Chapter Text
It all started one morning when Wanderer was getting ready to go to the Akademiya. He had everything prepared for his first lesson of the day. For some reason (that started with B and ended with uer), he ended up teaching some classes at the Akademiya. And although it was absolute shit and it annoyed him to hear the students' stupid questions, it was a good way to make the day go by quickly. He clearly still preferred going on missions and disappearing for a few hours from the face of the earth to write his poems where no one would ever find them, but he was finally starting to get used to this new lifestyle that the dendro archon was imposing on him.
The traveler came to visit regularly, even more than Wanderer would like. He'd stay a few days, follow him around like a lost puppy through the city, and they'd spend some quality time together. Not because he felt anything in particular for him, of course not (how the hell could that be?), but because he was so pathetic that he couldn't leave him alone for a moment without thinking he might do something stupid.
This time, however, the traveler had been running some errands in the desert and since Wanderer was busy at the Akademiya, they hadn't had many opportunities to see each other. So this time, he was hoping to reach the weekend with peace and quiet.
Or at least, that's what he thought. Until the traveler appeared out from under a rock (or from god knows where) and asked if he wanted to go to Inazuma with him and Paimon.
Wanderer was civilized and told him to fuck off before continuing calmly on his way. Or so he thought. Except that afterward he had to listen to an extensive lecture from Buer talking to him about the thousand and one reasons why going to Inazuma with the traveler and his insufferable little friend was a good idea.
So there he was, arms crossed and with the excellent mood that characterized him, watching the traveler pat his floating companion who had been vomiting over the side of the boat for a few minutes.
"Paimon will never eat oysters again... Blueeehhh..."
"They were in a bucket and had foam on them, Paimon..." the traveler commented, unable to understand how Paimon could be so stubborn.
"It was Hat Guy who told me they were free oysters."
Wanderer looked at them in silence, suppressing a smile.
Oops?
Nah, actually, he didn't feel a single gram of guilt for what he did.
He wouldn't be forced to go on a trip against his will without putting up a fight first.
"Is that true, Hat Guy?" the traveler inquired, with a raised eyebrow.
Wanderer looked away, pretending to be offended.
"Don't try to blame me for your mistakes, shrimp. You're the glutton who ate the entire bucket."
Paimon tried to complain, but clung back to the railing to keep vomiting.
"Blueeeehhh..."
✧✧✧
When they arrived at Inazuma's port, Paimon had finally stopped feeling sick, although she was still a bit dizzy. Wanderer still glanced at her with a small smile on his lips. The traveler tried to scold him, but the situation seemed to amuse him a bit too.
"Paimon!" a familiar voice called out to them.
It was Thoma, greeting them from afar with a smile.
Fantastic, another person coming to bother them.
Wanderer stood with his arms crossed, looking away while Thoma observed him with some curiosity. It wasn't surprising, after all, he was a replica of the Electro Archon. It wasn't something he could hide just by wishing it.
That's why he didn't want to come here in the first place.
He hadn't set foot in this place since he obtained the electro gnosis. It didn't bring him very good memories.
"Thoma!" Paimon perked up immediately. "Long time no see!"
"I heard you'd arrived and wanted to come say hello. What brings you here?"
"A commission," Aether answered. "But Paimon's not feeling very well yet..."
Thoma tilted his head, somewhat concerned.
"Oh no, what happened?"
"She ate oysters with foam," Wanderer said with complete seriousness.
Thoma blinked several times, trying not to laugh.
"I see... that must have been... unpleasant."
"Very unpleasant!" Paimon complained. "Paimon spent two horrible days on that boat. Two days!"
"Well... I was just going to make a special soup today. It's excellent for stomach upset. Why don't you come with me, Paimon? You can rest at the Kamisato estate while they take care of the commission."
Paimon's eyes began to sparkle.
"Soup? From Thoma? Of course Paimon accepts!"
"But—"
"Traveler! Paimon will be fine. Go do your job. Besides, Thoma makes the best food. Much better than being locked up in a boring inn!"
"But if you need anything, or feel worse, or—"
"I'll take good care of her," he promised, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You can go without worry. Besides, Miss Ayaka mentioned she wanted to hear about your travels, Paimon. I'm sure she'd love to have you visit."
"Ayaka will be there too?" she asked excitedly. "Then Paimon's definitely going! She can tell her about all the incredible places we've visited!"
"Perfect. Follow me then."
Paimon turned to Aether.
"Don't worry so much, traveler. Paimon is strong. She just needs good food and rest. Go complete the commission and have some fun!"
And with that, she happily left with Thoma, already chattering about all their recent adventures.
Aether stood there, watching her walk away, somewhere between worried and lost.
"Wow. I never thought I'd see the day when the hero of Teyvat would make a face like an abandoned puppy," Wanderer commented, amused.
Aether sighed and dropped his shoulders before looking at him with an amused smile.
"You're a bastard."
Wanderer smiled smugly before starting to walk.
"Come on. You said the commission was related to the festival, right? The sooner we finish it, the sooner you can go back to bothering your pet."
"Paimon's not my pet," he protested, catching up to him.
