#aether fluff

modern! Aether who lets you try all the trendy hairstyles you find on the internet without a complaint. Who gives you permission every time you ask, even if it's simply to occupy your hands while you're out with friends. 

He lets you sit him down on your bed before spending what feels like hours doing his hair – not even for him to keep it ! 

"You don't even have that much hair," he complains as you pull a little too harshly.

"Not yet," you spat, frowning at him but loosening your hold in the process. 

You love playing with his hair, and he loves having you doing so, but you know you have to be careful to keep this privilege. Instead, you entangled the difficult braid buns you just tried with your fingers, taking a moment to scratch your nails gently against his scalp in a small head massage to ease the tension building in his nap. 

"But that way I'll know how to do it when I do," you added on, taking in how his eyes open a second to side eye your form in the mirror before closing it again.

"Stop cutting your hair every three months, then we'll talk– ouch!"

You pulled again gently, but consciously this time, making him turn around with a small frown. 

"It was damaged," you scolded gently.

"No shit," he said, playfully this time as he turned around to the edge of the bed, pulling you to him so you stay between his legs. "I told you not to dye it the last time you did." 

His fingers gently grabbed the end of your hair, there was still some dye left, but not so much, and your hair was visibly less dry than it has been for months now. 

"I know... I'll listen next time," you murmured as your hands slowly left his hair to hold his cheeks instead, holding back from leaving kisses all over his stupid face.

"I know you won't," he answered, pulling you even closer. "But I still love you." 

With that, he's the one who takes the last step it takes to leave a kiss on your lips.

modern! Al Haitham who helps you study despite the fact that you've already given up on this subject. Who sits with you through it, through and through, stays up late with you and explain again and again, just so you don't feel unworthy. 

"You should go now," you whispered to him, your chin resting in your hand.

Your eyes are heavy, dressed with purple and green eyebags that you just seems to carry all the time. There's no will to fight in them, no fire that he can try to lights up again. There's only resilience in your, you think, coming failure that can't be undone with a night of studying. 

"You still need help, right ?" he was stating it, with gentle eyes that made you feel uneasy and cared for at the same time. You didn't knew how to deal with that. 

It made you scoff. "Yeah, but it's wayyy past your bedtime," you added with sarcasm. 

It was true, he couldn't deny you that. He couldn't deny anything in fact, but you didn't figured that out yet. Even with that tough exterior, he could see how you didn't wanted to be alone. The way you leaned onto his side without realizing it, how your arm keep on touching his while you write but never pull back right away. 

"I can make an exception," he said then, calmly to not disturb the quietness of the library late in the night. 

Your eyes widened at his worlds. You hate the softness in his voice, lingering in his eyes as he careful study you reaction.  

"Why..?" you proceeded to ask, bur not without looking away from him. 

"Because you asked ?" he answered as he leaned in, enough for his shoulder to rest comfortably against yours. 

The silent stretch between you two for a moment, but he doesn't move and neither do you, making his heart beats a little faster without meaning to. Just like that, he started explaining you once again the same thing he just told you another hour earlier, without raising his voice or a condescending tone. Because he knew you were trying your best, and he was there to help you bring the best out of you. Even if you couldn't give him anything in return. 

modern! Wanderer who never stop speaking about how soft you are without everyone and how it bothers him. How he hates the way you never tell a stranger off when someone's bothering you, how you never raise your voice and how delicate you are even with people you barely know. But who also cave under any soft touch you give him, who can't seem to resist the touch of your hands on his cheeks. 

"You need to stop doing that, something is gonna happen to you sometimes," there's a tint of harshness in his voice, but mostly, he's just worried about you and your safety. 

"But nothing happened," you defend gently. 

He sends you an unsure side eye, along with a frown. All this because you helped a stranger with direction while he was, his words, being "weird". The man sure did look disoriented, making him kinda unpredictable, maybe high, but everything was fine. 

"Until it does," he was talking ahead of you now, barely waiting or looking back. 

It didn't changed a thing though, you knew he would never left without you. That if you even squeal under your breathe, he would turn back and check on you immediately. Because he was always like this, harsh but caring. 

So you take the few steps missing and slipped your hand in his without a word, just a smile on your lips like nothing happened. Like he didn't took a small halt in his steps, like he didn't even hesitate to hold it tight and you know it. No-one talk for a moment, enjoying the soft breeze as you walk down the street to your place, before he comes to an halt and pulled you closer. He wasn't much of the pda type, but he couldn't help but lean into you, leaving a small kiss on your temple. 

"Please stop doing this with anyone," he whispered into your hair before pulling away and acted like nothing happened. 

When all you could hear was 'keep it just for me'. 

modern! Kaeya who come pick you up at anytime, anywhere. It can be from an appointment, uni, your job – anywhere. You just have to ask and he'll be there, always a little early, waiting in his car as he search for you outside. If he can, he'll have something for you in the car, but nevertheless, he's always taking you somewhere to eat if you're hungry. 

He made sure to stop right in front of the door of your job, just so you wouldn't have to walk outside in the rain. It was raining cats and dogs, he could barely see a meter away from his car – there was no way he was letting yah coing back home alone. He saw the gasp when you when you meet face to face with his car, and he couldn't help the proud smile that showed on his lips. You didn't asked, but he was still there. 

"Today was horrible !" you groaned as you sat beside him quickly. "I'm so glad you're here." 

"Of course," he said gently, his hand finding yours before giving it a quick squeeze. "Wanna eat something ? I  drive." He added, as if it wasn't obvious, with a silly smile. 

Before you can ever answered, he's already putting the playlist he made based on what he's heard you listening the most, but still named like it had nothing to do with you. He knew you would tease him for it. 

"I'm dying for some fried chicken," you exhaled dreamily, already tasting it on your tongue. 

"So that's decided."

He can't let his hand on your thigh for too long when he drives in town, but he'll put it back there every time. This or holding your hand, because he knows you like it better. He's driving slowly, comforted by the sound of the rain hitting the glass. 

"So, your day ?" 

And just like that, you started to rant about it and how the customers were absolutely insufferable. Your huge raising, you started talking fast and telling unspeakable insults to them and their family line – which only made him laugh. Because never once did you let go first anyway, despite all the movements your free hand was doing. 

modern! Kaveh who cut your hair for you, following a random girl's tutorial on tiktok as if it couldn't go wrong at any time. He watched them several times, different one for each haircut you asked until he was confident enough to tell you yes. 

