.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ basil ノ sal ﹒ genderqueer lesbian , any prns ﹒blk🇯🇲﹒ neurodivergent ﹒ mainly a genshin writing blog ﹒⌗ xiao, kazuha & fischl fan (๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑) - used to be @xiaosalmond, getting back into writing ﹒ mainly write for xiao & kazuha
i’m also a shifter, will occasionally post abt my drs, main drs are genshin impact & sally face! if ur anti shifting just ignore those posts or something
𐙚˙⋆.˚ MASTERLIST (coming soon)
reqs open !!
mostly sfw
what i will not write:
• incest, sa, minor x adult, cnc, ageplay, heavy age gap, grooming, so on and so forth
• nsfw of minors/characters implied to be minors
• yandere
what i will write:
• character x reader
• headcanons, drabbles, potentially full fics (if i find the motivation and energy..)
• anything normal.. tbh it's more about what i wont write than what i will
Characters: Xiao (Romantic), Childe (?), Zhongli mentioned
Genre: Hurt/comfort, GN reader
TW: Sensory Issues, isolation, reader implied to b
Characters: Xiao (Romantic), Verr Goldet (Tired)
Genre: pure fluff, Reader is g/n
TW:
500 words
AN: I'm garbage at naming things. Part one is helpful for context, but it's not necessary.
“Lanterns!” You shouted.
“What?” Xiao looked up from his bowl of tofu.
“We need to do the lanterns! Here, write your wish!” You unfolded a lantern and gave it to him.
You lay on your stomach and thought for a while before writing your wish. “Xiao, you ready?”
He nodded and you pulled out a lighter. You lit them.
“Now we just need to count to three, so we can release them together. One.”
“Two.” Xiao joined in softly. “Three!” You both said, letting them go together.
“What did you write?” Xiao asked.
“I hoped that I will continue to have people who I can trust. People like you.” You fell silent for a second. “So what was your wish?”
“I can’t tell.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” You punched his arm jokingly. “I told you mine.”
He just groaned in response and you laughed.
Idle chit-chat turned to comfortable silence. For a short while, the two of you just sat there. Until he felt a bump on his shoulder. He froze when he realized it was your head.
“What are you–” He hissed. No response, you must be asleep.
His shoulder was bony, he thought, probably not very comfortable. He folded a blanket in his lap then slipped your head onto it. Your hair looked so soft. He petted your hair, his hands naturally starting to play with the strands. You groaned and moved a little, and he was scared you had woken up. As you settled again, so did his fears.
“How can you be so restless even when you sleep.” He smiled to himself. He thought about the day and his smile fell, “Why didn’t you call my name? I told you that if you needed me I’d come. Did you think I was lying?” He pulled some hair away from your face. Your hand sleepily reached up to hold his. It was ice cold.
“It’s time to head back.” He picked you up as gently as possible.
You groaned loudly. “Noooo…”
“We need to go or you’ll freeze.” He chuckled.
He teleported to the Wangshu inn, right outside your room. And just stood there.
“Xiao, why are you standing around?” Verr Goldet asked groggily.
“I can’t just go into their room…”
“Sure you can. Just pop in, you don’t need to go through the door.”
“Not that…”
“Are you kidding me?” Verr Goldet said. “They’ll be fine with it, I promise.”
Xiao teleported in with you. He held you in one arm as he adjusted the covers. “Do you ever make your bed?” He grumbled. He placed you down carefully, and then pulled the blanket up to your neck. “Sleep well.” He stroked your forehead before he left.
When you woke up, you found yourself in your own bed. “Did Xiao…?”
You walked out and asked Verr Goldet about how you got back.
“Xiao brought you.” She giggled. “He was so shy about going into your room. Next time you see him, tell him it’s fine. He’s a nervous little guy.”
“He even brought in all my stuff.”
“He made a second trip to get them. Don’t look so worried, it’s not like he walked it back.”
“He’s so nice.” You smiled to yourself.
Unaware to you, Xiao was just around the corner blushing profusely.
TW: Sensory Issues, isolation, reader implied to be autistic
1.2k words
AN: There will be a part 2! I'm just slow.
Update: Part 2 is done! It's a fluffy one. Here is part 2
Liyue was bustling with people, even though it was still just early afternoon. It would just get worse later on. Venders called out to potential buyers at ear splitting volumes. All the lanterns would be very pretty if you could look at them one at a time, but the number of patterns and colors flooded your brain. You kept to your pre planned route, picking up some sparklers, lanterns, and food. Everything else was already packed in your bag.
Before you could escape completely, something fell on your shoulder. You startled.
“Woah there, comrade. You’re a bit jumpy today.”
The sound of Childe’s voice calmed you, but only slightly. His hand was still on your shoulder, the place where it touched your skin itching and burning. You moved it away as subtly as possible. He still noticed. Of course he would. A look of confusion and worry flicked over his face but you missed it.
“Just a bit excited for Lantern Rite.” You flashed a smile hoping it would pass as genuine. Of course it didn’t.
“You seem off. Otherwise it wouldn’t be that easy to sneak up on you.” He laughed as if it was a joke.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.” It took you a second to realize how harsh you sounded. You didn’t have the energy to regulate your tone at this point. “I’m sorry, I’m tired. I need to leave now, I have stuff I need to do.” And you left, leaving a concerned Childe behind.
Childe was worried. You had never acted like this in front of him before. A breath caught in his throat. Did you know? He watched you leave, noticing how bluntly you rejected anyone trying to talk to you. So it’s not me. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or more worried.
What is going on with you? Zhongli would know. He went to find him.
You continued on your way. You had staked out a good place to watch the fireworks, far enough to avoid the sound and high enough to have a good view. It was quite a hike though, and you wanted to get there early to set up.
Thoughts ran in your head and you tried your best to ignore them. The increasing difficulty of the terrain managed to scare them away eventually. You could only focus on one thing at a time, and for the moment that one thing was not falling to your death.
By the time you had reached the spire, the sun was starting to set. You pulled some blankets out, folding one under you to protect against the chill of the stone. The rest were set aside for when it got colder. All that was left was to wait.
Those thoughts had come back though. You wonder what the others were doing. Zhongli was probably drinking tea while watching a pre-firework performance. Childe had told you about a party he was going to. You had made sure Qiqi was given time off and had gotten her a lantern. And you were here alone. You had no right to be moping. You had told them not to worry about you, to have fun, but still… Maybe Xiao would want to…
You laugh at your silly thought. Xiao was probably enjoying his time alone.
You felt an ache in your chest. No matter how much you wanted to, you knew you couldn’t stay down there. It would be too much and you’d have a meltdown. Still you felt so.. lonely. You fought the urge to cry. Screw it. No one would see anyway. You wrapped a blanket around you tight enough to feel a slight pressure and tucked your head in your arms. You cried. It felt so much like those parties you had to leave when you were little.
The wind pulled a few strands of your hair and a presence appeared behind you.
“Oh, Xiao.” You lifted your head but didn’t turn towards him.
