𝕎𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕊𝕒𝕪 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕓𝕪𝕖 | 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟 𝕆𝕔 𝕀𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕥

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 15: 𝒜 𝑅𝑒𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒶𝓁

✧˖°࿐ It's warm.

She pushed herself closer to the warmth beneath her head. Her face was almost entirely facing it, feeling she was safe with this warmth here.

Just a bit after she shifted, she felt something one her head begin to pet her. And like any sane person, she purred.

A light snort from above her.

Her eyes shot open and she shot up, leaning back to look at who's lap she had been laying on.

"Did you sleep well?"

In front of her, sitting on her couch, was the friend she lost 50 years ago.

"Xiao..?"

He slightly turned towards her, "That is my name, yes."

"What're... what're you doing here?"

"You called my name in your sleep. I responded and stayed the night to make sure nothing happened."

"Why? And how did I end up in your lap?!"

"You moved there yourself," he paused, "And I... I'm sorry."

Ganyu froze. He was apologizing? For what? She was the one who messed up. She should have sent him some sort of notice.

"Back... when you came back, I overreacted. I was... worried. I didn't really know how to express it... and I lashed out instead. I never wanted to stop being your friend."

"Why?" she turned her gaze downward, "why now? Why not back when it happened? Why did you wait 50 years?"

When she looked up with tears in her eyes, Xiao grimaced and reached out to wipe her tears.

"I did not think that you wanted to see me," he cupped her cheeks, "I thought you would've hated me after lashing out at you like that. I did not come because I regretted it and could not bring myself to believe that I had pushed away the first person I've cared about in centuries."

Xiao pulled her into a hug, and she buried her face into his chests. She began to sob, wetting his shirt. He rubbed her back and began humming to calm her down.

"I," she hiccuped, "I missed you! I thought that you hated me! That you never wanted to see me again!"

She continued sobbing, each new word bringing a new wave of guilt to Xiao, "I'm sorry. I missed you too. I never hated you. I wished you had come everyday. I'm sorry."

They simply basked in each other's presence for the rest of the day. She had gotten up to make some Almond Tofu for them later in the day, but they went back to cuddling almost immediately after.

They wouldn't admit they had been waiting to do this since before their fallout.

I love you went unspoken.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Xiao left early the next morning, the two having stayed in each other's embrace for hours.

She went into work the next day, only to meet Ningguang at the door.

"May I ask where you were yesterday?"

"I was..."

She looked at Ningguang, who merely stared at her in return.

"...taking care of my boyfriend!"

Well shit.

Your crush is becoming REALLY obvious!

WAIT WHEN DID IT BECOME A CRUSH--

"You have a lover?" Ningguang looked nothing less than confused.

"I do! I don't talk about him much, he likes his privacy, but he was... sick yesterday so I stayed home to take care of him!"

"I see. Next time please send word that you will not make it for the day," deeming her response as acceptable, Ningguang turned around.

"Um! Can I have just a moment more of your time?"

Her boss paused, "And what do you need to speak to me about?"

"I was wondering if I could possibly have some time off in the future? Relatively soon, actually! For around three months! There's something I promised to do happening in that time frame so I would like the time off to be able to do that thing."

"You have a contract to fulfill... I see. I will allow this, as yesterday brought to my attention how much the Qixing relies on you. You deserve a break. In the meantime, work hard."

"Yes ma'am!"

And she did work hard. Doing more paperwork, making more people drinks, and overseeing several projects.

It was the end of the day, and she stretched on the edge of the Jade Chamber. It was already dark, with nothing lighting up the sky.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, two lights streaked across the sky.

Aw, shooting stars! I should--

HOLD THE FUCK UP!

She raced back inside to Ningguang's office, who looked up in surprise when the secretary barged in.

"You know," she huffed, a bit out of breath, "that break I asked for?"

Ningguang nodded.

"Well I need it to start now."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

She was packing her things the next morning, not planning to say goodbye to anyone in particular besides Xiao on the way to Mondstadt. Clearly things never seem to go to plan for her.

"Hey there Ganyu! It's pretty early to be walking around with that much luggage, don't you think?"

"I guess..."

She really only had a backpack and a pouch of mora, but she decided to go along with whatever Childe was planning.

"So where are you going?"

"Mondstadt. It's for a vacation. I haven't really gotten a break in a few decades."

"You're leaving already? I was just starting to get to know you..."

Childe sulked and Ganyu did not know how to react. Giving him an incredulous stare, she started to back away, slowly.

"Hey! Can I come with you?"

He jumped up with... excitement in his eyes.

She stood there in shock, "Don't you have a job ?"

"I'm the boss! I can give myself a break whenever I want!" he waved his hand in dismissal, "Besides! I'll just go to the Stone Gate, no father. Seem good?"

"I... guess..."

"Perfect!" he grabbed her wrist and started pulling her north, to the exit of Liyue Harbor, "Let's be on our way!"

"Uh, yes! Let's go!" 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

#1 IN THE GANYU TAG?! TYSM ILY ALL YOU'RE AMAZING AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!