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Chapter Text

There was nothing stranger than the presence of another living being in his space, to Xiao. Especially one that was becoming increasingly common in his life— their constant calling of his name for trivial matters, such as trying a new recipe of almond tofu and helping to grab a cat from a tree as a commission. Pitiful, he had originally thought to himself, for someone to be lonely enough to call a demon for conversation and comfort. But Xiao had found a weird sentiment deep in the crevices of his heart, one he hadn’t felt since the days of the other Yakshas. He had found himself enjoying— no, not that far— standing this ‘traveler’s company. 

“Call out my name, Adeptus Xiao. I’ll be there when you call,” had been a promise he had given to many of Morax’s friends in the past. Anything to help out his newer master’s needs, for he found his hands itching to assist when the old god said, ‘That’s all.’ He was annoyed at first when the traveler and his fairy pet had started to call him for things other than battle— what the original promise was for— but Xiao had gotten used to it. Solitude was his preference, but the feeling of being helpful was almost a little greater.

Up on the balcony of Whangshu Inn, the old spirit stood, his eyes fixated and sharpened on the blade of sun that was just peaking through the clouded mountains west of the building. The traveler would be here soon, if Xiao could guess; every morning for the last month, the mortal would climb up to the inn and call out his name expectantly, either with a gift of some sort or a mindless task for him to help on. Perhaps he is weak, Xiao considered; the commissions may be too much for him to stand. He might need my help just to get through them. He bowed his head and shook it. No, that wasn’t it. Xiao had seen the traveler pounce into battle without any hesitation before, like a mother bear to her cub, especially if a fellow mortal was in danger. He could hold himself in a fight just fine… so why did the young man attach so heavily to Xiao’s side for assistance? Maybe it was a human practice the adeptus wasn’t too aware of; from the chuckles of Morax, it seemed to Xiao that his knowledge and understanding were limited even in the eyes of fellow immortals. 

“Oh,” a soft voice behind him spoke; Xiao turned knowingly. There was the traveler, bright-eyed and mildly surprised, like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar. “Hi, Xiao!” The sort of… fairy thing behind him chirped gleefully, her floating form just above enough to not bump into the man’s head. Nothing was different from the countless times the traveler had come to bother him— besides, well, the man’s hair. Usually wrapped in a deceptively tidy braid, it wasn’t today. “I was going to call you… But it seems you already expected us.”

“What do you need now, traveler?” Xiao responded bluntly, but not harshly. Suspicious, with the way the traveler was shifting nervously on his heels. 

“Dumb question,” the traveler started, as Xiao took a breath of air to stay patient with the mortal, “could you help braid my hair today?”

The adeptus couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, his golden eyes flickering in mild confusion and maybe with a little irritation. Another trivial task. “I’ve seen you braid your hair every other day I’ve seen you. Why must you ask for help just now?”

“Well… I want a certain braid. There's a small festival going on today, and my friend, Xinyan, told me to wear ribbons in my hair, but I can’t get it right. I thought because you are from here and all, and have watched many celebrations from afar, maybe you’d know. You’ve seen how they’ve done them, right?”

Xiao sighed before he turned to pull out a chair, waiting patiently for the traveler to bend down, his hands itching slightly to do something other than just the childish act of braiding another’s hair. But the traveler smiled gratefully, albeit a little guiltily, as he pulled from his bag a bundle of red ribbon. Then a hairbrush. Then an assortment of wooden braiding tools. 

Useless. Xiao couldn’t help but glare lightly at the supplies; there was no way that the traveler couldn’t do this himself, but Xiao couldn’t help but relent. The man’s hair was beautiful, Xiao couldn’t lie. Silky soft and healthy in a way that didn’t require the traveler to care for it barely at all. It reminded Xiao of the curls of a particularly soft fleece, primed into perfect blond strands. “Thank you,” the traveler gently whispered under his breath as Xiao grunted wordlessly in response. There’s no reason to this, Xiao wanted to say, as he gathered his untrained fingers through the blond’s hair to make three strands. He often paused, contemplating where he should turn and twist, and even if he was doing it right. Traveler’s companion, Paimon, rattled on about something about festival food, Xiao’s pointed ears twitching in mild annoyance at the shrill voice; it thankfully soon haltered, as the little spirit drifted off, held tenderly in the traveler’s arms. A long few minutes turned into silence, the only sound being Xiao’s fingers on ribbon and hair. Xiao coughed awkwardly a few times, a little uncomfortable with the silence; quiet while alone was one thing, but he never knew the traveler to be anything but a quiet presence. Without the chatter of Paimon or others though, there was nothing. Just the sound of another breathing. He opened his mouth to speak a few times, but found little things to say to the man as anxiety crept on the nape of his neck.

It was much too intimate for him. 

“I’m being to quiet, aren’t I?” Xiao jumped slightly at the sudden voice, clearing his throat again as he nodded. The traveler looked up carefully, giving a soft, more genuine smile to him. “I have to admit. I didn’t really need your help doing this.” 

Xiao nodded again, more sure. “I know.” He mumbled, before another silence took the two. The traveler chuckled softly, his eyes avoiding Xiao’s in a way that he didn’t understand. “I… I’m sorry. It was a bit of Paimon’s idea. You see… I haven’t had anyone else braid my hair in a while. My sister used to braid my hair with a ribbon.” 

Xiao’s mouth opened once more, his words failing him once more as he nodded dully… three times must make him look like some type of wordless idiot. “Oh,” was the only thing that came out, as his hands faltered. He took a breath, a discomfort curling in his stomach, but he couldn’t help the curiosity in his expression. Comfort was what he needed, yet the adeptus had never known how, or even the feeling, of comfort. The traveler sighed, looking down and obscuring his face from Xiao, a frustrating move.

“I kind of missed someone doing my hair. I must be bringing you away from your duties for such a dumb ask, but… you’re the only one not to ask questions about it. I can braid my hair just fine with a ribbon.” 

“I know,” Xiao repeated, the only words that would come out. 

“I mainly just come here because… You seem lonely. You remind me of… I mean, I think its nice to just…”

“I know.”

Both went silent again, and Xiao wondered if he had said the wrong thing. “Thank you.” The traveler spoke, before reaching over his shoulder and squeezing the adeptus’s hand. He blinked— the weight, even through Xiao’s gloves, was apparent. The feeling of another, the… scent of another. Suddenly, Xiao felt something heavy be lifted off his heart— his discomfort gone in an instant. A sudden… It's okay . Yet it was no flute sung at the end of the battle, nor the freeing touch of his master, Morax. It was simply just a touch from a mere stranger. A no one in the big scheme of his life. Yet, Xiao couldn’t let go. 

“Thank you.” The traveler repeated. “You’re a good person, Xiao.”

Xiao gulped as he let go, his hand immediately itching for more of that fleeting touch. If Xiao wasn’t so trained with hiding his words, his emotions— Xiao could almost cry at the lack of it. Instead, Xiao only coughed, as if it was nothing, and the heavy weight sat back on his shoulders as if that moment had never happened. My karmic debt… Xiao almost mentioned, as he looked up to the morning sky as if to hide the pained expression. It was a fluke, of course. In some moments where Xiao found himself distracted, he could close to ignore it, but it never faded completely. But there… it felt weaker, and all Xiao wanted in a pathetic moment of fragility was to grasp back at that hand and hold his arm close like a scared child. 

The traveler, as embarrassing as it was, seemed to notice the change in tone, as he tried to get up. “Xiao?”

Xiao only stammered, an agonized grunt escaping him without it meaning to, before a convenient interruption— Paimon. “Huh? Are you guys done braiding yet?” She mumbled, wiping her eyes and looking curiously at the two. “Xiao?” She spoke, gliding over to see the tenseness of Xiao’s face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine… your hair is done, traveler.” He muttered, trying to gather himself once more. Halfheartedly, he tied the end of the traveler’s braid, gripping at his temple for a moment. In the side of his blurring gaze, he saw the worried expression of the other man, a heartless thing to do to Xiao, as the face only made him grip his head harder. “My karmic debt is just acting up… I can deal with it myself. Go.”

Stay, a sudden voice yelled in his mind, frightening him for a moment before he realized it wasn’t a verbal one. “Xiao…” The traveler’s voice mumbled fretfully, painfully fretfully, as if Xiao was weak. He stiffened his jaw, his eyes hardening their gaze in insistence. “Leave me. I will be fine.” 

The blond, obviously in protest, opened his mouth before Paimon pulled on his messy braid. “C'mon,” she muttered softly, the two giving a knowing look at the adeptus. “ Leave me,” Xiao strained out once more, as finally, the two hesitantly started to leave. Tears of agony threatened to spill, as the voices only got louder, the pain on his heart and wrists squeezing with its unnatural grip. Between the blurring lines of his vision, he could see the shotty work of traveler’s hair, braided into a tangle of lack of practice and shaky hands— but there was a light there. Something in his eyes, something there that Xiao couldn’t explain. 

Xiao sighed in pain, forcing his hand to the ground, darkened swirls of anemo magic coming from his palm to hide himself away in needed solitude.

That touch, the last of his sane mind called, and soon, Xiao’s presence on the inn’s balcony was gone in an instant, only a cool breeze left in his memory.

Chapter Text

It was only a day since Xiao had that touch.

The adeptus had decided to spend his night at the top of Hulao mountain, looking over the golden city from the horizon. He sat still at the lake, birds and crystalflies landing on him from time to time to rest; There was something simple about letting nature and humanity’s lives go on without him; he needed the peace alone after that morning.

“You’re a good person, Xiao.” His ears twitched, as if he heard the traveler just say it again. He sighed to himself; what a joke. The traveler knew nothing about him— nothing of the thousands of demons he’s destroyed, the humans he had killed in the crossfires of war, the horrible acts he did… There was nothing good about Xiao. He wasn’t some person to compliment, he was merely a retired weapon of war. Yet, Xiao had realized that day he knew as little about the traveler as he did about him. Of course Xiao knew the basics of his character— everyone knew of the hero of Liyue. He knew that the traveler was attentive and helpful to others, with how much he ran around Teyvat to assist in the errands of commonfolk. Master Rex Lapis was a friend of his, along with Shenhe, and the other adepti; that was no ordinary feat. He was searching for a long lost sister; he remembered when Rex Lapis had forced him to have tea with Barbatos and him. Yet Xiao barely knew anything else.

What else is there? Xiao’s cynical side asked. Humans were rarely that complex of creatures, despite their needless assurance that they were the most intelligent. The majority of them lived the lives of others, where they’d get education, have children, maybe marry and own a business, and then die dully from some ailment. Yet for the short period of time he knew the traveler, he seemed to not be interested in any of the typical things Xiao thought humans were into. The traveler was merely there to help, to be a tool to others, to kiss the scrapes of children’s knees and to fetch lost packages in the mail. Maybe it was all for his sister; humans had the habit to attach themselves with the people they were born with. Maybe it was for some greater purpose. Xiao had never known someone to be such a hero, to be selfless and disgustingly friendly to others for the simple purpose of just… a sister. What did saving Liyue have to do with finding a sibling? Xiao couldn’t fathom how that would get him any closer to his goal.
What was the purpose of calling him so often? Loneliness, maybe. Assistance in his meaningless tasks, probably. Yet if his sister was his only goal, why call Xiao? He had never asked anything of Xiao about his sister; last morning was the only time he had ever even heard the traveler speak about her to his memory. Who was he?

Who… was he? Xiao blinked at the moon, feeling his confusion only greatening. Like clockwork, Xiao then felt a wind calling for him, a whisper of him. “Xiao…” He sighed, getting up from his perch on the mountain, closing his eyes. When he opened, he was behind the blond.

“You called?” The adeptus soon shut himself up. Here was the traveler, dead asleep on the ground of a cave, his arms around his fairy companion like before. There was a dying fire near the campsite, along with the remains of a meal stacked in a pile of remains.

“Xiao, could you…” The traveler murmured sleepily, his eyes still firmly closed. Xiao’s ears perked down in embarrassment. Had the traveler mentioned and thought of him so much that he had started to dream of the adeptus? What relationship did this mortal think they had? Xiao was merely following his lord’s orders.

“Xiao, where…” The blond paused softly, his head lulling to the side. “Where is… Lumine?”

Lumine. Xiao couldn’t recall ever hearing that name before. Of course, he wasn’t searching that name out at all, but…

“Lumine…” The traveler’s face scrunched slightly, almost in pain.

