"Guys, I really need to go…"

For the love of all that isn't drunk.

Had Aether known that greeting Amber and Eula when they happened to have run into each other in the wild would lead him to this scenario, he would have tried harder to avoid the reconnaissance company's patrol routes.

Not that he had any knowledge of such a route, but his mind began its panic-induced short circuiting the moment he realized that he might be stuck here for the better part of the night.

A Knights of Favonius gathering in the Angel's Share.

His complaints fell on deaf ears. Figuratively and literally, taking in the ear shattering volumes that many of the drunken knights have now risen to.

"Nonsense, you just got here."

Aether felt the calm yet stern hand on his shoulder, courtesy of the now-tipsy Cavalry Captain. A devious smile carved onto his lips.

"I'm not supposed to be here in the first place, Kaeya."

"Well, but isn't it great timing?" Amber chimed in whilst carrying two glasses, placing one by her side and the other by Eula's, "Venti and Barbara's performing tonight, most of the Knights are here watching, and even Master Diluc's bartending!"

Diluc gave the Outrider a short glare, catching wind of her words, "Do not use me as leverage in your feeble attempts to keep him here."

Amber merely giggled sheepishly while Jean, who's sitting across Diluc's position at the bar lightly tapped the counter to calm him down.

"There's no need to get rowdy amongst each other," she reprimanded them while giving a pointed look towards the Ragnvindr, who conceded immediately. Before turning her attention towards Aether, "But if Aether says that he needs to go, then maybe we can arrange another outing with his schedule in mind."

Aether attempted to use her words to his advantage, motioning to head out of his seat "Exactly, I would love to stay; really, I would, but I already-,"

"And let's celebrate a special occasion! As I would like to dedicate this next song to our Honorary Knight, the saviour of Mondstadt, who just so happens to be in the audience here in Angel's Share!"

Barely able to process what just happened, Aether froze when the spotlight that was shining on Barbara suddenly shifted towards him. Effectively turning all eyes to the blonde as he musters a weak grin, before the room erupted in a cacophony of cheers.

"You might as well stay…" Lisa almost slurred at him, her state definitely bordering from the tipsy towards drunk line, all while pointing an unbalanced finger to a blob on one of the tables, "Your fairy companion is practically out cold anyways."

His eyes trailed her fingers. Eventually landing on what he could only assume to be a massive ball of white, lying unconsciously on the table. Its soul veritably taken to the lands of Celestia itself.

Sometimes, he wonders if that flying emergency food had zero self-control when it comes to guzzling food and drinks of any kind.

At that point, he realized that the only thing that had any chance of escaping in this place, is the defeated sigh that had been growing within his chest.

"You guys don't understand… she's gonna kill me."

An agonizing hour passed by…

"Should we really let them hold him here for much longer?" Diluc muttered, looking at the growing chaos of his tavern with the desolate blonde right in the middle of it. "If you hadn't noticed, the colour of his complexions is turning frighteningly similar to that of a body in a morgue."

"I wish there was a way to get him out of this." Jean replied, her eyeline following Diluc's, "But Barbara has him trapped. You and I know better than anyone that the expectation of societal conventions is often an unbreakable one."

The redhead sighed in reluctant agreement, placing down the glass he was cleaning to fully focus on her, "I understand that, but you are the Acting Grand Master, is there no sort of irrefutable order that you can issue to get him out of here?"

Jean propped her chin on her fist while donning a sly gaze, "I could, but someone insisted that I attended this event as Jean, instead of the Acting Grand Master." She smiled in satisfaction when she heard another dry sigh come out of him, "Besides, if anyone has any authority to do anything, it would be you. You own the place, silly."

"Touche'… there's not much that I can do either. Giving him an escape route under the pretence of kicking him out would cause everyone to misunderstand."

"Exactly, with all scenarios considered, they've played their cards well and there's nothing you and I can really do about it." Jean said softly, knowing that the man hates leaving a friend in need of saving, no matter on what scale. She took his hand, with the intent of garnering a different reaction from the Ragnvindr, "You've been uptight all day. It wouldn't sit well with me if you tire yourself whilst trying to make sure that the rest of us enjoy our night."

Unable to say no to her shimmering stare, Diluc relented to her hold and squeezed her hand in return.

