Modern Times (Xiao x Aether)

31) Cold

Xiao holds Aether tighter feeling sad for him. "Don't worry.. I'll do everything I can to help you." Xiao says holding Aether in his arms.

Aether lifts his head and stares a Xiao with teary eyes, "How..?" Still sobbing like a child.

".. I'll give you however much you need."

"..Y-you hic can't do that." Aether says with a voice crack while sobbing.

"Why not?" Xiao asks looking down at Aether sitting on the wooden table while stroking his hair.

"It-It's too much hic money, I can't ask for that much hic." Aether says stuttering while burying his face into Xiao's body.

"It's alright.." Xiao says in a calming voice trying to calm Aether down.

"It would be selfish of me to take that much from you.." Aether says not crying as hard, calming down a bit.

"It's alright to be selfish." Xiao says stroking Aether hair gently.

Aether holds Xiao tightly, "It's getting late and cold now, do you want me to drop you off." Xiao asks looking down as Aether held onto him.

"I don't want to go home.. not yet.." Aether replies shaking his head, not letting go of Xiao.

"Alright.. It is getting cold, so let's just go to the car to warm up." Xiao says, making Aether let go of Xiao.

Xiao helps Aether up from the bench, holding onto his hand tightly as they walk to Xiao's car together.

—

"Are you cold?" Xiao asks finally breaking awkward the silence between them. Aether shakes his head with puffy swollen eyes from crying, not saying a word.

As they both stayed silent, they still held onto each other's hands firmly, never loosening the grip they had of one another.

Aether stared out the window mindlessly, looking lost in thought. Almost forgetting Xiao is right beside him in the driver seat. Xiao never took his eyes off of Aether, looking at Aether. Although Xiao seemed calm on the outside, he was worrying about Aether frantically.

Xiao was silent for a long moment, not knowing what to say to cheer Aether up, or how to make him feel better... "Would you like to go somewhere?" he asks.

Aether's head jolts in the direction of Xiao, finally remembering where he was, "Where?.." Aether asks, his voice cracked, his throat has been dry from all that crying earlier.

"I don't know, honestly.." Xiao replies awkwardly, "Would you like to eat something?"

Aether thinks for a moment leaving the Xiao tenser than before, "O..Okay." he replies softly with a tired voice.

"Is there anything would you like to eat?" Xiao asks looking over to Aether. Aether shakes his head, "Anything is fine.."

Xiao pulls out his phone from his pocket with his left hand, his right still holding onto Aether's. Xiao looks at his phone and checks the time, it was almost eleven pm, time passed by quickly for Xiao when he was with Aether. "It's late, I'm not sure if anything restaurants will be open now."

"It's alright, I'm not that hungry." Aether replies. Ignoring what Aether had just said a few moments ago, "How about we go to a convenience store and buy some snacks?"Aether being tired, agreed to what Xiao said without a problem.