#xiao imagine
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spiked w/ kaeya alberich, zhongli, xaio – main masterlist
warnings (please read!) | gn!reader, angst, hurt/comfort, non-consensual drug use, implied attempted sexual assault (barely, but i wanted to add it just in case)
KAEYA ALBERICH
kaeya was not one for quiet nights.
he much preferred the white noise and chatter of the tavern to his own lodgings. even after he began seeing you, spending nights with you at his side on a barstool remained his favorite activity. he loved to watch your easy confidence as you chatted with jean or charles, or even diluc for that matter. he just enjoyed listening to your lovely voice over the background conversation of the other patrons.
but there were some nights when kaeya wished he had elected to stay home.
there was a new bartender working tonight. kaeya had seen him a few times, and charles didn't seem particularly bothered by him despite the subpar drinks he made, but kaeya couldn't help his inherent distrust of any newcomer. it always took him a bit of time to get used to an unfamiliar face settling in mondstadt as a permanent resident, and from what kaeya had heard, this one had made his intention to stay in the city for the foreseeable future very clear.
the night, while young, was already wearing him thin. he'd just gotten back from a days-long commission that jean had requested he take on personally. it had been a grueling week, and the only thing he wanted to do when he returned was take you to the angel's share for a few drinks, then take you to bed.
you never elected to drink very much when you accompanied kaeya to the tavern. you'd usually nurse a glass or two of wine, and oftentimes you'd leave without finishing a third.
tonight, you had barely started sipping your second glass when you began looking fairly ill. at the moment, you were slumped against kaeya's shoulder, struggling to keep your eyes open or form a coherent sentence.
"darling?" kaeya asked when your strength seemingly left you. you went limp, and had you not already been leaning on his shoulder, you probably would have fallen off of the barestool. kaeya caught you with an arm around your waist and another holding your shoulder. you muttered something unintelligible and groaned when kaeya shifted so he could look at you. he lifted your face, and gave your cheek a light tap when your eyes began to flutter shut. "can you open your eyes, love?"
"'m tired," you mumbled. kaeya furrowed his brow; he was certain you'd only had one drink since you'd arrived.
he caught charles' concerned gaze from across the bar, but before either of them could speak, the newcomer was stepping forward nervously.
"i can take them to the back," he said to kaeya, eyeing you briefly, "there's a couch."
kaeya raised a brow at the suggestion. from the corner of his eye, he saw charles wince.
"i'll take them," kaeya corrected firmly, scrutinizing the man further when he saw disappointment flicker across his expression.
"r-right. of course. it's just back–"
"i know where it is," kaeya snapped, abruptly standing from his chair and sliding his arms under your pliant body. concern was thrumming through him, and he immediately forgot about the bartender shuffling behind him when you shifted and let out another string of mutters.
"talk to me, love," he muttered as you peeled your eyes open, "how are you feeling?"
"bad," you grumbled. kaeya hummed, pursing his lips and walking as steadily as he could manage.
"was it something you ate?"
"dunno," you said, already fading again. kaeya cursed when your eyes fell shut and you went limp, head resting against his chest and arm hanging uselessly to your side.
kaeya laid you on the couch in the back room that charles had set up for employees. you didn't stir as his arms left you, though he saw your brow furrow when he let you go. he elected to take one of your hands in his as he thought through the events of the night to try and pin down the cause of your mysterious illness.
it was then he realized that the new bartender had followed him all the way down the hall and was waiting nervously in the doorway. he shifted uncomfortably under kaeya's sharp gaze.
"what are you still doing here?"
"i...i apologize, i just wanted to make sure everything was alright–"
"while your concern is very touching," kaeya sneered, suspicion growing each time the man's eyes left his and strayed to where you were laying behind him. kaeya shifted so that your face wasn't in the man's view, "i can handle things."
kaeya saw a touch of annoyance cross the man's features, and the alarm bells already ringing in his head became more frantic.
"unless," kaeya rumbled as he stood, reluctantly dropping your hand so that he could approach the man, "you know something about this."
"oh! uh...no, i'm not sure what happened. i just noticed that they looked rather sick."
kaeya hummed, scrutinizing the man for a moment longer before nodding his head towards the door behind him.
"you can go, then," he said with finality.
"right," the man nodded, eyes wide as he took in kaeya intimidating aura, "o-of course."
kaeya didn't watch the newcomer scurry away. instead, he turned back to where you were beginning to rouse again. he heard a string of words escape you, only catching his own name every few seconds until he was kneeling next to you, one hand reaching to find your own as the other cupped your cheek.
"kaeya," you huffed, breathing sporadic and so panicked that it made kaeya's chest ache, "what's happ'ning?"
"i don't know, darling," kaeya told you truthfully. you groaned, bringing a hand to shield your eyes from the light in the room and turning on your side, pressing your face into the pillows. "i'm sorry. we'll get you feeling better soon, alright?"
"that wine," you mumbled, voice muffled by the pillow and barely audible over the distant chatter of the tavern, "it was...really strong."
that gave kaeya pause. he distinctly remembered the new bartender pouring your wine, then turning towards the opposite counter where kaeya couldn't see what he was doing.
he couldn't imagine that anyone would...
"charles!" he shouted as soon as he puts the pieces together, rage clouding his mind as he thought back to the suspicious behavior, the attempts to stay in the room with you, and kaeya's own gut feeling that something was off about the newcomer.
the only thing that kept him from going back to the bar and wringing the man's neck was your hand holding his. he couldn't leave you alone now—not with that criminal still roaming god-knows-where.
"don' leave," you muttered, making a desperate attempt to sit up and grab onto kaeya's arm. he shook his head, placing careful hands on your shoulders and guiding you onto your back. you were looking up at him with bloodshot eyes, and the fear in them made his chest ache.
"i'm not," he shook his head, taking your hand in both of his and giving it a reassuring squeeze, "don't worry, love. i'm not leaving."
kaeya's chest tightened when your breath hitched, a silent sob rocking your chest. you were terrified—that much was strikingly clear. your eyes were scrunched shut, and if your pained expression was anything to go by, you had a raging headache brought on by whatever it was that you had drank.
kaeya couldn't watch for much longer before he was lifting you up and replacing you on the couch, then setting you down with your head on his lap. you pressed closer to him, head resting on his thigh and fingers gripping his jacket.
"what happened?"
kaeya stiffened at diluc's familiar voice. he looked down at you and focused on the rise and fall of your chest to keep himself from getting too upset over his brother's untimely arrival.
"that new bartender," kaeya grumbled, "he made their drink tonight. i think they mixed it with something."
there was a silence, and kaeya finally chanced a glance at diluc. he was watching you with a furrowed brow, hands clenched into fists and jaw grinding back and forth in the only show of anger that kaeya could see.
"is the drink still at the bar?"
"it should be."
"i'll take it to timeus on my way to the knight's headquarters."
kaeya looked up in surprise, but diluc looked away, very intentionally avoiding his eyes.
"i'll take the bartender to jean. i trust she can keep him in check in a far more legal manner than i would."
diluc breathed in deeply, closing his eyes for a moment. when he opened them again, he looked far more intense than before, and he looked at kaeya with a seriousness that was rarely shared between the two.
"it's my responsibility to know who is being hired at my establishments. i apologize for being so negligent."
kaeya blinked, opening his mouth to reassure him that the only one at fault was the scum who did this, but diluc held a hand up to stop him.
"just make sure they're taken care of," diluc said, glancing down at you once more with a furrowed brow that almost made him look worried, "i'll handle the rest."
kaeya gave a single nod, knowing that any gratitude could go unsaid. he also knew that this sudden show of kindness was less for him and more for you—diluc had always been fond of you, claiming that you made kaeya more pleasant to be around.
while the comment had irked him when it was made, he couldn't exactly disagree.
"'m sorry," you groaned when diluc was gone, sniffling and trying desperately to keep your tears at bay. kaeya's expression twisted, his hand stilling where it had been rubbing soothing circles on your arm.
"sorry?" he repeated, "love, what could you possible have to be sorry for?"
"for inconveniencing diliuc," you huffed, "and making you worry."
kaeya sighed, shaking his head at the guilty look on your face and cupping your face in his hands.
"we just want to make sure you're okay," he whispered, lifting your hand and pressing his lips to your fingers, "none of this is your fault, my love."
you grumbled something that sounded like a disagreement, but let the argument go when your headache returned.
"am i gonna be okay?" you croaked, eyes filling with panic as you thought about the possibilities of what could've been put in your drink. sure, you'd heard about people's drinks getting tampered with before, but it could've been something more deadly. maybe this was a murder attempt to get at kaeya. maybe you had unintentionally made someone so angry that they'd hired this bartender to kill you. maybe–
"you're going to be just fine," kaeya assured you, hands cupping your face so that you were forced to look at him, "it's nothing to worry about. i've seen this happen a few times. you'll just wake up with a nasty headache, but i'll take care of you, yeah?"
"yeah," you agreed, feeling any energy you'd been using to panic seep from you as you sank into kaeya's arms.
as kaeya carried you home later that night, he thought about all of the things that he could do to make that bartender's life a living hell. the ideas he came up with brought him some satisfaction, and he found that he was more excited than he had been in a long time to get to work the next day.
ZHONGLI
zhongli had been alive for many, many years. enough years that he had seen the cruelties that others were capable of. he understood that preventative measures were necessary to keep oneself safe, but he was also painfully aware that those protections were not always enough. those with bad intentions usually found a way around any safeguards no matter how carefully they were designed.
in you, he saw a very careful person. you were well aware of the dangers of the world—though perhaps not to the extent of someone who had fought in wars and survived to tell the tales. you were, however, cautious enough that he knew you were a very capable person.
but despite his experience, this was a first.
you weren't one to drink yourself into a state of incapacitation, so zhongli couldn't deny his growing concern as you stumbled towards him, eyes lidded and legs shaky. you stumbled towards him, struggling to keep yourself from falling with each step. he met you before you could fall, accepting your outstretched arms and pulling you into his chest.
the first thing he noticed upon catching you was that you were shaking. he tried to move away so that he could look at you, but your grip was firm. you were holding him so tightly, like you were afraid of letting him go and facing whatever had frightened you so much.
"y/n?" he asked softly, resting a hand on the small of your back just under your shirt and rubbing soothing circles over your skin. he felt some of the tension loosen from your shoulders and hugged you closer, "darling, what happened?"
the answer appeared behind him before you could even attempt to answer. he felt a tap on shoulder, impatient and insistent. zhongli turned carefully, making sure to keep you steady as he faced the interruption with equal levels of impatience.
"yes?"
"ah, this is a bit awkward," the man chuckled, attention not on zhongli, but rather on you huddled in his arms. zhongli's eyes narrowed on the stranger, and he pulled you tighter against his chest, keeping your face pressed into his clothes to keep it out of the man's sight.
"do tell me what you find so awkward about the situation," zhongli said darkly, "or better yet, tell me why you're even speaking to me in the first place."
the man gulped, finally looking up and meeting zhongli's glare. it must have been the first time he really registered the person holding you, because his eyes widened a fraction and he began spitting out excuse after excuse, each sounding more desperate than the last.
"y'see, my friend has had a few too many drinks tonight. i apologize that they stumbled into you like that–"
"your friend," zhongli huffed, an irritated laugh bubbling in his throat, "ah, well, it's a good thing you've come to their rescue, then."
the man, who zhongli now knew was denser than stone, grinned at this and began reaching towards you eagerly.
"may i ask you what their name is?"
this made him pause.
"well...i don't think they'd appreciate me giving that information out to a stranger-"
"oh, of course," zhongli nodded, "how noble of you."
"right," the man gave him an odd look, but continued reaching towards you, "if you could just–"
if there was one thing that zhongli appreciate about his human form, it was its agility.
he swept you to the side, keeping one arm firmly around your waist while the other grabbed hold of the man's wrist. he only got a glimpse of the stranger's wide, terrified eyes before he twisted the his arm just shy of breaking. the man let out quick, panicked huffs as he looked between zhongli's hard expression and the hand gripping his wrist.
"a-alright, i get it," the man gulped, making a feeble attempt to pull away, "i'll go–ow, i'm sorry! i didn't know–"
"didn't know what?" zhongli asked venomously, false smiles and politeness wiped from his expression. his harsh tone made the man visibly shudder, "that it's not acceptable to try to kidnap people? what made you so ignorant that you couldn't comprehend that that is a crime?"
"i wasn't...listen, i'm sorry, okay? i won't do it again, just let me go. please."
zhongli was very close to breaking the man's wrist, eyes nearly glowing as they narrowed on the man's terrified eyes. however, he paused when you shifted, coughing weakly into his chest.
"zhongli," you croaked, "i think he did something to my drink."
zhongli's fingers tightened around the man's wrist, earning a terrified squeak from him as he tried to pull back in one last, desperate attempt to get away.
"well?" he asked the terrified man sharply, "did you?"
"o-of course i didn't! i just...i didn't know you were together, alright? i just saw that they looked ill, and thought i'd help–"
"your help is neither wanted nor needed," zhongli said with a sharp smile that made the man's face go white. zhongli knew he could be more than menacing at the right times, "xiao."
the adeptus appeared at his side immediately, making the already nervous man jump in fear. the man watched with wide-eyes as xiao approached zhongli. xiao payed no mind to the man trembling in zhongli's grip. he did, however, take note of your barely-conscious body slumped against zhongli. you were staring blankly at something behind xiao, and the adeptus tried to keep himself calm for your sake.
"please watch him until i return."
xiao gave a single nod, gripping the man's shirt and dragging him to a more secluded area of the market. zhongli wrapped his arm further around your waist, pulling you in close before he disappeared from the streets of the harbor.
baizhu did not looked particularly alarmed when zhongli appeared in the middle of the pharmacy, though his eyes widened just slightly when he spotted you in the ex-god's arms.
"come with me," baizhu ordered immediately, turning and moving further into the pharmacy. he entered a room with zhongli at his heels and pointed towards a long table, "put them there."
zhongli did as he was told, brow furrowed in clear concern as he brushed a hand over your cheek. you seemed to be conscious, but barely lucid as you leaned into zhongli's palm.
"what happened," baizhu asked, leaning over you and opening one of your eyes wider to look at your pupil.
"i believe they were given some kind of drug. i don't know what."
"that would explain these symptoms," baizhu murmured, placing a hand on your chest and closing his eyes. his palm began to glow a bright green, and zhongli watched as changsheng slid down the doctor's arm until she was resting on your stomach. after another moment, the glow dissipated.
"i can't tell the exact substance that was used, but it's nothing deadly. they'll just need to rest. it will be out of their system by tomorrow night at the latest."
zhongli nearly collapsed as relief rushed through him. he took your hand and pressed it to his lips carefully, closing his eyes so he could focus on calming his racing heart.
"if it's not too much trouble," zhongli began as baizhu stepped back from the table, allowing changsheng to take her place upon his shoulders again, "could you look after them for a moment? i've left someone waiting."
baizhu huffed, a smirk crossing his lips at the zhongli's sugarcoated words.
"please do. rest assured, they'll be looked after here," baizhu told him slyly, waving a hand towards the door, "and don't bother bringing me any more patients when you're finished. i'm afraid i'm stretched quite thin with just the one."
as zhongli disppeared towards he harbor, baizhu almost pitied the poor man who had put you in such a state. almost.
XIAO
xiao had never enjoyed human celebrations.
he knew that they were important to you, but he just didn't have the patience for them. they always dragged on for so long. sure, he was immortal, but he still appreciated concision.
and the crowds. just thinking about trying to shove his way through a mass of humans made his skin crawl. he'd watched you do it enough times that he knew he would be content to never experience it for himself.
so he was satisfied watching you from afar. he liked seeing you enjoy yourself, even if he wasn't necessarily keen on the types of events that you chose to dedicate your time to.
however, it was neither his place nor his desire to tell you how to spend your time. while he would've been more than happy to just lay with you under the stars, he knew how much you enjoyed spending time with your friends at these little soirees.
but humans were just so fragile. he knew you wouldn't blame him for wanting to keep a watchful eye out.
it was foggy, but that did little to impede his vision as he watched over you from the balcony of wangshu inn. tonight's event had gathered a fairly large crowd to the courtyard outside of the inn, but xiao was careful to make sure he didn't lose sight of you in the depths of the crowd.
in the back of his mind, he heard zhongli's scolding voice telling him that he shouldn't hover, but he waved it away. he was not hovering. he was simply...observing. there was nothing wrong with wanting to keep an eye on humans whose intentions and judgment he didn't trust. he probably would've been here whether you decided to attend or not, just looking out to make sure no one was hurt in the crowd or bothered by some drunkard.
the fact that you were here was simply a coincidence. he was just taking advantage of it to keep an eye on you.
xiao!
the voice that intruded into his mind was panicked, begging for his attention and help. he felt the fear of the person calling him through the word alone. it sent a cold chill down his spine, and he perked up immediately, eyes still on you to make sure you hadn't somehow gotten hurt while he was momentarily distracted.
but you were fine. the call had come from somewhere a few miles from the inn where the abyss order tended to wander. very few knew to call his name in order to summon him, but this particular cry seemed far too desperate for him to ignore. he gave one last look to where you were standing at a food stall with your friends before he disappeared. it only took seconds of searching to find the source of the voice.
as he suspected, the woman was surrounded by monsters. one cryo mage, one hydro, and a handful of hilichurls were tormenting her for seemingly no reason other than their own amusement. rather than unleashing any deadly attacks, the mages released small bursts of elemental power and cackle at the frightened cry that the woman gave as she was hit with a blast of water or ice. the hilichurls seemed equally as amused, dancing around the woman in joy as they watched her grovel and beg that they leave her alone.
"xiao, help!"
she cried his name once more in the same second that he summoned his polearm, throwing it through the shield of the hydro mage with enough force that it shattered, then summoning it once again to destroy the shield of the other. with all of the monsters exposed to the wind, he flew forward and sent the point of his weapon across their throats, ending their lives quickly and painlessly. no need for any more senseless violence than that which had already occurred.
