Chapter four: I Am Your Companion

Childe gently grabbed Aether's chin and turned it upward so that they were looking into each others' eyes. Aether's heart was pounding as the ginger licked his lips and smirked.

"Aether," he hummed as he brushed his thumb over the boy's cheek. "Your skin is so soft."

He leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on his jaw, and then his cheek, and finally his lips. Aether breathed in sharply, reaching out to grab the arm that was holding his face. Suddenly Childe was grabbing his waist tightly, pulling him closer. Aether let out a little gasp.

Childe mumbled something into the kiss that Aether didn't quite hear. He pulled away slowly. "What did you say?" The blonde huffed, out of breath.

Childe squeezed Aether's waist again, fingers slipping under his shirt. "Are you up yet?"

Aether's eyes snapped open. Someone was knocking at the door.

He sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes. A wet dream? Seriously? Aether had just met Childe, but he had never been the object of sexual suggestion before. He was sweaty from just the thought of someone lusting after him in that way.

The knocking continued. "Are you alive in there?" It was Diluc's deep voice. How long had he been there?

"Uh, yes," Aether yawned, wrapping the covers around himself. "I'm alive."

Through the door, Aether could hear Diluc shuffling. "Good. Just making sure. It's one in the afternoon, you know." His footsteps gradually receded.

"Yikes," Aether mumbled aloud, falling onto his back. This is the latest he had probably ever slept, even in the first week when he experienced a foam mattress for the very first time. Last night had been exhausting.

He emerged after dressing himself and combing his hair, braiding it down his back like usual. Sunshine floating through the windows cast small rainbows across the floor. It was a hot day and the patio windows were open to let in the ocean breeze. Diluc was seated in the living room, back to Aether, reading a book of some sort.

"Good afternoon," Molly greeted, smiling warmly at Aether. "Shall I make you breakfast?"

Aether smiled and patted Molly on the shoulder. "That's okay, I missed it this morning. No need to go out of your way."

"Nonsense," Diluc spoke up from the other room. He turned to look at the boy. "She can make you something."

Aether shook his head. "It's really okay."

"You need to eat." Diluc waved a dismissive hand. "Molly, arrange him something."

Molly nodded and moved toward the kitchen, but Aether grabbed her arm and shook his head. The maid looked worriedly at Aether, and then to Diluc who had already turned around. Aether gave her a small smile, as if to say, "It's fine. You can relax."

As the servant moved into an adjacent room, Aether made his way to the living room. There were two gray couches and a white armchair, surrounded by various potted plants of a species Aether had never seen before. He moved to sit on the couch across from Diluc.

Diluc didn't raise his eyes as the boy sat down and tucked his legs under him. He licked his finger and flipped a page of the book. Aether sat quietly and watched the man read for a few moments. Eventually, his husband addressed him.

"Have you eaten?" He licked his finger, flipping the page.

Aether clasped his hands together. "No, but I'm not hungry."

The red-head looked up at him quizzically. "I told Molly to make you something."

"I wanted to talk to you about that, actually," Aether breathed, averting his gaze. "I can do things for myself."

Diluc chuckled, turning another page disinterestedly. "Of course. You can brush your teeth and bathe yourself. But we have servants to cook and clean for us." Another page. "That's their job."

Aether nodded. "I know. But they're my friends, so when I don't need something, I don't ask them for it." A page flipped. "Like when you asked them to vacuum twice a day. My room was plenty clean."

The book was closed and placed on the glass table between them. Diluc leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I know you aren't used to being pampered. I wasn't fond of some of the things the servants tried to help me with as a child. But I adjusted quickly. You will too."

"That's not what I'm saying," Aether insisted. "I do appreciate clean clothes and warm meals, but some things are unnecessary."

"As I said, you'll adjust."

"Diluc." He didn't mean to raise his voice, but it certainly got Diluc's attention. "I think you've adjusted to a quality of life that I don't want." Where was he going with this? Speak, spit it out! "I don't want to be pampered. I know you have plenty of resources, and I realize how lucky I am, but I don't want my friends to be overwhelmed with busy work."

The man blinked in confusion. "You keep calling them your friends. I… I don't think I understand why you see them that way."

Was this Diluc before him? The Diluc he knew - barely - would have snapped back, telling him to quit fussing and get used to it. Aether could sense that tone in his voice, but his amber eyes reflected an immense effort to understand where his friend was coming from.

Aether took a deep breath. "They're kind to me. They kept me company for a while. I was…" He didn't feel like delving into his loneliness again. His heart ached for a deep connection like what he had with his sister. Someone he could talk to about anything. "I'm not asking for you to keep me company, Diluc. I'm just hoping you can respect the time I want to spend with my friends."