"Whatever you say, traveler."
✧✧✧
The adventurers' guild commission was related to the famous Tanabata Matsuri festival, known as the Star Festival, a very famous celebration among couples and newlyweds.
Wanderer knew it quite well, since that was the first festival he attended with Raiden Ei when he was still just Kunikuzushi, something more than just the discarded puppet. He still perfectly remembered the wedding that took place that day and how deeply moved he was after hearing the couple reading their vows. And also, he remembered the first look of disappointment he received from his mother when she saw the tears of emotion gathered in his eyes.
And then, he was discarded for feeling too much.
Heh. It was ironic that it was precisely this type of festival. It could have been any other, any other type of situation, but... fate had a rather particular sense of humor. Who would have imagined he'd return to Inazuma for a wedding festival after having erased his existence from the world?
He could have left, of course. It wasn't his problem to help the traveler with whatever he needed to do, but...
He looked at the shameless blond talking to Katherine, much more focused and serious than he really should be in an environment like this.
Idiot.
He clearly needed to be distracted. Why was he wasting time doing missions for others, if he didn't even take the time he needed to rest for a day from his long journey?
If he left him alone, wouldn't he just go around doing stupid things for stupid people who didn't know how to do anything for themselves until death, like he always did?
Hmpf. He had no choice, right? Someone had to follow him to prevent him from doing something stupid.
On this occasion, they had to help Misato, the owner of a famous bridal kimono shop. The commission wasn't specified, but the traveler seemed very enthusiastic about it, so he ended up accepting the mission despite not knowing all the details.
The streets were adorned with red and gold cloth ribbons hanging from one post to another. They could also see paper lanterns of different colors projecting light onto the cobblestone paths. On each side of the streets there were vendors with stalls where they hung pastel-colored tanzaku, strips of paper where people wrote their wishes.
There were many familiar (and somewhat irritating) smells around them. Sandalwood incense, the sweet aroma of freshly made taiyaki... Aromas he hadn't perceived in hundreds of years, but remembered perfectly well, as if time hadn't passed at all. And of course it hadn't. A few years ago this place was nothing more than a playground designed by a woman too scared of her own mortality.
But who was he to judge, right?
He continued observing his surroundings as he walked alongside the traveler.
In the background, a white stage decorated with different types of flowers could also be seen, where wedding ceremonies would probably take place.
Aether stood still for a moment, looking at the large number of couples dressed in traditional attire and lowered his gaze for a moment, perhaps thinking about how much his noisy companion would have liked this type of atmosphere. Sometimes he was ridiculously transparent. And very exasperating.
He didn't know if he wanted to strangle him or throw a few tomatoes at him so he'd stop looking like a sad idiot.
"Are you still feeling guilty?"
He nodded.
"...A little."
Yeah, he figured. This idiot was used to carrying everything as if it were his fault.
"She's not going anywhere. Not while Thoma's making her food."
The traveler smiled sadly.
"I know, it's just... well, Paimon's been with me since I woke up. It's weird being without her."
Wanderer glanced at him.
"Well, get used to it for a few hours," he said, sounding much more understanding than he would have liked. "She's not going to disappear just because you're not watching her."
Aether raised his eyebrows, quite surprised.
"I guess you're right."
"Of course I'm right," he boasted, crossing his arms. "Besides, it's her fault for eating garbage."
"You told her they were free oysters!"
"And she was stupid enough to believe me. It's not my fault she's so gullible."
"I hate you."
Wanderer smiled sideways.
"I'll remind you of that when you tell me you love me."
Aether's cheeks flushed.
"Agh, damn it! I can't deal with this..."
The traveler quickened his pace and Wanderer followed him with an amused smile for the rest of the way.
✧✧✧
If he could write a poem right now, he'd probably write something like this:
Golden eyes,
autumn leaves in the wind.
Is it your eyes watching me,
or is it me, unable to stop seeing myself reflected in them?
Perhaps because seeing Aether provoked more things in him than he was capable of rationalizing at that moment. Or maybe because spending time by his side kept gradually diminishing what was left of his IQ.
The truth was he was two seconds away from doing something stupid, like burning down the shop and jumping off some cliff so he wouldn't have to deal with this.
But... why?
Well, they arrived at the wedding kimono shop without any problem. Wanderer walked around the place, looking at the luxurious kimonos (whose prices would surely gouge out the traveler and his companion's eyes) while Aether talked to the cheerful woman in charge.
The commission was simple. The woman needed a young model of average height who could stay still for an hour while she tried different fabrics and took measurements. Which was fine, because it wasn't the craziest thing they'd seen before, but... The problem arose when the woman looked closely at Wanderer before smiling as if she'd had the idea of her life. And that's when the situation went slightly south, not to say it went completely to hell.
"How would you like to try on the bridal kimonos and advertise the shop? A couple as beautiful as you would be perfect."
"What...?" he asked, not sure if he'd heard correctly.
"We'd love to help!" the traveler interrupted with that radiant smile.
"No...!" he tried to say, but the traveler came over to cover his mouth.
"Come on, Murasame..." Wanderer frowned at hearing him say his name. "It'll be fun."
