Disclaimer: I know the Qingyun Peak area is home to a different Adepti but honestly I love the area so much and for story reasons purposes that’ll be where Xiao resided. (Mainly because I could be non descriptive in the story where he resides but I wanted to give an actual location that everyone could actually see in game.) Also this does not take place necessarily in the canon timeline, there’s no real canon events mentioned so consider it either or. Point is I just wanted to give my husband a personal background of mine.
Reader isn’t gendered but comes off as a tad softer feminine-esk presence. Reader is clumsy, has poor sense of direction and a little bit of an air head/goofy.
Note: This whole idea was much better in my head – I still have much more to write and add but honestly? I fucking hate this… this is top tier garbage writing from me I’m really hesitant to post it.. (Also pardon any errors/typos) If I get really self conscious I’ll delete it..
warnings: Fluffy goodness.. and angst.. ends with kind of cliff hanger and angst.
Chapter 1
Long, long, long ago…
Everything was fine and quiet aside from the occasional beasts he had to slay invading into his territory. The trees rustled in the breeze, birds chirped, everything was peaceful and quiet. Until you came along…
The moment you stumbled into his territory he felt it. A trespasser. No one wise enough came here, and alone at that. All he felt was a single human, an incredibly weak one at that. Xiao kept himself hidden until their intention was known.
Whatever their intention was, left him confused however. They didn’t seem to have a particular route of travel and simply wandered off the oh so obvious dirt path that quite literally would’ve led them where they probably aimed to go.
Xiao kept his distance until he grew tired of their wandering, he could still sense them on his lands and unless they got closer to him then he’d care. As of right now this clearly lost human caused no threat.
The sun was on the cusp of setting when he finally felt the human get closer, at that point he didn’t bother to hide and simply sat in waiting at a makeshift little table he had set outside his cave.
Covered in dirt, scratches and with leaves twisted into your hair you finally arrived. Which was a loose term because you didn’t really plan to come here in particular. “Oh wow..” Completely ignoring the stranger in front you quickly fawned over the beauty of the location.
Everything on this mountain region was beautiful but this was peak beauty. Pun not intended.
“You are trespassing.” The male took in your appearance and you startled finally taking note of him.
After pointing to yourself you frowned and stepped a tad closer. “I don’t remember seeing a sign about no trespassing.” Your arms crossed and Xiao didn’t hesitate to pierce you with his gaze.
To his mild surprise you didn’t seem to waver at his cold gaze, if anything you seemed more relaxed somehow and it pissed him off. “Are you dumb in the head? Anyone could’ve told you the rumors of this mountain.”
“Rumors?” You paused in though, arms crossed and tongue sticking out from your lips. “Oh! You mean about daemons?”
Xiao growled. “You are dumb aren’t you?”
A giggle escaped you, giving a shrug you stepped a bit closer and placed a hand to the nearby tree. “I was teasing. Who doesn’t know the rumors about a strong God like man who protects the surroundings?”
Sitting against the tree you kept a respectful distance between you and the man before you. “I didn’t intentionally come to seek you out.. Well I thought maybe I could sneak a peek.” You gave a nervous laugh before looking away. “But I sorta got distracted.. B-by the beauty..”
“You got lost don’t try to hide it. I could sense you wandering around aimlessly.” Xiao bluntly stated.
You huffed before laughing. “I did not!” He fixed you with a questionable glare and you slumped back against the tree. “Okay fine I might’ve gotten a little off track.”
The male snorted and sipped at his tea in front of him. You found yourself glancing over and momentarily in trance. Sure you caught a glimpse of him when you walked up but with part of the distance closed you could see more details of his face.
Before Xiao’s head raised, you jerked your head away to avoid being caught. “This place is so gorgeous and healing.. The trek here feels worth it.” You crawled away from the tree to lie back in the grass and watched the sun as it set.
While you soaked up the setting sun, Xiao sat there in silence with a whirlwind of questions in his head. Where on earth did you come from? There weren’t any nearby towns or villages, did you really travel all that way just to try and get a glimpse of him?
