Chapter Text
“...”
Xiao crouched at the side of Verr Goldet’s counter, not noticing the tuxedo cat, Wei, staring at him with curiosity. Wei leaned forwards and pawed at Xiao’s ahoge. He felt the action and peered upwards. The cat and him shared a glance, its paw still extended. Xiao softly brushed the paw back onto the counter to avoid any accidents from happening. He then pat Wei’s head and scratched under its chin.
Verr Goldet took notice of the gesture and let out a soft chuckle. “Who knew you were fond of cats?” She added silently, “More or less, you act like one.”
“What was that?” He narrowed his eyes at her. She quickly dismissed the question with a swipe of her hand.
“Don’t you think it’s time to take action on what happened? Of course, Aether does want his personal space but that doesn’t mean not to persuade him from what he will do.” Verr Goldet walked around the counter to grab Wei below its front legs and properly placed it on the counter.
He shook head, curling up on himself. “I don’t want to worsen our bond anymore. I crossed a boundary.”
Xiao shudders from an old memory back when he was “Alatus.” His old master had abused him very roughly, a particular memory replacing the face of Aether when he had suffocated from his grasp.
“Well okay. It was just a suggestion after all, but please take it into consideration.” Verr Goldet shuffled her hands. “It would be nice if someone could comfort him. I know that for a fact”
The adeptus picked at the bandage at his neck. “...I’ll do it.”
“Great, we can have him back in no time.” She smiled warmly at her. Xiao just buried his head more into his knees.
He soon got up on his feet and summoned his polearm. “I’ll be going now. Call me if you need anything, or well… if you see Aether coming out.” Xiao dispersed into particles before he could see the innkeeper nod.
Xiao opened his eyes to see a field of green, yellow reeds in the distance.
Wait. Was this where Aether and that girl—
“Oh! What do we have here?”
Aether stares at his hands before clenching them with an exasperated expression. He looked to Paimon, who was still sleeping. Who knew she could be such a heavy sleeper after… Aether shook himself to get rid of the images implanted in his head last night. He looked over to the corner where he threw Xiao upon. It was clean because of Verr Goldet. Luckily, she didn’t ask about the situation. Flickers of the scene appeared the more he stared at the room. He finally shut his eyes and flopped on the bed again.
“ Ugh… ”
He places his hands on his stomach, wanting to apologize to Xiao, but he really can’t bring himself to. I did yell at him to leave, but what if he actually did? Aether flutters his eyes open at the thought. He places a hand to stand up.
He will leave sooner. Perhaps it’s for the best.
After all, I don’t want to hurt him anymore.
Aether lets go. But his heart still aches, longing to listen to the yaksha’s comforting voice.
But he can’t. He doesn’t want to go.
Aether decides to isolate himself from his friends.
He shifts Paimon to the pillow and tucks her into the blanket. He looks wearily at her as he leaves. Aether takes out his map to teleport to Stormterror’s Lair. It’s raining there, but he doesn’t mind it. The traveler hops down the ledges to make it to a pond with a tree and a bridge. There are many fireflies that do not leave this place, it makes the pond reflect the glow of the fireflies to make an aqua light. It is simply a pleasant sight.
Aether sits down and leans on the rope. He hopes no one disturbs him.
There’s a sudden painful ache as he thinks about something.
Everyone will leave.
He wants to cry.
“Barbatos?” Xiao whips around and faces the bard. The former archon chuckles.
“No need for formalities, just call me Venti, okay?”
Xiao nods slowly with narrowed eyes and lowers his tense back. “What are you doing here in the land of Geo?”
Venti puts his hands on his hips. “What? Am I not allowed here? If that old blockhead said anything about me not being welcome here, tell that grandpa that—”
“No, no, it’s nothing of that sort. I meant, what are you here for?” Xiao finally flicks away his spear.
“There’s something that's disturbing you, no?”
Xiao averts his gaze. “I don’t know what you're talking about.” He looks him in the eye again. “You should not pry into adeptal manners anyways.”
“Pshhh, I’ll pry into anything I need to!” Venti snickers. “What is bothering you?”
Xiao sighs in defeat. “Aether and I fought.”