“Why are you here?” He was as blunt as ever. He tried to walk around to look at your face but you turned away.
“It’s quieter up here.” It’s such an understatement it feels like a lie. “I like the fresh air.” You tacked on hoping to make it more believable.
“You don’t have to lie for me.” He sat down next to you.
You looked at him surprised. “I thought you’d prefer to be alone somewhere.”
His heart broke when he saw your tear stained eyes. “And I expected you to be with everyone else.”
You winced, even though you knew he didn’t mean it in a mean way. “I would like to, but I can’t. It’s too loud. Makes me panic.”
He waited a moment after you’d finished, thinking. “What did you do last year?”
“I tried to stay, see the fireworks with everyone. Thought I could handle it.” You pause and laugh dryly. “I couldn’t. My brain shut down and Zhongli had to evacuate me.”
The two of you sat there in silence for a bit. He put his arm over your back, surprising you. Just as quickly he pulled it back. “Sorry.”
You guided his hand over your shoulder. “It’s alright. Just didn’t expect it. So, can you stay?”
“There hasn’t been any demonic activity today.”
You nodded. “I have some food, do you want some?”
“I don’t need to eat. You know this.”
“Do you want to though?” You lean over to pull something out of your bag. “I brought almond tofu!”
“I didn’t know you liked it too.”
“This is actually the first time I’ll be eating it. I was wondering why you liked it so much, so I wanted to try it.” You smiled. “We can share it!”
He looked away from your face to hide his blushing cheeks. You didn’t notice as you took a bite of the tofu.
You tapped your feet happily. “It’s good. You take a bite.”
He turned to you, as you stuck a piece towards his face. His eyes widened in surprise.
“Eat it fast! It’s slipping!” The panic in your voice pushed him to take it. He chewed it slowly.
“Is it good?” You ask, giving him a questioning thumbs up.
He copied you then swallowed it quickly. “The texture’s nice.”
“Yay!” You grinned. You pulled out all the food containers and opened them. “Take whatever you want.” You were so much more animated than before. You pulled out a timepiece. “The fireworks will start soon.”
And they did. Fireworks bloomed into flowers, hearts, and stars. Some of them split off into multiple smaller explosions, and others continued to sparkle like tinsel as they fell back to earth. Last time you watched them you didn’t have the chance to admire them, but now you could. You turned to Xiao to see his expression, only to find him staring at you.
“Is there something on my face?” You joked, laughing.
“No. It’s just – never mind.” He turned away. He was grateful for the darkness that hid his red face.
You looked back at the fireworks. “Thank you, Xiao. For being here with me. It…it means alot.”
He wanted to say a lot. He wanted to say that he was always there for you, that you need only call his name. He said nothing though, electing to just sit by you. Your company was calming, comforting. He glanced at you often, the lights and colors of the fireworks reflecting on your face beautifully.
it‘s super strange to me how little x reader content there is for people whose depression makes them angry.
the frustration that builds up from feeling so entirely drained, powerless and overwhelmed due to depression gets me so often that I lash out at people easily when I really don’t intend to. I‘ve seen other people who do this and my friends usually describe me as mindful, caring and fun to be around even though they’ve seen my fits and crashouts, but it‘d be so ultimately comforting to see this represented in fanfiction where people understand and stay present and loving anyway.
if you‘ve seen any fic that does that please let me know and send a link/tag me/whatever!!
In the quiet of Wangshu Inn, you guide Xiao through mortal affections, teaching the reclusive adeptus to open his body and mind to fond, intimate touches.
suggestive/mild nsfw, teaching xiao to kiss, mentions of angst only regarding his past, sub xiao, dom reader, gender neutral, in honor of the xiao skin and buff ❤️🩹❤️🩹i literally love xiao so much he reminds me of og genshin (i miss it BAD)
w.c ⤷ 3.3k ˎˊ˗
Xiao thinks he'll never get used to your affections. Hes far from something that deserves your attention, he thinks. But you've told him countless times that he does, in fact, deserve love, despite the karmic debt hes acquired over centuries. Hes new to relationships and everything that comes with them. Never before has he had someone so insistent on sharing his room at Wangshu Inn with him, yet here you are, sitting on his rarely used bed in your nightwear.
He thinks you're silly and definitely clingy for coming all the way up to his room and then calling out his name in the darkness. He thought something might have happened; his mind always goes to the worst-case scenario. But when he finds you standing in his room with a sheepish smile, your appearance relaxed and ready for bed, he scoffs at you, reprimanding you for calling out his name for such a trivial matter as "going to sleep together." Hes already hesitant to stay close to you for extended periods of time, for fear that his karmic debt will seep into you and infect your innocence, let alone cuddling together.
Though he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to. It was evident in his tone. He didn't speak to you with that sharp-edged and raspy tone— it was something a little softer, something with gentleness. You knew that he puts on a rough front to protect his emotions, and you don't mind. After everything hes been through, you're sometimes surprised that hes able to push away his instincts and allow himself to be vulnerable with you.
That doesn't happen often, unfortunately, and now was one of those times. You were attempting to coax him into the bed with you, but Xiao seemed to have other plans.
"Please, Xiao, just for a bit..." You had been pleading with him for ages now, asking him just this once to get in the bed with you and relax. You tried to convince him that cuddling would be comfortable, that it would ease his tense body, and that maybe it could help with the pain from the karmic debt.
"No."
With a drawn-out sigh, you attempt to come up with a compromise for this situation. You just wanted to be wrapped in each other's embrace, but his stubborn attitude makes things difficult. "At least just sit with me." The softness in your voice makes him pause momentarily. His amber gaze lands on you as you scoot away to give him room, leaving a spot for him on the plush bed. After a mental battle, he lets out a long sigh and uncrosses his arms, walking over to the bed. At the sight of the stoic Yaksha finally giving in and approaching, you ensure he has room to sit next to you.
"You mortals are too focused on mundane affections. Why don't you just go to sleep?" You scoot back against him, your shoulder pressing into his. The subtle scent of him hits you at close proximity— mountain air, something a little metallic, and rain.
"Cause I want to see you, I called your name, no?" Xiao tilts his head towards you, and his hand on the bed slides closer, his pinky finger barely touches your thigh. You didn't miss the almost invisible ways he showed you that he still holds you dearly in his heart.
"Hm." Is all he gives in return. One of your hands experimentally comes around his back, gently placed between his shoulder blades. He doesn't dare to move; he never did.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" You question, your voice a whisper to keep the atmosphere from breaking. You knew he never cared to stay for long, and it wasn't because he disliked your presence, quite the opposite, in fact. Always antsy to scour Liyue for any danger— but you hoped that maybe after realizing that it's peaceful and calm in the room, he'd stay. He hesitates before speaking, holding a breath in his throat. "I don't know..."
His gaze hesitantly flicks over to you, honey colored eyes checking for signs of dissatisfaction in your expression. But when hes met with a soft smile and your gentle hand resting on his cheek, he pauses in shock. "That's okay. Just make your time with me right now worthwhile."
