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Xiao was comfortable with their arrangement.
She texted him good morning, he’d smile and reply. She’d ask him if he wanted to come over, he’d smile, and rush to her penthouse apartment. She’d ask him if he wanted to stay the night, he’d smile, and take her into his arms as they cuddled until the sunrise.
Xiao liked their arrangement. With Lumine, he could act as spoiled as he wanted and she’d only laugh that sweet laugh of hers before obliging him with whatever he wanted.
He’d send her anonymous flowers during a fashion show, and she’d send him homemade almond tofu after a live show. He’d keep up with her frankly exhausting schedule, and she’d listened to his music every single moment of every single day.
But they were only friends. Friends with benefits, Xiao noted to himself, and everything they did together, they did secretly, tip-toeing around the press. He hated the attention, and she loved the thrill of it all.
He was scared of the day she’d get sick of being in such a private relationship (not a relationship, Xiao reminded himself, just friends. Friends who cuddle with each other and smile lovingly at each other and find solace in being inside each other - ) and left to find a better relationship with someone, someone who was comfortable with the attention and the public displays of affection.
Lumine shifted in his arms and Xiao’s eyes snapped open. No, Lumine told him she liked their arrangement, too. He remembered, once, he’d had a bad day and questioned their arrangement and she smoothed a hand over his hair and across his forehead and gave him a kiss. “I like how we are right now, Xiao.”
He pulled Lumine closer and rested his chin on her head. He felt the soft rise and fall of her chest, pulling him into sleep. Xiao liked their arrangement. He knew Lumine did, too.
It was in the middle of November when the internet exploded with rumors of Lumine’s new relationship. Xiao, scared their “relationship” had been exposed, quickly pressed the first article on the top of his search page.
Lumine Viatrix and her fellow model, Kaeya Alberich, dating?!
Xiao’s eyes widened. What…?
Our sources say they met on the set of the Celestia spring collection shoot. They were already friendly to begin with, but last night, dispatch caught a picture of them together, exiting a restaurant!
He remembered Lumine talking about the model. She said he was a flirt, and very friendly, but Xiao hadn’t paid any mind to it.
His stomach dropped when the aforementioned picture appeared. That was Lumine, Xiao knew immediately. She wore the dress she’d sent him a picture of last week for his opinion, and the heels she’d complained about the last time he was over. That was Lumine in that picture, and accompanying her was a tall man with blue hair dressed fashionably, his arm around her shoulders, a playful grin on his face.
Xiao drew a shaky breath.
Instinctively, he tried to rationalize this. Maybe they were just having a friendly dinner. Maybe they were just joking around. Maybe they were just friends -
He pursed his lips. Friends. Friends like he and Lumine were? Did Lumine talk to him like she talked to him? Did Lumine let him take her into his arms as they fell asleep in each other’s arms? Did she...did she do everything she did with him with the man in the picture too?
They’d never discussed if they had other...arrangements with other people. Xiao had always thought that he was the only one who slept in her bed with her, he was the only one she texted so often, he was the only one who sent her anonymous flowers to every fashion show she had.
She’s bored of you, a voice in his head said. That’s why she’s talking to other men. She’s tired of how tiring it is to be with you.
Xiao turned off his phone and sat up. Was she really...bored of him?
Of course she is. The voice continued. You never go eat outside together because you hate attention. You never take walks together outside because you’re afraid someone might catch you two together. It’s good that she’s found someone who’ll do everything you couldn’t do with her.
He narrowed his eyes. But I want to do all those things with her…
Then why didn’t you do it when you had the chance? Before she got bored of you?
Xiao clenched his fist.
I was scared.
Lumine was worried. Ever since the press had leaked that picture of her and Kaeya exiting that restaurant together, Xiao hadn’t contacted her once. She’d texted him, explaining that Kaeya had dragged her into that restaurant with all their other model friends, and that the press had cropped the picture to show only them, but Xiao hadn’t even seen the message, let alone reply back.
The anxiety was biting at her.
“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” Kaeya asked from behind her, getting his stage make up on before another show. “You worried about your little boyfriend?”
Lumine scowled at him. “This wouldn’t be happening if you didn’t drag me into that restaurant in the first place, Kaeya.”
“Was it my fault the press sensationalized it?” Kaeya chuckled. “They must’ve been waiting for you to have a dating scandal for months. I’m honored they think I’m the one you’re dating.”
The stylist tightened her corset suddenly and Lumine gave a little oof. “I’m serious! He hasn’t even looked at the message!”
Kaeya gave a short whistle. “Maybe you should visit him, then.”
“I would, but you know that this week is the busiest we’ve been in months.”
“Then maybe you should see him play on one of your days off. No offense, but you need one, Lumi.”
Lumine glared at him and huffed. “Maybe I will!”
“Maybe I should join you, too!”
“Maybe you should! Wait, no!”
Xiao hadn’t touched his phone in weeks and it was nearing Christmas. All he did was wake up, eat, band practice, work out, and repeat. Everything seemed so monotonous, like they’d lost all their meaning, like someone had taken the sunlight out of the world and thrust him into a world devoid of any warmth. In a way, maybe that’s how it was.
