Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“So what is it that you like about that?” Xiao paused with a mouthful of almond tofu, staring in surprise at the traveler. He hadn’t realized Aether was still there, though he probably should have, considering how stubbornly Aether had been working his way into Xiao’s life. For a second Xiao just stood there, blinking owlishly, before he realized he was supposed to answer and swallowed. 

“It’s...nostalgic.” That wasn’t a great answer, but he didn’t have a better one on hand. 

“In a good way?” Aether tilted his head curiously, and Xiao realized from the lack of identical tilting that Paimon was absent. Probably stealing food from the inn’s kitchen again. 

“Not exactly.” Xiao poked at his food, considering how to answer. Or even whether to actually do so. How was he supposed to tell the traveler, who always had a smile and a usually-rejected but still appreciated invitation to join him, that he was fond of almond tofu because it had the same texture as the dreams he’d once eaten? And if he said that, how could he stop himself from admitting why he’d been eating people’s dreams? 

“Oh. Would something else make you happier? I’ve learned how to make lots of new things lately!” Aether grinned, and Xiao felt a little lighter. For a second he actually allowed himself to enjoy the feeling, until he realized it wasn’t just the traveler’s smile that was causing it. A bit of the age-old hatred and malice that swirled around him, invisible to pretty much everyone else, had detached itself from him and was floating toward Aether. Xiao tried to order it back - he could usually control the little pieces of karma well enough to keep them to himself - but it just moved more determinedly toward Aether. 

It wanted  him, and it was willing to defy the yaksha that had kept it mostly under wraps for thousands of years to get him.

Faster than anyone would be able to follow, Xiao shot out a hand and snagged the bit of darkness, crushing it back beneath his own skin in an instant. Then, just as quickly, he shoved the plate of almond tofu into Aether’s hands before practically teleporting to the leaf-shrouded roof of the inn, where no one could see him struggle with himself. 

“I wasn’t trying to insult your taste in food,” Aether called, his voice pitched to carry in case Xiao was still in earshot. The adeptus heard but didn’t answer; it was better that Aether thought he’d left, for the moment. He needed to take stock of what had just happened. 

Xiao was constantly aware of the world around him, and of each tiny piece of karma, of the old gods’ hatred, that clung to him. He felt when it leaked out, infecting and altering the monsters around him. He felt when it returned, heavy and painful as it wrapped around him. 

He was always conscious of the danger his aura posed to others, and that wasn’t even getting into his power as an adeptus and the risk of mortal souls being damaged from exposure to him.

But he had never felt a piece of it detach like that, or seen it float so determinedly toward something - some one. 

The fact that it had done so to Aether made him...not anxious, exactly. Apprehensive. Like all of that darkness was drawn to him, and some of it had finally acted on it. 

Xiao could relate, at least to the being drawn to Aether part. But he wasn’t sure what worried him more: that the darkness had sought a person - that it had gone for Aether, one of the few people who seemed to genuinely want to be around him without expecting anything in return - when it usually preferred monsters, or that Xiao almost hadn’t noticed. 

No, he realized an instant later. The worst part was that he couldn’t be sure that it hadn’t happened before. 

And whether it had or not, Xiao couldn’t risk it happening again. So the next time Aether climbed the stairs to the balcony Xiao had almost started to think of as theirs, he didn’t show himself. Aether set aside the plate he was carrying - Xiao recognized the smell of a peace offering of almond tofu - and leaned on the railing. 

“Xiao?” Aether called softly, so as not to get the attention of any of the inn’s patrons. He waited, but Xiao didn’t appear. 

Of course, Xiao was watching. He was always watching when Aether visited. But he resisted the light feeling of both the almond tofu on his tongue and Aether’s presence by his side. It was for the traveler’s own good, since Xiao could no longer be sure he could keep control of his aura to avoid hurting Aether. 

“I said I was sorry, Xiao.” Aether’s voice was lower than usual, his shoulders slumped as he folded his arms on the railing and leaned down to rest his cheek on them, his head turned away from the plate he’d brought. “I swear I didn’t mean to upset you last time. I don’t even know for sure what I did that made you run away. I wish you’d just tell me what’s wrong so I could apologize better.”

Xiao wasn’t exactly fond of lying, or of the sad lilt in the traveler’s voice, but he held himself still and did not swoop in to steal the dessert Aether brought him or to explain himself. 

Let Aether believe what he wanted. Xiao had to protect him. So he stayed silent, kept himself hidden behind the leaves, and pushed aside the guilty pang in his chest when Aether straightened up and turned to face the tree with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. 

“Okay, I’m heading out! I hope you like the food. I’ll see you next time, okay?” There was a pause, like Aether thought that Xiao would reveal himself to say goodbye. When he didn’t, the traveler seemed to force himself to give a cheerful wave before heading back into the inn. Xiao waited until he was sure Aether was gone, then made his own exit, pointedly leaving the plate of almond tofu untouched. Maybe Aether would get the hint and stay away until Xiao figured this out. If he could figure it out. He would consult with his fellow adepti, to start with.

The other adepti had no answers; they weren’t yaksha, and didn’t carry the same darkness he did. Xiao returned to his customary perch on the inn’s roof to find a fresh plate of almond tofu, this one with what looked like a sprinkling of matcha powder over the top. Xiao frowned at the variation, puzzled, then saw a note tucked under the plate. 

Xiao, 

I hope you’re okay. I heard about some extra aggressive monsters in the area, but they disappeared before I could get here. I thought maybe you took care of them?

I hope someday you’ll tell me what’s going on, or how I can make it up to you. I decided to try a few different toppings, hoping that you’ll like one enough to at least tell me what’s bothering you to my face. Is this really because I said you could try some of the other foods I’ve learned how to make?

-Aether

P.S. I got some medicine that might help you. Zhongli made it specifically for an adeptus.I’m leaving it with the inn’s Boss. Please take it. 

Xiao clutched the note so tightly that it crumpled in his hand. Aether didn’t know what was wrong; of course he didn’t. Xiao made sure of it. But because of that, Aether thought this was about that comment he’d made right before Xiao noticed the little wisp of karma trying to reach the traveler. And despite that, he’d made the effort to acquire and leave medicine he thought could actually relieve Xiao’s constant pain. Such a gesture deserved some kind of response, preferably a face to face one. Otherwise, Aether might think he was ungrateful, or worse. 

