I stare, frozen in shock, at the Balladeer, his piercing indigo eyes staring at me as he holds the blade against my throat. I'm still panting, trying to catch my breath, as I feel the Balladeer's cold blade against my neck. He glares at me, lowering his sword.
"It's you. Thought it might be someone hostile. Where were you?" He says, sheathing his blade and setting it aside. He sounds irritated, rather than worried, and I swallow nervously as the skirmisher sets the things I bought down on the table. I let out a sigh of relief, my body instantly relaxing as the blade is taken away from my throat.
"Sorry. I got distracted. This is my first time in the city, and there were so many shops...I don't think I spent too much mora...only about...8,200?" I say a bit uncertainly.
"8,200?! Are you out of your mind?! That's my money, you know! This is what I get for sharing my mora, tsk..." He grumbles, snatching his pouch of coins back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so distracted and caught up....but, I got you dango!" I remember, rushing over to grab the small, sticky dessert. I offer it to him.
"No." He shakes his head, declining the offer. "I don't like dango much." He scowls, looking away.
"Please? Just one bite...I'm sure you'll like it! it's sweet, and sticky..." I say, desperately trying to make up for spending his mora so recklessly.
"I don't want any. You have it." He replies, turning away.
"...I'll just...leave it here, then." I say dejectedly, placing the dango on the counter. "I got our kimonos...here." I walk over to the red Kimono, picking it up and handing it to him.
He sighs and takes the Kimono, seeming a bit less agitated. I take my own Kimono, then quickly nod a goodnight to him, hurrying back to my room. My dinner is still on the counter, although I didn't realize it, too busy getting ready to sleep. I quickly wash my face and change into comfortable sleeping clothes, laying down on the warm, firm mattress and relaxing. I turn the light out, exhausted from all the running earlier, my eyes closing slowly, as the light outside fades into darkness.
𖤐 𖤐 𖤐
[The next morning]
I yawn, waking up to a knock on my door, and the sound of a skirmisher's voice calling me.
"Innamorata, wake up. It's time to travel to Ritou."
I groan, standing up, stretching. Stepping into the bathroom, I wash my hair and face, and take a quick shower. Soon after, I change into the green Kimono that I purchased yesterday and walk out of the room. The Balladeer's still getting ready, and I walk into the kitchen, yawning. As I pass by the counter, I notice the dango from last night. It remains mostly untouched, but the topmost piece on the stick has a small bite taken out of it. I smirk a little, knowing the Balladeer must've caved and had a taste of it. I turn as I hear an irritated groan from the hall, and the sound of a door creaking open. The Balladeer steps out, tying the Kimono, adjusting it a bit as he joins me in the kitchen.
"Morning, Isabella." He yawns, referring to me by my Fatui-given name, which I still need a while to adjust to. "Ready to go to Ritou?"
𖤐 𖤐 𖤐
[Two and a half hours later, In Ritou.]
The sun rose about an hour ago, turning the sky a light pink as we traveled here. Now, we're in the small city, where ships are docked, and travelers that are entering or leaving the nation are processed. The perfect place for merchants to set up shop, proven by the sheer number of stalls selling items that range from dandelions, to pearls, to Sumeru specialties. The Balladeer and I split up, asking around for any information on the target, and if anyone's seen him. Finally, the Balladeer speaks to a kind young woman who informs him of the area that the man we're looking for often loiters. She points to an alley between two shops, and he nods to her, then gestures to me to come with him.
The Balladeer and I find a place to wait where we have a view of the area, lingering there for a few hours and managing to avoid suspicion. Sure enough, we see the man appear in the area. It's a small alleyway between two shops, with an entrance into the back of the building on one side. We dash over to him, the Fatui skirmishers surrounding him on all sides as he tries to run, our blades and barrels pointed at him. He spots me, deciding I'm the weakness of the group, and charges at me, pushing me aside and trying to run. I swing my polearm around and swiftly bash him over the head with it. Before he can get up, I point my blade at him, the cool metal against his neck, as the skirmishers surround him again. Without drawing too much attention or making a mess of the place, we manage to attain the target with mild ease, tying his hands behind his back and having two Fatui guards carry him back the way we came.
As we walk back to the teahouse, scheduling a ship ride back, the Balladeer looks over to me. "Well done, you're not as bad as I expected you to be." He says confidently, like he thinks it's a compliment.
"...Thanks?" I reply, walking alongside him as we exit Ritou. We travel in silence for a while as the sun slowly inches closer to the horizon.
After two and a half more hours, we reach the teahouse, walking up to the door as the prisoner is kept guarded by the skirmishers. I step into the door, feeling the cool air of the room send a shiver down my spine. The sky begins to darken, and I watch from a window as the last wisps of the bright coral sunset fade into the sky. I close my eyes slowly, enjoying the warmth seeping through the glass of the window.
"Hey." The Balladeer says, walking up behind me. "Wanna go get pizza in Inazuma City?"
I whip around, my eyes bright. "Can we?!" I ask, smiling excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah...lets go." He sounds irritated, but I can see a hint of a smile play cross his lips as he leaves through the door. He guides me through Inazuma City, almost effortlessly, sitting down and ordering a Pizza with me.
"What toppings?" he asks.
"Cheese."
"I didn't think of you as the basic type."
"Well if I told you what I wanted as toppings, you'd say 'eeeewwww'." I say in a high pitched voice, mocking him.
"Oh really? What do you want that's so gross, then?"
"Olives and mushrooms."
"Ew."
"Told you. What do you want, then?"
"Cheese and pepperoni. You can't go wrong with pepperoni."
"...Fine."
We order a pepperoni pizza, sharing it together as the sky darkens into night, and before I know it, we've finished the entire pizza. As we walk home, I decide to try and make small talk.
"You really know your way around Inazuma City, huh? Have you been here before?" I ask, curious.
"I was raised- well, created here. When I was very young I was allowed to explore a bit, before... everything happened." He says, nearly trailing off at the end, and I decide not to ask him to elaborate on it.
As we walk, I let my mind wander. It occurs to me that I really don't know much about the Balladeer. Now that I think about it, I don't even know his name... I lose my train of thought, as we arrive at the teahouse, ready to spend our last night here on Narukami Island, before we return to the Fatui stronghold in Snezhnaya.
✧ Author's Note!!✧
im so proud of myself for writing TWO WHOLE CHAPTERS in a day I literally ate
Anyways!! comment and vote plss!! Enjoy the fic <3
YOU ARE READING
A Harbinger's Accomplice - Scaramouche x (fem) Reader
FanfictionAs a newly appointed harbinger, y/n is given missions with the Balladeer to practice working as a high ranking member of the Fatui. This has forced you to spend quite a bit of time with the Balladeer, and you've begun to be familiar with him. You fi...
