Chapter Text
Navia hasn’t had a wink of sleep for three days now.
With all that has happened the past few weeks; The incident with Lyney and Lynette and the Opera, the spiked drink that almost dissolved Navia had it not been for little Paimon’s timely greediness and to top it all off, it seems her father’s case was starting to take shape and find its place into this whole fiasco.
And that leaves Navia—sleep-deprived and all coffee-pilled for three whole days. There was just too much information that has to be addressed that she barely has the time to tend to her other much needed affairs. Fortunately for her, Melus and Silver have been covering up for her duties at the Spina, helping out with the paperworks and some manual labors to keep the business running.
She sighs, plopping her entire back to the chair as she observes the mosaic of tattered newspaper clippings and yellowing sticky notes she had plastered around the wall. It almost looked like a mural of sorts, one that encapsulates fully what chaos goes on into her mind lately. Navia takes another sip of her now cold cup of coffee by her side, her ears slightly perking up as she hears the faint sound of Clementine playing in her bedroom just a floor above her. Her daughter had been such a darling these past few days, which gave Navia the time and opportunity to focus on the matters at hand. Still, it does bring a sense of guilt to her, especially when Clementine would come to her sometimes, tugging at her dress and asking if they could come to the park together. And Navia, as much as she hates the idea of breaking her little girl’s heart, could only shake her head and apologize repeatedly. It doesn’t help too that Clementine took after Clorinde’s reserved nature whenever she felt hurt or sad. Instead of wailing and throwing valid tantrums like a three year old would, Clementine would simply just nod and play with her toys alone for the rest of the day.
She stared mindlessly at the porcelain white mug sitting idly infront of her, written in a comically funky styled font were the words: Best Mom in Teyvat! along with a variety of weirdly shaped hearts and arrows speared across each one. A cheeky joking gift from Chiori a few years back that used to make Navia laugh on other days but felt like a direct punch to the gut now. What used to be an innocent,overly designed statement mug now an ironic jab directed at Navia’s current situation.
“Ugh, screw it,“Navia grumbles, placing her cup back at its saucer. She has been working tirelessly for days now, and that in itself isn’t much of a problem to Navia. But Clementine’s been waiting for her for days, no little girl deserves to be left alone to entertain herself while her mother is buried under a pile of a thousand investigations.
She momentarily thinks of Clorinde, and how much better the situation could be had she been more present these days. Navia knew that if she were just to send out a letter, or hell, even just drop Clementine at her doorstep without a word, that Clorinde would oblige, she would understand and take over for Navia in the meantime. And Clementine wouldn’t have to be all alone, waiting for someone to tend to her amidst this mess.
But then again, that should’ve gone without saying. If Clorinde really wanted to, she had always been welcomed to do so and visit her daughter whenever she saw fit. It’s not like she was unaware of how busy Navia has gotten lately, surely she knows that Navia could only stretch herself thinly as much, and that in these trying times, her assistance with their daughter would’ve helped largely.
Navia stood up for her chair, the first time she probably did so for the day. She stretched out her arms, feeling how stiff her back had gotten from all the sitting. And then, with a tired yet still genuine grin, she climbs up the stairs and onto her daughter’s bedroom, eager to call out for Clementine.
The door was closed, which surprised Navia, but figured that it was the way Clementine prefers. How on Teyvat’s name is a three year old able to entertain herself for hours on her own, in her little bedroom with nothing but toys is a mystery to her. But she supposes her daughter might just be that creative, something that had always been evident with her.
“I’ll save you my king!“ She hears Clementine’s childly cries from behind the door, even before Navia could open it. The voice made her chuckle, realizing just how imaginative Clementine must be for her to still come up with this even after hours of being left alone.
But as Navia turns the knob, her heart immediately drops when
The door swung fully open, revealing her daughter, wearing the princess outfit Chiori had gifted to her and a rubber sword on her hand. But that wasn’t what caught Navia’s attention, but rather, the one unexpected detail sitting on the wooden floor, with an expression that mirrors Navia’s own.
She was dressed in her usual uniform, with the exception of her dark purple blazer that seemed to be lazily plopped on Clementine’s bed. On her head was a handmade crown, colored childishly with red and yellow crayons. And her expression, eyes wide and horrified, as if she was just as surprised as Navia is with seeing her.
