Vengeance, Betrayal | Tartaglia X Zhongli (Angst)

Chapter 7

What is this that Aether has been feeling ever since he met Childe? The excitement he feels when he hears his name, the worry he gets when he sees him injured or hurt, the comfort he feels whenever he's around, the disappointment he feels when they're about to part ways, and the warm feeling he feels whenever he's around with him. Also the jealousy he feels when he sees Childe is a lot happier with Zhongli. Why didn't he feel happy when Childe and Zhongli got into a relationship? Why did he cry the whole night before Childe and Zhongli's wedding? No one knew what he felt about Childe and Zhongli except his best companion, Paimon. Paimon barely has a clue about what Aether is feeling.

How he wished it could've been him.

How he wished Childe could've chosen him.

"Aether? Hello? Paimon has been talking here since earlier and you're not listening!" Whined Paimon as she knocks the blonde's head. Bringing him back to reality. "Are you okay?" Asked Childe. It has been two weeks at the Wangshu Inn with the three of them. As much as Aether wants to find his sister, he decided to stay with Childe instead. He knows that he should continue on his journeys but there's this voice inside him, telling him he should stay with Childe for a while and help him with his recovery. Though Childe still hasn't moved on, he's already recovered from his injuries but he still needs to be careful not to open his wounds. "You should be asking yourself that." Joked Aether to Childe. "You've been staring at me for a while before Paimon knocked you, am I that handsome? I'm flattered." Teased Childe as he winks at Aether, giving him a lopsided smile. Aether was shocked instead of getting annoyed. This was Childe's first tease after not being able to act like himself the past weeks. "You still have the energy to tease even after everything? Seriously?" He said lightheartedly. "Didn't you lecture me the past weeks? I got tired of hearing it over and over so I decided to listen!" He said, pouting and crossing his arms as if he got defeated by a small game.

Childe's usual attitude may be coming back but he's only doing it for Aether. He felt bad for telling him advice and lecturing him while he doesn't listen. Though he's only hiding what he really feels, Aether knows that. Aether knows Childe isn't showing what he actually feels. That he just didn't want to be a burden anymore. That he's just faking it as if he's putting a mask on to please and entertain people without revealing the real him nor what he really feels. "I'm happy that your annoying side is finally back." He lied and teased at the same time. "Excuse me?" Giggles were only heard from Paimon and Aether. Paimon still can't read Childe's true intentions and such like Aether even after knowing each other for years. "Sorry to break the nice atmosphere here but the Qixing still hasn't found your family and Zhongli, Childe. There also weren't any Fatui members' bodies. The Qixing is positive that it's connected to the Fatui. You're the only one we know that knows a lot about the Fatui." Said Aether, looking down on his knees. Childe already knew what he was about to ask. He only gave Aether a hopeless look, remembering everything that had happened again. He still couldn't accept it so he instead tried ignoring and forgetting it.

Silence. Nothing was heard from them until Paimon finally started to talk for Aether. "Well, what he wanted to ask was, maybe you could help find your family and the truth about Zhongli and the Balladeer!" Paimon said, with her usual small, energetic voice. "Zhongli and the Balladeer? Paimon, do you know anything about them?" Asked Aether, looking at his companion with a hopeful look. "Uhh, yeah? Paimon knows that Zhongli is our friend and Scaramouche is our enemy!" "No, that's not what I meant." Said Aether, smacking Paimon's head. "Ouch! Hey! That hurts Paimon!" Complained the Pixie. "I remember that Scaramouche kept telling Zhongli about something that they made a deal. Also want to get my Delusion. I also heard mumbles before I finally went unconscious." Childe said, trying to remember things before he got unconscious even if he doesn't want to. "Oh! Oh! Paimon remembers something that happened! Paimon was the only one who didn't get unconscious because Paimon was outside." Said Paimon that making Childe and Aether silent, ready to hear what Paimon was about to say.

~~

A man with a large hat, Inazuman attire, and purple eyes and hair walked away along with a few of its servants and a certain someone. A friend maybe, or another Harbinger like him? A little Pixie woke up. Luckily, she didn't get affected by the smoke earlier but out of fear, she still couldn't think straight and straightly flew to her companion. Someone had heard a squeak and quickly looked in the direction where she was at. The little pixie hid behind her blonde traveling companion and remained silent.

"We were heard." Said one of the Fatui Agents.

"Hurry up and leave this place already." Ordered the man with a large hat. Everyone disappeared as if they got teleported except one. He looked around as if he was looking for a certain someone.

A man with ginger hair is whom he was looking for.

He kneeled to the unconscious body, searching for a certain thing. He snatched a barely glowing orb, took some kind of device behind it, and threw it back at the man's body. He disappeared within a blink of an eye, no traces were left.

~~

"So that's what happened?" Asked Childe, back with his hopeless tone and look. "Yeah... Paimon doesn't think it was Zhongli who's the one with Scaramouche. Paimon saw him near Childe." She said, humming while trying to connect everything that has happened while you could only hear silence from the other two. "You know what? Let's have some time to relax from the investigation. It's been a month that we've been talking about this nonstop." Suggested Aether who stood up and clapped his hands to catch Childe and Paimon's attention. "Sounds like a great idea to Paimon!" Said Paimon, floating around Aether with excitement. Childe only smiled and nodded as his response. He didn't want to stop investigating but he also want to take a break from everything at the same time.

AN: I'M SO SORRY IF THIS TOOK ME LIKE ALMOST A MONTH TO UPDATE AND WAS WRITTEN REALLY SHITTY 😭 BUT HEY IT IS STILL CONNECTED TO THE MAIN PLOT!!!!!!!!