They were fucking with him, right?
✧✧✧
Well, it turns out that indeed, Aether allowed them to be used as poor-quality mannequins to model like two idiots a ridiculously expensive bridal ensemble that would land them in jail if it got ruined. (Or if they stared too much at the traveler).
The problem was that the woman was insistent that Wanderer wear the shiromuku, meaning, that he take on the role of the bride. And he clearly wasn't willing to wear a white kimono for anything in the world.
"I'm not putting this on," he protested, frowning.
Aether gave him an understanding smile, as if he knew more than he was really telling him.
Hmpf. Idiot.
"How about you wear the black one this time? I can be the bride."
He expected to hear many things that day. Except that.
Yes. Aether had ridiculously long hair and wore a braid, and yes, he was ridiculously kind, liked sweets and tried to help everyone. He was a walking stereotype, but Wanderer had observed him in detail and knew him well enough to know there was nothing remotely feminine about him aside from that. Even so... he'd be lying if he said he didn't have some expectations.
He'd be lying if he didn't say he was dying to see him in the bridal kimono. Though he'd die before admitting it first.
No one could find out about this, ever. Or he'd take them with him to the other side.
That's how Wanderer was dragged by the woman behind a screen to change. When he came out, he wore a black hakama with details of purple flowers embroidered on the shoulders and sleeves. The obi was a dark gray that contrasted with the rest of the ensemble. They had styled his hair more carefully than usual and applied subtle makeup that accentuated his already delicate features.
He felt ridiculous. At least, until he saw the traveler come out from behind the other screen.
Aether wore a traditional shiromuku decorated with red and gold flowers, and with a red obi with gold details at the waist. Over his hair was a translucent veil called tsunokakushi that had been partially gathered with ornamental combs.
They had applied pale pink makeup to his cheeks and lined his eyes with red, and he smiled shyly, as if he were embarrassed about this situation.
Naturally, Wanderer froze in place, looking at him without knowing how to breathe.
"Do I look really ridiculous?"
He didn't know what to say. He just looked at him with wide eyes and a slight blush on his cheeks.
"You look lovely, traveler!" the woman hurried around him, taking photographs with a kamera. "If this doesn't attract customers, then nothing will."
Aether approached him then, not hiding that he was looking him up and down, and slid his fingers over Wanderer's pink cheek.
"You look beautiful," the traveler murmured, with bright eyes.
Agh, damn it.
"I look ridiculous," he commented, looking away.
Aether moved a little closer, until his forehead was pressed against his. Wanderer unconsciously placed his hands on the traveler's hips, but wasn't able to meet his gaze.
"Not at all," he whispered. "You have no idea what you make me feel dressed like this."
Yes, he could imagine. The traveler could be ridiculously transparent with what he felt. That's why he didn't want to look at him. He was afraid of what he might find when he did.
Aether caressed his cheek a little more before pulling away slightly. Then, he spun in place, slow enough to blatantly look him up and down, and gave him a mischievous smile.
Holy fuck.
"Do you like it?"
Oh, damn it.
He wanted to take him in his arms and fly him away, where no one but him could see him. Maybe even run from the police when the woman reported them for stealing the bridal ensemble.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
He hated everything. He hated himself for having this kind of feelings and he hated that Aether seemed to know perfectly well the kind of effect his mere existence had on him.
How was it possible that he couldn't stop looking at him? How was it possible that this bastard stole all his thoughts just by existing?
"I'm glad you like it," Aether said, moving a little closer. "We could get married for real if you propose to me right now."
The woman in charge laughed, completely delighted.
"You're an adorable couple!" she commented, clasping her hands together. "How long have you been together? Are you planning to unite your lives today?"
Wanderer opened his mouth, but Aether beat him to it.
"We're still getting to know each other," he explained with a smile. "We've spent a lot of time together, but we prefer to take it slow."
She nodded several times, understanding.
"How wise. True love is in no hurry," she took Aether's hands in hers. "Can I ask you a huge favor? Could you wear these outfits during the festival? I'm sure if someone as beautiful as you is seen in this clothing, we'll attract many more customers!"
Wanderer's soul left his body for a moment.
Walk through the festival with Aether dressed like this...?
No. Absolutely not.
Or he'd end up throwing himself off the first cliff he saw. Or killing someone if they dared to look at them too much.
Whichever came first. He didn't care anymore.
"Of course," the traveler responded without hesitation. "We'd love to help."
We'd love to, he said. As if Wanderer had any say in this.
✧✧✧
Wanderer wanted to die. Literally.
They'd only been walking through the festival streets for a few minutes, long minutes walking with the "beautiful bride" hanging on his arm, as if they hadn't been about to fall minutes earlier when Aether's feet got tangled in his kimono.
The traveler seemed to be having fun, and stayed clinging to his arm as if he knew that otherwise, Wanderer would run away. He, on the other hand, glanced at him from the corner of his eye from time to time, never ceasing to be surprised by how much he liked seeing his face with a little makeup.
It wasn't exaggerated at all. It just emphasized his features. It made him look... beautiful. Ethereal, almost.