Xiao sighed, feeling a little guilt to have intruded so carelessly on a mortal’s rest. He had never been one to sleep, but he knew it was a sacred thing to humans. Hesitantly, he stepped closer despite himself, fixing the wool blanket around him. “I’m not Lumine,” he mentioned, as if the traveler could respond. But, it was a request, and Xiao had never failed to do requests for friends of Morax. He nodded simply, finding his voice dipping into a whisper. “But I will find her for you.” The traveler’s hand clenched softly around Paimon’s, his face still twisted in a sort of emotional ache that Xiao could not understand.
“I need her,” the traveler keened gently, his voice cracking even in sleep as if he were about to cry. “Please.” Xiao’s golden eyes softened. Needless pleading was something Xiao would never understand; if he wanted something, he would do it himself. If he was in pain, he’d suck it down. But there was something about desperation, especially in sleep, that Xiao could relate to. Gentler still, he placed the blanket over his shoulders, blowing one of his softer winds at the flame of their fireplace to coax it back to life. “Xiao…”

The adeptus stepped back, feeling like he had already overstayed his welcome. A soft breeze had picked up outside of the cave, making him ponder if the traveler and Paimon slept outside every night. Maybe he was just trying to earn money through his many jobs for a house, yet… something told him that wasn’t the case. For some odd reason, it felt strange to leave him for the night; shaking off the feeling, he sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, traveler.” Xiao turned to leave, but couldn’t help but look over his shoulder a final time.

He stiffened— movement from Paimon, and quick as he came— the adeptus disappeared.

Chapter Text

“Do you know anything about a person named Lumine?” 

Morax sipped at his tea, the old god’s eyebrow raising introspectively. “Yes… I know of her. The traveler’s twin sister.” Xiao shifted uncomfortably in his seat; how could he have not guessed that? Xiao had decided to meet his lord in the morning. Along with the vague comfort and wisdom of the archon always soothing his nerves, he was the person he knew closest to the traveler. 

“You are curious about the traveler, my son?” Morax mused softly with a chuckle, the soft swish of the tea in his hand mixing around the small flecks of grain and extract. The old god leaned back, sighing softly into his chair in a casual manner. “The traveler does not let out his true feelings about much, I find. However, the boy does speak of his sister often. Once, he asked me to gather information about his sister as well.”

“Do you know anything of her, lord Morax?”

“Please, it’s Zhongli now.” He hummed a tune before pouring a small cup of longjing tea for Xiao. Sliding it over to him, Xiao caught it easily in his grip, the imperfect shape of the ceramic becoming something to fidget against. “Unfortunately, my knowledge of her is limited to what Aether already knows. She has somehow changed from what he remembers. She’s been tainted by the spiral abyss from what I know. She’s been crowned somewhat of a princess.”

Xiao’s face contorted in thought. That made it more complicated, if his sister was not just lost, but against them too. Someone like that, threatening Liyue… if Xiao didn’t make a promise to the traveler, he would’ve purged them in seconds. 

“But I cannot tell you anymore. I am under a contract, and in full honesty, I might’ve even told you too much.” Morax— no, Zhongli muttered between a sip of his drink.  “Has Aether asked you to help him as well? It seems he only asks those whom he is close to.” 

“No— well, yes. Lord Zhongli.”

The old god opened his mouth to correct the adeptus, before letting a soft, amused sigh and chuckle escape. He looked at him carefully, studying Xiao’s focused expression.

“Well, Aether doesn’t particularly keep his quest a secret. Despite not asking you directly, it is quite kind of you to consider his needs like that. I find you have taken a liking to him instead?” 

Xiao sputtered slightly, quickly shaking his head. The very notion!

“No. He’s just… frequently demands my presence, is all.” Xiao huffed, crossing his arms protectively over his chest. Liking a mortal. No. That would never go well. Mortals and immortals were far too different ever to work— as if he would even consider that. Yet, Xiao wondered what it would be like to see the traveler die. The man had done lots for his master, for Liyue… even Barbatos spoke of him fondly. Xiao doubted he would feel any of what humans called… “grief.” Xiao barely knew him, but the loss of that presence… 

“I often look out the window of my residence and see you two. It's quite an interesting sight to see you so out and about. You’re so shy around him.” Zhongli mused. “Well, you are around anybody, yet this little relationship of yours… enchants me. Ah, it reminds me of the olden days… you and your friends, them playing little tricks on you and itching for your attention…”

“The traveler is a mortal. Immortals do not befriend mortals.”

“I have befriended him, and I am immortal.” Zhongli pressed on. He sighed, his smile losing its strength as Xiao looked away. “Is that so wrong for you?” 

Keeping his arms crossed around him, Xiao tried to bring his attention back to the moment. Those memories… unlike Zhongli, he never wanted to look back. He copied Zhongli sipping his tea in an effort to stay normal, yet the old god’s eyes saw right through him. 

“My son,” he offered, letting his hand reach closer to Xiao’s. Instinctively, Xiao pulled away. “I merely like to see you have a companion again. I’m sorry.”

“I don't need any condolences. Everything is in the past now… and any grieving, any debt made by my own actions— that’s my hurt to bear.”

Zhongli nodded understandingly, pulling away and getting up from his chair with a small sigh of effort. He picked up the empty cup of his own tea, gently offering the kettle to Xiao in case he wanted any more.

“I have a request for you, my friend.”

Xiao looked up, his eyes flickering with a sudden energy. He sat up straighter, fixing himself, as if he were a soldier once more. “A contract?”

“No, a mere, humble request. Contracts are a thing of the past for me.” The old god nodded, resting his hand on the younger immortal’s shoulder. “I know you’re… against any affection from a mortal, but I get the feeling that the traveler, as daft as it might be to you, has gained a friendliness towards you.

Please, for me, do not push him away. I think he needs the company, and I think you do too.”

Xiao’s shoulders unstraightened themselves, a slight disappointment sneaking its way up his spine. “Right.” He closed his eyes, thinking of his god’s words carefully. A mere request… not a command. Not a contract. Something he could deny. Yet looking at the hopeful, wise gaze of his lord, he couldn’t find the words to deny an old friend. 

“I’ll do it for you, my lord.” He finally said, sighing reluctantly. 

“Zhongli, please.” Zhongli smiled softly before patting his shoulder like a silent praise to a child. “Feel free to finish the tea, my friend. If you’d like to join me, I am going to watch the birds this morning. They’re quite cheeky now when they realize I’ve left seeds on my porch. It's entertaining, if you have any interest.”

“I’m fine.”  The adeptus replied, before his ears twitched. Paimon’s voice. “Xiao…. Xiao! Xiao Xiao Xiao!” Obediently, Xiao stood up, Zhongli chuckling knowingly. 

“Please, come to visit soon. I think it would be quite a kick if some time you can convince Ganyu and the traveler to visit more often as well. I miss the company.”

“I will.”

Xiao gave the lord a final look before making himself teleport to the voice once more. 

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“See? Xiao won’t respond to my voice.” Paimon chattered, the small fairy-like girl gliding cheekily over the traveler's shoulder. Xiao had teleported close to the two nomads, yet not close enough to be noticed. Checking his surroundings, he predictively found himself being called for not a battle, but another trivial moment. Sighing in effort to cover his mild annoyance, the adeptus crouched in the branches of the tree he had regrettably teleported onto, perching with perfect balance to listen to the two babble on.

“Hey, don’t risk it!” The traveler hushed quickly, covering Paimon’s mouth and looking around suspiciously. Luckily, it seemed that human eyes were no match for his.

“Don’t you think that's a little rude? Shouting a spirit’s name like that…”

“What? Don’t you do that all the time?” 

Rolling his eyes, a retort never came from the blond. The traveler brushed some dirt off his shoulder, continuing to walk down a path that Xiao recognized to be the one to Liyue Harbor. Interesting… seeing him going to any other place than the inn to call him.  “Well… you said you saw him come into our camp last night… what for?”

“Don’t know. Paimon woke up to him leaving. He didn’t take any food.” Paimon explained, before leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper. “Maybe he was creeping on us!”

“No… I don’t take him as a guy who’d do that. And why would he have taken food in the first place? He doesn’t like it.” 

“Well… Paimon thought it was important to check.” The traveler gave a knowing look to Paimon, his eyes shooting daggers. He hummed, ducking to the ground and picking up a rock from the road; his brows furrowed in focus. “There seems to be some elemental energy here. I think the slimes went… this way.”

“What do you think Xiao was doing?” 

“Well… I did have a strange dream about him last night.” Xiao’s ears twitched. Of course, a dream. The adeptus peered in closer, his head tilting like an owl’s. Did humans usually talk in their sleep? The traveler stopped in his tracks, turning around suddenly as Xiao rendered himself still. Damn it. After a second, the traveler relaxed. 

“Sorry, I thought I saw something… uh… I had a dream that I met Xia—him— alone on the Inn’s porch again. He looked kind of like… someone else I knew.”

“Your sister?”

“I don’t actually clearly remember. Dreams have a funny way of going away after you wake up. I wish I had written it down…” The blond sighed, taking out his sword and tracking carefully along an invisible path of elemental energy. Xiao could see a few slimes past the human’s view, his instincts itching to deal with them himself, but the last thing he wanted to do was to alert anyone to him being there. Instead, he listened.

“I asked him… about Lumine.” The traveler hummed, the soft shape of his eyes becoming downturned and sad. “I don’t really know why I did. I just thought… he’d know. Of course, he didn’t. It was just a dream. Paimon’s expression followed as she glided herself infront of him, grabbing his cheeks slightly. 

“Aw, traveler… is Paimon not keeping you enough company? Don’t worry, we’ll find your sister!”

“Thanks, Paimon.” The traveler smiled, ruffling up her hair with a fading smile. “I don’t know. It’s not the only dream I have had recently about Lumine. I had a dream about her two days ago. That's why we visited him, I guess he’s just…”

“Comforting?”

“Maybe, yeah. He’s… similar to the people in my homeland. Long ago, I had friends like him. He’s also quiet and feels really… secure, I guess. He’s like Lumine that way, just without the mean streak.” The traveler let out a soft, humorless laugh, and Xiao felt a sort of shame take place in his gut. So he is lonely. Xiao had gotten used to being alone; it didn’t bother him at all anymore; the traveler… I could never be the friend he needs. He felt his mind say. We’re too… different.

“We’re not that different, I think.” The traveler said, almost on cue. “Well… we are, but… I don't know. It’s just nice to hang with him. I hope I don’t bother him with how much I’ve called on him recently. Ha… it would be funny if he were hearing all this, don’t you think?”

“Paimon thinks he’s a friend!” She chimed in with a smile, the soft glitter like flecks coming off her becoming slightly brighter. “And yeah, it would be funny.”

If only you knew… Xiao stifled a sigh. He looked at the braid in the traveler’s hair, still tied in the same ribbon Xiao had put in and just like he had left it. He cringed at his work, the tangles in his hair obvious and the uneven loops of his braids far too noticeable. The traveler’s hand wandered to his back, touching the braid. “I think… he is a friend. A good one.”

The duo soon drifted into silence as they followed the trail of energy, leaving Xiao alone in his tree with his thoughts. “Friend…” He couldn’t help but mutter the word to himself. Foolish, yes, but of course, he found his lord to be perfectly right. He depends on me now. Xiao pondered— depends on me for unimportant things, but… he depended on him. The adeptus stayed still for a moment, looking as two birds flew above him into a nest. They danced around each other, eventually landing on one of the branches as one flashed a bright shade of yellow feathers at the other. 

Such a strange sentiment. Depending on another… Xiao’s eyes softened at the birds. It felt strange not to have been called into their conversation intentionally. Maybe he depended on that so-called ‘security’ too. That routine…

No. To even consider that… 

So weak. Xiao’s face turned easily into a scowl at himself, standing up from his secure perch on the tree and inadvertently scaring the birds away.

“Ah! F-fatui members! Over there!” He quickly snapped out of it, looking up at the horizon again at the sound of Paimon’s squeal. The adeptus muttered a curse, and in an instinctual flash of power, he was there on the battlefield.

Chapter Text

Damn it. How had Xiao not seen them before? None of that mattered now. Spear in hand, Xiao felt the adrenaline of battle fill his unholy veins, the sensation as familiar as an old friend. “Huh? Back up… where did he come from?” 

Five fatui grunts stood in front of the adeptus, his eyes quickly surveying the defenses they had. Despicable. To even think these pathetic creatures could do so much damage in Liyue. Scowling, it was all he needed to jump in without a second thought. He slammed his polearm into the head of one of the fatui, slashing violently towards what seemed to be the leader of the gang. The man in red quickly disappeared in a flash of pyro magic— yet Xiao could sense his presence easily through the trail of energy he left. 

