A Wandering Heart

Indie Aether (Genshin Impact) RP Blog

18+ || Multiverse || Multiship || Read Rules, About Mun, and About Muse Pages Rules || About Mun || About Muse || Verses

Other Blogs: @soaringbywindsdelight, @weaveourownstories​

“Oh, shush. If it was too much, you know I wouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” Xiao reminded him gently, running his fingers through the blond’s hair. “Take it as… A friend doing you a favor.” He hummed out softly, allowing his own eyes to close, if just for a moment.

He may not sleep through the night, but just resting his eyes would be enough, surely. “It really isn’t a problem. You are free to call for me whenever you need any kind of help, even if it’s something like this. Remember that, alright?” He stated, wanting Aether to know that no matter where the other was, he’d find a way to get there and help him with anything the other may have been struggling with.

“Now go sleep. I’ll keep watch over you and make sure you are safe. You need the rest.”

“I’ll make it a point to remember that,” Aether replied with a small smile. How Xiao continued to surprise and awe him was a work of wonder, truly. There were still so many sides to the other that Aether had yet to see or experience and he wanted to know them all. It was safe to say that he truly was intrigued by Xiao in just about every way.

“You make sure to get some much needed rest, too,” the blond then said, reaching up to tap Xiao’s nose, before snuggling close to the other, letting his eyes fall closed and getting into a nice, comfy position. “I’ll be alright. You don’t have to worry about me when I’m sleeping, since you’re right here. I’ll sleep well, I know it. Just being close like this... It’s enough to make me drowsy, already.”

Oh-

Aether liked physical contact? Well; it was good to know. Instead of answering the traveler verbally however, Xiao just pulled himself closer to the other, wrapping almost protectively around Aether, one arm over the other male and his chin resting on the other’s head. It was easier to just do something rather than try to verbally convince the other it really was okay and he didn’t mind it.

“Try to relax and get some rest, alright? I’ll be right by your side. I won’t let anyone or anything bother you.” He promised quietly, voice barely above a whisper. “And, it doesn’t make you sound like a child to want physical contact. It’s natural to feel more at ease when you know someone you trust is near you.”

And besides gods knew he liked physical contact himself, even if it didn’t seem that way due to his reluctance towards it, which had mostly been for fear of his karma harming those he’d touched. However, by now he’d learned that it wouldn’t harm the traveler, so without it being an issue, he was free to hold the other as close as Aether would have liked.

Aether’s face burned hotter as he tried to keep his heart rate down. Being held so close, so protectively, by Xiao felt better than the blond had imagined. Yes, he had imagined being held by Xiao in many different ways and, while he was graced with the other’s strong arms around him, earlier, the way they were, now, was a bit more intimate. Aether was quite glad that Xiao’s chin was on top of his head, taking the opportunity to hide his face against the Yaksha’s chest.

“Thank you for understanding, Xiao,” Aether quietly said, words a little muffled, since he was hiding his face. “I knew you’d never make fun of me, but... I was afraid of being rejected. I know you have your boundaries and you have every right to have them! I try to respect them as much as possible, but I know I’m not perfect... Asking all of this from you is definitely too much, but, still... Thank you. It means the world to me.”

“I would not offer it if I wasn’t.” Xiao replied with a kind smile, shifting so that he would be turned more towards the other. It was clear that Aether was exhausted and needed rest, and Xiao would make sure he got it, no matter how much of his own energy it took. He chuckled at the exaggeration, before shifting again to lay down near Aether on his side, as far as he could from the other and making himself as small as he could on the bed, to give him proper space to stretch out and sleep comfortably.

“Of course. Rest well, you’ve more than earned it.” He replied in a soft tone. There was something careful in the yaksha’s movements and position, something that wouldn’t seem to let him touch the other in too many spots, though in reality it was just to give the other space and comfort. If Aether had asked for it, Xiao would lie closer to the traveler, but as it was, he was content with merely staying on the edge.

And this way, he would quickly notice if the other had nightmares and devour them before thwy would become a problem for Aether and hinder his rest and recovery.

