Chapter Text
***
He tried ignoring it.
Ajax loved music. He loved the exhilaration of being on stage, the sounds blaring in his ears, the blinding lights that made him see stars, the deafening roars of the crowds, and the sensation of his calloused fingertips fervently dancing across the strings of his guitar; it all made him feel alive.
And now — as he bounced around the stage, he felt the sweat trickling down his face from exertion as he played his heart out to the sea of fans below. His bandmates were in full swing, the sounds of their instruments rattling his bones and making the blood pump through his veins as his heartbeat matched the frantic pace of the drums behind him — he knew, above all else, that he was born to experience this feeling.
But even he couldn't ignore that something felt off.
He'd been off of his game for a while now. His bandmates — the Harbingers, an underground student band from the local music college — weren't blind to it either. It started off slow: an off-key here, a missed riff there, but it didn't end at that. He started struggling to meet rehearsals. Then he'd begun experimenting a bit more — though his bandmates weren't too thrilled about him going so far off-track mid-performance. He'd gotten an earful from them after the show was over — and yet, he still couldn't seem to find his groove.
It was driving him mad. At first, he tried brushing it off as just being in a “bad mood”, but a creeping sensation led him to believe it went deeper than that.
He continued to run through the chords on his guitar, the audience’s cheers roaring in his ears alongside the pounding of his heart, while he found himself grappling with an itch he couldn’t scratch. The music still flowed through him as always, but it felt like he was chasing a melody just out of reach. The riffs that were once second nature to him now felt like hurdles, and his attempts at spontaneity seemed more like missteps.
As the final notes of the song echoed through the venue, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and irritation. Sure, he could try to shrug it off and keep playing along, pretending everything was fine and going about like normal. But as he met the look his senior was giving him as they finished off the show, he knew he wouldn't be able to worm his way out of this one.
***
“Tartaglia.”
Ah yes, his stage name. He didn't need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to — most of his bandmates typically referred to him as "Childe", anyway, a nickname teasingly given to him for being the youngest member in the group.
“Captain.”
He eyed the rest of his bandmates, who were making their way backstage to join them. Great, he’d have an audience now.
“It seems like you already know what I’m going to say,” Capitano said, raising a brow.
Childe dug his hands into his jeans pockets and sighed, “I know, I know, my playing has been off lately, and I should do something about it. Something along those lines, yeah?”
Capitano let out an amused huff. “It’s not just your performance I’m concerned about.” He crossed his arms. “Whatever’s affecting it is also affecting you. Coordination with your bandmates is important. And while I understand that not all of you can get along—”
Childe scoffed at that as he stole a glance at his fellow members approaching.
“— it is the key to success during our shows,” Capitano continued. “So I ask that you start sorting out whatever it is that's going on with you before it gets worse and starts reflecting on our group as a whole.”
“...Yes, sir,” Childe said as he looked down at his feet.
Capitano patted his shoulder. “All of your fellow bandmates are worried about you. Perhaps it would be best if you looked for a change of pace.”
Scaramouche snickered loudly behind him. “ ‘Worried’ might be going a bit too far,” he spoke, twirling a drumstick in his hand as the other Harbingers made their entrance.
Childe’s head snapped up. “Hey!”
“That’s right, you shouldn’t start letting him get the wrong idea,” Arlecchino quipped, lugging her keyboard in its case as she entered.
“Jeez, does no one here care about me?” Childe whined, putting a hand to his chest in mock hurt.
Columbina innocently chimed in, clasping her hands together. “Aw, don’t be upset, Childe. In fact, I think I might have the perfect suggestion to help you.”
“Oh?”
“Have you considered singing? Perhaps if you put your focus towards that, you could have some lovely words to go with that strumming of yours,” the vocalist suggested, plucking the air to match her point. “Who knows, it might just be the thing you need.”
Childe’s face scrunched in thought. It was true: while he’d spent most of his time trying to master every instrument he could get his hands on, he’d been neglecting actually learning how to sing properly. Sure, he wasn’t an amateur, but hell, the most consistent experience he’s probably had was singing lullabies to his little siblings every night. Though if his sister’s glowing accounts were to be believed, he wasn’t half-bad in that department.
Maybe Columbina was right — it might give him the chance to climb out of his creative rut. He'd been craving for a change in his routine, anyway.
He hummed in curiosity. “You might be onto something. It’s worth giving it a shot, right?”
Capitano nodded in agreement. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“Or you might end up sounding like a dying pig. Oh, wouldn’t that be funny, we might even have to kick you from the band!” Scaramouche threw his head back and cackled, while some of the others joined in on the laugh too. Childe grumbled. Those traitors.
