Harlequin Hearts // Arlecchino Genshin Impact x Female Reader One-Shots

Shadows of Protection

Shadows of Protection

The night had fallen over Snezhnaya, a cold, unforgiving darkness that wrapped itself around the land. Snowflakes danced in the air, swirling in the icy wind that howled through the narrow streets of the Fatui stronghold. It was a night like any other in this frozen land, but something felt different—there was a tension in the air, a sense of foreboding that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I pulled my coat tighter around myself as I hurried through the deserted streets, my breath visible in the freezing air. Arlecchino had told me to stay in tonight, to keep to the warmth of our shared quarters, but there had been an urgent matter I needed to attend to. Now, as I made my way back to her, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

As I approached the towering structure that housed the Fatui's operations, I felt the familiar presence of someone watching me. My heart quickened, but before I could react, a figure emerged from the shadows—tall, imposing, with eyes as sharp and cold as the icy landscape around us.

"Going somewhere, little dove?" the voice drawled, filled with mockery and malice. I recognized him immediately—a low-ranking agent who had always taken a particular interest in me, his gaze too lingering, his smile too cruel.

"Leave me alone," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest.

He laughed, a harsh sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Come now, don't be like that. You're all alone out here, and it's such a cold night. Let me... warm you up."

I took another step back, panic rising in my throat. I knew how dangerous these people could be, how ruthless. And without Arlecchino by my side, I felt vulnerable, exposed.

But before he could take another step toward me, a blur of motion shot out from the darkness, and suddenly, Arlecchino was standing between us, her presence a wall of cold fury. Her eyes, normally calculating and unreadable, now burned with a rage that made even the agent freeze in his tracks.

"Touch her," Arlecchino hissed, her voice low and deadly, "and I'll rip your throat out."

The agent paled, taking an involuntary step back. "Lady Arlecchino," he stammered, trying to muster some semblance of his usual bravado. "I was just—"

"Save your excuses," she snapped, cutting him off. "If you ever lay a finger on her, I will make sure your death is slow and painful. Do I make myself clear?"

He nodded frantically, his bravado crumbling under the weight of her gaze. "Y-Yes, my lady. I understand."

"Good," she said coldly, her eyes narrowing. "Now, disappear before I change my mind."

The agent didn't need to be told twice. He turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared. Arlecchino watched him go, her body still tense, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon as if she were barely restraining herself from giving chase.

When he was finally gone, she turned to me, and the hardness in her eyes softened immediately. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice now gentle, almost tender, as she reached out to cup my cheek.

I leaned into her touch, the warmth of her hand a stark contrast to the cold night air. "I'm fine, now that you're here," I whispered, my voice shaking slightly with the adrenaline still coursing through me.

She frowned, her thumb brushing over my skin in a soothing gesture. "You should have stayed inside," she said, her tone a mixture of concern and chastisement. "It's not safe for you out here, not when I'm not around."

"I know," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt for not listening to her earlier. "But I had to take care of something, and I didn't think..."

She shook her head, cutting me off with a soft sigh. "You don't have to explain," she said, her eyes filled with a depth of emotion that she rarely let show. "I just... I can't bear the thought of something happening to you. Not when I could have prevented it."

I reached up, placing my hand over hers. "Nothing will happen to me," I said, my voice filled with quiet determination. "Not as long as you're here."

Her eyes softened further, and she pulled me into her arms, holding me close against her chest. I could feel the steady beat of her heart, the warmth of her body seeping into mine, chasing away the lingering cold.

"I'll always be here," she whispered, her lips brushing against my hair. "I'll protect you, no matter what. I promise."

"I know," I murmured, my arms wrapping around her, holding her just as tightly. "And I'll always be here for you, too."

For a long moment, we stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the world around us forgotten. The wind howled through the streets, but it couldn't touch us—not when we were together. Arlecchino, the feared and ruthless Harbinger, was my shield, my protector, but in this moment, she was just the woman I loved, holding me close as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

When she finally pulled back, she looked down at me with an expression so tender, so filled with love, that it took my breath away. "Come on," she said softly, taking my hand in hers. "Let's go home."