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Ajax is sixteen when Pulcinella first takes him to the capital and even then, the two years he’s spent in Fatui camps have not readied him for its splendor. He's never seen so many stone houses, some of them with towers that almost look like they could touch the sky. And the people - there're more people than Ajax ever thought possible. Every street nook seems crowded with stalls selling everything he could possibly imagine and more, the delicious smell of food and the calls of the sellers filling the air.
The little mora pouch from Pulcinella is burning in Ajax's pocket, demanding to be used. As soon as his mentor’s gaze is elsewhere, Ajax slips away, eager to explore.
Enticed by the smell of cooked meat, Ajax flits from stall to stall until he finds something he likes. He buys a pirozhki for a few mora, munching on it happily as he keeps wandering around the city, taking in whatever sights he stumbles across–until the sound of clashing blades reaches his ears:
Someone is fighting close by.
Intrigued, Ajax follows the noise. Around the corner, he finds a fenced training ground and a group of men in Fatui agent gear sparring.
Ajax grins. "Hello! Can I join?" he asks excitedly as he swings himself over the fence in one fluid motion.
The men standing on the edge of the ring turn to face him. Their hands clasp the hilts of their swords, but as soon as they see their gangly young trespasser, they relax their posture.
"This is private property," the closest agent says, shooing Ajax away with a disinterested expression on his face. "Go away, twerp!"
"Hey, I'm Fatui too!"
The agent scoffs. "Sure you are, country boy. But we are the elite," the man says, tapping the lieutenant's insignia pinned to his chest.
Ajax just laughs. He's got a similar badge, too. It's just not on his person right now but still stuffed in his luggage.
He's aware he doesn't exactly look threatening. He's grown by a head in the last year alone, the growth spurt leaving him tall and lanky with long scrawny limbs he's still getting used to. His uniform fit last fall's Ajax perfectly, but now everything is too short and a little too tight. Pulcinella has arranged a fitting for him today for an entirely new wardrobe, but that doesn't help him now.
Not that it matters. Master Skirk would laugh seeing these men so easily disregarding her pupil just because of how he looks.
"If you're so good, surely you're not afraid to take me on?" Ajax says, still grinning.
As he pulls his heavy fur coat off, he reveals the leather strap he wears around his torso just to keep the slightly too small shirt closed - and the glinting hydro vision clasped to his belt.
"Afraid? Who's afraid of anyone, boy?"
Ajax cocks his head to one side as if in contemplation. "Maybe you aren't yet," he says, a cocky smile spreading across his face, "but you should be!" A water dagger manifests in his hand. He twirls it between his fingers before pointing it at the agents. "So, how about that fight? All of you against me is good too!"
The Fatui exchange looks.
"Okay," the largest of the group says as he picks up a giant hammer resting against the fence. "It seems this kid needs a lesson. I'll bite, but don't come crying to me when I break a few bones."
Ajax claps his hands together in excitement. "Let's go, Mister! Show me what you've got!"
He doesn’t have to wait long.
With a roar, the first Fatuus charges straight at him. Ajax’s smile only turns wider. For a moment, he doesn’t seem to move at all–but when his opponent brings his hammer down where he was standing a split second before, he finds only air, the weapon crashing heavily against the ground.
The Fatuus blinks in confusion when he finds Ajax between his arms, their noses almost touching. Ajax presses a hydro blade against his jugular and sighs. "You're too slow, Mister. I could see that move a mile away."
Before the man has a chance to react, Ajax jumps back and kicks himself off the hammer, vaulting over his opponent to deliver a sharp jab of his elbow to the base of his skull.
The man sways on his feet as Ajax lands behind him.
As the giant falls to the ground behind him, Ajax glances over his shoulder. "Any other taker?" he says airily.
There is a moment of silent disbelief before the remaining agents charge at him in unison.
Ajax only laughs in delight, summoning a second sword.
These men are good. Much better than the recruits Ajax is used to training with, at least, and used to working together. Shouting orders to one another they fall into a clearly practiced formation as soon as Ajax proves himself a threat.
But Ajax is still faster. Stronger. Pulcinella has made it very clear Ajax isn't to kill any allies, but the blunt sides of his blades are still fair game. So he swings them with terrifying accuracy and speed, using them to parry, disarm, and stun until there is only one man left standing, backing away from him with a gun trained at his head.
