CHAPTER I: Misunderstood Love
WARNINGS: Female!Reader, Angst, Fluff, Sad Aether, Conflict, Argument, Mentions of established relationship, Spoilers, A surprise at the end
Reader has white hair and blue eyes (you can change this), (h/c) hair colour, (h/l) hair lenght
⚠️: typos and a few grammatical errors ahead
(Listen to the songs in this order for better emotional effects)
Traveling throughout a world you know nothing about isn't easy. It should've been a fun experience for the twins, Aether and Lumine, at least that was before they were blocked and separated. What was supposed to be a fun and forebonding traveling experience with his sister turned out to be a disastrous story waiting to unfold.
Being separated from his beloved sister, Aether set out to scour all of the new world they were trapped in which he soon learned to be called Teyvat.
Aether swore to himself, that he will find that Unknown God and make her reveal the triths about this world and the reason for his sister's choices to join the abyss. Because in his eyes, if weren't for that Unknown God, none of this would be happening right now..
During his long journey, Aether had found himself making friends and acquaintances left and right all throughout Teyvat.
Wether they were important or simple people, he didn't discriminate and chose to help them with their current predicaments. Infact, being so busy helping that Aether never seemed to realize that no one was really returning the favour.
Everyone he's helped had just been in their merry way after, continuing their lives as if the blonde adventurer didn't just help them out pf the kindness of his heart.
The only thing Aether ever asks for everytime they ask him if he needs help with anything, was to help him put up missing person posters throughout the nation they were currently traveling around in.
"Hey Aether! Do you think we should set off for Liyue after this?", Aether nods in awknowledgement.
"We should really get this commission over with faster so we can catch up to the festival that Venti told us about.", The blonde replies.
The two are currently on their way to the adventurers guild, to ask about a strange blonde that has been spotted in Angel's Share just recently.
While walking, Aether reminisced about what his journey in Mondstat had amounted to. He then remembered what the Anemo Archon had told him previously under the large tree in Windrise.
"Traveler, as you set off on your journey once again, you must remember that the journey itself has meaning."
"The birds of Teyvat, the songs and the cities, the Tsaritsa, her Fatui and the monsters... they all are part of your journey."
"The destination is not everything. So before you reach the end, keep your eyes open. Use the chance to take in the world around you..."
The blonde traveler really relished in the fact that, despite Venti's not so good reputation as an archon of his nation, from his words alone the blonde could very clearly hear his wisdom and experiences throughout the long life bestowed upon the Anemo Archon.
"Traveler! Paimon thinks you spaced out a bit!", Paimon's voice brought Aether out of the memory of the lone bard of Mondstadt and back to the task at hand.
Paimon seemed to have cought up to this and asked Aether what he was thinking about. The blonde told his emergency food travel companion about the memory of Venti lingering on his mind.
"Oh! Paimon remembers that! I think Paimon even saw you tearing up a bit while tone-deaf bard was saying that!", Paimon mindlessly sputters out her memory of the scene.
"Hey! I didn't expect him to say such sentimental words before we left Mondstadt. Of course I'd feel a little sad. Especially after we saw his Gnosis get taken right before our eyes.", Recalling the incident, Aether was still a little frustrated that he wasn't able to do anything for the bard.
"Yeah.. Paimon hopes he's okay though.", The sympathy is evident in the usually sassy and whining voice of the pixie. For even Paimon admits that even though she found the bard annoying, she still felt sadness radiating from the bard.
Their memory lane flashbacks was interrupted by a certain young lady that was on her way to Mondstat gates.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!", Throughout their journey, Paimon has become a little bit of a backbone for Aether to rely on, saying the things he can't find in his kind heart to say out loud.
"I'm really sorry! I'll help you get to where you're going as an apology! Please forgive me!", The woman in question bowed a ninety degree angle over and over again, both Aether and Paimon were sure she was about to break her back.
"I-it's fine really!”, Aether not sure how to respond to the continuous flow of apologies settled for trying to get her to stop and assuring her through words.
When the young woman finally stood up straight and looked at the blonde, both Paimon and Aether were shocked.
"Woah! Paimon thinks your really pretty!", Paimon's words effortlessly flustered the girl and the blonde traveler in a matter of seconds.
The fair (s/c) skinned maiden, had a beautiful lock of (h/l) of white platinum hair flowing with the wind and had striking blue eyes, that evidently drowned the travelling companions to a complete silence.
