#bennexiao

[mythicmalasada]

introducing kazuxiaobenlumi

[100beep]

When the Wind Stayed

Bennett first encounters Xiao after a disastrously failed commission. The hilichurl camp in Dihua Marsh he’d been assigned to clear had a Stonehide Lawachurl in it that, somehow, no one had thought to mention. Or maybe it had arrived after the scouts left. Regardless, Bennett had walked right into the camp expecting a few mages at worst, and had almost immediately been knocked unconscious by a wave of earth.

He reawakened in a bed in Wangshu Inn (although he didn’t know that), heavily bandaged. Surprisingly, he was fully awake almost instantly, rather than drifting in and out of consciousness like he’d expect after an injury like that.

A moment after Bennett wakes, a woman walks in the door. “Oh good, you’re up,” she says.

“Where am I?” asks Bennett, trying to be on guard.

“Wangshu Inn,” the woman replies. “I’m Verr Goldet, the owner of the place. You got knocked out by a bunch of hilichurls.”

“I do remember that much,” Bennett says.

“I’m rather surprised you survived, even with Xiao’s intervention,” Goldet continues.

“I always survive, somehow, no matter what scrape I end up in,” says Bennett, struggling to get up and ending up sitting. Then “Wait, who’s Xiao?”

“He’s the adeptus that saved you. Most know him as the Vigilant Yaksha. He took out the hilichurl camp - if you were commissioned to do it, which by the looks of you, you were, don’t worry, we have an arrangement with the Guild. Anyways, he then saved you.”

“I see,” says Bennett. “I don’t suppose I’ll be able to thank him?” Goldet laughs. “No. He's most often here, and still, barely anyone sees him. He much prefers solitude.”

“If you see him, will you pass on my thanks?” Bennett asks. Goldet nods.

She doesn’t have to, however. The next day, when Xiao brings in another body, Bennett manages to catch him and thank him in person.

“No need. Protection is my job,” Xiao replies. Then he’s gone in a gust of wind.

The second time Bennett encounters Xiao, they’re both watching the Rite of Descension. Bennett had heard that it was a much better vantage point to watch the descending dragon from above the city, rather than within it, at least if you didn’t care to hear Rex Lapis’s predictions for the coming year. And Bennett, with no business interests whatsoever, is only here for the view. (Businesspeople from all over Teyvat came to hear the predictions. Diluc had hired Bennett, along with three other adventurers, as bodyguards, then told them in no uncertain terms to be out of the city during the actual Rite. Bennett had heard rumors that this was because he was involved somehow with Rex Lapis, but he’d dismissed those as just rumors.) Regardless of why, he’s pleased with the outcome - watching the dragon from below, the city from above, and… the adeptus that had saved him from the side? He considers a greeting, but decides against it.

The two watch together as the dragon descends into the city, taking on a human-like form. They can’t hear the predictions or the reactions to them, but one of them does cause quite a commotion. (The two of them would later learn that, bound by a millennia-old contract to reveal such relations, Rex Lapis had announced he had taken a lover.)

When it’s over, Xiao gusts away and Bennett starts climbing back down the mountain.

(It becomes quite clear why Diluc wanted so many bodyguards when Bennett fends off three separate attempts on his life on the two-day journey home.)

The third time Bennett encounters Xiao, it’s in a cave inhabited by Abyss Mages. They had been causing significant trouble on Dragonspine, and someone had commissioned him to clear the mountain of the mages. Given that his Pyro Vision made him rather suited for the work on the snowy mountain, Bennett accepted. (The extremely deep pockets of the anonymous commissioner also had something to do with it.)

On the fourth day, having summited the mountain and coming down the other side, he discovers a rather extensive cave system.

Throughout most of it, there are no traces of Abyssal activity, but some of the entrances were inhabited.

It’s in one such opening that he finds a heavily-wounded, unconscious, tied-up Xiao. He quickly frees him, uses his Vision to cauterize the worst of the wounds, and tries to wake him up without shaking him too much.

Xiao does wake up. As soon as he does, his spear manifests in his hands against Bennett’s throat. When he sees that it’s Bennett - or more accurately, that it’s not an Abyss Mage - he releases Bennett, then turns around warily.

Not a second later, the cavern fills with the popping sounds of Abyss Mages teleporting in. Unlike the rest of the mountain here, there’s more variety of elements than Bennett’s ever seen, at least among the mages.

Xiao tackles Bennett out of the way of a Hydro bubble, then says “Run.”

