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Chapter Text

Today was the day. She had made all the arrangements and was finally ready to join the Crux fleet and travel to Inazuma. Despite all she had conquered so far in her journey through Teyvat, including fighting a fatui Harbinger and vanquishing a giant sea dragon, Inazuma was going to be her most dangerous quest yet. At least according to everyone she mentioned it to.

The islands were just barely visible from Liyue harbor, surrounded in a dense haze that made her a little nervous for Beidou’s navigation skills. Kazuha had assured her numerous times that Captain Beidou and the Cruz was the safest and most reliable way to get to the land of electro. But the cracks of purple lightning spiderwebbing through the clouds didn’t ease her mind. Instead, giving her an ominous feeling.

“Well.. hehe. I guess this is it then.” Paimon stated from where she was hovering just to Lumine’s side. She was wringing her hands nervously. “What if Paimon gets seasick??”

Lumine chuckled at that, breaking some of the tension that hovered in the air on the busy loading dock. “How could you possibly get seasick when you’re constantly in the air?”

“I don’t know, but I know Paimon will!!” She cried, grabbing on to Lumine’s arm to let her know she was serious. But something grabbed her attention a second later. “Hey Lumi, did you see that?”

“See what?” She asked, turning to look in the same direction but seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

“Maybe Paimon is seeing things. Paimon is just so on edge! Let’s get this over with!” At that, Paimon flew ahead in the direction of the loading ramp where the Crux crew was hauling provisions onto the ship. Beidou and Kazuha were waiting at the bottom of the ramp, no doubt chatting about the plans they had come up with to get Lumine into the high security territory they were heading to. This was basically a smuggling job, nothing they hadn’t handled before. The wind had picked up a little, blowing free strands of her blond hair that she reached up to move out of her eyes. She then started towards the ship, ready to get this expedition rolling.

A small updraft of wind and energy, followed by the sounds of dock boards creaking under his weight was the only indicator someone had appeared behind Lumine’s small gathering. He landed with a small thud a few strides behind them on the Crux’s loading dock. Effectively alarming any nearby crew members with his sudden appearance, causing them to scatter away from the adepti.

“You’re… leaving?..” his yellow eyes widening before narrowing on Lumine in concern “…Now?”.

She turned at his voice, her smile faltering just a bit as she caught his gaze. He was tense, she could tell, and she could see evidence of a recent battle. Faint blood splatter on his clothes, and a bit swiped across his face. His breathing ragged. He looked as if he had been in the middle of clearing out some hilichurl camp before rushing over here to confront her.

Lumine turned to her awaiting party, Captain Beidou and Kazuha were looking at her with confusion written all over their faces. It wasn’t every day that an Adepti stopped by to say hello, not to mention the conqueror of demons himself. He never bothered venturing into the city, instead lurking by the outskirts or up on the cliffs to keep watch. Many people knew of him, but steered clear due to his karmic aura and cold demeanor. It was a known fact that the adepti didn’t involve themselves in mortal affairs, unless it was absolutely necessary. The yaksha especially.

Beidou was the first to speak on his arrival. “Well lookie here. What an unexpected surprise!” Propping her hands on her hips.

“Uh oh..” Paimon chimed in from where she was floating off to Lumine’s side. “You should probably go talk to him before he gets angry. Paimon told you that you should have warned him!”

Lumine wrung her hands sheepishly and let out a nervous chuckle. “Maybe I should have, I’ll be just a minute.” Beidou nodded and mumbled something about the Adeptus and his seriousness under her breath. Kazuha only smiled politely and said “take your time” before they turned to resume their conversation. Paimon shooed Lumine away, claiming she had no part in this and something else about avoiding his wrath.

She approached him carefully. Feeling more and more anxious the closer she got to the adeptus. He always had an unapproachable aura to him, and even though they had grown closer during her time in Liyue, she was still nervous around him. Especially when he looked at her like that.