Xiao had to resolve this... situation quickly, or he would risk losing Aether. And with so few people he could tolerate, or who would respect his boundaries, Xiao wasn’t eager to lose him for good. Which meant he needed to explain, but also needed to look beyond his fellow adepti, maybe beyond Liyue, for answers. 

Xiao turned the note over and scribbled a reply. 

Traveler,

I am fine, and I see you are as well. 

I am going to be away for a while, so you may not hear from me.

You have done nothing wrong, but there is something I must take care of before you can see me again. 

Remember, if you truly need me, call my name, and I will come to you.

Xiao started to tuck the note beneath the plate, then changed his mind. He would collect the medicine Aether had mentioned from the boss, and leave his reply with her. Then he would pay a visit to this Zhongli person that Aether mentioned. Someone who claimed they could make medicine for an adeptus could be taking advantage of the traveler, or they could have answers. Either way, he’d be worth talking to. 

Xiao would head for Liyue Harbor first, then, and see what this Zhongli person had to say for himself. 

Xiao stepped into the room where the man known as Zhongli was supposed to be having some kind of dinner meeting. It had only taken a little bit of a scowl to convince the restaurant’s staff to show him in. He scanned the room, focusing quickly on the pair of men seated at the table. One Xiao quickly dismissed - he had a distinctly sharp aura to him, but definitely a human one - but the other gave him pause. 

He knew that face. 

He knew that stern look, too, the one that said he didn’t want to be interrupted. 

“Morax?”

“Ah.” The stern expression turned to sheepishness. “Xiao, I can explain-” He didn’t get to finish before Xiao was across the room, on top of the table, and pointing his spear in the face of what was supposed to be a very dead god. 

“They told me you died,” Xiao hissed. “We had to come out of hiding and fight alongside mortals because you died and couldn’t defend the city. Or should I say you wouldn’t defend the city?” Xiao burned with all of the ancient hatred inside him that lashed against his control, fed by Xiao’s own emotions, driven to scream and claw at his heart the way the revelation in front of him did. “You abandoned Liyue, you broke your contracts, you-”

“I did not abandon anything. I had-”

“You abandoned me!” Xiao surged forward, toppling the man backwards along with his chair and landing with one knee pressed to Zhongli’s - Morax’s - chest, his spear piercing the floor next to the supposedly dead god’s head. “I came here looking for answers, looking for someone who could help me, but all I found was you!”

“I mean, he’s not all you found. I’m here, too, remember?” the other man in the room piped up. Xiao swept the hand not holding his spear over his face, his mask materializing on his face. 

He roared with the pain - from the mask, from not knowing whether he would ever find out why the darkness inside him was drawn to Aether, from the betrayal of the very person who had once saved him and given him a new name, a new purpose - and the other man was out of his chair and three steps back instinctively. At least the mortal had some sense of self preservation.

“Xiao! Don’t-” Morax reached for him, but Xiao surged to his feet, planting one just under his ribcage to stamp the air out of him as he leveled the tip of his spear at Morax’s throat. Xiao released the mask, let it fade, but the burning in his chest stayed. 

“You should know better. I won’t kill him; he’s mortal. And unlike you, I don’t go back on my contracts or abandon my responsibilities.” 

“I said I could explain,” Morax wheezed. Xiao pressed the tip of his spear a little more firmly against his throat. Something was wrong; Morax would never have allowed this. A bead of crimson blood - mortal blood - beaded up around the point of his spear where it dug into tender skin. Morax was mortal. He had lost his power, lost his divinity. No, not lost. Morax was the oldest, the strongest, of the Seven. No one would be able to take it from him by force. 

“Don’t bother.” Xiao didn’t move his spear. “Just answer this: did you surrendering your power affect mine?” Confusion crossed Morax’s face, but Xiao didn’t have any patience or sympathy for that. “Tell me. Now.” 

“I can see that something must have happened,” Morax said cautiously. “But I’m afraid I will need more of an explanation in order to answer that.” Xiao grit his teeth and forced himself to be just calm enough to provide some context.

“My karma. The darkness...tried to escape. It wants the traveler.” The confusion in Morax’s expression only deepened. 

“Aether? Why?” That was the wrong answer. Xiao spun his spear and drove it into the floor once more, on the other side, so that Morax’s head was centered between two very pointed holes in the floor. “Me giving up my Gnosis should not have had any effect on any of the adepti.” 

“Well, I’m not like the others, am I?” Xiao snarled. “What, did you think that because I’ve been used by a god before, I wouldn’t mind you doing it and then disappearing? Did you think that you could force me and everyone in Liyue to face Osial again without you to protect us and I would just be fine after that? That there would be no effect?”  

“Hey! Don’t take credit for that! I’m the one that released-” 

“Childe!” Morax’s tone was sharp, with no room for argument. “That is not helpful.” 

“Not helpful? Not helpful? This guy has a spear to your throat and I’m the one getting scolded?” the man who apparently didn’t have a sense of self preservation after all protested. Xiao, just barely remembering that the man was mortal, did not skewer him through the middle with his spear, which he thought was very generous of him. 

“Xiao!” He froze; that voice didn’t belong to Morax or to the man apparently named Childe who was fortunate not to have a navel piercing via spear at the moment. That was Aether’s voice, carried to him by need and by the promise Xiao had made and then written on the note he left at Wangshu Inn. 

“Xiao? Is everything-”

“Unless you have an answer for me about the situation with my karma, do not speak to me again. I have a more important person to visit,” Xiao hissed. “I mean it, Morax. You chose to die, so stay dead.” With that, Xiao was off, the world blurring around him as he raced to Aether’s side.

Chapter Text

Aether was on one knee and in danger of collapsing completely. His braid was falling apart, and his bangs were matted to his forehead with blood. The grass beneath him was stained red, too much for the gash on his forehead. He was trying to push himself up with his sword and failing, probably because his other hand was clutching the source of all that blood, a nasty wound across his stomach.

A Mitachurl loomed over him, one massive, clawed hand descending as Paimon screamed and Aether braced himself for impact. 

Xiao shot forward, sprinting through the creature’s body, letting all of his pain and fury fill his attack, reducing the Mitachurl to swirling bits of shadow as he stopped just before running into Aether. 

“You really came.” Aether’s voice was faint, but there was a smile on his lips as his body went limp. Xiao lunged forward and caught him just before his head hit the ground. He lifted Aether into his arms, ignoring the feeling of the traveler’s blood soaking into his shirt as well as Paimon’s frantic screeches. 

