“I love you.” 

It’s nonchalant, muttered into the back of Heizou’s neck like an exhale. Fitting, because it comes as natural as breathing. Clearly not planned, not up to the very moment it was out. 

Heizou’s heart stops in his chest regardless. 

Because none of that changes the fact that this is the first time Aether said it. 

Of course, Aether is a man of action, and Heizou is nothing if not observant. He’s already read ‘I love you’ in every touch, every kiss, every moment spent together on one of Heizou’s projects instead of reforming a nation, looking for a lost twin, or whatever the ‘legendary traveler’ has on his plate at the time. In theory, Heizou should not have been affected beyond yet another truth he’s inferred being acknowledged. 

In theory. 

In actuality, his breath gets caught in his lungs, and he goes stiff in Aether’s arms. 

Even then, Aether doesn’t appear to be worried. Heizou can’t see his face, but he reads patience in the way Aether’s forearms squeeze around his waist. Assurance in the way Aether further buries himself in the crook of his neck. Not a trace of vexation or concern, however.

Why would there be? The very first reason that Heizou fell in love with Aether is that he is observant enough to keep pace. He does not exactly have the same process, Heizou can tell from watching how Aether’s mind works, but he is nevertheless sharp and perceptive. He should already know that Heizou is absolutely smitten with him. It should be clear as day with how Heizou introduces him as his partner when he is notorious for not accepting any. How he trusts him with his deepest secrets, be it about a cold case or simply his past. How he keeps coming back to him - even when he desperately wants to stay away, because he knows he can never be the only one for Aether, and sometimes it is too much. 

Heizou loves him way too much. 

That’s why he is struck by a simple spoken fact. It matters little that he knows Aether loves him - the sound of it erupts in his ribcage like a flower that waited too long to bloom in the spring and burst in the summer. Even the way it is spoken solidifies that fact - casual, like Aether has said it hundreds of times before. Natural. Real.  

Lips brush against his cheek, a little too close to his eyes than usual, and that’s when he realizes-

“I did not think this was such dreadful news,” Aether jokes into his ear, melody subdued yet still evident in the lower volume of his voice. He continues kissing Heizou’s face like he intends to clear his tears with his lips, and Heizou makes a feeble attempt to push him away. Nevermind his laughter giving away his indisposition to actually stop Aether. 

“I simply feel bad for everyone else,” Heizou says, slurring with intentional nonchalance. “The abolisher of the vision hunt decree, the golden traveler desired by all… lovestruck by little old me.” 

“My, I didn’t realize you were so compassionate for others, doushin,” Aether teases. “Do you wish to set up a charity? Five minutes of some traveler’s love, courtesy of the Tenryou Commission’s own prodigal detective?”

This should be a sore subject. They should not be joking about this. Somehow, the jealousy it ignites in Heizou’s veins is no longer destructive, burning everything in its path - it’s oddly comforting, and dare Heizou say, fun. He is always going to be at least a little possessive, but now, there is acceptance that comes with it, and with it, respect. 

“Not compassionate enough, I’m afraid.” Humming, Heizou wiggles out of Aether’s hold until he can turn around and climb on his lap, knees at either side of the traveler’s hips. He cradles Aether’s face with both of his hands, and Aether leans into the touch. “I would keep you all to myself if I could, watch the world weep with you in my arms.” 

Aether doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t seem disturbed, either. He simply looks up to Heizou, a small, patient smile on his lips. 

The Traveler may have many lovers, and he may not love Heizou the way he loves them - but he will not love any of them the way he loves Heizou, either. 

His vindication is in knowing Aether also loves Heizou way too much. 

“Alas, I am but a humble detective,” Heizou whispers, smiling back at Aether’s amused smirk at the blatantly false adjective. “Who am I to stake claim on the hero of Teyvat?” 

“Only the cyclone that strikes fear in the heart of crooks all over Inazuma,” Aether retorts with a lazy ease. 

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Traveler.” 

“As long as it’s with you, detective.” 

Heizou’s heart flutters at the assertion. Is that not what anyone should want to be for a wanderer? Not someone that anchors them to the ground, but a companion they wish to keep around and share experience with. He has no reason to doubt the sincerity of that little remark, either. Despite the flirty back-and-forth their conversations tend to devolve into, Aether is not one to say things for the sake of having said them - he either speaks the truth or speaks not at all. 

It is only fair if Heizou returns the favor. 

“I love you,” he says, watching Aether’s eyes widen, lips parted with a short gasp. Heizou allows himself to appreciate the sight for a moment, to observe the surprise fading to be replaced by a softness clouding the traveler’s gaze, before circling his arms around Aether’s shoulders and dipping down for a kiss. 

Aether, as usual, is perfectly responsive - rarely initiating, but always retaliating at full force. He spreads his palm on the small of Heizou’s back, and slowly drags it up his spine, sending jolts through the thin fabric of his shirt. Heizou runs a hand through Aether’s hair, pulling at his scalp until some of the long strands start breaking free from Aether’s braid, which has the traveler huff into Heizou’s lips in frustration. Heizou simply laughs, a small, silent thing, a secret buried in the breath flowing between one another, before he kisses him again. It’s not apologetic, but from the way Aether presses further into his space, it clearly gets him forgiven, and Heizou keeps messing up Aether’s hairdo without undoing the whole thing with dignity. 

He doesn’t realize Aether’s insistence has him gradually pushed down until his back hits the mattress. Aether catches himself in time, first a hand and then an elbow next to Heizou’s ear. With the traveler hovering over him like this, Heizou can see the number he’s done on him: lips already swollen, eyes hooded yet teary, long hair sticking out everywhere, and braid a bit loose with all the volume it has lost. 

