Chapter Text
The first thing Aether became aware of was just how cold he was. Not just a little chill which was common in this specific area of Teyvat but bone-achingly cold which left his joints stiff and his fingers completely numb. The next thing he was aware of was the sound of rushing wind and ice cracking somewhere nearby. Or was it far off? He really couldn’t tell it sounded like the sounds were coming from down a long corridor.
When the Traveler tried to move to see where the sounds were coming from, he felt a zap of pain shoot through his skull and his blurred vision blacked out momentarily. A low groan of pain rumbled out of his chest. How had he gotten here? He felt the dirt under his cheek and as he tried to blink his eyes open, he heard the little chime of Paimon reappearing from her pocket dimension.
“Oh no! What happened to you?” She flitted over and carefully looked over the sizable welt forming on the back of his head and the gash that was lazily oozing blood from his side. She rushed around uttering simple reassurances that were more for herself than for him since her words were a bit of a scrambled mess to his jostled brain.
In that moment when Paimon was quickly trying to access the situation and get the bleeding under control Aether remembered something that Baizhu had told him about. Shock. A state of mind where your body has gone through so much trauma that is blocked out pain and feeling and simply stopped processing everything as it normally would. That’s what this was.
Aether tried to wrack his brain as to how he got in this situation, but his mind was still moving at a slime’s pace. Sluggish and bogged down by the effects of shock. The only thing his brain could come up with was, “Safe?” He croaked to Paimon stopping her mid-flight as she was zipping around trying to decide if she needed to get help or try to move the Traveler somewhere else first.
“Paimon didn’t hear you, what did you say, Aether?” She asked swiftly moving to his side.
“Are we safe?” He asked slowly the process of stringing together even those three words nearly wiped out all his remaining energy.
Paimon quickly looked around and looked back at her wounded companion, “Paimon thinks so.”
Aether grumbled softly in acknowledgment and felt his mind slipping away from him again. A wave of sleepiness washed over him as his wound continued to bleed and the shock became too much for him.
A loud crack could be heard from nearby as an icy cloud of snow and shattered ice billowed to the frosted earth and a roar tore through the air.
Paimon squeaks at the sound and pushed at Aether’s shoulder frantically. “Please get up please! Not safe here!”
Aether stirred from being jostled and groaned making very slow movements to try and get up. He managed to get up to kneeling position while holding his side, but his legs would not cooperate and fully get him up.
The Lawachurl started to charge at them from across the open terrain.
“Quake.” Aether said weakly sending a ripple through the earth and causing some sharp stones to jut from the earth around them in a 10-foot radius. They weren’t as tall or as far out as they normally were, but it was the best defense he could muster in that moment.
“Move move we can’t stay here!” Paimon said yanking on his scarf to try and get him to move faster. Aether struggled to his feet still gripping his side and slowly trying to shuffle away to some cover maybe some place with a fire too since the cold of the terrain was not helping his situation. Maybe he could make it to Albedo but with each hobbled step he was doubting that thought more and more.
The frostarm lawachurl was almost on top of them making very easy work of the barely three-foot-high jagged rocks that stood between it and them. Paimon saw the massive beast bring his fists up above his head ready to attack them and she squeaked in fright hiding against Aether so she couldn’t see it anymore.
A rush of wind flew past them nearly knocking the Traveler back down and in its wake small flickers of emerald flames and black smoke appeared. The lawachurl was knocked back by the anemo blast and was soon vanishing into ashen smoke as it fell under their savior’s spear.
Xiao.
He stood there his spear still in hand and the black and emerald mask shielding his face.
“You should have called me.” He said shortly as the spear vanished from his hand and his mask went back to its usual spot attached to his belt.
Aether nodded too tired to argue and promptly passed out where he stood. Luckily being caught before he could completely hit the ground.
~~~~~
When Aether woke up this time he wasn’t met by the same bone-chilling cold he was before instead he was wrapped in a gentle warmth. The scent of honey and sweet flower permeated the air along with the soft sound of wooden chimes singing in the breeze. He took a deep breath and let himself relax. In the moment he didn’t know how he had gotten there or if any of this was real but for that moment he didn’t care.
As he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find himself alone in the little room. It was a warmly lit room with just the small bed he was laying in, a chest at the foot of the bed with most of his armor pieces and sword resting on it, and a little side table with a candle and some water resting on it. Next to the candle there was also a note resting there, very neat handwriting was on it with no signature or indicator of who it was from.
“Rest as long as you need to, your commissions and Paimon are being taken care of.”
Aether carefully sat up surprised that the bandaged-up gash in his side didn’t hurt more. He looked over the note a couple of times and drank the water on the side table. There really weren’t any sounds to really tell him where he was but there was the open window with a bit of a tree that he could see from the bed. He swung his legs over the side and tested his strength to get up on his own keeping the blanket wrapped around his shoulders to keep some of the warmth. The Traveler went over to the window and got a good view of the Luhua Pools looking down at the landscape he saw the massive tree that took up residence right next to the building he was in.
