Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Honorary Knight!”

“Hm?” Aether turned around at the sound of the voice. There was a girl about his height with brown braids and blue eyes panting before him. She had Mondstadt attire, which is probably the reason why she had called him ‘Honorary Knight’, he thought.

She clasped her hands together and said with a smile, “Please be friends with me! I’ve always-”

“Uhm, no thanks.” Aether waved with a cracked smile under the girl’s small gaze. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I just met you and-”

“Why?” The girl pouted.

Aether blinked. “Uh, because I don’t even know you and you just met me.” The girl straightened her posture, her frown did not falter.

“Please be friends with me!” She tried again.

Aether shook his head and raised his hand. “No thank you, if you’d excuse I need to do a commission.”

“No! I’m not letting you go anywhere until you become my friend!” She yelled as she spread her arms. The girl and Aether caught a few glances, some of which people are whispering into another’s ear. The traveler sagged his shoulders as he sighed. Paimon was in her own little world, nowhere to be seen, so this time he’d have to deal with her without the stubborn fairy’s voice.

Aether stepped back once, she stepped forwards. Before he knew it he was running throughout the city with the girl chasing her. It caused quite a ruckus. He ended up near a Millelith soldier as he told them what was happening. After catching sight of the girl, the soldier stepped in front of the girl, Aether behind him, clutching his scarf.

“Halt! This person is asking for personal space, you will be apprehended if you continue this.”

Aether ran away from the overwhelming scene, a scowl of annoyance and weariness forming on his face. He needs someone. Now.

He walked over the bridge, trying to spot any nearby hilichurls in case they were planning to stampede on Wangshu Inn.

“Hey you!”

Aether flinched at the familiar voice.

He turned around to see her. The girl stuttered in her tracks and dashed towards some hilichurls. Aether blinked in surprise, who goes running into danger-

“ Oohhh , someone help!” Her dramatic cry tore through his thoughts. “I’m gonna,” She kept looking back and forth at Aether and the hilichurls expectantly, “-get hurt!”

The traveler formed a jaded expression on his face. He rallied his sword and leapt at the hilichurls, defeating them quite easily. He sighed as he held a hand towards the girl, still having the same expression on his face. The girl brightened at the gesture as she took his hand and gleefully jumped to her feet.

“Now we know each other for a while so can we-”

“-be friends? It’s only been a couple of minutes since we’ve been together.” Aether set his sword on his back and crossed his arms.

“Uh… Then-! My name is Emily!”

Aether waved for a moment. “Then hi, Emily. Now please leave me alone, I’m currently doing… patrol.”

“Let’s stick together!” She practically had stars in her eyes.

“Yea… let’s don’t.” Aether frowned. “This place is crawling with monsters, and also you clearly don’t know how to fight.”

‘Emily’ gasped. “ Excuse me! I know how to fight, I just-” She paused. “I just forgot to bring my weapon out with me!”

Aether inwardly facepalmed.

“Who forgets their weapon these days… Anyways, try going back to Wangshu Inn, it’s safer there.”

Emily stomped on the ground with a puffed face. “I wanna go with you! Everyone there is-!”

“Don’t say anything else. I need to continue this… erm, patrol.” Aether walked past her, trying desperately to not shove her shoulder.

“Take me with you!”

Aether’s face contorted into a wry face.

“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“ Hah–! ” With one quick slash of his polearm, the mitachurl was taken down quite easily. He wiped his nose as he perked up at a noise in the distance. It was two people, a female (‘or is it a male?’ Xiao thought,) and a female walking out of the path, aimless. He zeroed near them, hiding in the yellow reeds.

“...learn how to defend yourself so you can survive out here. I don’t really want you to get hurt.”

Xiao narrowed his eyes as he noticed the blonde braid and blinked. ‘Okay, so it is a male.’ He straightened his mouth. ‘It’s also the Traveler too…'

The other shot her arms into the air. “You do care for me!” Aether sighed.

Xiao shifted in the reeds, slipping on some mud. He fell on his side, cursing. Aether snapped his head towards the direction, unsheathing his sword. Xiao quickly slid over to a rock, his boots now covered in mud (well, it was already dirty to begin with) and peeked from behind it.

“ What’s Aether doing here… ” Xiao thought out loud quietly.

Aether sheathed his sword as he continued on with the trembling girl.

“Did you not want to find out who was there?” Aether asked the girl. Xiao frowned, ‘It’d be better if you never checked at all.’ 

The girl frowned deeply. “I’m not going near there! It’s yucky, I prefer to stay on land , thank you.” Xiao watched Aether sigh into his palm. This girl was annoying.

