Several Months Ago:
He was no stranger to the unexpected, so when Aether woke up at 2 am with a sword trained on his throat and the vengeful champion duelist glaring over him, he stayed calm. Her violet eyes were cold pools of vengeance.
"You, cheating rat," she growled. "How dare you toy with Miss Navia and Lady Furina's feelings while courting other women!"
He glanced between the sword tip and the duelist—well, from his current position on the bed he mostly saw her gigantic boobs. Hopefully, she wouldn't notice he was a little turned on. He sighed.
"Look, I didn't plan for it to come out like this. They all agreed to share me on their own."
"And you didn't choose one of them? Like any sane man would?"
"I couldn't," he said. "I love them all too much."
The sword tip pressed lightly against his throat, with just enough pressure so that the sharp blade lay atop his skin without cutting it. Clorinde's lips curled with disdain.
"Let me tell you what's going to happen. You're going to break off all other relationships except for Navia or Furina. You are going to dedicate your life to the one you choose."
Break off all other relationships? He couldn't imagine his life without Ei, Arlecchino, Yae Miko, Amber, Eula, Noelle, Yoimiya, Jeht, Katarina, Hu Tao, Keqing, Ayaka, Nilou, Shenhe, Ganyu, Mirror Maiden, Dehya, Kokomi, Lisa, Navia, Furina, or any of the other girls. They brought so much joy and love to the Realm Within. Life before them…it had been so lonely, too lonely.
He grabbed her blade directing it down his throat to his chest. Aether held the tip against his heart beating calmly in his chest.
"The only way you're going to stop me from loving them," he said, "is if you kill me."
Without hesitation or fear, Aether directed the blade into his skin. A dollop of blood welled up in a bead and dripped down. Clorinde tried to jerk away the blade, but he held it firm.
He didn't show her any defiance or hatred. No, he understood she valued her friends. This was all done out of love for Navia and Furina. As their friend, Clorinde had every right to look after their wellbeing. If she really couldn't accept this, fine. But a life without love wasn't a life worth living.
He grabbed the blade in both hands and brought it deeper.
"Enough," she barked. "You've made your intentions clear."
She withdrew her blade from his grasp. Using a handkerchief, she cleaned off the thin blade. As an afterthought, she pressed the cloth onto his opened wound.
"I can see you're serious about this, but how long will you manage so many, I wonder?"
"Until I die," he answered. She scoffed. "What can I do to convince you that I'm sincere?"
She paused.
"I challenge you," she said, "to 100 duels. If you can win every single one, I will accept this."
Aether stood up, throwing off the sheets, and stepping on the floor. He opened his mouth to accept her challenge when her cheeks reddened. He was shirtless but that wasn't what caught her attention. No, her eyes trailed down his bare chest, down to his boxers. She stared, slack-jawed, at the bulge.
He ripped off the bedsheets and covered himself.
"Sorry," he said. "It's a physiological reaction."
She didn't speak. He hobbled over to his dresser and put on his clothes. By now, the erection had died down enough that he could face the duelist. He took his sword from its stand, directing the tip at her.
"I accept your challenge," he declared.
Clorinde still blushed. "Um…let's do this someplace we won't be interrupted."
Aether led her outside the Realm to the Fontaine countryside. They followed the dirt road up to the West Slopes of Mont Automnequi. Not once did Clorinde look at him or say a word. No doubt her mind was set firmly on the duel.
"Clorinde," he said, which snapped her from that distracted state. "Come at me like you want to kill me. Don't hold anything back."
They faced off atop the plateau, blades drawn.
An owl hooted. Clorinde's first lunge moved faster than the eye could track. He sidestepped the thrust, but she adjusted course, and her rapier slashed through his shirt. Before he could breathe, she came on him once more.
Aether calmed his thoughts.
Ei stood over him reaching out a hand to help him up. He took it and brushed off the sand from his shorts. He'd been kissing the dirt a lot today.
"You're too fast," he said. "And too strong and experienced."
"My speed is not insurmountable. Try following me, not with your eyes alone, but with your senses. Hear how the air changes when I approach. Feel the wind of my strikes before they land. As for the strength and experience," she smiled, "that is why we practice."
The wind shifted, split by the Electro-enhanced blade, as she came in for a thrust. He stepped forward. He struck diagonally and heard a shrill clang.
Clorinde's blade flew from her hand, falling tip-first into the ground. Silence. She raised her hands in surrender. The undefeated duelist had been defeated.
