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Something doesn't feel right, thinks Aether.
It's not cold, so why is his precious sister wearing a scarf? Actually, moving away from the scarf... she's more bundled up than usual. She's wearing a white, button-up blouse. A large brown coat with fluffy black trim is thrown on top. She is wearing a yellow knee-length skirt, but she also has on black stockings and a pair of brown boots.
"Lumi, do you have a fever?"
The female twin tilts her head, confusion evident in her golden eyes. "No?" she replies. Aether continues to stare at her as she shifts uncomfortably at the intensity of his gaze. "Uh, Aeth? You're starting to freak me out with that intense staring of yours. Did you miss me that much from your time overseas? It's only been three months."
"No, that's not it..."
"Then what is it?" Lumine raises a brow at Aether, her lips in a tight frown. He sighs and begins to take a bite of the burger he ordered - his first meal after coming back to Mondstadt from his college exchange program in Fontaine. What is it?
Lumine had come to pick him up from the airport. Aether's spidey senses already started tingling the moment he saw his precious sister waving at him so excitedly, but he was just so happy to see her again that he didn't give it much thought. They hugged, and she eagerly took some of his bags to help him out before they took a taxi to their favorite burger place to celebrate his return.
Now that the high of seeing Lumine again is curbed, Aether can finally focus on that nagging feeling.
"It's just... You look really warm in that outfit," Aether finally points out, narrowing his eyes at her. If he didn't know Lumine so well, he would have missed it. His precious baby sister's eyes widened for a fraction of a second and a ghost of a blush dusted her cheeks.
No.
"It's called fashion, Aeth. Look it up," Lumine scoffs. She has her arms crossed, and her eyes are refusing to meet his. She's nervous.
Something's definitely up.
And Aether was no idiot. He has a sinking feeling he now knows why his spidey senses are screaming at him right now.
"Lumi."
"What?"
"Take off your scarf."
The girl immediately grips her scarf and glares at her brother. "No," she replies plainly.
No, this can't be happening, thinks Aether. His inner self is already going insane at the conclusion he has come to. Albedo is going to die.
"Stop being a kid and take it off!"
"Just-just focus on your damn burger, won't you?!"
"What are you hiding under there?!"
"Nothing! I'm not hiding anything! Can't a girl wear a scarf in peace?! Shut up and eat, you creepy siscon!!"
The twins glare at each other from the opposite ends of the table. It's a good thing it's very early in the morning; there were no other patrons yet. Just the staff who simply sigh and ignore them. They're used to these two having their arguments by now.
Lumine huffs as she eats her burger, deciding that the conversation is over. Though feeling deflated that he is spending his first day back at Mondstadt fighting with his sister, Aether whips out his phone from underneath the table.
"I'm going to kill you," he furiously texts his friend, Albedo.
Aether takes a big chomp out of his burger when he feels his phone buzz in his pocket.
"Oh? Why?"
He replies fast, Aether thinks. He's definitely guilty.
"You're the genius here. I'm sure you know why."
"Hmm... I hypothesise that it's because of the marks I left on your precious twin sister. I apologize; I made an error in the calculation of days the marks would disappear. Thanks for letting me know. I'll correct them on my notes. For future reference. :)"
A vein pops. Aether could visualize the smug grin Albedo has on right now, and oh, how badly does he want to come over that bastard's apartment right now and beat him up.
Aether looks up at Lumine, who has finished her meal and is now drinking her favorite soda. She seems lost in thought and doesn’t notice how her scarf has slipped a tiny bit. He sees a purplish red mark on that exposed area. Noooooo.
"YOU BASTARD IT LOOKS FRESH HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND ON MY SISTER I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T LIKE KAEYA OR THE OTHERS OH MY GOD I WILL MURDER YOU," Aether is typing away furiously, but before he could send the message, he hears the sweet voice of his twin sister.
"Listen, Aeth..."
Aether instantly looks up and sees Lumine eyeing him very guiltily. "I'm sorry. You just came back from Fontaine and we're already having a fight," she mumbles, sighing. He feels his anger melt away at the sight of his apologetic twin and instantly pockets his phone. He'll deal with that bastard later.
"Nah, I... I'm sorry too, Lumi. I'm the one acting like a brat here, forcing you to take off your scarf."
Lumine smiles at him bitterly and Aether sees her debating with herself inwardly. After a minute, she finally sighs, and looks at him determinedly. "Aeth. I want you to know that I love you. You're my precious twin brother. I always appreciate how you protect me and shield me from everything, wanting what's best for me, but..." she trails off, biting her lip. Aether sighs.
He knows where this is going.
"I know you're an adult now too, Lumi. I know that. It's just... Just! You should know that men are wolves! You're too innocent and defenseless, Lumi! I thought Albedo was a nice guy; that's why I even approved of your relationship -"
"You threatened to burn down his apartment when we told you we were dating."
"Not the point! As I was saying... I thought that bastard was a nice guy who'd never do anything so... so... uncouth towards you! That's why I thought it was safe to go on that exchange program! I even made him swear on his life that he'd protect you while I was gone!"
Lumine rolls her eyes. She loves her brother, but he is so dramatic. "I can protect myself, you know?" she grumbles, but Aether ignores her and keeps going. "And now I come home after three months, and I find out that while I was gone, he took that as an opportunity to fuck -"
The female twin clamps a hand over her brother's mouth, face flushed a deep shade of red. "You... You... You didn't have to say that out loud, you idiot!" she cries, glaring at him, embarrassed. He narrows his eyes at her and shakes off her hand. "So you admit it!"
