Work Text:
Thump
Mona’s eyes shot open in an instant after a loud sound outside of her house had awakened her from her slumber. Her heart was practically hammering in her chest as she slowly put her feet over one side of the bed.
Her feet reached the cold hardwood floor and she carefully and quietly lifted herself up. She dragged herself over to the window, trying to see what had happened outside.
Everything outside was dark and she couldn’t see a single thing. What had she expected? It was in the middle of the night after all.
Mona turned around to go back to sleep when she suddenly heard another, even louder thump. She turned on her heel and went to her kitchen.
Her adrenaline was pumping, not letting her act upon any rational thoughts in her head. No, instead her anxiety let her look for a candle, to pull off a move that would probably get her killed in any horror movie.
She lit said candle, stormed over to her front door, practically ripped it open, and held it out in front of her protectively. Why didn’t she just get a knife instead?!
Mona looked around to see nothing but darkness. Had all her panic been for nothing? Maybe she was just getting paranoid…
Unexpectedly her ears picked up the groan of a person. The groan caused her face to go pale as she looked for the source of the sound. As she looked around on her porch she was able to see a figure clothed in black.
A gigantic hat was lying next to the figure, telling Mona immediately who it was. She would never be able to forget that hat. It was a part of him as astrology was a part of her.
She heard him groan again. Mona decided to look at him more carefully, trying to find out why he had come here of all places in the middle of the night. Wait a minute. Was that an arrow sticking out of his shoulder?!
Mona set down her candle and rushed over to him. Her brain was screaming at her: Don’t. This could all be a trick. He will kill you.
But Mona knew she would regret it if she didn’t even try to help. She was of good nature and not even an idiotic Fatui Harbinger could change that.
She knelt down, placing both hands on his seemingly not injured shoulder.
Mona tried to turn the man in front of her around carefully but stopped in an instant when she heard his breath hitching. She felt herself freezing in place, unable to move any further as an arm made its way up to hold onto her shoulder.
The Harbinger in her arms turned around slightly and she could see blood trailing the side of his head and neck. Mona‘s mouth gaped open, leaving her speechless for a little moment. The black bags under his eyes made him look tired and exhausted.
“What happened to you?”, she whispered as her brows began to furrow. She gathered all her courage and snaked her other arm under the feet of the Fatui Harbinger, so she could lift him up. He winced in pain as she did so.
Mona carefully made her way back inside and laid him down on her bed. She would have taken him to her couch but she made the decision to sell it for a new set of tarot cards last week…
The Harbinger collapsed on her bed in a heap once she set him down, making sure the arrow wasn’t being pressed into her bed and therefore further into his shoulder.
Mona went back outside to get his hat and her candle, being happy she could finally close the door to separate herself from the cold air outside.
“Can you take off your clothes?”, she asked the Harbinger as she was rushing to the medicine cabinet in her bathroom. She grabbed painkillers, bandages, a wet cloth and many more things she thought she needed.
When she came back she was greeted by the sight of Scaramouche struggling to take his clothes off.
“Here, let me help you”, she offered after she set everything down on her nightstand. Surprisingly he let her strip off his belt and jacket, not a single complaint leaving his mouth. After that he even raised his arms to help her get his shirt off.
Mona tried to avoid touching the arrow that was sticking out of the Harbinger’s shoulder. She didn’t want to unnecessarily touch it and inflict further pain on the man underneath her. Not this time, at least.
She treated Scaramouche in silence, carefully disinfecting his wounds. The only sounds Mona was able to hear every now and then were either groans or little whimpers from the Harbinger. He seemed to be in a lot of pain.
After she had taken care of the smaller wounds she took a look at the arrow. “This one looks pretty hard to remove…”, the astrologist mumbled,” Maybe I should call Barbara for help”
Mona saw how the Fatui’s eyes widened in an instant, a displeased - maybe even scared - look on his face. “No”, he managed to breathe out, looking at Mona intently,” Please”
Now Mona’s eyes widened.
“Please?”, she managed to repeat in disbelief.
“Please.”
Mona couldn’t help but stare at him for a few seconds. Then she took a deep breath, closed her eyes shortly and decided to further inspect the arrow.
It seemed to be buried pretty deep in Harbinger’s skin.
“Okay”, Mona let the man know,” This is going to hurt”
She looked up at his face, into his bluish, almost purple eyes. He gulped.
“Go for it, witch, we don’t have all day”, he commanded. Mona, however, was able to detect a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“You could at least be nice about it”, she snapped at him, her facial expression turning slightly angrier before she focused on the arrow again.
Her fingers wandered up to the arrow, slowly grasping its wood. Scaramouche’s breathing hitched and she could see him clenching his teeth in the corner of her eye.