“Navia..“
Clementine turns around, bright blue eyes finally catching sight of the intruder on her door.
“Mama!“ She squeals delightfully, running towards a frozen in shock Navia who couldn’t tear her eyes away from the stranger on her daughter’s bedroom floor.
She allowed herself to be pulled by Clementine, forcing her stunned body to enter the room, all while her eyes never left Clorinde, who was now frantically sitting up and removing her paper-crown off of her head.
Before Navia could open her mouth, Clementine quickly tugged at her dress, grinning widely at her mother. “Mom, play with us, play with us!“
For once, her eyes darted off of Clorinde’s terrified gaze and now onto her daughter. Clementine looked at her with such awe and excitement that she could barely say anything past a hesitant mumble.“Uh..“ Navia stares at her daughter for a second, pleading blue eyes gawking up at her and waiting for a response.
“Please?“
And Navia, who had been completely filled with absolute guilt the past few days and wanted to make up for her daughter, knew that whatever conversation she needs to have with Clorinde can wait. Right now, it’s Clementine that all that matters.
“Alright, I suppose I could join in.“With a warm smile, Navia nods at her daughter, letting herself be pulled by the hand with Clementine’s little body.
She caught sight of Clorinde, her response evidently surprising the shocked duelist. But then her expression turned soft, as if she had finally read Navia’s thoughts, and was willing to play alongside her for their daughter’s sake.
Clementine gleefully smiled, her eyes sparkling at her mother’s approval. “Here mama, you can be the enemy queen!“ She excitedly handed Navia her toy sword, before grabbing her free hand once more and pulling her to her designated spot, right next to Clorinde.
She sees Clementine pick up the paper crown from the floor that Clorinde had dropped and place it back onto her mother’s head, “Told you she won’t get mad.“ Navia hears her say to Clorinde, who simply chuckled lightly.
Clementine steps back to observe her mothers, who were sitting adjacent to each other on the floor. She placed a finger on her chin, thinking deeply before finally snapping her fingers playfully. “Wait, you need a hat!“She decides, ”I’ll get one from the closet.”
“Would you like me to help you out?“ Navia questions.
Clem shakes her head,“No, I got it,” she says before darting off to run, with Sebastien following happily.
As soon as Clementine was out of sight, Navia quickly moved away from Clorinde, extending their distances further.
Clorinde holds her nape nervously, still avoiding Navia’s gaze.“Navia, I—”
“Save it, Clorinde.“ She says sternly. “Clem might come back any second now, let’s keep whatever bad blood we have aside for now. This can wait.“ Her voice was monotone and strict, as if she was one thread away from bursting out and screaming at her then and there.
It was evident that Clorinde wanted to say something in response, but eventually decided against it as she merely nodded in agreement.
And as if on cue, Clementine returns, gleefully hopping back to the bedroom with a familiar dark brown pirate hat on her hand, the very same one Navia used to wear during her and Clorinde’s old tabletop troupe games. How she came across it, Navia will never know.
“Mom, I found it!“ She says happily, carelessly running to Navia’s legs, who quickly guides her from stumbling with her hands. The little girl wraps her arms around her mother’s legs, hugging her in joy.
Looking at her daughter like this, Navia couldn’t help but feel at awe. Clementine was almost the height of her hips now, a sign of her rapid physical growth. It was beginning to seep into Navia’s mind: time is passing, she’s growing more and more and sooner or later, her innocent little Clementine would eventually find the cracks hidden along the walls of this whole family facade that Navia and Clorinde had been trying to maintain for her sake.
That would break her heart, Navia thinks. It did break hers too after all.
She glanced at Clorinde, whose eyes were lost in the scene unfolding before her as she grins lovingly. And for once, Navia could find traces of something familiar in her smile, something that resembled the girl she once loved with all her heart.
She sees her Clorinde.
Clementine was quick to continue on with where they had abruptly left off before Navia’s sudden intrusion. And as if a switch had been flipped on her mind, her expression became more focused and sincere, explaining the roles she had given her mothers and how the story would go.