If all those people staring at them knew that beneath those beautiful kimono fabrics there wasn't a slender, delicate boy, but a wiry, scarred warrior... would they be disappointed? Better if they were. That way he had it all to himself.
Wanderer's eyes flew open and he bit the inside of his cheek.
I want to take you far away,
where only your eyes meet mine.
I want to hold your hand,
and pretend it's not the best gift you've given me.
I want you to touch me,
because that's all I need to exist by your side.
No. What the fuck. Had he just thought that? It wasn't possible. He was going crazy... at this rate he was going to end up losing his mind and killing them all and pretending he'd never experienced anything like this.
Maybe...
"I'm sorry," the traveler murmured, gently squeezing his arm, pulling him from his thoughts. "I know you don't like attracting attention this way."
It wasn't as if it really mattered, because he forgot all the eyes fixed on both of them from the moment Aether linked arms with him.
It was ridiculous, wasn't it? In other times he would have completely hated the idea of exposing himself to the eyes of the simians. He would have fled before the traveler could drag him... and now... He didn't even seem to care about the insane amount of people looking at them with open eyes and amazed expressions. The sound of the music or the noise all those people made didn't bother him either. It was as if there were only the two of them inside a bubble that no one else could break. One he didn't want to undo for anything in the world.
Just you and me, floating together in a sea of stars. As if nothing and no one could hurt us.
Would Aether feel that way too?
"I'm fine. I don't mind," he confessed, before realizing he'd said it.
Aether looked at him with those huge golden eyes, slightly surprised, before smiling.
Wanderer narrowed his eyes, feeling something uncomfortable in the pit of his stomach, but decided to ignore it.
"So," the traveler said in a playful tone, "what do you think? Should this be our first official date?"
"Date?" Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "Who said this is a date?"
"We're dressed as newlyweds, walking together through a wedding festival, arm in arm," Aether enumerated. "If this isn't a date, I don't know what is."
"It's a commission."
"It can be both things."
Wanderer frowned and looked away, with slightly red cheeks.
"You're insufferable."
"But that's how you like me, so you have to deal with it."
Yes, damn it. There was no way to deny it.
"Come on, let's try to enjoy our 'non-date.' We might not get a chance to repeat it."
He said nothing more. He just let himself be dragged by that stupid enthusiast toward the first place that caught his attention.
✧✧✧
Aether had a ridiculous talent for any kind of game. No matter which one they approached, he always ended up winning the best prize, which, naturally, made them a particularly attractive couple to the rest of those present, not only because of how they looked, but because apart from competing like idiots at every game they passed, it was the groom (and not the bride) who ended up with a giant pile of prizes and plushies in his arm.
They had passed about ten game stalls when Wanderer got fed up with his bad luck and decided to challenge Aether to a game he knew he'd have the advantage in.
It wasn't as if he was actually losing, but the two idiots were so goddamn competitive that being 8-9 felt like they were trampling on his pride. Not to mention that Aether always won the biggest prize even when the puppet was the one who won the round.
Because Wanderer would never, absolutely never, be defeated by that two-bit traveler.
You challenge me,
the same way I challenge you.
You provoke me,
the same way I provoke you.
But what you don't know is that no matter what you do,
no matter how much I boast,
I end up falling completely at the mercy of your smile.
"What did you say it was called?" the "bride" asked, looking curiously at the rifle in Wanderer's hands. He was holding Wanderer's large pile of gifts with amusement.
"Shateki," he answered, settling the rifle on his shoulder to aim at the target.
Basically they were at a cork rifle shooting game. Wanderer chose this one because he knew Aether had no experience with this kind of game or with firearms, and because the targets weren't fixed like in other games, like ring toss, but moved so fast it was hard to focus on them if you didn't have a well-trained eye.
Wanderer took a deep breath and concentrated. He had ten shots, and eleven targets, he had to do it right. He made a gesture and then the stall owner activated the targets (which looked like ridiculous oni) and they began to move in different patterns. He pulled the trigger once, knocking down two oni at once. Aether looked at him in amazement, and moved a little closer to see better.
He loaded the second cork pellet and aimed again. He knocked down the third, the fourth, the seventh. And then a bonus appeared, the biggest, most bizarre oni protecting the others to prevent him from knocking them all down. One pellet wasn't enough to make it fall, so Wanderer fired what he had left aiming at strategic spots to weaken it until he finally made it fall, and with it, the rest of the remaining targets fell.
"Woahhh, that was incredible, Wanderer," Aether exclaimed, very surprised.
A small crowd had gathered to watch them play (the same one full of idiots who had been following them since they almost stabbed each other in the second game) and they applauded, very surprised by his technique.
And of course they were. Wanderer was an expert at this type of game. Perhaps because in his days as Scaramouche he enjoyed shooting at targets he tied to subordinates who pissed him off. But no one needed to know that.
"Your turn, traveler," he replied, with a smug smile. "I hope you don't disappoint me."
"All right," he set the pile of plushies and prizes aside and took the rifle, rolling up the kimono. "But you'll have to help me, I've never used this type of weapon before."
He sighed.
