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Opening his locker and having about thirty letters with hearts stamped on them fall out was not what Aether was expecting today.
He scrambles in order to pick all of them up, staring at each one with a light frown as he does.
…He was going to read none of these. He thinks with a sigh, shoving them into his backpack and gathering what he needs before he has to head home and shutting the locker closed. The blonde dreads the fact that it’s only the eleventh- it wasn’t even Valentines day yet and he had… Thirty love letters addressed to him in his locker.
Was it a joke? Were they all by one person? Or were there actually thirty people who genuinely have an interest in him?
No matter what, Aether was not interested in humoring the letters. Most of them were typically just interested in getting in his pants anyways and he was not into that at all.
For once he’d like someone who gave him valentines without an ulterior motive. Just friends giving each other chocolates and anyone who actually has a crush on him not rushing it just because it’s Valentines day.
Ugh. Right. Chocolates. He recalls last year when he had way too many chocolates for his liking.
You’d think everyone would know by now that too much chocolate makes his stomach hurt.
He pouts lightly as he walks, eyes focused on the ground rather than the others walking around him in order to get home as well.
Well, it could be worse. He just wishes they’d all stop wasting paper on him.
And chocolate.
“What’s with that look?”
Aether’s eyes snap up from the ground in order to meet the eyes of his twin sister. Lumine is staring at him with a small smile, patiently waiting for a response from her brother while fiddling with her phone’s keychains.
He bites his lip lightly, frown deepening as he debates on whether or not to speak. He hadn’t spoken all day today, just not being able to find the words as what typically happens on most days. Well, might as well not break his silence now. He lifts his hands, signing out what he wishes to say in response and earning a snort from the girl.
“Ahhh, I see you got your Valentines letters then.” Lumine hums, sneakily looking towards Aether’s backpack then back up to him in order to meet his deadpan expression. “Oh Shush, I may have seen a couple of people putting them in your locker. No worries, no one serious nor good looking. Just some obnoxious guys and overbearing girls who proceeded to put another letter in other people’s lockers.”
‘Not Reassuring.’ Aether signs out with a sigh, letting Lumine ruffle his hair with a fond laugh.
“Honestly I’m not sure why you’re surprised, you’re very cute and anyone would be lucky to have you. Unluckily for them, you’re hard to get.” Lumine snickers at Aether’s light embarrassed blush, leaning over slightly when Aether looks away in order to try and stay in his line of vision. “Am I wrong?”
Aether does not answer, nor does he point out that Lumine is more likely to threaten any person who Aether thinks about accepting a confession from before he can even date them.
Not that he blames her, she typically has a good eye on who would lead him on and who wouldn’t. So he’ll let her do whatever she wants.
“Aether,”
Both Aether and Lumine immediately turn towards the voice, meeting the eyes of someone who seems quite bored. Or, looks quite bored all the time.
“Oh, Xiao! Wow, I don’t see you like, ever.” Lumine hums, bringing a hand up to her face in thought. “Oh well, you said Aether’s name so I’ll let you talk with him! See you at home, Aether!”
Aether tries to stop her before she leaves, but it’s a little late for that and he sighs once more as she skips away.
Crazy how she’s one of the scariest girls in the school when she’s honestly a ray of sunshine.
Though, she can certainly be a little shit.
He turns back to Xiao and merely just tilts his head in question, watching as the other boy shuffles his backpack off and opens it. Aether prays he’s not about to be given another letter- though he strongly doubts it, seeing as Xiao was the last person in the world to ever give someone a love letter.
…He… Wouldn’t be er, totally against it though. It’d just be a bit weird.
…Sue him, Xiao was good looking and very kind to him. Even if the boy never really spoke to anyone else.
A gift card is placed into his hand, and Aether glances down in momentary confusion before his eyes widen a significantly large amount.
This was a visa gift card with two hundred dollars on it.
Wh- Aether immediately snaps back up with a shocked look, lips moving as if he wants to say something but struggling to do so.
“You don’t have to say anything, I know today has been a quiet day for you.” Xiao mumbles, closing his backpack and sliding it back on. “It’s yours, I won’t take it back nor do I ask for anything in return. I thought you could use it, since you were talking about needing money for a new laptop.”
