Archive of Our Own

Aether had his pants hiked up to his thighs even though it was a bit unnecessary, trudging through the thickets of wheat brown silvergrass. He pulled a purple plume off of a particularly long stalk, tossing it into the basket that Paimon was holding as she floated over the marsh. “Why do we need so many of these again, Aether? These are heavy!” the pixie-esc creature whines. The blonde shakes his head, his hair rustling from the high ponytail it was held in. “I got a commission from Smiley Yanxiao to gather up some horsetail for him. We should grab some mint while we’re at it, Ying’er needed more for her mint essential oil. Oh, and silk flowers for Xingqiu if we can find any. I think Hu Tao needed them too for an arrangement,” he explains, plucking another magenta tuft from its stalk as his words moved into rambling. Paimon groans as she watches the traveler wade through the water, walking up onto the grass as his boots glimmer and reflect the sun off the water.

 “Ughhh, you are too helpful! Yesterday you got qingxin for Ganyu, jueyun chili for Xiangling, and glaze lilies for Ningguang. Those weren’t even commissions!” Paimon complains, crossing her arms as Aether took the basket from her and began to collect mint. “Really, Aether, someone’s gonna abuse your kindness one of these days. Paimon thinks Ying’er already does,” she huffs, earning another shake of the head from the blonde. “Ying’er runs Scent of Spring all by herself, and it seems like she always needs more materials. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t help her? Besides, she even needs help with making the actual perfume. I’d feel bad if I just left her to do it all by herself,” the traveler explains, getting an eye roll from the other. “You know she does that because-” Paimon starts, cut off when a hilichurl she hadn’t even seen bashed the blonde across the head.

Within seconds Aether had dropped the basket and pulled his sword, contending with the hilichurl quite easily. He nested his blade into the wooden club and easily tossed it away, slashing through the monster and defeating it swiftly. It poofed into black and purple particles as he pulled his sword back, turning around to see the rest of the camp that was nearby charging towards him. He moved and tussled with the samachurl first, narrowly rolling away from the giant axe blade of a mitachurl. He summoned a geo dome from out of the ground, shooting some of the monsters into the air and dispersing the group to make them easier to target. He sliced through the small mob with his Prototype Rancour, turning face-to-face with the axe mitachurl as the other hilichurls around him dissipated into black and purple particles. The traveler snarled, the two squaring off against each other as he raised his sword.

When Aether went to move, though, he found his legs coated in immovable ice. He whipped his head around to spot a cryo abyss mage, who had used his wet boots to hold him in place. The blonde sighed as he braced for impact, ready to try and push against the large axe blade coming directly for his head. A spear nearly stabbed him as it skewered the mitachurl, the monster disintegrating around the polearm. The yaksha pulled his weapon back as he kicked at Aether’s feet, effectively shattering the ice. He walked to the cryo abyss mage and simply pulled a match, lighting it and holding it up to the creature. It whimpered in fear, scampering away from the two as the blonde picked his basket back up. He turned to look at Xiao, sweaty from the fight and looking a little disheveled. He simply stands there for a moment before laughing, Paimon floating lazily to his side.

“What’s so funny?” the yaksha scowled, shooting a piercing glare through his topaz eyes. Aether continued to laugh to himself, closing the small gap between the two and placing his hand on the part of Xiao’s shoulder that didn’t have his spiked shoulder pad. “You came and rescued me. I thought you told me that you wouldn’t be spending any more time with me,” the blonde teases, making his way back to the path as the blushing adeptus scurried along behind him. “It is my job to protect whoever is within Liyue’s borders. Is that so strange to you?” the yaksha questions defensively, crossing his arms as he walked alongside the other. Paimon sat herself down on Aether’s head, crossing her arms in order to mimic Xiao. Aether had pulled a handkerchief from his travel bag, wiping his sword clean as the two walked towards Wangshu Inn. “Paimon thought you said that you were moving back into the mountains with Moon Carver. You’re just a big ol’ liar, aren’t you, Xiao?” the travel guide teased, earning a stare colder than Dragonspine’s caves.

