Work Text:
After the defeat of Beisht, Lumine doesn't arrive at Wangshu Inn until the dead of night, when all is asleep—save for one wide-awake Xiao, who had definitely not been anticipating her return. No. Not at all.
"You..." Xiao sniffs the air. The subtle yet acrid scent of rich alcohol drifts into his nose. "It seems you have had a busy night of celebrations," he notes.
Lumine giggles. His heart skips a beat, and he prays the night is too dark for her to notice the warmth of his ears.
"Mhm. But I didn't drink all that much, I swear,” she says sheepishly, rubbing her neck. "Is it that obvious?"
"Yes," he says bluntly. If the smell hadn't given her away, the flush of her cheeks would have—though it is pleasing, how red dusts her skin. But he cuts that thought off, before it has chance to take root and consume him. She distracts him enough as is.
"Ningguang held a banquet," she explains, "as thanks for helping Liyue. Though I really didn't do much..."
The Tianquan. Xiao didn't bother himself much with mortal affairs and governance, but he knows Ningguang to be a shrewd woman—and now, a capable defender of Liyue. From what he could see from his vantage point at Mt. Tianheng, it had been a close call. But Liyue remains safe.
Xiao looks Lumine over with a careful eye, scanning for any sign of injuries. Bruises. Scrapes. Lacerations. There were none. He nods, pleased with the fact that she was healthy and whole after the ordeal with Beisht.
Well then. He looks away and prepares himself with an imperceptible inhale.
Quietly, he looks into her eyes—starglitter bright—and offers, "I am glad to see you safe. You have done well to protect Liyue."
"Oh." Lumine freezes. Stares at him with wide eyes.
For a moment there is only the silence of the night surrounding them.
Then she ducks her head down, the blush on her face even more furious than before. "I didn't really do anything. It was mostly thanks to Shenhe," she says with a rueful sigh. “I don’t really deserve your words.”
"I am sure you have done your part, despite it," Xiao says, not unkindly.
Lumine shakes her head. The moonlight breaks on her hair, silver and gold. "She saved me when things were looking rough," she explains. "I hadn't expected Beisht's strength, you see."
Xiao's eyes sharpen. That did not sound good. "Explain." He had thought with her skills...
She chuckles at his tight voice. "Don't worry. I'm fine, aren't I?" She spreads open her arms and does a quick twirl. Her white dress rustles softly with her graceful spin. "See? Perfectly fine. Not a scratch on me."
He remains displeased. "I told you: should you need my help—"
"—you need only call my name," she finishes with a wave of her hand. "I know."
"So if you were in danger, why didn't you listen?"
"The adepti weren't supposed to interfere, were they?" she counters. "After all, you have your new contract to adhere to now. You said so yourself."
Xiao crosses his arm and scowls. But he says nothing in refutation.
"Wasn't that why you were at Mt. Tianheng?" she teases. "In case Ningguang's plan failed, you had your own plans, right? But it didn't fail, and I'm standing in front of you, alive. So don't worry so much."
"Still," he says stubbornly. Did she not understand the reason for his concern? Foolish woman. "The next time that you are at risk of losing your life..."
Do not hesitate, he wants to say. But the words are stuck in his throat. For all the demons he has exorcised, he cannot rid of this one. So he remains silent.
But she understands anyway, it seems. Lumine nods, eyes crinkling up, and says, "I know. I'm grateful for your care."
He resists the sudden urge to shy away from her gaze, trying to keep his stoic expression. "It... It is nothing."
Lumine laces her hands together and gives him a shy glance. "Not to me," she whispers. “I understand the depth of your offer.”
His breath hitches.
And when he tries to still his too-quick heart, it disobeys.
Unknowing of the devastation she caused, she continues, "And thank you also, for trusting me to protect Liyue in your stead."
"Do not presume my thoughts," he says firmly. "I never said anything of the sort."
But when she looks at him, all piercing golden eyes in the dark of night, he finds that he cannot win. So he averts his gaze and coughs. "Hm."
"Well then, I don't think I'm putting words in your mouth at all!" Lumine laughs, but there is no trace of malice in the sonorous sound. “Am I?”
The truth lies in the way he does not dare to meet her eyes. Luckily, when she laces her hands and looks up at the skies, a subdued yawn escapes her.
"You should sleep," he immediately says. He is not running away. Truly. "Night has descended long ago."
"I should," she agrees.
So she does. But as she goes to descend the stairs, Xiao stares at her back. Clenches his fists. And then calls her name. "Lumine."
She freezes, before turning. "Yes, Xiao?"
"…Good night," he murmurs. Pauses to search for kind words, and says, "May you have only sweet dreams."
She blinks—and breaks into a smile. "Yes. I will. Thank you."
He watches her go, and the scent of wine and flowers goes with her. The night wind hums its gentle lullaby, the moonlight scatters over Guili Plains, and with them, the Guardian Yaksha is to keep his constant vigil...
But at this moment, all Xiao can think of is Lumine.
.
.
.
Bonus:
Distractions to his duty are annoyances at best, enemies at worst. Xiao shakes his head, trying to disperse the remnants of her presence—
He fails. And finds that, even though he should, he doesn't hate it.