Chapter Text
When Diluc wakes up, the first thing he thinks of is chucking the strange jewel out the window.
The second thing, is to read the note that was attached to it, one hand holding the paper while another hand is curled into a first upwards ablaze, leaving no room for anything to hide in the shadows of his bedroom. As soon as Diluc’s eyes land on the last word, the letter crumbles away, seemingly turning into dandelion seeds and flying out, carried by an imaginary wind.
That only left one place to go.
Two hours into reading, Diluc slumps down, his mask sliding down his face, as he adjusts his hood.
He holds the jeweled orb in his hand, its form easily splitting itself into two, roughly the size of a pair of earrings. He sighs, before putting it back into his belt pouch, staring almost scornfully at the book out in front of him. He needed to return these, but given what had happened in the morning, it was likely that it would only come back to find him.
Another burden he couldn’t shake off, it seemed.
He had read multiple fables on the appearance of Barbatos’ blessings, all bearing two similar jewels, one representing creation, and the other one seemingly representing something akin to destruction, though the official powers of this one seemed to vary from user to user.
One thing about the jewel he held in his position was clear, that it was the physical manifestation of Barbatos’ love, the very same one that had led to the creation of Mondstadt, and the last thing that Barbatos had created with loving hands before they had fallen into a five hundred year slumber, leaving the people of Mond to choose their own destiny.
That explained the lack of godly interference in comparison to the other nations of Teyvat.
However, half of the fables mentioned that the jewels only came in times where great evil was arising, something that concerned Diluc greatly. If those were true, then it would mean thhat something sinister, something so big that Barbatos had found the need to reveal his most desperate cards was coming.
He wasn’t ready for this kind of responsibility. He had failed the last time as The Phoenix, and that was before he had gotten Barbatos’ physical manifestation of a blessing. While he had always held love for Mondstadt, it was clear that there was only one thing that Diluc was capable of doing, which was destruction.
He notices it in the scorch marks left on the earth and the buildings after his fights, the way his return to Mond had been nothing but a disappointment in the eyes of not only the people, but the people he had once cared for the most. He notices it in the whispers that carry across the tavern, carried by a soft wind, the way that those from the Guild talk about how he’s changed. How he wasn’t fit to serve as an influential figure, of sorts, in Mondstadt. He notices it in the way how on his worst nights, he is unable to recognize the brother standing in front of him, the brother who has no idea who he is while he is suited up. How everything had changed, without him in it.
While not many knew he was The Phoenix, he was sure if it were to ever come out, he would be finished. Whatever the Darknight Hero had done in the span of a year wouldn’t be enough to atone for what he had done.
Diluc closes the book, opting to stare at his hands while sitting in the chair instead, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes.
Take it back, he wishes, the wind silent around him, Take it back.
A gentle wind envelops him, cradling the side of his face ever so slightly, before going still. Diluc checks his belt pouch once again.
The jewel is still there.
Ajax wakes with a start, nearly crushing his phone in an attempt to turn the blaring alarm off, groaning.
His first day of working a seemingly normal job (actually, fairly sure it was normal) for the first time since he had become a hero in Snezhnaya at the ripe age of fourteen. Growing up, he had always set his own hours, receiving sponsorship from the Tsaritsa, as well as the loving mentorship he had gotten from the rest of her heroes.
So, needless to say, when it came to matters of work, he had been a little spoiled his entire life.
“I’m here!” Ajax shouts, skidding down the steps to Skirk’s diner on the first floor, mismatched socks, as he slips, falling to the floor with a large bang.
“Up!” Skirk demands, standing over him, butchers knife in one hand and a comically large pan in the other, as Ajax gives a sheepish smile, hurrying to his feet. “There’s people waiting at Tables two and three, get to it!”
Without another word, Ajax hits the ground running.
“One serving of Borscht, coming right up!” Ajax grins, scribbling down the table’s order, as he weaves in and out of the lunch rush of the incoming crowd, delivering another order sheet to the kitchens, where Skirk is cooking up a storm, fires already ablaze in three different stovetops, “Miss! Table three is asking for one serving of Borscht on top of their order!”
Skirk grunts, setting another pot on an empty stove, letting Ajax know that she had understood. He bounces out of the kitchen with a tray of food, ready to deliver it to another table, which to his surprise, turned out to be members of the Fatui (not his underlings, but still his inferiors nonetheless).
