was almost painful to be home for so long and not be able to see his siblings. He missed them all greatly, particularly Teucer. As Tartaglia was working through more paperwork there was a sudden knock at the door.

“Come in.” Tartaglia’s tone was one of boredom and he didn’t even look up from his papers to see who had entered his office. The door to his office slowly swung open to reveal the Eighth Harbinger.

“You’ll be leaving for Liyue in a week.” Her tone was deadpan and disinterested as she regarded Tartaglia. Tartaglia casually dropped the document he had been reviewing on a pile on the corner of his desk.

“I thought I was to remain in Snezhnaya and complete paperwork until I’d healed.” Tartaglia let an edge of annoyance slip into his words and contenance. He couldn’t help it. His entire body was itching to get out of this office. La Signore fixed the younger Harbinger with a blank stare.

“The medical team has given their estimate that by the time you arrive in Liyue you’ll be fit to work. You’ve healed exceptionally fast thanks to the treatment you received in Mondstadt. You leave in a week.”

Following her statement, La Signora turned on her and extended the office leaving Tartaglia once again alone with his thoughts. He let out a sigh as he sank further into his chair, his posture mimicking that of a whiny child.

“I guess Sumeru will have to wait.”

…..

“You want me to come with you to Liyue?” You had been eating lunch with your fellow Akademiya researcher Anya, when she’d suddenly sprung on you the idea of traveling to Liyue for research. “You do realize I just got back from Mondstadt three weeks ago–”

“But that wasn’t a trip that you were a researcher on. You were there as a medic.” Anya argued back.

Anya was a headstrong woman from a remote town in Snezhnaya. As she put it, her options were to marry or join the Fatui. Instead, she left her hometown, much to her parents’ chagrin, came to Sumeru and was accepted into the Akademiya. Her research focus is the Archon Wars. She’s spent an inordinate amount of time visiting different sights of the wars, participating and conducting field research. Now she wants you to come with her to Liyue to do field research.

“Think about it. There are a lot of medicinal plants and good pharmacies in Liyue. Liyue Harbor would make a wonderful spot for your research.” Anya did have a good point and you couldn’t deny that it was tempting. 

You would get a lot out of going with her to Liyue. Plus your wrist had been healing extremely quickly thanks to the use of yours and Deaconess Barbara’s healing visions. Liyue had many resources to offer in the realm of medicine; you’d even heard of Bubu Pharmacy dubbed the “finest finest pharmacy in all of Liyue” in Liyue Harbor. Supposedly even the Liyue Qixing went to Bubu pharmacy for their medical needs. The more you thought about it, the better this trip seemed.

Wasn’t the Akademiya getting on your back about your research thesis?

Apparently ’advancements in medicine’ was ’too broad’ of a topic. Just this morning, someone had advised you, yet again, to pick something more narrow.

“Maybe focus on a specific or special advancement.”

You could practically feel your eyes roll at that thought. You were getting tired of hearing that.

Anya let out a sigh that brought you out of your thoughts. Then she continues “Just think about it. We wouldn’t leave for another ten days and your wrist is practically healed. I’d really like you to come with me. You’re the closest friend I have here. You’re the only one who wasn’t apprehensive of my background. It could also be great for your resear—”

“I’ll go!” You hadn’t meant to cut off your friend but the words just sprang forth.

Anya hadn’t had an easy introduction to the Akademiya. A miscommunication had led to everyone believing she was the daughter of a high ranking Fatui official. You were the first person to approach her when you noticed a cut on her hand. You’d never let anyone’s background get in the way of their medical care. After all that’s what being a doctor is all about. After treating it the two of you became fast friends.

Anya let out a relieved sigh and a grateful smile decorated her face. “Thank you. We’ll leave in the early morning in ten days.”

…..

Liyue Harbor was a bustling city even in the early morning. The city was made up of an island to the south known as Chihu Rock, which connected to the mainland via bridges, a section of mainland to the north known as Feiyun Slope, and a high point to the northwest known as Yujing Terrace. The Harbor itself was split across three ports: one grand port that opened Feiyun Slope to the sea; and two ports in Chihu Rock, one small and one grand.

Your ship had docked at Feiyun Slope. As you approached the harbor you were awestruck by the architecture of the port city. Your gaze was drawn upwards to the towering wooden split arch that stood in the sea, welcoming you into the harbor. Two orange lanterns hung from the arch, swaying softly with the salty sea breeze. Upon sailing further into the harbor, you were greeted by a wide white stone staircase that led up through a marvelous red arch. On either side were towering buildings topped with stately curved double-eave hip roofs. The roofs were made of green and yellow-orange tiles that shone brilliant colors when the sunlight hit them. The buildings connected through high wooden skywalks between terraces and balconies lined with vibrant red columns and intricately carved decorative railings. Anya’s voice broke you out of your reverie.

“Once we dock and disembark, I’ll need to make a stop at the Northland Bank before we head for lunch.” Anya pointed to a building on her map as she spoke.

You gave Anya an inquisitive look. “Northland Bank?” Your tone portrayed your inquisitive nature.

Anya returned your question. “It’s the main bank of Snezhnaya. I have an account there.”

You paused. “Is it Fatui owned?” You were hesitant to ask knowing that it was the best subject for Anya.

Anya gave a soft snort. “Almost everything involved with the Snezhnayan government is Fatui owned or at least deeply linked. The Fatui basically are the Snezhnayan government.” Anya let out a dry laugh devoid of any real joy at her own words. Anya did not like the Fatui and her family had owed them a great deal of debt at one point. She never mentioned how it was settled and you had never pushed her for an answer.

You gave Anya a nod in understanding and spoke softly. “Alright. I’ll go with you.”

Soon you disembarked and made your way up to the Northland Bank. As you walked you passed workers unloading and loading cargo onto ships docked at port. Stalls lined the harbor with merchants calling out to passers to promote their goods, both foreign and local. The further you walked into Feiyun Slope, the wind brought whiffs of delicious cuisine and spices from the local restaurants. Eventually, you and Anya made your way up several flights of stairs to a large double door with an orange sign and a Fatui agent standing guard.

Anya turned to you. “You can wait outside. I’ll only be here for a few minutes.” Then she disappeared into the bank.

Giving Anya a nod, you decided to park yourself off to the side and open your copy of the Teyvat Travel Guide Volume Two Liyue. You were flipping through the pages when a masculine voice called out to you.

“Hey girlie. What are you standing outside of Northland Bank for?” The voice was playful with a masculine boyish edge to it.

You didn’t look up from your book as you responded. “Oh, I’m waiting for a fellow researcher. I’m a doctor from the Sumeru Akademiya. My name is Y/N.” You cheerfully replied, still flipping through the pages of the guide book.

Your words were met with an unnerving silence. That was when you finally stopped to take a look at the man you were speaking to. He was tall with wild ginger hair and bright blue irises. He wore a gray jacket with the bottom left unbuttoned revealing a Hydro Vision attached to his belt. He also has a red scarf that crosses his chest and flowers over his left shoulder. But what really caught your eye was the bright red intricate mask he wore on the left side of his head.

Harbinger.

Your Harbinger.

.

Link to Ch 6

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 4

Link to Ch 3

Link to Ch 1

.

The trip back to Mondstadt was relatively easy. Cyrus and Iris had insisted your team take the supply wagon at the base camp and ride back to Mondstadt. Originally you had felt a little guilty to be taking their wagon, but since you couldn’t walk and your team needed to bring back an unconscious man, your slight protests had been swiftly laid to rest.

Fortunately, your patient seemed to improve with the change in weather and altitude. While still unconscious, you were able to change his bandages with help and give him better medicine to treat his fever. He was even starting to regain a normal colour in his cheeks. You were almost hoping he might awaken on your trip back but that was not the case.

You had resigned yourself to the idea that it was probably best that he hadn’t awoken. If he had, then he probably would have been subjected to questioning from your teammates. And if your suspicions were correct, they would be furious when they found out that he was a Harbinger. Yes it was for the best that he slept through the trip and had no recollection of who you were.

Once you had arrived at the gates of Mondstadt, your team was stopped by a knight.

“Welcome to Mondstadt, travelers. How can I help you?” Jean-Pierre was the first to approach the knight as he spoke.

“Hello. My name is Jean-Pierre. We are a research team from the Sumeru Akademiya. One of my team members was injured on Dragonspine and we also found an unconscious man. Where is the best place to seek medical attention?” The cart you were on stopped in front of the gates as Jean-Pierre spoke.

“That would be the Favonius Cathedral at the tallest point in Mondstadt. Just ask for Barbara.” The knight gestured through the city center towards the spires in the distance. You let out a groan just looking at the trek you were going to have to make.

Unfortunately for you and your team, there are an inordinate amount of stairs to climb to get to the Favonius Cathedral. You had to use Jean-Pierre as a crutch while Monika and the knight, who’s name you learnt was Lawrence, carried the still unconscious ginger man.

“How much longer?” Monika looked like she was about ready to drop him. And her tone was hinting at mild annoyance.

“It’s the building just up ahead, ya know behind the giant statue of Lord Barbatos.” Monika shot you a sharp glare at your words.

“It was your idea to save him, but I’ve had to carry him up over two hundred stairs!” Monika huffed in response. Maybe your sarcastic retorts should wait for another time.

As you entered the Cathedral, you were greeted by a short blonde. Her wavy hair was pulled back into twintails on either side of her head. She wore a pristine ivory dress with a matching cap. On her left hip rested a catalyst and hydro vision. It was clear from her uniform that she must be a nun and hopefully the deaconess.

She spoke in a soft voice as she addressed you, “Oh dear. What happened here?”

You held her concerned gaze as you replied. “We were caught in an avalanche on Dragonspine. I’m a doctor from the Sumeru Akademiya, so I was able to administer some aid, but my wrist is broken.”

“Oh dear! Here let’s get you both to a bed!” The blonde, who introduced herself as the cathedral’s deaconess Barbara, helped you to a bed in the back.

You insisted that she look at your companion first. He definitely needs more care than you would and you wanted to make sure that he was stable before worrying about yourself. Once Barbra was able to bring down his fever completely using her vision, she turned to you.

“As you thought, I believe your wrist is broken but luckily your ankle is only sprained. I should be able to treat it and have you walking again soon.” Barbara assesses your injuries and begins setting to work on healing them.