"t-thank you," the woman breathed as she watched the bodies of the monsters disappear, turning to dust as any remaining life drained from their bodies. once they were gone, xiao stepped forward to help the woman to her feet.
"how did you know to call for me?" he asked shortly, slightly annoyed that such a minor incident had called his attention away from the inn. the woman flinched, and he sighed, lowering his head, "i apologize. i just meant that not many people know to call for me anymore. i'm surprised."
"oh! well, i have a friend who told me about an adeptus who helps those in danger. they said to call for you if i ever found myself in a need of help."
xiao sighed. of course.
"this friend—what is their name?"
"it's y/n. they live near the inn, just a few miles from–"
"i know," xiao interrupted with another sigh, "and where do you live? is there somewhere you would like me to take you?"
"just the inn is fine. i'm meant to be meeting them, actually. for the party."
xiao nodded at this small relief—no more time wasted, then. he took hold of the woman's shoulder and teleported to the edge of the crowd gathered outside of the inn. she wobbled slightly at the unexpected travel, but he simply held her elbow as she righted herself while he scanned the crowd for any sign of you. without his high vantage point, it was difficult to make out anyone beyond the border of the crowd, and he scowled.
"will you be alright on your own?" he asked the woman as he let go of her elbow. she nodded.
"yes, thank you very much. i am in your debt."
"it's no trouble. think nothing of it," he told her before he vanished, leaving her to weave her way through the crowd in search of you. xiao returned to his perch on the balcony, scanning the crowd once again for your familiar form.
what would usually be a fairly easy search quickly become far longer than he'd expected. you were nowhere to be seen, and after a third, then a fourth, and finally a fifth scan of the crowd, he took in a deep, calming breath and tried to listen for a call of his name or a sign of your presence within the inn itself.
nothing.
he reappeared on the outskirts of the crowd again before his panic could get the better of him, shoving past people until he spotted verr goldet behind the makeshift bar that had been put together before the party. she was pouring seemingly endless glasses of dandelion wine for the eager customers on the other side of the counter, meeting their demands with a patience that xiao envied.
she spotted him before he could speak, a small smile on her face as she continued to work on taking the orders of the partygoers.
"xiao," she greeted, "i'm surprised to see you. y/n told me that you'd be keeping your distance tonight."
"do you know where they are?"
verr paused, bottle of wine stilling in her hand as she glanced at him. her expression seemed to ask how he had possibly lost sight of you—she was, admittedly, one of the few people who felt comfortable telling him that you were perfectly safe without his constant vigilance.
"i haven't seen them, but they might've just gone to the bathroom. i'm sure they're fine."
right. of course. there were plenty of reasons why you wouldn't be in his direct line of sight. there was no real reason for him to get so worked up over momentarily losing track of you.
he glanced towards the main entrance of the inn. it was vacant of anyone but a few stragglers stumbling towards their rooms, spent from the excitement and the alcohol that had been flowing fairly freely as the night progressed. you were nowhere to be found.
"don't disturb the customers!" verr shouted after him as he strode towards the inn intently, his face a cloud of worry and frustration.
even though you usually pretended to be ignorant of it, xiao knew that you were more than aware of his tendency to hover. you would sometimes tease him about it, but you also understood how important it was that he knew you were safe. if you'd left, you would've signaled to him that you were going somewhere he couldn't see you.
if you'd gone willingly.
the thought had him moving faster towards the third floor where most of the rooms were located. he paused in front of the first one, wondering how much of a scolding he'd get from you, verr goldet, and zhongli if he barged into each room one-by-one until he found you.
it doesn't matter, he told himself as he lifted a foot to kick down the first door. it was just before he made contact with the flimsy wood that he heard something around the corner of the hall: the smallest sound of distress, and then a reprimand from a low voice to remain silent.
his weapon was in his hand before he even caught sight of the two figures illuminated only by the dim glow of the hall lamps. the man who had spoken was towering over a hunched figure in the corner of the room. he looked angry, and he held a limp arm in a tight grip as he tried to drag a barely-conscious human towards an open door.
xiao did not need to look down to know that it was you who was being dragged. he recognized you immediately, if not by your silhouette then by the familiar sound of your voice, so quiet that he likely wouldn't have picked it up had he been human. you let out a pained, terrified call of his name that made the man above you scoff, undeterred in his efforts to pull you to your feet.
in a single, precise blast of wind, the man was on the opposite end of the hall, clutching the back of his head where he'd hit it against the wall and groaning in pain.
xiao's weapon disappeared as he knelt at your side. he lifted your head onto his lap and held it firmly between his palms, studying your expression carefully. your eyes were lidded, and you looked like you were barely hanging onto consciousness. xiao felt anger swirl deep within him as he scanned you, searching for any sign of injury.
the skin that the man had been holding was irritated, circled with a red handprint that was already beginning to bruise. xiao picked it up gingerly and closed his eyes, willing breath into his lungs before it burst from him in an explosion of fury.
"xiao..." you breathed, eyes falling shut with the knowledge that xiao had come for you. the adeptus swallowed thickly, pressing a kiss to your wrist and laying it gently over your chest. he brushed your disheveled hair from your face and stiffened when he caught sight of the dark bruise on your cheek. you had gone limp in his arms, and he lifted you up at the same time that the vile man on the opposite end of the hall rose shakily to his feet.
"what the hell?" he grumbled, shooting xiao a scathing glare that the adeptus returned tenfold. the man blanched at the glare he was given, far more menacing than his own from the hundreds of years of practice that xiao had under his belt. "y-you attacked me. i could have you arrested for this!"
xiao didn't trust himself to speak. his fury was boundless, and he knew that if it was released, this man would be dead within seconds.
him, and most of the humans residing in the rooms surrounding them.
the man looked bewildered, both by xiao's silence and by the darkness radiating from him. he shifted as a thick aura of destructive intent pooled into the room—just a fraction of the rage that xiao felt—and attempted a hasty retreat for the stairwell.
morax, xiao called sharply as he moved to follow the man, i require your assistance.
zhongli appeared almost instantly in front of him, concerned expression from the rare use of his old name becoming grim at the sight of you limp in xiao's arms.
"what do you need?"
"please take them to bubu pharmacy."
zhongli didn't hesitate to reach forward as the adeptus carefully handed you to the ex-archon. xiao kept a hand on your cheek for a moment longer when you were secure in zhongli's arms, listening closely for the steady beat of your heart. when he was satisfied, he stepped back and nodded at zhongli.
the man disappeared immediately, and xiao felt something tighten in his chest at having you out of sight again. he trusted zhongli to take care of you in your vulnerable state, but not having you within arms reach after you'd been in danger was nearly enough for him to forget the man stumbling down the stairs, and instead go straight to bubu pharmacy.
he stood at the top of the stairs for a moment longer before he teleported to the bottom floor. verr goldet saw him instantly—though he knew that he wasn't being very subtle. the darkness that he felt boiling within him was probably consuming the space around him, which was likely for the best. it would help create a clear space for him to do what he pleased to the vermin that had finally reached the final set of stairs.
he vaguely heard verr calling for people to back away, herding them towards the bridge on the opposite side of the courtyard in anticipation of some kind of confrontation.
the man gave a shout of surprise when he spotted xiao at the bottom of the stairs, stumbling backwards and crawling up the stairs like a rat. xiao felt his mouth twitch, lip pulling back in a snarl, but he composed himself.
he took his time making his way towards the man, taking each step with deadly intent that he knew the cockroach could feel. his eyes were wide and filled with a delicious expression of fear that xiao reveled in. he generally didn't feel this sadistic need for blood, but this was different. this man—this...this animal—had hurt you. who knows how many others he'd hurt in the past.
you would be the last that he ever attempted to harm.
xiao covered the surrounding scene in thick shadows, sparing the onlookers from what was unfolding. he couldn't, however, mask the screams of a coward begging for mercy.
it took him little more than five minutes to take care of the mess he'd made of the stairway and contain the darkness that had pooled around him and the man. he was gone before the crowd could catch sight of him.
he was in front of bubu pharmacy in seconds, breathing as deeply as he could manage to keep his ever-festering rage in check.
"xiao," he heard zhongli say next to him, a hesitancy in his voice that xiao rarely heard. he looked up at the man and blinked, taking in the grave expression on his face.
"they'll be alright," zhongli said before xiao could even open his mouth, hands held neatly behind his back. there was a deep, unsettled frown on his face that was making xiao uneasy.
"but?"
"but...they were drugged. baizhu is trying to determine the exact substance that was used, but he said that it will do no lasting physical harm."
xiao felt something in his chest tighten at the thought of you being in such a vulnerable position in the few minutes that he was gone. you must've been terrified...
"xiao," zhongli's voice broke him from his spiraling thoughts—thoughts that were quickly becoming self-incriminating. "do not blame yourself for this."
"i left," xiao said simply, staring through the door of the pharmacy despite zhongli's pointed gaze insisting that he meet his eyes.
"the only one at fault is the man who did this," zhongli continued, "who, i assume, is not longer a problem."
xiao gave a single nod, and he was sure that he heard a sigh of relief come from the ex-archon.
"good," the man said coldly, "that's one less thing to worry about."
xiao glanced up at his former master, wondering what he was still doing here. surely the situation was being handled by baizhu, and with his own presence, there was no need for him to take up any more of the man's time with a situation born from his own inadequate vigilance–
"you're going to give yourself a headache," zhongli tutted, gliding past xiao towards the doors of the pharmacy.
"wait," xiao called, halting zhongli where he stood.
"yes?"
"i–" he grit his teeth, willing the words to get through to zhongli, "i left."
zhongli watched xiao for a moment before he returned to the adeptus' side.
"why did you leave?"
"a woman was being attacked," he responded immediately, "a few miles from the inn. she called my name."
"and do you think y/n would have forgiven you if you'd ignored a woman in need to continue watching over them?"
xiao felt his throat dry at this. it was true—even without the added stipulation of the woman being your friend, you would've been distraught to learn that he'd ignored someone's plea for help to keep watch over you.
but the one time he'd lost sight of you was the one time you'd needed him most.
you hadn't even been able to call for him.
a sadistic part of him wished he'd kept the man alive, if only to make him suffer further, but he knew that would bring him nothing more than a brief, fleeting feeling of satisfaction. it wouldn't change what had happened, and it wouldn't leave you any less scarred by the event.
"come," zhongli said after xiao had been given sufficient time to stew in his own thoughts, "you should be with them when they wake."
when he finally fought past the guilt clouding his mind and entered the pharmacy, you were still unconscious. baizhu explained the effects of the drug to him quickly—in small doses, it caused drowsiness and fatigue. A higher dose could render someone unconscious—much like the state that you were in now. xiao knew anger was still radiating from him, but he couldn't find the energy to try and hide it. how dare someone do this to you. they had no right to even look at you.
"xiao?"
a whisper of his name broke him from his thoughts, and he bent towards you with a gentle hand on your cheek.
"i'm here."
your smile made most of his anger drain away, and he did his best to return it. he knew he hadn't convinced you—you always seemed to see through his attempts to feigning emotions. you showed him mercy this time, likely too exhausted to do much more than keep your eyes open. xiao sat in the chair at your bedside and took your hand in his.
you closed your eyes again at his familiar touch, letting yourself drift off with the knowledge that you were safe.
#kaeya#kaeya x reader#kaeya x you#kaeya x y/n#kaeya imagine#zhongli#zhongli x reader#zhongli x you#zhongli x y/n#zhongli imagine#xiao#xiao x reader#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#xiao imagine#genshin impact#genshin impact x reader#genshin impact x you#genshin impact x y/n#genshin impact imagine#emwrites
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heaven on earth
38. square one .. !
[ genshin impact smau / idol!xiao x fem!reader ]
heaven on earth - 38. square one
previous | masterlist | next
synopsis ; 🗝️ — in which you befriend your next door neighbour who, unbeknownst to you, was apart of a soon-to-be one of the most popular bands throughout liyue. you're unable to tell if cupid was helping you or not when things with xiao kept going up and down. will he continue to keep his secret from yours truly?
NOTE — some new things here 👊 lmk if u wanna be featured in my other chapters too! especially for my active supporters <3 id love to include u guys! the ones included were some of my recent fans and some ogs ‼️
TAGLIST#1 [OPEN] — @mikctp @ghostlysyntaxed @kazemiya @nnasv @gojoandelsalovechilde @candy-purple-cyanide @kissingkzuha @zyilas @lunaavity @luminescent-light @mave-in @rizakari @riikyu @kokoscutie @starsxnight @sketcheeee @softlie @izakyun @xiaxilia @the-sweet-madame @rifran @milkwithspiceyicecubes @coffeethoughtsandanxiety @rxkan7 @goodthingimsam @pomeiu @fogturtle @farelady-fate @tzu-scara143 @wonderful-worlds @cianalikesbeans @h3xi2g0n3 @jasxiao2317 @rosaryia
(ask to be added)
#genshin#genshin impact#genshin smau#genshin x reader#genshin x you#genshin x y/n#genshin fluff#genshin crack#xiao#xiao smau#xiao fluff#xiao imagine#xiao angst#xiao x reader#xiao x reader smau#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#genshin impact idol au#genshin impact modern au#heaven on earth - shiro.
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Imagine Xiao’s confession.
you’ve been waiting for some time, to the point where you’re scared you’ve been stood up. you reread the note, delicate handwriting asking for your presence here and now. a sigh escapes your lips before you realise, and you contemplate leaving. you don’t want to let xiao down, but right now he’s letting you down.
right as you turn to leave, he appears, wisps of anemo floating near him. he seems… scared? you’ve never seen him like this before. you go to speak but he hands you a bouquet of qingxins. some flowers are out of place but that doesn’t take away from their beauty. before you can comment on him being late or the flowers, he speaks, a blush adorning his face:
“these are for you. qingxins are my favourite flowers, and you are…” he trails off, but you can fill the gap.
“i’m sorry i was late. i was scared to meet you even though i asked you to be here. you can leave if you want, i just wanted to give you these flowers and to tell you how much you mean to me.”
you’re surprised by how honest the usually stoic yaksha was about his feelings. taking the bouquet from his hands, you pick the prettiest flower from the bunch and say his name to get his attention. before he can stop you, you place the qingxin behind his ear, leaving him a blushing and stuttering mess.
“i feel the same about you, you know? you mean so much to me, xiao.”
to that, he looks relieved but says nothing. instead, he tentatively reaches out for your hand and when you respond, intertwines your fingers. so there you both stand, hand in hand, as you look out into the sunset and imagine what the future holds for you both.
<3
thank you so much for reading. comments and reblogs (with tags) are much appreciated :)
tags: @akademiyaslibrary @faesther
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#☾ akademiya’s library#genshin impact#genshin#dumbi’s imagines#genshin x reader#genshin impact x reader#genshin x gn reader#xiao#alatus#alatus xiao#xiao x reader#xiao x gn reader#x gn reader#xiao imagine#fluff#genshin fluff#genshin impact fluff#xiao fluff#xiao x reader fluff#genshin imagines#:d
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HEAR ME OUT. Genshin Men as your ex, like what would they do during the healing process? Would they beg for you back, try to get you jealous, etc.
I LOVE UR WRITING AND FORMAT XX YOU'RE LITERALLY AMAZING.
Ft. Zhongli; Xiao; Tighnari; Scaramouche
⚠️tw: manipulation (Scaramouche); bad end/angst (Xiao; Zhongli)
Every cell in my body resisting the urge to make them yandere–
⭐ Zhongli
To be frank, Zhongli is no stranger to the end of relationships.
Having lived through several millennia, Zhongli has watched many friends, enemies, and lovers come and go.
The moment he met you, he already knew you would someday be the same–such is the nature of mortality.
No matter how much he loved you, you would one day become yet another bittersweet memory–the type that makes his chest ache in the latest hours of the night while the rest of the harbor is sleeping.
Zhongli knew your departure from his life was inevitable…
But he didn’t expect to have to say goodbye so soon–let alone voluntarily.
“I love you, Zhongli. I really do but… we’re just too different. A former archon and a human just weren’t meant to be together. I’m sorry.”
Words he had never dreamed of fall from your lips easily. You had rehearsed it for a while.
He is internally distraught - his chest aches in a way he is not quite familiar with and, for once, he does not know what to say.
He politely lets you leave - says that he understands and expresses his desire to remain amicable if you will allow it but will keep his distance if that is what you prefer.
He will always be available to share some advice over a cup of tea or osmanthus wine if you should ever need it. The unwritten contract between the of you – the favor and support of a former archon – is unconditional.
You may find yourself shocked at how easily he lets you go –whether or not you are pleased by it depends on the nature of your true feelings.
Zhongli’s warm smiles and calming words will always remain, albeit now polite rather than intimate.
Outsiders who were unfamiliar with the nature of your previous relationship will not even notice the difference.
It is only a select few - Xiao, a few other adepti, and perhaps the funeral director – who see how the once smoldering embers in Zhongli’s steady gaze have been smothered.
It is only in the darkest hours of night, alone in his study, that Zhongli allows himself to wonder if his divinity is a blessing or a curse.
“It is unfortunate that our journey together must come to an end so soon. I have very much enjoyed our time together and appreciated the honor of witnessing your glory so closely. I will not burden you with my presence but… if you should ever need my assistance or desire my companionship, it is always yours.”
⭐ Xiao
Never in a thousand years would Xiao have imagined he would have someone to call his own.
After centuries of abuse–both inflicted upon him and from him - Xiao had sworn to never put himself in a position that vulnerable again. He will never let someone get close enough to hurt him or be hurt.
Nevertheless, you appeared in his life and shattered every expectation he had ever set.
Through sheer persistence, you smashed your way through his every wall and stole his heart as your own.
You had created an inseverable bond between you two…
...but now you wanted to sever it.