Aether quickly puts the card into his pocket and starts signing, ‘You didn’t have to do this, are you sure you can spare the money? I don’t want to burden you.’
When Xiao stops his signing by grabbing his hands, Aether has to stop himself from going red in the face. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got plenty and you need it more.”
But still…
“Just text me when we need to meet up for studying. I still need to go buy that tea you recommended to me so I may be a little late tomorrow.” Xiao lets go of his hands and gestures forward, “I’ll walk with you to your car.”
Aether, full of emotions, almost just nods. But then, he glances to where Lumine left then back to Xiao.
….
‘..Lumine probably took our car home already.’ He signs out with an embarrassed frown, and while he would be fine with walking home…
Ugh. Lumine needs to make sure he actually has a ride home before leaving like that. He can’t always just jump into Venti or Kazuha’s cars all the time. And on the rare occasion he’ll ride with Xiao- but Xiao tended to leave school later than most so he couldn’t always ask.
“Hm. You can ride with me today, my car is behind the school. Come on.” Xiao simply grabs his hand and pulls him along, Aether letting himself be dragged as he really has no room to protest right now. If Xiao wants him to ride with him after giving him two hundred dollars- who is he to say no to?
Xiao takes him home in his honestly uh, really good smelling car. And when pulling in front of his house, Xiao opens the door for him and gives his hand a squeeze before he goes. It makes Aether feel all warm inside and most importantly- very appreciated.
Xiao really has been just spoiling him lately. He has no idea why, but Xiao never ever makes a big deal out of it. He simply helps Aether out or gives him something and acts like it’s no big thing. When it’s the whole world to Aether for any kindness given to him. Not only that, but the boy never asks for anything back.
No ulterior motives.
Aether finds himself suddenly blushing when scrolling through the texts shared between him and Xiao.
..Maybe.. Maybe there was another reason why he hated getting love letters so much.
Maybe he did have a crush.
A ding from his phone snaps him from his thoughts, and he scrolls back down to the latest texts.
His face flushes deeper,
Xiao: I ordered you a tub of that vanilla icecream you like, you seemed like you could use it. Not doing coffee this time since you need sleep. I expect you to sleep early tonight, especially since we have an exam tomorrow.
Xiao: Also, did I leave my leather jacket at your place? I don’t need it right now. But I was simply wondering.
Oh. Yeah. Xiao was definitely spoiling him.
Aether: You didn’t have to do that!! :< you already gave me $200….
Xiao: It’s fine. Anything to make you feel better. I don’t particularly like when you look sad.
Aether: I wasn’t really that sad today!! I just didn’t really like the letters I got in my locker so that made me a little upset.
Xiao: Letters?
Aether: oh. Valentine’s day letters. I usually don’t read them because it’s always just people trying to just um. Get in my pants? It just makes me feel gross reading them so i don’t.
Xiao: Hm. Can I do anything to help?
Aether pauses, biting his lip slightly as he looks up from his phone and over to the letters now in the trash before looking back to the messages.
Aether: no, not really. They won’t stop until i’m dating someone, so.
Xiao is typing…
..
Xiao is typing…
…
Aether blinks.
….
Xiao: Okay. Meet me outside during lunch tomorrow, our usual spot where we read.
…Okay?
Xiao asked to meet him out there a lot. He wonders why he’s asking this time.
Aether: okie, thank you again for the icecream and the money.. You really didn’t have to.
Xiao: You deserve it.
Ack. His poor heart can’t take this.
Aether pouts lightly out of pure stubbornness, he’ll get Xiao something back. Maybe…
Almond Tofu. Xiao loves Almond Tofu. He can do that. And maybe….
Gah. He’ll think of something.
The next day during lunch, he has to resist falling into a bad mood when he’d already been given chocolate ten times in the last four hours. He instead focuses on getting outside and towards his and Xiao’s spot.