They had spent the last few weeks after the battle of Osial working together on commissions, or occasionally having a meal together at the Wangshu Inn. Something had changed between them during that time, and she couldn’t quite figure out how to approach the topic with him. Recently, she would catch his gaze lingering on her a little longer than normal, or his presence a little closer to hers during a battle. She used to have to call out to him when they were meeting up for a commission or dinner, but now he was often waiting for her when she visited Wangshu Inn. She knew they needed to talk about it, and the fact that she was leaving for the foreseeable future, but she never found the time to bring it up.

“Xiao, I-“

“You should have told me.” He growled, crossing his arms. He turned his head to look away from her, a deep scowl forming. She couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles rippled and flexed with tension, but it was the way he spoke to her that really caught her off guard.

"You’re leaving? You should have told me.", The words rattled around in her mind, his tone laced with concern.

“I.. I know. Everything happened so fast. I had an opportunity and I needed to act on it. You know that I’m searching for my brother, and there are rumors that another traveller like me has been spotted in Inazuma” the words came tumbling out, like she was scrambling for purchase on a cliff. Xiao was always hard to read, but with this she knew he was fuming.

He still wasn’t looking at her, instead looking out at the sea. No doubt assessing the path they would take.

“I’m sorry, I know I should have told you. Or at least sent a note to explain. I just… I have to find him.” Her voice tapering off at the end. He knew what her mission was, she didn’t need to explain herself on that front. She wasn’t sure what else to say. How else to explain herself. The flex of his jaw told her that she wasn’t getting anywhere with her excuse. To be honest she hadn’t told him because she was scared of how he would react. She was afraid of, well, this.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, I prom-“

“No” he snaps. Fully facing her and pinning her with a glare.

That caught her off guard. “No?”

He released his grip on his crossed arms. Dropping them to his sides and sending small anemo particles into the space around him. “You don’t understand” he growled out. In a low voice meant for only her to hear. “I can’t… forget it.” He scoffs, looking away from her again.

She takes a step closer to hear him better. “You can’t what?” Her skin tingles with his anemo energy in the air. It makes her shiver. But then again, it always does.

His jaw flexed again. Something is eating at him. But this time he softens, exhaling as his shoulders slouch. He turns to face her again, and takes a step towards her. They’re close now, close enough she could easily reach out and wipe the blood smear off his face if she wanted. He looks so tired now that she can really see him. He was likely up all night slaying demons or hilichurls or whatever else posed a threat to Liyue.

“I can’t…” he reaches out, slowly, and gently takes her hand. Cradling it in his palm and running his thumb over her knuckles for just a moment before continuing. “I can’t protect you there.” His eyes locked on their joined hands.

He’s never been this.. soft with her before. It makes her heart flutter in her chest. His voice low, just for her. The way he gently brushed his thumb over the back of her fingers. His grip firm and steady. The way her body responds to it all, making her want to melt into him.

“Xiao…” Lumine breathes, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I can take care of myself, you know that right? I’ll be okay.” her voice a whisper compared to the noise around them. She moves to wipe the splatter off his cheek when he shoots up and grabs her wrist, pulling her hand away from his face. Firmly holding it between them when he locks eyes with her. His face inches from hers.

“You don’t understand. The Raiden Shogun is lethal.” he hisses. “Her country just as deadly. She could strike you down at any minute once you step foot on her land” all softness from before gone. “Letting you go to Inazuma is a death sentence.” He growls, noses almost touching.

“Is everything alright?” Kazuha’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife. They hadn’t noticed him make his way over.

With one hand still holding her wrist firmly in the air, Xiao moves his other to grab hold of her shoulder, pulling her even more toward him. Almost as if to shield her. “Back off.” He spats at Kazuha. His voice almost a growl, his tone possessive. Something about it makes her heart leap.

“Uh.. got it. Just wanted to tell Lumine that we’re almost ready to set sail, sorry.” Kazuha manages out before retreating back to the ship. Away from whatever is going on between the two of them.

