Work Text:
I Ajax
He wanted a big house, with all of his friends.
Ajax spent his nights in a rocking chair, holding his baby brother in his arms. Every half hour he’d set the baby down safely on the furs, before wandering over to the fireplace and stoking the fire.
A pile of logs sat next to the fireplace, fresh from Ajax’s work that evening. It’s common, in his village, for kids to spend the blue hours cutting wood, and fetching water.
Then, once the sky outside was black and the woods were too dark to go into, he’d come in and hold his brother. He told him stories of fighting monsters, and saving the world.
When his brother started to cry, he’d grab a scoop of the heated milk over the fire and ladle it into a bottle. With his shoe Ajax cleaned up any that spilled, remembering too late he could have let the dog eat it. Oh, well. It’s better that the floor didn’t stain anyways, in case his dad saw it later.
He’d walk around the small room, brother in hand, feeding him. And he’d change the stories, every single one of them, to happy endings.
Endings where the cabin they lived in turned to a large house, that didn’t have holes. Where the wind outside, howling, wasn’t wind that brought monsters, but the sound of cheering people.
Where they had every right to fight for what they want, where they had every luxury in their hands.
He knew he wasn’t supposed to lay too close to the babe, in case he rolled over in the night. But he couldn’t let him sleep alone.
So he’d set up his crib as close to the warmth as he dared, and curl up alongside his brother, arm out to hold his hand.
II Tartaglia
His life was over. Tartaglia knew that.
The Abyss had shown him what it was to have a future, and that for people like him, it didn’t exist.
He wasn’t the type of person to grow up, get married, have a life, have a wife, a future.
He was the type who wouldn’t grow up at all.
He cleaned up the blood on his face. Another day of sparring.
But he had to be the best, otherwise he’d be discarded like the other kids. He’d end up poor, or alone, and he wouldn’t be able to send money home to his brother.
He couldn’t handle that.
He knew his brother would have to work hard, would have to chop wood by this point. Would be expected to clean the house, to fix the holes in the walls.
And they were too young to do all of that. So young.
Tartaglia stared down at his rough hands and made a promise to himself.
He didn’t need a home. He didn’t need a base. He didn’t even care if he didn’t make it out of this alive.
But he’d stay alive long enough to get them out of that godforsaken place.
III Childe
Childe wandered Liyue and looked up at the apartments, idly. Water lapped at the shore.
He didn’t think he could live somewhere like that. Somewhere so close to other people.
He stayed in plenty of inns, and they were nice. But they were too noisy, always full of other people talking.
He wanted to be somewhere quiet, or at least somewhere where he didn’t have to keep his damn coin purse clutched under his bed every night.
Here, he never felt like he could get the edge off.
And staring out at the water just made him think of Osial.
In a world of horrifying clarity, he realizes he’s an adult. A real adult, with a career and money pouring in.
He could buy himself a house if he wanted to.
He could build himself a home.
Could he? Could he do that?
He opens his hands, flexes his fingers, and remembers why he never bothered to move anywhere permanent.
Because he’d have to sleep alone, and he’s not ready to do that.
IV Lumine’s teammate
Childe carries over another piece of lumber, dropping it on the ground.
“Good work!” Venti beams over at him, all smiles and giggles.
Childe nods back, a small smile touching his lips. It’s not like him to be so quiet, and Venti’s been working all day at getting his usual mood back before Lumine gets home.
Xiao’s been running around shirtless too, trying to get the irrigation working for the garden he wants to build.
Lumine is due home soon, since they asked Zhongli to take her out for the day.
Childe wipes his forehead, looking from where Paimon sits eating a popsicle, to the house before them.
A big, beautiful house. Without holes in the walls.
Something with rooms, no, whole wings for everyone.
Childe and Lumine placed their bedrooms by each other, with Venti and Xiao on the other side.
Paimon has her own bedroom, off in another wing, with guest bedrooms set up for when their friends or relatives visit.
He can bring his brothers here, if they want to come.
A dog runs up, under his hand, licking his palm.
That’s right. Tubby said they could have dogs here. Pets. To love. To cherish.
He is happy. He is.
He’s having a hard time believing this, and it’s overwhelming him a bit. But he is happy.
When Lumine comes home, he’s calmed down a bit, offering her a big smile.
“Welcome home, girlie.”
Lumine smiles at him, tucking her hair back.
“Glad to see you home, Childe.”