“I don’t think we can be together anymore, Xiao. You have a duty to protect Liyue and that is your top priority. You are tethered to this place. But I want to explore new places… and new people. I’m sorry, Xiao.”
His first reaction is anger, the type that flashed white hot in his gut and burns through his veins.
He did not seek you out – you were the one who forced your way into his life.
No matter how often he rejected you, how much he tried to avoid you, you had repeatedly interjected your way into his routine, bringing him plates of almond tofu and sharing stories of you adventure he had never asked about.
You created the habit for him. You made him expect your presence every day. You gave him new experiences and made him feel things he never knew possible. You made him love you in ways he had never imagined himself capable of–
–only to rip it all away.
He should have known he was not good enough - he was always just a weapon, a tool, wasn’t he? It is only natural that you would use him too–and that he would one day become useless.
He leaves without a word.
For you, it is almost as if you had imagined his whole existence.
He no longer waits for you atop Wangshu Inn. You no longer feel the sense of someone watching–protecting–you while you take commissions around Liyue.
The only indication you have that you had not dreamt the whole thing is the occasional story random citizens, claiming to have been saved from a lawachurl by a ghost with yellow eyes.
You think Xiao has forgotten your entire existence. He disappears from your life so easily.
But to Xiao, it is not easy at all.
His every thought is plagued by you to the point he wonders if you placed a curse upon him.
While the memory of you once eased his karmic debt, now it only seems to fuel it.
The voices taunt him, remind him of how worthless he is, even to his own lover.
You’re only a weapon of destruction – of course no one would want to be with you. You could never make anyone happy. You can only bring pain.
He suffers alone, brushing off the concern of the other adepti and even Zhongli when his karmic debt seems to get worse, his breakdowns more frequent and more intense than ever before/
It is only when you call his name - whether because you miss him or because you are in danger, than he will allow himself to see you again.
But even as he stands before you, he will not make eye contact.
Not because he does not want to see you but because he does not trust himself to act reasonably if he does.
“Even if the… nature of our relationship has changed, our bond still remains… what I mean is, if you are ever in danger, you should still call my name. I will always protect you...”
⭐ Tighnari
Um… this dude mates for life, how could you do this to him???
Similar to Xiao, he initially just gets kind of angry.
He told you how serious this is for him, how much relationships mean to fennec foxes.
He had asked you over and over again if you were sure before making your relationship official and you had assured him that you were. You said forever.
You had known each other for years before - you knew his personality and his habits. You knew being a forest watcher was his top priority and how long he spent on patrols - nothing has changed so why are your feelings changing?
“I’m sorry, Tighnari, I just… I don’t think I can live like this forever. Working in the forest together was a fun way to pass time but I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t want to be with you anymore.“
He tries to talk it through - he wants to be logical and compromise with you. He asks you to set boundaries and be specific about your needs so that he has the chance to try to meet them - he will do anything to make this work, you just need to tell him what you need.
But you insist there’s nothing he can do, and without a proper explanation, you leave him behind.
It is easy to fall back into old routines and habits. Even if his lover is gone, the forest never rests.
He goes back to his patrols and reports and lectures – everything is the same as before yet it all feels completely wrong.
The days he used to look forward to – eagerly learning more about the forest he loved and sharing his findings with other curious minds – now feel like little more than a waste of time.
His passion is gone, the once burning desires now doused and his mind is only plagued with memories of you.
Quiet moments late at night in his tent are the worst.
His bed feels uncharacteristically cold and empty without you in it. The calm night is much too quiet when your voice is not there to hum a tune you heard at the market.
“You’re being incredibly selfish right now – our relationship may be just a way to pass time for you but for me – it's all or nothing. There was no one before you and there will be no one after you. We made a commitment to each other and we need to stick it out. So tell me exactly what the problem is so we can work on it and fix it. Together. We have a whole lifetime to figure this out so don’t just give up on us so easily.”
⭐ Scaramouche
You have to be insane to leave this man - and not just ‘cause he is hot.
If you made it far enough for Scaramouche to let you into his heart, you already know his past. You know what has happened to him and how he feels about people leaving.
There is absolutely no way this will go well for either of you.
Once his heart is broken his immediate response is vengeance and retaliation.
If you think you are leaving him behind – betraying him like everyone else in his life – you have got another think coming.
“I’m serious, scaramouche. I don’t want this anymore. We’re just not meant for each other.”
“Ha– you think you have a choice? I must not have made myself clear – you are mine and you are not going anywhere without me.”
lol oops I made it yandere
While much less openly accommodating as Tighnari, Scaramouche is still willing to listen to your complaints and try to find a solution.
Although he’s possessive and a bit blinded by his own feelings, Scaramouche truly does love you and will do anything he can to make you happy–but only if you are happy with him.
If you physically leave, he will follow you. If you try to find someone else, he is not above getting rid of them.
Once you enter a relationship with Scaramouch, for as long as the two of you are alive, you will be with each other.
“Do you finally understand? Good. Taking care of those mortal men you wanted to hang around with was starting to become tedious."
#xiao x reader#zhongli x reader#tighnari x reader#scaramouche x reader#genshin x reader#genshin imagines#genshin scenarios#genshin hcs#xiao hcs#tighnari hcs#zhongli hcs#scaramouche hcs#xiao imagine#genshin imagine#tighnari imagine#zhongli imagine#scaramouche imagine#genshin impact x reader#kyuuppi.req
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WHEN THE RAIN BEGINS TO FALL.
— xiao x gn!reader
— you're feeling all but anything good, and the vigilant yaksha is there to fight the demons that pester your mind.
— content under the cut | masterlist
FROM THE WATER'S EDGE, the sky looked heavy. grey clouds had packed in the sky, looming over the vast wildlands of liyue. you knew rain would begin to fall soon, yet you remained standing on the shore. what did it matter, were droplets of water to soak your entire being? you couldn't get yourself to care.
you weren't having it. the demons in your mind battled and won, and you were ready to give in and stop fighting against them. what was the point, anyway? you had lost track of happiness, your purpose in life, you couldn't find the path that was meant for you, and you were ready to give up.
matching the clouds up above, your mood was gloomy, thoughts resting heavily on your being.
surely, droplets of rain began to drizzle from the sky in a matter of minutes, rippling the smooth surface of the water. it morphed into a steady downpour rapidly, yet you didn't move from the spot you had taken what felt like hours ago. you let it happen; drenching your cloats, dampening your hair, painting your cheeks like tears – that otherwise refused to spill after crying too often.
your venomous thoughts were turbulent, yet you felt empty all the same. as if your inner void sucked away your emotions, leaving naught but misery behind.
a name lingered on your mind; one call, and he would come. but as your depression grew, you had called out his name so often already, which made you feel like another burden atop the pain he already carried perpetually. so you remained silent, refusing to speak said name aloud.
but the path of the yaksha had intertwined with yours deeply, and the male was attuned with your mind to a point where no words needed to be spoken to alert him of your misery.
xiao knew you were suffering.
he felt it in every fibre of his being, proving only how deep of a connection you shared. hence he appeared behind you in a thick, black mist, and alerted you of his arrival with a raspy call of your name.
"y/n."
you turned around, your heart swelling with a pinch of hope when you found your beloved yaksha standing there, amber eyes gazing at you solemnly.
"xiao," you called, voice breaking.
"are you forgetting how easily mortals catch ilnesses?" the conqueror of demons spoke as he took a step towards you. "you'll get sick, y/n."
"i don't care," you huffed.
"but i do," xiao fought, lifting his gloved hand and wiping the raindrops mixed with tears from your cheek. but he was quick to engulf you in a hug entirely, holding you close against him. "i'll bring you to a better place."
black smoke swirled around you, nipping at your skin as your surroundings blurred over. familiar with what was about to occur, you closed your eyes and let it happen.
when you opened them again, you were on the upper balcony of the wangshu inn, xiao's place of comfort – one that he gladly shared with you.
"now tell me, what's going on inside that mind of yours?" xiao asked, not fully letting go of you and still holding you in a loose embrace.
one look in his eyes told you that he, too, was not doing well. but he chose to put aside his own suffering to tend to yours. you were that important to him, and though he hardly ever told you so with words, he showed you through his actions.
xiao sounded rough, tired, but he gazed at you ever so softly still. you felt your heart swell with a hint of love and happiness, the first positive sensation you've experienced in quite a while. you shook your head, not yet ready to address the demons in your mind. for now, you simply needed xiao to be with you, and you buried your face in his neck.
"my mind is a mess, xiao," you admitted. "it's dark, so dark that i don't want to talk about it. i just don't want to trigger myself, but i'll tell you all about it when i'm ready."
"take your time," the yaksha nodded. "in the meantime, i will not move from your side. the demons that pester your mind are the first that need their demise, liyue can wait."
"silly," you joked, offering a small laugh. "an entire nation is more important than a simple human like me."
"you're wrong, y/n," xiao earnestly said. "you are the reason why i can bear my karmic debts, why i'm not consumed by darkness yet. you're the most important to me, never forget that."
the adeptus looked at you sternly, and when he was sure you accepted his words, he buried you in another tight hug.
xiao was a creature shrouded in darkness and misery, fighting monsters and bringing demise to keep the nation of contracts safe and sound. and yet, he was your light, your conqueror of demons, your beloved yaksha who safely pulled you through your darkest moments.
you loved him dearly. he brought back the sun when the rain was about to fall, and you would be forever grateful.
#xiao#genshin impact#genshin impact imagine#genshin impact imagines#genshin impact fanfiction#xiao x reader#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#xiao imagine#xiao imagines
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One Wish [Xiao x reader]
A/N: Yeah yeah Lantern Rite already passed but who cares. AFTER THE RECENT QUEST (2.7 chasm) I FEEL THE NEED TO WRITE FOR XIAO.
And yes, the last bit is inspired by Tangled (the boat part).
Warnings: Cringe?? Haven’t written in a while.
Genre: A bit of angst at first, fluff (dw happy ending)
--------------------------------------------------
It’s been three weeks, and you still feel awkward around Xiao.
It’s not your fault really... or maybe it kind of is. Either way, you feel like you can’t look at him the same way.
Three weeks ago, you decided to take every ounce of your bravery, and confess to Xiao. You’ve liked him ever since that day at Wangshu Inn. The way he protects you, and keeps his promise by coming just by the call of his name. He even began to walk with you if he ever saw you nearby. It was difficult to keep your feelings to yourself for so long.
However, Xiao didn’t have the positive reaction you expected.
He went on about how mortals like you shouldn’t be close to him, and how his karma is harmful and all that. You heard him say this countless times before... so why is it that this time it hurts so much more?
You cried yourself to sleep that night. You felt pathetic. It wasn’t his fault, you weren’t sure if he knew the concept of dating in the first place. But he could at least consider it right?
It didn’t matter, or so you tried to convince yourself. And you get it, you really do. You can’t force him into something like this. So today (three weeks from that day), you still try to forget it and move past it. But there’s something that seems to give you trouble with doing that... or more like someone-
“You’re going the wrong way.”
Yes. Three weeks from then, and Xiao still walks with you. Well, the first week he didn’t, but mostly because you stayed at the Inn, sniffling and eating a lot of desserts to calm yourself (Smile Yanxiao was concerned for you). But after that you started going out again and doing your regular traveller duties. And Xiao came along too... which didn’t help with your feelings towards him.Today you happened to be coming from Dihua Marsh on your way to the harbour for the Lantern Rite.
“Oh, sorry.” you say realizing you were slowly drifting from the path you were walking. Yeah, it was very awkward. And moreover, making it hard for your heart. You didn’t really know how to act around him anymore, but you tried being normal. You hope he didn’t catch on how you still felt.
“Are you going to the Lantern Rite?” you asked, trying to make small talk as Liyue Harbour came into view.
“No.” he said bluntly. You were disappointed, but gave a slight “mm” in response. Little did you know, that “mm” made Xiao suddenly confused. You always asked him if he was going to the Lantern Rite, or any other festival. You always begged him, bribing him with things like almond tofu trying to make him go with you. Whined every time he declined with his arms crossed. And you understood that he disliked crowds, though you proposed you could watch the lanterns from afar. But this time was different. You didn’t fight back.
“We’re here.” you say, interrupting his thoughts. Xiao realized both of you were at the bridge already. It was the afternoon right now, but you came at the right time. In a matter of a few minutes the sun will set, starting to create a beautiful scene for the bright lanterns.
“Well, I’m going to go to Wanmin restaurant to meet up with Xiangling.” you announce, turning to face him. Though, you still couldn’t look him in the eye. “Happy Lantern Rite.” you say softly with a little wave.
“Be safe.” he said. You paused for a moment. You found it strange that he didn’t immediately disappear after saying your farewells. Nonetheless, you turned and started walking towards the harbour.
≿————- ❈ ————-≾
“Y/N! Happy Lantern Rite!” Xiangling jumped and embraced you.
“Hi Xiangling, happy Lantern Rite.” you replied, returning her hug.
“C’mon let’s go! Xingqiu and Chongyun are already waiting for us at the stalls!” she exclaimed, taking your hand and running to where the boys were.
You and your friends enjoyed the Lantern Rite with the pink and orange sunset in the background. You took lots of pictures with your Kamera, and ate lots of food from the stalls. The four of you (and Guoba) played games, and watched Yunjin and Xinyan’s performance. It was nice to spend time with your friends.
This year, the Lantern Rite included small boats you could paddle out into the sea to make your personal wishes and release your lantern. You, Xiangling, Xingqiu and Chongyun got yourselves a lantern and got to the boats.
“Whoa! Paddling a boat is kind of hard.” said Xiangling, seemingly going in circles.
“You’ll get the hang of it.” Chongyun said, bumping her boat to help push her farther. Xingqiu giggled and beckoned you to follow.
By now, it was dark. With you guys paddling away from the harbour, there was no light other than your lanterns. Once you went far enough, you set the paddles down and let your boat drift around slowly. You looked at your friends, smiling and holding their lanterns ready to be launched.
“They’re going to release their lanterns any minute now.” Xingqiu pointed back to the city. “Let’s get ready to make our wishes.” Xiangling and Chongyun nodded in response. You began to do the same. What did you want to wish for?
I wish I could be normal around Xiao.
No that wasn’t it.
No. You knew what you really wanted. It felt absurd though. You just wanted to spend one Lantern Rite with him. He didn’t even have to reciprocate your feelings. After he does go, you think you can finally get over this.
“I wish... I wish Xia-”
“Yes?”
You yelped, making the boat flail and slosh a little in the water. You clutched your lantern, shocked at what you saw before you. Those golden eyes looking right at you, his figure crouching on the other side of the boat.
“U-um...” you mentally curse yourself for sounding so weird. You couldn’t tell what Xiao was thinking right now, but you internally panicked. Did he come because you called his name? How embarrassing, thinking about having to explain to him that you were making a wish... about him.
“I want to make a wish too.” he finally says after a long silence. He put his hand out, which you gave your lantern to him for a brief moment. He took the lantern in both hands, lightly putting his forehead on the corner. He really did seem to be making a wish, you thought.
The truth is, he noticed. He noticed the smile you try to hold, when something was wrong. He noticed the way you avoided looking at him by looking at the ground instead. He noticed that night when you cried yourself to sleep. He thought that distancing himself from you was for the better. But he realized that the worst thing wasn’t a monster hurting you. It was him hurting you.
Which is why he won’t wait another Lantern Rite. He never was one to pray to the gods, or make wishes, but just tonight he does. He wishes he could go back and rethink his words, or try and understand from a mortal’s perspective, maybe even ask Zhongli. But for now, he wishes you will forgive him.
Thus, he decides he won’t make you wait another Lantern Rite either. Before you know it, he’s leaning forward, his hand moving to cup the back of your head, just above your neck. Your lips move softly in sync with his. It was short, but sweet. When you both pulled away, you were met again with his beautiful eyes, which reflected the light of your lantern.
You instantly leaped to Xiao, almost pushing him back with a hug. You were ready to stop until you felt his hands lightly embrace you back.
“Did you make your wish?” he asked. You realized the citizens at the harbour are already beginning to release their lanterns. You couldn’t contain your smile anymore.
My wish already came true, you wanted to say.
“Yes.” you said happily after sitting back in your seat. You both took one hand to hold the lantern, then raised it high enough for it to float away with the rest.
Once you were out at sea for long enough, you told your friends you were going to go home, and you said your goodbyes and see you tomorrows. You walked back to Wangshu Inn with Xiao, choosing to share an almond tofu together on the balcony.
You were tired, Xiao could tell. He watched as your eyes were fighting to keep themselves open while spooning the tofu in your mouth. It was almost midnight, but the lanterns could still be seen as little specks floating in the far distance.
“Xiao,” you whisper just about to fall asleep. “I’m happy.”
Your head falls on his shoulder while standing. He’ll have to carry you to your room later. For now he admires you, and in awe of what you said. “I’m happy.” Yet another thing that is not often said around him, nor is it something he ever says. But this time, he thinks, he’s happy too.
≿————- ❈ ————-≾
#xiao#genshin impact#genshin xiao#xiao x reader#xiao fluff#xiao angst#xiao oneshot#xiao fanfic#xiao imagine#XIAO CAN U FUCKIN GO TO THE LANTERN RITE WITH ME ALREADY#I WILL TRIPLE CROWN HIM ONCE I GET THE MORA#or should I build healer/shield xiao so he WONT FUCKING DO THAT AGAIN /j
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When he realizes it's love-
Content Warnings: Mild Angst (It's Xiao), brief mentions of battles, brief mention of wounds (nothing depicted)
Reader: Female
I wanted to do something soft for Xiao, while still trying to maintain that adamant determination he has that he doesn't deserve anything nice (seriously buddy, you do).
As a previous Xiao main, I hope I did him justice.
