Chapter Text
The open road was a longtime love of Beidou’s. The woman had a heart like the ocean, endlessly wide and seemingly never full. Life was good these days and she found herself with very little room for complaint. Though it had been a very long road to get to where she was in life now, the last few years had been exceedingly kind. Enough so that if she had to, she’d crawl her way through all of her life’s roughest stretches again a thousand times over to get back to where she was now.
Music blared out of her truck’s speakers as she thundered down the highway, almost loud enough to drown out her voice as she sang along. Beidou was a lot of things, but a good vocalist was not one of them. It wasn’t about being good anyway, it was all about the joy of it–the release of belting her heart for no one’s sake but her own. Long drives were relaxing, sure, but they could get boring after a while too without little amusements like this to keep her mood up. When the volume was loud enough, she could almost pretend she was actually hitting all the notes right for her audience of none.
There were only so many things she could do to keep herself entertained alone, though. There had been a few times that her wife had accompanied her on some longer treks, and her company had been most welcome–when she wasn’t complaining overmuch. Even then, it was still nice having her around to help the clock spin that much quicker. Longing had its ways of making the minutes drag, after all.
Just thinking about her was enough to make a soft smile play across her lips as her eye fixed briefly upon the golden anchor that hung from her rearview mirror. It was a little token from her love when she’d first bought this truck, she’d given it to her to remind her of home wherever she might roam. Beidou liked to think it had brought her good luck for all these years. All kinds of things could happen when driving across, or even in between countries, but she’d managed to steer clear of any trouble she couldn’t get herself out of so far.
She liked to think that the little anchor that her anchor had given her played a part in her good fortunes.
Perhaps once she finished this CD she’d give her a call. With the time difference from here to home, she should be off work. “Should” being the main point in that thought. The both of them were prone to getting lost in their work–especially when they were apart. Giving her a call would be good for both of them, Beidou reckoned.
There were only a handful of songs left on the album and that gave her time to think of what to chat about. Even though they’d done this a million times before, Beidou liked to try and find something interesting to share every time she called. Today hadn’t been particularly eventful, but the sunrise had been nice enough to share at least.
As the end of the disk drew near Beidou couldn’t help but notice that the sky was quickly getting darker. Perhaps she should have checked the weather on the radio–but she loved this album and a little bit of weather had never stopped her before. It wouldn’t be a big deal. Even if it was, her beloved “Alcor” as she’d named her truck was a sleeper cab. Worst case scenario, she’d just pull over and take a nap until things cleared up. It didn’t really matter if she was late as long as everything got where it was going in one piece. Life happens, after all.
Sometimes more than others.
Beidou set her cruise control and grabbed her phone with her free hand, muscle memory easily unlocking it and scrolling through her contacts until she found her.
“Ning” with a red heart and an anchor emoji. In the contact photo she’d saved, her wife was smiling coyly at her with her face partially hidden behind a folding fan. Gods, she was beautiful. Beidou could hardly wait to hear her voice again–but something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye before she could tap the call button.
Her truck sailed past what looked to be a person walking along the shoulder, but she’d been going too fast and been a little too distracted to have gotten a good look. The sky looked anything but friendly and they were certifiably in the middle of nowhere right now. If that had been a person she’d caught a glimpse of then they were absolutely not safe out here right now.
Naturally, she slammed the brakes and brought her transport to a halt some several hundred meters later, pulling off to the side slightly to let any traffic that might happen by past. A few minutes later her suspicions were confirmed.
Someone was walking along the shoulder all the way out here.
Beidou knew a trap or a scam when she saw one, but this area wasn’t known for that kind of activity. As the figure got closer in her mirror she was able to get a better look. Whoever they were, they looked young, and ragged. In her many years on the road Beidou had picked up her share of hitch-hikers despite Ningguang’s countless warnings against it. So far it hadn’t been any major trouble. Sure, some of them had been oddballs but nothing that she couldn’t handle. Even men twice her size were no match for her if push came to shove.
It wasn’t much of a decision, really. Beidou stopped her truck and hopped out onto the shoulder, groaning as she stretched her legs for the first time in many hours. The stranger froze when they saw her, stopping dead in their tracks. Well, that wouldn’t get them anywhere.
“Hey!” she called out with a wide and hopefully friendly-looking wave. “It’s lookin’ like rain up there, wanna ride along for a bit?”
No answer.
Beidou frowned, leaning against the side of her truck. They hadn’t moved at all since she stepped out. From this distance it was too hard for her to make out any real details about the stranger, but she knows hesitation when she sees it.
“C’mon, promise I don’t bite!” she laughed, hoping to ease their nerves. “At least lemme get ya to the next town–or even just a gas station or somethin.”
