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As the pair started the trek back to the village, Odie took the opportunity to observe the strange fisherman. He couldn’t have been much older than his mother, but as he hobbled along the forest path, he seemed to be aged way beyond his years. With each step, his lame leg moved stiffly and his shoulders were tense as if he carried the weight of the whole world. The shadows beneath his eyes–which appeared even darker in the shade of the forest canopy–eclipsed the lazy smile he donned.
The longer Odie stared at him, the more the stranger reminded him of his mother on nights when it was just the two of them back home in Inazuma. When she thought he was too immersed in whatever had caught his attention to notice her quietly staring out the window, absentmindedly twirling the pendant she always wore–
Odie let out an undignified yelp as his foot caught against a thick root. Before he could trip and scatter all the fish in the wicker basket, a firm grip yanked him back into balance.
“You know, if you paid more attention to where you were going instead of staring at me, you wouldn’t have almost ate shit,” the fisherman said.
“Yeah, yeah,” Odie replied, the tips of his ears red. Whether it was embarrassment from being caught staring or from almost taking an ungraceful tumble in front of a complete stranger was up in the air.
“So what’d you do to make a bunch of gangsters mess you up so bad?” Ah, a perfect deflection, one his mother would disapprove of if she ever found out he had asked something so personal to someone he had just met. Well, she’d probably be more mortified that he’d pried in someone’s personal affairs a second time.
But if Odie’s tactless question bothered him, the man didn’t show it. “You’re a nosy kid, you know that?” the man huffed, amusement clearly lacing his tone. “I just bit off more than I could chew,” he finished simply.
“I’m just trying to see if you deserved it,” Odie said without a beat, “if my mom’s going to help you, it’s better to be honest about the circumstances that got you there.”
Another snort of laughter. “Well then, what if I did deserve it?”
A frown. “Well, I guess it doesn’t change the fact that your leg’s been busted for so long. You should really get it fixed.”
“Did your mom really teach you to be this altruistic? Word of advice, kid, you should be a lot more wary of the people you meet, otherwise they’re just going to take advantage of you.”
The comment was said in the same easygoing manner the man maintained since they’d met, but it still felt like a jab.
“If you’re too proud to admit that you need help, then you can just give us the fish as payment,” Odie said in annoyance, “My mom wanted fresh fish for dinner anyway.”
The man stared at him blankly, and Odie thought for a moment that he’d finally offended him. But then he burst into guffaws that left him so breathless that they had to stop walking while the man leaned over his crutch.
“What’s so funny??” Odie asked, with a tinge of outrage.
“Nothing, nothing,” the man chortled. When he finally caught his breath, the man reached his hand out to rub the top of his head affectionately. Odie froze at this–having not expected such a breach in personal space and confused beyond belief. There must’ve been a joke he was missing.
“You’re just a real big mama’s boy ain’tcha.”
“Am not!” He scowled, swatting the man’s hand away. Despite himself, he could feel the tips of his ears burning again.
The man raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Hey, I don’t mean it in a bad way. Your mom’s lucky to have a kid who loves her this much.” The man started to limp along again, and Odie reluctantly followed. “Family’s important, so you should cherish them for as long as you can. You never know when they’ll be gone.”
Though the man’s smile was warm, there was a hint of wistfulness to it. Odie chose not to comment on it–after all, he knew better than to pry when his mother had that same look on her face.
The walk back to the harbor was uneventful, yet enlightening. Over the duration of their walk, the man had suggested lots of interesting areas to explore and things to try in the village. He wasn’t sure how long they would be staying in Snezhnaya, but Odie was excited to cross things off his list before they left.
When they arrived at the harbor, Odie paused with a frown. Even though he knew his mother would still be hanging around the bay (there was no way in hell she would’ve left the area without him), there was still an issue of finding her. It was barely early afternoon, yet the wharf had become significantly busier and crowded. Fishing boats have docked, with several fishermen out hawking their early morning hauls to passerbyers, and merchants were moving their wares to and fro.
“Don’t tell me you’re lost, kid,” the man said. Even without looking at him, Odie could tell he had an amused smile.
“I’m not lost,” Odie bit back, standing on the tips of his toes and stretching his neck as far out as he could in an attempt to look over the throngs of people, “I know they’re around here somewhere.”
He sucked in a breath when he caught sight of familiar brown mousy hair bobbing around the crowd–it was definitely one of the assistants that often accompanied them on their overseas trips. There was enough of a break in the crowd that he could see the black clad figure making purposeful strides towards an area away from the docks. He must be heading back to his mother.
“C’mon, this way!” he nudged the man to follow him. Odie was conscientious enough to make sure he didn’t move too fast so that the man could keep up. Although, every time he turned around to make sure he hadn’t lost him, the man was surprisingly always only a step behind. After some difficulty, they finally managed to break away from the crowd and arrived at a less populated area of the market.
In the distance, he could see the back of the assistant, his arms moving in a way that suggested he was trying to placate someone. On his other side was a female assistant who held her phone up to her ear with a worried expression. With a start, he realized his phone had been vibrating this entire time–he hadn’t noticed at all from all the thick layers he’d been wearing.
“Oh man, I’ve done it now,” Odie muttered, looking at all the missed calls. He turned back to the man, who only seemed to grow more amused as he looked upon the scene.
“Looks like you might be in a bit of trouble, little man,” he grinned, “You sure your mom’s gonna be happy you've brought a–” The man suddenly choked on his words.
Odie merely raised a brow when the man didn’t continue, and he glanced back towards the group. He sighed when he saw his mother’s unhappy face. She had yet to notice him standing there. Even from this distance, he could just feel the waves of anxiety rolling off her. Odie turned back to the man, not noticing how rigid he had become, and placed the wicker basket and chair on the ground beside him.
