Whether or not they are directly linked, or the characters know each other, I think of my stories as all having happened within the same little world! In my stories. I frequently mention things that have happened in others I have written, but most of them should be able to be read stand alone without issues.

Also, while I try to keep it very close with Genshin lore, I don't know every single bit of lore, and can't remember it all. So, some things are slightly different, there are also some things that are only guessed. I'm just here to write stories for people to read, should they choose!

As for my version of travel time, everything is small, and close together in the game, so I spread it out a little. It should take time to get places! (More dramatic that way rofl)

Thank you to my husband for being my proofreader!

As always, thank you for reading, I hope everyone enjoys it!

Feel free to leave a comment :)

Love, Comfort, The World

Her life was so busy, but she would never stop until she found her brother, and had him standing next to her alive, and well again. Lumine knew that she needed to take breaks sometimes. She knew that she couldn't keep going nonstop, or she would never make it to her goal.

Xiao was her downtime. He helped to fortify her emotions, and regenerate her energy. It was a long trip, but she always made it. The best part was now, when she got there, she could run into his arms, and stay there for as long as possible.

Lumine had learned some time ago that when they first met, Xiao had immediately opened up to her in a way he didn't with others. She was allowed to see even more, now. He'd let her in, and she did the same for him. Lumine loved Xiao, and she never wanted to let him go.

Her adventure in Fontaine had ended, and she passed through Sumeru on her way to Liyue. It was, in its own way, nice to run into Dainsleif, but everything that happened, it didn't add up. Even the odd Khaenri'ahn was left slightly reeling in the end, more uncertain than she had ever seen him.

She felt off. There was something missing, and she couldn't figure out what it was. It was as if something was ripped from her, and left a gap. Lumine was forgetting something, and for all of her effort to find it, she couldn't remember.

She was frustrated. Yet again, they walked away from another nation empty-handed, just to get caught up in some strange string of events that still left them without. It was time for her to recuperate.

"Traveler? Are you okay?"

They had just reached the border of Liyue, and this was the thirty-fifth time her little floating friend had asked. She didn't mean to worry Paimon, but she wasn't up for talking. There was just too much flying around in her head.

"I'm fine, Paimon. No worries."

"If you say so," the fairy paused, "It's just… Paimon has been the only one talking the whole way, and Paimon's a little worried!"

Lumine sighed, "I just can't get the feeling that something was taken from me out of my head, and it's leaving me anxious. I'll be okay, I just need to relax for a while."

"That's right! I'm sure Xiao will be happy to see you."

She would certainly be happy to see him. It had been too long, and she missed being close to him. On her last visit, she'd found out that Xiao could be romantic. He'd set up a nice candle-lit dinner, with music, and everything. Then, he brought out several blankets, and they fell asleep looking at the stars.

It seemed like it took forever to get from the Chasm to Wangshu Inn, but finally, it was fully in sight. Lumine was thankful that Paimon hadn't commented on the fact that they had been gradually walking faster, and faster. Normally, the fairy wouldn't hesitate.

Lumine felt it before she heard it.

"It would seem you're in a hurry," a quiet voice said from right behind them.

Without even looking, Lumine turned on her heel, and threw her arms around the person. Xiao grunted in surprise, but the hug was immediately reciprocated, and it felt so good, warm. He didn't speak again, but just held her.

No matter how hard she tried, Lumine could stop the tears that began to slide down her cheeks. Xiao's body stiffened, and he hugged her slightly tighter. This. She needed this. She needed him. Her journey had been too long, and she was out of energy.

Lumine wasn't sure how long they had started like that. Paimon floated nearby nervously, and gently patted her shoulder from time to time. Xiao had begun to sway gently, and she could feel the fresh breeze bringing in the scent of flowers. His way of trying to soothe her, she realized.

After a while, the tears stopped, but this was bigger than that, and a few tears wasn't going to fix it. She hoped she could at least make it somewhere private before it started again. Xiao took her hand, and led her towards the inn, Paimon floated silently behind.

"Um, Paimon's gonna go talk to Chef Smiley. You two go ahead!"

Paimon flew away quickly, glancing over her shoulder a few times. Xiao, and Lumine made their way to his room. It wasn't used often. He tended to fall asleep on his rooftop hideaway, but he did actually have a room.

