「 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑? 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓,
𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐀 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐍? 」
Scaramouche was known to have a foul mouth that spat haughtily and eyes full of judgment. Now take someone like Y/n, and you'll have another sharp mouth, shrouded in mock submiss...
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♥
Aether's calm eyes reflected across the glass, the tip of his fingers pale and cold while they gently twisted the sheets of hair into a neat braid. He was about to snap the tie on the end of his braid when the door to his room abruptly opened.
"Y/n!" Aether's hold on his hair loosened, his mouth slightly agape when the girl had come in without knocking- though that wasn't important.
"Hey! Ooh, let me help!" She beams and caught the loose braid hanging around his shoulder. Before Aether could say anything, Y/n had already pushed him onto the seat and began fiddling with his hair, the silky strands slipping between her fingers.
"How was it?" Aether carried a worried expression. The hands that were busy braiding his hair stopped.
"I came back intact and sort of became one of you guys?" Y/n laughs, "I also met Scaramouche but other than that, I'm fine."
"Are you truly fine?" His quiet voice sounded loud in her ears, the question echoing to the back of her mind. Her bottom lip trembled and the hands that brushed against the blond locks were now gripping the wooden chair.
Is she fine? Of course not. She had to pretend to be someone else under the eyes of the Tsaritsa, who was wary of her sudden appearance. If the Queen had revealed the rumored loveless eyes of hers, coughed even a bit, or shifted in her seat, Y/n would've lost her composture and exposed herself. The only thing separating the two was a set of stairs, which Y/n can imagine the fearsome woman flying off easily to reach her neck.
The pressure was overwhelming- even worse than presenting a slideshow in front of a whole class back in her world.
"Don't lie. It's okay to be yourself around me. I'm the only one that knows after all," Aether's gaze softens as he ties his hair. "Remember, no matter how difficult things become in the future, you have me. You are not alone."
"Thanks..."
Feeling touched was an understatement. The only one who understands her feelings in this world and empathizes with her is Aether. There was no one else to confide in. Y/n sort of felt envious of Lumine for having such a considerate brother.
"Wait...you said you met Scaramouche?" Aether's eyes flew open, realizing just now. "How are your ears still functioning?!"
"Is that...sarcasm?" Y/n snorted, crossing her arms. "Please, that mushroom would have to do better than just yelling in my ear like that. I'm telling you, he got no jams."
"He got no what?!" Aether cries out in confusion and fear.
"Ahem, anyway, this shouldn't be such a big deal. Meeting the Harbingers is bound to happen in the future," Y/n shrugs, "I actually can't wait to meet some of them..."
"It's strange enough to encounter one of them in this vast palace but to be excited to meet more of them?" He shakes his head. "Most of them are not friendly to their allies. We each have our own beliefs and preferences. But we are also bound together with the same goal."
