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“Seriously?” Aether says. The rage is reaching a fever pitch. “Do you think that’s okay? You more than just insinuated that Lynette would be murdered if we didn’t listen to you and you feel justified doing that?”
Wriothesley looks less than impressed, expression still flat. “The Fatui have been infiltrating my fortress for-”
“I don’t care,” Aether interrupts. “Whatever issues you have with the Fatui, that’s your problem. I have my own issues with the Fatui but that ? No, no, just no. That’s his sister, you don’t mess with someone’s family like that.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You tricked us! You’re using us!” Aether snapped.
“And you’re so innocent?”
“I’m not using other people like chess pieces.” The rage is too much. His chest is so tight and painful. Four nations' worth of rage that has been steadily piling up is threatening to explode on the Duke. “You’re just messing with us. Instead of actually talking to us or, archons, talking to me, you choose to play god. You ask me a bunch of questions just to test me, you taunt Lyney, you’re purposefully being vague to make us worry.”
“I hardly think I’m god.”
“No you are, you’re just as infuriating and cruel as the archons,” Aether snaps. “Do you know why I'm here?”
“You ate-”
“No!” Aether gives a bitter laugh, something cracking in his chest.
“Traveler,” Paimon says, touching his arm.
“I’m here because Childe disappeared, you know, Fatui Harbinger. You let him leave. That can spell disaster for your whole country but no one cares about Fontaine except for the Chief Justice and Lyney! Now you’re trying to blackmail Lyney with the life of his sister because you feel entitled to a meeting with their ‘Father’!”
“The Fortress is my priority. I take care of everyone here and having a bunch of Fatui running around isn’t in the best interest of the Fortress. Especially when they’re digging around the forbidden zone.”
“So help me,” Aether shouts, “I will find whatever is hiding in the forbidden zone, tear it out, and hang it in front of the Oratrice!”
Lyney, Lynette, and Paimon blink at Aether, taken aback by the shouting. His hands are shaking. He can feel his heartbeat in his ears and his own throat trying to strangle him. It’s happening again; more people shoving him around like a plaything.
“So you figured it out! We were looking for information, good for you! Well we found our answer! You let Childe go! Possibly causing a diplomatic nightmare! And I’m worried about him, I’ve been worried! But all of this is a game to you!”
Wriothesley shrugs, spreading his arms. “It’s not my game, I just know what I’m doing. And are you sure you’d want to hang the secret of the forbidden zone for all to see? You would do that to this nation?”
“You do not get to lecture me about helping this nation! All I have done since waking up in Teyvat is help every nation I’ve walked into. I don’t know what you’re hiding in the forbidden zone but your secret is not worth their lives.”
“Maybe you should know the truth before you say that.” Wriothesley sighs, shifting his weight. “Since I’m sure you won’t quit until you’ve figured it out, I might as well show you. Before that, let’s have Freminent go to the infirmary.”
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“Are you alright?” Lyney asks quietly.
“No,” Aether answers, smile fake and tight. “He used us. Just like everyone else I’ve met in Teyvat, they used me. They threatened your sister.”
“Lynette is okay. It was all a bluff.”
Aether feels tears pricking at his eyes. “It’s a terrible feeling to think that your sister could be in danger,” Aether whispers. “If anything would have happened to Lynette,” he gives a shaky laugh, pressing the heel of his hand into his eye.
“She’s alright. Freminet is alright too.”
“He knew something was wrong with the water but he let Freminent go. He risked his life for what? There was primordial seawater, Freminent could have,” Aether wipes at his face, taking deep, shaking breaths. “He didn’t have to dance around the topic. He could have said that they were alright. Could have stopped us sooner.”
“He was trying to rile us up. He wants to meet ‘Father’, get some answers. I admit I don’t fully know why he did what he did but,” Lyney rubs the back of his neck with a tight laugh. “We’re alright. We’ll do better next time.”
“We’re not chess pieces,” Aether says. He sits up straighter, taking a deep breath. “Everyone with any kind of power that I’ve met has used me. Each archon has had me solve their problems. Leaders of nations have had me help them. I was in a war for a country I have no connection to.”
“Inazuma,” Lyney says. “I’ve heard the stories.”
“I let myself get arrested to try and help Childe. All of you are here because you want to help your ‘Father’ and what the Duke did was cruel and unnecessary.” Aether sighs, curling in on himself more.
“I agree.”
“Sorry,” Aether whispers. “You don’t have to sit over here and comfort me. Go, talk to your family.”
“You’re family too,” Lynette chimes in softly, that small smile pointed at him. It’s gone as soon as it appears which makes it all the more special. “You’ve done so much for us. Thank you.”
“Of course I helped.”
“You didn’t have to. We were worried you would refuse after our last meeting. It would have made sense; we tricked you.”
Aether looks between the two of them; Lynette’s calm, almost bored expression and Lyney’s bashful one. He laughs weakly, sniffling softly as Paimon worriedly holds onto his arm. There are more incessant tears in his eyes. He shifts, holding Paimon in his lap, hugging her to his chest.
“I’m sorry to make everyone worry,” he says. “I just…I was so worried about you guys. And how he went about all of this was awful.”
“I could have gone without that whole charade,” Lyney says. “It was a terrible trick, no audience would have liked it,” he jokes.
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“What do you suggest?” Wriothesley says, waving a hand through the air. “I just tell everyone that the water of prophecy is leaking out but I have a plan? That would cause riots and it would be irresponsible of me as the warden.”
Aether fumes quietly but his voice comes out level. “I didn’t suggest telling everyone , I am asking why you didn’t tell Neuvillette aka, the only man in this nation who seems to care. He has the ear of Furina. He’s the Chief Justice. He’s,” Aether bites down his guess at Neuvillette’s power and heritage, groaning in frustration. “He’s someone who could maybe do something. Tell him at least!”
“I’m sure the Chief Justice has plenty to worry about. Besides, what can he do against this?” Wriothesley’s eyes are sharp, cutting, looking for any information Aether has.
“He could help prepare the people! Prepare for the worst, understand where the prophecy would be starting.” Aether snaps. “Does anyone know?”
“No but I am making plans. I won’t sit idly by while this happens; I’ll do my best with what I have.”
“That’s admirable, sure but this affects everyone . The entire nation is in danger.”
“I’m aware. I only became aware of the truth of this zone after becoming the warden here whenever I had some free time.”
Aether feels some of the anger dissipate. “So the past wardens failed Fontaine.”
“You could say that. The history of the Fortress has mostly been glossed over or washed away. I doubt anyone in the overworld remembers or even cares about the Fortress. That’s why so many people who come here end up staying instead of returning topside. We’re our own little world down here.”
Aether looks at Paimon who’s nervously clutching at his sleeve. He sighs, tired in a bone deep way. “I’m going to tell Neuvillette; he needs to know.”
“Will you be telling your friends?”
“Probably. They can talk to ‘Father’ and maybe we could avoid a diplomatic disaster on top of a prophetic one.” Aether sighs softly as Paimon floats closer, looking up at Aether.
“Traveler,” she says, “it’ll be okay. Neuvillette can handle this. Come on,” she tugs his sleeve. “Unless you have something else Wriothesley? Is there anything else we should know? Are we missing anything?”
“No, you know about as much as I do by now. I’d advise you to be careful with sharing this information. Now, I’m going to need at least three cups of tea to soothe my throat after all of this talking.”
“Right.”