the taste of iron is bittersweet
-xiao x gn!reader
-warnings!; slight blood,wounds,angsty-fluff
note-not much i just wanted xiao to be cared for lol
“Xiao! Oh archons above you have a cut in your lip.” You state, exasperated. Batting at the slight wound in his lip gently. The yaksha let a sharp breath out of his nose, a clear sign of his annoyance before pushing your hand away.
“I have slaughtered countless souls, ones of mortality and immortality. Gathered myself countless wounds to which I bleed out of day and night. A cut on my lip is nothing.” He muttered through gritted teeth, lips becoming firmly pulled together as you cocked a brow at him.
“Sure but, a wounds a wound. Remember last time you let something something as small as this fly by?” You questioned him, as he shuddered at the thought.
A rock has been pelted at him in the midst of battle, scraping him. Leaving it be was a foolish mistake for the infection that followed was horrendous. He was bed ridden for weeks because of you. The rage he kept caged in that time was immeasurable, but your gentle hands caressing his face as you placed downy kisses upon his cheeks was something he found himself lulling to sleep to.
“…yes.” He answered after a moment, curling his lips in disgust at your coy expression.
“And besides, isn’t the taste of blood bitter? Because if all the iron.” You questioned him once more, going back to patching the small cut.
“Hmm, indeed. But in some sick way, it’s a flavor I’ve grown fond of.” He muttered. “It’s sweet, in a way.”
Pulling your hands away, a solemn expression on your face. “What. Why the long face y/n.” Xiao irked, the sudden heavy tension in the air making him feel hot in his own skin.
“I just, i don’t know, wish you didn’t have to live like that. Think that.” Your words appeared to be chosen carefully. Even then there was a hesitance to them.
“You have a beautiful soul Xiao, it’s unfair.”
His amber eyes widen like an animal caught in lights, before knitting his brows together, catching himself.
Sure you had spoken to him tenderly in the past, but never with this amount of affection. It made a gushy feeling poor in his stomach.
“The sentiment is accepted, y/n. But not needed. This burden, and job I carry, is my birth right. It’s what fate assigned me.” He answered at last.
Biting your lip, you casted your eyes downward.
“So cruel.” You whispered. “And unfair.”
Xiao rolled his eyes at you, which earned a slight tug at the corner of his lips.
“Quit it, you’re acting like a child.” He teased gently. But the way he carried his words made it seem as if he was genuinely insulting you.
Opening your mouth only to close it again, you pondered. “I mean, I guess the taste of blood is bittersweet.”
Xiao laughed at this, a loud bark that shook his ribs. As soon as the outburst came it was gone. Drawing out a long sigh he looked at you. Seeing how confused you were.
“Ah, oh. You were being truthful in your statement?” He said lowly, warning a nod from you.
“Bittersweet, as you put it, describes a moment in time. Something that happens. Not an object.” He hissed.
You shrugged. “Is the period in which you are tasting the blood not a moment in time?” You shot back, words laced with mock dignity. Almost as if your were poking fun at the way he spoke.
Damn.
@ 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