Once Again | Xiao x Reader

Part 7 - Lost & Found

☆★☆

It's been a few weeks since the Archon War ended.

I was walking around the streets of Liyue, now safe from danger, with a little Ganyu holding onto my leg.

I stopped at a stand and picked up a toy. "Ganyu, how about this?" her grip loosened slightly and her eyes sparkled but soon shook her head and gripped onto my leg tightly again. I sighed and patted her head softly, careful not to touch her horns in the process.

"Lady Y/n!" I look up to see one of the adepti. "Xiao is gone."

At the news, I tasked Cloud Retainer to take care of Ganyu, and I went to look for Morax. I found him in minutes because of the connection we shared. As I approached him, I heard Morax say.

"He completely destroyed a few hilichurl camps and was about to head for a human village. I tried to calm him down, but he ran away." he sighed, looking down.

"I'll find him." I tell my brother and go on my way.

I searched every corner of Liyue, behind every tree and under every rock, but there was no sight of him. It's been days now, but I couldn't give up. I gave the boy a new name and my brother gave him a new and better reason to live. I had to find him.

Now at the outskirts of Liyue near Mondstadt, I heard the song of a lyre. Confused of who was playing the instrument, as I couldn't sense anyone near, I followed the music. The beautiful melody led me deep into Dragonspine.

The song got louder and more intense, and I could feel a dark energy coming from inside a cave. I hurried towards it, fearing I were too late.

In the corner of the cave, I find the familiar boy I was searching for, bloodied and shivering from the cold. I slowly approached him, but as soon as I took a step forward something was thrown in my direction and I could feel it scratch my cheek. I could tell Xiao was glaring at me even through the mask that was oozing with dark energy and the way he was growling. I kept approaching the boy with a calm look on my face. When I was in front of him, I saw him thrust his spear in the side of my arm. I didn't dodge or flinch away, instead I gently wrapped my arms around the boy and brought him in a hug.

"It's okay now. Everything is fine now, Xiao." he was still struggling in my arms, but I continued to hold him and whisper to him. "He's not here anymore. You're Xiao now, he can't hurt you anymore."

Xiao stopped struggling, his arms falling to his sides. "I'm sorry." he whispered weakly. I felt the mask disappear off his face.

The song of the lyre from earlier played again. I looked behind me to find an old friend playing the instrument.

"That's a very dark aura your friend's got there Y/n. I was wondering when you'll come find him." he smiled at me, ending his song. I felt Xiao's weight now leaning on me. He fell asleep.

"Barbatos! Thanks for leading me here."

"Hm? What are you talking about Y/n? Hehe~" he tries to play dumb. I giggle at his antics and pick up Xiao in the process.

"Well thanks for calming him down too."

~~~

I start opening my eyes slowly and find myself staring at a familiar ceiling, I'm in my room. Once I'm finally fully awake, I realise I'm holding onto something very tightly. I look at my hand and find that I'm holding onto a someone, not something. Following my gaze up the arm, I meet a familiar face. Xiao hasn't realised I was awake yet as his beautiful golden eyes were gazing out my bedroom window, so I decided to have some fun. I close my eyes once again and pretend I'm asleep, squeezing his hand I murmur his name.

"Xiao..." I could feel his gaze was now on me. "Please... be gentle." I continue my play.

"Tsk. Stop pretending. I know you're awake." Xiao flicks my forehead.

"Ouch! Hey! That wasn't necessary!" I scold him while rubbing my forehead with my free hand. I look at his face, noticing that, even though he wore an annoyed expression, his cheeks were slightly red. A smirk finds its way on my face. "Heyyy, Xiaooo." I poke his cheek. "Your face is all red. What were you thinking you naughty adeptus."

"Looks like your feeling better if you have the energy to tease me."

After a few moments of silence he speaks again.

"So why didn't you kill that ruin guard? You may be dumb, but you're not weak." Xiao looks at me seriously.

I choose to ignore his insult and instead look down, frowning, letting go of his hand. He doesn't speak and neither do I. The silence drags until I hesitantly tell him what happened; how I couldn't use my geo element or summon my weapon.