insurmountable | how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet

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how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet

[It's not often Ajax finds himself getting his head slammed down onto the hood of a car, least of all a cop car. Usually it's him doing the slamming.

But today the young man finds himself denting the hood, the sound of metal caving in under his head ringing in his ears. Not exactly the ideal situation he was hoping for, but he figured sooner or later he'd have a run in with the cops due to the sensitive nature of his profession, but that doesn't mean he has to like how inconsiderate they are with him as they cuff him and throw him in the back of the paddy wagon. Not that he was considerate to them when he was discovered, as evidenced by the blood all over his clothing and knuckles from the fight he'd gotten into with them. How he managed to avoid getting shot is beyond him- plenty of shots were fired, but that hadn't stopped him from knocking a few of them out.

It's just too bad he'd been instructed that he couldn't kill anyone, or else he'd of gotten out of there without being caught.

The lights of the police station are bright, almost too bright from the contrast of how dark it was outside. Ajax squints as he's dragged inside, held tightly by two cops who hurry him through the station, but not fast enough that he doesn't catch a glimpse of the secretary behind the desk as they come in. Pretty, blonde, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Gorgeous eyes, ones that catch his attention almost immediately as he's being shoved towards the back, shining with a radiance that captures him instantly. His eyes lock with hers, feeling something silent yet powerful surge through him from this tiny, insignificant interaction. He doesn't even have a moment to think further on it, before he's so rudely interrupted.

Get moving.

The curt voice of the bigger cop on his right cuts through the moment, anger welling up in Ajax's chest and something dark stirs in his core. If he wasn't cuffed and being restrained, he'd turn that guy's face into a new work of art, something so abstract some insane art collector would gladly pay millions for it.

No sooner had Ajax been ushered in, he disappears from sight as he's taken back into an interrogation room, the mysterious blonde no longer in his sights, now getting shoved into a corner of a room.]

What's with this? Don't you even have the courtesy of giving me a chair to sit in, at least?

[From outside of the room, muffled noises of a scuffle as the cops lay into Ajax can be heard, the loudest of which is a thud of a body slamming into a wall, accompanied by a groan from the ginger kid. Though little do any of them know, their real problems haven't arrived just yet, waking from their slumber right outside of the city...]

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[He gives up after a moment, breathing hard as he deals with the pain his body is in, but at least he's a little more comfortable. There's a clinic around here somewhere, he's pretty sure, and if not he can at least get on a aquabus to the nearest one. His head feels like it's spinning, but he can deal with that soon enough. It's far more important to him to make sure Yoimiya does this, to protect not only herself but him as well. He'd do it himself if he could, but as it stands he'd pass out before he ever got back to the station, and time is of the essence.

But why he's so concerned in making sure this woman is protected, is something else he can't explain, but thankfully he's not thinking too hard on it.]

I know what this sounds like, but really, you have to believe me. Think about it, they find out you have special powers, and you become every scientist's favorite lab rat. You don't think the government- or someone worse- wouldn't jump at the opportunity to stick you in a tube and study you? You wouldn't believe what some of these people would pay just to get their grubby hands on you.

[He can feel that he's getting dangerously close to passing out, so he needs to move, get to a hospital. Slowly pulling himself to his feet, Ajax fights to keep himself from throwing up as nausea hits him from the sudden change in elevation, swallowing back as much spit as he can to keep himself from losing it in front of Yoimiya.]

You don't have to give it to me once you get it. Destroy it, and go back to your normal life after all this blows over, forget about me and move on. If that thing is still around, blow it up like you did back in the station- but I've got a feeling it's going to come looking for me before it bothers with you.

[Another thing that's unnerving. It wanted him...is there anywhere that's safe for him to stay if it's still alive?]

[ This whole time, she's been trying her best to stay calm and keep it all in but the longer she listens to him, all of her emotions she's kept bottled up are about to burst like a dam. Fear, exhaustion, stress, Yoimiya can feel her temper coming to a boil from this overload of information. The government, becoming a lab rat... since when did her life suddenly take a turn into a science fiction novel?! ]

Just blow it up like back at the station... are you even listening to yourself?!

[ She really shouldn't be yelling at someone who is in immense pain and later on, she'll absolutely feel guilty about the whole ordeal. For the time being, the stress of this whole situation has gotten the better of her, especially since it feels like he's sending her back to her death. ]

You're seriously telling me to go back to the station on my own while there's still a chance of me running into that thing?! Up till now, I've never been able to use powers my entire life. What if I go there, the monster is still lurking around and I'm unable to conjure up that bow? Then what?!

