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Time 6:⁰⁰pm
Day 26/⁵

The street was bustling with life, from the colorful LED lights, and street musicians jumping around with female dancers in toe dressed in exotic outfits, to sports cars and limos parked extravagantly at the hoarded front wooden doors of the club. The words " Boar Canyon " hung over them, with shades of red, blue, and yellow neon flashing down at two boar obsidian boar statues guarding either side of the doors. Everything was so familiar yet different. Boar canyon was no longer a cozy little dining place, it had . . . Expanded. The building had grown an extra floor, posters and digital screens featuring explicit content adored the exterior where people flocked

In the end, after debating on what to wear, I settled for a white shirt smudged with pink blobs pi with the words "cattle" printed at the center; matched with a pair of dark jeans, platform white sneakers, and a jean jacket tied around my waist with a white hood stitched to it. Call me old school but this was one of my daily outfits when I wasn't busy calculating the finances of the restaurant or having breakfast at Cat's Tail.

My eyes grazed on the fields of people, before landing on a tall ginger standing out in a red casual suit consisting of a crimson jacket seemingly soft to the touch, matching with his pants , and a white shirt underneath. He had a white hat in his hand and seemed to debate weither or not to wear it by analysing his reflection through the window of a cab. . . But I had no idea what to say once walking up to him, so instead I just scanned the area, before awkwardly scooting to his side and just stood there while he tried fixing his hat on his head . He did not seem to even recognize my presence in the reflection and had his tongue slightly stuck out as if he was creating a masterpiece. " Childe , it's a perfect . . . How long is it gonna take you to realize I'm here ?" He looked back ate instantly with the cheekiest grin I've ever seen.

" Oh no I saw you lil miss , " his teased winking. " I was just waiting for you to make your move ~ "

His remark made me want to strangle him. Heck my hands hand subconsciously reach out for a second, before I regained control and pulled back . " Impulsive?" He chuckled , unfazed.

Without wasting anymore time, he hooked his arm into mine and guided me in without even flinching when the bodyguards at the doors eyed us suspeciously. " Thank God they don't know me. . . " I had held my breath the whole time they were checking my ID fearing they would know who I was, but alas they seemed clueless.

" Why would they know you? ". Childe arched his brow at me curiously, before walking me to the main hall. " Did you work here before of something? My lady you're probs too tiny to be a bodyguard though."

" Oi don't call your boss short unless u want to get fired ! " Reaching out, I pinched his cheek and pulled, before he finally too it back.

" My lady you're so cruel ~" he faked a whimper and tugged onto my arm. " Can this man not earn little miss' favor ?~ we need a good cover up no?~ I'll be your boyfriend then ~ "

" Aw jeez no way, I'm not into dating, if you want me get me a shiny ring with my favorite stone and get a good job," he stared at me in awe with little stars in his eyes as if waiting for me to continue.

"A-and ?"

"And marry me," I felt something nip at the strings for my heart as a sense of deja vu hit me,". . . And not sleep with the enemy."

His thumb caressed my cheek, and it was then I realized a cold tear had run down my cheek and that I had stopped walking. We were basically standing in a corridor of friends clicking glasses and couples making out and getting all handsy. . . Meanwhile I was feeling nostalgic and broken.

Chidle's grin had vanished and replaced by a frown as he leaned down and pulled a tissue from his pocket. " He must have been a fool. . ." He reassured, holding both of my hands and bringing them up to his cheeks. " Now my lil miss, we need to stay focused and find what that sussy one eyed pirate has to do with this place. "

He kissed the palm of my hand and pulled me forward to start walking again. " Nothing will stop you lil miss !" He cheered, running to the main core hall where all the noise and music was focused." I'll by you a drink ~~"

I sluggishly followed, feeling pathetic. I knew where I was . I knew he was bound to be around here somewhere. . . But God I did not want to see his face. That two faced . . .

" COME ON ANOTHER SHOT!"

" DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!!"

The commotion at the bar section was raging with a small group gathered around what I could only assume was two drunkards playing a drinking game, but among the people surrounding them I could spot a familiar face." Lil missy, you're spacing out ~" Childe slided to my side and followed my gaze, eyeing the group with his dead blue eyes, before glancing back at me. " Recognize a friend?"

I nodded silently and whipped the remaining tears from under my eyes, while still holding onto the edge of his shirt. " An old friend ," a weight settled on my chest. " Hadn't seen her in a while . . .nor talked to her."

" I'm guessing you had a fight too? Tsk tsk my lady you make alot of enemies don't you?" Despite his dramatic comment his eyes did not leave the group. A smirk pulled at his lips as if realizing something. " Wanna go say hi? " He didn't even wait for me to respond and began dragging me to the group. " Hey ~ do any of your young lads perhaps know this young lady here?"

" Childe for Barbatos sake stop -" I tried to escape, but her violet eyes had already locked on me .

" You're . . . ." She stood up from her seat under the dim yellow lighting at the bar.

She pushed past her drink buddies and stared at me speechless and her breath oozing of vodka and some other funky drink . She was in bothin but black leggings and a purple crop top with a lil ship beaded onto the shirt. Her hair was down as usual with some of it tied in a bun . . .alas she looked alot messier and not in a great shape. " Oh god ," she didn't even give me a warning and jumped at me to crush my bones as if I were nothing but slime.

