"murder", he says | xiaoven x reader

chapter fifteen

xiao slept soundly for the first time in what felt like months. you'd love to say it's because he felt sooo in love and protected! but in reality, sex takes it out of you (i'd know). especially being a virgin (you'd know).

though, passionate copulation aside, you were eternally glad he was sleeping well. you rub your eyes as you dog-ear the corner of your page, closing the book and placing it on the side. as much as you want to finish reading the first volume of "xiaos journal"- it was late. and cuddling xiaos ever-warm body like a body pillow sounded incredibly inviting.

you slide your arms around his waist and pull his bare form close, pulling the sheets up further and kissing his head. you're mot sure if there's anything you wouldn't do for xiao. as you fade into sleep, thoughts cloud your mind- comforting ones in comparison to those that keep you awake. peaceful.

when xiao wakes up, the sun is bright, the breeze is cool and the windows are wide open. which was not convenient for his current butt-nakedness. (have I used butt-nakedness in a chapter before?) he looks around the floor for his clothes, internally cursing at your cleanliness. he groggily walks behind the privacy screen that had a wardrobe behind, sheet from the bed draped around him as he looks through his clothing.

picking up some lighter clothing, he dresses himself, laying the sheet back on the bed and arranging the pillows. you walk in as he sits back on the bed.

"good morning" you say, kneeling on the bed behind and and hugging his form. "let's take a bath together?" you rest your chin on his shoulder and he nods, standing.

you smile and walk off to run the bath.

you settle in first after stripping your clothes, xiao sits in front of you, his back to your chest. noticing him constantly moving his hair, you tie his hair up into a ponytail, kissing the back of his neck after.

"are you doing well this morning?" he muses, using his finger to swirl the medicinal herbs you sprinkled in the bath.

"very well, I was helping verr out with some morning tasks then did some cleaning"

"I guessed that's were my clothing went"

"I doubted you wanted to smell like cu-"

"you'd be correct in your doubts."

"you're embarrassed ♡♡♡"

he looks at you from the corner of his eye and huffs.

"can I wash you?"

"do as you please"

you grab the soap and gently lift his leg out the water to wash it, relishing in every angle his body offers. covering your hand in soap and softly gliding it across his thighs. there were no serial intentions, it just felt like an honour to feels xiaos body. to know that he was close to you and, well- alive. kissing his shoulder and washing his torso and chest, being wary of the bruises that were healing from his work.

"this bruise is pretty bad, are your ribs hurting?"

"a dull pain when my chest expands or has pressure, nothing too bad."

"I suppose there's nothing I can do but make you rest, it'll heal on it's own" you sigh, washing his arms and shoulders, pressing into any knots you find. you finish washing his neck and back, wrapping your arms around his waist after. he seems to be thinking about something, a tint on his cheeks.

"what's got you flushed?"

"do you care that... I'm only 5'2..."

you blink and stare before being unable to laugh, covering your mouth. his face goes red and he turns quickly, water spilling over the edge as he kneels between your legs and puts his hands on your knees.

"don't laugh! I'm very serious!"

"of course I don't care, haha! I love everything about you, you can be whatever height you want. plus, tall men never shut the hell up about their height." you peck his forehead. "but xiao, this position... did you want to have sex again? starting with missionary?-"

he frowns in confusion then glances down. he fumbles to sit forward again. "my apologies."

"I don't mind ♡♡♡ but we shouldn't have sex in a bath, we could get all sorts of infections-"

"you can be quiet now" he huffs, you smile and hold him close. you wash yourself before you get out the bath and you both get dressed.

"baobei" xiao says, you look up and smile at the pet name. "a while ago you mentioned... wanting to move out... to a home of our own"

"yeah?"

"do you still want to? i know it's far away since our jobs don't make money-"

"I've been saving for one ever since we lived here, I spent some for that room in mond, but not all of it"

"where did you get it from?"

"selling treasures that I find when I explore, well- any that I don't think you'd like."

xiao notes the gifts he's received in the past, most were relics from a long time ago that warded off evil or brought good luck for the new year. all were sweet.

"you should... speak to venti- about... living with us"

you're actually quite shocked- you didn't think xiao would suggest the idea, but it was  a great one. you smile. "you seem to like him a lot"

"I may not have interacted with them much... but... I know that he's a good person to others and most importantly, you. that I can respect deeply."

"'respect deeply' I bet you have a big crush on him-" you duck to dodge a pillow. then clasp your hands together and make kissing noises.

"mmm venti I like you sooo much mwah mwah- thank you my lord barbatos you're so sexy-"

"I came because you called my name a few times, but I'm regretting it a bit." venti says from behind you.

you scream in surprise and turn around. your face goes red. "I wasn't saying those things! I was imitating xiao!"

"whatever you say~" he smiles, waving his hand.

"that's a doubting tone!"

"stop shouting and give me a hug" he skips over and wraps his arms around your waist, laying his head on your chest.

"I heard you got married~ congratulations!" venti pulls back and smiles, taking your hands and spinning. "but that means we have to get married eventually too, okay? I'll ask you, so just wait." he cheers happily.

you smile and nod. "ill wait."

venti skips off and gives xiao a hug- to his surprise- in thanks for taking care of you and to congratulate him.

you conveniently go to collect the clothes you washed earlier that day, leaving the two alone.

xiao wasn't blind that you were trying to get them to be closer- not in a weird dating way, but more in a "I want my boyfriends to be friends!" way. but with the cute way that venti is bouncing up and down gushing over how happy- but admittedly jealous- he is, is making him believe that it might turn into a one-sided-painful-love way. plus, maybe venti doesn't like shorter guys???

though, he thinks even that is a long way away.

venti, on the other hand, has a feeling that he's going to have a bit of a fat crush on xiao for a long time. he hopes it doesn't go further, since xiao gives off the distinct vibe he takes eons to fall for a person, and he doesn't really want to deal with the feelings that that ensues. though, he must admit, he can woo a lady or two. so maybe he has a chance?