Honor or Love (Xiao X Aether)

truths spoken

Aether is a crowned prince in the kingdom of Teyvat, Xiao had been his assigned knight working and guarding him for years. He is rather cold and never breaks focus, He is beside Aether practically every hour of the day.

In the present aether is at a ball hosted by his father the king to find him a bride, xiao has his eyes on Aether the entire time watching him dance and spin with the foreign nobles this all makes Xiao feel a type of way he didn't understand it but he felt almost... mad? He couldn't tell what he felt but didn't like it.

Aether kept glancing at his knight Xiao he couldn't shake a weird feeling, Xiao didn't look normal tonight and that worried him, aether waited for the dance to be over and immediately went to see Xiao.

Xiao was overwhelmed with this unknown feeling he didn't like when the foreign nobles danced with Aether even being near Aether or touching him, he was really struggling he had never felt this way before he hated himself for feeling so weak yet he couldn't help it just thinking about it made him feel worse.

"Xiao my knight is there something wrong?" aethers voice made Xiao snap out of his thoughts "...yes my prince..." aether sighed and grabbed his hand bringing him to the garden, they sat down in one of the gardens secluded spots, xiaos head hung low with shame he knew that his prince knew that there was something wrong.

"Xiao... my knight what's going on? Is there something wrong?" Aether's voice was full of worry he wasn't used to his knight's expression being filled with emotion. Xiao didn't answer he kept his head low he wasn't sure what he was supposed to say he didn't even understand what he was feeling. Aether suddenly got close lifting xiaos chin to look up at him.

"What's got you feeling so blue?"

"I... well, I'm just... I'm sorry" Xiao couldn't get his words out

"Shh.. it's okay... Try your best to explain" Aether smiled gently at him waiting for his response

"I just... every time they touch you and dance with you... i... I hate it"

Aether's smile changed into a frown he didn't understand what Xiao ment

"I've danced with nobles before... why are you feeling jealous now?" xiao didn't understand jealous? Was he really jealous?

"Jealous? No, I can't be... I just hate it... They have no right to touch whats mine"

Aether was taken aback by the word 'mine'

"I'm yours? Do you feel this way because you're supposed to protect me?"

"No, that's not it at all. I-... I just don't want anyone else getting close to you. I-I don't want to share you with anyone.." xiao struggled with his words he still didn't understand how he was feeling

"There are more feelings?" aether noticed Xiao struggle he felt bad he wanted to understand... but couldn't

"Yes.... yes there are." xiao spoke softly, looking into Aether's eyes for some sort of reassurance that what he was saying wasn't crazy. "There is also love... and affection... and trust... And care... and devotion" his words trailed off unable to confidently speak of his feelings. Aether sighed

"You know these feelings won't slide with my father... but I understand how you feel"

Xiao nodded slowly "I know. I know he won't approve but that doesn't change how I feel"

Aether felt bad hearing his knight's words, aether understood him, but Aether didn't even know his own feelings.

"and... if I can't be open with you then what's the point..." aether's attention snapped back to Xiao his words shocked Aether "W-wait xiao no..."

"I want to love you openly, aether"

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