Aether laid in his nest waiting for Xiao to return. He really hoped that Xiao would spend some more time with him on his heat but corrupt demon spirits running around and causing trouble he found it very unlikely Xiao would be able to spend his heat with him. Aether sighed and laid on his stomach while Xiao was dealing with those stupid demons. Aether began to daydream about Xiao being there to cuddle him and getting him fresh ice packs.
Aether found it unfair that he was spending his heat alone. He heard the door to the patio open up. "Xiao?" Aether asked excitedly. But he quickly realized that the person who entered was not in fact Xiao. He heard a low cackle before the large man lunged at him. Aether immediately jumped out of the way. This was a very bad time for Xiao not to be here.
Aether couldn't really stand up straight so he focused on dodging the large man. Aether's luck ran out when the man opened a large portal He grabbed Aether by the back of his neck and shoved him through before closing it.
Xiao was fighting with a strong corrupt creature when Paimon saw it all through the peephole. "Xiao! Xiao! Aether was taken by a fautui." She said worriedly. With one last slash, he turned around to face Paimon. "What!?" he said in a cold tone. "Aether he was taken." She cried out.
Xiao immediately went back to his room at the Inn. He slammed the window open and looked around for Aether. But Paimon was correct he was gone. Xiao felt rage coursing through his veins. By the end of the night, he was already looking for any leads on Aether's whereabouts. Paimon helping of course with a few more volunteers.
Aether laid on the ground curled up in a blanket. He let out a shaking breathe when he heard a door slam shut. He pressed his eyes shut and trembled. "Ugh, what's that smell?" Scaramouche asked plugged his nose. Signora let out a scuff. "That would be an omega in heat," she said disgustedly. Childe laughed and swung open the door to the room Aether was left in. "No way. I didn't think it was true. I thought that useless guy was bluffing. Mondstadt's hero. The person who took down two dragons. Is a pathetic little omega." Scaramouche mocked.
Aether curled up and shrank into the corner as the three approached him. "It's almost weird seeing you like this command. I'm so used to seeing you with your sword drawn and prepared for battle." He mocked. Aether shuffled around awkwardly. He let out a groan when another wave of heat hit him. The three shackled him down and left other fautui in charge of guarding Aether.
Aether trembled and tried to break free from the shackles. "Xiao, hurry please," he whispered. Aether cried out in pain as his body began to cramp up. "Please oh god. Let me go please," he begged. The fautui guarding him laughed at how pathetic he sounded. Aether began to sob.
It's been days since anyone had seen Aether. Xiao was getting angrier and angrier as the hours passed by. His omega was in heat. He needed to be there. Aether needed him. Whenever a new lead popped up Xiao was at the place looking around for Aether.
"They're getting too close, we have been ordered to move him." Aether woke up to arguing. Two fautui men were upset they were responsible for finding another place to keep Aether. One of them stormed in and unshackled Aether. He set down a chest. "Climb in." He ordered. Aether shook his head with tears running down his cheeks. "No, please! I need him. don't separate me from Xiao." He begged. one of them lifted him up and set him in the chest gently. Aether cried and begged for any god out there that could possibly be hearing him to give Xiao a lead. Aether noticed there were other things in this chest too. A few swords, a couple of enhancing crystals and other things. He felt the chest move he had the be careful not to get cut with the swords.
The fautui men had set the chest on the cart and hopped in it. they sat down outside a city and began to heavily drink. Aether opened the chest gently and looked out. they were traveling up a mountain in Liyue. He climbed out gently and closed the lid as quietly as he could. He got out of the cart and followed the path back down the mountain. The men were too drunk to notice Aether moving. Once Aether was in the clear he ran as fast as he could. "Alpha. Alpha." He mumbled as he ran. As he ran he noticed a group of people huddled into a group talking. He went to the side and approached with caution. they were village people.
"Please help me!" He begged the men. They turned to him. "Woah what's a small omega like you doing up in the mountains?" one man asked. "They took me from my alpha. Please help me find him." He begged the men. The group of men decided to take him back to the village with them. "Our village will help you don't worry." One man said handing Aether some milk and bread. he nodded and downed the milk.
"Papa! Papa!" A little girl greeted once they had reached the village. Aether felt a familiar scent hit him. He sniffed and followed it. The group of men scattered to find their family. "Hey, what's wrong." One man caught up to Aether with his daughter in his arms. "I smell a friend nearby." He said. The man allowed Aether to follow it. When Aether got closer to the scent he gasped and ran towards it. The closer he got to the scent the more other familiar scents he could smell.
There was a group of his friends who were looking for him. They were almost going to give up until Xingqui snapped his head up and sniffed. "Aether," he mumbled. He started following the scent. Chongyun noticing XIngqui's quick paste and followed him. The rest of the group Xangling, Xinyan, and Yanfei quickly followed them.
