Childe Tartaglia Ajax - Tumblr Posts - Page 2
Compilation of all my fics! All are nsfw, I hardly ever write sfw. All of them have some sort of smut. They are also all xreader.
99% of them are sylus. The other 1% is childe genshin impact
Monster
After a night out things get heated and Sylus can't control himself, revealing a new side of him.
content: f!reader, monster cock, porn without plot, public sex, multiple orgasms, Inappropriate use of Evol, after care, just a lot of smut idk
w/c: 3.7k
Ao3: Here
Busy
Plus size reader has been sick and busy for the last 2 weeks. Sylus has also been busy, resorting in them not having sex for that time. Then, you feel better one day.
content: f!reader, plus size reader, description of fat bodies, very body positive, oral f! receiving, teasing, smut
w/c: 2.4k
Ao3: Here
Hands
"Your eyes lit up when you seen my hand. It's dangerous to reveal what you like so easily."
content: f!reader, hand kink, blindfold, mating press, cum play, dirty talk, choking,
w/c: 3k
Ao3: Here
The Bet (1) (2)
Luke and Kieran bet you to call Sylus a good boy and then stuff happens.
Content: f!reader, Multiple orgasms, body worship, pet names, oral (f! receiving), aftercare
w/c: 2.3k
ao3: Here
The Walk
Reader gets attacked on the way home from work late at night.
content: f!reader, violence, possessiveness, murder, blood, after care, fingering, sweet talk, sex.
w/c: 2.2k
Ao3: Here
Plus size Drabbles (1) (2) (3)
A series of small headcannons about sylus and a plus size reader
Content: general smut, supportive bf and body positivity
Winters of Snezhnaya
Living her whole life in Liyue had always been boring, until a Fatui Harbinger came and swept her off her feet. Now she's his right hand man. But the winters of Snezhnaya are brutal, and when push comes to shove can she protect the man she loves when he needs it most.
Content: Porn with plot, Public sex, breath play, face fucking, possessive, rough sex. theres a lot. idk i wrote it 3 years ago and its 10 chapters.
w/c: 35.1k
ao3: Here
A Bad Day at Work (ft zhongli)
When work is unexpectedly busy, she ends up having a very rough day at work. But her boyfriends have a plan to help her feel better.
Content: Threesome, Dirty talk, oral (both m and f), deep throat, vaginal sex, multiple orgasms, rough sex, domestic boyfriends.
w/c: 8.7k
ao3: Here
Happy Birthday my Dear
3 fatui harbingers in watercolor 🎨
The good old days...
(not finished)
Genshin s/o meets your younger self
Hi everyone! I know I've been inactive for a few months and honestly I've just been so unmotivated lately, but I'm back now! So I've just been having this idea in my head for awhile what if the genshin boys and girls by some mysterious unknown circumstance meet a younger you who's like the polar opposite of who you are now? I thought it'd be interesting to try and write this so if it turns out being crappy I guess I tried lol. Well hope you enjoy! Characters include: Childe, Scaramouche, Heizou, Wriothesley, Beidou, Shenhe, and Yelan.
There will be a Pt.2 to this! Lighting 24680~
ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕖/𝕋𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕝𝕚𝕒/𝔸𝕛𝕒𝕩
Childe has no idea how this happened as he stares at the kid that just appeared in the middle of his fight with a small bunch of treasure hoarders that he’d easily eliminated. The kid looked at him they were the splitting image of his s/o, y/n. The kid looked at him unimpressed as they looked around the “battlefield”. The kid sighs as they walk up to him “look Mister I’ve got no idea in hell who you are or where the hell I am and considering the fact that I’m in what seems like Liyue I’m gonna assume I’m in some fucked up dream" the kid said to him. Childe just stood there unsure of what to say or do.
This kid couldn’t possibly be his calm and polite s/o! Y/n would rather say the most ridiculous phrases they could think of then swear. But the kid standing in front of him looked like a carbon copy of his s/o he couldn’t deny that this was too freaky to be a coincidence.
Childe raised his eyebrow and bent down on one knee so he was eye-level with the kid. He put on his friendliest smile well that's not a very polite thing to say to someone you've just met! He scolded the kid gently before introducing himself. My name is Childe and you are?
Younger you just looked at him in disbelief for a solid minute before questioning in the most sarcastic and mocking tone Childe had heard in his life (seriously this kid could rival Scaramouche!) are you serious? Like legitimately serious...you're name is Childe? Younger you scoffed before a mocking smirk crossed their lips, that's so fucking stupid of course that's your name ginger.
Childe was incredulous, his jaw dropped open at the boldness of this kid! Why listen here you-! Childe was cut off by the kid saying well anyways my name is a LOT better, my name is Y/n don't forget it loser. Childe's eye's widened oh no no no, there wasn't any WAY that this bold, sarcastic little kid was his s/o!!
Oh crap...Childe muttered as he looked at the kid before him who was currently looking away from him bored.
𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆~
It had started off as a normal boring day for the sixth harbinger who admittedly had nothing to do and had disappeared from the sight of his subordinates. He would've been with you if it wasn't for your annoyance of a job (being an experienced adventurer in the adventurer's guild). So it came as quite the surprise annoyance of the harbinger to deal with a kid who looked exactly like you.
Scaramouche has never been and will never be someone to ignore the possibilities of supernatural dealings. He doesn't trust the world, why would he not believe in coincidences of all things! How unbecoming of him would that be?
All he does is look at the younger version of you (who had crashed into his legs and had been running from something...) unimpressed. I assume your name is Y/n? He asked with a small sigh of irritation at his walk being interrupted, if only it had been his you that had interrupted him.
Younger you looked at him surprised and not bothering to hide it (unlike him). Wow Mister how'd you know that?! Younger you asks him curiosity swimming in their eyes. Yeah! My name is Y/n the one, the only, at your service...well for the right price! Younger you points their finger at him dramatically a gleam of mischief in their eyes.
Scaramouche has no idea what to do with this younger you, he’s half tempted to just leave this little you here and walk off. However he knows you would scold him big time if he did that curse you for being that metaphorical angel on his shoulder. He sighs irritatedly as he turns to where younger you had been standing only to see younger you was not in fact there…Oh for the love of-! Scaramouche grumbles as he’s forced to now put effort into finding this little you…and off he goes on his new babysitting task.
H⃞ e⃞ i⃞ z⃞ o⃞ u⃞
Heizou the master detective himself! Let’s be honest he’s not gonna be thinking of something supernatural or mysterious or anything along those lines when he walks into the Tenyrou Commision only to see mini you. Surprised yes he 100% is but he gets over it quickly and focuses on how the hell is he going to get mini you back to their timeline?!
Simple answer…he goes to Kujou Sara and charges her with babysitting you while he goes off to investigate what could’ve caused mini you’s appearance. And what a mistake that was!! He got back to the Tenyrou commission only to be told that you had been “kidnapped” by a mysterious tall figure with horns and Kujou Sara had gone after you. Heizou could practically hear his eye twitching in disbelief as he face-palmed and went off to find you, Itto, and Sara.
When he finally finds mini you with Itto his jaw drops because there you are covered in mud and flowers as you giggle and laugh while you beat Itto in an Onikabuto match. He’s practically stunned speechless because the Y/n he knows absolutely HATES being dirty and is very much a “neat-freak” as he so often teases you about. As soon as mini you sees him they come over and drag him over by the hand all the while talking rapidly (in bad grammar might he add!) about “I was totally destroying Mr. Oni here in our Onikabuto face off, and Mr. Detective you should’ve seen how we hid from that tall lady with the red mask!”
Mini you was laughing and talking a mile a second! Heizou just stared as a small smile appeared on his face looks like he had a lot to learn about his s/o from when they were little because as long as he’d known them they’d always talked deliberately and calmly this was so unusual to him and he found himself enjoying it as he sat down with mini you and Itto he finally processed what you’d said. Wait Y/n what did you say you did to the talk lady with the red mask?! He asked you his face going pale as he heard his name yelled angrily in the distance HEIZOU!!!
𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂
He’s the Warden of the whole damn Fortress of Meropide and a Duke of Fontaine he’s seen some weird shit before! Hell this man legit has an ancient evil entire SEA that glitters basically in his basement and he’s just above it drinking tea~and going about his day, like he’s gonna be phased by a teenage you appearing outta nowhere.
Anyways it all started with Wriothesley walking into his office and up the stairs only to stop in his tracks and raise an eyebrow as he sees why seems to be you just well…shorter sitting in his chair snoring away and like a classic teenager had your feet propped up on his desk.
Only that wasn’t classic you behavior, you were one of the most polite people Wriothesley knew and he’d never once seen you look so mannerless, it was obvious to him that something had happened to you or at least that this wasn’t his you. So he summons Sigewinne to his office and before she gets there he wakes “you” up. Younger you startles awake with a mumble of what the hell I was having a good dream! Only to see Wriothesley and let out a very undignified yell tumbling out of the chair and onto your ass.
Wriothesley let a smirk flit over his features for a second as he watched you fall out of his chair before saying in a smooth voice “ well good morning to you too little delinquent” he lets out a small chuckle as he stands with his hands in his pockets as he looks down on younger you.Younger you just stares up at him in surprise a disgruntled look on their face before they fully take him in and all they manage to get out is a “holy shit someone pinch me ain’t no way this is real” before suddenly getting knocked out with a tranquilizer dart.
Sigewinne stood in the door way her tranq gun in her hand a proud smile on her face “I’ve knocked the intruder out your grace!” She announced to Wriothesley who just sighs as he looks at younger you’s unconscious form and laughs a little.
Thank you Sigewinne he says exasperatedly before saying I’m going to steep some tea and walking away. How was he going to explain this to Sigewinne he thought to himself as he walked away a glint of amusement in his eyes as he remembered younger you’d reaction to seeing him.
𝔅𝔢𝔦𝔡𝔬𝔲
Beidou is a free spirit and a force to be reckoned with and she loves you to the bottom of the depths and back so when she finds a kid that resembles you sleeping in your spot on your guys shared bed in her cabin instead of you she gets worried. She knows that when she left her cabin last night you had been sleeping there in that exact spot and she’s just a lot little pissed that someone would have the nerve to kidnap you from under her nose on her ship and replace you with some kid! In any case she gently wakes up this supposed random kid only to be shocked when the kid slaps her hand away and sleepily sits up with a yawn. Beidou glares at younger you. Hey you little rascal what’s your name and why in the name of the archons are you on my ship! She proclaims loudly.
Younger you looks at her confused ah my name is Y/n Ms….? Younger you trails off as they stare at Beidou analyzing her clearly planning out what to say as she’s just stuck in place speechless as she looks at this strange kid that is apparently her s/o which is strange because her Y/n certainly doesn’t think before they act as she’s so fondly learned (you once jumped onto a sea monster effectively scaring the shit outta her.)
Beidou keeps staring for a minute before calling up to her crew, SET SAIL FOR JUEYUN KARST!! The adepts should be able to fix…whatever happened here she sighs as she looks at younger you who’s become transfixed with her eyepatch.
𝓢𝓱𝓮𝓷𝓱𝓮
Shenhe takes the situation better than anyone else. In fact she…kinda just assumes this is some human thing she doesn’t understand yet. When she finds little you in your house’s living room curled up on the couch stuffing heartstring noodles into their mouth she doesn’t even question it besides the fact that your in strange clothes she’s never seen before in a color scheme she had no idea you liked, the warm hues surprising her since she’d only ever seen you in cool colors.
My dear why have you…grown smaller? She asks little you politely. Little you turns around confused their mouth half open and noodles dripping out. Who are you? Little you questions her nonchalantly like it was normal for strangers to be in their house but like Shenhe was some “new stranger.”
Now Shenhe is confused little you clearly isn’t her s/o, at least not the version of you that belongs in her timeline. Now that she’s focusing on little you she can sense a faint spiritual energy on you. Oh dear I believe Cloud Retainer may have an answer for this come with me Y/n she tells little you kindly holding out her hand for little you.
Yelan
Yelan works for Ningguang she’s seen weirder things, hell she’s done weirder things. When she finds you randomly out near the golden house after hearing rumors of “a warrior with a red mask inside the golden house” getting prepared to go inside and fight the warrior to claim the Mora, well she’s surprised and then surprise turns to understanding when she sees your small form you can’t be older than 14 she thinks to herself as she makes her way over.
Before you can do anything she’s already tied you up in her hydro ropes and picked you up slinging you over her shoulder with a sigh of amusement. Younger you reacts exactly how she’d expect with a “tantrum” yelling about how some strange lady shouldn’t be trying to kidnap a “formidable fighter.” She chuckled a ghost if a smirk dancing across her lips. Sure little one as if I didn’t just tie you up in the span of two seconds she scold younger you.
Now let’s get you to Bubu Pharmacy I’m sure Dr. Baizhu would be more than happy to help me figure out what happened to my calm and levelheaded s/o she says as she easily carries you towards Liyue Pavilion. All the while younger you is complaining and muttering. Simply put by the time Yelan gets to Bubu Pharmacy her eye is twitching, she has dirt on her outfit, and younger you has one of her gloves in their mouth as a makeshift gag. Baizhu simply raises an eyebrow and opens his mouth to speak before Yelan interrupts him and raises her gloved hand long story she says as she mercilessly plops younger you on the flour with a THUD! Just fix them please she says with a groan.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Wasted youth.
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Platonic!Ajax x GN!Reader
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 11k
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: violence, blood, death.
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐀/𝐍: IT'S FINALLY HERE! I hope everyone can enjoy this <3
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩. 𝐛𝐲 Tempo Perdido - Legião Urbana
✦⸼࣪⸳ likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated!! <3
Snezhnaya is not exactly a friendly nation. The cold that seems to run from the veins to the depths of people's innermost being brings with it a certain hostility towards those who don't know the heart of the land. But within Ajax's distorted childhood perception, Snezhnaya was like a gentle mother, protecting its children under icy embrace.
But then, why did such a loving land allow its own child to fall into the deepest depths of the Abyss? Like drowning in freezing water, a child who survived Teyvat's darkest and loneliest place would certainly not come out of it the same as he went in.
"Ajax" was still Ajax, wasn't he? The same child, named after a hero from ancient tales, full of compassion and empathy, now carried with him a gaze that was deader than the fish he caught on ice.
Joining the Fatui wasn't in his plans for the future; being one of them wasn't so bad, although he wasn't expecting much for the future. But what he didn't like was being the youngest in the unit, it was a complete humiliation.
Not that the seniors were a challenge for him, but being constantly underestimated was... infuriating, to say the least. While his strength was admirable — thanks to Skirk, he would thank her someday — Ajax felt constantly bored, with no meaningful challenge ahead of him.
"Redhead!" The call was accompanied by a snowball, which hit him square in the face; his moment of peace was interrupted, though it didn't really matter.
Ajax could only sigh before letting out a soundless laugh, knowing exactly who had hit him: [Name], a recruit not much older than him, maybe a year or so. Being under the same division, it wasn't unusual to bump into them. "Here it comes..."
They weren't exactly friends, more like acquaintances. However, they also kept in touch enough to be just "acquaintances". Never friends, perhaps not at all.
As if he had some kind of radar, [Name] always appeared whenever Ajax had his rare moment of philosophical thought of questionable quality. Usually to disrupt the whole process.
" Damn, looks like you really found me," he laughed, turning to look at them.
"That's the third time I've had to look for you this week," they complained, carefully preparing another snowball to throw at him. "I always get scolded because of you, you know that?"
They weren't exactly wrong. Whenever Ajax wandered off the map, it was [Name] who had to look for him in the frozen woods. Not that they really bothered to do it, but it was tiring going around in circles until they found him.
"Look at it as part of your job."
"Babysitting...?"
"No, looking after your companions."
"... How idiotic."
"How heroic. It's very noble to look after your friends, you know?" Ajax corrected. His eyes returned to scanning the surrounding trees in a relaxed manner.
"Not when said 'friends' get into trouble all the time," they retorted.
"I always come back, it's not like you need to hunt me down like I'm some criminal on the loose." He shook his head briskly, brushing the snow off the top of his hair. However, he was greeted with another sharp shot right to the scalp.
"Look... So, all due respect, but you're not far off being one, you know?" they shyly replied. Not in a rude way, but still a little offensive to whoever it was directed at.
He didn't know whether to laugh or feel offended by what they said. Maybe both? Well, they weren't exactly wrong... Ajax was already considered a marginal project, or at least it seemed that way.
"Why did you do that?"
"What? You have to specify or I won't know,” his smile fell, replaced by a neutral expression. He tried to feign ignorance, but it didn't work very well.
"Don't be cynical. You beat up an older soldier. Aren't you a little ashamed?”
Which soldier were they talking about? It didn't matter to him anyway, as he'd lost count of how many he'd challenged and won — it wasn't a difficult task, they were never a match for him.
All too often they were weak, and [Name] was the worst of them all. That's why Ajax didn't even bother trying when inviting them to a duel, because the result was obvious from the start. The last time they sparred, it was be boring, easy and not worth the effort.
"Should I be? If a soldier almost two meters tall can't beat up a 14—year—old, then that means he's a weakling, doesn't it?" Ajax crossed his arms. "Besides, he called me names before, so we're even."
"Seriously..." they sighed, "Seriously, try not to make such a fuss. The Fifth can get you out of most trouble, only until you do something, let's say, really catastrophic."
"Something catastrophic like...?" he asked curiously, his gaze fixed on them.
"Like... burning down the Zapolyarny palace?"
His jaw dropped in shock, and a touch of offense showed on his cold—pink face. That was the most absurd thing he had heard in recent times. "What?! Why do you think I would do something like that?"
"Because it's you we're talking about, redhead."
"What's with the nickname?"
"I think it's funny, don't you?"
"You know... whatever." Ajax put his hands on his waist, shaking his head slightly. "I'll take that as an excuse to put a nickname on you too."
"So you're going to stop with the ' comrade' thing and come up with something even worse? Really?"
"Maybe so... maybe not. Who knows?"
The boy gave a relaxed smile, patting them on the shoulder before moving on. His heavy footsteps in the snow served as a background noise to the uneasy silence around them.
"I found it."
"Hm? Found what?" Ajax raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
[Name] pulled out a red scarf, so familiar to Ajax, from inside their backpack, carefully tying it around his neck. The fabric was warm, or perhaps it was the feeling of zeal, or also the nostalgia it brought.
Ajax hadn't realized he had left it behind. And when he realized it, the difference between the cold air and the protection of the scarf was remarkable — was he so distracted that he didn't notice?
The boy's gloved hands touched the soft fabric of the scarf, bringing it closer to his face and snuggling into the warmth. "Where did you find it, comrade?"
" Somewhere, it doesn't matter." They put their hands in the pockets, looking around at the landscape around them. "Aren't you afraid of getting lost in the forest?"
Ajax let out a genuine laugh when he heard their question, as if it were something ridiculous. "Getting lost? I know my way around pretty well."
[Name] narrowed their eyes, firmly disbelieving Ajax's words. For them, the scenery remained the same, no matter how far they went — well, they didn't go very far at all.
"What? It's all the same, like... just trees and snow everywhere."
Ajax held back a laugh, as if what they'd said was completely dumb. "You're not from Snezhnaya, right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Were you trying to hide it at all?" He couldn't help but laugh at the redness that appeared on [Name]'s face.
They were almost the scarlet color of their vision, which they proudly carried on a chain attached to their jacket. Pyro and Hydro, it was yet another thing that made them so opposite from each other.
"You know what, never mind! Just follow me." They extended a hand towards him, an almost forced offer.
Ajax hesitated, staring at the hand in front of him for a few long seconds before accepting it. He held it with some hesitation, not wanting to apply more force than he should have. He didn't mean to hurt, but he also had moments when he couldn't control his own strength.
They walked together through the snow, their steps in perfect sync. He noticed these small details as he looked down at the ground, thinking over and over again about an endless cycle. Sometimes, he just let that little silence take over his head, alone without direction, lost in the image of his own breath coming in the form of fog.
[Name] mumbled something, Ajax nodded, but forgot all about it soon after. They knew he wasn't paying attention, but didn't care, increasing the strength with which they held his hand.
"You don't like it here? Is that why you keep running away?"
"It's not running away if you come back.”
[Name] genuinely felt like punching Ajax in the face every time he opened his mouth and let out some stupid reason like this, but they would obviously leave it to imagination. The willingness wasn't lacking, but the courage was.
Perhaps if they were stronger, braver, they could say what they really wanted. But they weren't, and that kept them behind a fine line between the two, where Ajax always seemed to be in the front.
Everything in Snezhnaya, absolutely everything, filled them with an internal revolt. The cold that seemed to freeze them inside, the infinitely same path that seemed to lead nowhere, not being taken seriously — but for now, they would do anything to please those on top, especially since they were the ones in control of everything anyway.
"Don't ignore my question, go on. I know you heard me."
As soon as they arrived at the camp, they were greeted by an angry soldier with a large purple eye. That was the man Ajax had hit, and clearly he didn't look happy.
