Chapter Text
“You are quite resilient, dear Traveler.” The Doctor spoke in a loud, booming voice. His heavy bootsteps approached Lumine as she was forced down, the unbearable, suffocating power of his skill rendering her physically immobile as she was flattened to the crumbling ground. “But you know you can’t win…” He feigned an expression of pity, before a wide smirk stretched across his face– his sharp, white teeth glimmering in the blue light emitted by his power.
She was wounded pretty badly, a long gash stretching across her belly and down her thigh, the crimson blood staining the usually pristine white fabric of her dress and the material of her boots. It was rare she actually got hit, but then again, perhaps she overestimated herself. This was the 2nd Fatui Harbinger, after all. He was sandwiched between two ranks she had never directly fought– the Captain and the Damselette. She had only a rough gauge of his strength.The unfamiliar sensation that fear brought twisted painfully in her chest, her limbs screaming at her to run, but alas she was trapped as he grew ever closer.
“Its a shame I can’t kill you yet, but I must find a way to punish you for your disobedience.” He spoke harshly with a twirl of his finger, and she was brought up into the air– though still restrained by his skill. “I’ll give you one last chance.”
“I will never join a lying, cheating manipulator like you..!” Lumine spat, her words full of genuine feelings of disdain as she was forced to look at him. Once again she tried to wiggle free, but in response his power only increased in pressure. At this rate, any more and her bones would crush.
“You refuse to join me, therefore you must feel my wrath.” He sighed, his smile falling into a frown of disappointment. “Its been a while since I fought such a worthy opponent, and I’m just brimming with excited energy, Traveler.” He took one more step forward, so close that she could feel his breath on her face. He smelled heavily of cigarettes and chemicals– a pungent aroma that struck dizziness into her head. His fingers came to tilt her head gently upwards to look at him. “...Somtimes, words are not enough.”
Her heart rattled in her chest, her sword returning to her hand with a single command of thought. His smirk returned fully as it happened, but she still wasn’t released. She fought against the pressure, groaning in agony as it only increased. She knew she wouldn’t win, but she knew he wouldn’t kill her either. It would be best just to weaken him and put on a display of power…
Finally she felt a weakness in the spell, her energies focused on that singular point until the pressure drastically decreased. Dottore chuckled, taking a slow step back and snapping his fingers. Lumine was slowly brought steadily down to her feet, immediately assuming a fighting stance and lunging at him without second thoughts. He just stood there, his hands neatly folded behind his back and his maniacal smile still plastered on his face– but she knew he wouldn't be so easy…
“Mm, so eager~” He chortled, and in the blink of an eye the visage of him flickered and faded, moving just a foot to the right so that he could avoid her attack by a hair’s breadth.
You bastard! She cursed him over and over in her head as he played with her, just like a cat playing with a mouse. Keeping her alive, tiring her out. She knew she wouldn’t have to deal with this if she would just give in, but that wouldn't be right..!
She was startled out of her thoughts by a stabbing sensation shooting into her side, a garbled noise ripping from her throat at the pain and the purple that crept into her peripheral vision. The blood splattered on the spike produced by his skill appeared purple against the glowing light-blue plasma, a strangely beautiful thing amidst the chaos. Her sword dropped from her grip, her knees buckling as she stumbled to stay upright. Alas, she crumbled to the ground in a shaking heap in an ever-growing puddle of blood– impaled through her right side.
“D-Dottore…” She spat both words full of venom and blood as it welled up in her throat, her forehead rubbing painfully against the rocky dirt of the ground as she keeled over. She was rendered completely useless now, clutching her bleeding stomach and side, gagging on fluids.
This was pathetic.
Where were her companions..?
He took long strides towards her, his hands clasped behind his back. He was completely unscathed, the only evidence of the battle the blood that dripped on the lower half of his boots. “Your companions won't be coming to save you.” He confirmed her suspicion, bending at the waist to look down at her. “They’ve been… immobilized as well.” He sighed happily, his hand gently resting on the top of her head. She flinched away from his touch, but was unable to escape it.
“What… What are you going to do to me?” Lumine choked out, surprised by her own surrender and the weakness in her tone. She strained to lift her head, her eyelids fluttering and her chin dripping with drool and blood as she gazed up at him. His face– covered by his mask, was seen in doubles, and a new, unfamiliar feeling came over her. A feeling of… acceptance. A sudden calm. Her heart slowed, her pain dulled… her bloodied hand came to reach for him. The realization dawned on her– he was the only one here right now.
What happened to not killing me? She thought she was speaking, but only shuddering breaths escaped from her parted lips.
“You won’t die, I can promise that.” Dottore’s fuzzy, fading voice reached her ears. “In fact, you aren’t dying– though it may feel like it.” He leaned down close to her ear, his voice sending a dull tingle down her spine. “Now, your punishment will be known.”