Winter Moon | Xiao x Fem Reader

Within reach

"The Tsaritsa is arriving today at Liyue Harbour."

Everyone stared at Childe silently, the atmosphere grave. It was what you were expecting for the past three days but now that it was an actual reality, it made your head dizzy. You'd spent the last few days on the same spot Zhongli had taken you to, the days passing by agonisingly slow. You tried coming up with a plan but without knowing the Tsaritsa's motives it was hard to do. Instead, you spent nights guessing and muddling over possible scenarios, none of them concrete. It was exhausting.

Childe cleared his throat at the silence he was met with. "I will have to leave you. I must be there when she arrives." Still, no one replied. The first day all four of you had been secretive of your conversation about anything concerning the Tsaritsa but after you'd found out how incredibly stupid it was to make plans of unsure scenarios, you stopped caring if he overheard.

You sighed when you saw the harbinger fidgeting at the uncomfortable silence. "Go. We'll figure it out eventually. Don't worry about us."

"She won't do anything like what you're thinking. She just wishes for peace," he said. It was something he liked to say often these days. Preaching about how good of a person the Tsaritsa actually was. None of what he said made you feel any less unsafe.

"Childe," you called out before he turned around. "Stay safe."

He flashed his signature smirk at you, "Of course, comrade. Anything that stands in my way will be obliterated." He stretched languidly before adding, "I haven't had a good fight in a while too, you got all the good stuff before me. You've tamed me, it seems."
You laughed softly, "Next time we meet we can spar if you like." The fact that you said this as a wordless promise for a 'next time' went unspoken but you both knew what it meant either way.

"I'd love to go against a Celestial God. I won't hold back," he said proudly.

"You better not," you replied.

"I will see you at the port then."

"Childe, may I have a word with you?" Zhongli spoke for the first time in what seemed like hours. His face had been stoic but the anxiety rolled off of him in waves that were almost suffocating.

"Of course, Xiangsheng," Childe said as Zhongli walked up to him and mentioned for him to walk further. "Xiao, there is something I want to talk to you about too."

"I am not going anywhere with you, harbinger."

Childe gave Xiao a look you couldn't understand, all squinting eyes and furrowed brows and as much as they didn't like each other, they understood perfectly. The adeptus sighed exasperatedly but still got up to follow Childe with a serious look on his face.

The harbinger looked back one last time and took a good look at everyone. He may have loved irritating everyone, especially Xiao, but he still held worry in his heart for you all. "Be careful," were his last words before he turned around and you watched his back retreat alongside Zhongli and Xiao.

"They all care about you a lot," Yin mentioned.

You smiled fondly at the thought and nodded your head softly, "Yeah, I know. I am very fortunate to have found people like that to be by my side."

The yaksha looked at you and smiled brightly. "I will always be by your side too. No matter what." You failed to notice how her smile fell and her eyes turned sad.

"We'll figure all this out together. All of us."

"Yes, my lady."

"The Tsaritsa is arriving today. Even though I know our side is more advantageous - with two Gods and two yakshas on our side - something just feels off."