Work Text:
IT WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN Not that she meant there was an important event or anniversary. It was just simply her birthday. Hu Tao’s birthday–felt weird to say if she was honest. She celebrated with only one person last year but now. She had not heard from him for weeks.
She would call out his name from the balcony of Wangshu Inn–but to no avail.
The last thing he said to her was that he was going on a commission with the traveler in the Chasm.
And neither were heard from ever since then.
Sadly because of his absence, she could not deliver the invitation letter to her birthday party, she only made three. Mr. Zhongli, The traveler, and Xiao. Two were missing and the one who did receive his invitation was called to diplomatic discussions with the Fatui.
But Hu Tao was not one to wallow in her sorrow–she was one to look sadness in the face and laugh at it. Although…It was proving difficult to do so in this situation. Maybe she could teach herself something new! She always saw Childe fishing and maybe she would enjoy something like that, plus who could beat fresh ingredients in a birthday dinner?
She loved the taste of fish too.
But all she desired right now was to have fun with a friend and celebrate another year given to her. No cake though, she was not one for overly sweet desserts.
It was early morning, the day was still young–she could still enjoy herself despite the gloomy atmosphere she created.
“Look out world!” Hu Tao equipped herself with Childe’s old fishing pole and twirled it as she did with her polearm. “Oops! I mean…look out fish! Director Hu Tao is coming for you!” She ran to the door but stopped in her tracks forgetting one vital piece of fishing. She needed it to even attempt it.
Bait.
But what did fish even like to eat from the surface? Maybe they would like a homecooked meal? And so director Hu Tao, the jack of many trades got to work.
She observed how Childe would roll the bait into spheres and then hook them, but how would hers keep their shape? She had no clue, but there was only one way to find out.
After much trial and error on the director's part, she thought she had a perfect prototype. But she could not be the judge of this–it was up to the fish!
She ran out the door a mess of a woman with her impromptu fishing supplies ready to go catch her some lunch! If the fish liked the bait that is.
She ran through the streets ignoring the perturbed yells of the citizens as she ran into them, the big wide sea was waiting for her–and her stomach was waiting for those little fish to swim into it!
If Childe could do it then certainly she could too! After all, he was quite the strange character; that was coming from Hu Tao out of all people too.
Hu Tao whistled a song as she sat on a dock and let her feet hang off of it, she baited her hook and threw it into the water.
Now came the worst part of fishing–waiting for a bite.
Hu Tao kicked her feet and stared at the blue waves below. She was hoping to see some fish swirling around beneath the water, but all she saw was her disappointed face staring back at her. No matter she just needed time.
This gave her a lot of time to think to herself too; nothing but her and the sound of the sea and distant talk in the city. She would've had a special birthday edition existential crisis, but for some reason, her mind drifted to the Chasm.
And those that had been there for a week or two–it felt like forever to her though.
No responses to her letters she would write to the traveler and Xiao was unresponsive to her calls again. She never truly felt alone until she was in the city.
A tug on her heart strings.
Wait that felt too physical to be her heart.
“Aha!” Hu Tao yelled as she reeled in whatever the catch of the day was. “Oya? You look a bit too green and limp to be a fish!” She stared at the mass of slimy kelp that found its way to her hook. She took it off piece by piece and gave it back to the ocean.
She put bait back on the hook and cast it as far as she could this time–anticipating a bite at any second now.
Seconds melted into minutes, minutes into hours. It seemed her homemade bait was not to the fish's tastes. She had no clue fish could be picky with their meals! But oh well, the sun was starting to set and there was still work to be done and a big birthday meal to make!
Hu Tao picked up all her stuff, wiped her forehead, and started to make it back home. She had leftover bait, maybe the traveler could find a use for it.
Hu Tao walked into the parlor, it was mostly dead quiet aside from the undertakers completing some of her work. Even though she insisted she could do it despite what day it was.
“Hiya guys! What are you working on?” She put her arms around one of their shoulders causing them to jump from the sudden intrusion.
“Well, Mr. Zhongli gave us this task, he wanted to keep it from yo–” Hu Tao snatched the paper from their hand and read the details. “Director wait!” Hu Tao’s face did not waver as she read the depressing text.
So he was dead.
Shame he did not come to discuss his dream funeral with her first.
People discuss their dream days all the time! Weddings, births, their own birthday. Why did funerals have to be any different?
“The Chasm only killed Adeptus Xiao?” Hu Tao asked waving the papers around. Perhaps the situation was not fully realized, that's why she couldn't cry.
“Assumed to be dead, he was the only one that did not come back from the commission.” The room grew silent as they all stared at Hu Tao, waiting for an outburst, for a fraction of a reaction.
“That’s a shame, well I’ll work on this since it's a funeral for a yaksha! I’ve never done one of these before I'm quite excited!” Hu Tao folded the paper and held it in her hand, gently gripping it.
“We all offer our sincerest apologies director, as well as the adventurers guild.” Hu Tao just scoffed at them, he was another client, plus he was as old as the cobwebs in her house. He probably felt free.
“I’m gonna get to it, I got a lot of reading to do!” Hu Tao waved as she disappeared into her office.
