Art: ???

A/N: Make sure to read everything, you're in for a surprise. ;)

Y/N tried to follow a seelie, but kept getting distracted by nearby pinecones, mints, hilichurls, and what not.

Xiao sighed, shaking his head.

A pyro slime nearly burned her hanfu, and it almost burned her skin as well. Until a hydro slime jumped at her, getting rid of the fire. She wasn't sure if she should be thankful, or dreadful.

They soon found a spot on the large tree in Windrise. And Xiao hoped the bard wouldn't show up while they talked, for he might ruin everything. Maybe even tease Xiao, cause he would think they were on a date.

"So, I met this interesting handsome alchemist in Mondstadt. You've heard of those, 'Knights of Favonius' people right? He's the chief alchemist, so you know. Big stuff." She explained.

'Handsome? How handsome?' Xiao slightly furrowed his eyebrows at the thought. He was a bit agitated, unconsciously and he didn't know what expression he was currently making.

"And so. He tried to do experiments on me after he found out that fire didn't burn my skin or hurt me at all. He found out a lot about myself that I didn't know about." Y/N kept explaining while Xiao listened.

"I think he's in Dragonspine at the moment. He said he was busy doing an experiment, and Xiao?" She lightly chuckled as she saw Xiao look so serious, and focused. But he was staring at the sky with a glare.

He turned his head to her. And she poked the space between his eyebrows, with a smirk.

"If you keep your eyebrows knit together like that, it might stay there and your handsome face will be ruined, my dear adeptus." Once she put her finger down, Xiao put a hand where she previously touched, with a slight blush.

'Handsome?' Xiao asked himself, except he said his thought out loud.

"Yes. Handsome. Were you not aware, Xiao? You're just as handsome. I'm sure you would swoon any lady out there, if you tried." She laughed, looking forward.

"Would it swoon you?"

Y/N didn't expect him to ask that.

"Swoon... me?" She pointed to herself.

"Did I stutter?"

"No..." It came out more like a question than a statement.

"You said I could swoon any lady. Aren't you one? Would I swoon you?" He leaned a little closer. And Y/N started getting a little red, and her cheeks felt a little warm. But the cool wind helped her calm herself down.

'Thank you Barbatos for the godly cold wind you have blessed me with.' She prayed to herself in her head, while with nervousness and looked back at Xiao, who stared intently at her waiting for an answer.

"Not, necessarily swoon, per say. Maybe..." She tried to think of something quickly, and with each hesitant word she spoke the more Xiao was curious, and one of his eyebrows raised.

"A— attract??"

'I just stuttered.'

'She stuttered.'

Y/N had a nervous sweat on the side of her forehead.

"I attract you?" Xiao was in thought, what in the world was he thinking about? Y/N wondered and fanned her face while he wasn't paying attention.

'I didn't think he would be so direct... oh wait. He's always direct...' She thought back to when he asked her if she would support his marriage.

"Your face is red." She turned back around to see Xiao giving her a small smirk. And she turned back around the other way to fan her face even more.

'Barbatos! Give me wind to cool my face!' She pleaded. And her wish was granted when a strong gust of wind almost made her fall off the tree branch, and Xiao managed to catch her. Her hanfu hanged, as she was leaned backwards from the wind, and Xiao put a hand on her back for support. While holding onto her forearm to stop her from falling.

'What a gentleman.' She admitted. And she heard Xiao chuckle a little bit.

"You keep giving me compliments."

"I said that out loud?"

"Said what out loud?" He had a dangerous smirk, with a pretty suggesting look in his eyes.

Y/N quickly shook her head, and got back up.

"I am supposed to be the one to tease you, not you teasing me." She mumbled upset slightly, and her range of emotions going up and down. But her blush and embarrassment wouldn't settle down for her sake.

Xiao hid his small small smile, by turning his head to the left, and he squinted when he saw a green figure, along with a dark one. He got a better view.

"Barbatos. And Rex Lapis..." He muttered with a sigh.

"What?" Y/N turned to him, and saw what he saw.

The two figures flinched as they knew they were caught.

Few moments later....

"Why are you two here?" Xiao crossed his arms, with a slight scowl.

"Hey... Xiao..." Barbatos mumbled.

"Hello, Xiao. And Y/N." Morax said as well greeting the lady too.

"Hello, you two. Care to explain why you're watching us from far away? Because I sure know it is not because you were passing by."
Y/N inquired.

"Well—" Barbatos was interrupted by Morax.

"Ming had informed us, that you were out with Xiao here. So we decided to see what the two of you would be busy with."

