Lumine had fought Harbingers and faced Archons, yet the thought of meeting Ajax's family terrified her. The fact that she was attracted to him only made it worse. Would they like her? Would they find her odd? She should have asked him beforehand if they had any social customs. What if she made a mistake? Should she have brought a gift? She was caught up in this whirl of thoughts when Ajax rang the doorbell. No sooner had he done so than an older woman opened the door. She had the same blue eyes as her son and long dark hair which she wore pulled back.

"Ajax! And you must be Lumine. Come in, both of you."

"Brother, you're back!" Teucer came running to them, followed by who she assumed were Tonia and Anthon. "Mom, the nice lady's here too! And Paimon!"

"I know, Teucer. Why don't we let them come inside first? They must be freezing out there."

Lumine followed Ajax inside, feeling self-conscious. His mother seemed very warm. Seeing Teucer was strangely comforting and she didn't feel quite as out of place. She took off her cloak and hung it up next to Ajax's. She was wondering what to do next when Teucer took her hand and began pulling her to the living room.

"Come on, nice lady! Don't just wait there!"

Soon, she was settled in front of the fireplace with a steaming mug of something in her hands. It was sweet and spiced and was doing a fantastic job of warming her up. She knew of Ajax's family from his letters, but meeting them was a completely different experience. She was worried that his parents would think that she was intruding on them. On the contrary, they seemed to be very friendly and welcoming.

"I hope your journey here was alright, Lumine. Ajax tells us that the trip is exhausting and far too long. Although, he's extremely prone to exaggeration."

She smiled despite herself. "It was fine. I'm used to traveling a lot and I rested on the way here as well. Mostly, I was captivated by the scenery here. Snezhnaya is a beautiful place."

"I'm glad you like it, dear. You let me know if you need anything here. Don't wait for Ajax to ask you because Archons know that boy is useless." She was interrupted by an indignant "Hey!", but she continued talking. "Consider this your own home and feel free."

"Thank you."

"Brother told us you're a traveler. Have you really been to all the nations?" Anthon's curiosity was evident in his eyes.

"I have. I've been looking for my brother and somehow ended up traveling all across Teyvat."

"And Paimon stays with her, as the best travel companion ever!"

"Is it true that you've met all the Archons?" Tonia joined the conversation.

"Yes, I've met them. I'm here to meet the Tsaritsa as well to see if she can help me."

"Is the Electro Archon really scary? Brother told me she was angry at you, even though it wasn't your fault."

The questions kept coming and Lumine was happy to answer them. Paimon was enjoying the attention too. The younger kids were excited and wanted to know everything about her travels and her adventures. Based on their questions, it was clear that Ajax had done a thorough job of telling them about her. Just how much did he write in his letters? She was still talking to his siblings when she noticed him walking over to them. He had ditched his jacket, scarf, and gloves, and his mask was no longer on his head. He joined their little group, sitting down between Tonia and Anthon. He looked calm and happy, with what could only be described as a fond smile on his face. Coming home seemed to soften his rough edges. It tempered the chaos that usually followed him. He was animatedly telling his siblings about his latest adventures, and adding anecdotes to her adventures. This person that she saw, this was Ajax—not Childe, not Tartaglia. This was the young man behind the wild Harbinger.

For a few seconds, Lumine was lost in her thoughts. She could never have imagined sitting there with him, telling stories to his family. It seemed so normal that it was strange. Could it really be this simple? She hadn't felt this way in a very long time. Aether was the only home she had, and that was a situation in itself. With Ajax, it was different. Somehow, he felt like home. She didn't feel like Ajax's guest. His family made her feel welcome; they made her feel wanted. She wondered if it was always like this. She wondered if she would get to be part of this again. She wanted to be part of this. She wanted to sit here and narrate her adventures. She wanted to joke around with Ajax's siblings. She wanted to see Ajax laugh unrestrained. She wanted to watch him play with his siblings.

