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Step, Step, Step, Step,
Pause,
Step, Step, Step, Step,
…
“BOO!” “B…!”
“WAH! Ohohoho, Hahaha! You really got me,” A Father with blonde hair laughs ever so fondly, crouching down in front of the two twins with that same blonde hair. Though one lighter than the other. “Though, Aether, your ‘Boo’ certainly needs some work lil man.” He ruffles the boy’s hair, making him squeak then look down sheepishly at the comment.
“Hey! His ‘boo’ is great!” Lumine, the ever protective and persistent sister defends her brother. Aether only holds his Sister’s hand as his face reddends, always embarrassed when his sister feels the need to ‘defend his honor’.
Despite being the same age as his sister at a whopping five years old, he certainly felt younger. Which wasn’t totally untrue, he was about.. A minute younger. But still. He just, struggled with self confidence- it’s like his sister got all of it while he was born utterly shy. Not that his family minded that much, especially not his sister. They were his confidence, he supposes.
Not that he was.. Thinking too hard about it, honestly. He was only five, after all. His Momma still called him her ‘sweet baby boy’ and he well, he always felt so warm when she did. Lumine didn’t really like being called a ‘baby’, so she had the honorary title of ‘Princess’ in the house.
…She adored being called that.
“Hm, I don’t think Aether is with us, Lumine.” His Father’s words snap him out of his doze, and he blinks up at the man with a tilt of his head.
“Noooooo, you can’t be sleepy Aether! It’s not even bed time…” Lumine whines, cupping Aether’s cheeks with her hands and holding his face. She squishes lightly at his chubby cheeks and bonks her forehead against his own. “Wakey wakey Aether, we need to go scare Mom next!”
Aether yawns in response.
Lumine’s pout deepens.
“Well, you two did spend all day on the swings, did you not?” His Father laughs lightly, “It’s not a bad thing to go to sleep earlier some days. Do’ya need to sleep, hon?”
Aether breaks away from Lumine’s grip and leans against her side instead, “M..Mhm.” He replies tiredly, bringing a hand to rub his eye-
“Awww, can’t he have some juice instead to wake him up? Pleaaaaase, cmon Aether!” Lumine grabs his hand again-
“Come on Aether, we need to move now! You can’t go with him. You know that.”
“Lumi,”
“Aether. Now.”
Aether would let out a small gasp, bringing his hands up to his eyes,
“Ah.. If you’re scared that easily by Lumine holding your hand, bud it might be best for you to go to sleep early.” His Father’s voice reaches his ears, but his confusion fogs his mind making it hard to hear.
What was that?
“Oh.. I’m sorry Aether, I didn’t wanna scare you.” Lumine speaks a little shamefully, and that gains Aether’s attention. He immediately shakes his head, taking her hand back into his own with a guilty frown. She didn’t scare him. “Okie Okie…. We can sleep early. But we’re staying up later tomorrow, kay?” Lumine says, not leaving room for debate- though, if Aether ended up tired again she would most definitely go back on that statement. Always prioritizing her brother over herself most days.
Aether gets picked up along with his sister, and the confusion from before fades from his mind. Maybe his imagination was just being weird… Can that happen? Hm, it doesn’t really matter. He just wanted to sleep alongside his sister in their comfy bed. Then wake up tomorrow and go fishing, maybe Lumine will convince their parents to go get a special treat again.
Hmm.. Yeah, that’d be nice…
He’s asleep before he knows it, unaware of the misery that awaits him next year.
…….Though.
He certainly got a hint of it earlier, didn’t he?
…..
Aether, at six years old, watches his town burn.
He’ll never forget the look on his parents' faces as they grabbed him and Lumine, running with them as far as they could before they needed to put them down.
Hide, they said.
Lumine wanted to fight them on it, but with her Mother’s stern expression his sister falters. She only ends up breathing out, watching their parents flee to distract the ones chasing them and clenching her fists. She turns towards Aether, reaching out and grabbing his hand and running in the opposite direction into the forest.
Aether follows without complaint, as he was far too out of it to even do so.
Despite their parents' attempts at distracting and hiding them away far in the woods, the twins are surrounded. Aether’s grip on Lumine’s hand tightens as he quivers, staring in utter confusion and fear at the people that surround them.
Except, they certainly didn’t look how people should. They were floating and fluffy, seeming to have masks on. They looked like something out of a dream, or more so a nightmare.
