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The space around The Knave has always been quiet. The harbinger wasn’t a huge fan of such loud disturbances, for a busy and calculating woman like her, any distractions would immediately be terminated at her request. The silence has always been sort of a comfort. No crying and sobbing children, something that proved to spark annoyance out of her but that was what made children simply such. Arlecchino had just left the House of the Hearth, and the collar of her dress shirt stuck to her neck, glued by the warm droplets of sweat that glazed her flesh. Being a father was a hard job on top of being the fourth fatui harbinger. She was responsible for many orphans, and her duties consisted of making sure each child was well taken care of and comfortable in the house. Of course, those children, wide eyed and perhaps fearful were sure to respect their father. She had rescued and taken them into the House, providing them with what their parents could not offer. Arlecchino was strict, a bit harsh on these children, but it was necessary considering how the world works, and Arlecchino was very well versed in those tales.
She was finally away from the House of the Hearth for the night, now she could visit her favorite former archon.
That pretty face she had missed so much. Furina de Fontaine. The same woman who she nearly struck down in a pool of blood one night, now the one person she looks forward to seeing after she had checked off everything on her busy schedule. The former archon had managed to swoon the harbinger over. It was unexpected, completely out of Arlecchino’s character, but after finding out about Furina’s sacrifice for Fontaine, Arlecchino was greatly surprised that the same pathetic excuse of an archon had acted out a role for 500 years just to save Fontaine, despite her suffering in the process. Furina may not have been the archon, but she was godly, absolutely divine in the eyes of The Knave. She had originally received the news from Neuvillette, to which she just gave a small hum at the news. Her goal was the gnosis, a chat with the Iudex was irrelevant to her. Fontaine was saved and Arlecchino had already played her part in evacuating the citizens. To her, she deserved something, and that something was the gnosis.
She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t looking forward to visiting Furina. The Knave, excited to see someone? It was laughable, but Arlecchino wasn’t very open about her relationships. That woman hid many secrets, and she was damn good at keeping them. Arlecchino was carrying a box of cake in her arms as she walked through Vasari Passage. Fontaine was quiet during these hours, only a soft tune that seemed to fade in and out resonated through the city. Every visit from The Knave either included Furina’s favorite cake, or bags of groceries since a certain someone decided to live only off macaroni. Arlecchino was well versed in all the sweets that Furina had adored, she too enjoyed desserts, so they often enjoyed such treats together.
That was just how Furina and Arlecchino did things. Furina never expected Arlecchino to stay for too long. Sometimes the harbinger would disappear for days without a word, but she always left something for Furina, whether it be food or whatever trinket that Furina might find interesting. Thankfully it hadn’t been that long since Arlecchino’s last visit. Nearing a week, Arlecchino was sure that the former archon was pining over her, wrapped in her blankets, and hugging her pillows as she waited for Arlecchino to come back to her. Arlecchino could almost feel sorry for her, but Furina was mature enough to handle some time away from her, and Arlecchino wasn’t nearly that soft.
But she had grown used to taking on a softer role whenever it involved Furina. She thought of it as a form of apology for all those nights the poor girl had cried herself to sleep since her near assassination. Her views on Furina had changed drastically, as did her admiration. Not only did it feel sinful not to praise the former archon, but the thought of leaving her without a proper apology felt worse. Arlecchino wasn’t one to regret her actions, everything she did was calculated and perfectly executed, yet that one mission ate away at her.
And so, Arlecchino had promised the former archon her loyalty. The Tsaritsa aside, Furina was truly her archon, and she couldn’t be prouder of the archon of her homeland. It could be said that Arlecchino’s faith in any god could be questionable, not even The Tsaritsa had Arlecchino’s full devotion despite her being the fourth of the harbingers. It was merely a plus for her, Arlecchino did not care for The Tsaritsa’s goals, nor did she pay much attention to her needs wishes other than the retrieval of the gnosis. Furina was the god in Arlecchino’s eyes, and much as Furina denied her position as the archon, Arlecchino insisted that Furina deserved the recognition and title, even if the Furina hated the idea. Arlecchino wholeheartedly believed that hard work should be rewarded.
