(No Gender Specified)!Reader

➻ Childe, Zhongli, Aether, Heizou.

Warning(s): Violence, Mentions of Blood and Death, Sharp weapons and Stabbing. Not Proofread. (Gender might appear? on mistake)

You only had two choices. It was, to be together or be known that you were once together. You thought you picked the first option, but destiny forbid it.

No Love Left

➜ Character/s: aether; tsaritsa!reader

➜ Theme/s: where you’re the tsaritsa and also aether’s soulmate. soulmate au. not really angst but it’s kind of intense. yan behavior(?). kind of based to the theory that tsaritsa is the god of love but not really mentioned much hehe.

➜ Word Count: 665 words (drabble)

➜ Warning: contains minor spoiler for dainsleif’s quest (the first one, not the recent)

➜ Note/s: another part of my soulmate series~ so sorry for the no post for the last few days, i’ve been so busy with college bc it’s our finals but now i’m free yay! i wanted to post zhongli’s part but instead i decided to post it on the day his banner comes! goodluck to everyone pulling for zhongli!! (including me aaaa pray for me!) also, thanks for supporting my series heheh

➜ Part of the series:

Home - Albedo | Love or Hate? - Tartaglia/Childe | Your Name - Zhongli | Destiny & Fate - Venti |

Brother and sister traveled all around to every world, as to what motive? A search for a home? An escape from home? Aether had never really thought of that, not until he was separated from his sister when they came to Teyvat. 

If only they hadn’t come there, then surely life would have been a little bit better, his sister wouldn’t be out of his sight and is still with him by now. This traveling, they never really thought about the consequences before all of these happened. Now, it seems fate bound them to suffer. 

And it was still not enough. 

“Do you want to know why no one else can harm you?” 

Aether was caught off-guard at the sudden question, not really expecting it coming, even Paimon who was beside him responded with confusion laced in her voice. 

“Because… he is strong? Is there any more reason, Y/n?” 

When you turned to look at him, his breath faltered at the emotions in your eyes, the sound of his heart beating by his ears. Not knowing what the reasons were for this kind of reaction, Aether was curious, he wanted to know, not only because you were a respectable archon, nor was it because he trusts you or that it caresses his pride. Actually, he himself couldn’t recognize why--he just did. 

“Because only I can hurt you,” he hears you say, nonchalantly, as if you had been used to telling it countless times. “-do you know what that means?” 

Like usual, it was Paimon who could respond, but unlike any other time, Aether also knew the answer to your question. 

“Does that mean you and Aether are soulmates? How is that possible? He came from another world!” 

“That is true.” you nod, a corner of your lip quirking up. “And I’ve been waiting for a long time for this.” 

Aether steps back, with Paimon panicking beside him, already attempting to move away. Your presence was overwhelming, and now that he knew another identity of yours, his mind was spiraling in confusion. 

But he didn’t withdraw his sword, no. It was not as if he couldn't’, more like he didn’t want to. He still refuses to believe that you were there to hurt him, and it seems like he was right. 

Your hand reaches out to him and he doesn't flinch away despite Paimon’s calls from afar to do so. Your touch was gentle, cold, but kind. 

“Traveller-no, I mean Aether, only I could hurt you, and only you could hurt me. With this bond that we have, we can change the world, we can save Teyvat from Celestia. Join me, burn away the old world with me.” 

Aether was silent for awhile, tempted to say yes. And yet, he doesn’t. 

“You killed hundreds of innocent men, Y/n. I-”

“Ah, yes, of course you’d mention the reputation of my Fatui Harbingers.” you say as you let go of his hand and turn away from him, distancing yourself.

He suddenly missed your presence, even if it had only been a second. Still, he stood his ground, expecting to see the goodness of his soulmate’s soul. 

“They killed me hundreds more when they took you from me.” when he saw your eyes again, the words of Dainsleif from before echoed in his mind, “a god who with no love left,” he said. Now, Aether knew he already lost another person in his life. 

“If you’re not going with me, then fine. You now have the responsibility to kill me, or else, if you stop me, I will not hesitate to hurt you.” you paused, eyeing him with contemplation before, “Guards, take them.” 

