Archive of Our Own ^beta

Inazuma had, in its entirety, not been the most pleasant experience for Aether. He could confidently say, after purifying Stormterror and fighting Osial, that nothing compared to what he went through in Inazuma.

He missed the pleasantness of Mondstadt, the liveliness in the city and the kindness of the Knights who welcomed and befriended him. He missed Liyue in all its splendour and extravagance, he missed stopping by Wangshu Inn to a room in his name and a chat with the adeptus residing there. He missed Xiao.

Many a time while Aether was in Inazuma, his mind repeated the words that Xiao had uttered to him.

“Call out my name. Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call.”

He truly had considered calling his name so many times during this journey. He thought of it while lying on the floor after being spat out of the Plane of Euthymia when he intervened for Thoma, body shaking and trembling with the aftershocks of divine lightning. He thought of it curled up in Watatsumi Island while helping out with the resistance and through the endless fighting. He thought of it while he lay curled up after Teppei’s death, quivering with heart-wrenching sobs that Paimon could do nothing about.

He thought about it as he trained with Yae Miko to fight the Shogun again, despite his body’s protest and the fear freezing his body at the thought of that lightning striking him once more. He thought of it when he confronted Signora and fought her, the freezing cold biting at him before her flame form licked at what hadn’t already been hurt. He watched her die in front of him and then he was tossed back into the Plane of Euthymia once more to fight the Shogun.

Aether was happy to help, he really was, but he didn’t know how much more of this he could take if all he got in return were scars and trauma. No one seemed to have information on his sister, no one save for Dainslef, who hadn’t even really asked much of him.

The blond Traveller was tired. So exhausted beyond belief that all he wanted was to just rest. But he had a journey to make back to Liyue. Thankfully, Beidou had offered him passage on her ship and waived the fee. He suspected she might have taken pity on him, considering everything that had happened.

The friends he’d made in Inazuma waved him off tearfully and he promised to come back and visit, perhaps with Xiao, the thought crossed his mind. But Xiao couldn’t leave Liyue, could he? So, all those times he thought about calling the Yaksha’s name, it wouldn’t have even mattered if he had done it, because there was nothing Xiao could have done for him.

“Tired?” Kazuha asked, approaching to stand by Aether’s side on the deck, looking out at the sea.

“You could say that.” Aether huffed out a laugh. “Are you? I don’t know the effects using two visions might have on someone.”

“Always worried about everyone but yourself. I’ll be fine.” Kazuha shook his head, replying gently. “I hope you have somewhere to go back to.”

“I always have my teapot but I left it with Xiao because I didn’t know what to expect in Inazuma. Wangshu Inn always has a room for me.” He still remembered the day he’d given his teapot to Xiao for safekeeping.

“Xiao.” Aether murmured the name softly, under his breath. Barely a second passed and the form of the adeptus appeared before him, armed with his spear.

“Aether.”

“Sorry to call you away from your adeptus duties.”

“I meant it when I said you could call whenever.” Xiao frowned. “What is the matter?”

“I’m leaving for Inazuma tomorrow.” Aether let out a deep sigh. “I hope… to find something pertaining to my sister there.”

“I see.”

“I wonder if I can ask you for a favour.”

“Anything.” Aether’s cheeks coloured at the quick response. “What is it that you need?”

“Would you hold onto my teapot for me? I don’t know what to expect in Inazuma but some of the rumours have been concerning. This is a precious gift and I should like to keep it safe.”

“With me?”

“Adeptus Xiao, there is no one I would trust more with it.” Aether smiled softly and felt a flutter in his chest when he noticed how the tips of Xiao’s ears flushed red. “Would you?”

“Of course.” Xiao inclined his head and Aether’s smile widened. He extracted the teapot and laid it in Xiao’s hands gently, feeling a flood of warmth rush through his body when their skin brushed. He could rest assured now that the teapot was in the safest hands it could be in.

“Xiao?” Kazuha cocked his head to the side. “As in…”

“Adeptus Xiao, yes.” Aether nodded.

“Didn’t know you were so close to him.”

“He is dear to me.” Aether said softly. “I care for him and perhaps he cares for me, I do not know.”

