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Xiao shuffled his way towards Wangshu Inn. Today, he fought yet another unseen battle with the many evils of Liyue, a pair of Abyss Mages and their Ruin Hunters. The teal haired man wasn't too bothered by his wounds.
He was far more irritated by the slow pace in which he was progressing. Wangshu Inn stood tall in the distance. Close enough to be in his sights, but not close enough for him to reach.
Xiao gripped his spear and huffed. A low growl resounded from the back of his throat as his battered body ached, before his knees finally met the dirt.
He may have been immortal, but that didn't make him immune to the pain.
And two thousand years were not enough to erase the weight of his sins on his shoulders.
Then a warm hand places itself there, and suddenly it's light as if the burden had been lifted. Xiao looked up.
"Xiao, are you alright?" The traveller's golden eyes were radiating concern.
He feels shame as he realized that Aether had discovered him like this; weak, frail, at his lowest point. He wasn't supposed to see him like this. He hated being vulnerable around people, it made him feel... exposed. Like all the sins crawling on his back were on display for the world to see.
"I'm fine, Aether," Xiao stared down on the bare ground as he pushed himself back up, hiding the grimace on his face by bowing his head down. He only looked up once he had succeeded pulling himself upright.
"Paimon thinks you don't look fine! You're all battered up!" The faerie exclaimed. He had forgotten she was with the traveller.
"Let me help you," Aether makes a move to hold him, but he froze before he could touch him.
Xiao wondered why, and he sees that the golden haired boy's face looked expectant, as if he was asking for permission from him to touch him.
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
"It's fine." Xiao huffed, finally having enough strength to hold eye contact longer with his companion.
Paimon is also watching, concern evident on her features.
"Let me take care of you," Aether's voice is dripping with kindness. He hasn't heard such kindness in a long time. The only time he remembered ever hearing such benevolence was many, many years ago, when Zhongli had saved him.
"It's okay to ask if you need help you know!" Paimon encouraged him. It snapped him out of the memory.
Xiao alternates glancing between the two, then he sighed. "Very well," he relented, storing his polearm away.
Before he could do anything else, there's a warm arm wrapped around his waist, while another pulled his arm around the other boy's shoulder. In the blink of an eye, they've teleported to Wangshu Inn.
Aether delicately released him from his hold, but his arm remains around his waist to support Xiao.
"Thank you," he spoke. The teal haired boy was just about to walk away to his usual spot until the blond grabbed his wrist.
"Wait, I still have to take care of your wounds," Aether's hold on him is gentle enough that he could pull away if he so wished, but he doesn't.
"It's—"
"I'll take care of you."
"It's rotten work, Aether."
"Not to me. Not if it's you," the moonlight only makes him seem so much more tender and Xiao feels his cheeks flare up. He looked away.
For the second time that night, the adeptus relented. Satisfied, the human tugged the adeptus along with him inside from the balcony. Xiao pointed him to a room when the latter asked if there was a place for him to patch him up. It was a room Verr Goldet had given him; in case he needed it.
He thought he'd never see the day that he would be using it. After all, adepti didn't require sleep like any other mortal.
He had him sit down on the bed. Paimon appeared and handed Aether his bag. Huh, so the creature did have some other use besides moral support. Aether took out medicine and bandage from his bag.
The moment he popped the cover on the medicine open, Xiao could pick up the scent of Qingxin almost immediately.
He was stiff as Aether applied the medicine on his wounds. The boy recoiled as he felt him shift. "Does it hurt?" He asked worriedly.
"No, it's fine. I can take it." Xiao breathed and relaxed as his companion continued taking care of him. Surprisingly, he thought this felt rather nice. He didn't mind the feeling of being taken care of, though he didn't allow himself to indulge.
Then again, he was too busy staring at soft blond hair and golden eyes. Xiao looked at Aether like he was the moon. The same moon he saw from the roof of Wangshu Inn, staring back at him. The same moon that illuminates his skin every night, as if to wash away the darkness that threatened to take over him. The same moon that glitters ever so brightly without fail in the night, accompanied by the stars.
Xiao would give Aether the stars if he asked.