She was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't even notice the time. It was only when his mother called them for dinner that she realized it had gotten late. Teucer and Anthon got into a race to reach the table first while Tonia shook her head, used to their antics. Lumine smiled to herself; these kids were endearing. She stood up and followed them into the dining room.

"Sit down, dear. Anthon, come and help me with the plates. Tonia, leave a seat for Lumine. You can sit next to your brother later."

Lumine sat in the indicated seat, which was right beside Ajax. Tonia promptly sat down on her other side.

"You have to try Mama's cooking! It's the absolute best!"

As dinner progressed, Lumine realized that Tonia was right. This was unlike anything she had ever had—Liuli Pavilion couldn't compare. When they were done, she stood up to help Ajax's mother with the dishes and was quickly shooed away.

"Oh no, leave this to me. You've had a long day and you should go and rest. Ajax, help her get settled."

She felt a tug on her arm. "Can Paimon stay with Tonia? She was telling Paimon about the local stories here and Paimon's extremely curious."

"Sure, Paimon. If it's okay with Tonia, it's okay with me."

"Thanks!" Paimon zipped off without another word.

Lumine heard a chuckle from behind her, and turned to see Ajax leaning against the wall.

"Well, that was quick. I didn't think Paimon would get attached to Tonia this much. Come on, girlie. I'll take you to your room." She followed him up a flight of stairs and into a small room. "You can take this room. Extra blankets are in the closet. It gets colder at night so make sure you take them. You can find me if you need anything. My room is the one next to this, down the hall."

"Thanks for this, Ajax. Your family is really nice."

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were beyond the formalities by now."

She shook her head. "I really mean it. You've all been going out of your way and it means a lot to me. Especially you—you came all the way to pick me up from the ship and then you're setting up this meeting with the Tsaritsa. I don't know how to repay you for any of this—all of this."

"You don't have to thank me. The meeting with the Tsaritsa is something that she requested so I had nothing to do with it. As for the rest of it, it's the least I can do."

"Even so. You didn't need to do all this. You could have just given me the time and place and left me to figure out the rest, the same way I've been doing in every other nation. Instead, you personally brought me to your home and gave me a place to stay. You even paid for the trip to Snezhnaya! This is too—"

She was cut off when he stepped in front of her. It was when he stood so close that she realized just how tall he really was. He towered over her and she had to look up at him. His hand hovered above her shoulder for a few seconds before he reached up and patted her head. As he was lowering his hand, his fingers brushed her cheek, catching on her bangs.

"You're someone important to me and that makes you someone I'll take care of. I know you can handle yourself but that doesn't mean you should have to when you already have a friend here. I'm not going to abandon you to find your own way."

He stepped back.

"It's getting late. You should sleep after the day that you've had. I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled softly. "Sweet dreams, Lumine."

Lumine was still standing where he left her, even after she heard the door shut. She released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. What was that? Since when did she start freezing up around Ajax, of all people? Since when was he this physically close? What was up with that speech? And why was it making her feel stupidly fuzzy inside, hearing that she was important to him?


As he saw Lumine and his siblings play outside, Ajax felt like he was living in a dream. Watching her walk around his home, interacting with his family, was nothing short of fantastical for him. What surprised him even more was how much he liked it. It felt strangely domestic—seeing her help his mother wash dishes or play in the snow with his siblings. It was evident that his siblings adored her. His parents were also very welcoming of her and loved talking to her. His mother had implied on more than one occasion how she was capable of keeping him under control. Privately, he agreed with her. Lumine was the only person who had truly been able to calm him. With her, the chaos that usually simmered just under the surface kept at bay. He also knew that she was capable of reining him in, physically if needed. He didn't know what it was, but he was at peace with her.

Part of him wondered if he could have this peace. He was forged in violence and a weapon of war. He was made for the bloody battlefields, not domestic ease. Even though he tried to be his old self around his family, he knew that they had no idea what to do with him. When he was with them, he made sure to keep his other side hidden away. He didn't even want to think about how they would react if they ever saw Foul Legacy.

