Oath [BL; Book 2]

18

Closed eyes quiet, a sort of peace he was blessed with very few times. Silent steps, they too were light, an attempt to be sneaky, yet he could hear them too clearly. Awake but not opening his eyes to show so, he heard the soft chuckle and when he felt the presence near he turned his head to greet him. Opening his eyes he, himself was taken by surprise.

He had accidently turned too quickly giving Aether a peck on the lips when he tried to surprise Xiao with a kiss on the cheek. "?" He stared a moment processing what he had done my mistake. From Aether's expression and how he quickly hurried away to hide somewhere, Xiao felt it not strange for such a reaction. However, now as he thought about it the whole incident seemed more like it worked in Aether's favor. ".... I moved too quickly..." he thought to himself, a light blush on his own cheeks. There was no denying what a kiss could mean, and it was he that accidentally initiated it. "I should explain." Going to do so, he found Aether rather quickly.

His hiding spot was actually quite near, just around the corner of the wall before the balcony. It was too easy, but that isn't what mattered, he had to explain it wasn't what he meant. Now conflicted as this could be a cold way to break his heart, Xiao gave in realizing there was no way to explain it kindly now.

Squatting down beside him he leaned a bit seeing Aether was curled up covering his face. His ears gave away that he was still in an embarrassed shock, so Xiao touched his hand and moved it revealing a flustered Traveler who wasn't expecting that sort of thing.

"Traveler."

"I-I know, it just... surprised me." He said honestly, "Just give me a minute, I'll be fine." Aether smiled though in his eyes there was a sense of hurt.

Xiao felt responsible now and said, "It was my mistake. I shouldn't-" a warm hand covered his mouth and extremely sad eyes gazed at him with longing.

"I know. It's fine! Really, it was just surprising." Aether moved his hand and curled up again, "So you really don't sleep?"

He was changing the subject, this was for the better. "The Adepti require no sleep."

"But do they need to eat?" Aether chuckled wondering, "You sure eat a lot of almond tofu!"

"Ahem, on ocassions they may." He cleared his throat guilty as charged.

"Hehehe~ guilty!" Aether teased.

Somehow now the attention was pointed his way, but if he could spare him the heart ache he didn't mind. Though, now he felt inclined to make him feel better somehow.

Paimon and Aether didn't visit long as he had learned Aether was out to discover a new area. From the stories he would tell, Xiao learned Aether was on his way to Fontaine to meet with the Hydro Archon. He prayed all went well on his journey, and knew he would often see him.

Every chance Aether got he would visit. The visits were during the night and, more often than not, ended with him having a hefty plate of almond tofu. This wasn't a way to make amends, and the thought weighed on Xiao's mind. Some things he could sweep under the rug and leave be, but this he couldn't. Knowing how Aether felt, and having done something to misguide him, he tried to think of something that could help ease the tension he felt between them.

After tending to some work Xiao walked along the marsh. The rivers and streams he had watched grow bleeding into the ocean. He gazed upon the ruins of places he once knew and old checkpoints once full of war. The loneliness that crept up behind was heavy to carry much like the burden he held within. The darkness pained him, and the pain grew worse, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.

To his surprise he was met by Zhongli who was out for a stroll quit far from the harbor. Stopping as he was to greet him he said, "Good evening." With the sun setting the day was ending, a pleasant time to meet a dear and close friend.