“You're sure about it ?” he asked one last time as your wet hair lay in his hand, scissors in the other one. 

He already sectioned your hair and watched the tutorial at least twice. Not that it was the first time he did it, and until now, he never truly failed, but he still preferred to check twice before cutting. 

“Yes, oh my god ! Just do it !” you whined, tired of waiting. “You're stressing me out every time.” 

He frowned at your reaction, but still started to cut your hair as you assured him one last time. 

“I want to be sure so you can't blame me if I fail !” he defends, but without hesitating a second longer, he cuts right after he left his voice, like he did multiple times now. 

There's a content smile on your lips when you feel him move his fingers skillfully through your hair, the tutorial playing behind. You can't miss the serious expression on his face reflecting in the mirror in front of you, the way the tip of his tongue brushes his bottom lips, or the knit creating between his brows from time to time. It makes you giggle every time without a fail. It feels like he's working on a piece of art – or like he really doesn't want to mess up his partner's hair. 

"What are you smiling about ?" he asked, shifting his eyes to your reflection a few times in a row. 

"You," you answered gently, shrugging but not without smiling at him. "Thanks again, Kaveh. You're the best." 

Again, you don't miss the way his gaze shook in the mirror before he went back to business, finishing the last few stands, getting busy around a few that don't need anything you're sure, just so you don't notice the obvious pink on his cheeks. 

"Anytime," he mumbled in the end. "I mean it." 

ALBEDO, one of the ROYAL ADVISORs. He's the youngest in the circle, thanks to his unparalleled genius among his peers. He hails from the Kreideprinz house, known for their alchemical and mechanical breakthroughs throughout the years. Their bloodline has been in charge of half of the technological advancements across the kingdom for decades.

he's also been assigned as one of your tutors, for obvious reasons. he's infuriatingly good at so many things. his skills range from painting, to cooking, sword fighting, even playing musical instruments—is there something this man can't do?

outside of his duties, though, he's one of your closest friends, even if the whole thing is most likely due to proximity, as the blonde isn't really one for social interaction, much less talking. that's fine, though: you don't mind the silence. it's comfortable, and you have a feeling he thinks so, too.

speaking of comfortable silence, whenever the both of you have free time, you'd just go to the library (his, yours, the public's, whichever) and hang out. doesn't mean you have to be reading, either.

always carries either a notepad or sketchbook around. occasionally, he'd let you doodle/write obnoxious things in it. he'd often take notes of various things when you two are out, even if they seem mundane to the naked eye. if you see any sketches of you, no you didn't.

he's notorious for being picky with any projects and/or research and would choose to participate solely based of off his level of interest. he'll still provide assistance, assuming it's for the greater good, but you can almost immediately tell the difference should you compare the end result.

has an adorable little sister who goes by the name KLEE, and sometimes he'd use her cuteness against you to agree to be his test subject after finding out you possessed mana. rest assured, none of them would put you in danger—he made sure of it.

there's a painting in his room that's always covered in cloth, and if you ask him about it, he'll say that someone had commissioned a portrait of a very important figure, but they don't want it revealed until it's finished.

except no one really paid him to do it, and if at any point in the future you are to see a rather intricate painting of you in the castle, which seemingly makes you look more... what's the term? ah, yes—alluring, than how you perceived yourself, he wonders how long it'll take you to put two and two together.

AETHER, the PRINCE from a neighboring kingdom. Arguably your oldest friend and former crush, your first meeting was literally a playdate with him and his twin sister as babbling babes. That's how long you've known them for. Currently, your father has plans of marrying you off to him in the case you're unable to find a suitor in time, and while younger you would've rejoiced, the reality of possibly getting wedded off to a man who doesn't love you in that way doesn't sound pleasant to you at all.

the only way to describe your present relationship is... awkward. not because either of you wanted it to be; rather, it's your responsibilities and status as royalty that led to you both barely seeing one another, getting swamped by lessons on how to be the be proper aristocrats.

it's also no secret that he's the ideal suitor—kind, selfless, brave, not to mention his stupidly pretty face with eyes and hair that looked like they were weaved out of gold. you've seen the way people swoon over him, and it doesn't help that nearly half of them are more competent or attractive than you in some way.

your first interactions always turned out awkward, and it's worse when your families are around. you figured you'd get absolutely nowhere with him if not for the aid of princess LUMINE.

the younger twin knew of your feelings, and would tease the both of you relentlessly after she found out. she still does now, though it's toned down a bit (she refuses to believe you've gotten over him).

through the girl, slowly but surely, you've learned to be friends with him again. imagine the surprise on your parents' faces when the three of you openly bickered during a dinner gathering.

you soon grow to be more comfortable around him, so much so you decided to tell him of something you've been meaning to do, wanting to know his thoughts on it.

"You know, if you want, I can ask my father to break off the arrangement."

you half expected him to heave out a relieved sigh or something along those lines, but instead, the smile on his face, which he hadn't even realized he had on as he listened to you laugh, faltered a little. "Oh."

"Ah, no offense! Really, anyone would be lucky to have you," you continued, not having noticed the shift in his mood. "It's just, I've been thinking about it, and I don't want you—well, the both of us, I suppose—to be uncomfortable and end up in an loveless marriage. I mean, we can still be allies regardless. My father might be stubborn, but he isn't unreasonable."

"Y-yeah, of course." the blond swallows thickly. loveless marriage? is that really what you thought of it? an ache settles in the prince's heart, one that's learned to beat for none other than you.

