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As Aether walks around with Paimon on the streets of Inazuma, he can’t help but notice the large number of people wandering around and chocolates up on display in the confectionery shops. Even the Shirasagi Himegimi buys into the trend, as the blond sees her walking around, hand-in-hand with Yoimiya and several small bags in their free ones. He jogs over to the pair with a wave, the two stopping when they see him. Yoimiya greets him enthusiastically, in contrast to Ayaka’s calm and elegant style, but never lets go of her bestfriend’s (?) hand. “Hey, do you guys know what event it is that there is so much chocolate being on sale lately?,” he asks once the two get close. Both girls’ eyes widen at the question. “What do you mean you don’t know about Valentine’s day?!” Aether has to even take a step back from the pair’s intense reaction, “I-is that a bad thing…?”
Before he can comprehend the situation, the traveler gets pulled into a nearby restaurant amidst his confusion, along with his best travel companion, of course. With one speaking while the other adds details and side commentary, Aether gets fully re-educated about both love and the upcoming occasion. During the entire talk, his mind keeps on wandering back to a certain consultant back in Liyue, but it is not the point here. He walks out of the door, mind still spinning and trying to catch up with all of the new knowledge crammed in. The light outside has never felt so liberating before and the wind feels even cooler. Paimon floats right behind him with a hand on her little forehead, drained from how energetic Ayaka and Yoimiya were earlier.
Now, with a renewed mindset, Aether steps back into the streets and aims for the biggest store in Inazuma city with vigor and the silver haired fairy trailing behind him. On the way, they bump into the other Kamisato sibling of the two and their retainer. He did intend to say hi and exchange pleasantries but stops at the sight of the two dragging each other into a secluded alleyway. Aether covers his little companion’s vision hurriedly in hopes of preventing her from potential permanent trauma and presses on. The store is much, much bigger than what was described which makes the blond wonder how he did not notice the place before.
He walks in hesitantly from the cutesy decoration and the girls all around, chatting and squealing in delight at the merchandise. The moment his foot touches the floor inside, the clerk appears right next to him with an enthusiastic smile, “Welcome. What would you like to buy from our shop?” Paimon squeaks in surprise before hiding behind his back. “W-where did she come from?!” The staff just smiles before leading Aether, and in effect, the fairy as well, to a nearby shelf. “May I know what kind of gift you are giving for Valentine’s? Obligatory? Platonic? Or perhaps…,” her voice drags on a bit too long for Aether’s comfort, “Romantic~?” The traveler’s face warms up at the mere mention of romance and that warm baritone echoes in his ears again. “Traveler, I had been waiting for you. I-” “Aether~ Aether~! Teyvat to Aether, are you okay? Your face is so red!” The young man wakes from his thoughts at Paimon’s call, realizing that Zhongli’s voice earlier was just in his head and covers his face in embarrassment.
Barely managing to fend off his trusty (?) companion’s interrogation, Aether trudges forward to the beverage section first, trying to pick out some high quality tea. He stares almost hatefully at the many containers, the selection ranging from oolong tea to hojicha and more. With much deliberation, he picks a container of Takachiho oolong tea under both the staff and Paimon’s intent gaze. The clerk smiles brightly at his selection and starts introducing the tea about its taste, what would pair the best with it, so on and so forth. Under the expectant eyes of the lady, Aether stuffs the box into the basket he got and finally gets to select a type of chocolate. He can’t help but notice the girls nearby squealing about the newest arrival. Paimon has already flown over the group before he could stop her. With greed as fuel, the small fairy bravely asks about the merchandise and returns looking like she has aged by years. “The sweet they were talking about is a box of sea salt and orange flavored chocolate… Apparently, if your crush accepts it, you will be happy with them for the rest of your lives…,” and with that, she collapses in Aether’s arms dramatically. The blond just sighs and plops her over his shoulder while looking at the long descriptions under the sweet treats. The staff giggles at his serious expression and finally genuinely advises him on the choice of gifts.
