Abyss Aether × Xiao || You can try to escape ||

Adventure

(Xiaos POV)

An adventure? What is he talking about. Where did this come from all of a sudden.

"What kind of adventure? Where did this come from, and what makes you think I'm gonna let you go off on your own?"

Aether looks at me confused before smiling.

"I don't think that's the question you should be asking Xiao~" he snickers. I look at him, not understanding what he's getting at, until I look down.

I then realize that our bodies are still pressed together, with his hands around my waist. My face bursts into a fit of heat and color. I push away from him immediately and take a few steps back, all the while he's giggling.

"No but in all honesty, I'm planning on going to Guyun Ruins," Aether confirms. I look up at him.

"Why there?" I confront, confused where this sudden action is coming from.

He looks off to the side, contemplating what to answer. He has a conflicted look on his face.

"You can't tell me?" I implied. He looks back over to me.

"No it's not that I can't tell you, but more of the fact that I don't know how to tell you" he conceded. That just made me even more confused.

"Look I already got it covered. I'm gonna be quick, no need to worry" he assures. I stare dead into his eyes, making him falter slightly.

"No. Need. To. Worry?" I inquired. He looks nervously away.

"Yeah...." he disclosed.

"You are still injured from both the maze incident and the incident from yesterday and you expect me to let you go off on your own, into Guyun Ruins, and not worry?" I interrogated. He shivers slightly at my strict tone.

"W-well. I mean, I just thought...." he muttered.

"Well you thought wrong" I interrupted. He gives me a pouty face.

"Cmon Xiao. You could come along if you really don't trust me enough" he crowed. I look at him with uncertainty. I think about it for a minute, before finally giving in.

"If it's that important to you, then I have no problem accompanying you" I agreed. When I gave my answer, I swear I saw Aethers pupil's literally take on the shape of stars.

"XIAO, YOU ARE THE BEST THING IN ALL TEYVAT!" he screams. I feel my face slightly heat up before shaking it off.

"Well are we going right now, or do you need to pick some things up?"

"Well, I was planning on getting some food for the trip. Any recommendations?" he smiles. I only have one answer to that question.

"Anywhere with Almond Tofu"

He looks at me, blinking with pure confusion.

"Ummm okay? But where has Almond Tofu?" he questions. I begin making my way back into the Inn, Aether following right behind me.

We walk down to Smiley Yanxiao. He sees both of us approaching and already knows what I want so he just smiles and begins cooking. Aether walks over and begins talking to Smiley Yanxiao, and then not long after, starts cooking his own food.

After a few minutes, Aether walks back over to me with a container of food for the trip.

"Alright, I got the food!" he cheers, acting like a child. I sigh before walking out, him following behind me once again.

"So, you find a way to tell me why you're going to Guyun Ruins?" I puzzled, raising an eyebrow to emphasize my wanting for an answer. Aether looks off to the side, pondering for a minute.

"I guess you could say I'm doing it for revenge" he specified. I was surprise. I didn't really take Aether as the type to get actually revenge. Joking revenge, or funny revenge sure, but revenge as in doing something to get back at someone for real wasn't what I expected.

"Revenge on who?" I probed.

"A Fatui member. They've been getting in my way recently and I've had enough of it".

A Fatui member huh? Not exactly what I thought but isn't too surprising at the same time. I hum in response, not exactly knowing how to respond to that.

Silence took over and I didn't really want to continue talking since I wasn't really good with conversations. We continued making our way to Guyun Ruins, the entire trip being silent.

Once we finally arrived, Aether took the lead. I follow behind him, not specifically knowing what he's looking for. As we go in deeper, I start to get this ominous feeling. What is going on?

"Xiao, we're here" Aether whispers. I look around and see nothing. It's completely empty.

"Why here, there's nothing?" I mumble, confusion taking me over. He giggles, understanding my confusion.

He reaches his hand out to me, signaling me to grab it. I hesitate slightly, he smirks and just grabs my hand, holding it tight.

"Trust me, 'kay?" he smiles. My face turns a tint of red and I turn my face away, nodding slightly. He begins dragging me forward before stopping after a few steps. I look around and my eyes widen. We weren't inside Guyun Ruins anymore, but somewhere completely different.

"This is where that dumb Fatui is hiding his personal items, being the smart ass he is, most people would never know about this place" he trumpeted. I'm still in complete shock. How could I have never known about this place in Liyue.

"Let's go Xiao" Aether motions. I follow behind him. I get a really ominous feeling here. Something's not right, but what is it. I begin looking around. I tighten my grip on Aethers hand unconsciously. He looks at me surprised, but then his face turns serious when he sees how on edge I am.

He starts looking around as well. He must have also picked up the strange aura.

Then out of nowhere, an arrow comes flying towards us, causing us to separate from each other. Aether manages to avoid the arrow, falling into the wall.

But......

A cloud of black smoke forms behind me, and someone wearing a mask with blue hair (I think you should all know who that is) grabs me by the arm and pulls me back.

"XIAO!" Aether screams, immediately getting up and rushing towards me. I reach my hand out to him. I try to teleport away, but my powers seem to be cancelled out. Could it be this masked person?

"AETHER" I yell back, desperately trying to get back to his side. I don't want to leave his side. I want to stay with him. The black fog completely consumes me until all I can see is darkness, my head starts to hurt and I can feel myself passing out. Before I lose consciousness, I hear something that I can only hope to be true.

"I'll save you Xiao"

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I almost wasn't able to post this today. I had been so busy with family and other stuff that I had to write half of this today. I hope it doesn't feel too rush and Happy New Year everyone!

Hope your 2023 is great