Chapter Text
It was a simple commission.
Simple.
Find the hilichurl camp.
Stop them from making weird energy barrel bombs.
Done.
In and out. Easy.
At least it should have been.
It was going great. Kaeya, Fischl and Bennet had tagged along this time. Shockingly they all worked well together even though Bennet was worried about his bad luck.
But it was all going smoothly.
“That was the last of them.” Aether confirms.
“Ha! That went rather well!” Bennet cheers, walking over to the pile of red barrels. “I still don’t understand why hilichurls would need these.”
He looks them over, unaware of the Pyro abyss Mage lurking closer before blasting fire at him. Faster than anyone else Kaeya was the one that sprints forward and managed to shove Bennet out of the way before the fire hit the barrels and causes a huge explosion.
“KAEYA!”
Aether rushes over to the fallen captain, kneeling down and looking him over. Bennet soon joined and was of course cursing himself for speaking too soon but Aether didn’t hear anything he said. Tunnel vision focused on the mage cackling about the injured and knocked out knight.
“Bennet, Fischl. Get Kaeya out of here.” Aether orders as he stands up, drawing his sword out. Fischl had her bow out and ready to fight so she looked puzzled when told to basically leave.
“Aether surely you don’t plan on fighting this mage alone.” She says but the dark look in the traveler’s eyes told her everything she needed to know. She dismisses her bow and nudges Bennet to help her lift Kaeya up and get out of there. Aether watches them leave before turning back to the still laughing mage.
“You...” he says in the darkest tone he’s ever heard himself speak with. That got the mage to stop laughing and actually look at him.
“You are going to pay dearly for that.”
——
“Don’t beat yourself up so much. I know Sir Kaeya will be fine.” Fischl says as she and Bennet wait around to hear on how the Cavalry Captain is doing.
In the rush of it all it wasn’t until they got to the Cathedral did they realize just how badly he was hurt. Burn marks on his cheeks and neck and chest- this is why Jean nags him on covering up- and scratches from the wood pieces that went flying after the barrels blew up.
But Barbara insisted nothing would leave a scar if she had anything to say about it. That wasn’t what Fischl was worried about though. It was Aether.
“Bennet did you sense...a darkness around our friend Aether before we were rushed away?” She asks.
“You too? I thought it was just me.” Bennet answers and rubs the back of his neck. “I knew he and Kaeya were close but with how mad he seemed.”
“Well a deep friendship such as the one they have. I’m sure the fury Aether felt when he saw his dear friend hurt was one that roared greater than any monster!” Fischl says a bit more dramatically than needed, making Bennet tilt his head to the side. Just as she says this Paimon was swooping in and stumbles to a stop mid air between the two.
“Paimon! Where’s Aether?” Bennet asks.
“He’s coming. Just uh...be careful with what you say.” Paimon says as the Cathedral doors creak open and the traveler in question comes walking in. That looming darkness still lingering when he joins the group.
“How’s Kaeya?” Aether asks after sitting down on one of many benches. Fischl and Bennet share a glance at one another before the bow user speaks up.
“Barbara is taking care of him right now.”
It’s quiet after that. The small group just waiting around to hear any kind of news about their fallen friend.
After what seems like forever Fischl breaks the silence.
“Aether I must ask. What came of the mage that did this? I assume you sent it back to the abyss.”
“You could say that.” Aether mutters. They fall into more silence after that as they wait.
——-
The group looks up when they hear the clicking of shoes against the floor. Barbara is walking over to them with Kaeya at her side.
“I insisted he rest longer before trying to move but he wouldn’t listen to me.” She sighs.
“I’m still a little sore from landing on the ground so hard but I’m fine!” Kaeya states and before anything else was said Aether was already marching up to him. The traveler frantically looking him over before his eyes land on a burnt mark that goes from his neck to his chest. Anger and guilt pools into the blond’s gut.