"Fine. But we're figuring out what we can do to reimburse his potential loss from having to stay here."

"That we will do." Jean replied with a smile.

Satisfied with her response, Diluc looked to the side and called out, "Charles! Keep an eye on the bar for a while."

"Got it, Master Diluc."

Moving from behind the counter, he took to the stool next to Jean's and settled himself.

"Still intriguing though, don't you think?" Diluc began once again, drawing an eyebrow from the blonde beside him, "He didn't look half as bothered when he had to help us with Dvalin, could it have been something much more serious?"

"I doubt that he would have stuck around if it was something that grave." Jean mused, letting out a small smirk in the process, "Who knows? Maybe our Honorary Knight has finally found himself a date?"

A snicker is all that escaped him, "I'd be impressed if he's had the time to find one after all the events that he had to-,"

SLAM

A loud bang of the tavern door diverted everyone's attention towards it, silence filling the space when all the eyes in the room stuck on to the young woman with electrifying amethyst orbs that shone dangerously amongst tavern's lighting. She swiftly scanned through the entire room before seemingly finding her target, which is the despondent blonde who's had his face flat on the table, all while groaning endlessly into it.

Jean and Diluc tracked the new visitor as she practically stomped her way towards Aether, who was still oblivious to the sudden silence encapsulating the tavern. Eventually, the clacking of her heels brought his attention, yet he merely sighed thinking that it was another one of the Knights wanting to get a drink with him.

"Look I'm grateful for the offer, but I don't think-,"

His words paused in his throat the moment he made eye contact with the person approaching him, and the fear he experienced made his heart felt as if it had decided to skip off his ribcage. Jeering at him while it dangled itself right in front of his face.

"A-ah…" he stammered out, trying to cherry-pick his words only to give up in the end, "What are the words to say that wouldn't end up with me dead on the spot?"

No one in the tavern dared to say a word. Particularly due to the fact that this young woman managed to procure a flinch out of their esteemed Honorary Knight, at the mere sharpening of her gaze.

This was a man who didn't bat an eye when their acting Grand Master asked him to fight an elemental dragon.

Paimon, who had been asleep for the majority of the event, lifted her head ever so slightly to peek above her bloated stomach. Before speaking with the drowsiest tone, one could ever muster.

"Hey, it's Keqing! When did you arrive in Mondstaaahh…." Her head slammed back down onto the table before she even finished. Unfazed by the sight, Keqing shot a fade, yet amiable smile towards the bloated companion, before reverting back to her vicious glare when she turned her attention back towards Aether, who had raised both of his hands in what had looked to be an attempt to surrender.

"Look, I can explain-,"

She grabbed one of his raised hands and wordlessly dragged him out of his seat, making a quick beeline for the door. Aether himself knew that he was going to have a lot of explaining to do, and a part of him panicked when he saw a drunk-out-of-his-mind Kaeya sway out of his seat and staggered straight towards them.

"Excuse us, young lady. But where do you think-,"

A wave of electro dispersed itself across the room as she did a lightning-fast turn to fully face the unbalanced Alberich - who merely froze on the spot the moment he saw the sparky glare that she had in her eyes. The silent tension amplified itself while Diluc simply groaned and ran a palm over his face.

Knowing that no one else dared to say anything, she turned on her heels, dragged Aether by the hand and bolted out of the door. Leaving behind a faint race of electro as the door closed shut.

Everyone in the tavern remained frozen with a mixture of confusion, astonishment, and most of all, fear.

It took a while before Kaeya somehow managed to earnestly stammer out, "I… I've never felt so threatened in my life… Ever."

Diluc sighed and looked at him with eyes full of exasperation, while Jean merely sipped her drink and states out.

"Honestly, Kaeya. Out of all of us in this room, you should be the one to know that you shouldn't get in the way of a woman on a mission."

Meanwhile, Aether's brain had been running a mile a minute. Racking itself to come up with the words to say that would give him the highest chance of survivability against the incoming onslaught that is an angry Keqing.

Though for the time being, he'd let her drag him out of the city walls to wherever it is that the she would deem fit as a place to execute him. Which, to his recollection, isn't a long list in her mind. Seeing as she hadn't exactly been one to explore Mondstadt in its entirety.