Wangshu Inn.
“How did I get here?” Aether asked himself quietly.
“I was wondering that too.” A voice said from the doorway.
Aether turned to see the Bubu Pharmacist and his trusty snake around his neck standing there in the doorway.
“Baizhu, I’m assuming you’re the one that’s gotten me all patched up then?” He nodded, “I thought you didn’t do house calls?”
“Not normally but this was a special circumstance.”
Aether looked at him quizzically, “Well you are the beloved Traveler in Liyue and let’s also say there was a rather unexpected guest that came calling for your aid.”
“So you know who brought me here then?” Aether asked holding the blanket snuggly around his shoulders.
A brief gust of wind rushed through the window rustling Aether’s hair a bit.
“I do know but I’m afraid I’m not allowed to share.” Baizhu said looking at the window and the wind died down.
Aether looked a little disappointed he wanted to thank whoever helped him but for the life of him he couldn’t remember what happened up on the mountain. Baizhu stepped more into the room and sighed, “Well I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough. But in the meantime, you need to rest and let your wounds heal.”
“I will thank you for everything.” Aether said softly, “Um, you wouldn’t happen to know where Paimon is would you?”
“Probably downstairs pestering the cook if I had to take a guess.” Baizhu said with a laugh, “I’ll let her know you’re awake if I see her.”
Aether nodded and leaned on the wall by the window
“Okay well I’ll check on you again in a while, okay?”
Aether didn’t say anything more and looked out across the landscape that surrounded Wangshu Inn. A gentle breeze brushed past him through the window making him pull the blanket around his shoulders more.
He tried to wrack his brain trying to remember anything about what happened on the mountain.
He remembered getting knocked out of the air by something, he remembered Paimon’s scared voice trying to get him to move, he remembered the wind it was harsh and cold. When he tried to remember anything, else there was just a blank and it was frustrating. He moved back to the bed and huddled under the blankets. Maybe if he rested more the answer would come to him in some way.
~~~~~
A while later there was a soft knock at the door Aether was already awake and was sitting up in his bed writing in a small journal that he carried on him.
“Come in.” He said and set the journal to the side.
Zhongli came in and offered a kind smile.
“Zhongli? What are you doing here?” Aether asked.
“Well I had heard you were badly injured, and I wanted to come see how you were healing up.”
Aether nodded, “I’m doing okay just resting I know I won’t want to stay cooped up for long though.”
Zhongli nodded, “I figured as much. I trust Baizhu has been taking good care of you.”
“Definitely,” Aether hesitated before looking at the former Archon, “Um Zhongli, you wouldn’t happen to know who rescued me would you?”
A breeze flew in through the cracked window making the shutters rattle. Zhongli looked at the window then back to Aether, “You don’t recall what happened?”
Aether shook his head.
“Well did you call for any help or did Paimon go to retrieve anyone?”
Aether rubbed at the back of his neck, “Not that I remember. We were pretty cornered from what I do recall. And I didn’t call for help.”
Zhongli hummed in acknowledgment, “Well it seems you were very lucky then. I unfortunately cannot tell you who did help you.”
“But you do know.”
Zhongli nodded.
Aether sighed, “I don’t know why everyone is keeping it such a big secret. I just…I want to thank them.”
“I understand. You will get your chance.” Zhongli said, “In the meantime get some rest I’m going to look around the Inn. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been here.”
With that Zhongli left and started walking towards the stairs to head to the top of Wangshu Inn. He went to the balcony and looked out across the valley where Wangshu Inn sat, it was a very pretty place. Though it was a bit too quiet for the former archon.
“I assume you’re going to tell him, right?” Zhongli said as soon as he sensed the disturbance in the wind that told him Xiao was there.
“No.” Xiao replied from his spot on the roof just a few feet over Zhongli’s head.
“And why not?”
“I was upholding my end of a contract nothing more. Why would I need to tell him that?”
“Well he doesn’t remember for one.” Zhongli started his hands clasped behind his back when he looked up at the adeptus, “As far as contracts go though you breached your end of it.”
Xiao looked away from him biting his tongue.
“Your contract says you will aid the traveler when he calls upon you, which he did not.”
Zhongli smiled a bit looking back out across the valley, “Am I correct?”
Xiao hopped down from the roof, “So I was supposed to let him die?”
“Not at all. Just don’t get a contract confused with something you are wanting to do for yourself or others.” Zhongli said, “Xiao there is nothing wrong with wanting things. That is completely normal and in fact I was almost worried you would never do something just simply because you wanted to do it. Nothing bound by contracts or obligation but just because you wanted to.”
Xiao crossed his arms and sighed before leaning on the railing next to Zhongli.