Instead of running, Bennett strikes at the nearest mage - which happens to be a Dendro one, setting its shield on fire - and casts his Inspiration Field on the ground. He’s not going to abandon someone who once saved his life.

Xiao growls, then dons his mask and begins attacking. His Anemo doesn’t do much to the shields on its own, but it swirls them into other shields with great effectiveness.

As soon as Bennett steps outside of his field for a strike of opportunity, he feels some sort of oppressive presence from Xiao. As well as the sense of foreboding, his attacks are weaker, his reactions slower, and the mages’ attacks that hit are more impactful. Once he’s back inside the circle, the physical effects wear off, but the foreboding remains.

When the last of the Abyss Mages are defeated, Xiao turns to Bennett. Removing his mask and dismissing his spear, he asks “How did you survive?”

Taken aback, Bennett replies “I can handle a few mages, and you did most of the work.”

Xiao sighs. “Not the mages. How did you survive me? I was holding back, and you still should be near-dead by now.”

“You weren’t attacking me,” Bennett answers, thoroughly confused.

“It’s not me attacking you. It’s me in any sort of combat that harms anyone that sees it.”

“You mean that… presence I felt outside the ring?” Bennett asks.

“Your field must protect against it,” Xiao says in wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like it. You are extremely lucky. And I am lucky that it was you that found me. And also that you stayed.” A moment’s silence, then “Why did you stay?”

“You saved me once. I won’t abandon you after that,” Bennett answers, quite seriously.

“As I told you, no thanks are required. Protection is simply my job. But you have my thanks.”

“And it was my job to hunt Abyss Mages,” Bennett answers.

“Then your job is finished. Every mage from here to Port Ormos came when you freed me.” And then Xiao is gone once more.

Bennett scouts the rest of the mountain just to be sure, then returns to Katheryne. Included in his payment is a Fatui recruitment letter inviting him to Tartaglia’s personal guard. He doesn’t take up the offer, preferring to keep an adventurer’s independence, but frames the letter.

The fourth time Bennett encounters Xiao, it’s intentional. After conferring with Verr Goldet, he makes a gift of almond tofu and waits on the balcony every night for the yaksha to return. After four nights, he finally catches Xiao.

Before Xiao can disappear again - not that he would, though Bennett doesn’t know that - he blurts “I have a gift,” holding out the plate.

Xiao accepts the dessert, though he mutters about “that damn woman giving away my secrets.” Once he starts eating, he sees Bennett watching him and offers to share the dessert.

“That one’s for you,” says Bennett. “I had to eat the six failed attempts I made.”

The start of a smile can be seen on Xiao’s face.

The fifth time Bennett encounters Xiao, it’s on business. A strangely well-connected and well-informed consultant had asked him to deliver a message to Xiao. For purposes of this delivery, and this delivery only, he was given directions to a floating pagoda in Jueyun Karst, and a Sigil of Permission.

“He can tell when someone’s there,” Zhongli tells him. “He won’t be expecting you, but with that sigil, he won’t be able to harm you if he shows up a bit paranoid. And he will show up - no need to wait four days like you did last time.

Bennett doesn’t question how he knows any of this - or how he got his hands on a Sigil of Permission - but simply accepts the message, sealed with a scintillating Geo symbol carrying a strange energy. Following his directions, Bennett climbs to the top of a mountain, then jumps, his glider catching the updraft. He arrives on the pagoda, then, seconds later, Xiao appears.

“What are you doing here?” he exclaims, manifesting his spear.

Bennett raises his hands nervously, then digs around in his bag for the letter. “Delivering a message,” he says, handing the envelope to Xiao.

“Who - oh, it’s him again. Such useless ceremony - why he can’t talk to me in person I don’t know,” Xiao mutters after accepting the letter.

“He what!? And he only tells me now?” Xiao shouts after reading the letter, which dissolves into golden motes when he’s done.

Bennett steps back, then nervously asks “Who did what?”

“Rex Lapis has taken a lover,” Xiao growls, anger still smoldering. “Apparently, they’ve been together for a year now. And he only now tells me!”

“Is it that much of an occasion?” Bennett asks. “Only in the sense that it happens twice a millennium,” Xiao answers. “And of all people, he chooses a Mondstadt businessman?”

“Wait - he’s really involved with Diluc?” Bennett asks, surprised and remembering the rumors surrounding Diluc’s last trip to Liyue for the Rite of Descension.

“Yes. And no one thought to tell me!” Xiao exclaims. Then he gusts off angrily to find Rex Lapis.

Bennett waits for the air currents to clear before gliding down from the floating pagoda.

