#Genshin Impact Xiao

[kairolan]

“午餐…回望舒客栈吧”

"for lunch... lets go back to wangshu inn"

[withered-blossoms]

SWEET DREAMS

This fic is entirely SFW.

General and trigger warning: mentions of taking one's life (metaphorically, a mere saying), mentions of kissing and nipping

Characs: Xiao from Genshin Impact only. Reader is gender-neutral.

A/N: This has been in my drafts for months or maybe even a year, who knows? But I’ll just release it as a little birthday gift to myself and anyone who’d like this present. For more info on Xiao’s lore because some important info won’t be translated accurately or fully from Chinese to English, check out the post “Xiao's bird and dance symbolism: Lost in Translation” by Aloice on Reddit and my fic will make more sense! I also got the mythical and religious information from that post! (Link below)

If y’all are confused as to why Xiao’s character here is so “mellow” (compared to his voice in the EN dub) I’ll probably make a post on my views of his charac and discuss / talk about how I personally see him :D

The song recommendations in this post are to set the mood / to give y’all an insight on the songs I listened to and got inspiration from. Y’all might see more of such recommendations in my future fics so feel free to check them out via their links below!

Link to Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Genshin_Impact/comments/mtn7u4/xiaos_bird_and_dance_symbolism_lost_in_translation/

Song recommendation for reading this post (English subtitles available):

坠落星空 (zhui luo xing kong) by 小星星 Aurora (xiao xing xing)

AKA Falling stars / Falling Into The Stars by Little Star Aurora

Link to song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEdm9x9mcW0

"Say, Xiao, what exactly do sweet dreams taste like??"

Cutting through the soothing silence with your voice was never your goal, but the curiosity burning within you had become unbearable, though it would seem that the male didn't mind having his peace disturbed.

Upon hearing the melodious sound, the yaksha turned his intense gaze away from the face of the mortal sitting beside him and raised his head as he tried his best to formulate a satisfactory answer to quench that thirst for knowledge. From your point of view though, it seemed like he was searching the moon for an answer.  

And you had to admit— the sight before you was breathtaking, to the point where you no longer wished for an answer, but rather for him to take his time in getting one.

"I would say that the taste of Almond Tofu bears the most resemblance." He muttered after a few moments of silence, letting his amber gaze land on your relaxed form.

You, despite not having your curiosity quenched, chose to settle for that answer. You do not wish to further stir up the memories he had let settle into the dust and put aside for as long as he could. And precisely because of that thoughtfulness reserved for him and only him, you never got to hear the last part of his answer. It did not help that the adeptus was too shy to let it slip past his lips, so it truly was a shame.

He had missed the best opportunity to let you know that even though the answer he gave you was one he’s held for centuries, it wasn’t until recently that it had changed to ‘you’. You, the brave yet silly little human, had become the very epitome of ‘sweet dreams’.

Having consumed them for centuries, the adeptus was no stranger to them. You knew, better than anyone else aside from Rex Lapis, that he was painfully familiar with the sweetness forced upon him. What may seem like intangible, abstract fantasies to most have become a source of eternal guilt and pain for the darling, so for him to share his favourite dish with another was indeed a sign of unwavering and complete trust.

After all, almond tofu is well-known for its dreamy texture. One would be deceived into thinking that such a dessert would be tooth-rottingly sweet, and while it was, it was not nauseatingly so. Not to mention it had a subtle texture, like it was there and not at the same time. However, he could feel it on his tongue, in his mouth, down his oesophagus. He could feel it’s weight and knew that the entire plate belonged to him and only him. It was something he could own and consequently trap in his cruel grasp forever. Once it was devoured, it would fully become one with him. (get it?)

You, on the other hand, were not property to be owned, nor sustenance to be consumed. He knew very clearly is more than willing to accept that, which is why consent is important to him. That aside, he’d sometimes feel as if you were sand slipping through his fingers.

Incorporeal, intangible, immaterial; like the sweetest dream he’s ever had. Granting him satisfaction and fullness before dissipating the next second.

You had free will; you could leave anytime. Despite your reassurances, his worries never ceased. Were you truly staying out of your own free will? He did not dare believe you were. You could have very well spent your days frolicking the streets of Liyue or even other nations. There was and still is a bright future ahead, one full of friends new and old and tales untold. He had nothing allowing him to compete with that abundance – the adepti never needed mortal necessities.

He had nothing worthy of your companionship, nothing he could offer.

And while that was partially the reason behind his hesitance, it was definitely not the main one, not the one you knew deep down.

You see, you have always been aware of your limited lifespan, as had Xiao. Ultimately, that was the very matter that had stopped Xiao from confessing to you, and consequently, accepting the heart that you handed to him on a gold platter.

One who has lived as long as he has would more or less be wary about establishing any sort of relationships with mortals, much less romantic ones. If personally watching one's lover grow old and wither while time stood still for them was as painful as they said, he feared he'd lose his sanity.

After all, he's already lost his four beloved comrades, the closest he’s ever gotten to having a family. And oh Archons did it hurt, so he's sure that the pain of losing you would make him drive his spear into his heart, if only to stop it from hindering his duties.

However, one should take caution not to mistake his fear for regret. He may be afraid of the control your very existence holds over his emotions, but Archons above if he wasn't elated – albeit hesitant – to accept the love you're willing to spare a being like him. Granted, he's voiced his worries to you before, trying to scare you away with his usual warnings and icy demeanor, but you never seem to fear the karma that swirled around him like a swarm of locusts.

Rather, it made you even more determined to serve him your heart on a gold platter, and it honestly made him concerned about your mental state.

It wasn't very often for a karma-bound being like himself to have living creatures willing to approach him, so he contemplated taking you to Bubu Pharmacy and having Baizhu check that little noggin of yours. Unexpectedly, his attempt ended with a confession of his plans when you got too fed up with him trying to feed you herbal concoctions that had you scrunching your nose in distaste.

“Darling, pray tell, what is this?”

“Tea, brewed from herbs known for nourishing the brain.”

A splutter resounded through the room, followed by the hurried fishing of tissue paper. The man had reached you before the sound of him cutting through the air had. And here he was, plopping himself next to you, on his bed, wiping the tea around your lips. Coughing into your fist to hide your embarrassment, your eyes darted to his concentrated face, and a chuckle had escaped you before you knew.

Oh, good Morax above, his little human had gone insane. Who in Teyvat laughs after choking on tea? Surely, he was not the cause of your laughter? Melodious and enchanting as it was, it did not do much in easing his concern and consequently, fretting over you.

“Are you alright? Bursting into laughter after choking on a beverage is hardly wise or beneficial.” He chided gently, huffing when you shot him a goofy grin.

“I’m fine.” You whined, latching onto his arm like a koala to a tree, “Besides, what are these even for?”

“…It would not hurt to nourish your brain.” He uttered, too lost in your gorgeous eyes to notice what he had spoken. It wasn’t until your offended gasp reached his ears and a gentle boop landed on his nose did he focus his attention back on you. “My brain is completely fine! Loving and staying with you is the smartest decision I’ve ever made. And mind you, it will always be! So no more of this self-deprecating talk alright?” His fingers were then intertwined with yours, the warmth of your palm directly transferring to his now that his pesky glove was not in the way.

Wait a minute.

...When had you removed his glove?

A sigh escaped his lips. The only thing he could do was to keep an extra eye out for this silly little human who had no respect for the adepti whatsoever. But then again, he was the one letting you disrespect him in all ways others would never dare dream of, so technically speaking he had no one but himself to blame.

A soft sensation on his cheek lead to his gaze flitting over to you. By the time he had finished buffering though, the touch was gone, swiftly and silently as the wind. His fingers gently grazed the patch of skin that your lips had latched onto, and he was back to loading again. Upon seeing this, you let yourself laugh, the giggles making his bottom lip jut out into a pout.

Goodness gracious, you really had no respect for the adepti. Even so, Xiao still settled for pulling you close and shutting you up with a revengeful kiss. Catching you off-guard just as you thought you had the upper hand was no less satisfying than seeing you blush and slowly melt into the sweetness. Nevertheless, he nipped your lip once in warning, deciding to add one more for good measure before pulling away. After all, this was a punishment and not a reward, he couldn’t have you enjoying it too much now, could he?

Was it really a punishment though? Your flushed cheeks and dazed expression begged to differ. If such a delicious exchange was your punishment for disrespect to the adepti then…

Then of course you were going to seek out each adepti as if you were Tang Sanzang (the monk) in Journey to the West and spitting the most blasphemous bars you could.

However, you completely forgot that your lovely birb knew you like the back of his hand. He’s learnt to read this eccentric human over the years and there’s no way he was going to save you from his fellow adepti.

…Perhaps a gentle flick to the forehead would be enough, he thinks. So, he gifted you one.

“Ow! You’re so mean!”

“Do not go around disrespecting the adepti. I will not be saving you from them.”

“Hmph, I can handle myself very well thank you!”

His criminal offensive, bombastic side-eye made you toss your plans into the bin, but you knew that those golden jewels will only ever hold love and respect for you.

Yet, it was not always the case (in your humble opinion).

Given his stern and emotionless facade, you, like any other human, thought that the yaksha was untouchable. His status as the revered Conqueror of Demons, the Guardian Yaksha, and an outstanding adepti most definitely did not help that stigma. Hence, despite his ethereal looks that render any mortal swooning, you weren't too confident about being able to insert yourself into his life in hopes of capturing his attention, much less his heart.

In the end, there was not much to an ordinary mortal like you, was there? You weren’t the Traveller; just someone akin to a negligible NPC on the side of the street. But you were happy, content even. It wasn’t very often that smiles graced the Conqueror’s face, so to have seen such an ethereal sight in your lifetime was more than enough. Of course, you interacted with him whenever you could, settling for his politeness. His voice was incredibly soothing and if you could make an ASMR out of it, you would.

Besides, the Traveller was also an amazing friend, helping you out whenever you needed and in return, you’d help with materials, supplies or cooking. Whenever the adventurous pair were too busy, they’d request for your help in delivering medicinal herbs to Xiao, which Zhongli eventually caught wind of. Seeing as you were entrusted with such a sensitive task, the brunette was reassured of your character and eventually delegated the task of delivery to you.

Were you happy? Not at all.

Because that was the understatement of the millenium. The personification of your internal thoughts was practically jumping for joy, over the moon even. This opportunity finally fell into your hands and there was no way you weren’t going to cherish it. Anyone who wanted it would have to pry it out of your cold hands.

…If they manage to even win anyway.

Just kidding, you weren’t the type to get violent unnecessarily. Your elation was undeniably true though, growing when the visits became a routine belonging to only the both of you. Throughout the months, you watched as his guard lowered bit by bit, and he witnessed you coming more and more out of your shell.

In a sense, you were sunlight and Xiao was the water to the seed. When you were chattering away about the interesting encounters you’ve had, you shone brightly. When you were chill, a soothing sort of warmth was provided instead. The energy you brought fluctuated but was never absent, just like the Sun.

On the other hand, his quiet but comforting understanding seeped into the soil, silently assisting its growth behind the scenes.

Necessary, essential, but easy to overlook.

You’d always notice it though, always see his reciprocation.

With your combined efforts, your friendship slowly blossomed, nourished by the vulnerability of the conversations held and the time you willingly spent on each other. As much of a shame it was, him not falling for you was by no means his fault. It just wasn’t meant to be. But at the very least, you could still leave a tiny mark in his long life, even if out of human selfishness.

