Genshin Impact one-shots

22.09 "Buy?" he asked. Of course, he understands how money works. He's lived long enough to understand even if he pays little attention to how humans express themselves or live. "Well... yeah. But it wouldn't hurt to make them something right? You're skilled in the craft side of things" She added with a smile. She wasn't wrong. Xiao was clever. He used to make small things from leaves and flowers to mess around with at times of boredom. "hmm" he hummed in response. He had no intention of borrowing mora from her, however, he doesn't even know what people usually gift others. Ganyu sighed and sat up straight to drink some herbal tea "I'll give them some mora. I'm not sure what they like. That way, they don't have to share with Paimon either." "That won't stop them" Xiao answered. He was right. Aether had a habit of sharing regardless. They can't even say no to a silly commission. "True, but I don't have much I can give them really" she sighed "I feel like it'll be an emotional day for them though. Whatever you do, Xiao, I trust you wont be too cold for once. It's their sister's birthday too"22.09 Xiao hummed his response again, keeping his thoughts to himself for now. "I must take my leave now. Thank you Ganyu" he finally spoke, standing up and disappearing off into the air. ~O~ "Aether" Xiao found them, sitting in a patch of grass a bit away from the inn, playing with flowers and the butterflies around. To Xiao at least, they looked beautiful. "Hey Xiao. Finished for the day?" they asked while weaving a flower into a flower crown they'd made. "Hm." was about the only response they got, though, Xiao did sit down behind them and took out their old plat to braid it again. Aether smiled at the attention. Its often Xiao will come and play with their hair. Though, many people like playing with it too. Venti will try to double braid it and Klee will play with it too when they're around Mondstadt. 'I made you a flower crown~" Aether almost sung, he could sense Xiao's distress at that. CLARADAR 22.10 "Im not wearing a flower crown around as I s*******r the evil" he answered. Aether snickered and turned to put it on his head anyway, making Xiao let go of their hair in the process which made him a little grumpier. "Beautiful" "No" "Yes" Aether smiled. "You're so handsome" they were just about the only person to get away with calling him that or anything else. "No" he answered, pushing Aether to sit how they were before so he could finish braiding their hair. "You are" he leaned forward to kiss the crook of their neck lovingly. Aether chuckled softly and caught a butterfly on their finger. Xiao found them awfully godly... like how princes and princesses are often described in fairy tales. They were so pretty and warm. They really bought out Xiao's gentler side when they were together. Xiao often thought he wasn't good enough for such a godly person, though ether was no saint either. Compared to Aether, Xiao was cold and pushed people away. Xiao was very antisocial and for good cause. ether had had their fair share of sufferina too losing their22.10 sister and probably even their home too. Though, the thought of Aether going back home and leaving him hurt. It hurt a lot, and he felt selfish for feeling that way, but he truely felt connected with them. He brushed some hair with his fingers, stroking past their ear lovingly to pull it back and wrap into the braid with some flowers weaved into it. "Xiao. " Aether started. The yaksha merely hummed in response to show he was listening "Can you accompany me for a dinner in a few days? I don't want to bother you, but it'd mean a lot to me" "Its your birthday in a few days" the adeptus responded. "Exactly." they looked over their shoulder to smile at him. Xiao shot one back and continued braiding their hair "Stop moving" Aether will take that as a yes. "I love you" they smiled, leaning into his arms when Xiao had finished the braid and pulled them back for a hug. Xiao signed it back. He often swapped between speaking the semence wack anorsianing it.22.10 Usually it was due to shyness, which surprised Aether at first. They didn't take Xiao for being a shy person. He usually spoke his opinions freely. It actually took Ganyu and Zhongli to explain what he was signing. It took even longer for Aether to remember how to sign it too. Aether smiled scooted up a bit to kiss him. "Good" they nuzzled into his neck. ~O~ A butterfly. A sign of love. A proposal really. Of course, Xiao will use the excuse its an adepti amulet and it staves off evil, but he's positive ether will find the true meaning eventually. He's practically proposing to the hero, but Xiao is tons too shy to tell them that. Since he had no money though, he couldn't afford to have one made for him. So he made it from leaves himself when ether wasn't around. When the day finally came, ether had dragged him off into the harbor to a restaurant Zhongli had recommended.22.10 "Are you alright?" Aether asked since they knew Xiao wasn't always comfortable being in the harbor or in busy places in general. Xiao nodded, sitting down "Sit down" he answered. Since it was for ether, he'll