Of course, he also knew that such a handicap meant nothing to her determination. No matter what her goal may be.

So, when she kept him walking for a good thirty minutes, all the way to the edges of Starsnatch Cliff. He said nothing. No complaints even when she wordlessly utilized her stilettos to teleport them past unwalkable inclinations.

He knew very well that it had been a small form of punishment from her side. Leaving him to time his landings to his own device.

Eventually, they reached the tip of the cliffs. The calm night time sea greeting them with a serenity that only such a place could offer.

But Aether couldn't afford to let himself enjoy it just yet. Opting to maintain his standby pose, in case she decided to finally say something.

Fortunately, it only took a few seconds of silence spent idly standing beside each other before she finally opened her mouth, pointing towards the patch of thick grass beside them.

"Sit down."

And he does as he's told. Many would think that he'd become her new assistant judging by how well he had been obeying her orders.

He kept his vision towards the ocean, providing her with an opportunity to sneak a swift peek at him. Her next command muttered with a bashful timbre.

"…Space."

Ah…

Now it made sense to him.

The moment he left a sizable space between his legs, she immediately situated herself in the gap. Her back leaning on his chest all while she melted into his support. Though she reverted to silence right after, he knew what the remaining steps had been. Relaying his understanding through both of his hands sneaking around her abdomen, gently holding her flush towards him.

When she finally rested her head on one side of his chest, he recognized that he had taken the correct steps.

After their fated Inazuma reunion, to neither of their shock, she had to return to Liyue just a couple of days later. He should've known that the sudden departure from her office would result in a million things in her original schedule crashing onto one another, but little did he know that it would meant excruciatingly limiting the amount of time she had available to spend on her personal relations.

As such, even after a couple of weeks of realizing their newfound relationship, they have yet to have found the time to take a whole night to their selves. Only finding what pocket of time that she had to meet in the teapot or at the Pavilion.

But even that was enough for Aether to discover one thing that he had been secretly delighted about in regards to the lilac.

That is, how much she longs for physical touch.

Who would've thought that the Yuheng had been such a tactile and hug-loving person.

He could only guess that it's just her way of expressing herself. Which is why he understood that the word "space" now holds another form of meaning between the two of them.

She wanted to feel him there with her.

And by no means was he going to deny her that. They were supposed to meet after all. Finally catching up with her ungodly amount of work, they immediately set a date to get some quality time - just between the two of them. But with a sprinkle of bad luck, he just had to get himself roped into some random Knight's gathering.

There are occasions where he wished that he could refuse an offer before it made its way to his ears.

"Don't you have something to say?"

Her voice had been direct. He turned to her, only to find her eyes looking up expectantly. Lacking the sharpness that he had expected it to bear.

"…I'm sorry?"

"That's a good start." She commented, her arms folding in, "But I was looking for a clarification."

"Oh, then…" He thought for a moment, condensing the events of the day in his head before taking a deep breath, "Ran into Amber and Eula while adventuring, was then invited to a Knight's of Favonius gathering. When I found out that they planned to keep me there till midnight, I tried to leave. But, seeing as I can't tell them about us just yet, plus Paimon had already passed out, and Barbara made sure to draw everyone's attention to my very own self, I had no discernible way out."

Yes, due to circumstances that they aren't willing to face on just yet, they had attempted to keep their relationship a secret. Whether or not they had been successful at doing so, remains to be seen.

His explanation did tell her one thing, her realization accompanied by a muffled groan.

"Archons, that means everyone in that tavern will begin speculating about our connection."

He leaned forward, trying to get a better look at her face, "Almost everyone in that bar had been drunk out of their minds. I'm sure it'll all be fine."

That sharp gaze returned to her eyes. Piercing as it is, it forced an unprompted defence mechanism that his brain had concocted on the spot.

"I mean… Your boyfriend loves you?"

Improvised it may be, it definitely had the desired effect.

Her gaze softened. The fondness she had for the man now exposed in full flow.

Boyfriend…

She could get used to calling him that.

Though she couldn't help but sigh in defeat. Knowing that he had found a way to breach through the mask of frustration that she had been trying so hard to maintain.

