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The leaves of the autumn trees danced in the wind and, on one of their trunks, sat an adepti and a traveller. It had been a while since Xiao and Aether's paths had last crossed; they would be lying if they said they had not missed each other in that time, even if some were more prone to admit it aloud than others. Aether had just finished updating him on Sumeru's recent events when the course of the conversation turned abruptly at the mention of the progress of his sister's search.
The adepti was not accustomed to casual small talk, so he had mostly deferred to eavesdropping until those moments. Family. Aether had never asked Xiao about his parents before, and in fact, he had just done so. Xiao decided that he would attempt to give him an answer, though, in truth, he was not sure if he had one as such. He paused thoughtfully for a few moments, thinking about those who had been his greatest influences.
“They're not my biological parents, but I think you know them.” Xiao finally said, to which Aether responded by giving him a puzzled, yet inquisitive look. The anemo user closed his eyes for a few moments, crossing his arms. “Indeed, one of them is back the Liyue, I felt his presence a few days ago. They must be together now, it's been a while since his last visit.”
Aether wanted to recall all the people he had met along his journey, but none of them completely fit with them being Xiao's parents. If they were there, then perhaps he could get the yaksha to plan a meeting. He had nothing to lose, if he had faced monsters and archons, he could tolerate his parents-in-law.
“Are you sure I know them?” Xiao nodded. “Alright, well, you'll have to introduce them to me someday, you know, officially. I'll do the same when I find Lumine, no worries.”
“It's just that they're…” He took a pause before continuing. Aether already knew them, knew what they were like, he just lacked the piece of information he had told him. If he wanted to talk to them, then he would take him there. “Actually, we could do that now, I know where they might be, do you want to go?”
“Sounds like a good plan to me!” He exclaimed as he stirred. He was the first to his feet, and soon held out a hand. Xiao took it and stood up as well, positioning himself next to him.
“We'll teleport, hold on to me.”
Before he could react, Xiao had already wrapped an arm around his shoulder, closing the distance. Aether felt a blush linger on his cheeks at his sudden closeness, but it took little time for him to settle in. He grasped him around the waist and let his hand rest on his, locking gazes for a few silent seconds. Aether, smiling, had the boldness to steal a kiss before Xiao's anemo powers teleported them towards their destination.
However, they mistakenly appeared elsewhere. After a few moments, they realised they were on the Heart Island. Aether burst out laughing as he apologised for having distracted him, and Xiao, seeing his joyous image, had no reason to be upset with him. He indicated he would try again, and his partner promised to be still.
Second time was the charm. They ended up at the entrance to Qingce Village, where some passers-by looked at the emerging couple in bewilderment. Xiao fixed his golden gaze on the horizon, scanning the fields of flowers in search of his parents. Aether did nothing to point out that they were still practically embracing, but instead admired his concentrated face in silence.
“They're over there.” Xiao concluded, then, realised his hold and undid it. “Oh, sorry.”
“It's all right.” Aether assured him smilingly, “I was checking out how long it would take you to realize.” The adepti tilted his head to one side, as if he did not understand why. Aether looked out over the field. “I'm just teasing you. So, are they among the flowers? I, personally, don't see them.”
Aether narrowed his eyes and glanced shallowly at the dense, abundant flowers. Xiao brought a hand under his chin, carefully directing it towards the supposed site. If he tried hard, he could vaguely make out two spots in the distance.
“There they are! I can't see them, but I know they're there.” Aether concluded. “You have better vision than I do, I trust you. Ah, we won't disturb them, will we?”
“We'll find out in a few minutes.”
Aether took his hand unconsciously, beginning to walk towards their destination. If Xiao had not teleported them closer, it was because, in addition to wanting to spend more time with him, it was for the former Archons to be aware of their presence and not be caught off guard. He had seen them… Intimate, he averted his gaze out of courtesy. As they walked there, Aether initiated more conversation, one of them beginning with the following question.
“So, your parents aren't always together?”
“I don't know the status of their relationship, I don't consider it my place to pry into it.” Nor did he want to. “I just know that no matter how long they're apart, they always end up getting back together in some way or another. It's as if time has stopped for them, they have known each other for many years and I never really see their relationship changing. Even though they're calmer now, they've always been surrounded by the same cloud of trust.
Aether thought of an elderly couple as he described them, one that had many comings and goings, but now found the comfort of stability. If they were older than his boyfriend, then it made sense that they would be, though not necessarily in appearance.
“I understand what you mean, when two people are in a long-term relationship, romantic or not, it shows everything they've been through together.” Aether stopped looking at Xiao to watch where he was going, “There are people I've felt that way with, like my sister and Paimon.” He glanced at him again. “And with you, it's a different cloud, but I feel the same way. I've met a lot of people along this journey, and yes, though I've made relationships and forged bonds, and yet none compare to the one you and I have.”
Warmth Xiao felt a warmth inside him from his words, it was a flame that only Aether could ignite in him, one as welcoming as his smile. He brought a hand to his chest unconsciously as he watched his blond, braided hair sway with his walk, how he flawlessly matched the floral scenery. Aether seemed a divinity in his eyes, the light that illuminated his darkness. He wondered if he was worthy of it.
