Unforgettable Memories | Xiao x Reader

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Sometimes you must hurt in order to know,
fall in order to grow,
lose in order to gain,
because the greatest lessons in life are learned through pain."

~~~~~~

A week had nearly passed since your disappearance. Despite knowing full well that you were supposed to stay dead, Xiao refused to accept it. If Lumine, the twin of Aether had been able to bring you back, there should be a way for him to bring you back too. He was selfish. He wanted you in his arms. He wanted to hug you, kiss you, live with you, see your beautiful face.

"Xiao," Lumine placed her hand on the adeptus' shoulder. "I think you need to stop. She-"

"No," Xiao punched floor that was littered with books. "I promised her. Let me do this one thing for us."

Ever since your "disappearance", Xiao had spent his days in the archives of the library in Mondstat thanks to the help of Lisa. Lumine and Xiao had somewhat made up and instead of being enemies, their relationship had changed to one of strangers with similar goals. It wasn't much but it was something.

His eyes dark with eyebags, Xiao continued to scan books in hopes to find an answer to his question.

Quietly leaving the archive, Lumine closed the door behind her only to be greeted by her brother and Lisa.

"Is he still in there?" Lisa questioned, her eyes downcast as she thought about how long Xiao had isolated himself in the room.

Lumine nodded and leaned on the wall, "He refuses to stop. He hasn't eaten or drank anything for days. He hasn't slept either."

"If I was in his shoes," Aether sighed, his hand running through his hair. "I'd do the same thing. He's heartbroken. He lost y/n for the third time already and I think the guilt is eating up at him."

"We can't let this continue," Lisa responded.

"Just leave him be," a new voice called out.

"Diluc?" Aether looked at the one who had just spoken.

"Just let him be," he repeated.

"What are you saying Diluc!" Lisa yelled. "He's hurting himself."

"If we tell him to stop, he'll do something even dumber. He's a lovesick idiot. This is by far the safest option for him."

"I don't approve of this," Lisa argued. "We have to help him somehow."

"How do you think you can help him," Diluc countered. "It was hard enough on me when I lost my father. How much harder do you think it would be on him when he lost his lover not once but already three times and all to save him."

Lisa looked at the floor, her eyes darkening as she thought of the realism of what Diluc had said.

"Lumine," Aether broke the short silence before looking towards his sister with a silent message that only she would understand.

Lumine nodded in understanding to which Diluc and Lisa were left in the dark.

"Sorry but we have to do something," Lumine said as she and her brother left.