“Back OFF.” Lumine threatens, though her voice shakes. “Leave us alone! Or else.”
….
“Oh… You two have a special bond- twins I imagine? Yes… Twins.” One of them speaks, and their voice hurts Aether’s ears. “You’re not only special through a bond such as so, but we sense something far powerful… How odd, seeing as your parents held no such thing. Such a shame they had to get in the way…”
Aether freezes, and Lumine’s breath hitches. Where were their parents?
“Oh.. Need not worry, their deaths will not be in vain. Come with us, and you may seek your own revenge… While helping us with our own.” They purr out, but-
“You… You,” Lumine chokes out, eyes getting quickly watery-
“Not us. Do not blame us for this, we would never kill without purpose. You should look towards your god, who has deemed this world done.” They swirl closer towards the twins, Lumine quickly backing up and making Aether do so in return.
Aether feels…. Aether feels….
Aether feels like he’s not in his body.
His parents are dead…?
His parents….
Lumine throws her arm around Aether and pulls him close, as if attempting to shield him. But it wasn’t working that well, seeing as they were the same size- she could only do so much.
“It can be your choice, if you say no.. I wouldn’t blame you, but you will die along with this planet if you stay.” The masked stranger floats above the two, blank eyes boring into them.
Lumine’s own eyes flicker in uncertainty, looking away and to her brother who has such a far-away look in his expression. She knows that face, it’s the same one that he gets when he gets reeaaaaaal tired. He becomes unresponsive, and usually it’s quite cute when Aether would merely cling to anyone close by. But right now, it made Lumine’s chest hurt- what was wrong with her brother? Was she supposed to be feeling that way too?
Her- their parents were dead. She- but, ….
Her grip tightens on Aether, she won’t think about it right now! She needed… She needed…
To get Aether somewhere not here. Not where their parents died. Not where a fire blazes in the distance and yells of others dying by a god’s hand echo through the forest.
Lumine raises her head up high, trying to look brave- though it looked.. Silly, on a six-year old. That and, the trembling of her lips gave away her true fear.
“Take us with you,” Lumine ‘orders’, and she doesn’t see that spark in the masked stranger’s face.
“We shall…” Their voice purrs, hand raising into the air- they fly slowly to the side, and a portal that shines with the colors of the abyss opens. “After you… Princess.” A twitch of their mask at Lumine’s sudden stony face in reaction to that name, a slight pause, then, “...And our Prince.”
Lumine ignores that. She has to. As she guides her brother towards the portal- halting in front of it in order to stare up at the creature that came from it.
“Do not cross me,” Lumine says in a threatening tone, but once again. Coming from a child…
“We would not dream of it.” They say, “Hurry now… Your god will not be happy to see you gone.”
….
Lumine enters the portal first, then pulls Aether along,
And Aether lets her.
….
“Lumi…”
Lumine is seven years old and she has already learned how to use a sword in twenty different ways. She would be able to advance to a bow soon… Would she like a bow better than a sword?
“Lumi…?”
Her brother is behind, he only knows five ways. But she can’t blame him, he hates the idea of hurting anyone. Always so shy… She would never push him, she had to protect him-
“L-Lumi you’re scaring me.”
Oh. …Aether…
“I’m sorry,” Lumine apologizes immediately, “I was just… Thinking of stuff, again.” She laughs softly, though her face twists into concern at Aether’s teary eyes. “What’s wrong, Aeth?” She questions, cupping his cheeks with her hands.
He struggles to find his words, hands only gripping the air as if he wants to hold onto her but utterly unsure. She makes the decision for him, shifting her hands down in order to hug her brother in a comforting tight squeeze. “It’s okay,” She whispers, “You can always talk to me.”
“I want to go home.” He hiccups, hands desperately gripping Lumine’s back. “I’m scared.”
Aether… Her sweet brother.
“Did you have another bad dream, Aeth?” She asks in that same soft tone, sighing when he nods and places his head on her shoulder. “Your bad dreams won’t come true.. Kay? I’m not going anywhere. Mom and Dad are watching us right now, I promise! So.. We’re all here, okay?”
She’d whisper more reassurances, but there’s a knock at their door making her let go of Aether and stand up straight towards the door. Lumine brings her hand to have Aether to the same, though she falters at his body still trembling lightly. Oh, she wishes they had more free time.. Aether never has time for comfort any more.
