౨ৎ GN reader, college AU, established relationship
for my kyra @dreaminghours, happy graduation ! life is waiting for you with wonderful opportunities, and i am excited to see what you will achieve in the future
You'll never forget the way Xiao looked on the day of graduation: carefree, so unburdened by the grueling cycle of academic learning.
After your last exam, the world gifted you a week of silence, and so with empty calendars and full nights of sleep, the two of you cherished your last moments together in the city. The days were restful (lounging in sunny parks and indulging in fancy restaurants before stumbling home, tipsy on glasses of wine), and as a result, Xiao looked good. You couldn't help but sneak glances at his sun-kissed skin and serene expression throughout the entire ceremony, and he bashfully elbowed your ribs in response.
But for a day of hope and celebration, it was strangely wistful and scary, with the looming constraints of life and uncertainties that would come with adulthood. A shaky smile ghosted his lips as he turned the tassel of his graduation cap and reached for your hand.
"I'm so proud of you, you know," Xiao's voice was low, almost inaudible over the commotion in the stadium. His eyes slowly traced over your face as if you were already nothing but a memory.
"Look at us, all grown up," you teasingly pinched his cheek, but you could feel your chin start to quiver. "Don't leave me behind, okay? Promise you won't forget about me?"
He huffed out a laugh. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I could never forget you."
"I thought that was graduation?"
"Graduation is the second-best thing that has happened to me."
"That's not what you said this morning."
Xiao rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."
"Do I?"
And with fingers tightly intertwined, the two of you bickered all the way to the stadium's exit.
It was a day of hope and fear, a bittersweet reminder of the golden age of youth and the unknowns of life. But you knew you would be okay.
And I could tell you, his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, born on the seventeenth
His sister's beautiful, he has his father's eyes
And if you ask me if I love him, I'd lie - TS
Songfic because doesn't I'd lie just describes my beloved?
Modern AU, gender neutral.
"Call me if you want to go home, and don't you dare try to go alone" You let out a small laugh, heart warming at the thought of him knowing about your little homesickness problems in the middle of an overnight with a friend. "Yes, yes. But I'll stay here, Lumine's gonna cuff me in the bed if I don't. Thanks for dropping me here." He nods as you stepped out of the vehicle, making sure that your blonde friend has welcomed you in before driving home.
"Xiao, huh" Lumine started, giving you the look. "Come on, you know it's not like that. He's my best friend, a family friend" she gave you a sigh before leading the way towards her room where the others are "Whatever you say"
"Soo, who's ready to start this one hell of a project" The blonde announced as she entered the room, earning the attention of your friends. "Not like we got a choice, you have the notes, right, (name)?" Aether chimed in, eyes landing on you. "Right, I have it on my phone, wait a minute"
Horror spread across on your face when you realized that your phone is missing. You've turned your bag upside down already and there's only one possible answer "Xiao, I must have left it in Xiao's car" you looked up to meet the groups gaze, ashamed that you're delaying the project even more. It's a good thing that they're so understanding. "It's alright, I'll give him a call. I'm gonna buy some snacks as well" Aether stood up, leaving you alone with Yan Fei and Lumine.
"Since we've got nothing to do yet, why don't we talk about about you and the green-haired nonchalant first" Lumine chuckled ay Yan Fei's words, urging her to continue "What's the status now?"
"Guys, there's nothing to talk about. We're good friends, he's a good friend. Why do you keep insisting that" you rolled your eyes at their teasing, pushing the truth somewhere they can't reach.
"For starters, you're always together. And have you seen the way he looks at you?" You love your friends, but somehow you hate the way they make you feel like you have a chance with Xiao. "He said it himself, he'll never fall in love, and even if he does, I don't think it will be for me"
"But what about you?" You stared at Yan Fei in confusion, probably just really confuse, or maybe because you hope that she will change the subject. "What about you, (name)? Do you like him?" Lumine reiterated, this time clear and no way out.
You feign to think about it for a while, as if there's something to contemplate about. Your thoughts wandered, circling on what not to like, convincing yourself that you don't.
"I-- I don't know" Ohh you're such a fraud. You look at your friends, praying that your answer's enough, and well, of course it's not. "Give me a breakk, you know it, (name), just spill" the blonde argues, eager to hear something from you, but really... you don't know.
All you know is that he got his eyes from his father, his birthday's on April 17th, his sisters are beautiful, he plays guitar but doesn't want anyone to know, sometimes, specially with certain people, he likes to argue, he likes green because it's the color of his hair... "I know things about him," you began, trying to find the right words that won't sound like a lie, "But really, if you ask me if I like him, no. I don't"
"Liar"
Your heart skipped a beat at the sound. Not because of the word, but because of who the voice belongs to. Turning around, you're met with a pair of golden eyes, Aether standing behind him--probably the one that lets him in. You really, really, really hate looking at him like this. It feels like he could see every truth you're hiding, every emotion you mask comes undone.
Xiao walks closer to where you are, sunset orbs not leaving yours, and no one dares to say anything "You're such a liar, (name)." His voice was firm. It's not cold, but it sounds like he's convincing you that you are, in fact, a liar. Blood rushed on your cheeks, words are lost, you can't form any sentence to oppose, something that can keep your friendship with him.
He ruffled your hair, sighing as he does. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Make sure you sleep on time and eat dinner properly. I’ll ask you on a proper date, clearly this time, so you won’t go around telling people that I'll never fall in love." he handed you the phone, waved goodbye at your friends. You even caught Aether giving him a back slap.
"Oh my archons! I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU!!"
"Lumine shut upp. It's 8PM People are resting!!" Aether roared at his twin but the girls just can't contain their excitement.
Oh well, the pick up tomorrow will sure be awkward.
END OF SHORT FIC~
A/N: TWO FICS IN A ROWW!!!!! I miss my Xiao soo muchh. When's his rerun ba kasii :<<< anywayyy, I hope you guys like this one.
I need help finding a xiao x reader fic where the reader and xiao slept together and the reader gets pregnant and starts avoiding him until she gets nauseous while on a commission and unintentionally calls his name and he take to wangshu inn and ver tells that she is pregnant and the make up
✧ 魈 ﹒﹒ 𖹭 you thought giving a qingxin flower to an adeptus would be a sweet act of gratitude. wrong. now you're married to him, unbeknownst to you. ― xiao x gn!reader (it should be gender netural, please please lmk if i accidentally messed that up) ⋆ incl. fluff, crack, both xiao and reader are oblivious dolts, prideful reader which causes reader to be annoying at times ❃ ུ ۪ wc. 3.9k 𝜗ৎ the double space was getting annoying to type... thank you for 1k followers omg. i've been working on this for a while and i still can't stand the ending.
You hadn’t known an adeptus could be wed with nothing more than a flower.
