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Aether sighed, feeling himself grow restless as the night went on. He had slept decently early, hoping to get some proper rest before he went out to do whatever people did nowadays. But here he is, wide awake at 4 a.m as the quiet city of Liyue harbor peeked from his windows.
It's been millennia since Liyue harbor was a quaint area; now, it's full of significant buildings and roads everywhere. The change didn't surprise Aether as much, knowing that the mortals were bound to develop eventually; he wouldn't expect it to turn out the way it did.
Aether and the other immortals resided in one place. Hence, it would be easier to remain in close contact. They have lost some mortal friends here and there, but it was nothing that they weren't accustomed to. Although, he supposed it did hurt every time the death of a loved one came around.
The blonde sighed, sitting up from his bed as his husband slept peacefully next to him. Adepti don't need sleep, Xiao would say before; now he sleeps at any given chance while at home. Whether on the couch or the bed, Xiao could be seen sleeping the day away like a cat. Aether smiled softly, moving his hand to move some of Xiao's hair from his face as he leaned to kiss his lover's forehead.
Getting up from bed, the ex-prince made his way to the balcony in the room and sat on one of the chairs perched there. It was strange, living a life that Aether never knew he would live. He'd expect to be stuck in the Abyss forever, being called Prince and whatever else the Abyss lectors or mages call him. He would recall every memory from those times, which almost hurt him each time. The blonde hated it, unable to let go of what used to be the past. He also hated how he was, or is, with Lumine's friends and lovers.
At some point, Aether wished he would disappear from this world. He loved it, but he was also scared. The whole world seemed so dark, and Aether cried almost every night without his dear husband knowing. This was one of those nights.
He couldn't help but feel hurt and terrified, thinking that this may be some cruel dream the world was not allowing him to wake up from, that he would wake up back in his room in the Abyss. Yet each time, he felt that he knew he was wrong. He supposed that this would be what some people call a rough time. Nothing helped him soothe these feelings, they became overwhelming once they hit, and he didn't know what to do.
The city lights were off at this time, letting the stars and moon be seen from the sky. It reminded him of the moments the moon witnessed, from the most intimate moments to the raw, pure ones. Of course, some were with friends and his sister, but most were made purely with his lover. A broken sob left his voice as the blonde weakly laughed, unknowing of the presence behind him.
His tears fell from his eyes, and a few silent sobs came from him that blocked any noise near him, causing him to flinch as he heard his lover's voice.
"Why are you not in bed?" Xiao asked, his voice low and rough from waking up late into the night. He shivered, complaining about the cold as he scooted near the other. He promptly sat on Aether's lap, cuddling into the male for his body heat. "And why are you crying?"
Aether giggled, sniffling as he moved to hold his lover in a more comfortable position on the chair. He remained quiet to collect his thoughts, and Xiao could tell as much as he looked at Aether's face. Being together for nearly thousands of years had perks in moments like these. "I suppose I am thinking of my internal problems," Aether spoke softly, not wanting to worry his lover. Of course, he failed as he saw the knowing look on Xiao's face. Talk to me, he saw.
It was hard not to worry the other; he was always perceptive and quick to grasp how Aether was feeling. It always surprised the blonde, though he wouldn't ask how Xiao knew. "I'm just wondering why I am living the life I have now. It's… nothing special. I always thought I would stay in the Abyss, ordering those creatures around like puppets on strings. Yet, I didn't expect to get… pulled away from it." Aether said, thinking for a brief moment before he continued, "Had it not been for my sister, I probably would have gone through with the attack on Teyvat and not be here. I wouldn't be here with you and everyone I know…."
His voice was gradually getting lower, a moment of weakness that he barely shared in fears of being met with judgment. Though, nothing came. Xiao grabbed Aether's hand, lacing their fingers together as he squeezed Aether's hand.