Xiao freezes under your touch, yet he craves it. Should he try to reciprocate and risk doing something wrong? Maybe he should pull away and teleport to the roof of Wanghu Inn and breathe in the cool air to calm his nerves. His heart is beating faster than he can think, and the idea of slipping away into the shadows starts to feel like the only option at the end of a long tunnel. You'll get to see him tomorrow, and then maybe you could—
"I can see you overthinking." You huff lightheartedly, affection laced in your tone. Xiao shuts his eyes and sighs, leaning slightly into the warm touch of your hand, giving in. "I— sorry."
You shift, facing him completely now. "Don't apologize." The sweet smile on your face makes him turn to you, your hand on his back no longer there. Holding gazes, Xiaos flickers down to your lips, then back up to your eyes. You couldn't tell if he was silently asking for affection or if it was accidental— you lean in anyway.
His warm breath fans against your face, and his eyelids flutter in anticipation. He'll never admit it, but he quite enjoys kissing you. You're so soft and warm compared to the cold snow he eats, your lips so supple against his. The affection that comes with a kiss is something he will never be able to turn down.
And so, when you press your lips against his, the tension in his shoulders bleeds away, and his hand finds yours— not daring to intertwine fingers, but rather to place his atop yours. His golden eyes shut at the warmth, and for but a moment, he allows himself to accept your advances. You pull back the slightest amount, just to lean back in and insistently press against him again.
He wasn't expecting the singular kiss to turn from one to two, then three, then four... His face felt warm, and your lips pressing against his so many times made him falter slightly. You have never initiated this many kisses with him. It was foreign, but the way your palm holds his cheek makes him inclined to let it happen.
Your mouth no longer leaves his, lips melting together in a slow dance. He can't find your rhythm, and a small flicker of anxiety pools in his chest. He didn't understand what you were doing— the air between you had become hot, and his breath grew thin with the lack of separation.
But when he felt the hot, wet swipe of your tongue against his lips, he pulled back abruptly. His face was undoubtedly flushed, cute red blotches covered his cheeks, and his eyes were blown wide. His chest rose and fell with every heated breath he took, and his lips were a shade pinker due to the kisses.
"...What was that?" He whispers as if he just saw a ghost. Your brows knot in worry as you let your hand, which was previously on his face, rest on the bed. "What?... What's wrong?" You question, concerned that you overstepped with him. He was already susceptible to getting embarrassed from physical affection; perhaps he was not ready for that yet...
"Why did you... lick me?" Xiao questions in that raspy voice of his, teal eyebrows lowering. Your breath gets caught in your throat. Did he not understand what you were initiating?
"We were kissing— I was kiss—"
"That was not a kiss."
You pause. He didn't look upset, just deeply confused and flustered. Your mind runs at a million miles a minute— what do you even say? Surely he knows you're just kissing him a little deeper, taking things a step further. But upon further inspection, maybe he doesn't? His whole life has been nothing but bloodshed and fighting; perhaps he doesn't understand that you weren't just licking him, but rather inviting him to something deeper.
"Xiao, I— gah, I don't even know how to explain it to you..." He gives you a skeptical look. Amidst your internal war, he tenderly touches his lip, reminiscing about the feeling of it. He finds he didn't necessarily dislike it, just found it jarring.
"I was kissing you deeper... making out, if you will..." A twinge of embarrassment tints your face as you cringe at your own words; it seems to click in his head what was happening. His eyes widened, his chest inflating with a breath as he stared at you with a look beyond flustered. "Oh..."
At least he actually knew what you were talking about, which eased something in you. It seemed to have the opposite effect on Xiao— the poor adeptus did not handle affection well.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that," You murmur, glancing away for a moment. Mentally, you scold yourself for rushing things. If hes hesitant to even get in the same bed as you, of course he's going to freak out if you try to make out with him!
"I liked it."
The softness and quietness of his tone makes you look back into his amber eyes. Those words were insanely abrupt, and you never would've thought he'd admit to something like that. Are you hearing things? But when you catch his flustered expression, his lips are pursed into a line, and he avoids your gaze. You let out a silent breath, pulling yourself together to respond to his hushed words.
"Do you want to...try again?" You question, your tone soft and inviting. The last thing you wanted to do was make him feel obligated to try.
"I...I don't know how." His voice is raspy and low, barely audible as he hides from your gaze. Your hand finds his wrist, and your thumb swipes over the sacred skin. He doesnt move, holding impossibly still— as if hes blending in with his surroundings and disappearing.
"I can show you." You whisper, taking his hand into yours. Xiao's heart is beating faster now than in the heat of any battle. He chews on his lip, clearly flustered. If any other person saw him like this, he might have to kill them to 'leave no witnesses'. "It's not hard, I can guide you."
He finally looks at you, and his expression is full of vulnerability. He wants to keep himself far away from your serenity, to prevent any harm he may cause. But at the same time, he wants to give in, to feel this intimate exchange of affection. His lips finally part to speak, his voice raspy and stammered. "J-just don't get your hopes up..."
A soft chuckle is released from you, and he glances away at the sound— but it also seems to ease his nerves slightly. Knowing that you weren't too worried helped him realize that this wasn't something he needed to be so tense over. "Relax," You crawl closer to him, bringing your head level with his and your bodies parallel. "Just follow my lead, okay?" Your voice is entirely too soft for him, too gentle to waste your precious breath on something as monstrous as him.
But when your lips near his and he can feel your warm breath against his face, the anticipation builds in his chest. Hes a little nervous and incredibly awkward. You're so close...
"Put your hands on me." You whisper, your tone affectionate and gentle with something a little sultry beneath it. He swallows— almost comically— and slowly reaches his hands out to hold on to the sides of your shoulders. He was concious with his grip, trying to keep it as tender as he possibly could.
When you feel him awkwardly grab onto you, you smile— he notices. You take hold of his wrists and slowly guide them lower to your waist. His breath stutters for a moment as he glances down; the hands used to cause so much bloodshed are now resting against the small of your waist. He likens his grip on you to holding a flower.
With tender care, you press your lips against his, starting slow. He waits for you to initiate, and you can tell by the way he hesitantly kisses you back. His grip hasn't changed or moved, keeping his hands exactly where you wanted them.
Once your lips have warmed with his, you swipe your tongue against his lower lip. His body tensed at the feeling, and he tried to copy your actions, albeit quite awkwardly— which was to be expected. His tongue barely breached the seal of his lips, trying his hardest not to overstep and follow your lead. When hes met with the heat of your mouth, the breath catches in his lungs.
With how hot and wet your tongue is against his, hes sure he'll be crumbling in your arms any minute now. How can one be so soft? The taste of you is foreign, yet welcomed as he insistently presses his lips into yours.
When he feels your hand resting on his cheek, he decides that maybe it's safe to move his hands. They slide around your back slowly and hesitantly, careful to be respectful while also committing every feeling of you to his memory. You take this as a good sign, inching closer to him.
The proximity makes him nervous; he couldn't tell if he was getting hot from how close you were, or the sensations traveling down his body... He hopes you don't look at his lap....