“ANYways, I was just scolding Aether for being so helpful. He made me carry around that heavy basket for an hour!” she whined, earning a chuckle from the blonde. “Paimon, I told you I had to collect materials today. We should have more than enough room for silk flowers too,” he says rather simply as the small group approaches one of the vibrant red bushels. He plucks a few of the flowers, using the tips of his sword to sever the stems if need be. Xiao just stood watch nearby with his back to the traveler, which was a bad idea. He soon found a silk flower tucked behind his ear, whipping around to look at the beaming blonde. “What is the meaning of this?” he growls, hating the way his face was flaring up with red. “I think it’s cute. Red suits you,” the traveler chimes, only deepening the already present blush on the yaksha’s face. Xiao flipped his polearm around in his hands, focusing more on that rather than the giggles of the two next to him.

“Xiao and Aether sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-” Paimon starts, cut off by the tip of a spear being held to her neck. “Okay, okay, jeez! I’ll stop! Someone doesn’t know how to have fun,” she mutters, crossing her arms with a huff as she sat back on the air. Aether was blushing as well, the two scowling in unison at the flying companion. “Whaaaat?! I’m not wrong,” she huffs, the blonde next to her simply sighing. “We should have enough materials to head back towards Wangshu Inn. I’m assuming you’re coming with us?” Aether says, addressing Xiao as he followed the path. The yaksha simply nodded, not saying another word. They continued to walk in silence until they reached Wangshu Inn, the traveler stopping once or twice to grab a few more silk flowers. The three stood at the small wooden ‘patio’ as they waited for the elevator since Paimon complained they were carrying too much to go up the stairs (even if she was floating).

The elevator ride left the air stagnant and the awkwardness thick. As the three stepped onto the upper platform Aether immediately tunnel-visioned, heading straight down the stairs and into the kitchen. He fished around in the basket and pulled all of the horsetails, offering them out to Smiley Yanxiao with a grin. Paimon went and snuck a serving of mint jelly for herself, giggling as she happily ate. Aether gently put one of the silk flowers in the vase at Verr Goldet’s counter, replacing the old violetgrass which had been wilting. The blonde sighs as he leans against the wall, looking down into the basket he was holding. “I should clean up a bit and then we can head out again. Okay, Paimon?” he asks, turning to his cheerful companion. “Yup!” she chimes as she focuses more on her food than what the traveler was saying. “Xiao, would you like to come too?” Aether asks with a smile.

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“So, have you decided whether or not you’re coming with us?” Aether questions as he pulled his hair back into its usual braid, addressing the yaksha in the room with him. He had cleaned up and changed out his boots, his pants smoothed out and his scrapes covered. Xiao looked over the small inn room, still thinking to himself. “I will go with you, but do not expect me to enter Liyue Harbor. You know how I dislike cities,” he finally decides, receiving a delighted grin from the other. “Alright, let’s head out!” Paimon cheers as she re-enters the room, basket in hand which was filled with mint and silk flowers. The two head down the stairs of the inn, giving a wave to Verr Goldet as they pass. She pauses Aether, who motions for the other two to go outside without him. “Is there anything you need, Ms. Goldet?” he questions in his typical polite tone.

“Oh, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to befriend Xiao. He’s always so lonely and cold, but he’s actually started appearing more and more around the inn ever since he met you. Before he would have never even thought of going near the harbor, but somehow it’s different if he’s with you. Smiley made this for you three to have,” Verr explains with a smile, sliding over a small picnic basket. A rosy pink danced across Aether’s face as he took the basket, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing, really. It just seems like we… clicked. It’s nice,” he mutters, turning to look at Xiao and Paimon bickering outside. The laugh that burst out of Verr Goldet made it obvious how dreamily he looked at the scene, and he received a pat on the back from a rather tall chef behind him. “Treat him well. I know it’s hard to put up with him,” Smiley Yanxiao jokes with a hearty chuckle of his own, only causing the blush on the blonde’s cheeks to deepen. He gives a little nod before waving to the two, dashing outside and to the teleport point so the three could get going.