Aether, for his part, stared in bewilderment at the two figures growing closer. Those greenish robes, those browns, their physiques, their physical appearances… He could not believe it, just as it was hard to comprehend that Morax, the fearful former God of War and contracts, was not only laying a flower crown on someone who also looked familiar, but kissing him as well.
And alright, he knew Zhongli was not what he once was, how the passage of time had eroded him to the now. He had dealt with him before, yes, but the image before his eyes was so… Unusual. For he also knew Barbatos, and vaguely remembered his complicated, albeit friendly relationship with the former Geo Archon. It was far from friendly, it was becoming more than clear to him. He looked at Xiao immediately to give them some privacy.
“Hey, Xiao, are your parents Morax and Barbatos?” He asked in bewilderment, not believing a single word he had uttered. “You're their son.”
“That's correct. They are the closest thing I have to a family, and I have already told you they are not biological.” He summarized. “Barbatos has called me that on more than one occasion, Rex Lapis just unintentionally.”
And he had just blurted it out. His parents were Archons, well, ex-Archons of wind and earth, and he had said it matter-of-factly, as if it was not an unusual fact. It was not the wildest thing he had seen in Tyevat, but he was imagining some adepti he had not yet had the pleasure of meeting. He should have seen it coming, lancer, he was carrying an Anemo vision and Zhongli freed him… Why had he not seen it coming? When he went to say something about it, the winds greeted them.
“ Oh, if it isn't the traveller and…!”
“Xiao.” Zhongli finished. “Greetings to you both.”
“That's right, Xiao!” He commented with a chuckle, though then, he leaned close to his ear to whisper, trying in vain to sound discreet. “Who?”
“No more wine today.”
“No! Give me the bottle, Morax!”
Aether giggled nervously, did he not remember his own son? Well, now that he had a better look, it seemed he had drunk more than he should have, and by the glass on Zhongli's side, another one was joining the fun. What a bad time he had decided to meet his in-laws, well, meet them with that title. In any case, he hoped Xiao did not blame himself for it, though he had already folded his arms. He looked at them disapprovingly, like a son disappointed by his parents' behavior.
“Maybe we should come back later.” Aether suggested. “Your parents are occupied.” Venti stopped struggling for the bottle when he heard him say that, as if that second word had opened his mind.
“Oh, no, stay a while! It's been a long time since I've seen the two of you, my son more than you.”
“A father who doesn't remember his son, nor visits him.” Zhongli stressed, putting the object away from him. Venti puffed out his cheeks.
“You know, blockhead.” He began, grinning. “You can visit me, too.”
“And, even if we did, you wouldn't recognize him.”
The blond blinked slowly, not quite believing that they were arguing when they had been at it just a few minutes before. Xiao kept a resigned, but not surprised, expression on his face about them making a scene. He remembered his words and reflected on the mistaken image he had had of the two deities until then. Aether took a few steps back with a suggestion in mind, approached him just as Venti had approached Zhongli, and whispered…
“You still have a chance to teleport us to Heart Island again…”
But the wind heard everything.
“The Heart Island! Now that's a good story.” Venti joined in to pull the two, so Aether and Xiao ended up joining them on the picnic tablecloth, sitting at safe distances. The bard, however, leaned on Zhongli's shoulder with all the confidence in the world, latching onto his arm. “You know what stories are good too? I have anecdotes of Xiao when he was very tiny, a baby, in fact!” He looked at Zhongli with wide eyes and covered his mouth with his hands. “Oops, sorry!”
“Barbatos…”
It was as if a secret kept for millennia had just been revealed. Aether was confused, for his partner had claimed that they were not his biological parents, even if the implications of Venti's words went beyond that. They did not have to believe what came out of a drunkard's mouth, but Zhongli had given them the necessary confirmation. Aether was still processing all the sudden information, his head spinning, yet Xiao was having the opposite reaction to his own. He did not seem upset by it, still as solemn and calm as he had been all afternoon. When Aether brought a hand to his forehead, the yaksha interjected.
“They always say that when they drink, don't worry.” He stressed, downplaying it. “Are you alright?”
Xiao had paid no attention to his alcohol-influenced words, convinced that the bond between him and them had been artificially forged over time. They were part of his past. The future had always been fuzzy, hard to imagine affable for someone like him. And now, he no longer had to imagine it, for the traveller was taking it upon himself to build one with him.
Aether, for his part, still did not know what to say to him. On the one hand, he wanted the earth to swallow him up; he was grateful that Paimon was not there at the moment to make things worse. On the other hand, there was a thought in the back of his mind… He had nothing to lose, but he wondered if it had been a good decision. He glanced momentarily at the talking former Archons, surrounded by their bubble, before looking at Xiao.
The traveller just replied, confused and convinced it was going to be a very long afternoon. “Yeah, no problem.” Well, maybe he could take advantage of it. “Hey, Venti, why don't you tell me Xiao's childhood anecdotes?”
“Sure!”
Well, it certainly was going to be a long afternoon for the yaksha.