CHONGYUN, the SORCERER IN TRAINING. Timid but determined, he has been chosen to one day take the title of the kingdom's royal mage, in place of SHENHE, the main reason being him possessing absurdly high amounts of mana, even more so than you. The catch? It comes with a strange constitution, one that can easily be triggered by experiencing intense emotions.

your newfound powers have landed you in basically the same position as him, with SHENHE as your mentor. the change had been sudden, and to say he was surprised would be an understatement.

the first day you both had to study together, he hadn't expected to come face to face with you after opening the door to his aunt's quarters. he then proceeds to combust and faint on the spot because ohmygodherroyalhighnessisrightinfrontofme--

he apologized to you profusely after that incident, looking even more flustered then when he met you. you had to reassure him multiple times that it's fine even though it was technically your fault he reacted like that in the first place.

he learns to not be as jumpy as the training sessions went on, but you can never fully shake off the queasiness of being in the presence of an important person. it's worse when said person is also very pretty

unlike your magic, which has yet to specialize, his bloodline has a natural affinity to ice spells. often times, if you're both training outside when the weather is hot, he'll create a little flurry cloud over the both of you. SHENHE would scold you the first couple of times, saying how you shouldn't waste mana, but after seeing you two bonding better, she decided to let you both be.

after learning that cold temperatures help with his condition, you'll sometimes ask a cook to prepare a cold meal or dessert and bring it to share with him.

when you managed to master a difficult spell, one he had tried to help you practice to show to SHENHE. you turned to him excitedly, hoping he'd catch it—

the next thing you know, your feet are no longer touching the ground, and the world is spinning, leaving you breathless, though it ends as soon as it starts. it takes you a moment to register the pair of hands at your waist, CHONGYUN's laughter ringing in your ears.

he doesn't realize what he's done until a few seconds later, his face exploding in crimson hues. thankfully, he manages to put you down first before immediately passing out.

XIAO, the HUNTSMAN. Also known as the 'verdant ghost', a term that strikes fear to allies and enemies alike. His combat abilities are, at the present moment, second to none. He works directly under the king, and his duties involve doing the dirty work outside of the public eye, which primarily involves espionage and/or assassinations...

the sky was weeping when you first met him, clothes clinging to his skin. your mother had brought in a stray, as the others would so rudely put it. he would hide behind her whenever anyone else would approach.

his timidness stems from his past, where he was forced to fend for himself in the slums after his parents passed away. the boy had resorted to stealing to survive, a skill he was so good at it earned him the title of 'master thief'.

after countless complaints from the townsfolk, they finally apprehended him, though, seeing as he is but a mere child at the time, your mother, alongside royal advisor and military strategist ZHONGLI, proposed an alternative, despite the protests of a handful of other people requesting for him to be either locked up or executed.

conversely, mini you had some opinions of her own.

"But he's just like me! We can't put him in the dungeons!"

(and XIAO remembers. even if you don't.)

he's only a year younger than you, for heaven's sake. he was also built smaller than most people around that age, likely due to not having regular access to meals.

long story short, XIAO swore loyalty to the court, and has become one of the most renowned combatants within the army's ranks.

you do not interact with him often, and XIAO preferred it that way. he works alone most of the time anyway: that's how royal advisor ZHONGLI's team of elite operatives— commonly referred to as the 'Yakshas'— have performed for the past decade. it's also definitely not because he struggles with socializing properly.

save for the four other members in the team, he's never really gotten close to anyone else. not even ZHONGLI, who's been his superior for years.

not to mention the blood on his hands, something someone as pure as the princess shouldn’t keep company.

…that is, until most of the royal family suddenly fell ill to a sickness. you were the only member still left standing out of sheer dumb luck of not wanting dessert that day, giving it to KAZUHA instead. unfortunately, this also meant that he got poisoned in your stead.

what’s worse, the healers couldn't identify what kind of poison is used, and they, alongside SHENHE, came to the conclusion that the best (and only) solution is some mythical herb in a faraway land.

unable to come to terms with the guilt that struck, you couldn't stand just waiting around, so you volunteered to join the search party.

as expected, you received mixed receptions, though the majority were heavily against it. 

“Who will look after the kingdom if something happens?!” one of them protests.

“The high council,” you answered cooly. “They are much wiser than I regarding the kingdom’s affairs, and I trust their judgment,”

“Pardon me, your highness, but what would you contribute to the group anyway?” another asks. “if they need magic, should we not send the royal mage or her apprentice?”

you shake your head. “SHENHE is already busy helping the healers in slowing down the poison’s effects, and CHONGYUN is more fitted to assist her.” the blue-haired boy would also not perform well in environments with hotter temperatures. he could theoretically use his magic to cool himself off, but that would be a waste of mana.

the people continue to murmur, and you sigh. “If you're still not convinced, then how about this. I am the next in line, and since my father is absent, the highest authority is temporarily passed down to me, correct?”

they nod.

“Alright, then. Here are my initial orders—I shall be joining the search party, and the decision making will be temporarily be assigned to the council. That. Is. Final.”

safe to say, no one questioned you anymore afterwards. there's only one problem left to solve: who will be assigned to fill in KAZUHA’s role while he is bedridden. apparently, he was sober enough at some point to plead for someone to look after you.

“He told us to not leave you unattended.” one of the healers says solemnly, recalling the desperation in the swordsman's eyes. 

you purse your lips. he’s always thinking about your safety, even when he's on the brink of death. it makes you all the more determined to go.

you turn to the council. ”Any suggestions?”

after a round of discussion, ZHONGLI clears his throat. “I have someone in mind, your highness.”

and that's how XIAO ended up here: in painfully awkward silence as the rest of the party distance themselves from the two of you, most likely from intimidation, though for vastly different reasons.

he swears his master (ZHONGLI) had something to do with this. of all the yakshas, why him? the strategist knew more than anyone how bad he is at interacting with new people!

…not that you're new, but he's never properly talked to you so you might as well not be any different from other strangers.

it wasn't easy for either of you: you’ve tried to start small talk with him, but you’re either met with noises of affirmation or one word replies. it’s not like he doesn't want to talk—he genuinely doesn't know how to.

at some point, you just give up, and even avoided eye contact with him unless absolutely necessary.

Days pass, and on one evening, he jolts awake after experiencing a nightmare. it’s been happening more frequently these days—the souls of all the people he’s slain coming back to haunt him in his dreams.

He exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose. Turning to the other side, he attempts to go back to sleep, only to spring back up again when he notices the empty bed next to him, and the lethargy clouding his mind dissipates completely. 

Now awake and on high alert, he wastes no time grabbing his spear and running outside.

”XIAO?”

He whips his head at the sound of his name, and there you are, sitting on the grass, barely visible under the starlight. Noticing the gleam of his jade spear, your eyebrows furrow. “Are… you alright?”

His shoulders go slack as he lets out a breath of relief. The princess is okay. He clears his throat. “I’m… fine.”

XIAO watches as your eyes glow for a moment before dimming again, and you frown. “...liar,” you feel a little bad for using your magic to validate his honesty, but his refusal to communicate has you running out of options. “You’ve been having nightmares, haven’t you?”

He doesn't answer, opting to go back into the tent, but your next words stop him.

