Work Text:
The group was enjoying the last rays of the Sumeru sun setting over them. Plates were empty, but drinks were full and plenty.
A brief lull in conversation had Tighnari’s ears perk up and Kaveh’s attention turning.
“Ah, Aether, before we forget, Tighnari and I had someone approach us asking to pass on their contact information for you. It seemed they were quite taken with you…” Kaveh trailed off and raised an eyebrow, paired with his smirk, it couldn’t be anything other than suggestive.
Aether could feel his ears heat, hoping it wouldn’t spread to his face.
“This was also someone Kaveh had turned down in the past; the fact that he came up to both of us to ask shows the lengths he was willing to go to.” Tighnari idly sipped his drink, maintaining eye contact with Aether.
“I must say, that's bold even for most of the Akademiya.” Cyno chimed in, wondering where he had been during this interaction.
“Oh please, most scholars are content to watch their love pass by without a word, we’re all exceptions, not the rule.” Alhaitham leaned his arm over Kaveh’s chair, careful not to catch any stray pieces of hair.
“Like it wasn’t pulling teeth for all of us!” Kaveh laughed. “Anyways, would you like his information? He’s not a bad-looking fellow; he was just barking up the wrong tree with me.”
Aether’s face flushed. “Oh! Um, I actually, no, but thank-uh…” He trailed off and watched four sets of eyebrows raise at him in near unison.
“You all are much too in sync for my liking…”
Aether idly wished Paimon were with him, rather than off with Nilou and Dehya for the night; it would be nice to have her lack of a filter take the words out of his mouth. He didn’t often have to be the one to explain himself.
Kaveh was the first to react. “What in the world was that reaction? I am no longer concerned with whether or not this random guy gets a chance with you, I am now intrigued over what, or who, makes you react like that at the prospect…” His smirk was quickly turning devious.
With a glance to his left, Kaveh got Tighnari to lean forward as well, as if he were listening for something.
“Elevated heart rate and flushed ears and neck. It seems our dear traveler might have some sort of paramore he has failed to mention.” Tighnari’s smile widened as Aether’s blush finally reached his face.
Aether was searching for something to say when Alhaitham spoke up again.
“Based on the accounts of your travels that have been published, it seems plenty of people across Teyvat are contenders. Though, if they are all as inaccurate as the account of your adventures here, that number can probably be cut down by half.”
“That still gives plenty of suspects, even if the list is only half of what Yae Publishing House wants us to believe.” The moment Cyno and Alhaitham began working together, Aether knew he was out of luck.
“Seeing as the novels push a narrative between Aether and Nilou, I believe it is safe to say they’re a bit off base.” Tighnari reminded.
“Have you all read these stupid books?! I swear I should never visit Miko alone…”
“Of course we have! Let’s see, in Mondstadt, there’s tales of you and a bard as well as various Knights, Liyue there’s the historian, a fatui operative, members of the Crux, then Inazuma has the detective, a handyman, and a general- though they also paint you with either the brother or the sister from the Kamisato clan, so their tales might be unreliable- Fontaine has the magician, and Natlan the Saurian Hunter. Is that everyone?”
Aether couldn’t help but cringe at Kaveh’s, quite expansive, list of his potential romantic interests across the nations.
“Excluding the women, people we know, and most likely to be facetious, yes, that is everyone.” Alhaitham’s words only caused Aether to sigh.
“He has shown no visible change other than exasperation, perhaps we're off base as of yet?” The other three all nodded at Tighnari’s words.
“I don’t know what's worse, the fact that these novels suggest I might be romantically involved with most of my friends, or the fact that a lot of them are actually involved with a different one of my friends I am painted with.” The grimace on his face did not need to be exaggerated.
The four nodded back at him. They remembered reading about their own supposed “love affairs” with Aether.
Silence lingered over them as they all stared at Aether, going for imploring but, in Aether’s opinion, reaching more into a nosy category.
“None of you will let this go, will you?”
Another round of synchronized movement, this time in the form of shaking their heads no.
Aether gave himself a moment to collect, putting his face in one hand and using the other to get his drink and take a large gulp through his straw.
“Alright, fine. He’s from Liyue.” He felt his nose wrinkle, a belated reaction to his drink.
His four companions leaned in, eager to hear more.
Aether rolled his eyes. “He isn’t featured in any of the novels; that was my condition to Yae Miko when she pitched writing novels about me.” He paused, trying to figure out what exactly to say.