Lumine was the only person who had seen him, violence and vulnerability alike.

He wanted this, damn it all. He wanted her. He wanted her to talk to his family. He wanted to bring her home. He wanted to see her with his siblings. He wanted to sit next to her at the table. He wanted to toss snowballs at her. He wanted to spar with her. He wanted to patch her up after their spars. He wanted to go on adventures with her. He wanted to come home to her.

'You want to marry her, idiot.'

That sent his thoughts down an entirely different path. He saw himself coming home from Zapolyarny Palace, snow falling down around him. He saw himself knock on a door and brush snow off himself. He saw the door open and he saw a blonde with the brightest, most blinding smile.

"You're back!"

He saw himself get tackled in a hug and he saw his arms come up around her, holding her close. He felt her warmth through his cloak. He smelt the soft scent of the flowers in her hair. He saw himself pick her up and carry her inside. He heard her tinkling laugh as she playfully swatted at him. He saw her flailing as she told him to put her down. He felt himself warm at her giggles and felt his unending affection for this woman. He saw himself smile as he looked at her go inside. He saw himself take off his cloak and boots as he followed her. He saw her get him a steaming cup of tea and then drag him to the fireplace. He saw her sit next to him on the couch, folding her legs under herself. He saw his arm go around her as she tucked herself into his side. He saw her look up at him, her eyes sparkling as she listened to him. He saw himself laugh at her insincere indignation as he ruffled her hair. He saw himself lean over and press a soft kiss into her hair. He saw her raise herself up and delicately hold his face. He saw her lean in and he saw himself lean in and—

"Brother! We've been calling you for ages!"

Huh?

"Tonia? When did you get here? Weren't you outside just now?"

She gave him a dry look.

"Yes, I was, as are Teucer, Anthon, Paimon, and Lumine. We need another person for a snowball fight to even out the teams. We've been calling you to join us but you weren't responding. We thought you hadn't heard us, and I came to check on you. Here you are, staring out of the window with that lost look on your face. What were you even thinking about?"

Tonia would never let him hear the end of it if she knew what was going on in his mind. He shook his head.

"Nothing, really. Come on, let's go outside."

For the better part of an hour, they were pelting each other with snowballs. It had started out as girls versus boys but had quickly devolved into a free-for-all. Snowballs were still flying thick and fast when their mother called them.

"Come inside now. It's getting dark and there's supposed to be a snowstorm on the way. Also, Ajax, a letter came for you. It's on your bedside table."

They walked inside and were immediately told to go and change into dry clothes. Ajax dried his hair and then opened the envelope, taking out the letter. It was from Zapolyarny Palace. The Tsaritsa would meet them in two days. That left just enough time to travel to the capital. They would have to find lodgings for one night. They could travel back right after meeting the Tsaritsa, if nothing else came up. He was formulating travel plans when there was a knock on his bedroom door.

"Come in."

He turned to see Tonia enter his room.

"Hey, Princess, what happened?"

"Do you have a few minutes? There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

He sat down on his bed and patted the space next to him. "Sure, tell me."

She shuffled over to him and sat down. She was playing with her hands, as if thinking about what to do. She then took a deep breath and turned to face him.

"This thing you have with Lumine. What's going on?"

He found himself at a loss for words. Where did this suddenly come from?

"Nothing's going on. What are you talking about?"

Tonia exhaled loudly, almost huffing.

"I'm not an idiot. There's clearly something up. You even brought her home!"

"Well, I have to take her to the Tsaritsa. What was I supposed to do—leave her to stay somewhere alone?"

"That's not what I mean! You're different when it comes to her. You've been writing about her in almost all your letters and you're personally escorting her here. You trusted her with your Vision in Fontaine! You even rushed off to meet her the moment you recovered enough to move."

"She's a very close friend, Princess, and you know that my job doesn't really leave room for friends."

"Is she?"

