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Aether had never thought that seeing the familiar silhouette of the Wangshu Inn would be like coming home, but there he was.
As soon as the Inn came to view, the man breathed out heavily. The corners of his lips tugged in a smile. He leaned on the tree, closing his eyes for a moment.
Sumeru was… Fascinating and taxing at the same time. After Inazuma, it was like a breath of fresh air, sure, with the Archon actually being helpful for once, but also…
He shook his head.
The Akasha scheme. Dunyarzad. The whole thing with Scaramouche, Dottore, the bloody fight it was all so…
He leaned on the tree further.
So exhausting.
Truth be told, he had no idea how he managed to get this far in Liyue. At first, he didn’t even want to come. Why go back, when he could just set to Fontaine, try to search for information there? It wasn’t far after all, so going back would have been just stupid.
But Paimon, bless her heart, reminded him about Lantern Rite. About certain someone who would definitely be waiting for him to come… Although the person would’ve never said it out loud.
Aether opened his eyes, and crossing his arms on his chest, looked up at the Inn. He hoped Xiao was taking good care of himself.
“Well,” he muttered, pushing himself off the tree. “Only one way to find out.”
His steps were sluggish, his pace slow. Aether thought to himself with bitter amusement that he had to look like he was drunk. But he wasn’t surprised. He may have agreed to Nahida’s plan, agreed to fight with Scaramouche over and over again, and he knew that the Archon tried to protect him as best as she could but still… Fighting with someone over 160 times will be taxing for your body. It was this kind of tiredness though, that couldn’t have been slept off. Sleep brought no rest, not the kind Aether needed.
He shook his head again, pressing his lips. Archons above, but did he wish it brought him the peace he deserved. Hasn’t he been through enough?
He staggered more to the side, and actually had to summon his sword in order to hold himself up. A gentle wind blew the few strands that fell from his braid away from his face.
“Are you alright?” Paimon peeped, appearing from Archon’s know where. He mustered up a smile but didn't turn to look at her.
“Yes,” he breathed out, pushing himself to walk forward again. The Inn was close. He could do it. He could. Then he’ll talk a little to Xiao, and maybe then he will be able to finally…
“It really looks like everyone is preparing hard, huh?” Paimon muttered again, and Aether appreciated how she lowered her tone a little. As much as he grew used to her squeaky voice, at times like this he truly needed some quietness.
He looked up, trying to see what she meant. The lanterns nearby looked a bit more festive than usual, he guessed, but to be honest, he had no recollection of their previous looks to be a good judge. The monsters that usually were scattered around Guili Plains also didn't wander around in their typical places. So either the Milileth or Xiao kept busy, it seemed.
He nodded his head, and let Paimon's chattering turn into white noise. He knew she wouldn’t mind. After all, she was used to talking just for the sake of talking. He let his mind wander.
Sumeru… He couldn't say he hadn’t enjoyed his stay. The people he met, the events he was roped in… Maybe they weren’t as mentally taxing as Inazuma was for him, but it still left him feeling… Sombre.
He remembered how, when they passed one of the Geo Statues of Seven, he couldn’t help but think about the other Archons. Did they know how many people doubted Nahida? Did they know what the Akademiya was planning? Why didn't they act? Could they act at all? Nahida seemed all alone in this, abandoned by her own people, for whom she clearly cared about, and yet still…
Aether sighed again. He felt Paimon bumping his shoulder playfully, and blindly he reached to pat her on the head.
Sure, in the end, it all ended up fine. Sumeru was saved, Nahida gained respect but…
At the cost of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
And Aether couldn’t tell anyone.
It was weighing on him. Yes, he noticed it belatedly, but when he did, it zapped all of the minuscule feelings of rest that he gained back. Being the only person in Teyvat to remember not only about the love and the creations of the Archon but also about her sacrifice it… pained him, for a reason he couldn’t quite name. He understood it. Archons knew he did. But this… He felt like he was damned with the knowledge. He desperately wanted to erase it, to act like everyone else was, and yet at the same time he wanted to respect the Archon’s wishes.
Man, why was it always him?
He was so lost in his thoughts, that Paimon’s sudden screech completely escaped him. It was only when he felt a punch landing on his stomach, did he know they were attacked.
He blinked several times, now on the ground. When he looked up, he saw the face of the mitachurl right above him.
