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Aether returns from Inazuma, weary. Xiao doesn't fail to notice the shine in his eyes have grown duller and his lips down turned in a disappointed expression. He feels the instinct to touch those lips. Make them turn up again.
But his touch doesn't reach. Not until Aether allows him to. The blond smiles the moment they locked eyes and falls into his embrace like he had always belonged there.
"I'm home," Aether muttered in his broad chest, voice rumbling through the fabric. "I missed you."
"I... missed you as well." Xiao carefully returns the hug, as if the Aether in his arms would crumble to dust if he'd held him tighter. And maybe he will, because he can tell something has changed in him.
But the adeptus doesn't question it, instead he takes his sweetheart as is, because he knows better than anyone how sorrows changes a person.
For even a stone errodes with time.
"Welcome home," he planted a kiss in Aether's hair and rocked him slowly.
The blond held onto the front of his shirt and choked back a sob. He missed this feeling so much, feeling like he was safe and cared for. He missed having a home.
He misses Lumine so much. There's a gap in his heart where she should've been, and Aether doesn't know if any amount of love in the world could refill that empty part.
Xiao was patient as he rubbed soothing circles on Aether's back. He doesn't say anything, just holds him through the tears and the pain. Just lets him knows that he's there through gentle touches and kisses on his forehead.
Aether's sobbing were eventually reduced to hiccups. Xiao had tried to get up to get some water, but the blond refused to let him go. So he pulled the traveller along with him to the kitchen by the wrist.
"You're dehydrated from crying. Drink." Xiao pushes a glass of water towards Aether.
Aether relented, grabbing the water from the counter and gulping it down. "I'm sleepy. Let's go to bed," he pleads after.
"Very well," Xiao picked him up in a bridal carry, causing the other to yelp in surprise.
"I can walk you know..." Said Aether, wrapping his arms around Xiao's neck.
"Let me take care of you," Xiao answered. "Like how you've taken care of me, let me now look after you."
Aether almost broke into tears again hearing those sweet words. But instead his wipes the tears pooling at the edge of his eye and rested his head against Xiao's shoulder.
They get to bed and it doesn't take long for their hands to be on each other.
"And you said you were tired," Xiao raised a questioning brow.
"Not of you." Aether giggled, his laugh a pretty thing.
Xiao seals it away with a loving kiss.