You also never knew why the Traveller would randomly give you mysterious smiles or looks of exasperation, as if there was something you should have noticed or known but didn’t. You were then often left alone with Xiao during mealtimes, excuses flowing like rivers while a flailing Paimon was dragged away by the blonde.

Poor Paimon, she never got to take away the leftovers. But she’ll live, so that’s not the point.

How could you be blamed though? It was not known to you, but the clear heart had long been in your grasp. The crystalline organ, left behind by the one who devoured malicious dragons and was consequently engulfed by an inferno, had been unknowingly, gingerly, slipped into your open palms. It thumped ever so slightly between your fingertips, softly beating the rhythm of love into yours.

He had seen you thrive and flourish. How you’d go about your day-to-day life with an impressive yet stubborn sort of determination, ready to overcome any obstacle. Bearing witness to how you peered into his soul from his eyes, your heart knocking on the door to his and inviting it to a romantic waltz. He may not know when exactly he fell for you, but he knows that he’s never getting back up. You were and are the one battle he’d gladly surrender to, even if it did take you some time to see that.

Worry not though, for fate seemed to ship the both of you. You had thankfully noticed his secret admiration early on and took initiative, so at least there were decades you could spend with him. It may have been but a fleeting moment compared to his lifespan, you were nonetheless content.

You had called for him atop Wangshu Inn on that birthday of his, a gift in hand. Despite having turned away certain visitors (like a certain funeral director), he discovered that he could never do the same to you. Seeing your disappointment hurt him far more than any injuries would, but your joy on the other hand was a salve in itself.

…It would not hurt to follow his heart on this day, would it?

With that, he appeared behind to you, the embrace of a breeze giving him away. You looked stunning that day, the moonlight bathing you in the most enchanting glow he’s ever seen. The effort you had put into your appearance was clear as day, not a single detail escaping his eyes. The traditional ornaments matched his, the colours blending smoothly to create an other-worldly mix of yours and his.

You matched him, but never lost yourself.

Naturally, it wasn’t the same for his gift. It was wrapped neatly, the gold popping against the dark emerald green. Anyone taking a look would instantly recognize its receiver – precisely the giver’s intention.

“Happy birthday. May your birthdays always be spent in happiness and bliss, your existence celebrated and loved, your success and life smooth and obstacle-free, and hopefully your love life include me.”

It’s been an unfathomably long time since he last received such well-wishes, much less the last part. Did he really hear you correctly? You wanted his love life to include you? Was it what he thought it was?

Was he allowed to acknowledge what you had just said?

“Ahem. Your blessings have been received and are much appreciated, as is your present. Tonight is especially chilly; take care not to catch a cold.” He uttered, inviting you to take a seat. “Are you not going to talk about what I’ve just said or did you not hear?” You pressed on, careful not to scare your sweet bird away. You couldn’t let him teleport away during such an important moment, could you? Your hands may already be clammy from the nervousness, but you had to get an answer tonight.

You felt his sharp gaze on you and considered salvaging what’s left of your pride, though he seemed to have seen through you.

“If this is your idea of a joke, please return.”

…Oh heck no.

“A joke? My feelings and the time I spent yearning for you are real. All the efforts I put into closing the distance between us is real. The nights we spent chatting away were all real. The vulnerability we shared was no different. How could you just chalk it all up to mere jest?” Did he truly not see the longing in your eyes?

“It will be wise to think for yourself. It is not safe for living beings to get close to a karmic-bound one such as myself.”

He did NOT just try to scare you away.

“Please, if I was truly afraid of your karma, I would not have approached you or appeared in your sights at all. I’d have avoided the absolute heck out of you. I value my life very much, thank you.”

Silence.

Fine. If he was not going to take the first step, then you were.

“I apologise; I did not mean for it to come out that harsh, but I speak the truth. I genuinely wish to be by your side and to support you in times of need. If you truly aren’t willing to accept my feelings, it is alright, I do not blame you. But I hope my feelings will at least be reciprocated with respect and a definite answer.”

“Are they gonna get together or not? Paimon’s losing patience!”

“Shh! They’ll hear you!”

A glare from the Conquerer of Demons was enough to send the eavesdroppers scuttling for their lives.

That night, a yaksha and a human spilled their hearts out to each other, more than they ever had. The walls separating them crumbled to debris, and they bared their hearts. Worries were unveiled, fear confessed, then reassured and soothed by firm promises and solutions proposed. One who’s spent millenia alone experienced romantic love for the first time and finally understood why the mortals sought it out.

Like chocolate, the sweetness of affection was complemented by the bitter aftertaste of ‘what ifs’ and anxiety.

He’ll be darned if that chocolate wasn’t the best he’s tried though. He may not have given an answer after that much-needed conversation, but he had promised you a deadline he’d give an answer by.

Three days, he’d said. Give him three days to sort through his feelings and consider. So you did.

On the third day, a letter was found by your windowsill. ‘Should you read this letter, please know that I have accepted and return your feelings. If you are still willing to see me, then speak my name. I will be there.’

“Xiao.”

No other words were needed.

Since that day, the both of you were officially together. He’s never mentioned it, but it would be a lie for him to say that all of his troubles had been resolved.

One of them being your lifespan.

It wasn’t like he didn’t try searching for secret or adepti art to grant you longevity; he did. Even more diligently than guarding Liyue’s safety. Zhongli does not have to know that, but you do. Aside from respecting your decisions, he wasn’t sure if those forbidden arts would go against the natural rule of Teyvat and subsequently bring you harm. He wasn’t willing to risk it either.

In times like this, he would recall the advice he’s heard from his ‘colleagues’ and found family all those centuries ago. Something along the lines of worrying less and living in the moment. He’s already spent years with you, experiencing what he never thought he could. The constant in his memories was no longer the striking red nor the bland snow, having been replaced by you.

At the end of the day, what matters was that you are still by his side, no? He should cherish the present before their existence is reduced to mere memories, privy to only those who share them. He’s already made that mistake with Bosacius and the others; it would not be wise of him to commit it again.

Unbeknownst to him, you saw how those bright amber eyes had been clouded over for a quite a while now. While it was not abnormal for Xiao to lose himself in his memories, you weren’t sure if it was just nostalgia or traumatic flashbacks. A quiet Xiao would be either a good or bad thing, but you weren’t risking it.

Mistaking his embarrassment for sorrow, you gently poked him on the cheek thrice. Thank the high heavens that the little 'poke-poke-poke' managed to snapped him out of his trance, or you’d have to resort to more…drastic measures.

Such as a surprise kiss attack, which you regretfully did not get the chance to put into action.

“Xiao, darling. I didn’t mean to make you sad...”

“…I am at fault; I did not mean to ignore you. I was merely lost in thought. You did nothing worthy of apologizing for.”

A bare hand lifted, gently patting your head. He never liked when you apologized for trivial matters. You did not deserve to live in fear, especially not when you’re by his side. If there was something he could do to rid you of this anxiety, he’d do it in a heartbeat, even if it costed him his life. That you knew, and actions spoke louder than words. Thus, you chose to let your fingertips transfer your warmth, caressing his cheek and enjoying the smooth, tender flesh you’ve always loved to pinch and poke.

What a fitting contrast, you thought. His hands showed the world of his past and duty, the trials and tribulations he went through. His skin, however, reflected who he really was internally. His gentle protection, his care and his kindness just to mention a few, all represented by the softness and youthful appearance.

Although, his sweetness was a whole ‘nother story, shining through his flawless penmanship and the contents penned.

“Xiao, did you notice? Your letters seem to be getting sweeter and sweeter each time. I absolutely adore them, even if I wish you’d convey your feelings to me through your words and not on pen and paper.”

There was a blush, followed by an embarrassed cough. “…I’m glad they brought you joy. If it pleases you so much, I shall express my thoughts verbally next time. For your ears and no one else’s.”

There he goes again, down-playing the effect his existence has on you. But it wasn’t important. You understood him well enough without having to read between the lines or behind his words, and that was enough. Who were you to turn his offers down anyway?

“I’d love that. Since you’re being so generous tonight, could you grant me another wish of mine?”

“I do not believe I have turned down any unless they pose a threat to your safety, but your wishes are my command.”

“Well, my dancing skills are getting rusty from the lack of practice. Do you want to help me practice?”

“When have I ever denied you of your right to dance?”

“Come on, quit teasing me. You know this dance cannot be performed alone.”

His laugh has never sounded more beautiful.

You see, as he had promised you, he taught you the dances he knew and helped you practice the ones which enchanted you most. It then became a sort of bonding activity, mostly done on a whim or when the mood is perfect for pulling him into one.

Just like tonight.

The both of you could tell that it was getting late and he’s always discouraged you from staying past a healthy bedtime. Yet, tonight was different. He was more than willing to indulge you, just as how he’s let you confiscated his gloves and never gave them back. If granting your wishes would incline you to stay, then he’d willingly fulfil any and all of your desires, at any time of the day and any cost.

Even right here, right now. On this grassy field, the moon bore witness to an intimate dance between lovers, each slightly out of reach of the other and desperately trying to close the distance. The two invited the celestial body to a show of passion, where solace was found in a human's arms by a fearsome yaksha who knew nothing but bloodshed.

For tonight, the masquerade ends. The yaksha sheds his mask and falls into step with you with a seemingly innate grace, wondering if there were any adepti arts that would allow him to sear this memory into his brain and have it play on repeat for the remainder of his undesirably lengthy life. If he was to march on as an Archon’s strongest soldier and live well, he will do it for you. He’s gone on for so long, surely, they’d be willing to spare him such a mercy.

If they weren’t, then he has his own ways of remembering you.

You, on the other hand, indulged him with sweet smile, the love and adoration for the cutie practically oozing out of your gaze. Would Chang’E take offense, you wondered, if she happened to gaze upon this performance? Perhaps the goddess would sigh, bemoaning the distance between her and her beloved, merely observing with the ever-slight twinge of envy.

…Who’s to say that you were any different from the goddess though? You were only but a tad bit fortunate, having been given more time to spend with the one who holds your heart. The moment your mortality shows up as an unwanted guest, it will be your turn to envy the goddess.

Truly, fate can be so very cruel.

"I wish I could stay with you forever, Xiao, just you and me alone, here on this grassy field, with the breeze caressing our cheeks as we bask in the silver rays of the moon." You knew this confession brought your darling more joy than he'd ever show, but being able to witness him blush tells you that he's gotten better at showing his emotions around you.

 It felt good to be trusted this much, you wouldn't lie, but all good times come to an end, and it was time that you both returned to where you belonged.

Taking a few steps back, you brushed off the remaining grass from your clothes and stole a few more glances of your sweetheart. It would be absolute bliss if this moment were to never end, though you supposed that gentle kisses would suffice for now. Besides, the lips that Xiao had squished into an unconscious pout looked too full to ignore, and you couldn't help stealing a few more kisses before reluctantly pulling away.

Xiao reaches out, pink lips pursed in a slight frown as he expressed dissatisfaction at your early departure. The fingers he's interlocked his with thousands of times were just in his reach, and it's been so long since he's held those beautiful hands of yours. Now all he had to do was to reach over just a little more and curl his fingers around yours.

Just a little more.

Just a little.

Just–

Expecting to touch warm, gloved flesh, he instead comes into contact with polished stone as cold-hard as the reality he's snapped back into.

He doesn't think he'll ever have a dream sweeter than you.

