Art: @cacao120olo

A/N: Make sure to read the A/N at the very bottom of this chapter
"Zhongli, why did you bring your own tea from home, when we came to buy coffee?"

"I prefer my tea over coffee, Y/N."

"Then why did you want me to come with you to the coffee shop?!"

He looked away from the girl, as he sipped his tea from the plastic cup that was recyclable. Zhongli invited his twin sister to a coffee shop somewhere near their neighborhood. When he doesn't even like coffee...

"Never mind. I'm gonna go buy some for myself. Do you want a cake pop or something?" She turned on her heel to walk into the store, going to go and open the glass doors open. But stopped to wait for an answer.

"Does the cake pop?"

She ignored his question and went straight into the cafe.

'What the hell does he mean by, does the cake pop? Was that supposed to be a pun? Or was he just plain stupid? Oh well, he was never the one to know the obvious. He doesn't even know what a sugar daddy was when he has one.'

The warm breeze, and the pleasant smell of the coffee beans, swarmed the air. Her friend who works there gives her discounts every time she comes to visit, and a free cake pop.

"Hey Diluc! Busy as ever?" She walked over to the counter, as the red haired man tied his high ponytail slightly tighter to his liking, and dusted his black apron off.

"Yes, you know we're very popular here."

"Must be great to own such a successful store? People really like coffee."

Diluc shrugged, and gave her a look to ask what she wanted.

"The usual."

"Got it, $5.89." He tapped the screen, and took the card from her hands, and quickly swiped the card.

"How's Kaeya?" She asked trying not to be in the awkward silence.

"He's busy with college. I heard his soccer team was going to nationals or something." His hatefulness and annoyance of his 'brother' made him sound even more agitated than usual. Why were they one such a bad basis with each other?

She walked away, as another person walked up behind her to order something.

Zhongli sat at a tall table stool, as he sat and waited for her to return.

"Zhongli, I ordered a cake pop." She handed one to her twin with one in her mouth.

Yeah, they're college kids. And they have money. Except Zhongli never remembers to bring his wallet, so she can never trust him to pay for anything for her. But that's where his boyfriend Tartaglia comes in clutch. That boy is able to do any deed Zhongli wishes. God—he's such a sugar daddy...

Y/N sat scrolling through her phone, and saw a text from her favorite future brother-in-law.

Tar-tar-taglia
Hey!!

You
What do you want???

Tar-tar-taglia
Your brother's hand in marriage 🙌💍

You
No. ❤️

Tar-tar-taglia
What?! Why not?! I thought you loved me future sister-in-law!

You
I don't— actually

Tar-tar-taglia
Oh...

You
...

Tar-tar-taglia
....

"Well that was crap..." Y/N mumbled as she finished her cake pop, already.

"What was?" Zhongli inquired, as he was still taking small bites out of his.

"Your boyfriend was being annoying. He probably misses you." She shrugged, as she hopped off her stool to go and throw the stick away.

"Y/N, here's your drink." Diluc called from behind the counter, as she was right next to it.

She grabbed the drink, and thanked Diluc. While handing him a tip of 50 cents.

Their neighborhood was next to the city, where there were glass buildings. So if it ever explodes.....

But they're in college, so they have nothing to worry about.

Y/N crashes in Zhongli's dorm quite often, as her roommate were obnoxious, and invites their friends over. Sometimes doing drinking to their hearts content, and getting drunk. Y/N was almost dragged into their little party, as they were playing strip poker with other guys in the living room.

She hates her roommate so damn much.

At least she locks her room, and makes sure nobody does you-know-what on her bed.

Zhongli was on his couch watching some documentary on his tv that he brought from their home. But got back up when someone knocked on his dorm door. Revealing Xiao and Tartaglia in front of him.

"I brought some pizza, Zhongli!" Tartaglia jumped into his dorm room.

Zhongli, he's lucky. He didn't have a dorm mate. So he has privacy, and an open room.

Xiao didn't quite want to be here, as he stuffed his hands in his front hood pockets, with a frown on his face.

Zhongli stepped to the side to let the two boys in, and immediately got themselves comfortable on the couch.

"Are you watching Liyue documentary again?" Xiao asked, as he pushed Tartaglia's face away from him with a scowl.

"Yes, they are very educational." Zhongli nodded. Looking proud of himself. And Xiao couldn't help but let him be proud and enjoy his time.

"That must be why you're so smart, Zhongli!" Tartaglia cooed, and hugged the man...

Yeah, Xiao really didn't want to be here.

"Where's the bathroom?" Xiao asked, turning to Zhongli.

"Right down the hall, the second door down."

Xiao nodded and plugged his earbuds in, so he couldn't hear anything, and was pretty sick and tried of their flirting. He hates being a third-wheel.

He reached the door, and opened it. To be faced with a fogged up mirror. Why was it foggy? The air was humid in there too. When he turned around he made eye contact with a girl relaxing in the bath tub.

Xiao froze, and the two stared at each other for a span of 5 seconds.

"Wha— Xiao, what the hell?! Get out!" Y/N yelled as she almost got out of the tub, and expose her naked self.

Xiao slammed the door close, as he slid down the wall. Placing his face in hands to cover his embarrassment, and red face.

He replayed the events that had just occurred, her hair was all damp, and water dripped from her shoulders. Xiao stopped his thoughts from getting any further.

He decided to just return to the two gay couple, and was glad to see they weren't eating their faces when he went into the living room.

"What happened?" Tartaglia turned to him, with a small smile.

"Your sister was in the bath." Xiao told Zhongli, who's mouth was open.

"Oh..."

Not even 2 minutes later, Y/N stomped into the living room, again, water dripping from her hair, as she was only wrapped in a towel.

