A/N: Happy Birthday, Childe!
(Let's pretend I really intended to put this chapter up in time for your birthday, and not because I was too [lazy] busy getting the parts after this fleshed out, okay Comrade?)
For this chapter, let's rewind time to 1 week before Venti's scene during the last chapter. Then go back to the present when you see Lumine in the scene.
I hope you enjoy~
Xiao whips his head from left to right, in search of the sound of tinkling trinkets.
Light, melodious and distinct from the tinkling of his own paraphernalia, he finds that this absent sound is comforting to him. His mind would conjure the image of a green-clad bard and his airy laughs and giggles.
Liyue's landscapes never felt so empty before.
He will never admit to such frivolous thoughts.
The Yaksha didn't know when Venti went from chasing after him to taking the lead… in their patrols at least. For all he knew, Venti probably had held him wrapped around his little finger since Day One.
"Thinking of your sweetheart, hmmm?" Childe asks with that gratingly flippant voice of his. "I heard you are quite the blushing maiden."
The Harbinger sports a thoughtful pose as he appraises the Adeptus from head to toe, much in the same manner that Zhongli-daren would scrutinize an antique. He even hums every time he closes in.
Xiao glares at him, his arms crossed and his foot tapping impatiently on the ground. A dangerous glint surfaces in his eyes. The mortal insisting on a 'water break' and taking his sweet time is getting on his nerves. He even dares to extend it into a 'snack break'. And now, being treated like a product on display? The impudence in this man is unmatched.
"But… hm, I'm not seeing it." Childe makes a show out of shrugging and shaking his head in disappointment.
"Good," Xiao grits out and snarls at the mortal.
He is not some defective store product.
The theatrics and ability to weave words into contemptuous statements with ease… It is regrettable how he could easily see similarities between this halfwit and his idiot. "Are you done yet?"
His thoughts catch up to him and the Adeptus' eyes widen for a fraction of a second.
'His'
The audacity. Claiming Venti—an Archon—as his? Had he become too used to Venti staking a claim on him that he had begun to do so himself? That was just laughable; who could truly tie down the God of Freedom, and claim him as theirs?
"Almost!" the Harbinger replies with sickly sweet enthusiasm as he brings out another packet. "Want some? I heard your true form is a bird of some sort. And birds like sunflower seeds, right?"
Xiao tells himself that he could reflect on that issue later.
"Could you shove your face into the dirt? I'll be more than happy to assist."
"What a polite way to tell someone to shut up!" The brightly smiling dolt ruffles the younger-looking man's hair. "What a well-behaved kid xiansheng raised!"
"Don't touch me, Fatui scum," Xiao's tone drips with much more venom than he expected.
He has heard that term and its improper use come out of the Harbinger's filthy mouth far too many times than he would like to remember.
Childe withdraws his hand, smiling brightly, and offers his sunflower seed snack once more.
"No, seriously, these are pretty good. I think Shrimpy liked them too when he tried some. Why not try it yourself?"
Xiao eyes the packet curiously before turning his head away. To accept the offer is to admit defeat.
Sevens, the Yaksha would give anything to get out of this situation.
"Well, suit yourself." The Harbinger shrugs before popping a few seeds into his mouth. He gives the other a knowing smile afterwards. "But a word of advice: You don't have to hold yourself back when you want to do something. Just do it. Reach out and grab it with your own two bare hands—tackle it to the ground if you have to."
"What nonsense are you going on about?" Xiao narrows his eyes toward the other's direction. He receives a look he has come to be familiar with these past few months: one of smug gratification.
"Love advice from your kind Big Brother, of course!" Childe closes the distance between them and slings an arm around the smaller man's shoulders as he laughs. "Be grateful I'm not posing as your mother or anything."
Rather than advice on the matters of the heart, it sounded more like catfish or salmon fishing advice. If the antics from before haven't given him a headache, then this surely did the trick.
Babysitting a disgusting, impertinent, restlessly energetic Fatui Harbinger is far from the ideal manner in which he would have liked to have spent his day. He takes a deep breath and remembers his master's—no, Zhongli-daren's—request.
"Childe says he would like to spend some time with you." Zhongli smiles at him warmly before replacing it with a solemn look. His master was becoming more expressive, he notes. "I know you two have started off on the wrong foot. But, if you wouldn't mind entertaining a simple request from me, I would like for you two to have some 'quality time'—as mortals would phrase it—together."
The expression shifts to something more hopeful.
"All I ask is one day—no, half a day would suffice—to determine how fruitful the experience is in improving your relationship."
He feels a hand cover his.
"Please."
"Cut it out." The young Adeptus grabs the other's offending wrist when the brat doesn't heed his warning. "I don't have what you call a 'mother'."
He is one step short of repositioning them so that he could make good on that offer of shoving this babbler's head onto the ground. Having some sand in this idiot's mouth would do wonders in shutting him up.
The Harbinger falls silent.
Xiao's unconscious teeth-grinding comes to a halt, and his expression slips back to neutrality when the other withdraws his arm.
After a beat or two, he blinks and curiously peers at the other's face. Blue eyes catch his gaze and a small smile makes its way on the other's lips. They somehow look duller than usual.
"It's nothing." Childe waves him off before scratching his cheek while looking away. This isn't the kind of conversation he thought he would be having with the Yaksha. "I just… I just thought Guizhong would be... well, the mother figure for you, since Zhong—Rex Lapis was most likely the father figure."
Xiao doesn't respond immediately, and simply regards the human's expression and tiny gestures. He huffs when Childe makes an attempt to glance at him.
"Your understanding of the ways of the Adepti is clouded since you draw upon human traditions as a basis." Xiao pauses, looking far away. "Adepti are called upon by the land of Liyue. We are born out of purpose. As for Lady Guizhong… She was Lord Rex Lapis's most trusted ally. That is all I have to say on the matter."
They both don't say any more than that, too lost in their own thoughts. One reminisces on the days of old when Guili Plains was more lively, full of life, where Glaze Lilies sway gently, blooming proudly as they reflect the emotions of those who dwelled there. The other reflects on the bits of history he had read, the words that had been imparted and how all these could be used to understand someone dear to them as they move forward.
Childe chuckles at the sound of tapping feet.
"Hey, you know what? You and I are alike, feeling restless when we become idle for too long."
Xiao turns his attention to the mortal who looked very much at ease now. All traces of solemnity on the Harbinger's demeanor vanished, and with it, he is quick to realize, does the moment of golden silence between them.
"Did you know that you could literally freeze to death if you stop moving about and around for too long in Snezhnaya?"
Xiao does not say a word in response, but Childe could see a small spark of interest in those usually bored eyes. And so he chatters away, remembering the nip of the cold air of his hometown and the small critters that have turned into animal-popsicles, just like the ancient boar species found in Dragonspire.
He goes on with the similarities between Dragonspire and Snezhnaya. It is too late when he realizes that bit where he treks to that chilly Mondstadt region to read Tonia's letters whenever they arrive doesn't seem to cut it. He finds Xiao's disinterest comforting when he does.
Whether that disinterest is feigned or not is up for debate. For one thing, the foot-tapping has stopped.
Xiao does not find the breaks themselves to be irksome. He finds his patience to be thinning very quickly at a particular aspect the breaks bring: an endless stream of pointless babble.
It is at times such as this that he wishes for said patience to have the ability to stretch as broad as Liyue's landscapes. His understanding of human interactions is poor and lacking, yet somehow, he knows how utterly meaningless this moron's chatter is.
"Whenever her royal Highness the Tsaritsa deploys me in a scene of battle, it is almost laughable how noticeably smaller the 'battalion'—it's more like a party in size, if I'm being completely honest—that is sent as support and back up for me, compared to the rest of the Harbingers, anyway." The Tsaritsa's 11th lap dog barks a laugh. "As if I'm all that's ever needed to wipe the opposing army clean."
The Yaksha keeps his mouth shut as he listens to tales of bloodshed in the front lines as the Tsaritsa's beloved weapon (a dismally poor attempt at empathy, he notes), and of the ridiculous luxuries the Fatui Harbinger had provided his master's current vessel [19]. Regaling all of this in between munching on those seed snacks.
