.

.

.

Kazuha

*Sigh* "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Scaramouche

"No, I obviously don't want to do this! I'm freaking out!"

"Ugh!"

All of you were standing outside of Ei's residence, which had just been successfully rebuilt.

Itto

"Here we go again."

Kazuha

"Scaramouche, it's really okay. We don't have to see her."

Scaramouche

"No, we have to! I feel that... She's the only one that can fix Y/N up. Look at them. I can't even figure out a way that I could fix them up."

Childe

"I've never seen this side of Scaramouche before..."

Itto

"Shut up. Shinobu, did we reeeally have to take him with us?"

Shinobu

"Yes. Everybody agreed except for Y/N, who's out cold, and you... Which was the one thing that I'd least expect."

Itto

"Agh! I just don't understand! After everything this asshole harbinger's done to us, you still wanna trust him and bring him along?!"

Shinobu

"I mean... It's easier to trust him when he's being bound by technology that his own kind made. I think the explosive collar and those really tight handcuffs fit him really well."

Itto

"Hm... You're right about that."

Shinobu

"And, I find it really fun to just play around with him. See, watch this."

Childe

"Ow!"

Shinobu threw her fists into his face.

Shinobu

"Haha! It makes me laugh every time."

"Plus, he's deadly afraid of N/N. Even when they're in that condition."

Itto

"Anybody would be deadly afraid of N/N if they heard that they took down the man that's been experimenting on them with nothing but a rock! Plus, don't forget that N/N did all of that to Dottore's face with a ton of torn-up limbs! It's insane, really, I can't believe they're human!"

Scaramouche

"Shut up. Stop fangirling over them, it's getting annoying."

Kazuha

"No, you're just jealous. Haha!"

Scaramouche

"Okay, change the topic!"

Kazuha

"See, what did I tell you guys?"

.

.

.

Childe

"So... Are you going to knock? Or..."

Scaramouche

"Shut up! I need to concentrate."

Kazuha

"You're just... Knocking on a door. There's not much concentration needed for that."

Scaramouche

"Yeah, well it's harder when you're knocking on the door of your asshole mother!"

Kazuha

"Hm. Fair point."

Scaramouche took a deep breath in, and then out, and turned back to face the huge door in front of him.

But before he could even knock, the door creaked open.

Scaramouche

"Wh..."

Ei

"Hello?..."

"Oh!"

Scaramouche

"... Hi."

"Hi mom."

"Hello, mother."

"Greetings, mother dearest."

Itto

"Shut up, she gets it."

Ei

"You! All of you! What are you..."

.

.

.

"Y/N! What happened to them?! What did you do?!"

Scaramouche

"Oh, shut up! I didn't do anything, none of us did!... Except for the orange one."

Childe gasped dramatically.

Childe

"Woah! That is no way to speak to your mom."

Ei

"The orange one?... The harbinger?"

Childe

*Sigh* "Why is it that everyone always gives me nicknames based on my hair..."

Ei

"Enough, you can explain to me later. Y/N is my priority now."

Ei leaned out and gently grabbed your arm. Scaramouche took a step back, holding you in his arms.

Scaramouche

"Nuh-uh."

Kazuha

"Scaramouche..."

Scaramouche groaned in annoyance.

Kazuha

"We talked about this-"

Scaramouche

"Agh! I know we did!"

Ei

"Please, Kuni, allow me to take care of them."

Scaramouche

"Can you not call me that in front of other people?!"

Ei

"Oh stop acting like that. Just give me Y/N."

Scaramouche looked down at your face. You were sleeping to let the drug wear off and to get the rest that you craved for the past few weeks.

Scaramouche

*Sigh* "Okay. But I am not leaving Y/N with you alone."

Ei

"That's fine. Everyone is welcome, I'm assuming you all need to be taken care of, correct?"

Itto

"Ooh! All of a sudden, she isn't scary to me anymore."

