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“He’ll be fine.” Tighnari repeats for what feels like the nth time that day. Lumine sighs deeply, like the act can dissipate the tension in her shoulders.
“I know.” she repeats, but her eyes stay stuck to Scaramouche’s sleeping face. “Thank you.”
Tighnari laughs lowly.
“You’ve thanked me so many times already.” he reminds.
Lumine wants to say something, but she doesn’t know what. She decides to stay quiet, and just watch over Scaramouche like he’s a masterpiece in a museum.
“Have you eaten?” Tighnari asks, because he’s sure Lumine is bound to forget about eating if she lingers around Scaramouche for too long.
She nods.
“Not too long ago.” she says, although it feels like time is passing by painfully slow.
“He should be up soon.” he reassured. “Why don’t you cook him something he likes, hm? That way, time will pass by faster.”
Lumine looks at Tighnari for the first time ever since he’s walked into the room. She considers his suggestion for a few seconds.
“Alright.” she agrees, then gets up to go outside to find a fire in which she can cook.
Scaramouche knows he’s dreaming. There is no way that whatever nonsensical shit that is currently happening is real. Yet again, he wonders why he’s having such a dream when he often sleeps by Lumine, and his dreams are always good…
Right, Lumine. Wasn’t she in danger? They were in a very similar place… A Withering Zone (Lumine kept referring to it as Marana, for some reason). They were investigating the place to purify it, then a mushroom showed up out of nowhere…
Scaramouche remembers he didn’t think twice before coming up between Lumine and the fungus. She was busy lighting up a lantern that she insisted was important. At the time, he felt just a small sting, and then it was gone, replaced by a feverish sensation. What comes after is a garbled mess. He remembers sleeping, waking up and feeling like shit, and Lumine insisting to take him somewhere. They argued a few times over it; Scaramouche insisting that he was fine, up to the point in which they walked up to a monster camp to do a commission and everything went black.
Scaramouche blinked. Once. Twice. He was still dreaming. Why were those memories haunting him? Everything was confusing. He felt like he was back at the Withering zone, except the monsters in it were way worse, and it had no end, no tumor to purify. Was that how he was supposed to be? Rotten at the core, with bad memories and trauma littering around? He remembers Buer once said something along the lines of a mental space of some sort…
He shakes his head, and starts running. All around him, he sees the people who betrayed him, the people he betrayed, the blood he spilled with his very hands. There’s no end to it, it’s like a hallway of doom with no light at the end. Maybe he deserves this, deserves to be reminded of how rotten he is, and how he should never stand by Lumine’s light because it’s unfair , and she deserves better-
Scaramouche wakes up in cold sweat. He’s sure he’s awake now; the world around him no longer foggy and unfocused. Actually… Where the fuck is he. He doesn’t recognize this place; this is not the teapot. The air smells fresh and sweet, like it just rained in one of Sumeru’s rainforests. He is sat on a bed that is way too small for two people (unlike the beds at the teapot), the room around him is too dark for his liking (the rooms in the teapot are way brighter). There is no door, just a piece of embroidered green fabric serving as a barrier between the room he’s in and the outside. He can’t make sense of half of the things sitting around him on shelves and tables, he only knows this place is foreign and he hates it.
Scaramouche looks for Lumine. She’s always around, but not this time. Did she finally get tired of him and decided to dump him in the nearest tent she could find? He was showing signs of weakness lately, mainly after that attack at the Withering Zone… Maybe he was indeed sick? He did black out during a commission…
A cold feeling took root in his chest, spreading out slowly like the withering of a rose. Scaramouche felt lost. He missed Lumine. Maybe the disappointment had been too bad and she ended up doing just like every person who betrayed him… She wouldn’t, would she? She had promised she’d stay. He had believed her.
Scaramouche decides he needs to find her. There are blankets over his legs and he’s missing most of the layers of his clothing, but he doesn’t care. There is no way Lumine would just abandon him-
“Kunikuzushi…?” he hears a soft, melodic voice calling the name only Lumine is allowed to utter. He immediately whips his head in the direction of the sound.
Lumine is standing at the door, a plate of Tricolor Dango in her hands. She immediately walks in, putting the plate on a nearby table before taking a seat on a chair that is right in front of the bed. She looks… Nervous. Afraid. Scaramouche wonders why; he wants to ask her so many questions but none of them get past the knot in his throat.
“Are you ok?” she asks, genuinely concerned. “I went out for a bit because Tighnari told me you’d be up soon… I’m sorry, I just wanted to make you some Tricolor Dango-” she starts rambling, but gets interrupted once Scaramouche all but launches himself at her, hugging her close like he never wants to let go.