Hours pass by in a flash until the traveler stands triumphant before the counter. He gets the chosen items checked, wrapped up and paid for them with plenty of tips for the oh so helpful staff. Aether’s heart thumps loudly as if he is a teenage girl in love, and in some aspects, he is no different. He boards Beidou’s ship in a hurry. Being left behind by his ride is no good, after all. At the docks, Beidou is already waiting, a little box in hand. Aether boards the ship with a similarly decorated box being held by Paimon. The pirate jumps from where she was with a sly grin, “Oh? After a short while of not meeting, you already got a crush~?” Aether’s face glows with a familiar warmth again before Kazuha slaps the captain up the head with a paper fan, “Please don’t disturb the passengers, even if it’s the traveler.” The blond breathes out a relieved sigh while putting the gift he just prepared into his inventory and thanks the samurai for the save. The rest of the trip is fairly uneventful, with the occasional rainy weather on the long voyage, of course. If he takes revenge on Beidou by mentioning how many people must be already giving chocolates among other gifts to Ningguang then that is still no one’s problem. Meals are had and poems made under the moonlight (Kazuha wonders why the subject of Aether’s works all are somewhat related to dragons and cor lapis but the young man refuses to elaborate whatsoever) until they eventually part at Guyun stone forest where the blond goes back on a small boat he prepared.
Lanterns are still floating around and kites up in the sky as Aether steps onto the docks. Slowly, his steps subconsciously pick up until he shifts into a full-blown sprint. Wind fills his ears and blocks out any other sounds around. He searches for that lovely figure in the crowd, maybe he is walking on the streets with armfuls of antiques? Or is he enjoying a nice cup of tea while listening to stories by Iron tongue Tian? Or perhaps… His steps slow to a stop at Yujing Terrace, sparkling eyes widen when he sees Zhongli standing with his back to him and a cup of osmanthus wine in hand. The consultant slowly spins to look at him and Aether can feel his face basically glow in the bustling evening atmosphere. Gorgeous cor lapis colored eyes that almost melts in the warm lantern light, fluttering silky smooth hair and the always impeccably ironed suit all combine to make up the first person to have ever made him feel like this.
Hundreds of years traveling from world to world rendered useless before the ex-archon. “You’re here,” Zhongli smiles, “It is a pity that you were not here in time to enjoy Guoba’s banquet. However, I did save some almond tofu and lotus crisps for you.” The blond cannot help but feel his legs soften at the other’s words and the corners of his lips rise up uncontrollably. He runs up to the brunet and hugs him tightly. “Oh? What seems to be the matter, Aether?,” Zhongli says calmly while running a hand down the smaller man’s back comfortingly. Madam Ping slowly moves away from the pair of them to let them have some privacy. Aether rubs his face against the consultant’s chest like a spoiled puppy before smiling up at him, “Nothing, just didn’t realize I missed something so fun.” The adeptus laughs quietly at his words and places a box onto his forehead, “If you want, I can request Xiangling to make another one for you? But for now, please settle with what I saved.” The traveler smiles brightly while using a hand to take the box off his head and the other tighten his hold around Zhongli’s waist. After a few seconds, he lets go and opens up the box with glee. The brunet leads him to the table and helps him a cup of fragrant tea before conjuring two geo chairs.
By that point, Paimon manages to catch up with Aether while holding onto armfuls of food and a small fish lantern from Gaming. “Aether! How could you just abandon me like thaatt?” She whines while floating towards the two, “Ah! Mister Zhongli!,” she drops the food onto the nearby table before charging at the consultant. He takes her tackle in stride and even manages to pat her messed up hair as she moves around, busy with both complaining about Aether keeping on ‘abandoning her’ and how the locals, namely Keqing, Yanfei and even Gaming, ‘teasing her’ when she was trying to find her companion. He listens to her with a soft smile but right beside them, Aether is fuming with jealousy because Paimon gets to the center of Zhonli’s attention while he is sitting alone. The older man notices his dark look and laughs quietly, moving to sit down and plopping the little fairy down his lap, “I have given Aether some desserts made by Guoba, would you like to have some too, little one?” Her eyes sparkle at the mention of food and immediately looks at the box on the table…
Only to be greeted by Aether’s cheeks covered in crumbs and filled with the promised sweets. Zhongli laughs louder at the sight and wipes his cheeks clean with a handkerchief, “There is no need to rush, Aether, Paimon won’t eat everything from you.” He turns bright red at the gesture and turns away awkwardly, screaming in his mind in sheer embarrassment from letting (His Totally Not Crush) the ex-archon see him with such a shameful look on. Aether swallows the food in his mouth with a gulp, washes it all down with a swig of the tea, all under Paimon’s curious, but angry, look. She pouts, “Even if they're good, you should at least let Paimon have a taste!” Before she could say anything else, Zhongli pats her hair gently, “I can make you some more at a later date, little one.” Aether lunges over as well, holding onto his waist with a death grip, “What about me, Mister Zhongli?”