"Zhongli! You never told me you were bringing people over!"

"I forgot to tell you. And I didn't know you were taking a bath." Zhongli shrugged.

"Wait, Xiao, shouldn't you have heard her taking a bath or something?" Tartaglia turned to the boy, who glared.

"I had my earbuds in because I didn't want to hear the two of you flirting. And Y/N didn't even lock the door."

"I didn't know Zhongli had people over." Y/N argued back.

"Shouldn't you go and dry yourself off first?"

Y/N quickly rushed back into the bathroom, and changed.

"Great, I'm not even married and I let another man see me naked." She grumbled as she hogged the pizza box while sitting on the couch in between Xiao and Zhongli.

"I didn't want to see you naked, don't make it my fault." Xiao grumbled as he attempted to rip the box of pizza from her hands, as she shook her head quickly.

"Hands off my pizza!"

"It's not only yours!"

"Can we go to your room after?"

"Sure."

Nobody was watching the tv, poor television.

Xiao and Y/N just sat there next to each other, while Tartaglia and Zhongli went somewhere else, to do you-know-what.

"Do you want to watch something else?" She turned her head to see Xiao shrug. "That doesn't help." She deadpanned.

"Then a horror movie." Xiao nonchalantly stated, and he knew. Y/N HATED horror movies, and to get on her nerves, he decided to pick that. She shouldn't have asked him into the first place.

"How dare you. You know how much I hate horror movies, Xiao."

"You're the one who asked."

Y/N scoffed and hesitantly took out a horror movie from one of the movie dvd cabinets that Zhongli had a collection of. Surprisingly, he has a whole cabinet filled with variations of movies.

"OH MY FU—"

The living room was engulfed with the screams of the people yelling in fear and terror, and Xiao's entire body was engulfed by Y/N as she held onto him in complete fear.

Xiao held a stoic expression as he was waiting for Y/N to remove herself off of him.

He sat criss-cross-apple-sauce on the couch as he was glaring at the tv. He probably regrets asking her to put on the horror movie.

She suddenly sat back up, from crying and prying on Xiao, to which he was grateful for. But apart of him wanted the warmth back.

"Do you think my brother and Tartaglia are done now?"

Xiao furrowed his eyebrows even more at the unnecessary question. It was just way too personal.

"I don't want to know if they're finished or not." He nearly shivers in disgust, and felt uncomfortable. It's not that he was disgusted by two guys doing sex. He just doesn't like knowing his two friends fucking each other while he and their sister was in the room.

"Usually, after they finish, Tartaglia yells at me to get them clothes. So when I walk in, I just see the two—"

"I don't want specific details, Y/N." He growled.

"Y/N! Get the clothes!"

"Yeah! Yeah! I got it!"

"Really?" Xiao deadpanned again, and the girl just ignored him.

"Pssh, poopoohead." She scoffed and got up from the couch, almost kneeling Xiao in the stomach during the process. And she disappeared into the dark hallway.

Xiao waited a few moments, until he heard her yell.

"OH MY GOD THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN—!"

She returned with a dead look in her eyes. Honestly, seeing boy x boy in mangas, and stuff is one thing. But seeing it IN PERSON is a different story.

Y/N rubbed her eyes, and groaned, as she plopped herself back onto the couch leaning on his shoulder.

"I need to bleach my eyes."

"I think you should bleach your soul." Xiao commented, as she punched his shoulder.

After watching the movie, Xiao saw her asleep for once in his lifetime. Despite her being scared to death from the film they were watching on the tv, when she wants to sleep, she sleeps. He's encountered that many times.

On a bus ride for a field trip during their 5th grade, he sat next to her on the bus. And he hated the bus ride, as all the kids were annoying and way too loud for their small little lungs to shout. He never was able to rest, as he could hear them shouting through his earbuds, but when he turned to look at Y/N, she was fast asleep. And due to the fact that she couldn't sleep last night because she was way too excited for the field trip that was the next day.

Or, the one time him, Zhongli, Y/N, and Tartaglia went to an amusement park, she slept through the entire ride of the rollercoaster. And some people thought she passed out from shock, but not until she yawned when Zhongli shook her awake.

And definitely, she sleeps during class.

Almost as if she was the reincarnation of sleeping beauty. And— that the prince, might as well be Xiao.

And as cliche and cheesy as that may sound, it's very much the truth. And by that, that would mean Xiao has had feelings for her. But, of course— he's scared it might ruin their friendship.

He decided to let her sleep. Since he enjoys her leaning on him for support. And not only physically, but especially in life. He's not very honest with his feelings with her, or with anybody else for that matter.

"I love you, Y/N..." He would whisper to her while she sleeps. But this time— she wasn't asleep, and was caught. In 4K. 📸
(A/N: Jkjk)

"Hey, say that when I'm awake next time— coward." She had a large grin on her face. And Xiao was too much in shock to respond.

"Uh— uh. Um—"

"Don't be shy, say it again." Xiao's face was all red within a matter of seconds. And he couldn't control it. He was too embarrassed that she wasn't even asleep when he had said that.

"No! I'm not!" Xiao stood up quickly, and ran out the door, as Y/N was laughing pretty hard.

"I love you too, Xiao~" Except, he couldn't hear her say it to him.

A/N: Hey, thanks to those of you who have read to this very end. I appreciate it, A LOT! I think I've gone a pretty long way from since February— over to March. Tbh, I wasn't exactly sure on where I wanted to go for the epilogue, so I do apologize if it was a little all over the place, and weird.

Now... I have a new story that I mentioned in the A/N from before. And I decided that I'll publish it soon whenever I get to it. I might publish it in around April 2nd. So keep an eye out for it. And this is the cover.

And that's all. See you again later!