A/N: Song recommendations specifically for the end of this fanfic:

Ghost by Justin Bieber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp8msa5uYsc

A Clingy Boy Sticking (To Love) For 15 years by Manbo-P: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIalKKCbKGU

Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bpMSpFTdzM

[foxykirart]

happy bday xiao

[erabu-san]

I am a shoujo manga lover and my dose of romance is being feed by a fantasy action gacha game.

[tricksrabbit]

Art by @kiamonoii

https://twitter.com/kiamonoii

[chaendeulleo]

04/17 🌿

[moonbiit-arts]

'Bane of All Evil'

happy birthday Xiao ♡♡♡

[kinichval]

being idol!xiao's girlfriend means you have unlimited and pre-release access to all his merchandise, fan event tickets, and even allowed backstage during concerts by his management.

but you're his biggest fan, his number one fan girl, and, in xiaotwt terms, his most delulu girlfriend stan. which tingles xiao's brain because... you are his girlfriend? why do you have be crazy over him on the internet when you can literally smother him in your lovely kisses all day?

as much as you're internally cocky with the fact that you're the luckiest fan out there, you can't just upload on twitter a photo of him in your arms. now, that would be a chaotic mess for the management, potentially posing a threat to his career, and ultimately, endangering your privacy.

(but at least your private instagram is a safe space for showing off your boyfriend, xiao.)

what idol!xiao finds the most absurd (and adorable) is when he's able to send you selfies and candid shots during his practices, recordings, or any related agendas in his work that don't end up in the photocard or merchandise lineup; but, you're still fighting for your life on buy and sell twt to get one limited edition xiao photocard on his third anniversary as an artist or you're waiting in a long ass line to purchase merchandise from an accredited store nearby your place.

even the management has seen you a few times blending in with idol!xiao's sea of fans, they also wonder why you don't take advantage of the convenience and access to almost everything when you're already a trusted friend and a very supportive girlfriend of their favorite artist.

in your defense, it's part of the fan girl experience.

"how much did you pay for that?"

but sometimes, your impulse comes first before your superego even gets to neutralize your decision.

"uh about like... a few dollars?"

"my love, it's expensive and i believe that's overpriced."

"but it's limited edition!"

"you literally date the real thing."

[odoraful]

𝑫𝑶𝑪𝑻𝑶𝑹, 𝑫𝑶𝑪𝑻𝑶𝑹.ᐟ

xiao has been noticing some symptoms in you lately and decides to go to baizhu for some advice…

⟡ content — xiao x gn!reader ; absolute fluff, i'm talking very silly and cute ; baizhu and qiqi appearance ; reader has a massive crush on xiao and it goes utterly over his head ; but xiao is just trying his best to be caring ; 3.2k words

⟡ a/n — xiao lovers please rise 🙂‍↕️ banner art by dsmile9 on twitter!

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

In his time as a doctor, Baizhu had seen it all. Every weird and wonderful thing about the human body. Every high and low of the human experience. He thought there was little that could shock him now. However, he was disproven at this very moment when the Conqueror of Demons showed up at Bubu Pharmacy.

There actually didn’t seem to be wrong with the yaksha in terms of ailments. No gaping wounds or visible signs of karmic corruption. Baizhu did observe that he appeared more bashful that usual with how tight his arms were folded across his chest, but he did well to hide it under his stone-faced expression.

What was wrong was that he was standing here.

Willingly standing here.

Not being dragged in a half-conscious state by little Qiqi or another one of his companions who certainly cared about his health more than himself.

If Xiao was at his doorstep, the situation must be rather serious.

“Conqueror of Demons,” he greeted, resting his chin on his hand. “Now, isn’t this a welcome surprise?”

Qiqi hopped down from her stool behind the counter, shuffling towards Xiao with unbelieving eyes. She poked at his leg, checking that it was really the yaksha in the flesh. Xiao let the young girl prod as he unfolded his arms and spoke.

“Baizhu, I need your assistance.”

A request for aid? From the Conqueror of Demons himself? Baizhu stood up straighter, his curiosity changing from amused to serious.

“I-it’s about Y/N.”

Ah, I should have known. Yes, he was familiar with you. The person who had brought Xiao to the pharmacy in the aftermath of a particularly dangerous patrol. He could never forget the worry carved into your face and the tenderness in how you brushed his hair away from his sweat slicked skin. As to your relationship together, he had his internal speculations, but never heard anything official as of yet.

Baizhu nodded. “Qiqi, would you mind closing up the pharmacy early today?”

He looked over at Xiao with a soft smile, “Come with me to the back. We can have a discussion there.”

The room Baizhu led Xiao into was reserved for consultations with patients who had more complicated presentations. The furniture inside were all crafted from the same dark wood with gold embellishments. It contained a bed with white linens, a chest of multiple drawers containing all sorts of herbalist components, a low table for working with accompanying stools and chairs, and a bamboo screen for privacy where a wash bucket and cloth were set up behind.

Rather than sit on the bed or in any available chair, Xiao chose to stand. Baizhu sat in his chair by the table, legs crossed. Qiqi joined them soon after, plopping herself onto a stool.

“What seems to be the problem?” Baizhu asked.

Xiao sighed, brow twisted with concern. It was probably the most emotion he had seen in the yaksha. “Y/N hasn’t been themself lately… I believe they might be ill, but I can’t conclude what the ailment is.”

“And may I ask why you came to me? Wouldn’t it make greater sense to have them see me directly than through a middle man?”

Xiao shook his head. “Each time I’ve asked about the state of their health, they dismiss me.”

“I see…” Baizhu hummed with understanding.

It wasn’t uncommon for people to ask about the condition of their loved ones. But to see the Conqueror of Demons show such care for someone despite his reclusive nature. Curious indeed.

“Well then,” he continued, taking his pen and flicking open a notebook in front of him to a fresh page, “what symptoms have you’ve observed so far?”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

patient has been showing signs of increased clumsiness…

Xiao wasn’t a master at interpreting emotion, but he was adept at observing them. Any flicker of change in someone or something’s manner could be the difference between blocking a strike or being fatally injured. Not that being in mortal danger applied to this situation right now, but the skill was transferrable. Right now, Xiao was observing you from the balcony of his room at Wangshu Inn. You were assiting Verr Goldet with hanging some new decorations far below. The boss, however, had currently been pulled aside to help an elderly couple with directions.

Standing on a step ladder, he watched as you hung up a red colored ornament to one of the lantern poles that lined the deck of the inn. His keen senses spiked. The combination of you on your tippy toes, the unstable structure supporting you, and your focus being entirely on hanging the decoration instead of yourself did not have many positive outcomes. Instantly, Xiao went from being on the topmost floor to behind you. Traces of his teleportation manifesting as green wisps of energy in the air.

You felt the ladder stabilize beneath your. Your heels fell back down as you stood properly.

“Thanks Goldet!” you called over your shoulder before turning around fully to ask, “Tell me, would the flower or butterfly one look better—”

The rest of your question caught in your throat. Verr Goldet was not there behind you. Rather, a certain teal haired protector who you had grown close to.

You were introduced to Xiao by Verr Goldet herself who believed it would be good for you and him to meet. Being apart of the adventurer’s guild meant that you had interacted with many different individuals, and could share your knowledge of the mortal world. As time passed, strangers would turn to acquaintances, then acquaintances would turn into friends. The label of which Xiao himself bestowed upon you on an ordinary afternoon. It made your heart both soar at the heartfelt admission and sink to hear such a definitive term. You always hoped there would be room for something more.

Xiao blinked up at you on the ladder. In a matter of seconds, he saw your eyes go wide with recognition, then your feet slipping against the ladder’s surface. Thankfully, he had reflexes as quick as an electro thunderstorm. You tumbled forward, straight into his arms.

“X-Xiao?!” you squeaked.

He didn’t let you go just yet. Instead, he tightened his hold on you, trying to let the shock of the fall pass over you.

“This ladder is too unbalanced,” he said. “You should be more careful.”

You could only nod. Your brain was more occupied with your proximity to Xiao. How you could see the different shades of amber in the irises of his eyes, and the shape of his lips.

Some part of your consciousness pinched itself, and you whipped your head away.

“I-I didn’t realize. That’s my mistake,” you answered with a sheepish chuckle.

He gave a short sigh before gently letting you stand. The places where his strong grip held you still tingled against your skin.

“Also… the flower one,” Xiao mumbled.

You cocked your head, thinking you had misheard him. “I’m sorry?”

Xiao folded his arms, nodding towards the lantern pole.

“You asked about the decorations. The flower one would… look nice.”

Never had such simple words caused a flutter in your stomach.

If that wasn’t enough, Xiao remained with you, lending a hand where he could. He didn’t want there to be an accident if he had left you alone. What he didn’t expect was that you seemed to be more clumsier as time continued. Unable to step on the ladder without your knees wobbling, tripping over the boxes of decorations, dropping the tools every time you went to hang a decoration up. Considerate as he was, Xiao climbed ladders, moved boxes, and hammered things in place for you without protest. Though, in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

Verr Goldet returned to find the pair hard at work. She observed, amusingly, how obvious you were being about your feelings and how oblivious the other was in seeing them.

Ah, youth, she mused to herself.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

patient has been experiencing raised bodily temperature…

Telling Xiao not to worry was like telling the waters in Chenyu Vale not to flow. It was a simple law of nature; a force unable to be stopped.

“I’m feeling perfectly fine,” you emphasized for a second time.

You were seated on the small sofa in your living room. Beside you, Xiao also sat, straight-backed and gloved hands in his lap.

Xiao had come to your home to visit. Both out of curiosity as to how mortals lived in their own dwellings and curiosity about you. More specifically, why you had been so flushed recently. Whenever he saw you, he noticed the pink that spread from tips of your ears to apples of your cheeks.

“There are signs that show otherwise,” he stated, bluntly.

Ever since that time he helped you decorate the inn, Xiao had been much, much more attentive towards you. Eyes examining you up and down with little subtlety. Under such a gaze, how could you not become hot and bothered?

“I am not familiar with mortal health, but I have noticed you’ve grown more…” Xiao searched for the right descriptor in his head, “…redder, recently.”

Archons, does he know about it?! you thought to yourself with alarm. He turned towards you, and you stifled a yelp. There was no way in Celestia this was how he would find out.

“It may be due to some kind of illness.”

It took a moment for his words to register in your head. An… illness?

Sensing the confusion on your face, Xiao moved nearer until he was right by your side. He lifted a hand up to your forehead, an action he had observed many adults perform on children to assess their temperature. If he was correct in its function, then this should allow him to draw an appropriate conclusion.

Your body locked up.

He was so, so close once again.

“Even now,” the slight gravel of his tone reverberated in your ears, “your face is heating up. It is likely a fever.”

He pulled away. You exhaled a breath that you subconsciously held.

“I can take you to see Baizhu. He will know what to do.”

Xiao stood up, implying that he would take you there right now.

“No, no! There’s absolutely no need!” you protested.

The emphatic rejection made Xiao frown.

“I-it’s nothing that bedrest can’t fix.” you said, attempting to provide a convincing cover. “There’s no need to waste your teleportation powers to transport me.”

“It is no waste if it concerns your health,” he answered.

“You know what,” you shot up from the sofa, “I’ll go to my room right now to get some sleep!”

Xiao opened his mouth, prepared with his own protest. However, you were faster than him in continuing your sentence.

“You should go now, Xiao. I wouldn’t want you to catch whatever sickness I have.”

Though he appreciated your consideration, as an adeptus with a completely different constitution, he was certain mortal ailments would hardly affect him. However, he couldn't explain all that to you with how fast you marched away to your room, leaving him behind.

He saw your head poke out from behind the door of your bedroom.

