Work Text:
"Aether, my love," Kaeya speaks, watching the sunrise with him. "I have a question for you."
"Shoot," Aether replies, fiddling with the settings on his Kamera.
"Why do you take so many pictures?"
Aether gives pause to that. He looks up at the sunrise for a moment, and thinks about how to answer.
"It's because I want to remember this if I have to leave," Aether finally says. "If my sister... If she doesn't let me stay – I mean, she's always bragged about how she's a few minutes older, so that's why she makes all the decisions," Aether smiles as he notices Kaeya listening intently. "So… If she decides that we have to continue traveling the world, then... I want to be able to remember you. I know I appear young, but... there's more you don't know, and I don't want to lose your memory to time, or old age, or whatever. I want to remember as much of you, of Teyvat, of the people I've met and loved, as much as I can. That's why I take so many photos, I guess."
"And if you don't have to leave?" Kaeya asks. "If your sister allows you to stay?"
Aether thinks for a moment. Lumine… If she lets him stay…
"Then my children would have photos of the first man I loved." Aether states it simply, as if it were obvious.
Kaeya coughs and splutters, trying to hide his blush and surprise. He's lucky Venti and Diluc are sleeping in their tents, otherwise he'd never hear the end of this moment of vulnerability.
"Children, Aether?" Kaeya chuckles. "I may not know how your anatomy works, but I don't think I'd be able to bear a child, you know."
Aether rolls his eyes and shoves Kaeya lightly. Kaeya chuckles at the attempt. "I mean adoption, you dimwit," Aether says. "I don't think either of us would be able to have children. Although, I've never tried-"
"Okay, stop right the fuck there. Good morning, Aether." Diluc intrudes, slowly waking up and staring down Kaeya and Aether as if they were misbehaving children- which, well, he wasn't that far off, if they were being honest with themselves.
Aether just shoots him a smile and raises his Kamera. "Smile, Master Diluc!"
~~~
Years after the war between the Abyss and the Archons, Aether finds himself staring at a memorial. to those who served in the war but are no longer with them. He was lucky to be on the other side of this memorial.
He was lucky that Lumine let him stay.
She had begged her brother to come with her, to see more of the world. She said he would die here if he stayed. He would die not knowing the other mysteries of the universe and never being able to see their homeland again. He had cried, but he stayed strong in his decision. It would be his only willing act of defiance against his sister, and it would be the last memory of her he had.
She had gone on to explore the world. She promised she would come back to visit, but he wouldn't hold his breath. He knew she would understand one day. Staying with the ones you love more than your own blood is the least you could do for them.
But as time passed, so did relationships.
Kaeya had since left Aether a few months ago because of an argument that was started by this memorial. Kaeya's men, his friends—including Jean, Amber, and Lisa—had all died in the fight against the Abyss. He had watched Jean stop him from bleeding out by using her healing powers and had gotten stabbed in the process. He felt guilty. He saw a khanerian on the other end of the sword, but as he was injured, he couldn't avenge her.
Kaeya had always regretted being unable to avenge Jean's death, even if she had told him to live a guilt-free life as her last words.
So he told Aether he would return after he had slain the Khanerian agent that had killed Jean.
It's been three years since then, and the only reason why he was still holding out hope was because Venti had caught a rumor of a blue-haired vigilante on a boat stolen from Inauzuman officials, sailing towards uncharted territory with a certain winery owner by his side.
Diluc has since returned to Mondstat, but Aether sees the look in his eyes and doesn't dare question him as to what happened to Kaeya. Diluc assures him he's still alive, but other than that, he does not speak to Aether unless necessary.
Aether still waits for the day Kaeya returns home.
~~~
Aether has children now.
He has since given the name Alden to a small abandoned Snezhnayan child and an infant girl left on his doorstep in the pouring rain with the name 'Theresa' on a small note tucked into her blanket. He smiles when Alden picks up a scrapbook, worn over with dust and stray scratches.
"Daddy, who's this guy?" Alden asks, pointing to a picture of a much younger, much more present Kaeya Alberich.
Aether sits next to his son and admires the picture with a faraway look for a moment. Kaeya's hair was down, his eyepatch was off, but his hair still covered the eye. Only Aether had seen what was under that eyepatch – and those who had perished by it in the war.