[ Fist balled up, she sighs heavily after letting her emotions out. She didn't mean to let her temper get the better of her and there's a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her she's being somewhat unreasonable but the uncertainty of this plan is absurd. ]

Excuse me for not being thrilled over this plan but this is my life we're talking about. I can't just hinge it on chances, possibilities, and the word of someone I just met.

[It's unsurprising to him that she protests, and reasonable too- what he's asking of her is insane and he knows it. But he also knows what's going to happen to her once news get out that she's on camera using what effectively is superpowers, and that's not a fate he wishes for her either. Sure, he'd be in trouble too, it's not like he isn't on camera doing something just as crazy, but he doesn't care about that nearly as much. He can take whatever they do to him- but her, he can't bear the thought of the terrible things they'd do to her once she's in their grasp.

So the only thing he can do to mask all that concern is laugh, a quiet chuckle that escapes him, labored with pain from the broken ribs.]

You're right, I shouldn't of asked.

[If Yoimiya won't do it, then someone's got to. At least he's standing, and he's pretty sure if he takes it slow he can get there with enough time passing that it's possible the creature has moved on looking for them. He'll just have to be careful. So Ajax turns, holding a hand across his chest as he begins to walk away from her.]

Get yourself to a hospital then, they'll think it's strange that you walked away scot-free after all the destruction that happened in there. Just don't mention your newfound abilities when they interrogate you later, okay?

[ Oh gods, he's serious about destroying that footage. A pang of guilt eats away at her conscience as she watches him struggle to stand up, let alone walk. Even though he's trying to conceal the pain with that strained laugh, she knows, she heard the sickening sound of those ribs cracking. If he keeps going, there's a good chance he's going to pass out before even making it to the police station.

Yoimiya falls silent watching him walk out of view. The easy way out would be to take his advice, go to the hospital, forget all about him, and wipe her hands clean of this whole mess. All she has to do is agree and she'll be back to her mundane yet peaceful life free of monsters, strange powers, government conspiracies, and Ajax.

...

This plan is beyond insane but Yoimiya is steadfast in her decision. From the moment she first laid eyes on him, she couldn't bear to see him in any sort of pain, concerned for his well-being to the point she's willing to risk her life over this complete and total stranger who could potentially be dangerous. ]

A passcode is needed to gain access to the security footage.

[ With those words, she briskly walks over in his direction, there's no way she can let an injured person take on this responsibility all alone. ]

You're in way worse shape than I am. Just go to the hospital and get your injuries treated. I'll... do my best to see this through.

[ There's no doubt she's scared out of her mind. Going back to that place feels like she's signing her life away but as easy as it would be to walk away away and never look back it's far too late to back out, she's already in too deep. ]

Edited (changed dialogue a bit) 2023-11-07 00:34 (UTC)

[Ajax is slowly moving away, his back completely turned as he walks with a heavy gait due to his injuries, when the voice that pops up behind him surprises him. Stopping, he turns to see that Yoimiya has trotted up to his side, worry in those honeyed eyes of hers, but a level of determination, too. It gets him to smile, the first of which that he's really been capable of all night, impressed that after all of that she's decided to take this on. But she brought up a lot of good points too. It really is too dangerous to go by herself, not with the unpredictable, volatile nature of her power.]

Haha, no can do. You put up a pretty good argument, and who am I to disagree? We should go back together. If we split up, it'll be easier for it to pick us off, if it's still looking for us.

[Without missing a beat, Ajax continues forward, his own determination setting on his expression, even despite his condition. If he can just stay focused, he can make it. He hopes.]

Sorry...ngh...for asking something like that of you. It's definitely too risky to bank on it only wanting to attack me. Who knows, maybe I just smelled good and it wanted to eat me first...

[Ajax wobbles a bit as he walks, feeling lightheaded, but he won't tell her. He's got to make it back with her first, and then he can worry about a doctor.]

[ Despite all the awful injuries he received, this man is able to press on with determination, pushing the limits of his body to ease her fears. It's touching, she truly wouldn't fault him if he prioritized his condition but for the first time since this nightmare began, she's filled with the slightest hint of relief. They got out together and maybe, just maybe, the trip back to the station will be fine so long as they stay by each other's side. ]

It's okay, we're in a stressful situation where every second counts. I'm sorry for getting as heated as I did. You're injured and I should have never raised my voice at you.

[ Gotta learn how to keep her fiery head cool, she does feel guilty for getting so up and arms when this is an awful situation for both of them to be in.