"Look, the bastard's really back," he said sarcastically, snapping his fingers. "Are you going to come at me for no reason like a savage again, like you did earlier?"
"Liar," they retorted, shaking their heads in denial and pointing a finger at the soldier, "you previously morally attacked Ajax, an exemplary boy..."
Ajax nodded, crossing his arms. Exemplary was by far what he was, but he had to agree with those who defended him. What he didn't expect was that they would retract their words soon after.
"...sort of."
"A... gentle boy?" They gave him a sideways glance, as if for confirmation; all he got back was a slight shake of the head.
"sort of..."
There was a lack of good adjectives to describe what he was — what he had become.
It would be less work if they just called him strong, but they didn't. They didn't want to reduce him to something. They didn't seem to want to reduce him to something the soldier in front of them already knew. Or rather, they didn't want to reduce Ajax to a simple strong boy.
They cleared their throats with a smile, grabbing Ajax by the collar, "Give us a second!"
Honestly, he was expecting a beating, not a strategy meeting behind a bush — not that he was going to complain, but at least he was hoping for a fight or something. His clenched fists contained the real desire to punch that soldier right in the face, but unfortunately he couldn't do that.
"'Sort of', really?" Ajax mimicked with a playful tone.
They rolled their eyes, fidgeting. "One of two ways: either I lie by calling you dumb, or I lie by calling you stupid!"
His jaw dropped for a moment. Was Ajax that stupid in their eyes? Not that he was the most self—controlled or straightforward person, but that dumb was an insult. "Oh, but I'm not dumb!"
"Perfect! Then you're stupid!"
The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Just as they didn't understand him, Ajax didn't understand them one bit.
"Seriously, I'm trying to help you... but then you have to help me help you."
"I think you've got it wrong. I appreciate the attempt, not to be rude... but I don't think I asked you to help me in the first place." He tried to smooth it over somehow, with that annoying little smile of his.
They felt their eyes ticking just hearing him, but soon pulled themselves together and returned the smile with a sarcastic tone intertwined with the words, "Really?”
"Mhm!" Ajax smiled. "Then I'm going for it, you said!"
Ajax ran off, abandoning them behind the bush to do whatever he wanted. Training, fighting, getting into another fight... it was all very unpredictable when it came to someone as peculiar as Ajax.
[Name] stood there, letting out a sigh as he thought about how weird this boy was. But there was no denying that Ajax was truly exceptional at getting out of trouble, and that made them more and more curious about him.
Sometimes, before going to sleep, Ajax would close his eyes and think about the day he'd had. He would ponder how small details were so easily erased — he couldn't remember who accompanied him on the march, or the name of the guy he had hit. But it was okay, it was fine not to remember.
The important thing was to keep going, without wasting time, and to move on. Ajax didn't need anything else, or anyone else, just himself to become very strong.
"Here you go, redhead." He was called by [Name], who threw a pillow right in his face.
" Man, you really like throwing things at me, don't you?" complained, pulling the pillow away from his face, "Have I become a punching bag now?"
"You forgot your pillow. If you wake up with a stiff neck, you'll be complaining in my ear all day tomorrow."
"I don't complain—"
"You think you don't, but you nag like an old man!"
Ajax threw himself backwards, lying on the mattress hugging the pillow close to his face. He muttered irritably to himself something almost inaudible, something that [Name] could only wish weren't curses in their direction.
"Look, I don't know what kind of problem you have," Ajax began, rolling his eyes in frustration, but soon changed his tone to something more playful, "if you want to settle something with me, come fight. Unless you're too much of a chicken not to fight someone younger and stronger than you."
"Whatever" [name] grumbled as they adjusted the flame of the lamp with their vision, "I already know I have zero percent chance against someone like... you."
"Why, comrade? It's not like I'm going to kill anyone in sight or anything like that." He smiled, giving a slight chuckle.
"Yes, of course, and I'm a slime" [name] sarcastically answered.
"Honestly, I don't mean to offend you or anything..." Ajax sat up, running a light hand through his hair to remove it from his face. "But I really wonder how someone so coward got into Fatui. I mean, you're afraid to even hold your own bow."
[Name] listened attentively to his words, but kept their gaze fixed on the lamp in her hands. It was the only source of warmth between them at the moment, and they couldn't let it go out so soon.
"The reason I'm in Fatui..." Their eyes did not leave the flame in hand, carefully observing the orange color that reflected on everything around him. [Name] avoided this question whenever it was asked, because they knew they weren't strong, and didn't force themselves to be, but the truth was too shameful.
"I believe I am indebted to Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa. I must render my services for her generosity, and also... for this little thing here, which has guaranteed me everything I have now."
They picked it up and swung it around, the vibrant red gemstone seeming to emanate heat in a veritable mirage. Even though the temperature was almost below zero, it still retained its tiny hints of flame.
"Well, I guess that's it. I was born like anyone else, subject to mistakes and defects. But I don't think I'm worthless, after all..." they paused for a single second, letting out a sigh before continuing, "even doormats have their uses."
Ajax's face softened as he listened to them. He was speechless, sincerely mute without an answer to their words. No silly comment came to mind, just nothing. He waited a while in silence before finally asking: "Wow, that was something..."
"I think we've talked enough about me, what about you?" They asked with a little smile, and Ajax relaxed a little.
"About me? Hm... I think I have several stories! Like today when I punched that guy!" he cheered, throwing a fake punch in the air to represent his fight.
[Name] let out a simple laugh, amused by his actions. They thought the boy was a piece of work, silly but very funny; also very intriguing in every respect. At fourteen, joining the Fatui and doing well was something out of this world from everyone else's perspective.
"No, silly! I don't care about that sort of thing." They shook their heads in denial.
Ajax blinked twice, confusion clear on his face. "What...? So what do you want to know, anyway?"
They patted his head lightly, making Ajax turn as red as a tomato. It was unexpected, and he didn't know how to react to it, he wasn't prepared, but it wasn't that bad either. For the first time in a long time, Ajax allowed himself to receive a bit of care.
"Tell me, redhead," they called him by that silly nickname again, getting a funny look from him, "do you miss home at all?"
"Homesick? Hm... I don't know, I don't think so."
"Lying to yourself is always the worst kind of lie, so don't do this."
"If I really miss home..."
Home. Did Ajax really miss home? It was very hard for them to guess what was going through his head when all he did was fight and cause trouble. Although he had his ridiculous faults, there was still a gentle child inside, deep down.
Ajax was about to answer when it finally hit. It was the kind of question that nobody really asked in the Fatui. Everyone usually acted in accordance with their situation, there was no room in the Camp for whining.
The only tears were those that were left on the pillow, turned upside down as soon as the first rays of sun appeared in the morning. Hidden, sealed away from the gaze of others, while everything continued in the shadows.
He remembered perfectly the day he left home, beginning his career as a soldier.
Ajax checked his appearance one last time in the mirror. He didn't mind the state he was in, with a few scars on his hands and small scratches on his face from the mess that had occurred before he was enlisted — but he couldn't look relaxed either, Ajax needed to look presentable for some reason.
He could hear some whispering, not so quiet, of children behind him. He could see their reflections, curious as ever, but pretended not to have noticed, not wanting to end their failed attempt at spying.
When the clock finally struck a certain time, he knew it was time to go. Ajax had been preparing since the day before, when he received the news. It hadn't been easy to accept, but Ajax had no voice after everything he had done.
It was easy to feel the blood on his hands, even though he had washed them over and over again. While his combat skills were fascinating, it was frightening to see how easy it was to seriously hurt someone.
But at the same time, he felt the adrenaline of fighting pulsing through his veins, bringing with it an insatiable desire for battle. He didn't have a strong enemy, he didn't have anyone who could challenge his skills in this little corner of the world he lived in. Being the strongest shouldn't be so boring, at least not for him.
When he stepped out of his room, the first thing he saw were his little siblings. Their faces were full of questions, asking for an answer as to where he was going, why he was leaving and other questions that Ajax wasn't allowed to answer, nor was he in the mood to answer them.
This was what he really dreaded, the farewell.
He hugged each sibling as if it was the last time seeing them, his eyes filled with anguish disguised as emotion and tears that weren't exactly shed. He felt a knot down his throat — how hard it was to try and keep a smile, with such a conflicted feeling in his chest.
Perhaps that was the hardest part, because the younger ones had no idea where their older brother would end up. They didn't know that he was going where no other child should go. The only excuse he could come up with was something about a fantastic toy factory, and they bought it.
He swallowed it all, keeping his typical charisma in a comforting smile. Blindly lying to himself that all that was to come was just a distraction where he could meet stronger people, bigger obstacles and climb them without hesitation.
He ran down the stairs as if it was the last time, and it would be, because long gone was the boy who once smiled here. Hearing the children's voices saying casual goodbyes, as if it were just another ordinary day and that he would be back soon. Touching the banister, sliding along and feeling the texture of the wood, brought a little sadness. It was full of scratches and loose splinters, just the way he would remember it.
Taking a deep breath, he let the smell of wax invade his lungs for one last time. Little did he know, but this would become another moment for nostalgia in just a few days.
He hesitated to leave that warm place, so precious and cozy that it was the only thing capable of bringing a tear to his eyes after leaving the abyss. Not all things in life work out the way we want them to, and he needed to learn that, if only in the harshest way possible.
"Discipline" was what it was supposed to be, a form of punishment for all the trouble he had made. Like a staircase, Ajax climbed step by step in his acts of violence until he reached the irreversible point of his insatiable hunger for battle
But life always takes its toll. And for Ajax, life decided to give, demand and take away almost instantly.
Saying goodbye to his mother, who wrapped a red wool scarf around his neck, Ajax could only keep smiling. If it hadn't been for the hesitation and worry in her eyes, distressed that her young son would end up in a place like the Fatui, everything would have been so much easier.
"My little warrior," she called him, a cheesy nickname that suited the wild boy perfectly. While it was ironic in the past, given that Ajax was a big scaredy—cat, today it was just dumb, "Don't cause too much trouble... please."
The last sentence came in the form of a very faint whisper, which went almost unnoticed by Ajax. A real plea, almost desperate because of the lack of credibility he had at that moment. She didn't believe in him, evident in the exacerbated concern she showed in her mannerisms.
And if to comfort her, then Ajax was willing to put on his best and most convincing cheerful mask. He had always been a boy who loved his family, and that was something that not even the claws of the Abyss could take away from him.
"Yes, Mom."
Ajax did his best not to sound the least bit false when lying to his mother — He was, he couldn't deny that — But at least Ajax did it convincingly until he could gently slip away from her gentle touch.
"I'll take care of myself. Brush my teeth, comb my hair..."
"And eat well," she added, brushing the dirt off his clothes, making him more presentable.
"...And eat well, leave it to me!"
The woman sighed, letting go of the boy. With her watery eyes turned to the side, she shook her head as if to pretend that everything was fine — an attempt to make it clear that everything was all right, that Ajax shouldn't worry. But in the end, it was to comfort herself.
"Go..." she murmured with a sad smile, shaking her face slightly to let the tears go where they shouldn't, "go with your father before you're late, and don't stir up trouble, see? Your poor mother's heart wouldn't be able to handle it."
"I'll do my best, stay super strong and—"
He was interrupted by a small smack on the head from his father; it wasn't painful, not in the slightest... but it hurt for some reason, somewhere deep inside. All he did was look up, shrug and smile as usual.
"Let's go." That was the call Ajax had been waiting for to.
This was a moment of farewell, but he remembered that it wasn't eternal. Someday, he would return home with his chest puffed out and a huge, proud smile on his face — well, that's what he hoped for.
And so, the troublemaker set foot outside his home to become what no one, not even he, expected him to be one day. Looking back at his past, his younger self, fearful and innocent, disappointed but admiring, came to mind.
An icy breeze was the first thing that greeted Ajax when he opened the door and encountered the standard whiteness of the outside scenery. It was sudden, as if to extract any remnants of warmth he felt. People would say it was a good omen coming from the Tsaritsa, a sign of good fortune on his new path.
And it's what Ajax would like to believe.
"Ajax?"
Their voice woke him from his memories, bringing him back to reality. And then suddenly, he was back in that tiny tent, the one he had never left.
"Sorry. I spaced out, didn't I?" He covered his eyes with his forearm, tiredness was starting to set in.
"Just a little bit." [Name] decided to lie down too, covering themselves with their own blanket. Their hands then went to the lamp, offering it to him, "Can you use your vision to put it out?"
"Can't we just... not put out the fire?" Ajax asked weakly.
[Name] blinked twice in surprise, then cracked a smile to tease him. "What's the matter, are you afraid—"
"No, I'm not afraid of the dark..." he cut them off in mid—sentence, turning around so that he wasn't facing them. With his face covered by the pillow, Ajax lowered his voice. "But leave the fire burning, just for now... please."
It was the first time [Name] had seen him so vulnerable, with his guard down. With such a sincere request, they were at a loss for words — even though they really wanted to understand.
"Right..." They hesitated slightly as they released the lamp. "Sweet dreams, Ajax."
Without replying, they sighed. [Name] then put their head on the pillow, looking at him with a certain empathy. But then again, it was none of their business; he would tell them when he felt comfortable.
That night would be a long one, with the two of them lying awake without exchanging a single word.
Sometimes [Name] questioned their own common sense, especially when they followed Ajax's foolish ideas. Normally, the two of them would get into trouble and be forced to do the daily tasks because of it.
But after days of insistence on his part, they had finally agreed to go ice fishing in the middle of the night because it was the only free time the both had. Did they know how to fish? No, and certainly not on ice, but there's a first time for everything.
"Hm... I don't see anyone," Ajax whispered as he looked through a gap in the tent, making sure no one was awake at this hour.
"Hang on, I can't put these on!" [Name] tried to put their boots on, but couldn't make a decent knot. They were already frustrated, tying them any way and untying them when they realized it didn't lead anywhere.
Ajax let out a chuckle, their desperation to put on simple boots was utterly comical, "Let me help you."
"I can do it myself!" [Name] stared at the tangled shoelace with a certain determination, trying to undo what they had tied.
"You said that last week, yet you couldn't do it and we lost the training—"
[Name]'s face heated up in embarrassment. What he said was true, the two of them had missed it, all because they didn't know how to put on the boots offered with the new uniform, and had to clean the weapons as punishment — not that Ajax cared, it seemed he had only focused on admiring the swords and guns rather than cleaning them.
"Shh! That's in the past!" they tried to shut him up.
Ajax shook his head slightly. He knelt down and stared at the blind knot they had tied, taking his hands to the shoelaces to straighten out the mess. "I'll teach you, check it out."
He carefully tied their shoes, making a firm loop. It was just like at home, when he helped his younger siblings put on their boots to play outside. When recalling this, an unconscious smile appeared on Ajax's lips, followed by a giggle.
"Are you laughing at me?" [name] asked, offended.
"No—" Ajax looked up, and then laughed, seeing the funny look they were making. "Yes, I am now!"
[Name] grabbed him by the cheek, hurrying him out of the tent with them. "Stop laughing, they'll wake up and it'll be our doom!"
"All right, all right!" Ajax exclaimed, removing their hand from his sore cheek. "You talk just like my mother when she scolds me..."
[Name] looked at him, smiling before teasing him. "No way, I mean, I pity your mother for having to put up with a son like you."
Ajax's frowned, he really did look offended by what they had said. "I have no idea what you're talking about, I've always been a very well—behaved child!"
"Oh, sure... if you say so, who am I to doubt it?" they agreed sarcastically. There wasn't a shred of confidence in his word.
There were endless minutes of walking and exchanging small insults. Under the moonlight, the two made their way calmly, getting further and further away from the camp. If they were lucky, no one would find out that they had run away.
They would be fishing in a frozen lake, a large mirror that reflected the light of an aurora. It was a breathtaking sight, as if they could touch the sky, and they took a cautious first step onto the it.
"Damn!" They slipped, having only the instinct to hold on to something.
"Whoa! Watch it there, comrade!" Ajax helped them regain their balance, holding them up by the arms. He took slow steps backwards so that [Name] wouldn't slip again.
[Name] smiled a little awkwardly, embarrassed. "Thanks but... This ice won't break with us on it, right?"
Ajax shook his head and firmly tapped his foot on the frozen surface, which remained intact. "It's pretty sturdy, see?"
"I see." [Name] turned their attention upwards and admired the greenish glow again. " Snezhnaya's night sky is a fascinating sight, isn't it? Even though I've seen it several times, I'm always amazed by its beauty..."
Ajax had already seen the real starry sky, the true and uncovered light of the celestial bodies. To refer to this gloomy canvas as a "fascinating sight" is an absurd statement, for it is only an empty imitation of what lies beneath the veil of the Abyss.
"You're really satisfied with anything, huh?" Ajax scoffed, with a hint of a smile on his face, "It's just floating lights, it gets boring after a while."
"Is there anything that doesn't get boring for you?" [Name] watched as Ajax started to cut the ice in a circular pattern, which appeared to be a not too difficult job for him. "Are you sure this works? I mean, it's just ice... I don't know if there's anything alive down there."
Ajax sat, eyes fixed on the hole in front of them. He hugged his knees and remained there, staring at the immensity and waiting for what would happen next. "Don't worry, we'll catch one in... a few minutes, I think."
"In about how many minutes, exactly?"
Ajax looked up thoughtfully. "A few."
"I swear to the archons, if you made us come here for nothing..." [Name] grumbled, watching the boy next to them. The way he insisted on his ideas impressed them, at the same time as it irritates; but seeing that serene face made them let out a little laugh, "Never mind, I'm the idiot one for following you."
[Name] sat down next to him, resting their face in one hand as Ajax and them waited patiently. Those moments of serenity were the complete opposite from the battles that took place everyday.
They had already seen several "comrades" fall, their lives taken while protecting the Fatui's interests. Interests that were unknown and hidden from the vast majority, concealed by individuals whose faces were unknown to many.
The Harbingers themselves were a kind of urban legends who, while everyone knew of their existence, were enigmatic and symbolic figures within the organization.
"What exactly are we fighting for?" [name] asked. There wasn't exactly a reason, because no one ever said the real purpose of the blood shed on the snowy battlefield.
Everyone's admiration and fear of the Harbingers was obvious. But just as they were feared, the kind of people whose presence is everywhere, there were more questions than answers as to their real motivation.
The closest they had seen was the Fifth, Pulcinella. [Name] didn't understand why they had been placed in his division, being a complete fool who couldn't hold a weapon without getting nervous. Even more so when, in the same division, there was Ajax.
A confused expression appeared on Ajax's face when he heard the question. Wasn't the answer obvious? At least, it was logical. "For Her Royal Highness, the Tsaritsa—"
"No, I know that. I'm talking about why we need to fight, the purpose of it all... We have a mission in a few days, and we don't even know what they want from us."
"I fight because I'm strong, isn't that enough?" Ajax seemed genuine in his response, with no hidden ambitions behind the battles he fought against his opponents. At the end of the day, it seemed to be all about the will to get stronger and better.
"No, it's not." [Name]'s gaze was serious, demanding an answer that would satisfy their curiosity. For them, Ajax was an extremely difficult puzzle to solve — a young boy who possessed the strength of a monster. But at the same time, had a heart as pure as gold. "Your name... was inspired by a hero, right? Do you want to be like them, the hero of the story?"
Ajax nodded, giving them a smirk. He remembered the old days, when he wasn't the least bit brave or powerful, just a fearful boy with a sword and a dream. "I think I'd rather be myself. It's much more fun when you do things your own way, don't you agree?"
"Well... it is, it really is." [Name]'s firm gaze softened. "Ajax, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
The boy froze in place. His mouth opened to speak, but the words he wanted to say didn't come out. He had no answer, even if he thought about it — Ajax simply didn't know.
"When I grow up..." he repeated to himself, looking for an answer, any answer. "I honestly don't know... I think I'll end up having to stay in Fatui."
"Idiot..." [name] grumbled, "I'm not saying you can't do what you want, but let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. Who would willingly stay in this hellhole?"
"Me," Ajax answered immediately, without a hint of hesitation in his speech, "If I go back home, I'll only make more trouble. Just the fact that I'm here makes life easier for everyone, and I can improve my skills."
"Of course you'd say that." They shook their heads, completely disapproving of his choice. They got up from where they sat, offering him a glance. "I envy you, you know that?"
"Hm? You..." Ajax looked up and pointed at them, then at himself. "...envy someone like me?"
"How can I not? You're strong, hopeful, stubborn and very proud," [name] listed, raising a finger for each adjective they found to describe him. "How can I not envy someone like you? You're like..."
"Everything I've always dreamed of being like."
They both uttered the same sentence at the same time, their voices becoming a unison sound that gave way to an awkward silence between them. Their eyes seemed to pierce each other, staring into the depths of the souls in search of some understanding.
"Trust me, I know what it's like," Ajax sighed, "to want to be braver, but at the same time to be too afraid of doing so."
