Chapter Text
Lets be real here. In all your years, you entertained this specific scenario more than once. Who wouldn't?
And yet, you didn't quite picture it like this.
But here you were, in your pajamas dripping ass wet, standing just outside the gates leading into Mondstadt, city of freedom.
Your body shuddered, skin instantly puckering against the breeze. It never occurred to you that Mondstadt was a lot colder than it appeared to be. Then again you weren't the best judge of regional temperatures. Or any climate outside of the Midwest where you grew up.
You clenched your fists, fighting the urge to hug yourself for warmth—a useless gesture, as you'd learned while dragging your stiff, wet body from that tiny island you'd woken up on. Crossing the bridge had been torture on your bare feet. The trek had already left them sore and raw, and the cold stone was just another pain on a growing list.
The angle of the shadows told you that the sun was already well past early morning and you resisted the need to sigh. Ignoring the frustration building in your chest, you focused outward, your eyes scanning your immediate area.
The guards were staring at you. The one to the right tilted his head curiously. The one to the left looked outright confused, but also tried hard to hide it. They had names, but right now they escaped you.
You took a step forward. The relief of hitting dirt instead of stone was so immediate it made you stumble. Not for the first time, but—fuck—it didn't matter now. Your legs gave out, knees catching hard on the ground. You didn't need to look to know they were banged up, probably bleeding.
Someone might have called out, but the roar of wind in your ears made it impossible to tell as your mind buzzed with enclosing darkness. Tears streamed down your face, the world flipped, and then there was only blessed nothingness.
~ ~ ~
White walls greeted you upon awakening this time, rather than the tall grass and flowers of the tiny island from before. The room was dimly lit, shades of orange coloring your surroundings. While a sight better than your initial awakening, this place still wasn't home. A bed squeaked softly behind you, drawing your immediate attention as you rolled to your right, your head turning to glance behind you.
The room you were in was small, holding just three blue sheeted beds. Your bed was pushed against one of the outer walls, windows both next to you and directly opposite of your feet. The other two beds were pushed opposite of yours, one of them occupied by what looked like a blonde haired young man. The tight fit of the beige ribbed shirt and suspenders drew a surprised gasp from your mouth as your mind immediately seized on the identity of your fellow room occupant.
Your gasp must have been loud enough to startle him, because he twisted in his own bed, eyes widening as he quickly sat up.
“Oh, hey!” he said, his voice jumping a little as he pushed himself to his feet. “You're awake!” He was already heading for the door, hands waving frantically. “Let me get Iris. She wanted to know when you were awake.”
He pushed the door open and popped his head out. After a brief, muffled discussion, he pulled back into the room. His eyes glanced over you, then quickly darted away, a blush spreading over his cheeks and nose.
“S-she'll be right in!” He turned back to his own bed, his gaze fixed intently on the wall in front of him.
You weren't sure what was up with that, but your attention diverted back to the door as it swung open. A black haired, blue eyed woman looked at you through her spectacles as she approached. Stopping just short of your bed, she pressed her hand to her chin and hummed.
“How are you feeling?” She asked motioning for you to sit up. You did as such, noting that while she lacked the same gear as every doctor you've even visited, her demeanor was nearly the same as she checked you over.
“I-I'm not sure,” your voice was hoarse as you spoke for the first time since waking up, your throat dry from sleeping. “Can-can I get a drink?” You coughed then croaked out.
Iris nodded her head as she prodded your neck, checking your throat, then your eyes and nose.
“Bennett,” she called over her shoulder. The young man's body stiffened sharply, his gazing snapping up to stare at the both of you. “Grab some water from the kitchen, would ya?”
Bennett nodded sharply and quickly left the room. After the door swung shut behind him, Iris looked at you and sighed.
“You made quite the ruckus at the front gates this morning. Neither Swan or Lawrence seemed to know what to do with you.”
A slight smile tugged at your lips as you imagined the scene you'd made by passing out without a word. The frown pressing down on Iris' lips as she stared at you wiped that smile quickly, however small, from your face.
“You're lucky my brother took you in. He has a thing for strays and people down on their luck.” She clucked her tongue at you. You winced slightly at the implications of her words. “So what's your name then?”
“Mia.” You answered without thinking.
Iris nodded. “Where you from, Mia?”
You started to speak, but paused as you thought better of it. Telling her or anyone you were from another world seemed like a bad idea. Lying about where you were from seemed even worse since your actual knowledge of Teyvat was limited to what you knew from in game. Still though, Iris looked at you expectantly.
“I-I don't remember.” The best lie you could think of slipping out of your mouth just as the door swung open and Bennett finally reappeared with pitcher of water and small cup.
He set both of them on the table at the head of your bed. The small cup teetered precariously for a moment, then settled on the tables surface. Iris let out a sigh of relief, no doubt used to Bennett's questionable luck.
“Thank you, Bennett.” She breathed out before turning back to you. “You don't remember where you're from?” She questioned.
You half nodded and half shrugged. “I have a lot holes in my memory.” It was the best excuse you had at the moment. Chance were most people wouldn't care where you were from anyways. At least you hoped they wouldn't.
Iris' lips thinned as she stared at you, decidedly not quite satisfied with your answers. But then she sighed again and shrugged her shoulders. This woman sure did a lot of sighing. “Okay.”
The tension you'd been holding in your shoulders unknowingly, released suddenly, causing then to droop as soon as she turned away. “I'm going to assume you're not native to the city then, nor know anyone from here.”
You weren't sure if that as a question or statement but nodded your head anyways, just in case. It was only after she turned back to look at you expectantly that you realized no one could hear your head waggle.
“Oh, uh, yeah.” You answered quickly, but she obviously wanted more from you than that. “I mean, correct. I neither know anyone here nor come from here,” You paused for a moment, then added. “I think. Nothing here seems familiar anyways.” You paused again as you recalled you hadn't really seen much of the city so far. Just the front gates and the room you currently found yourself in. “What little I've seen anyways.”
You resisted the urge to cringe at how bad you were selling this selective amnesia. Iris didn't seem to care though and nodded her head. Probably in resignation. Gods knew what kinda of crap she put up with in her position. She certainly had your sympathy.
“Cyrus said you can stay here until you get back on your feet. You'll stay here tonight and tomorrow we'll set you up with a bunk upstairs.” Another sigh passed from her mouth. “I'm sure he's hoping by being so accommodating that you'll decide to join the guild. Don't feel pressured though. Not everyone is cut out to be an adventurer.”
She stepped towards the door and nodded at Bennett. “Make sure to properly introduce yourself.” She said before stepping out, the door swinging close behind her.
There was an awkward silence as Bennett eyed you just as awkwardly. “So, uh...I'm Bennett.” A rosy pink colored his cheeks and you chuckled.
“I'm Mia.” you said softly. “It's nice to meet you, Bennett.”