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Lumine was not a morning person.
This was something Xiao had known since they were kids. While her brother was full of pep and cheer even as the sun was only beginning to rise, seriously just how did he do that , she herself was grumpy and quiet. The difference was quite distinct when she would greet him with a groggy voice, sleepy-eyed with her pouty lips seconds away from forming a yawn.
He would deny to death that he spent a good amount of time observing the younger of the twins out of the corner of his eye as the three of them walked to school, though truly what mattered most at the time was that she did not notice.
And for some time she really didn’t. Probably because she had a tendency to only wake up by the time they arrived at school and she bought herself the strawberry milk she liked so much at the vending machine, but that was besides the point.
It was probably for the better that she never noticed, he wouldn’t know how to face her otherwise except by saying some words a little blunter than he’d wanted to be with her. Of course, that didn’t mean he was completely unnoticed.
If he was ever caught by anyone looking as she tugged on her brother’s school cardigan sleepily, letting him guide her as she drifted back and forth into being awake and wanting to sleep, then it would have to be by Aether himself.
“Watch out. You might act cool and relaxed in front of Lulu, but you’re not slick at all.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
At the time he wondered if he should apologize, he was a friend to the both of them so becoming… for a lack of a term he was willing to use, particularly fond over one could cause complications, like the chick flicks Ganyu and Yanfei occasionally watched with him during reunions, but it later became clear to him that it had more to do with his protectiveness over Lumine more than anything.
He wondered if she ever realized it, that she had two fools constantly guarding her like dogs.
“Watch over her, Xiao.”
“I’m not doing it for you.”
“Ah, I guess it was already a given. You would do it even if I didn’t ask, huh.”
Even as Aether left with his father to attend school in Inazuma while Lumine stayed with her mother in Liyue, she still had someone constantly looking after her— him .
By no means did she need it. The more days and months and years passed, the more independent the girl seemed to get, something he could always admire, but some things never seemed to change.
“Lumine,” he murmured quietly, standing over her bed as he counted down the seconds, giving her the time to rise up by herself. He tried once more, this time saying her name a little louder, yet she did not move even an inch, her delicate features stilled and stagnant. Maybe on any other day he would spend more time admiring her face, peaceful and relaxed, her lovely golden eyes shielded from the world, canary yellow hair all messed up and yet endearing, peachy pink lips slightly open… alas, today was not that kind of day.
“Lumine, wake up,” he tries for a third time, gently patting her shoulder. The blonde now began to stir, but before he could even take the chance to inwardly celebrate she only held onto his fingers within her slumber, pressing his open palm against her cheek.
Immediately he began to feel hot, which would have been strange considering he just turned off her air conditioning unit had he not known the cause of the sudden heat that creeped up on his face. It was just like her to not only play with his heartstrings even while asleep, but also to wordlessly convince him to let her sleep in.
Admittedly he had been guilty of the latter a few times, back when he was still new to the whole waking Lumine up morning routine thing, but that was back then when his heart still wavered every time she called his name, or when she whined for five more minutes of shut-eye.
He was a veteran at this now though. With his free hand, the one that wasn’t being squished between her face and the pillow, he began to shake her shoulder, alternated with some taps every few seconds. It would have been faster to do it rougher, or use a different method like sounding an alarm or turning on every light in the room, but rather than his convenience he just didn’t want her startled.
Like pulling apart the curtains, sunshine colored eyes peeked from beneath her lashes, and Xiao would think about what a mesmerizing sight they were later because right now he had to focus on not letting her fall back asleep.
“ Xiaoooo, ” her brother had once said that Lumine hissed like a cat and made a fuss like a toddler when you tried to wake her up, but clearly that didn’t apply to him at all. No, Lumine, consciously or subconsciously, was more soft and gentle in the mornings than expected. Less grumpy and huffy than what he first observed years ago, but that didn’t mean she never whined or complained.
She always did it in a cute way, though, sleepy and pleading eyes up staring up at him, both of her hands clutching his, pouty lips that would pout even more if he refused her request.
Okay, Xiao, you can do this .
“We’ll be late to our classes. Your first one today is at nine, remember?” Does he know her class schedule like the back of his hand? Yes, and what of it?
“I’m still… so sleepy though,” to prove her point she yawned quite loudly, “I can get ready fast, let me sleep in…” that was a lie. Lumine worked quickly, she claimed she was a cramming expert after all, except in the mornings where she was still groggy. Many times he found himself tempted to just pick her up in his arms and carry her as they walked to school, it was better than watching her walk all sluggish, nearly tripping over anything, including air.
Xiao sighed, not really wanting to let go of her but tugging his hand away anyway, if only so that meager physical contact would shake her awake.
“Lumine, didn’t you say your professor for calculus was a terror prof? You don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Maybe I’ll just skip altogether then,” before he could scold her she tugged on his arm with a strength that someone who just woke up shouldn’t have, pulling him closer to the edge of the bed, “let’s go back to bed. Let’s sleep together.”
“Don’t word it like that,” Lumine was definitely conscious enough to play around with him, and yet his sleeping beauty still insisted on getting more rest.
The girl giggled, “you’re my boyfriend Xiao, aren’t you used to me being like this already?” yes he was used to her being a little hard to deal with in the morning but also no, considering his heart still fluttered like it possessed butterfly wings around her, “just ten minutes, please ~”
“No,” she can be affectionate with him all she wanted, but the answer would remain-
“Five minutes?”
… it would be okay as long as he watched over her, right?
“Fine, five minutes,” wordlessly he joined her beneath the blankets as she patted the empty space he previously slept on, noting that it was still a little warm even after he left, and that it was weird to go back in already dressed up to head out.
“Lie down properly!”
Xiao has a feeling, call it a gut instinct, that Lumine was planning on sleeping for longer than five minutes. With her smiling, bright eyes she reached out to cup his palm around his face, temple, to jawbone, and he reveled in the warmth painted on him by her fingertips, and with all her silliness those same fingers traced three letters on his features. One on his forehead, then two either side of his cheeks.
They’re definitely not getting out of bed in five minutes time, not when they’re pressed together, chest to chest, their lower legs entangled with barely enough space between the two of them.
Xiao should care, Lumine’s not the only one with a morning class in one hour, but the intimacy she brought to him, her weight against him, her hands sliding to rest on his back and his mindlessly twirling a part of her hair as her eyes slowly shut once again, her breathing steadying to a familiar beat.
For someone who loved the cold so much, he often marveled at how her entire being could be warm.
“Lumine,” deep down, Xiao knew he wouldn’t be waking her up. Maybe she knew that too, with how snuggled up she looked against him. To take advantage of his weakness like this, what a brave girl.
He knew that he would keep looking at her, quiet with admiration, and when the atmosphere finally got to him he, too, would close his eyes, matching the rise and fall of her chest. Who knew what time either of them would wake up, maybe an hour from now? Maybe even lunch time when the hunger finally got to his girl.
“Let your dreams be sweet, Lumine,” and because she was with him, he knew his would be too.