That night, your first kiss was stolen by someone unexpected. A Harbinger, of all people, your very boss. What was Scaramouche thinking? Did he know that his actions would spiral into something out of his control?

You can still feel his delicate hands on you, the same hands that have most likely ended multiple lives. It was a mystery to you, you really thought that there was no romantic tension between you two. But you hated to admit that you didn't mind it.

Maybe the Gods have destined Scaramouche to enter into your life, perhaps your good karma is catching up with you. It felt really nice, his soft touches and quiet voice. Surely, you were the only woman who has experienced this side of him. Scaramouche is a very reserved man, after all. Maybe he did love you back.

A sound from outside the tent jolted you awake. Your eyes snapped open and they were quick to adjust to the dim lighting, you took a glance at your surroundings. But you couldn't exactly see anything from the position you were in.

There was an arm wrapped securely around your neck and someone's collarbone was right in front of you. Once you were aware of the close proximity you were with Scaramouche's body, your face turned into a brilliant shade of red. Your arm, as well, was under his, holding onto his clothing tightly.

"S... Someone's outside..." You whispered in bewilderment. As you went to get up, you found yourself stuck.

Like some sort of deathtrap, when you tried to separate from the Harbinger only to be pulled back in closer than before. In the process of trying to escape upwards, you were doomed for failure. It was no use because now Scaramouche was clinging onto you, his face inching closer to your breasts.

"Sir, I think there's someone outside..." You whispered, shaking him slightly in attempts to alert him. "Sir...?"

His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he retreated further into the pillow. A relaxed expression was now on his face as he continued to enjoy whatever dream he was dreaming. Now that you think about it, he looked no better than a spoiled kid!

You were becoming frustrated, "My Lord, I have to check it out, I think we're in danger."

There was still no response from him, he was looking defenceless and unbothered, without a care in the world. The Treasure Hoarders could be coming back with more members and your boss wouldn't even notice!

"My Lord, Scaramouche...!" You pleaded, saying his name desperately.

He didn't even move a muscle. Scaramouche was already out cold. At this point, you didn't know what else to do. There were no orders for you to carry out because your superior was currently cuddling up to your body like you were some sort of teddy bear.

Already, you were biting your nails anxiously as you glanced at both the young man and the entrance of the tent. Never in your life have you done something without direct instructions from the Harbinger but you had no choice.

You decided it was best to go without him.

Like a rigid snake, you carefully slipped out of Scaramouche's grasp and replaced the empty space with a pillow as a body double. He immediately trapped the cushion under his arm and relaxed, holding it captive until it was time to wake up.

With your ears perked up and tracking the small noises you were hearing, you slowly pushed the curtains away. As you slipped outside the tent to scout the area, you were welcomed with a fairly peaceful Liyuen scenery.

The sun hasn't even risen yet and it was a little chilly. There was a mist coating the ground, the swaying grass still has watery remnants of the thunderstorm last night. This after-rain smell was very comforting. It was the type of weather that you enjoyed other than gentle snowfall.

In the early morning darkness, you saw the figure of a girl walk behind some wooden crates, perhaps searching through them. You quietly made your way towards her, bending your knees and being light with every step.

From behind the boxes, you walked around them to make yourself known and the other person jumped back out of surprise. Quickly, you made sure to study your opponent. She had short blond hair and a white exotic dress, and a floating creature next to her?

"Freeze, stop right there! Ah...?" You exclaimed, your hand darting to your hip. A surprised gasp left your lips and you felt your blood run cold when you realized your spray guns were left inside the tent. What a rookie mistake! You could already imagine Scaramouche punishing you for something as stupid as this.

The stranger held her sword up, anticipating if you were going to strike her first. Then and there, both of you had a stare-off, tensions running high. It was difficult to name an element to her, she didn't seem to have a vision anywhere!

Still, you tried to make yourself look opposing, "Who are you?"

"Yikes, Paimon thinks she's a part of the Fatui!" The floating girl whispered loudly to the blonde, pointing rapidly at your clothes. "C'mon, let's go escape before it's too late!"

"No worries, I'm simply a recruit! I'm not your enemy!" You put up a friendly smile, turning on your manipulative side. "I'm not here to fight, I just want to ask who are you and what are you doing on our campsite."

There was no point in trying to start a battle, you didn't have your spray guns with you and didn't want to charge into unknown danger. If only Scaramouche was here, things would have gone a lot more smoothly.

The blonde glanced around cautiously before lowering her weapon and tucking it away. She finally looked at you in the eyes and confidently greeted you, "I'm Lumine."