Arlecchino reached into her pocket and grabbed a key from her pocket. The key to Furina’s apartment to which she had custom made. It wasn’t known until Arlecchino randomly waltzed into the apartment and nearly gave the poor girl a heart attack, and to this day Furina still holds a grudge about that. As Arlecchino walked in the dust particles and still air hit her in the face, not entirely unpleasant but Arlecchino would bring it up to her later. Furina had yet to unpack some things, and the former archon had been putting it aside for too long. Furina’s apartment was by no means awful, but the girl had no idea how to arrange to fix up an apartment. Spoiled one could say, but there’s no doubt that Furina would quickly learn how to live like a normal human. The girl catches on quick, something that Arlecchino adored. Just a little nudge and the apartment would be fixed up and decorated just like her old chambers in the Palais Mermonia.
After leaving her shoes by the door, Arlecchino called out gently for Furina, waiting to hear the hurried footsteps of her tumbling down the staircase.
“Furina? I’m back with your cake.”
Except this time there were no hurried footsteps, nor was there the wide-eyed shades of blue staring right up at her. Furina was usually always downstairs, sitting in the corner of the room like a child put in timeout. Arlecchino never understood why Furina chose to sit on the cold, dusty tiles instead of a perfectly good bed, but Furina was odd in many ways. Part of that was endearing in a way.
Arlecchino placed the box of cake on the table in the kitchen where she had noticed the pile of dishes in the sink had gotten bigger since her last visit. Does Furina not know how to wash dishes? Arlecchino merely shook her head and sighed. That was something else to bring up later.
To be fair, it was not that bad, surely it could have been worse. Furina wasn’t necessarily messy, a bit untidy at the most, but Arlecchino believed that Furina still needed time to adjust to her new life. If it were anyone else, the woman would most certainly scold their lazy and unkept lifestyle, but this was Furina, her darling.
Arlecchino mumbled something underneath her breath as she attempted to tidy up the kitchen a little. She wasn’t a fan of cleaning, she had servants to do the job for her, but she couldn’t ignore the mess that Furina had made. Perhaps that was the father in her coming out. Arlecchino scanned the kitchen before rolling up her sleeves and turning the faucet on to wash the dishes in the sink. How long had it been since she had attempted such a thing? Arlecchino wouldn’t be caught dead doing someone else’s dishes, she didn’t even do hers. She ignored the thought, shrugging it off because it was for Furina.
“That girl...”
A little housework wasn’t too bad, not difficult in the slightest but not something that Arlecchino particularly enjoyed.
She was in the middle of washing a couple dishes and placing a few items in the trash when something soft and wet popped on her face. It was a light feeling, like a bubble had popped right against her cheek. Arlecchino turned her head and noticed a few bubbles coming down the staircase. There’s a few surrounding her as well, wet spheres circulating around the kitchen and living area like a waltz.
It was odd to say the least. Why were there bubbles appearing in Furina’s apartment? Surely Furina was mature enough not to go out and buy bubbles like a child, but Furina was unpredictable in many ways.
Arlecchino dried her hands off with a nearby towel before walking towards the staircase, making sure to lower her head and dodge any bubbles that tried to come in contact with her face. As she reached the top of the staircase she could hear little giggles, the same ones that Furina would let out when she got overly excited by whatever topic she was currently rambling about.
There’s an unreadable look on Arlecchino’s face, somewhere between amusement and a look of surprise as she stood at Furina’s bedroom door. Clearly, she had not captured Furina’s attention, which was obvious by the way Furina held a blue seahorse in her hands, lifting it up in the air as those same bubbles that tried so hard to attack Arlecchino’s face blew around the bedroom. Around Furina were two other strange characters. A crab and an octopus with a top hat? The two other manifestations circled around Furina, moving around happily as Furina giggled and divided her attention between the three mysterious creatures. Arlecchino watched as Furina waltzed around, twirling with the rest of the manifestations in a beautiful but lively manner.