As Ajax charges at his last opponent, someone speaks behind him, "That's enough."
Ajax barely has time to register that someone new has entered the training ground before they grab hold of the harness around Ajax's chest, yanking him back hard enough to punch the air right out of his lungs. For just a moment, Ajax is stunned as he coughs and heaves for breath. The next thing he knows, he's lifted off his feet like he weighs nothing at all.
It only makes Ajax grins. Finally, a worthy opponent.
Using the force of the yank, he swings back, attempting to use his momentum to turn and land an attack. But before he can even finish the first move, an enormous hand envelopes his own up to the wrist. Metal chains dig into Ajax's skin as it is forced behind his back.
"If you value your life, you'll release your weapons now," a gruff voice says from above him.
Ajax doesn't answer, concentrating instead on his options. His legs flail, unable to find purchase.
The hand holding his hand and wrist tightens its hold, grinding the bones together in a clear warning.
Ajax lets out a long chuckle. "Okay, you won," he says, letting his weapons dissipate into thin air, raising his free hand palm up in a gesture of surrender.
It's the first time since he got back out of the Abyss that he's lost a fight. And being so easily subdued–It's almost thrilling.
"What happened here?" Ajax's captor asks, but his words aren’t directed at Ajax.
"Sir! He came out of nowhere! We were just sparring!" the agent still left standing says, a nervous tremor running through his voice.
Around them, the other Fatui are groaning on the ground, some of them slowly attempting to get up.
"A single boy beat all of you?" the gruff voice continues.
The agent nods.
Suddenly Ajax's hand is released, and with another tug of the harness, he is turned to face his subduer. Still dangling in midair, he comes face to face with a towering man clad head to toe in metal armor, his head and face covered by a helmet.
The sheer power the man exudes is something he hasn't felt since the Abyss. There's a flush spreading across Ajax's cheeks, the thrill of battle turning into a different kind of excitement he doesn't know how to name.
"Tell me who you are," the man says. Even despite the helmet, this close Ajax should see a face, but there's only swirling, featureless darkness behind the maw-like visor.
A shiver runs through him as he realizes the man in front of him isn't a man at all but something more. Maybe something like Ajax himself.
"Your name, boy," the armored figure says again.
Before Ajax can answer, Pulcinella's familiar voice sounds from behind him, "Ajax! There you are! Don't go wandering on your own!"
The moment Ajax is being lifted through the air again by the damned chest strap and presented to his mentor like a misbehaving kitten.
"Is this yours?" his captor says.
Pulcinella beams at the towering man behind Ajax. "Indeed he is, and I've been looking for him! Thank you, Capitano!"
"Ca-Capitano?" Ajax repeats the name in almost breathless awe.
So the one who beat is none other than one of the Tsaritsa's best soldiers. Ajax has, of course, heard of the legendary Harbinger and his exploits, but in the flesh (or whatever he is made of), he's even more impressive.
Capitano harumphs. "You should take better care of your things, Rooster," he says before Ajax is unceremoniously planted on his feet in front of Pulcinella.
Pulcinella claps Ajax on the back of his thigh, bringing him out of his reverie. "This is Ajax! My new protege! I'm sure you two will get along wonderfully," he says.
"Sir," is all Ajax manages to say as he stumbles to regain his balance. He turns around, gaping at the armored man now towering over him at his full height.
Starstruck, heoffers a half-decent bow to Capitano,
Capitano just stares at him, or at least Ajax assumes so from the way his helmet is angled.
"Hmh," the giant finally grunts. "He has potential." He gestures sharply to the Fatui agents still sitting and hobbling around the training ground. "Men, with me."
Without further ado, they leave; the men Ajax had beaten hurrying after their leader with their tails between their legs.
Ajax stares after the retreating hulking figure for a long while.
Pulcinella is speaking, but Ajax isn't really paying attention until he tugs insistently at his shirt sleeve. "What is the matter, boy? Did you get hurt?" Pulcinella asks.
Ajax shakes his head, still not looking at his mentor. "He-" Ajax mumbles. He's blushing furiously behind his fringe, biting his knuckles. The same hand Capitano could have crushed so easily. "He's so cool!"
At his side, Pulcinella sighs, looking up at the sky as if praying for strength.