As Rin and Ren navigated the remnants of the opera house, its grand but now chaotic interior reflected the recent turmoil.
The shattered stage, flickering lights, and lingering whispers of the audience created a heavy atmosphere, and Ren couldn't shake the sense of urgency that propelled them toward their next destination: Arlecchino.
Rin felt a mix of reluctance and excitement swirling within him. Arlecchino was known for her sharp intellect and resourcefulness, traits that could be invaluable in their investigation. Yet the thought of working with her filled him with a sense of dread, and something else that made his heart race, though he couldn't quite identify it.
Arlecchino stood casually against the wall, her posture relaxed but her sharp eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. Her presence was magnetic, drawing their attention almost instantly.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little lawyer," she teased, her lips curling into a smirk as her gaze fell on Rin.
Something was wrong.
Rin's brow furrowed at the nickname, his cheeks heating up with indignation. "Don't call me that!" he protested, attempting to sound firm, but the flustered tone in his voice betrayed him.
"Why not? It suits you," she replied, feigning innocence, her expression playful. "I mean, who else would willingly take on a case like this? It's practically begging for chaos."
She was using my thing against her, against me!
Ren rolled his eyes at their banter, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. "Somebody had to do it" he interjected, crossing his arms defensively. "He was practically cornered into it."
Arlecchino's gaze shifted to Ren, and the corners of her mouth curled into a knowing smile, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Oh, you're just jealous that he gets to work with me. Don't worry... I won't bite."
"Yeah, right," Ren scoffed, a sarcastic edge creeping into his voice. "I know you too well. You'd probably chew him up and spit him out."
Rin shifted uncomfortably, caught between embarrassment and a strange thrill at Arlecchino's teasing. Her playful demeanor was disarming, and despite his annoyance, he felt a flutter of something akin to attraction, a tingle of excitement mixed with apprehension.
"What can you help us with?" he asked, determined to regain control of the conversation and focus on the task at hand.
"Depends on what you need," Arlecchino replied, her tone suddenly serious, though her smile remained, hinting at the mischief that often accompanied her words. "I have ears everywhere, and I can gather information that might lead us to the truth behind this mess."
Ren shot Rin a look, silently urging him to accept her offer. "We need to gather evidence and find out more about Lyney's accident," Rin said, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders like a cloak.
"Consider it done, little lawyer," Arlecchino said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. The nickname made Rin scowl, irritation flashing across his face.
"Stop calling me that!" he snapped, unable to hide his frustration, even as a part of him relished the playful back-and-forth.
"Relax, Ren," Arlecchino replied, her gaze lingering on Rin a moment longer than necessary, leaving him feeling uncomfortably exposed. "We'll figure this out together, and I promise to keep things... interesting."
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No Longer Human | Arlecchino
FanfictionA genshin impact story reincarnated into the world of Genshin but Ren doesn't realize the Issues before it was too late. "You said you were losing the sense of morality, but they were never there to begin with... Liar" -Romance? hell yeah -Harem? Fu...
