Chapter Text
This was absurd, going to Liyue, leaving his siblings behind, leaving his home, leaving everything that he knows. What is this? Jeopardy? One wrong step and the Tsaritsa will send him out of his nation? That is wrong on so many levels.
Speaking of wrong steps, Ajax did none of them. He had just reported to Her Majesty, she had then said, “My dear Tartaglia,” she sighed, like she was disappointed in him, “I am going to send you to Liyue,” she started, Tartaglia almost bolted out, but he held himself down. “I am going to send you to Liyue to take the Geo Arcons Gnosis.” She smiled when she saw his shoulders fall, telling her that he had relaxed.
She smiled at her Harbinger who had dipped his head lower to the ground, “Rise, Tartaglia.” She said, ice in her tone. He rose with a bow and a thankful look. “I understand that you have yet to find your soulmate,” she started with disappointment, “Liyue is a new place to start, I know that you have had no luck in my nation, and I feel like this mission is fit for you.” She smiled, or at least what she calls a smile.
“Thank you, Magisity.” He said simply, bowing his head low to show his appreciation more than his words, his arm on his chest where his mark sat.
She nodded, her smile now faded into the coldness of the room, “You are dismissed.” Her voice is warm, unlike her normal chilled breath.
He walks out of the pure ice room where she sat, her icy eyes watching his back until the large doors close loudly behind him.
Tartaglia winced at the booming closure of the door, the Fatui standing at the door watching him in his pity, the large Cryo user chuckling at his demise. “Leaving Snezhnaya, Childe?” He asked with a smirk.
He whips his head around, his deep ocean eyes glaring into his empty soul, “And who gave you permission to call me Childe,” he hummed, “let alone speak.” His teeth closed, trying to act professional through his rage.
The Fatui’s limbs stiffened, his head now looking up at the sharp chandelier above their head. “That’s what I thought.” He whispered under his cold breath, turning on his heel and marched away from the two, the Anemo user on the other side of the door chuckling at the Cryo.
“Childe!” A pale male called from a dark, tall room just down the hall. His light teal hair made Ajax shudder, his face though still remained sturn. He ignored the man walking up to him, his hand reaching up for his shoulder.
He slapped it before it touched his coat that rested over his shoulders, “Don’t touch me.” He said simply before he picked up his pace, leaving the man, Dottore, staring at him.
“You haven’t changed a bit have you,” he started, a smirk in his voice, “still infected by the abyss, I take it?” Tartaglia’s eyes widened as he summoned Hydro in the shape of a small, sharp knife.
“Come again?” He asked, his back still facing him, the knife peeking out of his balled hand. The man chuckled half heartedly, his arms flying halfway up his body, stopping at his face.
Still holding his smile, he lowers his arms and turns his back against him too, “So I’ll take that as a yes.” He scoffed and walked back to his so-called lab. The knife still rested in his palm. He threw it on the wall that was behind him, the Hydro disappearing after it hit.
He walked from the palace in the cold snow to the edge of a small village where his family’s home sat. Though it was late at night and the stars kissed the sky with their brightness, the lights still remained on in the small house. He opened the door silently to find his littlest brother laying on the couch with his eyes closed.
“Ajax,” his mom started with dullness, “why are you here?” She asked, petting his brother's soft amber hair. He took off his heavy coat along with his snow covered boots on the mat that held the others.
“I have come to say goodbye to everyone.” He said simply, his lips curling up in a true smile that was hardly ever seen. His ginger hair was freed when he took off his hat that was close to identical to his brother’s.
“To say goodbye?” She asked with confusion in her tone, her hand freezing in Teucer’s hair. Her face hid sadness though she would never admit it to his father or himself.
“Yes, I am departing to Liyue to,” He paused, “look for my soulmate, and some other plans.” He said the last part softly, not wanting his Mom to look at him with disappointment.
Instead she sighs and slowly gets up from sitting down on the smaller couch where Teucer still lay. She slowly makes her way towards him with a neutral face. Once she met his gaze with her own, her face softened with a smile. “Stay safe.” She said as she hugged him tightly.
He hugged her back with another smile as he put his face into her shoulder, like he had always done, ever since he was little. “You can say goodbye to Anton and Tiona if you would like.” She said softly with a grin into his fabrics.
He released her slowly and smiled again before he walked down the short hallway where his siblings' rooms sat. He went to Antons first, the room dark with the lack of lights on. He sturred in his sleep until he finally woke up to his brother sitting on the bed.
“Brother?” He asked quietly, still drowsy from his sleep. Ajax nodded with a smile, his hand propped behind him to keep him stable. He opened his mouth before he closed it, deciding that the words he thought of were not the best for the moment.
“I’m going to go to Liyue,” He said quietly, his hand now brushing his hair out of his eyes in a swift motion. “My soulmate may be there, and the Tsaritsa asked me to check on the people there, afterall, the Geo Archon is her old friend and she would like me to meet him.” He said, the lie seeping through his teeth.
His brother registered that he was going to be gone for a while and frowned. “You have to leave?” He asked, his eyes pouting for him to stay.
“Sadly.” He said tilting his head, making a sad look within his eyes. His brother sighing and wrapped his arms around him in a hug. He whispered something into his shirt that sounded more like a complaint than anything.
He got up when his brother let go of him and laid back in his bed, his pillow sinking down by the weight of his head. He waited until his eyes fell then did he close the door and walk to the room next to him.
The door of his sister’s door opened quietly when he stepped in the room with a deep breath, preparing himself to tell her the truth. “Tiona.” He said quietly when he sat down on her bed with a soft creak.
The older girl’s eyelids opened slowly, she stretched her arms above her head and yawned quietly. “Good morning, sunshine.” He said jokingly with a soft smile.
She smiled at him with her tired eyes and put her arm over her eyes. “Brother.” She whispered with a smile. He nodded at her and took her arm off of her eyes with gentle hands.
“I’m departing to Liyue to take the Geo Archon’s Gnosis,” He said with a sigh, his sister placing a frown on her small face, “and to hopefully find my soulmate.” He said with a smile and tilt of his head.
She smiled at the last bit and put her head under a blanket, “Stay safe, Brother.” Tiona whispered, her voice small and tired because of the late time. He realised that she would not say anything else, so he kissed her forehead and walked out the door with a large smile.
“Thank you, Mom.” Ajax said before he walked out the door with his winter gear back on, ready to trudge through the heavy, cold snow to get back to his Fatui provided apartment to pack up his little clothes.
His apartment was damp but warm compared to the cold dark night outside. “Ready for Liyue, loverboy?” A quiet but irritating voice said down the hall. The violet hair stuck out compared to the grey walls of the skinny hallways.
Tartaglia chuckled, “As I'll ever be, Scaramouche.” He said before he stepped into the room where heavy sheets laid on his bed, a teasing smile on his face. He packed his battle clothes that are thin enough for Liyue’s hot weather. He also grabbed his paper and pen for writing to his family in the other nation.
“See you later, asshole.” Tartaglia said to Scara who rolled his eyes in annoyance before he left the building to where a ship awaited him and other Fatui at the port where ice built up in clumps of unmoved boats that sat there for far too long.
“Last call, boat for Liyue leaving in five minutes!” A guard said when Tartaglia entered the boat with a quick jog, his hands still in his pockets. He sighed and puffed air into his gloves for warmth when the boat started running, getting the engine ready for the long journey.
‘And we’re off’ He thought once the boat started off into the dark ocean that awaited him.