"Hey, Paimon?"

The little fairy rubbed her eyes and grumbled as a familiar hand shook her awake. Glancing outside the hotel, she became irritated when she saw it was dark.

"Aether," she mumbled, "what is it now?"

"I was wondering about the girls—"

"Paimon is sure they're fine! Now, go to sleep."

Paimon laid her head back down on the pillow. Beside her, Aether sat upright, lost in his thoughts.

"Paimon? Are you asleep?"

"Yes."

Silence.

Aether asked the question on his mind. "When I do it with Ei, am I doing it with her or the Raiden Shogun?"

Paimon's eyes burst open. Unable to answer, she sat upright and joined Aether in his puzzling. They both remained awake well past sunrise, puzzling out the mystery.

Aether and Paimon watched the little bug buzzing around in the air. It went in circles and loop-de-loops at crazy speeds. Suddenly, Paimon spoke.

"Bugs fly around all crazy. Do you think they ever get sick and throw up?"

"Maybe they do!" said Aether.

Paimon made a sick face, sticking out her tongue while laughing. "Gross! Why would they do that?"

Aether grinned. "Maybe bugs like to throw up!"

"Ew, gross," she snorted. Aether and Paimon went along their way, chuckling. "Paimon tells you, Aether. It's great to have a friend you can have earnest discussions with."

"Hey, Aether?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you rather be stuck in a vampire apocalypse or a zombie apocalypse?"

"Vampire."

"Wrong answer," said Paimon, "Zombies are easier to beat than vampires."

"True," said Aether, "But I'd rather be turned into a vampire than a zombie."

Decked in scrubs, Aether and Paimon bent over the table. He reached out a hand to her.

"Scalpel."

She passed it to him. Sweat sheening his forehead, Aether carefully made the incision. Paimon dabbed a cloth on his forehead. He reached out a hand to her.

"Plyers."

Paimon handed him the forceps. Aether maneuvered everything into its proper place.

"Mayonnaise."

She gave him the jar. He slathered it in, and then he closed up everything. Satisfied, Aether reached down and picked up the perfect sub sandwich they'd been working on. He handed one half to Paimon and took the other for himself.

They took a big bite. Paimon hummed in delight.

"Yummy," she said. "The operation was a success, doctor!"

Aether and Paimon hid behind a rock, peeking over it to watch the Natlan Night Warrior woman Rilai. She played the flute in the clearing, surrounded by green birds and alpacas. She seemed peaceful when she wasn't raining down ice meteors.

"I don't know," whispered Aether. "This seems kind of mean…"

"It's fine. In Natlan, anyone can challenge anyone to a duel. Just go for it."

"But, I'm not sure I want to bother her. Maybe it's not worth it…"

"It's for the Primogems."

Drawing his sword, he stepped out of hiding and charged Rilai.

The Tenebrous Papilla lashed at him and Aether went flying, crashing into the rock wall. Pain shot through his body. Air left his lungs. He slid to the floor in a heap and fell face-first into the dirt. Paimon rushed to his side, shaking him.

"Hey! Aether! You got to get up!"

The Tenebrous Papilla roared, transforming into a Jadeplume Terrorshroom, and barreled at them. Paimon shook him harder. Heart racing, she called his name and pleaded with him.

"Aether! Please! Get up, or we'll die!"

The Terrorshroom pounced. Paimon floated in front of Aether, prepared to use her body to shield her friend. Time seemed to slow down. Aether jumped to his feet, grabbed Paimon and flung her aside. The Terrorshroom came down, and Aether raised his sword. Everything sped up. The monster crashed into him, and both went smashing into the wall.

Paimon's eyes went wide. "Aether!"

The Tenebrous Papilla gurgled. It fell to its side, with Aether's sword wedged into its chest all the way to the crossguard. Aether lay on his back, bruised and chest heaving, but he was alive.

Paimon rushed over to him, teary-eyed, and hugged him.

"Aether! You're okay!" she cried. "How could you make Paimon so scared?! You big jerk!"

"Sorry," he said.

"Don't scare Paimon like that again!"

He hugged her back.

"Hey, Paimon?"

The little fairy sighed. "Aether, it's late. Paimon wants to sleep."

"I know. I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're here."

"Aw, thanks," she said. "Paimon is glad you're here too."

She cuddled up into his chest. In moments, they were both snoring. Suddenly, Paimon woke up, seized by an odd thought.

"Hey, Aether?"

He opened one eye.

"If you married Ei, would that make Wanderer your stepson?"

Neither one got any sleep that night.