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When Xiao first meets the twin travelers, they look to him like snowflakes; pretty but fleeting things, never destined to linger for longer than a little while before they inevitably move on to the next world. He doesn’t expect them to stay much longer than it takes for them to explore the four corners of the world—a few years at most—and he certainly does not expect to wind up as Aether’s romantic partner.
Not that he’s about to start complaining about it, of course. He loves Aether, and he’s beyond thrilled that both he and his sister have decided to linger on Teyvat, even if he refuses to show it outright.
As it would seem, the world is filled with surprises.
One such surprise is Lumine’s announcement of her engagement to Tartaglia, eleventh harbinger of Snezhnaya’s Tsaritsa. Or rather, Ajax, as he insists his family calls him. He also insists on considering Aether his family now that his relationship to his sister has been cemented, and as Aether’s partner, he insists that Xiao become a part of it as well.
He’s a very insistent fellow.
But Lumine seems happy with him anyway, and as long as Lumine is happy, Aether is content with her decision, so Xiao decides to politely withhold his judgment.
Everyone appears to be pleasantly surprised to see the couple, both equally headstrong and equally remiss to stay in one place for longer than a couple of months, suddenly eager to settle down, but they’re even more surprised when they announce that they’re having a baby.
Even Aether is shocked when the news reaches them, though his shock turns quickly to elation once the news sinks in. And so, when their baby is born months later, Xiao and Aether pack up a travel bag and go to Morepesok to visit.
Ajax’s family home is cozy and filled to bursting with people, a fact that Xiao is none too comfortable over, but he endures it for Aether’s sake, tucking himself into a corner at every opportunity and spurning curious approaches from Ajax’s rambunctious teenage siblings. He’d never known that mortal families could be so large , and yet Ajax’s already quite spacious family home is overflowing with guests and extended family anyway. They crowd around the new parents, offering joyful congratulations and showing them with gifts, though many of them deign to stay only for a few days before going back to wherever it is they’d come from in the first place.
The first morning after Ajax’s extended family has gone home again finds Xiao waking early to a mostly-empty house. Distantly, he can hear Ajax’s mother cooking breakfast in the kitchen, but as he descends the stairs in search of Aether, no one else blocks his path.
He finds his partner in the empty drawing room, rocking back and forth in an old, reliable rocking chair and cradling Lumine’s newborn daughter in his arms—they’d named her Alena, after Ajax’s late grandmother.
Xiao’s never seen Aether hold a baby before. The sight of it makes him pause in the doorway before he announces himself, taking a moment to simply observe.
He has the baby girl’s head settled into the crook of his right elbow, his ungloved hands holding her like something priceless. There’s a broad smile on his face, one that practically overflows with a kind of love and adoration that Xiao has never seen on him before.
It’s different from the loving looks he shares with Xiao when the two of them are alone, this one somehow infinitely softer around the edges. Something about the sight of it does funny things to Xiao’s heart.
Aether glances up after a few moments of Xiao lingering in the doorway, his smile widening further when he meets Xiao’s gaze. “Good morning,” he greets quietly, unwilling to break the peaceful atmosphere that’s all too rare to come by in a house as rambunctious as Ajax’s. “Did you just wake up? Ajax and his siblings went out shopping, so it’s just us and his parents this morning.”
Xiao offers up a silent nod to show his understanding and finally enters the room, pulling a chair up to sit at Aether’s side. “And Lumine?” he asks, his gaze drifting down to the infant cradled with such great care in Aether’s arms.
“Taking a bath. She was up all night.” With an exceedingly tender touch, Aether reaches out and brushes Alena’s wispy hair out of her face—blond, just like the twins’ hair. “I’m just watching her for a little while so she can get some time to herself, but I’m not really sure what I’m doing.”
Xiao hums, regarding the sleeping baby with mild trepidation. He’s been around very few babies even in his long life, so he’s not entirely sure what’s normal for them, but he finds himself thinking Aether must be doing a good job anyway, if Alena looks this peaceful. “She sleeps most of the day anyway,” he comments, “and she appears fine enough staying with you. You look quite natural with her.” Subconsciously, he leans closer to Aether, leaning his weight on the arm of his chair.
Aether laughs softly. “Only because Ajax’s mother showed me how to hold her properly,” he replies, but he’s smiling good-naturedly. “It’s been a long time since Lumine and I were children, and we don’t exactly have any other family to teach us. Lumine’s been learning as she goes. I know she’s really appreciated having Ajax’s family around to help her out.”
“Then he is good for something after all,” Xiao says flatly.
He’s never been very good at telling jokes, but when Aether lets out a snort in an attempt to stifle his laughter, he knows that this one has landed.
“Would you like to hold her?” Aether suddenly asks, glancing up to catch Xiao’s eye.
Just the suggestion of it makes Xiao freeze up. He hastily averts his gaze. “I am not sure that is a very wise idea,” he murmurs in response, hesitation and doubt creeping into his tone. “I am not a very gentle person. I might hurt her accidentally.”
Aether quirks a brow in his partner’s direction. “Nonsense, I’ve seen you be gentle plenty of times,” he says firmly. “It’s easy, I promise. I can teach you.”
