Chapter Text

World Building

The Mortal Realm

Mondstadt - Country of Freedom

It’s a small island in the middle of a clear ocean, surrounded by nothing but blue. It lies northeast of Teyvat and is by far the smallest country. Elderly and children seem to exist in abundance in Mondstadt with almost all young adults gone to explore the world beyond their borders.
Full of aspiring artists, singers, poets and the like, there is not a place without at least one of them waiting to write a song about your life.
Famous festival: Ludi Harpastum

Liyue - Country of Riches

Liyue is the biggest and oldest country of Teyvat, rich in tall, rippling mountains, wide open plains and glistening rivers. Almost half of its population is made up of people from other countries who came to Liyue with the hope of achieving their biggest and wildest dreams.
No matter where you go, you are bound to fall in love with the beautiful landscape, enchanted by the magic that is Liyue’s nature.
Famous festival: Lantern Rite

The Supernatural Realm

Hell

A cold place where the condemned gather.
Frozen lakes and withering trees; it’s a place without color.
Grey skies devoid of glittering stars - the only illumination it’s granted is the never-ending moonlight.
Hell is a lonely place. It’s a place without the company of bees whizzing past blooming flowers, a place without singing birds greeting each day.
At the top of icy mountains, castles made of stone stand restlessly, each one occupied by a demon of high standing.
With status comes responsibility. Each demon is lord of their territory, overseeing the terrain and its occupants to make sure that everyone does their job and no one acts out of line.

The classes are divided as follows:
Satan: one of the first two angels of God, he abandoned him and sought to become his own ruler and was thus exiled from heaven
Devils: fragments of Satan’s true power which were all separated from him and given their own body and mind with the intention of building a community (yes, even Satan became lonely by himself, although he would never admit such a thing)
Demons: humans, who have committed atrocious sins and refused to repent for them, lose their soul to Satan and bind themselves to him as loyal familiars for him who work for him
-> high class: demons, who have a high standing because of their respectable achievements; they get granted their own territory and an elemental ability that belongs solely to them; as long as they continue serving Satan and fulfilling their end of the bargain, they remain in this state
-> low class: demons, who are either newly turned, who aren’t as strong-willed or who simply aren’t interested in status and power; they don’t have any unique abilities and merely serve as vassals underneath high class demons

Heaven

A warm haven in which night does not exist.
Pinks, blues, greens, oranges, they all come together and blend into one, painting the sky into a never-ending rainbow.
Birds twitter on each tree, flowers rise to touch the sun, ethereal animals scour the vast fields of bountiful earth.
Heaven is a beautiful place. It’s a place filled with laughter and love, one in which days trickle by like honey.
At the top of grassy mountains, cottages made of wood stand sturdily, each one occupied by an angel assigned to that specific area. Surrounding them in tiny little houses are the ones who have made it past the gates of judgement.
It is peaceful, it is friends, it is family, it is love.
It is home.

Bibliography

Chapter List

Part One

Chapter One ✔
Chapter Two ✔
Chapter Three ✔
Chapter Four ✔
Chapter Five ✔
Chapter Six ✔
Chapter Seven ✔
Chapter Eight ✔
Chapter Nine✔
Chapter Ten✔
Chapter Eleven✔
Chapter Twelve✔
Chapter Thirteen ✔
Chapter Fourteen ✔
Chapter Fifteen ✔

Part Two

Chapter Sixteen ✔
Chapter Seventeen✔
Chapter Eighteen✔
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty

Chapter Text

Chapter One

Demons.

Typically associated with evil, you have been taught and conditioned to vigorously rub the thought of them out of your mind.

Think of a demon, act like a demon, become a demon, had been a common saying in the house you grew up in.

They feed off of your despair, is what your mother would say whenever you cried as a child, hoping to assuage your temper tantrums whenever you were denied something you desperately wanted.

Demons are vile, evil creatures and you best stay as far away from them as possible, is what your father drilled into you the day you first understood that words held meaning.

Demons are fallen angels, who took the love of god for granted and went against their creator, is what your grandmother told you when you asked her about the supernatural creature one summer evening.

You remember very distinctly the look of absolute shock and disbelief on your parents’ face when you casually opened the topic of the forbidden during breakfast. It’s hard to have fears when you see the world through seven year old eyes with rosy glasses of love and innocence.

“Are demons really that bad? I mean… everyone makes mistakes, that’s what mama said, right?”

Your mother was rushing to your side with panicked eyes, her hands shaky as your father whipped his head from left to right as if to reassure himself that there was no one else but the three of you in your tiny kitchen.

No one else to hear your treacherous thoughts.

Your next words knocked the breath right out of their lungs, replacing it with a veil of terror that almost threatened to choke them.

It was the words of a seven year old, who sought nothing more than a peaceful and loving world.

“Will they ever be forgiven?”

The winter is harsh as always. Even bundled up with a scarf and a thick jacket, the biting cold still manages to leave goosebumps in its wake in the shape of valleys and mountains rising all over your arms.

You nudge your face further into the soft wool, exhaling in a tiny sigh when your nose no longer feels like it’s about to fall off. Another gust of wind leaves you squealing and with hurried steps, you rush into the familiar building to your right.

A bell chimes, announcing your entrance and your eyes close in bliss when you’re immediately hit by a wave of warmth, followed by the crackling of a fireplace that fills the shop with a woodsy scent.

It’s comforting and you find yourself smiling.

“Ah, there you are.” The old lady behind the desk looks up from her magazine and greets you with a paternal smile. “I was wondering why you were late, but look at you. You look like you walked through a storm.”

Her grey hair is tied back into a tight bun and her dark green eyes remain fixed on the mess that must be your hair. A pair of golden glasses connected to a violet necklace hangs down her chest, surrounded by years of life experiences in the shape of lines and creases.

She takes your coat and your scarf from you and hangs them in the closet behind her. It’s just big enough to fit both of your jackets and adds a nice touch of mahogany in the midst of all the colorful books sitting on the shelves around it. The floorboards creak when she walks over to you and beckons you down. Her ring-clad fingers are soft as they card through the stray stands, but she’s done as soon as she begins and then that very same pink, veiny hand gestures to the back.

“The kids are already waiting for you.” She says and walks back to the register.

At the reminder of what it is that you came here for, you grab your backpack and skid through the shop. You pass a door made of jingling pearls leading to another, larger room that is filled to the brim with chattering children.

They look up the minute you enter, fireworks bursting beneath their eyelids as they jump up, your name falling from every single mouth in a tone of reverence. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you’re a superstar.

That actually isn’t too far off, considering how they quiet down and shove each other into a large circle on the carpeted floor. The sight warms your heart, a smile tugging at your lips when their tiny hands clasp the book in their hands a little tighter.

It doesn’t matter how many times you do this, you still can’t get used to it. What started out as a fun way to watch after the little kids while their parents were at work quickly turned into weekly dates. They aren’t the only ones looking forward to these evenings - you have come to love them yourself.

It’s a nice reprieve from the hectic schedule of juggling two jobs while trying to remain on top of your classes. Coming here to these wild kids who are sprouting happiness and bubbling laughter anywhere they go is one of the reasons you are able to push through.

They start getting twitchy, their little feet bobbing up and down in impatience when you continue to stand there doing nothing. With a flustered giggle, you grab your book out of your bag and settle down in the center of them, folding your legs underneath you until you find a comfortable enough position.

You take a deep breath and prepare yourself.

“How’s everyone doing?”

There’s an explosion of immediate answers in a messy synchronization of “Good!”. It’s like they’re scrambling to talk about their day to you; one of them beginning while the other is still in the middle of his sentence and before either of them finish, a third one pipes up from behind them.

It’s endearing, really, how much they vie for your attention.

You wait patiently, nodding and responding with a smile on your face to each and every single one. And when they run out of breath and stories to tell, you open your book to where your bookmark rests and run your hand over the page. Roughness meets your skin and you tilt your head appreciatively: nothing beats the feeling of a worn and well-used book.

All eyes are on you, lips tightly shut and then you begin reading out the lines, bringing life to mere words and building worlds and universes with them together. They’re bound by your spell, captivated by the way your voice raises in just the right way when things get more gripping.

One of them blindly reaches for the other, squeezing their hand as they not once look away from you. You think you hear a gasp, a choked breath and another whisper an unbelievable “What?”. It takes all of your facial muscles to prevent yourself from smiling and you only glance up for a second before you continue reading.

Two hours pass in a breeze and the next thing you see is the little birds leaving with their hands tightly wound inside their parents. They enthusiastically wave you goodbye, a toothy grin stitched to their full cheeks and then the room becomes empty again.

You rise to your full height and stretch your spine with a groan, feeling the effects of sitting hunched over and locked in the same position like a frozen statue. There’s a dull throb between your shoulder blades, causing you to wince when it shoots up your spine. Your neck goes next, cracking once you tilt your head down to your left side, and then again when you do the same to the right.

The sky is painted in a dark blue when you glance out of the window, a blanket of beautiful white cotton covering the ground. The thought of going back out there to be greeted by the freezing weather leaves you shivering before you even set foot out of the shop.

But it’s already past closing time and you’re sure auntie is waiting for you by the entrance so she can go home to her husband. You quickly pack your things and get ready to leave when something catches your eye.

A book in the shade of a brilliant cyan rests in the center of a shelf in front of you, the vivid color a stark contrast to the dark covers around it. Curiosity moves your legs towards it, admiration reaches your hand to the wrinkled edges and you swear you feel a spark of electricity in the tips of your fingers when you grasp it.

You blame the carpeted floor and your habit of dragging your feet and don’t think much about the tingle that travels up your arms and surrounds the back of your neck. The surface of the book is smooth to the touch with intricate swirls bulging around the title. You read over it once more and narrow your eyes when you still can’t make meaning of it.

Genus Daemonium.

The two words roll from the tip of your tongue in a curious whisper and you flip it over to skim the synopsis, but much to your surprise find that there’s absolutely nothing written on the backside. No synopsis, no scan code, no author, no publishing company - nothing. A quick flip through the book however shows you that there is indeed content within the pages.

You take it with you to the front of the shop, where the owner is in the process of pulling on her gloves and, much like you presumed, ready to leave.

“Can I take this home with me?” You ask her, lifting your hand to show the cover of the book.

She frowns and tilts her head as she steps closer, inspecting the book with raised glasses. “Where did you find this?”

“Inside.” You point your finger behind you, “It was on one of those shelves.”

“That’s odd.” She says, thoughtfully, “I don’t recall stocking a book like this.”

“Do you think one of your customers forgot it?”

“Might be… I’m not sure. No one called or came back for a book today though. Does it have a price tag on it?”

You show her the back cover, “No. It doesn’t have a synopsis either. It’s really weird.”

“Very odd indeed.” She seems to think for a moment before she shrugs her shoulders and turns to leave, “Do with it as you please. Should someone come looking for this book, I know where to find you.”

She adds a wink for good measure and you chuckle as you move to the closet to retrieve your scarf and coat. The remnants of an extinguished fireplace fills the room, drowning the front room in darkness. If it wasn’t for the moonlight shining through the large windows, you’d probably be fumbling your way outside.

You say your goodbyes and part ways, with her going the opposite direction from you. The weather makes for a good motivator to take your speed up a notch and by the time you reach your front door, you’re panting, your heartbeat is elevated and sweat is dripping down your temple. With shaky hands and frozen breath, you twist the knob and all but slam the door open.

The sound reverberates inside the staircase and within a few jumps up the steps, you repeat the same process to the door of your apartment. Once you’re inside, you drop everything you have, slip out of your shoes and run to the bathroom like you have a scheduled appointment with it.

Your clothes get discarded within the next second and by the time you release a long, drawn-out sigh, a stream of sizzling hot water rains over your scalp, dripping off of your shoulders and meeting the tiles with a clack.

It’s bliss; pure and utter bliss and there’s no other place you would rather be. Another onslaught of goosebumps raids your arms with a pool of warmth spreading from the depths of your core until it stretches to the tips of your fingers and toes.

You stand there for a few minutes, motionless, enjoying the feel of the hot water on your skin. Your voice fills the fogged up bathroom before you register it, the words falling from your lips melodically. It starts out quiet, but it soon swells in your throat and echoes across the walls until it’s all you can hear.

You sing until the water runs cold and if it wasn’t for your roaring stomach and the wrinkles forming on your skin, you wouldn’t have ever left the comfort of these four steamy walls.

Very reluctantly (very very reluctantly) you step out and get dressed in a speed unknown to humans. A pair of leggings, the fuzziest socks you have and an immensely oversized hoodie do the job in keeping the heat locked in your bones.

You wander to the kitchen with your phone in your hand and set your favorite playlist on shuffle. The melody seeps out in waves, the husky voice of the singer surrounding the swing of your hips when you begin to dance.

Your kitchen is small, but you have made smart use of the limited space. With the help of your two best friends Aether and Lumine, you drilled boxes made of wood on the highest part of your walls in an open display of dishes and crockery. The dark brown of the boxes is a nice contrast to the burgundy bricks behind it - an idea that came from Lumine, who is a self-proclaimed interior decorator.

All of your cooking utensils hang above your stove, held together by a string of rope that you purchased from your local construction market. You open the small refrigerator and grab two tomatoes, followed by a packet of pasta from your cupboard. While the pasta cooks in a separate pot, you begin peeling and mashing the tomatoes, grinding a clove of garlic and chopping up a few mushrooms.

You begin singing again and soon, it turns into a cooking show slash live concert.

A pinch of salt gets added into the boiling water and then you move to drizzle a little bit of olive oil on a larger pan while dumping the mashed tomatoes in it. With the help of a gas lighter, you light the stove and turn the heat up to its highest setting. Once tiny bubbles swim on the surface, you add the garlic, the mushrooms and finally, the seasoning.

Soon the space around you is clouded in a mist of delicious aroma, enticing the little beast inside your stomach to roar louder. Now that it’s gotten a whiff of what’s to come, it grows impatient, reminding you periodically that it’s right there, just waiting to be fed. The sauce begins to thicken, so you turn the heat down and leave it at a simmer.

Ten minutes pass faster when you hold an impromptu solo concert and your dinner is ready on the marble coffee table in your small living room. Steam rises from the plate and you dash to your window to get a few parsley leaves to top it off.

You start your laptop, open your favorite show as background noise and then begin to eat your meal. It’s warm and heats the insides of your cheeks soothingly, the taste hanging on your tongue long after you swallow your first bite. The monster inside you hums, satisfied that it finally gets the nourishment it’s been begging for.

Once the episode comes to an end, you shut your laptop close and grab the dishes back to the kitchen to wash them. The thick liquid of the detergent foams into shimmering bubbles, surrounding your hands in roses while the remainder of cooked tomatoes gets flushed down the drain.

You place them on the drying rack beside your sink and towel your hands dry before you then proceed to take your backpack and saunter into the bedroom, the song from earlier still on the tip of your whistling tongue.

Exhausted from the long day, you flop face first on your bed and press your nose deeper into the thick covers. It’s as if the day drains from your bones and into the cushions, leaving you feeling weightless and sleepy.

You manage to flip yourself on your back and stare at the ceiling for what feels like hours. There are no particular thoughts in your head and you twist once more, now watching the fairy lights flicker on the wall above your bed. They’re twisting and branching around the pictures sitting idly against the pale blue.

Pictures of the little kids from the book shop huddled around you with the brightest grins, a book in each of their hands.

Pictures of the mountains you have climbed, the fresh air from the top still lingering in the depths of your lungs.

Pictures of the beaches you have traveled to, the breeze still tickling your cheeks if you think back hard enough.

Pictures of camp fires, of costume parties, of ugly christmas sweater contests.

Of you and your best friends hugging and laughing with no care in the world.

You smile.

A few more minutes pass until you shoot up like a candle.

It’s only then that you remember the book you bought earlier that day. You lift yourself up with a groan and stretch your toe out to grasp the handle of your backpack. It’s out of reach and forces you to slide further down your bed, pulling another grunt out of you until you finally manage to curl your toes around it.

You pull it up and feel the strain in your abdominal muscles, rubbing the soft flesh when your backpack lands on your lap. The sound of the zipper opening sounds almost ominous when you pull the book out, the cyan once again a stark contrast to the black leggings it rests on top of.

Beneath the dim lights of your bedroom lamp, the cover gleams even brighter, the cursive letters of the title appearing bolder and bigger. Almost as if it tries to be big enough to entice you into reading it.

It doesn’t need to beg.

You lean back and open the first page.

There are many ideas and theories as to what hell looks like.

A place where there is eternal burning, an infinite ocean of lava and an orchestra of agonizing cries. Others claim that hell is a never-ending nightmare, where one is forced to face their fears without reprieve until they lose their mind. And even then, there is no way out for them. The gate to freedom and forgiveness is guarded by hellhounds, who are drooling at the thought of fresh and tormented souls.

There are many different perceptions of hell, most of which leave Xiao laughing under his breath. Hell has been the only thing he’s known. Born from the ashes of his sins, he’s been a demon since the day his gold eyes opened.

It’s large, much much larger than the realm mortals call earth, and it’s nothing like the books proclaim it to be. There is no ocean made of lava, no screaming songs, no hellhounds waiting to be fed.

Hell is a dark place, a place where there is no sun and no stars. Plunged in grey and black, the only light cast on hell is the moon hanging on the sky. It catches on the frozen lakes separating villages filled with low-class demons and illuminates the large gates surrounding the chamber of punishment, where damned souls get to choose to stay or to leave.

The former saves them from the wrath of god, but makes them a permanent resident of hell. Forced to work like a slave to build the many castles the higher-class demons occupy, they become servants to whomever they get shipped off to.

The latter allows them to leave with a second chance at a human life, to do things right next time. But in order to gain this merciful privilege, they have to first suffer the consequences of their actions, bathe in the torture of their sins and strip away every layer of their skin to be worthy of a rebirth.

Hell is a place that is built upon contracts.

Whether it’s the damned souls signing themselves over to lower-class demons, them in turn committing themselves to higher-class demons, and those in turn sworn to work for Satan.

It’s a place that runs smoothly because everyone has to uphold their end of the bargain.

Xiao is a high-class demon, who worked his way up from the bottom and earned his own residence in the outskirts of the capital. His castle sits on top of ruins, built by his personal servants who live in small cottages near him. Flames flicker from the entrance to his mansion and cast large, hungry shadows on the soil it stands on.

There is no one else safe for him in his backyard.

He’s on top of a rock, his legs stretched out in front of him and his hands behind him supporting his backwards leaning weight. Xiao prefers to be alone, quite enjoys wandering the lonely halls of his looming home that no one else dares to enter.

No one but a certain ginger demon who promises trouble anywhere he goes.

“‘Sup!” A cheerful voice fills the otherwise quiet air and said ginger demon skids right to where Xiao sits.

He isn’t alone. A waterfall in the color of coffee beans falls from a low ponytail over a slim, yet broad back. The other demon beside him appears a lot more reserved, his amber eyes inspecting Xiao from head to toe, taking in his appearance with what appears to be relief.

“Childe. Zhongli.” Xiao merely says, the only form of greeting he offers them.

“You’re back.” Zhongli replies matter-of-factly. His voice is deep, a tenor that leaves tremors all around him.

Childe is the exact opposite, all jovial energy and light when he begins bouncing on his feet, “How long have you been back? Why haven’t you called us?”

Xiao sighs, already drained from the train of questions that barrel straight through him. He keeps his eyes on the empty sky and responds with “A while.”

Zhongli frowns and exchanges a look with Childe. “A while?”

“How long exactly is a while?” Childe forms air quotes and follows Xiao’s gaze, as if to see what was in the sky that could be more compelling than getting a visit from two old friends.

Xiao sighs again, already familiar with the storm he is about to cause when he says, “A few decades.”

The reaction is immediate.

Childe chokes on his words and spirals into a coughing fit; Zhongli’s eyes look like they’re about to fall from their sockets. He’s too shocked to help his friend regain the ability to breathe, his brain still trying to connect the meaning that followed Xiao’s words.

“W-What do you mean a few decades?” Childe snaps after his face is no longer the shade of his cerulean eyes.

Xiao pushes himself off the rock and moves towards the front door of his castle, the other two trailing after him like two lost, but thoroughly shaken puppies. Zhongli stares at the ground silently, giving that much more room and chance for Childe to speak on behalf of both of them.

“What do you mean a few decades, Xiao?”

“I fail to see what is incomprehensible about this.”

“Wha- Why haven’t you called us?”

“Was there any need for me to?”

Childe stops in his tracks, more than taken aback by the coldness of his voice. Xiao was never known to be affectionate, but even for someone like Xiao, who lacked any common sense, it was still harsh.

Where Childe drops, Zhongli picks back up, “We haven’t seen each other in over a century. We figured you would let us know when you return from your job.”

They walk through the hallway with no one else anywhere in sight - no guards, no maids, no servants. Their steps resound through the walls, leaving tall shadows behind. There’s fog near the ceiling, the chilly air evaporating from the cold ground. They don’t talk until they’re inside his guest room.

He gestures for them to make themselves comfortable on the large sofa and takes his place across from them. With a single flick of his wrist, a tray laden with three cups and a filled teapot materializes out of thin air and on top of the coffee table separating them.

Zhongli falls right into routine and fills each cup with the steaming liquid, the air around them taking on the scent of sweet lavender. They remain quiet for a while after that, each of them silently sipping on their tea.

Childe seems to calm down by then and asks once again, “Why haven’t you told us that you’re back?”

Xiao takes into consideration the reaction he caused a few minutes ago and tries to rephrase his words, “I didn’t see any need to notify anyone that I returned.”

“We heard from Beidou.” Zhongli says instead, placing his mug carefully on the table made of mahogany, “She saw one of your servants out on duty.”

Xiao hums, a sound he often makes when he seems to think. His eyes remain rooted on the table, both of his hands clasped over the porcelain cup. He lifts it to eye level and then looks at the two with an unreadable expression, “I brought these with me from the human realm.”

“What have you been doing here all on your own?” Childe asks, not at all taking the bait to drop the topic. If anything, he seems even more adamant on getting answers.

“Nothing of particular interest.”

“We… We have been waiting for your return.” Zhongli says, as if trying to ease the tension that is starting to form again.

“My return?”

“Well…” Childe seems to hesitate then, something he doesn’t do often and it in turn wakes Xiao’s curiosity, who now finally looks at him.

“To what do I owe the honor?”

Childe and Zhongli exchange another look. It’s just a sideways glance, but it’s enough for Xiao’s eyes to narrow suspiciously. And it’s enough for him to add two and two together.

“So you have heard.”

“Ah… You know how they can be… Hungry for gossip and always quick to spread news.” Childe avoids his gaze, taking interest in the crow resting on the windowsill instead.

“What exactly do these rumors contain?”

Noticing his reluctance, Zhongli answers instead, “There have been whispers that you have failed your last job and have been demoted to a low-class demon.”

Xiao snorts, an amused smile tugging at his lips. His eyes get a sheen glimmer to them when he tilts his head condescendingly. The temperature around them drops along with his tone as he muses, “I wasn’t aware you placed so much value in the words of servants, Childe.”

The demon in question jerks back and clenches his jaw, his voice no longer as jovial and confident as before, “We were just worried is all…”

“There is no need for concern regarding my status. And certainly no use in listening to things that lack truth or evidence.”

“So you haven’t been demoted…?”

A single look leaves the words stuck on Childe’s tongue and he swallows, feeling their edges cut the walls of his throat. He doesn’t dare ask anymore, not when the demon in front of him emanates such a threatening aura.

Zhongli takes pity on him and decides to intervene. His voice is as steady and calm as always, “There haven't been any sightings since you last left and you haven’t talked to us either. Isn’t it only natural that we would grow concerned and wonder where you were?”

“I was in the castle throughout the entire time. I simply needed time to myself.”

It’s not the answer either of them had hoped for, but at this point with Xiao, they will take anything they can get.

“Well, what happened back there anyway?” Childe asks once he finds his voice again.

“I executed my job and returned to my castle. Is there a tale in particular you wish to hear?”

“Xiao…” Childe sighs and gives him a look of remote frustration, the veins on his forehead taking on a rather prominent role on his temple, “I’m not stupid. I can tell you’re evading again.”

“So there is something other than air in that pretty head of yours.”

The remark pulls a low chuckle from Zhongli and a frustrated growl from Childe. Xiao smiles. It feels familiar, like nothing has changed.

The nostalgia of the past doesn’t last long. Not when Childe’s mind is still working at a mile a minute.

“But wait,” Childe starts, “If you finished your job and have been back here for a while… Haven’t you gotten any new offers?”

There it is. It’s back again. The air is stiff and cold around them.

Xiao doesn’t answer.

There’s a sinking feeling in Zhongli’s gut, a heavy weight that settles in his stomach, making it difficult for him to breathe. Silence from Xiao is never a good sign.

Childe knows this too, he knows it better than anyone else, so he continues to prod deeper and leans forward, “You have… gotten new offers, right?”

Xiao closes his eyes and leans back, no trace of any emotion when he says, “I have.”

“But you haven’t left the castle in decades…” Zhongli adds, the words thick on his swelling tongue, “So you rejected them all?”

Another confirmation in the shape of silence.

Childe frowns, his hands digging deeper into the material of the black couch. There’s tension in his posture, his muscles buzzing with something unpleasant. Something very, very unpleasant.

“Were they not to your liking?”

If being around these two for the past millennium has taught Xiao anything, it’s that they were persistent. So he opens his eyes with another dreadful sigh and drags his gloved hand down his face - his first sign of exhaustion.

“I am retiring.”

The book tastes like wind.

It’s an odd thing to think, let alone a very odd realization to digest when you first flutter the pages open. The scent drifts from the center most piece and reaches up to your nose, its tiny hands clawing its way inside your lungs until it’s all you can breathe.

You’re familiar with the smell of books, the cozy feeling spreading through your chest when you first bury your nose in the pages and inhale like it’s the only thing you need for survival. But it’s the first time you taste a book, and the feeling only intensifies the deeper you get into it.

You flip the pages with a curious pout, put off that it’s in a foreign language you’ve never seen before. It looks like a mix of Greek and Latin or maybe something else entirely. You can’t decipher the symbols and you can’t even make out the contents of what you’re holding, but it’s so warm in your hands that you can’t help but continue to go through the pages.

A cerulean dragon with golden wings is boldly printed on one of the pages, its eyes burning gold like the sun and captivating you right where you are. Your fingers trace the shape of the drawing and for a brief second, you think you can feel the ragged texture of the scales.

It’s beautiful.

“What do you mean you’re retiring? You’re kidding right?”

All intimidation and hesitance is blown out the window as Childe stands in front of Xiao, looking like he’s about to pounce on him. His blue eyes burn bright like a flame, the snarl on his face nothing like the carefree smile he wore when he first sauntered into Xiao’s backyard.

“I know I’m not really good with humor, but… even I can tell this wouldn’t make for a funny joke.” Zhongli gulps with trepidation, the feeling in his gut intensifying when Xiao only leans his chin in his palm.

“I no longer wish to return to the human realm.”

His tone leaves no room for comeback, but Childe is known for creating space where there is none, so he refuses to back off. “Do you even hear yourself?”

A look that would otherwise silence him only seems to ignite him even further. “Do you even know what this means? You’ll be revoked of your title! And… and demoted and- “

“I am very well aware of the rules in this realm. There is no need to educate me on such trivial matters.”

Childe is like a wave about to rise. Just a gust of wind, that’s all he needs before he drowns the entire castle.

Xiao doesn’t give him that. Only gives him an unimpressed look, which results in the former’s nails clawing into his collar and pulling him closer until their chests meet in a clash.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

“Remove your hands from me.”

“Not until you tell me what the fuck happened that made you like this!”

Zhongli also stands up, albeit his stance is more of a conflicted nature. He opens his mouth in a demonstration of mediation, but the temperature around them seems to drop again when Xiao stares straight at Childe.

“I will not ask you again.”

Childe whips his head to Zhongli, his expression one of exasperation and despair. A look one typically wouldn’t associate with a demon.

“Come on, say something! You can’t seriously let this guy say something as foolish as that and just let him get away with it?”

Tension drips from the walls like poison, but Childe finds courage when he sees Zhongli blink in hesitance. He isn’t let down when the latter speaks, albeit still politely, “You have worked very hard to achieve the position you have now, Xiao. It would be a shame to let all of that go to waste.”

But they could be talking to a brick for all it matters.

Xiao stares him dead in the eye, his eyes unwavering as he says, “I am retiring.”

You keep your fingers hovering over the letters beside the dragon. It’s the first word you are able to read, so you presume it has to be the name of the creature.

“Xiao…” It leaves your breath in a whisper, roaming around you like a breeze.

A sudden bang! against your window makes you jolt, your finger catching the edge of the paper. It cuts through your skin like a knife, heat pooling at the tip of your finger as a little blob of crimson falls exactly on the bold X below you.

The sound outside your window is forgotten and you watch with a horrified fascination that is reserved for train wrecks as your blood seeps into the paper and travels from the X to the i, curls around the a and then stops at the circle of the o.

Your heart thunders against your ribcage and echoes in your skill, the back of your neck heating up and pulsing in waves. When dark green mist starts to evaporate from the inside of your book, you drop it as if it burns your hand and then-

Something unbelievable happens.

Childe is still shouting profanities and rushed words at him, but Xiao has long stopped listening for he starts feeling a familiar pull in his stomach. Dread fills him when realization settles in his bones and it’s the first time his golden eyes widen since Childe and Zhongli have entered his mansion.

He grabs Childe’s hands like his life depends on him, his shocked look soon turning into one of anger and annoyance. But before he’s able to say anything, he feels his body turn translucent, dark green mist seeping from every single one of his pores.

“Oh no, no, no- You don’t get to just leave like this- “ is the last thing he hears before he turns to dust.

A loud thud rocks your bed and you feel the air drain from your lungs, a heavy weight settling on top of your stomach. You groan and gaze up with wide eyes to see a man lying on top of you, his hands pressing into your bed right above your head, preventing him from fully crushing you.

Your blood pounds in your ears and your heart thuds against your chest like a rapid drum when he regards you with so much hostility, you feel an overwhelming sense of fear coursing through your veins.

Eyes in the shade of molten gold burn right through you; raven hair that is dipped in an ocean of cyan tickles your cheek and it’s only then that you notice the giant golden wings twitching behind him and the long, sharp claws growing out of his slim fingers.

You turn back to face him.

And then, you scream.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two

“Did he seriously just leave?” Childe asks, aghast.

The couch Xiao sat on is now empty. There’s only creases and wrinkles left as proof that he was really there. Childe’s hands remain in the air, his fingers loose and confused at the sudden lack of fabric. He looks to the side, where Zhongli’s amber eyes are still wide and full of disbelief.

“Did he seriously just fucking leave?” Childe’s anger is back in full swing. In a fit of rage, he turns to the other demon, who is still silently trying to digest what just happened.

“It looks like it…” is what he says in the end, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly when he gulps.

Childe plops on the couch with an exasperated groan and drops his head in his hands, “I can’t believe it… He always does this… What the hell is wrong with him?”

Zhongli looks down, thoughtful, before he lifts his gaze again to meet Childe’s. He sounds almost hesitant, “Well, you did kind of force yourself on him. Xiao never liked people invading his personal space like that.”

“He left me no other choice! Should I have stayed quiet and let him continue talking nonsense then?”

“We could have gone about this in another way.”

“Really? Enlighten me then.” Childe’s tone is nothing short of sarcastic, clearly at the end of his wits.

Zhongli, who is as patient as he is slow-witted, doesn’t take the bait and begins explaining, “We could have heard him out. It seemed like he wanted to tell us something.”

This renders Childe quiet, who didn’t expect to actually receive a solid and logical answer. He inhales deeply and pushes it out in the next, his hands reaching to ruffle through the already wild strands.

“And he couldn’t have just told us this?”

“You know Xiao. He likes to make things more complicated than they have to be.”

A hint of a smile darts on both of their faces. In between their exchanged sighs and their weary expressions lies the unspoken relief of the knowledge that their friend returned safely from his last assignment. That the rumors regarding his status are nothing more than that - empty whispers that hold no real meaning.

“What are we gonna do now?” Childe asks.

“Wait until he comes back? There’s not really much we can do. We don’t even know where he teleported to. He’ll most likely return once he’s cooled down.”

“I hope you’re right…”

There are no more words spoken in the large and cold castle. They lean back and settle into the cushions, their eyes fixed patiently on where they hoped Xiao to come back to.

The ebony bird on the windowsill throws its long head back and crows.

“You have got to be kidding me...” Xiao grumbles with a deadpan expression.

He’s no longer on your bed on top of you, but now on the other side of the room with his back to the wall. Your scream lasted about two seconds until your fight or flight instincts kicked in, which in turn caused you to quite literally kick him out of your bed and scramble back until you fell off.

And now there is only a bed separating you from one another, a baby blue sheet filled with ivory clouds. You refuse to look away from his face, lest he tries some funny business, and try to think, but admittedly, it’s very hard to hear the voice in your head when your heartbeat is thundering against your rib cage and drowning out everything else.

It’s not everyday that a stranger materializes out of thin air in your bedroom and glares at you like you’re the biggest inconvenience the universe has to offer. There’s an overwhelming pressure on your shoulders, something hanging thick in the air that makes you want to bow your head and cower in fear.

“What the hell just happened?” Your voice breaks in the middle of your question, every single thread of it laced with horror and trepidation.

Xiao straightens his back and crosses his toned arms over his chest - arms that are filled with various markings and swirls in the shade of cyan - and then he looks at you. Pools of molten gold take in the shape of your trembling form, cool and calculating. There’s something else hidden in the depth of them - annoyance?

His obsidian hair falls like silk over his slim cheeks with odd strands dipped in the same color as his tattoos peeking out from in between. They frame his face like royal curtains, illuminating his already bright eyes. They’re glowing.

There’s no other way to put it: he’s absolutely stunning.

The glistening wings and sharp claws from before are gone, leaving you to think that perhaps it was a trick of your eyes. Maybe all of those fantasy games you play and all the novels you read are finally starting to get to you.

There’s a million things going through your head right now. Green mist coming from an open book, a stranger in very unique looking clothing standing across from you like he owns the place, like he didn’t just intrude into the apartment of a single female college student.

Where does one even begin to try comprehending the situation?

“What the hell just happened?” You repeat, this time more insistent, “Who are you? How did you break into my apartment? What do you want from- “

“Do you intend to harm me with that?” Xiao interrupts with a raised brow, his eyes traveling to the lamp at your side.

You follow his gaze and tighten your grip on the foot of the lamp, begging your muscles to stop shaking so much, “Answer my question! Who are- “

Xiao doesn’t even let you finish. He sighs like he’s the busiest man in the country and you’re the poor new barista of a coffee shop who struggles to deliver his order on time. He fixes you with a very bored stare and it does absolutely nothing to alleviate the panic coursing through your veins. If anything, it only heightens the little needles prickling on your skin, telling you to run, to hide, to do something other than just stand there like a scared little girl.

“You humans never cease to amaze me. First, you summon and force me into a contract without consulting me and then you threaten to attack me with a bedside lamp? I don’t know whether I should be astonished by your boldness or amused by how foolish you are.”

All thoughts in your head come to a halt.

It’s so quiet that the whizzing of your refrigerator sounds like a rocket launcher.

Your face is beyond priceless. Your features twist and there’s something bursting behind your eyelids. The wires connecting your brain go into overdrive and explode, leaving metaphorical steam to pour from your head.

His words ring in your ears and repeat themselves like a daunting echo. Did he just call you a human? Contract? What the hell is he even talking about? It takes every fiber of restraint inside of you to not hyperventilate.

A freak.

He’s a freak (a really handsome one at that, not that it should matter) and you’re locked with him inside your bedroom, all alone with nothing but a bedside lamp to protect yourself with.

Every single article about self defense and what to do in situations like this appear in your mind’s eye, the words blurring and fusing into the one statement that you hope will save you: stall for time.

“Excuse me, what?” You ask him, praying to whatever god decided to put you through this that he would take the bait.

Xiao either doesn’t hear the meek whisper of your voice or blatantly decides to ignore it for he begins pacing your room, taking in every piece of furniture until his gaze lands on the book lying openly displayed on the ground.

His eyes narrow and the air grows cold, “Where did you find that?”

Your eyes, however, flit to your phone which is plugged in the charger a bit to your right. It’s not too far away, just two quick strides is enough for you to rip it out and dial the three life-saving digits, but his voice cuts like a sharp knife through your spine and you find yourself unable to move.

“The police won’t be able to help you. Now tell me, where did you find this book?”

Your heart is swelling inside your chest and pushing against the walls of your lungs. Your insides are burning, like the oxygen coming through your nose is smoke and rotting you from the inside. Tears form in your eyes when you realize you can’t move your feet.

It feels like that one time you walked home by yourself late at night with a group of drunk college guys following you. Your keys dug into the soft skin of your palm, harsh enough to draw blood. Every sense seemed to be heightened and even after you reached the safe walls of your home, your heart wouldn’t settle to its regular beat.

After that, you made sure to never walk by yourself late at night ever again.

But how do you save yourself now?

What even are the chances of you making it out alive?

Fight.

A voice wakes in your head.

A voice so soothing, you find yourself leaning into it, allowing it to caress you with strength and bravery. It coats your nerves with the desire to survive and in a last attempt to save yourself, you open your mouth and take a deep breath. You brace the muscles in your core and ready yourself to scream as loud as you can, until even the last person in this neighborhood hears your cry for help.

But things don’t always go the way you want them to.

You’re thrust back with a squeal, trapped between the wall and the lithe muscles of Xiao’s chest. One of his hands is covering your lips, swallowing your piercing scream with ease. The other is curled around your wrist to prevent you from smacking him with the lamp.

The sudden proximity fills you with such overwhelming terror, your mind goes blank and your body moves on its own.

He frowns when you begin kicking and punching him with your free hand, tears now falling freely from your eyes. They’re ripped open and full of fright and it takes only one look at them to know that you’re about to drown in your anxiety.

Lungs that once welcomed air with wide open arms now close their borders to secure what’s still left inside. The luscious taste of that little something that came so freely to everyone else and made its home inside of your body, that ensured your survival is now threatening to be the reason there would be no one left to come back to.

Xiao senses your unease. He can taste the bitterness in the air, the tinge of your salty tears hanging thick around you.

“Breathe.” He says, his voice dragging like silk across your skin, surprisingly soft and surprisingly comforting. “You’re not breathing.”

His palm is warm against your lips, his touch suddenly soothing for your frozen bones. He waits until you no longer thrash to pull back just a tiny bit, your shaky exhale tickling the skin of his retreating palm.

The lamp inside your hand falls to the ground with a clatter and your grip grows slack. Desperate, wheezing breaths get sucked into your convulsing lungs and it hurts. It’s the first time your lungs feel sore and the act of actually having to breathe, rather than just letting it subconsciously happen is enough to get your mind to focus on something.

There’s no longer fog blurring your sight and once Xiao releases your wrist and steps back to give you the space you need, the ground all but gets swiped away from you. Your knees kiss the ground with your hands slamming above them to catch your fall.

You’re still crying, you’re still scared, you’re still confused but he just stands there and watches you. From above with his chin raised high as if he is the king and you’re a repenting servant, he watches and waits.

With the patience of a saint, he waits.

Your breath seeps out of you in a thin, hissed stream intended to release the tension that’s filled your chest. There’s a myriad of thoughts swimming through the haze that is your mind at this very moment.

Perhaps you had fallen asleep reading the new book you bought and this is all just a dream?

After all, there’s no way a whole person materializes out of thin air from the pages of a book and lands on top of you with wings the size of a car and claws sharp enough to rip a hole in time…

Right?

There’s no way someone would break into your apartment and just stand there without actually doing anything.

Right?

This is all just a joke… right?

“It’s really not funny.” You sniff, lifting your sleeve to wipe your nose, “It’s really not funny anymore.”

Xiao remains quiet, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion. They’re unreadable and cold and the longer he goes without saying anything, the longer you feel like a pathetic little bunny trying to escape the grasp of a hungry wolf.

“If this is some sick prank from Aether, it’s really not funny.” You raise your head wearily, feeling the implications of an impending headache and travel your eyes all over your room.

A part of you hopes to find a camera there. Expects Aether and Lumine to come skidding from the living room with rambunctious cackles and stuttered apologies falling from their lips.

It’s nothing but a small whisper, an uttered prayer, “Please tell me this is a joke.”

The situation becomes clearer to Xiao, who can deduct what happened with a single look at your horrified face, the tiny droplets of blood rolling from your finger and the book remaining open on the ground with stains of the crimson liquid.

It’s almost funny how decades after keeping to himself, dead set on never returning to the human realm again, he gets summoned.

And to top it off, he gets summoned accidentally.

If he didn’t know any better, he would think this is Childe’s doing. After all, making others a pawn in his childish schemes is one of his special skills. But if that was truly the case, his earlier visit with Zhongli and his outburst at Xiao’s revelation would make no sense.

Even if this is all set up by Childe and his master plan involved making an appearance to rid himself of the role of the offender, it didn’t explain how you got access to the book keeping record of hell.

Xiao doesn’t understand how it ended up in your world, let alone in the hands of a girl who had the scent of purity all over her. He too would like to think that this is a joke; would like to wipe your memories clean and return to his castle to spend the rest of his days on his own dwelling in the ocean of his sins.

But life isn’t kind.

Not to humans, and certainly not to demons.

He thinks back to all the souls he devoured, all the innocent people with dreams and aspirations he took advantage of to climb the ladder and secure his seat in hell. And then his eyes wander to the thin teal bracelet engraving your skin, hidden for the naked eye, but glaringly obvious to beings like him.

A glowing chain grows out of it, pooling around your crumbled form and reaching up, all the way until it finds its way to his neck, caging the delicate skin in a collar. It itches. It’s a feeling he hasn’t missed.

He lowers his head at you looking up at him, your eyes pleading and your teeth biting into your lip in a pathetic attempt to stop from crying. You’re trembling, shivering with trepidation and begging him for some semblance of reassurance.

You’re sorely mistaken to seek solace from a being made out of sins.

“My name is Xiao, demon of the anemo and a vassal for Satan himself.”

Your mouth drops open, your heart spreading its claws and forcibly stopping all movement. There’s ringing in your ears, ice flowing through your veins when you realize he isn’t laughing mockingly; when you realize he isn’t messing with you.

Wings in the color of the sun grow out of his back and flap open with a gust of wind, encompassing the entire breadth of your room. The membrane in between each bone shimmers beneath the light of your ceiling, appearing almost translucent.

His voice is soft, like the next words he says aren’t the most ground-shattering, catastrophically destructive things a mortal like you can hear,

“And you have summoned me in exchange for your soul.”

It takes a while for you to recover after that.

You tried calling the police despite his claims that it would be a fruitless attempt. In the middle of a city in an apartment surrounded by radio masts, your phone had no signal.

You tried praying and calling out to god, to an angel, to anything that was holy and had the potential to repel his presence away. But your mind was foggy and each time you closed your eyes to send a message to the heavens, you were met with a wall.

You tried pushing him out of your apartment with brute force, steeling yourself with courage you didn’t have and locking the door tight after to make sure he had no way of entering again.

To your surprise, he let you do as you please and didn’t fight back. There was an expression of deep exasperation on his face one would have when dealing with a difficult child, but still, he remained quiet and let you be.

Just as you rounded the corner to lock your windows too, you were pulled back by some invisible force and fell harshly on your butt. A sound of pain slipped from your lips when you crawled back up to rub the aching spot.

There was a tight pressure around your wrist and each time you tried to take a step forward, an immense weight prevented you from moving. You reached out your other arm experimentally, the muscles moving freely and stretching to their heart's content.

No weight; no pressure; nothing.

Hesitantly, you tried the same thing with your other arm, but instead of the delicious pull of ligaments, you felt resistance. And before you had any chance to question what in the world was going on, the low voice of Xiao piped up from behind you as he casually phased through your door.

“We need to talk.”

You still don’t know how you didn’t pass out on the spot when you saw him move right through the door, the ridges of his body flickering like a hologram until he was fully back inside. You’re even less sure how you managed to keep the strength in your legs when for a second you were able to see the collar around his neck and the cuff around your wrist before the image faded again.

And now you’re standing across from him in the middle of your hallway, your stance all but defensive as he looks like his patience is stretched to its limits.

“Did you just fucking phase through the door?” You ask once you manage to regain your breath.

He sighs for the umpteenth time that day and walks back into your apartment, his wings folding to adapt their size and prevent from knocking down literally every single thing you own.

“I presume you have a lot of questions. Sit.” He gestures to your couch as if you’re a guest of importance in your own home, “It would be wise and beneficial for both of us to clear things up.”

As much as you wish to remain rooted to the spot until he leaves and you realize this is all just a bad dream, you can’t stop your legs from doing as he says and fall on your couch like a crumpled leaf.

Too many things are happening at once in your brain and you no longer have the capacity nor the intelligence to understand the situation you find yourself in. You used to pride yourself in your wits and your quick thinking, used to think of yourself as the survivor of the group if it should ever come down to it.

Right now you just feel stupid. Like the one who dies first.

He starts from the beginning, which you appreciate, and explains the ways of the world you live in.

He talks about god, about heaven, hell and earth, about alternate dimensions, about demons and angels and every other supernatural thing you ever read in any book. He talks about how everything you imagined to be impossible to be true and when you bite your lip and struggle to make amends with the truth, he shows you a fraction of his powers.

Cutlery floats around your head, surrounded by a teal glow. Your window opens by itself and brings a fresh breeze along with it. Objects you don’t even own materialize right in front of your eyes, only to then vanish into nothingness again.

You want to laugh at one point, the absurdity of it all catching up to you, but he remains serious and solemn.

The realm of humans sits right between hell and heaven, he explains, acting as an intermediary between the two. Heaven seeks to protect the residents and guide them to divinity, whereas hell wants to purge what they claim as their territory.

“I don’t particularly care about either of that. I am merely executing my job.”

“Your job?” You ask wearily, not sure if you even want to hear the answer. You’ve given up on the idea that he might leave anytime soon.

He looks at you for a few seconds, as if he’s assessing something and then proceeds to say, “My job is to collect the souls of humans and take them back to our lord.”

“Your lord?”

“Satan.”

“Oh.” You say dumbly, a weird strangled noise escaping your lips. A new weight settles in your stomach, one that threatens to crush you from the inside, “Does this mean you’ll take my soul now?”

“Not yet.”

Your head shoots up in confusion, your next question already on the tip of your tongue, “What do you mean not yet?”

Xiao lifts his hand and with a flick of his wrist, your new book flies into his waiting hand. The pages turn by themselves until they reach the illustration of the large, looming dragon. He turns it so you can see and then points to his own name with a somewhat strained expression.

“In order to summon a demon, one needs to possess an item of hell and call out the name of the demon they wish to meet. And in order to enter a contract with a demon, one needs to sacrifice a drop of their blood.” A slim finger points to the crimson letters that were once printed in bold black, “Both of which you have done.”

“But it was a mistake!” You rise up and clutch your trembling hands against your chest, “I was just reading out the first word that I could actually read and then I accidentally cut myself! I- I didn’t mean to… summon you- “

Your panic does absolutely nothing to him. There’s not an ounce of empathy in his eyes, not a single shred of sympathy. But if there’s one thing you’ve always been, then that is stubborn.

“Surely there’s a way to, I don’t know, nullify this contract? After all… it was an accident, a mistake. Can’t you just go back to your boss and tell him that?”

Your naivety seems to amuse him. His lips tug into a small smile as he crosses his arms. It’s not a kind smile. He leans back on your couch while you choose to remain standing. At least this way you might feel like you were somewhat in control of where this conversation is going.

You’re not even granted that much.

“You seem to mistake us with angels, human. We don’t care about mercy or empathy, it’s an emotion we simply cannot feel.” He leans forward, his gaze so empty and ruthless you find yourself shrinking and taking a step back, “We take advantage of situations like this.”

Whatever hope you had of getting out of this gets crushed by a single sentence. Xiao suddenly appears blurry, his form dividing into two Xiaos swimming in front of you. It’s only when you feel the familiar sensation of cold tears on your cheeks that you understand it’s not one of his weird powers - you’re crying.

He sighs again and drags a hand across his face, his voice losing its edge when he says, “There are no ways to nullify a contract made with a demon. A contract is a contract and both parties have to hold their end of the bargain. That’s the way of hell.”

The words sink like bricks into your bones and all you want in that moment is to turn back time and make it so you never saw the book in the first place. Your wet eyes stay on the cover a moment longer, thinking to yourself how something so small and harmless had turned your entire life upside down in a matter of seconds.

“You have one wish that I will grant you,” Xiao continues as he watches you reach to the back of your neck, “It can be anything you want. It will be yours.”

An idea lights up in your mind and you scramble to wipe your eyes clean, all but blurting out, “I wish to nullify this contract.”

A snort rips out of his chest and he moves to conceal his mouth from you, the skin beside his amber eyes wrinkling just slightly. It takes him a few seconds to answer, seconds that are filled with naive anticipation for you.

You want to believe that the solution to this ordeal is this easy.

You want to believe that the answer is right in front of you.

“You’re not the first to try and outsmart us, but the outcome of this wish will most likely not be to your satisfaction. See, no matter what you wish for, be it for you to become a star overnight, to find the love of your life overnight, to get rid of someone you despise or for me to nullify this contract - at the end of this transaction, I will be given your soul as compensation. So choose wisely.”

You slowly lower yourself in between the orange cushions littering your couch. Your breath is stuck somewhere in between your throat and your lungs. There’s an ache in your chest, a pressure that squeezes and strips away each layer of skin until there’s nothing but the blood swirling around connecting veins and floating cells.

Xiao waits, quiet and observing as you sit there and stare at your palms. The cut on the tip of your finger has stopped bleeding, the tiny threads inside of you already working at their hardest to repair and heal your body.

He takes in the curve of your hunched back, the shuffle of your toes against the hardwood floor. You’re so small and vulnerable, so scared that he’s reminded of a bunny surrounded by a pack of wolves. He can hear the rapid beating of your heart thumping against his eardrums; can taste the bitter flavor of despair in the air. There’s an urge inside of him to wipe it away with a single gust of wind.

You’re a stark contrast to all the humans he’s faced so far.

Power hungry, broken and bound by their past, they had been well aware of the price they had to pay to satisfy the black hole that was their desire. They carried the stench of their sins wherever they went, so lost in their pain that the idea of repenting never even crossed their mind.

Too far gone to be forgiven, one of them said to him while intoxicated, might as well go all the way and make the best of it.

You’re nothing like them.

There’s a sweet scent to you, pure and innocent, and it twists his stomach and burns his nose, so much so that he chooses not to breathe around you. It’s like you have been blessed by the angels themselves, like they have shrouded you with a veil of divinity; a veil of protection.

He smiles wryly to himself, thinking of the irony of it all.

After what feels like hours, you lift your head and face him. The tears have dried on your cheeks, leaving puffy bags beneath bloodshot eyes. You bite your lip hesitantly and gulp.

Looking at you like this, he’s reminded of a young girl who once summoned him. Hair as bright as the sun, eyes as endless as the ocean, she too had the scent of angels pouring from her skin. Malnourished and battered in bruises, she had been much too small for someone her age.

He remembers the slight tremble in her hands, the fear coursing through her veins when he appeared before her in all his glory - with his wings unfurled and his claws glinting beneath the moonlight.

But for someone so small and scared, she had been strong.

She squared her shoulders and gazed into his eyes. She swallowed the doubts gnawing at her conscience and stretched her hand out to him - an act of sealing the deal.

In order to protect her family, the people she treasured and held dear, she sacrificed the love of god and turned her back on him.

He remembers it very well.

Somehow, when he feels the very same gaze on him once more, he thinks you’re about to do the same. Resign yourself to the fate that had been thrust upon you and use your last moments to leave behind something good.

He wonders if you too have a family you want to protect.

“I refuse.” You whisper and pull him out of his thoughts with the gentility of a spear. Hidden by a thin layer of desperation is a growing sense of desire.

A desire to live.

You square your shoulders and meet his gaze, your nails digging into the fabric of your leggings when you fight off the tremble in your voice, “I refuse to give you my soul.”

His mouth forms a razor sharp line and makes to say, “Have you not listened to a word- “

But you interrupt him with newly born boldness and stand up again, “I will not wish for anything. That way you won’t be able to uphold the end of your bargain.”

The ticked off twitch of his brow doesn’t go unnoticed by you and you feel another surge of courage swell within you and add, “You won’t have earned the right to my soul. If there’s no wish for you to grant, then there’s no fulfilling this contract.”

Xiao unfolds his wings in one swoop, exuding a strong push of wind that forces you to take another step back. He glares at you with all the coldness an offended thousand year old demon can feel and his voice is none the more pleasant, “I am not particularly thrilled of being stuck with another human when I already resigned, so if I were you, I would refrain from stubborn acts that will do nothing but delay an inevitable ending.”

Every single muscle in your body pulls at you to cower, the amount of dominance exuding from him threatening to crush your lungs and expand them at the same time. But seeing him lose his cool like that gives you hope that you hit a bull’s-eye.

“I refuse to give you my soul.” You repeat, more for yourself than him. It serves as reaffirmation, as something you can hold onto. “I’ll find a way to undo this deal.”

“You- There is no way to ‘undo this deal’. A contract is a contract and there is no other way around it. Anything else is foolish nonsense by a naive human who vastly underestimates the rules of hell.“

He makes sure to not conceal the disdain on his face, flaps his wings just a little wider and raises his chin. The air around you is cold. The scent of fear still lingers in between the wisps and he’s convinced that he has you now.

You’re going to let the seedling of doubt grow, fester until it claims ownership of whatever conviction you seemed to have found.

But it seems he hasn’t figured out the human mind as well as he liked to believe he had, because now there’s flowers growing from your bones. Their fragrance seeps out of your very skin and curls around the fear, draining it until there’s nothing left.

You think of your family, of the love you received while growing up. Of sweltering summer days spent chewing cold watermelon slices on your balcony with your grandparents bickering beside you. Of vacations up on mountain tops and under the burning sun at beaches with your parents holding hands and exchanging hushed whispers and giggles.

You think of your friends, of the afternoons slaving away on assignments and celebrating like you had won the lottery when all of you passed your tests. Of drunk nights filled with silly laughter; broken hearts and comforting hugs.

You think of the little kids with galaxies in their eyes, the world beneath their feet and their tiny warm hands grasping for your attention and affection.

You think of life and how much you want to live.

How much you wish to continue collecting these precious memories with the people you hold dear.

“Watch me.” You say defiantly, effectively ending this conversation when you whip around to storm back into your room. The door slams loudly and leaves a bewildered Xiao behind, who slashes at the sweet air surrounding him.

He doesn’t appreciate the scent; doesn’t like the look in your eyes.

And with a final sigh for the night and his head in his hands, he lets himself fall on the softness that is your couch.

Later that night when the rest of the world has succumbed to the siren’s song of sleep, Xiao remains awake. His wings retracted into the folds of his skin, he rests his back against the walls of your balcony.

There are no lights around him, no sound, not even a whisper of motion.

The entire world is resting, unable to fight against mother nature's order to surrender to the dark.

The sky is covered in a dark blue and dotted with shimmering specks of white. There’s purples and blues bleeding into the blanket surrounding the moon. It’s bright and beautiful and breathtaking.

It’s a sight Xiao has missed.

Chapter Text

Chapter Three

You like to think you have a fairly healthy sleeping schedule.

Waking up early and going to bed on time has never been a challenge for you. It was one of the principals your parents drilled into you from a young age. The early bird catches the worm. And you have lived by it all your life.

But last night proved to be an exception.

Try as you might, you simply couldn’t close your eyes and give in to the blissful temptation of sleep. Whenever your lashes fluttered shut, teal flashed behind your eyelids and a golden light blinded you.

You spent all night staring at your wrist, willing the image of the cuff away, and then at your door as if Xiao would break in at any given moment. The confidence that seemed to flow out of you when you resisted him leaked out of your pores the second you were by yourself in the safety of your own four walls. It was as if you had run a marathon; your bones were heavy beneath your skin and dragged you down to the ground with them.

You tried counting sheep, tried humming yourself to sleep, but really, who were you kidding? How did you expect to fall asleep as if you hadn’t just summoned a demon and signed your soul away?

Which is exactly why you’re standing in front of your bathroom mirror with bags beneath your eyes that can rival those Lumine carries on discount days. The cold water on your face does wonders to slap the fatigue away and with a glance to the cabinet on your side, you consider putting on a bit of make-up in hopes of looking more alive.

But the reminder that there’s a literal demon waiting on the other side of the door wipes that thought out of your head, so you turn the faucet off and watch the water drain down the sink. Xiao is still on the couch where you left him the night prior and you wipe your hands on the fabric of your jeans when you walk up to him.

“Good morning.”

He looks up and says, “Have you thought about what I said?”

You frown. “What do you mean?”

“Have you found something you would like to wish for yet?”

A tiny little voice in the back of your head presented you with the option to call for a ceasefire when you got dressed for the day a few minutes ago. Maybe you’d find some even ground while you thought about how to get yourself out of this situation. Maybe, with time and with a lot of effort and patience, you’d even end up becoming friends.

That tiny little voice can go fuck itself.

“No.” You spat out and stomp into the kitchen, not even turning back when you add, “I left some of my best friend’s clothes in the bathroom. They’re clean.”

Instead of walking to the direction of your bathroom, he follows you into your small open kitchen, his eyes accompanying your every move. “Why should I change my attire?”

You open the door of your fridge to retrieve a few eggs and give him a look, “You don’t intend on walking around town with that get up of yours?”

He looks down at himself with confusion written over his features. He doesn’t even need to ask for you to understand what he’s thinking.

“I don’t know what kind of fashion code you guys follow in hell, but you’re not going out of my apartment and walking by my side dressed like that. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s winter.”

Xiao raises a brow, “For someone who was terrified to even breathe in my presence, you seem awfully lax about it now.”

The memory of the night before freezes you on the spot and your palm hovers over the bowl. Just because it was easy enough to fool yourself into thinking that you had calmed down and came to accept the situation you had been thrust into, doesn’t mean it would be a walk in the park to do the same with Xiao.

He studies you for a moment and waits for a response. The shell of the egg breaks with a simple snap of your wrist, yellow liquid sliding from the inside and dropping into the bottom of the bowl with a plop.

“If I allow myself to feel fear, I will never be able to find a solution.” You say, “Plus, you’re not allowed to hurt me, are you?”

He leans back on your wall and crosses his arms, “What makes you say that?”

“Well… You said you have to stick to the contract no matter what. And as long as I don’t have a wish, you can’t get my soul. And for you to take my soul, I need to be alive, right?”

The sound of his tongue clicking causes you to turn your head to him. He’s annoyed, though you can tell he tries very hard to not let it show. The next word is muttered, but you hear it anyway, “Smartass.”

A small smile tugs at your lips and just for this miniscule instance you forget that he’s a demon and quite literally the most dangerous thing that can ever happen to you. He sees your smug face, thinks it’s because of the truth in your argument and leaves you alone to use your bathroom.

You use this moment to yourself to think about what you’re going to do. The thick consistency of the eggs blend together into a light beige as you whisk them until they become smooth and fluid.

There’s a few ways you can go about this.

You could refuse to wish for anything until the day you die. But by doing so, you would force Xiao to stay by your side until you grow old and wrinkly and nature reclaims its debt by putting you five feet under.

You’re not quite sure if that’s a life you want to lead.

You could also start to proactively look for a solution. Whether that’s by scouring every single library in town to find a book about demons or by joining a cult (you would rather not have to resort to this), there is still a chance for you to do something.

However, there’s one thing that’s carved in stone.

All of them include having Xiao in your vicinity.

He joins you in the kitchen as if he knows that he’s occupying your thoughts. The clothes of Aether fit him well and seeing him dressed like this almost convinces you that he could be just a random guy from down the street.

If it wasn’t for the golden wings taking up half of your kitchen.

“You know you can’t walk around with your wings on display, right?”

He rolls his eyes and barely restrains a groan, “There is no need to educate me on such trivial matters. This is not my first time in the human realm.”

You hum in acknowledgement and pour the egg mixture on the heated pan. It sizzles once the liquid meets the heat and while you move your spoon in a circular motion, Xiao resumes his position against the wall.

The kitchen fills with the scent of freshly cooked eggs, coaxing the tiny beast inside your stomach to stir. Two plates rest beside you on the counter, waiting to be filled with the scrambled eggs.

Mashed avocado cream soon follows, four slices of brown toast jumping from the toaster eagerly and then you’re holding out one of the plates to Xiao, who only blinks at you.

You motion for him to take it and he does, reluctantly so, another frown settling on his face.

“I didn’t poison it, I promise.”

“I hadn’t considered that until you brought it up.”

He follows you to the couch, observing you spread the avocado cream on the bread and then scooping up the eggs to carefully lay them all over. You’re about to bite into it when you notice his eyes fixed on you.

“What?” You ask.

There’s no trace of the hysteric girl from yesterday, who refused to believe a word he said. He’s not sure if you’re just in denial again or if this is you genuinely trying to deal with it.

He supposes it’s the latter. He looks down at his plate.

“I do not require food.” He says.

You blink.

“Oh.”

You hadn’t thought of that. You stare at the full plate in his hand and then to your own, feeling stupid all of a sudden. It only then occurs to you that you cooked breakfast for someone who had quite literally tried to take your soul the night prior.

In the far corner of your mind you can hear the voice of your mother drilling into you the importance of guests and how much it says about you as a person how you treat them. Cooking a second batch of breakfast came naturally to you. There wasn’t much thought in your head when you cracked one more egg into your whisking bowl. It just happened.

Xiao is still looking at you, his breakfast untouched, almost as if he is unsure what to do with himself. It’s a sight you hadn’t expected, a complete contrast to his image from last night. You tuck the information into a neat folder in your brain and mull it over.

A question pops in your head, so you ask, “But you can still taste stuff, right?”

He raises a brow at that, “Of course, I do. What kind of question is that?”

You shrug, “Well then, dig in. It’s rude to not eat when you’re offered something.”

He gives you another incredulous look as you get started on your food, already moving on from the topic of conversation. And then curiosity seems to win him over, because he mimics your motion and guides the stuffed slice of bread towards his mouth.

His wings twitch the minute he bites into it, the mixture of salt and fat casting a layer of goodness on his tongue. He refuses to voice out how divine it tastes (of course he does), but he doesn’t have to. His plate is licked clean before you’re on your third mouthful and considering how he’s eyeing what you have left, it’s crystal clear how he feels about your cooking.

“Nu uh, “ you say, “This is mine. You’re not getting any. Unlike you, I actually need the energy.”

Whatever trance he seemed to be in, he’s brought out again, because he looks positively surprised. Like he wasn’t even aware he was starting. His eyes find the wall when he responds, “I don’t want any.”

And with that, you finish your breakfast and take his plate from him. The dishes are washed in the next five minutes and left to dry beside the sink. While you pack your bag, he remains by the entrance of your door and leans his shoulder against it.

“There’s something you have to know.” He says, his eyes fixed on your wrist.

You follow his gaze and remember the teal chains. “Yeah?”

“Once a demon and human enter a contract, they are bound to each other until the day of completion.”

He tugs at something in front of his neck and for just a moment you see reality flickering, the chains visible before the image breaks and disappears again.

“I am bound to you and cannot leave your side.”

Your hands freeze inside your backpack, your eyes large enough to almost plop out of your sockets. You must’ve heard incorrectly - there is absolutely no way he just told you that he’s stuck to your side like glue.

Xiao reads your expression effortlessly and resumes explaining, “There is an undefined barrier around us in which we can freely move around independently from each other. It differs from case to case, so I can’t tell you what restrictions are applied to us. But what I can tell you, “ he pushes himself off of the wall and moves closer, “is that the sooner you wish for something, the sooner this contract will end and thus the sooner you will be freed from me.”

“Will I really be free if you devour my soul?” You ask back defiantly, your tone making it very clear that you’re not looking for an answer.

You speed up and finish packing, passing him on your way to the front door. You slip into your shoes and it’s only then that you realize he’s worn his ever since he came.

“Okay, rule number one, “ you point to his shoes and raise your brow disapprovingly, “Take off your shoes when you enter a house. Can’t believe I didn’t notice that…” The last bit is muttered, meant to be heard only by you, but Xiao has supernatural hearing so of course his ears pick up your words.

But the cleanliness of your apartment is none of his concern, he tells himself, because he doesn’t intend on staying for a long time. He watches you grab your coat and throw it over your shoulder, momentarily struggling to find the hole for your arm to slip through before you then button it all the way up to your chin.

“Where are you going?”

You reach for your scarf and layer it around your throat, gesturing for him to take one of Aether’s coats he left behind (you really ought to talk with him about his habit of leaving his stuff like he’s marking his territory).

“I have classes today. I guess that means you’ll be joining me?”

“I am not sure I am following?”

“Do you know what a university is?”

His jaw drops to the ground, his tongue ready to unleash its fury upon you for daring to even ask him such a thing, but you’re quicker than that and add, “I’m still in uni, so I have classes to attend. And if we don’t get moving now, I’m gonna miss my train and I really don’t feel like getting chewed out by my professor.”

Xiao looks like he wants to protest, already tired of this entire thing even though it’s just day one. However when you glance back over your shoulder from the edge of the door, waiting for him to get a move on, his legs grow a mind of their own and follow you, his frown deeper than ever.

So you were serious when you said you were going to try to find a way out of this contract.

He doubts you will be able to.

After all, there is no one capable of escaping the rules laid out by god himself.

But, he finds himself thinking when you snuggle deeper into your scarf, it will be interesting to see you try.

The journey to campus is one worth talking about.

You thought sans wings Xiao wouldn’t be as flashy, hoped he wouldn’t attract much attention. But the whispered giggles of young girls pointing at him and failed attempts at getting to flirt with him from dolled up girls proved you wrong.

He’s either used to being worshipped like this or he simply is the most oblivious person you have ever met, because he didn’t budge an inch from your side, answering politely, but curtly to whomever dared to speak to him.

It took you twice as long to get to uni, that’s how many people stopped him in the streets to talk to him.

If it wasn’t for your professor being late himself, you surely wouldn’t have made it in time. You’re panting by the time you sprint into the classroom, your hair disheveled from the wind and your lungs aching from exertion. Xiao casually strolls in after you, his head held high as he observes the lecture hall.

You find Aether and Lumine sitting by the window to the far right and drag yourself up the steps to sink into the chair beside them, your endurance stretched to its limits.

“You look like you got run over by a truck.“ Aether says with a smile, “Slowly.“ He adds with a lilt in his voice, “Twice.”

“Ugh, shut up.” You haphazardly punch his shoulder and receive a delightful laugh in return.

His amber eyes twinkle with mischief and he’s no doubt about to tease you further when he notices the looming presence behind you. Xiao hasn’t sat himself beside you yet, quiet as he observes the interaction between you two. He looks over to Lumine and recognizes the pair as the ones hanging all over your wall.

“Need any help, buddy?” Aether asks.

“Ah, no- He- He’s with me.” You turn to Xiao and ask him more quietly to sit down beside you.

“He’s with you?”

“Yeah, uhm, he uh, he’s a relative of mine. A distant, distant relative who has come to stay with me for a while.”

Aether frowns. This is when Lumine finally looks up from her phone, the same shade of gold as Aether’s staring right through Xiao and then you, “Since when do you have relatives?”

You freeze.

Admittedly, you had never really been good at lying. And neither at making up stories. Which is exactly why your face contorts into this weird twist of casual and tense, making you look just about as awkward as you can get.

“Funny story, “ you start, sounding more and more unlike your usual self, which results in the twins sharing a dubious look with each other, “It turns out I have family overseas and uhm, he’s doing his year abroad thing and uh, he was looking for a place to stay at, so I, you know, offered my place.“

Xiao, who notices your struggle and very much takes delight in it only nods in agreement, but makes no move to help you whatsoever. You shoot him a glare, which he skillfully ignores before he turns so the twins get a better look at him.

“My name is Xiao.”

Aether’s eyes narrow as if he doesn’t quite believe the story you just dished out to them, glances over to you looking more and more uncomfortable before he speaks to Xiao again. “And you’re staying at her place?”

“That place is barely big enough for you honey, “ Lumine says to you, gauging Xiao from head to toe and if Xiao didn’t know any better, he would think she’s seeing right through his human form. Her voice is colder than the look in her eyes when she adds, “You could have just called us. We have a spare room at our house.”

“Oh no, it’s fine, really.” You retrieve your notebook and your pencil case from your bag to busy your hands with something before they realize they’re shaking, and then you note, without really thinking much about it, “He’s family after all. I have to take care of him.”

Aether and Lumine both fall quiet at that. Whatever protest was hanging on Lumine’s tongue gets swept away by the tide that is your statement. You might not have thought much about the choice of words, just trying to get them to back off and not ask too many questions you wouldn’t be able to answer.

But it still had the effect you desired, if not for completely different reasons.

Lumine nudges Aether in the ribs and points her chin to Xiao, who already has his attention on a chatterbox two rows below you talking about a new movie upcoming movie release.

“Aether.” He says, causing Xiao to twist his head to look at him, “My name is Aether. I’m this goof’s best friend.”

You groan when he places his palm on your head to give you his signature head pat, muttering under your breath about how your hair is already a mess to begin with and that the last thing you need is him making it worse.

Lumine, who is by now used to the bickering of you two, simply pretends you don’t exist and gives Xiao a small, albeit tight smile, “And I’m Lumine. This fool’s twin sister.”

Aether curses when she jabs him in the side. Lumine goes on to explain, “I’m sorry if we came across as… harsh. It’s just that we were under the assumption she had no family, so, I’m sure you can understand our caution.”

“Especially since she picks up shady dudes like stray puppies. Can’t be too careful with this one.”

“Wha- That’s not true, Aether.” You interject, your lips pulling down into a pout.

His hand reaches out to pinch your lips and drag him towards you, the mischievous glint back in his eyes, “That’s not true, Aether.”

You say something back in return, but it comes out as complete gibberish because of him having an iron tight grip around your pursed lips.

Lumine rolls her eyes, “Yeah, so anyway, no hard feelings on our side. Where are you from anyway?”

Xiao answers without tearing his gaze from Aether and you, his expression completely blank, “Liyue.”

Aether pulls away from you immediately and puckers up in interest, “What the hell, really? Liyue?”

“Yes. I reside southwest of Liyue.”

“What made you come to Mondstadt? I thought you guys hated our guts?” Lumine smiles for the first time since you entered the lecture hall. It’s not a friendly smile; rather, it’s an amused and intrigued one.

Xiao doesn’t take the bait and simply responds, “I have some business here in Mondstadt.”

He looks at you.

“I don’t intend to stay long.”

Classes continue on until the afternoon and all throughout the day Xiao barely interacts with you. He speaks when he’s spoken to, follows you like a lost puppy wherever you go and even waits patiently right outside of the restroom during your breaks.

It’s then that you notice that he has not once gone into one himself.

“Do demons not have to pee?” You ask him quietly when Lumine and Aether start nagging each other during lunch.

Xiao looks at you like you have just asked him the dumbest question he’s ever heard.

(You did.)

“Don’t give me that look.” You say, a little bit hurt.

“The urges of humans that are vital for their survival do not apply to us. We are not restricted by such baseless things as relief, hunger or sleep.”

“What? You guys don’t get tired?”

Xiao has never been one to repeat himself, so he chooses not to answer and resumes his task of people watching.

It’s fascinating, he has to admit, how much earth has changed since he last stepped foot in it.

In just a few decades, everything has developed. There’s no longer horse carts filling the streets, the distant sound of hoofs beating the ground no longer ringing in his ears. Now there are cars silently zooming over smooth streets, although they look nothing like the vehicles he saw in Liyue a few centuries ago when they were first invented.

Just about everyone carries a small device in their hands, their focus bound by it and taking into account how often Lumine checks it, he figures it must be something important to the humans of this time.

He wants to continue observing the people around him, wants to make sense of what happened in his absence and how the world is like now, in comparison to what it was like when he left it behind.

But you’re right beside him, chewing thoughtfully on the fluffy bits of your bread and you’re waiting, with so much expectation he wants to stand up and leave, for him to respond.

He thinks you were much more endurable when you were scared of him.

“You really don’t get tired?” You repeat, insistent and curious at the same time. Your eyes are big and wondering and he finds it unpleasant to look at them, so he just grunts in approval and hopes you get the hint.

You don’t.

“Oh my god, what I would achieve if I didn’t have to spend so many hours every night to sleep and recharge! I could finally catch up on all of my favorite tv shows!”

