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It's been almost two years since that law was passed in Tevyat. They marked it up to all celestial beings with power that aren't made by the archon themself must be taken out and killed. Aether still had to take care and train River without getting caught. Venti helped him along the way with Shenhe and Ganyu. Xiao still remained in everyone's memories. The raven was important to everyone in Liyue, and yet his life was taken by them. Aether tries to forget it, but he fails all the time. And he hates how the memory sticks like glue. But it eventually has to tear away.
"Ah River, there you are. Don't want you lost now do we?"-Aether
River smiled at his mother, placing a boop on his nose as he was picked up. The blond laughed at the small reaction he was given. He then carried him downstairs to eat and then go to bed.
"Cmon River, eat. Open. Open please, Mama's tired and wants to sleep."-Aether
"No! Nasty!"-River
"Eat it please. Just one spoonful."-Aether
River jerked his head but got closer as the blond said only one spoon. He opened his mouth and ate the food. He pouted, the food was nasty.
"Time for bed. I want you to know that I love you. No matter what happens."-Aether
River didn't know why his mom was saying this, but he still smiled as a response. They walked upstairs as Aether held his son tight. It seems that he wanted to protect him from something unknown to the little blond. But he didn't know what it was, and he was kinda upset.
"My little sunshine. Have a good rest. Good night River, I love you."-Aether
Aether kissed him on the forehead and turned off the light. He then turned on a nightlight filling the room with many green and yellow dots.
The blond flopped on the bed. He thought about Xiao. How he sacrificed himself for the lives of him, River, Ganyu, and Shenhe. How he left him and River alone in this world. He wished Lumine was here to guide him. She was always great with children.
For the first time in a long while, he cried. Aether cried for Xiao's rough hands to intertwine with his again. He cried for Xiao's person to be with him comforting him right now. He wished that he was here beside him right now and that they didn't get him. They didn't kill him. Oh how badly he wished that was true.
"Why do you never show this side of yours? You became a stone ever since Xiao was poisoned."-???
Aether jerked backwards in tears. It was Zhongli. The worse person to ever see him like this.
"What bothers you Aether? You've been distant even since Xiao's death. I'm sorry that the other archons are heartless and don't understand how important the Adepti are to me. To Liyue. Ningguag-"-Zhongli
"She doesn't give a crap about what she does! All she cares is that she's making money. If she cared, she wouldn't told the Millelith to take out there Adepti as soon as she got the message."-Aether
"Why do you conceal these thoughts from others that are close to you?"-Zhongli
"Because...Xiao. He let himself get poisoned. And left a two year old alone without a father. He left us...so we could live on. Oh Xiao. Xiao..."-Aether
"Traveler...he's dead. You saw him die with your own eyes."-Zhongli
"I DONT CARE! HE SAID THAT WHENEVER I NEEDED HIM TO CALL OUT HIS NAME! And he's not here. I need him here. I miss him Zhongli. You don't know how much I need him right now."-Aether
Zhongli couldnt believe it. The blond was love sick all these years! Aether wanted to isolate himself like Xiao always did. Only talking to one person.
"You need rest. Sleep Aether. You need this. I will take care of River tomorrow morning."-Zhongli
"I-I. I refuse-!"-Aether
Zhongli knocked Aether onto his bed. Despite his protests, the older one got the blond to sleep. Zhongli freaked out when River started crying because Aether would wake up. The blond jolted awake and ran to his son's room.
"Oh, it's okay. I'm here. No need to cry because I was. Im sorry. Im really sorry. I'm sorry."-Aether
"You're...crying again."-Zhongli
"I know. Can we have time alone Zhongli? Please?"-Aether
Zhongli left the room, Aether crying harder as he shut the door. This moment of weakness was full of bottled up emotions that he never let out. He missed his lover too much to let them out. This moment will never leave him alone.
