Abyss Aether × Xiao || You can try to escape ||

Surprise and Advice

(XIAOS POV)

"Ah. Conquer of Demons, it's so good to see you" Ganyu waves. I walk over to her. Recently she's been wanting to train more and more, and to be truthful, I'm not seeing much progress. She does seem to understand some of the things I'm showing her and I've never been much of a teacher. However, today we were supposed to take a break, but she was very adamant about training today, like WAY more adamant.

"So what is it you wanted to do today?" I question. Her face immediately goes nervous like she's trying to think of a response. Weird, shouldn't she know what she wants to do.

"I was w-wondering if you could teach me how to......ATTACK QUICKER!" she screams. I'm thrown off by it, but I already told her I would help and I'm not gonna go back on my word.

"Sure why not. Follow me" I response, walking towards some monsters.

"Hhhhh. I hope I can stall him long enough..."

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(AETHERS POV)

"This should do the trick!" I snicker. I pull out the plate of almond tofu I made. I wanted to try making it for Xiao and surprising him, so I asked Ganyu to stall him for me today, since Ganyu and I have been getting along pretty well recently. Zyra was actually the one who said I should try being friends with Ganyu, but that's besides the point. I continue to run around the kitchen, looking for anything else I can add to the tofu. I don't exactly know what Xiaos taste in food is, but I know he prefers more plain food so that's what I start with, and soon enough I managed to end up with this "beautiful" almond tofu. Now all I do is give Ganyu the signal to send Xiao back and we're good to go.

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(Ganyu's POV)

I'm running out of things to ask the Conqueror of Demons to teach me. I start panicking trying to think of something, when all of a sudden, something buzzed in my pocket.

THE SIGNAL!

"Is there anything else you need to learn?" he turns to me. I shake my head no and thank him before running off back to the city. Xiao lifts an eyebrow at me, but eventually shrugs and teleports back to the Inn.

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(Xiaos POV)

I teleport back into the room to see Aether not there. I figure he must just be out so I head down to eat some Almond Tofu, but I'm surprised by a plate of it already sitting at my table. I walk over and sit down, getting ready to eat it. The first thing I notice about it is that it smells different then usual.

I take a spoonful of it and put it in my mouth. My eyes widen in delight and I begin downing the whole plate. It taste different. In fact it tastes way better than usual. Once I finish the whole plate I'm about to get up, but a pair of arms wrap around me.

"Xiao-Xiao~" the voice whispers in my ear, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

"Aether, your back" I whisper. He smiles and lightly kisses me on top of the head. I get up and turn around, looking for his face.

"Yes I am~ So Xiao how did you like the almond tofu I made?" he questions.

"It was really good, a lot better tha-" my voices stops as I comprehend his words, "WAIT YOU MADE IT?!" I yell. He chuckles at my sudden outburst and gently pokes me on the nose.

"Yes I did. It was my first time so I'm glad you liked it so now I can make it for you whenever you want~" he teases, picking me. I wrap my arms around him as he twirls me around.

"Can we go back to our room now, I wanna rest for a bit" I mumble. He smiles and takes me to our room, setting me down on the bed.

"You rest Xiao" he smiles. I grab the book I had been reading before and continue from where I left off. Aether smiles at me and heads off to the Abyss for a while. After about an hour of reading, I get up from the bed. I found out I can't sleep unless Aether is here so I decide to head out to talk to......someone.

I teleport to the outskirts of Liyue City, going to a house standing alone. When I walk through the door, I see someone I was hoping to see and someone I wasn't hoping to see.

(No one's POV)

"Oh comrade!" Childe yells, waving at Xiao. Zhongli also looks up at Xiao and gives him a small smile, telling him to come over. The two of them were sitting together on a couch while Xiao sat on a chair nearby.

"What can I help you with Xiao?" Zhongli smiles. Xiao shifts slightly before responding.

"I was hoping....I could ask you something's" he whispers. Both of them raise an eyebrow at Xiao, who's face is red. They look at each other before smiling, having a guess about what he wants to ask.

Xiao begins discussing his questions with the both of them. Childe and Zhongli smiling the whole time. Zhongli was very proud that Xiao was finally allowing someone into his heart. Childe wouldn't say it out loud because he knows he'll get smacked by Xiao, but he was also really proud of him.

"Xiao, come with me for a second..." Childe mumbles. The tone in his voice made both Xiao and Zhongli concerned. Childe got up and left the room, Xiao following behind him.

"What is it?" he questions.

"I want you to spend as much time with Aether as you can" Childe answers. Xiao felt his heart stop.

"Why? Is something gonna happen to Aether!" Xiao slightly yells, becoming filled with worry.

"I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Doctor is planning on doing something to him and Lumine..." Childe drops his head. Xiaos hands form into fists and his face erupts in anger.

"If that man even TRIES to lay a hand on Aether....I will end his life" Xiao states, voice dripping with venom. Xiao never has wanted to hurt humans, but if it was for Aether, he will gladly do it.

Childe smiles and gives Xiao his approval. He's never really liked the Doctor either, so he was cheering for Xiao.

"I will kill that man!"

Yes I am a Doctor hater because of what he did to my precious Scara, and he was also the most recent Fatui member we've met so I'm just gonna use him.