During the slow hours, Ajax finds himself listening in on the customers’ conversations, picking up bits and pieces about the hero situation in Mondstadt.
“You don’t think he would come back, would he?” a hushed whisper in the booth behind where Ajax was sitting sounds, as Ajax’s ears perk up. Were his prayers for finding a strong hero about to be answered?
“The Phoenix?” another voice asks, voice almost trembling with fear, “He wiped out half of our men and then some last time, but he hasn’t made an appearance since then, assuming he’s still in Mondstadt.”
“He’s crazy enough to come back though, don’t you think?” the first voice whispers, “After all, heroes leaving their original territory is almost unheard of. Word on the street says that he’s traveled all over Teyvat, entering Snezhnaya at some point!”
“All unconfirmed,” the second voice reminds the first, as both of them sigh.
“As long as we don’t have to deal with him," they sigh in relief in unison, before going back to their food.
Ajax grins. Finally, a worthy opponent!
By the end of the day, Ajax is ready to pass out. He leans against the high table in the seating area of the convenience store, catching his breath as he keeps a vice grip on the water bottle that he had just purchased.
I’m just getting stronger, Ajax thinks, fully aware of how shaky his voice sounded to himself, This is all a part of the training process.
He allows himself to wallow in his situation a little bit longer, before slapping his cheeks, forcing himself to stand up. He would allow himself one candy bar, a congratulatory treat for his first day of average civilian living. With a newfound resolution, Ajax makes his way to the candy aisle, only to find that someone was already there.
“Um…?” Ajax says, as he and the strange man hold hands over the candy bar, the stranger already having one in his mouth, staring back at Ajax wide-eyed, as though he were a deer caught in headlights.
“Excuse me,” the stranger says, as he takes the entire box of candy bars swiftly, dumping it into his basket. Ajax is baffled, not even sure on what to even comment about, the fact that the man had looked like he had been dragged through the gates and back (which was an unusual look for a Mondstadt citizen to have), or the fact that he had dumped fifteen candy bars into his basket with nothing else but a bottle of juice and nothing else.
“Can’t you spare me one?” Ajax asks, scratching the back of his head, as the stranger gives him a bewildered look, as though talking to him was out of the question. “I just finished my shift and they don’t sell those bars anywhere else, is all.”
The stranger hesitantly looks down at his basket, moving it closer to him, as though he were contemplating it, before handing Ajax two from the basket. He holds it by the ends, leaving no chance for them to brush hands again. Ajax takes it, a small smile on his face.
The sound of a stomach grumbling breaks the silence between the two of them. Ajax looks up, eyebrow raised, as the stranger attempts to shrink back, as though he were trying to hide himself out of embarrassment.
“Have you eaten, at all?” Ajax asks, as the stranger shakes his head, staring at Ajax as though he had just grown a second head.
Ajax tilts his head, jabbing his thumb towards the direction of the door, “I can cook something for you, if you’d like,”. He notices the weirded out look of the stranger, “Not that I’m trying to be creepy or anything! I work in a diner not too far from here! Chef’s spirit, and all of that.”
The stranger says nothing again, checking out his cart, before addressing Ajax.
“You’re not from here, are you,” The stranger says, his tone light, moreso a statement than a question. Ajax nods, laughing.
“Yep!” He says, popping the ‘p’ at the end, before checking out his own things as well, both of them making their way out, with Ajax taking the lead, Diluc following behind.
“I don’t usually do this,” the stranger confesses, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, keeping the hood up, as Ajax turns around, walking backwards in order to keep an eye on his newfound friend. (Was friend really the right term?)
That’s when Ajax spots it. The telltale sign that someone was superpowered. It’s in the way the stranger treads lightly, as though not to alert others that he was there. It’s in the way that his eyes seem to scan everything, while staring at nothing in particular at the same time. The fact that in a city as unprotected as Mondstadt, he stands there confident in a way that signals he could handle himself in a fight.
“What’s your power?” Ajax finds himself asking suddenly, sliding to the side to avoid hitting a pole, standing at the stranger’s side, taking note of the red hair peeking out from the sides of their hoodie.
“Nothing major,” Diluc lies, “Enhanced senses, but that doesn’t really good hero industry considering I have nothing else.”
Ajax sighs, disappointed.
“Well, at least I was right about something!” He says excitedly, as the stranger raises their eyebrow at him, confused but deciding not to press further.
