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Xiao didn't know why he volunteered to do it.
He only regretted it once he finds himself on his way to Dragonspine, a crumpled letter in his hand as he dragged his soles against the unusually fragile snow.
Morax, meet me at Dragonspine. Or Liyue faces a rather horrid fate.
Xiao supposes that's what was written on the note, a blemished blue ink sprawled around on the page in flowered patterns, designed so delicately that it almost sounded like it wasn't a threat to destroy a city. Xiao requested that he is the one who crosses Liyue's border, instead of Zhongli himself after he heard word about this letter. And the winds told him that a neighboring god got a similar tarnished threat.
Xiao had no idea why he was so eager to leave Liyue, and it seemed like everyone else thought the same. The foe must have been an intelligent one, having information of Morax's true identity since the letter was received directly at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
An adepti meeting was held - couldn't technically be called an adepti one since the Liyue Qixing were seated at the same table, their unmoving gazes on everyone and everything. Morax - or Zhongli - wasn't in sight, but everyone knew he could hear them.
At first, the Liyue Qixing decided someone should go in replacement. Everyone agreed immediately, Xiao didn't like the idea very much but he didn't have much choice in this matter.
Ganyu volunteered first, but all the Qixing denied, especially the Yuheng. Ganyu was pretty busy and also pretty exhausted and also pretty in general. Xiao saw her as a sister, not that he'd ever tell her that but he was a bit relieved she wouldn't meet head-on with such a powerful enemy.
Almost everyone took their turns, requesting that they are the one who go in place of Morax but they were either too weak, too busy, too tired, too unsuitable, too caught-up, too stubborn, too stuck-up, too old, too rich or too occupied with something else.
In the end, Xiao supposed he could give it a try and everyone suddenly thought that he was the perfect person - or adeptus - for the job.
He trekked his way up the snow mountain, knee-deep in snow and then, he sees a shadow blur by. An extremely quick smudge of blonde and white in the distance. Xiao assumes who this might be. But it can't be, right?
Traveler?
Xiao just stood still and then, Traveler noticed him, running towards his direction hastily. "Xiao? What are you doing here?" Traveler asks as soon as they are a closer distance.
"Same could be said to you." Xiao says, twirling his spear in hand.
"I got a letter, saying that they would hurt my twin if I didn't come by." Traveler stated, and Xiao could almost feel the spite and anger from that one sentence.
"Got one but it was directed to Liyue." Xiao stated, bluntly and he made his way off again to the designated location but this time, Traveler trailed behind him at a steady pace.
Xiao wasn't expecting anymore companions, really. But when they were a few minutes from their wanted location, Xiao bumps head first into someone.
Barbatos?
Xiao sighs internally, of course he came alone. It couldn't hurt to bring someone with him at least. It's been over a week since they've last seen each other, not that they were avoiding one another but because they were either caught up in national affairs or just didn't find the right time to meet up.
One of the cons of immortality was how your memory declines, forgetting events, dates, people and even yourself sometimes. Xiao doesn't remember a lot through the decades but he does, and he always will remember the day when he and Venti first shared a kiss. Xiao used to believe relationships were troublesome, especially for adepti with their full-time duty. But he didn't get anything but freedom and happiness when he was with Venti.
Xiao couldn't technically scream out loud that he made out with the (ex?) anemo archon since it would be a big issue, for both Venti and for himself. Morax wouldn't have such a positive reaction and Xiao wasn't sure everyone would be supportive enough. So, centuries-long secret meetings and silent kisses were what it brought. Xiao enjoyed every minute of it though.
Xiao gets dragged back to reality when Traveler envelops Venti in a hug once they realize he was wandering Dragonspine, too. "Tone-Deaf Bard is here, too?" The fairy questions, floating circles around Traveler's head.
Before Xiao could ask how Traveler knew Venti, he felt a few attacks coming from the left, heading straight to Venti. Knowing that he won't be able to make sure Venti dodges in time, he seemingly covers Venti in a huddle when a sharp hydro arrow slices a light cut into his right arm.
Realizing that more advances were heading their way, and that he might not be able to defend all of them, Xiao had an idea. From instinct, he grabbed Venti's hand and Traveler's cape, tossing both of them - and himself - into a nearby hollow cave, the entrance immediately getting blocked by thick mixtures of rock and snow once they enter. The enemy's attacks seem to stop, or were blocked by the avalanche that shielded and trapped them. Venti sits on a rock, looking concernedly at Xiao's injured arm.
"We need to get out of here at all costs. I can move the stone." Xiao suggested. The air was thin and so was the amount of clothing Xiao was wearing. His skin crawled from the unwavering temperature.
"It's already freezing cold, Alatus. Sit here!" Venti coos, ushering him to sit beside him.
"Why did Venti call you Ala-" Traveler says, being cut off immediately.
"Paimon believes so, too! Mister Xiao would turn into an ice-cream cone! Oh, Traveler! Let's get ice-creams after this." Traveler seems unamused at Paimon's remark and the fact that they were interrupted.
"It's nothing I can't handle." Xiao says, ignoring Venti's pleas to scoot closer.
"Traveler can join you, too!" Paimon praises and Traveler spares a guilty glance to Venti who was huddled in the corner.
"Why don't we leave Tone-Deaf Bard here and we three go call for help?" Traveler's friend suggests, twirling around and doing unamused signs with her hands. To this, Xiao doesn't feel all that eager to leave.
