What is this familiar feeling? [XIAOTHER]

Chapter 14: "Past"

The next morning, Aether had been the first to wake up. He slowly raised his head off of his lover shoulder.
He looked at Xiao's face. His eyes were relaxed soft and his lips were relaxed. His skin glistened in the sun rays peeking through the curtains covering the windows.
Aether smiled softly before kissing Xiao's cheek. He got up and began making a simple breakfast.

About 20 minutes later, Xiao slowly opened his eyes. He immediately caught the smell the food.
"What are you making?"
"Ah! Xiao, you're awake!"
Xiao slowly stood up from the couch making is way towards Aether. He slowly wrapped his arms around Aether's waist, hugging him tightly.
"I just wanted to make us a simple breakfast today, nothing too special, haha."
"..It smells good."
"You think so?"
Xiao nodded, burying his head into Aether's back.

Aether had finished making breakfast. He placed the food on plates and put one down in front of Xiao.
"Enjoy!"
Xiao smiled, he began to eat. Not much, but it was enough for him.
Aether sat down next to him, glancing at Xiao every now and then.
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
"I enjoy watching you eat. It's nice to know someone likes my cooking"
Aether smiled once again. To Xiao, it had felt like the sun was right in front of him. In his eyes, Aether was bright, no, brighter than the sun. His smile always brought him peace.

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"Xiao.. what we're you dreaming of last night?"
Xiao froze. He turned his head to Aether, vividly panicked.
"Ah, I don't want to force you into anything! I was just curious!"
Aether quickly reassured Xiao that he didn't have to say anything.
"It was a nightmare.. about things that have happened in the past."
Aether's expression saddened. He softly placed his hand on Xiao's in attempt to comfort him.
"I was just a little kid, I didn't know what I was doing.."
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"Xiao! Where are you!?" A familiar voice was calling out for Xiao. His voice was calming to him, it make him perk up.
"I'm over here! Come find me, hehe!!"
Xiao attempted to suppress his giggles.
"Aw, come on Xiao! This isn't fair!!"
"Haha, fine fine! I'm near the tunnels!"
Xiao looked around for a shadow. He covered his mouth in attempt to not blow his cover.
A familiar small shadow came around a corner but quickly disappeared again.
Xiao tilted his head in confusion. He slowly peeked his head out of the tunnel, looking around.
"Boo!!"
The little boy quickly peeled his head from above the tunnel, throwing himself at Xiao.
"AH!"
Xiao screamed in surprise. The little boy collided with him and landed onto Xiao. They both looked up at each other, then began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Haha! I got you Xiao!"
"Xiao!! Come on, we have to go home now!"
Xiao's father, Zhongli, called out his name. It was almost sundown and they had to get home before it got too dark.
"Aww man.. I guess I have to go now.."
Xiao's mood began to shift. He loved playing with his friend, his only friend.
"Hey, cheer up Xiao! We can play again tomorrow!"
The little boy smiled, wrapping his arms around Xiao.
"Haha, you're right! I'll see you tomorrow then? At the same spot right?"
The little boy nodded, brightly smiling.
Xiao got up and ran to Zhongli, grabbing his hand and following him to the car. He glanced back once more, waving goodbye to his friend. The boy waved back, still smiling.
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The next day, Xiao begged his father to go back to the park.
"Okay okay, but we can't stay for too long, it's gonna be dark soon."
Xiao brightly smiled and ran to put his shoes back on. They drove to the park that his friend said they would meet up at.
Xiao quickly ran out of the car as soon as it was parked.
"Hey! I'm back!!"
Xiao yelled out to his friend, but it was silent.
"Hellooo? Are you there?"
Xiao walked around. He remembered that he said they were gonna meet up at their special spot.
Xiao ran towards their spot, the spot where they first met.
"Come on, you freak! Get back up!"
Xiao heard commotion coming from their spot. It sounded like older kids. He began to panic.
"Leave me alone..! I didn't do anything to you!"
"Shut it! You have no rights to be talking right now!"
Xiao peeked his head around the corner. He froze.
Three, no, four older kids from his school were kicking his friend. He already had bruises all over his body. Blood was dripping down his nose.
"Hey!! You leave him alone!!"
Xiao shouted from the other side of the park. He couldn't help but let the tears built up in his eyes stream down his cheeks.
"Xiao.?"
His friend peeked his head up.
"Aww, is this your little friend? Has he come to save you?"
"Leave him alone, now!!"
"What are you gonna do about it little boy? You gonna bite my ankle-"
His sentence quickly got cut off by a fast, hard punch to the face. He fell to the ground and quickly covered his cheek his his hand.
Xiao had his hands up, ready to fight.
"I said leave him alone!"
".. That was your first mistake little boy."
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The crowed began to grow, both adults and children.
Xiao had bruises on his cheeks, his lip was split, causing it to bleed. The boys were all unconscious, all of them. Their faces were bruised and distorted, all breathing very slowly and uneven.

"You monster! How could you do such a thing!?"

The crowed began to shout.

"Your father should have abandoned you.. when you were first born!"

Xiao's body began to tremble. His friend looked at him, terrified

"You're.. You're a horrible person Xiao! I hope no one loves you ever again!!"

Tears began to stream down from both of their cheeks. The boy ran, he ran far far away from Xiao, never looking back.
All of the boys began to rise, one by one. All began to run away slowly, limping with each step they took. One looked back at Xiao.

"You're going to die alone, you freak!!"

Just like the others, he ran away.

"Xiao!? Xiao!!"
Zhongli quickly ran to Xiao, tightly wrapping his arms around his small body.
"Everybody leave!! Do not talk about this event to anyone!!"
The crowed quickly became panicked. Slowly but surely they all began to disperse, one by one.
Xiao and his father was left alone. Xiao began to cry uncontrollably. His tears seemed endless. Zhongli never let go of him, he had a tight grip around Xiao. He picked Xiao up and walked to the car.
"It's okay Xiao, it's okay."
Xiao buried his drenched face into Zhongli's shoulder, gripping his hands onto his shirt.
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"Xiao.. oh god i'm so sorry that happened to you.."
Aether looked straight at Xiao. Xiao didn't even notice that small tears were dripping down his cheeks.
He slowly wiped them away.
"I'm sorry.. I talked for too long."
"nono! it's okay, really!! Im glad you told me.."
Aether tightly wrapped his arms around Xiao, slowly rubbing the back of his head to comfort him.
Xiao became completely silent. Just like that day, his tears flowed down his cheeks. Once again, they felt endless
"It's okay Xiao, I'm here for you.. Let it all out."

Xiao buried his head into Aether's shoulder. Aether never once loosened his grip around Xiao.

On that day, the day Xiao had been reminded about his past, he had realized something. They lied. Xiao had finally found someone. He'd finally sound someone who sees him for him, and not a monster.

Just like that day, his father carried him and comforted him. Holding him tightly against his body.

Just like that day, but this time, he has a new best friend, a new love, and he has no reason to be scared anymore.

Aether was here. Aether's arms and voice slowly soothed Xiao. Xiao eventually became exhausted and drifted off to sleep. Aether sighed in relief and slowly carried Xiao to their room and lied him down on their bed. He covered Xiao's body with their blanket before softly kissing his forehead, smiling.
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Authors note: Yayy finally an update that's not years later after the last update!! I just want to thank all the people who have put up with my VERY slow and VERY unorganized schedule 🥲 But, I am back and will try (and i mean it) to upload more chapters more often :D
Have a good day and good night!