Work Text:
After the affairs regarding Clervie were settled, Arlecchino could finally sigh a breathe of relief. She decided to stay behind at the site of the old House of the Hearth after Lyney and the others head back to the city.
Even after saying all that stuff about "anger", and "sorrow", she could't help but still feel devastated about the whole thing. After all, she's still human. She's barely able to keep herself composed while dealing with the affair. The re-appearance of Clervie's shadow reopens old wounds and feelings that she thought she had long since discarded.
Arlecchino stared at the spot where Clervie's shadow disintegrated into the light, reminiscing about their time spent together. All the joy, sad, and painful memories flood into her mind all at once, making her already fragile state of mind even harder to maintain. Before she could break down further, she thought, she'd better leave this place and put this behind her as soon as she could. The House of Hearth has no use of a weak Father.
Just as she starts making her way towards the city, she saw Aether, not far ahead, who was seemingly waiting for her.
"Aether? What are still you doing here? Why have you not head back with the others?"
"Ah, Arlecchino. I told Paimon she can head back first with Lyney. I was waiting for you. It doesn't feel right for me to leave you after all that."
"I appreciate your gesture, but you really didn't have to do that." Arlecchino said, as they both start making their way back.
When they're reached a quarter of the way to the city, Arlecchino felt like collapsing, but managed to stay on her knees, breathing heavily. She's all too familiar with this sensation; it's a drawback of using the Balemoon Bloodfire form for an extended amount of time, where it drains much of her energy.
"Arlecchino? What's wrong?" Aether asked, a worried look on his face. He hurried to her side, propping her up with his arms.
"I'm... Fine, it's... Nothing." Arlecchino struggled to get the words out as she tried to catch her breath at the same time.
"You're obviously not fine. Come on, let me help you rest first." He helped sit her down on a nearby log, and he himself sat down beside her.
After a few minutes, Arlecchino finally gathered her breath and for now, her condition went back to normal.
"Are you okay?" Aether asked, with still a tinge of worry in his voice.
"I'm okay now... Sorry you had to help me. And... Thank you. It's a side effect of me using Balemoon Bloodfire form earlier, and I used it way past my limit."
"You mean the form where you grew red wings? I understand."
They fell into silence once again, the only distinct sound they heard is Arlecchino's slightly labored breathing.
After another few minutes, Aether finally asked: "Arlecchino, physically you're fine, but mentally, are you really okay?"
This is the second time today that Arlecchino was caught off-guard by Aether's question. But she quickly composed herself before answering.
"I already told you, didn't I? Both as an 'assassin' and as a 'father', 'anger' and 'sorrow' are to be avoided at all costs as they make you impulsive and waver."
"Doesn't always mean that you completely lack those feelings no matter how patient or how unwavering you are." Aether snapped back. "Don't give me that. I know you're also suffering inside." Aether sounded a bit stern.
"Heh. And what makes you think so?" Arlecchino's lips curl slightly upwards, giving him a weak smile.
"It's subtle, but I noticed them. When you're talking with Clervie, your voice quivered just a little bit. And when Paimon was busy keeping her occupied with stories of our adventures, while you're holding the teacup, your hands were slightly shaking."
"And that makes you conclude that I am in turmoil inside?"
"Exactly." Aether's gaze softened. "Listen. I empathize with what you went through as a child, and having to immediately take over the Knave position after you dispatched the previous one. Needing to appear strong in front of the children of the Earth as someone they can depend on. But what about you? Do you have that someone? All I'm saying is that you don't have to burden yourself anymore, at least not alone. Because I'm here. I'm an outsider, yet I'm familiar enough with the House and the kids. I'm willing to lend you my ears and shoulders if there's anything you want to vent it out, Peruere.
Hearing that, Arlecchino was speechless.
Aether, realizing his mistake, immediately apologized. "Ah, I'm sorry for using your old name, it just rolled off my tongue. I'm sure you don't want any association with that name anymore."
"N-no, it's... It's ok." Arlecchino assured him, her voice started breaking. She could feel tears welling up her eyes, and slowly leaned her face to Aether's shoulder.
"I... Thank you. You're right-- I do still feel sorrow despite saying that I need to avoid it. I... I need this." Arlecchino softly presses her face further on his shoulder.
"That's ok. Let it out. Let it all out. Let out years of frustrations that were pulling you down. I'm right here."
At the sound of his soothing and reassuring voice, Arlecchino finally broke down, something that she thought she wasn't able to do ever since Crucabena beat it out of her.
While she cried, Aether strokes her back, encouraging her to unload her feelings. Ever since she can remember, aside from Clervie and the Tsaritsa, no one else has shown her this much kindness. Due to her trauma of killing Clervie, she avoided making personal connections outside of business.
Passersby would occasionally pass through where they're stopping to rest, and they could hear a woman's cries and sobs. Fortunately, due to the sun having been set, they couldn't clearly see the woman.
After a while, Arlecchino cried herself to sleep on Aether's shoulder, partially because of Balemoon Bloodfire's side effects.
...
"They're sure taking their sweet time coming back." Paimon said, as she stuffed her face (again) with a fried chicken leg.
"Well, I'm sure they stopped to settle some other business in the city." Lyney replied, looking at the door, before exclaiming "Oh, they're back!"
The sight that greeted them was a strange one; with Aether carrying the sleeping Arlecchino in her arms.
"Aether, you're back!" Lyney noticed Arlecchino's face. "Father has never looked this tired before."
"Yeah, she said it's a side effect of using the red form earlier."
"What took you guys so long, Aether? Did something happen?" Paimon asked.
"Well, something like that. Though I'd rather you not ask about it. Lyney, where's her room?"
Lyney snapped out of whatever he's thinking. "Ah, yeah, this way."
....
Next morning, Arlecchino's mind woke up fully before she opens her eyes, thanks to the light filtering through the curtains. She quickly realized that she's in her room. She turned to her side, and opened her eyes only to be met with a slight disappointed that Aether wasn't there.
'Of course. What reason would Aether have to be sleeping beside me?' she thought.
After lamenting that fact for a while, Arlecchino got up and prepared to clean herself.
'I know I said that whether we'd meet as a friend or foe, but I hope that we'd meet again as friends... Or maybe even more than that...' she thought, with a demure look unlike that of the usual stoic face that she often wears, with a tinge of redness spreading across her cheeks.