Jean-Pierre, who had insisted on staying with you despite your protests that he go with Monika to Good Hunter, now spoke up. “Does that mean we will be able to leave tonight? We were already supposed to have left for our trip back to Sumeru.”

“Once I’ve finished treating her ankle, she should be able to walk.” At Barbara’s response, you turned to Jean-Pierre.

“Why don’t you go tell Monika the good news.” You needed to get him out of here so that you could talk to Barbara about your new Fatui Harbinger friend.

Jean-Pierre seemed reluctant. “Are you sure? You don’t need me to stay with you?” Jean-Pierre’s reply doesn’t surprise you. He’s always seemed like a worrier and he’s usually especially concerned about your safety. You smile softly at him and give his hand a squeeze.

“I’ll be fine Pierre. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here when you and Monika get back.” With that final push, Jean-Pierre nodded to you and left the cathedral to find Monika. Now you could discuss what you really need to with Barbara.

“Excuse me, Barbara. Would there be a way to send a message to the Goth Grand Hotel? I have reason to believe that the man I brought back is a Fatui Harbinger. But my team members cannot know that. So is there a way to notify someone to come get him after we leave?” You try to seem as calm and collected as possible but you’re really hoping Barbara gets the idea that your teammates must be kept in the dark about this man’s identity.

Barbara looked between you and the man lying in the bed. “Y-yes I can send a message, but I believe I’ll need to inform Acting Grandmaster Jean.”

“Of course. Thank you.” You let out a sigh.

Barbara treats your injuries in silence. Once she is finished, she leaves to inform the Knights of Favonius and the Acting Grandmaster that there was an unconscious Fatui Harbinger in the cathedral.

You decided it was time to say goodbye to the man who’s name you would never learn. He was sleeping peacefully now and his skin had returned to a natural colour. You placed your uninjured hand to his forehead to check his temperature one final time, and were pleased to find his fever had completely dissipated. He was going to be alright and you could breathe a sigh of relief that your patient was going to make it. As you removed your hand, he reached out and caught your wrist in his grip.

“Y/N….. don’t… go….” He was still in a deep sleep and you knew he couldn’t hear you but you still replied.

“I’m sorry. I have to go now. But you’ll be okay, you’re safe.” You reached your other hand out to slightly brush his soft bangs. You could hear his breathing, slow and steady, as his grip on your wrist lessened before his hand fell back to his chest.

“Goodbye.”

Jean-Pierre soon returned with Monika and you all began your trek back to Sumeru leaving Mondstadt and the mystery Harbinger behind.

………

Beams of light streamed into the Favonius Cathedral in Mondstadt, shining directly onto the face of the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui. Tartaglia clenched his eyes before slowly opening them to be greeted by the high arches of the gothic cathedral. The sunlight that streamed in graced the walls in a soft celestial glow and caught the swirls of dust rising and falling in the air.

“It took you long enough to wake.” A sharp voice rang through the hollowed arches of the cathedral breaking the tranquility of the space.

He knew that voice. It was the condescending tone of his fellow harbinger La Signora. Tartaglia sat up slowly, and felt dull pain in his abdomen.

Right. He’d receive a hit in a sparring match. He takes his time to make sense of his surroundings. This most certainly wasn’t Dragonspine, where he had been leading a squad in investigating the strange environment. Not something that he would normally handle, but the other harbingers had their hands tied. He had been at the base camp when the avalanche happened.

Wait. He’d been buried in an avalanche.

That’s when she saved him. Tartaglia could only vaguely recall the soft voice and gentle hands that had treated him so kindly.

“When the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius approached me to inform me that one of my fellow Harbingers was unconscious in the Favonius Cathedral, I almost laughed at her. What are you doing here?” La Signora’s voice was tinged with disdain as she sat in a chair next to Tartaglia’s bedside. Her legs were gracefully crossed one over the other and her arms crossed over her chest. She sat with the air of royalty, only the fingers on her left hand tapping against her arm betrayed her annoyance in her countenance.

Tartaglia was lost in thought, his mind consumed with trying to recall everything he could remember from the days he spent ill.

She must have brought him here. His savior.

“The deaconess said you were running a fever as a result of an infected wound. Had it not been treated by the doctor that brought you back to Mondstadt, you might have died. As it turns out, the doctor was also the one who identified that you are a Harbinger.” La Signora’s tone betrayed very little but Tartaglia had worked with her long enough to tell that she was not happy.

However Tartaglia didn’t respond, he didn’t even acknowledge that he’d heard her at all. His thoughts ran rampant.

She knew he was a harbinger? And she still helped him?

Tartaglia knew how most people outside of Snezhnaya felt about the Fatui, let alone a Harbinger. But that hasn’t stopped his savior. She hadn’t cared. She saved him anyway. Tartaglia finally looked up and acknowledged his fellow Harbinger. Only to ask a single question.

“So where is she?” Tartaglia was ready to run to her side, to pick her up and spin her around while offering his sincerest thanks.

La Signora’s brow rose in slight confusion. “Who?”

“My savior.” Tartaglia let a grin break out over his face at the thought of seeing her again, for real this time.

La Signora chuckled. “Do you mean the doctor? She’s already left to return to Sumeru.”

Tartaglia’s grin slowly fell.

She had left? Why?

Tartaglia racked his brain for what he could remember from his hazy semi-conscious state.

“I’m sorry. I have to go now. But you’ll be okay, you’re safe.”

That’s right she was forced to leave. But why?

“I’m a doctor from the Sumeru Akademiya.”

The Akademiya. She had to return to the Sumeru Akademiya. Tartaglia wanted to curse his luck. If he had only woken up earlier he’d be able to speak with the wonderful soul that saved his life. The bold woman who didn’t fear his status as a Harbinger and found the kindness to help him in his time of great need. Tartaglia resolved not to let this be the end. If she couldn’t stay here with him, he’d just have to go find her. Tartaglia gave La Signora another of his boyish grins.

“Guess I’ll just have to go find her then.”

……

.

Link to Ch 5

[random-genshin-things]

Edited

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 3

Link to Ch 2

Link to Ch 1

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Three days. It had been three days since the avalanche, since finding the Fatui Harbinger, and you were really starting to worry. What if no one came to find you? Your rations were only meant to last you three weeks and that three weeks had ended two days ago. Would you have to find your way out alone? What about the man you had found? You could barely walk yourself let alone carry an unconscious man. And he was still running a fever.

He would wake up and be semi-conscious at points throughout the last three days, and during those times you would try your best to give him some combination of food, water, and medicine.

Soon you would run out of rations. Your original plan had been to leave the mountain yesterday, but you were still here. Now your rations that were supposed to last for two days for one person, have been stretched out to last almost three days for two people.

If a rescue crew or adventuring team didn’t find you soon, you were going to have to forage for more food, which would put more stress on your injured ankle. But what other choice did you have? If you were unable to find a way to sustain yourself and the man you had found then you would both die.

The man whose name you still didn’t know, had started calling out what you presumed to be names in his sleep on the second day. You couldn’t always make out what he was saying but the most common name, at least you thought it was a name, seemed to be “Teucer.”

It tugged at your heart to listen to him call out for people that he might never see again if you didn’t get help soon. At one point he’d even called out your name. You rushed to his side as he spoke. When you were right beside him, he reached out and clung to the hem of your shirt. It was the most movement that you had seen him attempt in the days that he’s been in your care.

You were desperately hoping his fever would break but all you could do was reapply his bandages and cold compress praying to the archons that someone would find you. At night, you would toss and turn worrying about the very real possibility that he might be dead when you awoke.

On the morning of day four, you were using what was left of your rations when you heard a shout.

“Hello! Is anyone over here!” You nearly dropped your spoon as you struggled to your feet. Your ankle had been unused for days, you weren’t even sure it could fully support your weight, but you had to try to make yourself as visible as possible. Desperately, you rise to your feet and wave your arm in the air.

“Yes! Hello! I’m here!” Off in the distance you could make out what appeared to be a small team of five. As you frantically waved your arms in the air, the leader waved back. You let out a sigh in relief and nearly cried. Someone had found you, you would be saved. Soon the team had reached your camp.

“Hello! My name is Y/N. I was on a research expedition from the Sumeru Akademiya. There was an avalanche and I was separated from my team-”

“Ah so you’re the medic from Sumeru! I’m Cyrus, the Branch Master of the Adventures Guild in Mondstadt! Your team mentioned the avalanche when they reached the base of Dragonspine and we’re a part of the rescue and search party sent to look for you!” The gruff voice that cut you off belonged to the leader of the adventure team.

He was a tall, blonde, middle aged man with a long blonde beard and a look that just screamed adventurer. His uniform looked like it had seen better days, littered with some sewn patched holes and tears. It was clear that he’s been hardened from many travels but he still wore a warm smile that reached his eyes and caused them to crinkle slightly with his wrinkles. Cyrus continued to speak, giving you a firm pat on the back.

“Well let’s get you back to base camp-”

“Wait!” You cut him off. “There’s someone else with me. He’s unconscious and needs more medical attention. He’ll need to be carried. We can use the tent to make a stretcher.” You began to limp over to the tent when a firm calloused hand stopped you.

“Let us handle this! You can barely walk! Jack, come with me! Julie, you help the young lady!” Cyrus motioned to his two teammates.

So with the help of the adventures you began your descent down the mountain to the base camp. They were able to use what was left of the tent you were using to make a stretcher to carry the mystery man. Using Julie’s help and a walking stick you were able to hobble along slowly. In a few hours, the base camp for the adventures commission was within view. You could see Jean-Pierre was pacing and arguing with Monika as you arrived.

“Mon dieu! We should be out there looking for her!” Jean-Pierre’s voice was loud and laced with anxiety and regret.

“I know how you feel Pierre but we are not rescuers! It’s safer for everyone to let the adventures and rescue teams search. You know Y/N wouldn’t want us to risk our lives.” Monika let out a sigh as she replied. She had always been the voice of reason between the two of them.

“Monika’s right. I wouldn’t have wanted any of you to risk your lives. You did the best thing you could by coming back to base and letting the rescue team handle the search.” The two froze at the sound of your voice cutting across the camp.

“Y/N!” Jean-Pierre and Monika both leapt up, immediately coming to your side and helping you to sit.

