when you were told your new husband would be Xiao, your first thought was, “but he’s so... serious.”
and you were right. if stoicism took its place in a man, he would be the very embodiment of cold, brooding, and serious.
long before Liyue was self-sufficient on its own to protect itself, the citizens would offer things to the last standing yaksha, in hopes he’d continue to give them his protection. Xiao found it bothersome in all honesty, misplaced ignorance at best.
he only got more annoyed when they offered you up as his bride. he usually didn’t have time to give the mortals too much thought, much less any emotion beyond the occasional annoyance, but this? had they lost their minds?
he was so outraged he went right to Rex Lapis himself and demanded he set the citizens of Liyue straight. however, much to Xiao’s dismay, it seemed Morax found the situation amusing; educational even. A companion couldn’t hurt Xiao. Xiao argued that he could hurt you, though. Without even meaning to. Karmic debt has a way of creeping to those he loved.
Morax waved him off, some oddly knowing twinkle in his eye. As if he knew you just happened to be a one in a million chance of a soul so good hearted you’d be unaffected by Xiao’s karmic debt. Instead, your presence would soothe him.
Nonetheless, after all was said and done, and a reluctant agreement was made, you were set to be his sacrificial bride. Your peers scared you with stories of his conquests, warning you that he’d devour your dreams in your sleep, keep you hidden away, or worse.
You’d been raised for this. Not a strand out of place. Poised. Graceful. A smile that never faltered no matter how sore your cheeks got. Everything a wife should be. Xiao didn’t know what to make of you, nor did you know what to make of him. You looked too fragile to be around him. He didn’t like it.
You disliked the quiet. Hated it, even. And Xiao brought nothing but an uncomfortable, heavy, silence. It’s not as though he had been opposed to speaking with you, he just.. didn’t know how.
“There isn’t much time for idle chatter on the battlefield.”
Ah, there it was.
What was that?
A jest to your mumbling complaints about how quiet he was, perhaps?
The first time he let something other than coldness slip.
A hint of sarcasm, dry humor. You almost didn’t believe your own ears.
But then he heard it, your burst of giggles bubbling from your lips.
Strange.
How odd. He never liked strangeness before.
Living with Xiao was, a challenge, to say the least.
Always coming home at odd hours of the night, the unmistakable scent of blood and dirt on his clothes, the ignorance to human living... it was difficult to adjust to, but you made do.
He acted like a cat getting a bath the first time you made him get in the tub. He refused to undress in front of you, to which you playfully remarked that he was your husband, you were going to see him naked eventually. He kicked you out of the bathroom.
In all fairness, he did willingly (begrudgingly) get in the bath, he was far more used to rivers and springs, but he concluded that this wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
The feeling of your fingers running whatever it was that you lathered your hands with through his scalp was... nice. This was nice.
And so began your taming of your wild animal of a husband.
First step? Training.
If he came home with blood on his clothes? He had to change and set aside his dirty clothes to be washed.
Shoes? Off at the door.
Spears, gear, and everything in between? Also left at the door.
You couldn’t do much about his odd hours, it’s not like he needed sleep anyways, but you made him promise to not wake you up if he left or came home at odd hours of the night.
Second step? Acts of Service.
You of course had to educate him on human courtship. He sounded.. disgruntled at first. That’s the best way you could describe it. More confused than anything truly. But if it’s what you wanted, then he’d do it.
So, if he brought you home flowers? You’d clean his spear for him.
If he tried a new dish you made? You’d make him extra almond tofu.
If he accompanied you to the market? You’d later run him a bath and run your hands through his hair while he (somewhat) relaxed.
You soon learned that your husband was always on alert. There was never a moment he was truly calm or relaxed. You sought to change that. It’s the least you could do for the poor soul anyways.
Getting close to you made him nervous, so you didn’t initiate anything; other than when you’d massage his head or fix up his clothes before he left if you managed to catch him. But, eventually, he began to feel more comfortable being near you. He no longer looked as stiff as a wooden soldier, he seemed like he could finally breathe around you. You took that as a win.
After some time, he’d eventually feel comfortable enough to sit on the bed with you, watching you fall asleep besides him while he watched over you. It was a little odd, but so was he, and you learned to accept him for it anyways. In the entire year you two had been married, he’d never gotten into bed with you, not to sleep, not to sit, he’d usually just sit across the room, watching or tidying up his area.