“This, um... might sound really stupid, but, I was wondering if you could do just one more thing for me.” Aether shifted on the bed, uncomfortable with what he was about to ask for. It was clear it was embarrassing, for him, since his cheeks stained red rather quickly. “I don’t sleep well in unfamiliar places, unless I have someone with me that I trust. The reason I can sleep out in fields and such is because I always have Paimon with me and she likes to cuddle; it makes her feel secure. I was wondering if you could just... Maybe if you could just at least hold my hand?

“That’s only if you’re okay with it!” Aether was very quick to tack on, his blush worsening. “I sound like a little kid, I know, it’s stupid.” He covered his face with one hand. “I’ve just always been this way, for as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time...” Had he ever discussed with Xiao just how truly ageless Aether was? “You can refuse. I’d understand it and I wouldn’t be upset. It’s a weird thing to ask.”

“Hey, no need to apologize for that.” Xiao stated softly, gently raking his fingers through Aether’s hair. “Your health was deteriorating, and you were constantly busy, exhausted. It’s only natural that your appearance went with it. It will get better as you rest and give yourself time to heal.” He explained, halting his movements whenever he got to a knot and carefully undoing it so it wouldn’t hurt the other.

“It was not my intention to bring you anywhere where harm may be done to you, don’t worry about it.” After all, even if Aether hadn’t been like that, there was still a chance of something harming him if it managed to get past Xiao, and well, the yaksha didn’t want to risk it. He would just teleport them away if he noticed enemies nearby.

“There are a few areas around, that I can bring you, yes. And while I greatly appreciate your concern, I would not offer to go with you if it was something I could not handle.” He assured the other with a small smile. “Perhaps… I can accompany you to the Harbor itself? There would be no enemies there, and from what I’ve seen there’s a lot of options at the market itself for you to look through. Perhaps find a few trinkets for yourself as well?”

Aether seemed to perk up at the mention of Liyue Harbor. He quite loved the city; it was stunning in every season, whether there was a festival, or not. Out of the places he’d been, Liyue was his favorite. Inazuma was so oppressive and the people did their best, but the most impressive thing there was that large sakura tree. Mondstadt felt comfortable, but it didn’t wow him. Not the way that Liyue did.

“Only if you’re sure you’re alright with it,” Aether then said, though it was clear he wanted to go. “First and foremost, though, I think I need to sleep for ten years,” he exaggerated, but he did end up yawning, rubbing at one of his eyes.

“Mhm, that would probably help you calm as well, get used to this.” Xiao agreed softly, raking his fingers through the hair as he kept unbraiding it. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, before speaking again. “If… If you wish, perhaps I can accompany you for a walk or something once your injury gets a bit better, perhaps a calm walk may help you settle as well? And maybe we could find something you would like?” He offered, knowing that people most likely wouldn’t bother Aether if he was accompanied by an adeptus.

He fell silent again after that, once again fully focusing on the traveler’s hair and unbraiding it as gently as he could, wishing to bring the other some comfort with the action. After all, it was what Aether needed right now.

It didn’t take long before he had reached the start of the braid, carefully unraveling it and raking his fingers gently through the entire length of Aether’s hair with a hum. “There we go, all done. I do hope this helps soothe you a bit.”

“It feels much better, thank you,” Aether sighed in relief, feeling the tension release from his head. His shoulders seemed to relax, as well, as if they, too, were tied up tight with the braid. He knew it probably needed to be brushed, but it would have been easier to do that after cleaning and conditioning it, thoroughly. He realized he probably looked (and possibly smelled) horrid.

“Sorry that I probably don’t look the greatest, right now,” he apologized. He didn’t want to admit to possibly not smelling the greatest. That was a little too embarrassing. “Oh, and I like your idea of walking around, but... I would like to stay away from anywhere there might be any adversaries. I know me and my habits; I’d probably join a fight, even if you’d tell me not to.”

Yeah, Aether was incredibly self-aware about his inability to let others do difficult things on their own. It was going to be a trial just for him to learn to relax!

“Mhm, of course I can help.” Xiao agreed easily, gently taking Aether’s hair in his hands, careful fingers undoing it expertly, combing gently through each new bit of it he unraveled. “I can help you wash and re-braid it too in the morning, if you’d like. I um… Have experience with it.” He admitted softly, gently plucking out strand by strand of a more stubborn little area, careful not to hurt Aether with it.

