ask for help, call it weakness

"If fighting the demon that lives inside your head is what you need-" he leaned forward, making sure his point was being taken seriously, "- then do not hesitate to call me."

Aether's eyes shimmered again. "But it wasn't-"

"You have scars on your face and blood on your hands. I don't care where you are or what you're doing. If you need help, you can ask me. We are... friends. Isn't that what friends do?"

-

Xiao did not understand the mortal fear of lightning. It was mundane, something so simple. His perspective of the world had changed entirely upon meeting Aether, so it wasn't unexpected that this opinion he had would change, too.

-

Inspired by this tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTd3Nr9XM/?k=1