Chapter Text
“You’re sure you don’t want me to act as interpreter for you? I downloaded a Fallen translator just for this."
“What, and take all the fun out of it?” The ghost rolls its eye as Ajax darts behind another column, waiting for the Fallen patrol to pass. “Besides, Cayde taught me some words.” The moment the patrol is out of sight, the hunter continues on, sticking to the edges of the Arcology, to any shadows the neon lights can’t spoil. He’s made this route dozens of times with guns blazing and a trail of blood in tow.
Not this time.
“Asking where the bathroom is and insulting their Kell hardly counts as conversation," the ghost continues, disappearing when footsteps approach. Ajax quickly ducks behind a knocked over advertising board, keeping careful watch on the radar as the Fallen chatter approaches. “Besides, what are you even hoping to accomplish? One rogue captain doesn’t change anything."
The footsteps stop for a moment, one of the vandals pausing to look around. Ajax holds his breath and counts to 10, and soon enough the patrol carries on until out of sight once more. Tucking his gun in against his side, Ajax silently moves into the entryway, practically sighing in relief when he finds himself cloaked in darkness.
“For all we know, this changes everything." Even though Ajax can still feel his ghost’s disapprovement practically boring into the back of his skull, this time it says nothing as Ajax forges onward.
There’s no point in arguing when neither of them understands the situation. While Variks had proven to be cooperative, that was out of spite, for vengeance, for the good of the Fallen; this Captain (named Mithrax, Ajax later discovered after a substantial amount of digging) gained nothing from setting Ajax free. He’d even lost precious resources by letting Ajax have the reactor. Any kind of motivation he might have is a complete mystery.
And, well, if Ajax is good at anything, it’s sticking his nose in other people’s business.
It’s not long before Ajax reaches the first stop of his route, the familiar security checkpoint he encountered Mithrax at only a week before. Stepping over to the console, his ghost pops out to run a quick scan, though it proves unnecessary. “Looks like it’s broken," it says, turning around and blinking up at Ajax. “Your friend must have broken it when freeing us."
“Aww, he really cares about us, huh?” Ajax makes a kissing noise and laughs when his ghost gives a disgusted groan in response, disappearing in a flicker of light. The place is as much of a wreck as it was before, Ajax having to step over crushed electronics and broken glass as he surveys the room. An old roomba scurries across the floor beside him in a futile effort to combat what must be centuries of decay. Ajax is half tempted to take it home and tape some knives on it to throw into the Crucible.
The sound of a pebble skidding across tile immediately grabs the hunter’s attention. Ajax whips around to raise his gun and immediately is faced with two blades pointed at him. However, once Ajax recognizes the captain on the other end of those blades, he can’t help but laugh. “One step ahead of me still, huh?” Relaxing his shoulders, Ajax lowers his gun, though Mithrax doesn’t follow suit. All four eyes are watching him intensely as Ajax fumbles for words. “Ne...yu...Ajax?” He points to himself for what he hopes is clarifying emphasis.
Mithrax pauses, lowering his blades just a fraction as he continues to stare. The ghost’s voice rings in Ajax’s helmet. “You just said ‘I name Ajax.’ You used the noun for ‘name’ rather than the verb ‘to be named’—that’s the impression you want to make? You sound like a Fallen caveman. It’s ‘yubo.’ See, yubo specifies which house you’re from, but in this context— ”
“Das hu? Uhhhh...Ne has? Ra ha, ne. ” Ajax is asking to prove his worth and clarifying he’s not an enemy. He thinks. He specifically asked Cayde for words that would indicate respect rather than trying to provoke. Knowing Cayde, there’s a 50-50 chance that Ajax is either trying to make friends or is threatening to gut Mithrax. (And knowing the Fallen, those might be the same thing.)
There’s a long, long silence between the two of them. If Ajax had sweat it’d be trickling down his temples right about now. The silence is nearly overwhelming, save for the soft hum of the passing roomba. Mithrax suddenly jerks and starts hissing and chittering, a foreign sound that makes Ajax tense up until he recognizes what it is—and then Ajax smiles.
