Helloooo~
Can I request a oneshot with Xiao who turned his back against Rex Lapis and Liyue for God Reader who was deemed a fake by everybody except him because he can feel the pain from his karmic debt lessening when he approaches the reader and recognized them the moment he laid eyes on them? So now Xiao becomes a fugitive and runs away with reader to protect them. I also would really appreciate it if you can put Qiqi into the mix? The little zombie becomes Xiao's and readers intel in liyue.
I hope that wasn't too confusing and if you don't want to do it, it's 100% alright.
OHHH I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Xiao love forever i love him so much pls i need a rerun of his banner pls mihoyo
Xiao being on the reader's side in the imposter sagau is just. chefs kiss
Length: 4. 7 k
cw: injury, reader being hunted by people, blood
Genre: uhhh a bit of angst but also some fluff
Of gentle breezes and tough hearts
The Vigilant Yaksha, as he had been dubbed, was nothing id not dedicated to his duty of protecting Liyue. His duty of serving under the command of Rex Lapis.
Perhaps the years had not been kind to him, wearing and tearing at him until he was frayed at the edges - but he was forged into a fighter, and that was the burden he had to bear.
The burden of his suffering under his previous master - his acts as a Yaksha - all of it had added up over the years to forge an armor of callousness around him.
His burden of Karmic debt was something painful, weighing him down each day as he fulfilled his duties - on the worst of days he wondered, if that would be the day he'd succumb to it and cease to be - torn apart from the inside out in the throes of it.
Not that he'd ever voice his concerns or pains. He was above that. He was a powerful Yaksha and he had earned his lot in life, after all. And, he had you.
Your gentle light, distant guiding presence, you who would lift his debt and ease his pain - it was all he could ask for. It was more than he deserved, even.
The winds swayed angrily as news of an imposter spread through Teyvat like wildfire - igniting all along its path with a sense of burning vengeance and desire to avenge their Creator. To put an end to the sinner's sacrilegious crimes.
Of course, Rex Lapis, one of your oldest and most devout followers and acolytes, was bound to hear of this. And hear of it he did. His eyes burned with the flames Xiao had not seen since the Archon wars of times long gone - bringing forth the god of war that Rex Lapis had once been regarded as.
His orders were absolute - to find and slay the imposter on sight. To honor the Creator by offering this imposter's blood to you, to fertilize the earth with it and snuff out any flicker of life.
He, as one of, if not the strongest of the adepti under his command - and certainly the fastest - flew through the airs like a whirlpool of vengeance. He owed all he was, to you - and lately, his Karmic debt had grown in its panful, overbearing weight - you being nowhere to be found to lessen it.
Was it your fury at the gall of this imposter that made you stray from him and the people of Teyvat?
He would assure your return - he would become a weapon once more, all to honor you.
Perhaps it was his dedication to you - or maybe the force of anemo cursing through him, but he was quick to pick up the trail of the imposter. They weren't exactly great at hiding their tracks, or even if they were, they certainly couldn't deceive the Vigilant Yaksha.
Strangely enough, as he neared the location of the imposter, he found the painful pressure threatening to crush him every waking moment easing away. He took it as a sign. A sign from you - that he was heading the right direction. That he was doing the right thing.
But how could he bring down his spear to pierce the line tethering your life to this world when you looked up at him with the face of his beloved Creator? With tears unshed still lining the corners of your eyes as you stared at him in frozen fear, quietly accepting your doom as you closed your eyes.
His spear slipped from his grasp as he staggered backwards, feeling like any burdens his shoulders carried - any fragment of his Karmic debt - it was all lifted when he neared you - the lightness and sudden reprieve from his pain was enough to make him see stars.
He stared down at you once more, fear now in his eyes as he came to a sobering, horrifying realization.
He felt tears spring in his eyes - a foreign sensation to him that burned.
"You'r grace...it's you..." he whispered.
You shook, your arms still up defensively.
"Xiao..?" you whispered.
He fell to his knees before you.
"I'm so sorry," he mumbled.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.
The words kept falling from his lips in a prayer as he allowed the tears to slip down his face in turmoil, washing away the layers of armor and walls he had built up over millennia.
You watched his stone façade crumble, the fragments being crushed to dust and flowing away - leaving behind what looked like a lost, confused boy.