A vein pops on his temple.

You gasp, garnering Lumine and Aether’s attention, who by now stopped their petty fight over who would get to drive home, “I could read all of my books!”

“Here she goes again…” Lumine mumbles around a smile.

Aether yawns, his lunch long gone, already swimming in the depths of his stomach, “Off to nerd-town.”

That comment seems to make you lose interest in Xiao, because you snap back to Aether with a line forming on your forehead. “Excuse me! That’s rude!”

“There’s a difference between rudeness and truth- “

“Hey!”

Aether effortlessly avoids your kick from beneath the table and breaks out in howling laughter. You angrily bite down into your food while Lumine is already back on her phone, her eyes catching the light of the screen each time she scrolls down.

Xiao looks at the untouched food on his tray and then at you.

He wonders what Childe would say if he saw him like this.

By the time your classes end, the sky has taken on an orange hue with pink clouds swirling around rhythmically.

You’ve parted ways with Aether and Lumine, who only very reluctantly let you go back with Xiao after offering their place at least three more times and only after Aether took aside Xiao for a “private chat” did they finally release you from their iron grip of concern.

Xiao later told you how Aether was trying to politely show him the consequences he would face if he were to make you feel even an ounce of discomfort and you laughed out loud, garnering very annoyed looks from the people on the subway.

Of course Aether would threaten him. You expected no less of him.

Since classes ran so late, there was no time left to make a quick stop at the library, which is why you decided to drag Xiao along to the mall. He’s confused at first, not quite sure why you feel in the mood to go shopping when you have bigger, more important pressing matters at hand.

Like quite literally having to sever the bond between yourself and a demon while you are still in possession of your soul.

But then you take a right in one of the shops and stop beside one of the clothing racks. You gesture with your hand while you say, “Go ahead.”

It’s not the first time he frowns at you today and certainly not the first time he sounds like he wants to be anywhere but here, “What is the meaning of this?”

You shrug. “Well, you can’t walk around in that all day everyday, can you? You need more than just a sweater and jeans.”

He looks like he wants to protest, tell you something along the lines of how you’re going to give up in a few days anyway, how he will have your soul in the palm of his hands before you even know it and that there is no use in providing him with clothes when he has no intention to stay with you longer than he has to-

“Just go and pick out a few things.“ You intervene impatiently, pointing to the watch on your wrist you should be wearing (you never do), “I don’t have all day. I still have to go grocery shopping. So chop chop!”

And with a push deeper into the store, Xiao’s face twists into an even bigger frown as he begins filtering through the endless options of clothing presented for him.

He really, really preferred it much much more when you were terrified of him.

It doesn’t take long for someone to notice him - there’s already someone ogling him from the other side of the room.

The girl working in the store asks him more times than necessary if he needs any assistance and you honestly have to say you’re quite impressed by how patient he is each time he declines her offer.

He quietly walks through the racks, lets his nimble fingers trace over the fabric of each article before he bunches it between his fingers as if to assess the quality. There’s a deep line of concentration stretching across his forehead and slowly, but surely, the pile on his forearm grows larger.

For someone who claims it to be useless to purchase new clothing, he sure took his sweet time to make sure each piece fit with another and the entire image is so comical, you have to bite back a laugh.

Each time he leaves a rack to look for something new, another customer immediately zaps to where he stood just a millisecond ago and reaches to touch the same place his fingers had been at.

Either he’s a really high-level demon and is used to getting worshipped wherever he goes or he’s simply really, really oblivious. You can’t explain the lack of reaction at the immense response he causes in the people around him.

You really, really hope it’s the latter.

He returns after a while and just blankly stares at you. There’s a few sweaters resting on his arm with sweatpants and jeans peeking out from in between. Once you catch sight of a pair of boxers, you bashfully glance away but find that he doesn’t really care.

“I still do not see any merit in buying things I will not have to use.” He says.

You try really hard not to roll your eyes. No one told you demons were stubborn as hell.

“We have no idea how long it will take for me to find a way to free us both.” His eyes snap to you at the mention of freeing him rather than just yourself, but you already turned your back to him and are on your way to the register, “It could be tomorrow, it could be next week, it could be next month. I genuinely don’t know.”

You stop and inhale heavily, “And it’d be wishful thinking on my side to expect it’s going to be an easy task. But we’re not in a rush, right?”

Xiao stops as well. There’s about a million things he wants to say.

It’s useless. You’re not going to find a way, because there is no other way.

It’s naive of you to think that you are going to be an exception to the rule; that you will be able to do something so many people haven’t been able to do in all these millennia; that you are going to be the one to challenge Satan and by doing so, god himself.

But then you lock eyes. And there’s so much hope in them, so much determination oozing out of them that he feels the words dry on his tongue. You smell like flowers again. He scowls.

He wants to say that you are wasting your time and your energy.

He genuinely believes it to be true.

“As you wish.” He finds himself saying instead, his jaw already moving before he even issued the command to.

His lack of resistance seems to light something within you, because you’re smiling again, the same silly grin you wore when you were talking to Aether earlier. A new ray of hope sears through your lungs and you point to the changing rooms ahead.

“You wanna try them on?”

“There is no need to. I know they will fit.”

Your grin grows to one of amusement, “Are you sure? It saves the hassle to come back to return the stuff you know- “

He appears almost offended that you would question him. “I do not waste my time with things I am not absolutely certain about.”

Part of you wants to scoff at how serious he’s taking this entire shopping trip, but another part of you fears he would take this as another personal attack and you’re not quite sure you’re ready to face the retribution of a sulky demon.

“Fine.” You respond and walk over to the register with Xiao in tow.

A pretty teenager stands behind the counter and scans the items, looking bored out of her mind. You smile to yourself. She’s probably doing this to earn some allowance for herself. You can relate to that.

She reads out the price and pulls out a plastic bag from below, folding the clothes to then stuff them inside rather carelessly. You’re about to reach into your bag for your wallet, but Xiao stops you in your tracks when he leans forward to drop something on the counter.

“I presume this is the right currency?”

You balk.

The girl in front of you chokes on her gum and falls into a coughing fit. Her eyes are so wide, you’re worried they’re going to roll right out of the sockets and on the floor. But you can’t blame her. You’re pretty sure you have the same flabbergasted expression on your face.

There’s a very large stack of bills lying there untouched.

You turn your head to Xiao, who looks nonplussed and takes the shopping bag from the girl and then, as if he hadn’t just dropped a hefty sum that is easily worth more than she could ever hope to hold in her hand, extends his hands in a gesture for change.

She stammers, her hands shaky as she tentatively reaches to pull a single bill out of the stack, her voice thin when she says, “Th-This is enough, sir.”

“Are you serious?” You mouth to him, but receive no answer in return.

The poor girl struggles to hand over the remaining change, still thrown out of kilter by the entire experience. It’s certainly something she won’t forget so easily.

Once you’re outside of the mall, you corner him immediately.

“What the hell was that about?”

Xiao frowns (and you wonder if he has any other expression he can sport), “I don’t follow?”

His response only further feeds into your disbelief and your tone rises into almost hysteria, “Are you serious? You just threw like, I don’t know, 10k mora into her face when she asked you for a hundred!”

“I wasn’t aware it was worth a lot.”

“You- What?”

“Usually my clients don’t take me shopping for clothes.” He scoffs, “And they certainly don’t intend to pay for my expenses.”

Your cheeks burn at the implication that he saw you reaching for your bag. You furrow your brows in agitation and bite back, “How was I supposed to know you’re rich as hell! Where did you even get all of that money from?”

He doesn’t even blink when he says, “I know someone who can create currency.”

After he dropped that metaphorical bomb on you, you were speechless for at least a good hour.

In that time frame he accompanied you to the grocery store and, much to your reluctance, paid for everything.

“I refuse to be indebted to a human, let alone a client. So step aside and let me do this.”

It was a rather interesting trip, you had to admit. Xiao seemed to have a very unique taste in food, considering the vast difference in taste of all the items he dropped into the cart. From several packets of almonds to almost five kilograms of tofu, you had to physically drag him out of the supermarket to keep him from raiding the entire store.

Suffice it to say that this trip served as a very huge reality check for you - Xiao wasn’t as terrifying as you first made him out to be.

And much to his chagrin, this only made your walls around him even smaller.

Not that they were very big to begin with after spending an entire day bound to his side.

Which is why you’re suggesting probably the most outrageous thing you could ever do while you’re eating dinner together.

(So much for the whole “I am in no need of sustenance.” spiel.)

“Is your head stuffed full of cotton or are you really this stupid?” He asks you rather crudely.

“First of all, rude! Second of all, I’m serious! Who knows how much time we’re gonna have to spend together? You’re living under the same roof with me for god’s sake!”

“And that is reason enough for a human to befriend a demon?”

“I mean…” You lower your head, suddenly feeling very small under his scrutinizing eyes, “I just think it would make more sense if we got along well… You know, maybe even help us speed up this entire process… If we work together- “

He interrupts you with nothing but coldness, “I am not here to play pretend and form an alliance with a human. I am here to retrieve your soul as per stated in our contract. Do not fool yourself into thinking otherwise.”

You don’t quite understand why it hurts to hear him say that, but your heart clenches a little bit when his words sink into your bones. Why did you even expect any other response?

Just because he appeared so normal today while you were out doing the most domestic things?

Just because he appeared human?

He’s not.

He’s not human, you have to remind yourself.

It’s like a slap in the face, a tear in the reality you were trying to recreate to settle your fear of dying.

A sour taste spreads from the tip of your tongue, causing it to swell, the bitter words all but tumbling out as you stomp back into the kitchen to drop the dirty dishes into the sink.

“Fine. As you wish.”

And with that, you race to your bedroom and slam the door shut, locking it after you, not unlike the night prior.

Only this time his gaze lingers after you.

He should have said something.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

It’s warm.

A cloud of safety and comfort lulls you deeper into vulnerability, surrounding you with a pleasant heat that coats your bones. You nuzzle into the softness caressing your skin, a tiny smile of content stretching your lips.

With the shutters all the way down and your curtains drawn, there’s not a single ray of light in your room. Dipped in darkness and a peaceful quiet, your slumber is of the welcome kind. It’s as if your body greets it enthusiastically, the weariness of your mind from the past two nights finally getting its long deserved rest.

The wheels have stopped turning, allowing your body to digest the news and dissolve the stress and fear that was resting in your bones. You feel as if you ran a marathon, your joints aching and pulling you deeper into the grasp of sleep.

You don’t ever want to wake up from it.

A terrible sound that can only be described as one deriving from the deepest floor of hell rips through the room, startling you awake in an instant. You reach out clumsily, slapping your bedside table like you have done so many times already, your groan gaining in volume each time you miss the surface of your phone.

“For fuck’s sake…” Frustration fills you when you can’t find it and your fingers scramble mindlessly over the wood until you finally manage to silence the cursed alarm.

Your eyes flutter open hesitantly as if they carry the weight of the world behind them. A yawn claws its way out of your chest, followed by your limbs stretching themselves until you feel a shiver of delight running down your spine.

You glance over at your phone, taking in the time. It’s still early enough for you to lounge around in bed and scroll aimlessly through your messages and social media feed to catch up on whatever you missed. But the crinkling sound of a package being opened reminds you that you’re not alone in your home anymore.

It still feels weird, unreal almost, to have someone else in these four walls. And to have that someone be a demon?

Part of you wants to laugh at how gullible and trusting you are, easily gobbling up his words as truth and accepting his company. Another part of you knows better; knows that there is no way someone can fake making objects float or make them appear out of thin air.

And so with the knowledge that you have another day of trials ahead of you, you pull yourself out of your bed and trudge towards your bathroom. You splash your face with cold water, your pores opening up to allow the tired energy to drain out. Much more awake now, you risk a peek in your mirror and frown.

You can already hear Aether’s gloating voice in the back of your head and try to tame the mess with a comb (first mistake) before you get stuck on a particularly nasty knot and curse your ancestors for giving you this unruly mop of hair (second mistake).

Apparently your resting ancestors don’t really appreciate that, because on your way to your closet, you hit your toe on the edge of your bed and jam your finger in your drawer. Involuntary tears sting your eyes and you wipe them away to get dressed for the day. You end up pulling your hair into a ponytail, because at this point you give up on trying to calm the untamable beast.

By the time you open the door to your living room, you spot Xiao sitting on your couch with a half-eaten packet of almonds in his hands. He stops mid-motion, his mouth slightly open with a piece of almond nestled between his tongue and teeth.

“All limbs still intact?” He asks with the whisper of an amused smile.

Your cheeks warm and you lower your eyes to escape the embarrassment. “Good morning…”

He turns back to the black screen of the TV, throwing another almond into his mouth with a crunch. His wings seem to vibrate with each one he eats and the sight of it is still so odd, you find yourself smiling.

When he notices you staring at him, he stops eating and asks, “What are you smiling like a dope for?”

“Hey! That’s not nice!”

Xiao only gives you an unimpressed look in return. “I see you still mistake us with angels. There is no need for me to be nice.”

You could be talking to a wall for all you know, so you merely roll your eyes in response and leave for the kitchen. The pitter-patter of his feet announces his presence behind you and you feel the back of your neck warm, as if he’s right there breathing down your neck.

But when you twist your head, you find him standing a good distance away. His eyes are trained on your hands while you reach for a pot hanging on the wall. He watches with rapt interest as you fill it up with milk, follows your line of sight when you retrieve a packet of rolled oats and pour it into the pot.

“It appears you live by yourself.” He says nonchalantly.

Your fingers hover over the stove for a second and you look up to meet his eyes. They’re unreadable. You break your gaze and turn the stove on. “Yeah. It’s just me here.”

He doesn’t answer, only continues observing you begin to stir the slowly bubbling oats. The slight steam surrounding the edges of the pot are your sign to throw in the sliced banana pieces. When the oats begin to thicken, you add a little bit of cocoa powder and honey and stir it in until it blends into a beautiful chocolate brown.

The rich scent wafting from the boiling pot is heavenly, so much so that it tugs an appreciative sigh from your lips and a few curious sniffs from Xiao, who takes a step forward to watch the magic on the stove unfold.

“Can you give me two bowls from up there?” You ask him as you turn off the stove and place the pot on a wooden board, continuously stirring the slowly thickening mass.

You’re about to repeat yourself when he doesn’t answer at first, not sure if he hasn’t heard you or if he’s about to refute again, but then two bowls materialize on the counter right beside you.

It causes you to flinch away in fright and when you turn back to scold him, his eyes are still focused on the chocolate oats. He’s so concentrated and intrigued, you decide to save the lecture for later. (Your stomach agrees by vehemently growling against your skin.)

Carefully, with the help of a wooden spoon, you place the first half in the first bowl and the remaining half in the second bowl. A few slices of banana that you saved on the side get placed delicately around the edges, making it look even more delicious.

You grab two spoons, dip them in the bowl and hand one over to Xiao. He opens his lips in what is going to be no doubt another protest, but you cut him off by saying, “I feel weird eating by myself.”

“Your feelings are none of my concern.” He replies, his voice cold.

But just as you’re about to falter, his fingers brush over yours, leaving behind a tiny buzz beneath your skin when he takes the bowl from you and walks back to your couch. You stand there dumbfounded, his contrarian ways making absolutely no sense to you.

However when your stomach roars impatiently again, you follow him and plop to the space next to him while you try to be mindful of his wings. They stretch out behind the back of the couch and extend comfortably, the sharp claws at the end of the membranes almost touching your walls.

Your breakfast begins in silence.

Smooth chocolate melts on your tongue, coupled with the sweetness of the honey-coated banana slices. Pleasantly warm, deliciously complex, the sweetness of the banana balances the bitterness of the cocoa powder and douses your taste buds with just the right amount of serotonin.

“Mhhhh, nothing beats chocolate oats in the morning.” You hum with the next spoon, reveling in the absolute divine taste that is currently making itself comfortable in your mouth.

Xiao watches you eat at first, silently, like he did the day prior, before he then proceeds to mimic your motions. It’s adorable (although you would never mention it in his presence) how he always seems to look at you to see how you do it before he then follows your example.

It leaves you wondering if this is the first time he’s eating real meals.

The first spoonful slides into Xiao’s delicate lips and he stops. He blinks. Slowly, very slowly, he pulls the spoon out of his mouth and starts to chew. Your eyes flit inconspicuously to the side, noting with a tiny puff of pride in your chest the flutter of his wings. You smile.

“Good, right?” You ask him haughtily, your face exuding smugness.

“It appears you have a sweet tooth.”

“Yeah, sugar is like the second best thing to exist.”

He turns to you with a raise of his brow. “The second best?”

Your grin widens. “The first is puppies of course.”

If there is a facial expression for the word distaste, it’s the one Xiao is wearing right now. It’s written so clearly across his features that you can’t help the question stumbling out of your mouth. “You don’t like puppies?”

“I am not particularly fond of them, no.”

You never thought you would ever hear someone say something like this and not run the other way, but apparently there’s a lot of firsts you’re having with Xiao. He gives you a glare. “Is there a reason why you’re staring at me like you have never seen someone eat before?”

Caught in the act, you feel the heat in your cheeks return and turn away, shoving another spoonful of oats into your mouth. He takes your silence as an act of submission and nods satisfied before he continues eating.

“When they said that you had no one else, what did they mean?” He asks eventually, breaking the stiff silence between you.

“Huh?”

“Your friends.”

Your brain struggles to catch up with the meaning of his words and his tone of impatience does nothing to alleviate your slowly growing frustration. You scowl right back at him. “You know you have to be more clear if you want me to understand you. I can’t read your mind.”

Part of you expects him to retaliate with yet another insult, but he surprises you once more when he answers rather calmly, “Your friends were hesitant to believe your story about me being your relative. They mentioned you had no one. What did they mean?”

It’s a question you didn’t expect, so it catches you off guard, silences you when a weight settles on your chest. Xiao looks at you expectantly, although he can probably guess what the answer is going to be with the way your face falls.

Your fingers trace the rim of the bowl, your eyes casting a far-away look into the distance. “My parents passed away when I was still in high school. Car accident.”

He doesn’t say anything. His face is so blank you’re convinced he doesn’t really care about it. There’s no reaction, nothing that prompts you to continue talking, but you do it anyway, “I was pretty close to my grandparents. Spent all of my summers with them in their village, tending to their temple, but they died of old age before I started school.”

Amidst all the pain swimming in your gut, you manage to smile, something that he notices, and say, “Aether and Lumine are the only ones I have left. But they’re a handful as you already saw, so I’m okay. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.”

Xiao still stares at you, unabashed like he doesn’t recall scolding you for doing the same to him. (He does. He just doesn’t care.)

His voice is cold when he murmurs, more to himself and not meant for you,with not an ounce of empathy resting in its layers. “Only a careless fool can be this positive.”

You don’t hear him, only pick your spoon back up from the bowl to resume eating your breakfast. When you turn to check why he’s become quiet, you notice that his bowl is already empty, without a single speck of the oatmeal left behind.

Talking about yourself to Xiao has left you with questions brimming your mind. You shift on the sofa to face him, your half-eaten bowl now resting on your lap as you wait for him to turn to you. At first he doesn’t move, keeps his eyes focused on the window, but you can clearly see the lines forming above his brows, the slight pull of his lips into a frown.

“You’re staring again.” He says eventually without looking at you.

Instead of the abashed look you sported before, you grin shamelessly and he instinctively knows he’s not going to like what you’re going to say. “So were you. Now we’re even.”

Yeah. He doesn’t like it one bit. He finally moves to meet you face to face.

But you don’t give him a chance to comment on how insolent you’re being. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

You roll your eyes. “Your family. What about your family? Wait, do demons even have a family?”

His eyes narrow suspiciously. “What makes you think I will disclose personal information like that to a human?”

“But- I just told you about my family!”

“I do not recall forcing you to do such a thing. It is not my problem that you are such a chatterbox.”

“Chatterbox? Now you’re just being rude again!”

There’s a tiny smile ghosting over his lips and if it weren’t for his next set of words, you would probably (most likely) be left in awe at the sight of it. “I would like to remind you of what your friend said yesterday. There is a difference between rudeness and truth.”

It does its job in rendering you speechless.

Your mouth hangs open, much to Xiao’s amusement, who sits a little bit straighter and adds, “If you do not wish for flies to make their home in your mouth, I would advise you to not keep it open and welcome for them.”

You shut your mouth indignantly, feeling your cheeks flare up in both embarrassment and anger. Who knew that a demon would be so quick with their comebacks?

You don’t want to risk losing another verbal fight, so you puff out your cheeks in a silent gesture of your feelings before you then stab (perhaps a little too violently) your spoon back into your bowl to get another mouthful of oats.

You get your revenge later on by making him wash the dishes.

(After all, he doesn’t like being indebted to human beings, right?)

After getting changed into a new set of clothes, the two of you made your way to university once more. One of your cabinets in the living room was starting to collect dust, so Xiao took it upon himself to claim it as his and neatly folded all of his newly purchased clothing in there.

Unlike the day before, your classes ended around noon, which is why you’re now in your town’s library, browsing through the shelves. Xiao is somewhere behind you, leisurely leaning on a chair while lazily flipping through the pages of some comic he found.

“You know if you helped me out a bit, we would be done so much faster.” You say to him when he doesn’t move from his spot for another fifteen minutes.

You’re through three entire sections already - most of the books are fantasy novels and not the informative kind you’re looking for. As much as the synopsis on the back of the books intrigue you, it’s not what you came here for, so you have to remind yourself to put those back and continue searching more than once.

But seeing Xiao just sit there and do absolutely nothing to aid you frustrates you. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he’s actively avoiding this entire thing to prolong his stay. You might be naive and good-natured. But you’re not that delusional.

It’s almost as if he’s reading your mind and the deadpan expression he’s wearing lets you know pretty well what he thinks of your thoughts. “I do not waste my time on senseless activities.”

You snort. “Oh and reading a comic carries much more sense then?”

“I already told you: there is no way to nullify this contract. You are only wasting your time.”

“Well what do you suggest I do then? Sit down and join you?”

Xiao carefully places a finger on the page he’s reading and closes the book. He lifts his gaze to meet your eyes, his voice carrying none of the sarcasm yours had. “You should find a wish that matches the worth of your soul.”

You groan and turn away from him. Of course he wouldn’t come up with an actually helpful suggestion. He still doesn’t believe you’ll be able to prove him wrong. You wonder if all demons are as crude as he is.

“Whatever.” You end up saying and turn your back to him to continue your search.

He doesn’t open the comic immediately. His eyes are still on you as you stand on your toes to reach up to grab whatever has caught your attention. He doesn’t understand you; doesn’t understand how you manage to be so positive and hopeful when all the odds are against you.

But most of all, he doesn’t understand why you’re being so kind and generous with him.

With any other human, he would have assumed that this was a plot to get him to like them, to empathize with them so he would spare them. Of course this would never happen - demons don’t empathize with humans. And they certainly don’t spare anyone from anything.

However when he looks at you moving to the next shelf, he fails to sense any malice within you.

You’re as clear as a lake - everything you feel inside is perfectly reflected in both your face and your posture. It doesn’t require much effort for him to read you, which is why he’s even more confused when he doesn’t understand you despite you being the most transparent human he’s ever come across.

Xiao doesn’t like the place his mind wanders to. He has no business feeling intrigue towards someone whose life he’s eventually going to take. His finger slips from the page to open the comic, his eyes sliding down to the pictures painted below him.

It takes you a few more hours and several visits to different bookstores until you finally find something. Funnily enough it’s in the shop you’re helping out at that you find a collection of books on demonology (you didn’t know that was a thing until now). The look auntie gives you is priceless.

You have to convince her that you haven’t joined a cult and give her the most believable excuse you can come up with. Thank the heavens she knows about your love for fantasy books and your wish to write one yourself, otherwise she probably would have locked you up somewhere and called an exorcist.

A shiver racks your spine when you think back to the time she brought a young boy by the name of Chongyun to her store to “cleanse the evil spirits resting beneath the floorboards”. With hair as blue as the sky and a pair of clear eyes to match, he claimed to come from a family of ancient exorcists. You can still remember the freezing air surrounding him and how he just sat on a stool in the middle of the store for hours, doing nothing but staring at the floorboards. After, he stood up, excused himself and left.

You’re convinced he’s a scammer and did nothing but rob auntie of her money, but she swears the whispers beneath the floor have ceased ever since he came.

By the time you return home, your coffee table is filled with all kinds of books - from records of magic in the middle ages to books with necromancy rites to an encyclopedia of demons to books with titles you can only hope to pronounce.

“You’re serious about this.” Xiao comments when he sees the stack.

You turn to him, your hands on your hips. “Of course I am. Watch me prove you wrong.”

He’s about to say something, but a chime resounds from your phone, causing you to straighten up and walk back to the entrance way of your apartment. You make no move to slip out of your shoes and remove your jacket. but instead, slide your arms into the straps of your backpack.

“We have to get going again.”

“Where to?”

You open the door and wait for him to follow you out before you lock it. “I have to work today. And… since you can’t be separated from me, you’ll just have to join me.”

Xiao lifts a brow. “And your boss will be okay with that?”

“Yeah, Amber doesn’t really care. She’s happy about any set of helping hands.”

“You are sorely mistaken if you think that I will stoop so low as to help a mortal. I am merely accompanying you because the contract states I stay by your side. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” You nod your head, only haphazardly listening to him drone on and on about the pride of a demon. (Spending time with Xiao really is starting to desensitize you regarding his status.)

You know he won’t be able to resist once he sees just what it is that you do exactly. Because who in their right mind would be able to refuse a bunch of furry cute animals just waiting to get played with?

Xiao, apparently.

It turns out this is the worst place on earth you can possibly ever bring him to. The instant he puts a single step into the animal shelter, all hell breaks loose. The dogs start barking for their life, growling with so much venom you can no longer recognize them with every single strand of their fur standing on high alert.

The cats aren’t doing any better with their backs arched, their claws out and hisses streaming from their chests like they’re warning him to dare venturing further into the room. The hysteric flutter of the birds’ wings clap through the room, their cages beginning to shake as they beg to be let out.

Xiao sighs. He’s this close to turning around and leaving, but the chains bind him to you and he doubts you’ll leave this store without finishing what you came here to do. He can see it in the glimmer of your eyes when you approach one of the cautious dogs, completely fearless even when it reveals its sharp teeth in a pathetic attempt to intimidate Xiao.

It’s clear to him with a single look. You love these animals.

The growling dog calms down once you begin petting it, letting your fingers stroke through its soft, hairy back. You scratch its chin and coo something his ears don’t quite catch. Whatever you say must have been effective, because the other animals around you react to the dog’s growing silence.

None of them attack Xiao when he walks deeper into the store, but their body language and the sounds ripping from their throats is enough of a sign for even you to know that he’s not welcome here.

It takes only a look from Xiao’s cold golden eyes for them to cower with a whimper.

“Wow… You weren’t lying when you said you weren’t fond of dogs, huh?”

“I do not lie. I thought that much was clear already.”

You roll your eyes as the dog begins to lap at your hand. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re super uptight?”

“Uptight- “ His expression falters and he appears almost shocked. It’s a completely new look on his face that you have yet to get used to.

The sound of heels clacking on the marble floor twists both of your heads to the source of it. A petite woman with a beaming smile appears from around the corner. Her amber eyes light up when she sees you playing with one of the dogs, her dark brown hair swishing around in a ponytail as she quickens her steps towards you. And then she notices Xiao standing a good distance away from both you and the uneasy animals.

Mistaking him for a potential client, she dons her brightest smile and chirps, “Welcome to Amber’s Shelter. I’m Amber. How can I be of assistance to you?”

“Oh, no, Amber, he’s not here to adopt.” You rise from your crouching position, the dog crying quietly at the loss of your affection. “He’s one of my relatives who’s gonna stay with me for a while and he, uh- “ You glance at Xiao and mentally consider how pissed off he’s going to be at your next words, “He said he wanted to help me out.”

(Oh, he’s angry alright. You can feel him seething from behind you, the back of your neck searing with heat.)

“That’s wonderful! We’re always in dire need of support here.” Amber claps her palms together, completely oblivious to everything. “I already have the perfect task for you! Give me just a second, I’ll be right back.”

Xiao stalks dangerously close to you once Amber is gone, disregarding any concept of personal space ever invented and leans down until he’s looming over you. You can taste his displeasure; it’s all in the air around you, grazing at the walls of your throat.

“Do you have nothing but air in that head of yours or do you simply wish to die?” He asks, his voice so quiet only you can hear it.

You hover your hands in front of his chest and give him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, I panicked! What was I supposed to say? That you’re just gonna hang back and watch me work for the next five hours?”

“Yes.”

“Xiao! You know I can’t just do that!”

He raises a brow, his tongue pressing on the inside of his cheek. “Why not?”

You falter and stammer, “W-Well… I mean- You don’t just bring your relative to watch you work… You’re not a child after all. She’ll ask why you won’t stay at home and then I have to come up with an excuse because of the chains and- “

“Alright.” Amber cuts right through the stiff air with another brilliant smile. She’s back and has a large bucket filled with cleaning supplies between her arms. Once she sees the two of you she stops, blinks, and clears her throat with a nervous chuckle, “Is now a bad time?”

You push Xiao away from you and towards her with a speed unknown to mankind, your face burning in embarrassment as you all but scream, “No, no, totally not. He’s all yours, Amber!”

He’s not even given a chance to glare at you, because Amber has already thrust the bucket to his chest and is guiding him to where the cages for the bunnies and birds are. You bite your lip nervously and reach for the cabinet storing packets of food for the pets.

Contract or not, you hope he won’t kill you by the end of the day.

It does not go well.

Everything that can possibly go wrong, goes wrong.

The animals absolutely hate him and he’s having the worst time of his life, which says a lot, because Xiao has had a long life. While he’s cleaning out the cages (you’re surprised he even complies and helps Amber), some of the cats take this as their golden opportunity to pounce on him. Their claws out and ready to strike, they leap from every high surface the room provides and aim for his unguarded back.

But Xiao isn’t a demon for nothing. He doesn’t need eyes on the back of his head to know that these tiny rats have it out for him.

So it takes zero to no effort for him to dodge their attack, or rather, catch their legs mid-air and give them a deathly glare. This leaves you gasping and scrambling to his side to save the little furballs before he sets them on fire. (Can he even do that? To be honest, you don’t want to find out.)

But as if that isn’t enough, the dogs who feel encouraged by the bravery of the felines start barking again as if it’s nobody’s business. It takes the collective effort of both you and Amber and a bunch of treats to get them to calm down again.

At one point while he’s busy trying to catch the furious birds, one of the snakes slithers up his back and curls around his neck trying to choke him.

All it takes is a flick of his finger, just a miniscule movement of his muscles and everything in the room would go flying to the sky. He feels it prickle on his skin, the energy buzzing in his veins bubbling to be let out. His lungs swell twice their size, his breath burning like ice.

The air around him thins out to a sharp knife, his vision tunneling into one of teal rage. Only when you and Amber begin coughing does he return to his senses and cease his powers. He releases the birds with a click of his tongue and tosses the snake effortlessly across the room.

“Xiao! What are you doing?” You rush to the snake on clumsy feet, your heart lodged in your throat. Very carefully, so as not to further anger it, you pick it up by its neck and place it back into its terrarium.

As soon as that is done, you turn around to glare at him. Demon or not, there is no way you’re going to let his actions slide. You stalk up to him, ready to deliver the speech of your life, but one of the puppies jumps in between you, barks at Xiao and then shits on his shoe.

It’s such an absurd act that none of you anticipated that the entire room freezes in silence. There’s not a single peep - not from the cats; not from the dogs; not from the birds, the bunnies; not from Amber; not from you; not from Xiao.

You swallow and risk a glance at Xiao, who has his eyes closed and his jaw clenched.

This is not good.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Amber apologizes profusely while she slips on a pair of sanitary gloves and bends down with a plastic bag ready in her hands. “I have no idea what’s gotten into them today. They’re usually very domesticated and quiet.”

Her brows are furrowed and her ears bright red. The shame of appearing like a circus to someone who volunteered to help her threatens to devour her whole.

“No, please don’t apologize, it’s not your fault.” You move to pull her back up, feeling both uncomfortable and guilty at once.

This is really not going how you imagined it to be.

“We’re leaving.” Xiao says, his tone absolute.

“What?“ You whip around to him and your hands hover over Amber’s shoulders. You’re not sure who to tend to first, but it seems Xiao has already decided for you.

He grabs your wrist and drags you to the door. His grip is tight, almost painful and the skin his fingers surround throbs. Whatever you want to say falls flat on your tongue. Every cell in your body urges you to keep quiet and follow him.

Amber gives you another deep bow. The last thing you see is her apologetic smile before the door slams shut in your face. Xiao pulls you along, uncaring of the sounds of pain you release when a sting shoots up your arm. You can barely keep up with his quick steps and it’s not until you reach the familiar bakery across your apartment building that he slows to a human pace.

He releases your wrist and allows you to catch your breath. You bend over and hold onto your knees, your voice all but strained when you say, “What the hell was that all about?”

“I told you I despise animals and yet you drag me into a building full of them.” Xiao steps closer, his eyes cold and calculating as he looks down at you. “What exactly are you trying to achieve?”

“Okay first of all, you never said you despised them.” You glare right back at him, not one to just stand there and listen to him accuse you. “I don’t know what you’re trying to allude to here, but I was simply doing my job while also trying to take into consideration that we are quite literally chained together! How was I supposed to know that things would go this far?”

He eyes you carefully, trying to find something of malicious intent. You can feel him stripping you of your skin until you’re bare in your most vulnerable layer. Something in you tells you that if you look away now, you will lose everything.

A few more moments pass in silence and when he can’t find whatever he’s looking for, he takes a step back and his features soften into his usual nonchalant expression.

“We will talk about this upstairs.”

“Huh?” The shift in the mood is so sudden that you struggle to catch up.

“Or do you wish to remain here until the baby tiger wakes up and forces you to go?”

Now he’s fully lost you. “The baby tiger?”

As if on cue, your stomach growls and reminds you that it hasn’t been fed since lunch break. It’s such a viciously loud sound, you have to clench your abdominal muscles in the vain hope that it would lessen the impact.

Xiao hears (of course he does) and it tugs a smile so small on his lips that you’re not quite sure it’s there. You avoid his intrusive eyes and nod.

“Yeah. Let’s go up.”

Tonight, you make good use of your oven and prepare some fish and chips for dinner. If you consider the way Xiao gobbles up his plate within seconds, you’d think he was the one starving and not the beast inside your stomach.

You don’t miss the flutter of his wings when he takes that first bite and it still feels as good and triumphant as it did the first time.

While he takes a shower and changes into more comfortable clothing, you take the time to clean the surface of his shoe as a silent apology. Unintentional or not, he still ended up having a really rough end to this day because you forced him to come along with you. Of course you couldn’t have predicted that things would go as far as a snake trying to literally kill him, but then again, you have always been too soft a character.

After he comes back and sits down on the couch beside you, you slip your foot under your thigh and turn to face him.

“What happened back there?” You ask him, concern mixing in with curiosity.

Xiao seems to consider his response, because he’s quiet for a moment, thinking, and then says, “Animals can sense demons. And they do not hold us in high esteem.”

“Wait, what? Really? They can sense you?”

“Yes.” Xiao nodded. “They can tell by our scent that we aren’t human. They much more prefer the company of angels, which is why you will find almost every softie with a pet attached to their side.”

“Then… does that mean that in hell there aren’t any animals?” Somehow the thought of this makes you really sad.

Xiao sees your unease and frowns. “Why are you making that expression?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Why are you getting so gloomy over something so senseless?”

His bluntness pulls another frustrated scowl out of you. Can he really not think to be nice at least once?

“First of all, I’m not gloomy! Second of all, this isn’t senseless - animals are the greatest creatures to ever exist. We don’t deserve them, they’re too good for us!”

“Nonsense.”

“Ah, come on! Have you ever had a cute little puppy turn on its back and ask you for belly rubs with a ridiculously cute expression? Or a cat rub itself against you with the sweetest, most delightful purr?”

He doesn’t even blink when he says, “No. I have not.”

It’s like you don’t even hear him. “It’s literally the best feeling on the planet! They’re so soft and furry… If my landlord didn’t prohibit me from having any pets, I would probably be having a zoo in here already.”

“Is that the reason you work in that shelter?”

You smile, thinking back to the day you met Amber. “Yeah, partly.”

Xiao doesn’t probe further and hums in acknowledgement. He doesn’t remember a time in which animals were anything but hostile towards him. Only the ones associated with death, such as bats, crows, vultures and a few others, were strong enough to survive the stiff air and the cold climate of hell.

He doesn’t really feel the need to tell you this, but when you look like your world is crashing at the prospect of missing animals in hell (he genuinely doesn’t understand why this provokes such a reaction in you; it’s not like you’re a resident of his home, so why do you care?), he still finds himself saying, “There are some animals staying in hell. But the concept of keeping pets or trying to domesticate wild animals is none of our concern. Everyone looks out for themselves only.”

“Hm… Every man for himself, huh? Well, “ You bite your lip and glance away, “We still need to find a common ground, ‘cause I can’t just quit my job.”

“Why not?”

You take a minute to answer. Partly, because you’re speechless with how blunt he’s being, mainly because you have to make sure he’s being absolutely serious. (He is.)

You gesture around your apartment. “Rent? Food? Uni expenses? Not everyone has a friend who quite literally makes money. Us humans have to actually go to work to earn some.”

Xiao opens his palm to reveal a huge stack of mora and moves his arm so it hovers right beneath your nose.

You blink.

He waits and when you don’t do anything, jerks his hand in front of you once more. “Take it.”

Two simple words that you would otherwise understand in any context and any given situation now absolutely struggle to anchor themselves in your mind. How much mora was in that stack right now? A quick scan of your eyes provides you with only more question marks, because the rolled bills seem to blend into each other, so you don’t really know where the richness starts and where the privilege ends.

“Excuse me?” Is all you can ask when you think about how Xiao is literally holding onto something that is (as harsh as it is to admit it) more worth than your life could ever be.

“Take it. And quit your job.”

“Wait, what?”

“I am telling you to take this money, quit your job and save us both the hassle of having to see those disgusting furballs ever again.”

You back up on the couch until you feel your back hit the soft edge of the fabric. “I am not quitting my job. And… I’m… not taking that mora.” (Yes, you did just sound super hesitant saying that. Listen, it’s a lot of money. Anyone would hesitate.)

“Why would you refuse an offer like this?”

A groan slips out of your lips and vibrates against your chest. Does he really not understand you even the slightest bit?

“Because I actually very much enjoy going to work and getting to play with those furballs, who are not disgusting, mind you, they are very much adorable and a huge source of my joy.”

Xiao clicks his tongue in annoyance. “You are naive if you think I will step another foot into that place.”

“And you are naive if you think I will just oblige and do whatever you want me to do!”

“Do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Me? Stubborn? Have you even talked to yourself?”

“Why would I do something as foolish as talking to myself?”

“Ugh, god, why do you have to take everything so literally!”

During your quarrel, the both of you inched closer to each other, eager to win the verbal joust and be the last to speak. Your breaths intermingle until your noses almost brush and the sudden proximity takes you by surprise, shooting heat up your spine until it curls around your neck and claims ownership of your face.

You push away from him and jump from the couch, the prospect of calling it a night and returning to your room appearing more than welcome right now. With one last surge of frustration, much like the night before, you throw after him, “Since you’re so cool and don’t have to sleep, you could use the free time and start reading some of those books and help me - one act of kindness won’t kill you, I promise.”

Xiao follows your retreating form with a scowl and waits until you slam the door to tear his gaze away. He lowers his head until his eyes fall on the first book of the stack.

His voice is nothing more than a whisper. “Kindness? What a foolish little girl.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Five

It’s still unusual for you to wake up and be greeted with the sight of someone already waiting on your couch. So much so that you almost forgot to put on pants when you went to the kitchen to get a glass of water this morning. If it wasn’t for the pitter patter of Xiao’s feet wandering around your apartment that reminded you of his presence, he would have gotten a perfect shot at your strawberry printed panties.

Just the thought of it makes your face fill with heat again and you stuff the actual strawberries resting on top of your waffles harder in your mouth in order to get your mind off of it. Xiao eats in silence beside you, letting the sweet nectar of honey coat his tongue while he cuts another piece of waffle from his plate.

There’s something that’s attracted your curiosity on the first morning you saw Xiao hanging out on your couch until you dragged him with you to uni. On your second morning too, he was just sitting at the very same spot, doing absolutely nothing at all, and now on your third morning, you find him there again.

Considering how the books haven’t been moved an inch, it’s safe to rule out the possibility that he gave in to your request and read any of them.

“What are you doing all night?” You ask him.

Xiao looks up from his last piece of strawberry and stabs his fork through it, responding in a cool tone, “Nothing much.”

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Bored of what exactly?”

You purse your lips in thought. “Well… If you’re doing nothing all night, doesn’t it get boring?”

He sounds almost amused when he says, “It is not much different than from how I spent my nights in hell. Time is nothing more than a concept in the first place.”

“Huh?” Your hand freezes just as you’re about to bite into your fork. “Wait, what?”

“But if you are so curious as to what I have been doing tonight, “ he continues without venturing further into the topic of time and opens his palm to reveal a comic book sprouting from the center of it, “The imagination of humans really knows no bounds it seems.”

The comic book, much to your horror, is the very same as the one he was reading when the two of you were in the library. And it’s much to your horror, because you do not recall having that in the pile of books when you were at the register to check out the books.

Surely there’s a good reason behind him having it; surely this isn’t the exact same comic book. Right…?

“Xiao, where did you get that?” You ask him carefully.

His eyes flit from the cover to you and he answers as if you’ve asked the most obvious question in the entire universe. “The library?”

Your jaw drops to meet the ground and part of you begins to chuckle awkwardly, not sure if this is his weird sense of humor. “No, really, where did you get the comic book from?”

He frowns. “I told you. I took it from the library.”

“You took it- Xiao, that’s not taking, that’s stealing!”

“It is not stealing if I return it after I am done.”

His immediate comeback leaves you gaping. You’re vaguely tempted to tell him that if this sort of reasoning was enough to justify theft, the world would be full of thieves. How he managed to sneak it out of the library without anyone noticing (there were several security cameras after all) is way beyond your comprehension, but you’re not sure you’re ready to hear his answer should you ask.

“That’s not how this works.” You say instead, “We have to go back there today.”

“For what?”

“For what- “ You make a sound of disbelief and throw your hands in the air, “To give it back of course!”

If it wasn’t for the severity of the situation, you would have laughed at how offended Xiao appears. It reminds you very much of the little kids in the book store you help out at, who scowl up at their parents in betrayal whenever they take one of the books out of their tiny hands to place it back on the shelf.

(This, of course, is something you will never openly disclose to him.)

“I object.” Xiao takes his empty plate and used cutlery and brings both to the sink. With his palm out and facing your direction, he waits.

“What?” You ask and stare at his empty hand.

“Your plate.” When you remain rooted on your seat and don’t move, he adds, “I believe I have told you that I do not like to be indebted to someone. You cooked this food, so I am obliged to do something of equal value to balance it out.”

“Huh… Who would’ve thought…” You mutter to yourself and stack your plate on top of his.

“Who would have thought what?”

“Oh, n- nothing.”

Xiao screws the tap open and places a sponge underneath the streaming water, allowing it to soak the liquid into all of its pores. He squeezes a bit of your floral scented soap on top of it until bubbles begin to caress his pale skin.

“Also, we have to bring your book back.” You say when he starts scrubbing the dried syrup off of the plate. Before he’s able to object again, you quickly add, “We’re properly going to rent it. You can’t just take something, because you want it, Xiao. That’s considered illegal here.”

“What are they gonna do? Lock me up?”

You ignore his mocking tone and give him a stern look. “It’s my account they can trace back, not yours. So if anyone has to carry the consequences of your actions, it will be me. And you don’t want to be indebted to me, right?”

His eyes narrow into razor-sharp slits and for once, you realize smugly, you have managed to effectively win this round with your wits.

“So that means you haven’t read any of the books I brought with me, huh?”

“I do not go back on my word. I do not intend to waste my time on foolish books written by humans who are naive enough to think they understand the ways outside of their realm.”

You tilt your head and twist your features in an expression that makes it very clear that you’re royally confused by his words. He doesn’t want to waste his time reading a book that could help him get out of this predicament that he himself has claimed has become a burden to him, but he chooses to spend said time on reading a comic book?

It doesn’t make any sense, no matter how you look at it. But arguing with him seems pointless at this point, because much like you, he always has an answer at the ready.

“Whatever.” You mumble to yourself and turn your back to him to let him wash the dishes in peace. After a short while, you re-emerge from your bedroom with your backpack in hand and drop one of the books inside.

Xiao approaches you while he dries his hands on a handkerchief. “Do you have classes as well today?”

Nodding, you zip your bag close and stretch your arms up to the ceiling when a yawn begins to crawl out of your lips. He opens his lips and closes them again, repeating the motion several times. Just when you think to ask him what’s bothering him, he takes it away from you.

“Do you have to work today as well?”

The unease that is drawn all over his face puts a smile on yours. The absolute chaos of yesterday is still fresh in your mind and you can’t help but cough to cover up the small laugh that is threatening to tear out of you.

“No.” You say eventually, fixing him with a small smile. “Today I only have classes.”

“Good.”

You bite your lip in another attempt to stop yourself from laughing. As much as he might be trying to cover up his relief by trying to appear nonplussed and speaking in his usual cold tone, he can’t hide the slight fall of his bunched shoulders or the tiny exhale that escapes his mouth.

Xiao, you realize, isn’t actually that hard to read.

On your train ride to campus, Xiao continues reading his comic while you are nose deep in the first book you got your hands on. It’s a record of ancient magic used in the middle ages with several chapters on covens known to be proficient in the usage of dark magic.

Lost in the encounters of wizards and witches who have openly shared their wisdom and ways of contacting and working together with demons, you make no attempt at conversation with Xiao. He doesn’t seem to mind, his eyes flitting from one corner of the page to another, sometimes skimming certain columns, but other times re-reading others that catch his interest.

Side by side, you sit on the subway seat surrounded by laughing children and talkative grannies, completely oblivious to what is going on around you.

There’s a specific section in the chapter you’re reading that has you tightly in its grip. Your hands hold onto the cover tighter and you lean forward just a little with your neck bending down slightly. Xiao glances from the side, observing you as you devour the words like a starving child.

They read as follows:

It is important to know that demons have their own free will and are not your servants. They will not be there for your every beck and call. They are not here to grant all of your wishes. So should you choose to walk on this path, you need to be aware that a demon first and foremost will only do something if they want to do it.

You flip over to the next page, continuing with rapt interest.

You should slowly build your relationship with your demon of choice. This can take up to several weeks with many rituals before the topic of a contract should even be broached. If you apply consistent effort and stay respectful toward them, they will not see any reason to not work together with you.

After a while, Xiao leans over to take a peek at what you’re reading. His shoulder brushes yours, leaving a tiny burst of electricity underneath your skin. You try not to give it too much thought, not yet used to a lot of physical interaction or closeness with him. However when he exhales and his breath nestles into the curve of your neck, you have the same faint taste of wind on your tongue like you did when he first appeared in your bedroom.

It causes warmth to pool in your stomach, warmth to collect in the nape of your neck and warmth to spread inside your chest. Purely a knee-jerk reaction from the sudden influx of heat overflowing in your body, you slam the book shut and whip your head to face him.

“A- Anyway, what are you reading there anyway?” You stammer, completely unaware how your volume steadily progresses, leading several passengers to stare at you curiously.

You don’t feel their eyes on you, not when the molten gold ones of Xiao are burning a hole right through you, glancing back and forth from the book to you. He seems to want to say something then. His gaze lingers on your face, searching through every inch, but for some reason he decides against it.

“It is a story of a young pirate, who travels across the ocean to find a treasure.” Xiao leans back and opens the comic book further in order to show you the most recent panel. It presents a cheerful boy as he sits on top of the beak head of a ship with one hand pressing on his straw hat and another pointing up at the sky. “On his journey he meets friends and makes foes. It appears to be a quite adventurous story.”

“Ah! I know this one!” You reach towards the copy and turn it around, your eyes lighting up in recognition when you see the title. “That’s Two Piece! It’s one of the most famous comics in all of Teyvat!”

You smile fondly at the familiar cheeky face, remembering all of the early hours you’ve spent at your grandparents glued in front of their TV, eager to watch the latest episode. Your parents didn’t want you to start your day off like that, so whenever you got the chance to stay over at your grandparents place (who practically allowed you everything), you used it to the very last breath of it.

“Actually, you know,” you say after giving him the book back, “There’s an animated TV show for these comics. You can just watch those instead of renting out hundreds of copies.”

“TV show…” Xiao mumbles, almost too quiet for you to hear, “What is that?”

“...”

“...”

You look at each other in silence; you in disbelief, he in curiosity, until you finally break it.

“Wait, you’re serious?”

He frowns. “You ask such foolish questions. When have I not been serious?”

Really?

Really?

He dares to call you foolish, but asks you what a freaking TV show is?

“How long has it been since you last came here?” You ask him, trying very hard not to sound like you’re judging him. But truth be told, you are slightly judging him.

For someone who claims to be the personification of perception himself, Xiao doesn’t receive the signal of your thoughts and tilts his head back. He thinks back to the last time he was on earth, to the last time he was surrounded by humans like he is now. His gaze lingers on the glass door in front of him, his eyes filled with a far-away look as he recalls a past he doesn’t want to remember.

Smoke. Ashes. Screaming.

A searing pain exploding inside of his chest thrusts him back to the present. He tears his eyes away from the still too vivid pictures painting themselves over his lids and numbly says, “It has been a while.”

“Next stop University of Mondstadt. The doors will open on the left.”

The announcement coming from the speakers prevents you from questioning him further. His forlorn expression doesn’t go unnoticed by you, but when the doors of the train open and people start filtering out and making their way in, you have no other choice but to stand up and leave as well.

By the time the crowd thins and you’re able to talk to him again, he already seems to have collected himself again. As much as your tongue itches to unleash the questions budding in your head, you hold back.

It’s not your place to prod in old wounds, much less your business. You doubt he’s going to share what caused him to look like that in the first place. A little light bulb goes off in your head and you’re suddenly struck with an idea that makes you think will cheer him up a bit. You make a mental note to remind yourself again tonight once you’re back home and continue your walk to campus.

Aether and Lumine are already waiting outside the building, the former munching on a breakfast panini and the latter - as usual - playing with her phone.

“Good morning!” You chime once you’re close enough for them to hear. Xiao beside you only nods his head in greeting.

“Mornin’.” Aether returns with a mouthful of tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Lumine grunts something inaudible in response, her eyes glued on her phone as she hurriedly types something.

“What’s up with her?” You ask.

Aether shrugs. “Said something about hosting a giveaway for hitting another milestone.”

“What, really? Already? Didn’t you just host one a couple weeks ago?”

Lumine finally tears her gaze from her phone and gives you a brilliantly smug smile. “Well, what can I say? People have good taste.”

It takes all of you to not roll your eyes, but Aether takes it away for you and groans something along the lines of “showoff”. It tugs another smile out of your lips and when the twins fall into the comfortable space of their ruthless bickering, you can’t help but sigh affectionately. You notice Xiao quietly watching the two as well, his eyes as curious and intriguing as usual.

“Are they always like this?” He asks you in a tone only you can pick up.

You nod. It’s something you had to get used to in the beginning yourself. Growing up an only child, you didn’t have any experience or knowledge to go off of. So when you first met the two in primary school while they were in the middle of beating each other up, you had gotten a first glimpse into what it’s like to have another family member your age, or in this case, a twin.

Fighting is a fixed schedule on their daily agenda and petty arguments are always served as a side dish when you’re together with them. Now, years later, you’re able to tune it off and get on with what you’re doing until their flared temper recedes and they begin talking normally again. However back when you first tip-toed into their lives, you were anxiously trying to calm both of them down and playing mediator, terrified that they would never talk to each other again. You remember it all very clearly.

“Yeah.” You respond equally quietly, “They’ve always been like this. Come on, let’s go ahead.”

He follows you through campus and notices with mild amusement that the twins do the same without breaking their conversation. This is clearly not the first time something like this happens and probably not the last. It reminds him oddly of Childe and Zhongli and for the first time since he came to your world, he wonders what the two are doing.

Things didn’t end on a bright note the last time he saw them and given his exit out of the uncomfortable situation, he can already imagine what the two must be thinking. They’re probably still hanging out at his castle, wandering the empty halls and waiting for him to come back so they (mainly Childe) can give him an earful or two.

The thought of it alone drags a weary sigh out of his chest.

Childe crosses his arms over his chest and shivers. “I feel like someone is talking about me.”

Zhongli raises a brow and glances from the side. They’re back in Xiao’s manor, this time in his kitchen with the former playing with a set of knives and the latter drinking red wine he brought back from his last job. They look as comfortable as one could get in someone’s home without that someone even being present.

The moonlight is spilling through the window, casting an eerie, yet beautiful glow into the interior of the kitchen. Small translucent particles fly through the air and a thin layer of dust lies on top of every surface surrounding them.

Childe makes a face. “When’s the last time Xiao had a maid over?”

“I don’t think this kitchen has ever been used.” Zhongli responds, reaching to grab the bottle of wine to refill his glass, “As evidenced by the large amount of dust and unused cutlery.”

“I can’t believe he’d built a huge space solely designed for cooking when he doesn’t even eat. That makes no sense.”

“Well, to be fair, Xiao has always been quite difficult to read.”

“True.” Childe smiles ruefully. “I keep thinking about how he’s going to pay for just disappearing like that, but if that was the case, don’t you think he’d be back already?”

Zhongli lowers his eyes as his lips close around the rim of the glass, the red wine spilling into his mouth and on his waiting tongue. It is odd indeed that Xiao would disappear simply because he didn’t want to fight with Childe. He’s never been one to shy back from confrontation, much less run away from it. But he’s also never been one to impulsively declare that he was going to retire as well, so there’s that.

Whatever happened while Xiao was on his last mission must have been impactful enough for him to be willing to lose his status. Zhongli doubts it’s just a phase, much less a proclamation made on a whim.

Which is why he’s worried. Xiao is as stubborn as a bull. Once he puts his mind to something, he will see through it until the very end, without any consideration for others. He can’t blame him; this is just the way of a true demon. This is what they were taught, what helped them survive and climb up the ranks until they were rewarded with the position they have now.

But every power comes with responsibility.

And if Xiao were to retire, he would not only leave thousands of lower-class demons without a leader, he would also leave a vacant spot for someone else to claim his seat. There’s at least a few hundred overly eager demons just waiting for this to happen. Their very being itches to be granted with a vision like they have been.

“Man, it’s really boring here without him.” Childe mumbles, his legs swinging off of the counter he’s sat on. “It’s no fun teasing you, you never get my jokes. And you don’t even enjoy fighting.”

Zhongli tilts his head in slight confusion. “Do you not want my company?

“See! That’s what I’m talking about. You always take everything so literally.”

“So you do want my company?”

Childe rolls his eyes, but doesn’t respond. They fall quiet again, each back to the bubble of their own thoughts.

They don’t say much afterward.

By the time lunch break rolls around, you’re immersed in your book again. As usual, Lumine and Aether made up pretty quickly and filled the lecture with their familiar humorful commentary. Without them around, classes surely wouldn’t pass as fast as they did.

You’re back in the cafeteria, drowning in the paragraphs of how back in the day a coven of oppressed women came into contact with a ruthless and power-hungry female demon, who helped them overthrow their village clan’s head. It reads more like a story than a re-telling of history and you’re fully invested in everything.

Just a few days ago, you would’ve signed it off as folly, as something that fits better into the fantasy section. But with the arrival of Xiao in your life, everything you ever believed in changed.

It’s no longer just fantasy anymore, it’s your reality now.

“Earth to nerd, I’m talking to you.”

Your book gets snatched from your hand and clasped shut by Aether, who’s frowning in frustration upon not receiving a reaction after calling your name for what feels like a few million times.

Your eyes widen almost immediately and your voice comes out in a horrified squeak. “Hey, I didn’t place a bookmark yet!”

“Yeah, yeah- “

“Don’t yeah, yeah me! How am I supposed to know where I left off now?”

Your crestfallen pout tugs at his composure and he glances nervously over to Lumine. “Uh, do you not know what page you’re on?”

“What? Who the hell keeps up with that? Why do you think I use a bookmark?”

Aether takes on a defensive stance, his own pout now an indication to his growing guilt. He raises his voice slightly when he mumbles back, “How am I supposed to know? Do I look like I read?”

Lumine opens her mouth for no doubt a cutting insult and Aether who senses this shuts her up with another groan. “Actually, don’t answer that.”

While you’re continuing to sulk to yourself, Xiao finally inserts himself into the conversation and sighs like you’re asking him to move the world with his bare hands. He takes the book from Aether’s hands and opens it with his nimble fingers, stopping when he reaches the paragraph you last read.

Your mouth falls open in awe, Aether breathes out a “Holy fuck, how good are your eyes dude?” and Lumine looks up from her phone with a smirk. There it is. The exact same page back in your hand as if stupid Aether never took it from you.

“How did you…?“ You want to ask him, but shake your head in disbelief. It had to have been a coincidence, right? There’s no way he could’ve known what page you were on. How would he even know? That would mean that Xiao was-

“Whatcha reading there anyway?” Aether asks as he puts his chin in his hand, his other fiddling with the fork on his tray.

You’re tongue-tied when Aether fixes you with a curious stare. His amber eyes roam the cover for the title, but you have sprawled your fingers in a way that doesn’t give away what you’re reading. He moves to grab it from you again, but you lean back with another squeak, gaining a raise of his brow.

Aether finds it odd. You’re not one to back away when asked about a book - hell, he can’t get you to shut up once you start talking about your newest catch. To see you flustered and blushing, let alone scrambling to start a new topic plants a seed of doubt in his mind.

Lumine notices it too. But unlike her twin, she’s much faster to catch on and her lips curl into a smug grin that stirs a very uncomfortable feeling in your gut. Her next set of words confirm your premonition.

“Wow… I didn’t know you read those kinds of books.”

You choke on your spit, lose the ability to breathe and feel your head exploding all at once. It only feeds into Lumine’s suspicions, whose grin widens wickedly. Lost in a violent coughing fit, you’re unable to defend yourself and quell away her thoughts.

Bless Aether, pure and dense as he is, he doesn’t see behind Lumine’s words and turns to her to ask her, in a genuine tone of curiosity and confusion, “What kind of books?”

Even Xiao, who until now was quietly watching your interactions like he did the last two days and only chimed in when specifically spoken to, moves from Lumine’s gaze to your panicked one. It leads him to think that perhaps in your time reading books that cover topics like witches and demons isn’t as common as he assumed it would be.

He’s so out of context, it doesn’t even occur to him to let his mind drift off into the direction Lumine and yours is wandering to right now.

You’re thankful for that much at least. The heat spreading through your cheeks burns like a wildfire and it spurs Aether into an even more curious state. You feel like dying.

“What? What? What kind of book? Hey hey, Lu, what kind of book are you talking about?”

Lumine locks her phone and places it on the table, her head now tilted in amusement. “Why don’t we let her explain it?”

The amount of smugness she’s exuding is terrifying. She knows exactly what she’s doing, which makes all of this even worse. Your own best friend, guiding you with a sickening smile into a pool of acid. Your mother always did warn you that betrayal never came from an enemy.

“It’s not like that!” You finally manage to breathe out, half of your words still stuck in your throat. You gently close your book after placing the velvet bookmark inside the page, and show them the cover. A small voice in the back of your head chides you for not having done so sooner; you’d have saved yourself the embarrassment and the near death.

Aether leans over in interest and Lumine lowers her eyes to the title as well. Their faces take on the exact same expression of surprise - a carbon copy of each other.

“Oh?” They stir in sync.

“A book on witchcraft?” Aether purses his lips thoughtfully. “I didn’t know you were interested in that sort of stuff.”

“It’s ‘cause she isn’t.” Lumine drawls out, her foot hitting the edge of the table leg repeatedly. “Spill.”

“S-Spill what?” You stammer a bit too anxiously, which Lumine obviously catches immediately.

Her eyes narrow suspiciously, the same golden glint that Aether had just a few minutes ago. “What possesses you to grab a book like that? Are you trying to curse your ex or something?”

Aether throws his head back in barking laughter after seeing your face scrunch up as if you’ve just bit into a lemon. It’s then that Xiao decides to join the conversation. His voice is as mocking as it always is when he’s talking to you.

“Her head is filled with too much hot air for something like that. She would end up cursing the wrong person or, which I fear would be the case, herself.”

“Hey!” You interject and slap him on his arm.

While you turn back to the twins to talk yourself out of yet another joke made on your expense, Xiao, unknowingly to you, looks down at the bunched fabric of his arm.

There’s an imprint of your hand there, the heat of your fingers lingering under his hoodie on the patch of skin resting beneath it. A ripple of goosebumps meanders around his limb, allowing the warmth to spread beyond.

Lumine’s loud cackle draws another pitiful whine from you and causes Xiao to tear his eyes away to you.

It’s odd.

He looks back to his arm.

It’s like you’re still touching him.

On your way back home, you drop by the library to return the comic Xiao had simply taken with him. While you’re close to finishing the book you started this morning, Xiao had long finished and is about to reach for the next few volumes.

“Hang on.”

He looks up from the stack of books he’s holding when you stop him. He’s wearing this expression of impatience, like you’re interrupting him from something sacred and very important. Somehow it makes this entire ordeal that much more endearing.

“Don’t look at me like that.” You tell him and take the books right out of his hands to place them back on the shelf. A protest is ready to get fired in your direction, but you raise your hands in a show of peace and say, “Hear me out first?”

He rolls his eyes, crosses his arms over his chest and then gestures for you to continue.

“Don’t you want to give the TV show a shot before you bulk rent a bunch of volumes? It’s less to carry around and you don’t have to come back every few days.”

He takes a moment to think about your offer and then responds with “I did not intend to carry these with me, for your information. However… I suppose it would be interesting to see how you humans bring pictures to life.”

“Wait, wait, what? How else would we bring these home?” Your eyes widen in bewilderment when the implications of his words catch up with you. “You wanted me to carry them for you?”

“Stop speaking nonsense for a second.” He opens his hand to reveal a bright teal light glimmering out of his palm. It swirls into a tiny hole that grows in size until one of the volumes he had just held nestles comfortably on his skin. “As long as I know where something is, I can grab hold of it without having to be there or carry it around with me.”

You look at him like a kid who has been shown a magic trick, eyes alight with wonder and your mouth in a perfect circular o. Your voice comes out in a small whisper. “Right… I totally forgot about that part.”

A light bulb goes off in your head and without much thought, you grab his sleeve, failing to notice his muscles stiffening below you. “Does this mean you can just whoosh our groceries right back home?”

(The fact that you referred to it as “our groceries” rather than just “my groceries” flies over both of your heads.)

He relaxes just as quickly, a small cunning smile dragging his lips apart. “Is that your wish, little girl?”

It’s the first time he’s calling you that in your presence and it causes your heart to hiccup in your chest, a burning flower to blossom all over your face. You’re pretty sure everyone can hear your heart pounding from a mile away. And he’s right there in front of you.

And if his face is anything to go by, then yes, he can hear it very well and yes, he’s enjoying it very much.

You hold onto the little bit of discomposure that awakens in your stomach when he uses this moment to goad you into fulfilling your end of the contract.

You click your tongue with a “whatever”, give him another frown and dash out of the library, trying to hide as best as you can how much this interaction flustered you. He trails after your still shaking figure and only stops once he passes his reflection on the glass door.

He’s still smiling.

Dinner is rice with steamed vegetables and soy sauce on the side. You’re rewarded with a small flutter of his golden wings - by now an indication that you have outdone yourself once again in the kitchen.

When you ask him about how he keeps his wings tucked inside his body, he complains about how uncomfortable and stuffy it gets. You think you understand a little better why the first thing he does once he enters your apartment is to unfurl his wings to their full size instead of stepping out of his shoes like you always do.

He washes the dishes, which you appreciate a lot, although it’s still a domestic act that you have yet to get used to. Afterwards, you sit down together with him and teach him how to use your computer, roughly referencing the quick summary you gave him earlier that day. There are still a lot of things he has yet to catch up on when it comes to everyday technology, including, but not limited to phones, computers and TVs.

Xiao is like a sponge; he soaks up your words without a single comment, his eyes following your fingers as you show him how to use each of the devices. This is when you realize the difference between you two. It isn’t the first time he’s doing this, you realize; making up for what appears like lost decades within the matter of a few minutes.

In the end, he manages to turn the TV show to the comic book on all by himself and leans back against the comfort of your couch as he dives into a whole new world other than your own. You’re right next to him, a few more pages until you’ve drained the book for all that it’s worth.

At one point you find something that catches your interest, something that requires his input and actual knowledge on the topic. But when you turn to him to engage him with his questions, you find him absolutely enthralled. His pupils are blown wide, his attention solely on the enthusiastic pirate on the screen. There’s nothing that can pull him out of his trance now.

You know this face. It’s one you’ve worn when you were a child yourself, captivated by the fun story and the silly grins.

It’s the first time you see Xiao like this.

(Your questions can wait just a little bit longer…)

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you absolutely positive?”

“I am. One of Ning’s little dolls saw him.”

Childe moves to face Zhongli, his blue eyes wavering like tides washing onto a shore. “Xiao is back in the human realm.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Six

You wake up to the sound of gunshots and screaming.

Naturally, living alone and not being used to hearing any sounds at the crack of dawn, you shoot up and clumsily reach under your bed. Your fingers curl around the familiar iron rod of Aether’s old baseball bat and just as you’re about to pull it out, a high-pitched laughter interrupts the endless shooting of bullets. It’s followed by another voice you can’t recognize and a long-winded speech about finally finding the island of sweets.

Ah, you remember belatedly, Xiao.

After finishing your morning routine consisting of arguing with your hair and throwing on a cute sweater with a comfortable pair of jeans, you find said demon sitting on your couch with his legs crossed and tucked underneath his torso. Either he doesn’t register your presence (which you highly doubt) or he’s just that engrossed in the show, because he doesn’t even bat an eyelash when you greet him for the day.

“Good morning.” He murmurs somewhat absentmindedly, but then he adds, “I have to admit you were right. This is indeed much more interesting than reading.”

“Well I’m glad you like it,” you say as you walk into the kitchen, “There’s more than enough for you to catch up on.”

While he’s still in the iron tight grip of the show, you scroll through your phone to find some inspiration for breakfast. Today is one of those days where you feel like eating everything and nothing. Somehow nothing strikes your fancy, not the beautifully brown french toast oozing with whipped cream, not the sizzling bacon that’s already filling the chambers of your mind with its signature crispy scent, absolutely nothing.

Just as you’re about to give up and grab some good old-fashioned cereal, Xiao calls for your name. It catches you so off-guard you nearly trip and kiss the counter with your forehead. Xiao isn’t one to initiate any sort of conversation with you, let alone call you to his side, so you approach him perhaps a little too eagerly.

He points to the TV and turns to meet your eyes. The amber hues seem lighter than usual, filled with a glow you’ve never seen on him before.

“What is this?” He asks.

You follow his slender finger to the screen. A fully decked table is on display, filled with a colorful assortment of dishes. A bowl of steaming rice sits on each side, surrounded by tiny plates. Pickled cucumbers in one, cooked and seasoned spinach in the other, salted and fermented vegetables in another and finished up by a long plate brimming with fluffy omelet rolls - it looks absolutely ravishing. The animation team really knew what they were doing when they created this scene.

Your stomach rumbles at the sight of it and in order to cover up the embarrassing sound, you ask him back, “What exactly?”

He looks back at the TV. “The yellow dish.”

The yellow dish. A smile tickles out of you and you can’t quite hide the small shaking of your shoulders when you chuckle at the adorable term.

“It’s an omelet roll.”

“An omelet roll.” He repeats thoughtfully, the word rolling around his tongue as if he could figure out the taste of the dish simply by speaking its name.

“It’s delicious, I like it.” You say. His eyes widen slightly at your intrusion into his thoughts, but he makes no comment on it.

Xiao shifts on the couch, folds and unfolds his wings, all the while keeping his mouth shut. He looks uncomfortable, awkward and, quite honestly, constipated. It looks so out of character, you have to pinch yourself to make sure this is actually happening.

He wants to say something, the words are right there on the tip of his tongue, but something is chaining him, keeping him from saying them out loud. You already know what it is. It’s way too obvious for you not to pick up on it.

Admittedly, it is kinda fun to see him struggle with something as mundane as this. It once again rips a small cut on the image of him as a ruthless demon, who’s out to get your soul. Up until now, you weren’t aware you had this sadistic side to you, but you guess it’s probably Lumine finally rubbing off on you after all these years.

His curiosity finally wins over and in a rather unconvincing voice and crimson ears he demands you to cook said dish for today’s breakfast. This time you can’t suppress laughing out loud, even when he lightly slaps the back of your head with one of his wings scoldingly.

Much to your surprise, he stands up and follows you into the kitchen. When you turn to him, he meets you with one of his deadpan expressions and simply states, “Surely you do not mind if I watch you?”

It’s not a question, not at all. Not with that smug tone and certainly not with that mocking posture. Your narrowed eyes do absolutely nothing to intimidate him and if you thought you had the upper hand just a few seconds ago, he proves you once more that you were absolutely wrong.

But you don’t feel like making a fool out of yourself and you certainly don’t feel like stumbling, tripping and falling face first into an egg mixture under his watchful eyes. (Which is something you are ashamed to admit is something that could very well happen.)

“How about we do it together?”

Xiao straightens his neck, clearly taken aback. “Together?”

“Yeah. We’ll be faster that way.”

He looks at you like you’ve grown a second head, like the mere idea of him doing something as domestic as cooking together with you was something that should be left unspoken. You decide not to bring up the fact that he washes the dishes each time you cook, that that act is just as domestic as cooking. Instead, you choose a different route.

“Or do you think you won’t be able to do it?”

His brow twitches. “What did you just say?”

Ah, yes, now you have him in your webs.

“I understand if you’re afraid of messing stuff up- “

“Afraid?” Xiao’s expression darkens and he takes a step forward, all the way until his chest is only a breath away from yours. He lowers his head and raises a brow while he stares right into your soul. “Are you suggesting that something as menial as preparing a meal is too challenging for me?”

You bite your lip to hide your triumphant smile. “I mean… I’ve never seen you cook before.”

“Impudent little girl.” He says with a low voice. It stirs something within your gut, but he continues without mercy and nods his chin to your fridge, “Let me teach you a lesson.”

And that’s how the two of you end up in your open kitchen, hip to hip with his attentive eyes taking in every single one of your movements as if he’s inscribing it into the back of his mind.

The crack of the egg shells fills his ears, followed by the scraping of the whisk as it continuously scratches the bottom of the bowl. The bright yellow of the eggs blends into a smooth cream and every time you lift the whisk up, a string of the mixture follows with you. It runs fluidly back into the bowl and Xiao tries not to show how fascinating he finds this process.

All the while his nimble hands have started to chop some baby carrots and basil leafs. The knife fits snugly in his palm and the up and down movement of his hand comes to him with ease. Soon, the sound of the steel clashing with the wooden board turns into a rhythmic one.

“This is your first time cooking, right?” You ask him with suspiciously narrowed eyes.

His lips curl into a tiny, but cocky smile. He doesn’t respond, but continues to show off his growing speed. It’s almost as if this is his way of answering.

“Well, let’s see how you’ll do with the actual cooking part.” Your nose poised in the air, you refuse to let him have this victory yet.

You grab a medium sized, rectangular shaped pan and place it above the stove. A spark flickers into small waves of fire underneath when you turn the gas on and almost immediately after, you drizzle a healthy amount of oil into the pan. Fresh olives fill the room deliciously and after you hold your palm above the pan to check if it’s heated, you ask Xiao to whisk the chopped vegetables into the egg mixture.

He does as told, his brows knitted in concentration to make sure that nothing falls off. You don’t have to tell him to season it with salt and pepper - he’s already on it before it even crosses your mind.

While you’re reaching for the slotted turner hanging above the stove, Xiao has already poured half of the mixture on the pan. Your hand freezes mid-air and you witness in astonishment as he grabs the handle of the pan and tilts it back and forth until the batter completely covers the surface.

He notices your gaping and flashes you another cocky smile (it seems to come more naturally to him these days) and places the pan back on the stove.

