Chapter Text
Aether couldn't remember how many times he had come here to Starsnatch cliff alone. Sometimes when his mind would start racing, he'd leave his teapot while Paimon was sleeping and come here to watch the stars. He'd watch how they'd twinkle with agony and longing, sometimes reaching his hand up as if he'd be able to touch them.
This time, Aether had come with a certain thing on his mind. The traveler had just come back from his trip in Inazuma and his heart ached. In the morning, they were going to go into the city and try to find some old friends but for some reason Aether didn't really feel like doing so. His heart felt heavy and he just felt like crying.
The traveler knew that crying wouldn't bring his sibling back from the Abyss, nor would it make his journey any easier. So now he was here, staring up at the sky with the other Monstadt couples around him.
If not for his journey, Aether would want to take someone special up here.
Sighing, he wrapped a blanket he had gotten as a gift in some commission a long time ago around his person. He slowly began to fall asleep, the warm summer breeze soothing him to sleep.
~~~~~
When he woke, he saw Paimon looming over him. "Wakey wakey! Couldn't sleep inside huh?" Aether nodded, waking up with a yawn.
"Paimon thinks we should go get food at Good Hunter, what do you think?" Aether had no complaints, since he wasn't really in the mood to cook anyways. All he gave was a nonchalant, shrug and nod. After that his faithful companion led the way.
As he walked, only one person came to his mind that he'd wanna see. Despite only really coming at this point to fulfill his promise to Paimon, Aether really wanted to see Venti.
The Anemo Archon was always someone reliable he could go to compared to most of the people he's met on his journey. There was so much he'd want to tell his best friend when they met up again from his travels.. if he could find a way to get rid of Paimon.
Aether didn't dislike his travel companion by any means, but sometimes when he just wants some alone time. Paimon was like family to him, nothing he could think of could change that.
As they entered the city, citizens began to wave to him as they entered. Him and Paimon were pretty popular in Monstadt after he had saved them from Stormterror and became basically an Honorary Knight.
Paimon flew quickly into line for Good Hunter, waving excitedly at Aether to hurry up. "I'm coming!" He said, picking up the pace. He was very tired today, all he wanted to do was sleep. The traveler hoped that he wouldn't get caught up in Knight business while in the city, which always seemed to happen when he visited.
Aether didn't particularly mind the Knights, but they'd always use the Knighthood they thrust on him as an excuse to use him for work. Sometimes they'd pay him in food at Good Hunter or non alcoholic drinks at Angels Share though so he didn't particularly care either way.
Once they reached the front of the line and ordered their food, he heard yelling around the corner of Good Hunter. As they turned to go take a seat, Aether felt someone small slam into him and a burning sensation on his lower thigh.
"Great Stars thats-" He said, looking down to see Klee holding a pyro infused Dodoco in her hands. Behind her, Kaeya quickly followed.
"Klee! You need to be-" He looked at the two, Klee holding her pyro infused Dodoco and Aether's now kind of burning pants. "Great Barbatos above, you need medical attention." He said, making a worried face.
"But our food!" Paimon said in a disappointed voice.
"Grab our food to go, Paimon, we can go eat it somewhere in the city gates okay? I'll be right back. I have to go visit Barbara." Aether said, turning around to let Kaeya support him while they both walked to the Cathedral, Klee following shortly behind.
Once they reached the Chapel and got inside, he saw Barbara and Venti arguing in the middle of the Church.
"I'm telling you, all the tales are true." Venti said, rolling his eyes as he looked around for an escape route.
"You can't keep telling lies like th-" She was cut off shortly by Venti running up to Kaeya basically holding Aether at this point.
"My warrior.. and Kaeya! What happened?" Kaeya raised an eyebrow at Venti, eyeing both Aether and the bard before chuckling. "Klee accidentally ran into him with her Dodoco. I made her wait outside with the Sisters." He sat him down on a bench, looking at Barbara now standing with them.
"It's not that big of a deal, I wouldn't-" Without letting him finish, Barbara put her hand to his burn wound. Aether winced in pain as the healing hydro magic touched the wound, but shortly after he was as if it never existed. "There you go!" Sister Barbara said.
Aether nodded in thanks before Kaeya touched his shoulder. "You owe me you know, from last time you were here. Think you could cover my Guild Commissions and Knights tasks for today?"
There it was. The dreaded question he always got every day of his gods forsaken life.
The last time he was in Mondstadt, Kaeya saved him from dying to at least 4-5 different Abyss mages he had been fighting alone. Obviously he had gotten better at fighting now compared to then, but it didn't surprise him that the Cavalry captain had been keeping score.
Venti spoke up first. "Well maybe let's consider that-"
He was cut off by Aether. "Yeah. I need Mora anyways." Aether said, turning around to face him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Venti's eyes narrow as he accepted the piece of paper consisting of his list of things to do from Jean.
"Paimon can't believe it! This is so much!"
Kaeya shrugged. "Well yeah, I am the second in command with Grand Master Varka gone."
