Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a gorgeous morning, the smell of mint, sweet flowers and violetgrass hung in the air as Paimon and Aether walked along one of the trails near Tiangong Gorge. “Paimon thinks it’s time we go visit one of our friends!” Aether could barely hear his travel companion over his own thoughts. It had been how long since he had last seen him? At least a month. “I know who we’re going to go visit, but who knows where he’s at right now.” He replied, a somewhat longing look in his eyes. “Well, why don’t we-?” Aether didn’t let Paimon finish what she was trying to say. “Let’s check Northland Bank. Andrei or Ekaterina might know where he’s at.” Aether replied, quickly opening the map of Teyvat he kept in his pocket and selecting the teleport waypoint near Bubu Pharmacy, causing him and Paimon to be teleported to the waypoint.

Before he could react, someone jokingly covered his eyes. “Guess who~” a familiar voice called out, causing Aether’s face to light up. He began to uncontrollably smile. “Ajax!” He whipped around and gave his boyfriend a hug. “We were just about to go look for you.” “Well, you decided to look for me on a good day. I have the next week off. What do you say we go use to take a break from the stresses of life-?” He gave Aether a sweet yet sly grin. “Sure. I could take a break myself anyways.” Aether replied sheepishly. “I know just where we can go. I own a small cottage near Yaoguang Shoal that I use whenever I need to get a break from harbinger work.” Ajax said before he bent down to Aether’s ear. “Would you be willing to leave Paimon with a friend or someone so that we can actually have time to ourselves?” “Paimon heard that! Don’t make me give you an ugly nickname, mister.” Paimon piped up with irritation lining her voice. Aether and Ajax rolled their eyes simultaneously. “Paimon, we’ve been traveling together for more than a year at this point. I’m sorry, but I need a small break. I hope you can understand. Don’t worry, it’ll only be a week.” “No! Paimon doesn’t want to leave your side!” She stated, crossing her arms rather irritatedly. 

“I know just who to leave you with, Paimon. In fact, he’s one of your favorite people!” Aether gave his travel companion a smile. “If it’s Arataki Itto or Xiao, Paimon isn’t going!” She snapped. “Paimon, I know it won’t feel great to be separated from me, but I seriously need a break. I want to have some time for me and Childe to spend. Alone .” Aether replied, gently grabbing Paimon’s shoulder. She began to tear up. “But… Paimon doesn’t want you to leave her behind-“ “Paimon, I will come back for you one week from today. Don’t worry, abandoning you is never my goal. You’re my travel guide and best friend. I would never leave you behind. Just please, let me have a few days where I can sit back and not worry about things” Aether gave Paimon a hug, letting her grip his shoulder as she burst into tears. “It’s okay. I will be back soon. Just please humor me and let me have these next few days to myself. I want to spend time with my boyfriend.” Aether consoled her to the best of his ability. “F-fine.” She sniffed. “Just bring back snacks when… when you… when you come to get me.” “It’s a done deal.” Aether smiled. Of course his travel buddy would make that request. She was obsessed with food and Mora. 

“Do you want to know who I’m leaving you with?” Aether asked. “S-sure.” Paimon replied, still sniffling a little. “Albedo. While we were doing those experiments, you said that you really liked him. So, I asked him if it would be alright if he watched you if I ever needed to go on a trip or take a break for a few days, and what do you know, he agreed. He even said that Klee could use someone to occupy her while he worked, and could use some help in testing whether dishes he made were edible or not.” Aether watched as Paimon’s deep purple eyes lit up despite being mildly bloodshot from her crying. “O-okay. I’ll go.” She sniffed. 

“Ajax, would you mind coming with me to drop Paimon off? It would probably be a good way for you two to bond a little more.” Aether asked, his golden eyes begging for him to join in on the tiny adventure. “Fine, but only because you asked.” Ajax replied with a stupid smirk on his face, which was just a bad attempt at hiding the blush. 

Ajax walked with Aether to Dragonspine, which took nearly three hours to get to the base of the mountain. “It’s about one o’clock. What would you say we have a lunch break right about now?” Ajax gave a cheeky grin, hoping to appease Paimon. “Sure. I myself am a little hungry, so let’s set up camp for a bit.” Aether replied, opening his inventory, grabbing one of his Adepti Seeker’s Stoves, and placing it down on the ground. 

Soon, Aether could tell that Paimon could barely sit still due to the amazing smells wafting from the stove. He was stewing carrots, potatoes and onions with meat and fowl, and it was quickly becoming clear that although this was a new recipe he was trying out, he knew what he was doing when cooking it. “Alright, it’s done. Please let me know what you think. I’m not going off any recipe, so this is a brand new dish I came up with. If you like it, I’ll be happy to write down the recipe. I'm probably going to call it Pork Stew.” Aether gave a mildly sheepish look as he took a ladle to the stew and poured it into three bowls. He handed bowls to Paimon and Ajax, and before he could even pick up his own bowl, Paimon was already taking the last bite of her food. “So, what do you two think? Do you like it?” He asked eagerly. “What do I think? I have more than a few choice words to describe this, but this should be enough.” He watched as Ajax set his bowl down, and reached over to him. Aether was shocked to realize that Ajax was pulling him in for a kiss.

“Well then, I guess I have to get the recipe down. Paimon, you obviously liked it, and Ajax, I uhh, I wasn’t expecting that reaction from you. I'm still glad you liked it.” Aether said after a long pause, his face beat red from the incident that had occurred moments before. “Let’s pack things up before it gets too late to move further into the mountain.” Ajax stated. “I’ve heard it gets nearly as cold as my home nation of Snezhnaya at night.” “I agree. Let’s get moving.” Aether replied, his voice lined with concern as he packed up the bowls and silverware. “I can always clean them later.” He quickly placed them in his inventory before standing up and nearly falling over from standing too quick. He was swiftly saved by Ajax catching him before he actually fell. “Thanks for that.” Aether gave Ajax a sheepish smile. 

Aether, Ajax and Paimon continued to make their way up the mountain, and were soon at the rotting corpse of Durin in Wyrmrest Valley. “It’s not too much farther.“ Aether said, leading Ajax to a small cave full of alchemy tools. There was a painting of a hilichurl in one corner, and a bulletin board full of research notes near it. There were also shelves full of odd ingredients sitting against the cave walls. Someone was studying some odd thing, taking notes on it and just observing it. His ash brown hair and clothing had a yellow tint from the light of the fires keeping the cave warm. “Hey Albedo!” Aether called out happily, causing the person to look up from his notes. “Hello, Traveler, Paimon too, of course, and… might I ask who this might be?” Albedo calmly asked. “I'm Tartaglia, but feel free to call me Childe. I’m the Traveler’s boyfriend.” Ajax introduced himself in a somewhat formal manner. “It’s nice to meet you, ehem, Childe.” Albedo stated. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Albedo.” Ajax gave a warm smile before walking over and shamelessly giving Aether a kiss on the cheek. “I’d like to take you up on the offer to babysit Paimon for a bit. I am willing to pay fifty thousand Mora a day if that’s fine with you.” Aether set a sack full of coins on one of the desks. “Of course, but isn’t that price a little high?” Albedo asked, but Aether stopped him “I want to be able to help you do what you love, so don’t worry about it.” “If you’re sure, then I gratefully accept your offer.”

Aether profusely thanked Albedo for being willing to take care of Paimon during the week he would spend with Ajax, gave Paimon a hug goodbye, then made his way down the mountain once again with Ajax. It was then that Aether remembered that he had a map with waypoints for crying out loud, and opened it. “Hey uhh, do you know where this cottage you mentioned earlier is? I need to know so that I can use the map’s waypoint function to get us close to it.” He asked, and Ajax pointed to a spot near Yaoguang Shoal. “Hang on. Grab my arm and I will get us as close as I can.” Aether said, and Ajax did just that. Aether then tapped on a small blue dot on the map, and before the two could react, were right next to the teleport waypoint near the coast of Yaoguang Shoal near Guyun Stone Forest. 

Ajax grabbed Aether’s shoulder and pointed at a spot on the beach, where Aether noticed a quaint home near the shore. “That’s the getaway home I bought roughly two years ago. I bought it for the sole purpose of whenever I get time off work to go relax there. The only people allowed on the property are me and people I have explicitly given permission to or invited myself.” Ajax explained as he and Aether walked towards the home. 