He found it a tad hard to believe you came here to wander knowing the creatures that lurked here just to see someone. For heaven’s sake you didn’t even have a weapon on you, if anything his suspicions of you grew and the urge to get you off the land rose.
“It’s getting late, you should return before nightfall.” He set the now empty cup aside and stood. “My job is to get rid of the beasts, not baby sit some human with no sense of direction.”
You slowly sat up and glanced back at him with a grimace. “So harsh..” Xiao snorted at the lack of venom in your words. “I suppose I should get going, I’ve got a long trek back down the mountain.”
The question of where you were staying almost slipped out, no he didn’t care. All that mattered was you were off the mountain and out of his hair. You were a distraction at this point, and thankfully he hadn’t sensed any daemons around.
After brushing the grass off yourself and finally ridding your hair of the leaves from earlier you turned to him. “I’ll keep that I saw you a secret, if people knew you were real there’d probably be a lot more people trying to venture up here.”
A wave of mild respect ran through him at your words but vanished as quickly as it came. He still didn’t trust you in the least bit to follow up with that. “Don’t come here again.” Xiao’s words were harsh and cold, a threat if anything.
You waved him off and nodded in faux agreement. “Yes yes good sir, never again.” Sarcasm heavy on the tongue as you spoke, what was he going to do - kill you?
Silence fell between the two of you, neither making an effort to move as you locked eyes. Now he was a bit closer than before making it easier to see those beautiful amber eyes, they looked far more beautiful than the sunset you were gazing at. But they were cold at the same time, somehow making them more beautiful in the process.
“I’ll be sure to visit again. Maybe I’ll bring an offering?” You teased.
Xiao exhaled and placed a hand on his hip trying to shoo you along. “Please don’t.” He rudely pointed a finger at you. “Don’t come here again, or bring some foolish offering. I’m not–”
“Maybe tea? I saw some herbs and flowers on my way up. I could pick and make my own blend.” You cut him off and he let his hand fall to his side. “Or I could bring you one of my favourites to try!”
Xiao exhaled in a mix of exhaustion and irritation, you weren’t taking him seriously. What kind of stupid human were you?
“I could bring snacks too! Oo we can have a picnic!” Xiao watched you excitedly bounce and clap your hands as the ideas spilled out your mouth. “You can drink tea so that means you can eat right?”
He crossed his arms in irritation and you quickly went silent at the murderous aura. “Okay I’m going now!” The male watched you spin around and start to walk off, almost snorting at how you stopped to give him a dramatic wave before further venturing off.
“Stupid human.” Xiao muttered.
He tracked you until you left the foot of the mountain. From where he stood he watched you cross the last bridge before turning away, not his problem anymore.
A week later..
Like you promised you returned, Xiao had been resting and meditating when he noticed you begin the trek up the mountain. He snarled softly and blocked out your presence to return to meditating. If he was lucky you’d get lost again, give up and leave.
But of course you didn’t.
The man wasn’t there when you finally reached the outside of the cave. With a huff you made yourself at home by laying the gifts out on the stone table nearby. After everything was laid out the male emerged from his hiding spot, startling you in the process as you intended to yell out for him.
“Heavens! Don’t surprise me like that!” You choked on air and held your chest trying to calm the rapid beating of your heart.
“I told you not to come back.” His eyes flickered to his table covered in food and items before they flickered back to you. “I especially told you not to bring things.”
With a roll of your eyes you simply patted his chest and turned away. “I made no promise that I wouldn’t return, simply that I wouldn’t speak of you.”
Xiao stared at where you touched him before his eyes followed you to the table. “Do you know how dangerous it is to carry food here? What if the daemons showed up?”
You gave a hum, that would indeed be a problem wouldn’t it? But for some reason you weren’t really too worried about it. With utter newfound confidence you looked over your shoulder at him. “Well you’d show up and kill them yeah?”
A look of mild shock grew on his face and you resisted the urge to laugh. “Even if it’s your job to kill them, you’d still be protecting me.” You smiled and patted one of the seats at the table. “So it’s a win-win yeah?”