"No, we stay here till the storm sides." Xiao disagrees, his voice stern and straight-forward, just like always, hoping he doesn't have to leave Venti so suddenly. Hopefully, Traveler doesn't pick up his intentions.
"Didn't you want to get out of here as soon as possible? Why the change of mind?" Traveler tilts their head a small angle, observing Xiao intensely.
"Because we can't leave Barbatos to fend himself alone under thirty inches of snow." Xiao protests, hoping his lies would be strong enough to stay folded.
"Way to blow my cover!" Venti pouts, crossing his arms across his chest.
"He knows!" Paimon shrieks.
"I thought you didn't tell anyone?" Traveler looks unamused again, glaring hardly at Venti.
"Alatus here isn't just anyone! He's my special little-" Venti stands up and hugs Xiao's waist tightly, pausing his sentence when he thinks he might expose their secret relationship.
"Paimon sees what's going on here!" The fairy starts, even getting Traveler's attention.
"You- you do?" Xiao panics, not that it was visible on his face but his voice crack probably already gave it away.
"Mister Xiao and Tone-Deaf Bard are secretly bestest of friends for decades!" Paimon continues, and every seep of interest in Traveler's face leaks out.
"Yes, that's it!" Venti plays along, sitting back down but this time, Xiao joins beside him.
Traveler doesn't reply, seating themselves on the rough floor directly across Xiao and Venti.
Xiao doesn't know how cold it was till his skin comes into contact with Venti's. The emitting body heat was so comforting that Xiao didn't realize how much he was leaning into Venti till he feels the bard's breathe on his neck. Venti's head is on his shoulder and Xiao's hand is around Venti's waist. Xiao's afraid that Venti could hear how hardly his heart was thumping or how jittery his teeth were.
"Your shoulder, you're injured." Venti whispers quietly, moving away from Xiao's touch. The sudden loss of touch always made Xiao shiver. A piece of cloth is suddenly wrapped around Xiao's injury, stopping the bleeding and the stinging.
Venti places a soft kiss on Xiao's forehead. "You have to take care more often!"
"It's my duty," Xiao denies, pressing the bandage on his wound so it doesn't come off.
"Sorry to ruin your moment, but you can't pretend I'm not here." Traveler says, startling both Xiao and Venti.
"Exactly!" Paimon agrees.
Xiao turns away from Traveler's gaze to hide their blush while Venti apologizes. "Fine, fine! We'll tell you!" Venti finally gives in, and he gets a death-like stare from Xiao.
"There's nothing to tell! It was obvious the moment we entered this cave." Traveler explains, and their fairy friend went along with whatever they said. Xiao and Venti don't reply and share apologetic glances.
Tired and hungry, Traveler moves the biggest stone blocking the entrance, the large gusts from a snowstorm getting its way in immediately. Traveler's sword gets blown away into the storm at inhumanly speed and strength. To everyone's surprise, Venti dissipates outside, grabbing the sword and returns back undamaged and in a matter of seconds.
"You could've-" Traveler questions, "-just teleported us away at anytime?" Traveler huffs, taking their sword from Venti.
"You try hiding a decade-long relationship from a god and two nations! We never get to spend anytime together!" Venti explains hastily, clinging himself on Xiao's left arm.
Traveler lies down on the eroded floor, and Paimon follows them. Soon, Xiao and Venti return back to their place in the corner, discussing national issues and sharing returned compliments. They don't know how many hours past or how low the temperature has gotten but as long as they were huddled together, hands and limbs entangled while measuring the other's heartbeat, they were doing just fine.
When Xiao first came to terms with it, he realized that the storm was stopping and the mixtures of snow and stone was getting pushed away with rather great strength. Shit, it's the enemy was Xiao's first thought but as red hair peaked out and continuous yelping was heard, Xiao knows it's the Fatui Harbinger that tried to battle him but got almost blown apart ten minutes into the fight.
"Apologies for trapping you all here." It was obviously Zhongli's voice and once Morax spotted Xiao huddled with Venti, his first instinct to push sprung up which let Venti topple away. Zhongli raised an eyebrow at Xiao and turned his stare back to Childe.
"Now, Childe would you like to tell them what you told me?" Zhongli continued bitterly, dragging the Fatui by the ear.
"Fine. I am so very sorry for forcing you onto this mountain in an attempt to fight me. I will never do this again and I hope you forgive me." Childe huffed, and everyone knew he probably didn't mean that at all.
"It's alright. I learnt rather interesting information on this trip so it's almost a win-win for me." Traveler started, brushing the dirt off their costume.
"Information?" Childe questions enthusiastically even though Zhongli still has a tight grip on his ear.
"Yes, and if you wanted to battle, you could've just asked!" Venti adds, turning his lyre into a delicately-colored bow for a short moment as a taunt to Childe.
"Paimon has a question. What information did Paimon and Traveler even learn today!" The floating fairy gawked at everyone, with an actual look of confusion plastered on its face.
"None of your business anymore." Xiao sighed, bowing to Zhongli before he starts to walk towards the cave's entrance - or exit.
"The only information we found out is that Tone-Deaf Bard and Mister Xiao here have been making out secretly for decades." The fairy screams.
To this, Childe chokes and Zhongli immediately has a seething expression. Then, Xiao, Venti and Traveler are suddenly glaring and shouting at the same time.
"Paimon!"