Aether was quite exhausted from all of the traveling he had done all day. “Would it be alright if we start winding down for the day? Yes I get it’s only six o’clock, but I did a lot more traveling today than I normally do, and I'm kind of tired.” He said, yawning. “Of course.” Ajax replied, giving Aether a smile. “Oh, I have an idea! Why don’t we get a fire going and we can wind down for the night with that?” He suggested, and Aether, being tired, was on board with it. He helped Ajax collect firewood, and once they’d gotten all the wood, Aether grabbed a matchbox out of his inventory, struck a match on the case and tossed the burning match in the wood pile they’d designated for the fire. It took a short time, but soon there was a fire going nice and strong. Ajax pulled a small sofa made of birch wood and silk out near the fire, and encouraged Aether to sit with him, to which Aether happily obliged. 

As the two sat together, Aether couldn’t help but feel as if something important was on the horizon, like a big moment in his life was to occur soon. But, he didn’t know what it was. He looked up at the darkening sky, and mentally traced his way through a sea of stars, wondering what was to come in the future. 

Aether and Ajax went inside shortly thereafter, and Ajax led Aether to the bedroom. As Aether lay down in the soft, queen sized bed, he couldn’t help but feel more at ease than he had in months, and quickly drifted into a gentle slumber in his boyfriend’s warm embrace.

Chapter Text

Aether awoke to hear sizzling coming from the kitchen. He groggily made his way out of the bedroom to see that Ajax was already awake, cooking breakfast for the two of them. There were pancakes on the counter, and Aether could smell the distinct scent of bacon. “Mmmmornin’ Ajax-” he muttered, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Mornin’, my Sunshine.” Ajax cheerily replied, handing a freshly cooked piece of bacon to Aether. “Thanks.” He said before biting into it. The flavor of savory crispy meat pairing well with the rendered fat was something that Aether adored when it came to cooking. “I woke up around two hours ago, and thought I should treat you to something special.” Ajax called over the loud sizzling of bacon.

Ajax soon finished cooking and walked over to the table, which sat just in front of the large sliding glass door that led to the seaside patio. He handed Aether a cup of coffee, which had milk and a little sugar in it- just the way he liked it. Not too bitter, but not insanely sweet. “I'm assuming you slept well, because you were out like a light almost immediately, and didn’t wake up until nearly eleven o’clock.” Ajax gave Aether a gentle smile. “Yeah. I was tired. That was the best night’s sleep I've had in a long time.” Aether replied, grogginess leaving his voice with every word that left his mouth. “So, do you have anything planned for today?” Aether asked, to which Ajax’s face lit up. “I thought you’d never ask. What do you say we just have some fun at the beach right here?” He suggested, and It seemed that Aether rather liked the idea of some beachside shenanigans. “Sure! I'm down to go swimming today!” Aether chuckled. 

Within an hour, Aether and Ajax had both already changed into their swimsuits and began to splash around in the water, only going inside to get a snack or something to drink. “Hey, bet you can’t catch me!” Aether called out, all while cackling like a maniac. “‘You sure about that!? I’m the one with a Hydro vision after all!” Ajax retorted, using the water to propel himself towards Aether at high speeds. He scooped Aether up in one swift movement, and before both of them knew it, they were on the ground laughing. “Man, I haven’t had this much fun in ages !” Aether wiped a few tears from his eyes. “Same here. I don’t get much free time outside of work, so this is a good break for me.” Ajax sighed. 

“Am I the only one who kind of wants to go see sea life-“ Aether was unable to finish what he was trying to say as Ajax used his vision to surround his head with an air bubble. “Go on ahead, I’ll catch up to you in a few minutes.” Ajax called to Aether, who was already walking over. “I think I’ll stay. It would only be fair that I get to help you with something.” Aether gave Ajax an odd look, before creating a shard made of Geo and popping the bubble, then standing on his tiptoes to give Ajax a kiss.

Aether and Ajax continued to have a great time playing games, and before they both knew it, the sun was beginning to set. “Woah, I didn’t realize just how beautiful sunsets here in Liyue are. I should probably add to that. Sunsets here in Liyue are even more beautiful when I’m with you, Aether.” Ajax sighed, giving Aether a big hug. A small light flickered nearby, and then another. Soon, the entire beach had been turned into a flickering light show as fireflies danced in the dimming light of sunset. “Care to dance?” Aether asked, and soon found himself feeling light as air as Ajax spun him around to some phantom tune, the sand gritting into his bare heels and the feeling of water lapping at his ankles enhancing the sensations further. “I don’t ever want this night to end. It’s beautiful. I mean, you and I, having the time of our lives here while I continue to do my best making your life as magical as possible.” Ajax brought Aether to a standstill, pulling him in for a warm yet gentle embrace. “A-Ajax, you’re already doing just that, but better. I may still be searching for my twin sister, but in the time that I wasn’t constantly searching for her, you came and chased after me. Because I gave into your desperate pleas, you have made my life a living dream.” Aether replied, burying his face into Ajax’s bare chest, quickly realizing that his skin was much warmer than usual. “Uhh, I think we got sunburnt since we were outside all day-“ Aether said, feeling his own shoulders and realizing that indeed, he was very much sunburned.

Aether soon nearly collapsed under his own weight due to exhaustion from having been in the water(having fun and playing games, of course) for most of the day, and had to have Ajax carry him inside. “Today was by far one of the most fun days I’ve had in a long time. I really appreciate it. Not to mention you also made us breakfast- I mean you literally didn’t have to. Thank you.” Aether said with a smile as Ajax set him down on the living room loveseat. “I’ll be back. I’m going to change out of this swimsuit.” Ajax said as he walked into the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

Ajax soon returned in his pajamas, which were all gray with a red collar and waistband. He walked over to the kitchen refrigerator. “Go change. I'll get dinner ready.” He said, opening the appliance and grabbing bird eggs, milk, and cheese, then reaching for the spice cabinet and grabbing the salt and pepper. Aether slowly made his way to the bedroom, only to find a custom-made pair of pajamas on the bed waiting for him. There was a loosely fitting brown colored sweatshirt with cream sleeves and golden accents, and the sweatpants waiting for him were half cream, half brown with similar gold accents. He tried them on. Aether couldn’t believe how, one, well they fit, and two, comfortable they were. He made his way out of the bedroom to see that Ajax had made cheesy scrambled eggs. “I see you’re wearing the pajamas I had custom made for you! I hope you know just how happy it makes me feel.” Ajax smiled at Aether. The two ate dinner, then scrolled through Aether’s Kamera, looking at pictures taken before Aether had ever hesitantly given into Ajax’s constant romantic confessions. Before long, the two decided it was time to go to bed, as another fun day was just around the corner, and the two had soon fallen fast asleep.

Chapter Text

Aether awoke, once again, to the smell of food cooking, but this time, when he made his way out of the bedroom, Ajax had a plate of freshly made bagels sitting on the table. “Good morning! Hope you slept well. I got up a while ago and thought I should surprise you with some homemade bagels.” Ajax gave Aether a cheery smile. Aether noticed that he was wearing a navy blue button up and khaki shorts. “Oh. About the plans for today. What do you say we go pick sunsettias today? It would be great as I have plans for what we can do with them in a few days.” Ajax suggested. “I’m fine with that,” Aether replied, walking over and giving his boyfriend a kiss, being careful not to trigger the nasty sunburn on his arms. “As long as we can have lunch while we’re out!” 

Aether had soon changed into the day’s clothes, which consisted of a coral colored T-shirt and grey shorts(all stolen from Ajax, of course) that went down to just above his knees. He grabbed a wicker sunhat out of the closet and put it on. Aether then walked out of the bedroom, only to see that Ajax was cooking, a basket nearby on the counter. “So, you’re stealing my clothes now?” Ajax asked rather sarcastically. “So what? They look better on me anyways.” Aether retorted with a cheeky grin, causing Ajax to sigh. “Anyways, what would you like for lunch? I’m happy to make it,” he asked. “Nope. I am already at the stove. Let me make lunch. My treat~” Ajax offered. “Ajax, you made breakfast, lunch, and dinner yesterday, as well as you made homemade bagels for breakfast. Let me take over the stove today.” Aether gave his boyfriend a look. “No! Absolutely not. Let me spoil you while I have this time off!” Ajax retorted, and, Aether being Aether, he quickly shut up and let Ajax do his thing. 

Aether grabbed his shoes and made his way out of the house. He slowly paced along the shore until He heard the front door open and shut. “You ready?” Ajax asked, walking over and hugging Aether from behind, startling him a little. “Y-yeah. Sorry, you just startled me there-” Aether sheepishly chuckled. “Where do you say we start? Sunsettia trees are all over.” Aether asked, opening his map. “I’ve heard that there’s a ton of sunsettia trees near Stone Gate, so why don’t we start there?” Ajax suggested, and Aether had swiftly selected the small blue marker near the location. “You should know the drill by now.” Aether said, feeling Ajax’s arms envelope him in an embrace. “Well, that works too. Hang on tight.” before Aether knew it, they were at the Ridge Watch domain near Stone Gate. 