“That is actually very sweet of you. Wanting to keep your relationship out of the speculative spotlight.” Tighnari’s words rolled around in Aether’s head as he continued to speak.
“He’s beautiful and protective, both of me and of Liyue. He cares too much, but is very particular with what he expends that kind of energy on. Let’s see…” He trailed off, not knowing what kind of information his friends wanted out of him.
“You say he’s beautiful, what does he look like?” Kaveh looked genuine, like he was happy to hear about Aether’s love.
Aether couldn’t help his smile, “Golden eyes, dark hair with pretty teal undertones- just the right length to play with- an eyeline you can’t look away from,” Aether could feel himself getting a bit dreamy, “Ahem, he’s a bit shorter than me, and has a tattoo of a vermillion bird on his right shoulder.”
“You sound quite taken with him, it’s nice. It’s how I talk about Tighnari.” Cyno’s smile would’ve been infectious if Aether hadn’t already been grinning widely.
He watched as Tighnari dropped his hand atop Cyno’s, a casual display of affection.
“Well, there is one more thing about him, well, us really.”
Four heads turn in sync, questioning him silently.
“Our… relationship is complicated,” he paused, unsure of how to continue.
“Complicated how?” Alhaitham broke the silence.
“Well, it's obvious how I feel for him, and there are times that I am sure he feels the same, but it’s never been spoken about. He obviously cares, he comes whenever I call him, but he’s never let his gaze linger on me without a reason.” Aether paused again, looking down at his hands, now dropped in his lap.
Kaveh suppresses a smile, “Perhaps he looks when you don’t… Kusanali knows how good I got at perfectly timing my look away, making it seem like the few points of eye contact were accidental.” He leaned back in his chair as he spoke, nestling himself in Alhaitham’s side.
The thought made Aether smile. He had heard plenty of people tease him about how obvious they were, toeing around the subject of romance the way a dancer moves across a stage.
“Perhaps… Well, the only times he really lets himself indulge are on his birthday or for Lantern Rite. That’s the only time he asks me to join him, or is frank about what he wants.”
“And what he wants is…?” Tighnari waved his hand to encourage Aether to continue.
“Well, usually, he wants to spend time with me. He has a room at the Wangshu Inn that he always reminds me is open for me if I need it, for his birthday, since I’ve known him, he prefers to do something alone or with just the two of us. For example, the first time his birthday passed after I met him, he sent me a letter the day of, enclosed was a pile of crystal cores he caught for me because he thought they would look nice in my hair. So, that day I went out to see him and he said he wasn’t big on celebrations, that spending time with me was enough.”
Kaveh’s hand came up to rest over his heart. “That is so sweet and romantic! How is that not clear?”
Aether felt a self-deprecating smile cross his face, “It is! But he’s never said it, so it isn’t!” He had gone through the same thing in his own mind plenty of times before; this wasn’t the first, and it wouldn’t be the last if his track record was anything to go by.
“Alright, well, tell us more about him! I want to meet this guy already.” Cyno spoke flatly, but Aether could tell he was being genuine.
Aether couldn’t help the airy giggle he let out. Thinking about and talking about his feelings always managed to do that to him.
“Yes! Tell us his name, what are your favorite things about him, things like that!” Kaveh encouraged.
Aether looked back down at his hands as he spoke, trying to hide the goofy grin on his face. “Xiao. His name is Xiao. I’ve already told you about his eyes and his hair, archons, how I want to run my fingers through his hair. Oh! He has a little purple diamond-shaped marking on his forehead, it makes me want to kiss it so badly sometimes-” He looked up again, pointing towards his own forehead to demonstrate where Xiao’s marking was.
When he looked up, he didn’t meet anyone’s eyes, though, they were all looking slightly past him. He opened his mouth to ask what had them all so distracted, they had all seemed invested just a moment ago-
“You called?”
Aether nearly toppled out of his chair at Xiao’s voice. He managed to grip the table next to him and felt a palm press against his shoulder, keeping him upright.
“...I didn’t mean to startle you. Is everything alright? You hardly ever call me while in a different nation.”
Aether could feel the heat radiating off his face. The looks on his friend’s faces didn’t help either.
They were all smiling at him, smiling wide enough that he couldn’t help but feel like he was on the outside of a joke, and a funny one at that.
