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Xiao stepped out onto the balcony he finds himself at every night at Wangshuu Inn. He didn't sleep and the Inn was always so loud during the day, but he couldn't deny how beautiful it was in the peace of the night.
"Ah, it's just you." Xiao turned quickly towards the voice behind him. He looked up and saw that sitting on top of the roof right above the balcony was Aether. He was sitting right on the edge, with one leg dangling over the side, the other pulled up to his chest. He appeared to be smoking something. It wasn't a hobby Xiao had pictured Aether having, and it took him slightly off guard.
"Do you plan on just staring at me, or are you going to join me?"
Xiao felt his eyes go wide at his bluntness, not many people had the guts to speak to him with such disrespect. Aether, was a special case, and he seemed all too aware of that fact. Silently, Xiao hopped on the railing of the balcony and climbed up to join Aether on the roof.
Xiao looked down at what was in Aether's hands, and it wasn't anything he recognized. He had lived a very long time, and had seen people smoking plenty of things. Smoking however wasn't something he was interested in, so he didn't bother with exploring all of the new things that had gotten popular.
"What is that?"
Aether let out a sigh, "Weed."
"I don't think you should be smoking that."
"Loosen up. It helps with my nightmares about Lumine, and its a great way to de-stress."
Xiao pauses for a moment before sitting down next to Aether. It helps with the...nightmares? If it does, as he says, it might help with his. He was an adepti, but perhaps it could help with all of the nightmares that he is plagued with when he closes his eyes.
"Then let me have some."
Aether perks up at that. Xiao doesn't miss the smile that crosses his face as he hands his blunt to Xiao.
"It's so small," Xiao comments.
"Well, yeah, that's what happens when you smoke it. Finish that off and I'll roll a new one," Aether snorts at his remark.
Xiao stares at the blunt in his hand, before bringing it to his lips and sucking in. He wasn't sure he was doing it right at first, as he didn't feel anything. But, after a few seconds he felt it start to burn in his chest and his throat. He pulled the blunt away and started coughing. Hard. It felt like when you drink water and it goes down the wrong pipe. His eye's started to water a little bit, and he watched as smoke came out with his coughed.
"Woah, woah!" Aether exclaimed, turning back to Xiao and started rubbing his back, handing him a flask. Once Xiao could breathe again and seemed relatively calm, he opened the flask for him.
"Drink. It's water, it'll help. Are you okay?" Aether asked, concern lacing his voice.
Xiao nodded in reply, and took a few sips from the flask.
"You find this calming?" Xiao asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the blunt in his hand.
"Once the effects hit, yea it really is. You want to try again?" Aether asked, taking back the flask.
Xiao thought for a moment before nodding again and looking at Aether, hoping his look would let Aether know what he was thinking. That it did.
"I didn't think this would be your first time smoking. You know, being over 2000 years old and all. So what you want to do, is suck in as long as you can and then hold it for as long as you can, then breathe out. Slowly. Do your best not to cough, it'll make it hurt again like last time. I won't watch you do it, do don't feel embarrassed. If you have to cough, it's okay, just try to breathe and make sure to drink some water," Aether explained to him, a wide smile on his face. He was very open about his excitement at the fact Xiao was smoking with him.
"You seem excited about this," Xiao pointed out.
"That I am. I'm happy that even though you have been around so much longer than me, that I can still be your "first"," Aether said, going back to what he was doing.
Xiao's face flushed a little at Aether's phrasing. Little did Aether know, he has been plenty of Xiao's "first's". He had been the first person he had smoked with. The first person to treat him like a friend, not as a comrade or as an adepti. The first person to get so close...to make him feel the way he did.
The two sat in silence for some time, admiring the nights lights and the sky in the depths of night. Xiao continued to finish off the blunt, only coughing a few more times before getting the hang of it. He was down to his last few hits before speaking again.
"It's taking you quite some time to roll that."
