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Once when Scaramouche was under house arrest, Nahida once told him that it was okay to live with him so long that he was to respect her rules and not stir up any trouble. At first, he hated the nomadic lifestyle - without a name or title for himself and living within the confines of what he determined to be a prison - however as time passed by, he got quite used to it. Until the Traveller came and ruined everything.
Now he had become the wanderer, once again without a name for his own, he once asked the traveler for one but, to be frank, it was just a goofy nickname in disguise and he knew it. He had gotten quite used to having no title for himself, now that he was reformed and had left the fatui many years ago. His own mother has no reason to care for him anymore, nor will the fatui try to capture him once more for their own gain no longer. Instead, he chose to live solely based on wherever the wind brings him, much like a certain person he knows.
This journey had brought him to the edges of Liyue Harbor, where he found a rather interesting sight. A young woman, with pink hair, a lopsided hat, and a law book in hand, was berating some man who wore a mask over his face. He seemed quite exasperated by her very presence and was ready to start some kind of war with his crossbow in hand, he was half worried that the young woman would wind up in some kind of lame street fight with the man. However, the woman merely placed her hands on her hips, unafraid of his attack, he pulled back on his bow as though to taunt her. Instead, the arrow merely hit a shield. Over and over again, he tried to attack her at an awkwardly close distance, but no matter what the arrow never pierced her skin. As this dance continued, he became even more flustered by his admittedly easy defeat.
Eventually, he calls over his men who get into position to attack. She simply rolled her eyes and shouted: “Motion to compel!” and her law book became a catalyst for an attack. It was very rare for someone so headstrong as her to also be someone who was willing to fend off attackers, regardless of how many she had to defeat. She continued to shoot flames from her hands, even as time dropped seals on top of their heads. He knew that as soon as he saw the men apologize and scurry off with their tails between their legs that he had enough watching from afar and had to meet this mysterious woman.
“I can see you,” the woman spoke loudly, unwilling to turn her head to face him, “if you try to use this against me, I have the ability to take you to court.”
“Good thing I care little about the law,” he crossed his arms, laughing mockingly at her claims.
That got her to finally look at him, as he took a closer look, he realized she was definitely not human - her horns gave her away. She placed her hands on her hips, frowning intensely at his comment, “Are you saying that you don’t care for justice?”
He shook his head, “Justice is just a concept that humans created in order to feel good about themselves. Right and wrong, how can I - a mere wanderer - truly understand that when the world itself is just as bleak as I stepped foot into it.”
He half expected her to leave, the traveler had done so before as well. But she surprised him once more with her reply: “Although Rex Lapis is no longer with us, I know that he believes that all people deserve a fair trial - no matter how “bad” they are, you need proof in order to determine that. Even then, I always hold onto hope that there is a chance that some people who are punished learn from their lessons too. I do not hold hate like it appears you do for the world, I would expect a wanderer such as yourself to know better than to judge so harshly.” Even when she said her piece, she didn’t go - she looked as though she was waiting for some kind of response. To be honest, usually, he would have some kind of snarky comment to follow up on, but here he was speechless. How interesting a woman like her, who was so cold to those men who were clearly asking from trouble, to still hold such warmth for humanity.
He didn’t end up searching for a reply, instead, he asked her where her office was and when she was free.
—
“You will not believe what happened at work today,” Yanfei began, as she poured him a cup of coffee, “I had to deal with these two merchants bickering. I felt like a school teacher!”
He laughed, as he accepted the coffee she passed to him. It was one of the only drinks he enjoyed all day, the bitterness was what attracted him to it.
Although he cared little for the law, Yanfei’s gossiping about annoying clients was always amusing, to say the least. He promised himself not to get too attached to others, but as soon as she allowed him into her life, it was hard to get her out of it. She was like a parasite, her presence clung so tightly to him that it was hard to get rid of her.
“Sounds irritating.” That was all he said.
She hummed softly to herself, as she poured a coffee for herself, “Irritating, but worth it. We ended things with a compromise.”