"Yes, Aether! I admit it, but don't kill him!"
"I will kill him. I'll kill him, I swear. I'm willing to go to hell for this - "
"No! Don't be stupid! He didn't force me to do anything, you dummy! I... I wanted it too!"
"How dare that bastard seduce my innocent twin sister -"
"Aether!"
Aether finally snaps out of it when he sees his sister glaring at him, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. She looks so frustrated. "I'm not going to stay a kid forever. I... I love Albedo, okay? I wanted it too, okay? He asked me numerous times if I was really fine with it, and I said yes! If I wanted to stop, he'd stop! It didn't matter how far in we were!" she explains exasperatedly. She can't believe she's giving away this much information to her brother right now. "P-point being... Albedo treats me well. He makes me happy, and I don't want you two to be at odds with each other more than you already are just because of this. You're both precious to me."
He knows he’s too overprotective. He knows that. But… Lumine is his precious sister. Ever since they were children, they’d always been together and took care of each other. She relied on him to protect her, and she was always there to protect him in return.
Aether was the first to fall in love between the two of them. He had been smitten with a girl during high school, but it turned out that she had simply been playing with him. Lumine wanted to beat her up upon seeing her brother so heartbroken, but he stopped her. She instead refocused all her efforts into comforting him, and he was eternally grateful for it. She’d get him his favorite food at random, just to make him smile. She’d send him memes and pictures of things she found funny, and at times, she’d write him short letters and notes and sneak them into his bag, encouraging him and reminding him how loved he was.
Aether was convinced that his sister was an angel; feisty at times sure, but more often kind and sweet to the people around her. If she was this sweet to him, her brother, how much sweeter would she be if she finally found someone she’ll fall in love with? Who could ever shower his sister with just as much love as she deserves? Maybe it was then that he decided no guy could ever deserve her.
He found out Albedo was crushing on Lumine when he borrowed his notes for one of their classes. There were a pair of eyes doodled in one page’s corner, and he immediately recognized them as his twin sister’s eyes. He demanded answers from his friend, who didn’t hesitate to tell him that yes, he was definitely into his sister. In fact, they’d been chatting for a while now and would occasionally meet up.
Aether was furious, and though Albedo was still his friend, he threatened him every time his sister was brought up. He saw red when the two began dating officially.
To Albedo’s credit, he never fought with Aether for being so protective over his sister. He said he understood, but that he would not back down just because of that, much to the male twin’s chagrin.
She’s a precious girl. He’d treasure her and never hurt her, he said.
Albedo had told him that so sincerely, with a gentle smile gracing his lips. Aether softened and actually found himself believing his words. When he saw his sister’s smile when he told her he’d give Albedo a chance, Aether was convinced that maybe… Albedo was the perfect choice for his sister after all.
Not that he’d admit that out loud.
Aether sighs. “Lumi… You know I love you a lot, despite how annoying you are sometimes, don’t you?” he says. His sister smiles. “Of course, I do!” she replies cheerfully, then softens. “I love you, Aeth. You’re the best brother in the world. But I love Albedo too. I promise you that he makes me so, so happy, Aeth! So please… don’t hate him,” she tells him, her eyes looking up at him so intently. He buries his face into his hands. “I… know Albedo is a good guy. He’s still my friend and I know him well enough to know how his head is just full of stupid experiments and weirdo genius shit and… you. He’s always talking and thinking about you. When I was in Fontaine, he even sent me updates about you for God’s sake.”
Aether didn’t tell Albedo to do that and he snarkily told him just as much. The genius simply told him that he knows Aether would appreciate it nonetheless.
He hated how Albedo was right.
“He… sent you updates about me?”
“Yeah. Told him he ain’t getting any points by doing that but he kept doing it nonetheless. He told me how upset you were about your exam with that fucker Pallad.”
“... Is that why you sent me so many memes that night?!”
Aether nods and his sister looks like she’s about to cry. “You guys are so sweet,” she whispers. “I’m so lucky to have you as my brother, and Albedo as my boyfriend.”
“Yeah... Yeah, you are. But we’re luckier.”
Lumine shakes her head. “No, I’m the luckiest,” she says, sticking out her tongue at him. Aether can’t help but laugh at her childishness. She laughs with him before giving him a hopeful look. “So… You won’t kill Albedo?”
“...No. He can live.”
Lumine does a fist pump, her golden eyes sparkling as she huffs out a “yes!” to herself. “Thank you, Aeth,” she says, smiling so widely.
“Just use protection.”
Lumine chokes.
The twins get back to their apartment and Lumine goes to take a nap after helping her brother unpack all his things. Aether plops down on his bed, ready to take a nap as well, when he remembers to take out his phone. He sees that he has one message. Albedo.
“I apologize for teasing you. I know that as her brother, you love Lumine very much and want all the best for her. Please know that I wish the same, but I am also still a man, Aether. And I love her, perhaps more than the two of you know. I apologize that it seems like I had been opportunistic with the timing, but I would never force myself onto her, nor would I consciously do things that would make her unhappy.”
It was sent over two hours ago, probably right after he sent that provoking text to Aether. He wonders if Albedo’s lowkey panicking over Aether not replying immediately. He laughs a little at that image.
Why is your stupid boyfriend so difficult to loathe, Lumi?
Aether types his response before he finally lets sleep take over him.
“Fine, just no fucking in our apartment.”