“Xiao!” The traveler called, as Xiao’s polearm accidentally met the sword of the blond. He hesitated, looking into the eyes of the man— wide, determined, and desperate. Right. He was fighting with another. “Stay close to me, traveler.” He spoke simply, slipping past him to press into the back of the traveler. The fatuus in red appeared in front of him again, making a frustrated grunt in response. Xiao readied his polearm, his karmic debt starting to take hold of his heart. His mask, oh so horribly familiar, pressed forcefully against his face, the icy material contrasting with the warmth of the other body behind him. He felt the traveler gulp slightly. 

“So pitiful, for the great hero of Liyue needs help to defeat us. Is this another of your little companions?” 

Xiao’s pupils turned to slits under his mask, a sudden burst of anemo throwing him into the air, slamming into with all his weight and anger onto the grunt. A rage filled his mind, the whispers of his demons only getting louder. He easily threw off the mask of the grunt’s mask, his debt relishing the sudden fear in his eyes. “Say that again.” He lifted his polearm. 

“No, Xiao! Don’t kill them!” The traveler’s voice rang, Xiao catching himself. He pushed a blast of anemo at the fatui member under him, throwing him into a mountain’s side with a rough thump. It was a battle for escape. Not a battle to destroy, he had to remind himself. Jumping back into the air, he threw his polearm onto the fatui agent’s coat, catching him like a mouse in a trap before kicking him off his feet with an airborne shove. The adeptus landed once again to the side of the traveler, who placed his sword to the fatui agent’s neck. Xiao picked up his polearm, half expectantly thinking the traveler wanted to go for the kill himself, before the blond stopped— the battle becoming still. 

“Abandon your mission here, fatui. Leave your camp, and we might let you live another day.” The traveler spoke with a sudden, leader-like tone, unlike the soft voice Xiao was usually met with.

The fatui agent scowled, suddenly picking a contraption out of his pocket.  “You. You can’t run from debt.” Xiao almost went in, expecting the fatui to try yet another attack, before the man threw it on the ground to summon a pile of smoke. Traveler and Paimon coughed, and even Xiao’s eyesight was thrown off as every single fatui member disappeared. All that remained of the battle was the adrenaline and debt in Xiao’s veins, along with a small piece of coat fabric stuck to the tip of his polearm. He sighed, finally being able to breathe once his battle mask unlatched itself from his face. Sitting up, he met the traveler’s eyes finally, studying his face. 

Fear? Xiao questioned. Of course, he’d be afraid of him now. It wasn’t often the traveler saw him without a hold on himself—

“Xiao.” The traveler came over, making the adeptus momentarily jump as the gloved hand of the other man touched his cheek. He wiped it, looking down with a serious, unmet gaze. “You have blood on your face.”

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Had Xiao done something wrong? He couldn’t help but think so when the traveler was being so silent. It had already turned to evening when the traveler and Paimon started to make up camp. However, despite no words being said to him to do so, Xiao felt as if he even dared to leave, the traveler would snap at him; so Xiao helped in silence. 

“What are we going to tell him?” Paimon whispered and muttered infrequently to her friend, her peering eyes at Xiao to the traveler leading to no speculation on the adeptus’s part. He felt… scolded, in a way, somehow. He was a proud adeptus, confident in battle and rarely ever felt shaken, yet the traveler’s silence felt quite punishing.

The three had eventually made a fire, Aether silently lighting the wood Xiao had gathered with the oil of a flaming flower he had stored in his pocket. Sitting on two logs improvised as seats, Paimon had finally, finally, decided to speak up.

“Erm… Xiao, just so you know— we don’t kill. Well, sometimes we knock out hillichurls… or… mess up, but…” Paimon meekly started, the traveler’s eyes meeting Xiao’s in an almost cold way. Xiao nodded awkwardly. Right. 

“I understand,” Xiao spoke softly, crossing his arms. “It was your battle. I apologize for taking it over.” The traveler sighed, waving at Paimon to leave. They silently bickered for a moment, before, reluctantly, the fairy girl flew away with a grumble. Hesitantly, traveler’s eyes softened at him. 

“Xiao, I’m not mad at you.”

You are, he wanted to say, but kept quiet as the traveler lifted his hands to the fire for warmth. “But the fatui members are human, people. I don’t feel right killing anything without purpose.”

“But they were threatening your life.”

“No, they weren’t.” The traveler snapped slightly, Xiao’s shoulders tensing at the sudden rise of his voice. Then, with a sigh, the blond calmed down again. “They weren’t there to kill me. If anything, they were there to trick me and capture me.”

“And then kill you,” Xiao stated, but he was starting to feel unsure. “I see evil when I see it. I came in to help you and protect you—”

“No. They wouldn’t kill me.” The traveler’s eyes filled with a sort of pain that Xiao couldn’t understand. His body shook slightly, his arms coming to hold the sides of his head. “The fatui are connected to the abyss, and to my sister. They wouldn’t kill me because my sister wants me to live. And… you still came. I didn’t call you that time, and yet…” He paused, his expression softening into a sort of quiet plea. “Why were you there?”

“Paimon called me. I… still hear her, yet…” Xiao explained, an odd sort of embarrassment catching his tongue. He coughed awkwardly, trying to meet the traveler’s eyes professionally, but failing. “I thought you needed my help, so I gave it.”

“You think I’m weak, don’t you?” The traveler suddenly spoke, looking into his eyes with far too much emotion for Xiao’s comfort. Xiao couldn’t help but hesitate— not at his words, but at the traveler himself. His gaze was… soft. Were his eyes always this round? A gentle face, one of no harm. Even when distraught, tired… frustrated at him… Xiao could see why many had a fondness for him. He was too much of a hero. He’s the good person. Not me.

“You’re… too soft.” Xiao muttered gently, forcing himself to keep speaking when the traveler’s mouth opened to protest. “You’re a hero, unlike me. I… Rex Lapis worries about your safety out there, especially when you try so hard to see the good in everyone. Sometimes, there just isn’t.” Xiao hesitated before letting his eyes soften back at the traveler.

“You’ve even accepted me. I know your goal… is very, very important to you— I can understand that much. I have an undying loyalty to my god, as much as you do to your twin sister. Yet, even I can see the faults in him. To talk about humanity… about life… nothing is ever pure enough to spare so needlessly like that.” 

The traveler’s eyes softened immensely, and suddenly, all the tenseness in his body seemed to loosen. The fire burned brighter, the crickets started to chirp… the wind picked up into a soft breeze. “It’s okay for you to think that about me, Xiao.” He spoke gently, fixing a strand of hair to fit behind his ear. “Yet, I don’t find myself soft. I just… I never want to lose the part of me that cares for a soul. Any soul.”

“But accepting you isn’t a sign of… whatever you think I’m doing. I’m not better than you in the slightest.” The traveler started, reaching out for Xiao’s hand once more. Their fingers touched, and the adeptus sighed— that strange silence in his karmic debt returning. “Traveler…”

“Please, Xiao. Call me Aether. You’re a new friend of mine. You’re not just an acquaintance to me, or some presence I’m so-called just ‘accepting.’” 

“Aether…” The name felt strange on his tongue, yet homey. “I haven’t had a friend for eons. I can’t promise I’ll be a good one to you.”

Aether smiled, as Xiao could see at the corner of his eye, Paimon peaking past a tree. She had been listening the entire time. 

“C’mere,” he grinned only wider, suddenly pulling Xiao in. He placed his arms around him as Xiao felt a breath catch in his throat. He raised an eyebrow, feeling the blond sway him in an unfamiliar, swaddling way. 

“What in the archons’ names are you doing?” Xiao couldn’t help but squawk, pushing back on him with a mockery of dislike. “Is this a sort of attack move?”

Aether started to giggle and then laugh, patting his back with a gentle hand. Pulling away, the blond wiped his mouth, smirking at the adeptus’s puzzled expression. “Silly, have you never been hugged before?” Moving towards his bag, he pulled out a plate. “Let’s have a meal together, yeah? I’d like to enjoy some downtime before we report back to the commissioners. No rush.”

A meal, so simple. Xiao’s eyebrows raised, still dazzled by the sudden wave of affection from his… new “friend,” yet couldn’t deny him in good faith. 

“I can teleport you to town. What do you want?”

“Maybe some... almond tofu?” Aether smiled.

“Hm, alright...”

Chapter Text

Xiao wondered— what did friends do? Of course, it wasn’t like he had never had friends before. The adepti were his business partners and perhaps even labeled his friends, and the ones he had lost along the way were ones he missed dearly. It's not that he didn’t have experience, but… 

What made this feel different?

Xiao had teleported Paimon and Aether to Liyue Harbor’s docks, surprising and inadvertently terrifying a child on the way once the kid realized what she had just witnessed. Weaving through town, Aether chatted mindlessly about a restaurant he knew, as Xiao followed and bumped awkwardly into the harbor crowds. His hand was held uncertainly on the shoulder of the mortal, as if worried to lose sight of him. Even with Xiao’s good eyes, it would be easy without being at least airborne. So strange. Does the traveler deal with this crowd every day?

The sound of people yelling advertisements, kids squealing and chasing each other, the gasps and murmurs from the citizens who had noticed them together… It was overwhelming. Xiao’s ears felt like they were ringing a little from it all. It was a thing to be called on a commission with Aether alone; usually, he was called either outside of town or at the inn. Lord Zhongli was usually a quiet place to visit, too. Xiao could teleport into the house anytime he wanted, albeit he did it very rarely— and only for important occasions. When was the last time I even entered here?

“—It’s that run by Xiangling’s father, the girl who fed you that Almond tofu that one time.”

“Huh?” 

“You weren’t listening, were you?” Paimon jutted in, giving Xiao a funny look. Aether only laughed before making a sudden turn to their left to a small vendor off to the side. “Anyways, here it is. Wanmin Restaurant.”

“It’s quite… open. Like a bar.” Xiao commented, feeling himself flinch slightly as a person dared to brush past him. Would he have to be forced to stay in the harbor for long? So loud… The adeptus tried to stay flat-faced, yet from the knowing look of Aether, he seemed to have already noticed his discomfort.

“Hey. Don’t worry. This place is a walk-in, so we can just get our food and sit wherever you’d like.”

“Ah,” Xiao nodded, taking a breath to relax himself. “Thank you.” Aether nodded with an understanding smile, tapping softly at the restaurant counter to catch the attention of a simple-looking, black-haired man. Fixing the cuff on his wrist, the human beamed quickly at Aether, obviously recognizing him. “Ah! Traveler! Back so soon? Did my daughter call you to try a new recipe again?” The blond laughed, light and airy, wiping his cheek a little. 

“No, we’re actually just here to order. Glad to see you well, though, Chef.” The man nodded, almost a little surprised, before turning to the adeptus. Xiao couldn’t help but tense a little at the sudden interest in him, but forced himself to nod respectfully. “Now, who’s your little friend, traveler?” He mused, Xiao’s jaw tightening. Little? 

Right, he corrected himself. This man was human, and probably considered Xiao to be human as well. Outside the Inn, barely anyone knew what he looked like, and he wasn’t as obviously inhuman as someone like Ganyu. “This is Xiao, the adeptus. He’s here to eat with me— my treat, by the way.” My treat? Xiao’s face got a little heated. Was that a pet name? 

“I don’t think we’re close enough to—”

“Adeptus?” The chef gawked, his face becoming ghostly white. It seemed like he was about to faint for a second before he came out and roughly shook the adeptus’s hand. “Oh my archons! Sir, I’m so sorry. I thought you were… it is an absolute honor to have one of the protectors of Liyue to visit our humble establishment. To see an adeptus like yourself here… wow! It’s amazing to…”

“Yes, greetings.” Xiao grimaced, peeling his hand away hesitantly before giving Aether a desperate look. When could the two get out of here…? To his dismay, it wasn’t fast enough. Seemingly, the chef had been so dazzled by Xiao’s presence that he had brought the rest of his staff to meet him. Trying to stay tolerant, he remained as quiet as he could politely as another woman came to shake his hand. Almost in a sigh of relief, he realized that he recognized her. “Oh my goodness! Adeptus Xiao, back again! You came back because you liked my cooking that much, huh?” The bob-haired girl greeted, her eyes wide, but her face soft enough not to be as overly intense as that of what seemed to be her father. 

“Well, he mainly came for me…” Aether interjected awkwardly, making a glorious space between Xiao and the enamored crowd of staff. Some breathing room… finally. 

“I’m guessing… hm, if I remember correctly… almond tofu, bland this time, and for you, Traveler, the chef’s choice?” 

Aether chuckled softly, looking a little embarrassed. “You know I hate choosing for myself… yes. Almond tofu is what you’d like, right, Xiao?”

Xiao nodded shyly, Paimon peeking from his shoulder to jump in. “Hey! Don’t forget to feed Paimon! One of those sticky chicken things you make so good, please!” 

