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Both Xiao and Lumine have been together since their first Latern Rite together, although many would say that they are a rather strange duo, many aren't suprised that the Traveller was able to befriend the Conqueror of demons.
But no one knows that they are more than friends, or is that what they think? Who knows, after all, they think they're hiding it rather well aren't they?
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Lumine could see it, that Xiao was feeling overwhelmed during the gathering, 'He's a nervous wreck..' she thinks as she sees him stuttering every time someone talks to him.
She was quite suprised seeing Xiao turn up at the dinner Hu tao arranged, even Paimon was shocked too, and from the looks of it, Xiao aswell. But she was even happier to finally see him again, it's been long since they saw each other and really missed his presence dearly, she hopes he thinks the same way too, Lumine thinks as she softly exchanges smiles with Xiao, who sits right next to her after Hu Tao suggested so.
How does the relationship work? Many would ask that, considering the fact that the Traveller is.. Well a Traveller and Xiao is the protector of Liyue who never leaves it behind. Whenever Lumine is in Liyue, she makes sure to meet up Xiao first, even if it's a brief exchanges of hello, she makes sure to always meet him first, always at the Inn. She could simply call out his name, but decides not to to not worry him. They're relationship is rather slow, but she doesn't mind and wholeheartedly understands why it is so.
Xiao, despite reciprocating her feelings and telling her so, he was worried about hurting her because of his karma, but with a long time of convincing, decided to accept being in a relationship with her, but also wanted to take things slow since he's new to all this, and Lumine accepted it.
Although they're relationship is a long distance one, both of them still love each other a lot, and even grow closer despite the distance, its perfect for the both of them, since they both have their own journeys or rather work to do, they don't mind the distance, or the slow approach to affection or love, as they both understand the reason why it is so, and won't let it affect them.
"Xiao!" Lumine suddenly says in the midst of everyone chatting. Xiao, slightly startled by the urgency, replies back " What's with the urgency?!", "Are you done eating? Do you want to take a walk with me?" Lumine asks, soft eyes and a smile on her face, "..Sure" Xiao answers, so both stand up to head out, " P-Paimon is going too!" Paimon urgently says, " Paimon, your still hungry right?" Lumine says, " We'll be back as soon as possible" Lumine also says, Paimon sadly huffs, " Don't take to long.." Paimon says as they both head to the door, " Let's depart, after you" Xiao says, and both close the door behind them.
As they turn to the corner, Xiao asks, " Are you okay? What's wrong?" He says, soft and slightly worried eyes looking at her, " I should be asking you that, are you okay? You seemed really nervous.." Lumine says, slowly approaching him to take a hold of his hand, facing his palm to her and rubbing soft circles on it, He immediately relaxes and answers back " It's.. its just.." Lumine replies " Unfamilar with gatherings?" She says, Xiao answers back " No.. its not that.." He pauses.. then continues, looking at the hands that are making soft circles on his palm " There are those among the Adepti who loved gathering and Idle chit chat. Sometimes, they would call up a few others for a drink. Even I got dragged along to their gatherings, many times" He says, looking distant " The Adepti all have their specialties, making most of them proud and arrogant. Everything they say comes straight from the heart, it never gets complicated" He continues, " But this time.." He says.
"I understand, its all Zhongli's fault" Lumine says. Xiao immediately retracts his hand, " That's not what I meant!" He loudly declares, causing Lumine to be slightly taken back, which would go unnoticeable to many, but not Xiao, " Lumine.. sorry.." He says, slowly walking up to her and taking her hands, giving it a soft squeeze. " Or perhaps I should say Zhongli-... Rex Lapis is really good at adapting to human life. You could say he actually enjoys doing so"
He says, " And that's something I'll never be able to do" Xiao ends, looking at their interlaced hands. " You don't have to be like them" Lumine says, slowly removing her right hand from his hand and placing it on his cheek, softly carrassing it, he let's out a soft giggle, nuzzling his face to her hand " That sounds like something you would say.. no matter, I know my circumstances" he says, relaxing to her touch and closing his eyes.
