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Leaning on the railing of the Wangshuu Inn's highest balcony, away from the view of mortals' while he lets his gaze settle on the bright night life of Liyue, as ships dock back into their original positions and the crowds start filtering out slowly, every night lulls itself into a safe sense of security, which always eventually leads into all the lights flaming out.
Xiao watches from afar, cradling the cecilia currently in his hands, softly sweeping his thumb over every petal, letting the smooth texture fill his senses while he simply stands there.
Every form of light starts filtering out, except the candle currently by the Adeptus' side, threatening itself to be swept away by the strong breeze, which always managed to make Xiao turn his eyes back to the candle.
He waited patiently every night, cradling the cecilia for a thousand nights over, sitting in the same spot for hours at a time, with the same cnadle that would always go out later then all the other lights in the entirety of Liyue.
No matter if he had finished his patrol in the early dawn of the morning or the dead of midnight, the candle would always shine brightly, resembling a star that fell out of the sky and landed on the Wangshuu Inn, never going out.
The cecilia would always stay firmly by his side or in his hands, the pure white never being stained into a yellow-ish blend or dark green crunchiness in it's leaves.
No matter if the balcony reeked of blood that wasn't his, or he had a situation where he couldn't wait the night out, he simply left the candle in it's place, and left a flute in his stead.
He could never afford to let the chance go, let the chance of the man he holds dearest to his heart arriving one day, only to be greeted with an empty balcony and a shattered mindset.
Instead, he chooses to sit on the balcony, let memories dredge up in his mind and remind him of what he truly waits for in the end of his journey, at the roadblock of his immortal life, at the ending of his story.
"I know that this lowly creature is being hopelessly selfish, but please, Barbatos, please promise me that I will be able to meet you, just one more time."
"Don't sell yourself short, Alatus. You're worth so much more to me then you'll ever be able to imagine. That's why I can trust you to keep my heart intact and worries non-existent."
A flute and a single cecilia drops to his lap.
"That's why I can trust you with all three things I've ever owned that were solely mine."
"But, Lord Barbatos, might I be so foolish to assume that you forgot what the third item was?... These are... two items."
"That's because you've already had my heart from the beginning, and I trust you to give it back to me once I return."
Centuries later, there is a single Adeptus waiting firmly in his place, always carrying a foreign god's belongings, waiting for the day that it was no longer his to keep, and now his to give.
He waited.
And he waits.
And he will be waiting.
He waited for the familiar tune of the flute being played, of a sweet symphony lulling him to sleep with a synchronising voice and a warm hand on his numb cheek.
He waits for the familiar scent of fresh flowers and crunchy apples to fill his senses and bring him back home.
And he will be waiting for the day that Barbatos comes home as Venti, and be welcomed by Xiao, finally letting Alatus leave once his duty finally comes to an end.
The strongest breeze yet, puts the last vestiges of the flaming candle to rest.