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Once emerald fields were scorched an ugly umber. Aether was driven back by a wild charge. A routine commission to quell some unruly Hilichurls quickly got out of hand. The path he took was one that he knew well. Wandering the expanses of Liyue was childsplay to the seasoned traveler. He knew the names of the Millelith patrols. He had memorized the local fauna, and where each plant grew. The monsters were no different.
Or so that was the thought. Aether did not account for two geovishap hatchlings to join the tribe of Hilichurls. The mission required him to not only best half a dozen Hilichurls, but also a Mitachurl and an Abyss Mage. Ten enemies against the single adventurer. To an average person, it would be certain death. And to Aether, he would succeed, but not unscathed.
His sword glided to intercept the Mitachurl’s axe. The heavy blow practically sent the blonde flying. He managed to return to his feet quickly, yet he nearly got encapsulated by a bubble. He already told Paimon to make herself sparse. There was no room for distractions. He had to be on high alert as arrows whizzed past, nearly hitting his torso in the process.
His foot slammed into the ground and sent him into a fleche. His sword guided him like an arrow. The tip met its target in a Hilichurl archer’s torso. The monster let out a cry as it burst into a cloud of smoke. One down. Nine to go. His idle thoughts were interrupted as the geovishap hatchling collided with him.
Aether collected dirt as he rolled across the meadow. He narrowly avoided burns from the fiery cinders left by the Mitachurl’s swings. It was not clear to him whether or not his ribs were broken. Either way, he had to keep fighting. His focus honed in on the other archer. Rather than leave himself open for another attack, he employed his elemental burst. Wind collected around him before creating a mighty roar of air. A swirl was created from the remaining embers, swallowing the five Hilichurls and disorienting the Mitachurl.
His sudden charge saved him from being intercepted by the hatchling. His sword swung wide, hitting both the second archer and a fighter. Two more down. Seven left. While Aether perceived the second hatchling in time, he blanked on the Abyss Mage. In a single moment, Aether understood exactly what drowning was like. He used his precious stamina to burst the impossible membrane.
His successful escape was followed by falling on his rear. He sucked up the pain to get right back to his feet. His successive strikes had accrued enough elemental energy. He smirked as he unleashed his special. Soon enough, a tornado manifested and tore through the battlefield. The remaining hilichurls were swallowed into the vortex. Though, they were the easy part. Getting them out of the picture did not make the battle any easier. His fight only got worse as one of the hatchlings got lucky again.
Aether was launched back into the ground. This time for sure, the traveler knew that it cracked ribs. Pain seared his side. Adrenaline surged throughout the traveler’s body. The blonde felt emboldened to act before he became immobilized by his injuries.
His next target was the Mitachurl. While reeling in pain, his delirious mind put together a plan. He waited for the hatchlings to unearth before he baited the axe wielder toward him. Aether’s taunts succeeded. It let out a billowing cry before swinging in a circle. The almost unending blows would have very likely been fatal... if only any one of them had managed to hit. Aether predicted this outcome and kept an eye on distance. His footwork worked to keep him just out of range. Unfortunately for one of the hatchlings, it rushed at the traveler at the worst time.
Where it would have taken Aether a good amount of time to banish a member of the geovishaps, the compounding swings of the Mitachurl turned the hatchling to smoke in moments. It should have been lucky how easily one was defeated. But, Aether’s wounds left him worse for wear. He could not fight an Abyss Mage in this condition, much less one with a Mitachurl and a hatchling.
Despite these grim circumstances, Aether had let his guard down. He was suddenly transfixed by how the second hatchling opted to target the Mitachurl instead of him. For a brief moment, the traveler mused over how the monster wanted retribution.
In doing so, he failed to account for the Abyss Mage. It saw the opportunity and teleport beside the traveler. Hydro energy burst forth and pushed him back. The smarmy gaze of the eager monster matched Aether’s shock. It was able to release a spell before Aether completely processed events.
The adrenaline started to fade as the blonde boasted new injuries. The elemental damage had him haggard. But without the other two involved, he had a fairer fight. His sword continued to press the forcefield. In more than one instance, Aether narrowly avoided his opponent’s magic.
Relief washed over Aether as the shield finally gave way. With the mage completely helpless, he began his onslaught. Throughout the fight, he rarely had the chance to think. He could barely even process any thoughts of death as he worked to quell the monsters. Everything was moving too fast for Aether. Every time his focus slipped, he would be punished.