Great. Just what he needed.
He barely managed to roll, before the creature swung its axe and rammed it into the ground. Aether stood up, his sword pointed up in a defensive stance. He desperately tried to ignore how his legs trembled, how his breathing shook, as he tried to focus. Damnit, he was so close to the Inn. A few measly meters and he could just call on the Mililteh to help him.
The creature roared, displeased, and turned to him.
“Aether? Maybe we should just run?” Paimon asked, and Aether could see in the corner of his eye how she flew a bit closer to him. He smiled at her. The cold breeze danced in his hair again.
“I can do it.” He tried to sound reassuring, but judging from the face Paimon pulled, he wasn’t quite successful. The creature roared again, drawing the man’s attention back to it. His arms started trembling as well.
He was about to take a swing when he suddenly felt someone grabbing him. He lost his footing and fell forward, now upheld only by a pair of two, strong arms. He could feel the wind around him moving fast, faster than he expected.
But as soon as it happened, it ended. When his feet found the ground again, he noticed with surprise, that it wasn’t the uneven path anymore. Rather, it was a flat, smooth flooring, polished probably daily. Somewhere below him, he could hear the quiet talks, people laughing and chattering. The air was filled with the smell of Juyeun Chili, grilled fish and bamboo soup.
He was at Wangshu Inn.
And yet still, the only smell Aether could focus on was the calming, sweet one of the Almond Tofu.
He raised his head, and despite himself, he grinned.
“Hi, Xiao.”
The Adepti was looking at him, brows drawn in a frown, arms still holding him up, despite Aether now being stable enough to stand on his own.
“What were you thinking?” Xiao replied cooly, pressing his lips tightly, yellow eyes scanning Aether thoroughly. The man ran an anxious hand down his braid, smoothing it a little.
“Nice to see you too,” he said, trying to somehow change the topic. But the man only stared at him, finally letting him go in order to cross his arms across his chest. Aether blinked several times, and took a step back, taking in the man in front of him.
Other than the apparent worry Xiao looked… Fine. Aether noticed with relief that no new scars were added to his body. His posture was tense, but not because he was trying to hide exhaustion. Rather it was simply the concern. A wave of guilt washed over him.
He sighed heavily, shaking his head.
“I… Thought I’ve got this.”
“Clearly not.”
A few years ago, Aether might have found Xiao’s tone to be rude. Cold. Unemotional. And in a sense it still was. Xiao was stating a simple fact. Yet still, the way his crossed arms tightened slightly around each other, the way in which the Adeptus’ eyes were still closely watching him, betrayed his full emotions.
And maybe in different circumstances, Aether would have told him something to ease his worry. Joke it off, pat him, change the topic.
But he was just so, so tired. And he needed…
He fell forward, his forehead meeting Xiao’s shoulder.
…someone to lean on.
“Aether?”
The concern was now more apparent, but Aether simply shook his head. He felt how the man’s hands fumbled behind his back, clearly not knowing what to do. But Aether really didn’t care. He allowed himself to lean further into Xiao, his own arms wrapping around the man. His whole body relaxed when the hands behind him drew him closer.
Archons, he really needed that.
That feeling of closeness. Of safety. Of quiet understanding.
The wind toyed with his hair. Somewhere in the night, there was laughter. There was happiness. There was joy.
But here there was just this quietness. A companionship.
Maybe even love.
“Xiao?”
The man hummed above him. Aether smiled at the way the sound reverberated through Xiao’s chest.
“Have you… Ever had to keep a secret?”
He couldn’t quite see it, but he could feel Xiao’s surprised stare on him.
“Yes?”
Oh. Right. The Zhongli thing. How stupid of him.
He drew back, laughing softly at himself. When he looked at Xiao, the man still seemed confused, but just from the way his arms tightened around Aether, he could tell that for now, he was left off the hook.
“Have you just returned?” he asked instead of demanding an answer as to why Aether was suddenly trembling. On his part, Aether simply nodded. He felt his lips stretching in a smile when Xiao turned his head away from him while mumbling: “If you want to tell… I’ll listen.”
Well. That was a start.
“I’d like that.” His hand found Xiao’s and squeezed it softly His shoulders finally relaxed when he felt a squeeze back. Their eyes met.
“Welcome home, Aether.”
All he could do was squeeze the hand tighter.
Yeah. For now, he was home.