“In case you're wondering why I’m out here, I was awoken by your tossing and turning.” You look up at the sky. “I couldn't go back to sleep.” 

It’s been happening for quite some time now, if the shadow under his eyes and the way his face contorts when it happens is any indication.

“My… apologies, your highness.”

What is he saying sorry for— a thought suddenly occurs to you. Wait, this is my chance! “I’ll forgive you on one condition. Actually, make those two conditions.”

“I… what?”

You shoot him a look. ”Do you want my forgiveness or not?”

Unsure on what's happening, he reluctantly nods.

“Great. Firstly, you will let me cast a charm that wards off nightmares on you. Second, you will try to communicate with me more often from now on.”

The huntsman stares at you blankly. Then, he turns around. Maybe he doesn’t need you to forgive him—

“ALATUS.” you drag out lowly, a hint of warning in your tone.

His whole body stiffens, and he whips his head to look at you again. “How do you know that name?” There's a sharp edge to his voice. Does he dislike it when people refer to him as such?

”If you’re worried that any of your comrades have betrayed you, they haven't. I still remember the day mom took you in,” you explain. “She and sir ZHONGLI kept mentioning that name. I apologize if it makes you uncomfortable.”

Ah. Right. He seemed to have forgotten your existence during that time for a second.

The green-haired male averts his gaze. “I take no offense, but refrain from calling me that in the presence of others.”

“Okay, I won't, but my point still stands.” Your eyes soften. “Please, XIAO, I want to help. But I can only do so if you’ll let me.”

Hesitation flashes across his face. He's never been good at reading people, but he can tell you're being honest.

The rational part of him berates him for even considering it.

Remember who you are.

"Half-breed."

What you are.

"I heard his mother was a demon!"

What you've done…

On instinct, his eyes fall upon his weapon, trailing down to where his hand wraps around it. A consistent image of crimson staining his fingers flickers in and out of his vision, and he inhales sharply, squeezing his eyes shut.

"It's not…"

He trails off. You don't push. You wait, ever patient, and though he may never tell you, it's a gesture he greatly appreicates.

Avoiding your gaze, he eventually admits, "I'm not someone you want to get close to."

Dangerous. Weird. In the of worst ways.

His period of self-loathing is cut short when he hears you scoff.

"And tell me," you challenge him, half amused, "who are you to decide what the princess wants, hmm?"

He sputters (did his ears turn pink?), and the smile on your face becomes more pronounced.

"You—" The yaksha pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling harshly.

A chuckle escapes your lips, and your previously half teasing smile eases to something gentler.

"My point still stands, XIAO." You get up from your position on the grass and walk towards him, extending one hand. "I truly want to help you."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he relents, and for the first time in years, his amber irises are able to mirror your [color] ones for more than a split of a second.

His hand finds yours, noting the warmth permeating the leather of his gloves.

“…Alright.”

talking with him gradually becomes easier after that. your other traveling companions were scratching their heads at how the princess and the notorious verdant ghost are now two peas in a pod.

no, seriously, now he’d only ever sit next to you during meal breaks. he also doesn't talk to the others unless you’re talking with them, too.

back to your quest of acquiring the herb: your party would get attacked every now and then, but honestly, XIAO might as well be everyone's bodyguard at how swiftly he dispatches everything. most of your team members can fight, but half the time, they don't even need to lift a finger. 

basically, it had been smooth sailing until the last leg of the trip.

turns out, the herb you needed is in the territory of a large swarm of human sized insects, and it seems like there was no end to them.

along with another mage, the both of you have been trying to keep up a protective barrier. you let out a curse when his mana runs out, and he stumbles backwards, bumping into another person. the forcefield dims a little, and a strained noise escapes you as you feel your own mana depleting.

“Your highness!” one of your fellow party members cry out. “What now?”

your gaze darts between the barrier, them, and your temporary bodyguard. you squeeze your eyes shut.

“I—”

in a display of black and teal, something cuts through the swarm. it was XIAO, donning an intricate mask on his face. your jaw drops at the sight. he can do magic?!

Momentarily distracted, one of the bulkier people of your party seizes you, yanking you up towards their mount. you let out a yelp, barrier blinking ever so slightly as you struggle against their grip. “What—but, XIAO—! No! Unhand me at once!”

Your captor grits their teeth. “I’m sorry, your highness, but he threatened to kill us if we didn't listen.”

“Retrieve him or the barrier drops!”

Everyone pales at that.

“Y-your highness—”

“I meant every word.” If he can threaten you, so can I.

You hadn't expect him to go this far. prior to the trip, you had asked ZHONGLI questions regarding him, and you were mortified to learn that he seemed ‘lacking in will to live’, as the older man would put it.

“He’s actually quite fond of you.” you recall ZHONGLI smiling. “Pardon me for asking her highness for a favor, but on behalf of me and the other yakshas, we would be eternally grateful if you could get along with him.”

he was quite literally prepared to sacrifice himself, unaware of how there are people waiting for him back home. he also overlooked another crucial factor: your stubbornness.

said man has just about run out of time in his enhanced form, when all of a sudden, all of the bugs stopped attacking.

then he spots you: your eyes are glowing again. your mouth is moving but he can barely hear it over the ringing in his ears and the sound of his labored breathing.

somehow, you had driven the entire swarm away, and you're kneeling in front of him now. maybe it was the blood loss, but just the touch of your hand on his shoulder and cheek makes the recoil from the curse less painful.

you had half a mind to scold him, but figured that could be saved for later. as for how you solved the crisis: you used magic to speak with one of the bugs. turns out they were just as scared as you are, and they agreed to let you pick the herbs, in exchange for help to build them a place to stay warm during the winter months.

you finally acquired the herb rumored to cure all kinds of ailments. now all you need to do is get home as quickly as possible.

what you thought had been the final hurdle is finally—

“Hand over the herbs, or the demon dies.”

Your party has been reduced to five people, three of which are holding XIAO hostage. The stand off had been not too long ago, and the traitors were planning to kill him off first, but his newfound attachment towards you made it difficult for them.

You return from washing yourself in a nearby stream only to be met by the sight of bodies scattered across the encampment, and in the middle of it all, four people covered in crimson. One of them was on the ground in a fetal position–you recognize the streaks of teal, and your heart drops.

“XIAO!”

With the last bits of his strength, he throws the satchel filled with your belongings that he had safeguarded towards you. 

