Ice and Gold
"I keep telling you, no! No matter what you say, I will not be returning to the Knights of Favonius! Now, leave us be!"
With a loud bang, Eula slammed the door shut in front of the nosy knight, leaving him startled and despondent at her earnest rejection. As he turned around and headed back to a nearby inn, he pondered of other ways of convincing the ex-Captain of the Reconnaissance Company. With countless other ideas now planned, his mind turned determined and unfazed, most likely asking the Spindrift Knight again some other day.
In Eula's mind, however, no amount of begging or pleading will ever convince her to return.
She sat down on the soft cushions of the couch in the living room. With a sigh, she grabbed the cup of wine she was drinking casually just moments ago and downed it all in one go.
She heard the most pleasant laughter from behind her. "Him again?"
She shook her head. She placed a hand on her forehead, feeling a migraine almost come through. "Yes, unfortunately. They never know when to quit."
Another chuckle. Eula snuggled even deeper into the comfortable sofa as she turned around to face him. "Is Paimon asleep already?"
"All snug and warm in her room. Heavy sleeper, that girl is." Aether sat down right next to her, grabbing the bottle of wine as he did so. "About that guy… I'll make sure to keep him at bay next time. He's… certainly been adamant recently."
Eula smiled. Even if she could handle the stubborn knights on her own, she couldn't help but feel a tiny bit more happy at his words. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that a lot." Eula blinked. She had just realized what was in her partner's hands. "You're… drinking?"
"Is it odd?" Aether gave her a toothy grin as he poured himself a cup. He wasted no time and poured Eula one as well, earning a quiet 'thank you' from the usually unabashed girl.
"No, not exactly. Just that… you don't drink frequently." Eula recounted the number of times she saw the Traveler drink. She could probably count it on one hand. It's not as though he disliked the taste of alcohol - Eula recalled him telling her - but rather that he simply didn't see the need for it. He preferred to stay on his toes at all times, and frankly, he much preferred the taste of juice and other similar drinks.
Aether only saved drinking alcohol for rare situations, such as celebrations, commemorations or parties.
"Special occasion. For you." He held the glass high for her to see.
Eula blushed. She could only hope that her features were obscured by the dimly lit living room. She sank further into her seat, almost looking comical as she shied away from his amused gaze. "It's not a big deal…"
His hand slipped into hers. Her scarlet face deepened in color. Slowly, she turned and faced him again. His eyes were nothing but serious - any semblance of amusement all but gone now. "But it is. What you've done… It's life-changing." His hands joined together, holding hers in his grasp. Firm, but gentle. "You've turned your whole world around in one week. Your work, your companions…"
Aether's countenance turned strained. His eyebrows scrunched up as he bit his lip.
…Eula didn't like seeing such a sad expression on him.
"Are you sure you're fine with this?" He pursed his lips, "...With me?"
The blue-haired knight's hands dug into the sofa's cushions intensely.
…
Please don't doubt yourself.
I… hate it when you do that.
Eula shook her head, more vigorously than she intended to. A little frustration leaked out of her voice as she spoke, "Have you already forgotten? I told you, you know." She swirled the wine in her cup with one hand, watching its contents move around before placing a stern look on Aether once more. "I abandoned the Order because I wanted to. I'm going to be with you, and that's that. No one else's opinion matters but yours." She said, completely and utterly stoic in spite of what one can easily deem as flustering words.
In truth, she was holding back all the embarrassment in the world, as her ears turned the slightest dash scarlet.
Aether blinked. She had already said all this previously, but hearing her brazen confession all over again simply cemented it further into the recesses of his mind.
As expected, Aether's face turned pink from Eula's words. He laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek in the process. "I-I see." He cleared his throat, "...Sorry if I'm an idiot. I, heh, can't help it sometimes."
Eula smirked, "I know."
Aether grinned. He took his own swig of wine, his lips pursing from the bitter taste. Definitely not used to this, he thought. Unbeknownst to him, Eula chuckled at the sight.