“All he’s good for is screaming his head off on stage anyway,” Dottore’s gravelly voice scoffed.
“Why, you —”
"Why not just pick up another instrument?" Pantalone offered from his seat on one of the equipment boxes.
Childe let out a frustrated sigh. "Already tried that one."
Arlecchino gasped in mock worry. "Maybe you really are a hopeless cause."
Columbina interjected, “Now, now, don’t go scaring away Childe.” She turned to him again. “Since the start of the new semester is coming up, why don’t you sign yourself up for a vocal class? Here, I’ll show you the one I took last year,” she said, pulling up her phone and handing it to Childe.
He scrolled through the course description. “See, you’ll be mixed in with some higher-level intermediate singers, so maybe you can get them to teach you a thing or two,” Columbina pointed out beside him.
Childe made a mental note of that, returning the phone to Columbina. “I’ll think about it."
***
A few notes played before coming to an abrupt stop.
“Ugh.” Calloused fingers ran through copper hair in frustration.
Ajax set down his guitar, leaning it on the wall next to his bed, deciding this wasn’t going anywhere. Damn, it's no wonder his bandmates noticed. This was seriously starting to affect him. At the rate he was going, he probably wouldn’t even have the motivation to pick up his guitar in a week, and it scared him.
He eyed the pictures plastered on his wall from where he was sitting on his bed, images of his own eyes staring right back at him. He loved music for as long as he could remember, the pictures of his younger self being proof of that. He smiled at the one of him holding a guitar that was way too big for his little hands. On that following birthday, his parents gifted him his first real guitar.
He chuckled at the memory. They were probably tired of having to hear painfully out-of-tune, incoherent, garble coming out of their son’s bedroom every night and decided it was time for him to enroll in some real lessons. And every day after that just solidified his love for the art. Being one out of many siblings, he’d desperately wanted to stand out. He wanted nothing more than to escape the monotony of his life in his small hometown, and as much as he loved it, it was stifling him.
There was nothing more natural to him than playing music and the feeling of putting himself out there for the world to see. It felt as easy as breathing, and stepping on stage allowed him to be truly free. So when he’d been given the opportunity of joining the Harbingers, he’d taken it without a second thought. He loved every second of it — it felt like he was finally where he was meant to be.
But now? He was starting to doubt it, and it confused him. He knew there’d be more opportunities waiting for him out there, but this realization came crashing down on him before he even expected it.
For the first time in his life, he felt lost. And it scared him.
Damn it, he was in a bad mood again.
The ginger flopped down on the bed and rolled over on his side, rubbing his palms over his face. This was not the time to be having a midlife crisis. He was only twenty-one! Bringing his hands down, he caught a glimpse of the laptop screen on his desk.
Ah, right. The vocal class. He should probably sign up for that.
Untangling himself from the sheets, he took a seat in front of his desk. He cracked his knuckles and pulled up the link to the class Columbina had sent him after the group parted ways for the night.
Vocal Technique and Diction. His eyes scanned the page. It seemed simple enough, considering he’d never taken a class within the conservatory before. He just hoped it’d be interesting enough to keep his attention.
His eyes drifted over to the calendar on his wall, making sure to take a mental note of the dates scribbled in red ink; that would be the start of the class registration period, and he didn’t want to scramble for signups last minute only to find out every slot had been filled.
Guess he was really doing it, then. Finally solidifying his decision, Ajax shut his laptop and dug back into his messy covers.
In the quiet of the night, he silently prayed his choice would do something to alleviate the headache of frustration he’d been dealing with for the past few weeks as he drifted off into sleep.
***
The new semester wouldn’t be starting until a few days, but Ajax thought it’d be a good idea to scout out the premises where his new vocal classes would be held. He felt restless; plus, his schedule was all clear for the day, and he desperately itched for something to do.
His college’s campus was massive, so he’d rather not leave a bad impression on his brand-new professor and classmates by arriving an entire hour late on his first day by getting completely lost. Not like I usually leave particularly good impressions either, though. He chuckled to himself.
After shrugging on a jacket to stave off the autumn cold and securing his helmet, he hopped onto his motorbike and made his way to the voice department’s building just before the start of the afternoon.
***
Thankfully, he lived in the dorms close to the main campus, so the drive there didn’t take too long.
He parked around a corner next to the building and removed his helmet, hanging it over his bike’s mirror after shaking his head around to re-tousle his flattened hair. Walking over to the entrance, Ajax stared slack-jawed at the building in awe — it had a striking elegance to it. The area was surrounded by lush greenery, with off-white and beige-bricked walls lined with arched windows that encompassed a pristine, sophisticated look. It was a far cry from the much more run-down, modern building he regularly went to located across the campus, which was sandwiched in between the far busier parts of the city.