After all, he himself used to have incredibly long hair, only cutting it once he fell under Morax, finding it easier to fight with short hair. And the braiding he had learned from one of his sisters, along with many other hairstyles, and was almost used to doing it for her before he’d lost her.

And now he sometimes did it for the small bunch of children he took care of, braiding the little ones’ hairs to their wishes, only sometimes, upon their request, going for a different style.

“Mh, water may help ease it a bit, and it’ll help wash out anything bad, so… Yes, it will sting a bit, but overall it’ll help. If it becomes too much, we can easily wrap it in something water can’t get through for you?” He offered, before falling into silence again, focusing on gently unbraiding Aether’s hair, humming softly under his breath, an old song, all but extinct.

Aether wondered what experience Xiao had with caring for long hair. For as long as Aether had known him (which, admittedly, wasn’t very long), Xiao had short hair. But, perhaps the man had others that he’d cared for, in the past? Aether wasn’t sure he could ask that, knowing that a lot of Xiao’s memories were painful ones. He didn’t want to sour their easy and gentle mood.

“I think, for now, I’ll just leave it down,” Aether said with a small smile, turning his head for a moment to look at Xiao, before looking away, giving the other access to the hair closer to the base of his scalp. “I don’t exactly plan on fighting for a while. If it gets in the way, just a ponytail will do. I think it’d be easier than spending all the time it takes to braid this much hair,” he chuckled, softly.

“Hey, relax.” Xiao replied, reaching a hand out to gently cradle Aether’s cheek, shifting himself to kneel on his knees by the bed. “It didn’t sound like that at all. And you don’t have to apologize for every little thing, I know you wouldn’t try guilt tripping me or anything else. I know you just worry.” He assured the other, lightly dragging his thumb over Aether’s cheekbone. “It’s okay, really. I’d hate for you to feel like you have to be walking on eggshells with me, or like you’d have to constantly apologize.”

“And um, I don’t mind remaining on the ground, but, if you want me to be on the bed with you, I’ll do that instead.” He stated, lifting himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. He was more than used to cold wooden floors, having more than once just straight up passed out the moment he got to his room, or just often felt he didn’t deserve the comfort of a bed.

Really the only times he actually used it is if someone asked as much of him or physically put him there. He turned slightly so he could look at the blond, moving his hand to instead råke through the other’s hair gently. “You just tell me what you want and that will be how we do things, whether you want me to lay down with you or simply sit on the edge like this, it is entirely your choice, and I promise you aren’t being selfish or asking for too much, I am offering you the choice. If it was too much, I would not have said it in the first place. ”

Still feeling a bit guilty, Aether nodded, regardless. He was so used to people taking advantage of him and, since he hated that, he never wanted to willingly take advantage of someone else. At least Xiao didn’t get mad and sat beside him, talking the blond through all of the options between them. Aether couldn’t help but lean into Xiao’s touch, letting out a little sigh.

“I’d like to lie down with you, but, ah... I haven’t been able to untie my hair for some time. Raising my one arm only aggravates my wound and I’d have to reach up to separate the braid at the back of my neck. I always tie it up tightly so that it doesn’t get in the way, but that means it starts to hurt if I leave it braided for too long. Would you mind helping me? I mean, yeah, it just means my hair’ll get in the way when lying down, but I’d like to get rid of the tension on my scalp from it... Since my hair is so long, the braid is kind of heavy and pulls on my head, y’know?” It was a sheepish request, one that Aether felt entirely foolish for asking help for, but he didn’t think Xiao would tease him over it, at least.

“Mh, I don’t- I don’t know about that…” After all, who was to say he wouldn’t fuck something up and lose him too like he had his family, or that the Morax case would not repeat itself? “But let’s leave that for another time, right now you need to be resting and recovering your own strength, not worrying about others’ issues. Take time for yourself.” He scolded lightly, with a small pout.

“Everyone needs help sometimes.” Xiao agreed, moving slightly to sit on the floor next to the bed. “I have no issue staying here. I will make sure no nightmares bother you whatsoever.” He assured the other, a faint ghost of a smile on his face. He was happy to hear the other voice his wants. “And you aren’t bothering me, I’m more than okay with it. I’ve honestly wanted to offer the same thing to you.” He assured the other softly. “If I can help, I will.”

