Chapter Text
For Xiao, seeing so many customers flock to his boyfriend's store on Valentine’s Day was… complicated.
He was happy seeing Aether make business and have his hard work pay off. Really, he was!
It’s just that… it felt unfair seeing all those couples buy flowers, crowding Aether's store… while Xiao has to stand to the side and barely get any time with his boyfriend.
It kinda hurt. He felt neglected by his boyfriend.
Xiao didn't have any clients that day. He wanted to make sure he had time for Aether. But Valentine's Day this year was almost identical to the last one.
They exchanged simple hand made gifts in the morning. Using his artistic skills, Xiao designed enamel pins for Aether to add to the pockets of his dungarees. Given that he's a florist, Aether made a flower arrangement for Xiao along with a crocheted beanie. Xiao wore that beanie today and it was cute on him.
When Xiao entered Aether's store, Aether already looked overwhelmed but only in Xiao's perspective. To his customers, he was smiling, being charming as ever, giving his customers a hard time choosing between flirting with him and being faithful to their current partners.
But Xiao could tell Aether was masking. He just could. He has seen Aether's smile a billion before. He could tell the difference between a customer-service facade versus the way Aether's eyes sparkled in his eyes when he lit up in genuine delight.
As the customer left, Aether's store was finally empty! Not for long, Xiao predicted. He might only get five minutes alone with Aether before another obnoxious couple without social or spatial awareness barges in.
"You're wearing the beanie," Aether said, looking at Xiao everywhere but his eyes. Aether drops the mask as his tone shifts into something more depleted. "Glad to see it."
"You good?" Xiao immediately asked, making his way towards the counter.
"Eh." Aether shrugged. "It’s always like this. I'm fine. Well… sorry. That- that was an instinctual response. I'm not fine."
…
Xiao went behind the counter to wrap his arm around Aether's shoulders to which Aether leaned into. Aether rested his head on Xiao's shoulder, his arm wrapping around Xiao's waist.
"It’s… greedy of me. I'm choosing money I'd make off Valentine's Day over spending it with my boyfriend."
"No, I get it. I'd do the same. You're earning a lot."
"I'm taking advantage of a holiday while you're doing the opposite. You're not taking any clients today fully knowing how much money you'd make out of tattooing people’s partner’s names…"
Xiao sighed.
"That's just not something I can live with… giving someone an atrocious tattoo like that. It would haunt me for life."
Xiao knew that he'd lay awake at night wondering if they broke up or not, worrying he gave past clients a permanent reminders of a relationship that damaged them.
Aether deepened the hug, sinking deeper into Xiao's arms as he buried his face in Xiao's neck. Xiao's arms followed accordingly, keeping his boyfriend anchored within his grasp.
"But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't upset that we don't have the entire day to ourselves," Xiao muttered honestly.
The door to Inteyvat Garden opens as a customer enters, cueing Xiao and Aether to separate from their embrace.
Mask on.
"Hey! Welcome to Inteyvat Garden! Happy Valentine's Day."
Still standing next to him, Xiao whispered into Aether ear.
"You think you'd still have energy for a picnic tonight?"
"How late tonight? I close at 9:30."
"After 9:30. Maybe 10:30 if you need to rest after work today."
"I don't know."
Xiao was getting frustrated. He understood that his boyfriend had a limited supply of spoons each day, but it hurt a little that Aether didn't reserve enough spoons for him. He didn't blame Aether, though. He never did. Aether never chose to have a short supply. He just does. But still.
"Aether, come on. It’s Valentine-"
The customer interrupted Xiao's speech, wanting to ask about the Chrysanthemums
"Just a second!" Aether called.
Aether turned to Xiao.
"You were saying?"
"It’s Valentine's Day! We're the only couple not on a date! I wanted to do something special, not watch you work the entire day while I did nothing but… but wish I was spending time with you."
…
"I said too much. You're not doing anything wrong. I'm being selfish. I'll- I'll just go-"
Aether took Xiao's forearm before he could leave.
"I'm sorry! I’ll close early. I’ll close at 8PM."
