guess-monst3r

[guess-monst3r]

|i'm sorry

ft. xiao, aether

genre: angst

word count: 2.7k

major character death, blood and injury, xiao shows emotions, long build up

Hǫðr is a character I made up. :)

The last battle in his quest to reunite with his twin, after this they could continue onto their next adventure traveling the stars. There would be no more meaningless quests to help people he's never met, no more playing this elaborate game of tag with his sister, no more sleepless nights, no more begging for his sister to return to him.

Though knowing the people he does now, could he really leave and forget them all? Paimon who's been with him since he awoke, Amber the first one to try to help him find his sister, Venti the first Archon he met, Childe who gave him one of his hardest fights yet, Zhongli who taught him much of his regions culture, Ei who he helped see the light once more, Xiao who promised to always come when called.

He had met so many people in his time traversing the seven regions of Teyvat and so many of them would forever be lodged in his memories. Was he really ready to leave them all behind, leave him behind?

Xiao was the only person to give to him without expecting anything in return. What others saw in Aether as strength, Xiao saw a friend.

It was laughable, he was going into what could possibly be the biggest battle of his life yet, he was thinking of a boy he hadn't seen in months.

“Paimon thinks you should reconsider! Paimon would hate it if traveler got hurt!" Aether brushed her off, continuing his walk down the starry corridor. This was the last obstacle to reunite with his sister, he had to continue, or his entire journey would have been for nothing.

As he walked through the doorway at the end of the hall, he observed his surroundings, dull blade at the ready. There were what seemed like asteroids floating around, the windows opening up to the starry night sky, with a small layer of water pooled around his ankles.

"Hǫðr! Show yourself you coward!"

He heard a maniacal giggle echo around the room, and he scanned his surroundings once more for the source. His eyes set on his opponent’s figure, Hǫðr was slightly bent forward his curved twin blades angled behind him ready to rush at the blonde male.

Aether brought his blade in front of him preparing to deflect the opposing male. Hǫðr was wearing the typical clothing of what was once Khaenri’ah now more commonly known as the Abyss Order. His hair was pure white as the stars in the sky, matching the starry pupils of his black eyes.

“We meet again, Aether.” Black eyes snapped up to meet with gold. Aether couldn’t stop his body from flinching under the pure malice of the snowy haired male. Paimon shrieked cowering behind the blond peaking over his shoulder.

“Hǫðr, tell me where my sister is!”

Hǫðr laughed. “You think she wants to see you! Your sister has long given up on you and this twisted world! You are beneath her! Her majesty reigns supreme! I’ll tell her location… but only if you defeat me!” He was borderline insane and there was a clear power difference between the two males.

When had power differences ever hindered the blond? He always came out on top. Aether narrowed his eyes, “Paimon, go hide.”

Aether wouldn’t regret if he was killed in this battle, but he would forever hate himself if he was the cause for his closest companion's death.

“Well then Hǫðr, take your best shot,” The blonde smirked.

The only way to fight madness was with madness.

Hǫðr released a loud laugh before dashing forward. Aether met his blades with his own. The resounding clash of metal ringing through the room, the males moving at such a fast speed that Paimon could not follow.

She could only cower behind the stone pillar and watch the blurs clash hoping that her golden companion would come out on top.

Aether was fast but Hǫðr was faster.

Aether was strong but Hǫðr was stronger.

One thing Hǫðr could not beat Aether in was his resolve.

Aether would not give up until he could hold his sister in his arms again, until they could travel under the stars once more, until they could finally be family again.

Hǫðr as the Abyss Princess’ right hand was simply following orders, “do not make it easy for him, if my brother cannot beat you, he is not worthy to reunite.” Those were the princess’ words.

Hǫðr jumped back from Aether’s blade and as his feet met the pillar, he used the momentum to spin and push himself towards the blonde. He brought one of his blades down on Aether’s taking the other and slashing at his side.

Aether growled bringing a leg between them to kick the male back. Hǫðr hit a stone pillar the rock cracking under the force as the white-haired male slid to the ground.

Aether clutched his side hissing as the blood seeped out and down his toned stomach. He clenched his teeth as he brought his hand away from the deep gash shaking the blood off his fingers.