“Ooh, first couple fight I’m guessing?” Xiao sends a glare at him and Venti holds up two hands up. “Alright I’m sorry—!”
“...He ended up injuring me.” He points to the bandages on his neck and waist. Venti hums, furrowing his eyebrows.
Venti rests his head on his palm. “If I could know, do you know how those two injuries came to be?”
“Aether threw me against furniture and it kind of… broke. It stabbed me a bit.” Xiao settles a hand below his neck. “Then he choked me.”
Venti widens his eyes at the unusual behavior of the usually good-natured traveler. “Hm… What happened?”
Xiao crosses his arms at memory. “A girl pushed him to his limits.”
Venti nods. “Children are nuisances these days. I can try to picture something.”
“Do you know where Aether is?”
Venti smiles. “Good question! I do, in fact, know where he is.” Xiao perked up at his words.
“Where?”
“He’s at Stormterror’s Lair.”
Xiao’s expectant gaze wilted. He grits his teeth. That place is in Mondstadt. He cannot teleport there. Venti blinks.
“Oh! Right, right, I can teleport you there if you’d like!” Venti posed with a wink.
Xiao clutches his hands together. “Please.”
“Alright, field trip!”
Xiao looks up at the ruins. He squints at the unfamiliar terrain and buildings. Venti stares at him from behind. “Do you wish for me to recall an old tale to pass the time?”
“Yes please.”
Venti rubs his chin in thought, Xiao keeps looking around as he waits for him to recite a story.
“There used to be a controlling, annoying, fat marshmellow—” The bard pauses and sweats as Xiao eyes him. Venti clears his throat audibly, “—I mean- An evil tyrant that ruled Old Mondstadt. He ruled this land very poorly. He made it unfair for all. Then the legendary hero, Vanessa, stepped in and quelled this threat and ascended to Celestia. She was a very strong and courageous yet caring warrior.” Venti smiles sadly to himself. “I miss her.”
Xiao nods. “She sounds noble.”
“Very noble indeed!”
Venti pecks Xiao with his index finger. “We’re nearing your Aether. I’ll leave here now.” He points towards a cliff. “Go get your man!”
Xiao nods as the bard disperses into wind, it swirls around Xiao as it fades. The adeptus blushes to himself as he remembers Venti referring to Aether as his.
Aether tenses as he hears footsteps shuffling in the grass. He lifts his head up to see golden eyes with cat-slitted pupils staring at him. He scrambles to stand up. Aether doesn’t say anything as he attempts to run away. A gloved hand captures his wrist.
“Why are you running?” Xiao steps forwards and extends a shaky hand. Aether struggles to pull away.
“ Let me go! ” Aether hisses. Xiao’s gaze becomes more troubled and tightens his grip.
“Wait!” Xiao tries to approach him.
Aether falls to his knees, still looking away from Xiao’s gaze. Aether grits his teeth and tries to grip back at Xiao, trying to make him let go.
Xiao suddenly lets go.
“I’ll go. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go. Our… My promise won’t matter this way. You do not have to worry about me chasing you everywhere.”
Aether widens his eyes.
Wait…
Xiao is turning around.
…no, don’t—
Aether grips Xiao’s waist, turns around, and pulls him down. It creates a thud on the bridge.
Xiao flinches. “Hey—!”
The traveler grips the adeptus’ shirt.
“ Don’t go. ”
Xiao relaxes, only listening to his pleas.
“ I’m begging you. Please stay. Don’t go. Don’t leave. I’m sorry, I’m sorry ”
Aether cries in his chest, staining the yaksha’s shirt. He repeats these at a rapid pace, leaving him hyperventilating. His head is dizzy from the crying, but he doesn’t care.
He wants Xiao to know that he can’t bear seeing him leaving his life. He has become too emotionally attached to him to let go.
“Aether I—”
“ PLEASE. I DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU. ”
Aether screams his sorrows.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Sobs wreck through his chest. It hurts, yet he feels relief.
“ Xiao, don’t… disappear. ”
The rain patters harder on the ground.
It’s so cold.
So, so cold.
Xiao embraces Aether into a hug. Aether widens his eyes. He returns it, crying harder than before.
He doesn’t want to let go.