Chapter Text
There were things that Xiao and everyone else around him knew that he was good at. He was an adeptus, a yaksha, a warrior .
He could wield a polearm with unmatched prowess. He could shoot straight with a bow and make do with a sword. Should his weapon be wrested from his grasp, his fists could be just as deadly.
He was also good at…
….well, fighting was all he was good at, really. Conquering demons and standing guard over the Liyue didn’t really leave him much time to discover any extracurriculars he might excel in or simply enjoy.
Oh, he could finish a plate of Almond Tofu in record time, though, that was something.
Fighting and eating tofu. Those were his strengths.
Which is probably why he finds this particularly difficult.
To be fair, nothing was harder than standing in front of someone you…care about and telling them how you feel. He’s never been so eloquent with his words or great at articulating his feelings, not like the gallant princes in the books Verr Goldet loaned him from time to time.
The mere thought of sharing his feelings had made him shudder, yet here he was, limp qingxin flowers in hand (roots and all), trying .
“You…look nice today.”
A lame attempt, even Xiao can recognize that. The traveler looks more confused than flattered, brows furrowed as she waits for him to say more.
Her confusion isn’t unwarranted. Xiao rarely complimented her on anything other than her skills with a blade.
“Did she not look nice yesterday?” Paimon cuts in, unprompted as usual.
Heat quickly rises to Xiao’s face as Lumine’s brows raise in silent question.
Damn that tiny, loud-mouthed fairy.
But he can fix this, he can . “No! I mean— uh, yes? You looked nice yesterday too.”
He fights back a scowl as Paimon makes a noncommittal noise, arms crossed over her chest. As if he cared what she thought.
“Thank you, Xiao,” the traveler smiles nonetheless, saving him from opening his mouth again and embarrassing himself further. She takes the flowers when he holds them out. “I’ll see you later for commissions?”
“Yes.”
He watches her leave, and hardly has time to brood before someone else decides to make light of his distress.
“Ouch. That was a little painful to watch.”
Xiao, with what is absolutely not a blush dusting his cheeks, merely glances over his shoulder and huffs, “What business do you have here, Harbinger?”
Judging from the lax posture and easy smile he wears, the 11th Harbinger truly lacks any self-preservation skills. “Well, I came looking for the traveler, of course.”
His eyes narrow dangerously. “What business do you have with the traveler?”
“She hasn’t shown up for our weekly foray, but that doesn’t concern you.”
He’s not sure why that irritates him more than it should. Not sure why he cares. “You’re in the Guili Plains. Everything that happens on this ground is my business .”
“C’mon, drop the vigilant yaksha act for a minute and think ,” Childe hums, entirely nonplussed by the weapon that’s been summoned in the adeptus’ hand. “Because it sounds to me like you’re just jealous .”
Xiao, who was indeed the Vigilant Yaksha that stands guard over the Guili Plains, did not get jealous. Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons, who could move faster than the wind and consume almond tofu even faster, was certainly not jealous of someone so lowly as a Fatui Harbinger.
“I can help, if you want.”
The weapon disappears as Xiao turns away with a huff. “Your assistance is not necessary.”
But he knows just whose is.
_____
“You’d like to know about…how to court someone?”
“Yes,” Xiao nods, another hot blush rising to his face. Morax— or, Zhongli, was the only person other than the traveler who he trusted to glean advice from.
Zhongli hums, a hand on his chin. “I see. Unfortunately, there are many modern courting rituals I have not yet familiarized myself with, so I believe it may be best for you to seek assistance through the many stories available at the Wanwen Bookhouse. If you find any that you are interested in purchasing, I can request the funds from Childe—”
“That won’t be necessary,” Xiao interrupts, shuddering at the thought of approaching the Harbinger for help. “I’d like to hear how you would court someone.”
The Geo Archon hums, stoic expression momentarily softening. It seems…longing. “It has been nearly a millennia since I’ve sought the affections of another. I fear my advice may be…outdated. We may have to call in an expert.”
_____
“Hey, Mr. Zhongli! And…hey, now that I think about it, you’re kinda like his ward.”
Xiao can count on one hand the amount of bad decisions he’s made, and this is one of them. He ignores the Harbinger to glance at Zhongli.
“What is he doing here?”
Clearing his throat, Zhongli carefully removes Childe’s arm from where it’s slung across his shoulder. “A young person’s perspective allows for a more diverse selection in deciding on appropriate courting rituals.” Then, when Xiao doesn’t look convinced, “There is no need to worry, as Childe has indulged in more than his fair share of romantic literature.”
The wink shot in his direction makes his stomach turn. Yes, this was a mistake. “I appreciate your effort, but I think I’ll figure this out on my own.
He’s just beginning to turn on his heel when Zhongli sighs loudly, folding his hands atop the desk. “Tell me, Xiao, do you truly believe you could hold the affections of a woman with your… brooding aura alone?”
Xiao is lost already. It’s a foreign feeling. “Brooding aura— what does that mean?”
“It means you put the emo in anemo,” Childe quips, almost earning himself a smack with a polearm.
Instead, he earns a smack in the back of the head from Zhongli’s hand. “What I mean , is that there is a process. Steps you can follow to win the heart of your beloved.”
“First, you must soften them with your words,” Zhongli begins, rising from his seat to slowly pace about the room. “Praise her, worship her. Humbly ask her to accompany you for tea, or perhaps a meal.”
Xiao retrieves a pen and some loose paper, nodding. Praise the traveller. He could do that. He could ask Verr Goldet to order food from the kitchen for them, and they could eat out on the roof.
Zhongli continues, “Then, if the night is still young, do take her dancing. Show her that your heart and bodies are one, whether you’re leading her, or letting her lead. There is nothing more beautiful than a waltz beneath the stars.”
The archon suddenly turns serious. “If all goes well, and you think you’re both ready, then you can make love to her. Tenderly. Passionately—”
“Did you seriously just call it ‘making love?’ ” Childe scoffs, rolling his eyes as he pushes up from his spot against the wall. “Archons, you sound so old . It’s my turn now.”
“In Snezhnaya, we value strength more than anything. A show of power, to show you can protect your lover. Do something grand! Something badass! My great-great grandfather fought a bear to win my great-great grandmother’s heart!” The Harbinger explains gleefully, looking like a kid recounting his favourite tale.
Truth be told, Xiao did like the idea of fighting. Especially for Lumine. He could fight better than he could dance. Was more fluent in the language of battle than of love.
(And he knew just who he’d fight.)