On their sixth meeting, Xiao finds Bennett. When he gusts into Mondstadt, he finds Xiao talking to Katheryne. He waits for Bennett to finish talking, then as Bennett walks out the gates of Mondstadt, greets him.

“Hi!” Bennett answers.

“I have a gift for you,” Xiao says somewhat awkwardly, manifesting a jade sword.

Bennett reaches for the sword, then shudders as it attunes to him. “Primordial jade? Where did you get this?”

“I made it,” Xiao answers. “With some help.”

“Thanks…” Bennett says, nearly speechless. “But… why?”

“Because I have found myself fascinated by you,” Xiao says. “I’ve encountered many people over two thousand years. And none of them are quite as unique as you.”

Bennett blushes slightly. “I would like to join you on your adventures… and, perhaps, in peace as well,” Xiao continues. “If you’ll have me, of course.”

“Of course I’ll have you,” Bennett answers. He hadn’t considered them working together with any regularity or living together before, but he knows it’s the right choice.

Xiao sighs in relief. He’d surprised himself with how much he actually cared.

“What would you like to do?” Bennett asks. “I have my commissions, but they’re rather simple for someone like you.”

“You’d be surprised at how much time I spend clearing out hilichurls. I think us Vision holders forget how much power we gain from them. And even the greatest adventurer can be defeated by hilichurls on occasion.”

Bennett blushes at the memory of their first meeting, then smiles. “Will you join me then?”

“Today, I will. And as long as I can protect Liyue as well, I will stay with you.”

[100beep]

To Catch a Harbinger

“In addition to your regular commissions, there is an available S-plus ranked commission,” Katheryne tells Bennett.

“What would it be?” asks Bennett warily. S-plus commissions are rare, nearly always extremely dangerous, and represent additional opportunities for advancement within the Guild.

“Capture a Fatui Harbinger,” Katheryne replies.

“Can I get more details?” asks Bennett, a moment after recovering from the shock.

“Certainly. You are to deliver alive any Fatui Harbinger captive to the Mondstadt Adventurer’s Guild headquarters on any day at midnight. Upon verification of the captive’s identity, you will be paid one hundred million Mora, plus an additional ten million Mora per Harbinger ranked beneath them, plus an additional fifty million Mora for the delivery of Il Dottore. As is typical for S-plus ranked commissions, completion gives all benefits of a typical S-ranked commission, and there are no penalties for declining.”

“Can I have some time to think about it?” asks Bennett. One hundred million is a lot of Mora, but he’s not sure he wants to work as a kidnapper - or can capture a Harbinger, for that matter.

“You can, but the commission will continue to be offered,” Katheryne replies.

With Bennett’s luck, any amount of time later and the commission will be taken. “Can I reserve it while I consult with my team?” he asks. He thinks he knows what Xiao will say, but wants to talk it through anyways.

“Of course. You have five minutes.”

Bennett walks over to a somewhat secluded alley and calls “Xiao.”

Xiao appears in a gust of wind, spear in hand. “You called?” he asks, looking around for danger. Once he’s assured they’re in no danger, his spear vanishes.

“There’s a new commission available - to catch a Fatui Harbinger,” Bennett states with no preamble.

Xiao raises an eyebrow. “Mondstadt has that much of a grudge? I didn’t think you cared for Barbatos that much.”

“Mondstadt’s views on gods are weird. If it’s someone looking for revenge on Barbatos, it’ll be one of the extremely devout church members. But we don’t have time for that now. What do you think about us taking the commission?”

“I’ll do it,” Xiao answers without hesitation. “I have my own grudges.”

Bennett nods and walks over to Kathryne to accept the commission.

He returns, and asks Xiao “Is there any specific Harbinger that you want to capture?”

“Yes, but we won’t be able to capture him,” Xiao answers. “Unless you know a way to get into Zapolyarny Palace.”

“You can’t get in as wind?” Bennett asks, surprised.

“Nearly every important building in Teyvat has general elemental wards designed to protect it. As a side effect, they keep out the wind, which includes me. Someone calling me, on the other hand, gets past anything.”

“Interesting,” says Bennett, thinking. “I might be able to get us in - I used to know one of the guards. Which Harbinger is it you’re targeting?”

“The Doctor,” Xiao answers.

“Whoever commissioned this also seems to dislike Il Dottore,” Bennett says. “What is it he did to you?”

“We have a history,” Xiao answers. “Not one I like to talk about.”

“That’s alright,” Bennett replies. “What do you know about the layout of the palace where Dottore is?”

