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She was infuriating in all that she did.
It was the stupid way she fought, with power and intent. Her stupid smile that always kept catching him off guard. Like, who did that? She knew who he was, so why did she smile as if he wasn’t a monster? A dumbass in every right, to be sure. The stupid way she didn’t ever take care of herself, taking care of everyone’s fuckin’ problems like she was some sort of deity.
She was so stupid.
And so was this crush.
In moments like these, Scaramouche wondered what it was like to have a heart.
The sky was darkened with the setting sun, dappling stars against the vast expanse of the world. A shame that it wasn’t real. It was beautiful, for all that it was worth. Scaramouche sighed, spinning a dagger in his hand. It was boring, watching after her like this. She’d decided to take a breather by a stream. That annoying companion of hers had blipped out of existence, and she was alone. It would have been so easy to take her out.
But he couldn’t bear to, not when she looked so… sad. The traveler pulled her legs to her chest, watching the water rush by. The bags under her eyes told stories of all those who relied on her, her importance. Maybe, this was the best place she could get some peace and quiet. Her shoulders were slumping, almost as if the weight of the world was resting upon them.
It was the perfect place to piss her off.
“You should really watch your back,” Scaramouche said, jumping down from the tree and sauntering over.
Lumine barely recognized his existence. She glanced up, shrugged, and put her head back on her knees. “And you should know better than to announce your position.”
Shit. That was probably true. Scaramouche chuckled. “Not feeling very heroic today? And here I thought the legendary Traveler would be off saving the world from the Fatui. Either that, or doing someone’s dirty work they could easily do themselves. Tell me, do you relish being used by the world?”
“Lumine.”
“Huh?”
She didn’t turn to him, only sighed. “If you’re going to ridicule me, then call me by my name.”
Scaramouche put his hand on his waist. How curious. “And why should I?”
“Because you can kill me, here and now. And I’d like to hear my name before I die, for once.”
A shiver ran through Scaramouche’s spine. She wasn’t going to fight him. She wasn’t even going to try. Maybe she was too exhausted to do so. It would explain why she didn’t try and find the nearest inn. The whole day, he’d watched her go from request to request, commission to commission. She was right, he could kill her. It would be so easy.
But he knew the weight of expectation. It had been placed on his shoulders from the moment of his creation.
Without realizing that he was moving, his body sat down beside her. She gave him a curious look, raising her eyebrow. But she didn’t say anything, and the two of them sat in silence. It was surprisingly comfortable, as he looked to the sky, and she looked to the waters below.
After a beat of silence, Scaramouche opened his mouth.
“That was a genuine question, by the way.”
“What was?”
“Are you into being tossed around and used by everyone around you or something?”
Lumine half smiled, shaking her head. “No, not really. It started as a way to get information about my brother. Guess along the way it just… became something that made me feel wanted.”
Ouch. Scaramouche could understand that. Rather, Kunikuzushi could. Thrown to the winds, him and his defective body tossed out like trash, picked up by the Fatui. And he’d do anything— anything— to feel something. Maybe that was why he so easily allowed Dottore to unleash his power. He supposed it was for the better, in the end, but he couldn’t say it didn’t hurt.
It was… odd. Despite their glaring differences, there were some similarities between the Traveler and him. Both brought into a world they didn’t know, nor initially cared for. Both fought to get to where they were, even climbing up social ladders to get there, and he’d heard rumors about this mysterious brother of hers. So, both of them were abandoned by their kin.
Scaramouche must’ve stayed silent too long, because she switched the topic to something else. “Childe told me that you’d run away from the Fatui.”
He immediately scoffed. “Don’t believe everything that comes out of that birdbrain’s mouth. He has a pension for fighting anything that breathes more than he has brainells.”
Lumine snickered, and a little spark returned to her eyes. Scaramouche sighed, tilting his head up to the stars. “I have what I came for. I no longer need them. I’m surprised you’re not trying to snatch it back from me.”
She shrugged. “I don’t really care that you have it, honestly. It was surprising that Yae gave it to you, but she mentioned that Ei didn’t need it anymore, and she thought my life was a good trade. Still pissed that you tried to kill me, though.”
