Another day Another Love Story {Xiao x Aether}

>~2~<

Aether POV

It's been a while since the incident in Dragonspine happened and I've been feeling a bit better? What a lie, I honestly wanted to avoid Dragonspine. I wanted to avoid whatever happened. Like really? Pimon gave me some liquid that multiply stuff and I drank it and had to bleed out to live? It's so bizarre and I still get lightheaded every now and again.

Pimon and I just got into Guili Plains heading towards Liyue for the Lantern Rite.

"Pimon, I need a rest.." I said, holding my head as I leaned onto a tree. "Are you alright?" She asked, turning around. "Yea. Just tired."

"But it's the middle of the day!" My head started pounding, "Pimon please."

She floated towards me as I fell to the ground. "Aether?" I waved my hand. "I'm fine Pimon.." Pimon floated closer to me and placed her hand on my head. "No, you're not, you're burning up!"

"Pimon." I said while coughing. "Don't Pimon me! I'm going to get help from Wangshu Inn! I'll be right back don't move!" I blinked and she was gone.

Not even a minute later I saw some treasure hoarders in the corner of my eye, "nugh" I tried to move but couldn't. "Huh.." I can't move, why can't I move? great just great. Exactly what I needed. ugh

"Hey, what's over there? I see a purple light!" One of them with a shovel yelled. They were talking about my chest plate. They walked closer to me, "Oh ho ho what do we have here! It's that Traveler that's always messing up our operations!" The man dressed in red kicked my leg, and I couldn't feel it. What's happening to me?

"Hey man, he doesn't look so good." One of them said. God, I can't keep my eyes open. Another touched my forehead, "Hey, he's burning up!" I felt a sharp pain in my arm, good I can still feel that, but I can't move it. I looked over to where the pain was coming from, one of the guys stabbed me with a knife, but it looked more like they injected me with something.

There was blood rolling down my arm and onto the once green grass. "Let's take him to the boss."

A man that was holding a sledgehammer grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder, I let out a whimper, my head was throbbing. "Awww did I hurt you?" The man said. My eyelids were getting heavy, Xiao. I thought I said it aloud but didn't. My eyes closed and everything went dark.

Pimon POV

"Pimon is telling you I told him to wait right here!" I was accompanied by Soraya, Smiley Yanxiao, Huai'an, and Xiao who overheard my conversation with the rest of the group.

"Pimon are you sure he didn't just get up and walk to a more suitable place to rest?" Soraya asked.

"There's blood here." Xiao was crouched down touching the grass near the tree I left Aether at, I could feel his power grow he seemed mad. "Not a lot, but it leads over this way." He started walking and the rest of us followed knowing well not to distract the Adeptus.

He led us to Mingyun Village, the place was full of treasure hoarders. "Soraya, Huai'an, Yanxiao, you should head back," Xiao said. Huai'an shook his head no, "If Aether is as sick as Pimon said he is, and if he's hurt he'll need me to help him."

I looked to Xiao, "I-It's alright you three should go. I trust Xiao to take care of this, he'll take Aether straight to Wangshu Inn when we find him. It's a better place to get treatment." I looked to the others, their heads nodding yes. They turned around and started walking away. "We'll prepare some supplies for when the three of you return," Yanxiao said. I looked at Xiao, "Please help him... If these guys took him then he is in really be in bad shape!"

Xiao walked over to me and my heart skipped a beat, I got scared. He placed his hand on my head, I looked up, and he showed no emotion.

"I'll save him Pimon." For a split second, I saw the worry in his eyes. He started walking along the sides of the rocks and I followed. "We stay quiet, I will not kill mortals."

I nodded my head, he grabbed me and pulled me close. We teleported house to house in search of Aether.

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We found him in the house closest to the body of water. "A-aether." His arms were strung up behind his head, bruises all over, deep cuts on his side, and blood running down his head. "They.. they tortured him!" I yelled, I looked at Xiao who was just standing there, in front of Aether.

He used his spear to cut what was holding him up, Aether fell but Xiao caught him. He pulled Aether in close, I could hear Aether let out a whimper.

My heart fell, Xiao picked him up bridal style and looked at me, his eyes were filled with rage. He wanted to kill I could feel it, my eyes move towards Aether whose breathing was faint.

Xiao teleported away and so did I. I met him at Wangshu Inn, Aether was on a bed while Huai'an tended to his injuries. Xiao stood there watching, Huai'an touched Aether's skin and blood flowed out. Aether's face tightened as he hissed in pain. I looked away I couldn't stand to see him like that. Xiao teleported away, I knew he was angry and I tried to find him. My first thought was where we found Aether so I went there, and that's when I saw his weapon in hand, "XIAO!" I yelled not caring if anyone else heard me. He turned around, eyes wide and filled with rage. "Don't do this... It's not what Aether would want!"

"Pimon-" He let out a cry, and fell to his knees, I flew over to face him, he had a hand over his heart. "Xiao?" he looked so vulnerable. "W-wait here" I flew away.

Xiao POV

Pimon flew away, my heart was so tight and my karmic debt only made it worse. I felt like I couldn't breathe, Aether. Why him? Why did he have to get hurt? Why didn't he call my name for help? My thoughts stopped to the sound of footsteps walking towards me, I turned around ready to attack until I saw his face and Pimon right next to him. "M-my lord." I bowed my head. "Xiao, I am no longer the Geo archon, but I still am your friend. Pimon told me what happened. Are you ok?" He bent down in front of me. Pimon nodded to Rex Lapuis and teleported away. "My lor-"

(bro I have no idea how to write Zhongli's character. please bear with me lmao)

"I go by Zhongli now." He sat on the ground and pulled me in, a hug. Is that what this is? It feels... nice. I wonder if this is how mortals show affection. "What Aether went through is horrible. How are you holding up?" I looked up to him, "my lor- Zhongli... Please tell me what's happening to me! My chest felt so tight and when I saw h-him like that I-I wanted to h-hurt those mortals. Sir, I wanted to-... Why.. why do I feel this way? What... what is th-" Zhongli grabbed my arms, "Xiao..." He smiled, "Aether is important to you, he means a lot to a lot of people. From how I see it Xiao, is that you want to protect him. I'm glad you found light, truly I am." I could tell he was holding something back. Keeping something from me, "Come now, let's go check on Aether." He helped me up and we walked back over to Wangshu Inn.

When we arrived Aether was all bandaged up, he slept peacefully under the covers. Zhongli was standing next to me, as I walked into the room where he was resting. Pimon slept next to his head with her hand on his cheek. It was just us four in the room. I walked over to Aether and Zhongli pulled up a chair for me to sit in next to Aether. "Thank you" I sat down and watched Aether breathe, his chest rising and falling.

"If you need to talk, I'll be at Cloud Retainers domain for a few days." I nodded as he left the room. My arm acted on its own and grabbed Aether's hand, I rested my head down on my extended arm and lost myself in my thoughts. Aether, please tell me what is this feeling I have whenever I'm near you. I don't deserve to be happy, why do you make me so-

BAM

I did another >:3

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