#our love transcends 💖🌥️

[violetsareblue-selfships]

#12. Married/Ritual

Selfshiptober 2024 | [WC: 397] / hehe i saw this and thought of him so here's a little idea of the immortality ritual I've mentioned (this is not like the marriage fic for him - i wanna post that in like spring but yeah :3) i hope you enjoy it! :3

"Are you ready?" April asks softly once they've returned back to her room at the Wangshu Inn for the night. Her eyes take in the sight of Xiao all dressed up still, her heart fluttering as it sinks in for the nth time that he's now her husband.

"Yes," He answers softly, regarding her with the same softness. He hasn't been able to take his eyes off of her the whole evening, not when she's wearing a beautiful dress all so she can be his forever.

She nods and guides them both over to the bed, and they sit down facing each other. She holds her hand up and waits for his palm to press against hers. Their free hands settle over their hearts, and she leans forward causing him to mirror her until their foreheads touch.

April's spent the past few weeks preparing for this moment, making sure that she has the words for this memorized. It's the most important thing she'll ever need to recite.

She starts speaking the words of the ritual, keeping her eyes shut even as a faint glow begins to form between their hands. Xiao does his part in speaking the ritual as well, given that this isn't only a one-sided pledge.

It's his immortality that she'll be subsisting off of, after all. So, he has to give his permission for her to borrow it.

The glow grows brighter until near the end of the speech, it bursts in a bright golden glow, one that spins around her before sinking into her chest. She feels a little shaky as she opens her eyes to meet his pretty gold ones, able to see the question in his eyes - the same one that's on her mind.

Did it work?

Her hands tremble as she shifts the top hem of her dress down a little, able to see a faint symbol over her heart - one that resembles his adeptus form. There's no doubt in her mind that if they were to check his chest, he'd have a similar mark that represents her.

It worked.

She's immortal now - for as long as he's alive.

April laughs softly as Xiao draws her forward, her laugh cut short as his lips find hers. Now, it's time for them to properly celebrate their love and their bond - now one that even time can't break.

[violetsareblue-afterdark]

making either scara or xiao cry from pleasure and making them mess up their eyeliner bc of it; they'd look so pretty with the red liner streaking down their face I just know it

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Lack of Focus

Ship: Xiao x April | Word Count: 299 | Warnings/Tags: Kissing :3

A/N: Here's the ficlet - it's set sometime soon after our first kiss. Anyways, happy anniversary! <3

April blinks at the familiar sound of Xiao appearing. "Xiao?" She asks, her confusion seeping into her voice. "I didn't call for you." She says and he huffs behind the mask.

He pulls it off and approaches her with an intensity that nearly has her backing away save for one reason. Xiao would never hurt her. Never. She knows that she's completely safe with him.

His hand fists in the front of her shirt and tugs her towards him, causing her to yelp. Her head spins as he presses their lips together and she quickly melts into the kiss, even as confused as she is.

The more intense kiss feels heavenly, like Celestia itself, and she almost forgets her confusion when he finally pulls back. When he notices her confused look, he sighs softly and kisses her much softer.

"Stupid mortal getting me addicted…" He murmurs just loud enough for her to hear. April giggles softly when she understands.

"You too, huh?" She asks, making him blink.

"Too?" He asks and she giggles.

"I've been wanting to kiss you again like all day." She says with a simple shrug, giggling as his face turns red.

"Just call my name next time." He grumbles. "I have to go. I just couldn't focus until…" He shakes his head and kisses her once more before teleporting away.

"Bye, Xiao!" April calls out, knowing he can hear it.

It takes a moment for his words to sink in and her eyes widen. He couldn't focus? Does that mean he was so consumed by the thought of kissing her that he couldn't even do his duties for Liyue until he came to kiss her?

April's heart stutters in her chest at the idea. Seems he's as gone for her as she is for him.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Happy Lantern Rite

Ship: Xiao x April | Word Count: 1571 | Warnings/Tags: food mention, sappy proposal time :3

A/N: happy valentine's day everyone~ here's the proposal fic i promised :D (and yes, that means it's official - though i could have posted the fic around Saturday or so - wanted to keep it for today :3) anyways! i hope you enjoy it!!

