Xiao X Reader [A Fragment of My Memories]

[31] Keep it Hidden

You were rudely woken up by an urgent knocking on your door. 

Groggily, you sat up, ignoring the dull soreness of your muscles. 'What time is it?' you wondered, gaze trailing over to the clock on your bedside table. 

'Huh? Wait... that can't be right.'

Then, there was the knocking on your door again. This time louder. Your eyes went wide upon realizing. 

You were very, very late. 

"I'm so sorry! I'll be there in a second!" you leaped off the bed, calling out to whoever was standing outside as you rushed to get ready for work.

By the time you held the doorknob, you were already out of breath. Strange, you usually had more stamina than this. You shook it off as you opened the door. 

"I'm so so sorry, I overslept! It won't happen again, I swear!" You gave your deepest, most apologetic bow, not even acknowledging the person in front of you. 

A familiar voice sighs. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." 

'Huh?'

You slowly lifted your head. In front of you stood Xiao, with his arms folded and eyes narrowed at you. 

"Xiao...?"

"The boss of this inn asked me to check on you. Apparently, she kept knocking on your door earlier."

'Boss did? I didn't hear anything, though...' 

"Ah... I'm really sorry to have bothered you, too! I hope I didn't get in the way of your plans or anything..." You dropped your gaze. 

"No, I don't mind. I was a little worried as well." Xiao stepped closer, placing both hands on your shoulders. "Besides, why are you concerned with interrupting my plans when you dragged me along to your whims before?"

You tensed up. 'Wait, is he talking about the time I took him to Liyue Harbor??'

"U-Uh..." You looked at him, seeing the teasing smile on his face. "T-That's different!" you blurted, avoiding his gaze.

'Things back then weren't as difficult for you as they are now...'

"I know. I was just joking." He pats you on the head, watching your cheeks slowly turn pink as you avert your gaze. His breath hitched.

He wanted to hug you then and there. But not now. He should not be doing that often.

"Nevermind that. Are you feeling alright, (Y/N)?" Xiao asked, shaking off the thought. "I've never seen you lose track of time like that."  

"Hm? Yeah, I'm okay! This is just a one-time thing! It won't happen again!" 

"Are you certain?" He feels your forehead with the back of his hand. "You feel a little warmer than usual. Isn't that a bad thing?"

"N-No! I'd say it's pretty normal!" You exclaimed, waving your hands in reassurance. 

And that's when he saw it. 

"Wait." He grabbed your wrist. "What's this?" He stared you in the eyes, gesturing to the bandages wrapped around your hand.

'Oh, I forgot about that,' you gulped. You accidentally cut yourself when handling a sword for the first time yesterday. Zhongli was not pleased. 

"U-Uh..." you tried to pull your hand away, but his grip on your wrist was firm. "I just... accidentally hurt my hand."

He tilted his head. "You hurt yourself? How?" 

"Uhm..." You avoided his gaze. "From working at the Inn yesterday. It's nothing, really! Just an accident!" 

Xiao narrowed his eyes at you, clearly not convinced. Even so, he eventually let go of your hand with a sigh. "Make sure to be careful next time," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah... I will." You breathed an internal sigh of relief. He can't know. At least, not yet.  

Meanwhile, Xiao had his lips pursed, gaze never leaving your bandaged hand. 'If only I were more competent, more vigilant...' 

You quickly hid your hands behind you, seeing Verr approaching from the corner of your eye. "Oh, Boss! I'm so, so sorry I'm late! I overslept!" You ran over to her, bowing in apology. 

She chuckles. "It's fine, (Y/N). I was mainly worried about you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" You lifted your head. "I really just overslept..."

"Hmm..." Verr narrows her eyes in suspicion. "You? Oversleeping? Well, alright then." She shrugs it off, turning to Xiao. "Oh, and you have my gratitude, Adeptus Xiao! For waking her up." 

Xiao shook his head. "No need for thanks," he said before turning away. "If that's all, I will be taking my leave now." He nods at Verr. 

"Ah, yes! Have a nice day!" Verr waves with a smile. 

Xiao then looks at you. "Stay safe," he said. 

And then he was gone. 

Your gaze lingered on the black fumes he left behind. 'You stay safe too, Xiao.'

When the fumes fully dissipated, you turned to Verr. "Well then, I'll start with my work now, boss," you said. Then, you tilted your head in confusion. "...Boss?"

Verr just stood there, deep in thought. "It's quite odd for him to acknowledge me. What a rare sight," she said, holding a finger to her chin. 

You tilted your head. "Odd? You're making him sound like he's always rude to you or something..."

She burst out laughing. "Oh, if only you knew what he was like before you came along!" 

'What he was like...?'

"Really? I don't think he's changed all that much, though," you said. "Well, except that he's more honest with himself now."

Verr smirked. "And I wonder who we have to thank for all that..." 

You paused, staring at her with wide eyes. 

"Well, enough of that," she sighed with her hands on her hips. "You go get to work now. You're behind schedule." 

"Ah, right!" You bowed to Verr one last time. "I'm so sorry! I'll get going now!" you exclaimed before hurrying off.

____________

"(Y/N), why do you insist on using the biggest weapons?" Zhongli watches you attempt to lift a claymore, to no avail. 

The claymore thudded on the ground loudly when it fell out of your hands. "Well... wouldn't I be able to defeat more demons that way?" you said in between pants, hunched over with your arms shaking from exhaustion.

Zhongli shook his head. "That is certainly a valid method, but–" he helps you up, noticing light bruises and bandages on your hands. "...Only certain kinds of fighters can pull that off." 

"Then, I'll become that kind of fighter!" you clenched your fists, ignoring the pain it brought as you looked up at him. 

He sighed. "It's not in your nature to fight like that."

You tilted your head. "Not in... my nature?" 

"That's right." He puts a finger to his chin. "You have dexterous hands. It would be a waste to use it on a weapon that mainly requires brute strength."

'Dexte– what??'

Zhongli strode past you. "...I think I understand what you need. Follow me," he looked at you from the corner of his eye.

As always, you followed right behind him, leaving the claymore on the ground.