A heart in need | Scaramouche x Reader

Encounter

"Who would be attending?" Scaramouche's voice was sweet. It had a sharp edge to it. You knew it all too well.

"Hm? Oh! The Traveler! She's amazing. She's done so much for everyone. We wouldn't even have been able to let in visitors from outside had it not been for her!" The lady complimented the Traveler without a single care, unaware of the person she was aggravating.

"Mm! That's interesting! Anyway, do you know of any other fun activities to do tomorrow?" The subject was changed rather quickly. The woman closed her eyes. Thinking about it rather deeply, she shook her head.
"It's all up for you to find fun things to do there! You should hurry, though. Ritou is quite a long way from here."

"Right. Thanks." You began to focus on your food. Clearly, this woman was not someone who you could talk with properly. Neither could your Boss. He had long finished his food, and had been sitting with crossed arms, staring at his plate. Waiting for you.
You emptied out your plate rather quickly. It was a good meal. It was hearty and heavy.

You paid for the food, and bid the lady farewell.
"The Traveler will be here tomorrow. Should we pay them a visit?" Scaramouche wondered out loud when the two of you had removed yourself from the restaurant. You didn't answer his question as it seemed like the Harbinger did not expect one.

Until he nudged you. "Should we?" He asked again.
"Milord. May I answer honestly?"
"You may."
"I don't think it's a good idea. With the Tenryou Commission stationed all over the place, with other people round who would most definitely side with the Traveler, we wouldn't be able to win a battle. To become refugees in Inazuma seems.. rough." You lowered your voice, and ended up whispering into Scaramouche's ear. The streets were lively, after all.
"I suppose you're right." Scaramouche gave up on the idea more quick than you thought he would.

It was a relief.

"Say, after the festival, where do we go?" You recalled Watatsumi Island. It didn't feel like you would return to that place anytime soon. Your suspicion was proven right as the Harbinger shrugged.
"Maybe we can pay Archon Murata a visit? Fontaine? Anywhere." He responded.
"So.. completely avoiding the Fatui, huh. Milord truly doesn't want to hand over the gnosis to the Tsaritsa." Leaving the busy streets, you had taken the path into a small, narrow alley. No one was there.

Scaramouche was faster than you thought as he pushed you against one of the alleyway's walls.
"I am not giving up one of the two things I truly own." He hissed. Slender hands held you by the collar of your shirt. Scaramouche was so close to you, you could see the intense look in your Lord's eyes.

"What is.. the other thing?" You breathed out.
"I'm holding it as we speak."

Ah. The eye contact stayed as Scaramouche's hands slowly cupped your cheeks. It felt as if hours were slowly ticking by. The expression that the man wore in front of you was unreadable. It didn't feel like it was a negative one, however.

"My friend." A different voice spoke out as a hand was planted on Scaramouche's shoulder, startling the both of you.
"Don't you touch-" You started to defend the Balladeer, until you looked at the newcomer. With blue hair and a tall frame, the man wore mostly white.

"You..." Scaramouche began, and fell quiet.
"Me? Forgive me. I am Kamisato Ayato." The man held a fan in front of his mouth as he looked the both of you up and down.
"Surely, harassment on the street is not something that we allow to be done so freely in the streets of Inazuma." Ayato spoke.

"We know eachother. It's fine. I didn't-not want it." You replied curtly. It was true.

"But did you want it?"

You opened your mouth, and closed it. You did. You definitely did. But to admit that so freely in front of a stranger, and your Harbinger was a little embarrassing.
"What's it matter to you?" Avoiding the question was something you could do, though. It didn't slip your mind that Scaramouche had looked at you with some hint of curiosity, wanting to hear the answer, no doubt.