Liyue Harbor always feels so cozy this time of year, the warm glow of the lanterns creating an atmosphere she's never found anywhere else. Out of all the festivals and celebrations she's been apart of, April has to say that the Lantern Rite is one of her favorites if not her number one.

This Lantern Rite finds her walking through the streets as usual, admiring all the different stalls set up for the occasion, but there's a key difference. This year she has her partner by her side. Usually, Xiao prefers to keep a distance during the festivities or he'll continue his usual duties to Liyue, keeping its people safe from monsters.

She doesn't know what convinced him to say yes when she asked him to accompany her this year, but she's certainly not complaining. It's likely a testament to how long they've been together. After all, he's started going on walks through the city with her on occasion.

As cheesy as it sounds, she's enjoying the atmosphere even more with him by her side. Occasionally, she'll catch him looking at her with the softest look in his eyes - the same one that always appears when she's particularly happy or excited. At this point, he doesn't even try to hide it or shy away like he would have before. Both of them know how much he admires her, and it makes her heart flutter every time she catches it.

The time passes slowly as they visit the various food and activity stalls, every moment counting down to the usual firework display and the releasing of the lanterns. Xiao starts getting a little antsy as the time draws nearer, wanting to have plenty of time to carry out what he has planned.

He gently pulls April closer and leans in to whisper in her ear, "It's almost time to find somewhere to watch the fireworks. So, if you want any snacks or anything, get that now."

April tilts her head a little, but she doesn't question it based on the serious look in his eyes. It's a little early yet, but she also understands that the crowds might be getting to be too much for him. "Okay!" She pecks his cheek softly before going to a nearby stand to order something they can both snack on.

His eyes stay on her through the whole process, tense and ready to step in should he need to. His tension eases once she heads back over to him, and he wraps an arm around her once she's close.

Usually, he wouldn't be quite so affectionate in public, but it's a little easier to teleport both of them if he has a good hold on her. "You ready?" He asks, and he teleports away once she nods.

They appear on one of the lower areas on Mount Tianheng, one of the flatter areas with a good view of the city below them. As impressive as the view already is, April gets a little rush of excitement about how it's going to look when the fireworks go off.

Xiao clears his throat lightly, bringing her attention back to him. That serious look is still in his eyes, tinged with a little nervousness that wouldn't be obvious to anyone else. He doesn't speak yet, he doesn't have to, as April easily understands to sit down when he nods toward the ground.

Once both of them are seated, Xiao huffs softly, trying to dispel some of his nerves. He thought some about how he'd do this before, but he's never been one for a big speech, which makes this a little difficult.

"April, I have something important to ask you," He says, taking one of her hands in his and staring down at their intertwined fingers. It's not that he doesn't want to look at her, but it's a little easier to say this when he doesn't see every minute change of her expression. "Of course, you're allowed to say no, but I couldn't let another Lantern Rite go by without asking you."

April sits there quietly, a soft expression on her face that exudes fondness. Her heartrate picks up with anticipation, having the slightest idea of what he's about to ask, given that this feels exactly like how he would ask that question. No other eyes around, but still surrounded by Liyue's beauty…

"I love you more than I ever expected to love anyone. Just knowing you has made my days brighter, and I don't want to lose that - I want to have that forever if you'll let me…" As he speaks, Xiao reaches down into a pouch at his hip, one that he'd been using to store the little souvenirs April's collected due to the festival games and merchant stalls. He pulls out a small bag and deftly opens it while his eyes return to hers, his eyes once again holding that incredibly soft look.

"April… will you marry me?" He asks, pulling a ring out of the bag. April's eyes widen at the pretty silver and blue ring, made out of an exquisite piece of noctilucous jade cut into a shape resembling a glaze lily.

"Yes," She says simply, her eyes sparkling at him sweetly. It's enough to make him smile, especially as he sees her eyes watering, the prettiest grin spreading across her face.

Xiao chuckles softly and takes her hand, gently sliding the ring into place where it's meant to belong. "It's so pretty…" April murmurs, holding her hand close to her face to look at the way the gems sparkle in the faint lights given by the city below.

"Keep it on whenever you go out," Xiao murmurs, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her nearly into his lap. When she looks at him with a cute curious expression, he flusters and looks away. "It's been blessed by the adepti, so it'll keep you safe," He explains, a little shyly.