“Are you alright? We should get you back to the city then we can have another doctor properly look over your injuries.” Jean-Pierre was clearly eyeing your injured ankle as Monika’s gaze wandered behind you to the Fatui Harbinger.

“Hey, who’s that man they’re carrying?” Her eyes widened in surprise. You felt your heart jump.

Oh Archons.

Monika and Jean-Pierre hate the Fatui!

Everyone you knew had some bad experience with the Fatui or at least knew someone else who did. You would have had a difficult time explaining to your closest friends if you had saved a Fatui footsoldier.

How were you going to explain that you had saved a Harbinger?

You resort to the tried and true method of lying and feigning ignorance. You hated lying to your friends but it was truly your best option. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to marry him, you’re just helping him until he can get to a better medical facility.

“I-I found him! He was also caught in the avalanche…. I-I think he’s Snezhnayan.” Your voice didn’t sound as convincing as you wished it would but you’re hopeful that your friends will leave it alone and just be grateful that you were found. Monika’s nose scrunched up as she gave a sour look.

“He could be Fatui.” Her words were filled with an edge that could cut through ice. You could see Jean-Pierre slowly nodding in agreement in your peripheral vision. If you wanted to make sure this man made it safely back, you needed to convince them.

“He didn’t have a mask! He could just be an adventurer or a researcher like us! Besides what kind of doctor would I be if I just left behind a clearly injured man because he might be Fatui. We don’t even know that he’s Fatui. He’s unconscious and running a fever. Let’s just bring him back to Mondstadt— We’re going there anyway— we can drop him off at a doctors or at the Goth Grand Hotel. We never have to see him again and we’d be saving someone’s life here!” Your voice comes out fast and hurried, practically tripping over yourself to convince them.

Jean-Pierre and Monika exchanged a look that told you neither of them were thrilled about the prospect of helping a possible Fatui agent. However, they knew better than to try to remove you from helping someone that had clearly become your patient.

You would risk your own life to save your patients; a fact that they knew quite well.

After a silent moment of contemplation, Jean-Pierre relented with a sigh.

“Fine… we’ll take him back to Mondstadt.”

.

Link to Ch 4

[random-genshin-things]

Major edits.

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 2

Link to Ch 1

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The fatui camp you’d found yourself in was actually quite large. Though you suspected over half of it was under the avalanche now. There was at least one good tent and a fire pit adorned with a cooking pot that had survived unscathed. You had lightly dragged the unconscious man with you to the tent. You would have preferred not to move him, so as to not upset any injuries he had, however you needed to get him to the fire or he would freeze to death regardless of any injuries. The next best option would be to carry him if you could, but with the state of your own injuries and his weight that would be impossible. So you settled on carefully dragging him across the snow on a makeshift tarp that was really a tattered fatui tent. You managed to get him to the fire before returning to drag your pack. By the time you made it back to the tent the second time, you were almost ready to pass out, but neither of you would survive the night without a fire.

Oh, how you wished you had more skills for camping in the wilderness. Next time your friend and fellow researcher Anya offered to teach you the skills she’d gained living in remote places, you were going to take her up on it. You were beginning to regret not taking her offer sooner. You shook the thought from your head. Now was not the time to dwell in regrets, right now you needed a fire.

Anya had taught you that at least. She said building a fire was the most important skill needed in cold weather, and being from Snezhnaya, Anya knew a thing or two about surviving the cold. Alright, first I need wood. You were beyond grateful that there was good kindling in the tent that had survived the avalanche and was mostly dry. After gathering wood, you built up a fire under the cooking pot. Never before had you been so grateful for your pyro vision either.

With a fire secured and death by hypothermia now crossed off your to-not-do-list, you went to check on your new patient. Since he was unconscious, it would be difficult to fully assess the extent of his injuries or if he had any internal injuries. He couldn’t tell you if he was in pain, but you started to search for any signs of injury. First his head, there weren’t any open wounds and seemed to be no signs of swelling making you hopeful that he hadn’t sustained any head trauma. For now you should move on. When you place your hand to his chest, you recoil almost immediately.

It was wet and warm.

Oh Archons, that was the worst possible sign. You immediately looked to your hand and just as you had feared, your hand was covered in a thick dark red liquid.

Blood.

He was definitely injured badly. You all but ripped open his jacket, vest, and shirt. In addition to what looked like bruises and old scars, there was a long jagged gash along his abdomen. It looked to be a few days old, slightly inflamed but healing, as if someone had previously treated the wound. But it had reopened during the avalanche, or maybe when you had dragged him by his torso and under arms to the tarp.

You wanted to scream profanities at yourself for your carelessness but you now had a bigger problem to deal with first: an open wound to treat and you needed to stop the bleeding. Grabbing a clean cloth, you began to apply pressure to the wound to help stop the bleeding. At the same time, you used your healing powers provided by your vision to begin closing the wound. You wouldn’t be able to close it completely, but it would certainly help make the injury more manageable. When the bleeding had finally slowed and stopped, you turned to rummage through your pack looking for your medicinal salve. The salve would assist in bringing down the inflammation, help the blood to clot, and fight off infection. You applied the salve to his wound then you moved on to gauze and bandage the wound.

Once his major injury was taken care of you moved on to continue checking for other injuries. You soon found that his left leg was broken near the shin. Using a pole from a half buried tent, you set to work on making a makeshift splint to set his leg. The pole, split in half and placed on either side of the leg, made a decent enough splint as you wrapped it all to support and stabilize the leg. By the time you were done you were so exhausted that you went to sleep without even treating your own injuries. It almost felt like the night would never end.

……

As dawn broke the next morning, the sun’s rays peeked over the mountains and enveloped your surroundings in a soft light. As the soft rays shone across your face you groggily awoke from your spot in the tent. Next to you, you could hear the slight whistling sound of shallow pained breathing. As you collected your thoughts, you remembered where you were. Your team, the avalanche, the Fatui Harbinger…….

The Harbinger!

You gasped with a start and turned to the man next to you. His breathing was more shallow and painful than yesterday. His face was flushed but his colour was sickly pale. Sweat covered his brow, his hair sticking to his forehead covered in cold perspiration. You reached out to brush back his bangs and test his temperature. His temperature was hot and felt like fire but his hands were cold and clammy. This was not good. You needed to get him a cold compress. Wrapping some snow in a cloth, you laid it across his forehead when a sound suddenly reached your ears.

“где…. я….? (gde….. ya….?)” You gasped as he spoke in a language you were unfamiliar with but guessed was Sneznayan. His eyelids fluttered, his long lashes brushing against his cheeks, but they didn’t open.

“I-I’m sorry… I don’t understand…” You spoke softly, placing the compress across his forehead. His lips parted just enough to get out words as his brow knit slightly in what could have been either pain or confusion.

“T-tonia?” That sounded like a name… should you introduce yourself? He might not even be lucid enough to know what is happening around him but you choose to respond all the same.

“No. My name is Y/N. I’m a doctor and I’m going to take care of you. You’re going to be okay.” You spoke softly like a mother trying to comfort a child.

His eyelids fluttered again and for a second you could just barely see stunningly blue irises. They were deep like an ocean and had a dark edge to them like a night sky in winter.

“Y/—” and then he was out again.

His breathing is steady and slow indicating that he has lost consciousness. You took this opportunity to begin looking over your own injuries. You needed to set your own ankle and wrist. There was just enough of the wood from the broken tent to make a decent splint for your ankle, and the fabric from the tent could be used to wrap your wrist and arm.

After tending to your injuries and adding more kindling to the fire, you could practically feel your stomach acid eating your stomach lining. You hadn’t eaten last night or this morning and it was starting to get to you. You would have been willing to bet that your patient hadn’t eaten anything either. Rummaging through your rations you decided to make a vegetable soup. It would be warm for the cold weather and easy to eat if he woke up. It was also admittedly the only thing you could probably manage with your wrist and leg both in splints, so soup it is.

Glancing over to keep an eye on your patient, you were hoping he’d wake up again to at least drink some water. He could go a few days without food but he was quickly losing a lot of hydration with his sweating. He’d quickly become dehydrated if you couldn’t get him to drink and that could become a severe issue. His fever also hasn’t come down. You had been periodically replacing his compress, but he hadn’t stirred.

It was almost dark again when his eyelids fluttered open.

“H-he…llo?” You rushed to him. His eyes held a glossy sheen as he slowly looked around.

“Hello. I’ve made some soup. Would you like some?” The man slowly nodded and winced as he struggled to try to sit up.

“Don’t force yourself. I can help.” You said softly placing a hand on his shoulder to halt his movement.

You slowly lifted the man’s head and rested it softly in your lap, using your thighs in an attempt to prop him up. Then you began to slowly spoon feed him the soup and help him drink water from a flask you carried. He had made it halfway through the bowl before he’d lost consciousness again, but you were relieved that he had consumed anything at all. Once you had checked his temperature again and remade his compress, you laid back down on your side of the tent praying to the archons that someone would find the two of you sooner rather than later. You honestly weren’t sure how long your rations would last and in your current injured state you couldn’t forage for anything more. Your only hope was that someone would find you and soon.

.

Link to Ch 3

[random-genshin-things]

Completely edited this thought from last year.

Saviour

(Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 1

Random thought: Medic reader saves Childe’s life without really knowing who he is and just thinks that’s that. However, Childe, who only vaguely remembers the reader in a semi-conscious fever dream-like state, is almost obsessed with trying to find her because he’s kind of fallen completely, like love at first sight, for the sweet stranger that saved his life. Set before the Liyue Chapter 2 Arc.

.

The first thing you thought when you awoke was that this was not how you were going to die: at the bottom of a cliff on Dragonspine. You refuse to let this be the end of you especially when you were so close to finishing your thesis and graduating from the Akademiya.

Medicine has been your main focus. As a child, you wished to become a doctor. Doctors and healers were the most incredible people in Teyvat in your innocent child’s eyes. Giving every effort you could to help save people’s lives and heal their wounds was the most noble cause in your opinion. You had always respected the way that doctors and nurses would carefully tend to their patients. Your goal was to become the kind of doctor that anyone, regardless of wealth, status or any other factor, could come to know that they would be treated with the finest care to the best of your abilities. Monika, your closest friend at the Akademiya, liked to claim you were going to be the best doctor in Sumeru, maybe in all of Teyvat. Every time she proclaimed your greatness, you couldn’t help but chuckle. You knew you had a long way to go and lacked vital experience. Learning in a classroom was all fine and good, but it could not replace real hands-on experience.