Ajax turned his gaze back to the freezing water. Its darkness brought back vague memories of the abyss. The simple act of fishing was enough to push Ajax's mind back to the past, when he listened to his father's stories — maybe, just maybe, he really wanted to be as great as the heroes in them.
Ajax had once been a poor, fearful boy, terrified of the world outside, but with a spirit hungry for adventure. He had only a shortsword and a bag of bread — anyone could say that it was at that moment, before his fall into the confines of Teyvat, that Ajax began his transformation into what he's now.
"It's not a story I tell anyone, but I used to be a real coward," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "If one day you get stronger... like I did, would you duel with me?"
"Of course..." they smiled, making an x with their arms. "Not!"
Ajax's expression fell, replaced by that of an abandoned puppy. "But why?"
[Name] laughed at his face, crossing their arms. "Don't you remember when we first met?"
For them, the events that led to their current situation were clear as day. From before their enlistment, to the first day in the division.
They were born into a humble family, without any kind of comfort or privilege. [Name] grew up hearing all the stories about the archons and their extraordinary feats, about how lucky those who gained visions were. However, they never understood why their family admired such deities when all they received was misery.
Their parents, in a desperate act, borrowed a large amount of money, which they couldn't pay back. Disaster would be the appropriate word to describe what happened when the deadline for repaying these debts passed. As they were unable to pay, the two were killed by the debt collectors.
But [Name] always had somewhat of a way with their words, and that was the weapon they used to survive in a world like this. Somehow, they managed to negotiate their lives, in exchange for serving in the Fatui army instead of paying off an endless quantity of mora.
And shortly afterwards, [Name] were taken to the Cryo nation, landing in the middle of a terrible blizzard. If it hadn't been for the pyro vision they carried in their hands, [Name] wouldn't be alive to tell the tale, having become an ice statue.
And it was in an old and spacious office where [Name] took their first step towards their new reality. Quite nervously, their hands firmly held a document with all the information about their new career, leaving crumpled marks on its edges. [Name] had never thought they'd be offered to properly work, especially when the job was with none other than Fatui.
They were facing a short, stoic Fatui agent with a big nose and glasses. He seemed like a friendly fellow, but [Name] knew better than to trust someone who worked for those who had killed their family.
"What's your name, child?" asked the man in front of them, as he typed on a typewriter.
They had never seen anything like this, a machine that wrote for people? Unthinkable, it seemed magical, even. [Name] was so glued to it that, for a second, they forgot to answer.
"It's... [Name], that's all. I don't have a last name..."
The agent stopped his notes, giving [Name] a skeptical look. It was enough to make them nervous, unconsciously taking a small step backwards, lowering their head.
"Answer me..." The man went back to typing. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, sir. I'm from far away..." they sighed, murmuring, "very, very far...."
"Are you sure you'd like to join Fatui? You're still too young, don't you think it's a big responsibility?"
The agent gave them a gentle smile, different from the look he had given them before. It was as if he was truly giving [Name] a choice — but the truth was, if they didn't accept it, they would probably end up in the same shallow grave as their parents.
"Forgive me, sir, but it's not a question of wanting, it's a question of needing," they replied calmly, "someone has to pay these debts, right? Mora doesn't grow on trees."
[Name] wondered if they had said something wrong, since their tone hadn't exactly been friendly, mentally scolding themselves. But to their surprise, instead of getting scolded, [Name] heard a faint but present chuckle coming from the other person.
"You should thank Her Majesty the Tsaritsa for your kindness," he said, handing them the piece of paper he had been typing on, "how many people do you think have had an opportunity like this, to have their debts absolved and a job guaranteed?"
"Absolved?"
"Exactly, absolved. All we need from you, child, is your loyalty. I can see the potential, but it all depends solely on you." He pointed at their vision, hanging from their waist with a faint shine. "Surely, you're lucky enough to possess one of these."
For anyone else, receiving a vision is a blessing. However, being in possession of one is like having an eternal debt to the world. To be chosen is to be special, and to be special enough to receive a vision is to be distinct from the rest.
Sometimes it became a curse. One can no longer live like a normal person, because there will always be something that sets them apart from the rest. All those who are given one struggle in some way — Has there ever been a vision holder who truly lived an entire life peacefully, without any conflict whatsoever? At least in Snezhnaya, it seemed not.
"I... I accept..." Their eyes filled with hope, looking at their own name perfectly typed on the document. There was the real identity of the gentleman in front of them, revealed in a fancy signature, the Fifth of the Fatui Harbingers, Pulcinella.
[Name] signed their names in the blank space, sealing their fate within the organization. From that moment on, they would be part of the Fatui, just one more in the crowd — But if that was what it took to ensure their survival, [Name] would do it without hesitation.
The real issue, however, was on the first day of duty, and it had a name: Ajax.
[Name] had just put on their uniform, which was a little big for their size. But then again, there were none designed for a fifteen-year-old to wear, so they'd have to be content with what they had on hand.
At least the jacket they were given was comfortable, warm enough to block out some of the bitter cold that surrounded them each second. [Name] even looked like a proper person in it, which made them let out a little laugh.
However, it wasn't until they were standing in line in a meaningful formation that [Name] noticed a boy of a similar age to them. Red curls that stood out against the white backdrop, with a red scarf that was too long for his neck — perhaps they weren't completely alone in that place.
[Name] waited patiently until the time came for them to start training, watching him with eagle eyes, following Ajax wherever he went. When they finally mustered up the courage, they approached him and extended a hand towards him.
"Hello, I'm [Name],"
"Hey!" The boy grinned and shook their hands firmly. "I'm Ajax!"
"Well... looks like we're the same age, huh? How about we train together?" they suggested, thinking it was the best option.
"Sure!" Ajax nodded, putting the sword he was holding aside. "That would be, like... an invitation to battle, right?"
Technically, it was, so they just followed the his reasoning and confirmed it. "Mhm!"
"Then get ready!" he announced, preparing to throw a full punch.
[Name] didn't react immediately, surprised at the speed of the boy who had already set up his punch. "W-WAIT—"
Thud.
Complete darkness was how the first and last friendly match between the two ended, with Ajax knocking them out with a single punch. That's how [Name] would learn that fighting Ajax was a trap. However, [Name] wouldn't lie that at least it had been the best sleep they'd had in months — and the worst black eye they'd ever gotten, too.
"Teyvat to [Name]?" They awoke from their thoughts to see Ajax's hand moving in front of their face. He then tapped them on the forehead. "Is anyone there?"
"Oh, sorry, I got distracted. I was just remembering the punch you gave me." They laughed. "Speaking of which, you also punched that guy the other day too... what's with punching people, redhead?"
"I've already apologized!" His face heated up with embarrassment. "And punching is way more practical. You'd be shocked if you knew how strong a punch from me can really be, when I throw one for real!"
"Hm, sure, no doubt about it—"
"I got one!" Ajax exclaimed, trying to pull the line back on the rod with great difficulty. "A little help would be nice, you know!"
[Name] hurried, wrapping their arms around him and pulling back to bring the fish to the surface. But the animal wouldn't cooperate, even with the effort they made take it out of the water.
Ajax took a step back. "That was fast!"
"Fast? We've been waiting for almost an hour—" They slipped on the ice, pulling him and the fish along with them. In the end, Ajax and [Name] both fell flat, like two idiots.
[Name] looked at him, who was holding the fish in his hands while the animal struggled in them. It was a funny sight, which was enough to get a genuine laugh out of them.
"Haha..." they laughed weakly, then raised their tone, "Hahaha!"
Ajax, hearing the sound of their giggles, bursted into laughter. He laughed so hard that small tears formed in his eyes, "Hahaha... What are we laughing at?"
[Name] pointed at him, "At you, you fool!"
"Oh, really?!" Ajax stood up, bringing the fish in his hands near them. "Let's see who gets the last laugh!"
[Name] got up and ran across the ice, running away from him. They slipped and balanced, with an infectious smile on their faces accompanied by the sweet sound of their laughter, while Ajax chased after them with the animal.
It was moments like this that reminded them that they weren't adults, but two true children at heart.
At least once a week, Ajax and [Name] were sent on missions. They weren't often in charge of the more complicated ones, as they were still too young. However, for the first time, the two of them were allowed to take part in a more risky operation.
The two were supposed to stay with the older ones, but [Name] found themselves alone, having gotten separated from the rest by accident. In the middle of such a large forest, they could only hope that a blizzard wouldn't strike right away.
[Name] analyzed their surroundings, trying to retrace the steps that led them to nowhere and return to where the division had planned to reunite. However, they seemed to go round in circles, never reaching their destination.
That's when they noticed a coat lying in the snow. It was brown, very different from the Fatui soldiers' uniform, with a shabby finishing and a gross smell of blood.
Pow.
That's what they heard, a loud, familiar sound that sent shivers down their spines. Looking up, they saw a bullet hole in the tree, well above their heads — by perhaps two centimeters, they would no longer be alive.
"...!" [Name] instinctively looked for the source of the sound, quickly finding it.
Their desperate eyes met another's, which held no pity. Yet another soldier, wounded, carrying a gun and a tremendous amount of hatred — not everyone liked the Fatui, and not everyone had sympathy just because they were a child.
Frightened, [Name] ran desperately, followed by fierce gunfire that almost hit them. [Name] hid behind a tree and drew out their bow, but couldn't hold it properly no matter how much they tried, since it always slipped from their hands.
The enemy was indeed wounded, but armed and apparently experienced. The look in his face had been enough to send shivers down their spine, because when compared to them, who couldn't even use their vision properly, it was like facing a real monster.
"It'll be all right..." they whispered to themselves. "I just need to—"
[Name] heard more gunshots, too close to where they were. Something told them to run, but also to stay, accept the invitation and have a proper fight. If it was to survive, then [Name] would fight, they needed to.
[Name] couldn't hide forever, it wouldn't be right.
"Come on, you bastard!" [name] shouted, their voice echoing through the woods, as they aimed their bows in the direction of the enemy.
They used their vision and set the arrow ablaze, burning their own fingertips in the process. They didn't know how to control the force with which the arrow burned, but they knew it would hurt anyone who was struck.
[Name] clumsily launched the first arrow, dodging a shower of bullets headed their way. They hoped it was enough, that they had been able to send it flying at his face. But instead, the projectile pierced through his shoulder.
"Damn!" the soldier shouted, trying to reload his weapon while wincing in pain, but his ammunition had run out.
He came up and pistol—whipped them, causing [Name] to cry out in pain for a few seconds. The impact was so intense that they dropped their weapon and fell into the snow.
[Name] then felt the real despair of being weak. They could hear their hearts pounding in their ears and their eyes watering from the pain of the blows they received to the head, while blood trickled down their faces.
They grabbed his foot, applying pyro to their hands to make his boot burn along with it. When he fell, it was then that they saw their chance to stay alive handed to them on a platter.
They reached for the bow that lay on the ground next to them, firmly holding it anyway. Nothing mattered, only survival and that was all — they only needed to survive, to live long enough to prove that they were capable.
It didn't take much for one person to kill another, just despair. That feeling of helplessness and genuine dread, which would move mountains if necessary, was all it took to pull the trigger.
They violently hit the enemy in the face with their own bow, as if it were a bat. It was only when the return attacks stopped that they realized what they had done. The body below had an expression of terror, eyes wide as blood dripped onto the white snow, staining its purity with a crimson shade.
"I—I didn't... I did this...?" They stared at their bloodied hands, feeling their heart beating wildly against their chest. That's when, suddenly, an incessant urge to cough overtook them, but only blood came from their mouth.
[Name] looked down and realized that they had been shot in the chest. The bullet had gone through what seemed to be their lung, they didn't know, the adrenaline was hiding the pain for as long as it took. However, the spot hit was clearly a lethal wound.
They took two clumsy steps backwards, shaking their heads in denial. [Name] was too afraid to do anything like that, taking a life itself was too cruel an act for them, but it was done.
However, they didn't want to die as murderers, not really. So, with determination, [Name] decided they wouldn't die there.
They turned around and ran that time like there was no tomorrow, using every drop of adrenaline they still had in their bodies. [Name] couldn't see the sun shining, only the same gray clouds that covered the sky, which seemed to mock the fact that there was no light at the end.
Their only way out was to get to the camp, where there should be healers waiting for the wounded. However, it was difficult for [Name] to distinguish the landscape around them, especially in such a nervous state.
[Name] tripped over their own foot, losing their balance and rolling painfully down the mountain. They watched life pass before their eyes, each moment painful with the intention of just surviving, not living. Then they closed their eyes tightly, already bracing themselves for a more abrupt impact and accepting certain death.
They hit a tree, before rolling one last time to the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, or not, it was low enough for them not to die on impact — they did wish it had been stronger, ending it all quickly.
[Name] felt like a bird, floating in the sky with their eyes closed. They thought they had died because of the serenity felt for a few seconds, only to be crushed by the cruel reality. Their fall had been gently cushioned by the snow, but even with all this effort, they couldn't see the camp — which meant it had all been in vain.
Finally, the pain returned to their body as if it had never left. Breathing was difficult, with each breath being painful in the extreme, as if their organs were punishing them for still being alive.
"N—No," they sobbed through words, hot tears contrasting with the coldness that cruelly coursed through their veins. "I—I hate it... I wanted to die in peace, not like this... Not like this..."
Their trembling hands squeezed the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. [Name] didn't know how much time they had left, they didn't want to know either, all left to do was pray to Tsaritsa and beg for a little mercy, for a quick death if possible.
[Name] still hadn't paid their debt to Her Majesty, for the life they had been offered. For the bread to eat every day, for the tent they had over their heads, for letting them breathe, for letting them remain in existence, they had to do their utmost to repay all the favors with whatever they could.
For the gratuitously heavy insults that they had to swallow in silence because they were weak; for the mountains and snowstorms that brought them down along the way; for the disgraceful defective vision of theirs — or rather, they were the defective ones.
"P—Please..." [Name] begged the nothing, while holding their vision close to their chest, "if miracles really do exist…”
How many things had [Name] thrown away, when what they wanted most was to prove to everyone that, even if they were weak, they didn't need to prove anything to anyone? [Name] didn't know, only the bitterness of a wasted time remained in their hearts.
They let their tears fall over the flaming orb, whose glow no longer seemed the same. With one last kiss to the gem, a silent thank you, they began to weep for a life they were about to lose.
There would be no one to mourn their death, to lament the defeat of someone who had never once won. They probably wouldn't even have a funeral, but would just be buried somewhere like an animal. How terrible would it be to be completely forgotten, with no soul to remember their existence?
And Ajax, their only friend... finally acknowledged this fact. Would the boy be desolate? Grieve? Or would he carry on as he always seemed to do?
They regretted not having told him things in life that only they could say. They could only hope for the best, that he wouldn't take the news that badly — but at the same time, there was a small, selfish desire for him to feel their death. Not because [Name] wanted him to suffer, but because that way they would know that they mattered to someone.
[Name] recalled the memories they had made with him, like when they first met, when they went ice fishing a few days ago. The image of how they ran and laughed with him that night, as if they weren't the next ones to die, was fresh.
At last, their body felt light, receiving a moment of tranquillity reserved for the end of endings, when [Name] felt nothing but the slow rhythm of their heartbeats, fighting for a lost cause, as if they didn't have two holes in their chests.
"I was truly... useless until the end, wasn't I...?" [Name] murmured what they knew would be their last words, a vent to themselves and to the world. With the last beat of their hearts and the cessation of their breathing, snowflakes touched the now freezing skin. "I hope I have served you well... Your Majesty..."
They died in silence, without disturbing anyone.
Meanwhile, with the mission over, Ajax found himself extremely bored. Contemplating the pure white snow stained with blood as he returned to camp had already become a habit of his.
He could not care less that his face had a few small scratches on it. Though, he had to admit, that any kind of mission made him tired. But before he could rest, he found a place to rest. So Ajax began to look for them throughout the camp, without any success in his search.
'They must be receiving medical care...' He thought, as he made his way towards the tent where the doctors were staying.
It was a small space that was often crowded with the number of people wounded during missions. Finding any specific person was difficult, even more so when he was being pestered to be treated right away because he was younger.
"Are you sure you don't want to go first?" one of the doctors asked, placing a hand on his bruised face.
"No, I'm fine!" Ajax smiled. "I'm just looking for..."
For some reason, his eyes fixed on a particular corner of the tent. Away from the rest, it was where they put the bodies of those who had perished in combat; but Ajax had never taken much notice of it, so why now?
He approached slowly, in silence. Ajax felt an uncharacteristic nervousness come over him, running through his veins. The chills he felt seemed to swallow him up from the inside out, it had been a long time since Ajax had felt like this, as if something was screaming "don't go there, stay here" and attempting to keep him from discovering the truth, as he approached a particular cloth.
He stopped in front of the covered figure, noticing something sticking out of the cloth. An object, a... vision. But the only ones in the entire division who possessed one were him and... [Name].
Terror was too little to describe what overtook Ajax, who hesitated to lift the cloth covering the individual's face. He wished he wouldn't hear his head and believe that they weren't the dead man in front of him.
With trembling hands, which he tried to stop, Ajax lifted the fabric slightly. And that's when the ground really seemed to crumble beneath him — they were dead, [Name] was truly dead.
Their skin was so pale and cold that it scared him a bit. But what particularly caught Ajax's eye was the sheer amount of blood they had lost, as their face and hair were completely stained a deep crimson red; and no one had bothered to close their eyes, devoid of life and its particular glow. Now, they were just a pit of darkness that matched his own.
"..." Ajax just stared, unable to say anything. Everything was trapped inside, without him being able to express it.
Ajax tried to tell himself that he didn't care, that they weren't really friends, just work colleagues. But the sadness in his heart betrayed the stoicism he tried so hard to maintain.
Ajax closed their eyes gently and kissed [Name]'s forehead gently before covering their face with the cloth again. It was an action that any mother would take on seeing her child dead, but they didn't have one to weep over their death — and if there wasn't one, then Ajax would play his part in showing respect for them.
Ajax may even have changed when he fell into the abyss, becoming a maniac for fighting and confusion. But at the end of the day, he was human just like everyone else.
Two days later, the tent they shared was cold, without the heat of the lamp to warm Ajax up, as it had already gone out with the icy wind coming through the gap in the entrance.
It was [Name] who kept them warm in the middle of the night, using their vision to keep the fire burning. And that was just a bitter reminder that they were no longer there.
The others had taken away everything that was theirs, accommodating what would be the belongings of a new tentmate, who would be arriving in a few days. It was as if they had ceased to exist altogether.
Ajax wouldn't mind being hit in the face with a pillow if they were the ones to hit him, with that smile, with that irritating tone of voice of theirs that Ajax recognized from afar. He wouldn't mind being called "redhead" again, if it was them calling him that.
"Ajax?" The voice that called him from outside was familiar to Ajax. It was the Fifth.
Ajax promptly got to his feet, walking outside the tent and greeting him politely, a treatment he reserved only for The Rooster. "I'm here, sir."
"I heard that one of your companions fell in battle... a shame," the Harbinger said, as he searched for something in his pocket. "Well, here it is..."
The man handed him a gray envelope, a letter. In the corner was written in almost illegible handwriting the names of the sender and recipient, respectively: [Name] and Ajax.
"Thank you, sir," he nodded, holding the envelope tightly in his hands.
"You were both very similar ages, you and..." the Rooster paused, having forgotten their name.
"[Name]." It was the first time Ajax had said their names, having called them "comrade" all the time since they'd met. Honestly, it hurt a little, how difficult it was to utter a simple phoneme.
A few minutes later, Ajax said goodbye to the Harbinger and entered the darkness of the tent again. He left out a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was written inside that envelope.
Ajax could no longer remember what The Rooster had talked about, only that the exchange of words had been short, like all the others before. He didn't even have the mind to think about it now, he could apologize later if he forgot some important information.
But right now, the only thing that mattered to Ajax was [Name]'s letter. He opened the envelope, trying to be careful not to tear it, but in the end he did. Ajax strained his eyes to read what was written there, in a handwriting as bad as theirs.
Dear Ajax,
Should I start a letter with "dear"? I don't know, honestly, I have never written one. Well, if this letter found you, then that means I must be dead by now. I'm sure you're glad I did, as you'll now have the whole tent to yourself.
I've written this because I know that, in life, I might not be able to say what I think. I believe we're already friends, don't you too? That's how I feel about you, I think you're my only friend, and I've been very happy about that. Thank you, thank you very much, for the joyful and humorous moments you've provided me with in this little end of the world that is Snezhnaya.
I asked you the other day if you felt homesick; you may deny it, but I can understand how you feel, away from everyone you love in a place like this. Know that whatever may happen, I believe that the same people you miss feel the same way you do.
Don't listen to that little voice in your head that whispers "you're nothing but trouble", it's stupid. When I look at you, I don't see a troubled boy, but a boy with the heart of another. That day we were late for training, you could just as well have walked away and let me be punished for being late, but you didn't. We cleaned all the weapons by ourselves. We polished all the weapons alone, for hours, and you never complained. Why was that?