Ah, yes. You’d dedicated an area in your room for his weapons and gear. You got tired of seeing it at the front door, and he didn’t like to be too far away from them, so you made him his own area you didn’t touch. He appreciated that. He needed his own space sometimes, not that he didn’t grow fond of your presence, he just preferred to have you and his “work” separated.
Speaking of which, he was not allowed to bring anything from his patrols back home. There happened to be an unfortunate mishap in the beginning of him learning courtship, and he brought back a wild boar for dinner. Not realizing that mortals didn’t have sharp fangs to tear through meat like that, or that one human couldn’t possibly finish that in a single night. Luckily he’d only hogtied it when he brought it home, so you ordered him to set it free. Confused, reluctant, and a little frustrated, he did as you said.
Third step? Gratitude.
You always made sure to thank him when he went out of his way to do something for you. Be it carrying a heavy load of items for you, helping you peel food, or carrying around your bags when you got tired at the market, you made sure all his efforts never went unnoticed.
You found he was (silently) very receptive to verbal praise. You found that bit about him cute.
You always asked if there was something you could do in return for him, but he always gave you the same answer,
“There is nothing I wish from you.”
So serious, you hummed. A click of your tongue ringing through the air. Sometimes his short answers annoyed you. You always thought he was too serious for his own good, you found yourself wishing he would lighten up a little, even if it was forced.
Next step, Affection.
That was something you did not expect from him. It still disappointed you, even if you knew not to expect it from him. You knew better. Yet still you’d look at him and wonder if the thought of intimacy had ever crossed his mind the way it did yours.
You’re human, after all. Humans crave affection, attention, connection.
Xiao didn’t know how to do that.
He wanted to; to ease the craving you felt for it, prevent you from seeking solace elsewhere... but when he went to reach for you, he scared himself.
He could see it in your eyes, the desire for the slightest bit of affection. Archons, did you have a way of making him nervous.
You try not to let it show. How touch starved you’ve grown, but when you visit friends or family you revel in their warmth, in that irreplaceable feeling of skin-to-skin contact and clung to them like it’s the last time you’d ever feel this warmth again. It only made the rumors worse, made everyone worry about you more. You assured them everything was fine, that you just missed them. They didn't buy it.
If verbal intimacy could be physically measured then you’d have filled a room with it the way you beckon Xiao by pet names, praises here and there, to which he hated to admit he enjoyed it. “Dear, could you please pass me that?” You hummed, fixing up your appearance in your vanity. Too busy fixing whatever you thought was wrong with your hair to realize how he ached and yearned when he looked at you, admired you.
And so, it begins.
He starts initiating hand contact. In a very indirect way in the beginning. Just a hand brushing against yours in passing, ‘accidentally’ misplacing his hand over yours, sneakily tracing the back of your knuckles with his index finger when he thought you wouldn’t notice. His touch was so light you almost didn’t. Almost. But the feeling of those cold, calloused hands were unmistakably his.
The feeling of your warm palm settling against his, his cold fingers interlocking gently with yours, and for a single, fleeting moment, he could've sworn his soul felt lighter.
A/N:
sorry ive been gone i hate being an adult but ive been missing my husband </3
My Dearest Enemy Act I: 400BCE - 1066CE / 'Then's been and gone'
The Chronological FRUK Playlist Part 1/6
Playlist · 20 Songs
Potentially one of the more insane things I've committed to doing as a hetalia fan, but...
My FRUK playlist has been in the works for a long long time and now it's a 6 part chronological historical narrative piece that encompasses most of my headcannons for them and influences my art.
Most of the songs are storytelling, some are vibes, some are from other characters' perspectives, and they're not all about the relationship (e.g. just France or England/involve other characters). I'm so down to talk about my thoughts on some of these if anyone's interested.
More songs will end up being added and throwing off the list I made.
(Apple Music is my go-to for music but I've used both for this because Spotify is actually better for playlists, and especially for sharing them. Let me know if there's an issue with either of them (I don't know how to fix it).)
5 more parts to come, I have smaller playlists for other ships/characters that I might share as well.
WARNINGS- None just a few swears and some suggestive bullying?? but other than that enjoy this angstsy/fluffy thing i wrote! Also yes ik its not christmas but just read it ok.
RATING- Angst + Mild fluff
SUMARRY- After a rocky first impression with philip you attempt to fix it with a suprise!