Xiangling laughed. “Alrighty. I’ll get your meals ready, stat. Technically, almond tofu isn’t on the menu, but for our special guest, I don’t mind making something different. C’mon, everybody, let's get cooking!” 

Heaving a sigh of relief, he noticed Aether doing the same. They looked at each other, and Aether made a small laugh.  He laughs a lot. “Sorry about that. It's not every day that my popularity with people gets outshined.”

“It’s alright,” Xiao replied softly, but made himself look away to instead focus on his feet. He was a little dizzy— so much attention at once… he felt a similar intrusive feeling when Lord Zhongli and Barbatos summoned him to one of their tea parties. A mild moment of peace came back when Aether had the idea to wait at one of the quieter areas of the harbor for their food. It wasn’t completely crowdless, but Xiao could catch his breath for a moment. He wondered if the traveler’s life was always like this… running around, talking, and needing to memorize every face he met so he didn’t offend anyone… it sounded exhausting. And Paimon’s talking too… Xiao felt like he’d have to stay in a cave for a decade just to recover from a full day’s work in Aether’s life. Is that why he only calls me when he’s doing commissions? If it were Xiao, he would keep those precious moments of solitude as sacredly alone as possible. Still, even moments alone like this weren’t as peaceful as Xiao wanted, either. He felt a strange anxiety radiating off Aether, similar to his own, yet different. His face was smiling, but his eyes were not— awkward, unfocused, but not quite matching Xiao’s own. It wasn’t exactly the smile Xiao always received by Aether, albeit that one was overly friendly too. Was something wrong?

Before he could ask, the moment had already broke itself away from Xiao’s grip. “Oh, traveler! Adeptus Xiao! Your meals are done!” Xiangling, Xiao had finally remembered, called out, spotting them from the vantage of the restaurant and running down the stairs to greet them. Xiao took the quite generous plate of almond tofu off of Xiangling’s hands, already feeling Paimon drooling down his neck for a morsel. “Thank you.” 

Aether took his in turn; it seemed that Xiangling had given him a spicy sort of meal, steam coming off of the perfectly tenderized chicken and rice. Spicy wasn’t Xiao’s taste, but he could enjoy the craftsmanship of a good meal.

“Cute! It's supposed to be shaped like Gouba, right?” She giggled, nodding. Clasping her hands together, she gave a courtesy bow, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “You should eat here! It's almost the end of our shift, and my dad invited you two to share dinner with my family.” More of this? Xiao blinked, feeling dread fill his bones. To the grace of the archons, Aether lifted his hand. “Err… no thank you, Xiangling. Honestly, the three of us are kind of tired. We’ve had a long day, and you should let yourselves rest.” Blinking, he coughed awkwardly,  Xiangling almost deflating with disappointment. “Oh, well. That’s fine. Come by next time, alright?” Xiao couldn’t think of his presence as so special; he felt a little guilty for being so antisocial, and if the traveler truly wanted to go, he would’ve sucked it up. He looked at Aether. Is he trying to appease me?

Soon, they departed with their food, walking the path to the inland. Xiao couldn’t help but look once or twice at Aether again, studying that look in his eyes. Something told him he was worried about something. Maybe Xiao was being high-maintenance. 

“Hey, uh. Xiao, if you’re too tired to eat with us tonight, it's okay.” Aether offered, giving one of those sort of hidden message smiles Ganyu always gave him that he didn’t understand. It was true, Xiao was in a way… “tired,” but nothing he couldn’t push through. 

He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to find the hidden message. Was he bored? Was he too tired himself? Was he worried about him? Finally, he decided on what he thought he met, trying to look as mild as possible. “If you are worrying about me, don’t. It will be the same to me to eat this meal with you as it would me eating alone.” 

“But would you like to? It was… a lot in the harbor.” Aether offered again, his eyes searching for something Xiao couldn’t give. “I get a little overwhelmed, too, sometimes. I… I want to make you more comfortable with me, now that we’re friends. I just don’t want you to hang out with me out of obligation anymore. So… do you really, really want to?”

Xiao’s eyes flickered with a sudden understanding. He stood there, star-struck for a moment.

Some type of warmth filled his chest. A strange sensation, embarrassing, yet familiar. His friends… his memories… so far away, yet… right there. Those almost diplomat like words of comfort. “Bosacius?”

Aether’s golden eyes flickered with confusion, his lashes making small, almost enchanting patterns on his cheek. “Who?”

Xiao snapped out of it. No, of course, Xiao was just zoning out again. The warmth faded as quickly as it came, and despite the slight beating of his heart, it soon slowed down to normal. “I would like to… share a meal with you.” He spoke decidedly. “At your camp. That slime hunting commission… It's much too late to fill it anyways. We can fill that out tomorrow.” 

Aether smiled, a real one this time. “Alright.” He turned to walk,  before blinking in shock. “Huh? My plate… hey! Paimon!” 

Paimon only grumbled in response, her face covered in rice, spices, and chicken, plate incriminatingly in hand. “Sorry! You two were talking too long! Paimon finished her skewers and got hungry…” 

“How did you even snatch it from my hand?” Aether scowled and pulled on her little robe, but with little actual force, trying to hide his hidden smirk with a good-aimed flick to her head. “You can share with me once we get back.” Xiao offered; as Aether muttered a few thank yous and polite denials, the three had already started to make their way to a place where Xiao could teleport them back safely. Yet his mind still lingered on that moment. He sighed. 

Seemed like the two of them just had a habit of reminding each other of the past.

“Traveler,”

“Hm?”

“I mean… Aether. Please, don’t make it a habit to worry yourself sick about me. If I am uncomfortable, or… need to leave at any time, I will tell you directly.” At Xiao’s words, he found Aether only squinting at him, leaning in a little too close for Xiao’s comfort. “Will you?”

“Well… yes. Like right now. You’re breathing on my face.”

Aether flushed slightly, pulling away with a bashful, apologetic grin. “Ah. Sorry. I was… teasing you.”

Ah. Xiao nodded, avoiding his eyes as he grabbed the other man’s shoulder and then Paimon’s robe, forming a soft whisk of anemo around them.

.

.

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Chapter Text

Xiao had eaten with Aether a couple of days ago; it had been quite nice, a surprise to Xiao. Yet, it bothered Xiao that he hadn’t been called since. 

For the rest of that night, Xiao and Aether— well, more Aether, talked to him about the little things. About Xiangling, about the Adventurer’s Guild, about Liyue and Mondstadt… it was mindless conversation, yet Xiao definitely preferred it to whatever the loud chatter was at the harbor. The adeptus had chosen not to stay too long after, just long enough to eat some tofu to be polite and let Aether settle into camp once more. 

“Do you… sleep outside every night?” Xiao had asked out of the blue. Aether quickly shook his head, his bangs swishing into his face a little.

“No, not every night. Paimon and I sleep in our teapot.”

Xiao cocked his head. “What?” Aether only laughed a little, sitting down and cuddling into his sleeping bag. “Sorry— sounds weird without context, huh? Madame Ping gave us a magical teapot. It's a… realm entrance of some sort. We’ve made most of our home there. Here, do you recognize it at all?” Pulling his bag closer to his bed, he pulled out a ceramic pot, lined with intricate patterns only an adeptus would spend the time to create. The familiar magic ran off it, and Xiao nodded in understanding. “A Serenitea Pot.”

To think Madame Ping was even charmed enough to give one of her treasured belongings…

“Thats what she calls it, but I usually say just what it is out of habit.” Aether gave a shy smile, finally fixing his hair. Casually, his hand rang down his braid, picking his hair tie off. Hair now draped, he unraveled the ribbon, keeping it all together, holding it out for Xiao. 

I really did a bad job doing that. Did Aether really have to have that terrible braid he had done for so long?

“But sometimes, I just like camping,” Aether explained, leaning back. “It's nice to be under the stars once in a while, yeah?”

Xiao hummed, not quite in agreement. “The stars never leave the sky. I have lived a millennium watching them, so rarely do I find myself simply enjoying them.” He paused for a moment, softening. “But.. They are quite pretty.”

Xiao had lingered for a little longer with Aether, much in silence as he situated Paimon to finally sleep. It was a simple feeling of peace watching the traveler settle down for the night, yet eventually, Xiao found himself awkwardly trying to find an excuse to leave. Finally, the adeptus was finally alone, but only after a few days of nothing Xiao had already started the strange habit of worrying for him.

Was I a good friend to Aether? He caught himself thinking, taking his daily patrol around the mountains of Liyue. It was not a common occurrence to find himself so distracted from his duties, but he couldn’t stop himself from worrying. Adepti and mortals were so different from each other. Xiao had treated him as what he would treat another adepti that night; however, Aether’s treatment of him felt different than the usual response he usually expected. 

Aether felt… emotional. He was a little more touchy than Xiao was used to, popular, and so selfless Xiao wondered what he was planning half the time. Why keep apologizing for eating my almond tofu that night? What a strange thing to feel sorry for. Xiao had to practically force him to eat it when the traveler was obviously starving. The adeptus didn’t even need to eat. It was no wonder that Aether was known for such selflessness; the mere mention of his name and lord Zhongli and Barbatos would go on and on about how helpful he was. 

Aether wasn’t forcing himself to do all these deeds, correct? Xiao wondered if similarly, his lord had come to the mortal and made a similar request to him to befriend Xiao as well. Whether the affection was genuine or not, Xiao felt it was important to match his energy. Adepti were not known for their care and tact— but he found himself wanting to try. He paused, looking out to the mountains. Aether should still call me if there's trouble. I am not just someone to call for just trivial stakes. Teleporting to the edge of Wuwang Hill, Xiao felt it was only right to check the place most prone to trouble; its dark and naturally cloudy landscape was a perfect place for interlopers to come through. It was the place the adeptus sensed the most yin energy in Liyue. Spirits commonly stayed in these cliffs for the simple reason that they died there; from the flood, from crime— it varied greatly from ghost to ghost. Xiao wondered if Aether had visited this place before him that day… he was the type to be hyper alert to trouble like that.

No, stop it. 

Xiao almost swatted at himself. Today wasn’t about the traveler—it was about checking if Liyue was safe. Xiao faded easily through the dark, leaving little trace of himself besides the soft sway of leaves behind him. Strangely, the adeptus found that the mountain rarely ever had the occurrence of true sunlight. It was almost always cloudy, as if it were still covered in the mourning of the ones who had lost their lives here in the flood. But Xiao found its dreariness almost comforting… rarely any noise besides nature partook here, and he could easily stop trouble from starting just by being there. Foolish thieves had no comparison to his sharp eyesight and attacks, and one gust of Xiao's breath even near them would usually freak them out enough to leave. But if Xiao were to have a concern here, it would be demons. 

Lord Zhongli would usually chuckle at Xiao’s concern for them on Wuwang Hill, telling him that with his protection, no demon would dare get close to Liyue. However, with his… “death” of sorts, Xiao couldn’t help but fear that the lingering spirits of the gone gods would somehow come back to take his place. Perhaps they already have… with those damned fatui. The adeptus’s eyes sharpened in the dark at the mere thought of them. He didn’t feel demonic energy from them, particularly, but the rage of seeing injustice living and breathing like that near Liyue definitely wasn’t the pinnacle of comforting. And to think he had to consider his new “friend’s” feelings about them. Was Xiao stopping himself from purging the lives of the Fatui a promise now? Even in private battles, would Xiao hesitate again?

Aether doesn’t kill, Xiao thought to himself, pausing as he heard the sound of humans below the cliff he was walking beside. Feeling trouble, he sighed. Fine.

For at least right now… for him, I won’t either. 

Xiao bent down, slipping down without a sound and landing into the mist of the mountainside. He tried to stop his instinct to summon his polearm, only tracking the sound of what seemed to be two young men. Xiao suddenly felt a pressure, making him grab his forehead with a slight wince of pain— his karmic debt? No. 

So much yang energy… He blinked away the feeling, fighting the slight dizziness that busied itself in his head. Unlike most spirits, adepti could stand most yang energy and wouldn’t run away from it like a ghost or demon would. But due to the nature of the yaksha’s curse, he couldn’t help but feel a little aversion from such… intense power. Easily, Xiao could guess who it was. It wasn’t every generation that a mortal child would be born with such intense power. 

“Dear Chongyun, I promise— this one is real! This ghost encounter quite frightened the locals… Truly, have I ever deceived you?” A darker-haired boy mused next to Chongyun, a human Xiao had met with the traveler a couple of months ago. A well-mannered, but slightly painful to be around, young boy… not for his personality or embarrassing praise of the adeptus, but his born powers. 

“Yes, you have.” Chongyun huffed beside the other human, his hands awkwardly in his pants pockets. “You have always lied to me, Xingqiu.”