“What just happened?” You ask when you finally grab the turner and swallow down your disbelief to make sure that you didn’t just space out and see something that didn’t happen. “I thought you said you never cooked before?”

“I did.”

“But… You… How?”

“Hm?”

Steam evaporates from the thin layer that’s slowly thickening and you take this as your cue to step in and begin the folding process. However Xiao once again takes you by surprise and grabs the turner from you. His fingers brush yours and you try not to place too much importance to the tickle that’s spreading from the back of your neck.

He grabs the handle of the pan once more, tilts it forward and uses the turner to fold the omelett a few times until it reaches the edge of the pan. And then, as if all of this isn’t enough to leave your jaw hanging, he adds the rest of the mixture and continues cooking the rolled omelet until it’s done.

You’re still gaping.

Did Xiao just perfectly recreate a dish he saw on TV once?

He looks up from his already neatly cut rolled omelet and raises a superior brow. He doesn’t have to speak for you to know what he means.

Impudent little girl. Let me teach you a lesson.

You bashfully divert your gaze and turn off the stove.

Demons are really something else.

The first bite is the most anticipated one.

You’re waiting for his reaction, for the tiny little flutter of golden scales and ah, there it is. A tiny bud of pride blossoms in your chest and somewhere, deep deep inside, you think it’s not so bad to start your day with someone else.

Xiao doesn’t seem to mind either. You have yet to hear him complain about this entire situation. He follows you around wherever you go, doesn’t step a stubborn foot on the ground to prevent you from your real life responsibilities. It slows down the entire process of finding a solution to the problem you’re facing, but Xiao really wasn’t lying when he said he was in no rush.

It’s been six days now since Xiao has quite literally burst into your life and you’re not a single step closer to getting out of your contract yet. The questions from the night before pop into the forefront of your mind and you think right now, while the TV is turned off and he’s in a rather good mood from the delicious breakfast, is a good time to ask what’s on your heart.

“Is it true that demons have the right to refuse a contract?”

Xiao looks up from scraping the edge of his plate. He tilts his head in thought. “I have yet to meet a demon who did so.”

“Wait, really?”

He nods. “At the end of each transaction, we are rewarded with the soul of our clients. The more souls we collect, the higher our standing will be in our society. It is like an insurance of sorts.”

“So if a demon was to deny a human their wish, that would mean they already have so many that they won’t suffer if they don’t get that additional one?”

“That or they do not wish to further advance. Not every demon is made to lead. Some want to submit and follow orders.”

You let the words ruminate for a moment before asking, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Have you ever declined a contract?”

“I do not take orders.” He says as if that answers your question.

You hum thoughtfully. In some way, it is an answer. In order to not follow behind someone else’s shadow, he accepts every request he gets and therefore manages to stay at the top of the so-called food chain.

“Wait, wait, wait-” You place your hands in the air between you as if trying to stop him from something he wasn’t even doing. “Are you telling me you’re some sort of big deal in hell?”

He scoffs, but doesn’t further expand the topic. Not when you continuously pester him about it on your way back to the kitchen, not when you invade his personal space while he washes the dishes, not even when you give him your best puppy dog look on your commute to campus.

(He would like to remind you of his distaste towards them, but when he thinks of the broken look on your face each time he does, he decides against it.)

It’s an unconscious choice, something that just naturally falls into step without his consent.

Something that will come back to bite him in the end.

It’s actually incredible how unaware your professors are.

There’s a complete stranger in their lecture, who’s never been there before, who hasn’t introduced himself or doesn’t make any kind of input and none of them are questioning a thing. It’s like they don’t even care about his presence.

Frankly, it makes sense. They come here to hold their lectures, stay to answer some questions and then grab their paycheck and leave to hang out with their families in their own home.

Xiao isn’t exactly causing any trouble either, just sits there and listens to them, sometimes pulls out his comic book and reads until you tug him back up. So there’s not exactly any reason for the teachers to really care about him.

Today however, he’s doing something completely different.

He’s leaning back and sketching something on one of the notebooks you gave him. Aether and Lumine don’t share this class with you, so he’s left to his own devices for any source of entertainment. The petty fights the two break out in at any given moment are admittedly quite amusing to watch. It reminds him a little bit of Childe and Zhongli, who both share a similar kind of dynamic.

And much to his surprise, you’re the diligent type of student. You pay attention to what your professor says, you take notes which he presumes you revise had it not been for him taking up most of your day.

He thinks back to Lumine, who doesn’t seem to care about anything but her phone and Aether, who doesn’t appear like he’s the brightest of the bunch and he wonders how the three of you ended up together, or rather, how the three of you have lasted so long.

It’s when he realizes that his mind is wandering off into territory he doesn’t want to explore that he reaches for your notebook. He navigates his thoughts back to hell, fills his head with things that are not you or your friends and thus finds himself subconsciously recreating a familiar setting.

A lone rock curved like that of a giant tooth rests in the center. It’s surrounded by a vast field of nothingness; frozen soil with cracks as dark as the starless night sky. There are no flowers sprouting from the ground, no plants curling around the brick fence. It offers a clear view of what lies beneath.

An ocean made of ice illuminated by the color of the bright moon takes up half of the page. There are tiny crows dotted on the side, each of them tilting their beaks up to breathe in the moon’s scent.

Cottages line the ocean like tiny boxes, shaded in such a brilliant way, it might as well look real. They’re just as bleak and empty as everything else. There’s nothing else.

He doesn’t feel anything when he looks at it.

“What’s that?”

His hand freezes mid-stroke when your light voice surrounds him in a small whisper. You’re leaning over with a curious pout, your expressive eyes drinking in the sight in front of you. They’re traveling from corner to corner, no doubt fueling your head with even more questions he doesn’t want to hear or answer.

“It’s my garden.” He answers.

You make a sound of acknowledgement and scoot even closer. “Your garden?” You ask again, because apparently that is all you do today: ask him questions.

He sighs like you’re a tedious small child who has to hear things five times before you understand it. “Has the air in your head now transcended to your ears?”

“Wha- Excuse me! That’s- “

“Rude, yes, I am aware.” He interrupts you effortlessly before he slides the notebook so you can have a better look. “This is what I see when I step out into my garden.”

You glare at him with another pout that doesn’t affect him in the least, but then (as predicted) you turn your attention to the picture like he didn’t just offend you for the billionth time. Your expression softens and you mutter, “So you have your own residence there?”

“It directly correlates with a demon’s standing. Low-class demons live in cottages in villages like these.” He points to the background and drags the tip of his pen all the way to the frozen lake. “They are separated from us, who employ them.”

“Us?”

“High-class demons who are free from any duty so long as they do not fall below the threshold of consumed souls.”

His words form a lump in your throat and you struggle with voicing out your next question. “How many do you have to collect until you reach that stage?”

His answer isn’t immediate. Strangely enough, this is the first time someone’s asked him that. He’s met many humans in his life, many of whom have been curious about him and his origins. But you, he regards you with slightly narrowed eyes and a strangely growing interest, you ask the most peculiar questions.

He can smell the apprehension in your lungs, already knows you won’t like his answer. But Xiao has never lied in his life. And he’s never avoided something in order to shield someone’s feelings or perceptions about him.

“I have lived over a millennium.”

And as he expected, your face falls. Your brows reach to clasp hands as your jaw tightens and for a moment, you don’t know how to respond.

You know that Xiao is far from innocent. It shows in the way he talks about others, like they’re nothing but a blip in the story that is his life.

And he’s not wrong.

Compared to the hundreds of years he’s lived, they are nothing but a breath for him. Nothing but a sigh; nothing but a blink of an eye; nothing, but a sole contract to fulfill.

A strange ache forms in your chest. Its claws dig into your ribcage and settle there like it means to stay there.

What even is a human life to Xiao, you wonder. How many has he taken? How many lives did he have to end in order to secure his own?

And what about you?

Are you nothing but a contract for him as well? Are you nothing but the means to an end for him to ensure he could stay at the top, free from any responsibilities and duties?

Are you too just a blip in his life?

You don’t ask any more questions for the rest of the day.

He should feel relieved. This is exactly what he’s wanted since he stepped foot into your apartment. His peace and quiet while you aimlessly try to find a way to get yourself out of the contract. Eventually you would tire, lost in the realization that there’s nothing you can do but accept your fate.

And then, he would take your soul and leave.

It has always been like this. Now is not different from his past; you’re just a human like the others have been; and this is just a job like all the other times.

There’s no need for him to still think back to the expression you made when you were in class. The fall of your lips should not concern him, the sadness swimming in your eyes should not affect him in the slightest. None of this is any of his business.

But still.

But still, it bothers him. It bothers him that you don’t open your mouth once on your way back home. It bothers him that you don’t hum that same song that’s been in your head since he arrived while cooking dinner. An itch inside his chest stretches out all the way to his fingertips and it grows the more you remain quiet in his presence.

Why? So far, Xiao doesn’t hold the answer himself.

“Once you wake up in hell, you are presented with two options.” He says after both of your plates are cleared. None of you have made a move to stand up from the table and the silence that he thought he would welcome with open arms is starting to drive him insane.

You lift your head in surprise, the tiny grey cloud ahead of you starting to stir. Apprehension keeps you from making a sound.

“Become a demon or rot inside your sins for eternity.”

Goosebumps spread from your arms to your legs, but Xiao keeps his gaze fixed on a spot on your wall. It’s like a corkscrew gets uncapped inside his mouth, causing his tongue to loosen and the words to spill like ink from a fallen pen.

“If you choose the former, you are branded as a low-class demon and assigned to one of the higher-class demons. There, you are expected to serve until you are deemed fit enough to venture into the mortal realm to take on jobs.”

He senses you stiffening at the mention of jobs and rubs his tongue along his gums before he clarifies, “These jobs differ from each other. Not every demon feeds off of souls. The reward for each wish depends on what kind of demon you get branded as. Some transmit a human’s life energy to themselves, others feed off of their memories. Some are dependent on a human’s blood, while others crave their semen. There are even those, who will feast on your dreams.”

This is the longest Xiao has talked on his own accord. It’s such a surprise, you don’t even dare to breathe in fear of interrupting him. He’s speaking clearly, thinking carefully about each word so as to explain it in a way you understand without feeling overwhelmed. None of these things had a place in the books you were devouring, but the more information he shared with you, the more you start to see the connections.

The hidden phrases that nudged you closer to delve a little deeper into its meanings, to take that step forward to question the things no one has ever wondered about.

“You do not get asked which kind you want to be.”

His last addition makes you falter. It answers a question you haven’t asked, let alone fully formed in your head yet. And it’s then that Xiao looks at you with those blazing gold eyes.

They’re not devoid of emotion as you have come to know them. Instead, they are speaking to you, releasing a message in hopes you might receive it. (Whether you understand the meaning behind his words is up to you.)

You’re not quite sure how to handle this revelation. You don’t know whether to thank him for opening up to you or curse him for bringing forth a whole new can of worms.

“When you say eternity,” you start, your voice sounding unsure, “Do you mean that there’s no way out of hell?”

Xiao doesn’t answer immediately. His lips open slightly to reveal he’s biting his tongue. It’s not a pleasant topic for him, that much is evident. But still, he continues sharing his knowledge with you. Why he does it, he does not know himself.

“That is what I have been told.”

You hesitate, unsure whether you’re crossing any lines when you mutter, “Is that why you chose to be a demon?”

“I am not sure.”

“Huh?”

He sighs and shifts to avoid your confused gaze. The room becomes stifling and thick, like the air is shrinking into nothingness. His words leave a sour taste on your tongue.

“I do not have any recollection prior my current existence.”

It was a tough pill to swallow.

It clogged up your throat, caused it to swell and trap your heart that wanted nothing more than to go out for him at that moment. When you leaned in to embrace him with arms that were soft, warm and so, so kind, he tensed and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

Your hair tickled his neck and filled his lungs with the scent of your shampoo. It smelled of flowers and freshly cut grass and dragged all over him until he was completely surrounded by it. The tension lingering in his body was soothed away the longer you stayed intertwined.

He asked you what you thought you were doing, in a quiet whisper that not even the wind picked up. But his scorching lips were right next to your ear and it was almost as if he shared another secret with you.

Your answer was simple. It was genuine, coming from the bottom of your still struggling heart. It was you.

“You looked like you needed a hug.”

You try not to think about what happened on your way to your second part time job. Xiao hasn’t said anything since. He feels more distant than ever with his back to you. The fleeting thought that you made him uncomfortable by overstepping all borders crosses your mind, but he doesn’t even give you the chance to ask about it.

His steps are fast and big, almost as if he’s trying to outrun you. The more you try to keep up with him, the farther apart he gets.

It’s with a gloomy cloud parting above your head that you reach Mondstadt’s most renowned bar. As much as you want to disappear under it and not spend the next few hours serving drinks and smiles, your co-workers who spot you have a different idea.

Aether and Lumine wave you over from where they’re standing. Aether has braided his long blond hair into a fluffy french tail. It trails beautifully down his back, the tail of it reaching the tiny bow of his apron. No doubt Lumine was the one to do it for him; Aether has always been terrible with styling his hair.

Lumine herself has a pretty flower clip on the side of her head, a bright pink in contrast to her golden blonde hair. Unlike Aether, she wasn’t dressed in her waitressing attire yet.

“What took you so long?” She asks you as she grabs your wrist and drags you with her to the staff room.

You cast a last glance towards Xiao, who has seated himself on one of the stools across from where Aether is currently mixing up drinks. He’s still pointedly ignoring your gaze, the tiny pang in your heart causing you to linger.

Lumine, who’s unaware of what’s going on, doesn’t have much patience and tugs on your wrist once more and next thing you know, you’re in the staff room changing clothes.

“What’s up with you two?”

You look up from the ground to see her tying her apron. It’s then that you realize you haven’t even removed your shirt yet. In order not to arouse any more suspicion, you quickly throw it off of you and reach for the plain white shirt that all of the employees are wearing.

“Did you two get into a fight or what’s got you sulking like this?” She tries once again when you don’t respond.

Usually this would be enough for you to open up your chest and let your feelings spill into the palm of her hand for her to inspect what was bothering you. But with Xiao, things are different. Where would you even start?

“Something like that.” You say instead and shove your head through the hole of your shirt.

She doesn’t pry after that, has always been tactful enough to know when to push and when to pull away.

After your shift starts and you begin taking orders and serving the drinks Aether mixes, Xiao makes himself comfortable (at least as comfortable as he can get) and even tries a drink or two. Once or twice you catch yourself stealing another quick stare at him and after several more drinks and a few snacks, he seems to slowly peek out of his shell again.

When your eyes meet, you feel yourself unconsciously straightening, as if your posture wasn’t the last thing on his mind. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t do anything but just look at you with an expression you can’t read.

But your legs still feel lighter, your steps bounce off a bit more energetically, because progress, no matter how slow, is still progress.

The bar is brimming as usual. With the weekend just around the corner, young students gather up to celebrate the upcoming two days free from classes and assignments. They order drinks left and right, make small talk with you and laugh when you bring out your waitressing charm.

Xiao watches, with eyes of molten gold you can feel and see, even through your back. He watches as several patrons flirt with you, hoping to get more than a polite thank you and a coy giggle. He watches as you leave each one of them behind and walk up to Aether to hand him the orders, your face now decorated with a genuine smile.

All the while he gets chatted up by tipsy pretty girls, who have been enchanted by his ethereal looks. Aether, who notices the constipated expression he wears, always comes to his rescue and persuades the girls to get another drink with his own charmful ways.

He gives them a cheeky wink and a boyish grin before he then delivers the last blow with a promising compliment. They blend out Xiao after blushing fifty different shades of red and stumble with steaming faces and stuttering laughter out of the bar.

“You got a girlfriend back home?” He asks while toweling one of the shot glasses dry.

Xiao looks up, visibly surprised. “What makes you think that?”

Aether gives him an unimpressed raise of his brow. “Dude? All of these girls, cute girls I wanna add, and you don’t even look at them. You’re a whole new level of loyal.”

“That is not it.”

“What? You’re not into girls?”

Xiao glares at him through his lashes and pulls a chuckle out of Aether’s chest.

“Alright, alright, I gotcha, I won’t ask anymore.”

A bit later when Aether is back to wiping the counter and whistling a tune to a song Xiao doesn’t know, he belatedly says, “I am simply not interested in such trivial matters.”

It sounds like Xiao didn’t mean for Aether to hear, a small mutter from a tongue loosened by the sweet poison Aether serves on a weekly basis. Maybe it wasn’t meant for his ears, maybe it was.

Aether still pretends he didn’t hear a thing and continues wiping the bottles.

The rest of the night goes by well enough. The customers are served and pour tips like Aether pours their drinks and by the time your shift ends, Lumine is hitting back a shot herself.

“Hey, is boss not here today?” You ask when Aether fixes himself one as well.

Aether opens his lips to answer, but you’re faster, with a mischievous glint in your eyes and a smile promising nothing good. “Does this mean we get free drinks on the hou- “

A sudden pressure on your head keeps you from finishing your statement. Warmth tingles your scalp and spreads throughout your temple and it’s then that you recognize the feeling of fingers pressing on your head.

The look on Aether’s face is enough to make your breath stutter. His lips take on the shape of a small o with his hands freezing mid-motion. Lumine explodes in a fit of laughter somewhere to your right.

They don’t need to say anything for you to know who exactly is standing behind you. The excited whispers from all corners of the bar are telltale signs enough.

“Does this mean what?” A deep voice like silk drags through your spine and curls around your throat in that threatening way only your boss can pull off.

“B-boss,” you stammer nervously and turn to give him a shaky smile, “Good evening.”

Your eyes meet. Crimson clashes with genuity and the tight grip on your head loosens until it leaves you to cold air with a single, soft pat.

“Sup, Diluc?” Aether asks to dissipate the tension that’s been threatening to tear Lumine’s cheeks apart. She’s always been one to laugh at your daily misfortunes.

Diluc exhales with his eyes still fixed on you. He shakes his head with a small, amused smile and sweeps his eyes quickly through the bar to check if everything is going alright. His fire-kissed hair is tied into a high ponytail, giving everyone a perfect view of his porcelain complexion. The white and black of his attire are a stark contrast to his burning hair.

His gaze stops on Xiao and he eyes him long enough for you to notice the question floating above his head.

“This is Xiao.” You say just as Xiao turns around to meet his eyes. “He’s a distant relative of mine. He uh, he’s going to spend a while here in Mondstadt.”

“Is that so?” He hums in a tone that doesn’t sound like a question at all.

Aether walks around the bar and unties his apron before he then places it on the swinging door. A groan slips out of his lips when he stretches up high into the ceiling. Now that Diluc is here, it’s his sign to clock out and go home with Lumine. Said girl is already on her way to the dressing room, her head tucked back into her phone.

Diluc passes you on his way to the bar, but stops just as his shoulder brushes yours. He tilts his head down and leans in closer, all the way until his breath ghosts over the curve of your neck and then inhales deeply. Xiao doesn’t look away for even a second. His grip on the cup tightens.

Flames lick up your face instantly, his proximity one that is unknown to you and you pull back immediately. Your back hits the edge of the counter when you squeak, “Boss?”

“Did you change your perfume?” He asks you, as if he didn’t almost kiss your neck.

“Woah, careful there tiger.” Aether chuckles with his elbow resting on the bar. His chin tilts in his palm and he smirks. “You know she can sue for sexual harassment at the work place, right?”

“It’s not harassment if she enjoys it.” Lumine chirps from the door to the staff room. Upon your mortified expression, she pokes her tongue at you.

“What! That’s- not true!” Your words come out stumbled and if Aether’s shit-eating grin is anything to go by, your face must be quite the sight.

Xiao hasn’t said anything yet.

“Stop speaking nonsense.” Diluc flicks Aether’s forehead with an unimpressed expression. He then turns to you and adds, “Forgive me if I made you uncomfortable.”

Your hands are quick to brush him off with a shaky, “No, it’s fine. I know you meant no harm.”

“Why am I always the one to get the flicks…” Aether sulks as he trudges to the staff room while rubbing his sore forehead. You quickly follow him with a burning neck, the tinge of vanilla mixed with a comfortable bonfire from Diluc’s scent still tingling in your nose.

Once you’re out of sight, Diluc walks through the swinging door and makes himself comfortable behind the counter. With swift movements, he wraps the apron around his trim waist and quickly ties a neat knot at his smaller back.

His eyes still on Xiao, who hasn’t moved an inch, he asks, “So, Xiao. Where are you from and what brings you to Mondstadt?”

The answer he receives is clipped. “I do not see any reason to share this with you.”

Diluc hums, almost as if he expected this and gives him a polite smile. “I didn't mean to meddle, but surely you understand my concern for my employee?”

A minute passes, one in which Diluc opens a bottle and fills a cocktail shaker with it.

“Liyue.” Xiao says, turning to face the other way. “Why I am here should not matter to you.”

“Ah, I see I have offended you.” Diluc sighs with an apologetic smile.

He adds a few more things and shakes the cocktail shaker with practiced ease before he then pours it in a cup. Teal liquid fills half of it and right after, he drops a few cubes of ice in it. A leaf of basilicum to top it off on the clear surface. “As a sign of apology, I would like to offer our most popular drink.”

Xiao eyes him suspiciously, staring hard enough at the drink to disintegrate it if he could. The picture from before flashes before him: Diluc leaning in close to you, your flustered panic as you stumbled into the staff room.

Something within him flares, something he hasn’t felt in a long time and almost as if it turned into a competition, he gets the intense urge of not wanting to lose.

With a scowl and a quick swipe, he thrusts the cup back to down the drink in one go.

A choice he regrets immediately.

He tenses and grips the counter with a death grip. A searing wildfire burns through his lungs, causing his throat to swell up and trap the air in his mouth. Unspeakable pain seizes through him and it takes all of his composure to not blow up the entire bar in rage.

In front of him Diluc looks down at him with so much disgust and contempt, there’s no sign of the charming bartender from just a minute ago.

His voice is cold, so cold that the fire within Xiao freezes to a complete stop. “What business do you have with her, demon?”

Amidst the incinerating ache threatening to rip his lungs in half, Xiao still manages to bristle humorlessly. He knew it. He knew right from the instant Diluc stepped a foot into the bar that something wasn’t right with him.

If Diluc thought a stealth attack like that was enough to end him, he was wrong.

Xiao has been through much worse.

“I am more curious what a hotshot like you is doing with a little girl like her.” A moment of tension passes. One in which Xiao lifts his eyes to impale Diluc with the daggers in his eyes. “Will you not tell me, Angel of the Phoenix?”

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven

You’re sleeping soundly in your room with your door closed and locked behind you. Xiao can hear every breath you take, every exhale that leaves your resting body. If he keeps his eyes on the frame of your door long enough, he can map out the way your arm hangs off of the edge of the bed, your fingers barely grazing the floor.

The soft fabric of the couch beneath him has accepted him and molded itself to adjust to him. Even as he got up to pace around in the middle of the night, it kept its shape as if it was waiting loyally for him to come back. Not once did he turn on the television that night.

Ever since his encounter with Diluc, Xiao has been thinking.

Thinking about why he’s back in the human realm, about why he can’t seem to finish this job and go back and pretend all of this didn’t happen. There’s an uncomfortably tight ball in his chest when he thinks of the bleak walls and the empty floors waiting for him back in hell.

It’s just one soul, he thinks, and yet he’s still here, entertaining your stubborn goal that he knows is fruitless.

How long has it been already? A week?

The days have passed too fast for his liking. Xiao doesn’t like to dally, has never had a contract that exceeded the span of a few days. But now he’s here, still here and it doesn’t look like he’s going to leave anytime soon. (He doesn’t know how he feels about this knowledge.)

A gust of cold air enters from the tilted window and brushes up his face. He inhales until he can taste the wind and the instant his lashes kiss his cheeks, he sees red.

Hair spun from scarlet, eyes bleeding with ruby, he sees the spark of a quivering flame before it sears through his lungs and all the way up to his lips.

Diluc, the Angel of the Phoenix.

He opens his eyes again and exhales, lightly touching his chest. There’s no fire there, no malicious intent of purging him from the inside out. There’s not a single dust of Diluc left in him, Xiao made sure of that much.

But what were the odds of running into him? What were the odds of him being your guardian angel?

The very same angel that was known in hell as the ruthless demon slayer, tasked with the duty to watch over and protect you until it was time for you to part ways with the human realm and become one with the soil again.

Xiao can’t help but cringe - this made your soul that much more valuable to possess. It would be a direct hit to the gods themselves; taking someone they had blessed to make them one of their own. If word got out about your existence, Xiao wouldn’t be the only demon after your soul. And they, he feels an odd tightening sensation around his heart thinking about it, won’t be as patient as he is.

Demons don’t believe in luck. There are no stars aligning for them, no guiding hand that brings them to where they want to be. However there is no other way Xiao can explain the chance that out of everyone, out of all of the angels that roam around Teyvat, he managed to stumble into Diluc. And there is no other way he can fathom how someone like you - gullible, stubborn and downright foolish - could be connected to him.

But in hindsight, all the signs were there.

He should have known there was more to you when he smelled the scent of flowers on you that first day you summoned him. You reeked of angels, of Diluc and his divine protection and everything he will never be and some part of Xiao revels in the knowledge that he is the reason you no longer do.

The confused twist of Diluc’s face when he leaned down to breathe in the new, unpleasant scent hanging off of your skin; the tightness of his jaw when he rounded the corner of the bar and was met with the very same coming from Xiao; it fills him with so much satisfaction, he finds himself smiling.

And when you left the bar with Xiao in tow, Diluc unable to intervene and tear him apart from you, he flashed him the same one. Of course, you being you, were blissfully unaware of what had transpired mere minutes ago and tip-toed around him to test the waters if it was safe to speak again. When you felt no resistance, you broke out of your bubble and began chirping like a bird again, your tongue loosened by the free drink Aether had given you.

“How long have you been working here?” Xiao asked at some point.

You tilted your head with a hum, your eyes fixed on the starry night sky as you counted back the years. “I think I started in my first year of uni, so it’s been what, three years now? Four?”

“How did you find this occupation?”

You pressed your lips together and shot him a look of amusement. “Curious tonight, are we?”

He didn’t give you the reaction you had hoped for and continued his path back to your apartment. A few tiny flecks of ashes were still roaming around his lungs and he garnered another small gust of wind to clear the rest of them out.

“Auntie from the bookstore hooked me up with him.” You said eventually, not wanting the silence to devour you both. “Diluc’s brother is one of her regulars at her store, so she asked around for me when I told her I needed a second job. She arranged the interview for me and uh, yeah, that’s how I started working for Diluc.”

“You are no longer in need of a second job or any job at all for that matter.”

You stopped in the middle of the road and looked at him, perplexed.

“As long as I am by your side, you will be in possession of ample funds and do not need to fret over something as basic as money. Therefore, this occupation of yours is unnecessary.”

There were so many stations to stop at to correct him, but you decided to speak out on the arguably most important one. “And what’s gonna happen once you’re gone, huh? I don’t know what the work industry is like in hell, but it sure isn’t easy to find a job here. I was just insanely lucky to have known the right people at the right time and I am not about to test that luck!”

“Once I am gone,” Xiao turned around to meet your exasperated eyes with his blank ones, “That will be the least of your worries as I will be taking your soul with me to hell- “

“See, that’s where you’re wrong.” You interrupted him shamelessly and strode up right to where he was standing. “My soul belongs to me. And it doesn’t matter how many times you remind me of this stupid contract - I will not hand it over to you.”

“Also,” you continued, your voice cracking at the end of the syllable, “I’m not about to quit my job just because you said so. I don’t need your “funds”, I’ve been doing plenty well without them so far and I’m sure I’ll do splendidly well without them in the future as well.”

“I was not aware you were this passionate about being a waitress.”

“Well… I wouldn’t say I am passionate about serving drinks, but I guess I do like the environment. And I get to work with my friends, what more could I wish for?”

Xiao could tell it was more a rhetorical question, so he asked his own, his curiosity now slightly elevated. “When did they start working with you?”

“Aether and Lumine?” Xiao nodded and resumed walking. You trailed after him, your earlier outburst already buried beneath your giddy smile. “They started right after I did, actually. They were very suspicious of Diluc at first. I still remember what Aether said when I told him about the job offer. ‘Why would an old man like that want to hire a younger girl? What’s he after?’”

The memory was still fresh in your mind as if it happened yesterday and not years ago. Back then Aether was even more protective of you than he is now, looking up every guy coming into your life like he was trying to dig up the tiniest piece of dirt was collecting beneath their shoes.

“I’m a guy! I know what I’m talking about. We’re all trash, you can’t ever trust us, okay?” was what he would say whenever the topic would arise. It was a lame excuse, even you knew that back then, but he was so absorbed in this role of the protective brother he had slipped into that you wouldn’t dare break his enthusiasm.

Your cheeks hurt just thinking about it. “But they ended up liking the job and Diluc, so they stuck to it.”

Xiao glanced at you from the side. “Is that why you have such difficulty parting from the tavern?”

His question made you stop and consider it and your answer came in a hushed tone, almost as if you were afraid your words would become reality if spoken out loud. “We won’t be around each other as much after graduation. Lumine will be busy being a successful business woman, Aether will be traveling around all of Teyvat and I…”

You paused for a breath and bit your lip. “I will be right here.”

The way you looked up at the endless sky; the way your eyes filled with a sheen of longing at the prospect of being left behind caused his fingers to twitch. He was filled with a sudden urge that had overcome you just a few hours ago. And the realization struck him like thunder, rattled him awake from whatever senseless fantasy he was seeping into.

He wanted to turn away from you, wanted to escape these strange and unfamiliar aches in his chest, but you kept him rooted beside you with a chain unlike any other when you said, “So yeah, you’re right. I guess that’s why I have such difficulty parting from the tavern.”

You closed your eyes and let the wind caress your face in a soothing touch. “I want to enjoy what little time I have left with them. You know, before adult responsibilities make us grow apart.”

Your yawn breaks through the wooden door separating you two and brings him back to the present. He can hear the rustle of your sheets as you struggle to say goodbye to your warm bed and the pitter patter of your feet as you clumsily stumble to the bathroom.

Why he was lost in the moments of yesterday, he can’t tell. It should have been a day like any other, one that will not matter in the grand scheme of things.

But now, he suspects with a heavy weight in his gut, now that Diluc knows about him, nothing will be the same.

The jingle of the bell greets you when you open the door to auntie’s bookstore. She follows quickly when she spots you with Xiao, her dewy, full cheeks forming apples as she smiles at you. The floor creaks underneath her weight and she holds out her palm for you two to hand over your jackets.

It's pleasantly warm inside, as it always is, and you can't stop the tiny shiver that racks through your body. The heat of the fireplace dispels the cold that settled on your skin and it leaves you with a slight flush, crimson reaching up to grasp at your frozen ears.

Xiao’s eyes roam around the front of the store, taking in all of the knick knacks auntie has scattered in the shelves. It's the same as before, full to the brim with items he's never seen before. He's sure if one thing were to fall, it would cause a huge domino effect and bring the entire store down with it. He tries not to touch anything.

Auntie takes your hand and frowns. “You’re freezing, child. Why are you not wearing any gloves?”

“Hehe… I keep forgetting to bring them with me.” Her frown doesn't falter, even when you give her a sheepish smile. She's known you long enough to not fall for your charms after all.

She nudges you towards the fireplace, her hands warm and motherly on your smaller back. “Go and get warmed up before the kids come.”

Xiao doesn’t join you when you kneel down to face the crimson flames. He chooses to stay on the other side of the store, his back to you as he watches people outside pass by. They´re all bundled up in scarves and thick coats, their breaths coming out in fogs and their faces as pink as yours just was. A part of him wonders what it feels like to be cold.

You close your eyes with a sigh. A blanket of warmth wraps its soothing arms around your shoulders, eliciting a rise of goosebumps. It's a welcome embrace, one you would never reject and when you hold your hands out in front of the fire, your lips automatically curl into a smile. The pink fades and gives way to your usual skin tone. Your fingers tingle.

“Aren't you going to join her?” Auntie asks Xiao.

He glances over his shoulder, his amber eyes meeting hers. They´re kind, shaped into two glistening crescent moons that seem to mirror every single one of his thoughts. He looks away. “I do not like fire.”

“Oh dear, I didn’t know.”

The next time Xiao hears her maternal voice, she´s by his side, her gaze trained on the crowded streets of Mondstadt. “You would think when it's cold like this, people will stay in their warm houses and enjoy the sight from inside. But I have never seen Mondstadt without its people.”

It's true. If there is one thing Mondstadt is known for through all of Teyvat, it's for its freedom loving people. It doesn’t matter whether the sun is shining, whether thunder is ripping the ground in half or whether cotton rains from the sky - its people are always out, craving the gentle caress of the wind.

“I am told you are from Liyue?”

At this point Xiao has made peace with the knowledge that he won’t be able to sleep away the days and ignore any human interaction. With someone like you, who is constantly surrounded by people and who appears to be loved by literally everyone around you, he understands it’s impossible to not be roped into a conversation at some point.

Humans haven’t changed from the last time he set foot on earth. They are still as jovial and interested in hearing about each other's lives and - this is something he never appreciated - about others’ lives. Even after all these years, he can’t quite fathom why someone would want to know anything about someone they don’t even know.

But auntie doesn’t really seem to mind his reluctance. (Whether it’s because she can’t pick up on it or she simply doesn’t care, Xiao isn’t sure.) “I have been to Liyue once in my life. The harbor was breathtaking… truly a place where all kinds of people flocked to. But it has been so long ago… you were probably not even born back then.” She laughs at the memory of it. “That’s how old I’ve become, goodness.”

“It still is like that.” Xiao finds himself saying.

Her eyes widen for just an instant, as if she doesn’t quite believe he responded, but then she recollects herself almost immediately and continues. “We traveled through all of Teyvat and rested in an inn south of Dihua Marsh.”

“Wangshu Inn?” Now it’s Xiao who turns to her with elevated brows.

She sounds mildly amused at his reaction. “So that inn still stands?”

It’s a question he can’t answer without lying or raising suspicion. The last time Xiao was in Qiongji Estuary was several hundred years ago. It’s been so long since he watched the moonlight up on Wangshu Inn’s balcony, he had long thought it had been destroyed, like many other things he has come to love.

His lips tug into a smile of relief.

If he were to close his eyes and take a deep breath right now, he would still be able to taste the breeze of the salty ocean surrounding it.

“I keep telling her to go, but she never listens.”

Xiao is plucked away from Dihua Marsh and placed back into auntie’s cozy little bookstore. When he glances over his shoulder, you’re leaning into the fireplace with your eyes closed still and he can see every tiny hair on the back of your neck rising to meet the ceiling.

Auntie shakes her head and her voice drops into a mutter. “Time trickles by so fast, you’re unable to grasp it between your hands. Soon, she won’t have the same amount of free time she has now. Once she’s old and wrinkly like me, she will regret not having been beyond Mondstadt’s borders!”

Her words remind him of the previous night when you said something similar. Lost in your head, you too had spoken of a future that would take more from you than it would give you.

“What is keeping her here?” He asks without really realizing it.

If Xiao has noticed anything during his stay in your life, it’s that you have infiltrated everyone’s hearts and secured yourself a neat little spot there. Auntie’s features soften when she responds. “We are.”

He wants to ask more, wants to understand what exactly it is about you that has everyone in the center of your tiny, naive palm, but it’s almost as if you can sense they’re talking about you, because in the next breath, you’re by their side and poking your head between their bodies.

“What are you gossiping about?”

Auntie has no trouble redirecting your attention to something else when she “innocently” says “I was telling your handsome boyfriend about my time in Liyue.”

The effect is immediate. A crimson flower blooms across your face and you jerk as if she’s burned you with her words alone. “Boyfriend?!”

She doesn’t even grace you with the mercy to refute, her laughter adding fuel to the fire on your face as she walks back to her spot behind the register. You rush after her, too eager to convince her otherwise.

“He’s not my boyfriend, but a relative of mine, remember?” Your voice breaks mid-question and it only pulls another amused grin from auntie, who is enjoying your flustered panic more than she’s ready to admit.

Xiao doesn’t insert himself into the conversation, but follows the interaction with interest. The heat on your face spreads all the way to your neck and your voice grows so loud, he’s sure he could hear you from the other side of the street.

He doesn’t understand what the big deal is or why you’re so flustered to begin with. Sure, he wouldn’t necessarily call himself your friend, would probably rather spend a day around angry puppies than place a seed of hope in your heart, but he doesn’t see any reason for you to lose your cool like that.

After all, you were the one to ask if he wanted to become your friend in the first place, so it adds all the more confusion to him when you now vehemently deny any such relation to him.

While you’re still firing away the same repetitive argument at an unresponsive auntie who is much more interested in adjusting the books on her shelves, Xiao tunes out the sound of your voice to mull over the ways of humans once again.

He wonders why they would distinguish between the gender when talking about a friend.

“Oh, oh, oh, what happens next?”

Tiny fingers claw into your arm and when you look down, you are met with a sweetness made of honey and caramel staring up at you. The pale blonde of two short ponytails bounce with each movement. Klee blinks three more times, never breaking eye contact with you.

Her expression is one of wonder and desperation and it’s both so endearing and funny, you can’t help but release the small giggle bubbling up from your chest. “She gives him one more turkey drumstick and shushes him like this.”

Your finger goes up to press into your pursed lips and Klee follows every single one of your movements with a reverence only a small child can harbor. The sparkle in her eyes glows brighter when you lean closer and drop your voice a little lower. “He snatches it from her and runs from the kitchens.”

Klee isn’t the only one who’s fallen prey to your spell of story-telling. Qiqi, who is on your other side, prods your waist with hesitant fingers and shyly looks up through her purple bangs. “Does she tell on him?”

Your hand finds its natural place on the top of her head and you pat it gently, adjusting your voice to match hers. “No, she doesn’t tell a single soul about it.”

“Of course she doesn’t!” Klee interjects rather passionately, “He just took some bread after all! Freshly baked bread! Who can say no to that?”

“I don’t like bread.” Qiqi says.

The look of utter shock and betrayal are clear as day on Klee’s face and it drags another bark out of you. Qiqi can tell the exact moment she’s stepped on a landmine and buries her nose in your shirt in an attempt to escape the explosion Klee is about to make.

You remember the last time this happened and suppress a violent laughing fit all the while trying to appease Klee, who has yet to become friends with the idea that not everyone on the planet will agree with her.

“They don’t see each other again for years after that.” You flip to the next page of the book and just like intended, Klee’s mouth snaps shut and her eyes are back on you. It’s adorable, really, how predictable she is. “The next time they meet, they are fourteen years old.”

“What happened in those four years?” Klee interrupts you with urgency.

You hum thoughtfully and tilt your head. “You know, I’m not quite sure. A lot can happen in four years.”

“Was he still stealing bread from the kitchen?”

“Probably. After all, he isn’t part of the royal family.”

“But- “

Qiqi groans and as quiet as the sound of it is, Klee still catches it and eyes her with interest. “If you would be a bit more patient and wait, your questions might all get answers.”

Her argument is of a caliber that isn’t entirely Qiqi. She’s always been a perceptively smart kid, but this is something even she wouldn’t say. “Hm? Where did you pick that up?”

Her eyes meekly flit over to Xiao, who is on the other side of the room, perched on top of a chair reading a new comic series. One of his legs is crossed with his ankle pressing into his thigh and his face is obscured by the book he’s holding.

“Xiao?” You ask in disbelief.

The notion of him talking to Qiqi, let alone share any sliver of wisdom is so absurd, you have trouble believing it. Especially since the rest of the children are steering clear from him, his deadpan expression and cold tone enough to drive them away.

But Qiqi has always been a rather curious child, quiet and observing of her surroundings. Fearless in a way that reminded you a little bit of yourself.

She nods, but doesn’t go into further detail. And in the next second, Klee and several of the other kids are already back on you, tugging your arm and calling out your name for you to continue the story.

From the back of the room, Xiao lowers his comic book and continues to watch you.

Later that evening when the first kids have already been picked up and the rest are chatting away until their parents come, you seat yourself across from Xiao.

“What are you reading?” You ask, placing your chin between both hands.

He closes the book shut and leaves it on the table for you to see. You lean down to read the title of it and are surprised to see yet another classic hit. It’s one that has relished in a lot of love from the public. A bestseller in all of Teyvat, one that even you have once succumbed and lost a lot of sleep to.

“Did you like it?”

He ponders your question while tapping his fingers over the cover. “I would like to meet the human behind this.”

“Oh? You liked it that much?”

“Like?” He huffs, sounding almost offended. “I would like to ask where they got all of this nonsense from.”

Your mouth falls open. You’re not quite sure what he’s saying. “Uh, what?”

Frustration ripples through his forehead in waves and he’s quick to open the book again to display a page he particularly dislikes. He points to the character in question, holding a greatsword and dressed in a yukata. “What makes them think a death god would wear something like this?”

A waft of awkward silence breezes through you. It’s not at all what you expected he would say, but still so weirdly in character that you don’t know how to respond. You genuinely don’t know what to say. So you don’t.

But oddly enough, now that he’s opened the box full of things bothering him, he finds himself unable to close it. “A greatsword? Do they really think a death god would wield something crafted by a human? The arrogance of humanity is aggravating…”

“Uh, you seem very worked up about this.”

At your unsure tone, he looks up from the panel and whatever he’s met with in your gaze rips him from his bubble and makes him straighten in his seat. The edges of his ears bleed into a deep crimson and he slams the book shut, purposefully avoiding your eyes.

“I fail to understand how something so off-putting could find so much success.”

You shrug. “I mean its genre is fantasy after all. It’s not based on reality or anything. All just a part of the author’s figment of imagination.”

“Well, I do not like it.”

Laughter scratches at your throat, but you gulp it down in fear of infuriating him even further. “You don’t have to like it. Plenty other people do.”

“Not that it should matter to me.” He clears his throat and refuses to further expand on this conversation. “If you are finished, we should head out. You mentioned something about having plans with your friends?”

“Oh, right!” You jump from your seat and shoot him a blinding smile that perfectly reflects your anticipation. “Dinner with the crew! We should head out, Lumine gets really scary when she’s hungry.”

He watches you cringe from the corner of his eyes, but makes no comment as he places the book back on its shelf and follows you to the front of the store. At this point even the last remaining child has been picked up and it’s only auntie guarding the front of the store.

She’s flipping through one of her astrology magazines again, focused on the most recent readings of each zodiac sign. Yet, she still hears you approach and gently lays the magazine on the counter to greet you. “Finished?”

You nod and open the closet, reaching far inside to retrieve Xiao’s jacket first and then yours second. Xiao takes it from you and easily slides into it, mimicking your movements by zipping it all the way up to his chin.

He still finds it a hassle to wear so much clothing when its singular use is to cover up his most private parts, but he remembers your endless lecture on why he has to blend in if he doesn’t want to be asked uncomfortable questions. And if he has to choose between wearing another unnecessary layer of clothing or hearing you go on and on about why he can’t walk around in a shirt in the middle of winter, he would rather choose the former.

“We’re off then, auntie. I’ll see you next week?”

She walks over and wraps her arms around you to pull you into a comfortable hug. You smile and embrace her back. A sense of serenity overcomes you and you lean in further into her. “Take care, alright?”

Once she releases you, she looks over to Xiao, who tries not to take a step back in preparation should she reach out for him too. But she doesn’t, only makes sure she has all of his attention before she says, solely meant for him, “Make sure she doesn’t run into any more trouble than she already does, will you?”

“Hey!” You protest rather weakly like a child would, “I can hear you, you know?”

“You can?” Xiao counters mockingly.

It drags a long groan out of your throat, causing you to storm out of the store with offended steps. Auntie shakes her head with an amused chuckle and Xiao unwittingly follows you into the busy streets of Mondstadt, lest the chain around his neck forces him to stumble after you.

Lumine and Aether are already in front of the barbeque place, the former with a scowl on her face and the latter kicking a cobblestone on the asphalt.

“Finally, the star of the evening shows up.” Lumine growls. She’s in through the door before you even reach her and Aether looks up to give you a shrug.

“Yikes. How long have you guys been waiting for?”

He meets you halfway to give you a hug and kisses you on the cheek. “We literally just came. But you know what she’s like when she gets hungry.”

The perfect imitation of an angry boar fills Aether’s face and his delight doubles when you snort at it. He opens the door for you and nods towards Xiao while you pass through. “What’s up?”

Xiao merely nods back, to this day not quite comprehending this form of greeting or how he’s supposed to answer to it. He’s constantly reminded that humanity is evolving in all kinds of ways, sometimes faster than he would like. But up until now it has never been an issue for him, for he has never had to actually interact with any other human than the one summoning him, let alone live like one.

All the while Aether is chatting him up about something he’s only half-heartedly listening to, about some kind of video game he recently got and how he’s going to really feel the repercussions of his actions when exam season rolls around.

It’s only when the sizzling sound of meat infusing with oil and the scent of seasoned vegetables reach him that he’s fully paying attention. Lumine waves you over to the farthest corner of the restaurant, the menu already in her hands as she flips through the options, a mad sort of glimmer reflected in her amber eyes. Aether casually slinks in beside her while you and Xiao settle across from them.

There’s an electric grill between you on the table and the warmth of it is beginning to pour out and surround you in tiny waves. It’s a welcome sensation after walking through the chilly evening air and you find yourself stretching your palms towards it, much like you did back at the bookstore.

Xiao takes in his surroundings, watches as the overflowing venue bustles with laughter and conversations. All kinds of smells linger in the air: from the fruity sweetness of beer to the rich aroma of steak to the earthy saltiness of baked potatoes. He takes a deep breath and fills his lungs with it and if he had the sensation of hunger, he’s sure his stomach would be rumbling by now.

“What are you guys gonna get?” You ask while eyeing the menu.

Lumine lifts a hand to call the waiter. “I’m getting the cold cut platter and I’m not waiting for you to decide.”

“Wow, you’re lucky you’re cute.” You grumble underneath your breath while quickly trying to decide what you want to order.

Aether and Xiao share a look, Aether smiling and Xiao slightly surprised by how different Lumine is when it comes to food. She’s so lost in the pictures the menu provides that she doesn’t even register her twin’s taunting remarks and if Xiao’s eyes don’t deceive him, there’s a thin glistening line descending from her lips.

The waiter comes and takes your orders and until your dishes are served, you fall into easy conversation with Aether. Xiao listens as he usually does while Lumine is dead set on staring at the kitchen door until finally the guy responsible for your table comes walking out.

And not much later, heaven is displayed on your table.

A big platter with thin slices of ham and bacon, dozens of tiny plates filled with all kinds of side dishes ranging from radishes to colorful peppers to carrots cut into tiny cubes to cooked and seasoned zucchini slices - everything the mind can think of, it’s there.

A hefty bowl of steaming rice sits in front of each one of you and you take a deep breath with a smile, exhaling it giddily.

“Smells so good! Let’s dig in!”

The words are barely out of your mouth when Lumine prepares her first bite. A large spoonful of rice, a cooked slice of ham, followed by a layer of Jueyun chili. She opens her mouth wide, uncaring of etiquette as she shoves it into her mouth. The darkness in front of her eyes lifts to reveal a new world and she smiles.

“Oh my god, this is amazing.” She mumbles around the food. Aether has to reach over and shield her mouth with an expression of disgust.

Meanwhile, you take a leaf of lettuce and carefully place some of the ham in the center using chopsticks and then surround it with tiny onion slices. After you’re done filling it, you wrap it into a firm cube and hold it out to Xiao for display.

Wordlessly, he repeats your every step and with nimble fingers produces the exact same result within seconds.

“Cheers!” You clash his wrapped lettuce with yours before biting into it.

He does the same. The cabbage crunches satisfyingly when his teeth sink into the tender meat and the juicy fat of it trickles into his mouth and coats his tongue. The longer he chews, the more flavor starts to come out and he doesn’t wait until he’s swallowed before he prepares his second mouthful.

You watch him devour his bowl of rice within seconds, your eyes unconsciously wandering to his back to check for a reaction you know you won’t see in public.

Lumine is in the same state Xiao is, although slightly more intense, because she’s already asked for a second serving of rice by the time you’re halfway done with yours. Aether swears he isn’t related to her, occasionally nudges her with his elbow or steps on her foot when she takes away a sausage you were aiming for.

It takes another bowl of rice and several more lettuce wraps until Lumine is fully conscious and present again. And by then, she’s back to the cheeky chatterbox you know and love.

“So how are you enjoying Mondstadt so far?” Aether asks Xiao when Lumine finally takes a break to drink some water.

Xiao gently places his chopsticks beside his empty bowl and answers. “A lot has changed since I last came, that much is clear.”

“Huh? You’ve been here before?” You ask, perplexed.

“Yes. But… it has been a long time.”

“Well you must’ve liked it here a lot if you wanted to come back.” Lumine says.

“We’ve been to Liyue once too, for the Lantern Rite Festival.” Aether’s eyes sparkle at the memory. “It was incredible.”

“So much good food…” Lumine reminisces, which garners her an unimpressed stare from her brother, who sounds agitated when he says,

“Can you not think about food for once? The lanterns in the sky were the most memorable part of our trip and all you can remember is the food?”

“Have you not had the grilled tiger fish, Aether? It was out of this world!”

“Whatever.” Aether dismisses her in favor of continuing telling his tale. “We’ve been trying to get this one,” he points to you, “To go with us for years now, but she just won’t budge!”

“I’ve told you, I don’t have time and money to travel all the way to Liyue Harbor!” You pout rather indignantly.

But Lumine won’t have your temper tantrum. “And we’ve told you billions of times that we can pay for you. Mom and dad won’t even notice the money missing from their account and you’d get to see a little bit more of Teyvat.”

“She’s a hopeless case, Lu.” Aether points out. “She wouldn’t leave Mondstadt even if she was the last one standing here.” His lips curl into a smug grin. “She’s Mond’s guardian.”

“Har har har, very funny.” Your narrowed eyes do absolutely nothing to intimidate him and when you realize this, you switch back to the defensive by saying, “I like it here! I don’t see a reason to leave a place I feel comfortable in. Right, Xiao?”

However if you thought Xiao would have your back in any type of situation, you thought wrong.

“It is for the better that she remains within familiar terrain. With how much air she has up here,” he taps his finger against your temple and waits for your jaw to drop open before he continues, “it would not do for her to get lost whenever she rounds a corner.”

Your offended gasp is swallowed by Lumine and Aether’s booming laughter, who both simultaneously throw their heads back at the very accurate representation.

Aether is the first to recover and he half-says, half-wheezes, “Remember that time when your parents had to call the police because you were nowhere to be found?”

Your face fills with so much heat, you feel like you’re on the verge of exploding. Xiao raises a curious brow and Lumine is hot on her twin’s trail and continues the story before you even have the hope of interrupting them. “Turns out you were in your neighbor’s house playing with her cats while your mom was this close to losing her sanity.”

“H-Hey! I was seven! That’s- “

“And that one time you fought with your parents because they wouldn’t let you go to the bakery on your own, but when they finally let you, you don’t turn up for hours.” At this point tears are streaming down Aether’s face, tiny splotches of red splattered all across his chest from the lack of air.

Your hands are shaking when you try to reach to clasp his mouth shut, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think Aether is the only offender when it comes to airing out your dirty laundry.

Lumine raises her voice and makes sure Xiao hears every word she says. “This little idiot took a wrong turn and ended up walking in circles for hours until we finally found her crying on a stairwell.”

“Ugh, you guys are so mean.” You groan abashedly and burrow your face in your hands, the heat spreading from your face to your ears, all the way down to your neck. You can’t even retaliate with stories of their own, that’s how embarrassed you are.

And while you helplessly try to dig a hole in the ground to hide in, Aether and Lumine make it their mission to share your entire childhood with Xiao, who listens with so much rapt attention, he fails to notice the warm tingle in his chest.

“God, I’m full! That was so good!” You clap against your slightly bulging stomach as you drag yourself up the stairs with Xiao right behind you.

His footsteps are inaudible and he tries not to let it sink into his bones just how quickly the past few hours have passed in the company of the energetic twins.

The sound of your key entering the hole and turning echo in the empty hallway and you yawn as you open the door and step inside, leaving it for Xiao to follow after you. A way too familiar scent immediately latches onto his lungs, causing his pulse to shoot through the roof as he instinctively lunges towards you.

Before he’s able to reach your side, your keys slip through your grasp and clatter on the floor with an earth-shattering sound.

Your jaw connects with the ground.

“Yo! Nice place you got!”

Xiao emerges beside you and feels his heart stop.

There, right in the center of your living room, are the two last people he wants you to meet.

Childe and Zhongli.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight

“Welcome home, kept us waiting long enough.”

Childe greets the two of you with a carefree smile. He lets himself drop on your couch, his back facing you. Zhongli to his right remains quiet, opting to thoughtfully stare at Xiao.

It feels like a hive of bees are in your stomach. Angry, borderline suicidal bees that want to rip you apart from the inside. Through your window, a beam of orange light paints your living room, the blue shadows reaching up to your feet.

There are currently two men in the middle of your living room, claiming the space as their own, acting like nothing is amiss.

Two men you do not know.

You glance over at Xiao, fearful that he might use his powers and reveal he isn’t human. A hundred scenarios cross your mind, ranging from him hurting what you presume to be thieves to the world finding out about the existence of the supernatural.

You’re not sure you’re ready for the latter scenario.

“Don’t hurt them.“ You whisper to him, inconspicuously reaching inside your bag.

Xiao turns to give you a look like you’re (once again) the strangest thing he’s seen all his life. Childe’s ears twitch and Zhongli switches his target to you. Before Xiao can ask you if you have lost your mind, you hand him your phone from behind your back. Your voice is so quiet, you know if it wasn’t for his enhanced hearing, he would not have heard it.

“I’m gonna stall them. Call the police.”

Childe barks out a laugh. His head is thrown back against your plush couch and the sound reverberates all throughout the room. His shoulders tremble from the pressure and he can barely ask, “Stall us?”

A cough from Zhongli, who hides a small smile of amusement behind his hand catches your attention. His voice is as deep as the fear in your chest. “I do not think the police will be very helpful, young lady.”

You try not to panic, gulping down the scream that threatens to tear out of your throat. Xiao hasn’t taken the phone from you yet, so you nudge him again, hoping for his cooperation.

However his next words slam the air right out of your lungs.

“What are you two doing?”

You can do nothing but stare in disbelief as Xiao gently pushes your hand away, lifts his to cross them over his chest and scowl at the two intruders.

“Is that a way to greet your friends?” Childe pushes himself off the couch and raises an amused brow.

Zhongli nods in agreement more calmly and explains their sudden appearance. “We were concerned after you disappeared into thin air. We heard from one of Ningguang’s secretaries that you were back in the mortal realm.”

“So you decided to just barge into someone’s home without a prior announcement?” At least Zhongli has the decency to look away. Childe’s grin only grows. “I presume this is your doing?”

Childe shrugs casually, walking around the couch until he faces both of you. His eyes rake over you from the top to bottom and he is about to make another comment that will no doubt warrant another insult from Xiao, but you steal his intention from right under his feet.

With raised brows, you stride further into your apartment, leaving Xiao and every bit of common sense you have behind. He gapes after you, his feet instinctively following yours.

“You’re Xiao’s friends?”

Childe and Zhongli snap their heads towards you at the same time, their eyes bulging out of their sockets.

“Xiao?” Childe asks in a whisper.

Zhongli appears just as dumbstruck, his brows knitting to meet half-way. “She knows?”

But you’re completely unreceptive to their shock and break out in a delighted smile. Xiao’s friends, you think, this is your chance to find out more about him and where he’s from. This can be your ticket out of the contract.

“I didn’t know you had friends!” You tell him, eliciting a choked laugh from Childe, who quickly recovers from his earlier surprise.

“Ouch.” He says, taking one more step towards you.

Xiao shakes his head and pinches his nose at your abrupt change in demeanor. “I do not know if you are just incredibly positive or an incredible fool.”

“Hey! Can you really blame me for being surprised though when you have a foul attitude like this?”

“F-Foul attitude?” Xiao shrinks back affronted.

“Aren’t you two just a couple of lovebirds!” Childe interrupts your argument with ease, placing his hands on his hips as he gives you a smug grin. “Leave some romance for the rest of us to find, won’t you?”

“Childe…” Zhongli reprimands him, but Xiao has already been set off and exudes bitter tasting air from his pores.

You cough, feeling your throat perch up.

“I suggest you go back where you came from.”

Your eyes widen and you quickly recover before Xiao can say any more. “What? No!”

“No?” This time it’s Zhongli raising his brows, his features softening into one of genuine curiosity.

“You must be tired from your journey, right?” All three of them gape at you like you had grown a second head. “Sure, I’d have much preferred it if you guys had knocked on my door instead of breaking into my apartment, but there’s always a next time- ”

“I think I know now.”

You turn to Xiao. “Know what?”

“That you are an incredible fool.”

Childe laughs again and it’s such a hearty sound that you actually find yourself smiling as well. You decide to make some tea to get them to sit down and tell you all about hell, but as soon as you put some distance between yourself and Xiao, Childe falls quiet again.

His eyes follow you into the kitchen and narrow, flitting back and forth between you and Xiao. There’s an odd thought in the back of his mind, a sense of realization he wants to check as he walks after you. Xiao watches this exchange warily.

You notice Childe’s presence behind your back and turn to ask him if he needs something. He doesn’t answer your question. Your heart hammers in your chest at the sudden proximity, but it doesn’t stop him from dipping even lower until his nose is only a few centimeters away from your neck.

He sniffs the air surrounding you once, twice and just as the wires are about to connect in his head, gold invades his vision. Feathers of translucent amber rise to build a wall between Childe and you, preventing him from getting any closer to you.

It’s an unexpected action on his part and catches you off guard, so much so that you peek out to tilt your head at Xiao. He retorts with an unimpressed blink and refuses to further comment on it. His chin nudges you forward, a silent gesture for you to go ahead and do whatever you intended to do in the first place.

Childe’s mouth falls open in surprise, but once the lightbulb clicks, he scoffs and pokes into the feathers with a shit-eating grin.

“Interesting, “ is all he says as he turns back around to make himself comfortable on your couch as if he owns the place. (What is it with demons and home invasions, really?)

Xiao follows him reluctantly, already too aware of an impending headache. The kind that always seems to come with having Childe around. He hasn’t had those in a while.

Meanwhile, you’re pulling out four mugs from the drawer and placing several jars on your counter. You’re surprised by Zhongli, who appears beside you with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Is there any tea you like?” You ask him nonchalantly, oblivious to how he thoughtfully observes you.

His response makes you stop. “You do not appear to be scared of us.”

You take a moment to answer and then decide to roll the ball to his court. “Should I be?”

“We are demons. And you are a human.”

You look at him. You’re not quite sure where he’s trying to go with this, but then again Xiao was just as confusing in the beginning. You suppose it’s a demon thing.

“Xiao promised to protect me. Part of the contract and all.”

This drags a quiet laugh from Zhongli. A clever young lady; your trust in Xiao is endless. It is something he finds most curious. There are already a lot of questions swimming in his mind, but it has only been a few minutes since they have appeared. And if Zhongli is one thing, it is patient.

So he settles for something else. “Osmanthus.”

“Hm?”

“I fancy sweet osmanthus.”

You brighten up at that and grab one of the jars, turning it so he can see the little sticker on it. “Well, aren’t you a lucky one?”

He takes it from you, noting how you don’t flinch when his skin meets yours, and reads the label. He smiles. “Seems like I am.”

The kettle resting on the stove starts whistling and it’s only then that he notices you already started boiling water. A fast one, he thinks.

You turn off the gas and fill all mugs with equal amounts just shy of the rim. A cloud of steam separates from the surface and you open another drawer to retrieve a spoon.

“Wanna stir in the powder or should I do it?”

Zhongli blinks, perplexed. It’s odd on his face, looks out of place compared to his otherwise rather stoic features. From this distance, you can see how bright his eyes are - amber, like those of Xiao and the twins.

You smile to yourself, wondering how they would react if they knew there were three demons in your apartment right now.

No doubt Lumine would be the most vocal about it. Protective over you like a tiger is towards their cup, she would throw a fit and physically force them out of your home and your life.

You cannot imagine how Aether would react.

“Zhongli.” He says, bringing you out of your thoughts.

You lift your head, your confusion written all over your face.

“My name is Zhongli. And that,” he glances over his shoulder to see Childe chatting Xiao’s ear off, the latter looking as dead as packaged fish in the supermarket, “is Childe.”

“Zhongli.” You repeat, letting his name roll off of your tongue experimentally. He nods and watches the leaves dissolve in the water, staining the color of it a deep yellow. You introduce yourself while stirring the tea and he repeats your name after you, a foreign feeling spreading through your chest at the sound of it.

There’s no more idle conversation as you pick out a tray to place the mugs on and by the time you’re back in the living room, Xiao looks a thousand years older. His shoulders are hunched and his head in his hands, whereas Childe is the complete opposite.

His intimidating aura from before is nowhere to be seen, replaced by childish glee at having found his friend again. It’s like his anger at his sudden disappearance is long forgotten, way more important topics (like the latest gossip hell edition) currently at the tip of his tongue.

“Oh!” He perks up when he sees you settling beside Xiao with a tray, the latter exhaling in what can only be described as exhaustion. “You brought tea? Aren’t you an angel!”

His last bit is emphasized unnecessarily with a pointed stare at Xiao, who mentally flicks him and asks you, seriously, “You are aware you are sitting together with demons? Actual, real demons, who will eat your soul the first chance they get?”

“Yup.” You chirp back. “Actual, real demons, who read picture books and then complain about the fashion choices in said books.”

The heat that rises to Xiao’s face could rival the flames that threatened to devour him from the inside that night he met Diluc. He averts his gaze, trying not to materialize a spear to thrust through Childe’s smug grin.

“Hm…” Said demon drags out melodically, sipping on the cup of tea you provided him like it adds flavor to Xiao’s flusteredness. “Picture books?”

“Yeah, there’s this manga series- “

“Anyway.” Xiao finalizes the exchange with gritted teeth. He leans back against the soft fabric of your couch, his wings stretched out behind him with a tenseness Childe doesn’t miss. Your tea is none of his concern as he stretches his arms out and meets the two demons with a cold gaze. “What really brought you here?”

You blink.

The joyful atmosphere from a second ago is gone with a single exhale from Xiao. You separate your eyes from his tension-filled form and glance over at Zhongli. He appears unbothered by the change in the air, focused purely on the blissful taste spreading through his tongue.

It’s Childe who answers, his grin unwavering as he lifts his cup, “Told you already. Our discussion last time wasn’t finished and you pulled another Xiao on us.”

“A Xiao?” You ask with a confused frown.

Childe looks over at you, lets his eyes travel from head to toe and then back to meet your gaze. His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “But it appears we don’t have any need for our previous conversation anymore.”

“I must admit I did not expect you to take on another contract when you made a rather large deal of no longer serving Satan.” Zhongli muses. He crosses one of his long, slender legs over the other, the golden ornaments on his coat catching the light of your lamp.

“I did not desire to have a blockhead as a client.”

“Hold on, excuse me?”

Childe chokes on his tea and breaks out in a fit of coughs, Zhongli raises a brow with the rim of his cup surrounded by his lips and you huff in angry embarrassment at yet again having been offended by Xiao.

You turn to Childe. “Are all demons rude like this?”

“I am not rude, I am simply- “

“Honest, yeah, yeah. Maybe you guys call it honest in hell, but it’s called being an asshole here on earth.” And with that, you create a wall between you two that completely swallows his offended,

“Asshole?!”

(Really, why is he the one being offended when it’s him who is insulting you?)

“It’s not like I asked you to be here, you know!”

“Wait, what?” Childe looks from you to Xiao and when he doesn’t explain himself, turns back to you. “What do you mean you didn’t ask for it?”

Even Zhongli is intrigued, his thoughts no longer occupied by the sweet memories that come with the tea. In comparison to the rest of you, his cup is almost empty.

“Yeah!” You start, upset. “He suddenly materialized out of thin air and kept insisting that I owe him my soul!”

Xiao shifts on the couch and leans in closer to you, his frustration now visible on his youthful features. For the first time since you met him, he sounds genuinely exasperated with you. “You read from the book of records, gave your blood and called for my name. No matter how you look at it, that is a summoning ritual.”

Childe and Zhongli exchange a wide-eyed look.

“I keep telling you that’s not how it went! I was reading a book and accidentally, the key word is accidentally, cut myself on one of the pages!”

“You called for my name- “

“There was a huge dragon that looked really cool! Sue me for wanting to know what kind of creature I was looking at. How was I supposed to know that that was you? Which by the way, “ you nudge further towards him as well, driven by your need to be proven right. There’s something within you wanting to wipe the complacent attitude from him. “Is false advertising. You’re not even a dragon!”

This time it’s Zhongli snorting, his hand shooting up to hide the curve of his lips. The sound of it breaks you and Xiao from your little bubble and it’s only then that you realize your knees are pressed against each other and your breaths are intermingling. Almost simultaneously, you pull away from each other.

You’re spared the embarrassing flare of your stomach when Childe’s laughter rips through you. Tears are pooling in the corner of his eyes, the shade of blue getting enhanced by a delighted shimmer. He can’t stop, only laughs louder as the reality of your situation settles into his mind. His hand is pressed against his stomach in a feeble attempt to calm himself down.

“You accidentally came across the book of records, “ he manages to wheeze through his quivering lips, “and then accidentally summoned a demon, “ he slaps his knee when the first tears begin to roll down his high cheekbones, “and then you bind yourself to him by signing a contract accidentally?”

You want the ground to swallow you whole.

“That is quite a number of accidents.” Zhongli adds unhelpfully.

Actually, you want to go even lower than that.

“This is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. We should’ve come sooner.”

“Is that the reason you vanished that day?” Zhongli asks Xiao, who looks like he would be ready to sell his soul if it meant he could escape his current predicament.

He still answers the question though, because he always does. “Yes.”

“I see.”

You try not to let Childe’s reaction get to you, try not to let the fire in your chest rise up to your cheeks, but when he so blatantly points out how stupid it all sounds, you can’t help it. Your head sinks into your hands and you groan, your words nothing but a mumble jumble when you grumble, “And now I’m trying to get my way out of this stupid contract, but he won’t help me.”

A moment passes. And then another. And then, another.

“Huh?” Childe finally asks, breaking the awkwardness that was starting to build.

“You are trying to get your way out of the contract?” Zhongli repeats, hoping you will add something that makes more sense for him.

Their reaction baffles you. Sure, you didn’t expect for them to hoot and holler in encouragement - after all, they’re still Xiao’s friends and demons. But with the looks they’re giving you, you’re really starting to think that this isn’t something all too common.

(Somehow, that makes you feel even more stupid. At least if someone else had been through this, not only would you know that you’re not the only one in this situation, but also have the security that the entire supernatural realm wasn’t pointing fingers at you and laughing at your expense.)

Unaware of your thoughts, Childe clears his throat and uncomfortably glances from one side of your living room to the other. His loud laughter is already forgotten. There’s a spot on his cheek where one of his tears has dried. His eyes are focused on his hands as he opens his mouth to speak.

“Don’t.” Xiao cuts right through his attempt. There’s a last warning in his golden eyes, one that Childe has seen countless times. He has never dared to cross it.

“You have not told her?”

“This is none of your concern.” Xiao gives the same admonition to Zhongli, whose jaw tightens when faced with it. Unlike Childe, Zhongli knows exactly what lies behind.

“What are you guys talking about?” You scoot forward, your hands pressing into the couch beside your thighs. You don’t appreciate being left out like this, especially when the topic at hand is your literal life.

“You don’t know?” Childe asks, this time making sure to avoid Xiao’s grimace.

“Don’t know what? Can someone please enlighten me?”

“No.” Xiao answers for them, but Zhongli, ever the fair demon, doesn’t find it right to keep something as vital as the following from you.

For him, the most important thing is that he and his client both know extensively about the contract and all of its points. Above all, he values fairness. Right now, that does not seem to be the case.

“There is a way for you to break the contract.”

Two things happen.

Xiao’s exhale comes in a silent growl, a displeased one that tinges the air surrounding you with bitterness. You, on the other hand, breathe out in relief, your shoulders slumping as if robbed of all the invisible weight it carried ever since he stepped into your life.

“How?” You ask, sounding rather desperate. But at this point, you can’t bring yourself to care.

Over the past week, you thought of all kinds of scenarios. You considered every possible thing that possibly could cross your mind, all the ways that could help you prove Xiao wrong. From asking God for help to striking an entirely new deal with Satan so he can let you off the hook to things you are embarrassed to admit out loud, because they are that unrealistic.

But none of it prepared you for the hollow feeling spreading through your chest when Zhongli speaks again.

“Xiao has to die.”

That night sleep doesn’t come easily.

You stare up at your ceiling, losing count of the copious amounts of sheep for the nth time in the past hour. Zhongli’s words keep repeating themselves over and over in your head.

There’s a part of you that wants to deny the new knowledge. You don’t want to believe that the chain around your wrist connecting to Xiao’s neck is a symbol of you holding his life literally in the palm of your hands. It’s even harder to accept that now, under his protection, you are akin to immortal.

When Xiao first told you that your life was his to protect until the contract was fulfilled, you didn’t expect for it to be so literal. To know that no matter what happens, no matter what strikes, you will survive so long as he breathes - it is an odd realization.

Death has been around you for as long as you can remember.

It started off with your dog whose life was lost to illness. It continued with your grandparents parting from this earth because of their age. It ended with your parents bleeding out on the ground, shattered pieces of a broken vehicle around them.

Aether used to say you were blessed by God’s touch, unable to die no matter the circumstance. You thought you were cursed, forced to live with the loss of your loved ones while you had to live on.

It feels like whoever is in charge of your life is having a grand time while munching away on buttered popcorn and sipping on an oversized bottle of a sugary drink. You’re not usually a violent person; always the one in search of conversation rather than conflict.

But right now, as you lay in bed, thinking of how the only way to free your life was by taking that of another, you really want to punch whoever it is in the face.

“Why are you still here?” Xiao asks, sounding as hostile as he possibly can.

“Aw, come on. Don’t be like that! We traveled all the way from hell for you and we’re stuffed inside this human body.” Childe winces as he stretches his stiff neck. “It’s been a while since I’ve been this sore. I forgot how weak humans are.”

“Well, I have great news for you.”

Childe perks up, instantly biting on the bait like an overly excited dog. “What is it?”

“There is the door. No one is forcing you to be here.”

His smile drops as fast as it comes and even though he’s been on the receiving end of Xiao's harshness many times before, it doesn’t lessen the offense he takes. His pout is audible through his words. “Come on, you gotta give us some credit! We’ve been looking all over for you!”

“And before you say that you did not ask for us to look for you, think about what it was like for us to have you disappear into nothing in the middle of a conversation.” Zhongli leans forward, for the first time that night his expression stern. “We were concerned about you, like it or not.”

Xiao closes his mouth again, looking conflicted. Lost for words, he blinks, once, twice, three times until he harshly turns his head away, up to gaze at the stars from your balcony.

“She’s an odd one, but she’s got a great view for sure.” Childe comments after a moment, mimicking Xiao to take in the night sky. “Bummer we can’t stay here with you.”

He recalls your livid warning for them to leave before the sun rises, all too aware of the watchful eyes of your neighborhood. The last thing you needed was your landlord coming in because of rumors of strange men entering and leaving your apartment at odd times. The thought of it makes Childe laugh, but he could tell immediately that you did not think it was funny when he shared it with you.

“What are you gonna do now?”

Xiao knows where he’s trying to go with this. It takes him a minute to properly come up with a plausible response. “I… do not know.”

Zhongli’s forehead rises. That is something new.

“She is as stubborn as a human can possibly get. I believe her when she says she will never wish for something if it means she gets to keep her soul.”

“So you intend to tag along until she grows old and wrinkly and vulnerable and then deceive her to fulfill the contract?”

Zhongli cringes, the thought of cheating his way through an agreement sitting wrongly on his skin. It was the biggest difference between him and Childe. Xiao seems to hold the same opinion.

“I am not you.”

“Hey!”

“She thinks she can break the contract.”

There’s a foreign feeling spreading through Xiao’s chest. It’s warm and fuzzy, but simultaneously electrifying and he’s not sure it’s a pleasant one. He’s been experiencing this more often, especially, he notes, in your presence. But when he thinks back to the broken pieces of your face after Childe told you about the true extent of your contract with him, this feeling heightens.

It heightens to the point where his bones swell, too big for his body as if they are trying to break their way free.