"Oh, Xiao, do you know just how beautiful Xiansheng is when he has flowers in his hair? Or just how sinfully alluring his glowing eyes are when he bashfully—my, could you imagine the person that the Statues of Seven across Liyue is based on could become bashful—makes a request? Sometimes, it becomes so tempting that I forgo the haggling just to get him home, on the double. And oh boy, those shop owners have keen noses—as if they could smell a sale in the air!—and know exactly when to drop those ludicrous prices. I mean two-hundred-thousand Mora for a five-piece tea set?"
While filtering and drowning out all the babbling is quite cumbersome, he admits that it wasn't all too bad. The Harbinger is talking enough for the both of them that he is not required to respond to it.
Let's repeat that. It wasn't bad—note the past tense.
The cord of self-restraint and patience snaps within Xiao when the blathering idiot stuffing his cheeks with seeds says:
"And those rich punched out cries and moans when he begs me—"
The Yaksha stands, and in a split second, his blade is a hair's breadth away from the Snezhnayan's neck, right by the other's jugular.
"Oooh~ Are you finally up for a spar now?" The idiot sets aside his snack and gets up himself, patting off the dust that has clung to him. He was grinning. "Going after these Hilichurls just isn't doing it for me, y'know? I've been itching for something more."
Xiao raises an eyebrow and lets the blade move the slightest bit, nicking pale skin. That move made the other more excited.
"I know xiansheng wouldn't like us to battle it out, but there's no better way of knowing someone than having them come at you with everything they've got!" Childe draws upon his Vision's power and summons two water blades. "I do admit, I've gotten a bit rusty with all the deskwork I've been doing, but l think I'm still quite the formidable foe."
Childe quickly takes a step away from the blade before sprinting to the Yaksha's back to score some hits. He takes offense at how bored Xiao is at parrying off his water blades by twirling his polearm. He tries a few more times, but each attack is blocked one-handedly.
It gets the Harbinger's blood racing at the thought of how close the Adeptus is to looking like he is about to yawn at his attempts.
He retreats and decides to use a polearm instead. He fuses the two blades together before he lunges at his opponent. He laughs when that finally gets Xiao to move from his position. His blows were still being parried, but at least he could see the Yaksha put some effort into it now.
Childe thinks it's about time to step it up. He reaches for his Delusion by his left shoulder when he suddenly finds it out of his grasp as he was grabbing onto air.
Wait, wasn't his Delusion chained to…?
He hears something metallic clatter onto the ground. He cracks open a wide grin along with a bark of laughter once his eyes catches sight of the object of interest.
So that's where it is.
A kick from his opponent sends it skidding farther away across the ground, with the dangling broken chain flailing around uselessly along its track.
An Adeptus' speed and strength is really quite something.
He likes it. He is being taken seriously, and his opponent isn't pulling his punches as much as he thought the Yaksha was earlier.
Noting how distracted Childe has become, Xiao doesn't waste any time to knock the Harbinger down without hesitation. The Yaksha pins him onto the grass with both hands above his head.
"Woah there, pretty boy. This isn't the kind of battle I was looking for," Childe teases, hoping to test out Shrimpy's observations himself, before kicking the Yaksha in the stomach.
To Childe's disappointment, Xiao does not budge. He didn't even flinch in pain. And no, he didn't even blush. In fact, the Yaksha looked very unamused with his words, but is satisfied with the confused look he wears.
"Heh, it'll take more than that to send me reeling back in pain." Xiao's grip on his wrists tightens. "Enough, we're done here. Use your little toy and I'll break your wrists, your hands, and your arms."
Childe could feel weight in Xiao's words. One false move, and he really would end up with mangled upper limbs. The thought of challenging this battle-worn Adeptus's patience and strength is deliciously tempting. If an Adeptus has thus much physical power, then he should've known Zhongli was holding back during their sparring sessions!
Yes, the thought of facing off a strong opponent sounds exhilarating… that is, until he hears a rumble.
"What's that noise?"
"That's you, moron. Your mortal body is in need of sustenance."
"Huh?" Childe blinks, clearly confused. "Wasn't I just eating before all this?"
Xiao rolls his eyes before releasing the Harbinger. He gets off him and watches the ginger-haired moron sit up and rub his wrists.
"You have burned through all the calories from that snack." The Yaksha was quick to confiscate the purple Delusion from where it lay before the imbecile gets his grubby hands on it. "You're the mortal between us, and yet you don't know about how your body works. You're hopeless. How did Zhongli-daren get infatuated with you?"
"Hey, that's mean." Childe puts a hand on his stomach when it rumbles embarrassingly loud once more. "This is strange, and I was sure I had a big breakfast earlier since we'll be working out."
The ginger-haired buffoon gasps.
"Is this one of the horrors of being bound to a desk job for hours on end?"
Xiao exhales a long-suffering sigh. Sevens, they're both so over-dramatic, yet this one's infinitely more tiresome to deal with.
"Let's head back to Wangshu Inn." Zhongli-daren should be waiting for us there for lunch." The Adeptus was quick on his heels, eager to leave behind the floundering idiot. He is sure that this particular Fatui Scum is not directionally challenged and would find his way back to Wangshu Inn on his own.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
Unsure whether it is fortunate or not, Xiao spots Childe trailing behind him not long after he left him sitting and marvelling at his own idiocy. He does find it unfortunate that this mortal has the attention span of a goldfish and is a warmonger through and through.
"Oi, don't stray off track!"
"But these hilichurls are just begging me to end them!"
Xiao does not have the will to reconcile how the sight of two Mitachurls relaxing while they polish their shield and axe, respectively, and a Samachurl leading the other Hilichurls in some form of worship service would translate to 'begging to be ended' by a lunatic. Xiao plans to just stay on the sidelines and keep watch until the brat has had his fill of slaughter.
Irrational may it be, but he could feel bubbling ire fill his core. Between the taunts and the sloppy execution of the tasks, the Yaksha finds it hard to keep silently watching it all play out.
Xiao joins in the fray.
Childe seems delighted by the outcome. Or, it could be due to Hilichurl reinforcements that came pouring in at the same time he came into the scene. He couldn't find it in himself to care. He does not want to disappoint Zhongli-daren by bringing his partner back injured, or worse, dead.
Childe was being too careless.
Ah, that was it. Xiao could see it now that the Harbinger was facing off against other enemies.
In their impromptu match earlier, he thought it was just the mortal playing with him, a little scuffle—not the least bit a death match. Seeing this pathetic display of weapon mastery used on enemies the Harbinger has every intention to kill has raised a flag of suspicion in him.
"You're mine!"
The irritation boils over and transforms into anger. This idiot was eagerly looking for a fight when he was severely compromised. Did he have a death wish? Xiao could easily fulfil it for him, surely he is the better choice compared to these lower life forms? His rage takes shape by insulting the Harbinger (without giving room for misgivings; he does not care what happens to this literally blundering buffoon).
"You can run, but you can't hide!"
"Shut it. Could you stop yelling obnoxious things during battle?" Xiao stabs the Mitachurl in the heart, dealing the final blow, making it kneel and then fall onto its back.
"Me? Yelling obnoxious things?" Childe asks as he slashes the chest of the last Hilichurl Berserker with his water blade. "Don't tell me you don't hear yourself when you really get into it?"
"You keep taunting them needlessly," the Yaksha rebukes as he yanks out his polearm from the corpse.
"Don't act as if you're better! It's either you insult your enemy but never give them the time to process it, or you command your prey yet never actually give them time to do it."
Xiao raises a brow in challenge, crossing his arms when his weapon dematerializes.
"'Useless!', 'Boring!', 'Insignificant!' 'Lament!' Do any of those ring a bell?" Childe tuts, seeing Xiao glare at him. He places his hands on his hips and shakes his head. He takes pleasure in informing how blissfully ignorant this proud Adeptus of how cringe-worthy his battle cries are. "How could they feel the burn of your words, or do as you command when you skewer them to death the very next second, hm?"
Childe looks at Xiao in the eye, and clamps his mouth shut when he feels the beginnings of laughter come pouring out. He clasps a hand over his mouth for extra support.