“Nonsense, Yunyun. Well… maybe just a little. But Rex-Lapis-strike-me-down, this sighting is true.” The boy, Xingqiu, gave a devious smile Xiao recognized as the one Hu Tao would make before causing trouble. The adeptus’s jaw tightened slightly. Was this child bothering Chongyun? Maybe a person who just lied for kicks. Xiao wasn’t one to dig into mortal matters, yet for one who looked up to him so dearly, he wondered if or when he should jolt in…

Ah, they’re… holding hands? 

Xiao blinked, relaxing a little. Never mind. They seemed to be… friends, or at least friendly. Harmless, then. He’d let his guard down for now, unless this “Xingqiu” started to cause more trouble than he was worth. 

“Here. The sighting says that a girl named ‘Zi Ling’ was walking through her garden and saw a strange-looking deer that ran for Wuwang Hill. She describes that the deer changed shape– disappearing into the mist before she could figure out what exactly it was.” Xingqiu explained simply, picking out a small book from his pocket to show these documents. Xiao’s ears twitched in thought. If there was a spirit of such a sort here… His interest was piqued if Chongyun’s wasn't; it was an excuse to follow the two mortals. Perhaps watching two relatively normal mortals being friends, Xiao would learn a thing or two. 

“Oh. Well, if it is true… perhaps it was some sort of adeptus or trick of the mist. Animal spirits rarely last long compared to human spirits. They don’t have as much to be vengeful or hold onto in the afterlife.” Chongyun decided, squeezing Xingqiu’s hand almost trustingly as he helped the other boy to hop safely over a tree root obstructing the road. 

“A adeptus, hm? My, interesting. Well, it's still worth searching, correct? Maybe animal spirits will be the ones to withstand your yang aura, my dearest. C’mon.” He ushered Chongyun along, Xiao following calmly behind them.

So human friends do call each other pet names nowadays, Xiao considered, keeping a far enough distance to listen, but keep his headache from worsening. He wondered to himself if he should just go ahead of the two; it would be faster, and probably easier, yet Xiao couldn’t help but be curious to watch the two play out. What an interesting duo… mortals are so strange.

They hurried along, discussing more details about the testimony about the ghost, Xingqiu adding some more than nonsensical details Xiao easily could see through, yet Chongyun completely was clueless to. Xiao noticed strange quirks as well, making sure to take mental notes on each gesture he thought as friendly. To be a good “human” friend to a mortal… the two seemed to be a good basis.

Xingqiu had constantly complimented Chongyun in each and every form within the strange poetry-like flow of his voice. Like… 

“You’re quite strong, Yunyun.” or “your yang energy is such a gift, is it not?”  or even— “you’re so cute!”

Even gifts seemed to be common between the two. Chongyun and Xingqiu had two matching accessories, he had noticed. And, surprising Xiao, Chongyun had even went to gather a bundle of flowers of Xingqiu along the way after Xingqiu said he thought they were pretty. Gather flowers... right.

They also had a noticeable habit of touch. Of course, Xiao knew this was a typical gesture for how much Aether liked touching his shoulder, but these human boys were different. Shoulder touching, yes, but hand holding… brushes of hair… it made Xiao feel a little bit like he was intruding on a married couple more than two friends. But that's how human relationships were, yes? If it was normal for humans, then he’d just have to disregard his own feelings about the matter. Even when the idea of touch repulsed him slightly. Those memories are not a concern anymore, he told himself after a moment. Playful jabs were also common between the two. Chongyun and Xingqiu would sometimes prod each other's shoulders if someone said something foolish, something Xiao could easily copy. They would even say things that sounded like an insult, where the other would easily laugh at or whisper a “shut up” under a little smile. 

After a while, Xiao started to bore from the mindless chatter of the humans, his body and ears becoming sore from all the yang energy and words blabbered at each other. He wondered if he should just leave, yet the idea of one of the other adepti or even deer sort of spirit still intrigued him too much to leave the mystery alone. Despite all the obvious half-truths coming from Xingqiu, he wondered if it was still of any weight. 

“Xingqiu?” 

“Hm?” 

The two paused in their stroll, letting Xiao settle on a nearby tree for a moment; his eyebrows perked. Oh?

“I wonder,” Chongyun mumbled, “should we split up? I mean, I know you’re certain this spirit won’t be effected by my yang this time, but maybe if we separate from each other, the spirit will show up for you. It happened last time with the traveler, and I was wondering maybe…”

Xingqiu frowned. “Oh, Yunyun, are we separating? Well… you’ll always remain in my heart. You know I’ll just die without you, right?”

“No, no! Not like that… just for a few minutes. You scream if you need me, okay?” With a large, dramatic sigh at the fair-haired boy, who rolled his eyes at his friend’s theatrics, they departed from another. Xiao sighed slightly; despite mildly disliking the slight cheekiness and entitlement airing off Xingqiu, he decided to follow him instead. After all, Xiao doubted there would ever be a ghost that wasn’t a demon of Archon war wretchedness that would ever be able to stand Chongyun’s yang energy enough to fight him. 

But trailing behind Xingqiu seemed to be little luck, as the boy sighed and sat down idly as if no worries had ever bothered him in his life. So much for searching. 

“Oh Yunyun, you are so gullible…” he giggled to himself, picking out the same “testament” document that he had stuffed in his bag before. “Hm, how to fake some more handwriting… you know, sending dear Yun on another ghost chase about a adeptus wouldn’t be that bad of a story.”

So he was lying. Xiao huffed, stepping carefully down a branch of his tree. Lying about ghosts was a one thing. Lying about adepti was another. Xiao felt a anger surged from his chest at the devious brat, clutching his fist. 

Soon, a wind started to set in, making Xingqiu look up. Xiao couldn’t care less about staying quiet now.

“Huh? W—who’s there?” The wind only grew louder, its hum through the trees becoming more like the wails of the fallen; sticks and leaves broke through the forest trees around him, the bellowing of devilish screams and whispers threatening their presence with every thump of Xingqiu’s feeble heart.

Xiao could taste the fear. 

In his most fearsome howl, he appeared in front of the mortal, polearm sharp in hand and eyes glowing with the deadliness of a lost predator. He let his mask slip from his belt, threatening putting it on. 

“Who’s there?” Xiao repeated in the same tone, the wind eventually crashing a dead tree in front of the boy. And Xingqiu—  his face white as the ghosts he lied about— screamed bloody murder.

Amused enough, Xiao teleported outside Wuwang Hill, considering his “defense” of Liyue well done. No thief or criminal would go into that mountain for a long time— with how much, Xiao could hear Xingqiu’s girlish screech from the Stone Gates. What a useless way to spend a day, he thought to himself. So much for intel, but at least one of his goals was reached. 

Next time he saw Aether, Xiao would know how to treat a friend… like a human would.

Chapter Text

“Xiao?”

He was there in an instant. “You called?” Finally.

Aether, predictably, jumped a little at Xiao teleporting just behind him, turning over with a soft chuckle of surprise. It had not been that Xiao had been waiting to be called today, but it had been a week since Aether had called him. Usually, the traveler called him often. Maybe every other day, for something or other. Yet after being called… a “friend,” nothing until now, where it seemed nothing had happened between them. He pondered… what would’ve taken a week to make Aether not interact with him at all? Strange.

“You know, I don't think I’ll ever get used to you being able to appear so fast.” The adeptus only hummed in response, his golden eyes quickly caught sight of the small brown contraption in Aether’s hands. He tilted his head curiously. So, another trivial task?  No matter. Xiao had been expecting as much. And of course, it gave him an excuse to practice his… “human impression”, he had started to call it in his head. Xiao had spent a little bit more time watching the subjects of Liyue at Wangshu inn for better reference, finding that his mind was preoccupied by the thought of impressing Aether. Impressing a human… what a strange notion to follow. But it felt in Xiao’s nature to at least try to be an even pull for the mortal to put his time into; it was his duty to serve, that's all. “Of course, I come quickly. If your life was in danger, I would need to be there as quickly as possible.” Xiao reasoned, as Aether chuckled again and shrugged almost guiltily. “Ha… guess I’m a little bad at using that promise for what it was intended for, yeah? Anyway, it's fine if you’re busy, but we got this—”

“Xiao, Xiao! Look at the trinket that Xu gave us!” Paimon jutted in, whisking the contraption out of Aether’s hands to show it to the adeptus. Slightly disturbed to have a flying being so close to his face. 

“Let's take a picture of you! C’mon, c’mon! Pose already!” Pushing Paimon aside with an exacerbated nudge, Aether gave an apologetic smile. 

“This… this is a kamera we got. It’s a fairly new invention that can take pictures of things, so people don’t have to hire painters as often. What we wanted to ask was if you wanted to take pictures of us. Completely optionally, Paimon.”

Looking at the two exchanging dagger-like looks, Xiao felt an awkward tension that was like watching a mother scold a child in front of him. Clearing his throat, he nodded tersely before glancing at the silver lens looking through the contraption. Pictures… of him? How bothersome. Yet it seemed that was what human friends were; with Xingqiu as an example… maybe that's just how mortals showed affection. 

“This isn’t a trick, is it?”

Aether blinked, a little taken aback as he fought for the kamera from Paimon’s hands. “Huh? A trick? Why would we trick you?”

“Just checking,” Xiao nodded decisively. “...Alright, because it is you, I will do it.” 

Aether nodded back, his eyes sweet and innocent, yet Xiao couldn’t help but feel mildly suspicious at the unnatural nervous twitch of the mortal’s smile. If not a trick, what else is he hiding? Clasping his hands around the kamera, he and Paimon urged the adeptus on to find a good spot for the kamera’s work. Xiao studied the mountains, concluding easily that he had been summoned around Mingyun village: the small town a couple of miles over from Wangshu Inn. The adeptus rarely decided to head to this area because the majority of his duties restricted him to the inn, so he was surprised to find familiar slopes so empty. “The beaches near here would be a good picture-taking spot!” Paimon mentioned, flying ahead of the two in excitement. Aether sighed, shaking his head with much less hurry, playing with the kamera’s strap in one hand and helping himself down a small ledge with his other. Xiao’s eyes followed his fingers, feeling himself itch slightly to grab it. It was appropriate to hold hands as friends, no? Xingqiu and Chongyun had. Without a moment of thought, Xiao clasped his hand over Aether’s, feeling an intense wave of embarrassment fill him when he felt the other tense. Aether’s head whirled around in momentary confusion, both staring at each other like fools. The gloved warmth of Aether’s hand felt almost burning on Xiao’s untrained grip— unnatural and confusing all in one, like a hot day in winter. 

“Ah— did you lose balance?” The blond reasoned, giving a polite smile that seemed to steamroll Xiao’s mistake all over his face. 

“Yes,” Xiao muttered back quickly, dislodging his hand from Aether’s as if it burned and hiding his face with a not-so-subtle cover of his bangs. Whatever Xiao had done just then— that wasn’t how Xingqiu and Chongyun had done it. 

The adeptus followed him along to the edge of the Yaoguang Shoal, instinctively rubbing the palm of his hand over his leg as if to rub off the feeling of someone else’s warmth on him, albeit temporarily. Were Aether and Xiao just not close enough to hold hands? He wondered if that was why he was so off on ‘charming’ like Xiao had thought he’d be. Damn it. Maybe I should’ve watched more. In hindsight, Xiao did feel a little guilty being the person who scared Xingqiu half to death a couple days before; he felt like the consequences of that would eventually bubble up in his face. It wasn’t often Xiao decided to do something as petty as that. 

“So,” Aether suddenly started, jumping him out of his tumble of thoughts. “Where should we take photos?” 

Paimon swirled around, pointing at a few dingy rocks as a suggestion, which Aether quickly shook his head. “No… a rock background is a little boring, no? We are at the beach.” 

All thought for a moment as they looked around. Xiao hadn’t been to the shoal for a while, yet he did know of a pretty view outcast to the ocean. Stepping on a ledge to get a better vantage point, Xiao jumped to the spot silently as the traveler and Paimon followed curiously. Sitting down on a small boulder with a grunt, he looked at Aether expectantly. Waves crashed softly around the rock, spritzing his robes only a little with salt water as he sat crisscross. 

“Good?” 

“Huh, you have a good eye, Xiao!” Aether jumped down as well, splashing into a wave with little regard to his clothes as he smiled encouragingly, seemingly satisfied with Xiao’s pick. “Yeah, good.”

Xiao’s ears twitched instinctively up at the praise, making him sit a little straighter. A compliment? So, Xiao hadn’t miserably failed yet. Seemed like they weren’t close enough to hold hands, but compliments were alright. He nodded calmly, trying to hide the twinge of anticipation in his voice as he racked to find something else to continue his win. 

