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Aether wasn't quite sure when he had began to look out for the other, to anticipate meeting with him.
It just somehow seemed that as of late, the more time they spend together, the more he became interested in Xiao and his life.
"I don't trust humans," Xiao had hissed in front of the cave when meeting up with Aether, crossing his arms in front of his chest, turning to look at the other, and the pain reflecting in his eyes had sent a pierce through Aether's heart, "but you seem to be different."
Maybe it had been from that moment on that things had changed between them.
* * *
The dinner at Wangshu Inn had turned out quite nice. It had been a warm summer day and a lot of people had come to the restaurant to eat and sit outside in the nice weather. Though grumpy at first, Xiao had met up with Aether, silently munching his almond tofu.
When night was beginning to fall and they had finished dinner, Xiao and Aether stood alone at the wooden railing, watching Liyue's scenery.
"Beautiful," Aether commented, more to himself actually, but Xiao hummed approvingly.
"I'm glad you came after all," Aether said softly, looking at Xiao from the side. The Yaksha was just as pretty as the moonlit over the mountains of Liyue, but maybe he wasn't aware of it. Did Yaksha fall in love?
Lost in his thoughts, Aether was a little startled when golden eyes suddenly stared at him questioningly.
"What?" Xiao was always direct.
"Ah, nothing," Aether said, waving his hand, "I was just wondering.. things.. since you said you didn't really like humans.."
"Hmm" Xiao turned to face the landscape again.
"I also said," he added after a while, "that you are an exception."
Aether blushed.
They stood pretty close to each other. If Aether let his hand down, it would brush against Xiao's. Would it bother him? How would he react?
Aether took a deep breath and his hand sunk down, knuckles meeting with Xiao's.
The other didn't dodge away. Very cautiously, Aether let his fingertips stroke over the palm of Xiao's hand.
"What are you doing?" Xiao said, not annoyed but seriously curious.
"I'm.. trying to hold your hand," Aether said, blushing even harder. He was glad they were standing somewhat away from the crowd in a quieter area of the Inn's terrace.
"And why would you do such a thing," Xiao asked.
"I... I think I want to hold your hand because I feel like I want to be closer to you, get to know more about you.." Aether continued.
"Hmm," Xiao said, "okay."
Aether felt his heart beating loudly when for the next seconds, nothing happened and he held his breath when he felt Xiao reciprocating clumsily, elegant fingers searching his own until both of them somehow managed to intertwine them.
"This is not bad," Xiao said, and Aether was wondering if Xiao would blush aswell, but he didn't dare looking.
"Do Yaksha usually not feel pleasure?" Aether asked honestly curious, and only when the words were already spoken he realized what this could mean.
Xiao turned to look at him, and it was just like it was every time when he did, Aether felt that those golden sharp eyes saw right through him.
"I haven't thought about it, really," Xiao said, "but I suppose I could."
Aether gulped, unable to look away. He had thought so from the start, but Xiao was really a handsome young man, and Aether wondered if he was aware of that.
Unintentionally squeezing Xiao's hand tighter, they kept looking into each other's eye and Aether wondered if it was the magic of the moment or the warm summer breeze of Liyue nights or the whole atmosphere at the Inn with chitterchatter in the background and lanterns around and just a peaceful aura unlike those days where he would fight without a break, but in that moment he felt like he really wanted to lean in and kiss the other boy.
Gasping, a little startled at himself, he withdrew his hand and Xiao kept looking at him with a questioning gaze.
"What's wrong?" he asked and Aether felt he couldn't lie.
"I.. I just thought about something and that startled me"
"Was it something unpleasant?"
"No! Not in the slightest. The opposite, actually"
Xiao didn't say a word, just turned towards the railing again.
"I was thinking about kissing you," Aether admitted quietly, voice low so others wouldn't hear but the nearest guests were a few meters away anyways.
"Kissing..." Xiao repeated thoughtfully, "that's something that humans do. Is is pleasurable?"
"Hmm," Aether smiled, "very much so."
"You want to do it with me?"
Aether had to contain himself not to burst into chuckling and stay serious. If Xiao knew what he was saying...
"Yes," he said firmly, and widened his eyes when the Yaksha suddenly took action and pecked his cheek.
"Xiao," Aether blushed a deep red, rubbing his cheek with his palm, "not here.. the people"
"You mind?"
Aether nodded.
Xiao sighed. Humans were complicated. He felt Aether hesitantingly reaching out for his hand again, and took it. He was curious now about what the other had in mind. Aether smiled at him, and those eyes looked so gentle and soft.
Xiao felt a small tug on his hand and followed Aether, away from the terrace and further towards the backside of the Inn, behind a large tree where it was rather dark, but you could still see the lanterns and hear the water from the mill.
Without any further word, Aether stepped closer and pressed his lips against the Adeptus'. Xiao's eyes widened a bit but he was quick to act, like in his fights, he picked up new situations fast and was a fast thinker, too. The blond's lips felt a little cold, but not unpleasant. Aether was pressing little smooches on Xiao's lips again when the other didn't withdraw.
Xiao let Aether press his lips against his for several moments before beginning to do the same. When he heard a soft noise from Aether, he sighed softly and gasped in surprise in the next moment when he felt the tip of Aether's warm and soft tongue nudge against his bottom lip.
"Do humans do that, too?" He murmured, his forehead resting against the blonds.
"Yeah," Aether said, "and it feels really good. Does it feel good for you?"
"Hmm," Xiao nodded, "I want to do it again"
Aether smiled. He took Xiao's other hand in his own aswell, their fingers entwining again when they both reached out at the same pace, and Aether closed his eyes when their lips meet again in a slow and sensual pace. Xiao began to become curious, moving his lips against Aether's in the same pace the other did, humming softly in between, and Aether brought his tongue out again and at some point sneakily licked over Xiao's bottom lip.
"Part your lips a little," Aether whispered, "I want to show you something."
Xiao nodded and did as he was told. First it was a little weird, feeling Aether stick out his tongue, licking along his lips and then further into his mouth. Xiao wondered what it was all about when at that moment, Aether's tongue found his own.
And Xiao moaned.
Aether's curious tongue playfully invited his own, finding it and rubbing skilfully against it. Xiao didn't waste time and did what Aether was doing, swirling his tongue around the other boys', warm and gentle and it felt fantastic.
"Xiao," Aether whispered, "oh, Xiao"
Xiao growled, his hand sliding into Aether's hair and he pulled a little on a few hairstrands in the golden braid, and Aether moaned at that, both of them engaging in a deeper kissing, their tongues rubbing gently against the other with their mouths half open, saliva glistening in the moonlight, but this time with a little more heat and pace than before, wet and hungry and good, and at some point Aether had to pull back for air.
"Wow," Xiao said, wiping his mouth with fascination and sniffing on his hand afterwards. It smelled like Aether.
Aether blushed. "You... don't have to do that.."
"Why not? It smells like you. I like it"
Aether widened his eyes.
Xiao leaned in again, lips only inches away before crashing them down on Aether's again, so hard the blond almost lost balance and he had to hold himself up against the wooden plank, high grass tickling his bare thighs.
"I want to taste more of you," Xiao said when he broke away, licking his lips.
If only he knew what that meant, Aether thought as he swung his arms around the Yaksha's neck, and from the corner of the eye he saw a lantern peacefully ascending into the dark nightsky.
If only.