Oh, okay, now he understands why those two former Archons dote on the proud Adeptus. He has his adorable moments too. It is a fascinating sight. Seeing those usually piercingly cold eyes and general look of stoicism disappear and get replaced by an expression expected of someone much, much younger—very much a child's when he realizes he had done a naughty thing, eyes wide and full of innocence. [20] The whole event lasts for a couple of seconds at best, but it was enough for Childe to have a better opinion of Xiao.
The way Xiao looks away and turns his back on him is adorable too.
Venti is right. The Adeptus was quite the blushing maiden.
"Aw, relax! No need to feel embarrassed! No one else pointed it out, right?" Childe walks up to him and slings an arm around the other's shoulder, beaming. "I'm just particular about it cause I've seen many new recruits shout things they couldn't prove in battle. All bark and no bite, the lot of them! And your 'Demon Conquering!' Sounds cool, you know."
"I-I don't need your condescension," Xiao grits out as he pushes the man's face out of his personal space and forcefully shrugs the offending arm off. "And, I don't need to hear that from someone who has taken a step back, becoming pathetically dull."
The action causes Childe to stumble back a few steps before he regains his balance.
"Argh, don't remind me!" He scratches his head.
"Heh, so you did notice." A smirk tugs at the corner of Xiao's mouth.
"Hey, cut me some slack! I didn't know getting chained to the desk, buried under a never ending pile of paperwork would do this to me too! And if it's not that, debt collection walks and training new recruits just aren't enough!"
Xiao faces the Harbinger and rolls his eyes at him, making sure the other knows how excessively far he was pushing the dramatics.
"That's not an excuse, Fatui lap dog," Xiao sneers, a full smirk on his face. "Face it, you've gone soft— grown too complacent."
"Then spar with me more!" Childe demands shamelessly, unconsciously justifying his namesake. "If I can carve out time for the Traveler, I can do that with you! I bet if I get to stretch my legs more, I'd be back to my former glory."
"And even at your so-called 'former glory', you still wouldn't stand a chance against me." Xiao snorts, enjoying the frustration that is building up inside the Fatui scum.
"So? Will you?" Childe places both of his hands on the Yaksha's shoulders, earning him a hiss and a click of the tongue.
"That is reliant on your skills. My duty takes precedence over your insignificant problems. Could you make it worth my time?"
"I'm going to make you eat your words because you're on!"
"Show more gratitude and respect! It is rare for an Adeptus to be willing to squander his time on a mortal like you." Xiao narrows his eyes in annoyance at this impudent piece of trash.
"Aw, so you do like spending time with me!" Childe laughs and proceeds to ruffle Xiao's hair. "Why don't you just say so! I guess your prickliness has its own charm."
"Unhand me, you insolent fool! How many times should I tell you to keep your hands to yourself?" The Yaksha hisses and swats the hand away, sidestepping when the detested Harbinger attempts to trap him into an embrace.
"Instead of a bird, you're more like a cat, no? You're the type who doesn't want to be touched so much." Childe assumes a thoughtful look. "I wonder if your behavior makes Shrimpy's allergies act up—he's allergic to cats, right?"
Archons, could anyone get this imbecile out of Xiao's life at that very moment? Whisk him away, bury him alive, anything.
"Shut up!" Xiao shouts in exasperation, his spear out again pointing at the spot between the Harbinger's eyes. This only prompts the scumbag to laugh at his expense; those blue eyes are full of mirth.
"I finally got you to break." Childe chuckles, clearly pleased. "You see, ruffling people's feathers and crumbling their composure happens to be my specialty."
Xiao's grip on his spear tightens. He literally bites back any insults or retorts that threaten to spill from his lips. It is imperative to prevent giving the other further satisfaction. He will not repeat the same mistake as earlier. Despite this newfound resolve, he still finds it challenging to withhold the urge to stab, lift and discard the Fatui Harbinger in front of him, like the garbage that he is.
A loud stomach growl draws both out of their stalemate. Childe's stomach is protesting about being forgotten.
Xiao sighs, takes a step back to withdraw his Jade Winged Spear and lets it dematerialize again. He smirks when he sees a light flush dust the Harbinger's cheeks.
"Let's deal with this some other time. Zhongli-daren is waiting, and your mouth is not the only thing that needs shutting up."
"You're right. Xiansheng likes his punctuality, I'd rather not get scolded." Childe scratches at his cheek uselessly, while the other rubs at his stomach, hoping it wouldn't draw attention to itself again. Once is embarrassing, and twice is mortifying.
The Adeptus stalks up to him and raises a finger to his eye. His golden eyes narrow in sternness. "Behave. No more detours, understand?"
"Yessir," Childe says as he raises both hands in surrender.
"Good, let's go." Xiao puts down his finger and turns away, walking in the direction of Wangshu Inn.
Unable to completely trust the Harbinger's capability to follow simple instructions, he looks behind him, and makes a face. The idiot throws his hand behind him, and a gust of wind helpfully makes the red scarf flutter uselessly behind him. He clicks his tongue.
"Venti, stop indulging this fool," he mutters under his breath, and shouts at the said fool:
"Stop posing and get a move on!"
He huffs.
Babysitting is not his forte.
A gentle gust of wind ruffling his hair soon follows, bringing the sound of a short mischievous giggle with it.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
The unlikely duo arrive at the foot of Wangshu Inn. The noon time sun is beating down on them and the Inn's designated dining area. Childe wipes away the sweat forming on his forehead with his arm as he looks over his shoulder and sees that the Adpetus was unperturbed by the heat.
"Are all Adepti like this, unaffected by the heat?" he asks, remembering exactly just how many layers Zhongli wears on an ordinary work day, regardless of the weather.
"You humans simply have a lower tolerance against it."
"Does it have something to do with internal body temperature?"
Xiao answers, but realizes that his conversation partner isn't listening to him anymore. The sight of Zhongli waving at them, beckoning them to come over to his table, is more than enough of a distraction for this fish-brained ginger.
There were only a handful of other patrons around, and they all instinctively kept a distance from their table.
Childe feels a pull, an urge to gravitate towards his fiancé, but ignores it for a moment. He turns to Xiao first.
"Don't call him 'Master', 'Lord' or anything like that." He wags a finger at the shorter male. "You might not have not noticed it, but it was heartbreaking to see him give you that sad smile as he bid you goodbye when you slipped last time. Got that?"
Xiao opens his mouth to reply, but closes it again when sees that it is unnecessary. His conversation partner had quickly left to give his master a quick peck on the cheek before nuzzling into the older man. He takes a breath and makes an effort to effectively look unfeeling.
Childe smiles when he feels one of Zhongli's arms wrap around his back and pulls him closer. He rests his head in the crook of the other's neck and takes in that comforting, floral scent.
Xiao, still a few paces away from their table pauses, slightly reels away at the blatant display of affection when he can no longer maintain his show of politeness. He tries not to let his disgust show on his features. Was that Fatui Scum always this clingy?
"You have arrived just in time. The food has just been served," the consultant announces before kissing the top of his beloved's head.
Xiao takes a few tentative steps forward, wary of the challenging look the Harbinger was giving him. He stops by the table to eye the impressive spread that lay on it. 'Excessive' is the first word that comes to mind. The amount of food present could easily feed five people. [21] Were the Traveler and Paimon joining them in this meal?
"Come dine with us, Xiao. I have asked the staff to prepare some Almond Tofu for you. It should come out at any minute." Zhongli motions for the Adeptus to take the seat on his left, and nods to the attending server nearby.
Xiao sets his gaze on the seat referred to him, weighing his options. He glances over to the couple and sees the elder whisper something to the Harbinger. Zhongli-daren guided his mate to the shadiest seat of the table, even pulling the seat back for the other before getting himself seated. The Yaksha wordlessly settles in his own seat, which seems to please the man beside him.
"How was your outing? Did Childe behave himself?" The elder takes the teapot containing some house tea and pours some in each of their handleless tea cups. He then proceeds to pile Childe's plate with food.
Xiao barks a laugh and brings a knuckle to his mouth to disguise it as a cough. Childe glares at him, but he simply brushes it off.
