When Ajax "asked," Diluc gave.
The story spilt from his lips.
Not once did Ajax look away.
The seriousness in his eyes had pulled every detail.
Every truth that Diluc didn't think he'd say.
Of how he was given a simple mission.
Of the newbie he was assigned.
Of the battle that went wrong.
Of falling, falling, and falling.
Maybe it was because of how Ajax listened intently.
Took every sound without complaint.
Nodded in understanding.
But maybe that was it—
How Ajax just seemed to understand.
No, he was sorting the pieces in his head.
That much, Diluc could tell.
Of what, he didn't know.
Diluc had a few suspicions that Ajax was part of it.
Of that metal bird.
Of the odd mission.
The odder newbie.
Somehow.
Someway.
As Diluc spoke of his time in the Abyss.
Of the sights he saw.
Of the battles he scraped through.
Of the stumbling, strangling, falling.
Ajax understood.
A teen close to adulthood.
Far too young, yet eyes so sharp.
And Diluc didn't know what to think of it.
Then he remembered.
How Tonia's eyes looked.
How Anthon always avoided answering.
How Mother and Father would dance around the subject.
How Teucer was sheltered.
Diluc recalled what he knew of Snezhnaya.
Placed the pieces together as he spoke.
And came to a quiet conclusion.
._._._._._.
Ajax stared.
Because he struggled to comprehend.
Diluc was not just some random person.
Diluc was not just some common Mondstadter.
Certainly, it explained more than half of Diluc's politeness.
And nearly all of his mannerisms.
It explained the latent passion that Diluc had buried deep under his skin.
Although Ajax had an idea, he still found it almost far too coincidental.
Too convenient.
Because it made one thing certain.
Diluc Ragnvindr.
Son of Master Crepus.
Former Calvary Captain.
Of the Knights of Favonius.
Heir to Mondstadt's Dawn Winery.
Beloved uncrowned Prince of Mondstadt.
Was not meant to live past his eighteenth year.
He was meant to be betrayed by his own people.
His own Knights.
Torn apart and purged from Teyvat's lands.
By a drake that terrorized Mondstadt for years.
By the unsettling plan tied with a single metal bird.
And the Abyss, quite literally, saved Diluc's life.
All by pure and utter chance.
It hit Ajax then.
The Fatui had a hand in all of this—
Dottore had a hand in all of this—
Everything clicked in place.
Diluc didn't look at him as he finished his story.
About falling off and landing in snow.
There's was nothing Ajax could say.
Nothing Ajax could comfort—
Since even his own words are lost.
Because Diluc—
He didn't deserve this.
But he understood the plan.
To cripple one of the three families.
The only living members of the Ragnvindr.
It scared Ajax, when Diluc finally looked at him.
"You're Fatui."
Ajax didn't lie, "I am."
Diluc didn't look scared anymore.
It hurt to see him so resigned.
"Shouldn't you kill me, too."
It wasn't a question.
It was like a fact.
A cold hard truth.
So Ajax reached over.
Pulled Diluc into his chest.
Wrapped his arms around the Firefly.
Because Diluc seemed far too lost.
Far too close to breaking down.
Ajax wanted to make a promise.
Wanted to swear to protect.
To never betray Diluc.
Because Ajax never broke a promise.
And he would never dare to start now.
Instead, he told a truth.
A truth he said once.
A truth he'd say again.
And again.
Again.
"You're safe here."
And said nothing more.
._._._._._.
There was something wrong with Diluc.
Not that it seemed that obvious.
But Diluc knew something wasn't right at all.
He felt weaker.
Like something weighed heavily in his body.
As if something had chained him down.
Even his Vision felt off.
Like he couldn't latch on to its power right.
It flickered in the shadows.
And spluttered in light.
Diluc started to wonder if he did something wrong.
Something utterly wrong.
(And maybe, he did know.)
._._._._._.
Out of everything he told Ajax.
He left one thing out.
He said nothing of his dreams.
Of Angel's share.
Of the table and the bitter wine.
Of the looming armored figure that moved.
Moved to do something.
Moved to stab him.
Kill him, maybe.
It hadn't gone away.
It only got worse.
It always happened when he spilt that wine.
Defiant.
Rejecting.
The armored figure would never fail to grab him.
To bruise his wrist.
To pull him forward.
Never failed to aim for his heart.
Because he started to notice.
To truly realize—
The Abyss had already seeped into his bones.
Tangled its roots deep into him.
It wanted his will to shatter.
To break.
And he was fighting a losing battle.
._._._._._.
Diluc woke up.
Falling to the floor.
A scream dying in his throat.
His wrist hurt.
His stomach danced.
His lungs felt torn from within.
It was like his heart twisted in place.
He wanted to cry.
Scream.
Anything really—
But the walls were not that thick.
He couldn't wake Tonia, who was a light sleeper.
Teucer, who slept down the hall.
Father, who was an early bird.
Anthon, who was a night owl.
Mother, who rarely slept.
Ajax, who—
Clicked the door open.
Cerulean eyes tired but awake.
Diluc could do nothing but stare from his place.
Ajax looked half amused, half concerned, "Rough night?"
Crimson locks swayed as Diluc moved.
Shaking his head.
A lie.
A blatant lie.
One that Ajax definitely did not buy.
Not that Diluc really cared.
Ajax slipped into his room.
Closed the door behind him.
And sat next to Diluc.
"Me, too."
A lie.
A blatant lie.
One that Diluc took anyway.
Rested his head on Ajax's shoulder, "It hurts."
The words slipped out before Diluc could think of them.
And honestly, he could feel it.
Still feel the remnants of his dream.
The bruise that seemed almost black on his wrist.
No matter how many times Mother treated it, it never faded.
The lingering anticipation of a blade ripping through his flesh and bones.
Diluc half buried his face in that warm shoulder.
Muttered his words without a thought.
"You were in there."
The silence gave him his answer.
So, Diluc closed his eyes, imagining Ajax's face.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Tell me everything."
.
.
.
.
.
.