Xiao wants to refuse, instinct urging him to keep his distance, but Aether’s expectant gaze and easy faith in him makes him rethink his obstinance.
“Alright,” he finally acquiesces, though not without some trepidation. Tentatively, he uncrosses his arms and turns toward Aether, uncertain but putting his trust in his partner to guide him.
Aether shifts his grip on Alena so he can pass her to Xiao, then does so with exceeding care. “Turn your arm like this, so her head is up against your elbow,” he instructs softly, nudging Xiao’s arm into a comfortable position before settling the baby into his hold.
His hands linger until Xiao gets a proper grip on her, after which he draws back slowly. Beaming, he offers Xiao a bright smile. “There, see? Easy!” he says brightly, settling back down in his own chair.
Xiao has his eyes fixed on Alena, this tiny thing that fits between his arms with room to spare and is so light he hardly even notices her weight. He can’t help but feel a little nervous to be holding such a fragile, vulnerable person— he’s never considered himself to be someone to whom a gentle touch comes naturally—but then Aether leans into his side, pressing their shoulders together with a smile still on his face, and Xiao feels his anxieties dissipate just a little.
It’s not enough for him to completely let down his guard, and he’s still terribly tense and mildly nervous, but it’s tolerable, at least.
“You look like you’re going to jump up and run any second,” Aether laughs, a teasing edge to his voice.
“I will do no such thing,” Xiao insists seriously, a tingle of embarrassment warming his face. “Besides, even if I were to attempt it, your sister and her battle-crazed idiot of a husband would have my head within the hour.”
Aether wheezes out another laugh, caught off-guard by Xiao’s sudden light-hearted comments. “For the record, I wouldn’t let them murder you,” he says quietly.
They lapse into silence after that as Aether tucks his head into the crook of Xiao’s shoulder and neck and Xiao focuses on ensuring Lumine’s baby remains comfortable. He half expects her to start crying as soon as she’s separated from Aether, but she doesn’t even wake after being handed off. Gradually, Xiao finds himself relaxing, the warmth and quiet of the atmosphere lulling him into a sense of comfort.
There’s something about the warmth and quiet of the atmosphere that makes Xiao want to fall asleep, even though he’s not tired and his body doesn’t require rest. He finds himself sinking more deeply into the chair, a pleasant haze falling over him that lasts until Lumine finally emerges from upstairs, dressed in clean clothes and looking refreshed.
A smile breaks out on her face when her gaze lands on Xiao and Aether, “I hope she was good for you while I was gone,” she says quietly as she makes her way over to them. Her eyes glitter with barely contained pride as she looks down at her daughter, who stirs in Xiao’s arms in response to her mother’s voice.
“She was a perfect angel,” Aether replies.
Naturally, the moment the words leave his mouth, Alena opens her mouth and starts to fuss, little whimpers and cries filling the room. She starts to wriggle a little in Xiao’s arms, and he jumps in response to them. “U-Um,” he starts, feeling just a little panicked in the face of a crying child, but thankfully, Lumine is quick to come to his rescue.
She sweeps Alena up in her arms immediately and brings her to rest against her shoulder, giving her a gentle pat on the back. “Ssshh, don’t cry, Lenusha ,” she coos, adopting the affectionate nickname Ajax had given their daughter after she’d been born. She flashes Xiao an apologetic look. “Sorry, I think she’s just hungry. I’m going to take her upstairs, okay?”
Aether laughs as Lumine sweeps back out of the room, baby in tow. “Bit of a mama’s girl, isn’t she?” he says fondly.
“That’s to be expected,” Xiao mumbles in response, crossing his arms and feeling just a tad foolish with how quickly a baby’s cries had knocked him off-balance.
Picking up on his disappointment in himself, Aether smiles and slips his hand into Xiao’s to give it a reassuring squeeze. “You did well,” he says. “I know you haven’t been around many children before, but she looked comfortable with you. You two looked cute together.”
Cute? Xiao blinks, though he doesn’t dare attempt to argue the point. “If you found it cute, then I suppose that’s fine,” he concedes, doing his best not to let show on his face just how pleased Aether’s one-off comment makes him. There’s not much he can do to stop the blush that creeps up the back of his neck, though.
He can withstand any embarrassment if it means creating more of these calmer, happier memories. The fact that he is able to stand where he does today, in spite of all odds and all the forces that have conspired against him throughout his many years, is nothing short of miraculous. The thought of it, though somber, brings with it a sense of peace that Xiao finds easier and easier to accept the more time that passes.
“Hey, you alright?” Aether asks, once again picking up on Xiao’s thoughtful silence.
Xiao blinks, casting Aether a sideways glance, then offers him up a small but genuine smile. “Fine,” he replies, squeezing Aether’s hand back. “Just thinking.”
Aether raises a brow at this but doesn’t pry further, a small smile of his own coming to his face. He stands up and tugs on Xiao’s hand. “Come on, let’s see if there’s anything else we can help out with around the house,” he suggests. “Ajax and the others will be back soon, so we should take advantage of the quiet.”
Xiao hums his assent and allows Aether to tug him to his feet and out the door, their quiet footsteps filling the cozy house with the sounds of life.