Faint but she definitely takes notice of that slight wobble. Without any hesitation she grabs onto his arm and stays close by his side, doing everything her small body can do to support him. He's going out of his way for her and she wants to do the same. ]

Is that so? Might wanna avoid whatever cologne you used from now on, if it apparently attracts monsters... hehe.

[ His smile is precious and even if this ordeal took a turn for the worst, she's grateful to see that lovely expression. In turn, she warmly smiles back at him, his joke drawing out a chirpy giggle out of her. ]

[Ajax lets a small sigh out of his noise, a content sound as she apologizes and grabs a hold of him when he feels himself wobble a bit. She's a nice girl, and it's really too bad she's gotten caught up with all of this, and with him- it's the last place she needs to be. His mind momentarily floats back to his employers, imagining the consequences of what might happen if they found out about Yoimiya and subsequently himself. He knows that normally, he wouldn't go so far out of his way for someone else like this, and that's what nags him at the back of his head. Sure, he's got to do this to save his own skin too.

But the concern is more on her, and this isn't really like him, not for a situation like this. Maybe, she's just that charming, and maybe he's still learning and growing as a person.

Either way, he pushes that thought out of his mind, laughing at her little follow up joke. Yeah, she is kind of charming now that he's got a moment of respite to allow himself to think about anything else other than their objective and what happens if they fail, or if the monster is still out there looking for them.]

Guess I'll have to look into whatever they put in their cologne, haha. Hey...I didn't catch your name. Mine's Ajax. Sorry that we had to meet under such extreme circumstances.

[Talking helps, at least he thinks it's helping him. His head gets more and more lightheaded, but he puts his focus on her now instead. It's easy to stare at her, even under the dim light. She's awfully pretty, so maybe he'll just focus on that for now.]

[ For someone considered dangerous by the police, he's been nothing but kind and selfless to her, a stranger he just met. Although she's not going completely to rule out the possibility he's manipulating her, his actions speak for itself. He easily could have left her to die at the hands of that monster, he's going out of his way to come along with her to the station while terribly injured, it's hard to believe he's some awful person.

His smile, his laugh... all lovely charm points that draw her into his charisma. It's easy to feel at peace with him despite the current situation, giggling at the joke he throws back at her. Never before has anyone captivated her from the get-go. For some unexplainable reason, this chance meeting with him feels so incredibly right, as if she's found a missing piece to her puzzle. ]

Don't be, if anything, I feel like this is partially my fault. I was bored out of my mind sitting behind that desk, wishing for something exciting to happen, and well... I guess I got what I asked for.

[ She'll take this as a lesson to watch what she wishes for... ]

Ajax... that's a cool name. It's nice to meet ya, I'm Yoimiya. Are you from Fontaine?

[ If there's one thing she's good at, it's carrying a conversation. He's in a lot of pain and she hopes that being by his side and talking will help put his mind at ease and away from his injuries. ]

[As she brings it up, he does remember as he got dragged into the police station of how bored she looked behind that desk. Maybe the life of a secretary with the police really isn't as interesting as he imagined it might be, but then he doesn't really know how it all works. All he knows is that there's no guarantee you won't get treated like garbage by the cops if you get arrested, as evidenced by his broken ribs. Poor girl, she really did get what she wished for, and then some.

Shaking his head, he indicates he's not from Fontaine, leaning against her a little as they walk. His head spins a little, trying to find the words to answer her, his response delayed as his injuries begin to take their toll on him.]

No, I'm from Snezhnaya. It's a pleasure...to meet you too. Yoimiya...

[His eyes half lid, and he stumbles, words slurring together. Oh...]

What a...pretty name...

[Suddenly, he can feel his mind spin so fast that he no longer can hold himself up, eyes closing as his vision goes black. Tartaglia's whole body goes limp as he faints, lurching forward suddenly as he falls, finally having succumbed to his injuries.]

[ Snezhnaya... she's heard stories about the snow-capped lands hailed with blizzards. Maybe after this awful ordeal is over, she'll be granted the opportunity to ask about him and his homeland, curious to learn a bit more about him if he's willing to divulge some details. However, it looks like those plans will have to be put on hold. With each passing second, she hears his voice slurring and trailing off, the longer they walk, the more he stumbles. She flickers her gaze to check up on his condition and that's when she feels his body going limp, finally surrendering to his injuries.

