If, and Only If || (Xiao x Reader)

十一

Xiao doesn't know about Morax's lack of knowledge of the concept of Mora that is normal to the mortals, in Liyue, and so. Such as, looking at the price. And buying everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.

"We're going hunting for those mortals, Xiao."

"This is becoming a habit."

"What habit?"

"Of you, being out of control. It's starting to get out of hand for me."

"Ah... I knew you'd start to get tired of me..." She sighed herself, and rubbed the back of her head.

"That's not..."

"You don't have to lie. I can be pretty childish sometimes, and my drinking habits really are awful. But at least I have the power to protect Liyue, I guess." Y/N finished with a shrug. "I'm not always this open though. Not even quite Morax either. It's more like siblings, and a few isolation. He didn't even tell me anything about his plan to pretend to be dead. When I heard he died, I felt like someone stabbed me."

"Who told you?" Xiao asked.

"A citizen in Liyue Harbor. Everyone was going on about it, if it was a rumor or not. So I went and checked, by knocking down the funeral parlors doors. I think it hit Hu Tao in the process. And there he was, all normal and acting like nothing is going on. He didn't bother to tell me. I thought we were close with each other..." She dropped her net. Used to catch bugs.

Well that escalated quickly...

Xiao noticed before, but whenever she's absolutely drunk, she gets emotional quickly. And starts talking about her emotions, and such. Like problem along the way that she's dealing with.

"It's not like I despise him for it. I'm sure he has his reasons, to fucking pretend to be goddamn dead. Oh. Excuse my language." Y/N put a hand over her mouth to stop herself. And waved a hand to tell Xiao to forget what she said.

"I feel like wanting to blow up a whole mountain..." She muttered.

"You're not serious, are you?" Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"If you think I am, then I am. If you think I'm not, then I'm not. Sometimes I want to grip that long hair of his and use it to swing him around and knock down hilichurls and throw him at the exploding barrels."

Xiao was startled at how serious she sounded, and she mumbled all of that very quickly. Like she was cursing him, or something.

Morax better watch out, because one angry sister is coming his way.

"Let's leave all of this sappy stuff now, shall we? I think we should get going. And I'm sure everyone in Mondstadt is getting ready for the Windblume Festival, and soon the Ludi Harpastum."

"What is the Windblume Festival and Ludi Harpastum?"

"Some annual celebration. Like the Lantern Rite."

Xiao nodded.

"But I will say, it's very pretty. It feels like home, more than Liyue, I have to admit. Barbatos has good people worshipping him."

"Liyue is lucky to have had Rex Lapis as their ruler." Xiao slightly glared with his declaration.

"Don't take it personally, Xiao. And we're like sworn siblings. I have insulting privileges."

"I don't appreciate the insulting of Rex Lapis."

Y/N shrugged and looked the other way, ignoring his statement.

"We're not getting anywhere. And we keep disputing between each other. I guess we'll cancel today's plans. You can leave if you want." She replied coldly.

And Xiao wasn't exactly sure why she was so defiant, and... cold? Distant? Like Xiao does.

And isolate himself from mortals.

Y/N walked farther into the woods of Wolvendom, wanting to check out some of its exterior, and the wolf hook berries.

Nobody stopped her, it was her choice really. She might have been wanting to meet some wolves on the way. Until she was nearly attacked by a large one.

"Oh sweet almond tofu!" She exclaimed, jumping back quickly, getting her hanfu caught in one of the branches.

Xiao hurriedly went over, worried.

"Why are you still here? I thought you'd appreciate the offer of not spending time with someone with a habit of doing things out of control."

"I'm still here. I couldn't just up and leave."

"Is that so? Well once I get this branch to stop stabbing my sleeve, we can leave." She said with slight sarcasm, while tugging in her sleeve.

Once it got off she dragged Xiao out of the forest quickly, and sat down.

"I'm tired..." She slumped down.

"You get tired?"

"You wouldn't know, I actually get tired. Mainly because of lack of sleep sometimes."

"Do you... have nightmares? Supposedly?" Xiao asked out of no where.

"Curious now, are we?"

"Can't you answer the question?"

"Geez. Before I start. Here." She gestured him to open his palm, and he did. Y/N placed medicine in his hand, preferably to stop his own pain. "From Morax." She said in monotone.

Xiao hesitantly took it, and his face twisted in discomfort.

"Oh? You don't like medicine?" Y/N teased.

"I don't see the reason why I would need something as bland, and bitter as this to be taken to help the pain."

"Stop being a stuck up, and drink the medicine. Unless you prefer other ways to heal yourself." She was joking, mainly. And it sounded a bit wrong to other people maybe. But it was with a hint sarcasm, and rolling of her eyes.

"Are there other ways?" Xiao asked back.

"Wouldn't you like to know now. You already know, since I've done it for you before. You know, the flute?" She inquired. "And you do know I know you played my flute that time."

Xiao turned his head to her abruptly, with a slight red tinted cheek.

"Don't think I don't know my own flute, Xiao." She then had an idea. "Now that I've thought about it again, wouldn't that be considered what mortals say? Uh, 'indirect kiss', maybe? I'm not sure. Guizhong said something about it one time." She picked at the grass, and threw it somewhere.

Xiao almost dropped his medicine out of his hands in surprise, and fluster.

"In— inder—"

"No need to be so flustered, dear adeptus. Unless you have a reason to be?" She teased as she moved her eyes up to see his slight denial look. Red on his ears, complimenting his oh so, 'no!-It-is-not-true!-But-it-kind-of-is,-but-no!' Look... if you know, you know.

So in other words, he's not very honest, but his reactions are quite so.

"Don't tease me." Xiao mumbled.

"I wasn't necessarily teasing. But this is fine too."

"Hey."

"Fine, fine. Guess what."

"?"

"Another change of plans."

"Looks like I'll have to cancel my cancel. Let's get a move on. Cause you'll be hanging around with me, until the clock strikes midnight. Dear adeptus."

And Xiao decided to leave the previous topic as is, and see what she has in store for them for the rest of the day.