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He was just sitting there. Peacefully.
The twitching in your hand quivered with equal parts excitement and nervousness. The diamond-shaped hole teasing you and your grubby hands. Despite the cold breeze on this starry night, Xiao doesn’t even look like he was shivering. Even being outside the terrace of Wangshu Inn, he looks like he’s reveling in the chilly air compared to you shivering in your boots.
But tonight was the night! No matter how many times Xiao would push you away or throw your arm behind your back or pin you down (actually, you wouldn’t mind being pinned down), you were going to touch his back for the sake of science!
The science being if Xiao will arc his back up like a cat if you scratch his back.
… Were you being a bit promiscuous on risking your life just for attention? Yes you are! Because you have no self-restraint!
Inching ever so closer to your lover, you disguised your intent by bumping your shoulder next to Xiao. He regards you with a side-eye glance, but doesn’t stop you as he lets you get close to him. You rested your head on his shoulder, the one with the tattoo swimming across his arm, as you hummed softly.
You ran your fingers along the tattoo, and you didn’t miss how you nearly felt him shiver. “Hey there, handsome.”
Xiao huffed at you, flicking your nose but not shoving you away. “What do you want?”
You pouted. “Can’t I show affection to my ripped as hell boyfriend this fine evening?”
He narrowed his eyes at you but, as you expected, he lets you smother him with your affection. As you two watched the glowing moon, the moment couldn’t be any more romantic. The fact that you were able to be like this without getting maimed by the Yaksha was something straight out of a romance novel.
Time to end that image!
As quick as his elemental skill, you plunged your (now cold) fingers onto his back, splaying the tips as you dragged them down to where your hand met the cut on his shirt.
His response was immediate: his entire upper body jumping up, his golden eyes shrinking as if he was a frightened cat, and oh by the archons did Xiao just emit a yelp?
You could barely have the time to try and hide from him-the shock of Xiao being possible to emit such a reaction was too great that you stood there in a frozen state. When he whipped his head towards you, eyes burning with embarrassed anger, you had to cover your mouth with your hands to hide your growing smirk.
“Xiao?” You gasped out. “Deadass?”
“I will end you.”
“Xiao?!” You gasped again, this time with glee. “Oh my Celestia?!”
“Start running!”
Taking his word, you immediately booked it, running away from him and running past Verr Goldet. “I’ll live on with my afterlife knowing I made you blush!”
As the receptionist felt the gust of wind that Xiao leaves, she sighed out and petted the cat who was on the reception desk. She makes a mental note to ask the traveler to see if he can procure more wood for the inn.
She just hopes you two will be quieter than last night.