Your head tilts to deepen the kiss, a soft sigh getting muffled in his mouth. Hes cautious with it all, but the mix of saliva and the feeling of your hand creeping into his hair has him shuddering. You were impossibly good at this, he thinks. How were you able to make him fall apart like this? His breath was growing thin, and his lungs demanded more oxygen the more he got riled up.
You pull back, a hand carded through his teal hair and the other on his chest. He still has his hands circled around your waist, too nervous to wrap his arms around you. The hot air between you two only got hotter as you panted against each other's mouths, foreheads almost touching.
"Your hands don't have to stay there, y'know." Voice barely above a whisper, you inch even closer, chests almost touching. Xiaos amber gaze flicks over your form, landing on your lips. "...Where can I?" He murmurs, voice holding uncertainty. Your lips near his again, so close that your breath draws thin. "Anywhere, Xiao. I'm yours."
He shudders at your confession, suddenly gaining a bit of confidence. Your lips melt into his again, and he lets out the faintest sound at the contact. With a great deal of courage, his hands snake from your back up to your face, holding the sides of your jaw tightly. He gave in to your touch easily, trying his best to follow your rhythm and copy your movements. Overall, he was mostly successful, with only a few breaks.
Your hand grips onto his hair, lightly pulling the soft, teal hair in your grasp. The subtle pulling sensation feels good to Xiao, and his first instinct is to copy you, but he doesnt end up following through in fear of hurting you. A shudder travels up your body as his grip on your face becomes tighter, and he presses himself closer. Hes leaning over into you, trying to get as close as possible. Taking this as a good sign, and as something new, you break away from the kiss, flushed and hot.
When he notices that your hands leave him and you're farther away than he'd like, his brows drop in worry, and a small frown adorns his features. He already misses the warmth of your tender kisses and the grip of your hands in his hair; for a moment, he wonders if something is wrong.
But when your leg swings over his body, and he finds you perched in his lap, he freezes. He always freezes— it's his first instinct with anything that could even possibly fluster him. Your soft thighs against his legs and almost wrapped around his hips send his heart thumping against his ribcage. He claims to have no human desires, but now, hes rethinking things...
Ah... he just noticed. With this new position, you'd certainly feel the physical effects hes experiencing because of you. He panics for a moment. Was this appropriate? Xiao figures that if you were in his position, you'd certainly feel the same way, right?
Amber eyes meet yours, his diamond pupils in thin slits. His navy lashes were droopy and lowered over his eyes. "Are you comfortable...?" Xiao asks in a low voice, gaining the confidence to wrap his arms firmly around your waist. Hes learning that the closer you are to him, the sweeter it feels.
"More than comfortable." You whisper back, wrapping your arms around his neck. It felt insanely good to be pressed against Xiao like this; his body was warm and firm beneath you, the scent of him filling your nose.
Uncertain if it was because he was shy, or that he was gaining some confidence, he tucked his head beneath your chin, his nose dragging along the sensitive skin of your neck, causing a shiver to wrack through you. Your hand finds the back of his head, gripping into his hair gently and coaxing him to press further into your neck. The hot puffs of breath hit you, only warming the pit in your stomach. With tender care, he kisses your skin, tongue jutting out to lave over your pulse.
It sends another shiver through you, your thighs tensing at the throbbing between your legs. When Xiao dared to initiate, he effortlessly turned you into putty in his arms. His chest was inflating with labored breaths, arms tightening around your waist now, squeezing your abdomen against him.
"Need you closer—" He puffs against your neck, teeth dragging against your skin. Releasing your arms from him, you are quick to pull your shirt off, discarding it somewhere as you return your attention to Xiao.
Your palm finds his chest, trailing down the toned muscles to his stomach. He shudders, abs tightening at the feeling of your warm hand sliding down his body. When you lift the hem of his shirt, he assists you and pulls it over his head. His teal hair becomes tousled from it, only making him look more endearing as a hazy look clouds his eyes.
"You seem to be more comfortable now than earlier." You murmur, cupping his face and brushing the messy strands away from his face. He still flusters at your comment, honey eyes glancing away from you as his arms find themselves snaking around your waist more. "I'm... finding this enjoyable..." He admits, almost begrudgingly. "I can tell." You tease, chuckling when his eyes widen the slightest bit.
Even though he's thoroughly enjoying himself, he finds that a part of him is still reluctant to let loose— hesitant to allow himself to truly feel all these addictive sensations you're giving him. He worries that he doesn't deserve this, that something so pleasant and warm isn't something that he should have the fortune of feeling.
But that feeling subsides as you swipe your thumb over his cheek, bringing him back to reality. Your gaze is gentle on him, hands impossibly tender, and your words sweeter than almond tofu. "How far do you want this to go tonight?" Your question hangs in the air as he thinks— he had no clue. But after some internal contemplation, he responds.
In the quiet of Wangshu Inn, you guide Xiao through mortal affections, teaching the reclusive adeptus to open his body and mind to fond, intimate touches.
suggestive/mild nsfw, teaching xiao to kiss, mentions of angst only regarding his past, sub xiao, dom reader, gender neutral, in honor of the xiao skin and buff ❤️🩹❤️🩹i literally love xiao so much he reminds me of og genshin (i miss it BAD)
w.c ⤷ 3.3k ˎˊ˗
Xiao thinks he'll never get used to your affections. Hes far from something that deserves your attention, he thinks. But you've told him countless times that he does, in fact, deserve love, despite the karmic debt hes acquired over centuries. Hes new to relationships and everything that comes with them. Never before has he had someone so insistent on sharing his room at Wangshu Inn with him, yet here you are, sitting on his rarely used bed in your nightwear.
He thinks you're silly and definitely clingy for coming all the way up to his room and then calling out his name in the darkness. He thought something might have happened; his mind always goes to the worst-case scenario. But when he finds you standing in his room with a sheepish smile, your appearance relaxed and ready for bed, he scoffs at you, reprimanding you for calling out his name for such a trivial matter as "going to sleep together." Hes already hesitant to stay close to you for extended periods of time, for fear that his karmic debt will seep into you and infect your innocence, let alone cuddling together.
Though he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to. It was evident in his tone. He didn't speak to you with that sharp-edged and raspy tone— it was something a little softer, something with gentleness. You knew that he puts on a rough front to protect his emotions, and you don't mind. After everything hes been through, you're sometimes surprised that hes able to push away his instincts and allow himself to be vulnerable with you.
That doesn't happen often, unfortunately, and now was one of those times. You were attempting to coax him into the bed with you, but Xiao seemed to have other plans.
"Please, Xiao, just for a bit..." You had been pleading with him for ages now, asking him just this once to get in the bed with you and relax. You tried to convince him that cuddling would be comfortable, that it would ease his tense body, and that maybe it could help with the pain from the karmic debt.
"No."