Once again, he let his triumph over the Abyss Mage keep him from noticing the winner of the grudge match beside him. The hatchling not only came out on top, but it sprung toward Aether right away. As it rolled forward, its tough carapace became a blunt weapon.
While Aether blocked the brunt of the force with his sword, he was sent backward into a nearby boulder. He would feel that the next morning. Dizzy and mostly faint, he had no choice but to take a battle stance once again. The pain and his injuries beckoned him to surrender. The ringing in his ears overwhelmed any protests. He ignored the blood that dyed his hair red. Had his head collided that hard with the rock?
He could not say anything of his condition as he challenged the hatchling. He prepared a heavy slash, needing to gamble on the single strike. Luckily for Aether, the Archons smiled at him. The hatchling dissipated. Aether was left behind in an empty field, surrounded by broken masks and branches.
He slumped back on the boulder, no longer able to stand. His legs would have given way had he not opted to rest. It occurred to Aether as his eyes grew heavy that he had a concussion. Still, he accepted sleep.
He was sure he was not out for long as his eyes opened wearily. The late afternoon sky was replaced by an endless indigo. It had to have been several hours since he passed out. There was nobody around. When he tried to move, his exhaustion held him down. The pain echoed in his body. He could not stand, and by extension walk.
A sense of dread lingered in the back of his mind. Was this the end? Would he be discovered by monsters? Despair brought Aether back into his mind. And while lamenting his circumstances, it occurred to him that he still had hope. He felt foolish for not realizing sooner. And so, he jumped at the opportunity to survive.
“Xiao, please...” He muttered in a hoarse voice. His senses grew dim. He wondered if his meek call would be sufficient in summoning the man, the only person that could lift him from this nightmare.
Like magic, the Adeptus was before him. Though, it did not seem like magic. The winds carried him from the sky with great haste and toward Aether’s location. Paimon clung desperately to the pauldron. Aether’s smile was faint as he observed his savior. He said nothing more before passing out again. Before his consciousness faded, he thought for sure he heard a frantic cry from the Yaksha. That belief was enough to give him peace.
Aether awakened to an unfamiliar setting. His golden eyes darted the contents of the foreign room. His worst fears were quelled once he spotted Paimon floating his head. “You’re awake. Paimon knew you would recover, but you still had us worried.” She said with a huff. The blonde ignored her as he pushed himself out of the makeshift cot. He recognized the design of the room, the very distinct style of Liyue. The window view nearby allowed him to spot the general area he got ambushed too. He was not far from his battlefield.
Much like a housefly, Paimon continued to hover around him. “Hey! Hey! Don’t try to get up!” The fairy lacked the strength to hold down the traveler. Her words were all that kept him from running off.
He remembered vividly hearing Xiao. Despite his blurred vision and the ringing in his ears, he knew that it was the Yaksha that rescued him. Aether recalled his instructions for him to recite his name to summon him.
“Paimon thinks you should stay. When we found you, you were really hurt.” Her advice was ignored and promptly followed after Aether winced in pain. He scanned his figure, noticing bandages covering his bare chest.
Even if the pain was not sharp, Aether too felt dizzy. His body felt like it was rocking back and forth without his input. He felt mostly rested, but the delirium remained. He too felt sore, sick, and broken, to put it mildly. He gave in and fell back onto the bed. He made a groan upon impact.
“How long was I out for?” Aether asked after taking a few minutes to get cozy again. In that time, he began to recognize his surroundings better. The layout of the room and the glimpse into the hall told him he was at the Wangshu Inn. Considering the proximity it had to him earlier, he was unsurprised.
“About a few hours. Paimon did not expect you to be up so quickly. Xiao thought you would be conscious in the morning too,” she informed him. She continued to swarm him, glancing over his body to check on the injuries.
While the traveler took notice of wrapping on his head, the fairy’s words sunk in. “You said Xiao was here? Do you know where he is?” What seemed to matter most in that instant was finding the Adeptus. His current company was not enough to cool his nerves. A part of Aether wondered how Xiao must be feeling at that moment.
Aware enough of Aether’s focus, the fairy stroked her chin and thought to herself. Hopefully, she had the brain juice left to answer a simple question. “Paimon remembers he stepped out to get some air.”
Seeing as how he could not get up from his bed without agitating his wounds, following after the other man was not an option. “Could you get him for me?” Aether relied on her for obvious reasons.
