The Windscouts/Kaeya x Zhongli/Aether x Childe Ficlet: Ready, Willing and Able.

The Windscouts/Kaeya x Zhongli/Aether x Childe Ficlet: Ready, Willing and Able.

Everything was destined to come to a head-Aether knew that as well as his own name. But as they faced the unknown, he couldn’t keep himself from grimacing, from hating himself, from wishing he could do something to change fate’s course. Stepping into the eye of the storm was inevitable while surrendering his heart and body to a member of the Fatui, that Aether knew. But possibilities threatened to untangle everything in a heartbeat-and the object of Aether’s affections, Childe, was still the storm’s core.

He and his Windscouts (team name courtesy of Xiangling) were tucked away inside Liyue’s inn, listening to a thunderstorm unfold inside and outside of their room. Chongyun was expressing worries he had been carrying for quite a while, and each word he spoke drove the arrows of fear deeper. “It’s just as I thought,” he said, his voice quiet, worried. “Aether, when I shook Mr.Zhongli’s hand for the first time, I felt the most incredible, bizarre energy. I knew, right then and there, he was either an incredibly powerful mortal…or something else altogether. The more I think about it, the more I’m certain Mr.Zhongli is far from human. And-”

Chongyun sent his worried, soft blue eyes to Kaeya. “With everything that’s going on lately, and with everything that happened to Venti-”

“Aether’s boyfriend is gotta be goin’ after Mr.Zhongli,” Bennett exclaimed, hands slammed onto the table, eyes flashing with anger. “He’s Fatui, right?! He’s just like that Signora lady that swiped Venti’s Gnosis! And if Mr.Zhongli really is what we THINK he is-”

“You have to be careful, sweetie,” Amber pleaded with her fellow Knight, taking Kaeya’s hands. “It’s bad enough Aether’s man is behind all of this. There’s already a lot to deal with when it comes to Aether and his mystery man. We all know by now that the Fatui will do anything, and will get RID of anything or anyone, to get what they want.”

Barbara spoke next, also facing Kaeya with soft, deeply concerned eyes. “Childe works closely with Mr.Zhongli. The moment he realizes how close the two of you are-wait, what’s so funny?”

All eyes were on Kaeya as he laughed, including Aether’s wide, wounded eyes. “It’s strange,” the Knight admitted after a moment. “For the longest time, I swore I’d NEVER fall in love. With anyone. Why? I didn’t deserve to be happy. I still don’t. But you know what? Now that I have someone that makes me happy beyond my wildest dreams-”

Kaeya turned to Aether with a mischievious, dark smile that brought a smile to the traveler’s face. “I’m ready, willing and able to do whatever I can to keep him safe.”