In Clementine's little tale, Navia is the evil queen from another land who fell for King Clorinde, who somehow kept finding herself being kidnapped by the queen and being routinely saved by none other than the brave knight Clementine. And when that little portion of the story would end, Clementine would give them the cue to take on a different role, even telling them off whenever one of them(Mostly Clorinde, who kept stumbling around on which props to put on) would mess up. And for the entirety of the afternoon, Navia found herself playing a wicked queen, a mischievous treasure hoarder and when Clementine could no longer come up with anything fantastical, a servant to rub the belly of a snoring Sebastien on the side.
“And in the end, the town of Fonta is saved thanks to the brave Clementine Petrichor of Poisson.“Navia reads through the last page of the book, her other hand placing languid strokes on Clementine’s dark hair.
Clementine hums in her sleep, her closed eyes slightly twitching. It was evident that the whole fiasco had taken all the energy off of her, and even before they could end the final game, Clementine was already yawning and rubbing her eyes lazily during the dialogues.
And when she finally sees the light rising and falling of Clementine’s chest, Navia was at ease once more. She slowly stood up to leave, remembering to leave a few inches of the door open in case her daughter ever calls out for her.
Once she was out of Clementine’s vicinity, Navia was quick to change her expression as she walked down the stairs and back to her living room, where the air was thicker and there was no need to hide behind the smiles anymore.
She spots Clorinde, her body faced away from her and onto the wall of plastered clues. Navia could sense the sincerity in her, she could see how such things would intrigue Clorinde.
And when she stepped on the tiles of the ground floor, Clorinde quickly sensed her. She turns her body back, facing the woman, who doesn’t look anything remotely as happy as she did just a few seconds ago with her daughter.
Clorinde nods in acknowledgement at Navia’s presence.“Navia.“
Navia could see the hints of Clorinde’s worry in her eyes. And so, she allowed Clorinde to speak on her own accord.“Can we talk?“
“Depends.“The blonde moves away, passing by Clorinde and onto the desk full of papers next to the wall. She sat down on her chair comfortably, grabbing one piece of the scattered paper. “If you mean can I hear you out on whatever bullshit excuse you’ve come up with, then go ahead.“
Clorinde shakes her head. “I didn’t plan on hiding this whole thing to you, Navia.“
“Yeah, I don’t think you were planning to get caught.“ The statement made Navia laugh.“Honestly, you continue to surprise me with all the stupid antics you’ve been doing behind my back.“She rubs the center of her brow line in frustration, fatigue washing over her quickly. “From admitting to stalking me just a week ago after failing to show up for your daughter for days, now you’re telling me you’ve been sneaking into my home and onto her room without me knowing?“
Her voice was gradually getting louder and angrier with every word, and Clorinde could feel sweat drip down the sides of her face. “I simply wish to visit Clem, see how she’s doing.“ She tries to explain, but it was clear that her words did not help alleviate Navia’s anger at all.
“So you figured climbing on her window is the appropriate solution?“She questions bitterly, eyeing the opened glass window behind her, Clorinde looks down as Navia continues.“Do you really loathe me that much that you’d rather do all that than to just—I don’t know—talk to me?“
Navia sighs, trying to regain her composure once more. “I know that we have an agreement, I know that Clementine will be the only connection you and I will ever have. But Clorinde, for Archons’ sake, think about it for once,” She scoffs,“Clem’s my daughter just as she is yours, You can’t just ignore my presence like this. I don’t care what you do in your free time, nor what you do in your own life. But I’m your daughter’s mother— as much as you hate that fact—you’re gonna have to go through me before you decide to go forth with whatever shenanigan you’re planning to take with Clem, who knows what you’re up to anyway..“
Clorinde stiffened, trying to maintain her stoic character, but her nervous state was still apparent to Navia. She hears her shakily breathe before answering.
“I—“Clorinde says,“I understand that I may have overstepped my boundaries as her parent, I apologize, I should’ve talked to you first.“She looks away in embarrassment. “But please do believe that I have no intention of ever putting our daughter in harm, Navia. I simply wished to accompany her, since you’ve been busy with the case.“
“And I would’ve let you take her, Clorinde. I never told you no when it comes to Clementine. I don’t get why it was so hard for you to just tell me?“
“Because I can’t risk putting Clementine on any potential dangers more than you are doing now, Navia.“
The air felt extremely thin as silence fell between them. Before Navia could speak, Clorinde began to continue once more.
