Xiao woke up. He was feeling completely destroyed from all the crying these past couple of days. The boy couldn't accept the fact that his lover was dead. He brought him, together with Paimon inside their teapot and they've been staying there for the last few days. The Yaksha and the floating pixie didn't exchange much information during that time. They just stayed quiet and tried finding a way to wake the blonde up.
He was slowly starting to give up. His life only made sense if those he loved tragically left him. Aether was no exception.
However, once he opened his eyes, he noticed that his partner wasn't laying on the bed. His bandages were all over it and there was no blood. The Adeptus looked around the room and noticed that Paimon was asleep too.
Gently, he shook her to wake her up.
"Mmm...leave Paimon alone." She muttered in her sleep. Her voice wasn't as cheerful as usual anymore. It sounded rather dull.
"Aether isn't here anymore."
She jumped up and quickly rubbed her eyes, she took a look and realized that Xiao was telling the truth.
"You go look inside, Paimon will go look outside! He couldn't have gone that far! The bandages still seem fresh."
The Yaksha nodded and started searching around the house while Paimon went to look outside the teapot. They were both worried and unsure of what to do. Could his body possibly have perished?
His heart was racing. Having his only hope in life disappear like that wasn't the way he wanted this to end.
Right before he gave up searching, he decided to check out the kitchen before heading out to help Paimon search. At this point, he had no hope left.
He opened the door, and to his surprise, he saw a bright yellow strand of hair in the corner of his eye. It was a strand of hair he could recognize anywhere.
"Aether...?" The boy spoke as his jaw dropped open in shock.
"Ah, you're finally awake. I felt better so I decided to get up and cook some breakfast for you and Paimon." The traveler spoke in a calm voice. He had his usual smile on and he didn't look hurt at all.
"You...you're alive..." Whispered the Adeptus as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Without second thought, he ran up to his boyfriend and hugged him. It was an extremely tight hug. Xiao didn't want to lose his partner like this again. He wanted this hug to last as long as possible so he didn't let go.
"Of course I'm alive." The blonde said as he hugged back. He missed this feeling while being stuck in Irminsul. "I'm not planning to die anytime soon. Besides, I promised you I'll stay, didn't I?"
It warmed up the traveler's heart to see how much his lover cared. It was weird how a strange guy from another world could make him feel more loved than his sister. But he wasn't complaining. Deciding to come back to Teyvat was a good decision.
"If you dare try risking your life like that again I won't be forgiving you."
He turned his head to face his lover. Aether admired his beautiful amber eyes for a while, he hadn't seen them in a while so, of course, he missed them. They were still as charming as ever, despite being full of tears.
The traveler wiped the tears away and pulled his boyfriend in for a long kiss. Both of their lips were extremely cold.
"Everything is going to be okay now. I promise you. Nobody will ever threaten this world ever again." Comforted the blonde.
"But...how? How have your wounds healed overnight?"
"That's a secret for another time. I will tell you eventually...just be patient."
As the two boys were holding each other in their arms, the kitchen door burst open. It was Paimon. She had her face covered in her hands. Aether had never seen her so upset before.
She took one look at the two and started to cry as she ran up to hug the traveler.
"What happened!? Xiao won't tell me a thing! You don't understand how worried Paimon was! How would you feel if you woke up after a long sleep and saw Paimon was gone!?" Complained the girl in a joking manner. She missed her best friend. They haven't seen each other in a long time. There was so much he had to tell her.
"I believe you owe us both an explanation." The Adeptus said while attempting to wipe his tears away. He didn't wanna embarrass himself in front of the white-haired girl.
In response, the blonde just smiled and went back to cooking before he burned everything. Paimon understood he didn't wanna talk too much right after waking up so she went to the table and sat down. Other than that, she wanted to give the two boys some alone time.
"Go sit with Paimon. I'll be there in a minute."
"There's something I forgot to say back then when the earthquake took place..."
Xiao hugged him from behind and held him tight, making sure not to hurt him or mess up his cooking.
"My karmic debt..." he started but was quickly stopped by Aether's hand. He covered the boy's mouth since he didn't want to hear his lover thanking him for it.
"You don't need to mention it. I did it because I love you, I can't stand having to see you suffer all the time. You deserve to live a normal life like everybody else. Your former companions may have not made it but I'm giving you a chance in life. You deserve it, Xiao."
"You're wild for willing to risk your life for my sake." Mumbled the Adeptus under his boyfriend's hand.
"I'm sure you'd do the same for me."
