.

.

.

Thoma

The Balladeer...

.

.

.

Is trying to hurt them! Fuck!

Thoma, blood trickling from his injured eye, gritted his teeth and pulled himself together. With renewed determination, he lunged at Scaramouche once more, leveraging his strength to throw him aside. 

Scooping you into his arms protectively, Thoma took out his polearm, its tip aimed squarely at Scaramouche. His stance was resolute, ready to defend you against any further threats, despite the pain and chaos surrounding them.

haha... thoma... tip... lol!!!

Scaramouche

"What the fuck are you doing?!"

Thoma

"I'm saving them!"

Scaramouche

"No, you're fucking not!"

As the dust settled, Thoma's gaze fell upon your face, illuminated by the dim light filtering through the debris. Amid the chaos, a moment of calm washed over him as he studied your features. 

He found himself admiring the gentle contours, the softness of your expression even amidst the turmoil. His breath caught momentarily, struck by a sense of awe and appreciation despite the chaos surrounding them.

Thoma

"Y/N..."

How did I not notice before?...

Scaramouche

"Huh. Funny."

Thoma

"..."

Scaramouche

"You hurt them, you leave them to die and rot in a jail cell, and now you're admiring them?!"

Thoma

"What?..."

Scaramouche

"Oh, don't 'what' me!"

"They told me everything."

.

"Everything."

.

"Trust me. When they wake up, it'll be fucking over for you."

Scaramouche's face contorted into an evil grin, a fleeting expression of triumph amidst the tumult. However, his smirk quickly faded as his gaze shifted downward to your torso. 

Whatever he saw erased the satisfaction from his features, replacing it with a flicker of concern or realization. The gravity of the situation seemed to settle upon him as he took in the scene before him.

Scaramouche

"Wh... What the fuck did you do?!"

Thoma

"Huh?..."

"W-Wait! Get back!"

Thoma's grip on you tightened protectively as he extended his polearm, its tip poised dangerously close to Scaramouche's skin. His stance was firm, every muscle tensed with resolve as he silently conveyed his readiness to defend you at all costs. 

Scaramouche

"They're bleeding profusely!"

Thoma

"They're... Huh?..."

Thoma stood there, gasping for breath, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. It had been such a long journey, and now, here he was, holding you in his arms. 

He felt overwhelmed, completely adrift at the moment. Panic gripped him, his thoughts a chaotic jumble, leaving him almost paralyzed in the intensity of it all.

It became clear that your exhaustion wasn't just from the tears you had shed earlier. When Thoma knocked down the barricade of furniture, shards from the shattered body-sized mirror had flown at you, slicing across your torso. 

The blood loss from the deep gashes drained your strength further, intensifying your heavy eyelids and pulling you deeper into unconsciousness. The pain and the loss of blood had added to your fatigue, contributing to your near-slumber state.

Scaramouche

"Okay. Listen- I don't know why the fuck you're here, or how you found us out, but you need to know..."

.

"I'm with Y/N. So if you've gotten the message that I'm out to get them, I'm not."

.

.

.

"Are you even fucking listening to me?!"

Thoma's breath caught in his throat, his mind a turbulent sea of regret and fear. He couldn't shake the memories of that fateful day, the way he had hurt you still haunting him. 

The guilt gnawed at his conscience, mingling with the anxiety of what would happen if Ayato discovered his encounter with you. 

The thought of Ayato's disappointment and the pain it would cause weighed heavily on him. Thoma just wanted it all to end — to stop causing pain to those he cared about. He held you tighter, a silent plea for forgiveness and a desperate hope for redemption.

Thoma snapped back to reality as he saw Scaramouche making a move to retrieve you once more. His grip on you tightened protectively, and he quickly adjusted his stance, readying his polearm with renewed determination. 

The urgency of the situation reignited his focus, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to defend you against Scaramouche's advance by extending his polearm even further.

Scaramouche

"Oh- For fuck's sake! Based on what I'm seeing — if you really care about Y/N just that much, then patch them up you fucking idiot!"

Tears welled up in Thoma's eyes, spilling over as he began to cry. The weight of the moment, the memories of past mistakes, and the fear of causing more harm overwhelmed him. 

His vision blurred with tears, but he held you even tighter, determined to protect you despite his anguish.

Scaramouche

"Oh, don't fucking do that."

Thoma's sobs grew heavier, and his grip on his polearm faltered until he finally dropped the weapon, unable to hold back the flood of emotions any longer. Seizing the opportunity, Scaramouche swiftly moved in and took you from Thoma's arms. 

With surprising gentleness, he began to attend to your wounds, carefully examining the cuts on your torso and doing what he could to stop the bleeding. His hands moved with a practiced efficiency, belying the chaotic situation surrounding them.

After tending to your injuries, Scaramouche glanced over at Thoma, who remained hunched over, tears streaming down his face. An uncomfortable silence settled in the room as Scaramouche sat with you, feeling the awkwardness of the moment. 

He shifted uneasily, unsure of how to handle Thoma's emotional breakdown or what to do next. The contrast between his swift, efficient actions and Thoma's raw vulnerability left him momentarily at a loss.

Scaramouche

"I recommend you get out before they wake up."

"I don't think things will be pretty when they find out you were here."

Thoma's response was a series of heart-wrenching sobs. His shoulders shook with each cry, the sound a raw manifestation of his inner turmoil. Scaramouche shifted uneasily, the awkwardness of the situation deepening as he listened to Thoma's grief-stricken outpouring, unsure of how to break the tension.

Thoma

*Sniffle*

"Can I..."

Scaramouche looked at Thoma in surprise, taken aback that a word had finally escaped Thoma's lips amidst his breakdown. The raw emotion in Thoma's voice cut through the silence, momentarily disrupting the tense atmosphere. 

Scaramouche's surprise was evident as he watched Thoma, unsure of how to react to this unexpected turn.

Thoma

"Can I stay?... Please?"

He begged.