April wonders silently if he was the one to bless the amulet or if it was one of the other adepti, but she giggles regardless. "Thank you, Xiao. Actually, I have something for you too," She says, her grin widening as she digs around in one of her pouches.

"You-- what? You didn't have to…" Xiao mutters, blinking a little as she pulls out something on a necklace chain. He holds his hand out and watches as she sets it in his palm, the metal feeling slightly warm from being in her bag all this time.

A soft gasp leaves his throat as he realizes that it's a ring strung on the necklace, and her eyes sparkle with mischief this time when his hurriedly meet hers. "Seems you're not the only one who had plans of proposing," She says playfully, before letting out a faux sigh. "Though… I wrote you a song and everything… but you beat me to it."

She giggles at the almost-pout that settles on his face. "Oh, don't worry, I'll play it for you when we return to the inn tonight. But what do you think? This way you can wear it around your neck and not have to worry about fitting your gloves over it. Also, the chain's fairly strong so it won't just break even if you wear it during combat."

Xiao peers at the ring, also made of silver but cor lapis instead for the jewel - a shade that perfectly matches his eye color. The gem is styled to resemble the sun, and it's enough to bring tears to his eyes despite him not usually being one to cry.

"It's perfect…" He mutters softly, huffing when she throws her arms around him. "Sunlight, when will you get that you don't have to get me things to remind me of you? You're always on my mind…" His words are muffled against her shoulder, but they make her giggle nonetheless.

"I know! But it seemed perfect! Especially when I found that gem on one of my adventures! I knew exactly what it should be used for."

"Put it on me?" He asks quietly, letting the necklace drop back into her hand. April opens the clasp and Xiao leans forward to let her put it around his neck, staying still until it's been clasped into place.

The ring falls perfectly over his heart, a fact that makes both of them smile. One of her hands find his and she squeezes softly, the faint sounds of the city growing louder as the fireworks show draws nearer.

"Oh! I love you too," April says after a moment of silence. Xiao makes an inquisitive 'hm' sound and she giggles softly. "You know, you said it in your proposal and I never said it back."

Xiao chuckles and draws her nearer. "Silly girl, focus on the city. The fireworks are about to start soon." He can hear the clamor of voices even more clearly than she can down to the way the people's excitement is growing.

"Happy Lantern Rite, Xiao," She says and he hums, setting his chin on her shoulder, his eyes on her instead of on the lanterns which are beginning to float up into the sky.

"Happy Lantern Rite, qingxin…" He murmurs.

The two of them stay curled up together, watching the lanterns float higher into the sky, and when the fireworks start, they enjoy that show too, happy to be with the one they love.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

For Xiao, 👾☀️🌾! - @solitaireships

Thank you for the questions.

👾: What are your favorite things to do with April? Who’s better at them?

I like sitting with her (or leaning against her) as she plays music. I also like watching her cook - she always looks so contented when she's making something. If I'm being honest, I like doing most things with her - her company is enough to make anything enjoyable.

☀️: Does April have an outfit that you think they look most attractive in? If so, what outfit is it?

She looks attractive in everything she wears. But specifically in dresses that hug her figure - she has a royal blue one that she often wears and it takes my breath away every time. Also, the outfit she trains in, though I wonder if the reason I associate it as such is more because she looks good when she's training...

🌾: Name five of your favorite things about April. (Feel free to be as descriptive as you want!)

Her smile. Her voice. How friendly she is. Her loyalty. and how she's always willing to help/protect others.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

xiao or arlecchino for the ask game!

ty! ... tempted to answer for both lol (green heart for Xiao; fire for Arlecchino :3)

-What made me like them

💚: I mean... I have a type - so the fact that he was stoic, mysterious, & closed-off at first (but clearly so caring as he grew connections to the Traveler), it just won me over so quickly. Also, he's freaking pretty.

🔥: I'm weak to a strong woman hehe. Literally, I was wanting to add her for a whole year just based on the one Harbinger teaser where she said like two lines. I mean, a beautiful, sharp-witted woman??? Sign me up.

-My favorite thing about them

💚: physically? his eyes - they're so pretty!! other than that, he makes me feel safe. i know he's always a call away if i need him (or sometimes even thinking his name is enough if I can't verbalize it).

