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Aether awoke to a captivating scenery that rarely changed, listening to birds chirp. At first, his Serenitea Pot had been desolate, so Aether kept a few animals in the adeptal domain. Luckily, Tubby (the teapot adeptus) loved animals and took great care of them when Aether couldn't. He could gaze out his window and feel comforted by the trees and uninhabited houses. It felt like he had a home to return to after a lifetime of travelling across worlds.
Unfortunately, Aether couldn't enjoy the nice atmosphere because he couldn't focus on anything except his sore throat. It felt like someone had set his throat ablaze. Did he anger someone and this was their revenge? He couldn't even call for Paimon. She spent the night with Klee and Albedo since Xiao was visiting-
Oh shit.
Xiao and Aether had planned on a date today! He couldn't arrive at Wangshu Inn in this state, but Xiao would assume two extremes if he didn't. Aether wanted to break up, or he had died - in that order. Not being present to reassure his boyfriend hurt more than his condition.
Xiao took a long time to open up to Aether, much less date him. Aether had asked him out a few times, only for Xiao to reject him. The poor yaksha didn't believe he was anything except a desireless demon killer who could provide nothing but pain for those around him. After Aether convinced Xiao that he was worthy of being loved, they decided to label themselves as boyfriends, but on the condition that they took things slowly. As immortals, they could take things as slow as they wanted and Aether would wait however long Xiao needed.
He summoned every ounce of energy possible and tried to stand, only for his head to pound as soon as he moved. With a nasally groan of pain, he rested his head again. Sweat soaked the bedsheets that Aether wrapped himself in. It felt like the inside of a volcano, but after off the blankets, he might as well have been on Dragonspine. He wanted to cry, punch a wall and die. Being sick sucked.
How could he face Xiao? Today was one of the rare days that Aether convinced Xiao to go on a calming date together, free of hunting demons and saving Liyue, yet he was the one bailing.
Aether yanked his blankets over his head, trying to create a small sanctuary of safety. Seconds passed in silence, or maybe they were minutes? Had he fallen asleep? It was hard to tell, especially when Aether could barely string together a coherent thought.
He flinched when his bedroom door flung open. "Aether?" Xiao! Yay, he was here! Well... Was it a good thing? What if Xiao caught whatever bug Aether had? For once, Aether just wanted to sleep and ignore everyone else. Aether let out a strained grunt as the blankets were pulled back. "You look terrible," Xiao stated, staring at his boyfriend.
"Thanks," Aether whispered. As soon as Xiao heard the man's voice, his eyebrows raised. It sounded like someone raking their nails across a blackboard.
"You didn't show up for our date. I thought..." Xiao trailed off before pulling Aether's blankets completely away, only met with a weak whine. "I will take care of you."
Xiao gently lifted Aether to undress him from his sticky, sweaty clothes, trying not to grimace from the smell. Aether knew he couldn't smell great and felt guilty that Xiao had to see him like this. Once dressed in fresh clothes, Xiao gently placed him back on the mattress.
Gentle. It wasn't a word people would associate with the Conquerer of Demons, but not many took the chance to get to know him. Most of Liyue Harbour saw Xiao as an introverted yaksha who violently slaughtered all demons in his wake. They weren't exactly wrong, but only a rare handful had seen his softer side. Aether was one of those few. Months of bribing the yaksha with almond tofu resulted in befriending Xiao, even if the green-haired man only responded in grunts and hums for months afterwards.
"How long have you been feeling this way?" Xiao asked, lifting Aether so he could sit upright. "Why did you hide this from me?
"I didn't..." Aether could barely speak loud enough for Xiao to hear. It was like his voice had gone on strike.
"You woke up like this?" A sneeze cut off Aether's nod. His head pounded and he whimpered in agony. Archons, he'd rather fight Azhdaha without Noelle's help than feel like this. "Ah. I see."
Aether's eyes began to burn with exhaustion like he'd spent three days and nights doing commissions. He closed them to relieve the sensation, only for a moment, but opened them to see things had changed. Xiao wasn't beside him, Aether had been tucked into bed, and the curtains blocked out orange and pink sunrays.
He slowly sat up, grunting when a cool weight slapped into his lap. Aether poked at the damp cloth, noticing how cool it felt. "Xiao?" The blonde whispered, continuing to poke at the fabric as if it used to be his boyfriend.
"You called?" Aether flinched when Xiao appeared at his bedside, black and green particles slowly disappearing around him.
"You..." Aether didn't know how to form his question. What was his question? He needed to ask one, he had to, but... why?
"Aether?" Xiao placed the back of his hand on Aether's forehead before sighing. "You're still burning up. Lie down." He pushed Aether back and replaced the damp cloth. Aether couldn't help but smile and reach for his boyfriend, making grabby hands like a toddler. "No, we're not cuddling. You're sick." Even with Aether's pout, Xiao wouldn't budge on his decision.
As Xiao constantly fussed over him, Aether drifted in and out of consciousness. Every time he blinked, half an hour passed. The next time he opened his eyes, the bedroom door opened and Xiao walked in with a steaming bowl of soup. "You're awake again."
"Uh-huh." Aether groaned and sat up slowly. He felt a little better after resting... Wait, what time was it? Glancing outside, Aether noticed no light peeking through the curtains.
