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Xiao used to show up only when he was called, but these days he had taken to following Aether on his journey around Teyvat. First as a shadow, then shoulder-to-shoulder, spending most of their time together.
Sharing the same meals, fighting the same evil, and drinking in the same wondrous sights.
At night, for convenience's sake, they often shared a bed together. Mind you, it was not usually a single-sized bed. Or even a bed at all for that matter. If they were out in the wilderness, they simply slept side-by-side on more than enough foraged bedding for them both.
It was only when there were people around ready to offer them something a little more comfortable—be it out of the goodness of their hearts or simply for Mora—might the duo decide to squeeze into a single bed. This often happened but neither of them seemed to mind.
It was in Aaru Village when Aether woke up to something holding him. Considering Candace's protection of the village, it seemed extremely unlikely that he was being attacked. Not to mention Xiao sleeping right beside him too!
Wait, actually, what was this warm thing he has been squeezing close?
When Aether's eyes flew open, all he could see was Xiao. Like a cat, he had snuggled close into the nook of his neck, with his arms sprawled across his chest.
Aether had to blink the sleep out of his eyes to be sure. His mind definitely wasn't playing tricks on him.
Then, as though moving just an inch of his body had shaken the surrounding rocky peaks, Xiao woke up instantly in a panic. If not for the arm on his back holding him down, he would have leapt out of the window and into the ravine below. "W-Wait, this is... I didn't mean to..."
Hold him close like this? Overstepping his boundaries? Getting too close to a mortal? It's like his mind was trapped in an endless karmic cycle, trying to unpack everything in the last five seconds.
Until a pat on the back returned Xiao to the mortal realm, where Aether would relief him of his nightmares with a gentle whisper.
"It's alright, Xiao." He felt his face pressed back into Aether's neck, where he had admittedly felt most secure earlier. "This is exactly what I needed right now. I hope you don't mind me being a little selfish like this?"
It was Xiao's turn to blink in surprise, trying to make sense of his words.
Eventually, like a weight was lifted off his heart, Xiao sighed into the embrace.
"No, not at all... Thank you, Aether."