jikan_network | Video

—know what? I don't know what you're talking about.

[look at this face he has no idea what she means!!

(yes he does he can't lie to save his life)]

But uh, yeah, I could try it on my own - think I should head up there after him?

Hah! Don't play dumb! Aether hasn't said anything, but Paimon knows!

[POINTS]

[ACCUSINGLY]

You two are--

--secretly dating, right!?

[For the record, Aether can hear this, and it's not helping.]

[BRACING FOR THE WORST okay no Paimon knowing what they're up to is actually kind of, well, not embarrassing but awkward how old even is she—]

[. . . ok that is. A lot better than what he was thinking but also -

How is he supposed to answer???]

It's, er - well . . .

[how do you explain friends with benefits but also maybe there's a few dokis involved?]

. . .

Geez, you don't just ask someone something like that, chibi! Especially if it's supposed to be a secret!

[answer: you don't]

Aha! So you admit it!

[Maybe Itto was hoping this would get him off the hook. But alas, he may have have in fact just opened ~~Pandora's~~ Paimon's Box. Because instead of backing off, Paimon floats closer, getting up in his face.]

[Notably, she seems a bit more aware this time -- talking quieter so only Itto will hear the conversation.]

So what's with the secrecy, huh? Are you embarrassed about him? Or are you planning to break his heart, too?

[what the heck why is she suddenly in his face??

The only reason he doesn't lean away is sheer willpower. He also lowers his voice, though, though he's not really sure why he is]

Of course I'm not embarrassed, why would I be? It's only really a secret cuz I haven't talked about it, and I guess he hasn't really either . . .

Wait, whaddaya mean, "too"?

...you don't know?

[It makes sense that he wouldn't. The more people who knew, the more likely it would make its way back to the pair in question -- and seeing as neither of them have done anything wrong, Aether figures it wouldn't be fair to hold it against them.]

[But Paimon doesn't see it that way. And if Itto really is in a secret relationship with Aether, then he deserves to know! It's not like Aether swore her to secrecy, so it's probably all right to tell him.]

A few months ago, Aether was living two friends from Teyvat. Paimon doesn't know if they ever talked about it, but-- you know, they did all sleep in the same bed. And they were about to move into a big house together! But... then both of them suddenly left Nippon.

They came back recently, but one of them doesn't remember their relationship, and the other doesn't remember Aether at all.

[Which certainly isn't something Aether's mentioned. And while he may have seemed a bit clingier than usual during that week they spent together, it would have been easy to write it off as a side effect of being in heat.]

He hasn't talked about it. But Paimon remembers how sad he was when they left, so... it must feel even worse to be forgotten! And since they never talked about it with anyone, it's like it never even happened.

[Aether has definitely not mentioned anything about it, judging from the brief surprise on Itto's face. It isn't that much of a surprise, and it isn't like it bothers him - honestly he's probably most surprised that it hadn't come up til now.

It's no one's fault, right? And yet there's still a flash of that overprotective feeling he for anyone he considers family.

But he listens quietly and, when Paimon finishes, sighs and runs a hand through his hair]

Geez . . . yeah, I didn't know. Being forgotten like that's pretty awful. Worse is there's no one to really blame except the time loops, right.

[while he's new to all this stuff, he can understand that much. And it isn't fair to throw blame on anyone cuz it isn't like they had a choice. His nose scrunches up]

But c'mon, you know I wouldn't do that to him, I'm not that kind of guy.

[Paimon crosses her little arms, pouting.]

Mmm... that's true. And to be honest, you're a way better guy than those other two! Paimon thinks Aether has pretty bad taste most of the time.

[Being compared to Childe is probably a pretty big insult to Zhongli, but hey, the man is perpetually broke despite being the god of money. That's worth ragging on.]

But still! Paimon doesn't want to see Aether that sad because of a stupid boy ever again! So if you do break his heart, Paimon will... Paimon will give you the worst nickname ever!

[Truly a terrible fate.]

Well yeah, but you knew I was already the best. [though since this is a pretty serious discussion - that he's taking seriously! - it isn't said with the usual dumb, confident oni tone.

. . . ok a bad nickname is a pretty tame thread but also, he doesn't doubt that the little flying lavender melon won't find another way to get him, either. Is he learning??

(no)

He huffs, crossing his arms]

Keep your horrible nicknames, 'cuz I ain't gonna do that!

Then-- good!

[...]

So... does this all mean Paimon is the first to officially know? Because Paimon's really happy for you both!

[JUST DIGGING THAT HOLE EVEN DEEPER at least Aether will understand it's out of necessity so avoid Paimon learning way too much about their sex lives, but STILL.]

[of all the holes he can and as dug, at least this one isn't nearly as deep. Or dangerous. Or - y'know this is probably the safest ones he's ever dug period]

Ah - ahaha, thanks, chibi. Yeah, you're the first.

Can you keep it a secret just a little longer? Just, uh - 'til me and the traveler talk about it, all right?

Of course! Don't worry, Paimon's lips are sealed!

[Yeah, no, Paimon is terrible at keeping secrets. Good luck, Itto.]