"It went… as expected," Xiao starts, then takes a sip of the beverage. "Childe acting brashly and speaking with coarseness is all within my expectations."
"Hey! Don't make me look bad in front of Xiansheng!" the Harbinger whines while pointing his special pair of chopsticks at the Yaksha. "I'll tell him all about your embarrassing battle cries!"
Said Yaksha does not pay attention to him as a wait staff had come to serve him his nice, cold bowl of fresh Almond Tofu. He is in a state of calm acceptance. His battle cries are embarrassing to the ears of mortals; it is what it is.
Seeing that Xiao is not set to air a complaint or voice his own opinion, the eldest of the three speaks up.
"Childe, it is rude to use chopsticks in that manner. Calm yourself and set them down," Zhongli reprimands as he places some food on his own plate, and then chuckles fondly. "But, I am glad to see you getting along."
The Harbinger feels betrayed. He sulkily lowers the utensils down and just as sulkily attempts to pick up the dumplings on his plate. At a petty attempt at revenge, he decides to forgo all the chopstick mastery he has gained in the two and a half years of his stay in Liyue—to show just how much Zhongli dotes on him in front of this cheeky Yaksha.
Xiao couldn't help the snickering that escapes from his lips. He watches with amusement as the Snezhnayan idiot pathetically fails to pick up his food with chopsticks. Surely, the Harbinger will get scolded for fooling around.
That sense of victory is short-lived.
The scolding does not come. Instead, the younger Adeptus has to endure the sight of the flailing idiot being infantilized. And worse, the said idiot seems to be enjoying every second of it. He has never thought an adult human could ever receive an inordinate amount of praise for accomplishing the simple task of feeding oneself. Not only that, if he fails, this newly dubbed infant is showered with encouragement, and is even fed from Zhongli-daren's own chopsticks. There were multiple times he finds himself unable to scoop another bite as he watches a repeat of it.
His mind could not hope to process it. Xiao freezes, not bothering to conceal the mixture of vexation and disbelief that bled from his mind into his features. He thought he had gotten a better understanding of how mortals think with Venti's guidance, but he realizes that there is still so much to learn.
Childe caught sight of Xiao staring, bringing him back to reality. His cheeks turn red as he realizes he has taken it too far, and that he has enjoyed the experience a little too much.
"Dearest, what's the matter?" Zhongli asks, very much concerned about the manner in which his beloved's cheeks ripened to mimic Jueyun Chilis.
With the little remaining dignity he has intact, Childe refuses the Jade Parcel being offered to him through Zhongli's chopsticks by raising his hand.
"I think I could use more practice by myself," the Harbinger says as he looks away, the embarrassment eating him whole.
"I see." Zhongli sets down the Jade Parcel and his chopsticks. "Perhaps I may have been too overbearing in my desire to spoil you."
Childe whips his head up and could practically see a pair of imaginary dog ears droop. Those downcast eyes make him want to kick himself for being the reason behind that sad look written plainly across his lovely xiansheng's face.
"No, no, no, you haven't been overbearing at all! You've been a great help! I was just too tired from all the running around to get that muscle memory going," Childe rambles with rapid-fire delivery. "With your help, I built enough energy to feed myself now! I promise I can make you proud!"
Zhongli snorts and laughs boisterously. There were glaringly obvious lies mixed into that rambling, but he appreciates the earnest intention behind it. Childe truly transforms into quite the imbecile when faced with Zhongli's somber moods—either his brain shuts down or he unconsciously turns himself into a jester to lift up his mood.
Xiao silently feels equally as guilty, thinking it is his fault for ruining the atmosphere. Hearing Zhongli-daren's laughter brings him relief. He hopes to redeem himself by slipping out of the meal as though he had never been there in the first place. He hastens to finish his meal, while Childe redoubles his efforts on relearning those two years worth of mastering the art of using chopsticks.
Xiao manages to make his getaway without being noticed, which was not that hard of a task, considering how engrossed the lovebirds were in Childe's chopstick mastery. He only wishes that he doesn't appear rude in Zhongli-daren's eyes by leaving without saying a word despite the hospitality he received from them.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
"Will my darling starconch be alright by himself?"
"Geez, baobei, I'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen while I sit here doing nothing?" Childe shoos the older man away with one hand, the other picking up a Lotus Flower Crisp off the plate. "Go on, you have business to attend to, right? I'd hate to get an earful from Director Hu Tao for distracting you while you're on the clock."
There is a sparkle of mischief in the rascal's eyes. He grins after taking a bite of the treat, licking the crumbs slowly
"Well, I do admit, I can be quite distracting."
Zhongli raises his hand to his mouth to stifle his chuckle.
"That you are, my pretty little starconch." He stands up and uses his table napkin to wipe off a stray crumb his beloved had missed.
"Aren't you being too clingy lately, xiansheng?" Childe chuckles as he feels a kiss land on the top crown of his head. "Not that I'm complaining. You know how I like the attention."
Zhongli blinks and makes a sound of consideration.
"Is that so?"
"For one thing, you're usually more reserved when we're in public," the younger man declares, raising an accusatory finger at the other before devouring the rest of the treat and licking his fingers. "Ah, but if xiansheng wants to flaunt how great he is at taking care of me, who am I to refuse?"
Zhongli coughs into his fist at that last statement.
'Flaunt'.
His cheeks dust a pretty shade of pink under Childe's fascinated gaze.
Was he flaunting?
The act of flaunting is to 'display something or someone that is of such importance that it would provoke a sense of envy, admiration, or defiance from others'.
Could his previous self's actions be considered 'flaunting'?.
The ginger-haired rascal cuts him off from diving any deeper.
"Just go already. Less thinking and more working, baobei." He steals a peck from the brunette's lips, swatting the mini asteroid that has formed in response to the older man's pondering. "We can pick this up later."
"If my beloved insists then I have no qualms," Zhongli whispers in Childe's ear before heading to the elevator. "I shall be back shortly, dearest."
Once the Harbinger is sure the coast is clear, he buries his face in his hands to hide the redness in his face and lets his forehead land at the edge of the table.
Xiansheng has taken to showering him with pet names as of late. He does his best to keep up by attaching some himself, but he finds himself losing more times than he would like in this unproclaimed pet-name-dishing contest.
It's Zhongli's voice. It's always that voice's fault. It does things to him.
And that newfound boldness. Childe knows how confident a man Zhongli is but he consultant would always prefer to hide it behind modesty and proper decorum under the public eye. This leads him to wonder about the cause of this recent development.
Well, whatever it is… it leads him to lose this round as well.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
The Boss of Wangshu Inn is not only well-connected, but is also a sharp woman. Her senses are keen, and she knows from a single glance that the gentleman who gives her a curt nod before climbing his way to the rooftop balcony is no mere guest.
She could see it in his demeanor and the regal aura that he exudes. In the short moment their eyes met, she caught a glimpse of the wisdom and antiquity behind them.
In that brief exchange, they have reached a mutual understanding. His purpose is to visit the Adeptus who rests there, and she graciously allows him.
She watches the man climb the winding staircases, but not to the end as he eyes a new group of guests rounding the corner.
"Welcome to Wangshu Inn, how could I help you?"
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
The funeral parlor consultant lauds the Tianquan for assigning the Boss of Wangshu Inn to her current post. She has a good eye. He understood from the glance he received from Verr Goldet that she knows he is no ordinary consultant from Wangsheng nor is he unworthy of an audience with the One who resides at the Inn's topmost floor. The depth of her perception still remains to be seen, but he is not too concerned about it for now.
He may not hold knowledge on the individual known as Verr Goldet, but he could glean that the care and concern she bestows upon the Yaksha extends beyond the duties assigned to her by the Qixing. To accommodate his needs, even before the young man could ask (having a talented cook perfect the only dish he could stomach), and to offer a place to recuperate where his privacy is respected, are simple things he could not provide directly himself And for that, he is grateful for her generosity.
Zhongli is brought out of his thoughts as he reaches the last step of the stairway to the balcony. He spots the younger Adeptus standing by the balcony railing, monitoring the Marsh with his arms crossed.