His heart feels fluttery when he spots Xiao leaning against one of the trees, book in one hand and a coffee cup in the other. Aether speed walks over to him, greeting him with a soft smile and a little wave when Xiao looks up. The boy’s eyes soften and he holds out the coffee towards Aether in which the blonde takes with a pout that makes Xiao hum in amusement.
“You’re always tired at this point, I thought you could use it.” Xiao’s eyes then flicker down to the wrapped plate in Aether’s hand, and his eyes soften even further. “Almond Tofu?” He questions, and taking it eagerly when it’s offered to him. “Thank you.”
“Mhm.. What did you want to meet here for? I’m okay with reading today if that’s what you wanted to do..” Aether says in a quiet voice, and he misses the way Xiao lights up slightly at Aether speaking today.
“I’m not against reading with you. I would like to ask if you’d want to date me first though.” Xiao says so simply that it makes Aether get whiplash. The blonde immediately hides his face with his hands before this blush exposes him and lets out a small surprised noise. “..Was I too blunt? Sorry.”
“No no- Um. That’s… I didn’t expect- Um. I- are you sure? This isn’t.. You don’t just want to..” Aether lowers his hands and looks off to the side, fidgeting in place as he tries to find the right words.
“I don’t want to use you for anything, if that’s what you’re concerned about. It’s just that you were quite upset about those… Letters… The other day, and I already wanted to kiss you until you smiled. So it just made sense.” Xiao explains in the most Xiao-way possible, “You’re also simply incredible at everything you do and you’re not only beautiful, but stunning. I love seeing you happy and I adore seeing you smile.”
“o-Okay!” Aether whines out, clearly overwhelmed but starts to feel overjoyed. He lets out a little laugh and looks back towards Xiao who is staring him down with a smile so rare to see. “You- Agh! I do want to date you- you- you’re so nice to me and you’re very handsome I just- grrmmhm you spoil me so much you’re going to break me- you didn’t have to do this.” Aether leans forward and bumps his head against Xiao’s chest, the boy letting out the softest laugh in return and raising a hand to lay it against Aether’s head. “...I really like you.”
“I love you too.” Xiao says, almost smugly.
Aether lets out a whine in return that just makes Xiao smile wider and lean down to gently kiss the top of Aether’s head.
This isn’t fair. Aether thinks, he got flustered way too easily.
“You know, you never answered if my leather jacket was still at your place.” Xiao comments suddenly, and Aether doesn’t think he could get any redder as he lifts his head up and looks at Xiao with a sheepish grin.
“Ahaha… Um… I honestly forgot to answer that, but I also may have been using your jacket…”
“Using my Jacket?” Xiao questions with an eyebrow raised,
“Mhm… It’s warm.” Aether shrugs, and looks off to the side- “...It also smells like your car so…”
“Mhm.” Xiao pinches Aether’s cheek very lightly, making the blonde pout and brush the hand away. “Maybe I am spoiling you too much. Should I stop ordering you coffee?”
“No! Please, I need my coffee!” The blonde surprises himself with saying that, immediately shrinking a little and smiling awkwardly again. “Ahaha- I mean, I do not have an addiction to Coffee and you buy me a reasonable amount that I am very thankful for.”
Aether gets his cheek pinched again, but it’s worth it when Xiao gives him that overly soft look that tells him he’s definitely not stopping his love language of gifting any time soon. Not that he had to get him coffee every day at all- (in Xiao’s mind he had to because Aether needs to be spoiled-) but he will take holding Xiao’s hand every day over any gift, because Xiao was kind to him.
With someone who’s bluntly honest all the time, Aether knows that Xiao is genuine in every action and every word. And he appreciates that immensely.
Xiao might be too good for him, and he’s lucky he’s the one that Xiao chose- but god Aether is happy.
A kiss to his nose snaps him out of his thoughts, and his face flushes red once again.
“Want to read now?” Xiao questions, and of course he asks that.
Aether’s not against it though. So he nods once and sits down with the boy, leaning against him and pulling out the book they were reading together over the past few days.
It was nice.
Later, when he’s at home there’s Lumine who stares at his bag devoid of any more love letters or chocolate smugly.
Not that he notices, but it most definitely happened.