𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 [Xiao x Aether]

[4] Fan the Flame

The older Xiao got, the less sure he was about anything. His years of endless solitude didn't bother him much, but this was different somehow. What was it that made his loneliness so much more painful than it had been for so many years? He needed to figure it out.

The adeptus carried on with his patrol as normal, or as normal as it could be anyway. Descending from the mountains of Minlin, he came upon Tianqiu Valley and continued east towards Luhua Pool. In the center of a field of grass lay a hole that lead down into a blazing cavern. If one dared to look down, they would see a plant covered in vines that contorted its way around the creature, each shedding ash as the leaves burst repeatedly into flame.

Xiao grumbled. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd had to douse this creature. Compared to most enemies he regularly fought, this one was definitely one of the most persistent. Time and time again had he defeated it, only for it to rise again only days later stronger than before. He didn't want to know what would happen if he let it fester for longer than that.

He took a step above the opening, allowing himself to fall into the cavern. The plant shuffled and unraveled itself, letting out a silent roar as it did. From it, fire erupted in all directions, sending sparks that shot into the sky and singed Xiao's skin. He plunged down into the cave lined with brimstone, and hissed as he landed on the hot coals embedded into the ground. He leapt forwards toward the amber stone set in it's roots, striking it with the force of the wind. The plant plunged its head towards the yaksha, but missed as Xiao briskly dodged out of the way. Again and again, he besieged the glowing stone with his spear, until it shattered. The regisvine fainted and fell to the ground, shaking the cave and letting pieces of the rock from its ceiling fall to the ground. It was time.

"Evil conquering!"

As he did before, Xiao jumped into the air. He turned midair and shot back towards the ground, phantom spears following his own and crashing through the creature that lay before him.

Up, down: crash.

Up, down: crash.

Each time he shot into the sky, the adeptus came down with more force than the last. Then a moment later, the darkness faded.

Xiao looked back up towards his opponent. It rose up from it's position on the floor, and Xiao's eyes widened. Usually the creature would have perished by now, so why was it getting back up? Shit, he thought. He just got out of his darker form, and going back in now to finish the job would be dangerous. Especially since he didn't have time to regain his strength.

The regisvine turned its head towards the sky, flapping it's petals as if they were wings. Within seconds, balls of flame crashed down from the ceiling of the cavern. Each came down closer and closer to the adeptus, slowly but surely becoming more difficult to avoid. That is, until one came too close.

A sharp yell echoed throughout the cavern. Xiao fell to the ground, clutching his arm as hard as he could. This was bad. This was really bad. The regisvine ceased its barrage, and began to prepare another attack. He had to move, so why couldn't he bring himself to?

"Come on, what's wrong with you, idiot?" He sneered. If he didn't move, that plant could finish him off. As much as the thought disturbed him, he pushed it back as far into his mind as he could.

The plant shuffled again, it was about to strike again.

Move!

It plunged forward.

Xiao closed his eyes.

This was it, wasn't it?

Thousands of years of defending Liyue, only to be defeated by a plant.

Pathetic, wasn't he?

"I'm sorry, I have failed you."

He braced himself for the hit. He waited, and waited. But it didn't come.

"What-"

When he opened his eyes, a figure blocked his sight. The figure stood only one or two feet away from him, using his sword to hold back the plant, until it decided to withdraw from its position. They were no taller than Xiao himself, with a blonde braid that reached down to their hip. In satisfaction, they turned, smiled, and held out a hand.

"Oh, it's you."

"You looked like you needed some help." Aether laughed.

Xiao rolled his eyes. "I didn't need your help." He forced himself to stand, hissing when his nerves reminded him of the freshly scorched skin on his arm.

"Woah, woah!" Aether panicked. "Stay back! You're hurt."

"I'll be fine. I've had worse."

"You're not acting like it."

Xiao stepped forward and clutched his spear. "I need to finish what I started. I won't let you get involved."

"Drop!"

The adeptus stumbled back as a shell of rock crashed down around him.

"And I won't let you be an idiot." Aether sighed, before turning back towards the regisvine. Charging forwards, the blonde leapt into the air and dug his sword into the crimson stone on the creature's head.

"What are you doing?!" Xiao yelled out. Here he was, stuck in a shell of stone as a human finished off his battle. He couldn't believe it.

This was insulting.

The regisvine fell back to the ground, shaking the cavern just as it did before. Aether slashed its roots, imbedding shards of shining yellow crystals into it like knives. With all his strength, he threw forth his sword into the creature to finish it off. As he did, the regisvine threw it's petals into the sky and crashed back to ground, finally dispersing into sparks of flame that fluttered their way into the sky.

Aether smiled, satisfied with his victory. He took a moment to catch his breath, before turning back towards his captive, who was now fiercely glaring at him.

"What?"

"I told you I didn't want your help, moron." Xiao seethed.

Aether stepped towards the rock he had summoned, tearing at it to free the adeptus. "Again, you were hurt. I couldn't just stand by and watch you get yourself killed."

"I'm an adeptus. That weed couldn't have killed me if it tried."

"But it got close!" The blonde insisted. Xiao stared back at him. Aether looked way more concerned then he probably should've. He wasn't afraid, was he?

The adeptus sighed. "Fine. I'll accept your assistance just this once. Think of it as a repayment of your debt to me from saving your own life."

Aether laughed. "Alright, if that's how you want to think of it!"

Xiao began to exit the cavern, stumbling with each step he took.

"Where are you going?" The blonde groaned. "You can't possibly plan on going out on your own with your arm like that."

"And so what if I am? That isn't your business."

"Well now it is, I'm taking you back to the Inn."

"Not happening."

"Try me."