Wait what?
"Xiao?" Aether looks more confused than concerned this time around. There's a tinge of red spread across his cheeks as his hand moved to cup his face.
"Aether," Xiao flared up, realising that the latter caught him staring. He tears his eyes away from him, then cleared his throat. "....Thank you."
He doesn't dare to stare any deeper into his eyes, because they're so still full of light and hope. He remembered vividly how easily he could reap the light from people's eyes. Even if that was no longer him.
And although the moon may shine in the sky, darkness surrounds it, ready to swallow him whole. He's scared of this new unknown feeling that he can't discern.
Aether pulled his hand away and Xiao could feel the urge to chase after his warmth. But he doesn't.
"If you need anything else, I'll be next door," he smiled sadly.
Xiao doesn't know what came over him, but his body moved before he could think. He leaned forward to grab his wrist. "Wait. Stay."
"You want me to stay?" He's expectant, and his face is too adorable, too fluffy to deny.
Xiao decided it was too late to take it back. "Yes," he cleared his throat and patted the empty spot next to him. "You can even...ask me something."
Aether doesn't hide his joy as he plopped down onto the bed next to him, careful not to make too much movement in case it would hurt the other.
"Then, is it okay if I ask about the diamond on your forehead..?" His tone is cautious, like he's tip-toeing around an explosive barrel. He feels his pinky brush against his hand.
Xiao moves his hand closer. "Rex La— I mean, Zhongli gave it to me," he explained. "He said it's a mark representing changing fate. A reminder that I'm no longer bound to my old master."
"Oh," Aether seemed somewhat fascinated by the information.
They continued to talk, although it was mostly Aether doing the talking while Xiao listened. He didn't mind, he enjoyed hearing him talk about his adventures. Besides, he did say he wanted to get to know him more.
Soon, fatigue overtook both of them. Aether fell asleep first. Xiao helped tuck him into the bed and he sat by his side, occupying the empty space. He pushed his hair away from his face so carefully as if any additional force would break him into smithereens.
And maybe Xiao is scared, because he can't even begin to fathom this human emotion stirring within his heart. It feels so warm and inviting, yet he doesn't know what to do with it.
Paimon appears. She was about to speak when Xiao shushed her, gesturing towards the sleeping Aether next to him. She placed her hands over her mouth and clamped it shut.
"Aren't you sleeping too?" Paimon asked quietly.
Xiao shook his head. "I have things to do."
"Oh, okay, Paimon will go to bed then, good night," Paimon disappeared into thin air.
As soon as she's gone, he moved away from the bed. However, the sound of the other boy stirring in his bed alerts him. He turned back to look.
Aether's looking at him, eyes barely able to stay open. "Xiao." He croaked, his voice weak since he just woke up.
"Yes?" His body now fully faced him.
"Lay down with me," Aether patted the empty spot on the bed. "Rest."
"I told you before, I don't need rest."
"It's a request, from me,"
Xiao raised a brow at him. Aether is struggling to stay awake long enough to coax him into sleeping. Finally, he decided to agree. It's easier to protect Aether like this, anyway. If he had any nightmares he could just eat them too.
He climbed into the bed next to him. Aether draped a blanket over him and pulled him closer. Even though the adeptus' wounds had mostly healed, the boy was still gentle with him.
Just like that, Aether fell asleep again.
Xiao relaxed in his embrace, allowing him to be held since he asked for his presence. He wasn't the type to take any sort of physical affection, but he didn't mind if it was Aether.
He noticed the boy had left his braid tied because he was too exhausted. Slowly, he brushed his fingers through Aether's hair, untangling the strands of hair with his fingers. His hair was soft and dry. He smelled like the Earth and Qingxin.
Aether nuzzled closer to him. Xiao's breath hitched. He thought he had woken the traveller, but his eyes stayed closed.
He let out a soft sigh and continued running his fingers through his hair until he was sure it had all come undone. He didn't really have much to do after that, so he tried closing his eyes and sleeping too.
He feels soft lips brush against his forehead where the purple diamond was. "Rest well, Xiao," his companion whispered.
Xiao hums in response. "You too."