warm - xiao

11 | winter.

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"do you remember what we studied?"

xiao was grabbing you by the wrist, while you were both standing outside the laboratory in a line. currently, someone was already inside to present. you were both next in line.

"yes! yes, i do." you whispered to him, pulling back your wrist. "go, best friend!"

xiao just glared at you, stuffing his hands in his pocket. "don't call me-"

"next!" the teacher called, the door opening and showing hu tao and zhongli.

"ayee! (y/n), guess who passed?" hu tao playfully threw a peace sign by her eye, winking at you.

you grinned at her, holding up your hands for a high five. zhongli bowed to the two of you stoicly, walking away.

"right, you're next! goodluck, (n/n)~" hu tao smiled at you cheerfully, opening the door for you.

you gave her a thumbs up, before entering the room with xiao. you were feeling no nerves or pressure, while xiao was still the same.

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"...so, this is the correct angle and length for dissection." xiao carefully demonstrated using the interactive tablet, while you watched him with proudly.

"ooh, go best friend." you whispered, him just ignoring your comments.

the presentation went on with you just mostly assisting xiao, and xiao doing all the talking.

"that was a clear presentation. thank you." the teacher wrote something, before smiling at the both of you slightly.

"you don't just pass, but both get a perfect score." the teacher took a sip from her cup of coffee, "i can see you really studied for this,"

xiao just nodded, while you cluelessly stood there.

"so we pass? we didn't fail? we can graduate school? we have high grades?" you asked xiao confusedly. he glanced at you from the side, closing his eyes to keep himself calm. sometimes you really do have a slow brain.

"we got a perfect score. 100/100." he stated firmly, leaving the room while the next pair entered the room.

"um, what? but get it, i guess." you mumbled, following him.

"airhead." he softly said as he matched your pace, walking beside you.

"eh, whatever. at least we didn't fail." you cheerfully walked beside him, as you both returned to eat lunch.

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you walked outside with other students, and they were all wearing scarves and coats, unlike you. you didn't think it was cold, until the cold, dry air from outside hit your face.

"coLDDDD!" you screamed, catching the attention of other students.

"you sure are noisy, (y/n)~"

you turned your head to the side, seeing venti wrapped up in a blue-green scarf. you smiled at him, waving your hands.

"hi bard! it's cold," you commented, standing beside him by the side of the school gates.

"it is. heh, you forgot your scarf and coat." he giggled at you, while you rub your arms for warmth.

"i'll get going, then. don't get too cold!" venti walked away casually, smiling at you. you waved your one hand back, smiling at him. after a few minutes, xiao finally arrived.

"aren't you getting cold out there?"

he was wearing a coat and scarf, unlike your dumb ass who almost jogged to school early. that way, you didn't feel the cold.

"of course it's cold! but it's just a fifteen minute walk, i won't die." you bravely stated, stepping on your undone shoe strap in the process.

"oh, wait, my shoe is undone." you bent down, fixing your shoes. you shuddered from the cold, while your fingers clumsily fix your shoes.

you suddenly felt warmth draped along your back. you then glanced at xiao, and he was standing behind you, wearing his scarf. he draped his coat on your back, and it was feeling extra warm and cozy since he just wore it.

"ooh, can i really wear it? aren't you cold?" you stood up, carefully as to not knock off the coat.

"give it back if you don't want it." xiao turned his head away, his ears red. you just smiled at him, wearing his coat properly.

"thanks, best friend." you softly whispered, fixing the coat on you. you inhaled his scent, which made you feel warm and cozy inside. your heart was beating fast, and it was a blissful feeling.

but is it really okay to get attached to the boy?

you both walked home in a comfortable silence, the sounds of a few cars passing by and the rustling of the leaves from the wind the only noise present.

"what are you doing on christmas? after exams,"

he kept walking ahead, staring at the road. "nothing. i don't like celebrations or gatherings. it's been like that for a few years." he answered. it was true, he just studies or reads usually and reply to the relatives greeting him with a 'merry christmas.' sometimes he watches studio ghibli movies.

"can i celebrate christmas with you?" you offered, fiddling with your fingers. this year, hu tao was going home to her family, and ganyu was celebrating with the student council.

they offered to ditch their plans for you, but you insisted that you would be fine. so you asked xiao to celebrate with you, because you thought that he isn't really the type who likes gatherings and celebrations. but you wanted him to experience one christmas-y happy memory.

you were right.

"i g-guess that's okay."

"yay! i'll go to your place then, after class on the 24th. i'll just sleep over." you stopped by the end of your street, staring at him brightly.

"do as you please." he said, walking away to his place. "bye bye, xiaoo!"

your heart fluttered at the thought of spending christmas with him. after exams, that is. you planned all sorts of dish to cook so that you can both have a christmas feast. you also thought about just watching a lot of disney movies.

these daydreams took over your brain, as you absentmindedly entered your room and lay on your bed while staring at the ceiling. you couldn't wait for christmas by then. you wanted to make it a happy christmas memory for xiao, since it's been years since he has last experienced a christmas celebration.

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