Chapter Text
It had begun on a cool night. Xiao’s residency at the Wangshu Inn still allowed him to maintain a far distance from human patrons there, his interactions limited to a few meetings with the inn’s owner and chef. Staring down at the quiet landscape below the inn, the countryside residents all sound asleep. The silence was interrupted by the creaking of wood; soft footsteps approaching the railing. This wasn’t his first interaction with another human at the inn, so he paid the person no mind. They would eventually leave. He wishes for nothing more than for him to have walked away that night.
“Couldn’t sleep?” They asked softly leaning against the rail.
“It would be best for you to leave.” Too much time spent near him would only hurt them. And besides, he didn’t really want their company.
“Heh sorry,” A small chuckle escaped their lips, “I just haven’t seen you before.” He had already known them though. They had just arrived a few days ago, a previous Liyue Harbor resident deciding to escape the city and taking a job at the inn. People didn’t retire from the city until they had reached old age, but they were still at the prime of their youth. This confused him.
They eventually left that night, silence probably suffocating. But then they returned the next night. And the night after. And soon it had become a nightly occurrence. There would be nights when he didn’t visit the balcony, too much adeptal energy with no protection would eventually kill them. But one night instead of finding them at the balcony, he found a plate of almond tofu in their place. No doubt they had pestered Verr Goldet, probably asking who the stranger on the top floor was. Clearly, the human had shown no signs of giving up any time soon. Instead of giving in and trying to satisfy their curiosity, he should have left them alone. Being alive for thousands of years, he had known the complexities of humans. Deep down he had known that simply meeting them again would not be enough for them, but maybe he was doing it to answer his own questions. Looking back, he should have well known not all mysteries needed to be solved. They were one of those mysteries.
A smile spread across their face as they looked over their shoulder, “You’re back!” Another plate awaited him, but he had his own questions. “Who are you?” This was the first actual introduction the two shared.
“Y/N, what’s your name?” He owed them no answer, but still, he had more questions he needed to be answered.
“Xiao. Why have you continued to come here?”
Their large grin had turned into a more shy smile. “Oh, well I haven’t really been able to sleep anyways. I just moved here and I’m still trying to settle in.” Sighing, they looked out towards the mountains. “Sorry for stealing your spot up here, if you want I can stop coming here. I just wanted to know you a little bit, I never see you during the daytime.”
He hadn’t taken them up on that offer. Instead, he simply took the almond tofu, a silent agreement that they could stay. Despite his constant remarks on how they should leave him if they knew what was best for them, they went ignored. It had been many days, and they would still return. Xiao soon realized that it couldn’t be helped and eventually they wore a bracelet, something to protect them from his adeptal energy. He could still clearly remember the exchange.
“What’s this? Are you finally warming up to me?” They laughed, strangely comfortable enough to the adeptus to jokingly tease him.
“You are clearly dense, but if you are going to continue to pester me, wear it. You don’t have to wear it always. Just make sure to wear it if you come to visit me.”
“I’ll wear it, even when I don’t come to see you! It’s very nice, thanks.” Sliding it over their wrist they looked back to him with a perked brow, “It’s like we’re friends now.”
“You are the worst.” He muttered feigning annoyance, but the declaration of friendship made it difficult to hide the small smile trying to form on his face.
---
Hands intertwined, they pushed through the crowded streets and retreated outside of the city.
“I’m glad you agreed to come with me today.” Xiao looked at them as the glow of the lantern illuminated their face.
“Don’t make such a big deal, besides I know this is important to you.” They settled for a spot upon the hill overlooking the festive harbor, looking at the many citizens celebrating the annual Lantern Rite.
“To be honest, I thought you’d say no and call it silly or something.” Y/N held out the lantern to him so they could hold it together, and Xiao put his hand underneath it.
“I find it wasteful, but that’s not important. It is a nice sight to see I suppose.” He muttered out, “Now are you ready to release it?” He hoped to change the subject.
They let out a hum, “Yeah, I’ve thought of my wish.”
With that, they lifted the lantern in unison, letting it fly upwards towards the heavens. Golden lights illuminated the harbor as if stars had fallen to earth. They sat quietly, admiring the reflection of the glowing lanterns that accompanied the moon on the dark blue sea.
“Want to know what I wished for?” They said breaking the silence.
“Don’t you humans have a rule against telling others your desires? Something along the lines that it won’t come true?” Xiao objected as he tried to not make eye contact with them. He could already imagine the disappointed look on their face.
“Oh, that’s just a superstition, anyways just ask.”
