The sounds of rushing water were filling your ears to the point where all you could hear was muffled violence. Waves were crashing, overpowering the icy surface and shattering the glass into millions of sharp shards. Your body, for the first time, felt so cold.

You could hear all these things happening all at once, screaming, weapons clashing, cries of your name. Yet, at the same time, you were unmoving, still as a statue. In this dreamlike state, you were starting to think it was the only time you really felt at peace.

The dreams you dreamt always felt empty, like something was missing, left out. As if you had memories that were purposefully being blocked from you remembering them. Even your nightmares seemed to be filtered as well. That, to you, scared you the most. Were those thoughts so horrific that it would be better to completely erase them from your mind?

"With those lame clothes, you look like a wannabe traveller that would get lost on their way to Stone Gate."

In the middle of the chaos rattling in your eardrums, Scaramouche's snarky comments happened to pull you back to your senses. As cliche as it sounds, you couldn't help but feel your heart slip up its rhythmic pounding from hearing his voice, turning you into a breathless mess.

"I really want to tear it off you... I can't explain how it makes me feel... you look like you don't belong to me anymore." His voice waved, yet rose the slightest and you knew he was smiling longingly. "Ah, I'm getting more annoyed just imagining it."

"Your words are very harsh, sir..."

It was barely a surprise at this point, Scaramouche appeared to you in yet another dream. Though, you will admit you were a little shocked by the docileness of his actions. This time, he wasn't doing anything violent or lashing out at you. It didn't look like he was going to hit you, throw you to the ground, or hold you by the neck. He was just... standing in front of you with his hands behind his back, calm like the moments before a storm.

How sad. You only felt safe with the Scaramouche in your dreams. At least you knew that there was no way you could die here, that was the most reassuring thing so far. The man you saw in front of you was full of pride, was calculating every action - every word, he was perfect in every way possible. In your dreams.

"Do you miss me?" He began to grumble when he saw your silent response. "Don't you dare shake your head. I want you to use your words, tell me that you missed me. Make things easier for the both of us and just speak. I need to know how terribly sick you are without me so I could learn more of your weaknesses."

"I miss you so much, my Lord... so much, I could tell my health is also being affected..." There was no use in denying it. From the tone of your voice, even the most oblivious person would understand how sincere your feelings were. "Do you miss me too, sir?"

His eyes lost their shine as a wistful expression dawned over his features. It looked like Scaramouche was caught in the middle of being angry and emotionless. A scoff came out from him, "What do you think, you stupid girl."

Ashamed of hearing his answer, you sucked in your teeth and forced yourself to shut up. You felt stupid. You felt like a dumbass. What sane person would be fantasizing about meeting the very person who wants to take you away from this world? Were you some kind of masochist? You were starting to fear the worst for yourself.

"I'm teasing...! You should have seen the look on your face." Scaramouche laughed wholeheartedly, his eyes arching happily as he smiled. "Would I be sending out such dangerous things if I didn't miss you? Why do you think you haven't died yet? I'm not trying to kill you, [Y/N], I just want you to come back."

"Please don't hurt my friends..."

"Friends?" He repeated bitterly and then tilted his head in realization. "Oh, you mean those people that keep getting in my way?"

His guilt-tripping was working, you could feel your whole body growing sluggish after every word. But you thought about Lumine and Paimon, her party: Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Chongyun. Even though they were indeed your enemies, you grew too attached.

"Your friends mean nothing to me." Scaramouche seemed to snicker at your sad face. "I'm afraid to tell you that I really don't care if they die. My only goal is to take you back, even if it means that I have to use force."

"But, sir..."

The young man shook his head in disappointment, "Did you forget that I'm your only partner in this cruel world? I was the one you ran to whenever you felt troubled. Remember all of the things I've done for you and only you?"

Your lips trembled woefully as you struggled to explain, "Please let my friends live... I love them-"

"Pfft, I'm sorry, I keep getting distracted by your outfit." An airy chuckle made Scaramouche cover his mouth with his hand.

Becoming self-conscious, you nervously covered your exposed stomach with your forearm as a way to avert your boss's wandering eyes. Your other arm went across your chest to place your hand on one of your flushed shoulders, a reserved look was now on your face. Scaramouche was partially entertained.

He recollected himself and gave you a mischievous grin, "They look uncomfortable. Why don't you come back so I can give you a brand new uniform?"

His little to no regard for your previous pleads made you feel very insecure. Not only were you being stared so lustfully at, but the shrieking voice in your head was also trying to tell you that none of this is real, you're safe.

But it couldn't help but imitate what would happen in real life, this type of thing was highly likely to become a reality.

"No," You declined as politely as you could. "I don't want new clothes..."

"You're never grateful for the things I offer you." Scaramouche berated, his face twisting into an angry scowl.

