Death of Me [Tartaglia]

chapter 38

I wake to sunlight streaming through the window and the warmth of Ajax's arms wrapped around me. I roll out of his arms, sitting up to stretch as I push hair out of my face. 

"Mm, that was hot," Ajax mutters, his voice husky from sleep. "Glad you're awake, I've got some things we need to talk about." 

"Good morning to you too," I sigh, sliding off the bed and staring out the window into the plains of Liyue bellow. "What's up?" 

"Tonight, I need you to leave Liyue, I'm getting the gnosis and I don't know what will happen. I need you to be safe and away from here." 

I turn to him my heart sinking a little as I adjust the ring he gave me, "When will I see you again, then? Where should I go?" 

He smiles, crawling out of bed to meet me by the window. Standing next to me, his hands snake around my waist as he pulls me close. He kisses the top of my head while rubbing small circles in my back. I shift my weight against him, letting his chest support me. 

"I don't know," he finally answers. "I just wouldn't want you getting hurt because of me again." 

"Mondstadt?" I ask. 

"Too close to Snezhnaya," he mumbles. "The balladeer is going to Inazuma next, so that's out, and then Dottore is going to be in Sumeru... Fontaine? The Knave will be there, and I trust her with you more than any other Harbinger." 

"Where will you be? Are you going to be ok here?" 

"You're cute when you worry about me," Ajax says with a chuckle. "I'll come by to visit you. Fontaine is great, it's the most advanced of the seven nations. Plus it's the region of hydro, so you can think of me." 

I laugh, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in hist chest. I came all this way to see him, now he's leaving me again. It's worth it, for things like this. A smile grows across my face, pure affection coursing through me.  

"I'll think about you, hydro or not, Ajax," I lean forward on my toes to kiss him. 

The kiss turns passionate quickly, him twirling me around so my back is against the window as our faces collide. I groan into his lips as his hands explore my body. I reciprocate, running my hands against his chest, soaking in as much of him as I can before we separate again. 

He pulls away, wiping spit off his lip as he does, "Let's stop there, big day." 

"Probably smart," I sigh, pulling my hair back. 

We change, eat, and prepare until we both stand in the door way, ready to embark on our days. We stand there without speaking for a while, neither wanting to leave each other again. 

"Are you nervous?" Ajax asks, cutting through the silence. 

"For what? To help some random Liyuens and kill a couple hilichurls, no. Are you?" 

"To steal a gnosis and deal with the after math, no." 

I smile, intertwining our fingers. 

"Promise you'll stay safe until I see you again," he says. 

"Same to you. We'll stay in touch. My birds, my hydro birds, they'll find you." 

He squeezes my hand, "I'll keep my eyes peeled." 

"Ajax?" 

"Hm?"

"Do you think we'll die before we see each other again?"

"I won't let that happen, Darling." 

"Then me neither." 

"Stay safe out there ok." 

"Same to you." 

"I really love you, Yn." 

"I really love you, Ajax."