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The sky was full of stars, some shining while others began to dull out from residing in the sky for so long. Aether began to feel the same way the stars did, seeing he was one of them but with a complete human form. It didn't bother the blonde, seeing as he had gotten used to feeling warmth and cold simultaneously.
Absent-mindedly, he began to play with his lover's hand, feeling the roughness of his palm and the many scars that littered it. Aether loved the feeling of Xiao's hands; whether they were holding hands or the blonde's waist, they were his favorite part of the yaksha. Xiao, who paid no mind to his boyfriend's actions, began to play with the blonde's hair.
This was how they spent their nights together, taking in everything they could and enjoying each other's company. It may not be ideal to others, but it was the perfect thing for them, and nothing could change that for them.
Aether let out a small giggle, feeling happy in the bubble the two had created. If you looked closely, the light in Aether's pure white chest piece was a faint pink, expressing the prince's love he had. Only Xiao could get that out of the other; he felt some pride swell in him knowing that fact.
"Baobei?" Aether spoke softly, looking at Xiao with such a soft look that it made the yaksha question if this man was indeed the Abyssal Prince. "Yes, starlight?" Xiao said, holding a steady gaze as he kept messing with the blonde's hair.
Aether was ruthless when doing his work, killing off anyone he had to if it meant getting the job done— and the archons above did it, making Xiao swoon even a little bit. The prince's expression was cold in the abyss, his eyes dim and full of authority. Yet with Xiao, his face was full of life, his golden eyes glowing whenever he was with his lover. It was always with just Xiao, no one else could get this out of the Prince, and the two loved it that way.
"If I were to leave this world with Lumine one day, would you still love me?" The blonde asked, turning to look at the water beneath the cliff the two resided at. Although his voice was soft, the other knew better than that. The prince doubted everything, the memories they had made together, the promises and late-night adventures they had; it was all bound to end eventually.
Xiao didn't like to think about it, choosing to live in the present, something he hadn't done in hundreds of years. The memories he made with his lover were important, something Xiao wouldn't be willing to forget. They would play in his mind, like a broken record playing one song for hours.
Gently, Xiao grabbed Aether and laid the prince's head on his lap, ensuring the other was comfortable before resting a hand on his chest. As careful as he could, Xiao took out a qingxin flower he had preserved for this moment.
Xiao put the flower in the blonde's hair, careful not to mess up the blonde's hair more. The small petals contrasted nicely with the blonde's features, putting a softer look to the blonde's already pale face. Sighing, the yaksha looked down at his lover, who had tears in his eyes. Wiping them away, Xiao spoke gentle words for only Aether to hear.
Silence followed after Xiao's declaration, and even though it stung a bit, the yaksha was confident in his words. It would stay between the two of them forever and always.
A few tears fell from Aether's eyes, his heart full but broken as well. He knew it would happen eventually, but it hurt knowing he would have to leave the only person that made him so complete.
In another life, the two could be lovers for a lifetime. Meet in other worlds and be happy, having a family of their own.
Life is cruel; fate is cruel.
Aether cried softly, sitting up and moving on the yaksha's lap, hugging the other for dear life.
Xiao wrapped his arms around Aether's waist, careful not to squeeze or injure the other in any way he could. The yaksha whispered sweet words into his lover's ear, trailing kisses all over his face to try and ease the other a bit.
Eventually, Aether began to calm down and sniffled a few times before letting go of Xiao, not moving from his spot on the yaksha's lap.
"I made something for you so that you wouldn't forget me when the time comes that we'd have to part." Aether reached into his pocket and pulled out a small star hair clip that glowed faintly. He looked at Xiao momentarily, making a move once the other nodded in permission.
The star clip was placed gently on the other's hair, glowing for a moment more before turning into a pretty yellow color. "I infused it with some of the magic I had in me; it's not from Teyvat, of course, so that it might last for eternity, unlike everything else." The blonde explained, smiling slightly as he put a similar clip in his hair — but his was a crescent shape.
Emotions had flooded Xiao, some familiar while others were not. Most of the feelings were unpleasant as they had hurt him before, but they washed away as he smiled slightly towards Aether. "Thank you, my prince. I'll surely treasure this with my life as I do with Liyue."
Aether softly giggled once again before leaning in and kissing Xiao passionately. It will be the two of them until they have to part, living in their world and being free of responsibilities until they call again. This was their life, and even though it was unfair to them and possibly Lumine, they could care less.
"The stars might have decided you can never be mine, but I am yours. I do not care where we end up or who we're with, but I promise I will always be yours for as long as you allow me to."