One down. Ninety-nine to go.
"Pick it up," he said.
Clorinde did. They began once again.
Her blinding speed put her behind him. The sword ripped through his shirt. She came in again. Afterimages blurred across the plateau. She unleashed a series of feints intermingled with attacks. It was like fighting a thousand warriors at once.
"It's your win again," he said to the divine priestess. He and Kokomi shuffled their Genius Invocation decks for another round.
"I guess it's no surprise," he grinned, "you did win the Inazuma championship. Still, normally the freeze team feels unbeatable."
"Nothing's unbeatable. Not really. The trick is making sure you set the pace of the battle, playing in a way that minimizes your opponent's advantages."
To demonstrate her point, she used Barbara's elemental skill. When the turn ended, the Hydro healing negated the Cryo application.
Aether raised his fist and slammed it onto the ground. Geo spikes burst up around him. Clorinde came in but had to switch course to avoid the spikes. Veering left, she angled away where he wanted her to go. He struck, knocking her down. She stared up at him in amazement.
They faced off once again.
On and on went the night. Drawing on everything his girls taught him, he somehow kept up with Clorinde. Chevreuse showed him how muskets worked, which helped him dodge every bullet. Clorinde attacked like a raging storm, but he'd weathered worse storms sailing with Beidou. Racing Amber gave him superb stamina, and sparring with the superhuman Noelle made all Clorinde's attacks feel like bug bites.
At the fifty-sixth duel, his mind began wandering. His mental strength had been stretched to its limit. But then he remembered Jean, Keqing, Layla, Ganyu, and Furina. Drawing on their example, he persevered.
By match eighty-six, his shirt had been torn to ribbons. The once resplendent garbs of his homeland were in tatters. No matter. Chiori taught him sewing, so he could fix this. He tossed aside his top. Clorinde stared at his bare chest coated with sweat.
She too had her clothes torn in several places. Most noticeably, her top had several buttons missing, so it peeled open, revealing the swell of her bare chest. The sight got him more than a little excited. She was so beautiful, and he didn't want to hurt her anymore. No, he chided himself, like Peruere said: Sorrow causes you to waver.
Steeling his heart, he charged for another duel. Keqing and Ayaka's swords moved alongside his own. Eula, Yun Jin, and Nilou's graceful steps guided him between every thrust and slash. A lucky feint almost got him but Yae Miko's wiles had prepared him for such deception. Their smiling faces gave him the strength to endure.
The ninety-ninth match ended with Clorinde on her knees. Her hands shook when she tried grasping the sword hilt. Her legs would not move. She couldn't raise her arm above her shoulder.
"I accept defeat," she said. Closing her eyes, she offered him her throat. When he didn't make a move, she scowled.
"Are you not going to kill me?" she asked, "As the victor, you have the right to my life."
"I don't want your life."
"I could've killed you earlier."
"You wouldn't," he said. "Anyways, you're not my enemy. You only challenged me to this fight because you were just looking out for your friends."
He stepped forward and offered his hand.
"I cannot stand," she said.
Without wasting a second, he scooped her into his arms. Her face, red and blushing, hung only inches from his, and he saw how beautiful she was. Clorinde broke eye contact.
"Um…I'm rather sweaty."
"I have a place where you can bathe," he said. "Would you like to come?"
She nodded. Aether returned to the Realm Within, heading around the back island to the hot springs. Carrying her through the fence, Aether showed her the amenities—shampoo, body soap, bath salts, and everything else she'd need.
"I lack strength in my muscles," she said. "Would you help me undress?"
His hard-on sprung forth again. Just the thought of Clorinde naked excited him to his core. No, stop it, he chided himself. This is Navia and Furina's friend. Now's not the time to be a pervert.
With all the politeness he could manage, Aether lay her on a bench. He unbuttoned her top. Magnificent boobs entrapped in a sports bra popped out. Ignoring them, he unbuttoned further down and removed the shirt.
Clorinde had chiseled abbs that glistened with sweat. Her impressive six-pack loomed before him. He couldn't help admiring them, especially with all her scars and bruises. Her little belly button was super cute.
"You're staring," she noted.
"Sorry," he said, hastily moving to take off her boots and pants.
"It's fine," she said, "I am curious though. You spent much more time staring at my abbs than my breasts. Are you what they call a… 'belly man?'"