The air was heavy between them as Diluc soaked in every word, gears turning in his mind to comprehend the idea of peasant friendships. It was awkward, but Aether was really proud of him for actively listening.

"I think I understand." Scarlet eyes settled on his own. "I will respect your wishes. However," he breathed, "I hope you can recognize the life I'm comfortable with. I'll try to ask less of your… Friends… But they are employed for a reason."

Aether sat up a little straighter. "That's fair. Thank you, Diluc."

He smiled, happy that they had made progress and were having actual conversations now. Diluc might not be that bad.

The man picked up his book and leaned back into his seat without returning the smile. He had to accept that Diluc wasn't one for affection, much less expressing appreciation for his friends. Aether wouldn't take it personally.

The blonde stood, moving to the patio for some fresh air. As he stepped toward the door, Diluc called out behind him. "Aether."

He turned on his heel to face the red-head. The man's arm was slung over the back of the couch so that he could face Aether better, curly red locks cascading over his shoulders. "I am your companion as well." His tone was deep and sincere. "I can keep you company, if you need."

The blonde wasn't sure if this was guilt or kindness talking. Perhaps it was Diluc's sense of duty. Whatever the case, Aether's heart felt full. What had felt like captivity in the beginning was blossoming into a friendship. He could, at the very least, tolerate his husband. He was doing his best.

"Thank you."

The vacation - if it could be called that, given Diluc's aversion to being away from home - was beyond enjoyable for Aether. He'd never left Mondstant before. Here he was in beautiful Liyue Harbor, basking in the beautiful sunlight with more than enough things to see and do.

In the days after his dinner with Zhongli and Childe, Aether explored the city, escorted by Molly. Diluc had been preoccupied with work to prepare for the return home, so he allowed the two to go by themselves. Aether and Molly visited the various local shops, got a massage, and visited the enormous ships that were docked for restocking.

When Aether returned one night, Diluc was in bad spirits. He had received a letter from his father suggesting that the pair stay for another week in Liyue. Aether was excited to have more time to explore, but Diluc saw it as another week of being grounded. The man locked himself in his room that night and refused to accept Molly's services.

Though Aether worried about Diluc's temper, he made the most of the night by playing games with Molly and the other servant, Henry, while they had access to the living room. He loved how the maids let their guards down with him.

When they retired for the evening, Aether took interest in the book Diluc had been reading, which was still lying on the glass coffee table. He flipped through a few chapters, smiling softly. It was a fairytale, filled with princesses in distress and disguised heroes who served the people without recognition. There was so much he still didn't know about Diluc, but he planned to find out.

The golden-haired boy drifted off on the couch, the book nestled next to him as he dreamt.

Diluc was seated across from him, his ankle resting on his knee and his arms crossed. Aether had been awoken by sunlight and found himself covered in a blanket, still on the couch as he had been the night before. Groggily, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, the book falling to the ground in front of him.

The red-head had had his eyes closed, but at the noise let them flutter open. Aether bent over and quickly placed the book back onto the table as his husband did so. Had Diluc been watching him sleep? Who put this blanket over him? What time was it?

"Did you enjoy it?" Diluc asked, his voice soft. "The book."

Aether rubbed the back of his neck. "I did." He looked away. "I didn't know you liked stories like that."

Diluc placed both feet on the ground and rubbed his hands together. "There's a lot we don't know about each other."

He stood, drawing Aether's eyes back to him. Diluc seemed calm, despite the way he had reacted last night. A rest might have relaxed him and helped him accept his father's wishes. Besides, his father had asked for bigger things. Like marrying him to a peasant boy without a say.

Aether cleared his throat. "Are you alright?"

The question seemed to surprise Diluc, who paused, looking over to the small boy on the couch. "I'm sure my father has a good reason for what he wants," he reasoned. "There's nothing I can do." He resumed his track to the window, gazing out over the sea and holding his hands behind his back.

The blonde stood now and pulled the blanket around him as he moved to his bedroom. He was glad Diluc was feeling better. Aether had worried last night that Diluc might make a rash decision, but now he felt safe going out for the day. Or so he planned.

"Aether," Diluc called.

The boy turned. Why did he insist on asking for him only after he was walking away?

Ruby eyes met with his as the man took a deep breath, his chest rising steadily. "Would you accompany me to survey Liyue today?"

Mouth dropping slightly open, Aether paused. Diluc wanted to leave for once? And he wanted Aether to go with him? This could be his effort at friendship. Or, for all he knew, this could be a way for Diluc to distract himself. Whatever the case, Aether was interested in Diluc's proposal.

He smiled warmly and pulled his blanket tighter around him, holding his husband's gaze. "I'll go get dressed."