She didn’t either. But that didn’t matter. She always put Aether’s comfort first- and as much as he tried to do the same… She never let him.
“Chin up, Aether.” She whispers to him, repeating what her.. Mentor always says to them both.
Aether flinches,
Lumine frowns.
If their mentor was too hard on Aether again… She’ll-
“My Princess, my Prince.” The abyss mage from a year ago enters, doing a small bow before looking up with that same blank expression. “Another one has fallen into the abyss… One of the age fourteen.”
Aether shifts closer to Lumine, clearly uncomfortable-
“Thank you for informing me.” She responds, grabbing Aether’s hand and squeezing it. “We will be there shortly. You may leave.”
The abyss mage does another bow before leaving, and Lumine bites her lip in thought. “Fourteen..” She whispers, “They should go to the corners of the abyss- don’t you think? We have enough to deal with as is..”
Aether only shrugs, making Lumine sigh again and shake her head. “You’re the Prince here Aether, you must make decisions too.”
“I don’ wanna hurt anyone.” Aether whispers, eyes tearing up again and causing Lumine to hug him tightly.
“You won’t have to, I promise.” She reassures quietly, “Just come with me, put on a good face. Kay? You see my face, right? All serious! Just like how Mom would be like.” Lumine puts her hands back on Aether’s face, as if to try and change the way he looked utterly pitiful into something more serious.
It doesn’t work of course, but she tries.
“Ah.. It’s okay, Aeth. We’ll work on it. I love you lots though, never forget that.” Lumine lets go of his face, and smiles at his cheeks reddening lightly.
“L-Love you too, Lumi.” He squeaks back, taking her hand when she offers it and following her out their room’s door despite his hesitance.
When Aether is eight years old, his sister asks him to go with the abyss mage in order to get a flower from a region in Teyvat- the world that they’ve been underneath in the darkness for a very long time.. Yet never explored. This region typically never had the flower- but… They kept it saved, as the region it came from was destroyed in a war.
Aether didn’t really understand why it was needed, but his sister said it was needed in order to open… A portal… In the future to… Um, a past time?
He was so confused. He wished he knew what his sister knew, but she kept him in the dark. She seemed so much more serious every day she aged, and he would be scared he would lose her one day if she didn’t always come to him in private and comfort him- acting like herself.
But they never played games any more. They didn’t.. Have time for games.
Aether never understood why they deemed him and Lumine a Prince and a Princess. They called it destiny, but he just wanted to see his Momma and Papa again.
With a blank expression that challenges the abyss mage’s, he steps through a portal onto Liyue’s grass. It’s the first time in two years since he’s seen the sun’s light and a planet’s nature. It’s…
So warm.
“Let us not dwell for too long.” The abyss mage whispers to him, once again in a voice Aether hates.
His voice just grates on his ears, and while Lumine has grown to tolerate it- Aether has never gotten used to it.
“Where am I going?” Aether questions in his usual soft, quiet voice. Always too scared to speak up.
…
“I cannot go with you, as it would draw attention to you.. My Prince. The flower is however, located in an adeptus’ realm.. Right through there, between the rocks.. You shall see it when you get closer. Enter, be silent, find the flower.” The abyss mage says, then is gone before Aether can speak up of his reluctance.
…He wanted his sister.
Aether debates running into the field of grass right there and then- to never return to the abyss but… He would never leave Lumine.
The ‘abyss Prince’ wanders forward, and falls into a realm he should never have entered.
In the abyss, they say that all remembers the day that Lumine screamed in despair when news of her brother being taken by a god in Teyvat had spread to her.
Their Princess would never be the same until her brother came back home, and the abyss would not stop searching for him.
Their sweet Prince that wouldn’t even hurt a fly despite their attempts at hardening him.
How dare a god take him.
….
The Fatui were cruel, Aether thinks to himself. He sits in a white room on an uncomfortable bed, arms and legs bandaged from…
He shuts his eyes tightly, he wants his sister.
It’s been three months since he was grabbed by a hand and taken through another portal, a god that goes by the ‘Tsaritsa’ sensed his presence… Thus taking him and leaving him in the hands of her army. To be… Trained, and…
Experimented on.