No book had written it and no tale had whispered it. So when you climbed the mountain, plucked a pale qingxin, and offered it to Xiao on the balcony of Wangshu Inn, you had expected nothing but silence. He appeared anyway. Perched on the railing like a hawk, gaze cutting. “Foolish mortal,” he said, voice rough as stone worn thin by rivers. “You don’t know what you bind yourself to.” Yet he took the flower and pressed it to his chest, where it disappeared like breath into cold air. A sharp pulse went through you then—otherworldly, heavy, as though your heartbeat had doubled and no longer belonged entirely to you. You told yourself it was only nerves, only the startling fact of his beauty. (Why must he be so devastating to look at?) So you smiled, voice soft with gratitude, and he slipped into the dark as though the night had been waiting for him.
You didn’t think much of it, not at first.
But in the days that followed, you felt a shadow over your shoulder, and it was as if luck was in your favor. Merchants no longer shortchanged you and strangers kept their distance, and the ordinary chatter of life faded into silence. For the first time, the world seemed to leave you alone, though you could not shake the feeling of golden eyes that never left you.
…Perhaps you smelled strange.
Still, it was more than luck. The aches that usually woke you each morning faded, and even the most tiring moments of your day held a strange ease to them. A sense of peace lingered under your skin, and you had a feeling that it would be impossible for anything to take it away from you.
One afternoon, you sit beneath your favorite tree in the mountains and close your eyes, promising yourself only a moment’s rest. However, when you wake, you find yourself in your room at the inn. Startled, you search for some sign of how you had returned. There is none. When you ask around, everyone stares, baffled—even the front desk receptionist. None had seen you come in. “It’s like the wind carried you,” one mutters. You feel an unsettling shiver go down your spine, as if those words held a deeper meaning that couldn’t belong to an offhand comment.
So, you decide to do what any reasonable person in this situation would do. You walk through Bishui Plains, under the weightless stars, to take your mind off of things. The night air is cool, threaded with the chirp of crickets. You had once heard a rumor that the stars of Teyvat were false, but such talk felt cruel; you couldn’t believe these cold-burning, ethereal lights were anything less than real. You lay down in the grass. The blades bend beneath you, fragrant and damp. The moment is too peaceful, like a soft reverie in the blur of unease you’ve found yourself lost in for the past few days. You close your eyes, content to spend the night out here, when your peace is suddenly interrupted.
“Always sleeping,” a voice rasps above you, “like a stray cat. Collapsing wherever you please.” Your eyes fly open, head spinning as you try to locate the origin of the voice. He stands against a tree, dark silhouette cut against the silver night. Xiao. He approaches slowly, as though speed itself might shatter something delicate between you. When you make no move to flee, he sits beside you.
A god at your shoulder. A story made flesh. Born and raised in Liyue, you had grown up hearing tales of the Yakshas. The silent protectors who fought in the shadows so mortals might walk in peace. And here was the last of them, close enough for his sleeve to brush the grass by your hand. Your throat tightens. You look away, cheeks warm, “Don’t call me a cat. I’m only…sleep deprived. An author’s curse.”
A sharp exhale, half scoff, half laugh, “An author. Of what? Those tales you scribble… The Secret Life of the Tyrannical Emperor?” His tone curls with disdain. “Hardly noble work for a carpenter’s daughter.”
Heat flames across your face. You defensively lurch into a sitting position. “W–When did you even—? In my room? Under my bed? You creep! Were you snooping? I–I knew I shouldn’t have given you those flowers–!”
“It was on your desk,” he says flatly, eyes narrowed, searching. A pause, then softer, almost to himself. “So you regret the flowers, then. Foolish. Mortals are always this way. Frustratingly elusive, slipping just beyond my understanding.”
And before you can protest, he vanishes. The air rushes in where he had been, knocking you backward into the grass. You splutter, glaring upward, words spilling like starlight sliding off a darkened sky. “Foolish?! I’m not foolish! If anything, you are—leaving someone like me behind! You’re impossible! You walk around as if the world has—has—”
A sudden gust shoves you flat into the ground, no doubt his doing. You yelp, muffled against your own palms.
Eventually, the wind dies, and you find yourself able to stand, knees wobbling from the force of his presence or whatever that breeze had been. You glare skyward one last time, lips pressed into a thin line, fists clenching, before turning on your heel and stomping back toward Wangshu Inn. Each defiant step is a promise that Xiao will not get away with this.
Before the sight of the inn reaches you, the sound does. Laughter, cheers, and music so loud it cuts through the night air like a blade. The dining hall is alive tonight, packed with the city’s elite musicians who’ve come to perform. The scent of roasting meat, spiced wine, and sweet pastries drifts to you even before the door swings open, teasing your senses, taunting your focus.
You head straight for the bar, weaving past clusters of patrons laughing and clinking glasses. Your fingers drum on the polished counter as your thoughts swirl in a hot, tangled, and stubbornly unyielding storm in your mind.
What did he mean by “Mortals are always this way”? Did he—Has he experienced this before? No! Stop. Absolutely not. Xiao has no right to wander into your life, make stupid remarks, vanish without explanation, and leave your pulse racing like this. No way. He was unreasonable, arrogant, a Yaksha with the gall to mock you. He was nothing like those tales you had heard of when you were younger.
Anger drives your hands to the nearest glass. You down the first, then the second, letting the burn of alcohol chase away (temporarily) the sting of your humiliation. The bartender watches you with polite caution, but before long, he’s shaking his head, muttering something about “too much to drink, miss,” and guides you gently but firmly to your room. You don’t argue; you’re too caught up in your frustration, too determined to plot your revenge.
No sooner is the door closed behind him than you slip from your room, careful to avoid the maze of inn staff and boisterous patrons. The night is warm, fragrant with the garden outside and the distant mountains looming black and silent. You step onto the balcony, hands gripping the railing as though it could anchor the storm inside you.
“Xiao! You big, ugly, stupid, mean—did I mention ugly..?—unbearably rude, Yaksha!” You roar into the wind. The night swallows your voice. The music and laughter from the hall below serve as a buffer, sparing your dignity from the ears of anyone else.
Your chest heaves. Your hair, loose and wild, clings to dampened skin from the heat of anger. “I hate you! I… hate…” Words falter, floundering somewhere between fury and exasperation.
The edge of the balcony suddenly feels treacherous. You sway, caught in a moment between defiance and dizziness. Then you feel a sudden, firm grip around your waist, chest pressed against your back, arms sliding under your thighs and across your shoulders. Your breath hitches, eyes widening as the world tilts slightly, saved from disaster by sheer, unyielding force.
“Do you always scream like that?” a voice, his voice, murmurs into your ear—deep, controlled, with an edge that could slice through stone. Xiao. Of course it’s him. And of course, he somehow appeared the moment you were most reckless.