The figure shuffled nervously, reaching back to fidget with their backpack. After a few moments they finally started to trudge towards her again. Beidou notices when they pull their hood up, but doesn’t comment on it. Upon a closer look, she knows she is definitely dealing with a kid and she is seized with the overwhelming urge to help them.
“Alright, climb aboard!” she welcomed with a sweeping wave, hopping back into her truck and unlocking it for the teen. “The name’s Beidou, by the way. What’s yours?” she asked as they climbed into the passenger seat.
A soft noise is the only response she gets.
We’ll work on it.
The Alcor roars back to life and the cab is instantly filled with a wall of sound that has Beidou scrambling to adjust the stereo so that her poor, startled passenger’s soul can hopefully re-enter their body.
“Sorry, sorry!” she apologizes with a laugh to the poor wide-eyed kid beside her. “I like my tunes loud when I’m driving, makes it more fun to sing along yanno?”
They blinked, and then they nodded meekly. Beidou’s expression softened apologetically.
“Here, why don’tcha flip through my CDs, or the radio if ya want. Pick something you like, you’re stereo boss while I get us going again.”
The kid paused again, but they eventually nodded and started flipping through her CD case after a few moments. Beidou is patient while they browse, noting the first few drops of rain splashing onto her windshield as she drives along.
Good timing on her part. She glances at her lucky anchor again with a smile.
Eventually her passenger decides on a disk after having flipped through most of her case. One of her personal mixes marked simply as that. A mix. Even she doesn’t remember what’s on it–but that’s what makes it fun.
“Alright, yeah. Man, I don’t even remember what’s on this one. Go ahead and pop ’er in, kid.”
They quickly do so and then settle quietly in their seat as the music fills the cab at a much more manageable volume this time. It’s the only sound besides the pounding of the rain on the windshield for a long time.
Beidou doesn’t push for them to talk, but she does steal quick glances at them when she can afford to. Curiosity came to her naturally, and she wanted to at least get some idea of who she’d picked up this time. Each time she looks at the kid, they’re staring right back at her with wide red eyes. Despite the fact that they’d been driving along together for nearly an hour at that point, they don’t seem any less skittish or alert than when she’d first picked them up.
It doesn’t take a genius to reckon they had their reasons. That much becomes especially apparent when she catches a glimpse of their hand. Loose bandages are wrapped all around it, caked with dried blood in some spots. The wrapping seems to continue up their arm, disappearing into the sleeves of the baggy coat that they wear. She’d have to get a better look whenever they stopped if the kid would let her.
Their hair is a dusty, almost white blonde that reminds her a little bit of Ningguang.
Ah, shit. Forgot to call her earlier… Oops!
Eventually the CD ended, prompting Beidou to give some conversation another shot.
“Up for picking another one?” she asked quietly this time. Boisterous and friendly hadn’t worked earlier, maybe she’d get more mileage out of a different approach. “Or if you liked any songs on that last one, I can recommend one if you like.”
The hesitation is still there, but this time she gets a verbal answer! It’s quiet, but she takes what she can get.
“I liked the ballads the best…”
That accent… Inazuman? Damn, you’re a long way from home, kiddo.
“Yeah, huh? Me too, the songs that tell a story are my favorites. Alright, I got you. Pass the case here would ya?”
The passenger does so with their good hand, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Beidou holds back on making a comment and simply puts in the next set of tunes for them. She can almost hear Ningguang’s voice in her head reminding her to slow down. If Ning were here now–and if she wouldn’t be busy chiding her for picking up a stranger, Beidou reckoned she’d be pretty proud of how much restraint she’s showing despite the curiosity and concern burning up inside her.
Silence fell over the cab again for a little while until a new sound caught Beidou’s attention. Judging by the sudden panicked look on her passenger’s face, she hadn’t imagined it either. A soft mewling and the rustling of their backpack brings the revelation that she had in fact picked up two passengers.
The kid looked absolutely mortified, sputtering nervously as they tried to quiet their bag–but the cat was already out of the bag. Literally.
Beidou laughed and waved them off.
“Relax, it’s cool,” she began. “Let ‘em breathe a bit yeah?”
With a relieved, albeit shaky breath, the kid opens up the backpack and a small white kitten wriggles out into their lap.
“Awww, whatcha call ‘em?” Beidou coos, reaching over absentmindedly to ruffle the little thing’s fur.
“...His name is, ah. Tomo.”
“Hey there, Tomo! Aww, look at you–just a lil pile of fluff aint ya?”
“.........And um. I am Kazuha.”
That gets Beidou’s attention back from the cute little kitty cat that definitely hadn’t been distracting her from the road at all.
“Nice to meet ya, Kazuha,” Beidou says with a smile. “Now, I don’t wanna push ya, but I gotta ask. Got somewhere you’re going?”
Kazuha shrunk at the question and shook his head.