While she nodded to the request, her gaze rested on the doorway. “Paimon doesn’t think that’s necessary.” Aether’s eyes followed and took notice of the Yaksha immediately. Xiao looked calm, mostly. He donned his usual deadpan, but there was a subtle glint in his eyes.
“Xiao?” Aether called for him sheepishly.
“Aether,” Xiao, in turn, responded curtly.
It became evident quickly that Xiao had nothing to say. Aether felt responsible for owning up first and saying what needed to be said. “I... Thank you for saving me. I don’t think I would’ve survived if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” Given the state of his injuries, he was easy prey for even slimes. Had Xiao not rescued him, it was a coin toss if he would be discovered by the Millileth or a Hilichurl first. Aether felt confident that he already spent most of his luck in his battle.
“What were you thinking?” Xiao asked harshly. He ignored the warm sentiments and gratitude provided by the blonde.
The cold reception had Aether blink. He felt tongue-tied in that instant. “I really am grateful for everything you did. I was reckless, and you actually appeared when I needed you most. I cannot thank you enough” His voice was shaken, but he tried to remain warm.
“You’re right. You were reckless. You nearly got yourself killed,” Xiao pointedly reminded Aether. There was no sympathy or courtesy. He was very purposeful with his words.
His mood turned the room icy. Aether swallowed thickly, unsure of what more to say for himself. Should he give an excuse? Should he agree with Xiao? Interacting with the Yaksha was so different from everyone else he knew. Xiao never minced words and always was direct in his criticisms. “I didn’t realize the geovishap hatchlings would be there. I didn’t notice them when I scouted the area.”
The excuse was met with a scoff. He was not about to give Aether a break. “So? And you thought your best option was to fight them all off? You truly believed you could fend them all off single-handedly?” The emphasis was on the last two words. Xiao’s main contention seemed to be there.
Aether failed to realize and subsequently got defensive. He lacked the same bite as Xiao, but he did not wish to apologize for coming out on top against ten monsters. “I did win... I mean, I beat them. You saw it. I won against them.”
His points carried little water. Xiao’s pointed gaze rested on the traveler’s body. He silently directed Aether’s eyes “With your injuries, you were lucky to have survived. You almost died. Must I spell that out for you again?” There was no condescension in his tone, only frustration. He was visibly bothered.
Xiao managed to effectively shut him down. “I, well, know that. It was really dumb of me,” he admitted. He clutched the sheets. He lacked the courage to meet the other’s eyes. He feared derision.
“What were you thinking? Do you really have no care for your life?” Xiao was emboldened to echo the sentiment.
It was all too harsh for Aether. His lip started to quiver. He did not think he would get so emotional, but he understood where the other was coming from. Though, he could not sit idly. He hated feeling weak. “I do! I fought to survive. I did everything in my power to stay alive.” He managed to win despite his odds. It was very impressive, and worth recognition. Any senior adventurer would not be able to handle themselves in that scenario.
Still, overcoming those odds did not matter. Xiao looked unimpressed. His frustration continued to burn. “Why didn’t you call for me?”
The question had Aether give a bewildered look. “I did! I said your name and you appeared. You saved me.” He did what the other wanted of him. He called for the Yaksha when he needed him most. Why was Xiao agitated? What did Aether do wrong?
“Why didn’t you call for me sooner?!” Xiao spelled out immediately. And with those words, it dawned on Aether why the other was riled up. The revelation stole any rebuttal from him. He knew that he messed up.
Aether lost his steam as he thought back on his battle. How much easier would it have been had Xiao appeared sooner? He would have definitely been in a better state than this. “Oh... it slipped my mind.” He meekly responded. What more could he say? It did not occur to him until late after the battle.
“Slipped your mind?” Xiao parroted mockingly. “Are you joking? Can you really be so idiotic?” Even if his words came from a place of care, they still stung Aether greatly. The blonde seemed to shrink with those words. What could he say to defend himself? Forgetting was hardly an excuse.
“Really,” he tried to double down, “everything happened so fast. I couldn’t think straight.” This much was true. They all rushed him and effectively distracted him from any other thoughts. He knew that his rationale was not enough to defend his actions, but he still wished to be honest.
Xiao rolled his eyes at what he heard. He was not in the least appeased by what he was told. “So, you forgot my offer.” He shook his head at the idea. “No, you let your pride blind you.” The accusation had Aether pale. It was not like that at all.