“Why did you not tell her that your lives are tied together now?” Zhongli asks.

It is a valid question.

Xiao has been asking himself the same thing for a while now.

“I am not sure.” He says.

He’s not.

What good would telling you do anyway? Knowing you, you would needlessly worry about the whole ordeal, about the implications of what it means to have your life be bound to his.

“What if she tries to kill you in your sleep now?” Childe chuckles, trying to lighten the mood.

Zhongli gives him one of those long, hard looks he tends to give when his morbid sense of humor peeks out. It’s a look Childe has long since learned to ignore. He’s seen far worse and far more intimidating things from the demon of geo to be intimidated by a simple glare.

But then the unthinkable happens. Both of them are surprised to see Xiao’s lips tug into a smile. Small as it may be, it’s enough for their jaws to drop and split the ground in half. “I wonder if someone like her would be able to ever purposely harm someone. Somehow… I doubt it.”

“An odd one for sure.” Childe says again, much like before. “I mean, for starters, she’s the first human who knows our actual, real names. It’s weird being called Childe by someone who’s not even supposed to know about me.”

Zhongli bows his head apologetically. “You have me to blame for that. I do not know what came over me when I revealed our names to her. She…”

“Made you want to share that part of you. Yeah.” Xiao finishes for him.

The three don’t say anything after that oddly heartfelt conversation. There’s a strong breeze whistling through them every now and then, the air frozen from the coldness seeping from the ground. Their breaths come out frosted each time they exhale.

But demons don’t freeze.

The blanket of white beneath them is not an uncommon sight. Hell is full of icebound places - from the icicles clinging onto thin tree branches to the crystallized pillow settling on every windowsill to the tears of glistening white raining from the black sky.

Cold is no longer a feeling for demons. It is simply a part of them.

Though there is one thing the mortal realm possesses that hell does not; the one singular thing that makes demons and devils alike crave and envy the humans for.

Zhongli lifts his head in a melancholic fashion, his amber eyes alight from the thousands of stars above. He smiles, the creases of his face softening with the shadows of the moon. Memories from a time long lost sizzle at the threads of his mind. Flashes of teal, of gold, of blue - it causes his stomach to pull.

“It has been a while.”

You wake up feeling even more tired than you did when you went to bed. Throughout the entire night, you tossed and turned, yawned until tears of exhaustion sprung from your eyes, yet you could not find a single wink of sleep.

It’s torture in the worst way possible when your alarm blares, penetrates your ears until you’re convinced they’re about to bleed. Your fingers fumble for your phone clumsily, miss the spot where it usually rests and the groan that rips from your throat sounds almost guttural.

You find it after what feels like another million years and when it finally stops, you exhale in relief and let your hand fall. Devoid from the warmth of your blanket, the cold morning breeze entering from your tilted window claws its way up your arm, leaving behind a trail of goosebumps.

A shiver wrecks through your spine and you immediately clamber back inside the soft sheets. The last thing you want to do is leave to face the cruel, cold morning, unwilling to part with your bed. But when your phone vibrates and lights up, and then the same thing happens ten times more, you have no choice but to get up.

You know what happens when you don’t.

(You’re not quite sure you’re ready to face chirpy Aether at six am in the morning.)

After assuring him that you’re up and getting ready, you jump into the welcome embrace of your meltingly hot shower stream. You make quick work of your hair, scrubbing the dirt and the grime from your scalp, lather every surface of skin with bubbles as big as clouds and get dressed with the first piece of clothing you can find.

You’ve never been one to be invested in fashion choices and it didn’t change, even when Lumine has hounded and terrorized you throughout the years to put in a little more effort until she too gave up on you and let you be.

So with a simple hoody and some fitted black jeans, you grab your backpack and open the door, only to close it back again, close your eyes, count to three and then open it again.

Nope. You’re probably still dreaming.

You’re about to close the door again when Childe’s melodic voice drags through your ears. “You okay over there?”

“Why are you still here?” You ask back instead. It’s too early for you to be polite. “I thought I told you guys to leave before the sun rises?”

Childe lays a hand on his chest - right above his heart - to show his offense. “We’re not still here. We are here again. There’s a difference.”

A part of you - a tiny, little, almost not noticeable part of you wants to punch the wink off of his face. You reason it’s because of the lack of sleep and maybe, just maybe because he looks like he jumped out of a fashion magazine.

Leaning against the counter of your kitchen with his arms crossed, he looks every bit handsome as he does charming and there’s nothing worse than seeing someone look this fresh and put together at six thirty in the morning when you feel like you’re coming apart by the seams.

Zhongli doesn’t even say anything, only watches you curiously, his eyes following a waterdrop clinging to a strand of your hair until it, with a last violent shake, separates and meets the ground.

“I can make them disappear if you want me to.” Xiao says, totally nonchalant.

Childe gasps and for a second, you actually consider his proposal. You can tell with a single look into his eyes that Childe is full of mischief and trouble. How someone so different from Xiao could become his friend is beyond you, but even with half of your brain still asleep, a tiny part of it lights up in remembrance.

Xiao’s friends.

Of course - this is great, really great actually. This means Xiao is no longer your only connection to hell. You no longer have to beg him for answers. If you play your cards right, you might even be able to squeeze out a little bit of intel from either of the two demons staring at you.

“It’s okay, there’s no need to.” You respond, earning a confused grunt from Xiao and a positively surprised squeal from Childe.

Light conversation settles in the open kitchen area when you begin to prepare breakfast. There’s not much in your fridge, the last time you went grocery shopping was with Xiao almost a week ago, and considering how it was no longer just one person eating, but two (and today even four), it’s no surprise how quickly you burned through everything.

You make a mental note to stock up on all the things you’re running low on and pull out the huge jar of self made strawberry jam. Auntie was kind enough to share a basket full of strawberries with you. Fresh from her garden, she said, all smiles and wrinkles as you took it from her.

And fresh they are. Zhongli stops moving when the sweet flavor kicks in for the first time, Childe sighs in bliss as the spread coats his tongue and Xiao - well, you can’t deny you’re happy to see the usual twitch of his golden wings.

The jam tastes divine applied thickly on a crispy slice of bread, still warm from the toaster and crunchy in all the right ways. They don’t comment on it, but you can see how distraught Childe and Zhongli are by how carefully they study Xiao and the way he bites into a piece of bread.

It looks hilarious to be honest, almost makes you laugh out loud, but the moment is so wholesome and fills your heart with an odd sense of contentment that you keep it in. It would be a shame to break the atmosphere now.

You find out more about them, way more than what you bargained for, because apparently the way to loosen the tongue of a demon is by feeding it.

Much like Xiao, Childe and Zhongli are also the type of demon to feed on human souls, although as of present, neither of them are in a contract.

But unlike Xiao, whose lungs are filled with fresh air and whose fingers can make the wind sing in joy, Childe and Zhongli have mastered other elements.

Childe’s tongue is as fluent as water is, each of his movements smooth yet deadly, depending on what kind of intention he carried in his waves. (Now it makes sense why you feel like drowning when you look into his deep blue eyes.)

Zhongli is different from both of them. Still and unmoving as mountains, he commands the weight of a million rocks, strong and resilient enough to build nations.

Appearance-wise, you decide that Zhongli’s power is the prettiest one you have ever seen. The tiny jade-colored square stone growing out of his palm glistens underneath your kitchen light and you can’t stop yourself from gingerly reaching out, wanting to touch it.

“Go ahead,” he says, his deep voice gentle.

The rock is surprisingly heavy in your hand and when it begins to separate into several long pieces, you curse and almost drop it as if it burned your hand. You watch with euphoric fascination as it swirls over your wrists, flies circles around your head until it settles back into Zhongli’s palm, penetrating his skin and then disappearing and becoming one with him again.

“Holy shit, “ is all you can manage to say.

Childe laughs unabashedly and places his chin into his palm to observe your unconcealed reactions to this part of them. Driven by your vivid eyes, he stretches out his hand towards you, palm up and waits for you to notice him.

It’s almost cute how you gaze at him expectantly and he feels his ego swell twice to its already abnormal size. Medium sized bubbles pop out of each of his fingers and remain suspended in front of your eyes. Your mouth falls open and a confused exhale breaks through the silence when the bubbles remain sturdy, even after you poke into them.

“What the…”

“Don’t say Xiao didn’t tell you about this part of us?” Childe asks smugly. He side-eyes Xiao, who turns away to stare out of the window.

“There was nothing to tell her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean!” You protest crudely, appalled that you missed out on something so mesmerizing. “How could you keep something so cool from me?”

Xiao turns back with a genuinely curious expression, his brows almost touching. Cool isn’t exactly the kind of word he would use when describing his abilities. To him, they are rather impractical. He’s not as passionate about it as Childe is, not as attached to it as Zhongli is.

“Can I see yours too?”

Your invasive eyes drag like sandpaper across his skin and he has to physically restrain himself from shivering from the sensation of it. There’s something different about it this time, about this moment entirely that doesn’t sit right with him.

Right here in your living room, with a full belly and surrounded by three of the most deadly demons to ever exist, you look far too at ease.

Like it’s only natural for you to be with them.

“No.” He says eventually, spoken with such a finality that not even you dare to sit on it longer than necessary.

Defeated with a pout, you accept this drawback and move to clear the plates. To your surprise, Zhongli helps you.

Back alone in the kitchen with him, not unlike the night before, he follows your every move. From the way you scrape off the remaining crumbs into the trash can to the hot water sinking into the growing sponge, his eyes take in everything.

It makes you feel like a research project with how intent he appears, when all you do is wash the dishes and lay them sideways against the wall to dry. With his lower back against the counter, he remains quiet at first, thoughtful in a way that makes you not want to disturb him.

You remember Childe’s words from yesterday, still gnawing at your conscience like annoying little bugs. You run your fingertips over your partially dried hair, stopping just above the spot on your neck that is crackling with some sort of tension.

There are just about a million questions resting on the tip of your tongue regarding this entire ordeal, but Zhongli reads you like an open book and takes it away for you. (He’s known to be good at that.)

“You do not desire his death.” It is not a question.

As soon as you understand the implication behind his statement, a piercing arrow shoots you right through your heart, a deep ache spreading from the tip of it all the way through to your veins.

It is only natural for you to feel sad when thinking about death, having been someone who has experienced it far too many times in the short time that you have been alive. But it feels different now, unlike the many times you have thought back to your family.

This time it feels specific, like the thought of Xiao specifically no longer being by your side causes the arrow to drive deeper.

It feels excruciating.

“I don’t.” You whisper.

In the future, you will know that this was the moment Zhongli saw your answer for what it truly is.

A confession.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine

You shouldn’t be surprised.

Still, you are.

Zhongli and Childe are in front of the lecture hall, deep in conversation. Or more accurately, Childe is the one doing the conversing whereas Zhongli quietly listens. They stand out just as much as Xiao did when you first went out.

Childe looks like every single guy Lumine always warns you about, dressed in a simple long-sleeved white shirt, a dark brown leather jacket and black jeans. His wild ginger strands stand in stark contrast to his smooth, pale skin and taking his expression and posture into account, he very clearly knows the effect he has on all the girls passing him.

If Childe is day, then Zhongli is night.

Anthracite slacks on sculpted legs, a grey high neck sweater along with a long black coat grazing his knees, he could easily pass as one of those guys who post pictures of their outfits for a living. He looks so charming that even some of the male students gaze lingers on him, their heads turning back one more time for that last stolen glance.

Xiao curses under his breath and it’s then that they notice you two approaching.

“Good morning!” Childe greets, as if he didn’t just eat breakfast with you forty-five minutes ago.

“How do you know where I study?” You ask back instead, slightly concerned over how much exactly they know about you.

“It was in your school notebooks.” Zhongli answers truthfully. He releases a grunt upon promptly getting punched in the ribs by Childe.

It takes you a few seconds to connect the dots, but when you finally do, a surge of heat rises to your cheeks. Your voice comes out high-pitched and slightly hysterical. “You snooped around my things?!”

“Now, now, that’s not a very nice accusation.” Childe says too cheerfully, grabbing you by the shoulders and steering you inside the lecture hall. “We got a lil’ curious and looked around a bit. No harm in that, right?”

“What- That’s called snooping around!”

“Tomato, tomahto - it’s all the same- “

“It’s not!”

Lumine’s wary voice drags you out of your small argument with Childe when she calls for you and you turn to see her already there with Aether. They’re on the same seats as always, but unlike before where they always had one spot next to them cleared for you, they now have two. It makes you smile.

“Hey! Good morning!” You leave a still chirping Childe behind and slip in beside Aether.

He loops an arm around your shoulder and pulls you into a smothering hug. The scent of lemon and oak wood fills your senses when your face gets buried in his long hair and mutedly, you hear him speaking with Xiao.

“Good morning, bud!”

Xiao, as usual, simply nods at both of them and then, without giving any further attention to Childe and Zhongli, settles in beside you.

Unbothered by this very obvious show of distaste from Xiao, Childe steps forward until he’s opposite of Lumine, whose eyes are suspiciously watching him.

Phone in one hand and a coffee in another, she raises an unimpressed brow when his smile grows into something ominous. He sounds just as self-assured as he looks when he turns to address you. “Why didn’t you tell me you had an angel for a friend?”

Aether chokes on his own spit, you freeze like a statue, Zhongli closes his eyes and Xiao sighs, deeply exhausted. Lumine doesn’t even bat an eyelash. You’ve never seen her look so dead inside.

“Right, excuse me.“ Childe continues, either completely oblivious to his massively failed attempt at hitting on her or so full of confidence that it doesn’t even bother him (somehow, you dreadfully assume it is the latter). “I haven’t even properly introduced myself yet.”

He places his elbows on her table, crosses one foot casually over the other and leans in close, all the way until he can see the brown shadows dancing with the gold in her eyes. His voice is all seduction and breathy when he says,

“I go by Childe. But you,” he slips a piece of paper towards her, actually having the audacity to add a flirty wink to his words, “can call me anytime.”

Your jaw snaps open in disbelief and in shock and in every other feeling that possesses the power to encompass… whatever just happened in front of you.

You turn to Xiao like a deer caught in headlights and whisper to him, “Did he really just say that?”

He releases a guttural groan, second hand embarrassment flaring at his conscience and when he risks a glance at Zhongli, he deducts that the latter is just as speechless and lost for words as he is.

Aether clears his throat awkwardly, a small snort tugging at his lips - not yet a full outburst of laughter, but well on its way there.

The worst thing is, Lumine is still staring at him with what could possibly be the most unresponsive face of the world. Not a single muscle moves, no rise of her chest to indicate that she is breathing and for a second, you think the delivery of Childe’s pick up line was so bad, she died.

“Lu?” You ask hesitantly, reaching over Aether to tap her arm gently.

She twists her head to you the instant your finger comes into contact with the fabric of her shirt and it’s such a sudden movement, you instinctively flinch back in fright. “Hm?”

“Are you… okay?”

During this interaction Childe patiently waits for some sort of response from Lumine. He’s still pressing on the piece of paper that contains his phone number (where and when and how he got his hands on a phone is another matter you need to discuss with him), his chest is still pushed forward and his chin is still up high.

“Yeah, why?”

You exchange a quick look with Aether, unsure what to say to that. Xiao does both of you a favor when he shoots a warning glare to Childe before he says, “Please do not mind him. You are free to ignore him.”

Childe wants to protest to that, his brows already gearing up to bunch in frustration, but Lumine quickly stops both of them when she states, “Oh, I’m not ignoring him.”

She meets his endlessly blue eyes with an empty stare, her voice sounding almost robotic. “I’m simply giving him time to reflect on what an idiot he’s being.”

Now it’s Childe whose grin gets wiped away and replaced by an inaudible gasp. Aether bites his lip and looks away, consciously making an effort not to laugh at him. You’re not sure what to say or how to react, overwhelmed and out of your element, whereas Xiao shakes his head with another exhale and moves on to other things, removing himself from the conversation entirely.

Zhongli grabs Childe by the shoulder with an iron grip and pulls him back, his polite smile a bit too tense to appear friendly. He quickly introduces himself as well and apologizes for the unsightly behavior of his friend.

“He tends to become… a little uncomfortable to be around when he is faced with something of exquisite beauty. But I can assure you, he means no harm.”

“Exquisite beauty?” Aether whispers more to himself, taking a long good look at his twin sister and then furrowing his brows in confusion. Not in a million years would he use those two words related to her in a sentence, ever.

But Lumine, much to his surprise and slight disturbance, actually loses her composure at that and averts her eyes to look elsewhere. She’s always been someone who fed on compliments from others and she’s certainly heard all kinds of metaphorical proclamations of love on her public pictures, but that is something that no one has ever said to her.

She wouldn’t mind hearing it again.

“It’s okay. It’s not the first time a douchebag has tried to hit on me.”

You and Aether watch in horror as Zhongli single-handedly disarms the wrath that is Lumine’s temper when it comes to men and their unnecessarily cringy pick up lines and puts her back together into this… unfamiliar, polite person.

You were convinced she would claw Childe’s head out - after all, she’s not really known to be a gentle and helpless little maiden. This is Lumine you’re talking about: self-sufficient and confident to the very last bone. She does not just sit down and take a shitty attempt at flirting like this with ease.

You don’t know whether to thank Zhongli or be afraid of him, but when you turn to share this with Aether, you see a manically grateful glimmer in his eyes. He looks like he just found the cure to every disease to ever exist.

“Please date my sister.”

The words are out of his mouth before he can possibly fathom what he’s just said and when his brain finally catches up with his tongue, Lumine’s face is already sour like she bit into a lemon.

“Ew. No.”

Zhongli doesn’t take offense, because he never does, but he does take Aether’s statement seriously and finds it necessary to clear up any misunderstanding.

“I did not have such intention, please forgive me if I have made that impression, young lady.”

Being talked to so formally by someone whom she presumed to be a little bit older than her causes Lumine to stiffen, reminded of the staff working for her family. Aether too does not seem to appreciate the title, a small frown tugging at his lips.

However his features soften into a small smile of amusement when in the next minute Childe begins to throw a fit like a discarded child and Zhongli, in the same manner, chastises him for disregarding Lumine’s boundaries.

It continues on until the professor shows up slightly breathless, late as usual, before they come to a silent agreement of sorts. Lumine has long moved on from the entire ordeal by the time Childe takes the seat right behind her and even though she feels his eyes burning through the back of her skull throughout the entire class, she does not turn around once.

Sometime later when your professor has his back turned to you, scribbling something on the blackboard while reading from his notes, you lean closer to Xiao and gently nudge him. He looks up from the manga he’s been reading and waits.

“What was that all about?” You whisper.

He looks at you like he doesn’t understand.

“Childe.” You add, helpfully.

“Oh.” He says, as if that answers your question. When you nudge him once more, he rolls his eyes and relents, “Zhongli already explained. Childe is weak to anything that pleases his eyes.”

“So he’s into Lu?”

“Into… Lu?”

“You know, into her as in… he likes her, he’s attracted to her… that sort of stuff.”

Xiao places the manga on the table and takes a moment to think. “I am not sure. I do not always comprehend what goes on in that impulsive head of his.”

You don’t like the sound of that.

Childe, a demon who feeds on human souls, growing interested in your best friend rings all the alarm bells in your head and for the first time since they have come into your life, you ask him a sensible question.

“Is Lumine in danger?”

Progress, Xiao muses. Apparently your head is not just a hot balloon full of air as he previously presumed it to be. Something within him, a foreign part that has recently nestled into his conscience and slowly started to take up a larger residence, crackles.

The side of his lips curls into a superior smirk. “Do you wish for me to protect your friends?”

The meaning behind his words immediately latch onto you and you strike him across the arm with a frown, your voice coming out a tad louder than you intended it to. “Xiao, I’m being serious!”

Your professor clears his throat and sends you a cautionary glance, causing warmth to flare up your neck. You send him an apologetic smile and cower deeper into your seat.

As Xiao is about to reach for his book again, you nudge him once more, this time with more force behind it to let him know how appalled you are that he is dodging your question and actually teasing you.

“She is not.” He says finally, after what feels like eons. “We can only form contracts with those who have summoned us. Unless Lumine is already a subject to a contract from which she can transfer onto other demons, she is safe.”

All the while behind you, Zhongli is berating Childe for his behavior. Courtesy is engraved in Zhongli’s DNA, has always been a part of him, dating back to his time before he was a demon. He might no longer remember what life was like for him back then, but this part of him comes naturally to him.

“That is no way to treat a lady.” He says, watching Childe roll his eyes so far up his skull, he feels the intense urge to scold him even more.

Childe clicks his tongue dismissively, placing his chin in his hand as he keeps his focus on Lumine, who has started tapping on her notepad. The naked skin of her neck is visible from this angle, her silky blonde hair parting like royal curtains to reveal smooth ivory for him.

He licks his lips.

“Do not.” Zhongli warns, dread climbing up his throat because he knows Childe will not listen to him. “Do not even entertain this thought.”

“Ah, loosen up, will ya?” Childe smiles, fully aware that there is nothing in the world Zhongli can do to stop him. “I haven’t even done anything yet.”

“...yet?”

If Childe hears the hesitance in his tone, he doesn’t let it show. His smile grows into something predatory, his blue eyes covered with a layer of darkness that previously wasn’t there. He thinks back to Lumine’s unimpressed face, how he didn’t even phase her the slightest, how she remained uninterested with an armour made of steel.

He wants to break it.

You have a lot of explaining to do after your class ends.

Lumine doesn’t believe a word you say regarding the sudden appearance of Childe and Zhongli, mainly because Childe is the type of person that makes you run for the hills. (And you did not run for the hills once during lunch.)

But it also doesn’t help that Zhongli speaks like someone from the Middle Ages and has picture perfect posture. (Because really, who in their twenties has that?)

Admittedly, the last thing on your mind was what you were going to tell the twins after they materialized in your room last night, so you didn’t really spend any time trying to come up with an excuse.

Childe’s pathetic attempt at trying to break Lumine’s shell and woo her fall on deaf ears and only end in her growing more suspicious of him.

(“I couldn’t sit still after I heard rumors of a goddess roaming around Mondstadt.” Childe lowers his lids to look more seductive, his voice low and raspy. “I’m glad to see the rumors held truth.”)

It earns him a scrunched up nose and a grunt of distaste (which he finds cute) before Lumine gives up trying to get a proper answer out of him and struts past him to her next lecture.

Zhongli exhales with disappointment and Xiao slaps his palm to his face, which is something that catches your attention. You’ve never seen him lose his cool or look done with the world like he did throughout the entire day Childe talked.

It’s a pleasant surprise.

In a matter of a few hours you have seen so many new sides to Xiao. He wore expressions you never thought he was capable of making, had the shortest fuse known to mankind when it came to Childe and calmed down faster than you could count to three whenever Zhongli whispered something into his ear.

There’s no denying it, no matter what Xiao says.

Only people who are dear to you are able to elicit those sort of reactions from you.

You actually don’t end up explaining the twins anything.

The day comes faster to an end with all of them around and there’s a part of you that swells. Even with Childe’s persistence and Lumine’s quickly thinning patience; even with Zhongli’s curious nature and Aether’s cheerful smiles; even with Xiao, who looks like he would rather be anywhere but here - your heart swells.

The sound of lively chatter and annoyed groans and breathless laughter follows you all the way to your bedroom later that night. Your phone is in your hand, the screen still lit up. You just got off a call with Amber after asking her for a day off.

After the fiasco with the puppy shitting on Xiao’s shoe, you figured he was not going to set foot in there anytime soon. (You figured right, because the second you dropped your bag on the floor after entering your apartment, Xiao immediately latched on your couch and gave you a warning glare to not even think of asking him to accompany you.)

You can hear steel clashing against steel coming from your television and the passionate dialogue that follows right after lets you know that Xiao is once again watching that TV show of his.

With nothing else to do and Xiao busy, you sit at the edge of your bed and gaze at your nightstand. A stack of hell-related books greet you back, waiting to be read.

You know you should read them. You know the only way to even stand a chance of making it out alive is by equipping yourself with knowledge and fighting back against whatever Xiao might throw at you.

You know you’re just wasting your time doing all these other things - going to classes, going to work, going out to eat.

You are aware of it.

But you also know the suffocating walls of your apartment, the quiet nights without the breath of someone else, the mornings spent alone eating food on a couch too big for one.

You know it too well.

The books lie there untouched as you grab the removable cover from one, wrap it around one of the books in your shelf that you’ve been meaning to read for weeks now and then, with no power to stop you from doing something you will regret later down the line, watch you leave the bedroom to sit silently beside Xiao, who accepts your company without question.

With no visit from either Childe or Zhongli, you got to catch up on all of the sleep you were missing out on from the night before.

Xiao lowered the volume of the TV when you left his side to brush your teeth and get ready for bed, only half-listening to what was going on in the show. The events of the day kept repeating themselves over and over in his head.

He should have known that Childe and Zhongli would grow concerned eventually, although for the former it was most likely to be curiosity rather than genuine worry that brought him here. He should have seen it coming that they would pop up unannounced to make a grand entrance into his life - after all, he knows them well enough to know their motivation behind each action.

Spending a thousand years together doesn’t mean nothing after all.

But what he should have suspected the most was how absolutely foolish you would be when the time came to meet them. Of course you would lose all common sense and try to befriend them, just like you did with him.

You, the peculiar and weak human, whose smile came so naturally as if there was no other face you would rather wear, befriending them, literal spawns of Satan who are filled with nothing but anguish and darkness.

He really does not understand you.

“Do you think they’ll come over more often now?”

Xiao lifts his head from the baking aisle, turning away from the dozens of almond packets to where you’re standing. After breakfast, you dragged him to the nearby grocery store to stock up your fridge. Your back facing him, you sift through the different kinds of flours until you find the one you’re looking for.

“Why? Do you want them to?” He asks back.

You purse your lips and take a moment to study him. You can’t tell what he’s thinking. “Honestly? I don’t mind the company.”

A young couple with a stroller passes you, deep in conversation and not paying any attention to their surroundings. Funny little noises come from the hood of the stroller, followed by a squeaky giggle that has the woman cooing at her partner.

Xiao doesn’t know how to respond. He’s not sure if you meant to say it in that off-handed way that it came across as or if your words held deeper meaning than that. He doesn’t ask.

“I was just wondering in case I should get more stuff so we don’t have to come back again before the week ends.”

You thought it would be different going grocery shopping for two people, but surprisingly it’s not all that different. Xiao isn’t a picky eater, accepts everything you put on his plate and these days, even goes as far as picking up those very same plates to wash them under a stream of hot, bubbling water.

It’s precisely because of how open he is concerning food that your cart is full merely a few minutes after you enter the store. A child stands a little farther away, sighing in envy at how fast and efficient you are. His parents are still discussing what color eggs to choose.

“Oh!” You jerk up when the reminder that you wanted to get some chia seeds shoots through your head. You turn to Xiao and push the cart his way. “Can you watch this for a second?”

He frowns, lips opening to say something, but you’ve already rounded the corner before he has a chance to even breathe. He curses, waiting for the all too familiar tug of his invisible collar. But said tug does not come and when he closes his eyes to search for your soul, he finds it right across from him, separated by a shelf of nuts.

He exhales loudly. “Seriously…”

While he busies himself with looking through the items resting in the cart, you reach up on tiptoes to grab the last packet of chia seeds. There’s a recipe you found earlier this week that you’ve been wanting to try. It’s a healthier version of chocolate pudding, consisting of a thick mixture of cocoa powder, avocado and chia seeds.

A tiny sound akin to a grunt slips through your lips when you can’t get high enough to pick it. You have to actively keep yourself from cursing. Why are they even placing anything that far up on the shelves? Are they trying not to sell them?

Seriously, who is even that tall-

“Let me help you with that.” The familiar deep baritone of Diluc’s voice fills your spine with heat.

You whip around, surprised to suddenly find him standing behind you. His hair is up in a high ponytail and unlike at work, where he always wears the customary outfit of a bartender, he’s dressed in black ripped jeans and a simple navy hoodie.

“Boss! What are you doing here?” You ask dumbly.

This is the first time you see him out in public like this and it feels like back when you saw your teacher for the very first time outside of school as a kid. It feels odd.

Somehow, you thought Diluc would always be in the bar.

His shoulders twitch when he scoffs, his voice gentle as he answers, “I have to feed my good-for-nothing brother with something.”

“Your good-for-nothing brother can hear every word, you know.” Another voice like molten, flowing like melted iron flutters in from behind him.

Kaeya stops beside you with a charming smile. Completely unbothered by the insult, he raises his arm and with zero to no effort, wraps his fingers around the pack of chia seeds before he hands it over to you. “Here you go.”

“Thank you,” you nod shyly in greeting.

You don’t see Kaeya often, what with his busy job as a detective, but whenever you do, it’s enough to leave you a stuttering, stumbling mess.

He’s just as handsome as Diluc is, albeit in a completely different way - with hair as blue as the night sky falling over sun-kissed skin in long, luscious waves and sharp sapphire eyes that can cut anything in two.

When they stand next to each other like that, towering over you in a way that makes you gulp, you start to feel very small. You wish Lumine or Aether would be here right now - it’s always less awkward with them around.

“Haven’t seen you in a while.“ Kaeya says, “How’s the bar been treating ya, kid? This geezer making you work late into the night again?”

“We are the same age.” Diluc throws back. His face might be lacking the reaction Kaeya’s been trying to provoke, but his voice reveals enough for him to know he’s hit a sore spot. “And I am not making her work. She chooses to work for me.”

“Yikes.”

You can’t stifle the small bubble of laughter in your chest, the image of the two fighting reminding you too much of the twins. So all siblings are the same it seems.

“I’m good.” You answer eventually, because you know if you don’t, their petty discussion will never stop. (You’ve seen it countless times by now.) “How are things in the precinct?”

“Same old. Bullying the rookies, pretending to work, setting Jean off, oh and waiting for actual work. Mondstadt’s been too quiet lately, there’s nothing to do.”

You can practically hear Diluc’s eyes roll back into his skull. “You’re aware that is a good thing, right?”

“It is!”

They freeze at your interruption, both turning around with surprise written across their face.

“It’s thanks to you that I feel safe walking home alone late at night. You might not have as much work these days, but isn’t that a good thing?”

When Kaeya thinks about it like that, it is. He can stay up for as long as he wants, knowing he can sleep in until there’s no exhaustion lingering in his bones. He can go out with pretty women, grab drinks with handsome men, share the covers of his bed with warm, inviting bodies. He has so much more time on his hands, he can-

“You get to spend so much more time with the boss now!”

His mind stills at your earnest words, spoken with so much innocence and genuinity behind them that he can’t help but smile ruefully. His eyes soften impossibly as he gazes down at you with a sudden adoration you can’t see. He doesn’t think you’re aware of the face you’re making right now.

(You look just like you did twenty years ago when you first met him at a roadside graveyard. Not that you would remember. He made sure of that.)

He chuckles. And then he laughs.

“That much is true. I get to spend so much more time with my lovely, sweet brother now.” Kaeya throws his arm over Diluc’s shoulder, pulling him closer with the most fabricated grin you have ever seen on him.

The absolute distaste in Diluc’s expression is enough to burst the dam building in your throat. Interactions like these remind you that they too are just humans like you are, imperfect and normal. It makes you more comfortable around them and a tiny part of you wonders if they do it on purpose; if they consciously rile each other up to nudge you out of your shell and accept you into their little circle.

But they wouldn’t, would they?

After all, they are them and you are, well, you.

Your thought process gets shattered when you lose your balance and stumble to the right, caught just in time by Diluc, whose brows furrow as he tightens his hold on your elbow.

It’s almost like something was pulling you.

“Is your friend not with you today?”

You look up at Diluc, not quite comprehending what he means. The chain around your wrist burns.

“Friend?” You ask back.

A cold breeze wafts from behind you, traveling all the way up around your neck until it settles there with a tiny spark. An arm crosses your shoulder and pulls you towards a slim, but lean chest. Xiao cocks his head back challengingly and suddenly you can taste the wind again.

“He is.” He says with confidence.

Diluc responds tightly. “Xiao.”

Kaeya tenses. Every single muscle in his body is screaming at him to lunge, to grab you and fly away, far far away from the danger that Xiao is.

But he can’t. All he can do is stand rooted with clenched fists, forced to watch the slim fingers that have held thousands of souls hang loosely over your collarbone. He wants to break them.

“A new friend?” Kaeya asks with a lightness in his voice that comes all too easily to him.

He can hear your heart beat a mile a minute, Xiao’s sudden closeness not leaving you unaffected. It makes him sick to see someone as pure and beautiful as you stand beside someone as foul and dirty as the demon of anemo. His recent conversation with Diluc comes to mind and he grits his teeth. Why would you ever involve yourself with something your family despised for generations? Are you even aware of what Xiao truly is?

He doubts it.

“Ah, this is Xiao.” You stumble over your own words, trying to ignore the searing of your skin on the places he’s touched. You hope to God he can’t tell that you’re about to explode. “He’s a distant relative from Liyue who came to Mondstadt for his year abroad program.”

The lie that caused your tongue to swell a week ago now flows smoothly through your mouth, but unlike Lumine and Aether, who ended up believing you after a while, Kaeya and Diluc do not. Because unlike the unsuspecting twins, they know better.

They had seen enough tragedies to know the true extent of Xiao’s power. The power that was utilised by cruel, starving men who brought nothing but destruction and pain into this world.

They’ve seen it all.

Because Xiao isn’t the type of demon who gets called to make the summoner rich or end up with the person they love; he isn’t called to resurrect a loved one or to cure a disease.

Xiao is a weapon.

Wielded by people, who want nothing more than the world to burn so they can build it back the way they want to and sit atop their throne above everyone else.

He is made to annihilate.

Kaeya has been looking for him for a long time.

“Oh my, what a surprise.” His voice is dripping with artificial sweetness, the nectar of it consisting of poison. “It’s not every day you get someone from Liyue of all places coming to Mondstadt.”

Xiao doesn’t deem it necessary to answer him, but it’s not like Kaeya cares about that. He reaches out his hand, a sardonic grimace on his face when he says, “It’s nice to meet you Xiao. I’m Kaeya.”

Recognition flickers in his eyes and both of the brothers can tell the exact moment Xiao realizes who stands in front of him. Of course he knows who he is. After all, he has heard just as much about him. The angel of cryo, who has spent countless centuries trying to chase him.

Unsuccessfully so.

Xiao’s lip curls at the side into an almost manic sneer and he takes the bait head on, clutching Kaeya’s hand with a vice grip before he answers, “The pleasure is all mine, Kaeya.”

(You go back home not long after this exchange, still blissfully unaware of the blazing eyes of Diluc and the cold, empty stare of Kaeya. They want to follow you, they want to stop you, they want to protect you.

But God’s word is absolute.

So they don’t follow you.

They don’t stop you.

They don’t protect you.)

“Fancy seeing you here.”

Lumine looks up from the console of the treadmill, crystals made of sweat rolling down her neck. She schools her expression into one of indifference upon seeing who stands before her.

“Oh. It’s you again.”

Childe smiles. He throws his towel over his shoulder nonchalantly and places his hands on each handle of the treadmill to lean his weight against it.

“Seems like it. Having a good workout?”

The motor thrums underneath Lumine as the belt continues to turn in loops. Her feet don’t stop running, the familiar ache of the pressure traveling through her calves until they pulse around her lean thighs.

“I was. Until you showed up.”

“Ouch.” Childe winces, his grin unfading. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”

The playful lilt in his voice tugs at every single thread of her patience, of which she doesn’t have many to begin with. His eyes glint with something mischievous when he sees a vein pop on her forehead.

Lumine of course doesn’t miss this and tenses her jaw even tighter in an effort to not jump right into his trap. He wants to get a reaction out of her. Which is reason enough for her not to give him that satisfaction.

“So you have some self-awareness.”

A real, true laugh rips from his chest, one that resonates from deep inside him. It’s rich, full and vibrates with the joy of someone who finally found someone equal to him.

He can barely stifle his chortles enough to speak. “A little bit. Sometimes.”

Her fingers ghost over the console before she taps on the screen a few times, her breathing evening to a slow and steady one as the belt comes to a halt.

Childe watches her every move and although his annoying smirk is still plastered all over his face, there’s a calculative sheen glossed over his blue eyes that causes Lumine to be cautious.

The upbeat music pumping from the speakers fades into dull background noise and she steps away from the treadmill, reaching for her water bottle.

However Childe is faster and steals it from right under her nose. There’s a superiority to him when he raises a single brow and presses his tongue behind his gums.

Lumine deadpans him. “So you actively choose to be an asshole.”

He isn’t deterred by the insult at all. If anything, his cocky grin turns into a genuine smile and he hands the bottle back while saying, “Yeah. Sometimes.”

Something about his answer amuses Lumine and brings a smile to her face. She bites her lip, trying to stifle it, lest he knows he’s cracking through her shell.

But if Childe has made a name for himself for something in the realm of hell, it’s for his perceptiveness. He counts it as a win in his book when she takes the bottle from him without another nasty comment and takes a hearty swing from it.

Lumine screws the cap shut and moves on to the weight lifting area. She presses her towel against her neck from both sides, absorbing the built up sweat to give her skin a chance to breathe. The stray ends of her low ponytail stick to the nape of her neck and not for the first time does Lumine consider growing out her hair again.

It’s in moments like these that the disadvantages of short hair crop up on her. She places her bottle and towel on a nearby bench and makes to grab the first set of dumbbells she can find. Childe is still behind her.

“Did you follow me here to work out or are you just gonna stand there and watch me like a creep?”

Childe notices a second too late that he’s caught himself in her webs, half-way through speaking when her words catch up with him. His protest sounds a lot less convincing than he’d wanted it to.

“I didn’t follow you. It’s fate that brought me here, Lumine. I’d much rather call it a pleasant coincidence.”

“Has any of this, “ Lumine draws gestures in the air, looking genuinely curious, “actually ever worked out for you?”

Now Childe is the confused one. “Come again?”

“You know, girls have a base level of respect for themselves. And the very first layer of that is to avoid guys like you like the plague.”

“Guys like me?”

“Guys, who look up weird, cringy pick up lines on the internet and then use them to hit on girls. Guys, who follow you around everywhere and call it chasing with dedication. Guys, who are creepy but flip out when you call them out as such.”

A small laugh escapes Childe. “Wow, you seem to have a well established opinion of someone whose last name you don’t even know.”

Lumine appraises him with that bored stare of hers, the one he finds so irresistibly attractive. “I don’t need to know your last name to know you’re trash.”

It should hurt. It should cause a dent in his ego and cause his pride to simmer, but Childe can’t deny the giddiness coursing through his veins at the challenge she imposes.

He steps forward and grabs a set of dumbbells as well, answering the question written all over her face with smugness.

“What? Even trash has to work out sometimes.”

The sky is painted in a beautiful orange, bleeding into the neverending blue as the sun slowly descends for its nightly rest. Aether leans back against the bench, closes his eyes and inhales deeply. In his hands rests a camera, nestled comfortably between his black gloves.

His exhale comes out frosted, the cold air around him causing his limbs to shiver and rise with goosebumps. There’s something about winter Aether has always liked. The solemn, somber mood that came with the shift in color in the scenery surrounding him has always been welcome for him.

In an odd, unexplainable kind of way, he has related most to this season of the year and has felt most at home surrounded by glistening white and bare trees.

He leans his head back, opens his mouth and lets his tongue fall out just in time to catch a snowflake with it. It melts and spreads on his pink tongue immediately, leaving behind the taste of biting cold.

The sound of crunching snow makes him look down again and his eyes widen just slightly when he recognizes the man standing in front of him.

“Zhongli.”

Zhongli nods his head with a polite smile and gestures to the free spot next to him. “Aether… was it? May I sit next to you?”

“Of course! Hang on, let me just- “ He scoots a bit more to the left and gathers his stuff that was lying idly on the bench to drop them on his lap.

A breeze brushes past them as Zhongli makes himself comfortable. Here, surrounded by a blanket of white, he stands out like a sore thumb with his long, dark hair and equally dark coat and scarf.

He looks mystical. Aether’s fingers twitch.

“Might I inquire what it is you are doing?”

Aether blinks. He holds his camera up as an answer and says, “I like to come here to disconnect sometimes.”

Zhongli hums thoughtfully. “Disconnect… Are you perhaps feeling overwhelmed by something?”

“Overwhelmed?”

Zhongli nods.

Aether throws his head back in a jovial laugh, his voice light but his eyes unsmiling as he jokes, “I’m a young adult, what do you think? Aren’t we all overwhelmed at this point in our lives?”

“I see. Forgive me if I crossed any boundaries.”

“Oh, no, you’re good! Don’t worry.”

They don’t exchange another word for a while, both of them sitting silently on the other side of the bench. People come and people go, dogs bark past and children laugh squeakingly. It’s weird how it’s not weird at all; being alone with Zhongli and not speaking.

“May I see them?”

His low voice catches Aether by surprise and he raises his brows, his own coming as a frosted whisper. “See what?”

Zhongli points to the camera in his hands. “Your photos.”

A ball of warmth gathers in Aether’s chest, sizzling at its edges with anticipation as he nods, bites his lip and carefully hands him the gadget.

This side of Aether isn’t one many know.

Art has been a part of him since forever. What started out with walls full of landscapes sketched with his father’s ballpoint pens when he was a mere four years old turned into a lifelong passion of captivating the beauty this world has to offer.

Whether it was drawing the most intricate sceneries, composing the most moving songs or taking the most heartwarming pictures of moments frozen in time - Aether cannot imagine a life without it.

It’s an inextricable part of him, one he holds sacred and treasures like nothing else. His heart is at his throat while Zhongli patiently clicks through the photos, quiet and focused, observing each one until he presses the button once more, revealing yet another picture.

A little girl riding on her father’s shoulders, her arms stretched up to the sky as she takes on the world from greater heights.

Lumine proudly showing off the martial arts belts she’s earned over the years through her untiring hard work and dedication.

A family of four building a ginormous sandcastle, a smile on each of their faces, bright enough to challenge the sun.

You, lying on the ground and laughing your heart out, surrounded by tiny puppies jumping all over you, all of them asking for your love and attention.

A father dropping off his son at school, a mother cheering for her daughter at a soccer match, siblings sharing a tangerine - the most mundane moments that hold so much meaning for Aether; they are all portrayed in this tiny little thing Zhongli is holding.

“These are wonderful.” Zhongli says after a while, awe and amazement covering his eyes in a sheer gloss. “Your family must be very proud of you.”

Aether’s hand stills half-way through taking his camera back. It’s just a millisecond of hesitation, a tiny tremor rising from his wrist to the tips of his fingers, but it’s enough for Zhongli to catch it.

“Yeah.” Aether responds, his jaw tight and unmoving. “They are.”

The ramen sits heavy in your stomach, taking up much more space than what you have to offer. You can barely move from the couch, bloated and full from the late dinner. Lost in conversation with Childe and Zhongli, you failed to hear the signals your body sent you half-way through the meal.

Finding out more about demons was much more interesting and in retrospect, with the pain you’re in now, if you had the chance to go back in time and do things differently, you wouldn’t.

You weren’t even aware that Xiao had stayed in his true form all throughout, whereas Childe and Zhongli had pressed themselves into a mortal body to blend in better.

While they are able to use their powers regardless of the state they’re in, Xiao has to make a conscious effort to appear human, which means unlike the other two, he has to actively squeeze his wings and claws back into his body. You didn’t need to be told that that was as uncomfortable as it could get. You could already imagine it.

But unlike Xiao, Childe and Zhongli lacked the scent of a demon when using their human form. It saved them the obscene amount of barking when they crossed the street and kept them hidden from the watchful eyes of the angels roaming around Mondstadt.

“I’m dying.” You groan as you stretch back into the couch, feeling the soft cushion give in under the weight of you.

“Nonsense.” Xiao retorts from the kitchen.

Tonight, he’s the one doing the dishes. (He is spared the gaping looks Childe and Zhongli would have thrown his way if they saw him with soapy hands and a hot pink apron around his waist since both of them already left a while ago.)

“No. I’m serious. I’m about to explode and then you, “ you move your head to face his mildly amused eyes, “can scrape me off the walls.”

“I will do no such thing. And you will not die.”

He almost doesn’t hear the bitterness lacing your voice when you mutter to yourself. “Right. Because my life is tied to yours.”

Xiao turns back to let the clear water wash off the excess detergent covering the plates. The scent of roses stains his hands as he dries them and places them against the wall to dry.

How ironic.

The very same hands that have taken countless lives, separated thousands of loved ones, now smell like pure, innocent roses.

He wants to laugh.

(He doesn’t.)

You move over to make space for him when he finishes in the kitchen and comes back to settle on the couch beside you. It’s almost scary how much of a norm this has become over the past few days, an automated process at this point.

Neither of you comment on it, both opting to choose the option of silence to abstain from the hard conversation that would inevitably follow.

Sometime later into the night, when Xiao watches the last episode of the first season and you flip to the next page of the novel you’re reading, your thighs touch and your shoulders brush.

Somehow, unconsciously, the two of you have moved in such a synchronized way that kept you connected; that let you know that the other is still there, next to you.

Neither of you notice it.

The ringing of the doorbell blares through your living room and causes you to sit up instinctively. You chance a glance at the clock hanging on your wall and frown.

Who would come at this time?

Xiao sniffs the air and his expression contorts into one of confusion, but you’re already three steps ahead of him and in front of your door. You peer through the hole and immediately swing it open, heart shattering into a million tiny pieces.

Aether stands there, trembling with an unspoken rage and shivering with unshed tears. He looks nothing like he did this morning.

“Can I come in?” He asks, his voice barely recognizable.

You gently take his hand and usher him inside, your words as soft as feathers so as not to set him off any further. “Of course! Come on in, you must be freezing!”

He takes off his shoes and aimlessly stands in the center of your kitchen, not even registering the presence of Xiao, who looks from Aether to you. The unspoken question of what is happening drags all throughout the living room.

You shake your head and he understands not to ask more.

“You know where your things are.” You rub a soothing hand between his shoulder blades, applying just enough pressure for him to know you’re here should he want to confide in you.

He does not.

He mumbles a weak thanks and drags his feet after him into your room, clicking it shut to isolate himself from everyone and everything.

You know not to push him even though everything inside of you wants to break down that door and embrace him with all that you have.

You know he only seeks a safe place and not solace when his feet lead him to your door.

After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.

Your phone rings a few minutes after and when you see Lumine’s name lighting up, you brace yourself, take a deep breath and take it.

She sobs out your name, hysteric and panicked, her words barely making any sense. “He fought with dad again, I can’t find him, he won’t pick up his calls, dad is furious and I can’t reach him- “

“He’s here.” You interrupt her with a gentle calmness you usually don’t possess. “He’s with me and he’s safe. You don’t need to worry, Lu.”

“He is? Oh thank god… I’m coming over- “

“No.”

Xiao gives you a curious look from the other side of the room.

“But I- “

“He needs some space. He’s locked himself in my room. I don’t think he wants to see anyone right now.” You’re terrified of the impact your next words will have. “Especially you.”

If Aether shattered your heart into a million tiny pieces, Lumine takes those shards and slices the rest of you apart.

“Oh.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten

Days blend into weeks, snow melts away to reveal slowly budding grass and before you know it, it has already been two months since Xiao has entered your life.

It’s an in the blink of an eye kind of thing. When you think back to Xiao’s first day in your small bedroom, it feels like it happened yesterday. But simultaneously, it’s also as if he was there all along, a part of your life and never somewhere else.

It’s bizarre.

There are no petty fights anymore, no arguments about you complaining how he isn’t helping you progress. In fact, you aren’t progressing any more at all. At one point, you simply stop asking questions and you stop reading the books you bought.

Instead, you would be hunched over dozens of other books, a pen in hand, scribbling away and mumbling to yourself until the late hours of the night forced you into sleep.

“Finals are close,” you would say when he’d ask what it is that you were doing.

And that is how right now, he finds himself cramped inside a study room once again with you to his right, discussing something animatedly with Aether. The episode from a few weeks ago appears to remain undiscussed, a silent agreement to not bring it up again as if it never really happened in the first place. Xiao doesn’t really understand it, but then again, he has never really understood the human ways.

It’s not like it matters anyway. He couldn't care less about Aether, much less about what sort of issues are plaguing him. It’s probably nothing even that important.

If he has learned one thing about humans in all of these years he has been involved with them, it is that they make everything their problem. The most insignificant little thing turns into this anxiety inducing monster, so he refuses to ask you what lies beneath Aether’s carefully constructed mask – even if he is curious about it.

“Tell you what, “ says Lumine as she reaches into a bag of dried apricots and plops one into her mouth. Her bangs are braided off to the side, revealing a sleek forehead and bright eyes that are otherwise hidden beneath a curtain of blonde. “Mr. Changchang is baiting us with that “hint” of his.”

“Oh, for sure.” Aether agrees. He tries to pick out one for himself, but Lumine is faster and slaps his hand away before he can even get anywhere near her holy snack. He rolls his eyes and tucks a strand of his long hair back. Today, he wears it down in loose waves framing his face.

Childe, who was the one to bring the apricots this morning, smiles smugly. A tiny blossom of achievement buds in his chest and he gives Zhongli a shit-eating grin that spells out his thoughts loud and clear. It says, told you I’d crack her shell.

Zhongli tries not to let it show on his face how much this displeases him. The last thing he needs is a smug and affirmed Childe prancing around in victory. So he turns to Aether instead and asks, “What makes you think that?”

Much like with Xiao, the twins have warmed up to the two and accepted them into their little friend circle. It wasn’t like they had a choice, what with Childe locating Lumine wherever she went and then going as far as following her and “bumping into her out of the blue”.

And as much as she resisted his charms in the beginning, writing it off as an annoying, persistent bug, she can no longer deny that even he has wormed his way into her life. It’s definitely not because he’s been spoiling her rotten with incredibly delicious food and mind-blowing snacks from all over Teyvat.

It’s not like she asked him to buy her all this stuff that makes her taste buds sing, but who is she to deny a gift? After all, it would be ill-mannered to turn away from a gesture like that. It would go against everything her family has taught her.

“It’s obvious.” She says while reaching for another apricot. The flavor bursts in her mouth as she chews, her feet dangling rhythmically from the edge of the chair.

Aether picks up where she drops off to answer Zhongli’s question, “He’s done it before. He’ll put emphasis on a certain topic and make us think it’s gonna be on the test. Only to then never even mention it in the actual exam.”

You wince, remembering the first few times you fell for it. “Right, he did that quite often in the beginning, huh?”

“I am not surprised you became one of his victims.” Xiao says as he glances at you from the side. “Air-headed and naive as you are, it is only a given.”

Appalled and sulking, you get ready to strike back, but Lumine surprises you by actually defending you for once. She shakes her head and bites into another, rather large piece of apricot. “Nah man, he really pulled a number on us in our first semester. Dickhead even swamped us with assignments and projects, so I don’t blame her for buying it. I mean, “ she shrugs, “We all did.”

Childe looks up from one of the textbooks he purchased earlier during the week – he’s been pretending to read from it for the past hour now – and closes it shut. He adjusts the fake prescription glasses on the bridge of his nose. “No wise warrior reveals their weakness just like that. Of course he was stringing you along.”

“Except he’s not a warrior, but an old professor.” Aether shoots back with raised brows, slightly speechless from the unexpected comparison.

If he didn’t know any better, he’d have thought that Childe was a soldier or something of the sort. The amount of times he’s talked about battle or fighting related things has outranked even his obscene amount of pick up lines he’s rained on Lumine.

But Teyvat hasn’t seen a war in centuries and according to Xiao, both Zhongli and Childe are in the same major as he is. They too decided to hop on a train to spend the next semester in Mondstadt, not wanting to leave their friend to his own devices.

Of course, you know better than the twins, fully aware that it’s nothing but a made up lie to avoid any further questions as to why they appeared out of the blue and why they haven’t left yet.

But it’s not like you mind – you like them, putting aside the fact that they’re demons and would most likely sell you out if they were given the chance to. They are funny, they are generous and most important of all, they are Xiao’s friends.

As much as he sulks and denies this, there is no hiding it. Not when you catch him raking his eyes across campus every morning in search of the two. (Not that you would ever tell him this either. A flustered Xiao is even worse than a scowling Xiao.)

“Still, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that for once, he might go through with it.” You add while sketching randomly on your notebook.

Xiao watches the lines form houses, butterflies, flowers and… birds? To him, it looks much more like the letter M, but when you shoot him a warning glare, he bites his tongue and scoffs inaudibly. He supposes he has teased your drawing abilities enough for you to know his stance on it.

“Lu and I were thinking of going on a short trip to Liyue.” Aether starts rather hesitantly, flicking his eyes over to you pointedly. He brushes through his hair with his fingers and bites his lip. “You know, for the Lantern Rite festival.”

Childe lights up like a flame, about to say something completely unnecessary, only for Zhongli to shoot him down with a reprimanding kick to his shin. He then turns to the twins as if nothing happened and comments with, “That sounds most lovely.”

You nod, not meeting Aether’s gaze, already familiar with his approach. “When are you leaving?”

“Actually,” Lumine joins, trying to sound nonchalant about it, “We were thinking of going together.”

“Together?”

The curious raise of your brow makes both of them falter slightly, alerting them of the very likely possibility of your immediate rejection. She decides to try anyway. “Yeah. You included.”

You release an exhausted sigh.

It’s the same every year. Their hope that you might one day say yes is incredible, almost commendable if it wasn’t for how guilty and uncomfortable you felt each time you did not say yes. You raise your eyes and see the little glimmer in the pools of honey they both sport.

The Lantern Rite festival is their favorite event of the year, topping even the Windblume one Mondstadt hosts just a little bit later.

You have heard countless stories up to now, of the beautiful lights traveling to meet the sky, of the scrumptious stalls lining the streets offering all kinds of foods, of the festive atmosphere, the cheerful laughter and the many, many wishes getting released into the world.

And it’s not that you aren’t curious.

It’s not that at all.

It’s impossible to not feel envious of the twins when they talk about their travels – after all, they always go all out and make the most of their trips. And with Aether’s gifted photography skills, you even get to see what they were up to all the way to the smallest detail.

But every time they asked you if you wanted to come along, every time they tried to bait you into joining them, something within you would twinge. Shackles around your ankles would prevent you from moving and your response would be out of your lips before you could even process what you were saying.

It’s almost as if something didn’t want you to leave the borders of Mondstadt.

“I’m not sure.” You murmur, gaining the curious eyes of all three demons.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Lumine leans forward, her voice carrying much more life than the study room has ever heard, “It’s just for one weekend!”

„Consider it a birthday gift!“ chimes Aether.

“It’s not my birthday though?”

“Well… It will be someday.”

A snort tugs from your lips and you shake your head smiling. “Aether…”

“What? I mean it!” He replies with a grin of his own. “It’s gonna be so much fun! And the food! The food! It’s so good!”

“I would have expected this argument to come from Lumine.” Xiao says, causing all of you to turn to him in surprise.

You recover quicker than the twins though and add with a shrug, “What he said.”

“Oh, come on, Xiao, of all the things you can say, you settle on this?” Lumine groans into her hands.

Childe chuckles, placing his chin in his palm as he watches her reactions. “I mean, I would be down to join you guys. Wouldn’t wanna miss the festival.”

Zhongli rolls his eyes and drags his tongue over his teeth. He can’t possibly risk leaving the twins alone in Childe’s care.

Best case scenario would be them waking up hungover on the other side of Liyue. Worst case scenario? He honestly doesn’t even want to think about it. “Do not invite yourself to places, Childe. You might not be wanted there.”

Sometimes, the balance of the universe shifts and something completely unexpected happens.

Something that might not make a lot of sense at first glance or something where one is unsure if it really happened; if it was perhaps just a trick of the eye.

Lumine does exactly that when she says, “I don’t mind.”

All of you (including Childe) turn to her wide-eyed as if she grew a second head on her frail shoulders. “What?”

She fights down the heat clawing at her ears and clears her throat. She has to choose her next set of words very carefully. Otherwise she’s risking that Childe’s ego, which is already very large to begin with, swells to something unimaginably huge. She’s not sure the world can handle it.

“It’s not like his presence makes any difference to me.”

You and Aether just stare at her dumbfounded, no response on your tongue regarding her unexpected words. While you did notice over the past few weeks that her conversations with Childe grew outside of her insulting him, you clearly missed the point where the two have found a middle ground.

“You know what,” Childe says with a shrug, “I take it. I’m comin’ with you guys.”

Dread coils from within your stomach. The prospect of having a demon, who is as unpredictable as Childe is, go with them makes you feel queasy. And if that isn’t enough to keep you up at night, Zhongli chimes in from beside Aether and adds, “Then I shall join you as well.”

You don’t miss the meaningful look Zhongli sends his friend, understanding immediately that even he doesn’t trust Childe to be alone with them.

Xiao glances from you to his friends, to the twins and then back at you and sighs. He leans in so that only you can hear his whisper. You try not to shiver when his breath embraces your ears.

“I am not sure how wise it would be to leave your friends in their care.” When you snap towards him with wide eyes, he exhales heavily as if lamenting your very obvious reaction.

“It is not that I do not trust them,” says Xiao before he pointedly looks at Childe already listing off all the potential bars they can hit up, “But… I do not entirely trust them.”

Your head falls in your hands, a long, weary groan rattling your lungs.

And you thought you would get to rest after your finals.

“Another one!” Childe slurs while holding up his empty shot glass. There’s a warm flush coating his cheeks and a gloss over his pearly blue eyes that previously wasn’t there.

Lumine scoffs, unimpressed, and takes it from him before turning to Zhongli, who is still sipping his wine. He gives her a light smile and nods, as if telling her he’s good like this.

You stifle a giggle when Xiao rolls his eyes, his own half-empty cup in the grasp of his slim fingers. He sloshes the cyan liquid half-heartedly, watching the swirls and waves turn into tiny patterns, much like the ocean surrounding Mondstadt.

“All that talk about having the tolerance of a Snezhnayan,” Lumine hands the empty cup to Aether, who fills it up with shaking shoulders, “and then he gets shitfaced with what? His third shot?”

As if on cue, Childe audibly and very, very cringe-worthily calls Lumine by her name in the most child-like voice one can possibly imagine. She scoffs once more and grabs the now full cup from her twin and saunters off to his table.

“Wow, she’s really warmed up to him, hasn’t she?” You ask as you place your chin in your palm. Xiao meets your gaze from the side. “Didn’t she talk about cutting his balls off just a few weeks ago?”

Aether cringes and visibly shivers. “Please don’t remind me of that. Just thinking about it physically hurts me.”

And then Xiao actually, unironically drops his eyes to Aether’s crotch before dragging them down to his own set of family jewels resting between his thighs.

Sometimes you forget that prior to meeting you and the twins, Xiao has never had any proper human interactions. For all of the demeaning remarks he’s made of you being simple-minded and green behind the ears, he’s actually not all that different from you.

It shows whenever someone makes an inappropriate joke and he takes it literally, plunging the room in awkward silence. Or when someone tries to flirt with him on public transportation and he lets it completely fly over his head, resulting in flustered and embarrassed girls skidding away from the train station with tears in their eyes.

You honestly don’t even want to think back to the time he asked you why you denied being his girlfriend.

(Turns out Xiao didn’t know the difference between friend and girlfriend.)

“You know, Childe was actually pretty clever about his approach,” says Aether, catching both of your attention again, “Obviously not in the beginning. But like, he came with a bunch of her favorite foods and snacks and we all know how weak she gets when someone feeds her.”

“Yeah but still, it’s Lu we’re talking about here.” You reply while keeping your gaze on her.

She’s rolling her eyes to something he says, clearly giving him an attitude. But you know her well enough to know she’s actually enjoying the interaction. It’s written all over her face.

“And it is also Childe you are talking about.” Xiao adds, following your line of sight with a frown. “If he wants something, he makes it happen.”

You’re about to comment on it, but get interrupted the second you open your lips by a tipsy customer raising his hand and shouting your name.

There’s at least a dozen empty cups littering his table, half-eaten plates with cheese crackers and potato chips surrounding them messily. There are crumbs everywhere, which is going to be a pain to clean up later, but you’re mostly concerned about the guy across from him, who appears to be passed out and a little pale in the face.

“Oh god, please don’t let him puke on me.” You pray quietly as you leave Xiao and Aether behind.

Xiao narrows his eyes and watches you go, whereas Aether screws his expression into one of unease. He continues to wipe the glasses he’s just washed dry and purses his lips.

“I’m really not jealous of the two.” He says, making Xiao look at him. “I quite like it behind the bar. Don’t know how they do it with all the creepy guys and the loud girls screaming in their faces about how they were cheated on.”

Xiao throws his head back and gulps the last bit of his mint drink - this time there was no Diluc to set it aflame on its descent down his stomach. It’s something that caught his senses the instant they entered the bar earlier that evening.

The disgusting scent of wood and campfire was nowhere to be found and the very obvious lack of a red mop behind the counter made it quite clear that Diluc is not present today. Not that he cares.

It’s probably better this way. There’s no telling what sort of conflict would have arised if three demons came face to face with an angel. Let alone with one, who is known to despise and ruthlessly annihilate his kind.

“Come on, jus’ one drink isn’t gonna hurt ya! I’ll make it worth yer while, promise!”

Both Xiao and Aether’s head snap to your direction at the sound of the obnoxiously drunk guy, who now has his fingers around your wrist.

There’s a forced, uneasy smile on your lips but your eyes stray to lock with Lumine’s, whose grip around her pencil gets just a little bit tighter.

You say something in response, but Xiao can’t catch the words coming from you. There’s a ringing sensation in his ears. The only thing he can hear is your racing heartbeat pounding in his skull.

“Say what, I’ll tip ya real well after!” He pulls you with such strength, you feel his nails digging into your skin. You wince and lose your balance, catching yourself by the counter a second before you land on his lap.

Aether is already half-way across the bar, his face etched with angry lines and a furious energy steaming off of him.

But Xiao is faster.

A big, nasty green monster appears from the depths of his being, claws its way onto the surface and latches on every part of his body. There’s a thought in the back of his mind that should disturb him; should alert him that maybe he was not as cautious with you as he liked to believe.

He wants to kill this guy.

He wants to utterly destroy him, rip him apart limb by limb until those unworthy fingers around your wrist are nothing but a shred of dust. He wants to cause so much pain until those dozy eyes see nothing but the anguish of tomorrow.

He wants to make it so he can never be near you again.

He only snaps out of it when someone shakes him hard enough to leave him with a concussion. Gone is the drunk and carefree demon, replaced by a confused, yet wary Childe snapping his gaze over to you.

Xiao blinks and feels time stop when he does the same.

You’re pushed behind Aether, your palms slapped over your gaping lips with your eyes rippen open. The drunk guy who was forcing himself on you just a few seconds ago has lost all color in his face, inhaling one painful ragged breath after another.

His friends are crouched over him, one of them calling for an ambulance while the others are trying to get sober enough to help him. Aether is right beside them, navigating the entire thing while simultaneously trying to be there for you. Zhongli slides next to him effortlessly, gracefully taking over to support Aether so as not to completely overwhelm the poor guy.

Lumine is by your side in an instant as well, rubbing soothing circles across your back while also massaging the now red imprint around your wrist.

You’re trembling.

“What the hell was that about?!” Childe hisses into his ear, his grip around Xiao’s arm tightening almost painfully. “Didn’t you say she’s surrounded by angels? Are you trying to get us killed?!”

Xiao doesn’t respond. He keeps his focus on you, on the aggressive beat of your heart and the cold sweat rolling down your neck. He feels a very tight pull in the center of his stomach and a heavy weight resting on his chest.

Childe stares at him like he doesn’t recognize him, genuinely appalled.

And then a terrifying realization dawns on Xiao.

He doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know what that was about.

The train ride to Liyue passes quietly, considering how your journey starts at six in the morning. By the time the sun rises, you are already crossing the ocean and leaving Mondstadt behind.

In the end, you were forced to bow your head and accept the twins’ invitation to tag along. Childe and Zhongli didn’t leave you much of a choice.

And of course when you trot along, Xiao has to as well.

Waves lightly crash against each other, caused by the train driving through the railway that is settled slightly underwater. There’s a blanket of beautiful blue stretching into infinity when you look out of the window, the shimmer of the bright sun reflected on each wave.

Your mouth hangs open in fascination. Reaching up with both hands, you press them against the window and drag it down, allowing a gust of cool air to fly inside.

You stand up and poke your head out, immediately feeling the refreshing breeze tousling the already messy strands of your hair. There’s a scent surrounding you that you have grown to love. It’s salty and strong and makes your lungs sing in delight.

It smells like the time you ran barefoot in the sand with your parents trailing behind.

A breathless laugh tugs from your lips when you start to actually taste it and it’s then that Xiao looks up from his comic. He sees the twins nudging each other in excitement, both of them wearing fond smiles as they watch you.

“I know you said it was big,” you say, oblivious to everyones’ eyes, your own closed as you let the wind play with your hair, “but wow.”

The ocean seems to stretch endlessly, like there’s no end to the world and Xiao can’t stop staring at you. He feels a similar tug in his stomach like he did a few days ago in the bar and idly, he wonders why his chest hurts again.

“I’m starting to get kinda hungry,” mutters Lumine after a while, more to herself than anyone else.

Childe grins, like this is the moment he’s waited all his existence for. “Way ahead of you.”

He smugly reaches into the backpack he brought along and pulls out a thick sandwich that looks like it has every kind of vegetable stuffed inside. Lumine’s eyes light up like she hasn’t eaten in years (it’s only been a few hours) and the wrapped snack is snatched from him before he can count to three.

Aether suppresses a smile and takes his camera out of his bag. He adjusts the lens and lifts it to look through the tiny little window giving him the perfect view of you having the time of your life.

Zhongli scoots a little further to the side to give him more room and soon after he presses his finger on the shutter trigger once, twice, three times and then a fourth and then once more.

Your expressions are as genuine as they come, your head thrown back with your hair dangling behind you. Your lips are stretched, showcasing a row of brilliant teeth gleaming beneath the sun.

Aether snaps another quick picture before he stills, rolls the lens back so he doesn’t zoom in as much and stops. He blinks, physically leaning away from the camera to see the scene with his own two eyes.

Xiao is gazing at you, smiling.

It’s a tiny, miniscule smile, but still, it’s there. The small lift of his lip is right there, caused by the melodic sound of your laughter. Caught as a witness in this rare moment of obvious adoration, he brings the camera back up and captures it for eternity.

When he brings it back down to gaze at it with adoration, he feels the warm breath of Zhongli on his cheek. From the corner of his eyes, he sees him leaning closer to take a peek himself. Aether chuckles quietly and brings the camera closer to him.

Zhongli’s eyes widen imperceptibly upon the sight and he lifts his head to prove to himself that the moment is real. And right there, as if Aether really stopped time, Xiao still stares at you with what could possibly be the fondest expression Zhongli has ever seen on him.

“It’s a good shot, right?” Aether asks him innocently, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

Zhongli smiles, feeling his heart clench.

“It is.”

The train doors open once you arrive in Liyue, revealing nothing but a vast field of yellow and greens. Hills and mountains rise up to meet the sky everywhere you turn and the smell of fresh air has you inhaling once more, this time deeper until all of your lungs get coated with it.

You have seen pictures before, taken by Aether from each of his trips and have always marveled at how beautiful and serene everything appeared to be.

He mentioned several times the enchanting energy that came with Liyue’s nature and truly, you realize he wasn’t exaggerating.

It’s completely different from Mondstadt.

The wind here feels different, carrying a different scent in its wake with the sun warm on your skin, nestling into the deepest crevice of your bones.

It’s like you’re in another universe and the deeper you venture into the harbor, the more you get sucked in. The streets are busy with citizens running last minute errands before the big festival and elderly folk enjoying leisurely strolls around the stands getting set up.

Your trip to the Wangshu Inn takes twice as long as it would any other day, considering how heavy the traffic is with everyone trying to get as much done as possible.

It’s a tall, traditionally built house that curves upwards like a tree-branch, giving the illusion of reaching the sky. The roof fans out in a way that provides you with enough shade for you to be able to tilt your head back to take in the rest of the building.

At the front desk sits a cat stretching its back with a purr before trotting over to sniff your hand. Your heart swells when it begins rubbing its head against the inside of your palm and you happily oblige, lightly scratching behind its ears.

It takes only a few minutes for the kind lady called Verr Goldet to come from the back room with all the keys to your rooms in hand. She instructs you of the rules of the inn, about the times in which you can catch breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a few pamphlets regarding the festival, how to get to the harbor and back and a few more general things to be wary and cautious of, especially as first time traveling tourists.

With the last minute call Lumine made, she was only able to book three rooms, but luckily managed to get all three of them to be next to each other.

And of course, as expected, Childe tries to charm his way into sharing one with Lumine.

He earns a disgusted eye roll and a half-hearted insult before Lumine grabs you by the hand and drags you after her, leaving the rest behind to fend for themselves. You don’t get far before your chain physically pulls you back a bit, dragging a startled little whimper from you.

Verr Goldet looks up from the register at the sound, asking if something is amiss.

Xiao’s eyes lock with yours immediately and panic flutters within your chest when you think that maybe you will actually not be able to stay in separate rooms during this trip.

But the Gods decide to be lenient with you today, because when Xiao starts trailing after you and carefully slips into the room next to yours, nothing tugs at your wrist. You’re able to drop off your bags and let your eyes roam around the minimally decorated room.

There’s only one bed.

Lumine snickers behind you and purrs, “Hope you don’t mind getting all close and cozy with me.”

“Har har, we always share the bed when you stay over at my place.”

“Touché.”

You let yourself fall beside Lumine on the soft cushion and look up at the ceiling. She sighs and reaches up to stretch her limbs with a groan.

“Wanna nap until it’s time to leave for the festival?”

Your eyes slide shut at the mere suggestion, the long travel having worn down your bones.

“Sure,” you whisper, feeling Lumine shift beside you, “I could use a nap.”

On the other side of the wall, Aether ties his hair into a low bun and rearranges his parting so that more of his forehead shows. He smiles at the mirror, satisfied, and grabs his equipment before he says, “I’m going out to take a few shots. I’ll be back before we leave.”

Zhongli stops him half-way out the door when he asks, “May I join?”

Aether blinks. Warmth spreads from his chest when he’s faced with the earnest smile of Zhongli, who also has taken to tying his long hair into a low ponytail, revealing more of his olive skin. With the sunlight streaming in from behind, his amber eyes seem to glow even brighter.

It drips off of Aether’s lips like honey, sounding more sweet than he’d intended.

“Of course.”

“How long is that thing?”

Xiao glances over his shoulder from where he’s standing in the balcony to see Childe sauntering towards him. He’s gesturing towards his neck.

“It appears to have gotten looser,” responds Xiao, turning back to stare out at Dihua Marsh.

The trees sway together with the winds of a beginning spring, already much greener than in Mondstadt. There’s a couple crossing the stone bridge a bit further away, hand in hand as they shyly talk to each other, both dressed in traditional Liyuean garb. With an odd sense of clarity, Xiao notices that everything looks the same it did when he was last here.

“And how long do you intend to carry it around with you?”

It’s amazing, really, the contrast of Childe with the others and Childe being alone with him.

The carefree lilt in his voice and the joyous spring he’d have in his step is nowhere to be found, replaced by a solemn and serious gaze that doesn’t quite fit his face. Childe leans his arms against the railing of the balcony, much like Xiao and then bends his elbow so he can rest his chin in his palm.

“You’re simply dragging out the inevitable. Not really smart if you ask me.”

Xiao glares at him, jaw tight and biting tone ready. “I did not ask you.”

The murderous intent aimed at him drags out a chuckle from Childe, who throws his palms up in surrender. “Okay, hands off, I got it. I’m just saying,” he continues regardless, “it’s starting to draw attention.”

“Huh? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you know, you’re not just some random demon no one cares about. You’re the demon of anemo. Who is known to finish his jobs faster than anyone else. So naturally people are wondering what the hold up this time around is.”

“Wait,” interrupts Xiao, leaning away from the railing and towards Childe, “Who is wondering?”

Childe hesitates.

“Who?”

He shakes his head and bites his lip, avoiding eye contact as he asks, “How do you think we knew where to find you?”

When Xiao doesn’t answer, he continues, “All the big name demons have their servants running around, watching you. You can’t tell me you didn’t sense their presence? Surely you haven’t grown that stale- “

Xiao interrupts him with a growl, irritated beyond belief at this revelation.

It’s not that he was completely oblivious to who was around him – rather, he thought it natural that other demons would be out and about, looking after their own business and contracts.