Aether closed his eyes for a moment, willing for this to all be a weird dream. When he opened his eyes a moment later to see Xiao coming closer to him, to stand at his side rather than behind him, his hopes of this being a dream fell away.
“Are you feeling unwell? Should I take you back to the inn?”
That broke Aether out of his spiral. “No! I’m quite alright, thank you! Well, since you’re here… Xiao, meet Cyno, Tighnari, Kaveh, and Alhaitham. They’re-”
“Some of the friends you made on your travels in Sumeru, yes?” Xiao’s eyes moved quickly over the group before settling back on Aether. “What happened?”
Aether’s eyebrows furrowed. He was still reeling from the fact that Xiao had definitely heard him talk about how much he wanted to run his fingers through his hair and kiss his forehead; he didn’t know what Xiao was talking about.
When he finally gathered his wits enough to look directly at Xiao, he was able to take in his appearance.
Everything was normal, other than the red flush spreading across the bridge of his nose, all the way to the pointed tips of his ears.
The two just looked at each other for a moment, matching blushes only growing darker as the night did the same around them.
“You said my name, you called for me?”
“Right! Right, yes. Well, I um- I was telling my friends about you, they asked what your name was, so I told them, and it didn’t occur to me that you might arrive here in the city if I did that. I’m so sorry for wasting your time! I hope I didn’t pull you away from something important-”
“You’re more important than anything else I could have been doing. It’s not a waste of time if it means I can see you. I… I’m happy to know you aren’t in any danger.” For a moment, the world was just the two of them, a bubble of quiet only filled with their matched breathing, both warriors ready for battle but feeling safe in the other’s presence.
“Well, now that you’re here, why don’t you join us? We’ve heard so much about you, Cyno was just saying how he wanted to meet you!” Kaveh’s words brought the pair out of their stupor, bringing them back to the present.
Aether sent a panicked look back at his friends, hoping they would understand that he could use a bit of time to recover from his embarrassment before spending too much time with Xiao. He wanted to hide under a blanket until his spoken wants were buried there with him.
Xiao looked at the group, silently eyeing them and making a decision. He turned to Aether, “If you will have me, I will stay.”
Aether could do nothing but nod as he looked at Xiao, golden eyes seeming to glow as the world around them continued getting darker. “Of course, always.”
Xiao’s small and private smile was worth any embarrassment Aether was feeling, already dissipating as Xiao sat in the empty chair between Aether and Alhaitham.
There was a lingering moment of silence surrounding them. Xiao flicked his eyes between those he had just met and, with a nod, spoke again. “I am glad to know everything has worked out between you all. Aether’s last letters before leaving Sumeru a few years ago included his hope for your romantic escapades.”
Finally, for the first time that evening, the group in front of Aether were all fighting blushes.
Cyno gathered enough of his wits first, “Ah, yes, thank you. He was subjected to plenty of the… unfortunate in between we seemed to fall into. Always helpful, even though we put him through the ringer.”
“He always speaks fondly of you. I’m sure it wasn’t too troublesome.” Aether could hear the silent ‘I can always tell’ tacked onto the end of Xiao’s words, grateful he didn’t say it out loud.
Another short pause graced the group, giving Xiao another opportunity to speak. “Now, please, I don’t mean to interrupt. Continue whatever it is you were saying before I appeared.”
Heat crawled up Aether’s face as he felt the need to clarify. “Oh, well, I was just telling them about you so-”
“I don’t see why that has to change.”
Xiao’s eyes were alight with mischief; it was doing something to Aether’s, already frantic, heart.
Alhaitham caught the look the pair shared and helpfully added, “He’s right, everything you were saying was quite flattering. It might even be beneficial to have him here; any stories will be made more accurate with his presence.”
Aether recognized that damned smirk, it was the same one he wore just before they left to find Siraj, the one that means he thinks he knows the exact outcome he is walking into.
Aether’s only comfort came in the form of Kaveh pinching Alhaitham as he spoke, urging him to rein it in just a bit.
Xiao’s eyes never left Aether’s face, only worsening the blush already there. “Stories? I suppose you could tell them of the time we released lanterns under the moonlight, or perhaps of the witness sigil I bestowed upon you?” Xiao gently adjusted a piece of Aether’s bangs, and the remnants of the sigil on his forehead began to glow.
Aether flicked his eyes away from Xiao’s, yet stayed still, not wanting to move away from the hand in his hair.
