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“Aren’t you cold like that?”
Your question was so innocent, and filled with so much curiosity as you sat across the table from him at Wangshu Inn. Even after Xiao had agreed to go on an adventure with you, you didn’t understand how he wasn’t cold whenever the two of you went up the cliffs. Xiao offered you his hand as you climbed up after him and he responded, “Feels fine.”
You gladly took his hand and he pulled you up, almost into his arms, but not quite. Xiao hasn’t held you that close since the day he saved you when the ancient god, Osial, had broken the platform created by Ningguang. Sure, he’ll always offer you a hand whenever the two of you are traversing through the different terrains, but you haven’t felt his warmth against you in so long. His grip on your hand tightened and he asked, “Aren’t you cold?”
His gaze swept over you quickly and you laughed, “I got used to it.”
Xiao nodded, his grip still tight on your hand and he mumbled, “The winds in Mondstadt are cooler than those of Liyue.”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No, it’s just different.”
Xiao glances down to your hand, the hand that he was gently holding onto, and strangely found himself unwilling to let go. He gently pulled you towards him, and you found yourself walking alongside him, making your way towards cliffs that looked over the Stormterror’s Lair.
You pointed at the formerly sealed capital and softly said, "That was where we fought Dvalin."
There was a softness in your voice that he wasn't quite used to. But when he glanced over to you, he could see the faint smile on your lips as the playful winds whipped around his and your hair. Even if he had no reason to look at you, he found it difficult to look away. There was just something about you that captivated his attention, even if you were just another mortal whose life would blow out and scatter into the winds, much like the dandelions that the two of you had come across on your way here.
Another gust of wind finally causes him to look away from you. It was so cool, so strong, and Xiao can understand why Mondstadt was called the city of Freedom. The winds themselves seemed to whisper and guide people, its residents and visitors to new places where there were new adventures to hold. It was as though everyone that came through Mondstadt were free to do whatever he wanted.
So doesn’t that include himself as well?
Xiao couldn’t help but close his eyes as he simply enjoyed the breeze and you softly asked, “Shall we sit and enjoy the view?”
He didn’t open his eyes, but he sat down before you, effectively pulling you down to ground level. You nearly stumbled, but Xiao had a good grip on you still, and pulled you closer to him, making sure you didn’t stumble down the slope of the cliff, or fall off the cliff.
The slight gap between the two of you was quickly closed as Xiao brings you a bit closer. Your shoulders touched, and even though the air was definitely cooler here than it was in Liyue, you couldn’t tell the difference between the temperature with him sitting by your side.
Another gust of wind came from behind you, causing you to lean forward ever so slightly. Xiao quickly glanced over as your figure wavered for a few seconds and his grip on your hand tightened as he subconsciously pulled you back towards him. You lock eyes with him, a sheepish expression on your face as you meet with his. There was a flicker of concern that was quickly overwritten with a slight sight of exasperation before it swiftly switched back to a neutral stare.
Even if he didn’t say anything, those small signs of emotion in his eyes were all you needed to know what he was thinking. You gently squeezed his hand and you chuckled, "I'm not going to fall off the cliff from just a little bit of wind."
"I would rather not take the risk," he huffed lightly. You wiggled your fingers a bit, clearly unhappy with how tightly he was holding onto you. He almost immediately let go of you completely. Yet instead of letting go of his hand completely you quickly intertwined your fingers with his. He almost flinched, but he didn't recoil away like you had thought he would.
It was almost as though he was still trying to come to terms with your touch. Your hands were smaller than his, and honestly, he doesn't remember the last time he touched a mortal for no reason, the first time he held onto you, you were about to die. But right now, there was no real reason to hold your hand. His excuse to hold your hand was to ensure that you wouldn’t go rolling down the slope or falling off the cliff, but it was a flimsy excuse. He’s seen you in the battlefield, and he’s seen how graceful and swift you move, so he knew that you wouldn’t just fall off the cliff, and yet…
He still wanted to hold onto your hand.
You gently squeeze his hand and softly ask again, "Aren't you cold?"
He glanced at your hand, and then back to your features. There was an undeniable playfulness in your eyes and he softly mumbled, "No."
There was a fleeting ephemeral smile on his lips before he turned away from you to gaze over the Stormterror’s Lair. Even if the winds were cooler in Mondstadt, he couldn't feel it at all with you by his side.