The Yaksha perks up, sensing the presence of his former master. He quickly spins around, and catches himself before he is about to fall on one knee to greet the man before him. He remembers that this is not the greeting that pleases Lord Zhongli-daren. [22]
After a beat, his eyes train on the older man, and he gives him a curt nod as a follow-up greeting. He is filled with relief when his former master returns the gesture.
As Zhongli's eyes drift back to the scenery before them, Xiao follows suit.
They stand and take in their surroundings in silence. Only the chirping of birds, the rustling of maple leaves nearby, and the light conversations amongst the other patrons from the floors below could be heard.
The older man glances from time to time, taking note of his demeanor.
"I'm glad to have caught you here," Zhongli starts when he sees that the stiffness from the earlier greeting has melted away. "You are one to run off swiftly as soon as the slightest of disturbances has become known to you after all."
"I sensed that my Lie—Zhongli-daren would like to speak with me." Xiao quickly recovers before he slips. He carefully studies the older man's expression, gauging if he has caused him disappointment. "And so I stayed."
He notes a small tug upwards on the corner of Zhongli's lip. Relief washes over him in silent waves.
"Xiao has always been attentive and perceptive. I hope I did not cause any trouble for the wait."
"It… is no trouble at all." Xiao still finds the casualness of the situation all too novel, and the praise a little too much. It colors his cheeks lightly and quickly dissipates as quickly as it came up. "Anything that Zhongli-daren demands of me will never be too cumbersome."
"Xiao." There was a warning in Zhongli's tone. It makes the younger man flinch and straighten up his posture. The older Adeptus closes his eyes and lets a soft sigh escape from him before training his gaze on the younger man. "Forgive me, the tone I have used must have been too harsh. It is not my intention to demand or command you—not anymore."
Zhongli draws closer to the young man when he sees the other relax his posture a little.
"How have you been faring lately? I sincerely hope you are not pushing yourself to your limits."
"I-I," the Yaksha stutters and holds his head down in shame. How shameful it must be as a Yaksha to appear weakened—despite not feeling so—before his former master. He must look worse for wear to be asked of his well being. "I am fine. Please, you need not concern yourself about these matters. I—"
"Dear Xiao, please allow me this." Zhongli fishes out one of the younger Adeptus' clenched fists in an attempt to calm the other down. "We may have a master-servant relationship anymore, but as I have told you before, I do care for you."
The younger Adeptus looks at his elder and sees the kindness and sincerity in the other's words and gestures reflected in the elder's eyes.
"I apologize for misjudging your intentions. I humbly wish not to appear incompetent before you."
"There is no need for an apology." Zhongli gently pulls the younger Adeptus into a hug. Confusion is evident in Xiao's eyes, but he does not reject the invitation. "Old habits tend to die hard. I cannot blame you for I too fall back into them from time to time."
Xiao stays silent and tenses. He is not used to the sensation of being hugged by a significantly taller figure, much less his former master. He is unsure how to respond to the gesture.
"I care for you and view you in the same manner as one does for their kin—a family member. Would it be too imposing of me to ask of you to do the same?"
"Would it not be too forward of me to accept?"
"I assure you, it wouldn't."
"Thank you," Xiao says quietly. There's a hand stroking through his hair, the gentle movement coaxing him to relax his tense muscles.
"I am glad for us to have come to an agreement." Zhongli leans in a bit closer, smothering the shorter man completely. "I am now in your care."
"A-as am I." The Yaksha found the gesture unexpected, but very much welcome—despite the difficulty he now finds in breathing. "I am honored to be part of your family."
"It will take some time to adjust, but I believe that with enough effort on both our parts, it will prove not to be too challenging." Zhongli eases from the bear hug and ruffles the younger man's hair. "I would like you to consider dropping the honorific you use in addressing me, but let us start with something simpler."
Xiao nods his approval, and looks at the older man with expectation, eager to please.
"We'll start with that question from earlier: how are you faring these days?" Zhongli asks with an easy smile. "Are the attacks becoming more manageable?"
"Please do not worry too much. I am not neglecting my health." Xiao answers directly. He understands from the silence he receives that he is asked to continue, yet he is not sure how to do so. "I have not much to do because as of late, the disturbances I sense have lessened in number. As for the... 'episodes', they do not crop up as frequently, and the stock of medicine I carry is still sufficient."
Zhongli nods in satisfaction, clearly pleased by the news.
"Ah… yes, after Azhdaha's re-subjugation, the Geovishaps' temperament has calmed down considerably. With the exception of a few outliers looking to expand their territory," the elder says as he gives the other younger man a few more pats on the head. "I am glad it has eased the burden I have put on you, if only a little."
"Zhongli-daren, I have never viewed my duty as a burden." Xiao takes the hand in his head on his own and shakes his head. "Even if it is, it is one I will happily bear. It is the price to be paid for being given a new life and purpose."
"It had also paved the way to meeting him," his mind traitorously supplies, to which he shakes his head once more to dispel such foolish thoughts.
"I feel nothing but gratitude for it."
"Very well, we will leave it at that." Zhongli smiles at him, and is quick to change the course of the conversation. "On the matter of your medication, I believe I have been making miscalculations on the estimations of frequency you take them."
Zhongli takes a few steps back for a sweeping, yet analytical, glance at the Yaksha and confirms for himself the factuality of the younger man's words. Signs of fatigue or physical strain are currently not present on the other's physique.
"Hm, I see… It must be his influence—even that indolent bard has his uses." He places a hand under his chin and mutters aloud. "I must thank him when we next meet."
A light flush rises up on Xiao's cheeks. He looks away, hoping his former— no, his kin, does not take notice of it.
"While you might be well physically, I still have some lingering concerns about your well-being," Zhongli starts, his finger tapping in place. "Ganyu and Madame Ping—even the Traveler—noticed that you have become more absent lately. Not in form, but in spirit."
"Tha—I did not notice." Xiao quickly turns away from his elder, preferring to approach the balcony's railings. He closes his eyes and lets the gentle breeze cool his heated skin. Whether it does anything for the redness tinting his features or not, he sincerely hopes for it to pass quickly.
The knowledge that he has unconsciously disgraced himself amongst his peers, and the Traveler—to the point his former master had been alerted to it—made him burn with great shame.
"I will be more attentive next time."
Zhongli remains silent as he studies the younger Adeptus in greater detail. His age must be getting to him.
"It appears that Childe's presumptions have hit their mark." The older Adeptus watches with great curiosity as his junior tenses at his statement. Gloved hands grip onto the railing to the point of the wood in his grasp beginning to protest, splintering slightly. "And seeing you in person myself… I must admit that I may have missed more than what I expected."
Zhongli allows himself an airy bout of laughter. Xiao has indeed grown, and has done so boldly. He believes that he will continue to do so, and the fact could not make him any prouder or happier.
Xiao wants the wind to carry him away. He knows what the older man has picked up on, and the mirth from the older man's voice is unmistakable.
To be teased by this person is an experience he never thought he would be subjected to.
"I am happy for you, Xiao."
The Yaksha feels a firm hand on his shoulder. It squeezes hard, a gesture of reassurance.
"I offer you my sincerest congra—"
"Fo-forgive me for the interruption, but I believe this is not what Zhongli-daren has come to speak with me about," Xiao blurts out, unable to stand under the spotlight any longer.
"Is this not a joyous occasion worth celebrating?"
Xiao looks up and sees the look of confusion on the older man's features. He looks away, unable to speak from the words to explain himself. He does not believe he deserves it.
That moment of silence between them seems to allow for the gears in Zhongli's mind to whirr to life and reach a probable cause for Xiao's reaction. He smiles knowingly.
"Just know that you have my blessing."
The Yaksha looks up to his elder's face and catches the look of self-satisfaction gracing his features, vanishing like quicksilver.
How. Utterly. Humiliating.
"But you are correct, I did come to discuss a few other matters. I wanted to express my gratitude for indulging me in my request. Childe must have been quite a handful." He covers his mouth to stifle a chuckle at the manner in which the Yaksha bristles at the sound of his beloved's name. His hand falls away as Xiao turns to look at him.
It is a blessing how quickly the both of them are able to switch gears.
"And allow me to apologize for the… rather intimate display you have witnessed earlier. It must have made you uncomfortable."
