Work Text:
Aether thought that with him being renowned all over Teyvat, barely being able to set foot outside without someone yelling his name in recognition; that he of all people would not be spending Christmas alone.
He reasoned it was inevitable, all of the people he met in his travels had families or homes to return to, while him being a traveler did not. Maybe even because Lumine was gone and even after 500 years in this world this was the one Christmas he was aware of passing alone.
Desperately he missed home, which he considered to be with Lumine.
He still had Paimon accompanying him yet even her presence wasn't enough to get rid of the pang of hurt he felt. Maybe he just had to deal with it.
Until he got her back Aether didn't think he would ever not have a gaping hole in his heart that throbbed through him.
So Aether sat roasting a marshmallow over a now dull flame at a makeshift camp he had set up for Paimon and himself. Palm resting on his chin and gentle heat licked his body.
Aether knows he thinks too much, so maybe it would be good not to for a change. Maybe Go for a stroll and lose himself for a little bit.
"You can have this one." He handed over the roasted marshmallow, the fairy lighting up at the sight of the flame-licked sugar. "I'll be back...Later."
Pacing out of the camp and into the dark Aether felt okay. The Mondstadt terrain was easy to walk. No tall mountains and rocky terrain like Liyue, and no Islands and samurai around every corner like Inazuma. A gentle constant breeze blew through his hair.
The wind was a constant here. Freely blowing, it almost reminded him of flying, sometimes he missed more than just Lumine in their old life. It was also his old powers, he could have been considered an Archon powerful enough to slay anything that crossed his path, he liked to think he could even rival Morax. Though now he was reduced to only a fraction of that, as a Traveler.
Pacing through unfamiliar lands he felt as though he could never call home. He grasped at the thought of maybe one day calling this his home with Lumine. But that would only be if she turned out to not be with the abyss. That's still some thought he didn't want to in package right now.
It almost lost his mind that it was Christmas Eve. All the cities are decorated with lights and colors, silver, red and green coloring the world. Most kids are probably long asleep hoping for gifts to be under their tree when the sun rises.
He neared a small hilichurl camp, maybe fighting would take away his thoughts better than walking in the almost dark. He closed the distance and before his eyes could train to a target a stray Peacock caught his eye.
"Captain Kaeya?" Aether materialized his sword staring down the man.
"Oh?" Kaeya locked his eye with the travelers. "What is our Traveler doing out here at this time of night?"
"I could ask you the same" Aether said.
Kaeya narrowed his eye. "Touché; where's your fairy, Paimon?"
"The camp." Aether replies "Don't change topics."
Kaeya sighed mocking defeat. "I'm wounded to know you think so lowly of me." Kaeya's tone changed. "It's late you should head home."
"You of all people should know I can't. I don't have one." Aether narrowed his eyes waiting for the captain's next move. He dematerialized his weapon.
"It seems we are two of a kind. Neither have true homes to return to for the holidays." The taller male glanced back, stabbing his sword at a hilichurl, taking it out. "I can accompany you this night if you'd like"
Aether took his tone as sincere. Kaeya was mysterious as ever yet the Traveler could tell he cared. His eyes and body softened, he appreciated the captain's offer. "If you truly have no place to go, neither do I."
Kaeya rounded the camp, Aether in tow. He neared his horse gesturing for him to climb on. "It's surely cold out, why don't you take this."
Kaeya reached into his saddlebag, grabbing a thick knit blanket. Kaeya seemed to not mind the frosty air. Aether observed and figured it was due to the nature of his vision.
He graciously accepted it, wrapping his figure in it as he grabbed onto Kaeya's waist, not wanting to slip off the horse. He leaned his head against the taller male's back. "Hey don't fall asleep just yet. Where's your camp?"
Aether replied explaining the direction. Kaeya huffed softly, a smile taking hold of his features. Aether, warm in the blanket and comfortably perched on the horse, stated to close his eyes. Resting into Kaeya.
He supposed maybe it wasn't a where or a what on how to get his mind to stop overthinking. Maybe it was a who.
The who in question, is someone maybe he felt he could pass Christmas with.