𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 ✦ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁

𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

And another from when her and Bennett climbed a tree and caused it to fall.

It was dark as y/n was finishing up and preparing to check on the food but Aether asked, "What about the ones on your forearms and the one on your neck?"

Y/n briefly panicked, 'I thought I covered them up! Did I forget to?'

"Hm... Paimon thinks y/n looks a little reluctant to talk about those particular scars." Paimon pointed out.

Aether's brows furrowed, "Oh, I'm sorry."

"No need!" y/n laughed with a nervous smile, "Every scar has a story! Some are just better to be left untold."

There was an awkward silence as y/n turned back to the campfire.

She whipped back around with three bowls of soup, e/c eyes bright.

"Now! Let us eat!"

After eating, the trio settled down to go to sleep in their own respective tents.

Paimon's tent was too small for her liking so she shared one with y/n, sleeping in the warm fatui cloak y/n had discarded for her original one.

Aether had gotten up at some point during the evening to use the bathroom but noticed y/n was no longer in her tent.

'That's... odd.'

Y/n wasn't one to get up in the middle of the night. He knew that since he'd camped out with her several times before. She typically slept like a rock.

Aether wandered until he found the girl, sitting at the edge of the hill. She was staring down at the harbor below, seemingly deep in thought.

Aether hadn't even taken a step when she spoke, "Did I wake you up?"

'Right, she has sharp senses-'

"Oh, no! I woke up on my own." Aether assured the girl, walking over to sit beside her, "What are you doing up?"

Y/n glanced at him then muttered, "Could not sleep. That is all."

Aether could tell something else was up. Y/n was rubbing her forearms as if she was trying to comfort herself and she was unusually quiet.

"Is it about the scars on your arms?" Aether asked after a moment and the girl nodded.

"Yeah... sorry about that..."

"It is fine. It just brought back unpleasant memories. That is all." y/n admitted, "Do you want to know where they came from?"

"Well, yeah. But you don't have to tell me if you aren't comfortable with it-" Aether began hesitantly.

"It was the first time I failed to protect someone I loved." y/n murmured, "He was like a father to me I guess. It hit us all pretty hard when he died. Diluc, Kaeya and I."

It took a moment for Aether to remember that y/n indeed had grown up with Diluc and Kaeya, explaining why she knew their father.

"What exactly happened?" Aether asked.

"Well, I did something stupid. That is my simplest explanation!" y/n laughed though it was forced, "In reality, its my fault Mister Crepus died! Had I not jumped on that stupid overgrown lizard, Diluc would not have gone after me and Mister Crepus would not have had to save us!"

Aether was surprised to see tears welling up in the girl's e/c eyes as she dug her nails into her arms, staring at nothing in particular.

"M-Maybe if I had not jumped in like that, he would still be alive. But nye, I was so useless, I nearly got myself killed!" y/n continued then stared at Aether, "I had gotten hurt so much that they had to burn my wounds shut just to keep me alive on the way back to Mondstadt! They could have used that time to help Mister Crepus fend off the Drake. I was too reckless. Kaeya was too late. But Diluc had to deal with the worst of it all-!"

Y/n stopped, letting out a choked sob as she pulled her knees to her chest, "I keep failing! Failing and failing and failing! People I love keep getting hurt and it is all because I am too weak to defend them!"

Aether watched the girl break down completely. It wasn't common for him to see this side of the tough, hostile girl he'd been traveling with.

He gently grabbed each of her hands and moved them from her face so they could make eye contact, "Hey."

Y/n sniffed, looking at him with teary eyes.

Aether gave the girl a smile, "It's okay. It's not your fault. You're not the only one who couldn't protect someone they love."

The h/c haired girl nodded a bit, tears still rolling down her face, "But..."

"No buts. It isn't your fault." Aether said firmly, "None of it is."

Y/n looked down, looking embarrassed as she calmed down before asking with a quiet sniffle, "Uhm... could I have a hug?"

"Of course." Aether chuckled and nearly fell backwards when y/n threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Thank you." she murmured.

Aether rubbed her head with an affectionate expression, "Anytime."

The two sat in a comfortable silence before Aether asked, "Want to go back?"

"Nye." y/n replied quietly, "I like it here. You give nice hugs. I do not want it to end."

Aether blushed, surprised by the girl's words. He gave nice hugs?

The blond couldn't help but smile, happy that the wild girl enjoyed his embrace.

(I'm so sorry I haven't updated, I went skiing yesterday and I was in bed for most of today with a headache and spent two hours at track practice. I don't know if I'll update tomorrow since I have an important essay to finish.)

(As an apology, have a gang of baby Ushijimas to make you smile)