If Yoimiya wasn't so concerned, she'd be impressed with how long he was able to hold up with a broken rib, he's a whole lot more durable than your average human, that's for sure. But there's no time to dwell on that, her top priority being to get Ajax to a hospital. ]

Ajax? Ajax...? Oh, Ajax! Stay with me.

[ Reaching for her phone, her immediate thought is to call an ambulance to pick him up. It's then, she happens to spot a nearby taxi pulled up on the side of the pavement. She immediately decides that's going to be way faster than waiting on an ambulance and considering it's his life hanging in the balance, she'll do anything and everything. He's massive compared to her but it's amazing what duress will do to a person. Yoimiya keeps a steady hold on him, shifting her position to stand behind him, locking her arms underneath his armpits. Using all of her strength, she drags him with her, hauling his torpid body in pure desperation. From a distance, the taxi driver spots the harrowing scene, rolling down the windows to check on the pair. He shouts in concern.

Hey! Are you two youngsters okay? ]

Please! Take him to the nearest hospital and have him looked at. I'll pay for the fees to get him there, just please get him there as soon as you can. He's unconscious!

[ The driver behind the wheel looks a bit startled by this sudden request but nonetheless, nods in agreement, opening the door to allow the small blonde to shuffle her fallen friend into the backseat of the vehicle.

Miss, will you be coming with?

Yoimiya pauses, considering her choices. The logical part of her brain is telling her to leave him be and go back to the station, getting a hold of those tapes is the smart thing to do if she believes the word of Ajax. But her heart is saying otherwise, twisting at the idea of separating from him while he's in such critical condition. For reasons unknown to her, she wants to stay by his side and make sure he's safe and sound.

Yeah, the choice is obvious. ]

... Take me with you.

[ With no other words, she steps inside as the driver zooms off to the closest medical facility. The whole way there, Yoimiya keeps one hand on his chest, the other coming up to the side of his face to softly caress his cheek with her fingers. She's been told that for an unresponsive person, hearing is the last sense to depart. She doesn't know if talking to him will help but if anything, hopefully, her pleas will reach his soul. ]

Stay with me, Ajax. We're gonna get you to a hospital. You can't die on me, please...

[Faint images and lights dance in front of his eyelids, and he can't make sense of anything he sees or hears. A clouded and dark feeling coalesces inside of him, twisting upwards as if it were twining with his very soul, accompanied by a laughter that gurgles down beneath the surface. He has no idea where he is or what's happening, but there's a light voice that cuts through the darkness that calls to him over and over, beckoning him towards it. It's a sweet sound, one that he can feel himself turn towards and reach out to, trying to get as close as he can, as if he were running towards a loved one with their arms outreached just for him. That warmth slowly gets closer, his body feeling lighter and lighter the closer he seems to get, until light seems to filter in as his eyes finally flutter open.

He's in a bed in the hospital, he recognizes almost immediately. An IV is stuck into his arm, the curtains pulled close to make it as dark as possible, but light still manages to filter in. He's been changed into a medical gown, and his entire body aches with the pain of the fight from the night before. Confusion hits him first- the last thing he remembered was walking with Yoimiya back to the police station to get the tapes in order to keep themselves safe, and now he's woken up here...]

Yoimiya...

[Her name is the first word out of his mouth, wondering where she is, if she was safe, and if they were successful in their mission. Had he passed out, did something else happen that he doesn't remember? Ajax tries to sit up, finding it impossible due to his injuries, now able to feel the bandages wrapped around parts of his body and his head. He'd really taken a beating, but the more and more awake he is, the more frantic his thoughts become.

Looking around, he takes in his surroundings, also looking for a familiar head of blonde hair, wondering if she was here or if she'd dropped him off here and left...]

[ A soft pitter-patter of footsteps can heard right outside the room Ajax is staying in. Slowly, the door creaks open, revealing that familiar head of blonde hair he's looking for. Likewise, she's also wearing a medical gown, around her neck is a thin layer of cloth topped with an ice-cold pack. With a tray of food in hand, she steps in, making sure to not make too much noise, so as not to disturb him in case he's still sleeping. She quietly trots over to the bed, looking down at him to gauge his condition.

Oh, thank goodness.

Much to her happiness, he's awake, seeing his face and ocean-blue eyes is like a wave of relief splashing over her senses. The night before had been a complete and total blur. All she remembers is frantically rushing Ajax to the hospital, pleading for anyone to help him until he was finally taken away to the emergency room. Aside from a headache and needing to catch her breath, her injuries weren't as severe as his but out of concern for her well-being, Yoimiya had also been asked to stay overnight. Of course, she couldn't get a wink of sleep last night, rolling around in bed as the horrific events that took place kept playing in her mind on repeat, on top of being worried sick about Ajax's condition. After receiving a few checkups in the morning, the first thing she set out to do is go check up on him. ]

Hey... how are you feeling?

