Everyone knew that Scaramouche was someone short-tempered and was disliked among the other Harbingers, it wasn’t a secret. It wasn’t also a secret that it wasn’t the same for you.

You were the twin sister from the well-known Childe, the Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, and he was of course the oldest twin for a few minutes, which he always rubbed in your face, making you huff and push him anywhere you could. Like him, you were one of the best fighters and had joined the Harbingers at the same time he did, making you the Twelfth Harbinger, code name Rosaura. Of course, no one apart from the Tsaritsa knew that you two were siblings.

Another thing that wasn’t a secret among the Harbingers, except for you, was that Scaramouche had a soft spot for you. Of course, this was exploited by Childe, who would never pull away from you and would take you everywhere while holding hands, something that you felt natural since you always did that since you were kids, but not understanding the reason behind your brother’s actions. And that was to piss the Balladeer off.

You were now sent back to Liyue after an incident with shooting stars that were knocking people out. You didn’t look like a Fatui at all, you wore clothes that resembled those of an adventurer to avoid problems with the Millelith, and with the so known Honorary Knight that was running around freely and was supposed to be a threat for you and the others, but you had to know that with your own eyes.

When the boat arrived at the port, there were two men waiting for you: your dear brother, and Scaramouche, whom you had been paired with. Before you had the chance to get down, Childe had already ran towards you and scooped you up, chirping your name before spinning you around, making you laugh and hold his shirt for dear life, and the other man was about to kill someone by the constant twitch of his eye. Seeing it, Childe pecked your cheek and left you down.

"How has the trip been?" Tartaglia asked you, and you grinned as you took your small backpack and hung it on your shoulder as you two got down from the boat.

"Well, you know, it's usually boring. But hey, at least now I can see you and pass some time with you!" You chirped as you hugged his arm, and he chuckled softly.

"But first, you need to go on that mission with Scaramouche." He pointed out, making you pout. "But don't worry! Once you're done I'll treat you to whatever you want at the Wanmin Restaurant!" He added happily.

"I'll hold you to it." You teased.

Once you got to Scaramouche, you tilted your head innocently. He seemed so mad, but you didn't know why. Childe also stopped smiling, but you shrugged it off. You knew that he didn't like the Balladeer, not at all. He didn't know how you tolerated him, nor why you were so friendly to him, but he never said anything against it. Sure, he was overprotective, but he knew that you could beat his ass if he meddled in your affairs, so he would never stop you from trying to befriend the other boy.

"Hey Scaramouche!" You greeted as you grinned at him, and he let out a quiet 'tsk' under his breath before looking at you.

"We're already wasting time." He told you harshly, and you just looked at your brother with inquisitive eyes, as if asking what happened for the Fatui to be so mad. He usually was a bit cold to you, but he would tolerate you like you tolerated him.

"Alright then. I'll see you around, Childe!" You waved at your brother before leaving with your assigned partner.

On your way towards your destination, you tried to start some conversations with Scaramouche, but they would always die quickly. Still, you tried to speak to him, and you would tell him about your Motherland and how it was everything there lately, and even if he didn't admit it, he was really interested in what you were telling him.

It was actually a mere accident when you stumbled upon the Traveler, and Scaramouche didn't tell you the plan, he just went off like a boy of Inazuma and seemed to be friendly to the boy and the pixie, and you got out of his way, figuring out that he didn't want to have trouble with the Millelith nor the Traveler, and started a conversation with the two of them and another girl named Fischl, whom you didn't understand at all.

Only after they left, you lost your characteristic smile and crossed your arms while looking at your fellow Harbinger.

"He's nice, I don't see why he should be our enemy." You pointed out. For you, who had joined the Fatuis because of your father, there was no problem with the boy. Sure, the only thing was that he was powerful and a threat to the Fatuis, but that was because your organization was against them.

"No one asked for your opinion." He muttered as he glared at you, huffing when he saw that his plan had gone to waste when the Millelith guard had appeared.

"Look, we're both in this together, so try to be nice to me, alright? I'm trying to be nice to you. Unlike the others, I try to be nice to you too." You pointed out, voice soft and a small smile at your lips.

"Whatever."

You sighed at your failed attempt, shaking your head as you fidgeted with your Cryo Vision, which was hanging from a necklace, and waited for him to say what was going to be the next move, since you knew better than to try to speak to him or give any ideas. Had it been your brother, you would've already bossed him around and teased him about not being able to take the leadership, but you couldn't joke around Scaramouche.

"Got any ideas?" He asked you, and you looked at him with curious eyes.

"You're speaking to me?" You asked back, really impressed that he would ask for your opinion.

"Don't waste my time, child." He growled, and far from the reaction he thought you would have, you smirked at him.

"I'm not the Eleventh Harbinger." You teased, making him mutter a 'tsk' as he looked at you, losing his nerve. "Alright, alright, well, I think it would be wise if I tried to approach them. Unlike you, I'm way friendlier and I am way more sociable than you. And if I infiltrate his party I'll have more chances to know the truth and take him down, just as you want." You suggested, and he rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for pointing out my weaknesses." He grumbled, making you chuckle, but you lost your smile when he added: "and we're not following that path."

"Why? It's perfect! He won't ever distrust me!" You argued, and he glared at you, daring you to continue. "Why is it that you don't want to let me go? We can destroy him from the inside if that's what you want!" You continued.

"Because I care for you!" He suddenly let out, and you took a step back as you felt a wave of shock strike you. "I care for your stupid ass, and I don't want anything to happen to you! And I already get angry when that Childe is around you at all times, flirting with you, and you let him! It nerves me to think that not only him, but now another man will speak and smile at you!" He continued.

