#aether x reader

Varka slowly guided you to sit on a low stone bench, immediately dropping to his knees right in front of you so he was eye-level, completely stripping away his commanding grand master presence. His massive calloused hands came to rest gently on your trembling knees, their steady weight providing an instant anchor as your chest heaved shallow, panicked gasps.

“Hey, take it easy. Look right here, I’ve got you,” Varka murmured, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly register that was soothing, entirely devoid of his usual loud theatrics. He took one of your shaking hands and pressed it flat against his broad chest, right over his heart, letting you feel the steady, slow rhythm of his own heartbeat. “Don’t worry about the crowd,” he continued. 

“Just match my breathing. Big breath in…” He paused, drawing in a deep, exaggerated breath himself. His broad chest expanded slightly beneath his clothing and armor. Seeing his steady composure, you shakily sucked in a shallow breath, trying your best to natch the immense depth of his. 

“...And let it out.” His chest slowly collapsed as he released a long, steady exhale through his mouth. You followed his cue, letting the trapped air rush past your lips, your tight shoulders dropping as your body finally began to mirror his relaxed posture. “There you go. We’re staying right here as long as you need, no rush at all.”

.𖥔 ݁ AETHER

Aether’s golden eyes would widen in immediate concern the moment he noticed your fingers gripping his sleeve with a desperate, white-knuckled intensity, your breathing turning sharp and shallow. Having traveled across countless nations and witnessed all forms of distress, he recognized the onset of panic instantly and moved with a quiet, practiced efficiency to protect you. He silently waved Paimon away, giving the floating companion a look to stay where she is before taking your hand in his and gently leading you away from the busy marketplace into the serene, empty docks of the harbor where the open air could give your lungs room to breathe.

The gentle lapping of the ocean waves against the wooden docks provided a soft, rhythmic backdrop as the cool sea breeze swept across your face, helping to clear the suffocating weight in your chest. Aether sat closely beside you on the edge of the pier, his shoulder rubbing against yours to offer a constant sense of physical security without crowding your space. He held your hand with his, his thumb gently and repeatedly tracing smooth, comforting circles against the backs of your knuckles.

“I’m right here. You’re safe with me,” Aether said softly, his voice carrying the calm, steady assurance of a seasoned traveler who had weathered a thousand storms. “Just focus on the sound of the water. Take a deep breath with me. In…”

Aether slowly expanded his chest, drawing in a deep breath of the salty harbor air. He held your hands a little tighter, waiting patiently until you tried to mimic the motion, your chest rising with a shaky, desperate gulp of air as you fought to fill your lungs. “...and out.”

He let his breath go in a long, quiet sigh. He watched you intently as you followed his lead, his golden eyes tracking the slow rise and fall of your chest as the rigid tension finally began to drain from your shoulders, a gentle smile now outstretched on his lips. “You’re doing great,” he gave your hand a gentle squeeze, “we can just sit here and watch the waves until you feel better, okay?”

.𖥔 ݁ WRIOTHESLEY

Wriothesley noticed the sudden, icy tremor in your hand where it rested in the crook of his arm, your footsteps faltering as you walked through the dimly lit, echo-prone corridors of the fortress’ upper levels. His sharp eyes immediately took in your pale complexion and the way your gaze darted frantically around the enclosed metal space, recognizing the onset of claustrophobic panic before you could even try to hide it. Without a single word of fuss, he immediately pivoted on his heel, using his large frame to guide you through a nearby service door and into the private, spacious sanctuary of his personal office, immediately locking the heavy doors behind you to guarantee absolute privacy.

The heavy click of the deadbolt sliding into place signaled that the outside “world” was completely locked away, leaving only the dim, cozy warmth of the office and the crackle of the radiator. Wriothesley didn’t push you into a chair, instead, he pulled you directly against his broad chest, wrapping his heavy arms around you to completely envelop your smaller frame in his comforting warmth.