“You’re. You’re here.” he mutters, voice muffled. It’s all he can manage, but it’s enough for now.
Lumine doesn’t hesitate to hug him back, gently patting his back in that way only she ever does.
“I am.” she reassures. “I’m sorry for leaving… I was in the room for most of the time, I promise.”
They stay like that for a while; Scaramouche indulging in Lumine’s warmth while she plays with his hair. He hesitantly lets go of her, mind still a bit foggy from the recent happenings.
“What… What happened.” he asks, although it doesn’t sound like a question. Lumine reaches out for his hands just so she can play with his fingers. It’s one of her favorite things to do, and Scaramouche just lets her.
“Well, according to Tighnari…” she starts.
“Who is that?”
“A friend. He helped me.” she clarifies. “You got poisoned by the fungus back at the Mara-, Withering Zone. It is a very weak poison, but the monsters become more aggressive while affected by the Marana- sorry, Withering Zone, so the poison effects were magnified.” she explained.
“What’s with the Marana, hm?” he asks, looking down at her hands playing with his own hands. The act is simple, but it brings him a lot of comfort.
“Hm… I met a few friends who referred to Withering Zones as that, and I picked it up… I can introduce you to them, if we ever get the chance.” she smiled.
Scaramouche nods once, now looking at her smile. It brings him peace.
(It feels like home).
“So… I…” he tries, but doesn’t know how to.
“You’re fine.” Lumine reassures, looking into his eyes. “Tighnari has treated you already, you only need to rest and avoid over exerting yourself.” she explains.
Scaramouche sighs, relief flooding over him. Lumine still loves him, she’s still by his side-
“What’s wrong, hm?” she asks, bringing his hands up. “Are you having bad thoughts again?” and she starts kissing each one of his knuckles, like that can rid him of negative thoughts.
Scaramouche shakes his head.
“It’s nothing… I’m glad you’re here.” he says, and he means it.
Lumine leans in and steals a quick kiss as soon as she’s done kissing his knuckles.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well, now.” she says with a bright smile. Her eyes are sparkling, like she doesn’t have a single worry in the world anymore. Scaramouche is dumbfounded by her. His face is hot.
“I. I won’t die that easily.” he blurts out, looking away.
“You better not.” she counters, as she reaches out for the plate of Tricolor Dango. “Here. Eat. I made it for you.” and she places it on his lap.
Scaramouche can’t help but smile. He leans in and steals a quick kiss, too.
“Thank you.” he whispers (for Lumine is the only one allowed to see and hear these sides of him). He sits back on the bed, getting comfortable so he can eat his meal.
It tastes awesome, as usual. He’s used to the taste, but he never gets tired of it (the same way he doesn’t get tired of Lumine’s embrace), so much that it feels familiar.
(It feels like home, just like anything related to Lumine).
Scaramouche relaxes, shoulders slumping as he enjoys the sweetness of the candy. Lumine just peacefully watches over him, eyes sparkling. Once he’s done, he licks his fingers as usual.
“Now, what?” he asks, putting the plate away.
“We can relax for the day.” Lumine says. “We could go for a walk, and I can show you around since you always avoid places with people…”
“Okay.” Scaramouche agrees before he can even think about it.
Lumine stares at him with wide eyes.
“Are you sure?”
He blushes, and looks away.
“Yeah. It’ll… Be a nice change, I guess.” he decides.
Lumine beams .
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold your hand~” she teases.
“Wha-! I’m not a kid!” he retorts.
“Are you sure about that~?”
“You…!” and he reaches over so he can flick her forehead in retaliation. Lumine dodges, then quickly leans in and smashes their lips together in a sloppy kiss.
Scaramouche freezes for a few seconds before attempting to protest, to which she just slides her tongue into his mouth to deepen the kiss. That’s when his brain fully shuts down, and next thing he knows he’s lying down on bed with Lumine on top of him.
“L-Lumine!” he gasps out once they break the kiss. His cheeks are a fiery shade of red. Lumine wants to bite them.
“What?” she says, lips curled in a lopsided grin. “Getting shy now?”
“N-No!” he immediately retorts. “Wha- What if someone walks in…?”
“Well, that’s their fault for intruding.” she declares as she sits up. Scaramouche does the same, and quickly steals one last kiss. Lumine giggles at it. “Let’s go, baby.”
Once they’ve gotten ready and have walked out of the room, Scaramouche finally flicks Lumine’s forehead once she’s distracted enough.