"...I would." Responded the Yaksha with zero hesitation.
He was willing to do anything for the Traveler. It was a shame he couldn't do much besides just wait for him to come out alive during this time. He wanted to do something to repay his partner for everything he has done so far. But the poor boy had no idea. He knew Aether a little too well but couldn't think of what to do.
Maybe a date? He heard that mortals often like taking their loved ones on dates. He didn't know much of them besides that it's basically taking your partner or crush somewhere you both like spending time.
There was no place the Adeptus could think of. He remembered that time his partner took him on a date to eat almond tofu but that seemed too little to be considered a repayment now.
Xiao was holding onto his lover the entire time he was cooking. The traveler didn't mind though. In fact, it helped him feel more confident about cooking.
Before the blonde could bring the food over to the table, he was stopped by the Yaksha.
"Um..." He mumbled nervously. "If there's anywhere you'd like to go after you've recovered let me know."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Aether got a little confused because of the way his boyfriend worded it. Perhaps he was hinting at something or had somewhere he needed to go.
"Forget it."
"No, tell me. What's up?"
The boy blushed a little before finally getting his words out. For some reason, he got a little embarrassed.
"...I'm sure you've heard of dates. I was thinking maybe I could take you out sometime...I understand if you think it's childish but-"
"Childish? Are you kidding me? Of course, I'd go out somewhere with you. I was actually planning to ask you myself a little later..." smiled the traveler.
"Alright then. Tell me when you feel like going. Make sure to get tons of rest before going outside again."
Aether grabbed the three plates and started heading towards the table with Xiao where Paimon was patiently waiting for the two. She didn't expect their chat to take so long.
"You've gotten more talkative I've noticed. I like this side of you." The blonde Complimented as he put the plates down and sat at the table.
The white-haired girl gave them a weird look as she stuffed her face with food, the boy knew immediately what she was thinking about so he tried avoiding eye contact with his best friend.
After finishing her plate in mere seconds, Paimon drank some water and crossed her arms while looking menacingly at her dear friend and then at the Adeptus.
"Is something the matter?" Xiao asked, in hope to break the awkward silence and weird tension. He had absolutely no clue what was going on with Paimon so he had to ask.
During their short time together, the two didn't really get along quite well but the Yaksha's hatred towards the flying pixie slowly started dropping down. She may be annoying but she was a loyal friend to the traveler.
"Hey, uhm...Aether I know you don't feel like talking but I've got a small question."
He turned his eyes away from his food to look at Paimon. The boy was clearly nervous but tried to play it off. The poor Adeptus was so confused about what was going on.
"Paimon decides to take one nap and you manage to turn the entirety of Teyvat upside down and get a boyfriend...For...For how long was Paimon out?"
"A little more than a year I think...I have no clue what time it is after that incident in Sumeru." Responded the blonde as he rubbed his head, trying to remember. "That reminds me, is it already a new year?" He asked.
"Huh? As far as Paimon is concerned it's like an entire week until the new year celebration. Paimon was so happy you woke up in time so we could celebrate together."
It was a weird feeling but the boy felt like Istaroth messed with time a little. It was already supposed to be new year's eve a long time ago. The woman was a very nice god from what it seemed. Aether really owed her for this.
"Oh and Xiao! A little compliment for you..." Paimon yelled in excitement, changing the mood in the room around a little. "You've changed so much since the last time Paimon saw you. You stopped talking in riddles and your voice seems way more comfortable than before! Last time we meet you were so shy to even talk to the traveler...look at you now!"
He smiled. It was very rare for him to smile but the floating fairy appreciated being able to see his smile.
"You can thank Aether for that..."
"Oh, I'm sure I can." She said in a teasing tone.
As weird as it was for her, she was willing to accept the two's relationship. She thought they were perfect for each other ever since they started getting along a long time ago. She never expected her dear friend to find a lover but she was glad. Now he wouldn't have to feel so lonely anymore.
"So...Paimon is completely fine with you both being...a thing. But if you decide to kiss in front of Paimon she will leave or get into another coma from throwing up!"
Both boys gave her an annoyed look. They weren't even planning to do stuff like that in front of her but she had to bring it up. They both blushed a little and then went back to talking about everything that had happened.
Aether tried his best to explain everything to Paimon that has happened over the past year. She was excited to hear everything.
The three had a great time just eating and chatting. It felt like they were a family of some sort with the floating pixie as their child. The traveler laughed silently when that thought crossed his mind but quickly went back to the conversation afterward.
Things seem like they are going to be way calmer now in their lives.