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Lynette crept through the halls, trying to be quiet despite her not needing to, with her feline abilities already making her nearly silent. She glanced around a corner, ears swiveling to catch any potential sign of another person. She had to be secretive, for her mission required it.
She rounded the bend and stopped as her gaze traveled down the hall, locking on a door at the end; waiting for her. Her tail flicked with mostly hidden anxiety. The neko stepped forward tentatively, her calm, collected appearance gaining a hairline fracture. A lump formed in her throat, and she opened her mouth slightly to breathe around it.
Calm down Lynette, nothing is wrong. Don't be a kitten.
She would have hissed to herself if it weren't the dead of night and she wasn't trying to quiet. Her body gained a slight tremble, anger rising along with it at her weakness. Her tail fluffed up like she had gotten a static shock. She forced her legs to move her forward faster, making it to the door in a few long, shaky strides.
The light scratching of a quill on paper was coming from inside, letting the cat know whoever was in there was awake. Her hand rose to hover above the rounded, golden handle, but she couldn't seem to force herself to grab it. Lynette took a deep breath, the lump making it even more difficult than before.
Anxiety sparked in her chest in response, but she made her fur lie as flat as she could manage. You are the calm one. Act like it. She growled in her head. Her ears turned back forward slowly through her will, but she couldn't quite make the fur on her legs smoothe down.
Her shaky hand gripped the knob, a little forcefully because of her adrenaline, and she chastised herself again at the light rattling noise that came from it.
She froze as a deep chair scraping sound came from the other side of the cuihua. Her instincts told her to run, but she forced herself to stay in one spot, ears trained forward on the sounds coming from inside the room.
The urge to run grew stronger as the clacking of heels on the wooden floor began, growing closer until they stopped just inches from the door. Her breathing hitched as the knob turned in her grasp, making her release it and step back.
Her eyes met those of a tall lady, whose were hard and suspicious, until they realized who she was.
“Lynette? What are you doing up at this hour?” Arlecchino inquired, eyes shifting rapidly as she inspected her daughter's face for any emotion that could alert her to a reason.
Lynette took another step back, breath finally returning to her to become quick and shallow. The Knave appeared shocked for a moment, before crouching to make herself less intimidating. She slowly extended an upward facing hand in an offering of comfort. The girl's glazed eyes darted between her father's face and hand before she hesitantly took it.
Arlecchino smoothly ran her thumb over her daughter's knuckles, keeping soft, caring eye contact with her. She gently pulled her towards herself in a suggestion of moving into the room. Lynette followed on shaky legs, allowing herself to be led, half aware, through the office and into the side room. The Knave stepped backwards with Lynette in tow, sitting on her bed and pulling her daughter in towards her so she would fall into her lap. She carefully drew her into a loose hug, then put a hand to the base of one of her ears, gently rubbing it.
Lynette’s breathing slowed slightly, leaning into the touch and trying her hardest to focus on it instead of the dagger of poisonous dread in her heart. She let out a strangled purr to soothe the feeling. The rough rhythm was like waves over a mound of sand, slowly dissipating it. Soon, with help from the petting and purring, all the dread was gone and what was left was a pain in her chest and sickness in her stomach.
Arlecchino seemed to sense her state improving, prompting her to instruct the girl in an attempt to fully calm her down, “Take a breath slowly, three seconds in, three seconds out. You don't have to hold it; I understand that can be hard.” She gazed down in motherly concern at what she could see of her adopted daughter’s face, with her being so far pressed into her body, shaking like a wet kitten.
Gradually, Lynette’s breath returned to her. She drew away, wiping tears she hadn't noticed with the back of her hand. She took another shuddering breath, stealing a glance at her father. She startled slightly at just how much love was contained in her crimson crossed eyes.
“F-father, I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to lose control like that…” Lynette squeaked, wetness returning to her eyes again.
The Knave wiped away a fallen tear from the magician’s cheek with a clawed thumb. “Darling, anyone would break under the crushing weight of so many bad feelings and experiences. It can make you feel weak, but you are so much stronger for coming to me,” she smiled.
Lynette whimpered, pressing herself back into her father's front. Arlecchino hummed, placing a hand on her back and pulling her closer.
“Would you like to stay here with me for the night? I’m overdue for sleep anyway.”
Lynette nodded, feeling the exhaustion pulling her down.
Arlecchino chuckled, moving the hand not on her back to scoop up her daughter’s legs. With relative ease, she lifted both of them enough to move the blanket back and lay in the correct position on the bed, pulling it over them when they were in place.
Lynette, instead of unbunching her body, curled up even more, tail moving to rest on her father's leg. Her hands pulled in to coil at her chest, grasping each other.
The Knave reached out, wrapping her daughter in a tight embrace, and they both let out a soft sigh of contentment. Lynette started purring, convincing the older woman to finally close her weary eyes.
“Father?” Lynette murmured sleepily.
“Yes, darling?”
“Thank you. Love you…” she barely managed to say before falling into a peaceful sleep.
Arlecchino stilled in surprise, then smiled.
“I love you too, dearest.”