"Oh! Where are my manners! My name is Y/n L/n. Nice to meet both of you. Although I wouldn't really consider bumping into you quite nice of me.", The young maiden's introduction broke the ice cold silence between the three of them and upturned the now existing conversation to a series of introductions.
"Paimon's name is well... Paimon!", her usual introduction echoed through the area and was received well by Y/n who only giggled at the adorable introduction.
"Nice to meet you Paimon."
"Sorry if Paimon shouted at you awhile ago! I was just worried about my friend.", Seeing the sweet and kind smile the girl was offering to her, Paimon felt the need to apologize for her behavior towards the girl awhile ago.
"Oh it's alright! I see myself doing the same for a friend honestly.", Paimon couldn't help but smile sweetly at the kind girl. It seems that the girl's radiating smile is contagious.
"Oh! And this guy here is Aether! We're travelling together to look for his sister!", Paimon joyfully introduced her blonde friend to Y/n, which Aether smiled to and nodded in awknoledgement to.
"Looking for a family member, huh?”, Y/n swore she saw a new missing person poster throughout Monstadt when she visited a certain bard friend of hers.
The placements of the posters were quite odd though, seeming as if they were placed in places that were very difficult to view and find.
"Did you happen to see anyone that happens to look a lot like me, wearing exotic clothing?", Aether inquired with a glimt of hope in both his and Paimon's eyes.
"Not recently, no.", Y/n saw the quick depleted look on both Paimon's and Aether's faces after her response.
"But, I did see the posters all throughout Monstadt when I visited a friend. It seems the Knights of Favonious are helping you with the search already, so it shouldn't be long until you find your sister. Never lose hope. You'll find her when fate let's you!", Unbeknownst to Y/n, her words had the best result she could ever hope for.
Aether reminded himself to tattoo the look of the maiden's face, the sound of her voice and especially, her words of encouragement, into his memories.
Now, returning to the present, the blonde boy held the hand of the beautiful blanc haired maiden, her white hair flowing nicely with the wind just like when they first met each other near Mondstat's gates.
After the fateful meeting, the young woman, true to her word, helped the two travelling companions settle in not only Wangshu Inn, but also settle in the customs of Liyue.
This day is now the day of the three of them travelling back to Liyue to meet the geo archon, but was met with shock upon witnessing the archon's death.
Both were accused wrongly and there they had to part ways to get away from the millelith soldiers. Aether then met a strange orange headed man that offered him help.
After meeting all the adepti, the two told Y/n about it but she said she didn't quite like the ginger even though she never saw him. Aether found it odd but didn't speak on it.
Meanwhile Paimon was enjoying seeing their saint of a friend to be suddenly so hostile to someone she never even met. Sure thing is there will always be a first to everything!
In Paimon's mind though it did scare her and ensured that she will not mess with the blanc haired female in the near future.
Aether then informed her that they had to meet with the ginger again because he is introducing someone to them.
"I'd love to go, but I have someone that would like to meet with me at the gates of Mondstat.", Both Paimon and the blonde raised their eyebrows at this. Both in worry and suspicion.
"Hey! Don't be suspicious of me! It's a long time friend that wants to meet up with me. We haven't seen each other in a while due to his line of work.", the female explained, to which the two felt a bit ashamed for suspecting something sinister or thinking bad of the female.
"We didn't mean to be suspicious of you!", Paimon immediately apologizes to which Y/N only smiles in return.
"It's okay Paimon, Aether. It's normal to be suspicious of people you barely know. I understand. You guys can come with me though so you can meet my friend, if you'd like?", The two immediately nodded.
"Wait for us in Liyue's gates. We will just inform Childe that we can't meet up with him today.", Aether replied with a smile, to which the female nodded.
"Hey isn't that the strange blonde man that Charles mentioned?", Paimon inquired upon seeing the strangely dressed man waiting by the bridge leading to Mondstat's gates.
"Dain!", Y/N didn't register Paimon's words because of the excitement upon seeing the blonde man.
She ran to the man and threw her arms around his neck, to which the man reciprocated by wrapping his arms around her waist. Despite the mask adorning his face, the content and happiness was clear in his eyes.
Aether felt off about seeing Y/N hugging another man, but couldn't quite put his mind as to why he felt this way.
Unbeknownst to the blonde traveler, his little travel companion was looking at him knowingly. Aether looked constipated with his furrowed eyebrows and a small frown adorning his face, to which Paimon giggled at.
"What is it?", the blonde turned to his travel guide in curiosity.
"Oh nothing~", again she giggles in amusement.