Hǫðr was back on his feet and rushing the blonde again, Aether wasted no time immediately pushing off his feet and sprinting at him.

They clashed Hǫðr bent backwards twin blades flipped up as Aether pushed his blade down against his.

Hǫðr kicked the male back in a quick motion flipping backwards to escape the blond. Aether winced as Hǫðr���s foot met his open wound drawing back in a defensive manner.

Hǫðr sprinted at the blonde again trying to break through his defenses. One of his blades met with the blond’s leg ripping through the fabric and drawing blood.

Aether flinched swinging his sword at the other male forcing his opponent back.

Aether was struggling to keep up and as the two continued to exchange contacts, he grew slower and slower.

The blood loss from the wounds adorning his body was slowly getting to him.

He was damp with sweat, his eyes hooded, and despite the adrenaline pumping through him he felt cold.

His vision and hearing were blurry so as he fell to the floor Hǫðr slowly walking over him he couldn’t make up the words Paimon was screaming.

He could hear her desperation, but he could not hear her.

Paimon was in panic, she could not find a solution to the current moment. She was powerless against the beast that has brought even the mightiest traveler to their knees.

She did the only thing that could come to mind, remembering the promise that was made to the traveler all those years ago.

“Xiao!”

. . .

“Xiao please!”

. . .

“Xiao the traveler needs you!”

Aether was trying to focus on Paimon’s words. He needed to know what she was saying. The ringing slowly died down and he was able to make out what his floating companion was saying although the words were fuzzy and quiet.

“Xiao, please! Aether’s dying!”

His ears finally cleared, and he could hear the sobs coursing through her, and he coughed spitting out the blood collecting in his mouth as Hǫðr stared down at him.

“Aether hold on! I’ll find help I promise!” He softly smiled as he watched his companion leave. At least she would be safe.

“Oh no… it seems I’ve broken you.” Hǫðr looked down in mock sadness. “I wasn’t supposed to kill you… awe man the princess is going to kill me.” He pouted body sinking into itself. He hissed as he felt the weight out his injures not hitting him. Although his weren’t as worse as the blond’s.

Aether tried speaking mouth moving but no words coming out. “Oh! Come on, let’s hear the mighty traveler’s last words!” Aether spat the blood he just coughed up onto the male's feet.

Hǫðr grimaced at the red soaking his white boots. He was ready to ridicule the male however paused as the blond opened his mouth once more.

“Xi…ao…” It was weak and said through deep breaths of pain but the adeptus although regions away heard it.

“Xiao? Awe man, I thought you’d have some cool last words. What the hell is Xiao.” The Abyss solider pouted rolling his eyes in disappointment.

“Me.”

The white-haired male perked up at the voice, turning around to hopefully lock eyes him the voices owner only to be met with what seemed to be a demon mask.

At the smallest call of his name from his blond he rushed right to him. He was expecting a happy reunion but the sight he had laid eyes on was not a happy one.

The blond male that he had grown to trust, and love was laying before his eyes in a pool of this own blood.

The gold eyes that always shone with such life and happiness in the adeptus’ presence were now dulled and cloudy as the life slowly seeped out of his best friend… out of his lover…

After the deaths of his fellow yaksha, the green-haired male closed himself off. He devoted himself into his responsibilities protecting the people of Liyue.

Even as his karmic debt weighed heavily and threatened to break him, he did not falter. He pushed through life, and he hid himself from the world refusing to go through more grief and strife due to getting attached to someone that would only leave him once more.

However, when the blond traveler entered Liyue he couldn’t stop himself from getting attached. Aether had broken down all of his walls and the adeptus let him.

No matter how much Xiao complained about him forcing his way into his life, both him and Aether knew that Xiao was thankful someone cared about him enough to try.

So now seeing the man that he had learned to love with all his heart slowly dying beneath who he could only see as a maniac he felt betrayed.

Aether promised to never leave him, he promised…

The mask on his faced served another purpose in that room. While usually he used it to harness his fully power, tonight it would be used to hide the tears continuously flowing down his face.

He would not need his full power to end the male that stood above his Aether, his raw emotions would be enough.

The smile playing on Hǫðr’s face dropped in an instance. Stifled by the pure and utter enmity flowing of his newfound opponent in waves.