Maybe today I would finally break a bone and know how that feels. " Aish you still cute and short ~ God I missed you girl ~ " she babbled on clearly half drunk and kept my head fastened under a head lock. " She's just the sweetest thing I tell ya bois and girls ! She eats her cookies like a rabbit !"

She gasped in realization as he gaze wandered off to a person at the center of the group , and patted my shoulder excitedly while Childe kept an eye on me form the sidelines with a cup of whiskey in his hands while chatting with the bartender. "I know this guy who you'd totally love - THOMA GET YOUR ASS UP!" I stiffened.

Indeed as I anticipated the Thoma I knew stumbled out of the group with a cup of vodka in his hand as he tipped from side to side. "Cheers~ To miss Ayaka ~ " he laughed and hiccuped falling at me and beidou like a lip leaf. "O-Oh? My lady is that you? "

Childe seemed to chock at the sight of Thoma's presence and began to cough out the alcohol he had swallowed, before storming at us and grabbing the blonde by the collar, before glancing at me with the most calm smile." Lil Miss it seems this drunkard is bothering you ~ Allow me to eliminate his existence swiftly~" the ginger did not bat an eye and was ready to plant Thoma's face into the ground beneath us if it were for the group of friends trying to calm him down.

Thoma only lazily stared at him with a pout ," My lady why are you so tall suddenly? Why is your nose so big? Why is your hair so short and gingery? "

The drunken clueless blonde reached out to touch Childe's cheeks and squish them. " You're face seems more . . . Big . . . Oh and your hair's rougher . . . " he giggled , before throwing his arms around Childe, while the guy froze, clueless for a moment of what's happening.

" Is he that drunk ?" I questioned Beidou, who only tilted her hand from side to side. "Is there a place where we can get him some space around here and sober up?"

" I missed you so much my lady . . . It's been a day and I miss you . . ." He began snuggling his red face into Childe's neck , only for the ginger to freak out completely and attempt to yank him off.

" GET A GRIP ! Your such a light drinker . . . .AND AN ANNOYING ONE !" Only after pulling him by his ponytail did he manage to get him off.

No body among the bodies of dancing people and colorful night lights seemed to even bat an eye at Thoma and Childe's interaction. " Meh , you drink one cup you drink many ," beidou proudly chuckled to herself, before pointing at the corridor leading to the the staff room and handed me her key," I have room 25 as a rest area, it's not big and fancy, but it'll do for our drunk friend here."

In all honesty I could notice her mouth open in an attempt to say something again. . . But she never did. She gave me that same pitiful look she gave me the last time I saw her, before I turned my back and walked away; hunched and supporting Thoma's weight on my shoulder while Childe helped with the other side. " Honestly you're too much of a goody two shoes to be getting drunk like this. . .pathetic," despite his scolding, Thoma only smiled and leaned to him thinking the irked Snezhnayian boy was was me.

" I really love you my lady ~" he cooed into Childe's ear, while I just stared dumbfounded at the blonde's words. " Forgive me my lady. . . I'm causing you to be in pain."

He began crying and sobbing, making us get funny looks from the other party people. Childe did not bat an eye and simply flicked the other guy's forehead, before replying," I'm not your 'lady ."

The blond turned to me and blinked in confusion. " There. . . .are two ?" His head tilted sideways like a troubled puppy as the party music faded and became taken over by the calmness of the staff corridor, which was more dimly lit by blue lamps and had not a soul in sight. " My lady you shouldn't be here ~"

I pressed my finger against Thoma's dry lips, before glancing at Chidle who seemed lost in thought as he counted down the doors of the long corridor. " Childe is everything ok?" He looked back at me with a smile pulled back on, but I was certain there was something he was not telling me.

" Don't worry yourself lil miss ~ The door is right ahead," indeed as he stated the door was only a few steps away, with Beidou's name slammed under the number in a gold plate. " Also . . . I found out a few things."

The wood of the door creaked as Childe twisted the key into its hole and opened it. It was but a small guest room with a bed, a glass desk, a bunch of Beidou's baggage huddled in the corner, and a long mirror facing the bed. The most eye catching was the blue slick curtains that surrounded the bed like a heavenly gate, making it almost seen like a bed of clouds with its white and pale blue sheets. "Let's lay him down here lil miss," Childe's voice had lost its playful tone and his eyes became dull as he scanned over the room, before settling on the mirror facing the bed. " I talked to the bartender while you were talking to that ' friend ' of yours. . . "

He paused and tossed Thoma on the bed like the hassel he was, in his eyes. The blonde giggled and snuggled up to one of the pillows, while mumbling something under his breath. " He recognized you . . . " I stiffened at his words and cautiously turned to him." Apparently your beloved ex is here for you ."

His eyes were dead locked on mine as he covered the mirror with one of the bed sheets, before turning back to me. Folding his arms over his puffed chest as he stared at me and then at the drunk blond in bed. " He comes here often according to the bartender. . . Doesn't suit him don't you think?" A smirk seemed to tug at the corners of his lips as he sat next to me on the bed side and held up a paper to my face. " I had to give him a generous tip. . . .so tell me my little miss , what's your story with a member of political party of Inazuma?"