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It isn’t often Xiao is afforded the luxury of rest. Truly, he works himself far too hard, until rest becomes a necessity over a perceived luxury. Tonight is one of those moments. The amber eyes of the God of Contracts pass over the adepti above him.
“A tree is hardly a suitable place for you.” His tone did not leave room for argument, even as Xiao’s eyes snapped open and an excuse clearly readied itself on his lips. “Come.” Rex Lapis beckons, turning away. But a moment later, his most successful general is at his side.
“There have been many instances where I’ve slept wherever is available.” he attempts to justify. “If sleep comes. There isn’t always a bed available in the field, I’m sure you understand that. There’s also those injured to prioritize first, anyway.” Xiao’s eyes do not lift from the dirt beneath their boots as he accompanies his lord inside.
“We are not on the battleground at present, general.” he is reminded, not unkindly. “There are plenty of beds available, you needn’t be injured to make use of them– you aren’t, are you? Injured, I mean.”
His gaze became contemplative for a moment, before returning to his fine-tuned neutrality. Or what would be neutrality for someone not versed well in his mannerisms. “No. I’m fine.”
Sighing, Rex Lapis reaches into his robe, fishing out a small packet from the batch he had on hand. “Take this. With water, my dear yaksha. Tell me, how are the others?” Hopefully he won’t have to deliver medicine to any of the other yaksha this night.
“As well as they can be.” Xiao leaves it as that, ever the conversationalist. Rex Lapis makes note to round his way to the remaining yaksha after taking care of their most stubborn for the evening. Xiao had always been the least likely to tend to his own needs, so intervention from his companions isn’t uncommon. The archon hasn’t intervened but in dire circumstances before, their first meeting coming to mind, but he has been finding a fondness for the adepti as of late. He truly shines on the battlefield, his devotion to their fight inspiring those around him. The god often heard tales of fights he hadn’t been around to witness himself, and despite the gruels of war he still almost wishes he could have experienced the sights himself.
The two arrive at an unoccupied room and Rex Lapis gestures slightly before crossing his arms behind his back, stepping into the room after Xiao. The room is small, unfurnished but for a cot and curtain drawn over the single window. The faintest bit of moonlight shone into the otherwise dark room.
“Stay. I will fetch you water.”
“I don’t–” the protest couldn’t entirely leave his lips before the other man left the room. Sighing, Xiao allows himself respite on the bed, tugging one knee to his chest and letting the other hang off the bed, much the same position he’d been resting in the tree.
He can’t help but wonder why Rex Lapis would bother to pull him inside. Proper rest is for humans, he has gone many an evening without true rest, and will surely experience more. Sacrificing his rest for those that will become their people seemed the smallest of sacrifices if it earned their safety. Despite hearing him state his case, Xiao continues to question why Rex Lapis himself is choosing to tend to a general well below his station so personally. Before he could dwell any further, Rex Lapis returns,
Toting the water he’d promised, Xiao watches his lord pour from the jug into a simple wooden cup. Passing the cup over, Rex Lapis clears his throat. “I ask not as your lord, but as someone invested in your wellbeing, that you take the pain killers I offered earlier this evening.” His eyes stay steady with xiao’s as he speaks, demonstrating his powerful and sure demeanor despite his attempt at a casual request.
Xiao’s hand tightens around the packet momentarily before loosening his grip. Unfolding it, he tips his head back and downs it with water from the wooden cup. A simple vessel for water for a simple weapon such as himself, Xiao thought. Poured from an intricate jug, much as Rex Lapis is a powerful and beautiful archon leagues above the simple general he himself is. He’s nothing but a dull spear in comparison, really.
“I can hear you thinking from here, general.” Rex Lapis prods. “There is no need to worry this evening,” he assures. “So ease that crease at your eyebrows, won’t you?”
“Why are you… never mind.” Xiao refuses to make eye contact again, but offers out his cup to be filled again. Rex Lapis allows him this time to think over what he might say. “Why do you tend to me tonight, my lord? Surely there are other duties to take your attention, or your own rest to consider.” The furrow is back on his brow. Oh, how the god wished he could wipe his concerns away, leaving Xiao happier than he had found him.
“We are at a good place, Adeptus Xiao. This, I guarantee, will be the calmest period our troops will experience until the conculsion of this war. Ruin is behind us, but it is up to us to push our way through into the future. We will forge this world together, all of us. As you know, Guizhong and her forces will be convening with us in three days' time.” Rex Lapis paces to the window, peeking through the curtains to look up at a clear sky. “Pardon me, two days’ time. From there, our next push will require everyone to be at their best. Is it fair for me to hope you are well and ensure your health, is it not?”
“It is. But forgive me, this feels amost too personable. You’re the commander, it doesn’t feel appropriate for you to tend to my needs in this way. Not that it isn’t appreciated, moreso that it isn’t your place. Your station is above me.” The genuine confusion marring Xiao’s face really does pull at Rex Lapis’ heart strings, or whatever may be left of them so far into their dangerous and draining decades of fighting.
Turning away from the window, Rex Lapis begins pacing the small room, quick only due to his long strides, not any actual hurry. “You don’t think you deserve care and attention.” he begins, the flinch from Xiao being all the indication he needed that his assumption was correct. “If you don’t want me here, all you need to do is say so and I will leave. I promise you that. However, I want to assure you that I am here because I care. You fight bravely for our cause and deserve care, rest, and recognition for your efforts just as much as those around us. We have a long road ahead of us as a nation, and there is nobody else I can think of that I want at my side more than you as we bring Liyue into Teyvat.”
“Liyue?” Xiao chose to prod that first, it seemed safest.
“The name of the nation we will build once, this wretched conflict is over. Guizhong and I conferred and this is the name we decided on. What are your thoughts, general?”’
“Liyue.” He turns the name around in his mouth as he speaks it. “It’s strong. You will lead a resilient people. They will rest easy, their dreams untroubled if I have anything to say about it.”
Rex Lapis breaks into a broad grin at this. “I am happy to hear this.”
Xiao doesn’t quite mirror his lord, but he does allow his features to soften, a gentle reflection of Rex Lapis’ joy.
Bidding farewell, and noting that Xiao indeed did not request of him to stop caring or to leave, Rex Lapis leaves the room with love blossoming in his chest and another dream for the future. One he promises himself to address once Liyue is secure and no longer needs him any more. Though the idea of waiting that long is less than ideal, he wants to be sure to give Xiao the space and time needed to reciprocate feelings, if he ever would.
For now, the priorities of war and the protection of what he believes in stands firm before his eyes, whispers of the future motivating him further.