Work Text:
A beautiful night in Liyue Harbor.
A blonde traveler was waiting for his girlfriend to come. She had invited him to go for a night stroll around Liyue Harbor…Since their first confession about their feeling, they had been around together for quite a time despite of going through many challenges about their relationship.
Until one day…
“Hey Aether…” A purple hair girl called him.
“Hey Keqing, you look great” Aether looked at her, her usual working purple dress was now changed to her casual one as well as her purple twintail with pointy cat ear’s hair bun changed to a long shiny lilac hair.
“Thanks” She looked away, blushing then grabbed his hand “Let’s go, shall we?”
They enjoy the all way in Liyue from Yujing Terrace to Feiyun Slope for some shopping then stopped at Wanning Restaurant…
Just about when they were ordering some food, Xiangling suddenly propped out, making them startled.
“Hey Aether…” Xiangling then darted to the girl next to him and grinning “and Keqing…hmmm…quite a night to enjoy huh…you’re dressing different from usual…”
Keqing then put her hand to cover Xiangling’s mouth “It’s my special day tonight alright…and I want to spend time with him only for whole day so I want to “change” a bit so no one notice…”
After the confession from that day, everyone knew Keqing was now dating the hero of Liyue and they had a busy day handling the overwhelming news coming from their own people in Liyue and perhaps Mondstadt too. Therefore, they had to disguise themselves a little bit so they could spend their time together without being distrusted.
“So, what do you want today, miss?” Xiangling asked
“As usual”
“Coming right up, what about you, Traverler from a far?” Xiangling beamed him as she knew who it was… “And where’s Paimon?”
“Oh, she said she was going to eat at Wangshu Inn” Aether said
“Can you pack these foods, Xiangling?” Keqing asked "We want to eat somewhere else…”
“You’ve got it!” Xiangling quickly ran to the kitchen after she got their request.
With her cooking skill, it didn’t take her long to make these foods perfectly.
“And here you go…” Xiangling gave them the food was well-wrapped inside the box…not only it looked really beautiful but also smell really good…
Aether used his teleport ability as he took Keqing to their favorite place.
Dwelling of the cloud…
One of the highest artifact places was made my Cloud Retainer. After a “small” deal with the Adepti and with his obvious reason, they allowed Aether to use this place for his personal use.
It was a beautiful, clear and quiet night sky; Trees and the landscapes also become more silent, waiting for the moon to rise to be reflected in the moonlight. The moon rose higher and higher, brighter and brighter each time. It was bright and golden like a mirror, watering the plants under the ground. Sometimes the wind blew and made the leaves flutter. Under the moonlight, the landscape becomes magical. Somewhere there was the sound of insects chirping calling each other, sang together happily under the full moon.
After setting up, Aether and Keqing managed to have a small party for themselves.
“Let’s get our party started!” Aether said as he brought out a cake.
“Thanks Aether…” Keqing’s face blushed and quite surprised as he had prepared so much for this “how did you able to get to this place…?”
“I have some good friend who can help me arrange this place” Aether chuckled.
“You quite have an eye of looking” Keqing giggled while watching the stars twinkling in the night sky “This place is so beautiful, especially at night”
“You like stargazing right…so I think this place suit best for you and-” Before Aether could finished his line, Keqing suddenly turned her face to him and he was stunned as he saw
Her radiant smile and the pair of amethyst eyes shined bright like stars, her long smooth purple hair was flowing with the wind, moonlight reflecting her fair skin and illuminating the scene around her.
He couldn’t stop focusing at her, it was like he was being drawn into her charm and it only broken away by her sweet voice…
“Stop looking at me like that, it’s embarrassing…” Keqing mumbled, tilting her head away, trying to hide the blushing on her face, but she still kept looking at him…she couldn’t stop seeing his golden eyes, his smiles that brought her inspiration, her movitation to chase her dream and her happiness of being with him.
“I can’t stop looking at you…your beautiful today” Aether chuckled.
Although she had been with her for quite a time but she still couldn’t handle those compliments from him, her head was like overloading, trying to process the line he just said to her.
“Ummm…thanks…” Keqing was completely flushed as she punched his gut lightly then went for an embrace "Let’s dig in or the food will go cold”.
After Keqing finished blowing the candle on the cake, they started to enjoy their party with Keqing was eating her favorite her Golden shrimp ball and some others but still relative to the Golden shrimp ball…while Aether with his jueyun gouba.
“It’s so delicious…” Aether exclaimed; the food made from Xiangling can’t be underestimated.
“Yeah, I still want more of it” Keqing was still licking the last piece food that was on her finger…She usually do that when she was alone or with some close friends especially Aether, she could act like a normal young girl when she was with him.
Aether chuckled and used his handkerchief to clean out the food crumb on her face. ”There you go…”
”Thanks” Keqing looked at him and asked “So how do you like the stroll around Liyue today?”
“The city seems to be has gone back to normal, I’m glad people are getting used to it” Aether said.
With their God was gone, the people of Liyue now have to rely on themselves to build their country. They knew this would be a long and troublesome journey ahead but they still believed that a bright future was waiting for them as long as they worked hard for it.
“Yeah, the people are working really hard and of course our work are also becoming busier” Keqing nodded, looking up at the sky and said with her determination “But it’s not like I’m going to give up…I have to work harder than before, in order to make my dream come true.”
Keqing then looked at Aether, smiling "But we couldn't have done it without you... you are the one who has brought light from this never-ending path. That’s why I really admire you…you’re not the type of people who’s going to give up that easily"
Many people tried to be close to her just because of her status and look and she simply declined all of them no matter how rich or powerful they were since she already had all of these. Also, she didn’t like those who’s keep sticking her noise, doing nothing…She wanted someone to inspire her to make her dream come true, someone who’s truly care about her.
