In the name of love [Xiao x Aether]

7.

Aether remains silent before he would tilt his head and give Xiao another smile playing with the other his hair gently "did you hate it then?"

"No! Of course not-..."

"Would you get angry if i would do it again?"

Xiao had to think of that question. He did enjoy the kiss only it came as a surprise. "This was my first kiss...i don't know how to-...but no-... i would not get mad"

Aether truely finds Xiao adorable in this moment, how dark his blush is, the look in his eyes, him not knowing where to place his hands since he wants to be respectful and the way he speaks. It was not fluent as he would stutter or need to pause to collect his thoughts so he knows what to say next "hey-...i will teach you..it is not so hard...just do what you think is alright okay? Do what feels right in the moment" Aether reassures him before he gets off Xiao his lap not wanting to overstep in the moment knowing that Xiao probably saw the line already when he sat onto his lap so the kiss must have overwhelmed the adepti. "From here i can walk home and make dinner. I am sure you want to speak to Zhongli?"

"How did you know?"

"Well-... you always go to him for advice, to talk to, anything really...he seems like a father figure to you" Aether smiles standing up and offers Xiao his hand to help the other stand up.

Xiao takes Aether his hand, standing up and just looks at him with a awkward smile onto his face. "You know me well-..." he whispers before he intertwines their fingers so they would be holding hands. "I will walk with you outside of the cave"

Aether raises a brow before a big smile appears onto his face "you are not leaving abruptly? That is a nice change" he chuckles as they would start to walk to the entrance of the cave so they could leave.

It was a easy walk back now that all enemies are defeated within the large cave so when at the entrance they are greeted with the beautiful sunset, the beautiful warm light that is called the golden hour shining upon their faces. "We stayed in this cave for a long time...i should go then...i will see you at home" he spoke but they just stand their awkwardly now, not knowing how to say goodbye to eachother for the time being but Xiao hesitantly leans in and places a kiss on Aether his cheek before he dissapeared just like that.

Aether watches the other lean in, press a soft gentle kiss against his cheek and then disapear. All he feels in the moment is pure bliss like a weigth has been lifted of his chest. All he could do was smile and go home but upon arrival he sees Paimon is not there which does cause him to worry.

Xiao arrives at Zhongli his home but he was greeted by a screaming match of Paimon and Childe who occasionally would throw things at eachother as Zhongli sits in the middle of this calmly drinking some tea. "...-why the screaming?"

All of their attention turn to Xiao as the screaming stopped, it went dead silent but Paimon took this as a opportunity to throw a grape at Childe his face "BOTH of them are meanies! Paimon was so worried for the traveler because he left! And then this..." she pauses to think of a ugly nickname of Childe but it was hard so she grows even more frustrated "they kept me hostage!"

Childe bursts out laughing before he crosses his arms staring at her "hostage? I can show you what that accually is like...tied to a chair and i will tortu-..."

"The both of you be silent-..." Zhongli spoke not in the muse for their arguing anymore as he turns to look at Xiao standing up and walks over to him "how did it go?"

"How did what go?! Are we going to ignore Paimon got held hostage?!" Paimon spoke going over to the two placing her hands onto his hips staring at Xiao "why are you all red"

"The traveler is safe...lets go home..." he spoke and Paimon is quick to hold onto Xiao ready to go home. Xiao just gives Zhongli a look, hoping he would get the hint just by looking in his eyes which he did so he smiles at Xiao seeming very proud "good...now get some rest. Feeling so many emotions must be draining for you."

"It is ...but i will be fine. Thank you " he spoke before he goes home with Paimon just appearing in the livingroom.

Paimon frantically looks around but smelling something come from the kitchen so she floats over to Aether and hugs him tightly "Paimon was so scared!"

"W-..Paimon what happened?" Aether asks putring the cooking utensils down and hugs Paimon back to comfort her.

Xiao walks into the kitchen and watches as how Paimon clings onto Aether for dear life which he found funny to see how scared she could get. "Zhongli and Childe were baby sitting her"

Paimon heard and she would argue back but feeling all worries leave her body a wave of tiredness comes over her and she fell asleep in Aether his arms. Aether has noticed she fell asleep but he keeps holding her like how you would hold a child as he carries her upstairs so he can lay her in her own little bed tucking her in. Soon he would come down the stairs and continue to cook. "Baby sit hm? Or did they keep her prisoner so we can have alone time"

Xiao walks over to Aether and looks over his shoulder to what he was cooking and just smiles a little resting his chin onto his shoulder "both-..."
The adepti spoke while he wraps his arms around the traveler, burrying his face now into his neck finding the smell coming of the traveler relaxing...warm.
The traveler smelled like home to him
Aether is his home.

Sorry i dont have any memes for this chapter. Thank you for being patient with me as i am not feeling well phsycially and mentally which is why i focused more on Pantalone X Dottore. I apologise for that. I will try my best to upload more of the other stories aswell♡