I don't know, but I'd like it to stay that way, so keep going! I'll be cheering you on from wherever I am, because you're the best warrior I've ever had the honor of meeting.
I end this letter with my admiration and gratitude to you; and never forget: we have our own time!
With much care,
[Name].
A single tear fell onto the paper, right below their name, accompanied by others that would soon form a hot waterfall in his eyes. Ajax didn't know how to respond to this, covering his face with the paper, as if he was embarrassed to end up being seen like this
Perhaps it was for the better, a reminder that life really wasn't fair, and that Ajax had strayed from the path he was on. He didn't want to care so much, but at the same time he did.
Ajax wanted someone to comfort him, to tell and reassure him that it was all right, that this sort of thing did happen, but at the same time, it didn't. It was hard, very hard, to face it. It was difficult, very difficult, to face the loneliness that he tried so hard to hide behind brute strength.
Anyone who saw him like that would doubt that he was the same person who ravaged the battlefield with his bloodlust, the boy who seemed like an uncontrollable monster with an indomitable spirit, causing trouble wherever he went.
But for one last time, in the darkness of that tent, he allowed himself to be... Vulnerable.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Wasted youth.
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Platonic!Ajax x GN!Reader
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 11k
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: violence, blood, death.
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐀/𝐍: IT'S FINALLY HERE! I hope everyone can enjoy this <3
✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩. 𝐛𝐲 Tempo Perdido - Legião Urbana
✦⸼࣪⸳ likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated!! <3
Snezhnaya is not exactly a friendly nation. The cold that seems to run from the veins to the depths of people's innermost being brings with it a certain hostility towards those who don't know the heart of the land. But within Ajax's distorted childhood perception, Snezhnaya was like a gentle mother, protecting its children under icy embrace.
But then, why did such a loving land allow its own child to fall into the deepest depths of the Abyss? Like drowning in freezing water, a child who survived Teyvat's darkest and loneliest place would certainly not come out of it the same as he went in.
"Ajax" was still Ajax, wasn't he? The same child, named after a hero from ancient tales, full of compassion and empathy, now carried with him a gaze that was deader than the fish he caught on ice.
Joining the Fatui wasn't in his plans for the future; being one of them wasn't so bad, although he wasn't expecting much for the future. But what he didn't like was being the youngest in the unit, it was a complete humiliation.
Not that the seniors were a challenge for him, but being constantly underestimated was... infuriating, to say the least. While his strength was admirable — thanks to Skirk, he would thank her someday — Ajax felt constantly bored, with no meaningful challenge ahead of him.
"Redhead!" The call was accompanied by a snowball, which hit him square in the face; his moment of peace was interrupted, though it didn't really matter.
Ajax could only sigh before letting out a soundless laugh, knowing exactly who had hit him: [Name], a recruit not much older than him, maybe a year or so. Being under the same division, it wasn't unusual to bump into them. "Here it comes..."
They weren't exactly friends, more like acquaintances. However, they also kept in touch enough to be just "acquaintances". Never friends, perhaps not at all.
As if he had some kind of radar, [Name] always appeared whenever Ajax had his rare moment of philosophical thought of questionable quality. Usually to disrupt the whole process.
" Damn, looks like you really found me," he laughed, turning to look at them.
"That's the third time I've had to look for you this week," they complained, carefully preparing another snowball to throw at him. "I always get scolded because of you, you know that?"
They weren't exactly wrong. Whenever Ajax wandered off the map, it was [Name] who had to look for him in the frozen woods. Not that they really bothered to do it, but it was tiring going around in circles until they found him.
"Look at it as part of your job."
"Babysitting...?"
"No, looking after your companions."
"... How idiotic."
"How heroic. It's very noble to look after your friends, you know?" Ajax corrected. His eyes returned to scanning the surrounding trees in a relaxed manner.
"Not when said 'friends' get into trouble all the time," they retorted.
"I always come back, it's not like you need to hunt me down like I'm some criminal on the loose." He shook his head briskly, brushing the snow off the top of his hair. However, he was greeted with another sharp shot right to the scalp.
"Look... So, all due respect, but you're not far off being one, you know?" they shyly replied. Not in a rude way, but still a little offensive to whoever it was directed at.
He didn't know whether to laugh or feel offended by what they said. Maybe both? Well, they weren't exactly wrong... Ajax was already considered a marginal project, or at least it seemed that way.
"Why did you do that?"
"What? You have to specify or I won't know,” his smile fell, replaced by a neutral expression. He tried to feign ignorance, but it didn't work very well.
"Don't be cynical. You beat up an older soldier. Aren't you a little ashamed?”
Which soldier were they talking about? It didn't matter to him anyway, as he'd lost count of how many he'd challenged and won — it wasn't a difficult task, they were never a match for him.
All too often they were weak, and [Name] was the worst of them all. That's why Ajax didn't even bother trying when inviting them to a duel, because the result was obvious from the start. The last time they sparred, it was be boring, easy and not worth the effort.
"Should I be? If a soldier almost two meters tall can't beat up a 14—year—old, then that means he's a weakling, doesn't it?" Ajax crossed his arms. "Besides, he called me names before, so we're even."
"Seriously..." they sighed, "Seriously, try not to make such a fuss. The Fifth can get you out of most trouble, only until you do something, let's say, really catastrophic."
"Something catastrophic like...?" he asked curiously, his gaze fixed on them.
"Like... burning down the Zapolyarny palace?"
His jaw dropped in shock, and a touch of offense showed on his cold—pink face. That was the most absurd thing he had heard in recent times. "What?! Why do you think I would do something like that?"
"Because it's you we're talking about, redhead."
"What's with the nickname?"
"I think it's funny, don't you?"
"You know... whatever." Ajax put his hands on his waist, shaking his head slightly. "I'll take that as an excuse to put a nickname on you too."
"So you're going to stop with the ' comrade' thing and come up with something even worse? Really?"
"Maybe so... maybe not. Who knows?"
The boy gave a relaxed smile, patting them on the shoulder before moving on. His heavy footsteps in the snow served as a background noise to the uneasy silence around them.
"I found it."
"Hm? Found what?" Ajax raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
[Name] pulled out a red scarf, so familiar to Ajax, from inside their backpack, carefully tying it around his neck. The fabric was warm, or perhaps it was the feeling of zeal, or also the nostalgia it brought.
Ajax hadn't realized he had left it behind. And when he realized it, the difference between the cold air and the protection of the scarf was remarkable — was he so distracted that he didn't notice?
The boy's gloved hands touched the soft fabric of the scarf, bringing it closer to his face and snuggling into the warmth. "Where did you find it, comrade?"
" Somewhere, it doesn't matter." They put their hands in the pockets, looking around at the landscape around them. "Aren't you afraid of getting lost in the forest?"
Ajax let out a genuine laugh when he heard their question, as if it were something ridiculous. "Getting lost? I know my way around pretty well."
[Name] narrowed their eyes, firmly disbelieving Ajax's words. For them, the scenery remained the same, no matter how far they went — well, they didn't go very far at all.
"What? It's all the same, like... just trees and snow everywhere."
Ajax held back a laugh, as if what they'd said was completely dumb. "You're not from Snezhnaya, right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Were you trying to hide it at all?" He couldn't help but laugh at the redness that appeared on [Name]'s face.
They were almost the scarlet color of their vision, which they proudly carried on a chain attached to their jacket. Pyro and Hydro, it was yet another thing that made them so opposite from each other.
"You know what, never mind! Just follow me." They extended a hand towards him, an almost forced offer.
Ajax hesitated, staring at the hand in front of him for a few long seconds before accepting it. He held it with some hesitation, not wanting to apply more force than he should have. He didn't mean to hurt, but he also had moments when he couldn't control his own strength.
They walked together through the snow, their steps in perfect sync. He noticed these small details as he looked down at the ground, thinking over and over again about an endless cycle. Sometimes, he just let that little silence take over his head, alone without direction, lost in the image of his own breath coming in the form of fog.
[Name] mumbled something, Ajax nodded, but forgot all about it soon after. They knew he wasn't paying attention, but didn't care, increasing the strength with which they held his hand.
"You don't like it here? Is that why you keep running away?"
"It's not running away if you come back.”
[Name] genuinely felt like punching Ajax in the face every time he opened his mouth and let out some stupid reason like this, but they would obviously leave it to imagination. The willingness wasn't lacking, but the courage was.
Perhaps if they were stronger, braver, they could say what they really wanted. But they weren't, and that kept them behind a fine line between the two, where Ajax always seemed to be in the front.
Everything in Snezhnaya, absolutely everything, filled them with an internal revolt. The cold that seemed to freeze them inside, the infinitely same path that seemed to lead nowhere, not being taken seriously — but for now, they would do anything to please those on top, especially since they were the ones in control of everything anyway.
"Don't ignore my question, go on. I know you heard me."
As soon as they arrived at the camp, they were greeted by an angry soldier with a large purple eye. That was the man Ajax had hit, and clearly he didn't look happy.
"Look, the bastard's really back," he said sarcastically, snapping his fingers. "Are you going to come at me for no reason like a savage again, like you did earlier?"
"Liar," they retorted, shaking their heads in denial and pointing a finger at the soldier, "you previously morally attacked Ajax, an exemplary boy..."
Ajax nodded, crossing his arms. Exemplary was by far what he was, but he had to agree with those who defended him. What he didn't expect was that they would retract their words soon after.
"...sort of."
"A... gentle boy?" They gave him a sideways glance, as if for confirmation; all he got back was a slight shake of the head.
"sort of..."
There was a lack of good adjectives to describe what he was — what he had become.
It would be less work if they just called him strong, but they didn't. They didn't want to reduce him to something. They didn't seem to want to reduce him to something the soldier in front of them already knew. Or rather, they didn't want to reduce Ajax to a simple strong boy.
They cleared their throats with a smile, grabbing Ajax by the collar, "Give us a second!"
Honestly, he was expecting a beating, not a strategy meeting behind a bush — not that he was going to complain, but at least he was hoping for a fight or something. His clenched fists contained the real desire to punch that soldier right in the face, but unfortunately he couldn't do that.
"'Sort of', really?" Ajax mimicked with a playful tone.
They rolled their eyes, fidgeting. "One of two ways: either I lie by calling you dumb, or I lie by calling you stupid!"
His jaw dropped for a moment. Was Ajax that stupid in their eyes? Not that he was the most self—controlled or straightforward person, but that dumb was an insult. "Oh, but I'm not dumb!"
"Perfect! Then you're stupid!"
The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Just as they didn't understand him, Ajax didn't understand them one bit.
"Seriously, I'm trying to help you... but then you have to help me help you."
"I think you've got it wrong. I appreciate the attempt, not to be rude... but I don't think I asked you to help me in the first place." He tried to smooth it over somehow, with that annoying little smile of his.
They felt their eyes ticking just hearing him, but soon pulled themselves together and returned the smile with a sarcastic tone intertwined with the words, "Really?”
"Mhm!" Ajax smiled. "Then I'm going for it, you said!"
Ajax ran off, abandoning them behind the bush to do whatever he wanted. Training, fighting, getting into another fight... it was all very unpredictable when it came to someone as peculiar as Ajax.
[Name] stood there, letting out a sigh as he thought about how weird this boy was. But there was no denying that Ajax was truly exceptional at getting out of trouble, and that made them more and more curious about him.
Sometimes, before going to sleep, Ajax would close his eyes and think about the day he'd had. He would ponder how small details were so easily erased — he couldn't remember who accompanied him on the march, or the name of the guy he had hit. But it was okay, it was fine not to remember.
The important thing was to keep going, without wasting time, and to move on. Ajax didn't need anything else, or anyone else, just himself to become very strong.
"Here you go, redhead." He was called by [Name], who threw a pillow right in his face.
" Man, you really like throwing things at me, don't you?" complained, pulling the pillow away from his face, "Have I become a punching bag now?"
"You forgot your pillow. If you wake up with a stiff neck, you'll be complaining in my ear all day tomorrow."
"I don't complain—"
"You think you don't, but you nag like an old man!"
Ajax threw himself backwards, lying on the mattress hugging the pillow close to his face. He muttered irritably to himself something almost inaudible, something that [Name] could only wish weren't curses in their direction.
"Look, I don't know what kind of problem you have," Ajax began, rolling his eyes in frustration, but soon changed his tone to something more playful, "if you want to settle something with me, come fight. Unless you're too much of a chicken not to fight someone younger and stronger than you."
"Whatever" [name] grumbled as they adjusted the flame of the lamp with their vision, "I already know I have zero percent chance against someone like... you."
"Why, comrade? It's not like I'm going to kill anyone in sight or anything like that." He smiled, giving a slight chuckle.
"Yes, of course, and I'm a slime" [name] sarcastically answered.
"Honestly, I don't mean to offend you or anything..." Ajax sat up, running a light hand through his hair to remove it from his face. "But I really wonder how someone so coward got into Fatui. I mean, you're afraid to even hold your own bow."
[Name] listened attentively to his words, but kept their gaze fixed on the lamp in her hands. It was the only source of warmth between them at the moment, and they couldn't let it go out so soon.
"The reason I'm in Fatui..." Their eyes did not leave the flame in hand, carefully observing the orange color that reflected on everything around him. [Name] avoided this question whenever it was asked, because they knew they weren't strong, and didn't force themselves to be, but the truth was too shameful.
"I believe I am indebted to Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa. I must render my services for her generosity, and also... for this little thing here, which has guaranteed me everything I have now."
They picked it up and swung it around, the vibrant red gemstone seeming to emanate heat in a veritable mirage. Even though the temperature was almost below zero, it still retained its tiny hints of flame.
"Well, I guess that's it. I was born like anyone else, subject to mistakes and defects. But I don't think I'm worthless, after all..." they paused for a single second, letting out a sigh before continuing, "even doormats have their uses."
Ajax's face softened as he listened to them. He was speechless, sincerely mute without an answer to their words. No silly comment came to mind, just nothing. He waited a while in silence before finally asking: "Wow, that was something..."
"I think we've talked enough about me, what about you?" They asked with a little smile, and Ajax relaxed a little.
"About me? Hm... I think I have several stories! Like today when I punched that guy!" he cheered, throwing a fake punch in the air to represent his fight.
[Name] let out a simple laugh, amused by his actions. They thought the boy was a piece of work, silly but very funny; also very intriguing in every respect. At fourteen, joining the Fatui and doing well was something out of this world from everyone else's perspective.
"No, silly! I don't care about that sort of thing." They shook their heads in denial.
Ajax blinked twice, confusion clear on his face. "What...? So what do you want to know, anyway?"
They patted his head lightly, making Ajax turn as red as a tomato. It was unexpected, and he didn't know how to react to it, he wasn't prepared, but it wasn't that bad either. For the first time in a long time, Ajax allowed himself to receive a bit of care.
"Tell me, redhead," they called him by that silly nickname again, getting a funny look from him, "do you miss home at all?"
"Homesick? Hm... I don't know, I don't think so."
"Lying to yourself is always the worst kind of lie, so don't do this."
"If I really miss home..."
Home. Did Ajax really miss home? It was very hard for them to guess what was going through his head when all he did was fight and cause trouble. Although he had his ridiculous faults, there was still a gentle child inside, deep down.
Ajax was about to answer when it finally hit. It was the kind of question that nobody really asked in the Fatui. Everyone usually acted in accordance with their situation, there was no room in the Camp for whining.
The only tears were those that were left on the pillow, turned upside down as soon as the first rays of sun appeared in the morning. Hidden, sealed away from the gaze of others, while everything continued in the shadows.
He remembered perfectly the day he left home, beginning his career as a soldier.
Ajax checked his appearance one last time in the mirror. He didn't mind the state he was in, with a few scars on his hands and small scratches on his face from the mess that had occurred before he was enlisted — but he couldn't look relaxed either, Ajax needed to look presentable for some reason.
He could hear some whispering, not so quiet, of children behind him. He could see their reflections, curious as ever, but pretended not to have noticed, not wanting to end their failed attempt at spying.
When the clock finally struck a certain time, he knew it was time to go. Ajax had been preparing since the day before, when he received the news. It hadn't been easy to accept, but Ajax had no voice after everything he had done.
It was easy to feel the blood on his hands, even though he had washed them over and over again. While his combat skills were fascinating, it was frightening to see how easy it was to seriously hurt someone.
But at the same time, he felt the adrenaline of fighting pulsing through his veins, bringing with it an insatiable desire for battle. He didn't have a strong enemy, he didn't have anyone who could challenge his skills in this little corner of the world he lived in. Being the strongest shouldn't be so boring, at least not for him.
When he stepped out of his room, the first thing he saw were his little siblings. Their faces were full of questions, asking for an answer as to where he was going, why he was leaving and other questions that Ajax wasn't allowed to answer, nor was he in the mood to answer them.
This was what he really dreaded, the farewell.
He hugged each sibling as if it was the last time seeing them, his eyes filled with anguish disguised as emotion and tears that weren't exactly shed. He felt a knot down his throat — how hard it was to try and keep a smile, with such a conflicted feeling in his chest.
Perhaps that was the hardest part, because the younger ones had no idea where their older brother would end up. They didn't know that he was going where no other child should go. The only excuse he could come up with was something about a fantastic toy factory, and they bought it.
He swallowed it all, keeping his typical charisma in a comforting smile. Blindly lying to himself that all that was to come was just a distraction where he could meet stronger people, bigger obstacles and climb them without hesitation.
He ran down the stairs as if it was the last time, and it would be, because long gone was the boy who once smiled here. Hearing the children's voices saying casual goodbyes, as if it were just another ordinary day and that he would be back soon. Touching the banister, sliding along and feeling the texture of the wood, brought a little sadness. It was full of scratches and loose splinters, just the way he would remember it.
Taking a deep breath, he let the smell of wax invade his lungs for one last time. Little did he know, but this would become another moment for nostalgia in just a few days.
He hesitated to leave that warm place, so precious and cozy that it was the only thing capable of bringing a tear to his eyes after leaving the abyss. Not all things in life work out the way we want them to, and he needed to learn that, if only in the harshest way possible.
"Discipline" was what it was supposed to be, a form of punishment for all the trouble he had made. Like a staircase, Ajax climbed step by step in his acts of violence until he reached the irreversible point of his insatiable hunger for battle
But life always takes its toll. And for Ajax, life decided to give, demand and take away almost instantly.
Saying goodbye to his mother, who wrapped a red wool scarf around his neck, Ajax could only keep smiling. If it hadn't been for the hesitation and worry in her eyes, distressed that her young son would end up in a place like the Fatui, everything would have been so much easier.
"My little warrior," she called him, a cheesy nickname that suited the wild boy perfectly. While it was ironic in the past, given that Ajax was a big scaredy—cat, today it was just dumb, "Don't cause too much trouble... please."
The last sentence came in the form of a very faint whisper, which went almost unnoticed by Ajax. A real plea, almost desperate because of the lack of credibility he had at that moment. She didn't believe in him, evident in the exacerbated concern she showed in her mannerisms.
And if to comfort her, then Ajax was willing to put on his best and most convincing cheerful mask. He had always been a boy who loved his family, and that was something that not even the claws of the Abyss could take away from him.
"Yes, Mom."
Ajax did his best not to sound the least bit false when lying to his mother — He was, he couldn't deny that — But at least Ajax did it convincingly until he could gently slip away from her gentle touch.
"I'll take care of myself. Brush my teeth, comb my hair..."
"And eat well," she added, brushing the dirt off his clothes, making him more presentable.
"...And eat well, leave it to me!"
The woman sighed, letting go of the boy. With her watery eyes turned to the side, she shook her head as if to pretend that everything was fine — an attempt to make it clear that everything was all right, that Ajax shouldn't worry. But in the end, it was to comfort herself.
"Go..." she murmured with a sad smile, shaking her face slightly to let the tears go where they shouldn't, "go with your father before you're late, and don't stir up trouble, see? Your poor mother's heart wouldn't be able to handle it."
"I'll do my best, stay super strong and—"
He was interrupted by a small smack on the head from his father; it wasn't painful, not in the slightest... but it hurt for some reason, somewhere deep inside. All he did was look up, shrug and smile as usual.
"Let's go." That was the call Ajax had been waiting for to.
This was a moment of farewell, but he remembered that it wasn't eternal. Someday, he would return home with his chest puffed out and a huge, proud smile on his face — well, that's what he hoped for.
And so, the troublemaker set foot outside his home to become what no one, not even he, expected him to be one day. Looking back at his past, his younger self, fearful and innocent, disappointed but admiring, came to mind.
An icy breeze was the first thing that greeted Ajax when he opened the door and encountered the standard whiteness of the outside scenery. It was sudden, as if to extract any remnants of warmth he felt. People would say it was a good omen coming from the Tsaritsa, a sign of good fortune on his new path.
And it's what Ajax would like to believe.
"Ajax?"
Their voice woke him from his memories, bringing him back to reality. And then suddenly, he was back in that tiny tent, the one he had never left.
"Sorry. I spaced out, didn't I?" He covered his eyes with his forearm, tiredness was starting to set in.