Xiao’s anger temporarily vanished, if anything he was more baffled at your ridiculous thought process. Who thought ‘Oh he’ll show up and take care of it, no big deal’? Shaking the stupid thought from his head he stepped closer to the table eyeing the contents before sitting. “What is all this?”
“Glad you asked! I took a tad longer since I was picking herbs and flowers.”
“You got lost.’ He bluntly stated.
Well okay that too but still! “As I was saying..” You mumbled and pointed to the laid out herbs. “Herbs and flowers for tea, I thought it would taste interesting..I also brought one of my favourites.” Gently opening a golden tin container you let him give it a sniff, amber eyes shining at the scent. Guess he liked it.
“Last time I mentioned a picnic, but not too many things would’ve made the trip and kept warm.” You pulled out a large cooking pan from the side of the table and Xiao resisted the urge to take the heavy item from you. “So I picked something easy that wouldn’t spoil on the visit and thought we could cook it together?”
Xiao resisted the urge to roll his eyes, only you would get so comfortable with a stranger. And a dangerous one at that. He stood and took the heavy cooking pan from you with ease and held it with one hand. Xiao ignored the surprised gasp at his actions from you and nudged you to sit. “I’ll get a fire started then.” He refused to let someone as clumsy as you start a fire on his mountain.
It was brief but the contact from his hand was incredibly cool, it would’ve been alarming if you hadn’t known he wasn’t likely anything human. “Okay!” You turned to fish through the basket of ingredients you brought with and began to place them on the table, tucking the herbs and golden tin away for now.
Every now and then you’d glance at the male and watch him easily put together a neat little fire for the pan. When the ingredients were ready you pulled out an apron from your things and pulled it on. While you thought the idea of the male wearing one would’ve been incredibly adorable you decided against it. He’d probably skin you alive for even mentioning it.
“What now?”
He startled you from your thoughts and you glanced up at him before turning to the items on the table. “We’re going to make something simple, skewers!”
Xiao remained unimpressed despite your enthusiasm and glanced at the ingredients. “Fresh chicken?” There weren’t any on the mountain, which means you must’ve caught them prior to coming here. But to prepare it so fast?
“Well relatively fresh, I prepped it yesterday and kept it fresh for today.” You hummed. “I even cut everything up since a knife would’ve been dangerous to pack.”
The male resisted the urge to roll his eyes, oh yes the knife was the dangerous thing. Not the old monstrous man beside you, capable of leveling hoards of daemons like they were nothing. Yes the knife was much too dangerous to travel with.
“Here take a skewer, a piece of chicken and mushrooms like this..” He watched you despite being fully aware how to make it and for your amusement did as told. “Yeah like that! You’re a natural at this.”
There felt like a morbid joke in that somehow, but you seemed unaware of his weapon of choice. By the time the two of you finished they were properly seasoned and ready for cooking. Xiao watched you from his seat at the table, wary of how clumsy you seemed to be and probably expected an accident.
“I can feel you staring holes into me.. Don’t worry I won’t burn the mountain down.” Gazing over your shoulder at him you simply smiled. “I might be a clutz but when it comes to cooking I never mess up.”
Xiao hummed softly and glanced over at the basket you brought everything in, his eyes locking on a particular container. “What’s this?”
You glanced over quickly before turning back to the food. “Dessert. Despite the trek up here it’ll be fine since it’s not really hot. I don’t suppose you have a fridge in that magical cave of yours?”
“No, but it’ll be cooler in there.” You set the rest of the cooked skewers aside and placed the plate on the table.
“Then would you mind putting it in there to stay cool?” Clearing space you remembered the tea. “Shoot, I forgot a kettle for the tea.. It was supposed to go with dessert.”
“I have one.” He replied and carried the dessert off into the cave, returning with a kettle.
“Thank you.” Before you could turn to take care of the hot pan Xiao pushed you to sit and took care of removing it, letting the fire continue to crackle.
What a gentleman, huh. You separated the skewers into two portions and set down two glasses of freshly made juice. “Eat up~”
Xiao sat and you stared intently, not even trying the food. Guess you wanted him to eat it first. Since the two of you made it together he had little suspicion of poison, not that it’d have much effect on him. The first bite had him going still, a burst of flavours overflowing on his taste buds.