Aether needed help, and he needed it fast. 

The pharmacist Aether had mentioned before, the one with the talking snake, might be able to help. Plus he was in Liyue Harbor, which was definitely closer than Mondstadt. 

Xiao would take Aether there. 

Aether didn’t wake up while Baizhu bandaged his wounds, or while Paimon wailed about his injuries until the little zombie girl chased her out of the room. He just lay completely still on the bed, his breathing shallow enough that Xiao had to focus to see it. 

It was terrifying. 

And after the day’s revelations, it was too much. 

Morax was alive, and if Xiao had been a few seconds later leaving him behind, Aether might not be. He still might not make it; Baizhu had been very clear that the traveler had lost a lot of blood, and it would be a few hours before they knew for sure if he’d recover. 

Xiao took his mask from where it hung on his hip and stared into its glowing eyes. 

There was so much pain in his heart. Finding out Morax had faked his death, that he had let even Xiao, who had served him and protected Liyue for thousands of years, believe he was dead, was a fresh wound on top of the old scarring left from all of the people he’d either killed or lost - in battle or to madness - over the ages. 

And now Aether’s condition was salt in the wound. Xiao hadn’t even been able to get answers, or to explain anything to Aether. He couldn’t take any more loss, not that day. 

Maybe it would be easier to put on the mask, to go searching for something to fight, to trade the pain of his thoughts for the pain of his mask, his power. 

Xiao forced his attention away from the mask and back to Aether, needing to reassure himself that the traveler was still breathing, and his own caught in his throat. 

His control had slipped, and a piece of his cursed karma had gotten away from him again. The shadows around him that he was always aware of but others could only see when he donned his mask stretched out, reaching hungry tendrils towards Aether’s limp form. 

Xiao clawed at the shadows, trying to force them back to himself, but they slipped through his fingers. He jolted backwards, trying to pull them with him but his back hit the wall, and in his panic, he lost his grip entirely. 

The shadows surged and made contact with Aether’s too-pale skin. Xiao stumbled forward, too frantic for his usual grace. He knew what that kind of exposure to the malice he carried did to monsters, and he wouldn’t be able to stand seeing the same dark aura around Aether, if he even survived that kind of taint on top of his injuries. He had to get that away from him, he had to get it under control and -

Xiao froze, staring blankly. The shadows had definitely sunken into Aether’s body. 

But the traveler didn’t stir. Didn’t cry out or show any sign of being in any additional pain, physical or otherwise. 

And the shadows, the wisps of karma…

They were gone. As though, instead of sinking into Aether and tainting him with the darkness Xiao had been carrying for thousands of years, the darkness had touched him and...vanished. 

That feeling of being a little lighter that he’d noticed right before he saw the shadows trying to reach Aether the first time returned, and Xiao found himself staggering under the sudden lack of crushing weight. There was still plenty of it inside him, but the small part that usually swirled around him and pressed against his skin was lighter. It was enough to make his head spin. 

“What…”

“Oh! Is that what you’ve been worried about?” Xiao spun, struggling with his balance still, but managed to bring his spear up to confront whoever had just walked through the door. “Don’t you think trying to impale one ex-god a day is enough?” 

“Barbatos.” Xiao lowered his spear, then spun it deftly, so it rested point down and behind his back. “What brings you to Liyue?” 

“You do! Well, okay, technically Zhongli did, but-“ The bard broke off as Xiao held up a hand to silence him. He would be angry at Morax for - well, for a lot of things - later. Right now, he needed answers. 

“I assume he told you what I wanted to know,” Xiao said, forcing himself to keep his tone mostly polite. It wasn’t Barbatos’ fault that Xiao couldn’t control his aura, or that Morax had decided to stop being Morax for whatever reason. 

“Kind of. But he didn’t make a lot of sense. He never does these days.” Barbatos - no, wait, didn’t Aether say he went by Venti now? - shrugged and skipped across the room. “I can see it now though. You’re worried that it’ll hurt him, right?” The god reached out and poked at one of the shadows that swirled around Xiao’s arm. Apparently he could see them even when Xiao wasn’t wearing the mask too. Venti shuddered dramatically and pulled his hand back, making a face at the wisps of ancient malice. Xiao couldn’t blame him; being directly exposed to that much hate and pain wasn’t pleasant. 

“Yes. Or it could corrupt him, like it does monsters that come into contact with it.” 

“What’re you gonna do if it does? Hurt or corrupt him, I mean?” Venti’s tone was light, but his eyes were sharp. Xiao’s grip on his spear tightened, and he faced Venti squarely. 

“If you can’t help me understand and control this, I’ll stay away from him. I can’t risk his safety for my own selfish desire to let him be near me.” 

“Aw, that’s sweet, Min-Pin!” Venti grinned. Xiao didn’t know what a min-pin was, but he had a feeling the god was laughing at him. “You should definitely tell him how you want him around and stuff when he wakes up!” Venti’s expression softened as he added more seriously, “I don’t think your karma can hurt him, Xiao. Aether’s got some kind of purifying aura. He was able to cleanse Dvalin’s tainted tears without even trying; I think as long as you don’t shove all of your karmic debt onto him at once, he’ll be okay.” Xiao put aside questions about who or what Venti was talking about - wasn’t Dvalin one of the Four Winds? Why would he need to be purified? - in favor of what Venti was actually telling him. 

“He can...purify things?” 

“Yep! Just by being around them!” Venti grinned. “So while I don’t know exactly why your karmic debt would want to hitch a ride on him, I do know that it won’t last. It’ll get purified before it can hurt him.” There was a knowing smirk on his face as he added, “So it’s okay to be around him. Maybe he can relieve some of that weight you’re always carrying.” 

“He already does, even without any purifying aura,” Xiao admitted. Venti’s eyes shone as he nodded in approval. 

“You’re getting better at admitting you have feelings. That’s good.” 

“Currently I’m feeling like making a divine shish kebab,” Xiao retorted, spinning his spear idly. Venti looked like he was going to make a light, witty response, then paused. His expression grew serious. 

“Zhongli - Morax - didn’t do what he did to hurt you, you know.” 

“I know. I don’t think he was thinking about me at all when he did it,” Xiao answered. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your intention doesn’t change the consequences of your actions.” A shadow passed over Venti’s face as he nodded, and they shared a quiet moment of reflection. 