Laughter. Mithrax is laughing at him.
Ajax would be embarrassed if he wasn’t just glad that the captain isn’t currently trying to kill him. Slowly and with what he hopes are clearly telegraphed actions, Ajax kneels down and sets his hand cannon on the ground. His ghost makes a squeak of indignation as Ajax slides the gun away from himself, continuing to protest when Ajax does the same with his rifle.
Mithrax seems to be more curious than hostile now. As Ajax rises back to his feet, Mithrax still has his swords drawn, but his stance is notably less pointed. The captain tenses again when Ajax reaches for another weapon until he sees Ajax pull out a sword.
With his free hand, Ajax gestures from Mithrax to himself, hoping that the hand signal for ‘come at me’ is universal. Mithrax laughs again and, to Ajax’s surprise, sheathes one of his swords, sinking back into a fighting stance with the other. They both wait for each other to make the first move, and with his heart hammering in his chest, Ajax throws himself at the captain.
It’s been a long time since Ajax was a bladedancer and even longer since he’s had a one on one duel with a sword; ever since he lost that swordfight to that one warlock during Iron Banner, he’d been too embarrassed to try again. But he at least manages to hold his own against Mithrax, the two exchanging blows and blocks and parries at an almost blinding speed.
There are no serious injuries, but they manage to land a few scratches here and there. At some point Mithrax manages to slice through leather and cuts open Ajax’s left sleeve, earning an annoyed click from the hunter. “Oh come on, I just got this!” Mithrax responds with something Ajax can’t decipher before coming at Ajax again. It starts to become clear that Mithrax has clearly handicapped himself—with one sword, he’s only a tad better than Ajax. With both, this would have been over before they started.
Mithrax eventually starts to gain the upper hand anyway, and as Ajax struggles to keep up, it’s too easy for the captain to capitalize on his poor footing and sweep his legs out from underneath him, sending Ajax sprawling backwards. Before Ajax can even move to get up, Mithrax pins his chest to the ground underneath a foot. Ajax can’t make out exactly what he says, but Ajax can pick out a word he’s fairly certain means ‘prey.’ Ajax swallows hard as Mithrax raises his sword and closes his eyes as it comes down.
The sound of scraping metal hits Ajax’s ears, but the strike never does. He hesitantly opens an eye to peek and sees Mithrax’s sword buried in the tiles next to his head. A little too close for comfort, but certainly better than it being embedded in his skull.
Mithrax pulls the blade out before turning, taking a few steps away from Ajax as the hunter sits up and rubs his sore back. He’s about to get up when he pauses to watch Mithrax as the captain reaches up and pulls at his cape. In a smooth motion, Mithrax removes the cape from his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor by his feet. The waist sash with his banner follows suit immediately after. Ajax’s eyes are wide when Mithrax glances back to meet Ajax’s gaze.
Ajax slowly nods as he pushes himself to stand. He’s a bit more clumsy about it, fingers fumbling as he also removes his cape and tosses it to the side, allowing the black fabric to drift away into the darkness. He watches it go with apprehension before looking back to Mithrax, and Mithrax nods back at him.
This time when they clash, it’s different. It’s no longer hurried, no longer desperate to prove themselves to each other. The movements between them are languid, Mithrax lingering on every well placed strike, Ajax savoring every time their blades meet. Their duel turns into a dance that they find the rhythm of together as they spill blood and laughter into the room around them. Everything else is forgotten, if only for just a moment, while they allow themselves to simply enjoy this.
Neither of them keep track of how much time has passed. It’s only when they’re both exhausted, unable to continue on that they finally stop. Ajax raises his hands in surrender and Mithrax takes that as his cue to step forward, thrusting the sword forward along Ajax’s side, mimicking the motion of impaling him. With a dramatic groan, Ajax puts his hands to his stomach, waiting for Mithrax to withdraw his sword before sinking to his knees and feigning death.
