Wuthering Waves x Reader Oneshots and More!

Summary: In a quiet laboratory, two scientists—Xiangli Yao and you—navigate your lives as Resonators, both of you having prosthetics and carrying the burden of your unique abilities. Your bond grows deeper as you share moments of both scientific discovery and personal connection, balancing the pursuit of knowledge with the need for emotional grounding. As you explore each other’s lives, your relationship transcends the mechanical, and you both find solace in a love that defies both logic and the limits of your own lives.

Tags: Xiangli Yao x Male!Reader, Prosthetics, Romance, Intellectual Relationship, Mutual Understanding, Emotional Growth, Light Fluff, Soft Moments, Philosophical Struggles, Supportive Relationship, Character Development, Gentle Teasing.

Warnings: Light emotional angst, Mentions of prosthetics and trauma (arm/leg loss), Slow-burn, introspective tone.

Requested by: CherryQuartzDiamond

The storm rumbled outside, flashes of violet and silver illuminating the dimly lit laboratory. The smell of metal, solder, and faint traces of ozone clung to the air—a familiar scent, one that always reminded you of home.

You leaned against the workbench, adjusting the calibration of your prosthetic hand. The intricate plating, designed with both function and aesthetics in mind, reflected the electric glow of the monitors in the room. Beside you, Xiangli Yao was focused on his own project, his sharp eyes scanning over delicate schematics of an automaton prototype.

"You're overworking again," you teased, flexing your metallic fingers before resting your hand on the table. "You know, for someone who preaches about efficiency, you sure don't practice it when it comes to sleep."

Xiangli smirked, though he didn't look away from his work. "And you’re one to talk? You’ve been tinkering with that arm for over an hour. I assumed you were just as absorbed in your work as I am."

You exhaled a laugh, nudging his leg with your own under the table. "Fine, you got me. But at least I admit it."

The two of you often found yourselves like this—working in tandem, existing in the same space without needing to fill it with endless conversation. It was a quiet companionship, one built on understanding rather than grand gestures. Neither of you had chosen to lose what made you whole, but you had adapted, and in that adaptation, found someone who understood.

"I made some modifications to the stabilizers," Xiangli murmured after a pause, finally looking up from his notes. He reached for your arm, his touch feather-light against the metal plating. "Mind if I take a look?"

You watched as he studied your prosthetic, fingers tracing the seams where technology met flesh. It wasn’t just scientific curiosity—you could see it in his expression, the careful reverence, the way he regarded the work as if it was an extension of you rather than just machinery.

"Go ahead," you murmured.

Xiangli nodded, pressing his fingertips to the joint where your forearm connected to the rest of your prosthetic. A soft hum resonated between you—his Resonance, flickering to life, subtly syncing with yours. Electricity danced at the edges of his touch, tingling against your skin.

"Your alignment is slightly off," he noted, brows furrowing in thought. "It’s not interfering with function, but if you let me—"

You smirked, reaching up with your free hand to cup his jaw. "You’re doing it again."

His expression softened, the corners of his lips twitching as if resisting a smile. "And what, exactly, am I doing?"

"Overanalyzing. I don’t mind the imperfections, Xiangli. Not everything has to be optimized to perfection."

He exhaled, finally allowing himself to relax under your touch. "You always say that."

"Because it’s true," you murmured. Your thumb traced over his cheek, the warmth of his skin grounding you in a way that no technological advancement ever could.

For a moment, the weight of scientific pursuits, philosophical dilemmas, and the relentless need for discovery melted away. Here, in this quiet moment, there were no mysteries to solve, no theories to unravel—just the two of you, existing.

Xiangli leaned into your touch, just slightly. "You remind me that there’s more to life than just chasing answers," he admitted quietly. "And I think… that’s something I need."

You smiled, tilting your head. "And what do you think you've given me?"

He paused, then met your gaze with something unspoken—something deep and resolute. "A place to belong."

Outside, the thunder rolled on, but in here, the only resonance that mattered was the one between you.