The Object of My Unholy Desire (Xiaoaether)

A Whole New World, for You and- No Wait, just me.

(Trigger warning: mild mentions of child abuse are present within this chapter.)

Xiao Pov
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I wake up screaming bloody murder.

My arms are burning, and every fiber of my being seems to be in pain. It's unrelenting and unending. My mind is almost feverish, ringing with the murmurs of voices that I recognize, but can't make out anything being said. My wrists are being squeezed by misty black ropes, cutting off my blood circulation in my hands. My chest moves up and down as I force myself to keep breathing. I fight back the pain.

I've dealt with this for the past two thousand years.

I can fight it now.

My karma.

The pain slowly fades, and my vision begins to clear.

I find myself lying on a black jacket under a bridge.

I've been sent through realities.

Great.

Aether got hit too. He got hit worse. And I even warned him.

I sit up, the effects of my karma long gone. My arms hurt and my head is spinning. Soft, thick snow is falling from the sky onto the ground.

Well, there's breakfast, I guess.

I wonder...why exactly am I here? Under this bridge, I mean. I backcheck my memories and find out that my home situation isn't good, so I don't live there.

I used to be the leader of a gang in another city, and I was feared by everyone. I was known as the Vigilant Yaksha. No one could come close to me. Eventually, I was betrayed by my friend, who was my right hand, and my parents forced me to move to this city, Opal City, and I was forced into attending Teyvat High so my trash parents could get rid of me for most of the day, and so I wouldn't make another gang.

Eventually my home situation got so bad that I ran away. Sleep is only a minor inconvenience, anyways.

I haven't been to school in the past three weeks, and only go when I'm dragged there by the police.

So in this world I'm a juvenile delinquent. Fitting.

At least I got to keep my namesake.

Footsteps on the bridge above me catch my attention.

A police officer walks down the small hill and comes over to me.

"All right, Xiao. You need to come with me. You've been absent from school for three weeks. Come now or I'll call your parents." He says.

My eye twitches and I turn away.

"Tough luck." I growl.

I just want to be alone to gather my thoughts. Since in this world I'm not the type of Yaksha I normally am, I'm stuck until my power comes back. That also means I have no access to my polearm.

The police officer grabs my arm and I flinch back.

"This is the quickest route to Juvenile Hall, Xiao. Come on." He says.

I glare at him.

"As if anyone really cares about me." I say, spitting my words at him. His face is blank.

"Xiao." He says forcefully.

I glare at him and pick up my backpack. I put on my jacket and let him lead me to his cop car.

I sit down in the back and kick my dirty boots on the seat in front of me, trying to be as disrespectful as possible.

I can't help but but wonder, however, how exactly did Protector of Liyue, Guardian Yaksha get translated to Juvenile delinquent? I mean, sure I kill things, but only demons and monsters. I'd never to use my adeptal powers to harm a mortal that hasn't attacked me first.