“What has gotten into you?” Lumine tries to wiggle free, but fails. “I’ve never seen you like this..” he’s so close she can see the gold flecks in his eyes, the dark circles just underneath them. He gazes back at her, unreadable.

He let out a shaky breath, loosening his grip on her and letting their hands fall between them. But he doesn’t let her go. He holds both her hands this time, and presses his forehead to hers. Closing his eyes and taking in another long breath that tickles her face and makes her shiver.

“Xiao… tell me. Please.”

“If you call for me I won’t be able to get to you” he whispered. He pulls back just far enough to look her in the eye before continuing, “I’ve been able to keep you safe so far, but now I have to let you go where I can’t follow.”

Lumine tries to speak, but she can’t find the words. He’s so earnest. So sincere that she can’t believe it. He’s all but confirming what she’s been curious about for weeks. She thought she was imagining things when he saved her at the battle of Osial. Imagining the way he held her waist just so, how he readjusted to hold her closer on that platform. The way he answers her every call. He cares for her, and she feels as if her heart could burst for the second time.

The first was when they were out on a commission just last week.
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They were clearing out a hilichurl camp together, way up in the Liyue mountains where travelers rarely ventured. Lumine had just finished batting a mitachurl who had rushed her from across the camp. He had hit a few pillars in the process, making the nearby watchtower unstable. Just as she eased out of her fighting stance to wipe her brow, the support beams of the watchtower crumpled, sending the structure tumbling down in her direction. Before she could even react, Xiao was there. Using his wind cycling ability to rush them out of the way of the falling tower and onto the ground.

They landed on top of one another, Lumine on the ground with Xiao just above her. One hand braced against the ground just by her head, the other still gripping his jade winged spear off to the side. He had landed on a knee, positioned dangerously close between her thighs while his other leg had planted beside her, allowing him to stand up if he wanted. Their faces were so close their ragged breaths tangled between them. “Are you alright?” He had breathed, his eyes fixed on hers for a moment before flicking down to her lips and back again just as fast. She managed a stuttered “yes” before clearing her throat and responding more firmly, albeit breathy. Her heart roared so loud in her chest she wondered if he could hear it. He was so close, his heavy breaths fanned her face, causing a flush to creek up her neck and onto her face. She hoped he hadn’t noticed, but his golden eyes had glazed over, almost as if he was in a trance. He lingered for just a moment longer before the realization dawned on him that they were in a very compromising position.

He shot up with wide eyes, clearing his throat before mumbling a short “sorry” and rubbing the back of his neck. A nervous habit Lumine had learned about him. She sat up and shook the dust out of her hair when he reached a hand out to help her up. He effortlessly pulled her to her feet, quickly dropping her hand and taking a step back from her. His cheeks were pink, but Lumine chalked it up to the heat of the day and the battle they had just finished. There’s no way he could feel the same way I’m feeling she thought to herself. He was thousands of years old, there was no chance some close proximity could fluster him. Especially when he had held her even closer so calmly after scooping her from her free fall just a few weeks prior during the Osial battle.

“I uh.. think that’s enough for today” was all he said before he vanished, leaving Lumine standing alone in the Minlin mountains. Flustered and confused.
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His words hung between them, Lumine was right to ask. What had come over him? Since when did he care about mortal affairs. Since when did he have the time to care about anyone? But there was something about her that he couldn’t stay away from. The way her eyes reflected the color of his own. The way her hair seemed to glow almost golden in the sunlight. How her fighting style perfectly complimented his own, almost a dance. How she was a perfect fit against him when he saved her from her free fall. The feelings that she stirred in him while he hovered just inches above her on that battlefield. The aura about her that said she was not meant for this world. That she too, like himself, was an outlier. Someone that didn’t fit into this world’s standards. If he was the dark, she was the light. Even his karma dissolved when she was near.

“I’ll be okay, I promise. There are people there who are going to help me.” She does her best to reassure him. Giving his hands a squeeze to show she means it.