He did not say anything, he chose to look at the already familiar apartment of hers. His eyes laid upon a photo of her family - three smiling faces looking back at him, if he knew better than he would have thought his heart sank. To know that Yanfei had parents was not bizarre to him, especially loving ones at that. She always filled people around her with comfort and ease, even if they were undeserving of such warmth. She welcomed him into her home, despite learning of his past. Perhaps the only other person who he allowed to hear his story was an archon and the traveler.
And yet, no matter what, she never once told him that he was a bad person.
“I don’t believe there’s good or bad in this world,” she once said to him, one night when he was unable to relax himself to pretend to sleep, “everyone is capable of change, but not everyone is accepting of that fact.”
“Am I not evil then? I haven’t changed a bit, not even after learning of my past despite others forgetting it.” He replied.
She smiled then reached for his hand, “That’s the good thing about change, you never realize it happening but it’s always happening around you. I think you’re a flawed person, but I cannot say you are truly bad if you desire to change so badly.”
That night, she allowed him to sleep in her bed. He couldn’t help but stare as she slept. She was relaxed and calm and felt inclined to protect herself from the dangers of the world.
—
Yanfei had offered him a job not too long after moving in and figured that it was a good way to get him out of the house after being stuck in for so long. At first, he thought he’d be “Yanfei’s boy assistant” and he declined such an image. However, she explained that he’d be a debt collector and his interest was piqued.
Oftentimes, she would give him addresses of houses of people who were involved in fatui-related dealings - said that it’d be nice to shake them up but he cannot invoke violence in a way she cannot claim to be self-defense in court. He believes his influence granted her a more sinister side, which is something that both amuses and disappoints him. Due to his job, he now works at her office too. He watches how she speaks to clients, how she back straightens when she details a contract or how her lips perk slightly when they are being cooperative with her.
He never knew he would use this information in the future.
Yanfei had woken up late, she hadn’t slept well since yesterday’s trial had caused immense stress. But when she did, she saw him in the kitchen with an apron on. She didn’t question his behavior, merely grumbled a greeting and sat at the table and waited for him.
“Mornin’,” He said, as the eggs sizzled on the pan, “how’d you sleep?”
“Like a baby,” She laughs, stretching her muscles, “what time is it?”
He hums, “It’s the evening.” He was already preparing for this moment as soon as her eyes shot wide.
“Evening? Why didn’t you wake me up?” She demands, as she frantically jumps out of her seat, “I have a waiting list of clients today, I was fully booked!”
He waves his hand to calm her down, “Relax, I dealt with it.”
“I don’t like your phrasing," she sighed, as her body deflated at such a dark thought.
He rolls his eyes, “I dealt with it, like in the Yanfei-way.” He pours the eggs onto a plate and passes her the plate and a cup of coffee, “I just copied what I saw you do and tried my best.”
She hit her forehead with a hand before muttering, “God of Geo, if I have to clean up your mess, I swear-” As she accepted the food and coffee from him, she bowed her head, “and thank you, Gege.”
It didn’t hit him until she had sat down to eat, and he dropped his cleaning rag on the counter. That word, honorific if he remembers, what did it mean?
“Yanfei…” He turns to her, slowly, “what did you call me?”
She swallows her food and thinks for a moment, “Hm?”
“Gege, what does it mean?” He asks again, but this time was much louder.
She blinks in realization, then her face reddens as she attempts to laugh it off.
“Ah, sorry! It’s nothing, just a phrase to mean brother. I didn’t even realize I said it, sorry if it makes you uncomfortable or anything,” She laughs awkwardly as she flaps her hands around like bird wings.
“No,” He began, as he continues to clean the counter, “I like it.”
Yanfei doesn’t say anything for a long time before she nods, “Okay.”
She went back to eating and he washes his hands as they stood in comfortable silence. Yanfei was warm like fire, but she had moments where she had to listen to the wind’s music telling her to relax and take things slow. And he was like the wind, unpredictable and powerful, but lonesome and quiet too. He felt like he had to make his mark everywhere he went, unable to sit still in one place or he’d feel nothing once more. But with Yanfei, he felt like he meant something to her - he was her brother, it was a title he would cherish until he burnt to ash.