This is fucked.
If Aether had the chance right now to hop online and ask, "What do you do if you're an idiot and screwed up in front of the person you've dreamed of meeting for years?" he'd do it. He'd probably get replies like "You're a real idiot" or "Dude, kill yourself." And Aether was ready to yeet himself out the open window right now—even if he'd look like a complete moron (he had nothing left to lose anyway)—but the guy couldn't move… Because escaping the angry, cold stare of those amber eyes, which their owner was holding on the blond for an indecently long time, was simply impossible.
"And who the hell are you?"
Aether felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up from that piercing, icy voice and the equally unrelenting sharpness of the gaze, in which the young man saw so much hostility and… disgust?
Yeah, that seemed to be it.
Please don't look at me like that.
It was strange, unpleasant, and after a while simply unbearable. Aether couldn't believe it: he'd actually ruined his first impression with the person he'd come here for… Hell, the person he'd agreed to help Venti and the band for, the person he'd attended every performance for, the person he'd come to this university for. For him, Aether was ready to swallow any pride and do anything, because once upon a time the music flowing from a talented guitarist's fingers had pulled Aether back—if not to life, then at least to some distant meaning in it. In cases like that people say the banal:
"Your music saved me."
Aether hadn't hoped to become best friends with Xiao (what was he even talking about when Alatus didn't let anyone closer than arm's length), but he'd hoped his interest, his knowledge, and his decent people skills could build at least a colleague-level relationship with this person. But to sink this low, apparently to rock bottom, in their very first meeting? If fate or karma really existed, it was mocking Aether right now—who still couldn't believe or understand what sins from this life or a past one he was paying for now.
What's it like to realize the person you wanted to impress most is looking at you… like this.
"Venti, what the fuck are you blabbing about my problems to every random person?" Xiao's cold voice echoed in his head like it was far away, but in reality the guitarist stepped closer so passing curious students wouldn't hear.
"If you mean Aether, he's one of us!" Venti started defending.
Xiao and Kazuha exchanged glances, and after a short pause—during which Alatus managed to scan the stranger again—he snorted, addressing the bard:
"Explain."
"Tch," Venti sighed, dramatically clutching his head. "Can we meet after classes and talk? Lunch break's almost over, and I haven't even…"
"Because there's nothing to do over lunch except eavesdrop on other people's conversations," Kazuha cut in.
"Ah, you traitor…" Venti blurted. "You were there too!"
Aether wasn't listening to their bickering because resentment started choking him: a lump slowly rose in his throat, making it hard to breathe properly, and the guy tried to cope with this tearing feeling of self-pity, but he barely managed…
He'd ruined everything before even starting his job with the band. Great. Keep it up. He wanted to just leave right now, run faster, never see the disgust in those eyes again, never hear the voice laced with so much irritation and displeasure that his hands started shaking from oncoming panic.
Please stop looking at me like that…
The blond's lips trembled traitorously when he finally dared look at Xiao, hoping… no, the brunet was still burning him with his gaze, though a moment later he turned away immediately. Well, Aether had just shown himself as a highly unreliable person. Xiao had probably already filed him under "annoying." He shouldn't have come here at all; better to leave things as they were. Aether would've loved to return to his role as a shadow quietly following the person—no matter how weird that sounded. Better to be nobody than another irritating factor.
"Then let's meet at six."
13:23
Aether, 12:50
Albedo, I ruined everything…
Albedo, 13:23
What happened?
Aether sat in class with his phone in hand, trying to figure out how to tell his friend he'd probably nuked any trust from Xiao in one single (technically not one, but the first time Xiao was unconscious) meeting? Getting caught sticking his nose in other people's business was enough to ruin an impression. Anyone in Xiao's place would be pissed. Who likes having their conversations eavesdropped on? Especially conversations about something so forbidden and painful… Had Venti known when he dragged Aether to that damn window? Could he have guessed they'd get busted like kids and shamed? Yeah, shame and some still-unidentified guilt over his fleeting desires were eating Aether alive right now. Though factually—nothing had happened.
