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Xiao noticed quite early on that Lumine loved decorating her hair with various things the most usual thing was the flowers that he could never quite figure out what type it was and the two feathers. He had asked her about the flowers before and she told him a rather vague answer of, “It’s just the flower I have been wearing since I woke up” It was as if she was just as confused on why she wore it but did it anyways.
Xiao knew he wanted to get her something she would like for her hair but he wasn’t sure what. He wished he could go down to Liyue harbour and look at all the fancy hair pieces the women of Liyue loved but he couldn’t put the people in danger over something so minor. There was always an option of asking someone like Ganyu or Yanfei but that would take explaining the situation and he would never hear the end of it. Which left Xiao back at square zero.
He did start to wonder why he cared about it so much it wasn’t like she lacked anything to put in her hair. She had the mora and the ability to go buy herself something yet he found himself wanting to do something nice for her. Something that would make her smile and light up her eyes like fireworks.
Which is what led him to his next idea of searching in books of all things for things that people tend to decorate their hair with from a more natural source. In all of Xiao’s many years alive not once did it occur to him somewhere down the lines he would be secretly borrowing books called ‘Liyue’s women's guide to natural hair decorations’ it was slightly humiliating at the lengths he was going to just to fine something perfect for his so called friend.
Surprisingly the books actually started giving him ideas of things she would maybe like there was many ideas of what she may like such as flowers, jewels and certain insects such as butterflies and crystalflies.
The last one gave him an idea, Lumine had always expressed her love for the tiny shiny flies. Even telling once how she wished they were easier to catch as she loved the way they looked. The cogs in Xiao’s head started to turn quicker and more efficiently. He now had his mind set on getting Lumine at least a jar full of the crystalflies even more if he is lucky enough.
Turns out Lumine wasn’t kidding when she told him they weren’t the easiest to catch. He had never exactly gone out of his way to try and catch them before he didn’t realize he could have such hatred for such a small creature. Xiao tried not to look so much like an idiot as he used his vision to jump high up to catch the tiny bastards in the jar he had with him.
After around a week he had managed to catch a jar full. It didn’t sound like an awful lot to most people but turns out not only are crystalflies hard to catch they are also extremely hard to find. It got the point where Xiao actually had to go around Mondstadt at the cover of night and pinch some of theirs. Usually Xiao would shut down the idea of leaving Liyue but the idea of giving Lumine this gift overrides this.
Once Xiao finally had them all collected he had no idea how to actually give it to her. He could wait around six months until her birthday but that would be to far off. There was always the option of giving it to her randomly but for some reason he found that wasn’t special enough, he tried racking his brain of other options until he finally realized.
Lantern rite, it was less than a week away. He was rather upset with himself for forgetting such an easy answer. Lumine loved lantern rite she has been going on about it non stop every time she has seen him in the past month or two. Xiao had been caught up with getting her this gift he had completely forgot about it. He supposed after celebrating so many they have become mere whispers in the wind, well until Lumine had come crashing into his life.
Xiao managed to track down Lumine rather easily after all she wasn’t a difficult person to find considering she sticks out like a sore thumb half the time. He simply told her to meet her at their spot on the cliffs of Liyue for the Lantern rite fireworks then disappeared before she could get any more information out of him.
Lumine always had a way of getting him to spill things even when he didn’t want to it was as if she knew how to press all his buttons. It was something only she was able to do, he wonders if it has something to do with the feelings he felt towards her.
Xiao got up to their meeting spot early, holding the jar of crystalflies with as much care as possible. He had been preparing for what to say to her when he gives it, he had prepared two things to say for hopefully every out come. Because as much as he had been trying to wash away the nerves there might be a chance she absolutely hates them. Even if that most likely wont be the case he still planned to disappear as quickly as possible if it happens.
Sounds of foot steps approaching snapped him out of his thoughts, when he turned around already knowing who it will be. He saw Lumine herself walking towards him with a bright smile covering her face.
“I’m glad for once I didn’t have to beg you to come meet me” She joked sitting down next to him while nudging his shoulder.
“It only took you three years” He told her as if he wasn’t a ball of anxiety currently, yet as if he had the letters written across his forehead Lumine eyed him suspiciously.
“What’s up?” She asked tilting her head to the side, Xiao sighed thinking ‘well there’s no time like the present’. He took the jar that had been hiding by the side of him and presented it to her.
“Hmm?” She asked taking them carefully her eyes widening, “Xiao how on earth did you mange to catch so many!” Her eyes lit up exactly how he had hoped they would.
“I got them because I know you like putting things in your hair” He gave context, “I read it in a book that people put them in theirs”
Lumine laughed loudly nearly making him go deaf, “You read a book just so you knew what I liked, that's so sweet” She said the last part quieter more meaningfully.
Xiao just turned away with a light blush dusting his cheeks, he heard Lumine sigh next to him before he felt a quick kiss on his cheek, “I love them thank you” She whispered in his ear before a loud whistle broke the moment of silence, the fireworks had begun.