Archive of Our Own

“Hello, you two. Sleep well?”

Alhaitham's conversational greeting did precious little to put Aether at ease–-the smile that rose to his face lasted a mere instant.

Truthfully, Aether hadn’t slept as well as he would have liked–-but at least he got some sleep.

Though he didn’t know it at the time, it was the last night of proper sleep he would get for a good while.

In retrospect, he probably could have guessed as much, had he given it more than a moment of thought. Never in his wildest dreams could he deny the flurry of nervous butterflies that coursed through his bloodstream when Alhaitham first explained what their plan would entail. His concern must have been obvious, as Alhaitham deliberately looked to Aether as he outlined this particular step--and, naturally, the attention of everyone else in the room followed.

“Traveler, I’d like to request your utmost commitment to this aspect as well.” Alhaitham’s gaze was steady and sharp, yet gleaming gently with understanding. The sheer complexity of the thoughts behind his eyes made them as hard to read as ever. “It is imperative that you remain focused and proceed with our plan just as we’ve discussed. Is that something I can ask of you?”

After a second or two of hesitation, though he couldn’t disguise the worry on his face, Aether nodded. He couldn’t bring himself to do more with everyone staring at him like this.

“Good.” Alhaitham corrected his posture, leaning back against the chair and adjusting how his arms were crossed over his chest. His gaze fell to the table for a brief instant. “While a genuine reaction, to an extent, may work in our favor to convince the Grand Sage, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of not losing track of our objective. You’ll need to keep a clear head for all of this to go smoothly.”

“I…” Aether faltered. He made a feeble attempt at steeling his resolve with another nod. “I understand.”

Perhaps Alhaitham really had trusted him too much; that Aether dreaded even imagining Alhaitham losing his composure was already a bad sign, much less seeing it happen before his eyes. After the fact, he mused that if he had worked harder to desensitize himself to the mental image, he might have been able to more reliably execute his role–-to live up to the trust he had worked so hard to earn from Alhaitham.

He should have been more prepared.

It’s all part of the plan.

Yet Aether foolishly thought it would be sufficient simply to repeat this phrase to himself, silently, as they approached the Akademiya on the promised Jnagarbha Day.

Even though he’d mentally recounted the procedure so many times, now that the actual day had arrived, he couldn’t fully shake off his anxiety. He found himself hiding behind Alhaitham, his eyes warily tracing their surroundings as they stepped into the hall, and, with a brief interruption, made their way into the library. Alhaitham’s impressive stature was good for more than just cuddling–-now, it helped Aether feel more invisible.

Look like you’re supposed to be here, he reprimanded himself. You’ll look less suspicious that way. It took all his might to resist the urge to cling to Alhaitham’s hand as they walked. He made do with allowing his shoulders to brush Alhaitham’s cape every so often. Alhaitham acknowledged him with a backwards glance; his eyes were narrowed with focus, and gleaming with confidence. This look on Alhaitham’s face, indicating his mind was hard at work, was very familiar to Aether, from all the way back when they first met at Port Ormos.

There was a moment of magic as Alhaitham pushed open the doors to the House of Daena, and the vast library opened up before them. Aether, consumed by a sudden burst of curiosity–-a desire to explore-–could have forgotten all about the plan, had a storm of worry not still churned deep within his stomach. He made a mental note to return here to look around, assuming their plan went off without a hitch. He hoped that wasn’t an optimistic assumption.

“Is it really okay to waltz right in here?”

Paimon’s inquiry was one echoing in the back of his own mind as well. But her bringing it up served as an ideal opportunity to confront that doubt.

“Just act natural–”

“Just act natural.”

He and Alhaitham spoke at practically the same moment. They exchanged glances, and a hint of a smile alighted on Alhaitham’s lips. Aether found himself smiling back.

He basked in that moment of comfort for as long as he could, knowing that as soon as he looked away, reality’s cold embrace would seize his heart once more, and he’d have to return his focus to the day's mission.

They made their way to the center of the library and paused next to a round platform lined with bookshelves. It was somewhere out of the way, but just conspicuous enough to draw attention had anyone been watching them: the perfect place to act as bait.

Alhaitham and Paimon exchanged a few scripted words under their breath.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before an unfamiliar voice drew their attention–-and there stood the Grand Sage, sneering down at them from the main floor of the library, alerted by their conversation.

“An eyewitness had informed me of your whereabouts, so I came to personally welcome you.”

Aether couldn’t help thinking of a generic villain from a light novel–-or something.

He thinks he has the upper hand.

Step one: success. Still, in the face of such an influential figure, Aether couldn’t suppress a shudder. One wrong move, and they were done for.

(But that was the purpose of the plan, right?)

It’s all part of the plan.

“Great Sage, I didn’t expect you to care so much about me. I’m truly flattered.”

Over the last several weeks, Aether had gradually learned to tell when Alhaitham was being sarcastic. The short, simple answer was that he never was. He spoke bluntly, but his capacity to imagine and accommodate others’ perspectives meant his words were never condescending, nor did they hide unspoken meaning or malice. With a mind laser-focused on logic and rationality, Alhaitham wasn’t one to prioritize his own feelings over others’ understanding of a situation.