They appeared beside the alchemy table in the market, Xiao instantly squirming and hiding slightly behind Aether. “I thought we were teleporting outside of the city,” he snarls, looking around at the handful of people in the small plaza. “If you want to, you can take that bridge right there and walk out of the city. I need to go deliver things to people, as you know, so I’ll be heading out. Do what you’d like,” the blonde says simply, beginning to walk without another word. Xiao grumbles as he follows along, glaring at Paimon as she giggled at him. The three walked down the semi-crowded street and to a small shop on the side, knocking lightly on the shop door. A gorgeous woman with brown hair emerged, her purple dress fluttering in the gentle breeze as she smiled. “Aether, how nice to see you! What brings you this time? Have you decided on a perfume to give to your special someone?” Ying’er asks, giving a smile. Aether shakes his head as he gathers up the clusters of mint, holding them out to her.

“You said you needed some more mint essential oil for an order you got in, so I thought I’d pick up all the mint you’d need while I was out. I hope this is alright,” he says with a grin, earning a nod and a happy smile. “Yes, this is more than enough. Oh traveler, you’re always so helpful. Are you sure I can’t just hire you?” she questions as she holds the mint clusters, both Paimon and Xiao giving a protective glare in unison. Aether shook his head with a dismissive wave, turning to walk away as he was stopped. Xiao turned around first, glaring harshly at the two women who had stopped the three. They were very out of place, their brown and blonde hair indicative of the Mondstadt region rather than Liyue. One of them piped up, obviously a little anxious. “You’re Aether, right? The Honorary Knight of Mondstadt?” the girl questions with a big grin. “Yes, why…?” the blonde responded, seeming a bit confused. The two women squealed in unison, Paimon throwing her hands to her ears as they did.

“I’ve heard so much about you! Ah, you really are a hero! Can we have your autograph?!” the other girl pipes up, both of them bouncing up and down lightly in excitement. Aether seemed perplexed at this point, and Paimon floated up to address the girls as Xiao stood defensively in front of the traveler. “Hey, we’re not taking fans right now! He’s out on official business, okay? Paimon doesn’t want to see you guys again!” she grumbles rather harshly, an irritated tone slipping into her voice as she firmly placed her hands on her hips. This was happening so often now, between both Liyue and Mondstadt. People were stopping them during their adventures asking for autographs or stories or favors and it was annoying as all hell to Paimon. Why couldn’t people just let them be for a little bit? The two girls seemed disappointed as they obliged, walking away looking like kicked puppies. Aether sighs, obviously feeling bad about rejecting the two women.

“Ignore them. They’re only envious of how talented you are,” Xiao mutters rather uncharacteristically, earning a surprised look from the floating travel guide next to him. The yaksha did something even more startling, reaching down and lightly lacing his gloved fingers with those of the traveler. Aether’s face flared up as the other did this, more confused than he was before. Xiao stayed silent and the traveler took this as an indication to not say anything about it, so he didn’t and went on his way towards his next destination: Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Hu Tao, the director, was certainly an eccentric person, but she did pay rather well for commissions. She seemed to need the most peculiar of things; some even stranger than Xiangling’s requests. He didn’t mind though as long as he got what he was offered.

The three walked up into the small alleyway that held the parlor, Aether moving and gently knocking on the door. It was Hu Tao’s own policy so that she knew when she was getting a delivery rather than a potential customer. A rather tall stoic man answered the door, his eyes glimmering in place of a smile. “Aether. It is nice to see you once again,” Zhongli comments, just now noticing that it was not just the traveler and Paimon. Xiao gave a small nod, looking down at the ground afterwards. He was aware of Zhongli’s little… secret, and it still made him a tad uncomfortable to be around. Hu Tao pushed past the ex-archon rather swiftly, cheery and excited as soon as she found out it was the traveler.  “Have you brought the silk flowers I requested?” she asks in her typical half-cute half-creepy tone. Aether nods as he holds out half of the silk flowers he had picked, the funeral parlor director snatching them up quickly. “Thaaank youuu!~” she chimes, twirling as she gathers the flowers in her arms. “Oh yes, are you sure you don’t want to look into our adventurer’s package? It comes with discounted catering!” she questions with an innocent look, earning a sigh from the man next to her. “No thank you, we’re good. Have a nice day!” Paimon said hurriedly before Aether could speak, moving the two away from the parlor rather hastily.

