Chapter Text
Paimon talked so much.
Aether often wondered how it was physically possible for her. Granted, he supposed he didn’t understand that about a lot of people.
How they managed to talk so much that is.
Aether didn’t have many memories prior to crash landing in Tevat, so he didn’t know for sure if his dislike and general inability to speak freely without becoming exhausted was the result of the stress of losing his only known family and suddenly being thrust into the role of ‘ultimate savior’ or if they had just always been that way.
In some ways Aether was grateful that Paimon never shut up, it meant he didn’t have to talk, although they didn’t always appreciate Paimon talking for him.
~
One of the first things he had done in Mondstat was find a book on sign language. Aether knew some, though he was unsure if his knowledge was going to translate into this new world. And even if his existing knowledge was correct, dialects likely changed between nations. Aether had nearly thrown the first book he found in the library against the wall.
“An outdated form of communication uncommon in Tevat, a difficult skill to learn with very little use. With the exception of morse code in Fontaine and letters, very few people prefer alternative methods of communication across nations”
The collection of books on sign language was close to none. Aether had managed to find 7 books in total. Two of them weren’t about sign language but were instead biographies of deaf people, who were praised for their ‘intellect’ as they became proficient in lip reading.
Once again Aether had to refrain themselves from ripping the books apart, something he was sure Lisa would kill him for.
“Hey Sweetie, it looks like you need some help over there.”
Aether jumped, not only had he not been expecting Lisa but her sickly sweet tone made his skin crawl. However, she could be helpful, and Aether wasn’t about to be rude. They forced the scowl he had accrued from reading into a gentle smile and offered a light wave. Lisa frowned.
“Where’s your little friend?”
Aether froze. Without Paimon, he would have to talk. It’s not that he was scared of talking per say, he just didn’t like it. It took time and effort, he always felt like his jaw was made of lead and he could never arrange the words right. Despite the small amount of time the pair had spent together, they had already become dependent on the small flying emergency food’s endless babbling. They steadied themselves in the chair, taking a deep breath, but before he could open his mouth Lisa spoke.
“Sign Language huh? Looking to learn?”
Another impasse, though one that was slightly easier to navigate.
“I already know a bit.”
A flash of shock followed by a small smile.
“I see.”
Lisa turned and left the library.
Aether did not see.
Aether and Paimon had left the main city in Mondstat the next morning. Aether did not want to see Lisa again, plus the Abyss Order had moved their troops closer in the night, the perfect excuse for Aether to shove Paimon in front of him and figure out the best way for them to help.
And help they did. In a matter of a few days,with the help of the adventures guild, knights of Favionious and a bard that talked nearly as much as Paimon, the dragon known as Stormterror was no longer a threat to Mondstat, and Aether was no closer to finding their sister.
They spent one last night in Mondstat before heading to Liyue, upon returning to their room Paimon and Aether found a small pamphlet that had been slid under the door.
Basic Tevat Sign Language
Aether looked through it, and was relieved. It was the same language he already had stored from his past life, before the unknown god, before Tevat. Which was strange, because how had they learned it then? But Aether's past was currently the least of his problems. He turned to Paimon and handed her the pamphlet. Paimon read the title, looked at Aether, then back and forth between the two.
“Is this why you can’t talk? You only know how to speak sign language?”
Aether laughed.
“I can speak, I just don’t like it.”
Paimon stared blankly.
“I haven’t opened the paper yet. I don’t know what you just said!”
Aether smirked and pointed to the sheet in her hands. Then get to it , his actions suggested. Paimon sighed heavily and opened the sheet.
~
Hard to believe that Paimon had only started learning upon leaving Mondstat. Paimon was a fast learner, fast enough that by the time they reached Inazuma, Paimon was practically a full time translator.
Not that Aether needed it. He knew how to get his emotions across, and due to their prior accomplishments people normally didn’t press much.
The second person to point out Aether’s lack of speech and subsequent sign use was Thoma. On the docks Aether had made a rushed comment to Paimon, a quick set of downplayed hand movements that most people either ignored or just flat out didn’t notice. Thoma did though, he had caught the motion, tilted his head, clearly considering his options, but had ultimately decided to ignore it until they were in a safer place.
A few days later Aether sat in one of the Kamisato guest bedrooms. Tomorrow he and Paimon would head out to meet the last of the prior vision holders. There was a soft knock at the door. Aether got up and opened to Thoma, who offered a small wave and gestured into Aether's room. Aether opened the door to let Thoma in. Aether sat back down on their bed while Thoma stood awkwardly just inside the doorway. Thoma then made an awkward gesture from his ear to his mouth then looked at Aether awaiting an answer.
“Deaf?”
Aether took a moment to process the question. The question he had been signed. He shook his head and signed “ No.”
Thoma looked relieved, but then backtracked, “Not that it would be bad if you were deaf, I just didn’t prepare much more than ‘deaf’ ‘yes’ ‘no’ and ‘Thoma’.” He signed each word as he said it, struggling to remember each of the letters in ‘Thoma’.
“So, um, do you ever talk?”
“A little”
After a few moments of the blank stare from Thoma, Aether fingerspelled ‘little’ and Thoma nodded.
“So Paimon’s your translator?”
“Yes”
“Is she a good translator?”
Aether thought for a moment before fingerspelling, “ A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G.”
Thoma laughed.
“Do you want to teach me some words so that I can be a less annoying translator?”
The evening was filled with laughter as Aether criticized Thoma’s hand shapes and Thoma tried to get enough words to tell a bad joke.
~
Aether was very glad that the pair had gotten a nice heart to heart as less then a week later, he watched Thoma’s hands, tied behind his back spell out ‘help’ as the Shogun strode forward intent on taking his vision.
Aether had jumped in, able to tell Thoma exactly when to jump out of the way, thankful for his friend in so many ways.