[06:02 PM] – Xiao
characters: xiao x gn!reader
genre & style: fluff, drabble
word count: 0.5k
notes: xiao’s such a pure soul i love him
warnings: not proofread
“Y/N,” Xiao starts slowly, his voice quiet, ears capturing sounds of your movements as he tries to guess what you’re doing. “We’re going to be late. Not that I care, but you’ve said that it’s important to you.”
“I know, I know!” you respond thoughtlessly, too occupied with the task you’ve set to yourself. “I’m almost done, adding some details! We’re gonna leave in five minutes, don’t worry, don’t worry~”
Yaksha sighs. He’s not mad nor irritated, simply concerned. He keeps wondering what may be the matter you want to risk seeing the most important part of the event you’ve waited a few months for. Yet, he’s sure you wouldn’t make an ill-considered decision, so he stays quiet, with eyelids tightly shut as you’ve asked him to, his palms steady on thighs.
“Okay, I think I’m ready!” you exclaim, adding finishing touches to your creation. “You may open your eyes now.”
At first Xiao is silent, his golden irises capturing what’s in front of him, but as soon as he realizes that it’s not his imagination, that it’s really there, his heart fills with warmth, pupils widen and lower lip starts to tremble. “Have you done this all by yourself?”
You nod, kneeling in front of Yaksha, moving the lantern forward. Xiao’s fingertips shyly brush against the paintings, scared as if he could destroy it with a mere touch. The stories in front of him remind him of his whole life, his origins, former Yakshas, his bond with Morax, the tune that saved him, clouds he’s been soaring through and grounds he’s devoured. He has many, countless questions, yet the only one he decides to share with you seems to be the simplest of them all.
It sounds silly from his lips, yet by the way his voice trembles you don’t dare to let the smallest giggle slip. “Yeah!” A huge smile lightens up on your face as you scan his features. Saying that Xiao is moved would be a cruel understatement. He’s touched, filled with everything he’s been and everything he’s become at once.
“But– how…” he stutters, yet you cut him off immediately.
“I’ve done some research, that’s how!” you joke, caressing his cheek with your thumb. The man looks up at you with the watery eyes of his, a true, honest smile acting as the best reward you could possibly get. “I planned on keeping it if you like it. We can buy a new one at a stall.”
Xiao puts the lantern to the side, decreasing the distance between the two of you, his arms drawing you close into his embrace. He doesn’t say anything more, keeping you like this for a few long seconds until his quiet sniffles become inaudible. It’s his way of thanking you, no words needed, just a glimpse of physical affection and love mixed with gratitude coming straight from the bottom of his heart.