The Traveler's Scarf

"Mona, where are you?" Aether called for his astrologist girlfriend, striding through their shared home. "Dinner is ready! I can't guarantee your portion will stay safe from Paimon." He then walked into Mona's work room, which was dark, and moved to remove the window flaps, letting light into the room. "Mona?"

Seated on a work desk, head resting on top, crossed arms, and a thick book was Mondstadt's astrologist.

With a smile, Aether traveled to where Mona slept and carefully removed his scarf from his clothing. Slipping out of it, he carefully draped it around Mona's shoulders. "I'll be right back." He whispered—his astrologist lover didn't stir.

Exiting the room, Aether hummed pleasantly as he reentered the kitchen where Paimon was stuffing herself with Aether's food.

"How's Mona?" She asked before she noticed Aether's missing scarf, "Wait, where's your scarf?"

"Mona's asleep in her room, so she won't be able to join us," Aether explained, making Mona's dinner portion of Satisfying Salad, all while sidestepping the question about his coat. "Don't eat too much, okay, Paimon?" He told his companion.

Paimon let out a weak giggle, scratching her head, "No promises..."

Aether rolled his eyes as he returned to Mona's room, where he found Mona still asleep. Carefully, to not wake her up, he packed up some of the maps and astrology books to make room for the bowls he planned to leave on a second nearby table. Once a suitable space had been cleared, Aether set both bowls down and sat in the available chair in Mona's room.

"Mona, it's time to wake up." He reached up and carefully ran his fingers through her dark purple hair, trying to wake her. The astrologist stirred a little but didn't wake up. "Mona, wake up." He pulled aside the hair from her temple and pressed a kiss there. "Mona!"

Mona stirred a little bit more but still slumbered. Aether sighed, knowing she hadn't slept well. He untangled his fingers from her hair, picked up his salad bowl portion and a book he had recently started and started to eat. After several minutes, Mona began to stir. She blinked sleepily at Aether, who just sat eating, eyes focused on the pages.

"Aether?" She muttered, still not totally awake.

Aether looked up from his book with a smile. "Morning, Sleepyhead. Dinner's over there." He gestured with his fork to her bowl.

"Ah, thank you," Mona yawned, "I suppose my hunger woke me up from my beauty sleep."

"I've been gone all day, Mona. How long have you been in here?" Aether asked.

"Since two, I think." The astrologist stretched, Aether's scarf shifting on her shoulders. Upon sensing the movement of the new item over her, she grabbed onto the scarf and looked down at it with surprise, "Why do I have this?"

"You looked cold, so I took it upon myself to give it to you," Aether said, slightly amused, watching his girl notice the scarf. His gaze then turned to the book Mona was resting her cheek on. "What were you reading, anyway?" Aether tried to slide the book away from her, but Mona didn't allow it, snatching it away upon noticing her boyfriend's hand. "Mona!"

"It's nothing." She firmly planted her forearm on the pages, keeping him from looking.

"I know every book we have here; most are either astrology research or information on Teyvat," Aether explained, "I doubt there's an astrology book you haven't read for the first time at this point, so if you're looking for some pointers on adventuring, all you have to do is ask."

"It's not on adventuring, Aether," Mona said.

"Then let me see," Aether extended his hand.

"No."

"Come on, you never hid stuff from me!" Aether argued, "Unless you're reading about Mora."

"I've told you already that it's nothing for you to worry about," Mona turned from him, "Now please drop it, Aether."

Aether let out a huff of annoyance at his girlfriend's stubbornness. Fed up, he reached for her hat and pulled it over her eyes, blinding her.

"A-Aether! What are you doing!" Mona struggled, resulting in them toppling the stack of nearby books.

The traveler sprawled across the astrologist's chest. Reaching up, he located the book and checked the spine. "Connecting Two Wayward Stars…"

Mona finally freed herself from her hat, sighing, "I didn't want you to see that."

"Does it have something to do with me, Mona?" Aether asked.

"Yes. I was trying to find something about how to help reunite you with your sister." Mona asked, "I thought I could see your shared fate through astrology."

"But you said you couldn't read my fate because I'm not from this world," Aether pointed out.

"I know but...I'd like to believe that anything is possible, so..."

Aether smiled down at her, "Oh, Mona…" He bent down and kissed her. "I appreciate the help, but I don't think my journey can be described by worldly things, let alone astrology. Whatever happens between my sister and me, I'll live with it. If I rely on astrology to see the outcome, I worry I might run from it like a coward, undermining how much Lumine means to me."

"I see..." Mona whispered.

"Besides, I would much rather spend time living here and now, focused on our time together as a future family." Aether smiled, sensing his girlfriend's guilt entering the room. He gave her a long, passionate kiss on the lips.

Mona smiled, her spirits lifting after her boyfriend's reassurance. "Very well, Aether." She blinked a couple of times. "Are you going to let me up now? I am hungry, after all."

The blond traveler chuckled. "If you insist, Master Megistus." He stood up and raised his hand to lift Mona off the floor.

Mona took his hand and joined him after placing his scarf back around his shoulders. "Thank you, my dearest Aether."