Archive of Our Own ^beta

Aether breathed deeply as he looked towards the ceiling of his teapot. He couldn't distinguish the plethora of feelings that's currently residing inside his chest. Just a few more hours and it would be morning. He should really sleep now.

A few minutes passed by turning from side to side and Aether groaned in frustration, he's wide awake. Perhaps a stroll would help? Slipping on his wooden flip-flops, Aether tucked the sleeping fairy besides him as he brought his sword for protection before venturing outside.

He didn't know where to go so he just teleported into one of the waypoints in Inazuma. Preferably, a forest one at that. Aether felt the cold winds slashing through his skin, perhaps this was a bad idea. He walked for a bit, defeating some electro slimes along the way. Sleepiness still hasn't visited him and Aether wrapped his arms around himself to protect him from the cold.

Strangely, he felt a familiar presence. Aether walked deeper into the forest until he spotted the familiar maple patterns along with the silver hair with a mix of red locks. Kazuha.

Aether sheathed his sword back at it's scabbard as he neared the swordsman. He walked closer towards the samurai sleeping, leaning on the tree for support. Aether had a worried look, does he usually sleep in a place like this even before meeting Beidou?

"Kazuha?" Ather softly called out to him, clearly worried.

--

Being a wanted wandering Samurai, Kazuha always has to raise his awareness, even in his sleep. He has been experiencing the feeling of death for as much as he remembers, to the point where he just becomes used to it.

Dangers always follow him, either day or night, beautiful weather or not. So he always has to prepare for the worst to come.

Yet he loves nature, the cool breeze, the scent of flowers, the sounds of leaves falling to the ground. All combined, as pretty as a picture, making him calm.

That night, the young samurai heard footsteps. Steady, calm footsteps. Seems like the person is not an enemy. He thought to himself, still trying to indicate the individual’s movements.

The changes in the wind’s direction tells Kazuha that the mysterious person is coming right towards him.
Doesn’t intend to hurt the innocent, he calmly waited for the others to come. Slowly moving his hand to the sword near his place.
Already in the position to defend if he has to.

The moment when the mysterious person stops walking, standing right next to Kazuha, and faces directly at him.

The first thing Kazuha heard wasn't the sound of blades, but a soft, warm voice, a familiar one, which made his heart jump.

The voice was calling his name.

He took a while to understand the situation. Then decided to open his sleepy eyes, cheeks a little flustered out of surprise. He didn’t expect such a worried expression on the blonde's face.

“A-Aether? It’s pretty late at night, isn’t it?”

This is rather a pleasant surprise.
For the first time in forever, the thing facing him in the middle of the night isn’t death.

Aether observed those round red eyes. He could see the transition of those ruby orbs from vigilance to relief. It made his chest tighten a little. He could only imagine the troubles the taller man faced as a wanted samurai.

They were outside in the woods. It was dark and only the luminescence provided visual aid. It was past midnight and Aether reeked of moonlight. His braid was untangled and it disheveled, gently being blown away by the wind. The chills embraced his skin and the traveller unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself.

He heard the samurai call out his name and he couldn't help himself but to smile like a fool. Though he hoped that it didn't show up much on his face. It was always like this, an unfamiliar yet so similar feeling whenever he's around his sister but he knew it isn't familial.

Kazuha... Despite only knowing him for quite some time. It felt like the samurai was etched into his mind for a very long time. It felt like his mind, composed of Kazuha, was an Oasis. Spring trees and sunset clouds, water streams peacefully rushing through the peebles and branches dancing, rustling through the autumn breeze. What a gentle soul.

"I can't sleep, I thought of just walking around but I didn't expect to see you here, Kazuha. What are you doing here?" Aether's voice was very clear and tender. Not unlike his usual lively tone.

He walked to the vacant space beside the samurai as he sat down near him. Aether could see the water bodies of Inazuma just around the vicinity. The vast sea reflecting the stars. He could feel the warmth of the samurai and Aether just hugged his knees and hid his face with his shoulder as he looked at Kazuha with tender golden eyes.

Kazuha was also surprised by the other boy’s presence. He was tense at first, but after realizing it was Aether, he felt at ease. He felt…safe. It must have been a while since he felt like this around someone else.

