fic: almond tofu
Dec. 18th, 2020 11:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vvitchsdesireao3 || wattpad || ffnet
Title: almond tofu
Fandom: Genshin Impact
Rating: G
Wordcount: 985
Summary: Sometimes, he stays at the Wangshu Inn.
Sometimes, he stays at the Wangshu Inn.
Stays is not the right word, though. No, it's just that sometimes, Aether's travels lead him close by, but he lacks the Mora to actually rent a room for the night. He and Paimon set camp underneath the tree, in a corner where they won't be seen, light a fire, and sleep. At least that's what Paimon does. Aether waits until she is asleep, until the world is asleep, to climb into the inn itself, scurry like a rat into the kitchen. Smiley Yanxiao always leaves everything pristine. Aether always leaves everything like he found. He grabs something to eat for himself and takes off his gloves, ready to work.
Almond milk. Sugar. Agar. That's all Aether needs to call him. Xiao arrives and grabs the bowl Smiley Yanxiao put too far up for him to reach without creating a noisy Geo construct to pick up, and grabs it without a thought.
Aether smiles when Xiao hands it to him, almost carelessly. Their fingers touch, if only for a second.
Xiao's hands are always cold to him.
"Thank you."
There's no reply: just those golden eyes, silently staring at him, analyzing his every breath. Xiao sits on the table, the polearm he carries around resting by his side as he watches Aether work. They don't speak during these moments, no, but Aether doesn't need words now; all he needs is the company.
While the dessert sets - Aether still having to do the syrup to pour on top but that's okay, that is something he can whip up in a few minutes -, he cleans the kitchen. Xiao joins him for this. Aether cleans the things he used, and Xiao uses Anemo to dry them silently, without Aether even thinking of asking.
He likes when their hands touch. He likes when Xiao passes by too close for comfort, so close it is comfortable, by him. He likes Xiao, end of story. There is no rhyme or reason for this, and really, even if there was - who was Aether to try to guess at the matters of the heart?
Xiao doesn't make it easy for Aether to decipher his feelings, but that's okay: these visits are infrequent, but Aether knows him enough to say it maybe is reciprocated. Maybe. Maybe, but he wants to believe he's not pining alone.
The almond tofu is almost set when he has to dirty the kitchen again, undo the careful neutrality he did. Making syrup is easy, though, a quick matter of setting sugar to boil and watching over it carefully. Xiao stands by his side, a hand protectively on the small of his back, ready to pull him over if the sugar catches fire. The touch feels nice, although Aether isn't sure if his cheeks are hotter than the actual fire. At least the gentle orange glow masks it a little.
Xiao's gaze on him doesn't help, though: it just feels like he is purposefully inflaming the heat of his face. Aether lets Xiao watch over the syrup as he goes to pick the tofu, his hands cooling against the bowl as he takes it over to the table. Xiao brings the syrup and pours it gently over the food as Aether grabs two spoons. It's practiced: they know their roles in this little game.
They eat in almost silence, alternating between bites, with Aether telling Xiao of the things he's seen around the world, the fights he's taken in. Xiao always listens attentively, gives gentle advice that feels like chiding at times, but accompanied by such a small smile Aether doesn't feel like it's a lesson.
Sometimes Aether will mention a wound he took, offhandedly, almost forgotten; Xiao will look at him with burning eyes, speak up.
"Are you well?" He asks, and there's something Aether can't fully decipher in these three words. Fear, maybe.
Aether always smiles at him, reaches a hand over the table to intertwine his fingers with Xiao's.
"If I wasn't, you'd know." He says, and Xiao says nothing more. No, he just presses his fingers tighter against Aethers, as if afraid he would disappear if he let go.
When morning comes, the kitchen is pristine. Aether leaves a pile of Mora for the trouble on the counter, and Xiao looks out of the veranda, the sun gently rising in the background. He stays in shadows, like a ghost who refuses to reveal his presence.
"You could come with me." He says, but Xiao simply shakes his head. "Well, then until the next time we meet."
Aether makes a motion to leave, and usually Xiao lets him. This time is different, though: Xiao's hands find Aether's again, fingers intertwined without a second thought.
"Stay safe. When..." Xiao is not one for many words, Aether knows this. There's surprise etched in his face, reflected in Xiao's eyes. "No, not when. If you get hurt while in Liyue, call for me, and I'll come. Maybe even farther."
"If you want to come with me, just say it." Aether cracks a smile, and Xiao's silence is maintained.
"I'm not a good travel partner."
"I'm not asking for a good travel partner, I'm asking for you." Aether replies, and this time, there's a gentle blushing on Xiao's face. It is Xiao that steps closer, impossibly closer, and Aether can almost swear he hears two heartbeats: his own, thumping on his ears, and Xiao's. It is Xiao that kisses him, softly, so impossibly soft, hands on Aether's face. Is it supposed to taste like almond tofu, or maybe it is Aether's own mouth? It doesn't matter. It is Aether that separates the two, faces equally flush. "Come on now. Before the boss wakes up and I have to explain what I'm doing here."
