rozenblitz | It all starts with an accident

It all starts with an accident

[To Aether, it's a routine. Accepting quests, reaching the destination, solving the problem, returning to the person who requested it. Everything works just the same as in Teyvat.

...Except not really.

As he's in the middle of one of those quests, Aether decides to drop down from the ledge into the space below. There's a bit of a distance to the ground, but with a wind glider that's not a problem. Except Aether remembers that he does not have a wind glider anymore only right after he lets go. Realization makes him panic for a second, before he attempts to do the next best thing he can: plunge and hope for the best.

He winces when he hits the ground, a sharp pain ringing in his legs. He sits down, trying to inspect the damage. His legs don't look broken, but they definitely did not like the fall. There are also a few cuts and scrapes here and there.

...It looks like he may need to take it easy for some time.

Aether sighs to himself and carefully gets up, then slowly starts heading back home. Every step hurts, but what else can he do?

And then he suddenly sees a familiar face.]

Ah, hello?

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{ he huffs a laugh under his breath }

I have to worry when my friend accidentally falls from a height because they forgot they didn't have their glider.

{ aether is never living this down }

[Now Aether huffs, but with embarrassment.]

You don't have to keep on reminding me...

[He's doomed. There's no escape.]

On the contrary, perhaps if I embarrass you enough you'll never forget again.

{ his smile is very much teasing as he helps him across the city, careful of people around them, trying to keep their path clear. }

I wouldn't forget either way! After all, I already learnt my lesson...

[Is he pouting ever so slightly? Yes.]

{ his hand tightens on aether's arm as they have to weave through a particularly big crowd, murmuring soft 'excuse me's on the way through. he lets out a sigh of relief once they're through and at the door to the building. }

Lets get you inside. Which floor are you on?

[At the tightening of the other's grasp, Aether moves closer. The crowd is a bit troublesome and going through takes a moment, but the traveler is more focused on the warmth by his side than anything else. Even the pain in his limbs is just an echo now.

At the question, he blinks from his thoughts and looks to Ayato.]

3rd floor.

[Soon they'll be back and able to just rest, and yet Aether doesn't really want to let go of the other.]

{ he'll lead him into the elevator, not wanting to chance the stairs at the moment, and presses the button. at least it's swift that there's only a moment in there, before he's waiting for further direction. }

Which way? And... how are you doing? It wasn't too fast?

[There's a soft smile on his face when he looks at his companion.]

I'll lead the way. And don't worry, it wasn't too fast.

[The pain is still there, but thankfully muted out by everything else. And yet Aether doesn't answer the question about how he's doing. He just leads the other by gently tugging on his arm in the right direction and soon they arrive at the place.

As expected there isn't that much there, but the space has all the necessities needed for every day life, so it's not a big issue. Aether quickly directs them to his own room and sits down on his bed. Relief visibly washes over him when he can finally rest his tired and hurting limbs. It takes all his willpower to not just flop down on the mattress.]

Thanks for the help.

{ he'll follow without question, no need to tug on his arm, aether. he's quiet as he enters his apartment, carefully removing his shoes at the door like a good guest.

he'll follow along once those are slipped off though, left toppled over by the door. }

Not at all.

{ and likely the surprise is when he sinks to his knees in front of the other, and carefully tugs off his gloves, dropping them by his side. with those out of the way, he'll reach for aether's boots next, knowing he won't be able to check for anything while those are in place. it's probably incredibly too quiet as he concentrates of finding the clasps, fingers so so gentle as he doesn't want to accidentally press too hard on a sore spot. }

[There's a sudden rush of heat to his cheeks when Ayato kneels in front of him. His touch is so gentle, moving the traveler to the point that his heart starts beating fast and loud. Only a moment later he remembers that obviously the other is just trying to check on his hurting legs.

A bit awkwardly, Aether removes his own gloves, then tosses them aside, before bending enough so he can reach his boot.]

H-here...

[He points the clasps and undoes them so the other can easily slide his boot off.]

Ah, thank you.

{ there's no embarrassment from someone who frequently has help getting changed, instead he just takes the instructions and aids the other, careful as the boot is slid off and put aside.

he'll do the same with the other, there's a faint sight of relief when he realises his trousers have merely been wrapped then tucked into his boots, it makes it much easier as he carefully rolls those up so he actually has a view of skin. }

You're starting to bruise already.

[Aether watches him in silence and indeed, when his trousers are rolled up, there are patches of discoloured skin showing on his legs. They're not too big, but not small either and some cuts here and there don't make this look any better.

At the very least it doesn't seem like he broke anything.]

I guess I'll have to take it easy to recover properly...

[He tries to smile, doing his best to show that everything will be just fine.]

{ he's careful as he lifts his leg up properly to examine it. frowning at the state its in already. }

There's a little swelling too, though that is likely due to the cuts. Did you get a first aid kit yet?

{ he can smile through it as much as he wants, but he's getting taken care of first, if only because if those cuts aren't dealt with properly it may lead to bigger issues. }

[Thankfully, he did think of getting a first aid kit. Aether nods, smile faltering a little as he can see that pretending won't get him anywhere. Ayato is taking care of him so gently, too.]

It's in the bathroom.