The two eventually reach the diner, Ajax opening the door.
“What’s your name?”
“… Diluc,” the stranger says, as he stares around at the decorations Skirk had put up, before settling his eyes on Ajax. Ajax smiles, holding his hand out.
“I’m Ajax!” he says, smiling, as he slides into a booth, motioning for Diluc to follow. Diluc hesitates, before sliding into the seat opposite. Ajax excuses himslelf quickly, hurrying to the breakroom fridge, looking for the lunch and dinner he had stored in there for tomorrow. He could always make something else (or beg Skirk to give him some of the lunch and dinner rush leftovers).
Several minutes later, Diluc considers the thought of leaving. He squirmed, looking out the windows, the night sky seemingly looming over him. This wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for him, making plans beforehand and then getting antsy at the last minute, the feeling as though his insides would crawl out of his skin.
But Ajax wasn’t from Mondstadt, nor did he seem to care about Mondstadt’s history of heroes. If he had, the Phoenix would have been the first person he asked about. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person, though at times Diluc would sense that something was off, years of heroes instinct going off in a second, like the way Ajax had noticed almost instantly that Diluc wasn’t a normal citizen.
But Diluc knew better than anyone about the way that being superpowered changes you, from the way that you view yourself to the way that others viewed you. So he supposed he could understand the precaution and brash measures that Ajax seemed to favor in taking.
He was so deep in thought about this new character in Mondstadt that he hadn’t noticed Ajax coming back, two trays of dishes sending steam into the air, its aroma making Diluc’s stomach growl again.
“I’m back!” Ajax smiles, as he places the trays in front of Diluc as well as a set of cutlery, “Eat up!”
“Thank you,” Diluc says, giving a small smile, as Ajax’s smile brightens.
Diluc, Ajax noticed, eats rather slow. Not that he didn’t mind of course, as he fills Diluc in on the strange sights that he had seen in Mondstadt so far, including the giant translucent wolf that stalks around the forest in the countryside, asking for tidbits of information here and there from Diluc, who often gives him a more patient response than most.
“I wouldn’t advise you try and fight it,” Diluc says, an amused smile on his face, as Ajax pouts. “Andrius has powers to rival all the top superheroes in Snezhnaya, all at once.”
To this, Ajax raises an eyebrow.
“You’re saying that thing has powers to rival the Harbingers?” Ajax asks, as Diluc ponders over this question for a second, before nodding with absolute certainty.
After that, the conversation settles into more mundane topics, far from the topic of challenging gods and superpowers that they would have wanted. Diluc had said that if given the choice, he would’ve gone for something such as invisibility, while Ajax says that he wouldn’t change what he has, just that he wished he were stronger at it. Diluc notices that Ajax does not divulge into what his powers were, in specifics. Diluc gives recommendations for the best restaurants in Mondstadt, while gathering an understanding of what Ajax likes.
Ajax notices that Diluc does not give any information about his own personal preferences.
Before he had realized, the sky had gone from black to a soft blue purple color, Diluc blinking rapidly as he tried to process the passing of time that had just occurred.
People would be out soon.
Without thinking, Diluc stands up to go abruptly, pushing the tray away from him. Ajax looks at him, confused, before he looks out the window as well and jumps up, grabbing Diluc’s plate with an almost breakneck speed.
“Could I get your number?” Ajax asks, as Diluc stares at him, shocked, eyes darting between him and the mirror outside, the light of dawn peeking through the corners of the buildings in the city. Diluc quickly stands up, nearly knocking into Ajax in the process, hurrying to the door.
“Tomorrow!” Diluc promises, glancing back at Ajax, who laughs, eyes crinkling at the corners, before he runs out into the alleyway, traveling through the shadows back to his home.
Ajax feels the smile lingering on his face, a certain warmth in his cheeks as he looks down at the empty plate in his hands.
How peculiar Mondstadt was indeed!
T-WOW sets props his phone up on the selfie stick, starting the stream. He crouches down in front of the camera, giving a small wave, as he watches the viewers stream in.
“Hello all!” He practically all but shouts, in broad daylight on the rooftops of Mondstadt, “It’s everyone favorite vigilante T-WOW, coming back to you again after so long! I got pretty roughed up last time, right?”