“Last call! All aboard to set sail!” Captain Beidou bellows out. Crew members start to scurry up the ramp, but neither of them move.

His gaze flicks behind her to the ship, then back to her and he releases a shaky breath. “I’ve heard they are hunting vision bearers there. You don’t have one.” He looks down at their joined hands, brushing over her knuckles again. “If someone sees you using your elemental skills, you will be a target. They will hunt you.”

“Kazuha warned me, we have a plan.” She replies, giving his hands another squeeze. “As long as we stick to it, I’ll be just fine.”

“Promise me…” Xiao whispers, leaning into her as he speaks. “Promise you’ll come back to me”. His words cause their noses to brush again, his lips ghost the corner of her mouth. Her world stops, zeroing in on this one moment. She can feel a heat burning in her, creeping all the way up her neck and warming her face. He’s so close, but he’s not pulling away.

“I promise,” she breathes into him. “I’ll come back to you.”

Then his lips are on hers, soft and tentative at first. He brings a hand up to cup the side of her jaw, tilting her head back as his other hand finds her waist to pull her flush to him. Lumine reaches up to grab at his shoulders, catching fistfuls of his shirt. He takes this as confirmation to deepen the kiss, moving his hand from her jaw into the hair at the back of her neck, earning a hum of approval from Lumine.

Her response fuels him, and his kiss becomes hungry, consuming, like he can’t get enough of her. He can’t stop himself, something primal in the back of his mind urging him to take control. To make her his. She reaches a hand up to tangle in his hair at the nape of his neck, pulling gently and eliciting a low growl from him. He wants to whisk her away to his room at Wangshu Inn, steal her away from the looming danger of her journey ahead. He wants to get her in his bed, strip her bare and kiss every inch of her-

The loading dock bell snaps them out of the moment. It was the final call before the ramp to the ship gets lifted, meaning she really had to leave.

Xiao jumps back as if she’s on fire. Shocked at what he’s done, and in public no less. An adepti making a fool of himself in front of the city he tries so hard to stay out of. For a second he’s worried he has made a mistake, but the flush on her cheeks and the way she reaches up to touch her swollen lips show that she’s just as shocked as he is.

“I-I have to go.” she stutters out, glancing at the ship then back to him. Her voice breathy.

“I know.” he replies. Eyes never leaving her.

“I’ll see you when I get back.” she says as she takes a step backward in the direction of the loading ramp.

“I know.” Xiao responds. Then he vanishes in a mix of Anemo and karmic energy.

Lumine stands in shock for just a second longer before turning and rushing up the boat ramp. Paimon is waiting for her as soon as she makes it on the deck ready to barrage her with questions about what just happened out on the dock. She does her best to answer all of her questions, but Lumine is just as confused as she is.

The ship finally pulls away and starts to make its way out of the harbor. Lumine turns to take one last look at Liyue, memorizing all the small details of the city she’s spent so much time in these last few months. She knows the next part of her journey will not be easy, and she may be walking into a death sentence. But she has to try. The thought hangs heavy on her mind. She’s not even really gone yet and she already wants to go back. There’s so much unsaid now. So much to figure out.

A flash of color catches her eye on the cliff overlooking the city, and she can just make out the figure of Xiao standing there. Watching her leave. He’s barely visible, growing smaller with each passing minute the ship sails out to sea. But she doesn’t take her eyes off him. Not until the city disappears into the haze, too thick to see through.

“I’ll be back soon..” she whispers. Making a silent promise to make it back to Liyue no matter what it takes.

Chapter Text

It had been almost three weeks since she left, and he couldn’t shake this feeling.

For nights on end he’d dream of her. Not the kind of dreams one would have while sleeping, he never truly slept. But the kind that took place behind closed eyes in that fragile place between rest and reality. She was always there on the edge of his mind, close enough that if he truly focused on that thread of awareness, he could see her. He could swear he was looking through her eyes at times. Seeing her travels through Inazuma or hearing her conversations, but there was no way that could be true. She was an ocean away, his mind was most likely playing tricks on him. It was very likely that his mind was just showing him these things to ease his worry.