Not going to, but running from… Worry about the details later.
“Mm.. Alright. I won’t pry, but I
am
gonna make sure you’re safe, that alright?”
“Ah! No, you don’t need to do anything–really miss, um… Beidou. I will be alright, do not trouble yourself!” he quickly protests, and Beidou’s brow furrows in response. That makes him shrink in on himself even further.
Shit.
“Whoa, whoa. Slow down, kiddo. I ain’t troubled, just looking out for a fellow traveler. It’s alright, take it easy. I’m not gonna call the cops or anything–I promise ya.”
That admission seemed to take off some of the tension immediately. Good.
“...Thank you, miss Beidou.”
“Just Beidou’s fine, no need for any fancy titles with me!” she laughed. It seemed like a good time to pivot the conversation, and Beidou went for it. “So. Not a lot out here but I’m getting pretty hungry. Nav says we got a gas station coming up in a few miles, you hungry too?”
Kazuha blinked at her, seemingly caught off guard by the question but he took the shift once it kicked in.
“Tomo should probably eat soon. I think I have enough Mora for some snacks..”
“My treat!” Beidou interjects, and Kazuha is back to looking startled again. Before he can protest, Beidou is already talking again. “I insist. I’m gonna give you some Mora and you’re gonna go in there and stock up on snacks while I top this old girl up,” she elaborates with an affectionate tap to the steering wheel.
Kazuha doesn’t find it in himself to argue with her. Beidou is almost aggressively nice, and the last thing he would want to do is offend her.
“Ah.. Thank you very much miss–”
“It’s just Beidou!” she corrects immediately, punctuating the interruption with a laugh to convey that she isn’t really angry with him. “If you really gotta use a title, call me Captain,” she joked. “Sounds way more fun than miss, yeah?”
Hopefully the kid would lighten up with some food in his belly. A full stomach certainly did wonders for her own mood.
“Alright, Captain.” He really was stuck on the titles it seemed, but everyone had their quirks. “What kind of snacks do you prefer?”
“The kind I can eat!” she laughs, flashing him a smile after settling down. “Really though, I’m not picky. But since we’re still in Sumeru… Definitely grab some spiced jerky, theirs really is the best. Oh! And papadum crisps, those are good too. Grab an extra bag for me would ya? My wife loves ‘em.” Beidou rambles on and on about various snacks until they reach the station, barely giving Kazuha a moment to get a word in as she gets carried away in her tangent. The kid doesn’t seem to mind though and listens attentively throughout her whole ramble.
Once Beidou pulls the truck to a stop she fishes out her wallet and grabs a handful of bills which she promptly shoves into Kazuha’s hands. Before he can say anything, she’s filling the air again.
“Alright, you’ve got the crash course on good snacks. Make sure you get a bunch you like too–I’m not gonna take no for an answer and I suck at sharing mine,” she warns, flashing him a “wink” by really hamming up the gesture. “You can leave Tomo in the truck, just put him on the bed in the cab, okay?”
Kazuha blinked at her once the barrage of words was over, and nodded slowly. He scooped Tomo up and looked back at Beidou.
“Ah, Captain? Where is the bed?”
“Behind us, here,” she motioned to the area behind the seats. The rest of the cab was more spacious than it had seemed on the outside. There were a number of storage compartments behind and above the seats. Beidou even had a small TV and a microwave, and one of the compartments appeared to be a fridge or freezer. The space looked well loved, Beidou had a number of knick-knacks scattered about, and photographs taped to the storage cupboards just about everywhere she’d had room.
Most of the photos were of the Captain and another woman that he assumed to be the wife that she had mentioned. They seemed happy in all of them, Beidou grinning widely or seeming to be laughing in a lot of them. Her wife looked happy too, but her smiles were smaller and her expressions more subtle. What Kazuha noticed in just about all of them was that even if it looked like the woman was squinting, it was a happy squint almost like a cat’s. Though he didn’t know either of them, really, the photographs made him feel a certain kind of warmth that eased his nerves just a little bit.
Kazuha slipped back and put his open bag on the bed, propping it up so that Tomo could hide inside of it again if he chose to. It felt like he was invading a very personal space, but Captain Beidou had invited him to. He fished out his own meager savings from his bag and balked at the amount Beidou had stuffed into his hands. It was too much. It had to be.
“Captain, I think ah. I think you may have given me too many bills,” he ventures as he steps outside to where Beidou is working on refueling the Alcor.
“Nope!” she calls back without even looking. Despite not even bothering to check, she sounds completely confident and he almost feels stupid for questioning it in the first place. “I don’t stop at every station, and a girl’s gotta eat–so do you!” she laughs again.
She seems to do that a lot, but it doesn’t feel like she’s laughing at him, no. It reminds him of the photos he had seen back in the cab. It’s probably just who she is.
