Chapter Text
To the rest of the student body, Tartaglia was the approachable face of the Fatui. He was the one people sought out when the other Council members felt too cold, too distant, or too dangerous. He was "the friendly one."
But within the Council, that friendliness was weaponized against him. To them, his kindness wasn't a choice; it was a biological flaw. They whispered that it was his nature—the lingering remnants of the girl they still refused to let go of. No matter how many times he called them out, his voice was drowned by their stubborn perception. To the elite, he wasn't a man standing on his own merit; he was simply a girl playing at being a soldier, too "kind" to ever truly draw blood.
...
The night was darker than usual, heavy with a silence that felt like a physical weight. Childe knew he should be asleep, but rest was a luxury he couldn't afford. From downstairs, the faint, jagged screams of his parents' arguments drifted through the vents.
He didn't care. He couldn't.
Instead, he focused on the ache in his chest. The binder was a cruel, necessary vice, drowning out the world even as it restricted his breath. He hated it. He hated how the pain in his ribs served as a constant, rhythmic reminder of everything he wasn't. It reminded him that in the eyes of the law and his family, he wasn't Tartaglia. He wasn't even Ajax.
Once, his name had been Asteria
But names were just sounds people made to get what they wanted. Nobody cared enough to listen to the truth, and nobody cared enough to respect his wishes. In this world of gold and titles, he was just a prize to be molded—and as he stared into the darkness, he had no idea that the Tsaritsa was about to hand him over to a man who would use those very insecurities to break him.
...
The monday it started, the meeting started without him, he was late as always, all the members knew that it was something that happened often, so they started without him...As always.
Arlecchino was already mad at everyone in the room, in her eyes, the meeting was useless, the school was infront of them, and they were already fighting about going, as if they were going to travel to another country and not to the infront school.
"I have an idea~!" The sweet but dangerous voice of Columbina was heared by everyone, and in the moment she spoke everyone knew what was going to happen, she was going to push it to someone.
"I hope its a great idea Bina, because if its like the last time, i promise i will scream at you." Dottore speaked tired of Columbina's ideas that got crazier with the time.
"Well-!If Tartaglia isn't here in 3 secounds, i believe he should be the one getting to the school as punishment"
And well, everyone knew that she was trying to push it so someone without having to look to hard, and it was working with everyone.
"3"
"2"
"1-"
The door was opened almost when Columbina ended counting, everyone knew he saved himself in the last minute, but nobody would dare to speak to save his ass, so nobody said anything at all.
"Surprise!You are going to Liyue!" Columbina screamed as if it wasn't the worst thing ever
"What-" Tartaglia spoke frozed in the doorway, not reacting or expecting it at all...