"Shh, don't rush art. I haven't had much practice rolling my own blunts, I usually smoke with Kaeya and he is quite skilled at it. I want them to be perfect, tonight's special."
"Special, you say," Xiao breathed out in a whisper, with a puff of smoke following the words. He turned and saw Aether staring at him. He cocked an eyebrow in question.
"I can't help it. You don't seem to realize how pretty you are, Xiao," Aether said, before lighting the new blunt. Xiao's face flushed red, and he tensed up at Aether's words. He stared at Aether for a few more moments before turning away and putting out what was left of the first one.
"You're high."
"That I am. I tend to be overly honest while high, get used to it."
"Get used to it?" Xiao scoffed, still not used to how blunt Aether was being.
"I am looking forward to how you are once this kicks in," Aether said, scooting closer to Xiao, and taking a long draw from the blunt. Xiao watches as he pulls it away from his mouth, setting his arm back down onto his knee, and then breathing out. The smoke came out slowly, staying near his face, wisping around in a cloud that crept out of his lips. Xiao couldn't help but be entranced by the way it danced around his lips, and he watched the way they moved as he spoke.
"Xiao, if you keep staring at me like that, it's going to make me want to kiss you," Aether said, snapping Xiao back to reality. Xiao looked up and saw that Aether was looking at him, but caught how his eyes kept flickering from his eyes to his lips.
"What was that?" Xiao muttered, sounded much less threatening than he meant to.
Aether leaned in, getting close enough for their noses to almost touch. Xiao was so taken aback he found himself frozen in place. Aether looked back at Xiao, and whispered, "I am pretty sure you heard me." Xiao didn't like the way he loved Aether's breath running across his lips, making him shutter.
Aether pulled away, leaving Xiao stunned. He didn't like the way Aether's teasing was getting his hopes up, and he decided to brush it off and to take a hit, so he reached for the blunt. Of course, it just had to be on the other side of Aether, making him reach over his lap. He gently took the blunt from Aether, but didn't realize how close he was until Aether whispered in his ear.
"And here I thought you were finally going to make a move," He whispered, purposely running his lips over Xiao's ear.
Xiao turned his head to look at Aether, their noses brushing, and tried to search his eyes for an answer. When he didn't find any he simply but sternly asked, "Why would I do that?."
Aether closed the distance between them a little more, just enough for his lips to brush against Xiao's as he replied, "Oh?"
Maybe it was a part of the influence of the marijuana but Xiao didn't feel anything holding him back anymore. The voices in his head telling him that he had no right to be this close to Aether weren't there. He closed what little distanced remained between them, and pressed a chaste kiss on Aether's lips. He pulled away after just a moment, and began to back away from Aether, but he was stopped by a hand on the small of his back.
"A-ah," Xiao let out, and covered his mouth, looking back at Aether and glaring at him. Aether ignored it.
"Do that again."
"What?"
"Do it again. I need to make sure I'm not dreaming right now."
Xiao didn't know what came over him, but he just can't seem to be able to deny Aether's words. He took a long draw from the blunt, and examined Aether's face before slowly blowing it out. Aether put a gentle pressure on his back, encouraging him to come closer, and Xiao obeyed, placing one arm across Aether's shoulder, gently moving his braid out of his way. Bringing his face back down to Aether's, he muttered, "Why would you be dreaming right now?"
"Because I have dreamt of this moment so many times before," He admitted before bringing Xiao into a slow, deep kiss. Xiao had never kissed anyone before, and he was pretty sure it was obvious. Aether moved his lips slowly, and Xiao mimicked his movements. They could both taste the weed on their breath as the kiss dragged on. Xiao tried to pull away for a moment to catch his breath, but Aether quickly pulled him back in.
"Breath through your nose baby," Aether instructed, and Xiao melted at the pet name.