His arms twitch with small painful spasms, making him whimper and tug the blanket he held closer to himself. This was somehow worse than the abyss. At least the abyss never hurt him like this, they may have been strict on him and his sword training.. But, they always gave him rewards for doing good. And he had a warm bed and good food,
….
And his Sister.
He didn’t want to be a Prince, but he did want his Sister.
Aether flinches when the door opens for the first time that day, and he mentally prepares himself to be grabbed harshly again-
“Aether. Look up.” An order, not a request. Aether looks up slowly, blinking in confusion at the sight of another boy- older than him but…
Wait. He looked… Familiar,
“This is Ajax, he’ll be your.. Roommate, from now on.” Aether’s gaze snaps up to his current ‘mentor’, and quickly nods his head in agreement. When she pushes Ajax in cruely and slams the door, Aether looks back down towards his hands on the blanket- letting out a shaky exhale.
It’s silent for a moment, then,
“I know you.” Ajax whispers harshly, making Aether flinch again and look up with fear in his eyes that makes Ajax’s eyebrows furrow. “...You’re scared of me? When you and your Sister sent me to fend for myself?”
Aether hugs the blanket tighter, his eyes quickly becoming watery.
Always so sensitive, Aether.
“M’ sorry.” Aether whispers shakily, ever so confused at the way Ajax’s face shifts into one of bafflement.
“You… How old are you?” Ajax questions, taking a step towards the blonde as he tries to get a closer look, and Aether blinks- looking down to his hands as if to count his fingers. He eventually holds up both hands with four fingers up on each, making Ajax falter. “..Eight. You’re eight years old.” Aether nods shyly, “You… Could be friends with my younger siblings.” He whispers, voice wobbling for a moment- confusing Aether even further.
Silence drapes across the room for a few minutes, making Aether shift uncomfortably enough for him to lay on his back and drag the blanket over his head in an attempt to hide himself.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Ajax says then, and Aether feels the bed shift somewhat as the older boy sits down at the end of it. “So your name is Aether, huh? It’s a nice name.”
Aether slowly tugs the blanket back down, looking down towards the ginger and only nodding slowly. His face is slightly red at the compliment, and he thinks for a moment..
..”Ajax..” Aether squeaks out, averting his eyes when Ajax perks up just slightly.
“Yep, that’s me buddy!” Ajax seems to slip into a whole different personality from before, “But call me Childe when around others, okay? Ajax is for family… Even if.. Some people call me it without permission.” He says that in distaste, eyes glaring over to the closed door.
Family…
“K..Kay,” Aether agrees shyly, all too happy to let a comfortable silence fall over the room- which was uncommon with Aether nowadays. He felt…
Safe in Ajax’s presence.
That safety is quickly destroyed when the door slams back open however and his ‘mentor’ strolls over- grabbing Aether’s arm in a tight grip making him bite his lip as to not cry out at his bandaged wounded being put such pressure on- and getting dragged out of bed in order to stand on the ground with shaky legs. “Hey-” Ajax starts in an alarmed tone, but is shut down by the mentor’s glare.
“Aether will be gone for the rest of the day. You get used to your.. New living quarters.” Her stern gaze shoots back to the blonde boy, and her eyebrows furrow. “Stand straight, boy. What did I say about hiding yourself?”
Aether shakily lowers his free arm to his side and stands as straight as he can. He struggles in keeping his head up, fear always making him instinctively put it down.
“Good.” She then pulls him towards the door, ignoring the way he looks pleadingly towards Ajax who looks back with the most reassuring look he can muster up.
He’s reminded of his Sister with that.
Aether doesn’t see Ajax’s expression turn to anger as soon as he looks away- being forced out of the room and towards what the fatui fondly call ‘The Laboratory’.
He hates it there.
Once the fatui found his inner blessings- and with the knowledge of him being the Abyss’ ‘Prince’- they were eager to unlock the potential of a power stronger than a god’s. But Aether knew nothing of any of that, he remembers being able to make sparks with his hands when he was five- but he was never able to truly explore that. Even in the abyss, they never forced it out of him. Only focusing on his physical capabilities before even thinking exploring ones of… Power.
Here, they focused on both.
Aether never got a break.
With Ajax though… It got.. Easier to deal with.
Months would pass, and Ajax was always there when he got back to his room at night. Some days Ajax looked banged up- but never as bad as Aether looked. Ajax provided comfort in gentle hugs and speaking whatever he can think of to fill the silence. He treated Aether like a younger brother, always so careful with him and understanding. Especially when Aether came back trembling most nights and close to breaking down.
