Genshin Oneshots (usually)

Flower

(Abyss Aether x Reader)

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You had been hanging round Aether for a while now. You told him that you wanted to join him in his mission to [insert the mission here], and it took a little convincing.. but eventually he let you join the Abyss. In truth, you had just wanted to spend more time with him. Did it really matter if a few innocent people died along the way? Besides.. you were getting used to it and were enjoying this little villain arc you were having. 

It'd been about one and a half months since you'd joined the Abyss officially, and slowly but surely you were getting closer to Aether, reopening that young, playful, warm side of him that you had heard so much about. 

You wondered what the Traveler would think during their next interaction with each other.. instead of just Aether and an Abyss Herald, it'd be you, Aether and an Abyss Herald-- well, depending on how strong you'd gotten by then. It'd probably break her heart, to you one of her closest friends leave her and join her brother, join the Abyss, on of the Traveler's main enemies. It would definitely break her, she couldn't bear to experience another person close to her, leave her. A small prickle of guilt found it's way into you as you thought about how you'd like to see that go down, see the Traveler broken like that. Oh well.. you were in your villain arc after all. 

You twirled around the flower you were holding in your fingers, waiting for the right moment to give it to Aether, to Him. As you noticed Aether let out a sigh and lower his guard, (that gets lower ever time you get closer with him,) as much as the leader of the Abyss could, you decided to take this chance,

"Hey Aether?" You called as you approached him.

"What.. is it?" He replied with minor suspicion, eyeing your forearms as your hands were behind your back. 

"This is for you." You spoke with a soft grin, presenting the flower in front of him. 

"...

... What am I supposed to do with this?" There was a surface level coldness in his eyes, but you managed to pick out a very deep underlying tone of sadness.. and even softness within them, and his voice. 

"It's- it's just to have, it's a gift," you let out an exasperated sigh, "just- just do what you want with it." You finished in defeat.

"Well... thank you, I'll find a vase to put it in." 

Now a month ago, Aether probably would have thrown out the thing almost immediately, but this was progress. You detected a gentleness in his voice, it seemed that he actually cared and appreciated the gift. He subtly took the flower from your hold and rummaged around for a spare Sinthe bottle. 

You smiled at him and slowly moved closer to him. After a brief hesitation, you gave him a quick peck on the cheek before starting to step away. But your actions were halted as Aether took hold of you instantly, making you tense up with attempted hidden fear on reflex,

"Why are your scared y/n? I won't hurt you~" Aether spoke in a whisper as he moved his face unexpectedly close to yours, noses almost touching. 

And then for a moment that felt like a lifetime..

He kissed you back.