"Nonono, you don't have to do that. The streets will still be busy. You'll miss out on a lot of business-"
"I'm not the only flower shop here anyway! It’s Valentine's day. People can get flowers literally anywhere."
Xiao was starting to feel guilty… and he had a feeling that Aether could see that.
"Besides… I'd kind of be doing my competitors a favor by closing early, hehe. Should give them a chance to sell as much as I do, shouldn't I?" Aether snickered. It was an attempt to lighten the mood.
"You're so cocky-"
The door chime dings as more customers entered the shop. The customer asking about Chrysanthemums was starting to look impatient. If it weren't for Aether's aversion to working with more people, he wouldn't be the only one attending to customers.
"Be right back, babe."
Aether walked away from the counter and attended to the customers.
Xiao continued to stand behind the counter, relieved that Aether decided to close early.
Aether didn't have to. They could have had a picnic to celebrate their love for each other any other day! It didn't have to be in this capitalistic trap of a holiday.
But for some reason, Xiao wanted—no—needed to do something special with his boyfriend today even if he thought Valentine’s Day is an overrated holiday that was stolen by consumerism. Because despite what Xiao believes, Aether is doesn't deserve such pessimism on a day meant for celebrating love.
Xiao's apartment.
Xiao had a few hours before 8PM. He needed to prepare food and flowers. It was usually Aether who did the semi-grand romantic gestures but Xiao wanted to up his game. He always felt like Aether was more expressive than him when it came to romance so he wanted to express his love for Aether in a way he (his boyfriend) would understand.
First, a handwritten love letter he wrote three days ago.
Next, flowers. Aether knew and understood the language of flowers more than anyone Xiao has ever met. Xiao would know, he had been listening to Aether infodump about flowers since they became friends. (Or at least when Xiao thought they were friends while Aether wasn't aware he saw it that way. Aether needed their friendship to be verbalized first before considering it one.)
Xiao wasn't as skilled as Aether was when it came to wrapping bouquets, and the sad sunflowers he grew in a plastic pot from the dollar store were nothing close to what Aether sold at his shop, but damn it, he was doing his best!
He also needed to cook food. Aether liked fries and sweet madame. He wasn't as good as a cook as Aether was but… you know what? He’ll just have food delivered. He doesn't want to disappoint Aether with his mediocre cooking on Valentine's Day of all days.
picnic blanket
Xiao arrived at the park holding a picnic basket in his arm. Fuck! It was crowded as hell. Aether would NOT like it here. There are just too many people! He didn't want his boyfriend getting overstimulated on a day they're both supposed to be happy.
But then Aether arrived. It appeared that simply arriving was too much for him.
"H-hey, Xiao."
There wasn't a smile on Aether's face. There were headphones protecting his ears. Aether was also holding a flower crown. Maybe he would have been wearing it if it wearing for the need of headphones.
"Aether!" He held Aether's upper arm. "I’m so, so sorry. It wasn't this crowded last Valentine's Day."
"…"
"You're not okay, are you? Let’s go somewhere else."
"…"
"Aether?!"
Xiao gently shook Aether's forearm. Aether wasn't responding. He was staring blankly, not saying a word.
"Let’s go to my tattoo parlour. It should be quieter there."
Tattoo parlor
While not the most romantic (or soft), a picnic blanket on the floor of Xiao's tattoo parlor was the best they could have done in a situation like this. It’s not like either of them had a backyard.
Aether still hasn't uttered a word, but at least he set his headphones aside. It was a a sign he didn't need any hearing protection.
"Not talking, huh?"
Aether shook his head.
"It’s okay. Don't force yourself. Do you still want to do this?"
Aether nodded. But he still wasn't smiling.
Xiao sighed. The last time he had seen Aether smile today was this morning. He was hoping to see his boyfriends face light up sooner.
"Okay. Okay. Would… would a hug help?"
Aether crawled closer, leaning against Xiao's chest and burying his face in Xiao's neck. Xiao hugged back tightly, trying to provide deep pressure to Aether. He knew his boyfriend needed deep pressure to soothe sensory overload.