At least that’s what he told himself. Still, he’d go to the harbor at least once a day just to check. Hoping to catch a glimpse of her ship making its way back to Liyue. He’d perch himself up above the Stone Forest, on the cliff just north of Liyue to watch the horizon for a bit. He’d spend an hour or so just waiting, and when it was obvious that the Alcor was not there, he’d leave to resume his day. 

When he wasn’t staring out across the ocean above the harbor, he continued on his usual routine. Clearing out hillichurl camps, taking out rogue Vishaps, eradicating demons, and watching over Wangshu Inn. Without her there bugging him for help on commissions or joining him on his duties things seemed dull. The days were long and uneventful, and for the first time in his long life he felt bored. 

He had lived for thousands of years, through wars and battles and aging lands, but had never been bored with his tasks. He would serve his purpose and be satisfied with just that. Protector of Liyue, Conqueror of Demons, and when Morax called, General Alatus. Nothing more, nothing less.

Until her.

At first he found her a nuisance. Another annoying traveler offering up almond tofu hoping to gain his favor. But the determination in her eyes piqued his interest and the rest is history. She swayed him with the news of Rex Lapis’ passing, and supported him through his grief until learning that Morax was now just Zhongli, and he was right in the harbor whenever he needed him. She would deliver his medicine from Baizhu, bring him almond tofu as thanks for his help, or surprise him with qingxin flowers. In the beginning he would respond with some cold remark about how gifts were wasted on him or how they were unnecessary. Frivolous mortal traditions that were no use to an adepti.

One particular day, on his birthday in fact, he made the mistake of telling her that he did not deserve any gifts or celebration. That he was not worthy of such praise because of the things he had done. Her response was so surprising all he could do was stare.

 “ You cannot base your worth on the things you cannot control. Your past was out of your control. But you can control your present and your future. And I think that the present Xiao is very worthy and deserving.”

He’ll never forget how her eyes looked like molten gold as she scolded him for thinking so little of himself. The way her cheeks flushed with anger and how her furled brows made a little dimple between them. She was determined to make him feel otherwise, and while he didn’t agree with her, he stopped talking down on himself when she was around. 

Over time he grew to enjoy her presence, and would often look forward to her visits. Occasionally he would seek her out if she was nearby, just to check on her. She had begun to do the same for him, so he felt he should be there for her if necessary. 

After accompanying her on a particularly nasty commission involving a Ruin Hunter on the outskirts of Jueyun Karst, he had come to a sudden realization.

He couldn’t stand to know if she had been hurt when he could have been there to prevent it. Something twisted in his chest at the thought. Something dark and ugly that brought up memories of his past. He was a weapon, and what use was a weapon if it sat idle when someone may need it.

His words to her from that evening still echoed in his mind. 

"If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door... Call out my name and I will be there when you call.”

“No, Xiao.” she had replied. Staring at him while he looked out over the marsh from their spot on the inn’s balcony. Her eyes searing into him with that same molten gold he had experienced a few months prior. “I will not use you as a weapon. I won’t do that to you.”

Without moving from his spot against the railing, he met her gaze. Glaring at her with matched intensity, before softening at the sincerity he saw there.

“As a shield then.”

She had only called for him one time after he made the offer. 

The sound of her voice that day would haunt him for a lifetime. It was faint, breathy, like an exhaled word spoken to someone for the last time. Every muscle in his body seized, a moment of panic before the realization washed over him.

He was there in an instant with his Jadewing spear at the ready. As his eyes adjusted to take in the threat, he could see her attempting to push herself up off the ground. She had a nasty cut on her sword arm that was dripping blood down her forearm. She was covered in dirt and scrapes, and her sword was out of her reach. A pyro fatui agent was a few paces ahead of her, twirling his blades and readying another attack. He was the last one standing, with three other agents already dispatched lying limp on the ground. 

