"ARGH!!!"
Childe threw another punch at Scaramouche who was not able to block it this time, he always knew that Childe was good at fighting, he was different from the rest of them. "WHERE IS HE!?!" Childe yelled and lifted Scaramouche up in the air, Zhongli could only watch from the distance as DIluc and Kaeya were guarding outside.
"I-I-I don't...know...I DON'T FUCKING KNOW!!!"
Scaramouche yelled as blood came out his mouth and nose as his face was all bruised up, Childe gritted his teeth, "wrong answer" Childe said before placing his dagger at his neck but before he could actually end his life, Zhongli interrupted him.
"Stop!"
Zhongli said as he stood in between, Childe was confused, "what?!?" He exclaimed, Zhongli sigh and gently push Childe away from Scaramouche as his grip on his shirt became loose causing Scaramouche to drop on the floor.
"I think he is telling the truth about not knowing the whereabouts of Aether," Zhongli said but Childe did not listen to him, "and am I supposed to believe that? HE WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT AETHER HERE!" Childe yelled and glared at Zhongli, he sighs once again knowing his anger clouded his senses.
"his...urgh...his right...I'm the one who brought Aether here but...urgh fuck that hurts..." Scaramouche stood up from the floor and looked at both Zhongli and Childe as he got their attention, "but what?!?" Childe exclaimed but when he was about to get near Scaramouche again, Zhongli had to hold him down.
"Let me finish you, damn psychopath! yes! I was the one who brought Aether here because I made a deal with him if I removed the poison from your body he will have to come with us willingly! and eventually, he did and who knows where he is right now because the last time I saw him he was with Signora! but I heard that Signora let him go... I only removed half of the poison from your body though so why is he still alive?..." Scaramouche said as he mumbled the last part, Childe looked at him in shock, "Sensei...A-Aether might be out there somewhere...he might die at this rate..." Childe said as his body began to shake, Zhongli grew worried at his mentality, "you have to calm down Childe, we will find Aeth---" Zhongli was suddenly cut off when he noticed that Childe was getting even more restless.
"what the hell...this is the first time I saw him like this..." Scaramouche thought as he slowly back away since he took that opportunity to escape, "now that is a good look on you Childe." Diluc said and walk towards them, Childe glared at Diluc and click his tongue.
"Can't you see I'm worried about hi---"
"We are all worried about Aether now why don't you snap out of that shitty head of yours and try to think where he could have gone," Diluc said while tying Scaramouche since he saw him trying to escape, Childe hated to admit it but Diluc was right, he sighs and slaps himself.
"Okay! here is the plan."
As Childe shared his part of the plan, all of them agreed on splitting for now and once they find Aether they will have to send a signal using their visions, Childe wore the fatui uniform that Zhongli used once he was done putting on the coat. He stared at the fatui mask, Diluc noticed how Childe was only standing there, "scared?" Diluc said causing a reaction from him, Childe scoff, "no, I was never afraid of anything...it's just that...I almost forgot that I am also a fatui..." Childe said, he took a deep breath before putting on the mask.
"Let's go"
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Aether sigh, he tosses and turns, no matter how much he closes his to put himself to sleep he couldn't, something was bothering him, Aether got up and notice how quiet the house was. He sighs once again and stood in front of the window, "the storm has stopped..." Aether mumbled and opened the window a little as he felt the coldness that brushed against his skin.
"I should leave now..." Aether thought, he was thankful for Childe's family to help him take shelter for the time being but he needed to leave as soon as possible, Aether took the coat from the hanger and he somehow felt guilty taking something that is not his but when he looked at the tag, it has a name on it.
"Ajax?...whatever I'm taking it..."
Once Aether was mentally and physically prepared, he opened the door from the back and slowly opened it as he made sure it wouldn't make a lot of noise, he sneaks his way out and closes the door gently.
"success!..." Aether mumbled as a smile appeared on his face, he immediately stood up from the ground and walk away without turning back.
"I should still be able to sneak inside a ship...but...I don't know where it is located..." Aether said in disappointment, he was troubled by not knowing much about the directions in Snezhnaya because he was taken here blindfolded but he knew he got here by ship. Aether rubs his neck since it suddenly got colder but the moment he placed his freezing hands on his neck, his scarf was missing.
"...my scarf...should I go get it?...but if I did I might get caught...but that scarf is really important to me..."
Aether fought for dominance as he argued with himself but in the end, the guilt of leaving his scarf behind won the fight, he took a deep breath before he continued his journey back from the place to where he was kept in prison.
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Childe walked inside the halls of the dungeon, the memories of him putting people in there who were in debt to them made him feel guilty and uncomfortable, he shook off those thoughts and continued his search. "...he might be in one of these rooms..." Childe mumbled and entered one of the rooms, he felt the cold air that surrounded the place but it didn't bother him since he was used to it, Childe sigh. "just empty..." he mumbled as he turned around and walk towards the door but before he could leave, his eyes landed on a scarf that is laying down on the bed.
"It's Aether's scarf...he was here..." Childe said as he grips on the scarf that belongs to Aether, he immediately left the room and went through the back door only to be greeted by nothing but snow.
"Aether...where are you...I'm here..." Childe thought and looked around the area to see nothing but darkness and a pile of mountains of snow.
Childe gritted his teeth, he suddenly grew anxious and the thought of finding Aether dead scares him. He sighs and turns around since he already knew that finding Aether in a place like this is hopeless and Aether might be somewhere else.
"I should report this to the others"
Childe mumble but before he could go back inside, he suddenly heard footsteps that sounded like a person was running, he immediately turned around as his eyes landed on the beautiful silky blonde hair.
His heart pounded when he recognized who that hair belonged to, it was Aether's, "CHILDE...AH!" Aether suddenly trips and fell on the snow but it wasn't painful, Childe's lips quivered as tears started to fall from his cheeks, he hurriedly run towards Aether who slowly got up. When Aether was back on his feet, he suddenly fell again since Childe pushes him down and the two fell on the snow.
"WHY DID YOU AGREE ON THAT STUPID DEAL! YOU COULD HAVE JUST LET ME DIE!"
Childe exclaimed and glared at Aether for being thoughtless and careless, Aether ignored what he was saying, he placed both of his hands at Childe's cheeks, his voice trembled to feel how warm it was and it made Childe stopped talking when he saw Aether in tears.
"Childe...I..."
Aether gulped as he gathered all of his courage to say how he feels towards him and to finally answer Childe's confession to him, Childe was confused because he couldn't make out what was Aether trying to say but the moment Aether pulled him for an embrace their body pressing against each other and Aether's lips were on his ears.
"A-Aether---"
"I love you"
Childe paused for a brief moment, he was in the state of processing everything from what he had heard from Aether, he immediately got up and looked at Aether with wide eyes.
"w-what did you say?" Childe said as he was still unsure if he heard it right, Aether blushed, it was truly embarrassing for him but he had no choice but to show it to him in another way.
"I said I LOVE YOU!!!"
Aether yelled and pulled Childe for a kiss.
uwu