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He heard her before she knew he was there, pained whimpers escaping under her door as he passed by out of habit. Xiao stilled, turning his head slightly. This wasn’t the first time he’s heard something strange through someone’s door, lips pursed in indignation as he weighed his options.
The dark was slowly turning into dawn, the navy blue sky stained with oranges that made the afternoon sun look pale in comparison.
His fingers brushed against the dark oak of the door before he swung it open, the old wood creaking as it danced on its hinges. Xiangling turned towards the sound, expression pinched as she pulled Guoba towards her again, curled up in a fetus position as the moon casted an ethereal glow on her ivory skin.
The adeptus sat down on the edge of her bed, closing his eyes as he sunk into the mattress.
As if on cue, Xiangling shot up from her slumber, Guoba falling to the ground as she braced her arms behind her. Eyes wide, she looked around frantically, only to have her golden irises settle against his own once she grew accustomed to the dark. Her shoulders sagged, body falling back against the bed as she pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes.
“You scared me,” she grumbled, voice laced with sleep as she peeked at him. Xiao didn’t offer a response, a hum leaving him as he picked up her stuffed bear.
She opened her arms to accept it, nuzzling her cheek against Guoba’s head before looking up at him again. If he was a mortal man, he wouldn’t be able to notice the soft blush that coated her cheeks and ears, a nervous smile on her lips as she met his gaze.
“So… what are you doing here, Xiao?”
Xiao. She never felt the need to be formal with him, foregoing his title and status in favour of referring to him as a friend. Yes, Xiao saw Xiangling as a friend, months of her travels to Wangshu Inn paying off even though all she wished to do was stuff more food down his throat.
A strange sensation bloomed in his ribcage, brows creased as he pushed it aside. He didn’t mind the feeling… so long as it was Xiangling at the other side of perils.
“You can’t rest,” he said finally, and Xiangling beamed at his words, a soft smile on her lips. “You can sleep now that I’m here. I will be watching over you.”
The girl stared at him, lips parted slightly as she took in his words. And then she turned on the bed, fixing her legs and the sheet so that she might rest her head on his lap. Xiao watched, curious, as she held Guoba to her chest, ignoring the thrumming in his chest as she shut her eyes tight, shoulders tense.
As if to comfort her, he passed his hand along her arm, thumb caressing her skin as she began to relax, her breathing descending into a steady calm.
He knew she was still troubled, her eyebrows furrowed together as she slept. He knew she was still bothered, her fingers mindlessly worrying away at Guoba’s ear. And while Xiao didn’t know what was plaguing her, if his presence was enough to soothe her worries, he wouldn’t mind spending eternity by her side.
FIN