“I-I can handle myself though, totally!” She put her hands on her hips.

“Oh? Then why don’t you defeat those hilichurls over there?” He pointed over to a tree where two hilichurls were chatting.

The girl looked over to them, gulping visibly. “No thanks, I’m not interested.” She said shakily.

“Why do you want to be my friend anyways…?” Aether stopped in his tracks. The girl put fists in front of her chest.

“I’m going to be the bestest friend you’ve ever had!”

“Not when you guilt tripped me back there, chased me, and publicly humiliated my status.” Aether seethed.

The girl put a hand to her hip. “Yes but past is past so-”

“ I cannot simply forget about what you did. ” Aether raised his voice, making Xiao gape a little in bewilderment. “Just leave me be once I take you back to the inn..”

“If you're going to leave me, I’ll be sad forever…” The girl looked at him with puppy eyes. It didn’t work on the outlander.

Aether clenched his fist. “ You’re doing it again. ”

“I don’t know what you mean.” The girl crossed her arms and looked away.

Xiao was looking back and forth as Aether and the girl argued, he was debating if he should step in.

Aether set his hand on his chest. “I’m the one who chooses my friends,” He glared a little (Xiao guessed it was not to scare the unwise girl). “ And one of them is not you. ”

The girl gasped loudly. “I’m-” She pouted as she looked away. “You can’t say that!”

The pot had been over-boiled and the metal was too hot to touch.

“ I can say what I want to say! ” Aether full-on yelled suddenly, making Xiao flinch and widen his eyes.

“ You're a petty bitch! ” He stepped forward. The girl was practically sobbing. “ Honestly, I can’t even name anyone that could put up with your BULLSHIT! ”

“ That’s enough. ” Xiao teleported in front of the girl and was actually shocked at Aether not refraining his expression.

“Please help me sir! That person is crazy!” The girl cried. Xiao looked at her, pursing his lips in annoyance. He looked back at Aether, who was in a bristled stance.

“Leave her alone.” Xiao summoned his polearm after unconsciously putting it away.

“ How about you stop interfering? How does that sound, Adeptus Xiao? ” The blonde spat.

The way that Aether said his name in such an angered manner made Xiao sweat. The bright and empathetic traveler he’s seen so many times was burning too bright to approach at this given moment.

“Calm down.” Was all Xiao could muster. He watched as Aether’s face twitched more livid.

“ Calm down? She’s the one acting all whiny and pushy, how can I calm down if she’s… ” Aether’s voice trailed off. Xiao took his time to tell the girl to run back to Wangshu Inn. She nodded quickly as she bolted down a path.

“Are you okay?” Xiao extended a hand to grab Aether’s arm but the traveler slapped his hand away harshly. The yaksha stifled a hiss as retracted the hand to his side.

Aether furrowed his brows.

“I need space.”

He walked past Xiao as he pulled out his map and teleported to a waypoint. Xiao stood there in silence as he observed his hand. He then clenched it as he closed down his thoughts to only the memories of his encounter today.

Chapter Text

“Hi Traveler! How was your day without Paimon? Did ya miss Paimon?” She flew around Aether, not yet noticing the frown he wore. Aether clenched his right fist.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, Paimon… I really did miss you.” He strained his voice as resisted the urge to form his sentence into a slander one, trying not to worry Paimon. The fairy to his side held her head up high as she heard her desired answer.

Paimon crossed her arms. “That’s more Paimon likes it.” She looked down at Aether, who had a bitter expression. “Hey what’s wrong? Did Paimon say something wrong?” The outlander shook his head and cracked his expression into a forced smile.

“No it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. I just came across something yesterday that made me…” He paused, wondering if he should tell the truth. He did not. “...made me exhausted, it was a certain commission.”

“Ohh, well yes that’s—”

He drowned Paimon’s voice in his own thoughts as he looked forward to the huge sandbearer tree in the distance. It wouldn’t be long now.

Aether stiffly made his way to Verr Goldet and paid for a room, Paimon still babbling on about… something. As he tried to leave to make his way to the room, he and the innkeeper caught eye contact.

“Traveler, what’s up?” She asked. Aether just turned away, too caught up in his own thoughts to even hear anything but a static in his mind. Paimon waved to her in his place, casting a wry smile at her. Verr Goldet nodded to them.

Paimon beckoned the blonde to the bed. “Aether, perhaps you should— Oh, nevermind.” Aether had already flopped onto the bed, too lazy and irritated to take off his armor.