Xiao felt his body ache as he dealt the final blow to his foes, their pained cries falling upon deaf ears as the Adeptus carefully surveyed his surroundings one more time. There was no further movement in the plains of Liyue, no monsters lurking in the darkened, shadowy corners of the night. He had done his duty as he always did, despite the protest of his body and how heavy his spear felt in his hand. He would never speak of the weight bearing down on him from all sides, of the suffocating pressure of his Karmic Debt-- it was his, and only his, to bear.
On nights like this, however, Xiao felt an urge bubble up within his chest. One that had been growing more familiar as the nights passed him by. Suddenly the blur of days beginning and ending had seemed to slow. The morning sun warmed him in ways he’d forgotten it could over the long, lonely centuries.
In those moments when the morning light warmed his skin he felt as if something he’d forgotten was returning to him. It startled him, admittedly, the warmth blooming in his chest. How his mind would wander in his sparse moments of freedom to a singular human woman-- you. Xiao hated himself for it, endangering you for some selfish whim, an impulse he struggled to reign in. But since he’d met you, things had changed. Slowly at first, sure, but over time it was undeniable that somehow the weight on his body had lessened.
He came to find himself searching for you, even if he dared not approach again of his own accord. Simply the sight of your smile in the crowd, knowing you were safe and sound eased the darkness in his heart.
But when you would call, Xiao would move before his mind could think. The melodic tone of your voice is a spell he dare not break, a desire he could scarcely allow himself to indulge in. In these moments, he’d come to you, he’d ignore the distance he’d put between the two of you and allow you as close as you would come. His warnings never made you hesitate, when he’d chastise you for coming to find him you’d simply grace him with your laugh.
When he asked you why you’d rolled your eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Sitting on the grassy plains, he remembers how you laid back, staring up at the clear blue skies above. Reaching up as though you could grasp it in your small hand. “Because no one deserves to be alone.” You’d said, softly yet determined, looking over in his direction.
He’d come to recall that day, over and over in the night. How the light had danced across your skin, how carefree you’d been, how vulnerable.
‘No one deserves… to be alone?’ He wondered, eyes wandering towards the pale, silvery moon above. Subconsciously he reached towards it, until it appeared like he could grasp it in his hand. A mirror of your innocence, an attempt to understand. Golden eyes closed as he let out a sigh, the cool breeze against his skin.
And then he was moving, a blur against the night, yet footsteps silent. His mind was loud, racing, a mix of protests and reasoning. But his feet found the sturdy support of a too-familiar tree, the sight of your home silencing his echoing thoughts for just a moment.
Once again, he’d run to you. Without your call, without rhyme or reason.
You were there, sitting in the quiet night, sleepily reading in the dim lights by the window. Your eyes drifting closed only to fight back open, your chin lazily resting on your palm, propping yourself up. You looked so peaceful that Xiao debated turning back around, returning to the fields and finding whatever creature he could-- he’d destroy anything to keep your peace. But tonight he let out a shaky breath, he pushed his reluctance deeper down, pushed those worries and fears as far down as he could manage.
For the first time, Xiao took a step towards you.
“Y/N.” He spoke, barely a whisper, but it carried through the open window and you startled, jumping in your seat as your head whipped towards him. Your wide eyes met his own, and he was overcome with a blooming warmth as your brief terror melted immediately into the smile he’d grown to crave. You didn’t react with reverence or fear, instead you stood, rushing to your door to greet him.
“Xiao!” Your voice speaking his name made that warmth bloom further, moving throughout his tired body, reinvigorating his muscles into movement as you approached, meeting you halfway between your door and the window. “Are you okay?” Your eyes searched his form as he nodded-- now that he was before you he felt as though there were no words he could form. “I’m glad you’re here.”
You motioned for him to follow, but seeing his tired gaze, his slow response, you frowned. You reached out, tentatively touching his hand with yours. Xiao didn’t pull away, simply stared at where the two of you had connected-- such an innocent touch, so pure, so simple. So kind. You didn’t see him as a weapon, a tool to protect. You saw him as Xiao.
It hit him then, as your small hand grasped his, leading him towards your abode, it struck his heart in a way he’d never experienced before-- you saw him.
Every instinct told him to vanish back into the night, flee from the soft warmth spreading between your bodies where they met. This was wrong, he was dangerous-- just by being near you he was risking you. Yet when you turned, guiding him to sit in front of the small fireplace in your home, he didn’t resist. “You can rest here, Xiao. You’re safe here.” You smiled, before moving to walk away-- he didn’t know where, or why-- but you didn’t make it far. His hand reached out and grasped your wrist-- a ghost of a touch, but enough to make you pause.
Your wide eyes, your red tinted cheeks, it was nearly too much for the Adeptus to bear.
“Stay.” He breathed. He didn’t need anything else-- he, perhaps, was not entirely sure why, but he merely wanted your company. He’d come this far, against his better judgment. Just a moment, a fleeting moment… he could allow himself that, couldn’t he? The centuries of bloodshed and pain… surely they could amount to such a small moment.
“Of course…” You seemed embarrassed at his request, sitting beside him, merely a breath away from him. You held his hand, your gaze settled where he’d grabbed you.
It was the first time he’d touched you.
It meant that much to you?
Perhaps he couldn’t understand fully what you felt, he was still learning to comprehend the vast array of human emotions.
You remained quiet, enjoying the peaceful moment so late in the night, unperturbed by your unexpected guest. You didn’t suggest he sleep, or rest, or eat… you let him be.
You let him be, and he wanted to be with you.
Xiao inhaled sharply at the dangerous thought, though caught himself before he could worry you. He nearly pulled away, nearly fled at the very thought he wanted to remain by your side as long as he could. Selfishly putting you at unnecessary risk because he was tired.
“Xiao?” Your curious voice dragged him from his thoughts, and his gaze snapped to yours just a little too quickly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” You didn’t need to worry-- you had no idea how much you affected the Adeptus with your very presence. Had no idea the hold you had on him. Xiao sighed, looking away from you as he spoke. “Thank you for allowing me in.”
You were silent for a moment. “Anytime, Xiao. You’re always welcome here.”
The two of you sat in peace, listening to the crackling fire. Xiao felt light, as though his body wasn’t covered in wounds, like he wasn’t weighed down by the crushing pressures of his sins. He felt safe, for the first time in centuries.
In that moment he knew, he knew as he gripped your hand a little tighter. As you finally gave way to sleep, your head resting on his shoulder. When he didn’t move away, instead gazing softly at your sleeping form.
He knew, deep down, that he would protect you over anything else. Xiao was certain of what the warmth within his chest was, how you could alleviate his pain just with your presence.
He knew that he’d crossed a line that he’d never dared to think of. Something he didn’t deserve, something he shouldn’t allow himself to have… but perhaps, just for tonight, he could remain by your side for just a little longer.
You.
The human he loved.
#~Take Time to Relax#Xiao#Genshin Impact#Xiao x Reader#Xiao fluff#seriously he needs some love and affection in his life#it was really hard to not let myself make his banner quote his snow one#Once the snow is thick enough#we can eat it#xiao imagine#Xiao comfort#you are Xiao’s safe place
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Tragic Outcomes 6
Pairings: Xiao x fem!reader x Zhongli
Summary: It's Xiao's birthday! You and Zhongli plan on making almond tofu to celebrate Xiao's birthday. While you and Zhongli are waiting for Xiao to return, Xiao seems to be a little bit occupied with something on his end that's keeping him out late.
Note: Omg, an update for Tragic Outcomes after how long? I made this angst special for Xiao's (belated) birthday because why not? This chapter is very Zhongli-focused because ✨ Zhongli ✨ and I am biased /j I'm working on updating the individual character fics that haven't been updated in a while! :> I will be updating Ayato's fic next week! Ayato's fic is coming to an end! Not sure if this has painful angst like the first part, but you guys be the judge, I guess! Anyway, I don’t post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Mostly fluff between Zhongli and the reader. Would this chapter be considered angst? Or maybe has light angst? Reader has to make a decision in the end.
Word Count: 7.5k
Tragic Outcomes chapters: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]
You’re used to waking up alone in the morning. Xiao is usually awake before you are and would leave Wangshu Inn before dawn. But now, you wake up next to Zhongli. Sometimes you wish Xiao could wake up at the same time as you and Zhongli, but knowing his commitment to his duties, you don’t push him about it. It’s only seven in the morning, and you’re standing in the kitchen steeping tea for you and Zhongli.
Zhongli walks up from behind you, wraps his arms around your waist, and rests his chin on your head. You let out a content sigh and relax in his arms, closing your eyes and breathing in his scent. Zhongli’s chest rumbles when he chuckles. Zhongli leans down and presses his lips against your temple, rocking the two of you side to side.
“How’d you sleep last night, dearest?” Zhongli murmurs into your ears.
You turn your head to the side and press your lips against his cheeks. “I slept well. Although, I would much rather be in bed instead,” you mutter, pouting at him playfully.
“That sounds like a nice day, but if my memory is correct, today is a special day for a certain Adeptus,” Zhongli says, nuzzling into the crook of your neck.
You freeze in Zhongli’s arms and rest your head on Zhongli’s shoulders. Today is a special day for a certain Adeptus, according to Zhongli. Your memory has gotten slightly worse ever since the… incident a while back. You waddle over to the calendar with Zhongli latching to your back. You scan your eyes on the calendar and see a specific date circled with small doodles of a birthday cake and birthday hat on the particular date.
You turn to Zhongli, cupping his face in your hands. “It’s Xiao’s birthday!” You exclaim.
“Yes, that is correct,” Zhongli says, his cheek squished in your hands. “Do you have anything planned in mind for his birthday?” Zhongli asks.
The timer chimes, startling you. You release Zhongli’s face from your hands and walk over to the tea and pull the teabags out from the teacups, tossing them into the trash. Zhongli leans against the counter, watching you pour a small amount of sugar into your and his tea.
Xiao isn’t the type to be interested in a huge birthday celebration. Maybe a small gathering is something he would be interested in. Still, other than that, it’s usually just you and him that celebrate his birthday. You slide the teacup over in Zhongli’s direction and pucker your lips, contemplating how you’ll celebrate Xiao’s birthday this year.
“Well, I usually make almond tofu for Xiao to eat on his birthday. It’s usually just the two of us celebrating his birthday rather than having a big celebration,” you reply, lightly blowing on the tea and taking small sips.
Zhongli nods, sipping his tea. “Do you, perhaps, need any assistance with preparing?” Zhongli asks, his cheeks slowly turning pink.
“I don’t know! Don’t you have work today, Mister Consultant?” You ask, poking the former Geo Archon’s chest while hiding your smile behind your teacup.
Zhongli clears his throat, puts his teacup back on the saucer, and pulls you toward him. You nestle up against Zhongli and look at him through your lashes. Zhongli places his index finger under your chin and tilts your head up. Zhongli slowly leans down to kiss you, but the door to the Inn’s room slams open, startling you and Zhongli.
Childe walks through the entrance with a huge smile on his face. You and Zhongli step away from each other. You put your teacup down while Zhongli lifts his teacup to his lips and takes deep gulps of the tea. It’s too early to deal with Childe and his shenanigans, but as his friend, you and Zhongli learned to deal with the ginger-haired Harbinger.
“So! How did that little meeting with the Adeptis go? Meet anyone cool or learn anything new?” Childe asks, hopping up on the island and sitting on it, swinging his legs back and forth.
You and Zhongli trade look with each other. You make a so-so gesture.
“Kind of? It’s more information than what I knew before, but it’s not enough. If that makes sense,” you said.
Childe’s face pinches up, and he shakes his head. “I’m going to be honest with you, [Y/N]. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Fair enough,” you sigh. “The information given to me is helpful, but I wanted to know more about my parents and the things that happened before I was sealed away and before they died,” you said, stroking your chin.
“Like in detail? If so, I’m pretty sure Mister Zhongli over there have some answers since he has much knowledge of Liyue’s history and of the Adeptis,” Childe says, gesturing in Zhongli’s direction.
You stare at Childe blankly and look at Zhongli from the corner of your eyes. Is Childe hinting that he knows that Zhongli is the (former) Geo Archon, or is he just mentioning that Zhongli knows a lot of things? You rub your temples and shake your head.
“Listen, Childe, as much as I would love to talk about what I learned about my deceased parents, I have things to do,” you said, pulling the curtains of the kitchen open and letting the light pour into the room.
Childe perks up and looks at you with interest and curiosity, hopping off the counter and walking over to where you stand. Zhongli continues to sip his tea while eyeing Childe closely. You open the cupboards and pull out a plate. You’re planning on making almond tofu for Xiao to eat. Although, you’re not entirely sure if you have enough ingredients to make a lot of almond tofu. You walk over to the pantry, pulling out a bag of almonds. You shake the bag and weigh them in your hands.
Childe peeks his head into the pantry. “What are you doing in there?” Childe asks, leaning against the door frame.
“We’re going to need to buy more almonds,” you murmur.
You walk out of the pantry, and place the almonds on the counter, then walk to the refrigerator. You open the fridge and stick your head inside, searching high and low for milk. You grab the small bottle of milk and sigh, grumbling about having to spend more Mora on Xiao’s birthday to make him his favorite food for his birthday.
“I’m debating whether I should make almond tofu with what I have and go to the market to buy some more ingredients after. Or go to the market now and make almond tofu once I have more ingredients,” you mutter, putting the milk on the counter beside the almonds.
“It’s all up to you, dearest. Do you think Xiao would eat that much almond tofu? I think you have enough for one plate,” Zhongli says, untying the rubber band.
Childe grabs the milk bottle and holds it up, then glances over at the bag of almonds in Zhongli’s hands while squinting his eyes.
You raise your eyebrows at Childe. “What are you thinking?” You ask, propping your hands on your hips.
“You don’t have enough milk for one plate of almond tofu. It’s barely enough. You and Mister Zhongli can stay here while I go out and get some milk for you two.” Childe offers, putting the milk back down on the counter.
Childe? Getting milk for you to make Xiao almond tofu? Childe turns to leave, but you quickly grab onto his wrist, and you shake your head. Childe and Zhongli look at you, surprised. Their eyebrows are either raised or furrowing with confusion. You release Childe’s wrist from your grasp and clear your throat.
“Thank you for the offer, Childe, but I got this! I’ll go out into Liyue Harbor and buy some milk and maybe some extra almonds!” You say.
Childe puckers his lips. “Hey, come on! I offered to buy you milk to make your little Adpetus boyfriend some birthday almond tofu, but you declined that offer?” Childe asks.
The way Childe looks at you reminds you of a kicked puppy. He’s batting his eyelashes at you while giving you puppy dog eyes, his bottom lip jutting out. Zhongli rolls his eyes at Childe, crossing his arms over his chest. You snort and flick Childe’s nose, making him flinch and scowl at you while rubbing his nose.
You sigh and look over at the almonds and milk on the counter. “As much as I appreciate your offer and your volunteering, how do I know if you won’t poison the milk?” You ask.
Childe lets out an offended gasp, pressing his right hand against his chest. “How dare you assume I would do such a thing! For your information, I would never poison an Adeptus!” Childe says, sticking his nose in the air with a ‘hmph!’
You glare at Childe and cross your arms over your chest. You know Childe and his distaste toward your Adeptus boyfriend. There’s a possible chance Childe will try to poison Xiao, but knowing Childe, he’s more calculated about it and will take his time with slowly killing someone he doesn’t like.
“How about this! How about you keep Zhongli and me company while we go to the market to buy more milk and almonds?” You suggest.
You walk back to the kitchen counter to put the milk back in the refrigerator and the almonds back into the pantry. Childe makes a disgruntled noise and flops on the couch in the living room, ignoring the amused look Zhongli has on his face.
“Well? What’s your answer?” You ask, walking to the living room with Zhongli by your side.
Childe grumbles and props himself up on the couch, staring at you and Zhongli blankly. The two of you stare at Childe in return, waiting for his answer. Childe sighs loudly, dragging it out before flopping back on the couch; his long legs dangling off the edge of the sofa.
Childe runs his fingers through his hair. “I would love to join you two, but I’m going to be a third wheel!” Childe says dramatically.
“You’re not going to be a third wheel, Childe.” You deadpan.
“You two only want me to tag along because I’ll be your human wallet and pay for the groceries!” Childe says, getting off the couch and pointing an accusing finger at you and Zhongli.
You groan loudly and look over at the clock on the wall to check the time. It’s nearing eight in the morning, and you need to head down to Liyue Harbor and buy milk and almonds (and maybe other groceries) before many people start to show up.
You pinch the bridge of your nose and exhale sharply through your nostrils. You’re trying your hardest not to stomp over to where Childe is sitting just to smack Childe upside of his head for making things complicated for you.
“You know what, Childe? You don’t have to join Zhongli and me. It’ll be just the two of us while you do your Fatui Harbinger duties,” you say, walking over to the door and grabbing your satchel.
“What?!” Childe asks, looking at you with disbelief.
You nod without looking at Childe, putting your shoes on. “You heard me! Since you decide to be a little shithead and make things complicated for Zhongli and me, you might as well tend to your Harbinger duties while Zhongli and I are shopping,” you say, gesturing for Zhongli to come over.
Zhongli walks past Childe, ignoring the dramatic pout on Childe’s face. You snort and shake your head, reaching your hand out toward Zhongli. Zhongli grabs your hand and pulls you to his chest, wrapping his arms around your waist. Childe scrunches his nose at the sight of you and Zhongli cozying up to each other.
Childe clears his throat. “You know what? I will do that! You two have fun at the market!” Childe says, waving his hands around.
Childe is the first person to walk out the door while you and Zhongli follow after. You lock the door behind you, and the two of you set off to Liyue Harbor. At Liyue Harbor, there weren’t as many people as you expected, which is a huge relief. But there’s still a decent amount of people roaming around Liyue Harbor, making it a little bit complicated to get to the shops you want to visit for the key ingredients you need for almond tofu.