With a drawn-out sigh, you attempt to come up with a compromise for this situation. You just wanted to be wrapped in each other's embrace, but his stubborn attitude makes things difficult. "At least just sit with me." The softness in your voice makes him pause momentarily. His amber gaze lands on you as you scoot away to give him room, leaving a spot for him on the plush bed. After a mental battle, he lets out a long sigh and uncrosses his arms, walking over to the bed. At the sight of the stoic Yaksha finally giving in and approaching, you ensure he has room to sit next to you.
"You mortals are too focused on mundane affections. Why don't you just go to sleep?" You scoot back against him, your shoulder pressing into his. The subtle scent of him hits you at close proximity— mountain air, something a little metallic, and rain.
"Cause I want to see you, I called your name, no?" Xiao tilts his head towards you, and his hand on the bed slides closer, his pinky finger barely touches your thigh. You didn't miss the almost invisible ways he showed you that he still holds you dearly in his heart.
"Hm." Is all he gives in return. One of your hands experimentally comes around his back, gently placed between his shoulder blades. He doesn't dare to move; he never did.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" You question, your voice a whisper to keep the atmosphere from breaking. You knew he never cared to stay for long, and it wasn't because he disliked your presence, quite the opposite, in fact. Always antsy to scour Liyue for any danger— but you hoped that maybe after realizing that it's peaceful and calm in the room, he'd stay. He hesitates before speaking, holding a breath in his throat. "I don't know..."
His gaze hesitantly flicks over to you, honey colored eyes checking for signs of dissatisfaction in your expression. But when hes met with a soft smile and your gentle hand resting on his cheek, he pauses in shock. "That's okay. Just make your time with me right now worthwhile."
Xiao freezes under your touch, yet he craves it. Should he try to reciprocate and risk doing something wrong? Maybe he should pull away and teleport to the roof of Wanghu Inn and breathe in the cool air to calm his nerves. His heart is beating faster than he can think, and the idea of slipping away into the shadows starts to feel like the only option at the end of a long tunnel. You'll get to see him tomorrow, and then maybe you could—
"I can see you overthinking." You huff lightheartedly, affection laced in your tone. Xiao shuts his eyes and sighs, leaning slightly into the warm touch of your hand, giving in. "I— sorry."
You shift, facing him completely now. "Don't apologize." The sweet smile on your face makes him turn to you, your hand on his back no longer there. Holding gazes, Xiaos flickers down to your lips, then back up to your eyes. You couldn't tell if he was silently asking for affection or if it was accidental— you lean in anyway.
His warm breath fans against your face, and his eyelids flutter in anticipation. He'll never admit it, but he quite enjoys kissing you. You're so soft and warm compared to the cold snow he eats, your lips so supple against his. The affection that comes with a kiss is something he will never be able to turn down.
And so, when you press your lips against his, the tension in his shoulders bleeds away, and his hand finds yours— not daring to intertwine fingers, but rather to place his atop yours. His golden eyes shut at the warmth, and for but a moment, he allows himself to accept your advances. You pull back the slightest amount, just to lean back in and insistently press against him again.
He wasn't expecting the singular kiss to turn from one to two, then three, then four... His face felt warm, and your lips pressing against his so many times made him falter slightly. You have never initiated this many kisses with him. It was foreign, but the way your palm holds his cheek makes him inclined to let it happen.
Your mouth no longer leaves his, lips melting together in a slow dance. He can't find your rhythm, and a small flicker of anxiety pools in his chest. He didn't understand what you were doing— the air between you had become hot, and his breath grew thin with the lack of separation.
But when he felt the hot, wet swipe of your tongue against his lips, he pulled back abruptly. His face was undoubtedly flushed, cute red blotches covered his cheeks, and his eyes were blown wide. His chest rose and fell with every heated breath he took, and his lips were a shade pinker due to the kisses.
"...What was that?" He whispers as if he just saw a ghost. Your brows knot in worry as you let your hand, which was previously on his face, rest on the bed. "What?... What's wrong?" You question, concerned that you overstepped with him. He was already susceptible to getting embarrassed from physical affection; perhaps he was not ready for that yet...
"Why did you... lick me?" Xiao questions in that raspy voice of his, teal eyebrows lowering. Your breath gets caught in your throat. Did he not understand what you were initiating?
"We were kissing— I was kiss—"
"That was not a kiss."
You pause. He didn't look upset, just deeply confused and flustered. Your mind runs at a million miles a minute— what do you even say? Surely he knows you're just kissing him a little deeper, taking things a step further. But upon further inspection, maybe he doesn't? His whole life has been nothing but bloodshed and fighting; perhaps he doesn't understand that you weren't just licking him, but rather inviting him to something deeper.
"Xiao, I— gah, I don't even know how to explain it to you..." He gives you a skeptical look. Amidst your internal war, he tenderly touches his lip, reminiscing about the feeling of it. He finds he didn't necessarily dislike it, just found it jarring.
"I was kissing you deeper... making out, if you will..." A twinge of embarrassment tints your face as you cringe at your own words; it seems to click in his head what was happening. His eyes widened, his chest inflating with a breath as he stared at you with a look beyond flustered. "Oh..."
At least he actually knew what you were talking about, which eased something in you. It seemed to have the opposite effect on Xiao— the poor adeptus did not handle affection well.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that," You murmur, glancing away for a moment. Mentally, you scold yourself for rushing things. If hes hesitant to even get in the same bed as you, of course he's going to freak out if you try to make out with him!
"I liked it."
The softness and quietness of his tone makes you look back into his amber eyes. Those words were insanely abrupt, and you never would've thought he'd admit to something like that. Are you hearing things? But when you catch his flustered expression, his lips are pursed into a line, and he avoids your gaze. You let out a silent breath, pulling yourself together to respond to his hushed words.
"Do you want to...try again?" You question, your tone soft and inviting. The last thing you wanted to do was make him feel obligated to try.
"I...I don't know how." His voice is raspy and low, barely audible as he hides from your gaze. Your hand finds his wrist, and your thumb swipes over the sacred skin. He doesnt move, holding impossibly still— as if hes blending in with his surroundings and disappearing.
"I can show you." You whisper, taking his hand into yours. Xiao's heart is beating faster now than in the heat of any battle. He chews on his lip, clearly flustered. If any other person saw him like this, he might have to kill them to 'leave no witnesses'. "It's not hard, I can guide you."
He finally looks at you, and his expression is full of vulnerability. He wants to keep himself far away from your serenity, to prevent any harm he may cause. But at the same time, he wants to give in, to feel this intimate exchange of affection. His lips finally part to speak, his voice raspy and stammered. "J-just don't get your hopes up..."
A soft chuckle is released from you, and he glances away at the sound— but it also seems to ease his nerves slightly. Knowing that you weren't too worried helped him realize that this wasn't something he needed to be so tense over. "Relax," You crawl closer to him, bringing your head level with his and your bodies parallel. "Just follow my lead, okay?" Your voice is entirely too soft for him, too gentle to waste your precious breath on something as monstrous as him.
But when your lips near his and he can feel your warm breath against his face, the anticipation builds in his chest. Hes a little nervous and incredibly awkward. You're so close...