Mithrax makes a clicking noise akin to a chuckle, sitting on the ground next to Ajax as Ajax rolls onto his back and spreads out all his limbs. “I can see why you made captain. You’re a tough piece of shit, you know that?” Mithrax says nothing in response, simply staring off into the distance. Ajax feels like he understands. Somewhat. Somehow.
There’s a stretch of silence as they both catch their breath, coming down from the adrenaline rush of a good fight. Ajax closes his eyes and is almost content to nap right there, but the sound of movement from Mithrax catches his attention. He turns his head to look and blinks in surprise as Mithrax lays on the ground, copying Ajax’s position with all six limbs sprawled out around him.
Ajax can’t help but laugh as Mithrax attempts to get comfortable, awkwardly shifting and grunting in annoyance. Hunters have a knack for getting cozy anywhere they can, though Ajax understands why Mithrax can’t see the appeal. Mithrax manages it for a good half a minute before finally sitting upright, saying something that Ajax can’t exactly translate, but the condescension is clear. “I never said you had to do it, buddy! That’s all on you.”
The illusion of separation from reality is broken when Cayde’s voice cuts in over Ajax's comms. “Alright Eight-jax, you gotta pick up at some point. You better not be dead out there! I bet Ikora you’d go out doing something cool, not on a crummy patrol."
“Ugh.” With an exhausted groan, Ajax manages to prop himself up with his elbows. “Ajax-8, reporting. What’s up, Cayde Unit?”
“Har har. Zavala thought you’d be back from patrol by now, and you haven’t answered anyone for the past few hours. Now, I know everyone needs alone time once in a while..."
“Hours?” Ajax’s ghost appears next to him, eye looking down in embarrassment, somehow managing to look sheepish even without having a face. Ajax lifts his hand and lets the ghost rest in his palm. “Must’ve been shitty reception. I was exploring a little Hive hidey-hole I found, and those tunnels go on forever. And it’s so damp in there—"
“Okay, gross. I don’t need to know about the mold that’s going to be growing inside your chassis, just head back when you get a chance. Zavala’s being fussy and keeps bugging me. It’s ruining my 'cool and aloof' vibe."
“No problem, I’ll head back as soon as I...wait, you and Ikora bet on my death? Ikora bet that I’d die on a patrol?"
“Looks like I’ve got to go seeyousoonokaybye!”
Cayde’s end of the line clicks and the ghost drifts slowly upward. “Sorry. I put all of your channels on hold, I figured you wouldn’t want to be interrupted."
“S’okay. You were right and I appreciate it.” Mithrax is already standing up when Ajax moves to follow suit. “I’m sure you’ve already figured out I gotta go, and you probably have to go too, huh?” Ajax pretends that the noise Mithrax makes is an affirmative. They’re both silent as they retrieve their things, Ajax already lost in thought as he picks up his guns and reaffixes his cape. He’s ready to turn on his heel and leave when Mithrax puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Ajax?”
The Exo’s eyes light up even brighter. “Shit! Yeah, fuck, hell yeah—! Right! That’s right! That’s—yeah!”
Mithrax’s expression is unreadable, gaze boring intently down at the Guardian. “Ajax yu bo.”
There’s a distant ‘I told you so’ that goes entirely ignored. “Oh—! Ajax yubo.” Ajax says it twice to make sure that it sticks, that the sound is familiar on his tongue.
Mithrax nods before gesturing to himself. He pauses for a moment, a hesitation Ajax so rarely sees in the Fallen, before speaking. “Mithrax...be, I.”
“Mithrax,” Ajax repeats back, suddenly feeling himself breathless. It takes him a moment to snap out of his daze and realize that the captain is staring at him expectantly. “I am Mithrax.”
“I am Mithrax.” Just like Ajax, Mithrax repeats it a few times to himself. “Goden hur.”
Thankfully this is one that Cayde bothered to include in his lesson. “Goodbye,” Ajax says back, feeling warmth blooming in his chest as the Captain turns and disappears back into the darkness.