That statement and the expression of disbelief on Tonia's face made him suddenly realize where this conversation was going. It was oddly reminiscent of the time his mother had confronted him. Seriously, what was it with the women in his family?

"Yes, she is. She's someone I respect and whose friendship I value a lot."

"Is that why you were looking outside the window at her with that lovestruck expression?"

"I did not have a lovestruck expression!" The moment he said it, Ajax realized that he had fallen for Tonia's trap. He had all but admitted that he was indeed looking at Lumine. Tonia's expression told him that she had realized that there was something more than friendship there.

"Have you even told her that you love her?"

Trust Tonia to figure him out. He had been trying to avoid the admission but she hit the nail right on the head. Sometimes, he wondered how she had such a knack for understanding what he didn't say. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. The game was up. She would not leave him until she had an answer to her questions.

"You know I can't."

"Even though you know that she might feel the same?"

He didn't know, per se, but he had an idea. He knew that she considered him close enough to confide in him about everything that she couldn't admit to others. He knew that she trusted him to safely take her to the Tsaritsa, despite her being an enemy of the Fatui. He knew that she was somewhat attracted to him. He had seen the way she looked at him. It was the same way he looked at her when she wasn't looking.

"It's not that straightforward. I know that I'm someone close to her. I know she cares about me. But what if she doesn't see me that way?"

"Are you dense? How can you not see that she clearly has feelings for you? At this point, I can tell and I wasn't even there for half of it!"

"Princess, think about it. Say I do tell her. Say she returns my feelings. Then what? She's a traveler, and she's looking for her brother. I'm a Harbinger sworn to the Tsaritsa. Do you really think it'll help with love thrown into that mix? It's not fair to either of us, but I can't do anything about it. Telling her how I feel will only hurt her in the long run." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I can't tell her that I love her, Tonia."

'As much as I may want to.'


"Apologies, sir, but the usual room is currently unavailable. Madam Arlecchino has it reserved for the next two weeks."

"Come on, Natalya, you know I'm a regular here."

"I know that, sir, but I don't have your room available."

"Alright. Then I'll take two of your Premier rooms for tonight. We may need to extend it to tomorrow as well."

"Master Tartaglia, I only have one Premier room available for tonight. I can give you two Single rooms if you want."

"What? What about the Deluxe rooms?"

"Completely booked, sir."

Ajax ran a hand through his hair and Lumine could see the frustration building up. It was odd how all the rooms were booked but they couldn't do anything about it.

"Childe, it's okay. We can look somewhere else."

He shook his head. "I'd rather not do that. This hotel has an agreement with the Fatui and we can trust them to be discreet. I'm not too keen on everyone in the city knowing that the Traveler is here."

What he said made sense, but she didn't understand him. Wouldn't people already have recognised her? They just walked through several streets. Anyway, it was his nation and his city. She left it to him to make the decision. In the worst case, she could just sleep in her Teapot.

"Fine. Natalya, I'll take the Premier and I need you to set up an extra bed in the room. Would that be possible?"

"Of course, sir. Here are the keys. I'll send someone later to set up the bed."

"Thank you. Also, please send up dinner. We'll eat in the room."

Dinner ended quickly, thanks to Paimon. The little fairy could probably eat twice her weight. She then disappeared to her dimension, citing exhaustion.

"I still haven't gotten used to how much food she can put away." Ajax shook his head.

"I thought you'd know, considering how many times you've paid for it."

"Ha ha, very funny. Anyway, I was going to go and take a shower, unless you're going first?"

"No, I'm fine. You can go."

He disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Lumine sitting at the small table. She stood, walked to the bed and fell back on it, arms outstretched. Today had been long. They had spent the entire day traveling from Morepesok to the capital and she could feel the tiredness creeping into her bones. Somehow, sitting still had been more tiring than a day of adventuring. She hadn't realized just how long she was sitting in the same position for.

