Chapter Text
If you asked Bennett what he thought about Ajax, he would smile brightly and gush about how the man was “super strong, smart, really caring, and, and…” for as long as you could listen.
He knows that his friends think of Ajax as a product of his unluckiness, but he thinks that meeting Ajax was one of the best things that has ever happened to him.
Even so, Bennett knows that there’s a lot about himself that Ajax doesn’t tell him.
Bennett knows that people don’t see Ajax as a good person because of his job.
Bennett knows that Ajax is not-so-secretly keeping an eye on him, even outside of their semi-regular letters.
And Bennett knows that Ajax visits London without meeting with him, even though the orange-haired man promised to see him whenever he was in town.
That being said, he can barely contain his excitement when Ajax’s latest letter mentions that he would be stopping in London in the next month or so, jumping around happily. Fischl, Oz, Razor, and Ajax’s messenger bat all stare at him judgmentally, but he really couldn’t care less at the moment.
Fischl does have quite a few choice words about his relationship with the older man, but like every other time, she and Oz end up agreeing to help Bennett pen a reply. And like every other time, Razor plays with the Sleepy Messenger Bat while the others are busy, feeding it bugs and scraps of meat.
When they finally finish, some time later, Razor and the bat are lying in a heap, fast asleep. Bennett gently wakes the messenger, who snaps at him grumpily. He tries to convince it to send the letter right away, but after some negotiation (consisting of lots of pleading from Bennett and lots of snapping and sulking from the bat) they come to an agreement. It would leave early the next morning in return for some more scraps of meat.
The weeks pass without another visit from the messenger bat, and Bennett starts to worry.
“Do not lose faith, my ill-fortuned friend!” Fischl says, when he gets stuck in his head about it one day. “For my Auge der Verurteilung has seen, with unmistakable clarity, that the Child of the Fatui cares greatly for you, even if one is concerned about his position.”
And Oz follows promptly with: “Why don’t you take some time off? Visit your dads for a day or two.”
“We shall watch the skies for the Somnolent Chiropteric Messenger and inform you of its arrival posthaste,” Fischl finishes.
With even Razor showing concern, Bennett reluctantly agrees to take a couple of days to visit his dads. They’re all more-or-less understanding, and he returns feeling much better.
But as more weeks pass, the feelings of worry return to the forefront of his mind. Just as he’s dozing off one evening, thinking about looking for him the next time the team sets out, Razor barges into his room, holding a very disgruntled-looking messenger bat.
Bennett shoots up from his bed, blinking away the sleep. When he sees the bat, he almost shouts in happiness. Enveloping Razor in a tight hug, he grabs them both and runs off in search of Fischl. They find her in her room, enraptured by the book in her hands. Oz straightens from where he was dozing on his perch. “Mein Fräulein,” he says, “it looks as though the messenger has returned once again.”
With this, Fischl looks up from her novel, running over and taking Bennett's hands. “I’m so happy for- *ahem*, er, I see that the hard-working messenger has returned! One wonders what message you have brought us today.”
She carefully removes the paper from the bat’s leg, flicking it open with a flourish. Squinting at the tiny writing, she reads:
Dearest Bennett,
I apologise for sending such a late reply. I have no excuse that I could use to ask for your forgiveness
Nonetheless, I have good news: if all goes well, I will be arriving in London the morning after you receive this letter. I have some time off that I hope to spend with you, if you’re amiable, of course.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Yours,
Ajax
Bennet squeals in excitement. “I need to get everything ready!” he exclaims. He turns to the bat. “Will he be staying somewhere in London?”
The messenger bat tilts its head, before giving a quick nod, gesturing vaguely with one wing. The other three visibly sigh in relief.
“One is relieved that we shall not hear your screams under the blanket of night,” Fischl teases. Razor lets out a noise of agreement, his cheeks dusted pink.
Bennett flushes a bright crimson. He buries his face in his hands, flustered beyond belief. “I-I’m so sorry about last time!” he stammers, “It won’t happen again!”
The last time Ajax was in London, Bennett had begged the orange-haired man to stay with him (and Fischl and Razor and Oz). Let’s just say that he probably won’t be staying with them again after what happened. Razor couldn’t look him in the face for weeks.
Letting out a series of squeaks vaguely reminiscent of laughter, the Sleepy Messenger Bat shuffles into a corner and promptly falls asleep.
Fischl and Razor exchange a glance. “If you are to meet your ocherous...friend tomorrow morn, it would be wise to retire for the even.”
“Oh! Right!” Bennett suddenly wraps the two in a crushing hug. “I...I know you guys don’t really approve of Ajax...so I’m really thankful that you’re helping me so much here,” he says, releasing his friends. “I’ll be off, then. Good night!”
And with that, Bennett returns to his original position in his bed, vibrating in excitement for tomorrow.
He won’t fall asleep until the early morning.