The blond dropped his head onto the desk, completely unable to focus on the lecture. No matter how hard Aether tried to think about something else, his thoughts kept returning to that guitarist's gaze.
Aether knew exactly what that look was—he'd seen it often: almost always when Alatus was irritated or displeased (most of his life). And Aether had calmly accepted it, but he'd never imagined Xiao would look… at him like that. They weren't even properly acquainted. Aether had just given in to his curiosity (he didn't even blame Venti), and this is what it led to.
Albedo, 13:25
Aether, what class are you in right now? I'll come over.
Aether, 13:25
No, don't
Everything's fine, let's meet during break instead?
14:30
After a long and torturous class Aether raced downstairs to the cafeteria where he found Albedo. He was sitting at a table by the window in the farthest corner, book in hand, listening to music. The guy looked calm and serene as always, though a little tired. Understandable: he'd spent last night in the lab with Hu Tao, Mona, and a couple other colleagues. They loved staying overnight from Sunday to Monday because it was the only day their schedules aligned, letting the young scientists fully indulge in their kingdom of glass and light.
Spotting the familiar golden braid, Albedo straightened immediately, pulling out his earbuds. Aether nodded silently and headed straight to his closest friend—the person who'd listen to any problem or worry, from "the store doesn't have my size in that cool hoodie" to "today I nuked my relationship with the guy I've been stalking for a couple-three years."
"Come here," Albedo quietly called Aether over, pulling a pack of chocolate cookies and a small thermos from his leather briefcase. The golden-haired guy was ready to cry from such care. Barely sitting down, Aether reached for the young man and hugged him tightly. Albedo, unprepared, froze at first but then placed his palms on the other's back and gently stroked. Aether was tactile, and sometimes an overwhelming urge to hug or hold hands hit him. It happened rarely, but when it did—it was vitally necessary.
The friends' closeness didn't last long, but in those few seconds Albedo felt the trembling coming from Aether's warm body.
"What happened?" the young scientist asked a minute after the silent embrace.
"Sorry, I really needed that," Aether tried to explain, forcing a slightly guilty smile.
"It's fine," Albedo was calm as ever. "But you'll tell me what happened?" Albedo cleared the book from the table so his friend could comfortably start on the sweets.
"You know, actually nothing major, just…" Aether sighed and began telling his friend what happened. About Venti's message, Zhongli and Kazuha, and how Xiao ended up very displeased with Aether's behavior—considering they were complete (!) strangers. And that all the worry boiled down to Xiao "looking wrong" and "saying wrong."
Albedo listened, trying to figure out what Xiao had done to make Aether so worked up—because from the story the guitarist had acted… well, normally? Albedo was about to comment when a familiar dark-haired figure in the cafeteria caught his eye.
Speak of the devil.
Xiao with his friend (Venti, probably) was heading straight to one of the tables, and in an instant the brunet turned his face right toward Albedo. The scientist struggled but still caught irritation? Frowning? Anger? What the fuck was wrong with this guy? Was today's challenge "walk around with a pissed-off face 24/7"? Or was he just like that all the time?
Albedo played stare-down with Alatus for a few seconds until the latter finally turned away. One-zero in Albedo's favor. And all this happened right behind Aether. The guy sat with his back to the hall and simply didn't see it. Plus the blond was busy devouring his favorite chocolate cookies and washing them down with tea.
Albedo turned to his friend, noting how his face cleared up.
Well, sweets and tea never failed. Too bad they couldn't solve bigger problems than a lovesick guy's worries. And one of those problems was currently sitting at the other end of the cafeteria, sipping water from a bottle and looking so detached—like the god of apathy himself had crowned him his most devoted follower. Albedo shook his head briefly, still trying to understand how his close, best friend had fallen for this person? Albedo never found Xiao interesting. Hot—yes, talented—sure, but everything else… Well, not his call. And Aether never talked about "love"—more like he just faithfully followed Alatus as a dedicated fan and stayed loyal to his work.
