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Aether never ceases to surprise him.
First, it was his otherworldly appearance and unmortal-like strength.
Second was his patience and stubbornness to befriend Xiao and talk to him for more than 20 seconds.
Then it was finding out Aether wasn’t actually mortal, and that he enjoyed his company far more than he should. That he had somehow weaseled his way into Xiao’s days and thoughts, and how despite everything, Xiao didn’t want him to leave them. That he wasn’t at all affected by his karmic debt. That as they redefined their relationship, he only grew fonder of Aether’s teasing nature even though it probably should have annoyed him. And now–
Now he comes back from Inazuma with a box of snacks he thought Xiao would like. Mainly something called “Tricolor Dango” since it’s apparently on the milder side.
They end up sitting adjacent to each other on the floor of the top balcony that Xiao has come to think of as theirs, and Aether starts talking about this “Yoimiya” he has met.
“Once I mentioned your taste preferences, she insisted on me taking back this box of dango that she made,” he gestures to said box between them, “there’s two kinds in there: the usual one that’s white, pink, and green, and Yoimiya’s speciality; it looks like little goldfish.” Aether sounds particularly endeared by that fact.
Although Xiao is paying attention to all of what his partner is saying, his mind latches onto that first bit, “you told her about me?” He isn’t upset about it by any means, just… surprised.
Aether blinks and a quiet laugh escapes him, “well, we were talking about if I had anyone to go back to after meeting the Raiden Shogun, and while Lumine was the first person I thought of…” he trails off, eyes seeing something that has long since passed, “...after I finally found her in those ruins, I guess that isn’t true anymore. Not for a while at least.”
Xiao takes his hand and gives it a gentle squeeze in an attempt at comfort. Although he is far from the best at comforting others, he is all too familiar with the feeling of losing someone and being left with no answers as to why.
The action seems to draw Aether back from his thoughts, and a small smile tinged with sadness lifts the corners of his lips. He squeezes back.
“You know,” he says, head tilted slightly, “spending time with Yoimiya almost reminded me of how it was with Lumine, even though Yoimiya is a lot more chatty and outgoing than her.” He doesn’t let go of Xiao’s hand.
“Anyway, I thought about it and realized that I’d be going back to Liyue after Inazuma, and you are in Liyue so...” his next words have something almost bashful in them, “that would mean that I do have someone to return home to.”
Home. That strikes something deep within him – a longing he thought he had long forgotten. For the most part of his life, Xiao has not had a home or safe base to return to; he merely leaves the battlefield. Aether had previously confided in him that with the loss of his original home, and now Lumine who had become his second home, the feeling of being adrift has become especially keen – the continent-wide moniker for him being “The Traveler” doing nothing to assuage that perspective. At the time, the only thing Xiao could say in face of such vulnerability and trust was that he, too, has not had a home to return to in a long time.
Now, however… With Aether’s almost routine appearances at Wangshu Inn, the establishment that he had already been slowly growing an attachment to became a place synonymous with a sense of warmth, understanding, and eventually, something close to safety. (And if those feelings mostly arose in the company of a certain blond, then that was only for him to know).
So for Aether to now tell him that he considers Xiao to be someone he can return to after such an arduous trip, to be someone he considers a home… it brings a wave of such strong foreign emotions that it renders him speechless for a moment.
He must have been gaping like a dead fish, because Aether’s free hand goes up to his neck – a nervous tick Xiao noticed in him long ago. “Sorry. That was a bit much, wasn’t it? Kind of brought down the mood,” he says, sounding sheepish.
If there was ever a time when it was crucial for him to communicate what he feels, it was now. “No. That was– I’m,” he stops to close his eyes and take a deep breath; finding the right words is proving to be difficult, “what you said isn’t too much. It.. means a lot to me, because I feel the same way,” he considers his next words, “and don’t apologize for this; these are important matters to you, which means they are important to me. I may not understand all of what you’re feeling now, but I want to try.”
There is a strange look on Aether’s face, and Xiao would think he had said something wrong if not for his partner’s fragile yet genuine smile. A suspiciously choked-up laugh escapes him, and there is such incredible fondness in his eyes that he almost has to look away, but it's important that he doesn’t accidentally give off the wrong impression.
“Thank you. You’re a really good person, you know that?” Aether says.
This time, he does have to look away – already feeling the vexing blush creep in. “I only spoke the truth, but if you say so,” Xiao says in return, knowing that further arguing this point is redundant.
His eyes find the box of Dango that lies almost forgotten between them. “You said I might like this dessert?”
“Hm? Oh! Yes; it’s mild in taste but still sweet. Actually, that’s why Almond Tofu was the first thing it reminded me of when I tried it for the first time.”
Aether reaches out to lift the lid off the box and pick up a stick of dango that’s shaped into goldfish. That must be Yoimiya’s speciality then.
He laughs a little to himself, “but I really can’t bring myself to eat the goldfish Dango. It's too cute.”
“Would it not spoil if you don't eat it soon?” Xiao can’t say he’s very confident about how mortal food functions.
Letting out a small sigh, Aether says, “yes but I mean look at it!” He gestures with the Dango to point it at him, and his eyes follow the movement. “Tell me you can eat this without feeling guilty.”
Xiao can’t help but smile and quietly laugh at Aether’s genuinity… and at the fact that the Dango does look too cute to eat. “It does look cute,” he admits.
Aether puts the goldfish dango back into the box and picks up the other, not too-cute-to-eat version and takes a bite – sliding one of the pieces clean off the stick. He offers the rest to him, and after swallowing says, “it’s good. Here, try it.”
At Aether's expectant look and the offered Dango, a mischievous idea occurs to him. Call it… payback for all the teasing he often has to endure.
With his free hand, Xiao cups the side of Aether’s face and leans forward to capture his lips in a kiss. Aether’s surprise quickly seeps out of him as he relaxes into the impromptu show of affection, and Xiao himself almost forgets his purpose. It’s only due to the lingering sweetness he can taste that he remembers it and pulls away slightly.
“Hmm, you’re right – it is.” The slightly confused and dazed look on his partner’s face is too adorable, and he leans in again for a quick kiss.
Xiao doesn’t try to stop the smug smile he can feel curving his lips, “but revenge tastes better.”