Even if she was truly frustrated, his explanation only confirmed to her that he had just been his usual self. Unable to say no to a friend no matter the circumstances, having zero intentions of actually standing her up that evening. It's a good thing that they had agreed to meet at Stone Gate, or she would not have been able to get to the city as quickly as she had done.

She leant further into his chest, "Can we just agree to not make it a habit? There's only so much rain check that I can go through these days."

"Deal, it won't happen again." He replied instantly.

The assurance in his gaze is enough for her to leave the issue at that. She could debate it all she wants, but there was no point if all it would lead to was an unnecessary argument.

Feeling the stiffness in her shoulders, he took liberty in massaging them. A soft moan coming out of her once she felt him gently kneading the soreness away, "Another tough week?"

"No thanks to your lovely stunt in Inazuma that is."

Sensing more danger, his hands froze and the impromptus response fired away once more.

"I love you?"

"You know, if that's your response to every little trouble nowadays, then you might find yourself perishing earlier than you would've expected."

"If it's by your hands, then maybe I deserved it."

Him and his words, a deadly combination that her heart has yet to find an effective counter to.

"Whatever…" Noticing that his hands had ceased its movements, she nudged one with the side of her temple, "I didn't tell you to stop."

"Yes Ma'am."

He dutifully continued his massage. She melted back into the touch once more. Wondering how his physique had made it anywhere near possible for him to gently exert such a precise amount of strength that made the soreness of her shoulder melt away in the most heavenly way possible.

Knowing that he had at least been a demigod, she really ought to stop questioning how he's able to do things.

"I finally managed to clear up most of the arrangements that had been piling up on one another." A hiss of pleasure-pain emitted between her words, "Though I can only expect that things would get a whole lot busier from here on out."

"Due to the coming events?"

"Precisely." Keqing affirmed, staring off into the sky, "Not only is Moonchase coming, but Jiangzhou, who is usually in charge of planning the Lantern Rite, had to be transferred to a different department this year due to familial reasons."

"But the Lantern Rite is only a few months away…" Aether mused.

"Which seems to be another predicament coming the Qixing's way." She sighed. Grateful that his massages had prevented the mounting stress from taking a further toll on her body, "If worse comes to worst, the planning would be a split duty between me and Ningguang."

Now, that's something that Aether hadn't been pleased to hear.

"Keqing… I thought we had a deal when it comes to work?"

"I know, I know… But these are dire times!" She reasoned. Laying flush on his chest, his hands now off of her shoulders laying idle at her sides while she sent him a pleading look, "It's such a critical part of the event, I wouldn't want to risk assigning such a duty to someone who might not do it justice."

"That doesn't mean you should be the one to shoulder it." Aether countered, his hold soft yet firm, "I'm sure Ningguang would agree with me. You have enough work as it is."

Normally, she wouldn't think twice about what anyone has to say regarding her workload. But the concern in his voice and how much his words had mattered to her just made her began rethinking her methodologies.

Funny. If he hadn't existed in her life, she would've never known how loving someone could really change you. Maybe it had been something that she sorely needed after all.

"Like I said, it's worst-case scenario." Keqing reminded, hoping to keep his mind at ease, "I'll try my best to delegate the workload to a proper division before the time comes."

His eyes squinted with doubt. But it's progress towards the correct step in his mind. No matter how small of a start it had been, at least he knows that she'd be willing to try for his sake.

So, momentary as the doubt casted had been, he softly nodded in agreement.

"Still, on the topic of Liyue's coming events." Her voice laced with a trace of hopefulness, while her eyes shimmered with anticipation, "Will you be there for both Moonchase and Lantern Rite?"

Aether feigned a thoughtful expression, "Do you want me to be there?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I want you to be there?"

"I don't know." Aether comically shrugged, amused at her astounded reaction, "Haven't gotten an invitation, that's all."

The wide-eyed reaction she had given promptly faded away.

She had forgotten how sneaky the man can be.

"You…." She exhaled at the sight of his theatrics, "Fine…"

Clearing her throat, she displayed her own flair for the occasional dramatism.

"Would you be so kind as to accompany your tiresome girlfriend in the streets of Liyue for both the Moonchase festival and the Lantern Rite celebrations?"

He laughed joyously. The sound of his laughter forever a mood booster for her serotonin levels.

"Haha, well when you put it that way…"

A quick peck on her cheek and the tightening of his hold on her served as a precursor to his response.