Furina was having fun for the first time in perhaps many years.
Arlecchino did not wish to disrupt her, watching Furina enjoy herself was pleasant enough to witness. The many hours Arlecchino spent comforting and wiping away the girl’s tears were reaching numbers that even tested Arlecchino’s limits, yet she never denied her former archon comfort. She had great experience in abolishing the tears from one’s face, the countless number of children she rescued were proof of that. Furina was no different, she was painfully human like most people in Fontaine. She could only handle so much until the dam holding her tears back broke and her worries of 500 years began pouring out of her like the flood that nearly submerged Fontaine.
Genuinely, that look of gleefulness in Furina’s eyes was enough to bring just the slightest smile to The Knave’s lips. The effect that Furina had on Arlecchino was great, partly due to Furina’s charm. She was nothing less than phenomenal, the girl had shaped her act for 500 years, molding herself into a starring character with the greatest stage presence one could ever witness. It was irrelevant which role she played, anything that Furina acted out was simply a sight to behold. Even now, as she danced with the bubbles floating around her room, three manifestations of hydro partaking in a two step with their lead, Furina was truly a woman of great talent.
It didn’t take long for Arlecchino to catch on to what was happening, there was no way such beings could pop out of nowhere and nuzzle so lovingly in the arms of Furina. She detected the power of hydro resonating within the room, light yet very strong, like something was holding back some sort of immense power. It was a hydro vision sitting on the bed, glowing blue just like the seas of Furina’s eyes.
A few days away and Furina had already received a vision? And not only that, but she managed to create something with her power. It was no shocker, Furina was naturally gifted and smart in many ways. It’s no wonder she was able to create these beings in just a short amount of time.
“Aren’t you the cutest?” Furina’s face just lights up, somehow brighter than they already were. The seahorse just blasts more bubbles around the room at the praise.
“Mm, Furina?” Arlecchino spoke in that usual soft tone that never failed to make Furina’s heart stutter in her own chest. It should be illegal how attractive it sounds whenever she pronounces her name.
Immediately, Furina’s attention was drawn to the sound of a familiar voice she had not heard in a few days, the alluring tone so sweet and captivating, Furina’s own drug that she had been awarding herself since their first friendly encounter. Two mismatched eyes were now focused on the woman pressed against the side of the wall, followed by at least 6 more who stopped their dance immediately to form a circle around Furina. Arlecchino took note of this protective behavior from these manifestations, making sure not to make any sudden moves in case of setting off one of them, perhaps the crab that was buzzing in place, just itching to throw itself right at the intruder.
“Ah, Arlecchino !” Furina sang as she let go of the hydro mimic in her arms, allowing it to float freely in the air. The moment Furina took a step forward, the rest of the mimics followed, acting somewhat as her bodyguards, which they have been proving to be very good at so far. Furina waltzed over to Arlecchino, her small frame now pressed up against her, arms hugging at her waist and closing the space between them. She felt so small compared to Arlecchino, who could probably flatten her petite frame with just a nudge of her finger.
“You’re back.” Those pretty blues were peering up at the woman and a little smile tugged at her lips. It was such an endearing sight, the way Furina’s cheeks would glow a pretty shade of pink, complimenting her already divine features. Furina lost all attention in her hydro mimics, but they did not lose their stance. Instead, they analyzed Arlecchino like some unknown species, debating whether to lunge at her.
“I am.” Arlecchino hummed at the feeling of Furina gluing herself to her body, fitting like the last piece in a puzzle. A blackened arm snuck around Furina’s smaller frame and Furina instinctively rested her head against Arlecchino’s ample bosom, letting out a content sigh as she bathed in the gentle petting. Furina always took advantage of the affection that Arlecchino displayed, partly because the feeling of being taken care of so intimately was foreign to her, and the fact that The Knave of all people was the one giving it to her. The same could be said for Arlecchino as well, the woman was not used to romance or intimacy, yet she knew of it so well, it was natural to her from the moment she first pulled Furina into a hug after their first encounter since the meeting. Arlecchino never failed to make Furina’s heart race, though this time that feeling was purely love and excitement.