“What does that even mean?“ Navia scoffs.
Clorinde stares back at her intently. “I can understand the want to help your comrades, and to stick with what you believe is the truth,“She says, her voice monotone. “You’ve always been someone that takes justice and righteousness in a high regard, and I know that there is nothing I could do to stop you, and you know I’ve tried.“
“And that makes me a bad person, how?“ Navia questions. “Because I didn’t let myself be swayed by you? because I chose to stand with what’s the truth instead of hiding behind a messy outdated lawbook that has more holes in them that you can count?“
“You’re not a bad person, Navia,“ Clorinde tells her. “But this situation is far bigger than what you initially realize.“
“I can see things very well, Clorinde. Thank you very much.“
The duelist shakes her head.“Then you understand that you’re attracting far more dangers than what you can imagine.“
”Yes.“ Navia answers, glaring at her. ”I do.“
But what Clorinde does next was much more shocking. She faced Navia back, giving her the same stern look. She was angry, her face showed something that Navia had never seen before from Clorinde.
“Then why didn’t you think of Clementine?“
The sentence made Navia freeze. How dare Clorinde assume that Navia didn’t think of Clementine’s safety? of course she did. She made sure that whatever threat would come her way, Clementine would never be caught in the crossfire, and she would never intentionally put her daughter in a situation that could get her life in danger.
But before she could muster up a response, Clorinde clears her throat as she looks away. “You’re up against the strongest and most influential people in Fontaine, ones that continue to commit heinous crimes that went undetected for years.“ She tells her. “What makes you so sure that they wouldn’t stumble across our secret sooner or later? and much worse, harm her just to spite you?“
Our secret. The words Clorinde used felt rather inhumane to label their daughter. It made Clementine’s existence sound almost unwanted, and deserving to be kept hidden.
Navia shakes her head. “I won’t let them harm her, Clorinde.“ She assures. “And please, don’t make it sound like my daughter’s some skeleton in our closet you’re afraid to reveal.
Your lack of care for her wellbeing is showing.“
“I care for her, Navia, that’s why I’ve been careful to visit her undetected.“ Clorinde explains. “I know you trust your people, but right now, with how much you’re putting yourself out there in danger—practically anyone can just stab you in the back of your head anytime. " she says. “You can trust your people all you want but do not ever entrust my daughter’s safety onto those same people right now, or anyone else for that matter. At least, be wary. Something that you could’ve been doing had you been listening to me.“
“Listen to you? Because, clearly, you’re the better parent between the two of us, right?” Navia scoffs. “Quit playing dumb Clorinde, I know what this all is—“ she waves her hand off the air. “—you’re putting it all on me, making me out to be the bad, careless mom because I’m choosing to stand by the injustices of the court anymore instead of being a mere silent standby for my daughter’s sake.“
“That’s not the point.“
”Then what?“ She questions. “What the hell are you even hinting at?“
“I can understand standing by what’s right, Navia. But do think for once that it’s not just you that would be put in danger if you continue on with interf—participating,—with this case. There’s time and place for when you should and shouldn’t risk your safety, and Clem’s too.“ she continues. “And it’s not this. You can’t keep carelessly putting yourself out there in the name of justice for a trial that would just be forgotten sooner or later.“
The words pushed something within Navia. It fueled a different kind of anger within her. All the stress and anxiety and caffeine she had inhaled unhealthily for days had begun to accumulate and activated something in her.
”Is that just what this is all to you, Clorinde? Another burdensome trial that you can just gloss over after?” Navia questions, a faint line of vein protruding from her left temple. ”Begs the question, huh. Was that how Papa’s trial felt to you too?”
”Navia.” Clorinde calls, clearing her throat. ”I am in no way belittling the trial, nor your father’s.” She tries to correct her. ”But that’s the truth of these cases, in the end, you’re risking your life and safety for something that shouldn’t have been your business in the first place.”
”Gods, you sound so robotic.”Navia laughs dryly, all she could do was to facepalm herself at how ridiculous Clorinde sounded. ”Sometimes I wonder if you’re really human.”