You twist to glare, but there’s no room to move; his hold is firm. “Let me go!” you snap, voice sharper than you intend. “I’m not—”
“You are unsteady,” he interrupts, tone clipped, eyes narrowed even in the dark. “You fall too easily.”
You huff indignantly, “I was not falling! I was—well, okay, maybe I was a little…” Your words trail off as your cheeks heat, not entirely from embarrassment, but from the awareness of him so close. Every inch of him radiates controlled energy, a quiet intensity that somehow presses against your nerves like thunder waiting to break.
He shifts slightly, adjusting his hold just enough to make you breathe easier, though it’s no concession. “Careless,” he mutters, voice low, almost reluctant, “always rushing… always reckless. Foolish mortal.”
You snort, twisting your hands to grip the railing instead of punching him. “Careless? Reckless? Me? Oh no, Xiao, you clearly don’t know me at all.” Your tone is defiant, daring him to contradict you, daring him to leave. But inside, your chest flutters. You refuse to acknowledge it.
“I do not need to know you,” he replies, voice flat, eyes flicking toward the horizon as if everything in the night belongs to him alone. Then, just as quickly, his attention snaps back, sharp and piercing. Xiao’s grip tightens ever so slightly. “You are foolish,” he says, almost a whisper. And then, impossibly, he sets you down on the balcony floor, step by careful step, though his eyes linger on you longer than necessary. “Do not do this again. Do not tempt fate.”
You fold your arms, pouting like a child caught in a scolding, cheeks flushed. “Tempt fate? I was yelling at you! You dimwitted Yaksha!”
The corner of his mouth twitches. It’s barely a smirk, but it is there. “I am not your target for insults, mortal.”
“Not my target?!” you huff, unable to suppress the flare of indignation. “I’ll insult you all I want! You showed up out of nowhere, made fun of me, and disappeared like a—like a ghost! You—”
He tilts his head slightly, patience thinning. “Your words are as reckless as your actions,” he says, low and even, yet not unkind. And for a moment, you feel the undeniable pull of his presence. It’s dizzying, it seeps into your very essence and threatens to take control of your emotions, baiting you to do something stupid once more. You clear your throat.
You grumble, flaring one last time, then lean against the railing, crossing your arms stubbornly. “Fine,” you mutter, “maybe I’ll just… plot revenge instead. Yeah. That’s it. Revenge.”
Xiao doesn’t reply. He only watches the night for a heartbeat longer before he steps back and vanishes, leaving the balcony cold and empty save for the echo of your own voice and the faint, lingering brush of a breeze that smells faintly of the mountain.
And in the quiet aftermath, you realize, begrudgingly, that your grudge might be the only thing keeping your heart from utterly melting under the weight of his impossible presence. You refuse to think about it too much and collapse onto your bed, wishing that sleep will come sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, sleep does not come easily that night.
It would be impossible for you to fall asleep after the wine, after the shouting, after the way his arms had closed around you. He was warm, firm, unyielding, as if the idea of you falling had never been an option to begin with. You turn over in your bed, pressing your reddened face into the pillow as if that might smother the memory. It doesn’t. Eventually, once you’ve tired yourself out from flopping about, you give in to the soft lullabies of sleep and allow yourself to drift in and out of a state of consciousness.
The inn is quieter now. The musicians have long since packed their instruments, the laughter has thinned into scattered murmurs drifting up from below. A faint breeze slips through the window, cool against your skin
You freeze. It lingers just for a second too long.
“…Don’t you dare,” you mutter into your pillow.
The breeze stills.
Good.
You huff, satisfied, and force your eyes shut.
The next morning arrives. Golden sunlight spills across the plains like honey poured too generously. You decide—firmly—that you are done thinking about Xiao. No more strange comments. No more appearances out of nowhere. No more… whatever last night was. You grab your satchel, your notebook, and leave the inn before your thoughts can betray you again.
The mountains welcome you like they always do. They are quiet, vast, and indifferent. Mighty, stunning, beautiful beasts that never entirely crumble, despite the long, arduous years. As you walk, the grass bends under your steps, the scent of wildflowers drifts in the air. It’s peaceful, grounding. It is exactly what you need.
You settle beneath a tree, the same one as before, and open your notebook. Ink scratches softly against paper as you write, words coming easier than they have in days. Characters move, argue, confess things far more coherent than anything in your own life.
You almost forget him. Until a shadow flickers across the page. You pause and frown, glaring at your notebook.
“…If you’re going to hover, at least have the decency to say something,” you mutter, not looking up.
Silence.
Then, he says, “You are alone.”
Your pen stops.
Xiao stands a few steps away, arms folded, gaze scanning the treeline instead of you.
You retort, “Yes. That tends to happen when one goes out alone.”
He ignores the tone entirely. “This area is not safe.”
You snort, “Oh? And since when do you care where I go?”
A pause that lasts a moment too long.
“I do not,” he says finally, though his voice lacks its usual sharpness. “It is simply… inefficient to allow you to come to harm.”
You stare at him. “…Inefficient.”
“Yes.”
You let out a breath through your nose. “Right. Of course. Wouldn’t want to inconvenience the great Yaksha.”
He doesn’t rise to your snark. He just watches the horizon like it’s more interesting than you.
You hate that a little. Defensive and a bit miffed, your emotions take over you once more.
“Go,” you hiss, waving him off. “I’ll be perfectly fine. I’ve survived this long without you hovering over my shoulder.”
Another pause. You don’t look at him, but you feel the way the air shifts, the weight of his attention dispersing.
“…Very well.”
The wind stirs, and then he’s gone.
You make it perhaps an hour before things go wrong. At first, it’s a subtle rustle in the brush. A break in the quiet that doesn’t belong. Then a faint, wretched smell hits you, like garbage mixed with vinegar.
You stand slowly. “…Okay,” you murmur, “that’s new.” You slowly back away, back onto the trail that takes you to Wangshu Inn, all while keeping your eyes on the brush.
The first hilichurl emerges from the treeline, weapon raised, then another. And another.
Your grip tightens around the small knife at your side. “Oh. Oh, that’s—no, that’s a lot.”
They start to circle around you. You take a step back.
“Alright,” you say, voice thin but determined. “We can talk about this. I have—uh—very little money, but I do have snacks?”
They roar. You bolt.
Branches claw at your sleeves as you run, heart slamming against your ribs. The ground dips unexpectedly beneath your feet, uneven, treacherous. You stumble, catch yourself, keep going.
Behind you, the pounding of footsteps grows louder.
“Okay—okay—this is fine—this is fine—”
It is not fine.
A rock catches your foot. You go down hard, the breath punched from your lungs. Your vision swims.