“Thank you for visiting me!” you called out before shutting the door.

If Xiao knew this word, he would have used it to describe the exact emotion he was feeling at this moment: Flabbergasted.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

patient’s heartrate is frequently elevated…

Even after the fever incident, Xiao, to your relief, still wished to see you. You half expected him to be so bewildered by your actions that he would no longer want to be associated with you. So, you two returned to your ordinary routines of meeting with each other.

Xiao liked having your company in the evenings before he went out on patrol. As you sat on the edge of his bed, you would tell him about your week’s completed commissions. For Xiao, it served many purposes. Tactically, he could get insight any threats to Liyue that he couldn’t detect if you were involved in or overheard any significant commissions. In those first instances of meeting with you, Xiao would have said that that was the only purpose your stories held for him. But, with each passing night, Xiao realized he rather enjoyed hearing your voice. The cadence of your tone soothed him the same way notes played by a skilled musician captured an audience. He then found his lips curving into a hidden smile whenever you described a particularly frustrating encounter. Cheeks puffed in annoyance that drew a word from his vocabulary that he seldom used: cute.

Tonight, however, you appeared to be in no such mood for stories.

You were quiet, slowly flipping through pages of a novel as you read. It wasn’t strange for you to complete your own activity during this time, but Xiao had come to anticipate your conversation. His concerns about your health bubbled to the surface once again.

If he had focused more closely on you, he would have seen that your attention was far from the words on the page. Not looking at Xiao meant your heart could be less out on your sleeve and instead encased within muscle and bone where its supposed to be.

Xiao glanced back at you, eyes glued to the novel. He wouldn’t push it. Maybe this was the rest you were speaking about previously to help you recover.

He grabbed his shoulder armor from the bedside table, preparing to put it on himself using one hand as he had done hundreds of times before.

Two hands grasped the armor, lifting it from his own grasp.

“Let me help you.”

Your voice was delicate, almost hesitant as you reached out.

Xiao wordlessly accepted, sitting down on the bed to grant you easier access. You adjusted the spiked armor piece, making sure it laid flat and the black material beneath was secure around his shoulder.

Whilst you didn’t look up at him, he freely observed you. There was something beneath your avoidant gaze and bitten lower lip he couldn’t quite decipher. At the same time, there was something in his chest that stirred.

So unfamiliar with these new emotions you seemed to bring for him, Xiao could only think in somethings.

“Thank you,” he said. “You are very kind.”

A small smile tugged at your lips. “It’s always easier to have someone else helping you out.”

Fitting the amour in place, you went to pull away. Suddenly, Xiao caught your wrist with his hand.

The breath escaped your lungs. You blinked rapidly, wondering if you were imagining all this in your head. Xiao brought two fingers to your wrist, applying light pressure onto your skin.

“Your pulse...” concern laced his voice as he spoke. “It is quite fast.”

How could he even sense such a thing!? You cleared your throat, trying to temper your shock.

“It’s always naturally this high,” you answered as light-hearted as possible.

“Mhm,” Xiao could only hum with mild suspicion.

Willing his jade spear to materialize, Xiao weighed it in his hand, readying for the night’s patrol.

“Look after yourself,” he said gently. “I’ll return tomorrow.”

With a nod and a lilt in your voice you replied, “I know. You always do.”

Xiao headed to the balcony. He did not turn around to face you, and therefore missed your tender gaze and your fingers brushing over your wrist where his gloved touch still lingered on your skin.

Disappearing into the night, Xiao made up his mind. He would go consult Baizhu about your condition and see what the course of action he should take. Surely the well practiced doctor could provide some necessary answers.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

During the first part of Xiao’s recounts, Baizhu had a pretty good guess about what was happening with you. By the halfway point, he wondered if he should even continue feigning writing patient notes.

Xiao finished relaying his information, hands now on his hips—expectantly. “What do you think is happening?”

Baizhu tapped his pen against the page of the notebook. It certainly is a very special type of sickness… he thought to himself. How would Xiao react if he told him he diagnosed you with 'lovesickness'?

“Will Y/N be okay?” Qiqi asked, tugging on Baizhu’s white coat. “I like Y/N. They always give warm hugs.”

The doctor gave a reassuring smile and patted Qiqi’s head. “Yes, they’ll be alright. I’ve made my assessment.”

Xiao prepared himself. If it was serious, he needed to know how to best help you. Comparatively, Baizhu appeared not the least bit troubled. Turning to the adeptus, he drummed his fingers against the table.

“Did you notice a particular trend in the occurrence of these symptoms?”

“A trend?” Xiao repeated, resting his chin on his hand.

Maybe it had to do with the weather? Or something you had eaten on those days?

“Yes, they all seem to happen when you’re there,” Baizhu answered seeing Xiao unable to come to a conclusion. “Being more clumsy, feeling hot, a fast beating heart, but only around a certain someone…”

Xiao’s brows raised. “Am I the cause of Y/N’s illness? Is my karmic debt responsible for this?”

Baizhu shook his head immediately. “No, no, Archons no! I can assure you that these symptoms have nothing to do with your karma.”

He sighed, trying to switch his words. “Rather, it’s more to do with your… character.”

“My character?” Exasperated confusion was permanently affixed to Xiao’s face. “This ambiguity you speak with is unhelpful.”

Baizhu had done some tough things as a doctor. But trying to subtly hint to a somewhat emotionally unaware individual that someone had a crush on him was certainly one of the hardest.

He paused a moment. Was it really his place to reveal this? Wouldn’t it be far better, and more meaningful, for you to tell him on your own?

“Some symptoms that people report are actually very normal parts of everyday living,” he said, adopting his most professional tone. "My recommendation is for you to ask Y/N how they’ve been feeling recently, and to tell them that it’s never healthy to keep things bottled up inside.”

Finally, some advice for Xiao to action.

“You think I should be more direct in my confrontation?” he asked.

“Yes, but not too much to arouse anxiety.”

Xiao nodded thoughtfully. He should have known that it didn’t have to be a physical illness—maybe your symptoms were a manifestation of stress or worry you were experiencing. Talking it out would be a good step. Even if he was not the most skilled at it, he would try anything to help you feel better.

“I will take your advice. Thank you, Baizhu.”

He bowed his head in thanks. Baizhu gave a hum of what sounded like satisfaction.

“Tell me how it all goes, Conqueror of Demons.”

Baizhu’s voice as he spoke was a little too singsong for Xiao’s taste. But, he was one of the best doctors in Liyue, so who was he to second guess his words?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[mya-valentine]

Hey! Nice to see you open again!

I wanted to request a Kinich, Ororon, Lyney and Xiao x fem!reader of who fell first, who fell harder? trope please

Headcanon: Who Fell First, Who Fell Harder

Kinich: He Fell First, You Fell Harder

Kinich doesn’t outwardly express emotions easily, but the moment he met you, there was an undeniable pull. It was subtle at first—a quiet admiration for your generosity, your determination, and the way you seemed to light up a room without trying.

His falling was slow and methodical, just like him. He’d start noticing the smallest things about you: the way you furrow your brows when you’re focused or how you always manage to make people feel at ease. But his stoic demeanor hid it all.

You, on the other hand, fell much harder once you realized the depths of his loyalty and quiet affection. The way he remembered the little details, like your favorite food or how he’d silently place his coat over you when it was cold, made your heart race.

By the time you fell, it hit you like a tidal wave. His rare smiles and the way he’d open up only to you felt like treasures, and you realized just how deeply you were in love.

Ororon: You Fell First, He Fell Harder

Ororon’s reserved yet mysterious personality had you intrigued from the start. He had a certain charm to him despite his detached demeanor, and the way he treated others with a mix of blunt honesty and quiet respect made you fall first.

It wasn’t easy to crack his shell, but once you started to get to know him better, your feelings for him deepened. You admired his resilience and the way he carried himself, even after everything he’d been through.

Ororon, however, didn’t realize his feelings for you until much later. When it hit him, it hit hard. Suddenly, he found himself thinking about you constantly—your laugh, your kindness, the way you always believed in him when others didn’t.

For someone who had spent so long questioning his worth, your love felt like a revelation. (I can totally see him trying to ask Citlali what to do without actually asking her) He fell harder than he ever thought possible, quietly vowing to protect and cherish you in his own unique way.

Lyney: He Fell First, You Fell Harder

As the charismatic magician, Lyney was used to charming crowds, but something about you caught him completely off guard. Maybe it was the way you saw through his theatrics or the genuine kindness you showed even when he wasn’t in the spotlight.

He fell first, fast, and hard. Every time he performed, his eyes would wander to you, hoping to catch your reaction. He found himself pulling out all the stops just to see you smile.

You took longer to realize your feelings, unsure if his affection was just part of his show. But once he started showing you his quieter, more vulnerable side—the Lyney behind the curtain—you couldn’t help but fall hard.

When you finally admitted to yourself how much you cared for him, it felt like magic itself. The way he looked at you, like you were the only person in the world, sealed the deal.

Xiao: You Fell First, He Fell Harder

Xiao’s quiet and brooding nature made it hard to get close to him, but something about his stoicism and sense of duty drew you in. You fell first, deeply captivated by his selflessness and the hidden softness you occasionally glimpsed.

At first, Xiao tried to keep you at a distance, not wanting to burden you with his karmic debt. But your unwavering patience and kindness slowly chipped away at his walls.

When Xiao finally fell, he fell hard. The realization that someone could care for him despite his flaws and pain was overwhelming, and he found himself fiercely protective of you.

His love was intense and all-encompassing, even if he struggled to express it. Every gesture, from shielding you in battle to simply watching over you silently, spoke volumes about how deeply he had fallen.

.

.

.

Masterlist

[rene-darling]

Listen I saw this fanart and now I had an idea. So like sub!Idol Xiao x dom reader (fem prefered but u can choose) and so basically Xiao's taking some mirror selfies for his social media in this outfit and yk like showing off those lacy panties (like they're pulled up, but he still has his jeans on) and like reader (their partnwrcomes home and sees him doing that. So they like sneak up behind him and hug him from behind. Like he becomes all flustered all of the sudden and readers like:"Oh so you're showing this to millions of people, but get embarassed when I see it?" What happens afterwards is up to u lmao

IDOL!- Xiao x reader

OML THIS IS SO- HOT. I love this concept. I'm drooling.

Possessive reader! A lil toxic I guess, but it's pretty tame.

Also! The readers gender nor pronouns are not mentioned anywhere, so feel free to assume. And if they are please feel free to tell me!

Talk to me on insta [r3xni3]😞🙏

...Xiao...

He's been at it for hours. Different angles, different poses- all to get a good photo of himself flaunting his panties and the tight straps attached to them on his waist,

They hug his body so tightly pushing at his skin, if they move even a little bit you'd definitely see the red marks under them, they push up against his skin, it hurts but, he's doing it cause his agency asked him.

"mhm..." Groans leaving his throat, the photos- they're just not good enough. Scrolling through the endless amounts of them that he took, finally landing on one that pleases him.

He decides to shoot it one more time, same angle and stuff, just better lighting. He wants to show off his toned body as much as possible. And as he does this, it- quite frankly skips his mind that he has a loving partner returning from work soon. And that soon happens to be around- now.

"Ah-!" His body freezes up. Goosebumps trace along his skin- god your hands are cold. His eyes flash down, seeing as your hands slowly trace down the side of his waist, fidgeting with the straps they came across, grabbing one and pulling it away from his body only to watch in amusement as it snaps back in place once you let go,

He reaches out to grab your hand instinctively, mewling- until you finally reach, and play with the hem of his panties.

