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All the clocks in the orphanage struck 10 in the evening. Columbina truly hasn't visited the kids for awhile: she got a little startled by the loud sound. *Sigh* And she hasn't visited her girlfriend for awhile as well. Their last missions separated them for quite some time. She was just happy she could finally see Arlecchino after months away. Well, not exactly see...
"Should we head to the library?" Columbina turned her head at the sound of Arlecchino's voice. It was usually stoic and commanding, but she heard something off about it the whole day. Of course, the reason for that shouldn't be addressed. At least not for now. Columbina had been through many things in her lifetime that might seem endless for some, but it didn't mean that it made her heartless. No, it was actually completely the other way around.
"The kids... are waiting for us."
Columbina shook the thoughts of the past away, and felt her way to her lover's hand, taking it into her own to let her lead her. This was actually completely unnecessary... She has been here so many times, that remembers the way perfectly, and didn't need any help to move in the House of Hearth, remembering every way to every place in it. Though no matter how many times Arlecchino offered her hand, Columbina couldn't resist.
Her fingers felt unusually cold today as well.
There was one time when Signora called the orphans their kids jokingly; it left Arlecchino completely shocked, while Columbina heard Sandrone laugh a little, while she hid her own smile with her hand, patting their flustered lover with the other. Everyone actually liked the idea of having kids together, but little did they know how to actually raise at least one, not mentioning running a whole orphanage. Sandrone apologized to Arlecchino, while Signora took a kid that ran to her in her lap, before opening a fairytale book. The little girl leaned into the woman's chest, choosing a more comfortable position, earning a *sigh* from her. Sandrone tried her best not to laugh again, failing miserably, before being put at the mercy of the 4th Harbinger. What a shame she was unable to escape...
The reality was that there weren't that many occasions for them to spend some quality time together, due to all their work and missions and whatnot. Hence Columbina thought: why not help their girlfriend a little? Running an orphanage did require quite a lot of time and resources. Another shame, she just used pretty words that didn't exactly have a weight to them....
It wasn't like that House of Hearth was Arlecchino's estate, of course not, she had her own place, but though Columbina couldn't see it, her heart always felt the way Arlecchino brightens around her kids. But she, returning from hard day of work, still had kids who wanted her attention. Sometimes it felt like her work never ended, the only time to rest were mere few hours of sleep she barely managed to get in night. So, more often than not one could head straight to the orphanage if they were in a desperate need to find the 4th. The 3rd just can't help but smile at the thought of their beloved just... sitting at the fireplace with a book in her hand, surrounded by children. Signora agreed with her: "What a peaceful sight to see indeed."
Sandrone sighed before smiling: "Seeing the big scary wolf Four unable to resist giving a candy to a three year old, how did she even manage..."
And so that was how they started visiting kids from time to time. Most of them were scared, of course. How can one not get scared to see not only one, but four of the Fatui Harbingers! Oh, Signora was such a mess with children. First scaring them with her mask and makeup, then her attempts at being friendly? Children genuinely thought she was trying to lead them into a trap and eat them! It took several weeks of Arlecchino trying to convince the kids that her "friends" are here to play with them.
"So Miss Signora won't eat us?" a little girl asked Arlecchino, after looking at Signora for some time.
"Of course not, Zlata," Arlecchino answered. "Why would she?" Zlata cast a glance at Signora once again, noticing the woman slightly patting the place on the couch beside her. She gulped, collecting all of her courage, and finally sat next to Signora. And then...
Nothing happened. Zlata opened her eyes to look at the women around her and other kids, only to see Arlecchino sitting on the floor next to Columbina with some kids around them. Then she looked for Sandrone, founding her at the other corner of the library, where she and a bunch of kids played with her robot. And then there was the fair lady, that scared the children so much. And she was... just... sitting next to her?.. Well that's underclimactic.
After some more time kids grew onto their new babysitters, getting more and more attached to them in different ways. There was even a rumor among them, that someone of those friends of Knave's isn't a friend whatsoever!
Auntie Columbina was always sitting so close to Father Arlecchino, smiling at everything she says, that has to be her!
