🎐💫Lanterns|Xiaother one shots| COMPLETED (BEING RE-WRITTEN)

I'll See You Later♡ (ANGST-ISH)

//childhood friends au- Aether is shorter in the start bc baby Aether <3 Kinda angsty(?) //

"C'mon!" 10-year-old Aether giggles trying to pull the 11-year-old Xiao towards the woods.

"This is a stupid idea! What if we get hurt" Xiao huffed, following nonetheless.

Aether just rolled his eyes tugging at the boy's arm, trying to get him to continue. Xiao finally gives in letting the shorter boy drag him.

Aether giggles leading his friend into the woods. The two explore, Xiao definitely more hesitant the Aether.

The two stumble across a small creek, they turn to each other and share a cheeky grin before running over to it and jumping in. Despite the fact they knew how mad their parents would be when they came back with wet clothes they played around in the water, giggling and splashing each other.

The two bonded and grew up at that lake, but as they got older the visits became more sparse until they didn't visit at all. They slowly drifted apart until they were strangers.

Xiao sat on his porch overlooking the forest. A wave of nostalgia hit him like a tsunami. He bit his lip looking around before getting up. He started in the direction of the creek, trying to remember how to get there. He wanted to see it one more time before he was to head to college.

After 30 minutes of mindless walking and getting lost he finds the creek. He looks around, feeling a smile form on his lips. It had been years since he had seen this place. He ran his hand along the bark of a tree he and Aether used to dangle from. He chuckles thinking of fond memories.

Suddenly he is aware of eyes on him, he turns to see a boy with honey-blond hair staring at him. He seemed so familiar- wait- was that Aether?

He stares in shock, looking the boy up and down. He had grown much taller and had gained a few freckles. His hair was much longer, now tied in a braid that reached his waist. Xiao would never say it out loud but the boy had become quite attractive.

"Xiao..?" The blond blinks

"Aether?"

Xiao suddenly feels arms flung around him pulling him into a tight hug. Xiao blinks before hugging back, a large grin on his face.

"It's been so long!" Aether finally says with a grin, holding onto Xiao's shoulders. Xiao looked up at Aether smiling.

"It really has-"

Aether gives him a sunshine-like grin "I'm glad to finally see you again- you are a lot shorter than I remember" Aether teased with a smirk.

"Hush" Xiao hissed giving him a sharp glare

"Your personality hasn't changed much I see" The blond laughs.

Xiao rolls his eyes playfully, crossing his arms in a sassy manor.

"Sooo.. Why are you here?"

"Uh well.. I wanted to see the place before I headed off to college-" Xiao frowns

"Oh yeah.. You've graduated by now" Aether frowns looking down.

"Yeah.. I missed this place-"

"Same here, I come down here sometimes to clear my head, I'm kinda nervous for my last year of high school" Aether says sheepishly.

"You'll do great, it's a pretty smooth year. You get to lay back" Xiao assures him.

The two sit down making small talk. Even though they hadn't seen each other in forever, their chat came easy as if it had only been a few days. The sky slowly started to fade into a soft pink color. Aether glanced at Xiao with a frown.

"Hey.. I know we haven't talked in years but I'm really going to miss you when you go to college. I mean I finally get to speak to you again only for you to be leaving"

Xiao looks down, nodding "I'll miss you too.. But hey- we have phones, do you want my number so we can talk more?"

"Yes! Of course I do"

Xiao pulls his phone out, handing it to Aether so he could enter his number. Aether does the same, giving his to Xiao.

Xiao puts his contact in and exchanges phones with the blond. When he gets his phone back he goes red with embarrassment, Aether had put his name to 'Bae 🥺❤'

"Aether!" Xiao huffed changing the name to 'idiot.'

Aether glanced over "You're mean."

"hah- I know" Xiao rolls his eyes, standing up. Aether stands up too, looking at the sky.

"You have to go, don't you" The blond frowns, looking down.

"Yeah, but I'll text you. I promise" Xiao nods sadly. Once again he feels warm arms wrap around him pulling him into a tight embrace.

Xiao felt like crying, this was his childhood friend, he felt bad for leaving him again. Xiao hugged back, restraining the tears that threatened to spill. Aether spent no time holding back, he let tears gently slide down his cheeks as he hugged his friend.

"I'll miss you.. Please keep in contact with me"

"Of course" Xiao squeezes him a little tighter before finally letting go. He gives him a small smile, letting a tear stream down his cheek.

"I'll see you later" Xiao smiles, wiping at his face.

"Bye.. See you later" Aether laughs softly, his laughs interrupted with a few sad hiccups.

With that Xiao turns away, feeling hot tears stream down his face. He didn't realize how much he had missed the blond until now. He let the tears silently fall as he walked back to his house.