“There’s one more thing, and you should hear it from me.” Venti was actually grimacing, and Xiao couldn’t imagine what could be less pleasant for the bard than thinking about unintended consequences. “Morax isn’t the only one who’s mortal now. I lost my powers, too, so I’m glad that Aether can help you with your darkness.” 

Xiao didn’t know how to begin processing that. Aside from Morax, Barbatos was the eldest god. The idea of both of them being mortal now was...a lot. 

It occurred to Xiao that this meant he would probably outlive the two gods who had saved him, and he didn’t know what to do with the hollow void that opened up in his chest at that thought. One day, he would be alone again, without the assurance that either god who’d saved him before could help him. 

“Oh.” He didn’t know what else to say. Venti seemed to understand, though. 

“This means you need to get better at opening up to people, okay? You need people around you, no matter how much you pretend to hate them. I know you’ve lost a lot, and you’ll probably lose a lot more before your life is over. So you need to start collecting happy things. Good memories, good people. That’s all either of us want for you, okay? I think it’s what Aether wants, too. I think if you tell him everything, he’ll want to help. And I think you should let him. Not just with the karma stuff, either.” Xiao knew he was frowning, just like he knew Venti was being ridiculous. Xiao had responsibilities; he couldn’t put them aside for something as fleeting as good memories. “I mean it, okay? You can always think about it like this: if you have something to look forward to, you’ll be more efficient with your work.” 

“You have some very strange ideas,” Xiao informed him. Venti just grinned, the seriousness of the moment fading a little. 

“So do you. But I mean it. Let Aether and the others help you and give you some happiness for once. You’ll be better off, I promise. Speaking of which…” Venti glanced at the door. “If you’re feeling up to it, I think it might be good for you to have a real conversation with Zhongli. You don’t have to, but…” he trailed off, studying Xiao closely. 

The dark, burning feeling from the last time he’d seen Morax rose in his chest again. All of the betrayal, all of the pain, swept through him, and Xiao wasn’t sure how to deal with it. 

He could shove that feeling down, throw it aside the way he had when Aether had called to him. He could turn his back on Morax and have him stay dead like he’d said. 

He could also see the worry on Venti’s face, and knew that if Aether found out - no, when he found out, because everyone in Teyvat told the traveler everything - he’d be worried too. He knew a little about how much Morax meant to Xiao, and Venti knew everything. 

They’d just keep worrying if Xiao didn’t settle things with the now-former god, and he would rather not give them anything else to fuss over him about. 

“He gets five minutes. But if Aether wakes up, I’m kicking Morax out sooner.” Venti just beamed at him like he’d offered a whole crate of the bard’s favorite wine. 

“Perfect! I’ll send him in!” Venti leaned forward and dropped a quick kiss on Xiao’s forehead before he could realize what the bard was planning or stab him for it. Xiao scowled and stepped back, rubbing at his forehead and putting his spear between them to show his disapproval, but Venti just waved cheerfully and skipped back out of the room. 

When Morax didn’t immediately replace him, Xiao let himself relax enough to set aside his spear and force the darkness around him to sink beneath his skin long enough to take Aether’s hand and check his pulse at the wrist. 

“How is he?” Morax’s voice had Xiao tensing, but he managed to release Aether’s wrist before he accidentally squeezed it hard enough to risk waking him up.

“Stable,” Xiao answered, turning to face Morax. He considered for a moment, then gave the ex-god the most shallow bow he could manage. “I should apologize for my outburst earlier. I do not regret what I said, but I should not have done so in front of your guest.” 

“Childe wasn’t exactly a guest,” Morax replied. “And personally, I would rather have a witness if I’m going to end up with your spear in my face.”

“Perhaps we should call Venti back, then,” Xiao muttered, fingers itching to reach for the spear he’d set aside earlier. “Since you dragged him here from Mondstadt to clean up your mess.”

“Xiao, that’s-“

“When you gave me that name, you acknowledged how much I had suffered. Did you forget in the last two thousand years that I still carry the weight of everything I did before I met you, as well as everything I’ve done since then, in your name?” Morax didn’t respond right away, taking a moment to study Xiao’s expression instead. He took in the clenched jaw, the fingers curled into fists to keep them from trembling. Finally, he spoke.

“I never meant to abandon you. And I did reach out, after my supposed demise. I sent dreams to hint that-”

“Dreams? You think I slept?” Xiao knew he sounded bitter and furious, but he didn’t care, because he was. “You think that after I heard you were dead, that I just...what? Took a nap? I had to meet with the other adepti, and deal with the Qixing, and then Osial of all gods. I don’t think I’ve slept at all since then. When Ningguang said she dreamed about you, I thought it was just human wish fulfillment.” Xiao turned to face Aether’s bed, put both hands on it to brace himself. 

“The traveler knew. I thought he would have told you; after all, I did explain my entire plan to make sure Liyue and everyone in it was ready for me to-” 

“Don’t you dare try to blame the pain you caused on him. You wanted to know how Liyue, the Qixing, and the adepti would fare without you?” Xiao gripped the sheets to prevent himself from going for his spear. “Well, this is it. You left us just to see what would happen. And what happened was, the people don’t need you anymore. Maybe they never did. But I…” He forced himself to let go of the sheets, to straighten his back, but he couldn’t make himself face Morax again. “You were the one who saved me. You were the one who gave me a name and a purpose and a home. I have fought gods and demons alike for your sake and for the sake of the nation you made. And you left.”

“I was tired, Xiao. I’ve been a god for thousands of years; it was time for me to step away and retire, so to speak.” 

“You left,” Xiao repeated. He understood what Morax was trying to say, he really did. But that didn’t erase the consequences that Xiao and everyone else had faced because of the choice the Geo Archon made. “You left Liyue, you left me, and you left your responsibilities so that you could live the life you wanted, without the weight of your contracts. But you never once thought to help any of the rest of us do the same. I am not that much younger than you, Morax, and I have seen as much suffering as you have, and probably personally endured more than you. But when you decided to do this, you didn’t think about anyone else’s pain. You left me to do it all; fighting the demons and the remnants of the old gods, bearing the weight of thousands of years of constant war, loss, and pain alone.” He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to dislodge the memories that swam before his eyes. There was a soft touch on his hand, and he froze as he realized that hand was too small to be Morax’s. He slowly opened his eyes and found Aether staring up at him, squeezing his hand gently. Xiao found himself glad that he wasn't facing Morax, because the former god wouldn’t see the way his mouth softened from its scowl. He didn’t pull his hand away. “Whether anyone else knew you were alive and didn’t tell me is something I will take up with them. But the blame for the pain your supposed death caused will always be your fault, no one else’s.” He fixed his expression into something dark and forbidding, then finally looked Morax in the eye and added, “I told you not to speak to me again unless you had answers. You brought Venti here to give me the answers I needed, and I thank you for that. But I stand by what I said. You chose to die, Morax. So stay dead. I have more important things to deal with than a ghost.” 

