Summary: Although you ate pretty well yesterday that's not gonna help the fact that you're gonna be hungry again today. So you set off
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Rays of sunlight came through your window as your eyes opened slowly, you haven't slept that well since ever. Hell you haven't ate that well since ever. You rose from your bed stretching letting the bedsheets fall from you which you kicked back onto the bed. Another day without a job and another morning with only a fried egg for breakfast. After taking a quick shower and putting on a simple outfit that was nothing special you left your apartment.
"Your rent is over due Y/N" a voice came making you jump. You turned to see your landlord who was a nice old lady, one you had come to befriend.
"Ahh I know Su, I'm really sorry I am. I've been looking for a job lately and had no luck. Do you have anything for me?"
Su shook her head and panted your shoulder "you know I like you Y/N I really do, but if you can't pay your rent...." her voice trailed off and you didn't need her to finish. "I understand, thank you."
After waving goodbye you once more entered the streets of Liyue, the breeze was wonderful and you couldn't help but enjoy the breeze that hit your face. What could you do today? Stealing obviously hasn't been working out to well, not even the treasure hoarders would take you in if you got kicked out of your apartment.
You walked in the main plaza and decided to take a detour, walking up a flight of stairs.
"Oh hey Y/N! What are you doing here?" a familiar voice called out.
"Childe?" You asked turning in the direction your name was called. He was talking to a Fatui member who you assumed worked under him in front of a elegant building. Was that new? You never even noticed it before.
"The one and only" he stated putting a hand on his chest "Did you miss me that much? Or was my charm just leading you to me?"
You heard his awful flirting attempt but you were more focused on looking around not even responding. Hoping his "short but good friend" wasn't around. He seemed to notice this and he laughed putting his hand on your head ruffling your hair.
"But it seems like you missed Scaramouche more! Sadly for you he just left a little ago! I'll make sure to let him know you were looking for him!"
"Sure Childe.. WAIT WAIT NO!" You swatted his hand away flushing in embarrassment. "I was hoping for the opposite!"
Childe smirked in a playful way "oh so you're avoiding him? I'll make sure to tell him that then."
He started to walk off and just as he hoped you followed suite "No no please don't tell him anything! I don't want anything to do with him!" You clapped your hands above your head pleading.
Childe put a hand under his chin pondering "Hmmm I don't know, you two are certainly interesting. But I think we would be even better don't you agree?" He lowered himself slightly to be at your height playfully
"You're not even my type Childe" you laughed and poked his forehead, pushing back up to his normal height as much as you could.
"Oh? But short men with hats that jingle are?" Your blush was getting a little too apparent at the moment "Anyway you didn't answer my question. What are doing at the Northland bank?" His smile dropped for a second but returned quickly
Your eyes moved over to the building you saw with the man he was speaking to. So it was a bank then? This could help you with your financial situation
"Do they do loans?" You asked watching as Childe's smile dropped completely, he almost looked dangerous "We- They do. Why do you need one?"
You weren't exactly comfortable telling him about your sad rent story and didn't want to. Besides why did he care that you literally had no money? Well he did feed you recently. You can't be too harsh on him, he was also a lot more friendly and welcoming than Scaramouche despite being a Harbinger
You threw your hands up, "oh nothing really! Just a question is all Childe! Now stop looking at me like that, you look almost like Scaramouche."
Childe eyes widened before his cheerful expression came back "Oh sorry! Didn't mean to scare you Y/N! But ya know if you tell me I can help with whatever is going on. You can trust me! I'm your friend."
Was he your friend? He was nice and you genuinely enjoyed his company, but he was a Harbinger. Same as Scaramouche
You smiled a genuine smile " It's okay, thank you though Childe. I appreciate it. Oh I gotta go! I almost forgot why I came up here! Bye Childe!" You turned and waved immediately leaving the Harbinger to ponder in his thoughts. He watched you walk off towards what seemed like the direction of the book store. Why did you leave in a hurry like that? It almost hurt his feelings, almost. But he had a feeling there was a lot more going on here, you obviously needed money.