"I was… afraid, and I still am. I hated myself for not being able to receive love the way my sister was able to when she saved me. As the days went by, I got better… But sometimes, when I'm too happy, I'm afraid I'll be in pain again. So I stopped trying to be better and shut away. I couldn't make friends with Lu's friends back then." Aether recounted, feeling himself cry again as his grip on Xiao tightened. "I'm sorry, I don't really know where I'm going with this rant-" Xiao hushed him, pecking the blonde's lips to shut him up.
"It's okay; there's no need to be sorry, baobei," Xiao spoke.
And archons above did Aether melt when Xiao would call him by that, his heartstrings tugging here and there when it was used. Of course, he tried not to show it. Still, he failed miserably, and Xiao uses the nickname whenever he wants something or to fluster the other.
Aether shook his head, "I feel I burden you with my problems, though… you don't deserve me, a child who whines at memories that were nearly two thousand years ago."
"You are not a burden, my dear; you have never been one," Xiao said, playing with Aether's fingers as he chipped the polish painted nearly two weeks ago. "I understand you may be afraid; I'm going through the same crisis myself. But you aren't alone in this, darling; you have me. We've been together for so long, married for longer than that. I know when you are upset, happy, sad, angry, and above. I have seen you when you are vulnerable and when you are strong. I have seen everything, and although there may be things you try to hide, I want you to know that I will always be here, bao. I deserve you; I don't want to love someone else who isn't you. Under the sun and clouds and the moon and stars, I promise."
Silence quickly overcame the two, and a slight tension slowly built in Xiao as he awaited for his love to reply. Had he said too much? Were the words too cheesy? Hesitantly, he looked up to see the other face. Aether's reaction stunned Xiao a bit.
Aether was crying again, but instead of it being hurt, he was smiling softly as a rosy tint covered his cheeks. Archons, he looked so heavenly despite his bedhead and puffy eyes. Xiao wiped the other's tears, whispering sweet things in his hair to make him even better and stop crying. The other merely dug his face into the ravenette's shoulder, crying softly as he silently thanked him.
It took a while for Aether to form proper words, every time he tried, he would elicit a sob instead. Xiao soothed the other, playing with his hair and kissing him all his face. Eventually, Aether calmed down and leaned to kiss Xiao, the kiss being a bit salty from the tears.
"Thank you, my darling. I love you so much." He said, hugging the other tightly. There was so much he could say, but the words stayed in his throat.
"We should get to bed, I can see the sun slowly rising, and I still want to sleep." Xiao interrupted, trying to get up, but Aether's grip didn't falter. "Whatever you want, my love," Aether said as he got up, holding the short male by his waist as Xiao yelped, quickly wrapping his legs around Aether's hips.
He grumbled, lightly hitting the blonde's head once. The other giggled, finding his husband's reaction an endearing one.
Walking inside, Aether closed the balcony door and locked it, ensuring it was safe before going over to the bed and promptly laying down on it with Xiao still in his arms.
"You're so dumb," Xiao said, giggling a bit as he nuzzled into Aether. He kissed the other's neck a bit, slightly biting on it before kissing Aether on the lips once again. The motion was reciprocated before they pulled apart and cuddled until tiredness overtook them.
Before letting sleep consume him, Aether asked one last question.
"When did you learn to become such a sap?"
".....Goodnight."
"Darling!"
"Night"
The stars danced and shone brightly together, creating a beautiful image as the moon watched from where it was.
Aether was with Lumine, hugging and consoling her as her chest piece shone many colors. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple all at once— each color representing the elements she controlled. Aether's was white, almost as pure as a dove's feather.
She had found him, and despite his attempts to hide away and keep her from arms reach, she didn't budge and still fought to find her dear brother.
Eventually, more people crowded the twins as they asked too many questions. It was all too much, and Aether didn't like that.
He held onto Lumine a bit tighter, looking at the people around before one caught his eye.
He had a yaksha mask, his jade spear in hand as he watched the scene unfold. He stayed a certain distance, seemingly uncomfortable with the group of people. Just as he was about to teleport away, the Yaksha locked eyes with the abyssal Prince, and something clicked in them.
Without a word, the Yaksha mouthed three words before disappearing into the night.
"Xiao. Wangshuu In."
And archons above, did Aether miss him already.