“Your highness…” XIAO grunts, “get… out… ghk!”

The largest of the traitors tightens the grip they have around his neck. “Shut it, filth.”

You knew this was coming. you’ve read books about people making difficult decisions. You half expected it to happen, so why does it not feel any less horrible?

You’re not fit to fight, him even less. The enemy came prepared: the same magic user that had fought alongside you is among them, sneering at you. your mana hasn’t recovered nearly enough to take on all three.

XIAO, on the other hand, is unable to understand why you couldn’t just leave: you barely know each other (yet he feels like he’s known you forever), he had been cold to you and planned to continue doing so (he’s scared of hurting you), and his life isn’t comparable the royal family’s (most importantly, yours).

He internally curses when you agree to have him spared.

“The herb.” The mage narrows his eyes. “Toss it here.”

And so you do as he says, only the moment it makes contact with one of them, the bag emits a blinding flash of white light.

When XIAO’s vision returns, his assailants are howling in pain as they clutch their head. Weirdly enough, there aren’t any visible wounds.

What happens afterwards are a bit blurry to him: his body feels like it’s floating, and then, he lands on something warm, the world fading to black.

The next time he comes to, he’s greeted with passing clouds, your exhausted but relieved face, and a gentle hand brushing away the strands obscuring his eyes. 

Rays of sunlight cast a halo behind your head, and he swears he’s never seen anything more mesmerizing.

“Let’s go home.”

with the herb successfully retrieved, the healers and SHENHE waste no time brewing and administering the cure.

XIAO is also subjected to bedrest, despite vehemently refusing at first. the only reason he agreed is because you personally scolded asked him to.

as soon as he recovered, the king awards him for his deeds, and thus, he will be returning to his original position under ZHONGLI soon enough.

he should be glad: there's comfort in routine, and he much prefers to work behind the scenes, lurking in the shadows. away from publicity, noise, people...

people... the princess... [NAME].

no reason to interact with you anymore.

he's indifferent. or at least, he should be, and yet, the twinge in his chest betrays his true feelings.

a foolish thought…

"XIAO!"

he whips around, and sure enough, there you are, slightly out of breath.

"Gods, you're fast—" you wheeze. i suppose it comes with his job. "Listen, I know you're going back to your usual duties, so I asked ZHONGLI if I could get permission to visit you from time to time." A pause ensues before you clear your throat, only just realizing how eager you sound. you didn't want to scare him away, after all. "Ahem. Only when you're not busy, of course…"

you don't comment on it, but you swore you saw his eyes light up, if ever so slightly.

avsuwhdjwjsh first post on this blog!!! if you interacted with this post tyvm i'm giving you a big ol' hug—ik this is niche but the me from 4 years ago put a lot into making it,,,

aether isn’t quite human. at least not entirely, not anymore.

it could be argued that even prior to coming to teyvat, he and his sister weren’t entirely human. they were nearly always stronger than the native life wherever they traveled, never lingering long enough for an accurate portrait to be drawn. between their glittering wings and the razor sharp swords at their hips, it could be easily argued that from the perspective of the people they visited they could be called angels.

a few wrote legends about them. the gilded warriors with shimmering swords that blinded as they slashed, so in step with each other that it was as if they were one being. the saviors, the adventurers, the peaceful giants, twin faces atop four wings apiece. lumine always managed to sneak away a copy of these legends, and they privately laughed over the artwork at their camp that night.

“we don’t look that intimidating, do we?”

“i’m fairly certain-… hang on, is that a tail?”

“that’s supposed to my hair, i think.”

“no no, look. it connects lower, here.”

“…by the stars-”

they didn’t see themselves that way, though. they were simply twins, defined by the other in every sense. never apart for long, always stood side by side, trading swords before a dangerous fight as a promise to return them.

‘draw me with courage.’

‘wield me with valor.’

lumine and aether and aether and lumine. they never fussed about the order, so long as they were together. call them whatever you’d like, insults or praise or a simple, tired request to leave, as long as it was both of them. they were all they had left. the other half of their life. to try and pry apart the seam would only result in bleeding hearts, limbs tangling together to at least die by the other’s side. even ‘twin’ was too simple a word to fit the entirety of their lives into. ‘twin’ implied a degree of separation, an impossible gap between them where wind would blow and the world would dig into, pushing them away like waves in a boat’s wake. ‘twin’ was too shallow a word, to bitter, too small to encompass everything they felt.

such fervent devotion could never be considered ‘human,’ for no human would ever live long enough to know the fear that came with knowing everything that swelled would eventually fall. no human would clutch so desperately to the twin pillars in their life—would ever consider basing their world upon two things. they’d call it foolish, even, for what would you do if one collapsed?

aether never liked that question. he didn’t like it when he and lumine first heard it, he didn’t like it when he and lumine heard it a second time, he didn’t like it anytime he and lumine heard it after that. he didn’t like it now, her sword slipping from his hands as he reached, his fingers barely brushing hers.

the unknown god laughed, and he barely had time to feel rage before the world closed in on him and his memory faded away.

aether and lumine. lumine and aether. she was always insistent upon his safety, but just this once he wished she wasn’t. living in whatever stasis she was in within that cube would certainly hurt less than this, bile rising in his throat at his failure.

somewhere in his mind, he knew that it logically wasn’t his fault. he remembered the layer of warmth that had surrounded him mid-battle, saw the reflection of understanding in lumine’s eyes. it wasn’t technically his fault, he didn’t ask to be saved, ignoring that it was his own actions that led to his god’s blessing. perhaps if he wasn’t so strict about the time of his prayer he wouldn’t have to be alone on this beach, though there was no way to find out. the sand stretched on either side, and though it wasn’t infinite, he had not left the immediate area around where he’d first woken up. to move was to move on, to leave, to accept that his world had shattered into a thousand little fragments and to give up on picking them off the floor. he couldn’t leave. to leave was to surrender to this new fate. to leave was to forget about his sister, to forget about his self, to forget about the half of his life he never imagined he could lose.

family and faith. to lose his gods favor was a threat he could live with, as there would only be himself to blame. but his sister?

if he hadn’t fished up paimon, he’s not certain he would have eaten the fish that came up instead.

she was bright, bubbly, at least after coughing up an impossible amount of seawater. she thanked him profusely while wringing out her hair, insisting on helping him in return because “it’s only fair!” as if he wasn’t three times her weight (save her magic) and and ten times as strong.