You’d been volunteering at a local clinic that your professor ran when Monika said she was going on an expedition to Dragonspine and needed a medic. How could you refuse?

Monika, like yourself, was from Mondstadt. Her main focus at the Akademiya was trying to discover a better way to store and transport perishable foods. More specifically, she was researching ways to keep food better for longer and transport them across large distances without spoiling. Monika had spent a lot of time studying the effects of mist flowers but had run into a dead end. The flowers would wilt after a certain amount of time, meaning that they could not provide a long term solution. Dragonspine had been her new field location of choice. Monika had hoped to study the effects of freezing perishables and perfect her latest idea: a new machine she called the Freeze-r. You remember laughing at the name when she first introduced the machine to you, but the idea was a good one.

Just a week ago you had gathered and packed all of your supplies: bandages, gauze, medicinal herbs and salves, slings; Anything that you thought you could need in case of an emergency. Being from Mondstadt meant you were well acquainted with the conditions of Dragonspine, and you also knew that if something went terribly wrong your only hope of rescue would be if an adventure team stumbled upon you. That was a big “if.”

You were not going to let the lives of your team rest on the off chance that someone else would be on the mountain. By the end of your packing, your bag had been slightly heavier than intended but nothing that you couldn’t carry. Another scholar from Fontaine working with Monika, Jean-Pierre, had offered to carry your bag when the expedition started. Right now, you were incredibly grateful you had not taken him up on that offer. Had Jean-Pierre been carrying your bag when the avalanche hit, then you would have been left with nothing.

Laying in the snow at the bottom of a cliff had not been part of your plan, but neither was the avalanche that separated you from your team. It was just so sudden. You felt the slight rumble of the ground under foot and looked up just in time to see a harsh blanket of white. Your team was several paces ahead and there was no way you could outrun the wave of snow and ice rushing towards you. You didn’t even try to fight it, instead focusing all of your efforts on protecting your head and vital organs. When you reached the bottom you felt grateful to even be alive.

It was always cold on Dragonspine, you could see the condensation of your own breath as you glanced around trying to take in your new surroundings and grasp any semblance of bearings. Your ankle was definitely sprained if not entirely broken and you could feel a hot, dull pain as it throbbed in your boot. One of your wrists was most likely fractured, luckily on your non-dominant arm. Honestly, you were immensely lucky not to be more injured.

Archons, you were lucky to be alive.

Looking around you seemed to be in a buried camp, or more accurately what was left of a camp. It seemed to be fatui based on the colors and design on what little was left unearthed of a tattered tent. As you started to slowly sit up, you gathered more of your bearings and observed more of the camp. It didn’t look to be that old but the frost of Dragonspine has a way of preserving things so it was hard to really tell how old the camp was. You adjust your pack to look for a sling for your arm and your heart just about stopped when you saw it: A figure barely peeking out of the pristine white snow.

Oh Archons you were right.

This camp hadn’t been abandoned. There were people here.

In a panic you rushed to your feet and nearly collapsed back to the ground as a flash of hot pain enveloped your being. The weight of your pack combined with your sprained ankle sent a searing pain through your leg. It almost felt as if the local blacksmith had shoved an iron straight from the stove into your leg, but your resolve didn’t waver. You needed to get to that person. You needed to see if they were still alive. Throwing off your pack, which unceremoniously crashed to the ground, you wrenched yourself from it and stumbled towards the figure. You collapse in front of the figure which you could now identify to be a man.

He was young. Archons, he couldn’t have been much older than you. His messy ginger hair obscured almost half of his face but a single beaded red earring was visible on his left side. The red jewel and the gold holding it glimmered slightly in what little light broke through the canopy of clouds. The avalanche had buried his body from the chest down but you could tell he was wearing a thick white coat lined with black fur and a red scarf. The coat was a good quality thick wool and the fur that adorned it couldn’t have been cheap. The scarf looked well worn almost as if he had gone with him everywhere, and you suspected that it might have had a sentimental value beyond the practicality. The high quality of the coat and the fur told you that he must have been well off, or at least of a high enough rank that the Fatui spent some decent mora on his uniform. He must have been Fatui but you couldn’t see a mask. More importantly, you could see the slight rise and fall of his chest as short shallow breaths came from his mouth.

He was breathing. He was still alive.

You rushed to dig him out of the snow before he succumbed to frostbite. The tips of your fingers were beginning to tingle with the biting cold and loose feeling. Your injured wrist was in the most pain you had ever felt, but you kept digging. This man was still alive and you knew you were his only hope of surviving, so you kept digging even as your wrist and ankle burned with jolts of pain, and your body shook and shivered from the cold.

When you finally pulled him from the snow embankment, you noticed it. The intricate red mask just feet away from him.

It was slightly broken but it was a gorgeous pattern of tangled red branches lined with gold. It was also the most terrifying object in that moment and the pit of your stomach filled with dread as the realisation of who this man was washed over you. That mask could only mean one thing:

Harbinger.

The man that you had just pulled out of his encased coffin of snow was a Fatui Harbinger!

Your thoughts swirled with the voices of your friends and family, with images of the run ins that they had had with the fatui. You knew what they would tell you if they were here. You could almost hear Monika’s voice in your head,

“A Harbinger! Let the bastard die then!”

…… But you couldn’t. You’re a doctor and it’s a doctor’s job to help people, to save people!

Regardless of who this man was, his life was now in your hands. If you didn’t do something to at least try to save him, he would die before morning…..

If you didn’t help him then did you really have the right to call yourself a doctor…..?

…… With a sharp intake of breath you hardened your revolve. You had made up your mind. It didn’t matter who this man was.

You were going to save him!

.

A/N: If anyone thinks this is good I’ll keep writing.

Edit: link to Ch 2

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 13

Link to Ch 12

Link to Ch 1

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Everything around you seemed to come to a crashing halt as you watched Jean-Pierre fall almost in slow motion to the ground. The arrow had stuck him in the chest. Was he…. dead? Had you just killed someone? Oh Archons! You had just killed Jean-Pierre.

You had just killed someone!

You felt the sour taste of bile rising in the back of your throat. All of your life you’d sworn to save the lives of others regardless of who they were or where they came from. Your first mentor’s words rang in your ears.

“It’s not a choice. You treat the patient in front of you. If you think you can pick and choose who deserves treatment, then you have no right to be practicing medicine.”

Some of your peers had grumbled at the harsh attitude of the old man, but his words had struck you to your core. “You treat the patient in front of you.” You treated those words like an oath. It was a promise to help those who needed you.

Archons knew you weren’t a saint. There were dark times in your life when you had hurt people. Times where you’d taken your emotions out on those around you. You had changed and grown since then. But Archons, you’d never killed someone before. You thought losing patients was one of the worst feelings imaginable. Feeling like your lack of resources made you ill equipped and utterly useless to help someone dying in front of you. Not to mention telling the families. However, this was a whole new level. You were the reason Jean-Pierre had died: not an accidental fall off a mountain; not a runaway carriage; not a Rishboland tiger attack; but you.

Did it make you an even worse person that the first thing you felt watching Jean-Pierre crumble to the ground wasn’t the shock that you had shot someone, but relief that he couldn’t hurt Tartaglia anymore?

Your mind was starting to spiral when you heard a groan. Tartaglia! Right now he was your first priority. If Jean-Pierre was still alive, you’d bring him back to Liyue and hand him over to the millelith. Tartaglia was still lying face down in the dirt, but had begun to try and prop himself up on his uninjured arm. The bow that you had been gripping so tightly, like it was the only thing tethering you to reality, dropped unceremoniously to the ground as you rushed to his side.

“Y/N.” He tried to reach out to you with the blade still embedded in his shoulder. You caught his hand in yours and lowered him back down so as to not further disturb his wound.

“Shh stay still.” Your free hand found itself in his hair, bushing it away from his face in effort to comfort him, or maybe it was really to comfort you. Tartaglia gave you one of his signature grins before using his propped arm to push himself up into a kneeling position.

“It's fine I’ve had much worse injuries. The blade isn’t even that long.” He reached back ready to grab the handle and rip the knife out.

“Don’t you dare! I don’t care if it’s a butter knife or a machete. I will be removing not you!” Tartaglia chuckled and let his hand fall to the side, before he took on a serious tone.

“Jean-Pierre….” You locked eyes with him.

“I… used your bow… and shot him.” Tartaglia’s eyes widened.

“I was beginning to wonder if I had been hallucinating, but you really shot him!” The look in your eyes told Tartaglia to tread lightly.

“I-l… I killed someone…” Your hand began to shake like a leaf in his grasp.

“I-I–” Tartaglia’s free hand came up to rub slow and steady circles on your back.

“Hey. It's going to be alright.” Your eyes stung with unshed tears as the shock began to fade leaving you to feel the full gravity of the situation.

“I-I’m… I’m a terrible doctor.” Tears slowly flowed down your cheeks leaving wet valleys in their wake and staining the dirt as they dropped to the ground. Tartaglia’s hand moved to your cheek as he wiped away the salty remnants of the turmoil churning in your heart. He spoke in a deep soothing voice.

“That’s not true. You’re a wonderful doctor. And you’re a good person. Even good people can do bad things. Besides, you did what you had to in order to protect yourself… and me……” His voice trailed off for a moment.

“Do you regret it?”

Your eyes shot up to meet his. Looking into the eyes of the man that you love, the man you nearly could have lost, you found your resolve and your voice. Placing your hand on his that softly rested on your cheek, you knew your answer.

“No… I’d make the same decision again if it meant saving you.”

You meant that with all of your being. Tartaglia moved his hand from your cheek to the back of your head, pulling you in to rest your cheek against his chest. His chin came to rest on the top of your head as he slowly stroked your hair. The two of you stayed like for a moment before Tartaglia spoke again, a cheeky grin pulling at his lips.

“If your worried about being labeled a murder, I can finish him off.” That earned him a short, non-forceful, thwack to the side of the head.

“If he’s still alive we’re taking him back to Liyue Harbor, the millelith can deal with him.” Just as you finished your statement you heard the sound of pounding footsteps getting closer.

“Lord Tartaglia!” The two fatui soldiers that stopped in front of you were ones you were becoming quite familiar with. They always seemed to find you whenever Tartaglia was involved.