"y/n- s-...mh, stop." He tries sounding serious, but he curses at how squeaky and pitched his voice came out.

"hm..? What's the problem darl', you can show off your panties to millions of people, but you're getting embarrassed when I see? Hmpf, I'm one of your fans too y'know?."

"i-its not the same-" he's stammering over his words "y/n- hah..-" slipping your hands in between them, but not quite touching him just yet, simply tracing the sides of his hip "and how so..? I'm your biggest fan, shouldn't I get a reward for that. I deserve more than a picture. Don't'cha think?"

Tracing down the side of his hip, he can feel your eyes peering over his shoulder, watching him. His every movement, his every shudder. And the way his panties start bulging in a specific area

"y/n-" his voice is cut off by his own whine. You're so mean, suddenly jerking his cock, tapping its tip just for your own amusement. "Aw- darlin that was too cute!..do that again? Hm? For me?..you take so many photos for those stupid fans of yours, you can make that cute sound for me again can't you..?"

Huffing, he's leaning back into your body. His head falling back with each increase in movement, resting it on your shoulder, whining back into your ear. "Hah- you- you're so mean..!"

It's not your fault he's decided to make you jealous. Seriously, why the hell should he post his body for all his perverted fans to see.

Picking up his phone and pressing record on it, angling it right at his face. "Look here baby, I'm sure your perverted fans would love to see their favorite lil idol losing his head over a few touches." His eyes widen in shock "n-no..!"

He tries grabbing the phone, but to no avail. You pull it further, and jerk his lil dick harder, he stumbles, falling forward before you grab his waist pulling him back into you, he's leaning his whole body weight against you, he just hopes you won't let go.

Snickering to yourself you decide to stop recording, and go into the photos, clicking on the video you just took, you bring it to his ears and make him listen "Aw- darling don't you just sound so cute when you're desperate."

That's when it all spills. A shameful feeling, and an ever more shame worthy whine leave him as he comes all in his lacy little panties, getting them all dirty.

His legs collapse completely as you're forced to pick him up off the floor, not that you mind.

Resting him on the bed, letting him catch his breath, you take a hold of his phone and- delete every photo he took showing off those panties.

Scoffing you throw his phone down next to him and crash onto the bed right near him, wrapping your hands around his pretty waist you hear him huff. "You got them dirty..." He could only mumble under his breath.

"I'll buy you some new ones, on one condition." Turning his head around with a slightly amused expression on his breathless face "and..that is...?"

"you can only take those photos for me. I get to see them. No one else."

[yestrday]

: ̗̀➛ DESPERATION INCARNATE yan! xiao / gn! reader

in every life, he had sworn to protect you. in every life, he had failed. in this life, he'll make sure that it won't happen again. to keep the you in this life from ever slipping away from him like you did so many times before.

in which xiao falls in love with you in every life and slowly goes insane.

( reincarnation au, w4r, lots of blo0dshed and decápitation, graphic description of vi0lence, mention of xiao's sl4very, deáth... lots of it, sort of enabler aether but for a lil bit, the beginnings of a yandere, angst. lots of it as well )

“you know, yéyé says that if you make a wish on a dandelion seed, then your wishes will come true!”

the unnamed adeptus fixes his golden gaze on a fellow prisoner, sitting across from him with a bright smile. the prisoners around them have given up already, with their dull, glazed eyes and the repeated prayers of deàth spilling from their cracked lips. but this odd one, although their face caked with grime and their hair matted from bloòd, smiles at him from the darkness.

“... dandelion seed?” he goes, not bothering to wince or be embarrassed by his raspy voice. this dull life strips you of your dignity and pride. there’s no use in saving face when you’re looking at deàth right in the eyes. “i have never heard of such a thing.”

“oh, you don’t know?” the little prisoner cocks their head at him. “it’s a curious thing! it’s a flower with fluffy petals covering the middle part. yéyé said that whenever he takes a walk on the borders between liyue and mondstadt, he’d pick some for himself and make a wish!”

the adeptus scoffs. “wishes have no place in my world. actions must be taken if you want results. your grandfather sounds foolish. now be quiet, lest you want the god to take care of that noisy tongue of yours.”

his fellow mate sticks said tongue out at him and gives him a dirty glare. “how rude! my yéyé is the smartest one in our village, you know. he takes a record of all the crops harvested. he’s veeery important! besides, don’t you want to know what he wished for?”

he sighs. it wouldn’t hurt to indulge this one’s yapping for a little more time. the painful groans were starting to take a toll on him and conversation, no matter how foolish the premise sounded, was a nice change of pace. even if his throat was hurting from use because of the god’s neglect to give them drinkable water. “what is it, then?”

they grin at him. “he wished for mondstadt’s harsh winds to disappear! isn’t he cool?”

“why wouldn’t he use the wish for himself?” he cocks his head. “it seems to be more efficient and logical.”

the little prisoner stares at them from behind their bars.

“... what.”

“you are so dull to talk to.”

ugh, this little—! they were the one who started the conversation! before alatus could snap something back, they fall back dramatically and shake their head at him in a pitying manner. “wishes aren’t made to be efficient and logical, stupid! they won’t always work! that’s why they’re just wishes!”

he decides that this thing is absolutely aggravating to talk to, but he won’t deny that he likes their company. “then what’s the use of doing something so useless?”

they laugh. it echoes through their cell, a pleasant tune before it escapes through the bars and gets lost in the sad symphony of groans and lifeless pleas. they continue to laugh like they were underneath liyue’s vast blue skies instead of an underground tomb. “isn’t it obvious, mister adeptus? it’s for hope!

“if you wish on a dandelion and blow the seeds away, your wish will be carried for all of teyvat to hear! and then– and then! even if it’s just a teeny bit of hope, you’ll start to feel that everything can be possible!”

“sounds inefficient.”

“that’s why i said you’re so dull to talk to.”

“hmph.”

“i don’t understand why you keep coming back down here, mister adeptus,” comes the familiar cheery voice of his once prison mate. the surrounding cells are all empty, filled with corpses of the dead long gone. the young god has no time to spare any thought for the useless mortals hanging in his underground prison. the adeptus slides a tray of milk and bread between the bars and into the lap of a grinning face.

even you, he thinks as he examines their sallow face and dry lips. you have been forgotten.

 “you have plenty of companions upstairs. shouldn’t you be celebrating and parading around with them? i heard through the cracks that you’ve got plenty of rice wine to waste.”

“they are not my companions,” he snaps, but they don’t flinch as they snack on the food. “they’re fools who waste their time mindlessly partying and deriving pleasure from the pain of the weak. and i’m… i am nothing more than the god’s plaything.”

he sinks to the ground, sighing. “... [your name],” he whispers, staring at them tearfully from behind bars. “i will get us out of here, i promise.” his hands, shaking and caked with blood, gently reach for their cheek. it’s rough and awfully thin, and something in his chest breaks whenever he sees such a beautiful thing covered in dirt like they were nothing. “i’ll get you back to your village. i’ll make sure that you’ll see your grandfather and your siblings again.”

their hands squeeze his lightly, not having the energy to reciprocate his tenderness like they used to. “i know,” they whisper back to him. they smile up at him, though it is now weak and shaky. “... your hair is green.”

his brows knit together in confusion, but they brush back a few stray strands and smile at the feel of it in their palm. “... i’ve never seen a dandelion, you know. but my yéyé says that dandelions are green. i don’t know if it’s this shade of green but…” you close your eyes and chuckle. “it’s nice to know that i have my own dandelion right in front of me.”

“...?!”

“my dandelion… i have a wish to make,” you mumble to him. alatus closes in, ready to serve you your heart’s deepest desires.

“anything… anything you want, [your name], i’ll make it come true. so…!”

“smile for me, will you?” you peer up at him, watching confusion take over his delicate yet rough features. “you always look so sad. as my dearest friend…

“my only wish is that i see you smile. even if it’s just once.”

the adeptus returns the next day, milk and bread on a tray once more. they are wasted on the floor.

a corpse smiles from the shadows of the cell.

he thinks back to the wish he couldn’t fulfill yesterday. try as he might, it’s hard to stretch his lips into a genuine smile.

maybe it’s because he’s collapsed on the ground, yelling in pain as his whole world blissfully sleeps in the corner.

maybe it’s because whenever he tries to smile, it doesn’t feel right.

not when there’s no one to smile for anymore.

the end is nowhere in sight, yet rex lapis keeps pushing forward.

alatus’ spear plunges into the guts of the demons, spurting black blood over his lithe body as he pulls it out. around him, his fellow yakshas are also hard at work. bosacius tears bodies apart with his four bare hands, splattering more blood and leaving a gruesome sight behind. menogias clicks his tongue and furrows his eyes at the electro yaksha in disapproval.

“can’t you be a bit more graceful, bosacius?” he steps out of the way as bonanus and indarias team up to fling a particularly mighty foe across his way. “these corpses are dismal to look at!”

bosacius laughs boisterously, hoisting an enemy up in the air and cracking their skull on a rock in one fell swoop. “i can’t be bothered, brother! this is the way bosacius fights! with bare hands and strength! corpses are not meant to be looked at anyway!” crack. crack. the gruesome sounds of his fighting are lost in the sounds of war around them.

with a clever twist of his body, alatus sends a corpse to the four-handed idiot to which he skillfully catches without even sparing a glance. “less talking, more fighting,” he says ever so curtly. “rex lapis requires our immediate assistance. do not dally.”

bosacius and menogias send each other a knowing glance, quite familiar with alatus’ undying loyalty to their senior adeptus. the fighting continues and alatus continues to let himself get lost in the chaos, never minding the mysterious ache that binds his chest tighter and tighter with every demon purged. when the battle is won, no one celebrates. it’s hard to, when you feel the blood of the thousands you have massacred drying on your skin. alatus approaches rex lapis, his toned back shadowed by the rising sun as he overlooks the aftermath of the war.

“you’ve fought well, alatus,” rex lapis’ deep voice acknowledges him, brown eyes still steady on the horizon. “you do well to keep the contract.”

“i do not need a contract to serve you, rex lapis,” alatus starts humbly, lowering his gaze in respect. “i owe you my freedom and life.”

“you say that, yet i now have you enslaved to kill for another cause. to me, there is no difference.” rex lapis casts a glace on his most loyal follower. “yet you say that i have given you freedom.”

alatus takes note of the dry bitterness underneath rex lapis’ otherwise gravel tone. “i have signed the contract of my own free will,” he professes, daring to gaze his golden eyes into his lord’s similar ones. “you need not worry about me, my lord.”

rex lapis chuckles, before beckoning alatus to his side. “look at her harsh winds and cold peaks,” the senior adeptus muses. “our nation is blessed with vast plains and tall mountains, but our neighbors shoulder the bitter cold while fighting their side of the archon war.”

“indeed,” alatus could only say. “but your victory is sure now, my lord. soon you will rebuild liyue to glory once you’ve taken the seat of the seven.”

“mmm, yes,” rex lapis hums. “the war nears its end. seven victors from different nations, including bitter and wintry mondstadt. i wonder what sort of archon will rise from mondstadt. our borders are joined together— while violetgrass root themselves on the stony sides of our mountains, their dandelions withstand harsh winds even as their seeds threaten to fly. perhaps their new archon can give them a home where they can grow unbothered, while i build our citizens to be as resilient as a violetgrass.”

… dandelions…

“apologies for the unnecessary question, my lord, but… have you seen a dandelion?”

