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

[monoceroscaeli]

[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...]

Comments

[niwabi]

[ As soon as they pull into the parking lot, Yoimiya immediately admires the little shop cozied in the strip mall. Sure, it doesn't have all the whistles and bells like some of Fontaine's top restaurants but in her experience, looks aren't everything, some of the best meals to ever grace her tongue have been street food, so she already has hopes they found a diamond hidden in the rough.

Once they step in and she can already smell the seafood punctuating the air. Though it might not be the most pleasant smell for some, it's warm and inviting for Yoimiya, almost reminding her of the fish markets back home in Inazuma. Her mouth is already watering, salivating at the thought of those searing spices hitting her tongue with heat. This is her first time trying spices from Liyue and she can already tell her tastebuds will be in for a world of flavors. She doesn't pay mind to the unkempt floors, and the lack of tables. The food smells divine and that's truly all that matters to her.

Poor Ajax. Maybe it's just her but he seems kind of lost. She can't help but giggle as the staff just stare at him. She wonders if his Snezhnayan self is having trouble pronouncing the names, she totally gets it. The employee falls silent for a few moments, briefly exchanging glances with the chef in the kitchen before turning his attention to back to Ajax. ]

Then if you can handle spice, I can put you down for an order of Sichuan boiled fish, it's our chef's signature dish. It's heavy on the chili but we can tone it down to your liking.

[ Luckily, Yoimiya who knows what she wants and that also extends to food. One look at the menu and she's already spitting out her order. And since she's paying for it, she's not holding back. ]

I'd like to order the Szechuan shrimp and spicy noodle soup. Oh! And give us a side of your chili crab potstickers as well.

[ Oh gods this girl talks way too fast. Thankfully, the employee jots her huge order down. ]

Anything else?

[ Yoimiya shakes her head. ]

Just water for me, please. I have a feeling we're gonna need a lot of it, haha.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He quickly gives the okay to the Sichuan boiled fish, no need to tone down the spice. He'll eat pretty much anything you put in front of him, and if it normally comes hot, then he wants to try it like that. Yoimiya seems to be much more fluent when it comes to the Liyuean food, which he'll note so maybe she can help him with the pronunciation of some things (he couldn't even begin to fathom how to pronounce Szechuan,) and also shakes his head when asked if they want more. If the reputation of Liyue food is to be believed, he might not be able to even finish his meal and will have to take it home to eat later.]

Water as well for me.

[Digging his wallet out, Ajax offers payment over as they get the total and are both told just to take a seat at any table they please. Without much to choose from anyway, he just picks a table and sits, and the water makes its way out quickly for the two of them to sip on while their food is made. The aroma of the seafood is making his mouth water a little, not realizing how hungry he actually was, but he'll thank his empty stomach so he can at least try to eat as much as he can.]

I'm glad you knew what you were doing, [he says a little quietly,] I thought he was going to stare a hole right through me.

[He doesn't know why, but Ajax just has this feeling nagging at the back of his mind about the employee at the counter.]

[niwabi]

[ Oh! He beat her to paying... she was supposed to treat him since he won the bet. For a short moment, Yoimiya stares at him with a hint of indignance, arms akimbo before busting into a small fit of giggles. Ah well, he won't get away with this! She'll be certain to get him on dessert. ( • ̀ω•́ )✨

With her tummy growling for food, she follows him to the table, taking a seat from across from him while taking in the scents permeating the air. The place might be a bit run down but the food smells divine, she can see herself coming back for lunch. ]

Hehe, don't worry about it! I know you'd do the same for me when it comes to Snezhnayan and Mondstadt names. [ WINKS. She gets you!!! ] Besides, I couldn't leave you high and dry...

[ She also lowers her voice, just to be on the safe side. Yoimiya couldn't put her finger on it, but something about the way the guy was looking at Ajax just felt... off. ]

when he was looking at you funny. I also noticed he kept staring at you... maybe he thinks you're good-looking? I certainly don't blame him.