They have an unhealthy yet steady routine, Aether becoming far too reliant on Ajax for comfort- and Ajax scarily protective over him. They wake up, go their separate ways for training and… They come back at different times, Aether always late at night- but Ajax stays up for him. From harsh training to comfort- it became their normal for the next two years.
Then someone other than either of their mentors enter the room,
The Tsaritsa.
Her gaze is as cold as she looks, but her demeanor is unclear.
Ajax speaks up first, Aether being held tightly in his hold from where they’re together on the bed. The blonde is still exhausted from a much too long day, bandages fresh and his eyes dragging down despite the new presence in the room. The poor boy was exhausted. “What do you want?” The ginger hisses out, but freezes at the intense glare sent his way.
“Have some respect, Childe. I’m here to take you to a new location far from here, after all.” Her words are truthful, and her face patient. But Ajax wasn’t having it.
“I’m not leaving Aether.” The ginger says, words carrying an underlying threat. He may be only seventeen now, but he has matured past what he was meant to be at this age.
And he had a temper with a will to fight.
“I know you’re not.” Her heels click across the ground as she approaches the two on the bed, Ajax becoming far more defensive and holding Aether closer. “You both have been done wrong, and I apologize for that. You both will be relocated to Liyue… Your training will still be as it is, but punishments will not be as harsh.” She tilts her head towards Aether, something actually softening in her expression. “Little Prince, you won’t be hurt as you are now. We have gotten what we need from you.. It’s enough.”
Aether barely processes that, his eyes staring at her with an almost glazed over look that makes her frown.
Hm, he was certainly small for his age.. Ten years, was it?
“Childe, carry him and follow me.” She orders, turning around and walking to the door. But she stops in front of it, and merely opens a portal in front of it. The Archon walks through it, not looking back to see if the ginger will follow or not. Only expecting him to.
…
Ajax hesitantly gets off the bed, securing his grip on Aether and staring at the portal in front of them.
…
Would this.. Truly be better?
He listens to Aether’s wheezy breathes from getting kicked too hard in the chest, and his grip tightens on the smaller boy-
Ajax would have to believe in it for now. He couldn’t let Aether continue on like this.
He needs the light in his eyes back, not to lose it forever like he himself had already.
…
A month into training under new mentors has Ajax thrilled. He’s able to explore so much more without constantly worrying over Aether- the boy being treated with much more care than the other place. They allow the both of them breaks, and most importantly they’re patient with Aether. Patience is what Aether needs the most, along with understanding of his sensitivity.
The boy was easy to tear up and they knew to work around that.
Ajax was utterly relieved.
“Aja- I mean, Childe!” Aether greets as he runs up to him, a smile not quite on his face yet- but his eyes are bright as he presents a piece of paper with a drawing of himself and Ajax to the taller boy.
It made something in Ajax’s chest warm as he took the paper, smiling down at Aether in approval. “Wow! You got to draw today? This is great!” He praises, making Aether lean against Ajax and look up at him with starry eyes.
Still far too short, Ajax hopes it’s the genes and not from being malnourished for so long. Maybe he himself was just tall.
“Hm, wanna go back to our room and hang this up?” Ajax questions, ruffling Aether’s hair when the boy nods shyly. “Alright. Wanna be picked up?”
Aether immediately extends his arms up, and Ajax snorts. Always a yes. He thinks fondly, crouching down and picking up the blonde. He begins walking down the hallway, having already been making his way back to their room from training- he wonders who trained Aether today… They didn’t seem to do anything physical if Aether had been drawing.
Hm.
“Aether… Who were you with today?” The ginger questions, waiting patiently as Aether’s nose scrunches as the boy thinks.
“Tsar…it-sa, um. Tsarritsa.” He does his best to pronounce the Archon’s name, nonetheless it makes Ajax freeze in his steps. Aether tilts his head in concern, and tugs lightly on Ajax’s hair. “...Jax?”
“I-” Ajax shakes his head, “Sorry, didn’t mean to worry you. The Tsaritsa, huh? Was she nice to you?”
“Mhm…” Aether rests his head on Ajax’s shoulder, “She wanted to bless me, then after that we drew and played… Chess? Chess is confusing..”