Then she had finally found him…a Traveler from a far. After the crisis he could become a powerful rich man in Liyue and even Teyvat but he simply didn’t need something like that. He wanted to find his sister, his family. He wanted someone who could be trusted and be with him for his long journey.
Ever since he first met her. Aether was really enjoy going with her…Not only because she looks cute but also her character…She’s a strong and reliable girl who can be trusted with…Also beside her toughness from the outside, he also found out that she has a soft side too…and he loves every inch of it.
“I want to help everyone as much as I can, especially you Keqing so you can spend time with me” Aether said, grinning.
“You really miss me that much?” Keqing blushed, she really missed him too. Two days ago, she had spent as much time working so she could be with him all day today.
Aether went close to Keqing for an embrace, the warmth from her was something to help comforting himself "Yes I miss you that much…without you I feel so lonely”
“I miss you too…doing work all day is really tired some” Keqing leaned her forehead against his lightly and smiled “But when you being with me, I can feel the stress is gone away…”
After they finished their work at the end of the day, Keqing usually meets him at his serenity pot so they can be alone…spending time for themselves and having fun with each other…and it was enough for them.
But nothing could go smoothly and easy like that…And deep inside they both knew about it.
Aether soon would leave Liyue for his next depart: Inazuma…a dangerous place and he didn’t know what will await him…how many places he needed to go on…what is he going to do when he meets his sibling…will he meet his friend in Liyue, Mondstadt and perhaps after Inazuma…so many questions about it…and finally.
How could he meet Keqing, the person he loves so much?
Not only the people of Liyue will also miss him a lot when he left but herself as well and by a lot much more.
Keqing used to be with him for a time now and it slowly became a part of her life… What was she going to do when he was no longer near to her…she wasn’t sure if she could take it or not…?
Both of them looked at each other as they took a deep breath and Aether began to talk.
“So…this is the moment huh…” Aether grinned, trying to hide the sorrow that his depart would begin anytime.
“Although we all know that time will come yet I still can’t believe it” Keqing looked down as she was disappointed about that. She wishes she could have more time with him…” And I was about to hire you as my personal assistant” she said jokingly, trying to light the mood up…
Aether went close to Keqing and go for a hug to comfort her “I would love to but…If I don’t go, thing will be much complicated I don’t know what the Fatui or the Abyss are going to do to this world but I’m afraid they are up to something that’s no good…and to your nation as well…I want to protect your dream…and you as well, Keqing”
Keqing really want to go with him but with her stack of works to handle was being increased overtime since the Rite of Parting…it was really hard to go with him even she could arrange her time but the worst case was.
Inazuma was too far to her…and she didn’t have the teleport ability like Aether…and he was the only person on Teyvat who could use it for now.
“We can still meet in the tea pot though so…” Keqing was trying to find a way to solve this but
“While on at the ship I can’t use the pot nor the teleportation or else I have to start over again…” Aether explained. The portable teleportation is also unusable since he can't put it on moving objects like ships or boats.
“So, I will leave the pot to you to take care of our house, Keqing…till we arrive” He then gave the pot to Keqing "I still have the Realm dispatch though so don't worry...and take care of your health, okay? Don't overwork yourself"
“And you should be careful out there. I heard it's very dangerous in Inazuma at the moment”
“Alright enough with the moody news…it’s present time” Aether took out a device from his bag and it was.
A small communication device that can make a call and send messages to each other when they are paired up with.
“Wow what I’ve ever seen something like this before!?” Keqing was surprised
“It’s from my world, we usually use this to communicate from very far places…” Aether then gave her the blueprint “You can make for the others people too if you like…it’s very simple to create and use too. I saw you took a lot of effort to write a letter just to send a short message before so I hope this will help”
“How many surprise do you have still…?”
“And this also…” Aether gave her another small box was well wrapped with a golden ribbon and continued “This one is very special but I want you to think carefully before open”
“Oh…Alright…” Keqing was confusing then giggled “I wonder what kind of present can only able to open after for a long time”
“Oh, you won’t regret it” Aether chuckled
Her eyes sparkled and she was really excited about it although she knew she would have to wait for quite a long time to open it.
“I will wait for it” …Keqing said, smiled “And don’t forget to tell me when you reach Inazuma alright? I want to see you as soon as possible…And most importantly…I want to see you in the next year Lantern Festival”
“We will meet in the teapot when I reach there” Aether nodded and took out another device and pressed it…as he pointed Keqing to look at the sky “Well it’s time for the grand finale isn’t it?”.
A few waves of firework started launch up to the sky and lighted into numerous of beautiful shape another and another…just like the bright stars in the night sky…carrying their hopes and dreams.
“Wow did you make these?” Her eyes were wide open as she was watching it…the feeling of the previous Lantern Festival when they confess for each other for the first time.
“Thank you for what you’ve done to us”. After that she took a deep breath then leaning close to Aether, looking at him affectionately "and most of all…to me today”
Aether was also moving to her as both of them were slowly closing their eyes and continued to shorten their distance between them…As soon as they were near enough, they quickly drown into each other kiss while holding tightly as they didn’t want to let go.
The kiss sealed the contact between these two as they vowed to stay together as long as their life.
A few moments later, they parted away as it was lasted long enough to satisfy both of them while still looking at each other eyes, smiling…Aether leaned close to her for a hug and whispered to her ears:
“Happy birthday, Keqing”
End.