We'll meet again

○Chapter 8: Touch○

(Image credit to @Nokkusu.art on twt)

"Nice to meet you again, y/n. I am Scaramouche, No. 6 of the Fatui Harbingers."

"...huh?"
This is a bit unexpected, the 'oh so' 6th harbinger wouldn't come to me this easily right?

This man was obviously suspicious. He acted like he knew you, called out your name, and also claims that he's the 6th Harbinger. He may look the part, but it wasn't enough evidence to ensure you. You wouldn't attempt to kill just any person who claims to be a harbinger without enough proof, because..well..that's a crime and crime is bad.

"Listen, I don't have the time to joke around right now. Who are you?"

He started walking towards you with confidence, slowly closing in on the distance, you gripped onto your sword, being extra cautious.

"You heard me, I'm not gonna repeat myself twice."

He stopped at a safe distance, a few feet away from you. His intimidating aura almost convinced you that he may be a harbinger after all.

Behind him, from the shadows, appeared two fatui agents, a pyroslinger and a cicin mage.
"My lord! We've tracked down the location of the electro archon's gnosis, it's being hidden by the head priest of the grand narukami shrine." The electro cicin mage informed.

"Retreat , I've got something more important here to deal with right now."

"My lord! We'll take care of this peasant, leave her to us." The cicin mage said in a nasty tone, eyeing you up and down.

Hearing those words the Balladeer did not seemed amused.
"Are you deaf or just stupid? Who gave you the right to issue your own orders?"
He slightly turned his head to look at the cicin mage, before sending a shock of electricity, making her squeal in pain.
"You better watch your tongue."

At this point, you already figured out that he was indeed the 6th Harbinger. This confirmation allowed you to set your rage free. You can finally avenge them. For Kazuha, his family, your parents, you carried all their anger and you'd finally avenge them.

Without missing the perfect opportunity to strike, you drew out your katana, your elemental energy swirling.

You used the same attack you used to defeat the fatui camps, but instead you added all of your elemental energy into this one, and in one fast move you swung your katana, releasing your elemental energy. You slid your weapon back in, supporting your body with a knee on the ground.
You took heavy breaths, totally out of stamina and energy.

That should have done it. It's my strongest move.

You were naive. You underestimated and now were dumbfounded.
You turned around, a bit hesitant. To your fear, the harbinger stood there, unscathed, he held his hat in place, only a grin visible. The fatui agents laid unconscious on the ground from your attack, even the camp was in shambles, yet the harbinger was totally unharmed. Not even a scratch.

I might've gotten myself in trouble.

You can't stop now. You would rather die trying than give up.
I have to avenge them.
You didn't care what pathetic methods you were using to take the balladeer down, it was an act purely out of desperation.
Like a child throwing a tantrum, you charged at him, with nothing but a sword in hand, helplessly swinging it around.

"Oh geez, calm down, I won't hurt you."
Scaramouche dodged all of them with minimum movement, swiftly grabbing your sword, making you lose grip.

"Shut up and just fucking die already."
You figured it's best not to try and get your weapon back as you already lost sight of it, instead you put the martial art lessons you learnt as child to use.

"You aren't going to give me a chance to talk, are you?" He sighed, once again dodging all your punches and kicks with a blind eye.

"You leave me no choice."
He managed to grab hold of both your arms, gripping them behind your back and holding your own katana towards your throat. Your back was being pressed against his chest as he leant in closer to your ears.
His warm breath tickled down your neck, giving you goosebumps.
"W-what the fuck are you tryna do?!"

"Shh, I told you to calm down."
He whispered.

"I have my own katana pressed against my throat! How am I supposed to calm down?!"
You attacked his ankles with the sole of your shoes making him budge a bit, managing to get out of his hold.

"Tch, you sure have become pesky."

He hadn't lost his grip on your wrist, hence, turning you around and pulling you back towards him.
You both were now face to face but the distance between the two of you was too close, so close that you couldn't decide where to put your hands.
Not losing your arrogance, you gripped onto the hem of his shirt,
"Release me right now!"
Oh shit.
You just made things worse, realising the position you were in.
"H-hey..you bastard!
You started making a fuss again, struggling to get out of his hold.
'All I'm asking for is a minute'
He whispered to himself.

"You aren't gonna keep quiet are you?"

"I'll scream louder every minute, the fuck are you gonna do about it huh? Pipsqueak."
U made sure to exaggerate the last word.

You knew you ticked him off with that when you felt his grip on your wrist tighten.

"Do you want me to?" He asked, looking rather serious as his eyes looks directly into yours.

"Try it already, you wussy..."
You felt less confident in your statement, as if his gaze was slowly draining your energy away.

"Well, then.."
He tilted his head a bit reaching for your lips. Glancing between his eyes and his lips, your brain entered panic mode, your legs became jelly, unable to process thoughts and at a loss of words as well. You just gripped onto his shirt, being able to stand up by using him as balance.
What a way to shut someone up, you were surprised it actually worked.

He stopped a centimeter, rather a millimeter away from your lips.
"Good girl."

You were pretty sure your lips touched, just even for a millisecond, but they indeed touched when he said those words.
"Unfortunately, I am out of time"

He held your head, pushing you away from the extremely close distance, ruffling your hair, then returned your weapon.
"You know the way around right? Get home safe then."
The next second, he disappeared, nowhere to be seen, no trace left.

Your mind was going on a rampage, unable to process anything that happened.
You just stood there, one hand on your head and one on your lips.
What the hell just happened?