Midnight Library

(F/R) :: Xiao 2

Kiss the Night Away (Part two of 'Home')
(Word count: ~2.3k)

Synopsis:
After a long talk with Zhongli, Xiao finally does something he never thought he'd do: ask someone out.

...

"Come in" Zhongli said as he looked up from his paperwork he was occupied with in his office at the funeral parlor. He didn't expect anyone to visit him because the only visitor he had during this time would be Hu Tao bringing in more documents for him to look over, but she usually didn't knock.

The door creaked open as Zhongli saw his visitor, Xiao.

"Oh Xiao it's you. Come, take a seat and tell me the reason for your visit."

Normally Xiao would nonchalantly sit and chat with his father figure, but this time something was different and the both of them could tell. Xiao was visibly nervous — at least in Zhongli's eyes — as he cautiously made his way over to the west to inform the brown haired man. It was almost as if Xiao was unsure of something. As if he was questioning if he should really be here. Golden eyes darted around the room as if trying to find any reason to already leave despite just coming in. Xiao overall just looked really unsure and on edge about whatever was going on, almost as if he was a child wanting to ask the teacher a question but fearing they'd be called stupid for it. At least, that's what Zhongli assumed.

And oh boy was he damn right.

Thoughts bubbled in Xiao's mind of all the different things he needed to say and how he should say it, simultaneously fearing the outcome of those words.

"Xiao, you know that you can tell me whatever, right? I'm not going to judge you." Zhongli reassured him as he genuinely was worried as to why his son was in such a distressed state. Fortunately, it did help calm Xiao down a little.

"I... I think I might have feelings for someone." Xiao finally said, eyebrows furrowing and staring hard — not at Zhongli, but at his pile of work, refusing to make eye contact for whatever reason.

...

The silence was menacing. The adeptus usually liked peace and quiet but only when it's in the presence of (Y/N), who would always- oh. There he goes again, going on about (Y/N) in his mind for the 100th time today. Anywho, the silence this time around was suffocating, like he was in a slow motion shot right before some sort of monster would show up. Xiao felt like he couldn't breathe and almost considered running out the funeral parlor to conceal his embarrassment and regret for confessing such an obscure thing to the literal archon of Liyue. Well it doesn't matter now since he's already said it.

"Oh. I thought you had news of something urgent happening in Liyue with that look you came in with. Well, I suppose this time would've came soon enough, though I'm probably not the best person you should go to when it comes to things like these." Zhongli finally said after what feel like three agonizing seconds.

"Are you mad? Disappointed? Upset?" Xiao quickly replied, accidentally looking up and making eye contact with his archon before realizing his mistake and quickly reverting his eyes back down to the table between them.

Xiao couldn't tell what emotions his lord felt from what Zhongli said. He didn't seem too disappointed but at the same time there was also no hint of happiness. It greatly confused the raven haired male. This may be the first time Zhongli has been unresponsive to him and he didn't know how to feel. On one hand he got what he hoped for which was not rejection from his parental figure, but at the same time it felt like the response he received still left a gaping hole in his mind he needed to fill.

While Xiao was over thinking everything, Zhongli quietly got up from his chair and walked around the table to where Xiao had been sitting, head hung low. Zhongli slowly approached Xiao's side as he crouched down and cupped his son's face while smiling warmly.