The night passes by with jokes being exchanged and the promise of hanging out with Zhongli on the 14th hanging in the air. Paimon, by some point, manages to pick up on Aether’s feelings and has been teasing him while he tries to make a dessert on his own to go with the prepared gift. Failed products lie on the side, desolated and small bits of thick whipped cream slowly drip down from the walls of the kitchen in his serenitea pot. Xiangling lies on the table, completely exhausted from the cycle of instructing, supervising and then tasting all that comes out of the oven. She already just had to help Chongyun with his own gift, and then Xingqiu comes barging into her kitchen with packs of cryo slime extract and high quality popsicle-able ingredients and even Xinyan pops up with her own request. In the end, they congregate in Aether’s house and make a large mess everywhere.
The only person she can even say is doing fine enough is Aether with his La Lettre a Focalor but with a Liyue-esque twist. Xingqiu keeps on messing around with the slime extract, Chongyun accidentally going into Yang mode from Xinyan’s Jueyun chili sauce and Xinyan getting distracted by Barbara’s (presumably the recipient of her little gift) singing before joining in and turning it into a duet. The music is good but Xiangling cannot say that it is conducive to making sweets whatsoever. She eventually has to request Guoba to drag Xinyan back to finish up with what she was making. While Aether tries his best to tie a fancy ribbon around the box of La Lettre a Focalor, Paimon pokes her head in to remind Aether of the time and watches as he rush to put the new box into the inventory and go change into something cleaner and (hopefully) more presentable.
Thank the Archons above that Chiyori’s gift came in handy with the clothes being a nice combination of casual and formal so that he can try to win Zhongli’s heart! Aether walks out with determination in his heart and a spring in his steps. Clouds swirl in his vision and he steps out calmly, as much as he could with his heart going 100 km/h, at least. All of the self-pep he gave himself flies out of the window at the sight of Zhongli in a more casual outfit, his outer coat now taken off and hanging on his arm instead. The consultant smiles and waves him over. The blond walks over before getting led into the elder’s private room in the parlor. His heartbeat fills his ears and heart up in his tight throat. Paimon has to try and talk with Zhongli to relieve her companion’s stress before the young man just collapses on the floor. He had never realized the hallway of the Wansheng funeral parlor was so long before this. Sweat slicks up his already clammy hands. Aether wipes it hurriedly against his pants and attempts to act unbothered, completely (un)natural, just walking up to Zhongli’s room.
The door opens with a quiet ‘creak’ and the first thing Aether notices is the numerous boxes on the living room table. He points at the pile shakily, “M-Mister Zhongli, may I know what those boxes are…?” He prays in his petty little heart that they aren’t gifts from the consultant’s many, many admirers, but life is no dream and his prayer is not heard. “Oh, some of them are from Childe, my Mondstadt business partners and the rest are anonymously sent.” Aether screams inside as he takes out the chocolate and tea set and puts them on the table first and then the cooled La Lettre a Focalors. “Happy Valentine’s day, Mister Zhongli!” Zhongli’s eyes widen at his words before calming down, “Thank you for the gift, I appreciate it, Aether,” the consultant takes out the promised sweets from the small cabinet nearby along with another small chocolate cake, “I had only recently heard of ‘Valentine’s day’ so I could not prepare something better for you.” Aether stands up from his seat and holds Zhongli’s hand, “I have something i want to tell you!”