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“Okay, let’s try it.” The Traveller and Paimon had spent painstaking hours getting everything ready for Xiao’s birthday, but the preparations were finally finished, and all that was left now was to call him.
Paimon opened her mouth to shout his name, but was interrupted by the Traveller with an unfortunate reminder.
“Not you, Paimon,” the Traveller chuckled. “Remember what happened last time?”
During the Moonchase Festival, the pair had wanted Xiao to taste Xiangling’s cooking for a competition, but despite calling his name over and over again, Paimon could not will the adeptus to come forth. It was a different story for the Traveller, however, as one mere mention of his name was all it took to beckon Xiao to their side.
Paimon sighed and crossed her arms. “Fine.” She looked pointedly at the Traveller.
The Traveller cleared their throat. “Xiao?”
A mere second passed. “Hmm?” The voice came from behind them. “What is it?”
“Happy birthday!” The Traveller and Paimon exclaimed, and the former reached out to remove the lid from the dish set on the table before them.
“Oh.” Xiao peered at the dish. “Almond tofu. Thank you, but…” He took in a deep breath. “You had no need to do anything for my birthday. It is an inconsequential day, with no particular significance in the life of someone who exists only to kill.”
“Aww, come on!” Paimon cried out. “Why don’t you just try to enjoy the day today? The Traveller had something really special planned for you.”
“Oh?” Xiao raised an eyebrow and turned to look at the Traveller.
“Way to shift responsibility,” the Traveller said under their breath with gritted teeth. Some of the preparations were entirely Paimon’s idea, but that wasn’t what she told Xiao at all.
The Traveller then raised the volume of their voice to answer the adeptus. “The last Lantern Rite…” The Traveller paused, not sure how to continue.
Paimon took this as a cue to begin to speak herself. “Last Lantern Rite, you said that you didn’t want to see the fireworks since you don’t like crowds, and well—“
“I did see the fireworks,” Xiao interrupted. “Just…” He looked away. “I watched them alone.”
There was a pause. Paimon and the Traveller gave each other a look. “How would you like to watch the fireworks again, Xiao?” The Traveller asked. “Not alone this time, but together with me.”
“Us, you mean,” Paimon crossed her arms in indignation.
The Traveller ignored her, and continued. “I received this Launch Tube when preparing for the Lantern Rite fireworks show, and I thought we could watch some of the fireworks together. It’s not Lantern Rite anymore, of course, but I thought…” The Traveller trailed off.
There was a pause, and then Xiao responded. “I would like that, I think. It would be nice to spend some time with you, no matter what it was we were doing.”
The Traveller smiled at the adeptus, and if they didn’t know any better, they would have thought that Xiao gave a little smile back as well. “Alright! Let’s light it up then!”
Paimon and the Traveller set up the Launch Tube, and prepared to set off the fireworks they specially modified for Xiao’s birthday. The Traveller pulled out a chair and sat to watch the fireworks, looking up into the sky. Xiao sat as well, tentatively taking a bite of the Almond Tofu before also peering up.
The fireworks show began, and the three watched quietly, looking with wonder into the sky.
“Traveller,” Xiao interrupted the silence.
“Hmm?” The Traveller turned to look at Xiao?”
“That firework, the one in the shape of a green bird, is that supposed to be me?”
“Uh…” The Traveller scratched their head and looked sheepishly at the adeptus. Paimon burst out into laughter.
Xiao shook his head, taking another bite of the almond tofu. He had turned away, but the Traveller could swear they just saw him smile.