Work Text:
Xiao stands on the roof of Wangshu Inn, his arms folded under his chest. The moon is at its zenith, round and full; he stands at the centre, a shadow neatly cleaving the disc in half.
His patrols for the night have been completed, and now he lingers, his soul's desires carried on the wind. His eyes, shining amber and catlike, follow the path of a rapidly soaring speck. His heart gives a little flutter, hopeful, but after it breaks through the mist, it turns out to be nothing but a large azure crane. He scoffs, teeth sinking into his bottom lip. What exactly is it he's wishing for?
He turns, intending to head back indoors, and comes nose to nose with a grinning Aether. Xiao does not flinch, but it is a near thing. /Aether hadn't made even the slightest sound./ Aether's expression is mischievous and sweet, colour high in his cheeks.
"Hello."
He hums, closing his glider. Xiao is silent, still stunned by his inability to sense the other's presence. Aether arches an eyebrow and leans closer, his braid slipping over his shoulder.
"Missed me?"
This incites a scowl in the other, his gaze falling askance.
"What are you doing here?"
Xiao isn't able to refute the question honestly, so he chooses another tack. His body hums like a livewire, and he has to quell the absurd urge to fidget.
"Ah, come now - don't be like that."
Aether perches comfortably on the roof, tilting his head up at Xiao with a doe-eyed look.
"Didn't you want to hear my voice? I came here to talk your ear off, of course!"
Xiao's pulse has been climbing a rapid crescendo since the other's appearance. With this declaration from Aether, an explosion of elation washes over him, so potent that he is almost staggered with it.
As it stands, visibly there is no other reaction on his features except the softening at the corners of his eyes and the line of his mouth.
He sits next to the traveller, then huffs as Aether takes advantage of their position by slipping an arm around his waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. The intimacy of their growing relationship is still new to Xiao, may feel new for years yet.
After enduring eons of pain, the absence of it is as a gentle rain. Aether's voice is deep and rich in his ear, no less amused than before.
"I must admit...when I read your letter, I had a bit of a laugh."
Xiao stiffens.
Aether chuckles and soothes it out of him with a hand, palm sliding up his stomach and resting on his chest.
"You've gone from 'don't get too close to me,' to 'I want to hear your voice.'"
"Do not tease."
Xiao intercepts, his hand closing over Aether's wrist.
"Fine, fine. As a matter of fact, I do have the starconches with me. I'll listen to what they have to say right now."
Aether lifts one to his ear, closing his eyes and nodding with all the gravity of someone having a very important message delivered to them.
"Mhm. Mhm. This one says 'happy birthday',"
Aether says with a delighted smile. Seemingly out of nowhere, he produces a healthy bloom of Qingxin, tucking it behind Xiao's ear. Xiao huffs, but plays along.
"What of the others?"
"This one...hm, it's tattling. It's saying that I've really missed you. This other one - ah, it says that you're beautiful. And - "
"Your shamelessness knows no bounds."
Xiao's own amused exasperation is audible. His mouth curves up into a tiny smile.
Aether stares at him, the last conch held loosely between his finger tips. He swallows, eyes blown and dark, and places it against his ear before setting it aside.
He angles his body even closer, and Xiao accommodates him without fear or trouble, guided there by a magnet's pull.
"That one said you should kiss me."
A vague noise reverberates deep in Xiao's throat, perhaps agreement, perhaps something less comprehensible, but before he knows it his fingers are threaded in the hair at the back of Aether's head and pulling him in. Before their lips meet, however, he pauses.
Aether is displeased, whining a breathy protest, but Xiao holds him fast.
"Yes."
Aether blinks, brows furled with impatience.
"What?"
"I missed you."
And then Xiao kisses him, eyes falling shut as he tastes what coming home feels like under the light of the moon.