“I was there once, and don’t have Morax’s photographic memory. But you don’t want to confront him anywhere he knows he’ll be often. And especially not in his laboratory. Our best chance would be to take him outside. I don’t suppose your guard is an inside guard?”

“No, she’s a door guard. On the upside, that means she’ll be able to get us in. On the downside, I don’t think she’s ever been beyond the walls.”

“Are all the guards consistently in the same place?” Xiao asks.

“Yes. It’s supposed to keep the guards knowing what’s going on in every place. And before you ask, no, she doesn’t know any of those guards.”

“Well, that doesn’t help much. You’re decent at stealth, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” Bennett responds. “I’d have to be, to consider sneaking into Zapolyarny Palace.”

“Can you get in to watch the Doctor? You can call me whenever he’d be vulnerable - I can’t get in unless you call me, and we’ll need to fight our way out.”

“I’m good at stealth, but not that good,” Bennett protests. “I can get to Dottore - probably - but if I stay near him, I’ll get caught eventually.”

After a moment of silence, Bennett says “I suppose if I could find wherever he sleeps, I could keep hidden for long enough for him to leave whatever protections he has.”

“You’d want to get in really early, follow him for longer than you think you need to, and make sure he’s not going to his lab,” says Xiao. “But that would work. Assuming you could find it.”

“I have enough experience finding people that want to stay hidden,” Bennett answers. “And once he’s vulnerable, I can call you.”

“As long as you’re sure,” Xiao says. “Shall we go?”

Bennett nods. Xiao takes his hand, pulls him close, and gusts away towards Snezhnaya. Less than a minute later, the pair are on a hill overlooking the bustling city, Bennett looking extremely windblown.

“There’s the palace,” Bennett says, looking at the central collection of buildings behind a wall.”

The first thing Bennett does is find his guard friend. If she can’t get them in, they’ll need to come up with a completely new plan. She will, of course, get him in, even without knowing why, and even provides him with a spare guard’s uniform.

After half a day and half a night of sleep in a rather sketchy inn, he gets into the palace complex at around three in the morning. Looking like a guard, he’s mostly ignored by the few people around at this time of night. Getting past the other guards is also surprisingly easy, as they have predictable, strict patrols.

Assuming that he’ll find Dottore’s chambers in one of the buildings in the center of a cluster, he looks through the windows of the larger buildings, occasionally using Elemental Sight. There are a few important officials, including Capitano, but there is no sign of Dottore.

Sighing inwardly, he turns around, ready to leave and do proper reconnaissance this time. He’s stopped by three Dottores.

“What have we here?” one of them asks.

“A volunteer for our testing?” another answers.

“No, look at him. He wouldn’t stand up to anything,” the third replies.

“He seems like a warrior - maybe we could give him to Tartaglia. When he gets back, he’s going to be pissed at us.”

“That’s Signora’s job, and she won’t credit us for anything,” the first responds.

While the three are arguing amongst themselves, Bennett whispers “Xiao.”

Xiao appears in a second with his spear drawn, taking in the situation. After a few seconds when the Dottores are shocked by the appearance of another person and Xiao is shocked by the existence of multiple Dottores, Bennett attacks. Xiao follows him, immediately knocking one of the Dottores unconscious with the spear butt before the others have time to react.

“I’ll sound the alarm,” one of the remaining two says, before running away.

“Bloody coward,” the other grumbles, fending off the intruder’s coordinated attacks with a hastily conjured ice staff. He’s still being forced backwards, until he dashes into a building.

“Let’s grab that one,” Bennett says, gesturing at the unconscious Dottore on the ground.

Xiao wordlessly grabs the unconscious Dottore’s legs. Bennett grabs the head, and they start running towards the exit. They’re stopped by the roar of what appears to be an Electro Lawachrul, nearly twice the size of a normal one.

“Ignore it,” Bennett pants. “They look scary but leave you alone if you don’t - oh shit.” The last part is in response to the lawachurl charging straight at them.

“I did warn you, don’t confront him anywhere he normally is,” Xiao says, dropping the Dottore and jumping out of the way. Once it’s past and returning for another charge, Xiao picks up the Dottore and holds the point of his spar to his throat. “Call it off or this one dies,” he says, shouting at the Dottore in what he assumes to be a control booth. That Dottor comes out with a blowgun and shoots the lawachurl almost immediately, causing it to collapse. “What is it you want?” he asks, somewhat desperately.

“Safe passage out,” Bennett says. “We’ll let him go once we’re outside the walls.”

Xiao almost smiles.

