The Object of My Unholy Desire (Xiaoaether)

Xiao Is the Reason the Archons Can't Have Nice Things

It was hard enough with Xingqu Pool, which I'm not even sure whether I spelled it correctly, and Guyun Stone Forest and whatnot, now this? Names in Liyue are tough enough.

Five minutes later, I reach the Starbucks. I enter, my eyes scanning the tables for a specific red-head. I locate the object of my mission and join him at his table.

His ocean blue eyes brighten when he sees me. I try not to narrow my eyes as I remember how his eyes once went from clear blue to opaque blue when he used his delusion.

Then I inwardly kick myself. It. Isn't. This. Childe's. Fault.

He motions for me to sit with him. I sit down and he smiles, resting his chin on his hands like that brown haired girl with the ponytail and white bow from that one psychological horror game.

"Hey, comrade! What brings you to my Starbucks?" He asks teasingly. I give him a questioning look.

"Let me guess. Your parents own this Starbucks." I ask, my voice filled with sarcasm.

"Actually, my parents own this entire street." Childe says.

"Does that mean I can get free coffee?" I ask.

"Any time." He responds. "So, what'd you wanna talk about?"

I take a breath.

"I gather that you know a lot. Especially about Opal City. I need you to tell me, has there been any strange activity lately?" I ask in all seriousness.

Childe looks thoughtful.

"Well, I mean, some people have been claiming to see weird looking animals and strange unmeltable ice, but that's about it." He says.

"Unmeltable ice?" I mutter.

That sounds 100 percent like the Tsaritsa. Could she have sent the thing that attacked me and Aether at Wangshu Inn? It'd make sense, I guess, since Aether's the main threat to the Fatui's plans.

"Earth to Xiao!" Childe says. I guess he asked me something and I didn't hear him.

"What?" I ask?

"Why are you asking me this?" He asks.

"Because I've been told about the strange things by someone and I'm worried about the people I care about that live in Opal City. Considering that it was someone who backstabbed me before, I didn't exactly trust them, so I came to you for confirmation." I say. It's half true.

"Okay. Well since you asked me a question, I get to ask you a question." Childe says.

I can't imagine what he'd ask me other than about my relationship with Aether. It's a good thing that I've prepared a lie.

"Go for it." I say.

"Scaramouche has told me some interesting things about you...mainly about what you talk about with Aether." He says.

My blood runs cold.

"Dare I ask what an 'adeptus' is? Or why it pertains to you? Or what the sentence 'in our world' means to you?" He asks.