T-WOW fakes a pout, knowing full well the audience wouldn’t be able to see his lips through the mask. He supposed it was the thought that counted.
“And as you can see, we’re back at it again!” T-WOW laughs, as he gleefully turns the camera around, showing his fans a clear view of the city, “Isn’t it just lovely? Doesn’t it just look like some bad guys lurking around are just asking to get drowned?”
The chat goes wild.
sucker4twow
is this even allowed? lolol where are the knights
LoneWolfAlphaSigma
I'm literally in love with you.
hatguy03
Deactivate plz
ventithebard
get OUT OF MY HOUSE
xx_elusive_dain_xx
you are so boring.
xianglingeats
@xx_elusive_dain_xx @ventithebard BOOOOOOOO GET OUT HES HOLDING THE LAW UP BY HIS BACK RN
T-WOW laughs, as he spins the camera on him, securing his mask by touching the sides of his nose, ensuring his mouth was covered.
“I’m in Mond for now!” he proudly exclaims, before panning the camera back to the rooftops of the city, lights twinkling in and out, “Not sure what I’m looking for, but it’s alright! I really do hope I get acquainted with Mond’s heroes, if the Knights don’t catch me first.”
ventithebard
GET OUT OF MY CITY
xx_elusive_dain_xx
may the other powers strike you and leave you as a shitstain on the roof, actually.
“What haters!” T-WOW scoffs, as he scans through the chat, before giving a thumbs up to the camera, “Yet both of you attend every stream, I remember you two back when I was in Liyue!”
The chat goes wild once more, with his fans laughing and sending various emotes.
The rest of the stream proves to be rather uneventful, as far as his usual streams go. He catches a couple of black market wine smugglers, apprehending them (nearly ripping the fountain out from its foundation calling the water from it in the process), tying them together with tight knots and a bow.
“It’s time to relive my delivery boy days, don’t you think?” T-WOW says, smiling into the camera, pinning his signature narwhal on the bright blue bow adorning the trio of smugglers, dragging the three of them behind him, holding his phone in front of him.
“Say cheese!” is all the warning the Knights get before he throws the trio of criminals down, right at the front entrance of the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
“And that’s it for now!” T-WOW says, before giving a small wave, running across the rooftops of Mondstadt, “See y’all next time!”
And with that, he disconnects the stream, slipping into his apartment window, nearly ripping the suit off of him and slides into his pajamas, before promptly knocking out.
Diluc wakes up from his second nap, phone buzzing with texts. He winces, before opening up the messages, all of them from a singular person.
From: Kaeya
>Came by earlier, You’re safe, right?
>>No one’s heard from you in a few days, Adelinde won’t comment on anything.
>>>There’s been a pickup in abyssal order activity, especially since you aren’t in the main parts of the city, be careful.
>>>>Actually, it might be better if you moved to your Mondstadt City home for now.
There's a pause before the final message.
From: Kaeya
>Stay safe.
Diluc nearly all but throws the phone across to the other side of the room, deciding to bury himself under the covers instead.
But Kaeya’s words did hold a certain truth to them. He could only rely on sneaking around in the shadows for so long, and with criminal activity picking up, it would be better for him to relocate, at least temporarily.
With a sigh, he gets up, hastily packing his suitcase, retrieving his phone in order to send a quick text to Adelinde about the fact that he would be relocating, and to enable the safety protocols for the Winery.
He stares at the table of Dawn Winery, before a bold idea pops into his head, the tips of his ears going scarlet as he scribbles something in the privacy of his dining room.
He stops by the diner again, well past the late night rush, greeted by Ajax again, only to all but shove a napkin with his number hastily written on it, before he waves goodbye to a stunned Ajax as he runs down the street with his suitcase.
From: Ajax
>Diluc???
>>Everything good???
To: Ajax
>I’ve moved to the city.
From: Ajax
>You scared me for a second!! I thought you were in danger!
>>Where?
To: Ajax
>That cross section between FourWinds Ave. and Boreal St. I live at the apartment complex there.
From: Ajax
>Never heard
>>But I’ll make sure to check out the area! (((o(°▽°)o)))
To: Ajax
>?
>>No need.
>>>Thank you though.
From: Ajax
>It’s like you don’t want me to know my way around, Diluc! I can’t open Dandelion Maps while walking around like an idiot forever (눈_눈)
Diluc smiles, opting to like the message instead, before falling into a dreamless sleep.