"Fire!"

You stood there flabbergasted, weak to your knees and shaking in your shoes. Your face was practically turning blue as you stared in horror at the girl. Lumine locked eyes with you as she drove her sword through a Fatui Agent, tossing the man off the cliff without a second thought.

"Fire, I said!" Scaramouche shouted. "Shoot her, [Y/N]!"

The spray guns couldn't stay still, the small shaky sounds of the wires made it clear that you were hesitating. Scaramouche looked at you briefly then back at the Traveller, he pointed at her while grabbing your arm harshly.

"Are you deaf?! Shoot already!"

"It's her!" Paimon exclaimed.

"[Y/N]!" Lumine called out and dodged when an Anemoboxer swung a heavy fist. "Help me! Please!"

You were speechless, you felt like you could cry. As you stood there like a teary-eyed statue, Lumine continued to move swiftly to avoid the oncoming attacks, and then made the Boxer fall over the edge of the mountain.

Never in your life have you frozen up like this in front of an enemy. Maybe it was because you didn't see Lumine as one. You two had a heartfelt conversation about your brothers after all.

As a panic attack was slowly drowning you, the blonde reached out to you desperately, "I saved your life last night, it's time to return the favour!"

"This is nonsense!" Scaramouche snapped back, shaking the thought away from your head. "Shoot the Traveller!"

"But..." You whispered. "I must repay the debt."

"You're joking, [Y/N]!" The Harbinger replied angrily, letting go of your arm. "I swear by the Gods, if the Traveller gets away, you're going to be in a lot of pain after this! Shoot!"

"Sir, we shouldn't!" You argued back, lowering your weapons. "Lumine saved our lives last night by defeating the Treasure Hoarders who were going to ambush us in our sleep!"

"Don't start with me." He threatened.

"Debts need to be repaid, always!"

He got right up to your face, "You better watch your mouth."

"We can negotiate with her!"

You realized his large hat was towering over you as if the young man was trying to back you up against the edge of the hill, "It sounds like you want a punishment. I will humiliate you in front of everyone here. They'll watch you break into pieces when I'm done with you."

"Sir, I'm just-!"

"I cannot believe you have the nerve to talk back to me," Scaramouche grabbed your jaw to pull you forward, almost making you rise onto your tippy toes. His eyes flared angrily as he shook your head forcefully, fingers digging into your skin. "Huh? It looks like you have more to say."

You gasped and gulped at the same time, you found it hard to breathe from the way your neck was angled upwards. It looked like Scaramouche was enjoying that panicked look on your face.

"Speak, I'm listening."

Your voice failed you and you backed down like a kicked puppy, fearfully looking away and whimpering. Like before, his thumb caressed your cheek, almost lovingly. But, he was practically daring you to say something, as a way to give him a reason to punish you. This is messed up, you finally realized it.

"Hm," Finally, Scaramouche released your jaw, you could still feel his grip on your face. "That's what I thought. Know your place."

Inhaling deeply, you hung your head low in front of the Harbinger like a scolded child. You really thought you could change his mind. It wasn't as easy as you thought. You felt like you just wasted all the respect he had for you.

All of a sudden, he took you by the arm to raise up the weapon, his grip on your wrist was painful, "I order you: freeze the Traveller or I will kill her myself!"

Glancing upwards, your teeth rattled as you purse your lips, raising the gun and aiming directly at Lumine. She looked scared, clearly in distress since she thought you two were friends. Even though you two only met in the early morning, you felt like you had a solid connection with her.

As long as you don't hurt her too badly it's fine, that's what Childe begged you to do. But you knew the damage your frost can do to a person. You apologized to Childe in your head as you ran your finger over the trigger. You knew you shouldn't but what else can you do? You must not disobey orders.

"[Y/N], wait! Don't shoot!" Lumine cried out and Paimon ducked behind the blonde.

You shook your head to mute her pleas, furrowing your eyebrows to concentrate on your moving target. Scaramouche edged you on, waiting for the exact moment you fired your shot. The other Fatui members saw your guns glow with elemental energy and immediately separated from the Traveller, the blast zone.