Which was why, in any other context, Aether would think Alhaitham was being honest. But there was no way, with everything he now knew about the Akademiya, that Alhaitham held the Grand Sage in high enough regard to spare him from condescension. This time, the bite in his statement was authentic.

The Grand Sage seemed unfazed, though, and shifted his glare to Aether. Aether shrunk and took a step back.

“I’m sure, but compared to you, I am far more interested in these unexpected guests. You are… the Traveler and Paimon, correct?”

It’s all part of the plan.

The Sage’s voice dripped with confidence–-a good sign, in this case. The lower his guard was, the better. Yet Aether’s heart shivered wildly against his ribs, and he had to force the air to cycle through his lungs at a tolerable speed. He hardly had to worry about acting when his fear of being caught was so real. He hoped, at least, that his reaction would further persuade the Sage that he had the advantage.

Aether took another step back. His wrist grazed Alhaitham’s fingertips. He spared a momentary glance over his shoulder at Alhaitham; from beneath his bangs, Alhaitham’s narrowed eyes glimmered back at him. Aether hadn’t the spare energy to analyze what Alhaitham must be thinking, but that was all right–-all he needed was the sight of that deep blue color, seared by a burst of crimson like the vivid aurora against the sky.

He felt Alhaitham’s fingers close briefly around his wrist, as if to say, ‘I’m here. It’s okay.’

Those were words Alhaitham would never speak, as he refused to make empty promises–-but all the same, Aether understood the gesture as one of reassurance. Aether let that point of warmth seep into his veins, flowing back to his heart where it chased away just a bit of the anxiety rattling in his chest.

He managed to maintain his composure as the green-clad guards corralled them into the lift. The shift of the elevator made Aether’s stomach lurch, and he stumbled. He supported himself against Alhaitham’s body, his trembling fingers finding Alhaitham’s side, and he clung.

Alhaitham didn’t look at him; Aether only saw the angles of his face in profile, unwavering. Yet a steady warmth brushed against the small of his back as Alhaitham’s hand rested there. Aether silently thanked all the gods he could think of that the guards either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

When the doors opened, they revealed a wide circular room bathed in an otherworldly blue glow. In a more positive situation, Aether might have found it inspiring.

They were in the Sage’s office. Step two: Success.

It’s all part of the plan.

Aether’s heart pounded in his ears. The rush of his blood made him feel as though he might as well be standing next to a waterfall. But a waterfall would be more magnificent and picturesque than this.

Even Alhaitham committed to his role, his attention wandering the office with feigned concern as he searched in vain for a possible exit.

Alhaitham never averts his gaze like that. Alhaitham, his mind ever clear and focused, always looked straight at the subject of his interest with characteristic intensity. He’s a good actor.

It was almost enough to convince Aether that Alhaitham was actually anxious.

It’s all part of the plan.

Still Aether did not leave Alhaitham’s side. His stomach started to ache.

Aether soon lost track of how many minutes the Sage had spent waxing poetic about his fantastic god creation plan–he didn’t bother to remember many of the words the Sage said that day–and Aether found it difficult to feel anything but contempt for him. The Sage certainly liked listening to the sound of his own voice.

Still, the longer the Sage’s monologue drew on, the longer Aether had to dwell on his fear. Shivers found their way down his arms, through his hands and fingertips. He tried to breathe with moderate success. Only when Alhaitham’s hand shifted to his shoulder did Aether realize he had buried his face in Alhaitham’s side, squeezing his eyes shut, clutching at whatever warmth he could reach. Firmly caressing his shoulder, Alhaitham bestowed upon him his usual calculating scowl. It was an expression that resonated easily with Aether’s memory. In spite of everything, it helped him feel just a little more at home.

This is where…

Aether bit back a cry of protest as Alhaitham let go and stepped in front of him, facing the Grand Sage.

“...Oh, that reminds me–-here’s the investigation report you had requested.”

All eyes in the room went to Alhaitham’s outstretched hand, above which levitated a Knowledge Capsule.

“It’s a summary of my time spent with the Traveler: an array of information about him, ready for your perusal.”

The only thing keeping Aether grounded was his admiration of Alhaitham’s figure: the gentle curve of his neck, the tilt of his chin, the way his hand rested over his heart as he addressed the Sage with a paradoxical look of false sincerity.

“Alhaitham, so you’re… You’re still on the Akademiya’s side! We finally started to trust you!”

At Paimon’s convincing wail, Aether’s blood ran cold.

It’s all part of the plan.

With how hopelessly he’d fallen for Alhaitham since the beginning, it would have been so easy, so devastating, for Alhaitham to betray him. Even though Aether knew it was reckless to trust Alhaitham so readily, he did it anyway. He couldn’t stop himself if he tried. He wanted to believe Alhaitham was a good, honest, trustworthy person.

He couldn’t help but think that there was indeed another timeline, somewhere, in another universe, where his foolhardy trust in Alhaitham hadn’t paid off after all. All this time he had spent by Alhaitham’s side, hoping, believing, falling more deeply in love with him by the day, his precious memories of Alhaitham’s voice and face and silhouette and smile and the tenderness of his lips and the firmness of his touch all shattered in an instant when Aether was shown the metaphorical mirror, his idiocy staring right back at him, taunting him, because all that time he had known how stupid it was and yet–-

Aether forced himself to stop thinking about it before his train of thought went too far.