Bless him…
“Ah.. Haha, chess is definitely interesting. If you play enough you’ll get the hang of it though!” He forces his voice to be cheery, but something just doesn’t sit right with him about this. “Hm.. Aether, when she.. Blessed you, what happened?”
Aether shifts slightly, looking mildly uncomfortable and biting his lip. Then, he looks worriedly up to Ajax. “She told me not to tell you. But I don’ wanna lie to you.” He whines out, and Ajax has to squeeze him reassuringly in his hold.
“Don’t tell me then, we don’t want you to get in trouble.” Ajax says, being smarter over his burning curiosity. “But if anyone hurts you, you will tell me. Alright?”
Aether nods in agreement easily, wrapping his arms around Ajax’s neck in a hug.
Such a good kid, Ajax thinks. His eyes wander down to the blonde’s arms, freshly bandaged as to only hide the scars.
….
How dare they hurt him in the first place.
Ajax opens the door to their room, placing Aether on the bed and booping his nose playfully- making Aether squint and bap him back. The ginger tilts his head in amusement, smile wide on his face-
But his brain swirls in his thoughts, and spite swells in his chest.
He’ll become a Harbinger, strong and unstoppable. His urge to fight and slain those who are deserving was strong.
They’ll pay for what they’ve done.
…
Lumine is over five hundred years old when she sees her Brother again.
Far too long, in her opinion.
She will not explain her mistakes that led her to be this old, nor the trauma of seeing more of those who she loves die in a war started by the gods- gods… It’s always the gods.
Time travel was also extremely messy, as she found out and will never do again. She had to live with her sacrifice, and even then.. It wasn’t worth it.
She had time away from the abyss for a few years, which was nice.. She was able to experience family- and Dainslief was.. A wonderful travel companion. A real shame he had to turn against her the moment she went back to the abyss.
But once a Princess, always a Princess.
And once a Prince…
She stares at Aether from afar, the boy sitting in a field alongside fatui scum.
Always a Prince.
Her brother was fifteen at this point. For him.. Only Seven years..? Had passed since they saw each other.
How surreal.
But she shall not confront him at this time.
She had so much to do before she can see him again.
Oh Aether… Truly her little Brother now.
She turns around, and leaves with an abyss mage by her side.
Revenge will be lovely.
…
“Ajax, you don’t have to follow me everywhere I go y’know..” Aether whines out as Ajax wraps his arm around his shoulders. They walk the streets of Liyue, Ajax gaining side-eyes from people who despise the fatui and Aether only receiving confused looks as the boy wore nothing to indicate he too, was fatui.
“Hmm, yeah I do. You don’t go out often! What if something happened to you, eh?” Ajax questions though playfully- completely serious. “Besides… I’d rather Zhongli not find you again. I can’t believe you sat and had tea with him for an hour before I found you… How can you sit there listening to him speak for that long?”
“...He’s nice.” Aether hums with a small smile, “And I’m fifteen now.. I can handle myself! You’re just being an overbearing older Brother.”
Ajax squawks in offense, “Hey! Well, I’m certainly honored to be your ‘Brother’, but c'mon! If you agree that I’m your brother then I gotta fulfill my role! It’s only right.”
“You’re overprotective.” Aether deadpans, though fondly as he pokes Ajax’s cheek making him huff.
“Duh. You’re still a baby, I can’t leave you alone so soon.” Ajax’s eyes roam over the people around, “..I also don’t want anyone to take advantage of you.” He whispers, making Aether sigh softly.
“They won’t. And if they did,” Aether playfully places a hand chilled with Cryo on Ajax’s side, making him yelp,
“Hey-!”
“They’ll have to fight me,” Aether giggles out, squealing when he’s grabbed and his hair is ruffled. “Stooop I just got it braided-!”
“Don’t use your icey powers on me again then! You know it’s colder than Snezhnaya!” Ajax counters, releasing the blonde with a shake of his head. “I know you can fight- you landed me on my ass once or twice. But you’re far too kind, Aether. Having even the Tsaritsa wrapped around your finger…”
“I don’t like hurting people, but I won’t let them use me.” Aether says quietly, making Ajax’s expression soften.
“I know you don’t, and…” Ajax sighs dramatically, “I know you can handle being alone. Just, let me protect you when I can while you’re still young. You still haven’t met my younger siblings.. I’m sure they’d love to see their adoptive bro.”