Aether's expression morphed into something akin to melancholy as he placed his glass back down. "It's just that… this is kind of unreal. Y-You, being here, I mean. Feels like a dream, or something…"
Immediately seeing the opportunity, Eula went for the attack and pinched him in his arm, earning a yelp from the Traveler. He looked at her wide-eyed, before Eula shook her head. "Well, you better wake up. Because this is reality. And we'll be together for the rest of our days, got it?"
Aether blushed. "W-Well… when you put it like that…" He gulped, before a shy grin took over his lips, "Got it, ma'am."
Eula blinked, momentarily confused as she stared at the man with an arched brow. The gears in her mind turned; the earnest and frankly bold nature of her words had then dawned on her, as she also started to sport a healthy red glow.
They stared at each other for what felt like a minute or two. Aether's upturned lips turned more amused by the second, losing all forms of bashfulness he had just moments ago. Before long and he started chuckling, earning a smile from the former knight. She started giggling as well, not sure what exactly was so funny.
It was just nice for her to laugh with the one she cherished.
As their laughter died down, Aether chugged another drink of red wine down his throat, almost starting to enjoy the sensation of the warm liquid coursing through his body. Eula did the same, albeit with a more subdued reaction compared to Aether's. The serious air of their conversation was replaced by a more amicable atmosphere, as they chatted and laughed over past events under a growing feeling of tipsiness. A healthy, visible flush was now evident on both of their features. Despite Eula - and surprisingly enough to the ex-knight, Aether's - alcoholic tolerance, it seemed they were both getting a bit too carried away for the night.
Their conversation had turned into a retelling of a recent trip they took - with Amber and Paimon accompanying them. For once, they let Amber on the stove, not knowing that she was particularly distracted by a few Crystalflies flying past them whilst she cooked the group a few steaks. Eula giggled, unconsciously leaning her weight onto Aether as she recalled. "Heh… I remember that. I had no idea how burnt the steak Amber made was until I bit into it!" Her mood was at an all time high, partially influenced by the alcohol. The other influence being the Traveler she was with right now.
Aether flinched from the sudden contact, but welcomed it as soon as he saw the bright beam Eula was giving him.
Archons, I could just melt into a puddle right now… Aether thought.
"Y-Yeah. You two's reactions were pretty funny, gotta admit." Aether chuckled, despite the redness in his face. He was managing to push through the soothing scent of his partner's hair, against all odds.
She smells like dandelions… Aether's mind went haywire, dizzy from the heat rising to his head.
Eula only now noticed their proximity. Her eyes widened, as her face colored a deeper shade of red, even more so while under the effects of the alcohol. Yet, despite it all, she persevered through the butterflies in her stomach and scooted even closer to the Traveler.
She was leaning into him with almost her full weight now. Her head was on the crook of his neck, as her back laid flat on the Honorary Knight's chest. Aether felt his entire body be enveloped by the Spindrift Knight's warmth. He even felt a tinge of her icy aura, sending shivers down his spine.
Eula arched her head to look at him, leaning deeper into his neck. She gave him a warm, sugary smile.
Aether's entire face burned brighter than even the sun.
Looking to find a way to rid the bright flush on his face, he suddenly remembered something she wanted to show Eula. He shifted in his seat, momentarily separating from Eula as he grabbed an item from beneath the table next to them. Eula pouted, disappointed at the abrupt disappearance of Aether's warmth.
Aether shook what looked to be a box from underneath the table, "I, uh, got something to show you."
Curious, Eula's gaze was drawn to the conspicuous package that was in one of Aether's hands. "What is it?"
"Heh, well…" Aether flicked the latch of the box open, revealing the contents within to Eula. "To be more precise, I got something for you."
White foam covered the surface of the box's insides, protecting the centerpiece from any sort of damage. In the middle was a pendant. Intricate, and obviously hand-crafted. Its chain was silver in color, leading all the way to a brilliant sky blue gemstone at the end as the pendant. The gem was surrounded by embellishments of a subdued, yet still bright hue of gold.
Gold and blue.
Their colors.
Mesmerized, Eula took the pendant in her hands. Her fingers brushed past the silver chain, lingering on the gemstone and its embellishments. Her eyes were glued to the magnificent gift.