The world narrows to shouting, the rush of blood in your ears and then silence falls so suddenly it feels wrong. You push yourself up on trembling arms. The hilichurls lie scattered, unmoving.
And at the center of it is Xiao with his spear in hand and his expression unreadable. He’s breathing steadily, as if this had cost him nothing at all. You can’t help but think bitterly, “Of course it hadn’t.”
You exhale shakily, relief flooding you, hot and overwhelming. Just as quickly, an irrational wave of anger follows towards Xiao. So what if you almost died?? This embarrassment is making you wish you had. Xiao just saw you fumble around and eat shit when you told him you’d be fine on your own, and now your prideful heart cannot act normal. It’s embarrassing, your immaturity.
“Seriously?!” you snap, scrambling to your feet. “Do you just follow me around waiting for me to trip over something?!”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, his gaze flicks past you, sharp. “More are coming.”
You blanch. “Oh.”
A moment passes and you hear the loud roars.
“…Oh.”
He moves before you can process it—grabbing your wrist, pulling you forward. The world blurs around you, wind tearing at your clothes as he moves faster than anything human should. You squeeze your eyes shut, clinging onto him.
Then, it’s quiet, dark, and cool. You hear a soft trickle of water. You slowly open your eyes and look at Xiao, who stands at the edge of the cave you are in, scanning for hilichurls. You’re safe…for now.
After relief, the silence presses in from all sides, suffocating you. Your chest heaves, adrenaline still burning through you. You pace once, twice, then turn on him.
“Why?” you demand.
He tilts his head slightly, looking back at you. He chooses—with a final glance outside—to walk closer to you.
“Why do you keep doing that?” you press, frustration spilling over. “Showing up out of nowhere, saving me like I’m some helpless—some—thing you’re obligated to protect?! I didn’t ask for it!”
His expression doesn’t change. If anything, he looks… confused. “You would prefer I did not?”
“That’s not what I—!” You cut yourself off, dragging a hand through your hair. “I just—I don’t understand you!”
A pause.
“I am fulfilling my duty,” he says.
You sneer, “Your duty? To what? Babysitting reckless mortals?”
His brows knit faintly. “…To you.”
The words are like a bucket of cold water splashed onto your head. All you can do is blink and dumbly blurt, “To me?”
“Yes.”
The silence stretches until you can’t take it anymore.
“…Why?”
He hesitates. Xiao actually hesitates. You’ve never seen that before.
“…Is that not obvious?” he asks slowly.
“No.”
Another pause.
Then, he speaks quieter than before, a hint of uncertainty in his usually firm voice. “It is the duty of a husband.”
Your brain stops functioning for a second. You let out an unintelligible noise, regain yourself, a light dusting of pink on your cheeks, and then ask, “…What?”
He stills. Color creeps, faint but unmistakable, along his neck.
“…To protect. To remain close. To ensure your safety,” he continues, voice stiff now, like he’s reciting something he doesn’t fully understand himself. “To care for… one’s other half.”
You stare at him.
“Husband,” you repeat blankly.
“Yes.”
“…Other half.”
“Yes.”
You open your mouth, close it, open it again. You repeat this a few times like a fish.
“…Xiao.”
“Yes.”
“What are you talking about?”
He looks away, face red now. He clears his throat and mutters something under his breath. Then, slowly, he speaks, “The offering on the inn’s roof. The Qingxin flower.”
Your stomach drops. “The… flower?”
“The qingxin,” he nods. “An offering of that nature—given willingly—carries meaning.”
“Wait,” you whisper, “you mean—”
“It is not something given lightly,” he says, gaze fixed somewhere just past your shoulder now. “Nor is it something I would refuse.”
Your heart stutters. “You thought I was—marrying you?” you manage to say.
“I did not think,” he replies, quieter now, “I accepted because…I have never been offered such a thing before.” His confession is soft like the gentle breeze that seems to follow him. His gaze flicks to yours for a moment, then away.
“And I—” He pauses, then speaks again, “I found that I did not… dislike it.”
Silence floods the cave. You stare at him, the pieces slotting together in your mind with terrifying clarity. The shadow over your shoulder. The sudden safety. The way he always appeared—
“Oh my Archons,” you breathe.
You married him. By accident. To a Yaksha. You clap a hand over your face.
“Oh my Archons—”
“I have fulfilled my duties poorly,” Xiao says, voice low, almost tense. “If you regret—”
“I don’t regret it!” you blurt, dropping your hand. “I just—would’ve liked to know?!”
He blinks. “…Ah.” As if the thought of informing you never crossed his mind.
You pace again, then stop, looking at him, really looking, squinting, as if trying to read his soul. He won’t quite meet your eyes now. As you scan his entire body, you notice the faint red still lingering on his skin, the tension in his shoulders. They’re broad. His arms are well-sculpted. He’s not much taller than you, but you like that. Makes it easier to kiss—
You flush at the thought, mentally swatting it away like a pesky fly. You manage to regain your voice. “…You really thought this whole time…” you murmur.
“Yes.”
You’re getting slightly annoyed at his one-word answers. You stand with your hands on your hips, glaring at him. “…And you didn’t say anything?”
“It did not seem necessary.”
You laugh. You can’t help it. It bubbles out of you, incredulous, overwhelmed.
“Of course it didn’t,” you mutter, “of course you wouldn’t think that’s important.”
And before you can stop them, the words burst from your lips like the fireworks at the inn last night, intense, brief, and uncontrollable. “…You like me?”
He stiffens. “…You are… acceptable.” He practically whispers the admission, redder now. Not so much like a flower, but more like a tomato.
You grin. “That’s high praise coming from you.”
“…You are also reckless,” he adds abruptly.
“There it is. That’s the Xiao I know. You had me scared for a moment. I thought you had been drugged or something, being all cheesy and red like that.” You giggle.
He glares at you, but he can’t hide the small, fond smile on his face.
By the time you leave the cave, the monsters are gone and the world feels different. Not because anything has changed. The people still chat in the streets, the birds still chirp, the wind still flows softly. But because now you know, and knowledge feels like the sweetest fruit.
Back at Wangshu Inn, the night settles quietly around you both. You sit on the edge of your bed. He stands near the window, as if unsure where he belongs. You pat the space beside you.
“Come here.”
“I can remain—”
“Xiao,” you say sternly.
Then, slowly, he moves like a grumpy cat. He sits besides you cautiously like you might disappear if he does it wrong. You lean against him anyway. He goes rigid, eyes wide and face reddening. Then, after a moment, he relaxes. Just slightly.
“…This is unnecessary,” he murmurs.
“Mhm.”
“…I am already here.”
“Mhm.”
He pauses and squints before looking away to hide his expression.
“…You are warm.”
You smile, eyes drifting shut.
