Love the mask, who's under it? (Alhaitham x F!Reader)

june 26th, 2020

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

You looked up from your magazine to see a tall man with blonde hair leaning right over you, a charming smile on his face. "Apologies. Is it alright if I sit beside you, people on this plane are rude and keep saying no,"

It took you a while to comprehend his words- at first, you weren't even gonna respond but Xiao had to hit your arm to get you out of it. You were currently seated in the middle seat and Xiao on the window seat after he REFUSED to sit anywhere else.

He thought he was the shit since he was graduating high school in 4 days.

You were out of it due to the fact that before you left, Beidou offered you a drink so you could get through the flight. She swore it would be a shot and that's it.

You forgot a shot was a whole bottle of water to her.

"Yeah, of course!" You forced a smile onto your face, trying to keep your puke back and Xiao could only laugh.

He shouldn't even be laughing, he was in the same position as you just SOMEHOW soberer despite drinking more than you?! Seriously, what the fuck was up with Beidou and how is a shot a whole ass cup to her?!

The man sat down beside you, giving you a smile as a thank you. "What are you going to Sumery for?" He asked.

You cleared your throat, trying to think before you can open your mouth and say the most out of pocket shit. How the hell were you gonna survive this after downing a whole cup of vodka?

"My father passed a few months ago. My brother and I," You paused to point at Xiao, who waved at the man before looking back out the window, not giving a shit. "Sorry about him, he thinks he's the shit since he's graduating high school in a few days. Anyway, it was a family reunion after my fathers passing, so now we're going back home."

The reason Beidou gave you the vodka was so it wouldn't be as painful going back into Sumeru.

It's only been a few months since your fathers passing, and you were still heartbroken. Part of you wished you could stay in Liyue, but it just reminded you too much of your dad as much as it did in Sumeru, seeing as Liyue was his birth city.

The man frowned. "I'm sorry for your loss. Are you the oldest?"

You nodded, giving him a sad smile. "My responsibility to watch over this arrogant kid now." You chuckled, and Xiao turned his head to stick his tongue out at you.

"What about your mother?"

You froze when the man asked that, and so did Xiao.

No one ever mentioned your mom- it was too much of a hard topic, especially for your dad.

"She uh, died when I was younger."

"What was she and your father like?"

It felt weird that a stranger you just met was asking you about your mother, but at the same time, you felt a little bit of happiness swell in you at the fact you could finally mention or talk about her. The same went for your dad- everyone in the family was heartbroken that he was gone, and no one had the guts to say he was dead, refusing to believe it.

You refused to believe it.

"My mothers name was Guizhong. She was...beautiful, kind, everything I aspire to be. Unfortunately, during my second year of high school, there was a recital and I was chosen to play the piano; halfway through playing, my mother had a heart attack."

Xiao listened in, his heart clenching at each word.

"That must've been traumatizing." Dainsleif looked at you with a sad look on his face, almost tearing up.