The traveler and the yaksha | Xiao x Aether

*A week later after the lantern rite*

Ever since the festival ended, Xiao spent as much time with Aether as he could. Xiao went on commissions with him as much as possible, continuing to still go out and slay demons. When it came to spending time with Aether, he hardly said no.

Every now and then Aether would catch him staring and Xiao would flush red and panic every time which made Aether chuckled nervously. Xiao remembered the one time he almost fainted when Aether fell from a tree and landed on top of him. The sight of Aether on top of him made him blush and he couldn't speak at all. Aether quickly apologized and got off but for some reason Xiao didn't want that. Xiao wanted to grab him bit he pushed that thought out of his mind. After weeks of spending time with Aether the feeling in Xiao's chest intensified. It was starting to get to the point that Aether was on his mind almost all the time and that being away from him was starting to hurt.

One day, While alone at the inn, Verr Goldet found Xiao in his usual spot at the inn. She knew he was spending more and more time with Aether so she had a hunch that Xiao had a crush on him. She even noticed how he acted around Aether every time he stopped by the inn. Then Xiao would even leave with Aether to go on commissions together, which she knew was very odd and out of character. Curiosity won and so she questioned him about it and without even trying she was able to get Xiao to admit his feelings without even knowing.

Xiao spent most the night on patrol. His mind was clouded with the concept behind the meaning of love. Verr Goldet's voice still fresh in his mind from her exposing him earlier. 

"I knew it!" Verr Goldet yelled. " I had a feeling you liked - no, you love him don't you?" She grinned from ear to ear.

"Don't be ridiculous! I am an Adeptus far from human, I can't-" He snapped, he could feel the heat rising up from his neck, turning his face light pink in color.

"Oh come on! Even Adeptus having feelings. Even animals find love just like humans!" She exclaimed. "This is normal Xiao. I think you found your life long partner."

Xiao just growled and teleport away.

'Is she right?' He thought to himself, he gazed up at the moon high above. 'Is this feeling really love?' Xiao let out a sigh, 'Maybe it is true, I do love him. My chest feels heavy every time he's near me. He's not like the other.'

Since that night, Xiao thought about telling Aether how he felt a couple of times, but he never got the courage to tell him. In the back of his mind, he kept wondering if he was just fooling himself with these feelings or if Aether even liked him back. Xiao wasn't even sure adepti were supposed to have these feelings towards mortals. He's been on his own for so long and away from people, so he didn't understand them. But Aether was different and Xiao wanted to learn more about him.

One morning, Xiao was sitting on the roof of the inn. He was waiting on Aether to arrive for their next commission. Xiao knew something was wrong when Aether didn't show up on time, as he was hardly ever late. He heard someone calling out his name and it wasn't Aether's voice.

"Xiao! Where are you!? I need your help!" Amber was calling out.

"Amber, what's wrong?" Xiao said as he jumped down from the roof.

Paimon floated up behind Amber. "Paimon says Aether disappeared!" Amber answered with a panicked voice.

"What? What happened? What do you mean he disappeared?" Xiao was confused as he looked at Amber and Paimon.

"We were on our way here but then Aether said he saw a girl in the woods. He said she looked like his sister and he ran off after her." Paimon answered then continued to explain. "Paimon tried to keep up with him, but he ran into the woods and disappeared right in front of me. I panicked and started heading back to Mondstadt when I ran into Amber. We came here for your help. You are close to Aether after all."