"Just a little bit." [Name] decided to lie down too, covering themselves with their own blanket. Their hands then went to the lamp, offering it to him, "Can you use your vision to put it out?"
"Can't we just... not put out the fire?" Ajax asked weakly.
[Name] blinked twice in surprise, then cracked a smile to tease him. "What's the matter, are you afraid—"
"No, I'm not afraid of the dark..." he cut them off in mid—sentence, turning around so that he wasn't facing them. With his face covered by the pillow, Ajax lowered his voice. "But leave the fire burning, just for now... please."
It was the first time [Name] had seen him so vulnerable, with his guard down. With such a sincere request, they were at a loss for words — even though they really wanted to understand.
"Right..." They hesitated slightly as they released the lamp. "Sweet dreams, Ajax."
Without replying, they sighed. [Name] then put their head on the pillow, looking at him with a certain empathy. But then again, it was none of their business; he would tell them when he felt comfortable.
That night would be a long one, with the two of them lying awake without exchanging a single word.
Sometimes [Name] questioned their own common sense, especially when they followed Ajax's foolish ideas. Normally, the two of them would get into trouble and be forced to do the daily tasks because of it.
But after days of insistence on his part, they had finally agreed to go ice fishing in the middle of the night because it was the only free time the both had. Did they know how to fish? No, and certainly not on ice, but there's a first time for everything.
"Hm... I don't see anyone," Ajax whispered as he looked through a gap in the tent, making sure no one was awake at this hour.
"Hang on, I can't put these on!" [Name] tried to put their boots on, but couldn't make a decent knot. They were already frustrated, tying them any way and untying them when they realized it didn't lead anywhere.
Ajax let out a chuckle, their desperation to put on simple boots was utterly comical, "Let me help you."
"I can do it myself!" [Name] stared at the tangled shoelace with a certain determination, trying to undo what they had tied.
"You said that last week, yet you couldn't do it and we lost the training—"
[Name]'s face heated up in embarrassment. What he said was true, the two of them had missed it, all because they didn't know how to put on the boots offered with the new uniform, and had to clean the weapons as punishment — not that Ajax cared, it seemed he had only focused on admiring the swords and guns rather than cleaning them.
"Shh! That's in the past!" they tried to shut him up.
Ajax shook his head slightly. He knelt down and stared at the blind knot they had tied, taking his hands to the shoelaces to straighten out the mess. "I'll teach you, check it out."
He carefully tied their shoes, making a firm loop. It was just like at home, when he helped his younger siblings put on their boots to play outside. When recalling this, an unconscious smile appeared on Ajax's lips, followed by a giggle.
"Are you laughing at me?" [name] asked, offended.
"No—" Ajax looked up, and then laughed, seeing the funny look they were making. "Yes, I am now!"
[Name] grabbed him by the cheek, hurrying him out of the tent with them. "Stop laughing, they'll wake up and it'll be our doom!"
"All right, all right!" Ajax exclaimed, removing their hand from his sore cheek. "You talk just like my mother when she scolds me..."
[Name] looked at him, smiling before teasing him. "No way, I mean, I pity your mother for having to put up with a son like you."
Ajax's frowned, he really did look offended by what they had said. "I have no idea what you're talking about, I've always been a very well—behaved child!"
"Oh, sure... if you say so, who am I to doubt it?" they agreed sarcastically. There wasn't a shred of confidence in his word.
There were endless minutes of walking and exchanging small insults. Under the moonlight, the two made their way calmly, getting further and further away from the camp. If they were lucky, no one would find out that they had run away.
They would be fishing in a frozen lake, a large mirror that reflected the light of an aurora. It was a breathtaking sight, as if they could touch the sky, and they took a cautious first step onto the it.
"Damn!" They slipped, having only the instinct to hold on to something.
"Whoa! Watch it there, comrade!" Ajax helped them regain their balance, holding them up by the arms. He took slow steps backwards so that [Name] wouldn't slip again.
[Name] smiled a little awkwardly, embarrassed. "Thanks but... This ice won't break with us on it, right?"
Ajax shook his head and firmly tapped his foot on the frozen surface, which remained intact. "It's pretty sturdy, see?"
"I see." [Name] turned their attention upwards and admired the greenish glow again. " Snezhnaya's night sky is a fascinating sight, isn't it? Even though I've seen it several times, I'm always amazed by its beauty..."
Ajax had already seen the real starry sky, the true and uncovered light of the celestial bodies. To refer to this gloomy canvas as a "fascinating sight" is an absurd statement, for it is only an empty imitation of what lies beneath the veil of the Abyss.
"You're really satisfied with anything, huh?" Ajax scoffed, with a hint of a smile on his face, "It's just floating lights, it gets boring after a while."
"Is there anything that doesn't get boring for you?" [Name] watched as Ajax started to cut the ice in a circular pattern, which appeared to be a not too difficult job for him. "Are you sure this works? I mean, it's just ice... I don't know if there's anything alive down there."
Ajax sat, eyes fixed on the hole in front of them. He hugged his knees and remained there, staring at the immensity and waiting for what would happen next. "Don't worry, we'll catch one in... a few minutes, I think."
"In about how many minutes, exactly?"
Ajax looked up thoughtfully. "A few."
"I swear to the archons, if you made us come here for nothing..." [Name] grumbled, watching the boy next to them. The way he insisted on his ideas impressed them, at the same time as it irritates; but seeing that serene face made them let out a little laugh, "Never mind, I'm the idiot one for following you."
[Name] sat down next to him, resting their face in one hand as Ajax and them waited patiently. Those moments of serenity were the complete opposite from the battles that took place everyday.
They had already seen several "comrades" fall, their lives taken while protecting the Fatui's interests. Interests that were unknown and hidden from the vast majority, concealed by individuals whose faces were unknown to many.
The Harbingers themselves were a kind of urban legends who, while everyone knew of their existence, were enigmatic and symbolic figures within the organization.
"What exactly are we fighting for?" [name] asked. There wasn't exactly a reason, because no one ever said the real purpose of the blood shed on the snowy battlefield.
Everyone's admiration and fear of the Harbingers was obvious. But just as they were feared, the kind of people whose presence is everywhere, there were more questions than answers as to their real motivation.
The closest they had seen was the Fifth, Pulcinella. [Name] didn't understand why they had been placed in his division, being a complete fool who couldn't hold a weapon without getting nervous. Even more so when, in the same division, there was Ajax.
A confused expression appeared on Ajax's face when he heard the question. Wasn't the answer obvious? At least, it was logical. "For Her Royal Highness, the Tsaritsa—"
"No, I know that. I'm talking about why we need to fight, the purpose of it all... We have a mission in a few days, and we don't even know what they want from us."
"I fight because I'm strong, isn't that enough?" Ajax seemed genuine in his response, with no hidden ambitions behind the battles he fought against his opponents. At the end of the day, it seemed to be all about the will to get stronger and better.
"No, it's not." [Name]'s gaze was serious, demanding an answer that would satisfy their curiosity. For them, Ajax was an extremely difficult puzzle to solve — a young boy who possessed the strength of a monster. But at the same time, had a heart as pure as gold. "Your name... was inspired by a hero, right? Do you want to be like them, the hero of the story?"
Ajax nodded, giving them a smirk. He remembered the old days, when he wasn't the least bit brave or powerful, just a fearful boy with a sword and a dream. "I think I'd rather be myself. It's much more fun when you do things your own way, don't you agree?"
"Well... it is, it really is." [Name]'s firm gaze softened. "Ajax, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
The boy froze in place. His mouth opened to speak, but the words he wanted to say didn't come out. He had no answer, even if he thought about it — Ajax simply didn't know.
"When I grow up..." he repeated to himself, looking for an answer, any answer. "I honestly don't know... I think I'll end up having to stay in Fatui."
"Idiot..." [name] grumbled, "I'm not saying you can't do what you want, but let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. Who would willingly stay in this hellhole?"
"Me," Ajax answered immediately, without a hint of hesitation in his speech, "If I go back home, I'll only make more trouble. Just the fact that I'm here makes life easier for everyone, and I can improve my skills."
"Of course you'd say that." They shook their heads, completely disapproving of his choice. They got up from where they sat, offering him a glance. "I envy you, you know that?"
"Hm? You..." Ajax looked up and pointed at them, then at himself. "...envy someone like me?"
"How can I not? You're strong, hopeful, stubborn and very proud," [name] listed, raising a finger for each adjective they found to describe him. "How can I not envy someone like you? You're like..."
"Everything I've always dreamed of being like."
They both uttered the same sentence at the same time, their voices becoming a unison sound that gave way to an awkward silence between them. Their eyes seemed to pierce each other, staring into the depths of the souls in search of some understanding.
"Trust me, I know what it's like," Ajax sighed, "to want to be braver, but at the same time to be too afraid of doing so."
Ajax turned his gaze back to the freezing water. Its darkness brought back vague memories of the abyss. The simple act of fishing was enough to push Ajax's mind back to the past, when he listened to his father's stories — maybe, just maybe, he really wanted to be as great as the heroes in them.
Ajax had once been a poor, fearful boy, terrified of the world outside, but with a spirit hungry for adventure. He had only a shortsword and a bag of bread — anyone could say that it was at that moment, before his fall into the confines of Teyvat, that Ajax began his transformation into what he's now.
"It's not a story I tell anyone, but I used to be a real coward," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "If one day you get stronger... like I did, would you duel with me?"
"Of course..." they smiled, making an x with their arms. "Not!"
Ajax's expression fell, replaced by that of an abandoned puppy. "But why?"
[Name] laughed at his face, crossing their arms. "Don't you remember when we first met?"
For them, the events that led to their current situation were clear as day. From before their enlistment, to the first day in the division.
They were born into a humble family, without any kind of comfort or privilege. [Name] grew up hearing all the stories about the archons and their extraordinary feats, about how lucky those who gained visions were. However, they never understood why their family admired such deities when all they received was misery.
Their parents, in a desperate act, borrowed a large amount of money, which they couldn't pay back. Disaster would be the appropriate word to describe what happened when the deadline for repaying these debts passed. As they were unable to pay, the two were killed by the debt collectors.
But [Name] always had somewhat of a way with their words, and that was the weapon they used to survive in a world like this. Somehow, they managed to negotiate their lives, in exchange for serving in the Fatui army instead of paying off an endless quantity of mora.
And shortly afterwards, [Name] were taken to the Cryo nation, landing in the middle of a terrible blizzard. If it hadn't been for the pyro vision they carried in their hands, [Name] wouldn't be alive to tell the tale, having become an ice statue.
And it was in an old and spacious office where [Name] took their first step towards their new reality. Quite nervously, their hands firmly held a document with all the information about their new career, leaving crumpled marks on its edges. [Name] had never thought they'd be offered to properly work, especially when the job was with none other than Fatui.
They were facing a short, stoic Fatui agent with a big nose and glasses. He seemed like a friendly fellow, but [Name] knew better than to trust someone who worked for those who had killed their family.
"What's your name, child?" asked the man in front of them, as he typed on a typewriter.
They had never seen anything like this, a machine that wrote for people? Unthinkable, it seemed magical, even. [Name] was so glued to it that, for a second, they forgot to answer.
"It's... [Name], that's all. I don't have a last name..."
The agent stopped his notes, giving [Name] a skeptical look. It was enough to make them nervous, unconsciously taking a small step backwards, lowering their head.
"Answer me..." The man went back to typing. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, sir. I'm from far away..." they sighed, murmuring, "very, very far...."
"Are you sure you'd like to join Fatui? You're still too young, don't you think it's a big responsibility?"
The agent gave them a gentle smile, different from the look he had given them before. It was as if he was truly giving [Name] a choice — but the truth was, if they didn't accept it, they would probably end up in the same shallow grave as their parents.
"Forgive me, sir, but it's not a question of wanting, it's a question of needing," they replied calmly, "someone has to pay these debts, right? Mora doesn't grow on trees."
[Name] wondered if they had said something wrong, since their tone hadn't exactly been friendly, mentally scolding themselves. But to their surprise, instead of getting scolded, [Name] heard a faint but present chuckle coming from the other person.
"You should thank Her Majesty the Tsaritsa for your kindness," he said, handing them the piece of paper he had been typing on, "how many people do you think have had an opportunity like this, to have their debts absolved and a job guaranteed?"
"Absolved?"
"Exactly, absolved. All we need from you, child, is your loyalty. I can see the potential, but it all depends solely on you." He pointed at their vision, hanging from their waist with a faint shine. "Surely, you're lucky enough to possess one of these."
For anyone else, receiving a vision is a blessing. However, being in possession of one is like having an eternal debt to the world. To be chosen is to be special, and to be special enough to receive a vision is to be distinct from the rest.
Sometimes it became a curse. One can no longer live like a normal person, because there will always be something that sets them apart from the rest. All those who are given one struggle in some way — Has there ever been a vision holder who truly lived an entire life peacefully, without any conflict whatsoever? At least in Snezhnaya, it seemed not.
"I... I accept..." Their eyes filled with hope, looking at their own name perfectly typed on the document. There was the real identity of the gentleman in front of them, revealed in a fancy signature, the Fifth of the Fatui Harbingers, Pulcinella.
[Name] signed their names in the blank space, sealing their fate within the organization. From that moment on, they would be part of the Fatui, just one more in the crowd — But if that was what it took to ensure their survival, [Name] would do it without hesitation.
The real issue, however, was on the first day of duty, and it had a name: Ajax.
[Name] had just put on their uniform, which was a little big for their size. But then again, there were none designed for a fifteen-year-old to wear, so they'd have to be content with what they had on hand.
At least the jacket they were given was comfortable, warm enough to block out some of the bitter cold that surrounded them each second. [Name] even looked like a proper person in it, which made them let out a little laugh.
However, it wasn't until they were standing in line in a meaningful formation that [Name] noticed a boy of a similar age to them. Red curls that stood out against the white backdrop, with a red scarf that was too long for his neck — perhaps they weren't completely alone in that place.
[Name] waited patiently until the time came for them to start training, watching him with eagle eyes, following Ajax wherever he went. When they finally mustered up the courage, they approached him and extended a hand towards him.
"Hello, I'm [Name],"
"Hey!" The boy grinned and shook their hands firmly. "I'm Ajax!"
"Well... looks like we're the same age, huh? How about we train together?" they suggested, thinking it was the best option.
"Sure!" Ajax nodded, putting the sword he was holding aside. "That would be, like... an invitation to battle, right?"
Technically, it was, so they just followed the his reasoning and confirmed it. "Mhm!"
"Then get ready!" he announced, preparing to throw a full punch.
[Name] didn't react immediately, surprised at the speed of the boy who had already set up his punch. "W-WAIT—"
Thud.
Complete darkness was how the first and last friendly match between the two ended, with Ajax knocking them out with a single punch. That's how [Name] would learn that fighting Ajax was a trap. However, [Name] wouldn't lie that at least it had been the best sleep they'd had in months — and the worst black eye they'd ever gotten, too.
"Teyvat to [Name]?" They awoke from their thoughts to see Ajax's hand moving in front of their face. He then tapped them on the forehead. "Is anyone there?"
"Oh, sorry, I got distracted. I was just remembering the punch you gave me." They laughed. "Speaking of which, you also punched that guy the other day too... what's with punching people, redhead?"
"I've already apologized!" His face heated up with embarrassment. "And punching is way more practical. You'd be shocked if you knew how strong a punch from me can really be, when I throw one for real!"
"Hm, sure, no doubt about it—"
"I got one!" Ajax exclaimed, trying to pull the line back on the rod with great difficulty. "A little help would be nice, you know!"
[Name] hurried, wrapping their arms around him and pulling back to bring the fish to the surface. But the animal wouldn't cooperate, even with the effort they made take it out of the water.
Ajax took a step back. "That was fast!"
"Fast? We've been waiting for almost an hour—" They slipped on the ice, pulling him and the fish along with them. In the end, Ajax and [Name] both fell flat, like two idiots.
[Name] looked at him, who was holding the fish in his hands while the animal struggled in them. It was a funny sight, which was enough to get a genuine laugh out of them.
"Haha..." they laughed weakly, then raised their tone, "Hahaha!"
Ajax, hearing the sound of their giggles, bursted into laughter. He laughed so hard that small tears formed in his eyes, "Hahaha... What are we laughing at?"
[Name] pointed at him, "At you, you fool!"
"Oh, really?!" Ajax stood up, bringing the fish in his hands near them. "Let's see who gets the last laugh!"
[Name] got up and ran across the ice, running away from him. They slipped and balanced, with an infectious smile on their faces accompanied by the sweet sound of their laughter, while Ajax chased after them with the animal.
It was moments like this that reminded them that they weren't adults, but two true children at heart.
At least once a week, Ajax and [Name] were sent on missions. They weren't often in charge of the more complicated ones, as they were still too young. However, for the first time, the two of them were allowed to take part in a more risky operation.
The two were supposed to stay with the older ones, but [Name] found themselves alone, having gotten separated from the rest by accident. In the middle of such a large forest, they could only hope that a blizzard wouldn't strike right away.
[Name] analyzed their surroundings, trying to retrace the steps that led them to nowhere and return to where the division had planned to reunite. However, they seemed to go round in circles, never reaching their destination.
That's when they noticed a coat lying in the snow. It was brown, very different from the Fatui soldiers' uniform, with a shabby finishing and a gross smell of blood.
Pow.
That's what they heard, a loud, familiar sound that sent shivers down their spines. Looking up, they saw a bullet hole in the tree, well above their heads — by perhaps two centimeters, they would no longer be alive.
"...!" [Name] instinctively looked for the source of the sound, quickly finding it.
Their desperate eyes met another's, which held no pity. Yet another soldier, wounded, carrying a gun and a tremendous amount of hatred — not everyone liked the Fatui, and not everyone had sympathy just because they were a child.
Frightened, [Name] ran desperately, followed by fierce gunfire that almost hit them. [Name] hid behind a tree and drew out their bow, but couldn't hold it properly no matter how much they tried, since it always slipped from their hands.
The enemy was indeed wounded, but armed and apparently experienced. The look in his face had been enough to send shivers down their spine, because when compared to them, who couldn't even use their vision properly, it was like facing a real monster.
"It'll be all right..." they whispered to themselves. "I just need to—"
[Name] heard more gunshots, too close to where they were. Something told them to run, but also to stay, accept the invitation and have a proper fight. If it was to survive, then [Name] would fight, they needed to.
[Name] couldn't hide forever, it wouldn't be right.
"Come on, you bastard!" [name] shouted, their voice echoing through the woods, as they aimed their bows in the direction of the enemy.
They used their vision and set the arrow ablaze, burning their own fingertips in the process. They didn't know how to control the force with which the arrow burned, but they knew it would hurt anyone who was struck.
[Name] clumsily launched the first arrow, dodging a shower of bullets headed their way. They hoped it was enough, that they had been able to send it flying at his face. But instead, the projectile pierced through his shoulder.
"Damn!" the soldier shouted, trying to reload his weapon while wincing in pain, but his ammunition had run out.
He came up and pistol—whipped them, causing [Name] to cry out in pain for a few seconds. The impact was so intense that they dropped their weapon and fell into the snow.
[Name] then felt the real despair of being weak. They could hear their hearts pounding in their ears and their eyes watering from the pain of the blows they received to the head, while blood trickled down their faces.
They grabbed his foot, applying pyro to their hands to make his boot burn along with it. When he fell, it was then that they saw their chance to stay alive handed to them on a platter.
They reached for the bow that lay on the ground next to them, firmly holding it anyway. Nothing mattered, only survival and that was all — they only needed to survive, to live long enough to prove that they were capable.
It didn't take much for one person to kill another, just despair. That feeling of helplessness and genuine dread, which would move mountains if necessary, was all it took to pull the trigger.
They violently hit the enemy in the face with their own bow, as if it were a bat. It was only when the return attacks stopped that they realized what they had done. The body below had an expression of terror, eyes wide as blood dripped onto the white snow, staining its purity with a crimson shade.
"I—I didn't... I did this...?" They stared at their bloodied hands, feeling their heart beating wildly against their chest. That's when, suddenly, an incessant urge to cough overtook them, but only blood came from their mouth.
[Name] looked down and realized that they had been shot in the chest. The bullet had gone through what seemed to be their lung, they didn't know, the adrenaline was hiding the pain for as long as it took. However, the spot hit was clearly a lethal wound.
They took two clumsy steps backwards, shaking their heads in denial. [Name] was too afraid to do anything like that, taking a life itself was too cruel an act for them, but it was done.
However, they didn't want to die as murderers, not really. So, with determination, [Name] decided they wouldn't die there.
They turned around and ran that time like there was no tomorrow, using every drop of adrenaline they still had in their bodies. [Name] couldn't see the sun shining, only the same gray clouds that covered the sky, which seemed to mock the fact that there was no light at the end.
Their only way out was to get to the camp, where there should be healers waiting for the wounded. However, it was difficult for [Name] to distinguish the landscape around them, especially in such a nervous state.
