Mualani got regular invites from the UHA to afternoon tea. As the newest member and the first from Natlan, everyone had questions for her. Today, Charlotte asked, "How'd you fall in love with Aether exactly?"
A good question. Love kind of snuck up on her when she wasn't looking. But she could narrow it down to a few things.
"Aether entrusted his life to me," said Mualani. "He's always so good to Kachina and he fights so hard for Natlan."
"So, that's how you fell for him," said Lisa with amusement.
"I guess so," said Mualani. "You know about me, but how did the rest of you fall in love with Aether?"
"For me," said Nilou, "it was love at first sight."
Barbara, Cryo Cincin Mage, Hu Tao, Mirror Maiden, and Lisa all nodded enthusiastically.
"I always liked him," said Lisa. "So brave and thoughtful."
"It wasn't quite first sight for me," said Amber. "We did so many missions together that I came to count on him for everything."
"Ah, so you're 'friends to lovers,'" chuckled Lisa, which made Amber redden. The outrider scratched the back of her head.
Fischl said, "He assisted me in confronting a shade of myself during our summer voyage."
"He welcomed me home," said Faruzan.
Collei blushed. "Well, Amber wrote so much about him I kind of got a crush on him from the letters."
Yanfei pursed her lip. "Maybe it was me overthinking things."
"What do you mean?" asked Xiangling.
"W-well, once we met up by chance and he told me, 'Huh, didn't expect to see you here.' His choice of words fascinated me. 'Didn't expect to meet you here' implied that he at least thought about a scenario in which we'd meet. If he used 'didn't expect,' then it seemed reasonable that Aether expected I'd be somewhere else. But whence came that expectation? Had Aether always been paying attention to me in secret? Did that mean he…?"
Everyone stared. Yanfei sipped her tea, which proved deafening in the stony silence.
"Huh," said Shinobu. "Well, I liked his resumé."
Noelle said, "He taught me a lot about love and swordsmanship. With him by my side, I know that one day I'll join the Knights."
"Yes," said Jean, "He truly has a knightly spirit."
"And a noble soul," added Candace.
Ganyu twirled a blue bang. "Oh. I always liked him, but I guess I really fell in love with him when we…" She paused, went bright red, and cleared her throat. "When we had our first date. He was very polite and kind."
Mona, who could discern the truth with her astrology, coughed. If anyone else saw that gardening date like she had, they'd know Ganyu's attraction had less to do with his politeness and more to do with the sex.
Everyone glanced at the astrologist who quickly masked her expression.
"I'm not sure when it happened. The more we saw each other, I suppose, the more I fell for him. What about you, Rosaria?"
"I've always been a bit of an outsider. He and I just…connected, I guess."
"I know what you mean," said Dehya. "We fought side by side so much, it feels like we're joined at the hip."
"Hmph," said Eula tossing back her hair. "I'm not in love with him. He fell for me first."
Everyone nodded indulgently.
"One thought him a scoundrel at first," said Xianyun. "However, One witnessed his good heart when he assisted an old disciple, expecting nothing in return. Such a kind spirit is a rarity in this age."
Yoimiya nodded. "I always liked him. I fell for him when we went to Sumeru searching for a meteor shower." She sighed dreamily, remembering that wonderful night.
Ayaka studied her reflection in the teacup.
"As a Kamisato Heiress, I had few friends growing up. Aether changed that. He lent me his shoulder whenever I had troubles and helped me experience so many new things. We had so many wonderful times together: the Inazuma Festival, the Warrior's Spirit Event, the Furina Film Festival…Now, when I consider my 'home,' my mind thinks of him."
Ayaka dabbed a napkin to her lips, which helped hide her blushing smile.
"We dig the same music. Some folks think my rock's too much, but he always liked it."
"He's something of a muse for my operas," said Yun Jin. "It's nice having someone who sees me for me, rather than a celebrity."
"We both like cooking," grinned Xiangling.
"He helps me with my experiments," said Sucrose.
"And my studies," added Layla.
"Thanks to him," said Kokomi, "we repealed the Sakoku Decree. That made me admire him. The more we saw each other, the more I looked forward to seeing him again."
Emilie grew thoughtful. "I heard about him before we met. He lived up to his reputation. I fell for him after we solved a murder mystery."
"You too?" beamed Navia. "What a coincidence."
"Um… same here," said Chevreuse.
"Huh," Beidou mused. "Anybody else who fell for him after solving a mystery?"
Lynette sneezed. Then Yelan and Yae Miko sneezed. Just when they thought the sneezing was over, a sneeze came from Charlotte and Kirara. They dabbed handkerchiefs to their noses. Hu Tao belched.
"Excuse me," she said.
"We went through so much together," said Jeht. "I feel like he knows me better than anyone else."
"I feel the same," Shenhe said. "He helped me find my place in Liyue. I owe him everything."
"He helped me save my shop," said Chiori. "My life's work."
Furina smiled wanly. "He's been there for me, in a way that no one else ever has."
Ei chuckled. "He took me on a date and showed me the new Inazuma. I think… I fell for him soon after, but I didn't realize it."
"So, when did you know?" asked Mualani.
"When I dueled the Raiden Shogun for 500 years. Through all that time, thinking of him kept my resolve strong. I wanted to see him once more."
Katarina blushed as the conversation turned to her. "Oh…um…when he rescued me in the Chasm. He told me my life matters. It touched me, you know?"
"We dueled," said Clorinde. "Mutual respect blossomed into affection."
Not far off, Navia smirked in an almost knowing way.
"I like that he isn't steeped in tradition like everyone else," said Keqing. "If he has an opinion, he acts on it. That's what pulled me to him. He feels like someone I could call my equal."
"It doesn't hurt that he saved our nation twice," said Ningguang.
"Or that he's good-looking," added Beidou.
"His naked body is most appealing," said Shenhe.
Xianyun pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Her disciple could be so socially constipated sometimes.
"No arguments here," said Mirror Maiden with a dreamy sigh. "What about you, 'Father?'"
Arlecchino crossed her legs at the knee. "Don't get the wrong idea. Being in this organization benefits the House of the Hearth. But I respected his efforts defending Lyney and Lynette in court, in saving Fontaine from the prophecy, and dueling me."
Yae Miko chuckled. "I don't know who you think you're fooling, Perry. We were all there at the talent show. 'Aether showed me that even I, someone trained to keep herself detached, could open my heart to love.'"
Mualani watched in amazement as Arlecchino, a Fatui Harbinger and one of the most powerful women in Teyvat, averted her gaze from Miko. Wow, that Miko had guts to tease the Knave. She made a mental note to stay on Yae Miko's good side. Might as well warn Mauvika, Xilonen, and Citali too.
Arlecchino surrendered a sigh. "Fine. I concede to that. What of you, Miko?"
"Me? He's just too fun to tease. Watching him get all flustered is just the cutest thing," she said with a giggle. "I only realized how deeply I cared for him when there came a threat that someone else might take him. And I do so hate losing my favorite toys."
She talked tough, but Mualani could tell Yae Miko really liked him. Not that she blamed her. Aether was a phenomenon. Mualani finished up her tea.
"Well, I'm sure he'll be glad to know you're all thinking about him! He's always thinking about you."
"Make sure he knows he can always come here if he needs a break," said Keqing. "We'll be waiting."