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“You want me to do what?” Baizhu looks at the adeptus with a look of surprise.
“Teach me how to cook,” Xiao states, staring up at the man with a serious look. Baizhu would have thought that being an adepti he would have no need to cook, but he supposes he’s surprised by the adepti everyday…
“Teach Qiqi too,” Qiqi butts into the conversation, she wouldn’t remember this but he’s taught her how to cook before… he’s really gotta get working on that cure to her memory loss…
“Alright alright, I’ll teach you, come here,” Baizhu states, ushering the two over. He doesn’t understand how he went from checking Xiao’s wounds to teaching him and Qiqi how to cook but… whatever works he supposes.
“Anything in particular?” Baizhu looks at the two, Xiao looks lost in thought for a moment. Debating what he would like to learn likely. Qiqi stares blankly at him before saying what he honestly should have been expecting.
“Cocogoat,” Qiqi deadpans. Baizhu chuckles a bit as Xiao looks at Qiqi with surprise.
“Cocogoat?” Xiao asks, now seemingly invested. He’s heard the story of Qiqi’s mythical Cocogoat before, so why is it every time she brings it up he asks about it?
“A mystical adeti beast. It lives deep in the mountains, you can get Cocogoat milk from it,” Qiqi states, a small smile on her face. Whatever makes the child happy he supposes…
“Really? I’ll have to catch you one someday,” Xiao states, a smirk on his face. Baizhu smiles at the scene as he pulls out a recipe from the pharmacy drawer, it’s easy and quick. Chicken skewers from Mondstadt. It’s also Xiao’s second favorite dish.
“Really?” Qiqi’s eyes light up, Baizhu can’t help but smile at the child’s enthusiasm. She doesn’t show much happiness, but when she does it’s like the entire world is exploding with happiness for Baizhu.
“Yeah, oh, Dr Baizhu? You know what I want you to teach us? Chicken skewers,” Xiao states, Baizhu smiles, he guessed correctly.
“Already on it, now come here and let me show you,” Baizhu ushers the two over to him, standing over the stove with a smile. He grabs three stakes and places them on the table. “First, you must cut your chicken and vegetables up. Xiao you try, and Qiqi, please be careful.”
Baizhu gives Qiqi one of his wooden knives, they aren’t sharp enough to cut skin, but absolutely sharp enough to cut peppers and onions. He gives Xiao a real knife. Baizhu begins to cut the chicken while Xiao and Qiqi begin with the onions and peppers respectively.
“Now, cut them into rather large pieces, as they’re going on the skewer and not being cooked in a pan. And remember, when you cut chicken make sure that the pieces are fairly large, but not too big,” Baizhu instructs, Qiqi and Xiao both follow his instructions happily. Xiao tears up a bit. “What’s the matter Xiao?”
“I don’t know, my eyes sting a bit,” Xiao states, cutting the onion with tears in his eyes. Of course! This kind of onion makes people cry.
“Don’t worry, it’s natural. The onion will most likely make you tear up and cry but it’s completely fine,” Baizhu states, Xiao rubs away the tears and nods, continuing to cut. Once they are all done, Xiao smiles and hands Baizhu the onions he cut triumphantly. It’s nice to see him happy like this.
“Qiqi is finished, the peppers were no match,” Qiqi it seems, had cut the peppers lopsided, but that’s okay, she still did perfectly in Baizhu’s book.
“Good job, now, put the chicken pepper and onion onto your skewers,” Baizhu hands them wooden skewers. Xiao carefully puts his on, making sure that everything is even and perfect. Qiqi puts a lot of onions, very little peppers and one chicken piece directly in the middle. Baizhu smiles as he puts the rest of it all onto his as to not waste any food. “You then put the skewers over the stove at a low heat and apply spices to it. After this you spin the skewers every so often to cook them to their full tastiness.
“Cool,” Xiao says simply.
“Qiqi likes this, Qiqi is having fun,” Qiqi looks up at Baizhu with a smile on her face. This has to be the most emotional Qiqi has shown in a while, not that Baizhu is disappointed by it, he’s ecstatic!
“I’m glad you’re both having a good time, how about you two wait while I finish the skewers, alright?” Baizhu says, pulling out two chairs for them. They both sit patiently as Baizhu allows the skewers to cook to perfection. Once they’re done he smiles and hands both Xiao and Qiqi their skewers. “Careful, it’s hot.”
Qiqi blows on the skewers before taking a large bite of onion. Xiao goes right on and takes a bite, he jumps slightly as his eyes widen. He swallows and rubs his throat.
“Definitely hot,” Xiao states, Baizhu chuckles as he starts to eat his own scorching hot skewer without any waiting. “How did you do that?!”
“I like things hot, scorching hot things don’t bother me, Changsheng! Do you want some?” Baizhu calls to the snake that was napping on her bed the entire time. The day does exhaust her, and Baizhu can’t always have her on his shoulders. Changsheng slithers over and takes a small bite before slithering back to bed. Baizhu chuckles as he continues to eat happily.
Everyone was finished with their skewers now and sitting calmly in a circle. Xiao was getting ready to head out. Collecting his things and saying his goodbyes.
“Goodbye dad,” Xiao says, he stops breathing for a moment. Xiao freezes in place, Baizhu raises his eyebrows in surprise. He looks at him, somewhere inside his heart, he explodes with serotonin
“Dad? Why I don’t mind it but you’re hundreds of years older than me,” Baizhu chuckles with a smile. Qiqi looks up at Baizhu as well.
“Dad… no… father? No. Papa Baizhu!” Qiqi says triumphantly, and Baizhu could probably cry. He always did want to be a father, he just never got the chance to, but being like a father to these two?
“I could cry! No. I will cry!” Baizhu smiles as he walks over and pulls Xiao and Qiqi both into a hug, not a bone crushing hug considering how weak Baizhu is physically, but still, a hug. “Why I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“I’m sorry!” Xiao says quietly. “That was unprofessional of me Dr Baizhu.”
“Don’t worry about it, you can call me dad if you want, it makes me happy, really,” Baizhu smiles down at Xiao. Xiao smiles a bit.
“I have to go… my name is being called…” Xiao begins to walk away, he stops in the doorway before turning his head. “Bye… bye dad.”
Xiao teleports away, likely off to the Traveller or Someone of importance. Qiqi smiles slightly at Baizhu.
“Does this mean Xiao is my brother?” Qiqi smiles widely.
“Yes, I suppose it does, I suppose it does,” Baizhu smiles as he pulls Qiqi into a hug, hopefully this is an interaction she remembers.