Chapter Text
The moment our eyes met, I felt as though the seasons breathed new life into me. And I stopped, unable to do anything but surrender to the wonder of falling Autumn leaves and brisk Summer afternoons.
It’s not like I set out to fall in love. Sure, I’ve encountered my fair share of unbelievably breathtaking men, but my mind wasn’t anywhere near the concept of forging a romantic relationship. I’m supposed to be focused on saving my sister, and there’s no small list of people that are in dire need of my help.
Traveling through a world you never even knew existed, and encountering its many townsfolk, comes with no small amount of responsibilities. In addition to trying to find a sister that’s working with the Abyss Order. But then Paimon and I arrived in Inazuma, and everything changed. Everything within me changed. Became brand new. Exciting, terrifying, different.
Thoma smiled at me just a few minutes ago, and I fell in love with him all over again. We’re sharing Mondstadt’s Harvest Festival with him, and I’ve never seen him so happy. He told us he loves Inazuma, despite the many pieces of shit that see fit to talk behind his back, but there’s a different glow in his eyes as we walk Mondstadt’s streets. He’s been glowing all day long, shining very much like a newborn dream kissed by a lake of stars, discovering everything the festival has to offer, and by the Gods I’ll never forget this night as long as I live.
It’s not like I set out to fall in love, but now that I’m here, I’m not looking back. He’s holding a bouquet of Wind Asters, wearing a smile that teaches me how to dream, how to breathe, how to believe in hope even though it’s a million miles outside of my grasp. I become brand new as he speaks to me, telling me about the fun he’s having, transformed by the home he was forced to leave behind. Seeing Mondstadt was nothing more than a dream to him, an adventure he never thought would come to fruition-but then he took my hand, with that smile of his. And at that moment, I swore to do everything in my power to make that adventure happen.
We’re sitting on a bench as the festival continues, complete with happy visitors and many vendors happily selling their wares. There’s apple cider and pumpkin spice cookies. Pumpkin spiced wines. Mugs. Fragrant, colorful dishes coming out of Good Hunter. Despite the vibrant sea of festival activity, though, I can’t help but notice how extraordinarily beautiful Thoma is. He’s happy, even more luminous than the moon, as he hugs the Wind Asters. I know I should be listening to whatever he’s saying, because what he’s saying is important to him, and he’s important to me, but I’m at a loss for words. Instead, I cup his face and press my lips against his. I kiss him as though we won’t see tomorrow and cherish every second I’m able to be near him.
He returns the kiss, his hands landing upon my shoulders, his sounds so unbearably adorable. He then pulls away from me with a gasp, looking as though he made the biggest mistake of all time, most likely preparing an apology. But I brushed my forehead against his for a second, then cupped his face again. Caressing his cheeks, I pressed my lips against his with interminable longing, wanting to erase every last inch of heartache he had ever experienced. Wanting him to know that I worshipped him.
Thoma returns my kiss again, his hands tracing the contours of my waist. I dart my tongue into his mouth and he whimpers, the sound deep and sweet. I press my body against his, my tongue still in his mouth and feel his thighs moisten. I’ve never kissed anyone before-by the Gods, I’ve never even held anyone’s hand. My only previous experience with romance is finding Zhongli beautiful-but then again, everyone has to find Zhongli devastatingly beautiful. It’s the law. However, Thoma and I are in completely different playing fields. Not only is he inexperienced, he’s lonely. By the Gods, he’s lonely. The sounds he’s making, his rock-hard cock and the wetness between his thighs-they all prove just how lonely he’s been to me.
Well, he was lonely. Not any more.
His face crimson-red from embarrassment, he pulls away from me. His hands are on my shoulders, proving that he’s still comfortable with me. I just put him in an awkward position. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, speaking to him as though he’s made of glass. I brush several strands of hair from his face, marveling at how they remind me of wheat kissed by sunset. “I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
“No need to apologize,” Thoma assures me, short of breath, his insanely adorable face beet red. “It’s...it’s okay. It’s...not like I didn’t want it to happen. I did. I really did.”
“So did I,” I tell him, setting aside his bouquet of Wind Asters. I smile at him, letting him know how much I enjoyed his company, letting him know how much I enjoyed exploring not only the festival but life with him. I cover his thighs with my cape, and kiss him on the lips. He tastes like apple cider and the first brushes of morning. “Let’s wait it out,” I tell him, my hands on his thighs. It takes every thread of my being to keep myself from tearing his pants off.
“I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do, after making you so uncomfortable.”
The look on his face makes me want to ravage him until he can’t even think of standing up. “Aether, does this...does this mean you...um...love me?”
“Not really,” I tell him, cup his face again and then dart my tongue back into his mouth. He moans and by the Gods, his moans are adorable. “Can’t stand you,” I add. “You disgust me. By the way-” I look down at the moist bulge in his pants.
“Nice package. Good thing your pants are black.”
He opens his mouth to say something, most likely to return my feelings, judging by the smile on his rose-red face. But I can’t stand to have his mouth open unless mine’s on it, so I kiss him again. “You’d better stop talking, if we’re going to have any chance of getting back to the inn in one piece,” I warn him, as though we’re on a top-secret mission.
“But Aether, I-”
I sigh, cover him with my cape again, and kiss him once more. Not only do I dart my tongue back into his mouth, I trace the contours of his waist. I then grip his pert, devastatingly adorable ass. He moans, and by the Gods, how he moans and melts. He’s clearly embarrassed but wants me just as much as I want him, judging by how his hands are tracing me. I grip his pretty ass even harder, he moans even deeper and we both melt. We’re both wet, something new, wonderful and exciting.
He whispers my name, his cheeks flushed, his forehead brushing against mine. “Please,” he whimpers.
“I want to. Just...just not here. And I...I love you too. Very much. I’m so glad we’re-”
“You’re just too damn adorable for your own good,” I tell him, after pressing him into another long, hard kiss. Gods, I love how he tastes like Autumn.
“Okay then, here’s what’ll happen if you say one more word. I’ll strip you naked and ravage you until you can’t breathe. I’d rather do that in the inn, where you’re a little more comfortable, so just keep quiet for a few minutes, okay?”
“O-”
“You’re so unbelievably bad at paying attention,” I tell him, after pressing him into another kiss. “You’re also unbelievably adorable. Incredible combination of talents, Thoma. I'll let you off just this once.” I kiss the bridge of his nose, and he whimpers again.
"But say anything else, and all bets are off."