Zhongli keeps his hands on your hips while the two of you navigate through people, searching for a specific shop. You feel warmth blooming in your chest; the feeling of Zhongli’s hands on your hips and the lack of gap between your and his body makes you feel some type of way.
“We’re here,” Zhongli says, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You and Zhongli stand in front of the vendor, searching for the almond. While you’re searching for the bags of almonds, Zhongli quietly converses with the food vendor before you two. You hear Zhongli chuckle, causing you to look up. The two of you make eye contact for a brief second. Zhongli smiles at you and looks at the vendor, nodding his head while talking about his favorite Liyue cuisine before adding in how both of you are searching for almonds and milk to cook almond tofu for Xiao’s birthday.
The vendor’s eyes light up. “Oh! Are you two making almond tofu for your son’s birthday?” The vendor asks, smiling at you and Zhongli.
Zhongli’s eyes widen slightly. “Son?” Zhongli asks.
The vendor nods his head. “Yes! You say his name is Xiao, right?” The vendor asks, tilting his head to the side.
You clear your throat and look away shyly, heat rushing to your face after hearing the vendor’s comment. You’re unsure how to answer the vendor’s question. Would the vendor judge you for dating both Zhongli and Xiao? You’ve chatted with the vendor before, but he doesn’t know about your relationship with Xiao.
Since you’re here with Zhongli, he must’ve assumed that Xiao is your and Zhongli’s son. You don’t know how he interpreted that when there’s no wedding ring on your and Zhongli’s left ring fingers.
“Mister Dongsheng, you have mistaken! Xiao isn’t my and Zhongli’s son!” You say, frantically searching for the almonds with your eyes. “Anyway! I would like to buy one hundred almonds and one hundred bottles of milk, please!”
Zhongli’s eyes widen. “One hundred?” Zhongli murmurs.
“One hundred milk and almonds?” Dongsheng, the owner of Second Life, asks.
Zhongli leans down and whispers into your ears, “Dearest, I thought we were getting the number of almonds and milk needed for the almond tofu you’ll be making.
You shrug your shoulders with a sigh. “I might as well buy them all just in case I want to cook something with the milk and almonds!” You reply.
“But do you need that much milk? They expire fast,” Zhongli says, stroking his chin.
You pause and pucker your lips, debating with yourself if you should buy one hundred bottles of milk or not. Zhongli’s not wrong, considering you can fit a few milk bottles in the fridge. Why did you think about buying one hundred anyway other than to divert the conversation elsewhere with the owner of Second Life?
“Right! Then I’ll take ten bottles of milk then! While I will use them for the almond tofu, I’ll use the extras for something else,” you said.
Dongsheng looks at you and hesitates for a moment. “And what about the almonds? Are you going to buy one hundred bags of almonds as well, or the same amount as the milk?” He asks.
You sigh in defeat. “The same amount as the milk bottles,” you answer.
Dongsheng smiles at you and Zhongli before getting you the almonds and milk bottles. Zhongli gives your hips a squeeze and reaches for the bags that contain the almonds and bottles of milk from Dongsheng. You reach into your satchel and pull out the bag of Mora, handing the total price of Mora to him.
You and Zhongli bid Dongsheng goodbye before making your way back to Wangshu Inn. You and Zhongli walk beside each other. The day has barely started, and you’re already feeling flustered because of one mistake by someone that isn’t you or Zhongli. Zhongli grabs your wrist, making you stop in your tracks. You turn and look at Zhongli curiously.
“Why don’t we relax for a little bit before returning to Wangshu Inn?” Zhongli suggests, pulling you over toward the concrete bench. “After all, it’s still early in the morning, and there’s no need to rush back to the Inn.”
“Hm… alright! We can rest for a bit before returning to Wangshu Inn!” You nod, smiling at the ex-Archon.
Zhongli places the bags of milk and almonds on the ground beside his feet while the two of you sit and look out toward the sea. Two birds land a few feet in front of you and Zhongli, bouncing around and standing beside each other. You and Zhongli watch the two finches interact with each other.
“They’re so round and cute,” you whisper.
After not hearing a response, or a sound, from Zhongli, you turn to face the dark-haired man, only to see him staring down at you. Your face turns warm, and you loop your arm around his, leaning against him while trying to cover your red face. Zhongli grabs you by the chin and tilts your head up.
The two of you stare into each other’s eyes. Your gaze quickly falls to Zhongli’s lips before looking into his eyes. Zhongli smiles and leans down to kiss you. Before Zhongli’s lips could touch yours, you and Zhongli felt arms over your shoulders.
“It’s a beautiful day out at Liyue Harbor, isn’t it? It’s warm and sunny outside with a nice cool breeze accompanying it!” Childe exclaims, startling you and Zhongli.
You and Zhongli flinch and pull away from each other, looking away with a sigh. Zhongli gives Childe a fake smile and clears his throat.
“Childe! You have an interesting timing there,” Zhongli says, looking away from Childe.
Childe grins at Zhongli cheekily and nods, weaseling his way to sit between you and Zhongli. You and Zhongli grumble under your breath while scooting over to give Childe space to sit in between you two. What’s with Childe and being a cockblock? You and Zhongli don’t mind having Childe around— after all, he is the reason why you and Zhongli got together in the first place. But it’s just… you want some alone time with Zhongli. Sitting on the concrete bench, watching birds fly and hop around with each other before returning to Wangshu Inn to make almond tofu for Xiao’s birthday is something you want to do uninterrupted.
Childe sighs loudly and leans back on the bench. “I saw you two here and wanted to stop by and say hi before going to the Northland Bank!” Childe says nonchalantly, brushing his fringe away from his eyes.
You turn to look at Childe quizzically. “You left before we did. I thought you’d be at Northland Bank before Zhongli and I arrived at Second Life for the almonds and bottles of milk,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest.
Childe chuckles and shrugs. “I had to stop by somewhere to handle a business. You know, life as a Fatui Harbinger isn’t as easy as it seems. I have some Fatui trainees to train later today after completing some paperwork, so I won’t be able to stop by and celebrate the little twerp’s birthday with you and Mister Zhongli today,” Childe sighs dramatically.
You scoff and elbow Childe in the gut before getting up from the bench and dusting your clothes. “I believe that’s enough relaxing for today. Zhongli and I have almond tofu to make, and you have Fatui duties to tend to!” You said, turning to look at the two men before you.
Zhongli and Childe get up from the bench. Zhongli reaches down and grabs the bags of almonds and milk from the ground, holding his arm out for you to take. You link your arm around Zhongli’s and give Childe a smile.
Childe pouts at you and extends his arms out. “What? You’re not going to give your brother figure a hug before leaving?” Childe asks, batting his eyelashes at you.
You roll your eyes playfully and unlink your arms from Zhongli’s before walking over to the ginger-haired Harbinger. You wrap your arms around his waist and let out a strained grunt when Childe hugs you tightly, ruffling your hair with a shit-eating grin on his face. Childe releases you after ten seconds, watching you return to Zhongli’s side while fixing your disheveled hair.
You grab Zhongli’s wrist and begin tugging him toward the entrance of Liyue that leads to Wangshu Inn. “Bye, Childe! I’ll see you next time!” You say, patting his arm.
Zhongli and Childe nod to each other when they walk by each other. While you and Zhongli are walking to the entrance of Liyue Harbor, Childe stops in his tracks and watches the two of you get farther away. Childe lets out a sigh and shakes his head, propping his hands on his hips.
“When will [Y/N] just break up with that Adeptus twerp? He doesn’t deserve her,” Childe mutters, turning to walk to Northland Bank.
Back at Wangshu Inn, you and Zhongli stand in the kitchen beside each other, making almond tofu for the beloved Adeptus, who protects Liyue from evil. While making almond tofu, Zhongli tells a story of his and Xiao’s past. Now that you think about it, if you weren’t sealed in amber by your parents, you would’ve known them during that time. But you were sealed away, and you grew up without your birth parents— raised to be human instead of an Adeptus.
“Do you think this is enough? I don’t want us to make too many only for Xiao to not finish it all,” you mutter. You look over at the plate with many almond tofu stacked on top of each other.
Zhongli hums. “That would depend. Are we going to be eating them as well, or is it only for Xiao?” Zhongli asks, washing his hands under the tap water.
You can’t help but stare at Zhongli’s arms. Zhongli took his coat off before the both of you began making almond tofu for Xiao’s birthday. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, his gloves are off, and you can see the veins protruding from his arms.
“[Y/N]?”
You snap out of your thoughts and blink at Zhongli owlishly with wide eyes. Zhongli looks at you curiously, his eyebrows raised, the corner of his lips curling up. You clear your throat and look away, rubbing the back of your neck.
“We can eat some of the almond tofu! I don’t think Xiao can eat all of this on his own, so we might as well have some! Of course, almond tofu won’t be the only thing we’ll be eating. Speaking of eating, we should make something for us to eat now. I’m starting to get hungry,” you say.
You turn around and walk to the pantry, searching for something to cook for you and Zhongli to eat while waiting for Xiao to return from his duties. You stand in the pantry, eyeing every ingredient while stroking your chin. Zhongli snakes his arms around your waist and presses his chest against your back, resting his chin on your head.
“You seem distracted a few minutes ago,” Zhongli murmurs.
You clear your throat for the umpteenth time. “I was, uh, thinking about food! After all, we did leave Wangshu Inn without having breakfast other than tea. I’m starting to feel famished,” you lie.
“What do you want to eat? Do you have anything in mind?” Zhongli asks, tilting his head over and peppering kisses on the side of your neck.
You pucker your lips, and your eyes land on the bamboo shoots. Your eyes light up, and you waddle to the bamboo shoots with Zhongli behind you. You grab the bamboo shoots and look up at Zhongli, lifting the bamboo shoots to Zhongli’s face.
You poke him in the chest. “I would like to have your specialty!” You say, handing the bamboo shoots over to Zhongli. “It’s been a while since I’ve had bamboo shoot soup.”
Zhongli grabs the bamboo shoots from your grasp, and pecks your cheek. “If that’s what you desire, then I shall make them for you,” Zhongli says.
Zhongli walks out of the pantry with you following close behind. You watch Zhongli prepare the ingredients. Archons, Zhongli somehow manages to make cooking look attractive. It’s making you feel tingly on the inside. You shake your head and lightly slap your forehead. You walk over to where Zhongli stands and begin to help him prepare and cook the bamboo shoot soup. But before doing so, you walk to the almond tofu and put them in the refrigerator.
“What time do you think Xiao will return to Wangshu Inn? We wouldn’t want the almond tofu to sit in the refrigerator for a long time,” Zhongli murmurs, turning the stove on and placing the pot over the stove.
You shrug your shoulders. “I don’t know. Xiao doesn’t have a consistent time on when he’d return to Wangshu Inn after his duties. He usually returns whenever,” you say.
Zhongli pauses and stares at the pot with furrowed eyebrows. “Is that so? So there’s no specific time on when he gets home?” Zhongli murmurs.
You nod. “That’s correct! At first, it was a little bit…. Frustrating? That’s not the right word, but you know what I mean. It’s only frustrating because when I try to stay up until he gets home, it would be almost four in the morning, maybe five,” you reply.
“Will you be doing the same thing today for his birthday?” Zhongli asks, turning to look at you.
You poke the inside of your cheek with your tongue. It is Xiao’s birthday, and you usually stay up until he gets home from his duties. That was before the whole incident happened, and now you would go to bed before he gets home because, well, you have Zhongli with you now.
“I’m going to try to stay up late, yes! But if he ends up coming home late, which I hope he doesn’t, then I’ll go to bed!” You say.
Zhongli stares at you before letting a long exhale through his nose, nodding. If you’re going to be staying up late to greet Xiao on his birthday and to celebrate his birthday, Zhongli might as well do the same. After all, Adeptis and Archons don’t need sleep, so staying up late shouldn’t be an issue for Zhongli. However, because you were raised by mortals, Zhongli’s unsure if you’ll be able to stay up past five in the morning.
The day ends up flying by before your and Zhongli’s eyes. Before you know it, you’re setting the table up and taking the almond tofu out from the refrigerator, placing them on the table. Zhongli suggested decorating the living area to surprise Xiao, and the two of you went out into the market to get decorations.
“Do you think Xiao will like it?” You ask, turning to look at Zhongli.
Zhongli smiles and kisses the side of your head. “He’ll love it,” Zhongli murmurs, pulling you to his chest and snaking his arms around your waist.
Zhongli looks at the clock and sees it’s almost eight in the evening. You and Zhongli sit at the table, quietly conversing with each other while adjusting the table and almond tofu here and there while waiting for Xiao to show up.
While you and Zhongli are waiting for Xiao to make an appearance at Wangshu Inn, Xiao is sitting on the highest mountain in Liyue, looking at the view. Xiao finished his duty not too long ago, and now he’s having a breather. Today is his birthday, the day is coming to a close, and it’s time he heads home to you (and Zhongli).
A twig snaps behind Xiao, causing him to turn his head sharply in the direction where the sound came from. Xiao’s polearm materializes in his hands and prepares to lunge toward the direction of the twig snapping, but pauses when he sees Lumine standing there.
Xiao swallows a lump in his throat. “Lumine, what are you doing here?” He asks, staring at the blonde girl before him.
Lumine tucks her hair behind her ear and clears her throat softly. “I came here to wish you a happy birthday, Xiao.” Lumine smiles at the Adeptus and takes a small step toward him.
“How did you know I was here?” Xiao demands, narrowing his eyes at Lumine.
Lumine looks away from Xiao and gazes up at the stars that hang above them. When Lumine didn’t answer him, Xiao let out a frustrated sigh and put his polearm away. Before Xiao could open his mouth to speak, rapid footsteps approached Xiao and Lumine, making the two look in the direction of where the footsteps were coming from.
Aether pants and puts his hands on both his knees, glaring at Lumine. “Lumine! I told you not to run off, and this is where I find you!?” Aether exclaims, propping his hands on his hips.
Lumine rolls her eyes. “Oh, please, Aether. You go on adventures with Dainsleif all the time, and yet you can barely catch up with me?” Lumine snickers, ignoring the glare Aether shoots in her direction.
“I wanted to be alone,” Xiao states, crossing his arms over his chest.
Aether gives Xiao a sympathetic smile while Lumine pulls a container out of her bag. Xiao looks at Lumine curiously and holds his hands out when Lumine gestures for him to do so. Lumine places the container on Xiao’s hands and watches the Conquerer of Demons open the container.
“You made almond tofu for me,” Xiao murmurs.
Lumine smiles and nods. “I wanted to make your favorite dish for your birthday. I didn’t know if you had anything to eat today while you were out protecting Liyue,” Lumine says, twirling her hair around her index finger.
Xiao stares at Lumine, then looks at the container of almond tofu in his hands. Xiao nods and mutters a silent thank you to the blonde girl.
“Is it okay if I hang out with you while you eat your almond tofu? I don’t want you to eat your almond tofu alone on the day of your birth,” Lumine says.
Aether stares at Lumine like she grew two more heads. Xiao sighs and nods, walking away from the twins and sitting at the edge of the mountain. Lumine sits beside Xiaom, keeping a decent size gap between them. Aether looks up at the night sky and mouths, “I’m sorry, [Y/N],” to himself before sitting beside Xiao.
Back at Wangshu Inn, you yawn and lean against Zhongli, rubbing your eyes. The almond tofu is getting warm the more time goes by. You can’t help but glance at the clock every few minutes, hoping Xiao will show up so the three of you can celebrate his birthday. You lean on the table and close your eyes, yawning for the umpteenth time.
Zhongli sighs and rubs your back. “Dearest, if you’re tired, we can go to bed,” Zhongli murmurs.
You shake your head stubbornly. “I’m okay, Zhongli. I can stay up for a few more hours and wait for Xiao to come home,” you reply.
Time seemed to have gone by so fast because you recalled that it was only eight in the evening. Now when you look at the clock, you notice that it’s almost midnight. Once the clock strikes midnight, it will no longer be Xiao’s birthday. You know Xiao is busy protecting Liyue. Therefore, you’re not going to be upset if he ends up coming home past midnight. After all, he’s always busy with his duties.
“I’ll be right back. You two, don’t go anywhere! I think I dropped something on my way up here,” Aether says, getting up from the ground and dusting dirt off his pants.
Xiao and Lumine stand up.
“Do you want us to come with you? It’s dark out, and we don’t want you to get hurt,” Lumine says, gazing at her brother worriedly.
Aether shakes his head. “Nah! It’s okay! Plus, I won’t be far or be gone for a long time,” Aether replies.
Lumine and Xiao watch Aether scurry off into the night. Xiao takes a deep breath and turns to look at the view before him and Lumine.
“Thank you for keeping me company on my birthday. Even though it wasn’t necessary, I appreciate it,” Xiao murmurs.
Lumine smiles bashfully and rubs her arm. “You’re welcome! Uh…. I was hesitant to come here because I didn’t want to disturb you. But thinking about you and celebrating your birthday alone motivated me to follow my plan,” Lumine says.
A small smile appears on Xiao’s face. “Thank you, I appreciate it, really.”
Lumine looks at Xiao with wide eyes, her cheeks turning bright red after seeing the tiny smile on his face. Lumine looks away shyly and spots a lone flower from a distance. Xiao follows Lumine’s line of sight and sees the Qingxin flower. Xiao walks over to the flower without saying a word, plucks it from the ground, and walks to Lumine. Lumine looks at Xiao with curiosity, tilting her head to the side.
Xiao hands the flower to Lumine. “Having you around would make even Qingxin feel like a treat. The beauty of the Qingxin is nothing compared to yours,” Xiao murmurs.
Lumine looks at Xiao with wide eyes, her breath caught in her throat. She gulps and grabs the flower from Xiao’s hands, her eyes falling to Xiao’s lips. Xiao brushes a stray hair from Lumine’s face, tucking them behind her ears. Lumine’s heart is beating so fast and so loud that she wouldn’t be surprised if Xiao could hear it.