“Uhm… Traveler? Teyvat to Aether?” 

Aether’s closed eyes turned into a scowl. “ Paimon, shut up for once. ” He buried his head into a pillow as Paimon floated in the air, blinking as she gaped.

“EXCUSE ME?” Paimon squeaked. Aether grumbled under the pillow as he pressed it on his head harder. Paimon settled down on the bed, arms spread. She cuddled up into a fetal position as she thought of the traveler currently at her side.

She didn’t notice how the traveler patted her on the head as she dozed off.

“Oh? To what standards does the Conqueror of Demons needs one?” Cloud Retainer bellowed. Xiao gave a lidded glance before blinking into a semi-pensive expression. “Well, name your problem, I’m guessing this is of great importance.”

“Cloud Retainer, what should I do if two people I’ve sworn to protect fight each other?” Xiao twitched his hand as he waited for her answer.

She hummed. “Well, try to persuade the other party who started it first. Try to inquire why they did it in the first place.”

‘I go to Aether?’ Xiao thought, ‘He’s going to be… somewhat hard to talk out.’

“This is what one does when Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver get into some arguments.”

The yaksha snorted at the statement. “Yes I can definitely see that.”

“Ahem, anyways, considering the other party— Who is the party that started it first?” Cloud Retainer looked expectantly at Xiao for an answer, unintentionally pressing him for it.

“Uh—, it’s the traveler.”

“Hmm… I see.” Cloud Retainer lowering her head. “Well, since he has a very high reputation, he needs to keep it in order for him to remain safe. He… attacked the other party, I’m guessing?”

Xiao crossed his arms. “I stopped him before he could.”

“Okay so he did try to attack the other party, but you stopped him. That complicates things further.” Xiao tilted his head as Cloud Retainer said those words. She sighed as she continued. “Traveler might or now sees you as a person who might block him from reach from that which he wants.”

“Oh.” Xiao frowned. “It’s… That’s reasonable. So do I try to talk to him about it?”

“Yes yes, talk about what he feels.”

“Okay. I’ll try my best to avoid further conflict.”

Cloud Retainer nodded. “Mhm, mhm, yes, if you don’t have any further questions, then depart.”

“Where’s Aether?” Xiao asked Verr Goldet. She extended a hand downwards to the rooms.

“Please be mindful that the Traveler is having difficulties with affairs. He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.” She warned with a sad expression. “His room is 4.” Xiao stared at her for more answers but found nothing. He finally nodded as he descended down the stairs.

He arrived at the door with a small ‘4’ on the top of the door. Xiao knocked on the door.

No answer.

He tried again, frowning. Still no answer.

Xiao turned the door knob and pushed forwards. He stood there blankly as the door opened. The yaksha shook off his daze and walked inside. There was Aether’s companion, Paimon, supposedly in a deep sleep. He closed the door carefully as he looked to the right side of the bed.

Aether sat on the bed, hugging his knees as he looked out the window. Xiao extended a hand.

“Aether?”

The traveler turned his head slowly to meet Xiao’s eyes, remaining with a neutral expression. Xiao straightened his back as Aether got up from the bed and walked towards his way. He stopped at least a foot from Xiao’s face. The adeptus swallowed dryly.

Suddenly, Aether extended a hand to Xiao’s necklace and tugged him in harshly. Then he pushed him back with much force that Xiao almost fell. Xiao choked on air as Aether came running at him. He gripped Aether’s right shoulder and hip as he attempted to push him back. Aether grabbed his hair and rallied an anemo-infused fist. He hit Xiao’s side with the fist and the yaksha crashed into the furnishing. Xiao stuttered from the impact and scrambled to get up as Aether was planning to hit him once more. Xiao grabbed Aether’s wrists and lower torso, pinning him to the wall with a thud.

“ Aether you — What would everyone think about this if they saw how violent you are…?”

Aether narrowed his eyes and grunted as he twisted his body to make Xiao being the one who was pinned. He then released his hands to grip at Xiao’s neck.

“ I don’t care about my status! ” He pressed harder, making Xiao wince.

The yaksha lets a strained out call. “ Ae— ”

The blonde throws him to the ground, walking to the middle of the room, back turned to Xiao. Xiao gasped for air, resulting in coughs while also clutching his neck.

“ Once you’re done here, leave. ” Aether stated in a low tone. Xiao looked back at him as he stood up, furrowing his brows.

Xiao turned to face Aether. “Why?”

Aether whipped around and pointed towards the door.