“I know that’s not something that comes easily to you, but I think being able to care and protect someone that has become important to you is a step in the right direction.”
“I couldn’t protect him though. He almost died. And I could have prevented all of this from happening if he had just called me.”
“So you feel like he doesn’t trust you?” Zhongli asked.
“I- I don’t know what I feel. I know I’m frustrated. And…” Xiao trailed off pushing away from the railing and pacing away.
“And worried.” Zhongli finished for him, “That’s good.”
“How is that good?” Xiao asked.
“Because it’s a new feeling for you, yes? You care about a lot of things Xiao, but you’ve never been worried about something like this going wrong. It’s one thing I admire about you, your confidence in your abilities.”
Xiao paused, “I don’t want to be worried. I don’t want that anxiety hanging over me. I don’t want to be attached.”
“Why is that?”
“Cause one day I’ll lose him.”
“You don’t-“
“I do. I always do. Whether it be a battle I was unaware of, my corruption pushing him away, or time itself I will lose him. It’s inevitable.”
“Xiao it’s okay to be attached to people. That is inevitable. We are at the service of people and sometimes some of those people are so unique and special that we can’t help but be attached to them.” Zhongli said moving over to him, “Let yourself have that one piece of kindness.”
Xiao looked at the ground keeping his arms crossed and disappeared with a wisp of smoke and emerald flames.
“Well that was more of a talk than I expected to get out of him.” Zhongli said to himself and quietly went back into the inn walking back downstairs.
Several minutes later the soft chime that Paimon made sounded from above Aether as he sat in his bed writing some more. She immediately crashed into his chest giving him a tight hug, “Paimon is so happy to see you okay. And awake!” She pulled away from him and did a quick turn looking around the room.
Aether chuckled, “It’s good to see you too. What are you looking for?”
“Where did the angry guy go?” Paimon asked.
“What angry guy?”
“The broody adeptus that rescued us.”
“You might have to be a bit more specific.”
Paimon looked at him stunned, “Are you sure you’re alright? You still seem to be really struggling from that fall?”
“Yes, yes I’m fine I just need you to be more specific a lot of the adeptus are pretty brooding and angry sometimes.”
Paimon put her hands on her hips watching him, “Paimon’s not so sure. The really fast, vigilant yaksha guy, the one that seems really displeased with everything.”
“Xiao?”
“Yeah! Took you long enough.”
With that brief call though the intention was not there Xiao appeared in the room by the open window.
“You called?”
Paimon was instantly right in front of him, “You left him in here by himself! You told Paimon you would look out for him while Paimon got food.”
Xiao scowled at her and that look chilled Paimon to the core and she flew back over by Aether much more subdued, “Never mind it’s fine.” She awkwardly laughed and disappeared in a burst of stardust.
“Sorry she gets a bit protective.” Aether said looking at Xiao who seemed to be ignoring his gaze, “And I’m sorry for calling you it was an accident.”
“I see. Well, I’ll be on my way then.”
“Wait!” Aether said quickly shifting to get up a bit too fast and winced as he felt his side ache from strain and the gash reopened from his actions.
Xiao went over to his side instantly and moved his hand from where it was holding his side huffing as he saw the new blood start to soak through the bandage.
“You need to be more careful.” He scolded.
“It was an accident.” Aether said watching Xiao intently like he was afraid he would disappear, “Thank you by the way.”
“For what?”
“For saving me and Paimon.”
Xiao froze, “No thanks needed.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were the one that saved me?”
“It wasn’t necessary. I was just upholding my end of the contract.”
“I-I didn’t call you though.”
Xiao paused before he continued to carefully undo the wrappings to see if he could help patch up the wound, “No, but you should have.”
“Why were you in Dragonspine?”
Xiao fell quiet and focused on the task at hand.
“I mean I didn’t realize think you left Liyue.” Aether tried to get anything out of him.
“It’s not important.” Xiao said seriously, “You’re just lucky I was there.”
Aether didn’t deny that he really was lucky Xiao was there, but it didn’t sit right with him.
“Why were you there?”
Xiao refused to answer he just kept to his task of trying to patch the traveler up.
“Xiao?”
“It’s not important.” He said end of conversation looking at the blonde seriously.
Aether snapped his mouth shut and looked at the ground. He got it there was something else that Xiao had been attending to and instead of being able to do that he had to stop to help Aether interfering in his clearly important task. He tensed and carefully pulled his arm out of Xiao gentle grasp.
“Oh, um I think I should go find Baizhu. He’ll be able to fix this up. Sorry for the trouble.” Aether said and carefully stood up, pulling on the rob from near the door, and left trying to maintain what composure he had left.
Xiao sat there in stunned silence before clenching his fists and disappearing returning to his spot on the roof, “Why are humans so difficult?”