Aether pulls Xiao into the sunlight, and even though he doesn't see it, he can sense the smile Xiao is sporting.
Title: almond tofu
Fandom: Genshin Impact
Rating: G
Wordcount: 985
Summary: Sometimes, he stays at the Wangshu Inn.
Sometimes, he stays at the Wangshu Inn.
Stays is not the right word, though. No, it's just that sometimes, Aether's travels lead him close by, but he lacks the Mora to actually rent a room for the night. He and Paimon set camp underneath the tree, in a corner where they won't be seen, light a fire, and sleep. At least that's what Paimon does. Aether waits until she is asleep, until the world is asleep, to climb into the inn itself, scurry like a rat into the kitchen. Smiley Yanxiao always leaves everything pristine. Aether always leaves everything like he found. He grabs something to eat for himself and takes off his gloves, ready to work.
Almond milk. Sugar. Agar. That's all Aether needs to call him. Xiao arrives and grabs the bowl Smiley Yanxiao put too far up for him to reach without creating a noisy Geo construct to pick up, and grabs it without a thought.
Aether smiles when Xiao hands it to him, almost carelessly. Their fingers touch, if only for a second.
Xiao's hands are always cold to him.
"Thank you."
There's no reply: just those golden eyes, silently staring at him, analyzing his every breath. Xiao sits on the table, the polearm he carries around resting by his side as he watches Aether work. They don't speak during these moments, no, but Aether doesn't need words now; all he needs is the company.
While the dessert sets - Aether still having to do the syrup to pour on top but that's okay, that is something he can whip up in a few minutes -, he cleans the kitchen. Xiao joins him for this. Aether cleans the things he used, and Xiao uses Anemo to dry them silently, without Aether even thinking of asking.
He likes when their hands touch. He likes when Xiao passes by too close for comfort, so close it is comfortable, by him. He likes Xiao, end of story. There is no rhyme or reason for this, and really, even if there was - who was Aether to try to guess at the matters of the heart?
Xiao doesn't make it easy for Aether to decipher his feelings, but that's okay: these visits are infrequent, but Aether knows him enough to say it maybe is reciprocated. Maybe. Maybe, but he wants to believe he's not pining alone.
The almond tofu is almost set when he has to dirty the kitchen again, undo the careful neutrality he did. Making syrup is easy, though, a quick matter of setting sugar to boil and watching over it carefully. Xiao stands by his side, a hand protectively on the small of his back, ready to pull him over if the sugar catches fire. The touch feels nice, although Aether isn't sure if his cheeks are hotter than the actual fire. At least the gentle orange glow masks it a little.
Xiao's gaze on him doesn't help, though: it just feels like he is purposefully inflaming the heat of his face. Aether lets Xiao watch over the syrup as he goes to pick the tofu, his hands cooling against the bowl as he takes it over to the table. Xiao brings the syrup and pours it gently over the food as Aether grabs two spoons. It's practiced: they know their roles in this little game.
They eat in almost silence, alternating between bites, with Aether telling Xiao of the things he's seen around the world, the fights he's taken in. Xiao always listens attentively, gives gentle advice that feels like chiding at times, but accompanied by such a small smile Aether doesn't feel like it's a lesson.
Sometimes Aether will mention a wound he took, offhandedly, almost forgotten; Xiao will look at him with burning eyes, speak up.
"Are you well?" He asks, and there's something Aether can't fully decipher in these three words. Fear, maybe.
Aether always smiles at him, reaches a hand over the table to intertwine his fingers with Xiao's.
"If I wasn't, you'd know." He says, and Xiao says nothing more. No, he just presses his fingers tighter against Aethers, as if afraid he would disappear if he let go.
When morning comes, the kitchen is pristine. Aether leaves a pile of Mora for the trouble on the counter, and Xiao looks out of the veranda, the sun gently rising in the background. He stays in shadows, like a ghost who refuses to reveal his presence.
"You could come with me." He says, but Xiao simply shakes his head. "Well, then until the next time we meet."
Aether makes a motion to leave, and usually Xiao lets him. This time is different, though: Xiao's hands find Aether's again, fingers intertwined without a second thought.
"Stay safe. When..." Xiao is not one for many words, Aether knows this. There's surprise etched in his face, reflected in Xiao's eyes. "No, not when. If you get hurt while in Liyue, call for me, and I'll come. Maybe even farther."
"If you want to come with me, just say it." Aether cracks a smile, and Xiao's silence is maintained.
"I'm not a good travel partner."
"I'm not asking for a good travel partner, I'm asking for you." Aether replies, and this time, there's a gentle blushing on Xiao's face. It is Xiao that steps closer, impossibly closer, and Aether can almost swear he hears two heartbeats: his own, thumping on his ears, and Xiao's. It is Xiao that kisses him, softly, so impossibly soft, hands on Aether's face. Is it supposed to taste like almond tofu, or maybe it is Aether's own mouth? It doesn't matter. It is Aether that separates the two, faces equally flush. "Come on now. Before the boss wakes up and I have to explain what I'm doing here."
Aether pulls Xiao into the sunlight, and even though he doesn't see it, he can sense the smile Xiao is sporting.