Xiao, the vigilant yaksha and Liyue’s protector dead.
She tried to think of the last thing she said to him–tried to think of anything she could do to honor his memory.
How do you do Xiao justice? Not only did he protect Liyue for years but he was a kind soul underneath the walls he built.
The last time she had to arrange a funeral so personal was her grandfather’s, and even this one felt more difficult.
She flipped through the old records kept by generations before her for the funerals of the yaksha. All of them were just the cleansing of the yaksha's physical body. She did not have a body to work off of this time.
One thing was for sure–she would figure out how to give him the best funeral she ever put on.
HU TAO WAS LEFT WITH a headache and scattered crumbled pieces of paper all over her office. It was late, her hand was cramping and her head throbbed. Her last thought was a traditional funeral, Xiao was technically over eighty so she could wear a white robe there.
But she was tired, the day was spent and she was ready to sleep.
She changed out of her normal clothes–placed her grandfather's hat somewhere safe and brushed her hair. It was her birthday, but it felt wrong to celebrate herself when one of her closest friends had met a bitter end in the darkest pit of the earth.
She would usually remind herself that he would want her to celebrate, but she did not even feel up for that at the moment.
Once bubbly and excited, she was hungry and aggravated.
At least he was in a better place, she could close her eyes and forget anything had happened.
She was a year older but it was not the time to celebrate that.
She just thought of how terrifying it was to die in a place like that.
THE MOON SHONE BRIGHTLY ABOVE but he was not too late to go and give her the gifts he accumulated.
After the events of the Chasm this morning he immediately disappeared without a trace, well except to Mr. Zhongli and the traveler. No one else knew he escaped and ran to complete a very important task.
Well to him.
Despite having no issues with travel, the lines were long and he had to make sure the food was fresh. He also took a little detour to Mondstadt and Inazuma–just to get some memorable souvenirs as a gift. Catching the crystalflies also proved to be a pain in his side today.
But nevertheless–he was here and ready to celebrate her.
She always left her window open for him just in case he desired to go pick on treasure hoarders and fatui in Wuwang Hill with her.
And that’s when he saw it.
Hu Tao snored and giggled in her sleep as he leaned across the frame of the windowsill. He was too late, but she looked quite cute in this situation, the drool even was endearing in his eyes.
He could at least watch over her while she sleeps, that was the least he could do after missing her birthday.
“Ghost!” He heard her scream but she shot up and ran to him anyway. “I wondered if your spirit would come to visit me, now where’s your body? I’ve been thinking of what to do for your funeral and without a body, it's a little difficult.” For seemingly being dead asleep a second ago she was now asking him questions and rubbing away the drowsiness in her eyes.
“My body is here, with you.” She craned her neck when he said that, completely confused.
“You were declared dead Xiao. By the adventurers guild.” She laughed at him–so hard that she had difficulty catching her breath after.
“Then let me ask you.” Xiao reached out to hold her hand and gripped it. “Do I feel dead?”
“You feel like my Adeptus Xiao.” She giggled as she gripped it. “Geez, you should find some other day to fake your death other than my birthday! Mr. Zhongli’s would be a better prank!” She tugged him into her room from the windowsill as she embraced him. He embraced back–this had to be the feeling of home.
“I’ll think about it.” She felt like this circumstance–made her feel like someone else to him. She felt like his wife waiting for him to get home, so they could share a bed and their sorrows. Such a dumb thought–but it was one that made her teeth rot.
It was one she felt envious towards.
“Well, wanna tell me about your adventures?” She anticipated a great story of what was in the Chasm, of what he slue in the darkest depths.
“No.” Her face contorted to one of confusion–why would he ever refuse a conversation with her. “I want to tell you happy birthday.” Hu Tao’s face looked excited, confused, and elated all at the same time.
“You came all this way to tell me happy birthday? Is this a prank?” Hu Tao felt stupid asking him that question. She was the one known for her idiosyncratic behavior and for pulling pranks. Not Xiao, he had never done that to her or anyone.
“And to give you gifts.” Xiao went out the window and brought in all sorts of gifts. Hu Tao lit the lantern by her bed as he did. There was so much she could not even believe her eyes.
“Xiao! You didn't have to do this!” She wanted to jump into the pile–her intrusive thoughts took over her as she did just that. The chuckle from the adeptus made it worth it though.
“Morax said you are celebrating alone again.” Xiao brought in one more thing. A dinner of her favorite food and two cupcakes. Steamed fish and prawn dumplings were her absolute weakness. “You don't deserve that, sorry for being late. Inazuma was hard to get to.”
“You went to Inazuma for me?!” She looked at him with a cross look on her face. He really did not need to go into all this trouble for her. She knew she was worth it, but not worth it for an adeptus.
“Sure did. Open your gifts.” Xiao said sitting on the floor next to her. She was not sure where to begin.
Hu Tao clawed into her presents like she was a kid again. She opened up gift after gift gasping and immediately wearing it or looking at it from all angles.
Every gift was beautiful. Beyond what she could imagine.