Barbatos jabbed his side, to stop him from exposing them.

"So you were spying on us?" Xiao raised an eyebrow, in question.

"No—"

"Yes."

Barbatos jabbed him again, and Morax leaned on his side in pain. While Barbatos smiled innocently.

But the other two were not convinced.

Y/N decided to just deal with it.

"How about you join us at the tavern?" She asked, and Barbatos immediately jumped to his feet in joy. Morax wasn't sure about alcohol, much like Xiao. But didn't complain.

When she opened the door, there were already people at the counter. But there was enough chairs for four more people.

The red head looked a bit surprised to see a large amount. And 2 new guests. The blue eyepatch captain turned to look and smiled. While the cold nun had a small smile, and a questioning look at the amount of people Y/N had brought in.

"I'm back!" Y/N exclaimed.

There weren't any other guests at the moment because it was closing time. But Diluc keeps it open a little while longer for specific people. And he's not the one for picking favorites.

"Y/N!" They all exclaimed.

Okay. I lied. There's actual quite a lot of people who call her Y/N. Tee hee.

"I see you brought a party, and two unfamiliar faces." Diluc mentioned, staring at the men behind her.

Barbatos happily sat in the chair next to Rosaria and asked for a cup

"These two are my friends from Liyue. Zhongli. And Xiao." Y/N introduced.

Xiao didn't like so many people. But he didn't complain for Y/N's sake.

"Y/N, we missed you! You haven't visited in weeks!" Kaeya complained. He was slightly drunk, from his favorite drink.

Diluc welcomed Xiao and Zhongli. They looked like father and son. They nodded and sat near Y/N and Barbatos.

"So, Y/N. How have you been?" Rosaria spoke up.

"I've been doing good." She answered while ordering a drink to Diluc. "Xiao, stop glaring at Kaeya." Y/N leaned her head at the boy, who grumbled.

"That's good. It was getting lonely and sappy without you around. These two red and blue, wouldn't stop themselves from ripping each other's throats out." She sighed while resting her face on the palm of her hand.

"Typical red and blue. Fire and ice. How ironic." Y/N sipped her drink.

And Barbatos wasn't even close being drunk, of course.

Morax decided to take a sip of one of the wolf hook drinks Diluc recommended and Xiao drank the apple juice. They felt like they just discovered something new, with the same look on their faces.

Y/N chuckled at the two, they were definitely like father and son. They both have a spear as well.

Barbatos was blabbing on and on with Kaeya. Y/N and Rosaria talked. Xiao, Morax, and Diluc talked to each other about certain things. The door opened to reveal another unexpected guest.

"Childe?" Morax asked.

"Mr. Zhongli? Woah. There's an entire party. Let me in! I came to deliver a drink from Snezhnaya to Mr. Diluc!" Childe wasted no time in sitting down when Y/N invited him in on one of the chairs, and Diluc groaned at all of the drunkard drinking addicts.

There was a bit of... tension between Diluc and Childe. But they decided to put that off to the side.

The place was infested by drinking grown ups. Which was very happily enjoyed.

Barbatos was on a drinking streak, and having a contest against Rosaria and Kaeya to see who would stay fine.

Y/N enjoyed the large company of people. And maybe Xiao did too. The two made eye contact, and chuckled with each other quietly at the loud silly group.

Childe was talking to Morax this time, and from time to time would pour a glass of alcohol in his drink.

Barbatos decided to sing a song, earning cheers from the group as he swiftly grabbed his lyre and played a few notes.

"Is it the song about the break dancing slimes?" Kaeya asked slightly slurring because he was drunk.

"Nope! This time... it's about a mountain in Liyue!" He floated a little into the air excited.

Diluc decided to take a break and sat on the stool behind the counter he was working at.

A few more drinks later, Y/N became drunk herself, little by little. Along with the god of wind. Morax took only a few shots to become drunk from whatever alcohol Childe brought from Snezhnaya. Morax's head was on his shoulder, sleeping.

Xiao did not approve of this, and scowled at the fatui harbinger. Y/N swung an arm around Xiao's neck and brought their faces close with each other as she laughed, like the drunk lady she was. Rosaria was very strong with her alcohol tolerance, and kept her cool.

"Kaeya, it's not fair how you have such beautiful man boobs, when there are women out there who do not have any." Y/N whined on their behalf. Then looked at Rosaria's chest. And sighed loudly. "This never applies to you, Rosaria."

"Pssh. I know that already." She joked.

"And Diluc, Kaeya, and Zhongli. WHY DO YOU ALL HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL LONG HAIR. I do not understand."