“I see you have guests?” Arlecchino’s clawed hands tangled into Furina’s white curls, switching from stroking it gently and twirling the little strands around her finger. Furina only nuzzled her face deeper into the woman’s chest, nearly purring at the gentle caresses. It was comforting to say the least, once she was in Arlecchino’s arms, Furina felt safe. Ironically enough, there was nothing to fear when she was in Arlecchino’s presence. There were no worries, nor was there any room for doubt of their love for each other. Furina trusted Arlecchino perhaps a little too much, but Furina had received her care when she was at her lowest and most vulnerable state. She was alone, lost, and desperate for anyone to be there for her. Furina would have guessed anyone else would be the one person to truly appreciate her efforts and show her even the slightest bit of kindness, but she took whatever she could get. She appreciated everything that Arlecchino had done for her. In a way, Furina felt guilty for having to rely on Arlecchino’s support so much. A burden was the last thing Furina wanted to be labeled as. The poor girl struggled with her own thoughts and insecurities, but every time Arlecchino talked her through any issues she had and held her like a delicate piece of glass, Furina felt comfortable as she was. She could act freely as the real Furina, the gentle yet insecure girl who had been buried somewhere in the realm of Furina’s mind, locked away in a box that not even Furina could pick. The couple of months that they had spent together seemed to go by so fast, especially when the days Furina spent locked away in her abode felt like another half millennium.
“Of course! This is Salon Solitaire, you could say they are my besties!” Furina tore away from Arlecchino for a moment just to grab the seahorse mimic. It did a little spin before blasting some bubbles in Arlecchino’s face, and Furina giggled at the sight of Arlecchino’s blank stare. Arlecchino stood there, face dripping in hydro and her bangs sticking to her forehead. It took a lot of effort not to react negatively to the seahorse’s actions, but once again, this was Furina. Arlecchino’s eyes darted between the seahorse and Furina, both seemed to be nearly buzzing in excitement. There was no way she could get upset at Furina for this. To be honest, it was quite adorable. Arlecchino simply sighed and wiped some of the hydro from her face.
“This is Surintendante Chevalmarin, my housekeeper, and I must say she adores you very much.”
Funny, considering how she and the rest of the mimics were holding back from attacking the harbinger.
“Hopefully the Surintendante starts encouraging you to finally fix the place, Furina. It has been months and there are still boxes scattered around the living area” Arlecchino’s tone wasn’t harsh per se, but it made Furina lower her head a little at the woman’s words. She really needed to start working on the apartment, there were little excuses at this point, she’s had enough time to get around to it.
“Well… um..” Furina trailed off, shuffling her feet, and lifting her hands away from Surintendante Chevalmarin. She wanted to think of an excuse, but she knew nothing could fool Arlecchino. Her eyes peeked up at Arlecchino almost sheepishly, until Furina decided to put on an act to defend herself. “That’s no longer my responsibility now! All the housework falls upon Mademoiselle Crabaletta, my most endearing maid, who right now, has the day off.” Mademoiselle Crabaletta jolted forward to take the spotlight, despite being unable to communicate and express emotions, it was clear that she had relished in Furina’s words. The Salon Solitaire truly takes on Furina’s love of theatrics.
Arlecchino stared at Mademoiselle Crabaletta and let out a small sigh. The mimic was adorable, just as the rest of them were, but it seemed that even Mademoiselle Crabaletta was slacking off on the job. She found it odd that Furina entrusted these creatures as her servants.
“Then you shall tell Made- “
“She has quite the temper though, so please do not try to intimidate her in any way.” Furina added, already aware of what Arlecchino was going to say.