 “I’ve meditated here a few times before with Rex Lapis. Before Osial came from the depths to try to defeat my lord, the ocean was much farther back than it is now.” 

“Yeah. You saved me then, didn’t you?” Aether hummed playfully, adjusting the small buttons and contraptions on the side of the kamera. “Can you pose for me?”

With Paimon’s not-so-helpful adjusting of Xiao’s arms, the kamera’s lens flickered with a small flash of power. He tilted his head at the tool curiously, watching as a small film slipped out of the bottom. Aether, seemingly knowing what it was, smiled and shook it out into the air before blowing on it gently. “Kamera photos will take a minute to form, so why not take some more as we wait?” 

Nodding along, Aether and Paimon spent at least an hour posing Xiao around the shoal. His own minor boredom of standing around and watching Paimon collect slips from the kamera as if they were prized cards, became ever increasingly more bothersome. Finally, they finished their game of pulling and prodding Xiao to perform more and more ridiculous stances, Aether shaking out a film that seemed to sputter out in exhaustion.

“Alright… last picture, I think. Let's take one together, yeah?”

Xiao took a small sigh of relief, feeling a little guilty at Aether’s knowing reaction. Paimon pouted slightly at the mention of stopping, but came over obediently at the traveler’s waving hand. “Paimon, can you take this one?” 

“Sure can!” Awkwardly, Xiao pressed his shoulder to Aether’s to get into view, feeling both of them stifle at the touch. It was typical for Xiao to flinch away, yet somehow, something told him that the other man’s nerves was something else. 

Xiao studied him for a moment as Aether gave him one of those half-truth smiles that always spoke of something more, fading the moment he realized that the adeptus knew what was up. “Spit it out. I can handle it.” Xiao commanded softly, as Aether sighed a breath of deep resolve. 

“Has anyone ever told you it's impolite to point out the obvious?”

“Oh, well… I’m sorry if I have offended you. Forgive me.” Xiao said quickly. Damn it, how much more awkward could he be? Aether shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Not like that. Zhongli said you liked doing relaxed activities like this.”

Xiao’s arms dropped to his sides. “You asked Rex Lapis about me?”

“And Ganyu. And Cloud Retainer. And all the other adepti I could get my hands on talking to.” Aether admitted defeatedly, giving a small bow of humiliation. “I’m sorry. I spent the last week trying to… trying to find something to impress you. Charm you, maybe?”

The adeptus paused, his mind slowly wrapping his head around his words. His brows furrowed. So much effort… for what? Him? 

“We agreed that you don’t have to do anything to impress me, Aether.”

“I know, I know… I still worry, you know? I always try to match energy, and… I guess it's hard to get yours naturally for me. My sister told me I was never too good at playing pretend…” 

To impress him. Xiao crossed his arms, feeling a strange flutter in his chest at the thought. For someone to put so much effort into him was pathetic. But… charming. “Well, if it makes you feel any better… I tried to look at humans being friends to match you as well.”

“Really?” Aether blinked, “wow, that's actually really sweet of you. We’re in the same boat then.” 

“Hey… are you two done chatting yet? It’s hard to get a good picture when both of your mouths are open.” Paimon huffed, the kamera in her hands starting to look a little too heavy for her. 

“Ah! Sorry, Paimon!” Posing, Aether smiled momentarily at Xiao— a real one this time. “Also, uh… you don’t really have to work on impressing me either if I don’t have to work on impressing you all the time. Especially not from human behavior. I’m not a human.”

Xiao tensed. “What?”

“What?”

The kamera flashed.

Chapter Text

Not… human? 

Xiao settled down on one of the rocks near him, his mind racing slightly. Awkwardly, Aether smiled at him, his hand resting on his shoulder as if trying to pull the adeptus out of his mind for a moment.

“Is it really that much of a surprise?” He sighed, Paimon gliding to sit on his shoulder, her hands clasped and fidgeting with the small pile of photographs. She looked judgmentally at Xiao, then to the photos, yet he couldn’t particularly bring himself to care. He was much too confused. 

“So… are you some type of immortal?” Xiao finally said after a moment, giving Aether a carefully studied stare. Shrugging, the traveler played with his braid. “You could say that.”

“Are you a adepti as well?”

“No.”

“Spirit?”

Aether shook his head.

“A god?” Xiao gave a suspicious stare, yet Aether’s eyes shone with no ill intent. “Potentially. Not in this world, though.” Looking a little guilty, the blond looked down at his feet while they shuffled slightly on the rocky surface of the ledge. “I am— in short terms— a traveler. That’s all. I travel worlds with my sister… Well, usually, I do.” 

He knew that. Xiao huffed in mild frustration at his words, crossing his arms as he thought. For an “immortal” of some sort of existence, Aether was quite good at blending in with common folk. Xiao hadn’t ever noticed anything that struck him as godly. Well, besides a strange scent— but Xiao had always assumed that it was a result of Aether spending so much time going to odd places and doing strange chores for people. 

“Are you… Khaenri’ahn?”

Aether sighed. “No. Not in the slightest, yet my sister seemed convinced we are. She’s friends with Khaenri’ah and their principles… well, remains of them anyway.”

Xiao nodded slowly, his brow furrowing less. He looked at Aether carefully, studying his face. On closer inspection… Xiao could see it. He had rarely ever met a human who had such prowess on the battlefield, yet had little to no scars to his name. He also never had seen a human with such long, blond lashes and golden eyes of strange shade— or hair that seemed to glow in the sunlight— or marks on his cheeks that looked more like specks of stars than freckles. Xiao tilted his head. It was obvious now… but he sure got fooled. What else are you hiding? He wanted to say, but still, Aether was a friend as of now… and if he was a threat to Liyue, he wouldn’t have risked his life to fight Osial. 

“We were travelers of other worlds. But, I’ve been landlocked in Teyvat,” Aether suddenly explained, “an unknown god stopped us while we were traveling through this world and shot my sister down with some type of… horrible power. I had tried to stop the god from taking her, but the next thing I knew, I was awake in Mondstadt’s wilderness, covered in vines and glued down by tree roots. I lost all my original powers, but have been recovering them over time.”

“Then you fished up Paimon!” Paimon jutted in, eliciting a laugh from Aether. “And then I fished out Paimon. She had the idea of searching Teyvat for that unknown god, and well… Here I am, searching.” 

Xiao hummed, nodding softly. Original powers… Xiao wondered to himself what else he didn’t know about Aether, yet… Aether knew little of Xiao as well, he noticed. He did know more than the average person, yet Xiao had shared little information about himself with Aether. 

After a moment, Xiao decided with a short, pained sigh. 

“I was not only under Rex Lapis’s command,” Xiao mentioned softly, his tongue already tied on the worlds. If friendship meant letting in on secrets, then so be it. He looked down at his feet, pretending to study the sand to block out Aether’s expression of surprise momentarily.

“Really? By who?”

“By…” Xiao hesitated, trying to get the words. He sputtered for a long moment before Aether stopped him with a small smile. “You know what, I don’t need to know. If you don’t want to tell me, it's alright, Xiao.” Aether paused, his tender face turning to one of concern as he grabbed Xiao’s shoulders. He flinched slightly at the touch, but then realized it was an attempt at comfort. “Were they… mean to you?”

Xiao gulped slightly, his body feeling shaky and weighted for a moment. Everything in his stomach felt tangled and nauseous, as if he were physically ill with nerves. He forced himself to meet Aether’s eyes, feeling both comforted and strangled by the strange warmth in the other’s expression. It was disgusting that he was even affected this much by his past. 

So weak, for an adeptus to be brought to his knees by the mere mention of a certain god. At Xiao’s silence, Paimon made a small whimper sound of empathy. A small hand rested on Aether’s, where his lay on Xiao’s shoulder. He gave a mild, dodgy look, the attention being slightly suffocating. 

“Oh, Xiao…” Then, Aether pulled him in— giving him one of those strange… hugs from before. Don’t, he wanted to say, but nothing would come out of him even if he wanted it to. Xiao stiffened at the intimacy, his nails gripping into Aether’s back slightly. He pushed back slightly at Aether, who quickly released him, his eyes much too warm for comfort. 

Something struck Xiao’s heart, sharp and painful— something much too deep for Xiao to handle. He grit his teeth, his eyes wild for a moment as the pain didn’t go away. Don’t touch me.

“I… have to go,” Xiao quickly breathed, pulling back from Aether and Paimon entirely. He felt dizzy— nothing was right. Nothing would ever be right. The other man’s eyes widened slightly, almost a little desperate. “Xiao, wait— did I—” He tried earnestly, but Xiao couldn’t make himself listen.

“I have to go,” He hissed out. The drowned-out voices of demons had steadily gotten louder. He couldn’t take it anymore. As quickly as he came, he slipped away from Aether’s grasp, teleporting as far, far away as he could manage.

.

.

.

For a moment, he was back. 

The night was dark and bleak, the only comfort to the mere child god being the fleeting heat left on his demonic skin from the fireplace of the house he had broken into. Limping through the cold streets, Atlas’s stomach felt overly full and sick. 

The dreams of tonight were bitter. Overly filling. Full of the nightmares his parasitic being had caused for the mortals he had eaten the dreams of. If Atlas had a choice, he would’ve laid down in one of those mortal beds, but it wasn’t something he would ever deserve. 

Resting and sleep were luxuries for his goddess’s bidding, not for a lowly creature that she had let crawl at her feet. Atlas didn’t deserve it. He blinked heavily at the moon above him, the frost of the air coating his lashes with an icy sheen. It was cold. So cold. 

He trudged on, forcing himself to get airborne. His humanoid form was replaced by what he truly was: a monster. Tasting the slight tinge of blood on his beak, he struggled to keep his human form for long. He barely had the energy to disguise himself for long, and even though his master did not require him to stick to that form, it felt… better to avoid looking at his true self in the reflection of glass while he did his— his crimes.

Four wings thrusted him into the air, almost creaking as his bones felt like they were falling off. He ate so much for his goddess, yet Atlas had never had the privilege to maintain the feeling. His body was freakishly thin— and day by day, he felt the fading pulls of his muscles struggling to get enough energy to fly. 

Wind under his wings, the last thing Atlas felt like was free. Yet his goddess needed him, after all. She needed his service, and it was what beasts did for their masters. 

His ghostly, thin form faded through the clouds of the night sky, the moon on his back giving little warmth and comfort to the beast. Seven dreams he had eaten. And tomorrow, seven more. Atlas’s eyes burned from the cold air, yet were sharp enough to remember the jagged lines of the mountains where his master stood. 

“Seven more dreams, my child,” she had demanded. His goddess needed him, after all. 

Atlas’s wings buckled slightly, his weakened body losing itself. Hitching a breath, he glided as long as he could, his body soon plunging without his control into the ledge entrance of his master’s home— a cave along a crooked mountain where she hid from the sunlight. 

Atlas whimpered pitifully at the sharp pain within his wings as they hit rock after rock, finally stopping his tumble after he caught himself weakly onto the ledge. Panting, he looked up, his wide eyes flickering down at the mere sight of her.

“My child.”

Atlas forced himself to bow, one of his wings rolling out of position. With a yelp, she kicked it back in place. 

“I’m sorry I’m late… mother.” The beast spoke softly, forcing his shaking jaw to still. He looked up as worshipfully as he could manage. “You’ve been so patient. I’m so sorry.”

Still, his goddess’s eyes only glared, her hand grabbing his arm to turn him over. She pressed on his stomach, and Atlas felt like he might hurl. 

“Only seven?”

Atlas’s voice hitched, his ribs feeling light; they might collapse under even the gentle weight of anything on his chest. “Seven, mother. I’m sorry.”

“I need more than that to survive, my child.” Her voice softened, yet her words were no less sour. She pushed him up on his feet, her hand gripping onto his cheeks to force his eyes to meet hers. 

So dark were her eyes. So dark.

“You want your mother to live, don’t you?”

“Yes, mother. Of course, mother.”

Atlas’s lungs failed to let him breathe for a moment, a crooked smile forming on her face. How cruel, a beautiful god was. Atlas should’ve been happy to serve her, for he was a beast—a creature blessed by her mere presence.

Yet, for one to who he swore an oath and protection to— love and devotion— Atlas couldn’t help but feel unrelenting fear as she dangled him by the edge of the cliff. 

“Fetch me several more.” She commanded finally. Her eyes softened once more at him, face turning into a pout. She is so beautiful, Atlas thought, as his eyes welled up in pain. That’s why I cry when I’m near her. He was always so nauseous when he saw her. Yet that was what meant he loved her, right?