Morax - or...Zhongli, he needed to get used to thinking of him as his new mortal form - hesitated, and Xiao braced himself to forcibly remove him from the room. 

“It’s okay.” Aether pushed himself up and smiled reassuringly at Zhongli. “I’ll take care of him.” Before Xiao could decide exactly what to say to that, Zhongli actually bowed, and then he left while Xiao was still processing that. After a moment, Xiao turned to Aether and raised one eyebrow. 

“So you’re going to take care of me, are you? You can hardly take care of yourself, Traveler.” 

“But you came when I needed you.” He squeezed Xiao’s hand again, which was when Xiao realized that Aether was still holding it. “That just means we’ll take care of each other.” 

“I am thousands of years old. I do not need anyone to take care of me.” 

“Everyone needs someone sometimes,” Aether objected. “You were saying a minute ago that you needed Zhongli. Are you saying you like him better than me?” Xiao stared at him for several very long seconds. 

“You lost a lot of blood earlier. I believe you’re still feeling some of the effects,” he said finally. 

“Maybe.” He didn’t seem bothered by the idea, though. “But I’m glad you’re here. I wasn’t sure I actually saw you before I passed out.” 

“Do you often hallucinate before nearly dying from blood loss?” 

“Not... often,” Aether answered, looking away. He seemed a little more himself as he added, “But that doesn’t matter. I wanted to ask...well, two things.” Xiao waved his free hand, allowing the questions. “Okay, so, first thing. Does this mean you’re not avoiding me anymore?” Xiao considered denying that he had been avoiding Aether, maybe trying to claim that he just had some duties to attend to. 

“I got the answers I needed, yes,” he said instead. 

“Will you tell me what it was?” Aether’s tone was soft, but his eyes were guarded. “Whatever I did, I don’t want to do it again. I don’t ever want to hurt you, even by accident.” His complete honestly caught Xiao off guard, and he found himself just...staring at Aether, dumbstruck. 

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he managed at last. “You know that I bear the weight, the karma of my past, and sometimes the monsters near me get...mutated.” Aether nodded, forehead creasing in confusion, but he stayed quiet. “Well, the last time we spoke, that darkness I carry tried to escape, and it nearly reached its target: you.” 

“Oh.” Aether’s eyes widened. “You mean…” 

“I was afraid you would be hurt or corrupted because I couldn’t control it. So for your safety, I decided to keep my distance until I could be sure that I could either control it or be sure you wouldn’t be harmed.” 

“And?” There wasn’t even a trace of fear in his eyes, Xiao realized. Aether either didn’t understand just how bad it could be for a mortal to come into contact with thousands of years of condensed karma and the lingering hatred of ancient gods, or he trusted Xiao to protect him so completely that he knew he had nothing to fear. 

“Venti had answers. He said you can...purify things. So my karma can’t hurt you the way it would other mortals. And I saw it myself, before you woke up. A little of it got away from me, but when it touched you, it just...disappeared. I felt lighter than I have in a very long time.” Xiao paused to see what Aether thought of that, and found him downright sparkling.

“So let me get this straight. The thing that weighs you down the most, the thing that makes you keep your distance from people whether you want to or not...can’t hurt me. And when it touches me and disappears, you feel a little less awful?” Xiao nodded warily as Aether pulled his hand closer, clutching it to his chest. “Give it all to me, then!”

“What.” 

“Give me all of it! All the pain, all that darkness. Give it to me, and I’ll carry it for you until it all disappears!” 

“That…” Xiao hesitated. “It’s true that a little at a time didn’t hurt you, but I don’t know how strong your purifying aura is. I don’t want to accidentally overwhelm you and hurt you.”

“Okay, fine. Give me a little bit every day, then. You can keep an eye on me and make sure I don’t overdo it, and I can take away more and more of your pain until it’s completely gone, and you can finally be free.” 

“You…” Xiao didn’t know how to put what he was feeling into words. What Aether was offering so freely was too enormous for mere words to convey. “Why?” Why take that risk? Why bother? Why offer and not even ask for something in return? He didn’t say most of that out loud, but Aether seemed to understand anyway. 

“Because I care about you, and I want to take care of you. Isn't protecting and helping people you care about something you’re supposed to do?” Xiao thought that sounded right, at least for humans, but it was a foreign concept that he’d never considered applying to himself. When he said as much, Aether fell silent for a long moment. Then he reached out and claimed Xiao’s other hand, holding them both in his own. 

“What are you doing?” Xiao was tempted to pull his hands away - he should pull them away - but Aether’s touch was too soft, too gentle, and he couldn’t bear to brush it off. He hadn’t felt much gentleness since before the war, before Osial…

“Xiao, has anyone ever just...taken care of you?” Aether’s voice was low and sad as he moved his thumb back and forth over the back of Xiao’s hand. “Have you ever just been held and protected?” 

“I am an adeptus. I have always been a weapon, not a pet,” Xiao answered seriously. He wasn’t sure what Aether was getting at, but it made his skin prickle. Not in a bad way, exactly, just...weird. “Is that your second question?”

“No, this is.” Aether let his hands relax, so Xiao’s still rested on his palms, but the traveler wasn’t holding on anymore. He was clearly giving Xiao the chance to move away if he wanted to, or at least to reclaim his hands. He stared up at Xiao, steady and serious, and asked, “Will you let me take care of you? Will you trust me to protect you and comfort you?”

Xiao couldn’t move. Aether’s question and his open palms beneath Xiao’s hands held him more effectively than any chains ever could. He couldn’t even breathe, because the stretch of his lungs would disrupt the stillness that those words demanded of him. 