Lumine closes her eyes and leans toward Xiao, her lips grazing his. Before Lumine can press her lips against his, someone clears their throat loudly. Xiao turns away and looks at Aether, who lets out a loud ‘ahem’ after witnessing what happened. Lumine tenses up and glares at Aether, slowly backing away from Xiao.
Aether approaches the two with a strained smile. “I believe it’s getting late! You should head back to Wangshu Inn! I’m pretty sure there’s someone else that’s waiting for you. And by someone, I mean your girlfriend,” Aether says through clenched jaws.
“He doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want to, Aether!” Lumine exclaims, glaring at Aether while gripping the Qingxin flower tightly. “Besides! He already celebrated his birthday with me— I mean us!” Lumine huffs.
Aether rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Xiao, you’re a dear friend of mine, but I…” Aether trails off, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you’d do this to someone you claim to love. You either pick my sister, or you pick [Y/N]. You can’t have both at once, especially when my sister tried to kill your girlfriend,” Aether says.
Lumine stomps toward Aether and shoves him. “Why are you bringing this up now, huh? It’s Xiao’s birthday, and he shouldn’t be dealing with this right now!” Lumine says. “Plus, if he’s not allowed to have both me and [Y/N], then how come [Y/N] can have him and Zhongli!? Do you even hear yourself, Aether!? Why are you on her side and not mine!?” Lumine shrieks.
“It was his birthday, Lumine. It’s midnight now, and he should’ve been spending his birthday with his girlfriend too. She’s probably waiting for him back at Wangshu Inn right now!” Aether exclaims, throwing his hands in the air out of frustration.
It’s past midnight, and you feel your eyelids grow heavier with each passing minute. Zhongli’s in the kitchen, brewing tea for you to drink. You lay your head on the table and close your eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep. Zhongli walks into the dining room and places the cup of tea before you.
“Dearest, you should go to sleep. It’s getting late, and I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay up any longer waiting for Xiao,” Zhongli says.
You sit up and stretch your arms in the air with a yawn. “It’s okay, Zhongli. I don’t want to miss out on celebrating Xiao’s birthday,” you say.
Zhongli exhales through his nostrils and pinches the bridge of his nose. “If you insist,” Zhongli murmurs, sitting beside you.
You rest your head on Zhongli’s shoulders and reach for the teacup. You hold the cup before your face and blow on the hot tea. It’s normal for you to not be able to stay up later than midnight. You want to stay up until Xiao gets home from his duties so you can at least tell him a happy birthday, well, belated birthday, since it’s past midnight now. You gulp down the tea and put the teacup back on the saucer, and wrap your arms around Zhongli’s waist.
“Did I make a mistake?” You ask, barely above a whisper.
Zhongli makes a confused noise and looks at you quizzically. “What do you mean?” Zhongli brushes your hair away from your face.
You stare at Zhongli, not saying a word. Your heart hurts, and even if you have Zhongli present with you at Wangshu Inn, being at the Inn while Xiao is out and about doing, who knows what makes your heart hurt. You can’t help but doubt your relationship with Xiao, asking yourself if it is still salvageable.
You bite your lower lip and hug Zhongli tightly. “Let’s go to bed,” you whisper, tugging on his shirt.
Zhongli nods, getting up from the couch with you latching to his side. Zhongli wraps his arm over your shoulders and guides you to the bedroom. You and Zhongli collapse on the bed, you lying in his arms while he’s carding his fingers through your hair.
You lean up and kiss his jaws, giving him a small smile before snuggling into the crook of his neck. Zhongli smiles and kisses your forehead, watching you slowly drift off to sleep. Zhongli closes his eyes and begins to fall asleep, wondering what’s keeping Xiao out for so long. Zhongli shakes his head, pulling the blanket up to his and your torso.
Zhongli doesn’t know how long he and you have been asleep. The sound coming from the living area roused him from his sleep. Zhongli slowly gets up from bed, kissing your forehead before walking to the living room where the sound came from. Zhongli steps out of the room and quietly closes the door behind him, walking toward the living area.
Xiao freezes in his spot when he sees Zhongli enter the room while he is inspecting the decorated room. The thing that caught Xiao’s eyes was a small cupcake in the center of the table, the candle on the cupcake was blown out, and the almond tofu was warm and untouched. A tsunami of guilt hits Xiao, making him clench his fist and crushing the flower in his hands.
Zhongli leans against the archway of the room, his arms crossed over his chest while gazing at the Yaksha— his face void of emotions.
Xiao whispers, “I apologize for not showing up on time.”
Zhongli shakes his head. “There’s no need to apologize, Xiao. It seems like you have already celebrated your birthday with someone else,” Zhongli’s eyes lock on the familiar flower in Xiao’s hands.
The very same flower a certain blonde Outlander has in her hair. Zhongli lets out a humorless hum and closes his eyes, leaning his head against the wall. All kinds of emotions rush through Zhongli simultaneously— anger, sadness, shock, and heartbreak.
“I was going to return to the Inn, but Aether and Lumine showed up before I could, but it would be rude of me to leave,” Xiao says.
Zhongli holds his hand up to stop Xiao from continuing even further. “I’m not the person you should be explaining this to, Xiao. It is [Y/N] you should be worrying about, not me.”
The two men stare at each other in silence. What else is there to say? Xiao returned to Wangshu Inn late, past his birthday, when you and Zhongli were waiting for his return. You and Zhongli made almond tofu for his birthday, went out of your way to add minimal birthday decoration in the living area, and a cupcake with a single candle stuck in the center of the cupcake.
And what was Xiao doing while you and Zhongli were waiting at Wangshu Inn? He was celebrating his birthday with the same girl that nearly killed you, the same girl with feelings for him, and the same girl he almost kissed before Aether interrupted. Xiao sighs and runs his gloved hands through his hair, cursing under his breath while Zhongli continues to stare at him with an unreadable expression.
The door to the bedroom creaks open. The two men turn towards the door and see you emerging from the dark bedroom, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. You look at Xiao and Zhongli cluelessly, wondering why the two men look like they’re about to kill each other. Well, Zhongli looks like he wants to kill someone. Xiao looks incredibly guilty and nervous.
“Xiao, you’re back. I, uh, I tried to stay up late to wish you a happy birthday, but—”
Xiao cuts you off.
“Why did you try to stay up and wait for me? There’s no need for you to do it at all, and yet here you are, losing sleep because you wanted to wait for my return,” Xiao narrows his eyes at you, crossing his arms over his chest.
You visibly deflate and sigh in defeat, your gaze falling to the ground. You swallow the lump in your throat and open your mouth to respond, but the flower peeking from behind Xiao’s arms catches your attention. You stare at the flower and point at it with shaking hands.
“That flower….” you trail off. “You were with her this entire time.”
Xiao lets out a sigh. “I can explain,” he starts.
You shake your head. “There’s no need to explain, Xiao. It seems like you have already made your decision,” you give Xiao a weak smile. “I’m too tired to fight and argue right now. I’m going back to sleep.”
You look at Zhongli, who stares at you intently. You hold your hand out, making grabby motions. Zhongli pushes himself off the wall and walks toward you without sparing Xiao a second glance. He grabs your hand, and the two of you return to the bedroom, closing the door. Xiao stands in the living room alone. Xiao lets the flower drop to the ground, slowly approaching the table where the cupcake and almond tofu are waiting for him.
You plop on the bed and stare at the ground. Zhongli sits beside you and wraps his arm over your shoulder, pulling you to his side. You rest your head on Zhongli’s shoulders and close your eyes. You want to cry and scream, but you’re exhausted.
“I don’t know how much longer this will last, Zhongli. I think I lost Xiao to her already, and he’s only with me because he sees I have other options that aren’t him.”
Zhongli looks at you curiously. “What are you implying?” Zhongli murmurs.
“It’s not fair for either of us if this continues. Xiao made his decision long ago, and I needed to accept it. He’s only with me because he doesn’t want me to be with you. And I stayed with him because I didn’t want to lose him to someone better than me, but I’m only hurting everyone if I stay.”
You open your eyes and turn to Zhongli. Zhongli wipes the stray tear that made its way down your cheek. You let out a weak and defeated sigh, grabbing Zhongli’s hand and circling your thumb over his knuckles.
Zhongli gives you a faint smile. “That decision is up to you, dearest. If you choose to stay, then stay. If not, then you leave. Whatever decision you make, I will always be there with you every step of the way.”
Your lips tremble as tears continue to pool in your eyes and spill down your cheeks. The problem is you’re unsure if you’re doing the right thing if you stay or leave. You love Xiao. He was your boyfriend before Zhongli was something to you other than an acquaintance. But you also love Zhongli just as much as you love Xiao. Zhongli has been at your side since the incident. He cared for you and protected you.
You shrug your shoulders and shake your head. “I don’t know what to choose, Zhongli.”
How do you know if you’re making the right decision without hurting the people involved?
Note: Damn, it's been a few months since I've posted something for Tragic Outcomes, huh? I will be updating Caught in the Crossfire next week! It's coming to an end, and I want to give it a final "chapter" because I don't want it to end there. I'm not sure how much longer Tragic Outcomes will go on. I think it'll have about ten chapters, maybe? Who knows. Also! I am currently working on a mini-fic for the Isekai'd!Reader series right now! It should be out in a few hours since I am still working on it! Anyway! I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
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Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
#Genshin impact imagine#Genshin Impact fanfic#Genshin Impact Xiao#Xiao x fem!reader#Xiao x reader#Zhongli x reader#Zhongli x fem!reader#Xiao x fem!reader x Zhongli#Xiao imagine#Zhongli imagine#Xiao fanfic#Zhongli fanfic#genshinluvr
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Genshin + Spending the morning with them
With: Xiao
Words: 700
Warnings: None, just fluff :)
Note: The reader is Gender Neutral, enjoy :)
Scaramouche ver.
The other side of the bed is cold when you wake up.
Though, the sight of Cecilia flowers laying upon the pillowcase welcomes you with a warm feeling in your chest instead.
With a fond and still sleepy smile, you reach out and carefully take one of them in your hand, admiring its snowy petals.
How pretty…
Your gaze shifts farther, towards the balcony where an even more mesmerising sight greets you.
With arms crossed over his chest, Xiao is resting his back against the reeling, one leg bent up the wall, eyes closed in concentration
While he spends the night mostly away, protecting Liyue, the rest of the night he watches over you, protecting you.
A gust of wind arises, gently playing with his dark hair.
Adding up the light of the rising sun behind him, plus you totally being head over heels, this view made him look somewhat… ethereal.
“Staring is rude; Especially towards adepti,” Xiao remarks without even moving an inch.
You chuckle, before soberly standing up, making your way towards him.
Xiao looks up, his gaze following you.
“Then what about admiring?” you tease him with a cheeky smile on your lips.
At this he scoffs, heard turning away. But you notice a faint blush appearing on his cheeks, muttering something about “no respect for anything”
Tilting you head, your eyes fall down to the single flower, fondling its petals with the tips of your fingers. “Thank you for the flowers, love. They are beautiful.”
Xiao makes a sound. Still not looking at you.
“Were you in Mondstadt last night? Cecilias only grow there if I’m not mistaking.”
“No, you know I tend not to leave Liyue.”
You stay quiet, waiting for him to continue his explanation. Xiao coughs, eyes fixing on something over your shoulder.
Was he embarrassed?
How cute.
“I merely-” he begins, but halters immediately, unsure on how to answer your question properly. “Hmph- there just happened to be a merchant from Mondstadt on my way. Would be a waste to let the flowers wither away or something.” The last words he mutters under his breath that muffled, you can barely grasp on them.
Oh.
Xiao bought flowers.
He bought flowers for you.
Oh my…
Now you were the one who’s cheeks were heating up a little. If you weren’t already that deep you would be falling even further for this guy.
To be honest you totally are.
Slowly, not to startle him, you bend towards him and plant a soft kiss on his cheek.
“That was very sweet of you.” Lips moving up to his ear you whisper a quiet “Thank you.”
Xiao’s face immediately twitches towards you, eyes widening. His blush is even more deepening now. “I- I told you it was a mere coincidence.”
“Was it also a coincidence that these are exactly my favourite kinds?”
“Indeed,” he persists defensively, though you both know the truth.
Xiao clears his throat again and straightens his posture; Clearly trying to get a grip on himself, while his eyes jump anywhere from the sky, to your eyes, your lips and back to the sky again.
“Did you rest well?” he asks after a few seconds, trying totally subtle to change the topic.
The corner of your mouth twitch in amusement. “Yes, though I admit, falling asleep next to you was for sure the better part.”
Before Xiao has the chance to grumble something reluctant again, you close the remaining distance between you. Brushing your lips against his own you ask for permission, giving him a chance to draw back.
He didn’t.
Xiao gives in, pulls you to him, lips on your lips. His whole posture relaxes, crossed arms loosen up, letting his hands find their way to your sides, gently sliding down until they stop at your waist. Then he pulls you in, just a little closer.
Meanwhile your one hand – the one still holding the Cecilia flower – is placed over his shoulder. Your other hand lifts up, cupping his cheek, your thumb fondly caressing his skin.
What a wonderful morning
What a wonderful start of the day.
Thanks for reading! :) comments and reblogs are appreciated <3
#Xiao x reader#xiao#xiao fluff#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#genshin x reader#xiao imagine#xiao x gn reader#genshin x gn reader#fluff#genshin impact#Genshin impact imagine#genshin xiao#genshin impact x reader
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🥐 here! I want some sfw headcannons about what aether,xiao and wanderer would answer if the reader asked:
"would you still love me if I was a worm?"
Thankyou and have a good time writing!!
-🥐
Would you still love me if I was a worm?
"Would you still love me if I was a worm?"
Aether looked at you as though you had grown three heads when you asked him that.
"A worm?"
"Yes, A worm."
At this point, Aether was used to your shit, but even this made him let out a little quiet sigh.
"Of course"
He would then pat your head as you go on your way, knowing your boyfriend would still love you if you were a worm.
"Would you still love me if I was a worm?"
You and Xiao were out patrolling the area when you asked him that question, and he just stopped and turned toward you.
"A worm? as in the wiggling things in the ground? No"
He would be confused if you were to grow upset by his answer. He still doesn't fully understand humans and their emotions.
"I love you now. Isn't that more important?"
Even Xiao got a bit flustered after he realized what he had said. But all was forgiven after hearing him say that.
"Would you still love me if I was a worm?"
"What? No"
Very straightforward answer. Just what kind of question was that? But when he saw your expression, he changed his tune
"Of course I wouldn't love you, your a worm. But id make sure your safe somewhere with a bunch of dirt to eat and shit."
"So you really mean you would love me?"
"Fuck off"
I love your requests so much 🥐!! I hope you enjoy <3
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#Genshin impact x reader#Genshin impact#Genshin impact imagine#Genshin impact headcanons#Genshin#Xiao#Xiao x reader#Xiao imagine#Xiao headcanons#Wanderer#Wanderer imagine#Wanderer headcanons#Wanderer x reader#Aether#Aether imagine#Aether x reader#aether#aether headcanons#-Roses headcanons-
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cuddling with xiao
imagine sitting on wangshu inn's roof with xiao, you're sitting between his legs with his arms around your torso.
it's a peaceful night, there's a comfortable silence lingering in the air and the two of you are just watching the beautiful view of the stars and moon.
it took a while for xiao to get used to physical affection, once he did he couldn't get enough of your warmth. he's incredibly gentle with you, as if he squeezed you too hard you would break.
xiao looks down at you in his arms, you're leaning on his chest, he's sure you can feel his rapid heartbeat. no matter how many times you guys cuddle like this, xiao will never not be excited.
he could never thank you enough for never leaving him, for soothing his pain and for loving him despite his flaws. he thanks the archons everyday for giving him an angel like you.
he feels you slump against his chest and notices you've fallen asleep. your steady breathing calms his heart down a little, he smiles to himself at your adorable self and squeezes his arms around you a little before giving your head a soft kiss.
#genshin impact#genshin impact x y/n#genshin impact x you#genshin impact x reader#genshin impact imagine#genshin impact imagines#genshin impact hc#genshin impact hcs#genshin impact headcanon#genshin impact headcanons#xiao#xiao x reader#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#xiao alatus#xiao imagines#xiao imagine#genshin impact fanfics#genshin impact fanfiction#genshin impact fanfic#genshin impact fanfictions
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heaven on earth
46. unless .. !
[ genshin impact smau / idol!xiao x fem!reader ]
heaven on earth - 46. unless
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synopsis ; 🗝️ — in which you befriend your next door neighbour who, unbeknownst to you, was apart of a soon-to-be one of the most popular bands throughout liyue. you're unable to tell if cupid was helping you or not when things with xiao kept going up and down. will he continue to keep his secret from yours truly?
NOTE — hot people will send me asks with ideas of confession or ending 😜🤞🤞🤞 PLEASEPLESDE I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PPL WANT (pls send asks or dms with confession or ending ideas. i am desperate to find a way to end this smau.. and my brain juice ran out)
TAGLIST#1 [OPEN] — @mikctp @ghostlysyntaxed @kazemiya @nnasv @gojoandelsalovechilde @candy-purple-cyanide @kissingkzuha @zyilas @lunaavity @mave-in @rizakari @riikyu @kokoscutie @starsxnight @sketcheeee @softlie @izakyun @the-sweet-madame @rifran @milkwithspiceyicecubes @coffeethoughtsandanxiety @goodthingimsam @pomeiu @fogturtle @farelady-fate @wonderful-worlds @cianalikesbeans @h3xi2g0n3 @rosaryia @offeliaswonderland @ynverse @whats-humanity-lol @yuaenri @erosdevil @certaindreampost @venyan @sakurapeach @maisieisbae @unhappyraspberry @wgafa @aethscend @leesl0vr @sixieeeee @girl-with-coffe @daninaninani @saoiirsee @xiaossocksniffer @princess-syalis @vvyeislazzy @annoying-and-upset
#genshin#genshin impact#genshin x reader#genshin x you#genshin x y/n#genshin fluff#genshin smau#xiao#xiao smau#xiao fluff#xiao genshin#xiao x reader#xiao x reader smau#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#xiao imagine#xiao fanfic#genshin impact idol au#genshin impact modern au#heaven on earth - shiro.