Baizhu was none too happy to see that Aether had reopened his wound already and scolded him for not letting himself rest. Aether nodded and stayed quiet still mulling over the conversation in his head.
“Baizhu?” Aether said tentatively, “Do you know much about the adeptus?”
He paused in his lecture looking at Aether with a little smile on his lips, “Do you mean all adeptus or just one in particular?”
Aether shook his head, “It’s nothing in particular just… I think I interrupted something important and now well they’re more reserved with me.”
Baizhu looked at him carefully and hummed, “Mister Conqueror of Demons being distant? Oh, that doesn’t sound like him at all.” Baizhu teased as he continued his work, “I promise Aether there is nothing you could do to make that broody adeptus truly upset with you. I think he is just very new to the idea of opening up and learning to express himself openly.”
Aether nodded still staying quiet.
“Give him time.”
He took a few more minutes to finish up cleaning the wound and wrapping it anew before he sent Aether back to his room to rest.
Aether slowly made his way back up the stairs and Paimon made her reappearance, “Oh good he’s gone.” Paimon said her little hand over her chest, “What are you doing?”
Aether stood at the bottom of the top staircase and looked over at Paimon almost guilty he had been told to go rest but he knew doing that would only drive him crazy.
“Um I just wanted to get some fresh air.” Aether said starting to climb the stairs, “And the sun is starting to set.”
“Oh good idea.” She said floating behind him as he made his way to the top balcony.
Once there he leaned on the railing, and they watched as the sun started to sink below the mountains. It was peaceful the perfect thing to clear his mind. A gentle warm breeze wrapped itself around him and he sighed looking at the lilac sky above the inn. Bright stars started to blink into existence above him forming the many familiar constellations that he remembered oh so well.
“Oh oh oh! Paimon remembers some of these.” She said as she started to point out some of the constellations above them, “That one is Lapis Dei or the Devine Stone I remember Zhongli telling us about that one.”
Aether nodded with a soft smile and pointed at another, “That one is the Crista Doloris the Crest of Sorrow.”
Paimon hummed and examined the constellation committing it to memory, “What about that one?”
Paimon pointed to a constellation that appeared dimly in the eastern sky. Aether looked at it for a while trying to wrack his memory for the name of that particular constellation, “I can’t remember.”
“Alatus Nemeseos the Winged Nemesis.” A low voice from the roof supplied looking over at the constellation in question. A pair of cat-like golden eyes turned on them.
Aether jumped and Paimon squeaked zipping behind the traveler at the voice. Instantly reaching for his sword which was still in his room downstairs. Xiao leaned forward into the light and jumped down from the roof landing silently, “Sorry for startling you.”
Aether relaxed slightly but was instantly reminded of their conversation from earlier, “It’s okay, sorry for disturbing you.”
“You did not disturb me.”
“We’ll Paimon’s angry with you!” Paimon said crossing her arms and stamping her foot, “You’re lucky I don’t give you an ugly nickname for that.”
Xiao looked at her and sighed, “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
She huffed and promptly disappeared in a burst of stardust.
Aether looked over at Xiao who looked entirely unphased by Paimon’s outburst, “She’ll be okay. Don’t take it personally she’s like that with basically everyone.”
“I’m not worried about it.” Xiao said simply and moved over to the railing, “I just heard you talking about the constellations and thought I could help.”
“That one,” Xiao indicated the one Paimon had just been asking about, “That is Alatus Nemeseos. A personal favorite of mine, I would be more surprised if you did know it.”
“Really?” Aether asked looking at it a bit more as Xiao nodded.
“Paimon and I do this a lot recalling different constellations and just talking under the stars.” Aether paused, “My sister and I used to do this a lot.”
Xiao didn’t say anything to that, he didn’t know what he could say genuinely.
“She was always a lot better about it than I was. She knew every constellation, all their names, all their stories.” Aether continued looking down at the moon bathed valley, “I was always better at navigating. I just wish I had remembered more of her stories now. I miss her.”
An ache spread through his chest as he admitted that it was hard for him to open up about it but it just felt natural in that moment. Xiao didn’t say a word, but he did excuse himself for a moment before returning just as quickly. He first draped a blanket around Aether’s shoulders noticing the goosebumps that had taken up residence there, and then he handed him a journal. A journal filled with pages and pages of handwritten notes and stories all of them about the observations of the stars and the stories they have to share.
“There you can borrow that as long as you would like.” Xiao said as Aether started to slowly look through each page.
“Did you make this?”
Xiao nodded quietly.
“Thank you again.”
“Don’t mention it.” Xiao said, “You should get some rest now, however. You still have a lot of healing to do.”
Aether nodded, “You’re probably right”
Aether pushed away from the railing and turned to leave giving Xiao one last look wishing he was brave enough to do more, “Goodnight, Xiao.” Then he descended the stairs leading back to his room.