“Ah. Mikhail. Artyom. Can you check if the man behind us is still alive?” The two men exchanged a glance at their superior's words before one of them went to check on Jean-Pierre. You turned to address the other.

“How did you two find us?” The man known as Artyom gave a sheepish laugh.

“Well after hearing that you were heading to check on Lord Tartaglia…. We… maybe… followed you…. After all, we couldn't let anything happen to Lord Tartaglia’s lover!”

…..That was almost sweet. Although they could have just asked to escort you. You sighed through your nose and turned back to Tartaglia as Mikhail returned.

“Lord Tartaglia! The man is unconscious but still breathing.”

Jean-Pierre was still alive. You hadn’t killed anyone! … Yet at least.

“Would you like us to finish him of–”

“Would one of you be able to carry him to BuBu Pharmacy?” The two men looked at you in complete confusion before Mikhail spoke up again.

“But he attacked Lord Tartaglia. Shouldn’t we just finish him off?” You sighed for what must have been the tenth time today.

“No, we will let the governments of Liyue and Snezhnaya deal with him. Although, with the prospect of facing legal retribution for attempting to murder a Fatui Harbinger, he might almost wish we did finish him off by the time the Snezhnayan government is done with him.”

Tartaglia let out a chuckle. “Mikhail. Artyom. Carry that man back to Liyue Harbor.”

“Yes Lord Tartaglia!”

After that you gave basic first aid to both men. Your priority was to halt the bleeding and get them to a place where you would have the supplies to safely remove both weapons. You used strips of fabric that you tore from your clothes as makeshift tourniquets. It was important to keep applying pressure to the wounds, keep the knife and arrow from moving, and keep the wounds elevated above the heart. Tartaglia was able to walk with your support while Mikhail and Artyom carried Jean-Pierre. Since the fight occurred just north of the harbor, the walk to BuBu pharmacy was rather short. A fact that you were eternally grateful for while you were supporting the weight of a full grown man. When you arrived at BuBu Pharmacy, Dr. Baizhu was there to greet you.

“Oh what brings all of you here?” You gestured to the men behind you.

“These two are bringing you a patient. I can handle Childe now that we're back in Liyue Harbor.” Baizhu gave you a calm smile.

“Please feel free to use one of my beds for your patient.”

You thanked him and quickly moved Tartaglia to a bed. Since you had started writing your research paper, you made frequent visits to BuBu Pharmacy. As a result, you’ve gotten to know all of the staff and Baizhu quite well. During busy days at the Pharmacy, you would even help take care of some of the patients that stopped in. Baizhu was quite appreciative when you would stop by to help Qiqi.

Gathering clean water, cloth, bandages, and salve, you set to work on Tartaglia’s wound. Slowly removing the blade from his shoulder, you found that true to his words, the blade was quite short and only about two-thirds of it had entered his flesh. After removing the blade you quickly removed his jacket and shirt so you could clearly clean and tend to the wound. Tartaglia hissed slightly through gritted teeth as you began cleaning the wound with a wet washcloth.

“Did that hurt?” Despite your question you continued to clean the wound. Tartaglia let out a strained laugh.

“I thought you were cleaning it with water.” You let out a smile knowing that he couldn’t see it.

“Oh I am…. water infused with herbs that have a cleansing property suitable for open wounds. It might sting a little.” Tartaglia snorted at your comment.

“Thanks for the heads up.” You had to stifle a laugh.

He always went to great lengths to hide if an injury was causing him pain in an attempt to avoid worrying you. More often than not, you could see straight through him. After cleaning his wound, you used your healing powers granted by your pyro vision to close up the wound a little. Then you added a layer of medicinal salve over the wound and began to bandage him up. Due to the location you wrapped the bandage several times around his upper arm, shoulder, and across his chest. By the time you were done, you were beginning to feel the crash from adrenaline. Tartaglia could tell and used his good arm to pull you in and rest your head on his uninjured shoulder. Baizhu soon emerged from a back room.

“Sorry to interrupt but I have an update on the other patient.”

Your whole body tensed. While you wanted nothing to do with Jean-Pierre, he could rot in a Snezhnayan prison and you’d dance on his grave, however you also didn’t want to be the one who killed him. Schadenfreude was one thing… murder was another. You had come to terms with the fact that you might have killed him, that didn’t mean you hoped you had. Baizhu continued.

“The arrow struck him in the left pectoralis major. The person who released the arrow either has terrible aim or used significantly less force than what would have been required. The arrow missed his lungs and was embedded in muscle tissue. He fainted due to shock. He’ll make a full recovery.”

Tartaglia scoffed. “Just in time to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

You let out a sigh of relief. Once Mikhail and Artyom had dropped Jean-Pierre off they had gone to inform the millelith of his actions. Their testimony along with yours, Tartaglia’s, and the location of Tartaglia’s injury all painted a clear picture of what happened. Jean-Pierre would be charged with at the least physical assault with a weapon and at most attempted murder. Tartaglia smiled down at you and stroked your hair.

“We can leave now.” You looked up at him and sighed.

“Not yet. When he wakes up, I’m going to be the one to verbally clobber him. He’s going to hear from me that I hate his very being and that he has no one to blame but himself. These delusions of grandeur end here.” The fire that burned in your eyes told Tartaglia everything he needed to know.

“Would you like me to be with you?” Your lips pursed as you thought about that. On one hand you definitely did not want to be alone with that man, but you also did not want to give him another chance to take out his emotions on Tartaglia.

“I think I need someone with me, but I’m worried if he sees you…” Your words trailed off as your grip on Tartaglia tightened; The fear from earlier filled you again.

“I can stay with you.” You both turn to Baizhu at his offer.

“Thank you. I trust you’ll keep her safe.” Baizhu nodded to Tartaglia.

“Of course.”

It was almost another hour before Baizhu came back to inform you that Jean-Pierre had awoken. You felt like you were swallowing rocks as you walked with Baizhu into the back room to see him. Walking through the door, your eyes fell on Jean-Pierre, who moved to stand.

“No! Just… stay there.” Jean-Pierre seemed shocked by your sudden outburst.

“N/N… it’s alright” Those three words brought more rage than you thought you were capable of at that moment.

“No. It’s not alright. It’s anything but alright. You tried to kill the man that I love. What in Teyvat is wrong with you? How could you possibly think that would make me happy? Let me make one thing abundantly clear, I am not and never have been in love with you. You were my friend and nothing more. But you’ve ruined that. Now I don’t even want to look at you.” Your heart was beating out of your chest.

“Oh N/N it all his faul–” Now you were beyond seething. You despised this man with a burning passion.

“No! Don’t you dare. This is your fault. All of this is your fault. You have no one to blame but yourself, you sorry excuse of a man. Even if I had never met Childe, I would not be in love with you. And after what you’ve done to him, after all the things you said to me, I never want to see you again. You lied to me. You tried to manipulate me. You selfish bastard. Did you even think about how I felt, or was it all about you?” You were breathing heavily now. Pent up emotions were flowing forth like water through a broken dam.

“N/N I–” No. This time he was going to listen.

“No. You don’t get to call me that anymore.” You locked eyes with Jean-Pierre so he could see the fury and how deadly serious you were.

“You will never see me again.”

With that you turned on your heel and walked out the door.

[random-genshin-things]

OH YM GOODNESS!!

Savior is such a good story I’m so disappointed that I started reading it before it was done because now I’m left on the cliffhanger of chapter 12 but now I’m also in the edge of my seat waiting for an update!!!

I just read through it this morning and I can’t wait to read more please say you are continuing this!!!

ANYA IS BEST BFF!!

Thank you so much! I’m hoping to update today or tomorrow. Anya was kind of inspired by my best friend from high school. She’s personally one of my favourite side character along with the two reoccurring nameless fatui soldiers. They’re low-key Tartaglia’s fan club and I love bringing them back at random times to show their support for the couple.

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 12

Link to Ch 11

Link to Ch 1

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Warning: Slight blood and gore

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It was still early in the morning as Jean-Pierre stepped through the doors of Northland Bank. The night prior he'd finalized his plan and asked around for directions and information that led him to the Snezhnayan owned bank in Feiyun Slope. It would be the best place for him to find Tartaglia. This early in the morning, Jean-Pierre was hoping the Harbinger would just be arriving at work or at least stop by to see what needed to be taken care of today. As he approached the young clerk at the front desk she spoke up.

"Welcome to the Northland Bank. How may I assist you?" She asked, clearly bored with the researcher already.

"I'm looking for the Eleventh Harbinger, Tartaglia." Jean-Pierre tapped his fingers leaning on the desk as he spoke.

"Do you have an appointment?" The woman behind the desk gave him a blank stare, speaking in a bored customer service tone.

"Not exactly but-" Jean-Pierre started but she cut him off.

"I'm afraid it will be nearly impossible for you to see Lord Tartaglia without an appointment." Jean-Pierre grit his teeth.

"Well then. I'll wait here." Jean-Pierre hissed out his words.

He pushed himself off the desk and slowly took a seat in one of the chairs along the wall. Not knowing how long he would be here frustrated Jean-Pierre but he had no better way to find Tartaglia. Waiting turned out to be a fruitful endeavour however when Tartaglia emerged from a back hallway flanked by two fatui soldiers. Tartaglia locked eyes with Jean-Pierre almost instantly and both settled into a glare. Tension began to rise as the air seemed to crackle with electricity around the two men exuding vexation at the presence of the other. Tartaglia did not like your fellow researcher. It was clear to him that Jean-Pierre held affection for you. With how Jean-Pierre looked at you and attempted to persuade you into leaving, he was very quickly testing Tartaglia's already thin patience. Tartaglia was the first to speak, breaking their silent stare.

"What brings you here?" Though his tone was light, the words were dripping with disdain.

Jean-Pierre had to fight back the shiver that ran down his spine. He was doing this to save Y/N. He could not afford to back down now.

"I've come to challenge you to a fight." Jean-Pierre tried to sound confident but it's clear that he was shaking in his boots.

One of Tartaglia's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"

Jean-Pierre continued. "The winner gets to keep Y/N."

Tartaglia crossed his arms in contemplation. While he didn't agree with Jean-Pierre views, you should clearly have a say in deciding where you wanted to be and who you wanted to be with, you weren't an object, however this might be a great way to get rid of this nuisance. Tartaglia didn't even really need to hurt the guy. Jean-Pierre was already clearly intimidated by Tartaglia. Just ruffing him up a little bit would be enough for him to turn tail and run. Tartaglia grinned watching how Jean-Pierre became stiff with fear at the small gesture.

