Oath [BL; Book 2]

19

[A/N: This chapter takes place after the Poetry Event with Venti and Hu Tao. Seriously I can't keep up with the events L O L help me... ʕ⁠ノ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠ノ⁠ ⁠︵⁠ ⁠┻⁠━⁠┻]

"Uh?" Aether stared, gold eyes stared back. "Is there something wrong Xiao?" He had to ask, having been looking out at the morning scenery on the high balcony, his view was obstructed by someone who had appeared on the rail right in front of him.

Maintaining perfect balance as he was squatted on it Xiao stared intensely at Aether who was confused as to why. "...." he was silent, staring with a calm look. The typical expression he showed was an apathetic one. Aether didn't smile, not even a chuckle. Yet it soon showed as Aether tilted his head curiously.

"Xiao?" The smile he had, the tone of how he said his name. Xiao's eyes narrowed and he vanished, "???" Confused, he glanced around only to then be startled by him reappearing in the same spot. "Gah! Geez!" He jumped and said, "Don't scare me like that-huh?" Xiao held out a small bouquet of Qixing flowers.

"A gift." He said forwardly.

"F-for me?" Aether took them a good start to his collection to help Shenhe grow in strength. "Thank you-??"

"These as well."

"Haa-um?" He was given crystal cores, the crystalflies sprouted the wings and began to flutter. Aether watched them a moment then quickly grabbed them remembering they were part of the gift. "Thank you, I really needed these, but why are you giving them to me?"

"Should there be a reason?"

"Well no, but-I never really thought I'd get a gift from you aside from your birthday wishes." He said honestly.

Xiao didn't argue with the thought believing it was right to give him something. "Hm." He was sitting on the rail this time and closed his eyes then saying, "If you are feeling well, shall we take a stroll?"

"Sure." Aether was still confused as to why Xiao seemed a bit more affectionate than usual. "Is he trying to tell me something? This feels like the time we gave him almond tofu just to tell him bad news."

Going along with the stroll Aether was now the one staring at Xiao who felt his stare, but said nothing. They continued walking on along the beach where he knew Aether would run off grabbing shells.

"This one is huge! Yelan would like it right?" He watched Aether run around finding the shells perfect in size to collect and even invaded a few hermit homes by accident. A pesky crab even dared to pinch his finger so Xiao had to go in for the rescue removing the sinner and tossing it back to the sea. "Wow you can really see the ocean from here!" Up on the cliff overlooking the ocean he took a breath in happy with the stroll. It was the early morning and the air felt great.

Xiao watched him and kept to himself also enjoying their time. He was able to see just how playful Aether actually was and how responsible he could be too. He was quick to leap into action when a child was seperated from her parents, and he even offered to help a merchant who's cart lost a wheel. Aether was not only multi-talented, he was also quite clever, brave, and courageous. It was no wonder terrible things followed him closely.

However it wasn't from this that he felt so. He knew this was Aether's personality from the start and he was able to see it in full spending the entire morning together. Aether fancied old logs over comfy chairs, the sound of the forest over the bustling harbor. Yet in all he loved it equally.

They stopped to admire the scenery, but finally Xiao was where he wanted to go. The harbor. Now unsure he looked over at Aether who rather enjoyed simply watching from afar. He then asked, "Will you not enter?"