try to do well. Aether seated. They ordered their food, Aether managing to convince Xiao to eat something other than Almond tofu for once. Aether reached over to take his hand and smiled sweetly. Xiao sighed and pulled out the butterfly "Ganyu said that making something comes from uh the heart. Adepti don't really bother with birthdays but uhm... take it. It's a butterfly I made out of leaves." he settled it in Aether's hand instead. Aether blinked a few times "Oh-" they took a better look at his work and smiled warmly, almost tearing up "Its beautiful Xiao, thank you" "Its an adepti amulet. It staves off evil.." he mumbled a bit, hoping ether hadn't caught on to what it actually is. A promise. To forever love and protect his dearly beloved. Aether reachedrover te tavie to try and hug22.11 him but it only lasted a few seconds before Xiao pushed them off so the waiter could put their food on the table. ~O~ "Klutz" Xiao mumbled to Aether as they were climbing the stairs up to the inn. Aether had tripped on a step, giving Xiao the freedom to call them that. Aether just laughed and leaned into their lover while climbing the rest of the stairs. "Thank you, Xiao. That dinner truely ment a lot to me" "Are you sure the bill was no problem for you? You can barely afford to stay here half the time" Xiao asked and let Aether chuckle in his ear. Bliss. Xiao really loved everything about this person. "The bill was affordable" Thanks to some sweet talking to Childe. Childe had only laughed at them and told them they only had to ask. Aether felt dumb really. ~O~ "Xiao gave you this?" Mr. Zhongli - surprised - asked Aether who simply nodded with a smile while sipping the tea they had been given. "Traveller, this means a lot coming from him"22.11 "What do you mean? He told me it staves off evil" Aether asked with a tilt to their head. "It means young, forever-lasting love. He was proposing to you" Zhongli cleared up for them "Though, he probably enchanted it to try and keep evil away too. Xiao is quite protective of the fee things he holds dear" "Wait-" "It also sounds like him to not tell you the truth behind it. But there is a common tale here concerning the butterfly lovers-" Zhongli went on to explain. "Mr. Zhongli" ether breathed almost "|- He proposed to me??" Aether asked, having a minor panic attack "I'm surprised Paimon didn't tell you." was their answer. "Ehe. Paimon wasn't allowed to join them on their date night. I wasn't there to explain" she answered. Zhongli smiled fondly and sipped his tea "I'm so proud of that child" he spoke "He's come so far and finally found a companion to share his worries and hurts with. Thank you, Traveller. Both Venti and I have been trving to give him22.13 Zhongli smiled fondly and sipped his tea "I'm so proud of that child" he spoke "He's come so far and finally found a companion to share his worries and hurts with. Thank you, Traveller. Both Venti and I have been trying to give him the freedom and love he needs, we were starting to think that perhaps we were too late.." he sighed. Aether felt their cheeks heat up as they listened. Xiao really trusted them that much? Cherished them that much? But what would Lumine think? Would she give her blessings if she were with them now. They didn't care, things were finally starting to feel better and not they have more inspiration than every to continue looking for their sister so they can all be a family again. 'I'm sorry Mr. Zhongli. You must excuse me. I need to find Xiao" They put down their tea and stood up to leave. "Uh Aether? Please, give him this medicine when you do find him" Zhongli pushed a bottle of Xiao's medicine over the table to them. "And give him my regards for me too" "I will" Aether smiled, picked up the medicine, and left with Paimon to go hunt for Xiao. ~M~22.13 "Xiao?" Aether asked as the Yaksha stumbled through the doorway of Wangshu Inn's balcony. He didn't look good. ether took note of it and got out their first aid kit and his medicine to tend to his wounds and his pain. They took his waist and sat him down on a stall "Rex Lapis sends his regards to you" Aether smiled and gave him his medicine, kissing a cut on his cheek better before putting a plaster over it. "Rex Lapis? He told you too?" Xiao seemed to be the only adeptus told that Rex Lapis was still alive. Ganyu seemed to fall for the lie that the god had told at least anyway. "Mhm" they answered while working on his wounds "You must be more careful. I don't like seeing you all beaten up" they pouted, kissing another wound before wrapping it up in a bandage. Xiao caught their hand and pulled it up to kiss it softly. " don't like seeing you like it, but you're still as reckless as ever" he answered, receiving a chuckle in response. ether freed their hand and cupped Xiao's cheek with it "I love you.""I love you too" "I want to spend my life with you too" "What?" Xiao pulled back. Oh no, they found out. "Who?" he demanded answers "Mr. Zhongli" Aether answered with another soft chuckle "Relax" Xiao relaxed a little and sighed "I see..." wad all he answered as. Aether shook their head and leaned up for another kiss. Xiao, happily granted it.