Work Text:
It had been a long day of travel and Aether along with Paimon were stopping by Liyue to have a well-deserved meal.
They had been making the journey back from Natlan, going all the way to Mondstadt to meet with Lisa. The librarian had been searching all the books and parchment that might help the traveller figure out what had transpired in Kanre’ah. The letter seemed hopeful, but he doubted it could help him much.
Aether was deep in his thoughts when he noticed Paimon, as she pointed at two figures further on the main street of Liyue.
“Hey look! Hu Tao and Xiangling! Let’s say hi to them!” Paimon said excitedly and floated ahead of him in the direction of the two girls. Aether followed along, smiling fondly at Paimon’s excitement.
“Hey Paimon! Oh, hi Aether!” Xiangling greeted them excitedly with an energetic wave. “Come over, come over!” She ushered, sticking out her inner wrist high near their faces. “Give this scent a try. What do you think?” She asked suddenly, smiling ear to ear, waiting for their reactions.
“It sure smells good...” He offered, the scent of freshly made almond tofu filling his senses.
“Did you just make some almond tofu?!” Paimon chirped at the aroma, already looking around for the scented dish. Xiangling chuckled at Paimon’s enthusiasm.
“Not bad, got it in one! Your noses are as sharp as mine. Mmm, this scent really is spot-on, too.” Hu Tao chimed in to the conversation, words smooth as ever.
“A perfume? Then in this... an almond tofu flavoured perfume?” Aether asked impressed, he’d never heard of a perfume scented as food before. It smelled quite delicious.
“Ding ding ding, that’s right!” Xiangling exclaimed excitedly, proceeding to explain how she got her hands on the new perfume by Ying’er. She told how she gave the inspiration to use food as a wearable scent.
“But there’s just one teeny little problem...” Hu Tao brought a hand to her belly with a sheepish smile. “The longer you smell it, the louder your tummy starts to grumble.” And as in on queue, her stomach rumbled with hunger. “Hear that Xiangling? That’s mine going “feed me, feed me!”” She whined playfully, making exaggerated movements.
Paimon’s stomach was heard next, followed by Aether’s.
“Hey look, I’m starving too!” The traveller chuckled, soon joined by the girls.
(///)
When Aether separated from the girls after a meal prepared by Xiangling after she caused all their bellies to rumble (and paying her even if she insisted it was her pleasure), he was walking out of Liyue with Paimon in tow.
Xiangling had offered him a sample bottle from Ying’er’s not yet released perfume when she noticed the interest Aether was showing to the concept, insisting again that she loved his company and likes to make up for lost time.
Aether crossed the gate that separated the harbour from the road to the neighbouring region. Looking up at his path, he stared at the tall tree in the distance; Wangshu Inn. He seemed to have stopped to stare, because Paimon got closer to his side, looking at him with a smile.
“Are you nervous?” She asked him, sensing his longing laced with unease. “It has been a while... But don’t you worry!” She went down to grab his hand and clutch tightly into hers. “Paimon has seen you two together, and not even our travels can separate you!” She encouraged, leaving a light blush on Aether’s tanned skin.
“Thank you Paimon. I’m sure it’s alright but I can’t help but worry, you know?” He shrugged, some of his anxiety leaving as he felt Paimon’s hands hold his.
“Paimon understands, but it’s going to be alright, you’ll see.” She assured him.
That conversation lingered on Aether’s mind through the road, the silence occasionally cut by Paimon pointing something out in the scenario around them.
As they approached, Aether retrieved the small glass bottle from his bag, spraying the almond tofu scent over his wrists, then rubbing them on his neck. Paimon looked at him curiously.
“Why are you putting that- Wait! That’s why you were so interested in the perfume, Paimon should have realized sooner!” She gave him a playful smirk, wiggling her eyebrows exaggeratedly before getting close to his neck to take a whiff. “Paimon’s stomach is already rumbling again!”
Aether looked at her with an equally playful smirk after she realized his plan all along.
“How?! You just ate!” He chuckled with Paimon before tucking the bottle back into his bag. “I want to see his reaction is all.” Aether smiled, taking his first step up the stairs.
(///)
Paimon had stayed behind, talking to Goldet and probably making her way to the kitchens. Aether climbed the stairs further, going to the highest level while making sure no one was there.
He walked forward to the railing facing the cliffs, wondering where the Yaksha was right now. Aether spoke his name.
It was a question, quiet and melodic, while he remembered the other’s words that seemed a lifetime since the first promise.
“Aether.” The traveller heard at his left, as Xiao rested his arms on the railing, imitating Aether’s position. His slitted eyes looking at him softly as a small smile lighted his usual tired face, warmed by the orange of the setting sun.
“Hey...” Aether stared back lovingly, having missed those eyes for weeks now. “I didn’t know if you were busy with something,” He started, looking down before he felt a gloved hand reaching up to clear a bang of blond from his face.
