Chapter Text
Intimacy was foreign to Xiao. Awkwardly, he rested a gloved hand on her back. He tried to steady his heartbeat, wary of her face so close to his pounding chest. Could she feel how petrified he was? How could she bear to be so close to him, knowing what the man she so desperately clung on to had done?
"[First]," he murmured with a heavy breath, "you mustn't get too close to me. All that awaits is regret." Xiao selfishly grabbed a fist of her black hood, desperately trying to keep her close. She hummed in response.
"My presence, my touch.. I will only bring you harm." His knuckles tightened. He couldn't bring himself to let go of her. His head drooped to rest on her hair, breathing in her comforting and humane scent. Despite his habit of vanishing into thin air, he was afraid she'd suddenly disappear from his grasp, leaving him all alone again.
Guilt-ridden, Xiao struggled to push the girl away. His touch was soft, yet his words were cold. "You must stay out of my way. You are nothing but a weak mortal awaiting death like the rest of your kind."
He confused her. She didn't understand how he could say such cruel things while touching her so kindly. "You don't mean that," she spoke softly against his chest. He grunted in response, struggling to come up with a counter-argument. How could a mortal such as herself possibly know what he did and did not mean? His eyes closed in thought. They welcomed the darkness.
She chuckled at his silence. "You think too much, Xiao. Is it not enough just to sit with me?" A dainty hand flicked at his forehead and he was suddenly met with two dark eyes. "Dream a little, will you?" she murmured, her eyes squinting as she smiled.
His jaw clenched as he struggled to remain composed under her alluring gaze. He enjoyed her eyes. They were so.. plain. For him, that was completely new from the unique and golden eyes of the Adepti. Her eyes reminded him that she was from the mortal world, so far from his many immortal problems. It was an escape.
Xiao hesitated. "Just for a little bit." Pleased, the girl shifted to lay her head on his thighs. She gripped at the loose fabric of his pants, nestling her head into the soft material. His eyes widened at the act, but he dared not stop her. Her touch was not unwelcome, but it confused him. As far as he knew, unlike Gods, humans were very private with their bodies.
Hesitantly, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Unfortunately, us 'weak mortals' need to sleep occasionally," she whispered, quoting Xiao. He sighed in exasperation, causing her to stifle a sleepy laugh in the fabric of his pants. Her eyes remained closed, allowing Xiao to inspect her illuminated face under the pale moonlight. Her long dark hair was splayed across his lap, falling onto the many connected fields of grass in Qingce Village.
He felt her breathing still as she dipped in and out of consciousness. She looked so.. peaceful as she slept. Deep down, Xiao knew he would only bring burden and pain to her innocence, but he was selfish. He craved the way she would look up at him with her slanted dark eyes, a kind and small smile resting on her lips. It shocked him how calm she was around him. Normally, he made sure to never interact with mortals too long, for their safety as well as his own. She had somehow slipped through his barrier with a phrase so simple as 'thank you'.
He found himself too caught up in this dream to wake up now. Brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he whispered to the cool winds that rippled the terraced waves of flowers, blowing the sweet scent of glaze lilies afar.
"You're welcome."