The Thief and the Harbingers Childe x reader x Scaramouche

A knack for good timing

Landing somewhere in the woods, Aether lifted me to my feet supporting my body weight.

"I'm fine, Aether. I can walk." I confirmed, standing tall and straightening my posture.

I was being truthful, I wasn't completely helpless at the moment. As a matter of fact, it was quite the opposite, my body seemed to buzz with endless energy.

"Maybe for now, you have ten minutes tops before the strengthener wears off."

Ah, that's why. I'd almost forgotten.

"Ten minutes is all we need." I smiled in response, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.

"You have the gnosis, don't you?" Aether's brown eyes were filled with concern as I ripped the hem of my shirt off.

"Would you mind?" I asked, handing him the torn cloth and turning my injured shoulder to face him. He nodded curtly wrapping the thin cloth around the wound.

It wasn't much, but it would do for now.

He continued to watch me, waiting for an answer.

Fishing through my pocket I brought the gnosis in front of me, "course I do."

He sighed with relief, "good, lets keep moving."

I simply nodded and followed Aether through the dark forest.

If our lives weren't in danger I would've taken in the scenery a bit further. It was a beautiful night, the ever so green plants and trees reflecting the moon off their dewy counterparts.

"Where do you think we are?" Aether asked softly, breaking the silence.

"We're in the woods behind the golden house. I'm sorry I couldn't take us further. I'd probably pass out if I did." I replied with a defeated chuckle.

Truly, I was embarrassed. How could I have come so unprepared? I'd felt so confident stepping through the golden doors, but now here I walk, defeated.

Aether shook his head vigorously, walking a bit slower to allow me to walk next to him.

"Never apologize! You were amazing in there, you saved my life Y/N."

I smiled softly. I appreciated his positivity.

"You definitely saved my ass back there too. You have no clue how cool it was when you punched the ground like ksshhh," I mimicked an explosion with my arms, "and sent them flying!"

He rubbed the back of his neck allowing an embarrassed chuckle to escape his lips. "Yeah, that was pretty cool."

Aether was so pure, you could tell his concerns and worries were genuine just by the look in his eyes. I almost felt guilty that I would end up betraying him in the future, once we'd collected all the gnosis.

"I know our priority is to escape those two lunatics, but I can't help notice were only getting farther away from Lady Ninguang and her palace."

"You're right, but its safer for both of us to take the long way, we'll go all the way around instead."

I pursed my lips as I continued to walk beside Aether. It wasn't smart to keep Lady Ninguang waiting, she made sure to stress how important it was that we get the gnosis to her immediately.

"Aether do you have anymore of that magical food?"

His eyes rummaged over me in confusion, before bringing out the remnants of some jade parcels from his pocket.

So that's what that was. I had hardly recognized the tasty substance.

"Can I have the rest?"