"Lumine," You forced out a toothy grin while shutting your eyes. "Have you seen anyone named The Traveller?"

She hesitated, "No..."

"Why are you here? You do know that this is a Fatui campsite, right?"

"There were Treasure Hoarders lurking in the area." Lumine's answer grabbed your attention. "They were yelling something about... Revenge for fallen teammates?"

You covered your mouth to laugh lightly, "Ah, the word goes around fast...!"

"We basically saved your life, girl!" Paimon stood proudly as if she was waiting to be given a reward. You were still mildly intrigued with the floating creature. "Those guys looked tough but Lumine knows how to knock them out! Pow, pow!"

"I see," You backed down. "Well, I thank you for that. I am in your debt."

The blonde pointed behind you, "Is that your tent? I would like a place to cook some food by the campfire-"

"N-No!" You interjected, stopping Lumine from taking another step forward. "My, uhhh..."

She tilted her head in curiosity when she saw your nose scrunched a little.

"My... boyfriend is sleeping in there..." It took all of your power not to slap your hands over your face, embarrassment was eating you up from the inside. The mere thought of Scaramouche being your romantic partner was just too much for you to handle at the moment.

"Okay...?" The girl laughed a little at your odd behaviour.

"You're injured, would you like me to treat your wounds?" You made her sit down on a nearby rock, patting her shoulders to make sure that she stayed seated. "I'll share with you a Snezhnayan delicacy to help with your health!"

"No worries, I'm not that injured, but resting here would be nice! I've never met a Fatui member as hospitable as you! Thanks for your kindness..." Lumine laughed at your eagerness and then furrowed her eyebrows slightly. "Eh, what's your name...?"

"I'm [Y/N]," You greeted, sitting down on a neighbouring rock. "If you have any other questions, I'll happily answer them."

Paimon nudged Lumine's head gently and the girl automatically perked up as if she remembered something important, "Have you seen another boy that looks like me? My twin brother and I got separated, I don't know how long for, but I know he's somewhere in this world. I... miss him very much..."

"A boy that looks like you. A twin brother..." You thought deeply and then shook your head. "No... I'm afraid I haven't."

"Darn..." Lumine's hopeful gaze died away the moment she heard your words. "I've been travelling around the nations of Teyvat but still no lead to where Aether might be. Even though I run errands for everyone, they don't give me any information. I'm starting to think the worst."

Paimon circled around her, "Cheer up, Paimon is sure you'll reunite with him one day!"

Seeing the girl in front of you slowly wallow in depression, you finally dropped the manipulative persona because you decided that it wasn't needed anymore. You weren't really used to consoling sad people, but it wouldn't hurt to try to comfort her.

"I... Um..." You fumbled with your words.

She turned to you with glossy eyes and sad crinkled eyebrows, interested in what you were going to say.

"I know how it feels..." You answered sincerely.

"You do?" She sighed out of disbelief.

"Yes, I have an older brother who I miss dearly as well..."

Lumine lowered her shoulders sadly, "Aether and I have been separated for so long, I'm scared he might forget what I even look like... I suppose you have the same dilemma as I do."

"I've been separated from my brother too but I still write letters to him." You admitted, twiddling your thumbs together. "When I joined the Fatui, I left my family... big brother Nikolai is all the way in Snezhnaya. Dependent on my mother's care. Mentally..."

She was dumbfounded, "What do you mean?"

"On my family's behalf, I went to enlist into the Fatui. My older brother was there too as a Geochanter Bracer, however... he was not mentally capable of the harsh training he had to endure. It made him crazy... He's on endless amounts of medication..." You sighed at the memory.

"The Fatui training is that bad?"

You smiled crookedly, "Let's just say that he had different moral views than the Harbingers... and he was punished then banned from serving. I thank the Gods that he wasn't killed on the spot."

"Wait..." Lumine's eyes went wide as she held her hands up in surprise. "Do you happen to know a man named Childe?"

Nodding, you raised an eyebrow, "I do, he's my boss... Why...?"

"I think I might know a reason why your brother might have gone crazy."

You tilted your head out of curiosity, chuckling a little, "How could you possibly know?"

"Childe told me that the Fatui were practicing new methods of disciplining recruits. He said soldiers would get a small shock to their bodies whenever they did something bad as a way to program them not to act that way again. Or if they did something good, making sure they stay that way! With the electric shock and the use of trigger words!"

"What?"

Paimon raised her pointer finger in a matter-of-fact way, "It's the truth! Paimon was there when he told us over lunch!"