Slowly, you rose to your feet, quiet as a mouse. The Yaksha made no move to stop you, his lips moving wordlessly as his mind raced with the thoughts of what he had almost done. He could already picture it - you being gone - Teyvat would be in more pain than it has ever been - no archon wars, no vengeful gods could compare to it.
You bent down and picked up the polearm he had discarded, holding it in your unsteady hand as you attempted to balance it in your hand. The green jade glowed faintly as your fingers danced across it, emitting a soft warmth. The weapon you had worked so hard to attain and build up in strength.
Finally, Xiao seemed to snap out of his daze, staring up at your form - positions now reversed as you towered before him, holding a glowing weapon in your shaky hand, still unable to find the proper balance.
He attempted to push himself up, filled with the need to apologize.
"Don't come any closer," you warned, attempting to threateningly jab the weapon at him, only for the tip of it to crash into the ground as it wobbled in your hand.
So much for being intimidating.
"Your grace, I have no intention to hurt you," he attempted to soothe your worries, but the sharp and aggressive edge to his voice that always seemed to linger lent no credibility to his words.
"That's not what I saw just a few minutes ago."
His teeth dug into his lower lip.
"I know. But I was mistaken."
Your eyes bore into his and he could not help but allow his heart to soar - light and floating without the insufferable pain of his Karmic debt. Yet, he clutched the organ tight and pulled it back down to the depths of his core when he saw the mistrust painted over your face - the letters in the form of dark bruises and scrapes, dirt and exhaustion.
Still. He thought you looked divine.
"Well," you stammered, still attempting to aim his own weapon at him, "if you claim to mean me no harm - then let me go."
His eyes met yours, and he was ready to serve - ready to agree to any wish you voiced. He deserved not to enjoy your soothing presence when he dared to raise the very weapon you gifted him at you.
But he recalled he was not the only one in pursuit of you.
"Your grace, you are in danger. I cannot accept the possibility of you getting hurt while I'm not here," his words were pleas, his hands shaking ever so slightly as he spoke.
You could not help but believe him. There was something so earnest about his concern.
"Why is everyone after me?" you demanded, brows furrowing as you lowered the spear. "And what's with the sudden 'your grace' this and 'your grace' that?"
He blinked up at you in surprise.
"Well - you are our divine God. The Creator. As to answer your first question..." he trailed off.
"There's been a misunderstanding about your identity. Everyone is convinced you're an imposter."
A shocked, desperate bark of a laugh escaped your lips.
"Right. That's just perfect." You ran a dirty hand through your messy hair.
"Any other life-changing news you wanna drop on me while you're at it?"
He stared up at you in silence.
You sighed.
"Okay, well get up, Xiao. This whole kneeling thing is weird," you said, your voice rising in pitch as your exasperation cracked through it. The adeptus was quick to obey, keeping his back straight as he stood before you dutifully.
"Well, how do we fix this whole 'misunderstanding', then?"
Apparently, you don't.
Xiao had eagerly rushed to Liyue - to end this foolish hunt for your head, with you in tow. All caution had been thrown to the wind as you wandered into the city - the one Xiao had sworn to protect but rarely ever dared to enter - mortals were much too complicated and exhausting for the ancient adeptus, after all.
Xiao could feel any semblance of respect and loyalty towards the Lord of Geo smash into smithereens as the ancient archon refused to believe the truth right before his eyes - refused to acknowledge he had been wrong.
What use was there in serving a god who was so blind in his devotion that he'd willingly send the true Creator to their death?
What use was there in protecting a city that was willing to hunt down their God, each eager to claim their life with their bare hands barbarically?
Rex Lapis was no better than the god he had been enslaved under, forced to perform the cruelest acts of violence.
"We have a contact, Xiao."
"My contract does not involve allowing you to order me to kill the Creator."
"You are blind, and a fool, Xiao."
"It is you who is a fool."
No matter the contracts he needed to break - none of it mattered in the face of the one divine being that held power the entirety of the universe. Held that power and still clung onto their kindness stubbornly.
He stood watch over the little camp he'd set up for you, his polearm clutched tight in his hand as his golden eyes scoured the darkness surrounding him with the precision of a panther ready to pounce. He felt his muscles tense at every noise, the familiar feeling of doom that he though he had escaped so long ago with the help of Rex Lapis washing over him.
"Hungry?" you asked from your seat by the modest fire - where you had been preparing a meal to soothe your aches.
He glanced at you, his sharp features softening for a moment.
Too kind.
He stared a moment longer, a brief rest from his lookout duties.