“Don’t worry. A few more visits with me and I should have that nasty scar healed up.” Barbara reassured as if sensing what Aether was feeling but it didn’t help much. He can fight a dragon and go toe to toe with the Fatui but he couldn’t protect Kaeya from a lowly mage?
“Kaeya.” Bennet walks up next and bows dramatically. “Thank you for saving me! And I’m sorry. My bad luck got you hurt.”
“Well in any case it’s good to see you up and moving, Kaeya.” Fischl says. “Should we finish the rest of the commissions?”
“No. I’ll finish the rest of them. You can all head home.” Aether states and leaves no room for argument.
——
“Aether hey!”
Kaeya speed walks after him, a bit of a limp that makes Aether’s frown deepen when he looks over his shoulder.
“You should go back home and rest, Kaeya.” He more or less orders than suggests.
“You are acting far colder than the Vision hanging from my hip, Aether.” Kaeya frowns and moves in front of the honorary knight, stopping him from storming off. “Bennet and Fischl filled me in on how you acted after I got hurt. You aren’t blaming yourself for this small mishap are you?”
…..Small?
“Small?” Aether repeats. “How is this a small mishap?”
“I’m a captain for the Knights of Favonius. I get hurt all the time, worse even.” Kaeya reminds Aether and shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“You got blown up, Kaeya!” Aether urges. “You shouldn’t even be following me. You need to rest.”
“Aether really I’m fine. What’s the-“
“It’s not fine! You got hurt on my watch. I should’ve seen that mage coming. I should’ve stop it. I should’ve…..protected you.” Aether gushes out before he can stop himself. Kaeya for once didn’t have a quick remark or comment, he stayed quiet and let the shorter blond continue. “I just…I lost my sister already. I don’t think I can handle losing someone else I care about.”
“I…I didn’t know you felt that way.” Kaeya speaks up. Aether must’ve realized what he said and blushes a bit before collecting himself.
“You, Amber, Jean, Lisa. Everyone I’ve met have become another family to me. I’d hate to see any of you hurt.” Aether quickly adds.
The two stand in silence before Aether reaches out and ever so lightly trails his fingers over the scar that just seems to glare at him as a reminder of what happened.
“Just….humor me and go home. Rest at least a little. Please?” Aether asks and looks up at the captain. Kaeya was going to protest but the look on Aether’s face made his heart squeeze and he sighs fondly.
“Would that really make you feel better?”
Aether nods.
“Alright.”
——
“You were so close! Paimon was sure you’d confess this time!” Paimon whines as Aether fights off treasure hoarders.
“He was injured and I was feeling a lot of things at once. A better time will come!” Aether replies and dodges a dagger that was thrown at him.
“You’ve been pining for him for over a year now!” The little fairy says as her friend throws a treasure hoarder over his shoulder.
“I need to focus on finding my sister first. As much as I….care for Kaeya it wouldn’t work.” The traveler sighs after taking down the last treasure hoarder.
“You’re hopeless.” Paimon huffs and shivers. “When did it get so cold?”
Before Aether could answer, Paimon was blasted away by an icy wind and Aether’s feet were frozen to the ground.
“You!”
Two Abyss mages, Cyro and Hydro appear and circle Aether like he’s prey.
“You are the one that slaughtered our Pyro brethren!” The Hydro mage states. The blond boy watches them closely, they must’ve seen him or heard about it from somewhere else.
“Well it was his fault for hurting my friend.” Aether says back, blasting the ice at his feet with Anemo.
“Yes. Captain Kaeya correct?”
Geo surrounds the mages and crack their shields before they can say anymore, now facing the very same dark look their Pyro brother saw.
“You better chose your next words very carefully.” Aether warns.
“Quick to attack when angered I see!” The Cyro mage laughs.
“The Abyss has ears and eyes all over Traveler. You’ll feel what it’s like when someone close to you is beaten in their own cold blood!” The Hydro mage cackles. Aether grits his teeth before sending the mages flying with a burst of Anemo before looking to Paimon who flies back over.