“You will never interrupt a thing,” Xiao inched closer, and slowly they came together in a kiss. Days upon days of longing poured into one action. “For you, I will always answer.” Xiao whispered to Aether’s mouth, once again making the promise that started this all.
After the kiss had ended, Aether was catching his breath with their faces close together. Xiao however, seemed to be taking in short sniffs, searching for something.
His nose led him to the neck of a smiling Aether, that had caught on that the Yaksha was smelling the perfume. He leaned the head to the opposite side slightly, exposing more of his neck.
“Is this... Almond tofu scented perfume?” Xiao asked with an eyebrow slightly raised, still holding Aether close.
The traveller raised his hand from the other’s shoulder and instead crossed them around his neck.
“It is, Xiangling was kind to give me some. It’s a new scent by Ying’er, it reminded me of you.” Aether gazed softly at Xiao’s lips as they curved into yet another rare smile, undoubtably looking back at him with adoration in his eyes. “Did you like it?”
“How could I not? The smell of my favourite dish adorning the one I cherish most, a dream come true, some would say.” Xiao gave a small peck on the other’s lips, “And a delicious one at that.” He added. But not even the sweetest dream compared to Aether’s lips.
Xiao deepened the kisses until a rare but familiar feeling started taking over him, and with it all he saw was golden.
“Each time we’re apart seems longer than the last.” The Yaksha complained longingly. “So let me love you tonight, let me make new memories to carry through those times. And let them make me want you more.” Xiao whispered between heated kisses, mostly to himself, as he swore his love for the thousandth time.
Aether heard the promises, face heating from the sincerity. Xiao didn’t need his verbal confirmation, the hand tugging his hair was loud enough.
(///)
The next morning, Paimon found Aether and Xiao sitting close on the railing of the highest balcony, basking in the morning sun and each other. She yawned and stretched before floating up to Aether’s side.
“Good morning, Aether! Good morning, Xiao!” Paimon greeted sleepily, a hand coming up to her eye to rub the sleep away. “Aether, we should get going soon, Mrs. Goldet was just talking that it will probably start raining around noon. Paimon was thinking we could stop by the Stone Gate and have lunch there!” She relayed excitedly. Kicking her feet at the thought of food. “Speaking of, Paimon will be heading down to get breakfast. Paimon will leave you two for now, but she will have breakfast for you Aether!” The little traveller waved them goodbye with a “Good to see you again Xiao!” before heading downstairs.
Aether’s gaze turned back from Paimon’s back to look at Xiao, who was looking at their joined hands sadly. Aether squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“We’ll be back in a few days. We still have to go back to Natlan, something big is going on in there!” Aether smiled back at Xiao who was looking at him now.
“You’ll have to tell me all about your time in Natlan, I am quite curious about the warriors of the nation of war.” He looked back to the horizon toward Natlan, the volcanos being hidden behind the tall cliffs. “The next time you come to the inn, I’ll make sure we talk more.” Aether smiled at him, chuckling.
“We’ll see about that. You didn’t seem too talkative yesterday, what makes you think we can just have tea and talk?” Aether flicked the other’s nose fondly.
“Maybe we can, good idea. And yesterday you surprised me with the perfume, how could I not spare my words and use my mouth for something far more important?” Xiao’s head fell on the other’s shoulder.
“Fair point.” Aether scratched Xiao’s head for a few minutes before looking down the inn to see Paimon waiting by the exit, with what probably was Aether’s breakfast wrapped in paper. He smiled bittersweet at the image. “I have to go now...” He gave a kiss on Xiao’s head, asking him to get up.
The yaksha lifted from his position, standing beside Aether and giving out a hand for the other to hold while coming down from the railing.
They came close again.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” Aether leaned forward to give Xiao a kiss.
“Until then.” Xiao whispered in Aether’s lips before disappearing in a gush of wind. Aether chuckled to himself at the action.
“How dramatic...” He smiled at the horizon before going down the stairs to meet up with Paimon.
(///)
“So, how did he like your new perfume?” Paimon asked between chews of her breakfast. Aether went a little red in the face, his face still with a confident smile.
“Let’s just say I now know exactly how Almond Tofu feels...” He looked at Paimon with an exaggerated smirk at her confusion. “loved and ready to be eaten.”
Paimon stuttered before mixing the word “ew” and laughing, pushing Aether on the shoulder and asking why he just said that. “Noo!! Now Paimon has a mental image!!”
The rest of the road went on with jokes of the same calibre.
Aether sometimes looked far away, as he swore Xiao was keeping an eye on them from the cliffs in the distance.
(///)
Hidden in the wind, the Yaksha protected his loved one until his bounds, longing already for their touch, met only until the next time the other would come.