All it takes is someone to listen (Aether/diluc)

Angels Share

The dam holding back Aethers tears had been broken. He had broke down completely. None of the bystanders had ever seen somebody cry so hard in their life. Aether was sobbing, wailing, nearly screaming, this was real, this was misery, this was sadness. Diluc was shellshocked. His first instinct was to run away by himself, and his second was to grab aether and try to get away from everyone. He didnt know which one would be more appropriate.
Aether was trying to hide himself but to no avail. He couldnt stop crying. He couldnt quiet down, he couldnt stop. The more he thought about shutting up, the more he cried. He was a complete wreck. Diluc was standing there right in front of him. Half the town was standing all around him. He was cornered physically, socially and mentally. This would be remembered. His image would be tarnished. Everyone would think hes a baby. He dropped to the ground. Aether tried to hug and cradle himself, he needed to stop. He needed to zip it. To get back to work. He wouldnt reward himself with a non alcoholic drink anymore. He was going to go to sleep and start a new day tomorrow, a new day full of the same things. He felt worse thinking about that. It was starting to hit him that nothing was truly moving forward. He was aimlessly completing tasks hoping to find Lumine in the end but to no avail. Diluc looked down at the traveler. Aether covered his face in desperation to not be seen.
"Whats up with him?"
"Is that the honorary knight?"
"Is he okay?"
"Whats Diluc doing here?"
"Do we need Jean?"
"Hah!"
"What a trainwreck... can't look away."
"What in the world happened?"
Suddenly, Diluc snatched him up, and ran, harder than he ever had. The second choice was more appropriate, he felt. Diluc bolted up the steps and to the tavern. He scrambled into the Angels share, and barked at Charles to get everyone out. Aether was scared. He didnt know what was happening. Diluc was basically rescuing him. Even though he ran into him. Now Aether couldn't let go of that. This day was falling apart, and so was he.
Once the tavern cleared, even Charles, Diluc sat aether down at the counter.
"Just- just whatever you need." Diluc stuttered.
Aether's tears fell faster and harder now.
"I failed you- I failed mondstadt, liyue, inazuma, I failed my sister, I failed myself, I cant even fucking walk right, I cant do anything , yet i do so much. I feel overloaded and i cant do shit about it because its my DUTY, and even if i was let off, Id hate myself, I really already do hate myself, I wish I wasn"t here, I just want to find lumine and to be happy, but i cant have that, but we always want what we cant have- It's fact. Im not getting anywhere. I'm useless. Every day is the same. Trial and failure. I'm-" Diluc just stared, clueless and confused, awfully uncomfortable at the current predicament.
Aether started choking on his own spit and this made him cry even harder, he was drenched in his own snot, saliva and salty tears, he was disgusting, and dirty; helpless. He just stopped talking. He let it happen. He heaved into the smooth brown wood of the bar. He let it happen even though he begged himself for it to not happen.
Diluc came around from behind the counter, deciding it was best not to gawk anymore. Aether raised his head up from the counter very slightly,
"Whats the town gonna do? What're you gonna do? What will the Knights think? Is this gonna be talked about across Teyvat? What'll happen?" Aether said, his voice getting quieter with every word, trailing off... Aether couldnt tell if he was freaking out more or managing to calm down.
Diluc put his through in Aether's golden hair, and ruffled it a little bit. This surprised Aether, but he welcomed it, slowing his tears for a moment.
"You shouldnt care what the knights think. I dont know what the Knights will do, or what"ll happen across teyvat. I am going to be here for you though, even if nobody else wants to. I know i keep saying it's okay. Maybe it's not. In fact, it really, really isnt... but that in itself is okay. I've got you aether. I'm no good at this. You work hard every day, you work hard for me and for all the people in this world, for your sister. I want to do you a favor now. Im sorry I didnt notice sooner."