Chapter Text
It's warm. Soft sunlight is shining directly on my face and I have to cover my eyes with my arm to not get blinded by the sun. The wind carries dandelion seeds while brushing delicately on my slightly exposed skin. Some colorful leaves are falling on my face, but a tender touch of a soft hand brushes them away as quickly as they appear in my hair or on my clothes. I'm laying in peaceful silence with another warm presence sitting next to me and doing something. I'm not exactly sure what. I don't need to know what they are doing. I just appreciate the fact that they are here.
"Aether," a familiar voice from beside me said.
"Yes?" I kind of miss the peaceful silence...
Suddenly something is being put on my head and startles me. This thing feels familiar to a hat but it isn't it. For sure. I sat up quickly and started examining the thing on my head. It's soft to touch and feels silky. There are lots of these silky little thingies. I took the item off of my head and saw.. a flower crown. Albedo made a flower crown for me.
If I said it's not a pretty flower crown I'd be lying. It is made out of windwheel asters and cecillias. Their colors compliment each other nicely. I think it's time to stop adoring the (I guess) gift and thank Albedo for it instead. Now that I look at him, he has a matching flower crown on his head. He's absorbed in sketching something. I can't see what he's drawing no matter how much I want to, though.
"Do you not like it?" he more hummed than said while focusing mainly on his drawing.
"No, I think it's very beautiful actually" he finally looked at me! And he seems.. relieved? "When did you make it?" I am curious because I don't recall him getting up to get any flowers.
~~~~~
The soft light of the moon is shining gently at his face through the window. I never thought I'd be this close to Aether. But here we are. I've never thought I'd be this close with someone. I've always dismissed them as just selfish wishes of closeness that will never become real. But again, here we are. I should be at home now. At my home. Who would've thought that giving the traveler a flower crown could lead to this?
~~~~~
Our walk back home is as quiet as most of our time spent together, because, as it seems, we don't need to talk much to have a good time. We kept our flower crowns on our heads. The sun is setting already and it's getting considerably colder. Dear Archons, why do I have to wear clothes that expose so much of my skin if it's cold?! (no but seriously aether are you dumb dumb or what 🙂🙂) It wasn't until Albedo stopped walking did I realize we were standing in front of my house.
"Would you like to stay at my place for a little bit of time?" I asked because I really wanted to get to know him better. Trust me, saying less than 10 words is our way of talking.
"I really should go back, I have lots of things to do at home and lots of notes from Sucrose to examine" Albedo gave his response and turned around to walk away.
"Wait! Can't you stay just a little bit longer?" I don't really know where this question came from. And so suddenly too. It just felt like the right thing to do I guess...
~~~~~
I really thought it'd be just a while. But here I am. With Aether's warm body in my arms and my lips on his forehead, kissing it gently. With me brushing slowly his soft and fluffy hair with my fingers. Once again, the peaceful silence and our flower crowns on a shelf in front of the bed that he is laying on.
We are here now only because while I was asking Aether more about the place he is from he started yawning a lot, but refused to go to bed because we are supposed to talk and not sleep, so there are the consequences. And so here I am - writing Aether a note, an invitation.
~~~~~
I woke up quite early. It's warm everywhere around me. And comfortable too. Mornings like these make me want to go back to sleep, but it's another day to look for Lumine. I need to find her someday.
The pleasant atmosphere made it hard to open my eyes and move even slightly from under the covers. I love my bed too much...
I slowly sat up and looked around. Next to me on the bed laid a new flower crown and a note. I picked up a note and read it.
If you want to spend more time, we can meet up at Good Hunter for dinner today and talk some more.
Albedo