"There's no way I can refuse now, can I?"

She giggled, nuzzling the side of his head.

"Then it's a date."

"But what about our whole confidentiality issue?" Aether questioned, knowing she hadn't been quite ready to have their relationship out there just yet, "I wouldn't want you to worry about things that might affect your workflow, especially for such big events."

The way he would find a way to prioritize her wellbeing above all will always be such an endearing aspect of his.

"We'll cross that bridge when it comes to it." She settled into the crook of his neck. Taking in as much of him as she can, "Besides, don't worry about my work. Your comfort is my priority, and that's non-negotiable. Got it?"

"But-,"

"No buts." She placed a finger on her lips, "Got it?"

With the extra emphasis on her words, he saw no need to quarrel.

"Got it." He leant his forehead on hers, "And thank you. I know this probably isn't easy for you…"

"To be honest? Yeah, it's been quite a change."

"Then don't-,"

"But I think it's necessary." She professed, her hand intertwining with his, "I've placed work above people for so long. I think it's about time that I make some space for the people who I want to have by my side, for the rest of my life."

His heart swelled by the ten folds. Yet, he couldn't help but to tease.

"Whoa, we're barely three weeks in, and you're proposing already?" He kept going even at the roll of her eyes, "I know I'm charming and all…"

"Your flattery is misplaced, dear Traveler." She playfully flicked his face away, amusement now on her features, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, hmm?"

As playful as she had been, it would be amiss to say that marriage is not a fickle matter. Especially in a nation such as Liyue, that has tradition sticking to every aspect of the process. It annoyed her to no end that something that was supposed to be sacred to the hearts of two people, have become a political tool for those who are desperate to keep their families in a position of relevant power.

One of the many reasons why she never even had so much as a fleeting regard to the matter.

But the more she spent time with the blonde who is laughing freely by her side, the more she was assured of what her heart had been telling her.

Marriage or not, this is someone who she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

"If it's any consolation, I quite enjoy the change of pace." She admitted. Almost purring to the feeling of his hand now lightly massaging her scalp, "I've finally found a differing train of thoughts that I can deem worthy of spending time wondering about. Something to keep my spirits up in the downtimes of work."

"And those thoughts are?" Aether asked curiously.

She paused before her answer, his hand hitting a particularly nice spot on her head.

"The thoughts of us."

It's true. For once, she can wholeheartedly admit that being able to truly take her mind off of work had been quite a blessing. If she were to be honest, not a single moment of her life had gone by without having the thoughts of her career, lying somewhere in the back of her mind. She could be out with friends, enjoying a nice personal lunch or dinner, or even halfway through falling unconscious for the minimal amount sleep she had been recommended to get; work simply never left her thoughts.

What is on tomorrow's schedule? Has all the work available today been done to meticulous perfection? Regardless of the answer, think of a way where she could improve her efficiency for the coming days, tasks, and events.

Those were the thoughts that lived in her mind. Rooting itself within, uncaring and confident at the premise that it would never be evicted from its untouchable self-proclaimed sanctuary.

That was, until he happened.

From the moment they met, she found new thoughts prodding at the deeply rooted principles of her work. Threatening to usurp the throne of mundane afterthoughts that her career had been the sole ruler of.

Slowly, with every new revelation and hardship that they faced together, brings about a small change to what her idle wanderings had been focused on.

Beforehand, it had been musings that she would merely consider to be a friend who worries about another companion. Specifically, seeing as said companion didn't exactly have a place in the world that they could truly call home.

Is he alright out in the wild? Hopefully there's something that I can do in the future to make him feel more at home. How has his travels been faring recently?

Nowadays, with how close he had been to her heart, she couldn't help but to incorporate herself into being in close proximity of his presence. At least, emotionally that is.

What should we do for the coming weekend?

Maybe I should see if he has some interesting suggestions?

If I finish this section of the documents today, I should have additional time to spare for our meeting tomorrow.

The last thought had been the one to truly strike at her core.

Since when did she prioritize people over her work?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt his head nuzzle the side of her own.

"Thank you, for putting so much thought into this. I'm glad that we're both figuring things out for ourselves." His voice gentle, the vibrations of his vocal cords reverberating through to her own ears, "But, remember that we can always take our time. Just because I'm here, doesn't mean that you should drop everything just to accommodate me."