"Thanks!" Kaeya cheekily smiled.

Diluc nodded, with a small blush at the compliment, while Zhongli slept.

"Oh don't even get me started on the other men around here. Xiao, Tartaglia, and Venti. I swear to the seven winds, the adeptis, and the seven archons you all look gorgeous. Why."

"I'm built different." Childe answered with a smile.

Xiao turned his head away, with a larger blush than Diluc. And Barbatos giggled.

"And my one and only favorite wife. Rosaria. Geez. You're too perfect." She sighed, and hugged her with a drunk voice, and a small hiccup. Rosaria smiled and pet her head.

"Hey, hey! Xiao! When are you going to confess your undying love for Y/N, hm~?" Barbatos teased.

They all looked at him, while Y/N had her ears covered by Rosaria, to save Xiao from the embarrassment of being exposed.

"I— I do not know what you are speaking of. Such feelings are not necessary." Xiao suddenly spoke in such a stern way.

"Stop being so tense, the old blockhead and I already know. It's obvious per say, and you can't fool the eyes of mine." Barbatos sang.

"Oooh. You fancy, Y/N?" Kaeya teased, himself.

"I said I do not." Xiao declared.

The whole group groaned in sarcasm, knowing well he's lying.

"What are you all talking about?" Y/N got up from hugging Rosaria.

"No~thing." Childe said himself, enjoying the atmosphere, in the room.

Diluc shook his head in disappointment at the immature adults.

Childe left first, carrying Morax back to Liyue. Barbatos had to try and hold Xiao back from attacking Childe.

Rosaria and Barbatos was next to leave, to
Y/N's dismay.

Xiao had to carry Y/N back to Liyue, and said goodbyes to Kaeya and Diluc. While Kaeya was passed out, and Diluc slapped his head to try and wake him up.

Xiao carried her like a bride, since it was easier that way. But Y/N didn't want to go back to her mountain to sleep yet. And it was still 10 minutes until midnight, which was the promised time until they call it a day. So Xiao brought her over to somewhere random. Which just so happened to be Dihua Marsh. There was a boat there where no one was using so they sat there.

"You see those stars? I could pick them out. And then slam it onto the surface." Y/N exclaimed. And while she was pointing to the different stars, and explaining each one of them, Xiao wasn't listening. He was too busy staring at Y/N instead.

Xiao had a thought, and brought out the small jar with the star inside that she had given him before. And brought it up in front of the sky.

"You still had it with you?" She smiled, asking.

"I did." Xiao had it with him at all times. "After I started spending time with you, I started to feel these feelings and emotions. A large range of them. I thought I wasn't capable of having them before when I was in the hands of the past god. Until I was saved by Rex Lapis, and you." He admitted, after he brought the jar down and stared at his palm that held it inside his hand.

Y/N stayed quiet to let him continue.

"I used to think that even after I was saved, thinking I was emotionless and heartless. And I kept going back to the past, that's not as bright. I killed so many people, and I could hear their yelling, and hate. It corrupts my head. I kill the monsters to stop them from endangering Liyue, because of the contract Rex Lapis had us be bound to, as an adeptus. And I owe him... a lot. So of course I would not defy his orders, and continue to serve for him."

"Do you still think you're emotionless and heartless?" She turned her head to meet his honey gold eyes as they glowed, from the moonlight. They were pleasing to look at.

"No." Xiao answered confidentially with a smile of his again.

"Then I'm glad. I'm happy you feel that way." She seemed a little sad.

"You sound disappointed."

"Uh... well. I really am happy for you. I was just worried."

"Worried?"

"Well... I was afraid you wouldn't come visit after you've felt happiness and you wouldn't have the need to come visit anymore because you would know you're capable being with yourself now." She said slowly, while keeping her gaze on the water, with her knees to her chest.

Xiao widened his eyes.

"I feel selfish. Truly, because I want to keep people I care about dear to me. But I also don't because I'm afraid, of them being my weakness and be used against me... Like the old village..." She trailed off.

"I won't let myself or others be used against you." Xiao declared staring right into her e/c eyes, deeply.

"Xiao..."

"I won't. And I will keep my word."

Y/N felt a tug on her lips go upwards.

"I... thank you. I appreciate it."

Xiao shook his head.

"You are in no need of thanking me."

"Really? Then why do you do it, Xiao?" She asked quietly, with teasing smirk.

Xiao's gaze didn't falter one bit, as he stared right at her.

"Because, I think I love you."

Y/N never knew the moon could be so bright...