“I kind of figured that this would be easier, as taking the actual waypoint would have meant at least thirty to forty-five minutes of climbing alone, so I hope you don’t mind.” Aether explained. “It’s fine. You’re the one who knows Liyue like the back of his hand, after all. I barely know how to get to Liyue Harbor from the cottage.” Ajax said, rubbing the back of his neck rather sheepishly. Aether suddenly heard a pair of voices chatting amongst themselves. “Hey, isn’t that the Eleventh? And who’s that with him?” One of them asked. Ajax must’ve heard as well, as he began walking towards the Legionnaires. “Hey there, Comrades! I heard you speaking amongst yourselves and thought I should clarify a few things. I am using some time off to spend with someone who means a great deal to me,” he gestured towards a mildly blushing Aether, “and lastly. You could have just asked what I was up to. We’re picking sunsettias that I plan to use in about two days. I'm not elaborating, as it’s a bit of a surprise for my boyfriend.” He looked at Aether with a cheeky yet sly smile. “If you guys want, I’m happy to set aside a few for you, as we’re likely going to pick more than what’s needed anyways.” Aether gave a sweet smile to the men. “Thank you, it’s definitely appreciated. Wait, you’re the one who stopped Liyue from being sunk, right?” The Hydrogunner Legionnaire realized. “So what if he is? I fell for him, so it’s not a big deal.” Ajax gave the Legionnaires a cold glare, grabbing a confused Aether by the waist and pulling him in for a protective hug. “S-sorry.” The Hydrogunner quickly stated, with the Cryogunner nodding in mildly panicked agreement. 

The two had soon gone on their merry way, and had spent ten minutes walking when Ajax felt the need to stop walking and pull Aether in for a kiss. “Do you need anything? I’m happy to help-” Aether asked after a pause. “Nope! Just wanted to taste your lips~” Ajax replied, giving Aether an intensely sly look. “Well, I’m going to start picking fruit, once you’re done doing whatever it is you're doing, make sure to catch up.” Aether made his way to one of the trees, picking the sunsettia nearest to him and biting into it, the sweet juices rolling down his chin. Aether looked over just in time to see that Ajax had already made his way over and was reaching for the fruit in his hand. “It’s really sweet. Perfect for a pastry or something like that.” Aether watched as his boyfriend bit into the fruit, a little more of the sticky, sweet juice flowing out of the thing and down Ajax’s chin. “Wow, it really is sweet! But, it’s not as sweet as you, Aether. I mean heck, look at what you offered to do for those recruits! You don’t even know them!!” Ajax said rather enthusiastically, before sitting down and pulling the basket of food out of his inventory. “What do you say we eat lunch now? I’m starting to get a little hungry.” He suggested. “Sure. I’m honestly curious as to what you made for us.” Aether replied, sitting down himself. 

Ajax swiftly opened the basket lid and handed him a couple of mushroom skewers. They looked different from what Aether was used to. “Oh, I hope you know I didn’t use chicken in that-” Ajax piped up. “I’m guessing you used crab instead of chicken? It’s really good.” Aether said, his mouth full of skewer. “Yeah! Glad you like them.” Ajax reached for Aether, and dragged him to the ground, hugging him all the while. “It’s a shame. I would be offering to take a nap right now, but neither of us should get any more sunburnt. Especially you, seeing as you’re a ginger-” Aether sighed. 

“What do you mean by that?” Ajax gave Aether a stern yet confused look. “Ajax, we were outside for the same amount of time yesterday. You are more sunburnt-” Aether winced as pain ripped through his chest. “The scars acting up?” Ajax asked, and Aether, being unable to breathe, nodded. Aether had a small secret that he hadn’t even told Paimon yet. Aether hadn’t always been Aether . A year or so before he’d met Paimon, his name was Andromeda, and after he’d realized that he didn’t feel right as he had been, decided to ask Lumine for help regarding him getting surgery to change his appearance. Lumine had hesitantly helped, and due to it, Aether was able to partially live up to the image he had of himself. 

Aether felt ill for the rest of the day, but pushed through it, going as far as to tell Ajax that he couldn’t carry Aether back to the house. “Ajax, I’m fine. Just an upset stomach is all. You don’t need to worry.” Aether lied. “No. We need to get you home. You’re in pain.We can use what fruit we managed to pick for making pastries the day after tomorrow. I wasn’t going to tell you about the plans until the day of, but you should know about it now, seeing as you might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.” Ajax gave Aether a stern glare. “Fine, you win. At least let me- ow- help pick up the leftovers.” Aether practically whispered as the pain was intense. “Absolutely not! Lie down, I’ll get you when I’m done.” Ajax nearly shouted, running over to the basket full of food and tossing it into his inventory. He rushed back over, lifted a barely conscious Aether, whipped out his boyfriend’s map and selected the waypoint nearest to the cottage. He didn't have time to blink before he was at the waypoint. 

“We’re almost home. Hang in there-” Ajax was stopped by Aether throwing up on the grass in front of the two. “I… I’m sorry. The pain is just… making me nauseous.” Aether whispered, his eyes half closed the whole time. “You’re fine. I don’t mind. Heck, even if I was the one who you puked on, I wouldn’t mind, I can always take a shower and wash my clothes.” Ajax gave Aether a gentle smile, hugging him even closer to his body. “I’m about to start gliding, so hold on tight and don’t let go of me.” Ajax jumped and opened his wind glider, causing Aether to mildly wince, and glided gently to the ground. “I think I’m starting to feel a little better now-” “It doesn’t matter. You need rest after what took place earlier. You aren’t well.” Ajax firmly told Aether, opening the door and walking into the kitchen. He set Aether down on the loveseat before walking into the bedroom and grabbing his boyfriend’s new pajamas. He set them on the bed and walked out, picking Aether back up and bringing him into the bedroom. He set Aether on the bed. “Get changed and lay down. I’ll be back in here with something for you to eat in a few minutes.” He swiftly walked out and shut the door, allowing Aether some privacy and time to change. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, before opening it to reveal a ring. “Just four more days and I can do this.” He whispered, before closing the box and pocketing it for safekeeping just in time for Aether to open the door and slump into Ajax’s arms. “Ugh, Thank you for helping. This means a lot to me.” Aether mumbled. “Not a problem. Now you go lay back down and watch some TV while I get you something to eat. Love you.” Ajax pushed an exhausted Aether into the bedroom. 

‘Jeez, glad he didn’t see the ring,’ Ajax thought to himself as he opened the fridge and grabbed a few Bird Eggs. ‘That would have ruined the whole trip I have planned for the last day I have off’ he grabbed the frying pan out of the cupboard and placed it on the stove, turning the heat on medium and putting a small bit of butter in to melt. He then cracked the eggs into the pan and began frying them. He knew that Aether liked his eggs with fairly runny yolks, and he wanted to make his boyfriend feel special despite what had happened earlier that day. He soon finished cooking the eggs, and once he had gotten them on a plate and brought them into the bedroom, he realized that his boyfriend was fast asleep. “Heh, I guess I shouldn’t bother him.” He put the plate in the fridge and grabbed his own pajamas, before changing in the bathroom. He made his way to the bedroom, laid down on the bed and held Aether close. “I promise I’ll protect you from here on out.” He whispered before swiping a few golden locks of hair away from Aether’s face and gently kissing him on the forehead. “My little ray of sunshine.” He said, before soon falling asleep himself.

Chapter Text

Aether was the first one to awaken on the fourth day, and quickly thought about how peaceful Ajax looked while he slept. ‘I should let him rest. I do owe him for helping me last night.’ Aether thought to himself as he cuddled closer to Ajax, gently playing with his ginger hair. “Teucer, Mr. Cyclops is going to get you-” Aether heard Ajax softly mutter in his sleep. He quickly drifted back into slumber in Ajax’s arms. 

Aether opened his eyes to see her . “L-Lumine-” he reached out to his sister, only to witness her dissipate into nothingness in front of his eyes. “Aether, why did you leave me?” He suddenly felt a blade at his neck, as Lumine wrapped her left arm around his shoulders. “I didn’t leave you. I've been searching for you for almost six years…” Aether replied, his golden eyes filling with tears. “Please- come home, Lumine. I miss you.” He began to sob. “Aether, you know very well that it won’t happen.” He felt the blade slice his neck, and just before he hit the ground, he awoke gasping for air and crying.