“Aether, I doubt there is a soul who has met you that does not care for you.” Kazuha nudged him. “You have a way about you that pulls people in.”

“Lumine used to say the same.”

“Your sister?”

“Mhm. She always made me do the talking, hovering behind me like she was my bodyguard or something despite us being equally matched in power and fighting ability.”

“I’m sure it was just her way of showing she cared.” Kazuha smiled gently.

“Yeah.” Aether whispered. “Yeah.”

The ship docked at Liyue Harbour when they arrived and Aether and Paimon waved everyone goodbye before departing into the busy city.

“Paimon’s missed the food from Liyue!” The flying fairy squealed, her body wiggling mid-air. “Can we stop by a restaurant in the city?”

“Is it okay if I go ahead to the Inn? I’m beat.” Aether forced a smile onto his face.

“That’s okay! Paimon will catch up to you!”

“Stay safe.” He waved and they separated, Aether heading to Wangshu Inn via the nearest teleport point to it, which landed him in Guili Plains.

(a/n: for the sake of Plot, pretend the waypoint in the inn just doesn’t exist, okay thanks <3)

He could see the looming shape of the Inn in the distance when he landed, framed by darkening clouds and a sigh escaped his lips. It seemed the storms had followed him back from Inazuma. He should be fine as long as it was merely rain. Rain, he could deal with, but lightning? He feared what that would do.

And thus, he began his trek just as the skies opened and the downpour began. Aether felt the rain soak into his very bones, sending shudders through his body. He forced himself to keep walking, motivated by the prospect of a hot bath and a comfortable bed awaiting him. His hair was plastered to his face and his clothes stuck to him uncomfortably. If he was attacked right now, his sword might have even slipped from his fingers, too slick to hold.

By the time he got to the inn, he was beyond exhausted. He just made it in the nick of time because as he was approaching the building, the thunder roared and he knew lightning wouldn’t be too far behind. Just the thought of lightning made his skin crawl, made his scars burn and his mind run rampant with memories of the events that had changed him so much.

He was given his keys by a concerned looking Verr Goldet after waving off her questions and assuring her he was fine; he had just been caught in the storm. The trek to his room seemed daunting but he was almost there, he was so close to resting.

“Aether.” Xiao’s voice came from behind him just as a flash of lightning burst outside the window and Aether flinched. His entire body tensed and he curled his fist around the keys so tightly he could feel the ridges digging into his skin.

It felt like someone was talking to him but he couldn’t really tell. Everything sounded fuzzy, from the thunder to the pattering of the rain and perhaps that was someone’s voice or maybe it was just his imagination. Even his vision was fuzzy, or those were tears blurring it.

“-ther, Aether?” Xiao appeared in front of him, cold hands cupping his cheeks and his own eyes narrowed in concern.

“Xiao.” Aether whispered.

“Don’t disappear in your head like that.” Xiao scolded, but it was a gentle admonishment.

“Sorry.”

The adeptus merely clicked his tongue before his vision dropped to Aether’s clenched fists and he frowned further, dropping his hands from the blonde’s face, and instead taking his hand to uncurl it and reveal bloodied marks from the key. “Aether.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Aether’s voice didn’t rise above a whisper.

“Is it the storm that has you spooked?” He didn’t even get an answer because the next second, another flash of lightning appeared and Aether tensed once more, eyes widening and his breath hitching. “Lightning.” Xiao murmured.

“I –”

Another flash. Another flinch.

“Archons, what did they do to you in Inazuma?”

“Not their fault.” Aether, even in this state, defended the people. They didn’t do this; he wouldn’t back down on that.

“Would it pain you to spare a modicum of that care for yourself?” Xiao huffed. “Give me that key.” He pried it from Aether’s bloodied hand and after a split-second, took the same bloodied hand in his own and pulled Aether along behind him. Xiao unlocked the door when they got there and shut it behind them. The next thing he did was walk around the room and draw the curtains, lighting the candles scattered on various surfaces instead. Then, he turned back to a frozen Aether.

“You need a bath. You’ll get sick.”

“’M not like mortals.” Aether barely managed to say, his voice hoarse and his clothes and hair still dripping. “Tired. I’m so tired, Xiao.” And Xiao softened.