“Noted.”
“Aaaand this is Gentilhomme Usher! My conferencier, who also serves as my dance partner.” Furina stuck her hand out and gently grabbed one of its tentacles. With a small flick of her wrist, Furina twirled Gentilhomme Usher in a circle before taking another tentacle in her free hand, acting out a ballroom dance of sorts. Furina was smooth on her feet, and the hydro mimic was naturally aware of Furina’s choreography. Arlecchino watched, arms crossing over her chest as she observed Furina’s performance. It was cute, adorned by Surintendante Chevalmarin’s bubbles that once again tried to pop against Arlecchino’s face. She was aware this time and simply tilted her head to the side, letting it pop against the wall.
“An interesting use of your vision, Furina. I cannot say that I am surprised but given that you have achieved this in only a couple of days is impressive.” Arlecchino had seen enough of Furina’s little performance, if she had not spoken, she was sure that Furina would carry on without a thought. Since it was so endearing, she wouldn’t mind seeing her play with Salon Solitaire another time.
“Surely you jest! It only took flooding the apartment, losing against a local legend, nearly drowning, and receiving a complaint from the landlord.” Furina’s tone differed from the words she spoke, which should have brought her shame, yet she found humor in her failure. The local legend that she had angered by accident some time in the past was her first form of practice once she had received her vision. In all honesty, Furina did not expect to win, not even stand a chance if she could confess, but once Furina sets her mind to something not much can get in the way of her plans. She was determined to at least attempt it, and when the moment got around, she nearly tumbled down a hill and landed in one of lakes around the northern area of the Court of Fontaine after being washed away by a tide summoned by the Vivianne of The Lake.
Her vision was hydro, she should have known better than to duel pure hydro energy.
“Flooding the apartment and nearly drowning you say?” Arlecchino’s eyes narrowed slightly at the news, a silly confession, but Arlecchino was neither worried nor surprised. This was Furina they were talking about, she was a strong girl, fragile in many ways but Furina could handle a good number of things thrown at her, except washing the dishes of course. “And in that amount of time, have you learned to control your power enough not to make the same mistakes?”
“After that incident I’ve restrained from practicing here in the apartment, so I’ve been going to Elynas to learn to control my vision better. I cannot say that I have come very far…Fighting is not my forte, but I’d rather not ignore this power that has been gifted to me.” Furina spoke honestly, dropping her head to examine the hydro vision sitting upon her person. It was her reward for all her hard work for the past 500 years. If anyone deserved such a thing, it should be Furina. There were still people who failed to recognize the blood, sweat, and tears that Furina poured into her nation all at the cost of her own freedom, it was a difficult conclusion to accept for the former archon, but the past is the past and she cannot change anything that has already been done.
“I see. Do not dwell on it, Furina. You cannot expect exceptional results in such a short amount of time, though I am sure that you will excel as you do with everything else. Combat may not be your calling, but there are other positions to master if you wish to do so.” Arlecchino’s tone softened, her slender fingers emerging to tilt Furina’s chin just enough so that the shorter woman to make eye contact with her crimson pupils. Her grip wasn’t as harsh as it had once been, she was mindful of not breaking Furina, the last thing she wanted was to hear those sorrowful cries again. Arlecchino handled Furina carefully, as her own fragile thing that could shatter if she were not careful, but it still held the amount of influence for Furina to not wiggle away.
“If you are serious about honing your skills, then I will happily tutor you, but please remember, I do not like to waste my time. You understand this, right little droplet?’ Furina’s heart raced at the burning caress of Arlecchino’s hand, warm but soothing, those claws of hers were dangerous, just a little nudge and Arlecchino could sink those blades into Furina’s delicate flesh. Furina had mindlessly gotten herself involved with the same woman who attempted to murder her, but by no means was she regretful of her newfound love for the woman. It only added to the excitement. She managed to swoon The Knave, who would rather not admit that she is absolutely head over heels, dedicated and to be frank, Furina’s number one fan. She can be tough on Furina, perhaps cruel in more ways than others, but her harsh actions were out of love. It wasn’t easy for Arlecchino to completely soften her personality, there is no universe where Arlecchino is completely lovey dovey, but she could show a different side to her little droplet.