[For a moment he looks like he's about to get up and get it, but then he remembers that it's not a good idea. Instead, he chooses to wait patiently.]

{ it won't get him anywhere, no. not in a case like this. he's even careful as he lowers his leg again, then he's stepping out of the room towards the bathroom. the good thing about the apartments is that everyone's is the same. each layout follows the same pattern, he just has to check the bathroom cabinets then he's returning with the kit in hand.

he returns to the floor, sitting on his legs as he opens the case and gets to work. he's possibly too good at it, a sign of handling his own injuries at times to keep quiet to not worry his sister or thoma at home. he uses anti-septic wipes on the cuts, taking a gauze pad for one that's a little deeper than the others and taping it to skin.

then the same goes for the other leg, slow and quiet steps to ensure he's properly taken care of. }

[He's watching in silence as Ayato comes back with the first aid kit, as he sits down on the floor, as he starts patching the wounds up. The anti-septics applied to the injury sting a little, but the traveler barely winces. Frankly, he's amazed (and maybe even worried) how skilled Ayato seems to be at this. He's handling Aether with so much care, too.

It's not a kind of care that the traveler receives often. Maybe that's why there's this strange feeling in his heart right now. A quickened pulse, a soft heat spreading on his cheeks. His skin feels warm under the other's touch.

Maybe it's just the effect this world has on him.

Aether's eyes soften and absent-mindedly he leans forward.]

{ in all fairness, the touches would have an added feeling of elation from the contact, a rush of bliss every time he gently wraps and presses a bandage in place around a gauge pad. }

There, that should be en- { only he's half way through shifting to his knees rather than leaning back, when he glances up and finds aether has leaned forward to the point where he freezes in place is incredibly close -- close enough that he can feel breath on his face. } -ough.

[It feels like something is pulling him closer to Ayato, making him want all kinds of things he wouldn't dare to voice. The pain in his legs is long forgotten thanks to that gentle touch.

...And then the other is looking his way. Aether freezes, his face blooming bright red and he abruptly straightens his back.]

S-sorry, I just...

[He trails off and falls silent. The blush on his face is quite telling though.]

{ he doesn't move at all, not forwards nor backwards. there's a slight tilt to his head as he seems to consider aether's movements quietly, gaze thoughtful but not really giving much else away. }

You just?

{ his eyes shift, dipping to the blush, down to his mouth and back up to aether's eyes again. and this time, the tease is perhaps worse than when he'd been talking about the other's fall. }

Were you hoping I would kiss it better for you?

[Aether's eyes go wide and he takes a very deep breath in, hoping to save himself from turning into an embarrassed mess. His cheeks are burning and his heart is beating fast, but he doesn't respond. Not for now.

Of course Ayato would take the chance to tease him again, but this time Aether doesn't want to give into it.

Another moment of silence, a few more deeper breathes and a plan forms in his mind.

His eyes close.]

I don't know why you thought that. It almost sounds like that's something you wanted to do.

[An attempt to fight teasing with teasing was made.]

{ now that's an interesting turn of events.

aether trying to turn it back on him makes his eyes lid, an incredibly slow smile forming on his lips. }

Oh? I'm not the one who is bright red right now, Aether. { and since the other's eyes are closed he'll lean up, hopefully surprising him by whispering in his ear. } If you ask nicely, I may consider it.

[The blush on his face intensifies when it's pointed out, but this is not the worst part. Aether gasps in surprise when he hears words whispered right into his ear and a shiver runs down his spine. This reaction is unexpected even to him and he hopes, prays, begs in the depths of his heart that Ayato did not notice.

...But he knows the other likely did.

Aether takes a moment to find his voice. If he sees this teasing as a challenge, maybe it'll be easier to think and come up with a plan.

With that in mind, he leans closer to the other, making their foreheads touch. The action alone is dizzying but he can't give in.]

Only consider? Now that sounds like you're just messing with me.

{ when aether returns it by pressing their foreheads together his own eyes close, the touch in itself is nice. }

I have a reputation to uphold. { he doesn't completely mean that, but this certainly feels like playing with fire in the sense that without prior discussion about expectations he doesn't know if doing something here will ruin their attempts to build a friendship. he's clearly trying, and he does care because of the circumstances, but will continuing this here and now cause issues?

he's overthinking again, too concerned with all the different outcomes that he goes quiet. }

[When Aether looks at Ayato and sees his eyes closed, a soft fond smile appears on the traveler's face.]

Is that so? [He asks quietly.

He can't really fight it anymore, the urge that overtakes him wins and Aether very carefully reaches out, hand grazing the other's cheek. His touch is feather-light and who knows, maybe he's going too far... but he still wants to give it a try.]

What if I don't care about your reputation? What if I just want to know how you really feel?

{ he exhales at the soft touch, and while this world has encouraged it, other than hugging ayaka he hasn't really had this close of a touch in years. not since his parents--

not something to linger on now, anyway.

but aether will feel him lean into it, just a little. }

Somehow I'm unsurprised you don't, but... I'm not sure I can answer that second question either. There are certain feelings I am certain of, but many more I have never had the freedom to do so. Is it selfish to pursue something for a confusing feeling? When you aren't sure of where it will lead you?

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