In the name of love [Xiao x Aether]

2.

Two days have passed and Aether still has not woken up yet needing all the rest he can get. Paimon was extremely worried and often tries to wake the traveler but it has no use as Aether did not really seem to move. Paimon has issued this to Xiao who seems to remain calm while deep down inside Xiao was extremely worried and in truth, he thinks Aether is dying. Just thinking of it makes him sick to his stomach but then again he always asumes the worse. Xiao came out here on the balcony to clear his mind afterall so for now he tries to remain calm and do as he planned to do. Opening his eyes after having taken a deep breath he stares at the sun slowly starting to set over Liyue as another day has passed...which would be the thirth day of Aether not having woken up. The adepti just stares at the sun with his golden eyes as the sun reminds him of the man he cares so much for. He watches the birds fly in the sky, the warm air on his skin while on occassion a nice cool breeze went trough his hair. It only is then when he could clear his mind about the negative things and relax, who couldn't with such a beautiful view?

Paimon is beyond worried at this point so she floats out to where Xiao is crossing her arms "you tell Paimon right now if he will be alright! You dont talk to Paimon! Paimon needs to know if he is okay! You need to take care of him!" She spoke angrily but she only was angry because Xiao seems so relaxed about all of this not knowing bow panicked he is on the inside, not knowing what goes trough his heart and mind.

The man grips the railing of the balcony refraining himself from going off on the small being "i do not speak with you for a reason. I don't trust you... all i can tell you is that i am taking care of him so ....just shut up and leave him and me be."

The young looking being looks at Xiao shocked at his reaction, of what he said. "He has not moved in three days, he is feeling cold and he looks pale, he has not eaten in three days and-... Paimon is just worried"

Xiao lets out a deep long exhale almost sounding annoyed before he simply goes back inside closing the door so Paimon could not follow inside needing some peace. As he walks over to the bedside he looks down at the blonde traveler at the state he is in.  "Why are you not waking up?..." he whispers to himself bending down to inspect the other up closer all while he reaches out and make the other look at him by having a hand onto his cheek. Aether feels cold and that is when that sinking feeling comes into Xiao his stomach when he realises Paimon was right. Swiftly he gets on the bed stradling Aether before he cups his face gently shaking him "wake up-..."

No awnser was heard, no movement no nothing. Xiao began to worry more now as he now sees why Paimon worried so much over the last few days. "Aether wake up-..." he spoke trough gridded teeth holding back what it seems like tears, anger and fear.

Once more there was no awnser so Xiao grew more angry, not at Aether but at himself. The debt of karma he could never repay...was this Karma that hurted Aether? Was it because of him Aether is in the state he is? Because Xiao deserves karma?
The adepti just keeps shaking Aether becoming more and more violent with tears starting to well onto his eyes but finally at last he sees Aether take a deep breath before he opens his eyes. "Dont ever! Do that again you fool!"

Aether who just woke up looks up at Xiao who was holding onto his shoulders by now. He does notice something and that is that Xiao has tears in his eyes and was at the verge of crying. Despite the other his anger for probably scaring him Aether looks passed that and reaches up to place a hand on Xiao his cheek. When doing so the adepti instandly seems frozen in place as a single tear rolls down his cheek. Aether furrows his brows and wipes the tear that is rolling down Xiao his cheek with his thumb "what is wrong?"

The man does not know why he froze when Aether touched him, he does not know why a tear fell down, he does not know why he suddenly felt so reasured and calm knowing Aether is awake. "What is wrong? You slept for almost three days. I thought you died. Paimon thought so too...do not do that again otherwise i will kill you myself"