Fine. He'd help him so he wouldn't make excuses about losing because he didn't know how to do it right.
Wanderer positioned himself behind Aether, helping him fit the rifle on his shoulder. He pressed a little against his back and brought his lips close to his ear to give him better instructions.
"Your eye should be on the sight," he explained. "But don't aim directly at the target, you need to go a little higher. Otherwise, the cork will fall before it manages to hit the target."
Aether didn't react.
"Hey, are you listening?"
He then noticed the traveler's red ears and the stupid smile on his face, as well as the whispers from the spectators behind them.
What the hell?
"This is pretty sexy," the traveler replied, amused.
Sexy? What the hell was he...?
Ah.
He noticed the position they were in. Wanderer dangerously pressed against Aether's back... no, against Aether's body in general while he positioned his hands to teach him how to shoot. They were so close he could even feel the traveler's heartbeat against his chest.
When did he get so close to him?
"We could skip the wedding and go straight to the honeymoon," he joked. "We'll apologize to Mrs. Misato later."
Wanderer's face turned completely red and he quickly pulled away. The small crowd started to laugh.
How the hell did he dare to insinuate such a thing...?!
"I'm going to kill you."
"Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart."
Fuck.
Couldn't this idiot stop being insufferable for just one moment?
Aether positioned himself properly, with an even more stupid smile on his face and with a confidence that made him reconsider even having thought about helping him. Then, the vendor activated the targets.
He missed the first shot, since he did exactly what Wanderer told him not to do, aim directly at the target. But by the second, he seemed to have ten years of shooting experience. Damn it, why did he have to be so stupidly talented at everything? He wanted to shove his head in the mud and leave it there for a while, until he erased that pathetic smile. Surely that would achieve what he wanted, but it would give Aether excuses to declare that he wasn't capable of winning without cheating.
He fired the fourth and knocked down three at once. By the time the ridiculous oni appeared, he had enough shots left to knock it down and Wanderer started seriously thinking about destroying the game. Except that, of course, the traveler sneezed without being able to help it just as he was about to make the last shot. And that was fucking marvelous, because it meant Wanderer had won.
"What a shame, traveler. And I was starting to believe you had talent," he mocked, while the vendor handed him a black cat. One suspiciously similar to him.
Aether looked at the plushie, completely ignoring the provocation and held it up high to compare its face with the "groom's," genuinely surprised.
"Oh. I think losing was completely worth it," he commented, completely ecstatic. "It's just like you."
Nononono. Why did he look so happy, if he had just lost? They were 9-9, he should want to crush him in the next game. Why did he seem to enjoy it more than when he won?
"Don't be an asshole. It's a fucking stuffed cat."
"I couldn't tell which of you two is the real one," he kept teasing, alternating his gaze between the two.
What the hell was this idiot talking about?
"Haa? Are you fucking with me? Do you want me to hit you?"
Aether smiled sideways.
"You shouldn't offer to hit your future wife," an elderly woman from the audience scolded him, looking at her with disapproval.
Ugh. Just what he needed, an accusation of domestic violence.
"Don't worry about me, ma'am. I know how to defend myself perfectly well from this grumpy cat," he commented, raising his arm with a fist in the air, and placing his other hand on his biceps.
✧✧✧
They gave away the rest of the prizes to the children and some of the couples walking through the festival, because it was no use carrying such a huge amount of junk in their arms. Aether only wanted to keep the black cat plushie and Wanderer kept a small yellow bird plushie with the excuse that it looked as stupid as the traveler. They continued through the festival, this time away from the games, before they ended up gouging someone's eye out, and stayed focused on promoting the kimono shop.
This time, Aether couldn't take his eyes off a small temple, where there were couples gathered writing things on colored strips of paper.
Ah, that. Yes, it seemed like something that would catch his attention.
"What are they doing, Wanderer?" he asked, gripping his arm a little tighter.
"Tanzaku."
"Tan-zoo-koo?"
He shook his head.
"Tan-zah-koo," he corrected. "People write their wishes on those colored papers at the Tanabata festival."
Aether looked at him curiously.
"Oh, you know a lot about this."
Of course he did. This festival was something he could never forget, no matter how much he wanted to.
"I was born here, remember?" he questioned, as if it were obvious.
The traveler smiled sadly.
"I could never forget it," he murmured.
The past returns,
no matter how many times,
I try to chase it away.
Her violet eyes still haunt me,
and her rejection still burns,
though she doesn't remember me,
though to her I no longer exist.
It may never stop hurting completely.
"Let's write something," he proposed, with bright eyes.
Wanderer looked at him from the corner of his eye, thinking about rejecting him and taking him somewhere else, telling him it was something stupid and pointless, because there was nothing to ensure their wishes would be fulfilled, but... Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all.
"Fine. But if you write something stupid, I'm leaving."
"Deal," he agreed, amused.
They bought two strips of paper, one pastel blue and one pale yellow. Aether took the blue one without asking and went to write off to the side, where Wanderer couldn't spy on him. The puppet stared at his paper for a few seconds, with the brush suspended halfway.