“oh, they’re curious little things indeed. native to mondstadt. if guizhong had time, she used to walk by the borders and pluck them to make a wish.”

alatus’s breath hitches at the familiar tale. “... what did she wish for, if i would be permitted to know?”

rex lapis’ lips turn into a half-smile, hardened eyes softening at the memories of a dear friend long gone. “she wished for liyue to prosper under my rule. never used a wish on herself.”

“... huh.” the wind blows back alatus’s matted hair, revealing forlorn eyes as they gaze at the sun. “... i wonder why they all do that.”

“does this all sound familiar to you, alatus?” the younger adeptus looks up to see his lord gazing at him with a soft look. alatus shakes his head and straightens his back, taking on the stance of a soldier once again.

“no. this is not the time for me to be concerned with another nation’s trivialities.” he bows his head to the adeptus and starts to make his exit. he doesn’t know why, but a gloved hand takes one of the stray strands of hair self-consciously and turns back to rex lapis. “another question… if i may be so impudent to ask.”

“impudence is not a word to be used on you, alatus. go ahead.”

for a moment, alatus’s confused and conflicted face makes him look like the young adeptus rex lapis saved from the hands of a cruel god. now he is not a battle-hardened soldier, but a lost boy who doesn’t know what to do. “... is the shade of my hair… similar to that of a dandelion?”

the older adeptus cocks his head at the unusual question. “far from it, no.” he studies alatus’s look of disappointment as he lets go of the strand. “why do you ask?”

“... nothing, my lord.”

moments of respite like this are rare in this current era of warfare, so soldiers cherish every single second of it. but for alatus who has only known bloodshed ever since his days at the mercy of the young god, this temporary peacefulness is a waste of time. in a camp just outside of liyue harbor, alatus and his fellowmen idle around a crackling campfire.

“you’re too fidgety, alatus-gē,” pervases laughs as he takes a bite out of his grilled ticker fish. he raises one to alatus’s face. “care for one?” when the senior adeptus scowls and turns his head away, he shrugs and scoffs it down stick and all in one gulp. “more for me then.”

“those malevolent gods continue to let their underlings rampage as we sit here and idle,” alatus frowned at the seemingly peaceful campsite of his fellow yakshas and even a few outstanding mortal warriors. “we should be making plans and calling reinforcements. the war will not end unless we bring that monster down to its watery grave.”

“oh my,” comes a motherly sigh. a young woman with silvery gray hair smiles slyly at alatus. her slender figure stretches across the log serving as a seat in front of the campfire, the cleansing bell tinkling delicately at her side. “you youngsters are quite eager to get into danger these days. not everyone has the energy to keep battling, you know? why i—” she sighs mournfully, pressing her fingers to a supple cheek “— even i need my beauty sleep. charging into the fray daily with no rest is just too much!”

“ping,” he addresses the newcomer. “i see that you are as vain as ever. if you’re not willing to put your all into this war, why did you even enter the contract?”

“i am upholding my end of the contract,” huffs ping. “but only within reason! you’re the one who’s out of reason.” she waves him off with her hand, shooing him off like a stray dog. “take a walk or something. call it a night patrol to ease yourself. i’m afraid your scowl is going to affect me and give me wrinkles.”

alatus takes a good moment to ponder the suggestion before he feels ping’s eyes narrowing at him threateningly. with a deep sigh, he takes his spear with him and teleports himself to a quiet walkway some ways off the guili assembly. war had touched this side of liyue too, it seemed, with swords rusted with blood plunged to the ground and tattered kerchiefs belonging to soldiers waving solemnly in the air. alatus knows this place to once been the safe haven of rex lapis and the late guizhong’s people before the war took the sweet goddess’ life and perished her to dust. now it is mere ruins, a reminder of the evil deities are willing to commit for power.

alatus has years of battle experience under his belt, but it doesn’t make the feeling any better as he stares at these relics. he focuses his gaze on the moon and walks by.

… rumble rumble…

a weathering wall shakes just a few steps away, alerting alatus’s senses. he quickly arms his spear as he vigilantly approaches the spot. the place is teeming with ruin guards and other dangerous mechanisms and although mindless machines are no match for him, alatus is not one to underestimate an opponent. when he peeks around the corner, it is not the eerie glowing eye of a machine but a pair of eyes about to glaze over.

covered in soot and dirt, a raspy voice tries to speak out, “w… wa… ter…”

alatus blinks in surprise when he finds a human instead but quickly teleports somewhere to get drinkable water. in a moment, he appears again in front of them and swiftly tips the saucer into their mouth. gently lifting their head, he watches as they desperately glug down the water. some of it spills from the sides, but the light in their eyes quickly revives until they pull away with a gasp.

“ugh… ha! i thought i was a goner there!”

alatus freezes.

two shining [eye color] eyes peer up at him gratefully as a wide grin spreads across their face.

“thanks a lot, mister adeptus.”

they are escorted into liyue harbor. alatus does not talk to them or even spare them a glance, afraid of whatever feelings that may arise should he do so. he’s aware of the curious glance they send his way, scrutinizing his every inch. he doesn’t like how they stare at him with awe and absolute trust. this is an era of warring gods, where adepti like him dig into flesh and blood to pursue their ambition. fools who cling to whoever feeds them die easily.

they continue staring. it feels like fire as his guilt and memories long pushed away pour from his heart and threaten to consume him whole. his steps feel heavier, as if any second now and the earth will cave in and send him straight to hell. unconsciously, his eyes glance back to them and they… smile.

it hurts.

flashes of a corpse long gone come back to him and he tears his eyes away. he shakes this haunting feeling away, yet their stare that bears the weight of decades' guilt continues to burden him all the way to camp.

"ping," he says gruffly, catching the attention of the group. everyone's a bit startled at the arrival of a newcomer, a dusty and malnourished one at that, but even more so that alatus decided to trek uphill instead of just conveniently teleporting himself. "take care of this one," is all he curtly says before plopping down underneath a tree and closing his eyes.

ping huffs in disdain and gives him a dirty look, but quickly changes it to give the newcomer a warm smile. “come now, sweetie,” she coos, placing a comforting palm on the small of their back and escorting them to the bonfire. “you’re positively shivering! it makes sense, given that that yaksha’s always so cold.” at this alatus grunts, but she doesn’t pay him any mind. “here’s some soup and a blanket to cover you with. my gosh, you’re so dirty! what have you been doing? playing around in the mud?”

you eagerly take her up on her offer, and soon you’re swaddled in a thick blanket and bowl of carrot soup to enjoy in front of the fire. “i was actually studying some of the leftover ruins at the assembly. i thought that maybe i could get some useful things and use them for myself.”

ping gasps dramatically at your story– a young adult scrapping for leftovers in the middle of the war– and alatus rolls his eyes. “poor, poor thing!” she cries and draws you in for a hug. “don’t worry. here at morax’s camp, you won’t have to suffer through that anymore! you’ll be cared for until we can find a suitable place for you and the other survivors to live!”

you laugh. “i think you have the wrong impression, ms. adeptus, i’ve had it pretty easy compared to others during this war. what i’ve been scrapping are materials!”

ping cocks her head, and alatus even peeks out from the tree he’s hiding behind. “materials, darling?”

“yes! screws, tree bark, metal, you name it. i’m finding them so i can continue making my gadgets.” you fish into your bag, and they can hear the clanking of metal and other stuff as you sift through the mess. “ah, here it is, one of my favorites!” you pull out a curious box, the cuhui wood engraved with liyuean details. you gently snap the box open and reveal a little figurine made out of precious stone, frozen in an elegant twirl reminiscent of liyue’s traditional dances. you begin to crank the little knob at its side, and when you release it a pleasant tinkling of sounds fills the night air.

ping stares wide-eyed at the pretty treasure, listening to its sounds with a fond look on her face. even pervasive hums as he gnaws on his nth fish, his scratchy voice humming along with the old lullaby. other nearby campers close their eyes and let their minds wander for a while, to a place where lullabies such as this sang all day and wars didn’t raze grass and civilians to the ground. for a moment, they let themselves be deluded into a moment of peace.

when the tinkling fades away, only the crackling of the fire remains. “pretty, isn’t it?” it takes ping a moment to snap out of her trance before nodding enthusiastically.

“quite! oh, if it didn’t look so perfect slotted between your hands, i might have snatched it for myself! although,” she nervously chuckles, feeling the stern gaze of the silent adeptus lounging behind the tree. “i might not have the chance anyway. a certain someone has been glaring at me ever since i conceived the thought.”

“maybe he wants it for himself?” pervases jokes. “he could do with it, what with all that stress.”

“hmph, i’ve no need for such trivial things.” he goes back to resting against the trunk without another word.

ping sighs and shakes her head at you, like a disappointed mother. “he’s always like that,” she laments. “he’s morax’s most faithful servant, i’ll tell you that, but sometimes it makes me wonder what will happen after this war is over. surely he won’t be going around slaughtering monsters?!” she raises her hand to her mouth like the thought was too unforgivable.

pervases hummed, thinking hard and long about how his senior would act in a time of peace. “hmm… i think alatus-ge would like to fish. he seems like the type.”

the image of the bloody general fishing floats above your three heads. ping waves it away. “as if!” she scoffs. “he’d just spear the fish and be done with it!”

“what kind of person do you think alatus-ge is…?”

“alatus, alatus!”

something twists at his gut, a mix of anticipation and dread, but he stops in his tracks to wait for you. you catch your breath beside him. “you’re so fast for someone so short!” you complain. “how do you do it?”

“slowness isn’t an option on the battlefield,” alatus curtly says before turning to assess. you’re covered head to toe in dirt, and your fingers are covered in grime like you’ve been digging. he sighs and rubs a speck of dirt from your cheek. “another one of your foraging hunts? you can always tell me if you need something. it’s too dangerous outside the camp.”

“i used to tell you, didn’t i?” you pout. “but you can’t tell the difference between a cork and a screw!”

alatus blushes. he can’t really wrap his head around these machineries. whenever you and cloud retainer got into one of your excited conversations about tinkering and machinery, alatus could only pretend like everything you just said didn’t make his head spin. if you got into another of your rants about the intricacies of machines or whatever, everything you said went into one ear and out the other.

“but you still listen, don’t you?” ping and pervases teased him with knowing grins. he had hit them over the head after that.

“... tus! alatus! ugh, you’re not listening again!” you had gotten into a lecture of the differences between corks and screws, but now you shake him by the shoulder with furrowed brows. “you’re always like this. is machinery really too hard for you?”

“everyone has their strengths.” he ruffles your hair, smiling softly when you visibly relax. “you wouldn’t want me to tell you about how to efficiently kill geovishaps, do you?” when you make a face, he laughs slightly. “thought so.”

“they just… ugh. they just smell so bad!”

“... they smell like rocks.”

as the two of you finish the rest of his patrol, alatus doesn’t miss a moment to watch your every movement. here, under the red rays of dusk, you look so alive. your cheeks could be healthier, but alatus is comforted with the knowledge that you stuffed yourself full this morning. your eyes have a twinkle in them, not the last sparks of ember that you had tried to hold on for so long. and you smile… because you want to. not because you had to. not because you had to comfort your fellow friend in prison.

“looks like we’ve walked too far,” alatus comments, sighting the dandelions swaying in the distance. “we should head back to camp before it gets too dark.”