He breathed a sigh of relief. The light from the midday sun washed over him, illuminating the building in a soft, warm glow. He could definitely see himself feeling more at peace here, at least.
With that, he climbed up the stairs and pushed through the massive, intricate oak doors.
Inside, he was greeted with the sight of a sprawling interior that matched every bit of elegance the outside suggested. His shoes squeaked on the hardwood floor as he looked around, soaking in the warm atmosphere.
He greeted the receptionist as he wandered further inside, who politely directed him towards the classroom area on the building map when he asked around for directions. Swiftly thanking the woman as he left, he went off in search of the room.
Ajax’s hands rested in his pockets as he casually strolled along the halls, stopping every now and then to observe a few things of interest here and there. He was glad he chose to visit on an off day, since he wanted some freedom to explore on his own, completely unbothered.
Unsurprisingly, there were barely any people around as he surveyed the hall.
…Save for one, tiny, blonde — and very lost-looking — girl.
The ginger lifted his head up to get a closer look. Her back was turned to him, but he could tell she was slightly panicking by her uneasy posture. She nervously tugged on the sleeves of her baby blue cardigan that went past her wrists, tightly clutching a piece of paper in one hand.
Curiosity piqued, Ajax observed the distressed girl from a distance. He wondered if she’d been trying to look for her class too, but had gotten lost along the way. Well, he couldn’t blame her — he might have also taken more than a few wrong turns trying to navigate the maze of hallways than he’d like to admit.
With careful steps, he approached her, his footsteps as light as his typical friendly demeanor.
“Hey, girlie.”
Perhaps his footsteps had been too light, though, because as soon as his voice reached her ears, the poor girl gasped and immediately spun around in response. And the hand that had been gripping the paper tightly her in fist —
— ended up smacking him square in the face.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry—”
Before she could even finish her sentence, her words turned into a surprised yelp as her foot caught on an uneven board on the floor.
As if on instinct, Ajax lunged forward without a second thought, closing the gap between them in an instant. His hand shot out, fingers closing around the blonde’s wrist, pulling her back just in time to prevent her from tumbling backwards into the hard ground.
Ah.
Looking up, time seemed to slow down for a fraction of a second as gold met blue.
His breath caught in his throat as honeyed eyes stared back at him, pinning him in place. Now that her back wasn’t turned to him, he was seeing her face. A face framed by delicate golden locks, and wide eyes that bore his same expression. It was almost as if the atmosphere was charged around them at that moment — he couldn’t put it into words, but he was sure she could feel it too.
A beat passed before Ajax snapped back into reality when he felt her hand relax in his grip. Right. He was still holding onto her.
Shaking himself from his reverie, he offered her a gentle grin as he steadied her on her feet. “You alright?” he asked, his voice laced with a quiet softness that surprised even him.
Releasing her from his hold, the girl nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips. “Yeah. Thanks, you really saved me.” Her melodic voice rang in his ears. What was happening to him?
The blonde broke their gaze first, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she gave a nervous chuckle. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to… I mean, I was just — startled.”
Finally having recovered from his stupor, Ajax’s usual charm returned. “Don’t worry about it,” he reassured her with a grin, rubbing his cheek lightly. “I should probably announce myself a bit more effectively next time.”
The girl gave a light chuckle, a mix of relief and embarrassment painting her pretty features. “Still… I can't believe I just hit you in the face.” She turned to scan his face in concern, checking for any injuries. “I swear, I’m not usually this jumpy. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Ajax lifted his hands up to his sides. ”Yep, no harm done.” Suddenly, he leaned in a bit closer, their difference in height causing him to tower over her small frame. “Unless you need a closer look?” he spoke, the mischievous grin on his face growing as his face hovered above hers.
“On second thought, maybe I should smack you in the face again,” she deadpanned, giving him a flat look.
He chuckled, bringing a hand over his heart. “And ruin my handsome features? Aw, how cruel of you, girlie.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop calling me that,” she murmured, a small pout making its way onto her face. She brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she looked around the floor in search of something. Glancing down, he noticed the piece of paper she was holding onto a moment ago lying on the ground; it must have fallen during their little run-in earlier.
Reaching down, he picked the piece of paper off the ground, glancing at its contents.
8 Zapolyarny Street
Opera Hall Building
Studio 3A, 2nd floor, third room on the hallway to the right
Huh. He blinked. Those were the directions to his class, too. As he read the contents of the paper, a sense of realization and amusement washed over him. He couldn't help but chuckle. Looks like he’s already found a classmate.