His massive hands rubbed slow tracks up and down your spine, his leather vest providing a solid, immovable surface for you to press your face against as you trembled. “Woah, easy there sweetheart. You’re alright,” Wriothesley murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against your ear in a lazy, soothing tone that cut through the loud ringing in your head. “Just lean into me and let it out. No one can get in here, and you don’t have to put on a brave face for me.”

He tightened his arms around you, burying his face into your hair as he drew in a heavy, deliberate breath, letting you feel the unwavering expanse of his chest expanding against your cheek. “Just breathe, real slow.”

You shivered against him, forcing your lungs to finally expand and mimic the heavy rise and fall of his chest as the crushing weight in your throat began to dissolve. “Yeah, that’s it. I’ve got you completely covered.”

.𖥔 ݁ FREMINET

Freminet felt a sudden, sharp spike of sympathetic panic the moment he looked over during your walk along the quiet shores of the Court of Fontaine and saw you gripping your chest, your eyes wide with a quiet, suffocating terror. Because he was very familair with the crushing weight of anxiety himself, his initial instinct to shy away vanished entirely, replaced by a deep, protective need to help the person he cared about the most. He quickly scanned the area, finding a secluded alcove beneath a stone archway near the water’s edge, and gently took your hand, guiding you into the quiet shadow where no passing citizens could see your vulnerability.

The soft lapping of the Fontaine waters against the stone arch provided a familiar, comforting sound as Freminet helped you sit down against the cool masonry. He immediately sat down right next to you, his knees tucked slightly to his chest as he pulled Pers from his belt, gently placing the mechanical penguin into your trembling lap to give your hands something solid to hold onto.

His cheeks were slightly flushed with his own nervousness, but his eyes were completely focused on you, full of a gentle, understanding empathy. “I… I know exactly how this feels. It’s really scary, but it’s going to be okay,” Freminet whispered softly, his voice a quiet, comforting presence that didn’t demand any energy from you.

He carefully reached out, his fingers sliding into yours, squeezing your hand with a gentle reassuring pressure, “you don’t have to say anything at all.” He slowly took your cold shaking fingers and wrapped them tightly around the small, solid frame of the clockwork toy, using his own hands to steady yours against Pers’ smooth metal shell.

“Just hold onto Pers, and hold onto my hand. Let’s listen to the water together, okay?” He took a slow quiet breath, consciously dropping his shoulders and tilting his head closer to yours so you could hear his steady respiration over the splashing of the nearby waves. “It’ll pass soon, I promise… I’m right here with you.”

Aether: He can be emotionally distant or disappear without warning because he feels like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He makes you feel that, even though he loves you, there will always be a "greater mission" that could force him to leave you behind at any moment. His inability to put down deep roots means you never feel 100% certain that he'll stay.

Venti: Whenever the conversation turns serious or you touch on his past wounds, he'll crack a joke, change the subject, or down a bottle of wine to escape reality. It's frustrating to love someone who never truly lets you into his inner world because he fears that if you do, you'll see the weight of a thousand years of loneliness. Loving Venti is loving someone who always wears a mask.

Wanderer: He assumes everyone has a hidden agenda. If you show him affection, he'll question it, insult you, or abruptly withdraw to test you. His biggest red flag is that, in his quest to avoid being hurt, he'll always be the one to break off the relationship first. He'll make you feel like you're constantly walking on eggshells to avoid triggering his defense mechanisms.

Kazuha: He has a tendency to "go with the flow." If he feels the relationship is becoming too burdensome, restrictive, or conflicting with his need for absolute freedom, he's likely to leave without looking back. His red flag is that his devotion has an expiration date he sets himself, and he doesn't feel he has to explain himself because, for him, everything is "ephemeral like autumn leaves."

Xiao: Xiao can become incredibly toxic, trying to push you away "for your own good." He doesn't know how to live a healthy life; his life is all pain, karma, and duty. He'll try to sabotage your relationship with him because he believes being around him will only bring misfortune. He'll force you to deal with his constant rejection and refusal to let you be his support, convincing you that his misery is his only reality.