She slowly pulled the arrow upwards, using her vision to aid her. The disgusting sound of wet flesh filled the room. The Harbinger’s breathing quickened.
Soon enough only the arrow’s tip was left to be pulled out.
Mona cleaned her patient’s arm. His blood was everywhere.
“This is the last bit, okay?”, she let the Harbinger know. As a response Scaramouche quickly nodded and closed his eyes shut.
“I’ll do a countdown, okay?”, Mona tried to calm the Harbinger down. Scaramouche was definitely nervous. And in a lot of pain. Scaramouche just nodded again since he probably just wanted to get it over with at this point.
“Three…”, Mona’s grip on the arrow tightened. The Harbinger’s back arched slightly.
“Two…”, her calm voice filled the room. But before she counted down further, Mona ripped out the arrow.
The Harbinger’s scream filled the room. His eyes widened and his hand went to touch the sore spot on his shoulder. Blood was flowing out of the wound quickly and Mona knew she had to act quicker.
“Remove your hand, idiot!”, she commanded the Harbinger. Mona grabbed the bandages and antiseptics, trying to treat the wound as fast as possible. She forcefully pried away the Fatui’s hand and pinned it down with her own.
“Hold still and let me take care of you”, Mona’s voice sounded cold. She was really trying to focus on her task, yet Scaramouche wouldn’t stop moving. She sighed and pushed the Fatui deeper into the bed. She placed herself on top of his hips to pin him down more effectively while wrapping the bandages around his shoulder.
The Harbinger’s eyes searched for her own in panic. Mona decided to ignore the looks he was giving her and focused solely on his shoulder.
“There”, she said after a while, a small smile spreading on her face. She was truly satisfied with her work.
“What kind of countdown was that, woman?!”, a loud voice broke the silence. Mona finally met the Harbinger’s fiery gaze. She returned a look of equal disliking, immediately shooting back a response,” By the way you’re complaining, you seem to be doing better already”
Strands of Mona’s long hair were hanging in the Harbinger’s face. “And don’t you dare just call me ‘woman’! I have a name, you know”, she was really starting to get fired up, trying to give the man underneath her a piece of her mind,” You could at least treat me with a little bit of kindness after I cared for your wounds! Do you really want me to throw you out on the spot?!”
That seemed to shut the Harbinger up for a little while. He was just quietly inspecting the astrologer’s face while his slow and steady breathing filled the silence.
“Now, now…”, Scaramouche managed to speak after a while,” Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Would you really throw me out, mage? Even with all my wounds?”
“Yes”, Mona replied coldly, seemingly staring right into his soul as she spoke. He gulped.
“Stay here. I’ll get some more pain killers for you”, with those words she got off the Harbinger and left the room. Her medicine cabinet was filled to the brim with tons of items, all of which she got sent by her friend Albedo because she couldn’t afford them on her own. She sent a small prayer to the Anemo Archon, thanking him for having sent her Albedo.
Mona grabbed the pain killers and returned to her room. Scaramouche was now sitting upright in her bed. The slightly sad look on his face and messy hair reminded her of a kicked puppy.
Mona handed him the pain killers with a small smile. The Harbinger just sighed in return as he stared at the pills in his hand,” I don’t think I need any more pain killers”
The Harbinger sounded tired, annoyed and kind of disappointed.
Now it was Mona’s turn to sigh in annoyance.
“You need the pain killers, asshole. More than you might realize”, she spoke calmly while coming a bit closer. She had made the decision to care for him tonight and she would fulfill her goal with any means necessary.
Scaramouche raised one of his eyebrows as the mage came even closer.
“Trust me, I don’t need them”, he insisted, unable to take his eyes off her. Mona just rolled her eyes, snatched the pain killers out of his hands and brought them closer to his mouth.
“What are you planning to do, woman?”, Scaramouche asked, clearly alerted by her actions,” Are you trying to hand-feed me?” The Harbinger seemed more than confused and scooted back on the bed.
“I’ll make you take your pain killers”, Mona insisted, slowly climbing onto the bed as well”, No matter what it takes. You asked me to take care of you. You refused anyone else. So here I am, taking care of you”
“You’re crazy”, the Harbinger breathed out as the astrologer slowly backed him into a dead end.
“Not any crazier than you with your ugly hat!”, she replied, making sure to trap him underneath her again. She wandered onto his lap, effectively hindering him from moving away anymore.
“My hat is not ugly!”, he shouted at her, clearly feeling insulted.
