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Vesna didn't think much of it at first. What could possibly be so special about the Energy Expert's Seal of Life that it would leave her completely speechless?
The Druzhna commander didn't know him well, mostly because she never paid him much attention. All she knew was that Mitya was an integral part of the Royal Energy Commission of Snezhnaya and one of the most important figures behind every essential research that happened in the Armory Palace.
He was an alpha, younger than most of their researchers, and worked directly with Pierro.
She had known about him for a few years but never well enough to get closer to him. But now and then while she accompanied the Tsaritsa she heard about his various achievements and breakthroughs.
According to Valeriy, the energy expert had a penchant for running out of work and visiting the Korolevskiy theatre, where he didn't even pay attention to the performance. He only sat there with his notepad out and scribbled things on it till the performance ended.
He apparently had no regard for safety while he worked inside the lab or for the rules that had been set up for their own good.
He was talkative and could talk for hours if someone even mentioned a word about something that he knew about.
She did not see how there was anything else that was eye-catching about the energy expert.
Vesna already knew that extracting the young alpha's seal of life was going to be boring.
His happiest memories were most likely going to be some sort of a scientific breakthrough or receiving an award for his research.
He scratched his head anxiously and looked at her as he waited for her to be finished with it. She could already see that he was worried that she might see something that she wasn't supposed to.
"Don't worry now. Your escapes to the Korolevskiy theatre are very well known. You can't surprise any of us." Vesna joked and reassured him at the same time.
Mitya laughed rather anxiously when he realised that the Tsaritsa was listening in on their conversation just a few steps away.
"Don't worry, Miss Vesna. I'm sure you won't see anything worrisome." After all they were his happiest memories after all.
The extraction took less than a few seconds to complete. Mitya looked at his Seal of Life with curiosity as it stood between them, he looked at the seal as if he wanted to take it away to his lab and see the mechanism behind how it worked.
"What is it?" Paimon chimed in.
Vesna stood speechless as she stared at the seal of life that couldn't possibly interest her that much. Paimon stopped and started looking at it along with her.
"This is an invasion of privacy." Mitya tried to complain but it was of no avail. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
Vesna did not think that she could be proven so wrong by her own intuition. Not everything about the prodigious energy expert was as it seemed.
It was at a cafe, Podvorye restaurant, the one where the traveller was staying.
And there he was. Sitting in front of the Prima Donna of the Korolevskiy theatre.
Vesna assumed that Miss Vodyanitsa was probably his happiest memory. It was adorable. It also explained why Mitya was a frequent patron at the Korolevskiy theatre. It was adorable. She didn't take him to be this romantic. But wait- why was he looking at someone else?
"Are you listening to me?" Vodyanitsa raised her voice a little louder but it did not seem to get his attention. Mitya continued to stare behind her and the siren who had had enough of being ignored got up and looked in the direction where the energy expert was focused.
"His name is Alyosha and don't even think about it!"
Oh. She knew that name. Alyosha was a hunter. He was popular in Sretomorozsk, known for always helping the villagers and the Fatui soldiers with their investigations at times.
She had to give it to Mitya, if it was her at the restaurant that day she would have stared at Alyosha too. After all, what wasn't there to stare at? He had the prettiest golden eyes that she had ever seen, his cheeks were dusted with freckles that resembled constellations in the sky.
He had a very cute dog too, she remembered meeting both of them a year ago.
Vesna couldn't remember the dog's name but the last time she met him the dog seemed very protective of the omega. It went as far as barking at her when she just wanted to shake his hand, she pouted at the memory and continued to watch what Mitya had.
The next memory was at the same cafe, this time in a different spot. Mitya was sitting right in front of Alyosha and she could sense how anxious the alpha was. He scratched his head the same way he did just a few minutes ago in front of her and cleared his throat.
"The borscht i-is delicious isn't it?" Mitya looked like he wanted to slap himself when he realised what a stupid mistake he had just made.