Rolling his eyes he turned to them, now slightly curious. “Fine what is it?”
They hesitated for a second as if contemplating whether or not to say it. A slight blush adorned their cheeks. “It’s for us to be able to be together forever.”
His face flushed at this and he instantly looked away. For a mortal, they always found ways to surprise him.
“Y-you didn’t wish for that. Stop messing around.” Keeping his face turned away he heard their laugh and then a sigh.
“Of course I did, why would I lie to adeptus? Won’t I get bad luck for the rest of my life?” Mortals could be really annoying sometimes. Warmth still flooded his cheeks and he could feel an awful tugging in his chest. And even when the mortal had gone to sleep while trying to keep awake, the feeling continued. This feeling was wrong. Perhaps it was an annoyance or confusion? Confusion, yes that’s what it was. Or that’s what he would tell himself. But he had seen this many times before. Love drove people to do illogical and crazy things, an addictive sensation that mortals had grown to crave after only feeling it for a moment. This was wrong, very wrong.
---
Rain pattered on the roof of the inn, sliding down the sides and falling down below. A few leaks had seeped through the cracks. The moon peaked out from behind the heavy gray clouds. Laying in a dark room, only moonlight that shone through the windows illuminated the room. Xiao had agreed to keep them company, to stay until they could rest easy.
“Sorry if I’m keeping you up.” They said with a soft murmur.
“Adepti don’t need sleep. Stop concerning yourself with my wellbeing.” He felt as a cover was pulled over him and they drew closer.
“Alright then, but I’ll always worry about you either way.” Soon he found them wrapped up in his arms, and their head lay in the crook of his neck.
“Xiao?” They whispered holding him slightly tighter.
“What is it?”
Their soft breath hitched against his neck. “Do adepti feel love?”
Blood rushed to his cheeks and ears. “That’s a dumb question,” He could feel them frown against his neck. “Yes, we do.”
The frown grew into a smile and they softly let out a sleepy yawn, and Xiao held them just a little tighter. Soon their breathing became patterned, indicating they had drifted asleep. Cursing himself he mustered all the courage he could before whispering under his breath, “I care for you very much. I want you to know that Y/N.”
And to a surprise, he felt them pull from his neck to face him. “I love you too, Xiao.”
Soft lips pressed lightly against his lips, and he closed his eyes in hopes of etching every detail of this moment into his mind. Hands linking with one another, he could feel them smile against the kiss. He can remember the cool air that blew through the open window and the soft sound of rain vividly. Memorized in his mind is the image of them as they gently pulled away from the kiss. Moonlight shining down on their skin, making them glow in the darkness. He squeezed their hands a little bit tighter, trying to maintain his composure as his heart fluttered.
---
By the time he had gotten to them, it was too late. Their voice still rang through his ears. They had plummeted down towards the earth, and their body laid still amongst the flowers. Sun shone through the trees, giving light to the yellow flower bed that cradled their form. Falling to his knees, the shock of the sight before him caused him to lose the strength to stand. Lightly lifting them towards him, his hold turned tight and a cry tore through him. Yakshas were damned for a life of loss and suffering, true joy would only be given to him just to be ripped from his grasp. Mortals’ lifespans felt like only a few minutes compared to his centuries of living, but his grief extended far past it. If he had known the first time he had met them, that their bond would be severed so quickly, he would have tried to remember each encounter better than he had. Each night avoiding their presence in hopes that they would leave, should have spent with them. Eternity for them would never be possible, not together in Tevyat at least. Alone he held their body, his own beginning to uncontrollably shake.
“Please,” he choked out as heavy tears streamed down his face. “Just say my name once more.”
Gripping their body, wishing for a sort of miracle in which he could feel the rise and fall of their chest again, he curled up closer to them and buried his face into his shoulders muffling his sobs. Again he was alone, left with suffocating grief making him gasp for air. A childish wish to live a dream of bliss filled with countless night time meetings and shared laughs would never come true. All he could offer was a quiet blessing, a wish for them to ascend to Celestia; so that when his breath would too still, he could see them once more. May the gods accept his wish, so he could grant their wish made many nights ago.
---
Sometimes, if a person visits the top balcony of the Wangshu Inn on a dark night, they can find a young man staring off and lost in thought. Almost as if his mind is elsewhere. On the night of the Lantern Rite, sits a soul atop a hill with a singular lantern. His wish remains the same every year, but he dares not to tell anyone else as it won’t come true if he does. And on quiet mornings, he can be found laying among a field of small yellow flowers below a mountain.