Chapter Text
Lumine, the star known for being skilled in the battlefield, is adored by all who fight and those Who search for righteous justice in all land, warriors like herself will know her. She doesn’t mind humans at all but she also doesn’t hold much affection for them other than her followers and children since they are the future. Truly one of Celestia's pride and joy.
Beauty comes in different ways, shapes and shades. Aether surely is not the typical beauty someone would find anywhere but so out of this world- the universe. His love and adoration is greater than any one who claims to be devoted to Celestia, perhaps it is because they gave him the power he holds or maybe his greed has started to take over but either way there is one thing he loathes the most and that is humans. Loath is a strong word but how else could he explain the amount of disgust he feels every time a weakling shows up in front of him asking for help on such mundane matters such as money or getting rid of someone? Only fools ask for such a thing from a holy star as himself. Under the gaze and supervision of the Celestial Gods and Goddesses he acts as if he loves humans but behind doors only Lumine knows the real Aether.
“I already told you to stop acting like this Aether, if they find out who knows what they’ll do to you” Lumine sighs, worried about the future her brother was laying down for himself. She walks towards the balcony where Aether stands, the little armor she has on clinks softly with each step until she stops by his side.
“Oh please I’m an outstanding actor, I don’t need your lectures right now” he softly mumbles under his breath, wiping his hand with a handkerchief. Trying to get the nasty smell of humans out of his skin, how touchy they can become in the presence of a star is utterly ridiculous. “How can you even let them touch you like that?- ugh I need a bath”
Lumine stares at her brother for a couple seconds before rolling her eyes away from the painful sight, sadly he’d always been like this even before being a permanent star, though she understands why he acts like this she can’t help but want to knock some sense into him everyday.
“I can’t see this scene any longer” she turned around to leave only to stop when she was in front of the door “we have to go to Teyvat next week as well and they will be watching. Dear brother, please be on your best behavior” with that she left.
Aether stayed silent, thinking of nothing but how he would make it through a whole day with dirty, weak mortals. It doesn't matter now because all he wanted to do right now was to take a bath- a long one to get the stench off. In the water full of bubbles and pink rose petals he thinks back to the day, his mind going back to a specific moment that happened out of Lumine’s sight.
Feeling overstimulated from the crowd and noise Aether went to go for a walk in the forest of Sumeru, he’d been here all morning to interact with humans as an order from Celestia ,it was a way to stay connected between both realms, to receive offers and to bring smiles. Aether wasn't as good as Lumine- who could mask how tired she was with a simple smile, the only way to get his mind clear was to have alone time.
A little further away from the city he found a waterfall neatly and carefully hidden behind so much weed and trees, the place almost seemed untouched and he was surprised because one would assume that people would find a gem and destroy it but this was a beautiful scene. He walked around for a moment, his white chiton following with each step. He spotted a rock good enough to sit down and admire the water better and that’s what he did, he sat down and ran his fingers through the water, soft and gentle. Nature was beautiful. He’d been spacing out, humming a melody he’d heard hundreds of years ago. This moment of solitude is what he really needed.
It’d been like that for thirty minutes or less when a snap of a stick brought him back from his mind, his head looking around to see who it was this time, who would interrupt his peace?. He felt like being watched and he sighed and went back to admiring the water.
“I know you’re there, who are you?” He spoke up, his eyes unmoving, in fact they were seeing how fishes interact with each other and it was cute how animals have their own minds and their own little problems, but he couldn’t think much of that now.
There was nothing for a good moment, he almost felt a little bit of self doubt until he heard the shuffle of bushes and then a young man appeared on the other side from where he was. Aether raised his eyebrow, he’d imagine a little kid or Lumine trying to look for him but not this.
“And who are you?” He asked again
The young man looked guilty for spying on him but most importantly he looked nervous. His hand held a single flower- one that Aether did not recognize but it looked pretty nonetheless.
“I didn’t think you’d see me” He spoke firmly and it seemed like he was composed, his hands gave it away that he wasn’t exactly composed.
“More like I heard you, what do you want?” Aether flipped his hair to the back and the young looked mesmerized by the simple action, his Adam Apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed a big chunk of nothing because his mouth was dry as hell.
“I..I saw you the last couple of times you were here and I simply couldn’t get you out of my head- this” he held the strange flower to offer it, his steps calculated and small “ I made this just for you. One of a kind, just like you my star”
Aether blinked many many times to get a grip of reality, was he really being confessed to right now? How awful. He took the flower and inspected it, this wasn’t yellow it was golden- it was a real flower but so unique, so glittery as well. Aethers big round eyes jolted to the man in front of him when he felt his other hand be held.
“I want to see you more often, would that be possible” The young man’s eyes went from their hands to the flower and lastly to Aethers eyes to see a smile, a kind one he’d always show to the people in the city, to see fond eyes staring intensely back at his but he wasn’t prepared to be stared at with disgust and an obvious sense of rejection.
“What do you think you’re doing? You must be ill” he yanked his hand and walked away, this of course was witnessed by Lumine.
What was he thinking anyway? Confessing to a star- a Celestial being, thinking that he’d say yes, how absurd and naive for the man to think. Still Aether holds the golden flower in his hand, examining it like something out of this world. He sets it down near his big bed and falls asleep. Scoffing at the thought of him- a fool.