Crystalfly hairpins in the shape of butterflies, decorated with one from every region. A new book for her to write poems in, a lucky omamori from the Grand Narukami Shrine, a Cecelia from Mondstadt, and a windblume poem from that region as well.
The poem she was told not to open yet, not until after they ate together. She was wearing the crystalfly crown and holding every other gift by her like they were the most precious things on the planet.
“Did you like your gifts?” Xiao ate some almond tofu he brought for himself as Hu Tao chowed on the fish and prawn dumplings.
“I adore them! You’re one thoughtful Xiao!” Her voice was muffled as she was still chewing food. It was seen as quite rude, but Xiao took pride. It meant she was enjoying the food.
“I’m glad.” He smiled as he took out her birthday cupcake with edible flowers and gold dust sprinkled on it. It looked somewhat like her hat in a way. He placed a candle on it and handed it to her. “Use your pyro vision.” He sat next to her as she did.
She closed her eyes for a minute to make a wish. As the wax slowly melted from the strong flame from her vision.
She blew it out as she made a wish and turned to him.
“Look I did it in one go my wish is going to come true!” She pointed to it but noticed as he leaned in and closed his eyes. Perhaps her wish worked a bit too well. “Xiao wait! You don't kiss just anyone on their birthday!” I know you witnessed it with Keqing and Ganyu but…it isn't a mortal thing.” She needed to clear up any confusion, just in case he was trying to repeat something he did not know the implication of.
“You’re not just anybody to me.” The sudden boldness frightened her, but she also felt quite giddy about it. He held her chin and leaned in once more; this time meeting her.
It was about as awkward as you can imagine it.
She didn't move, he didn't move. It was simply a peck and nothing else. She held her lips after being surprised by the situation. She had more of a reaction to this than finding out he was “dead.”
“Read the poem.” He gestured to the paper close by her. She opened it with caution and read it.
She could not believe it.
A declaration of love and adoration.
On her birthday!
“Didn't know you had such a way with words~ Xiao, be a dear and help me with my next poems!” She laughed as pink dusted her cheeks from the sheer emotions he showed on the paper towards her. It was a dream to have him think of her like that.
“I had help from an old friend.” He grabbed his cupcake and turned back to her. “So will you enter a courtship with me?” Hu Tao held her cupcake with both of her hands as she feigned thinking just to see him nervous.
“What a strange way of asking me to go out with you.” She giggle as she clinked their cupcakes together. “It would make me so happy, I could die.” Xiao looked like he could barely contain his laugh, he was so close to losing it and she couldn't resist.
“Tickle time!” Her fingers made their way to his waist as his laughter now filled the room. Followed by his begs and pleas for her to stop. She got up and managed to get him on the floor as she kept her assault going.
But the sound of it was so euphoric.
“How dare you attack a Yaksha, foolish mortal girl.” Xiao moved his hands to copy her movement on him. Her laughter now echoed as he straddled her onto the floor. Her snort laughs were his favorite because she was embarrassed by them.
But now that he got her on the floor and his shadow loomed over her, he realized how compromising her position was. Her hair was splattered everywhere, a thin sheen of sweat on her skin, her eyes filled with tears as her chest softly rose and fell at a rapid pace, and she was still in her nightgown. All this together, made for quite the scene.
Made even him falter.
He quickly got off of her and ate his cupcake without another word. How shameful of him to think those things about the director. His now girlfriend he supposed, but that did not change the lewdness of his thoughts.
“Cupcake time?” Hu Tao said as she caught her breath from the sudden fight. She was left in much worse shape than him. “Yummy!” Hu Tao took out the candle and devoured the treat in one bite. She would skip out on dessert but since he brought it she would eat every last bit of it.
After all was said and done. It was an eventful birthday, she enjoyed herself and his company, but she had work to do in the morning.
“Let’s go to bed Xiao, I'm sure you’re tired after all that adventuring for me.” Hu Tao grabbed his hand and led him from the table into her room. Where this whole party started.
“You can sleep, adepti have no ne-” Hu Tao put a finger over his lips, then took her thumb and index finger across it, and flicked the air.
“None of that! I zipped your mouth shut and threw away the key! Sleep you rotten adeptus!” Hu Tao pushed him onto the bed and crawled over him to the spot by the window. She always liked sleeping as far from the door as she could, made her feel safer.
“Is that a pet name mortals use when dating?” He craned his neck. He always heard Venti using names like that, but rotten adeptus was certainly not one of them. He felt her hand on his chest and legs intertwine with his as she got comfortable.
“No, just me and you thing.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as her grip on him became stronger.
“Then what is one?” Hu Tao opened her eyes just to roll them at him. She craned her neck up to him and turned his face to her. He fell in love all over again when those eyes stared at him–eyebags and all.
“Goodnight…how does darling sound?” She asked him. He thought he could maybe get used to it. He preferred when he heard his name on her lips after all.
Hearing that voice say his name in excitement when she had something to show him, nothing could beat that in his mind.
“Goodnight darling.” He kissed her one more time. He liked this one much better, It was deep yet sweeter than honey on a summer day. She parted from him and smiled before getting comfy again.
It was Hu Tao’s birthday, but Xiao felt like he had gotten the better gift today.