You could feel your heart thumping in your throat, once again, you fell silent. Even if you wanted to glance away from him, your eyes always managed to land back on your superior. He looked pissed off at you, which was quite a rare sight. All the more, it proved that you messed up big time. All you did was answer his question.

"I'm just joking, you know I don't hate you, [Y/N]...!" A toothy smile appeared across his mouth as he cackled loudly. "You're so gullible it's making me swoon like a hopeless romantic! You're so likeable."

It wasn't surprising that Scaramouche's sadistic comments were deeply embedded into your mind. After his countless insults and 'jokes' you still failed to understand, you simply came to the conclusion that you will never understand his humour.

Seeing Scaramouche take a step forward was enough to return your attention back onto him. You stood obediently and didn't bother covering yourself, just like if you were summoned for a roll-call.

"Actually, you look really cute," The Harbinger paced around leisurely like you were some kind of prized horse he bought. He was quiet, pondering to himself as he studied you up and down.

There was a dreamy look in his gaze the moment Scaramouche disappeared from the corner of your eye. He seemed to have gone in a full circle around your body because now he appeared on the other side, like some kind of ghostly figure.

All of a sudden, he gave you a playful tug to your shorts and laughed mockingly when you pulled them back up securely. He was so close to you that you could hear the swift sway of the fabric draped from his hat. It was like his presence was hypnotic, narcotic, and overall, like a sedative. From every subtle trinket movement and the brisk brush of your arms, you felt almost enveloped by his existence.

Then, Scaramouche stopped directly in front of you, neutral in expression. His lips slightly parted as he sighed longingly after taking a good look at your body. A hand was raised up and he slowly twirled one of his fingers.

"Turn around. That's an order."

You followed his eager command and did as you were told, steadily spinning on your heels. As much as you wanted to question what he was going to do, you held your tongue because you knew he would only get angrier if he sensed any hostility from you.

Not even ten seconds later, Scaramouche grabbed you by the hips and pulled you backwards, making your behind press up against his body. With one hand, he held your arms back by the wrists. That sudden action made your eyes go wide like saucers and your entire figure froze up like if you made the wrong move, you were going to be killed right on the spot.

When you slightly twisted your neck to take a glance at his face, Scaramouche forcefully grabbed you by the chin and forced your head to look straight. The young man leaned into your neck, he was so close that you could almost feel the air brush against your jaw as he inhaled and exhaled.

At first, you were fearful that he was going to bite you or try to put you in a chokehold again, but he only stood behind you. Even though you were roughly the same height, maybe a hair shorter, than him, it still made you feel small and vulnerable.

"Do you still see me on that mountain?" He spoke directly into your ear, his voice causing goosebumps to rise along your skin. "Do you remember pointing your gun at me, your superior? Your boss. Your potential lover. Do you remember that? Because I do."

Scaramouche's words became harsher the more you struggled in his grasp, he wasn't even in the mood to make fun of your pathetic attempts of escape. You were too scared to even make a sound, all the more you didn't have the confidence to even remind yourself that this was all a dream.

It's just another real nightmare.

"You should have shot me," Scaramouche grunted when he shook you a little to grab your wrist. He held the back of your hand and raised your arm in front of you as if you were holding one of your guns - perfectly copying your fighting posture. "I wonder what you would do if you were given another chance."

In the empty, black space in front of you, there was another person walking towards the both of you. Then, you saw that scene again. The blue sky, white clouds, green grass. You were on that mountain, surely the Traveller was on the edge behind you. This was the memory that's been haunting you ever since it happened.

On the pad of your finger, you could feel the trigger of your spray gun, itching to be pulled. The weight of the ice tank was replaced with Scaramouche pressing against your back, his out-of-breath whispers of "kill me" were pushing you to the brink of insanity.

Because there was another Scaramouche in front of you. Standing still, glossy-eyed, and silently shaking his head in denial. The last image you've seen of him was from this very moment, right before you jumped off the cliff with the Traveller - the exact instance of your betrayal.

"Sir...?"

"Do it. Shoot me." He provoked, wanting any kind of reaction from you. "Pull the trigger and kill me."

It was too much. You couldn't take it anymore. The sight of him at the end of your weapon was already enough to make you want to cry. "Sir... I can't..."

"Go on, [Y/N]. I'm giving you permission to shoot a bullet through my heart. Don't you want to do that?"

You just wanted to wake up from this horrific nightmare. The endless torment was going to make you go insane with guilt. "I can't do it, sir...! I don't want you to die...! That's the truth!"

"It would have been better if you killed me at that very moment."

The intense shaking of your outstretched arm made the spray gun fall out of your trembling hand, the whole set of weapons seemed to have disappeared in the wind after you released them. Still, you couldn't control how terribly you were shuddering out of fright and your eyes just fell shut.

"It was a mistake leaving me alive." He continued to blame you for everything and anything.