”I am whatever the law needs me to be.” Clorinde answered bluntly, her tone remained the same as if she were in the jury dictating a word-by-word line from the Fontaine lawbook. ”Don’t act like I never told you before that my purpose is clear and unchanging, I am all to uphold justice in the nation, in Fontaine. Whether that makes me more or less human in your eyes, it does not matter. My loyalty is to Fontaine, and to it alone.”
”And not to us, to your daughter?” Navia questions, but there was strangely no anger in her voice, only hurt. And Clorinde doesn’t know if that makes it worse.
The blonde furrows her eyebrows at Clorinde, her arms crossed together as if she was interrogating the woman in front of her. ”Then why are you even doing all of this? Why go through the lengths of playing this responsible mother to Clem if you’d willingly leave us the second Fontaine calls for you? Why show up,even?”
Clorinde looks down at her, trying her best attempt at keeping her gaze locked onto Navia. ”Because that’s what I promised Master Callas—”
“For once, Clorinde, grow a pair and stop with that same old reason will you?” Navia finally shouts, having enough of her senseless excuses. ”Is that all you really are? A tool for this country’s supposed justice? a mere executor of dead people’s vows? Is that all the reason that you’re putting up with this whole setup?” She questioned, voice cracking between words. All semblance of fatigue leaving her body as anger takes over, Navia had no choice but to snap.
”And how come the world gets to mold you into however they want you and you’d oblige in a heartbeat—but I’m stuck here having to beg of your time even for just one fucking day?!” She asked, her voice heavy and demanding. ”Whatever the law and the world wants you to be, can’t you be ours this one fucking time?”
”Do you think I really have a choice, Navia?” Clorinde questions back, an action that quickly shocks Navia. This was the first time Clorinde had ever shown this much emotion to her in years.
“You think I wanted this? to be forced to carry on with your father’s will? to continue Petronilla’s legacy? Do you really know how much I loathe myself every single day because I couldn’t be by your side, raising Clementine with you?” She asked, lips red from the aggressive biting she had been doing all throughout this conversation.
”Then what’s stopping you, Clorinde?” Navia questions. ”I’m right here, stuck for three years, clinging desperately onto the off-chance that you might choose me this time.” she points to her chest, further emphasizing her point.
”I can’t do that.” Clorinde answers, making Navia scoff bitterly. It was the response she had long expected from her, leave it to Clorinde to be that predictable.”I can’t be selfish anymore, it never ends well for the both of us.”
”You call choosing your own family over your job being selfish?” Navia laughs. ”What about leaving me to grieve alone? Is that an act of selflessness from you that I should be thankful for?” she says sarcastically.
”I never left, I was always with you, weren't I?” Clorinde asks, trying to hold onto Navia’s arm, but is quickly swatted away. ”I kept my distance,yes. But I’ve always accompanied you.”
Navia rolls her eyes, chuckling bitterly. ”Right. Fifty feet away from me, hiding behind the bushes—that’s certainly the company a grieving pregnant girl needed.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” Clorinde reasons. ”And as much as I want to be by your side like old times, the guilt of what I’ve done has fully consumed my entire being already. I have long realized that I am cursed to forever be stuck atoning for a sin that can never be repented. ” Her nostrils flared. ” And in my mind, this is the only thing that makes perfect sense, I know—This is the only life I shall deserve to live, this curse is my punishment .You don’t deserve to be muddled with that curse of mine.”
Navia faces her angrily. ”And what, Clem and I should just accept that? to just face the effects of your decisions with no complaints?”she cries out, but Clorinde doesn't budge. ”What, Clorinde? what do you want us to do,really?”
Before Clorinde could even answer, the two flinched as they heard a familiar set of footsteps making its way down the stairs. Navia carelessly wipes a tear away, turning her back at Clorinde.
”Mama?” a childly voice calls out.
Navia walks over, chasing the voice by the edge of the stairs. ”Clem..” she mutters under shaky breaths, finding her daughter standing idly, her hair already a disheveled mess from her constant moving in her sleep.
Clementine blinks, observing the scene that she had walked into. She looks around the living room, trying to make sense of what happened. ”Mom..maman..” she says, concern fills her voice. “You guys are fighting.“
”Clem, maman and I are just—.” Navia tries to explain, but her words fail her. She leans in to crouch down to her daughter’s height, caressing her cheeks softly. ”You should go back to sleep, sweetpea.”