You only stayed quiet for a few minutes, watching him in shock as he slowly lost his temper and his rage and just waited for something to come out of your mouth, but the last thing he expected was for you to laugh in his face, but before he could question you, you put your hand up, stopping him and trying to calm down your laughter.

“Tartaglia and I? Man, that was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” You admitted, making him frown deeply. “Scaramouche, we are siblings! That’s why he’s always so affectionate with me! How comes you haven’t seen the resemblances? Even Signora, Pedrolino or Dottore have pointed it out several times. We’re like two droplets.” You told him before letting out a quiet giggle at his confused and shocked expression.

“So you’re telling me all this time I’ve been jealous of your brother, thinking you two were dating?” He asked you, and you giggled again before nodding. “That means you’ve been single all this time?” You nodded again. “And how comes that I hadn’t heard about your resemblance?” He asked, and you shrugged.

“Honestly, the rest of the Harbingers dislike you, so they tend to avoid you. Except for me, I think that behind all that anger, and you being so unfriendly, is a good boy who is capable of becoming friends and of loving whoever he wants.” You admitted as you blushed because of your words, and he stayed quiet. “But believe me, I wouldn’t let Aether flirt with me, I would send him right to the friendzone the moment I saw him trying to get too close to me. We’re here for a mission and we need to fulfill it, and even if the mission isn’t about getting him out of the picture, it’ll make things easier.” You mumbled softly to not upset him.

You stayed quiet for a few minutes, and then he muttered something along the lines of 'I still don't like it', but ended up nodding.

"Alright, let's do it. But be careful."

"Don't worry, I will be fine Deer!"

"Don't call me that!"

~✩~

And everything went according to plan. You had joined Aether's and Fischl's team and started to investigate the case of the fallen stars. There was also this woman called Mona, who seemed wary of you, but she never seemed to publicly express her dislike for you. You kept your friendly facade and always tried to give some input so they would see you as useful.

The night had fallen and now you were camping around a bonfire. They had left you to keep guard that night, and now they both were asleep as you looked at the fire in front of you. You honestly missed your brother and Scaramouche a lot, and you felt like there were unfinished businesses between the latest and you.

Suddenly, a hand was placed on your shoulder, taking you with your guard down and making you jump slightly, and then you looked up to see Aether smiling at you.

"Is everything alright? You look troubled." He asked you, obviously worried.

"I… Nah, it's nothing." You started, but then decided to not say anything. You then averted your gaze and looked back at the fire, though you looked at your watch first to see that several hours had already passed and it was his turn to guard the camp.

"Come on, you know you can trust me." He insisted, and you felt trapped between lying and telling him the truth.

"I just miss my brother and someone else I know that I care for… He's like a… Friend, or I don't know." You mumbled as he sighed softly, and he sat by your side, making you unconsciously tense.

"You don't know?" He asked again.

"He kinda admitted to have feelings for me, but he never said anything about dating me or even if he really liked me." You explained. It felt actually good to let it out of your system, you already needed it, and normally you would tell Tartaglia, but since he wasn't there you just had to do with the Traveler.

"Oh, I see. Well, next time maybe you could just tell him you love him, if it's that way. You can also break a cliché." He pointed out, and you chuckled as you smiled at him.

"You're a good person, Aether." You admitted, and it was true.

You couldn't think now about striking him down, after he was being so close to you and treated you like one more of the team, like you had always been there. You wondered if it had been the same way if he had known that you were a Fatui, specially after his encounter with Signora. She wasn't that bad to you, she treated you like a younger sibling, but that was another story to be told some day.

"Well, thank you. I always try to be." He teased, making you smile and let out a quiet laugh. "You know… I miss my sister too. She's my twin, and she's also like you. She has a really good and kind heart. We got separated by an evil God, that's why I'm making this journey. I want to find her and go back home." He told you, and it made your heart clench.

"I'm sorry to hear that." You whispered, and he smiled at you.

"Don't be. Now come on, you need to rest." He mumbled softly, and you let out a quiet yawn as you nodded and laid down on the grass, ready to sleep.

On the distance, a certain Harbinger was watching over you, as if they were your guardian angel. And they seemed to want to rip Aether's head off.

~✩~

It hurt you when you had to get separated from the team, but your cover had been blown by Mona when Scaramouche tried to approach the three of you, sensing your connection with him. She had left with the other three, leaving you and the Balladeer on your own.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked you as he checked your body, and you smiled softly.

"No, I'm alright. He has been really nice to me, Scaramouche. No need to be afraid of him." You mumbled softly.

"He's the enemy." He reminded you.

"I know, I know. But for an enemy, he has been really nice to me." You retorted, but then shook your head. "I'm not here to speak about Aether. Actually, I wanted to speak with you about something else." You rambled as you got nervous. You pictured your brother mocking at you for being such a mess when it came to your feelings, and it didn't help one bit.

But knowing where this was going to end, he took you by the back of your head and crashed his lips onto yours, kissing you passionately, as if he had been wanting to get a taste of your lips for quite a while now. And the sweet flavor of sunsettias made him smile into the kiss.

"I love you too, child." He teased, and you rolled your eyes while chuckling.

"Do I need to repeat myself and say that the Childe is my brother?" You teased back.

He couldn't let you say anything else though, as he kissed you once again and didn't let go of you no matter how much you wanted to breath. This man was going to become the end of you. But boy were you happy to be in his arms.