And once again, he thanked every god he could think of, because in this universe, he was right.

In this universe, that betrayal was nothing more than a farce, a fabrication. It was thin, shallow, and meaningless. It only had to be enough to convince the Grand Sage.

In the midst of these thoughts, the strength of Aether’s belief rang out loud and clear in his head:

I trust him.

I trust Alhaitham.

His feet were stuck fast to the ground, his legs frozen as if encased in ice. Even as this frost settled on his skin, his heart burned in protest against the fear that seized it; as much as he despised acting out this nightmare scenario, knowing it was all a ploy was profoundly vindicating. He could only imagine the smug smile he’d give Cyno and all the others who insisted he should never believe Alhaitham–-once this was all over.

Once this was all over.

Aether hoped that the Sage would assume he was frozen in shock.

But as expected, the Sage started to voice his suspicions. He knew the betrayal was staged.

It’s all part of the plan.

They weren’t really being “found out.” This was exactly what was supposed to happen.

“Lord Azar, I know what you’re trying to say, but I’ve been following your plan this entire time. Why are you doubting me at this juncture?”

Aether again grounded himself in how Alhaitham lifted his hand to his heart, his fingers falling gently over the curve of his chest.

He phrased it as a question. He never does that. Aether kept his eyes trained on the way Alhaitham’s cloak flowed dramatically over his shoulders. He’s making it sound like his resolve is faltering.

Aether dared to spare a glance at the Sage, pacing back and forth above the staircase, peering down at them through his monocle.

It’s all part of the plan. They had him completely fooled–convinced that he was in control. Thus would he let his guard down completely.

Yet Aether soon lost track of Alhaitham’s words, aware only of the deep rumble of his voice that seemed to resonate through the floor. Aether could have easily imagined himself back in the desert, away from the surveillance of the Akademiya, the sand endlessly drifting under his feet–-with Alhaitham by his side, his presence great and steady, waiting with placid patience as Aether, inevitably, every few seconds, lost his footing on the unstable ground and tripped, maybe more than once clinging to Alhaitham's arm to scrounge up the remnants of his balance–-

It was all Aether could do to stop himself from making a dash for Alhaitham’s side now. How he craved the soothing pressure of Alhaitham’s hand against his back once more, the warmth anchoring him to reality.

But for this part to work, he had to stand back and watch in mock disbelief.

It’s all part of the plan.

“You, Azar… You’ve betrayed all of Sumeru–betrayed its archon!”

Conviction is the most important part of all of this. Though Aether didn’t consciously remember those words at the time, the sentiment echoed within him–-and the conviction ringing out in Alhaitham’s declaration gave him one final burst of inspiration–-one last tether to reality before i

It’s all part of the plan

“Guards!”

Practically simultaneous with the Sage's cry, Alhaitham's hand twitched as he reached for an object that had been hidden in his clothing, and

It’s all part of th

Alhaitham, the most stalwart presence Aether had ever known,

trembled

Alhaitham’s chin tucked against his collar. He lost his

footing with maybe half of one fumbled step.

It’s

The Knowledge Capsule slipped from Alhaitham's hand

and struck the floor with a faint clink,

but it was Aether's silent mantra that shattered.

Alhaitham’s fingers clenched, his broad shoulders heaving with labored breath as he st

umbled forward.

One step

Another.

“Please be okay... Please be okay….”

Aether only knew he was speaking these words aloud because he could feel them grating against his throat, as alien as the air from another world. Otherwise, he would have no way of confirming that they were coming from him.

Pained gasps spilled from Alhaitham’s lips as he writhed and clawed at his head with a snarl. His knees buckled . One hand clutched for a lifeline that

wasn’t th

ere

It’s a l l p

a r t o

f t

h

e p l

“AZAR!!”

If Alhaitham's speaking voice was the desert sands shifting far beneath Aether's feet, then Alhaitham's hoarse bellow was the earthquake, rattling Aether to his core, rending vast rifts in the fabric of his soul, casting the countless fragments askew until they could never be returned to their original formation, even by those who previously understood them with such intimate familiarity.

Indeed, the pounding of Alhaitham’s feet as he lunged forward sent shockwaves through the floor, until Aether, too, stumbled.

“Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay.”

Not knowing how these words started, he was equally helpless to stop them.

Alhaitham barrelled through the pair of guards before him, seemingly paying no mind to their brandished lances, and how they might have sliced the bare skin on his arms–-from here, Aether couldn’t tell for sure. The guardsmen were flung aside like mere toys.

But another guard, in the nick of time, shoved the Sage out of Alhaitham’s trajectory. The full impact of Alhaitham's massive body instead fell upon the desk, the previously orderly implements atop it scattering with a resounding crash.

(Looking back, it was in this instant that Aether was morbidly aware of the full extent of the physical damage Alhaitham could cause, should he ever desire to do so.)