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Can you make xiao headcannons? It could be about anything you prefer but if you aren’t sure then an idea is daily life
A/N: A very late response to this, my apologies! I do hope you like this regardless. I did a mixed bag of some headcanons for Xiao here.
Pairings: Xiao x Gn! Reader (headcanons)
Xiao, the heroic, youthful, or demonic, looking man on top of Wangshuu Inn?
One would say he doesn't do much at all, other than sit there and bask in the elements around - not caring whether it's raining, snowing or if it's a blazing sun outside
Xiao cares very little as for what the ordinary, mortal lives think of him. As long as he's fulfilling his duty, protecting them - he is satisfied, and needs no other opinion. He's been doing this for over 3000 years, he knows what he's doing.
Some days are more peaceful than others, and he does laze around, enjoying the warm southern breeze that carries that specific smell that remind him of times long gone
Xiao is able to both reminisce about the long and recent past while standing guard, in his own peculiar way.
The look in his eyes grows duller, softer like silted waters, but he's not losing himself in those murky waters. Some of those memories would be downright terrifying to someone else, as they hail from a time darker than even the Archon War.
When on duty he is as meticulous as anyone would expect, and just as cool and distant when interacting with others, should he really have a need for it
Yet, every now and then he does run into more... domestic things that he couldn't have predicted or escaped. Like aiding a half blind eldery to collect the bamboo shoots, being mistaken for their grandchild due to his height, or helping a child find a way home or get their toy back. These are all people of Liyue, or they just happened to be on those grounds. Xiao is a sworn spear of protection to them.
For his close ones, the ones that are still alive, he makes sure to check in every once in a while, or at least send some things their way so they know they're on his mind
He's not the one to write letters, and has a penchant for a sort of "acts of service" type of show, so if he really must send some paper, he makes a talisman to make up for the lack of words on the paper. Or anything of that sort, even infusing a little bit of his power into the pieces so that it would last longer
If you're someone he truly does care about, or you simply don't want to leave him to rot in his solitude, the act of visiting the old graves and tombs of old comrades and friends with you warms his heart in a comforting way that's still unfamiliar to Xiao
He enjoys listening to you talk about the people he seldom has time or the will to interact with, even if he finds some of their interests weird or pointless, he likes to hear all the variety of personalities and jobs. So much has changed over the years, and so much has also stayed the same. He likes to hear how the Harbor has grown, inside and outside.
During Lantern Rites, he would hope you'd join him, he even goes through the "tedious task" of acquiring a Xiao lantern that the two of you can set into the sky when the time comes. You would do so from one of the mountain tops surrounding Liyue, and both of you can watch the your lone light join the other dozen ones
It's a magical moment to him, no matter how keen he is on rejecting that claim later on. In that moment he's not the Vigilant Yaksha ridden with Karma, he's not general Alatus, he's not a bird with a broken wing nor is he some random immortal soldier. He's just.. Xiao.
Ⓒ n0tamused 2022. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.
#genshin impact#genshin impact x reader#genshin x reader#xiao x reader#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#Xiao imagine#xiao headcanons#genshin comfort#genshin x gn reader#yaksha#general alatus#n0tamused.writes#n0tamused.headcanons
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A/N: I hope this week has been much better for you. 💛 I'm really happy you enjoyed my writing. :,)
Ft: Kazuha; Tighnari; Xiao
Contents: modern AU; depression mention/symptoms; hurt/comfort; fluff; established relationship
You always tried your best but the expectations only stacked higher and higher until they towered over you, leaving you feeling small and inadequate. More nights have been spent restlessly, with your eyes glued to textbooks and fingers cramping from holding a pencil for far too long, than you can count.
And yet it never seemed to be enough.
With each hurdle you had just barely managed to pass, another seemed to appear right after it. With each small accomplishment, another daunting task seemed to fall into your lap. You worked so hard but had nothing to show for it.
While you slaved over calculations, your friends spammed your social media with momentos of nights spent out partying and making memories you would never be a part of. You couldn’t help but wonder what was the point of it all. You worked so hard only for lackluster results and you were miserable. Would you not be miserable after graduation too? You’re killing yourself for a 9-to-5 job that will be just as stressful—if not moreso. Were these truly the “best years of your life?”
Gradually, you lost motivation. Even in the midst of exam season, you find yourself just going through the motions. Textbooks and notes are opened and sifted through daily but none of the material actually sticks in your brain.
You feel like a shell of your former self—another former gifted kid who had crashed and burned.
↳ Kazuha
Unbeknownst to you, he had silently watched it all.
Kazuha was known to be something of a loner. He clearly valued self-preservation, preferring to keep to himself while classmates excitedly chattered in class. He sat at the top rows of the auditorium, silently observing from above. However, he was far from antisocial. Kazuha was known to be polite and knowledgeable—he would always reply when spoken to and often offered contributions during lectures that left even the professors impressed. He was good at communicating but only when he needed to. He never concerned himself with others more than strictly necessary.
At least not until he met you.
The scars of his last close relationship were still fresh, even if the physical scars marring the flesh of his hands and wrists had healed long ago. Not a day goes by that he is not haunted by the memory of his dearest friend—the one even he couldn’t save from himself. From that point forward, he had promised never to get too close to anyone else. He didn’t think his heart could handle another loss like that.
But you had appeared in his life as abruptly as lightning and he was in too deep before he could even notice that he was falling in the first place. Your brightness had soothed the aches in his soul he hadn’t even known were there. In short, you had saved him from a life of solitude. To Kazuha, you were the most important person in his life and thus your happiness was his own…
…which also meant your despair was his own.
He noticed the way you had begun distancing yourself from the people you cared about—himself included. Routine late nights watching the stars together were discarded in favor of reviewing class notes and being holed up alone in your bedroom. He didn’t mind you prioritizing studying—he knew how important academics were to you and he promised to never come between that. You had a bright future ahead of you, afterall.
But the occasional all-nighters had spiraled until you hadn’t spoken to him in weeks. The only chances he had to catch a glimpse of your beautiful face that he cherished so much were more often than not obscured by a heavy textbook or the blue tinted glare of a computer screen. The bags under your eyes darkened each time he saw you.
He respected your freedom and independence just as much as he values his own—but your health came first.
It was on a day you were feeling particularly lifeless—having read the same paragraph for the past ten minutes but still not processing any of it—that he appeared. He had come to your dorm without warning, carrying with him a bundle of soft-looking baby blue blankets and a tin of high-quality chamomile tea.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to watch the stars together tonight.”
How could you ever say no to that?
Stargazing was something the two of you did frequently throughout your relationship. Sometimes the cool nights were filled with light-hearted chatter between the two of you as you reminisced over something funny that had happened that day and other times there was only comfortable silence as you basked in each others’ presence.
Tonight was the latter.
For the first time in weeks, the tension in your shoulders slackened as you gazed up at the twinkling stars. They blurred slightly above your tired gaze and the warmth of the sweetened tea in your belly was quickly sending your body into a nearly meditative state.
Beside you, Kazuha hummed softly, a tune he had likely been learning on the shakuhachi recently.
“Kazu?” you called softly, voice slurred with sleepiness.
Your lover’s vermillion gaze shifted from the sky over to your own, the warmth in them sparkling in a way that rivaled the stars above. He hummed in acknowledgement, patiently waiting for you to continue speaking.
Whatever words you were originally going to say seemed to have died on your tongue under his loving gaze and instead you settle on something simple, far too simple to fully convey everything you feel for the man at your side, but enough to make the corner of his eyes crinkle with happiness when you whisper out a small “thank you.”
He raises a hand to brush over the top of your head, making you subconsciously nuzzle into his touch before he instead pulls you into him, your shoulder melding his chest until you can feel his steady heartbeat against your side.
“It is I who should be thanking you, love. The world is a much brighter place when you're around.”
For as long as anyone can remember, Tighnari has been a high achiever.
↳ Tighnari
He always won the science fair competitions in grade school, was top of his class in high school, and even now works as a teaching assistant for one of the most renowned botany experts in the Akademiya while simultaneously doing his own research and nature conservation volunteer work on the side. Tighnari seems to effortlessly excel in anything he’s interested in.
Therefore, of course, the last person you feel you can share your inabilities with is your lover, one of the most talented students in Sumeru academic history.
So you keep it inside.
You try to push through and handle everything on your own until it inevitably spills over and creates such a big mess that you don’t think it’s possible to even fix it. You’re ready to give up—not everyone is cut out for academics and evidently you aren’t either. Your mind is a mess, your body just going through the motions day-by-day as your grades sink lower and lower.
Some of your closest friends begin to question if you’re okay—you’ve been forgetting even simple things and you never seem to be as excited as you used to be about your favorite bands or fandoms. They ask if you’re depressed, if you want to talk about anything, but you always decline. You lie and say you just haven't been getting much sleep lately. On the contrary, you’ve been doing nothing but sleeping. Coming home from classes and seeing the pile of incomplete assignments waiting stresses you out so you decide to go to bed early most days.
It’s on a Saturday morning, close to noon, that there’s a loud knock on your door. Despite the high sun, you still lie in bed, unshowered and phasing in and out of restless unconsciousness.
The first time you try to ignore it, assuming it’s a delivery and that they’ll just leave if they think no one is home. But the knocking is persistent, getting louder and louder until you’re sure your neighbors are going to give you a noise complaint if you don’t hurry and answer it.
Reluctantly, you crawl out of bed, taming your hair into something semi-presentable before shuffling to the door, blanket still wrapped around your shoulders.
It’s to your mild horror that you come face-to-face with your boyfriend, various plastic shopping bags in hand and grinning at you as if you don’t look like absolute death right now.
“Good morning, dear! Are you ready for today’s itinerary?”
He doesn’t even wait for you to reply before he’s pushing his way through your door, setting the bags down on your kitchen counter and quickly rifling through them as he hums cheerily to himself.
“We didn’t,” he confirms casually, “but it’s Saturday and someone has been neglecting their health lately,” he shoots you a stern look that makes you flinch before he returns his attention to the bags.
You’re frozen in shock for a moment before you slowly make your way over, vaguely wondering if you’re actually still asleep and just having another bizarre dream.
“Um, I don’t remember us making plans today,” you start cautiously, watching as he pulls a seasonal fruit platter from one of the bags.
“So I did some research on the best methods to treat burnout—all peer-reviewed and tested!”
He looks a bit too proud of himself for you to even think of protesting and so you obediently allow yourself to be led to the sofa before Tighnari fusses around, lighting a few lavender and rosemary scented candles—all picked and dried from his personal garden, he excitedly tells you—before he places the tray of fruits in your lap and connects his laptop to your TV.
He puts on a show he knows you love—something you haven’t kept up with in the past few weeks, and flops down beside you before pulling you into his arms.
It’s not until you’re both halfway through the second episode that you gain enough courage to swallow down a slice of fruit and ask your boyfriend why he went through the hassle to do all of this.
“Because you needed it. You were clearly stressed and burned out—and as intelligent as you are, no one can perform their best when they aren’t properly rested.”
He presses a chaste peck to the top of your head that sends your stomach into a flurry.
You aren’t sure if there are enough words in the universe to properly convey how thankful you are to have Tighnari in your life at the moment so you don’t even try.
Instead, you duck down and nuzzle your head into his warm chest as the soft fragrance of lavender and low tones of your favorite TV show relax your mind for the first time in nearly a month.
↳ Xiao
If there is anyone who understands being hard on yourself and feeling like nothing you do is ever good enough, it's this man.
Xiao had seemed to dedicate his entire life to his mentor, the man who he claims saved him from destruction in his abusive household. Since being offered an internship at Zhongli’s tattoo shop, Xiao had worked relentlessly on perfecting his designs and needlework. Regardless of how many times Zhongli told Xiao he was already well on his way to surpassing even Zhongli himself, Xiao always only found faults in his work and continued to overwork himself in his own attempt to repay Zhongli for his kindness. It was you who saved him from his own self-destruction when you taught him to take care of himself and convinced him that he was worthy of happiness.
So when he realized that you—the one who kept him sane when his miasma of dark thoughts seemed too strong to bare—were destroying yourself, he was understandably a bit pissed off.
Honestly, he didn’t even notice at first. You had always been dedicated to your studies, which he admired, so he didn’t think much of it when you would occasionally turn down his invitations to hang out when he was free from work. It was only when you started missing your weekly date nights that he grew concerned—and even then, rather than thinking anything was wrong with you, he assumed it was because of him. The darkness in his mind told him you were finally sick of him. You had finally realized how worthless he truly was, how he would bring you nothing but pain if you continue associating with him, and were starting to protect yourself from him. He told himself it was for the best—it was selfish of him to ever try to keep something as good and pure as you in his life in the first place….
But he wasn't that strong. The thought of going back to a life without you proved too painful to bear. He found himself at your door one late afternoon after you’d rejected his offer to hang out for the umpteenth time. His heart was hammering in his chest as he anxiously imagined what exactly you would say to him but he knocked on your door anyway, patiently waiting for you to open it.
He was in the midst of imagining your face morphed into an expression of disgust and telling him to “fuck off” for the third time when you finally opened the door and effectively halted all of his dark thoughts. Far from disgust, he only saw misery in your expression as you tiredly looked up at him, droopy eyes slightly widened in obvious surprise to see him.
“Xiao? What are you doing here,” you croak out, voice slightly raspy as if you hadn’ spoken to anyone all day.
‘You probably hadn’t,’ he realizes with a growing sense of panic.
“I’m sorry but I really can’t hang out tonight. I have a report due Thursday and…”
Your brows are knit in genuine apology as you explain yourself. He watches in realtime as your expression grows more and more hopeless as you continue to list out all of the reasons you can’t spend time with him. It begins to feel like you’re talking to yourself rather than him as you drone on about all the deadlines, all the responsibilities, all the expectations—
That’s when Xiao’s brain seems to finally start working again and, as always, the first emotion he is truly able to recognize is anger. Your words are cut short when Xiao bullies you into your small apartment, absently closing the door behind himself before he’s firmly ushering you into your bedroom. Protests fall from your lips the whole way but Xiao is having none of it and, before you know it, you find yourself cuddled up against your many pillows and plushies in bed with a thick, warm blanket swaddled around your body. Your study materials are abandoned on your desk nearby.
Xiao himself quickly ducks out of the room followed by the familiar metallic clanking of dishes in the kitchen. In less than ten minutes—just enough time for your frazzled brain to quiet down just a bit—he’s back, carrying a bowl of something that steams and fills your senses with a familiar scent that makes your mouth water.
He sets the dish on your bedside table somewhat sheepishly before announcing he tried his best to make your favorite with his limited cooking skills. You consider telling him he could have literally given you a slice of stale bread and you’d be happy just cause it was from him but you refrain, instead taking an eager mouthful—”hey, be careful. It’s still hot…”—and being pleasantly surprised by how he managed to make the cheap, packaged ingredients from the back of your freezer so palatable.
While you tuck into your first real meal of the day, Xiao hesitantly settles in beside you, sitting stiffly on the bed just close enough for you to feel his body heat but not enough to be touching.
Despite his silence, you can feel the obvious tension radiating from him but before you can ask him what’s wrong he beats you to it.
“You need to take better care of yourself,” he starts, voice sharp.
You can already feel the scolding coming and you mentally prepare yourself for another ten minutes of criticism. It seems the only time Xiao has a lot to say it’s when he’s reprimanding someone—usually you for being a bit too audacious for your own good at times.
To your surprise though, his tone shifts into something much softer as he pointedly avoids your gaze, staring down at one of your pillows in his lap with an almost shy expression.
“I know school is important to you but…your health is important to me so please don’t overwork yourself.”
Something in your chest squeezes but you decide to spare him of the squeals and pinching of his steadily reddening cheeks that you’re tempted to inflict upon him—not that it matters much when you’re grinning so hard your cheeks ache.
#genshin impact#genshin x reader#kazuha x reader#xiao x reader#tighnari x reader#genshin imagine#genshin fic#kazuha imagine#tighnari imagine#xiao imagine#requested#anon#genshin impact imagine#genshin impact x reader#genshin scenario#xiao scenario#kazuha scenario#tighnari scenario
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His scars
➳ Xiao x gn!reader
➳ Drabble ; 0,7k
➳ Hurt to comfort ; Mention of scars
Your kisses make his scars hurt a little less [01.07.2022]
Zep's Note ; I actually kinda dislike this, might take it down.
content under the cut | masterlist
All of the scars that littered his body told another story.
They carried tales of victory and loss, of unbearable pain and sorrow, of regret that went deeper than anyone could ever imagine. They held tales of over a thousand years worth of ruthless battles and bloodshed, painful memories engraved so permanently into his being that he could never escape from them.
Some of them were fresh, wounds that were inflicted recently and barely closed. Some of them were older, seemingly healed and forming scars all over his pale skin. But the healing was merely optical, for his injuries would never truly heal. He carried the pain with him perpetually, and it went deeper than what was comprehensible on a physical level.
Xiao was hurting, day and night, and no one could save him.
Every scar he carried was meant solely for him, and he silently accepted his cruel fate. He wasted no words on useless complaints, he never took pity on himself, he never sought anyone to help him cope with the endless torture; the people of Liyue had no idea that their protector was suffering.
But you had seen it in his lonely amber eyes.
The vigilant yaksha wasn’t able to fool you, nor had he ever succeeded in doing so. The moment you first met him at the rooftop balcony of the Wangshu Inn, you saw past his strong facade and witnessed the vulnerability that rested underneath the monstrous mask he wore. Behind the glowing blue eyes of the conqueror of demons hid the golden eyes of a broken yaksha. That was how you find him, so strong yet also tearing at the seams.