“oooh, dandelions,” you muse. you and alatus stand side by side, taking in the dandelions swaying in their pastel heads swaying in the wind. “i heard they were pretty, but seeing them in person is better.”

standing by your side, alatus takes in your countenance. there is an indistinguishable look in your eyes as you watch their seeded heads bob and sway, your smile somewhere between content and forlorn. the setting sun paints your face with an orange hue, only serving to make you look as if you’ve come out of an oil painting itself. alatus’s breath hitches and he tears his eyes away from you.

self-consciously, he rubs a teal strand of his hair before tucking it back. “do… does my hair…” you turn your gaze to him questioningly, and his pale face burns at the embarrassing predicament he’s put himself in. “does my hair look like the dandelions?”

you stare at him for quite some time, only blinking and not saying anything, before you tilt your head back and laugh. alatus’s face only reddens further and he hits you with his elbow in his embarrassment. you only continue to laugh, even as alatus is beginning to throttle you and beg you to pay no heed to his words. when you’re done laughing, alatus huffs at you and refuses to look at you.

“oh, you… silly adeptus, i would have mistaken you for a pure-hearted maiden there!” you giggle into your hand, and alatus’s brows knit themselves in huffiness as you continue to tease him. “come on, you have eyes. they’re not even close in color!”

he kicks you lightly in the shin, before turning around and walking off to the distance. “come on. let’s head to camp before night,” he says as if nothing’s happened. you stare at his back for a while, a teasing smile on your face, before shaking it off and hurrying to catch up to him. when you catch up to him, you leap at him with your arms around his neck, ruffling his hair with a bright smile on your face.

“don’t be too grumpy, alatus!” you laugh, even as he sends you a look of frustration. “once this is all over, we’ll come back to this place and make wishes on those dandelions!”

“don’t forget about me, mister servant,” you lightly laugh behind your bars. “bring me lots of food, okay? then once you get me outta here, we’ll have a big ol’ feast at my yéyé’s.”

one of the guards tug at alatus’s shackles but he clings to your cell even as they grunt and pull. “[your name], i’m not leaving you! i can’t! i won’t!”

you chuckle. “stupid mister adeptus. who’s going to swipe cake for me then? now go, shoo.” you wave him away, smiling weakly. “i know you’ll come back for me. you always will.”

you’ve always had a knack for being the unluckiest person alive. even if your smile was so bright that it seemed to ward off evil, tragedy always seemed to tightly coil around your neck like a noose. he wanted to be the one to cut it off, in both the last life and this.

once again, he always seemed to be too late.

“they’ve broken through the formation!” indarias yells, slamming a fiery fist through her enemies. the pyro-blessed yaksha, usually so playful and coy, looks at her comrades with panic. “there’s no one left at the camp to defend them anymore. they’re— they’re all—!” she swallows down the bitter reality, pervases and her other comrades’ gored bodies flashing through her mind. “the civilians can’t defend themselves from all those monsters!”

“shit.” menogias slices through a foe and turns to their youngest, standing atop a pile of bloodied corpses. karmic debt wraps him and the other yakshas like a dense fog, and it gets harder to breathe with every passing second. still, he calls out to him.

“alatus—!”

the young yaksha only spares him a golden glance, before slipping the bloodied mask on. “you don’t have to tell me twice.” and he disappears into the air.

you are not there when he reappears at the camp. no one is. everything is on fire, and he can barely see what’s in front of him thanks to all the smoke and ashes polluting the air. he hisses at the burning in his lungs, but he perseveres forward as he strains his ears for any signs of life. the faint clashing of weapons and maniacal laughter is far away, but they grow stronger as he continues.

he steps on something… fleshy. growing dread rises within him as he slowly looks down.

that… is a severed hand.

biting his tongue, he rushes forward through the sea of flames. more and more decapitated limbs and bodies litter the area. arms, legs, torsos, feet… the handiwork of psychopaths, no doubt. because an ordinary soldier would not do this. not to civilians. not to people who could not defend themselves. he sees no face to mourn for. he sees no head to remember.

roars of laughter peal through the air as he braves a wall of fire. as the sky is dyed red with both fire and dawn, alatus’ face pales when he sees the enemies marching around as they shout triumphantly into the chaos.

your head, beautiful as he had always remembered, parades past him on a wooden stake.

when karmic debt takes over, he doesn’t remember anything the next morning when he sobs and cradles your sleeping face, surrounded by the bodies of foes and allies alike.

in your next life, you are both strangers. he looks high and low for you in liyue, but he does not find you.

celestia orders the seven archons to launch an attack on khaenri’ah, and alatus and whoever is left of the adepti is ordered by rex lapis to stand by in liyue and eliminate any escaped khaenri’ahns. although he has nothing against them, he is more than happy to follow his lord’s commands, because he has nothing else left to do but do his duty.

surely enough, the khaenri’ahns have found some escape route that leads up to liyue. unfortunately for them, alatus and the others are there to massacre them without hesitation.

in one of the escapees, his eyes widen behind his mask as he meets your scared eyes. in this life, they have diamonds in them, and they stare back at him with fear and unfamiliarity rather than mischief and friendliness. he thinks you still look beautiful.

even as he drives a spear through your chest.

when the massacre is finished, he tries to find your body. but there are too many of you, bodies upon bodies and the stench of death heavy in the air. he cannot find you, his pearl, in this bloody sea of corpses.

years have passed, and he has not seen you since.

well, that would be a bit false. he does see you, but not… you. he does not walk with you in flower fields to admire your face bathed in sunlight nor does he watch you rummage through ruins for scraps of metal and machines. he does not idly chat with you behind bars to pass the time away nor does he help soft bread to your chapped lips as he comforts you with promises of your freedom and your yéyé.

he sees an image of you, the hallucination that his karmic debt has conjured for him in his nightmares. you smile at him ever so sweetly, joining him in his bed at wangshu inn. you’re always so pure and pretty in your nightdress when you sidle up to him to share in his warmth. but when you lean over to press a kiss to his cheek, alatus’ eyes shoot wide open as he feels your hand wrap around his neck and squeeze. he should fight, he could fight, but how could he? your face is twisted in hatred and disappointment, whispering to him about his betrayal and failure to save you. ‘you killed me, you left me, you fed me to the dogs.’

how could he fight back, when all you have said is the truth?

and so alatus, now named xiao, wakes up for another day drenched in his sweat and tears.

he is patrolling guili plains when he spots a familiar head of gold and the tinier head of white walking idly through the grasses. it’s not unusual for aether and paimon to be here, but they’ve thoroughly explored and exhausted this area of any treasures, and last he heard they were in fontaine. he hides away in a tree, observing their usual back and forth as they seem to wait for someone.

“like i’m saying, they’re an hour late!” paimon fumes, stomping the air as she throws a tantrum. “what if someone happened to them? oooh, paimon knew we should’ve picked them up from mondstadt! they’re always so clumsy!”

“oh, don’t get your crown in a twist, paimon,” aether says, nonchalant as ever. he glances towards xiao’s way and hums to himself, as if partaking in a fun little secret (he’s always been so perceptive, xiao muses), and takes a bite out of his sunsettia. “geniuses like [your name] are always like that. losing track of time, getting caught up in some curious thing they encountered on their way… they’ll be here soon, promise.” he hands out his half-eaten sunsettia to paimon. “sunsettia?”

“ew, gross! don’t hand paimon your leftovers!”

xiao perks at the familiar name, opening one eye as he lazily ruminates the familiar syllables in his head. [your name], [your name], [your name]... like he could ever forget that. he whispers it in his sleep, prays to your hallucination like a god, screams it every morning… [your name], [your name], [your name]... he watches aether finish his sunsettia and sighs to himself. he shouldn’t be silly. numerous people with your name have appeared in liyue ever since he’s last seen you, and not one of them was you. he shouldn’t get his hopes up.

“— iiii’mmm! so, so sorry!” a sobbed yelp breaks the peace of the plains from the distance. a hefty backpack overshadows the figure carrying it, running as fast as they can with the weight on them. they skid to a stop in front of the traveler and paimon, who greets the newcomer with an amused smile and a huffy face. the backpack ungracefully lands on the grass with a loud clang, and its owner falls alongside it as they try to catch their breath. “i’m so— huff— sorry! i was— hah— on my way here when i— huff— came across a travelling merchant. they had all these goods from fontaine and i— hah— couldn’t resist!”

paimon once again stomps the air. “well, you should try to be more mindful from now on! it’s rude!”

“i’m so~ory,” the eccentric figure whines pitifully. they rummage through their bag and pull out a pretty tin box, the kind used to store cookies. “forgive me, paimon?” in the usual paimon fashion, her eyes twinkle upon seeing the pretty sugar cookies stored inside, and upon the first bite all is finally forgiven.

“hm, is it just me or is someone watching us…?” they wonder, looking around the guili plains for any signs of life. “i feel this, uh, weird pressure. or am i just delusional…?”

when they turn, xiao catches their eyes through the canopy of leaves on the tree he’s occupying. his breath hitches, his eyes widen, and the world seems to halt to a stop.

you unknowingly lock eyes with the adeptus, cocking your head as you try to find the stranger peeking on your little group.

you blink when the pressure is finally gone, and you look back at the highly perceptive traveler in confusion. he only regards you with a small smile and shrugs.

“you’re awfully interested in the engineer, don’t you think?” aether playfully muses as he walks in on one of xiao’s rare times of relaxation. he lounges on wangshu inn’s balcony as he overlooks the scenery beneath him, almond tofu in hand. “why don’t you greet them for yourself then?”

xiao doesn’t spare him a glance as he brings a spoon of the silken food to his mouth. “unnecessary.”

aether rolls his eyes, taking the spot next to xiao as he studies the adeptus with a smile. “don’t be like that, you introvert. you’re always following us around while they go study liyue’s machines. i’m sure zhongli would be pleased to know that you have friends outside of us and the other adepti.” xiao scowls when aether uses his lord as a guilt trip, but doesn’t comment any further. “[your name]’s a wonderful person, if not a bit ditzy at times. i think they and cloud retainer would get aloong quite well if they ever met each other.”

he thinks back to your second life, where you chattered the night away with the crane adeptus about machinery and the like. bathed in the glow of the campfire, alatus would only dare observe from a distance as you talked passionately with stars in your eyes. aether observes as xiao’s eyes soften. “they did.”

the traveller huffs a laugh, slumping his cheek against the wooden railing as he looks out to the scenery too. “reincarnation, huh? there were things like that in other worlds as well.”

he’d never admit it, but he had always been pleased by the fact that aether had the shared experience of living for eras, if not longer. the other adepti were never close to humans, but aether and his sister had always walked alongside mortals in order to observe their stories. xiao lets the wind graze his cheek. “... did you ever have someone you wanted as well?”

“i made many friends but…” aether quirks a small smile, tapping his fingers on the wood lightly. “my sister was really all i needed.” he notes the hidden pain in his voice. “we’ve traversed many worlds together, and we will always have eternity together. but you don’t have someone like that.”

golden eyes meet golden, and xiao shudders at the sly look that aether gives him.

“well, unless you do something to change that.”