Furina’s teeth captured her bottom lip as she peered up at the taller woman, her head nodding up and down in agreement. Furina could receive training from anyone else, there were good candidates such as Clorinde or even the Traveler, but even with those two she could feel a sense of embarrassment if she were to fail miserably. There was no doubt that neither of them would deny her their precious time, Furina was close with both of them.
She’d never seen Arlecchino fight or demonstrate any of her abilities, and no, the night at the Palais Mermonia did not count. She’d rather not think of that.
“You’d really train me? What if I mess up too many times? I can’t wield a weapon, and I most definitely cannot strike a blade against a beast and win. What if- “
Arlecchino placed her finger against Furina’s lips to quiet her.
“And how do you think my children grew to become such reliable fatuus, worthy of even my praise? They were once lost and inexperienced as you are now. The only difference is that you, my love, ruled a nation for 500 years. If you can carry the weight of a million on your back for half a millennium, surely you can learn to defend yourself when need be.” Arlecchino was firm, lowering her head just enough to be face to face with Furina. She bore deep into Furina’s gaze, stern but patient in her own attractive and mysterious way. Furina almost fainted, it wasn’t the first time they’d been this close, Celestia no, but perhaps it was the locking of eyes that intimidated her so much.
“Take some time to think of your answer. I am not for- “
“I want you to train me! Please…” Furina interrupted, throwing her body against Arlecchino and staggering her against the wall. Arlecchino was quick to compose herself and stand on her feet, holding onto a clingy Furina, who if it were not for Arlecchino’s quick reflexes, would be tumbling down along with the harbinger. Furina caught herself against Arlecchino’s frame, her hands resting upon the fine material of Arlecchino’s vest. A more refined, yet simple suit compared to her usual harbinger outfit. The white button up accentuated her frame, not too loose and not too tight, just enough to get a good outline of her tall and built frame. The black and gray vest hugged her figure, complimenting the grayscale to which Arlecchino would often adopt.
“If that is what you desire, then I shall oblige.” Arlecchino held Furina by the waist and placed her free hand on the back of Furina’s neck, lowering her face to place a small kiss on top of Furina’s head. It was light, but sweet enough to paint a pink hue onto Furina’s already glowing cheeks. “I trust that you will make me proud, right my love?” Arlecchino’s voice softened, every word streaming from those dangerous lips were enough to force Furina’s heart out of her chest. She swore that if Arlecchino continued then she would end up as a puddle of hydro on the floor.
“Why of course.” Furina hummed as she sunk into those strong arms, the same ones that took her in when she had no one else to confide in. She could feel the pyro energy coursing through Arlecchino’s body, enveloping her like a heated blanket. She’d missed that, her apartment felt so cold without the presence of her lover who was cold yet so warm, a good balance that Furina could not complain of.
“There you go. That’s my sweet girl.”
“Arle! You can’t say things like that” Furina whined into Arlecchino’s chest, shaking her head. Arlecchino only watched amusingly, her clawed hand attaching to Furina’s fluffy hair, gently massaging her scalp in a way that made Furina lean into her touch. Furina loved and hated the effect that Arlecchino had on her, and Arlecchino was aware of this, making it her goal to see just how flustuered Furina could get.
“I just did.”
“Yes, but… ugh whatever! Anyways...” Furina lifted her head and tried shaking off her flustered expression. She’d rather not be teased to death by Arlecchino any longer. Not that she hated it, but the poor girl could not catch a break. “Did you bring me another cake this time?”