He hadn’t talked to Lumine since he saw that article. But she was always in his mind, always in his thoughts somehow.
He wondered if she was sleeping warmly. He knew she always kicked her blankets off her bed, and he knew she was always cold when that happened. He had to suppress the urge to rush over to her place and check if all was well.
He wondered if she was thinking about him too. Or if she was having so much fun with that model guy that she’s forgotten all about him and the things they used to do.
Xiao was losing sleep.
He didn’t sleep very well at all, even before he met Lumine. But when Lumine was in his arms, he’d always fall asleep and wake up peacefully.
He missed her.
He wondered if she missed him.
Lumine missed Xiao.
It was eating at her, making her check her phone every hour to see if he’d finally seen her message. She wondered if he was sleeping well, if he was sleeping earlier than 4 in the morning, if he was eating better than instant ramen all the time.
Lumine entered the VIP area with Kaeya in tow, grinning at her. “Fancy seeing you here, pretty girl,” he said when he saw her enter the venue with a ticket.
“Why are you here?!” Lumine hissed, looking around for any paparazzi.
“I thought you might need some moral support. Aren’t I nice?”
Lumine kicked him in the leg.
Anyway, they were in the VIP area for Xiao’s band’s concert now, waiting for them to come out.
“Stay as far away from me as you can,” Lumine warned Kaeya when he started to snake his arm around her waist.
“Don’t want your boyfriend to get the wrong idea?” Kaeya smirked down at her. Lumine muttered.
“Shut up.”
The music was starting, and the members came out one by one. Xiao came out last - the drummer, donning a mask that prevented anyone from seeing his face. It was his trademark, and how he really looked like was a popular topic in these crowds.
As Xiao prepared to start the first song of the concert, he spotted familiar golden blonde hair in the crowd and paused. When he looked again, it was gone.
Great. He missed her so much he’s hallucinating. He grumbled, starting the song with the beat of his drums.
It had been a while since Lumine watched a concert of his. It used to be her favorite pastime, watching each and every single one, and it had also been the way they were introduced to each other. It was how they’d became friends. And then more.
When Xiao looked over to her area, she ducked behind Kaeya.
“Woah, why are you hiding?” Kaeya laughed, looking over his shoulder.
Lumine gripped his shirt. “I’m not ready!”
“Are you just going to hide behind me all night?”
“Yes!”
After Lumine’s ridiculous decision to hide behind Kaeya the whole concert, Kaeya suggested she try her luck in the after-party. So there they were, sat on the couch as they waited for the band to show.
“I’m still mad at you, you know,” Lumine frowned at Kaeya. “This wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.”
Kaeya rolled his eyes and booped her nose. “I’m not saying sorry.”
“Apologize, damn it! It was your fault in the first place!”
“Lumine.”
A quiet voice interrupted their argument. In front of them was the masked drummer of the band.
“Xiao,” Lumine breathed, eyes widening. “Xiao…”
It had been too long. It had been far too long since Xiao heard her say his name.
“...What are you doing here?” He asked, glaring at the blue-haired man beside Lumine. They were here together. Xiao’s throat tightened. He shouldn’t be sitting next to her.
Lumine swallowed. “I wanted...to talk to you.” She said as she stood up. Xiao’s breath hitched when she took his hand in hers.
“Can we talk?”
He nodded before taking her to another room, away from the man who’d stolen her from him, away from the man he so desperately wanted to strangle right now.
“What did you want to say?” Xiao asked after an awkward silence. Maybe she was here to end what they had once and for all.
He dreaded her answer.
“Xiao...do you have your phone with you?” Lumine asked, hand squeezing his.
While he had turned it off, Xiao had always brought his phone along with him. He nodded and led them to his bag, where his phone was.
Lumine sighed. “So you had it turned off. Could you turn it on for me?”
Xiao looked at her, confused, before complying. The phone turned on and the screen lit up with unread messages. His gaze locked on one that Lumine sent before tapping on it.
He read the message and looked up at Lumine, eyes wide.
“Do you see now?” Lumine smiled gently at him, and all Xiao wanted right now was to collapse into her arms and listen to her heartbeat.
“I’m sorry,” He murmured. “I avoided you all this time and it was only a misunderstanding in the end.” He felt like a kid, insecure and full of shame.
Lumine took him into her arms and cradled his head lovingly. “You are the only one I want with me, Xiao.”
Xiao’s heartbeat quickened. Was this…?
“I’m in love with you, Xiao. I always have been.”
Xiao smashed their lips together clumsily and Lumine laughed. “I’ve always been in love with you, Lumine,” Xiao mumbled. “I’m sorry I avoided you. How can I make up for it?”
“You’ve already been forgiven, Xiao, but if you insist…”
Lumine had barely said anything before Xiao picked her up and put her on the couch.
Lumine giggled and Xiao’s lips descended on hers once more.
The truth about the photograph with Lumine and Kaeya surfaced on the web when they both finally made a statement about it and Lumine declared her very real and very serious relationship with the drummer of a popular band.
Xiao had liked their arrangement, but he liked their relationship even more.