She wanted to pull her head back, just to get a good look at him. But his hold made it impossible to shift away, "I would rather think of it as a good compromise."

"A good compromise comes from a balance of both sides." He patiently countered, "It's not fair if you're the only one doing all the compromising."

Eventually, she managed to garner some space between their faces. Aether finally acknowledging the look of uncertainty that she had held.

"I was under the impression that you're the one who's been on the tail end of our compromises so far."

There it is.

Aether knew there was something prodding at her mind.

"You mean… The past couple of weeks?"

"I thought I could make it up to you today. That's why I came earlier than our agreed time." Her explanation clear, the voice of logic once again becoming her main source of interpretation, "I felt bad having to watch you leave so early into our meetings recently."

With an ardent smile on his lips, he gently nudged her forehead with his own.

"Don't be." His chuckle tickling her ear, "It's kind of my fault in the first place, remember? My lovely stunt in Inazuma."

Sparing him a pointed look, Keqing audibly sighed.

"That's true... And here I was, beating myself up over it."

When he went silent, she snapped her eyes back towards his own. An inquisitive stare now at the other end of her vision. Searching for an answer from her gaze alone.

"Were you?"

Aether didn't know. He hadn't exactly been paying attention. Every time he departed from their brief meetings; he had only been focusing on leaving quickly. Not wanting to take any more of her time than what was necessary.

He wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but all the little actions that she had done during those times immediately came flooding back to him.

How she had held his hand whenever he had to leave.

How hesitant she had been to inform him that it was time for her next meeting.

The apologetic look he'd receive whenever he took one last look at her.

He had the answers for himself.

"You were, weren't you?"

"Only a little." She answered swiftly and earnestly. If there's one thing she's learned about him so far, is how quick he is to worry, "I just wasn't sure if you were completely fine with how busy I was."

"Like I said, it was my fault anyways. Plus, I knew what I signed up for." Aether reminded her. Holding his neck apologetically, "I'm sorry. I would've said something had I known that you were worried."

"That's not your fault." Keqing said with a shake of her head, "Though it may seem like it sometimes, you're not exactly a mind-reader."

Aether merely hummed at her logic, but the lilac couldn't help but to squint suspiciously at him.

"You're not, aren't you?"

"Oh gods, no." He dismissed it with a chuckle, "I can't think of a faster way to go insane."

"I suppose so. But, outlandish as it may be, it could hypothetically be an incredibly powerful tool." She began brainstorming. Hand on her chin while her voice grew ponderous, "Imagine how fast negotiations would be if you could read people's minds. Forget negotiations… Asking people's opinions, finding out if a process has been done up to its protocol-,"

"Alright, that's it!"

Before she could react, the hold he had on her waist tightened ever so slightly. Pulling her flush to his body as he made a move to lay flat on the ground. A surprised squeak, all that she could muster.

"Enough work talk from you for tonight!"

The moment his fingers propped up to the sides of her waist, her eyes widened in panic.

"Aether, don't you dare-,"

He leaned closer to her ear. Knowing full well that she has no way out.

"Too late, Lady Yuheng."

She felt the last of her complaints fading in her throat.

Before she began thrashing in his arms as an onslaught of furious tickling began attacking her most sensitive sides. A devious nose coming out of him whilst he expended no mercy.

It was a gamble in his mind. He couldn't quite tell if she had been one to succumb to the old tickle assault. Suffice to say, with the outcome now in hand, it would be a gamble that he'd be willing to take over and over again.

Keqing could only flail desperately. Bouts of breathless laughter interspersing her futile pleading, begging for him to stop.

"Ae-Aether! Aha-, It's toO-, HA, ticklish!"

They rolled around for a good few seconds. Aether relishing at the unrestricted laughter the normally composed woman is having, before slowing down his attacks for a brief moment. A question at the ready.

"No more work talk for tonight, do we have a deal?"

Like she said, forget about negotiating.

"I promise, I promise!"

Aether grinned with satisfaction. Stealing another light peck on her cheek.

"Then we are in agreement."

