Hmph!~ A Xiaoven AU

03

Walking into Wanmin Restaurant, Xiangling's father smiled happily before giving them a table for 5.

"Just sit down you guys!! I'll bring over some food later!!!" She smiled before looked at Xiao "Don't worry Xiao, I'll cook up some extra delicious almond tofu especially for you!!"

Xiao chuckled at the ridiculous amount of effort Hu Tao put in to make sure he fit in well. As Xiangling ran into the kitchen, Xingqiu and Chongyun started being gay again

"If you're gonna be gay at least hold off all the intense stuffs for when you get home"

Hu Tao looked annoyed for once, Xingqiu and Chongyun simply just laughed and shrugged it off. Xiangling brought in all the food and quickly sat down

"Well don't just stare at the food!! Let's eat!!!"

Everyone else dug into the food while Xiao silently ate his plate of almond tofu. Xiao didn't really like almond tofu because of the taste, but he likes it because it reminds him of his past.

His past isn't something normal people would typically like to remember. Xiao hasn't told anyone about his past, the only other person who knows anything about it is Zhongli. Maybe one day he'll open up his past so someone can help him break free from his broken soul.

"Xiao are you alright? You're tearing up"

The icey cold tone from Chongyun sliced right through Xiao. He shook his head and sighed

"It's nothing"

Chongyun nodded then the four friends resumed to having fun talking and chit-chatting. The little food he had was just a small snack because Xiao knew that Zhongli and Qiqi would be preparing dinner soon. Right after dinner would follow Xiao's schedule of work, traveling around Liyue listening the dangers and quickly eliminating them. That was what his contract bounded him to, that was his duty as the last living yaksha.

Xiao knew that Zhongli was previously Rex Lapis, as in other words he used to be the Archon of Geo. Zhongli had told him to take it easy as the adepti had already handed Liyue into the hands of mortals but Xiao was determined to keep his contract.

"Come on Xiao, It's about time we start heading home. Start getting ready to leave"

Xiao nodded, finishing up the last bite of his food before grabbing his things and walking towards the door.

"I told you to get ready to leave, not to leave without me!"

Her sudden burst reminded Xiao to wait and so he walked back to the table where Xingqiu waved at him.

"Goodbye Xiao, it was a pleasure finally meeting you!"

The other two said their farewells following Xingqiu's.

"Bye Xiao! Bya Hu Tao!" Xiangling said cheerfully "Come back again anytime!"

"Bye Hu Tao, Bye Xiao"

Chongyun dipped his head in farewell as Xiao and Hu Tao started walked home. Three strange yet interesting people that Xiao had spent the afternoon with. Xingqiu being quiet in class and always so diligent with the work yet being so clingy with his boyfriend. Chongyun who accompanied Xiao in P.E. class, his cold expressions definitely don't match his warm actions towards his friends and boyfriend. Then Xiangling, a chef and waitress at Wanmin Restaurant. Her cheerful voice as well as her excited personality reminded Xiao of another certain pyro vision bearer... Though Xiangling wasn't the one playing the pranks but instead she was always on the receiving end which made the friendship between her and Hu Tao the love hate kind of relationship.

As the two reached their home, Hu Tao got out her set of keys and unlocked the door. Xiao held it open to let Hu Tao go in first. To his surprise, he suddenly felt a small pair of arms wrap around his leg. Looking down, his eyes met with the little girl with dark pink eyes. Her talisman stuck onto her forehead reminded Xiao of the bad things the this girl had gone through but he managed to break out a smile.

"Hello Qiqi, how are you?"

Xiao always had a soft spot for her, especially because all the terrible things that happened weren't her fault. He crouched down to gently wrap his arms around Qiqi's petite body and he carried her up.

"Qiqi.. feels nice..." Her emotionless tone never expressed anything on its own but Xiao knew the she wasn't lying "Qiqi sad... but now Qiqi happy... because big brother Xiao is here..."

The older male smiled when she said "big brother". To Xiao, Qiqi was like a little sister to him but he was always unsure if she thought the same about him. But I suppose today Qiqi decided to tell him.

"Ugh! It's unfair!!"

Hu Tao ran back to the living room as Xiao shut the door, still letting Qiqi rest in his arms. Hu Tao placed her hand on her hips and pouted.

"Why doesn't she ever let me do that?"

"Perhaps it's because Xiao doesn't try to bury her"

A deep voice rang from the kitchen and Zhongli emerged and greeted all three of the children with a smile

"Welcome back you both, how was school?" He asked

"It was okay I guess..."

"I really enjoyed it!!"

Zhongli chuckled at the contrast between them and took Qiqi out of Xiao's arms. Hu Tao plopped herself onto the couch and turned on the television as Zhongli brushed Xiao's hair with his hand. Zhongli's fatherly behaviour became something Xiao loved since he saw both Hu Tao and Qiqi as his siblings. Though he didn't really show it, Xiao really did care about Hu Tao. Just... in a different way to how he showed care towards Qiqi.

"Go get changed Xiao, dinner will be ready in 10"

Xiao nodded then ran to his room to change into his regular clothes, meaning it was the clothes he usually wore while working. He went back out to the common area and Hu Tao was setting out the table while listening to songs. He sat at the table just as The food started coming out of the kitchen.

"Xiao... help Qiqi bring food..."

The older brother followed the little girl without a word, helping her bring out all the food Zhongli had prepared for the family. After setting out all the food, then did Zhongli come out of the kitchen to help Qiqi get on her seat. Without anymore to say, the four of them started eating up the food and after a little silence Hu Tao decided to break the ice.

"So how was your day Zhongli?"

"It was enjoyable, little Qiqi got really sad when Xiao left though"

"As she always does"

Hu Tao cheerfully replied but it drained back into silence after a few moments. Xiao looked at the time then quickly finished his food. Bringing his plate and cutlery back into the kitchen and washing up. Xiao ran back into his room and grabbed his polearm as well as his mask. He quickly grabbed a sign that said "out for work" and hung it on his door before jumping out his window and putting on his mask, signaling that his night of work had just started...

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Wheeeww another update ^^'
Hopefully y'all aren't getting too bored with the lack of Xiaoven stuffs but I promise that there will be Xiaoven stuffs in the next update ^^ (I plan so anyways-)
These starting chapters were just to build up Xiao's character as well as his "family" and the side characters.
Hope you have a nice dayyyy :3

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Date Written~ 26th May 2021
Word count~ 1265
Written by~ Saku._.kkura