He pulled down her leggings with a laugh. "I like all body parts. It's just you're really in great shape. Those abs are a testament to how hard you've trained. I think that's impressive."
"I-I see. Thank you."
Once she was down in her panties and bra, he carried her into the hot springs. He planted her down on the rim. She settled down into the warm waters with a catlike purr that he found so adorable. Aether dumped some medicinal bath salts into the pool and her smile only broadened. Seeing her smile so openly like this proved even more arousing to him.
He pushed a basket containing soap and body wash towards her and started away when she called, "Wait! I could use some help bathing. Please."
Curses. He couldn't refuse a beautiful woman. Removing his tattered clothes, Aether stepped down beside her. The medicinal waters seeped into his sores and aches. A content sigh escaped his lips, which made Clorinde snicker.
She offered no resistance as he positioned her between his legs and lathered up her hair. Then, he sponged off all the sweat and dirt that he could. Clorinde lay back, resting her head against his bare chest. The action excited him, which made him feel guilty. Nice as it was, he couldn't let this go on.
"You're too close," he said.
"I can't move. I'm exhausted."
"I don't think that's why you can't move."
"And what if it isn't?"
"Clorinde," he said in a stern voice. "The girls were so generous when they agreed to share me. I won't cheat on them."
With a sigh, she moved away from him. Disappointment painted her face. Although he didn't like making her sad, he knew this was for the best. He got to washing himself down when Clorinde came up behind him. Before he could object, she lathered shampoo into his hair.
"I promise not to make any advances," she said. "Please, let me do this."
True to her word, she kept the bathing strictly professional. Not that it made him any less aroused. Having her touch all over his body was just too exciting. Clorinde sat practically naked only a few inches away. He wanted her so badly it hurt. But no, he wouldn't.
Finished, they rinsed off the soap suds. Then, they settled down on opposite sides of the tub. Clorinde hugged her legs to her chest.
"I can see why they love you," she said. "They're lucky."
"Yeah."
"So, I lost again," she said. He eyed her confusedly. "I couldn't seduce you."
"Was this test?"
"Apologies," she said.
Her sad eyes glazed across the bubbling pool. Beneath the moonlight, she had this ethereal glow to her face. It captivated him. He realized right then he always loved her. This strong, caring woman who had tested him so thoroughly for the sake of her friends had a beautiful soul.
"Clorinde," he said. "As the victor, can I make a request?"
"You are entitled to whatever redress of grievance you desire."
"Then…be my girlfriend."
She started, looking up at him in shock. Her head started to shake. The "no, I can't" was all too clear on her lips. He swam over. Clasping her hands in his, he fixed her in his gaze.
"I want to be with you," he said. "And I think you want me too. So please."
"I…I've never had a boyfriend."
"A while ago, I never had a girlfriend."
"I'm a warrior, not a lady."
"You're a woman and a warrior. I love both sides of you."
"You…"
Her excuses all dried up. He held her shoulders forcing her to meet his gaze.
"If you don't want me, then say so. But if there's even a small part of all that flirting that was genuine, don't say no."
"I can't," she said. His heart broke. He'd been rejected. He withdrew his arms when she reached out and grabbed his wrists. A smile formed on her lips. "I can't say no. I accept."
He grinned.
"Then, there's one more step."
Navia was surprised when Tubby entered the Congressional meeting alongside a violet-haired beauty wearing an elegant dress. They crossed the threshold towards the podium. As they drew near, the beautiful woman shot Navia a grin.
Oh, my Gods, that's Clorinde.
Shaken by the revelation, Navia's jaw dropped.
Tubby assumed the podium and spoke.
"Hello, everyone," she said. "I'd like to introduce our newest member. Please introduce yourself."
"Greetings. I am Clorinde, a Champion Duelist of the Court of Fontaine. I pray that we will all get along."
Clorinde went around and personally met with every girl present. From her seat, Navia let out an amused chuckle. Unexpected as this was, it made her oddly glad to see her best friend present. Oh that Aether sure got around.
Beside her, Chiori stifled a yawn.
"My," said Navia, "you seem tired."
"I didn't sleep much last night," she explained. "I had to do a rush order. Aether's clothes got torn up."
"Is he alright?" she asked. Chiori nodded. "Did he say how it happened?"
"No," Chiori replied. "But I have my guesses."
"Care to share?"
"When I get back," said Chiori, "my first job is mending her clothes."
The seamstress nodded her chin across the chamber where Clorinde now shook hands with the Raiden Ei.