[3rd person]

- School AU -

(Y/n) and Childe have been classmates since the beginning of highschool. Ever since, the male has been making sneaky excuses to make (y/n) help him in subjects he was having a "difficult" time with.

Sometimes she explained the lesson to him. Helped him review for tests, or help him with homework. (Y/n) could easily tell that he wasn't exactly struggling with it, so she wondered what his motives are.

"(Y/n)" Childe called out to her just before she could exit the classroom. Most students were already gone by then, and the others were heading out which pretty much left the two of them there.

"What is it, Childe?" She walked over to him and put her bag down on the vacant seat in front of him. "Need me to teach you something again?"

"Yeah. It's about science this time. Our topic about the science of how love works is really confusing you know?"

"Ehh well ok." (Y/n) sighs. A part of her wanted to hit this organism with a brick for making her have to explain what love is. Something like, 'I get that it's science but discussing the topic with you would feel awkward' she thinks. "What part exactly confuses you?"

"Everything."

The slightly irritated female shooked her head in disappointment then took the vacant seat beside Childe, then shifting her body to face him. "To put it shortly, in love we feel the attraction due to adrenaline, dopamine and seratonine. Those are some neurotransmitters that sends signals to our brain. Feelings yikes-" (y/n) cringed.

"Then there's also the hormone oxytocin which is like, an attachment? It plays a subtle roll in scent, but is much stronger between a mother and child." She finished. "Do you get it now? Can I leave yet?"

"I still don't get it." Childe pouts. "I want first-hand experience."

"Bruh."

"Don't bruh me. I'm being serious."

"Yeah ok, totally." (Y/n) got up from where she sat and attempted to grab her bag, until Childe promptly stood up and grabbed her wrist.

"Where do you think you're going?" He chuckled.

"Isn't that obvious?" The girl rolled her eyes. "I still got a lot of stuff to do at home alright?"

Ignoring what (y/n) said, Childe gently tugged on her wrist so that she'd be at closer proximity to him, then he lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips.

"C-childe?!" (y/n) gasped, trying to pull her hand away from the boy, but he gripped too tightly. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"So did you feel the rush of adrenaline?" He asks. His voice held no innocence, and he knew just what he was doing.

"How would I know?!"

"What about this then?" He pulls her even closer. From this range, (y/n) could see just how much Childe towered over her, the sly grin on his face not far from devouring her. "Don't you ever get tired of helping me, (y/n)"

"Well... It's because you keep insisting."

"Am I? It's not like you resist though. See? Even in this situation where I'm so close I could just about kiss you, you aren't resisting."

(Y/n)'s face immediately turned beet red and she went dead silent. Unable to find the words to respond, or the strength to make him let go of her.

Was his grip on her really that strong? Or was she using it as an excuse because she's in denial that she actually likes the situation. And she likes him.

More or less, it was the latter.

"Still not going to resist?"

"I- don't know."

"Oh?" Childe paused to think of what he was going to do with the girl. "I'll give you the count of three to resist, or I'll kiss you... 1..-"

"Childe- you can't mess with me like that!" (Y/n) begins to panic. Her heart was beating like crazy and a mere three seconds wasn't enough for her to decide or let alone formulate a response while in her current state.

"2..."

"3..."

(Y/n) shut her (e/c) eyes, expecting Childe to kiss her. Only for the boy to let go of her and break out laughing. "You!" The girl opened her eyes and backed further away from him in embarrassment. A slight feeling of relief washed over her, but overpowered by the feeling of disappointment which led her to becoming upset.

Her eyes started to water, and she tried her best to hold back from crying due to the embarrassment and frustration. Or mainly because it pained her heart. 'Curses the science behind that.' she scowled and rushed to get her bag so that she could leave the classroom and head home.

"Pfftt you really thought I would kiss you!" Childe was still laughing.

"Yeah. And so what if I did?" (Y/n) responded spitefully. "Happy with the results?" A small tear fell down and stained her cheeks. It brought Childe to sudden silence, and a heavy feeling of guilt.

"Hey wait. I didn't mean to make you cry-"

"I'll see you tomorrow." She ignores him and took a few steps towards the classrooms exit, till Childe decided he didn't want to let her leave upset because of what he did. He ran over to (y/n) who was still walking forward without looking back, and hugged her. "Childe, let go."

"Just hear me out. I didn't think it would hurt you like that. Like, are you upset that I attempted to kiss you? Or is it because I embarrassed you? Or did you actually want me to kiss you? Just tell me."

"What good would it do for you to know." (Y/n) hissed.

Childe let go of her then walked to her front. "Just answer me then I'll let you go."

"You think I can casually just answer your question?"

"Fine. Let me rephrase. Do you like me or not?"

(Y/n)'s teary eyes widened at Childe's question.

"I'm not naive, neither am I going to act like I notice nothing." Childe sighs. "If you think I'm just messing with you for fun then you're mistaken."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The girl asked in a small voice her eyes unable to look straight at the boy before her.

"It means I like you."

"Ok, and?"

"I don't want to kiss you without your permission. Besides, you'd hate my guts if I actually kissed you just to find out my assumptions were wrong."

"T-then I give you permission."

Childe smiled at (y/n)'s reponse, then leaned in closer to her. "So, you're ok with this?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Okaay." The boy chuckled and gently pressed his lips against (y/n)'s.

Do you feel the rush of adrenaline yet?

---

I highkey want to write a whole childe fanfic now because yes

Like I'm literally so obsessed with him n everytime he laughs (in Japanese dub) my heart does a 360 around the earth

Yes I'll farm the damned oceanids just for your ascension materials Childe bby( ´◡‿ゝ◡')