Being a second-in-command for a Fatui Harbinger was usually a terrifying responsibility. The mere title alone carried weight—an unspoken promise that failure would not be tolerated, that expectations would be sky-high, and that discipline would be enforced through whatever means necessary.

Most Harbingers led with an iron fist, instilling fear in their subordinates, ensuring absolute obedience through threats, violence, or worse. But Childe wasn't like the others.

He never saw the point in ruling through cruelty. He had no patience for unnecessary punishments or heavy-handed discipline, nor did he believe in breaking people just to mold them into mindless tools for the Fatui.

That wasn't his style.

That was why, when he took you under his wing, it wasn't through force or coercion. You had started out as just another recruit under his command, someone thrown into the chaos of the Fatui's ranks, learning the ways of battle, espionage, and survival.

At first, you were simply another soldier in his care, one among many. But unlike the others, you stood out.

It wasn't just your strength or skill that caught his attention, though those were certainly valuable. It was something else, something he didn't often find among the Fatui. You were honest. Not in a naive or foolish way, but in a way that made you reliable. No manipulation, no hidden agendas, no fear in speaking your mind.

You weren't the type to betray someone the moment things got difficult, and Childe liked that about you. He liked knowing that when he turned his back, he wouldn't have to worry about a knife sliding between his ribs.

So, he promoted you. Just like that. No grand announcement, no elaborate test. He simply told you one day that you were now his second-in-command, and from that moment on, he gave you no choice but to stick with him.

That wasn't to say he wasn't secretive when he needed to be. Childe had his own burdens, things he couldn't share even with you, no matter how much he trusted you. And when the time called for it, he could be strict, especially when it came to your safety or the success of a mission.

But he never used force, never made empty threats, and never treated you like some expendable pawn. If anything, he treated you more like a friend than anything else.

Which led to moments like this...

"You got that? Good. Hold this too," Childe said absentmindedly, dropping yet another souvenir into your already full arms without so much as a second glance. He was far too engrossed in examining the shelves in front of him, eyes scanning over rows of neatly arranged trinkets and gadgets with that same critical look he usually reserved for weapons.

Fontaine had no shortage of impressive technology, and if there was one thing he knew, it was that Teucer would absolutely love this stuff.

His budget? Unlimited. Well, not literally, but close enough. After all, the Fatui weren't exactly lacking in funds, and Childe himself wasn't the type to hesitate when it came to spending money on his family.

He picked up a small mechanical bird next, winding it up slightly to watch it flap its tiny metal wings. "Hah, this is pretty cool," he murmured, tilting his head as he tested the way it moved. "Ah, maybe I should get something for Tonia and Anthon too," he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

At this point, he was barely paying attention to your struggle, too absorbed in his shopping spree. He looked like he was enjoying himself, his usual sharp, battle-ready aura was softened into something more playful and more relaxed.

He could be a terrifying force on the battlefield, but right now he was just a brother on a mission to spoil his siblings.