#|ic|aether

Aether stares at his sister. The words from her just don't make sense. Why couldn't they just travel together again already?! It was all so frustrating! "Lumine!" He groans, clearly fighting back emotions. So many times, he's been focused on helping others instead of his own goals or agenda of finding his sister. So many times, he had his life on the line only to not have any answers. But here she was!

Then when the 14th of February rolled around, she could tell his stress levels had reached a new high.

"...Brother. These are for you." She chuckled while handing him a small box of her homemade chocolates.

"I hope you'll like them." Their tastes in foods were very similar - being twins and all - so that helped to make them according to his personal preferences.

"ーー So, did you think I was making them for some other guy? I could tell you were freaking out. You never change, do you?"

// I imagined this is like a post-game setting or some kind of other AU where they are still traveling together!! I live for protective big bro Aether who has a HUGE soft spot for his lil sis.

Aether always found himself worrying more each year when Valentine's Day came around, and he wasn't blind to see how many guys gazed at Lumine as if they were craving to be more than just friends with her. Even as the older twin, he knew he technically didn't have a right to try to stop any relationships his sister may have wanted to partake in, but who could blame him for trying anyways?

So he's trying to be careful, sneaking and watching his sister as she bakes in the kitchen at times, wondering who finally caught her eye. But each day that got closer, he watched more and more. Until the day itself came around, and then he was on high alert. More than ever, if he was honest.

But that pauses when she's handing him a box, Aether blinking as he takes over the design of the case and the designs of the chocolates. And then he feels embarrassed and a bit guilty. Especially when she calls him out. "Oh-" He hesitates to admit it, sighing.

Walking over to her, he places a hand onto her shoulder. He knows this must be a difficult decision for her, and truth be told, part of him finds himself torn. He always wanted his sister to be happy, and he could see that she had formed dear friendships during his absence, but he was selfish in the regard that he only ever wanted her by his side like it had always been.

"I can't see them coming to see these things the way we do. Many believe what happened was simply a consequence, or don't blink an eye at the wrong that was done after. How the people were turned into monsters, only to be killed by those who either don't care to find out the truth or turn an eye at it. I've seen your friends take down just as many of them without batting an eye." Truthfully, the latter seemed more likely. As if it was the only way.

"In the case you meet them again on the battle field and you say you're willing to take the risk, will you be certain that you can strike them down if it should come to it? If it comes down to you or them, can you fully be ready to take their lives?" Not that he would want it to come to that, but it's been made clear they can't control it. "While I want nothing but to have you back by my side like it always was, I need you to be sure of your choice. No matter what this may bring. The others in the Order will need to know there's no wavering in your resolve as well, if there is any chance of them following you as they do me."

After everything the two had been through, from before they entered Teyvat and even after the two were split up, Aether had never intended to let her get hurt if he could stop it. Granted, he knew if she did, chances were too high it'd be his fault, but that didn't mean he'd let it happen. And even now, as everything had hit the final climax and both sides fought each other in the name of what they all deemed right, he still kept that promise.

He had always promised he wouldn't let her get hurt, even before Teyvat, and he meant it until his last breath. Which he could tell was more than likely to be soon.

Prompt from here:

Dammit! He just had to go and use Foul Legacy, didn't he?! Aether cursed internally, seeing the shape Childe was in now. This was unfair! "Why did you have to go and be reckless?! We would have been fine without Foul Legacy!" There's a shudder as Aether tries to fight back his emotions, which are already out of control. Help was on the way, sure, but what good would it be if they didn't get there in time? "Just, just hold on! Okay? You've got to. You've still got to make it back home to your family. Your siblings. Especially Teucer. Remember the promises you've made to them?"

|IC|Aether

|IC|Alhaitham

|IC|Collei

|IC|Diluc

|IC|Thoma

|IC|Klee

|IC|Layla

|IC|Caelus

|IC|Firefly

|IC|Jingliu

|IC|Lynx

|IC|Moze

|IC|Natasha

|IC|Serval

|IC|Silver Wolf

|IC|Yunli

|IC|Itadori

|IC|Sasaki

|IC|Takemichi

|IC|Chifuyu

|IC|Mitsuya

|IC|Ryusei

|IC|Wakasa

|IC|Teucer

|IC|Baiheng

|IC|Wise

|IC|Hua Cheng

|IC|Fu Yao

|IC|San Lang

Aether is quiet at the question. If.. if he can't get her away from the Abyss? Surely.. surely that wouldn't be the case. He'd bring her back! They'd continue the journey together! They always had and always would, they were supposed to stay together! But.. could he bring himself to turn his back on everyone? Joining the Abyss after seeing and knowing what they've done..