𝙰 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚄𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 - 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚘 𝚡 𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚃𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 ~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟺

Xiao POV

Shifting my fingers through a pot of flowers, I wait. Zhongli said that he wanted to have a conversation with me. Normally, I would refuse to take part in any talk with a mortal. But Zhongli happens to be a cover-up for who he truly is, Rex Lapis. The Archon who saved me and made me a Yaksha.

I hear his light steps slowly become louder. Out of respect, I turn around and nod at him in acknowledgment. "Xiao, I'm glad to see you here." He says in his usual low voice.

"I am as well. Is something the matter or is my visit more casual?" Despite the subtleness of the gesture, I still notice his jaw tighten. "I understand you have taken a mortal under your wing, correct?"

"Yes, I have."

"I believe that you are very aware of several things then. One being she isn't from this world, second, being she has a Gnosis, and for instance, Sakkaku has selected another pawn."

I remain silent and begin to clench my own teeth.

"Both you and I know that she cannot return her Gnosis. We've dealt with similar predicaments relating to Sakkaku and her Gnosis, this is no different. Therefore, I need you to take back the Gnosis again."

Accidentally, I small sound of alarm slips from me. Zhongli looks at me, stunned. "Xiao, you have taken Sakkaku's Gnosis many times. Is there something wrong with doing it once more?"

"She needs to return the Gnosis in order to go back to her own world. It's the only way."

Zhongli takes a seat at his dark mahogany desk, hands laced under his chin. "This... does complicate things."

A thoughtful silence settles around us before he breaks it. "I understand that this may be difficult to accept, but I believe sacrificing one person for a nation is required. It is the only way to maintain peace not only in Liyue but all across Teyvat." He locks eyes with me before continuing. "If you do not want to do this task, I can send Ganyu or myself-"

I step forward and cut him off. "No! As an Adpeti, it is my duty to serve and protect this world. I will return the Gnosis to you within the year."

Zhongli looks deep in thought before nodding to my statement. "Very well then Xiao. It was a pleasure to see you as always."

"The same to you as well," I reply and turn around. I teleport to the Luhua Pools. They're quite relaxing to admire during the evening hours. The warmly colored leaves contrast with the light cyan and indigo of the actual pools. I take a seat near a large stone covered in moss. As I look up to the brilliant moon, I suddenly feel enraged.

I don't want to betray Y/n... she doesn't deserve something like that. God, I'm already enslaved to a life of solitude and service. Can't I just have one moment of peace... just one elysian moment?

I need to calm myself down before I lose it...

Glaring at the moon one last time, I teleport to Wangshu Inn. More specifically, Y/n's room. I'm being ridiculous I tell myself as I look at her. Both of Y/n's hands are tucked under the side of her head and she has her knees slightly scattered near her elbows.

Seeing her so calm somehow makes me feel better.

I'm being ridiculous... I curse again at myself. Yet, I don't turn away from her. Instead, I move straight towards her and lay down beside her. As gently as possible, I snake my arm around her waist and bury my head into her soft and fragrant hair.

I just want one moment of divinity. This immortal life has already taken so much from me. For the first time in a while, I am taking this moment for myself.

Your POV

I can feel the morning rays of sun peeking through my shoji screen and into my face. My sight begins to turn peach and I turn to the opposite side of my bed.

Rather there being an empty space of sheets and pillows, I come into contact with something warm. In the midst of morning drowsiness, I nuzzle my head into whatever is so cozy next to me. It responds by also wrapping its arms lightly around my back.

"Mmmmm...warm..." I mumble groggily. As I'm about to succumb to my longing for sleep, I snap to reality.

Wait, why is there something warm in my bed...

I pull back just enough to see a white shirt in front of me.

What the-

I'm confused until I see a single lock of dark cyan hair fall onto the white fabric.

My eyes widen and I look up to see Xiao sleeping. It takes a few seconds for the disbelief to register. Although, when it does it's as if someone hit me with a baseball bat. I proceed to internally scream.

Oh my GOD. HOLY CRAP. Xiao... Xiao is sleeping his arms wrapped around me! And I nuzzled into his chest...

I take my hands and bury my cherry red face into them.

"Y/n...? Are you awake?" He asks with a slight morning raspiness.

"Y-yes," I say quietly. "Uh- I don't mean this in a rude way Xiao, but what are you doing in my bed?" He remains silent until he dodges my question with his own.

"Are you sure you want to return Sakkaku's Gnosis? Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" The question is highly random and honestly, catches me way off guard.

"I don't know. In my world, I have a family, a few friends, and plenty of opportunities. I never meant to come here and I had full intentions to leave. But I have friends here now as well. I have a job and my life has never been this colorful. I have to take into account though how my absence could affect my family."

"You would become nonexistent in your world Y/n"

"How do you know that?"

"Sakkaku selects someone every few years with the energy she's been saving and attempts to give them the task of returning her Gnosis. Obviously, none have been successful."

"Well, my answer remains the same, Xiao. I don't know." My repeated answer comes out harsher than I intended. I just do not appreciate being questioned on serious things such as this, early in the morning.

"Now that I've answered your question, could you answer mine please?" I plead at the amber eyed male.