"Anyway, now I think Xiao won't even want to talk to me, let alone collaborate," Aether sighed, continuing his tale of yet another screw-up. "And I don't know if I should even meet with them now?"
"You're overthinking it too much," Albedo concluded, trying to speak quieter. Though the musicians were too far to hear anyway. "Doesn't Xiao always walk around with that face?" Albedo made his expression mimic the described "brick," imitating Alatus and drawing a funny chuckle from Aether. "How'd you even spot 'disgust' in there?"
"Well, you know, it's an art seeing different shades of emotion in people's faces."
"More like an art digging where there's nothing," Albedo shrugged, making Aether giggle again. "Stop winding yourself up. Go meet the guys, introduce yourself properly, and get acquainted. Are you really ready to miss this chance over one little incident?" Albedo said what he thought, without holding back or ulterior motives. He just wanted to advise his friend not to worry over a couple of Xiao's sidelong glances. Apparently Aether had never dealt with anything like this before—especially from someone he cared about—and was spiraling over nothing.
"And by the way, you know what?" Albedo leaned closer to Aether. "If people don't want to be overheard, they don't have conversations in public places," the scientist hinted at some carelessness on Zhongli and his nephew's part.
Aether looked aside thoughtfully, processing his friend's words, then nodded sharply and even smiled. Albedo was right. Of course it didn't erase Aether's guilt or the fact that eavesdropping was still wrong, but… maybe it really wasn't that fatal?
Finally coming to, Aether thanked his friend and returned to eating cookies. Once again Albedo had brought him back with a short talk and tea.
The guys chatted casually for a few more minutes until Albedo noticed Xiao and Venti standing from their table.
"Aether."
"Hm?" the guy looked uncomprehendingly at the scientist. Albedo watched Xiao and Venti leisurely leave the cafeteria.
"Just don't be late to the 'ANEMO' meeting this time, okay?" Albedo smiled after a short pause.
17:45
"ANEMO" Chat
Heizou, 17:45
I know you're all obsessed with me and everything…
But what the fuck, you forgot about me and I find out about our meetup fifteen minutes before? You could've said earlier, damn it?
Venti, 17:45
I told you at lunch to come to the café at six
Heizou, 17:45
Who'd you tell? I just heard about it from Kazuha right now
Venti, 17:46
You boozing during classes or what? I told you personally during break
Xiao, 17:46
Even I remember that
Heizou, 17:46
Fucked
Venti, 17:46
And I told you to stop wrecking your sleep schedule ;)
Heizou, 17:47
Better shut up
And why the damn café again?
Venti, 17:47
Agreed, we're like schoolgirls
Let's hit a bar
Heizou, 17:47
Haha I knew you'd say that
Kazuha, 17:47
It's Monday, Venti, what bar?
Xiao, 17:47
When has that ever stopped him
Venti, 17:47
Ugh, you're all so boring:/
Heizou, 17:48
Better tell me why the fuck we're meeting again
Venti, 17:48
Come and find out
Xiao turned off his phone and pocketed it in his coat, exhaling cigarette smoke with slight irritation. The guy was trying to finish smoking as quickly as possible and head to the band meeting. He couldn't be late because in an hour he had dinner planned with his uncle and sister at a restaurant. Zhongli visited rarely, and letting him leave without proper family time—which Xiao (sometimes Hu Tao) personally invited him to—would be very rude. Alatus paid too, because it was partly his fault (and his apathetic attitude toward his health, yeah) that his uncle had dropped everything and rushed over from the other side of town.
So right now Xiao wanted to deal with one problem quickly and get to family.
Yeah, problem…
This "problem" had been bothering Xiao all day. And the guitarist still didn't fully understand why. Seemed like a regular guy… Okay, no. Not regular at all, and at this point Xiao knew he was lying to himself. Not to mention all the situations that seemed very strange to him.