“Well, child? Don’t you want your mother to live?” Atlas tried to nod at her, yet all that happened was his grip tightening desperately at her arm. “Atlas, my child…”

Her hand slipped from his neck, forcing him to catch himself to not plunge off the ledge. He whimpered, his eyes widening. “Mother—”

“Birds drop their young when they are ready to fly, no?” She keened gently, her hand just delicately inches away from letting him go. “Yet child birds always come back to their mothers, don’t they? They feed the ones they love.”

“Please…” Atlas begged as gently, his eyes wide. Fear was her favorite game, yet what hurt him the most was how she played it up. If his master needed dreams, he’d get her dreams. If his master must drop him, he’d let her drop him. 

“If you must.” The beast finally murmured, tears welling up. Atlas felt the energy he had maintained slipping from himself. Every dream he had eaten that night felt like it slipped away from him at once. 

If he had not been rendered used to the sensation, he would’ve screamed. It felt like his stomach was splitting open for a moment, where every humanistic quality he had maintained from the dreams and himself was ripped away from him all at once.

Finally, agonizingly, it was done. It was only a few moments, yet Atlas could’ve sworn it was an eternity. Soon, he was dropped— maybe thrown— Atlas couldn’t tell. All he knew was the last sliver view of his god he had caught before the wind tried and failed to see his wings. 

It was what you deserved. A voice hissed.

You’re a murderer. A monster, through and through. You killed everyone, didn’t you? Yet you used the same excuse.

Your master needed you, after all. 

He hit something cold. Very cold. And wet, as he fell… or did he? 

.

.

.

No, he hadn’t. This was water. This was real life.

“For Celestia's sake— wake up, Xiao!” And next thing he knew, his head was thrown down— and he was gasping not air, but the stream of a mountain lake.

Chapter Text

Xiao forcefully dislodged his head from the water, coughing and sputtering as he accidentally kicked off the hand on his head. He gagged slightly, feeling the sudden chill of adrenaline and the realization of still being alive fill his veins for a moment as he tried to recoup. He looked up, sharp eyes blurred by the sensation of water burning them, but he quickly realized the one who had pushed him down was Zhongli. 

“...There we go.” Roughly, the god patted Xiao’s back, forcing him to heave a little more water out of his lungs. The adeptus was back… the voices ceasing for a moment. Where had he teleported this time? Where had he run?

“That had to be at least seven dunks.” Another voice rang in his ear, making him turn. Great, it wasn’t just Zhongli. Barbatos— and even more regrettably, freaked-out Ganyu was here too. 

“Xiao!” Ganyu grabbed at his shoulders, sparking him to push her off of him quickly. Still, she persisted, her overly wide and concerned eyes raking around every vulnerability of the adeptus. “You— you were out so cold—you were screaming. This… you were making this shrieking sound. Not even Barbatos’s music could bring you out of it… Morax had to— Morax had to drown you out of it.”

Zhongli sighed gruffly, his hand raking through Xiao’s hair as he would a child. His hair was still soaked with lake water— uncomfortable and heavy. “What happened, son?” 

Attention— worrying— all this concern about him… it made Xiao want to go back to drowning in the lake. He hid his expression with a hand as much as possible, as if trying to will them all away, yet it was hard to hide himself when everyone’s eyes were on him all at once. Wiping his face of the lake and his own tears, he hid his shakiness by tensing his entire body stiff and secure. 

“Nothing.” 

Barbatos blinked, his face turning into frustration. “Nothing? Really?” Zhongli shooed his words with a stern hand, before sitting down to get on Xiao’s level. He petted his hair, his face much too worried to give Xiao any comfort. “Was it really nothing, my son?”

Xiao looked away. “It’s just karmic debt, nothing more.”

Zhongli sighed again, the tenseness of his jaw doing little to loosen. “Very well. Yet it is rare to see Venti’s song not snap you out of it.”

“It’s getting worse.” Barbatos— Venti, commented, looking at Zhongli and Xiao carefully. 

No matter Xiao’s impending destruction, why had most of the gods changed their names? It was getting confusing.

Forcing himself up, the adeptus’s legs buckled slightly, but he stood strong in front of the three in effort to look normal. If it was Xiao’s choice, he would’ve just wished them to go back to normal and leave him in his own misery. 

It's not like they could help at all. It’s my curse to bear, no one else's.

Seeing Xiao’s struggle, Zhongli secured the smaller adeptus against his side to walk him away from the bank. Eventually, he hoisted him up on his shoulder and carried him along after Xiao kept tripping on himself. It was mortifying really, to be coddled as if he was some mortal child, but he was much too weak to protest at the moment. Making eye contact with Ganyu, he tried to ignore the sisterly pity look she was giving him. He hated how much Ganyu knew about him and how little he knew of her back; she always acted like he was a rabid animal but then turned around and worried about him to others.

She’s barely half an adeptus, a critical voice muttered in his head, but he couldn’t particularly judge when he was resigned to little more than a child with a hurt knee when he was around Zhongli. 

“Was this time about the traveler?” Zhongli muttered privately to Xiao and he hesitated to answer. Sure, it started with Aether’s words, but he had little part in actually starting his mental spiral. Slowly, he shook his head, yet Zhongli looked quite unconvinced.

“It’s strange, Venti. You told me that the traveler only purified things that were corrupted, like Dvalin’s tears.” 

The wind archon shrugged, his hand resting on his belt as they walked. “Well, yeah. It’s still a mystery to me how, but he did. It doesn’t make sense if Xiao’s karmic debt is getting worse being near him.”

Groggily, Xiao tilted his head towards the other god. “Purify?”

Of course. Zhongli had probably tried to pair him and Aether up for Xiao’s benefit, not for Aether’s. Xiao formed a little scowl. “Master, I can take care of myself. I don’t need… purification.”

“Uh-huh.” Venti answered before Zhongli in a flat tone, before settling down at a small improvised seat. In front of the immortal bard was a rock carved to function as the gods’ tea table, something Xiao recognized as one of his master’s creations. Gently, Zhongli settled the other adeptus to the back of a tree to rest against, joining Venti at the table. Xiao felt little need to move from his spot, but he couldn’t help but wait for the moment this… “meeting”... was over. He would kill for the chance to leave and go back to Wangshu inn— to forget anything had ever happened. Maybe even forget the traveler… but it wasn’t exactly Aether’s fault that he was such a mess. He hated it when others tried to intervene with his endless suffering as if he didn’t deserve it, and worse, he hated when others concerned themselves with it. Zhongli hummed, watching as Ganyu awkwardly sat in the middle of the two gods at the table, her soft eyes looking at Xiao much too honestly. “Could it not be the traveler? I have to say, I doubt someone like him would particularly make any problems, such as Xiao’s debt, worse. To be frank, the traveler has only shown their ability to fix things, and if anything would particularly go wrong in their presence, he is always the one to fix it in the end.” Zhongli said, offering Xiao a small glass, which he quickly recognized as the scent of Mondstadt-style wine. 

“Maybe we just wait for the traveler to fix everything,” Venti darted back in a joking but cynical manner. “Genuinely, it probably isn’t his fault, but it's still a bit of a concern for your kid, blockhead.”

The Geo Archon took a long sip of his own wine in response, a mildly annoyed look quickly shooting down any of the other’s sassing. Clearing his throat, Zhongli continued his train of thought. “I just can’t imagine, in even the realm of possibility, that Xiao is becoming worse due to the traveler’s presence. Xiao, were you discussing or doing something in particular with him to flare up an issue?”

Xiao tensed slightly before taking a long, indulgent sip of his cup of wine, the sour taste sitting unnaturally on his tongue. But anything in his mouth was better than his next words. “We talked about my old master.”

There was a sudden, knowing silence from the gods; he had expected as much. Zhongli sighed, sitting back slightly— maybe uncomfortably. “Venti, Ganyu—” 

“Note taken.” Venti quickly said, before pulling on Ganyu’s shoulder to leave. “Hey, Xiao… feel better, okay?” Pulling out his lyre, the god walked away with the half-adeptus rushingly to play somewhere, already making some idle chat about apples to distract Ganyu’s attention. Xiao felt oddly grateful. Adjusting to just Zhongli’s presence, he met his master’s eyes uncomfortably. “Those memories still bother you just as much?”

The adeptus gave silence as a response, haste to grab the bottle of wine Venti had left to pour more into his cup. It was barely even a noticeable buzz, but it was something to numb his brain for a moment. Zhongli obviously wanted to protest his use of it for a moment, but stopped himself. “Xiao… for you to have a memory so harsh that it almost plummets you into oblivion, it's not a good way to live. If anything, I thought there was an active threat affecting you.”

Xiao avoided his master’s eyes as much as possible, feeling the prick of usual unease settle in his stomach. He knew it was pathetic for him to be so… affected, as Zhongli said, but how could that be fixed? Xiao wasn’t worth fixing. 

“Xiao, you might need to talk about it more.” Zhongli offered, the other adeptus’s mouth already moving to protest. “But it’s—”

“I know it’s painful to share memories. My thousands of years of living can prove that… However, let me give you an example. In my past, I had tried very hard to keep secrets— terrible, mindbreaking secrets, from my loved ones. As a leader, I shut many of my worries down, as you experienced yourself. As the god of contracts, there are many secrets hidden by law, however… it got exhausting for me— for Liyue— to hold onto all these decade long secrets. So, I decided to create one last secret… one last mystery… for Liyue to decide on. My death.”

Xiao’s eyes couldn’t help but turn up to watch Zhongli’s face, a bitter feeling setting on his tongue that wasn’t just because of the alcohol. Xiao had remembered the moment he learned of his master's “death” and funeral, however it felt like such a dull, useless memory when he could see his master right in front of him— breathing and looking down at him. Xiao had yet again not shown any true emotion to Aether that day, yet he remembered the plunge into darkness in his heart and mind. It felt like the world had ended for a moment, that day. The mountains— the rocky ground under him— felt like he was stepping on his own master’s body with every breath he took. He had wondered, had Xiao done a good job serving him? Had he given Rex Lapis what he wanted? Was he a good… son? A good servant?

Zhongli wiped softly over Xiao’s cheek, making him realize tears had started to fall. Quickly Xiao coughed, trying to hide them and wipe the evidence of them away, but Zhongli persisted with a smile. 

“Yet my death was the best thing that had ever happened to me, my son. It was release— solace, and I found peace in the present, not the past. I want you to have the same thing, my son. The past is nothing more but a weight on your shoulders now. War is over.”

Carefully, Zhongli moved the wine bottle away from Xiao, meeting his eyes with a gentle, wise look. 

“Like I have seen the death of Rex Lapis, I want you to see the death of Atlas.”

Tensing at the name, Xiao hesitated, before a short huff of agreement. “I understand.”

“Xiao, does Aether bring comfort to you?”

For a moment, Xiao thought about it carefully. Xiao had not known Aether for very long, compared to many of his other relationships with centuries of history. However, Aether was someone Xiao considered a friend. Knowing him as a fellow immortal also peeked a lot of Xiao’s curiosity. He wasn’t a fan of Aether’s company, but he wasn’t one that Xiao was particularly bothered by the presence of. But usually, Xiao hung out with Aether for Aether’s sake, not his. 

“He reminds me of the other yakshas. He’s very attentive to me… maybe a bit too attentive. Aether has a kind heart, but I don’t need his company.”

“Don’t need, or feel like you don’t deserve?” Zhongli asked simply. Xiao’s lack of response told him all he needed to know.

“When I told you to befriend him, I want you to know I had both of your needs at heart. The traveler heals others, and yet— he’s lonely. You are very much the same, Xiao. I can’t help but enjoy the way Aether tries to please you when I see you around Liyue Harbor. And if anyone could handle the bout of karmic debt alongside you, I think it would be the traveler.”

“You’re pushing him onto me again, aren’t you?” Xiao sighed, piercing an annoyed but understanding look through his teary gaze. Zhongli smiled back softly.

“I push the issue mainly because I don’t want you to lose hope in yourself. Xiao, you shine like diamond within my mind, and Aether— he shines like gold. He has saved my country, my home— and you have as well. Both of you have lost… have lived. And even though Aether is a mortal, I believe that his short existence is worth the effort to watch, even if one day his journey will lead somewhere else than the heart of Liyue. Diamond is strong, and gold, approachable and warm— with them together, they make the finest of jewelry. And you and Aether… make the finest of friends to me.”

Xiao looked down, feeling his face heat up a little at Zhongli’s analogy. It felt more like Zhongli was asking for Xiao to consider marrying Aether, rather than just being a simple companion to each other. To think I am as valuable as diamond to Master Zhongli…

“But I already see you trying to shut Aether out. Xiao, I believe it’s one of your self sabotaging qualities to travel miles away from the problem, break, and call it nothing the minute you’re calm. You’re destroying yourself. But… I do truly believe Aether can and will be there for you, more than I can be.”

