Trials of the Heart

Chapter 9

"i'm glad it all worked out," you sighed, hugging scaramouche in your shared room. both of you had gotten home from the trial and were relaxing on the couch for the rest of the night. he hugged you back, gently rubbing your back.

"didn't expect for you to be testifying. you did well," he praised you.

"oh nonsense, i was just telling the truth," you replied. both of you were more alert when there was a knock at the door.

scaramouche got up, "i'll get it." he walked over and opened the door, revealing lyney and lynette. "oh."

"hey there," lyney said. "we're here because we had something to talk to Y/N about."

scaramouche looked back, "Y/N, these two are here for you."

"oh hey you two," you stood up, walking to the door. "want to talk in here or... maybe you want to talk elsewhere?"

"in here is fine," lyney said, looking over to scaramouche. "i uh... hope we're not interrupting anything."

"no," he said, a little coldly. "by all means, go ahead."

lyney gave him a small smile that he could muster after such a taxing day, "thank you."

"Y/N," lynette said to you. "are you... are you angry at us?"

"why would i be mad," you replied.

"well... we're fatui. and we know what the fatui did before..."

"it's a little hypocritical of me to hate you because of that. after all, i worked in sumeru on the god creation project. although i didn't personally agree with it, i still helped out. i can't hate you all."

"you worked on that mech," lyney asked you. "well, i'm not exactly surprised. but... i am relieved that you don't think of us any differently."

"not at all! you're both my friends who've helped me a lot."

"speaking of which... we found out the location of that person you mentioned to us," lynette said. "does... he know?"

you looked over to scaramouche, who was busy pre-occupying himself on the kitchen table reading a book. "well... i haven't told him yet. i don't want him to worry or anything."

lyney frowned, "you won't tell him?"

"maybe i will, maybe i won't," you replied. "anyways... why were you even looking into it? i told you both it's nothing to worry about."

"we still wanted to help you, after all that person is responsible for a lot of your past."

you looked to the side, hands clenching into a fist at the thought. "i know. but... a part of me doesn't want to see him."

"why not? Y/N, you need to face it at some point," lynette said. "wouldn't you want to find out why that person chose to run that experi-"

"i'll stop you right there, lynette," you said, trying to get out of those flashbacks. "i appreciate all that you've done for me... but that's my choice to make."

"alright... here's the information," lynette said, handing you the slip. "we'll be going now to give you and your boyfriend some time alone. have a good night, Y/N. and thank you."

you nodded, "it's no trouble at all. make sure to say 'hi' to freminet for me!"

"we will. and he wanted us to thank you for making the adjustments for pers. he really appreciates it," lynette said with a small smile.

you giggled, "of course! freminet is free to write to me in case he ever needs any help."

suddenly, lyney gave you a big hug, holding you in his embrace.

"lyney?"

"... i just wanted to say that i'm sorry and that i'm grateful. i'll reiterate this a lot, so bear with me. i'm sorry i didn't make it clear before, but i'm grateful that our friendship won't be impacted. and thank you for testifying plus being there as moral support, i don't think you know how much i value that."

you hugged him back, "of course lyney."

"i'm going to go figure out my life, so until then, i'll see you later," he broke the hug, tipping his hat as a way of saying goodbye, for now at least. lynette gave you a large hug as well, her ears folding down when you wrapped your arms around her.

"thank you Y/N. for looking out for me and my annoying brother."

you laughed, "and i'd do it all over again."

both of them left, leaving you with tears in your eyes and a letter in hand that had the information you needed. scaramouche walked over to you, placing one of his hands around your waist and the other one on your cheek to move your face towards him. he placed his lips over yours, kissing you slowly with as much tenderness as he could ever give you.

"what was that for," you asked breathlessly.

he pecked you again on the lips. "you look like you needed one." his attention was turned to the paper you had in your hand. "mind telling me what that is?"

"it's just some information that lyney and lynette gave me."

"about?" he watched you sigh with a distant and sad expression on your face, and he immediately understood that it was a sensitive topic. "you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."

"i'll tell you at some point," you said. "but... right now i'm still piecing things together myself."

he nodded. "take your time, Y/N."

you brought him into a hug, "thank you for understanding me, kuni. you always seem to bend and twist to my needs."

"it's what you deserve," he said. "remember when i told you that i'm a selfish man?"

"i do, why?"

"having you in my life as my girlfriend makes me happy, but seeing you content and in bliss makes me happier. i'm selfish because i want to make sure you have a smile on your face because of me. i'd flip the entire world over if it meant that you'd be happy. i haven't had the chance to give anyone i care about my affection, so now it's all going to you. makes sense?"

years and years of affection... that's a lot. you nodded, "but i feel like i'm not doing enough either."

"just being with a guy like me is more than enough on your part. so, whenever you're ready to tell me what that information is for, i'll be glad to give you the support you need to find out whatever it is you're looking for."

this whole chap is fking sad why do i do this to myself istg