Save Me From Myself (Scaramouche/Wanderer x OC)

Realization

(A/N: TYYY ARI FOR YOUR HELP!)

Zara's POV

'Let me go!' I yelled, pushing Kiana off me

'No! You can't leave Sumeru!'

'Tighnari doesn't need me! He loves her! Not me!' I yelled

I froze in surprise. Oh, archons, what did I just say? No, no, this isn't supposed to happen! No one was supposed to know!

'You're in love with him, aren't you?' Kiana said, holding me to the floor as I kicked her off

'No! I hate him! I HATE HIM!' I yelled back

I hate him...I hate him...I hate him! I kept chanting that in my mind. Maybe if I say and think of it enough, it will become true.

'Bullshit.' she responded. 'You fucking love him, and you know that! Running away won't help you!'

'I know it won't help me, but it'll help him! You're right! I love him! That's the exact reason I'm leaving!' I yelled, 'It's for his own good and yours too!'

'Running away won't help! Running away from the man you're in love with isn't the answer!'

'Hah, like you'd know!' I said, rolling my eyes

'I do know...because I was once just like you.' Kiana said, staring directly into my eyes

'What?'

'I ran from Kazuha! I pushed him away, but he still cared. He saved my life, Zara, and if your story is anything like mine...you'll know Tighnari cares about you just as much as Kazuha does. You both need to protect each other...not the other way around.'

'It won't be like that, Kiana...I lied to him. Who would love a fucking liar who was a criminal too.' I finally said, giving up, 'He hates me...'

Kiana's POV

She fell to the floor and covered her face, sobbing. My heart hurt. I could see the old me in her. The scared, alone, and broken me. I could see myself in her. She was broken...just like me.

'My life hasn't been easy ever. I know how you feel.'

'Your life is perfect! You don't get to talk! You don't know anything about me or my life!' 

Tighnari's POV

I could still hear that stupid bunny in my head. My sweet...annoying...beautiful bunny. My ears drooped. I returned to my lab to see Aria upset, and Scara storm out. 

'FIGHT YOUR FUCKING DEMONS BEFORE MINE!' I heard Scara yell

I looked at her, and she seemed extremely heartbroken.

'Oh, Tighnari.' she said, turning to me with a fake smile

Her eyes went to my clenched hand.

'Hmm, what's that vine doing in your hand?'

I looked down at the vine in my hand. Why was I still holding onto it? Urgh, that doesn't matter. I don't care about her. I tried to throw it, but my fist didn't uncurl.

'Oh...uh, there was this pretty flower I saw, and I went to investigate it, but as a defense mechanism, it wrapped itself around me.'

'And Zara?'

'She left.' I said bitterly, 'She's left me for good.'

'I'm so sorry, Nari.'

'It doesn't matter. It was her decision, and I don't give two shits about that.'

Aria's POV

I saw Tighnari trudge in. His face was devoid of emotions, and his ears and tail hung down low. He looked sad but stoic at the same time. He walked away with his hand still clutching the vine tightly. He was lying when he told me he didn't give two shits...it hit him hard. It broke him. I'm a mess myself. What Scara said rang in my ears like a broken record.

"Have you ever stopped to think why your eyes are different from everyone else?"

He was right...my pupils were not like anyone else's. The only person I'd seen who had similar eyes to me was a girl my age, but I can't remember her name. Should I go and ask Lesser Lord Kusanali about what Scara said? No, Scara will probably be there, and I don't want to see him right now. I sighed and decided to take a walk. I need fresh air right now. I decided to go and take a walk in the Avidya Forest.

Xinoue's POV

'Tsk.. I dropped one of my scrolls there..'

I trudged through the forest, surveying the area with the scanner implanted in my goggles. I spotted the scroll wedged in some vines. I wanted to get out of the forest as soon as possible; I moved my goggles to the top of my head, bolting in the direction of the scroll. I tried to yank the scroll out of the vine, but it was a really annoying and stubborn one. It kinda looked like one from a dendro vision.

'Let go of my scroll, you fucking piece of shit!' I cursed at the vine

I finally pulled it out, but I crashed into a girl as I fell. She looked about my height and...she looked familiar.

'I'm so sorry!' I said

'No, you're ok.' the girl responded, getting up and dusting herself off.'

My eyes widened at the sight of the girl. She looked so familiar. I couldn't pinpoint why, but- aha. Her eyes, they looked like.. mine.

'I'll be going now.' I said quickly

'W-Wait!' she said, but I paced away

I rushed to get the scroll and ran off again. Why do I feel like I've seen her before? Was she from Khaenri'ah!? Oh my goodness! Am I not alone!? I shook my hand as the stupid vine still clung to my hand. 

'Stupid vine, let go!' I grumbled

When I finally got it free from my hand, I saw it was wrapped around a crest. It was a golden crest with a rabbit symbol. It kind of looked like the crest of Conejo Village. All the bunny hybrids of Sumeru were killed, right? I thought that village was wiped out by the...Fatui. Seiich had boasted about that. He was a fucking asshole. I shook my head. No Xi! Don't think about that time. As Eve had told you back then...the only thing I can do is move forward and not be held back by my past.

'I can learn from my past, but I shouldn't let it hold me back.' I said to myself

I walked forward, but that girl and this crest kept coming up in my brain. Who was she, and is there a survivor?