After all, he’s always made sure to spread his scent wherever he went, letting whoever was in the vicinity know that he did not tolerate their presence. The last thing he needed was a klutz like you running straight into another demon’s arms.

“And we are not the only ones aware of those angels around her. She’s basically asking to get noticed at this point.” Childe lets his head fall and stares at the ground. His voice is almost carried away with the breeze when he mutters, “It’s only a matter of time until one of the devils hears of her.”

A suffocating dread presses into Xiao’s chest at those words. The mere thought of having you and an actual devil in the same room zips the air out of his throat.

There’s only one devil Xiao has met in his existence as a demon and that one singular time is enough for him to never want to see any ever again.

He’s heard of the others; revered stories from the servants, fearful rumors of the ones who have been in their presence and what little bit of small talk he could gather from other demons. And that which he knows only enhances his urge to keep you as far away from them as possible.

Because while demons are shrewd and manipulative, devils are literal spawn of Satan. They are a fragment of his original form, a part of his soul divided into countless bodies, granted with their own minds, abilities and ambitions.

Faced with one in battle, even Xiao wouldn’t hope to stand a chance.

Pinpricks of needles stab insistently at his skull, signaling him of an on-coming headache. He doesn’t want to be there, doesn’t want to think about this entire ordeal. All he wanted was peace and quiet in his castle, all by himself until he regressed back into an aimlessly wandering soul, far away from contracts, far away from demons and devils and responsibilities.

Far away from humans like you.

Childe seems to know what goes through his mind as he smiles a small, rather resigned kind of smile. He claps his back in a way he hasn’t in a long, long time.

“I know.” He says, facing forward. “I know.”

Liyue Harbor at night, you find, is completely different than your home Mondstadt is.

It’s orange and yellow and amber coming together into a beautiful amalgamation of colors in the sky, enhanced by the bright golden lights of the lanterns hanging off of every roof and tree.

It’s young couples standing at the edge of the harbor, gazing at the rolling ocean waves with the scent of all of the food stands permeating through the air.

It’s the enthusiastic folks standing on the other side, cooking and chattering and selling and laughing.

It’s loud. It’s lively. It’s beautiful.

A small group of children runs past you with excited squeals, one of them pointing up to the Ferris wheel you’ve heard so much of. You follow his finger and are met with bright colors decorating each gondola, making it almost look like a rainbow of sorts.

Soon after, a long stretch of screaming resounds from a bit further away, followed by the screeching of metal rails.

Lumine links her elbow with yours and gives you a conniving grin. “Drop down tower. And they really drop you down.”

Right on cue, the cubicle slowly ascends up the tower with a row of people giddily talking with each other. There’s excitement written all over their faces, some even exchanging fearful smiles. Music blasts through the speakers and a male voice booms through them, pumping the crowd up for the soon coming fall.

You stop in your tracks when the countdown begins, prompting Aether to walk right into your back. He rubs his nose with a grimace and follows your gaze.

“Oh hell no.” He shakes his head with a pained laugh before he pointedly turns away and steers Zhongli away from them. “I am not watching someone’s dinner fly around again.”

Zhongli lets himself be pushed forward, albeit he too curiously gazes up the tower to see the cubicle stop at the uppermost part.

“Man, the thrill,” sighs Childe, a fond sparkle in his eyes.

“You are out of your mind,” says Xiao with a disturbed look.

Lumine tuts him with a superior raise of her chin. “Nothing beats the thrill of a free fall.”

You gulp, bringing your eyes back up just in time for the cubicle to drop. A cacophony of terrified and delighted screams rushes through the sky, faces forced into weird grimaces from the wind pressure until the cubicle slowly comes to a stop a bit higher from the ground. Just looking at the entire thing makes your stomach flip.

“Actually, I’m with Xiao on this one.”

“What?! I wanted to go on that with you!” Lumine pulls at your arm in demonstration.

Knowing Lumine, she really would try to force you up there with her. You wrestle yourself free from her grip, survival instincts kicking in as you quickly clamber to hide behind Xiao. “I am not going anywhere near that thing, Lu.”

“It’ll be fun! I promise it’s not as bad as it looks- “

“No thank you, I’d rather stick to strolling around the market.”

“But you’ll get over your fear of heights- “

“Nope.” You don’t even give her a chance to try to convince you. Without giving it much thought, you slip your hand into Xiao’s, intertwining your fingers and dragging him after you, intent on getting away before Lumine finds a weak spot of yours to exploit.

Xiao, dumbfounded by the sudden warmth in his hand, follows you like a lost puppy until you’re far away enough. He doesn’t even hear the words coming from you, because his heart is pounding so loudly in his ears, he has trouble understanding anything.

Your skin is soft against his, free from scars and calluses, and purely out of instinct, without really being aware of it, he squeezes your hand once.

And it’s only then that you really realize what you’ve done. As if burned, you snatch your hand away from his and clear your throat. The fire burning within your stomach only flares brighter when you see him make an expression you’ve never seen before and you slightly shake your head until the front of your hair falls in front of your face, hiding your own face.

The tiny little thing in your chest goes haywire, threatening to jump out of your throat to hang onto his, so you gulp it down and force yourself to act normal.

What is even going on with you right now? It’s just Xiao, right? Just your everyday frowning demon reading comics on your couch.

As if understanding that you need saving, your stomach swoops in like a hero and growls so loud, you jerk back in surprise. Xiao too, momentarily distracted by the sound of it, meets your wide eyes with his own. It’s so you to have a reaction like this in a moment like just now that he can’t stop the rise of his lips or the sound of a scoff coming from them.

“It appears the monster has awakened.” He says, already back to normal and turns to walk to the nearest stall.

(You don’t notice the sigh of relief that slips from him once you no longer face him.)

You gulp once more, lightly slapping your cheeks to recollect yourself. “Right. Food.”

And then, it’s you trailing after him like a lost kitten in search of nourishment.

“Did she just ditch me for Xiao?” Lumine asks, baffled.

Childe can barely contain it anymore. The absolute horror on her face that carried a smug grin mere seconds ago is the kind of entertainment he didn’t sign up for, but appreciates nevertheless.

Not only that, he just witnessed someone holding Xiao’s hand. And that someone is a mortal thousands of years younger than him – someone he usually eats for breakfast.

And his face, oh his face was one hell of a sight for sore eyes.

He had never seen Xiao that awkward and out of his element and if he wouldn’t tease him about it for the next century or so, his name would not be Childe. That much is sure.

It’s only such a shame that Aether wasn’t there to capture it in a photograph. Otherwise Zhongli would never believe him if he told him this tale.

“Don’t make that face.” He says as he pats her gently on the shoulder. “I’ll go up there with you.”

“Wait, what? Really? You’re serious?”

“Sure. Haven’t been on a ride in a while.”

Lumine hums thoughtfully and purses her lips. Childe’s eyes are drawn to the slight gloss coating them and unconsciously, his tongue darts out to cross his own lips. He feels his stomach flare and forces himself to look back up, noticing that her attention is elsewhere.

“How about,” she turns back to him and raises a brow, “a competition?”

Now that successfully distracts him from her inviting lips. He crosses his arms and tilts his head closer. “I’m listening.”

“We’re going on all rides. First one to pull back loses.”

“Oh? And what does the winner get? A kiss?”

Lumine scoffs and crosses her arms right back. “You wish.”

“Yeah. I do.”

His immediate response knocks the air out of her lungs. The way in which he said it so confidently leaves her stunned and if she’s quite honest with herself, even slightly flustered. She thought she’d gotten used to his brusk nature by now, but it seems he still had one or two tricks up his sleeve that left even her affected.

She clears her throat and tries again. “Well, uh, I was thinking more of food and stuff.”

“And stuff?” Childe, who can see at least three different kinds of emotions pass through her face and takes great joy in being the source behind it, questions further.

“Yeah! You know, like, the loser buys the winner whatever they wanna eat for the rest of the night. That sort of stuff.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to eat anything after we’re done here?”

“Psh, do you even know who you’re talking to?”

He lets his eyes travel across her pink cheeks, taking in her huffed pout. His expression softens.

“Yeah. I do.”

“Will they be alright?” Zhongli asks a while later, watching Aether stop every now and then to snap a picture of something that catches his eye.

They’ve reached the far end of the festival, where most of the children have gathered to craft traditional festival goods. There’s a girl with space buns and big glasses folding colorful paper into what appears to be a dancing dragon. Next to her is a boy cutting out the materials needed for a lantern.

They proudly show each other what they’ve made, silly big grins stretching their cheeks and snap! Aether commemorates it with another photo.

He lowers his camera and clicks through the shots he took, occasionally stopping to admire one he particularly likes.

“They’ll be fine. Lu can take care of herself.”

Zhongli leans closer to take a look himself, innocently breathing right into his neck. The scent of osmanthus tickles his senses and he can’t help but inhale a bit deeper with his next breath.

“It is not your sister I am worried about.”

Aether turns to him, curious. Their noses almost brush and instinctively, his eyes drop to the lips in front of him. They still and gaze at each other like they’re seeing one another for the first time.

In the back of his mind, Aether wonders if he tastes like osmanthus as well.

It’s a sacred moment of closeness in which neither says anything. Aether’s breath picks up like he’s just run a marathon, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Their silence gets broken when your laughter reaches their ears, followed by Xiao’s much more quiet response to whatever you must’ve said.

Aether is the first to pull back, ears red and heart pounding in time for you to spot them.

“Ah, there you are!”

He intently avoids your gaze as he turns his camera off and places it carefully back inside his bag. You don’t seem to notice, because you’re already deep in conversation with Zhongli, who doesn’t appear to be nearly as affected as Aether.

“We were looking everywhere for you.”

“That is an exaggeration.” Xiao argues, reaching up to smudge sugar crumbs off your cheeks.

“Hey, I’m not a child!” You protest and sulk, looking very much like a child indeed.

It’s then that Aether notices you’re holding something against your chest.

“What’s that?”

You look down from Aether, smile giddily and hold up the plush toy for him. A beautiful deer-like creature with glowing antlers and a long, thick tail stares right at him.

“It’s the Skybracer!” You exclaim, tightening your grip around the soft fabric. It feels like cotton underneath your fingers.

“Oh, I have heard tales of this creature before,” says Zhongli, reaching forward to gently touch the antlers.

And then something happens.

Zhongli freezes, his entire body going rigid as his eyes rip open wide. Everything around him slows and slows until it comes to a halt, dipping it all in grey.

Time stops.

His chest constricts. He can’t move.

Grey explodes into a blinding gold, so bright he feels himself closing his eyes. Distantly, he hears whimpering and desperate attempts of breathing.

He can’t bring himself to move, can’t do anything but listen to the sounds of gunshots firing inside his skull.

Once the golden light recedes, his eyes rip open to be faced with a field of daisies. Except there are no daisies, but shredded pieces of clothing and blood.

Blood is everywhere, splattered across the grass as if freshly rained on. Something long and sharp catches his gaze and with a foreboding pressure in his gut, he turns his head.

He falls weightless on the ground, his hands barely making it in time to catch his fall.

There, on a bed of crushed daisies lies the limp body of a deer with a long, dark tail. The beginnings of golden antlers poke out from its temple, only to stop rugged and crusted with dried blood from where they were cut off.

Next to it is a faceless woman of slender build, her long hair flowing open beneath her. Her eyes are spread open in fear, but empty and lifeless. Her white, billowed sleeves are drenched in crimson.

The sight cracks Zhongli’s heart in half, driving anguish and torment into every open patch of skin.

He can’t breathe. Someone reaches from behind him, wraps their sharp, poisonous fingers around his throat and squeezes his lungs.

The world around him distorts and he hears terrified screams, pleading cries calling out for his name, soft fingers grasping his sleeve before it’s all ripped out from beneath his feet and he’s right back in Liyue Harbor with four very concerned pairs of eyes on him.

The first thing he notices is that no one is choking him.

The second thing he realizes is that the whimpering comes from him and that the gunshots in his skull is his aggressively beating heart.

The third and last thing his brain registers is that Aether is cradling his cheeks in the softest, most gentle manner while smoothing his thumbs over his cheeks in an attempt to soothe him back to the present.

“Hey there.” He whispers so quietly that Zhongli has to strain his ears to hear him over his own heartbeat, “Welcome back to earth. You got us quite worried there for a second.”

“Are you okay?” asks Lumine, sounding hesitant. She looks to Childe helplessly and it’s then that he sees her fingers trembling.

Childe has his hands on her back, strong and grounding, rubbing absentmindedly as he keeps his eyes on Zhongli. “What the hell happened?”

“I do not know.” He manages to croak back in response, his own voice sounding foreign in his ears.

If the look in Xiao’s eyes is anything to go by, it must sound bad.

He clears his throat and tries again. “I do not know. I... I saw something.”

Xiao narrows his eyes. “Like what?”

Ignoring his question in an attempt to gather his bearings and get his breath back, he closes his eyes and slowly moves out of Aether’s grasp.

Noticing your lack of presence, he asks about your whereabouts.

“She ran off to get you some water,” responds Aether, fiddling with the strap of his bag. “You scared the crap out of her. Us.”

Their eyes meet, a clash of molten gold and amber, sending a ball of warmth right into his clenching chest.

“I should like to apologize once she is back. That was not my intention.”

“Are you feeling better now?” Lumine asks again, her hands clenching into small fists. The lines of her forehead come together to build wrinkles of concern.

Zhongli nods, feeling his heart slowing down. The stench of blood is no longer festering his nose, instead getting replaced by the smell of deep fried food from the stands around them.

A few more minutes pass until he fully calms down and returns to his usual demeanor. The cold sweat on the back of his neck has dried by the time Xiao impatiently taps his foot on the ground.

They find a place to sit down while waiting for you to come back, the atmosphere stiff and heavy with trepidation.

“Why is she taking so long?” Xiao asks when you don’t show up several minutes later.

“Maybe she’s lost?” Aether jokes half-heartedly, trying to lighten the mood, “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Let me call her,” says Lumine, her phone already pressed against her ear.

The ringing of the line trying to connect to the other side fills the silence around them, but you don’t pick up.

Lumine tries a second time, and then a third time, and then a fourth and by the fifth time she’s chewing her bottom lip until she tastes iron, fear coiling in her stomach.

Aether gets up and retrieves his own phone, dialing your number while venturing further into the fray of humans. The others follow immediately, with Zhongli and Childe exchanging alerted glances when they can no longer track your scent.

Xiao scratches his neck until his nails dig uncomfortably into his skin.

You can’t be too far off. You have to be around here somewhere. He closes his fingers around the collar on his neck and tries to reach out to your soul amidst the dozens of bumbling citizens walking around him.

He feels bile rise from the back of his throat, his teeth clenching so hard he feels like his jaw is about to break when Aether’s panicked voice cuts through the line of people about how he too can’t reach you.

You have to be here. There is no way you would disappear into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

Just as he’s about to curse and leap off into the air to send a burst of wind through the area to find you, he spots something gold from the corner of his eyes.

His feet move him to the alleyway before the others can stop him, the faint scent of your shampoo urging him to walk faster until he’s left everyone behind.

Xiao stops breathless when he’s faced with the wall of a dead end. His eyes travel down and his heart lodges at his throat.

There, on the ground, lies the Skybracer Xiao won for you.

“My lady, I have brought the human, as you have wished.”

The echoed sounds of high heels clacking on the wooden floor announce the departure of the stranger who brought you here.

Where here is, you don’t know.

Everything around you is dripping in gold and luxury, reminding you idly of a palace of the old times.

Even the smell of the interior is rich, the scent of fresh glaze lilies filling the large room to every corner.

You shuffle your foot nervously, unsure why you were brought here and who wanted to meet you.

All you wanted to do was grab some water for Zhongli, who appeared to be in the middle of a panic attack when suddenly you were cornered by a girl, claiming to be the right-hand demon of a devil requesting your presence.

Unable to refuse or cry out for help, she severed the chain connecting you to Xiao with a single swipe of her hand. It wasn’t only so she could separate you from him without alerting him.

It was to demonstrate the superior strength of a devil.

So you obliged, trusting her word that nothing would happen and no one would get hurt if you were to follow her silently.

A new set of footsteps from behind you causes you to whirl around defensively.

You gulp.

Glimmering red eyes sear through you from above, accentuated by long, straight white hair flowing over a voluptuous body dressed in a fitting sleeveless qipao dress.

The slits of it reach full thighs, exposing creamy skin that appears even more dewy under the moonlight streaming in from the windows. The woman’s voice is all seduction and authority when she speaks.

“So this is the Siren who has bound not only the children of God, but also one of our kind with her song?”

Lips in the color of blood rise in greeting and she hums dangerously at the sight of you.

“Finally, we meet.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Eleven

Raindrops pelt on the wet asphalt, slithering through the cracks and crevices of the worn down streets of Mondstadt. They mix in with the blood pooling on the ground, diluting the thick liquid into a rosy hue.

A cough drags out of the curled body lying beside it, followed by a rattled exhale that sounds more like someone’s choking.

Diluc squats down with his wrists on his knees and tilts his head with a condescending glare.

“I advise you to spill everything you know.” He prods the person’s stomach with his crimson greatsword, pushing the sharp tip of it deep enough to pull out a few drops of blood. “Before I make you spill everything you have.”

The person gasps in horror and tries to crawl away, only to get dragged right back by their hair, forced to look directly into Diluc’s blazing eyes.

She appears young, Diluc notices, too young to be walking the streets alone this late at night, too young to have accumulated so many sins to become a demon already.

But age is nothing more than a number to beings like them who are immortal and do not wither and fade like humans do. So he does not falter when she begins to cry.

Big, fat tears roll down her cheeks, down the bulging bruise dragging down her throat. And she begs. 

“P-Please, don’t kill me, I’m sorry, I will never do it again, I swear I won’t come back, please- “

What exactly she’s apologizing for Diluc doesn’t know. He’s not sure she knows either.

He found her loitering outside of your apartment building, setting up something akin to a camp on the rooftop across from your balcony. At first, he didn’t do anything.

He sat back and watched, waited for something to happen and only when you didn’t come back at night like he expected you to, did he make a move.

While he sent Kaeya to find out just where you disappeared off to, he began his process of questioning the lower class demon. It didn’t take long for her to speak, but none of the things she said were of any use.

He realizes she’s nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game when she’s half-dead in the corner of an abandoned street, but still unable to provide him with any of the things he wants to hear.

“Please,” she begs again, this time much weaker.

“Who do you answer to?” Diluc asks instead.

Confused by the change in topic, a pair of big, bright blue eyes look up to meet him. They are a stark contrast to the raven strands falling over her chin.

If the circumstances had been any different, Diluc would have found her pretty. He would have asked her out for a cup of coffee, taken her on a long walk at the beach, and would have made the finest wine for her lips to taste.

But, alas.

“Your master,” repeats Diluc.

At the mention of her superior, her eyes fill with an overwhelming sense of fear and with the last bit of strength residing in her bones, she pushes Diluc off of her to cling to the brickwall behind her. 

Her chest heaves up and down, harshly, painfully, as she mumbles how she can’t go back empty-handed. The sight of it should leave Diluc with the urge to embrace and help her. 

Instead, it makes him want to incinerate her so that nothing but a breeze of dust is left in her wake.

“You’re going to blow up the whole street if you don’t keep it in, dear brother of mine.”

Kaeya smugly struts toward the two with ease and grace carrying his body. He takes a long, good look at the bloodied and bruised girl and winces, before he then gives Diluc an unimpressed raise of his brow.

“You’ll never learn how to talk to women, will you?”

“Mind your own business. Is she at their place?”

Kaeya stops when he reaches the girl and leans down to her eye-level, not once breaking his gaze with her as he answers, “I’m afraid not. They appear to have left on a trip together.”

“A trip?”

“Forgive my brother for having such a careless hand,” he says instead, his voice all honey and butter as he lightly drags his fingers over her cheeks. “There must have been a terrible misunderstanding for him to bring you to this state.”

“I do not mis- “ Diluc intends to interrupt and give him a piece of his mind, but when he sees the hidden hand motion of his brother signaling him to not interfere, he swallows his pride and turns his head the other way.

“Will you allow me to help you soothe some of this pain?” 

The girl eyes him wearily, but is aware she doesn’t hold any more power to fight off either of them, let alone both of them at the same time. Weakly, she nods.

And when a blissful cold seeps out of Kaeya’s fingers and curls around her stinging bruises to relieve her from the fire spreading within her, she drops her guard and closes her eyes. She sighs, feeling the ache disappear into her bones for just a moment, enough to lull her into a fake sense of security.

“I am deeply sorry for what my brother has done, miss…?”

A beat passes.

“Katheryne,” she whispers, her voice holding not an ounce of strength in it.

Kaeya hums approvingly, casting a sideways glance at Diluc, who narrows his eyes in return. 

“Katheryne.” He repeats while stroking her face gently, looking at her with all the love in the world. She blushes. “Can you tell me what exactly happened here?”

He leans in closer, letting his lips drag across the skin of her ear so as not to let Diluc be a part of their conversation anymore. “Let me help you get out of this mess, okay?”

Diluc scoffs. He feels like he’s made fun of by his own brother in the line of their duty, but he doesn’t say anything. Not when Kaeya’s approach seems to be working.

And work it does.

She tells him everything. About the rumors of a human girl in Mondstadt, who has wrapped the Xiao around her fingers and made him her slave. About the same girl talking to Childe and Zhongli and surviving it. About angels guarding her left and right.

“He ordered me to monitor her,” Katheryne croaks, wetting her lips in a futile attempt to get rid of the dryness suffocating her throat. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything to her, I promise.”

“He?”

“Yes… My master heard the rumors too and grew curious. It’s not every day you hear of someone like that.”

“I understand.” Kaeya moves to stroking her hair and smiles encouragingly. “Your master will probably not be very happy to find you in this precarious situation.”

The scent of fear seeps out of her pores. She doesn’t want to think of what punishment will await her should word reach her master of her failure.

“I can talk to him if you would like me to.”

Her mouth falls open and she openly gapes at him. He can see the suspicion in her eyes, the hesitation in her frail shoulders. But he can also see the hope glimmering behind, the want to believe him.

Almost.

“Just tell me where to find him and I will find a way to get you out of this mess.”

Another tear has its descent down her face.

“Why… why would you go so far to help me?”

Kaeya smiles.

“Because you don’t deserve what happened tonight. You were merely following orders, but not breaking any rules. Consider it an apology for what my brother has done to you.”

Almost.

“I want to protect you. That is the duty of us angels.”

And now he has caught her in his webs.

She opens her mouth, ready to speak the name of her master when a lightning bolt in blinding purple strikes from between Kaeya and Diluc and shoots right into her chest. 

Kaeya pulls away immediately and ducks out of its reach. His face twists into one of shock when Katheryne begins violently shaking and froth forms at her mouth. Her eyes roll into the back of her head and the arrow of thunder is gone as fast as it came.

The brothers turn around with their weapons in hand, peering out into the darkness to face whoever just killed their only source of information. But whatever faint demonic aura was present is gone already and by the time they turn back to Katheryne, she is on her back, lifeless with nothing but the white of her eyes looking up at them.

Kaeya curses, the soft smile he wore just a moment ago now nowhere to be found. He clenches his jaw and unleashes a surge of ice from his fingers, freezing Katheryne until her body is encased in crystal. With another flick of his wrist, she explodes into a tiny million pieces, leaving nothing of her existence behind.

The wind carries her away.

It’s Diluc, who breaks the silence first.

“So what was that about a trip?”

“Welcome to my Jade Chamber.” Long, slim arms branch out in a grande gesture before delicate, gloved hands come together again. “This is my hearth and my home, come on in.”

You follow the devil into what appears to be her office with sweaty hands and a pounding heart. She seats herself behind her table across from you and points to the chair to your right.

“Please. Make yourself comfortable. You are a guest after all.”

A very peculiar way to invite a guest to your place, you think, but don’t mention it out loud. You obey and sit across from her, not once parting eye contact.

She laughs like she just remembers her manners and gives you a half-lidded smile as she rests her chin in her palm. “Forgive my crudeness, I have not had a human in my chamber for a while now.”

A servant quietly enters the room with her hands crossed in front of her stomach. The devil pays her no mind as she looks at you, and you only.

“I am Ningguang, and I command the army of geo, including your friend Zhongli. I hear he has been spending quite some time with you.”

A cup of steaming, deliciously smelling tea is placed in front of her, and then you, and then, the servant leaves without another word.

“Why am I here?” You burst out before you can stop yourself.

For a second, Ningguang looks taken aback, before her lips curl into another unreadable smile. She hums.

“Will you believe me if I say I am merely curious?”

You lower your eyes to your wrist. It feels cold and empty.

“She broke the chain. Is the contract no longer valid?”

Ningguang follows your gaze. “I see. You have not been fully educated before the ceremony it seems.”

She sounds disappointed, patronizing even.

“This is not what I expected from the infamous demon of anemo, I admit.”

“Well… Our situation was a little different to begin with.”

A thin, white brow rises curiously as she waits patiently for you to continue. After all, she’s in no rush.

However your next set of words are of a kind she has never heard before, or rather, she never expected to hear. When you summarize your first meeting with Xiao, the accidental signing of the contract and how you have been trying to find a way out of it ever since, she laughs.

With her head thrown back, her mouth uncovered, she laughs, unhinged and free.

It’s a surprisingly pleasant sound, one that carries into the hallway of the chambers and has her servants and secretaries turning their heads curiously.

“So you are telling me it is because you have not expressed a wish that this demon has been by your side all this time?”

You nod and earn another round of laughter. “I don’t want to lose my soul, but I also don’t want to hurt Xiao.”

“Well your contract is still effective, if that is what you are going to ask me next. What Keqing did was merely sever the physical connection you shared through the chain. Now both of you are free to move without any restrictions.”

Unconsciously, your fingers brush over the spot where the bracelet used to be. This doesn’t not go unnoticed by Ningguang, whose smile turns even more amused.

“Your tea will turn cold, young lady. Fear not, it is nothing more than a simple Jasmine tea.”

As if to prove her point, she reaches for her own cup and takes a long sip of it. Telling yourself that if she wanted to do something to you, she would have done it long ago, you gain enough courage to believe her.

Your fingers curl around the handle of the porcelain cup and as you bring it up to your lips, the fresh aroma of the leaves fill your lungs and spread through every crevice of your being. The delicate taste of the flower dissolves on your tongue like sugar and much against your better judgement, you exhale in pleasure from how delicious it is.

“Ganyu - one of my demons - handpicked the leaves for you specifically this morning. She will be most pleased to hear you have enjoyed them.”

“Thank you,” you say, and add, albeit rather hesitantly, “But why go to such lengths for me?”

“I told you: I am curious.”

“But there’s nothing to be curious about. I’m as boring and mundane as they come.”

At that, Ningguang laughs again. You wonder if she does it on purpose, to make you feel more comfortable and safe around her. You don’t want to admit it, but it’s working.

“I am afraid I do not agree with you. No boring and mundane human could gather three demons and have three guardian angels following her every move.”

“Huh? Guardian angels?”

“You- “ Ningguang gives you a perplexed look, but it seems no matter what you say, you end up entertaining her for her smile turns into a grin this time. “You are not aware? Did your demon not tell you?”

You’re not sure you understand. “Not tell me what?”

She sighs, whether out of sympathy for you or of exasperation, you can’t tell. But her expression softens and her nose crinkles when she discloses, “You carry the scent of three angels on you. Although that of your demon far overpowers them. But the traces are still there. I can tell you are a blessed child of God.”

She averts her gaze from you and loses herself in the small waves sploshing within her cup. “Which is why I find it most curious that your soul is still in possession of a demon.”

“I’m not sure I quite follow you. I don’t know any angels.”

“That simply means they are doing their job correctly, my dear.”

“I highly doubt that.” 

Your defensive tone is one she expected. She has heard of the tragedy that befell your parents in the year you graduated from high school. Of death being a constant presence in your life.

Ganyu made sure to research as much about you as possible before asking Keqing to fetch you from the festival. Ningguang knows quite a lot about you. More than you possibly want her to.

“I think I would know if I had three guardian angels surrounding me.”

“Except, you would not.“ She corrects. “Angels, as much as I dislike admitting this, are excellent at concealing their true identities. They are the favored children of God after all.”

“Does this mean I know them?”

Ningguang takes another sip from her tea. “That is a question I cannot answer.”

“What? Why not?” You frown. You start to think that devils are just like demons - doing nothing but beating around the bush.

She appears to be deep in thought for a moment as if deliberating whether to divulge what’s going through her mind. It has been a long time since Ningguang has sat down to drink a cup of tea with a human, even longer since she has set foot into the mortal realm herself.

And now faced with you, the raw, naked you, who doesn’t know anything but to be truly herself, she remembers what it was like when she first ventured into earth all those thousands of years ago.

Back when no one feared her and talked to her without a front or a veil of pretense. She only now realizes how much she has missed it.

“I do not wish to interfere with your life. That is not the reason I have called you into my chambers.”

You bite your lip, hesitant and unsure if you should speak as freely as you have been with a devil, who could very easily take your life if she wanted to. But for a reason you can’t decipher, you know that she is telling the truth.

She is not going to hurt you.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, “ you start, peeking up through your lashes to meet her curious, yet amused gaze, “But why would you waste your time on me like this?”

She laughs again. She can’t remember the last time she had this much fun while conversing with someone.

“You are very oblivious, are you not?”

Her amber eyes flit behind you and linger by the entrance. “Whether my time has been wasted will be shown now.”

You follow her line of sight curiously, wondering what exactly she means when suddenly the double entrance doors burst open. 

Two guards come crashing into the ground in a pile of limbs, their weapons flung to pierce the walls from the impact of their fall. They groan in pain and wheeze, scrambling to get back up.

You get up from your chair immediately, your nerves on high alert. Ningguang calmly walks around her table and stops beside you.

She’s smiling.

And in comes Xiao, carried with the wind as he barges into the main hall. There’s a mask obscuring his face and you recognize it as the one he carried on his hip on the day you first met him.

A deep, dark green mist seeps out from underneath and envelops the remainder of his head with it. 

And as if that isn’t enough to leave your jaw hanging, he’s also holding a long spear with a sharp, jade-colored tip. It’s surrounded by three smaller blades on each side and glows brightly.

Your heart lurches when his head turns toward you. His grip around the handle of his polearm weapon turns deadly when he sees who’s next to you.

Ningguang doesn’t miss this. Her chin rises proudly, coupled with an elegant smile hiding the smugness within her.

Xiao lunges forward with a hiss, ready to strike and kill her on the spot. His bones are expanding, too big for his body and his blood is sizzling with a desperate need to get you out of here.

He’s reminded of the night at the bar when a drunk stranger forced himself onto you, the look of panic and fear in your eyes when you realized you were too weak against him.

He feels the same rage as he did then, only now, he is not faced with an oblivious and defenseless human.

A Jade screen made of gold, obsidian and opulence flows out from Ningguang’s fingers and stations itself right between you and him. 

It pulses and vibrates with each thrust of Xiao’s wind strikes, but blocks his attack effortlessly. 

You can’t help but marvel at the beauty of it, torn between wanting to stop the fight and wanting to find your tongue again.

Speechless beyond measure, you turn to Ningguang for help. 

The last thing you want is for Xiao to fight her. You’re not sure if you’re ready to find out whether he actually possesses the strength to take on a devil all on his own. Not to mention that she’s not really a threat that needs to be fought in the first place.

“Welcome, demon of the anemo.” Ningguang offers a hospitable raise of her lips. “You have come much faster than I anticipated.”

“Give her back,” is all Xiao says in return.

You can’t see his eyes through the mask covering them. They’re blazing. 

“Xiao- ” You start, wanting to dissipate the tension thrumming through the air.

He interrupts you with the call of your name and his unoccupied hand reaches out right in front of the translucent curtain. Without stopping to think, you walk right through it, experiencing, unlike him, no trouble passing it.

Your hand is warm and soft in his, familiar, as he drags you behind him with a monstrous strength. The scent of the strangely colored wind envelops you and fills your lungs in a way that makes you lean away from it.

“I apologize for severing your tie,“ apologizes Ningguang, who then drops the screen, allowing the particles of gold to permeate back into her skin. “However it was necessary for her to be parted from you for I fear you would not have consented to my meeting her.”

“What do you want?” Xiao asks with his mask still on.

You’re starting to feel sick from the suffocating air around you as if something poisonous is surrounding you in unrelenting waves. Swallowing becomes harder, your throat swells up with a painful itch and it’s only when you begin coughing that Xiao turns to you.

His grip around your hand tightens and reluctantly, without really wanting to, he removes the mask and turns it to dust. As soon as the last particles disappear, the teal swirls leave together with it.

Your coughing stops and your lungs clear up to allow a new batch of fresh air inside.

“It’s okay,” you manage to say, making sure to maintain eye contact with him, “I’m okay. She just wanted to talk to me.” 

There’s a new kind of darkness in his eyes, one you’ve never seen before. It makes you want to explore it, but also run from it, but instead you find yourself frozen, unable to do either.

“What is that supposed to mean?” 

You squeeze his hand in reassurance. “I’m saying there’s no need to fight her.”

His eyes shift over to Ningguang, assessing your words for verity and upon finding no trace of malice, the spear between his fingers melts into the ethers. He squeezes your hand back.

“I advise you to not meddle with others’ business, if your life holds any value to you.”

Several petrified gasps resound from behind you and when you turn to see where they come from, you notice several guards standing there, ready to strike. Amidst them is the same girl who brought you here. 

Keqing, as Ningguang called her.

Her lips in a taut line and with a sharp sword sheathed in her delicate hand, she looks as if she wants to cut Xiao’s head off.

Ningguang lifts her palm to keep them at bay and in a dignified manner that makes you avert your gaze to the ground, meets Xiao’s threat unaffected.

“All of hell is speaking of this young girl.”

Xiao freezes.

“The girl who has tamed the beast that is the demon of anemo. The one whom he has grown weak for.”

He interrupts her with an unexpectedly weak protest, vindication spreading from his tongue as he tries to convince her, you, but most of all himself that her words are inaccurate.

But he feels your smooth, unmarred skin clinging to his callused one and realizes with a startling clarity that he doesn’t want you to let go. Ever.

“I am not the only one growing curious from these rumors.” She looks up from your intertwined hands and gives Xiao a long, meaningful look. “Not all of them are just curious.”

Your breath caught in your throat, you step closer to Xiao, your free hand instinctively fisting the hem of the long sweater he chose to wear today. He glances down at you, hears the quickening pace of your heartbeat and smells the fear seeping out of your pores.

“I quite enjoyed our little chat, so I would much prefer if harm did not find you.”

A long, painful minute of silence passes in which nothing happens. 

They communicate with their eyes alone and speak of words you will never hear. 

She warns him. 

Of the imminent dangers awaiting you and the battles that have yet to come.

It is only a question of time until they strike.

For the first time in a very long time, Xiao is apprehensive.

He turns away from Ningguang and walks toward the exit, dragging you along with him without giving you a chance to properly say your goodbyes.

Once outside, you peer down at the ground. You still have no idea just how you came up here, let alone how you’re supposed to get back down.

How no one noticed a floating palace right above their heads is just as much a mystery to you. 

“Hold onto me.” Xiao orders, voice strangely devoid of anything.

It’s only when giant golden wings grow out of his back and stretch impossibly long behind him that you remember. He lets go of your hand and instead slides it around your waist, pulling you flush against him.

Your heart skips a beat and latches itself up on your throat when you feel his chest underneath your own. Bashful and overwhelmed, you clumsily try to find a spot to place your hands on as he walks the two of you closer to the edge.

A surge of wind brushes your hair out of your face, cooling the warmth on your cheeks when you finally settle your palms against his chest. You can feel the even beat of his heart and strangely, it fills you with serenity.

Xiao glances back one last time and meets Ningguang’s watchful eyes. “Do you fear being in the sky?”

“Huh?” Your noses brush when you lift your head in surprise, causing your breath to stutter. You try very hard not to look at his lips. “Am I scared of heights?”

“We will be flying back to the inn.”

“But what about the festival?”

He lowers his chin and sighs. It almost sounds fond. And then he does something very unexpected. Something that sets your heart into overdrive.

Gently, as if he fears he will burn you, his fingers trail a path from your scalp to your temple until they stop right at your forehead. He applies just the tiniest bit of pressure and his voice comes out soft, more a whisper than an insult, “You truly store nothing but air in that head of yours, hm?”

“Wait, what’s that- “ 

Your offended question turns into a terrified squeal when he dives down without warning, plunging you along with him. All the air stored in your lungs gets released in one go from the pressure of the fall.

You wind your arms around him instinctively and press yourself closer, your nose finding its way into the safety of his neck. With your eyes squeezed shut, you brace yourself for the crash that never happens.

Instead, the sound of flapping wings replaces the whistle of the wind and carries you higher, up, up, up. Clouds part to reveal a path up the neverending sky and although every single muscle in your body strains from the experience, you force yourself to tilt your head back and open your eyes.

Deep orange bleeds into a dark purple, painting the evening sky into one of the most beautiful hues you have ever seen. It feels like you’re flying right into the nest of colors and you can’t stop yourself from laughing out loud at the absurdly incredible experience.

He carries you with ease and drifts along with the wind until the Jade chamber is no longer visible. With Liyue harbor left behind, you watch the yellow plains turn into liquid waves from the speed with which Xiao flies.

Pressed close to him, filled to the brim with the intoxicating scent of the wind, you close your eyes and let the breeze dance with your hair. The golden ocean beneath you stretches infinitely.

You feel weightless, fearless, like nothing and no one in the whole wide world can touch you.

You feel invincible.

Xiao watches you crane your neck back with a blinding grin that threatens to split his aching heart in half. Right then, your laughter reminds him of chiming wind bells and of days from a time long gone.

His face softens.

He wonders if he really has grown weak.

“Yeah, I’m back at the inn now. No, I’m okay, really. I just felt a little sick and had to sit down for a bit. Yeah. Yeah, Xiao found me and brought me back. No, you don’t need to come back. Yes, I’m sure, Lu.”

You release an exasperated breath when Aether takes the phone from his twin and shoots the same barrel of questions as Lumine. A weary smile still sneaks on your face at his concern.

Xiao listens to you talk on the phone until you hang up with a sigh. He returns to gazing out of the balcony, watching the lights of Liyue Harbor flicker beneath the moonlight.

The night is clear, allowing for a perfect view from where your room is located. He hears the creak of the door as you step out to join him, the faint dragging of your slippers against the tiles tickling his ears.

“Somehow I feel more tired after talking to Lu than I did while I was talking to an actual devil.”

Your weak attempt at a joke doesn’t elicit the reaction you wanted out of Xiao. He doesn’t laugh.

“Why did you not call for me?”

You avert your gaze, your voice timid when you reply. “I… don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to put anyone in danger.”

“And your best course of action was to leave everyone behind and follow a devil to her chambers?”

“She said nothing would happen if I did as she said!”

“And you believed her?”

You meet his scoff with a pout. “What else was I supposed to do?”

Xiao’s jaw tightens. He’s holding onto the very last threads of his patience. “How does having a sense of self-preservation sound?”

Your chest tightens painfully, his words stabbing you like poisoned pinpricks of a needle. You know underneath his harsh words and his even colder voice, he cares.

But still, it doesn’t take from the pain when he throws your faults right at your face.

“I told you before: demons lie.” He chides, abandoning your eyes to stare at what’s in front of him. “Devils are worse. They are manipulative and rotten to their very core. They know what you want before you do, and have you indebted to them without you realizing it.”

You look up from where you’d been burning holes in the ground, up to lose yourself in his solemn profile. 

Somehow, you want to embrace him.

“I am fully aware that you are foolishly positive and hopelessly naive, but I cannot protect you if you are not with me.”

Something inside your chest flutters.

His voice is different now, more gentle. “Do you understand?”

You gaze at him in silence. It feels like a sacred moment, all kinds of different emotions teetering on so many edges that you don’t know where they will fall.

The fear when Keqing dragged you into a side alley before she grabbed you and teleported you up into the sky.

The uneasiness as you sat in front of Ningguang, on your own in an unfamiliar place with no knowledge whether you would make it out alive.

And then, the cloud of warmth spreading through your chest when you saw familiar flashes of green and a pair of familiar golden eyes.

“Thank you.” You whisper, unsure whether he even hears you. “For coming to get me.”

Xiao stills. Such genuine words are not reserved for him. He doesn’t deserve the kindness of someone as pure as you. He wants to say all of this and more, but another part of him takes over.

The selfish part of him that wants to bottle up your words and keep it safely stashed inside his chest silences him into submission. Ningguang’s words repeat themselves over and over in his head.

You join his side hesitantly, wanting to say something smart, or funny, or anything at all to not let this conversation die out. But before you’re able to do so, you’re startled out of your skin when everything around you turns dark.

All of Liyue’s lights turn off at the same time, drowning the land in a sea of black. You take a step closer to Xiao instinctively, your atoms still on edge from everything you’ve been through today.

However, much to your surprise, he doesn’t move.

He doesn’t frown or pull out his weapon, only remains where he stands with his eyes facing ahead, toward the harbor.

“Look.” He says.

A beat of tense silence passes.

And then Liyue comes alive, light by light.

It starts from the center of the harbor, right above the giant statue of the Skybracer. A torch is lit. A lantern follows. On top of the buildings, all across the street, from opened windows and balconies, from inside the horns of the Skybracer, they stream out into the world and reach for the skies.

Hundreds of lanterns released simultaneously, they illuminate all of Liyue within seconds. Little by little, each one of them brings a beautiful bit of life and a precious glimmer of hope with them. 

A wave of lights rushes through the town, gaining in momentum the higher they fly.

The oxygen in your lungs comes out in one big swoop. It’s unbelievably, breathtakingly beautiful.

It’s magical.

Standing atop of Wangshu Inn, at the highest point of Liyue, watching the festival together with Xiao, you think you understand why the twins have been pestering you for years to join them. You’re entranced by the sight of it, so focused and lost in it that you miss the way he lifts his arm.

Reaching out carefully, Xiao hovers his hand over your head with bated breath. He lowers it slowly, almost reluctantly, until his fingers sink into the messy strands of your hair. The tiniest bit of pressure applied to your scalp startles your eyes open, the unexpected movement from Xiao catching you off guard.

He ignores it. 

Your head feels warm under his hand, your curls soft against his skin. For a long, oddly peaceful moment, neither of you speak. It’s just the bright lights of the harbor below you, the occasional whistle of the wind and the rhythmic beating of your heart. 

“I am glad you are safe.” He says eventually, feeling purpose fire his ribs for the first time in a very long time.

Your cheeks warm and you search for some type of cheeky response to hide how much you want the ground to swallow you whole. But you come up empty, because inside your head a storm wreaks havoc and renders you incapable of doing anything apart from turning away from him. He has the decency to not bore through you with his eyes, but instead face back forward. 

And in that moment, you’re calm. 

You feel something, something you’ve lacked for a long time. You struggle to put a name to it, but it leaves you feeling safe, like you’re exactly where you need to be. 

The sense that you’re in the right place comes strong and fast, and with each passing second it grows stronger, like the beating of your heart in your chest. 

You feel at home.

Later that night, long after the twins stumbled back into the inn in a drunken stupor and ended up clocking out in the same room, you fall asleep leaning against Xiao’s shoulder.

You had been sitting on the floor of the balcony with him, your backs against the shut door while you watched the lanterns in the sky. Eventually you started talking about everything, about nothing, about high school, about university, about your parents, about your dog, about the twins and Diluc, about Mondstadt and the world far beyond.

Xiao listened, uncharacteristically gentle as he provided you with responses and stories of his own. He told you about his home in hell, about his lifeless garden and the frozen sea separating him from the rest. He answered every single one of your questions, honest and patient in a way you had never seen him before.

And when your eyes grew heavy and your head dropped on his shoulder, he did not lean away. 

Xiao glances at you from the corner of his eyes, feeling a painful tug of his chest at the way your lashes curl upward. They remind him of butterflies. 

Unaware of his own movements and not even knowing why, he finds himself leaning down toward you. He inhales deeply. 

Your scent is soothing. Addictive and sweet and something else that springs forth questions and doubts Xiao isn’t ready to tackle yet. 

His eyes closed, his lips brush over your temple lighter than a breeze when it happens. 

The rustling of leaves fill his ears and suddenly, he’s no longer on the balcony with you, no longer in Liyue. 

A bed of green surrounds him, grass as soft as silk dancing with the wind while the tree above provides him shelter from the sweet summer sun. He can hear birds chirping and the stream of a lake nearby. The trunk of the tree is large enough for the both of you to rest against and he lowers his eyes to where you’re sleeping, cuddled up to his side.

You look the same, but also completely different.

He can’t recognize the garments stretching across your skin, nor does he recall your hair being as straight and smooth as a pin. You look younger, skinnier, like someone who could be you but isn’t really you. And when he looks down at himself, he feels like a stranger to himself as well. 

It’s like you’re two different people in a different world, but at the same time an overwhelming sense of déjà vu fills him and he can’t suppress the feeling that he’s been here before.

But the vision is gone as fast as it comes and he’s once again back on the balcony with you shifting closer to him.

In the fit of confusion, only one question remains.

Has he met you before?

You wake up on the giant single bed, on your own.

When you fell asleep or how you ended up in the bed is a mystery to you - the last thing you remember is imagining what Xiao’s house must look like.

You yawn and stretch out your limbs, feeling the delicious pull of your muscles getting ready for the day. Turning over to check on Lumine, you’re surprised to find the other half of the bed unoccupied.

There are no wrinkles on the sheets to suggest someone other than you spent the night here. Another yawn claws out of your mouth as you enter the bathroom to wash your face and do your morning business.

The face you see mirrored in front of you almost startles you out of your skin. Your hair has exceeded all levels of sanity as it sticks up from every angle. 

If you didn’t know better, you’d think you slept next to an electricity rod.

A thick hair tie saves the day as you scrunch everything up into a high bun. The cold water on your face helps you with the process of fully getting your brain wired and started.

After finishing in the bathroom, you grab your phone from the charger (when did you even plug in your phone?) to check if you have any missed calls or text messages from the twins.

The single digit blaring into your face makes you think twice about calling either of the two.

The last thing you want is a possibly hungover and moody Lumine. She’s even worse than hungry Lumine.

Instead, you opt for the balcony, wanting to savour what little bit of the sunrise is left to admire. As soon as you step out, you hear the cheerful voice of Childe to your right. 

You lean over to see him chatting away with Zhongli, who calmly sips from a cup of tea while basking below the sunlight. Xiao is also with them, leaning against the railing with his head thrown back.

His hair glitters and you catch your fingers twitching in want.

“Look who decided to show up!” Childe greets after spotting you. He walks around the table until he’s right beside you, leaning over the wall to peer into your balcony. “Had a good night’s rest after your tour in the Jade chamber?”

“We heard about it from Xiao.” Zhongli adds, helpfully. “I am most pleased to see you have taken no harm. But not surprised. Ningguang isn’t one to meddle with humans.”

“Did she really just call you up there to chat?”

You glance over at Xiao, hoping for some kind of recognition or greeting on his part. He remains unmoving as if he hasn’t heard a single thing.

“Yeah.” You respond, keeping your eyes on Xiao. Was he upset about something? “We only talked.”

“But about what?”

You look back to the other room you booked. “Are Lu and Aether together?”

“Don’t answer my question with another!”

Childe’s protest drowns in Zhongli’s deep voice. “Yes. After receiving your call and getting confirmation that you were indeed safe and sound, they went as Lumine said “to town” with the beverages offered from the stalls.”

“Uh oh.”

Zhongli looks up from the rim of his cup. He raises a brow.

“You’re gonna have to deal with a moody Lu and a needy Aether now.”

(If they think you’re going to sacrifice yourself like a helpless, little lamb, they’re wrong.)

It’s only then that Xiao opens his eyes and turns to you.

“What do you mean we? Where are you going?” Childe asks.

Realization dawns on Xiao, but he’s incapable of saying anything when you smile at him brightly and announce, “Because Xiao and I have plans!”

Childe’s eyes narrow as if he doesn’t quite believe you. “You do?”

“Yup!”

“What kind of plans?”

“You know, plans. Outside.”

His eyes narrow even more. “Just the two of you?”

“Just the two of us.”

The implied meaning of your words fails to reach your conscience, but Childe is as naughty as one can be, so he all but shouts with amusement, “So you guys have a date today?”

You take an involuntary step back, a crimson fire exploding from the center of your face, stretching until the flames lick up your ears. You can hear your heart pounding in your ears from how embarrassed you are. 

You feel like throwing up.

“So that’s what you were up to last night, huh?” His grin widens further. There’s malicious joy nestled between his pearly white teeth.

This time you understand what he means. 

And all of your protests and denials fall on deaf ears, because Childe teases the hell out of you. You’re spluttering and squeaking, feeling like you’re thirteen with your first crush again and Childe, being the ruthless demon he’s known to be, takes full advantage of that.

He laughs, open and free, as he sees you come undone. You’re as transparent as foil, your reactions so genuine, he can already predict them.

Zhongli, whom you had hoped would save you since he tended to be the most responsible and mature out of the three, simply sits there, unbothered like you aren’t currently every possible shade of red.

You want to disappear. You want the ground to rip open in a giant hole, swallow you with a single bite and spit you out back in Mondstadt, right underneath your soft sheets so you can hide from the world and never go back out again.

But unlike you, Xiao appears to be unaffected by both your nervous meltdown and Childe’s taunting remarks. Without even looking at either of you three, he walks back into the room and disappears.

Beneath you, the floor splits open when your jaw drops in disbelief. What just happened? Why did he just leave? Is he upset? Why won’t he talk to-

The sound of knuckles rapping against your front door reaches you all the way into the balcony and you turn back to Childe, a huge question mark hanging off of your head.

He shrugs, pretending in a really bad fashion like he has no clue who it could be. The knocking returns and you quickly rush back inside, oblivious to the two demons exchanging knowing smiles.

You open the door to find Xiao, waiting.

For you.

“Yes?” You ask, your voice unsure.

“Our date.” He says, totally casually, completely nonchalantly as if he didn’t just say the most out-of-character thing.

You gape once more. Are you perhaps still dreaming?

“Where do you wish to go?”

Chapter Text

Chapter Twelve

Qingce village is a place full of warmth. 

Its colors are bright and eye-catching, hundreds of glimmering flowers stretching across the fields underneath the sun. Oranges, yellows, greens, blues - no matter where you lay your eyes on, you can’t help but fall more in love with the nature surrounding you.

With the breeze comes a scent so sweet, you find yourself closing your eyes to revel in it. A smile graces your lips and Xiao thinks that this is oddly fitting.

If he has to assort a specific smell to you, he thinks it would be this.

The very same flowers that wafted out of your skin when he first materialized in your room was one he despised. You reeked of angels and of God’s blessing and he wanted nothing more than to keep it far, far away from him. In a place he would never set foot.

But right now, as he watches you tilt your head back with another inhale, as he sees your chest rise and the trees sway behind you, he doesn’t mind.

“Wow,” you exhale and turn to him. “This is… beautiful.”

There’s something soft in the way he regards you then. “It is.”

You’re caught by it, just like your breath catches in your throat. His eyes are glowing. He too can’t find it in himself to look away. The grass tickles your exposed calves when another gust of wind embraces you and you give Xiao a shy smile.

“When was the last time you came here?”

He thinks for a moment, trying to recall the exact date. But it has been so long since he has been in the mortal realm, let alone in Liyue, so he merely settles with “Long enough that most likely everything has changed.”

But then, while gazing at the old wooden houses with blue tiled roofs and little children running around with laughter spilling from their lips and grandparents watching over them fondly, he adds, “However this- “

He waits for you to follow his eyes so you can see the same things he does. “- this is the Qingce village I know.”

His voice sounds different than what you’re used to in that moment - melancholic and yearning as he experiences difficulty to part with the sight in front of him.

Warmth, and a strange, thrumming joy spreads through you and you don’t even know why, can’t even question your own feelings because Xiao has already taken your hand into his and started walking.

He leads you down a flight of steps made of stone as if it’s the most natural thing for you two to hold hands.

And somehow, it feels like that as well. 

Your mouth falls open in awe when you’re faced with a ginormous waterfall raining from the highest point of the mountain. It’s wide enough to keep three large mills running. At this time of the day, the water shimmers almost magically, foaming into a beautiful white as it hits the wood of the mill.

Xiao slows down when he notices your fascination, halting once you reach the bridge in front of it. Like an excited little child, you hold onto the railing with your free hand and peer below.

“Xiao, look!” Your eyes glitter like stars when you point to the mountain that appears to divide itself into several steps from which the waterfall flows until it finally reaches the endless body of water that surrounds all of the village.

He hums as a response and rests his chin in his palm, his eyes never leaving you. 

“Oh my!” An unfamiliar voice makes both of you turn around. A full-bodied, kind-looking lady walks towards you with raised brows. “What a lovely surprise! Good morning, you two!”

Surprised and slightly caught off guard, you lower yourself back on the ground and release the railing. A part of you fears you might be about to get scolded for leaning over the bridge. But the look on her face says otherwise.

“We don’t often see young people like you strolling around the village, so forgive me for coming on so strongly.”

Relief instantly floods through your tense shoulders and you smile in return. “Hello! It’s actually my first time here in Liyue!”

“Well you certainly have made the right choice in traveling to our village then. There are a lot of beautiful things here as you’ve just witnessed. My mill is just a speck in the grand scheme of things.”

Xiao perks in interest. “This is your mill?”

“Yes, I run it. My father passed it down to me when I returned to the village and after renovating it, it has turned into what it is today.” She cranes her neck back and smiles proudly. “Just hearing the sound of the water wheel reminds me of so many things in my childhood. I wonder if my father felt like this too when he was still alive.”

In a way, you can relate. Thinking back to the summers you spent at your grandparents’ place as a child, you remember the mill running day and night, the sound of it engraved deep in your heart.

“I can certainly tell that you have placed a lot of love and time into them.”

She beams at you, all teeth and cheeks as she thanks you, once again reiterating how much she appreciates seeing two young visitors. 

You were already aware that Liyue was inhabited mostly by elderly and children. Most of the younger folks tended to leave Liyue, and especially the villages, behind to seek work elsewhere, rarely returning to the place they hailed from.

But you never expected that the sight of you and Xiao would leave someone as speechless as it did with her. The little bit you saw of Liyue so far was just as breathtaking as the pictures you had seen on the internet, so the idea of no one coming to this place to see it for themselves was almost preposterous.

“Anyhow, I do not wish to keep you from traveling further. I know how chatty I can be. But you have entertained me, so I can tell you are good children.”

She continues regardless, patting your shoulder in a friendly way. “If you find yourselves needing anything for your journey, feel free to come back and ask for Ms. Bai. I will personally come and serve you then.”

“That’s very kind of you, thank you!”

And with that, she bids her farewell and walks back into the building that is her store and home. Xiao gives you a few more minutes to admire the view of the fields before he nudges you forward, motioning to the other side of the bridge.

The marketplace, unlike what you saw the previous night in the harbor, is empty, safe for a few children scuttering around and one or two elderly people talking among each other. On the ground the shadow of the leaves stretches in the most intricate patterns, providing a few of the sitting spots protection from the morning sun.

It’s a small market place. You can count on one hand the number of buildings residing on the hill, but it feels warm and homey and you’re not quite ready to walk past yet.

A young boy with a basket on his back is talking to an elderly man in front of a fruit stall, and another pair of the same kind is a bit farther away, with the child gazing at the fields and the man resting by the side.

Once he spots you, he gets out of his seat with the same surprise Ms. Bai wore and waves you over. 

“Travelers! Come here, come here! You must be thirsty after the high trek!”

You exchange a look with Xiao, you smiling, and he expressionless before you approach him with a light bow. Before you’re even able to say anything, he pushes the both of you to sit with a strength only an old man tending to the fields can possess.

Eagerly, he places a deep blue Gaiwan set on the table and pours steaming tea from it into both cups. The aroma of something sweet and slightly tangy fills the air as he talks all the while.

He goes by Pops Kai and owns the tea vendor of this village. What originally started out as a place for him and his friends to rest after long days at the fields, became a business for travelers. After all, walking up long stretches up a hill makes the thought of drinking delicious tea beside a waterfall sound even more inviting than it already is.

Just like Ms. Bai, he talks without a break while preparing snacks you didn’t ask for. A plate of assorted nuts sits prettily in the center of the table, surrounded by smaller bowls filled with rice cakes, dried peach slices and plums, and to top it all off, he brings fresh fruits from across the building as well.

It reminds you so much of your own grandfather, who would bend and break his back to show proper hospitality. For a second, you think you see him in Pops Kai and something inside your chest twinges.

At this point Xiao is still holding your hand and upon noticing this, Pops Kai grins slyly, shakes his head, and mutters to himself as he leaves, “Ah… young love…”

Neither of you hear it though, because you’re too busy marveling at all the snacks and Xiao is too engrossed in the tea served in front of him.

A slight breeze tickles through your hair, adding to the already serene atmosphere of the village. You release Xiao’s hand and grasp the cup gently at first, checking the temperature of the tea and then lift it to your lips to take your first sip.

If the tea served at Ningguang’s place the day before was tasty, then this one is marvelous. It coats your tongue in a thick layer of sweetness and dissolves into a slightly bitter aftertaste that continues to linger in the back of your throat.

The sourness of the dried plums complements it perfectly and you can’t keep yourself from humming out loud.

“Breathe,” says Xiao with a brow raised in amusement. “The food is not going to disappear.”

“‘sho good, you have to try it!” 

He scoffs inaudibly and obliges, reaching with his slender fingers to one of the dried peach slices. You can pinpoint the exact moment when the taste hits his tongue and his mind catches up to register it.

The look on his face is one of absolute appreciation and he reaches for a second slice, and then a third, and then a fourth, and then a-

“Breathe,” you mimic him with a cheeky grin of your own. “The food isn’t gonna disappear.”

He stills with a silent grunt, the tips of his ears dusting into a pretty pink before he looks off to the side, unimpressed. For a long while after, it’s just the two of you drinking tea, eating delicious snacks underneath the bright morning sun.

Pops Kai is beaming when he comes back to serve another round of tea - the last time he had a visitor was several months ago when a young, traveling businessman from Inazuma had come to rest at his place.

But you’re nothing like the cold man, who had eaten his meal that night.

You’re loud and joyous, full of laughter and giggles with eyes shaped as tiny crescents each time Xiao says something unintentionally funny. The fact that you almost inhale his entire table when he brings out freshly cut, ice cold honeydew only adds to his smile.

“Are you ready to talk about yesterday?” Xiao asks sometime later. He’s taken your hand into his again, fiddling with your fingers gently.

It’s then that you belatedly realize you hadn’t talked about it at all after he brought you back to the inn. He didn’t question you and didn’t push you to explain anything - he simply provided company and a warm shoulder to lean onto.

And it’s also at this moment, that you notice that indeed, right now, you feel composed enough to visit the events of yesterday, whereas last night on the balcony, high on the adrenaline and conflicting emotions swirling in your chest, you were not.

It is such a Xiao thing to do, such a hidden kindness that the warmth in your stomach spreads even further.

You know this feeling all too well, have experienced it a few times as you grew into the woman you have become today. Part of you embraces it with open arms and a fluttering chest, ready to dive into the unforeseeable ocean of your heart.

But another, much bigger part of you that you have been actively pushing back, is trembling with premonition, warning you to not tread any closer should you value your own life.

Because there is one truth you will never be able to erase: Xiao is a demon, and you are a human.

Your life is not a fairytale, none of those fantasy romance novels you read growing up, in which the main characters against all odds would always find their happy ending, together .

But his hand is still warm against yours, his fingers are still buzzing against your skin and for a moment, you let yourself forget that he and you are not the same.

“Yeah,” you respond, squeezing it once. “When I was trying to find something to drink for Zhongli, someone came up to me.”

“That someone was Keqing?”

“Yes.” 

You can feel Xiao tensing.

“She said her master wanted to talk to me, just talk, nothing more. At first, I didn’t want to go, but then she cut through our chain with little to no effort and… I was worried what would happen if I refused her invitation.”

“You should have called for me. I would have come.”

“I know. But she said she was using her master’s power and… I guess I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

His frown only grows, although his touch remains gentle. “I swore an oath to protect you the day you spoke my name.”

The finality in his tone makes you shrink into silence, but Xiao only sighs, and looks at you with what you can only describe to be exasperated.

“Continue.”

You clear your throat and pluck a strand of hair behind your ear. “Once I was up there, they served me tea and Ningguang… just talked to me? Like Keqing said, she literally just conversed with me.”

“What did she say?”

“That she was curious who I am and that apparently all of hell is talking about me? Which, by the way, is kind of a terrifying but also cool thought. I’m still undecided on that part.”

Xiao almost growls at you right then and there, “This should not be an exciting matter for you. Hell and its residents bring nothing but pain.”

“I know, I know! That’s not how I meant it… Anyway, she uh, she mentioned something about me having guardian angels. Do you know anything about that?”

He takes too long to answer, long enough that you should grow suspicious and question the validity of his statement. But you trust Xiao, with all of your heart and all of your life.

So you believe him when he answers with “No.”

“That’s really odd,” you continue, unaware of his avoiding gaze, “I think I would know if I had angels guarding me. I wouldn’t be on my own if that was the case.”

As much as Xiao wants to stop himself from correcting you, he can’t. “Do you not think that quite on the contrary, they have done their job properly?”

The appalled look you send him almost shuts him up. Almost.

“Your angels are not responsible for the life of your loved ones. If their time has run out, they can not turn their back on God’s word. The fact that you are still alive is proof of their capability.”

You know the words are forced out of Xiao’s mouth. He doesn’t need to tell you about his distaste for them for you to know that just admitting this fact is almost the same as complimenting them.

Your mind wanders to places you have avoided traveling to for years.

“Does that mean my parents didn’t have guardian angels? Or my grandparents?”

His finger traces a blue vein on the back of your hand like a feather, his voice even softer as he responds, “Who knows?”

“Why do I have one? I’m not as religious as my parents were.”

“I cannot tell you what God is thinking.”

“And you really don’t know who they are? You can tell the difference between a human and an angel, right?”

Xiao still doesn’t look into your eyes. You still do not notice it.

“Yes, I can tell when someone is not mortal.”

You hum thoughtfully. “I guess that just means they don’t show themselves then?”

And then a thought strikes you. “What about you? Do you have a master as well?”

Your question catches Xiao off guard and he stops chewing, feeling bile rise up his throat. Unwanted memories creep through the walls of his mind and claw their way to the forefront of his eyes.

You notice the change in atmosphere and immediately regret asking him. Even if a big part of you wants to know the answer to it, and wants to get to know him with all his edges and curves - you don’t want it to happen if it means putting him through pain.

His expression twists into something you can’t describe, but it aches to watch him like this. So you decide to take back your words and apologize, but Xiao has already gathered his composure again and responds, “I used to have one.”

Goosebumps build on your exposed arms. He turns to gaze over the fields of flowers.

“He abandoned Satan and went into hiding several decades ago.”

“He what?” You can’t help but lean forward in interest.

“I do not know what exactly happened or what led him to go through with it, but… he had never really enjoyed being a devil as far as I remember. He was different from the rest, even considered a traitor by most.” 

“But… didn’t you say that all devils came from Satan himself? Don’t they all share the same conscience?”

“Not necessarily. They are indeed all part of Satan, but they are also their own in a sense. Throughout the millennia they developed their own identity and conscience. And my master had always been rather… soft.”

“I didn’t know that was possible…”

His lips rise into an indiscernible smile, the edges haunted with undealt trauma. “Humans fascinated him. He was always trying to understand your kind and spent most of his time disguised as one of you to spend more time on earth.

“He never liked me very much for I never spared a thought when I consumed their souls. But I never saw disgust or hate in his gaze, only pity.”

Enthralled by his story, his past, you nibble on your lips and listen intently, wanting to swallow up every single sound that leaves his lips. Your heart is thundering inside your chest when he meets your eyes again; his a molten gold accentuated by the sun above.

“He looked at me like he knew something I had yet to find out.” They drop to memorize the shape of your lips and then back up to focus on you.

He does not tell you that he thinks he is starting to understand what that something is.

Lumine wants to punch him in the face.

He hasn’t done anything particularly offensive that could have triggered her this much - he hasn’t even spoken a word yet.

But his smug grin as she walks down the stairs and into the open kitchen area to grab some late breakfast is enough to make her blood boil. It makes her want to knock his daylights off.

Aether trickles behind her groggily, his hair looking worse than a bird's nest with all the tossing and turning he did the night prior. His eyes are thick with sleep and he doesn’t think he could open them properly, even if he wanted to.

If it wasn’t for their growling stomachs, neither would have gotten up and out of bed today.

Childe and Zhongli are already saving a table for them, with the former munching happily on a piece of fluffy pancake, whereas the latter is sipping on a cup of tea.

And just like you warned them before you left with Xiao, Lumine is horrible when hungover, and Aether is a lost case, unable to think for himself.

The breakfast they get for themselves is laughable at best and when they notice your absence, they both sulk and quietly finish their food. Usually on days like this, you would nurse them back to a coherent state, feeding them and looking after them until at least one of them feels better.

It’s now that they realize that getting drunk without you is only half as much fun, because that also means sobering up without you.

No one says anything when they walk back up the stairs and into their respective rooms.

“I’m gonna head back to the harbor to prepare some posts for my website.” Lumine mutters through a yawn as she slips her room key into the door scanner. “You coming with me, Aeth?”

“No, I don’t think so. I wanted to go take a few pictures in Jueyun Karst.”

Childe’s ears perk up at this opportunity presenting itself. 

“I’m free.” He’s by Lumine’s side in a flash, his forearm resting against the wall and one leg crossing the other in what he probably assumes to be a “cool guy stance”.

Except Lumine’s never been a fan of cool guys, let alone idiots who think this sort of stuff makes them appear even remotely interesting. So she does what she almost always does when Childe comes up with a stupid idea that includes bothering her in one way or another.

She rolls her eyes, ignores his remark and slips inside your shared room.

But then, to everyone's surprise, her voice floats outside before the door slams shut, leaving them all in stupefied wonder.

“Bus station in thirty.”

Liyue Harbor is bustling with life, a polar opposite to Qingce village.

Young folks from all over the world are flocking in groups throughout the streets, crowding the stalls and stopping to rest at the shore, right where the water meets the dock.

There are all kinds of people in the harbor, from business men to young students to old couples to small children - once a year, all of Teyvat gathers to celebrate this time of the year together.

Lumine loves the Lantern Rite Festival, has been obsessed with it ever since she’s been a small child, clutching onto her father’s big hand. She remembers the very first time she tried one of the spicy fish cake sticks her mother had bought her, how Aether had cried from the spice and how she got to eat his share as well.

But most of all, she remembers the colorful sky dotted in yellow, orange and gold as everyone set their wishes free into the sky. Her own wishes, then still originating from the mind of a young, spoiled girl, merging with the others and following a path made of glittering stars until not a single one was visible anymore.

It’s her favorite time of the year.

“What kind of posts are you thinking of making?” Childe asks when they stop near the shore.

He looks happy just to be present, uninterested in the festival itself and more concerned with Lumine. She still feels a certain amount of suspicion towards him. It’s something she can’t just discard with the snap of her fingers.

“I’m thinking of documenting the festival and taking some cute pictures while I’m at it.” She turns to meet his gaze, wanting to tell him that he can go and do other stuff in the meantime. 

After all, her experience with Aether and men in general have taught her that it’s not all that interesting to watch someone take shot after shot after shot of themselves until they finally capture that one perfect picture that makes them look like a million mora.

But just as she’s about to suggest this, he takes a step forward and gently touches the lavender flower that’s clipped into her hair. He’s suddenly so close that she can smell his perfume, one that she’s never smelled before, one that is so unique and Childe that she forgets how to breathe for a second.

“Pretty.” He says hoarsely and for some odd reason Lumine can’t explain, it makes her heart race. “Did you make it yourself?”

“Yes,” she whispers back, clawing her nails into the fabric of her short skirt.

His fingers trail from the clip down to one of the longer strands framing her face. They slip through his fingers and Lumine watches him repeat the motion, spellbound. She doesn’t know why she can’t turn away; why she feels compelled to meet his misty blue eyes as he dips lower, and lower, until he plants a featherlight kiss against the tips of it.

Childe hums lowly, the sound vibrating through his chest with such intensity, Lumine swears she feels it from below him.

The world comes to a slow stop and he invades all of her senses, making her acutely aware of his presence. Her heart is lodged inside her throat and for the first time in a very, very long time, Lumine feels flustered.

She wants to say something, wants to brush him off like she usually does. A fitting snarky reply is already sitting on her tongue, ready to get fired off and rip his ego into two once again.

But she can’t.

For some godforsaken reason that makes no sense no matter how she dissects and analyzes it, she can’t. And Childe, fully aware of his charm and the slowly crumbling walls of Lumine, only smiles.

However the magic of the moment is fragile. It takes a single person and a single twist of a dexterous wrist for it to break.

Lumine gasps when she notices the sudden lack of weight in her bag and Childe backs off when he hears the pounding heartbeat of someone other than Lumine. He follows the trail of sweat and nervous energy and finds a man running deftly through the crowds, weaving in and out so as to remain undetected.

“My phone!” Lumine cries out, sounding both perplexed and frustrated. 

Anger starts to boil beneath her skin and she blames herself for becoming so enraptured by Childe of all people that she didn’t even realize someone was sneaking up on her. She whips her head back and forth, on the lookout for the perpetrator when her eyes finally land on him.

A long sigh drags out of Childe and he places a hand on his hip, closes his eyes and in a way too smug tone offers, “How unfortunate for your most prized possession to get taken from you like this. If you ask me very nicely, I might consider helping you retrieve it.”

He’s met with silence, which strikes him as odd, because he’s pretty sure Lumine cares about one thing and one thing only: her phone.

When he opens his eyes to question her on it, half-expecting another unimpressed stare of hers, he’s surprised to find nothing but air in front of him.

Lumine isn’t there.

“What the- “ Now he’s the one turning from left to right, taking a very deep breath in an attempt to locate her. Her scent hits him full force in an instant and he’s running towards her full-speed, fearing the worst.

What if this isn’t just a regular, harmless burglar?

To Childe, it’s not a big deal.

To Lumine, it could be a death sentence.

Depending on his motives and whether he carries any weapons with him, she might be running headfirst into something that had the potential to end in something very nasty. His speed picks up and he feels the strain on his legs, at this moment understanding why Xiao prefers to remain in his true form.

This human body restricts him to mortal limits and if there is one thing he doesn’t need right now, it’s the limitation of stamina and muscles. 

Childe pushes past dozens of people, uncaring of whom he hurts in the process and completely oblivious to the ball of fear growing in his gut. He’s too busy trying to catch up with Lumine that he doesn’t realize he’s running after a human girl with the intention of protecting her.

On any other occasion, this thought would strike him as a joke. He would laugh it off and continue with whatever he was doing.

But not now.

He’s finally out of the crowd and running towards a corner, Lumine’s smell close enough for him to know that she’s right behind it. He opens his palm while running, feels cold liquid seeping out of his hand to form a dagger sharp enough to cut an entire country in two.

His blood is thrumming warmly in his veins, reminding him of battles long won and battles yet to face - it causes adrenaline to sing inside of him.

He’s rounding said corner, ready to defend Lumine and keep her safe, ready to fight to death and scratch that itch that has been festering inside of him for far too long now.

However he’s greeted with a sight that makes him freeze in his tracks, the dagger in his palm dissolving into a puddle of water below his feet in an instant.

In front of him is the thief, sprawled on the ground and groaning in pain. And on top of him with her knee driving into his back and her hand keeping his head pressed into the concrete is Lumine.

She gives him a strained, yet cocky grin.

“Took you long enough.”

(That very same night when all of you are fast asleep, Childe goes back to the port to find the thief. He tracks him by his scent, his blood boiling in anticipation throughout the entire ride back.

It’s been a very long time since he’s indulged in his most darkest desires, held back by the angels surrounding you.

But here in Liyue, with no one around to monitor him and his actions, he gets a taste of the freedom he so cherishes.

When he finds said man, his eyes lose all warmth and his conscience disappears out of sight.

Using his powers, he allures him towards where he is, waiting for him to come.

Everything after, happens really fast.

Childe shoves him against a wall, keeps him pinned with his elbow and presses the tip of his dagger right where his jugular is.

The man’s eyes widen in recognition, and he begins whimpering and begging, his hands holding onto Childe’s wrist like a vice. 