Ei

"I'll get nurses for all of you. I'll deal with Y/N myself."

Scaramouche

"I don't need a nurse! I'm not leaving you alone with Y/N. You're too hard to trust."

Ei

"... Very well. I'll care for both of you."

Scaramouche

"That's not what I-"

Ei

"Come along now."

.

.

.

-A WEEK LATER-

Ei

"... Want something to eat, Kuni?"

Ei asked, standing at the doorframe of the room in which you were resting. Days have passed and you have yet to awaken. Scaramouche has barely left your side.

Scaramouche

"I don't need or want to eat anything. Stop calling me that."

Ei

"I was um... Chatting with the others. They tell me you like kuding tea due to its bitterness, is that right?"

Scaramouche

"What about it?"

Ei

"I'm preparing it and I wanted to serve you some."

Scaramouche

"..."

"It only tastes good when Y/N makes it."

Ei

*Sigh* "Alright."

"... You know it wouldn't hurt to leave Y/N unsupervised for just a second, right? Get some fresh air."

Scaramouche

"I don't need fresh air. I'm a puppet."

Ei

"Don't you think it would be nice to socialize with the others? I'm sure they miss you."

Scaramouche

"... I suppose I'll give that a try."

He mumbled, not speaking loud enough for Ei to hear. 

He paused, staring at your resting body on that bed, before finally getting up from that chair. 

.

.

.

Childe

"Scaramouche! Long time no see!"

Scaramouche

"It's been like... 7 days."

Childe

"That counts as a long time!"

Scaramouche

"You're still in handcuffs?"

Childe

"Indeed."

Scaramouche

"This is so stupid..."

Kazuha

"Listen, we all know you're worried about Y/N, but they'll be just fine. They always turn out to be just fine."

Scaramouche

"Yeah, but this time it's different. I don't know that for sure, I've never known that for sure."

Kazuha

"This whole N/N thing has you all worked up."

Scaramouche

"Well, of course, it's going to have me worked up. It's hard to relax. I can't relax."

Itto

"You could if you just took some time away from N/N?"

"Pleeease don't take this the wrong way, we're not trying to drag you away from N/N... We just think that it would be healthiest if you did something else other than sitting in a chair staring at N/N all day."

Scaramouche

"What... Do any of you care about Y/N? It seems like I'm the only one that cares!"

Shinobu

"We all care about N/N."

"... I'm not so sure about Childe, but you get what I mean."

"We know that keeping ourselves constantly worried about someone for 7 days straight isn't healthy for us. Of course, we care about Y/N, but we're considerate about the way we feel too."

"You've got to learn how to do that. Be considerate about your feelings too."

Itto

"Ooh! So wise!"

Scaramouche

"I... Have to care for myself?"

Childe

"Scaramouche, everyone has to take care of themselves. It's the common thing that all humans do!"

Scaramouche

"Okay, but I'm not human!"

Kazuha

"Alright, and neither is Itto. And look, he's taking care of himself."

Scaramouche

*Sigh*

.

.

.

"So... How does this work?"

Kazuha

"... I don't really know. I just do what I need to do for myself. Like... Showering. And eating."

Scaramouche

"I shower. But I only eat when I'm bored."

Itto

"You... Don't... Eat?!"

Scaramouche

"No- I do, but-"

Itto

"Have you ever tried a lollipop?!"

Shinobu

"... That's not real food."

Itto

"Well, to me, it's real food!"

Scaramouche

"Are they bitter?"

Itto

"Oooagh, they're the complete opposite! The sweetest! Come on, let's go bully a little kid into giving us a lollipop."

Childe

"Why is he moaning over candy?"

Shinobu

"Oh Archons."

Scaramouche

"Well-"

Kazuha

"How about!... We don't bully little kids on the street and I'll go and buy some lollipops for you and Scaramouche?"

Kazuha interrupted.

Scaramouche

"... I don't want a lollipop."

He said, with an annoyed look on his face.