"Hey, I'm sorry about turning Valentine's Day into such a big deal. I…"
Xiao sighed.
"It… didn't have to be today. We didn't need to celebrate or have a date today specifically. I was just…. I felt a little pressured. I saw everyone else, all the other couples going on dates today. I thought we had to do the same."
…
"But it’s silly. It’s just a random day. We love each other just as much every other day of the year. It’s not like we have to be doing what everybody else is doing to know that… we truly love each order."
God, Xiao was starting to cringe at his own sappy words. He'd never spoken like this before he met his boyfriend. He was slightly embarrassed of how much he's changed since getting into a relationship.
…
"Aether? Say something?"
Aether shook his head. With his arms still wrapped around Xiao's neck, he tilted his head to kiss Xiao on the cheek.
Xiao let out a relieved sigh.
"What did that kiss mean? Were you trying to reassure me?"
Aether nodded.
"You're not... upset at me for forcing you to do something romantic with me today when you're already tired?"
Aether shook his head. He was far from angry. He was appreciative more than anything.
"You promise you'd let me know if I did anything to upset you?"
Aether nodded.
"Do… do you wanna… read my letter to you?"
Aether nods.
Xiao had spent hours drafting his letter, erasing words, rewriting sentences, crumpling it up when he thought it sounded too sappy or not enough. He still thinks he ended up writing something stupid anyway.
"Aether,
I don't know how to do this right. Just never forget that I love you more than anything.
Love can be stupid and messy and you make me feel stupid all the time—but in a way that makes my chest hurt like I’m dying from something good instead of bad (dying in a good way, please don't overthink. Not that dying is good. Dying is bad.)
I don't regret falling in love with you. It's the best thing that ever happened to me.
So here: Happy Valentine’s Day? Whatever? Just… stay with me."
P.S. Don’t throw this away.
Aether chuckles as he reads the letter, tucking it back into the envelope as he takes his notepad out of his front pocket.
With a pen, Aether writes:
I love you too! You're the love of my life
Those simple words bring a smile to Xiao's face. He cups Aether's cheek, pressing their lips together as they kiss on the picnic blanket laid across the concrete of his tattoo parlor.
When they pull away, Aether smiles and kisses Xiao on the forehead.
Xiao didn't have to speak. Neither did Aether. Neither of them were very talkative individuals but that's okay! They knew how to say what mattered.
Xiao reached for the abomination of a flower bouquet he made earlier. Avoiding eye contact, he shyly tossed it on Aether's lap and turned away to hide the redness on his cheeks.
Aether took the bouquet and chuckled. It was certainly an improvement from Xiao'S last attempt. Aether could see that Xiao was applying the lessons he had taught him. Aether pointed to a particular fold Xiao made on the bouquet and nodded approvingly, to which Xiao sighed at.
"Don't lie to make me feel better."
Aether playfully tossed his notepad into Xiao's lap to which it read: "I’m not lying! I like it!"
Xiao shook his head.
"Whatever."
That's when Xiao felt a flower crown dressing his head over the beanie Aether had made him. So the flower crown Aether made wasn't for himself after all, it was for Xiao.
"Oh… uh… th-thank you? Do I look okay? Not like a … dork?"
Aether nods.
"W-what are you nodding at? Me looking okay or looking like a dork?"
Aether cheekily shrugged, leaving his answer purposely ambiguous to mess with Xiao.
"Asshat," Xiao grumbled.
Walking home
On the way to Aether's apartment, they held hands. Aether was quiet as usual but Xiao didn't mind the silence. Just being with the person he loved was more than enough.
Aether was visibly exhausted. Xiao wouldn't hesitate to carry him if it weren't for Aether's pride. He felt Aether leaning against his shoulder as Xiao supported him as they walked.
Aether's apartment served as a second storage space for his flowers but Xiao didn't mind being surrounded by natures most beautiful creations (his boyfriend included.)
Aether motioned his head for the bathroom, signaling that he would be taking a shower.
"Can I join?" The words slipped out of Xiao's mouth faster than he could catch them.
Aether smiled and nodded.