a/n: it's been too long oopsies
♥
Thoma led Y/n to her room once again, since she had quite the forgetful memory. She thought her room would be in a poor condition since she was only there for whatever plan Ayato had in mind. However, the guest room was more well-kept and organized than she had expected.
"We usually use this room to greet figures of great importance so I was ordered to clean and maintain it daily," Thoma explained when he caught the glimpse of surprise on her face. "I'll leave you be then. Please call me if you need anything."
"Thank you."
He left the room, leaving Y/n to silently observe her surroundings before falling onto the soft mattress of the bed. The silk pillowcase felt smooth under her fingertips. She closed her eyes as fatigue took over.
The pretentious act she had to put up, the way her muscles tensed every second she walked around the Kamisato's territoryーthey all faded. She could feel her mask slipping away as she hugged herself tightly in bed.
"Scara...save me..." Her fingers dug into her arms in helplessness and fury. Her barely audible whisper faded as she drifted to a deep slumber. Fatigue got the better of her as the wrinkles on her face loosened.
Her vision went black and right after her plea for help, an electrifying aura surrounded the room. A wisp of purple smoke whirled around her and Scaramouche's figure slowly formed. A smile was on his lips as he stared at the sleeping girl, curled up and slightly shivering without her blanket.
A frown replaced his smile when he spotted the hydro elemental mark on her forehead. Enmity etched on his facial features as he stroked away the mark, his hand twitching uncontrollably. He had almost revealed the murderous intent in him. Almost.
"That Kamisato brat..."
The peck Ayato placed on her forehead was not solely just an act. He had placed it there to provoke Scaramouche. He wanted him riled up. He wanted him to snap and come for his neck.
He was baiting him.
"Hah...I see now..." Scaramouche laughed, keeping his calm as he stroked the electro mark on the back of Y/n's neck. A sheen coat of lavender surrounded her body as all the small traces of elemental marks left on her through physical touch were cleansed thoroughly in his presence.
The sly brat wasn't aiming for Y/n. He was aiming for Scaramouche from the very start.
"Y/n...sleep well..." Scaramouche whispered gently in her ear, his face incredibly close to hers. He then tilted his head and kissed her cheek, his figure slowly fading to nothingness leaving the remnants of smoke.
-
"Miss Y/n, I brought you breakfast." A shy voice came from the door. Y/n was fairly surprised to hear Ayaka outside her room. She had expected Thoma to serve her food since it was his duty.
Y/n stood up and pulled the doors open. They slid away from each other and Ayaka was revealed to hold a tray of dishes.
"Wow...thank you." Y/n drooled at the sight of egg rolls, onigiri, and Dango milk. "Did you make them?"
"Yes!" Ayaka said a bit too excitedly. She then realized her tone and lowered her voice. "I had nothing to do so..." She averted her eyes from Y/n, who could tell that it was a lie. She was an essential part of the Yashiro Commission so she was naturally busy every day.
Y/n didn't understand why Ayaka wanted to hide the truth but she didn't pressure her for answers.
"Want to join?" She nudged her head to the room and Ayaka blushed.
"I'll be going now. I'm fine. Thank you for the offer," she said quickly and left. Y/n stared at her scurrying back. She was akin to a bashful, timid lady on a run from her suitor.
"Hmm..." Y/n slowly walked back into her room and sat down on the tatami floor in an unorthodox manner. Her right leg was propped on her left knee as she dangled it there with her elbows holding her up.
She stuffed a whole egg roll into her mouth without hesitation and smeared a small crumb of it on the corner of her lips. She probably looked extremely discourteous eating like that in the Kamisato residence.
But she gave zero fucks.
"Scara..." She swallowed the remainder of the egg roll. She wanted to try something. "Care to clean this up for me?"
She waited in silence patiently, pointing at her crumb with a smile that slowly twitched in annoyance as seconds passed. After half a minute, she slapped her thigh and heaved a sigh.
"What was I thinking...?"
Then, she heard a sharp voice behind her. "Dumbass. You look like a fool with that crumb on your face."
A zap jolted her back straight and she shivered, releasing a shaky breath as slender cold fingers took her chin and tilted it to the side. A ghost-like Scaramouche leaned in and licked the corner of her mouth clean. A haughty smirk was shown on his lips as he finished the deed.
He looked as if he was about to be carried away by the wind when Y/n tried to pull on his sleeves. The translucent fabric slipped off her hands and she desperately shouted.
"Wait!"
Scaramouche paused and slowly turned his head back. His eyes softened when landing upon Y/n. How he wished he could take her right there and then. If only he didn't have to be so cautious since he betrayed the Fatui.
"You're leaving me again?"
"..." Scaramouche did not reply as he stared at Y/n wistfully.
"I will come for you when the time comes. Mark my words. There is nothing to be afraid of as long as I'm here." He spoke in a low voice, gentle yet resolute. He leaned in, his eyes resting on her lips.
Though his lips were linked to hers, she couldn't feel the warmth. All she felt were cold lips that felt like they could be blown away with a single breath of air from her mouth and the moment she blinked, he had disappeared from her sight.
Just like that, she was alone again in this foreign nation, in this cruel world that was not so different from her own. The only thing that comforted her was the birds chirping softly outside under the blue sky.
Slap.
"No, no, Y/n, this isn't like you!" She suddenly slapped herself, scolding herself while she was at it. "You are supposed to be strong and independent! Not some weak, pathetic simp for some dude who hasn't even done the fandango yet!"
She slapped herself again and her skin is now red. "What the duck were you even thinking yesterday?! How could you resort to such lowly methods? Damn, let me punch you instead."
She lifted a fist and was about to swing it across her face when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Her eyes met the ocean and she froze.
"I will not condone self-harm on our premises," Ayato spoke with smiling yet scary eyes. He looked like he was threatening her instead of genuinely smiling, which was understandable considering what she was doing to herself.
"I wiLL nOt cOndoNe self-harm on oUr pRemiSes."
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused, Ayaboba Bobasato! Now let go of me before I pull a Bruce Lee on you," Y/n hissed. She raised a hand with her index and middle fingers up in an attempt to threaten him. "You do not know the horrors these fingers have done..."
Ayato raised a brow.
"They have explored multiple asses that later on suffered from either constipation or diarrhea. I call this...TEN THOUSAND YEARS OF PAIN!!!" Y/n shrieked, getting into a battle stance. Her shrill voice made the other wince as he looked at her in both disgust and mild curiosity.
"Don't want you to poop out soggy boba now do we?" Y/n smirked as if she had won the fight. Her cockiness wasn't even recognized as Ayato slowly approached her and quickly brought his hand to the side of her neck, immobilizing her with a single chop.
Y/n's eyes rolled to the back of her head and Ayato caught her in his arms securely. He sighed for the first time that week and called for Thoma. The blond came rushing with a wet towel in hand, sweat clinging to his inner shirt.
"Yes, my lord?" He glanced at the unconscious Y/n. He could already predict what his lord was going to say.
"Get a doctor here. I believe she is not in the right mindset."
Now he did not expect that.
"Of course, my lord."