“You okay, my sunshine?” Ajax asked, pulling Aether in for a hug. “My sister- I saw her in my dream.” He hyperventilated, hugging Ajax. He gripped Ajax’s sweatshirt as tears soaked into the right shoulder of his boyfriend’s shirt. “She- she killed me,” Aether sobbed, Ajax looked at him with concern. “Aether, it was just a dream. It’s okay now. At least it didn’t actually happen.” He hugged Aether tight, consoling him to the best of his ability. “Aether, it’s okay. I’m here for you. You’re safe.” Ajax hugged Aether, who was finally beginning to calm down. “You don’t have to talk about it, but I’m willing to listen if you need.” Ajax kissed Aether on the forehead, doing his best to comfort his teary-eyed boyfriend. 

“If it helps you get your mind off from what just happened, I’m happy to let you help make breakfast.” Ajax pulled away from Aether, before gently holding his cheek in one hand. Aether leaned into Ajax’s touch and gently put a hand up to Ajax's “I’ll be okay.” He rubbed his eyes and sniffed. “I want to go back to sleep, but I’m afraid of having a nightmare just like what happened.” Aether looked down at the bed, doing his best to not start crying again. “Go ahead. I’ll stay here and protect you if you want.” Ajax said rather softly, pulling Aether into a gentle embrace as he laid back down. Aether played with Ajax’s hair, and gazed into his deep blue eyes. It seemed to calm him, as Aether was asleep soon after, comforted by his significant other’s warm embrace. ‘Damn, I wish I could help him, but I don’t think this isn’t something I can help him with,’ Ajax thought to himself.

Ajax laid with Aether for thirty minutes before falling asleep himself, only to be awakened an hour after to Aether gently nudging him awake. “It’s about one o’clock. We should probably get up.” He said softly. “It’s fine. Besides, look at what happened yesterday. You need rest.” Ajax retorted. “But what about the thing you had planned for us to do today?” Aether said, kind of pouting. “I was going to have us boar hunt, but after what had happened yesterday, I decided it wasn’t a great idea as it might overexert you.” Ajax replied. “I decided that we should just have a bit of a lazy day today to let you rest and regain your energy for tomorrow, as making those pastries is going to take more energy than an entire day of swimming.” “Oh, then I guess I’ll listen to you today.” Aether looked slightly sad. “Besides, there’s not much you haven’t seen before regarding exploring Teyvat, so maybe it’s a good thing that we’re having a lazy day- oh, make sure you’re ready to go by seven. I’m taking you to the best restaurant in Inazuma.” Ajax suddenly remembered that he’d planned to take Aether out on a proper date sometime during the week, and he hadn’t been able to the night prior.

Ajax and Aether spent the next several hours playing board games, reading, and watching TV together, until about six P.M., when they started getting ready. “Uhh, what should I wear? Something casual, or something nice?” Aether called out to Ajax. “Whatever you want.” Ajax replied from across the room. Aether giggled loud enough for his significant other to hear, causing Ajax to wonder what shenanigan Aether was about to get up to.

Five minutes later, Aether walked out of the bedroom, and the moment Ajax noticed what he was wearing, he began to crack up laughing. He was wearing Ajax’s typical clothes, but they clearly didn’t fit. The crimson mask was falling off Aether’s face, and his shirt, who’s sleeves went down to his own elbows, were resting at Aether’s forearms. His gray pants were also barely staying on Aether’s waist. “What's so funny? You said I could wear whatever I wanted!” Aether stuck his tongue out at his boyfriend in a joking manner. “I did say that, but not my clothes!” Ajax wiped a few tears from his eyes. “If you want, I’ll let you keep my shirt. I can always get a new one tailored. Besides, you look tiny in it and I find that adorable.” Aether’s eyes lit up. “You mean it?” “Of course. I have more than enough mora to spare for me to get an entire new set made.” Ajax gave his significant other a smile.

Aether swiftly changed into a semi formal outfit that consisted of a white turtleneck and gray pants(not from Ajax’s typically worn clothing). He had his long, golden blonde hair tied up in a low ponytail rather than the typical braid, and he had somehow managed to steal one of Ajax’s chain necklaces. “What do you think? How do I look?“ he asked with a cheerful look in his eye. “Simply amazing.” Ajax grabbed Aether’s hand and gave it a gentle kiss, watching as Aether blushed rather intensely. “Y-you look great too,” Aether said as he went in for a hug. Ajax was wearing a blue dress shirt, the sleeves going to his forearms, and dark gray pants. “Hey, bring me my mask, will you?” Ajax asked, and Aether quickly complied. 

The two made their way out of the house, and as Aether whipped out his map. “Where do you have planned?” He asked. “Inazuma City. I’m not telling you about the restaurant until we get there.” Ajax replied with a smirk. “There are two waypoints, which would be closer?” “The northernmost waypoint that is still in the city.” Ajax pointed at the map, causing the blue marker to light up and the two to be instantly teleported. Before Aether could react, much like the first day, Ajax placed a blindfold over Aether’s eyes. “I'm guessing this is so I don’t notice where you’re taking me right away?” He asked. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” Ajax replied. “Just, take my hand, I’ll lead you there.” Ajax felt Aether grab his hand, and he began leading the way. Aether had been through Inazuma City hundreds of times, but having been blindfolded made him realize that he didn’t know his way around like he thought. 

After a short walk, Aether suddenly felt Ajax stop and remove his blindfold. He opened his eyes to see that the two were in front of Komore Teahouse. “How did you-” Ajax cut Aether off. “I spoke with Kamisato Ayato about renting out a room here, and it seems the amount I offered seemed to pay off. I also kind of had to promise to not involve the Fatui in this affair. I assured them that it was for personal reasons rather than for work.” He said with a smile, leading Aether into the small building. Aether inhaled deeply. The smell of Maple and Otogi wood brought back memories of when he had nearly been killed by the Raiden Shogun not long after he had first set foot in the nation of Electro. It certainly wasn’t a fun memory, but Aether still looked on it fondly. 

The room that had been set up was the same in which Kamisato Ayaka and Thoma had played the hot pot game with Aether, but the table looked slightly more worn than the last time he’d been there. There were several plates of piping hot food waiting for the two as they sat down. “Oh, by the way, are you still having trouble with using chopsticks?” Aether asked as he pulled his own apart. “Yeah, I never managed to get the hang of them a year and a half ago.” Ajax replied sheepishly. “I’m happy to help.” Aether stood up and made his way to the other side of the table. He sat back down. “Mind if I see you try to use them?” He asked. He watched as Ajax did his best to grip the tools in his fingers, and once he had shakily managed to get the right position, tried unsuccessfully to grab a few udon noodles. “You’ve got the idea down, you just need a little practice with gripping food.” Aether began to instruct his significant other on better ways to hold the chopsticks so as to not make a mess while trying to eat. 

By the time Aether had managed to teach Ajax to use chopsticks, the food had gone from piping hot to warm. “Better for it to be warm and able to be eaten right away than to burn your tongue on scalding food.” Ajax made sure to point out. “You’re right. Oh, I should add that Inazuman cuisine is much less intensely flavored than Liyue’s food, so be prepared.” Aether lifted a small bowl of udon and took a bite of the springy noodles. He watched as Ajax bit into one of the takoyaki set out for them, his eyes widening as he likely didn’t expect the octopus. “It’s actually really good! I’m surprised. Yes I did hear that Inazuman food was good, but I didn’t expect it to be this good-” Ajax said in between bites. 

The two took time to eat, and Aether smiled as his boyfriend enjoyed nearly every dish. Before they knew it, Ajax had finished off half of the table’s worth of food. “You done eating? You very clearly enjoyed it.” Aether smiled, watching as Ajax yawned. “Yeah. That was rather amazing.” Ajax replied, before standing and starting to make his way out of the room. “Wait, wouldn’t it only be polite if we at least stacked the dirty dishes? It would make it a lot easier on the staff- specifically Thoma.” Aether suggested. Ajax sighed, before making his way back over to the table and stacking the plates carefully so as to not break them. “I’m sorry, but it’s always been customary for me to help take care of dishes whenever I eat out at a restaurant, or when someone is kind enough to offer me a room in their home.” Aether said while rubbing the back of his neck rather sheepishly. “It’s fine, don’t worry.” Ajax replied. 

