Zhu wasn't actually afraid of Caesar. They'd shared a friendly enough interaction during the Nightro Fest just last week—though, it was a bit hazy after a few too many drinks. Caesar had even confessed some things to her inner circle, and Zhu had gathered plenty of intel on Elias—or was it Jaxon now? She'd heard enough about the mysterious Wayward Son to know there were layers yet to be uncovered.
But it wasn't Caesar she was worried about. It was Jane. Zhu didn't quite trust her with the whole story about their undercover mission in the Outer Ring last week, especially with Seth and Qingyi involved. Sharing too much felt like giving up pieces of a puzzle she wasn't ready to solve yet.
So when Jane saw her freeze, her steps slowing, she instinctively followed. The air between them shifted—Zhu wasn't sure if Jane noticed, but she could feel the weight of it.
And then Jane whispered, "Zhu?"
Zhu's throat tightened at the sound of her name, and she couldn't help but mutter, "Call me Jean."
Jane blinked, clearly confused. "Jean?..so you know her?"
Zhu didn't respond right away. Instead, she stepped forward, into the workshop, where the smells of oil and gasoline clung to the air like old friends. The murmur of engines and idle chatter faded out as her gaze met Caesar's.
"Jean!?" Caesar's voice was full of surprise and something warmer—like a long-lost friend had unexpectedly walked back into the room. She looked more like she'd just found a missing piece of herself.
Zhu gave her a casual wave, unfazed. "Hi, Caesar. Lucy."
She walked further into the workshop, feeling Jane's puzzled gaze on her back. Jane hung back a little, her eyes darting around the place, processing every detail. The biker gang, the workshop, the casual conversation... It all felt a little too comfortable for Zhu. She could feel the stakes rising, but she kept her face neutral. Caesar's presence had a way of stirring things up, even when she wasn't trying.
Jane stepped in a few steps behind, still trying to put the pieces together, but Zhu had already calculated the scene. Caesar wasn't a threat—not yet. But the mystery of their past interactions? That was another matter entirely.
"You bring a sexy friend too!" Caesar teased with a grin, her eyes flicking over to Jane. "What's your name?"
Jane hesitated for a split second, a brief look of confusion crossing her face before she pasted on a friendly smile. "Zh... Julienne! Yeah, my name's Julienne. Nice to meet you!" She extended her hand and shook Caesar's firmly.
Zhu's brow twitched at the name. Julienne? Her mind processed it faster than her mouth could catch up. It was far too close to 'Zhu Yuan,' and for a split second, she almost felt like facepalming.
Seriously? she mused silently, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes to Jane. "You really think I'm playing?" she muttered to herself, but the words never left her lips.
Caesar, oblivious to the inner conflict, flashed a proud grin and posed dramatically. "Name's Caesar, Leader of the Sons of Calydon, and acting Overlord of the Motor League." She gestured to the small girl beside her, the one who hadn't said a word until now. "This is Lucy."
Lucy removed her helmet and gave a relaxed nod, greeting both Zhu and Jane with a casual, "Howdy, guys."
Jane's eyes practically popped out of her head as her mouth ran on autopilot. "Wait... You're Luciana de Montefio, right? The missing girl from the City? ...Your father's looking for you."
Lucy's expression shifted from cool to pouting in a heartbeat, clearly not thrilled about the reminder.
Zhu's eyes widened with the realization that Jane's blurted-out comment might've just blown their whole cover. In a split-second decision, she jabbed her elbow into Jane's ribs. The sharp, silent signal was clear—we've got to play this cool, or it's all over.
The brief introduction was cut short by the unmistakable sound of a growling stomach—Zhu Yuan's, loud enough to compete with the roar of the revving bikes nearby. She froze, her face reddening as she glanced down at her belly, then back at Caesar, her hands instinctively pressing against her midsection as if trying to keep the noise under control.
Caesar's eyes sparkled, clearly amused. "Well, that settles it! We have a great diner here at Mirage Motors. Let's feast, since you're here!" she announced, her voice booming as if she were declaring a great victory. She threw an exaggerated grin at Lucy. "At Lucy's expense!"
Lucy, the feisty one stood next to Caesar, practically a foot shorter, but every inch of her attitude was all grown-up. She kicked the pavement with a mock pout, her helmet still perched on her head like a crown of defiance. "For Hollow gods, Caesar! I'm not paying for that!" she barked, punctuating her protest with a playful punch to Caesar's waist.
Caesar let out a theatrical grunt and dodged the punch with a laugh, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Well, since you're all about the dramatic exits, Lucy, I guess it's your treat!"
Zhu's stomach growled again, louder this time, as if to emphasize its desperate plea. Jane couldn't help but snicker at the spectacle, already imagining the kind of chaos they'd be diving into next.