With a more serious tone he spoke "Men," and three Fatui members walked out what seemingly looked like no where. All taking a knee to their superior "Sir!"
"I want you to find out more about that girl I was talking to. Y/N is her name, bring me information by afternoon got it?"
You didn't really have anything to do, but getting away from Childe was a start. You felt kinda bad but didn't want him to question you anymore, he looked threatening, you didn't like it.
Opening your small bag you took what little mora you had and headed to get a snack. You were starving again, but noticed it wasn't enough to actually buy anything. "Maybe I should have stayed with Childe..." You sighed and decided you would do something slightly dumb. You left the city of Liyue and headed out into the mountains to see if you could simply pick some berries or find some ingredients. About an hour or two into the walk you wondered where Scaramouche could have gone to, of course so you could avoid him. But smiled because he wouldn't be running into you anytime soon. Childe said he left and you almost wanted to ask Childe where whenever you ran into him again. You've met crazy but then there was the short Harbinger himself. You snickered as you tried to picture him without his hat, he was some how shorter. Your giggles were cut short when a soft yellow glint caught your eyes just ahead of you.
"Jackpot!" You shouted excitedly and started to pick the arrangement of plants you knew were edible. Even eating some along the way, you walked out further not noticing that it was becoming night fall and pretty cold. "Just how long have I been walking?" You should really get better at managing your time. Holding your arms and shivering you couldn't help but get excited when spotting a campfire up the hill. "Warmth!" You shouted and There was even cooked fish and even a sweet Madame sitting besides it. Even with some empty tents around it. Whoever's food it was they weren't here now. Your mouth was watering and you looked side to side to see that no one was there. Maybe you get just have a few bites?
You snuck closer and kept checking side to side, still no one. You reached out and started to work on the Sweet Madame, it was delicious and absolutely worth the stress of getting caught. You were enjoying it so much that you didn't even notice the three men now standing behind you, watching you enjoy their dinner. "Pretty good huh?" A voice came and you smiled "Yeah It's very good! Whoever made it should be prou-" your smile dropped and you whipped around to what you believed were Fatui Skirmishers all equipped with weapons. What were you? A Fatui magnet?
"Oh hello! Haha who are you?" You weakly laughed setting the food down and started to crawl away. One the the skirmishers whipped out a rifle and aimed it right at you "Now now don't be shy. Go on ahead and finish eating why don't you?" So your death options were simple. Die by hammer, die by rifle, or whatever the big guy had. "Let the boss know we have a intruder." The bigger Fatui with a hammer commanded and the one who you assumed was two seconds away from shooting you took off without question. He dashed off quickly and you were astonished by his speed. Wait Boss?
"Wait wait please! I'm sorry! I was starving and shouldn't have touched your food! I can pay you for it!" You pleaded knowing damn well you couldn't.
"With what money? You literally just ate some of our food!" The big skirmisher replied and genuinely amused despite the situation. You had an awkward smile and shrugged "Good point! Ya got me there, also quick question if possible?" You asked putting your hands together politely, when neither spoke you took it as they were waiting for you to ask.
"Your boss, is it Childe? I actually happen to know him and he considers me.... a friend! Yes that's it!" Still on the ground you pleaded it was at least a higher rank Fatui you knew not realizing you only met two.
The Skirmishers looked at each other before returning their gaze back to you as the Fatui with a rifle approached quickly but slowing down to step beside them. "He's coming, he's in a GREAT mood to hear about our situation."
"Goodie," the Fatui with some kind of backpack responded sarcastically "She was just asking about our boss. She asked if it was Childe, I wish we were that fucking lucky to work under him." His laugh rumbled in his chest
You gulped, so it was clear their boss was an asshole. "Your boss then.... he wouldn't happen to be short with a horrible temper? Big ass hat? Ya know it's really pretty and jingles?"