[Name] tripped over their own foot, losing their balance and rolling painfully down the mountain. They watched life pass before their eyes, each moment painful with the intention of just surviving, not living. Then they closed their eyes tightly, already bracing themselves for a more abrupt impact and accepting certain death.
They hit a tree, before rolling one last time to the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, or not, it was low enough for them not to die on impact — they did wish it had been stronger, ending it all quickly.
[Name] felt like a bird, floating in the sky with their eyes closed. They thought they had died because of the serenity felt for a few seconds, only to be crushed by the cruel reality. Their fall had been gently cushioned by the snow, but even with all this effort, they couldn't see the camp — which meant it had all been in vain.
Finally, the pain returned to their body as if it had never left. Breathing was difficult, with each breath being painful in the extreme, as if their organs were punishing them for still being alive.
"N—No," they sobbed through words, hot tears contrasting with the coldness that cruelly coursed through their veins. "I—I hate it... I wanted to die in peace, not like this... Not like this..."
Their trembling hands squeezed the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. [Name] didn't know how much time they had left, they didn't want to know either, all left to do was pray to Tsaritsa and beg for a little mercy, for a quick death if possible.
[Name] still hadn't paid their debt to Her Majesty, for the life they had been offered. For the bread to eat every day, for the tent they had over their heads, for letting them breathe, for letting them remain in existence, they had to do their utmost to repay all the favors with whatever they could.
For the gratuitously heavy insults that they had to swallow in silence because they were weak; for the mountains and snowstorms that brought them down along the way; for the disgraceful defective vision of theirs — or rather, they were the defective ones.
"P—Please..." [Name] begged the nothing, while holding their vision close to their chest, "if miracles really do exist…”
How many things had [Name] thrown away, when what they wanted most was to prove to everyone that, even if they were weak, they didn't need to prove anything to anyone? [Name] didn't know, only the bitterness of a wasted time remained in their hearts.
They let their tears fall over the flaming orb, whose glow no longer seemed the same. With one last kiss to the gem, a silent thank you, they began to weep for a life they were about to lose.
There would be no one to mourn their death, to lament the defeat of someone who had never once won. They probably wouldn't even have a funeral, but would just be buried somewhere like an animal. How terrible would it be to be completely forgotten, with no soul to remember their existence?
And Ajax, their only friend... finally acknowledged this fact. Would the boy be desolate? Grieve? Or would he carry on as he always seemed to do?
They regretted not having told him things in life that only they could say. They could only hope for the best, that he wouldn't take the news that badly — but at the same time, there was a small, selfish desire for him to feel their death. Not because [Name] wanted him to suffer, but because that way they would know that they mattered to someone.
[Name] recalled the memories they had made with him, like when they first met, when they went ice fishing a few days ago. The image of how they ran and laughed with him that night, as if they weren't the next ones to die, was fresh.
At last, their body felt light, receiving a moment of tranquillity reserved for the end of endings, when [Name] felt nothing but the slow rhythm of their heartbeats, fighting for a lost cause, as if they didn't have two holes in their chests.
"I was truly... useless until the end, wasn't I...?" [Name] murmured what they knew would be their last words, a vent to themselves and to the world. With the last beat of their hearts and the cessation of their breathing, snowflakes touched the now freezing skin. "I hope I have served you well... Your Majesty..."
They died in silence, without disturbing anyone.
Meanwhile, with the mission over, Ajax found himself extremely bored. Contemplating the pure white snow stained with blood as he returned to camp had already become a habit of his.
He could not care less that his face had a few small scratches on it. Though, he had to admit, that any kind of mission made him tired. But before he could rest, he found a place to rest. So Ajax began to look for them throughout the camp, without any success in his search.
'They must be receiving medical care...' He thought, as he made his way towards the tent where the doctors were staying.
It was a small space that was often crowded with the number of people wounded during missions. Finding any specific person was difficult, even more so when he was being pestered to be treated right away because he was younger.
"Are you sure you don't want to go first?" one of the doctors asked, placing a hand on his bruised face.
"No, I'm fine!" Ajax smiled. "I'm just looking for..."
For some reason, his eyes fixed on a particular corner of the tent. Away from the rest, it was where they put the bodies of those who had perished in combat; but Ajax had never taken much notice of it, so why now?
He approached slowly, in silence. Ajax felt an uncharacteristic nervousness come over him, running through his veins. The chills he felt seemed to swallow him up from the inside out, it had been a long time since Ajax had felt like this, as if something was screaming "don't go there, stay here" and attempting to keep him from discovering the truth, as he approached a particular cloth.
He stopped in front of the covered figure, noticing something sticking out of the cloth. An object, a... vision. But the only ones in the entire division who possessed one were him and... [Name].
Terror was too little to describe what overtook Ajax, who hesitated to lift the cloth covering the individual's face. He wished he wouldn't hear his head and believe that they weren't the dead man in front of him.
With trembling hands, which he tried to stop, Ajax lifted the fabric slightly. And that's when the ground really seemed to crumble beneath him — they were dead, [Name] was truly dead.
Their skin was so pale and cold that it scared him a bit. But what particularly caught Ajax's eye was the sheer amount of blood they had lost, as their face and hair were completely stained a deep crimson red; and no one had bothered to close their eyes, devoid of life and its particular glow. Now, they were just a pit of darkness that matched his own.
"..." Ajax just stared, unable to say anything. Everything was trapped inside, without him being able to express it.
Ajax tried to tell himself that he didn't care, that they weren't really friends, just work colleagues. But the sadness in his heart betrayed the stoicism he tried so hard to maintain.
Ajax closed their eyes gently and kissed [Name]'s forehead gently before covering their face with the cloth again. It was an action that any mother would take on seeing her child dead, but they didn't have one to weep over their death — and if there wasn't one, then Ajax would play his part in showing respect for them.
Ajax may even have changed when he fell into the abyss, becoming a maniac for fighting and confusion. But at the end of the day, he was human just like everyone else.
Two days later, the tent they shared was cold, without the heat of the lamp to warm Ajax up, as it had already gone out with the icy wind coming through the gap in the entrance.
It was [Name] who kept them warm in the middle of the night, using their vision to keep the fire burning. And that was just a bitter reminder that they were no longer there.
The others had taken away everything that was theirs, accommodating what would be the belongings of a new tentmate, who would be arriving in a few days. It was as if they had ceased to exist altogether.
Ajax wouldn't mind being hit in the face with a pillow if they were the ones to hit him, with that smile, with that irritating tone of voice of theirs that Ajax recognized from afar. He wouldn't mind being called "redhead" again, if it was them calling him that.
"Ajax?" The voice that called him from outside was familiar to Ajax. It was the Fifth.
Ajax promptly got to his feet, walking outside the tent and greeting him politely, a treatment he reserved only for The Rooster. "I'm here, sir."
"I heard that one of your companions fell in battle... a shame," the Harbinger said, as he searched for something in his pocket. "Well, here it is..."
The man handed him a gray envelope, a letter. In the corner was written in almost illegible handwriting the names of the sender and recipient, respectively: [Name] and Ajax.
"Thank you, sir," he nodded, holding the envelope tightly in his hands.
"You were both very similar ages, you and..." the Rooster paused, having forgotten their name.
"[Name]." It was the first time Ajax had said their names, having called them "comrade" all the time since they'd met. Honestly, it hurt a little, how difficult it was to utter a simple phoneme.
A few minutes later, Ajax said goodbye to the Harbinger and entered the darkness of the tent again. He left out a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was written inside that envelope.
Ajax could no longer remember what The Rooster had talked about, only that the exchange of words had been short, like all the others before. He didn't even have the mind to think about it now, he could apologize later if he forgot some important information.
But right now, the only thing that mattered to Ajax was [Name]'s letter. He opened the envelope, trying to be careful not to tear it, but in the end he did. Ajax strained his eyes to read what was written there, in a handwriting as bad as theirs.
Dear Ajax,
Should I start a letter with "dear"? I don't know, honestly, I have never written one. Well, if this letter found you, then that means I must be dead by now. I'm sure you're glad I did, as you'll now have the whole tent to yourself.
I've written this because I know that, in life, I might not be able to say what I think. I believe we're already friends, don't you too? That's how I feel about you, I think you're my only friend, and I've been very happy about that. Thank you, thank you very much, for the joyful and humorous moments you've provided me with in this little end of the world that is Snezhnaya.
I asked you the other day if you felt homesick; you may deny it, but I can understand how you feel, away from everyone you love in a place like this. Know that whatever may happen, I believe that the same people you miss feel the same way you do.
Don't listen to that little voice in your head that whispers "you're nothing but trouble", it's stupid. When I look at you, I don't see a troubled boy, but a boy with the heart of another. That day we were late for training, you could just as well have walked away and let me be punished for being late, but you didn't. We cleaned all the weapons by ourselves. We polished all the weapons alone, for hours, and you never complained. Why was that?
I don't know, but I'd like it to stay that way, so keep going! I'll be cheering you on from wherever I am, because you're the best warrior I've ever had the honor of meeting.
I end this letter with my admiration and gratitude to you; and never forget: we have our own time!
With much care,
[Name].
A single tear fell onto the paper, right below their name, accompanied by others that would soon form a hot waterfall in his eyes. Ajax didn't know how to respond to this, covering his face with the paper, as if he was embarrassed to end up being seen like this
Perhaps it was for the better, a reminder that life really wasn't fair, and that Ajax had strayed from the path he was on. He didn't want to care so much, but at the same time he did.
Ajax wanted someone to comfort him, to tell and reassure him that it was all right, that this sort of thing did happen, but at the same time, it didn't. It was hard, very hard, to face it. It was difficult, very difficult, to face the loneliness that he tried so hard to hide behind brute strength.
Anyone who saw him like that would doubt that he was the same person who ravaged the battlefield with his bloodlust, the boy who seemed like an uncontrollable monster with an indomitable spirit, causing trouble wherever he went.
But for one last time, in the darkness of that tent, he allowed himself to be... Vulnerable.
How to draw Childe’s hair: A Very Real and Important Guide
hops in to drop a small scenario Helluuu ! I hope it's alright to drop this in ;u ;/ I know you wrote a recent Childe request and I hope this is alright to send aah!
Okay okay so… Childhood friends to lovers trope bHFJVbHJ I was thinking what if they were best pals as kids, even before the abyss incident, and reader is often the one that seems "protective" of him? (especially after that incident tbh) Before he was sent to the fatui, they promised to always protect him even if he'll be far away and probably much stronger than them.
Fast forward, eventually, they reunite! Reader is noticeably different in terms of their personality, being much shyer (??) and quiet, however, they're so happy to see him again!
They seem as if they can't fight enemies and is generally weak. However, when Childe was in a very rough situation with a mission, they managed to help him out and possibly save him. <3
I know this is . probably a wack scenario I thought i'd send this in bhjBHFJ
Pinky Promise (Childe x reader)
Notes:Omg anon this is one of my favorite tropes. This scenario is beautiful, and I hope I did it justice!
Masterlist
Warnings: blood, mentions of death, spoilers for Childe's real name
Childe remembered when you and him were just kids, running around Morepesok together and holding hands whenever you two would ice skate with one another. You’d been the only friend he’d had back in his home town, and he cherished you very much. He would always ask you to go ice fishing with him, and you brought snacks whenever you joined him and his father. You two would share a scarf whenever you went out into town with your parents. “Can Ajax go with us?” You’d always ask.
However, that all changed when he was eleven years old, when he fell into the abyss the one time you were at home with a fever. You had to rest to get better, and he was going to look for a way to make you feel better. He fell in, emerging again into the bright light of day three days later, but for him, it was three months. Gone was the urge to walk around in the safety of home, and soon emerged the urge to protect you. He wanted to keep you safe, so whenever someone went too close to you with bad intentions, they soon were laying on the ground, covered in scratches and cuts.
Eventually, unable to tolerate his violent behavior, Childe’s father enlisted him in the Fatui when he reached the age of fifteen. That was all well and good, but you having to move away to Liyue because your father got a job there wasn’t.
He had never been one for tears, even when he was injured or scared and alone, but he remembered vividly crying his eyes out when you told him you had to leave. “I’ll try to visit, I promise, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to very often.” You had said, wrapping your arms around him as he let the tears fall. “I’ll see you again, I promise.” He swore, before pulling away and wiping his eyes on his sleeve, only to again pull you close as he hugged you again. “I promise you, (Y/N).” He whispered. You gently smiled up at him, holding out your pinky. “Pinky promise?” You asked. Ajax laughed slightly, before taking your pinky with his.
“Pinky promise.”
That was well over three years ago, but you still had hope. You loved the warm weather that Liyue provided, and on top of that, Celestia had looked upon you with favor and blessed you with a Pyro Vision, which you earned by fending off several hordes of Hilichurls, which were attacking Quingce Village at the time. You saw one of them attack your mother, and rage had filled you to your core as you launched yourself at it with a fiery rage that ended up burning most of them down in one strike. The elderly there practically thought of you as their own grandchild, sometimes giving you treats and small trinkets whenever you visited them. You’d also recently made a new acquaintance, who went by the name Zhongli. He was a funeral consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but he was also a wellspring of knowledge on anything and everything having to do with Liyue’s history. You were glad that he was willing to tell you about it, too, because you’d finished your education at a Liyuean school. One afternoon, you were eating at Third Round Knockout when someone sat next to you. “I’ll have a fire water if you have any, boss, and one for my friend, here.” The man said, you thought he was talking about someone else, so it came as a surprise when the bartender handed the fire water to you. Your head snapped up as you went to ask the man to not bother, but then you saw who it was, and your eyes widened as you looked up at two beautiful deep ocean blue ones. “Ajax.” You breathed. “Hey there, mind if I take a seat next to you?” He asked, causing you to nod. “It’s been ages, what are you doing here? Have you been deployed here? Am I not supposed to be talking to you? Are you-” He put his hands on your shoulders to stop you. “You might get in trouble. What if there’s a Harbinger here?” You asked, causing him to laugh. He leaned in close and lowered his voice to a whisper as he spoke. “The only Harbinger here is me, (Y/N).” He said, pulling away as you looked at him. “What rank?” You asked. “Eleventh, I’m, unfortunately, the weakest, but I’ll eventually get stronger, just wait and see.” He said, smiling proudly at you.
The two of you got caught up with each other over drinks, chatting the evening away. Before you knew it, you had to get home to your family in Quingce, and stood hurriedly to leave. Childe gently caught your arm and spoke. “Let me walk you back home, I insist.” He offered, gently taking your hand into his. You smiled softly, nodding, before leading him out of the harbor.
You two walked and talked, speaking about everything and nothing, like the two of you were fourteen all over again. However, that changed when two Stonehide Lawachurls attacked both of you. You and him jumped back before he spoke. “Get behind me, I got this.” He said, running at them as he put his mask over his face and transformed into Foul Legacy. You watched as he kept hitting them, but that only did so much. You watched him get thrown backward by one of them, and let your Vision guide you as you all but tore them apart with your Claymore. After they finally were dead at your feet, you turned back to Ajax. “Come on, let’s go. I don’t want to get home later than we already are.” You said, helping him up. He was astonished that you were that strong. He shook it off and continued walking with you, until the two of you arrived at Quingce Village as the sun's last rays started to fade in the sky. "Sorry it took us so long to get here, I lost track of time talking to you back at the harbor." you apologized, looking up at him when he said nothing. "What's with the look you're giving me? Is there something wrong?" you asked, seeing his suddenly soft gaze lingering on you. "Can I tell you something?" he asked, causing you to nod. He took a deep breath before meeting your gaze as he spoke. "I-" "(Y/N), there you are! Why are you back so late?!" you heard your mother yelling as she stormed up to you, clearly very angry at your tardy arrival back home, before her facial expression changed when she saw Ajax. "Ah, Mrs. (L/N), it's a pleasure to see you again!" he exclaimed, waving enthusiastically at your mother. "Hold on, Ajax, is that you? Archons above, what in Teyvat are you doing here?" she asked, a bright smile making its way onto her face. "Oh, me and (Y/N) here were catching up over drinks back in the harbor, before they said that they had to come back here. Of course, I insisted on walking them home to make sure that they were safe." he replied. "Oh, thank goodness, and thank you." she said. "Well, I do have to get going, since my flat is all the way back in the harbor." he said, pointing his thumb behind him. "Oh, nonsense, please stay the night, I insist. I'm sure that my husband will be so happy to see you again, since he and your father were close friends before we moved here." she offered. Perfect, I can still tell them. He thought to himself. Over the past few years you were away from Snezhnaya, he had many chances to think of you and how he felt about you. He always felt warm and fuzzy inside whenever he recalled the moments he spent with you, and over time, he realized that he'd developed feelings for you. He embraced these feelings, and wanted to share them with you. Regardless of your answer, he wanted you to know how he felt. In his eyes, there were priorities he wanted to accomplish, like serving the Tsaritsa, and conquering the world. However, those fell far short of winning your heart and having a life with you in it. You had never made him feel like an outcast, and you had accepted him and remained his friend even after he returned from the abyss, but he wanted to be so much more than just friends. He was dragged from his thoughts when he heard your mother call for him to follow her and you to your home, and gave a wide grin before jogging to catch up to the two of you.
The moment he set foot in your home, he felt at ease. The furniture looked comfortable, and there was a coat rack by the door, where he hung his gray overshirt when he walked in. You noticed the scars on his arms from what you assumed were countless fights, and then noticed his gaze on you as he spoke. "I'll tell you what I was about to say later, ok?" he asked, receiving a nod from you in response. "Honey, you'll never guess who (Y/N) ran into today in Liyue Harbor!" your mother called, walking into the kitchen to find your father cooking dinner. He and your mother took turns cooking, since their work schedules were arranged to where they could take turns. He remembered how good both of your parents' cooking was, and the recipes that they both used for different dishes. "Who?" your father asked, causing Ajax to peek his head out from around the corner. "Hey there!" he said, waving. "My goodness, is that who I think it is? Ajax, it's been a while, how are things back home?" he asked, setting down the spoon he was using to stir the food he was making and wiping his hands on his apron. "Things have been good, although I've been away from home for about three months now. However, my father did say that he gives his salutations to you and your family, sir." he said, causing your father to sigh. "How is that fool, anyways?" he asked. "Same as always, you know how he is." he laughed. "Ah, yes, come and have a seat, dinner is almost ready." he said. "Let me help with setting the table then, yeah? Even if I am a guest, our families have known each other for a while now." he offered. "Sure, the silverware and the plates are over there. Here, (Y/N), could you show him where they are?" he asked, causing you to nod. You walked over and pointed up to the cabinet where the plates were. It was only when Ajax leaned over you, his chest pressed against your back, that you realized how much taller he was than you. He looked down as he grabbed the plates and smiled at you. "A mora for your thoughts?" he asked, causing you to shake your head. "It's nothing, just thinking about the fact that you used to be the same height as me, and now you're a human tree in comparison." you observed. "Seriously, that's what you're thinking about?" he asked, causing you to nod, laughing. "Yeah, I let the intrusive thoughts win." you said, scratching the back of your head. The two of you set the table together, and you sat next to him once you were done. Your mother sat next to you and your father served the food, before taking a seat next to her. Ajax took a bite of the food and smiled, humming to himself. "It's delicious as always, sir." he said, looking over at your father. You ate in relative silence, which your mother seemed to notice along with Childe, but neither pointed it out. "Anyways, what job was it that you moved here to take?" he asked, his blue eyes glancing over at you as he spoke. "Ah, I got a job working for the Feiyun Commerce Guild. I help manage the inventory of one of the warehouses." he replied. He nodded, before going back to eating. "Oh, I completely forgot that we're renovating the guest room, and we're still waiting for the couch to get here, so you'll have to use a futon if you don't mind, dear." your mother said, looking over at Childe. "I've slept on the floor before, and I can confirm that a futon is much better than that." he said, chuckling. You, meanwhile, looked him up and down. He was taller and much stronger, that was made obvious by the fact that he now had quite a muscular figure. "Hmm, now about where you would sleep. The living room won't do, since we walk all over the floor, and the guest room is, again, under renovation. You could sleep-" "You could stay in my room if you'd like." you offered, causing your father to whip around and look at you, glaring over in your direction. "Let me finish. It would be rude of him to stay in your room, and we used to have sleepovers as kids all the time, it wouldn't be awkward for either of us, and besides, I think he knows to respect others' space by now." you explained.