Bruised and cut-up, Lumine slouched in defeat. But she still had the strength to say these words: "I might know how to cure your brother's illness!"

At that moment, you felt your heart break into two. The spray guns died out when you cut all the energy transmission. All of a sudden, your body felt heavier. The glass tank on your back was pulling you down and your handheld weapons fell to your sides.

"D-Don't lie to me..." You muttered.

Hope shined on Lumine's face, "I'm telling the truth!"

The countless days your brother has gone without eating or sleeping, or even talking, was just too much of a burden for your family to handle. He was the eldest, after all, it was his responsibility to make your parents proud.

But when he came back from his expedition, he was different. He was paranoid, picking at his fingers, and laughing uncontrollably at random times of the night. Now your mother has to take care of him while your father tries to keep up his own reputation at the embassy.

The reason was unknown to you until this morning. Could Scaramouche really be the cause of your big brother's mental illness? You didn't want to believe it. You just wanted to cure big brother Nikolai of his suffering.

Even if it means treason.

"I can't... My Lord, I'm sorry..." You put the guns away into their holsters. Right away, you were grabbed by the neck by Scaramouche's unforgiving grasp.

"What? You want me to knock some sense into you? I'll gladly do it!" He raised his hand as he was about to hit your face, but you blocked the attack with your forearm and pushed him back, stumbling away. "What the hell is wrong with you, [Y/N]?!"

You backed up like a gazelle trying to escape from a hungry lion, eyes wide as saucers and adrenaline running through your veins. As you realized what you've just done, you couldn't go back anymore. After shoving your superior like that, you doubt that you would even return to Snezhnaya alive.

Even your comrades watching the scene unfold were shocked by your disobedience, you were known across all the Fatui factions to be the sixth Harbinger's secretary-assistant, so it was quite shocking to see the way you rejected him.

You glanced back up at Scaramouche, expecting him to be erupting with rage. But to your surprise, he was looking more concerned than angry. Hesitantly, you stepped forward.

"What are you doing?!" He shouted, confusion was written all over his face. "Where do you think you're going?!"

Without a second thought, you made up your mind and walked over to Lumine's side. She welcomed you with an open arm, grateful for your assistance as you helped her stand up straight. With a sincere smile on her face, she silently thanked you for joining her.

You felt heated eyes on the back of your head as Scaramouche looked at you with disbelief. His eyes were wide, filled with an emotion you've never seen him have before.

An Electrohammer Vanguard held his weapon tightly, "Sir, do we attack?!"

Scaramouche was still frozen in shock, shuddering as he let out a breathless sigh.

"Sir?!"

"Have you betrayed me, [Y/N]?" The Harbinger wanted to know. "Have you betrayed me? The one person who brought you up to this point? The one who promoted you to be top of your section?"

This time a Pyroslinger Bracer spoke up boldly, "Sir, tell us what to do! The Traveller is right there!"

"After all we did together... You must be joking... I'm such a fool!" Scaramouche didn't let his sadness get the better of him and he quickly threw his hand down. "Soldiers! Capture both of them, now!"

With a click of the Pyroslinger's rifle, he raised it up and aimed it at you and Lumine. However, you seemed to have had the quicker hand as you grabbed only one of your spray guns to point it back at the opposer. Through his mask, you could see him grit his teeth as you turned the knob on the side of your tank.

On the other hand, the Electrohammer Vanguard raised his weapon over his head and forcibly hurled it down to where you and Lumine were standing. As quick as the wind, the Traveller took you to safety by sprinting out of the way. Flashes of purple shocked the surrounding area when the hammer made contact with the ground.

A fiery bullet flew past your head and right away, you shot back with an ice shard. The Pyroslinger's Fatui mask shattered on impact, causing the man's body to fall back and lay on the rocks in pain from the sheer cold eating away at his skin.

Lumine also slashed her sword at the Vanguard. Her movements were too quick for the agent to keep up and ultimately, he fell back, slipping off the edge and falling to his death like the rest of them.

A deranged laugh echoed after the soldiers perished, the young man standing a few meters away from you held the rim of his hat as he looked up to the sky. Scaramouche was mad. Mad enough to laugh.