“That I did. I left it in the kitchen, before I had to clean up your mess” Arlecchino locked eyes with Furina who had a little sheepish grin on her lips. She’d completely forgotten about her mess of a kitchen, too busy dealing with her vision and playing with Salon Solitaire who had stolen all Furina’s attention and time. Furina let out a sigh and dodged another stroke of her head to gently take Arlecchino’s hand into hers, her gentle fingers grazing over the mix of soft and rough patches on her lover’s gradient limbs.
“Ah... Sorry about that. If I had known that you were returning tonight, then I would have done the cleaning myself” Furina spoke against Arlecchino’s hand before placing a little kiss on it.
“It is quite alright, but I cannot promise that I will do it again.”
Furina looked up at Arlecchino and nodded, locking her index finger with hers, tugging just a little to get her knuckle against her lips once again. Her white hair swooped over her mismatched eyes, fluffy and soft to the touch, she’d been meaning to brush and comb it out, but she forgot about doing that as well.
Arlecchino adored that pretty face, bringing her hand to gently push some pieces of hair behind Furina’s ear, she admired every divine feature that was Furina’s face, soft and elegant, her little droplet was truly a sight to behold. It was like Furina had pulled Arlecchino in closer, stopping until she could feel her warm breath on her lips, the pause was heavy, but eventually the two couldn’t handle another second of not sharing a kiss.
The kisses are small, gentle pecks from Furina who was most eager to kiss Arlecchino, trying to get in as many as she could. It wasn’t until when Arlecchino’s firm hands cupped Furina’s soft cheeks, holding her still to place a proper kiss on her lips. Furina felt weak, her pretty eyes closing, and she nearly went limp against Arlecchino’s body, but she caught herself, grabbing onto the woman’s loose tie. One of Arlecchino’s hands fell to Furina’s small waist, placing her hand on it to hold her up while the other lifted her head up enough for a better kiss. Arlecchino was a very attentive lover, she knew exactly how Furina liked to be treated, gentle but handled assertively, firmly enough that she could feel safe and comfortable in Arlecchino’s hold, something that could rip her to shreds in a heartbeat.
The two exchanged gazes, Furina’s look of admiration and Arlecchino’s piercing yet loving stare, it was a look that only Furina could understand, there was no other person who had witnessed such a side from Arlecchino. Arlecchino was supposed to be cruel, insane, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but her time with Furina proved that even the most twisted could learn to adapt to new emotions. Not for a second did Arlecchino tear her gaze away from Furina, those blue seas in her eyes were absolutely beautiful, full of emotions and words that had yet to be revealed.
For someone as possessive and protective as Arlecchino, she made sure that Furina was always content. Whether it be giving her the attention she needed, bringing her cakes and pastries, and even going as far as to dispatch the fatui near her apartment at night whenever she couldn’t be with Furina. There was no way that Arlecchino would let anything happen to her. Archons forbid some idiot try to harm her, they’d receive the worst torture of a lifetime, slow and agonizing, she wouldn’t give them an easy death, it’d be a pleasure to watch them suffer and beg for mercy that would not be granted.
Furina’s mind glazed over the nights she spent all alone in her new apartment, somehow lonelier than it was when she had to act as the Hydro Archon for 500 years. Everything had changed after her trial, the good and the bad. There were simple things that she could enjoy, a world that she had not known of- freedom. That freedom was beautiful, but it was also terrifying.
She hated going out in public the days after her trial, the whispers and stares of the people who once adored her now silently judging as she traversed along the streets of Fontaine. Perhaps it wasn’t as bad as she thought, there was no doubt that people still viewed Furina as a very important figure, but as insecure and sensitive as Furina is, all she could think about was the negative comments that were associated with her name. It was difficult adjusting, her guilt and insecurities ate away at her, but after she had received the praise and loyalty from Arlecchino, she realized that she shouldn’t dwell on the past, especially since she worked so hard for the future of Fontaine.
She was finally happy and content with her life, cared for and adored by her love. Furina deserved a break, she deserved everything after all she’d been through, and Arlecchino was going to make sure of that.
“I love you, Arlecchino.”
“I love you too, my darling Furina.”