“Let me help you.” Xiao requested and he could see the conflict in Aether’s head. “Please, Aether.”

And how could Aether say no when Xiao pleaded with him so softly, when the yaksha begged; something he never did, when he called him by his name so gently and fondly. How could he say no?

“Okay.” Aether relented, bowing his head. “Okay.” And Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He opened the door to the bathroom and let the tap in the bath run, making sure it was the right temperature before he returned to Aether, leading him into the bathroom.

“Can I…” He gestured to Aether’s clothes.

“I trust you.”

No words could mean more to Xiao than those words, spoken to him by Aether in this specific moment. He nodded and started with the cape, sliding it off around the back and untying Aether’s braid in the process, letting the locks sit damp at his back. Then he eased the shirt off, his finger brushing against Aether’s cool skin, leaving the trousers for last.

“I can look away while you do your undergarments and get in the bath.” Xiao said, his voice low, not wanting to disturb the atmosphere.

“Okay.” Aether accepted, watching Xiao turn his back before he got rid of the last piece of clothing and stepped into the bath, hissing a little at the warmth.

“Is it hot?” Xiao asked suddenly, alarmed.

“’S fine. Good.” Aether managed. His responses were still fairly limited to short sentences or simply one word, too tired to manage speaking properly in a language that wasn’t even his mother tongue. He sat down and pulled his knees up to his chest. “In the bath.”

Xiao turned, zeroing in on Aether. “Do you just want to soak or does your hair need to be washed?”

“Soak.” And Xiao nodded, making to leave. “Stay. Please.”

“I won’t leave.” Xiao said determinedly, sitting on the floor with his back to the tub. He left some distance between him and Aether so he could look at his face if he turned his head to the side. “Are you… okay?” It was a hard question to ask, considering Aether definitely didn’t look like he was okay but it was the only way Xiao could think of to broach the subject.

“No.” Aether surprised himself when the word fell from his lips without him even meaning to confess that.

"What happened in Inazuma? Why does lightning frighten you so?” There was a pause and nothing but the muted sounds of rain pattering on the windows and the water rippling in the bath could be heard.

“I… fought enemies. Strong ones.” Aether said. “I battled the Shogun. Twice. And Signora, of the Fatui Harbingers. But only one of those enemies struck me with divine lightning.”

“The Shogun?” Xiao’s eyes widened. “You fought the Electro Archon? Is that why –”

“Divine lightning is – it’s different. The pain one feels from that is unimaginable.” Aether’s voice was so soft as he remembered the agony. “It burns even days after and I – I fear it will leave it’s marks on both my body and my soul for countless years to come.”

“Aether…”

“Lichtenberg figures, they call them. The scars. I might consider them quite pretty if they didn’t mar my skin and bring me such pain.” Aether sighed. “I’m tired, Xiao. So tired. I try so hard, I help who I can but it brings me more and more pain, and I am put into battle after battle. Yet nothing comes of my search for Lumine. I’ve fought for – for countless centuries now, for so long that I’ve lost count. Is it wrong that I wish for rest and peace.”

Aether’s voice cracked and he inhaled sharply. Xiao sat up on his knees and reached out to cup Aether’s now warmer face with his hand.

“It is not wrong. You have more than earned the right to that and so much more, Aether.”

“Then why do I get pulled into so much conflict? So many battles and bloodshed, it’s never-ending.”

“You are kind, the kindest person I have met, perhaps. And people see that and think you will not refuse them. And you do not. Please, Aether, think for your sake instead of for others’ sakes.”

“Why are you so insistent?”

“Because.” Xiao huffed out a breath, lowering his head so his forehead pressed against Aether’s. “Because it pains me to see you run so ragged, to see you exhausted beyond belief.”

“You are so dear to me.” Aether whispered, covering Xiao’s hand that cupped his face with his own. “So so dear.”

 Xiao’s response was a chaste kiss, a mere press of the lips before he drew Aether into an embrace, uncaring that the front of his clothes was getting soaked. If he could hold the one he cared so deeply for, assured that he was safe and sound in his arms, then nothing else mattered.