Xiao takes her hand, and kisses it, " Whenever I think about our ordinary conversations I've had with you, it feels.. strangely novel.." He says, looking at lumine with soft and loving eyes, she smiles at the sight " Strange in a good way?" She says, inching closer to him " Yes" He answers, smiling back to her. " The parlor director went her way with the invitation so it was difficult to turn down. I had made mental preparations before agreeing to come.", " She said the guests would be " acquainted with elemental power" and I knew you'd be here" He says, " But I didn't expect the other guests to be.." He says with a nervous look, " No one would've guessed.." Lumine reassures him, coming closer to him and pecking him on the cheek, hand still on the other cheek softly carrassing it, earning a soft and quiet giggle from Xiao " General Kapisas always said that we should live in the present and enjoy every pleasant suprise. Perhaps that's what I should do with what I'm feeling right now" He says, looking at Lumine with a smile she never thought she'd see on his face, " Xiao.. you know.. I really missed you" Lumine says, inching closer to him to rub her nose against his " I missed you too Lumine.." He says, staring right at her eyes despite their close proximity and kisses her on the lips, Lumine immediately melts, her hand travelling to Xiaos hair, and Xiaos hands to her neck.
Lumine abruptly stops though, earning a confused look from Xiao, only for her to pamper him with kisses all over his his face, making him just stand in shock, " I missed your lovely face, you seem alot more relaxed than before" she says between the kisses, " I'm happy seeing you like this Xiao.." she says, holding his face and kisses the tip of his nose. Xiao, turning red from all the affection, replies " Lumine.. i.." Lumine continues " It's okay Xiao.. there's no need to talk, no need to do anything, u can do whatever you want around me.." She says, bringing his face closer to hers and giving him a soft peck, whom to Xiao felt like the most beautiful kiss he'd ever had.
Xiao simply stays silent, letting her pamper him with kisses all over him, from his forehead, to his left and right cheek, to his lips, tip of his nose, jawline and even neck. He never felt so loved and cared for like this, he never thought he'd ever experience something like this, he would sometimes catch some Liyue locals kissing like this in alleyways and corners and always thought of it as something only humans would enjoy, that someone like him, would never even have any need of feeling it, that he didn't deserve it, and simply didn't matter to him, who would have thought, that he'd be here, hiding in the corner of a building, getting kissed and pampered with love by someone he so dearly loves too, that he would be so overwhelmed with the love, that his heart would be racing, that his cheeks would be red, all because of her, all because of Lumine.
"Xiao?.." Lumine suddenly stops, a worried look engulfing her face, " What's wrong.." she says, sad eyes looking at him " Wha..?" He says, voice suddenly cracking, " Your.. your crying.. are you in pain? Are you hurt?" Lumine says, wiping his tears from his face, " Did I hurt you? I'm really sorry.." she says, kissing him on the cheek, " N-No.. you would never.." Xiao says, wiping the tears from his face, " It's just.. I-" he chokes out a sob, suddenly crying even more, " Xiao..!" Lumine says in a hurry, even more worried than before " What's wrong..?! Why.. why are you crying?" She says, holding his shoulders and looking at him with sad yet loving eyes, he suddenly pulls her in a hug " Lu.. thank you.." He says, burying his face on her shoulder, " For.. for what?" She said, worry still on her voice, " For everything.. thank you so much.." He says, wrapping his hands even more tightly around her waist and burying his face on her shoulder even more, from an outsiders view, he almost looks alot more smaller, " Xiao.. don't thank me.. I should be thanking you.." She says, petting his hair and kissing the side of his neck.
Xiao slowly pulls away from the hug, but still holds Lumines waist, " Lu.. can I.. can I kiss you? Like you did to me?" Xiao says, cheeks still red and tear stains around, " Of course, only if you let me too. I missed you terribly" She says, tilting her head with that soft smile of hers, " Sure" Xiao agrees, kissing her on the cheeks, nose, forehead, lips, neck and shoulders just like she did, making her softly giggle " Okay okay, it's my turn now" she says, pulling Xiao so close that their chest to chest, " sweet sweet Xiao, you always do a good job at everything you do huh" she says giggling, Xiao turns his head as his cheeks turn redder, " I.. you.. your.. sweet too.. you do a good job.. making me feel better" He whispers " Aw... Xiao.. thank you, its nice hearing that from you" she says, giving him a kiss on the cheek, " My love, you really do deserve to be happy, enjoy yourself today.. okay?" Lumine says, giving him a kiss on the lips. By now, someone would think Xiao is tomato with how red he is.
