Chapter Text
After Aether's afternoon classes, he slowly headed to the planned meet up place he had with Childe, the oh so popular rich guy in his generation.
He actually met the ginger-head during high school, when he and Lumine transfered to Genshin High. The taller man casually talked to him and despite their massive difference of lifestyle and personality, they actually grew closer more than he expected.
While waiting at the fountain, he played some music on his phone and inserted the pair of earphones. Humming to the tune of the calming song.
He felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and his face lit up.
Aether: "Brother Kaeya! It's been awhile!"
Kaeya: "I've missed you as well, Aether!"
Aether chuckles as he lightly punches the other man on his chest. He sure is surrounded with playful guys.
Aether: "Not long enough to miss you, you're exaggerating."
Kaeya: (pouts) "Come on, tell me you miss this handsome man before you~"
He sneakily slid his arms behind Aether and brought them closer but the blonde gently pushes the other to keep a distance.
Aether: "Stop that. I can only tolerate little bits of your sense of skinship." (glare)
The taller man lets go of him.
Kaeya: "Okay, I apologize..."
Aether: "As long as you understand, thank you." (smiles)
Aether: "What are you doing here by the way? Your uni is a bit far from here too."
Kaeya showed an envelope.
Kaeya: "Delivery... Again." (sigh)
Aether: "Oh, brother Diluc?"
Kaeya: "Who else could slave me away like this if not him?"
Kaeya: "What about you? You seem to be waiting for someone, your lover?"
Aether: (chuckles) "Hah, I wish. I'm waiting for Childe, he's helping me look for a place to stay in."
Kaeya's gaze hardened.
Kaeya: "That brat, huh. I'm not going to scare you but you better stay away from playboys like him, Aether."
Aether: "Hmm. So, I should stay away from you as well, brother Kaeya?"
Kaeya: "Yep, that includes me!"
They both grinned at each other. Kaeya pats Aether on top of his head before bidding farewell.
Kaeya: "Keep my warning in your mind but don't let it chain your own decisions. I will be going to deliver these papers to His Highness now."
Aether: (chuckles) "If brother Diluc hears you call him that, you're in trouble."
Kaeya: "Fortunately he's not here then~" (winks)
Kaeya: "Good bye, Aether." (waves)
Aether: "Take care!" (waves back)
After Kaeya was out of sight, a familiar arm slung on his shoulder for the third time this day.
Childe: "You really should smile like that when you're with me." (pouts)
Aether: "Only if you give me a reason to."
Childe: "Isn't my presence enough?"
Aether: "Too full of ourselves, aren't we?"
Aether: "So, what are we supposed to do now?"
Childe: "Let's go to my house~!"
Aether: "Why?"
Childe: "What do you mean, why? You didn't really agreed to stay with me yet so I'll let you decide after visiting the house instead!"
Aether: "Okay, but it has to be now?"
Childe: "If not now, then when? I bet Xingqiu's roommate will be returning soon."
There was a fat pause before the blonde answered.
Aether: "Hmm... You're right, let's go."
Childe: "Yep, let's go!"
They arrived at Childe's place.
Aether: (hesitating) "Are you sure it's okay if I don't pay?"
Childe: (nods) "Yep! Just become my personal chef and you're all good!"
Aether looks at the taller man with concern.
Aether: "Hey, this is a really... really big house, I could at least pay a bit of the bill."
Childe: "Oh, what is this? Are you really going to stay with me?"
Aether: "Ah... Considering that you don't even going to make me pay, this is a really nice offer."
Aether: "So, I guess, sure."
Childe beamed from hearing his answer and if there's no one around, he could have probably already embraced the petit blonde, right there and then.
Aether: "But I have to contact my sister first."
Childe: "Sure! But how about you take a tour inside while you do so?"
Aether: "Hm, okay."
Childe opened the door with his key before they entered the house.
To: Kawaii Imouto <3
"I finally found a place."
Childe told Aether that he would just change his clothes in his room after pointing out which one is which. The blonde nodded at everything he says before the taller man finally left the living room.
From Aether's perspective, this house is already big enough to be mistaken as a mansion. He could've thought, "Just how rich is this man...?" But instead another thought overrides the other.