“Xiao?” Aether leaned forward, watching him carefully, his thumb stroking over the back of Xiao’s hand, pulling every scrap of attention Xiao had to that one soft sensation. “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“I trust you.” It came out as a whisper so soft that even Xiao himself almost didn’t hear it, but Aether fell silent, eyes locked on Xiao’s face. “I do. But I don’t…” His breath stuttered as the words caught in his throat. He expected Aether to prompt him to continue, but the traveler just waited silently, giving him time to compose himself.  “I don’t know what I can offer you in return.”

“In return?” Aether repeated. “Xiao, I’m not saying this because I want something from you. You don't have to do anything for me.”

“Then...why?” It didn’t make sense. Even Morax had wanted something from him, contracting him to protect Liyue after he was freed from Osial’s control. Barbatos had played his music without asking for payment, but Xiao had never asked him if he knew what he had done for him that night; he’d always assumed that Barbatos wasn’t aware that his song had saved him. “First offering to purify my karma, and now...you want to protect me? Take care of me? Why?” Aether didn’t seem like he was lying, and he didn’t seem like the type to ask Xiao to kill for him. But he couldn’t imagine what Aether might actually want from this. Maybe he got something out of helping people that Xiao didn’t see?

“Because I want to,” Aether said, tilting his head. “Did you come to my rescue expecting repayment?” 

“Of course not. But that’s different. I’m an adeptus; my purpose is to protect Liyue and everyone in it. And I made a promise to you in particular.” He paused, then added, “Besides. You are made of light, of kindness and warmth. I am a weapon, forged in fire and death. Anyone would want to help someone like you, but I do not understand why you would want to help me, or what you think you could protect me from when I have spent thousands of years at war.” 

“Xiao.” There was a tenderness in the way Aether said his name that hurt. How could his own name cut through his chest like that? “There’s more to you than fighting. You’re more than just a weapon. You’re the one who brought Dusky Ming here so she can be safe and happy until she moves on. You’re the one who protects people whether they know they’re in danger or not. You hate crowds but you once promised to plunge straight into one if I needed you. You could have gone off to find a place to hide away like Moon Carver and the others, but you chose Wangshu Inn, where you can still watch over people.” Aether closed his fingers around Xiao’s hands once more and lifted them, cradling them close to his heart. “You refuse to hurt mortals, even when they really deserve it, because you keep your promises. And you try to take everything on by yourself. You’re amazing, Xiao.” His eyes were shining, but Xiao couldn’t force himself to meet them for more than a second or two. All of these things Aether saw in him...Xiao could tell he truly believed what he said, but he thought the traveler was seeing him the way he wanted to, not the way he truly was. 

“I still don’t see why-“

“Is it that hard to believe someone cares about you? That I care about you?” Aether released one of Xiao’s hands in favor of reaching towards his cheek, pausing with his hand a breath away from touching him, as though waiting for permission. Xiao managed to meet his eyes long enough that Aether seemed to take it as a signal, because he cupped Xiao’s cheek and ever so gently drew him just close enough that he’d have to turn his head or close his eyes to look away. “I might not be able to protect you from all of the monsters you fight, whether they’re here or in your past. But I want to try. And there are other things you need protection from. So I’ll ask again, Xiao. Will you let me take care of you, without expecting anything in return?” 

“I don’t know how.” The words were bitter on his tongue, but Aether just smiled. 

“I’ll show you. Why don’t we start with a nap? I wasn’t totally awake, but I think I remember you saying something about not sleeping.” Xiao blinked; he hadn’t realized Aether had been awake that long. 

“Not since before you gave me the news about Rex Lapis.” Dismay filled the traveler’s eyes. 

“It’s been weeks since then!” 

“I don’t need sleep the way mortals do,” Xiao reminded him. “And I can’t afford to let down my guard very often.” Between demons and the remnants of ancient gods and his own karma...it was dangerous to relax. 

“Well, if something big happens I’m sure you’ll sense it, since you said you hear all kinds of prayers and calls for help. And you don’t have to worry about your karma getting out, because I’ll be right here.” Aether gave him a bright, hopeful smile. Xiao hesitated, considering just...running away. And if Aether had pressed, or tried to pull him onto the bed, he might have. But the traveler just scooted to the side, wincing slightly as the movement jostled his wounds, and laid back down. “You don’t have to. But there’s plenty of room, and it’s a pretty good bed.” He gave Xiao one last smile before turning on his side to face the wall, taking even the pressure of his gaze off of him. 

Xiao stood silently while the traveler’s breathing deepened, considering. Aether had a point; a true emergency would reach the part of him that heard the cries of the people, even in his sleep, and Aether’s presence would handle any bits of darkness that got away from him. 

But laying down and napping like Aether suggested would mean truly accepting everything he’d said. That he wanted to help him, and didn’t expect anything in return. That he wanted to protect him, to take care of him…

And it meant admitting that part of him wanted that. He’d never allowed himself to consider what it would be like to have someone trying to make things easier to bear before. But now that Aether hadn’t given him any other option but to consider it…

Xiao glanced down at his clothes, still stained with Aether’s blood. It was a stark reminder of how painfully mortal the traveler was, despite being able to handle the energy of not just one adeptus but three, in addition to his purifying aura. 

A wave of his hand and a small burst of energy had the foreign blood vanishing from his clothes, but it couldn’t erase the memory of feeling Aether’s blood on him. It wasn’t an experience he wanted to repeat. 

And that gave Xiao an idea. 

Maybe Aether wasn’t looking for repayment, but Xiao could do it anyway. He could keep a closer eye on him, protect him better. 

No need to accept a whole new worldview over a little protection in exchange for...all the things Aether had offered him that day. 

Xiao nodded to himself, satisfied, then carefully climbed under the sheets beside Aether, not wanting to wake him up.  And as he let his guard fall, exhaustion crashed over him like a floodgate giving way. 

And for the first time in a while, Xiao slept.

Chapter Text

Xiao woke to a weight on his chest and an unfamiliar, almost suffocating warmth draped over him. He opened his eyes and found his vision flooded by soft blond hair that had started to escape its customary braid in wisps just long enough to tickle his cheek. 

Aether had turned over in his sleep and tucked his head between Xiao’s chin and collarbone. His hand rested just over Xiao’s heart. 

For a second, he felt trapped by the weight on him, unnerved by the realization that Aether had moved so much while Xiao slept and he hadn’t noticed. Then he sighed and forced himself to relax. It was just Aether, after all. The traveler stirred, and Xiao waited to see if he would wake up. When he just mumbled and tucked his nose more comfortably against Xiao’s neck, he didn’t know if that was better or worse than before. 