"Oh. Dain, these are my friends. I met them while traveling here in Mondstat.", the two turned to Y/N and Dainsleif at once and bowed their heads in introduction.
"I remember the two of you. You two were the ones from the tavern weren't you?", Dain inquired to which the two nodded.
"Great now that you're all well acquainted, maybe you can tell them what's going on Dain.", Y/N suggested with a smile.
Dainsleif nodded and slowly explained to the blonde traveler and Paimon his goals of stopping the abyss, and how their activities had currently been hiking up in Wolvendom.
Of course, Aether being himself, agreed to help both Y/N and Dainsleif in stopping the abyss from their achieving their current plans.
But alas, upon searching they were only able to find a few hilichurls and no abyss mages. Despite the elemental traces suggesting otherwise.
"Maybe we should stop here for now. It's getting dark, and we'll achieve nothing lurking around the woods in the evening. Take a rest and meet me here again tomorrow.", Dainsleif knew that scouring the woods at night time would produce no progress anyway.
"Where will you be staying, Dain?", Y/N inquired, ready to offer him a place to stay.
"Yeah, maybe you can stay at Wangshu Inn with us!", Paimon chimed in.
"We can pay for your room if you'd like.", Aether ever willing to help suggested, to which Dainsleif smiled in thanks.
"Sure. But I assure you, I can pay for my own room. But thank you for the offer. Lead the way."
It was late at night but the three were at Wangshu Inn's top balcony conversing about the recent events and getting to know each other.
"So you're not originally from Teyvat?", Aether inquires, ever so curiously over the woman who was the object of his affections at the moment. Much to Paimon's dismay, both seemed oblivious of this fact.
"You could say that...", Y/n reminds herself that no matter what, she couldn't tell Aether that she was a God created by Celestia herself to raise as her own.
"What do you mean? Paimon wants to know!", The little pixie then fixed her floating position as to imply that she was all ears for whatever the blanc haired maiden had to say.
The three of them were currently up on the highest point of Washu Inn. Aether gloriously helping Y/n climb through the inn's tiled roof to sit atop the unused balcony up there.
So Y/n started her story about her origin.
"I was originally created to guard all of Teyvat.", Y/n thought that this brief explanation would be enough for them.
Aether sensed that there was more to it but didn't pry for he respected her privacy. Paimon wanted to know more hut the blonde traveler shot her a look and instantly shut her up.
Although aside from curiosity, Paimon did sense a new feeling erupting from both of her friends as she eyed them drowning in each others' eyes.
"You know what! Paimon thinks that's enough story telling for her! I'll go to bed now traveler, Y/n! Bye-bye!”, Paimon waved sweetly with a certain glint in her eye and disappeared to wherever dimension she disappears off to.
"Uhm...", Aether wanted to ask if Y/n also wanted to go to bed for he knew what the fairy was planning.
Aether didn't really realized his feelings for the girl at first, but when Paimon teased him silently on their way back to the inn, he realized it.
He figured that Paimon would try something like this. She always does things to take matters into her own hands, and now setting up her traveling companion with the girl of his dreams.
So he figured he might as well shoot his shot.
"Do you ever wonder where Paimon disappears off to?”, Y/n asked without even thinking about what she was saying, still staring into the empty space where Paimon dissapeared off to.
"I— What?", The girl's question sure shocked Aether as he himself never thought about it like that before.
"Oh! Sorry just a random thought. You were saying Aether?", The blonde swore that this was the first time he heard his name sound ever so sweet and pleasant to the ears as it was said by another person. He reminded himself that only Y/n had ever has this effect on him.
"I like you.", The blonde spaced out, not really realizing what he had said. But deep in his heart, he knew that he meant every word of it. He realized he must've thought out loud by the flabbergasted look on Y/n's pretty face.
"I-I... I know we've only just met but I.. I really mean it. I have thought about asking you to travel with me but, I know that would be selfish. I just wanted to let you know that I really do like you. A lot."
Aether swore that his faced must've looked funny from your point of view for he knew his whole face is tomato red from the sudden expression and proposition of love to you.
He was nervous to say the least on what the girl would say. He didn't mind if Y/n didn't return his feelings, what he was afraid of was that he effectively scared her off for good by telling her that she loved him through the small journey and ample amount of time they've been together.
"I like you too, my traveler."
Then and there the traveler and the mysterious woman shared a kiss under the moonlight, not aware of the disgusted but proud stare of a certain adeptus.
Another blonde man was also staring at them from a far, happy that Y/n found someone to be happy with, after so long.