“You were in my way,” he stated plainly. “And I’ll dispose of anyone who does so.”
“Even the Fatui?”
“Even them.”
Lumine frowned. “I suppose I’m not too much better,” she grumbled. “I’ve killed a lot of Fatui myself.”
“Some of them had families,” Scaramouche reminded her, and her frown only got worse.
After a moment, she sighed. “Yeah, but they got in my way.”
Scaramouche chuckled, his eyes twinkling at her. “My my, and here I thought you were a paragon of good intent.”
“No,” she corrected. “I’m just in the right place at the wrong times. And my heart sways for those who are innocently affected. I didn’t want to help the resistance.”
“And yet you did.”
“So I could meet Ei.”
“You seemed fairly pissed when I saw you last, though.”
“Because Teppei didn’t need to die.”
“The visions granted by Celestia aren’t much better than the Delusions.”
Lumine groaned, burying her face into her arms. “Why is it you out of all people that I end up agreeing with? You tried to kill me, like, a month ago. So why you?”
“So you agree that visions are no better?”
Lumine huffed, propping her chin on her knees again with a pout. “Yeah, but at least Teppei could’ve lived a longer life if he got a vision.”
“And yet, he didn’t.”
She sighed, a sad look casting over her. “No. No he didn’t.”
Scaramouche hummed. She posed a good question, though. Why was it her, out of everyone he’d come across, that understood what he was talking about? Was it because she was completely impractical, or was she smart enough to see the bigger picture? Not many people were, but then again, she was well traveled. It was her title. She’d seen some shit. She’d met Archons, even fighting them. No mortal could withstand that.
And he could see where the tiredness came from. Pulled in every direction, her services frayed at the seams. Each place she went, it… improved. Mondstadt was saved, Liyue ushered in a new era, and his deadbeat mom finally had a change of heart. That was something that Kunikuzushi never could’ve done.
Scaramouche had given up hope and care for the world long ago.
But… maybe Kunikuzushi could hold onto that, just a little longer.
“Where do you intend to go next?”
Lumine gave him a weary glance, and he smirked in response. After a beat, she frowned. “Planning to try and kill me again, are you?”
Scaramouche laughed, shaking his head. “If that were the case, you’d be dead right now. Everywhere you go, there’s gonna be fatui. It’s not like you’re gonna get a break from them.”
“And everywhere I go, there will be ties to the Abyss,” she sighed. Scaramouche didn’t know what that meant, but it was certainly intriguing. Maybe while he was moving about from place to place, he could do a little research, even if only to get under her skin.
“Sumeru.”
Scaramouche glanced at her, eyebrow raised. He wasn’t expecting an actual answer. Was she just tired, or was she a fool enough to trust him? Man, why was this girl so wrapped in questions? It drove him mad, some days. But, he returned his gaze to the sky. “…Sumeru’s pretty.”
“You’ve been?”
“Not long.”
Lumine hummed. “At least this world is pretty,” she agreed.
What a strange connection. He didn’t know if such a connection could ever be maintained. He was trying to get his goals, and her goals were completely opposite of his. And they were both well aware that if they met in battle, they wouldn’t stop until the other was dead. But at least, for a time, it was nice to know that someone else had the same views as him.
“I should probably go back to town,” Lumine muttered, standing up and wiping off her dress. “Next thing I know, Paimon is gonna get on my ass about another 5 course meal.” She looked down at him, smiling. It was bright. Her eyes sparkled. “Thanks for the strange encounter.”
As she started to walk off, he huffed. “Lumine!” He called, and she immediately stopped and turned. “Get in my way and I won’t hesitate to wring your neck!”
She laughed, turning and walking back down the hill. “Sure thing. Next time, take me out to dinner!”
Scaramouche watched her saunter out of sight, trekking back to town. All that was left was him, the rushing waters, the crickets, the light breeze, and the sky. The stars blinked at him, the moon rose high and proud. There wasn’t a cloud to obstruct them. Only the vast, fake painting above.
And out of all of those fake stars, Lumine was the only one that was real.
And for that, Kunikuzushi dared to hope.