Oath [BL]

Four

Aether was surprised, but then he smiled so big, Xiao couldn't help but stare as he said, "Because - we can spend so much more time together. There's so much I want to show you."

Xiao felt so warm, something struck his heart and he was winded, shaken by how Aether easily said that and with such confidence too. "He wants to spend time with me?" His face became so warm, Xiao quietly gasped and immediately turned his face away covering it with the mask to hide the embarrassment he felt so suddenly. "These thoughts...!" Aether was so adorable, he couldn't help but think so now.

"X-Xiao are you okay?!" Aether asked confused as to why he did that.

He cleared his throat fixing himself quickly. "I'm fine. Ahem, th-that... is that what a life of leisure is?"

"A life of leisure?" Aether thought calming himself, "Hm, well that's for you to decide." He smiled, "Time devoted to your hobbies, activities you find fun and easy. Everyday things you slowly come to admire and enjoy. That... is a life of leisure. That is a life you can be proud of. A peaceful life."

"..." He thought about it, "A mortal life."

"Haha," Aether chuckled, "yeah, a mortal life. You can do what you want now, Xiao. You're free."

"Free.." the word was light and sounded so lovely being said by him. "I... will never truly be free." Xiao turned his gaze to the sky seeing the few clouds. Feeling the sun on him.

"..." Aether's smile faltered, but he kept it as he went closely beside him and then spoke gently, "Let's work through it together." Xiao looked at him, "Let's just enjoy the small things."

Xiao felt a warmness now, he narrowed his eyes and was about to ask about it, but felt it was a bit too embarrassing.

"We can try some hobbies first. Paimon wanted to go to Mondstadt, but I'm sure that's too long of an adventure for you right?"

"Yes..."

"Mm, so how about we just... ah, let's make a list of things you'd like to try." Aether smiled happily, "We can start simple."

"I..." he wanted to include purging demons but now felt the time had come to let go. So Xiao sighed and gave a nod, "Very well."

"Right! Ok, um, how about you just rest for today? To.. to just think things over?"

"... I will rest then." His cheeks felt warm and he felt joyful now having to wonder why he felt that way.

"Rest well!" Aether ran off excitedly.

Xiao touched his chest. ".... What.. is this feeling?" Focusing on it, it was plesant. Like there were butterflies in his stomach, a tingling feeling that made him feel happy. Leaving it be he went on to simply rest thinking only of Aether.

Aether explained to Paimon who gasped, "Ah?! Xiao's contract was nullified?!"

"Shhh! Not so loud!" He found himself signing the form to spend the night at Wangshu Inn for the night giving the payment to Verr Goldet. "We can't just announce that!"

"Oh my archon! How did that happen? Paimon didn't think Xiao would ever agree to that." She shrugged as they went up to their room.

"Me either, but he said-" he stopped himself, "Paimon's known to be a bit open, maybe I shouldn't tell her what he said exactly.." so he corrected himself before she questioned it, "ah, he said he was just going to think about it."

"Hm, wouldn't it be better if he went through with it?" She asked, "Would his karmic debt get better?"

"I don't know," he thought so too, "is that even possible?"