𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 ✦ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 ⁽ᴹᵃˡᵉ ᵛᵉʳ⁾

𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗹 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱

"Aetherrr! I finally found you!"

M/n skidded to a stop in the blond's path, his eyes bright with excitement.

"There you are!" Paimon gasped then placed her hands on her hips, "Where do you keep running off to, huh?"

"I was cuddling with Mitachurls." m/n replied then pointed at the duo, "I have decided that from now on, I will be your loyal Mitachurl friend who protects you from harm during your travels!"

"Wow, that's nice. Would've been nicer had you decided earlier before we had to fight that ruin hunter." Aether murmured and received a scorching glare from the h/c haired boy.

"Watch it, blondie," he told him, walking on over and picking him up, tossing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Alright, back to the Inn?"

"Yep!" Paimon chirped as Aether just completely gave up, allowing m/n to carry him as the little pixie settled for a spot at the top of the boy's head.

"Just know that I will protect you two no matter what! If I have to, I will die for you!" m/n exclaimed as he ran.

"Please don't. I'd prefer it if you didn't die." Aether told him and the boy bristled.

"Eh? Are you telling me what to do?"

"I said please!"

~~~ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ✧˚ · .

While m/n curled up on the ground, gasping for air after attempting and failing several times to run on water on their way back to the Inn, Aether chatted with the cook.

"Did you get rid of the ghost?" the cook asked as Paimon experimentally poked m/n with a banana she'd found in the kitchen only for the boy to grab it and eat it.

"Yep, it's taken care of. So can you make the almond tofu now?" Aether asked and m/n perked up.

"Oh! You needed almond tofu? I know how to make almond tofu!" m/n chirped.

Aether died inside, "ʷʰᵃᵗ...?"

The e/c-eyed boy smiled, "Mhm, Mister Crepus taught me how so I wouldn't go hungry while I wandered around! If you needed me to make some, you could've just asked me, you know?"

"Wait, really? So Paimon and Aether had to fight the Ruin Hunter for nothing!?" Paimon demanded, "M/n, Paimon loves you but, seriously?"

M/n blinked curiously as Aether placed a bowl over his head and screamed at the top of his lungs.

'Is he possessed?' the cook wondered.

'I did not know Aether could scream that loud. I am impressed.' m/n thought to himself then his eyes lit up, 'Is this a screaming competition now?'

"Uh, do you still want the Almond Tofu?" the cook asked as Aether continued screaming.

"Three please." Paimon said with a smile as m/n started screaming along with Aether.

It was a while until the Almond Tofu was finished. Paimon and m/n enjoyed theirs while Aether delivered the third plate.

M/n blinked when Aether returned and jumped to his feet, "Aether! This is the best Almond Tofu I have ever had! Taste! Taste!

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT-" Aether didn't stand a chance as m/n proceeded to stuff some of the food in Aether's mouth.

"It is good, is it not?" he chirped.

Aether was about to make a snarky comment about how the food tasted better when it wasn't force-fed to people but stopped himself as he saw the excited look on m/n's face.

"Yeah, it's good." he replied and m/n smiled even more.

"Mosi mita!" he exclaimed then grabbed Aether's hand, "Come! We must go now! Where to next?"

"Back to Liyue." Aether told the boy then frowned, "Will you be alright? Your reaction to being in such a crowded place was a little... concerning."

"I will be fine! Food makes me feel a little better." m/n replied simply, "It's been a while since my last trip to Liyue but I'm okay. Let's go now!"

"Hey! Wait for Paimon!" the pixie protested, floating on after the duo as m/n began dragging Aether to the stairs rather than the elevator.

~~~ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ✧˚ · .

M/n remained at the bottom of the stairs, refusing to go anywhere near the bank on the upper level.

"Come onnnn, m/n! You said you'd stop running off!" Paimon complained.

"I am not running off-" m/n paused to shudder, "I am keeping watch. That is all."

Aether hummed, "Is there some reason you don't want to come with us?"

M/n averted his eyes, remaining silent.

"Oh! Paimon knows! When we first talked to Childe, m/n knocked himself out a couple of minutes before Childe asked about him!" Paimon gasped and m/n glared at the pixie.

"Wait? Really? How?" Aether questioned.

Paimon gave him a confused look, "You didn't see him karate chop himself on the back of his neck? He moved pretty fast but still, I thought you would've seen or at least felt it."

"Shut up!" m/n snapped.

"You know Childe, don't you?"

"Nye, I do not!"

Aether and Paimon gave the boy disappointed looks and he groaned.

"Okay, fine, maybe I do." he mumbled.

Aether walked down the stairs and took m/n's hand in his, "Come on. It'll be fine. I'll hold your hand."

M/n sighed, "Fine. Only because I have to protect you. I am not coming because you promised to hold my hand or something like that!"

Both Paimon and Aether laughed at the boy's words as the trio made their way up the stairs.

M/n cried internally the entire time.