Her eyes met his and widened with surprise. “ Xiao..?”

He spun his spear once as he began to step forward, “You called.” He replied before taking out the pyro agent in one pass. 

He returned to her side and vanished his spear before kneeling down in front of her. “ You’re hurt.”

She was cradling her injured arm while the open wound continued to bleed. “I.. I’m okay. It’s not too bad really”.

His eyes narrowed “You’re lying.”

“No, I’m fine really! I don’t want to burden you more than I already have! I can get myself back to-”

He then cut her off by scooping her up in his arms and pulling her close against his chest. “Your safety is not a burden to me.” 

Things had shifted since then, something unspoken between the two of them that neither dared to bring up. It was too fragile, whatever it was. He noticed it in the way she moved around him, in and out of battle. She had adapted to his fighting style, letting him take the lead and mirroring his movements. Together they had become a double edged sword, swift and lethal. He realized that it had been a long time since combat had felt that effortless. Their wordless coordination on the battlefield reminded him of his fellow yaksha from the past.

He noticed it too, in the way she lingered a little closer to his side on the late nights they spent out on the balcony of Wangshu Inn. Some nights, they spent the evening debriefing the day of commissions. Others, he would sit silently and listen to her stories of her travels, or answer her questions about Liyue and the adepti. 

Over time, he had come to recognize the little things about her. The way her eyes lit up when eating a tasty dish or how she fiddled with the hem of her dress when she was nervous. The curve of her lips as she spoke. How the sight of her caused a tightness in his chest.

He wasn’t sure when he started to think of her in that way. In all his years, he never felt the pull of attraction towards another being, never wanted to really. Still, he’d find himself staring off into space thinking of her often.

The dreams of her started just after they finished their battle against Osial. They were innocent at first, just glimpses of an outing or conversation between the two. He’d dream about sharing a meal with her after a long day. Or walking through the fields in Qingce village. 

However, the dreams shifted after their last commission before she left for Inazuma. The one where an unstable tower had almost crushed her if he hadn’t rushed her out of the way. He’d never been that close to her before. Sure, they had sparred together and he had even carried her a few times, but this was different. He got lost in the moment, the heat of her beneath him, and the sight of her flustered at their proximity. He made the mistake of glancing at her lips. Eliciting something primal and unfamiliar to cross his mind.

He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to taste her.

He’d only ever shared a kiss with one person in his entire existence. Centuries ago someone had taken an interest in him. When the time came, and he had kissed this girl with a long forgotten name, he felt nothing. When they realized nothing would come of pursuing any kind of relationship, they went their separate ways. He focused only on his duties after that.

Lumine was different in every aspect.

He started to dream of what it would be like to kiss her. Would he feel anything this time? Would she feel the same? What would she do if he reached out and closed that gap between them? Would she pull away if he touched her out of want, instead of necessity?

He didn’t have to wonder for long.

He lost control when he saw her on the docks in the harbor that day. She had talked about the possibility of leaving Liyue, if it meant she could locate her brother. He knew what her goal was, and he wanted her to accomplish it. Yet he panicked when he realized that she was leaving him behind. He didn’t want her to go, especially somewhere he couldn’t follow. That ugly feeling had settled in his chest again, the one that had urged him to pledge himself to her. To allow her to use him.

When he finally closed the distance and kissed her on the docks, he felt it. He hesitated at first, and had pressed his lips on hers gently, to give her a chance to pull away. But when she didn’t, and she made that noise, something snapped. 

It lit a fire low in his belly, one that burned all the way up to the tips of his ears. It made his heart stutter and his spine tingle. Something in the back of his mind told him to take . He wanted her to be his. Then she ran her hands up his arms and around his neck. Tangled them in his hair and pulled. He thought he would come apart right then and there. 

Then, she was an ocean away.