“Agreed,” the conscious Dottore says. As he does, a deafening siren goes off.

Xiao and Bennett start walking towards the exit, Xiao keeping his spear on Dottore’s throat, with Bennett constantly turning, looking for any hint of treachery. There are a lot of guards coming out, most prepared to fight, but Dottore tells them to hold back and to open the gates. Capitano awakens, the third Dottore returns, and the two start arguing, dragging the second Dottore into it. The gist of it, from what Bennett can make out, is that Capitano wants to sacrifice the Dottore ‘segment’ and neither of the Dottores care to. It appears that the Dottores win, given that they aren’t stopped.

Once they’re out of the gates, Xiao immediately gusts off, carrying Dottore with him. The remaining two Dottores and dozens of soldiers prepare to attack, but Xiao returns within seconds to remove Bennett from the situation.

The two arrive on the same hill overlooking the city as they arrive on. From there, they can see the entire palace in chaos, with the surrounding area’s people getting up to observe whatever’s going on.

“You can’t take two people at once?” Bennett asks.

“I can, but I’m vulnerable when doing it,” Xiao answers. “And a bit slower.”

“That’s fair,” Bennett replies. “That wasn’t a situation in which you’d want to be able to be attacked. I suppose you’ll need to take us one at a time back to Mondstadt, then?”

“No, it’s not that much slower,” Xiao answers. Then he picks up Dottore and grabs Bennett close and sets off to return to Mondstadt.

Three minutes or so later, the three arrive behind the Adventurer’s Guild headquarters in Mondstadt.

“Also a lot more uncomfortable,” Bennett says, even more windblown than normal. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Really? I don’t notice a difference,” Xiao says. “Maybe it only affects passengers.”

“Doesn’t really matter,” says Bennett. Gesturing at Dottore, he continues “Where do you suppose we should put him for the next twenty hours?”

“Why do we need to keep him?” Xiao asks.

“The commission was to deliver him at midnight right around here,” Bennett replies. “I don’t know why, but I also don’t know who posted it, so I can’t exactly deliver him.

“Strange,” Xiao says. “You could probably keep him inside the Guild headquarters, if you think people won’t question it. Is he recognisable?”

“He was rather infamous a few years ago - something to do with missing children. I don’t think many people would recognize him, but if anyone does, they really won’t be happy. It doesn’t matter anyways, I have private storage. As long as I can keep him quiet, there shouldn’t be any troubles.”

Xiao whacks him on the head again. “That should keep him out for a while. Tie him up, gag him, and stick him in a sack, and as long as he’s somewhat secluded, he won’t be able to draw any attention to himself or escape without outside help. Even the most powerful can be rendered useless with good rope.”

“I can do that,” Bennett says.

Twenty hours later, Bennett waits outside with a bound and still unconscious Dottore. At two minutes to midnight, a masked Diluc arrives, not expecting to find anyone.

“That was surprisingly fast,” Diluc says. “I didn’t think there were any Harbingers left in Mondstadt.”

“There weren’t,” Bennett replies.

Diluc looks at the body. “Dottore. I’m impressed. How exactly did you manage to travel outside of Mondstadt and return in one day?”

“I had help,” Bennett answers.

“Can you tell me where exactly you found Dottore? I was under the impression that this version never left the capitol.”

“I found him in the capitol,” Bennett replies. Then he does a double-take. “What do you mean, this version? Are the three that I sw different?”

“You managed to survive three Dottores? That is… beyond impressive. But yes, there are various versions of the Doctor. I don’t know how - or why - but I intend to find out. But that’s enough talk. Find me at the winery tomorrow for your payment - two hundred and forty million mora.”

“That is what you agreed on,” Bennett says, somewhat shocked by the sheer amount of money.

Diluc picks up Dottore, slings him over his shoulder, and walks off. Bennett returns to the Guild headquarters to sleep.

“Congratulations!” Katheryne tells Bennett. “Payment is to be arranged with the commissioner. As you have now completed one S or S-plus ranked commission, you are now eligible for Adventure Rank 35, at which point you will be eligible for another Ascension Quest.”

“Thank you,” says Bennett. “It’s been so long since I’ve thought I could do it, with my luck…”

Katheryne continues. “To complete this next Ascension Quest, you will need…”

“No, you were as much a part of this as me,” Bennett says to an unmoving Xiao, piles of coins behind him.

“What would I do with any amount of mora, let alone a hundred and twenty million?” Xiao insists.

“I don’t know! Hire a full-time chef to make almond tofu!”

Xiao starts. “Fine. I’ll take ten million. Final offer.”