In the icy realm of Snezhnaya, where secrets lie buried beneath the snow, Crown Prince Childe faces a royal decree: marry, as commanded by the Tsaritsa. Yet, he craves a union that is more than mere politics.
Enter the assassin who is molded as a weapon, whose path collides with Childe's in a twist of fate. Disguised as a man, she becomes his loyal protector, burdened with the weight of her deception and lies.
Their journey sways on the edge of love, heartache, or despair, as they navigate a dangerous path obscured by shadows of their past. Unbeknownst to them, a dark history looms, intertwined with themes of time, betrayal, and death.
As they dance on the precipice of discovery, the gods themselves may whisper a prayer, hoping their deepest secrets remain buried, lest the revelation shatter their fragile world.
As we always say, as mortals, as gods, as beings,- no matter how hard we try, history will repeat itself.
[Heavy editing is in process]
A/N and warning:
This story contains angst and some depressing moments, and also slow burn so it will take a long time for me to end this. I really hope I improve my writing overtime and reach the feelings to the readers.
I also haven't really decided on an ending yet, but I know Childe and the reader will suffer throughout the story, mentally. Just to be warned!
If you like it, please vote and comment, I appreciate your thoughts!
Image credit: liumiao41424
Edited by me- YVRXIA
Secure. Contain. Protect.
These are the words Zhongli lives by, working his way up the ranks of the SCP Foundation-an organisation dedicated to protecting humanity against anomalous threats. Now a respected researcher, he has spent the past two months as a consultant in Sumeru. His time on his current case at its end, the details of his next assignment arrive: he will relocate to Snezhnaya to assist with the initial analysis of a freshly contained SCP-a creature infused with forbidden energy and an insatiable drive to fight any who dare enter its containment cell.
For a man who has built his career on the principle of protecting humanity, his new assignment will test his resolve as he discovers that there is humanity even in the most monstrous of appearances, and a little monster hidden in the places least expected.
Cover art is a commission for this fic by AyuPixel on Twitter. Please do not repost / reuse.
Warnings / Ao3 Tags:
Alternate Universe - SCP Foundation
Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Alternate Universe - No Visions
Supernatural Elements
Suspense
Plot Twists
Unethical Experimentation
Ethical Dilemmas
Zhongli is trying his best
The inherent hopelessness of trying to fight the system
Worldbuilding
Built on lore up to and including Version 3.2
Tartaglia's Foul Legacy Transformation
Captivity
SCP Foul Legacy
SCP Researcher Zhongli
Power Imbalance (Although they don't get together until that's resolved)
Age Difference (Ajax is 22 Zhongli is 31)
Widower Zhongli
Past Guizhong/Zhongli
Guilt Angst
Slow Burn
Angst with a Happy Ending
Tartaglia is Called Ajax
Torture (Of SCP-231)
Minor mentions of loss / grief / moving on in relation to Guizhong
Violence