Aether and Ajax soon left the teahouse and made their way through the streets of Inazuma City. “Hey, dessert is on me. I know just the place. Follow me.” Aether took Ajax’s hand and led him through the streets, before stopping at one of the vendors. “Hey Tomoki, I’ll take two of your Dango Milk.” He said, before opening his inventory and grabbing a pair of tri-color dango and swiftly handing one to Ajax. He then handed a few hundred mora to the street vendor and received two bottles in exchange. Aether opened both bottles and handed one over, motioning for Ajax to take a sip. “If you don't like it, that's fine, I'll bring this one to the Raiden Shogun.” He said, watching as his significant other took a small sip. His eyes widened, clearly having been shocked at the texture. “It’s thick,” Ajax said, “but it’s sweet. This is weirdly good!” He took another sip. “Glad you like it. Inazuma’s Archon is a sucker for this stuff.”  Aether said with a smile, taking a sip himself. 

“Man, it’s almost nine o’clock! Time sure flies when you’re having fun.” Ajax sighed with a grin smeared on his face. “It does.” Aether replied, opening his map. “Do you want to head back and start winding down for the night?” Aether asked with a small yawn. “Sure. You still need a little rest after what happened yesterday.” Ajax replied, grabbing Aether by the waist and pulling him in for a kiss. Aether then selected the waypoint and the two were instantaneously teleported near the house, where they made their way inside, changed into pajamas and passed out twenty minutes later in each other’s arms.

Chapter Text

Aether awoke first, much like the previous day, however it was because he wanted to be the one to surprise Ajax this time. It was his boyfriend’s birthday, after all. He carefully made his way out of the bedroom and opened the cupboards, revealing them to have exactly what he needed. He grabbed the bread, sugar and cinnamon, then eggs from the fridge. “Looks like french toast is what I will make today. It sounds pretty good anyways.” He tried pulling a bowl out of the cupboard, but was stopped by Ajax grabbing it for him. “Morning, Sunflower~” Ajax gave Aether a hug. “Oh come on! You couldn’t have slept for a little longer-?” Aether couldn’t hide his mild frustration. “I was going to make you a delicious birthday breakfast, but now that you’re awake, you’re probably not going to let me touch the stove.” Aether groaned. “Actually, that isn’t the case. I’m giving you full control over the stove until three o’clock.” Ajax looked at Aether with a strange grin plastered on his face, before pinning his boyfriend against the counter and giving him a kiss. 

“A-Ajax, please don’t try to do that right now, I’m trying to make you breakfast, not make out with you.” Aether’s face was bright red as he pulled away from Ajax’s affections. “Oh come on! Can I not get a birthday treat?” Ajax jokingly pouted. Aether groaned. “Later. Just not while I’m trying to cook, okay?” “Fine, but I will be having my way with you later.” Ajax joked, giving Aether a sly glance. “You’re such a fox, you know that?” Aether chuckled. “But I’m your fox, my little sunflower~” Ajax retorted with a grin on his face. Aether soon managed to get his significant other to leave him be for a bit while he cooked breakfast. 

“Alright, breakfast is ready!” Aether called out as he made his way into the bedroom with a plate of french toast, the scent of maple syrup wafting through the air. “Smells great!” Ajax said as a droplet of drool escaped from the corner of his mouth. “Dig in, silly fox.” Aether smiled sweetly, before sitting on the bed, handing the plate to his boyfriend, and planting a kiss on his cheek. Ajax took a bite of the food, before pulling Aether in for a kiss. “It tastes amazing, Aether. I never knew you were so good at making breakfast.” Ajax gave Aether a sweet smile. “Well, maybe if you’d let me take over the stove more, you would’ve found this out sooner.” Aether glanced over at his boyfriend with a slightly irritated expression. “It’s not my fault I want to spoil my boyfriend during my time off.” Ajax pouted. “Alright, you relax today. I am not going to let you say no because it’s your birthday. I’m going to head back to the kitchen and start making that cake for you.” Aether gave Ajax a kiss before getting off the bed and making his way back to the kitchen. 

Aether pulled out all the ingredients needed to make a delicious birthday cake, and soon began mixing the dry ingredients, humming all the while. Once he’d gotten the dry ingredients mixed together, he began on the wet ingredients. He cracked two eggs into a large mixing bowl and separated the whites from the yolks before beating the whites until they’d become extremely fluffy. He placed the previously separated yolks into the whites and whisked until incorporated, then added oil, butter and water, then folded the wet ingredients into the dry. 

“Ajax! No!” Aether yelled as soon as he realized that Ajax had stolen a swipe of the cake batter, and while he was trying to pull his arm back to put the finger with cake batter in his mouth, he’d somehow managed to smear all of it on Aether’s left cheek. “Really-? This is what you get!” Aether stuck his hand into the bowl and pulled out a large amount of batter, before smearing it all over Ajax’s face. “Why you little- c’mere you-” Ajax began laughing as he chased Aether around the house, a large handful of batter in hand. The mild food fight lasted twenty more minutes before Aether got back to the kitchen with partially dried cake batter smeared on his face and arms. “Great, I don’t think there’s enough batter for even a small cake!” Aether cried out. “I spent so much time making it too.” he sighed.

“If I’m correct, I have cupcake tins in the cupboard next to the sink.” Ajax called out to Aether, who at this point was rummaging through the cupboards in search of said cupcake tins. He quickly found what he was looking for, and poured the remaining batter into the tins before placing it in the preheated oven. “I need to get cleaned up, so don’t go barging into the bathroom, you fox.” Aether called as he made his way to the bathroom. He took a shower, and after he was done, he changed into a clean set of clothes(Which happened to be his usual adventuring attire), before walking back to the oven, pulling the cupcakes out and allowing them to cool down. 

Thirty minutes later Aether called his significant other into the kitchen. He handed Ajax an intricately decorated cupcake. There was a small whale leaping out of the blue icing, and small edible pearls dotted the dessert. “I would have made a cake instead had you not decided to chase me around with most of the batter.” Aether chuckled. “Oh, by the way, the third cupcake is for Paimon, so don’t touch it. She deserves a treat when we go back to get her.” He smiled as Ajax bit into the cupcake. “Wait, you used some of the fruit we picked to make the filling, didn’t you?” Ajax seemed surprised that Aether had added a tiny surprise to the desserts. “Yeah.” Aether smiled sweetly. “It’s amazing. I didn’t know you were so good at baking.” Ajax pulled Aether in for a kiss. 

The two relaxed for much of the remaining day before Ajax impulsively decided to take Aether on a little evening outing. “Hey, follow me. I have a spot we can go to.” He grabbed Aether’s map from him and wrapped his arm around Aether’s waist and selected a seemingly random waypoint, causing the two to be instantaneously teleported. “Alright, it’s not far from here-” Ajax handed Aether’s map back to him before hoisting his significant other onto his shoulders and making his way down a trail Aether had never seen before. 

Ajax walked along the trail before stopping in the clearing of a small forest, the trees’ blossoms practically glowing a purplish blue. “I kept this place a secret because I liked coming here to get a break from the city, but I thought you should see it as I knew you’d find it beautiful.” Ajax said after pulling Aether off from his shoulders and giving his significant other a kiss. “There’s a small pond nearby, what do you say we go swimming for an hour or so?” “Sure. Wait, I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” Aether stammered. “It’s fine, neither did I. We don’t need to have swimsuits to have fun though.” Ajax laughed as he ran into the pond at full speed despite still being fully clothed. Aether shook his head as he made his way into the cool and refreshing water himself, nearly choking on water as Ajax pulled him under jokingly. “What do you think of my little surprise, Sunflower?” Ajax smiled, causing Aether’s heart to flutter. “It’s gorgeous.” Aether sighed as he made his way out of the water and to a nearby bench. 

Aether and Ajax continued to have a great time in the forest clearing, even staying late to stargaze and enjoy the sounds of the night, listening to the frogs and crickets chirp while the two laid down on the soft grass, and before either of them knew it, the sun was beginning to rise. “Damn, we’ve been out all night! At least it was enjoyable.” Ajax said, not realizing that Aether had fallen asleep. “Well then, looks like I’m carrying you back to the house.” Ajax smiled as he placed his right hand on Aethers head and ruffled his hair. “My little Sunflower.” He picked his boyfriend up and began the trek to the house. 

Chapter Text

Aether awoke to Ajax carrying him into the house. “Where are we?” he muttered in his half-asleep state. “Home, we both lost track of time and were out for way longer than we should’ve,” Ajax replied. “We should both go relax for a few hours before we go fishing later.” Ajax carried Aether to the bedroom before sitting his boyfriend on the bed and laying down after he’d taken off his shoes. Aether quickly did the same and swiftly fell back asleep, only awakening seven hours later to Ajax gently shaking him awake. 