“Now scoot! All this talk of food is making me hungry!”
Kazuha didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried into the station while going over the mental list he’d made of Captain Beidou’s food preferences, the things she’d mentioned bringing back for her wife, and a few things for himself.
Cat food for Tomo, papadum crisps for the Captain’s wife, the “extra spicy” samosas, ajilenakh cakes, jerky, and various other things he could remember from the woman’s long snack tangent.
For himself he grabbed some of the less spicy samosas, and a small tub of hummus with some pita. The Mora that Beidou had given him was more than enough, and he went back out to the truck with an armful of very full bags. He was quick to deposit the bags and return the change to the Captain but she simply waved him off.
“Just put it in the cup holder, I’m almost done here,” she dismissed. “Go feed your little buddy in the meantime.”
That was exactly what Kazuha did. Tomo was still hiding in his backpack when he returned to the cab but the sound of the cat food tin opening was enough to coax him out and he was chowing down in no time. Kazuha smiled as he watched the kitten tuck into the food, he must have been pretty hungry after all.
The sound of Beidou returning to the cab jolted him out of the moment, and she was back there with him fast. The woman immediately went for the bags, sorting through Kazuha’s haul with a keen eye. She nodded, hummed, and muttered to herself as she squirreled everything away into the proper places. The jerky stayed out, thrown haphazardly to the front seat, as did the samosa container. Beidou cracked open the fridge and grabbed herself an energy drink from the door, then called out to Kazuha.
“You thirsty, kid? I got uhh. Let’s see here… Primo Energy, Mondstadt Springs, Vishapade.. Yeah, that’s it.”
“Just some water is fine, thank you.”
The Mondstadt Springs bottle hurtles towards him, but Kazuha is a quick catch. Unfortunately in his haste he had used his bad hand, flinching when he caught it. Beidou winces sympathetically.
“Ah shit, sorry kid. Here, lemme take a look?”
“No! That will not be necessary!”
Now her hands are on her hips, her single eye narrowing with the furrowing of her brow. Kazuha doesn’t like this look on her at all and stiffens up again, glancing nervously between her, Tomo, and the exit.
“Relax…” she sighs, letting the tension leave her shoulders. “I won’t ask any prying questions, but your bandages look like shit and you looked like you were in pain just now. I’ve got a first-aid kit back here, just let me clean it up and put a fresh wrap on for ya.”
Kazuha takes a few moments to process her words, his heart pounding in his ears as the anxiety rises up inside of him like a crushing tide. No, he can’t let her see.
“I can do it myself–If, if that would be alright,” he answers quietly.
Geez, he looks more pathetic than the scuffy little kitten does…
“Alright. Here, I’ll get the kit out for you and close the curtain. Lemme know when you’re done and I’ll get us going again. Sound good?”
A nod. She’ll take a nod. That works.
Beidou does as promised, leaving the kit out on the bed for him to use while she fires up the Alcor again. Kazuha shuts the curtains immediately and begins the process of very gingerly removing his now crusted bandages.
It is not a pleasant sight underneath. The burns on his hand are in varying stages of scabbing, some of them having cracked and begun to ooze again from having the bandages pulled off. He hisses as he pours some of his spring water over it and dabs it with a wipe from the kit. Re-wrapping takes him a few minutes, the difficulty of the task exacerbated by the fact he only has one good hand to use. Having Beidou’s help would have been easier, but he really did not want to deal with the questioning look, or actual questions that would come with that.
Once he’s finished he returns the kit to where he’d seen the Captain remove it from and cleans up Tomo’s leftovers. Having gorged himself on delicious tinned food, the little thing simply flopped onto his side and began snoozing on the bed where he’d been eating.
“Captain Beidou? I’m finished,” he says as he pushes back the curtains and returns to the front of the cab.
“All good, kid?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Great, get buckled in again cause we got some distance to cover.”
The engine roars to life again, as does the stereo. Soon enough they’re back on the highway again blasting through the rain. Kazuha peeks back to check on Tomo every now and then, but the ride is otherwise uneventful. Beidou has quieted down and she isn’t staring at him quite as much as before anymore.
Some time passes before Kazuha finds the words he wants and speaks up again.
“Captain?” he begins hesitantly, glancing over at her sheepishly and chewing on his lip a little.
“What’s up?”
“Thank you for helping Tomo and I, you really didn’t need to do that. It is very kind, thank you,” he repeats, trailing off with another hesitant look.
Beidou nods, and waits for the inevitable but that she can feel coming.
“...But why are you doing all of this?”
There it is.
Without thinking about it, she chuckles to herself. It isn’t her usual boisterous laugh, but it doesn’t seem any less genuine for its lack of volume.
“Hmm… Well.. What if I told you I was a bit of a restless kid too, once?”