Panic overwhelmed Aether. He wanted badly to denounce the idea. His mistake was incidental. It had nothing to do with his ego. “I didn’t realize, honestly! It just didn’t cross my mind in time.”
“I cannot believe you,” the Yaksha stated dismissively.
This in tandem had Aether starting to get equally annoyed. He wanted Xiao to listen to him. The other had to understand that he meant nothing with his delay. He would have preferred fighting alongside Xiao than alone. Xiao’s opinion of him had a lot of weight on the traveler. The last thing he wanted was to ruin their relationship. “It’s the truth! If I had remembered, I would’ve called for you in a heartbeat!”
Aether’s desperate attempt to sway Xiao did not change his mood. “That’s cold comfort. Look at you, you look terrible.” His words hinted at something more than simple frustration. The blonde swore he noticed concern in the other’s voice. Xiao disliked seeing him hurt like this. He had a hopeful inkling of why that was.
Even if that much was clear to Aether, he could not let go of how callous the Adeptus was acting. “Why do you care so much? I have been through far worse. I can handle myself.” His battle had far fewer stakes than what happened against Childe and Osial. Fighting Stormterror was a greater challenge than the monsters he just fought.
The fiery rebuttal goaded Xiao into shouting back. “I care because you matter to me! What would I do if I lost you?” Both parties paled at Xiao’s words. The Yaksha realized too late the kind of insinuations that came with what he said. He essentially expressed something deeper than simple worry.
Any anger Aether had accumulated dissipated quickly. Everything strong emotion in him was replaced by shock. “... What was that?” He failed to process what he heard.
Xiao had a choice at that moment, clarify or be honest. He could tell Aether what he truly felt or push past the subject. He struggled to decide between the two. His inaction became telling of where he stood. He stared at Aether in disbelief, unsure of what to say about his outburst. He wanted to clarify, claiming that it was a deep sense of camaraderie or their friendship. He could convince the traveler of that. The romance was never something he hinted at before. There were moments where he disregarded personal space, but he never outright admitted anything until this point.
After a long moment of silence, Xiao knew he had to say something. He decided to go along with clarifying his thoughts. “You are a reliable ally and a friend of Rex Lapis. It is only fitting that I care for your safety.”
Aether did not buy those words for a second. While he was on the fence for so long on whether or not Xiao felt anything for him on a deeper level, he felt overwhelming confidence in his hunch. Xiao went to great lengths for him. Aether wanted badly to believe that there was more to it than duty. “Don’t lie to me. Tell me what you meant.”
Xiao flinched at those words. His cheeks gained a pink tint as he second-guessed his approach. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he attempted to match Aether’s confidence. Yet, his fluster had him sounding stubborn.
Acting ignorant only double-downed Aether’s suspicions. “I know what I heard. You can say whatever you must, but I want to know if you truly meant it.” Any chance at celebrating what he heard had to wait until Xiao embraced these feelings openly. He knew the other’s personality well enough, and Xiao was a difficult person to get along with.
“Are you serious?” The Yaksha raised an eyebrow. He wished Aether had just let go and saved this discussion for another time. He was hardly in the mood to chat over matters of the heart, being that he was emotionally compromised. How could he speak to Aether on romance when he was fretting over him at the same moment?
“I need to hear you say it,” Aether persisted. He did not budge. He would not surrender precious ground between them.
Xiao let out a long sigh. He massaged his temples and tried to suppress the oncoming headache. He acknowledged that the traveler wanted only a reply. If he said anything else, the other would continue to demand. “You matter to me, more than I would like.”
His wording earned a perplexed look. The blonde struggled to determine if that was sufficient. Was it enough of a confession? The more callous wording had him believing it was not enough. He wanted a reason to be happy. “Could you be more... specific?”
“Excuse me?” The Yaksha was getting tired of this back and forth. It was stretching out an awkward subject for him. He would have preferred a frank conversation over this drawn-out interrogation. At least then, he could be on his way sooner. He had neglected his responsibilities to care for him.
Aether understood the other’s emotions well. Xiao’s growing agitation was noted. The traveler wanted to sort out these feelings before the other threatened to storm off. “I would appreciate it if you said a bit more. It’s important to me.”
“Are you mocking me?” Xiao pinched the bridge of his nose. Did Aether really want him to humiliate himself?
“Please, Xiao.” The quiet plea plus an adorable expression had almost swayed Xiao’s heart. There was a reason why he fell hard for the other. It went beyond personal moments or respect. He had both a deep and superficial interest in the blonde. He was attracted to his personality and appearance. Of course, he had admitted neither for good reason.