Aether turned around to leave before he felt Venti touch his wrist. "I'm coming with you." He shrugged, shaking his hand off before continuing out of the Cathedral.
"Aether, can we finish our food first? Pleeeeasse?"
Aether shook his head. "I won't be eating it, I don't have time. I need as much time as I can to finish Kaeyas list.
Paimon didn't even respond to how concerning his answer was, she just flew off to go get the food.
Venti on the other hand, sighed and hung his head in disappointment.
"Our first commission is to collect 10 Cecelias seeds for Flora, let's go."
Venti grabbed his hand. "You're doing it again."
Aether turned to face him. "What?"
"You're neglecting yourself for the sake of others again. You can't starve yourself.. I can't let you do that." Ventis' expression was full of worry as he took both of his hands. "How about we go buy some ingredients and go cook some food here outside Good Hunter, hm? I'll even help you this time."
Aether sighed, he couldn't say no to him. Deep down he knew that the bard was right.
"Fine. Let's go."
So they both went down to the city and bought the proper ingredients for Spaghetti and Salad and began to cook it outside Good Hunter.
While Aether was cooking Venti chimed in from behind him. "Aether .. how long have you been starving yourself?"
Aether didn't respond. He started to cry, desperately trying to wipe his tears.
Quickly finishing their meals, he brought them to a table with tear stains on his face. Venti quickly followed, sitting down across from him.
After a while, eating in silence, Venti changed the subject.
"You know I've been writing up quite a few song drafts since you've last been here. Maybe while you're visiting I could show you them!"
Ventis songs always cheered him up. They were so soothing, especially when he'd sing songs especially for him.
Aether nodded, sniffing as he quickly finished their food. After eating, they returned the plates they had borrowed from Good Hunter. They both had offered to help clean them but they had refused their help.
After that, they headed out to Starsnatch Cliff to collect Cecelias for Flora.
Aether didn't like eating, especially before doing commissions. Ever since Inazuma, the feeling of being full would always make him feel sick. Soon followed would be lightheadedness and nausea. It's not like Aether had told anyone yet, though he suspected Paimon knew. Maybe this was the reason why she had insisted on visiting Mondstadt?
After a while of climbing, they had finally reached the Cliff. Compared to last night, there were no people on the cliff. Couples only really came at night time to watch the stars.
"Let's split up to collect them! It should be faster that way." Venti suggested. Aether nodded, walking further up the cliff.
The Anemo Archon had been quieter ever since Kaeya had thrust his duties onto him in the Cathedral.
His stomach began to tie itself into knots at the thought. Venti had asked him earlier about his eating habits and he hadn't responded. He had probably only disappointed him more..
As he approached the tip of the cliff, he began to see how far he was from the ground below the cliff. If he fell without pulling out his glider, he probably wouldn't make it.
His fight with the Raiden Shogun had made him realize how people only really saw him as a tool. Aether was so sick of it, maybe if he rid himself of this world he could finally stop the pain he felt.. both physical, mental, and emotional.
Raiden Ei had left lightning scars all up his back yet nobody had really commented on it yet. Why hadn't anyone cared?
Aether began to put one foot off the edge, leaning his body off slightly. Nobody would miss him. Not a single-
"Are you.. doing what I think you're doing?"
Venti's voice came from behind him. Before he could react, a gust of wind lifted him from his spot on the cliff and pushed him into the bard's arms.
"You were going to kill yourself.. weren't you?" There was a pause before Venti started shaking. "You can't leave me here Aether. You're the only one I've got left you know.. I can't lose another loved one. You're all I have you know?" Aether began to feel tear drops drip on his head.
He sat down, holding the traveler close. Ventis' gentle but shaking hand began to hold his face close to his chest in an attempt to comfort himself. "W-Whenever you leave, I can feel your presence in the wind you know. I-I always make sure to do my best for when you return.." Aether looked up at him.
"I'm sorry I-"
Venti began to stroke his head, eventually starting to untie his braid. "Why did you feel the need to do that Aether? What did you go through in Inazuma?"
At that moment the traveler lost it. He began to cry, telling him everything that happened. He told him about the Vision Hunt decree and the state of its reign on Inazuma, the fight to free Thoma and how it almost killed him, and how he got his scars from the battle with the Raiden Shogun not once but twice, how he killed Signora and it's mental toll on him.. and so much more. Eventually he began to sob so much everything he said was undecipherable.
"Shhhh… it's okay." Venti began to stroke his now untied hair. "You're safe now, okay? I promise while you're with me I won't let anyone hurt you." He paused to think before speaking again. "You're so brave, my warrior. You've been through so much and I'm so proud of you for making it this far."
Aether nodded, trying to wipe his tears as he buried himself in the bard's chest. Without thinking, he wrapped his legs around his waist and buried his head in his chest.
At that moment, Venti kissed his forehead. "I'll always be here to confide in my warrior, even if nobody else is. I hope my nation will be something for you to come back to."