“ LEAVE XIAO! ”

Xiao felt stunned at his behavior change. How could his nature change so quickly because of one girl? Did she really overfill his cup? Xiao nodded wordlessly as he exited the room. Aether closed the door as he left. He heard the click of a lock. As he went up the stairs, Verr Goldet noticed his disheveled and worn out state.

“I heard a thud and a crash. Are you fine?” Verr Goldet approached him with some bandages. Xiao pushed the item away.

“I’m okay… Mortal medical contraptions don’t work on me anyways.”

Verr Goldet noticed that Xiao was half present. His head hung down, his hands were light fists, and he seemed despondent.

“Go get some rest.” She beckoned.

Xiao nodded wistfully as he left to the balcony, his mind mixed up with too many emotions that one couldn’t name into one word.

Chapter Text

“...”

Xiao crouched at the side of Verr Goldet’s counter, not noticing the tuxedo cat, Wei, staring at him with curiosity. Wei leaned forwards and pawed at Xiao’s ahoge. He felt the action and peered upwards. The cat and him shared a glance, its paw still extended. Xiao softly brushed the paw back onto the counter to avoid any accidents from happening. He then pat Wei’s head and scratched under its chin.

Verr Goldet took notice of the gesture and let out a soft chuckle. “Who knew you were fond of cats?” She added silently, “More or less, you act like one.”

“What was that?” He narrowed his eyes at her. She quickly dismissed the question with a swipe of her hand. 

“Don’t you think it’s time to take action on what happened? Of course, Aether does want his personal space but that doesn’t mean not to persuade him from what he will do.” Verr Goldet walked around the counter to grab Wei below its front legs and properly placed it on the counter.

He shook head, curling up on himself. “I don’t want to worsen our bond anymore. I crossed a boundary.”

Xiao shudders from an old memory back when he was “Alatus.” His old master had abused him very roughly, a particular memory replacing the face of Aether when he had suffocated from his grasp.

“Well okay. It was just a suggestion after all, but please take it into consideration.” Verr Goldet shuffled her hands. “It would be nice if someone could comfort him. I know that for a fact”

The adeptus picked at the bandage at his neck. “...I’ll do it.”

“Great, we can have him back in no time.” She smiled warmly at her. Xiao just buried his head more into his knees.

He soon got up on his feet and summoned his polearm. “I’ll be going now. Call me if you need anything, or well… if you see Aether coming out.” Xiao dispersed into particles before he could see the innkeeper nod.

Xiao opened his eyes to see a field of green, yellow reeds in the distance.

Wait. Was this where Aether and that girl—

“Oh! What do we have here?”

Aether stares at his hands before clenching them with an exasperated expression. He looked to Paimon, who was still sleeping. Who knew she could be such a heavy sleeper after… Aether shook himself to get rid of the images implanted in his head last night. He looked over to the corner where he threw Xiao upon. It was clean because of Verr Goldet. Luckily, she didn’t ask about the situation. Flickers of the scene appeared the more he stared at the room. He finally shut his eyes and flopped on the bed again.

“ Ugh… ”

He places his hands on his stomach, wanting to apologize to Xiao, but he really can’t bring himself to. I did yell at him to leave, but what if he actually did? Aether flutters his eyes open at the thought. He places a hand to stand up.

He will leave sooner. Perhaps it’s for the best.

After all, I don’t want to hurt him anymore.

Aether lets go. But his heart still aches, longing to listen to the yaksha’s comforting voice.

But he can’t. He doesn’t want to go.

Aether decides to isolate himself from his friends.

He shifts Paimon to the pillow and tucks her into the blanket. He looks wearily at her as he leaves. Aether takes out his map to teleport to Stormterror’s Lair. It’s raining there, but he doesn’t mind it. The traveler hops down the ledges to make it to a pond with a tree and a bridge. There are many fireflies that do not leave this place, it makes the pond reflect the glow of the fireflies to make an aqua light. It is simply a pleasant sight.

Aether sits down and leans on the rope. He hopes no one disturbs him.

There’s a sudden painful ache as he thinks about something.

Everyone will leave.

He wants to cry.

“Barbatos?” Xiao whips around and faces the bard. The former archon chuckles.

“No need for formalities, just call me Venti, okay?”

Xiao nods slowly with narrowed eyes and lowers his tense back. “What are you doing here in the land of Geo?”

Venti puts his hands on his hips. “What? Am I not allowed here? If that old blockhead said anything about me not being welcome here, tell that grandpa that—”

“No, no, it’s nothing of that sort. I meant, what are you here for?” Xiao finally flicks away his spear.