🔥: she's so soft with me. she keeps a slight distance with everyone even her children but with me, she's unafraid to show a softer side. she'll allow herself to be vulnerable with me <3

-Nicknames we have for each other

💚: I call him "little bird, sweetheart, darling, love, baby, precious" and much more (I am a bard so nicknames are easy) | he calls me "Qingxin, butterfly, crystalfly, my sun" as well as things like love and darling. <3

🔥: I call her "'Cchino, Arle, & various French pet names" and things like darling and dearest. | She calls me "Angel, lovely, love, darling" and some other pet names in French (Fontainian hehe)

-A headcanon of our relationship/friendship

💚: He doesn't have much of an interest in mortal food (except for almond tofu and grilled tiger fish) but he'll eat anything I make for him. He likes watching me cook as well ^-^

🔥: If we have to be apart for anything, we're writing letters to each other. If the missions last long enough, we'll actually send the letters back to the other with the returning Fatui troops, but otherwise, we'll give them to each other in person. Also, the children of the House of the Hearth call me Mother like they call her Father <3

-My favorite image of them

💚: this one (though it was hard to pick) just because he's all sleepy & cute <3

🔥: she's smiling <3333 (i can't wait for her to be playable so i get more pics of her hehe)

-Anything else!

💚: giving him a big kiss and cuddling him, my precious fiance <3

🔥: love her so much!!! <3

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Jade Heart

Ship: Xiao x April | Word Count: 547 | Warnings/Tags: I don't think there's anything ehe.

A/N: this is like pure fluff so happy anniversary, xiao~ <3

"Xiao~!" The call sounds like the sweetest music to him and Xiao hardly spares a single thought before he's teleporting from his perch atop the Wangshu Inn to her side.

He doesn't even need to say anything for her to know he's there, so accustomed is she to the sound his teleportation makes. "Good, you're here! Sit." She urges and he huffs softly, but he falls to sit down beside her.

"You called." He says and she giggles. His expression softens at the sound of her laughter.

"I did. You weren't busy, were you?" Her tone is teasing, but he can see the hint of nervousness in her eyes.

Xiao shakes his head. "No." Her shoulders relax and he huffs. "Even if I were, I'd still come if you called. No matter what."

Her face flushes and he drinks in the sight of it. Her face is always pretty, of course, but it's somehow even prettier when her cheeks are pink.

"Right." April says, her voice sounding a little shaky. "As for why I called… Here."

Xiao holds his hands out automatically as she drops something into it. It feels smooth even through his gloves and he looks down to find a polished heart made from noctilucous jade.

"It's very pretty…" He murmurs as his eyes raise to meet hers again. "Does this mean something or is it just a pretty stone?"

"Ah…" Her face reddens more and she averts her eyes. It feels strange since it's usually the other way around. "I know my heart is already yours, but I guess this is the physical representation of it?"

"Hm…"  The corner of his lips quirks up both due to her shyness and her words. "I see the resemblance." It's true. The gem is the same shade as her vision and her favorite color if he recalls that correctly.

Her face manages to get even redder at that and he chuckles softly. He brushes his thumb over the gemstone and grabs her hand with his free one. "Thank you. I shall treasure it. Much as I do having your real heart be mine."

She grips his hand and meets his eyes. If her eyes could have hearts floating in them, he's pretty sure they would. Her expression is so loving. It's one he cherishes being on the receiving end of.

"Xiao…" April sounds overwhelmed by his words and he smirks a little more.

It's only because of her that he's found this more flirtatious nature of his - one that comes out only when he's around her. "What? Am I wrong? Your pretty heart is mine, isn't it?" He teases, chuckling softly when she whines.

She pouts a little at the sound of his laughter, but she can't be too upset since every time he laughs is a treat in itself. His lips brush against her cheek and his expression is no longer teasing when he pulls back.

"In all seriousness… I will keep this safe. It's a lovely gift, qingxin," He murmurs. "Now, is that all you wanted?"

"Yes, but…"

"You want me to stay with you?" She nods. "Fine then." He carefully tucks the gemstone into a pouch on his hip before wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you, Xiao."

"I love you too."