For a couple of long seconds, or perhaps an entire hour, Alhaitham’s body remained crumpled against the half-destroyed desk.

“Pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay–”

Alhaitham struggled to lift himself from the surface, his arms shaking as they haphazardly found purchase. Whatever sturdiness his stature granted him was now completely gone.

When he whirled around, permeating the eerie blue glow of the office was the fierce scarlet fire of his eyes, and his bared teeth gleamed with the unnatural light.

The minuscule probability that Aether had been breathing at all now decreased to zero.

Alhaitham lunged once more, but the forceful collision with the desk had weakened his body; this time the forces were reversed: the guards blocked him with no more difficulty than lifting a finger. Agonized grunts tore themselves from deep within Alhaitham’s chest as he struggled against them in vain with the last of his energy.

Aether could see the third guard approaching from behind Alhaitham, his polearm raised above his head. How desperately he wished to cry out and warn Alhaitham–-

But how could he, when he couldn’t even make himself move, much less speak?

And even if he could, Alhaitham would never hear him.

Watching it in slow motion made it all the more nightmarish.

The blunt side of the lucerne drew a high arc through the air.

The sickening thwack as it connected with the back of Alhaitham’s neck may as well have been an electric shock coursing through the room--it separated Alhaitham from his consciousness, and Aether’s soul from his body.

The split second it took for Alhaitham’s eyes to roll closed and his head to droop felt like several days.

Alhaitham’s body went limp, and there seemed an eternity between the pair of thuds punctuating his collapse to the floor.

“No! No!!”

At last Aether broke through his paralysis, only for his body to move on its own, launching him towards where Alhaitham’s body lay. But he didn’t make it far, for the remaining guards blocked his path with their polearms.

“Alhaitham! Alhaitham! Alhaitham!!”

It was a horrific sight: the guards dragging Alhaitham’s lifeless body past him, suspended by his arms like an unwanted corpse.

The very image of strength had no strength left.

Though the metal of the blades pressing into Aether’s skin was cold, his throat burned in protest as he cried Alhaitham’s name. That was the last thing he remembered.

–

Aether was almost grateful to have been knocked out, as it was the first time he’d slept in three days. He would have assumed he had finally collapsed from sheer exhaustion, if not for the fact that Paimon had purportedly fallen unconscious at the same moment. (This suggested the presence of foul play by some party, but Aether didn’t have the brain power to consider that right now.)

His memory of the final phases of the plan was very fragmented and fuzzy–-mostly meaningless noise and light–-but not once did he recall sleeping. When he should have been resting, he could only lie awake, his eyes wide open yet unseeing as the living nightmare replayed over and over in his head.

He thought it a miracle that their plan even came to completion.

(And the only evidence he knew of that their plan had in fact succeeded was that he was still alive.)

The familiar sight of the rainforest when he awoke should have been a welcoming one, but it was not what he wanted to see.

Fortunately, an excuse to depart arrived, as if on cue, in the form of a letter from Nilou inviting them to the Grand Bazaar for a victory feast. Aether couldn’t simply ignore the way Paimon’s face lit up at the mention of not just food, but a lot of food, so he relented and allowed Paimon to lead him out to Gandharva Ville to give their regards to Tighnari.

Aether thanked Collei for her hospitality and made his way out of the hut.

While Aether found it difficult to pay attention to what Tighnari was saying, he did his best to focus, for the sake of his fox-eared friend. Tighnari filled them in on what had happened around Sumeru while they were unconscious and then granted them permission to head for Sumeru City. He sent them off with some characteristic reassuring words and a reminder that he was available to assist should they ever need him.

Paimon had already turned to leave, but Aether stopped himself and looked back to Tighnari.

“This might be a long shot, but…” Aether tried not to look at the ground. “Do you know where Alhaitham is?”

It wouldn’t be a true victory without him, after all.

“Alhaitham?” Tighnari pronounced the name like it rang a bell, and his ears twitched as he briefly lifted his gaze in contemplation. For a second, Aether doubted that they even knew each other, and thought that it might have been a useless question after all.

“Last I heard, he was somewhere in Sumeru City,” Tighnari finally replied, “but… I can’t imagine that helps you narrow it down at all.” Tighnari’s ears drooped at the tips, and he gave a shrug.

Aether felt his shoulders relax, drawing a sigh of relief from his lips. “Sumeru City,” he echoed mindlessly.

Tighnari was right–-it was unlikely they could locate Alhaitham on that information alone. But knowing that Alhaitham was in the city meant he hadn’t vanished or gone into hiding, at least.

Or worse.

“It does, actually. Thank you.”

Tighnari cocked his head. “Do you have business with him?”

“I…” Aether’s gaze wandered. “...need to make sure he’s okay.”

“Of course he’s okay!” Paimon interjected.

Aether started, as he hadn’t noticed her approach from behind him–-and now she was in front of his face, staring at him.

“He was just acting, remember? This is the third or fourth time Paimon’s reminded you, you know.”

“I–I know,” Aether stammered, leaning back a bit for some personal space. “Well, my mind knows that, anyway, but…”

“Hmm.” Paimon heaved a disappointed sigh. Aether could almost hear her grumbling ‘You’re hopeless.'