“But, Master Zhongli…” Xiao protested softly, before Zhongli put a hand on his head to shush him once more. 

“I want you to treat Aether as if he were a medicine to you, Xiao. Meet him every day if you have to. If you are upset, go to him. If you are happy, go to him. If you are missing me… go to him and meet me together. Understand?”

“Is this still just a request?”

“No, because I don’t think you’re listening to me hard enough,” Zhongli mused gently, before looking up at the sound of Venti’s music in the distance. The sound was sweet and delicate, like the warmth of the sun after a long and devastating storm. The geo archon looked hopefully at Xiao. “Still, I have banned myself from making any more contracts. So… take this as a stern, but loving instruction from your family.” 

Xiao sighed, perking one leg up to make himself feel a little more relaxed. Both of them sat in silence for a moment to listen to the lyre’s sound mixed with the windchimes next to the improvised table. 

“You should go relax.” Zhongli offered gently, and Xiao nodded, thankful for the opening to leave. Oddly, he felt concluded, but still nervous. If he were to put everything, mind and soul within Aether’s hands— would the traveler even accept that? He wondered if his presence would be too much responsibility for one that wasn’t a weathered archon— or if this was a way for Zhongli to lose another one of his responsibilities as a god to put the care of Xiao on someone else. However, with this being a command now, Xiao had even less of a choice about the matter. 

“Thank you for…” Xiao started, and Zhongli nodded. He picked up the half-empty wine bottle Xiao had pretty much chugged, giving the embarrassed yaksha it to hold. 

“Give this to Aether as an apology for disappearing. I don’t want him to blame himself— and I don’t want you to blame yourself either. If you don’t want to tell him that you broke down, you can even use the excuse that I called you suddenly.”

“I will.” Xiao nodded gently back, matching Zhongli’s movement. He could easily imagine Aether’s nervous, far off gaze, probably beating himself up for breaking a boundary or offending the adeptus somehow. 

“Alright. You feel better now, Xiao.” 

Xiao got up, holding the bottle of wine close to his chest to not drop it. He watched Zhongli walk off to join the music, the bittersweetness of watching his master leave, setting a memory within the adeptus’s heart. It wasn’t abandonment. He would see him later. But Xiao would never stop appreciating the old archon till the day his karmic debt killed him. He was the one who would always pick the yaksha up when he fell. 

He sighed, staying for just a moment longer to hear the end of Venti’s gentle tune in the wind, before teleporting himself to the safety of Wangshu Inn.

Chapter Text

When Xiao got back to Wangshu Inn, he couldn’t say that he was surprised to find the reminiscences of Aether being on the balcony before him. Below where Xiao usually stood, a small, covered offering of almond tofu had been hastily prepared. It had been sitting out for a while; it was a little too room temperature for Xiao’s usual cold and bland taste, but the thought was what counted. Under the plate, which was covered by a soft napkin, there was a small note for Xiao. Opening it up, a photo slipped out which the adeptus quickly caught before it fell onto the ground.

It was one of the pictures they took together— the one with both of them. Xiao himself looked a little ugly, he had to admit, but Aether looked as naively happy as ever. Xiao sighed. He hoped he hadn’t ruined anything. 

Dear Xiao, 

We really hope we didn’t push you away today. Memories are painful, and it was rude of me to assume anything. Please, when you’re ready, talk to me. I'll be there for you.

— Aether & Paimon

Paimon’s signature was obviously done by Aether’s instruction, messy and child-like, but heartfelt and legible enough for him to read it. There were a few hiccups in how Aether had written it, which Xiao could only assume was because Liyue’s writing language wasn’t something that was the traveler’s strong suit. Folding it back up, Xiao couldn’t help but keep hold of it in his pocket. 

Sitting on the ledge of the balcony, the adeptus sighed heavily, his almond tofu sat in his lap. As he ate, he noticed it tasted less good than usual. Maybe it was the guilt— maybe it was the obviously rushed meal that Aether had thrown together, but it tasted nothing of the usual sweet and comforting feeling he had when he ate tofu. 

Xiao sighed, slumping slightly as he looked at the night sky. It had already become close to midnight now. Xiao guessed that Aether and Paimon were probably asleep by now, either on the floor of a cave or their Serenitea pot; there was no point in rekindling things at this hour. Xiao decided to wait till morning.

.

.

.

But Xiao had never considered the more than obvious problem of actually finding Aether around. Usually, Aether called him over and due to their deal, Xiao could sense where he was and teleport to his location. It just got harder when Xiao didn’t have a voice to pinpoint the location on. Checking from the Wangshu Inn’s vantage point, along with a couple of other roofs in the harbor, it took two hours for Xiao to realize he was completely dry on Aether’s trail. The usual places where he and Aether would do commissions together were empty as well. It was strange to find himself knowing the traveler’s routine so much, but Xiao chalked it up to being dragged around on tasks so often. 

Maybe, Xiao considered, he’s outside Liyue? It wasn’t a completely flawed theory to believe, judging how even when he peered through the windows of the most unlikely buildings, he couldn’t catch a sight of that familiar head of blond. Eventually, Xiao traveled to the outskirts of the mountains near Stone Gate, staring off in the direction of Mondstadt. He remembered hearing that before Aether had traveled to Liyue and become everyone’s hero, he had spent some time in Mondstadt, where he helped during a natural disaster. A terrible windstorm caused by Venti’s “pet” of sorts, Xiao vaguely remembered. Yet, why would he go back? Maybe a task led him there? What if he wasn’t in Mondstadt and in trouble and too proud to call his name? The adeptus sighed, trying to snap himself out of it. Aether could handle himself. Xiao refused to be so needy of his first “friend” in a millennium.  “Damn it.” He muttered verbally to himself, slouching down on the cliffside and thinking. 

“Feeling lost, oh great Conqueror of Demons?” A voice chuckled behind him, making Xiao quickly jump up to his feet. He was half ready to, for lack of a more polite term… instinctively punch the shit out of them for sneaking so close to him, but he quickly realized who he was talking to.

“Venti,” He muttered. Again.

“Yep! That’s me. I wanted to check in on you again now that you’re feeling better. I feel like we got cut short. You are feeling better, right?” Venti hummed, his head playfully tilted to the side to the point one of his braids lightly hit his face. Xiao relaxed, reluctantly giving a huff of air in response. He nodded.

“Good,” Venti hummed, looking at him for a moment. Xiao knew that it wasn’t the only reason why he was here. “You’re looking for Aether, right?”

“Yes.”

“The wind told me as much— hm… I think you should definitely go and retrieve him. My powers are limited in Liyue, but I can tell when a certain someone enters Mondstadt. And… from the sound of discontentment on the breeze, your little buddy is drinking.”

“Drinking?” Xiao blinked, a little shocked. Despite Venti’s questionable source of information— plus the strange, flowery language he used when he was up to something— Xiao still believed it. He looked at the sky, seeing it was barely noon at this point. “At this hour?”

“I know, right? Rivals even Dahlia and me. He’s in Angel’s share at the moment. I’m headed home— now that I’ve had my fun bothering your father, so we should go there together!” 

Xiao quirked his eyebrow. Together? The adeptus could get there just fine on his own, if Venti were implying he’d get lost. “I can get there myself just fine…”

“Aw, c'mon, Mr. Grump-pants! A little bit of quality time with old Barbatos! I know I’m not exactly your old man, but I can keep you company just fine!”

“I don’t need company.” Xiao insisted, but Venti pleaded for about a minute until he finally relented.  Groaning a little, he nodded. So much for meeting with Aether himself…

“Pleeeeaaaasseee?— oh! Great! You won't be disappointed, friend.” Venti snapped his fingers readily before pulling his lyre out and gently testing the strings for tuning. Humming a soft tune, he quickly played a lovely tune that started slow as the steady breeze before speeding up to an energetic, powerful melody. Xiao knew little of how to play an instrument himself, but he did love the sound. Tilting his head, he couldn’t help but let himself enjoy it; his shoulders relaxed, and his karmic debt ceased for a moment. 

He was engrossed for a moment, even humming along once he started to memorize the melody out of instinct, before startling out of the idyllic moment as a giant shadow took over the sky. A roar howled through Xiao’s ears, his hand instinctively going to his polearm just in case of a fight— but his mind quickly realized this was no active threat. Dvalin’s large wings flapped, fully pushing Xiao’s bangs back and forcing him to close his eyes, as the giant dragon landed on the mountainside. 

“Barbatos,” he growled, serious, but not entirely unfriendly. The archon only smiled, holding out his hand and letting the dragon touch his palm freely. The dragon’s eyes landed on Xiao, snarling slightly as he quickly shook his wings; yet, Venti still cupped his scaly chin. “Hey, don’t be so hasty, Dvalin. It’s been a while since you two have met, but you can be nice to each other, right?”

“Have I met him before?” Xiao questioned, crossing his arms. His mind was hazy on the details. When Xiao had seen him last, he was no more than a word on Venti’s tongue and a big, bumbling child of a reptile. He hadn’t recalled ever seeing him up close and personal— more of just a shadow in the sky long ago when Mondstadt was still fairly young. “I see Venti has taught you Teyvat’s language.” 

“That was more than a thousand years ago.” Dvalin snarled at him, his voice echoing off the mountains, splitting the end of Liyue. Xiao nodded at him, but still looked at the dragon disapprovingly. When Xiao had been corrupted by his karmic debt for the first time, he never got close to hurting Liyue. If he had, he would’ve banished himself into the caves of Liyue forever to die— yet Dvalin had tried to destroy Mondstadt just because of a little hiccup in Venti and his relationship. Dvalin was powerful… much larger… but Xiao didn’t see his mild aggression as much as a threat. Xiao had taken down beings twice his size. He stared back at the dragon, unfazed. 

A poor excuse of a loyal companion. Dvalin seemed to recognize his judgment, huffing and puffing defensively, almost self-consciously, at Xiao’s scrutiny. 

“C’mon, you two. Let's all get along. We’re all practically family. We all remember the Cataclysm… the war…  All of that old history, right?”

Dvalin huffed. “Might I remind you that the Cataclysm corrupted me for five hundred years? Not exactly the highest of my good memories.” Xiao huffed back at Venti. His own two cents were obvious in this case.

Venti sighed, before leaning Dvalin down and hopping awkwardly onto the back of the dragon’s neck. “Alright, I get it. But let's all try to get along for three minutes! Dvalin, let Xiao get on your back.”

“On my back? Are you implying he’s better than I?” 

“Ugh… just get on!” Xiao couldn’t help but smirk a little bit, hiding it with a hand as he joined Venti. Despite the constant changing of mortals, immortal dynamics rarely ever faded. It was nice to be treated a bit like a superior sometimes; little to no one alive had any true lasting respect and honor for the adepti anymore. 

“Dvalin, to the edge of Mondstadt! The scenic route, please.”

The dragon only huffed, before his six wings expanded outwards. With an effortless heave of his long body, the dragon and the immortals in tow were in the air, flying out of Liyue territory and into Mondstadt: a place Xiao hadn’t seen in more than a hundred years.

Chapter Text

Hey! Thank you for reading! As a gift, I wanted to post some of the redesigns I've done. These can be read in and out of this fanfic's canon, however do know I picture these designs when writing (lol).

Design notes:

- I made Aether's hair be a gradient because I have a hard time deciding what shade to make his hair... so all of them.

- I made him look a little bit more alien and spacy than he did due to his past as a traveling deity(?)

- Aether is based of the sun! For Lumine, I picture her (once I draw her redesign) to be based off the moon and having a oppositely colored outfit.

- Aether has star freckles because I say so.

- I tried to mix a lot of styles together for his clothing. I picture when Aether travels, he tries to fit in and match the cultural norms and clothing of where he is, yet because he's traveled so much everything is jumbled together.

- I sadly had to get rid of Aether's crop top cause there's no WAY he's going out into battle with all his organs exposed. I do think he has a thing for half shirts though.

Design notes:

- On his legs, I copied Zhongli's god's form patterns to bring a connection between them.

- Xiao has a locket of Aether's hair (via his necklace). It was a common practice in ancient times before photographs to remember people by!

- I made his color scheme actually make sense.

- Xiao is based off a ancient peng bird, so I tried to copy the "four wings" as his flowing robe things for symbolism.

- Xiao now has visual corruption! It slowly fades the longer he spends with Aether, but gets worse when his kharmic debt is severe.

- I made him SLIGHTLY more buff.

- Xiao also still has his mask, I just forgot to render it. It's pretty much the same as before.

<3

God I love them so much.

See you next chapter!