Chapter Text
a small park in the middle of a snowy forest.
it was the sanctuary of your childhood days, the place where you sought solace from the chaos of the world. it was where past friends came and left, where you ran in search of comfort. despite the previous changes in your life, this felt like the one continuity that stuck with you. sure, the wood on the framework was starting to deteriorate and vines continued to wrap around the chains on the swing, but it was still here. despite it all, it was still standing, and in moments like these, that was truly all you needed.
the day you received your vision lives vividly in your head, although you’re certain that’s how it is for most vision holders. your glassy eyes and shaky breath as you sat down on the swing, knuckles gripping the chains tight almost in search of some sort of stability. your sobs rang through the small forest that night, blood stains on your dress from a memory you’ve tried all your life to forget. an act of self defense, many would call it, but when a pale blue vision appeared in front of you, the consequences of your actions truly sunk in.
you did what you needed to do, but you did it at the cost of everyone you truly loved.
the sound of footsteps and ragged breathing snaps you back to reality, pushing that fateful night to the back of your mind once more as you stood up from the swing. the snow still continued to fall as it always did in snezhaya, although much calmer than it was when you were last here.
liyue was your next destination. everything was set and ready to go, it wasn’t as if you needed to say goodbye to anyone after all. besides, it was far, drastically different from your snowy hometown, and it gave you something you dreamed of, a fresh start.
“who’s there?” you question into the night air when the footsteps die down, eyes cautiously searching for an answer.
a boy steps out of the shadows, still a bit breathless as he gives you an apologetic grin. he’s barely wearing a jacket. in fact, there’s rips and tears in his bloodstained clothes. “hi there,” he rather casually responds.
your eyes go wide, “are you okay?” you ask, instantly rushing to the boy who after getting a closer look seems around your age. you steal a glance at his wounds, “are you hurt?”
“oh this,” he mumbles, looking down at his shirt and pants, “i’m fine, don’t worry.”
yet you aren’t the slightest bit convinced, “here,” you direct him, your hand going to the small of his back as you sit him down on the swing, wrapping your jacket around his shoulders.
but he only shakes his head, taking off the jacket and handing it back to you “you take it.”
“you need it more than i do,” you offer, pushing it back to him, and this time he doesn’t refuse. your eyes rake over his figure as you reach into your bag, pulling out some spare gauze before treating his wounds. “what’s your name?” you ask.
“ajax,” he answers softly, careful gaze watching as you gently grab his arm. “you?”
“yn,” you answer kneeling down to his level, “where are your injuries from?”
a beat of silence follows, “a place.”
and you stare up at him, gaze narrowing, “you gotta give me more than that.”
but he only shrugs, “just some training no big deal.”
“it is a big deal,” you mumble, not missing the small hiss that leaves ajax’s lips when you bandage a gash on his arm. “who gets hurt like this in training?”
“i do,” he answers rather simply.
“and you’re okay with that?”
“it’s what i need to do,” ajax answers simply. “to get stronger of course.”
“get stronger?” you question, now tending to his other arm.
“of course,” he answers. “i need to get stronger.”
you don’t question any further on seeing the persistence in his answer, tending to his wounds in silence, now bandaging a cut on his torso. that’s when you see it, a blue vision, it’s a color brighter than yours, a different symbol too. “a vision,” you notice out loud.
“what about it?” ajax asks.
you turn up to him, “you have a vision?”
he nods, although he doesn’t seem too proud of it. “got it a while ago.”
“i have one too,” you softly answer, the clip in your hair holding your vision.
a small laugh leaves his lips, “i guess we’re rather similar then, you and i.”
“i guess so,” you smile up at him before reaching down into your bag. “i’m out of bandages,” you huff.
“oh,” ajax blinks, “i’m sorry.”
“no no,” you quickly reply, “don’t worry about it, i’m just glad none of the cuts were deep.”
i’m glad you’re okay.
a second of silence follows between you both as you pack up your bag.
“why are you so kind to me?”
your gaze turns back up to ajax, “what?”
“do you want something from me?”
you can only stare, “what do you mean?”
he sighs eyes glued down to his shoes, “i’m a stranger, a stranger covered in blood, yet you were so willing to take care of me, so willing to trust me,” he meets your eyes, and you don’t miss the anxiousness swimming in the blue hues. “why?”
you think to yourself for a second, “because, i’ve been in your place before.”
and he only shakes his head, “no way you’ve been in my situation before.”
“well,” you shrug, “you’re here, you’re covered in blood, and you carry a vision,” you look up at him with a small smile. “conflicts can only take us so far before we crack.”
his eyes tell you everything you need to know, implicit stories being exchanged despite no words being spoken
ajax sighs, “i guess so.”
“there’s a place close by that can treat the rest of your wounds,” you continue. “i can take you there if you’d like?”
but he instantly shakes his head, “i can’t let you do that no,” he cuts in, “you’ve done so much for me already there’s no way i could ask you to do more.”
“but i- don’t mi-”
“seriously,” he interrupts, “it’s okay i promise, but thank you, for everything.”
and all you can do is nod, “for sure,” you answer softly, a small pit in your stomach as you watch the boy stand up from the swing, “the village is that way, up the hill there,” you instruct pointing to your left, “ask for carlotta and tell her i sent you, she’ll be more than happy to treat you.”
ajax nods, “thank you,” before turning away and continuing down the path. a small sigh leaves your lips as you move to sit back down on the swing.
“hey yn!”
you turn up to see ajax waving back at you, a grin on his face, “i’ll repay your kindness one day,” he yells before continuing up the hill, “i promise.”
your heart skips a beat at his words, “looking forward to it,” you answer waving back at him as he runs off, a frown appearing on your lips.
a promise, something treated with grave seriousness in snezhaya. from the silly nursery rhymes to the decade old grudges, they showed the loyalties and dedication between two groups of people, a bond instantly forming when one is made out.
your heart cracks at the fact that he probably won’t be able to keep it.