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Xiao suddenly felt soft grass beneath him. His eyes snapped open, darting around him in confusion and disorientation. He was now with the others, at the surface of the Chasm. All of whom were sharing a stunned silence.
So he was alive. But who...?
There was only one explanation. The only being strong enough to do something like that and knew where he was.
Rex Lapis.
Suddenly, there was an audible thud at his side. He mustered the strength to turn to see the worrying sight. Aether had sunk to his knees.
The blonde's eyes were widened in a choked expression, as though time froze and his mind was stuck in a dangerous loop, replaying the traumatic event that just transpired.
He'd never seen Aether like this before.
...If Xiao let this continue here, Aether might just break down in front of everyone. Looking around urgently, Xiao did the only thing that made sense in the moment before anyone could stop him.
He grabbed Aether's hand and they zipped away in a swirling black and teal smoke quicker than anyone could react.
They were in now in some nearby grassy plain in Liyue.
A couple of seconds passed, but it was still silent. Aether hadn't made any movement at all.
The hand in his was shaking so violently however that anxiety began to spike within him. He didn't know what to say- what to do-
So he did what Aether would've done. He forgot about all the exhaustion and pain he felt in lieu of wrapping his arms around the trembling boy on his knees. He was stiff as brick but Xiao refused to let go, desperately hoping he could ground him.
'I'm sorry. But I'm here now,' he hoped he could convey through the tight embrace.
There is more of nothing for a moment before Xiao felt the unmistakable wetness of a tear hit his shoulder. He almost pulled away in concern but decided against it, trying to call out to him instead.
"Aeth-"
"You- you... Fell." is all Aether croaked out. His voice was empty, as though he still hadn't fully returned to his body.
"...I did."
"You fell. Into that dark, endless... nothingness. There was nothing I could do..."
Xiao couldn't find the words to reply this time.
"...I'm sorry." Xiao eventually managed, tucking his head into the crook of his neck. Aether didn't seem like he could find the energy to hug him back, one arm simply coming up to grip the back of his shirt tightly.
They stayed like that for a little while, the melancholy silence hanging over them.
Eventually Aether pulled away from him but didn't go too far, sitting nearby on the Liyue grass in front him.
His gaze fell, Xiao observing while he directed that distant expression at the ground between them.
"Aether," Xiao tried again.
Aether froze like he was awoken from a trance before coming to life to speak in a low, raw voice.
"Xiao." his name was light on his tongue, hesitant, as though he believed reality would snatch him away if he spoke any louder.
"Yes. I'm here."
"Xi-xiao..."
"It's me. I'm right here."
Aether finally looked up and met his eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he saw him.
"Xiao!" The tears finally burst, all collectively dripping down his cheeks. His eyes sparkled with them in a way Xiao shouldn't find beautiful, but he did.
Aether flung himself around the other, gripping his neck fiercely and hugging him so tightly that it aggravated his almost forgotten injuries. None of that mattered though. He's lived with pain so long that this felt more like medicine for his wounds.
Tears streamed from the other unto his neck and wetting his clothes but there was nowhere else he'd rather be. It was all too easy to bring his hands up to fully embrace the other.
Eventually Aether found the energy to speak.
"Why." the other's voice was heavy, lips brushing the skin of his neck.
"Why?" he echoed, knowing full well what Aether was asking.
"Wh-why did you do that?"
"It is my duty-"
"I was so terrified. I- I-" his voice broke.
"'Aether..."
"I thought I was going to lose someone else. When you just, fell- I was- I... don't even know Xiao."
"I know," is all he says. And they fall into heavy silence again.
Aether pulled away after a bit, rubbing at his tears and moving this time to grab at his shoulders and meet his eyes.
His tone was desperate as he went to speak again, fighting through his sniffles to get the words out.
"I don't- I don't know what I'd do... in a world were calling your name doesn't have you teleporting in front of me and asking what's wrong, fighting alongside me, eating with me, talking with me... being with me. You- you were going to be stuck in a place where my voice will never carry, no matter how loud I yell, no how many times I call. My life, what would it be worth to live like that? How could I live like that? How could I just- go on? What about the me that needs Xiao?"
Xiao's expression slackened as shock took hold of his features, but he was quick to try to convince him otherwise.
"...from what I've seen, especially now, you have lots of capable friends to fight alongside with if I somehow cannot be there myself-"
"What?" Agitation was clear in Aether's voice when he interrupts. "Do you think any random friend can just stand in your place in my life? Do you really think you add so little to the world that someone can just step in and do what you do?"
"..not exactly. But it is my duty as an adeptus to protect everyone. Sometimes, a sacrifice is necessary. It is... not a terrible way to exit this world either. To have saved your life and the others."
"Okay so while you're busy saving our lives, who looks out for the Vigilant Yaksha?"
"...there is no need to-"
"If you're going to ask me not to worry. I'm sorry but I can't do that."
Xiao sighed, breaking eye contact, palm resting on his face. "Once again I've burdened another because I'm too weak. Maybe it would've been better for us to not have met-"
"...you wish we hadn't met?"
The quiet, vulnerable, restrained tone of his voice had him urgently spinning to meet Aether's glossy eyes. The dam within them teetering on bursting again.
"No. That's not-" he sighed again, "I just, do not wish to be the reason you are hurting like this. I... don't like seeing you cry because of me."
