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To say that Alhaitham was anything less than a giant ball of anxious energy would be a bold-faced lie. The poor scholar had been pacing around the Serenitea Pot all morning, not even stopping to eat the breakfast that Tighnari and Aether had prepared.
The blond traveler supposed that he couldn’t blame him. Today was wishing day, and they all were hoping for Kaveh to come home, none more so than Alhaitham, despite his protests on the matter.
Quite frankly, Alhaitham’s pacing was beginning to stress Aether out, so he rushed Tighnari and Cyno through breakfast and had his three companions pack their belongings before the sun had fully risen.
Teleporting outside of the Serenitea Pot once more, the group found themselves back in Sumeru, on the outskirts of the Mawtiyima Forest.
Crouching down, Aether carefully packed his adeptal abode back into his traveling pack. Settling the bag back over his shoulder, he took his place at the head of the group.
“Alright, Alhaitham,” he began, turning to grin at the grand Scribe of the Akademiya. “Where should we wish for your boyfriend?”
Without a second thought, Alhaitham pushed himself to the front of the ground and began to lead them down the mountain path in the direction of Sumeru City. Minutes later, the group emerged from the foliage and were greeted by the sight of the Palace of Alcazarzary in all of its glory. Kaveh’s masterpiece.
Tighnari snorted. “We should have guessed that you’d chose to come here.”
“What a perfect palace for Kaveh to come home to,” Cyno commented. “Do you understand? ‘Palace’ like the Palace of Alcazarzary but ‘palace’ also sounds like ‘place.’”
In his anxious state, Alhaitham didn’t even bother with a witty retort, just leading them further down the path.
“Cyno, my love, your puns truly are terrible. Have you no mercy for our poor nervous friend?” the forest ranger groaned, shoving his partners arm playfully.
Shaking his head, Aether jogged slightly to catch up with Alhaitham, who was already standing in front of the building. He tilted his head back, taking a moment to fully appreciate the beauty of the structure.
“Are you ready?” he asked, glancing over to the Scribe.
“Bring him home,” Alhaitham whispered, the first thing he had said aloud today.
Aether looked back to see if Cyno and Tighnari had caught up, and seeing the pair, he nodded. Taking a handful of Intertwined Fates—specifically saved up for this moment—Aether reeled back and flung them up into the air with the help of Anemo. The wishes glinted as they soared through the sky, quickly disappearing behind the clouds.
Moments later, the sky lit up with purple and blue, fallen stars streaking across the vibrant hues of sunrise. Weapons began to rain down in front of them, all low level that would inevitably be used as ascension-fodder for their other weapons. Aether counted eight before the sky lit up purple above them, a bright light plummeting down to the dias in front of the group.
Alhaitham shifted forward, fists clenched tightly at his sides. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the figure bathed in light to speak.
“Haitham?”
And just like that, Aether watched as Alhaitham’s composure fell completely, a relieved and giddy grin breaking out across his face.
“Kaveh,” the Scribe breathed out, stumbling forward.
The light surrounding Kaveh was nearly blinding, but Alhaitham stumbled forward towards the architect nonetheless.
Aether stood to the side with Tighnari and Cyno, watching as the pair embraced.
Glancing over to Aether, Tighnari rested his head on his boyfriends shoulder. “We weren’t like this when I came home, were we?”
“Oh, you definitely were,” the blond shot back, barely able to contain his grin.
Sharing a look with his remaining two companions, Aether turned towards one of the many ramps leading back out into the rainforest.
“Come on, lets give those two some time alone together before we interrupt.”
(Moments Later: A loud *thump* followed by a shriek from Kaveh. Aether looks over to see the last weapon laying on the ground next to the reunited pair.
Alhaitham is glaring holes into the fallen catalyst.
Cyno and Tighnari are barely holding in their laughter.)