“Witness sigil? I am unfamiliar with the term.” Tighnari spoke, unable to break the moment between the pair.
“I was able to bestow upon him my perception and make it easier for him to call upon my power. The most recent Lantern Rite was quite perilous for him; it was the only way I knew to keep him safe.”
“He was able to do it with his adeptal energy…” Aether filled in the blank for Tighnari.
“Ah, alright, so specific to Xiao, then?” Cyno asked.
“Even more than that, it requires a lot of… specific circumstances to execute it properly, I could not bestow a witness sigil on any random person.”
Aether’s attention snapped back to Xiao at this, seeing as he didn’t know anything about the requirements needed to accept the sigil. He tilted his head at Xiao, a motion he long ago explained meant he was confused.
Xiao was now speaking directly to Aether, uncaring of who else heard him. “When Rex Lapis allowed me this power, it came with certain expectations. It was meant to only be used a limited number of times in one’s life and only for those one was closest with.”
Aether was touched. He knew Xiao cared, but this was more than that. This was adeptal and heavenly power that required a strong bond to even be attempted, let alone work so easily. “What's the limit?”
Xiao tilted his head, a habit he picked up after spending so much time with the pubic at Aether’s side. He would simply tilt his head and wait for Aether to explain the confusing behaviors.
“You said you could only use it a limited number of times. I was just curious about how many times you had.”
“I have no idea. I have only ever used it the once. No one else has ever met the criteria.” He spoke so matter-of-factly, as if he wasn’t shifting Aether’s world view with a group of his friends to witness it.
“Would you mind my asking about the criteria? You have made me incredibly curious.” Cyno interjected.
“Not at all, they’re quite straightforward. There are some details of how long one has known someone that are flexible, but the two that truly matter are as follows. ‘One must harbor a deep care that has been seen and reciprocated,’ as well as ‘One must bestow trust above all else, a trust that will follow each other into peril.’ Leave it to Rex Lapis to make it impossible to save someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
Aether vaguely registered the conversation happening around him. He heard Alhaitham wonder about how those requirements could be measured, he heard Kaveh counter him, followed by Tighnari speculating on the limit Xiao had.
All he could focus on, however, were the criteria Xiao readily and openly listed. Quietly, too quiet to even give pause to his friends’ debate, he whispered, “You trust me?”
“With my life and your own, which I value more than anything else in this world.”
Xiao’s reply came without pause. As if he had been waiting to answer that question as long as they had known each other.
Now, Aether knew how much Xiao cared. It was steeped in every one of their interactions, laced into each of Xiao’s words, written plainly within all of his actions. Trust, however, was not easy for the adeptus to give away.
Aether assumed part of Xiao’s concern for him was due to a small lack of trust that he could take care of himself. That idea never bothered him; he knew there were people he felt the same about- though he would never admit it to them.
To hear that Xiao’s concern was in spite of the trust he held… it was eye-opening, world-shaking, awe-inspiring. So many things that Aether couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around.
Aether had seen Xiao interact with people whose ability spoke for itself. Yelan, for one, was someone Xiao was prepared to send into the border between life and death without a second thought. Aether knew it was because Xiao knew of her strength and ability.
For him to stop Aether, to nearly refuse his participation, had hurt for a moment, just a moment. He assumed Xiao cared for him and didn’t trust that he could care for himself in such a dangerous place that Xiao couldn’t follow him into.
So many things were shifting into place: the witness sigil, the insistence that Yelan go as originally planned, it all made for an entirely different story, knowing how much Xiao had to trust him. He had to not only trust in Aether, he had to be trusted back.
Aether made a decision.
He abruptly stood from his seat, grabbing Xiao’s forearm and pulling him up with him. “I’m so sorry, I just remembered something we need to attend to. I’ll see you all tomorrow at some point when I pick up Paimon. I’ll see you later.” He didn’t even wait for the round of goodbyes to end before he tugged Xiao away from the table, towards the exit of Sumeru City.
He pointedly ignored the whistle that must have come from Kaveh.
Aether let his hand slip down Xiao’s arm and tangled their fingers together. “Take us to the road between the harbor and Wangshu Inn, where we spent the first Lantern Rite.”
Xiao nods once, and after a dizzying moment, they find themselves atop the mountain directly overlooking the harbor. One of the many places Xiao has made it clear that, if it’s Aether who is calling, he will be there.
