Codename: Tsaritsa | A Sequel to "Codename: Childe"

13

"Alright..." you said, cracking your knuckles and sitting down on the carpet.

"Let's see how good you are..."

...

After the three of you have breakfast, Ajax decided to break some news to all of you, freshly dressed in his pressed uniform.

"I'm going to go see my family." he told you.

Sharkur's eyebrows raised.

"Really?"

Ajax nodded.

"It's the annual festival soon in my village. I don't miss it for the world. And... Y/N..."

He grinned at you.

"I think you'll love it. So will you, Sharkur. It's not that big of a festival, but we still dress up and the kids play games and there's stalls and fireworks. My older siblings are coming back for it too."

You lit up, clapping your hands.

"Oh, sweet! I'll get to see them then!"

Ajax sighed.

"Yes. This means, however, that I'd have to work harder over the coming week, and I want you two to stay out of trouble."

"You going anywhere?" Sharkur asked.

Ajax kicked back.

"Sumeru. The Tsaritsa wanted me to accompany Dottore in his new endeavour. There's supposed to be a brand new plot to take the Dendro Archon's Gnosis. It's... a bit long winded."

Being here, with Ajax, you had seen so much more than you had previously in your estate in Liyue. You'd been to so many places. 

You were sure that if you asked nicely...

"Let me come with you!" You piped up, grinning.

"Yeah, Master Childe!" Sharkur joined. "Come on, we're supposed to be a team!"

"Absoutely not." came the ginger's sharp reply.

"Huh?" you deadpanned.

"This isn't some excuse for tourism."

"That's not what I meant. Aren't I supposed to be your student, Ajax?"

"I guess, but-"

"This is just another lesson on the plate then."

"But you're not even fully healed yet from Inazuma."

"I'm fine. When are we leaving?"

When Ajax saw the determined look in your eye, he sighed.

"Tomorrow. For today, there's a meeting with Her Majesty. I'll take Sharkur with me, and you'll stay here, due to obvious reasons."

The Ajax last night under the sheets with you was different from this one, who's expression was set in stone, unsmiling.

"Do you understand, Y/N?"

"Of course, Master Childe." you replied, grinning.

...

Later, you were laying on your belly in your room, as Ajax and Sharkur had left to see the Tsaritsa in regards for tomorrow. You were continuing a portrait of Ajax you had started last week, before returning to Snezhnaya, smiling as you shaded in his wild hair. You couldn't help but think about the Harbingers again.

You wondered if this is really what you wanted to be a part of.

Sure, you and Ajax were now a two-man kazoo-playing band, but even you knew this isn't what he wanted to do either. You looked down at his smiling face, and you added a tiny dimple in the corner of his mouth. He was a good-hearted person. It was this place that turns people into monsters. Even if he was just acting his part, maybe he did it so well he became that part.