Work Text:
Even in the Sea of People and Light, My Eyes are Looking at You
“Xiao, shall we go to the lantern rite festival together?” Asked the female traveler. Her face is pleading at the adeptus who stand in front of her. In her hand, she held a bowl of almond tofu for him.
“That’s a festival for a mortal, I can’t possibly—” The adeptus wanted to go but he knew his responsibility. But the female traveler cut out his words.
“Come on, Xiao. Everybody will come even Ganyu would come to. Look, I know you have a duty to protect Liyue but for once, let’s enjoy a festival for a night. It only happens once a year anyway.” Lumine pleaded again. She gave him the almond tofu she is holding right now, in hope it’s more than enough to bribe him with it.
“Well, you’re right. But I’ll go if everything about to happen.” Xiao nodded and sighed. He could never say no to this girl no matter how much he tried. Somehow, he did not want to see her disappointed face she is going to make if he said no to her.
“Good then, any idea where we should go tonight to watch it? I don’t want to see it from Wangshu Inn, I think it’s a waste to see it from afar like that.” Lumine did not have any idea at the moment. She kept thinking where they should watch the festival.
“But if we’re too close to the harbor, aren’t there going to be crowded? I don’t fancy to be in the middle of the sea of people too.” Xiao sighed. Not to mention that adepti power might harm people, he should be eliminating a possibility of hurting mortal. Luckily this girl built different or else he should shut her away, which he had done at first but failed miserably.
“I agree with that. Hmm… I have an idea, but I think I need a little help for that.” The female traveler smiled at him. She thought it would be a crazy idea but maybe it would make her first lantern rite festival be a little easier to be remembered forever.
“What can I help you?” The adeptus asked. He might can help her with anything she’ll need, after all he is an adeptus.
“Oh not you, Xiao. I’m going to ask Zhongli for it, I think. My only favor is please come to the harbor two hours before it started to avoid the crowds. See you there tonight, okay?” Lumine winked at him. She quickly ran away from him. He wished he could help her.
“Okay then…”
* * *
Lumine’s idea is simple, she wanted to avoid the harbor for there will be overcrowded during the festival, so she had to avoid the crowd, but she wanted to be close enough to the harbor. The sea is a perfect place for her idea and a boat is all she needed. A small boat is enough since it’s going to be just for her and Xiao, she had planned it beforehand to let Paimon had a day off today. A date with Xiao in this festival is such a perfect plan. With a help from Zhongli she can borrow a boat from a fisherman and now her plan is perfect already.
And finally, it’s the time she should meet with Xiao in the harbor. Unexpectedly, the harbor already crowded by people now. The adeptus seems to be late now, so Lumine decided to take a little walk to look for him. She should apologize for dragging him to a sea of people like this. She looked for him here and there but there’s no luck at all. He will come, right?
A little unlucky today, Lumine ended up bumping to some people in the crowd because she didn’t be careful. Her eyes are looking for Xiao, not her surroundings. And with that she fell down.
“Ouch…” She said to herself and she tried to get up. But then a familiar voice approaching her.
“Lumine are you okay?” The voice belonged to Xiao. He helped her to get up.
“Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t see that coming.” Lumine chuckled softly. It didn’t hurt her at all, after all the pain she got from her battles are far worse than that.
“You should be more careful…” The adeptus seemed to be worried about her. She only gave him a smile, which suddenly made his world stop. There are so many people here, yet her smile is the only thing he can see.
“We shall go now. I’ll lead the way.” The female traveler grinned. With one swift move she took his hand and grabbed it gently. They held their hand close to each other while Lumine walked in front of him. So many people are trying to fill every corner in the harbor, yet Xiao can’t see them all. All he can see is the young female knight who had a special place in his heart.
* * *
And at last they reach the dock. Lumine even had two lanterns prepared for them. Xiao is taking a look around. Is Lumine seriously had planned this alone?
“A boat?” Xiao asked her. He is looking at her in disbelief, yet he is thrilled to try her idea.
“Yes, a boat. I think it’s a good idea to see it from the sea. Zhongli thought it’s a nice idea as well, he might give it a try too.” Lumine grinned widely. She knew that her idea is so brilliant.