Aether: (thoughts) "Don't he feel lonely in this place?"
He walks over the kitchen where he might be spending most of his time in. The thought of cooking for Childe doesn't bother him a bit, instead it makes him a bit excited about learning the gingerhead's tastebuds.
They were long time friends, sure, but only in the sense that they acknowledge each other even outside of school. He's knows the basics about Childe but anything further than that, he's clueless.
From: Kawaii Imouto <3
"Really? I'm happy for you! So where is it?"
He smiled at the message. Even behind the screen, he could feel his sister's beaming energy.
To: Kawaii Imouto <3
"Thank you. Childe gave me a really nice offer so I accepted it. I'm in his house right now, the place where I might be living from now on hehe."
He turned to the room where Childe entered and wondered why he was taking so long. Shrugging it off, he continued his tour around the house.
He checked out the living room and he nodded to himself. It was just as big as he saw earlier, he chuckled at his own silly thought.
This time, he noticed how empty the place is as well. It looks like there was no one living there, if not for the massive television right in front of him, he could have convinced himself that it's a ghost house.
Vrr vrr vrr
He pulled out his phone. It's his sister calling him, he wondered why.
Aether: "Hello—"
Lumine (on phone): "Childe gave you what?!"
Aether: "A house to stay in...?"
Lumine (on phone): "Oh my god, Aether... I know you're preciously innocent but up to this point?"
Aether: "What do you mean?"
Lumine (on phone): "He's... He's not a good company so please just get out of there."
Aether: "Lumi, I understand you are worried about me because of what happened before but what I don't understand is your and brother Kaeya's wariness towards Childe."
Aether: (sigh) "I don't know what both of you saw that I did not, but if I do see it then I'll be the judge. And this is a really good offer too since I don't have much money right now."
Lumine (on phone): "I...I can let you borrow my savings and mom and dad will gladly help you with that as well!"
Aether: "What's the point of all of this then, Lumine?"
Lumine (on phone): (sigh) "Sorry..."
Aether: "It's alright, maybe if I was in your position I would be worried too."
Childe came out the room and was about to call out to the blonde when he saw him talking to his phone so he kept quiet as he headed for the fridge.
Lumine (on phone): "Can I at least talk to Childe?"
Aether turned around and saw Childe drinking water while scrolling on his phone. He walked towards him, immediately getting his attention.
Aether: "Yeah, he's right here."
He held out his phone to the taller man and mouthed out 'Lumine'.
Childe brought the phone to his ear and started listening to whatever Lumine is telling him. He would nod or hum every now and then as a response but never a word was spoken.
Aether wondered what Lumine is telling Childe but instead, he paid them no mind for now. He continued looking around the house and entered a room that Childe told him was his if he finally moves in with him.
Inside the room was pretty spacious, there was only a bed and a study desk inside. Beyond the window was the view of the sun setting which makes it a lot beautiful... and more lonely, it seems.
After appreciating the view a little longer, he finally left the room and he almost slammed into Childe's chest as he opened the door.
Childe: "Are you okay? I was about to call you out."
He checked Aether's face for a bruise but fortunately, there was none.
Aether: (nods) "I'm fine. Are you done with the call?" (looks at his phone)
Childe handed his phone over back to him.
Childe: "Yeah, but Lumine have to leave in a hurry so she have to cut it off."
Aether: "Mn, she have to attend to her piano classes."
He checked his watch.
Aether: "I have to leave now as well."
Childe: (nods) "I'll drive you there."
Aether stops him from getting his car keys.
Aether: (smiles) "No need. I have to buy something on my way back and I don't want to trouble you anymore. Offering me a room for free was enough of a big deal."
Childe: "I'm telling you, none of these are bothering me. You're... You're a friend so of course I'll help you."
Aether: "Thank you but I'll have to decline."
Childe sighed and nodded in defeat. He stood there as he watch Aether reach for the doorknob, but the petit blonde stopped for a moment to turn to the taller man.
Aether: "Childe,"
Childe: "Hm?"
Aether: "Are you okay?"
There was silence.
Childe: "Why wouldn't I be?"
He smiled but it's feels off for Aether, but for now, he have to overlook that smile... At least for now.
Aether: "Okay, see you tomorrow."