and he let her. he’s not sure why, but he did. he watched her fumble to catch crabs, ending up covered in sand, and managed a weak smile. it was for her, he told himself, spearing three with a sword that wasn’t his, helping her arrange driftwood into a measly campfire. he hardly felt hungry despite being on the beach for what had to be a few months in local time, but she was so insistent that he have some.. it was for her benefit. he just had to get her somewhere safe, then… then…

“so, where are you from?”

aether looked up from his barely-touched meal, meeting her eyes. they were so wide and earnest, too trusting for someone that just met him.

not that he had any ill intentions. no, lumine would always joke that the day he was willingly rude to another would be the day the sky turned red—something that had been the case on one of the planets they’d visited, much to her delight.

aether turned back to the fire, pushing aside the memory. “another planet.” his voice was hoarse and his throat scratched with salt from attempting to drink the seawater earlier, which was not as potable as he’d hoped. “i flew here with my sister.”

“you have a sister?” paimon looked around, though they both knew she wouldn’t find anything. “where is she?”

aether swallowed salt and bile, taking another bite of his crab just to stall. “how about we talk in the morning?”

she let the topic drop.

he didn’t sleep that night, lending her his scarf as a pillow and keeping watch. she didn’t wake when the moon erased the shadows in the sand, or when the sun first crested the sea, or when the sky fully lightened to a pale blue, birdsong filling the air. one of the remnants from the fire found its way into his hand, reaching out to gently shake her awake. her eyes were heavy and she covered her mouth as she yawned, aether looking away before his own could water.

he drew nothing in the sand as she asked her questions—who are you, where’d you come from, who are you missing, what happened to her, why didn’t you do anything?—sketching out mountains and seas he wiped away as soon as they took form. he spoke for much longer than he meant to, his words pulled out as if they were tied to some invisible string.

when was the last time he was alone for this long?

paimon listened intently, brows drawn and frowning deeply, watching as he carved twin—twin, separated by time and space—stars into the sand. “so… what you’re trying to say is that you fell here… from another world? but when you wanted to leave, to go on to the next world, your path was blocked by some unknown god?”

wow, he wanted to snark, i didn’t know there was an echo out here! but the chance never came. magic gripped him by the throat and his eyes went wide in panic, his mouth shaping words he didn’t choose to say by force. he didn’t want to say what someone else told him to. he didn’t know what was going on. he was being pulled at some ghost’s whims, walking stiffly across the sand. it did not skid from beneath his feet, nor pull his balance one way or another. it was solid as stone, leading him up the beach without warning, without knowledge of why or when it would stop.

when was the last time he was this helpless?

(lumine.)

he stumbled across the shore on uncoordinated limbs, fighting fruitlessly. ahead, slime bubbled up from where the sand met the sea, but the ghost did not stop. mist coagulated into a pale blue blob with hazy spots for eyes, and only then was he allowed to stop. paimon yelped and ducked behind him, a familiar weight sinking into his hand. the slime had barely the chance to turn and see him, jerking up as if surprised, when his arm slashed forward.

a sword. not his sword, not lumine’s sword, but a sword, pulled from nowhere, the dull blade hacking at the blob of its own will until the sludge dispersed and sunk back into the sand. a soft mist lingered above the sand, but he was pulled forward without care or remorse. he didn’t even know if it would have hurt him.

weight hit him between the shoulders, cold spreading over his skin and absorbing into his skin. energy buzzed beside his ear, his earring humming with neither outlet nor conduit. were he anyone else, he would have been afraid, but he recognized the buzz. all at once, he understood. all at once, the weak puppetry was vindicated, his muscles relaxing and letting it happen. your energy sank into him, and he let himself stop worrying.

if you were here, he’d be okay. if you were here, you could fix this.

if you were here, he could find his sister, and everything would be okay again.

aether was not human. not entirely, not anymore, and he knew the people of mondstat could tell. you had stayed to guide his body for a week, alternating between helping the knights with dvalin and exploring the plains of mondstat. he was weak and your grip was frail, his attacks uncoordinated and clumsy, but you were there. you understood. the cavalry captain gave him a long stare as they exited his domain, a mix of curiosity and disbelief swirling in his one eye.

when you finally left, you did so in the middle of mondstat square. a physical weight lifted from his shoulders, the anemo he’d absorbed turning from calm and controlled to pushing at the edges of his form, trying to make him give. the anemo archon approached, soothing the wind with a wave of his hand, pulling him along for a drink and a chat. his knees did not want to bend without your command, his mind fraying a bit from continued exposure.

“how interesting, that you’re still standing after a week without rest,” the bartender remarked, the glass in his hands obviously an excuse to keep them above the bar. “what’s your name, outlander?”

he did not think of his own name. no, when he went to answer, he thought of the name you had given him, the one you whispered as you sheltered him from the unknown god’s wrath. it was not his, but it was yours, and wasn’t that what he was asking for?

it took too long for him to answer. red eyes narrowed but eventually chalked it up to exhaustion, giving him directions he couldn’t hear. the captain led him to a room in the back, but he didn’t sleep that night, sitting at the window and searching for the thin sliver of stars.

he didn’t need to eat anymore. he could, certainly, and it tasted fine enough, but he didn’t exactly need to. he’d thought it odd, at first, that barbatos was healed strictly by the wind, but he understood now. he spent his free time sitting under vanessa’s tree, half-asleep as he waited for your return.

you were his source of energy, of will. you knew answers to problems he’d have given up on, and if you didn’t then you tried and tried and tried again until you got it right. you were the power that purified dvalin’s tears, you swept the wind to fix the holy lyre, you cleared the seals around decarabian’s tower. he was a medium, and he was happy with that. your presence waxed and waned, the lapses without you seeming to pass by in a blink.

a few of the knights worried for him, but he knew your vessels understood. none held as much of your power as him, none were as reliant on you, but they understood. they excused his oddities with a kind smile, paimon always at his side to make sure he didn’t waste away the day simply sitting in one spot. prior to coming to teyvat, the concept of elemental sight was something he was only vaguely familiar with. a few planets had some talented witches that could feel the flow of energy through the ground and grass, who could watch the mist in the air and predict the weather. he’d never experienced it himself before. now, the world lit up as his eyes took on a teal sheen, your power mixing with the anemo within him to grant him insight. the world was so vibrant, even the most mundane sights capturing his attention. how could he not stare? if he had it his way he’d always view your creations like this.. but whenever paimon snapped him out of it he’d come out of it with a headache, not to mention his staring tended to be off-putting to those around.

a lot of his new behaviors were. when within your control, he moved stiffly, with repetitive motions forecast well in advance. you chose what he said, when and how he moved, you controlled the very flow of elements through his body. it was harder and harder to think for himself without you there and though paimon handled most of the conversation, there was only so much she could say.

