Chapter Text
“Hey! Over here!”
Childe is a lot louder than Ayato expected. Zhongli is taller than he expected. And they’re both more affectionate than he expected, he realizes when Childe almost immediately wraps him up in a hug and Zhongli replaces him after.
“It’s great to finally meet you guys!” Childe ambushes Thoma with an arm around his shoulder. “You’re both really hot by the way.”
“Childe.” Zhongli admonishes. “That’s improper.”
“What? Just telling the truth.” He elbows Thoma with a grin. “Right, twin from another nation? Your pretty guy might be on par with my boyfriend.”
“Huh?”
“Childe, stop teasing the poor man,” Zhongli says as he refolds his menu. “He’s clearly still figuring things out.”
“What?” Ayato watches in amusement as Thoma splutters, waving his hands about nervously. “No no no, my lord is certainly very attractive-“
“Ohoho, he’s your lord?” Childe wiggles his eyebrows not unlike a certain oni as Thoma chokes on air. Ayato personally thinks Itto and Childe would get along nicely. And of course he’s Thoma’s lord. He is his boss after all, though he doesn’t really think of their relationship like that.
A young host approaches their table, hands folded politely behind her back. “Hello and welcome to Wangshu Inn!” She giggles and seems to break character. “Hiya Mr. Zhongli, Mr. Childe.”
“Ah, Miss Xiangling. I didn’t expect to see you here,” Zhongli greets her. “I assume this is where you’re taking your mentioned internship?”
“Yep! Are these the two gentlemen Aether mentioned?”
“Yes.” They seem to convey a secret message with a single nod and Ayato merely ignores it.
“So, what can I get for you lovely patrons today?”
They order, and Xiangling takes their menus before spiriting off to the elevator contraption to the top floor. They make conversation until Xiangling reappears with a balanced tray of food and an apologetic smile.
“I’m really sorry, but we only have two pairs of chopsticks. I know you guys wanted to share these two dishes…”
Strange. Ayato would have expected such a large establishment to have an abundance of cutlery.
Behind her back, Xiangling gives a thumbs up to a pair of blue haired boys who are making a utensil tower shaped like the Jade Chamber at a distant table.
“It’s alright, we can figure out a solution,” Zhongli soothes. “Perhaps Childe and I can share one pair, and Ayato and Thoma can share the other?”
Thoma seemingly balks at the idea beside him. Ayato shrugs casually. “I second the notion. Seems convenient, considering the circumstances. We need to start towards Mondstadt tonight, and I’m feeling too starved to wait.”
“Great!” Xiangling plunks two pairs of chopsticks on the tabletop then places down the dishes. “Almond tofu and noodles with mountain delicacies. Enjoy!”
Ayato peeks at Thoma as he picks up the chopsticks. He looks flustered. Odd. It must be because he feels awkward about sharing chopsticks with him. Ayato puts a hand on his arm.
“Please don’t worry. I would prefer you relax while we’re on this vacation. Let’s not be so professional, hm?”
Thoma seems to hesitate, then nods. “Okay. We’ll be just friends, instead.” Ayato takes a second to admire the tiny quirk of his lips before catching himself.
“Good.” He swiftly takes the chopsticks from Thoma. “Now open up~“
While they aren’t paying attention, Zhongli and Childe share an exasperated glance. So this is what Aether meant.
✣ ✣ ✣
“I’ve never seen you before. Now you, however, seem familiar.” He adjusts his green hat as he drifts down from the tree. “I’m willing to bet… a barrel of apples that you hail from this beautiful nation.”
“How’d you guess?” The man looks at Thoma up and down.
“It’s just really obvious to me,” he responds offhandedly. “I’m Venti the bard, by the way! What brings you lovebirds to this great land?”
“Lovebirds?!”
“We’re on vacation from Inazuma. I’m Ayato, and he’s Thoma. Pleased to meet you.”
“Would you like a tour guide? Or are you going to be shown around by your looker over here~“ Venti points his thumb to Thoma with a wink.
