Extending the Olive Branch - Kaeya x Reader

Next Time

You walked through the Mondstadt streets happily, carrying your pack for your trip to Dragonspine. You were finally about to arrive somewhere on time. You snickered evilly as you pictured the look on Kaeya's face when you showed up at the exact time he told you to. Nothing could stop you now.

"Y/N! Hey!" you heard a squeaky voice call out to you. You turned around to see a flying fairy and a very exotically dressed young man coming towards you. You dropped your stuff and a huge smile grew across your face.

Now this... this could stop you.

"Aether! Paimon!" you said happily and ran into a hug with Aether. The momentum of your hug caused him to take a few steps back, but he squeezed you tightly as he held you in his arms.

"Oh my gods, I can't believe you're back! It's been so long," you uttered, still holding tightly to him. You pulled apart and looked at his face, his hands resting on your back.

You two wrote to each other fairly often, but you hadn't heard from him in a while, so seeing him in the flesh was a huge relief. You had promised to write to each other when he had initially left Mondstadt, but didn't expect much out of it. However, soon you found yourself looking forward to his weekly letters telling you stories of his travels while you kept him updated on Mondstadtian affairs. He had become quite the pen pal.

"I missed you," he said softly, then quickly added, "I-I mean I missed everyone." You responded by smiling and wrapping your arms around his neck again. After a few more seconds, you released him and turned to the tiny girl in the air.

"Paimon, keeping him out of trouble?" you asked playfully, extending your arms. She quickly flew into them and hugged you, so you hugged her small figure back, cuddling her like a teddy bear.

"Oh, Y/N, you have no idea! Paimon tries so hard but Aether is constantly getting into trouble! It's such hard work!" she answered dramatically. You giggled and released her, smiling widely. Paimon had also taken up writing to you, but they were mostly crude illustrations of people and things they had come across during their travels with "Paimon says hi!" scrawled in the corner.

"What are you guys doing here? Found a new monster to slay?" you chuckled, picking up your pack and slinging it over your shoulder.

"Actually, we came to see you!" Paimon squeaked happily.

"Me?" you asked, "Why would you need to see me?" Aether held out an envelope for you.

Confused, you took it and read the front. You froze when you saw what it said: "To my daughter, with love from Mom"

"No way, you made it to Khaenri'ah?" you breathed in amazement, "Did you find your sister?" The two adventurers shook their heads.

"Not yet. We're just exploring the city right now, but we ran into your mom at her shop and she was so excited to hear about you," Aether explained, trying to sound casual, "I decided to bring it straight to you. I needed to stop by Mondstadt for some local specialties anyway, so..." You didn't respond and continued staring at the envelope, clutching it with both hands.

You fought back tears as you thought about your mother. She was the reason you were able to escape the underground city. She chose to stay behind and distract the abyss guards while you fled to a better life. She had given everything for you to be free. A part of you was always worried that she had been killed, or worse: imprisoned in the abyss where no one could hear her screams.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Paimon's excited voice pulled you back to reality, "Open it!" You smiled at her and ripped the envelope open, taking out the letter inside.

"My dearest daughter,

I know it must come as a shock to hear from me after all these years. You can imagine how shocked I was to meet this traveler who claimed to know you! He tells me that you're following in your father's footsteps, just like you always dreamed of. My daughter! A Knight of Favonius! I am so incredibly proud of you. This is more than I ever could have imagined for your life. Have you gotten your Vision yet? I know you're one of the chosen, but it is just a matter of time.

While it is excruciating being apart, I never once regretted giving you the opportunity to leave Khaenri'ah and pursue a new life. I am content with my choices to live here until the abyss finally reaches out to me for rest. War still plagues our zone, and there are raids for materials, supplies, and money almost every night, but your uncle and I get by just fine in the alchemy shop. I have hope that one day our beautiful city will be free from the oppression of the Princess, especially after speaking with this man who claims to be her brother. Times are changing, my love. Maybe one day we will be together again.

But until then, know I love you so incredibly much and I am so proud to be your mother.

With all my heart,
Mom"

You wiped a few tears from your eyes and looked at your two friends in front of you, who smiled warmly. You were speechless, so you just wrapped the both of them in a hug again. Tears of joy flowed freely down your cheeks. Your mother was alive! She was still running the alchemy shop your grandfather had started. She seemed to be doing okay. This was the best news you could have hoped for.

You heard the bells at the cathedral start to ring, so you released your friends.

"Oh shit," you sniffled, still wiping tears away, "I'm supposed to be at Kaeya's by now." Your companions gave you surprised looks.

"Captain Kaeya?!" Paimon shrieked, "Paimon thought you two hated each other!" You chuckled, thinking about your lengthy rants of anger you included in your letters.

"Yeah, we still do," you replied as you started walking, causing them to follow, "but I've been promoted to Cavalry Major and we have an assignment to do together." Paimon and Aether nodded in understanding.

"Congratulations!" Aether said cheerfully.

"Thank you," you replied, then quickly shifted the conversation, "How long are you guys going to be in Mondstadt?"

"A few days, for sure," Paimon explained.

"Perfect! I'm actually going out of town right now for said assignment, but I want to send her a letter back. I'll be back tomorrow night. Could you wait?" you asked nervously. You knew how important Aether's work was to him, but you hoped his soft spot for family would come through and keep him in the city for a bit longer.

After a moment of thinking, Aether responded with, "Fine. But just because it's you." He smirked at you, and you swore his cheeks looked a little pink, but you brushed it off.

"You're the best," you told him, giving his hand a quick squeeze, "I'll see you when I get back!" As you ran off, Aether gazed after you, smiling widely. Then, Paimon delivered a swift kick to his head. He yelped and covered the spot her foot had come into contact with.

"Ow! What was that for?" he protested in annoyance.

"You said you were gonna ask her this time," Paimon said sternly, putting her hands on her hips. Aether sighed and rubbed the back of his neck in shame.

"I know," he replied sheepishly, "I'll just ask her next time! We'll see her again before we leave." He continued staring in the direction you had gone and sighed dreamily.

"Next time," he muttered to himself.