This was the second time he was filling one out. The first time was in his mother's company, when he was still just a puppet who wanted to be loved. Yae had handed him a purple tanzaku, and winked at him.
Write a secret wish. Something you don't want anyone else to know, she said back then.
Kunikuzushi had written something simple with red cheeks and ugly trembling strokes.
I wish that mother lives a long and full life, filled with happiness.
Wanderer pressed his lips together.
Naive, wasn't he? His first wishes were always for her. To be loved, to see her happy, to be by her side for the rest of his life... Because that was a son's joy, wasn't it? He was sure there was no one who didn't want to be loved by their parents, sure there was no one who didn't want to become a source of pride for them.
But... There were impossible wishes, things that not even the gods could fulfill. And he didn't blame Kunikuzushi for being naive. He could never blame him for wishing for something more than the indifference of the goddess who should have loved him. Perhaps, because denying himself, because hating that clumsy and broken version of himself only made the memories hurt more than they should.
But... That was part of the past. He was no longer Scaramouche, the one who wanted to become a God, nor Kunikuzushi, the one who only wanted to be loved by Raiden Ei. Now he was just him. Wanderer, Hat Guy, whatever ridiculous name they wanted to call him by.
Now, he was only autumn rain.
Murasame, the name you gave me.
He took the brush, thinking of a wish. Not something stupid that couldn't be fulfilled, but something he could fulfill with his own hands. Or perhaps, something someone else could do for him. Not the Gods, nor some stranger who dared to read his wish. Perhaps, someone like Aether.
Here I am, once more,
memories weigh heavy,
but no longer cause me pain.
Maybe because this time,
I'm not alone.
I'm here, with you.
He looked at the paper with a crooked smile.
Tell me,
this time, just this time,
can I ask for you to be the one who stays by my side?
"Five hundred years, and this is the first time you ask for something sincere for yourself," he murmured, amused.
Yae Miko would laugh if she could read it. Maybe she'd even say something like "fufu, you took too long, don't you think, little Kuni?"
And he'd have to completely agree with her. He had to go through so much shit just to get to this point. Just to be able to stand at the point where his misfortunes began and let go of the greatest weight from his heart. Just to be able to look with different eyes at the person who made him want to live in this fucked up world a little longer.
You're so stupid, Murasame.
And yet...
Click.
Wanderer blinked for a moment, looking incredulously at the traveler, who was holding the kamera with a knowing expression on his face.
"Oh."
"Oh? That's all you're going to say, idiot?" he questioned. "What the hell did you just do?"
His cheeks filled with blush for a moment.
"You look so beautiful writing, so I couldn't help it."
He looked at him with wide blue eyes.
"That's your excuse?"
The "bride" shrugged.
"I'm sorry, but you look so sexy like that. I love watching you write."
Using that term again? No, wait...
"I love watching you write"? Does that mean he'd lie down next to him when he escaped from society just because he found it sexy to watch him write?
No fucking way. That couldn't be the only reason, right?
Wanderer set the brush aside and ran his hand over his face.
Damn it.
"Why do I keep wasting my time with you?"
"Because you love me. A lot."
He sighed. It was always the same with him.
"So? Did you write something?" he changed the subject, before he ended up going completely crazy.
Aether nodded several times, handing him the paper. It was written in a language he couldn't read, probably his native language. Good, because Wanderer also wrote his in a language that nosy bastard couldn't read.
"What do we do with them now? Burn them?"
"Don't be an asshole," he scolded. "We have to tie them to the trees."
"Oh."
He rolled his eyes.
They spent the next half hour looking for the right place to hang their wishes, until Aether decided on some ridiculously high branches they couldn't reach under normal conditions. Wanderer thought about activating his vision and flying to tie them, but he grabbed his wrist and refused, very seriously.
"You'll ruin the clothes," he reminded him.
Yes, damn it. He'd forgotten about that. And these kimonos were so ridiculously expensive they'd end up being slaves for the rest of their lives to pay for them.
"I'll lift you up so you can tie them."
"Fuck off. This is just another one of your stupid excuses to touch me."
Aether crossed his arms, pretending to be indignant.
"How can you think so badly of me?" he protested. "I would never do something like that!"
Yeah, right. As if he didn't know him well.
"Shut up. I'll lift you up, so you won't touch anything weird, bastard."
Aether puffed out a cheek and pouted, still a bit annoyed.
"But we can burn the papers if you still insist."
"I'll do it! I'll do it!" he exclaimed. "Don't burn them!"
So there they were, with Wanderer with the bride sitting on his shoulder, well secured, with the beautiful bridal kimono (still impeccable, by some miracle) while he stretched to tie the papers on the branch he wanted.
Aether frowned, ridiculously concentrated. And let out a sigh of relief when he finally finished tying it.
"Done, you can put me down!"
He returned him to the ground carefully and kept his hands on his hips for a moment before letting go completely.
"Good job, Murasame! We're a great team."
Wanderer looked away.
"Hmpf. Don't say stupid things."
✧✧✧
The next stop wasn't in either of their plans. Or maybe it was from the beginning, only Wanderer hadn't considered it.
