Chapter Text
It was loud in the hat shop in the late afternoon as Aether tried his best to focus on completing the last part of the hat he was working on. From where he was sitting he couldn't help but roll his eyes as the other workers gossiped about The great wizard Xiao's latest ex-lover. The gossip was stupid Aether thought, of course, he would never truly know since Xiao supposedly only goes for "pretty" people.
"Wow, guys look it's Xiao's castle!" One of the girls exclaimed as they all quickly rushed to the window pushing and shoving to get a better view. Aether's curiosity got the best of him and he looked out of the window but as he looked up the Castle was already on its move through the thick fog.
"Hey did you hear about how he recently broke up with someone?" One of them said as they all retreated from the window after the castle moved away.
"What a shame, what was his name again...Venti?"
"Oh my wasn't he from a good family?? What a shame to be broken up with, I can't imagine the embarrassment." One of the girls said as the other girls agreed, shaking their heads at the thought.
"I heard Venti was one of the prettiest in the whole town!" There was silence for a while before the door to the shop opened as Rosalie came in with a scary amount of huge presents.
"Hello girls, I come back with gifts!" Rosalie exclaimed in excitement as the girls that were previously gossiping surrounded her wondering how their latest hats were doing in sales.
"Oh my, where is Aether?" Rosalie asked as she looked around seeing Aether was nowhere to be found in the ruckus of the front of the shop.
"Oh, he's back there working on some new hats! It's a shame he won't do something else other than work in this little ol shop M'lady."
Rosalie was quick to walk around them to find Aether who was pretending he wasn't listening to them the whole time on their conversation.
"Oh, Aether dear you're still here? Why don't you go outside the shops already closed and the girls are getting ready to leave and clock out for the day?" Rosalie questioned, her eyebrows furrowing out of worry.
"It's fine mother, I enjoy making hats and I'm going to visit Lumine after I finish this hat so don't worry!" Aether responded forcing a smile to stop his mother from worrying. He really never understood the pity looks he got, he was fine working in the shop till he was an old man. The hat shop was his safe place to be calm and work on something he was passionate about. Yes, it was sometimes lonely but Aether always knew his mother was close by (If she wasn't getting another suitor) along with his sister.
Rosalie looked at him skeptically but brushed it off and let him be. She kissed him on the forehead and walked out of the shop with the rest of the girls. Before she left she made sure to warn him to lock the door as the supposed witch of the west is wandering the streets for a new victim.
About an hour passed when Aether finally finished working on his hats, satisfied with how they turned out he cleaned his workspace and got ready to go out to the Bakery where his sister Lumine works. He quickly took out the clips in his hair he used to keep it in place while working before putting on his outer coat and walking out the door.
It was evening in the town and it was as busy as ever with the returning soldiers being back. Aether hummed a soft tune as he walked through the alleys before being stopped by two Soldiers.
"Well hello dear, don't you look quite fine this late afternoon?" The one soldier without mustache catcalls to him as his other soldier agrees, whistling at Aether.
Aether groaned in frustration. He guessed his long hair gave them the assumption he was a male and cursed whatever gods were up there looking down at him.
"No thank you, sir, I'm just on my way to the bakery," Aether responded with looking everywhere but at the two men in front of him.
The two men did not give up and started cornering Aether, " Is the little bunny sure she can't get some tea with a couple of fine gentlemen?" The other soldier with the mustache teased bringing a hand to touch a strand of Aether's hair.
Before anything else could happen a mysterious figure quickly pulled Aether from them.
"Sorry sweetheart I appear to have been a little late." The mysterious figure spoke startling Aether as they stared down at him. Aether was quick to realize that this wasn't just an average person. It was THE Xiao Jenkins who came to save his ass. Aether couldn't see his face but he knew he was a flustered mess as he tried his best not to focus on the arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing we were busy y'know." The soldier without a mustache yelled cursing Xiao under his breath.
Xiao smirked as he used his magic to force the soldiers to walk away, "Well it looks like to me you were all just walking away, now have a nice evening by yourselves!"
Before Aether could even say thank you Xiao patted his lower back and dragged him through the alleyway.
"What on earth was that-?" Aether asked frantically as his nerves were still on edge.
"Magic my dear, but not to alarm you we are being followed. My apologies for getting you caught up in this mess." Xiao quickly explained as they took various different lefts and rights.
Aether could see from his peripheral black blobs as Xiao quickened their pace. As the black blobs were catching up with them quickly Xiao jumped up causing them to now be safely in the sky as the blobs ran into each other failing to reach them.
Aether let out a gasp of shock as Xiao walked on literal air with ease.
"Now just stretch out your legs and pretend you're walking on land Aether," Xiao commanded which Aether listened to. It was refreshing seeing the bust town from such a high place completely isolated from everyone. He could feel the cool evening breeze kiss his skin as his hair fluttered through the wind. It was almost ethereal how beautiful the town looked.
"Watch your step sweetheart." Xiao softly warned Aether as they finally reached the balcony of the second floor of the Bakery. Aether was at a loss for words as he touched the balcony and looked back at Xiao.
He was beautiful, Aether thought. Xiao had beautiful ash blonde hair with piercing gold cat-like eyes.
Xiao gave Aether a half-smile, "You have reached your destination Aether, I'll be on my way try not to miss me too much sweetheart." He said before jumping down from the balcony. Aether quickly rushed to peer over the edge of the balcony but when he looked down Xiao was already nowhere to be seen.
Aether took a deep breath before running his hands through his hair. No way that just fucking happened. The Xiao Jenkins the mysterious heartthrob of the town saved him from those creepy-ass men.
His bliss was short-lived as his sister came up to the balcony pulling him into the shop quickly.
"Oh, Aether I heard you flew to the balcony, what on earth is that about??" Lumine asked frantically touching Aether's face in case of any scars or a trace if something was wrong or not normal.
Aether sighed in relief, " So it really happened...it wasn't just another dream?"
"What on earth are you talking about, did mother not warn you? Wizards are dangerous people especially the Xiao Jenkins!" Lumine snapped, scowling at Aether.
Aether quickly gave her a deadpan look, gripping his hair in slight frustration.
"Look Lumine I get what you're worried about but Xiao only goes for attractive people, and I personally think I'm too average looking to even catch his attention in any romantic way, okay?" Aether hastily explained to Lumine who was not buying it at all.
"Whatever you say, just be careful he's known for stealing hearts."
"Yes, yes I understand I promise to never get too close to him dear sister," Aether mumbled.