"Put your hands on me." You whisper, your tone affectionate and gentle with something a little sultry beneath it. He swallows— almost comically— and slowly reaches his hands out to hold on to the sides of your shoulders. He was concious with his grip, trying to keep it as tender as he possibly could.
When you feel him awkwardly grab onto you, you smile— he notices. You take hold of his wrists and slowly guide them lower to your waist. His breath stutters for a moment as he glances down; the hands used to cause so much bloodshed are now resting against the small of your waist. He likens his grip on you to holding a flower.
With tender care, you press your lips against his, starting slow. He waits for you to initiate, and you can tell by the way he hesitantly kisses you back. His grip hasn't changed or moved, keeping his hands exactly where you wanted them.
Once your lips have warmed with his, you swipe your tongue against his lower lip. His body tensed at the feeling, and he tried to copy your actions, albeit quite awkwardly— which was to be expected. His tongue barely breached the seal of his lips, trying his hardest not to overstep and follow your lead. When hes met with the heat of your mouth, the breath catches in his lungs.
With how hot and wet your tongue is against his, hes sure he'll be crumbling in your arms any minute now. How can one be so soft? The taste of you is foreign, yet welcomed as he insistently presses his lips into yours.
When he feels your hand resting on his cheek, he decides that maybe it's safe to move his hands. They slide around your back slowly and hesitantly, careful to be respectful while also committing every feeling of you to his memory. You take this as a good sign, inching closer to him.
The proximity makes him nervous; he couldn't tell if he was getting hot from how close you were, or the sensations traveling down his body... He hopes you don't look at his lap....
Your head tilts to deepen the kiss, a soft sigh getting muffled in his mouth. Hes cautious with it all, but the mix of saliva and the feeling of your hand creeping into his hair has him shuddering. You were impossibly good at this, he thinks. How were you able to make him fall apart like this? His breath was growing thin, and his lungs demanded more oxygen the more he got riled up.
You pull back, a hand carded through his teal hair and the other on his chest. He still has his hands circled around your waist, too nervous to wrap his arms around you. The hot air between you two only got hotter as you panted against each other's mouths, foreheads almost touching.
"Your hands don't have to stay there, y'know." Voice barely above a whisper, you inch even closer, chests almost touching. Xiaos amber gaze flicks over your form, landing on your lips. "...Where can I?" He murmurs, voice holding uncertainty. Your lips near his again, so close that your breath draws thin. "Anywhere, Xiao. I'm yours."
He shudders at your confession, suddenly gaining a bit of confidence. Your lips melt into his again, and he lets out the faintest sound at the contact. With a great deal of courage, his hands snake from your back up to your face, holding the sides of your jaw tightly. He gave in to your touch easily, trying his best to follow your rhythm and copy your movements. Overall, he was mostly successful, with only a few breaks.
Your hand grips onto his hair, lightly pulling the soft, teal hair in your grasp. The subtle pulling sensation feels good to Xiao, and his first instinct is to copy you, but he doesnt end up following through in fear of hurting you. A shudder travels up your body as his grip on your face becomes tighter, and he presses himself closer. Hes leaning over into you, trying to get as close as possible. Taking this as a good sign, and as something new, you break away from the kiss, flushed and hot.
When he notices that your hands leave him and you're farther away than he'd like, his brows drop in worry, and a small frown adorns his features. He already misses the warmth of your tender kisses and the grip of your hands in his hair; for a moment, he wonders if something is wrong.
But when your leg swings over his body, and he finds you perched in his lap, he freezes. He always freezes— it's his first instinct with anything that could even possibly fluster him. Your soft thighs against his legs and almost wrapped around his hips send his heart thumping against his ribcage. He claims to have no human desires, but now, hes rethinking things...
Ah... he just noticed. With this new position, you'd certainly feel the physical effects hes experiencing because of you. He panics for a moment. Was this appropriate? Xiao figures that if you were in his position, you'd certainly feel the same way, right?
Amber eyes meet yours, his diamond pupils in thin slits. His navy lashes were droopy and lowered over his eyes. "Are you comfortable...?" Xiao asks in a low voice, gaining the confidence to wrap his arms firmly around your waist. Hes learning that the closer you are to him, the sweeter it feels.
"More than comfortable." You whisper back, wrapping your arms around his neck. It felt insanely good to be pressed against Xiao like this; his body was warm and firm beneath you, the scent of him filling your nose.
Uncertain if it was because he was shy, or that he was gaining some confidence, he tucked his head beneath your chin, his nose dragging along the sensitive skin of your neck, causing a shiver to wrack through you. Your hand finds the back of his head, gripping into his hair gently and coaxing him to press further into your neck. The hot puffs of breath hit you, only warming the pit in your stomach. With tender care, he kisses your skin, tongue jutting out to lave over your pulse.
It sends another shiver through you, your thighs tensing at the throbbing between your legs. When Xiao dared to initiate, he effortlessly turned you into putty in his arms. His chest was inflating with labored breaths, arms tightening around your waist now, squeezing your abdomen against him.
"Need you closer—" He puffs against your neck, teeth dragging against your skin. Releasing your arms from him, you are quick to pull your shirt off, discarding it somewhere as you return your attention to Xiao.
Your palm finds his chest, trailing down the toned muscles to his stomach. He shudders, abs tightening at the feeling of your warm hand sliding down his body. When you lift the hem of his shirt, he assists you and pulls it over his head. His teal hair becomes tousled from it, only making him look more endearing as a hazy look clouds his eyes.
"You seem to be more comfortable now than earlier." You murmur, cupping his face and brushing the messy strands away from his face. He still flusters at your comment, honey eyes glancing away from you as his arms find themselves snaking around your waist more. "I'm... finding this enjoyable..." He admits, almost begrudgingly. "I can tell." You tease, chuckling when his eyes widen the slightest bit.
Even though he's thoroughly enjoying himself, he finds that a part of him is still reluctant to let loose— hesitant to allow himself to truly feel all these addictive sensations you're giving him. He worries that he doesn't deserve this, that something so pleasant and warm isn't something that he should have the fortune of feeling.
But that feeling subsides as you swipe your thumb over his cheek, bringing him back to reality. Your gaze is gentle on him, hands impossibly tender, and your words sweeter than almond tofu. "How far do you want this to go tonight?" Your question hangs in the air as he thinks— he had no clue. But after some internal contemplation, he responds.
Ever since you showed him how humans or rather, “mortals” displayed affection to their lovers by kissing them, he just… couldn’t stop.
It’s been a month since you taught him how to kiss, he kissed you every day since then.
He just loves the idea of being so close to you, and the feeling of your plush lips is chefs kiss. He sometimes swipes his tongue across your bottom lip to get a taste, he does it so swiftly that you never even noticed. Not that you mind
… he kinda forgets that you have to breathe tho.
You’re seated on his lap, arms around his neck while his arms are wrapped around your lower torso, keeping you chest-to-chest pressed against each other.