But Kaeya, the smirking and ever-lying Cavalry Captain, had a small, shy smile on his face as he looked at the viewers. A genuine blush was on his cheeks as Aether took that picture, and Aether very well remembered what had happened only hours after that photo was taken. He blushed a bit, but he shook his head out of the memory.
"That, little one," Aether sighs, "is the first man I ever loved."
"Ew!" Alden shouts, making Aether laugh. "So you kissed him and stuff?"
Aether smiles. "Of course I did. That's what you do with people you love, if they want you to. "
But you don't kiss Uncle Bennett!
"Uncle Bennet has someone else he kisses. I give him hugs instead. l"
"What about Miss Xiangling?"
"I hug her too, little one."
"So who do you kiss now?"
Aether pauses. "I don't. I'm waiting for him to come back.
"Is he dead?"
Aether chuckles. "No, he is still too much of a thorn in my side to die just yet, little one." Aether looks out the window towards the sea.
"He will come home to me. I know he will. "
~~~
Alden was twelve now. Theresa was five. Aether had nearly lost hope.
He took his children with him on his mission to Mondstat this time. He had told Katheryne that he could not take any risky commissions, like defeating the stray treasure hoarder gang or group of slimes, as much as Alden had begged him to show them his powers.
Which he did. A lot. And very loudly.
"But dad, why do you think it's too dangerous? I'm twelve! I can start training in four years! Should I be at least watching?"
"Alden, I told you, you can fight slimes with me when I can trust you with a weapon," Aether sighs. "Right now you can barely shoot your bow or hold a sword, and I have no idea what you'd do with a catalyst, so that's our last resort. Alright?"
Alden huffs. "But what if-"
"If I need help, I will send you to get help. Don't worry about your dad too much, okay?" Aether smiles and ruffles the mess of dark brown hair. He should check with Alden to see if he wants it cut later.
Theresa walks silently next to them, holding her father's hand as she studies the rocks they walk past, picking a few interesting ones up along the way. She doesn't speak much, and Aether never forced her to. She asks him questions on occasion, and she tells both of them she loves them every night. That's all he needed.
"Daddy, why is that man staring at you?" She asks now, pointing into the forest a couple hundred feet away.
Aether reactively draws his weapon and pushes his children behind him as he looks up.
He drops it immediately as he sees dark blue hair and tanned skin.
They were only a mile or two from the city of Mondstat, and yet, there he was. The renowned Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonious, the man with too many secrets, and Aether's first love.
"Kaeya?"
"Aether?"
They both shout at the same time. Passersby look on in wonder, until they see the man that had been missing for years. Many started whispering. He half heard someone going to get Master Diluc and Venti.
Aether noticed that he had more scars now. His hair was thicker and longer, his arms were more muscled, and his clothes were torn and ripped and stained. He'd lost his fur throw quite some time ago, along with his cape.
But his eyes were still the same.
And Aether couldn't be more relieved.
As Kaeya started moving, Aether turned to Alden and told him to keep watch of his sister for a few moments. Alden grinned cheekily, and he just knew the look on his face was going to be something his son teased him about for the rest of his life.
But then he ran to the man he loved.
Kaeya ran to him too.
It wasn't like in the fairytales, where one would catch the other mid-jump. Rather, they both knocked noses and grabbed at each other and fell to the ground from the impact of one another. Aether was crying and laughing. He was probably bleeding all over Kaeya, but he didn't really care. Kaeya didn't seem to even notice.
Kaeya was home.
And if Alden took out his father's beloved, old, worn-out Kamera and took a picture of their reunion, well, he would find out later. It seemed like something he would want to remember.
Kaeya and Aether smile at each other, touching foreheads, with blood dripping down on Kaeya's ruined clothes from Aether's nose, and both of them crying from the overwhelming emotions. Kaeya was holding his lover close, one hand in his hair, keeping their foreheads together, and the other on his hip, trying to pull him closer. Aether was cupping one side of his face and the other was placed over his chest, fingers splayed over the tattered fabrics.