“Told you.”
The breeze outside stirs, soft and steady. It doesn’t feel like something watching over you overprotectively. It feels like something that thinks you’re worth staying for.
You see the notes app propped up on Xiao's phone screen. He's written it up just for you and has a small pout on his lips as you look from his phone and back to him.
You can't help but melt at the sight, you know your poor boyfriend was as introverted as one could get, but you wanted him to get out of his comfort zone.
10:34pm 15.7.2026
Can we leave now? Pretty please?
Since arriving at Hutao's house party, he's been beside you like a shadow - only this shadow has his fingers softly laced with yours, not giving you a chance to slip away from him, not even for a minute.
Its 30 minutes in that you end up seated on a loveseat with him beside you – this, is when he takes his chance to show you his phone screen.
You shake your head from side to side, and you see his usually stoic expression fall. He doesn’t huff, but he does let out a small breath before looking away.
Xiao doesn’t talk much, even when he's prompted to, so you're thankful when his closest friend, Aether, swoops into the conversation a little while later. You can practically see his eyes light up.
And with the help of Xiangling who so conveniently called out to you in that very moment – you decide to stage your disappearance.
As you stand up to leave, you don't miss the way Xiao's eyes linger on you. You can practically feel the way his arm is begging him to reach out to you and pull you back to his side – but he holds himself back. You smile softly at him and kiss his cheek, whispering softly,
"Don’t worry, I'll come back"
Xiao’s cheeks flush a pretty pink color, and he ends up blinking more than once. It’s clear he's a little flustered with the pda.
You hear Aether teasing Xiao in the background, and you make a mental note to apologise to Xiao when you're back home.
You sigh into the night as you hug your knees a little closer to your chest – it wasn’t all too cold tonight, in fact, you greatly appreciated the cool breeze that brushed against you.
You’ve been sat in Hutao’s backyard for almost a half hour now, staring out at the tiny stars that illuminated the night sky. You’re at peace with the gentle humming of your mind until you’re interrupted.
"You're a liar"
Closing your eyes, you let out a breath – this was inevitable. His footsteps near, as you speak, “What did I lie about?"
"You told me to socialise and you're out here all alone" Xiao mumbles, you feel him crouch beside you to take a seat on the grass.
"I didn’t say I would socialise; I just told you to socialise" you state, a matter-of-factly, hoping to ease the tension and obvious frustration that was clear in his tone. But when he didn’t even grace you with a response, you finally turn to look at him.
Oh, did he look like a wounded puppy.
"Hey, I was socialising. I just wanted to be alone for a bit... recharge myself, you know?"
"Why didn’t you call me?" Xiao’s voice was always soft when he spoke to you, but this time, you felt a little part of you break when he spoke.
You bite your lip and try to explain yourself as best as you can, but you know nothing can salvage it,
"I wanted you to enjoy your time with your friends. You don’t ever meet them outside of these types of gatherings, so I thought it’s a good opportunity for you"
More silence.
You sigh, your fingers reach out to cup his cheeks, "Xiao, I'm sorry"
"You're not forgiven" he mumbles, looking off to the side. You wonder if he’s aware he’s wearing the most adorable pout on his lips right now, “but, if we leave now... then you'll be forgiven"
You shake your head immediately and withdraw your touch, Xiao frowns in that instant to look away.
"Xiao, I promised them we'd be here for the cake. You know how long Xiangling must have spent on it, and Hutao is equally as excited"
"At this rate, the cake will be cut at midnight. And it won’t even be her birthday then" he grumbles under his breath, and you really don’t know if you were even meant to hear it. You move your head to get a better look at your lover again, a little more anxious,
"Please forgive me?”
Xiao takes a small breath and you're finding yourself gripping onto the grass beneath your palms, anticipating his response.
"No" he shakes his head softly, his eyes closed. He was insistent on being stubborn, and you couldn’t blame him one bit.
But what he should know, is that you can also be just as stubborn.
"Fine. No more kisses then. Not until you forgive me."
Xiao’s lips part in shock. He closes them and opens them once, then twice, "That’s not fair" he points out, scowling at you in the most adorable fashion.
"Don’t care" you huff, before turning away to the side, your nose held up high to the sky to showcase your determination.
There’s a silence that follows, you understand that Xiao takes it to centre his thoughts – you weren’t usually bratty or stubborn, at least not with him. But that didn’t mean he didn’t know how to deal with it.
The silence stretches a little longer, and you wonder if you’ve upset your lover even more. You turn to take a peek at him, only to meet his eyes right in front of yours.
Startled, your shoulders shrug up, and you close your eyes – just like that, your lips are swept into his sweet kiss.
"You said you wouldn't kiss me. That doesn’t mean I can't kiss you" Xiao looks to your eyes as he whispers his words onto your lips, pecking on you once more before sighing into your neck and pulling you in.
Though you groan to showcase your annoyance for being fooled, you can’t help but enjoy the way he holds you close. You always enjoyed being held by Xiao, it felt like home.
"You look pretty" you hear him say and you push away at his chest to look at him again.
"Thank you, Xiao. But you already told me before we left home"
Xiao shrugs – albeit nonchalant, he smiles warmly, "I wanted to say it again"
You giggle softly and shake your head, "you should be back with Aether. You haven’t seen him for a long time"
"I already spoke to him. And now, I want to speak to you" You feel his fingers reach to cradle your cheek, soft and tender. Though you wish to fall asleep in his touch, you feel a certain bitterness on your tongue,
"You speak to me every day"
"And?" Xiao tilts his head to the side, his gaze, laced with confusion, but an incredible yearning for understanding as you utter his name in disappointment. Your mood is off, he understands that, but he wants to know why.
Xiao leans in to kiss at your cheek, he’s painfully gentle – his fingers reach to the strands of hair that blow messily in your face, tucking them behind your ear.
You can’t bear to see that look on his face, he wants to ask, but he doesn’t want to pry. That in itself leads him to some sort of self-blame – you know him too well.
And so, despite your efforts to keep your thoughts to yourself, you let him know,
"I just worry sometimes... you're only ever with me. I wonder if you'll ever get sick of me" you say lowly, not daring to look at him.
Though you’re sat beside him, you create a little distance by staring straight in front of you instead of meeting his gaze. Your fingers dig in a little to the grass, you didn’t realise you were so tense till you felt his soft fingers creep towards yours and tangle into them.
"Why would I?"
You shake your head and look up to the stars, sighing, "I guess... I don’t know", you can feel Xiao’s gaze on you, but you can’t seem to look to him anymore. You’re rather ashamed of your confession – you hate the thought of burdening Xiao with your insecurities – but here you were.