It was the same pair of amber eyes that rested solely on you as your lips ghosted over his damaged skin, pressing a soft and loving kiss to one of the male’s many scars as you thought back to the day you met Xiao. So much had changed in the meantime. He let you close, allowed you to touch his scars and caress them. Some of the stories behind them you knew, and some you didn’t – but to you it mattered not, for you treated every single one equally.
The yaksha said nothing, but he exhaled in relief when you left a trail of butterfly kisses over a scar that crossed nearly his entire bare shoulder. The tight muscles in his back seemed to relax little by little, and he leaned into your touch as he parted his lips.
Over time, the troubled male grew to trust you. Enough to come to you every time the pain became too unbearable. The soft caress of your gentle lips was his painkiller; you were his morphine. In your arms, he dared to be vulnerable, he dared to show the pain he carried with him, he dared to be Xiao instead of the conqueror of demons.
In your arms, with your lips pressing gentle kisses to his scars, he felt okay.
He closed his eyes, brows furrowed as the pad of your thumb trailed up a newer scar. Not that it hurt; if any, the feeling was pleasant. What kind of magic did you possess, he wondered. How come merely your touch was enough to pause his misery?
“Tell me how you do it, Y/N,” he asked you, not for the first time.
But as usual, you simply smiled at him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Maybe you didn’t know the answer, Xiao figured, so he decided to drop the subject. After all, it didn’t matter. All that mattered to him was the comfort you basked him in, and he relished in that. All the pent-up tension left his body , with every gentle kiss you gave him he felt slightly better.
It wouldn’t be long before someone in despair would call out his name, for new scars to litter his body. It was a dance that went on for eternity, his misery would never end and both of you knew that. There was no hope for a better life for the vigilant yaksha. Scars and misery were his destiny, and the pain was something he could never escape.
Even you couldn’t save him, but your kisses made his scars hurt a little less.
#genshin impact#genshin impact imagines#genshin impact scenarios#genshin impact fanfiction#genshin impact imagine#genshin impact xiao#genshin impact xiao imagine#genshin impact xiao x reader#xiao imagines#xiao imagine#xiao x reader#xiao#xiao x you#xiao x y/n#genshin impact x reader#xiao genshin impact
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Eleven Months, Five Days
Warnings: angsty as hell, GN! Reader, a drop of fluff at the end, very LONG, suggestive kinda? This hurt me when I wrote it
Character: Xiao
Word Count: 3,521
Requests: CLOSED
Looking up, you could see a bright light that you were ascending rapidly towards. However, something was wrong. Your ascension to the exit was slowing and looking at Xiao, you realize his strength is waning.
The lone adeptus had already been injured and was exhausted from fighting all alone before he had been able to meet up with the rest of the group. Xiao was panting, and as his mask breaks and disappears from his face, you realize there’s no way he can continue to power the fantastic compass alone.
“You can’t keep this up… your strength won’t last!” Yanfei exclaims, a sad and desperate look in her eyes that you know mirrors your own.
Xiao’s shoulders sag and the stream of his energy being fed to the amplifier dwindles to nothing. He looks up, noticing the exit just ahead. As soon as he looks back down with a new resolve you know what he’s planning to do.
He’s fast, but for once, you’re faster.
Your eyes meet as his power envelopes the spot where you are standing next to him.
And then, you’re falling.
* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡
Before he can blink, Xiao realizes he is on the surface in full sunlight. He doesn’t need to look around to know what happened. He doesn’t have the strength to lift his gaze from the ground. Xiao already knows exactly what you did.
The scene plays in his mind in slow motion. Your eyes lock on his as he utilizes his power to prepare to transport you and the others out of the domain to the surface. Then, you moved. One second you were enveloped in the blue-green light that would transport you to safety, and the next, Xiao was the one in your place. Time seemed to slow as he reached for you, a new desperation on his face that you had never seen before, a pleading in his eyes that you didn’t recognize.
His shout of your name echoed in the empty void as he disappeared with the others, leaving you to fall to what he could only assume was your death.
You saved the Adeptus who promised to always come when you called. You saved the final Yaksha who promised to save you whenever you needed him.
And he will never forgive himself for it.
A hand gently lays on his shoulder, and he looks over, praying to every archon that it's yours. When he sees Yanfei’s hand instead, he immediately jerks away.
The movement is sudden and harsh and it has Yanfei taking a few steps back as she looks at the last Yaksha who refuses to meet anyone’s eyes.
“Xiao…?”
Xiao doesn’t answer, not because he doesn’t want to, but because he can’t. His throat feels dry and his tongue feels as though it doesn’t fit properly in his mouth. He can’t speak, can’t move, can’t do anything. He feels frozen in place, like he isn’t even in his own body as his mind tries to register what happened. Everything feels wrong. Even breathing feels too hard and his breaths become labored and shaky.
He was already prepared to sacrifice himself if it came down to it. Xiao was ready to sacrifice himself if it meant saving you. But now, you are beyond his reach. The domain that even he could not escape on his own has you. That goddamn domain…
Xiao does not even realize he is walking back towards the entrance of the chasm until a hand stops him.
“You know you can’t…”
He can barely register Yelan’s voice. He can barely register anything anymore.
You’re gone. You’re gone. You’re gone. You’re gone. You’re gone. You’re gone. You’re gone. Gone gone gone gone gone…
You’re gone, and you saved him.
That thought circles in his head, tormenting him just like the karma that has tormented him for centuries. He doesn’t want to believe it, but deep down, he knows it's true.
Xiao lost you, the one person who really gave his life meaning aside from the constant bloodshed he caused. The one person who took time to understand him, who trusted him beyond all else.
Xiao lost you, the same way he lost Bosacius. He lost you like how he lost the other four Yakshas he fought alongside for Rex Lapis. He lost the one person he had grown to love.
In that moment, the karma he endures feels unbearable.
In that moment, Xiao wishes that he would meet the same fate as the other four Yakshas.
* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡
Over the following months, Rex Lapis watched the last Yaksha, Alatus, begin to succumb to the same fate that had taken the other four centuries before. He can see it in how more and more hilicurls become corrupted by Xiao’s karma. He can feel it in the distance Xiao has put between the rest of the world and himself, locking himself away at the top of Wangshu Inn, almost waiting for the karma to end his suffering.
Zhongli remembers when Xiao came to him the night he learned of your demise. He can recall so clearly how desperate the Yaksha was, a desperation he had never before seen in Xiao even after he lost his four companions.
“Please Rex Lapis, if there is anything you can do… anything to save them…” Alatus’ voice was soft, but desperate. It broke Zhongli’s heart to see his last general so broken, yet, he felt as though he could not do anything. He had let go of his title as the Geo Archon so he felt as though this situation was out of his control. Since he faked his death, he was no longer responsible for any tragedies happening in Liyue.
So, Rex Lapis chose to step back from the tragedy, deeming it something he cannot fix as a regular, mortal citizen of Liyue.
“Xiao… I am no longer the Geo Archon. This… is beyond even me. I cannot help you.”
That was the last time they had spoken in months, almost a year.
Ever since that day, Zhongli has watched as Xiao stopped fighting. He watched as Xiao killed with a new reckless abandon as if he no longer cared for his own well being.
And it was true, he didn’t.
Zhongli knew how much you meant to Xiao. He looked on as you walked into Xiao’s life the day you stepped onto that balcony of Wangshu Inn. He noted how Xiao watched the lantern rite from afar, finally taking time to interact with Liyue in a way he had not in centuries. Zhongli smiled when Xiao came to you as soon as you called only to try one of Xiangling’s dishes that he gave his approval to, even though he used to only eat Almond Tofu.
Zhongli secretly watched from afar as the Yaksha fell in love with you. Whenever you were mentioned, he would always notice Xiao immediately begin to pay attention, perking up and trying to hide the fact that he was listening with new intent. Whenever you called his name, there was not even a second before Xiao was standing before you. Everytime you needed Xiao, he would come without fail, and everytime Xiao needed you, even if he never voiced it, you would be right by his side.
The lone adeptus had finally found his companion. Zhongli knew Xiao needed someone to stand by his side in order to resist the twisted fate that seemed to loom over him.
And now, you are gone. Zhongli hoped that the Yaksha would improve, but his condition worsened daily. Even though Xiao never said it, never voiced how much he missed or needed you, Zhongli knew that he felt as though part of his soul was ripped out of him, like he was no longer complete.
It is a feeling familiar to Zhongli as well, one he has lived with for centuries.
Perhaps that is the reason why Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, finds himself standing at the entrance of the domain that swallowed you whole, a new determination in him to save the traveler who allows the Conqueror of Demons to conquer his own demons; the one who makes him whole.
* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡
Even if you could go back, change what you did, you wouldn’t. Saving Xiao is a decision you will never regret, even if it means dying alone. Nothing could make you even wish to go back and undo what you did. Even if you were given the choice a million times, you knew you would swap your place with Xiao’s each and every one without fail, without even a moment of hesitation.
Even so, you miss him, dearly.
Every moment you spend trapped by the cavern walls, stuck in darkness, you think of him. You think of Xiao’s golden eyes and the way his messy hair blows in the wind. You think of the slight jingle made by his accessories as he walks. You miss every inch of him, from the one piece of hair on his head that always seems to curl upright to the gold plate on his shoes. You miss his calm, smooth voice that dripped into your ears like honey, never failing to overtake your senses and make your heart pound inside your chest.
In such a short time, Xiao had become your most trusted companion. You can remember the day you both met on the top of Wangshu Inn clearly. He seemed so closed off back then, readily pushing everyone who got too close to him away. You recall when he saved you from falling to your death the day Osial was risen by Tartaglia’s call. He touched you then, letting you lean against his lean yet muscular frame to support yourself, his arm hooked around you to keep you upright. You saw a softer side of him in that moment, a side you wanted to see more of.
Slowly, Xiao had begun to trust you. You could tell he was opening up when he allowed you to accompany him to a domain filled with monsters that had become afflicted by his karma and you knew it when he would accept your offers of help when there were large numbers of monsters that he needed to slay. Xiao trusted you to watch his back, and in return, he watched yours.
You noticed your growing feelings for him during your first ever lanturn rite in Liyue. While helping others prepare for the sacred festival, you found yourself hoping to share the experience with a certain loner adeptus. Even though Xiao denied your offers of attending the lanturn rite with you, you knew you must have gotten through to him when Zhongli told you in passing that he observed Xiao watching the rite from afar. Your heart had swelled in your chest when you heard that and it only fueled your determination to become close to the Yaksha.
Eventually, those feelings grew even more.
You knew they grew from how your heart hurt with sheer longing for Xiao during your travels to other nations like Inazuma. Whenever those travels reached their end, you always find yourself back to the top balcony of Wangshu Inn just to see the beautiful adeptus once more. You could hardly last a few weeks without going to see him, earning you endless teasing from Paimon and the other companions you met along your travels.
You love Xiao.
You love Xiao so much that you will die alone, trapped, just so he can have his freedom and live his days in the sunlight of Liyue.
So you sit in the darkness of the domain you had been bare moments away from escaping, alone. You don’t know how long it has been. Perhaps even years have passed since you fell back into the clutches of this chaotic space.
It is dark, painfully dark. So dark that you can hardly see your own hand in front of your face.
And then, in the next moment, the cavern is bathed in gold. It is bright, so bright that it takes you several moments to adjust to the light that is suddenly enveloping your senses. Your corneas feel as if they will burn up from the sudden shock after being trapped in the dark for archon knows how long.
Finally, your eyes adjust to the glittering gold that chased away the darkness that threatened to consume you.
You can hardly believe your eyes when you see Zhongli standing before you. This has to be another hallucination from the domain. Why would Zhongli be here? Is he trapped in this place as well? No, no that can’t be right. Zhongli has the powers of a god, there is no way he would be trapped in this place. But still, you find yourself calling to him, to the figure that looks like Rex Lapis.
“Zhongli…?”
He turns at the sound of your voice, and a smile forms on his lips.
“There you are, traveler. You don’t belong in this place, and someone is waiting for you.”
* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡
Once again, Xiao stands on the balcony of Wangshu Inn. The nighttime air is his only reminder that he is, unfortunately, still alive. Every hour of every day, he wishes his karma would finally take him, finally cause him to lose his mind and go insane. At least that way, he would no longer have to feel the pain of losing you.
He feels numb. Whenever Xiao closes his eyes he can see you switching your places, shoving him back into the space made up of his own energy that transported him out of the chasm in an instant. That scene taunts him day and night, tormenting him and filling his thoughts. The yaksha had promised himself that he wouldn’t lose you the way he lost his four companions and yet now… now you were lost.
For almost a year, Xiao has been tortured with the knowledge that you are gone. Fuck… its been almost a year since he lost you, almost a year since he begged his archon to save you, almost a year since the man refused.
Alatus knows exactly how many days it has been since he lost you: eleven months, five days, sixteen hours, and twenty-seven… no twenty-eight minutes. For eleven months he has been forced to live without the person who made him wish to keep going, the person who made the pain from his karmic debt feel more bearable every second he spent by their side. Eleven months and five days… it's been eleven months, five days, and sixteen hours since he felt peace.
Each and every second feels too long. Every breath feels too hard to take. Every movement, every blink, every sound, it all hurts.
Ever since that fateful day, Xiao has isolated himself. The adeptus has become snappy with people who ask for his help, either brushing them off or flat out refusing to do anything for them. Everything has become a bother. People have become his worst nightmare once again. It was you who helped him; you who made it bearable.
Footsteps on the stairs leading up to the balcony catch his attention and a scowl immediately forms on his lips. Xiao does not even turn to look at who has intruded on his privacy before he starts cursing the intruder.
“Go the fuck away I don’t want—“
“Xiao?”
His heart stops. No… that voice… it's too familiar even though he has not heard it in almost a year. Time seems to stand still and the only sound that fills his ears is the leaves being caressed by the wind, and the sound of his racing heart.
He turns.
It has been eleven months, five days, sixteen hours, and thirty-nine minutes since his eyes last met yours.
Xiao’s breath catches in his throat and he cannot believe his eyes. In truth, he really can’t. He thinks it is his karma messing with him, making him finally go insane. That must be why he is seeing you now. He must be at his wits’ end. Yes that must be it, that has to be the case—
“Xiao!”
Your voice snaps him out of his daze and it takes him several long moments to summon his own.
“You… you’re not real… you’re not here,” he laughs bitterly, ripping his gaze from yours and looking back at the view beyond the balcony. “You are stuck at the bottom of the chasm. I must be hallucinating—“
A hand wraps around his wrist and he stops breathing. He has never turned around faster, golden eyes wide as he stares at your hand on his.
Xiao watches as you gently hold his hand up to your chest, placing it above your heart so he can feel its steady beating.
“I’m home, Xiao.”
The next instant, you are in his arms, pressed against his chest as he clutches you tight. Before you realize it, you’re crying and wrapping your own arms around him just as tightly as he is holding you. You feel something wet against your neck and it takes you several seconds to realize Xiao is silently crying against you.
He doesn’t say a word as his head pulls away from the crook of your neck, letting you get a good view of his golden eyes that are shimmering with tears. One of your hands moves to his face and you cup his cheek, wiping away his tears with your thumb. Your heart jumps in your chest when his hand covers your own and he presses his cheek against it, as if he’s savoring the feeling of your skin against his. His own hands then move to your face, cupping it gently. He doesn't speak as he slowly leans closer to you.
In the next instant, his lips cover your own and it feels as though the world has stopped for this moment.
Kissing Xiao feels like a dream, and if it wasn’t for the fact that you are aggressively pinching yourself, you would almost be confident that it is. His lips stay on yours for what feels like an eternity, even if it actually is only a few seconds.
When he pulls away, his forehead rests against yours and he slowly opens his eyes.
“Never leave me again…”
The words are so soft you almost don't hear them leave his lips. You nod silently, and the second you do, his lips find yours once more.
When you part from each other again, you are the one to speak.
“I will never leave your side again, Xiao.” You hold his cheek in your hand gently as he presses a small kiss to your lips before you begin speaking again. “I missed you every second I was trapped there. I love you too much to ever be away from you that long again.”
Your hearts beat in unison after your confession. There is a beat of silence before his smooth voice that you missed oh so much fills your senses once more.
“I’ve lived over two thousand years and no pain will ever compare to that of losing you for eleven months,” his voice is shaky, even recalling how long he spent without you is too painful for him to bear. “You said I’ll find someone who can stand by my side, and I have. I want that someone to be you, so please, don’t disappear on me again. I love you too much to let you go.”
His confession causes more tears to stream down your cheeks and this time, you are the one to kiss him first. Xiao tugs you impossibly closer, trapping you in his arms as he kisses you desperately.
Neither of you know how long you have been grasping at each other, kissing the other like they are your air to breath. Every time your lips part, you or Xiao immediately close the distance not even a mere second later. You cannot get enough of him, and he cannot get enough of you.
You aren’t sure how or when you ended up underneath him on the balcony, but when you open your eyes, you are met with the sight of him above you, arms on either side of your body.
“I was unable to hear you call my name for eleven months, five days, and seventeen hours. I will not wait a second longer to hear you call for me again.”
His lips cover yours once more, silencing the response you had for him. Your cheeks feel hot as he kisses you with new desperation, conveying every feeling of longing, hopelessness, relief, happiness, and love he has felt for you these past months.
Xiao keeps his promise, and you call out his name for all of Liyue to hear until the sun peeks above the sea to awaken the nation with news that their traveler has returned.
#Genshin imapct#Genshin impact collab#Xiao x reader#Xiao angst#xiao imagine#Genshin xiao#Genshin impact xiao#adeptus xiao#genshin x reader#Xiao x you#xiao x traveler#coffin.collab#coffin.writes#coffin.perilous
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