‘damn you, aether.’ the traveller’s always been sort of a bastard hiding behind gentle manners and a pretty smile, but he never thought that he’d stoop so low as to awaken the dark feelings that he’s kept repressed for so long. ‘sly dog.’ he makes a mental note to not react when aether calls for him next as some sort of petty revenge.

today, you are alone. your backpack is lighter, thankfully, otherwise you would not be able to travel through the huaguang stone forest’s cliffs and falls. he’s joined you on this journey since you started a few days back, but he continues to grow with paranoia every time he sees you walk too close to the edge. he’s also saved you a few times, summoning wind to stabilize a shaky glide or carrying you further away from the edge when you started rolling in your sleep.

his heart twists when he settles you back in your sleeping bag. he takes in your sleeping face, murmuring nonsense in your sleep, and the sides of his lips tug into an unconscious smile. you’ve always had that habit in the lives that he’s known you in, and he pushes aside the strands of hair to take a clearer look at your face. when the babbling subsides, your dopey grin relaxes itself, and the heartaches begin once again. so many times he’s watched over you like this, but the last time he had was… was when you were…

your face, peaceful and oblivious, overlaps to a bloody, dismembered one. xiao inhales sharply and shakes the image out of his head.

he starts with your cheek, caressing it softly with his calloused fingers as he revels in your warmth. they trace every feature— your fluttering eyelids, the in-betweens of your eyes, your twitching nose— until his thumb presses on your lip. this was not a luxury he could afford back then, but now, now.

‘i can protect you in this world.’ he thinks. his lips brush against yours, but he does not lean in further.

‘all my past transgressions, i will make it up to you.’

you smile in your sleep peacefully, just as you did... so many years ago.

you appear in xiao’s dream once more.

it starts off the same as always. you are draped in fine liyue silk, batting those innocent eyes at him as you call him to your shared bed. he knows what will happen next, having relieved this for centuries on end. you will crawl upon him, you will wrap those hands around his neck, and you will admonish him. xiao stares at the alluring image of you and does not budge from the foot of the bed.

“[your name], come to me.” your image cocks its head in confusion, but you follow anyway. now that he’s met the real you, he can clearly see the difference. your hair isn’t that shade, your eyes are much too wide and— ah, his image of you has slowly been creeping away from his mind after years of separation. the thought of it twists his heart.

he watches you crawl over to him, tempting and innocent like a newly wed bride. you sit on your knees dutifully, awaiting his next command. he reaches out, strokes your hair— it’s not as soft as this in real life— and smiles darkly.

“i love you, [your name].”

you smile. “i know.”

“i always have. even after all these years.”

“i know.”

your eyes held so much light and passion than this blank-minded image of you. he inhales. “i’ll miss you.”

you furrow your brows, frowning in confusion at the sudden confession. “alatus, what are you talking about—?!”

xiao’s face is unmoving as he watches you choke on your blood, staring up at him wide-eyed as your hands shakily reach up to the spear embedded through your chest. “a– la– tus…?” he does not respond to your weak call, yellow eyes dull as you bloody his spear and heave with every gasp. “wh– how could…?”

“i’ve met you, [your name],” he whispers. he thumbs away the blood trickling from your lips. he breathes in slowly, knocking his head against yours. your image stares at him in betrayal and fear. “in this life, i’ve finally met you.” he feels your image dissipating and he brings you in closer. “finally. after all these years.”

“a… la… tus…”

“this time. this life. i promise you.” he entangles your bloody hand in his and presses a kiss to it. “we will finally be together.”

“no matter what.”

[vraiao]

adeptus' temptation

✰ . fem!reader, creampie, nipple play, uhhh nothing else i love xiao

xiao has been having quite a rough time with the sudden influx of overtime in his role of protector of liyue, but of course, you're always there to help him out <3.

divider creds @/strangergraphics !

after quite a long day of xiao's taxing duties, he returned home to you rather late at night. this was unusual because he was typically home earlier, but he had been taking on quite the workload for some time now. of course, every night he'd come back so late, he would apologize and promise that this wouldn't go on for much longer.

quietly crawling into bed next to you, he was exhausted, more so than he usually was, but he was also awfully clingy tonight. despite your relaxed form sleeping soundly, he carefully wrapped his arms around your waist and laid halfway on top of you, burying his face in the crook of your neck and trailing soft kisses all along your skin.

the sudden sensation caused you to stir awake, and your eyes slowly fluttered open. you looked down at him, bringing a hand up to gently run it through his hair as you spoke in a sleepy whisper, "long day, xiao?"

squeezing you a little tighter, he nodded. "mhm. 'm so overworked..," he murmured, his warm breath tickling your skin as he spoke. before you could wrap your arms around you and kiss him on the forehead, he propped himself up to straddle above you. as you looked up at him, you could so clearly see the intense fatigue on his face. you frowned. he looked weary, like he hadn't been eating much, and the dark circles under his eyes were visible even in this low lighting.

you placed a hand on his cheek and he leaned into your touch, letting out a soft sigh of relaxation as his eyes fluttered shut for a moment. when he opened them again, there was a desperate look mixed with something else in his eyes, but you couldn't quite pinpoint it. he leaned forward again, beginning to pepper soft kisses on your cheek before moving them back down to your neck. his hands lightly trailed up and down your waist as he softly muttered in between the kisses he left along your skin, "can you make me feel better,, please?"

there was a plea in his tone that you just couldn't refuse. why not indulge a lover in need, yeah? you could barely get a nod in before he was crashing his lips against yours, his tongue eagerly slipping its way into your mouth as his hands wasted no time slipping just under the hem of your shirt.

he hardly pulled off of you, muttering quiet thank you's in the very short time frames where he moved his lips from yours to let you breathe. of course the yaksha could hold his breath much longer than you, so he didn't break the kiss until your hands moved up and frantically tugged at his hair.

you panted breathlessly as his hungry kisses moved down to your neck, his hands shoving your shirt up just enough to set your perfect tits on full display. he took a moment, his all-devouring gaze drinking in the sight of you beneath him like fine wine. a deep red splashed your cheeks and your eyes shifted away from his as if he'd swallow you whole if you looked too long.

he pulled your legs up to wrap around his waist, and you heard a soft laugh from him before he moved his head down, hand groping one of your boobs as he popped your nipple in his mouth, licking and sucking at the sensitive nub. his piercing golden eyes never left your face, admiring the sight of you whimpering and slightly arching your back off the bed when he started to bite.

his every touch set fire to your skin, not once taking your eyes off of him as his mouth and hands traveled your body like an empty canvas waiting to be turned into a magnificent painting. so when he’s tearing your panties off(he’ll promise to buy you a new pair later) and starting at stuffing his cock into you, you can’t help the shrill whine that immediately jumps out of your throat.

he's slowly pushing his hips forward, soft groans already escaping his mouth as your pussy sucks him in so sweetly. he starts off slow, pulling his hips back and forth in short, harsh thrusts. his head is hung low, grip tightening on you as needy moans and incoherent praises spill past his lips and directly into your ears.

your legs squeezed tight around his waist, pulling him closer so he could fuck you deeper. your hands tangled and tugged at his hair, whines of his name leaving your mouth like a catchy song-- a beautiful melody to his ears.

at this rate he was fucking you like a bitch in heat, his fast pace so difficult to keep up with and practically knocking the air out of your lungs. his grip on you was bruising, nails digging into your plush skin as he completely ruined your pussy. your eyes were rolling so far back into your skull that you swore you'd be able to see your brain soon-- back arching off of the bed and your legs squeezing tighter around his waist as all sorts of pleas and lewd phrases rushed out of your mouth.

desperately chasing his high, he speeds up imperceptibly-- which you didn't even know was possible at the rate he was already going. when he started to desperately bite all over your neck and collarbones like a starved man, your vision went spotty and your orgasm crashed over you like a tsunami.

gazing down at the creamy white ring formed at the base of his cock by your juices, his hips stuttered as fervent gasps and desperate, stringy moans started to spill past his lips while he neared the edge.

a few more sharp thrusts and he started to unravel, pace erratic and unsteady as he spilled ropes of his cum into you with heavenly whimper that fell right into your ears. his thrusts slowly stuttered to a stop as the last of his cum spurted into you, droplets of it already dripping onto the sheets below you.

your combined breaths were heavy, but he only stopped for a moment before he started to slowly thrust again. pulling all the way out until just the tip was left in you before harshly snapping his hips forward, groaning each time his skin slapped against yours. what a long, long night you were going to have.

[shizuturnspages]

Hey how you think the genshin impact yandere would be, reaction, or do if the reader is much younger than them??? The reader looks of age but is actually quite young. Would they expect them to reach the legal age?? I can already imagine the face of diluc guilt for falling in love xD (don't do it, if you don't feel comfortable doing it) the relationship can romantic or platonic

Too Young to Love

Synopsis: The moment they learn the truth, their world shatters. Because you? You are too young. And them? They are monsters for loving you. But love—love does not die so easily. Pairings: [Separate] Yandere Diluc, Kaeya, Xiao, Wanderer, Zhongli x Minor Reader

Diluc – The Guilt-Ridden Protector

"This is… wrong."

Diluc can’t breathe.

His chest tightens. His hands shake.

Because how—how did this happen?

He fell in love with you.

And you? You are too young.

He can barely look at you.

And the worst part? The most horrifying part?

He still loves you.

So, he pulls away. Avoids you.

Locks himself in Dawn Winery and drowns in guilt.

But deep down, he knows—he will wait.

Because love does not fade. Not even for a sinner like him.

Kaeya – The Charming Deceiver

"Ah… Now this is troublesome, isn't it?"

Kaeya doesn’t panic.

He doesn’t react.

Instead, he laughs.

A slow, bitter laugh.

Because, of course. Of course.

Fate was never kind to him. Why would it be now?

But what can he do? He can’t change the truth.

So, he hides it. Pretends he never heard it.

Because if you don’t bring it up, if he doesn’t acknowledge it—

Then maybe, just maybe, it won’t matter.

And when the years pass, and you finally reach his waiting hands—

He will whisper, "Ah, see? That wasn’t so long, was it?"

Xiao – The Denial-Ridden Yaksha

"You're lying."

No.

No.

You’re lying. You must be lying.

Because there is no way you’re that young.

He refuses to accept it. Refuses to believe it.

Because if it’s true—if you are truly too young for him—

Then what does that make him?

A fool? A monster?

No. No, he refuses.

So, he convinces himself it doesn’t matter.

Because you look old enough. You act old enough.

So, isn’t that enough?

It has to be. Because he doesn’t know how to live without you.

Wanderer – The Bitter Liar

"Hah. So what?"

He knows the truth.

He accepts it.

But does that change anything?

No.

He still wants you.

He still loves you.

So, he does what he does best—he lies.

"Age is meaningless. You're old enough to understand emotions, aren't you?"

"So why does it matter?"

But deep down, a part of him knows—

He will wait.

Because no matter how much he lies to himself—he refuses to be like the people who betrayed him.

And he refuses to hurt you the way the world hurt him.

Zhongli – The Eternal Guardian

"Then I shall ensure your safety until the time is right."

Zhongli has lived for thousands of years.

What is a few more years to him?

So, he does not push. He does not rush.

Instead, he stays by your side.

Guiding you. Protecting you. Watching over you as you grow.

And when the time comes, when you are finally ready—

He will say, "I have loved you since the moment we met. And now, at last, I may finally hold you as I have always wished to."

[zweetpea]

You: Hey Xiao! How old is your dad?

Xiao: Excuse me? Do you mean Rex Lapis?

You: Yeah! But it's not like that- no, it is... it is absolutely like that. I came in and he asked if I wanted something to eat and I said "Eat what?"

Xiao: Firstly, give me my Tofu- *Snatches the plate* and stop hitting on my dad- MR ZHONGLI!

...

Xiao: YOU HEARD NOTHING!!

[mysticmiav]

Those bygone stars🌌

A xiaolumi based off Aquari's xiaolumi week piece, Kintsugi

She had shared the wips with me before xlm week and am gonna be honest, it single-handedly made me start shipping xiaolumi😩🖤