[ Taking a seat on a nearby chair next to his bed, she greets him with a tired smile while carefully setting the platter of food on the nightstand. There are two cups of water and apple juice, croissants, pats of butter, fruit jam, and roasted cherry tomatoes. A simple Fontainian breakfast prepared fresh from the hospital kitchen, it's not the most fancy, given that it's hospital food but it's better than sitting around on an empty stomach. ]

[He hears the soft footsteps of someone stopping right outside of his room as the door opens, blinking a few times as the silhouette of a woman whom he assumes is the nurse enters in front of the bright lights of the hospital hallway. It takes a moment for his eyes to adjust, as she walks in with what looks like food, finally recognizing her once she reaches his bedside.

Yoimiya. She's here, and it looks like they had her stay too. His eyes scan over her, paying special attention to the ice pack on her neck, but overall and much to his relief, it seems she's alright. With a tired sigh through his nose, he lets himself sink back into the bed, looking up at her in happiness and relief to know that she was alright, and thankfully in much better condition than him.]

As long as I don't move, I think I'll be alright, haha. The only thing I can be certain of is that I won't be getting up anytime soon...not without assistance, at least.

[Ajax unabashedly eyes the food, definitely hungry now that he's awake, but makes no move to take any of it. Might be for the best to just wait to make sure he doesn't tear anything or move the wrong way.]

I'm glad to see you're alright. When I woke up here, I wasn't sure what exactly had happened...care to fill me in?

[He's got a sinking feeling in his gut that the tapes weren't retrieved. Not if she's here in a gown with him, and he's sure he passed out long before they'd gotten back to the police station.]

[ Oh dear, the IV stuck in his arm is already an indication he's worse for wear but seeing him in this condition, unable to sit is hard to watch. He's eying the food, no doubt hungry, and no telling how long he's been without any substance in his system. There's gotta be something that can help him, she glances around the room until she spots a remote control for his bed. To not exert his injuries, her fingers carefully crank up the device, the back of the bed slowly rises just enough to lift him to where he can sit up to eat. Now he can feast! She smiles in satisfaction, placing a tray of water, juice, and seasoned tomatoes on his lap. While he gets started eating, she'll tend to the croissants, cutting them in half and opening the small containers of butter.

As she's slathering the pastries with buttery goodness, Yoimiya ponders his question in contemplative silence. He was passed out the whole night, there's so much to catch him up to speed. ]

I'm so relieved you made it. Don't push yourself too much, if you need help standing up, I'll be here. [ After all, he saved her life. It's the least she can do. ] Well, for starters... we were heading back to the police station to get the footage when you passed out from your injuries. Thankfully, there happened to be a taxi nearby and I told the driver to take us to the hospital. As soon as we got in, they deemed you in critical condition and sent you to the emergency room immediately.

[ All night long, she was so scared he wasn't going to make it, her heart riddled with regret that she wasn't enough to help him. Ajax has proven himself to be a strong man, it's a miracle he was able to wake up the very next day. But before she continues on with the rest of the her retelling... ]

Strawberry, apricot, or raspberry?

[ All buttered up! The croissants are ready and waiting for his choice of jam. ]

Edited (added a few things!) 2023-11-14 00:17 (UTC)

[Up he goes, the hospital bed slowly lifting him into a sitting position, glad for the fact that he doesn't have to do it himself in order to eat. Parts of his body protest being moved, a soreness that permeates all parts of his body makes every bit of him ache right down to the bone and then some. But, he needs to eat, and his stomach hasn't forgotten what it's like to be filled with food. Glancing down at the breakfast in his lap, he gingerly picks up a fork and eats one of the tomatoes as he listens.

It's just as he feared, they never made it to the police station. That's a whole other can of worms, one he's going to have to open with her sooner rather than later. Nodding his head in understanding, he eyes the jam, but really, he doesn't care which he gets.]

Surprise me.

[He takes a moment to consider how he's going to breach the subject with her, but maybe it's for the best he lets her finish.]

Go on, what else happened? Were you able to get any news out of the police station at all? Or did they keep you from it all all night here while the doctors were tending to you?