Lumine knew he had been enslaved for many years, but he rarely spoke about it. She couldn't help but wonder if this part of his past had been part of the reason he didn't like being closed in. She never pushed the subject. If he wanted to share, he would, and she would wait as long as it took.

He'd begin to open up to her, but there were still parts of his life that he wasn't comfortable sharing, and she didn't blame him. Talking about things tended to bring up memories, and for someone like Xiao, there never were many happy memories.

As soon as the door was closed, Xiao wrapped his arms around Lumine, and pulled her to the bed. Together, they laid down, and snuggled close. The tears came again.

"Lumine, what happened?"

She tried to find the words, but at the time, she could only shake her head. Xiao rested his chin on top of her head, and pulled her closer to his chest. So close she could hear his heart beating.

Lumine fell asleep.

Chapter Two

Xiao looked down at the woman in his arms as she slept. There had never been a time he had seen her so distraught. Lumine, while she could be very serious, and sometimes even quite intense, was always a light-hearted person.

She had a way of lightening his mood, and helped to ease the pain of his past. Xiao had felt it the very first time they'd met, and though he tried to keep her at arm's length to protect her, she still made a home in his heart.

Lumine was different. His karmic debt didn't have any effect on her, and as much as he would worry each time that it would, she refused to let go. She was so special, as a person, and to him. It wasn't a surprise that Rex Lapis had easily picked up on his feelings. His Lord was a very perceptive person.

Xiao softly ran his fingers across Lumine's cheek. He wondered what had happened to bring her down. He didn't like it, and she was a person who never, ever deserved it. Her soul was so beautiful, and pure. Her heart was always in the right place, always ready to help those in need.

This was a person he would never get tired of, and he worried what might come of their relationship when she found her brother. If he could, Xiao would follow her across all universes, and back.

He had learned what this feeling was, another form of love. He knew what love was, and he had felt it, but this was different.

Xiao held love for his fellow Yaksha, those he grew close to, fought alongside, and became his family. Losing them had been more painful than the torture his enslaver inflicted upon him.

He loved Rex Lapis. The person who had become what he considered to be his father, and showed him that life didn't always have to be torture. While he was still Xiao's Lord, he always took the time to ensure his well-being, and to this day tried to make sure he always had the medication he needed to ease his suffering.

The love Xiao felt for Lumine was yet another kind. Instead of running through his veins, it ran straight to his heart, making it overflow with feelings he'd never had before. He'd been afraid of them, at first, but then he couldn't resist the pull that their lives had on one another, nor would he anymore.

Lumine stirred, tired eyes peeked out at him through lush lashes.

"Hello," Xiao said quietly.

"… Hi."

They were quiet once more, and Lumine didn't move. Xiao thought she had fallen asleep again, but she scooted herself closer, and pressed her face right against his chest. Though it had happened before, when she did things like this his heart would still skip a beat or two.

Although, Xiao supposed he might be trying to fool himself there, everything she did made his heart skip a beat. At one point, he had asked Rex Lapis about this, what Xiao thought at the time was an illness. His Lord only smiled, and told him all was well, and not to worry. An actual explanation would have been nicer.

"I-I…"

Lumine stopped talking, and Xiao could almost hear her gathering her thoughts. He didn't push her, knowing she would talk when she was ready. Whatever it was, it bothered him that it was so painful for her.

"I'm sorry, Xiao. I'm so sorry…" Lumine's voice trembled.

"I don't understand. You've done nothing wrong."

Lumine pulled back a little, and met Xiao's eyes with her own, "I… I feel like I was so close to Aether, but I haven't seen, or heard anything. I'm so worried about him, and again, and again I can't find him. Now I'm here, moping, and I know you're uncomfortable in these situations…"

Xiao put his hand on her cheek, with his thumb gently across her lips to quiet her, "There is nothing you will make me uncomfortable with, Lumine. As for your brother, you'll find him. I'm certain of it. For now, let me help carry the weight of your sorrows."

With a nod from Lumine, Xiao pulled her back in close, and kissed her forehead. There was a lot of time that he couldn't be there for her, but when he could, he would always try to make the best of it.

Whatever she needed, love, comfort, the world.