Something Sweet

Chapter 2

Author's note: Before reading, I just wanted to point out the warp availability being limited and accessible to Aether. It makes more, I guess, believable in a sense since he's the one that activates them.

But yeah, chapter up.

Reminder I'm working on this story alone, so it's a work in progress. Any suggestions or major mistakes. Let me know. No flame. Just have fun. 

Thanks, for reading. I'll keep working on the next few chapters in the meantime. 

Enjoy!

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Diluc didn't know how long he lasted unconscious, but his body stirred awake after a long period when he recognized a different voice calling out to him, trying to gain his attention.

"Diluc...?" Aether was crouched beside him, draping a long blanket over his torso. "Can you hear me?"

Not getting much of a reaction, the concerned blonde glanced back at Jean sitting at a distance, hugging herself into a blanket of her own.

Paimon was hovering close to Jean and tending to her while wondering how their Acting Grandmaster could have been driven to such a state.

"Jean, you have to drink the antidote to make sure the spell is completely broken. All the way to the last drop." Paimon grew closer to stare at the emptying vile as Jean continued to drink the liquid substance with shaking arms. "Help will be here soon, so you might..." Paimon's voice trailed off as Jean wasted no time handing the empty vile back to her before fixing the black coat she wore closed. It was long enough to cover a little over mid-thigh length, but Aether's cloak helped conceal the rest of her.

With little hesitation but a slight wince, her expression remained unfazed as she resisted the pain that came and stung between her legs.

She took her time to stand without help while tightly wrapping the blanket around herself.

No words were spoken as Jean met Aether's concerned stare over by Diluc's side.

Aether was surprised at the glance Jean had spared in his direction. It suddenly turned into a glare as she proceeded down the corridor alone.

With Jean out of the room, Aether carried on retrieving a vile of his own to give to Diluc.

There still wasn't a response, but Aether waited as Diluc finally began to move and force a heavy eye open.

Taking in his surroundings, Diluc noticed a presence next to him, alarming his senses and flinching from recognizing Aether next to him.

"Woah- it's me." The blonde raised his hands defenselessly while slightly waving away the panicked stare in Diluc's eyes. "Uh, here, you should take this." Aether held out the healing vile for Diluc to take, but no movements followed.

Silence settled between the two until Diluc shifted closer, "I don't think I can... reach for it." He turned to glance at his right shoulder, "It's dislocated and nonresponsive... and my left arm feels too injured to move."

"Then let me help." Aether quickly broke the seal to the small bottle and drew closer to bring it up to Diluc's lips.

Without staring too much, the traveler caught sight of the pink bruising marks on the side of Diluc's neck.

The uncomfortable scene flashed in his head as he had accidentally caught sight of Jean shifting herself on Diluc's lap. She had clearly taken advantage of Diluc's comatose condition. And the fact that he had seen it happen, she didn't stop. It scarred such a distasteful memory in his head. He was having a hard time keeping a straight face.