"I can't believe it! You have an alliance with the Traveller? Since when?" Scaramouche taunted when you didn't answer immediately. "Right, since never. Remember everything that I did for you. She doesn't know you the way I do, [Y/N]! And I know plenty!"

You felt your body tense up, "I'm... sorry, sir..."

"You're not sorry," He muttered bitterly, purple electricity sparking in his hands. "But when I'm done with you, and your newfound friend, you will be sorry. On your knees and begging. I will break you, [Y/N]."

You couldn't stand to hear his threats anymore. They always gave you a disgusting taste in your mouth, you never liked them. When he took a step towards you, out of reflex, you raised a gun at him.

"How dare you point your weapon at me." Scaramouche chuckled at the attempt. "Where was this confidence when we sparred together all those months ago? Remember that? Remember how easily I took you down?"

He took another step closer and in turn, you another step back. Lumine held you tightly since she was fearful you were going to end up going over the edge like the rest of the Fatui soldiers.

Seeing the Electro energy swirling around him made you defensive. You clearly didn't want to feel any of that, knowing that he indeed had the power to kill. But you didn't have anywhere else to run to, behind you and Lumine was nothing, just a cliff.

"[Y/N], stop." Scaramouche commanded.

Panicked and frightened, you finally let it out, "I know what you've been doing behind my back!"

"What?" He glared.

The gun in your hand was trembling as you struggled to keep it still, "Y-You've been brainwashing the recruits, the sergeants, the lieutenants, everyone! All this time! With Electro!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," He smiled widely at your accusation. "That doesn't make any sense. You're making things up."

"My brother is a victim!" You cried out.

"I never even knew your brother."

"And me!" You wailed in horror. "I'm a victim too, aren't I?!"

The world stood still. Everything you remembered from boot camp, evaluation day, last night, it all seemed so far away. So fake. Like some sort of scripted lie. It felt forced, nothing felt genuine. There was no way the Fatui was this strong and powerful without any dirty advantages.

Scaramouche's face twisted into a frightening scowl, "Who told you?!"

"Argh!" You screamed out of resentment, clasping your head in shock and stepping back. "T-This can't be real!"

Lumine grabbed onto your arm when you got too close to the edge, "Be careful!"

"Tell me! How did you find out?!"

"I get it now..." You ignored him. "Every time I was patted on my head or touched on my shoulders or neck... you electrocuted me! They were all triggers! I cannot believe I didn't see this coming!"

You thought he was praising you. You thought you were being praised for doing a good job. You thought it was a form of endearment. Instead, it was to always have control over you and your actions. Over your mind, body, and even morals.

After hearing what you said, Scaramouche wasn't laughing anymore. He was silent, the only sounds coming from him were the swaying trinkets of his hat and the electrical sparks flying in the air. His eyes were clouded with discouragement.

"Why, sir...?" You begged for an answer.

All of a sudden, his angry expression went away. He shook his head, smiling dismally, "I stopped doing that months ago."

"So, it's true?!" You whimpered helplessly, shivering from the mere thought of it. "My Lord, y-you disgust me...!"

"I disgust you?" A look of confidence dawned over his features and he stated proudly. "[Y/N], I don't regret choosing you as my secretary."

You immediately felt the whole world come crashing down onto you, terrible chills just went up your spine. Your heart was going about a thousand miles an hour, you could feel your pulse in your developing headache. Those words... They always shook you to the core. There must be a reason why he says them all the time.

Now you understood. It was the worst thing he's ever done, giving you false hope through praises. How could have you been so stupid?

The Harbinger curled his finger, "So, come back. To me. Now."

You felt drawn towards him. Even though your head was screaming no, you wanted to return to him. You wanted to fall back into his arms, be trapped in his embrace. It felt so good to be wanted. It made you want to be with him. Forever.

But with Lumine here to snap you back to your regular self, you stayed put. Your feet were glued to the ground as you rejected his order.

"[Y/N], did you hear what I said?" Scaramouche threatened, his breathing becoming quicker and heavier as he chuckled psychotically. "I don't regret choosing you as my secretary! Doesn't that sound amazing, that phrase?!"

"No... please..."