Aether hands found their way to Xiao's thighs, dragging him onto his lap. Xiao's arms interlinked behind Aether's head, careful to keep the blunt from getting too close to Aether's hair. Aether deepened the kiss, nibbling at Xiao's bottom lip and drawing his tongue up Xiao's chin. Xiao let out a squeak, and clamped his mouth shut when the noise left his mouth. Aether pulled at the collar of Xiao's shirt and pressed a soft kiss to the skin he exposed.
"Let me hear more."
"You're lucky enough to have me in this position in the first place," Xiao growled, making no attempt to move.
"Dear me, I do hope it won't be the last time," Aether said, before sinking his teeth into Xiao's neck. He let out a whimper, and bit down on his lip to keep himself from letting out any other noise. Aether reached up and cupped Xiao's face in the palm of his hand, brushing his thumb over Xiao's lips.
"Please?" Aether asked, sweetness dripping in his tone as he looked up at him. Xiao sighed, and buried his head in Aether's shoulder.
"Are you like this every time you get high?"
"Hm?"
"Do you do this with everyone, is what I mean."
"No, I don't. This is only something I want to do with you."
They both sat in silence and Xiao shifted on Aether's lap, bringing himself closer.
"Xiao?"
He didn't reply, he just leaned back up, pressing a soft kiss next on Aether's cheek. Aether was quiet, and he did it again. He began peppering soft kisses all over Aether's face. Aether let out a laugh, and wrapped his arms around Xiao's waist.
"Xiao, what's with all this sudden affection?"
"I like you so much. Mhm," Xiao said in between pressing little kisses on Aether's cheeks.
"I think you might be high Xiao," Aether laughed, leaning into Xiao's touch.
"Maybe."
"What about you?" Xiao asked, leaning back and his eyes eyes narrowing while looking back at Aether.
"Well, yeah. I'm not one to kiss those I don't like," Aether replied, leaning up to meet Xiao, drawing him back into him.
Xiao sighed into the kiss, trying to deepen it by opening his mouth more as he moved with Aether. Aether took the sign, and slipped his tongue into Xiao's mouth, earning a soft sound from the man. Xiao wiggled slightly on Aether's lap, and Aether slowly dragged his hands down Xiao's sides, squeezing his ass before brushing his hands down Xiao's thighs and back up his inner thighs. Xiao let out soft moans at his movements, and Aether kept exploring, trying to find all of Xiao's most sensitive areas.
"Ae-Aether," Xiao whimpered into his mouth, rolling his hips down on Aether, earning a groan from him.
"Xiao don't do that, we are outside," Aether warned.
"No one is awake or out here," Xiao replied, rolling his hips again, once again earning a groan from the man under him. Aether grinded up on Xiao, a soft sound escaping his lips. Xiao scratched his fingers along Aether's back and rolling back down onto him again. Aether placed his hands on Xiao's hips, holding him down. Xiao let out a whine, completely losing all of his shame.
"Not here," Aether repeated, Xiao getting the message.
"I am not letting you get away later," Xiao remarked, bringing the blunt back to his lips and taking another draw from it.
"No one said I wanted to get away," Aether shot back, giving Xiao's hips a squeeze, making the man jump. He nodded toward the blunt, "My turn."
Xiao brought the blunt to Aether's lips, watching him closely as he took a draw, not breaking eye contact.
It had been long since they had finished off the blunt, and they had been sitting mostly in silence, stealing kisses from the other here and there. Xiao was still in Aether's lap, his head resting on Aether's shoulder and his arms wrapped tight around him. Aether had one arm on Xiao's back, and the other propping the two of them up. Aether let out a large yawn, and Xiao spoke up.
"You seem tired."
"A little bit. But I don't want to go inside to sleep yet, I want to stay here with you."
"What gave you the idea that you were getting any sleep tonight?" Xiao said, leaning back to look at Aether.
"I- uh, are we-," Aether stumbled out the words, his face getting flushed.
"I believe that you are the one who started this. I expect you to finish it."