“You write to them about me too much.. It’s embarrassing.” Aether whines out, but it makes his chest warm and his cheeks flush red. “...But I want to meet them.. So I guess it’s okay.”
Ajax just smiles, “I’d be honored to meet your Sister one day as well, you know.” He says, despite the slight disdain for the girl sending him away in the abyss one time before- he knows she was young at the time.
…..
“...If I ever find her.” Aether responds sadly, leaning heavily into Ajax’s side when the ginger pulls him close.
“You will. You know she’s a top priority to find in the fatui..” He hums in reassurance, but,
“...Only because she’s the Abyss Princess.” Aether frowns, then looks up at Ajax with an unsure expression. “Do you think… The abyss is still looking for me?”
.. “Yes,” Ajax sighs out, “I do. But you’re strong, Aether. Your blessings prove that. They won’t be able to contain you.”
“I am still their Prince in their eyes.” Aether’s frown deepens, “I can never erase that.”
“But you can be and are better than what anyone will ever make you out to be. Never forget that. Come, let us stop pondering things we cannot change and focus on what we can. One thing being getting a good meal to fill our empty stomachs.” He snickers when Aether pinches his cheek lightly, only pushing away his arm gently. “I love ya, buddy.”
“Love you too, Jax.” Aether huffs out softly, unaware of the eyes on him from up above.
….
Zhongli watching the blonde child that sat with him the other week from afar was only out of pure concern. For the scars on his arms, for the way he gets quiet if someone got too loud,
For the way he was so clearly not from Teyvat.
…For the way he has been blessed by the gods along with… Himself.
He recalls hands touching one of his statues, whispering prayers and resonating with Teyvat in such a kindhearted, light way. He wouldn’t have given the boy a vision, but he did grant him his blessings.
But apparently that was enough.
He can feel the Geo in his soul, along with Cryo… Hydro… Electro… Pyro.. Dendro… and Anemo.
He had them all.
How peculiar.
Not to mention his clear bond with Tartaglia, or Childe- or, well. Ajax.
Where did he come from… Hm. Ah, well, it’s certainly lucky he had a heart without ill will.
Zhongli couldn’t imagine someone with the intent of destruction with that power. He’d have to take care of them before they could do anything, and he certainly did not want to harm a child. No matter their intentions.
…Ah…. He should stop stalking him. He’s sure the boy will come to him again. The blonde certainly enjoyed hearing his stories.. Which was quite refreshing, honestly.
Zhongli turns and walks in the opposite direction, thinking of what the future shall bring.
…
Aether has another year of exploring Teyvat even further with Ajax before he sees his Sister again.
A man with the name of Dainsleif appeared to them, requesting help despite his slight annoyance with the fatui in regards to a cave with a defiled statue hanging upside down. It confuses Aether on why Dainsleif cared so much about this, but with the way Ajax’s eyes darken when they see the statue- Aether thinks something is seriously wrong.
“Aja- Childe, what’s wrong?” Aether questions with a tilt of his head when Ajax’s eyes widen when looking in a certain direction. When the ginger turns him off to the side away from that direction and whispers ‘don’t look over there, okay?’, the dread only builds.
It’s a dead body Ajax sees, but he will never let Aether know that.
“...He should not have come.. How old is he?” Dainsleif questions, though it looks as if he already knows the answer-
“..Sixteen,” Ajax says with a light glare, eyebrows furrowing at Dainsleif’s sudden baffled look. “He can handle himself. I do however think we should take our leave now-”
Ajax is interrupted by a portal opening and an abyss herald flying through, making Dainsleif jump in front of them and raise his hand towards the herald- but then Aether is pushing him out of the way and staring at him with the most betrayed look.
All of them in the cave stare at each other in silence for a long moment, then,
“Why would you attack so quickly?” Aether whimpers out, unaware of the herald’s eyes burning into the back of his head.
“...I’ve been hunting the abyss for some time now.” Dainsleif says, not once taking his gaze off of the herald. “They have done something unforgivable, and plan to do more.”
“But-” Aether starts, but yelps when Ajax takes his arm and quickly pulls him out of the way of the herald’s attempt at grabbing him.
“Aether.” Ajax’s voice is stern, “If they know you’re here,”
Aether freezes, eyes shifting towards the herald now pinned against the wall by Dainsleif then back to Ajax who has a fierce look in his eyes. “But my Sister,” Aether whispers- making Ajax soften just somewhat.