"Please don't. There is no need for you to do so." Xiao shakes his head and bows his head. "It is I who must apologize for acting with disrespect—to have left without a word—despite being at the receiving end of your hospitality."
"Think little of it." Zhongli chuckles. "On the contrary, it is an honor for One such as yourself to dine with us two mortals."
The young Adeptus knows that this is another attempt at a joke, yet he cannot stop himself from gaping like a fool. His lips part in mute disbelief; a protest lies on the tip of his tongue. He swallows it and casts his gaze onto the wooden flooring below his feet. He does not see the understanding smile Zhongli has put on for a brief moment.
The thought of having the Lord of Geo choose to live a very mortal existence still has not sunk in.
"I jest, I jest. Forgive me, my attempts at 'cracking jokes' are still amateurish at best."
"I… There—"
"But I see that you are still unable to take some yourself." Zhongli chuckles. "That too is something we could work on together."
Zhongli pauses and assumes a thoughtful pose.
"I must admit, I feel rather vexed for Childe to point out my uncharacteristic 'flaunting'—as he puts it."
Xiao's head whips up to retort.
"It was he who was flaunting."
There is a pause, and the younger Adeptus takes it and the expectant eyes trained on him as signs to continue.
"I-I believe that you have only responded accordingly, given the situation. You have only been protective of him, especially when he has been nothing but reckless."
"Are these your honest thoughts, Xiao?"
"Yes."
Xiao blinks. In truth, he is not very confident of his answer. The question has caught him off-guard. Did he seem insincere?
"Tell me, how did Childe fare in your excursion earlier?"
This follow-up question makes Xiao tilt his head slightly to a side. He believes he has answered it during their shared lunch.
"Ah forgive me, I may have jumped ahead of myself. As of late, just as Childe is starting to point out some peculiarities in me, I have noticed some of his as well. He has become more agitated and more… eager for excitement." Zhongli studies Xiao's expression as a way of gauging if he is being clear with his words and if the other is following. "When he proposed that you two have some of this so-called 'bonding time', I believed it to be the perfect opportunity to garner an outsider's point-of-view on Childe's behaviour, as well as alleviating some of your loneliness from Venti's absence."
Xiao almost finds himself tripping while standing completely still on flat ground at the last portion of the explanation. He regains composure soon enough in order to relay his assessments.
"His battle skills have dulled. He himself is surprised at how hard he finds to maneuver his body. He makes up for it with eagerness and recklessness." Xiao delivers his assessment without a hint of his flustered state from a few moments ago. He reaches into the concealed pocket in his garments to produce the item he has confiscated earlier. His grip on it tightens, wanting to destroy the ominous relic. "To be frank, I find it unsettling how easily provoked he is, and how fast he is to rely on dubious sources of power. To summarize, yes, I do agree that he seems more excitable, and somewhat more desperate than usual."
The Yaksha places the item in Zhongli's hands.
"I advise you to keep it out of that id—" Xiao coughs. "—the Harbinger's reach for the time being."
"I am grateful to hear your observations on the matter. They are very insightful." Zhongli pats the Yaksha's head a few times. "Thank you, Xiao."
Shameless as they may be, Xiao is delighted to learn that frequent headpats come along being one of Zhongli's kin. It is one thing that he wouldn't mind letting himself indulge in, whenever it is given to him.
"Childe is skilled in playing down the matters that ail him—a defense mechanism born from years of serving the Tsaritsa as a weapon. Is it not admirable how he is able to fool just about anyone?" Zhongli continues, his tone sounding too fond for Xiao's liking. The younger finds himself unable to react violently at the dreamy, dazed, expression on his elder's features. If Zhongli takes pleasure in talking about his beloved, then he will relent and let the elder do so. "I am glad to have entrusted my mate to someone so capable—seeing past his façade and bringing him back before he injures himself."
Xiao visibly cringes at the term used to describe the Harbinger, but quickly schools his features into one of composure.
"He requested that we meet again for a sparring session. Would you find that agreeable?"
The older Adeptus blinks, unsure if he is hearing the words correctly.
"My opinion should not affect your decision on the matter. How you spend your time is for you alone to decide," Zhongli scolds lightly before his seriousness erodes, revealing a softer expression—an unmistakable fond smile that compliments the shine in his eyes. His giddiness at the prospect of his loved ones taking the time to do more than just tolerate each other oozes out. "But, to answer your question, yes, I am pleased to hear that you two have made arrangements to meet again on your own."
Xiao blinks. The pieces were not adding up.
"I see…" is all he could manage before he processes the bits and pieces of information he could glean from their conversation so far.
Oh… oh.
"How unseemly of me to have forgotten. I have yet to offer you my deepest congratulations." Xiao bows before Zhongli. "While I may have my reservations regarding your choice for a life partner, I do wish for your happiness."
Xiao looks up and takes Zhongli's surprise as a reaction to his boldness, and the silence that follows as a cue to proceed.
"I do not intend to overstep my bounds, but I may put in a word of advice, I suggest informing the other Adepti of your… state of being. I am sure they would be overjoyed with the news once they are properly acquainted with the situation."
"You are not overstepping on anything. I am receptive to any advice, especially those coming from a good place," Zhongli assures him in both words and the gentle smile playing on his lips. "There is no need to worry over it, as I have taken the initial steps on informing the others. I have sent them hints in the form of dreams. I do intend to visit them individually to personally brief them of the situation."
He hums in contemplation.
"Though, I do hope they would not take my delay in informing them as a personal offense."
An inelegant snort escapes from Xiao. He tilts his head in shame. He briefly ponders on whether being around the bard's close vicinity for far too long has caused the former Anemo Archon's disgracefulness to rub off on him. When he receives no reply, much less an admonishment, he takes it as a cue to continue. He does not look at his elder, but does take tentative glances from time to time.
"Inform him too. He has the right to know. I found it quite troublesome to convince him to come with me to Qiongji Estuary, instead of the lands and mountains of and around Jueyun Karst."
Truly, it was fortunate that there was an abundance of Ley Line Outcrops in the area to keep the Harbinger preoccupied. Looking back on it, maybe it was a little too abundant. If he counts the number of gold and sky blue domes they have encountered, it exceeds the normal count.
Xiao sees the moment the initial surprise on Zhongli's face melt into a pensive one. He bites on his lip. He had an inkling that they have not been on the same page for a while now, but he does not dare to ask outright.
"My apologies for sounding presumptuous, but… could it be that you have not noticed the intensity of which you have enveloped him with your scent once more?" [23]
"I… I have not," Zhongli admits, slowly digesting the situation he has found himself in. He repeats the question in his mind a few times, parsing through the words carefully.
It seems he cannot push back his possessiveness over Childe at bay, even after Barbatos's suggestion has worked wonders after all these months [24]. This revelation is food for thought, and one that requires immediate action.
He looks up to see Xiao's brows furrow in concern. He shakes his head in response to convey that there is nothing to worry about.
"And yes, I do intend to inform Childe on this matter."
Xiao lets go of a breath he did not notice he is holding.
"I assume Ganyu may have leaked the information to you about the marriage papers Tartaglia and I had signed a few months prior. But, I do require some more time. I've heard from her that Lady Ningguang has been… taking her time approving Childe's naturalization papers."
Xiao gives the elder a blank stare. He believes that there is nothing more he could offer as advice without sounding too brusque or too meddlesome.
"Thank you, Xiao. You are most kind."
"Zhongli," the younger Adeptus tests his elder's name on his lips, pleased to not have stuttered at the attempt. The glimmer he sees in those kind eyes makes the accomplishment all the more memorable. "I am not worthy of your praise. It is my duty to—"
"Your duty to follow my orders as Rex Lapis has no place in this conversation." Zhongli's gaze is stern at first, then it softens as he utters his next statement. "We have just established that we share familial bonds now, have we not? For you to quickly consider my request is proof of that."
Xiao feels warmth blossom within him. To hear his former master, and now his family, care for him so much, he almost chokes at an invisible lump caught in his throat.
"But, I suppose you are not entirely wrong. As part of my family, it is your duty to look out for the other members and to depend on us as well." Zhongli slowly reaches out for the Yaksha to envelop him in a hug. "So, do not hesitate to call on us if you are troubled."