You watched his pupils quickly expand and without a word you knew he enjoyed it. Having the satisfaction that he liked it you quickly dug into your own skewers, leaning back to enjoy the sun and breeze.
The two of you ate in silence aside from the trees rustling and the birds chirping. When the two of you finished you offered him the last of the juice you made and he took it without putting up a fight. Part of you was dying to ask if he had a name or title, but you were just grateful he hadn’t tried to murder you yet. Best not push your luck.
Xiao surprised you by helping you pack up the dirty dishes into the basket and clearing the table for dessert and tea. This time however Xiao was the one insistent on making tea, probably thinking you’d ruin it. Fair enough, tea wasn’t your specialty after all.
When the tea finished and he brought the dessert out you set down two small dishes and fresh silverware to eat with. “So what is this anyways?” Xiao asked, eyeing the mushy lumps.
“Almond Tofu, my grandmother used to make it when I was a child and when I grew old enough taught me how to make it.” You set his dish in front of him and like with the skewers you waited for the first bite.
Xiao stared at the dish as if it offended him before finally taking a bite. Like with the skewers he froze and a different kind of burst of flavour covered his tongue. “It tastes..”
“Amazing?” He glanced at you and took a second bite. “Yeah I thought so~” You giggled and he looked away to enjoy his food. “I was actually a little worried.. I didn’t know what kind of food you liked.. But I’ve never had anyone turn down my Almond Tofu so I thought it was a safe bet.”
Xiao asked how you made it with no real intention of making it himself, you just seemed so excited to talk about it. When everything was finished and the last of the tea drank you slid the golden tin over to him.
“Keep it, I’m glad you liked it. It’s one of my favourites.” Xiao eyed the tin before lifting it up to inspect.
“Are you sure?” You nodded and he set it aside to take inside later. “Thank you.” Xiao noticed your eyes light up and held back the urge to slap you upside the head, you probably thought he wasn’t capable of being nice.
This time before it started to get too dark Xiao was keen on sending you off, you had more luggage than previously so it would no doubt add more exhaustion to the trip going down. And to your complete and genuine surprise Xiao offered to escort you down. He wouldn’t even let you take the heavy pan, insisting he carry it until the foot of the mountain.
“My hero~” You teasingly cooed, Xiao nudged you to start walking and you giggled. “Are you going to tell me not to come back?”
“You shouldn’t have.” He replied, “But I have a feeling even if I tell you, you’ll stubbornly ignore me and show up again.”
“Aha bingo!” You gave a grin and moved to walk side by side. “Have things been dangerous around here?” You hated pointless small talk but the question popped into your head, distracting him wasn’t your goal and you would’ve felt awful if that was the case.
“No, surprisingly. There’s been a few groups to the east but that’s it.. They haven’t entered far.” Xiao quickly thought how close those were to the path way up and glanced at you. “If you insist on coming up you need to carry a weapon. I’m fast but not that fast, you need to be able to hold anything off until I show up.”
Mother and father never let you deal with weapons, even for the purpose of self defense. So even if you carried something it was unlikely you’d use it. “I’ll see what I have.” A lie but he wouldn’t know, even if that hard stare he gave you that he likely saw through it.
The rest of the walk was silent, the occasional stop for you to pick a flower or two for the jar back home. Xiao stopped right before the bridge and turned to you, helping you comfortably get the heavy pan onto your back. Part of him wanted to stop you but he had no reason to, the two of you were still strangers. You were a thorn in his side showing up despite his threats.
“I’ll tell you now, I plan to come back.” You adjusted the pack on your back and Xiao handed you back the basket. “In half a week or so probably. Should I bring something else for us to cook together?”
Xiao sighed and crossed his arms. “Whatever you want.” There was no arguing with an idiot at this point. “And this time, stay on the path.. No wandering off.” he scolded.
You stuck out your tongue and jogged off a head out of his range and laughed. “Bye!” He watched you wave like an excited child and continued to keep watch until you passed Taishan Mansion.