“Wait, Y/n! What are you doing? Aren’t you two soulmates?!” Paimon pleaded, hoping her voice would get through you. However, it was Aether who knew that it was all too late. 

A smile, that’s what you gave when you said your last words to him. 

Gender-neutral.

Word count: 800+

---

His name lingers on your tongue everytime you say it. You didn't know who he was and such a name was foreign to the nations of Teyvat, but it sounded so perfectly when you utter it.

Aether.

You weren't much of a talker so you didn't know many people, but for some reason, you always seem to utter that name-- be it out loud or in your mind. You didn't mind though, loving how the name rolls off your tongue.

A smile slowly crept up to your face-- a small smile, but there's no difference.

"Hey, (Y/N), you're kinda scaring me, you know?" Your friend- whose name is completely irrelevant- spoke, eyeing you weirdly. Lately, you have been smiling to yourself and always utter 'Aether' which started to creep her out and some others, although they don't express it.

"Ah, sorry.." You rub your hand on the back of your neck. "Anyway, I'm quite curious," they start, waiting for you to show a gesture to continue. "Why is it that you're smiling a lot? Did you find someone you like~?" They poke your shoulder while covering their mouth with their other hand, although it did not hide their huge, teasing grin.

"I don't know.." you answered truthfully, looking down at the ground. You were truly wondering if this 'Aether' guy was actually real or not. All your life you have had that name being left your lips like a sort of prayer, but you have not met a person whose name is Aether. Sometimes, you think you just made it up, but something in you begs to differ.

"Huh? That's a weird answer, don't you think?" they ask, face visible of confusion. You shrug, saying nothing.

Having no choice but to take your response as answer, they switched the topic. "Well then, we should probably bring our fair share of logs home or we'll freeze to death. Snezhnaya's cold doesn't show mercy to anyone." They hinted at the pile of chopped wood on the ground.

You nod, walking home with the logs in tow. "Welcome home. I see you brought a lot back," your mother greets, a smile obvious on her face.

You nod and put the pile of wood on its rack, placed by the fireplace. "Well, if you need me, I'll be in my room," you muttered before leaving.

Snezhnaya and its ruler was merciless. There wasn't much entertainment than that of Mondstadt, the city of bards. So, in your room, there you sat on a sofa that was backed against a window, turning your upper body to stare outside at the frozen wasteland to at least have something entertaining to watch.

Staring at the stars, you were suddenly reminded of the name 'Aether'. You wonder, is this person ever going to come, or will you forever utter that name?

Tired out from the workout of dragging wood, you decided to skip dinner and go to sleep, getting deep under your blanket for warmth.

The next day, your friend had invited you to hangout around the town since they didn't like sitting around and doing nothing. "Hey, did you hear?" they excitedly ask, eager for you to respond. "No, what's up?" you ask, looking at him side eye.

"There's a commotion going on that the Honourary Knight from Mondstadt is in Snezhnaya!" they said, finally relieved of the build-up excitement. 'The Honourary Knight?' you question. Such person has been a talk across Teyvat, but for what reason could they be travelling? You did not know.

"Let's go see the knight!" Your friend took you by the wrist and dragged you to the square of the town. "Hey, look, I think that's them!" They point towards a blonde male.

Stopping when your friend does, your heart fluttered upon seeing the knight. Why did he feel so familiar? You have never met him, but you can't shake the feeling that you know his name.

The knight turns your way and at that moment, realization struck you and it seemed as if he, too, seem to know. "Aether," you called, barely audible.

"Huh? That name again..?" your friend said, but his attention was turned away from you and to the approaching blonde male. "Ah, he's coming this way..!" they quickly say lowly, clenching their teeth.

The knight stops in front of you and your friend quickly straightened his posture. "H- hey, you're the Honourary Knight, right?" your friend points out. You look at them, not knowing why they were so nervous when he looked relaxed. "Um, yes, I am," the blonde answers and looks at you in a seeming manner. "I'm Aether."

That was it. That was all you needed to hear. "Do you.. Perhaps know my name..?" you ask, now regretting that such a silly question came out of your mouth.

A smile parts his lips and gentle eyes sparkle back at you. "Of course. I have been searching for you.. (Y/N)."