Your mother and your father shared a look, before she sighed, tugging on your father's sleeve. "I say we let them. It's not like he's a bad person, we've known him for a large part of his life." she reassured him, causing him to sigh. "Fine, but you better keep your hands to yourself." he said, glaring at Ajax, who held up his hands. "I wasn't going to. I would never do that, I think we both know that, sir." he said, lowering them when he nodded. "(Y/N), can I talk to you for a minute on the porch?" your mother asked, causing you to nod. Your father turned to look at Childe as he spoke. "So, I can tell you like them. How long have you been planning this?" he asked. "Funny thing about that, I didn't even know where in Liyue your family was, so I didn't really plan this at all. In fact, I don't have any nightclothes to wear to sleep, to show you how unprepared I was to stay the night." he said. "Relax, even if I do have feelings for them, it's not very likely they feel the same, after saying all of that stuff to get you to agree to let me stay in their room. And you know me well enough to know that I would never do anything to them that they wouldn't want me to do, you have my word on that." he promised. "Fine, I'll let you stay in their room, but if you do something to them while they're asleep, then I'll... I'll..." he trailed off when he saw the look in Ajax's eyes. "I promise I won't, and I never break my promises. You can ask anyone you want, but the statement holds true regardless of who you ask." he said, taking his plate to the sink and washing it. "Good, glad we had this chat. I'm going to get you something to wear to sleep, and then I'm going to bed. If I'm not out here when they both get back inside, then tell my wife I'm in bed when she gets back." he said, walking to the master bedroom. "Alright, I will." he replied, watching him disappear down the hall. He waited to make sure he was gone, before going to the porch door and hiding out of sight, but within earshot of your conversation.
"...wish he would feel the same." was what he caught, before peeking around to see that you were crying. he wanted to console you, but he wanted to know what you were distressed about. "Well, tell him. If he doesn't feel the same, then so be it. Regardless of what happens, you'll still be there for each other, and that's what matters." your mother said. "But it's Ajax, and I don't want him to feel weird about it, and, Archons, why does this have to be so difficult?" you asked yourself. Meanwhile, said man's face was bright red. He quickly went back to the table and calmed himself down, watching as your father brought back a set of pajamas from his room. "They should fit, but if not, then tell me. I'm sure I have something for you to wear in my wardrobe." he said, causing him to nod. You finally walked back in, and he feigned surprise as he saw the tears rolling down your face. "Oh, hey, are you ok? What happened?" he asked. You shook your head, whispering that you'd tell him later. "Ok, here, why don't you get upstairs and get your things rearranged so that I don't see anything I'm not supposed to. Then I'll come in and you can tell me what's on your mind, ok?" he asked, causing you to nod. You slowly walked upstairs, and he waited until he heard your door shut to turn around. "I can take it from here if you two would like." he said, causing your mother to nod. She was walking away with your father when she stopped and turned around. "Ajax?" she asked. "Hm?" he turned to look at her. "Take care of them, I mean it." she said, receiving a nod from him in reply.
You had just finished tidying up your room when you heard a knock on the door. "You can come in, I'm done cleaning." you said, watching the door open to reveal Childe wearing a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve nightshirt. It was a little tight, and he looked slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't show whether or not he was, and set the futon he had with him on the floor beside your bed. "So, you wanna talk now?" he asked, looking over at you. "How about you first?" you asked, looking over at him. "Ok, ok, fair enough. I was the one who said I'd speak later first." he said, chuckling softly. He got up and sat on your bed, before holding out his hand for you to take. You put your hand in his, watching as he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of your palm. "Do you have any clue what you do to me? For years I've been pining after you, thinking about you nonstop while we were apart. It took me a while to figure out why, but I eventually realized that it was because I've fallen hopelessly and deeply in love with you, and I don't think I ever want to stop falling." he said, placing your hand against his face as he smiled warmly at you. He watched as tears welled up in your eyes and you all but fell against him. "Thank goodness, I was so worried that you would reject me if I told you I loved you back." you whispered, wrapping your arms around him and hugging him tightly. You buried your face in his chest as he spoke. "Not that I'm complaining about the fact that you're this close to me, but this nightshirt is very uncomfortable, and I'm starting to sweat." he said, watching as you wiped your eyes and laughed. He thought to keep the nightshirt on, but decided against it, and pulled it over his head before throwing it on the floor. Just as he was tugging it over his head, he saw that you were staring at the scars on his chest. "What's got you staring so hard, huh?" he asked, tilting your face up to where you were looking directly at him. Your face reddened as you looked up at him. "It's nothing, I just didn't expect you to actually take your shirt off." you said, casting your gaze to the side. He studied your face for a minute, before pressing his forehead against yours and closing his eyes. "Can I kiss you?" he asked suddenly, causing you to freeze up. You sighed shakily, relaxing under his warm touch. You nodded softly, and he gently held your face in his hands as the light of the moon bathed the two of you in silver. He slowly leaned in before pressing his lips against yours, kissing you gently as he held you there. "I'd say that this is the perfect way to end a long day, don't you?" he asked, wrapping his arms around your waist and falling on his back against the bed. He got under the covers with you and held you close to him, looking down at you as he spoke. "From now on, I promise to love you, no matter what happens, ok?" he asked, causing you to smile up at him. Just as you closed your eyes and started drifting off, you decided to speak. "Pinky promise?" you asked, holding up your pinky for him to take. Ajax smiled and pressed a kiss to your forehead as he drifted off, but still took your pinky in his own and spoke.
"Pinky promise."
Cold Mornings with a Warm Lover (fem!reader NSFW)
Notes: I knew I’d eventually go down this rabbit hole at some point, and now you all finally get to see who (some of) my favorite men are. I feel like it got a bit redundant but I hope you enjoy~
Masterlist
Characters: Capitano, Thoma, Diluc, Childe, Alhaitham, Itto
Warnings: NSFW, fem!reader, badly translated Russian (sorry for any mistakes), unprotected sex, missionary, riding, squirting, marking, size kink, belly bulge, creampie
NSFW content below, Minors DNI! By scrolling down past this point, you have decided to read the content below of your own accord!
Capitano
You woke up slowly on mornings when there was no work to be done for Her Majesty at Zapolyarny Palace. This was one of those mornings, and you enjoyed them even more with your husband, Capitano. He was a very closed off individual, but not to you. He confided in you often, trusting you with the things that bothered him. He, regardless of how strong he was, was still merely human, and had needs of his own. You were the one who fulfilled those needs whenever he went to you. He couldn’t have been more grateful, and he showed you how grateful he was to you last night. You were waking up slowly now, and leaned against him for warmth when you felt the freezing air outside of the sheets. He stirred slightly, but didn’t wake up just yet. You smiled softly, snuggling up to him to get more body heat from him. After a few minutes, you heard him speak. “You’re freezing, come here.” He said, his deep morning voice serving to make you squeeze your thighs together as he pulled you closer and wrapped his arms around your waist and upper back. “Good morning, dearest.” He whispered, looking down at you as you leaned against him. His deep blue eyes peered down at you through barely opened lids, but he still smiled softly. “Good morning to you, too.” You replied, leaning into his touch as his hands gently caressed your skin.
He pulled back from you and looked you up and down, taking immediate notice of the slight bruises on your hips. “Apologies.” He whispered, leaning down to capture your lips in a gentle kiss as he pulled you up to where you were at his eye level. “Are you alright? I know I wasn’t very gentle with you last night.” He asked, reaching up to cup your face in one of his large hands. “I’m ok, please don’t worry about me. Last night was wonderful.” You reassured him, leaning into his touch as you pulled his face closer to yours and kissed him again. He balanced on his forearms and then sat up, exposing your bare body to the cold air and making you shiver. You curled in on yourself and wrapped your arms around your body, trembling from the cold. He immediately laid back down and was about to hold you again when he saw the red tint on your face and the way your thighs rubbed against each other. You looked to the side, embarrassed that he’d found you out, but immediately looked back at him when he put his hands on either side of your head and looked down at you, looming over you. His gaze was always gentle whenever it rested on you, and the same was still true now. You looked up at him as your face got even hotter. “Look at you, so needy.” He mused, before he spoke again. "May I?" He asked, causing you to nod softly. He pumped himself a few times before lining up his tip with your slit, dragging it over before he slowly pushed the blunt head past your entrance. Your eyes screwed shut as you took him in slowly, feeling him gently roll his hips against yours. You wrapped your arms around his middle, digging your nails into his back and leaving tiny red crescent moons in their wake. The moment he bottomed out, he stayed still, keeping his hips pressed against yours as he held your thighs down against the bed. “Good girl, taking me in one go like this. You deserve a reward for being so good for me last night.” You heard him say. “Do you think you deserve a reward?” He asked, causing you to look up at him with half lidded doe eyes as you spoke. “Y-yes, please- mmh~ I promise I’ll be good.” You moaned, looking down as you saw the outline of his cock almost going up to your bellybutton. “Ngh~ s-so full- ahh~!” You moaned, putting your hand over your mouth to muffle your noises, only for him to gently grab it and pin it beside your head. “You’re always so- shit- so good to me. Always taking care of me- Ngh~ Let me take care of you now.” He mumbled, his lips pressed against your neck as he spoke. You whined and clenched around him as you wrapped your legs loosely around his waist. Capitano gently traced your jaw with his hand, causing you to desperately lean into his touch as he kept going. You felt him, thick and heavy, dragging against your walls as red tinted his beautiful face. He pressed his forehead against yours as he started going faster, keeping a tight grip on your hips with one hand as he grunted softly. The other hand was busy drawing circles against your clit. The knot in your lower abdomen tightened as he kept hitting that one spot that made you see stars, chuckling as your eyes rolled back and you squeezed around him. “Mmngh~ m’ g-gonna cum- Ahhn~!” Your walls clenched around him tightly as his hips stuttered against yours. “That’s it, just let go, sweet thing. I’ll take care of you.” He groaned, his breath hitching as he twitched inside of you. With one last deep thrust, he buried himself deep inside of you and came, letting your gummy inner walls milk him for all he was worth.
You had tears in your eyes as you came down from your high slowly, relaxing in Capitano’s arms. “Th-thank you, mmm~ thank you s’much.” You mumbled, feeling him press his hips taut against yours. You jolted against him as he slowly pulled out, hissing softly from the sudden emptiness you felt. “Shh, stay still, I’ll clean you up.” He said, getting up and grabbing a warm washcloth from the bathroom. You laid there and let him clean you up, before relaxing against the mattress as he got back in the bed with you. “Rest, we’ll get up later.” He muttered, pulling you close to his chest and letting you lay against him as you sleepily nodded and closed your eyes, falling asleep in his warm embrace.
Thoma
There were few mornings when Thoma didn't have to head over to the Kamisato Estate early to tend to Ayato and Ayaka. He often left you to wake up alone, waiting for him to get back after doing your daily commissions for the Guild. Today, however, you woke up to his lovely green eyes looking at you as he held you close. "Good morning, my love. How are you?" he asked, watching as a soft smile appeared on your face at the sight of him. "What are you doing still here? shouldn't you be at the Estate by now?" you asked, suddenly concerned. "Nah, My Lord called off work for me today, and told me to enjoy the two week period of the Irodori Festival as I wished. I saw it fitting to spend at least the first day with my lovely wife." he said, leaning in and pressing his lips against your neck. "Thoma, stop, haha, your hair tickles." you laughed, causing him to smile against your neck as he kept kissing the soft skin. You threaded your fingers through his hair and gently pulled him back away from your neck. You then fell back against the mattress, panting as red tinted your cheeks.
You were about to say something, but your words caught in your throat as you looked up and saw the look he was giving you. His eyes were slightly wide, and had a sort of needy look in them, but he spoke again, anyway. "I was wondering what you wanted to do for the first day of the festival?" he asked, causing you to smile up at him. "I want you to keep me warm in this comfortable bed of ours." you said, starting to undress. You slipped off the pajamas you had on and sighed, before speaking again. "Because this bed has been very cold," you took off your underwear as you spoke, throwing them on the floor beside the bed, "without you here warming me up." you finished, watching as he scrambled to take off his nightclothes. He leaned in and kissed you gently, pouring his emotions into that kiss as his face went red. "Do you want this, though? I don't want to force you." he asked, his tone returning to gentle. You nodded softly. "Of course I do. It's you, and regardless of how many times you ask, I will almost always say yes." you replied, reaching up and cupping his face in your hands. "I love you, Thoma." you whispered, bringing him closer to where his tip was pressed against your entrance. You gasped softly when he slid in quickly, eyes going wide as he lifted your body before settling you on his lap. "That's it, jus' stay still, please. M'gonna cum if you keep sucking me in like this- hah~ s'good." he moaned, rocking into you to further stretch you out. He always kept you in mind whenever he made love to you in the morning like this. "Mmhng~ Thoma- hnn~ s'big- ah~!" you squealed when he reached down and rolled his thumb against your clit, drawing out those pretty noises he loved hearing you make. "Look at you. Have I ever told you how pretty you look under me like this?" he asked, pressing his lips against yours as he bottomed out with a groan. You moaned into his mouth, relaxing against his chest as you started to adjust to him. "You look so good taking me like this. I just wanna keep going and- ngh~ never stop." he grunted, bouncing you on his lap as you held onto his shoulders tightly. "Thoma, f-feel- mmnh~ feel you s-so deep. So deep inside- ahn~ me!" you yelped, noticing how his hips were stuttering against yours as he kept moving. "Yeah? It feels good? Do I make you feel good?" he asked, causing you to nod softly. After a few more minutes, you felt your orgasm hit you full force, making you tremble against his chest as you came. "Thoma, m'cumming, cumming- anhmm~!" you moaned loudly, hiding your face in his neck when he came with you. "There we go, nice and warm, just like you wanted, right?" he asked, watching as you nodded mindlessly. He felt you clenching around him and grinding your hips back into his, milking his cock for all it was worth, and he gladly held you against him, keeping your hips against his. He was always so gentle whenever he had to pull out, but instead, he stayed inside of you, hiding his face in your neck and kissing your soft skin. "Did I do good?" he asked, watching as you looked up at him and nodded. "Mhmm~ it felt s'good, still feels s'good. Don't pull out yet, please." you begged, looking up at him with pleading eyes as he looked back down at you. Thoma's face reddened as he buried his face in your hair and sighed.
"If you insist, my love."
Diluc
You woke up slowly next to your husband, watching as he stirred slightly in his sleep and pulled you close to him as he continued to sleep. Diluc mumbled your name sometimes in his sleep, which you adored very much. His hair tended to stick to his face, and got messy from him moving around a lot when he slept. However, he also had a tendency to sleep with almost nothing on, sometimes going to bed completely undressed, because his Vision made his body run warmer than most. You didn't complain about it though, you loved it whenever he held you close and warmed you up.
Diluc had gotten back late last night, and only had time to shower and dry himself off, before all but dragging himself to the bed and falling asleep next to you. He didn't have any work to do today or for the next two weeks, since it was the time for the Windblume Festival to arrive again. You had made a new pair of gloves for him after he wore out and tore his old ones, and planned to give them to him today, but after seeing him look so peaceful, you decided against waking him up. Unfortunately, he was a light sleeper, and soon peeked his red eyes open before catching sight of you awake in his arms. He often worked himself to the brink of collapse, but he always worked very hard, and you respected that very much. You loved that he wanted to help people, but sometimes, he put too much on the line for people you didn't think deserved his kindness, help, or his time. You were willing to admit that you were selfish in this regard, because if there was one thing you were always lacking, it was time with him.
"Good morning, my love, did you sleep well last night?" he asked, reaching for your hand and gently bringing it up to his lips. He gently kissed your knuckles, pulling you close to him as you giggled softly, a heartwarming sound to his ears. "I did, and you?" you asked, wrapping your arms around his neck and snuggling up to him as you shivered from the cold. "Are you cold? I'm sorry I didn't notice before now." he apologized, causing you to shake your head. "You can make it up to me by warming me up now." you proposed, intertwining your leg with his as you brought your hand up to gently cup his face. His cheeks burned red as he looked at you. You undressed and threw your nightclothes on the floor, pushing him onto his back as you spoke. "You've been working so hard, always attending to the needs of others, but what about yourself? You need to take care of yourself as well, Diluc. So, this morning is about you, since it is customary to give your lover something during the Windblume Festival. And I think that this is far better than any other gift you can give me." you said, leaning down and kissing him again. You pulled away and saw the way he was looking at you, his red eyes filled with pure love and adoration you knew he only ever held for you. "Please." he whispered, gently grabbing at your thighs as he spoke. "I could spend more time teasing you, but you've been through enough lately, haven't you?" you asked, causing him to nod. Diluc's grasp on your hip was firm when he slowly slid into you, his fingers reflexively digging into the skin slightly as he kept pressing into you. His grip only loosened when he was fully sheathed inside of your tight cunt, holding you close to him as you slowly adjusted to the stretch. "Mmh~ sorry if it hurts." he groaned, rolling his hips against yours as he dragged against your velvety walls. "Hah~ s-stay still. I'm the one- ah~ taking care of you here, remember- hnng~!" you moaned softly, balancing on your forearms as he looked at you. You slowly sat up and gently pressed your palms against his chest as you started bouncing on him. You rocked against him, feeling his tip hit your cervix and his shaft drag against your sweet spots. "Please let me- ngh~ let me help, I wanna make you feel good, too." he whispered, threading his fingers with yours as he thrusted his hips up to meet your bounces. You tightened around him, before nodding softly. He slowly sat up and pulled you close to his chest, his hands smoothing down your hips before he started moving them for you. He felt you wrap your arms around his neck, pressing your lips against his as he twitched inside of you. "F-feels s'good, 'Luc, wanna stay like this with you forever. Feels s'deep- ahn~!" you cried out as he sped up, leaning in close and pressing his lips against your neck before biting down on the spot where your neck and shoulder met. He could feel you clamping down on him as his eyes rolled back slightly, but he refused to lose himself to pleasure just yet. He wanted you to cum first, and only then would he think of his own needs. Well, he did, until you spoke again. "Please stay in, lemme feel you inside, wanna feel you in my tummy- ahhng~!" you whined softly, before feeling him roll you over to where you were beneath him. He couldn't help the swell of satisfaction in his chest when the first few tears in your eyes fell, catching them with his thumbs as he kissed you. "As you wish, dearest." he whispered, watching as you shivered and sobbed his name when you came, trembling beneath him and squirting all over him. He came not too long after, pressing his hips as close as he possibly could to make sure none of his cum could slip out. "Shh, you did so good for me, dearest." he felt you start clenching around him, squeezing him tightly as your gooey walls milked him. "Hnn~ fuck you're always so good to me." he whispered, holding you close as you clung onto him. "Sweetest thing on the face of Teyvat is you, and nothing else." he whispered, a love-drunk smile on his face as he rolled over onto his back and kissed your lips.
This truly was the perfect morning.
Childe
Childe's eyes opened slowly as pale sunlight peeked through a crack in the curtains where they met, hitting his face directly as you slept soundly in his arms. Last night was a long one, and filled with his whispered declarations of love for you, and the noises of your lovemaking. Although he occasionally liked to play it rough, he hadn't been back in Snezhnaya for quite some time, and you'd missed him dearly while he was away. The only reason he was back was because of the preparations that had to be made for Signora's funeral, but he'd arrived back a few days earlier than anticipated, and that was fine by him. He was grateful for the extra time he got to spend with you now, and he was very willing to show it.
Childe was broken from his trance when he felt your body stir against his, looking down and seeing you open your eyes slowly to gaze up at him. "Ajax, you're still here." you breathed, pulling him close to kiss him. His lips slotted perfectly against yours, and you used the opportunity to push him onto his back and start streddling him. "What's the matter? Couldn't get enough of me last night?" he asked teasingly. You tangled your fingers in his ginger hair and tugged on it lightly as you kept kissing him. "I don't think I'll ever get enough of you." you whispered, causing him to smirk at you. "Careful, those are some dangerous words you're saying. I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands off of you if you keep talking like that." he said, causing you to giggle softly. You leaned in and nibbled on his earlobe. "What if I don't want you to, hm?" you asked.
Your words flipped a switch in his brain that told him to pin you down and make you eat those words. "If you insist, lyubov'." he said. In an instant, he had flipped you over to where he was on top of you and you were on your stomach. "Tell me if it hurts, ok?" he asked, his voice suddenly much softer than it had been mere seconds ago. "Mhm." you hummed softly, before gasping when he slid two fingers into your wet cunt, scissoring them to stretch you out. "Ajax- ngh~!" you jolted slightly, your hips pushing back against his hand as you grinded your hips against his fingers. "That's it, just like that. I promise, I'll take good care of you, girlie, just leave it all to me." he said, adding another finger and curling them to hit your sweet spot as he leaned down and kissed your neck. "HAh~ please- nmm~ please lemme cum- ahH~!" you gripped the sheets and pleaded softly, causing him to huff in fake annoyance before he spoke. "Alright, I guess I'll let you." he said, moving his hand much faster now. Your grip on the sheets tightened as you got closer to your orgasm, a loud whine escaping your lips as you tightened around his fingers and came.