Xiao planned to keep silent on both those points. He would say enough to satiate Aether’s inquisitiveness, nothing more than that. Even if a relationship with the outlander was tempting, he did not yearn for it. He kept those thoughts to fantasies. He knew of Aether’s hopes, but he liked things the way they were. “This is silly. Just tell me what you want me to say.”
“Can you tell me if you like me?” The blunt question had thrown off the Yaksha. Aether’s determination could be quite scary. He underestimated how needy the traveler could be with emotions.
Xiao was able to keep cool. But, he was seconds away from calling this whole conversation self-indulgent. The other had already surmised his feelings, and he likely also understood that Xiao was aware of his own. “Are you really asking me this?”
Once again, the Yaksha was met with a pout. Aether could be so immature at times. The blonde from the bedside had to be verbal and expressive with his request. “I just want to confirm what you meant. I would like to know if I am correct.”
Still, Xiao felt it was wise to be difficult. He turned his back on the traveler and turned his attention to the door. Escape was always an option. “Are you even paying attention? I’m concerned because you nearly died. You’re unable to even leave that bed.” A glance backward confirmed his words. He observed Aether’s miserable state.
The threat of storming off loomed over Aether’s head. He could not chase after Xiao. “You could leave now, or you could tell me why I matter to you.” His defiance and pointed tone matched the Yaksha’s earlier remarks. His voice was firm, unwavering in his faulty ultimatum.
Challenged by the words, it only felt right to Xiao to follow through on his threat. He could allow Aether to get haughty. If he continued to concede, it would only be a matter of time before he accepted a romance. The idea continued to play in his head, but it was not something he could ever enjoy. His karmic debt made that much impossible. “Why must mortals be so impertinent? I am leaving then.” He made the effort to open the door and place one foot into the hall.
This was enough for Aether to deflate. “Come on... I’ve really tried to act confident. I’m grasping at straws here. This isn’t easy for me.” He broke from his bravado and gave into his nervousness.
Xiao blinked at the change of heart. In the blonde’s moment of weakness, the Yaksha acquiesced and turned himself around wholly. He was once again at Aether’s side, within the blonde’s feeble reach. “Do you really want to talk about this now?”
“After nearly dying, I think it’s pretty fitting.” Aether blurted readily. A near-death experience was more than enough reason. Xiao had to concede to that rationale.
“You’re impossible,” he sounded defeated. He still had the power to leave and physically avoid the conversation. He also had it in him to deny his feelings entirely. Even if Aether understood that he held romantic inclinations, the traveler also knew that he was not fond of a relationship.
Still, this interaction wore him down. It had a lot to do with Aether’s condition. A near-death experience caused Aether to take an offensive. The experience of almost losing Aether had Xiao lower his defenses.
Xiao already felt guilty with his words before they even left his mouth. What right did he have to entertain these feelings and give the other man a confession? The act of doing so would signify a desire to be Aether’s lover. But, he told himself that he did not wish to pursue any of his desires. He did not wish to be selfish. However, Aether inspired so many silly thoughts in him. “I like you romantically. Is that fine?” As the guilt faded, the embarrassment sprung forth. The Yaksha’s cheeks heated up at what he said.
He was so hung up on letting go of his reservations that he did not realize the effect that admitting his feelings would have. He wanted to run as far away as he could from that room. Aether obviously felt the same, but there was something so awkward about confessing his feelings in that direct of a method. Alas, he brought it on himself for being difficult with romance.
His light flush changed as he heard Aether start to chuckle. “If I’m being honest, that sucked.” The pink tint was replaced by his whole face turning red. Xiao was at a loss for words over what he was told.
The Yaksha got defensive at the insult. “You were the one that goaded me into saying that,” he hissed at the blonde.
Where Xiao sputtered over his words and let his cheeks light up like lanterns, Aether was so much more composed. A deep smile was engraved on his face. He was positively beaming in the face of Xiao’s embarrassment. “It’s not a great confession. You really didn’t have to ask me if it was acceptable.”
The valid criticism had Xiao pouting now. The change in attitude was a testament to how much influence Aether had on him. “I’m sorry that I did not meet your expectations. I didn’t want to confess in the first place.”
Aether shook his head. “But you did anyway,” he replied cheekily. “Sorry if I pressured you.” He almost sounded sincere, but his grin said otherwise. The traveler was relishing in Xiao’s reaction.