“I didn’t realize you two were close.”

Aether sidestepped Paimon as Tighnari spoke. Tighnari’s eyes were wide, his ears perked forward in curiosity.

Tighnari tilted his head as he continued. “Out of curiosity, would you say he’s a trustworthy guy?”

Aether nodded without hesitating. “Absolutely.”

“Huh.” Tighnari put his hands on his hips, and his attention wandered somewhere to Aether’s left. “That’s the opposite of what I usually hear about him. All I know is that he operates purely by rationality, so sometimes his actions are a bit… uh, extreme, as some people would say.”

“Paimon agrees!” Paimon seized the chance to jump back into the conversation, giving Tighnari an enthusiastic nod. “It’s not just your imagination, Tighnari–-the Traveler’s the weirdo here.”

“Huh.” Tighnari raised an eyebrow, clearly unsure of how to respond, and the ear on the same side stood up straight, while the other turned a bit to the side.

Aether gave an awkward smirk. He was at least grateful that Paimon didn’t go into further detail on his infatuation, and how she apparently disapproved of it. Tighnari didn’t seem to think poorly of it, either-–rather, Aether guessed from his expression that he was more intrigued than anything.

Well, it paid off in the end, didn’t it? Aether bit back pointing this out–-he wanted to get moving sooner rather than later, and he had no interest in starting a petty argument in front of the proper and perceptive Tighnari.

And it was still a little too early to think back to the grim details of that day.

“Well, thanks anyway.” The unexpectedly lively conversation at least gave Aether the energy for a cheerful farewell. “We’ll be off now.”

“Bye, Tighnari!”

The trio exchanged waves as Aether and his companion departed.

Yet the walk to Sumeru City gave Aether more time to think, and tension had already begun buzzing in his heart again when they found Nilou at the Grand Bazaar.

Upon learning that Alhaitham was at the Akademiya, Aether breathed a quiet sigh, and some of the weight lifted from his chest; so Alhaitham was well enough to work, or at the very least, study. A new urgency replaced the previous anxiety in his core–-this one just a bit different, forcing his limbs to move faster as he climbed to the Akademiya entrance. (By another stroke of luck, for which Aether profusely thanked the Archons, Alhaitham’s reported whereabouts were the closest to their current location, so it made perfect sense to pay him a visit first–-no persuading Paimon required.)

Aether’s brow creased in apprehension as they approached the grand building, the spirit of his last time seeing this place still fresh in his mind, but Paimon conversing with one of the attendants brought some much-needed normalcy to the situation. The utterance of the word “gossip” had never brought Aether so much comfort.

The House of Daena. Aether let his breath move through his lungs as he took in the sight of the enormous library. He let its fresh image settle into his mind’s eye; this time, he had good reason to appreciate all of its vast glory, the regality and orderliness of every last tome on shelves stacked all the way up to the high ceilings. This place wasn’t threatening anymore–-with the Grand Sage dealt with, now the library was a safe haven, the murmurs of students drifting softly throughout the space a testament to the peace one could find here when the outside world grew too loud and bright. Had he no other objective, Aether would have liked to settle here for a while and browse, forgetting about the movement of the celestial bodies in the skies far above.

There was, however, one pressing issue he needed to take care of first.

His eyes scanned the rows and rows of books and the wide, empty floors between them. There was so much space in here–-better for the atmosphere, certainly, but it made searching for a particular thing–-a particular person–-very difficult when Aether had no other leads.

“Oh, he’s over there!”

Paimon found him first.

Aether’s attention snapped to where she was pointing, and he almost took off running, but the presence of an unexpected variable stopped him in his tracks.

“Oh, but we’ll have to wait our turn.”

Holding on to her enthusiasm, Paimon stopped where she was and watched from a distance; Aether followed suit. To be honest, the presence of someone he’d never seen before–-apparently in an argument with Alhaitham–-didn’t really bother him.

Quite the opposite–-he hardly noticed.

It's him. It's really him.

Alhaitham sat in a chair that was-–for some inexplicable reason–-even larger than he was, his legs comfortably folded in the position Aether knew well was his favorite, his attention fixed on the book he was holding rather than on the garishly-dressed man standing in front of him. The scene was so typical that, for a moment, Aether felt as though he had been transported back to their time in the desert, with Alhaitham perched on the crate outside the abandoned hospital, his nose similarly stuck in a book, but, crucially, the reassuring brush of his arm against Aether’s shoulder as he read in complete silence. The recollection made Aether almost want to fall asleep again on the spot.

And his voice–-were it not for the sight before him, Aether might think he was in the presence of a completely different man.

Aether had detected the playful lilt in Alhaitham’s voice before–-the one that told him that Alhaitham trusted him enough to use less formal language, to tease him, to shed light on the feelings he guarded behind that unreadable expression. But this-–this was on another level entirely. As he spoke, Alhaitham’s inflection rose and fell like the contours of the great dunes of the desert, and some words he spat out like venom, while others he held onto longer than necessary, as though he thought the garishly-dressed man might understand them better if he overpronounced them. Now, Aether could hardly begin to imagine Alhaitham’s usual flat tone.