The blonde raised a brow in confusion as she noticed his reaction. "What's so funny?"
Ajax lifted up the paper between his fingers, a playful glint in his eyes. "It seems like fate decided to bring us together. These just so happen to be the directions to my class as well."
Her golden eyes widened in surprise, and then a small laugh bubbled from her lips. "Huh, what are the chances?"
Ajax shrugged, his grin growing. "Or perhaps it's just destiny."
She rolled her eyes playfully, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves now."
"Right, right," Ajax chuckled. "But since we're heading the same way, how about we make sure neither of us gets lost again?"
Her smile turned warm, and she nodded. "Lead the way."
***
They walked side by side in search of their room, slipping into a comfortable rhythm.
“Honestly, I’m still a little surprised to hear that you’re taking vocal lessons,” the blonde confessed.
Ajax shifted his gaze towards her. “Oh? Do I not look the type?”
“I guess you could say that.”
Their steps slowed to a stop as they neared their destination.
“Third room on the right… Studio 3A,” he repeated, looking up at the sign in front of the room to confirm they were in the right place.
“Looks like this is it.” After checking to see if the door was unlocked, he held it open for her. “After you,” he winked at her playfully, gesturing inside.
Rolling her eyes, she stepped into the empty classroom as the ginger followed after.
The space was filled with the soft echo of their footsteps as they entered the studio. Ajax’s gaze swept across the room, taking in the quiet atmosphere. The room was spacious, with large windows that let in the soft afternoon light, and there was an air of warmth that lingered in the space.
He walked over to one of the chairs and leaned back in it comfortably. "Nice place. Looks like we're in for an interesting class."
The blonde answered him with a hum. He glanced back at her. It seemed like she was busy examining the piano in the center of the room.
“You play the piano?”
She blinked up at him. “Oh, no. I’m only a classical vocalist, so oftentimes I’d have a pianist accompanying me.” Her fingers brushed across the smooth surface of the piano. “It just reminded me of the place I used to study at.”
His brows raised in surprise. “So you’re new here? I didn’t expect someone to transfer midway through the year.”
She let out a light chuckle, tucking a golden strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I just moved in here with my brother, actually. We finally managed to land scholarships in order to attend, so —”
As if on cue, her phone started ringing, and the girl almost tripped over herself for a second time that day.
She quickly fished her phone out of her dress pocket, nearly dropping it after seeing the caller's name on the screen.
"Oh, gods. It's my brother." Her eyes widened in realization. "I… completely forgot I was supposed to meet up with him for lunch.
"Um, sorry about that—” She winced as the phone rang again, her expression turning apologetic. “I really have to get going. My brother always has this impeccable timing of calling at the worst times.”
Ajax chuckled. "Don’t sweat it. Family always seems to have a way of doing that."
She gave him a small smile, and he found himself strangely drawn to the way her eyes sparkled when she did that. "Yeah, they do."
The ginger pushed himself off the chair, realizing that it was probably time for them to part ways for now. "Well, I guess I'll see you in class then?"
“Yep,” she replied, already rushing out the door, but she suddenly stopped in her tracks to poke her head back into the room.
“Oh, and thanks again for helping me out. And for not holding a grudge about the whole smacking-in-the-face thing earlier."
Ajax chuckled amusedly. "It’s no problem. Accidents happen, and it makes for an interesting introduction, don’t you think?
She laughed, the melodious sound filling the air. "You’re right."
Her phone rang one last time before she answered it, finally rushing down the corridor. "Hey, sorry, I got a bit caught up... No, no, I'm fine, Aeth. I just went to check my class before... No, I didn’t forget! I'm on my way right now —"
A smile played on his lips as he stood there for a moment, listening to her voice continue down the hallway as her conversation faded away into the distance.
His gaze remained fixed on her receding form as left, but the smile on his face suddenly faded when he realized he’d forgotten something.
He never caught her name.
***
The week passed by without much incident, each day a blend of activities: chats with his family, who enthusiastically filled him in on what they were up to back home, mundane practice sessions, and his usual daily routine. However, Ajax found his thoughts frequently drifting back to his encounter with the petite girl. He couldn't quite explain it, but there was something about her that had left an impression on him.
If his bandmates noticed his distracted demeanor, they didn’t show it.
***
The day of the new semester finally arrived. He'd been looking forward to it, partly due to the anticipation of meeting her again, and he wasn’t sure if he would cross paths with her outside of their shared class. He was honestly eager to try out something new this time around — he never ventured too much into the vocal side of music, so perhaps today would be the chance for him to broaden his horizons once the afternoon rolled around.
