Fragments of Silence: Scaramouche x Aether

Chapter XII: Seeking Clarity II

Scaramouche moved through the forest with increasing urgency, the mist curling around his feet like the tendrils of doubt that wrapped around his heart. He had searched every corner, every path Aether might have taken, but there was no sign of him. The emptiness left behind by the Traveler's absence gnawed at him, growing with each passing moment.

Where are you? The thought echoed in his mind, the panic he had been fighting to suppress now bubbling to the surface. He stumbled through the undergrowth, the usual grace of his movements lost in his frantic search. His chest tightened, a sensation he couldn't identify constricting his every breath.

"No," he muttered to himself, shaking his head as if to clear it. "This is absurd. He has to be here somewhere." But even as he said it, a dark thought clawed its way into his mind. What if something happened to him? What if...

He refused to finish that thought. Aether was strong; he didn't need protecting. And yet, the possibility of something going wrong—the idea that Aether might be out of reach, gone beyond where Scaramouche could follow—terrified him in a way he couldn't explain.

He tore through the underbrush, emerging back onto the outskirts of the city. His eyes darted around, searching desperately for any sign of golden hair or that small, hovering figure that accompanied the Traveler everywhere. Nothing. The marketplace was alive with people going about their day, but the one person he needed to see was missing.

"Damn it!" he hissed under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. He felt anger welling up inside him—anger at the Traveler for disappearing, anger at himself for caring. Why does this matter so much? Why do I care if he's gone?

His steps faltered, his mind racing. He had scoured the market and the forest, and still, there was no trace of Aether. A new wave of panic surged within him, mingling with the anger and confusion already churning in his chest. There was one place he hadn't checked, one last hope. It was a long shot, and it made his skin crawl to even consider it, but he was running out of options.

The Sanctuary of Surasthana.

The very thought of going there felt like a defeat. He had kept his distance from the Dendro Archon, wary of her insight and the questions she might raise. But now, he found himself driven to the point where his pride had to take a backseat to the knot of fear tightening around his heart.

Fine, he thought bitterly, setting his jaw as he turned toward the Sanctuary. If that's what it takes to find him, then so be it.

With hurried steps, he moved through the streets of Sumeru, his eyes scanning every face, every corner, hoping against hope that Aether might appear and spare him from what he was about to do. But the streets offered no such reprieve, and the unease settled deeper into his bones as the Sanctuary came into view.

The air around the Sanctuary of Surasthana was different, cooler and tinged with a dreamlike quality that always made him uneasy. Scaramouche approached cautiously, the great tree looming overhead like a silent guardian. His heart pounded in his chest, fear and uncertainty etched across his usually composed face. He hesitated just a few steps away from the entrance, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.

What if he's not here? What if something happened, and I'm too late? The questions tore at him, shredding his resolve, leaving him standing on the edge of a decision he wasn't prepared to make.

And then, the door to the Sanctuary opened.

Scaramouche froze, his breath catching in his throat as he watched Aether and Paimon emerge into the light. For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Relief crashed over him like a tidal wave, sweeping away his anger and panic, leaving only the raw, unfiltered need to know that Aether was safe. His body moved on instinct, abandoning all reason and restraint.

"Aether!" he choked out, his voice breaking. Before any of them could react, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, throwing his arms around the Traveler in a tight embrace. His heart pounded against Aether's chest, and he buried his face in the Traveler's shoulder, breathing heavily, as if drawing life from the simple act of holding him.

Silence hung in the air, thick and charged with unspoken emotions. Aether stood there, stunned, his arms frozen at his sides as he tried to process what was happening. Paimon's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide with shock as she hovered a few feet away, unsure of what to say or do.

Scaramouche clung to Aether, his fingers digging into the fabric of the Traveler's coat, holding on as if letting go would mean losing him again. The world around them blurred, the only reality being the warmth of Aether in his arms, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

"Aether?" The voice reached his ears like a faint echo. Scaramouche stiffened, his eyes widening in sudden realization. His heart skipped a beat as he became acutely aware of how tightly he was clinging to the Traveler, like a child desperate for comfort. A flush of heat rose to his face, and with it, a wave of anger—directed more at himself than anyone else.

He tore himself away from Aether, his usual mask snapping back into place, though it lacked its usual bite. "You idiot," he spat, his voice shaky despite his attempt to sound cold. "Where have you been? Wandering around like some lost fool..."

Aether blinked, still processing the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded. "I was just talking to Nahida," he said softly, his voice calm and steady. "Why—"

"Shut up!" Scaramouche cut him off, his eyes flashing with an intensity that didn't match his trembling hands. "I don't need your explanations," he snapped, though his words came out hollow, lacking their usual sharpness. "Just... don't disappear like that again!"

Before either Aether or Paimon could respond, Scaramouche turned sharply on his heel, his coat flaring behind him as he stalked away. His movements were quick, almost frantic, like a wounded animal fleeing from a threat it didn't understand. Aether reached out a hand instinctively, as if to stop him, but hesitated, letting it fall back to his side.

"Scaramouche, wait—" he began, but the Harbinger had already disappeared around the corner, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

Paimon hovered in the air, her eyes wide with confusion. "What... just happened?" she stammered, glancing at Aether as if he might have the answer.

Aether shook his head, his gaze fixed on the direction Scaramouche had fled. "I'm... not sure," he replied quietly. "But whatever it was, it was real."

A soft, almost melodic laughter drifted from within the Sanctuary, breaking the silence around them. Nahida stepped forward, her eyes twinkling with an amused, knowing look. "Silly Kuni," she said softly, her voice filled with a gentle warmth. "Still hiding behind those walls of his."

Paimon turned to Nahida, her expression a mix of surprise and bewilderment. "Kuni? Wait, you mean... Scaramouche?" she asked, trying to piece together what she had just witnessed.

Nahida nodded slightly, her smile never faltering. "He's more lost in his own heart than he realizes," she replied, her gaze shifting to Aether. "And it seems you've touched a part of him he's been hiding for a very long time."

Aether swallowed, a sense of heaviness settling over him as Nahida's words sank in. "I... I didn't mean to," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to understand."

"And sometimes, understanding opens doors that have long been shut," Nahida replied gently. She glanced back toward the path Scaramouche had taken, her expression thoughtful. "But now, it's up to him to decide whether he wishes to step through or not."

Aether nodded slowly, a mixture of concern and determination building within him. Whatever was happening between them, he knew this was far from over. "I'll be here," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, as he turned his gaze back toward the city.

Paimon floated closer, her eyes still wide. "So... what do we do now?" she asked, her voice uncertain.

Aether took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "We wait," he said quietly, his gaze lingering on the path ahead. "And when he's ready, we'll be here."