[ Giggling, she hopes the joke lightens the mood a little. All her years of training in the police force have taught her not to let her guard down but, Yoimiya hopes she's just being overly paranoid given the circumstances. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[As much as it bothers him, Ajax writes it off that it wasn't as big of a deal as he's making it right now. There's no reason for some random dude working the counter in a Liyue joint to have any other reason to stare other than just being a weird dude, so he tells himself to calm down and forget about it. It's not a big deal, he was just strange, that's all.]

Haha, c'mon, I don't need another suitor when I've already got a handful right in front of me~ ♡︎⋆˙✧

[He winks at her, just poking fun, following the lighthearted banter to forget about the weirdo at the counter and focus on Yoimiya. Which is what he wanted to do anyway...they're supposed to be going on more dates anyway and he wants to spend time with her outside of having to deal with monsters and people wanting to hurt them and everything else! She's his handful, after all!]

So, I'll need you to chase him off for me, if you don't mind. Don't let someone else shoulder in on your territory, as they say.

[niwabi]

[ A handful, huh? Who would have thought that a simple country girl could cause this much trouble for a shady guy working at the infamous Nizhnii? She giggles in response and puffs out her chest in pride, looking proud at being his handful. The expression on her face says it all; there's more where that came from and she'll continue to wreak a little chaos in his life.

More importantly, she hones in on his follow-up. "Don't let someone else shoulder in on your territory, as they say." Her terriory... color her surprised to hear those words. Aside from dates and getting to know each other, they haven't made any official declarations about their relationship. Even though she's still trying to gather her thoughts and feelings, her heart tells her otherwise, there's no denying she's bursting with pure, unadulterated joy at his proclamation. ]

Hehehe! Oh, you silly man.

[ The lighthearted banter is welcome, it's just what she needs to brush off the stares they keep receiving from the guy working in the kitchen. ]

You make a good point. I can't let anyone encroach on my territory. And so, I must make it known that I've already made my mark on you.

[ And she does so by leaning over the table to give him a small kiss on the lips. Mwah! ♡︎ PDA be damned, no one is sinking their claws in Ajax on her watch. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[A happy Yoimiya makes for a happy Ajax, he finds, as her reaction warms his heart. His eyes close briefly as that cute little kiss gets administered to his lips, admiring her from across the table. It's a far cry from yesterday when she came home with that terrible letter, and even though they need to be vigilant, getting her mind off of it is good too.

And, there's a part of him that really enjoys the idea of Yoimiya leaving her own mark on him. Things are complicated, but he's pretty certain that they're far more than just friends at this point.]

Hahaha. Let that be a warning to anyone trying to edge themselves in, [he jokes again,] just as no one gets to court you while I'm doing so.

[There's a mischievous grin playing around the corners of his mouth, but all that chaos will have to wait for another time and place.]

Speaking of which, I'd like to take you out again later this week. There's a show playing on Thursday that I think you'd like.

[Naturally he doesn't tell her what it is...it's a secret.]

[niwabi]

[ There's still a lot of uncertainties to consider with the mark and all the constant atrocities thrown their way. But if there's one thing she's certain about; it's that she feels safe and comfortable around Ajax. Sure, she's had boyfriends in the past but of them have made her heart flutter the way he does. There's something about being told he's the only one allowed to court her that makes her feel like the most special girl on the planet. ]

Oh, Ajax...

[ To anyone within earshot, they probably sound like the most lovey lovey couple in all of Fontaine. ]

You've been going above and beyond for me. I'm excited to see what show you have planned. Since it's you I have no doubt it will be... thrilling.

[ She says with a mischievous grin while shamelessy, running her foot across his leg from underneath the table.

Because of course, he's been the most thrilling guy she's come across. Winks. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The feel of her foot rubbing against his leg makes his eyes half-lid as he gazes at her, feeling a fond buzz in his chest. It's a nice, warm feeling that makes his head feel a little lighter and channels his focus on her so much so that he doesn't notice the employee coming over to place their water glasses on the table until it's being slid across to him. That snaps him out of it for a moment, uttering a small thanks to them before returning his attention to her.]

I feel like I'm being held to some sort of higher standard. Now I'm nervous my surprise won't meet expectations.