With the library’s acoustics, Aether properly heard perhaps half of the words spoken in the argument, and couldn’t properly gauge the level of tension it afforded; nevertheless, he found the warmth rising in his core pushing a giggle from his throat. He practically forgot that he had been hopelessly concerned about Alhaitham just a short time ago–-now, while he would never have used the word to describe him before, Alhaitham seemed lively. Hanging back with Paimon so as not to intrude, Aether dearly wished he could see Alhaitham’s expression more clearly from where he stood–-for if he could, he might witness some yet-undiscovered treasures–-but for now, admiring Alhaitham’s majestic form as he stood, turning his head, crossing his arms, very much alive and bickering with his conversation partner at a never-before-seen level of intensity, was more than enough to soothe Aether’s greatest worries.

Aether watched, entranced, until at long last the garishly-dressed man stormed off in a different direction, apparently paying no mind to the Traveler and his companion. Aether didn’t even think to move again until he was suddenly aware of Paimon entering his field of vision. Seizing her moment now that the coast was clear, she zipped past him and made a beeline for the subject of their inquiry.

“All right, you’ve got some serious explaining to do, mister!”

Paimon gave her war cry before she had even properly approached Alhaitham. Chasing after her was the ideal pretense for Aether to move at an urgent walk.

“I was starting to wonder when you two would come find me.” Alhaitham, previously lost in thought, turned and looked up. “I can’t say I expected you to lead the charge, though.” His rough-textured voice was back to its familiar, unaffected tone.

In the moment that Aether slowed to a stop a mere arm’s reach away, Alhaitham’s gaze turned to him and softened. The misty light of the library gleamed cerulean in his eyes, and his eyebrows curved upwards just slightly at the corners.

The last time Aether had gotten a proper look at his face, it had been contorted in agony–-

“Paimon said it would be all your fault if the plan went south, and Paimon was right!”

Paimon floated to Alhaitham’s eye level and flailed in the air just in front of him to punctuate her accusation.

Alhaitham, however, as composed as always, merely frowned at her. “How so? I thought it was executed flawlessly.”

“And just how was the Traveler screaming and crying on the floor of the confinement room part of your flawless execution, mister Scribe?!”

The shadow of the terror Aether had felt back then flashed in his chest. After the confrontation in the Grand Sage’s office, enough of his mental capacity had left him that he couldn’t tell what was happening, but he had reason to believe he had curled up on the cold stone floor of the cell and cried out for Alhaitham-–what little memory he had of the incident, he seemed to recall from a third-person perspective, as though his consciousness had floated to the ceiling and stared down his body from there.

He focused his eyes again to drive away the image of Alhaitham’s teeth bared, his brow deeply furrowed, one hand grasping helplessly at his face as if–-

Furthermore, it was the first time Aether had ever seen Alhaitham taken aback. He might have even physically stepped back-–Aether was only watching his face, so he couldn’t tell for sure. Alhaitham’s eyes were wide and bright, his eyebrows arched, and his lips parted in shock.

Paimon didn’t wait for Alhaitham to object. “It was a miracle Paimon could comfort him at all! This whole entire thing almost went down the drain because of you and your stupid plan!”

“Paimon, it’s okay.” Without looking away from Alhaitham’s flabbergasted expression, Aether interrupted the merciless rise of Paimon’s voice. “It’s not his fault.”

“It is most certainly not okay!” Paimon continued to stomp in Aether’s peripheral vision, her attention now directed at him as well. “If Nahida hadn’t managed to stop you from running off and abandoning us, all of our work would have been for nothing! How is this guy more important than all of Sumeru?!”

“None of that is Alhaitham’s fault.” Now Aether did look at her, allowing the hint of an offended glare to seep into his expression.

“It’s all Alhaitham’s fault! This genius knew he was going to scare you half to death with his brilliant plan, and he did it anyway!” Paimon whirled around to face Alhaitham again. “You knew the Traveler was going to react like that, didn’t you?!”

Remarkably, Alhaitham said nothing. His expression had relaxed somewhat as the gravity of the outcome dawned on him, but the quiver of his eyebrows and his downcast gaze were still hereto unknown to Aether.

“You knew the Traveler was head over heels for you! You knew he was going to be worried sick about you with whatever stupid stunt you pulled! You just didn’t care! Maybe you really–”

“Paimon, that’s enough.”

A simmering irritation–-one that reminded Aether of times and arguments that seemed so long ago now-–rose in his chest. And Paimon did, at last, stop talking.

Yet when he finally looked back to Alhaitham, he couldn’t maintain his scowl. Another unfamiliar expression settled on Alhaitham’s face now–-one Aether would describe as crestfallen. As Alhaitham’s gaze fell to Aether, the brilliant glow of his eyes faded, like the last rays of the sunset behind the horizon, with the shadow of his long lashes cast over them. Aether had never seen him look so unfocused.

He yearned to see that confident sparkle again, the rigid contour of Alhaitham’s brow as he studied the person before him–-the assured, even-tempered Alhaitham he knew so well-–anything but the defeated, deflated expression that now similarly dragged Aether’s heart down to the floor.