Tears streamed down your cheeks, yet a pathetic whimper from you only fuelled his hunger. From behind, his large hat towered over your head when the young man leaned in closer than ever before towards your face.

"You made a terrible mistake," An unforgiving kiss was planted on your cheek and Scaramouche lingered there for a few seconds longer, showing how playfully sadistic his games were. "Because, deep down, you will always know that you're being hunted by me."

•••

A few miles from Liyue Harbour, there was a group of Fatui soldiers standing idly next to a large rock. The starry night sky engulfed each member in uncomfortable darkness, even the slightest sound put the strongest men on edge. Some had their weapons drawn at the ready, a few were rereading their marked-up maps, and yet, a Cryogunner Legionnaire had waddled his way over to a berry bush to pick up a quick snack.

What was the reason why the travelling platoon stopped? It was because there were a few unnatural, left-over Geo structures as if there was some sort of battle within the area - which would have made any passersby suspicious.

While inspecting the traces of rusting Ruin Guard parts, a certain orange-haired Harbinger had his attention drawn elsewhere. One of the agents' keen senses noticed that there was something incoming air-bound. After realizing it wasn't a missile or a falling meteorite, the soldier calmed down a bit and pointed up at the sky.

"Master Childe, look...!" She drew his sights upwards.

He followed the woman's finger and with his sharp eyes, Childe spotted something soaring in the air. There was a thoughtful hum as the young man muttered quietly, "A carrier falcon?"

A carrier falcon is one of the fastest messenger birds in all of Teyvat. They're known for sending letters to and from the seven nations, all within a short period of time. From the direction the bird was flying in, it looked like its destination was somewhere in the North, most likely to Snezhnaya.

Picking up his bow, Childe drew back his arm and held his breath for a split second. The string strained from how tight the tension was against the arrow but that didn't stop him from holding his aim for a few more seconds.

In a blink of the eye, Childe released his fingers and the arrow shot through the air, whirling in the wind and letting out a squelchy sound at the moment of hitting the target. The bird shrieked in pain as it helplessly tumbled out of the sky, its wings flapping violently. Leaves fell and twigs snapped when the carrier falcon crashed through the trees and plummeted into the ground.

One of the Pyroslinger Bracers let out a low whistle at the shot while the rest of the Sergeants stood back in fascination. With a skillful twirl of his weapon, Childe placed the bow away and walked up to one of the recruits.

"Get that bird and bring it to me." The Harbinger ordered and it was carried out right away.

After a few minutes of searching and disgusted groans about the bloody animal, the falcon was thrown before Childe's feet. The ginger crouched down and unbuckled the belt around its feathery body, retrieving the parchment paper folded inside the pouch.

A Sergeant rushed over with a lantern in hand and provided some lumination for Childe as he opened the message. The more he read, the more he understood your mindset. He never would have thought that you made it to the city and already gotten comfortable enough to write a letter to your family.

Childe decided not to read any more of the letter, he already had an idea of what to do next. It would be best if this message was sent to your family, after all, you did a great job explaining why you betrayed Scaramouche and the Fatui, as well as a potential 'cure' for your older brother's mystery illness.

"It's a letter written by secretary [Y/N] to her family... She knows they're still alive." Childe refolded the paper and held it securely, showing it to everyone. "I want one of the recruits to purchase another carrier falcon from a local merchant and send this to Snezhnaya. I will lend ten thousand Mora if it is necessary."

One rookie stepped up to the assignment and was then entrusted with the slip of paper to get it to its receiver. While that was being taken care of, Childe turned towards the attentive group of soldiers and crossed his arms over his chest, rubbing his chin in thought.

"We're getting closer to our goal. A few more days of investigating the Geo Archon's statutes and we'll make it to the city to extract more information about the Gnosis. I also need to meet up with Mr. Zhongli at the Liuli Pavilion... and maybe in between, we can conduct a thorough search for Scaramouche's runaway secretary. Ah, I got so much on my plate..."

Childe tried to think about which task he should prioritize first: the Gnosis or secretary-assistant [Y/N]. In the sense of importance, both of them were neck and neck.

First of all, Childe had a very good feeling that Rex Lapis Gnosis was just out of hand's reach, if only he knew the location of the Exuvia. And secondly, this freshly written letter was a critical lead to your whereabouts, he just needed a few more answers about the events before you stopped at the city.

"Master Childe," An agent spoke up wearily. "Should we send a messenger to notify Harbinger Scaramouche about the carrier falcon?"

The platoon was now stirring around anxiously, pushing each other to convince at least one of them to step up and volunteer. Of course, nobody wanted to become the one who delivers any news (good or bad) to Scaramouche, they either get their ribs cracked or a heavy punch to the stomach.

But, Scaramouche made it crystal clear that he didn't want to be withheld from any information.

Childe simply stared soullessly at the soldier, unsure if it would be a good idea to send out a messenger right now.

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