    Aether quickly got ready to leave and was soon out the door with fishing gear in his hands. “Tianqiu Valley was the location I’d already picked out, so we have a little bit of walking to do,” Ajax said sheepishly. “It’s fine.” Aether smiled as he pulled out his map and did the usual spiel of selecting the waypoint as close to the location as possible and teleporting as he had his significant other holding onto him. “I don’t particularly like going here as I tend to be attacked by your subordinates, but since you’re with me I’m sure they’re not going to do anything today.” Aether began walking towards the fishing spot, and as usual, heard the “You’re not going anywhere!” from one of the Legionnaires. 

    “Hang on, I’ll deal with this.” Ajax looked rather irritated as he walked over to the soldiers. “Excuse me, but if I find that any of you have attacked him again, I will not hesitate to get you not only demoted, but I will personally make sure no one finds your corpses.” he snapped at the men who had realized his rank and position. “Okay, sir.” The men replied in unison, fearful that if they made a single move out of line, they’d lose their lives at the hands of one of the Harbingers. Ajax swiftly motioned for Aether to follow. 

    The two reached the fishing spot rather quickly, and they both pulled out their gear. “Alright, everything’s ready, so let’s get started!” Aether smiled as he cast his line, almost immediately getting a bite. He cried out in shock as Ajax had to grab him to keep him out of the water. “This thing’s a lot stronger than I realized,” Aether muttered as he pulled back against the fish on the line. He watched as a light blue butterfly flitted in front of him, causing him to become rather distracted for a split second, and that small amount of time was enough time for his grip to loosen and drag him into the water. He came up sputtering as he dragged himself out of the water and onto dry land. “You okay?” Ajax asked, concerned for his boyfriend. “Yeah.” Aether said after coughing up a bit of water. “I’m alright. It’s not like I haven’t had this kind of thing happen before.” Aether chuckled rather sheepishly. 

    As it had turned out, the fish had gotten off the line when Aether had been dragged into the water, much to the dismay of both him and Ajax. After that, it’d been decided that it was time to take a bit of a break. “Hey, I have a small gift for you.” Ajax pulled a box out of his inventory. Aether noted that the box seemed to have a slight mind of its own as it was shaking a little as if there was an animal of sorts in it. “Please open it. I spent a lot of time trying to get my hands on it for you.” He shoved the box into Aether’s hands. Aether pulled at the gold-colored ribbon and proceeded to lift the white lid off the box. A small purple Seelie came shooting up and swirled around Aether’s head and nuzzled into his cheek. “Seems that Erminia already likes you. I was afraid she wouldn’t want anything to do with you.” Ajax smiled. “I decided on the purple one as it compliments your eyes well.” He pulled Aether in for a hug. “You said her name is Erminia?” Aether asked. “Yeah. That was what I was told, not to mention it’s what she seems to respond to.” Ajax replied, Aether feeling a wave of serotonin as his significant other placed his hand on Aether’s head and fluffed his damp hair. 

    “Thank you. I will do my best to take care of Erminia.” Aether gave his significant other a kiss before the two decided to put their fishing gear away and walk along several of the trails in Tianqiu valley. “Hey, we haven’t eaten yet today. Open wide!” Ajax stuck a small piece of bread in Aether’s face. Aether took a bite. “I’m guessing you made this the other day?” he asked. “It’s good.” Ajax smiled as he watched Aether’s face light up, Erminia swirling around the two happily. “Yep! Sure did!” he suddenly yawned. “Dammit. It’s only three and I’m getting tired. Then again, I have been running on no sleep since waking up yesterday morning, so there’s that.” Aether watched Ajax stare into space grumpily. “I wouldn’t mind heading back, we’re still suffering from sunburns, not to mention I’m a little tired too.” Aether smiled sheepishly before opening his map and selecting the waypoint to get back to the beachside home. 

    Aether grabbed Ajax’s arm in time for the two to be teleported to the home, and once the two got inside the house, both of the two changed out of their clothes and into pajamas, where they plopped onto the bed, and fell asleep in each other’s arms. 

Chapter Text

Ajax awoke on the final day, excited and nervous that this was finally the day that he was going to hopefully start a new chapter in his life. He pulled himself out of bed and made his way to the kitchen, where he began to pull the eggs he’d made for Aether four days prior out of the refrigerator. He wanted to eat them not to waste food, but they smelled a little off, so Ajax tossed them in the trash and washed the plate. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Aether groggily made his way into the living room, where he plopped down on the couch, Erminia trailing behind. “How’d ya sleep, Sunflower?” He walked over and kissed Aether on the forehead. “We both slept for almost twenty hours. How do you think I slept?” Aether muttered in response. “Oh, make sure you’re ready to head out soon. I’d like to take you to Qingyun peak for something important in around an hour.” Ajax stated as he handed Aether a cup of coffee. “Alright. When I’m done with this I’ll get ready.” Aether smiled before taking a sip from the mug.

    Ajax made his way to the bedroom and grabbed his clothes, then changed out of his pajamas. He put on semi-formal attire which consisted of a blue button-up and dark gray shorts. He walked out of the bedroom to Aether’s surprise. “What’s with you getting all dressed up today? Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Minlin? That place is notorious for the dusty air.” he said, an eyebrow raised. “What I have planned will explain why.” Ajax retorted, combing his fingers through his ginger hair. He watched as Aether finished the cup of coffee and stood up. “Watch Erminia while I change.” Aether placed the Seelie in Ajax’s cupped hands before walking to the bedroom.

    Aether came walking out of the bedroom ten minutes later in a gray T-shirt and black shorts. He had his long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, and tiny flowers that sported gold accents dotted his hair. “I’m ready to go.”  “Alright, let’s head out. There’s a specific spot I want to take you right around sunset, so just remember.” Ajax said with a nervous look in his sapphire-like eyes. “What’s the matter?” Aether asked. “It’s nothing.” Ajax didn’t want Aether to discover what was to happen in the next few hours. 

    The two made their way out of the house and Aether teleported them to Mount Aocang. The fresh, mountainous air filled the two with a sense of peacefulness as they began hiking through the trails, chatting about their plans for the near future. “I can’t wait to see that day when I see myself resign. I do enjoy working for the Fatui, but it does get a little tedious sometimes.” Ajax couldn’t help but mutter. Aether felt an arm wrap around his waist as he was pulled in for a kiss. 

    Once the two had gotten to the edge of the mountaintop, They sat down as Aether pulled a basket out of his inventory and opened it, producing a couple of sandwiches from it. He handed one over. “Here,” Aether muttered with a smile as Ajax tore into his food. “As usual, your cooking is delicious,” He smiled at Aether as he wiped a bit of food from his cheek. Aether felt his face redden slightly. “What’s with that face? You shouldn’t be embarrassed because you’ve made a delicious meal,” Aether averted his significant other’s gaze as his face only became redder.

    The two finished eating together, they packed up their things, and continued making their way through the trails. Soon, Sunset was just around the corner, and the sun was beginning to turn the sky a stunning shade of orange. “Alright, it’s time for that big thing I mentioned earlier. Would you mind taking us to the Statue of the Seven?” Ajax asked, averting Aether’s gaze as his eyes were full of nervousness. “Sure,” Aether replied warily, grabbing his map and selecting the waypoint, swiftly teleporting the two to the location requested. “I’d like to watch the sunset for a few minutes while I get everything set up in my head,” Ajax smiled as he sat, his legs dangling off the edge of the floating island. Aether sat and observed as his significant other pulled something out of his pocket, though he couldn’t tell what it was. He knew he would in the coming moments. 

    Once the sun sat comfortably on the horizon, Ajax finally opened his mouth. “Aether, we’ve been together for two years now, right?” He asked, “Yeah. Still can’t believe I actually agreed to go on that date to begin with,” Aether replied with a chuckle. “Well, there’s a reason I wanted to take you here tonight. This was the place where we both shared our first kiss. For me at least, it holds a lot of sentimental value. I…” Ajax paused, taking a deep breath. “What are you going on about,” Aether curiously questioned. “Aether, I… I want to ask you something,” He suddenly pulled a small box from his lap and opened it, revealing a small gold band. “You are an amazing person. I love the way you look at me with those pretty golden eyes of yours, and I’d love to see them a lot more often in the future, which is why I’m about to ask you a big question. It would make my world if you agree, so, Aether, will you make me the happiest person in the world and marry me?” Ajax finally managed to ask after a long and hesitant pause, his blue eyes shining like the sun reflecting off from the sea. Aether had never seen Ajax’s eyes so bright in the time that they had been together, which was why he found the moment as beautiful as he did. 