He sneaked in one final tickle that seemed to have disarmed her completely. Chuckling at the adorable squeak she let out from that final touch. Sliding out from underneath her to rest her head on his lap as he returned to a sitting position. Watching with amusement while she attempted to catch her breath.

Her eyes remain closed while she feigned a pout.

"You'll pay for that…" She forced out, still lacking air in her lungs, "An eye for an eye."

"Unfortunately for you…" Aether poked her nose, "I'm not ticklish."

"Whatever. Everyone has a weak point on their body." She patted her sides, hoping that the lingering sensation from his onslaught would leave her body much faster, "With enough time, I'll find yours."

His satisfaction now moving to his laughter. His melodious voice the only thing filling the atmosphere of the cliffs.

When he stopped, he looked back down at her.

Only to find her meeting his gaze. A content smile on her own lips.

"Hey."

He breathed out freely. The warm feeling that she had brought, now enveloping himself.

"Hey."

Her hand held his cheek with a tenderness that he'd come to familiarize her touch with. His own hand mingling with hers once more.

"I love you."

She had said it with her heart. Relishing at how full saying it to him had made her feel.

What else could he say?

"Love you, too." Peppering her hand with a few more kisses, he nudged his head towards a certain direction, "Shall we get something to eat?"

"Where to, though?" Keqing questioned, "It's not that late yet. I'm sure that tavern you were in would still be stacked with the Knights."

Luckily for her, he had quite the list of connections in Mondstadt.

"Not Angel's Share. But I know someone in Springvale who could cook us one heck of a meal. She even went toe-to-toe with Xiangling once." He explained, before another thought entered his musing, "Though I'm sure that Diluc won't mind if we stopped by the Winery to pick up a decent bottle of wine from Adelinde. It's about time I start cashing in on those reimbursements."

Even though she's heard of his stories plenty of times. The network he had built in such a short period of time being in her world, never ceased to impress her.

But then again, this is him she was thinking about.

In her eyes, only the profoundest buffoon would ever reject his friendship.

She chuckled to herself, keeping those thoughts in her mind. Exhaling as she finally recovered full control of her body.

"Well then, shall we get going?"

With a grin on his features, Aether nodded energetically.

"We shall indeed."

"So, I heard from Adelinde that your night had gone rather smoothly?"

Aether went back to Dawn Winery the next day, wanting to thank Diluc for the nice bottle of wine that Adelinde had reserved for him. Only to find the man tending to his own vineyard.

Taking advantage of the rather cool day, they sat out on a table overlooking the rest of the winery's grand farm.

"Yeah. Apart from the slight hiccup at the start, it's safe to say that it had been a great night."

"I see." Diluc smiled. Happy at the fact that blonde finally has someone else by his side, "Well then, I suppose a congratulations is indeed in order. Jean would be delighted to see that she had indeed been correct."

Aether quirked an eyebrow, "She knew?"

"Almost instantaneously, I'd even say. Meanwhile, I found it to be quite early to assume." Diluc chuckled lightly, "It seems that her indulgence in romantic novels has given her an edge on identifying these sorts of relationships from interaction alone."

Humming at his logic, Aether mused on, almost forgetting about the Gunnhildr's secret obsession.

"That being said, allow me to congratulate you once more." This time, Diluc raised his glass alongside his words, "You deserve someone to keep your soul company in your tiresome journey. I hope you both cherish each other."

Gratitude was all Aether could feel, "Thanks a lot, Diluc."

"Should I notify a few others if they asked anything about it?"

Laughing nervously, Aether could only steel himself before answering with a question of his own.

"About that…" Aether's words had been hesitant, "Was Jean… the only one who noticed?"

Diluc barely thought about his answer. Understanding the implications of his question.

"I see… Well, don't worry. No one else noticed." Diluc assured him, recognizing the concerned gaze in his eyes, "Apart from Jean and I, everyone else had been deathly intoxicated. Luckily, Barbara and Venti were rehearsing on the balcony when it all happened, further limiting the number of sober witnesses."

Aether could only sigh in relief.

"Though a rather interesting rumour did appear from their intoxicated memories."

Steeling himself once more, Aether leaned in. Urging Diluc to lower his volume.

"Which is?"

Diluc took a sip of his drink, before leaning in himself.

"Rumour has it that the Traveler had been dragged out of the tavern by his wife…"