It almost feels like he’s trying to eat you alive with the way he’s kissing you, you try to keep up but you need oxygen before you faint on his lap. He sighs against your lips before finally pulling away
both of your lips are covered in mixed spit, a string of saliva is connecting you and your lover. You pant against his mouth and try to catch your breath, xiao however stays unaffected “xiao… g—give me a minute… please…” he notices and watches the way your chest rises and falls rapidly. “..am I perhaps.. too much?” He looks so innocent. So innocent that you haven’t noticed the way his hand on your back moved lower. Dangerously low.
“No it’s just… I have to breath..”
He eyes your lips again and fights the urge to dive back in. He looks like a vampire about to suck blood from their prey, his eyes not leaving your lips before breaking the silence
“You taste good…” his other hand on your waist moves to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing over your bottom lip, smearing the spit across your lips like lip gloss
Your breath hitches “you think so?” He looks at your eyes again, his eyes sharp and deep from hundreds of years of fighting “I believe so.”
He leans closer again and presses you even closer to his chest, his hand on your cheek is now on the back of your head.
When he closes the gap again, he almost immediately slides his tongue past your lips to find your tongue. You gasp against his mouth and close your eyes
He locks your head in place with both of his hands so you don’t break the kiss and to get better access to your lips. He tilts his head and deepens the kiss, his teeth biting your kiss swollen lower lip.
You feel your lungs tighten again, the lack of oxygen getting to you. You grip his shoulder to let him know and try to break the kiss but you genuinely can’t get out of his iron grip
You let out muffled noises against his lips, giving him plenty of signals. He presses his mouth even more against yours, kissing you firmly.
He breaks the kiss with a light ‘pop’ sound. You cough and pant, your vision is blurry and you can’t tell if it’s from the make out session or the lack of oxygen
“Are you c-crazy? I almost fainted!”
“I’m sorry my love I.. couldn’t help it, you just tasted so good and the noises you were making were driving me insane.. and the way your hands—“
“Enough!” You feel your cheeks redden with each word leaving his lips
He smiles softly at your reaction and nuzzles his face in the crook of your neck. leaving featherlight kisses in your collarbone and lower neck
“I just love you so much.” You almost turned into jello in his arms “I love you too, xiao”
Hi! Can you make a fluff fanfic/headcanons of Xiao and gn!reader with physical disabilities/chronic pain? Thank you. (This was really embarrassing for me to ask, I'm sorry 😭🙏)
Of course i can! Such a lovely request :) i hope i don't disappoint!!
i apologize for any grammer mistakes i made, english isn't my first laungage after all! i hope you enjoy ^^<3
Xiao and GN!Reader with Physical Disabilities/Chronic Pain (fluff headcanons)
Xiao is extremely observant, so he quickly picks up on your physical limitations or when you're in pain. He doesn’t ask too many questions at first, respecting your boundaries, but he makes mental notes of things that seem to help or hurt you.
He’s not the type to push you too hard, but he does encourage you to do what feels comfortable. If you’re struggling with something, he’ll offer help without making you feel incapable, always phrasing it as, “Allow me,” or, “Let me ease your burden.”
Xiao’s adeptness with adeptal energy means he often uses it to soothe your pain. He’ll sit beside you, placing a cool hand on the area that hurts, and channel a soft, calming energy that eases the tension. If it’s chronic, he’ll do it regularly, without you even having to ask.
Whether it’s walking through Liyue Harbor or exploring the wilds, Xiao always adjusts his pace to match yours. If you need to stop and rest, he’ll stand guard nearby, scanning the area for any threats. He’ll even find a comfortable spot for you to sit and offer his hand to help you down.
Xiao learns what environments are easier for you to navigate and avoids areas that could be too challenging. If you want to visit places with difficult terrain, he’ll scout ahead to make sure it’s safe or carry you through the tougher spots.
He takes the time to learn about your condition, asking subtle questions or observing how you manage your daily life. Over time, he becomes an expert at anticipating your needs, whether it’s finding a walking stick that suits your height or carrying a small pouch of remedies you might need.
On better days, Xiao tries to bring a bit of joy to your life. He might show you a hidden field of Qingxin flowers or use his adeptal abilities to create small, harmless light shows. Seeing you smile or laugh is one of the few things that makes him feel truly at peace.
Xiao doesn’t see your disabilities or chronic pain as a burden; instead, he admires your resilience and cherishes the moments you share. He’s steadfast in his support, offering a quiet but constant reminder: “I am here for you, always.”
This post is gonna be something I add onto over time because it’s gonna be the place where I start dumping all my Xiao headcanons and ngl I’m probably gonna have more over time
Xiao headcanons:
- He has a really quiet laugh that most human ears can’t pick up
- For some inexplicable reason he always smells like Qingxin (whatever that smells like)
- has Autism or at least is Autistic-coded (just like me frfr)
- he zones out hard sometimes, and it takes a bit to get him out of it. (Perhaps a side effect of his karma? Idk)
- I heard somewhere that in the original voice overs (aka the chinese ones) he mentions sleepwalking so I’ve decided he sleepwalks
- Aroace
- Despite knowing better, he always retaliates against Hu Tao’s teasing
- Speaking of Hu Tao, I imagine them having a sibling dynamic
- Building on the sibling dynamic, Xiao will sometimes take Hu Tao’s hat, but he knows the story behind how important it is to her so he’s very careful with it
- He’s very lightweight and easy to carry, so some people will just casually pick him up. Both parties are perplexed when this happens.
- Idk why but something tells me he would stand/crouch on window sills
- Puzzled by compliments (just like me frfr)
- If/when he sneezes, it starts silent and then suddenly shakes the fucking earth (exaggerating ofc)
- When learning slang, he would definitely use it completely wrong at first. Example: “I am not ‘goodfam’ at the moment.”
- He has a soft spot for children and animals
- Due to his adeptal nature, he has a lot more strength than the average human. This makes some mortal activities a bit difficult for him.
- idk why but I feel like he’d forget about mortal holidays from time to time
- sometimes part of him will start trembling without him noticing or knowing why
- despite trying to learn multiple times, he still has no idea how to hug people
- Xiao gets a little awkward around people way taller than him
- sucks at lying, just says he doesn’t like doing it
Adding a section for headcanons that are in the reblogs:
- whenever xiao moves its super quiet so he be sneaking up on people without meaning to at all (-jumexju)
- people often assume hes just cold because he doesnt really talk and is kinda serious whenever he does, but for those that know him, he's easy to read (-jumexju)
- he doesnt quite understand humans sometimes but hes willing to learn; he's super logical so if he has questions, make sure to give a thorough answer (-jumexju)
Again there will be more in the future
Tagging fellow xiao enjoyers @n0vatsu @jumexju and I don’t remember who else
i finally made them, guys! actually, they’ve been made, i forgot to post them… i’m going to work on this blog more because maybe fandom culture will cure my depression. here ya go!
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◦ He experiences energy swings. he is generally low energy, though occasionally he gets a bit extra motivated, or even anxious.
◦ he’s very protective. this is usually due to hidden affection. this can shift from affectionate protectiveness into anxiety driven behavior.
