The Adeptus Who Fell For A Mortal (Xiaother)

Day of your Birth

Aether POV:

It was pretty early in the morning, the sun hadn't even risen from the fluffy clouds of Liyue yet. I covered my mouth as I yawned, normally I'd go back to sleep but I woke up this early for a reason.
It was a hassle to get Xiao to sleep last night, but the sleeping pills I slipped in his almond tofu ended up kicking in eventually.
I stretched my body and crawled out of bed, creeping over to where Paimon slept and pulling out a white bag filled with colorful objects. I hid it there so Xiao wouldn't find it before he needed to.
I pulled some deflated balloons out of the bag and began to blow them up, carefully placing them around the room.
After I was done I grabbed out a white base banner and wrote 'Happy Birthday Xiao's in my neatest writing, then hung it up on the wall. Phew, for such little decorating that was tiring..or was I just that tired to begin with? Whatever, I still need to rush down and borrow the inn's kitchen before morning.
I left our room and ran down the wooden stairs, trying my best not to fall face first on the floor below me.
Finally I got to the kitchen and grabbed the ingredients I needed.
Eggs, flour, sugar, milk, your basic necessities to make cake.
By now I was an expert, while Lumine and I traveled worlds I would make her a cake every year. Once I even used a camp fire, but it still ended up working out.
I stirred the batter then poured it into a pan and stuffed it in the oven, hopefully I didn't miss an ingredient due to the rush..
I waited around for about an hour until I heard the satisfying 'ding' of the oven timer.
I pulled the cake out and smiled in pride, it looked perfect. Now I just need to frost it.
I filled a piper with white soft frosting and coated the cake with it, humming songs to myself as I worked. Then I wrote 'Happy Birthday' in teal frosting.
Done!
I carried the cake back upstairs and sat it on a small table by the balloons.
Next step, wake up Paimon.
I tapped the small girl on the shoulder and saw her body shuffle a little before opening her eyes and moving her tangled white hair out of her face.
I put my finger to my lips and picked her up, carrying her to the bathroom.
-"ughh traveler.. Paimon's still sleepy"
"Shh you're gonna wake him"
She rubbed her eyes and shooed me out of the bathroom so she could change.
When she was done I came back in to do her hair. Paimon sat on the counter by the sink and patiently waited as I brushed her locks of hair then tied it up.
"There, now come on let's wake him"
She nodded with a big smile then flew out of the room, me following close behind her
Paimon leaped onto Xiao and startled him awake. Xiao jumped up and stared around the room in shock, at first from being awoken so harshly and then because of the decorations.
"Happy birthday my love"
-"Happy Birthday Xiaooo!!"
"Thank you both.. I'm very grateful- how did you remember?"
"How could I not?"
He smiled and I bent down to kiss him on the cheek
-"eew gross! Stop being all lovey dovey and hurry up! Paimon wants cake!!"
We all moved over to the cake and I put the candles on it.. I only put 5 because I don't think I have enough mora for all the candles I'll need.
Paimon and I sang to Xiao as he sat staring at the cake.
-"hm? Aether, Paimon thinks there's something wrong with Xiao"
"Huh?"
I looked over at Xiao's face right when he rubbed his hand against his eye, wiping the tears that were streaming down
"Xiao! Are you alright!?"
I hugged him, he buried his face into my shoulder and sobbed before raising up with a small smile.
I handed him a tissue with a confused look on my face
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing.. I'm just so happy, thank you so much"
He pulled me into another hug and then a small kiss
"I haven't celebrated my birth in lifetimes, it meant a lot to me that you did this, I recall when Bonanus and Indarias made me a cake just like this one"
He stared down at the cake, a warm smile still shining in his face that was soon covered by his hair.
"Blow out the candles, it's a very special day"
He blew them out and I removed them, cutting a slice for Paimon, me and him
"No thank you, I don't enjoy sweets, much appreciated though"
-"more for Paimon!"
"Oh yeah, I had forgotten sorry"
"It's alright"
I moved the hair out of his face, closed my eyes, and kissed his delicate lips
"Happy birthday Xiao"

(Sorry there wasn't any smut for Xiao's bday like I had said but I'm not looking forward to being horny the night before a test soo... Anyways here's the special birthday chapter like I promised 🫶)