ੈ✩‧₊˚𝓠𝓲𝓷𝓰𝔁𝓲𝓷 | 𝓧𝓲𝓪𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓽𝓼

Lanterns ✧

Xiao laid on Aether's lap as they watched the lanterns rise above them. After days, weeks, even months of begging, Xiao finally agreed to accompany Aether at the Lantern Rite Festival.

It was a magical moment indeed, Xiao Lanterns were illuminating the entire sky above them. "It's breath-taking, isn't it?" asked Aether, hoping for a rude reply from the Adeptus. Xiao opened one eye and looked straight into Aether's face, a warm smile plastered on it. The Yaksha's face turned into a light-red tint.  Xiao cleared his throat and calmed his thoughts, "I-I suppose it's pretty."

Xiao went back to closing his eyes and enjoying his lover's warmth. "Oh come on Xiao, are you not going to see the lanterns with me?" Xiao didn't respond.  Aether sighed and chuckled. Xiao wanted to open his eyes and see his lover's expression on his face but he refused to.

Aether softly pecked on Xiao's lips and he jolted upwards. "W-What was that for?!" The Yaksha touched his lips, did the Traveler really just kiss him? Aether smiles cheekily. "Y-You... This is why I can never get mad at you..." They stared at each other for a while until Aether hugged Xiao. He almost started to tear up as his warmth reminded him of his sister, Indarius.

Aether leaned closer to Xiao and whispered, "Happy Lantern Rite, my Yaksha." Xiao shed a single tear, hugging and clinging onto Aether tightly, he didn't want to let him go. "T-Thank you, Traveller..." Aether frowned slightly, "I told you to call me Aether, we are not strangers anymore. We are quite literally dating."

"S-Sorry, Tra-Aether."

They hugged for a while, until moving apart from Aether to enjoy the lanterns together.

Xiao wasn't alone anymore, he found a purpose, a new love.

——

As they walked back to Wangshu Inn, Xiao suddenly started to growl, "Grgh- Ngh.." He knelt down onto the ground and it even surprised Aether. "Xiao?! W-What's going on?" He panicked and knelt down next to Xiao. He covered his face with his hands so his face couldn't be seen.

"I-I'm okay, this is quite normal." He slowly got back up, still balancing himself. "Are you sure?! You looked like you were in pain!"

"Trust me, Aether. It's normal." Aether took Xiao's word and climbed the flight of stairs in the Inn. They opened the door to Xiao's room and while Aether was taking off his armour, he heard a loud thud.

Xiao collapsed.

Aether rushed to the unconscious Adeptus and placed his hand where his heart was. Thankfully he was still breathing. Aether just assumed he was exhausted and fell asleep and scooped him off the ground and carefully took off his armour as well. His garments were mostly sharp and used to 'ward off evil.'

Aether took the last bits of armour off and dove into the soft mattress where his lover was sleeping. Xiao looked so calm and relaxed, his face always looked like he was aware of surroundings, he was very cautious. Now he is in the protection of a 'mere mortal.' Even he himself said he didn't need to be protected, pfft.

Xiao rolled over to where Aether's face was and he looked so cute at that moment.

"Awh, baby, you're so adorable,"

He said as he dozed off, hugging Xiao tightly.