Later…
You kept your word and in half a week you returned, as much as he hated it these frequent trips of yours started to be the highlight of his week. But at the same time the daemons grew worse and worse, it was starting to be unsafe for you to not only make the venture to the mountain, but to climb as well.
It had been a few months and for the first time ever Xiao told you to stay the night, a storm was incoming and with how dangerous it had gotten he didn’t want you in a storm on top of it. It was the first time you set foot in that cave, and to your surprise it wasn’t all that interesting.
Little things made it feel like a get away spot versus a home, which made sense given the male probably didn’t spend a horrible amount of time here. On a little wooden table sat some items, his kettle and that golden tin you’d recognize anywhere. There were talismans on the walls and strange markings but you pushed down the urge to ask about them.
Xiao returned with two pillows and a pelt of fur, well that told you he didn’t sleep much, or didn’t need to. He placed them further in away from the mouth to avoid getting wet or cold. Leaving your stuff at the little table you wandered further in. The space wasn’t huge but it wasn’t small enough to feel claustrophobic by any means.
“You know I’ve always wondered what it was like in here. I always saw you coming in and out, for some reason my brain thought it was like some secret portal taking you to a cooler place.” You admitted.
The male chuckled and dusted his hands off before facing you. “Disappointed?”
“Mm, no? I mean a little but somehow this feels more like you?” You placed a hand to the cool stone and hummed. “This isn’t your home, it’s just an area you watch over yeah?” Pointing at the few personal touches you turned to him. “Makes sense not to set up home.. Plus you’re out most of the time right? Can’t imagine there’s much need for something like full on furniture.”
Xiao crossed his arms and watched you curiously, his suspicions of you never died down and this reminded him of it. It was weird how you seemed to know things others wouldn’t, that or you were simply good at guessing. “Correct.. Making this a home is pointless.” As well as a few other reasons he dare not bring up.
Thunder cracked and you jumped in surprise before glancing out the cave through the barrier. Quickly after rain stormed down and thunder continued to crackle. “Well I guess it’s good I stayed… that sounds really bad..”
Realization hit the male, if you were staying the night here.. “Won’t someone worry you haven’t returned?”
“Mm, nope. Besides when it rains I usually find somewhere to stop and rest or camp till it’s over.” Xiao frowned at the mention of you just camping literally anywhere in the wild, did you not have any self awareness in the dangers of that?
As the storm raged the two of you were left with nothing to do but enjoy each other’s company and chat. That was the first time Xiao allowed you into his personal bubble, allowing you more than just a teasing shove or slap of the chest.
With how cold the cave grew the fur pelt did little to warm you, Xiao propped himself against the cave wall, pillows between his legs to allow you to lay on them. Back against his chest he pulled the pelt over your body, his arms around your waist over the fur.
It was intimate but simultaneously far from it, you knew he was only doing it to keep you warm. It was starting to become clear the more you showed up that he grew to tolerate, dare you say enjoy your presence.
When morning came the storm was gone, the two of you acted as if the sleeping together thing never happened. Xiao had to do a quick survey of the area for any damage from the storm leaving you to yourself for a few hours. When he returned you had made tea and were sitting on the slightly damn stone seats outside.
The first few trips up you continued to haul that heavy pan and dishes until Xiao told you to just leave them, he set aside a small area for the dishes in his den as well as the cooking pan. A permanent little camp spot set up outside now and an easier way for you to switch the pan out for the kettle, you even lugged along a pot for stews.
Xiao sat down and you placed a cup in front of him, he quietly thanked you and the two of you sat in comfortable silence. It wasn’t even noon when you left but Xiao insisted you leave early with the mentions of wanting to show you something. The treks down the mountain were so much easier without the weight of everything you usually carried with, and in no time the two of you started to reach the last stretch of the walk.
Right before the bridge Xiao stopped you and took one of your hands in his, placing something in your palm. “It’s not much, but I made this for you.”
“For me?” You looked over the item and noted it was a shiny polished bell. Something you might find from a merchant but much prettier and expensive looking.
He plucked a smaller bell from the belt on his hip and showed you a similar matching one. “Ring it before you enter Jueyunjian, don’t step foot past that sign unless I ring mine back.” Xiao firmly grabbed your shoulders and you flung your head up to look at him. “I mean it, do not enter without ringing and waiting for my return bell.”