“There’s something that's disturbing you, no?”

Xiao averts his gaze. “I don’t know what you're talking about.” He looks him in the eye again. “You should not pry into adeptal manners anyways.”

“Pshhh, I’ll pry into anything I need to!” Venti snickers. “What is bothering you?”

Xiao sighs in defeat. “Aether and I fought.”

“Ooh, first couple fight I’m guessing?” Xiao sends a glare at him and Venti holds up two hands up. “Alright I’m sorry—!”

“...He ended up injuring me.” He points to the bandages on his neck and waist. Venti hums, furrowing his eyebrows.

Venti rests his head on his palm. “If I could know, do you know how those two injuries came to be?”

“Aether threw me against furniture and it kind of… broke. It stabbed me a bit.” Xiao settles a hand below his neck. “Then he choked me.”

Venti widens his eyes at the unusual behavior of the usually good-natured traveler. “Hm… What happened?”

Xiao crosses his arms at memory. “A girl pushed him to his limits.”

Venti nods. “Children are nuisances these days. I can try to picture something.”

“Do you know where Aether is?”

Venti smiles. “Good question! I do, in fact, know where he is.” Xiao perked up at his words.

“Where?”

“He’s at Stormterror’s Lair.”

Xiao’s expectant gaze wilted. He grits his teeth. That place is in Mondstadt. He cannot teleport there. Venti blinks.

“Oh! Right, right, I can teleport you there if you’d like!” Venti posed with a wink.

Xiao clutches his hands together. “Please.”

“Alright, field trip!”

Xiao looks up at the ruins. He squints at the unfamiliar terrain and buildings. Venti stares at him from behind. “Do you wish for me to recall an old tale to pass the time?”

“Yes please.”

Venti rubs his chin in thought, Xiao keeps looking around as he waits for him to recite a story.

“There used to be a controlling, annoying, fat marshmellow—” The bard pauses and sweats as Xiao eyes him. Venti clears his throat audibly, “—I mean- An evil tyrant that ruled Old Mondstadt. He ruled this land very poorly. He made it unfair for all. Then the legendary hero, Vanessa, stepped in and quelled this threat and ascended to Celestia. She was a very strong and courageous yet caring warrior.” Venti smiles sadly to himself. “I miss her.”

Xiao nods. “She sounds noble.”

“Very noble indeed!”

Venti pecks Xiao with his index finger. “We’re nearing your Aether. I’ll leave here now.” He points towards a cliff. “Go get your man!”

Xiao nods as the bard disperses into wind, it swirls around Xiao as it fades. The adeptus blushes to himself as he remembers Venti referring to Aether as his.

Aether tenses as he hears footsteps shuffling in the grass. He lifts his head up to see golden eyes with cat-slitted pupils staring at him. He scrambles to stand up. Aether doesn’t say anything as he attempts to run away. A gloved hand captures his wrist.

“Why are you running?” Xiao steps forwards and extends a shaky hand. Aether struggles to pull away.

“ Let me go! ” Aether hisses. Xiao’s gaze becomes more troubled and tightens his grip.

“Wait!” Xiao tries to approach him.

Aether falls to his knees, still looking away from Xiao’s gaze. Aether grits his teeth and tries to grip back at Xiao, trying to make him let go.

Xiao suddenly lets go.

“I’ll go. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go. Our… My promise won’t matter this way. You do not have to worry about me chasing you everywhere.”

Aether widens his eyes.

Wait…

Xiao is turning around.

…no, don’t—

Aether grips Xiao’s waist, turns around, and pulls him down. It creates a thud on the bridge.

Xiao flinches. “Hey—!”

The traveler grips the adeptus’ shirt.

“ Don’t go. ”

Xiao relaxes, only listening to his pleas.

“ I’m begging you. Please stay. Don’t go. Don’t leave. I’m sorry, I’m sorry ”

Aether cries in his chest, staining the yaksha’s shirt. He repeats these at a rapid pace, leaving him hyperventilating. His head is dizzy from the crying, but he doesn’t care.

He wants Xiao to know that he can’t bear seeing him leaving his life. He has become too emotionally attached to him to let go.

“Aether I—”

“ PLEASE. I DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU. ”

Aether screams his sorrows.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Sobs wreck through his chest. It hurts, yet he feels relief.

“ Xiao, don’t… disappear. ”

The rain patters harder on the ground.

It’s so cold.

So, so cold.

Xiao embraces Aether into a hug. Aether widens his eyes. He returns it, crying harder than before.

He doesn’t want to let go.