Experimental Genshin Oneshots

Éclair D'amour (AeQing)

Inspired by the flower in the anime Zero no Tsukaima.
Nothing special about this, just felt like finishing this draft after it sat on my computer collecting some dust. Maybe I'll write something again, or leave again and come back after another few weeks worth of radio silence.
Also still no Sumeru based content, I'm still trying to make a serviceable team before i tackle it.
Either way, I hope you enjoy.
___________

*Flashback*

"What is this?"

"It's a flower from another world. They call it the Éclair D'amour. It informs you of the condition of your significant other. I also have one myself."

He pulled out a small bottle from his pocket. Inside was the same flower inside her bottle, but instead of glowing a bright yellow, his was glowing a bright purple.

"This way, you and i have something to remember each other by. And we'll know we're doing, even if we're far away."

"And don't worry. I'll promise I'll come back."

*Flashback End*

Before Aether left, he had given her a gift. A memento, if you will. It was a small flower, emitting a soft yellow glow. It supposedly tells you of your significant others condition, as indicated by the intensity of it's glow.

Ever since then, the flower has never left her sight. Every hour of every day, she would check on the flower's glow. There were times the flower's glow would get slightly dimmer, making her shiver with worry. There were times where she saw the flower glowing brightly, making her feel delighted that he's feeling happy. Maybe he was thinking about her?

There were times people would look at her funny, wondering why she was bringing a flower around wherever she went. There were also times that she would look at it, only for her heart to suddenly be rushed by a flurry of emotions. Loneliness, sadness...

  
Longing. She longed for him. This flower wasn't enough, and the two of them knew this. Even still, what was there to worry about? He had promised to come back safe, and Aether is always a man of his word....

  
Right....?

  
   

The next few days would be quite uneventful, until one day. Keqing was busy in her office, when suddenly, she heard a loud bang coming from the distance. Looking out her window, she saw it. Despite how far Liyue and Inazuma were, she could faintly see dark clouds hovering over Inazuma, and she presumed the loud noises were thunderstrikes.

At first, she didn't think much of this. Perhaps the Electro Archon was a bit angry, or maybe this is something that can but rarely happen in Inazuma. That was, until she saw the flower's glow becoming dimmer than usual, and it never stopped. In a panic, she accidentally dropped the bottle holding the flower, and it crashed into a million pieces. Almost as if it responded to the broken bottle, the flower became even darker.
  

Looking at the flower, a flurry of emotions started to attack her. Panic, distress, worry...

   

Fear.

  
The flower did not stop becoming darker, and it kept going. Yet there was nothing she could do to stop it. All she could do was sit there, her tears never showing signs of stopping, the flower's glow never becoming as bright as it once was.

And yet, she wouldn't give up hope. He promised he'd come back, didn't he? She picks up the flower and clutches it tightly into her chest.

"Aether... You better come back... You promised me, didn't you...?"

Suddenly, almost responding to her plea, the flower's glow returned. Brighter than it ever was.
  
........

  

One blow. All it took was one blow, the same blow might he add, to bring him down to his knees. He survived it somehow, but getting hit by another one would surely bring him down. Suddenly, while he was trying to get up, he heard a voice.

"Dear me, aren't you cutting it rather close?"

A voice, and it came from the Guuji Yae herself.

"Surely you don't think you can best Ei with your powers and wishes alone, can you? There are other people out there wanting to see this decree abolished, and people who wish to see you come out of this alive."

The moment she finished that sentence, she thought of Keqing. Of course, he wasn't going to let it end this way, he still had a promise to keep.
  

"Now, close your eyes. And let their wishes become your strength."

He did as he was told, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, a flurry of voices began surrounding him. It was the wishes of Inazuma. They wish to see this end as well. However, one voice was louder than all of them, and it sounded familiar to him.
 

"Aether... You better come back... You promised me, didn't you...?"

It was Keqing. His one and only. His body suddenly became flowing with energy, and soon he had the power to stand up once more.

Voices began to echo around them. It was the prayers of the people of Inazuma. They all had one wish, to see this decree abolished.

"Don't worry Keqing. I'm coming back soon."

Soon, the sounds of blades clashing began to echo, and a battle of two great powers commenced.

______________

Days go by. News of the war in Inazuma finally ending has spread all over teyvat. Yet nothing of Aether. A feeling of worry would start to creep her way into her mind, but she stayed hopeful. Patiently waiting for him to come.

Until that fateful day.

One of her secretaries entered the room, and brought the news to her.

"Lady Keqing, The Crux has finally docked onto Liyue Harbor, and it appears the traveler is aboard-"

No sooner were those words out of her mouth, she ran out of her office, making a mad dash to the docks. She ran for what felt like forever, until she saw him. Standing there, holding a small bottle.

They slowly started to make their way towards each other started to absorb all of his features. His golden eyes, blonde hair and ridiculous attire. Yup, it was definitely him. Yet she supposed a little clarification wouldn't hurt.

"Aether...?"

"Mhm, i kept my promise."

Immediately after those words left his mouth, she ferociously began attacking his lips, after not tasting them for so long. The taste was all too familiar, and if her body didn't need air, she would never let go. Alas, after a while they separated. They spent the next while just admiring each other's features, carefully memorizing every minute detail.

And if you carefully looked at the bottle in his hand, you could see it emitting a glow that could even rival the brightest of flames.