[ Surprise him... raspberry it is! With the croissant cut in half, she dollops the jam, spreading it all across the flaky pastry. There's a bit of a pause before she recounts the rest of the story, knowing full well that their situation just went from bad to worse. ]

No. Currently, I don't know what's going on at the police station. The hospital staff was concerned after I told them about what happened to me and recommended an overnight stay. Eventually, one of my bosses stopped by the station, saw the place in complete shambles, and contacted me. At that point, I had no choice but to tell them we were attacked by an unknown monster and as of now, they should be investigating.

[ A sigh spills out of her lips as she places the glazed-up croissant onto his tray. Yoimiya sits back in her chair, hanging her head in shame, feeling guilty that she absolutely could have done more to get them out of this mess. ]

I know the smart decision would have been to go to the police station on my own and send you off to the hospital. Sorry, I couldn't bring myself to go. Not only was I scared, but something was telling me to not leave your side.

[ Logically speaking, retrieving and destroying those tapes was the best decision but deep down in her heart, she doesn't regret a thing. Not knowing Ajax's condition would have crushed her. ]

This is all so new to me. You're a complete and total stranger but for some reason, I haven't stopped worrying about you.

[He listens intently as she continues to recount the night before, silently grateful for the croissant that he picks up and takes a small bite out of it as he soaks in that their plan had failed, all because he'd succumbed to his injuries. It sounds like he'd gotten beaten up a lot worse than he thought, but still. He can hardly blame her for not going on alone, not when he was in the condition that he was in.

That, and Yoimiya has addressed the one thing that's still a mystery to him. He's not a bad guy, really, and it's not like he won't help someone out even if it's a complete stranger. He's not that selfish. But the bond he feels with her, someone who he'd only learned her name not but eight hours ago? Maybe? It's puzzling, and even now he can feel it tug at his heart, glad that she was here and that she hadn't gone to the police station by herself. It doesn't make sense- he should be feeling like she should of abandoned him in that taxi to get him here, but yet...]

I can't explain it, but...that's been something at the back of my mind, too.

[He sighs as he thinks on it a little more, his own emotions feeling foreign to him, newly sprouted from the bottom of his heart.]

Back at the police station, I...I lost it when I saw that tendril around your neck. That's when I felt a burning across my chest, and that dark power revealed itself to me when I crushed that cop's arm...

[He looks down at his left arm, now seemingly normal with no traces of that dark armor at all. But is this really something he should be focusing on right now? There's a lot to tell Yoimiya, as he has a little bit of insight into her situation, and the tapes weren't recovered.]

...Listen, let's not dwell on that at the moment. We've got bigger problems to worry about. No doubt those tapes have fallen into someone else's hands, and they're going to see our new abilities. Have you ever heard of the Nizhnii Corporation?

[ Ah, so that's what happened. Yoimiya takes in all this information in a rare moment of silence, ineffable feelings bubbling inside her akin to warm happiness. She knew he made a vailant save and if it wasn't for his efforts, she would be another dead body for the police to investigate. Truly, she owes him her life but for some unutterable reason, her heart skips a beat at this newfound bond connecting the two of them. It's scary, incomprehensible and exciting all at the same time.

A burning across his chest... now that sounds somewhat familiar. Subconciously, she places a hand over her chest where she felt that strange rippling sensation trickling against her skin. With her crossaint in hand she munches, chewing it in thought while trying to swallow down her feelings on the matter. As much as she would some answers to their sudden connection, he's right, they have way worse problems on their plate. ]

No, this is my first time hearing about them. Forgive me, I haven't been in Fontaine long enough to recognize them. [ However, she has a feeling this company isn't based in the hydro nation. ] Just going off the name, is that a Snezhnayan company?

[ Her whole life, she has lived in Inazuma up until moving to Fontaine for her job. Having only been here for a month, she's still getting used to Fontainian names but she's fairly certain Nizhnii is Snezhnayan. ]

[It's unsurprising to him that she hasn't heard of it. Generally, he'd say that's a good thing, that ignorance is bliss and it's for the best that she never knows of them or any of their dealings. But unfortunately for them, things just got a lot more complicated, and Ajax doesn't know how he's going to get either of them out of this mess. He has no idea where his phone is either, something he'll have to check once he's cleared and out of the hospital.]

It is. It's a pharmaceutical company that produces a lot of generic medicines and has started to gain some ground in the area of specialized medicine for more rare genetic diseases. They like to keep themselves hidden in the shadows for the most part however, and there's a good reason for it, and why they've been able to make such breakthroughs.

[Pausing, he thinks on how he's going to break this to her. There's no point in hiding it, since both their skins are in danger.]

