summary: in which a very injured adeptus comes across a supreme figure, turning out to have more to do with his troubles than it seems.
wordcount: 1.1K
a/n: i’m in love with the genshin x creator!reader au , trope . it hust seems so cool. g/n reader , implied morax , reader is just touchy , blood warning ? (ig) reader literally kinda does whatever they want cus… creator !! i like this au a lot, let me know if you want more !!!1!!1!&1% .. not revised
a weight lands on the wood of the Wangshu Inn with a noticable thud, disrupting the tranquility of nightfall. black and turquoise particles fading away as fast as they appeared like petals fluttering from a tree.
a slumped figure only — but barely upright by the support of his spear — huddled where the, now few, flecks of colour flickered. seconds came by like heavy, painstakingly slow footsteps; only accompanied with the soft thuds of dripping blood and bated breathing.
xiao clenched his spear, warm light spilled from the opening of the Wangshu Inn as he raised his head. a juvenile grunt escaped the warrior as he staggered to the further end of the balcony, hand gripping the wood harshly. splinters coming loose as xiao held his side, an unpleasant sound came through grinded teeth. the spear fell to the ground, turning to dust before it hit the ground.. no doubt purposefully.
a single minute felt like an hour to xiao, and every hour xiao seemed to spiral. racing thoughts gripped him like the pain that clawed away at him, his karmic debt prodding his mind.
how could there be so many demons? tonight especially?
the more he considered his own thoughts, the more he went back in time to study those particular creatures.
they weren’t like any other demons xiao had come across during his duration as a yaksha. and they weren’t like others, the way they attacked.. they weren’t targeting civilians, but xiao himself.
attacking him sparingly but with ruthlessness, as if they were testing him—
“general alatus.”
the voice was assertive, but tender, as if to prevent provocation; regardless, xiao pivoted around, brandishing his spear toward the voice. there was a tremble in his fixed stare when he turned on his heel, now gone.
a figure stood at the entrance to the balcony, polar to where xiao was planted. their features were obscured by the radiating light that shone from the entrance; abruptly stopped by the looming shadow of the individual.
xiao’s features were taut, that voice.. it felt— familiar, and that presence, it held an enthralling sense of security. but he couldn’t figure out what — who — it was. it’s almost like trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces.
“who are you?” xiao demanded, masking his inner conflict with animosity.
“you don’t remember me?” the figure tilted their head, their tone was one of sheer curiosity. one xiao searched for any hostility or malice, being unsuccessful.
“what—“
xiao stiffened as a hand latched to his face, another face coming close to his. nose almost coming into contact with his own. confused but instinctively bringing his spear up to the figures nape.
the clouds that obstructed the moonlight shifted, as if on cue. cold light glared down onto liyue; xiao’s eyes widened as he recognised the figures face. light came to glistening eyes and sculpted features.
xiao dropped his spear, landing with an unpleasant chime. he felt breathless with astonishment.
“your grace..” he rasped, to best he could attempt in this position. a certain urgency slid into his tone.
you replied with a hush, hand still gripping his face. you turned his head, examining xiao’s features with a turned up chin, like a victor studying his trophy. an action that made his ears heat up and face turn a slight crimson.
“morax has told me much about you, general alatus,” your other hand reached his face, thumb caressing the purple diamond-shaped mark on his forehead. earning a grunt as he attempted to speak. “even still when you were yet to be appointed a yaksha.”
“i deeply apologise for raising my weapon against you, your grace..” xiao stated through gritted teeth, not being keen to have his face grabbed. still, he made no attempt to free himself from your grip, he knew better.
“even after all these years i’ve been curious as to who had he cared such dearly for.” you made no acknowledgement to the xiao’s comment, your grip coming loose, both hands met clasped together behind your back. “but you are much.. smaller than i anticipated. although your speed makes up for your lack of— ugh..”
you cleared your throat.
“and i managed to observe you fighting my creatures, such spear work." you circled xiao, observing him. "morax taught you well, alatus.”
xiao’s eyebrows raised, swinging in your direction to face you. your eyes travelled up to meet his gaze, since surprised now itched with curiosity.
“your grace.. it was you who sent those demons?” he took a step forward, stopping only there. his head tracking your movements.
you slowed your pace, your gaze fixed on xiao’s waist, trailing down.
“i indeed did, alatus.” you quirked a brow, meeting eyes as yellow as the purest of cor lapis. a small smile perked your features, as you added teasingly, “and i see that they did not see mercy in the flight of their task.”
xiao felt blood rush to his face, dismissively clearing his throat. finding the floor to his interest rather than facing the teasing smirk that you had to offer.
he should feel grateful to be in your presence, being one of the few to ever lay eyes upon you, at least in the flesh. the many statues of you carved throughout liyue were no exception.
but xiao was fighting an internal war. discomfort settled in his stomach like a pit, feeling as if he was holding his weight from falling off a cliff.
“my apologies. if i knew those demons were sent by you, i would have considered less recklessness.” he dipped his head, eyes closed. hands felt as if they were latched onto xiao, attempting their best to pull him to the ground. shame felt itself creep throughout the entirety of xiao’s body, accompanied by following silence. apart from the whistling of midnight breeze, you said nothing. “my injuries— are just an inconvenience. it won’t happen again, your grace.”
a moment of silence passed until xiao felt a warm sensation, a hand rested on his shoulder. your hand. the contact made him feel significantly lighter, as if the hands that gripped attempted to drag him to the ground suddenly let go. the sudden lack of pain from his injuries almost made him stumble.
xiao’s head snapped up. there, your eyes closed, a warm smile pulled at your lips. you seemed different now.. you felt warm. such a sweet feeling, a feeling that could cure the worst of injuries.
“i sense that there’s more on your shoulders than your injuries from that battle, alatus.” you leaned in, face barely an inch away from his. fierce eyes bore into his, “there is more at play here, isn’t there?”
xiao’s eyes widened, for the first time in a while, he felt as if words wouldn’t form in his mouth. his jaw hung agape as if he was going to speak. heartbeats passed before he finally got out. “it is my.. karmic debt.”
you quirked a brow, intrigued.
“oh really?” you tilted your head, “tell me more.”