No, look at how much time she spent to get them to like Auntie Signora! Who else if not her?
No, that's definitely Auntie Sandrone, otherwise why does she visit them so frequently?
It was cute how Arlecchino pretended not to notice the battling forces between children who found their new favorite. But Columbina's senses were keen, she heard what the those groups of kids were talking about in the further tables, when they all were having a dinner. They were, in fact, all correct, but they didn't need to know that.
...
The two women finally reached their destination. The House of Hearth was huge, sometimes feeling more like a mansion than an orphanage. But it was a given; it was indeed provided with money by the Fatui. The rooms were rich and huge, and the corridors long and generously decorated with various things, without mentioning playrooms for smaller kids and studies for more grown ones.
Columbina was lost in her thoughts, giving Arlecchino full control over their movement, following her right behind under the sound of heels clicking on the cold stone floor.
And then there was the entrance. To the library. Columbina did her best to put on a friendly smile, even though her heart felt anywhere except right there and right now. Columbina squeezed Arlecchino's hand a little, bringing it closer to her in an attempt to comfort herself, as she heard her lover opening the doors. As she did so, Columbina felt Arlecchino letting go of her hand and felt colder instantly. But just as she was about to turn her head to her to check on her, she felt an arm hugging her shoulder. She leaned in Arlecchino's embrace immediately. The latter didn't seem to expect it, but was able to stand firmly once again after a second.
Arlecchino hugged Columbina closer, her hands on her back. "Let's go," Columbina finally said. She didn't want to let Arlecchino go right now, but something told her being close to her sitting near a fireplace would be more comfortable than standing in the doors.
As soon as they entered the library, they got surrounded by the orphans.
"Auntie Columbina!"
"We missed you!"
The older ones were reading to themselves, greeting the pair with a polite bow of their head, while the younger ones came right next to the women, excited to spend some time with them.
"Here, here, calm down," Columbina came down to the kids, then caught one of them and raised them up.
"You haven't visited for months, Auntie Columbina! Were you on a mission?" The kid in her arms asked.
"Of course. A very serious and secret mission!"
"Wow! Can you tell us about it?" Columbina heard Arlecchino chuckle at this.
"How would this be a secret then?"
She nodded in the direction of their usual place, children happily following her and, Columbina was always very thankful for that, made space for her to follow them safely as well. Not that it, again, was all that important, but she still smiled at how polite and thoughtful these kids are growing to be. With the kid sitting in her arms hugging her neck, she felt her way exactly right next to Arlecchino. Sitting now in their favourite soft divan, Columbina felt as if she was about to succumb to the atmosphere: with children surrounding them, her Arlecchino reading a (not exactly age-appropriate) book, (No, seriously, they are too young for it, please read them a fairytale, love.) it was so tempting, to just pretend as if nothing happened, to smile and laugh with them as if they were a normal family, just with a lot of kids, but it’s not like it wasn’t something common, but she couldn’t say she ever imagined having that many babies, but—
“Father, why doesn’t Auntie Signora visit us?”
Columbina realized she got lost in her thoughts once again.
Here it was. Now there was no way for her to deny reality, now that it was addressed. The young girl Columbina recognized to be Zlata asked casually, not understanding yet the whole situation. Arlecchino silenced the second she heard the question. The signature smile never left Columbina’s lips for a second; it probably wasn’t appropriate right now, but given her status as one of top three, she didn’t have the privilege to be genuine with those who had lower status. Columbina placed her hand atop of Arlecchino’s thigh reassuringly, rubbing it slightly. She felt Arlecchino’s muscles tensed. She didn’t hear her breath for a good while.
Arlecchino put the book the was holding on the nearest table. Columbina noticed how the kids became quiet as well, and she could feel the stress and confusion Zlata was experiencing; her eyes were running between the two Harbingers, did she say something wrong? Why did Father and Auntie become so silent? Did she offend them somehow?
Arlecchino massaged her nose bridge as she finally let out the breath she was holding, seemed like it took her a lot of willpower not to show how anger in front of the orphans. She put her hand over Columbina’s as she said:
“La Signora will not visit you anymore.”