You see, you're not the only person who has exhibited a strange, miraculous power. Nizhnii has used people just like you as their test subjects, and as far as I can tell, they're used as lab rats to see if they can duplicate or extract a person's special abilities. From the sounds of it, they've been relatively successful. I don't know many of the details past that, all I know is that we're probably next on their list.

[Even though he's not told her everything, this is the truth of the matter at its heart. She at least deserves to know this, and his eyes are cast downward towards his food. What happens next is unknown to him, but at least if he can get his phone, he can talk to his boss...if his boss even has much to say to him anymore.]

[ Just like that, a bombshell of information is dropped onto her, blowing her worldview wide open in ways she didn't think was humanly possible. A few mere hours ago, she was an ordinary secretary living her day-to-day life trying to make mora for a living just like everyone else. Who knew that in the midst of her mundane, boring life lies a dark secret about the world around her? People gaining powers and human experimentation is a hard pill to swallow. Of course, she's seen her fair share of how evil the human mind can be during her time as the police station secretary but sick people using others as test subjects ranks up there as one of the most vile acts a person could commit.

Yoimiya doesn't say anything at first, stunned to silence and needing a minute to process all these details. If what he's saying is true, then they are absolutely, without a doubt, one hundred percent screwed. ]

Oh dear, I... goodness. I'm totally at a loss for words.

[ Of course, there's always the possibility he's pulling a fast one on her, the logical side of her brain argues that she shouldn't fully trust him. But considering he was willing to risk his battered body to acquire that police footage, her heart says otherwise. ]

It's no wonder why you were so concerned about getting those tapes. Sorry, I really should have listened to you from the get-go instead of yelling at you the way I did.

[ However, in the back of her mind, there is one lingering question that she can't seem to shove to the side. ]

Why do you know so much about this company? I understand if you don't wish to tell me everything but this is all so surreal and hard to wrap my mind around.

[Her yelling at him, questioning what he knew was something that had to be done is all water under the bridge to him, so much so that he wouldn't of expected nor thought she needed to apologize whatsoever. The only thing he needs to concentrate on now is making them both disappear, somewhere where those grubby, insane scientists can't get their hands on them. It's a headache he can't really deal with right now, given he can barely sit up, so he won't think too hard on it right in the moment.

He's got a bigger issue to deal with as it is.]

Look...

[Ajax casts his eyes to the other side of the room, sighing. He might as well just be up front with it and tell her. It would come out sooner or later, and he really needs her to trust him as much as she can given their situation.]

You've probably read about some of the recent disappearances in the newspaper, right? Well...all those people were ones that just so happened to display some sort of power that seemed like it wasn't from this world. When that happens...Nizhnii sends someone to get them. That guy...is me.

[He can't look her in the eye, he feels like he already knows what it's going to be. All he can do is brace for it, wait for the door to slam behind her when she storms out, however she chooses to react. But at least, it's best she finds out now rather than later.]

[ From his explanation, she had a gut feeling he's connected to the company in some way but the revelation shocks her to the core. The man that saved her life, the man that's been nothing but kind to her, the man that she feels a strange connection with is actually the culprit behind the recent disappearances. Now it all makes sense, why the police dragged him into the station in the first place and why they treated him like scum of Teyvat. The blood of those poor people is on his hands too, dragging them to a fate that's worse than death itself.

Her face grows pale as she soaks in this information, slowly coming to the realization that she's staring face-to-face with a serial kidnapper. ]

I see.

[ Unable to look at him in the eye, she falls silent to consider her options. The smart thing to do would be to walk out of this room and never engage in contact with him ever again. He's dangerous and there's a good chance this is a manipulation tactic to lure her into a false sense of security before she too is snatched up for the Nizhnii company to play with.

But, she can't shake this indescribable feeling bubbling within. If he is truly leading her into a false sense of security... why is he being so forthcoming with information? She takes a deep breath, clenching her shaking fists as she finds the courage to engage in eye contact. ]

If that's the case, why... are you helping me so much? Wouldn't it make your life easier if you just captured and brought me in as an experiment?

[Ajax stares down at his food, the silence expected, not sure what's going to happen next. There's a stirring in his chest at the idea of her leaving and never seeing her again, and it doesn't feel good. It's more like a despair that he feels like he just needs to accept, because no reasonable person could ever expect for someone to stick around after being told what he's just told Yoimiya. Ajax knows he's done some unspeakable things during his employment to Nizhnii, but a job's a job, or so he thought. The more he learned about it, the more he despised it- but it made a lot of money, and when you learn that kind of information, you can't just leave.

