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“Look at you comrade....You’re all wet.”
It was the day of their weekly duel- or weekly ‘date’ as Childe would call it, and Aether had never felt more adrenaline rushing through his body. Childe was a formidable opponent, and there was many a benefit from getting to square off with the 11th of the Fatui Harbingers.
Aether narrowly avoided a hydro- infused arrow, tumbling to the side. He summoned his sword, aiming a blow at Childe who swiftly dodged the attack.
Aether looked up at Childe, who was grinning; a maniacal glint in his dull blue eyes. “Too slow.”
Aether huffed, and summoned an Anemo blast, which sent Childe stumbling back.
Aether grinned. “Now who’s too slow?”
Childe laughed, briefly disappearing. He reappeared at the other side of the arena, leaving a trail of hydro in his wake. Aiming his bow upwards, a humpback whale formed at the tip, soaring across the Golden House. Its shadow loomed large over Aether, who quickly sprang to the edge of the arena. The hydro whale came crashing down in a thunderous wave of water, dampening Aether’s clothes.
“You-“
Childe appeared at his side, lunging forward in a surge of hydro. Blades of hydro slashed the air as Aether abruptly stepped back, caught off guard.
He swiftly dodged the next sequence of attacks, countering them with his own geo construct.
They duelled back and forth for awhile; weapons clashing, and elements reacting. Aether was dripping wet now, but had managed land in his fair share of critical hits, much to his satisfaction. But before he could climb a geo boulder to perform a plunge attack, he felt Childe’s presence behind him. Aether could feel Childe’s ragged breaths on his nape, his chest heaving.
“Guess I should...take you a little more seriously.”
Aether grumbled, a hot flush creeping across his face. Hydro engulfed Childe in the center of the arena, allowing him to unleash his Delusion.
Lightning crackled at his fingertips, mask donning his face. Childe dashed toward Aether in a flash of electro; his face was covered, yet Aether could still somehow tell of the murderous look that clouded Childe’s face. Aether prepared himself for Childe’s usual set of melee attacks, to time his dashes accordingly. However, Childe’s attacks were a little slower than his usual rapid ones, allowing Aether to save some stamina. Was Childe losing his touch?
“Something else caught your eye?”
Aether’s brief moment of hesitation allowed Childe an opportunity to strike him, marking Aether with an electro Riptide. Aether staggered backwards, panting heavily.
“Looks like I’ve marked you. Quite romantic, don’t you think?”
“Romantic indeed.” Aether’s words were laced with sarcasm.
Aether began to form a geo construct, but stopped when he felt himself being gently pushed, back colliding with the wall. He looked up to see Childe, whose mask was pushed aside to reveal his face.
Aether’s golden eyes met Childe’s ocean blue ones- fuck, he wanted to drown in them.
“I win.” Childe’s tone was gleeful, a playful smile adorning his face. Aether firmly held Childe’s gaze, despite his steadily reddening face.
“Aren’t you going to transform?” He blurted out.
Childe blinked. “You mean my Foul Legacy transformation?”
Aether could listen to Childe’s raspy voice all day.
“Yes! I must have got you to at least half health.” He insisted.
“Oh? I don’t think I can really use that anymore, for now. “
Aether stared at him, incredulously.
“Huh? Wait, how many times have you transformed this month?”
“Four times. It has quite the toll on my body,” Childe smirked. “though I wouldn’t mind if it were you though.
Aether wanted to slap that smug look off his face. He glared at Childe, heart pounding against his rib cage.
“ You’ve lost the tiny amount of concern I had left for you. You’re delusional.”
“Maybe I am for you.”
Aether wanted to kiss that stupid grin away. He shuddered, appalled . “Are you seriously flirting with me right now?”
Childe smiled, fake innocence oozing from his expression. “If you want me to.”
Aether audibly sighed. “Why’d you still fight, if you were recovering?”
A fond smile adorned Childe’s handsome face. “Who would resist such an exciting battle with the Traveller himself? Not me!”
“I’m so honoured, Lord Childe.” Aether deadpanned.
They stared at each other. Aether was once again reminded that Childe still had him pinned against the wall- shivering slightly at the feeling of Childe’s thigh brushing against his own. Childe placed a finger under Aether’s chin, tilting it upwards; placing a gloved hand on his exposed waist. Aether’s heart threatened to combust with suppressed feelings right then and there, yearning for Childe’s intimate touches.
“How dry were you, during our fight?”
Childe’s lazy smirk made Aether want to touch him even more, lust clouded his thoughts completely.
Aether shrugged, in a feeble attempt at nonchalance. “ I stayed...fairly dry.”
“Liar.”
Aether felt Childe’s hand travel further down his spine.
“How wet do you want to be, Traveller?”
Aether gazed up at him through half-lidded eyes.
“Soaking wet, please.”