He remembers those very same hands slipping into Lumine’s pocket, ruining their little special moment. Because that’s ultimately what brings Childe back to this place and back to this man.

It’s not the act of stealing that pisses Childe off beyond belief.

It’s that right as he finally had Lumine blushing into a beautiful rose and her heart thundering in her blossoming ribcage that this good-for-nothing idiot had to come and shatter the charm that was starting to penetrate through Lumine’s walls.

It’s that Childe was simply bored, and this man prodded the wrong sleeping wolf.

He locks eyes with the crying man, his grin growing almost maniacally when he sees the first rivulet of crimson.

Mercy?

Childe laughs wryly.

He has never known mercy.)

Zhongli follows Aether inside his room, unable to tear his eyes from the rat's nest that is his hair. It looks so different from all the other times he’s seen him when he had his hair either in a neat ponytail, a big bun or a graceful braid.

Right now, the blond strands are all over the place, knotted at the ends and clumped together into one bulk.

“How do you sleep at night?” 

The question slips out of Zhongli before he can hope to stop himself and it’s only after he has spoken the words that he hears what they sound like. Aether turns around with a groggy glare, looking like he’s taken a leisurely stroll through a hurricane backward.

His eyes are rimmed red and puffy - an obvious indicator that he in fact did not sleep well. But unlike Lumine, Aether isn’t one to snap at people when he’s hungover. His sour mood is only aimed at himself.

Which is why his response comes rather neutrally. “When I drink, I don’t sleep at all.”

Zhongli remembers your words from this morning and how eager you were to leave the inn behind if it meant staying far away from the hungover twins. It drags a gentle smile on his lips and he turns to Aether, who’s busy yawning his existence away.

“Sit down,” he says.

Aether gives him a curious tilt of his head and asks, “Why?”

Out of nowhere, Zhongli procures a hair brush and motions for the seat in front of him. He tries not to laugh so as not to further agitate his already brittle mood. “I doubt you wish to go out with your hair like that. You might attract a herd of birds who would mistake it for their home.”

The look he receives is both scandalous and hilarious at once and it takes all of him to not crumble into a bubbling mess. Still, Aether complies and drops himself rather unceremoniously on the chair with his hair hanging down the back of the chair.

A few loose strands frame his face and Zhongli reaches over his shoulder to pull them back into his hand. His fingers are warm on his neck when he gathers the rest of it into a loose ponytail, using his fingers as a tie to keep them in place. 

Gently, he begins at the ends and works his way up, careful so as not to hurt him. Aether feels the first soft pull of the brush through his hair and instinctively, his eyelids fall shut. Zhongli catches a knot right after and cautiously works it out while keeping the strands above tight in his hand.

Suddenly, Aether is reminded of all the times you cared for him and his hair when he stayed over at your place. The familiar sensation on his skull is soothing and the strokes of the brush are meticulous and kind. He starts to lean into it and Zhongli lets him.

He knows first hand the pleasures of having your hair brushed and he is happy to be able to provide that for Aether, who has been nothing but amicable and accommodating to him. As someone who treasures a healthy balance of give and take, Zhongli feels like he is finally able to give something back.

They don’t speak much for the duration of this impromptu hair brushing session, both of them focused on the moment and the sensations that come along with it. Every now and then Aether yawns, the exhaustion of his sleepless night coming back to taunt him.

With the way Zhongli is touching his scalp and applying pressure in exactly the right parts, he feels his muscles loosening and his joints melting into a puddle of goo. 

He must have dozed a little or lost track of time somewhere along the lines, because eventually he rises from his blissed-out state to feel something warm bathing his cheeks. The fabric of Zhongli’s shirt grazes his face as his eyes slowly open to reveal the other’s stomach.

Nimble fingertips are still delving through his now smooth hair, tugging just a little bit when they reach the nape of his neck before they travel back up to the roots to repeat the gesture. Barely perceptible, the touch follows the length of each strand, over and over like it’s being committed to memory. 

“Did I fall asleep?” He asks through another yawn.

Zhongli chuckles softly, “It appears you did. Are you feeling better now?”

“Mhm. My head certainly no longer feels like exploding. Although- “ another yawn, “I still feel quite tired.”

“I never would have taken you for a lightweight.”

“I’m not. But next to Lu, everyone is a lightweight. Trust me when I tell you: her stomach is a black hole.”

Zhongli laughs once more, the sound so pure and pleasant to his ears that Aether once again closes his eyes. He lets himself get lost in the moment, surrounded by Zhongli’s calming voice and touch.

He could stay like this forever.

(Later on when Zhongli and Aether are deep in the woods of Jueyun Karst, exploring the local temple and taking pictures of the site, it happens again.

You send Aether a text message with a picture of a Glaze Lily that you took together with Xiao. He’s in the background, watching you with such a fond expression that Aether can’t help but zoom in to make sure his eyes aren’t deceiving him.

Zhongli, who grows curious, steps around and peers over his shoulder to see what Aether is watching with such focus. It’s then that another vision washes over him.

The smell of Glaze Lilies is everywhere, bathing him in a soft blue and airy light laughter. He’s on top of a hill and the wind brushes through his long hair and tickles his feathers.

Beside him is the same woman as before, facing him with a dazzling smile as she reaches up to keep her hair out of her face. This time, Zhongli can see her face clearly. She’s a beautiful woman with thick, luscious hair and glittering eyes that gaze at him lovingly.

He feels like he should know her, feels like does know her, like her name is vibrating at the tip of his tongue. But the longer he stares at her, the more his heart aches. He experiences the aggressive urge to reach over and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and for a moment, she looks like she’s waiting for him to lean in.

Her lips open and she says something, but there is no voice to accompany the words, leaving Zhongli none the wiser. He wants to ask her to repeat herself, to speak up so he can understand what she’s trying to tell him, but in the next instant, everything is red.

The meadow is bathed in a deep crimson and all he can hear is the anguished wailing of another person a bit further away. He realizes with a horrible punch to his gut that the woman from before is no longer beside him.

Dread fills his veins and he drags himself up from the grass to follow the trail of blood leading to a temple in the woods. The closer he gets, the fresher the blood becomes and the louder the whimpering. His heart is thundering in his ears when he reaches the front door and with considerable effort and shaky hands, he slides it open.

The walls are painted in a messy series of crimson hand prints and in the center of the room lies the same young woman with a gaping wound in her stomach. The amount of blood spilling from the open flesh is one that no one should ever be subjected to. 

She’s crying tears of pain, tears of desperation, and tears of fear.

She lifts her head, her eyes glossy and full of desperation as she reaches a bloody hand toward Zhongli.

“P- Eugh- Please- “

He takes a step inside, and she becomes even more frantic when she recognizes him, now screaming something that has him freezing on the spot. It’s something he has long forgotten; something that has been taken from him thousands of years ago.

Something he never thought he would hear again.

“Morax.”)

After another night in the inn, your journey back home begins. You spend most of it sleeping, cuddled up with Aether and Lumine, who are just as exhausted from the trip as you are.

For a long time you have avoided leaving Mondstadt behind to travel beyond its borders, but after witnessing for yourself how beautiful Liyue was, you start to realize what you have been missing out on.

Aether and Lumine part with you at the train station and return to their own home, whereas Zhongli and Childe disappear the instant you all say your goodbyes.

Where they’re off to, you don’t know. It hasn’t occurred to you to ask since they always returned the next day without fail. You had a feeling they wouldn’t tell you anyway, what with Childe twisting your words smugly each time you tried to know more about them.

Xiao accompanies you to your apartment by the time the sun sets and both of you take a shower and freshen up after unpacking what little things you brought with you.

However, you can’t sit back and relax as you would like to, because as wonderful as the weekend was, your duty calls. Another reading session at aunty’s bookstore is scheduled for the evening. You consider canceling, feeling more drained after the long trip than you originally anticipated.

But thinking of the little faces of your cute kids makes you reconsider and when Xiao is the first to slip back into his shoes, you lose all willpower to fight. 

Much to your surprise both Diluc and Kaeya are at the register, conversing with aunty. Rather, it’s Kaeya who does the talking while Diluc looks like a sour child waiting for their parent to finally finish so they can go back home.

They turn around with a surprised expression when aunty greets you merrily, asking you how your trip to Liyue was.

“It was beautiful,” you say, “I honestly don’t know why I waited so long to get over myself.”

She laughs heartily in response. “Indeed, it is a very enchanting place. Did you enjoy the festival?”

You try not to wince when you remember that most of the night was spent either up in the air or locked inside Ningguang’s Jade Chamber. With a stiff smile, you avoid Xiao’s gaze and respond, “Yeah, it was okay.”

“Only okay?” Kaeya asks bemused, “I’d have taken you for the type of girl to fawn over the ritual and the food.”

A memory of you and Xiao sitting on the balcony, watching the glittering sky together flickers in front of your eyes and causes your cheeks to warm.

Diluc notices this and narrows his eyes suspiciously. He casts Xiao a cold look, his voice dropping several degrees when he says, “I presume your relative has accompanied you to your travels.”

“Ah, yes. Lu and Aether insisted he come as well since his friends joined us too.”

“His friends?”

You open your mouth to speak their names, but Xiao cuts right through you, “They are from my hometown.”

Diluc and Kaeya exchange a look of alarm. They have heard rumors of three demons following around you, one of which they know to be Xiao, but they have yet to find out the identity of the other two.

They were very close to finding it out last time, when they cornered Katheryne. But she died before she was able to give them any more valuable information. It takes one look at Xiao for them to understand he will not betray his comrades, nor allow you to do so unconsciously.

“What are you guys doing here?” You break the tense mood with the most innocent of questions.

Kaeya lifts the plastic bag in his hands and shakes it once. “I came to stock up my shelf. I ran through the other books already.”

“Didn’t you buy like five books last week?”

“Sure did.”

You gape, unable to hide your disbelieving smile. “You’re really something else, Kaeya. And I thought I was a bookworm.” 

He smiles, his eyes crinkling at their corners. If only you knew that the reason you became so infatuated with stories to begin with was because of him.

“Ah!” You straighten and reach for your bag as a sudden thought occurs to you. “It’s good that you guys are here!”

Surprised, they watch as you retrieve two neatly packed gift bags and hold them out for them to take.

“I brought you guys souvenirs from Bishui Plain!”

The looks you receive are priceless. Diluc and Kaeya, despite being siblings, almost never have anything in common. But right now, you can definitely see the resemblance.

Their jaws are almost grazing the ground and their eyes flit from your grinning face to the objects sitting idly in the center of your palms. It’s such an absurd expression that even aunty breaks out in a barrage of laughter, the sound of it filling the front of her store.

“Go on then.” You nudge once more, offering Diluc the red present and Kaeya the blue one. 

The fact that you went as far as wrapping them in the same color as their hair leaves them speechless. Having already anticipated this sort of reaction (because by now, you know both of them quite well), warmth spreads through your chest and you beam even more.

Xiao watches you intently, not even hiding his look of distaste. He still doesn’t fancy the idea of you being buddy-buddy with two angels. But he knows he can’t keep you from interacting with them - it’s not like you ever truly listen to him in the first place.

“But you can’t take a peek until you’re both home!” You chide as soon as Kaeya begins to rip at the paper.

He raises his brow and gives you a smug grin, almost as if he’s trying to seduce you into letting him look. “Aw, come on. Are we being shy now?”

“Don’t give me that creepy look!”

“What? Me? Creepy?” Kaeya sounds positively perplexed, if not even offended. A snort follows from Diluc. 

“This is why everyone ditches you.”

“Bold, coming from someone who doesn’t even have someone to ditch him.”

“…”

Kaeya radiates smugness.

“Point taken,” says Diluc as he tucks your present into the pocket of his jacket. His eyes linger on Xiao for a second, who up until now hasn’t said a word.

Aunty, who notices the unspoken tension between Xiao and the brothers, steps around the register and places her pink, veiny hand on his forearm. “I need a set of strong arms to help me put some books back on the shelf. Will you be so kind and help me?”

The smugness on Kaeya’s face and the earlier bashfulness of Diluc are wiped away and replaced by horror. Both at the same time, they complain, their voices interloping.

“We’ve been here for twenty minutes- “

“- and you mention that only now?”

And then, synchronized, “Why didn’t you ask me?”

She gives them a dismissive wave of her hand. “You’re in the middle of a conversation with a pretty young lady, why don’t you boys shift your focus back on her, mh?”

Not giving them a chance to retort, she leads Xiao to the back of her bookstore. He glances back and catches your eye, but reluctantly follows her after receiving a nod of confirmation from you that you will be fine. 

Once they are out of sight, Diluc seizes this chance and begins showering you with questions regarding your trip. You shrink a little bit with each arrow he shoots your way and it’s only when Kaeya places a hand on his shoulder and squeezes him once, that he snaps out of it. Surprised by himself, he takes a step back and apologizes.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay since it was your first time traveling abroad. Forgive me if I have overstepped any boundaries.”

You shake your head no. “It’s okay. You’ve been looking after me for such a long time now after all. But we had a safe trip, so there is really nothing to fret over.”

“Nothing happened?”

“Er… yeah? Was something supposed to happen?”

“I mean, the harbor is not the safest place in Liyue. And now with the festival and all the tourists, I can only imagine the number of lurking thieves there.” He tries not to make it too obvious that he’s trying to lead you into a certain direction. Katheryne’s warning still rings in his ears.

“Oh! Now that you mention it, Lu was robbed.”

Once again, they both react at the same time. “What?!”

Kaeya explodes into cackling laughter, whereas Diluc looks absolutely horrified. The notion that someone would have as little will to live and go as far as provoke Lumine is one that he will never understand. 

There’s a reason he hired her, and it’s not just for her good looks and the customers she attracts. She knows how to pack a punch and deliver one back - both physically and verbally. He doesn’t want to know what happened to the guy who tried to steal from her.

“Does he still have his best parts attached?” Kaeya asks through his wheezing. The color is slowly draining from his face as he imagines the consequences of his actions.

You can’t suppress your own chuckle at that. “Yeah, I think she went easy on him thanks to her hangover from the night before.”

“Well it certainly sounds like you had a lively weekend then.”

“I did!”

His laughter settles down into a soft sigh and then he smiles, gently. “I’m glad.”

“Alright, I have to take my leave now. The bar won’t open by itself,” Diluc says while patting your head, “Thank you for the gift.”

You beam at him, full of pride and joy. “You’re welcome!”

“Thank you.” Kaeya joins and leans down to press a chaste kiss on your temple.

It’s something he’s done countless of times, with no ill intention, so it doesn’t phase you in the slightest, only fills your insides with fluttering warmth. Your smile threatens to blind him. “You’re welcome too!”

They leave the store shortly after with Kaeya following his brother to help him open up the bar. You slip out of your jacket and hang it together with your bag in the built-in closet beside the register. And then you take a deep breath and count to three.

Now it’s time to face the kids.

Once that battle is dealt with, you return home with Xiao, who appears a lot more pensive than before. He helps you in the kitchen by cutting the rye bread you bought from the bakery across the street while you stir the mushroom soup bubbling on the stove.

The sounds of the two of you cooking together fill the tiny open space kitchen as the aroma of the creamy soup spreads around you. After all that reading and the long day on the train, your vocal chords are loosening in gratitude and anticipation.

By now, Xiao has become achingly familiar with the layout of your apartment, the placement of your furniture memorized in the back of his mind. He knows where everything lives in the kitchen, which shelf contains bowls and which stores your cutlery. He is made aware of this when he manages to set the table blindly and effortlessly, with no thought attached as he simply moves.

Dinner is served and eaten in no time at all what with your bones screaming in exhaustion and yearning for some much needed rest. Xiao offers to take over the dishes when he notices you dozing off with your spoon stuck in your mouth and bashfully, you accept his offer and thank him with a small yawn.

While he’s busy cleaning up the kitchen, you braid your hair loosely to keep it from your face, brush your teeth, change into your PJs and then slip under your covers as soon as the lights die down.

An audible sigh escapes your lips, followed by another yawn as you stretch your limbs, feeling the delicious pull of muscle. It doesn’t take long for you to fall asleep, so by the time Xiao finishes towel-drying the plates, he can already hear your slow breathing.

For a long while, he just stares at your door, deep in thought. The vision from two nights past doesn’t leave him any peace. He can’t stop thinking about whose memories he’s gotten access to and if that girl had really been you.

His legs lead him inside your room without his mind’s consent and as these questions plague his mind for answers he doesn’t possess, he sits down beside your sleeping form. Your bed creaks lightly and dips around his body, but you’re already in the clutches of sleep, too far gone to notice his presence.

Before he can hope to stop himself, his hand settles imperceptibly on your cheek. His eyes are a molten gold in the dim lighting of your bedroom and they travel over your peaceful features, trying to discern the similarity of the you in front of him and the you from his vision.

Despite being unconscious, you can feel the warmth of his gentle touch and because of this, you lean into his hand, seeking more.

He stills at the sudden movement, his breath stuck in his throat. He gazes down at you for a long few seconds as you nuzzle into his palm, your body shifting to face him. There’s a tiny smile forming on your lips and the lashes fluttering against his skin once again remind him of butterflies.

Startlingly, he finds himself thinking that such creatures are nothing in comparison to you.

The name of the feeling soaring through his chest is at the tip of his tongue, only waiting to be spoken out loud. But Xiao has locked away his feelings for such a long time that he doesn’t know how to let it out again.

He never thought that someone as small and weak and mortal as you would be more than a soul to be devoured and a contract to be fulfilled.

Yet, here he is, devoted, and pathetic, and infatuated with someone who is hopelessly positive and brimming with love for the world that has given her nothing but loss and grief.

And strangely, now, after the night spent gazing at the lights of Liyue, after all the smiles you gifted him in Qingce village, he has no desire to hide from it anymore.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirteen

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Say what you will. I will not step foot into that place.”

“So what? You’re just gonna stand there and wait for me to finish my shift?”

“It appears you do have some sense in that pretty head of yours.”

You try not to wilt at the flush of warmth creeping up your chest, but admittedly, you still can’t grow used to Xiao unconsciously complimenting you like this. He probably doesn’t even mean it in that way, but you can’t help it. How can anyone expect you to remain unaffected when Xiao, of all people, looks at you like that?

So you do what you do best. You stare at him defiantly and bite back. “Something you don’t seem to possess.”

His brow quirks warningly, demanding an explanation.

“Well, standing outside the store for hours on end without doing anything isn’t very sensible, is it? Plus, it’s kinda creepy.”

Xiao sounds almost offended, “Creepy?”

“Yeah! Who just waits in front of a shop?”

When he fails to provide you with an answer, you throw out both of your palms in a grand gesture of being in the right, “See! No one! So stop being stubborn and come in and help me.”

But telling Xiao what to do is like trying to make a rebellious child listen to you. It’s futile.

“I will wait for you out here.”

“Xiao- “

“How much longer are you going to make your employer wait for you?”

And right on cue, as if Xiao telepathically contacted her, Amber peeks her head out of the door with a bright smile, greeting you with her usual warmth, “Hey there sweetie!” 

Her eyes land on Xiao and instantly, memories of the last time he visited her shop spring to the forefront of her mind. She scratches the back of her head sheepishly, lines of guilt stretched all over her scrunched forehead. “Sorry about last time… I really have no idea what came over my babies. They’re usually very friendly!”

You’re slightly worried about what he might say in response, still vividly remembering the wrath of his voice when one of the puppies pooped on his shoe. But Xiao proves to be affable today, much to your surprise remaining collected when he says, “No need to mention it. It has long passed.”

In fact, you’re so surprised, your brows stay lifted and your mouth agape. You reach up to place the back of your hand against his forehead, much to his dismay. His frown does nothing to deter your confusion, the normal temperature of his skin only adding more fuel to your quickly growing suspicions.

“Who are you? And where is Xiao?”

The look he gives you is absolutely hilarious. 

“What nonsense are you on again?”

He brushes your wrist aside and appraises you. Now it’s him wondering if everything is alright with you. But you only stand up on your tiptoes and peer into his eyes. They’re as molten as ever, nothing out of the ordinary. Still, it’s odd to see Xiao not make a fuss of “those tiny rats” as he likes to call them when previously, he held onto the grudge of having his shoes ruined for close to six weeks.

The sudden proximity makes him lean back slightly. He can smell the shampoo you used this morning and the sweet scent of your sunscreen, that’s how close you are to him. A sudden urge to shove his face into the curve of your neck rattles his bones, the desire to breathe in even more of you making itself known within him.

For a moment, he considers it.

“You’re being really weird today,” you say eventually, pouting at his lack of fire. Usually, this is the point in which he drops off some sort of smart sounding insult about you and your person. “Are you really okay? Did I accidentally poison you during dinner tonight?”

Amber laughs, reminding you of her presence. She hides her mouth behind her hand quickly. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.”

The entirety of the situation is so absurd that you can’t help but laugh yourself. In the end, you give up with a shake of your head and tell Xiao he can come inside should he grow bored of waiting for you.

You’re not surprised that by the end of your shift, Xiao is still outside, watching you from the shop’s window. A sudden idea pops in your head as you brush out the last puppy’s fur. It nuzzles into your palm happily, licking tiny stripes up your fingers in appreciation at all the love you showed it today.

Gently, you scoop its front legs and lift it up so that its front side faces Xiao. With a tiny bend in your wrist, you make the puppy wave at Xiao from inside the shop. The instant their eyes meet however, the puppy stills in your hold and bares its teeth in a violent growl.

“Oh no, god, no, no, no, that’s not what we’re doing,” you place it back on the ground and stroke its back  to get it to calm down again, “He’s not a bad guy, you know.”

The dog, amazingly, raises its head and as if it understands your every word, barks something at you. A flutter of giddiness rushes through your chest when you let yourself believe that this tiny bundle of fluff actually understands what you’re saying.

“Yeah,” you continue in a gentle murmur, reveling in how the puppy meets your hand half way each time you move to stroke it, “He’s actually kind of nice. Sometimes.”

Your smile widens when its ear twitches. You wonder if Xiao can hear you from outside. 

“He helps me wash the dishes each time I cook, which is something not a lot of guys do, mind you! I should really get him a cute apron - although, on second thought, I think that might get me killed.” You chuckled at the mental image of Xiao wearing a blue, frilly apron in the kitchen, his tiny, adorable hands coated in glistening bubbles-

Tiny, adorable hands?

Your mind becomes blank.

Since when did you have such thoughts about Xiao?

You’re blinded by the intense desire to bite your fist and squeal in flustered embarrassment. So you do.

While you’re busy having a mental crisis inside the shop, the sound of revving engine makes Xiao shift his focus from you to whoever just rolled onto the street. A sleek, black motorcycle comes to a halt to his right, its sides adorned with teal-colored snowflakes. On it sits a full-figured woman, who removes her helmet and shakes out luscious strands of baby blue hair.

She doesn’t seem to notice Xiao at first, humming to the tune playing from her headphones as she gets off her motorcycle and places her helmet on one of the handles. It’s only when she taps on her phone and plucks out her ear buds that she sees him staring at her.

“Got something to say?” Her voice holds no warmth. Neither do her eyes. They look like the sunset, Xiao notes, something you would most likely fawn over when met with.

He doesn’t like the way with which she addresses him, so casually and disrespectfully, as if he couldn’t make her drop dead within a heartbeat if he wanted to. But there is absolutely no merit for him to dispose of her, so he doesn’t even gift her a second glance, but instead chooses to spend his time doing something more useful.

Like watching you.

But the girl to his right has other plans. “Are you ignoring me? Tch. How dare you- “

He blocks her off entirely, entranced by the way you pick up your bag from the counter, laughing at something Amber says. He can hear the chime of your simper, and it fills his chest with so much warmth that he can’t stop the tiny smile from breaking out on his face.

“What are you even doing here? It’s closing time. Are you here for my girlfriend? Hopelessly in love with her beautiful, glittering- “

Xiao can’t keep it in any longer. A cold, deep breath fills his lungs and he’s turning around, ready to shut that never-ending mouth of hers when the front door finally opens, stopping him in his tracks.

“Babe!” Amber gushes as she all but jumps into the arms of the girl, throwing her own around her slim shoulders. “I thought I told you not to pick me up.”

For all the baseless threats she spewed at him just a second ago, she forgets about Xiao in an instant and melts into the embrace. Her features relax into a soft smile and she presses a kiss against her temple.

“I know.”

“Silly. You shouldn’t have gone through all that traffic.”

Another caress of her lips on smooth, unmarred skin as she strokes the back of her head, twirling the ends of her long, dark hair. “Nonsense. Totally worth it.”

“Oh, Eula!” You come out of the shop with your bag slung over your shoulder, your hand rising in a wave. “How long has it been?”

Xiao moves and instinctively, unconsciously takes your hand. At this point it’s become such a natural thing that you don’t even register squeezing it in affirmation. It doesn’t go unnoticed by the other two, albeit they make no comment on it.

Amber slips out of Eula’s arms to lock up the door behind her, whereas Eula pointedly ignores Xiao and greets you back. “I didn’t know you were back. Amber mentioned you wanted to take an extensive break.”

“Ah, yeah,” you smile awkwardly, adjusting the straps of your bag, “There were some circumstances… But we figured them out. It’s all good now.”

“Mh, I see.”

“Did you get a new bike?”

She watches you crane your neck to assess it properly, a twinge of pride blossoming in her chest when she notices your eyes light up a tad. “Sure did. She’s a beauty, right?”

Xiao scoffs. Eula’s lip twitches. You can feel the tension between the two from a mile away, but are still unaware of what transpired between the two.

Worried you’ll make it worse if you ask what’s wrong, you decide to shift their (and especially Eula’s) attention elsewhere. “She is! I really like the little snowflakes on the sides! They really stand out among the darkness!”

And if there is one thing that makes Eula’s hot temperament cool down instantly, it’s her collection of motorbikes. So she takes the bait and swoons over technical details you don’t understand.

But you’re happy to share her enthusiasm and nod interestedly, asking her questions until Amber pockets her keys and returns to you.

“Alright, all closed up! Thanks for the good work today!”

You stand a little straighter, playfully saluting her, “Thank you for the good work today!”

Eula scowls and pinches your nose. “You making fun of me, midget?”

“Wha- I would never! Soldiers like you are the reason common folk like me have the luxury of being bored.”

She flicks your forehead, hard. You cry out in pain and slap your palm against the throbbing patch of skin. Your glare does absolutely nothing to deter her smug grin.

“Don’t scrunch your nose like that. You’ll get wrinkles prematurely.”

“Eula!” Amber joins you in your indignant gasp. She’s laughing disbelievingly, making sure to shoot a warning glare.

It’s now that Xiao reminds everyone that he’s still present. He tugs you closer to him with a single pull of your hand and then, uncaring of the looks he’s receiving, brushes aside your hair to inspect your quickly reddening forehead.

His eyes darken. “Do you want me to break her fingers?”

“What? No!”

He’s not content with your answer. It’s visible in the way his brows tighten. If you thought he was joking or trying to make you laugh, you’re proven wrong when he clicks his tongue disapprovingly.

“You can’t just- “

Your breath stills when his fingers gently massage the sore spot on your forehead. His touch is warm, and oddly gentle, one you can’t get used to yet.

“Just what?” He asks, unaware of how his eyes soften when they look into yours.

You gulp. What were you trying to say again?

A satisfied smile curls around his lips and he drops his hand to intertwine his fingers with yours again. He turns around and proceeds to walk away, essentially dragging you along. With a nervous cough, you twist your head and awkwardly bid farewell to Eula and Amber, who stare after your retreating figures with curious expressions.

Once you’re out of earshot, Eula asks, “Is that the guy?”

Amber tilts her head questioningly.

“The guy whose shoes got shit on.”

“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, that’s him.”

Later that night at dinner, you decide to try your luck and break the news to Xiao.

“So… I was thinking of hosting a dinner this Friday,” you say nonchalantly while twirling some spaghetti on your fork.

“A dinner?”

“Yeah. It’s this thing that I do each year.”

Xiao hums around a mouthful of seasoned tomatoes. And then it clicks. “Is your… what was it called again… birthday coming up?”

He never really understood the mortal tradition of celebrating ones own birth annually. It sounds rather self-centered if he’s being honest. Still, it’s a tradition he’s witnessed on several accounts, none of which were limited to Childe’s gleeful imitation of throwing unnecessarily big parties for him and Zhongli each year.

Not that he, nor Zhongli, nor Childe himself have any knowledge of when they were born. 

“Ah, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s the anniversary of my parents and I’ve been spending it together with Lu and Aether ever since… you know… they left.”

You won’t meet his eyes, focused on each strand hanging off of the tines. But Xiao doesn’t need to get a proper look at your face to see the silent sadness in your gaze.

The closest thing he can compare to the grief you must be feeling is the sourness spreading through his chest when he thinks of his master.

It’s been centuries since he’s been abandoned and he still hates thinking about it. He can’t imagine what it must be like for you, when the wound is still so fresh.

But you amaze him once more, your bright smile back in place as you announce, “And I want you to invite Childe and Zhongli as well!”

Scratch his previous thoughts and bury them to the ground.

“What?”

The distaste in his voice makes you recoil, but you’ve already come this far. You might as well dig your own grave.

“I want you to invite Childe and Zhongli as well!”

“I heard you the first time, human girl.”

“I have a name you know!”

“I am not inviting them.”

“What? Why?”

He takes a bite of the salad you’ve prepared like he means to destroy it. “Why do you even want them around?”

“Because I like them!”

“They are demons.”

Your reply is immediate. “Well, so are you!”

The meaning of that catches up to him like a tidal wave and crushes any opposing words in its wake. His voice is uncharacteristically small when he asks, “So you like me too?”

Now it’s your turn to get licked by the flames. Your ears burn and you avert your gaze, suddenly feeling incredibly uncomfortable by how much his golden eyes glow.

“Maybe… I guess…”

Your shy demeanor appears to be infectious, because Xiao is also avoiding looking at you, his own cheeks dusted with warmth.

This is nothing compared to what he felt during your outing in Qingce village. Right now, he’s downright nervous.

His heart is racing and for a reason he can’t explain, his entire body is just screaming at him to get away from you while his fingers are simultaneously itching to touch you.

He can’t understand it anymore.

“Fine,” he says eventually, defeated by the awkward atmosphere. “I shall call them.”

The door to Lumine’s bedroom opens with a start. She looks up from her computer to see Aether poking his head in.

“Have you heard?”

She returns her gaze to the screen. “Heard what?”

“Zhong and your boyfriend will be there too.”

Lumine all but chokes on her spit. If looks could kill, Aether would be decomposed in seconds. “For the last time, that good for nothing idiot is not my boyfriend.”

He shrugs, unaffected and not in the least bit intimidated, “Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Says the one who falls asleep talking on the phone with his boyfriend.”

If there was one thing Lumine had always been better at than Aether, it was riling people up. So it’s only natural that the tables turn with a single raise of her brow. It might have been childish taking Aether’s attempt to fluster her and just flip it and bounce it back at him, but this is Aether. Her twin-brother. 

Their fights have to be petty and childish, that’s the one unspoken rule about siblings that everyone across Teyvat follows faultlessly.

As much as he tries to stay composed, Aether, much like you, is an open book when it comes to his feelings. So naturally, his words come out garbled and stammered. “What- That’s- We- He’s not my boyfriend!”

And now it’s her turn to shrug, albeit hers is executed in a much more theatrical fashion, “Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night, dear brother.”

“Has anyone ever told you how obnoxious you are?”

“Try harder if you wanna hurt me. Nothing I haven’t heard before.”

“Bitch,” he mutters through a pout.

But Lumine is the last person to take offense - she’s been put through worse over the years since she’s been active on social media, not to mention that nothing her brother says could ever truly hurt her - so she only scoffs and snaps her computer shut.

“You know, I’m kinda glad though.”

Aether doesn’t answer, still butthurt he couldn’t measure up to his sister once again. But Lumine doesn’t care. Her grin only widens, fully aware of how her next set of words will goad him on even more.

“At least now you can let go of your crush on that old guy Albedo.”

There it is. His head explodes into fumes at the mention of the unreasonably attractive blond, who had weaseled his way into his life right when he least expected it. 

It was when Aether went to pick you up after one of your shifts in the book store some time last year. Too focused on his phone, he wasn’t careful enough with his surroundings and slammed right into a firm chest. Before he had a chance to land painfully on his butt, strong arms had caught him in a warm embrace and coated him in a mist of cinnamon.

And ever since then, Aether was a lost case. Through you, he found out that Albedo was a single dad, who brought bread on the table by working in a lab all day and try as he might, he could not will his mind to stop thinking about him. 

After seeing Albedo pick up his daughter Klee from the store for the first time, how she took a run-up and jumped right into his arms with gleeful giggle- well, who could blame Aether’s heart for doing the most curious things in that moment?

Lumine certainly did.

“He’s old and wrinkly, plus he has a kid who never shuts up. You dodged a bullet there.” She says meaningfully. She has to physically hold herself back from cringing. 

It’s not that she actively dislikes Klee. It’s just— she’s a lot to handle. And Lumine already has enough on her plate.

However unlike all the other times when Aether would fight her on this matter and deny all allegations regarding his hopeless infatuation with the older scientist, this time, he does not. Lumine puts her phone away and returns her gaze to him, concerned she might have actually hit a sore spot.

After all, Aether had always been the more emotional one out of the two.

His expression is thoughtful, like he’s ruminating her words to convince himself that his sister indeed is not stating facts and just messing with him. It becomes increasingly more difficult the longer he stands by the door; the more time he has to stew on the meaning of them.

Oh shoot, Lumine thinks, now I’ve really gone ahead and done it, huh.

She’s about to make a joke out of it, one she knows will have him cracking up and forgetting about it in no time, but he takes her by surprise when he scoffs humorlessly and pushes several of her hair products off her vanity table.

And then he turns around and walks out, leaving the door wide open behind him.

The same door he opened when he first entered her room.

Wide open.

Lumine takes a deep breath, feeling a dangerous growl roll up her chest and sizzle on her tongue. Aether’s back looks way too fucking smug, further proving her point that this was a conscious action on his part.

“You dipshit! Close the door when you leave!” She screams after him, hopping off of her bed and dragging her feet to the door.

He has the audacity to send a middle finger her way, not even tilting his head back to look at her. She slams the door shut with a groan.

“What a piece of shit.”

You never thought in a million years that you would ever be blessed with the sight of a sulking Xiao. A frowning Xiao, yes, you’ve seen it more times than you can count by now. Even a smiling Xiao was starting to become more and more of a regular thing.

But a sulking Xiao, where his lip is jutted and his nose crinkles in the most adorable way possible— now that’s something you never thought you would see.

“Come on, it’s going to be fun!” You’re met with a glare. “Don’t give me that look. It’s already been decided. You invited them. There’s no going back now.”

“I do not appreciate their presence.”

“You always say that and then you end up enjoying yourself.” Another glare. “Don’t even try to deny it.”

He should have known that this entire thing would come back to bite him in the end. He remembers the first day he met you. You were trembling like a tiny leaf in a thunderstorm, terrified out of your skin at the mere glower of his eyes.

Now you stand before him, fearless and smug, uncaring that he could snuff out your life with a single flick of his wrist.

No. That’s not it.

You trust him not to harm you, no matter what you say.

It’s been a very long time since someone has trusted Xiao blindly like you do, and he isn’t quite sure how to handle this degree of responsibility. He can’t stop staring at you, watching you carefully place the risen dough into a baking mould. You gently push it into the preheated oven and close the door right after.

His heart won’t stop aching. All the big-mouthed things he’d sprouted when you first proclaimed you wouldn’t give in to the contract fall apart. They tremble at the seams and dissipate into nothingness, leaving him confused.

“You have become very impertinent, human girl,” he says as he slinks beside you. His eyes are trained on your hands chopping away on a chunk of horseradish.

A cheeky giggle bubbles up your throat when he’s close enough for your elbows to touch.

“Let me help you. I shall cut the vegetables.”

You give him a look. “Why? Don’t trust me with a knife?”

His answer punches the breath out of your lungs. “As a matter of fact, I do not.”

“Wha- How dare you!”

“You have nothing but flowers growing in that head of yours. Naturally I would question how well you can handle something that could potentially end up harming you?”

The smug tone of his voice ticks you off in an instant - a skill Xiao has acquired way too easily and one he enjoys far too much. “I’ve been cutting up stuff and feeding myself well enough for the past few years, thank you very much, I don’t need- Hey- Stop that!”

Xiao reaches around your waist to slip the knife out of your hand, but you jerk to the side instinctively when you feel his breath ghost over the nape of your neck, effectively evading his hold. It turns into a game of cat and mouse with Xiao hot on your heels as you run around the kitchen, stubborn to the last bone of your body. 

But Xiao is just as, if not even more, bullheaded, so he doesn’t relent and continues chasing you around the small apartment, his eyes not once leaving your hands; his own ready to protect you should you slip and drop the knife.

After your third lap around the couch, Xiao decides it’s enough and he swoops in and wraps one arm around your waist, easily stopping you in your tracks while his other snags the knife out of your grip before you even realize how close he is to you.

You can’t hold it in anymore. A fountain of loud, boisterous laughter radiates from your shaking body. This entire situation is so unreal, so absurd that there’s nothing in the world that can stop you from leaning into Xiao and laughing right into his chest.

He sends the knife flying back to the counter in the kitchen without a second glance, instead focused on the way your eyes crinkle and your breath stutters. His expression is impossibly fond.

You don’t dart away or wriggle yourself free, only feel your ribs aching from laughter and it’s then that Xiao breaks character. He leans forward until your foreheads touch and stays there. Your eyes are closed and you’re still half-giggling, half trying to get air back into your lungs, but Xiao— Xiao reaches around your wrist with his free hand and brings it closer to his lips.

He kisses the inside of your palm gently and feels the warmth of your skin soaking through the fabric of your t-shirt. Your eyes flutter open in surprise and they’re glittering like the stars Xiao adores so much. You can feel the beat of your heart drum against your ears and you wonder if he can tell how nervous you are.

You don’t recall being this jittery ever. Not with any of your previous partners; not before a big test in school; not even when you had to move into a new apartment all on your own after your parents passed.

But it doesn’t feel like Xiao is crossing any boundaries. After all the memories you’ve shared and all the tentative touches you’ve exchanged, it feels right.

Just like it feels right when Xiao dips down even lower and grazes his mouth over your own. 

Just once.

Just lightly.

He pulls back a bit and pauses, regarding you with so much uncertainty, you feel your heart breaking. But the butterflies inside your chest multiply, and their wings brush the walls of your soul, and you can’t do anything but lose yourself in his eyes with an awakening desire.

He leans over once more, kisses the corner of your mouth, but this time you chase his lips before he has the chance to pull away again, and you catch him in a deep, warm kiss. The sweet sensation of Xiao’s lips on yours transcends into your cheeks, flows through your throat like honey and coats your spine in a flurry of tingles.

Your heart literally flutters out of your chest, finding itself in the mercy of Xiao’s bloodstained hands. He watches you suck in a deep breath, travels his eyes over your features like he’s committing every line to memory.

He can’t shake off the feeling of familiarity of this very moment, like he’s held you like this before, like he’s kissed you like this before.

“I am not a good man,” he mutters eventually, voice too soft to be his, “I am not even a man. A demon, born out of sins in the deepest floor of hell.”

You look at him with so much compassion that for the first time in centuries, Xiao feels like crying.

“What would you do if I told you that I am still stuck in that hell? That I have been there for a very long time?”

Xiao isn’t stupid. He’s noticed your lingering gazes, your soft touches that were followed by your racing pulse. He’s already predicted that someone as innocent and naive as you would end up opening their heart to even the most dangerous of creatures. He knew all along that you would grow attached to him.

He never expected it to go both ways.

“Being with me will have dire consequences. You might lose the love of God. Your ancestors might come to curse you. Everything your parents worked for to protect you might crumble apart.” 

He holds your face like you’re made of glass. Like you’re a fragile butterfly, ready to shatter at any moment. It doesn’t match with the harsh words coming from his lips.

“Will you still fall into the darkness with me?” 

He’s fully aware of what he’s asking of you. He knows how being with him will affect you. How it won’t end with a happy ending. 

A human is not meant to be one with a demon.

Still, he can’t keep himself from hoping. That tiny, little seed in his chest that you implanted in him shines brightly. “Will you join me?”

Your heart sings. It sings yet it breaks at the same time, because you too know that you’re leaving everything your family has ever believed in behind once you decide to be with Xiao.

“I don’t know what sort of place hell really is... But I love this world far too much to leave it behind. I don’t want to fall into a place full of darkness and pain.”

Xiao remains silent. His jaw tightens a little in resignation or in relief - you can’t quite tell which it is - but you hold his gaze as you place your hands over his and make sure he sees you. Really sees you.

“But if you’re stuck there, then all I have to do is go and find you. And I’ll bring you back out, as many times as you need me to.” Your voice holds no hesitation and he realizes right then and there that you mean it. All of it. “You don’t belong in a place like that, Xiao. Your place is somewhere much brighter and freer. You deserve to be happy.”

This time it’s not just his jaw that stiffens. His whole body freezes up, every muscle tight and rigid with tension. And then, all of it melts into a defeated smile.

“Of course,” he mutters with his eyes closed, “For as long as I have known you, you have always been like this.”

There’s no helping it now. Your sincere words have sealed your fate. His lips dust over yours once more, this time with practiced care, brushing a vow over them. A promise of eternity.

His hold on your cheeks tighten, and then he’s kissing you again with so much fervor, you find yourself wanting to drown and never surface again. His lips are moving against yours, hot and heavy, and then his tongue slides into your mouth, making you gasp at the knot twisting in your gut.

Your fingers find their way around the fabric of his shirt, and you’re meeting him half-way as your kisses grow deeper and more urgent. He groans against your lips and presses closer, like he can’t get enough of you, like he needs the air in your lungs to survive. A primal need awakens in him, one he has never felt before; one he fears he can’t control.

Every breath he takes smells like the flowers growing from your bones, like the blessings of the angels guarding you, and for the first time in his life, he doesn’t mind the scent. The way with which he hungrily claims your lips has your knees melting, but he’s right there to catch you should you fall.

His teeth nibble teasingly on your lower lip, dragging a desperate sound from your lips that should leave you ashamed. But the pleasure and love you’re feeling within you is too prevalent for you to see any reason. Your thoughts scatter into soft sighs and breathy exhales each time his tongue captivates yours with a searing passion. The strands of his silken hair tickle your skin in the most innocent of fashion while he gently brushes your locks behind your ears. His weight is heavy and comforting against you and you’re convinced he can feel the aggressive thumping of your heart against his chest.

Your lips part at long last as he pulls back, and this time you don’t stop him. His breath warms your cheeks like a tender caress and his eyes have become hazy, a sensual glow burning in them like the sun.

“Wow,” is all you manage to breathe out.

You have been kissed before. You have been in love before. After all, you are not a child anymore and your prime years in high school and university have not been sheltered.

But this right here - the tender moment of Xiao’s forehead nuzzling against yours, the throbbing in your lips from being devoured by him, the all encompassing fire blazing through your soul when you feel his raw affection pouring into you - this is something you have never experienced before.

“So what does this mean?” You ask hesitantly.

His fingers stroke your cheeks fondly, the pads of them rough enough to make you scrunch your nose. If only you knew how sweet you looked to him then. 

“I do not know,” he answers honestly.

Your voice is back to the defiant tone he’s grown to love, as if your heart isn’t still ravaging inside your chest. “I’m gonna need more than that, Xiao. I don’t just kiss every guy out there.”

He’s able to discern the teasing lilt in between the syllables, making his lips curl in victory. “And I do not kiss, period.”

As expected, you fall quiet once your brain catches up with his words. If his arm wasn’t around your waist to steady your weight, you’re sure you would have collapsed right then and there.

“This was your first kiss?”

“Yes.”

“Like, your first first kiss? Ever?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

Your eyes are everywhere but on his, switching targets rapidly from his shoulders to his chest, to his nose to the picture hanging on the wall behind him. 

“Oh,” you say again, rather stupidly. Suddenly you feel shy again, like a little girl in front of her crush on the playground.

“I do know one thing though,” Xiao saves you from making a total fool of yourself by taking your chin and guiding your face to his, “There is no one else I want to do this with. And there will never be.”

The fire breaks out on your face once more, but his grip is too strong for you to turn away, so you punch his chest weakly and whine, “Ugh, you’re the worst. I hate you.”

You don’t.

He knows you don’t.

It’s been a long, long time since Xiao has laughed. Truly and openly, from the deepest part of his heart, as loud as the winds carried the sound of it.

But now, he does, and it blinds you with its beauty and how it beams out from his lips. Your heart stutters in your chest at the sight of it. He can’t stifle it in the slightest, not even if he tried, and he continues laughing, brokenly, but beautifully, and you think it’s the most wonderful sound you have ever heard.

Something glimmers in his golden eyes, like the rising of the sun on a clear morning. You want to bathe in that sunlight, chase it until you’re completely soaked in its warmness.

And in that moment, you think to yourself that it’s okay that he’s a demon. So be it. 

You will be the woman who’s in love with the demon.

Unapologetically.

“Yo!” Zhongli stops in his tracks when Childe’s voice reaches him from behind. He turns around to greet him, but instead ends up frowning when he sees his face.

“You should have cleaned up properly before coming.”

“Hm? Am I dirty?” Childe looks down at himself, inspecting his shirt and jeans from all angles, a genuinely confused pout forming on his lips.

Zhongli sighs like he’s done many times in the past when it came to Childe, and steps forward. He reaches up to his cheek and with the pad of his thumb wipes away remaining splatters of blood. “You are going to scare the humans, should they see you like this.”

The pout transforms into an amused grin, and he’s reminded of Lumine manhandling a thief double her size with little to no effort. Just the image of her sitting on top of him like it was her throne makes heat stir in his gut again.

“They’re not so fragile, you know. Gotta give ‘em more credit.”

“Still, there is no reason to needlessly worry them.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Childe continues on walking, sporting the kind of expression one would wear when they’re receiving yet another, unsolicited round of scolding from their guardian. 

They make their way toward your apartment in a comfortable silence with Childe still digesting the soul he has just eaten and Zhongli thinking about the entire situation in general.

“If anyone would have told me that Xiao would invite us to a dinner, ever, I would have checked if their brain had somehow been damaged during a job.”

Childe chokes on a cough. He stops in the middle of the street and breaks out in a fit. Several pedestrians give them worried glances, some even mildly disturbed ones. It takes Childe several minutes to reclaim his breathing, but when he does, he immediately transitions into boisterous laughter, making people give them an even wider berth.

“Now that you mention it,” he finally sputters out, uncaring of how insane he looks on the outside, “Since when did Xiao even eat food?”

“Ever since he met the human girl, I suppose.”

“Her food is really delicious though, that I’ll have to admit.”

Zhongli smiles. “It is.”

“I wonder what she’ll make tonight. What’s the occasion again?”

“It is the day her parents passed. According to Xiao, she has been doing this every year.”

Childe gives him a look like he hasn’t heard correctly. Which is fair, considering how absurd Zhongli sounds just now. 

“Don’t humans usually, I don’t know, grieve on a day like this? Why’s she throwing a party? She hated her old folks that much?”

If Zhongli wasn’t the picture of calm, he would’ve slapped some sense into his friend. Even if Childe isn’t known as the most empathic of demons, something called common sense should still persist in that head of his. Or so Zhongli likes to believe.

He chooses to remain patient, which he has known to be the only antidote to Childe’s unlimited imagination. “She has always said some of the most curious things. You should not be surprised by how she chooses to mourn the death of her parents.”

“That’s true, I guess.” Childe’s shoulders slump in defeat. As transparent as you are, he truly could never get a proper read on you.

“Try not to look like a puppy that got locked out in the rain. Her apartment is right around the corner.”

“Alright, alright. No need to tell me twice.”

“And please, for the love of whatever you hold dear, try not to lay it on too thick for the other poor girl.”

Childe grins and there’s nothing kind about it.

“Focus on your own human.”

Usually it’s just the three of you - Aether, Lumine, and you.

So when you invite them over for dinner (whatever the occasion may be), it suffices when you each take a seat on the couch. However with the addition of three more people, you quickly realize that the limited space of your apartment might lead to a few issues.

But your worries prove to be unfounded, because none of them care about sitting closely with one another, shoulder to shoulder and knee to knee. You pull out a few foldable chairs from behind your bedroom door and the twins have enough manners to not complain - not that they ever would. They love you and your apartment far too much to even breathe a single bad word about it.

There’s something about your place that theirs never had.

A sense of warmth and a smell of home.

It’s the reason why it’s the first place Aether seeks when things unravel at his manor.

“Holy shit, this looks absolutely scrumptious!” Lumine gasps with a keen lilt to her voice. Her eyes almost gloss over when she rakes them over your filled coffee table.

It’s stuffed to its edges with all kinds of foods and drinks. One look and it’s obvious how much time you must have spent in the kitchen. One glance at Lumine and it’s clear how much she appreciates this. Even Childe and Zhongli are speechless in the beginning. Neither of them expected you to go all out and spoil them like this. 

When you grab your ceramic stockpot from the stove and place it in the center of the table, surrounded by all the other side dishes, Zhongli’s eyes grow wide in recognition.

“Bamboo shoot soup?”

You beam. “Yeah! It’s my grandma’s recipe. One of Aether’s favorites.”

Aether gives a thumbs up, practically salivating when the mixed aroma of the cooked Jinhua ham, pork belly slices and bamboo shoots reach his nose. It smells divine.

“What a coincidence,” Zhongli says, his eyes not once leaving the dish, “I fancy it as well.”

“I know. I had Xiao tell me everything.”

While Zhongli and Childe shoot disbelieving looks his way, you start to pour a good amount of the soup into everyone’s bowls. You make sure to add a little bit of everything - the pork belly, the bamboo shoot, the tofu skins and not to forget, the Jinhua ham. 

Aether makes a little wiggly dance in his seat when he bites into the bamboo shoot, the crispiness of it leaving him with a silly grin as he continues to savor his meal. Zhongli, much like Aether, takes his time relishing in the soup, trying out each ingredient and humming in acknowledgement when the taste hits all the right spots.

You lower your spoon in favor of watching them eat - it makes all the hours of preparing this dish worth it. Xiao catches you and nudges you in the ribs softly, urging you to continue your meal before it grows cold. His bowl is already empty and sipped clean. There’s not a speck of dust left. 

Lumine reaches for the hearty bread bowl that’s to her right and rips off a hefty piece for herself. With a glint in her eyes, she dips the soft dough in the soup and guides it to her mouth.

“Oh my god, ‘sho good, what the hell,” she moans around the mouthful, earning a kick to her shin by Aether, who looks at her with disgust.

“Don’t speak when your mouth is full. I don’t wanna see what you’re chewing in there.”

“Shut up an’ get over yourself.”

They finish the rest of their soup without another fight, both too focused on the flavor and how good it tastes for them to be able to think about anything else. Of all things to be effective for them to call for a ceasefire, of course it has to be food.

Zhongli ends up eating another serving, and Aether, not wanting to part with the heavenly flavor of the bamboo shoot yet, does the same.

But if they thought this was all you had to offer for tonight, they would quickly realize how astronomically incorrect they were. This is just the beginning.

You bring the empty stockpot back into the kitchen and dunk it in the sink to wash it later. And while you’re already in the kitchen, you quickly prepare three large plates with one dish to be presented each. 

The first has several large, filled cabbage rolls, each wrapped like a delicate flower swimming in a river of its own broth - also known as Jade Parcels.

The second has juicy beds of matsutake mushrooms with glistening blankets of seasoned minced meat - also known as Matsutake Meat Rolls.

And the last, but certainly not least plate is what you’re probably most proud of. A beautiful white rose lies in the center of the plate and around it are crisp, deep-fried shrimp balls in the color of blazing gold.

Lumine digs right in and almost cries when the juice of the cabbage roll floods her tongue. Childe stifles a laugh, about to comment on her theatrical reaction, but then he tries one for himself, and by Satan he has to swear, it is the most delicious thing he has ever had in his entire life. He reaches for a second one, and then a third one, and by the time he wants to eat a fourth, Lumine swats his wrist away and takes it for herself.

Meanwhile Aether and Zhongli are taking a bite of the meat roll, careful not to burn their tongues on the still steaming meat. They exchange appreciative glances, communicating with just their eyes how much they’re enjoying their meal together. It makes you so, so happy that you’re able to bring everyone together with something as simple as food.

You turn to Xiao, curious what he’s up to as he’s been quiet throughout the entire time, but what you see makes your breath catch in your throat. He’s picking up two of the fried shrimp balls with his chopsticks and places them on your plate. Then, he takes a few of the meat rolls and drops them off beside them. Lastly, he grabs one of the Jade Parcels and discards it on your plate as well.

As if all of that isn’t enough, he reaches over the table to make sure your plate is filled up with all of the available side dishes. If you didn’t know better, you’d think this is your last meal for the rest of your life.

But he looks so focused on his task, so determined to make sure you have enough to eat, most likely even too much, that you don’t find it in yourself to stop him. And when you thank him and are about to reach for your chopsticks to begin eating yourself, he surprises you once more.

His hand is already in front of your mouth with a piece of the cabbage roll tucked in between his chopsticks. You blink.

Everyone else stops eating, dousing the entire living room in silence. It’s a sight none of them dared to dream of. A sight that leaves them speechless and unable to breathe.

However, Xiao and you are in your own little bubble ever since your first shared kiss, so neither of you realize the watchful eyes taking in the scene in front of them. You hover your palm under your chin just in case and take the food from Xiao, thanking him with a shy nod as you begin to chew.

The taste makes you smile with pride. You’ve perfectly recreated the most treasured recipes of your parents and grandparents. If only they were here to witness it for themselves.

By the time you swallow your first mouthful, Xiao already guides the second one to your lips. He continues feeding you in intervals of eating himself, completely unconcerned with the judgmental and agape looks the others shoot his way. Seeing the little smile light up your face when you taste your own creations and knowing that you’re well fed and satisfied is much more important to him.

It’s not even a conscious choice on his part. It’s just something that happens outside of his volition.

It just feels like something he has to do.

And after a while, after noticing how unbothered the two of you are, the twins begin eating once more. And after that, Zhongli and Childe as well.

It’s safe to say when you bring out the triple layered consommé and almond tofu from your fridge, all hell breaks loose.

It’s official now.

You may never leave their side ever again.

The graveyard is empty, safe for you and Xiao.

It doesn’t surprise you. At this time of the night, no sane person would visit their loved ones. The sun has long kissed the sky good night and the moon is shining brightly, casting an almost eerie glow on the dozens of untouched stones.

Almost. If it wasn’t for the glittering stars or the peaceful chime of the wind, you would have been scared. You credit the warmth of your stomach from the dandelion wine you’re sipping as well. 

There are two more glasses, one in front of each stone, filled with the sweet alcohol. A sort of offering to your deceased parents, who liked to pop open a bottle when they were celebrating something.

To any other outsider, they might think you’re drowning your grief through intoxication, but to people who know you, they see it as it is.

You’re celebrating the life they lived. It’s much easier than facing the empty hole that will never be filled again.

“Hi ma, hi pops,” you whisper, “I brought a friend along with me today.”

Xiao makes himself comfortable beside you and levels a stern look at their gravestones.

“Hello,” he says and it sounds so adorably awkward, you have trouble reigning in your laughter.

“This is Xiao,” you begin, “I met him through the most unbelievable of circumstances. I’m sure you’ve been watching over me with a lot of concern. I’m sorry about that.”

You take another sip of your own glass, letting it trickle down your throat like liquid honey and continue, “But he’s been treating me very well. And despite what he might say, I think he’s actually a very good guy.”

Xiao looks like he wants to protest, his mouth already forming the words, but they die down the instant you reach for his hand, intertwining your fingers with his softly.

He grits his teeth and averts his gaze, unable to disrupt the momentary peace.

You squeeze it once. “Things are still very complicated. I don’t know how they will play out in the future or what sort of trials await us.”

And then you smile, so bright and pure, it physically hurts for Xiao to bask in it. It’s too bright, too bright for a creature born out of darkness like him.

“But for some reason I feel so fearless around him. Like I can do anything I want to.”

Ah, you’re too much. You’re too much for him to handle and you’re not even aware of it. His wings all but explode out of his back, spread far open and engulf your entire frame in a cocoon of safety and warmth. You yelp in surprise, but Xiao looks away abashedly, somehow unable to control his very sudden urge to embrace you.

They flutter around you, tickle every patch of skin they can find and buzz in the cool night air. It’s such an unfamiliar sensation that it takes you a few moments to calm your startled heart. He still refuses to look at you, the tips of his ears tinged red.

The ridiculous amount of trust and faith you’ve poured into him does strange things to him. It’s like his wings have grown a mind of their own.

How can you say something like that and remain completely unaffected? Are his feelings perhaps stronger than what he perceived yours to be?

But then you lean into his embrace and let yourself be caught by his wings and he feels his heart soar through his lungs - a heart he never really noticed he had.

And there’s only one thought coursing through his mind in that moment.

How can something that feels so right be so wrong?

“What do you think?”

Zhongli glances up from his cup of tea. “About what exactly?”

“Xiao and the human girl.”

A beat of silence.

“Is there anything specific you want to ask me?”

Childe crosses his arms and leans his back on the wall. A thoughtful frown etches his features. “You saw it too, didn’t you? The way he looks at her?”

He doesn’t need to say more for Zhongli to catch the hint. He knows a man in love when he sees one.

“I am not sure how to think about it… She’s a human. One to whom he is contracted to.”

“Looks to me like they completely forgot about that part. She’s head over heels for him. She even smells like him for fuck’s sake. It’s like he’s letting the whole world know she’s his.”

“Do you think the others know?”

“Who? The other demons?”

“The devils,” Zhongli corrects.

Childe groans just thinking about it. He wants to say no. For the sake of both his friend and you, he wants to believe that no one would really care about it.

But he’s not foolish enough to put any faith in such naive thoughts.

“He doesn’t really make a secret out of it,” he mutters, “I wouldn’t be surprised if some nosey bastard found out about it and blew it up for everyone to find out.”

“Ningguang seemed to suspect as much,” Zhongli muses.

“Ningguang suspects everything. That woman’s intuition is dangerous. The number of her lackeys know no bounds.”

“But I doubt she has any interest in harming either of them. She is cold and ruthless, but she is just. There is no merit for her to meddle with them.”

It seems to ease the heavy worry in Childe’s chest just a little bit. He exhales a laden sigh and runs a hand through his ginger locks.

“Do you think Kazuha knows?” He asks, his voice barely more than a careful whisper. 

It feels treacherous to even speak his name. He, who has disappeared and left his entire army masterless.

“Kazuha has not been sighted in centuries. I doubt he keeps up with what is happening in hell.”

“But he’s the one who gave Xiao his name and his powers! He’s got to know the predicament his demon is in. Kazuha has always had a soft spot for Xiao, all of hell knows that… And now he’s really off sulking somewhere and waiting until this bomb goes off?”

“His friend was murdered,” Zhongli interrupts him chidingly, “And then his seat and title got taken by said demon, proclaiming them as the next devil of electro. Are you in any position to judge him for grieving the loss of his friend?”

“Argh, I know you’re right, so stop- Just- “ He makes a guttural sound from the back of his throat, one of pure frustration and rage. “How can a demon even beat a devil? Aren’t they supposed to be fragments of Satan’s original form?”

Zhongli places his cup on the table, unable to find any joy in his beverage anymore. “You ask things I cannot answer, Childe. It is as much a mystery to me as it is to you and all the other residents in hell.”

“This is so frustrating.”

Zhongli could not agree more.

But if there’s one thing the two know, it’s that they are willing to sacrifice everything if it means they can protect their friend, and in extension, you.

Even if it means going against hell itself.

Chapter Text

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, you find yourself in front of the mirror, frowning at your own reflection. Your hair is pin straight, unlike the usual mess you wake up with and your fingers are throbbing in pain. A straightener is lying on the counter, still burning hot and recently unplugged.

You woke up an hour earlier than you had to, determined, and spent way too long fighting with your unruly hair and forcing it into a state it’s not used to. As you look into the mirror, you can’t even recognize yourself. 

The last time you straightened your hair, you were still a freshly hatched chick in your first year of university with a crush on the cute guy sitting in front of you. You’ve grown a lot since then, no longer putting yourself through torture to make yourself look more appealing for someone who isn’t even worth your time.

Apparently, you haven’t grown all that much though, because right now you flash your reflection an awkward, uneasy smile to check what you look like. With a disappointed sigh and a shake of your head, you switch off the light and leave your bathroom.

“What the hell am I even doing?” You mutter to yourself.

After yesterday’s events, you’ve had the unreasonable urge to doll yourself up into this pretty little thing to impress Xiao. Where the impulse had come from? That’s something even you can’t answer. After all, you’re pretty sure Xiao couldn’t care less about what your hair looks like, or for the matter, what you look like.

He fell in love with you for who you are.

Which is still something you have trouble wrapping your head around. When had the two of you crossed the line of being two people trying to get rid of each other to lovers? For a while now, it felt like you had been teetering on the edge, not quite sure of your feelings and too aware of the circumstances surrounding you.

It happened so suddenly, out of nowhere that he swooped you up in his arms and locked your heart with his. But it felt right. It felt so right, you can’t find it in yourself to complain or question it.

Right outside this door, you will find Xiao, undoubtedly waiting for you. Like every other morning. You’re no longer alone.

Your stomach is turning just thinking of how you will face him. Should you kiss him? Should you hug him? Should you just coolly say “good morning” and make your way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast?

Are you overthinking this?

Yes. Yes, you are.

With a deep breath and a count to three, you open the door and step out into the living room and much like you predicted, Xiao is already awake. He’s watching anime again, apparently not yet caught up with all of the episodes. A quick glance at the screen shows you how much progress he’s actually made. You have to admit you’re impressed. He’s watched several hundred episodes in the span of only a few weeks - a feat only true fans of a show can pull off.

He’s so enthralled by what’s happening that he doesn’t even notice your presence. You remain standing, a little dumbfounded that the same Xiao who eagerly greets you every morning, doesn’t even spare you a glance now. 

Suddenly you feel stupid for waking up so early and making yourself look pretty. Your bones expand and you wish for the ground to swallow you whole, an uncomfortable heat spreading through your face as you consider turning back, wiping off the face you painted on and just throwing your hair up into the usual ponytail you sport.

But then he sniffs the air once, recognizing the comforting scent that emanates out of your pores that is so distinctly you and twists his head immediately toward you. You can see the exact moment his jaw snaps open and hits the ground as he is left gaping at you. It takes him a full ten seconds to remember that there is an entire vocabulary at his disposal.

“You look different.” He says, dumbly.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. 

Your brain shoots into overdrive and you mumble something incomprehensible as you all but dash into the kitchen to escape his unreadable eyes. Letting your anxious mind take over, the worst of the worst thoughts swirl inside, dwindling your self-confidence into a blubbering mess.

As you begin whipping something up for breakfast, Xiao stares harder. It’s as if the chain on his neck is back, binding him to you, nagging relentlessly at him to follow after you to protect you despite his understanding that there is no current danger to be detected. Unlike the self-deprecating voice in your head, Xiao does not judge you for looking different today.

It’s the complete opposite actually.

You look just like the girl from his vision. With your hair down and straight like sleek curtains, the resemblance is uncanny, nailing his belief that it had indeed been you even harder into him. A billion more questions swim to the surface, presenting an entirely new can of worms he’s not sure he’s ready to open yet.

But instead of prying it open to get to the root of his visions, he finds himself teleporting right behind you where you’re still busy muttering things under your breath. You gasp in surprise when his arms wind themselves around your waist and his face snuggles into your neck. His hot breath tickles and shoots a shiver through your spine. He embraces you tighter. 

You gulp, trying not to focus too much on his hands searing through the fabric of your shirt. A part of you wonders what it’d feel like if the offending piece of clothing wasn’t present right now.

No! Get your head out of the gutter! 

You clear your throat in a desperate attempt to calm your racing heart and hope to god he doesn’t notice it.

He does, of course, because this is Xiao, and filled with concern and unconditional desire to see to your comfort, he plants a soft kiss into the nape of your neck and whispers, “What unsettles you?”

The low timbre of his voice melts your knees and if it wasn’t for his tight grip around you, you’re sure you would’ve face-planted right on top of the counter.

“Nothing,” you lie.

You’re running a fool’s errand, really, considering how he picks up on every shift of your attitude, no matter how menial it may be. He frowns, unsatisfied with your answer and guides you around, so you’re forced to face him. With your lower back pressing into the counter and Xiao’s hands tight on your waist, you have nowhere to escape. Seeing this expression of frustration up close makes you mirror it.

Now that you know what he looks like in the glittering sun, with a smile just as bright to rival it, you don’t like this one at all. You reach up and using your thumb, massage the wrinkles forming right between his brows.

He cocks his head lightly. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t like it when you frown. The grumpy look doesn’t suit you at all.”

“Hm, is that so? I wonder what would wipe this frown off of my face?”

“Huh?” Rather dumbly and confused, you cock your head right back.

And then his gaze wanders south and his hand travels up. Lightly like a feather made of silk, he traces up your waist, relishing in another shiver from you, until it settles around your cheek, holding you like you’re the most precious thing in the universe. His thumb brushes over your lips, sensually. Your stomach flips, heat pooling around it to remind you that your hormones are working just fine.

“Are you aware how you are looking at me right now?” He asks, his voice hoarse, almost strained. “It is most strange… Somehow… I do not want anyone to see you like this.”

Dazed, you close your eyes and lean into his hand, realizing only then that it’s shaking. He’s restraining himself. From what exactly, you’re not sure, but he’s holding himself back.

You find comfort in the knowledge that he’s just as nervous as you are and with a confidence stemming from exactly that root, you ask, “Are you going to kiss me now?”

He appears hesitant at first, like he’s about to pull away and retrace his steps, but your eyes have darkened like the endless bottom of the ocean and he’s unable to swim against the current pulling him down. And so he lets himself fall.

“May I?”

Your nod is all the consent he needs and he tilts his head ever so slightly, softly pressing his lips against yours. It’s just as sweet and careful as it was the day before. He’s setting the caged butterflies in your stomach free, allowing them to roam around your insides and claim it as their home. You let go of his shirt to take his face into your palms, melting right into him. 

Encouraged by a sweet little sound slipping from your lips, his tongue prods for an entrance and you grant it, releasing yet another sigh of pleasure when it brushes against your own. Your heartbeat resounds in your skull and arousal spreads through your abdomen with each tug of his lips and sweep of his tongue. You lean even more towards him, deepening the kiss.

Heat radiates off him and seeps into your bones, intoxicating you so much that you don’t even register his hands grabbing the back of your thighs to place you on the counter. Your feet lock instinctively behind his lower back, pulling him closer against you. A needy moan spills out from you when you feel his hardness press into your soft folds.

Already?

You dig your fingers into his skin and kiss him harder, lust clouding your mind, and he twitches in response, a low groan rumbling from the depths of his chest. He ruts against you, realizing that he really likes how it makes him feel. A thumb trails under your breast, making you moan into his mouth. When he twitches again, you respond with a light roll of your hips. He curses.

You’re both hyper aware of each other, all of your senses flooded with the searing sweetness that comes with each touch. Between the heat of Xiao’s skin and the intense fragrance of the wind pouring out of him, you start to feel a little dizzy.

You’ve never felt anything like this. It feels like you’re bleeding into him, like he’s consuming you whole and with a startled gasp, you pull at his hair to be even closer with him. His hips drive into the tender spot between your legs, making you whimper. You feel like you could burst.

Xiao doesn’t really know what he’s doing. His movements are unpracticed and a little sloppy, but each time you arch into him and your breasts brush against his chest and each time you sing into his mouth, so soft and adorable, he unravels just a little bit more. He rubs against you again to get you to make that noise again. His heart squeezes when he catches the stuttered hitch of your breath.

Your hands are shaking and his grip on you is bruising, but the budding pressure inside of you is blinding you to the pain, transforming it instead to even more pleasure that has you crying out even louder. The coil inside of you tightens and tightens, alongside Xiao’s sharp, erratic movements. 

One second, you’re on the edge, gazing down at the precipice into a world of impossible ecstasy. The next, you’re ripped back when the treacherous sound of your ringtone strikes like thunder between you.

Breathless and flushed, you blink at Xiao, who looks like he’s drunk on you. So much so that he comes right back in for another kiss, not wanting to break whatever spell you put on him. 

Weakly, you push him away and manage to say, “My phone!”

It materializes right into his hand and vibrates against your waist, the caller not having given up on reaching you yet. Xiao continues to pull on your lips, lazily rubbing his erection against you. His eyes are unrecognizable, the usual molten gold now darkened eerily. 

You press your palm into his shoulder and take your phone with your other hand, pleading in between his kisses, “Xiao- Mmh- It might be- Ah! Something important…”

But Xiao doesn’t hear you, or he doesn’t care, because all he does is release your lips to assault your neck - a place that is most sensitive for you. He leaves a trail of fire behind, completely ignoring the pressure against his shoulder as you meekly try to get him off you.

“Xiao- Oh, fuck- Please!”

It takes him more effort than he would like to admit to finally wrench free from you. One look at your face and he would lose all reason. So he settles with resting his forehead on your shoulder, deep breaths filling his lungs to clear his body and his mind.

You too wait until you’ve settled down a bit and then reach to accept the call.

Lumine’s concerned ranting kills the mood right off the bat.

The short break your university granted you is already over and classes have started again, so you find yourself inside the lecture hall once more. 

While you and the twins are busy listening to what the professor presents, Xiao is in the cafeteria with Childe and Zhongli. They’re trying to kill time by drinking coffee and watching students as they go about their day. 

In the beginning, they used to accompany you to your classes, but after realizing that none of you would actually entertain them but rather focus and be attentive, they decided to give up. Now they simply wait each day and hang out at nearby places until at least one of you shows up.

“I think I understand why you seek the warmth of a woman so often, Childe.” Xiao says.

Childe chokes on his beverage, his eyes threatening to bulge out of their sockets. “You fucked her?!”

“Language,” Zhongli scolds.

“Oh, right, sorry.” He puts on a sickly sweet smile, “Have you attacked the pink fortress with your friendly weapon, my dear friend?”

The glare he receives should have decapitated him right then and there.

“We did not have intercourse,” states Xiao, not in the least bit affected by Childe’s teasing.

The latter appears way too disappointed for his own good and slinks back into his chair, slipping the straw for his cold coffee back in between his lips. “Got me excited for nothing…”

Zhongli sighs, not for the first time wondering how someone so old can be so infuriatingly immature. But he too can’t deny the curiosity he feels regarding Xiao’s opening statement. “What do you mean by that then?”

He seems to consider this for a moment, looking up at the ceiling to purse his lips. “These days… I yearn for her touch. I cannot help but want to be embraced by her. I am… drawn to her.”

His words cause Zhongli’s grip on his cup to loosen. It’s not only his hands that seem to lose their strength. His jaw too unhinges, his shoulders drooping just a tiny bit as he tries to truly process what Xiao has just said.

Zhongli has known Xiao for over a thousand years. Not once has he heard him say anything about feelings. Let alone for a woman. A human woman.

“Lately I have been feeling restless a lot, especially when she is around me but not next to me. It simply feels wrong to not have her by my side. It is- I am not sure how to describe the state I am in as I do not understand it myself, but… she is warm.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that already, buddy,” says Childe with a lopsided grin.

“Truth be told, I never thought I would hear those words coming from you. Ever.”

Xiao regards Zhongli with a calm, yet serious expression. It’s not the usual one in which his face takes on the familiar shape of a frown nor is it the one that leaves him feeling like he’s treading on thin ice. 

It’s one Zhongli has never seen before. And come to think of it, Xiao has been doing a lot of things that are unfitting for his usual persona ever since he has met you. Suddenly, it all becomes too clear.

“You are in love with her.”

Xiao doesn’t fight it.

In fact, he smiles.

And the sight of him showing such an open, genuine smile leaves Childe tensing up like he’s about to meet his own doom. His eyes widen in distraught confusion when Xiao still doesn’t fight the claim.

Instead, he says, “I used to think she could not get any more foolish when she first expressed she wanted to terminate my contract without giving over her soul. But right now… I fear she is leagues ahead of me, always facing forward with an innocent courage I could only hope to possess.”

“Oh my god,” whispers Childe, gripping the edge of his seat, “It’s really happening. The day of retribution has come, Xiao has gone insane- “

“Childe. Kindly shut up,” says Zhongli.

