Another day Another Love Story {Xiao x Aether}

>~9~<

Warning cringe ahead lol, and a hint of abuse. This is a long one hopefully it'll hold you guys over till Thursday when I can upload again.

Enjoy!

Aether POV

I awoke to Pimon and Xiao talking. Pimon was actually floating next to Xiao! She was so scared of him before. Now they seem like good friends, I'm happy.

No, you're not.

I frowned and turned over, my back facing them hopping to get a few more minutes of sleep when I hear something in the bushes. I didn't react,

Let it kill you

I felt Xiao's hand on my arm, "Aether get up." I opened my eyes and saw Xiao focused on the bush, I did what he said struggling at first because I haven't fully healed. Xiao moved me and Pimon away from the bush, "It's probably a squirrel." Pimon said,

"Never can be too careful," I mentioned...

It was a slime, a little Dendro slime. He hopped out of the grass and just stared at us. Then it left only to return a few minutes later. "Do you-" I said looking at the slime while helping pack up, "hmm?"

"Do you think it wants us to follow?" I asked walking towards the slime. As I inched closer, the slime kept hopping away, I just...

Follow it

blindly followed, I sensed Xiao and Pimon following behind me.

We ended up in the middle of Cuijue Slope. "What.." Pimon asked as the slime disappeared into the water next to a tree. I walked over to where the slime had disappeared and saw a hole in the tree. When I got closer I saw a wooden stringed instrument and bow sitting perfectly in the hole with a note sitting on top of the bridge (a piece of the instrument). I gasped and Xiao came closer, "What this?" He asked. I looked at him a little confused, "It's a violin." I said just above a whisper. "And a note." I looked to Xiao signaling that I wanted to read it in private and he understood... I grabbed the note and it read in our own language,

(I say own language because it was hinted at in the traveler's voice lines that Pimon taught the traveler how to speak the Teyvat language)

this isn't a thought! \/

'Hello Aether,

Happy Birthday hope you've been well. I thought I'd leave this for you, made it myself, I don't know exactly how it works but I'm sure you can tune it up. After all, it's been centuries since I've heard you play. I know you play when you are sad or stressed, please brother try to understand what my mission is. Why we're still here,-'

Toss it in the water

I cut myself off and threw the paper down at my feet as I watched the ink bleed into the fresh water. "Aether?"

"How could she.." I cried "HOW COULD SHE!"

She doesn't even want to see you on your Birthday. Not like you'd care, don't like birthdays. Useless

I yelled and fell to my knees coughing. Xiao rushed over and caught me, holding me in his arms. I was hysterically crying, I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

SET ME FREE

"Why us... why... I-I can't anymore." I said, my body giving up on supporting my weight.

HAHA YES

However, Xiao was holding onto me, keeping me upright. "Why.." I kept crying, gods I'm having a breakdown, I'm going to lose it. That's when I heard humming, The thoughts in my mind went quiet. I looked up and heard Xiao humming, then he started singing