"Mhm.. Lu.. I-" " Traveller?! Xiao?!" Suddenly a voice interrupts them, making them immediately jump and split up, " There you are!" Xiangling says as she turns around the corner, " Uh.. I'm not.. intruding am I?" She says, but Xiao immediately shuts it down " No, your not, what is it?" Xiao says, stepping out of the alleyway, the Traveller right behind him, "Hu tao saw that everyone was done eating and asked the staff to bring out the dessert" Xiangling says, " Paimon got so anxious that you weren't back yet that she scarfed down dessert without the usual slurping and munching" She adds on, Lumine giggles " But not so anxious that she can't eat. Sounds like she's fine" Lumine says. " To be honest, I was worried too.." Xiangling reveals, " You looked a little restless just now, and I thought you weren't used to the food here and was planning to head back to Wanghu Inn for something Yanxiao made." She says looking down " Your worrying too much" Xiao says, slightly looking down to magically make cover his face " Xiao, don't pull any Leminiscatic Wind Cycling on us." Lumine says, " Why would I.." Xiao says, only turning his face away from Xiangling and Lumine even further, "Anyways, let's head back"
"Please wait!" Xiangling says, " There's another reason why I came looking for you" She says " Here, take these. I made them for you!" She hands a plastic box to Xiao, he opens it and checks what's inside " Almond tofu?" Xiao says, " Yup!", " Since the Masterful Chefs competition, you could say that Yanxiao and I are not only competitors, but friends as well! I visit him at Wangshu Inn sometimes to discuss our cooking" she says, " I heard him say that the estimed guest on the roof loves nothing more than a good plate of Almond Tofu, so I learnt a thing or two about the dish from him", " When I told Guoba that I was making these for you, he started eagerly running around the kitchen and helping too!" She says, a happy proud smile on her face.
"Thank you Xiangling and Guoba!" Lumine says, " Thank you for the trouble, you didn't have to..-" " Ahem." Lumine suddenly interrupts, Xiao looks at her and gets what she was trying to say, "..I'll take them, Thank you.. and Guoba too.." He says, " Your welcome!" Xiangling says with a smile on her face, " Alright, let's head back, we shouldn't keep Paimon waiting!" Xiangling says, already heading back to the door, Lumine begins to walk back, but is stopped with a hand holding her wrist, " Lu.." Xiao says, looking down, " Xiao? What's wrong" Lumine asks, facing him with a worried look, " Can you.. check my face? Is.. is it obvious?" Xiao whispers hesitantly, slowly turning to face her, " Oh Xiao.." Lumine says, a light hearted giggle from what she was just asked to do, " Sure I will" Lumine says, wiping his tears stains away from his cheek, " But Xiao.. your face... is kind of red.." She says, making Xiao slightly widen is eyes, which she immediately reassures him " But! Its not obvious! Someone would have to be this close-" she stands right infront of him, making them touch noses "- to see it, so no worries!" She exclaims quickly, Xiao let's out a chuckle " Okay then, let's get back in"
When they get back in, Paimon immediately flies to the Traveller, " Finally back from whispering secrets to each other?!" Paimon shouts out, as the Traveller and Paimon bicker, he sees the 2 archons looking at him with an.. almost knowing smile on their faces, making Xiao immediately turn is head around, " Sorry to keep everyone waiting" Xiao says, walking ahead of the bickering happening next to him.
"No worries, We're all just chatting here. No serious business to take care here." Hu tao says, " Whether we're chatting inside or outside, its all the same" Hu tao says, a mischievous smile on her face, making Xiao look away, but only to face Zhongli and Venti who are also approaching with almost the same smile on their faces " Strive to be more like Hu tao, Paimon" Lumine says, " Hmp, Paimons too busy eating!" Paimon floats away, earning a laughter from Lumine.
Xiao stares at her, her laughter ringing beautifully in his head, and making him softly smile at her, " Beautiful.." He whispers to himself, but doesn't go unheard from the Anemo archon, " What was that Xiao? Did u say something?" Venti says, eyes glinting as he mischievously smiles, " Nothing." Xiao quickly shuts down, earning a confused look from Lumine, but shrugs it off.