Xiao nods enthusiastically against his elder's chest, as words start to fail him. Truly, to take on this new role is both an honor and a blessing.
With a final 'thank you', the younger Adeptus pushes his elder gently, and tells him he must be going now. Zhongli nods in understanding and wishes him to keep safe.
Xiao runs off to perform his duties as a Yaksha, seeking out any new disturbances in Liyue for him to take care of. He starts by gliding off into the open fields of Guili Plains.
It's when he sees a flock of four cranes turning mid-air that he belatedly realizes that Childe is most definitely part of Zhongli's family.
He curses.
Tinkling peels of giggles resound by his ear. It is followed by a: "Oh, my loveable slow-witted Yaksha, what did you expect? They're a two-for-one deal, you know!"
"Shut up," he mutters and clicks his tongue, to which he receives more of that melodious sound.
Xiao wonders how much of that conversation has made it into the ears of a certain bard in Mondstadt, the first to consider him as family.
"When will you return? Will you not call for me?" were questions he dares not let the wind carry back to attentive ears.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
Zhongli looks on ahead, watching as Xiao's figure blends into the scenery of Dihua Marsh. Pride swells within him once more, seeing him grow after a long time stuck in stagnation.
"You will take care of him, won't you, Barbatos?"
He whispers, already aware that the conversation earlier is not as private as it seems
"Ha, who do you think I am, you old coot? I'm not you, that's for sure!"
He turns his back on the view of Dihua Marsh and lets a smile curl up on his lips.
He spots a small figure hiding by the wall dividers. She has her eyes squinted at him—assessing him. He beckons for the child to come over.
"Dusky Ming, I presume?" Zhongli fully faces the child who jolts at the mention of her name. She tilts her head to one side while pointing towards herself in silent question. "Could you come over? There is no need to be so wary. The Director has asked me to deliver a message for you."
"Huh, Director? Who's that?"
"Yes, Director Hu Tao says she is sorry for being unable to cannot come and play for a while." He reaches into his overcoat's inner pocket to pull out a plum branch and some sweets. "She asked me to bring you these to make up for breaking an appointment!"
"Oh… you mean that Big Sister who made that Hilichurl Song!" Dusky Ming giggles as she admires the plum blossom on the branch. "Hm, tell her it's okay. Dusky Ming can ask Venti to play with her that day~"
His eyes widen for a moment at the mention of his friend's name, and huffs fondly, figuring that this is to be expected of the bard.
She takes the items from Zhongli's awaiting hands and runs off to the direction of the stairs. She looks back one last time before descending the stairs, waving her hand at him with a bright smile.
"Thanks, Mister!"
"Take care on your way down."
"Will do~"
There is no sound of footsteps going down, and he does not spot her when he himself goes down those very same steps.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
"What? He's a blushing maiden in front of you too?"
"Ajax," Zhongli utters the name with a warning. "I hope you were not using your... extensive hearing to eavesdrop on a private conversation."
"Aw, xiansheng, you wound me with your lack of trust!" Childe places his spoon back into its bowl before clutching at the spot where his heart lay. "Do I seem the type to eavesdrop on a father-and-son chat?"
When he is met with silence, Childe sighs.
"Okay, okay, I was joking. I saw the poor guy run off in a hurry. So, I figured you had some embarrassing heart-to-heart or something." Childe shrugs as he picks up his spoon [25] once more. His eyesight isn't that sharp, but he swears he saw a dust of pink somewhere on Xiao's face. "I'm guessing your actual business is done here, but come sit with me?"
Zhongli obliges and takes the seat beside Childe who is enjoying a chilled bowl of Almond Tofu under the heat of the sun.
"You were right about those two."
He takes leisure in seeing the delight spread across his beloved's face upon hearing the news and takes another spoonful of dessert.
"More like I can't believe you didn't pick up on it until now. You were the one happily packing lunches for their dates."
His hands itches to take a photograph. The blatant smugness present on Childe's features is endearing, while the joy that replaces it when he takes another spoonful of the gelatinous dessert is undeniably cute. Unable to resist, he reaches into his inner pocket to bring out the Kamera to snap one.
"Really?" Childe asks with fond exasperation. Yes, the Harbinger knows that he is extremely good-looking, thank you very much, but what is so exciting about him eating some Almond Tofu?
Zhongli only smiles as he takes the slip of photo paper that comes out and swishes it back and forth to reveal the shot he took. The paper reveals a photo of Childe smiling around an upside down spoon as he presumably licks the last of the syrup. Satisfied, he takes out the mini photo album he carries around and places the new photo beside the one he took of Childe and Xiao earlier in secret as the two approached the Inn. He smiles at his two new photos before he promptly closes it shut, lest Childe peers into it and discovers his little secret.
"Hey, xiansheng, you think you could take a bit of time off next week? I heard something interesting is happening in Mondstadt right now."
He tucks the album away and brings his hand to his chin in thought.
"Ah, yes, the Windblume Festival should be in full swing by this time of the year—rather, nearing its final stretch. A festival of romance and revelry, of flowers and song."
"Yes, yes that. I got wind of it a few weeks back but didn't get to think much about it 'cause of how busy it was in the bank." Childe's lips curl upwards and he uses his spoon to point at the older man, which earns him a look of disapproval. "We didn't get to go last year, so what do you say?"
"It would be my pleasure, baobei." Zhongli takes the spoon out of Childe's hand and places it back into the bowl. He raises the hand up to his face and gives it a kiss. "It has been quite a while since I have gone on a vacation, much less ventured out of Liyue's borders. It brings me no greater joy to spend my first one as a mortal with you."
"Pfft, so formal, xiansheng!" The ginger-haired man stifles a laugh, but looks away when the heat on his cheeks registers. "Oh, and one more thing…"
He takes a slow, nervous glance towards the older man, who he finds to be boring holes into him with the intensity of his stare.
"I'm surprised you've brought your wallet today. I was shocked when they told me that you've already settled the payment for today's lunch, you know."
Zhongli does not suppress his own breathy chuckles. He leans in to peck on his beloved's flushed cheek.
"Now, you wound me with your lack of trust, my dearest starconch."
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
A week later, Xiao finds himself dragged around Liyue by the Traveler and her loud, floating mascot.
"Thanks for hanging out—I mean, assisting us in our commissions, Xiao!"
Xiao eyes her critically at the slip of tongue she unsuccessfully covers up, crossing his arms, but lets her off as she looks apologetic enough. The excursion was not a total waste of time as it did alert him to the Abyss-related activities (this time, Abyss Mages indoctrinating a small group of Hilichurls in Guili Plains).
"Hmph, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't develop the habit of wasting an Adeptus' time." The said Adeptus crosses his arms, his tone testy. "I accompanied you today because there was nothing on my plate that was worthwhile doing."
"Eh, are you sure it isn't because you're lonely without Tone-Deaf Bard coming over for a while now?" Paimon snickers with a matching smirk and her fingers cupping her chin.
Lumine shoots her warning glare.
"What? He wouldn't look so much like a lost puppy, looking for his owner whenever he hears some sort of chiming sound, if he isn't."
Lumine winces at her companion's word choice. She doesn't hold back, or rather, she has no built-in filter. A quick glance at Xiao tells her he's surprised himself, uncrossing his arms and letting them fall to his sides, at the blurted out observation with the way his eyes widen slightly before turning his back on them.
Emergency Food has done it this time.
"That was very rude, Paimon!" Lumine pulls the fairy by the cheek and latches onto the other cheek to pull at them as though they were nice sticky rice treats as she scolds her for it. "Apologize to Xiao right now."
"Paimon's sowwy, okay? Wet go alweady!" Paimon tries to paw off Lumine's hands and whimpers when she is finally released. She glares at the Traveler as she nurses her abused—puffy and angry red—cheeks. She dejectedly floats towards the Yaksha. Her head is bowed and her shoulders slump when Xiao acknowledges her presence beside him. "Paimon is deeply sorry about what she said earlier. Please accept Paimon's apology."
He regards her with crossed arms and says: "Hmph, be mindful of your words and manners the next time you open your mouth."