That was what he came all this way for. Not this.

Please don’t blame yourself. This was what Aether wanted to say, but at the thought merely appearing in his mind, tears started to form in his eyes.

“Aether.”

Aether should have been once again overjoyed as Alhaitham’s voice scratched out his name, but instead, the air shook with anticipation.

Aether met his gaze.

“Everything Paimon described just now… is this an accurate description of what happened?”

Aether wanted to speak, or even just nod. But when he tried to open his mouth, all of the sensations flooded back to him: the hot, dry scraping of the shriek in his throat, his blood frozen solid in his veins, his heart and lungs lead weights, the cold and merciless air against his skin where there should have been supple warmth–-and the worst, the fierce scarlet gleam reflected in Alhaitham’s eyes, the deep lines of his lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl, the curve of his body doubled over, pained gasps ripping through the depths of his chest-–

Only the whimper rising in Aether’s throat brought him back to the present moment. Even with Alhaitham here, now, before him, regarding him with careful concern, reality felt just a little bit thinner when just behind its curtain loomed the specter of Alhaitham crumpled, helpless, and suffering.

Aether almost entirely forgot Alhaitham’s inquiry. His body, moving on its own, sought the greatest comfort it could find: the man right in front of him.

But perhaps that was enough of an answer.

Aether buried his face in Alhaitham’s chest, and his arms came to rest around Alhaitham’s back. He pressed his body as far into Alhaitham’s as he could, branding the sensation of Alhaitham’s warmth into his flesh until it held his foul memories at bay. Alhaitham, accepting the embrace, tipped his chin until it settled atop Aether’s head, and held Aether, his grip at once powerful and gentle. He interlaced one of his hands with Aether’s hair, and the other he pressed into the bare skin of Aether’s waist. His pulse was strong and steady against Aether’s eardrum, renewing Aether’s tether to reality once every better part of a second.

Aether choked back a sob. His breath ran ragged through his throat, causing his shoulders to tremble.

“I was so scared. I thought…”

He thought he would never get a chance to feel this warmth again.

That and so many other possible sentences passed over his tongue, but none managed to leave his lips.

“Hush.”

Alhaitham’s murmur vibrated through Aether’s core and ruffled the hair on his scalp.

“All of that is over. I'm here now.”

Time seemed to stand still; Aether couldn’t measure it by how Alhaitham stroked his head, his fingers threading through his hair, or by how they leaned further into each other, or by how whimpers still crept between Aether’s lips whenever the brief flash of a memory made itself known behind his eyelids–-how this dear embrace should never have been shattered or challenged by the nightmare of Alhaitham faltering, his strength evaporating from his body.

“It was indeed a possibility I considered,” Alhaitham finally continued, the sensation of his voice against Aether's eardrums identical to that of the desert sands shifting far beneath his feet, “but not one I adequately prepared for. I’m sorry.”

Aether only sighed, shaking his head against Alhaitham–-and for the first time in Aether’s memory, Alhaitham also heaved a sigh, his great chest slowly rising and falling, bringing Aether’s exhale with it.

“We did what we had to,” Aether protested weakly. “And Paimon is right… saving Sumeru is more important than my feelings.”

“It’s entirely possible there was a method to securing both.” Again Alhaitham sighed, and this time, Aether basked in the unhurried movement of Alhaitham’s chest. “I should have put more time and effort into thinking it through.”

“Alhaitham, love, please.” As desperate as he was to communicate his point, Aether could barely bring his voice above a whisper. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault.”

“...Huh.”

The abrupt playfulness that tinged Alhaitham’s voice was welcome, but his slight separation from Aether as he straightened his back was not. Still Aether did not look up, though upon hearing Alhaitham’s next words, he could clearly see the smile on Alhaitham’s face in his mind’s eye.

“I think that’s the first time you’ve used a term of endearment with me.”

In spite of himself, a giggle found its way into Aether’s throat, and adoration replaced distress in tickling the corners of his eyelids. He chased Alhaitham’s warmth once more and corrected their parted embrace.

“Ugh, you two…!”

Aether laughed again at Paimon’s grumble. She’d started the conversation off strong, but he and Alhaitham were inseparable after all. Her accusation never managed to find a proper basis.

Aether was grateful to hold Alhaitham in that moment, for the chuckle that stuttered in Alhaitham’s lungs was not otherwise perceptible. Though he had never heard Alhaitham laugh out loud before, he thought in that hopeful instant that perhaps it was not impossible-–even so, even if that movement of Alhaitham’s breath was the closest he ever got, Aether would be eternally grateful to all the powers that be for such a precious treasure.

And that was not even the final treasure of the afternoon. Indeed, there were several more.

First was an opportunity Alhaitham perhaps utilized partially to spite Paimon (but nor would Aether ever doubt the sincerity of Alhaitham’s affection): soon after Paimon voiced her exasperation, Alhaitham tipped his chin and pressed a light kiss to the crown of Aether’s head. While Aether beamed and nuzzled further into Alhaitham, Paimon gave perhaps the most aggravated groan Aether had ever heard.

Paimon took this chance to redirect the conversation to the subject they had originally meant to address: the letter from Nilou that should have arrived in Alhaitham’s mailbox.