"I disagree with your terms, but I'll take you up on the offer of a battle. Tonight just north of the city."

It was decided. As Jean-Pierre and Tartaglia parted, the two soldiers behind them shared a look of understanding.

.....

A warm breeze flowed through the harbor as you leisurely made your way to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. In the time that you had spent in Liyue, you had gotten to know Zhongli quite well and considered him a friend. By virtue of Anya's research on the Archon Wars, she had formed a close relationship with Zhongli as a mentor while she was here. You'd often tagged along for many of their trips to different historical sites and heard many of Zhongli's stories. As a result, you became fast friends with the funeral consultant and would sometimes share meals with him, time permitting. Today happened to be one of the days when neither you nor Zhongli had plans so you agreed to meet up and head over to Third-Round Knockout. Upon arriving at Wangsheng you found Zhongli waiting for you outside.

"Oh I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." You said as you arrived.

"Not to worry. I just finished work myself. Shall we?" Zhongli spoke in his signature deep tone as he responded. You nodded and followed alongside Zhongli.

Once arriving at Third-Round Knockout, you sat outside looking forward to tonight's tale from Iron Tongue Tian. The two of you talked about your days and about your research before placing your order. Zhongli was incredibly knowledgeable in many areas of expertise. Speaking with him has helped tremendously with your understanding of herbs native to Liyue and Liyue's medicinal practices giving your fodder for your research paper. As your food arrived, Zhongli asked a particular question that gave you pause.

"Have you seen Tartaglia today? I was hoping you could talk him down." Zhongli asked out of the blue. You looked up at Zhongli slightly taken aback.

"No I haven't. And what would I need to talk him down from?" You replied confused and worried.

In the time that you'd known both men, you had fallen into a bit of a pattern where Tartaglia would mention a fight or something offhandedly to you or Zhongli and Zhongli would send you to talk Tartaglia out of any completely unreasonable new fight he was picking. Together you had managed to talk the Harbinger out of wreaking total undo havoc... most of the time. You usually let Tartaglia handle himself but sometimes you would step in if he was planning something ridiculous like fistfighting an Archon. Honestly you wouldn't put it past him. Zhongli took a slow, graceful sip of his tea before continuing.

"Well he stopped by the funeral parlor this morning ranting about, in his words, "some fool with a death wish" that challenged him to a battle." Zhongli's voice was deep and soothing but his words gave you a bit of dread.

You didn't like where this was going. In the time that you had gotten to know Childe and had been in a relationship with him, you knew that he adored a good battle. And while you wished he wouldn't come to find you covered in blood and dirt, it nearly gave you a heart attack the first time when he approached smiling and waving while wearing his blood soaked jacket like a badge of honor, you knew it wasn't something about him that would change. More importantly, you didn't try to change him. If you couldn't accept and love every part of him, if you felt the need to change something so integral to his being, then why would you be with him?

You had come to terms with his work and how complex of a man he was a while before your decision to stay with him. You loved him for who he was, including his penchant for battle and drive to get stronger. Honestly, it was the same as your drive to become the best doctor; the same passion and drive just different focuses. Your only ask was that he would allow you to treat his wounds or at least seek medical attention after a fight. He respected your concerns for his well-being and had kept his word allowing you to treat the cuts and scrapes he came back with. Sometimes if he got really out of hand you would step in with the help of Zhongli and try to talk him down. Usually if he knew about an upcoming confrontation he would warn you in advance even if he couldn't give you details. So why hadn't you heard about this?

Zhongli continued. "He informed me that tonight he would be battling a man named Jean-Pierre."

Oh.... OH! Archons no! You dropped your chopsticks at Zhongli's words. You had to stop this. What was Jean-Pierre thinking? Challenging Tartaglia to a battle? You were going to smack these fools when you found them.

"Where and when exactly?" You asked Zhongli. You had no time to spare.

"Just northwest of Liyue Harbor near the road past Mt. Tianheng." Zhongli calmly replied either unaware of your building concern and fury or unfazed.

"Sorry Zhongli! I'll pay you back but I need to stop an idiot from getting killed!" With those words you shot up from the table, yelling over your shoulder as you left.

.....

Tartaglia had chosen a place outside of Liyue Harbor so the millelith wouldn't get involved, but he intended it to be a quick fight. Jean-Pierre didn't stand a chance. All Tartaglia intended was to give him a few bruises and a lesson not to mess with the Eleventh Harbinger. He shouldn't even need his weapon really. Tartaglia cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders as he took position. His bow and several arrows were a few meters behind him but not impossible to reach should he need them.

"If I win, I get Y/N and we're going home." Jean-Pierre spoke across from him.

Tartaglia let out a snort. "When I win, you leave us alone." Tartaglia had had enough of this nonsense and his tone conveyed it.

The two men began circling each other. Jean-Pierre charged towards Tartaglia swinging his fist aiming for Tartaglia's left side. Tartaglia quickly stepped to the right and parried, grabbing Jean-Pierre's forearm. Using the man's own forward momentum, Tartaglia flipped Jean-Pierre over his shoulder and into the ground.

"You're going to have to try much harder than that comrade." Tartaglia taunted the man lying prone on his back.

Jean-Pierre let out a growl as he rose back to his feet ready to take another swing. This time however, Tartaglia took the lead, landing a hit on Jean-Pierre's jaw before kicking him in the stomach, sending him stumbling several steps and gasping for breath.

"There's still time to back ou—" Tartaglia was cut off.

"Childe! Pierre! Stop right now!" Both men were startled by your sudden shout. Tartaglia turned to see you rushing towards them, stopping a few meters off to catch your breath.

"What are you two thinking? I nearly lost it when Zhongli told me about this!" You shouted as you stopped to breathe.

Ah. So that was how you had found out. Tartaglia gave you a sheepish smile scratching the back of his neck before opening his mouth to respond. Except he didn't get the chance.

"He was trying to kill me N/N! He asked me to come with him for a walk then attacked me!" Jean-Pierre lied through his teeth.

Tartaglia felt his blood run cold like the winter wind in Snezhnaya.

You wouldn't actually believe that right?

But if you did... did he have any way of defending himself?

No one except Zhongli knew... but Zhongli had heard it from him.

Tartaglia watched your eyes narrow in rage.

"Don't you dare lie to me." Your tone and words were spat like poison.

You were absolutely furious and Tartaglia knew. He stuttered trying to piece together anything that would defend his innocence. Jean-Pierre had asked him to fight. He would never attack one of your friends for fun. However, you blew straight past any attempts Tartaglia made to speak and continued on your rage fueled rant.

"Zhongli told me that you challenged Tartaglia to a fight. And I ran into two Fatui soldiers on my way over here who confirmed that they witnessed you challenge Tartaglia at Northland Bank." Your voice was full of rage as you descended on Jean-Pierre like a pack of wolves.

Oh thank the Tsaritsa! You didn't believe Jean-Pierre's lies and you weren't angry at him. Well actually you probably still were angry at him, but you were apoplectic with rage over Jean-Pierre. Which was all that mattered right now. Tartaglia could handle a rant later but he couldn't handle losing you to this lying bastard. It was honestly kind of hot when your rage was directed at not him. Now it was Jean-Pierre's turn to find a stuttered excuse.

"I-I was doing this to protect you!" His words came out in a rush.

"To protect me!" You let out an indignant scoff.

"He's not good for you! He's only going to use you and harm you. I bet he doesn't even really love you! I love you far more than he ever could. You belong with me! I was going to save you from him. He's an evil monster! He works for the Fatui! You know they're evil! I'm the only one who will protect you and save you!" Jean-Pierre's self righteous and delusional rant only served to make you feel sick.

Nausea was beginning to form in the pit of your stomach as you listened to the man you considered a friend talk about you as an item; a damsel in distress that he was going to save... and own.

"Stop! Just stop Pierre. I'm a person you know. I can make my own decisions and I don't need you to... attempt to protect me... Just go home. I don't need you here." You turned away from your former friend.

Jean-Pierre's eyes grew cold as he trained them on Tartaglia's back. This has been all his fault. That Fatui bastard had taken away and brainwashed the love of his life. Jean-Pierre reached into his pocket and left the firm handle of the short dagger he always carried. Wrapping his fingers around the dull instrument, what was left of his resolve snapped like a thread. He got to his feet and charged. Before Jean-Pierre could even take a full breath, he had embedded the knife in the back shoulder of the man he despised most in this world.

Tartaglia let out a brief shout, clutching his right shoulder that had begun to drip a deep crimson liquid. He could feel the tell tale searing burn of a blade ripping through his flesh. In an instant his knees had given way as the result of a sharp kick to the back of them.

You whipped around when you heard Tartaglia cry out in pain. Before you stood one of your closest friends, hands smeared with the blood of your lover. Jean-Pierre was standing over Tartaglia with his foot on Tartaglia's back and a rock in his hand. There was the oak wooden handle of a blade sticking out Tartaglia's shoulder. Your breath stopped in your throat. Your only thought being that if you didn't do something,

Jean-Pierre was going to kill the man you love.

Then you noticed it. Tartaglia's bow was right at your feet. Without thinking you grabbed the weapon in your shaky hands, clammy with cold perspiration. Quickly you nocked an arrow and took aim. The wood was smooth to the touch as you drew back the string of the bow. As Jean-Pierre was lifting the rock over his head... You breathe in slowly and shaky then let go of the string.

.

You released an arrow right at Jean-Pierre.

.

A/N: Should we kill Jean-Pierre?

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Link to Ch 13

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 11

Link to Ch 10

Link to Ch 1

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It had been days since you parted with Anya in Liyue Harbor. You hoped she had a safe trip back through Port Ormos. It would take a few days for her to travel from the port to the capital. Still, knowing it would take time for her to return to Sumeru City didn't help with your restlessness. You wanted to petition the Akademiya for your extended stay in Liyue as soon as possible. The quicker that was handled the quicker your anxieties could be put to rest. And the sooner you could properly get back to your papers. You had been writing about the advancement in medicine in Liyue and possible applications of Liyue's herbs to medicine in Sumeru to improve their potency. Sending the first draft with Anya, you had hoped it would convince the Akademiya to allow your extension, but now you were left with only your notes. It was difficult to make edits to a paper that you didn't have.