"O~kay! Roger that!" Paimon offers a salute, before deflating with her shoulders slumping forward. The tittering adds more to her look of exhaustion. "Anyways, Paimon's pooped! Ruin Hunters are always a pain to deal with, and all that running around makes Paimon hungry. When are we getting dinner?"
Lumine groans and slaps a hand on her forehead. Classic, unapologetic Paimon is a pain to scold when she has done exactly that a few moments earlier.
Deep breaths, Lumine, deep breaths, she tells herself. That's right, ignoring that comment is the right choice to make. She takes a moment to compose herself before turning to Xiao.
"Oh yeah, we're heading back to Mondstadt for the Windblume Festival, wanna come with?"
Xiao bows his head slightly and looks away in contemplation. That bit of information aligns with Venti's vague explanation on his reason for staying in Mondstadt for an extended period of time. A festival… Is Venti being considerate of him?
"That's right!" Paimon chimes in, completely forgetting what she was whining about before. "You should come with us, Xiao! You'll get to see Venti too!"
Paimon gets a light head chop for that last bit. She truly doesn't learn her lesson.
"Owie," the fairy whimpers before feeling the gears in her head turn thanks to that little external jostling. "Hmmm, if we do bring Xiao with us, do you think we can find Venti tonight so that we can reunite these two lovebirds? We haven't seen Tone-Deaf Bard much outside of that poetry gig we did."
"Now that you mention it, you're right. There had been rumors that he works in Angel's Share, but the place has been packed since the start of the festival that we never had the chance to visit."
He doesn't catch the conversation after the Traveler's initial question, and replies with his decision: "I best stay here."
Lumine looks at him with eyes full of worry.
Did they have a fight?
"He has his duties as do I." As if he could read her mind, Xiao shakes his head. "My presence will just be a distraction."
She opens her mouth to protest, but then remembers something. Right, how could she forget? Venti got sulky when she brought Xiao out of Liyue that one time… [26] But it should be alright if she's bringing the Yaksha straight to him, right?
And besides, could ripping people off by simply giving comments (mostly compliments to boot!) on their poetry be considered 'work'? Alright, being part of Angel's Share staff can be considered work. Well, that is, if the rumors are true.
"How about a message?" the Traveler asks instead.
"Or a gift!" Paimon suggests—her inner romantic gushing out. "Flowers are the best gifts for this festival! They are considered as Windblumes. Windblumes can be any flower of your choosing, and you give one to your loved ones to show how you feel about them~"
"Are all mortals so keen on the destruction of the environment for momentary pleasures?" Xiao huffs with a scowl. "The people of Liyue tend to litter during their festival, and now you tell me the people of Mondstadt overpick their flora in theirs?"
The pair look at him with unamused stares. They don't feel defensive about this topic anymore, but they are curious how he'll react to the sheer amount of flowers decorating all the streets, boulevards, and Statues of the Seven across Mondstadt.
"Just don't let Venti hear you since most of the Windblumes are dedicated to Lord Barabatos after all," is all Lumine has to offer as advice to him as she pats him on the shoulder.
"We'll get going now then! Bye, Xiao!" Paimon floats away from them.
"See you next time!" Lumine quickly rummages through her travel bag and places what she got into Xiao's hands before jogging back to Paimon to teleport them to the neighbouring nation. "I hope this helps."
The wink Xiao receives baffles him, but is quick to pick up on its meaning the moment his eyes lay on what was handed to him.
It makes him sputter. And the longer he analyzes the events captured, the more embarrassment he feels
There are two photographs in his hands.
The first is of Venti sitting on a bench with one eye closed and a finger to his lips: a silent request for the observer to remain quiet. His other hand sits atop the subject on his lap.
The subject is Xiao himself, slumbering, with no care what is transpiring outside the Land of Nod. From the way Venti's hand is positioned, he would assume the bard simply paused in softly raking those slender fingers through his hair.
How disgraceful… to be caught in a compromising situation, and to have not known of the event until now.
Venti… that bard lowers his defenses too much.
As for the second photograph, it looks like it is taken in Guili Plains during their short breaks. He sees himself sitting at the base of a tree, cleaning his weapon. And by his shoulder is a small Anemo Sprite hovering over him with happy crescent shaped eyes.
He notes that the color is displayed differently. Most of their surroundings' colors are faint, and a soft teal glow eminates from him and the Sprite nearby. The dilapidated crates behind them are oddly tinged with a brighter orange.
Xiao does not know how the Traveler came to possess these photos or how 'these would help' as she put it, but he makes sure to store them properly in his room's night stand for safekeeping.
It would be a shame to have these dirtied by the blood of those filthy monsters. He wouldn't mind taking another look at them at a later time.
He would also berate himself for dallying as he is unable to quickly let go of them when he does arrive in his room in Wangshu Inn.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
FOOTNOTES:
[19] While his Liege deserves all the treasures the earth has to offer, when taken out of the context that the person being pampered is formerly known as God of Geo, Rex Lapis, the sheer amount of money spent on a single mortal was disgusting. It was a testament to human greed.
[20] Very much like this:
w w w . i . pinimg 564x / 65 / c1 / df / 65c1dfb8e216f676964115cec2a21b5b . jpg
(If if the URL does not show up properly with spaces in between them, then just look for Xiao's beta spear throwing/flipping with kicking animation. He looks so adorable and surprised that he caught his polearm.)
[21] Xiao himself is unsure if he is misgauging the amount of food on the table. If humans were to give an opinion on the portion he consumes human food, they would berate him for eating too little (and eating too many desserts; they would be horrified by his mostly sugar-based diet).
[22] On the first meeting between the two, Xiao knelt before the older Adeptus.
Zhongli had stooped to his height, urging him to stand as it was not necessary. He was able to bring the younger Adeptus to sit at their table as he gave his explanation, and the current situation, along with the expectations this new, mortal arrangement has set.
It includes having Xiao to act less as a subordinate, and more as an equal (which, on its own, was too much for the Yaksha to internalize, making the proposition of 'being friends' nigh impossible. Venti almost had to carry him on his back as they head home to the Inn). He was also kindly asked to lengthen his patience in tolerating Childe's heavy involvement in Zhongli's day-to-day living as a mortal (which brought about the initial light-headedness in the first place).
The next few meetings after that, Xiao would often forget himself and still kneel in front of Zhongli, only to get up immediately and apologize. The former Archon would smile at him, and he would burn with embarrassment.
These instances made many a moment of awkward silence between them before any further interactions occurred. It could be considered a form of bonding.
Xiao is slowly adapting, and Zhongli finds his efforts endearing.
[23] Zhongli, in his initial obliviousness, marks Childe with his scent—a draconic behavior that has resurfaced—as a result of his jealousy and as a stopgap method in resolving the unfortunate phenomenon he had instigated.
[23.1] It was proven to be futile, as humans cannot perceive the marking he has placed on Childe, but the act of smothering the Snezhnayan rascal with his scent is enough to quell his instincts.
[23.1] This phenomenon could be traced back to Footnote #18, and Ekaterina's passing comment in Chapter 4 section 4.1 of the Parent Story.
A crude TL;DR would be: Earthshaking could be observed around the vicinity of the Geo Archon's statue whenever the 11th Fatui Harbinger's name is spoken in the context of ill-intent or romance. It has led to a few reported deaths and a few missing persons reports. The phenomenon lasted a month.
[24] Simply put, Zhongli was told that he 'should put a ring on it', to serve as a visible reminder to humans that Childe is taken—is his.
[25] The spoon in question is basically what you would find if you keyed in "Chinese Spoon" on your search engine. (I would've provided a picture, but I think you already know how limited things are here... )
[26] For those who haven't seen the fic I ran to when I hit a wall writing this chapter, you may read about it below (It's the one titled "Of Exclamations, Alabaster, Small Lampgrass, Small Lanterns, and Street Lamps )
w w w . archiveofourown . works / 30693173 / chapters / 76079069
And you may want to go to chapter 6/extra of that for the aftermath featuring Lumine.
A/N: As you know, feedback is always appreciated. :) Ha, ha, I wonder if I should put up the next part as well. But I'm still not finished with the part that comes after it. ^^;