Another day Another Love Story {Xiao x Aether}

>~17~<

How come no one told me all this time I was spelling Paimon wrong? I AM CRYING

Aether POV

"AETHER!" Paimon was yelling at me, I opened my eyes, it hurts. I could feel cold water running from my feet to my head, I was lying down in a pool of water. To my right, a cliff where Paimon was at the top. A sharp pain in my side, I hissed, to my left in my side was an arrow. I moved my hand to cover it, I hiss again as my hand touched my skin, "P-Paimon" It hurt to speak. Xiao, I need-... Paimon flew down, the fear in her eyes scared me. "A-Aether..." She held her hand out to my wound and then brought it to her chest. I look too her, she gasped when we made eye contact. Did I scare her?

She tried to move me but I yelped in pain, "D-don't worry! Paimon is going to get help! S-Stay here... heh not like you can move.... SORRY! Paimon will be right back!" She disappeared, I tried to remember what happened.... I closed my eyes to think, we were leaving Gingyun Peak and I heard my father's voice. I opened my eyes widely, it was a trap, he wants me out. My head was pounding my ears were ringing.

How long will it take Paimon? At least it is me and my thoughts, the water was cold and my vision was getting blurry. We were near Jueyun Karst and I fell... Why didn't I use my wind glider? I must have broken it, it'll take a while to get someone from Liyue or Wanghu Inn over here. Should I call for Xiao? No, I don't want to frighten him with this... Not like he will get frightened, I-I just don't want to worry him. Besides, I cant speak.

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I must have closed my eyes and fallen asleep because when I awoke I was in Mr. Zhongli's arms, I could see Qiqi's Adeptus Art swirling around me. Around the arrow was Cildes scarf thing, looks like they were trying to slow the bleeding. Childe was walking next to Zhongli and Hu Tao to his left. Childe looked me in my eyes, "H-He's bleeding.." Zhongli looked at me and saw I was awake and the blood on his hands, he stopped walking, looked around, and found a place to lie me down. I squinted my eyes in pain as he set me down. "Aether..." It was Hu Tao, she had her hand over her chest, and she looked worried. Qiqi used her ability on me again to stop the bleeding. I look over to the arrow, still in my side.

Zhongli could tell what I was thinking, "It's too close to your vital organs, we can't remove it out here, we need to take you to Wanghu Inn." I look up, but for some reason I still couldn't speak. There was a sharp pain in my head, then a fuzzy feeling. Paimon was floating behind my head, my eyelids became heavy and I must have fallen into a light sleep. I could feel Zhongli picking me up a few minutes later, "How could this have happened to him?" Childe seemed angry, I could hear him kick something into the distance. "I don't know..." Paimon was floating next to me for her voice was the clearest. "He paused as we were leaving Cloud Retainers domain... It looked like he was in fear, he held his head as if he were in pain. Paimon doesn't know what happened to him but he just couldn't move." I could feel her tiny hand on my head.

"And then?" Hu Tao blurted out, "what happened then?"

What did happen... I don't remember. "He paused and held his head he must have heard a noise and pushed me forward, then an arrow hit him in the side and the impact pushed him off the cliff." I could hear her take a deep breath, "Paimon yelled his name as he fell.... Paimon looked over the cliff and saw him lying in the water with his... blood... running down the river. P-Paimon froze... when Paimon saw him move Paimon rushed down. When Paimon looked into his eyes... they were... lifeless." She moved away from me for her voice got quieter. "Paimon didn't know what else to do so Paimon went looking for help, that's when Paimon ran into you." PaimonPaimon Paimon ALL THE PAIMONS

"It's ok Paimon," Zhongli said, his voice vibrating my ears, it made me feel calm. "You did the right thing in the heat of the moment. Now let's get him to Wanghu Inn."

Xiao... How will he feel if he sees me like this and I didn't call for his help? So... sleepy.

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"Hello, Verr Goldet." I awake to Zhonglis's voice, She looked up "Hel-- Oh My Archons Aether!" She practically jumped over the desk to get to me. "He's awake but unresponsive I need to do some work, is there a place?" Qiqi's voice was shaky but firm. Verr nodded and was taking us to a separate room. "A-Aether?" When Zhongli turned to the voice I could see it was Xiao, I wanted to tell him I was fine but he was only looking at the arrow in my side. Zhongli turned back to Verr as she continued walking, Qiqi followed while Childe and Hu Tao stayed behind with Xiao.

My head was still spinning, must have been all the blood loss, Zhongli placed me down as I whined in pain. I could see Zhongli was worried, as he backed up I could see my blood on his clothing.

"He's coming.. My father.." Zhongli was shocked, "He did this to you?"

I nodded, "He sent an archer, and I recognized the arrow. They're here and they want me out of the war." Zhongli nodded, "Rest for now, I'll let the others know."

He walked away, down the stairs where we left the others, I could hear Xiao yelling at them, he's in pain I can hear it.

"Aether, you're going to feel some pain in your side." Qiqi numbed the area the arrow was in with her Cryo. She counted from 1 to 3 then she pulled it out, I screamed in pain and frustration, frustrated that I lost the ring and frustrated that my father is coming. I feel like my scream could have been heard from everywhere, I then passed out.

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I awoke with bandages all over, how long was I out? I brought my hands put to my head only to stop midway, my gloves were gone, and my scars were showing. I quickly put them under the covers, I can't bear to look at them right now. I look around and saw Xiao at the foot of the bed asleep. "Hmph" I whispered. Xiao turned his head to face me. He was awake, "knew it" I said. He sat up looking away from me.

"Aether... I was told what happened to you." He looked down. "Why didn't you call my name for help?" He sighed and then sat down next to me resting his head on my shoulder, I could tell he was hurt. "Xiao," I sat up with my hands still under the covers, he followed. "I didn't call for you because I couldn't speak. Believe me, you were the first thought in my mind when I came to in that water." I was looking at him, then down to my hands, I pulled them out from under the covers, my hands shaking, I looked at the scars and then quickly hid them again, Xiao moved his hands over mine and rubbed my skin. "He's really coming isn't he?"

I nodded. Xiao sighed, "I'll have to teleport to Inazuma and let the Shogunate know. That way they can get here faster."

I started crying, I don't want another war. "A-aether, love. Please don't cry."

"I don't want anyone to die." I said simply balling my eyes out. "Shhh." Xiao was holding me as he did before.

We stayed that way for a while, "As much as I want to stay here with you, it's best to let Inazuma know right away so they can get here in time." Xiao kissed me, "I'll be back as soon as I can Aether." He kissed my forehead this time. "I love you" I felt the warmth of his skin leave my cheek and with that, he teleported away.

The next part comes out next week! Hope you enjoyed it!

1418 words