Hǫðr wanted to run, he had never wished to flee from a battle before and the fact that now in the presence of the short male he wanted to run terrified him.

“I’ll kill you.” There were no emotions shone in the yaksha’s voice. After centuries, he knew how to hide his emotions well.

Hǫðr fully believed the masked man would.

Before he could even speak, before he could even hope to run a glowing green spear was lodged in his chest.

Xiao pushed on the end of his weapon relishing in the audible cracks of the man’s sternum, a smile grew under his mask as he felt the tip of his spear reach the man's heart.

The abyssal solider had a pleading look on his face, never did Hǫðr think that he a man on par with gods in his eyes would die in this way.

Xiao felt his blade puncture the man's heart and he placed him foot beside where his blade lay in the male's chest applying pressure to force the man to his knees and give him leverage to pull his spear from his chest.

Xiao felt a rush of joy wash over him as the man’s blood splattered against his mask.

Hǫðr coughed choking on his own blood as he fell to his side. He knew he would not last long before the blood loss crept up on him and slowly killed him.

He could not help but think of the demon man as a monster for leaving him to die a slow and painful death but in Xiao’s eyes he deserved worse.

Aether released a breath of relief watching as Xiao defeated the male.

Xiao’s attention was immediately on the traveler as his ears picked up the sound. He fell to his knees beside him bringing his head onto his lap hugging him close to his chest.

“Xiao. . .”

“Nuh-uh don’t speak. I’ll get you out of here, save your energy.”

“Xiao. . . Please. . .” Xiao knew what the male was implying but he refused to accept it. He refused to accept that the blonde would die here.

“Please don’t die on me my prince. You’re all I have left.”

Aether could only give him a soft smile leaning into his embrace and basking in the use of the pet name Xiao only used on special occasions.

“Y. . . You promise me.” Aether’s heart broke at the sound of his voice.

“My love… I…I’m sorry.” Aether weakly reached to place his hand over Xiao’s mask. The mask immediately dissolved, and Xiao’s hand came up to hold Aether’s wrist as he leaned into his hand.

“Don’t. . . Don’t cry. You’re so…so beautiful my love. . .” Aether ignored the pounding of his wounds focusing solely on his lover’s face. Xiao’s eyes which usually held a cold stoic gaze were sadden and rimmed with tears.

“How can you ask me not to cry while you die in my arms,” Xiao scoffed but the sound didn’t hold the same weight it usually did, the sound came out broken and soft.

That was how Xiao felt in the moment, broken and soft.

“I. . . lov-“

“Don’t. . . you dare say you love me right now.” He sobbed.

Aether’s gaze softened showing his love through his teary cloudy eyes. Xiao wasn’t sure he would be able to live on if the blond told him that he loved him at that moment.

Aether brought his thumb to the male's lips. Xiao clenched his jaw placing a kiss against the other male’s thumb.

“I love you.”

“No, you idiot. . . Stop. . . stop acting like you’re going to die. . .”

Aether smiled softly struggling to keep his eyes open. He could feel his conscious slipping, he could feel himself falling into the abyss.

“You. . . You can’t leave me.” Xiao’s last word was strained as he held back a sob.

“I love you, you idiot.”

The smile on Aether face grew just a bit bigger and he allowed himself to fall into the abyss as he laid in his lover's arms.

Xiao felt him go limp in his arms and he could feel his breaths slowly growing slower and slower until the blond’s chest rose and fell for the last time.

It may have been months since they last saw each other, their bond was still as strong as ever and even though the traveler would not wake again their bond would not weaken. Xiao would never forget the blond traveler he saw as the love of his life.

The blonde traveler that taught Xiao to accept affection and love again.

The blonde traveler that held him in his arms and allowed him to release all his pain through tears as his past experiences caught up to him.

The blonde traveler who now laid dead in his arms.

“Sleep well my prince. . .”

Paimon finally returned with help; however, she was too late and that would weigh on her forever.

Xiao looked up at her and Paimon was stopped dead in her tracks by the look on the adeptus’ face.

“I’m sorry.”

I would say sorry but I'm not sorry >:)

[guess-monst3r]

being an oikawa kinnie 🤝 hating oikawa

[guess-monst3r]

so i did it i finally read in another life...

don’t talk to me i can’t stop crying😭😭