“O-okay..” The level of seriousness shook you, Xiao had made idle threats but this was the most serious you’d seen him. You looked to the little bell and gave it a gentle ring, his own bell in hand gave a chime when yours did. “Oh so that’s how it works.. I was about to be confused how I was supposed to hear a tiny bell through the mountains.”
Xiao exhaled and placed his hands on your cheeks to make you look back at him. “It’s gotten more dangerous around here, not just the daemons.. But humans as well..”
Relief washed over you, not at the mentions of danger but the fact he was trying to protect you. A coo slipped past your lips, your hands resting over his. “I see, thank you Mister Adepti.”
He shuddered at the touch of your skin and only then realized the two of you never properly shared names. It’d be pointless to do it now, the dangers were getting higher which meant he wouldn’t let you visit if he felt you’d be even slightly at risk.
A month later..
A month came and went, after he gave you the bell you only tried to visit once and were turned away. “One ring means it’s safe, two means you cannot come up. Understand me?” Were his exact words, and when you rang the bell you waited. One ring, pause. Two rings. It was hard to not be slightly disappointed after all it was for your safety.
After that things got out of hand for you, and Xiao continued to wait. Not that he could do anything else, aside from the conversations the two of you shared he knew nothing about where you lived. There was no way to search for you, now that he thought about it where the hell did you live?
The nearest place that came to mind was a little area far off with a small Inn for travelers. There was no way you lived there, right? He’d chew you out if that was the case, heavens what if you lived even further?
As that week turned into two, three and soon a month it felt like things returned to normal. The bell never rang, you never showed up to surprise him, he couldn’t even spot you from the mountain on the train. Things returned to normal but the activity picked up and he was suddenly grateful you’d grown busy or simply forgotten him overall.
It was a warm, breezy quiet day when his bell went off suddenly. In the most un Xiao like manner he threw himself down the tippy top of the cliff and down to his usual spot he’d watch you enter. A moment later the bell rang again, probably you trying to check if it still worked.
Hesitantly he gave the bell a single ring and waited to spot you in the far distance. It felt like ages as he waited for a slow making figure and your presence to fully come to him, and when it did he found himself stupidly giddy.
Xiao ignored walking down like a normal person and simply leaped large distances down the mountain to the bridge he usually dropped you off at. Which must’ve been a complete surprise given you nearly tripped running to him. You threw yourself at him to close the distance and he spun you around into a tight hug.
“I missed you so much!” It’d been two months since the last you saw of each other and every day felt like a year. You found yourself cooking an accidental extra serving, the taste of your favourite tea left you feeling sad and alone. Everything you did made you think of him.
“I missed you too..” He softly replied into your hair. “I didn’t think you’d come back..” Xiao held you closer and rubbed at the back of your head when he heard you sniffle. “When a month passed I assumed you grew tired of me..”
You slapped him on the chest, the gesture hurting you more than him. “As if!” Shaking the stinging pain from your hand you frowned and pulled back some. “After I tried to visit last and you turned me away.. The townspeople started to go out less and.. Killings started..”
“Daemons?” You nodded and he exhaled before pulling you back into his chest.
“For a while I was too scared to leave.. In fact my uncle forbade me but since the activity died down I..” you paused and Xiao stared at you, encouraging you to continue. “Snuck out..”
Xiao rubbed at his face with irritation, of course. He was in love with an idiot. He almost forgot that little fact. Woah wait, love?
You watched Xiao’s expression go from irritation to a mix of fear and confusion. Part of you expected a whole rant about how stupid you were and how dangerous it is to sneak out, yadda yadda. This weird confusion fear wasn’t a good look on him and if anything it creeped you out. “You okay?”
Hearing you talk pulled him from his thoughts, no he wasn’t, but he wasn’t ready for that sort of talk right now. “Yeah. Let’s get you up, it’s still not safe here..” Before you could get far Xiao quite literally swept you off your feet, you glued yourself to him as he sped off taking a rather interesting short cut.
