Pushover | Aether x Reader

Twenty

"No problem..." Aether looked down. "I didn't really do much, honestly. It was all Ayaka."

"Ah, really?" (Y/n) hummed. "Then how do you explain the stab wound?"

"Couldn't get away on time. Kind of pathetic honestly."

(Y/n) looked at him suspiciously. She was a hundred percent sure it was him who pounced on Zandik and not Ayaka. The big question was why he was trying to lie about it.

"Really, now?" She nodded slowly. "How's Ayaka? Did she also get hurt?"

"Thankfully, no."

(Y/n) sighed, leaning back on her chair. "Aether," she said. "Why are you lying?"

Aether's eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps he should not have assumed she would believe his words so easily.

"I-I'm not..."

"Yes, you are. I know what I saw before I blacked out, Aether." (Y/n) crossed her arms. "You were the one that jumped to save me, not Ayaka. That would also explain why you got such a terrible stab wound."

"No—"

"Enough, Aether." (Y/n) grabbed his hand, using her other hand to lift his chin so he would look her in the eye. "Give yourself credit, it's okay."

Aether's breath hitched. How was he supposed to pay attention to keeping up with his lie when she was this close? He felt pathetic being scolded, but the questionable racing of his heart took over his thoughts.

Why did she instinctively grab onto him? Why was she speaking to him like they were close? Why did his tongue feel so tied? Why was she making him feel this way?

'It's so unfair,' he thought. 'How can I respond with dignity when she's holding me like this?'

"Fine." He gave in, letting out the breath he was holding in. He expected her to let go, but she did not.

"Then why?" she said. "Why did you try to lie? Did you not want to be known as someone who helped me?"

"No! Th-that's not it at all!" Aether waved his hands frantically. "I just... Didn't want to cause more trouble for you..."

"And how exactly would you cause trouble for me in that way?" (Y/n) tilted her head to the side. "If anything, I would be the one causing trouble for you."

"Just..." Aether clenched his eyes shut. "It's so unfair." He frowned. "Why do we have to keep walking around eggshells around strangers all because we go to the same school? You're the kindest person I know... You don't deserve to be treated this way!"

"I know I don't." (Y/n) shrugged, pushing her empty plate away. "Unfortunately, all I can do is suck it up for now and let karma do its work."

"But that's not enough, isn't it?" Aether looked at her helplessly. "The more you wait around with nothing happening, the more you get hurt."

"It's okay, Aether—"

"No, it's not!" Aether grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her. "You just came from a coma, (Y/n). That's no small matter!"

(Y/n) sighed, not knowing how to feel about how the tables have turned. "It may not be a small matter, but I'd like to leave it in the past..." She wanted to say more when her eyes caught wind of a familiar color palette. 

As Aether continued to go on and on about why she should not invalidate herself, she could not help the dread seeping through her being as she saw two familiar figures go through the cafeteria doors. Her parents.

She immediately got up, bringing Aether— who was still latched onto her hand— along with her.

"...(Y/n)?" Aether called out, finally noticing that she had zoned out.

(Y/n) didn't respond as she picked her plate up in a rush. She quickly dropped her plate in the dirty dishes bin and headed for the exit, the blond boy following closely behind her.

"(Y/n)? What's going on? Did I cross the line? If so, I'm sorry—"

"Aether, shut your pretty mouth before we get caught." She really knew which buttons to press.

He promptly shut his mouth and obeyed, successfully leaving the room alongside the (h/c)-haired girl without catching any attention. 

Unbeknownst to them, her mother, all dressed in business casual, spoke to a certain blonde girl that our little sunshine might've liked to meet.

"I was told they were having their meal but I don't seem to see them anywhere," Ms. (L/n) said as her (e/c)-colored eyes scanned the plain, white room.

"Maybe my brother just felt a little shy and dragged your daughter along with him." Lumine smiled cheekily. "He'll come out of his shell once he knows I'm here."