You were about to relax when you felt him pressed up against your entrance, and looked back at him to see that he was smirking. "Don't tell me you're tuckered out from just that. I still have to cum, and you did say that you didn't think you'd ever get enough of me. How about we test that, yeah?" he asked, causing you to nod softly as your face reddened. He slid in slowly, not wanting to cause you any unnecessary pain, and let himself rest against you as you adjusted to his size. "Tell me when I can- shit- when I can move, ok?" he asked, his deep cerulean eyes trained on you as you nodded, signifying that you'd heard him. You waited a few minutes before pushing your hips back against his, gasping softly as you clenched around him tightly. “Mnh~ Ajax, move please.” You begged, feeling him start to slowly move. He got back on his knees and rocked his hips against yours, his tip knocking up against your cervix as you whined and moaned softly. He leaned down and gently grabbed your hands, biting his lip as you melted into his touch. He reached down and grabbed one of your legs, tugging you against him as he grunted softly. You rolled your hips against his slowly, but he refused to let you move as he pinned you down and started moving. "I wanna take care of you, girlie, so don't move too much, ok?" he asked. You mindlessly nodded as he started fucking into you slowly, not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere that the morning had given the two of you. "Mmm~ Such a good girl, yeah? Take it all, pretty thing." he whispered, his voice, deep and demanding, caused your sensitive body to shiver slightly. "Aww, is my pretty girlie still cold? Don't worry, I'll warm you up and make you feel nice and f-fuck- full." he groaned, his eyes rolling back as his spongy tip hit your cervix and caused you to clench around him. "I love it when you're like this, so- ngh~ soft and warm and- hnn~ tight. I just wanna stay inside of you forever- ah~!" he moaned, hitting the spots that made you see stars. "Ajax, m'gonna- ahhn~ m'gonna cum again- ahHNg~!" you buried your face in the sheets and wailed his name as you came. Ajax groaned loudly as he grabbed your hips and harshly tugged them against his, fucking you through your orgasm as you wrapped your legs around his waist. "Hnng~ You sure you want it inside- hAHn~?" he asked, causing you to look back at him and nod through teary eyes. "Mhmm~ Wanna be so full. Wan' you to fuck me f-full- nghaa~!" You were cut off by him shoving his cock deep inside of your fluttering cunt and cumming, rocking his hips against yours as he reached for your hands and held them in his own. "ahhnm~ Good girl, just like that. I can feel you milking me dry. Do you feel warm now?" he asked, his voice teasing as you huffed softly and buried your face in the sheets again. After a few more minutes, he rolled you over to face him and sat up with you in his arms. "Do you wanna get in the bath together?" he asked, causing you to nod softly. "Mhmm, stay with me, please?" you asked, causing him to nod. "Of course, lyubov', do you want me to clean you up?" he asked, receiving a soft nod from you in response. You watched as he sighed, nodding softly before he pulled out slowly. You sighed softly, hiding your face in his shoulder. "Ok, come on, you look exhausted." he said, picking you up and carrying you to the bathroom. He always took care of you, and you were oh so grateful for it this morning. "Perhaps we can have another round when you're up for it." he whispered, causing you to tense up against him as he dried you off. "Your choice, lyubov'." he whispered, laughing when you swatted at his chest as he laid down in bed with you once more. You relaxed in his arms and dozed lightly while he held you close to him, his head on top of yours as he dozed off with you.
Alhaitham
Alhaitham is a lazy individual in the morning, especially when said mornings consist of you. He didn't know he could fall so deeply in love with a person like you, but here he was, the morning after his one year wedding anniversary with you, laying beside you and blissfully naked. He reached out and brought you closer, wrapping you up in his arms and burying his face in your neck as you slept. This caused you to stir in your sleep, before opening your eyes as he kissed your neck repeatedly. "Careful, we might just have to continue last night if you keep doing that." you muttered, causing him to chuckle softly. He then pulled away from your neck and gazed down at your flushed face as he spoke, looking into your (E/C) eyes with all the love and adoration you think you've ever seen in anyone's gaze. "I love you." he whispered, caressing your cheek as you leaned into his touch. "Shouldn't you be getting up? I thought you had work today." you said. "I think the Akademiya can survive without me for a day." he muttered, hiding his face in your neck. "Mmh, but I thought that you had work." you observed, causing him to shake his head as you stretched. "Are you sure you want to get up? It's pretty cold this morning, you know." he looked at you as you huffed a laugh. "No it's not, this is Sumeru, and there's no way that it can get worse than the winters I've been through in the north. Here, I'll- shit- it's freezing!" you had thrown the covers off of yourself, but immediately bundled up under them again when you felt how cold it was. "Why is it so cold this morning? We're in a tropical climate, we should be sweating." you muttered, snuggling up against him. "Sweating from the heat or sweating from sex?" he asked, causing your face to redden as you glared at him. "Only kidding, unless that's an invitation to ravage you more than I did last night.” He said, bringing you closer to him and pressing his lips against yours. “Mmn~ only if you go slow this time. You were very rough last night.” you said, watching as Alhaitham’s eyes widened slightly. “Apologies, I didn’t know you didn’t like it.” He said, suddenly much quieter than before. “Oh, no, that’s not why I’m saying that. Last night was wonderful, I’m just saying that I’m still a bit sensitive is all.” you explained, causing him to nod. "Well, seeing as you're up for it." he said, gently pinning you down against the bed as he spoke. "We can stop if it gets to be too much for you, alright?" he asked, causing you to nod softly. "Ok." you mumbled.
His hips rolled against yours slowly as he lavished your neck with gentle kisses. You never thought him to be such a romantic before getting into a relationship with him, but then again, he was a man full of surprises. Alhaitham had his hands on your hips as he groaned softly, feeling your legs wrap around his waist as he rocked you against him. "HAh~ Mng~ right there- aHhn~ please, 'Haitham~" you whimpered softly, hiding your face in his shoulder. He looked down at you and linked his hands with yours, watching as you sighed softly against his neck and melted into his touch. You thrust your hips upwards against his, meeting his thrusts with the same force as he grunted softly. "You're making it really hard to- ngh~ to hold back, y'know." he murmured, sighing softly. "Nnh~ 'Haitham, s'big- ahhn~!" you were babbling praises at this point, unable to think straight from the overwhelming stimulation your body was receiving. "M'gonna- hnng~ AHhn~!" you locked your legs around his waist as he brought you closer to the edge. "Go ahead, let go, I've got you." he whispered, holding you close as you reached up and tangled your fingers in a mess of silver hair, dragging him down to press your lips against his as you came. He kept going, half lidded teal eyes gazing down into your own as he pressed his hips against yours. "Shh, s'alright, I've got you." he groaned softly as he came tumbling over the edge into bliss with you, holding you close as the two of you rode out your highs together. Alhaitham kept you close as he slowly came down, looking down at you as he spoke. "I'd say, personally, that I'm pretty warm now, what about you?" he asked, chuckling when you laughed softly. "You're the worst." you murmured, looking up at him. You put a hand against his chest and laid down on his chest, your breathing slowing slightly as you relaxed in his arms. "Yes, I'm much warmer than before." you mumbled sleepily. Just as you were about to fall asleep, you and Alhaitham heard someone banging on the door. He scowled as your face reddened from embarrassment, hiding your burning cheeks against the warmth of his chest as you both heard a voice on the other side of the door. "Hey, keep it down! I pulled an all-nighter last night, and I can't get a proper rest when all I can hear is the two of you going at it like rabbits! Keep it down next time!" Kaveh shouted. "If you don't like the noise, the streets are another option you could consider!" Alhaitham shot back, smirking when he heard his roommate's frustrated grumbles on the other side of the door. He settled down under the covers with you once again, looking at you and slowly falling back into the clutches of sleep as he pulled you close to his chest once again. After all, this all started because you were cold, right?
Arataki Itto
It usually got cold during Inazuma’s winters. You were very thankful for your lover for this reason. Itto was like a heater, warming you up quickly and keeping you warm to the point of overheating sometimes. At present, you were waking up after a long night of hanging out with him and the rest of the Arataki Gang. You were considered an honorary member, and the gang’s medic of sorts. Your Vision allowed you to heal people, which came as a great surprise to Genta and Mamoru. Akira and Shinobu and, of course, Itto, already knew. Regardless, you were sometimes left behind whenever they went into town, but Shinobu always promised that she’d make sure everyone was safe at the end of the day.
You slowly opened your eyes and rolled over, coming face to face with your sleeping boyfriend. He had an arm over your waist, his other arm serving as a sort of pillow for you. You knew it was numb from lack of circulation by now with how long you've probably been laying down on his arm, but he probably didn't care all that much. You slowly traced the red Oni markings on his chest, a habit you'd picked up after the many times he'd fallen asleep shirtless next to you, which still happened quite often. You pushed yourself up onto your forearms and sat up, shivering and immediately getting back under the covers when the cold hit your skin. Your movements woke up your boyfriend, whose eyes cracked open and caught sight of you shivering. "Hey, what's goin' on? Are you cold?" he asked, his raspy morning voice hitting your ears and causing you to laugh. "C'mere, I'll warm you up." he offered, pulling you close and wrapping his arms around you as you spoke. "With how warm you are, I should tell everyone to call you Arataki Heat-o, since you're so warm." you mumbled, giggling as you rested your head on his chest. He huffed, poking your cheek before rolling over and pinning you down against the bed as he spoke. "You makin' fun of me? Huh?" he asked, staring you down. He had yet to notice his knee between your legs, or the fact that in this position, you were completely at his mercy with your wrists pinned over your head. It was only when your face reddened and you shuddered under his gaze that he noticed what was going through your mind. "Ohoho, so that's what's going on in that pretty little head of yours, is it, sweetheart? Is that how you wanna be warmed up?" he asked, causing you to look to the side to try and hide your embarrassment. "Hey, what's got you lookin' away all of a sudden? Look at me." he coaxed, smiling down at you when you nervously looked back up at him. You could tell he wanted you just by looking at him, his gaze almost carnal as he stared you down like a feast for a man starved. "Say it, sweetheart, just say the word, and I'll make you feel so good, I promise. You can even nod if you want to." he whispered, pressing his lips hotly against your neck. Your face heated up as he spoke, his gaze intense as he stared at you, but you nodded wordlessly, telling him what he needed to know.
"You wanna take it slow this morning?" he asked, causing you to nod again. "Alright, we can do that." he reassured you, cupping your face with one of his hands. "I wanna make sure you feel good." he muttered. Usually, outside of the bedroom, he was the center of attention, with all eyes on him and all heads turned in his direction. That all changed when it came to you. He wanted to please and praise you, and he would make everything about you if he could. This was one of the things he usually made about you, and you were happy to oblige his wishes so long as his requests of you in return weren't too outlandish. Itto pulled back and slid his sweatpants off, throwing them on the floor before moving on to help you undress. He threw your nightclothes and undergarments on the floor before leaning down and kissing you, sliding his warm palms up the expanse of your thighs. He lightly dug his nails into your skin, kissing from your lips to the curve of your jaw and down your neck. Your breath hitched and a quiet gasp fell from your lips at the sensation of his sharp fangs digging into the skin of your shoulder as he bit down. He sucked at the skin and left several more bite marks all over your chest. He spread your legs and dragged himself over your slit, causing you to shiver. “You ready, pretty girl?” He asked, receiving a nod in response as you reached up and grabbed his shoulders. “Mhmm~” you hummed, tensing up as he slowly pushed the tip in. He kept you pinned down against the bed as he rocked his hips against yours, panting softly. “Hnn~ it h-hurts.” You whined, reaching up and tangling your fingers in his hair. You tugged at the white strands when he went deeper, yelping softly as his tip grazed against your cervix. He bottomed out after a few minutes, groaning softly as he kept himself still. You pulled him down and pressed your lips against his, tilting your head to the side slightly. He waited for you to adjust, slowly rolling his hips against yours once he was sure you would be alright. “Look at you, pretty girl, you’re s’good for me. Jus’ keep takin’ me like this, please.” He whispered, his sharp nails digging into your hips as he started to slowly thrust into you. He let go of your hips as he pressed his forehead against yours, sliding his hands up to hold yours. “Ahh~ mngh~ Itto, please- nnm~!” He grabbed one of your legs and lifted it over his shoulder, giving him access to a deeper angle. His tip bumped up against your cervix as your back arched and you pressed your body against his. Itto held you still by keeping a firm grip on your leg, reaching down with his now free hand to pinch and roll your nipples between his fingers. “Does it feel good? I wanna make sure you feel good, because you make me feel s’good all the time.” He slurred, chuckling softly as you wrapped your other leg around his waist. “You gettin’ close?” He asked, twitching inside of you as you slowly lifted your hips to meet his thrusts. “Mhmm~ please, in, I wanna feel you inside, please.” You whimpered. He looked down at you and noticed the desperate look in your eyes, before gently cupping your face in his hand. “You want me to fill you up? Want me to fuck you full, sweetheart?” He asked, smiling softly as you nodded. He bit his lip and picked up the pace of his thrusts, holding you down as he got closer to his orgasm. “Th-thank you, mmm~ love you s’much- AHhng~ Itto- Hnn~!” You wailed his name as your orgasm hit you full force, shaking against his bed as you came. “Shh, shh, take it jus’ like that, you did so good for me.” He muttered, pressing his hips tightly against yours. You wrapped your leg around his waist and your arms around his neck, kissing him again as he fucked you through your high. He groaned loudly against your mouth as he jerked his hips against yours, pulling away and hiding his face in your neck as he sank his teeth into your skin again. “Mmnh~ good girl, squeezin’ me so- fuck- s’good. You did s’good for me.” He mumbled, wrapping your arms around you as he held you close.
Itto rolled over onto his back, sighing softly as he relaxed. You all but collapsed onto him, leaning against him for support. After a few minutes, he spoke. “Are you alright? Sorry, I kinda got carried away.” He chuckled softly, resting his hand on your upper back. “I’m alright.” You whispered, looking up at him. “You want me to clean you up?” He asked, bracing himself on his forearms. You nodded, whining softly as he slowly pulled out. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” He said, getting up and going to the bathroom to grab a warm damp washcloth to wipe you down with. He cleaned you up slowly, making sure to be as gentle as he could, before putting the washcloth in the bathroom and joining you back in bed. “Lemme hold you for a bit, then we can get up in a little while, ok?” He asked. “Ok, I love you.” You whispered. “Love you, too, sweetheart.” He replied, closing his eyes as he fell asleep.
I had a hurt/comfort thought where Tartaglia just snaps and says something hurtful when his s/o tried to help him while he was upset, but rather than leaving immediately she just sits there and listens. Letting him just release it out of his system, sorta. O wO ofc she's deeply hurt by it and says she understands when he starts to apologize about it. But if he was going too far then she would snap back, and leave him be for a bit until things settle down.
I’m Sorry (Tartaglia x fem!reader)
Hello anon! Thank you for the lovely request. I was running on like four hours of sleep when I wrote this so it’s probably not the best, but enjoy~
Warnings: Cursing, fem!reader
Masterlist
You had decided to bring Ajax lunch at the Northland Bank, and lo and behold, Signora had been there not too long before you. Needless to say, he was pissed, because she had taken the Geo Gnosis and tricked him into buying her time to do so. However, that didn’t mean that he should’ve let that anger out on you.
You knocked on his office door, hearing him say a faint “enter” from the other side. His blue eyes flicked up from the document he was reading to see you. You smiled, bringing out a box of warm dumplings. “Hey, I know you said you were working late, and that I shouldn’t bother you, but I brought you dinner.” You said, walking in and setting the box down on an unoccupied part of his desk. You sat in one of the chairs next to his desk, noticing how he fidgeted with his gloves. He looked angry, very angry, and though you knew better than to pry, you still asked what was going on.
Tartaglia looked back down at the document and sighed deeply when you sat down, before feeling your hand against his. He let you hold it, his glare deepening. “Hey, can you look at me for a moment, please?” You asked. He stared over at you with the same look. You knew he was angry, knew he didn’t want to talk, but you persisted nevertheless. “What’s wrong? Why are you so mad right now?” You asked, he slammed his hand on the tabletop. “You wanna know what’s wrong? I’ve been here with you for well over a year, away from my family because of my mission here. My bitch of a coworker just completed it right as I was getting ready to myself. She stole that opportunity the moment I got my chance, and not only that, but she also took the Anemo Archon’s Gnosis, so that’s two right under her belt. I failed my mission, and now I have to sit here dealing with these people for another month as I wait for another mission before I can go home! I’ve been working my ass off for a year, and she took my limelight like it was hers!” He yelled, stalking toward you as he let go of your hand. You took a step back, but then decided to hold firm. “Ajax, please calm down, you’re yelling.” You mumbled, watching as his look grew even angrier. “Are you kidding me? After everything I’ve done for you, your words of comfort are for me to calm down? I can’t calm down when I just failed one of the most important missions of my lifetime! I’ll probably never get another opportunity like this ever again. You know what? Get out.” He demanded, pointing to the door. “Ajax…” things were getting worse. “Get out!” He yelled. Your eyes widened slightly as he raised his voice at you, since arguments between the two of you were so rare. You glared at him, before drawing your hand back and slapping him square across the face. You stormed out, slamming the door behind you. Fine then, he wants to yell at you? So be it, but you won’t be talking to him for a while until he apologizes.
After he calmed down a little more, Ajax realized exactly how bad what he’d just done was. He knew how you felt whenever you were yelled at, and he’d yelled at you because there was no one else to take that frustration in the room. He crossed his arms and banged his head against the desk. “Way to go, Ajax. She’s going to ignore you for the rest of the week.” He mumbled to himself. He didn’t know how to apologize when it came to you, he wasn’t good at it, and he certainly wasn’t good at admitting he was wrong. However, what he did know was that you needed space for a bit so that the two of you could cool down, and he respected that. He just didn’t think you’d find comfort in one of the people that caused his anger in the first place.
You ate dinner alone that night, thinking about what happened earlier. You decided to let things cool down for a few days, to give your lover some space, and went to sleep early that evening. You slept peacefully with a clear vision in your mind of how you were going to handle this argument with him. “Things will get better, I’m sure of it. This is just another hiccup we have to get through.” You told yourself, closing your eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Childe closed the door to his home and locked it behind him, walking to the kitchen. He was about to call for you when he remembered that you weren’t there. “Why did I yell at her? It wasn’t even her fault in the first place.” He mumbled. He shook his head, before grabbing some ingredients and making dinner for himself. “I’ll apologize tomorrow.” He muttered, before getting dressed in his nightclothes. Ajax didn’t sleep well that night, his mind full of nothing other than you.
The next day, you woke up early to take commissions from the Guild, and quickly made your way to Wangshu Inn. Smiley Yanxiao sent in a request earlier, and you were the one who got it. You walked there, taking your time, and quickly got him the crab meat he needed for the kitchen. You then made your way to Mount Tianheng to complete a time trial and then to Cuijue Slope to deal with some Treasure Hoarders that had been causing trouble for the Guild for a while. You took a break to eat lunch, taking out the food you’d made earlier and eating it as you looked around at the beautiful cliffs and mountains.
By the time you got home, you were exhausted. You collapsed on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately. However, when you woke up the next day, you saw a note on the kitchen counter, which was addressed to you from Ajax. The note said: meet me at Liuli Pavilion for lunch, please. I want to talk- Ajax. You decided to take him up on the offer, and got ready to go out.
Ajax nervously fidgeted with his gloves as you walked up, before looking at you. “Hey, I-” “Follow me, I’m not talking to you here in the middle of the harbor.” You interrupted him, taking his hand and leading him to a more secluded spot. He didn’t know what to say, how to apologize, so he took a deep breath before looking at you. “I- I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you like that, I wasn’t thinking straight yesterday because of Signora’s actions, and-” he stopped when you hugged him, wrapping your arms around him and squeezing him tightly. “I just wanted to help, I’m sorry.” You mumbled, causing him to shake his head. “No, please don’t apologize to me, I’m the one who yelled at you. That was on me, not you. Please don’t try to take the blame for this.” He pleaded, hugging you back. “We can spend the whole day together if you want, just please don’t try blaming yourself for my actions.” He whispered, lifting his hands to cup your face. He pressed his forehead against yours, holding you there. “Can you forgive me for saying those things to you?” He asked, smiling softly as you nodded. When he tried to pull away, you kept him there, before leaning in close to him and stretching on your tiptoes to press your lips against his, kissing him. “The whole day, huh? In that case, how about we just head home? I’m exhausted from commissions yesterday, and I still have injuries. Besides, I’m feeling selfish today, do you mind if I have you all to myself?” You asked, causing him to shake his head. “Home it is.” He replied, sweeping you up into his arms and carrying you to your place. “How about I cook dinner tonight, too? I have a really good recipe for dumplings that Zhongli taught me a few weeks ago.” He suggested, watching as you nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.” You replied, leaning against him.
The rest of the day, he took care of you, tending to your injuries and cooking for you. By the time the two of you settled down for the night, you had a soft smile on your face. “Thank you, Ajax.” You whispered, laying down against him as you spoke. “I’m sorry we fought, I’ll try not to yell at you again.” He mumbled, resting his head on top of yours. “Thanks for taking care of me today.” You muttered, pressing yourself against him. “It’s no problem, thanks for forgiving me.” He replied, closing his eyes. “I love you.” You whispered, looking up at him. He smiled, pressing his lips against yours. “I love you too.” He said, holding you close to him as the two of you fell asleep.