“Just go! Paimon will catch up later!” She urges. Aether didn’t need to be told twice before he bolts off back to the city.
Damn it all!
——
“Jean you don’t need to follow me around. I’m not going to do anything to strain myself.” Kaeya chuckles as the acting grand master walks with him.
“I’m just making sure you actually go home and sleep for the night and not go to say oh a tavern.” Jean comments with a knowing look.
“You know me all too well, my friend.” Kaeya snickers but the light hearted atmosphere fades as the two freeze and look around.
“Who’s there?” Jeans asks, moving Kaeya behind her. She knew he was fine on his own, injured or not, but she isn’t going to let anymore harm come to him. Not in their own city.
“Always so on alert aren’t you acting grand master?”
Jean drew her sword as well Kaeya. A Pyro mage comes into view. How did it get into the city without any of the knights knowing?
“Now now. Let’s not be hasty.” The mage says as hilichurls come out along with a Mitachurl. “I’m only here to finish what my other Pyro brethren started.”
Their weapons were shot out of their hands and hilichurls grab Jean and drag her to the side. Her Vision being snatched out of reach as well.
“Didn’t ping the Abyss to be so on their toes. You’ve thought of everything.” Kaeya comments as the Pyro mage floats around him.
“You’d be surprised what anger does.” The mage hiss before blasting fire at Kaeya’s side. The captain lets out a surprised and pain filled shriek as he’s knock off his feet and hits the ground.
“Kaeya!” Jean gasps and pulls away from the hilichurls only to be stop by the Mitachurl.
“OZ!”
A dark raven flies over and shoots electro energy at the mitachurl while electro charged arrows hit the hilichurls. The raven dives down and grabs Jean’s vision giving it back to her.
“What is going on?! What is the meaning of this?!” The mage shouts. The clicking of heels makes it turn around and finds-
“I, Fischl, investigator for the adventurer’s guild and Prinzessin der Verurteilung am here to stop this.” Fischl states.
“You’re just one little girl!” The mage laughs. The blond smiles before she ducks down and a Phoenix made of fire flies over her and smacks into the hilichurls and mitachurl causing the overload effect and making them disappear.
“Oh no. Not him too!” The mage shrieked. Diluc walks up beside Fischl, looking calm but the fire in his glare didn’t match.
“Go help Kaeya and Jean. Leave the mage to me.” Diluc orders and Fischl nods. Diluc charges forward faster than the mage can react and throws him away from Kaeya.
“Sir Kaeya are you alright?” Fischl slides down to kneel by him.
“Been better.” He chuckles but winces. His side being badly burnt. “How did you know about this, Fischl?”
“That is not important right now. Can you stand?” Fischl asks and slowly helps Kaeya to his feet, Jean joining and taking the other side to keep him steady. “Master Jean are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I took care of the remaining hilichurls now let’s get Kaeya to the Cathedral.” Jean answers.
“Oz.” Fischl calls out and the night raven appears above them. “If the rest of my suspicions are true, go find Aether.”
Oz didn’t need to be told twice before flying off into the night sky.
He could see Mondstadt coming into view from the distance and that makes him run faster.
Would he be too late?
Could he fight off whatever those abyss mages had planned?
….could he protect Kaeya?
His thoughts were quickly broken when he spots Oz flying towards him. He digs his heels into the ground and stops, stumbling a little.
“Oz? What’s going on?” He asks question after question and stops when Oz lightly pecks his forehead.
“My Lady Fischl told me to come find you. Everything has already been taken care of.” The raven informs him.
“…how’s Kaeya?” Aether asks as Oz leads him back to the city.
“Injured but Lady Fischl and Master Jean are getting him looked at.” Oz answers. He was afraid of that, once again failing to protect the ones he cares most for.