◦ xiao is a sufferer of tummy problems. he can only hold so much emotion inside for so long…
◦ he doesn’t want to be distant. it is not intentional, it’s self preservation. it’s forgetting how to connect and be human. it is a reminder of how much time has passed - the world now is not the world he knew when he was still himself.
◦ he will try your cooking even if he knows he won’t love it. in fact, he will probably hate it, but for his special someone, he will try.
◦ he has a hard time with touch. his body interprets it as danger. he can soften though. he does enjoy when people let their guard down around him. put your head on his shoulder sometime, he secretly enjoys it.
◦ he says he never sleeps, which is vastly true - though occasionally he goes through periods of time where he naps a lot. sometimes the exhaustion is too great…
◦ on rare occasions, he self harms to balance the scale of the harm he has caused. zhongli knows this and has often tried to stop him. qiqi noticed the marks one time and insisted that he let her help him, accidentally snitching on him to Baizhu.
◦ he really likes fireworks.
◦ genuinely notices people’s smiles.
◦ he has this explosive rage that he holds inside, containing every bit of it like a steel trap. he’s learned to simply convert it to energy… god help us if it ever forces its way out…
◦ xiao is full of love, though his ability to translate it into expression is very mucked up.
◦ values friendships deeply, yet is aversive to relationships. it takes a LOT for him to let down his guard enough.
◦ he loves children, yet feels a tinge of anger and grief in his chest when he sees them. they love the life he should have.
◦ sometimes, when he disappears, it is because he is in places he is not known. he still avoids interaction, but he likes to pretend to be a normal guy sometimes.
◦ compulsive water drinker.
◦ uses anemo powers to help leaves fall off trees to make room and prepare for the next season.
◦ he keeps a journal of the slang of the time and crosses out slang when it gets outdated. not necessarily that he uses slang… but if he did…
◦ he always has very warm hands. a firm grip, even when trying to be gentle. there is too much tension in his body.
◦ he remembers birthdays. he still “celebrates” the birthdays of his friends from long ago…
◦ sings quietly to himself when he’s alone.
◦ calls for his friends from ages past, even though they’ve been gone for centuries (this is actually canon)
◦ he likes to gamble on the rare occasion. like… once a century.
◦ enjoys being barefoot.
◦ he will play with kids. at least — he used to. he has lost his spark in recent times… if you do it, he will probably awkwardly join you.
◦ it takes MONTHS to earn his full self, and even still, he is selective. it has been so long since he was open that he has forgotten how to do so at all. he still wants to try. he asks for advice/help.
◦ he likes dogs.
◦ he acts annoyed by paimon. he’s slightly fond of her. still thinks she yaps too much.
◦ his sharp tongue is more strategic than anything. he tries to be unapproachable so that nobody gets hurt by getting close to him.
Notes: This was meant to be a self-indulgent thing for Valentine’s Day but then my internet broke around then so happy late February I guess? Yes I am autistic, and yes Childe is my favourite, so enjoy (also obligatory ‘I’m basing this on my experience of autism, which isn’t universal’ reminder)
Fun fact, the pattern recognition part is literally how I solve like 90% of genshin puzzles, very handy… except for when it randomly stops working.
CW: Very light sh mention during the meltdown part (hitting/biting). Skip the end of the post if you need to <3
✧ 𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 ✧
Childe cooks for his siblings all the time, so of course he’ll do the same for you! He might be strict about making sure you eat healthy— gotta keep you fighting fit, after all —but if there’s something you genuinely can’t stand, it’s off the menu without question. Eating should be enjoyable, a time to enjoy the presence of your friends or family while having a delicious treat, and anyone who even dares to suggest you’re acting ‘spoiled’ or ‘rude’ by not wanting to eat certain foods will quickly find themselves facing the brunt of our boy’s pretty dead eyes. Whether it’s a food that could send you into a meltdown from the sensation, or just something you have a mild distaste for, you never need to justify or explain yourself to him.
Just say the word comrade, and you’ll never have to touch that dish again~
✧ 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 ✧
Not up for socialising? Don’t worry, he’s charming enough for the both of you! It doesn’t matter if you always struggle with social interaction, or if you’re just not able to handle it in that specific moment, he’ll direct all the attention away from you. If someone doesn’t get the hint that you don’t wanna talk, he’ll be happy to scare them off for you. He’s basically an excitable murderous big dog.
✧ 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ✧
There are all sorts of treasures and secrets littered around Teyvat; ruins and domains and alcoves hidden behind tricky mechanisms. And with your wandering hands idly finding the correct combination to get through a puzzle, you and Childe can breeze straight to the fun stuff! Especially because these places are usually crawling with monsters for him to fight.
You can downplay it all you want, say it’s just ‘dumb luck’ and that you have no idea how you figure out what to do, that you’re not smart and just following a gut feeling, it all goes in one ear and out the other. Childe’s too busy cheering and he scoops you up and spins you around, celebrating both your ability and the fact that he doesn’t have to bang his head against the wall trying to figure it out himself.
✧ 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ✧
The first time you get overstimulated he’ll panic, hating to see you in distress but not knowing how to help. But after you talk about it, and he experiences it a few times, he will effortlessly be able to do whatever you need from it. You’re his love, after all, and he takes your well-being more seriously than any battle,
He will absolutely abuse his position as a Harbinger to make sure you can get somewhere quiet whenever and wherever you need it. His office at Northland Bank, the Goth Hotel in Mondstadt, a private room in any high end restaurant nearby— there’s nowhere he can’t get in with a mix of money, power, and intimidation.
✧ 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 ✧
Constantly gets you little trinkets and mechanisms to stim with. It’s similar to the toys he gets for Teucer, but palm-sized and with a few modifications. A little ruin guard with a top half that spins, a squishy Sumeru Fungus with giant adorable eyes, a small whale keychain with a felt underbelly that you can scratch— anything sensation you could ask for, he’ll get it made for you. At a certain point you wonder if he actually does have a secret side hustle as a toy seller (though likely not for long, considering he gives it all to you for free. Not exactly the best business model.)
✧ 𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 ✧
With battle senses as honed as his, and the way he starts watching you like a hawk when he sees you in distress, he can practically act before the meltdown even hits. Childe will put his hands in the way to take the brunt of any hit you aim at your head or bite you target your arm with. Every. Single. Time. Don’t worry if you leave a bruise, he can barely even feel it compared to the injuries he’s used to!
And hey, if you can feel beforehand that you might hurt yourself, you can just hurt him instead! …don’t give him that look, it’ll be like a spar! Just swing at him; he won’t even dodge, not if it’ll help. And if it won’t, then he’ll wait for whatever you need like an overgrown puppy. Hugs or space, company or solitude, whatever will help. (He might be a little sad if you wanna be left alone, but he understands— he’ll resign himself to just worrying until he sees you again. He won’t blame you for it, of course not, never, it’s not your fault he wants to spend every second with you.)
TL;DR: our boy is attentive af and will do everything he can to make sure you stay safe and comfy.