"I hope it isn't cheesy or anything, heh…" Aether looked at Eula earnestly, nervous as he watched her reaction. He truly hoped Eula liked it. "Sorry, I know this isn't the best quality metal. Smithies had a hard time with this, but…" He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "I just wanted something for you. To, well… commemorate you joining us."
Little did he know, she didn't like it - no, she loved it.
She adored it.
"If you give me something like this… I might just get the wrong idea, you know…" Eula put it on herself, as a small smile graced her face.
Aether's breath hitched. He gulped, feeling the air turn ten degrees hotter. Damn that smile…
Beautiful.
"Beautiful."
"...You think so?" Eula smiled. It was a small smile, but her eyes hinted at a much greater joy behind them. "It's amazing. Thank you."
"O-Of course." He coughed. "And n-no problem." He cursed himself internally for his constant stuttering. He didn't mean to say that compliment out loud. But it was the truth, so even if he could turn back time to avoid that slip of the tongue, he wouldn't.
Aether turned, shifting back to their former position. Her back to his chest. Her head to his neck. Their warmth, shared.
Suddenly, he felt especially bold. He did something he'd never usually do. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, or perhaps it was the alcohol getting to him. Whatever it was, he didn't care. His hands moved slowly, and surely… they placed themselves in front of Eula, enveloping her in a warm hug.
Eula yelped at the sudden action. Now, it was his turn to rest his head on her shoulders. Aether spoke in a hushed tone, "You said it yourself, right?"
A small smile on his lips.
Charming.
Handsome.
She always liked his smiles. They were practically a battery for her energy in everyday life at this point.
She whispered back, "W-What did I say…?"
His smile turned into a grin. "That you'd rather live the rest of your life with me, than return." Eula blushed an immense scarlet, as her eyes locked onto Aether's own orbs. Her lips trembled. She was far too flustered, rendered almost incapable to speak.
Her embarrassment was outstanding. She managed to keep a steady gaze on him, despite the redness of her face, with no help from Aether's stark reminder of her words. "You're being quite cheeky, using my own words against me… W-Why bring it up now…?"
Aether laughed. He placed a gentle touch on her cheek. "...Well, because I feel the same way for you. I wouldn't trade this for anything else."
"So go ahead…" He whispered into her ear, sending giddy shivers reverberating through her entire body. "...Have as many wrong ideas as you want."
She turned around, placing a warm, loving gaze on the man who changed her world. A smile formed on her lips. Subtle, yet all the more noticeable and charming. Slowly, she closed the distance between them.
As her lips claimed his.
It lasted for only a short moment.
Yet, despite its brevity, they put their all into it. Their feelings for each other, made abundantly clear.
They withdrew from one another soon after, simply staring into each other's eyes. Heterochromatic orbs meeting golden ones. Eula exhaled, face red-hot from their exchange. She smiled. Frankly, her cheeks hurt from how much she smiled today. She never usually smiled this much.
Only in front of him.
"That was…" She giggled, "Really cheesy."
Aether blinked. "Really?" He snickered, shaking his head as he thought back on his audacious plan of attack. "I figured. Heh, I gotta work on that, then."
Eula captured him in another hug, burying herself deep into his chest. "It was cheesy, but… it was perfectly you." She looked upwards, meeting his gaze once more. She held her lover's cheeks in her palms, intent on closing the distance once more. "I'll hold you to it, okay?"
A chaste, quick kiss. Aether grinned like an idiot.
Eula smiled back, before a yawn took over her. Aether's eyes searched for the clock hung at the corner of the room. 23:30. "It's pretty late. I guess we should hit the hay." Aether stood up, grouping the bottle of wine and cups together. He figured he could fix it in the morning, as both he and Eula were too tired - and perhaps too intoxicated - to do any sort of cleaning for the night.
Eula hummed, "A good night's rest is necessary for our travels tomorrow. Though, I can't help but feel a little disappointed at the night ending so soon…"
Aether beamed, finding her honesty incredibly endearing. An idea popped up in his head, and with a snap of his fingers he told his suggestions to Eula. "What say I take you on a date tomorrow? Let's see the sights of Mondstadt one last time before we depart. How's that sound?"
