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The afternoon sun was lavishing Liyue with too much warmth for this time of year, and the sea at the harbor was all too happy to meet the heat in the air and join it in a dance of intense humidity.
This dance, however, did not deter any Liyuen resident from going out into the markets and doing their weekly shopping. Xiao only knows this because he himself is in the market today after an uncharacteristic choice to accompany Aether on his errands. Perhaps The Traveler has spent enough time in the harbor city to get accustomed to its weather, too.
As they walk through the wide alleys and flowing crowds towards the General Goods store that Aether frequents, Xiao's musings continue branching like an unpruned Silk Flower bush. What else did Aether experience in Liyue when he wasn't there? How does he see the great stone pillars that pin down the monsters of a bygone era? What does he think of the adepti and their habits? The local cuisines he had mastered so effortlessly? The people; what does he see in humanity? Their butterfly-wing fragility? Or their Jade tenacity and stubbornness to live?
He is under no impression that The Traveler is an ordinary human. Too many times has Teyvat sunk its unfeeling claws into his flesh only for him to shake them off unscathed. The optimism and kindness he wears like an invisible second earring is not born of any naivety. No, Xiao has lived long enough to recognize the burden of witnessing thousands of years in people's eyes. Aether is no exception.
The voice belonging to the gold coloring his thoughts brings Xiao out of them.
"Hey. Is everything okay? You look like you're spacing out a little. We can take a less crowded route if you want."
He's touched by the concern, but... "I'm fine. There is no need to worry about me."
Xiao glances back to see that they had just gotten out of a crowded portion of the market into a much more open area – his musings had occupied him so much that he hadn't even noticed. He cannot neglect attentiveness in the city.
"I won't take long at the shop," Aether assures him. "I know you prefer to stay outside of the city, so it makes me really happy that you're here." His lips curve into one of those smiles that Xiao wants to memorize the shape of. But if he was being truthful with himself, then it would really be all of them.
"Of course; I want to understand you.. my hope is that seeing the mortal world through your eyes might help me in that endeavor."
Aether's smile shifts a little, but he doesn't get to recognize what it means before he says, "and will you share your thoughts with me over tea once we get back, O Wise and Vigilant Yaksha?"
Xiao immediately looks away and prays that no red will dust his ears. "There is no need to be so formal... but yes. I would like that."
A sparkle gleams in his eyes at Xiao's acceptance. "That's settled then. I'll go get everything I need from Dongsheng, but you don't have to come with me if you don't want to."
He eyes the store and draws back a little when he sees a few customers already at the stalls and talking to the shopkeeper. There truly is something to be said about the anonymity in a crowd – Xiao will be sure to share that with Aether once they return to the Inn. But for now, he nods and takes up his offer to stay a small distance behind.
Watching Aether interact so easily with the shopkeeper while simultaneously keeping him at an arm's length, it occurs to Xiao that he knows Aether far better now. There was a time when he did not know much, if anything, more about the golden-haired Traveler than that shopkeeper.
And yet he is still a mystery to Xiao in so many ways. A constellation of stars he does not yet comprehend the shape of. On most days, his curiosity to learn everything Aether is willing to share about himself is frightening. On other days like this one, his desire wins, and he gives in to Aether's open invitation to join him on non-threatening and casual trips.
A sigh escapes him, unbidden.
Someone clears their throat beside him, and he turns to see that Paimon has rematerialized and chosen to stay back as well. She floats with crossed arms and wears a smug smile with a quirked brow.
Xiao eyes her with suspicion. "Why are you looking at me like that."
"Because somebody's in love~," she says and backflips giddily in the air.
Looking away, he pointedly ignores the heat gathering at the top of his ears. "How absurd. Why would you say such a thing."
"You can't fool Paimon! Every time Aether turns his back, you look at him with sad puppy eyes! it's really obvious, you know."
"There are no puppy eyes," he adamantly asserts. There can be nothing special about his gaze or interest in The Traveler. Plenty of other people are captivated by him, it's as natural as the moon's pull on the tides.
Paimon shrugs. "Oh-kay whatever you say... but it's okay if you're in love, you know – being happy won't kill you. Buuut your face might crack if you smile, so be careful." She giggles.
He huffs slightly at her last comment, but after a moment or two of silence, he says, "...I'll consider your suggestion."
Later, when he observes The Traveler making a pot of tea to Xiao's liking for them to have, he foolishly thinks that perhaps if he doesn't name this constellation, then maybe it wouldn't affect him so much.