Work Text:
Xiao was always aware of the fragility of mortals. They could not withstand his karma but for a few moments, and when they bled, they died. Neither the adepti nor the divine were immortal, of course, but they were afforded a durability that ensured a greater chance at survival. (So that they might be the sword and shield for the weak, and that every creature would survive together.)
Aether, Xiao decided, was not supposed to be fragile.
And yet.
Yet, here he was, unsure how even to touch Aether without hurting him further, let alone carry him. Let alone save him.
“You can help him, right?” Paimon asked tearfully, much too optimistic about his skillset. She hung onto his shoulder now, and just as Xiao was not sure how to help Aether, neither was he sure how to comfort Paimon.
She was the one who called him here. Her desperation cut through the wind like a knife, and even from her, Xiao had not doubted the urgency.
Now, the three geovishaps lay dead on the ground, including the one whose teeth were stained with Aether’s blood. Paimon had stuttered out an explanation that one had sprung up from the ground and caught him by surprise, but the details hardly mattered. The only thing that did matter was that Aether was bleeding through jagged wounds around his shoulder and collarbone, and Xiao was not a healer nor a practitioner of the healing arts.
He had always been satisfied enough that his talents lay in violence, and protection through violence, until these moments.
“I will try,” he promised, because that was all he could promise. He knelt beside Aether and did his best to locate and staunch the worst of the bleeding, wary of jostling him too much when the wound was in such a precarious area. The absolute last thing Xiao wanted to do was cause further injury to his neck or spine.
Aether groaned, shifting slightly, and Xiao took it as a good sign when his eyes started to flutter open. The bleeding, too, was slower than Xiao had feared, when at first he could only see how much blood he was covered in.
“Wha…?” Aether blinked hard a few times. He was still clearly not well, but Xiao could breathe a bit easier with the reminder that Aether had a constitution that could rival the adepti. (Not that the adepti were immune to death and injury…) “Xiao…”
“You scared Paimon half to death!” the fairy immediately chastised, tears still in her eyes. “You’re lucky Xiao came when he did! Or… or…”
When Paimon was too distressed to attempt to finish her statement, Xiao swallowed and he reminded himself that he was the calm one. “The first aid I can do here is… limited.” He grimaced to himself, the truth resolute but frustrating. “Do you think you can be moved?”
“Oh, um…” Aether was still not quite there, but Xiao watched with rapt attention as he moved his shoulder minutely and winced. So he could move it and feel it. He could work with that. (Because while Xiao trusted that Aether knew his own limits, he didn’t quite trust the Traveler to share them, or lean on him for help.)
Aether self-assessed for a moment longer, before he offered both him and Paimon a shaky attempt at his usual assuring smile. “Y-yeah, I’m not going to fall apart.”
“Good.”
Xiao really didn’t want to lose him. Not this soon. The curling realization of that fact settled in his chest in a painful sort of comfort, but Xiao was experienced, so he weathered it quietly.
As gently as he could manage, Xiao picked Aether up, trying to settle his injured shoulder against his chest in a way to ensure it moved as little as possible. Aether squeezed his eyes shut, teeth clenched with pain, and Xiao graciously did not call him out on it.
Instead, he murmured his instruction as reassuringly as possible, though it came out more like a plea instead.
“Just hold on.”