“And lanterns too, where did you get those?” Xiao is surprised that she is so well prepared.
“Oh, those are spares miss Hu Tao made and she said I should take it. There are plenty of them though I decided only took two of it.” Lumine said with a smile. She is proud of her work.
“Then, shall we get going? Can you row a boat Xiao?” Lumine asked curiously while they are walking to the boat.
“Maybe, I can’t remember if I ever did it before but… can you?” Xiao asked curiously as he took a seat on the boat.
“I can! I row in turn with my brother back in our homeland when we go fishing.” The female said proudly though there is a hint of loneliness in her eyes when she said that.
“Alright then… we don’t have to row too far after all.” The adeptus nodded. A small smile formed on his lips.
Then they row the boat not too far from the harbor so they could still see the harbor and the waves are still calm enough for them to bear. There are still enough lights illuminating their way in the sea. The scenery is magical, neither of them ever see the scene of Liyue Harbor in this perspective.
“I don’t know it can look this beautiful from here.” Lumine asked. She is sitting right in front of Xiao and directly facing both Xiao and the harbor.
“Yes it is… “ Xiao nodded, he is facing both Lumine and the other side of the harbor. But for him, the dimly illuminated girl in front of him is something else. He preferred to gaze it rather than gazing at the harbor he had gazed for thousands of years.
“I think it’s starting.” Lumine said, she can see some lanterns are floating now. It’s just the beginning so the lanterns are not filling the sky yet. Then, not long after that few more lanterns are flying away in the sky.
“Yes, we shall fly these too.” Xiao said while he is holding one of the lanterns. Lumine smiled at him the nod.
“Yes, but how to do it?” Lumine tilted her head.
“Well, first you have to light it up. Hold on the other side while I do it.” Xiao said. He took a lighter Lumine had prepared to light up the lantern while Lumine is watching and holding the lantern.
“Done, be careful it’s hot. And people usually tell their wish while they let the lantern go.” Xiao added an explanation.
“Since you’re the one who light it up, I guess you’ll go first.” Lumine smiled. She gave the lantern to him.
“Huh? Fine then, if you said so.” Xiao nodded. He did not have any wish because keeping Liyue safe is his responsibility and he had nothing he should wish for. But he had a wish for her.
“I wish Lumine will find her brother sooner.” Xiao said his wish, while he let the lantern fly. Lumine couldn’t believe that he made a wish for her.
“Why did you wish that? You should make a wish for yourself.” Lumine stared at him. Her heart felt warm, yet it feels like it’s not fair to him.
“I don’t have any wish in particular since all I want is the safety of Liyue but yet it’s my responsibility to do so.” Xiao mumbled softly. Lumine understand that, so she only gave him a nod.
“My turn, please hold the lantern for me, Xiao.” Lumine smiled. Xiao nodded and held it for her. He saw her carefully lighting up the lantern before he could give her lantern back to her.
“Now your wish, Lumine.” The adeptus said while he is looking at her.
“My wish… I wish that the Yaksha Adeptus from Liyue to be freed from all his pain and suffering, I wish for him to finally find his happiness and joy. I wish for him to feel warm, to feel less lonely and to find happiness beyond his loyalty to serve Rex Lapis and Liyue.” Lumine said her long wish before she let the lantern go.
“Lumine…” Xiao is losing his words. He did not even see the lantern she just released to the sky, he can’t see the lanterns that illuminate the night. All he can see is her, her smiling figure who stared deeply at his eyes. Her eyes sparked joys and her sincerity of her wish.
“Yes?” Lumine asked with her smile is still lingering on her face.
“Your wish…” Xiao said softly. He couldn’t say anything about it, his words just don’t want to come out.
“Yeah? What’s wrong?” Lumine blinked. She thought she had done something wrong.
But Xiao said no words after that. All he did is approaching her body, and embrace it gently. He made sure that he didn’t hold her too tight so she wouldn’t get crushed. Lumine eyes widened in surprise. She can’t believe Xiao would be the first one initiating a physical touch between them. But Lumine smiled happily, finally her wish is starting to become true. And then under the light of thousands lanterns that illuminate Liyue’s night sky, the two are placing their head and lips closer to each other to share the warmness that they feel under the lanterns.
Fin.