It's almost a relief to hear her ask questions instead of storming out, though he's unable to lift his head just yet to look her in the eye.]

No.

[It's the simple answer, it won't make his life easier at all.]

As it stands, if they've already discovered we both have some kind of strange power...they'll send someone to take me as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the next time I see anyone from there, I'll be informed that my contract with the corporation has been terminated. Test subjects don't get the freedom to do as they please...and out of all the people I've taken in, none of them have shown the same kind of power I displayed last night. They'll surely take a special interest in me...

[There's another answer too, that goes with that. One that he's still struggling with, how he was worried for her, a complete stranger. There's a lot of questions left unanswered, but one thing he knows for certain is that he can't let them get a hold of her. Something deep down in his core refuses to let it happen, and he shakes his head to try to clear those thoughts out.]

As it stands, we're both in danger. I lost any standing once my arm donned that armor. You don't have to believe me if you don't want to, but there was a reason why I wanted to get those tapes. No doubt Nizhnii has cronies working in every part of the city. Honestly, I don't even know a lot of the details of their inner workings myself. I had to find out by doing my own digging.

[ A bottle of mixed emotions stirs around within the confines of her heart. From shock to sorrow, to now, she's slowly reaching a boiling anger about ready to spill over the longer she listens to him. Those poor people didn't get a chance, she's starting to feel like Teyvat's biggest fool for being sympathetic towards him in the first place. Her clenched fist begins to shake once more, tempted to deck him in the face on behalf of all the victims. The door is right there, she should just punch him, storm out, and never look back.

And yet, for some messed up reason, she can't bring herself to leave his side. Any sane individual would have high-tailed it out of here by now but not her. Even after learning all of this, she can't get rid of the aching discomfort of never seeing him again. Why...? ]

You're right, I can't trust you. What if you're just using me to get those tapes? Who is to say that once we get rid of the footage, you aren't going to turn around and make me disappear like you did with all those people? It's hard for me to believe that getting rid of the person who knows your secret wouldn't make your life easier.

[ Yes, she understands he's doing this to save his own skin but it doesn't do much to ease her worries. After all, he's still a stranger to her, a dangerous one at that. ]

It's pretty ironic, you've kidnapped innocent people, taken them away from their families and loved ones, and brought them to those awful scientists to be used as experiments. Now that the tides have turned against you, it's you who is fighting to protect your life and look for a way out.

[ Yoimiya knows she's letting her temper get the better of her again but as she thinks about the victims and their families, she can't help but feel anguish for them. There's probably a deep-seated reason as to why he's doing this but whatever they might be, it doesn't take away from the fact he's assisting some horrible monsters who have ruined lives. ]

I hope you realize this is how those poor people must have felt when you unfairly snatched them away from their lives.

[As Yoimiya's anger begins to show itself more and more as she rightfully berates him, Ajax finally looks up to meet the ire that flashes in her eyes at his actions. Sure, he can see why she'd be so angry, in fact he'd anticipated it, because what he's done is despicable and he's well aware of it. But despite it all, he can't help but scoff at her words, knowing full well she doesn't have all the information or know the whole story here, not in regards to him.]

Yeah, you're probably right. It's a new feeling knowing that I'm the hunted instead of the hunter now. Fate must think it's clever pulling the rug out from under me like this. But there's not much I can do about it now, is there?

[He shrugs at her, his eyes growing intense under her criticisms. He doesn't enjoy having her mad at him, and in a way it's even hurtful to hear her distrust him so openly- but he can't blame her, and he doesn't even know what to say to try to change her mind, if he even could.]

Besides, if I wanted you out of the way, I'd of let you die back there. No amount of money is worth getting crushed to death by some monster from the beyond. So I guess enjoy your freedom for now, maybe we'll even get to be tube mates, someday. Doesn't that sound nice?

[He almost spits the last sentence out, but saying it aloud sparks a whole new fear in him. There's so many reason why he can't get put away forever, to most likely die an early death due to what's in store for him. For them both. The thought of it is starting to give him a headache, in addition to all the other aches and pains in his body, his food now left forgotten for the moment.

Sighing, he lets his shoulders relax, having not noticed how tense they'd gotten in these few agitated moments between them. Ajax isn't sure if he should say anything more, knowing he let his combative nature get the best of him, talking back to her like he wanted to start a fight. Instead he resigns to picking up a tomato with his fingers and popping it into his mouth, chewing on it as he closes his eyes.

What are they going to do...]

how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet

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