They walked into diner, for an Outringer it was a perfect example of the phrase "It's not much, but it's home." The smell of greasy food wafted through the air, mixing with the faint scent of old motor oil. The air conditioning hummed lazily overhead, blasting out oily yellow air that barely made a dent against the heat. The dusty walls told tales of years gone by—pictures framed in faded wood, depicting the many faces of bikers who'd dined here over the years, including the Sons of Calydon.
Zhu wandered toward the wall of photos, her curiosity piqued by the collection of rugged faces. Big Daddy, the former leader, Caesar in a much younger, more reckless pose, Piper, noticing a standing figure beside Big Daddy and Ceasar his face was cut off on the image, her heart skipped a beat his build... the familiar arms, the way he stood—she couldn't help but feel a striking familiarity. Is that Lighter? her mind instantly went to Elias. Or rather, Jaxon. The pieces clicked in her mind with a jolt.
"That's... odd?" she murmured under her breath.
Jane, ever the observant one, stayed quiet, watching her with quiet interest as Zhu inspected the photo like it might bite her.
Lucy, leaning casually against the counter, piped up from behind her, grinning like she knew a secret.
"They look familiar... that's Caesar right?" Zhu muttered making a sideway glance to Lucy.
"Ah, that picture's from way-way before I joined, even Lighter." she said, casually strolling up to Zhu. "We are not part of the gang yet when that was taken."
Zhu's fingers hovered over the picture frame as she whispered, "Who's the guy... that has been cut off?"
Lucy's eyes darkened a little, her smile faltering just enough to make it clear she was treading lightly. "Ah... Wayward Son, Jaxon. You were with us before the Nightro Fest, right? You know a bit of his story when Lighter brought up his situation."
Zhu's pulse picked up, her mind already racing. "Jaxon," she repeated softly, feeling like the room suddenly got a little hotter. She was already on the edge of something big, and now it felt like the last piece of the puzzle had just been thrown at her. She fumbled for her phone and quickly snapped a picture of the frame, the familiar figure now burned into her memory.
But Lucy leaned closer, her voice lowering to a playful but cautious tone. "Caesar doesn't actually hold grudges but... She has some kind special hatred for him." Lucy's eyes flickered with a subtle warning. "I don't really know much about Jaxon's history, to be honest. I'm a recent member on Caesar's circle, so I just barely scratch the surface."
Zhu nodded, she couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh, shaking her head. Her heart raced—not just from the rush of new information but from how close she was to unraveling the story. She felt like she was a step away from understanding the man she'd been investigating, and the stakes just kept getting higher.
The food came out fast and greasy—like a machine churning out oily goodness for the masses. Caesar was already diving into a plate of something that looked like it was about to jump off the table, while Zhu just eyed her house salad, the greens a stark contrast to the greasy feast before her.
"Hey, this diner's called Mad Grease's for no reason," Caesar chuckled between bites, her mouth half-full, clearly loving the absurdity of it all.
Zhu gave her a half-hearted smile, poking at her salad like it might suddenly sprout wings and fly off the plate. "I have to maintain body fat ratio. Priorities," she muttered, pushing the leafy greens around as if that would somehow make her feel like she wasn't abandoning all her dietary principles.
Just as they were settling in, the unmistakable sound of shouting and clashing fists reached them from outside. A brawl had broken out. Of course. It was like they couldn't go five minutes in the Outer Ring without some sort of drama. Caesar, without missing a beat, leaned back in her seat and cracked her knuckles, watching the chaos like it was a spectator sport.
With that, she pushed herself up and strutted toward the door, her voice booming with the authority of someone who knew how to handle these things.
"Get a pack of ice from the grocery store! That'll fix your bruise and hot-headed Outer Ring types!" she yelled, her tone muffled by the glass as she stepped outside to break up the mess.
Back inside, Caesar reappeared moments later, still watching the fight through the foggy diner windows as if it were a live TV show. "It's nothing," she said, completely unphased. "Just another day in the Outer Ring."
Zhu couldn't help but stare at the plate of salad in front of her. Maybe this was what she signed up for? All she could think was, "I should have just ordered the greasy plate... at least I'd have something to do while the world burns outside."
Lucy's eyes lit up as she spotted the bloody, juicy steak on her plate. Leaning back with a mischievous grin, she quipped, "Did you know Lighter can't handle blood?" Her playful tone was betrayed by the twitching corners of her mouth, a futile effort to maintain a straight face.
Caesar raised an unimpressed eyebrow and continued to munch on her lunch.
"Poor guy faints at the mere sight of it," Lucy added, unable to resist. "Jaxon's had to step in more than once when Lighter passed out—right in the middle of a fight, no less!"
Zhu's brain screeched to a halt. Wait, what? Lighter passes out during fights? And Jaxon deals with it? Her mind raced, trying to process the image of Lighter, the tough-as-nails biker, crumpling at the sight of a little blood. It was... weirdly funny, but also confusing.
Caesar's face immediately darkened, her expression shifting like a storm cloud rolling in. The moment Jaxon's name dropped, her mood shifted, and Zhu could practically see the temperature in the room plummet.