Alyosha smiled. He smiled at him. Mitya was going to die then and there.
"We could get it if you like it." The younger man chuckled fixing his hair.
Mitya looked like he was going to pass out anytime. The sentient scarf around his neck smacked him right across his face catching the hunter off-guard while the scientist acted as if it was a normal occurrence.
"Are you alright?" Alyosha asked unable to stop laughing at how red the alpha's face looked.
Vesna noticed the way the scarf startled Alyosha for a moment before he broke into soft, surprised laughter. Mitya, however, seemed completely captivated. His gaze lingered on the omega's eyes, then drifted to his lips, his expression betraying the quiet rush of his heartbeat.
She knew that look.
Mitya looked at Alyosha as though he were something precious, as though the omega had reached into the heavens himself, hung the moon above them, and scattered every star across the night sky just for him.
His eyes continued to linger longer than they should have. Alyosha seemed to notice it too. His cheeks were dusted with a dull hue of pink by the time he realised that they were just staring at each other.
They never ended up ordering the borscht. They didn't touch the food they ordered either.
The next memory wasn't too far away from the last one, it was only a few minutes after. They were holding each other's hands as they left the Podvorye restaurant together.
She figured that it was their first date.
"Is something wrong Miss Vesna?" Mitya asked trying to take a look at his Seal of Life.
"Silent now. Let me enjoy this." Paimon and the traveller seemed to agree with her.
Mitya blinked a few times before he looked at Pierro helplessly. It seemed to catch Sandrone's attention too.
"Let me take a look too." She huffed and walked past him.
The next memory was at the Korolevskiy theatre.
"It seems that you will keep on coming here." Vodyanitsa huffed at him. There wasn't any frustration in her tone as last time. She seemed to know what Mitya was here for and she wasn't going to stop him.
Odette, the Prima Ballerina, looking as enchanting as ever walked up to them and pulled Vodyanitsa aside. The siren glared at Mitya as if he had kicked her dog.
"Not only does he not pay any attention to the performance, but now he has taken our friend away too!" Mitya smiled sheepishly at her accusation. The scarf shrugged at them giving them a crisp response before he could which pissed the Prima Donna even more. She looked like she was about to burst into flames.
"Miss Vodyanitsa, Miss Odette. What a surprise." He greeted them and took a bow rather dramatically. The scarf only added more theatrics which did not settle Vodyanitsa's anger.
"We perform here Mister Mitya." Odette deadpanned.
Vesna snickered at the reply she just gave the scientist. It was well deserved.
Odette pursed her lips for a split second before she pointed towards the backstage.
"Alyosha is wrapping up some work. You will find him there." That seemed to lighten up Mitya's mood.
Vesna watched as the alpha skipped around like a child on his way to the backstage.
And there it was. The same look on his face again. He looked as if he was dying from the insurmountable amount of love that he felt for Alyosha.
And then Alyosha looked at him and smiled, widely. As if he was happy to see him too. The smile on his face spoke a million things that words could never complete.
Vesna realised just how much in love they were.
Mitya's escapes to the Korolevskiy theatre for no reason finally had an explanation. And it was nothing short of cute.
"You're late." Alyosha welcomed him inside the house and gave him a chaste kiss on his lips. Mitya looked exhausted but still he managed to smile for his boyfriend.
Tugarin walked behind them after Mitya closed the door and followed them to the dining room.
"I finally figured out the solution." Mitya got on the bed after getting changed into fresh clothes after taking a shower. He pulled his boyfriend closer and started scenting his body.
Vesna figured that it had something to do with his work. She looked away feeling her face turn red, she definitely did not want to watch this memory.
But it stopped then and there. And a new one began.
"I love you."
"So much."
It was a different memory this time. And it wasn't Mitya that was saying those words.