It was a cold and emotionless sentence, but to Columbina it was peak of Arlecchino’s stress. She appreciated how the 4th did her best to hold herself together in front of the kids, but she also felt heartache at how how beloved had to suppress herself.
“We should go,” Columbina held Arlecchino’s palm with both of her own now. Not many people ever heard Columbina speak a lot, but Arlecchino held her close to her heart; she noticed the slightest change in her sweet voice. She cast her a glance: the never-changing senere smile on the angelic face brought her back to Teyvat and calming her.
With that Columbina lifted the kid who was sitting on her lap down, and got up, still holding Arlecchino’s hand. The latter came up shortly after her. They left the library.
***
In Snezhnaya, it gets dark very early in the evening, and stays dark until very late morning. It was very hard to determine what the time was in just a look outside. And Columbina could’t say what time it was until she heard the clock struck the midnight. It was piercing cold; the numerous fireplaces all over the building tried their best to keep the temperature in the orphanage at least somewhat bearable. They couldn’t, though, warm the Harbingers.
Columbina and Arlecchino were now present in the latter’s chambers, the 4th on the floor next to the fireplace, buried her face in her knees that she hugged closer to her chest. She has been sitting like that for awhile, and Columbina knew that there wasn’t really any way to help her.
Rosalyne is dead.
Three words that both of them tried to avoid the second they heard the news, but hearing the news from a random agent that was delivering a decree from The Jester was one thing. Hearing Zlata ask where Rosalyne is was another. Wasn’t it the girl who liked her the most? Just how could they avoid the reality when she was the one asking…
Arlecchino’s breathing was heavy during their way to the chambers too. She inhaled deep and hard, then heavily exhaled, after which she held her breath for some time. Her grasp on Columbina’s hand became tigher as well. And now that she finally felt somewhat safe, in almost solitude save from the seelie guarding her on her bed, she shut her senses and cuddled to warmth. The cracking of fire and smell of burning wood giving a false feeling of Rosalyne’s presence, but the heat did its best to try and release the tight grip Arlecchino had on her own forearms.
Who knows how long it was before Arlecchino gave a long quiet sigh. Columbina couldn’t see but she knew, her beloved looked right at her. She smiled.
It wasn’t her usual empty serene smile that fueled thousands of nightmares from those who weren’t lucky to experience her presence; no. It was a sad smile. A genuine one, one of those that she showed only to few such as her fellow Harbinger ladies, and Arlecchino was not an exception. Maybe even the one she saved her most honest ones. The one who treasured them the most.
Columbina got up from the huge and soft bed. She kneeled behind Arlecchino and locked her shoulders in her embrace, Arlecchino’s head close to her chest.
They didn’t move for a while.
“What am I supposed to tell them?”
Columbina held her girlfriend closer for a moment before letting go and sitting next to her.
“Do you need to?” She put her head on Arlecchino’s shoulder.
“They’re going to know anyways. Wouldn’t it be better if I were the one to tell them?” Arlecchino put her hand on Columbina’s waist, bringing her closer.
“…”
“This isn’t your responsibility. Don’t try to make it yours.” She brought her palm up to caress Arlecchino’s cheek, making her sigh as she leaned into Columbina’s soft and calming touch, squeezing the hand with her own. Columbina shivered as Arlecchino kissed the inner side of her palm.
“I guess you’re right.” Kiss. “But…” Kiss. “…”
Columbina: “…”
They pressed their lips together, Columbina’s hand still on Arlecchino’s cheek. Arlecchino held her breath once again; Columbina could feel her girlfriend’s heart beating faster. She shivered, despite sitting right next to a hot fireplace, and Columbina tasted salty tears on their lips. She kissed the corner of Arlecchino’s lips, then mirrored the kiss, then kissed her eyes, collecting her tears.
“We have a long day tomorrow,” she said after kissing Arlecchino’s nose. “don’t cry,” said in the gentlest voice, caressing her cheek, her finger brushing past the wet eyelids. “it’ll ache tomorrow.”
Arlecchino: “Mhm.”
It was way past three in the night, when Arlecchino had finally fallen asleep. Columbina didn’t leave her for a moment, watching over her, before she fell asleep as well.