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The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the vast and verdant landscape of Liyue. Aether, a young adventurer known for his insatiable curiosity and boundless energy, had been traversing the region with his constant companion, Paimon, and the enigmatic Adeptus, Xiao.
They had been on the move since dawn, exploring hidden ruins and battling fierce creatures. The day's journey had been particularly gruelling, with Xiao leading them through treacherous paths known only to those who had lived through countless lifetimes. As the light of day waned, they found a serene spot atop Jueyuen Karst, overlooking a valley where the city lights began to twinkle like stars. Xiao, ever vigilant, leaned against a sturdy pine, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Paimon, ever talkative, hovered nearby, her voice a constant stream of excitement and wonder.
“Look at this view! It's sooo pretty! We should take a picture, or maybe—" "Quiet, Paimon. This is not the place to be loud," said Xiao sternly in a low voice. Paimon huffed and turned around. "Hey, why so serious all the— Oh."
Paimon's voice trailed off as she noticed Aether, his head resting gently on Xiao's shoulder, fast asleep. The exhaustion from the day's adventures had finally caught up to him, and he had succumbed to slumber's embrace. “Let him rest. The journey has been long, and he has earned his peace,” Xiao murmured softly.
Xiao's expression softened at the sight of Aether's peaceful form, the usual sternness in his eyes replaced by a hint of gentle concern and protectiveness. He glanced down at Aether, his head resting on Xiao's shoulder, and unconsciously, Xiao shifted his weight a little, making sure he was more comfortable. Xiao remained still, careful not to disturb Aether's slumber. He glanced over at Paimon, his voice barely above a whisper, as if not to wake Aether up. Paimon floated closer, her normally loud demeanour quieter than usual.
"He fell asleep like that, huh? He must really trust you," she whispered.
Xiao's golden irises flicked back to Aether, noting the innocence on his face as he slept, utterly at peace. Xiao felt a strange mixture of protectiveness and... something else. Xiao's gaze lingered on Aether for a moment longer, the silence of the night and the calmness of Aether's breathing settling something inside Xiao. His face maintained its usual stoic expression, but his eyes told a different story.
“He’s exhausted. It’s best to let him rest,” he said in a low voice, gazing at Aether with fondness. Paimon hovered a little closer, her voice still hushed, but there was a clear hint of curiosity in her tone. “You’ve changed, Xiao,” she said with a cheeky smirk.
Xiao snapped out of his reverie. He looked at Paimon, his face reverting to its usual stern expression. He shifted slightly on the ground, his back against the tree, his shoulder still acting as a support for Aether's head. “Changed? What do you mean?” he asked, slightly defensive.
Paimon giggled softly, finding it amusing how quickly Xiao's demeanour changed. She hovered closer, her voice still a whisper, but there was a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Oh, come on, don't pretend you don't know. You're way more... how would I say it... softer with Aether. Anyone can tell."
Xiao bristled slightly at Paimon's observation. Soft. It wasn't exactly a word he used to describe himself. He looked back at Aether, his eyes lingering on his peaceful face for a moment before responding to Paimon, pausing for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. "Perhaps... perhaps you're not entirely wrong. But it doesn't mean anything."
Paimon’s smile widened a bit. She loved how Xiao tried to play it off, but it was obvious he cared. She couldn't help but enjoy teasing him. "Oh, it doesn't, eh? Then why are you letting him sleep on your shoulder? Surely, the great Vigilant Yaksha can nudge him off, if it doesn't mean anything."
Xiao's eyes flashed with annoyance at Paimon's question. He knew he could easily move Aether's head off his shoulder with a gentle nudge, but for some reason, he wasn't doing it. He let out a sigh, his eyes shifting back to Aether's resting form, the words slipping out almost reluctantly.
"I... don't want to wake him. He looks comfortable," he said in a resigned voice.
Paimon's smile softened a bit. She could see past Xiao's tough exterior. Deep down, he wasn't as uncaring as he often portrayed himself to be. She floated a little closer, her tone becoming somewhat softer now. "You know, it's okay to care, Xiao. Aether trusts you; that's why he's sleeping so peacefully. You can let yourself care, too." Paimon said with a hint of understanding.
Xiao felt a pang of something unfamiliar within him at Paimon's words. Care. The concept of allowing himself to care about someone, when his whole existence had been about enduring and fighting, felt foreign to him. But then he looked back at Aether, his head resting peacefully on his shoulder, the soft rise and fall of his chest. He found it annoyingly endearing, almost comfortable.
"I will consider your words, but don't go thinking I'm getting soft,” he muttered. Paimon chuckled gently at Xiao's response. He was as stubborn as always, but she could see the slight flicker of emotions in his eyes. She decided to continue her gentle teasing to see how much she could tease out of him.
"Oh, no, of course not. You're as tough as before, just a little... gentler. It's not such a bad thing, is it?" she teased. Xiao let out a soft huff, somewhat irritated by Paimon's continued teasing, but there was a hint of resignation in his eyes. He couldn't deny that he was behaving somewhat differently when Aether was around. He shifted slightly, ensuring Aether's head was still resting comfortably on his shoulder before responding to Paimon again.