He was sure to be wearing a look of pure hurt; you didn’t want to see that face – especially when you were the one inflicting it. And so, you settle your eyes on the stars above you both, they were enchanting enough to distract you from the current moment.
"The stars are pretty, aren’t they?" you hear him say and you can’t help but smile softly. You think back to the many moments Xiao has come outside late at night to pull you back to sleep – you always loved looking at them, especially from the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn.
"They are"
"Do you ever get sick of the stars? I see you gazing at them every night"
You feel the world around you freeze. His words – they were simple and yet so profound. Xiao was incredibly poised; he too, knew the effect those words would have on you. How could he not? They were crafted just for your ears.
You can’t help but feel your heart swell a little more. It wasn’t painful anymore, it felt warm, tender, “No… no I don’t”
You close your eyes and Xiao leans in to kiss you once more. You’re more than ready to accept him, in fact, you think he greatly deserves an infinite supply kisses after soothing you so easily.
"Ugh there you are!"
Before his lips could brush onto yours, you're both startled at the sound of a new voice that pulls you both apart from each other.
Your lips crack into a smile as Xiao's head falls down in disappointment, resting just above your shoulder.
As you turn around, you’re met with the sight of Lumine's golden hair glowing amidst the dark night.
"Aether! I found Xiao!" Lumine's voice calls out and you're standing up with Xiao, giggling. Those twins were much like each other, once they got sight of you, they won’t leave you alone.
"Hutao said to hurry up! We're going to cut the cake!"
Xiao's eyes light up at the words and you see a ghost of a smile appear as he looks at you, knowingly.
You huff lowly as you walk up to Lumine, with Xiao trailing behind much like a happy puppy on his best behaviour.
chuu's note: this fic was inspired by this post! I thought it was very xiao core hahaaha!
۶۟ৎ xiao will try anything you ask - even if he thinks it is pointless. alternatively: you make him try new foods for the first time.
— around 700 words, sfw, gender neutral reader, established relationship, banter... not much goes on really you just get him to try new foods and he is too whipped to deny you, unedited
“I just don’t see the appeal,” Xiao crosses his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing at the boba you swirl in front of him with a teasing grin before biting down on the straw and pulling up a pearl. “It has no real value for your nutrition.”
You snort. “Not everything I eat needs to be practical, or healthy. I can just like it.” He doesn’t seem convinced, eyeing the drink in your hand and the messily packaged food on the table — courtesy of Smiley Yanxiao, you know he’d heard you coax the chef into making it. “It won’t kill you to try it.”
“Not much could come close to that,” he murmurs dryly. You look at him, pleading and soft, and he caves, extending a hand. “Alright. Let me try it.”
You smile, pleased, and try to hide how intently you watch as he gingerly sips the boba. It’s cute, really, the gentle furrow to his brow and the confusion in his eyes as he tries to understand the texture and flavor that bursts across his tongue. It’s even cuter when the way he likes it becomes evident — his expression brightening as he takes another sip, fingers flexing around the glass in the way it always does when he finds something pleasant, like he’s trying to keep it distant from his karma.
“So?” You drawl and his gaze snaps to yours, an embarrassed flush creeping across his cheeks.
“I see why you’d like it…” he deflects it so smoothly you choose not to comment on that fact he continues to drink it instead of handing it back. “It has the texture of dreams, too.”
“You just like jellies,” you tease. You’d brought primarily gelatinous foods today in an effort to expand his palate — you find that smoother foods, with some level of chewiness, bring up those pleasant memories from their texture, and you’ve been hoping to make him enjoy human delicacies and indulgences more with you. He’s far less annoyed by festivals and story-telling due to your influence, even if he finds the recollection of Liyue’s history to be abhorrently inaccurate due to taking so many liberties. “How childish.” He makes a disgruntled sound at that, and the look he gives you halts your teasing. “Try this one.”
The plate you push towards him has ciba cakes on it, and he studies it before shaking his head. “Do you plan to poison me?”
“Xiao.” You chide, tearing one open. “Come on.”
“It looks…” he pauses, searching for the word. “Rich.”
“You like puddings,” you remind gently. “You don’t have to finish it, just a bite.”
Xiao sighs and leans forward to eat the piece you offer him, gingerly pulling it from your grasp with his teeth. The fried outside obviously throws him for a moment, his face scrunching up in his surprise, but it relaxes eventually. “Hmm…” he looks at you warily. “It does not feel like this one is particularly nutritious, either.”
“It’s rice.”
“Ah,” Xiao takes another small nibble of the cake. “I suppose I approve, then. You should eat it. It does more for you than other snacks you enjoy.”
“You say this like I ever take your nutritional advice, anyways.”
“You should. Or at least, take Rex Lapis’s.”
You laugh softly, and eye the now empty glass of boba. “I’ll think about it. How about we go get you another boba? To test what pearls taste most like dreams.”
Xiao flinches a little — surprised you noticed, but also surprised he enjoyed the tea enough to finish it. Especially when it was yours. Bashfully, he murmurs, “that’s not necessary. I don’t need it.”
“But you like it. Come on, pretty boy,” that gets him, his posture softening as he eagerly leans into your touch when you pat his cheek. “Let’s indulge all your wants, just for the day.”
“It’s counterproductive to self cultivation, to be so indulgent,” but Xiao follows you anyways as you begin to walk towards the elevator. “We will have to work on yours.”
“Mm. Another day.” You never will. You both know. He does not challenge you on it.
۶۟ৎ nyx's notes: dialogue lowkey a little stilted because i think he'd be stiff and irritable if you pull this but also i couldn't get it to sound more natural. oh well.
Ever since getting into a relationship with Xiao, he has been increasingly distant with you. So when you see him idling in Wangsheng Parlour instead of hanging out with you, you decide its the very last straw...
tags: fluff, romance, misunderstandings, Xiao being a bad liar, Xiao begging/being pouty & clingy, suggestive content, established relationship, 'Qingxin' as a pet name
wc: 2k
author's note: I just wanted to write this man being super whiny I'm going to be so real. I can also see him doing this to his S/O early on in his relo (trauma and all yknow? you'll understand by the end)
“You…Xiao?
“Ah, Y/n-” Xiao’s mouth shut the moment he saw the sudden heat emanate from your eyes, a cold shiver running down his spine.
He didnt expect to see you here. And he knows you certainly didnt expect to see him here - Wangsheng Parlour, a place that he had no business being in for the sake of his "work".
At least not that you knew of.
Xiao looks to Zhongli who isnt too fussed, but he knows the younger well enough to know he's panicked.
How was he going to explain this one?
He had a duty to protect Rex Lapis’ identity, but at the same time, he was sure you would not let it go till you learnt the truth.
A truth Xiao could just fake, however, he was a terrible liar. Especially when it came to you.
As you run off, Xiao looks back to his elder who softly sighs.