“who are you looking for?” lumine. his sister. himself. the knowledge was there but his throat was closed, unwilling to move without your order.

“thank you for your help.” you’re welcome. don’t worry about it. it was nothing. all he could manage was a stiff nod, eyes flicking to the sky, counting the days until your return. he’d gotten a good grasp of your routine by now.

“who are you?” yours. a traveller. lumine’s. he could not blame those they ran across for their suspicion, even though he wanted to. could they not feel the remains of your presence lingering around him?

they had to go to the rite of decension soon. liyue was holding off, though, waiting for your arrival. they’d never dare to make you miss it, so aether felt no hurry to leave. he laid in the middle of windrise, staring up at the stars. he used to sit atop the knights’ headquarters, but it took too long for the lights of the city to turn out and he liked picking out the various constellations.

his was up there, somewhere. he didn’t have a vision like your other vessels, but he could feel it. it was written right beside your decision to save him and not lumine, alongside your actions in mondstat and everything you’d do in liyue. fate, you’d called it, well-acquainted and intertwined.

"Didn't you told me that you're mostly busy at night, fighting off demons?"

".......... I sensed earlier that tonight, they wont be much of a problem to handle unlike the usual days. So... I assumed that I could take a break for once in a while."

"That's... very unlike you. But alright!"

☆ Xiao who accidentally called you "Qingxin" once when he was admiring you watching the night sky.

☆ Xiao who would watch over you if you fell asleep, putting some crystalflies on your hair. How dare you being the most beautiful glowing star in his live. It makes him feel weird.

☆ Just Xiao being Xiao, obviously in love with you.

𖥸 Kazuha who would purposely go to places you would visit on the same day just so he could run into you and join you.

𖥸 Kazuha who would accompany you on your adventures most of the times and didn't even realized it until later on.

𖥸 Kazuha who would collect flowers that would remind him of you and keep it in a special box.

𖥸 Kazuha who would obviously write a poem to you, purposely using fancy words so you would have a hard time understanding what it means.

"That was so beautiful... could you write me another one in this second?"

"Why of course, my dove. Anything for you..."

"By the way, what did it mean?"

"That's for you to figure out <3"

𖥸 Kazuha who would play with your hair anytime, anywhere. Even place some soft kisses. That little blush that appeared on your face makes you look so cute!

𖥸 Kazuha who would be very affectionate to you both in public and private, makes other people wonder if you two are a couple. He doesn't even bother to correct them if they asked.

𖥸 Just Kazuha being Kazuha, hopelessly in love with you.

༄ Heizou who would immediately look for you once you arrived in Inazuma.

༄ Heizou who would walk beside you with his arm around your shoulder like it's not a problem. Ignore the stares and focus on our mission!

༄ Heizou who would flirt with you 25/8 non-stop, your flustered face is just so adorable!

[insert Heizou leaning close to your face]

"U-Uhm... Heizou?

[insert Heizou holding your chin with his thumb and index finger]

"H-Heizou?!"

"Hm... your eyes are much more beautiful up close."

༄ Heizou who would stare at you with the FONDEST, THE SOFTEST SMILE whenever you're happy or excited. You're just the prettiest person in his eyes.

༄ Heizou who would tickle your tickle spots just to hear those melodic laugh of yours.... and to also annoy the hell out of you.

༄ Just Heizou being Heizou, head over heels in love with you.

❥ Wanderer who would place his hat on your head whenever it's sunny or rainy.

❥ Wanderer follow you everywhere and anywhere you go in Sumeru because Nahida "told him to" and that he has "nothing better to do" currently.

❥ Wanderer who would make so many excuses, just to engage in a physical contact with you. Your body is just so warm against his, he couldn't help it. He likes the feeling of warmth...

"Uhm... Wanderer?"

"What?"

"Why are you holding me close?"

"This forest is dangerous to travel if alone, bet you'll get lost if I don't keep you close."

"There's literally little to no creatures roaming around this area, the forest rangers said it."

"..."

"..."

"Listen, who knows if-"

❥ Wanderer who would be a clingy little octopus in close doors, our man has no shame to cuddle up to you at night like you're a little plush.

❥ Wanderer who couldn't hide his jealousy if you came to Sumeru accompanied by Aether or Kazuha.

❥ Just Wanderer being Wanderer, totally in love with you.

✭ Aether who would go around collecting flowers, just so he could have a bouquet ready for you whenever you cross paths.

✭ Aether who would tell you stories about his twin sister, his little secrets, and even hinting some small confessions to see if you caught onto it. You didnt

✭ Aether who would ALWAYS help you with anything in any way, even if you don't need any help, he insisted that he should. Sometimes, his eagerness shows a little too much.

"Hey [Name]! I heard that you've taken a commission from Neuvillette. Let me help you with it?"

"Oh! No need, Aether. He just wants me to deliver a few boxes of important documents for Wrio-"

"Great! Let's go get them!"

"Wait, I didn't agree-"

"It's fine, c'mon! More time to spend with you, the better!"

✭ Aether who would take you to the BEST places in Teyvat to spend time together. Thanks to him being a very active traveler, he knows which places would make your jaw drop.

✭ Aether who would insist on making his teapot your second home, he even made you a room right next to his! He also insisted that he wouldn't mind if you go to his room to sleep with him- wait what?

✭ Just Aether being Aether, extremely in love with you.

Made by @oceanisty on 27/03/2024.

Navigation

Gorou may act all tough and mighty around his troops for the sake of his heavy title "general", but when you tickle his heartstrings so playfully and lovingly, he turns into the cutest doggy you may ever see. Not to mention he has absolutely no control over how his ears perk up and tail wagging uncontrollably, and he wants attention so much to the point he's embarrassed about his neediness. His pride is high, but his need for you is much higher and it's evident from the way he can't help but cling onto you from the moment you come home, slightly whining if you don't give him headpats and kisses on his cheek as you always do. He wraps his tail around you protectively, leaning into your neck and tickling you with his fluffy ears. He may not say directly but every time you cuddle, you couldn't help but adore the needy look in his eyes, pushing his tail closer to you to make you cuddle his tail as well.