"Y/n..? Beloved? Is it true?”, The tears accumulating beneath the eyes of the blonde traveler and his lover were amusing to watch for the abyss herald who dropped the truth bomb on all of them.
"I-I can explain my love! It's not-", The young woman tried to brave through the emotions she was feeling to form one coherent sentence to explain her side to her lover.
"Why don't you ask her. She knew where your sister was this whole time but kept it hidden from you, because she never wants you to leave Teyvat. She wants you all to herself."
The abyss herald felt the need to add fuel to the fire as Dainsleif's eyes had widened in shock to what was happening. He knew that the abyss herald was lying.
He knows for he traveled with the blonde's sister. Y/n did promise to find Lumine's brother and protect him from harm, what the blanc haired female didn't know was Aether was Lumine's missing brother.
"Why..? Why would you lie to me?!", the anger was evident on Aether's voice.
Remembering words about not trusting the Gods, and now finding out his own lover was one. It would've been fine, if she didn't lie to him. To say that all Aether could see was red is an understatement.
"Traveler! Paimon thinks that Abyss Herald is lying!", Paimon wanted to reason out to her traveling companion for she thinks there is more to the story.
Paimon thought that maybe the abyss herald was twisting a part of the truth and using it to break them apart. But the blonde was too far gone to listen.
Aether summoned his sword and got ready to fight. But instead of aiming for the Abyss Herald, he aimed for the blanc haired girl instead. Shocking both Paimon and Dainsleif.
The latter trying to block Aether's attack but the blonde proved to be more powerful than Dain had expected him to be so the blonde successfully evaded him and ran straight to the blanc haired female.
Y/n just sat there. She knew she should've told Aether the whole truth sooner. This wouldn't have happened if she did. Truth was she never knew that Aether was Lumine's brother.
She figured that's why Dain was dropping hints awhile ago and leaving the both of them space for her to tlak to him and tell him. But she never caught on.
Y/n felt she deserved her beloved's wrath for being incompetent and selfish enough to not tell him the truth.
Aether's sword was going to hit her when, the abyss herald blocked the attack.
"I might've used her to taunt you, but the princess claims that she is under our protection for she is an old friend of the royal highness.", With a smirk the Abyss Herald faught Aether and Dain and Paimon rushed to help Y/n.
"Why are you helping me?", Y/n was confused. She thought both would be mad at her for her actions. Paimon mad at her for lying and Dain for not protecting herself enough.
"You're still my sister even if you choose to die at the hands of the man you love.", Dain uttered with a smile and a kiss to your temple.
"Wait a minute–! Sister?!", Paimon was shocked. She was sure there were enough truth bombs for today but seems Teyvat wasn't done dropping reality checks around them.
"We're biological siblings. During the attack to Khaenri'ah, I survived but she didn't. A god in Celestia created her again out of the generosity of her heart and the Tsaritsa raised her as her own."
"She didn't remember me when we first met but slowly her memories of her origins slowly returned. She slowly earned her way to being a god and stood alongside The Celestia to safeguard Teyvat and watch over the Archons' work.", Dainsleif explained everything he knows of about the young maiden to Paimon, she nodded in understanding in return.
"But what about what that abyss herald said?", Paimon inquired still wary of the current state the traveler was in and scared for the fate of her blanc haired friend.
"A twisted truth?", Paimon felt the need to read more books after all of this is done with, she just couldn't catch up with most of Dainsleif's vocabulary.
"Lumine did seek help from Y/n to keep Aether safe so she could keep Y/n away from the affairs of the Abyss Order."
"But once Y/n seperated from us, she knew nothing about Lumine's whereabouts as did I when we parted ways. She never knew that Aether is Lumine's brother. They met by chance."
Paimon slowly connected the dots and slowly realized that Y/n had a task but it was evident she didn't know who Aether really was looking for nor who he really was, for her lover never really mentioned the name of his sister.
"This is all a big misunderstanding! We need to explain everything to Aether before he decides to hurt you!", Paimon was frantic and immediately wanted to jump in between the battle of the Abyss Herald and Aether to tell him the truth.
After the grueling battle between the Abyss Herald and Aether, the blonde proved to be the victor. He was about to land the final hit when a portal appeared in front of the Abyss Herald and a certain someone decided to join the party.
"Lumine!", Aether was happy he had finally found his sister but was shocked after she had told him that she's not going with him for she still has unfinished business here in Teyvat.
"Y/n?", Lumine soflty inquired and stared at the injured girl. Injuries sustained from fighting the Abyss Mages they encountered along the way. Lumine softly cradled the girl's arms in her hands to mull over her injuries and softly caress her skin in worry.