“Warn me next time!” Despite the initial fear it quickly turned into laughter and excitement, man he could do this anytime he wanted and he simply chose to walk with you? Lame!
As soon as the two of you reached the top, you told him of what you’d been up to. He finally learned where you lived and was ready to scold you until you told him that you’d been staying with your uncle in that little hot spot in Dihua Marsh at the Inn. You kept the details of over cooking and missing him like crazy and instead told him about the influx of people staying at the Inn, traveler stories they told you.
Meanwhile Xiao had no story to tell, he did as he always did before your arrival, refusing to tack on the little bit of his mind wandering to you.
Another month passed of you visiting as normal until all hell broke loose. An uprising in daemons stormed various areas, Xiao had warned you prior he wouldn’t be there for the next week or two. That he was leaving the area to take care of threats further out. Only to return to more carnage then expected.
When he made his way back he planned to surprise you at the Inn and perhaps whisk you off to the mountain to stay with him for a night or two. He expected you to drop whatever you had in hand and storm over to him with hoots and hollers of excitement. But what he found was anything but.
He smelt it before he saw it, blood. Sprinting off towards the little village he saw the damage immediately, a few bodies laid unmoving and stalls were torn apart. His eyes roamed around for the Inn and his blood ran cold.
There you were propped up and bloodied against the main rooms wall. “No.. no, no..” Surroundings forgotten he fell to his knees beside you and felt for a pulse, it was incredibly weak but you were alive. “Hey, wake up.” Your head adjusted and he tilted it up carefully. “Look at me.”
Pain ran through you like the ocean tide, it hurt but you reluctantly opened your eyes. “Mister Adepti.. Welcome home.” You tried to smile but to Xiao it just looked painful to see.
“Now’s not the time. What happened?” He carefully brushed hair from your face and inspected your wounds carefully.
A hiss tore itself from your throat, causing you to slap Xiao’s hand away from your stomach. You knew it, he knew it, there wasn’t time for idle chat of what happened. You were bleeding out and had been for god knows how long. The last thing you wanted was your final moments together to be of sad talk.
His question went unanswered as you placed a bloodied hand to his cheek. “You know.. There were times I wanted to ring the bell.. Just to see if you were still well and alive..”
“Shut up, don’t waste your energy.” Xiao took the bloodied hand and tried to sling your arm over his neck, the movement caused a pained scream to leave you and he froze. “Dammit.. I won’t be able to move you like this..” he mumbled more so to himself then to you.
Xiao tried to find ways to carefully move you but every time resulted in pained whimpers or gut wrenching screams. “I’m going to get you out of here, we’ll go back to the mountain.”
If only it was possible, but the trek wouldn’t be one you could make in this condition. The two of you knew it, at this point it was just hopeful talk to ease both of your pains. “Yeah?” Your reply was weak as you tried to get comfortable against the man.
Xiao buried his face into the top of your head to hide his face. “We’ll pack up your things, get you a nice bed for the cave..” He paused. “Maybe I’ll make a little house for you.. That cave gets awfully cold.”
You hummed, it sounded heavenly. A nice little cozy home for the two of you, no more having to make that long trek up and down. You already had dishes and cookware at the cave. “I want a big bed.. For the both of us..” Xiao gave a watery chuckle and you smiled. “Doesn’t have to be one of those expensive ones.. Just a nice futon..”
“I’ll make you a pillow with goose feathers.” He tacked on and it was your turn to let out a watery giggle. You coughed and Xiao’s grip tightened around you momentarily. “I bet your uncle will hate me for taking you away.”
That was an interesting thought, you never really considered telling your uncle. You kept your word that you wouldn’t tell anyone, and now you’d die with that secret. “Nonsense..” You leaned further into him with a shudder and he gently rubbed at your bare arm.
“What’s not to love about you? Sure you’re rough around the edges.. But deep down your kind and caring..” Xiao froze and stared down at your sleepy face. “To me at least.. But you’ve never failed to keep me safe..”
His grip tightened and your arms gave him one last squeeze. The last thing he remembered hearing you whisper was what broke the dam on his tears. “I love you —..”
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