new year, new start // xiao
genre: fluff | short fic | xiao x f!reader | mention of zhongli
word count: 1.3k
description: in which xiao fails to understand why you chose him on a new years night
warnings: spoiler for xiao’s backstory ???? zhongli looks like a stalker but dw hes not
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The balcony of Wangshu Inn bustles around with people, an assorted array of foods laid out in tables that were placed neatly in rows for everyone to eat.
You wonder around mindlessly, taking interest in the little kids that ran around, yelping and screaming playfully. You glance up at the dark sky, littered with stars as midnight awaits and the new year begins, a reminder that Xiao was no where to be seen which could only mean he was upstairs by himself.
Your feet take you the staircase inside the Inn, Verr Goldet catches you midstep. “Going somewhere, traveller?” She smiles, you smile back. “Just to take a breather,” you answer, but she knows you mean more than just that.
As you reach the top floor of Wangshu Inn, Xiao doesn’t appear; he must be at the roof. Your feet take you to the roof, Xiao is sitting at the edgeas he stares at the vast lands of Guili Plains and Dihua Marsh.
“Hey,” you smile, walking up to the latter. He turns back, his lips turning up ever so slightly. “Hey, Y/N.” He sounds back, patting the space next to him softly. “I knew you’d be here, you didn’t like crowds anyway.” You sigh, the adeptus nods in response.
Xiao doesn’t speak, the two of you linger in comfortable silence, instead, he stares st the ongoing celebration. Then realisation dawns on him, he should have looked for you instead of sitting by himself tonight. He stares at the few couples on the second floor balcony, cursing himself for not realising this earlier.
“I apologise,” he starts, “I should have come down with you tonight.” His gloved hand comes up to run through his hair. You shake your head, “it’s alright, you don’t need to put yourself in an uncomfortable position for me. I’d much rather come up here and be with you instead as well.” Xiao’s heart flutters, he swears to the Seven Archons.
You understand that the latter spent most of his time alone. He was born into an Archon war, captured by an Evil God and suffered through harsh commands by himself. When Rex Lapis saved him, the only time he felt less alone was with 5 other Yakshas of which each either died or disappeared.
Xiao is a little over 2 thousand years old, having spent a thousand over years alone has made him grow accustomed to sitting by himself as esch day passes by with no one to talk to; except for the very few times Rex Lapis would visit him with a cup of tea and chat a bit.
Adding on to that, you and Xiao only just got together. At the start of December and Christmas was spent alone as you had to go on a commission outside of Liyue, with the endless apologies from Verr Goldet. Having only just started dating you, it was obvious that Xiao wasn’t used to celebrating (if you could even call it that for him) events with others and on impulse would spend those times by himself on the top floor of Wangshu Inn or out in Liyue clearing hilichurl camps.
“I am…very unaccustomed to spending so much if my time with someone. It is the first time I’ve sat here on the roof with another for the New Year.” Xiao speaks, his voice softens ever so slightly, eyes looking up at the night sky. “I know, but we’re just settling down.” You answer, hand fitting into his gloved ones. Xiao almost flinches, but he reminds himself that it’s you, the one he loves so dear and he relaxes at your touch just a mere second after.
“I…may never get used to this,” His brows furrow a little, he thinks that his demeanour was far from being able to be changed. “You best be off with someone who doesn’t shroud in darkness,” you can’t help the scoff that falls from your lips.
Xiao turns to look at you, a little shocked at the sound you made. “Alatus,” He hasn’t heard that name in a long time, it breaks his walls down. “No matter your actions, you still deserve love. Your past carries many unspeakable things, the burden on your shoulders is heavy and strong and thus the way you are now. At least, even if it is different from what you have been living, let me love you and carry this burden with you; I want to do that for you.” You smile, “and if you will, I’ll be here whenever you feel alone.”
In truth, Xiao was afraid. His whole life was filled with the people he cared about leaving him in the dark, you are a mortal who came into his life and took his heart. As much as he didn’t want to think about it, you were going to die long before Xiao would ascend to Celestia; if he could that is. That meant that you would inevitably leave him one day, and he would be alone again.
So he prays hard to celestia, he prays to the Archons that at least you were taken care of best they could when you are no longer in this world.
“Archons Y/N, you mean the world to me.” He utters, gripping your hand tighter. “I shouldn’t be saying such things on a New Years night,” He apologises, you shift closer and giggle. “Anything to make you feel better, Xiao.” You answer,
Then the fireworks start, the people are cheering from below and your eyes glance towards the celebration. An array of coloured sparks light up the sky, painting the night sky in splashes of vibrant hues. It’s loud, but the feeling makes you feel like you’re floating on clouds; moreover, with Xiao, the very on you love.
“Happy New Year, Y/N.” Xiao’s voice rings into your ears with a small smile, you smile back. Hand going up to caress his cheek lightly, and like a cat he leans into your palm; he purrs, or at least a noise of comfort leaves his lips. Then, you lean in, your lips landing softly against his in a passionate kiss. Your eyes flutter close, so does his as the both of you reminisce the moment.
Your lips move with the adeptus’, his hand stabalises himself against the roof while the other rests on your waist. Your hands slide to the roof to pish yourself just a little closer, letting out a noise of happiness. Xiao pulls away a little, breath fanning against your lips as his forehead leans against yours.
“I love you,” he whispers against your lips, this time, smiling uncontrollably. Your smile is just as wide when he kisses you again, “I love you too, Xiao.” You say in between his kisses, and the night was filled with soft giggles and chatter.
bonus
Zhongli makes his way to Wangshu Inn, thinking of spending the New Year with Xiao after giving up his Gnosis. He’s got a lot more time in his hands, he can rest easy.
He reaches the top floor of the Inn, about to call out the adeptus’ name until he hears Xiao’s voice. “I love you,” he says and Zhongli swears he’s never heard the latter speak in such a gentle tone in his 2000 years.
The former Archon peers over the roof slightly, noticing Xiao sitting next to you, faces inches away from each other. He watches the yaksha kiss you again as you smile back, murmuring out an ‘I love you too’. He watches as Xiao smiles ever so genuinely against your lips as he loses himself in the kiss.
Zhongli had been worried at first, with the news of Rex Lapis dead, Xiao must have been hit hard with the fact that the one who saved him from the depths of evil was gone; or at least not in rule of Liyue and unable to help him in order to conceal his identity.
But now, as he watches Xiao laugh and smile with you, he thinks he shouldn’t have been so uptight after all.