"Well that's what happens when you care about someone that nearly died. I almost lost you. I- I- the way you fell. That content look on your face as you descended, like there was nothing left for you here anymore. Like your job was finished... like I wasn't enough to keep you here. Realizing that there isn't a journey I could make to all the ends of Teyvat that would've allowed me to see you again."
Aether's gaze fell solemnly to the ground, hands slipping from his shoulders, and another drop escaped his eye, a subtle sound as it hit the grass below.
"You are more than enough to keep me here. You always have been... There is a reason I will only appear when you call my name." No sign of hesitation or wavering could be detected in Xiao's voice.
He leaned forward until they were only separated by a few inches, gently thumbing the tears away from his eyes.
Aether lifted his head to eventually see the sincere look on the other's face.
"Xiao..."
He continued in the softest of voices, like he was scared the blonde would run away. "Please don't misunderstand. I didn't do it because I had no reason to stay. I did it because my duties come before what I want. Always. That is the way of an adeptus."
Aether groaned, leaning forward to drop his head on his shoulder, "Then, what do you want?" he asked, voice reverberating where his mouth touched his neck.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the blonde, embracing him tightly like he was his lifeline. "To be wherever you are. Even if I don't fully understand you. Even if mortal ways are difficult for me to grasp. Even with how interconnected you are meaning there are times I have to be around a lot of people. I wish to be there."
It was quiet for a moment, like Aether was trying to process his words.
"Then..." he muttered into his skin, "Can't we do that?"
Xiao pulled away to meet his face in surprise.
"You mean you-" he couldn't bring himself to finish. Like the possibility was so farfetched it couldn't even be said.
Aether raised an eyebrow at this, a strange mix with his red puffy eyes. "Was... that not obvious? You think I just cling to all my friends on the daily like this? I'm affectionate but not that affectionate."
Xiao actually put his hand to his chin to consider this. He then folded his arms with closed eyes.
"I just thought you just did more because you wanted me to warm up to you. People do not like how... standoffish I am because I must keep a distance for their safety. Even so... I couldn't possibly..."
Aether's eyes twinkled with adoration at these words, even though his lips held a sad smile. A warm feeling bubbled in Xiao's chest.
"Now I just feel bad for waiting so long to tell you that I love you," Aether said, his smile turning bittersweet. The warm feeling spread to Xiao's entire being. His heart rate picked up. Words spilled from his lips without hesitation like they never belonged to him. He was unable to suppress his longing for another moment more.
"I love you too," he said as earnestly as he could muster. He hoped it was clear how he felt, despite him being unable to be visually enthusiastic in the way he had seen mortals say it.
Aether gave him the gentlest of smiles and rose to a standing position, extending a hand and eventually pulling the other up as well.
"I was hoping you did," is all he responds.
Unable to reply, he remained there, speechless, simply staring at the blonde.
Aether leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, thumbing his knuckles gently, lingering for a couple seconds before finally pulling away. His cheek burned at the touch.
Xiao lost the ability to meet his eyes for a moment.
"But Xiao," Aether began, and then he couldn't help but look at him from the quiet desperation in his tone, "We need to talk about this need for you to throw yourself head first into life or death situations just because you're an adeptus."
Xiao tensed up, hesitant to respond.
"...it is not something that a single conversation can change."
"I know. But I'd like to talk about it anyway, because it worries me. The idea that what happened earlier could just happen again... I... Please Xiao." his brows were furrowed, expression sad, and his other hand came to rest over his chest pleadingly.
Xiao looked down at their still intertwined hands, feeling something tug at his chest. A moment passed of just this, Aether's expression unmoving, before he finally nodded with a sigh of acceptance.
"I will... try. We can talk about it. If it will ease some of the pain I've caused you."
A small smile bloomed on the blonde's face. "It will. Thank you." Somehow this eases Xiao's own heart a little.
Comfortable silence fell over them. There was nothing but the wind carrying the sounds of gently rustling grass blades below and tree leaves above, a chorus of chirping birds leaving the branches of them, as well as the slow and constant burbling of a nearby stream to be heard.
Aether eventually breaks their silence with a heavy sigh, as though he just remembered something important.
"'Ah. We should head back. The others will be worried sick for us to just disappear after an event like that..." he looked around them curiously, "Where are we anyway? Where did you take us?"
"Nowhere in particular. I just needed you to be a calm place away from everything."
"Thank you, then. I don't think I would've been able to handle everyone seeing me like that."
"I know."
Xiao smiled this time, and Aether followed suit. They turned to stare at the endless hills off in the distance of the Liyuen landscape and soaked in the same comforting feel from the view and sounds of the wildlife.
They remained that way for as long as they could before the urgency to return to everyone and assure them they were alright grew too much to ignore.
"Let's go back now," Aether spoke softly, gaze still locked on some place far off.
Xiao nodded.
"But Xiao, right after we say goodbye to them, we have to continue this conversation."
"'I understand," he replied, "I also... want to tell you something. About the other four Yakshas. At Pervases' temple."
"Of course," said Aether, smiling in an assured sort of way. Like there was nothing else he would like to be doing more.
Their hands still linked from earlier, Xiao squeezed his reassuringly, and they disappeared into a foggy green and black mist.