They said nothing and quickly stood to attention when you heard footsteps approaching. No... no no no no
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," a VERY familiar voice came causing you to look over, his men not moving to not risk their lives to look him in the eyes. Your heart sank as your eyes landed on Scaramouche himself, not exactly what you meant by pleading for it to be a higher rank Fatui you knew "What the hell are you doing at my camp?" he crossed his arms
Of all the people that could have been their boss "What the hell are you doing camping?" You asked raising a eyebrow genuinely confused. Scaramouche rolled his eyes "None of your fucking business, now answer my question."
Archons he pissed you off "Let me guess? Would it be rude of me as a quest not to answer?" You asked eyebrow arched and Scaramouche's eye twitched
Sensing his anger the three skirmishers moved ahead of you and fell to their knees to answer hoping to calm his already shitty attitude "Sir she was eating our food and possibly looking to steal whatever was had on site."
Scaramouche stared at the three men before moving his eyes back to you and burst out laughing holding his stomach "You were eating our food? You broke bitch!"
You hated this man so very much, you really did. So much so you turned your head away to not acknowledge him. He finished laughing and ordered his three men to rise "Don't worry about her she's not a threat, not in the slightest. Guess her boyfriend Childe didn't feed her today."
"Gee thanks..." you whispered to yourself, he wasn't exactly wrong. You didn't even know how to wield a weapon. "Wait Childe isn't my-"
"Now get back to your post, let's not let any more intruders on site shall we?" Scaramouche commanded and the men scrambled to get away from him to do what he commanded.
Right as they left Scaramouche returned his gaze back to you and for a moment you both just stared at each other, and if it was any more perfect timing you felt a droplet hit your nose. Sprinkle after sprinkle until it started raining. The dirt you were still sitting on turned to mud and now you were even more cold. You were gonna get sick damn it. Scaramouche on the other hand was just fine, his hat protected him from the droplets and he was enjoying watching you pout and freeze.
"Can I go now?" You asked brushing some mud off your legs as you started to stand up.
"Did I say you could stand?" He scolded and walked over to you to only push your shoulder so you could once more sit in the mud. "You asshole! What was that for?! I'm gonna get sick if I don't warm up and dry off!" You shouted shooting right back up to your feet now eye level with him. Scaramouche let out a "Tch"
"Fucking brat, can't even take the simplest of orders." Oh you were steaming with anger, so much so the rain that hit you was probably evaporating. Both of your bodies were close, so close your noses were almost touching.
"I don't work for you, or the Fatui." You snapped back at him angrily
"Oh?" He asked smiling while bringing his hand up so he could rest his chin on it "And what makes you say that? Childe was very intent on making you join. Even mentioned to me earlier through message that you may be in debt to us soon anyway."
What did he mean? You in debt to the Fatui? You had nothing to do with them.
"Please, I would rather have Childe actually date me at that point. Now answer me." You stated hitting him with his own medicine
He cocked an eyebrow and pulled away from how close you two were "What makes you think you can order me to do anything? I don't answer to pests."
"Well considering if I don't ask to leave you may just kill me anyway.... but you know what I don't even care for your answer. I'm leaving anyway." You turned around to start leaving but noticed it was pitch black down the mountains while it was raining. You didn't have a weapon and wouldn't be able to see where you were. The moon wasn't exactly helping you tonight
"Leave and go where? Ha! You have no idea where you're going dumb ass. Do you even know how to fight? You also said it yourself, you'll get sick in the rain so watch you freeze to death!" He started laughing and you simply didn't answer before heading off into the darkness his laughter dieing down. "OH you're actually serious?!" He laughed even harder at you
You kept walking until you couldn't hear him anymore and cursed as you walked between the mountains down what you thought was a path. How far even were you from Liyue?
The rain was simply numb to you at this point but the cold definitely wasn't "I hate my luck" you mumbled before slipping on mud and rolling down the hill "WAH-!" You squeaked and landed on something warm below. It was also kinda fluffy but still warm nonetheless and you enjoyed the return of something other than the cold and rain. Well until you looked up to see a hillichurl staring at you before getting all pissy and pushing you off to grab a club.
"WAIT WAIT IM SORRY!" You shouted and dodged a swing it took at you. You may just have landed on it while it was sleeping, and due to you shouting and the ruckus of the now pissed off hillichurl you noticed three more get up. All intent on beating you lifeless for interrupting their slumber.