Knock knock.
A small knock on his door awoke him from his daydream. "Can I come in, please?". It was you. Of course it was you, he thinks. You and your tight little skirts and those stupid bows on your socks. He was disgusted by the way your mouth would curve into a smile when other men would gawk at your outfits, like you were some sort of prize to be won. In his mind you knew what you were doing.
"Depends, What for?" He answered with an annoyed tone. Like you had disrupted him from some important work.
You hadn't.
"I have somthing for you! It wont take long, I promise." You sounded giddy. Like you were excited to see him. Why? He made it abundantly clear he didnt like you. So why were you even here in the first place.
"Fine. Its unlocked." He sat up from his once relaxed, slumped position on his bed to make himself appear put together.
The door slowly creeked open, like you were unsure that he actually granted you permisson to come in. "Hi." That fucking smile. That dumb smile that appeared across your stupid plump lips. "What's that?" He pointed to your hands which were placed behind your back, clearly holding somthing.
"Its a suprise, just close your eyes!" He gave you a snide look. Shutting down your idea quickly. What could you possibly have for him? That he could actually want anyway. "Please?" That word. Sounded almost sinful coming from your lips.
"Fine. Is this going to take long?" He placed his hand over his eyes not before giving you a child-like eyeroll of course. What shit are you going to pull now. "No, Just keep your hands out. Pleaseee" You said in that annoying tone he hated to hear. An annoyed sigh left his mouth before offering his palms out infront of himself with hesitance.
An unfamillar weight was carefully placed onto his hands.
"Ta da!!" You exclaimed in that dumb high-pitched tone. He swears if this is some stupid attempt to prank him in some way. He opens his eyes and well to his suprise.
It wasnt.
A pink present was in his hands. A smile hes never seen before was across your face. Your eyes kept darting from his back to the ornately wrapped present. It was wrapped in pink and white paper reading "𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓬𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼" in fancy writing and a large pink ribbon was draped in the middle. The whole thing had you written all over it.
"Are you gonna open it?" You said with a slight chuckle in your voice. "Uh yeah , what is it exactly?" He was still examining it, still searching for the trick, the joke but to his avail there was none. "Just open it and find out!" Again that giddy tone. Were you ever not excited?
He untanged the ribbon with care, the most care hes ever used in a good few months. After finally freeing the present of its silky restraints he ripped the wrapping paper off.
A bottle of his favourite bourbon confined in a rather fancy box completed with gold accents. Wait how did you know? Surely it was luck? His thoughts were drawn on his face. Pure confusion.
After seeing his face you paniced."Is that the right one? Im sorry if it isnt. I have the recipt if it isnt-" You were rambling. Worried rambling.
"No, no its my favourite actually." He said giving you that same confused look. "Is this a bribe or something?" His confused look soon turned to concern. Of cource. Why else would you have spent time on this. Why else would you have come here.
"Oh god no, kinda like a truce? I just noticed you kinda didnt like me so i thought i could maybe change that." You gave him that shy smile from before and shuffled in your place, are you blushing? Oh god was it was only a gift.
"Oh." He didnt get gifts often nevermind his favourite drink. Did anyone even know his favourite drink? "How did you know this was my favourite? Cuz' im pretty sure it wasnt luck." He shared a smile for a moment before wiping from his face after he realised what he was doing. "I heard you mention it to one of your shadow people." You shared a laugh. Only for a moment.
"Well truce accepted." He held his hand out expecting you to shake it.
That slightly less stupid, excited smile appeared on your face again. You took his hand and to his suprise welcomed him into a warm embrace. He was stunned for a moment. Shocked that the idea of a hug would be in your mind. But he didnt let go.
He stayed there and placed his hands on your back.
You were warm.
You whispered a small "Thank you" into his ear before letting go. He silently mourned the loss of contact and warmth. Why were you so warm he thought to himself.
"Sorry, got a little-"
"Carried away? Yeah i could tell" He said in a harsher tone than he ment to.
An awkward silence fell across the room.
"I'm gonna get going anyway" A last giddy smile painted your face. He could get used to seeing that he thought. "Hey, i do appriciate this" He says before you slip out the door and go to god knows where.
"I know, I actually saw you smile 'night" You say before leaving.
"Night". And with that your stupid bows on your socks and your little skirt is gone. Seriously though how did you know his favourite.