"You must listen to me - Listen to me!" Scaramouche convulsed in desperate, psychotic laughter. "Listen to all of the praises I have to tell you!"

"No...!" You felt betrayed. "I don't want to listen to you anymore!"

Lumine struggled to keep you upright since you were now struggling to stand, "Come with me, [Y/N]! Let me save you, please!"

"Don't leave, you'll regret it!" Scaramouche pressured. "If you walk back over here like the good obedient girl I know you are, I will forgive you. And I will give you all the love and attention you've always wanted!"

Blood was rushing to your head, causing you to almost blackout, the stress this situation was putting on your body was pushing you to your limits. Lumine wasted no time to help you, placing your arm over her shoulders and supporting your shaking legs.

"Come back here, right now!" His commands failed to reach your ears. "You can't leave!"

The Traveller looked at you with sympathy, "Let's go, [Y/N]! Just hang on to my glider!"

You didn't know what to do, you didn't know what to say. But what you did know was that it was time to go. It was time to abandon the one person holding you back. Maybe it was for the better. You can finally be free to do whatever you wanted, without your thoughts being filtered into you.

"We're going to jump off the cliff, okay?" Lumine instructed while nodding her head. "Don't be scared! Get ready!"

Staring down, you felt even sicker from how high you were, the stretching heights made you dizzy. The blonde held you tightly to brace for the fall.

Paimon finally spoke up, peering over Lumine's shoulder fearfully, "Paimon thinks it's time for us to escape! Paimon saw more Fatui people climbing up the mountain! Plus, that guy over there looks like he's ready to explode!"

You looked over at Scaramouche one last time.

He seemed farther than you thought. His dark eyes looked glossy as if the sight in front of him was painful. There was a small trembling of his hands as his legs locked in place. When he stared back at you, he shook his head in denial, silently pleading.

You felt Lumine pull you forward and you shut your eyes fearfully.

"You wouldn't dare...!" His voice wavered as he reached out. "Don't go!"

All at once, you jumped off the edge with Lumine, resisting the urge to scream as gravity pulled you down. Your stomach dropped and you were in free fall, you could feel your body making deadly contact with the rocky ground below.

Scaramouche ran over, daringly peering above the cliff to see if you've fallen to your death.

Then a sigh left his lips when he watched you fly away, you fell a couple of feet before getting picked up by the wind, the Traveller's glider saved your life once again. Scaramouche was left there, on top of the mountain. He hasn't been alone for a long time, he realized.

As a Geochanter Bracer, Pyroslinger Skirmisher, and Hydrogunner Legionnaire finally made their way up the hill, they bowed in front of the Harbinger.

"Was Secretary [Y/N] just kidnapped?!" The backup group of Fatui Agents asked in horror.

"No."

"She left voluntarily?!"

"Yes."

Shocked whispers swirled around the group of men. Scaramouche was staring off in the distance, his sights on his secretary-assistant growing weaker until she was gone. He was silent, which was unlike him, meaning that he was busy thinking - coming up with a plan.

A Geochanter Bracer saluted, "Sir, shall we go capture her?"

Scaramouche felt something within him snap, "Do not even think about making up your own orders!"

"But-!"

"Shut up, let me think!"

"She betrayed us!"

The Geochanter fell back as Scaramouche walked over and hit him with an open palm, the smacking sound echoing and sending horrible chills down everyone's spines.

"I said shut the hell up! I'm the one who gives out orders! You must obey!"

Scaramouche showed no mercy as he swept kicked the other man, watching him fall to the ground and roll helplessly. The Harbinger then stomped on the unsuspecting Geochanter.

"When I get my hands on [Y/N], I'll make her regret ever leaving my side!" He cursed, continuing to kick the fallen Fatui member out of rage. "How dare she-! What was she thinking-?! I'll hunt her down, then I'll give her the worst punishment she's ever experienced in her life!"

The Geochanter became limp from the countless kicks hitting his body.

"I'll find her! I'll punish her! She'll learn her lesson! She won't leave me ever again! She's mine! Hell, I might even kill that dirty, little, traitor!" Scaramouche stepped over the soldier. But before leaving, he landed one last hard hit on the man's chest, the sound of ribs cracking rang in everyone's ears.