After all, he’d promised he would, no? He’d just eat any nightmares if they happened to bother Aether, and get the foul taste out with almond tofu, and his energy would easily recover. “You just focus on getting better, okay?” Did he sound like a worried mother? A little, but it was fine. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to.”

“You don’t have to sit on the floor. That won’t be comfortable,” Aether said with a slight shake of his head. “The bed is big enough for the both of us, if you don’t mind being close to me. I wouldn’t... feel right, if you just sat there, uncomfortably, on a cold wooden floor.” He didn’t want to voice his other reason for objecting; Aether wanted to feel Xiao nearby. There was no way he could get that with the Yaksha on the ground. If they shared space on the bed, then it would be like being cradled in those strong arms, again, making Aether feel more secure and safe than he had in a long time.

“I mean, at the very least, drag over a comfy chair to relax in...” the blond added, to give Xiao options. After all, Aether was no mind reader; he had no way of knowing if Xiao would have been okay sharing a bed with him, really. “How am I supposed to rest if I’m just going to end up worrying about you? Ah, I said that badly. I’m not trying to guilt trip you.” He bit his lip, saffron gaze hitting the floor.

The statement found a way to dig itself into Xiao’s heart, the yaksha knowing it was mostly for the fact that kindness and bonding with people only lead to hurt in the past. After all, everyone he had ever cared for was gone. It was easier to just appear cruel and cold, to deter people from getting to know him. That way his heart wouldn’t break even more.

That way he wouldn’t have to suffer again.

“Mh, I don’t think it makes you selfish at all. It’s my choice to be like this with you, to show you kindness. In fact, I’d say that maybe I’m the selfish one, not wanting to bond with others for the fact of not wishing to be alone once they inevitably leave my life. But regardless, the kindness I show you is my own will to do so. And you give out so much, it is only fair that at least some was returned to you.” He admitted, glad that Aether was too busy hiding his face to see the yaksha’s own tear-stained one.

His friends, his family, they were all gone. He was left with nothing but the scars of the past and karma, along with the memories. It scared him to think that perhaps he would bring the same fate to Aether, which was why he had originally kept the other at arm’s length. And besides, the other was a traveler, surely, as soon as he was reunited with his sibling, he too would leave. It was an inevitable fate for the lonely yaksha.

“You won’t always end up alone, Xiao. In fact, I know you’ve already met someone who doesn’t wish to leave you, ever, and certainly won’t be torn away from you by means of passing from old age.” Aether sighed, softly. He felt so tired, beyond what words could describe. Exhausted couldn’t even touch what he felt. Still, he was afraid to sleep, afraid to dream of things that would, ultimately, end in nightmares, in waking up in cold sweats, panicked and searching for comfort.

“I don’t... want to be a bother to you, but, Xiao, would you mind... spending the night with me?” He lifted his head, wiping away his tears so he could look at the Yaksha. Aether’s own eyes were slightly swollen and red from his crying. “I just feel like it would be easier to sleep if I knew you were next to me. If you’re not okay with that, that’s fine; I don’t want to force anything onto you. I just thought... I’m comfortable with you. Maybe you just being here could chase away all these unpleasant feelings and thoughts...”

       “A collar signifies ownership, does it not?” Childe waits no time to jump straight to a point, a swift wit even at the agitation clearly written against the traveler’s features. His calm expression hardly helps the situation. “I see not how placing a simple object about my neck were to calm anyone down. An object alone cannot make a person stop.”

       He almost thought of ceasing his antics just for a period of time for the blond’s sake. “I could fix your statement, yet I feel as if the meaning behind your words would change not.” A thoughtful hum comes from him before once more tugging on the collar on purpose. “I must ask, did you believe I’d sit and be good? I’d deserve a treat for acting in such a manner. Still, do you not get along with your sibling in a similar manner?”

“I get along with my sister on an equal, mature level. You play like a little kid with Teucer.” Aether crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. “And why should I give you a treat when you’ve yet to perform any task? If you ‘sit and be a good boy’, then a ‘good boy’ would get treats. So far, you’ve been a public menace, for the most part.”

Aether was being a bit harsh, but with his tone, it was clear he was mostly joking. There was some real feelings behind his words, but putting the collar on Childe had been, very simply, a joke. It was just that the redhead’s initial words managed to fluster Aether and turn the tides on the blond, before he got to relish in his small victory over Childe.