Alyosha was half asleep on Mitya's lap. He was wearing Mitya's beige shirt, the one he was wearing right now in front of her. He curled up into the crook of his neck and wrapped his arms lazily around Mitya's neck before soft snores replaced the rustling sound of his movements.
Tugarin was sleeping by the fireplace and Mitya was writing something in his notebook, something which she couldn't see clearly.
Mitya ran his hand across the omega's soft locks gently and watched him sleep. He set the notebook aside and watched Alyosha sleep in his arms for what almost felt like an hour.
"I love you so much my love." He whispered into his ear. Alyosha shuffled a little in his arms before he rested in one place.
"I can't imagine living a day without you."
"Every second away from you feels like a punishment."
Mitya seemed to know that Alyosha wasn't listening to him. But he went on anyway.
"Will you marry me Alyosha?" He asked kissing his forehead gently.
"I can't live in a world without you."
"You make everything so much better. I'm willing to leave everything behind to be with you. Please marry me my love." Mitya smiled when the younger's eyes twitched a little bit before the soft snores continued.
"I will ask you this question again soon."
Vesna couldn't believe her eyes. She almost cried at how romantic this man was. She did not think that this highly decorated Energy scientist had a single romantic bone in his body.
From afar she finally saw what Mitya had been drawing in his notebook. It was a ring, and judging by the events that just took place it was their engagement ring that Mitya was designing.
Someone like Mitya could always buy an extravagant engagement ring with no costs spared and yet he chose to design one by himself. Vesna realised just how much in love the man in front of her was.
The next memory is small yet precious.
It's their wedding. It was small yet so beautiful.
Alyosha and Mitya held hands and between them, the man who was officiating their wedding was none other than Pierro. She gasped and looked at Pierro who stood a few metres away from them looking rather uninterested in the events.
She had never seen The Jester smile before. She did not know that he was available to officiate weddings either.
Vesna realised that there wasn't a lot that she knew about the people around her.
"I do."
Mitya didn't wait a second longer before he kissed his husband. His hands looped around his waist protectively and his other hand touched the younger's face gently like he was meant to be treasured.
Vodyanitsa was the loudest amongst the guests as they cheered and from afar she could see the ever so cold Valeriy slipping up and smiling a little.
Vesna noticed the ring on Mitya's ring finger. He never bothered to hide it and yet she had never noticed it before. It was a warm amber citrine ring, they perfectly resembled his mates eyes.
The next memory did not look happy. She did not understand why this was in the seal of life.
It was Mitya running out of the Armory Palace in a hurry after he received a call from home.
"Is Alyosha alright?! I will come right away!" He did not wait for anybody's approval as he ran out of the Armory Palace in a hurry.
Mitya paid no attention to the snow as he walked in a hurry across the snowstorm.
Vesna did not like the direction this was going.
She was starting to get worried about Alyosha now. She was worried about a man that she had only met once.
"He was hunting with Tugarin." The Fatui doctor explained why Alyosha was found passed out in the snowy wilderness. If it weren't for the nearby villagers and Tugarin who guarded his owner's body something terrible would have occurred.
Mitya looked like he was on the verge of tears. He looked at his mate that lay on the bed pale and unconscious.
"There isn't anything to be worried about Mister Mitya. We ran a few tests while you were on your way." The doctor explained.
Mitya immediately got up from the ground near the bed where he was assessing the wounds on his mate's face whispering soothing words into his ears.
"It's good news Mister Mitya." He smiled looking at the scientist. Mitya did not seem to get what was happening even then.
"What an idiot." Sandrone huffed but the amusement on her face never left.
"Is everything alright? Is something wrong?" Mitya asked, teary-eyed, completely ignoring the part where the doctor told him that it was good news.
"You are going to be a father Mister Mitya."
Vesna gasped when Mitya fell headfirst on the ground. Tugarin started barking at his unconscious body and howled at the Fatui doctor.