Aether guessed she hoped to draw their attention away from each other and back to her-–but if that was true, she utterly failed. There were fewer things in Teyvat stronger than the combination of Aether’s desire to hold Alhaitham, and Alhaitham’s willingness to indulge him.

Still, they managed to hold a productive discussion on the topic; the advantage to Paimon being a chatterbox was that Aether could rely on her to do all the talking while he reveled in the minute detail in which he could perceive Alhaitham’s voice vibrating through the wall of his chest. As he explained the situation at the Akademiya, Alhaitham continued to caress Aether’s back, and even went on to bring Aether gently down with him as he returned to the chair in which he had sat when they first arrived. Aether enjoyed the additional support, and took the opportunity to lean his full weight against Alhaitham, until Alhaitham might as well have lifted him from the ground himself.

(It really was a huge chair–-Aether supposed that even with both of them reclining in it, they could have fit a third person had they so desired. What was the purpose of it being so large? Surely it couldn’t have been constructed solely to facilitate their embrace…)

Only Paimon’s high-pitched voice prevented Aether from being effectively lulled to sleep.

“Oh, didn’t you just say something about becoming a sage? If they pick you, then we’d have a huge connection in Sumeru!”

Recalling the argument he had half-heard earlier, Aether didn’t allow a beat to pass before he drowsily interjected. “He probably turned it down.”

Alhaitham gave another chuckle that rumbled against Aether’s eardrum. “You took the words right out of my mouth. Indeed, the person in charge of personnel affairs nominated me to be the Grand Sage in place of Azar and help Lesser Lord Kusanali manage the Akademiya, but… I refused.”

“Huh?!” Paimon fumbled for words. “But… why?! Ugh, can’t you be a little more ambitious?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Only for this brief moment did Aether turn his head enough to raise an eyebrow at Paimon before he settled back into his place against Alhaitham’s chest. “Alhaitham is probably the last person to be ambitious. You haven’t listened to a word he’s said.”

Paimon gave another exclamation of annoyance. “You’re starting to sound more like him, Traveler!”

Aether giggled. “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“It is not a good thing!”

With a groan, Paimon once again rerouted the conversation. They spoke of the Akademiya for a little while longer before Paimon eventually tired of talking and decided to wrap up–-if only as a pretense to drag Aether away from the object of his infatuation.

“Well, anyway, no matter how busy you are, since you were our planner, remember to attend the celebration feast in two days!”

“All right, I’ll see you there.”

Alhaitham’s voice rose conversationally as he gave these final words, a shift in his posture indicating to Aether that it was at last time to get up. As loath as he was to return to the outside world, Aether obediently put his weight back on his feet and separated his head from Alhaitham’s chest. Still, he let his hands linger at Alhaitham’s side, saving the last of the warmth to his memory.

The final treasures of the afternoon came in the form of a smile from Alhaitham that Aether could only properly describe as loving-–his eyes narrowed just a bit, his eyebrows curving low over them, and his cheeks flushed faintly–-and the touch of Alhaitham’s forehead to Aether’s as he stood, as a silent farewell of sorts, accompanied by the tender stroke of Alhaitham’s fingers down his cheek. Aether couldn’t part from him without leaving a soft kiss on his lips–-meager compensation for the gifts Alhaitham had bestowed upon him, yet one Alhaitham nevertheless warmly accepted.

And Paimon couldn’t leave the conversation without a final dramatic groan of exasperation.

Yet that her flailing limbs, a barrage against Aether’s head as they left the library, did no real damage signaled that her annoyance was likely exaggerated.

“Does it really bother you that much?”

Still Aether posed this question as soon as her attack ceased.

“Everything about that guy bothers Paimon! Paimon’ll never understand what you see in him that's so great!” Paimon rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him in a face of disgust.

Aether halted as he gathered the resolve to speak.

“Do you want me to give up on him?”

Paimon’s cry of alarm at this suggestion, like she had suddenly touched a substance of disagreeable texture, confirmed Aether’s suspicions: despite how she acted on the outside, deep down, she didn’t actually hate Alhaitham that much.

Or, at the very least, she didn’t hate the comfort and joy his presence so obviously brought Aether, to the point that she would hate more for that comfort to cease to exist.

“P-Paimon wouldn’t ask you to do that!” She waved her arms in surrender. “It’s just… Uh… Paimon doesn’t know how to explain it…! Paimon thinks Alhaitham is really annoying, so seeing you two all cozy is kind of annoying, too… and when Alhaitham makes you mad or sad, Paimon gets really upset…”

Though Aether didn’t completely lose hope for her answer, each of these points caused him to flinch–-a verbal barrage rather than a physical one.

“...but when Paimon thinks about how sad you would be if you couldn’t see him again, it makes Paimon feel sad too! So… Paimon thinks you two should stay together!”

The tension left Aether’s lungs in an airy laugh, and he kept walking. The glow of the outside world greeted him from beyond the library’s heavy doors.

“Good, because…”

Aether gave one last glance over his shoulder into the vast library, and then proceeded out into Sumeru City.

“...that’s the plan.”