“If you’re taken, you won’t get out.” Ajax whispers to him, “We do this safely-”
“That won’t be necessary.” A voice,
The herald goes flying back into the portal, and all eyes shift towards the figure that comes out of that same portal afterwards.
…
Lumine.
“Hello, Aether.” Lumine’s voice isn’t as warm as he remembers it to be. Her cold gaze lands on Dainsleif, and she doesn’t even speak to him as it shifts over to Ajax instead. “...Ajax, or should I say Childe. Ah, or maybe Tartaglia. Too many names, if you ask me.” She laughs without any humor, and Aether remains quiet as he looks at his Sister who seems way older than just sixteen.
“Yes.. I remember you, Lumine. When you sent me away to fend for myself in the depths of the abyss.” Ajax says in a voice that edges on pissed off, but remains as neutral as possible only for Aether’s sake.
“Yes.. I recall that. I also recall being seven years old.” Lumine looks away back towards Aether. “We don’t have time to reminisce. Aether, come with me.”
…
Aether does not move.
“Aether.” Lumine’s voice grows impatient,
“....” Aether reaches over to grab Ajax’s hand, quickly growing nervous the more Lumine stares at him.
This can’t be his sister.
Ajax squeezes his hand in a comforting manner, making Aether breathe out shakily.
“You couldn’t have been seven years old,” Dainsleif suddenly says, his voice laced in confusion and slight anger, “You’re hundreds of years old how did you-”
“She went back in time.” Aether whispers, though loud enough to be heard. It’s silent at that, and Dainslief curses- turning away from the girl as he brings a hand up to his face.
“You’re a fool, Lumine.” Dainsleif hisses out after letting the silence do its job of raising the tension unintentionally. “You let them manipulate you like this… I warned you, didn’t I? So many times.”
“I see nothing wrong with what I did. It didn’t turn out how I wanted it to, but I did it with the intention of the greater good.” Lumine counters, then once more gestures towards her Brother. “Aether. Come, now. We’ve been apart for far too long. It’s time we reunite, and find the god that destroyed our home. You remember that, don’t you? When they killed our parents and destroyed our world? Or have you forgotten with your new love of the fatui? Did they manipulate you into being their little pawn? Do I need to teach them a lesson as well?”
Aether trembles at Lumine’s voice that carries no emotion in her words, this wasn’t the one he remembers that held his hand when he had bad dreams. The one that comforted him and reassured him he’d never have to hurt anyone- that they’d grow up and explore worlds together.
The one that went to bed early with him despite never wanting to. Just so he’d get enough sleep each night.
“Come on Aether, we need to move now! You can’t go with him. You know that.” Lumine interrupts his thoughts,
Deja vu.
“Lumi,” Aether says desperately,
“Aether. Now.” She tries to order him,
…
“No!” Aether cries out finally, “You’re scaring me, Lumine.”
Lumine suddenly falters, before her expression hardens and she turns around.
“Fine. But don’t blame me when you get hurt in a war well deserved.” She leaves after saying that, through the portal where Dainsleif dashes in order to go through as well.
Aether is left without any more words, hand tightening on Ajax’s as he lets out a sob.
Ajax only moves to hug him, letting Aether cry it out before moving them out of the cave.
He felt like he lost a piece of himself, and it hurt way more than it did years ago.
What was he going to do?
…
“We’ll find her again,” Ajax whispers to him, making Aether look up with reddened eyes as they walk back towards Liyue city. “I saw her love for you, even through all of that. We’ll just have to get through to her the hard way. For now, Aether, we wait. And..” Ajax stops their walking, shifting to face Aether and cup his cheeks-
The same way Lumine would,
“We get through today, and take it hour by hour- week by week, we’ll get there. Let’s go get a good nap, hm? Maybe you can see Zhongli tomorrow, I’ll allow it this time. And.. We’ll talk about this more when you’re feeling better. Kay?” Ajax says in such a comforting voice that makes Aether melt,
Right… He still had his older brother.
“Okay.” Aether agrees, though reluctantly. He takes the piggy back ride when it’s offered to him, happy to nap on Ajax’s back after such a long day.
Only time will tell when the universe reunites him truly with his sister, but for now, he’ll allow himself to be taken care of.
Big Brother Ajax to the rescue, as always.