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Aether is currently climbing a mountain in Liyue. He was determined to collect Qingxin for Xiao and later bring him almond tofu as a token of gratitude. A few days ago, Xiao had helped him complete his commissions from the Adventurers’ Guild. Together, they defeated all the monsters—although Aether might have been a bit less focused than usual. Whenever Xiao dashed past him, Aether found himself watching the way his muscles flexed around his spear. But no one needed to know that. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Paimon had looked at him in a way that suggested she knew something… something Aether was deliberately ignoring.
Aether was about to take the final step up the mountain when he suddenly lost his balance and slipped to the side, tumbling down. A startled scream escaped him as he fell. His thoughts swirled in chaos—should he call out for Xiao? Should he even be saved? Maybe this was the moment to stop, to finally take a break, to quit wandering across all the nations of Teyvat in search of his sister… a sister who didn’t even want to see him. His mind was too clouded with thoughts to realize that the ground was fast approaching.
Just before impact, he felt two gloved hands grasp him firmly around his waist, stopping his fall. Dazed, he lifted his gaze and found himself staring into golden eyes that were locked onto him—it was Xiao. He looked down at Aether with his usual neutral expression, though Aether could have sworn he glimpsed something else… concern, maybe?
Xiao simply held him there, making no move to lower him or speak. So Aether broke the silence.
"Hey, Xiao, thanks for catching me. That almost ended badly," he said with a sheepish smile. This was an odd situation—to be so close, suspended like this, while Xiao’s gaze burned into him.
When Xiao didn’t respond, Aether continued, "You can let me go now."
Yet Xiao still didn’t move, his piercing gaze fixed on Aether, unwavering.
They stood there for a few seconds before Xiao finally spoke.
"What were you doing on a mountain so late at night? Don’t you know there are many monsters around? You shouldn’t be climbing when you can’t see. If I hadn’t come, you would have died. Why didn’t you call for me or use your glider? Do you want to die? There are people who care about you," Xiao said, his voice slightly louder now.
Aether simply stared at him, unsure how to respond. Had the solitary Yaksha just admitted that he cared about him? Then the other part of Xiao’s words sank in—did he really not care if he died? Was he truly that indifferent? Aether didn’t even notice the tears filling his eyes until they began streaming down his cheeks, and when he looked at Xiao, he saw the panic in his golden eyes.
"Did I say something wrong? Do you want to get away from me? Does my Karma hurt you?" Xiao murmured, sounding unsure. "I knew I shouldn’t have stayed so long."
Aether felt Xiao slowly pulling away, his warm hands leaving Aether’s waist. But before Xiao could vanish completely, Aether instinctively grabbed his wrist, causing the adeptus to flinch. Xiao turned to him, and their eyes met—golden ones locked onto tear-filled ones.
"I’m fine, Xiao," Aether reassured him with a small smile. "I was just thinking about your question. I don’t know why I didn’t save myself—I have so much on my mind. My journey, my sister… I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m sorry for making you worry, Xiao."
Xiao studied him for a moment, and Aether thought the conversation was over. He was about to turn away when Xiao finally responded.
"It’s okay not to be in a good mood sometimes," Xiao said, his voice softer. "But not wanting to save yourself… that’s something you should talk to people about. You can find me at Wangshu Inn if you ever need someone to listen. I will always listen if you need me."
Aether looked at him in shock before breaking into a smile. "I’ll think about it, Xiao. Thank you. You’ve helped me twice now—guess I owe you two almond tofus." He chuckled.
"You don’t need to make me food. Adepti don’t need to eat like humans do," Xiao replied coolly.
"Just because you don’t need to eat doesn’t mean you don’t want to, right?" Aether laughed. "If we go to Wangshu Inn now, I can make you another one."
So Xiao teleported them to the kitchen at the wangshu inn, where Aether quickly prepared two portions of almond tofu. They sat together on the balcony, watching the stars in silence.
After a while, Aether finally broke the stillness. "You told me I could vent to you, right?"
Xiao nodded as he ate his almond tofu.
"So… here’s the thing," Aether began. "My sister is in the Abyss. I saw her. I tried to bring her back, but she wouldn’t come with me. She just told me to first understand the true meaning of this world… then she left. The Archons never help me find her—they just want me to save their nations, but all I get in return is more commissions. The people ask me for the simplest things—meat, rocks, salt. I don’t think I can keep doing this much longer," he admitted.
Slowly, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Xiao watched him for a moment before unexpectedly pulling Aether into an embrace. Aether gasped in surprise—he knew Xiao normally disliked physical contact, yet now he was holding him close.
Aether leaned into the hug, and Xiao felt the dampness of his shirt where Aether’s tears had soaked through. Strangely, he didn’t mind. In fact, he felt as though Aether could do anything, and it wouldn’t bother him.
Why did he feel so safe and content when Aether was near?
He didn’t know.
Maybe it was just his Karma.
But deep down, he couldn’t quite believe that either.
Xiao watched as Aether grew limp in his arms, drifting into sleep. Carefully, Xiao lifted him and carried him to a room—one he normally never used, one that had been given to him long ago. He laid Aether on the bed, ensuring he was comfortable, then silently vanished into the night.