“Yes, it is!”, Mona shot back,” and you’re a psychopath with a lust for blood”
Scaramouche’s mouth opened as he tried to say something, but not a single word came out. Mona used the chance of him being at a loss for words, and tossed the pain killers into his open mouth. Then she brought her hand to his mouth and held it shut to ensure he wouldn’t spit out the pills.
“Swallow”, she commanded. After a few seconds of silence and prolonged eye contact Mona could hear the Harbinger swallowing.
“Good boy”, Mona mumbled as she removed her hand. Then, after she realized what she had just said, her eyes widened and her cheeks started turning red.
Shit! Had she rally just called a Harbinger a “Good boy” out of habit?!
Mona cursed herself and Albedo and his stupid dog training. Maybe Albedo wasn’t sent by the Archons as an Angel, after all…
Scaramouche stared at her in disbelief, his mouth agape slightly.
“Uhm… I’m sorry?”, Mona tried to save herself from the situation, but it just made her sound like more of a fool in her eyes,” I- Uhm… force of habit? It won’t happen again”
Mona felt how her breathing quickened as she continued to heat up.
“I-“, she stuttered. She just couldn’t find the right words. She couldn’t explain herself. Mona bit her lip and swallowed.
“Say it again”, the Harbinger’s voice insisted. He sounded like he was out of breath. His bluish eyes wouldn’t stop staring at Mona’s grayish ones.
“A-…Again?”, Mona repeated his request. His request, however, had sounded more like a demand. She gulped.
Mona felt a hand hold onto her back, probably making sure she wouldn’t be able to get away. She felt her heart hammering in her chest. Wildly.
“Good Boy?”, she asked, looking at the Harbinger intently.
“Fuck”, she heard the Harbinger murmur before he looked to the side. His hand slowly removed itself from her back. Scaramouche ran his other hand through his hair, making it look even more disheveled.
“Wait, is your cheek turning pink?”, the mage asked in disbelief and amazement at the same time.
“Do you like being called that?”, Mona couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t tell me we just discovered you have a praise kink”, Mona was really trying to hold herself back from laughing. The Harbinger shot her a glare.
“I do not have a praise kink”, he insisted as his cheeks turned another shade of crimson. Mona’s smile widened.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, oh mighty Harbinger”, she teased him. He continued to glare at her. Mona took it all back. Albedo was sent by the Archons, after all.
“I swear- If anyone finds out about this, witch”, he threatened her, clenching his teeth.
“So you admit it?”, Mona asked,” You admit you have a praise kink?”
It was really fun to tease the Harbinger like that. Never in a million years had she dreamed of getting away with calling someone as powerful as a Harbinger a “Good Boy”…
“Maybe…”, Scaramouche spoke quietly, but Mona was able to hear him nonetheless. “Good Boy~”, Mona cooed, a small giggle escaping her. The Harbinger shot her another deadly glare. If looks could kill…
“Okay, okay”, Mona giggled, slowly getting off the Harbinger,” It’s the middle of the night. You should get some sleep while you still can”
“In… your bed?”, he asked, sounding more confused than anything.
“Yes, in my bed. Don’t worry, I’ll…”, Mona trailed off. …sleep on the couch? No! Mona had completely forgotten about the fact that she sold it.
“I’ll… uhm… I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me”, she just made up an excuse. She didn’t want to sleep in the same bed as the man in front of her. Surely she would find some place to sleep in her kitchen.
She turned around, making her way towards the light switch. She flicked it and the entire room was swallowed by darkness. The only thing that lit up the room a little bit was her globe. It had been a special manufacture from the Knights of Favonius. It was able to show her every single place, every little spot in Teyvat while also serving her as a night light.
Mona hated to admit it, but she hated to sleep in complete darkness.
“Hey! Wait…”, the Harbinger’s voice called out from the bed. Mona turned around to look at his shadowy figure. She heard Scaramouche taking a deep breath.
“Can you… uh…”, he took another deep breath,” Will you tuck me in?” This time he didn’t sound like he was demanding anything from her. This time it was a request.
“Uhm… Sure”, she replied, stepping closer to the bed once again. She was a bit taken aback by his absurd request, but she would do her best to fulfill it anyway.
Mona carefully lifted up the blanket to neatly lay it on top of him. She fixed the pillows on the bed and placed his head on top of them.
“Are you comfortable?”, Mona asked him.
“My shoulder is giving me a little trouble, but yes. This is probably the most comfortable I will be in a while”, he answered truthfully. Maybe the Harbinger wasn’t too bad sometimes…
Mona gave him a small smile, which he probably couldn’t see.
“Good Night”, she whispered, slowly making her way back to leave the room.
“Good Night”, she heard him saying back.
She closed the door behind her and made her way to the kitchen.