And after a moment of conversation, Xiao bids his farewell to the elder, sensing your presence already in his settled in his room in Wangshu Inn.
Xiao sighs as he teleports to his shared room with you. Truthfully, it was his room, but he insisted on moving your possessions over since it was easier to keep an eye on you. He also liked the feeling of coming home and seeing you on his bed - to him, it was a luxury to sleep next to you, he relished in those rare moments. Especially when the majority of his days were spent apart from you.
In your eyes, you rarely saw Xiao at all. You knew Xiao was a busy man, but he was awfully distant, even after bending into a relationship with him. If you were lucky, you’d awake in the middle of the night to see him resting beside you. But that was a rare occurrence when he was exhausted beyond his limits – far too exhausted to pry into your dreams and tweak them into something pretty as he usually does.
Your lover was sweet, truly. But you couldn’t help but feel angered when you saw him idling at the Wangsheng Parlour during his free time, instead of being with you.
You haven’t seen him for weeks now.
For the great many who enter into a relationship, they’d enter into the ‘honeymoon’ stage – where they’re stuck to each others hips all day. But it seems you got the shorter end of the stick. You hadn’t even come in contact with him, let alone met his eyes. It was as if he was purposefully ignoring you after finally getting into an official relationship – it was all too painful. You gave him the benefit of the doubt at first, but this. This was your final straw.
Xiao walks over to you, his eyes scanning at the way you had packed your bags, already walking towards the door. Before you could pull on the doorknob, he teleports in front of the small space between you and the door.
His eyes are fixed on yours as his back leans against the door.
You give him a look before turning back around, wishing to walk away silently, but Xiao teleports in front of you, yet again.
Startled, you stumble back, and Xiao doesn’t waste time to take advantage of that. He takes a few steps toward you, till your back hits the door.
His palms cage you, eyes boring into yours as he leans in,
“You’re taking your clothes… why?”
You look away, silent – there was absolutely no reason for you to answer his queries, especially when he didn’t even bother giving you any time of his own to you. If you weren’t biting back your tongue, you’d tell him to go to Wangshen Parlour instead.
“Why aren’t you answering me?” he says gently, watching as your gaze shifts to the other side. It was a stubborn attempt at ignoring him, even when he was right in front of you. You could tell he was pained at it, you didn’t even have to see his expression. The way he took in a breath, was enough – you knew him well enough.
“Qingxin…” he says, his voice as smooth as honey as he moves his head in attempt to catch your gaze. His curious eyes are on yours before giving up, realizing it may frustrate you further.
He knew he was awful to you. He knew you were hurt, not angry. And perhaps, he also understood that your stubbornness was well overdue, and he deserved every moment of it.
Xiao begins to lean closer, he feels you stiffen but doesn’t back down. For some reason, it feels foreign. He begins to pepper small kisses along your jawline, and down to the base of your neck. He understood why it felt foreign. His heart aches, sighing as he realises just how long it had been since he had last been this close to you.
“Please” he mumbles into your skin, his head resting on the crook of your neck,
Though you’re melting at the way his lips leave a vibration against your skin, you decide to be cruel a little longer. He was horrible to you. He didn’t even understand how lonely you’ve been feeling without him,
“I figured I won’t be staying over anymore so I should take my clothes with me”
Xiao immediately pulls back to face you, his eyes wide, frightened, “You won’t be staying over anymore?”
You roll your eyes, scoffing, “Why do you care? Last time I checked you didn’t even bother telling me you were so close to the people in the Wangsheng Parlour.”
Xiao sighs, so he was right, you were upset about it, “I was… visiting an old friend.”
“Doesn’t seem so old to me considering you visit them almost every week.” You bite back and Xiao remains poised despite the new information that you've known hes been visiting more than once.
He shakes his head, his eyes soft, almost pleading,
“If it is director Hu you are worried about, I can assure you she’s nothing but an acquaintance. Mr Zhongli however… is… someone I enjoy the company of”
“Mr Zhongli?” you quirk an eyebrow upward. You knew of this man, he was only a mere assistant at the Parlor.
Xiao nods his head, a little nervous now as you narrow your eyes suspiciously at him. Of course, now bear the question of how he got close with Zhongli, considering he wasn’t someone with quite as much status as the notorious director, Hutao. You weren’t buying it at all.
“I thought you didn’t have mortal companions?” you challenge, making Xiao squirm back a little. His own words from the past seemed to bite back at him. He was one who spoke ill of mortals, after all.
“Well… he… that was before I started getting to know you-”
“You said he was an old friend. Mr Zhongli is quite young, is he not? How could you have known him long enough to call him an old friend? And we've been together only a few months, remember?” you remind him, making Xiao silence himself that instant. He realises he had walked into yet another trap - he was cornered from all sides, and he was starting to feel a little hotter than normal.
Thankfully, you began to piece the puzzles together yourself. Zhongli himself was a mysterious character. Xiao’s relationship with him, and his now sudden nervousness on the topic only led you to one reasonable conclusion. He wasn’t a mortal.
You decide to let the matter go, sighing before pushing Xiao back lightly.
Xiao raises his eyebrows, shocked at your response to let the issue go. You’ve now brushed past him, away from the door you were so eager to get out of.
Xiao follows behind you like a lost puppy, relived at the way you place your bag near your side of the bed.
“Are you… still upset at me?” he asks, a soft and yet weary tone as he looks over to you,
“No” you turn to him, feeling a little sorry now. His puppy eyes were undoubtedly unintentional; however, they seemed to make your stomach churn. Even more, when he bit onto his bottom lip, blinking at you before asking yet again, “can I… hug you?...Please?”
“You already did” you speak monotonously, reminding yourself to not give in. But he was so innocent and sweet, you couldn’t quite help but soften as he takes another cautious step. His eyes melt into your gaze, mumbling out words that you finally allow yourself to surrender to.
“I want to… again. For longer”
“Okay”
Xiao’s lips curve into a smile, his shoulders relaxing at the sight of you finally giving in to him. Barely a second passes before Xiao wraps his arms around your waist, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck, basking in your warmth and your scent that he cherished so dearly. You wonder if this is his favourite place to lay in.
He pulls back to stare at you before kissing you, once, twice, three, then four times. He does so till you’re dizzy with his affection, feeling yourself eased onto the plush mattress, with Xiao hovering above you. You miss this sight, you don’t think you even remembered the last time you saw it.
“Don’t ignore me again… please” he hushes into your lips, kissing you sweetly,
“You deserved it” you murmur, expecting his adorable scowl that settled in his face now,
“I did not…” you watch as Xiao’s eyebrows scrunch upward, he caresses your cheek, “and… I asked nicely.”