    “When we first met, you felt kind of cold and calculating, but ever since I agreed to go on that date with you, I’ve learned that you’re very sweet and sentimental, not to mention you’re caring towards your family. I can’t believe you’re asking me this, but, yes. I will,” Aether beamed as Ajax placed the ring on his finger, the two sealing it with a long and drawn-out kiss. 

    “Alright, it’s about time we get your companion from Albedo, so we should head back and start packing our things. I also have to go back to my homeland for a meeting in the next few days,” Ajax smiled sheepishly. “This last week with you was amazing. I really wished it wouldn’t end, but everything has to stop at some point, so I’m glad I got to spend it all with you,” He gave Aether a big hug before jumping down from the island and deploying his wind glider, soaring through the air with an aura of pure unadulterated happiness radiating around him. Aether found himself quickly following suit, and he couldn’t help but feel happy tears begin to fill his eyes at the thought of living out the rest of his days with someone who loved him dearly.

    The couple soon made their way back to the cottage, hand-in-hand, and once they’d gotten to the house, Aether changed into his adventuring attire, his fiancee doing the same(Except they were Ajax’s own clothes, not Aether’s). 

    “I don’t want to go,” Aether sorrowfully muttered, “This last week was so fun but now that it’s over, I just miss it,” he began to tear up. “We can always do this again sometime,” Ajax pondered for a moment, “how about we do this again two months from today?” he suggested. “Sure. Just don’t avoid me during that time. I missed you while you were away for so long,” Aether looked at his fiancee with mild resentment. “Hey, stop turning your head! I can’t braid your hair if you’re going to move around like a squirrel that’s just had a liter of coffee!” Ajax exclaimed as Aether squirmed around a little in his lap. “You’re lucky I had to learn to do this for my sisters,” 

    The two finally finished cleaning the house up an hour later, and Aether walked out of the door to see that it was very much dark out. “Oh, I have a gift for Paimon as a thank-you for letting us have this last week to ourselves,” Aether heard Ajax say as he pulled a small box from his inventory. He opened the box, revealing a small set of fleece pajamas. The shirt was white, purple, and pink, matching well with Paimon’s style. “She’ll love it,” Aether smiled, the light from the full moon rising on the horizon highlighting his soft features. “Damn it, you’re so cute,” Ajax said, “I just want to punch you, but I won’t because that’d hurt.” He looked frustrated, but in a good way, like how a dog gets mad that they’re not receiving enough attention. 

    The two slowly made their way back to Dragonspine and found themselves chatting about their plans for the future again. “I didn’t actually expect you to say yes, but I’m glad you did. I can’t wait to finally say that you’re mine, that is, when we finally get married.” Ajax sighed. “You know what, I’d like you to keep this, I’ll get a new one made, so don’t worry,” He pulled his mask off his head and handed it to Aether, before giving the blonde a kiss. “Keep it as a token of my promise to stay as loyal as that thing has been to me. It hasn’t broken since I got it, and it’s been almost ten years.” He smiled as Aether stuttered, not knowing how to react. “Things may get hairy with me being in the Fatui, but I promise to protect you from anyone or anything that threatens you or your life, or even your family, whether that be through blood or bond,” he placed his hands on Aether’s shoulders, the moonlight shadowing his face with a menacing tone. 

    “I accept the gift. Thank you. And I promise to do the same. I wonder how Teucer will react to this. He's always liked me, so I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic to know I’ll be an official member of your family,” Aether replied with a smile. 

    The two continued on their way, and mere hours later, they arrived back at the cave where their vacation began. “Albedo? Are you still here?” Aether called, and a familiar face popped from around one of the large shelves. “Hey there, Paimon. How did you do without me?” Aether hugged his companion tightly. “Paimon didn’t do too well in the first few days, but she managed to keep her mind off of it with all the yummy food Albedo made,” Paimon replied with a grin. Aether chuckled. “Alright, are you ready to go?” he asked, and it was when Paimon grasped his right hand that she noticed something new. “Wait, what’s this?” She asked, eyeing the new ring on Aether’s finger. 

“Uh, that is my new engagement ring. Apparently, Childe thought it would be a good idea to propose earlier. As you can probably tell, I said yes.” Aether smiled. “Wait so that ginger-man is going to be in our lives more?” Paimon asked with an eye of suspicion. “Yes, I am, and don’t give me that look. I spent a lot of Mora on you before the vacation began,” Ajax handed Paimon a box and motioned for her to open it. She tore the box open with gusto and found herself staring at the pajamas Ajax had shown Aether earlier. “You had these made for me?” She asked. “Of course! I had some made for me and Aether, so I figured I should have some made for you as well,” Ajax replied with a smile. 

As everyone wrapped up to leave, Aether made sure to place a large bag of Mora on one of the shelves with a note labeled “payment for babysitting Paimon” on it. Everyone then made their way out of the cave and away from Dragonspine, where they all walked to the symbol of Mondstadt’s hero and watched as dawn began filling the sky. 

“I guess this is goodbye,” Ajax said with sorrow in his voice, sitting with Aether as the three of them watched the sunrise. “Yeah. Hopefully we will see each other soon,” Aether replied, hugging Ajax tightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to get some time to see you in my schedule. I pinky promise,” Ajax smiled sweetly as he wiped a tear out of Aether’s left eye, standing as he began to make his way back to his homeland.

 “I love you.” 

Chapter Text

     The sun beamed down brightly on the symbol of Mondstadt’s hero as everyone began to take their seats. Today was a momentous occasion, as two were becoming one. Aether looked in the mirror, noticing that the white dress suit he was wearing complimented his hair very well, and quickly adjusted the golden wreath that sat atop his head. Aether felt as if he had to look his absolute best in front of his fiancée’s coworkers(even though one of them had already met, and hated him with a burning passion. The other had died in a duel against the throne), who were attending as well. Aether suddenly felt an all-too familiar presence behind him, and the moment he whipped around, began to tear up. 

“L-Lumine,” he choked, a lump forming in the back of his throat. “Aether, this isn’t the time for me to be showing you my face, but I had to. I’m proud of you, dear brother. You’ve found someone you love, and will continue to love him for the rest of your life.” A gentle, yet sorrow filled smile spread across Lumine’s face. She grabbed Aether’s shoulders, which were starting to sag, and pulled him into a hug. “Lumine,” Aether said rather quietly. “Why- why did you only show up now? Why didn’t you come to me all of those times I was searching for you? The one time I’m not searching, that time being one of the most important moments in my life, you finally decide to show up?” He held back a sob. “It- it wasn’t the right time, and it still isn’t. I already told you that. I’m- I’m sorry.” Lumine replied with sorrow. “I’m sorry our reunion is so short, but I need to go. I hope you enjoy the ceremony, as well as the gift I prepared for you and your fiancée, Aether.” Lumine bit her lip so as to not cry, then made her way out of the small tent and into the horizon. 

“Hey, are you alright? I just saw that girl leave-” a worried Bennett poked his head into the tent just in time to see Aether burst into tears. Shocked, he walked over and kneeled down, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, then remembered something he’d seen hundreds of times in the last few years. “Wait, was that her? Your sister?” He asked, and Aether, still sobbing into his hands, nodded. “She only showed her face to tell me how proud she was of me finding someone I love more than myself. I’m happy I got to see her, but it was too sudden. I need to calm down. At least I got to see her.” Aether wiped his dewy eyes and looked back in the mirror. “Would you mind calling Barbara here? I might need her help.” He asked Bennett, who quickly obliged. Soon, Barbara was in the tent. “I heard you needed help,” Barbara softly said. “Yeah, I do.” Aether replied, pointing at his face, which was mildly puffy as he’d just been crying. “My sister came to tell me that she was proud of me. As you can see, I’ve been crying because of it. Is there anything you can do to minimize the look or effect it has on my face?” He asked. “Of course there is. Give me just a moment and you’ll be ready to make your way down that aisle!” Barbara enthusiastically yet calmly cheered, before using her vision to reduce the swelling in Aether’s eyes and face. 

“Thank you so much.” Aether gave Barbara a hug. “It’s not a problem. Anything to help one of the grooms out.” She replied cheerily. Aether stood up, grabbed the dark gray dress shoes and put them on. He then opened the tent flaps to see that nearly every seat was taken, only meaning the ceremony was soon to begin. “You might need to head to the altar. Again, thank you so much for the help, Barbara.” Aether suddenly heard music begin to softly drift through the air and looked out once again to see that Diluc was playing the violin, while Venti was playing his trusty lyre. Aether then realized that his fiancée was standing in front of the Statue of the Seven, waiting for the ceremony to begin. 