[Chuckling quietly, he sips his water, not expecting food to come out to them soon. However, the waiter/employee returns immediately, serving the two of them the food they've ordered. It was made so quick, and it takes him by surprise.

He doesn't say anything to the waiter, accepting the food with a small nod, given how much the guy doesn't seem to want to talk to him anyway. He doesn't care- he's not here to talk to him or make friends, he's here for Yoimiya and a good meal.]

[niwabi]

[ The waiter's reaction... or lack thereof, doesn't go unoticed. Not a nod, not a "Hi! How are you?", not even much of an acknowledgment. It's a little offputting but Yoimiya brushes the quick interaction off. If Ajax isn't bothered then she doesn't need to let his curt behavior get to her. They brought the food in record speed so all's well that ends well. At the end of the day, they're here for food, not to talk to some waiter.

Besides... she'd much rather talk to the absolute snack sitting across from her. He's way more appealing than the waiter. ]

I didn't know nervous was in your vocabulary. Who would have thought that the big bad Ajax could second-guess himself...

[ Nervous? Pfft, she doesn't believe the man who oozes confidence for a second. A sly smile spreads across her lips as she gives him one last rub, suggestively running her foot across his calf before stopping at his knee. She dishes out one last wink as she pulls away to munch on a nearby potsicker. Oh! It's spicy, that chili oil doesn't miss. ]

Don't worry, I'm confident in your tastes. You haven't let me down once.

[monoceroscaeli]

I'm honored you have such confidence in me. I'll have to ensure I don't disappoint.

[As much as he'd like to concentrate on Yoimiya and her lovely way of flirting with him from beneath the table, the food is here. His sichuan boiled fish looks spicy, and he can't wait to try it. After blowing on it a few times to at least reduce the amount of pain he'll surely be in, he takes a bite of it, while also making sure to try the broth by itself with a soup spoon.]

Oh! Now that is different. Not bad either, [he comments, taking another bite of it.] I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's some other sort of unique taste to it, too. I guess I just didn't expect fish to taste like that.

[It won't stop him, though. He eats his food happily while sipping water in between. The warmth of the food in his stomach feels nice, and he feels more relaxed now that he's eating, all of a sudden.]

Want to try a taste? [He offers a bite of his fish to her.] In turn you wouldn't mind if I try yours, would you? It looks scrumptious.

[niwabi]

[ While Yoimiya watches Ajax dig in, she goes for the shriml after finishing a pot sticker. Immediately, her tongue is hit with a spice that packs a mean punch, she wastes no time chasing it down with water to cool her searing tongue. It's so hot... but so good!!! And now, she's especially curious about the sichuan fish. ]

Aren't you sweet? Please grab as much as you want, there's no way I can eat all of this and I kind of went crazy so both of us can try everything. Well... don't mind if I do!

[ Likewise, she takes a bite of the fish with the broth and whew! That is certainly some heat!!! Her eyes widen from the intense spice and she's immediately chugging down the nearby cup of water. ]

Goodness, it's all so spicy that it's kind of addicting. It's got a very comforting flavor to it...

[ She pushes her plate of shrimp, noodle soup, and pot stickers in his direction. ]

Here! Feel free to help yourself. I haven't had the noodle soup yet but the shrimp and pot stickers are to die for. I feel like I'm gonna need a nap after all this food...

[ In fact, she's starting to feel the yawns coming for her. She stretches and yawns, her body becoming a bit too relaxed with each passing second. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax doesn't mind helping himself to a little bit of her shrimp first. He takes one and pops it in his mouth, chewing on it thoughtfully as he savors the taste. It's so good, and he quickly has a potsticker too before he's got to drink some more water to fight the spice. He only takes a small spoonful of the noodle soup, nodding to her to affirm that it's good, before he digs back into his boiled fish.]

It's quite a bit of food, so after we're finished there's no doubt a nap will be in order. The warmth of it in my stomach is already making me a little sleepy...

[Which means he's got to eat it before he gets too tired or it gets cold, whichever comes first. Spoonful after spoonful of the sichuan fish goes right in, drinking water when needed. He's gotten halfway through his bowl when he has to put his utensils down, letting out a big yawn of his own.