“I do recommend he take a few days maybe even weeks off so he can heal properly.” Barbara suggested but it sounded more like a demand.
“Of course.” Jean nods.
“Jean! Fischl!”
Aether came barging in with Oz not far behind.
“Where’s Kaeya? How is he? What happened?” Aether asks not giving any of the three the chance to answer until Fischl flicks his forehead.
“Relax my friend. After you left to finish the commissions, me and Oz did our own investigation. We got wind that some mages of the Abyss order weren’t too happy about what you did to the Pyro mage.” Fischl explains. “So we got help from Master Diluc.”
“Diluc?” Aether repeated.
“Yes. He help us figure out what they were planning and we were ready to stop them.” Fischl finished. “Unfortunately Kaeya didn’t come out unharmed however I’d say this is better than what that mage had planned.”
“True.” Aether sighs. “Um….where is he?”
Barbara leads him to the room where the captain was resting before leaving him, being able to tell he wanted the two of them to be alone. Aether walks over to the bed slowly, sitting beside the sleeping man. His shirt was off and he could see the bandages that wrap around his side, grimacing when he sees some of the new burn scar peaking out at the top.
“I’m so sorry, Kaeya. This is all my fault.” Aether whispers, brushing a hand lightly over Kaeya’s cheek. He jumps when the captain stirs a little and the one eye he could see blinking before looking up.
“Oh Aether.” Kaeya yawns. The honorary knight helps him sit up and lean back on the wall.
“Sorry didn’t mean to wake you.” The blond murmurs.
“I was more resting than sleeping.” Kaeya corrects.
“Kaeya I-“
“If you’re going to apologize-don’t.” The taller of the two interrupts.
“But if I hadn’t lost my temper you never would’ve gotten jump in your own city!” Aether protests.
“And you need to stop taking the blame every time I get hurt.” Kaeya counters.
“I don’t do that.” Aether pouts.
“Remember last week when an apple fell from a tree you just happen to be standing by and hit my head?” Kaeya asks with a small snicker. Aether babbles before crossing his arms and looking away.
“Well I bump into the tree-“ Aether began.
“See there you go.” Kaeya points out. “Aether this isn’t your fault. Neither are all the other times I’ve been hurt when I’m helping you. Why are you so hard on yourself?”
Aether sighs heavily, still not meeting the other’s gaze.
“It’s like I told you. I lost Lumine, I don’t wanna lose anyone else.” Aether answers and looks to Kaeya. “I guess I’m harder on myself when it comes to you.”
“You’ve trusted me with things you don’t like others to know. You’ve….open yourself up to me through my journey. Every time I come back to Mondstadt you’re the first person to greet me and the first person to wish me a safe travel when I head back out.” Aether continues. He looks up and Kaeya doesn’t speak yet, letting him go on. “I’m just afraid that if I’m not careful, I’ll lose you too.”
Aether looks back down at the scar from the explosion.
“And when that mage harmed you all I saw was red. I flashback to when that god took Lumine away.” Aether took one of Kaeya’s hands into his own. “I couldn’t let that go so I lost it.”
“Aether. You know I’m not going anywhere.” Kaeya says softly. “It’s going to take a lot more than this to get rid of me.”
“I know.” The traveler chuckles. The two sit quietly for a few moments before Aether takes in a deep breath. He looks at the hand he’s holding before pulling it up to his lips and giving it a light kiss on the top. He puts it down and leans in closer before moving down and giving the scar on Kaeya’s chest a feather light kiss, trailing up it till he pulls back enough to see Kaeya’s face.
“Pheeewww. Paimon hasn’t had to float this far in a long time.” Paimon sighs as she floats into the Cathedral. She looks around before finding an open door. “That must be where Kaeya is.”
She peeks in and covers her mouth to stop a loud gasp from leaving.
Kaeya and Aether…..kissing!
“Hmmm…maybe Paimon will visit a little later.” She giggles and floats away.