They were walking through the rest of the festival when the aroma of the different food stalls distributed further on reached them. Aether frowned, just as his stomach started to growl and he rubbed his stomach.
"I'm hungry," he complained.
"I noticed."
"What can I eat without ruining the kimono?"
"Just water."
"Don't be a bastard."
Wanderer smiled sideways.
"Come on, I'll take you to eat something you'll like."
So there they were, again, with Aether dangerously close watching as the cook poured the octopus batter mixture into the hot metal molds.
"I've never had takoyaki," he commented, too interested for his own good.
"Oh, is this your first time, miss?"
Aether didn't bother to correct the misunderstanding. Of course not. The bastard was enjoying this too much.
"Yes, I'm not very familiar with Inazuma food."
Probably because the last time he was here, he was a fugitive, right, traveler?
"Then the first order is on me, as a wedding gift."
"We're not marri—" he tried to correct.
"Thank you so much!" Aether interrupted, with a huge smile. "My fiancé is very lucky, don't you think?"
Wanderer glared at him, but didn't try to say anything more. There was no way to win against him now, right?
They ended up with two portions of takoyaki (although Wanderer didn't plan to eat anything) and settled on a viewpoint up high to eat. Aether speared the first fried ball with bright eyes and brought it to his lips, without blowing on it first.
"Wait for it to cool down or you'll burn yourself, idiot."
Aether ignored him and put the takoyaki in his mouth anyway.
"Oww..."
Wanderer handed him a napkin and wiped his mouth.
"I told you, didn't I? You're a disaster."
Surely all his admirers would be disappointed if they saw their all-powerful and confident traveler like this, drinking water after burning his tongue on a hot takoyaki ball.
Wanderer wasn't sure what it was that attracted him to this disaster in the first place. Maybe he was just high on drugs when he looked at him. Yeah, that was probably it, right?
Aether set the takoyaki aside while waiting for it to cool and shamelessly rested his forehead on Wanderer's shoulder. He just sighed, without the strength to push him away this time.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just want to rest a bit."
"Wow. I didn't imagine that just this would be enough to exhaust the all-powerful traveler."
Aether laughed softly.
"It's the first time I've had a date with someone I like so much."
Wanderer looked away, feeling the blush rising to his cheeks.
"It's not a date," he corrected. "But... it's also my first time."
The blond narrowed his eyes.
"It shows. You're terrible at being chivalrous," he complained. "I'll be the groom next time."
"You're very confident in yourself, bastard," he challenged him, with a sarcastic smile. "What makes you think there'll be a second time?"
The blond searched for his hand, and slid his fingers between his.
"Because you're having so much fun," he explained, playing with his fingers. "I've never heard you laugh and curse so much."
"You're hallucinating."
But yes, as much as he wanted to deny it, yes, he had fun. A lot. Maybe too much. Should he do something bad to balance it out?
No, it would probably ruin the kimonos. He didn't want to spend more time than necessary wearing this.
"I don't think so. Unless you put something in my cotton candy when we started."
Wanderer smiled sideways.
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Who knows."
Aether lifted slightly from his shoulder, and brushed his cheek with his nose, with half-closed eyes and red cheeks.
"Hey, Murasame..."
"What...?"
Aether moved quickly, cornering Wanderer with his back against the viewpoint.
"Can I kiss you? I'm dying to do it."
The puppet looked away, with redder cheeks.
It wasn't the first time they'd kissed. They did it from time to time, when he and the traveler met in Sumeru. It wasn't something that happened all the time, not because they didn't like doing it, but because sometimes it wasn't necessary to be intimate that way. And also because Wanderer didn't know how to continue existing after they kissed, so the traveler was careful. Probably because he could have somewhat intense reactions if he didn't warn him he was going to do it.
"You shouldn't ask me that."
"So can I just do it? I'm sure you'd hit me if I don't ask."
He'd hit him anyway if he dared to try. But... what did it matter?
Wanderer exhaled softly.
"Do what you want."
Aether smiled sideways, and brought his hand to his cheek, sliding his thumb gently.
"Are you sure?"
"Do it before I regret not hitting you."
Wanderer closed his eyes then and waited. Perhaps because he couldn't stand the intense gaze Aether gave him every time they tried to kiss. Or maybe because he didn't want the traveler to notice the anticipation reflected in his own blue eyes.
He didn't want him to know how much he wanted this.
His hands trembled when the traveler moved closer to him, and he forced himself to hold his breath. He wanted this. This time yes, he was ready to accept it.
The blond's thumb slid across his cheek. Wanderer trembled slightly.
Aether was close, so fucking close... and when their lips were about to touch…
“Aether…”
Crack.
The wooden railing of the viewpoint gave way under their combined weight, and they ended up falling down the hill, straight into a stream.
✧✧✧
The first reaction from both was to look at each other with wide eyes.
"The kimonos..."
Aether had his kimono soaked with water and mud. Wanderer wasn't in better shape, but at least his was black so it wasn't completely ruined. Even so, they fucked up. The owner was going to kill them, or worse, have them working like dogs for the rest of their lives.
"Shit, we're screwed," he muttered, unable to shake off his shock.