“Wha- Why are you acting like this isn’t a big thing?”

Zhongli turns back to Xiao. “Continue.”

“Hello? I am still here?”

“I am not quite sure what love is. I have never been one to meddle with humans for longer than necessary.”

“But?” Zhongli asks hopefully.

Upon hearing it in his voice, Childe stills from throwing a fit and slowly drags his gaze over to Xiao. If he was terrified by the beatific smile before, then he is mortified now.

It’s as if roses are blooming on his cheeks, as if daisies are curling around his lashes and lavender is pouring out of his pores. Xiao smells like you.

Childe runs it through his mind again.

Xiao smells like you.

A crushing weight drops on his chest and renders him speechless. A demon losing their natural scent and adapting that of another human was never a good thing. It was one of the biggest signs that a demon had become too involved in a human’s life.

And naturally, wanting to preserve the nature of hell, devils didn’t encourage this. Because what sort of hell would be left if all demons became friends with humans and strived to protect them?

What use would there be for devils to continue to exist?

Something snaps inside Childe’s mind. Suddenly hyper aware of his surroundings, he focuses all of his senses from Xiao to Zhongli. His heartbeat picks up and becomes louder and louder with each passing second, until it freezes to a complete halt.

Zhongli smells just like Aether.

No, he thinks. This can’t be happening.

Time seems to slow as Childe gingerly lifts his wrist to his nose. Zhongli and Xiao, who have noticed his unusual silence, shift their attention to him. Concerned and slightly perturbed, they ask him if everything is okay.

But Childe isn’t listening to them. He can’t even see them. For his mind is running into overdrive, threatening to burst into flames once the all too familiar scent reaches him.

It feels like his world is collapsing.

He smells just like Lumine.

Later that evening you’re back in auntie’s bookshop. Today you’re starting a new book, which has the kids even more excited than usual. They’re crowding around your legs and twittering up at you which one you have chosen for them, their eyes bright and full of wonder.

Xiao watches from further away, sitting at an unoccupied table with a new comic book in his hands. Since he’s been watching the animated show for the one he was reading when he first set foot into this store, he didn’t want to spoil himself for the events that had yet to happen. Following your advice, he decided to grab something new that got his attention.

That’s how he finds himself turning the pages of a new adventurous story - this time, one that seems to incorporate elements of comedy and romance. He thinks it’s a story you might like too.

His ears perk up slightly when he hears you laugh at something Klee says. Sometimes he wonders if you’re even aware how beautiful it sounds, how much it makes him want to embrace you and keep you in his arms.

Your eyes meet his from across the room and he is unable to look away. Each time it happens, he feels the same little flutter of delight in his stomach. The ghost of a smile tugs at his lips and you straighten just a little bit when you catch it, sending an even brighter one his way.

Sayu, one of the more quiet kids, tugs at the hem of your oversized shirt to get your attention. When you break eye contact with him and lean down to listen to what she has to say, he feels a weird sense of loss.

But the momentary magic has already worn off for you and you focus on the little girl beside you, crouching down to better hear her muttered words. Soon, they each begin to quiet down and settle around you, eager to leave this world behind and dive into another one. One that is filled with colorful dragons and speaking cats that can fly.

Klee is especially fond of the storyline. The main character, who happens to be proficient in using the element of fire, has her hooked and each time he enters a scene, she gasps in that adorable way that squeezes your heart. Her tiny fingers are curled around her skirt, a small fist of anticipation sitting on her lap as she eagerly listens to each word dripping from your mouth.

The best friend of the main character is someone who was born with the ability of creating ice out of nothing but a wisp of air. Qiqi, who was listening quietly throughout the entire evening, blinks in awe each time he is mentioned, her eyes glossing over just a little. She scoots closer and closer, until her hands brush over your thighs and she curiously leans over to peer at the words printed on the pages.

Your heart swells and fills with so much love, you feel like it’s about to burst. You smile down at her, pointedly gazing into her eyes as you accentuate each word the character says. Lured in by your storytelling, she breathes heavily, shivering when goosebumps spread across her arms. 

The last chapter of the evening ends with a devastating loss the characters have to face - they are forced to separate with one of their dragon friends. 

Klee is most furious about this. “Why couldn’t he just stay and fight with them?”

“Because he loves and wants to protect them,” you explain calmly, “In his mind, his absence equals their safety.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense!”

In fact, Klee is so riled up about this entire plot point that tears gather in her scarlet eyes, adding a new layer of gloss over them. She reminds you so much of yourself from when you were smaller. Your grandmother used to softly pat your head back then, relaying words of wisdom that have stuck with you up until today.

You do the same, weaving your fingers through her soft hair until the tension in her shoulders subside. “Love isn't something that makes sense. You don't think with your head when it comes to love. It’s something you feel with your heart.”

Klee looks up at you. “My heart?”

“Mhm. No matter what your head says," you gently tap her temple twice and then lower your hand to hover your finger right in front of her chest, "If your heart tells you something else, there's nothing to be done."

Your words seem to resonate with her, for she sighs and wipes away the tears gathering in her eyes. She nods once, more to herself before she pushes herself off the ground. “Then they just have to become stronger, right?”

You blink, dumbfounded.

“So they can protect each other! Then they won’t have to be apart!”

Your expression softens impossibly. The pure innocence that radiates out of Klee takes any argument that might have lodged itself in your throat away. All you can do in the face of her brightness is nod. She trudges away once she spots her unsuspecting father, no doubt planning on dumping a massive rant on him.

On the other side of the room, Qiqi has silently made her way over to Xiao, who is back to reading his comic. The remaining children are watching in disbelief, awed by her courage to approach him. To them, Xiao is still a scary adult with a menacing aura that none dare to breathe around. But Qiqi prods his thigh from below and tilts her head back to peer up at him.

He lowers the comic book and just stares at her. No response, nothing. Just stares.

Any other child would have wilted under the intensity of his golden eyes, but not Qiqi. You’re unable to hear what she asks him when her lips begin to move, but soon enough Xiao’s eyes widen and the book in his hands finds its place on the table. He recovers his composure and calmly talks back.

Curiosity gets the better of you and you join them, asking, “What’s up?”

“She wants to know if you and I, and I quote, “have finally started to date”.”

Qiqi nods.

Their serious demeanor makes you burst into a fit of laughter. “You two are something else, I swear.”

Xiao stands up from his seat and takes your hand, pulling you closer to him until you bump into him. A silent, collective gasp resonates from where the group of children are watching you. 

You shake your head in amusement when his fingers intertwine with yours, his eyes fully trained on you. It’s like he doesn’t even hear the whispers of the little gossips. Or perhaps he does and he simply doesn’t care.

Qiqi nods again, satisfied as if that’s all the answer she needs. Before you have another chance to say anything further, she bounds off to her father, who just stepped into the shop to pick her up. One by one, they leave and wave you a last goodbye, calling after you how they can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.

You see them off together with Xiao, who still holds onto your hand by the time the last of the children have left.

“Let me put the books back, clean up a bit and then we can leave. Are you hungry?”

The question comes rather instinctively. It’s more a force of habit at this point, so it takes you a little bit by surprise when he responds with, “No.”

Reminded of his immortality and his lack of human needs, you say, dumbly, “Right.”

“But,” Xiao draws closer until your noses brush, his hand leaving your hold to embrace your waist, “it seems you are.”

Just as he finishes his statement, your stomach releases a roar so loud that auntie actually laughs out loud on the other side of the store. Flooded with shame, you press your steaming face into the crook of his neck, eliciting a light chuckle from him. His chest vibrates against you and you lean into him further.

“This is so embarrassing,” you mutter. “Why does this always happen to me?”

Xiao smiles. “Your stomach is as honest as the rest of you. It is most endearing.”

“Stooop!”

“Stop what?”

“Saying… embarrassing stuff like that!”

His smile turns into a grin. He takes your chin between his fingers and makes you look up at him. “What kind of embarrassing stuff?”

Stupid, smug Xiao. He knows exactly what you’re talking about. There’s no doubt in your mind that he can tell how much heat your cheeks hold and how teary-eyed you are.

A true demon in its rawest, truest form.

He’s teasing you.

“Ugh. You’re the worst.”

“Am I?” He asks, tilting his head slightly.

You barely manage to hum in affirmation before he begins raining soft kisses down on your forehead, and then your nose, and then your cheeks. The ghost of his lips leave a trail of warmth behind as he roams the expanse of your face, refusing to leave a single inch unloved.

A fountain of laughter bubbles from your chest with how much it tickles you and as hard as you try to wriggle free from this sweet torture, he grips you tighter, unrelenting in his conquest to claim you entirely. 

You’re so beautiful like this - with your nose wrinkling and your eyes shut tight. He can’t possibly look away.

So he doesn’t. He inhales the intoxicating scent of you, smiles against your neck when you release a tiny squeak and then drags his lips over your throat.

It feels too sensual a thing to do in a public space, but with the dimmed lights of the reading room and Xiao’s hot breath against your cheek, nothing really matters anymore.

Like everything he does, he does it with all of his attention focused on the task, as if he’s about to get graded and licensed for it. It makes you laugh once more, dragging another one of those angelic sounds from you that Xiao loves to hear. His hand reaches for the back of your neck and pulls you closer. 

The last of your giggles spills over his lips as they finally connect with yours, kissing you senseless once more.

Behind the register, auntie watches the people of Mondstadt, your happy laughter ringing in her ears and a sad, defeated smile on her lips.

You’re dying. 

You’re fading away in his arms, terrifyingly small and whimpering while hot, dark blood spills from the very same lips that speak the most beautiful of words. 

His fingers tremble. And he’s unable to do anything.

Anything at all.

A field of death surrounds him. The ground is littered with the mournful remnants of innocent, lost lives. Thick, congealed blood seeps through the moist earth, leaving all bodies pale and clammy. The stench of gunpowder and cinders scorch the air and taint the walls of what was once a beautiful temple.

His chest constricts. He can’t move.

“Xiao.” Your whisper comes lighter than a wisp of wind. There’s an arrow lodged right above your heart and your bloodied fingers clutch around it weakly. “You have to run.”

He comes to face his own personal hell when your hand falls limply and your eyes darken. Behind him, he identifies voices he knows. Voices he heard all of his life from people he held in high regard.

Voices he never, ever wanted to hear screaming out in fear and rage.

He watches in horror as your soul separates from your body, soaring through the sky and painting a delicate crimson trail like the petal of a rose before he’s torn from the world.

“Xiao!”

He returns to your petrified voice and snaps back into the present with a violent gasp. He’s shaking all over with cold sweat running down his back.

He’s barely breathing.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” you take his face gently in your palms, your warmth causing him to close his eyes and lean into your touch, “It’s okay. Breathe.”

His chest burns with a chilling fire and he clutches your arms, his grip bruising and painful. “You’re here.”

It takes a second for you to register the words, but when you do, your heart splinters into a million tiny pieces and cuts you open. He’s scared. You’ve never seen him look this terrified before.

Your hands slip into his hair, slightly sweaty and sticking to his forehead. Your body extends towards him without warning and you plant a single, pecked kiss to the tip of his nose and whisper, “I’m here.”

He repeats those words several more times, in between the mouthful of breaths he devours to calm his still racing pulse. His lips seek out the place he feels safest in and settle lightly against the crook of your neck. He inhales deeply, filling his lungs with your existence.

It’s only when all of him has become all of you that his hands around your arms loosen.

“Do you wanna sleep together tonight?” You ask.

The first thing that comes to his mind is to deny the request. After all, he doesn’t sleep. Demons do not require sleep and he has never done unnecessary things that haven’t benefited him.

But he’s still trembling and the putrid smell of death still haunts him, so he finds himself nodding instead. He follows you into your bedroom numbly, not even registering the soft click of your door when you close it shut.

You guide him inside the sheets and he feels the tension inside his bones unravel when you slip in beside him, your limbs intertwining with his. Something inside of him twitches when he catches the pull of your brows and how sadly you regard him.

Your breath catches at the wild, desperate pain burning within his eyes. It seems to seep within you, filling your heart with sorrow as well. You want to cry.

You want to cry because he doesn’t and the mere thought of him carrying this massive weight on his shoulders all on his own for who knows how long rips you in two. You want to ask him why his visions have been coming more frequently, what he is seeing in them and what their appearance could possibly mean.

But each time it feels as if approaching the topic will force him to relive the trauma and go through the same agony over and over. Hurting Xiao has always been out of the question. So this time too, like all the other times, you choose to be there for him instead, providing him support and a shoulder to lean on until the moment passes.

“Come here,” your arms wind around his shoulders and pull him closer until he’s pressed against you. He gratefully leans into the touch and snuggles closer until there’s not even a centimeter left between your bodies.

Once his ear is settled above your heart - where the arrow had been - and he hears the healthy pounding of your heart, he releases a sigh that seems to hold centuries worth of exhaustion. He holds his own breath to focus on yours, repeating your presence like a mantra until his brain finally gets the memo that right here, right now, you are alive.

You are alive. You are breathing. You are safe, unharmed, and warm.

You fall asleep not long after he appears to have calmed down, with your arms still around Xiao and his hair brushing against your neck. But he remains awake throughout the entire night, listening to the steady beat of your heart until the sun slowly begins to rise again.

It’s when your alarm blares to life and you groan and stretch your limbs that he finally accepts that there are things he needs to look into. He doesn’t know whether these visions are images of the past coming back to haunt him or if this is Satan’s way of messing with his head to get him to leave you and finish his job.

Whatever the case may be, if he wants to protect the peace he has with you, if he wants to protect you, he has to find out what these visions are to begin with, why they are plaguing him and how he can get rid of them.

He watches your eyes flutter open and a sleepy smile stretch across your face, nailing his resolution even further into him.

He wants to protect you.

He needs to protect you.

He will protect you.

“Have you noticed it too?” Kaeya asks, sipping on a glass of Dandelion wine.

Diluc doesn’t spare him a glance. He’s asked him to leave countless times tonight already, his patience stretched thin after having served a group of chaotic college students who had been intent on testing his limits.

He responds rather tersely, “Of course I have. Who do you take me for? I’m not like that bard who is only good for drinks. Which, you really should stop now. This is your third bottle now.”

“Why, brother, you’re hurting my feelings,” Kaeya says with a smug grin, “You’re gonna break Venti’s little heart as well if he catches you talking about him like this.”

Diluc rolls his eyes, not giving in to the taunts of his brother. He’s been around him long enough to be immune to his words by now. Still, his question bugs him more than he would like to admit and it’s with great difficulty that he turns to meet Kaeya’s knowing gaze.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

In an unexpected twist of things, Kaeya remains serious, forfeiting his mask as the provocative and teasing angel. His tongue rolls over his teeth, his jaw tight. “Same thing over here. Should I have the others keep an eye on her too?”

Diluc seems to think about this for a good while. He continues cleaning the bottles and empty cups, his eyes raking over the bar like a hawk while his mind goes through all possible scenarios. He can see the concern in the way Kaeya holds his drink. He’s tense all over, ready at all times should danger present itself. 

But Diluc can’t judge him. Not when he’s been seeing more and more demons roaming Mondstadt, each of their stench always leading back to your apartment. He still doesn’t trust Xiao, or Zhongli, or Childe, so he’s made sure to always keep tabs on you and the twins.

So more than anyone else, Diluc is aware of how little of a threat these three actually pose to you. It’s blindingly obvious that you, together with the twins, have wrapped all of them around your finger and tamed them into something unrecognizable. 

However, it’s still in his nature to be suspicious of a demon and to be on guard when they are around. And it turns out that that’s a good thing, because horrifyingly enough, the demons have been lulled into a false sense of security, which has led them to become careless.

So much so that not even a single one of them has noticed the presence of a devil in the streets of Mondstadt. But nothing has happened yet and as much as he hates to acknowledge it, Diluc knows that there are far more important things in the grand scheme of things than a devil roaming around.

He’s well aware he can’t walk up to God and request to assign you a group of guards that would follow and protect you wherever you went. You already have three guardian angels and you have three demons who are completely smitten with you - both facts which still seem not to have reached heaven’s gates.

He doesn’t want to risk your fate by alerting God of this, for he knows there will be dire consequences for you should he hear that you have been meddling with not only one, but three demons.

Your safety comes first.

“No,” he responds after what feels like an eternity. “The three of us are enough.”

“Lisa hasn’t reported anything new for a while now. There’s been nothing on her side of things.”

“I figured as much already,“ Diluc says with a menacing smile, “They are cautious when it comes to her. Rightfully so.”

Kaeya frowns. “What do we do then? Wait around until they strike?”

“The way things are right now… we have no other choice but to wait for them to move first.”

“I hate sitting around, waiting ducks, you know.”

“I know,” Diluc gives him a side glance, “But we also don’t know how many demons we are dealing with and what the objective of the devil is. We don’t want to rush and risk things getting worse.”

Kaeya looks away, mumbling, “I hate it even more when you’re right.”

Diluc snorts, a small smile tugging on his lips.

But it fades just as quickly and he sighs, thinking, oh little lady, what have you gotten yourself into?

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen

You wake up to what has to be the most wonderful feeling in the entire world. Tingles flutter through your spine, filling your belly with warmth as gentle fingers card through your hair. You sigh and lean in to the touch. A smile tugs at your lips when a pair of soft lips press against your temple.

“G’morning,” you mumble sleepily with your eyes still closed.

Xiao smiles against your forehead, planting another featherlight kiss before he mumbles back, “Good morning, indeed.”

It’s almost ridiculous how natural this feels. Being in his arms, sleeping in the same bed with your limbs intertwined. There’s no shyness between your bodies, no nervous butterflies fluttering in your ribcage when his heart thumps against your ear.

Not for the first time do you notice that none of this comes across as unfamiliar to you. As if you’ve done this millions of times before, as if your bodies simply know what to do, you easily meld into him, allowing him to pull you even closer.

Your voice comes out hoarse when you ask, “How do you feel about spending the day in bed?”

“Well, it is Saturday today. No classes, right?”

“Right.”

“Then you have your answer.” Like he is able to refute your any word. You have him wrapped around your finger. At this point, Xiao would do anything you ask of him. That’s how far he has fallen down the deep end.

But you’ve never had such intentions with him, of course. You are far too pure, far too kind to even consider using anyone’s weakness against them. It’s part of the reason he has grown so enamored with you.

Smiling lazily with your eyes still closed, you release the most adorable hum he swears he has ever heard. He might be biased when he thinks this, but he wants to pocket this image of you.

Serene. Peaceful. Beautiful.

Nothing like the you from his vision last night.

You slow your breathing to match his, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his chest under your head. With a contented smile, you snuggle into his all too comfortable arms and fall back into a deep slumber.

Xiao continues to gaze at you, wondering how it is possible for you to look this unbelievably cute, even when you’re doing nothing but just lying there, sleeping. He finds himself thinking that there is something new he has discovered that he really really likes.

Morning cuddles.

Lumine wakes up to another, much more disastrous feeling.

She groans, clutching her pounding head as she slowly pries her eyes open, cursing when it feels like the sunlight is piercing right into her retina. What she sees next has her falling off the bed in shock, slamming her nose on the floor and cursing some more.

It’s Childe. In her bed. Shirtless.

“Morning, beautiful.”

Lumine rubs her eyes with enough force to push her eyeballs into her skull, taking a deep breath before bracing herself and looking forward again. This has to be a dream. No, a nightmare.

But Childe is still there, still grinning, still shirtless.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

And then it all comes rushing back.

The late night drinks with a potential business partner. The annoying guy that kept pestering her for her number. Childe, who appeared out of nowhere when she was far too intoxicated to tell left from right. Him insisting on walking her home with too many stupidly slick words and her tripping over air and right into his arms.

She knows all too well how these kinds of stories fan out. One thing leads to another and the next thing she knows, she wakes up to a naked body with hazy memories from the night before. After all, this isn’t her first one night stand.

Usually, Lumine doesn’t fret about such things. Usually, she sends them off with half-hearted parting words and continues on her day.

However, usually, she doesn’t sleep with men like Childe.

She looks down at herself with a grimace, noting the crimson flowers blooming all over her body in places Childe worshipped with so much fervor, she can still feel the heat of his tongue on her. Her worst fears become reality when she notes the very apparent lack of undergarment around her most intimate parts, indicating that yes, she indeed had done the worst thing she could have ever done.

“Cat got your tongue?” Childe asks, sounding way too fucking smug for her liking.

It’s written all over his face. Triumph.

He’s proud of his achievement, which makes Lumine groan even louder. With her head in her hands, she thinks of all the ways she can turn back time. Part of her even considers the ridiculous idea of signing a contract with a demon and go back to last night, so she can tell her stupid past self to cease being a horny mess the instant her tongue gets a taste of alcohol.

“I’ve got to say though,” Childe starts and she knows immediately, whatever is going to come out of that cursed mouth of his is something she is not going to like, “You’ve got stamina.”

“Oh my god,” Lumine groans once more, her ears twitching when Childe’s delightful laughter rings through her bedroom. “What have I done?”

“Aw, come on. It couldn’t have been that bad. At one point, you were begging me to-“

“Stop!”

“Why yes, that’s exactly what I was going to say.”

“Oh my god, just shut up! This is the stupidest thing I have ever done…”

Childe raises a brow, his eyes glimmering with mischief. “Is it? Seemed like you had a great time to me.”

Of course she had a great time! For all his stupid smooth talk, Childe was actually capable to back up his words. Lumine can’t remember the last time she got laid this good. She lost count how often he made her see stars and how he knew just the right places to touch for her to burn up like a flame-

No, no, no, no, no!

“That’s beside the point!” She argues, ripping the sheets from her bed to cover up her body, to which Childe pouts like a little boy whose favorite toy got snatched from. She realizes her mistake only afterwards.

Because much like herself, Childe too is completely and utterly naked.

And holy Archons in Celestia, does he look good. Rippling with lean muscles, old scars covering his skin like murals, she finds herself wondering what the story behind them is. Lumine shakes her head, trying not to get distracted by his roguish grin.

“You have to get dressed. Now.” The words leave her mouth a little unsure, but she keeps her head high anyway. There’s no way in hell she’s going to give him even more material to tease her with.

He cooes, tilting his head in just the right way for him to reveal his long, slender neck. Lumine’s breath hitches. Countless love bites scatter his throat, an impressive contrast against his pale skin.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go for another round- “

“Get dressed! Now!”

The hysteria in her voice makes him chuckle and he pushes himself off the bed effortlessly. He turns around to grab his shirt, his lips curling into a satisfied smile once more when he hears Lumine gasp. She, on the other hand, fumbles around to hide her quickly reddening face.

Childe’s back looks like he fought a beast.

The sounds of fabric brushing against skin appear magnified and Lumine squirms uncomfortably. It’s like she can see which piece of clothing he’s dragging over his body without actually seeing it. Curiosity tugs at her bones, of a kind she’s never felt before. It’s as if some invisible force is tilting her head back, inviting her to take one look, just one tiny peek-

“Like what you see?” Childe asks smugly.

And what she would give to get swallowed up by the ground now.

He laughs again, placing his hands on his hips as he gives her a slow once over. “I certainly do.”

Lumine’s never been this fast to spring into action before. With shaky hands, she grabs the first thing she can find - which happens to be an oversized shirt lying in wrinkles on her chair - and throws it over herself.

“Listen. This,” she gestures from herself to him, keeping her jaw tight with a hopefully intimidating scowl, “Never happened. We never happened. It was a stupid mistake. It will never happen again. Are we clear on this?”

Childe can’t stop his grin from widening. It’s the first time he sees Lumine this flustered, he can’t help but want to prolong this moment as much as he possibly can. With impossibly pink cheeks and adorably quivering lips, she looks like she could burst into tears at any given moment.

The innermost cruel part of him brims with joy.

“You need to leave,” she adds, already heading towards the door.

“Now, now, we’re in no rush, are we?” He saunters around her room, taking his sweet time to explore every crevice and corner. Countless pieces of fabric in all kinds of colors are strewn around, at least three of them on each furniture. A pair of jeans is hanging on the needle by the sewing machine and a silk dress hugs the curves of a display mannequin to his right.

It’s exactly like he’s imagined it to be. A creative, organized mess that basically screams Lumine.

“Alright no, you’re getting way too comfortable.” She says through gritted teeth. “We need to get you out of here.”

And then, carefully, as if she’s dissecting a bomb, she turns the doorknob and peers out into the hallway. Childe starts talking again, but she quickly silences him with a wave of her hand behind her back, signaling him to keep quiet. He raises a curious brow, catching onto her scheme faster than she would have liked.

“Do you really think there’s any damage left to control?”

“Shut up! Okay, so the others aren’t up yet. I’m gonna usher you through the back door. Make sure to stay on your toes and don’t say a single fucking word, you hear me?”

“Don’t tell me you’re ashamed of me?” Amusement is dripping from his voice, making it clear that he doesn’t take any offense to it.

“Of course I am!” As always, Lumine doesn’t sugarcoat her words. “Now get moving before someone wakes up and catches you here! The damage my reputation would take would be irreparable…”

The last bit is murmured more to herself, because really, how could she possibly explain this to anyone? Childe is quite literally one of the most annoying people she has ever met. He’s insufferable, persistent and lacks any and all manners - he’s just not the kind of guy she would drop her pants for.

If you ever found out about this… you would never let her live this down.

She has to make sure that no one, absolutely no one ever finds out about this. She’s going to make sure that this is going to become something they both will be taking to the grave.

“Okay. Ready?”

“Ready whenever you are, milady,” retorts Childe with a mock bow.

He can read every single thought from her expression alone, reveling in the change of attitude from the usually stoic and cool Lumine. She’s much too busy making sure no one is lurking outside her room to give him a reaction.

“Remember. No sounds.”

And then she opens the door, wincing when it creaks like a gunshot in an empty opera hall. She waits for a few seconds, ignoring the warmth of Childe’s body pressed against her back. If she wasn’t so tense right now, she would punch that disgustingly smug grin off of his face.

No one shows and she sighs a breath of relief, very carefully taking the first step outside. Childe follows, his footsteps quiet as the air. Making his presence unnoticed is something he’s excelled in. They pass several rooms in silence and for a moment, he thinks she’s actually holding her breath.

He’s just about to reach out to her when the door to his left swings open and slams against the wall.

“Aha! Caught you!” Aether proclaims proudly, looking like this is the moment he’s waited for all his life.

Several things happen at once.

Lumine shrieks in surprise, about to kiss the floor if not for Childe’s inhumanely fast reflexes. He wraps an arm around her waist and puts her back on her unsteady feet, shooting a grin Aether’s way.

He’s met with the same expression from the other, who crosses his arms in a superior way and walks right up to them.

“Would you look at that?” Aether asks, “Care to explain why Childe is in our home, dearest sister?”

Lumine pales as if she saw a ghost. She gulps, losing all moisture on her tongue as her heart picks up its beat. Mercy is truly not on her side these days.

“Good morning, Aether.” Childe says, as if it’s the most normal thing in the entire world.

As if he didn’t just catch the two sneaking in the hallways.

“Morning,” he greets back with a chipper tone. He looks like he just won the lottery.

In a way, he kind of has. Judging by her horrified expression, Aether guesses that this isn’t something you are aware of. And considering the dozens of emotions flitting across Lumine’s face, he also imagines her not wanting you to find out.

“Uh, this isn’t what it looks like.”

“Hm? What does it look like?”

“I-“ Lumine’s brain is rattling a mile a minute, so much so that she actually hears ringing in her ears. “This is all just a huge misunderstanding. You see- “

“I see my sister sneaking out a guy she brought home the night before. A guy she claimed to despise, mind you.”

“Aether!”

“Ouch, that kind of stung,” Childe snickers, not at all hurt.

Aether sighs wistfully, placing his cheek in his hand with a cruel glimmer in his eyes she’s only seen a handful of times before. She knows what it means.

“I wonder what our best friend would say if she knew you were shagging Xiao’s friend behind the scenes.”

She is royally, astronomically screwed.

“I am not-“

“Oh! I should call her! This is going to be the scoop of the year!”

“Hold it right there!” Lumine catches him by his braid and pulls him back, eliciting a tiny yelp from him.

“Ouch! Is that really how you should treat me right now?”

“You are not telling anyone anything!”

Childe takes a step back, deciding to sit this one out and watch the chaos unfold. His grin is blinding.

“Listen, nothing happened! I’m telling you, it’s not what it looks like!”

“It looks like someone ate you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

“Aether!”

“Come on, just take a look at your hair! And your face! The ever pristine Lumine never goes to bed wearing make up, and right now, you look like someone dunked you into a bowl of ink.”

“I what?” Losing sight of the argument, she rushes to the next available mirror - which is the one inside Aether’s room - and takes a long, good look at herself.

He’s right. She looks like an absolute mess.

“I should take a photo of you! Commemorate this wonderful memory!” He’s already on his way to his camera bag, his hand hovering right above the zipper when Lumine almost desperately yells,

“Okay, okay! What do you want?!”

He retracts his hand with a smile that is slowly turning menacing. Now they’re speaking the same language. Childe watches with sick fascination as the seemingly angelic Aether, who is all sunshine and giggles, blackmails his own twin sister.

It seems he has been severely underestimating him.

Xiao creates a Crystalfly hairpin for you.

“I thought it would look nice on you,” he says as he gently threads it through a lock of your hair, “I was right.”

He twines one hand in your hair, the other tracing a gentle, curious path down your body. His light touch sends sparks of delight through you. Each time, there’s a strange, delicious tingling response within you, one that makes your heart race faster. You stare up at him.

His gentle eyes remind you of the sun, of early mornings bathing your face in warmth and of twittering birds who greet every day with a new enthusiasm.

Your lips find his, just for a moment before he presses his forehead against yours, his soft hair tickling your skin and his warmth flowing into you.

“Thank you.”

You take his face in your palms and scoot closer to him, feeling the strength of his arms around your waist and his heartbeat against your chest. Xiao stays like that for a few more minutes, gazing into the depths of your eyes as if he’s trying to find something in them.

Some sort of answer he thinks you’re holding.

“Come here,” you mutter gently before guiding him to your bosom.

He closes his eyes and indulges in the softness and warmth that is you. He wants to stay like this, if possible forever. He wants to stay with you, far away from the reality and the inevitable agony that is waiting at the end of your journey.

How absurd, he thinks. He’s lived a life bordering on eternity, never allowing himself to feel such pesky emotions that could threaten to take away his power.

But now, after having come this far, after having met you, after having seen your angelic smile and kissing your soft lips, he realizes he hates the idea of losing you.

He thinks of Kazuha, his master, the one who has given him a second chance at this wretched existence he’s been given and how little was left of him after he lost his precious friend. Part of him wonders if this is what Kazuha felt like before his world was plunged into doom.

Xiao still isn’t sure he understands his feelings or what you’ve done to him. You’re nothing short of foolish, overly trusting, too optimistic and surprisingly stubborn. You stumble headfirst into trouble at any given chance, but then cower like a frightened rabbit hiding in tall grass. He thinks it’s curious how you then turn around and don’t even have the sense to fear him.

Him, out of all people.

But the thought of no longer being able to hold you, of no longer hearing your melodic laughter and seeing the twinkle in your gorgeous eyes… The more he thinks of the unbearable loneliness that lies ahead in a universe without you…

He finally understands why Kazuha no longer wishes to exist.

"I have to admit I am not in the least bit surprised,” says Zhongli.

“Well, I am!” Aether intercepts with a dejected frown. He expected a much bigger reaction from him when he revealed last night’s tirade involving his twin and Childe. “She hates him!”

“But does she really?”

“I mean… no, but still! It’s not like she’s head over heels for him either, just waiting to hook up with him!”

“Hook up?” Zhongli asks, tilting his head a little bit in confusion. There are still a few terms used in the mortal realm that he hasn’t quite familiarized himself with. After all, his usual clientele consists of sophisticated politicians or complex business men.

Aether purses his lips in thought, thinking of another way to phrase his thoughts. “Lumine isn’t really the type to sleep around a ton. She has super high standards and rarely even looks at a guy. So I was really surprised when I heard them last night.”

“You heard them?”

“Yeah. Was kind of impossible not to.”

Zhongli grimaces at that, a face of disgust that Aether all too easily replicates. He’s not all that surprised that Childe actually followed through with what he claimed he would do when he first met the girl. He’s more stunned that Lumine let him do it.

He never pegged her as the type to give in to persistence. Not even when said persistence was triple-folded by Childe. But he’s not one to judge as it is none of his business what either of them are up to. From what Aether told him, it seemed to have been consensual on both parts, so even if he intervened and lectured Childe on his brutish behavior, he wouldn’t be taken seriously.

If there was one thing Childe hated the most, it was people telling what to do, and worse, what not to do. Asking him to refrain from something was like holding a crispy piece of bacon right in front of his nose. It was simply begging him to go ahead and do the opposite.

“And she does not mind you telling me about this? I imagined she would be vehemently against anyone finding out, considering how… Childe seemed to be much more below her standards.”

“Ah… yeah… actually,” he glances off to the side, “She doesn’t know.”

Zhongli’s eyes widen in realization, but before he is able to protest or even scold him, he adds, rather desperately, “Don’t look at me like that! I had to tell someone!”

“And you chose me?”

“Well… I trust you. I know that no matter what I tell you, you won’t go running off, screaming it down every mountain that Mondstadt has.”

It’s not only the words, but the way in which Aether says this that Zhongli finds his face softening. His voice is small, a little bit unsure, as he shyly admits this. And Zhongli’s heart swells.

“And I also didn’t know who else to go to. Before I knew what I was doing… you were already on the other line.”

The expression Aether wears, bashful and pink-cheeked, has Zhongli chuckling. His laugh is deep and rumbling and makes Aether look away once more, embarrassed beyond words to be caught like this.

Ever since he’s met Zhongli, he hasn’t thought about Albedo once.

You planned on telling the twins the truth about you and Xiao.

Well, a slither of it at least. There’s no way you can just reveal his true identity, especially not if it means putting them in danger, but you also can’t keep lying to them.

They’re your best friends after all. They’ve been with you through thick and thin, and lying to them throughout all those months has left a permanent mark on your conscience.

Telling them that Xiao is indeed not a relative, but a guy you’re dating (which is still somewhat hard to wrap your head around) is going to cause some definite whiplash.

You’re pretty sure Lumine figured it out already, what with how impossibly perceptive and smart she is. But Aether… Aether will have to be another story.

Lying to him is like ripping out your own heart and then proceeding to trample on it. You don’t even want to imagine those golden puppy eyes of his that just about convince you to burn the world for him.

And you have no doubt that he unconditionally trusted and believed you when you dished out an incredibly suspicious and unbelievable excuse as to who Xiao is and why he suddenly appeared out of nowhere in your life.

You planned on telling them tonight, which is why you called for a spontaneous movie night at the cinema, but when you see Lumine and Childe, you start to reconsider.

She has the most constipated look on her face, avoiding him at all cost as she either walks away each time he comes near her or she stubbornly stares at her phone like she means to destroy it. Which speaks volumes, considering how highly attached she is to the device.

“Maybe I should tell them some other time?” you whisper to Xiao, who watches them with narrowed eyes.

Childe meets his gaze and wags his brows, basically confirming whatever theory is starting to form in his head. Aether, who sees all of this, snorts into his fist.

“No,” Xiao says, “There is no need to delay the inevitable. Now that you have gathered them all here, you can get it over with. Or do you want me to tell them?”

“What? No! I can do it! I think…”

“What’s going on?” Lumine asks suspiciously.

All eyes turn to you. Behind you, a group of young girls pass, chattering excitedly about the movie they’re about to watch. You gulp down your anxiety.

“Oh, uh, well, there’s, er, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you guys. You two specifically,” you turn to the twins, who stand up just a little bit straighter, frowns pulling on their faces.

Lumine stiffens lightly, asking, “Did something happen?”

Hearing this, Aether immediately panics, imagining the worst possible scenario. “Wait, what? Something happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay!” You respond a little louder than intended. They grow quiet, waiting for you to continue. “It’s just, um. So you guys remember when I told you that Xiao is a distant relative from Liyue?”

“Uh huh,” they say simultaneously.

Zhongli raises a curious brow and Childe smiles. Xiao just sighs.

“Well… I may have technically, maybe, hypothetically twisted the truth a little bit- “

“Huh?”

“You lied to us?”

“Hey, hey, let the girl speak,” Childe chides with a grin, enjoying your distress far too much. Xiao shoots him a warning grin, but it does nothing.

“Stay out of it.” Lumine says without even looking at him. She avoids his gaze at all cost.
“Does this mean he isn’t a relative from Liyue?”

“Well…”

“I am from Liyue.”

You turn to Xiao, drawing courage from his broad shoulders and how he stands so tall despite it all. “He is from Liyue. But… he is not a relative of mine.”

Biting your lip, you glance back at the twins whose expressions you can’t read. “As you both already know, I’m the only one left from my family.”

Lumine looks like she wants to say something, possibly an insult, most likely a curse and a good session of scolding, but something holds her back. She thinks back to all the times they’ve celebrated your birthday with you, Christmas, Easter, Ludi Harpastum, and all the other annual festivals Mondstadt offers.

It was always just the three of you.

And if it wasn’t for them, it would be just you.

So she swallows down her anger, her fingers tightening around her purse.

“If he’s not your relative, then who is he?” Aether asks.

Your answer comes without hesitation now, encouraged by Xiao slipping his fingers through yours. “He’s my boyfriend.”

“Huh? Since when?”

“Only recently,” Xiao answers for you.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Aether glances down, frowns, and then back up again, “Does that mean you traveled all the way from Liyue to Mondstadt for her?”

Lumine blinks dumbly. This hadn’t occurred to her yet.

“Yes,” Xiao says.

“Don’t tell me you met him on the internet?”

A light bulb goes off in your head and you immediately seize this excuse. “Yeah! That’s how we met!”

“Are you actually insane?” Lumine glares at you as if she’s ready to rip your head off. “Do you know how wrong that could have gone?!”

“Come on, how much harm can a guy who watches anime all the time bring?”

She gapes as if she hasn’t heard right. “If that’s your measure of danger, then you have a lot of waking up to do! He could have been a psychopath or a serial killer!”

“None of which are entirely untrue,” Childe whispers, loud enough for Xiao to hear, but too quiet for the twins to catch.

“Ugh, Lu, listen, point is, I love him. And he loves me. And we are very happy together. Right, Xiao?”

The ghost of a smile plucks at the smooth corner of Xiao’s mouth as you glance up at him. You’re so adorable in that moment, so lovely that he can’t keep his emotions from showing. “We are.”

It silences the twins immediately and draws forth inaudible gasps from the demons. They regard him with a careful consideration, both of them having suspected as much, but neither having expected Xiao himself to be fully aware of his own feelings for you.

“And with that, I conclude this conversation, because our movie’s about to start and I’m not gonna miss the intro because of you worrywarts!”

You leave them speechless and stumbling after you, a satisfied, but beatific smile spreading across your face.

By the time the movie ends, a light rain starts to descend from the skies.

“Will you guys be okay?” Lumine asks as she opens her umbrella. Aether rummages through his bag, doing the same once he finds his own.

“Yeah, it’s just a little drizzle. We’re not made of sugar after all,” you laugh, weaving your arm through Xiao’s.

“If you say so.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow then? For brunch?” Aether asks, trying, but failing, to inconspicuously glance at Zhongli.

He meets his gaze and smiles. “We will.”

“I’ll walk you home!” Childe chimes in, sneaking himself under Lumine’s umbrella. She glowers at him, her teeth gritted and her jaw tight, but he’s seen worse in his days. A little pout from her isn’t enough to intimidate him. “It’s late and for a lady like yourself, only dangers lurk in the streets at night.”

“I can protect myself just fine, thank you very much.”

“Oh, that I know. But that’s not gonna stop me from being a gentleman.”

The last bit comes with a smirk that has Lumine dry-heaving. She has a feeling that even if she continues to reject him, he’s not really going to care, nor let himself get talked out of walking them home.

She sighs. “Do whatever you like.”

“Well then, allow me to accompany you as well,” Zhongli adds, taking the handle of Aether’s umbrella and holding it for the both of them.

Aether flushes, clears his throat and averts his eyes to the ground. “Uh, sure. Thanks.”

They leave shortly after and you watch them go with a fond smile. They’ve all grown so close over the past few months. You never thought they would integrate themselves so much into your life that you would consider both of them to be your friends.

It still strikes you as odd sometimes, that you have three demons around you, but most of the time, you even seem to forget about it. That’s how much they’ve blended in - how much they fit into your little clique.

“We should also depart before the real downpour begins,” Xiao says, nudging you forward.

You follow his lead, feeling your hair grow just a little more damp with each step you take. By the time you pass Amber’s already closed pet-shop, the sky splits open and floods the world with rain.

“Oh, shit! What the hell?”

Xiao grabs your waist, pulls you in close and it’s only when you glance up at him that you see he’s already shrugged off his jacket and is holding it over you. Your eyes grow a little wider when not even a single drop of the rain manages to touch you, while his entire left side is getting soaked with each passing second.

“Xiao… you- “

“What do you say we run all the way back?”

“Come again?”

He looks down from where he stands, a playful grin on his face, “On the count of three.”

“Wait, Xiao- “

“One.”

“It’s raining cats and dogs right now!”

“Two.”

“You can’t be serious- EEK!” Whatever protest was forming on your tongue dies the moment Xiao starts running, his grip around your waist forcing you along with him. Breathless, you squeal, “You didn’t even count to three!”

And he laughs! Xiao just laughs it off like a little boy, feeling as light as a feather when you try to scold him, but end up bursting into laughter as well. He’s drenched in rain all the way down to his socks with some of his hair sticking to the nape of his neck, but he’s free.

He’s free and happy, so happy with you by his side and, ah, so this is what it is like to feel alive.

He wishes for this to never end.

But the sharp fangs of reality tear right through his naive belief the instant he lets his guard down.

A splayed hand is all he sees before it slams into his face and drives him backward until he crashes against a car, leaving a massive dent behind him. He wheezes out a broken cough, his lungs feeling like they have been crushed flat as blood trickles down his chin. He looks up and his world crumbles.

You’re gasping for air, your nails clawing at the hand that is curled around your throat. You can’t breathe. Just a second ago, you were giggling up at him with stars in your eyes. What in the world happened?

A man, a boy, you’re not entirely sure, holds you up in the air with your feet barely grazing the ground. His dark blue eyes regard you coldly. There’s nothing but calculated evil in them.

“So you’re the little girl everyone is talking about. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scaramouche. And I am a devil, here to take your soul.” His grip tightens.

Your head begins to spin from the lack of air, your legs flailing as you weakly struggle to escape his hold. Terror seeps into your bones and in a cruel twist of fate, you realize you can’t do anything but scream silently for Xiao to save you. But everything is so blurry and you have no idea if he’s even here anymore.

Your voice won’t come out.

“Looks like all I needed to do to lure the tiger out to play was catch his little rabbit.”

The world becomes darker, your life fading in his ruthless hand as yours slip down to your sides.

This is it.

You’re going to die.

Your shared laughter from just moments ago feels as if they are light years away. The little pocket of happiness you wanted to protect so badly is slipping through your fingers, like it was never meant to last in the first place.

Your eyes fall closed. You just hope Xiao will escape to safety. This is your last prayer.

A new, sudden influx of air invades your lungs and a warmer, much gentler hand curls around your waist. Xiao holds you against him tightly, his entire body trembling with a blinding rage.

You cough weakly, sounding so broken and brittle, he feels his anger grow into a hot flame. “Xiao?"

“You have three seconds.” His eyes focused ahead, his voice is dripping with a deadly premonition.

“Huh?” Scaramouche laughs and the sound of it twists your gut. “Is that mercy I hear? From the Xiao?”

He takes a few casual steps toward you, his palms out as if he means no harm. As if he didn’t almost strangle you to death. “Don’t tell me you’ve become like your pathetic excuse of a master?”

Xiao growls and it sends a shiver of fear through your spine. “One more word and I will rip your tongue out.”

“Oh? Like I did with Kazuha’s beloved friend who thought he was fit to be a devil?”

“Do not speak his name with that filthy mouth.”

“Who?” His lips curl into a cruel, conniving smile. “Kazuha?”

Xiao roars, forgetting and releasing you in his fury to charge straight toward him with a sneer. His spear materializes out of thin air, a dark green mist coming out of it as he aims it right at him. A gust of wind in the shape of three claws follows, intending to kill whoever dares touch it.

Scaramouche dodges with ease, relentless in his provocation. “He was a fool just like you. Meddling with humans and forsaking his true responsibilities. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“I SAID SHUT THAT FILTHY MOUTH OF YOURS!”

“Xiao!” You croak helplessly, your voice barely leaving the roof of your tongue. He’s not rational right now. He can’t see he’s playing right into the devil’s hand. You have to stop him.

“Hoho,” Scaramouche evades another slash with a side step, “Hit a sore spot?”

“I am going to tear you limb from limb until you beg me to kill you.”

“Are you sure I’m the one you should be worried about right now?”

“What are you suggesting-“

“No! Let go of me!”

Xiao’s blood freezes to ice when he hears your hoarse voice from behind him. Two identical looking women in matching kimonos hold you against your will. He sees only their long braids falling over their slender backs, the tip of it almost touching the ground. He can’t see their faces, but whatever expression they’re wearing has you sobbing like a terrified child.

Just as you found the strength to push yourself up and keep Xiao from getting himself killed, sharp nails clawed into your arms and pulled you back. Your protests fell on deaf ears as the women merely stared right through you. As if they didn’t even see you.

Dark green clouds Xiao’s vision once more, all reason leaving him as his body moves on its own. Your horrified cries amplify in his ears until they rattle at his bones, ripping a tear in the happiness he acquired through you. A happiness he foolishly thought he deserved. One, that he thought would last.

His spear is met with a sword as one of the women turns around swiftly, her weapon pulled out of her chest and sizzling with electricity. Emptiness is reflected in her purple eyes. They are devoid of life and emotion.

The other woman grabs you roughly out of Xiao’s reach, ignoring your squeal of pain as she holds the blade of her spear against your throat. She too looks like an empty shell of a body.

“What do you think?” Scaramouche asks from behind, cocky and uncaring of the agony he’s leaving behind. “We all had the same creator. Yet now, they serve me.”

“Release her at once.” Xiao says to the one holding you. It’s not a request.

“They used to treat me like dirt, like a malfunctioned doll that was good for nothing. But look at them now! Ha! Look how pathetic they have become!”

“I will not repeat myself.” Xiao mutters through gritted teeth, ignoring Scaramouche’s growing insanity. With a surge of immense power his rage grants him, he knocks the woman out and sends her flying. Through shattering glass, she falls inside a corner store, spitting out a lump of blood.

“Poor Ei…” mutters Scaramouche, not sounding empathic at all. He watches with a sick satisfaction as crimson starts to trickle from your own throat, “Who is the doll now?”

You whimper against the steel hold of the woman behind you, feeling the sharp blade sink deeper inside your skin. It sears and hurts and scares you beyond comprehension. You reach out a trembling hand to Xiao, who you can barely recognize anymore.

His mind is racing and his heart is punching his chest as both anger and fear flare through him. A million thoughts push themselves inside his head, making him incapable of focusing on one singular thing.

He wants to have you back inside his arms, protect you from whatever is happening right now and bring you somewhere safe where no one will ever be able to touch you. He wants to rip Scaramouche apart and tear the woman’s heart out of her chest.

It’s all too much at once. His head feels like exploding.

A green mask with horns slides on his face and he roars once more, causing the ground to shake and the air around you to turn poisonous. But this is exactly what Scaramouche wants. The minute distraction in which he becomes vulnerable. Because in the next moment, lightning strikes from behind, piercing right through his chest.

“Eyes on me, demon!” Scaramouche cackles, his hands enveloped by a bright, purple light.

Xiao falls on his knees with a groan of pain and his mask dissipates right off of his face. His eyes are wide and unmoving as he struggles to breathe.

“Xiao!” You scream helplessly, struggling against the woman’s hold, feeling the blade dig even deeper. It stings, but you have to help Xiao, you have to save him or else he’s going to-

A crimson eagle soars through the sky and cuts a path right through Xiao and Scaramouche.
Your eyes widen as a breath of disbelief rushes out of you when you see someone standing before you, who you would never have expected in a million years.

Diluc stands tall with his back to the both of you, a flaming greatsword in his gloved hand and heat seeping out of his pores. Hundreds of feathers made of fire flutter from his back, melting everything that is near to a pile of ash.

“Boss…?” You ask in shock, feeling the flames licking at your face from this distance.

“This certainly saves me the time from trying to find you.” Diluc says to Scaramouche, his face set in grim lines.

“Oho… Look who it is. If it isn’t the infamous Angel of the Phoenix. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting such scum like yourself?”

Before you’re allowed to process whatever is going on right now, a biting cold sweeps in from the right and freezes the woman behind you to ice. You exhale, fog parting from your lips, as you’re swiftly guided out of her hold.

“Sorry we’re a little late, dear.” Kaeya smiles smoothly at your perplexed and dumbfounded expression. He too, much like Diluc, has massive wings growing from his back. Only his are made of ice with cold steam coming from them.

“What in the world is going on?” You ask, breathless.

“Take him and go.” Diluc orders, ignoring your question.

You turn slightly, seeing the steel-like expression on his face as he refuses to lose Scaramouche from his sight for even a second. There are so many things you want to ask, so many things that just don’t make any sense, but then Xiao coughs out blood and it’s in that moment that you see it.

There’s a massive hole beneath his chest, right where lightning struck him only seconds ago. An endless stream of blood flows from it, painting his grey shirt a dark red.

“Go to the bookstore,” Kaeya says, pushing you toward Xiao just as another sizzling sword comes your way. He parries it with a swing of his wrist, a crooked grin spreading through his face when the woman from before steps out of the shop with a menacing aura.

“To the bookstore?”

The ground rumbles underneath your feet and your ears begin to buzz when you kneel down to throw Xiao’s arm over your shoulder, embracing his waist with your other arm. A bad feeling grows in your gut, like every good thing you have ever had in your life is about to be taken away from you.

“Just go!” Diluc all but yells, frustration flaring at his patience. He can’t risk having you around any longer. One wrong move and you’re dead. He can’t decide who to focus on - Scaramouche, his minions, or you?

His anger only binds you to the ground even more. Your body won’t listen to you, no matter how much you scream at it to get up and move. Xiao is hurt. He is bleeding, in pain and agony, yet your legs refuse to work.

Tears spring back into your eyes and your entire body breaks out in a cold sweat as you shiver violently against him. You have never felt so helpless before, so weak and stupid and useless-

Golden wings unfurl from Xiao’s back, hiding both of you from the world and the dangers it poses. He releases a long, unstable breath. He’s unable to draw it back in.

“Xiao… I’m sorry,” you lean closer toward his chest, your tears staining whatever they can find, “I’m so sorry…”

He wants to know why you’re the one apologizing, why you look at him with so much sadness in your eyes that are most beautiful when they shine with delight. But most of all, he wants to ask why you haven’t discarded him and run away for your own safety.

But instead, he draws a last bout of strength from his muscles, tapping into that painfully parched reservoir as he pushes the two of you off the ground. His wings furl and unfurl, clapping against the ground each time he tries to take flight. With just a few inches off of the ground, he finally manages to move.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Scaramouche snarls, throwing out his hand to release another lightning strike.

Diluc reaches his side within the blink of an eye, swinging his greatsword with an impressive amount of precision that would have anyone else’s head off without them even realizing it. Scaramouche clicks his tongue in distaste, abandoning his gaze from you to Diluc. A vein in his forehead pops.

“Now you’ve done it, shitty angel. I’m going to kill you.”

Diluc smiles coldly. “I’d like to see you try.”

Behind him, Kaeya finds himself squared off with the two women who held you captive. He regards them coldly, the earlier warmth in his eyes when he rescued you from them nowhere to be found.

His eyes glimmer hauntingly when he unsheathes his sword. “I was starting to grow bored around here.”

The streets are suspiciously empty as Xiao struggles to escape with you. He’s brimming with a fury he’s never felt before, angry with himself for not having recognized the danger sooner and for being unable to protect you on his own.

You manage to get a little bit more away from the fight that is undoubtedly taking place behind you until you both crumble to the ground in a tangle of limbs. His wings retract back inside his body and he groans once more, vomiting large quantities of blood.

It’s only now that adrenaline finally kicks in and you lift him with a strength you usually don’t possess.

“I’m here,” you whisper, unsure if you’re really talking to him or to yourself, “We’ll be okay. I’m right here.”

You start to run with all of your might, feeling the strain in your legs and the quivering of your exhausted muscles. The bookstore is in sight now, just a little bit further away and you pray to whatever deity crosses your mind that you make it safely inside, that no one else comes to attack you.

The door opens before you reach it and a pair of hands roughly pull you inside before slamming it shut again. Aunty stands before you, looking distressed and bewildered, but your confusion grows tenfold when you hear the familiar voice of Lumine.

“What the fuck do you mean, why am I screaming!? YOU JUST HAD YOUR FUCKING HEAD CUT OFF AND TURNED INTO WATER!”

“I know, hot stuff. I was there, remember?” Childe’s voice comes a lot more suppressed in contrast to Lumine, and he sighs, “Besides, it’s fine now. See?”

“How the fuck is anything fine right now!? What even are you?!”

“Come here, sweet child,” Aunty takes you by your hand gently, guiding you away from Xiao and up into a standing position.

You part from him unwillingly, noticing with horror that his wound isn’t closing and healing itself like it should be. Why are you even in the bookstore? Why are Lumine and Childe here? What is all this commotion about?

But the questions die inside your throat when aunty’s skin begins to shed. Her grey hair that is usually in a tight bun falls open as thick, brown waves flow down her shoulders. The wrinkles on her skin dissipate as her skin tightens, becoming smoother with every breath. Her breasts swell and fill her usually loose sweater as her pudge retracts into a smooth, flat stomach.

Her slender fingers caress your cheek, her gentle touch calming the ball of tension in your stomach instantly. It’s like a thick blanket getting draped over your shoulders, its warmth seeping into your skin and spreading through your body. Only now do you realize just how truly exhausted you are.

You watch numbly as aunty sinks to her knees and touches the gaping hole in Xiao’s chest. A bright glow lights from the tip of her fingers, growing in size until it wraps around his skin, mending the fleshy pieces back together. He sighs deeply, his shoulders dropping as the stress leaves his body at once.

“Holy shit.”

You turn to the source of the voice, feeling your anxiety kick back in when you see Lumine standing by the door. Her mouth hangs open as her eyes flit from Xiao and aunty to you. Your name comes out almost strangled from her and then her hands are all over you.

She turns your head in all directions to check if you’re okay, freezing in horror when she notices the very apparent bruises around your throat. “Wha… what in the world happened out there?”

You’ve never heard her like this. She whips her head around, demanding an answer from Childe. “What in the fucking world is going on?!”

“It seems the time has come,” says Zhongli as he walks in from inside the store with Aether in tow. The latter remains quiet, dry tears marking his usually cheerful face. His eyes are fixed on Zhongli’s arms. No longer a pale ivory, they are now a charcoal black with molten gold lines leading to entirely gold hands.

Childe sighs again, massaging his temple. “Looks like we have no choice.”

“Time for what?” Lumine asks, her hands trembling on your shoulders.

“Time to tell you who we truly are.”

The memories come rushing back to him all at once.

Your sparkling laughter as you tended to the Sacred Sakura, both of you still young and untouched by the cruelty of the on-going war.

Your limp body in his arms as an arrowhead stuck out of your bleeding chest.

Your featherlight touch as you adjusted the stitches of his pien fu and his fleeting glances whenever you were called into the castle to assist the seamstresses.

Your burnt body lying under the broken roof of your shop with nothing but ashes surrounding you.

Your boyish and shy smile when you were chosen as the squire for your emperor and the domestic mornings you spent in the kitchen when he was finished tending to the rooms.

Your eyes ripped open in terror and your severed head displayed on top of the poles by the castle gate.

It happens over and over again.

Centuries worth of your blood runs down his hands, plunging him into a world of agony, of war and of tears. It knows no end, no mercy as he sees you die countless brutal deaths.

He’s unable to stop it, crippled by the choking dread filling his lungs. The memories combine and interlope, leaving him breathing rapidly as his head hangs, barely able to make sense of what is up and what is down. All the while his tattoos blaze like a constellation, bright and green.

Your muffled question aimed at him fails to reach his ears, Childe’s and Zhongli’s voices blurring together into inaudible static. He sees you removing Lumine’s hands from you, sees you walk toward him with lines of concern on your face, sees the purple and blue marks around your throat-

Reality dawns on him like a ton of bricks.

You die. You die. You die.

Each and every single time, you die.

Because of him.

A wide, black tear opens right in front of him. Childe and Zhongli stiffen. Confusion twists your expression. Slowly, Xiao lifts his eyes and gazes at you long and desperately.

There is something like an apology, a last plea, in those beautiful golden eyes.

“No,” you breathe out, lost and unprepared, “No, Xiao, wait!”

It tugs at his heartstrings, keeps him imprisoned in your firm grasp when your eyes well up with tears. His heart aches to meet you half-way, his soul longs to hold you in his arms again, where he knows he is safest and happiest.

But then he sees arrows tearing through you. He hears your ear-shattering wails of pain. He sees the light fade from your eyes. He hears the last gurgled breath fall from your lips.

Twisting away, as your hand stretches out to grasp him, he ignores your broken cry of his name and leaps into the hole. Its mouth closes behind Xiao and vanishes completely, leaving not a single trace of it behind.

The silence is crushing.

Wide-eyed and frozen, you sink to the ground. Numb and stupid like you have never felt before, you stare ahead. You try to hold in the hot breath that threatens to become something else.

Of course something like this would happen. You were fooling yourself, thinking otherwise.

It makes perfect sense.

First, your grandparents.

Then, your parents.

And now, Xiao.

You sit there for what feels like hours, unable to feel the tentative arms of Lumine embracing you from behind, incapable of registering aunty’s warm hand on your head. The sun rises through the curtains of the shop, illuminating the room as if to highlight the lack of a certain presence.

Maybe this is just how things are meant to be for you.

Maybe up until now, you were simply delaying the inevitable.

Maybe it’s time for you to accept your fate.

Sitting there, feeling more alone than ever, you let the tears fall.

Chapter Text

Chapter Sixteen

1000 YEARS AGO | GRAND NARUKAMI SHRINE, MT. YOUGOU, INAZUMA

A breeze caresses your face, bringing with it the scent of cherry blossoms. You open your eyes and tilt your head back to gaze up at the Sacred Sakura. Beneath the gleaming sun, she shines, pink and purple, tall and alive in the most beautiful way possible. You never tire of it.

You consider yourself lucky to be able to be near her at all times of the day. She is the very reason you’re able to stand on this mountain in the first place. Absorbing the evil energy into her roots and purifying the land to allow it to prosper, the Sacred Sakura tree is the object of your reverence.

For you, she is a gift from God, a daughter tasked with keeping all of you safe and sound from any calamity that might strike. It’s because of your admirable devotion that you’ve risen above the other shrine maidens and become the right hand of the head priestess herself.

You still don’t think you deserve such a respectable position – there are many more handy and intelligent people you can think of who would do a better job at taking care of her than you could ever hope to.

But the head priestess chose you. And you’re nowhere near insolent enough to question her decision.

“Are you nervous already?” You turn back to see Inagi, a smile on her lips as she regards you with a gentle expression. “It’s your first cleansing ritual after all.”

“A little bit,” you admit. “I don’t want to make any mistakes and potentially harm her.”

“Have a little more faith, sister. If there’s anyone among us who wouldn’t let that happen, it’s you.”

Her encouraging words take a bit of the pressure off of your chest, filling it with reassurance instead. She’s right. You’ve studied the steps of the ritual countless times already, memorized everything to a point where you’re able to recite them in your sleep. Still, your stomach feels queasy just thinking about it.

Because this time, it’s not just words on a paper. There will be no one around to remind you should you forget something. There won’t be anyone there to clean up your mess in case you slip up and do something you’re not supposed to.

Another breeze comes swooping in then, embracing you from all sides with a warm hand guiding your nerves to ease. The leaves bend in your direction, some departing from the tree to rain down upon you. Goosebumps spread through your arms, your breath stuck in your throat when you think you hear them whispering to you.

Inagi watches the Sacred Sakura embrace you and becomes a little speechless. She’s heard of the spirit of the tree speaking to those she deems worthy. Never before has she witnessed it. Her shoulders straighten and she lifts her hands in a praying motion, lowering her head to pay her respects.

Noticing the enchanted state you’re in, she decides to let you bask in the warmth of the cherry blossoms for a little longer. She departs from the shrine with a slight spring in her steps. The head priestess will be very happy to hear of this.

A new scholar has come, they say.

A wise, young traveler from Liyue whose journey led him to Mount Yougou. It’s not everyday that someone outside of Inazuma crosses the sea, not since the princess took the royal seat for herself and closed the island off from the rest of the world.

The shrine maidens whisper and giggle in his presence and it takes one look at him to know why. Long, dark hair swept up in a high ponytail, the ends a beautiful, bright teal with strikingly gold eyes to match, it’s hard to deny it.

He’s beautiful. Painfully so.

He introduces himself as Xiao and speaks eloquently, with a sort of dignified grace that has all of the maidens swooning instantly. But he seems unbothered by all of the attention he’s receiving or rather unaware. If anything, he politely entertains every question and concern they bring to him, no matter how menial the topic may be.

Among all the shrine maidens that come up to him with warm cheeks and trembling hands, he’s most curious of the one who has yet to approach him.

You’re tying a leather satchel around your waist, seemingly preparing to head out. It takes him a ridiculous amount of courage to walk up to you and introduce himself. And when you smile shyly and give him your name, he understands why.

You’re gorgeous. Unbelievably so.

The way the sun catches in your hair, shimmering in a dozen different colors, to the light that dances in your expressive eyes, Xiao finds himself feeling almost ashamed to gaze upon a shrine maiden with such reverence.

He knows better than to set his heart free for someone who has devoted hers to a lifetime of worship and service. But the little thing in his chest doesn’t always listen to what resides in his head. It thumps aggressively against his ribs, attempting to jump out of his throat and clamber your way, eager to bask in the warmth you seem to emit.

“Lady Miko mentioned you would be conducting the cleansing ritual,” he starts a little unsure, anything that might give him a few more seconds to hear that lovely voice of yours. “Are you on your way to start the preparations for it?”

You blink, surprised that a scholar from Liyue would know such intimate things about your home. As far as you were aware, the traditions of the Narukami Shrine wasn’t something people outside of Inazuma would bother learning about.

“Yes. I was going to start the minor cleansing today. How… how come you know of this?”

“Ah, the field of my study consists of the various religions across Teyvat. My journey started in Liyue, where I was first taken under the wing of my teacher. Later, I went on to learn about the God of Wind in Mondstadt. And now…”

“And now you’re in Inazuma.”

He smiles, repeating in a gentler tone, “Now I’m in Inazuma.”

A few moments of silence pass, neither of you quite knowing what to say to fill the void. You take this as your chance to sneak a few glances at him. Your sisters weren’t exaggerating when they were trading whispers late at night before bed.

Xiao looks nothing like the scholars you’ve met before. His pale skin reminds you of the porcelain cups Lady Miko brought when she came back from the palace. A stark contrast to his long, full hair that is an astonishing mix of black and teal. Up close, the shades are even more fascinating. You wonder if he’s aware how gold his eyes are, how much they resemble the sun and how much warmth and intensity they add to his gaze.

It’s only then that you catch yourself having these treacherous thoughts about him, feeling a pang of guilt striking through your gut. You’re a shrine maiden. The last thing you need before the ritual is a scholar to steal your focus.

You can’t afford to be sidetracked. Not now. Not ever.

“Well, I do hope you enjoy your stay and manage to gather as much knowledge as possible,” you say quickly, feeling suddenly uncomfortable in his presence. Like breathing the same air as him is a sin. “I have to leave now. May the Archon be with you.”

Xiao has no time to respond. You’re already dashing down the mountain, your hands holding onto the skirt of your kimono and your back turned to him.

Your name falls off his tongue again and he smiles.

He quite likes the way it sounds.

Long, long ago the land of Inazuma was defiled by a curse. Legends speak of ferocious demons roaming the earth and monsters wreaking havoc, bringing nothing but pain and ill fortune to the people. It was then that the God of Thunder - the one you pray to - implanted the Sacred Sakura tree at the tip of Narukami Island, cleansing the filth from your home. A few branches were broken off and implanted all across Inazuma to keep the demons at bay.

A tradition arose from then on, one that would be repeated every six centuries. The Sacred Sakura would choose one of the shrine maidens to fulfill the cleansing ritual to ensure that its protection remained absolute.

The will of the God rests inside the tree, or so the inhabitants of Mt. Yougou told Xiao when he went for a stroll the night before. So whoever she deems fit would be tasked with the responsibility – whether they considered themselves ready or not.

Xiao is aware of the traditions of Inazuma, of their reverence for Her Excellency and how much devotion rules their blood. It’s why he isn’t surprised to see you walking down an isolated path that leads to an abandoned shrine. In Liyue, you wouldn’t catch anyone deep in the woods, walking on their own after the sun sets. Not even the most seasoned adventurers or warriors would test their fate like that.

But you don’t even seem to register the risk of running into treasure hoarders, or maybe, you just don’t care. Either way, Xiao decides to follow you discreetly. He tells himself it’s because it’s his duty to make sure the maidens of the shrine he’s staying at are well protected – this is his way of repaying Lady Miko for giving him a roof over his head while he continues his research.

However if he ventures farther into his heart where the truth lies, he knows it’s something more.

He sees you circling the shrine, your hands lifting the skirt of your kimono to allow you to step on the stairs made of stone and stops short behind a tree to avoid being detected. You’re so focused you don’t even notice anything surrounding you.

The perfect target.

He frowns. How could the tree choose someone with zero self-awareness?

Unaware that you’re being watched with rapt attention and awe, you begin to seek forgiveness from the sky and the land, chanting. Though to Xiao, it sounds more like you’re singing. As your voice carries up into the sky, you tie a crimson rope around a few trees to form a barrier, all the while reciting the kashikomi.

As if invited by your song, a herd of electro crystalflies begin to surround you, one even settling on your shoulder and relaxing its wings. It’s such a magical sight, Xiao forgets how to breathe. Your hair becomes illuminated, glowing in a beautiful purple light that has him gripping the bark of the tree tighter.

Time passes in a curious fashion as he watches you. By the time you finish setting up a ward to suppress all the filth and exhale in exhaustion, the sky has already turned orange and the sun has started to rise. He’s shocked once he realizes he’s spent an entire night watching you cleanse the abandoned shrine. How you did it for so long without even taking a single break is beyond him.

But you settle down against a stone once you’re done cleaning up, your eyes heavy and your throat dry. No longer able to hold himself back, Xiao emerges from the trees, startling the soul out of your body.

“Xiao,” you relax once you realize it’s him and something about the way your shoulders and guard drops makes his heart thump faster. You trust him.

“Forgive my sudden entrance, I did not mean to scare you.” He glances away, guilty eyes avoiding your tired, curious ones. “I was out on my morning walk when I noticed you among the trees.”

Every step he takes toward you has his stomach growing heavier. Here, alone with you in the woods, with the sun barely stretching across the horizon, it feels oddly intimate. Like it’s just the two of you in this vast island full of pink and purple.

It takes the collective of all his muscles to appear nonchalant when he sits down a bit further from you, close enough to talk to you, but distant enough to not overwhelm either one of you. He glances at you from the side, watching you silently reach for your bag to retrieve a flask. 

Some color returns to your face as you drink from it, a single, tiny droplet escaping from your lips and rolling down your chin. Xiao can’t tear his eyes from the drop, caught by the journey down your slender neck until it disappears down the fabric covering your chest.

You fool, he chastises himself, what are you doing, she’s a maiden!

You wipe your mouth with the back of your sleeve, offering him a sip as well. It takes him a full minute to understand what your outstretched arm means. Flustered, out of character and a little caught off-guard, he takes the flask from you, swallowing when your fingertips come into contact with his.

“Thank you,” he says, returning it to you, this time careful to not touch you. He’s not sure how much more his heart can handle.

“You’re welcome. I can imagine a hike down the mountain must make you quite thirsty, especially this early in the morning. Though I think I understand what motivates you to part from your bed willingly at such an inhumane time.”

“You do?”

“Look at her,” you nudge your chin ahead, the lines on your face softening when the first rays of the sun start to peek through the trees to shine down on you.

Xiao follows your gaze, stunned into silence once more by the sight he’s greeted with. The sky is a beautiful amalgamation of colors, one bleeding into the other so softly, he thinks he’s standing in front of an art piece.

A piece of art she is, crafted by the hands of mother nature herself. Goosebumps spread through his arms and travel all the way up to his necks where his baby hairs stand on edge. His awe tumbles out of his mouth before he has a chance to stop himself, “Gods…”

You laugh at his stunned expression with your hand covering your lips, the melodic sound barely slipping through your fingers. Surprised, Xiao turns to you and feels his stomach tightening. Your eyes glitter like stars, disappearing into crescents as you agree with him, “She is very beautiful, right?”

Nothing in the entire world could make him look away from you then. His voice is painfully gentle. “Yes. Very beautiful.” 

He continues to “run” into you as you proceed with your minor cleansings throughout the island. By the third time he shows up, you begin to see through his rue. But still, you pretend to be surprised each time, for a reason you haven’t deciphered yourself playing along with his game.

You find out more about him each time, growing more comfortable and more outgoing with him around. You no longer evade his gaze and he no longer stutters over his own words.

The shrine maidens voice out their jealousy every night, squeezing you dry with all the information they can gather about him. They even started teasingly calling you “the Chosen one” as you have both gained the favor of the Sacred Sakura as well as of the mysterious, handsome scholar from abroad.

It’s only when the head priestess herself pulls you aside and questions the nature of your relationship with him that you feel your heart jumping up your throat. To make matters worse, as much as you deny the allegations, all you’re met with is an unreadable smirk and a suspicious glint in her eyes.

You consider growing more distant to him after that, feeling like reality took you by the shoulders and roughly shook you to make you realize that what you were doing was wrong. But that very same night Xiao finds you again, this time in front of the Sacred Sakura, and he does something that steals your breath right out of your lungs.

“You… want to go to the summer festival with me?” You ask, not sure if you heard correctly.

Unlike before, Xiao appears more confident now. There’s no trace left of the flustered scholar when he first talked to you. Only the gentle way with which he regards you has remained. “Yes. I wish to see the fireworks together with you.”

An uneasy weight swirls in your gut. You want to say no, to let him know that shrine maidens aren’t supposed to be getting romantically involved with other people. You may be good-natured and naive, but you’re not stupid.

You can tell what that look in Xiao’s eyes mean whenever he sees you. And you know what the warmth in your heart means whenever you see him. And you know it would cause nothing but trouble if you got any more involved with him.

But still, you find it hard to reject him. Your very tongue swells in your mouth and refuses to form the words. Every fiber of your being wants to say yes. Terrifyingly enough, Xiao already has you wrapped tightly around his finger.

So you agree.

With a trembling heart and crystalflies in your stomach, you agree.

The festival is a blast. As it is every year, this summer too is filled to the brim with families and lovers, children and elderly, all strolling through the streets of Inazuma city. Everywhere Xiao goes, he’s enticed by delicious smelling food, wonderful sounding music and happy faces of the people who have waited all year to see the flowers bloom across the sky again.

You’re the perfect tour guide, recommending the best snacks and teaching him all about the little games that are scattered across the main street. He can’t recall the last time he had this much fun. He supposes it was during Liyue’s Lantern Rite where his master had taken him to the perfect spot to view the rising lanterns.

You too seem to have the same idea, gently dragging him along by his sleeve to a more secluded area. A large tree hides you from the rest of the population, giving you privacy and a sense of comfort, knowing that no one is around to watch you. The last thing you need before the major cleansing is a rumor breaking out about you and the foreign scholar.

Xiao follows suit and sits down next to you. This time when his shoulder brushes yours and the wind carries the sweet scent of cherry blossoms that was always on you, neither of you flinch. Caught up in the moment of tranquility, he finds himself losing all inhibition.

His walls crumble one by one and with anxiety prickling at his bones, he starts to unveil all of his secrets. He presses the key to his heart in your hand, trusting you to tread kindly upon the things you will encounter.

Xiao hadn’t been a scholar all his life. In fact, it had only been a few years since he began traveling Teyvat. Born as a slave, he entered the world by the name Alatus. His previous master was anything but kind. Xiao lived a hard life, one full of trials and tribulations as he had to work more than his small body could take, even as his parents passed from sickness and the people around him all started to wither.