Aether walked out of the tent, his golden eyes shining like the sun. He wasn’t just excited for this day, he’d been waiting for it ever since his fiancée had proposed a year prior. He felt a pang in his chest. It felt nice knowing that this was the last day he would ever be alone on his journey. He beamed radiance as he nodded at Jean and Ganyu, who in turn gave Klee and Qiqi a gentle push, letting the girls know that it was time to start walking down the aisle and drop flower petals. 

As soon as people noticed Klee and Qiqi tossing petals on the path, they turned around and watched as Zhongli grabbed Aether by the arm and led him down the aisle. He noticed that Zhongli’s eyes were slightly wet. “I have to say, I’m rather proud of you, son. You’ve done so much to help the nations of Teyvat, and we all couldn’t be more grateful for your help.” He said, giving Aether a gentle yet aged look. “Thank you, Mr. Zhongli-” Zhongli cut Aether off. “I think we can cut the formalities, I’ve practically adopted you by this point. Feel free to call me ‘father.’ Only if you wish of course. I feel that it suits our relationship better.” “Are- are you sure?” Aether asked, doing his best to not cry or tear up, as Barbara had spent quite a bit of effort to reduce the swelling of his face from earlier. “Of course,” Zhongli replied with a kind smile on his face. 

Zhongli soon brought Aether down to the altar, and after he had given Aether a hug, he watched as his newly adopted son walked up the stairs where Ajax was waiting patiently, the dress suit he was wearing accenting his eyes with a bright pleasant feeling to it. “My, Aether, you look quite lovely today~” he gave Aether a sly sideways glance, grabbing his hand and kissing it. Aether blushed. “Y- you look great too.” He said in his mildly flustered state. “Okay, everyone, will you please take your seats?” Barbara asked, and within a minute, everyone had sat down. Even Diluc and Venti, who were the musicians for the event. “Today, we are all here to celebrate a pair who are deeply in love.” She said enthusiastically.

“Five years ago, after me and the Traveler’s battle at the Golden House, I thought that was going to be the end of our interaction. I never realized that I had actually fallen for him, and here I am now, about to say my marriage vows to you.” Ajax looked longingly at Aether. “I couldn’t agree more, and to think that I was so hesitant to accept you into my life as my boyfriend and significant other. I never expected you to be as sweet as you are. And to think that you care so much about your family.” Aether gazed into Ajax’s eyes with a thoughtfulness that couldn’t be described. 

Aether and Ajax turned their heads just as Ajax’s little brother, Teucer, came walking down the aisle with the rings. “Big brother!” Teucer ran over and gave Ajax a hug. “Teucer, please be careful. We don't want to lose the rings. They were pretty expensive. You’re actually lucky the Traveler managed to make sure they didn’t get lost.”

“Before we move any further with this, does anyone have any objection?” Barbara asked, and as Scaramouche, the Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers, known as the Balladeer began to stand, Ajax whipped his head around and gave him the death glare, causing Scaramouche to sit right back down, angrily muttering all the while. “Okay then. Let’s get this on! Traveler, do you take Ajax Tartaglia’s hand in marriage?” Barbara asked. “Ajax, I’ve known you for six years at this point. I know how you are. You’re fiery, passionate, and most importantly caring. I didn’t know why, but after our duel at the Golden House, you began to confess your love for me. To be honest, it hadn’t been very long before I began questioning myself on whether I truly wanted to be with you or not. I never expected the answer my heart gave me. Ajax, I want to be with you for the rest of our waking lives, and even longer than that, going into the next many lives with you. I hope you feel the same way. I give you this ring, and as I infuse it with the elements, I give you my promise to do my best to protect you from this day forth.” Aether placed the silver ring he’d chosen for Ajax on his very soon-to-be husband’s finger.

“And Ajax, do you take the Traveler to be your husband?” Barbara looked at Ajax, noticing that his sapphire eyes were tearing up. “I honestly don’t know how to top all of that. You’re kind, caring, strong and I can’t even describe how beautiful you are. All I can say is that I give you my own promise to keep you safe from any problems that may run wild within your heart, whether it be your constant search for you sister or any other troubles you may have. Please take this ring, as it represents my unending love for you. I give you my promise to help keep you safe from anything that may threaten your safety.” Ajax picked up the ring he’d chosen for Aether and placed it gently on his finger. Before anyone had time to realize what was happening, the rings began to glow. A blue, string-like light shot out of their rings and fused the end to the other ring wearer’s wrist, leaving a small, golden star-shaped marking in its place once the light had faded. “What was that?” Aether muttered. “Not sure. Whatever it was, it probably means we aren’t going to be able to leave each other’s side for the rest of our lives.” Ajax quietly replied, before grabbing Aether and pulling him in for a kiss. Everyone cheered… that is, except for Scaramouche and Lisa. Scaramouche was mad that his coworker had actually managed to find love, and Lisa was just jealous that Ajax had managed to steal Aether’s heart before she had the chance to. 

Later that evening, once the ceremony had ended, everyone made their way to the Dawn Winery and the banquet began, the wedding cake had been cut and the newlyweds had the chance to get the first bites. “Open wide~” Aether held a piece of cake to Ajax, and just before he could take a bite, Aether smeared it on his cheek. Ajax chuckled. “Of course you’d do that!” He swiped icing off his face and licked it, giving his husband a smile all the while. Aether looked over in time to see Diluc making his way towards the two. “Although I’m definitely not a fan of the Fatui, I am happy for both of you. In fact, even though you seem a little young to drink, I will happily provide you with a bottle of wine as today is an extremely special occasion. Just, whatever you do, don’t drink fire-water. That stuff is strong.” Diluc handed Aether a bottle of the Dawn Winery’s specialty, Dandelion Wine, with a smile. “I give you my congratulations.” “Diluc, I couldn’t accept this- we wouldn’t be able to drink it before it spoils,” Aether tried handing the bottle back, but Diluc refused. “This is your wedding gift from me. I’m not taking it back.” He reassured Aether, who looked at Ajax for help. “Sunflower, he said it was a wedding gift. We can always save it for another special occasion. We gratefully accept the gift. Thank you.” He said with a smile. 

“Why don’t we get you a glass now? I’m sure it tastes absolutely lovely,” Ajax grabbed the bottle opener before Aether stopped him. “There should already be an open bottle somewhere, unless Venti took it for himse-” “I heard that, and I’m actually sober tonight… for now,” Venti came flying towards Aether and Ajax, literally. “Oh, I nearly forgot to let you know about my gift. I hope you don’t mind it, as I wasn’t able to scrounge up the mora for something nicer, like a handmade wine glass set.” Venti rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I’d like to share a few of my prized apples. They were picked within the last year, and they’ve been in my inventory, preserved, of course, waiting for a good moment for me to eat them.” He handed Aether and Ajax each a plump, bright red apple. Aether was mildly hesitant to take a bite, so Ajax was the first to begin eating the fruit. Aether watched as the moment his husband bit into the apple, his eyes went wide. “My god- this is amazing!” He called out, and Aether sighed with relief. Venti giggled. “I told you! I said they’re my prized apples!” Aether took a bite. The apple wasn’t overly sweet, but it wasn’t extremely tart or bitter. Somehow the perfect combination of sweet and tart. “Where’d you find these? They’re amazing!” Ajax asked, to which Venti just shrugged his shoulders, congratulated the two on their marriage and walked off, presumably to get drunk.

Aether and Ajax rapidly finished their apples, then made a beeline for the table with all the drinks. As expected, there were a few bottles of wine on the table. Ajax grabbed a pair of glasses and poured a small amount in either. He handed Aether one of the glasses. “Thanks,” he said, taking a small sip. “This isn’t bad. Didn’t know what I was expecting, but still.” Aether said, taking another sip. “Aether, take it easy, I don’t want you getting drunk. This is your first ever drink, so please be careful.” Ajax said as Aether took another sip. 

“I can’t believe that we’re finally married,” Ajax smiled, and Aether felt himself smiling as well. “Me either,” he replied, dragging his newlywed husband to one of the couches and sitting down, where they proceeded to chat for the next several hours.

The rest of the night went very smoothly, and as everyone began to take their leave one by one, Aether and Ajax couldn’t help but feel more connected than they ever had before- they were, having just been married earlier that day. The two soon made their way to the Goth Grand Hotel, and once they’d changed out of their formal attire and into pajamas, swiftly fell asleep. This was the first day of a long and happy journey that both would make, later starting a family and enjoying each other’s company each and every moment of that journey.