The samurai quickly sit upright, sitting closely right next to the blonde boy. He noticed that the other was shaking a bit, but tried to hold back. No doubt, the atmosphere in the forest is always quite cold when the night comes. Not hesitating, Kazuha took out his outer clothes, and put it on Aether.

“So you met me by accident," a sly grin formed on Kazuha’s face, “Must be fate.”

Are Aether's golden eyes always so bright like this? Pretty, the samurai thought. His face flushed. And clearly not because of the weather. Then he changed his eyesight to the scenery in front of him. There is always something new to be seen under the unchanging night sky.

“I’m a wandering samurai, Aether. Nature is my home. Sometimes you might also catch me sleeping on a rock, sometimes on a field of grass.”

Then Kazuha leans towards Aether, and hugs the shorter male, positioning the other to rest on his shoulder.

“It's warmer this way, don’t you think?”

Aether watched the taller man as he removed his outer clothing before putting it on him. Aether felt the remnants of Kazuha's accumulated heat from wearing his clothes lingered through his skin.

'It's so warm,' Aether thought to himself as he caressed the beautiful robe. At that moment, everything felt very slow. And the blonde traveller would have wondered if time is also a usable element in Teyvat. He chuckled lightly on his own mind but it was cut short when he felt toned and strong arms wrapping around him as the bandaged hand softly held the left side of his head before laying it down on firm shoulders.

He felt very feverish. He wondered if it's because of the robe or just himself but he felt his cheeks grow hot. He felt every beat inside his chest sending his heart to his feet.

Is it the warmth of the robes or just himself heating up? Aether rather not know.

'It's warmer this way don't you think?' Aether heard the taller man ask.

Aether felt himself heating up word by word as the taller man kept on whispering to his ear. The gentle and somewhat pitched voice felt very nice to hear. Somehow, it felt attractive.

Reaching for the samurai's right hand covered in a bandage, Aether held Kazuha's hand and Aether could've sworn that he looked like an idiot when the samurai didn't reject his offer to hold hands. He intertwined their fingers, one bandaged, the other with soft skin, together it felt very fervent.

The traveller wasn't sure of what to say to the samurai. He looked down a bit because the attractive pitched voice coming from Kazuha's mouth was very gentle. His heart frantically beat and his face flushed a little. It was a very weird feeling. As if all the seelies in the meadow were fluttering around them.

"Mmn, it's warmer this way," Aether spoke as he leaned more into Kazuha's shoulder. Drowsiness finally settling and threatening him to close his eyes.

"You're so warm, Kazuha.." he whispered in a sleepy voice, inhaling the scent of the samurai that reminds him of spring water and maple trees.

Kazuha felt as if his heart just skipped a beat. His cheeks turned red, and he found it hard to breathe normally. The samurai didn’t think much about his sudden act, not until he felt Aether’s small body leaning towards him. The feeling’s just the same as holding a small bunny, fluffy and soft.

To add more to it, Aether’s hand was holding his bandaged hand, with as much care and caution, as if worried that the samurai might be hurt. Kazuha decided to press his palms against the other’s.

In that very moment, a selfish thought came across the taller male’s mind, he just wished they could stay like this forever.

Only him and Aether-

“Mmn, it’s warmer this way,” the thought was cut short by Aether’s sleepy voice. His voice sounded slower. He’s probably very tired already.

“You’re so warm, Kazuha..”The sweet tones in his voice made the samurai’s heart race once again. But the taller male took a deep breath, and with a calm and gentle tone, he said, ”Good night, Aether..”

After Kazuha made sure that the shorter boy had already fallen asleep, the samurai hesitated a bit, then kissed the other on the forehead.

“Thank you for tonight.” Kazuha said with a bright smile on his face, something that he hasn't done in a long time.

One still awake and one already in deep slumber, both of them couldn't be happier, it could be said that it was both of them who found peace in one another, one was lonely while the other was empty. As Kazuha held the smaller man close to him never letting go, unconsciously, they both painted this moment into their head never to be forgotten. How gentle the world felt and how their warm bodies complicated each other that night.