You screamed and took off in the direction from which you fell, your chest heaving as you even surprised yourself with your speed. The hillichurls followed you making all kinds of angry noises and one even threw a rock during the chase which hit the back of your head. You weren't even sure how much longer you had in you before you saw the familiar camp site you had just left. "Skirmisher people help! Please!" You shouted hoping to catch their attention but realized they went to their posts they were commanded too. Whelp you were dead. There was no one else who could help you but yourself
Out of breathe you went to your last option and stopped just a little before the camp, putting all your weight and momentum from your chase into your hand as you punched as hard as you could landing onto the hillichurl's face. It fell back with a huff as you held you hand in pain from punching the mask it had on as the other three approached all swinging at the same time at you. You leaped to the side as they stumbled over each other and fell. You laughed almost surprised you were even putting up a fight. However during your moment of cockiness you didn't notice the hillichurl you punched get up and raise its club above your head
"Y/N get down!" You heard a annoyingly familiar voice call out but did as you were told regardless. Scaramouche quickly jumped out of wherever he was and kicked the hillichurl behind you sending it back. You stared out him with wide eyes, why was he helping you?
"Oh look you may actually be smart enough to take orders!" He sneered "Now move out the way! These bastards aren't killing you before me!"
His hand was starting to cackle with electro as he raised it ready to shock the hillichurls but you remained ducking staring at him. You were like a deer in headlights, he really was helping you even if he was being an asshole about it.
"Or maybe you are just that fucking stupid and can't take orders. I warned you to move. Not my fault you're a dumb ass."
With flashes of purple the hillichurls were being electrocuted, the rain causing them to have a charge. Wait weren't you wet too? And kind of close to them? Oh that's why he told you to- you hated how stubborn you could be.
Although three hillichurls were burnt to a crisp the last one who stood connected a charge with you and you screamed as your whole body tensed as you felt a severe feeling spread through it. Already being on your knees you fell to the ground completely as the harsh feeling left and you were weakly gasping for air. The hillichurl who lasted the longest out of his group joining them in the afterlife. Your vision fading slowly and body feeling numb you heard words that you assumed wasn't the archons telling you your time had come as well.
"I told you to fucking move didn't I?" You heard him say as his feet walking up to was all you could make out. Definitely not the archons telling you your time was up. Scaramouche crouched next to you and stared with something you couldn't quite place before his usual expression returned before using a finger to brush a strand of hair behind your ear.
"Now this order you will take Y/N,"
He stated his voice dangerously low "Remember this feeling, Remember that feeling of electro well."
You brought your eyes to meet his with whatever strength you had left to see a sickening smirk
"That was barely me lifting a finger, now imagine what I could really do to your body if I tried. You are and will always be at my mercy, I could strike at any time. You will be reduced to ashes slowly. I will do to you as I please when I please."Your eyes closed and the last feeling you had felt was his warm hands from his electro attacks going under you and he lifted your body up into his arms.
Scaramouche walked back into camp with you in his arms, a Skirmisher approached quickly. "Sir I heard the ruckus! Are you alright?"
"Of course I'm fine you dumb fuck. You think I can't handle a couple hillichurls?" The Skirmisher panicked "No sir-! That's not what I meant!"
"Back to your fucking post." Scaramouche snapped and the agent left quickly. Scaramouche walked into his tent and set you on his cot he usually slept on but still had way too much work to do to just sleep. He considered leaving you out in the rain to suffer but considering your state after barley shocking you he needed you alive. He wasn't done with you yet, not even close. He rubbed his temple and sighed in annoyance before looking at you once more. "Childe was wrong again, you need to lose some fucking weight brat. Maybe stop fucking eating.."He commented and stepped out to continue his work. He couldn't believe he actually was letting you stay here the night, archons you were a fucking annoyance. You were always bumping into him somehow. That's right, a fucking pest who was always on his last nerve despite being able to live another day. Not for much longer if you kept it up.