Chapter Text
Ajax remembered his walk home from the Abyss very well.
The last three months had been a blur. Or was it three days? Three weeks? He couldn’t remember sleeping down there, and he’d eaten far too little for it to have been that long. And yet, by the time he’d climbed up out of the cave and stepped into the Snezhnayan forest, he really, really missed home.
It was very dark outside. That was alright, he knew darkness. There was a screaming blizzard; the wind and snow bit at his exposed face and skin. The 14-year-old guessed that he wasn’t far from home, though that might’ve just been blind hope.
Now all he had to do was find his way.
Ajax took firm, slow steps, bracing himself against the storm shoving him back. The wind often picked up, and he’d have to pause and lean against a tree so he wouldn’t be blown off course. His coat was far too thin, and he was feeling cold; when he left home, he’d only dressed for the weather that day. His toes were especially cold, soaked with melted snow that had seeped through his worn-out boots.
It wasn’t long before Ajax was shivering. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and his breathing was deep, even though he hadn’t exerted himself that much. He could’ve sworn he recognized these trees – at least, what little of them he could see through the snow.
…Where was he going again?
Ah right, he was going home.
As he kept walking, his nose, cheeks, and toes tingled, then went numb. His vision filled with white - a muddy, hazy white, but brighter than before. His body gradually stopped shivering and he felt tired. His breathing became shallow. How long had he been walking?
When did he start walking?
Why was he walking?
Suddenly, he felt like he was burning under his clothes. He began to sweat. Ajax opened his coat, expecting the cold air to cool him, but he felt no colder; even when he took it off, his whole body still felt like it was on fire. He sat down in the snow and pulled down his pants, unclipping the Vision from his belt before throwing off his boots and pants. Still he felt far too hot all over, and he took off his underpants, shirt and socks for that sweet, sweet cold; now naked, he picked up his Vision and resumed walking, staggering like a drunkard as he hobbled forwards.
His whole body felt hot, and tingly, and tired.
His grip on the Vision weakened, and he let go; it didn’t fall, the metal of the Vision having frozen to his palm.
His eyesight narrowed, his eyes freezing stuck in his skull.
Then, he saw a warm light in front of him. A home? A house?
He couldn’t remember if he had a home, but his legs slowly pulled him towards the light. The snow stung his soles. In a few minutes, he was up against some solid, wooden surface, feeling its planks against his skin. It was an unusual wall; it had a hinge, and a handle…
Oh, right, it wasn’t a wall…
Bending his arm up, he prepared to knock on the door; his elbow was stiff, and his fingers were completely inflexible, frozen in their current position. He hit the door three times – no response.
He hit it again, three times – no response.
He hit it again, three times – no response.
He hit it again, once – no response.
He hit it again, once – no response.
He heard a click, and the door pushed him back; stepping back, he saw a young boy with red hair and blue eyes, who screamed and disappeared. Why did he look familiar?
For the next few seconds, the door was back there. Everything was dark. He was alone. He wondered whether there even was a boy in front of him.
Then, the door opened, and a woman with a kind smile appeared. She wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him inside. He didn’t know who it was, but he tried to wrap his arms around her.
“I’ve missed you so much, my son,” she said. “Welcome home.”
“...is this my mom?” he wondered.