It's so good, so relaxing...he could fall asleep right here.]

Goodness, I feel as if I got so tired all of a sudden. It's difficult to keep my eyes open...

[A fact that surprises him as his eyelids droop. His mind begins to clear, thoughts emptying from his head as sleep looms over him. Ajax yawns one more time, stretching and slouching in his chair, more relaxed than he probably should be at a simple Liyuean restaurant.]

How about you...Yoimiya...

[niwabi]

[ The food tastes so good, like a slice of warm comfort during a cold winter. They might have ordered a little too much but that's okay! She is already making plans to take it home with them. So for now, she opts to finish the noodle soup, leaving the shrimp and potstickers for later. Taking another hearty spoonful, Yoimiya focuses on eating the rest of the soup before the noodles get soggy, taking bite after bite and drowning out the spice with cold water. ]

Mm... me too. The food is so comforting I could fall asleep right here.

[ The soup is halfway consumed when Yoimiya feels a wave of sleepiness hitting her. Each bite makes her feel groggier than the last and she can't stop her eyes from closing. Ajax's sleepy voice isn't helping matters, he sounds like he's about ready to pass out any second. ]

...A..jax...

[ His name is the last word uttered before she succumbs to the sudden exhaustion. She leans over and passes out on the table. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[It's too late when Ajax realizes this isn't right. They're both so tired, and his vision begins to blur heavily as his eyes slowly become heavier and heavier. His body seems to sway involuntarily, and he watches helplessly as Yoimiya leans over on the table and proceeds to pass out. Alarm bells go off in his head, and his eyes lazily look over to two silhouettes approaching their table as he starts to fall asleep.

The food was drugged, he finally realizes. Not good...

Too sleepy to fight, Ajax's eyes finally close completely as he dozes off, into a sleep so heavy that he doesn't feel himself getting picked up and tossed over the shoulder of one of the men sent to retrieve the two of them. Yoimiya is also picked up, and they're both taken away in the blink of an eye by their mysterious kidnappers.]

---

[Cold is the first thing he feels when he starts to come to. The bed beneath him is hardly comfortable, and he feels like his back is all askew from however he was dumped down upon it. Ajax finds he's lying on top of the thin blanket provided with the bed, as his captors hadn't bothered to cover him with it. There's a bandage on his arm, covering the spot that looks like a needle hole when lifted. It's only a small amount of blood- whoever stuck him did an okay job- but it's a little sore regardless.

He groans, sitting up and holding his head, fighting off the grogginess that comes with waking up gradually from a deep sleep. With no idea where he is, he takes a look around. This room is a cell of sorts, and there's no way out of it that he can see. Nothing else is provided in the room but the bed, which makes him think that it was never something made for holding someone for very long.

Suddenly, he remembers the threatening letter Yoimiya got. It's possible that's who's responsible for this...but how on earth could they have gotten to their lunch so quickly? Were they followed?

It's too much to think about having just woke up. He sits on the bed, fuming that they'd gotten caught, but knows he needs to focus in order to escape. Where's Yoimiya...he needs to figure that one out too.]

[niwabi]

[ Her head feels like it's throbbing, synchronized with her heart that feels like it's pounding into overdrive. That's the first thing she's aware of as she slowly stirs. Yoimiya has no idea how long she's been out, she was out like a light, her body completely unresponsive the whole time. The last thing she remembers is Ajax dozing off before she also fell asleep at the restaurant.

Ah.

That's when it hits her. They were most definitely drugged. Now the behavior of the restaurant workers finally makes sense, they were probably plotting something nefarious from the moment they stepped foot into the establishment. Ugh, Yoimiya can't help but curse her carelessness as she rises from the cold, hard bed she was placed on. They barely even covered her with the blanket, the jerks...

There's only one logical conclusion to make from this, and it's that the people who kidnapped them have to be connected to the culprits who sent that threatening letter. How long did they know? What did they drug them with and how? Questions begin to pile up but there's only so much brain power she has in her until she's hit by another sharp pain. Looking down, she notices a bandage tightly wrapped around her upper arm. If she had to surmise, it feels like she got poked with a needle but gods, she doesn't even want to think about what they did to her while she was out. So instead, Yoimiya surveys her surroundings, noticing that she's held up in a cell.