You felt your breath hitch the slightest, "I don't understand..."

Lumine leaned towards you and finally said, "It's basically brainwashing!"

"Mr. Childe told you this?" There was something that was making your legs tremble.

"He gets very boastful when he tries to impress someone..." Lumine waved her hand in the air to dismiss what she said. "Anyway! I think your brother was mind-controlled! He was shocked with electricity until his mind was altered!"

"That... That is a possibility... But what's your proof?"

Lumine pondered deeply with her chin in her hand. There was a brief moment of silence and you were starting to feel your heart rate pick up the pace.

Mr. Childe, what have you done? You were having an argument with yourself in your mind. Not only did the ginger expose Fatui activities, he told a random stranger! Who knows what Lumine would do with this information.

But, was it true. Was the Fatui using these types of methods, such cruel experiments, for mere training? Was your older brother a victim, all this time?

You turned to Lumine and she looked back at you with determination, opening her mouth to ask one last question.

"Are there any Electro Harbingers?"

Your heart dropped from her words and a cold sweat washed over your body. There was a terrible feeling swirling in the pit of your stomach, you felt like you were on the verge of becoming sick.

"[Y/N]?"

"I can't tell you any of that information..." You whispered weakly.

That realization just hit you like an oncoming bullet train. You felt like everything you've done was one big lie, a fabrication of reality. Mind control and trigger words? It sounds far-fetched but if you take into account that Electro has the potential of doing that kind of damage to one's brain, it makes you question...

"Let's talk about your brother! What's his name again? Aether?!"

"[Y/N]..."

You laughed anxiously, "Your brother should be fine, at least he's not like mine!"

"Paimon's confused... Why are you acting so weird?"

"So Lumine, all I wanted to say was, if your brother is not affiliated with bad groups, he should be fine! And he's most likely looking for you as well." You quickly gave her another forced smile and motioned her to stand up on her feet. "Well, the sun is rising! Why don't you head on to wherever you're travelling to!"

"I-I guess you're right..." Lumine awkwardly patted her dress down. "My party members are waiting for my return at our rendezvous-point... But [Y/N], are you alright?"

"I'm fine, trust me."

Lumine had an uneasy look on her face from the sudden halt of your conversation but she decided not to pry anymore, "Thank you, I hope we meet again."

You let her go, watching the girl and her floating companion walk away from the Fatui campsite. When you saw their figures go over the rocky hill, you finally felt like you could sink into despair all by yourself.

•••

You walked back to the tent, stopping at the entrance while leaning back with a hand on your hip. Pulling back the curtain, you saw Scaramouche in the same position you saw him before, the pillow slowly being crushed from being held so tightly.

Well, he was the heaviest sleeper you've ever seen. You thought he would be at least keeping an ear out for any potential danger lurking around while in the state of sleep.

You looked at the corner of the tent and saw your ice tank and spray guns waiting for you to equip them once again. Right away, you went over to your weapons and touched them sadly, as if you were away from them for years.

Slipping on the holsters, buckling your belt, adjusting the tank, and placing the guns in their rightful places, you felt like yourself again. You decided to make a mental note to never take your gear off ever again because maybe next time you might encounter a more hostile stranger.

Then, you made your way towards Scaramouche, kneeling down with your bottom on the ground next to the futon and waiting patiently for him to give you an order. You didn't mind staying here until he woke up, it wasn't like you had other plans to do.

As you looked down at the sleeping male, you just couldn't resist studying him up close and personal. If he was awake, he would surely tease you to no tomorrow.

Without thinking, you ran a hesitant hand through his hair. His thick locks flowed seamlessly through your fingers. You admired his fair skin, long lashes, and those soft lips that kissed you last night. A true Inazuman beauty, he's so handsome.

You never felt this way before, your heart throbbed the slightest when you realized that you must have been denying your feelings towards your boss all this time. But in the back of your mind, you couldn't forget what Lumine told you.

"Is it true, sir?" You muttered harshly. "Are you brainwashing me? Is this some sort of cruel joke to you, my Lord?"

He mumbled something that sounded like your name.

"Am I some kind of puppet you enjoy playing with? Was I programmed into doing whatever your heart desired? Is that why it's so hard for me to say no? Are my feelings for you even genuine...?"

Scaramouche was still sound asleep and you felt your eyes begin to water. You didn't have the courage to ask these questions once he awakens. You didn't want to believe something as crazy as this.

But if Lumine got that information straight from Childe, why would he lie to her?

"I feel betrayed, my lord..."