Slaves didn’t have voices, so he never complained. He thought this was the way it was supposed to be, that this was his place in the world. His duty to play out his part.

Only when his current master Zhongli led his troops and won the war, was Xiao set free by him and given a new name. One that bore hope for the future. A future that belonged purely to him. Xiao then promised to dedicate his future to his new master, serving under him with reverence and passion.

As he recounts his life as if it was someone else’s, with no emotion lacing his words and no pain on his face, you can’t help it anymore. Somewhere along the line your hand inches closer to his, your fingers brushing against his palm experimentally before threading themselves around his, squeezing them reassuringly to let him know you’re here.

Your heart goes out to him and you can’t possibly fathom how much he must have gone through to reach the point he finds himself in now. You send a prayer to your God, begging that whatever lies ahead of him is only full of happiness, laughter, and love. After everything that’s happened to him, he deserves it.

Soon the fireworks begin, painting the sky in brilliant, bright colors as flowers, hearts, foxes, and rainbows emerge from nothingness.

It’s unlike anything he’s ever seen before. Compared to the fireworks in Liyue, this is something else. This is a whole new world stretching across the horizon, drawing out stories and touching the hearts of everyone bearing witness to its beauty.

“Wow,” is all he can hope to say. He holds your hand a little tighter.

A smile tugs at your lips, your tooth coming down to press on it sheepishly. It never fails to make your heart thrum with pride when outsiders get to witness the magic your home has to offer. “Do you like it?”

“Do I like- I love it!” He responds with a level of enthusiasm you haven’t seen on him before. When he turns to you to meet your eyes, he freezes. 

Whether it’s the lights of the firework illuminating your face or the loving, soft smile aimed his way, Xiao isn’t sure which of the two lead him to lean forward. It’s almost like he’s in a trance, not fully in control of his actions, but still very much aware of them.

The pops in the sky mute into a faded out sound and the breeze of the wind becomes louder, loud enough to drown the beating of his heart. He feels his hair tickle his neck as it swishes forward, toward you as if even his hair wants to be embraced by you.

Strangely enough, you don’t pull away. His throat runs dry. Your hands tremble. A teal bird explodes in the sky, followed by cheers and applause.

You kiss.

The closest thing Xiao can describe it to is the feeling he gets when he sees the lights of the Wangshu Inn from the distance after he’s been away for a while. He tilts his head to chase your lips, swallowing your breathy exhale and tasting the strawberry mochi you ate before.

You melt against him, your hands clutching the fabric of his robes weakly. Your heart threatens to burst, your stomach is overwhelmed with a raging fire, but all you can do to not pass out is to make sweet little sounds in between each kiss Xiao gifts you with.

It’s nothing like you imagined it to be. It’s so much more.

It’s like that time the Sacred Sakura first talked to you, bathing you in warmth and serenity, making you feel so safe and so loved.

It’s like that time your sisters surprised you on your nameday when they brought a mountain load of mochi that lasted an entire summer.

It’s like the times you spent gazing down the mountain of the Narukami Shrine as the sun started to rise.

There’s no denying it anymore. 

Your heart is no longer your own.

Thoroughly shaken by the realization, like an ice bucket of water has been dumped on you, you pull away sharply, catching Xiao’s concerned gaze immediately after.

“What- “

You don’t give him the mercy of even voicing out his concern, hurrying to stand up, barely smoothing your skirt before you shoot out, each word like a piercing bullet of shame and regret, “We shouldn’t- I- We can’t- I’m so sorry.”

“Wait- “ Xiao reaches out to grasp any part of you he can find, desperate to stop you from leaving. 

But you’re faster than him, surprisingly agile as well, and you dodge swiftly, running down the hill and leaving him behind with his hand still in the air.

You’re out of his sight before he can whisper your name, let alone register what just transpired. The scent of cherry blossoms still fresh in his mind and the taste of strawberries still on his lips, he’s confused and concerned. But most of all, he’s crushed.

The reality of his actions comes crashing down at once.

You’re a shrine maiden, your life devoted to your God, and your God only.

He’s a traveling scholar, his life devoted to study all the Gods and record them in the history books.

A non-believer falling in love with a believer, kissing them right before the major cleansing ritual, and therefore defiling them in the eyes of their God.

What was I thinking? Xiao grips his stomach, a heavy ache spreading through his gut when he thinks of the consequences of his actions. I need to find her. I need to find her now.

The day of the major cleansing looms closer and Xiao hasn’t been able to get ahold of you. He doesn’t know how you do it, but you effectively evade him everyday and not even the shrine maidens come to his support when he asks them for their help. He knows it’s serious when even Maki glances away in hesitance. She used to be the most giggly around him.

It doesn’t surprise him that they stick to you rather than him - after all, you are considered sisters. Still, he can’t scratch away the nagging curiosity just what exactly you told them.

It couldn’t have been anything bad, because they were still acting the same towards him. It’s only when he mentions you that they grow a little more stiff, exchanging secret glances with each other before they tell him that they don’t know where you are. Only, that you are busy preparing for the major cleansing.

One sundown turns into two. Two turn into three and before he knows it, a week passes and he has yet to talk to you. He grows a little frustrated then, worried he won’t be able to sort out this entire thing with you before he inevitably has to leave. What gives him a little reassurance is the knowledge where the major cleansing will take place.

So when the day comes, he makes his way up the mountain leading to Narukami Shrine with determination in his steps. He tried spending as much time in the city today to allow you to fully focus on the ritual.

But it’s been hours now and you’re a maiden of exceptional skill and faith. With full confidence in your ability, Xiao passes the gate, already preparing a million different arguments to make you stay and listen to him.

None of which become relevant once he sees the state the shrine is in. A hollow punch swoops through his gut and he freezes in place.

Crimson splatters the tree trunks, the shape of a hand dragging alongside the one leading to the inner courtyard. Ripped off pieces of a kimono lie on the steps to the entrance of the shrine. To his horror, he finds the imprint of fingernails digging into the wooden floors not far from it.

He swallows, feeling ice replace the blood in his veins as his hands begin to tremble. Suddenly he’s cold, so cold he can count the number of goosebumps rippling along his arms. He can’t find it in himself to move.

The silence is deafening. Not a single maiden can be heard. Not even a wisp of wind.

On unsteady feet and with his heart in his throat, Xiao ventures further toward the Sacred Sakura, not at all ready to be faced with the tragedy that awaits him.

Everything stops.

The world he’s come to love and cherish stops in time.

He’s set foot in hell. There’s no other way to explain the state of the shrine. The bodies of the maidens litter the courtyards, one looking more horrific than the other. With eyes ripped open in fear, cuts and bruises all over their body, and their kimonos in disarray, it doesn’t take much for Xiao to put two and two together.

And amidst the chaos and misery is the one who held his fate in her hands.

You’ve fallen in front of the Sacred Sakura, still like the leaves, even as he calls out your name with a gut-wrenching urgency. As much as he rattles and shakes you, as much as he cries out for you to open your eyes, as much as he wills you awake with every fiber of his being – you don’t move.

A searing fist of grief punches his chest and makes him fall to his knees. It takes all of him to reach out and pull you toward him. But as soon as your skin comes into contact with his, his heart shatters into a million tiny pieces.

You’re cold as ice in his arms, the color long gone from your beautiful face that is full of so much blood, Xiao wants to vomit. He wants to pull the arrow out of your chest, but when he thinks of how much it must hurt you to have it in you in the first place, he can’t find the courage to remove it.

His brain is on overdrive, supplying him with too many thoughts at once. You were supposed to perform the major cleansing today. It was supposed to be nothing more than a few incantations sung by your angelic voice.

He was supposed to make you his afterwards.

“Hey, open your eyes,” he whispers as you begin to blur in his sight. A lonesome tear rolls down his face and he holds you tighter, wanting to share some of his warmth with you. Maybe that way you will open your pretty eyes again. “I’m here now, it’s okay. You can wake up now. I’ll protect you.”

Only silence answers him.

His grip on you tightens, painfully so - still you do not protest. “Please, open your eyes!”

He doesn’t know how much time passes. But eventually his arms grow stiff and his nose painfully stuffed. Not a single soul has come to the shrine. Not even Lady Miko herself.

It’s only Xiao left with his love dead in his arms and surrounded by the corpses of her sisters. As the hours pass and you still don’t awaken, the last string of his sanity snaps by the blade of his grief. His hoarse voice fills the courtyard ominously, words muttered in a foreign language spilling out of his lips as he asks for the devil himself.

He flutters through all the religions stored in his mind, trying out every variation and every spell he can think of. The sky bleeds into a dark blue once he finally finds the right one, an exhale of relief slipping past his lungs when an ethereal looking man stands before him.

A face that should belong to an angel regards him thoughtfully, pale in nature with ivory waves falling around slender cheeks. His crimson eyes glance down to you, his expression shifting a little before he recovers again and turns his focus on the scholar in front of him.

“The cleansing has failed. The Sacred Sakura has rejected her.” There’s something like pity in Kazuha’s face, or empathy. Xiao isn’t sure he’s in the right state of mind to differentiate between the two. “And now Inazuma burns.”

Following his gaze, Xiao turns his head to see that indeed the magical, purple plains of the land he’s grown so fond of burn in a brilliant crimson. From this distance he can make out the silhouettes of large monsters swarming their way into the city. Cursed spirits, Onis, Hilichurls, and many more creatures he can’t recognize set fire to your homeland, dancing in the stench of burnt bodies and singing songs out of the cries of their victims.

Children scream and run, only to be caught by Samachurls who bite their bodies in half with a single snap of their jaws. Men pick up what weapon they can find to protect the ones they love, but faced with the raw strength of an Oni, even their iron-hard resolve doesn’t save them from being impaled by their tattooed fists. Women… they suffer the cruelest of fates as their bodies are used and abused by whoever finds them hiding until the light fades from their once bright eyes. Even then, the monsters don’t stop.

It’s an absolutely horrendous sight.

Somehow, Xiao can’t bring himself to care.

“Love is such a fragile, fleeting thing,” Kazuha says, his voice full of compassion. His warm eyes glance down to Xiao’s blood-soaked hands grasping your limp body tighter. “Yet you still wish to proceed?”

“Please,” he whispers mindlessly, grief robbing him of the ability to think. “Bring her back, please, I’ll do whatever you want.”

“To defy against the laws of nature requires a sacrifice of equal value. Are you prepared to carry the responsibility of going against God?”

Xiao looks up, meeting the devil’s gaze with madness. This God he speaks of abandoned you, left you alone to die amidst a rain of flaming arrows while your sisters were raped and murdered. The God you worshipped all your life.

He refuses to acknowledge a coward as a God.

“Give me back my love,” he speaks with venom coating each word. There’s no fear to be found in his golden eyes. Only an unquenchable thirst for revenge. 

Kazuha sighs. He knows that look. He knows it all too well.

“I warned you, human. There will be no going back.”

Xiao leans down to press a gentle kiss on your icy temple. Foolish devil, he thinks, nuzzling your damp hair with his nose, as if I could go forward without her.

Chapter Text

Chapter Seventeen

Striking a deal with Kazuha cost Xiao his life. 

For his love to return and be brought back to life, he had to sacrifice his. Even then he only thought of you and begged the devil to erase any and all memory you had of him. He wanted nothing more than for you to be happy and safe. And if that meant he had never existed for you, then he would gladly be forgotten.

But God can be cruel.

And Xiao had done something unforgivable.

Not even a hundred years later your paths cross again. It’s in the castle of a lord in Mondstadt that he finds you again — or rather, it’s you finding him.

You’re reborn as an orphan in the kingdom, found in the streets by one of the more warm-hearted knights who takes you in and trains you to become his lord’s squire. You’re the same as before, but different. In this life, you’re a lanky and clumsy boy who has weaseled his way into everyone’s heart. Your eyes have remained the same, warm and full of light. The kindness in them hasn’t changed at all. Not even the stony faced baker has the heart to slap your hand away whenever you sneak into the kitchens before sunrise.

You’re everyone's favorite.

A single boyish grin and an abashed apology is often the only thing you need for them to look the other way. It’s also how you first meet Xiao, one of the younger maids. Caught red-handed, she sees you swipe an apple in your trousers when the cook isn’t looking. Your eyes meet across the kitchen and you freeze.

The sunlight reflected in her golden eyes gives her a piercing gaze that strikes your core. It’s almost as if the sun itself is judging you. She calls you out on it, alerting the cook in a dignified manner about the innocent theft. There’s no remorse in the way she speaks, fully aware of the fate that awaits thieves and bandits. It’s later that you find out that Xiao is honest to a fault, loyal to whomever she serves and rigid about any of the rules set by her lord. 

She points at you and then your trousers, her voice loud enough for all to hear as the feeling of embarrassment creeps up your rosy neck when all eyes turn to you. However, this also isn’t an unusual occurrence. The people of the castle know you and the black hole of a stomach you house inside your body since you had been a little boy. Even the lord is enamored with you and holds you in high regards, keeping you close by his side and teaching you as many things as he can.

So to Xiao’s surprise and your smug satisfaction, the cook only waves it off and laughs heartily as he pats your back with enough force to break your spine. Lovingly, that is. He has his own special way of showing his affection.

Xiao’s eyes narrow, but she remains quiet. It’s clear as day that she isn’t pleased with the reaction, nor the way your irresponsibility is handled. But at the end of the day, she is just a maid. By pointing out the crime you committed — even if the word crime is a bit much to use in this context, you think — she has done her part. The rest is no longer up to her, whether she likes it or not.

Silencing her inner moral compass, she simply nods before giving you another deadly glare, and then whips around to hastily exit the kitchens. In the wake of her departure, you’re left to admire the way her long, black braid falls down her slender back. Dark as the night sky with teal ends, you don’t recall seeing a color this extraordinary.

“Wow,” you whisper, oblivious to the amused smile of the cook. He knows that look.

He knows it all too well.

A few days pass until you get to talk to Xiao again. You’ve seen her around more often, or rather kept your eyes out in search for her. Ever since that time in the kitchen, you’ve been unable to forget the intensity of her golden eyes and the dignity her voice carried. 

It seems to be one sided however as any time she sees you, she pretends not to, turning back to whatever chore she was doing. No matter how many times you run into each other or how much you try to get her attention, Xiao seems hellbent on ignoring you. And with the lord by your side at all times, you’re unable to casually strike up a conversation with her. So when he finally leaves to go take a bath, you find yourself alone with Xiao in his study.

Finally.

“We meet again,” you start lamely. As expected, your greeting goes unanswered. “I don’t think we were properly introduced to each other yet?”

She gives no sign that she’s listening, continuing to dust the shelves with a strange sort of concentration you would not expect is needed for a task as simple as this. Which is why you try again, because if you’re one thing, it’s stubborn.

You introduce yourself, your name rolling off your tongue smoothly in an attempt to make you appear more approachable and personable. But Xiao doesn’t budge. She doesn’t acknowledge you in the slightest bit. You’d think the shelf hasn’t been touched in decades with how meticulously she dusts each book. Making sure to go into all edges and corners, she takes her sweet time facing you with her back, effectively cutting off any opportunity to woo her with your infamous boyish grin.

“You know… when someone tells you their name, it’s only common courtesy to share yours with them as well.”

She’s quiet long enough for you to sigh in defeat, on the verge of accepting that maybe this battle isn’t one you can win. But then, the smallest murmur, forced out of her teeth, but there nevertheless. Just the barest tip of the hook.

You catch it like a starving fish, repeating with lit up eyes and straightened up shoulders. “Xiao? That’s a pretty name!”

With the way she’s continuing her chores, you’re almost inclined to think you imagined it. And that is simply something you cannot accept. Not when you finally have her by herself and are able to freely talk to her with no one to disturb you. That is until the lord finishes up his bath, of course. Which doesn’t make any of this waiting around easier, because who knows how long the lord will take?

You might only have a few minutes left with her, maybe even only a few seconds. It’s this uncertainty that makes you get up from your seat and stride over to where she’s finishing up the last shelf.

You’ve never been particularly intelligent. Not academically, but also not when it came to actual in real life things. For you, life has always worked out fine when you just did what felt right in the moment and sat down to think about it later.

Okay, maybe not always. Like that time you took a stray dog into the castle, who ended up biting three different people and scaring the living daylights out of at least five more. As it turned out, the dog had some sort of disease that spread to the bite victims who almost lost their lives to the harsh fever. That had been one of your more idiotic actions.

But you like to think you became more careful after that. At least, less deadly. 

And right now, what feels right is to place your hand over her head against the wall, lean in close enough for your breath to tickle her ear and gently say, “Almost as pretty as you.”

She jolts so hard the entire shelf shakes, the duster slipping out of her hand and hitting the ground in a clatter. Her fingers tremble when she holds onto the frame, her face unreadable as she slowly turns around toward you. Your smug grin immediately dissolves into shock.

From one ear to the other, she’s doused in various hues of pink and red. Her golden eyes glisten in comparison, staring at you in a mixture of confusion and bafflement, and a little bit of something else you’re not sure you really see.

“Oh,” is all that comes out of your mouth. You falter, having expected anything but a flustered Xiao, and end up looking as stupid as you sound. “Um. Hi.”

“Hello,” she replies, much to your surprise. Her chest rises and falls in heavy, shallow breaths and she betrays herself by glancing at your lips before she catches herself and looks back up again. “You’re too close.”

It’s as if your brain had just been waiting for someone to point out the obvious. All the blood drains from your skull to your stomach, spreading a warm sensation once you notice that up close she’s even more beautiful. Almost unfairly so.

“O-Oh, um, thank you?” Her squeaked voice pulls you out of your thoughts, making you realize that your dumb filter must have failed you again. You don’t need to ask to confirm you’ve voiced out the thoughts that had been floating through your mind.

Seeing Xiao like this clashes with the image you have in your head — so unsure of herself and devoid of her signature stoic scowl. She’s adorable.

“Wha- Why are you smiling?”

There it is. Brows furrowed and lips pouty, she’s back to the way you’ve met her a few weeks ago. But your smile doesn’t falter. Instead, it grows. It unsettles her even more, but you can’t help it. You’re getting spoiled with all these new and unfamiliar expressions of her, like hearing for the first time what she sounds like when she’s not reprimanding someone.

And she sounds lovely. Gentle and soft, her tone is one that can surely calm any crying baby and enchant whomever she wishes to. It sure as hell has worked with you.

You’re both startled out of your positions when the wooden door rips open with your friend Yicheng — who happens to be the squire of the Knight who saved you from the streets — poking in his head to notify you that the lord was finishing up his bath and is expecting you in his room.

You glance at Xiao one last time, choosing to ignore the curious lift of Yicheng’s eyebrows, and say, “I’ll see you around?”

Yicheng rolls his eyes and pulls you out by your arm, not even giving her the chance to respond. Considering the way her mouth falls open and another beautiful blush spreads through her cheeks, you’re kind of convinced she wouldn’t have been able to say anything even if she had wanted to.

Yeah, she really is pretty darn adorable after all.

When Xiao first met you, she was appalled. To see someone so blatantly stealing something from right under the nose of everyone present in the room wasn’t something she witnessed everyday.

Being one of the many daughters of the head maid, the rules of the lord had been metaphorically beaten into her skull from a very young age. She was taught to be obedient and to be honest.

Even if it brought her more trouble than she sometimes considered was worth. It’s also why she’s one of the less popular maids and why she doesn’t really have any friends other than her sisters. And even they didn’t want to spend more time with her than they had to.

She should be hurt with that knowledge. Not being liked by your own family isn’t something anyone would ever want. But part of her understands them.

After all, she is a killjoy who is hellbent on sticking to the rules and never doing anything that might be considered unseemly. And that begs the question: who wants to be around someone like that?

Which is precisely why Xiao is once again spending her free day alone, on her own, walking around the woods of Mondstadt. The sun is up and shining brightly, casting nature with a beautiful golden glow. A gentle breeze comes from behind Xiao, inciting the blades of grass and leaves of the multitude of trees to dance with it.

She closes her eyes, tilts her head back and takes a deep breath. Her lungs expand, happily welcoming the fresh air as a traitorous little smile tugs at her lips.

She loves Mondstadt. She loves it dearly.

The journey to Windrise continues in silence. A handwoven basket in one hand and a book in the other, she takes in the little squirrels hopping from one tree to another, the birds singing among themselves, and the villagers from outside the castle walls living their everyday lives.

People watching has always been something she enjoyed doing. While her own life is mundane and she made her peace with that, there’s something fulfilling about seeing other people live their lives. It’s like she’s able to get a glimpse of what she could have been, had she been born under different circumstances.

For better or for worse, it at least helps her satiate her curious mind.

The Tree of a Thousand Winds greets her with its usual grace. Tall and magnificent, it towers over all the other trees scattering the land. It is the biggest one in all of Mondstadt, holding great importance for the people inhabiting the island.

Xiao likes to spend her free time under its shade, reading and resting until the sun parts for the day and the sky turns dark. She’s come enough times to have marked her own spot, hidden from anyone who might be passing. Apparently no one ever really walked around the tree to check what’s behind it, which made it her perfect resting place for when she wanted or needed some time to herself.

So it’s with great surprise – and not the good kind of great – that she arrives to see that the patch of grass on which she would always lie is already taken. And it’s none other than the last person she would want to see on her day off from work. The very person who causes her nothing but headaches and problems.

You.

You’re on your back, your hands crossed behind your head, and your eyes closed. You’re fast asleep, your mouth slightly open to reveal the smallest sounds of snoring. Xiao doesn’t think she’s ever seen you this quiet and peaceful. Usually the people around you would beg you to shut up, even if just for a moment.

It might come as a surprise to many people, but Xiao has known you for a very long time now. The kitchen incident wasn’t the first time the two of you met. It was the first time you interacted with each other. Xiao has known you far longer than that.

Or rather, known about you. Prior to you stealing from the chef, she hadn’t ever spoken with you, nor had she been close enough for you to notice and talk to her. And that had, obviously, been intentional.

You’re everything she isn’t, everything she never will be and will never admit to wanting to be. You’re loud, you’re confident, you’re loved, you’re popular, and you’re you. Unapologetically, comfortably you.

Xiao’s been insecure about herself for as long as she’s known herself, even if it never comes across that way. Her harsh exterior and blunt way of speaking are only a shield to protect herself, a cover-up if you may.

Xiao wears her heart under her sleeve, fragile enough to break, but hidden enough to not be discovered. And what can’t be seen, can’t be broken.

But you, you wear your heart on your sleeve. You don’t seem to care about how vulnerable you are or how easily you can be broken. In fact, you always have something to say, some sort of witty comeback or a cheesy string of words to wrap anyone around your finger.

You’ve been a mystery to her ever since the first day she saw you playing around in the courtyard with the young prince and princess. She’s learned then that your audacity knew no limits. On any other occasion, she would have turned around and left. It’s how she’s been able to avoid you for all these years despite both of you living under the same roof. Albeit that roof was a ginormous one, considering how large the castle is.

However ever since that… thing that you did in the lord’s study when the two of you were alone while he was in the bath, she hasn’t been the same. She remembers the warmth of your eyes when you suddenly stood over her, too close for comfort, and how they disarmed her in a matter of a few seconds. She hasn’t been able to forget the sensation that came with it.

You’re handsome, everyone in Mondstadt knows that. There’s something about your features that simply charms everyone. Looking at you from above, taking in the curve of your long, dark lashes, the thickness of your bushy brows, and the mop of unruly hair lying in a pool of curls below you, she’s convinced the Gods took their time when creating you.

She wants to turn back and leave. She should turn back and leave. Nothing good can come out of associating with you. What would people think if they saw the two of you beneath the Tree of a Thousand Winds with no one but nature as your witness?

What would they say?

“Are you gonna come and sit down or continue to stare at me like a creep?”

Xiao jolts so hard, she almost drops everything she holds. The surprised yelp that escapes her lips thankfully goes unnoticed – or rather, uncommented. She straightens her shoulders, face immediately stoic as she glosses over your provocative words.

“You’re in my spot.”

You blink up at her with one eye still closed and furrow your brows, your grin effectively ticking her further off. “Your spot?”

Her jaw clenches as she responds, “Yes. My spot.”

You push yourself up into a seating position, legs tucked in and crossed, and crane your neck this way and that as if looking for something. Confused, Xiao mimics you, wondering if maybe you had seen something or someone. But once again, you leave her dumbfounded when you open your mouth to say, “That’s odd. I don’t see your name anywhere. How can it be yours?”

“I’ve been coming here for ages!”

“As have I.”

“Really?” She squints at you, not believing a word that’s coming out of your mouth. “I’ve never seen you around before.”

But if she’s looking for a verbal battle, she’s in for a loss. She should know as much. “I’ve never seen you around either.”

Lips pressed tightly together, she refrains from making another remark that will inevitably lead to another victory on your end. Realizing this, you stifle a laugh, not wanting to agitate her further. As much as you enjoy teasing people and thrive off of their reactions, there’s a certain line even you won’t cross.

“You know you can just sit down, right? I don’t bite. At least not if you don’t want me to.” The last bit is probably something you should have kept to yourself, especially because you topped it off with a flirty wink. But there’s just something about ruffling Xiao’s feathers and seeing that adorable expression of hers that turns off the filter that normally resides in your head.

You expect to be rejected. You’re actually fully prepared for it. There’s no way in the seven nations that Xiao – the head maid’s daughter who’s known to have a stick up her ass – would ever sit down to spend her time with the wild child that is the squire.

So when she nods and says, “Of course I can. It’s my spot after all,” it’s you who’s rendered speechless this time. Your brows shoot up to meet your hairline and you watch astonished as she pulls out a blanket from the basket, lays it on the patch of grass beside you, straightens her skirt, and then gracefully lowers herself to sit right next to you.

And then she just stares at you imploringly, as if daring you to say something. The entire situation is so comical that all you can do in response is to grin at her, both surprised and impressed. You didn’t expect her to have a side like this. Honestly speaking, this makes you like her even more.

“Hi.”

She ignores your attempt at conversation and draws out the book she brought with her. Then, as if you’re not even present, she proceeds to flutter through the pages until she reaches the place she last bookmarked with the stem of a flower. She begins reading.

“What’cha reading?”

“…”

“Is it from the lord’s study?”

“…”

“Does he know you have it?”

“…”

“Is that why you’re always in there cleaning even when there’s not a single speck of dust?”

“…”

For what it’s worth, she does a fantastic job at giving you zero attention. She flips to the next page wordlessly, continuing to read as if you didn’t just desperately try to get a single response out of her. Anyone else would have probably dropped it and given up.

But not you. You’re as hard-headed as one can possibly be. Instead of being offended or discouraged, you end up feeling even more of an urge to get her to talk to you.

Why? 

Well… that’s a question for another day. You turn away from her, trying to find something to do that will surely make her put her book down. Your search is not a long one. Dozens of Windwheel Asters are scattering the grass and an oil lamp fires off in your head.

“Save my spot, yeah?” This time, you don’t wait for her reaction and hop off from underneath the tree. The sun greets you warmly as you make your way to the flowers and when you kneel down to pluck them, the sweet scent of them comes off in waves. When you turn around to go back with a handful of the crimson plant, you catch her staring.

She fumbles with the book in her hands, doing a horrible job at covering up the fact that she had in fact been watching you. Satisfaction spreads through your core and you send her another grin that has her covering her entire face with the pages. Not even a minute later, you’re back by her side. “Thanks for keeping my spot open.”

Again, she pointedly ignores you. Which, at this point, clearly does absolutely nothing to deter you from your master plan of getting her to talk to you. You take your sweet time with the flowers, tying the stems of each plant together until it all begins to take shape.

Xiao glances at you from the corner of her eyes, trying to be as sneaky as possible about it. But obviously, you’re fully aware of this. If Xiao is bad at one thing, it’s being discreet. Her brows crease in confusion, however she can’t bring herself to ask you just what in the seven nations you’re doing. She refuses to give in. This is exactly what you’d want after all.

“Here.”

She jolts once more, gripping her book even tighter as she goes back to acting like she’d been diligently reading. Red blossoms invade her vision at once, obscuring the words she’d been too distracted to pay any attention to.

A flower crown.

Xiao blinks, unable to stop herself, and looks at you. In character with all your previous actions, you once again wink at her before making yourself comfortable and resuming your position from before.

“What is the meaning of this?” She asks, her tone undecipherable.

Yours is casual, like you’ve been asked the most obvious question. Which, technically, you have. “A flower crown.”

“I can see that. But what is the meaning of this?”

“Do you always question everything?” When she doesn’t respond, you continue with, “It’s a gift. From me to you. Thought it would look pretty with your hair. That’s all.”

A long time passes in silence with Xiao staring up the tree. She can’t bring herself to say something in return, because she knows the minute she opens her mouth, her voice will fail her. This… is something she’s never experienced before.

No one has ever made her a flower crown before. Especially not with a reason like that. Her heart pounds more loudly than usual and she doesn’t know what to do with herself. Suddenly her limbs feel too large to be in her body and her brain freezes.

This is her safe space. Where she feels at home and most peaceful. She’s not quite sure if it’s because the Thousand Winds Tree embodies her faith in her God of Anemo or if it’s because of the quiet that surrounds her here. The castle tends to be more chaotic, full of sounds and hectic people rushing to maintain everything in order for their lord. 

Whichever of the two is true, she knows this for a fact: she’s happiest here.

And right now, because of an innocent gesture from your end, she has made a memory with you in the very place she would call home. Her stomach flips and becomes warm.

She slowly turns her gaze back to you, biting her lip as she tries to find something to say.

You’re fast asleep. Out like a light, your eyes are closed and your expression is softened, much like before when she first saw you just a few minutes ago. Her mouths falls open in disbelief. How can you just fall asleep like this when her heart is still jumping around in her chest?

For the first time in a really long time, Xiao scoffs. Unbeknownst to your snoring self, she smiles and shakes her head, tracing the petals of the Windwheel Asters gently.

“Really,” she mutters, in awe of how cleanly and properly you crafted it, “You’re unbelievable.”

Throughout the next couple of months, your paths continue to cross. You’re not quite sure how it comes to be, considering how rarely you ran into each other before, but Xiao is now everywhere.

At the kitchens in the morning when you’re having breakfast with the cooks and the bakers. In the courtyard at noon when you’re hanging around the knights, distracting them while they’re on duty. After supper when you’re walking around the town center, strays surrounding you with wagging tails and lolling tongues.

Wherever you go, without fail, you find Xiao. Her molten gold eyes follow your every move and even when they find yours, she doesn’t wilt. No hesitation, no shame, no secrets. She openly watches you, most likely not even aware how obvious she’s being. 

The best part? Each time you meet her gaze and cheekily smile at her, the slightest hint of pink dusts her cheeks and it’s only then that she harshly turns away, walking off and away from you. Sometimes you let her, amused by how adorable she can be. Sometimes you manage to catch her before she slips off.

When this happens, she stammers and blinks far more than is usual for her. And you — being courteous for the sake of not wanting her to feel embarrassed and leave — act like it’s not a big deal. Though truth be told, you were struggling far more recently because of how much you’ve come to adore her.

Again and again, Xiao is surprised to find out just how attentive you are under the mask of your goofy persona of being an airhead. Every time she meets you, she makes it a goal to ask you about it. There are so many things regarding you that she doesn’t understand, so many mysteries she feels the strange need to solve.

But then you crack a dumb joke, laugh a little too loudly, and your nose crinkles and your eyes sparkle, and Xiao can’t help but forget. The caterpillars in her stomach have long transformed into butterflies, uncaring that she wasn’t even aware of their presence in the first place. She can try to deny it all she wants, can tell herself it’s nothing and convince herself to believe it. Your warm eyes and big smile however will always tear those delusions down. 

Eventually the snow outside the castle melts and winter fades, making room for the lively spirit of spring and all the events that come with it. Previously, Xiao had never really been a fan of these sort of things. She would stay in her room and read until the sun went down and the festivities would end. It was too loud, too chaotic, and way out of her comfort zone. Socializing, unsurprisingly, has never been her forte.

To everyones surprise, this year Xiao is the first one out the door. Her hair down in long, loose waves and a pretty yellow dress, she marches out the castle confidently, missing the surprised looks of her fellow sisters.

“Was that… Xiao?”

“That’s her favorite dress! Does she… oh my god, does she have a suitor?!”

“No way! Not Xiao. Right?”

“She has her hair down too! She never wears her hair down!”

They whisper among each other, some confused, some worried, others excited at the prospect of Xiao finally coming out of her shell. None of them know that she got up at the crack of dawn to take a bath and wash her hair. Neither do they know that she spent about an hour trying on what little bit she owns, uncertain which dress would fit the occasion. They certainly don’t – and won’t – know that she spends half her day walking through the stalls in search of one very specific, idiotic yet hopelessly adorable squire.

She finds you at the Windtrace competition stall, a spring in your step as you hop around in place, waiting for your turn. Next to you are three eager kids, whom she recognizes as the pack of boys who would follow your trail whenever you came into town. They’re whispering back and forth in their private circle, no doubt trying to concoct a plan.

So you’re going to be the Hunter and they will be the Rebels.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, Xiao makes herself comfortable and watches you play with them. There’s a lot of screaming and hysterical laughter as the Rebels try to find a hiding spot. She can make out a grin on your face, your hands properly covering your eyes to give them a fair chance. You count loudly, causing them to become even louder and oddly enough, Xiao doesn’t mind the noise.

At the count of ten, an immediate silence ensues and you whip around with a sadistic grin, announcing, “Coming to get you punks!”

The entire scene gathers enough attention that several people stop and join Xiao to watch. Aware of this and wanting to deliver a good show, you commentate every single move loud enough for everyone to hear. You speak in a way you know the kids find hilarious and just as expected, they can’t keep in their laughter for more than a few seconds.

It takes about three minutes until you have the last one in a headlock, gently rubbing his head with your knuckles as he thrashes playfully, eyes full of wonder that you yet again managed to catch them. Understanding dawns on Xiao. This isn’t the first time you’re playing with them. Of course, she thinks, coming from the streets yourself, it’s no wonder you’re this attached to them.

She can’t really relate to you in that sense. Xiao was born and raised in the castle walls and never had to go a day with an empty stomach or the uncertainty where she would be sleeping that night. And just until recently, she’d never really had to think about it either. But a lot of things have changed since she’s met you.

While she’s lost in her thoughts, your little game with the boys ends and you look up to see her still sitting on the bench. A smile tugs at your lips. It’s been at least a few hours since you spotted her from the corner of your eye. You didn’t plan on indulging the kids for as long as you did, but you also couldn’t let go of them when they were holding onto you with a vice grip.

But the day is almost over and you still haven’t gotten to spend any time with her, let alone do the one thing you told yourself you would definitely do today. Your heart thuds aggressively against your chest just thinking about it.

You – the ever-careless squire who had no issues talking to big crowds and having the attention on you at all times of the day – getting nervous at the prospect of asking Xiao out? You can’t help but shake your head at that. Who would have thought that it would ever come to this?

Hearing a set of footsteps approaching her, Xiao turns to see that the boys from before are now gone and that you’re coming her way. Something inside of her twitches and she gulps, still not used to the strange sensation that spreads through her chest whenever you’re near her.

You stop once you’re in front of her, gazing down to meet her nervous eyes. She rises to meet you at full height.

This is it, you think.

This time you won’t hold back.

This time, you will make her yours.

Wedding preparations begin not too long after the two of you make it official. It’s only customary to ask for the hand of the one you fancy. To claim her name so no one dares to think of taking her from you. Xiao’s sisters are in shock when she first announces her engagement. None of them expected for her to be the first one to leave the nest.

Her mother is overjoyed, the prospect of grandchildren making her give Xiao many days off for her to plan the wedding to her hearts content. The bride herself becomes more sociable and through you, more open to forming and building new friendships with those around her.

Xiao starts to blossom like a beautiful flower. It’s as if everyone gets to meet her for the first time. She hasn’t changed, not in the slightest. But the people of the castle have finally given her a chance and truly taken the time to get to know her.

Now, she is just as adored as you are.

The wedding is small and intimate, but it’s a wonderful one. The cooks have whipped up a fantastic buffet with the kingdom’s most famous dishes, the bards have come together to form a band, and even the lord of the castle stopped by to congratulate the both of you.

Xiao is beautiful in white. Her eyes shine and the flames of the chandelier above turn them molten. You’re captivated by her, unable to leave her side for even a second and you swear time has stopped.

You can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with her. To have miniature versions of yourselves running around, to sleep in on the weekends with the sunrays coating your naked, intertwined bodies. To cool off in the river late at night when the kids are sleeping. To grow old and wrinkly together.

Everything is perfect.

Until it isn’t.

The first round of screams is barely audible through the loud music and laughter of those dancing in the center of the hall. A few guests look at each other confused, unsure if they had too much ale or if new guests were arriving to crash the wedding.

But when the doors break open and thunder roars through the hall, that’s when reality crashes like a tidal wave.

The castle is being invaded.

It all happens so fast. Tables are knocked over, bodies fall to the ground, blood splatters the walls. Before you can make any sense of anything, a weapon is placed in your hands and Xiao is ripped away from you.

Her eyes widen in fear and she screams out your name. You grab her hand to lunge in for a deep kiss, hoping it won’t be the last one. In that split second, where everything is falling into ruin and chaos, there’s nothing but you and Xiao.

Nothing but the taste of cake on her lips and the smell of roses in her braided hair. She grasps the fabric of your shirt, grip tight like a vice, and squeezes her eyes shut, focused as if she was trying to memorize everything about this very moment.

But then she’s pulled away again and you’re face to face with a man twice your size swinging down an axe to split you in half. Your slender build and dexterity save your life, but you would be a fool to think that’s all it takes to survive an invasion.

Risking one last look at the woman you love, you pray to the Gods that no matter what happens, she remains.

The Gods have not been kind with you. Not in your first lifetime, not in the ones to come, and certainly not in this one.

Xiao finds you atop the gatehouse the next morning, along with the lord and his family, and several other knights. Your severed heads displayed like trophies, the traitor from within announces victory and takes the throne for himself.

Strange new people fill up the castle and suddenly everything changes. New rules, new regulations, new expectations, but Xiao is unable to keep up with any of it. The grief of losing what could have been, should have been, keeps her up at night.

Her heart feels empty, like you stole it from her during that last kiss and took it along with you. There’s no joy in anything anymore, no interest in the things she deemed important. She should be grateful she’s still alive, they tell her. Her fate could have been much worse than serving a new lord. They tell her a lot of things, all of them fearful and compliant.

But Xiao doesn’t understand. What could possibly be worse than losing the one who gave your life meaning? Who showed you colors in a black and white world and who was…  just… you?

She can’t let go. Not the grief nor you, she is unable to move on. She doesn’t want to move on. You continue to haunt her dreams in the sweetest manner possible and occupy every available space in her heart and mind.

There’s a bitter taste on her tongue any time she walks past the snake covered in human skin and it only continues to grow with each passing day. It’s when she stumbles across a book in the lord’s keep that something in her reignites.

Thick and bound in leather, it sits heavy in her hands when she sneaks it back to her bedroom. It’s so old she can barely make out the letters, but she recognizes enough to get the gist of what she’s holding. It clatters to the ground, one of her sisters mumbling in her sleep for Xiao to finally rest.

But her heart pounds in her ears and the hairs on her arms stand straight. Xiao gulps, her chest heaving up and down in heavy breaths, and she looks around cautiously, suddenly too aware of her surroundings. She picks up the book and thumbs through the pages until she finds the one word that caused her reaction in the first place.

Resurrection.

And finally, Xiao feels like her life has purpose again. It’s the first time in weeks since she’s felt this coherent, the first time since you left that she is able to think straight. She spends weeks taking apart the contents of the book, page by page, sentence by sentence. She loses track of time, becoming more familiar with the subject and all the rituals listed until she has read so much of it, she could recite it in her sleep.

The balance of the universe has to be honored.

It takes a while for her to fully understand the meaning of these words. But once she does, she realizes there is no other way for her but forward. Past Xiao would have been appalled. She would have been paralyzed by the fear of what it would mean to have to go so far to bring back the person she loves.

But current Xiao is different. She has nothing to fear – nothing left to lose. And she realizes the immense power that comes along with the indifference.

And so she begins preparing.

Her first plan of resurrecting you by herself goes out the window pretty fast. There’s no body left to recover and not enough items of yours to successfully cast the spell. But Xiao doesn’t allow herself to spiral or lose hope. There has to be another way.

And there is.

She doesn’t know yet that the cost of her decision will lead to the death of thousands of people, including her own, but it doesn’t matter. None of it matters anymore. As long as you are alive and spreading your light through the world, and as long as she can see you, hold you, kiss you for one last time, nothing else matters.

“It’s you again,” Kazuha mutters pitifully.

Xiao blinks, baffled that whatever she drew on the ground actually worked. Scarlet eyes gaze at her kindly, like an old friend. Pale waves fall around the perfect face of the man in front of her. She can’t stop staring.

There’s no doubt about it. This man isn’t human.

“Are you an angel?” she asks despite herself.

Kazuha snorts, although it lacks any humor or joy. “Did you call for an angel?”

She gulps. An actual devil is standing in front of her. Xiao doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.

So there is actually a God out there who allowed such a tragedy to befall her beloved home.

“No,” Kazuha warns, “Don’t even go there.”

“But- “

“You don’t want this. Turn back while you still can.” His deep frown is full of conflicting emotions. He isn’t supposed to turn down clients. “Don’t make it worse than it already is. Bringing him back will not fix- ”

But Xiao doesn’t understand, nor does she care. Her awe morphs into anger and she rises to meet his eyes, amber meeting crimson, anger clashing against anguish, “You don’t know anything.”

Kazuha opens his mouth, but he knows this look. He’s seen it before. Countless times, he has seen the yearning, the longing, the desperation. There’s nothing he can say.

“You don’t know anything,” she repeats. She lowers her gaze, her small hands clenching her night gown like it’s the only thing keeping her standing. With everything crumbling around her to dust, it might as well have been.

“This will never stop,” Kazuha announces. “This is only temporary. The longer you keep going, the worse it will get. I need you to be aware of that.”

“I don’t care!” She’s not listening. She can’t listen. If she allows herself to second guess her choices, she will never get to see you again. And what sense is there to live then anyway?

He knows there’s nothing he can say nor do to keep her from making the same mistake as in her past life. And it shatters him inside, far more than he would dare to admit. It’s his duty as a devil to carry out the wishes of his clients, no matter how obscure or trivial they might be.

There is no option to deny. Clients are the bread and butter of hell, their souls keeping Satan satiated and powerful. This time it’s Kazuha’s fists clenching.

He takes a deep breath, knowing the chaos that will follow will eventually lead Xiao to her own demise. Exhaling, he says, “Understood.”

And when a deadly disease spreads through the kingdom and claims thousands of innocent lives, when the animals become feral and the plants rot to their core, when misery and doom is the only thing left to witness, Kazuha can do nothing but grieve.

This is only the beginning.

Chapter Text

„I will not bind her feet. And that is final.”

Your grandmother’s gasp is followed by a silence that sweeps across the room. The glare your father levels at your mother could burn a hole right through her forehead. But your mother has always been like this. Even now, she refuses to remain quiet. It’s one of her many traits your father despises about her. Had his parents known how unruly and stubborn she was before they wed their son to her, they surely would have thought twice, or even thrice about it.

A woman who talks back is not a good woman. At least that’s the consensus during this period. But your mother is not a good woman, nor did she ever want to be a good woman. To be a good woman is to enslave herself to your father’s whims and your grandparents’ abuse. To be a good woman is to be a bad mother.

Because if there’s one thing she knows for damn sure, it’s that she’ll raise hell above the earth before she lets you suffer the same fate she was forced to endure since the summer she turned twelve. Which is why she’s standing tall in the living quarters, shoulders squared and chin up high as she holds your tiny body against her chest. The wooden floor creaks as she shifts her weight to secure her grip. They cannot see the way her hands tremble, cannot hear the violent pounding of her heart. She will not let them bind your feet.

She will not let them suffocate you with outlandish standards that somehow only seem to harm the women while pleasing the men, and she will definitely not let you become a thing. While every family might dream of raising a beautiful and desirable daughter in hopes of marrying her off to the palace and secure wealth for themselves, your mother scoffs at the very idea that any man on this planet could even be worth your hand. Let alone your adorable puffy feet.

You are the sun and stars, the moon and the light, the universe and the galaxy. You are perfect. And there is nothing your mother wouldn’t do to preserve you just the way you are.

Still far too young to understand any of this or to even make sense of the contempt that is in your father’s eyes – the one man who was supposed to love and protect you from the world – you squeak giddily and reach your chubby little fingers towards your father. He turns away with a grimace. To him, you are nothing more than an investment for his future.

“You bind her feet, or you leave,” he says. “I will not have a useless daughter with no prospects.”

A long pause. No one dares to even utter a breath. It’s a threat, and a promise. He means it.

So your mother does exactly that.

She leaves.

With nothing but a small bag and you cradled in her arms, she leaves. The screams of your grandmother warning your mother that you will starve on the streets fall on deaf ears. She would rather starve to secure your freedom and give you the world than let you be used like a pawn in your father’s twisted world. She has suffered enough at his hands.

It is time to break the cycle.

And so she walks out with you in her arms, her vow trailing after her like an oath to the heavens: I will not bind her feet.

A promise.

A rebellion.

A spell.

One that will echo for lifetimes to come.

A couple of weeks later, fate delivers your mother an answer. The empress herself finds her.

After leaving your father and his family behind, your mother makes a living as a seamstress. She works tirelessly, moving from house to house with you always bound to her chest or back, her needle never still. It is a skill her own mother taught her, a precious inheritance passed down like armor, preparing every daughter for survival.

And by the gods, your mother shines. Even without wealth or status, she is like a pearl among an ocean of sand. Her hands craft beauty into fabric, stitching life into every garment. Soon, whispers spread through the empire. If you wear one of her dresses, fortune will follow. Love will find you. Prosperity will linger in your home.

The empress hears these whispers. And when she finally sees one of the gowns herself, she demands a meeting. That is how, not even a season later, you and your mother move into the emperor’s palace.

Your mother never dared to dream of this day. After leaving your father, she expected judgment, shame, maybe even ruin. What kind of woman walks away from her husband and in-laws? What kind of mother refuses to bind her daughter’s feet?

But the palace welcomes her with open arms. The concubines run to her in the mornings, desperate for her advice. The maids seek her weekly to learn from her. The empress… well, the empress speaks of your mother as though she has found a long-lost sister.

And you — you are the palace’s darling.

Your feet are not bound like the other little girls, and though it draws disapproving mutters, it also makes you different. Brighter. You are not meant to shuffle in pain, you are meant to run, to leap, to live. And no one loves this more than the crown prince himself.

Between endless lectures and lessons, Xiao lives for the evenings, when he can sneak away to find you in the gardens. His heart stumbles every time the sunset catches in your hair, every time you giggle while dangling your bare feet in the pond.

He doesn’t understand the cruel words whispered behind your back, the way grown men smirk about your “useless” feet when no one else can hear. To him, they are perfect. They let you chase him through the courtyards. They let you climb the trees when he tries to hide from the guards. They make you squeal with laughter when he dares to tickle them. And when he punches another noble’s son for insulting you about your feet, he doesn’t regret it one bit. Not even when he faces the consequences of his father’s wrath for such unsightly behavior.

He is a boy, yet even now, he is obsessed. He doesn’t have words for it — not yet — but deep down he already knows. You are his favorite part of the palace.

When you sneak foods from the kitchen together, racing back to his mother’s chambers to wolf them down like starving dogs. Or when you help him run away from his tutors by distracting them and giving him an opening to run away, only to then play hide and seek in the gardens together until sunfall. You’re his first secret, and his favorite one. Those are the moments Xiao feels most alive, most happy. His heart thunders with joy whenever you’re around, because his is a world of structure. A world of rules and discipline. It’s suffocating. Xiao doesn’t even want to be the crown prince.

But you… your world is different. You are free-spirited, wild, and creative, but still warm and inviting. You are everything Xiao wants and needs. He finds himself clinging onto you, seeking you, needing you.

Almost as if he has been destined to be with you.

And destiny, as always, is cruel.

A couple years have passed, and your mother has done an excellent job in passing down her skillset. You’re able to sew your own dresses now, albeit still a bit clumsy and often resulting in an equal number of bandages as your fingers, but you’re willing and you’re learning. It’s not enough to become a full-fledged seamstress of the palace yet, but you’re well on your way there.

It helps that you’ve befriended almost the entire castle, which allows you to practice on them, something your mother didn’t have when her mother first taught her how to sew. Which is exactly why you’re currently bent over an embroidery hoop, your hands moving with quiet precision as you prepare a gift for one of the maid’s upcoming birthday. You were thinking of a beautiful bouquet of spider lilies, her favorite flowers.

The sliding door of the room is wide open, allowing a refreshing breeze to enter and caress your neck. This summer has been warmer than the previous one, so it’s a welcome reprieve from the heat. You’re honestly just glad you get to stay inside, not even wanting to imagine the torture the guards and knights in training must be going through, having to train under these conditions.

So you’re not all too surprised when a deep, familiar voice reaches your ears as a set of footsteps enter the room, “Ah, I knew I’d find you here.”

“Xiao,” you turn around, a small frown forming on your face, “Aren’t you supposed to be in a lesson?”

He smiles wickedly, shutting the shoji sliding door behind him. There goes the cool breeze that you were enjoying. “Already done.”

You squint your eyes in suspicion, noting that he was indeed sweaty and a little red in the face. But this is Xiao you’re talking about. Sparring lessons had always been his least favorite ones. And it wouldn’t be the first time he skipped a lesson to hide away in your quarter. “Are you sure about that?”

“Why do you never believe me?” He asks, pretending to be hurt. With a groan that’s much more fitting to an old man than a young adult, he sits down next to you, bending over your shoulder to see what you’re working on. “Oh, that’s pretty.”

Too close. He’s so close you can feel his breath on the back of your neck, smell his scent mixed with his sweat and it causes your heart to leap. You will it to calm down, scolding yourself for reacting in such an inappropriate manner. He is the crown prince, and no matter how close you were as children, how close you are still, you are just the daughter of the palace’s seamstress and should not harbor such feelings.

“It’s too hot anyway,” he says, completely unaware of your inner turmoil as he leans back to watch you work. “And it’s not like we’re at war with anyone and I have to go to the front lines anytime soon. It’s just a waste of my time.”

“You never know,” you argue, pulling the needle through the hoop to finish off one of the crimson petals, “Wars constantly break out at the most unexpected of times. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

Xiao groans, throwing back his head, “You sound just like my father.” His beautiful long hair falls back and you can’t help but be mesmerized by the sight of it. Looks wise, he definitely comes after his mother.

You smile, shifting your focus back to your work. “Well maybe you should begin listening to the emperor then.”

He groans even louder.

Not a day later, Xiao is back in your quarters, claiming to need his robes to be mended. He doesn’t tell you that he’s the one slashing the ends of it and allows you to scold him to treat his belongings with more care. Somehow, he really likes the sight of you agitated. The way your brows knit and your lips purse when you go on and on to complain about him. After all, not a lot of people have the courage or the privilege to talk to him the way you do.

“One of these days, I’m going to sew you a robe made of armor. That way you won’t even be able to damage the poor thing.”

He smiles and shrugs, thinking to himself, then I’ll just find a new excuse to meet with you.

“Here,” he says, handing over a plate of freshly made sweet rice cakes, “I brought you some sweets as payment.”

You hesitate for one second, then two, then three, then snatch the plate from him, too fast for him to react and gobble the cakes down like you haven’t eaten all day. You have, of course you have. If anyone knows the black hole that is your stomach, and the starving lion that is your appetite, it’s Xiao. Which is why he’s also the perfect person to bribe you into doing something.

He watches your full cheeks, feeling an itch in his fingers to grab and play with them to feel if they are as soft as they look. Pushing his hands behind back, he looks away to chase those thoughts away. Lately, he’s caught himself doing that often.

“Alright,” you break the silence, picking up your needle and your thread, “let’s get this over with then. I still have a dress to work on for one of the concubines.”

Xiao leans back against the wall, watching you work in silence as you begin to lose yourself in the familiar movements of mending his robe. There’s something oddly elegant about the way your hands move, the way your eyes glaze over when you hold fabric and create it into something useful and beautiful. You’re so focused that you don’t even notice your hair slipping from your tie, strand by strand falling over your face, a curtain made of silk hiding your features from his eyes. Xiao finds himself captivated, wondering if your hair has always been that shiny. Have the concubines shared one of their treatments with you again?

His eyes roam down, for the first time really registering the curve of your chest, how slim your waist is in comparison, and that a slither of skin shows how pale your smooth wrist really is. He flushes, looking away quickly as he realizes what he’s just done. What he’s just thought.

What am I doing? She’s like my sister. She’s… just a friend.

But no matter how much he tries, his gaze always drifts back to you, finding new things to latch onto, new places to admire.

Have you always been this beautiful?

“The prince dotes on you far too much,” your mother states with a laugh.

You join her, not taking the words to heart. “That’s only because he doesn’t have to put up a façade with us.”

“Is that so?” She asks with that knowing smile of hers.

“Of course, mother. I’m just a seamstress after all.” Your mother watches you like a hawk, giving you the room to continue. “Soon, he’ll be engaged to a noble girl. Someone elegant. Someone perfect.”

Her lips open for a retort, but quickly shut back up. She too knows this to be true. Your mother isn’t blind. She sees the way Xiao looks at you. She’s seen it ever since you were both still little kids running around the courtyard. And she would be a fool to deny that you too have not been indifferent toward him.

But she also knows that this world could be cruel. That there was no way the emperor would betroth his son to someone who wouldn’t be of use for the future of the empire. So she remains quiet, even as her heart shatters to see you bury your feelings under work, focusing on silk, patterns and needles instead of the heat that flames your face whenever he so much as smiles at you.

Xiao lies awake in his chambers that night, thinking about the way your hands touched his when he brought you flowers from the gardens. How soft they were, and how beautiful they looked holding the pink camellia. He can’t stop looking at his own, wondering what it would feel like if it was his hand and not the flowers.

There’s no denying it anymore. He can’t let go of the image of your flustered face, how your voice got smaller, almost as if the mere presence of him made you shy now. He gazes up at the ceiling, but even there he sees your big, sparkling eyes as you smile at him to thank him. Not even when he closes his eyes is he free of your image.

You follow him everywhere he goes, nestled in a pit of his mind, distracting him in whatever he does. It’s you. Always you. Just you.

Xiao clenches his fists, torn between guilt and longing, realization and denial, but deep down he knows now.

He wants you. More than anything he’s ever wanted, more than anything he’s ever been offered and promised. More than he could ever hope to have.

You.

The banquet hall gleams with silk and firelight, a thousand lanterns spilling golden warmth across the polished floor. Nobles raise their cups, laughter rising and falling like waves. The air smells of wine and roasted meat, of incense curling from bronze burners.

You stand behind the curtains, fingers raw from hours of stitching, watching your gowns sweep past you on the bodies of women who don’t even know your name. They glide through the hall like living dreams, while you are nothing more than the shadow behind the thread.

At the high table sits Xiao. Crown prince. Perfect son. Betrothed heir. His fiancée glitters at his side, jewels woven into her hair, her smile soft and practiced. She’s beautiful. So beautiful, you feel ashamed to even look at her. The entire court leans toward them as though basking in their light.

But Xiao isn’t looking at her.

His golden eyes search the crowd, sharp and restless, until they finally catch on you, half-hidden behind the drapes, needle still clutched in your hand.

The noise of the banquet fades. For a breathless moment it’s only him and you, tethered across the room by something no vow, no crown, no curse could sever. Your chest aches. You should look away. Instead, you hold his gaze, silently begging, silently breaking. It feels like someone is slicing your chest inside out. You never thought it would hurt this much. You thought you accepted it. Made your peace with it. Then why are you clenching your hand so tight around the needle, it breaks your skin?

“Xiao.” The emperor’s voice cuts across the table. His brow arched. “Your thoughts on the new alliance?”

Xiao startles out of his trance. His cup slips from his fingers and clatters against the floor, wine spilling dark across the silk tablecloth. Laughter ripples through the hall, low and mocking. His fiancée touches his sleeve with delicate concern, but he jerks away, too sharp, too desperate.

Behind the curtain, you flinch as if it’s your own shame laid bare before the court. You turn back to your work, forcing your hands steady even as your heart crumbles and your eyes water. Remember your place. I am a seamstress. He is a prince. I will never sit beside him at that table. Do not be selfish.

But when you dare one last glance through the curtains, Xiao is still watching you, the wine still dripping from the table edge, the court still murmuring around him. His eyes say it all.

He doesn’t care about the table. He cares about you.

Later, when the festival ends, Xiao finds an excuse to slip away, roaming the gardens in hopes of finding you. Right now, more than ever, he needs to see you. To speak with you. To touch, feel, and be with you. He needs you.

When he finally finds you sitting by the pond by yourself, looking so small, so defeated, so sad, his heart breaks into a million tiny pieces. You glance up and your eyes meet once more. You’re crying. Instinct, more than thought, takes over and he makes to run toward you, but you shake your head. Xiao freezes. He doesn’t understand. You’re clearly sad, you need him too. He begins to move again, believing it to be a trick of his eyes when you mouth, “No. Don’t come.”

Why would you-

Before he has a chance to finish that thought, he feels a small hand around his arm, tugging him back, “Let’s go back in Xiao, I’m getting cold out here.”

It costs him restraint the size of the ocean to not swat his fiancée’s hand off of him. Her touch twists his stomach and fills him with rage. You’re right across from him, all on your own and suffering. How dare she come and disturb him now? He glances back to you, feeling his own heart shatter when you mouth, “Go. I’m fine.”

He doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to leave you, doesn’t want to go with this strange woman who’s being forced upon him. But when his father calls from inside, when you get up to go back to your own room, he’s powerless.

Too caught up in his own misery, he fails to spot the vicious smile his fiancée is wearing.

He hates this place.

He wishes it was you beside him.

Your world is fire. The fever burns through your body like molten metal, every breath shallow, every blink heavier than the last. The palace physicians say it’s just a passing illness, but the whispers in the courtyards say otherwise. A seamstress’s daughter, struck down at such a young age, surely it was fate reminding you of your place. By now, it’s no longer a secret that Xiao spends more time at your chamber than his own. Even his betrothal isn’t holding him back from seeking you out every single day. And as much as you know it to be wrong and ill-mannered, you never find it in you to reject him. You don’t have that power, certainly not the restraint. There’s not much time until the official wedding and you have to cherish every single moment you can have him around you.

Your mother wrings her hands raw, muttering prayers to gods who never answer. Your condition worsens each day, rooting a deep fear within your mother’s heart. You are her everything. Her world. Her universe. Her beloved daughter.

But Xiao doesn’t pray. Xiao refuses. He has long given up in believing in a divine being. Not when his world is turning upside down and he’s being punished with a fate for simply existing. There could be no god who would turn away a love as pure as theirs.

He bursts into your chamber at dusk, still in ceremonial robes, his hair undone from running. Behind him, the guard he dismissed stammers protests that die under his deadly glare. He knows better than to challenge the crown prince when it comes to you. Xiao kneels at your bedside, trembling, desperate. Why aren’t you getting better? What caused this? Who is trying to take you away from him again?

“Bring the doctor,” he orders, and when the man hesitates, Xiao grabs him by the collar, eyes feral like a wild dog ready to strike. “Not the palace physicians. I don’t trust them. I want someone who will save her. If you treasure that head of yours, you will bring me someone capable.”

Hours later, after silver needles and bitter draughts, the doctor departs, leaving only a warning: “If her fever does not break tonight, she may not wake again.”

The chamber empties. Even your mother is brought back to her own chambers, forced to rest as she hasn’t slept in days. Still Xiao stays.

He presses cool cloths to your burning skin. He holds your limp hand in both of his trembling ones, as if by sheer will he could tether you here. His lessons, his betrothed, his title, all of it forgotten in the shadow of your shivering body. None of it matters, not when you’re lying here, a cold and clammy mess, suffering once again all on your own.

His heart clenches when you whimper and gasp, and there is nothing in the world Xiao wouldn’t give to take away the pain. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to be the one lying there, to have you back up on your feet with your silly little laugh and your beautiful glittering eyes pointed at him.

And in the darkest hour, when your fever peaks and you thrash weakly against the sheets, the words spill out of you. Half-delirious, half-dreaming, your lips tremble around them.

“…Xiao… Don’t leave me… Please… I love you…”

The silence that follows is absolute. Xiao freezes, every muscle taut, every breath stolen. It feels as if time stands still. The words reverberate in the walls of his mind, scratching corners unexplored until they nail themselves deep into his conscious. Then he bows his head against your palm, clutching your hand to his lips as if it were holy.

“You… you don’t know what you’ve just done to me,” he whispers, voice breaking. Has it ever been this difficult to form words? His forehead presses against your knuckles, tears hot against your skin. “Say it again. Even if it’s a dream. I beg you, say it again.”

You don’t answer. Sleep drags you under, your body finally surrendering to rest after days of fighting.

But Xiao is not deterred. His golden eyes glisten in the candlelight, feverish in a different way.

“I will tear down the world if it means I can have you,” he breathes against your hand, as though swearing an oath only the night will remember. “Nothing, no one will dare to come between you and I.”

And when dawn breaks, your fever finally recedes.

But Xiao doesn’t rejoice like your mother does. He doesn’t laugh or cry with relief. Instead, he watches you sleep with a strange, unshakable calm.

Because your delirious confession has planted itself like a seed in his chest. And he already knows, no crown, no father, no god will keep him from you now.

The doors to the emperor’s chamber slam open, the sound echoing off the gilded walls like a war drum. Xiao strides in without bowing, without waiting for permission, his steps quick and sharp, the fury in his chest too great to cage. His robes are wrinkled, his hair unkempt, and his eyes burn with sleepless fire. He comes with a purpose.

The emperor rises from his seat, outrage and shock curling his lip. “Do you forget yourself, boy?”

“I forget nothing,” Xiao spits. “I am here because I remember. I remember now who I am. And I will not live another day pretending I am something else.”

The courtiers still. Not even a whisper dares to break the silence. No one even dares to move a single muscle. The silence is stifling.

“You will not marry her.” His father’s voice cracks like a whip. “Your betrothal has already been signed. You disgrace yourself with this foolishness, son.”

Xiao’s jaw tightens, his teeth gritting so hard they threaten to shatter. His fists clenched at his sides, he says, “I don’t want her.” His voice shakes, not with weakness, but with the weight of truth breaking free. A truth that has long been due. “I will not marry her. I love-” His chest heaves, his words trembling with desperation. “I love her. And I will have no one else.”

The emperor’s face darkens, his own fury in his eyes colder than steel. “Love?” he mocks, “You speak to me of love? You are the crown prince. You are the empire’s blood. You do not have the luxury of love. Do not be foolish.”

“She is not a luxury.” Xiao’s voice rings out, sharp as a blade. “She is everything.”

A ripple of gasps spreads across the chamber at the official confession.

The emperor’s hand curls around the armrest of his throne until the wood groans. “You would risk the future of this dynasty for a simple seamstress?” His tone drips with contempt. “A servant girl with calloused hands and nothing to her name? She is beneath you. She will always be beneath you.”

Xiao steps forward, teeth bared, his body trembling with a rage unknown to all. “Say what you will of me, but you will not speak of her like that. She is worth more than every jewel in this cursed palace. She is worth more than the crown on your head.”

“You insolent child—”

“Then I renounce it!” Xiao’s shout cracks like thunder, startling even himself. He drags in a ragged breath, chest heaving. There is no turning back now. Not after your confession last night. Not after how pitifully you begged him to stay. Nothing else matters now but you. “Do you hear me? I renounce my title, my name, the throne. I want none of it, if it means being chained to a life I do not want. If it means living without her.”

The court erupts in murmurs, horror mixing with disbelief.

The emperor stares at him, anger giving way to something colder, sharper – disappointment carved into stone. “You would throw away everything for her?”

“Yes.” Xiao’s voice drops to a low growl, steady and unshakable. “Gladly.”

The emperor sneers, the corner of his mouth twisting. But he knew his son better than anyone. Knew that look on his face better than anyone. “You are a fool… just like her mother.”

Xiao blinks, confused by the venom in those words, but before he can demand what his father means, the doors to the chamber burst open. A soldier stumbles in, bloodied and broken, one arm hanging useless at his side. He falls to his knees with a strangled cry.

“Invaded… the palace-” His voice cracks, his last words before he succumbs, “We are under attack!”

The words detonate like a bomb.

Suddenly the world is in chaos. Panicked shouts thunder through the halls, the clash of steel against steel carried on by the wind. The scent of smoke worms its way inside, choking, suffocating. Xiao’s blood turns to ice.

Your face is the first thing in his mind. He bolts.

Guards yell after him, calling him back to his duty, but he doesn’t hear them. Doesn’t hear anything but his blood racing through his veins. You’re still in your chambers, resting.

Alone. Unguarded.

His legs carry him down the winding corridors, heart hammering against his ribs like a war drum. He tears past fleeing servants screaming for their children, past fallen soldiers lying in pools of red, their eyes empty and bodies limp. The palace he had always known – structured, pristine, suffocating in its order – is collapsing into hell.

But none of that matters right now. He only thinks of you.

The seamstresses’ quarters. You’re sick, bedridden, vulnerable. He has to reach you before-

A shriek pierces his ears. Xiao skids to a stop, his feet rooted to the ground at the sight before him.

A child no older than seven stumbles out of the smoke, eyes wide with terror. A soldier looms behind her, blade raised, teeth bared.

For one impossible moment Xiao freezes. His body splits in two: run to her or keep running to you. His chest burns with the agony of the choice. If he sprints now, he can still save the little girl, can take on the soldier and save a life. She’s still so small, so young, so scared, so innocent.

But you’re right around the corner. All alone. Vulnerable. Every second counts.

But she’s still a child!

Damnit, just move!

The soldier swings.

Xiao runs.

Steel meets steel as he rips a weapon from a fallen guard and intercepts the blow. Sparks shower the ground and with a snarl, Xiao forces the man back, his rage wild and desperate. He strikes like a madman until the soldier doesn’t rise again, his blade slick with blood.

The child sobs uncontrollably, her tiny body trembling at his feet. Xiao stares at her, alive, because of him. He releases a breath he has been holding for far too long.

But he can’t stay. His throat closes around your name. With a curse, he shoves the girl into the arms of a fleeing servant and sprints toward the quarters, his lungs burning, his chest tight.

The smoke grows thicker. His legs feel heavier. Every step is a war against time.

And then—

He sees her.

Your mother.

She’s in the courtyard outside the seamstress chambers, clutching a kitchen knife in her hands. Her dress is ripped, her face bloodied, but her back is straight, her body planted firmly in front of the doors like a shield. Behind her, the walls burn.

When she sees him, her eyes widen. Relief. Desperation.

“Xiao!” she cries, her voice raw. “Go! She’s inside! Run!”

A soldier lunges at her, using her distracted state to his advantage. She fights like a cornered wolf, slashing, screaming, buying precious seconds. Blood splatters across the dirt. Her hands shake, her knees buckle – but she does not fall.

Xiao wants to help her. She’s his mother too. Every instinct screams at him to fight at her side. But her voice echoes like a command from the heavens. “What are you waiting for? Go!”

So he obeys.

He runs past her, heart heavy and pounding, full of gratitude and regret, pain and guilt, and skids through the ruined doorway into the quarters.

He freezes.

The world is ending.

Bodies are everywhere. Women scattered across the floor, their dresses shredded, their faces twisted in terror. Blood pools dark and sticky beneath their limbs. The air reeks of smoke, sweat, and iron.

And there-

There you are.

Xiao exhales coldly.

Crushed silk beneath your cheek. A crimson stain blooming across your chest. Your dress ripped open, your eyes closed, your skin already paling. His world. His universe. His love.

“No,” Xiao chokes, stumbling to your side in an instant. His knees hit the ground with a crack. He drags you into his arms, shaking, trembling, his tears falling hot onto your cold skin. “No, no, no, no-”

He presses his hand to the wound, crying out like a wounded animal when he feels your blood stain his hands. Uselessly, desperately, as if he can keep your life from spilling out of you, he presses deeper and deeper until he feels your insides. He sobs. He begs. He prays. He screams. His voice breaks as he whispers your name again and again, rocking you like a child against his chest.

But you don’t move.

The world is screaming outside – the clash of blades, the cries of the dying – but Xiao only hears the silence of your lips.

And in that silence, his sanity falls apart. 

Xiao doesn’t know how long he stays there, cradling your limp body against his chest. His hands are stained with your blood, sticky and dark, his tears cutting clean lines down his dirt-streaked face. The world burns around him, the palace collapsing, screams clawing at the air, but he does not move. He doesn’t hear anything, but the lack of your heartbeat.

Was this because he saved that child? Because he hesitated when he saw your mother? Did he take too long? If he had acted differently, could he have saved you? Would you be in his arms warm and alive?

You’re so cold. So cold he can’t fathom it.

He presses his forehead against yours, whispering broken prayers into your hair. His voice cracks with each word. “Please. Please, open your eyes. Come on, it’s not funny anymore. Just open your eyes. Please, I even talked to my father. So please, just wake up, so we can be together. Do you hear me?”

The air begins to shift. Not with the choking weight of smoke, but with something colder, heavier. A pressure that silences even the chaos outside.

Xiao’s head jerks up, pulling you even closer protectively.

And there he is.

Scarlet eyes gleaming in the gloom, calm when the world was in ruin. Kazuha steps forward like a shadow unfurling, his expression steeped in quiet sorrow.

Xiao blinks at him, mind clouded with grief and disbelief. Was this God? An angel? “You-” His voice breaks. “Help me! Please, help me!”

But Kazuha only sighs, a sound that seems to carry centuries of weight. “I told you this was not a good idea.”

Xiao’s chest heaves, confusion clouding his features. “What are you talking about? I never- I never- ” His voice cracks as he shakes his head, clutching you tighter. “I don’t understand! Just bring her back! Please!”

Kazuha’s gaze softens, but his words cut like knives. “This is not the first time you’ve begged, my child. And it will not be the last. With each plea, the curse coils tighter around you both.”

Xiao’s heart lurches. His throat closes around the word curse.

He doesn’t understand a thing. But he doesn’t care. Doesn’t have the luxury to care.

“I don’t care what it takes!” he roars, his desperation shaking the walls that still stand. “If I have to give my name, my soul, my blood, my crown, take it! Take it all! Just bring her back to me! I beg you! She’s everything… please… bring her back…”

Kazuha’s expression doesn’t waver, though the shadows at his feet curl like living things. He may be a devil, but even he has a heart. “You don’t understand what you’re binding yourself to. Every life you ask for, every breath you steal from fate, the universe demands its balance. Your love will live, yes… but so too will your suffering. Again and again, until neither of you will remember what freedom feels like.”

“Then let me suffer!” Xiao’s voice shatters. His grip on you tightens to the point he could crush you, as though he could anchor you to the world by sheer will. His tears drip on your skin, turning red almost immediately. “I’ll suffer every lifetime, every death, if it means she gets another chance. Please. Please. Don’t take her from me. She’s my world.”

The silence that follows feels endless.

Finally, Kazuha kneels. His crimson gaze falls on your lifeless face, and he breathes out like a man mourning something inevitable. He pities you. “So be it.”

He lifts his hand. The air around him warps in teal. Power thickens like tar. Xiao feels the ground tremble beneath him, feels heat and cold spiral all at once. Symbols carve themselves into the earth, glowing faintly before sinking into nothingness.

Kazuha’s voice is soft, but it resonates like a death knell. “Then the curse is sealed. With this third vow, the thread is bound eternal. You and she will find each other in every life… only to lose each other again.”

Xiao’s eyes widen, horror flickering, but only for a heartbeat. Because in his arms, your chest rises with the faintest breath.

His world shatters, then rebuilds itself in the same instant.

Your body stirs. Your lips part, weak, but alive.

“Xiao…?”

And Xiao weeps like a child. He presses frantic kisses to your forehead, your cheeks, your hair, his heart bursting with relief. He doesn’t care about curses, or vows, or eternity. He doesn’t care about invoking God’s wrath or disturbing the universes balance.

All he sees is you breathing again.

Behind him, Kazuha turns his face away. His whisper is too quiet for Xiao to hear, though it trembles with sorrow.

“I hope you won’t come to regret this. You will remember, one day. And when you do, it will be too late.”