Hello! Can I please request a fic where Arlecchino’s lover kept asking her to leave the fatui behind and live a peaceful life with her. But Arlecchino declines and lost her patience because the reader kept nagging her about it and just snaps? But of course when the reader got tangled up with Arlecchino’s mess and got hurt she immediately wanted to just ‘elope’ with her. Thank you!!
Pairing: Arlecchino x f!reader
Note: Angst(?), attacking, proposal
A/N: Hey, sweetheart! This is my first request actually, and I really hope it suits your interest. I've been on and off Tumblr for a few days so I apologise if you had to wait a while.
Word count: 1.4k
The worry was starting to set in. It stabbed at your heart like a knife, but the only problem was, the pain just never went away. Arlecchino was arriving home late every day, hands tainted with the souls and lives of others. But, when they reached out to pull you closer to her, you forgot about all she had done.
She had always been the more reserved one of the two of you. Keeping to herself, with details of her work rarely reaching your ears.
But, you didn't really need to hear about it from her. The voices of others told you enough. Whispers and murmurs through the streets, clouding the air with a tinge of fear. Arlecchino's name could be heard through it all.
You had nagged her about it. Constant reminders you didn't enjoy her line of work, her lifestyle. Still, she would shrug you off each time. Acting as if you were nothing more than a pest.
You just wanted some peace. To not have to fear for Arlecchino's life whenever she stepped foot outside. Except, she didn't care much. She just wanted you to accept this was her life. And she couldn't just drop everything behind.
However, you decided to nag her about it one last time.
Night falls, marking yet another day when Arlecchino arrives home late.
You fiddle with your earring, the one Arlecchino gave you that she originally used to wear on her left ear. It was something you do often when you miss her. Remembering she still had the other earring on her right ear, “To remember we're still together, even when we're far apart.” she had said, you thought it was silly at the time but now you rely on it more than ever.
The house has a deafening silence, with the sound of a lock turning erupting through it. In walks Arlecchino, no sight of emotion behind her eyes, but you can tell she's tired.
You've been with her long enough to assess her demeanour, as did she with you. The moment your gazes meet, she lets out a long sigh. “What's bothering you, dear?” Arlecchino strolls towards you, taking your face in her hands.
You know you can't hide how you feel. You're aware you're nagging her, but you just let the words slip your tongue. “Arlecchino, please. You know that I don't like that you still work for the Fatui. Could you just consider─”
Your voice falls upon deaf ears when Arlecchino's hands fall from your face, her lips turning into the slightest of scowls. “I believe we already talked about this, dear. I can't drop everything behind. You know that already.”
“But, Arlecchino─”
“No! What part of that do you not understand, dear? Do I have to struggle with you like this because you can't listen to me?”
You can't really argue with her there, your gaze drops to the ground, you don't want to have to meet those piercing eyes. The same eyes that used to follow you with admiration, now contain a flash of annoyance behind them.
Arlecchino sucked in a sharp breath, before turning on her heels, making a beeline straight back towards the same door she entered. But, her stride falters for a moment when she hears a small sob leaving your lips. It tugged on her heart, making her feel guilty for not listening to you.
Yet, she wasn't going to admit that. She was too proud.
So, you were left alone. Enveloped in darkness, tears staining your cheeks with only the moon casting any light in your life. Was this how it would always be from now on?
Days, weeks, months passed and Arlecchino still refused to leave the Fatui. She wasn't one to do something without reason, but that bothered you. Weren't you a reason for her to do so? Didn't she care about the restless nights you spent in agony waiting to hear her come back home?
It was wearing you down slowly, like chains tied to your feet that you couldn't get rid of. A burden that was heavy on your shoulders, gradually weighing you down.
You walk down the snow stricken paths in Snezhnaya, the cold biting your skin harshly as shivers run down your spine. Maybe you should have worn extra layers. You trudge through the snow, eyes set ahead on your small journey.
You bring your hands to your face, cupping your mouth and blowing on them. The gloves don't provide much warmth or protection, a useless piece of cloth that barely protects you from the uncaring cold.
Most of your attention is set on warming yourself up until a whisper rushes past your ears. “Is that woman associated with The Knave?” you shuddered, all the warmth leaving your body at that question. Out of the corner of your eye, you see two people in black coats.
They stand out too well against the milky white snow, not making any effort to hide their presence. You slow down, just enough to still have distance but be able to hear their conversation.
“Doesn't the Knave wear those exact earrings?” your hand instinctively reaches up to feel the earring. Outlining the shape carefully, it was these times you often missed the feeling of Arlecchino by your side.
You assumed these people were attentive, most likely adversaries of Arlecchino. Dragging behind wasn't the best idea, so you lengthen your strides, wanting to be as far away as possible. But, your heart fills with fear when you hear a shout. “Hey!”
You don't look back, your feet take off in a quick sprint, but it's hard navigating through the snow. You have to shield your eyes with your hand to avoid being blinded by the light reflecting off of the snow. It isn't long before you lose your balance, your shoe getting caught on some snow that hardened over time.
Falling face first, you quickly pushed yourself back on your knees. But, a strong kick to your back knocked all the wind out of your lungs. It wasn't long before you noticed the same two people in front of you. One has their hand wrapped tightly around the handle of a knife, already painted with the blood of a previous victim.
Tears prick your eyes, blurring your vision slowly. You know you can't defend yourself, so you place your arms over your head, instinctively trying to make some shield between you and them.
And you wait. Trembling as the cruel cold picks at your skin, as you wonder whether today will be your last day or not. But, that doesn't scare you the most. It's the silence that follows pursuit. The same silence you had become accustomed to when Arlecchino didn't arrive home, the same silence you would receive when you tried to voice your concerns. The same silence that haunted your head, an endless void of worry and distraught.
You lift your head up slowly, your quivering arms falling from your head. You're met with Arlecchino's cold gaze, staring down at you, eyes pooling with worry. Your breath hitches in your throat, your eyes scanning the place before catching two figures darting off quickly into the curtains of snow.
Arlecchino must have scared them off, you realise. But, she hasn't made a move to comfort you. Or even say anything. She's the first to break eye contact, her piercing red eyes falling down to her hand. Her grip is tight on a small red velvet box.
She kneels in front of you, her other hand reaches out for yours. She flicks open the red box, revealing a ring. A ring of promise, a promise for the future and a promise to listen to you more.
She slips the cool metal onto your glove, it fits well, surprisingly. Your hand still trembles in hers, and she can't help but bring it up to her mouth. Her lips plant a soft kiss on the textile, hoping to soothe your fears.
“I'm...” you hear her voice falter, mixing with the wind blowing by. You look away momentarily, knowing she may find it easier to get her words out that way. “I'm sorry.” she sighs, pulling you flush against her chest as she kisses the top of your hair.
“I don't want us to fight anymore.” she mumbles, her hands rubbing soft circles on your back. “I want to be with you. Forever. Even if that means leaving everything behind.”
Tears prick at your eyes, beads of water falling down your cheek. Your heart hurts with how much emotion it's being filled with. Her words sounded so genuine, no longer hiding behind that wall she had built up to protect herself. She wanted to be more open to you. She wanted to help you understand her more. She wanted to be stronger, just for you.
“Arlecchino...?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“I love you, so much.”
“I love you too.”