Heizou: You never know if what he's doing or saying is purely sincere or if it's part of a "game" or social experiment he has in mind. He might orchestrate situations to see how you react to jealousy, pressure, or danger. Loving Heizou means living with someone who's always analyzing you, and the line between genuine interest and psychological manipulation is dangerously thin with him.

he wouldn’t make a dramatic announcement but he’ll simply watch as the curious kitten stepped out and wandered toward you. seeing your face light up would be more than enough for him. “WANDERER DID YOU- WHY’S THERE A KITTY..?” as you knelt to meet your new companion, he’d already be quietly unpacking the food, toys, and supplies he’d secretly purchased beforehand, pretending this had all been a perfectly practical decision rather than something he’d planned purely to make you smile.

.𖥔 ݁ KAVEH

kaveh would never be able to keep the surprise completely under control. He’d spend days excitedly researching everything a kitten might need, accidentally dropping suspicious hints, and nearly giving the whole plan away every time the topic of pets came up. on the day itself, he’d insist you close your eyes before practically bouncing with anticipation while pacing a tiny, sleepy kitten into your arms. the second he saw your expression, all the nervousness he’d been hiding would disappear, replaced by a grin so genuine it was impossible not to mirror it.

within minutes he’d already be talking about where the kitten’s bed should go, what to name it, and how the furniture might need to be rearranged so it could climb safely around the house. before long, the two of you would find yourselves sitting on the floor together, completely abandoning the rest of the day’s plans just to watch the kitten explore its new home.

.𖥔 ݁ WRIOTHESLEY

wriothesley would approach the surprise with the same calm confidence he brings to everything else. he’ll simply ask you to come home a little earlier than usual if you’re busy, acting suspiciously casual the entire day. when you arrived, you’d immediately notice he was sitting in his usual chair with an oddly amused expression, one hand absentmindedly scratching the head of a tiny kitten curled comfortably in his lap. he’d pretend nothing was out of the ordinary, continuing to sip his tea while quietly waiting for you to notice the new little occupant. 

the moment the kitten wandered over and rubbed against your legs, your reaction would tell him everything he needed to know. he’d hide his satisfaction behind a small chuckle before getting down on the floor beside the two of you, already pulling out a bag filled with toys, food, and blankets he’d secretly prepared days ago. 

.𖥔 ݁ AETHER

aether would be determined to keep the surprise a secret… unfortunately, he has paimon. after carefully planning everything and finally bringing the kitten home, he’d spend the entire walk trying to stop paimon from blurting anything out. she’d promise she wouldn’t say a word, only to become increasingly excited the closer the two of you got to meeting. when you appeared, aether would subtly signal for paimon to stay quiet, only for to immediately shout “wait, don’t come over here! aether definitely isn’t hiding a kitten behind his back!” the surprise would be ruined in spectacular fashion before Aether even had the chance to say hello.

after a brief moment of complete disbelief, aether would let out an embarrassed laugh as the tiny kitten poked its head out from behind him, having clearly chosen the worst possible time to reveal itself. watching your face light up anyway would make the failed surprise completely worth it, while paimon proudly insisted she’d “helped”, aether would simply kneel beside you as you scooped the kitten into your arms, unable to stop smiling despite the fact that absolutely none of his careful planning had gone according to plan. next time he definitely won't be involving paimon in his plans to surprise you though...

"Such a strange stirring in my heart... surely they're not responsible?"

"...I love them... don't I? Heh. Of course it's them... who else?"

"My heart rate is increasing again... it's them, isn't it?"

"To think... of all the things you make me feel... I've never had such a burning feeling in my chest..."

"Is it so strange that I want nothing more than to stay by them always? Surely not..."

"They're like a comforting breeze... one I wish will never disapate."

"They're wonderful... how could I possibly let go?"

"No matter how hard I try... thoughts of you are... forever with me."

.

.

.