Alden swore his father was glowing, and that the winds were blowing with warm, gentle breezes. The land itself seemed to radiate happiness and relief. The sea stopped crashing against the rocks nearby, and even though it was due to snow soon, any chills that everyone in the surrounding area would have felt previously had been turned into warmth. One could swear there were literal sparks coming off of the two.
It seems as if the gods favored the reunion of Teyvat's renowned couple.
"I waited for you, you know," Aether whispers. "I know you told me not to, but-"
"Always so stubborn," Kaeya snickers. "I figured you would. and I'm so happy you did, Aether. "
"I have children," Aether smiles. "Two children — who somehow got opposite sides of you without even being yours."
Kaeya laughs, throwing his head back. "Is that so?"
"I swear, I have never met someone who reminds me more of you than Alden. He's a con-man in the making and far too eager to fight everything he thinks is a threat," Aether giggles. "And Theresa – oh, she is so smart. She's so quiet. But she is so, so smart. She even figured out how to trick me into giving her cookies instead of vegetables once. I still don't know how. "
Kaeya grins. "They sound lovely."
"They are."
"I love you, Aether. And I missed you so much." Kaeya whispers. He leans closer to his love, and whispers one last thing— "I promise I won't leave again." —before kissing the daylight out of the Aether.
~~~
"Now, who would you be, little man?" Kaeya says as he and Aether finally make their way back to the children. He crouches down to the young boy's height and gives him a smile.
"Alden! Aren't you the guy in my dad's scrapbooks?" Alden tilts his head and looks between the two of them. "He has a whole three scrapbooks full of pictures of you, and another one he won't let me see."
Aether hides his face in mild shame and embarrassment. "There's a reason for that, Alden."
Kaeya makes a note to find that secret scrapbook later.
"Well, Alden, I'm Kaeya. Kaeya Alberich, and I used to live here in Mondstat."
"Oh, so you're my other dad? Cool!" Alden grins up at him. Kaeya's heart squeezes at the sight of his missing tooth. "Where have you been, then? Daddy said you were on a really important mission, but he wouldn't tell me what it was."
Kaeya ruffles his hair, smiling at the indignant yelps Alden makes. "I'll tell you when you get older, I promise. It's a little too scary for someone so young," he explains. "But don't worry. I took care of quite a few bad guys for an old friend of mine."
"Awesome! So you're, like, a Knight? A hero?!" Alden jumps around Kaeya like an excited dog, and it makes him melt a little. "Can you teach me to fight!?!"
"We can talk about it later, how about that?" Kaeya states, placing a hand on his head gently to stop the boy from toppling over.
Aether turns as he hears footsteps rushing up to the four of them. "Diluc, Venti! I figured you two would be here soon enough-"
Diluc gently nudges himself between Aether and Theresa to capture Kaeya in a seemingly bone-crushing hug.
"You absolute fool," Diluc mutters into his shoulder. "I cannot believe you actually did it." He pulls away to look at Kaeya's face, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Well, hello to you too, Mister –" The smug remark that was inevitable gets cut off by yet another violently affectionate hug from the winemaker. "Alright, yes, I missed you too," Kaeya chuckles breathily. "Now may I breathe?"
Diluc reluctantly lets go of him, and turns to face Aether. He doesn't say anything, but Aether understands.
Thank you for not giving up on him.
"Well, if I hadn't seen you with my own eyes, I'd think someone was drunker than I!" Venti practically sings, pulling Kaeya into a hug. "The beloved Kaeya Alberich, returned to Mond. What a fateful day."
"Eloquent as ever, I see," Kaeya chuckles. "It's wonderful to see you too, Venti. I'm sorry I was gone for so long."
Venti beams. "Oh, hush, we all understood. Varka had half a mind to find you and join you, but Diluc had to stop him himself and keep him in Mond. It was quite the sight, if I do say so myself," He pushes himself off of Kaeya gently and starts walking down the path he came from. "Anyways, come join me at the tavern tonight - I'll pay."
"If I may be so bold," Kaeya starts, "Might I request a few days at home, with my family, before then? I have plenty of catching up to do." Kaeya strides over to his lover, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek and an arm around his waist. He could feel some new blemishes on Aether's skin, and how it was still warm like he remembered.
..And how his lover still shivered at his cold touch. Yes, he did indeed have some catching up to do.