Tartaglia was busy this morning but he'd promised to find you once he was finished. Having little to do with no word from Anya or the Akademiya, you decided to walk along the port in Liyue Harbor. You loved looking out on the vast expanse of ocean. It almost reminded you of the views from Port Ormos, minus the rainforest plants. Monika loved spending time there to celebrate finishing a paper and would subsequently drag you and Jean-Pierre with her. The three of you had spent many a weekend in Port Ormos relaxing in a tavern or enjoying the laid back atmosphere. You never quite understood why Monika felt a perpetual need to always leave Sumeru City to celebrate, but you had a feeling Port Ormos became the spot of choice since the Akademiya had less sway and control there. Looking out over the waves and reminiscing made you feel connected to your friends even if they were so far away.

Over the past few days you thought about them more and more than you had during the months prior, because in the back of your mind you knew they would be furious when they found out why you were still in Liyue. You had considered writing to them but you knew it would do little to soften the blow. Maybe if they met Tartaglia he could charm them as he had you and Anya. Now that was just wishful thinking. You doubt he'd be able to so much as utter his name before Monika would come in swinging with accusations. She probably wouldn't even give him time to speak to defend himself before throwing her arm around you and dragging you away. Monika was always hot-headed. You just hoped you'd be able to eventually convince her. Eventually. As you walk along the docks, ships pulling up and unloading, you let your minds wander. Until you heard a voice calling your name.

"Y/N!"

That couldn't be right... that was Jean-Pierre's voice.... You turned to look behind you and to your amazement, and possible horror, there he was waving his hand and practically running towards you. This could be bad. This could be very bad. Had Jean-Pierre run into Anya? Did he know that you'd chosen to stay? What was going to happen when he met Tartaglia?

Oh Archons, he was going to meet Tartaglia.

You froze feeling as if your entire body had been doused in ice water as Jean-Pierre continued to close in with fast paced steps.

"Y/N. It's good to see you." Jean-Pierre moved in for a hug but you stopped him with a quick question.

"Jean-Pierre, what brings you to Liyue?" You kept him at arm's length as you asked. Jean-Pierre's classic smile faltered slightly but he quickly recovered.

"I came here to bring you home." He sounded so sure as if there was no question about why he would be here. Your timid smile slowly dropped.

"O-Oh well... I'm planning to stay here for a while- to continue my research! You've heard of Bubu Pharmacy-" You tried to explain but Jean-Pierre cut you off.

"I already know... about him." The vitriol in his voice has taken you back a bit.

Oh Archons no. You let out a deep breath through your nose.

"So... you spoke with Anya..." You ventured cautiously. You knew how Jean-Pierre felt about the Fatui and you had to tread carefully. Jean-Pierre steeled himself before responding.

"You stayed for a Fatui Harbinger." His tone alone told you that he was barely keeping himself together. Yeah this was very bad.

"I know that sounds bad but he's really not a bad person-" As you tried to reason with Jean-Pierre and explain yourself, he cut you off with a condescending smile.

"Oh Y/N. I know how deeply you care about your patients and you're so trusting. It's honorable really. But (N/N) you don't actually know this man. He could just be using you. And you're trusting him because he used to be your patient. Just come home with me. Everything will be okay." His words were sickly sweet as he spoke to you like you were a child.

Your stomach was twisting into knots and you felt like you were swallowing iron.

Had Jean-Pierre always thought like this?

Has he always been this condescending?

It wasn't just his tone the shocked you but the words and expressions he wore as he practically belittled you without even listening to what you had to say.

"Pierre... I'm... serious about this." You tried yet again to reason with him hoping against all odds that this was a fluke in his behaviour.

"And I'm serious about taking you home." Jean-Pierre reached out to brush your hair as he spoke and you almost flinched.

Jean-Pierre's hand stopped just short of your face and it took you a moment to realise that someone else's hand was holding Jean-Pierre's wrist. Your eyes followed the black gloved hand to the black cuff lining of a grey jacket.

"Hey there."

Light bounced off the ruby red earring he wore as he turned his head, fixing his gaze on the man whose wrist was in his hold.

"And who might you be?"

Tartaglia's tone was teasing but the look in his eyes was sharpened like a blade. Jean-Pierre stood straight as a pin before coming back to his senses and ripping his hand out of Tartaglia's grip. As the two men silently began sizing each other up, you knew you needed to step in.

"Um Childe, this is Jean-Pierre. He's one of my fellow researchers. He was part of the expedition to Dragonspine. And Pierre, this is Childe. He's the Snezhnayan man I found in the avalanche." You introduced the two men but it did nothing to lessen the tension between them.

Tartaglia was the first to speak after your introduction. "I'm Tartaglia the Eleventh Harbinger of-"

"I know who you are." Jean-Pierre's harsh tone and words cut through Tartaglia's attempted introduction and shot down any attempt at goodwill between the two of them.

"I don't know how you've managed to manipulate Y/N to stay with you or swindled her into trusting you but that ends now. I'm taking her back with me." What had been left of Tartaglia's smile disappeared immediately and he slowly crossed his arms as Jean-Pierre spoke.

"It seems we don't quite see eye to eye on this matter. I have not manipulated Y/N nor have I forced her to stay here in Liyue. Personally, I think it should be her decision to stay or leave, not yours." Tartaglia's tone was light but it was clearly a challenge.

Tartaglia's blue irises were cold as ice as he stared down Jean-Pierre. They were the eyes of a warrior. Any sane man would tremble and apologize for his offense. Except Jean-Pierre, while slightly intimidated, would not back down. In his mind, it was up to him to save the woman he loved from the evil man who stood before him. At the sound of your voice, both men turned to face you.

"Pierre, please try to calm down. I'm not being manipulated. I chose to stay here with Childe... I love him." Your eyes darted to Tartaglia's as you spoke. As your gaze met, his eyes softened and a small genuine smile crept onto his face.

However, you both missed how Jean-Pierre's eyes grew wide and his lips pursed.

How could you possibly be in love with this man?

You'd just met him. He was a Fatui Harbinger! Jean-Pierre had known you for much longer. He was also a good man and clearly a much better choice. But you had chosen this... monster. There had to be a way to bring you to your senses. Jean-Pierre would find a way. Soon you'd see that this man was a heartless monster and then Jean-Pierre would be there to comfort you. All he needed was a plan.

Tartaglia quickly moved to your side, intertwining his fingers with yours and turning back to look at Jean-Pierre.

"Well you've heard Y/N. Now we must be going. We have dinner reservations." Tartaglia smiled and waved mockingly at Jean-Pierre.

"See you later comrade." With that final jab from Tartaglia, the two of you left Jean-Pierre behind to ruminate.

He would find a way to get through to you; to show you that this man was undeniably evil. With that thought, Jean-Pierre flipped through the notes and statements he'd gathered for his trip. Prior to leaving Sumeru, Jean-Pierre has used the Akasha to gather basic information on the Harbingers, slowly narrowing down which one his love had met. He already knew it was Tartaglia by the time he boarded the ship in Port Ormos. Asking around some of the Snezhnayan students and even fatui soldiers he'd come across had only solidified his analysis. As Jean-Pierre flipped through his notes, a single line caught his eye.

"The Eleventh Harbinger has a penchant for battle and will never back down from a fight, even if it means certain death."

This was it. You were always kind and caring, valuing human life above all else.

How could you ever love a man who threatened the life of your dear friends?

Jean-Pierre let a smirk tug at the corner of his lips as the cogs in his brain turned formulating his plan. Tartaglia was a danger unto himself and others. All Jean-Pierre had to do was highlight that to you. Snapping his notebook shut, Jean-Pierre looked off in the distance where you had disappeared hand in hand with that vile man.

"Enjoy your dinner Harbinger. For today will be the last day that Y/N ever looks up to the likes of you."

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Link to Ch 12

[random-genshin-things]

Savior (Childe x Medic Reader) Ch 10

Link to Ch 9

Link to Ch 1

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After Tartaglia's confession, you spent the next few weeks together. On slow days and days off, Tartaglia would take you all over Liyue, from Mt. Tianheng to Qingce Village. He would take you to see the most incredible places during the day, telling you stories about how he'd found the place or retelling what he remembered about what Zhongli said. Every now and then as you were marveling at the views Tartaglia would sneak in a comment.

"If you love seeing new places you should come to Snezhnaya."

"This lake is beautiful. You know in Snezhnaya when it gets cold enough we skate on the lakes. I'll teach you when you come to visit."

"The view is lovely. You'll love the views of Snezhnaya in the winter. When everything is frozen, covered in snow and ice the trees sparkle and gleam. It's incredible."

At night, you would often eat in Liyue Harbor. Tartaglia liked to take you to the most renowned restaurants in Liyue: Luili Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and Wanmin Restaurant were common. He always insisted on paying stating that it was his treat. While you had tried to protest and at least split the bill, you were never successful and he would often swipe the bill when you were distracted. The one time you had managed to pay he brought you flowers for a week saying it was to make up for dinner.

On the days when he was busy with work, you would travel around with Anya and sometimes Zhongli. It was on one of these days that you were having dinner with Anya at a restaurant that Zhongli had recommended called Third-Round Knockout. It was a tavern located in Chihu Rock just across the bridge into Liyue Harbor. Third-Round Knockout was located in a fairly large building with outdoor seating. The building had multiple eaves and gables and green tile roofing. Zhongli had recommended it particularly because of the storyteller Iron Tongue Tian, but you and Anya were excited about the reasonable price for a good meal. Sitting at a table outside, you were telling Anya about an adventure with Tartaglia to Minlin to collect Qingxin flowers. As there was a lull in the conversation Anya spoke up.

"You really do like him don't you?" She gave you a look that said she could read you like a book.

You nodded with a soft smile not even trying to deny it. "I do."

Anya gave a wry smile "He's at least treating you well. After all, how many times has he taken you to Luili Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk?" She said playfully teasing you.

"Anya!" You rolled your eyes at your friend as she giggled.

"But in all seriousness, Have you spoken with him about what happens when you leave? We're getting back on a boat in two days." Anya raised a good point.

Your smile dropped. Two days? Was it that soon? Honestly, you had lost track of time. Which meant you hadn't even told Tartaglia how soon you were leaving, let alone discussed what would happen when you did. Anya could read your thoughts on your face.

