midnight strole
“Demons do not stop for rain. Move.”
For context, Xiao was accompanying you on your journey across the stretches of Liyue to a far-flung village to take care of a group of hilichurls that had migrated dangerously close to their borders for a commission. You glared at him, absolutely drenched. “Don’t you yakshas know anything about human diseases?”
Xiao sniffed. “Human diseases? I have no reason to educate myself on that matter, so I disregard it as useless information. I cannot be affected by the illness that plague your kind.” “Then let me educate you. In the rain, it’s ten times easier to get s-” You sneezed mid-sentence. “Ah, excuse me- but you see my point?” “I suppose it would be troublesome if you fell ill,” Xiao consented. He scanned the distance, narrowing his eyes. “By that waterfall, there is a cave. Shall I take you there?” “A cave? That’s perfect! How far is the waterf XIAO PUT ME DOWN I’M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!” You suddenly screamed, for Xiao had grabbed you by the waist and was, powered by his Anemo-ability, speeding for said waterfall.
You screeched to a halt once inside the cave. It provides some shelter, alright, but it’s a little shallow. Beats shivering through the downpour, though. Xiao frees you from his grasp,letting you stand on your own, albeit a little unsteadily. “Absolutely no warning, no consideration,” You grumbled, squeezing water out of your clothes. “I swear to Rex Lapis himself, I saw my life flashing before my eyes.” “Hmph. You need not fear death when you are with me, Traveller. You forget what I am.” You glanced at him. Even Xiao couldn’t outrun the rain, so he was dripping water from head to toe. In the darkness of the cave, the raindrops turned black, and his eyes seemed to glow.
Yakshas. Immortal adepti sworn to protect Liyue from monsters, only to suffer from the karma that comes from slaying them. A constant, painful conundrum. Plenty of Xiao’s comrades had fallen because of their karma, but Xiao persisted through sheer determination. What could possibly be so rewarding protecting an unaware populace? He must have seen the unsaid sadness in your eyes, because he scoffed. “So you pity me now?” Don’t pity us. We view it as an insult to our legacy. “Do you really think the only emotions people are capable are feeling consist of unreasonable happiness, and pity?” You snapped. The coldness from the rain and from Xiao was finally getting to you. “You were charged with a duty to protect humankind, so maybe you ought to get to know them. Not every single one of us is an idiot, okay?” Xiao bristled, clearly getting defensive. “You think of me as an idiot, then? For going uninformed in such trivial matters? Adepti do not-” “Then get your head out of your ass about it!” You threw your hands up. “Quit acting like you know anything. You’re constantly contradicting yourself, you know that? You-”
Shit. Your vision went hazy there. Not a good sign. “Fuck,” You proclaimed out of nowhere, staggering over to a cave wall and resting your head against its rocky, rough surface. “Hm?” From his tone, he clearly was still aggravated. You waved a weary hand at him. Your head is practically swimming. Through your murky thoughts, you connect the dots. “I think I have a fever.” “What?” Instantly, he’s at your side, alert. He turned you so you were facing him, and pressed one hand to your forehead, the other to his. He tilted his head, considering. “It is a fever,” he confirmed, lowering is hands. “A high one, at that.” Something flits across his face- guilt, perhaps?- before it is shuttered away to his usual indifference. You groaned, hitting the back of your head against the rock wall. “The last thing we needed. Damn. I’m really sorry about that.” “Do not apologize for something you could not prevent. Really, it is I who should be apologizing. Had I heeded your warning of rain earlier, perhaps…” “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier.” You covered your eyes with your arm, sighing. “I think I was just getting frustrated.
” “With what?” “What’s there not to get frustrated at?” You gave a bitter laugh. “The rain, the cold. You, being a stubborn shit. Knowing why you’re being a stubborn shit, and knowing I can’t exactly blame you, but still being upset about it.” There was a heavy paused. Then, in a lower voice, “And my sibling.” “... Ah, yes. Your lost twin, correct? I have seen a few missing person posters up around Liyue. Would that be them?” “Yes, that’s them.” Usually, the thought of your twin would have put a smile on your face. Now, all that it did was put you into an even darker mood. “Dickhead. I run all over Teyvat looking for them… only to find they’re working with the Abyss Order.” “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.” “You couldn’t’ve protected me from it. Not from that kind of pain.” You shared a knowing look with him, and you sighed, sliding down the wall and hugging myself, shivering. “I would like to keep out of the rain, so best shelter until it stops. We can pick up some medication at the village once we arrive. I would make a fire, but I don’t know how. Do you know how to make a fire? If so, instruct me. Or, perhaps I can use my anemo power to dry you,” Xiao mused, bending down and stretching out his hands, observing his fingers. “But if the karma were to affect you, that would cause irrevocable damage. I would never be able to forgive myself.” “You’re so useless,” You mumbled, leaning against his shoulder and letting your eyes drift close. “Useless? How am I-” Xiao froze under the weight of your head, then shifted slowly, sitting down in a comfortable position, watching you from the corner of his eyes, his polearm hanging loosely in the crook of his other arm. “What a most deplorable situation,” he sighed, watching the thunderous sky. But despite his words, he didn’t seem too frustrated. He seemed content.