“Looker-“ Thoma coughs awkwardly. “Er-It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so that would be nice, I suppose.”
“All I charge is a few drinks at the best bar in the city, that alright with you?”
“Cat’s Tavern or Angel’s Share?”
“The latter.” He laughs. “It’s been especially popular with the locals since Sir Diluc took charge.”
“As expected.” Thoma looks at Ayato in wordless question and gets a nod in agreement. “Then we accept.”
“Fantastic!” Thoma finds the man’s bubbly laugh contagious as he dramatically points down a worn dirt path. “Onwards, my new friends!”
They fall into step behind Venti, who chatters along with a skip in his step, eventually pulling out a lyre from who knows where and strumming it to fill the silence. Thoma hums along after a bit, looking around at the woods as they walk. If he remembers correctly, they’re in the Windwail Highland area, where he used to sneak off to play in. It’s strange to be back home, with Ayato like a souvenir brought from overseas.
He wonders how Jean and Lisa are doing, if they’re together yet. If they aren’t, he might have to have an outsider’s intervention. He still clearly remembers the time he visited the library to borrow books to read to the kids in Springvale as a teenager, finding the purple librarian pulling a shawl over a sleeping Jean’s shoulders. Back then, she worked hard, despite being a fresh young knight to the ranks. And he remembers how they took care of each other.
As they get closer to the city and the shape of the stone walls come into view, Thoma feels a hollow pang of homesickness. It’s been so many years that people probably won’t remember him. And he knows he looks different, taller and broader and more mature. He’s never once regretted staying loyal, remaining in Inazuma despite his freedom to leave.
Thoma glances at Ayato, who is tilting his head and looking at the sky, hazy with the tired rays of sunset. It makes him wish he could show him Starsnatch Cliff.
“So where would you like to go first? The Cathedral, Knights of Favonius Headquarters, the statue of the Anemo Archon-or we could start at the bar of course, though it’s more fun when it’s lively. What’ll it be?”
“Oh! Venti, you found them!” A familiar voice calls. Thoma and Ayato turn to see Aether, Paimon floating close behind, coming from a small blacksmith’s shop. “Hey guys, hope your trip went okay!”
“It went smoothly. You know each other?”
“Your friend here actually recruited me for a short while. It was a one in a lifetime experience! And now I’ve been recruited by you as your tour guide! Aether and emergency food can join us if they’d like, free of charge! Tally-ho!”
✣ ✣ ✣
“Timaeus, do you have any ideas? Maybe we can make a chemical fire here and take it up to him in a lantern?
“No-I don’t think an artificial one would work either, since he needs exact temperatures.”
“And how are we going to get pure water? We only have a little while before the storms start again.”
They’re “hm”-ing in sync when Aether walks up, Thoma and Ayato trailing behind him. Paimon floats up to Sucrose before Aether can stop her and jabs her fingers in Thoma and Ayato’s relative direction.
“Paimon thinks you’re in luck, because Thoma has a pyro vision and Ayato has a hydro one! They’re both really good at using them too!”
“Oh-Hello Traveler, Paimon. It’s been a while.”
“Hi Sucrose, Timaeus! You guys need help?”
“Yes, in fact. Albedo needs precise temperatures and pure water for a new experiment, but it’s been hard to navigate Dragonspine’s storms lately. It’s died down for the last day or two, so we’re trying to find a solution quickly.” She pauses and tilts her head. “Who’s that behind you, by the way?”
“Don’t ignore Paimon!” Paimon throws a mini tantrum and stomps her feet on air. “The red one’s Thoma and the blue one’s Ayato! And they have fire and water visions!”
“Sorry, Paimon.” Sucrose leans to the side to offer a small wave, hiding behind her other hand. “Nice to meet you both. We really do need help, if you’d be willing we could pay you each handsomely.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Ayato replies. “And payment is not necessary, I wanted to visit Dragonspine while in the area anyway. Thoma, what do you think?”