[violetsareblue-selfships]

so, Xiao's birthday mail, huh? 😏

~ @astral-express-family

hehe i know!!!

wah he's so cute <3 dreaming of going on little dates with me

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Xiao Kiss Drabbles - 5 - crown of the head

k so the other drabbles from the ask sent by @salsflore; again this will be two drabbles; one where he is receiving the kiss (375 words) & one where xiao is the one giving it~ (377 words) I hope you all enjoy!

---

The soft sound of humming and lyre music fills the air, drowning out the usual sounds of the nocturnal animals that live in this part of Liyue.

It's a sound that Xiao has grown incredibly fond of, more than he ever expected to. But it isn't simply because the music sounds nice, though, that is part of it.

It's that it's her music. It's her voice singing sweetly in his ears while her arms are wrapped around him. It's her fingers dancing gracefully over the strings of the lyre.

Honestly, he's never felt so at peace before. His head resting on her chest while he's curled up in her lap, feeling much like a little bird as she's so fond of calling him. His own arms are wrapped around her tight.

Slowly, the song comes to an end and April giggles as she notices that his eyes are closed. "Are you asleep?" She murmurs, sounding endeared as her hand leaves her lyre to comb gently through his hair.

A relaxed sound of protest makes her giggle and she cuts him off before he can verbally do so. "I know, I know. Adepti have no need for sleep," She teases.

Her fingers send tingles down his spine as she plays gently with his hair and as much as he'd like to protest, he is feeling sleepy. Strange for him to be able to let his guard down like this.

Or maybe not so strange considering who he is with.

April lets out a knowing sound and leans down to gently kiss the crown of his head. "One more song?" She murmurs and he hums his assent, shifting a little so his ear better picks up the sound of her heartbeat.

With that, she starts to play a new song. Xiao can't help but melt further as he recognizes the melody as one that she's written for him.

Another soft brush of her lips against the crown of his head has his heart fluttering in his chest, something that only she can cause. How strange and wonderful it is for him to be so easily affected by a mortal…

But love is strange and wonderful, isn't it?

Archons, Xiao feels lucky to have her in his life…

The shaky tone of her voice calling his name has Xiao worried. Usually, she sounds bright and cheery when she calls for him. That is excluding the few times she's been scared, but never this shaky…

As such, he responds even faster than normal if that's possible. As soon as it registers in his mind that she needs him, he's teleported to her side.

He scans the room, more than ready to don his mask and fight off any potential threat to her, but he recognizes the room of the inn she stays in. As such, he scans April's appearance next, his frown deepening at the budding tears in her eyes.

Before her, he'd never been good at comforting other people, but he knows her. Physical touch soothes her well no matter how she's feeling, so he crosses the room and wraps his arms around her.

The relieved sound she makes nearly breaks his heart and she hides her face against his neck. He moves the two of them to the bed so that he can hold her however long she needs. She ends up laying on top of him, her ear pressed against his chest, and he can only hope that his heartbeat is soothing her like hers always does for him.

"Qingxin," He murmurs quietly. "I need to ask. Are you hurt physically?" He asks, concerned since he's never seen her quite this shaken up from anything that isn't a nightmare or combat.

"No… it's just been a day…" She replies and he hums quietly, pressing a gentle kiss to the crown of her head.

"I understand. I'll stay here as long as you need me."

His fingertips trace gentle patterns over her back and occasionally he'll press another kiss to the crown of her head, glad to feel her slowly relaxing.

"Xiao?" April murmurs after a while of being held by him. He makes a quiet 'hm?' in response and she smiles a little. "Thank you."

"Mm. You called…" He says and she lets out a quiet giggle.

After all, him responding to her call is simply fulfilling his duty to her as her boyfriend. A fact that both of them are aware of.

And a fact that she will never take for granted.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

YAHOOO

pfft this is amazing!! tysm :3 (and yeah i bet hu tao's lines would be interesting lol)

[violetsareblue-selfships]

2, 11, and 24 with Xiao! - @solitaireships

ty for the questions! :3

2. What are your pet names for each other?

April: One of my main ones for him is 'little bird'. I also call him all sorts of things depending on my mood - darling, sweetheart, precious, etc.

Xiao: Beyond darling or love, mine for her are qingxin, butterfly/crystalfly, and my sun. All things that remind me of her.