“I know you did” you retort only to see Xiao’s expression fall a little. It broke a small part of your heart before he leant in to kiss you softly once more. Perhaps it was to silence your nonsense, but you weren’t complaining. You were addicted to the way he kissed you, he always took his time, he always made you feel special.
Xiao’s kiss grows deeper, intimate, yet achingly slow,
“Say it…” he mumbles onto your lips, hot, heavy, "...please?"
He must be enchanting you with his lips, since he manages to completely turn you into mush, drawing out the softest whine into his own lips. As he pulls back, Xiao’s amber eyes are expectant on yours – he notes the way your lips pout, the way your eyes are settled on his lips, yearning for more. But he doesn’t budge.
You sigh and pull him in closer,
“I won’t ignore you again, happy?”
You feel his lips curve into a smile as he kisses you again, humming in approval.
“So as long as you don’t ignore me either” you manage, and Xiao nods immediately. The words stab into his heart, and he’s pained to hear the words escape your lips. But there is nothing he can do but apologise for it.
“I’m sorry” he sighs, “it is... difficult leaving you… it’s why I try not to visit you as often… to make the goodbyes less painful. But I’ve only ended up hurting you”
You start to understand Xiao’s distorted logic a little more. You knew Xiao had a tendency to distance himself from those he loved since he cared too much. But you didn’t expect he was pained at the thought of saying goodbye. Even if it were for his missions. Leaving you was painful, so he’d rather not see you at all, you understood it, no matter how twisted it was.
But that is what grief does to one. And you couldn’t torture him for thinking in ways that were ingrained into him, after mountains and mountains of despair and loss.
“Goodbyes are only painful because reunions are sweet” you whisper with a small smile, your palm on his cheek. You feel Xiao close his eyes and lean into it, nodding his head. He understands it better now more than ever. He focuses on your warmth, whenever he was with you, he felt an eternal bliss.
Serenity, he thought he would never experience in his lifetime.
But it was because he felt so strongly now, he would mourn when he is to leave your side. There is no joy, without pain, and no pain, without joy.
“I’m a fool without you, my Qingxin. I’m sorry. Please stay, I’ll be better”
You heart churns at his words, and you pull him into you completely, your arms wrapping tightly around his neck. You feel his arms slither around your waist, his breaths soft against your skin. You know words may not reassure him entirely, but you have to say it at least once.
The streets of Liyue were bustling as usual, the clock nearing midnight. It was lantern rite season and the harbor was livlier than it usually was this time of year. Deeming it too loud for this hour, you decide to simply observe the city from a distance instead. More people gathering meant more evil spirits to ward off, which, with the help of Xiao wasn't so hard. But you still needed your well earned break, choosing an isolated mountaintop nearby and simply people-watching.
Though your thoughts got interrupted when you felt a familiar presence nearby. Speak of the devil, it was your little adeptus friend. Little is quite the understatement, it had been a little over a thousand years since you two met. "Hey, Xiao." you gave a small smile, scooting a little to the left to give him room to sit. It wasn't often but it was a little ritual you had whenever lantern rite came along, something about people-watching together from afar was quite calming.
"Hi." he gave a court nod, hesitating before settling down next to you, seeming a little tense. Probably from all the fighting. He was a harder worker than you, never seeming to know when to take a break. There was a comfortable silence in the air, which you kindly intruded with some small talk.
"I talked with morax while you were gone." He instantly turned his head to you, his eyes softening quite a bit. "M-morax..? Ah.. What did he say?" trying to play it off and failing miserably. You let out a small giggle. It was always so sweet to see him perk up and soften at the mention of that name. Oh how he looked up to Morax..
"He asked me about you. Saying you didn't visit him in a while and that he hoped you were okay, and to not overexert yourself especially during this time of year. He's right, y'know? You work too hard during lantern rite. Relax a little." but all he seemed to catch was the first part.
"He asked about me?" he seemed a little... giddy? Though curtly turned his head around and fell into his thoughts while gazing at the city.
"I can't just stop fighting. Monsters are especially active this time around." His usual tone came back, his face resting again once the topic died down.
You flopped back onto the grass, staring into the starry sky. Even though it was fake, Teyvat's night sky was still beautiful. "The more tired you are the less efficient you'll be in killing spirits. You have to maintain your health too." you reply after a pause. "My only purpose is to fend off evil spirits and kill monsters. I don't have the time to 'maintain my health'." he answered.
You sat up slightly, brows furrowing. "Your only job is to fend off spirits. Not your only purpose. There's a difference." His eyes widened a sliver while turning to look at you when you spoke those words, before averting his gaze once more. A silence loomed over the air once more. Slowly, and hesitantly, he laid on his back too, staring into the void before placing the back of his hand on his forehead. Another migraine hit him. They weren't too unusual, especially with his karmic debt worsening the more power he used.
"See? You'll just get killing headaches if you keep this up." you tease. ".. I'm fine." he stubbornly bites back.
"You clearly aren't."
"Be quiet."
You went silent after that which caught his attention. Was he too harsh? Morax had told him to be more mindful of his words...
"... sorry. I didn't mean that." he spoke after a beat of silence, his voice hesitant. The rumors about him were really wrong, partly because of him. All he did was distance himself from mortals with fear of getting attached or hurting them, but he had a really pure heart.... Kinda like a tsundere. Maybe.
You stifled a laughter. "It's okay, Xiao. I've known you long enough to not throw a fit every time you tell me to shut up."
He pursed his lips and simply raised his hand a little from his eyes, staring into the sky. A kind of warm feeling rose in his chest. Like how he used to feel whenever Bosacius and Indarias would draw on his face while he slept all those years ago. Like how he feels when Morax praises him. He missed his friends greatly, dwelling on the past had brought him so much misery.
But the one thing that made up for it was the gratitude of you sticking to his side, of the people of Liyue putting their trust into him, slowly learning to accept them and sometimes, only sometimes, willingly converse with them, because Morax said he should interact with them more. Xiao wasn't a heartless stoic man. He's a boy who's never learned to love properly, because everything he's held dear to him had always been taken from him. But that was all in the past.
Now, with his new friends, the traveler, xianyun, Ganyu, Hu Tao, even Itto who'd always call him "buddy" whenever he got the chance, and of course, you who stuck by his side all these times and his precious geo archon who has brought him salvation. Maybe these warm feelings weren't so bad. Maybe for once, he wasn't alone anymore. He wouldn't have to fight alone anymore.
Maybe now, he was finally happy.
a/n: first post ˃̶͈◡˂̶͈ I still kinda suck at using tumblr ngl I only read fics up until now but tried my best to keep xiao as close to canon as possible! I really see him as a soft person who only distances himself from people cause he's just scared of getting too attached and losing them, sometimes people write him as someone who's too cold and cruel which is far from the truth imo ^_^