She started laughing at Mitya who stood in front of them unaware of what they were watching. He sighed giving up on them this time. He would get his hands on the seal of life later on and watch what made them laugh at him so hard. Perhaps he would also get Alyosha to watch it with him.
It was the last one. Vesna could already feel that they were near the end.
There was a baby. It was small. So small that it barely covered much space in the bassinet where it slept.
Vesna had never seen such an adorable baby before. It was so small and chubby. With pudgy little hands that were folded, they were smaller than a walnut. It stirred a little in its sleep and yawned, scrunching its small face up in the process.
They all cooed at the newborn together. Mitya looked positively taken aback.
"Misha is a good name isn't it?" Alyosha asked his husband who was busy fawning over his newborn son.
"Of course it is my love. Anything you come up with is a good name." Mitya reassured him with a smile brighter than the sun in the Sumeru desert.
Misha was wrapped snugly in a blanket, he looked like a warm bundle of joy as he continued to sleep in the confines of his home. Now and then he would let out small coos before he went right back to sleep.
"You should rest some more," Mitya said pressing a kiss on his mate's forehead. He laid him on the bed and brought the sheets over to his chest before he sat down on the chair next to their bed.
Alyosha smiled barely having the energy to fight back. He looked like he knew that he did not have the energy in his body to stand or even talk.
"You should also sleep, Mitya." Alyosha tried coaxing despite knowing that it was of no avail.
"Not now my love. I just want to soak it all in."
Mitya did not joke when he said it. He really did sit back on his chair and soak it all in.
Vesna had never seen such a beautiful Seal of Life before.
She had never seen such an adorable baby before. They had done it. Mitya and Alyosha had made the world's cutest baby ever.
It had only been a few minutes and yet it felt like she had lived an entirely new life.
The Druzhna commander cleared he throat before she looked at the scientist.
"Misha is adorable." She sounded a bit hesitant but Paimon and Sandrone were there to agree with her.
"I hope Alyosha is doing well these days," Sandrone said without making any eye contact with the scientist.
"Don't think that I care just because I asked!" She added to make sure that Mitya didn't take her words too seriously.
"I care!" Vesna threw her hands in the air.
Mitya looked taken aback by their words. A small, excited smile spread across his face, and his shoulders tensed with barely contained joy.
"He is 2 months old now. He's the cutest isn't he? Isn't my Alyosha the cutest too?"
Mitya spoke excitedly ignoring the Tsaritsa standing behind them.
"I mean he obviously is. My Alyosha and Misha are the best. He is so well behaved and doesn't cry at all!"
"Alyosha is doing fine these days. You should come by! Odette and Vodyanitsa are babysitting him today."
He told them about how cute his newborn son was and how Tugarin was already so protective of his newborn brother that he would bark at anybody including him if he even smelled a little off.
"I think he is the smartest baby ever! I mean why wouldn't he be? My Alyosha and I made h-"
"That's enough now." Pierro stopped him before he could complete his sentence. Mitya stopped instantly and smiled sheepishly at his boss.
"You may leave now. Spend some time with your family and return tomorrow." Pierro knew that there wasn't anything stopping Mitya from leaving now.
Once he started rambling about his husband and their son people usually had about less than 15 minutes in hand before he ran out of work.
He was doing himself and Mitya a favour today.
The young alpha's eyes brightened up instantly he did not wait a second longer. The day was young and Alyosha and Misha were probably waiting for him at home.
"Thank you so much!" He bowed to his boss dramatically and so did his scarf before he ran out of the building.
"Is he always this talkative?" Sandrone asked the Traveler, who, in turn, glanced at the Jester.
All the while, Vesna stood beside Danica, staring at the Seal of Life in awe.
She had never imagined that a scientist's life could be this beautiful. She had always assumed that his happiest memories would be of his achievements and scientific breakthroughs.
But after witnessing them, she realized that not a single memory was related to his work.
They had always been about his Alyosha, and now, their new addition.
She would protect this Seal of Life with everything she had.