”What were you guys fighting about?” She innocently asked, wiping a tear from her mother’s cheek, and then gazed at Clorinde, who remained frozen in her place. ”Is it because of me?“
Navia pauses, turning to her back to meet Clorinde, her eyes doe and begging. as if she was pleading to Clorinde to help her out. Thankfully, the message seemed to get across.
”No, darling.” This time, it was Clorinde’s turn to put on the mask. Her face softens as she faces Clementine, smiling through the heavy tears she was holding back just a few seconds ago. Clorinde hates being seen this vulnerable in front of her daughter, there’s too much on her little plate as it is, and Clorinde’s afraid that she’ll worry her more. “It’s just adults talk, you know, boring stuff.“
”Nuh-uh.” The little girl shakes her head, ”Mom’s crying.” She notes, leaning her head to face her mother once more, who kept trying to wipe off the hints of tears on her face.
”No, no!” Navia tries to reassure, laughing through the pain. “It’s happy tears, see?“ she grins widely. “Maman here just told me something very funny and I laughed so much I began to tear up.“
Clementine raised one eyebrow in confusion, trying to decipher her parents’ faces, but a three-year-old's understanding of facial expressions could only get her as much.
Finally, Clem spoke. “Like Aunt Chiori?“
“Right!“ Navia says, smiling. ”You remember when Aunt Chiori laughs so much, she cries? That’s how mama was.“ She tries to reassure, keeping the act alive in the presence of Clementine. Besides her, Clorinde kept nodding, her smile never leaving her face.
Clementine seemed to be satisfied with the explanation, even yawning as she scratched an eye.”So you don’t hate each other?” She asked innocently, eyebrows furrowed in a similar way that Navia does whenever she’s frustrated.
Clorinde looked away, afraid of seeing the worry in her daughter’s face. The true effect of her decisions to both Navia and Clementine was finally in plain sight for Clorinde to see. They were hurting as much, if not more, than her. But all that Clorinde could do is watch.
”No, darling.” Navia tries to console her, letting out a careless laugh. ”Maman and I are okay.” she tells her, making Clementine tilt her head. She lifts up her daughter, carrying her as she caresses her back.
She hears Clementine mumble from the crook of her neck.
”Are you guys still in love?”
The sentence pierced through Clorinde’s heart directly, her chest tightening in pain as it repeated in her head. The walls she had so carefully built over the years began to crumble at her mere words, the facade she had been putting on slowly sliding out of her face, revealing the human within Clorinde.
The words seemed to surprise Navia too as she swallowed, attempting to speak out a response, but before she could, Clementine leaned closer to her mother, enveloping her in a tiny hug, her head burying itself in the crook of Navia’s shoulder.
“We are.“ Navia breathes out a lie.
“Very much so.“ Clorinde adds dishonestly.
“That makes me happy.“ Clementine whispers. “I love you, mom and maman.“
Navia nuzzled closely to Clementine. But Clorinde could very well see that she was trying to cover her tears from the little girl, purposely avoiding her gaze. ”I know that, sweetpea. We love you too,” she smiles. ”Now come on, we need to get up early tomorrow.” She feels the girl nod on her side. Navia smiles as she places a gentle hand on her back, coaxing her to sleep. “Now say goodnight to maman, she has to go home now.“
Clementine, now heavily sleepy and unable to fight it off anymore, could only nod and wave. Her action made Clorinde chuckle, ruffling her daughter’s soft hair as she placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Goodnight, my love.“ She says, whether it was to Clementine only or to the both of them.
Navia didn’t once turn her back at Clorinde, walking away as if she never noticed her presence in the first place. Clorinde watched as Navia carefully held Clementine in her arms, climbing up the stairs and leaving her alone in the living room.
The light beaming on her living room finally turns off, and so Navia walks to her bedroom to end the day after dropping Clementine back to her bed. The thought of her argument with Clorinde buzzing on her head like a film on repeat. Her last thought was wondering whether Clorinde had left already and had gotten home. But before she could ponder on it further, her eyes closed off.
The next morning, She finds a strange object by her living room, right next to the closed window of her home—
A figurine of Lady Furina, with a text written neatly at the bottom of the round plate where the figurine stands:
Be human, choose love.