Xiao grumbled, squeezing the blonde’s hand lightly as they walked away. Aether at this point in their rather short journey was confused and blushing madly, with his floating companion laughing her ass off. They walked up the stairs to the Wangwen bookhouse, finding the blue-haired hydro user they were looking for in a corner buried in books. Aether broke away to rush over, smiling as he tapped the scholar on the shoulder. “Xingqiu! You said you needed some silk flowers for your training, right?” he asks softly, holding out the basket. “Yes, these are perfect. I will surely become stronger with these. My gratitude,” Xingqiu chimes with a grin. Xiao eyed the messy bangs man skeptically, still rather protective of the traveler despite what he had said a few days ago. The two said their goodbyes to each other and Aether led the group back down, taking Xiao up onto a nearby mountain peak to look over the city.

“This is the kind of view you’re missing,” he whispers as he pulls Xiao up the last rock, turning to motion to the sunset over Liyue Harbor. As the sun gently sank beneath the shoreline, rooms started lighting up one by one and illuminating the area. Even after the Lantern Rite, it was all too gorgeous. The yaksha sat himself down and thought, pondering over what he had been so set on a few days prior. I… do not want to move into the mountains with Moon Carver. I want to be around humans. But, why? I’ve gotten to the point where I’m feeling a larger range of human emotion. I don’t like it. It complicates things that were once so simple. But at the same time… Xiao’s thoughts trail off as he looks over Aether’s face. His blonde eyelashes, the slight curve in his button nose, the way his lips curled into a smile. I could stare into those amber eyes for hours… the yaksha thought to himself, reddening immediately at his subconscious comment. What was he saying?

“Are you alright, Xiao?” Aether questions, a hand over his own bringing the yaksha back to reality. “I’m fine,” he growls, the harsh tone natural at this point. The blonde chuckled, leaning his head on Xiao’s shoulder like he had a few times before. It seemed that the adeptus didn’t mind it anymore, actually shifting slightly in order to make him more comfortable. “Why do you go out of your way to help people so often?” Xiao questioned, allowing his thoughts to slip into words. Aether sighs, looking out over Liyue as he contemplates his answer. “Well, I guess it’s because of how many people help me. It seems like wherever I go people are always willing to lend a hand with something, so I do the same for others. It’s a little habit my sister got me into and now I can’t shake it,” he explains with a weak chuckle, his blonde braid spilling over his other shoulder.

The yaksha sat there and thought a bit longer, sighing as he laced their fingers together once more. “Don’t lose that quality. It’s what makes you tolerable,” he mumbles, the blonde instinctually gasping a little in surprise. It was the closest Xiao had ever come to giving a compliment, and it made the corners of his mouth curl up into a wide grin. “I won’t, I won’t. If you like it, then I won’t change it. Deal?” he half-jokes, earning a nod from the other. “Deal,” Xiao said firmly, trying to push down the harshness in his voice for once. The two sat in silence, leaning on each other and watching the sun finally dip down into the murky ocean. Aether blushed as he thought over his whole day, looking over to the yaksha and deciding to admit something. “Hey, Xiao-”

“WATCH OUT!” a shrill voice squeaked, the voice coming from someone flying rather quickly towards the pair. They immediately disconnected as Paimon soared through the gap, a boar trailing closely behind her. She floats away from the cliff where the boar skids to a stop, huffing and squealing at her before stomping away. Aether looked for a moment before breaking out into laughter, not even hearing the angry words he was getting from his companion. Xiao looked at the two before smiling and chuckling to himself as well.