Unforgettable Memories | Xiao x Reader

Chapter Thirteen

"Not all scars show, not all wounds heal.
Sometimes you can't see the pain someone feels."

~~~~~~

Aether walked through Mondstat, Paimon following along since he couldn't find you nor Xiao. For the past few days, he had noticed that you and Xiao have been spending your days together a lot more than usual. In a way, the traveler was very much jealous of the attention that you have been giving Xiao.

"Lets go eat something," Paimon said, her stomach growling. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," Aether forced out a laugh.

The two companions made their way to one of the restaurants in Mondstat and ordered some food for the hungry pixie.

"Its been a while since its just been the two of us," Paimon said while shoveling down food. "Though I can't say I don't mind it since we made amazing companions. Xiao and y/n are amazing!"

"Yeah," Aether nodded.

Paimon continued to eat the food that she had ordered while Aether stayed lost in his own thoughts. Did he love you? Did he just care about you?

Romantic feelings were one of the last things that he had ever considered in his life. After all, his all time goal had always been to find his sister in Teyvat. He needed to find her

Thinking about things now, he didn't really know and understand his own feelings about you. He was utterly clueless. While his heart did ache when you spent time with other guys, especially Xiao, it didn't feel like it was anything romantic. It felt more of a surge of instinctual protection and a genuine concern. What were the things that he was feeling?

His feelings had never really been a big focus so now, he was sort of regretting not giving it more thought.

"Hi sweetie," a very womanly voice sang.

In front of the traveler stood a somewhat busty lady with a purple like witch hat topped with a small lantern. Her elbow leaned on her arm while her hand swing a little under her chin.

"Hi Lisa!" Paimon waved to the librarian who was walking to them before going back to eating.

"Lisa?" Aether questioned. "What are you doing here?"

"I was strolling around when I saw my little sweetie lost in his own little world." The librarian sat on an open chair by the table. "So what is it that you have on your mind?"

"Nothing much," Aether looked towards the table, his hair shading his eyes.

"Okay," Lisa smiled. "Well then I guess I'll go now. I don't want to bother your thinking time."

"Bye," Aether and Paimon said in unison.

"I'm going to see if there are any other commissions for me to do," Aether stood up from his seat.

"Ok," Paimon continued to eat. "I'll go find you later."

Aether walked away from his companion and towards the receptionist in front of the gates of Mondstat. Asking her for a commission, he chose one and started on his way to the destination of the commission.

"Aether!" Your voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Y/n?"

"If you're going on a commission, I'll accompany you."

Aether stared at her confused. He had expected you to be with Xiao like you usually had been for the past days.

True to his thoughts, you had been hanging with Xiao but, a few minutes ago after your very much deep conversation ago, you had told him that you needed to go take a walk. Now, you were here about to join Aether on his commission.

"Sure," Aether replied.

The two of you walked towards the place of the commission which was to destroy some hilichurl towers. Soon, the two of you arrived and spied some hilichurls and a mitichurl littering about in their base.

"Lets head straight in for the kill," Aether whispered. "I'll rely on you to back me up."

"Of course!"

Aether jumped down from where he was standing and ran towards the hilichurls to attack them. Holding out his hand, he activated his windblade attack which brought out a large gust of wind grouping the hilichurls together while damaging them with anemo status effects.

On the other hand, while Aether was attacking the hilichurls from close up, you supported him from a distance firing aneml attack after another.

"Ugh," Aether cried out as he was attacked by an arrow that was sniped from a hilichurl on the top of a tower.

Quickly reacting to his distress, you activated a heal ability to heal up his injury to help him regain some of his health and stamina.

"Be careful," you warned your fellow adventurer.

Continuing with his battle, Aether attacked the monsters killing them off one by one with your assistance in the extra damage as well as the heals. After the battle with the monsters, Aether started destroying the towers as the commission had said.

"Sorry," you sighed as you jumped down from where you stayed. "I feel like you did all the work."

"No worries," Aether shakes his head. "You helped me out a lot. Thanks to you, I'm perfectly good to go."

"If you say so," you laughed as your friend grinned while showing off his somewhat visible muscles to prove his point.

The two of you laughed at his playfulness. It was quite the fun day out.

"Hey y/n," Aether started with a sudden and unexpected seriousness. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," you replied not know where he was going at.

"What do you think of me," the boy asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Well," you hesitated for a bit. "You're a great companion as well as an amazing party member. You also have the characteristics and potential of a great leader."

"Is that all?" Aether's eyes stared into yours.

"Well, I sort of think of you as a big brother," you shrugged.

"Well," Aether removed his gaze from you and stared at the ground. "I'm not sure what I think or feel about you. I feel like I like you but I don't know in what way."

"Wait-"

"I think I might have feelings for you y/n but before I you say anything, can you give me some time to sort all of this out," Aether ruffled his hair, his braid swaying back and forth. "I don't really understand what my heart is trying to tell me. I just want to let you know because I want you to keep my possible feelings in your heart."

"I understand," you nodded, not giving the subject a push.