Kaeya doesn't seem to be the type to get jealous, but he is: don't let that cocky smirk of his deceive you

As you sat next to Kaeya in Angel's Share, talking about how his day went, telling a funny story from your own day, something unexpected happened

A drunkard sat on the opposite side of you from Kaeya, striking up a conversation, fully interrupting the Captain's time with his lover

Seeing you chat with someone who was barely holding their liquor, their arm dangling over your shoulder, and face way too close to yours for Kaeya's liking... made him less than pleased

The guy kept blabbering and blabbering on, so long that you had stopped listening some time through

It was one particular comment that caught your attention again

A pickup line, so gross and objectifying that it stunned you into silence

But Kaeya was a yapper, and he had something to say

A few choice remarks, sly belittlement, and a line that would send even the most resilient of knights into a pit of self-loathing

The guy went scampering off, the drunkard's arm around your shoulder being replaced with Kaeya's

His expression seemed to be the same as always to the untrained eye, but after knowing him for so long, you could tell he was furious

He paid for both of your drinks, smoothly taking your hand in his, then guiding you out of Angel's Share

When you arrived at your shared home, Kaeya wasted no time doting and kissing every part of you, from your cheeks, lips, nose, shoulders, hands, and any other part of you within his reach

He'd be damned if he let a guy like that get you down, so he wanted to shower you in affection

Both to make you feel better, and also to get rid of that man's stench off of you, replacing it with his own

"You don't mind, do you, my dear? I'm just giving you your proper amount of love for the night."

Flins was always a gentleman, especially to you

He was eloquent, sweet, sometimes a little mischievous (not that you minded), but an overall reliable boyfriend

And he loved you, loved to the point where he felt his heart ache every time you were apart

Which seemed to be too often for him, since you didn't live together

But today, you were visiting him at the lighthouse, which had him in a flurry of excitement

But for whatever reason, you were late

Whether this was typical for you or not, Flins was worried

He went out to search for you in the cemetery, hoping that you were somewhere nearby, when he spotted you by one of the gravestones

Even from a distance, he could see you were talking to someone, and as he got closer, he saw the familiar face of the Traveler

You were having a pleasant conversation with Aether, smiling and laughing at his jokes

The sight alone made Flins' mood dampen a bit; he'd much rather it be him making you smile that way

The Lightkeeper made it to your side quicker than expected, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you close

Flins introduced you to Aether as his girlfriend, with a glare pointed in the Traveler's direction

Aether, now confused by the Lightkeeper's sudden hostility, decided to carry on with his travels, waving goodbye to you and Flins rather quickly

Your boyfriend then guided you back to the lighthouse, insistent that you tell him about your journey and anything interesting that happened while you two were apart

"Do tell me of your adventures on your way here, do not spare a single detail, my dear. And... don't hesitate to tell me about your conversation with the Traveler."

Zhongli was rarely jealous, if ever

But there was something about the way Childe stood so close to you that made his chest feel tight

Or how Childe wrapped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you against him just for the sake of being near you, that made Zhongli notice his own fist clenching

And when Zhongli saw how Childe looked at you, it only made that feeling of jealousy grow stronger

Zhongli rarely told you about these feelings, not wanting to bother you with such an ugly emotion

But you could tell when Zhongli was upset

From the tightening of his jaw, the narrowing of his eyes, and the specific way he'd cross his arms and tap his fingers on his sleeve

And when those feelings flared up, you'd rush to his side, doting on him and showering him in affection

Though that only made Childe upset, egging him on to flirt and try to win your heart with double the effort

And as such, a game of cat and mouse flourished between the two men, even though you had already sworn your heart to Zhongli

It only ever ended when you clearly stated to Childe that there would never be anything between him and you

Then, once the dust settled and you and Zhongli were alone, the mood turned sweet, with your man being his gentle and thoughtful self, treating you to a date at his favorite restaurant

And as that jealous feeling subsides for Zhongli, he can't help but want to take you somewhere more private, perhaps to cuddle or simply be in each other's presence for a short while

"Thank you for staying by my side, dear, my heart will forever belong to you..."