Kazuha ever the poet, just can't stay for one minute without complimenting or admiring you. For better or for worse you couldn't tell, he meant every single word no matter how exaggerated his compliments were. He meant them to the core. You could simply be enjoying the fragrant aroma of the afternoon tea he brought for you in peaceful silence, until he breaks it with his honey-laced voice full of admiration- "You look more beautiful than any goddess that have walked this world, my dove." It never fails to catch you off guard with his extravagant and frankly a-bit-too-cheesy compliments, and he is unfortunately very-acutely-aware from how his pretty scarlet eyes flash with mischievous satisfaction when he sees the slightest bit embarrassment show on your features no matter how you try to hide it. "I cannot imagine ever being happier than this moment with you, my beloved." "Your beauty puts the sun and stars to shame, love." P.s: If you decide one day to fire back with another equally-cheesy compliment about him, you may discover the wandering samurai a lot quieter, stumbling over his words with a lot-rosier cheeks than you remembered him having.

Kaeya is vulnerable around you. Scratch that, he allows himself to be vulnerable around you. This speaks so much volumes from who he truly is inside in comparison to his oh-so-mighty facade he keeps in his daily life. Kaeya prides himself on his sharp intuition and this fated encounter with you confirmed his accuracy further. You may suspect him for charming you like he always did when he mentioned how he "just knew you were the one immediately when he laid his eyes on your heavenly figure."- his words not yours. But in the end, you knew he was speaking the truth from how his gaze found yours with the mellow look you were familiar with, holding onto your hands with a featherlight grip like the one he held on your heart. He never lied to you, didn't hide his identity nor his purpose to you. He trusted you more than himself or anything else. Kaeya was no fool, he knew the dangers of sharing his truth. But he trusted his intuition and insight on this one- to trust you. Plus, you would stand against the world with him if need be, what more would Kaeya desire? The confident cavalry captain that everyone knows- he melts away in your presence, instead turning into a simple guy hopelessly in love, willing to spend every moment possible with you as long as heavens allow it. Nevermind, as long as you allowed him to. He wouldn't let even the heavens stand between the two of you for as long as you desired him the way he did for you.

Heizou's cheerfulness skyrockets from the moment you accepted his confession, if it was even possible. He was already happy-go-lucky to the point it was problematic to his surroundings- you might feel a bit remorse for others in his presence thanks to you fueling his fire. He sings at the top of his lungs whenever he hears love songs with absolutely no regards to where you two were, he would randomly hug and shower you with kisses on your cheek, forehead and nose even in front of that Tengu general from his workplace. He shows you off to everyone, and on top of that he can't keep his hands to himself even if it would cost him his life. He can't help it, he wants to be close to you! He loves holding you against him, hugging you tightly until both of you are almost out of breath and giggling uncontrollably. He pulls the adorably annoying "password?" when you're in bed cuddling and want to go somewhere, not letting you out of his embrace if you don't magically guess whatever password he's thinking of. On top of that he makes you guess the password by making it to a riddle on spot, so good luck with that. Whenever he happens to pass by a flower market, he'd pick one flower to "represent your beauty" for the day, making you scoff and accept his cute gift with a smile on your face. Despite his aloof behavior, it doesn't take much to notice that he's thinking of you every moment of the day and shows it to you through his various ways including but not exclusive to: physical touch and cute gifts.

Tighnari is well... a fox. That is to say, his sneakiness grows each moment he spends with you. He'd fill your daily life with traces of him so you are reminded of him and as reminder that he missed you dearly when he's away. He giggled to himself in endearment when he imagined you pouting slightly at his absence of presence, then a warm smile blooming on your face when you find that plate of berries he picked for you with a "good morning, dear. have a nice day, love you. -tg." note next to it. He "accidentally" leaves his sweater in your room when he's away for a particularly long time due to forest research so you'd have it to cuddle when you get lonely. You'd hug that sweater when you miss his again the next day, looking at that small pot of flower he brought for you on your birthday. And finally on the day he was to return home, you'd greet him wearing that sweater. It was an "accident", all of it- he told you with a sneaky smirk (even though he imagined you greeting him like this the entire trip but you didn't need to know that.). Alas, both of you knew that it was just one of his sneaky tricks to keep him in your mind as much as possible while soothing your sadness in the too-quiet serene nights he unfortunately made you spend alone. His plan ends by making you forget your lonely nights completely when you finally find home in between his arms. What sneaky tricks would he try tomorrow? I guess you'll find out soon enough.

With a deep breath, you screw your eyes shut and plant a kiss on his forehead. Like you've always wanted to.

At least, where his forehead was supposed to be.

Your eyes fly open when you belatedly notice that what your lips are pressed against isn’t the warmth of his forehead. Aether’s eyes are wide open, gazing back at you.

Then it takes you about two seconds to realize you’re kissing him, and he's fully awake, bearing witness to it. Not to mention you’re kissing him a couple of inches down from his forehead.

You jump back, your heart leaping out of your throat, yet you’re unable to move when Aether has an arm snaked around your waist.

“Oh, you’re—I’m so sorry, I didn’t think—No, I mean, I didn’t mean to kiss you!”

This is horrifying. Double the horrifying. You intended to kiss him on the forehead and then return to sleep with only this secret shared between your heart and the quiet of the forest. But he woke up, moved, and your lips ended up square on his.

“That wasn’t fair,” he rasps, heavy with sleep. He keeps his arm firm while you’re trying to shuffle away. “Our first kiss could’ve been more romantic than that.”

“Nothing romantic about that!”

“Plenty romantic in waking up to an angel kissing me,” he remarks, then grins lazily, as much as his weary facial muscles can handle. And looks stupidly attractive doing it.

“Aether,” you whine, your arm flying up to cover your eyes in a lame attempt to hide your humiliation. “You know I didn’t mean to. It was—it was supposed to be—”

“It’s okay,” Aether laughs. “I know. Though, I would’ve preferred it if you meant to. You could wake me up a lot faster if you meant to do that.”

He cups your chin with his thumb and index, his eyes zeroed in on your lips. “So, if you’re going to kiss me, aim right next time.” He grins at you, his gaze melting any trace of embarrassment away. “Okay?”