The morning sun shone through his windows, the cool autumn chill permeating his room. He yawned; he was an early riser, but his first class wouldn't be starting until an hour or two, so he made sure to take his sweet time getting ready. After shoving a meal that toed the line of even being considered breakfast — something his mother would most definitely scold him for — down his mouth, he dressed in his usual attire and strapped his guitar to his back before making his way out of the dorm.
***
By 1:30, Ajax started making his way towards the voice department's building. He greeted a few familiar faces from his previous classes in the morning, offering nods and small smiles — as well as a few glares exchanged between some of the less-than-friendly Harbingers. The campus was alive with the energy of a new semester, with students bustling about and getting acquainted with their schedules and new routines.
He arrived on the steps of the conservatory once again, the place just as elegant and inviting as he remembered. Pushing past the intricate wooden doors, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He had always been confident in his instrumental skills, but this was a different realm altogether. He had a feeling that his vocal classes would push him in a different direction, and he welcomed the challenge.
The halls were lively this time around, a sharp contrast to the empty halls he walked through last time. He navigated the hallways with ease, his earlier visit having helped him familiarize himself with the layout. He walked up the stairs with a confident stride, his guitar strap slung over his shoulder, and a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He was right: he far preferred the leisurely atmosphere here than the hectic climate of his main building.
His steps having brought him to the studio, he stood before it for a brief moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The room was mostly empty, with only a few students scattered around, chatting and getting ready for class. His gaze swept over the room in hopes of spotting a familiar head of blonde hair.
There she was.
She was seated in the front row with her hands neatly folded across her lap, her golden hair caught in the warm afternoon light streaming through the windows.
Without a second thought, he unceremoniously plopped down on the seat next to her.
She startled at his presence, but her gaze flickered with recognition once their eyes met, gold clashing with blue once more.
“It’s you,” she spoke in a whisper, almost in disbelief, before a smile broke across her face. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He chuckled at her blunt greeting. “You know, you rushed off before I ever caught your name back then.” He extended his hand out to her in greeting. “I think a proper introduction is in order, don’t you think? You can call me Ajax.”
Her small hand encompassed his, and she shook it in return. Her hands were so warm. “Nice to meet you, Ajax. I’m Lumine.” The smile she shot him was blinding.
Lumine. Hah, He barely knew anything about her, and yet he felt like it suited her perfectly.
His reverie was cut short when the professor's deep voice broke through the room. It seems like the rest of the remaining students had arrived during their conversation.
Lumine quickly shifted her attention to the front, releasing his hand from hers. He wouldn’t admit to feeling a spark of disappointment at that.
He followed, tuning back in to what the professor was saying. “...class. You may call me Professor Zhongli, and I will be your primary vocal instructor for this semester." He continued to discuss the syllabus and expectations for the course as the ginger stole a glance back at Lumine, who was earnestly jotting down notes on her notepad, listening with rapt attention. So she was the studious type.
"You'll be meeting your remaining instructors throughout the week, but for now, I'd like to begin our vocal assessments." The man then turned to Lumine expectantly, and Ajax's brows shifted in curiosity. "Miss Viatrix, would you mind doing the honors?"
"Not at all, professor." Lifting herself from her seat, she stepped onto the small platform of the mini-stage as the professor seated himself in front of the piano.
Ajax watched with interest as Lumine positioned herself, her posture poised and graceful. Zhongli gave her a nod, and he began playing a few introductory chords on the piano, setting the mood for the piece. She opened her mouth.
He’s heard her voice before, but he’s never heard her sing.
Her voice was like a crystal-clear stream as it flowed effortlessly across the room. It was as if they were suspended in a moment outside of time, a sanctuary woven from melody and emotion. Her melodic voice filled the air, pure and rich and raw , carrying with it an emotional depth that resonated within every corner of the studio. It was like something he’d never heard before.
Her eyes remained closed as she sang, her expression serene and focused. The song was in a language he didn’t understand, but his focus still hung on every word, pushing all thoughts to the back of his mind. He found himself leaning forward slightly, his guitar case resting on his legs while his eyes stayed fixed on her form; a warm glow cast around her as she was enveloped in the sunlight. He continued to listen on in awe as the room seemed to fade away around them, leaving only her presence behind.
The piece finally came to a gentle close, the final notes hanging in the air for a moment, before fading away. And yet, the rapid beating of his heart had yet to still, completely drowning out the silence.
It's like he'd fallen in love with music all over again.