“I agree, I wouldn’t mind at all.” He gives a friendly smile and Timaeus is momentarily blinded by the the light. “Aether, Venti, are you okay with it? I know you were going to show us around…”
“It’s fine! Gives me more time to work on my next song, ehe!” He brings out his lyre and strums as he walks away, muttering a tune. “How humans can have visions but still be blind~”
“I can show you guys the way? And uh-visit ‘bedo, haha.” Ah, he calls him a nickname? Thoma observes Aether’s blush with a fondly scrutinizing gaze. They’re definitely together.
✣ ✣ ✣
“It’s very nice to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot about you especially, Lord Commissioner.”
“All good things, I hope?” Ayato accepts the hand Albedo offers and shakes it firmly. “And please, just call me Ayato. Titles feel so stiff and are such a mouthful.”
“Of course.”
It’s barely a minute of introductions before Aether drags Albedo away by the hand to the back corner of the cave. Ayato remains outside, admiring the thick snowfall covering the mountain like a fresh layer of paint. It’s picturesque, he thinks as he walks to the cliff edge.
“I just realized. You haven’t seen snow before, have you?” Thoma asks, appearing beside him.
“I haven’t. This is the first time I’ve left Inazuma.”
“Wait, really? I’m your first?” Thoma exclaims loudly before catching himself and lowering his voice. “To like-take you out of Inazuma?”
Ayato laughs in response. “I was too busy as a Commissioner and older brother to leave. I’m proud that Ayaka can handle so many responsibilities in my absence.”
They stand in silence for a bit, wind threading in their hair and cold biting their noses red. Thoma shuffles a bit, boots crunching in the snow.
“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Ayato’s skin tingles with the sense of being watched and he resists the urge to turn his head to check. He must be imagining the feeling.
✣ ✣ ✣
“I only have two blankets.”
“I-I’m sorry, did you say only two? Two blankets?” Thoma splutters, color fading from his cheeks then rushing back in full saturation.
“Yes, I said two.”
“That means… we have to share.”
Thoma is red. Ayato is smiling as if this is any old problem, completely unbothered. Aether looks ready to dissolve into a puddle of misery, sweat, and tears, eyes darting between the two guests.
“I don’t mind sharing with you, Thoma.” Ayato seems utterly oblivious to the effect his words have on the man. Albedo is beginning to understand what Aether means, now.
“And I can share with Albedo,” Aether says with a smile. “Now that that’s settled and done, let’s just go to sleep.”
Thoma and Ayato separate, heading to the back of the small cave while Aether and Albedo take the middle area.
“I suppose we have to share, hm, Thoma? I hope you don’t oppose to sleeping with me again~” He notes Thoma’s reddened ears as he lays the blanket out. It must be from the cold.
Speaking of the weather, he’s freezing. The snowstorm started back up outside, the hems of his pants are still damp from melted snow, and he generally runs cold anyhow. Meanwhile, Thoma is a human furnace and looks as fine in the bitter temperature as Aether and Albedo do. Ayato’s jealous and feels like he’s going to turn into ice any moment now, as Thoma pulls off his jacket and headband and leaves them folded on a rock. Ayato unwillingly follows suit and slips out of his jacket
They maneuverer under the tiny blanket, which is definitely not made for two tall adults. Ayato’s teeth chatter the second his side touches the frigid ground.
“You can warm me up, right?” He makes an effort not to stutter through the teasing whisper, holding his numb fingers to his mouth in an attempt to get some feeling back. He won’t do anything Thoma isn’t comfortable with, even if he wishes he could be like Aether and Albedo’s no-hesitation spooning. He doesn’t expect Thoma to do anything at all.
Thoma turns to face him, looking at him for a prolonged second before wordlessly reaching out, pulling him closer and wrapping arms around his back. Ayato’s head is tucked under his chin, legs almost immediately weighed down by one of Thoma’s, and his hands are pressed against his chest. He can feel his heartbeat under his fingertips and the warmth radiating off of him.
He does not blush.
Albedo and Aether whisper to each other like when Ayaka and Yoimiya had a sleepover and pretended to sleep early. Ayato presses closer to Thoma and closes his eyes.