"Maybe... but don't get used to it. This is a momentary... lapse," he huffed. Paimon smiled wider at Xiao's response. She was clearly enjoying this. She knew he was slowly opening up, and it was gratifying to see. She floated even closer, her tone gentle, but still filled with a bit of playfulness.
"A momentary lapse, you say? Well, this 'momentary lapse' seems to be happening quite often. Maybe it's becoming a habit?" Xiao shot Paimon a glare, annoyed with her continuous prodding. But deep down, he couldn't deny that she had a point. Lately, he had caught himself being gentler, and more patient, especially with Aether.
"Shut it, Paimon. You're insufferable as always,” he said, his voice raising a bit.
“Mn…” Aether mumbled, nuzzling his head against Xiao’s shoulder.
Xiao stiffened slightly as Aether mumbled and nuzzled against his shoulder. He glanced down at Aether's sleeping form, a strange, unfamiliar feeling stirring within him. There was a soft vulnerability in Aether's actions, as if seeking comfort. Xiao's face was a mixture of a slight surprise and... something else. "Shh, it's alright. Rest." He whispered in a softer tone than he intended.
Paimon watched the scene unfold, her smile growing warmer. The usually stern Xiao was gentle, almost tender in his response. It was fascinating to see. "Look at that, you're so soft now. Who would've thought that you could be this tender?" She couldn't help but tease him once more, her voice barely above a whisper.
Xiao shot Paimon another glare, but it lacked its usual intensity. He was too focused on the feeling of Aether's head against his shoulder, the sound of his soft breaths, and the vulnerability in his sleep. Paimon's words, though still annoying, held a hint of truth. Xiao knew it himself. He was acting differently, and it was because of Aether.
"I'm not... soft." He shifted his weight slightly, his voice softer than usual. “I just didn’t want to wake him.”
Paimon smiled, knowing she had found a crack in Xiao's tough exterior. She floated a bit closer, her tone gentle, but still inquisitive. "And why didn't you want to wake him? It'd be the easiest thing. Or... could it be that you don't mind him resting on you?"
Xiao clenched his jaw slightly at Paimon's words. She was right, of course. He could easily wake Aether, yet he hadn't. Why? He let out a soft sigh, trying to ignore the unfamiliar sensations stirring within him. The feeling of Aether's weight against him, his soft breaths, the vulnerability in his sleep. He spoke softly, the words almost reluctant.
“...I don’t know,” he admitted.
Just then, Aether yawned softly, shifting in Xiao’s arms. “Mn… Xiao…” he murmured. Xiao's gaze shifted back to Aether as he heard his name. He felt a pang of something in his chest as Aether spoke, his voice soft and drowsy. "Shh, it's alright. Go back to sleep. Just rest. I’ll be here." he whispered as he gently brushed a strand of hair out of Aether’s face.
Paimon silently watched the exchange, her heart melting a bit at the tenderness in Xiao's voice. She'd never heard him speak so gently, so... tenderly to anyone. She couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. In any other situation, she would tease Xiao relentlessly right now, but somehow, she knew that this moment was too precious, too delicate to spoil with banter. Xiao continued to sit there, allowing Aether to rest against his shoulder. He found himself enjoying this quiet moment with Aether, his vulnerability, the feeling of his weight against him, the soft, steady sound of his breathing. It was... nice.
Paimon had gradually fallen asleep as the hours wore on. Time seemed to stand still for a while, the only sounds were the soft rustling of the leaves, the quiet chirping of crickets, and the soft, even breathing of Aether. Xiao felt oddly content, as if this moment, this situation, was exactly where he was supposed to be. He glanced down at Aether's sleeping form again, his heart stirring with a strange mix of protectiveness and… something else he couldn't quite define.
Xiao's gaze shifted to Aether, still resting against his shoulder. He looked peaceful, his breathing slow and even. Xiao found himself resisting the urge to run his fingers through Aether's hair. He could feel the weight of Aether against him, the steady rise and fall of his chest. Xiao's heart felt strange, a mix of protectiveness, an inexplicable tenderness, and, strangely enough, a sense of... happiness. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in centuries, a feeling he wasn't quite sure he was allowed to feel. But here, under the soft glow of the moonlight, with Aether so close, it was hard to ignore.
Xiao sat, watching over Aether and Paimon, his thoughts a tangled mess. The quiet of the night was disrupted by the flurry of confusing emotions, unfamiliar and yet... not unpleasant. He found himself constantly glancing at Aether, making sure he was alright, comfortable, still asleep. His gaze lingered, unable to tear away from the sight of Aether's peaceful, sleepy expression. It was, admittedly, rather... cute. Xiao rested his head on Aether’s head, relishing the feeling of Aether being so close to him. The stars glimmered in the sky as if the night was made for them.
“If this is a dream… oh, Rex Lapis, I don’t want to wake up.” Xiao thought as he, too, drifted off to sleep with Aether in his arms, and a soft smile on his face.