He leaves a steadying hand on Aether’s waist, not moving even long after he regained his footing.
So there they stood, hardly any space between them, only separated by the words yet to be spoken.
“You trust me. You care for me, so much so that you used the only one of your witness sigils on me. You have the urge to protect me, even above Liyue, at certain points. The only selfish requests I have ever gotten from you are to spend the day together.”
“Correct.”
Aether let his head drop forward onto Xiao’s shoulder. How he wished the words would come to him now as they did before he knew Xiao was standing waiting for him.
“All of what you said is correct, but I also learned a few things today. Things like how you want to run your fingers through my hair, or how you want to kiss my third eye…” Xiao trailed off.
Aether made a noise, something akin to an embarrassed whimper, into the skin of Xiao’s neck.
“Am I wrong, Ae? Perhaps you were speaking of someone else after calling my name…” Aether could hear the smirk in Xiao’s words.
“You merciless yaksha, you cannot spare my heart for even a moment.” Aether could feel the heat coming from his face, he could feel it slowly warming Xiao’s neck and shoulder beneath him.
Xiao huffed out a laugh before taking Aether’s face in both of his hands, finally getting him to look him in the eyes again.
“Oh, this truly isn’t fair. How am I meant to resist you when you look at me like that?” Aether watched as Xiao’s pupils expanded, the lighter brown encroaching on the beautiful gold; he could stare for hours.
Xiao’s thumb gently moved across his cheek, “Foolish, you aren’t meant to resist.”
Aether closed his eyes and dropped his forehead against Xiao’s.
With a move Aether had done half-way dozens of times, Aether let his hands finally sink into Xiao’s hair.
They were sharing breath, holding each other close.
“Qīn qīn, I would like to kiss you.”
Aether felt his heart flutter at the new nickname. He knew there were no words that could convey exactly what he was feeling to Xiao. Instead, he closed the small distance between them.
It felt like releasing a lantern at the end of a celebration.
Xiao kissed just as he did everything else. Dripping with passion and self-assurance. Aether could only keep up, meeting the tilt of Xiao’s face with one of his own. As Xiao’s hands fell to wrap around his waist, it was all Aether could do to keep his arms around Xiao’s shoulders to keep himself upright.
Xiao pressed further forward, pulling Aether closer to him.
The gentle show of his strength had Aether’s legs wobbling, so much so that Xiao thought it easier to walk them backward toward a tree.
Aether hadn’t even realised they were moving until one of the hands on his waist came to cradle his head, blocking it from hitting the tree trunk.
The small change drew them apart for just a moment. One long enough for Aether to whisper an urgent “Xiao” before leaning back in to recapture his lips.
There, crowded against a tree overlooking Liyue Harbor, Aether had never felt more safe.
In a moment of bravery, Aether took the chance to tilt his head slightly further, letting his tongue graze Xiao’s bottom lip.
The small action pulled a gasp from both of them, before they redoubled their efforts.
It was only a few moments before the lack of breathing caught up to them. Xiao pulled back minutely, only to be followed by Aether chasing him back to steal one last pack on the lips.
“There’s no rush, we have all the time we could ask for.” Xiao’s words reassured Aether, solidified that this wasn’t a sweet, almond-tofu-induced, dream.
They stayed there, leaned against that tree, for a long while. Basking in each other’s presence, a feeling they had missed.
There were things to talk about, Aether knew. How this would work between his travels and Xiao’s dedication to Liyue Harbor. How they would manage to find alone time, what expectations they both had.
That could all wait, though. None of that mattered in Xiao’s arms, surrounded by the warmth of the nighttime air.
“Take us back to the inn, it's getting late.” They could figure that all out in the morning. For now, all Aether wanted to do was curl up at Xiao’s side, perhaps share a few more kisses, and have a dream so sweet only Xiao would be able to rouse him.
“As you ask, I shall deliver.” In a quick moment, they were in Xiao’s room.
It had taken on both of their personalities in time, corners dedicated to the things Aether found on his travels, artwork gifted to the yaksha in thanks, along with shared drawers of clothing.
Drawers that held enough sets of pajamas for either of them in the case something were to happen.
Thankfully, the reason today was a happy one. It was a shared bed that did not have to be facilitated by blood loss.
It was the mark of a change. Finally, one Aether himself had been waiting for.