Oh! But you should really go after him, then! Paimon will just wait here.

They better be!

[Itto has no idea and so, trusts that she will. It could be worse!]

Right, yeah - I'll try the wish thing again too while I'm up there. [and up the stairs he goes - here kitty kitty]

[As soon as Aether heard Paimon's accusation, he proceeded to bury himself into the blankets on his bed, hoping that maybe if he goes back to sleep, he'll wake up normal again.]

[Which is where Itto will find him, his tail sticking out from the bundle of blankets on the futon in his room. Alas, he is still wide awake.]

[cute . . . Itto steps over to the pile and sits down next to it, laying a careful hand on the lump he assumes is Aether]

You can come out, it's just me.

[When Itto sits down, Aether pulls himself into the lump of blankets so he can turn around -- eventually poking out his head and front paws instead, eyes turning up towards Itto.]

[He wants to ask what they talked about down there -- he only really heard the first part, after all. But he's also not sure he wants to know. Compared to all the heartache he's faced in Nippon, things with Itto were always so comfortable. And maybe on some level, he forced himself not to think about things beyond what they already had -- fearful of losing him as well.]

[For that reason -- even if Itto makes another wish, Aether won't turn back into a human again right now. Because he's not so sure he wants to just yet.]

[welp, he may as well be straight-forward about it. It hasn't failed him in the past - mostly, and only because he is real bad at lying - and besides - it's going to come up sooner or later, even if they dodge it now.

Which is why he doesn't automatically try to wish Aether back to normal, and instead:]

So uh, your little friend is on to us. Eeeexcept she thinks we're dating. Secretly! She's almost scary when she gets protective of you, it's kind of cute.

[Ahh. Is that what it was, then? He can't say he's surprised. Out of everyone he knows, Paimon's the only one who knows about each and every hardship he's faced -- here, and back in Teyvat. Perhaps, because she can't protect him from physical harm, when it comes to matters of the heart, she's more protective of him than usual. And recently, even more so than usual.]

[He crawls out further, sitting up properly -- and then resting a paw on Itto's knee.]

[What does Itto think about that? If it's just Paimon thinking it's true, then it doesn't have to be a big deal... does it?]

[how can a conversation be both easier and harder at the same time? Itto doesn't know, but that's what it feels like right now.

He lifts his hand to scritch behind one of Aether's ears - briefly cuz he knows they really should really talk about it. Here he thought he'd just come over and help out or something, today's been something else]

I maybe kind of told her we were. [he coughs in that awkward-nervous way of his] Which, y'know, if that isn't okay I'll go face the little one's wrath and tell her we're not.

But I was thinking . . . it'd be cool if we actually were, too. I mean, I'm cool with whatever you wanna do, but - y'know, throwing that out there.

[Arataki "smooth criminal" Itto]

[It's easy to lean into Itto's hand when he goes for his ear, eyes briefly sliding closed. It helps to put him at ease -- a feeling that he always felt around Itto to some extent.]

[Perhaps that's why his reaction to Itto's words comes rather slowly: eyes widening when Itto admits to going along with the lie -- and then further still when he says he wouldn't mind if it were true. He even wonders whether he may have heard him incorrectly.]

[In a way, it's a good thing Aether can't reply, his battered heart still aching from all too recent heartache, bringing a flurry of anxious questions to his mind. "Is that really what you want?" "What if it changes things too much? What if it ruins everything?" "Do we even want the same things? The same kind of relationship?"]

["Is it okay for me to want this?"]

[For only a brief moment, Itto will see tears welling up in the eyes looking up at him. But only for a moment -- because in the very next, Aether jumps up into Itto's lap and stands on his hind legs, leaning forward to bury his face into Itto's chest.]

[Hopefully that's a decent enough answer for Itto. But just in case it isn't-- the sparkles twinkling around him are shaped like little hearts.]

[in the oni's head, it's a lot simpler. Not that it's any surprise, since he's new to most of this. It's like he told Paimon - he isn't embarrassed, and even if it came out that it was just sex, it wouldn't really embarrass him either - at least, not because of it's with, but just with getting caught.

But it's not like it's a secret he cares about Aether, and this is just - adding on top of that! He doesn't ask just anyone to join the gang, and he already considered him family, so - there's just more feelings involved now.

Simple, but - now he has a lap full of kitty traveler (a sparkling one, even), and while he can figure out the response, he's just, y'know, making sure]

So - I guess you're cool with it?

[He's content with just clinging to Itto like this, but when he's asked to clarify -- Aether pulls back and nods.]

[Maybe Itto's way of thinking about it was better. There was no need to make it complicated, and Itto wasn't the kind of guy to make things complicated. Even if the worst happened -- if Itto were to leave and forget about all this, too -- Aether wouldn't feel as conflicted as did with Childe and Zhongli. Because it's just as he told Paimon -- Itto's a good guy.]

[Wanting to be closer, Aether opts to jump from Itto's lap and up onto his shoulder instead, turning so he can nuzzle his face against Itto's cheek. He's practically a little motor against his ear for how loud he's purring, clearly happy.]

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