Chapter Text
Lumine felt herself slowly come to her senses after her much needed nights rest. She noticed sunlight from outside pouring through the cave entrance through closed eyes indicating that it was well past nine in the morning.
She sat up from the cave wall only to be met with the feeling of someone next to her. She jumped and immediately opened her eyes to see the former harbinger kneeling over her, staring right at her as if he could see through her.
“Wha- What the?!” She shrieked instinctively shoving him away from her. He stared at her with wide eyes, completely caught off guard not expecting her to react so quickly.
Before Scaramouche could react, Lumine’s sword was already to his neck. He stared up at her with a confused expression as if he didn’t have a clue why she would act like this. She glared down at him with fear and loathing as she pressed the tip in the direct middle of his throat. He winced, pulling back and pressing his hand against his throat where the blade touched.
His expression of confusion fell into a playful smirk as he watched her as she backed away from him in fear even though she was the one with the weapon.
“Hah, it seems your afraid of me even after you defeated me, who would’ve thought?” He let out a small laugh making Lumine’s anger rise.
“What the hell?! You can’t just sneak up on me like that!” Lumine screamed at the puppet only to be met with a sinister smile. This guy could get on her nerves without even trying. “And what were you even doing?”
“If I’m being honest I was checking to make sure you were breathing. I mean why in Teyvet would you fall asleep by me on purpose?” He replied with that same teasing smile only for it to drop as soon as it came. As he stood up to meet her level, she couldn’t help but notice the way his legs shook. He really was weaker than when she last saw him, he could even be considered harmless to her.
She stared at him for a second before putting her sword away remembering what Nahida asked of her. She couldn’t go back on her promise and cause problems with Scaramouche just because she hated him.
“Am I not worth it?” He teased as she begun to walk away from him. Lumine stopped as she heard his voice, glaring back at him.
“You’ve got some nerve talking to me like this, I could gladly put you back in that coma.” She said returning the sarcastic tone. “But no, I guess your not worth it. I made a promise to Nahida.”
“I know.” He said bluntly as if he was right next to them all along.
Lumine furrowed her brows and walked a bit closer to him. “How did you know that? You’ve been in a coma for days on end?” He shrugged at her question.
“I could still hear voices while I was unconscious.” Scaramouche sighed looking almost disappointed. “I heard her tell me I wouldn’t be alone for long but I didn’t expect you to show up.”
Lumine’s serious expression softened a quick second before she put that intimidating scowl right back into place. “If it was anyone other than me they probably would have murdered you while you were asleep, so you should be glad it’s me.”
“Well if it was anyone else they would have already killed me and I wouldn’t have to be in this awkward situation right now.” Lumine huffed looking away from him and to the cave exit.
That’s when the realization that she would have to spend days with him not leaving his side set in. If they were already fighting the second she looked at him, how they manage to spend over a week in peace? She wished she could just walk out right then, but who knows what he would go and do?
“We have to find Nahida.” Lumine turns around to face him, daggers in her eyes. He reply’s with a light chuckle.
“Why is that? You could just let me go and we could go on our separate ways.” Scaramouche gazed at her with that same mocking smile that made her blood boil, but she tried her best to communicate without anger.
She lets out a small sigh, collecting her thoughts. Why exactly did she want to go to Nahida, and what would Nahida think of her when she couldn’t handle spending a single week with him? She didn’t want to disappoint her, but the more she thinks, the more she realizes that this challenge is extremely unfit for her.
“You’re a wanted criminal, if anyone sees you they will execute you.” He rolls his eyes at that statement.
“You think some pathetic humans could kill me? Do you really think that low of me?”
“…and I’m not breaking my promise to Nahida. You can’t leave my side until we next see her so I’m just speeding up the process.” Scaramouche’s mouth opened as if he were to protest, but he closed it immediately when he realized what it meant.
“Hm… okay, lead the way then.” He looked at her like he was waiting for her to start walking that very second but she shook her head.
“Not yet, we haven’t discussed our plan.”
“Is the plan not to just track her down so you can leave me there?” Scaramouche says annoyed, not even trying to hide the fact he doesn’t want to talk to her anymore. “Besides, it’s your plan… I had no part in it.”
Lumine looks like she’s about to walk right up to him and slap him, but after a few long seconds of silence she replies.
“Just hear me out.” She takes a step closer to him and let’s out a deep sigh, as if she’s trying to cause some sort of suspense for what she will say next.
“For one, you’re not allowed to leave my side. Ever.” That statement made Scaramouche laugh.
“Why? can’t get enough of me?” Lumine let out a dramatic groan.
“Get over yourself. Anyways…” She tilted her head away from him again unable to even look in his direction. “…all we have to do is stick together, find Nahida, and then we won’t ever have to see each other again. Is that good enough for you?”
“It doesn’t matter to me, let’s just get this over with.” Lumine felt a relieved he was actually complying, but felt a bit nervous. What if he had some plan to escape and that’s why he suddenly turned so calm? She tried her best to ignore that feeling and to trust him like Nahida asked.
“Alright, I know the way to Port Ormos so just follow behind me… and don’t you dare try anything because I won’t hesitate to treat you like the prisoner you are.”
All the former harbinger responded with was him grumbling something under his breath, before he followed Lumine out of the cave and down the dirt path to the city.
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Halfway to their destination, Nahida stops in her tracks making Paimon turn around in confusion.
“Nahida? What’s wrong?” Paimon fly’s closer to Nahida, who looked behind her with a far distant expression.
“We can’t leave them there alone. I don’t know what I was thinking, it would be cruel to try to force them to get along so quickly.” She sighs and turns back to Paimon, who looked extremely worried.
“Do you think Lumine’s okay? Is that why you think we should go back?”
Paimon’s worry made a soft smile appear on Nahida’s face.
“You’re always so considerate Paimon. You and Lumine have such a great friendship, you are always looking out for her. You guys make such a great team.” Paimon giggles at that comment, her eyes lighting up with appreciation.
“Paimon and Lumine are a great team, so Paimon agrees! We should go back so she’s not alone.” Nahida nods and then turns in a new direction.
“Here, let’s head back this way since it’s faster then the other route, we will be at the cave in a few hours. Lumine shouldn’t have been too troubled in only half a day, there’s no need to worry.”
The two head off into the trees, unknowing that the pair they expect to be peacefully sitting in the cave, are headed the opposite direction on an entirely different path.