"Y-you know each other?", Aether was astounded at the new information, to him this seemed as evidence to the Herald's words.
While Paimon, having Dain explain everything to her awhile ago seemed to have finally connected all the dots to the story and is now only seeing proof of said story.
"A god.”, Lumine saw the anger and shock in her brother's eyes and the hurt in her friend's eyes.
It seemed they formed a connection deeper than Lumine ever thought they'd form. She saw how conflicted her brother was through the emotions he was showing through his eyes. She sensed love, confusion and anger directed to both her and Y/n.
"She is. But she never lied to you. She didn't know we were siblings. Nor did she know where I was this entire time.", This fact shocked Aether and his eyes filled with tears.
His face fell and his heart overflowed with regret. He should've known, his Y/n was too kind to do such things.
He was so ready to have his sister back that the moment the Abyss Herald taunted him about the girl he loved lying to him that he threw all explanations out the window.
He tried to put an end to what he thought was the reason he couldn't find his sister. He lost sight of the fact that the girl he tried to kill was the girl he swore he'd protect and sacrifice his life for.
Aether tried to approach Y/n, as she did to Aether. But Lumine held her hand that was reaching out to him. Y/n stared at Lumine's eyes as if asking her why.
"Don't. Leave us and go back to Celestia. We never deserved you. But I promise, we will meet again once more.", Lumine uttered tearing up.
She knew that from the start she never deserved a friend as pure as Y/n. The truth was to Lumine, Y/n loved too much. To the point where she was so ready to give up anything for the people she loved.
She knew from the look of her brother's guilt filled eyes that he had tried to hurt her and end her. So in Lumine's eyes, none of them deserve her.
"Lumine! Don't—!", Dainsleif screamed in horror, but Y/n had already fallen to the floor, a hole the size of Lumine's sword torn through her abdomen and fresh red ink flowing out of the wound.
Lumine teared up even more and held back a sob, quickly turning around and materializing a portal for her and the Herald's escape. She cannot stand to watch her long time friend disappear back to where she belongs.
She felt disgusted at herself for what she had done. But she knew that once she is reborn again, she will hopefully be reborn in Celestia and forget about everything. It will keep her away from this mess. Safe from the impurities of this world.
And maybe, just maybe once the abyss takes Celestia down, she might just be able to bring her home with her brother, safe and sound like they should be.
Afterall the only way to back to Celestia is for Y/n's mortal body to die. Sacrifices had been made is what Lumine thinks.
"Once your journey comes to an end, you'll realize that this world isn't what it seems, Aether. Until we meet again.", with that she disappeared into the portal with Dainsleif hot on her tail with tears in his eyes.
"I'll come back for you my little flower. Big brother will come back for you and I promise I'll never leave again.", Is what he had uttered more to himself rather than to Y/n who was lying in her own pool of blood.
Aether tried to follow through the portal but failed. Angry tears leaking out of his eyes. He looked back at the face of his beloved and ran to her, craddling her in his arms.
"I'm so sorry! I-I blacked out Y/n! I love you! Please...!", Aether didn't know what to say to make up for his actions.
If he hadn't been blinded by unfiltered rage then he wouldn't have threatened to put a sword through his beloved. This wouldn't have happened, if he focused on keeping her safe and not ending her.
"It's okay... I still love you.", This had only made Paimon and Aether cry more, realizing that Lumine was right. They never deserved her.
"I understand... It must've been painful to think about me being the one reason keeping you from Lumine, and now she's... threatening to destroy all of Teyvat. For Khaenri'ah...", At that Y/n started coughing out blood and strated struggling to breathe.
"No! N-no... Please stop talking we'll get help for you okay?! Paimon fly out and get help please...", Paimon flew out of the dungeon first and tried to find help. She wanted to save you. She didn't want to say goodbye either so she put everything she had and flew as fast as she could to Monstadt to find the knights.
Y/n lifted her bloody hand to the blonde boy's cheek and caressed his face soflty the next words coming out her mouth making Aether cry even more.
"Can you make sure Lumine doesn't destroy Teyvat?"
"I will make sure she doesn't destroy Teyvat. Just for you! So please... I want you there with me. What am I going to do without you?!", The blonde was sobbing at this point but the blanc haired female had one final request that Aether just couldn't deny her.
"Can you kiss me? Please?"
"Of course, my beloved. I love you.."
"I love you too, my dearest traveler."
"Traveler! Paimon's got help!"
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