"Oh Archons. You haven't talked with him yet have you?" She questioned already knowing the answer.

Biting your lip, you nodded solemnly. "I... hadn't even thought about it myself..." You needed to speak with Tartaglia. Anya brought her cup carefully to her lips and took a sip of her tea before replying.

"Well, are you seeing him tomorrow? If not, you'd better find him, unless you want him to think you've disappeared." Anya was right.

Tomorrow you will find time to speak with Tartaglia. He needed to know and you needed to come up with a plan if you didn't want this budding relationship to come to an abrupt conclusion.

.....

The next day you were standing in Northland Bank hoping to find Tartaglia. Suddenly, two fatui soldiers stopped in front of you. One of them elbowed the other and frantically gestured to you.

"Oh you're Lord Tartaglia's lover!" A voice called out to you.

Your head shot up to look at the two men who you soon recognized as the soldiers you spoke with when you returned Tartaglia's jacket. They both bowed in greeting.

"Are you here to see Lord Tartaglia? Unfortunately he's not here right now, but we can inform him that you're looking for him." The man on the right in the red uniform said, offering a smile.

You smiled at the two men as you replied. "Thank you. I'll wait for him here."

The two soldiers left you with a wave. You waited for another few hours before a pair a black boots stopped in front of you.

"Ah so you really did wait here. Two of my subordinates came to find me and told me you were waiting here for me." Tartaglia smiled down at you. "How about we head to Luili Pavilion for dinner? My treat since you were so kind as to wait for me."

The walk to Luili Pavilion was short but you were filled with dread knowing that you were about to inform Tartaglia that you were leaving in less than twelve hours. You kept going over phases in your head trying to pick out the best way to start the conversation and break the news to him. But everything you come up with just felt wrong. Worse it seemed Tartaglia was starting to pick up on how quiet you were being. As the two of you sat down, he gave you a serious look.

"What's wrong? You're remarkably quiet today." His tone was filled with concern and a hint of dread.

You sighed deeply. "We... need to talk..." Your words trailed off again as you struggled to find what you wanted to say.

The look on Tartaglia's face hardened as he looked away from you.

"You don't want to see me anymore." His tone was self deprecating and full of dejection. You jumped at that conclusion immediately trying to rectify the misunderstanding and assuage his fears.

"No! That's not it at all!" Your outburst drew looks from the patrons around you. You cleared your throat before continuing.

"I don't want to leave you.... But I have to return to Sumeru... tomorrow." You barely got the words out. It felt like your chest was constructing and suffocating you as you waited for his reply.

Tartaglia's eyes widened in both shock and understanding. "You're leaving tomorrow..." He sounded like he almost couldn't believe it.

"Yes. I meant to talk to you sooner, but I lost track of time. I was having so much fun, I didn't even think about leaving. I want to keep seeing you. I really like you." You cut your rambling off as you watched Tartaglia lean his face on his hand smiling at you. He reached his other hand out to hold yours, running his thumb over your knuckles in a soothing manner.

"I'll find a way."

He didn't elaborate any further, but he spoke with such conviction that you naturally found yourself trusting him. For the rest of dinner, you both spoke as if nothing was going to change until Tartaglia walked you back to your inn for the final time.

You didn't want to part from him. Your affections for the Harbinger had only developed further the more time you spent with him. You had slowly grown to love this man that you had risked your life to save just a few months ago. So when he stopped in front of the inn to wish you good night you couldn't contain yourself. You threw your arms around his shoulders and held him close. Tartaglia slowly returned your embrace, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you closer. You rested your head in the crook of his neck. No words needed to be said for you two to understand one another. Both of you stood silently, just enjoying the feeling of being in one another's arms under the stars and lantern lights of Liyue Harbor.

.....

The boat back was leaving at the crack of dawn so you would not have time to find Tartaglia again before departing from Liyue. And even if you had time it's not like he was going to be hanging around Northland Bank at all hours with nothing better to do. You and Anya had brought your trunks to the docks to be loaded onto the ship. Anya glanced back at you and one look told her everything.

"Sad to be leaving? It's written all over your face. You miss him already don't you?" There was no teasing in her voice, just the earnest remarks of a caring friend.

You gave a solemn sigh, forcing a smile then nodding softly.

"Hey, maybe he'll come to the docks to see you off." Anya's attempts to cheer you up were appreciated but not quite helping.

As the captain gave the signal to board, you could hear the creeping of heavy footsteps running on the wooden floor boards of the docks.

"Wait!"

You knew that voice. You turned just in time to see Tartaglia before he pulled you into his chest.

"Don't go. We can petition the Akademiya to have you stay here and continue your work. I-I can get you accommodations here, you wouldn't have to leave." You looked up to see Tartaglia's eyes pleading with you.

He continued. "I have some time off coming up. I was planning to go home to Morepesok, you can come with me. You'll get to meet my parents and siblings. They'd love to meet you. I know they'll adore you!" You could feel Tartaglia's grip tighten as you considered his offer.

"I know it's a lot to ask. But.." He locked eyes with you pausing for a moment. Tension was rising as you waited with baited breath for his next words.

"I love you. I love you so much and I don't want you to go."

And you loved him. You didn't even stop to think. Without a moment of hesitation, you brought your lips to meet his. The kiss was soft but full of your feelings. Tartaglia froze for a moment before his hand came up to the back of your head and tangled in your hair deepening your kiss. You pulled apart slowly and Tartaglia beamed with pleasure.

"Does this mean you'll consider staying?" His words were filled with a level of hope that scarce allowed himself. Your lips parted to speak but you were cut off before you had the chance to reply.

"I'm going back. I'll help petition the Akademiya and inform them that you've chosen to stay here to continue with your research." Both of you whipped your heads to Anya at her offer. You were quite startled.

"You mean... you'll help us?" You ask ready to squeeze your friend to death.

Anya crossed her arms and gave you a knowing smirk.

"If you came back with me now you'd be nothing but miserable. And while I don't particularly like the Fatui, it's clear that he strongly cares for you and that you return his feelings with full force. I'm not heartless enough to ruin my best friend's happiness due to my grievances. However..." Anya turned to Tartaglia. "If you hurt her, I will come down on you with all the force of a Snezhnayan blizzard. Understand?" Her words were as frosty as the glare she held.

But Tartaglia just nodded and happily grinned. "I promise I'll take good care of her and keep her away from Snezhnaya's darker sides." And his promise was worth everything.

Anya gave a single nod. "You'd better." If looks could kill, Anya's glares could take out an entire army. She turned to the stevedore and requested that your trunk be unloaded. Soon the ship was off with one less passenger. You and Tartaglia waved to Anya as the ship embarked on its journey to Sumeru.

..……

The trip to Sumeru had been calm except for Anya's swirling thoughts. She knew it was the right decision for you to stay in Liyue, but how would she explain to everyone else that she'd left you in Liyue in the care of a Fatui Harbinger? A Harbinger who was now your lover. Everyone would lose it! Especially Jean-Pierre. Anya had her suspicions that Jean-Pierre's feelings for you were a bit stronger than friendship. And the Fatui had practically ruined his family. If there was one person in the world who would take this news the worst, it would be him. Monika wouldn't be too pleased either. Mondstadt might have been political allies with the Fatui on paper, but Mondstadters despised the Fatui. Anya had no idea how she was going to explain the situation to them without them immediately getting on the next boat to Liyue in an attempt to bring you home.

As the ship docked in Port Ormos, Anya's fears began to manifest. Both Jean-Pierre and Monika were waiting at the docks for you. This would be fun. As Anya disembarked and approached the two Jean-Pierre was the first to speak.

"Where's Y/N?" He wasn't making any accusations yet but his tone wasn't happy go lucky either. Anya could sense herself begin to fidget with the strap of her satchel.

"S-she chose to stay in Liyue to continue her research." Anya's voice wavered slightly when faced with the onslaught of both of your friends.

Jean-Pierre's jaw dropped and Monika spoke up.

"You let her stay there alone?" Monika was not having it.

Anya fumbled for a good answer.

"She's not alone... you know the man she saved in Mondstadt? Turns out he works in Liyue." Anya knew that wouldn't placate them entirely but she hoped her words would settle them a little bit.

Jean-Pierre recovered but was quickly growing enraged. He and Anya never got on well at all.

"You mean you left her with some guy?!" He was practically fuming as he spit out his words.

Anya was also getting annoyed with him.

"He's not some guy. They're... close now. Besides, he's far more powerful than any of us. If anything he'd be able to protect her better than you could." Anya shot back, not being able to resist taking a dig at Jean-Pierre. Monika raised an eyebrow at Anya's words.

"A powerful man from Snezhnaya?"

The instant those words left Monika's mouth Anya knew she had messed up. Badly.

"Who exactly is this man?" Jean-Pierre seethed through gritted teeth.

Anya searched for an answer, any answer, as another researcher stepped off the boat.

"Oh are you talking about the Harbinger?" The offhand comment made by the other researcher who happened to witness the exchange sank any attempts Anya could make to defend you.

Everyone froze. Anya could feel the cold sweat running down her back. This was not good.

Jean-Pierre spoke up. "Harbinger?"

"Yes. I overheard and assumed you were talking about the other researcher that stayed in Liyue with the Eleventh Harbinger." The research replied completely oblivious to the growing tension. Anya had lost all colour in her face as Jean-Pierre and Monika took in this new information before turning heated glares to her.

"Did Y/N stay back in Liyue with a Fatui Harbinger?" Jean-Pierre's eyes were deadly cold.

"S-She saved his life. He's completely devoted to her. He won't harm her." Anya could sense that she was only digging a deeper hole.

"Devoted.... You said they were close... How close?" Monika had crossed her arm and while she was slightly calmer than Jean-Pierre, her jaw was clenched tightly.

"I-I—" Anya's words were quickly cut off by Jean-Pierre.

"Forget it. I'm going to Liyue and I'm bringing Y/N back. I'll kill that bastard if I have to." Jean-Pierre had started walking away with his statement.

"Wait! You can't just leave! You'd have to petition the board for permission!" Anya called after him in a desperate attempt to stop him. Jean-Pierre slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder at the two women. His eyes were steely and cold.

"Watch me."

With that he turned on his heel and was gone.

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Link to Ch 11