A Butterfly That Brings Fear: Aether Contract

Aether/Kaeya

Honey gold eyes were filled with horror as they stared into Kaeya's Lilac blue ones, the cryo user letting out a sigh. Hidden deep in the woods, they had finally escaped Tartaglia's hateful glares. Surrounded by the dark green of trees in the Whispering woods, Aether backed against a large boulder, trembling like a leaf, and Kaeya, leaning on a tree, pressing a blood soaked cloth to the wound on his waist left by Childe.

"A...a war? I caused...a war...?" The golden traveler spoke softly, as if the earth would crack if he dared to raise his voice. "All...because I left?" Kaeya nodded regretfully, but inside he was exploding with joy. His Aether had finally returned home to him! His sweet, beautiful wife could at last be in his arms again, after all these years. He wouldn't let anyone take his adorable little Aether. Never. Again.

Kaeya opened his arms, and as expected, Aether let out a sob and rushed into them, oblivious to the fact of Kaeya's involvement in the war.

"Hic, has... has... it b-been going on since I left..?" Kaeya could barely stop himself from jumping on the traveler who was looking up at him with big teary golden eyes that screamed innocence. Instead he nodded curtly, focusing on the soft blonde hair he was stroking.

The shorter gripped Kaeya's shirt tightly, clutching at the blue haired man's chest. "How could I do this...?" He cried, his voice edged with shame and annoyance. Kaeya murmured about how it wasn't his fault, and was shocked as the hands that gripped him pushed him back suddenly. He looked down in surprise at the traveler, who was seething with rage at himself. "How could I DO THIS?!" He yowled, clenching his fists. "I'm sorry Kaeya, I need to fix this." Kaeya's eyes widened as he saw the glare of determination in the little traveler's face. Kaeya was not going to lose his love again though.

"I'll go with you!" He yelled, bringing his hand to his heart in a sign of trust. Aether looked skeptical for a moment, but then nodded with a smile, wiping his golden tears away. He turned towards Monstadt, tucking some berries and sunsettias into his inventory. As soon as he turned away, Kaeya's happy eyes darkened.

Maybe this was a good thing? He could get closer to Aether, and eliminate all the bugs in his way. Yes, yes, at last he was with Aether, and he wasn't going to let the boy get away again.