Chapter Text
“Hi Kathryne!!” a happy paimon cheered as her and the traveler walked up to the adventurers guild stand
“Good morning paimon, Aether” she said
“Are there any new commissions for us today?” aether asked..
“Hm well..” Katherine said, looking through her commission's book
Paimon gasped
“Bennett!!!” she said happily, bennett walking over to the booth
“Haha- hi paimon” he said “hi aether”
“Good morning bennett. Whatcha up to today?” he asked
“Oh i wanted to pick up some commissions for the day. Are you two doing the same?” he asked bashfully.
“Oh yeah, actually, do you wanna join us?” he asked, Looking back at Kathryne
“Oh well we do have a monster commission in windrise. If youd like ill add a few other commissions to your list so you have more to do” she said
“Yead thatd be great. That okay with you bennett?” he asked, looking at him
“Oh--yeah of course anything is okay” bennett smiled…
“Great!” Kathryne said.. Writing down locations for their commissions and handing the paper to aether
“Good luck you 3 and be safe now. Ad astra” she smiled
“Ad astra Kathryne! Bye-bye!” paimon said for them.. Bennett following the traveler and paimon out the gates
“So bennett, how have you been lately?” aether asked with a smile..
“O-oh! Well… my birthday just passed.. I've been pretty busy with new commissions but it's really just the same every day.” he laughed “it's been a while since i've seen you two in mondstat, what have you guys been up to?” he asked..
“Oh! Well, paimon and aether just got back from Sumeru! It was this whole crazy ordeal” paimon said “but we made a bunch of new friends and even got to go to an awesome festival!”
“Over 100 times” aether laughed
“A--a hundred!?” bennett gasped
“It's a long story, we’ll tell you about it” he smiled
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Bennett always ends up in trouble…
Those hilichurls were super evil, honestly. Smacking bennett around and pushing him right over the cliff's edge-- luckily aether grabbed him in time
Aether pulled bennett back up and went right back at the hilichurls who were nagging and yapping at them
As fast as the wind he dealt with the hilichurls.. Dissipating into glitter
“You okay?” traveler asked
Bennett blushed..
“Y..yeah i'm okay…thank you..”
“Try and be more careful.. I wouldnt want you getting hurt you know” aether said..
“I..i will”
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On the way back to mondstat, late at night, paimon fast asleep in aethers arms.. The silence between him and aether was…unbearable to say the least..
“So.. whats really been going on in your life?” aether asked “it's been so long since i've seen you, update me, yknow?” aether smiled..
Bennett sighed..
“I… i feel like i'm struggling to find someone” bennett sighed
“Like a lover?”
“Yeah. i… i feel like i'm incapable of being loved… like i'm so unlucky it just.. Kills everyones vibe. Keeps them away from me” he said sadly
“We’re still young, bennett. I know what it feels like.. Being lost like that. But i'm sure the person thats right for you will come along. You just have to go through life till then” aether said
“It's how i feel, searching for my sister. I never know when or if ill see her again.. But when i do, i know itll be for the best.”
Bennett was quiet..
“Yeah..for the best..” he sighed..
“Dont be so sad about it.. I'm sure youll find your someone soon enough”
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Bennett invited aether to stay the night at his place.. Paimon comfortably asleep on the couch, bennett preparing a meal for them both..
Aether was sitting on the dining table chair, sewing a rip in his pants…
The gentle chopping of the knife on the cutting board… paimons quiet snores..
“Ouch--” aether hissed, putting his finger to his mouth
“Are you okay?” bennett asked
“Yeah, i just pricked myself is all” he sighed
“Careful please” bennett chuckled…
“Youre one to talk you know” aether teased in response..
Bennett smiled to himself…
Bennett himself was lost in thought while cooking… he must not have been paying attention cause suddenly bennetts being stopped
Startled, he looks to his side
“You were chopping nothing. You seemed spaced out, whats wrong?” he asked
“Huh..?” bennett muttered.. Looking down, aether was right, his knife was positioned way off from the vegetables he had been chopping.. He was just tapping the wood with the knife
“Oh..yeah i'm okay.. Just a little tired” he said
“You want me to take over?” aether asked…
“N..no i'm okay..” bennett flushed… the closeness making his heart race..
He felt so fuzzy…
Aether was nice…he was good to him too.. He was smart and stong-- funny..kind..
Could.. He be it?
“Nonsense..let me, go sit down, ill take care of this” aether said.. Gently taking the knife from him. Ushering bennett to sit down.
“Okay okay..” bennett huffed as he sat down…
He watched aether from his seat… always so calm and diligent… and a much better chef than bennett was…
Made his heart ache..
Bennett was lost in thought about aether… when he heard the tap of plates being set down, he snapped out of it
“Food is ready” aether said, going over to wake paimon up to eat something…
Bennett could only sigh.
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For the next 2 weeks aether and paimon stayed in mondstat.. And while he was busy being the great guy he always was.. Bennett was home with nothing to do than wish he could see him again…
Tossing turning, pacing around bored… he needed an excuse to see the guy again..just once…
His heart hurt..wanting to see him again..wanting to sit at a table in the late night just talking…
Just talking…
Well..it's a good day to take on a commission.. The week is ending and theres not much else to do…
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Bennett was returning to mondstats gates in the evening, tattered and hurt as usual..
He saw aether and paimon coming towards the gates too..
“Bennett- are you okay??” aether asked..
“Oh yeah, i'm fine..just some commissions today.. What are you two doing?” he asked
“We’re going back to Inazuma for a while” paimon said
“Huh? You guys are leaving so soon…?” bennett frowned..
“It's some important stuff we have to take care of… it was great seeing you after so long though” aether smiled..
“Yeah…be safe on your travels..” he sighed
“You be safe too, take care of those injuries okay?” aether said
“I will… take care”
“Bye bennett!” paimon called as she followed aether out the gates of mondstat…
He could only sigh… it's not like he had much of a chance anyways.
Bennett went to the cathedral to get taken care of..
“Bennett? You look dizzy…you should lay down..” barbara insisted.. Her hand gently hovered over his arm…
“I..i'm okay just a little wiped out.. I can get home fine” bennett huffed
“No- you must lay down-- bennett??” she gasped as bennett buckled and fell right into her arms-- barbara hardly holding herself upright under his weight..
“Oh no…” she muttered.. Dragging him to the nursery…