"You slept all day. It's nighttime," Xiao explained when he noticed what Aether was staring at. "Eat." Aether stared at the soup as it was placed on his lap. He didn't know what overcame him, but instead of eating, he looked at Xiao and opened his mouth.
Xiao stared at Aether before he seemed to understand. "You want me to feed you?" Aether nodded and opened his mouth again. "Absurd." He muttered as he picked up the spoon and began feeding his boyfriend.
Each swallow took tonnes of effort, but seeing the faint smile on Xiao's face made everything worth it. They may not be going on their date, but at least Aether could make Xiao smile. Aether only ate half the soup, but at least he had something in his stomach now. "I thought you didn't cook," Aether whispered.
"Smiley Yanxiao did it." Xiao picked up the half-empty soup bowl and placed it on the nightstand for later. "He also said to give you mint oil."
"Aw, did you ask for help to care for me?" Aether smirked. Xiao had never cared for others before, so he was learning with Aether's help. He'd only ever spent time with the Liyue adepti, who had as much understanding about mortals as Xiao.
Xiao gently flicked Aether's forehead. "Shut up." He pulled a small container from his pocket and tugged down Aether's collar. Aether sighed in relief as the cool gel was smeared across his chest. "This is supposed to help you breathe." As Aether took deep breaths, Xiao fiddled with Aether's fringe.
As they sat in the silent room smelling like bland chicken noodle soup and mint, Aether couldn't help but think about their original plans. "Sorry for ruining our date," Aether whispered.
"You didn't." Xiao's voice calmed Aether a little. It sounded like a soothing lullaby to him. "Now sleep. I'll watch over you." Aether had no complaints about that suggestion and let sleep take him for the umpteenth time.
When Aether awoke, he found it easier to move yet harder to breathe. Ugh, the next stage of a cold, also known as death incarnate. Aether coughed and spluttered as he stood up, wrapping his blanket around his shoulders.
"What do you think you're doing?" A harsh voice questioned. Aether turned and noticed Xiao sitting in Aether's spare armchair, reading a book. "You need rest."
"I'm feeling better, Xiao," Aether explained. His throat still hurt and he couldn't do much more than whisper.
Despite Aether's response, Xiao stood and led him back toward the bed. "Adults become ill on an average of two times per year. You must rest."
"Xiao, my immune system is probably better than most in Teyvat," Aether argued as he sat on the bed. "I've travelled so many worlds and I've been exposed to illnesses that I don't think exist in Teyvat."
"Does that explain why you're sick now?" Xiao crossed his arms and waited for an answer that Aether couldn't give. "That's what I thought. Sit and rest. I shall reheat the soup for you to eat."
Aether noticed the telltale sign of anxiety as Xiao's eyebrow twitched. Realising how worried his boyfriend felt, Aether didn't bother arguing further as Xiao teleported to the kitchen. He sat on the bed sniffling and coughing as he suffered from his internal battle with whatever common cold he'd had the misfortune of coming across. Ah, the life of a traveller.
He hated this side of being a traveller. No matter how good his immune system tried to be, he'd always suffer in any world he travelled to. Each world had a unique illness he'd suffer from for at least one week during his travels. It surprised him that he'd survived almost four years in Teyvat without catching a disease at least once.
When Xiao returned, he had another bowl of chicken noodle soup in one hand and a wreath of qingxin flowers in the other. "What's that for?" Aether asked, pointing at the wreath. "Are you gonna pray for Rex Lapis to heal me?"
"Mor- Uh, Zhongli, doesn't have healing abilities." Xiao handed the soup to Aether, who had no issue eating it without help.
Aether chuckled when he realised that Xiao thought his comment was serious. "It's a joke, Xiao. Seriously, though. What's the flowers for?"
Xiao stared at them silently, having an internal battle. Aether remained silent as his boyfriend thought things over. Sometimes, Xiao needed a few moments to gather his thoughts. "I made this for our date. To give you." As Xiao placed the wreath atop his golden hair, Aether couldn't help but grin.
"Awe, you're the best!" Aether reached up to readjust the qingxin wreath before realising what he'd attempted to create for Xiao. "Oh, I wanted to make something for you, too. I meant to do it yesterday morning so it'd be fresh, but..." He looked down in shame, staring at his distorted reflection in the soup.
"What was it?"
"Huh?" That wasn't the response Aether expected. Surely Xiao should be mad that Aether didn't turn up for their date, right?
"What. Was it?" Xiao repeated. He looked around, seeming to try and piece together the puzzle alone.
"Snow cones..."
"Snow cones?"
"Snow cones."
Xiao sighed and sat beside Aether. "We are not travelling to Dragonspine with you in this state." The blonde lowered his head again in shame. "Later. When you're well."
"Really?!" Aether went to hug him but realised he didn't want to infect Xiao.
"Yes, we still have a date to go on." Xiao awkwardly placed his hand on top of Aether's. "You matter most to me, Aether. If you're ill, I shall protect you. The date can wait."
Aether's resolve wasn't as strong as he thought as he couldn't resist the urge to kiss Xiao's cheek. Xiao treated Aether like a king (as usual), waiting on his every need as the blonde recovered. Eventually, Aether recovered and felt better than ever, which was perfect since Xiao needed caring for next. Turns out yakshas can catch mortal illnesses.