Work Text:
There is a man on your windowsill, on the other side of the thin glass. He is tap, tap, tapping away at the glass, imploring you to open the window. You cannot see the man, because you dare not tear your eyes away from the flickering TV screen. The newswoman is announcing today’s tragedy, eager and foaming at the mouth.
Still, you know the stranger on the windowsill is there. He will not leave you, and your apartment is empty.
His eyes, bloodshot and bulging, stare through the window. They are the only part of him that is visible through the darkness. Tap. Tap. Tap.
As you turn your head, slowly, you can feel the bones in your neck grinding against each other. The TV screams and screams. “LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME.”
When you, at last, meet the eyes of the man on your windowsill, more of him is visible. His eyes seem even larger than before. A thin mouth, gleaming with sharp white teeth, twists up in a facsimile of a smile. A long finger touches the glass.
The night wind is howling outside. Of course, you wouldn’t open the window and let the frigid winter inside the apartment. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Your eyes droop, slip, down, to the window latch. It’s unlocked.
A creak of hinges as soft as a whisper thunders through the room. A cold draft of air blows gently at your hair.
As though suddenly freed by some force, you rise from the sofa to run. The floorboards groan in protest and your feet pound against the wood. You reach for the apartment door and wrench the handle. It’s stuck.
As you struggle at the door with rising panic, you hear the slam of the windows against the walls, and a stronger gust of wind nearly knocks you over. Soft footfalls follow. The door shakes and refuses to budge.
You can hear the pounding of your heart, and your gasping breaths, but also another set of rasping breaths behind you. Slowly, you stop tugging at the door handle.
A pair of cold hands, far heavier than they should be, close around your neck.
The lights turn on.
It’s Xiao. He’s muttering something under his breath. Removing his hands from your neck, he grabs your shoulders and turns you around.
“Where’s my Jade Spear? Why didn’t you pull on my weapon banner? I would have even made peace with Shenhe’s spear.”
You stare at him blankly.
“And my C1? Hm? See, this is why you can’t get the abyss masochist role.”
The TV is still running. It’s playing a news report on the Genshin player who converted all his Xiao savings to standard banner wishes. A calm anemo-infused breeze flows around the room.
Your mind is slowly catching up. After everything you’ve been through this evening, you could only think to say one thing.
“Was saving for fox waifu, sorry man.”