to love to be loved ( Xiao x Lumine )

Chapter 2: Working Together

"....Xiao. That's my name."

"I'm Lumine. This is my emergency—"

"IT'S PAIMON"

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After a brief introduction, Lumine explained the commission. They then proceed to nearby areas to eliminate the monsters. They didn't talked much nor spare a glance at each other.
It was rather awkward.

Considering how there are many monsters or what they would call "Hilichurls" are camping nearby, they have decided to go separate ways. It is probably better that way since Lumine felt that she might be of a burden to him. Or so she thought.

They ought to meet up near the Stone Gate after they are done with their tasks. Which so they did.

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"Oh Xiao, you're done. That's fast" Lumine ran towards him.

He scoffs.

"What's with his attitude?" Paimon observed.

".... anyway, so we've done eliminating the Hilichurls around the premises. I believe that we are now supposed to find tracks of Ruin Guards in preparation of them—" Lumine explained.

"You don't have to explain everything." Xiao cut off Lumine's line.

Seeing Lumine and Paimon's expressions, Xiao coughed, feeling a little bit of guiltiness as he might have hurt them with his words. "... you already explained everything at Wangshu Inn so don't waste your breath explaining even more."

"...we're wasting time. Let's go" he added.

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Time passes and once again, they don't talk.
There's this bitter tension between them. Paimon and Lumine try to break the ice from time to time but he seems to ignore them or simply scoffs. "Why does he scoffs all the time?" Paimon asked. Lumine raises her shoulders as she doesn't know either.

"Stop" Xiao asserted.

All of them stopped walking. Xiao hand signals them to back off as there may be something coming towards them.

"I will be protecting both, especially you." He turns around and looks at Lumine.

"–but don't think about getting in my way." He continued.

"I did not ask for protection and I can handle this myself. I won't be running away." Lumine persist.

Xiao's expressions turn dark. Suddenly, the horror of Geo-like monsters came running down the hill. What's more surprising is that they can go underground.

As they appeared abruptly from the ground up and jumped onto Xiao. He immediately starts attacking and does a type of attack he's most fond of: plunging. Lumine also promptly back him up through attacking with her elemental skills and bursts.

Not too long afterward, they're finally done eliminating the whole group of monsters. Ignoring Xiao, Lumine walked away from the monsters to a tree nearby for shelter. She sits on the ground and leans on the tree trunk. Thankfully, the shade covers her entire body from the bright sun. Not only does she feels tired but her skin feels like it's burning.

Despite her being used to doing such attacks, she didn't expect a whole load of them to come all at once. She wasn't ready though she was glad she could be of help to Xiao.

"Hey, are you okay?" Paimon asked worriedly.

Lumine nodded. "I'm glad you're fine and umm, do you know where did Xiao go?" Paimon continued.

"...huh? Isn't he there—" Lumine realizes that he's gone. She quickly stood up and began to find him. Calling him name numerous times, going around the area but he's nowhere to be found. "He couldn't possibly go back could he?" she thought.

"Paimon, could you head back to Wangshu Inn without me? He might be there. Also, I'm afraid there will be more dangerous monsters here so I think that it's safer for you.—
I'm going to keep looking for him over here instead. I'll be back soon." Lumine requested.

"MMMM ALRIGHT FINE.... please be careful," Paimon said worriedly. Paimon began to flee back while Lumine continued searching.

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