Just as Xiao was resigning himself to not moving until Aether woke up, he heard voices in the other room and recognized Zhongli and Venti’s voices. Those two together and unsupervised was a bad idea, even if they weren’t gods anymore. 

Grimacing, Xiao carefully eased himself from underneath Aether. He paused to tuck the covers around him so he would stay comfortable, then made his way silently to the doorway. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen our Vigilant Yaksha so relaxed.” Zhongli’s voice was that soft, serious tone Xiao was all too familiar with. It was the tone he used when he was caught in the past, seeing things the world around him had reminded him of, rather than the world itself. 

“Ours?” Venti was being a little shit and anyone who heard him knew it. “Not if the Traveler has anything to say about it.” 

“Xiao was...unusually compliant,” Zhongli acknowledged. “He allowed the Traveler to hold his hand for...actually, I don’t know if he ever made him let go.” 

“Our little Min-Pin is growing up,” Venti sighed. 

“Our what?” 

“Short for miniature Pinscher. They’re a tiny little guard dog breed in Mondstadt,” Venti explained. “I met one once that was really angry sounding when it barked but if you scratched his ears he would fall asleep on your lap.” 

“I fail to see the connection,” Zhongli informed him. Xiao saw what Venti was getting at, and considered going back across the room for his spear so he could make his feelings on that comparison known. “But that is not the only thing I failed to see.” There was a rustle, the sound of at least one of the former gods shifting around. “I believed I knew my adepti and their needs better than anyone, especially Xiao. Yet the Traveler learned more about him and did more for him in the blink of an eye than I have in all the time he has been bound to me.” Xiao didn’t know what to feel about that. There was frustration, because clearly Zhongli hadn’t known what he needed, but also...Xiao himself hadn’t known. Until Aether lifted part of his burden, he hadn’t realized it was such a weight that losi even a fraction of it would send him reeling. 

“That might be why, you know.” Venti had switched to his wiser, more divine tone, the one he used when he said things that either made way too much sense or none at all. “He’s not bound to the Traveler, so he can be himself. He doesn’t need to impress him, or worry about whether he’s fulfilling his duties. For all you might have tried to keep an eye out for him, you’ve always been his god, not his friend. And maybe that was what Xiao needed two thousand years ago. But now?” Another rustle, and Xiao thought from what he knew about Venti that the bard was probably reaching out a comforting hand to his fellow former god. “You chose not to be his god anymore, and that’s giving him a chance to redefine himself.” 

“Does that mean he will take after you and leave Liyue?” Zhongli sounded almost wistful, but Xiao was too stunned to even wonder why. 

Leave Liyue? He had never, would never…

Not even if Aether called from beyond Liyue’s borders? The thought worked its way into his head. Xiao shoved it aside; it was ridiculous, after all. If Aether was beyond Liyue, then Xiao wouldn’t be able to hear him if he called for help. 

For a second Xiao was satisfied with that. 

Then it sank in. 

If Aether left Liyue, Xiao wouldn’t be able to hear him call for help. He wouldn’t be able to save him. 

And Xiao wouldn’t see him, possibly ever again. No more light, airy feeling. No more insistent offerings and pleas to accompany him. 

After everything Aether had promised, everything he’d offered…

He still had his own goals, his own life, and Xiao would never try to take that from him. He had no right to even ask for him to stay longer than he already had. But that meant Aether would leave Liyue, leave Xiao, and then…

Without even Morax and Barbatos…

Xiao would be alone with his darkness again, consumed by the hatred and bloodshed, and eventually it would get to the point it was when Barbatos had saved him with his music all those years ago, but this time there would be no Barbatos to drive away the madness, no Morax to strike away his chains, and Aether to lighten his burden and purify his karma. 

He would fall into the darkness, and he’d never come out. 

Someone touched his shoulder, and he flinched, curling away instinctively. There was too much darkness, or there would be soon, and anyone near him could be at risk. 

His control would fall apart first, and then the rest of him would shatter into more pieces than years he’d lived. 

“Xiao? What’s wrong?” Startled by how close Aether’s voice was, Xiao shoved his panic into a tiny little box and pushed it to the back of his mind. Aether had enough on his mind, and he’d already offered Xiao so much, tried to take on so much of his burden. 

“It’s nothing.” Xiao forced himself to stand straight and meet Aether’s eyes. He told himself he wasn’t lying; it didn’t matter what would happen to him in the future. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.” 

“You weren’t there,” Aether explained, watching him closely. “And then when I saw you over here, you seemed kind of out of it.” 

“I was...lost in thought.” He didn’t want to lie outright, but he also wasn’t about to tell Aether that he had been on the verge of panic because he remembered that Aether was first and foremost a traveler in search of his own answers, and that journey meant that he would leave Xiao behind just like everyone else. 

“You didn’t look happy. Is there anything I can do? Would a hug help?” Aether held out his arms in invitation, and Xiao was tempted by the memory of how warm the traveler had been against him while he slept. But Venti’s comment about the guard dog who fell asleep on the lap of anyone who scratched its ears replayed in his mind, and he shook his head. “Okay. Can you at least tell me what was bothering you? Sometimes just talking can make it better.” Xiao hesitated, but now that Aether had asked directly, he wasn’t sure how to avoid the truth any longer. 

“You’re going to leave Liyue eventually,” Xiao said quietly. “I want to accept what you’ve offered me, but I’m afraid that if I do, then when you leave, I’ll shatter into a thousand pieces.” Aether considered for a moment, then held out his hand, palm-up. Xiao didn’t take it, even though that’s clearly what the traveler wanted. Instead of pouting or complaining, Aether kept his hand steady and met Xiao’s eyes. 

“I will leave Liyue. I have five more Archons to meet, and I have to find my sister. But I don’t want to leave you, Xiao. I want you to come with me.” 

“I cannot leave my duties,” Xiao reminded him softly. 

“Do you want to?” Aether tilted his head. “You told Zhongli he left all of the responsibility to you and didn’t even think of helping you out of your contract. It sounded like you might want to get out of it.” 