11. When did you know you were in love?

April: When I started looking forward to our little evening hangouts in a way that was different than spending time with friends - my heart would flutter and I'd find myself wanting to dress up more to impress him. Also, when my muse started acting up and all I wanted was to write love songs & poems about him.

Xiao: It was a simple moment. She gave me a handmade woven bracelet in the colors that matched my outfit, and when she smiled at me, I just knew. It explained why I was so concerned about her safety and willing to do anything for her.

24. Would you consider yourself lucky to have found each other?

April: Yes! He's so protective and caring, and I'm so grateful I met him.

Xiao: Yes. I rarely spent time with humans before her, and it's only because she was friends with the Traveler that we even met at all. But every day, I feel lucky to have found such a patient, loving woman like her.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

HI HI! I was wondering about food dates with your genshin f/os! Does your s/I for Xiao like tofu as well and have some together on the roof? Or maybe your s/I for Raiden likes dango? Does Diluc know your s/i’s favorite order by heart and start preparing it right away when you walk into the tavern :)?

Hi!! You got it in one for each of them!

Yes, my s/I for Xiao has almond tofu with him (she's usually the one making it for him - and he honestly prefers her cooking to others) and they'll have little date nights up on the terrace while they look at the stars & talk <3

For Raiden, definitely - my s/I also loves all sorts of desserts and she'll bake them for Ei (and for Miko too of course). They have lots of little picnics and dinner dates together as well

For Diluc, yes to that as well. Usually, she'll eat before coming to the tavern but he always prepares one of her favorite (non-alcoholic) drinks for her before she starts playing music for everyone (you know, bard things :3) He'll also keep an eye on her throughout the night and make sure that her drink is topped up regularly. :3

For my other genshin f/os… picnics are a staple among all of them (mostly a result of me adoring picnics). Also, dinner dates are too (they might vary a little depending on the f/o - like for yelan - I don't have much of a spice tolerance so she'd eat any spicy dishes for me) but they're pretty regular a thing :3

The other one I thought of something more specific for is Arlecchino bc my s/I will make her dishes from Fontaine when they're both feeling a little homesick (they can't be in Fontaine all the time after all) and they both love desserts so they'd bond over that :3

Ooh, also it's not technically a food date, but breakfast in bed is decently common (like Diluc will have breakfast arranged to be ready by the time she's awake even if he's not at the winery) or my s/I will be the one surprising them with breakfast and it's just <33

Thank you for the questions! This is always a fun thing to consider! :3

[violetsareblue-selfships]

👁️ 🕴😳 - @solitaireships

👁 Post a screenshot of your f/o’s eye/eyes!

his eyes are so pretty!! <3 we were blessed to get this animation & the close-up :3

🕴Post a screenshot of your f/o small in the distance/the background of a shot.

hah, i remembered this from the poetry event but had to go find it - tiny boy on top of a mountain :3 (it's like the only image that would work - i have so many close-ups of him lol)

😳 Post a screenshot of your f/o that flusters you.

i think i've shown this one before but he is just so <333 here

[violetsareblue-selfships]

The First of Many

Ship: Xiao x April | Word Count: 763 | Warnings/Tags: very soft

A/N: Happy birthday, Xiao~ Here's an incredibly soft fic about him for all of you to enjoy <3

Xiao perks up a little the first time she thinks his name. It's not so unusual for April to think about him in passing, later claiming that she saw something that reminded her of him or the like. It's honestly… sweet that he seems to be constantly on her mind. Much like she is on his.

But when his name is thought several times more, he almost wonders if she's contemplating calling to him. It hasn't been so long since he's modified that promise of theirs…  She did say she'd try to not worry about bothering him, but it seems she might be struggling with that either way.

So, it must be for something she considers frivolous enough to not want to bother him… Xiao sighs softly, wishing she understood how he views her already. Anyone else and he doubts he'd be even remotely this fond of them already, but she seems to be an exception to that.

Despite the way he's itching to teleport to her location, knowing where she is now that she's thought of him several times in quick succession, he stays put. For all he knows, she's having a conversation with someone (perhaps the Traveler?) about him…

"Xiao…" Her voice is hesitant as expected.

"Finally…" He mutters softly, teleporting to her the second his name's spoken aloud. "You called?"