Great... all she wanted was to enjoy a nice lunch with Ajax but seems like the universe has other plans for them. It's then, Yoimiya realizes that Ajax is nowhere in sight. ]

Ajax...?

[ Once her eyes are adjusted, she slowly lurches her way towards the bars. She squints her eyes, peering through the gaps to see if there's any sign of Ajax anywhere. ]

Ajax...!!!

[ Try as she might, there's no response. Looks like she's completely and totally alone. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Great.

After checking the room thoroughly, he can definitely say there's really no way out of here. Ajax isn't about to give up, but for now there seems like there's nothing he can really do. Walking over to his bed, he sits down and slumps against the wall, sighing and running a hand through his hair. His head's a mess, wondering how on earth they could of possibly targeted them at the restaurant so quickly. No one knew- they'd just decided on an impulse to go the night before. Was the apartment bugged?

Yoimiya...she drifts back into his thoughts while trying to make sense of the situation. Where is she? Is she okay? Did they do anything terrible to her? Anger boils deep down in him thinking about it, knowing that that letter was addressed to her. They were after him, but he wouldn't put it past them to hurt Yoimiya too. Maybe doing the worst thing imaginable, hurting her just to get to him eventually.]

Yoimiya...

[He says her name softly to himself, cursing everything. He couldn't keep her safe, and now who knows what's happening to her. Shifting to make himself more comfortable, he feels the soreness in his arm, wondering what that was all about too. They either took a blood sample from him or they injected him with something...and there's no way to tell which right now.

He can't stop his thoughts from going a hundred miles a minute, going from trying to parse the restaurant to his arm and back to Yoimiya, worried sick about her. And all he can do is sit here until someone comes to get him.

Please let her be okay. I don't know what I'll do if she's hurt, or worse. Please...]

[niwabi]

[ Nothing. No matter how many times she calls out his name, there isn't a response. Not even a whisper. He must be held up far away from her and that isn't good. If it wasn't obvious enough, it's clear now the kidnappers are the same perpetrators behind the letter, they had to have stalked them and separated them on purpose. Thinking about the whole situation makes her blood boil, she feels like they invaded their privacy. How long have they been under their watchful eye? How much do they know about their powers? Along with these disturbing questions, their agenda becomes even more evident... they truly are after Ajax and they're using her as a means of getting to him where it hurts.

Sighing, Yoimiya gives up on calling for Ajax. She hangs her head and trudges her way back to the cold, hard bed, sitting down while burying her face into her hands. Ajax... thoughts of him come to the forefront of her mind. Where are they holding him? Is he safe? Are the kidnappers torturing him? She can feel the start of hot tears threatening to spill down her cheeks until a familiar voice enters her mind.

"Please let her be okay. I don't know what I'll do if she's hurt, or worse. Please..."

There's no doubt in her mind, that's definitely Ajax's voice. He sounds like he's nearby but at the same time... it sounds different, almost as if his voice has entered her mind. She doesn't have the faintest idea of what the heck is going on but at this point, she's desperate to try anything. So, without further delay, she closes her eyes, concentrating on sending a message to him through her mind.

Ajax...! It's me, Yoimiya! Can you hear me?

...

A few minutes pass and still nothing. Maybe she was hearing things...? No, that was definitely Ajax's voice, she's sure of it. But how can she reach him? It's then, she's struck with an idea that makes her feel silly for not trying earlier. With a snap of her fingers, her fire familiar goldfish manifests into the air. ]

Go find Ajax. Try to help him escape if you can.

[ The goldfish does a little flip in the air and gives her best salute with her small fin. The little thing is so small that slips out of the bars with minimal ease and begins the search for her king! She swims through the air, peering at each and every cell but no ginger in sight. Of course, she does her best to dodge anyone patrolling the halls, the moment a guard is even in her vicinity, she makes a beeline to the cell to hide under the bed. This goes on for a little while until finally, a familiar ball of light slowly creeps over to Ajax's cell. ]