“That is irrelevant. The contract stands, and I-“

“No it doesn’t.” Xiao and Aether both turned to stare at Zhongli, who was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, expression solemn. “I am no longer the God of Contracts. I may have the same memories as before, but I do not have the same power. I consider all contracts I made before giving up my Gnosis to be void.” His eyes were unreadable as he added, “For the first time, Xiao, you are truly free. If you wish to stay in Liyue and maintain your end of the contract, so be it. But I have no power to fulfill my end, so you have no more obligation to me or to Liyue.”

Forget bits of his karma being purified, or finding out Morax was gone. This was the most staggering thing he’d ever experienced. It had never mattered whether he still wanted his contract with Morax or not, because it had just always been there. To be told it didn’t bind him anymore shook his whole world. 

“What?”

“You will always have a home in Liyue, but that does not have to be your only home.” Zhongli’s expression warmed as he continued. “I know our traveling friend will take better care of you than I ever did, should you go with him.” Xiao held perfectly still, processing what he’d just been told. 

He didn’t have to be left behind. He didn’t have to watch Aether walk away. The traveler was still mortal, but Xiao knew he would always choose more time with him, no matter how much it would hurt in the end. 

“I will consider it,” he managed. Zhongli gave him a rare smile, then retreated to the other room.

“Xiao?” Aether was still holding his hand out. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t wavered. “Please come with me. There’s so much I want to show you in Mondstadt, and I want to explore the rest of this world with you. I swear I won’t leave you alone, and I’ll keep purifying little pieces of your karma every day, and-“

“Aether.” The traveler fell silent instantly, his eyes widening in surprise, and Xiao realized he hadn’t called him by name before. “I need time to think. I’ve never even considered leaving Liyue before, and to suddenly have no contract, no divine direction…” It was a lot. It was too much. Xiao was tempted to don his mask just to see if the physical pain would clear his mind and let him think things through without feeling like he was being torn in two. He had protected Liyue whether the people there knew it or not for two thousand years; he couldn’t just leave. But...he could stay with Aether. He could travel with him, protect him, help him achieve his goals, anything to repay him for everything he’d already given Xiao, and everything he claimed to want to give him. 

“Take your time.” Aether lifted the hand that he’d outstretched, brushing his fingertips across Xiao’s cheek. “I’ll be here, I promise. I won’t go anywhere until you decide.” He turned to go back to the bed, only to pause when Xiao instinctively caught his hand, stopping him from getting more than a step away. Realizing what he’d done, Xiao hastily let go. 

“I apologize. I-“

“It’s okay.” Aether laced their fingers together and gently tugged Xiao toward the bed. “Will you stay with me while you think?” Xiao nodded and allowed himself to be guided back across the room. When he sat on the edge of the bed, Aether curled up against his side. “Is this okay?” He yawned, but waited until he saw Xiao’s nod before he closed his eyes. His injury had left him more exhausted than he’d let on, Xiao realized. Clearly he had been pushing himself, and for what? 

To check on Xiao? The adeptus with no more contract, but who still couldn’t commit to following him beyond Liyue’s borders?

He didn’t understand how Aether could just keep giving and giving and giving, especially to someone who couldn’t do much for him in return. 

Traveling with Aether would let Xiao protect him better, of course, but Aether had offered more than protection. He had said he wanted to give him comfort, and take away his pain. It just didn’t make sense. Everything in his life had been give and take, often more taking than giving, but now…

Did Aether get something out of being around him? He couldn’t imagine what that might be, but...well, Aether was always asking him questions. Maybe it was his turn. 

“Aether?” Xiao murmured, craning his neck to look at him. Aether’s eyes only opened halfway; he’d nearly fallen asleep curled up with his head on Xiao’s shoulder. 

“Mm?”

“Do you get something out of being around me?” 

“‘Course,” the traveler mumbled. “Makes me happy.” That...actually made even less sense. Xiao was grumpy, and he couldn’t think of what he’d done to make Aether happy when they were together. 

“Why?”

“‘Cause I like you.” Aether’s sleepy smile was blinding. “You make me feel safe. Not so alone.”

“You have your strange floating friend.”

“Not the same. Paimon’s nice, but she’s...Paimon, you know? Not you.” Aether yawned, then turned his head and tucked his nose under Xiao’s jaw. “Think I’m gonna fall asleep again. Stay with me?”

That’s my line, Xiao thought but managed not to say out loud. He just shifted, turning his body and lifting his arm to wrap it around Aether, letting him get comfortable before he dozed off. 

“I will,” he promised. 

And he realized as Aether’s breathing deepened that he meant more than just for his nap. 

He wondered if he had ever really had a decision to make at all, or if he was always going to end up here, with Aether, ready to walk away from everything he’d ever known. 

“Well?” Venti was in the doorway, standing in the same place Zhongli had been a few moments before. 

“I’m going with him,” Xiao said quietly, bringing his free hand up to stroke Aether’s hair gently. “I can’t lose him yet.” 

“I’m proud of you,” Venti told him, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “Come see me in Mondstadt before he takes you off anywhere else, okay?” 

Mondstadt. Venti’s city. He could actually see it now. He’d heard about it, from Venti and Zhongli and even Aether, but he’d never actually thought about going. To see Venti’s city, to see where Aether had purified the dragon and met all of the people he talked about.

Xiao made a face as he realized Aether would probably want to actually introduce him to those people, but he couldn’t bring himself to hate the idea as much as usual, since he was pretty sure that it would make Aether happy. 

“I will,” Xiao promised, allowing himself a slight smile as he met Venti’s eyes. “Once Aether recovers, we’ll visit.” 

“Perfect!” Venti beamed. “I’ll warn Diluc that I’ll be showing friends around, so he’ll stock up on his dandelion wine!” Xiao was pretty sure based on what Aether had told him and what Xiao himself knew of Venti’s drinking habits that stocking up was the opposite of what Diluc would be doing when he heard the news, but decided not to say so. Venti didn’t exactly wait to hear Xiao’s thoughts, though, skipping off presumably to return to Mondstadt to terrorize the taverns there. 

Xiao shook his head and slid sideways a little, lowering Aether gently until he slept on his side, with his head on Xiao’s lap. Xiao gathered Aether’s braid, noticing that the battle and then sleep had let far too many strands escape. He carefully took the tie off the end, then began combing his fingers through the soft golden strands. 

He didn’t even realize when he started humming the song Venti had once played on his flute.

He would put Aether’s braid in order, take care of him while he recovered. 

Then he would follow the traveler wherever he went next, and allow him to return the favor.