The trip to Snezhnaya was turning out to be better than she had anticipated. She got to spend time with Ajax's family. And tomorrow, she would meet the Tsaritsa and her journey would end. She would finally have her answers and then she could find Aether to leave this world with him. Strangely, the thought did not give her the happiness that she thought it would. If anything, it made her melancholic. Somewhere between being separated from Aether and today, she had grown attached to this world. She had made friends and formed bonds that she was loath to leave behind. This world had given her people that she wanted to keep in her life. All her friends from Mondstadt, Liyue, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Natlan. Now, she could add Snezhnaya to the list. She would miss Tonia, Anthon, and Teucer. But, most of all, she would miss Ajax.

Ajax was the most unlikely thing to happen to her. She had never imagined that she would fall in love with the chaotic Harbinger with a penchant for violence. She had never imagined that he would have a softer side to him that she would get to see. She had never imagined that she would get close to him, nor let him get close to her. And she had never imagined that the thought of leaving him behind would cause her so much distress. Part of her wished that she could stay in this world—that she could stay with him. Somehow, he had become home to her in a way that even Aether wasn't. She could lay herself bare to Ajax and she believed that he would let her.

She suddenly sat up, struck by a sudden idea. Could she tell him who she truly was and how she came to be here? Could she tell him about her foreign origin? She knew he would listen. He might be shocked, he might be angry, but he would listen. He would give her the chance to explain herself, even if he drew his weapon against her afterwards.

She was making up her mind when Ajax opened the door. He was wearing his shirt and pants and held his jacket and scarf in his hands. His hair was still damp from the shower and sticking in all directions. It was the first time she had seen him so disheveled outside of a fight. To be honest, he looked cute. He looked younger than he was and nothing like a Harbinger. She could imagine him like this—showering after a long day and then sitting down with her. She would listen to him tell her about his day and then tell him about hers. They would probably make dinner together, laughing and teasing each other. After eating, they would turn in for the day, falling asleep next to each other.

"Oi!" The sound of fingers snapping.

She jerked out of her thoughts. "A-Ajax!" She hadn't realized that he had moved to sit in front of her. He was looking at her with a concerned expression.

"Where are you lost? I tried calling you but you were in your own head."

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about something."

"Oho! Lost in thoughts of me, girlie?" His voice had a teasing lilt to it.

'Oh, if only you knew.' She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wouldn't get another chance like this to tell him about herself. It was now or never.

"There's something I need to tell you."

The serious tone in her voice caused him to straighten up. The mischief was replaced by rapt attention. "What is it?"

"Ajax, you know how I can use the elements without a Vision, right? And also how I can use more than one element at the same time?"

"Yes, what about it?"

Deep breath. "I'm not from around here. That's why."

He tilted his head in confusion. "Of course you're not from here. Which nation are you from, then?"

"No, you're not getting it. I'm not from this world!"

He fell silent for a while. His eyes were fixated on hers as if trying to read something in them. Then, he exhaled loudly.

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"I'm a Traveler, Ajax. I used to travel with my brother across worlds. I landed in this world and encountered a god who separated me from my brother. I've been searching for information about that god so that I can find my brother. That's why I'm trying to meet the Archons."

She had started and she couldn't stop. She told him everything—her visits to other worlds, her crash landing in this world, the Khaen'riahn disaster, her waking up years later, her frantic attempts to find Aether, her adventures in Teyvat—everything. She didn't know how long she spoke for but she didn't stop until everything was said.

Silence stretched between them while he processed the information. She kept looking at him as he scrutinised her. It was a good thing that he hadn't bolted so far. Whether he believed her or accepted her words remained to be seen. Surprisingly, he was taking it better than expected. She had expected him to completely deny whatever she was saying. The fact that he was still sitting here spoke volumes.

"Alright. Let's say I believe you. My next question is: why are you telling me this?"

The answer was out of her mouth before she could think. "Because I need you to know this."

"Why?"

'Because I love you.'

"Because I don't want to leave without you knowing why."

His voice cracked. "Then don't. Don't leave."