“My, my, traveler,” Heizou teases, raising his fingers so that he can trace Aether’s swollen lips. “How sentimental, getting worked up over a mere confession like that.” 

“It is no mere confession,” Aether responds, frowning, but he just can’t convey indignance. Not right now. 

“You started it.” 

“I didn’t expect you to return it.” 

“That’s a pitiful shortcoming on your part, my dear partner.” Heizou exaggerates a sigh. “I am almost disappointed.” 

“Well…” Aether breathes out, long and dare Heizou say, concerning, before he meets Heizou’s eyes again. “I suppose I didn’t have a certain detective around to keep me on my toes.” 

Heizou gulps. “Oh, Aether…” 

“Just… don’t tell me to stay away from you again. Please.” 

After everything, Heizou still can’t tell Aether that mere sight of him was enough to have him regret the break-up immediately. That he selfishly held onto the grudge, because he prided himself on it. That even when he found Aether unconscious in the Test of Courage, he was stubborn, until working together again broke Heizou’s strategically constructed dams one after another. 

Until he realized sharing him is, always, the better alternative than losing him. 

“I love you,” Heizou says again, instead, and revels in the way Aether leans down on him, stray blond strands falling on his face like a golden curtain. And he kisses him, slow and tender, yet exploring deeper the more he presses down Heizou’s body with his own. 

Clothes are discarded - not all of them, they have so many accessories and so little patience, but Heizou unclasps Aether’s cape who in turn gets rid of Heizou’s shirt, barely ridding themselves of pants before meeting each other again. Calling it not sex but making love is extremely cheesy, but man alive, there is a distinction. Heizou has been around the block quite a few times, whether it’s to relieve some stress or go the distance with an attractive stranger that guards precious information. Still, sex is always the best when love is a factor, even when uglier emotions are involved. Anger? Jealousy? Betrayal? As long as love is there, tainted it might be, intimacy beats the best of casual sex.

Perhaps Heizou is more of a romantic than he likes to pretend. 

Oh, well. What are you gonna do?

He throws his head back and chants Aether’s name like a prayer - hell, it’s not like he’s ever cared much about archons, anyway. As his neck arches, Aether catches his choker with a finger, biting down at the sensitive skin that blends into his shoulder because apparently Heizou isn’t being loud enough for him.

Heizou takes his revenge by rolling both of them out of the bed with one swift move. His family probably didn’t intend him to use their clan’s martial art prowess for such matters but tough luck. As he rides Aether out of his mind, he shoves his digits into the traveler’s mouth, just to add to the mess beneath him - just because he can. 

No one else can have this. No one can have him like this. Something similar, yes, obviously, quite often in fact - but it will never be the same. The love Aether has for Heizou is only for Heizou. 

“Say it again,” he commands, breathless - only for Aether to make an incoherent noise around his fingers, and despite himself, Heizou snorts. 

Aether chokes, something akin to a laugh. Heizou pulls his hand away, chuckling along. Maybe he’s ruined the mood a little. So what? This is what they do. Flirt a little, fuck a little, laugh a little. Repeat, a little differently, but with certainty.

That’s what makes it special. 

“You’re free,” Heizou manages, gagged around the amusement and his edging orgasm. “So say it again, now.” 

“I love you.” 

Himmel hummed in agreement and was about to say something before a slight breeze tickled his nose, on that breeze, he smelled blood. His honed sense of smell immediately locked onto the scent and he began stiffing the air. The others watched as he slowly moved closer before stopping right at the door. Either the seal on that door was not as tight as they though or…

Himmel experimentally took hold on one of the handles and slightly tugged it. The door moved ever so slightly.

“It is unlocked.” – Himmel said before stepping back.

The door opened slowly, behind it was a long, dark staircase that led down. The lamps that lined the wall were all extinguished, not that it would help much by brightening the eerie staircase.

“This is way too easy.” – Heiter pointed out.

“It is almost as if they are actually inviting us to go down there.” – Eisen said with a frown.

“Yes, it seems the enemy is aware of us looking around.” – Frieren gripped her staff tighter.

“Well, if they are already aware and waiting for us, then we best not wait around here.” Himmel drew his sword “Everyone, be careful. We do not know what might wait for us below.”

The party descended into the darkness. The staircase went down farther than they expected, the winding steps and shadows made it seem like it stretched forever. Himmel was hyperaware, his instincts buzzing in the background, the scent of blood was getting more and more pronounced with every step, with it were traces of other things like iron, herbs and something that reminded him of rotten eggs. The others had not seemed to notice the smell, yet, but he was sure that soon they would begin to. After a while, they reach the bottom of the staircase, there laid a steel door that was slightly ajar.

“Jook, they even left this door slightly open. Are they really trying to-.” Heiter took a couple of steps closer before he stopped dead in his tracks and gagged “EUGH! By the goddess, what is that smell?” – the priest pinched his nose before moving back and coughing.

“Blood, rot… a lot of it.” – Eisen said, his hands starting to tremble ever so slightly under the cloak.

“Did you check-.” – Frieren began.

“Yes, I checked for hidden passages and secret doors, nothing like that, just old cleaning supplies and trash. How about you?” – Heiter cut her off, already knowing what she’d ask.

“Nothing much. There definitely is more of this building below us but I don’t want to risk using more mana for the spell, it may alert people of our presence here.”

The barriers preventing them from reading the mana clearly was also what allowed them to be sneaky. As long as they did not use too much mana at once the barrier would also mask their usage of magic.

“I see, there surely is more to this place than we initially thought and still no trace of that little girl’s brother.” – Heiter put a hand to his chin.