“Just wait here. I’m gonna smooth things over with my mom first, and then I’ll introduce you.”
The man didn’t respond, but Odie was too absorbed in his own problems to give it too much thought.
When his mother finally noticed him approaching, she immediately embraced him.
“Odysseus! There you are! You made me worried sick!” she cried out. Though her voice was raised, he knew she was more glad than angry from the way she fussed over him. “You promised not to wander too far,” she accused.
“Sorry, mom.” Odie shrugged sheepishly–there really wasn’t anything he could say in his defense. In the back, he could see the assistants shoot him with unimpressed looks.
“Where did you even go?” His mother asked once she finally finished inspecting him. “Why didn’t you pick up your phone?”
“I went into the forest,” he started. When he saw his mother’s brow begin to twitch, he quickly pulled out his phone. “I followed one of the trails and found this lake–Moroz Lake. The water was frozen over, but there’s fish underneath.”
His mother hummed, taking his phone for a closer look at the pictures. Although he could tell she was still peeved, the twinkle in her eyes as she marveled at the pictures reassured him that the storm had likely passed. For now.
“There was this guy fishing there, apparently ice fishing is a thing,” Odie continued. “He walked me out of the forest”--Odie made sure not to mention anything about dire wolves–”but he’s got a bad limp. Says his leg was injured years ago and just never got back to normal.”
“Miss,” the female assistant interrupted, apologetically, “we’ve left the delegation waiting long enough. Now that we’ve found your son, we should get going.”
His mother, after a quick glance at her watch, nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Odie, you can tell me all about it while we walk.”
“Ah, mom, wait.” His mother frowned, but waited patiently for him to continue. “I told the guy you knew a lot of doctors that might be able to help him. He’s waiting over here—” Odie had tugged his mother along in the direction he’d left the man, but when he turned around, the man was no longer there. Only the wicker basket and chair marked where he should’ve been.
In the shadow of the stall he’d hidden away in, Childe–Ajax–watched as the boy looked around this way and that. The boy turned back to you when you called his name, both of you wearing the same look of confusion.
He was such a fool.
With mother and son together, Ajax couldn’t believe how he hadn’t noticed sooner, hadn’t noticed the similarities. The boy–Odysseus–Odie–his son–
“My father’s a scumbag who left her alone.”
Of course.
He wasn’t this boy’s father. He hadn’t been there. For you or him. He’s the scumbag who left, after all. He had no right to call himself a father.
And yet, as he watched the two of you pick up the basket, befuddlement coloring both your features, and begin to walk away at the behest of the two assistants, he wanted so badly to follow. To walk besides the two of you, his arm wrapped around your waist to keep you close and warm. To place his hand atop his son’s head and knock his hat askew, ruffling the ginger locks. To lavish you both with gifts and souvenirs even if you complain that it’s too much.
He had promised you, years ago, that he would take you to Snezhnaya. And he’d lied. But you were here now, so couldn’t he uphold the rest of his promises? His siblings, though not so little anymore, were still around the area. His parents, though withering with age, still had vitality left in them. The lake, though frozen over for a majority of the year, had an abundance of fish.
He wanted so badly to do all the things you’d wished for, to show Odie himself all the things he’d suggested, that he rushed forward towards your receding figures.
And then he stumbled.
And then he remembered.
Ah, that’s right.
Ajax, Childe, Tartaglia. No matter what name he went by, it was all the same.
Numbly, he limped within the shadows of the stalls–the merchants and locals all knew well enough to leave him be. When your entourage emerged from the marketplace, he remained hidden in the alleyways.
With ravenous eyes, he drank in the sight of you. Fifteen years have passed, but you were as beautiful as he remembered. Yet, you were different too. No longer did you walk like a scared lamb, afraid of where life would lead you. Side by side your son, your gait was strong and sure; you’d become the shepherd.
Back in Inazuma, he remembered gazing at you and feeling the overwhelming need to protect. To cradle you within his arms. With all the troubles that worried your mind and weighed your heart, you seemed as if you’d break at any moment. But now, as he watched you, flanked on both sides by attentive assistants who heeded your every word, arm in arm with a son who looked upon you with respect and adoration, he realized that the princess he’d left behind had become a queen.
It eased his heart, to know that his betrayal hadn’t broken you. And yet, an overwhelming sadness enveloped him.
“I took up an international relations course when I was in college ‘cause I always wanted to see the world.”
“I’m sure it’ll be just as fun if we see the world together.”
In the years that you’ve been apart, you made your dreams a reality. You found happiness without him. Even though it was everything he had wished for you, he still felt regret. For all the years that have gone by, for all the milestones he had missed, for all the love he couldn’t give.
He stood still and swallowed his bitterness. He had no right to follow you, to pine for a future together that he’d ruined himself. But he couldn’t help but look at you. And wish with all his heart, that you would look back.
He watched as your group stopped in front of a hotel–one of the nicest ones in the area. After taking a moment to dust off your clothes and fix your hair, you flashed a brilliant smile towards your attendants and ushered them inside with a slight tilt of your head. They obliged your request easily and left you outside with Odie.
From this distance, he couldn’t hear what you were saying. But from the tenderness in which you adjusted your son’s hat and clothes, he knew and envied the love you displayed. Odie nodded at your words; it was endearing how solemnly he did so. You smiled once more and opened the door. The boy hefted up the wicker basket he still held in his hands and left his view. As you began to follow your son inside, you suddenly stopped at the threshold, and glanced behind your shoulder.
His breath hitched in his throat.
“Please, look at me,” he whispered, despite himself.
No matter how much he begged though, the universe was cruel and just. Your eyes glanced over him, taking in everything but the man who broke your heart.
“I love you.”
The door closed shut.