Genshin Impact Aether X Reader - Tumblr Posts
I do write for Aether c: I hope you like what I did for the prompt. It's a very unique one
(Sfw) Le Papillon
Characters: Aether x GN!Reader
Warnings: Cursing, reader has an anemo vision
WC: ~1k words
People will go on and on about how pretty butterflies are. The grace they represent. The beauty they display for all to see. They represent tranquility and calm. They're just magnificent.
Well, you're calling bullshit!
Butterflies are pretty, sure. But for you, all they represent is inconvenience. For as long as you can remember, you always had the ability to become a butterfly. Unlike Fischl though, who could control when she used Oz to fly and tactically evade attacks from enemies, your transformations were involuntary.
While you were sleeping, out walking by yourself, or sometimes while you were in the bathroom-- it was out of your control. Worst of all, you had no idea when you'd turn back to normal, meaning any future plans were horribly thrown out the window.
This translated into relationships you had as well. Suddenly no-showing to friends' engagements because you turned into a butterfly made some of them less eager to invite you out. Plans that you laid out months well in advance were suddenly foiled due to shrinking significantly and growing extra appendages.
Over the years, butterflies had grown to mean anything short of annoying. The only thing that hadn't been affected by this predicament was your relationship with Aether, your boyfriend. Life was nice enough that most outings or plans you had with him didn't need to be canceled because of your transformation. And if you did need to cancel? Aether coincidentally had a commission or task he needed to take care of. Everything always worked out.
Today changed that. You decided to accompany Aether on a commission today to clear out a hilichurl camp in Liyue. It was supposed to be straightforward-- show up, kick some butt, and leave.
But of course, right as you and Aether were going to kill the last Mitachurl, instead of finishing it off with a blast of anemo, you suddenly find yourself fluttering frantically in front of the beast. Just my fucking luck I'd turn in the middle of battle! you curse internally.
Both the mitachurl and Aether look at your butterfly form in confusion, temporarily stunned by the change of events. However, realizing this is not the time to falter, Aether quickly recovers and finishes off the mitachurl with a surprise attack. You flap your wings helplessly as your partner finishes cleaning out the hilichurl camp.
Once completed, Aether walks to a nearby tree, waving you over to follow him. You both stay under the cool shade of the tree in silence, and Aether watches your insect form with confusion and intrigue. His gaze eats at you, making you want to crawl into a cocoon and hide, and doubts begin to cloud your mind.
He's going to think this is weird and want to stop seeing me now. Who would want to date some weirdo that turns into a butterfly? you worry, your flapping speed increasing as you fall deeper into your despair.
"…I'll be honest. I've never seen something like this before. Is it a curse?" Aether asks, and you nearly fall out of the air in surprise. If you could, you give him an incredulous look. Realizing you wouldn't be able to communicate with him in this form, he changes gears.
"Let's go to my teapot and wait till you turn back. I won't get any answers if you're a butterfly," he decides, taking out the device from his bag.
✦✧✦✧
You didn't have to wait long to turn back-- as soon as you both entered the teapot, you reverted back to your normal form, much to your surprise. You fall flat on your butt as gravity works against your body, causing you to yelp in pain upon impact. Aether rushes to help you, but you quickly wave him off.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Just wasn't prepared to turn human that fast," you grumble, slowly pushing yourself up.
You dust your clothes off and look up at Aether, who stands there awkwardly fidgeting with his fingers. You offer him a tired smile.
"I'll answer your first question: no, it's not a curse. It's just something I was born with. At random times, I'll turn into a butterfly. Quite inconvenient really," you explain. Aether furrows his eyebrows, taking on a pensive look before his face lights up as if he's made a breakthrough discovery.
"Like a cicin mage?" You throw him a cold glare, and he flinches.
"Never compare me to Fatui ever again," you hiss, and he nods aggressively, not wishing to invoke your wrath.
As you make your way into the house to properly unwind for the day, you go into detail about how you've lived with the predicament and how turbulent it's made your life. Getting everything off your chest was relieving. You never had the opportunity to share how you were feeling with anyone, and having these pent-up emotions made your animosity toward your abilities grow.
It helped that Aether was such an attentive listener. He didn't interrupt your explanations or make any judgemental comments. You could tell he was carefully wording his questions so as to not pick at any sore topics. By the end of it, you felt as if you both got closer.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," you apologize, rubbing the back of your neck sheepishly. "I don't know how you'd feel about dating a bug person." Aether laughs and gently nudges your shoulder.
"I've fought giant sea demon kings and the shogun's puppet. I've watched multiple harbingers turn into monstrous versions of themselves. You turning into a butterfly is nothing, y/n," he reasons. He pokes at your face, grinning. "Unless you turn into a giant butterfly monster. Then we have a different problem on our hands."
You laugh at this, the image of you as a giant butterfly laying waste to Teyvat inspiring amusement instead of fear.
"Don't worry, I don't think that'll happen any time soon," you assure him. His smile relaxes and he takes your hand.
"Then I don't care! And who knows, maybe we can find a way to control it? We can ask Ganyu or Xiao since they have animal forms, right?" You raise an eyebrow.
"I don't think the adepti would waste time on this, dear."
"It wouldn't hurt to ask now would it?" You hum in thought, looking out the window to take in the peaceful environment in the teapot's outdoors.
"S'pose not."
Tumblr was being a pain with the editor so I couldn't reply directly to the original ask.
Requests (both sfw and nsfw) are open~!