April nods, her cheeks red in a way that Xiao finds endearing. "Yes… You weren't busy, were you?" She asks quietly. Xiao gives a firm shake of his head. "Good. That's… good." Her voice sounds more relieved, but he can tell she's still nervous. Her heart is racing.

"Why did you call me, April?" Xiao asks, trying to soften his voice at least a little for her sake.

Her shoulders relax a little but she averts her eyes. "I wanted…" She breathes out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry. I just missed you…"

"Mm." Xiao steps closer to her, his eyes scanning her silently. His eyes land on her fidgeting hands and he doesn't hesitate to cover them with one of his own. "That's not all you wanted, was it?"

She breathes in sharply in surprise. She's a little awed at how well he pays attention to her for him to know that so easily. "Not really, no." She pauses to take a deep breath before meeting his eyes again. "Could we cuddle a little… please?"

Xiao huffs out a soft laugh. "It's a little strange for you to be the nervous one," He murmurs, chuckling softly at the way her face flushes. "Come on." He heads over to the bed and silently lays down, admiring the way she brightens and rushes over to him.

It doesn't take long for them to get comfortable and Xiao notes with some satisfaction how her body is completely relaxed now. No more nerves.

He noses gently at her hair. "I'll reiterate. You don't have to worry about bothering me for such things." His hand starts to trail up and down her back. "It is my duty to take care of you - all of your needs and wants. So don't hide those from me."

April shivers in his arms and tucks her face a little more firmly against his neck. "Xiao…" She murmurs. "I love you."

Xiao closes his eyes. He'll never tire of hearing her say that to him. He hesitates for a moment. It hasn't been all that long since he's realized his own feelings for her, mere days in fact. He can still feel the bracelet she'd given him under his glove.

But now that he knows… it feels wrong to leave her without a response or with his usual 'I know' or 'I'm glad'.

April feels him stiffen a little and she hums softly. "You don't have to say it back, you know. I told you, I'm fine waiting until you're ready," She murmurs and he huffs quietly.

"I want to," He retorts and he buries his face into her hair. Maybe the words will come easier when he can breathe in her scent. "April… I love you too."

He can hear the way her heartrate jumps in response, but to her credit, she doesn't gasp or jump up or react loudly. Instead, she lets out a soft, delighted laugh that sounds even prettier than her music to Xiao.

He shivers when her lips brush over his neck in a silent thank you, his arms tightening around her to show that he's understood. Neither of them says anything more, content to be in the arms of the person they love.

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Mordite Root, Solar Vine, and Candle Kelp for a f/o of your choice! - @solitaireships

I'll answer for Xiao! :3

Mordite Root: Have you and your F/O ever had to fight for or alongside each other?

Yes, multiple times. The first time we fought alongside each other was during the fight with Osial way near the first time we met. He tends to fight for me more often, especially if I call his name when I'm in true danger (not all enemies classify as a threat after all) but yes, it's very common.

Solar Vine: What's your morning routine with your F/O?

we wake up (who's up first varies on the day) and cuddle for a bit more before getting dressed & ready for the day. i head down to the kitchen of the inn to make breakfast (almond tofu for him and it varies for me hehe) and we meet up on the terrace for breakfast :3

Candle Kelp: What is your favorite scene of your F/O in their source?

mm, i'm tied between the big scene during the perilous trails quest since it's such a big moment for him but also literally any appearance during lantern rite (especially the cutscene for each year :3) like:

he deserves any happy moment i swear :3

[violetsareblue-selfships]

Metalcore, doom metal, and classic metal - @solitaireships

ty! i'll answer for xiao :3

metalcore: who is the 'um they asked for no pickles...' half of the pairing?

he is. especially in a real-life setting (I doubt my s/i would be as socially anxious as I am but the case stands lol)

doom metal: who gets scared more easily?

me. he's an adeptus who has to fight all sorts of monsters so it would take a lot to scare him (namely I feel like the potential of losing me is what would do it) whereas while I'm a good fighter, I'm more likely to be startled by something or scared in general

classic metal: have f/o and s/i ever attended a concert together? who was it?

it's possible depending on where it took place but I could see him enjoying one of the operas done by Yun Jin so that's a possibility! :3 (Xinyan's rock music is a possibility too, who knows, he might like it)