It was supposed to be a harmless outing. Why did this kind of thing always happen when they were together?
Couldn't they spend an hour in peace without something stupid happening?
"Pfff..." Aether covered his lips, trying to contain his laughter. Wanderer looked at him, not knowing what to do, before starting to laugh too.
How is it possible that everything is more fun when you're by my side?
How should I feel, when you look at me with those bright eyes, and that beautiful smile?
As if this, right here, is the place you want to be.
"Fuck it all," was all Aether said, before pushing himself up and pinning him against the stream bank.
"Hey...! What the hell do you think you're...?!"
His lips landed on the puppet's before he could understand what was happening. Wanderer tensed, completely surprised and stretched out his arms, not knowing what to do with them, before clinging to the shoulders of the traveler's wet kimono.
Aether then deepened the kiss, taking advantage of his confusion and settled better on his body, so that there was no space left between them.
"I love you, Murasame," he whispered, pulling away slightly.
Wanderer closed his eyes and buried his fingers in the traveler's hair, pulling him to kiss him again.
The stars shine above our heads,
the universe watches us,
but I can only see you.
✧✧✧
They returned to the shop completely soaked and covered in mud. Some people looked at them horrified, as if they'd been assaulted by oni in the forest and were only seeing their corpses.
Aether held his hand and guided him through the crowds, because his mind was in short-circuit mode and the speed of his thoughts had decreased after making out for almost an hour in the stream. He wouldn't be surprised to discover his brain had melted after all that. And being honest, he barely cared anymore. He just wanted to go back, put on his usual clothes and hide his head in a hole. Or simply get to a private place and write in his notebook all the poems that had formed in his head during the day.
If I had a heart, I'm sure it would beat so fast when we're together.
Because... there's no one who makes me feel a fraction of what you make me feel.
Even so, I don't plan to lose to you.
The woman, Misato, saw them arrive with wide eyes, before starting to laugh too. Not only were they a disaster, but they looked like two children who knew they were going to be scolded for being naughty. And as if that weren't enough... Wanderer had his face covered in pink lipstick, with kiss marks that couldn't be hidden no matter how hard he tried.
"Did you have fun?" she asked.
They both looked at each other in silence, not quite knowing what to say.
Yes, they had fun, a lot. Despite knowing that now they'd have to pay a fortune for the beautiful bridal kimonos they'd just ruined.
"We're so sorry, Mrs. Misato," the traveler said first, embarrassed.
"Oh, you mean the kimonos? Don't worry. These are cheap. They're the samples that customers try on."
What?
"You didn't think I'd let you go to the festival in such expensive fabric, right?"
Aether let out a long sigh of relief. And Wanderer ran a hand over his face, stressed.
Of course not, right?
It would have been very stupid to trust something so expensive to two complete strangers, so that just meant they'd wasted all these hours of their lives worrying about something so insignificant.
"Come on, I'll take a photo for you to remember the festival."
Aether pulled him to pose, and Wanderer could only look at the camera with a sour face.
✧✧✧
The evening ended with them in their original outfits, with filthy hair and Wanderer still with his face full of pink lipstick kisses.
"Thank you so much for everything! I hope to see you again next year!" was the last thing Misato said to them, waving her hand, after handing them the agreed payment.
They returned to the Kamisato estate to pick up Paimon, holding hands. The traveler had a stupid, satisfied smile on his lips. Wanderer, on the other hand, had his brow furrowed and his fingers tense over the blond's.
He wanted to kill himself. Or kill someone. Whichever came first.
"I'm never going out anywhere with you again," he said, crossing his arms.
But Aether couldn't respond, because Paimon appeared flying, with a giant bowl in her hands, followed by Thoma and Ayaka, who looked at them with wide eyes.
"AHH, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" Paimon questioned, unable to believe what she was seeing.
"Traveler, are you okay?" Thoma asked, holding back a laugh.
Ayaka covered her mouth with both hands, with slightly flushed cheeks upon noticing the kiss marks on Wanderer's face and neck.
Clearly no, they weren't okay.
"Don't ask," he answered, crossing his arms.
Aether smiled sideways.
"We had a date at the festival," he confessed, amused.
"What kind of date ends with you two beaten up and covered in mud?!" she asked, horrified. "What's that on Wanderer's face? Lipstick?!"
Thoma coughed to hide his laughter. Ayaka looked at them, smiling tenderly.
"It seems it was a... memorable date," she commented, amused.
"That's it. I'm leaving," he said, unable to tolerate another minute.
He wouldn't tolerate another humiliation.
"Ah! Wanderer, don't go!"
He ignored his shouts and went into the forest with red cheeks, trying to suppress a smile.
It was a horrible non-date. Probably the worst they'd have. But... He wouldn't change a single thing about this. Not one.
I returned to the place where it all began,
where I was abandoned,
where I understood that my wish would never come true.
But…
This time, I didn't ask for an impossible wish.
Because you, you meddling idiot, just made it come true.
But he'd never know any of this, of course. Because he'd rather kill him than confess something so embarrassing. Otherwise, he wouldn't be himself, right?