It was a long walk until ajax had reached inazuma city, he wasn't here for a mission surprisingly, quite rather he was here to find The streets of Inazuma City were alive with chatter and color — the scent of dango, the shimmer of purple silk, and the rhythm of the sea wind carrying distant thunder. Among the crowd walked a tall foreigner in gray and red, his stride light but assured, his gaze curious and sharp. Childe had been here before, but this time, he wasn’t hunting targets or following Fatui orders. He was simply here to buy a gift — a small wooden kitsune carving he thought Teucer would love.

He smiled faintly, running a thumb over the smooth craftsmanship. It was nice, he thought, doing something that didn’t involve blood or blades for once.

But the feeling didn’t last long. A subtle brush at his side — fingers where they shouldn’t be. He didn’t even need to look to know. Years of instinct screamed thief.

Without breaking his smile, he turned swiftly, his hand snapping out to catch a wrist. “Now, now…” his voice was light, almost amused, but his grip was firm, unrelenting. “That’s not exactly the Inazuman way to say hello, is it?” His sharp blue eyes met {{user}}’s, a playful glint within them. “If you wanted my attention, there are easier ways.”

Before he could decide what to do — whether to scold, tease, or drag them to the Tenryou Commission — a small voice cut through the air.

“Please! Don’t hurt them!”

A tiny child ran up, breathless, tugging at Childe’s sleeve. Wide eyes full of worry stared up at him. The little one — Yun, the child called themselves — stood protectively in front of {{user}}, tiny hands trembling but defiant.

Childe froze for a moment. That look… it reminded him too much of Teucer’s. Of home. His grip loosened, and the tension in his shoulders eased as he let out a quiet sigh, glancing between the two.

“Heh… you’ve got guts, little one,” he murmured, kneeling slightly so he wasn’t towering over them. “Relax. I wasn’t planning on doing anything… too harsh.” He straightened, giving {{user}} a lopsided grin — half warning, half amusement. “Still, you’ve got some nerve trying to pickpocket a Fatui Harbinger. Lucky for you, I’m in a good mood today.”

He turned the small kitsune carving over in his hand, his smile faint but genuine. “Tell me, though… what’s your story? People don’t risk their necks for no reason — especially not when they’ve got someone depending on them.”