"I told you, no topic about that wayward son," Caesar growled, her voice low and irritated. "He's dead."
Zhu blinked. Oh. That didn't go as planned.
Jane, who had been unusually quiet since they sat down, suddenly perked up, her tone teasing but soft. "Whose this wayward son?" she asked, her voice practically dripping with sarcasm.
Zhu's eyes widened as she looked at Jane, her brain screaming Don't make her mad! She instinctively shifted her legs under the table, trying to kick Jane's feet, but alas, the table was too wide, and Jane was too quick.
Caesar let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose as if to ward off a headache. "I lost my appetite," she muttered dramatically.
"Caesar, not to barge in but... care to share the drama?" Jane pressed, her voice so smooth it could have been a velvet cushion for Caesar's rant.
There was a beat of silence. Caesar stared at her food, clearly fighting with herself, before finally giving in with a resigned sigh. "Well, to lighten the load and finish this food..." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "I'll give you the drama."
Zhu listened intently, eager to hear the story. Caesar leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she launched into the past.
"Jaxon... He was orphaned by Big Daddy when he was just a kid. He survived on his own, living in this old house where his parents were probably kidnapped. I was young back then too, about his age, but we didn't really know each other yet." Caesar paused, her eyes softening at the memory. "He knew Lighter before joining the gang, formed this brotherly bond like with Billy, y'know? Lighter looked out for him, made sure he wasn't alone in this world.
"Jaxon was different, though," Caesar began, her voice low, almost drowned by the hum of the nearby chatter inside the diner.
"He wasn't just another guy riding for the thrill or the rebellion. He was an inventor, always tinkering with scraps like the world wasn't already broken enough for him to fix. That bike of his? He modified it up from old world pieces everyone else called junk. And Piper?" She smirked faintly, leaning back as if to savor the memory. "He taught her the basics—mechanics, troubleshooting. Called it 'practical survival.'"
Her tone wavered, a mix of pride and something harder to place, though her face betrayed nothing. "Smart, that one. Too smart, honestly. And charming? He could talk you into selling your last meal if he thought it'd make you laugh." She gave a nonchalant shrug, though her expression lingered just a moment longer than casual memory allowed.
Zhu leaned in, sensing something heavier buried beneath Caesar's words. "Sounds like he left quite a mark on you," she ventured, testing the waters.
Caesar chuckled, though it was hollow, almost wistful. "Deep feelings? Nah, nothing like that. He was... family. My brother. We grew up together, fought side by side." She fell silent for a moment, her fingers absently brushing over her left hand.
Zhu followed her movement, only now noticing the faint mechanical whir as Caesar flexed her fingers. The light from the overhead lamps caught the edge of the prosthetic, gleaming like a quiet reminder of some long-lost battle.
"It was Jaxon who put this together for me," Caesar said quietly, her voice rougher now, tinged with something unspoken. "We were ambushed. My arm's badly damaged that it needs to be amputated, and Billy—had some spare parts lying around, but no one knew how to make it work. No one but Jaxon. He stayed up for three days straight, patching me up and figuring out how to make the parts fit. Said he wasn't gonna let me go through life feeling like half a person." She glanced down at the arm, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. "Guess he made sure of that."
Zhu stayed silent, the weight of Caesar's words pressing down like the air had thickened. For the first time, she saw past Caesar's tough exterior to the lingering scars—not just physical, but emotional—left by someone who had clearly mattered more than Caesar was willing to admit. Lucy watched her intently, which is quite rare for her.
(Special note: Well about this, let's just hope Hoyoverse don't drop any name who was the one who put the prosthetic arms to Caesar in the future, if non, Elias and Jaxon's safe on this lore; so I'll update if that day comes, I'm not just aware they have a person for that?)
Her mood shifted, "But then, one day, he left the gang without notice. Just like that. Joined a weapon smuggling gang to fuel his little hobby. Big Daddy... well, he was broken-hearted when he heard about it. But, uh, he still had a soft spot for Jaxon, even after everything." Caesar's tone softened a little, her voice more pensive now. "Big Daddy was... my acting father too you know."
There was a long silence as Caesar finished her story, staring down at her half-finished plate. Zhu's mind was buzzing with questions—Who was Jaxon really? And how had he ended up at the center of so many tangled relationships?
But one thing was clear: this was a can of worms she wasn't sure she was ready to open.
Zhu shot Jane a quick look, who was already eyeing her with that knowing smirk. She patted Caesar's shoulder, a comforting gesture of their sisterly bond. Caesar turned to Zhu, returning the gesture with a smile and a gentle pat.
"But hey, I actually had a crush on him back in a day." Caesar added, her tone suddenly lighter, almost wistful.
Zhu froze, her eyes widening. She blinked a few times, her mind scrambling to catch up. "Wait, what?!" She sputtered, suddenly aware that the table had gone from a tense interrogation to a high school gossip session.