“I thought this wasn’t easy for you,” Xiao responded bitterly. He crossed his arms and contemplated leaving once again.
“It wasn’t easy until you finally said it. I feel like a weight has been lifted,” Aether clarified. Seeing as how the biggest hiccup was getting Xiao to speak candidly, Aether already overcame his biggest hurdle. All that was left was for him to celebrate. Their relationship was undefined, but it was a step above friends.
“So you figured me out then?” Xiao did not expand upon the meaning of his words, leaving it up to Aether to decipher his meaning.
The blonde was already on the same page. He looked back to how Xiao spoke to him through their conversation and many times before. “I had a hunch that you liked me, but... I also knew you did not want a romance. You’ve lived a solitary life for so long. It was a little selfish of me to push you, but I feel like I would have regretted it if I hadn’t.” This time his sentiment sounded genuine. Behind his pride in reading Xiao perfectly, Aether felt some remorse for poking Xiao’s buttons to get there.
Xiao was all too easy to mess with. The touch of uneasiness had the Yaksha push to take a more positive spin in his own way. “You were lucky that I did not leave sooner. I have half a mind to leave right now.” Despite all of his huffing, he did not even have his hand on the door handle.
Aether felt satisfied with the confession alone, mostly. He got what he wanted most. Any further details were better discussed when the traveler could sit up without feeling pain. “You can go. I won’t keep you here forever, but...”
The added word had Xiao raise an eyebrow. He knew that something was cooking in that thick head of Aether’s. “But what?” He groaned, already predicting it to be something embarrassing.
“I have a request first,” Aether said with a playful smile.
Not wanting a repeat of earlier, Xiao went along with Aether’s proposal. “Spit it out.”
Aether was gleeful to the affirmative. He was smiling to himself and acting all goofy. “Well, since you confessed and I accepted-”
“You didn’t accept. You made fun of my confession,” the Yaksha gladly reminded Aether. Even if the blonde’s answer was obvious, he gave no verbal response other than teasing. It was Xiao’s turn to poke at the other’s confidence.
Sure enough, Aether lost some steam. Xiao was correct. “Oh, oh right.” And to the Yaksha’s delight, he too got to witness the traveler get flustered. It was cathartic to see. Xiao had to suppress a snicker at the sight.
“Well?” Xiao responded in the most playful way possible. It was hardly as cutesy as Aether’s teasing. But, the small smile on his face was a stark contrast from his usual scowl.
It fell on Aether to give a proper reply. “I like you too... in a romantic way.” He added the last part as his own jab.
Xiao rolled his eyes at the other’s cheekiness. What possessed him to fall for such a juvenile personality? He had only himself to blame for fancying Aether. “You mortals are frustrating. There, I should be going now. I’ve already entertained you long enough. We can talk after you’ve recovered.” This time around, his words were not an excuse. As his title the Vigilant Yaksha suggests, he always devoted himself to his duties. He only ever lingered around the inn to breathe and eat. Since he spent the past few hours fretting over Aether, he had to get back to ridding Liyue of its darkness.
“Wait!” Aether said in a meek shout. “What about my request? If you promise to fulfill my request, I’ll let you go.” He sounded quite insistent with his words.
Willing to honor their relationship to some extent, Xiao could at least hear out his partner. As bold as Aether was in that moment, most of the time he was pretty soft-spoken and of reasonable temperament. “Fine. Just make it quick.”
Xiao’s agreement had Aether again delighted. Though, the color remained on his cheeks. “I was hoping that, maybe, I could get a kiss. J-just on my forehead. It should help me get better.”
The request was quite innocent. Xiao knew that Aether would not ask for anything explicit or outrageous, but the sheepish tone had the Yaksha almost think the blonde was asking for something scandalous. He marveled at how the other appeared to fret over what he said despite moments prior confessing his own feelings and coaxing Xiao into admitting his.
A small chuckle was heard by Aether before the Yaksha kissed his forehead unannounced. The gesture had the traveler look at him in sheer awe. “There. Done. I’m leaving now.”
“I... look forward to talking to you later,” Aether made no efforts to keep Xiao. He watched the man disappear into the hall. He thought Xiao had said something more, but his head was spinning after the kiss. How could he let himself get so overwhelmed by the gesture?
“Paimon thinks you forgot that Paimon was here,” the fairy remarked from the corner.