Her eyes visibly lit up at the idea. "That sounds lovely. You better keep your word, or I'll strike you down, okay?"
The blond laughed, drawing an X on his chest as he did so. "Cross my heart. Now come on, let's get to bed."
Eula, however, didn't budge. She remained seated on the couch, leveling a pointed look towards Aether.
She puffed up her cheeks, as she stretched her arms out towards the Traveler. "I'm drunk. Carry me." Sure enough, that healthy red glow on her face hadn't dissipated just yet.
Aether raised a brow, equal parts flabbergasted and amused at his lover's actions.
Eula smirked, "Or else."
Aether sighed, before laughing right after. "Alright, alright." He approached Eula, and with a gentle hold picked her up in a princess carry. Eula quickly took to snuggling up into Aether's chest, almost dozing off right then and there.
Aether huffed out a quiet laugh, making sure it didn't disturb the sleeping beauty in his arms. "Come on, you can sleep in our bedroom. Don't nod off just yet, we're almost there."
"...Okay." She mumbled.
As he began his ascent up the staircase of their temporary home, he glanced at the almost sleeping form of Eula. Her eyelids started drooping, before she opened them again in an attempt to stay awake. Her flushed face looked ethereal - vibrant despite the dim lighting in their house. Unknowingly, his brief glance turned into a captivated gaze, as he couldn't muster the strength to look away from the beauty that was Eula Lawrence.
"Heh. You're really cute like this." Eula's eyes widened. Aether could've sworn her face turned a darker shade of red, though if it were from the effects of the alcohol or something else, he couldn't tell. "...Well, you're pretty cute in general, too."
Eula buried herself deeper. A quiet murmur echoed into Aether's chest, "...Shut up and carry me, you womanizer, or else I'll take—"
"—Vengeance on me for the numerous transgressions I've caused. I've got it." He gave a half-suppressed laugh. "Roger, roger. Will do."
"Hmph."
They arrived at the apex of the stairs. They passed by Paimon's room. If one focused hard enough, they could probably hear Paimon's soft snoring from inside. With enough effort, Aether managed to open the door to their bedroom without letting go of Eula. He might need to practice this a bit more, considering Eula was joining them in their adventures now. Only the gods above can know how common of an occurrence this will be in the future.
It still felt surreal to him.
But just the fact that he was now joined by the one he cherished sent his mind bursting with happiness.
He couldn't wait for the day he could introduce her to Lumine.
He laid Eula down on the bed first, taking off her boots and covering her with the thick blanket. She was already fast asleep, a small smile gracing her mouth as she relished in the warmth of the soft, springy bed. Aether went to the other side, taking off his own pair of shoes before joining Eula under the comfort of the blanket. He snuggled closer to her, brushing a stray strand of hair on her face before planting a small kiss on her forehead.
"Good night, Eula."
As though hearing him despite her deep sleep, she snuggled closer to Aether as she laid her head against his chest once more. "...mmm… love you…" She mumbled, surprising Aether.
The Honorary Knight blinked, stunned once again at her earnestness, even in her sleep. He smiled, wrapping a hand on the back of her head, essentially cuddling her against him.
"...I love you too." He placed one more kiss on her forehead, making the ex-knight giggle in her sleep.
"Sweet dreams, dear."
He dozed off soon after, dreaming of what was to come for him, Paimon and his new companion in their adventures.
One door closed for her, as another opened.
As they slept soundly under the safety of their own home, both adorned the most subtle of smiles - yet despite how small they appear, their warmth was as clear and evident to anyone who had the chance to see it.
Suffice to say, Aether's days will be a lot more livelier with her around now.
Thank you, Eula.
For choosing to stay by my side.
I hope your dreams will be as pleasant as mine.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
I was particularly inspired to write this after re-reading through the manga Banished from the Hero's Party in order to catch up to its latest chapters. It's a very cute manga! Which reminds me that it has an anime. Might get around to watching that!
I wanted to take a break from all the stuff I've been doing, including a chapter update to one of my other fics. Had this idea suddenly spring up from my mind. Dunno yet if I'll add more chapters or not, but regardless if I do or not I hope you enjoyed.
