Work Text:
“Aether,”
“Hm..? Oh. Sorry, Diluc.” Aether places the glass he was washing for the man down, looking up at him with a tilt of his head. “Do you need me to do anything else to prepare for the day..?” He questions softly, hands falling to his sides.
“No, you were just in your head there. Anything specific you’re thinking of?” The bartender takes the clean glass from where Aether put it down, placing it down in a cabinet below. “Or perhaps you’re simply not feeling well?”
“Oh, nono-” Aether shakes his head, “I’m alright. I guess I’m just not used to being able to do something so… Erm, easy? Bartending is… Relaxing.” He shifts so he’s leaning over the bar, eyes wandering across the one or two customers here despite it being early in the morning. “...I still feel the need to go and explore further… My thoughts usually never have this much time to wander so far.”
“You won’t say it’s relaxing when Kaeya or Venti come by,” Diluc sighs out, raising a hand to rest atop of the blonde’s head. “I’m glad I could pull you into this though, you needed to slow down. There’s no use in pushing yourself everyday, time is precious, after all.”
“I know,” Aether frowns lightly, “I just…” He gets cut off by the front door opening, and he’s glad for the interruption as he just could not find his words right now. Aether blinks at the sight of…
Haha. Uh oh.
Why was Ajax here?
“Eh? Aether? What’s my favorite immortal lil bro-” The man blinks at Aether’s rapid waving of hands and pointing subtly to the red-head beside him, “ah.. Traveler. What’s my favorite traveler doing here?” He questions, smile quickly slotting back into place as he approaches the bar. “You look very dapper, never thought I’d see you in a tuxedo! Hm, does this mean I could possibly convince you to come to a masquerade at some point? You could even wear my mask!” Ajax- erm, Childe, coos out.
“....” Aether’s eyes flicker back and forward rapidly between Diluc and Childe, “...You’d have to convince me,” Aether sighs finally in response, “And I’m just practicing mixing drinks and serving them for Diluc… Do you want anything?” He asks, and has to quietly bring up his hand to tug on Diluc’s jacket so he snaps out of his glaring.
Yeah, he saw that.
“Oh, no thank you. I’m actually here to meet up with someone..” Childe hums out, sitting at the bar and leaning his head onto his hand. “No, but in all seriousness, what would it take to convince you? There’s a bar at the balls usually.. You could totally maintain it!”
“Why would Aether attend a masquerade with you?” Diluc’s voice is edging on threateningly, his eye twitching when Childe only looks over to him with that smile.
“We’re good pals! Why wouldn’t he be able to come along with me?” Childe laughs out lightly, oblivious to Aether sinking backwards very slowly.
“Mhm.. And who exactly are you meeting up with here?” Diluc’s arms cross,
“..No offense, but why are you on my ass?” Ah. There it is. Childe’s smile is a lot more dangerous all of a sudden.
Barbatos please send someone here to interrupt them before they even start-
….The door opens,
Thank god-
…..
Nevermind, it’s Kaeya.
Aether brings his hand up to rest on his forehead and exhales slowly.
“Ah, Kaeya!” Childe chirps out, and Aether curses his luck even further. Really, could it get worse?
Don’t. Don’t jinx yourself, Aether.
“Childe,” Kaeya greets back in a voice far too fond for Aether’s tastes- and yeah. Maybe he did jinx himself on this one. “...And Master Diluc, of course.” Kaeya smiles teasingly, waving at the red-head though faltering when Diluc looks away from him without replying.
Aether only looks helplessly between Childe’s tense smile, Kaeya’s saddened eyes, and Diluc’s pissed off expression.
…He wasn’t getting paid for this. At all.
“Aja- Childe, Kaeya- if you’re not going to order anything can you please go um.. Upstairs, maybe? Or somewhere else?” Aether questions sheepishly, fidgeting in place when all eyes are suddenly on him.
God damn it. Where was Paimon when he needed her to speak for him? He sucked at tension.
“..Of course.” Childe, or well, Ajax in moments when he’s… Stupidly brotherly to Aether, says in a soft tone. His eyes reading Aether far too easily for his liking- nonetheless, the blonde is thankful for it. “We can go for a walk, can’t we Kaeya?”
Kaeya hesitates at first, eyes lingering on Diluc before he lets out a small sigh. “That’d be just fine,” Kaeya allows for his hand to be grabbed by the ginger, Childe leading him out of the bar and leaving Aether to glance nervously up at Diluc.
“Aether.” Diluc starts, hand grabbing Aether’s arm right as he starts to shuffle away.
“...Yes?” Aether squeaks out.
“Don’t do anything stupid, otherwise there’s a room upstairs with your name on it.” Diluc lets him go and walks away, most likely to think long and hard about what just happened.
Aether only blinks, did he just leave Aether to maintain the bar alone?
….Did he just threaten to ground him too?
Haha… Very ironic…
Considering Ajax threatened that too.
He wasn’t going to be allowed to go anywhere in the future. Lord.
//art by me!