"No thank you, your grace. Adepti have no need for food."
You frowned.
"But you can enjoy it."
How could you say something like that to him? He who had done so many unspeakable things over the thousands of years he had spent in this world?
He simply looked away, wishing to tear his gaze from the flame lest they ignite his heart on fire, engulfing it in its painful embrace. Lest it burn away the last of what was good inside of him to nothing but cinders to be scattered in the wind.
Despite being declared a criminal - despite severing ties with the god to whom he owed his freedom - despite all that...
Living life on the run was far from unpleasant.
He took his duty as your guard seriously, never venturing out into areas he deemed too dangerous, never letting his focus falter.
Still, he was acutely aware that it was not only mere mortals that were chasing after him and the Creator.
"Xiao, are you alright?" you asked, tenderly approaching him despite his orders for you to stay in your small tent. He turned to face you, his weapon tight in his hand by his side, ready to attack at any moment's notice.
"Of course, your Grace. There's no need to concern yourself with my wellbeing," he lowered himself to one knee and lowered his head.
"I am but a weapon to you, your grace."
As soon as those words slipped out of his mouth, he was yanked to his feet by you, gripping onto his shirt, a frustrated, yet melancholy expression upon your divine face.
"Absolutely not, Xiao."
His body tensed and he lowered his eyes to his ground.
Had he disrespected you?
"You are not just some weapon, Xiao! You're not even just a guard, either!" your hands clenched the white fabric of his clothing tighter as you stared into his eyes with a determined glint in yours.
"You are a person and to be frank, the only person in Teyvat I could even call a friend."
His hands shook, and for the second time in your divine presence, his weapon escaped his grip as he felt something heavy - not his Karmic debt. Something more emotional than that, being lifted from his shoulders.
He stared at his shaking hand and the discarded weapon in shame, not saying anything in return.
You sighed and picked up his weapon for him, only to snatch his wrist when he went to retrieve it.
Your eyes met once more, yours burning with a determined flame.
"You are not just a weapon. And you are not just your past." You released his arm and allowed him to take the polearm.
"You better remember that," you called over your shoulder as you headed back towards your shabby tent to attempt to get some shut eye.
Your words left Xiao lost in a void of swirling emotions he had no idea how to even begin to address.
Perhaps, for now - all he could do was fulfil his duty to you and...try to sort out his confusion at a later, safer time.
He put out the last remains of your campfire and began his vigilant watch. It was all he could do.
Sometimes, you would simply stop to gather plants - flowers you found pretty, or berries you recalled from recipes. Xiao watched in bewitched silence as you recognized every tree, plant and animal you came across - the way the world bloomed around you. He could not help feeling like one of those wilted flowers you touched - his petals suddenly coming to life and straining towards you.
"Hmm. This should work for the mint salad," you muttered to yourself as you plucked jueyun chilies off of the small bush, gathering them upon the palm of your hand - not caring if it would stain them. After all, a life on the run had lead to your standards of appearance dropping significantly.
Xiao glimpsed at you, a fulfilled sigh escaping his lips as he saw you smiling gently while gathering supplies. Honestly, seeing you do anything was fulfilling for the Yaksha.
Suddenly, his head snapped towards a faint rustle nearby, his serenity ebbing away as he readied his weapon to pounce upon whatever danger may be near.
Noticing Xiao's sudden change in demeanor, you frowned.
"Stay here, your grace. I will deal with whatever it is."
You simply rolled your eyes and followed him quietly as he approached the sounds. He was tense, eyes narrowed as he scoured the area.
Suddenly, seeing movement, he raised his spear to strike down whoever the figure was. His arm shot up as he prepared to launch himself, only to be stopped hi your hand gripping his arm.
Confused, his eyes flickered to yours.
"Stop," you whispered - and all he could do was obey, lowering his weapon.
You smiled as you watched a pale, familiar girl quietly gathering herbs, her movements a little stiff as she immersed herself in her work.
"Qiqi," you spoke, unable to restrain yourself as the recognition washed over you.
The girl, upon hearing her own name, froze, looking around aimlessly for the source of the noise.
You gently pushed past Xiao, who was still gripping his weapon tight, cheeks tinged a delicate pink from your touch. Approaching Qiqi with a concerned expression, you caught the little zombie's attention.
"Hello, Qiqi - what are you doing so far out from Liyue?" you asked carefully, crouching before her.
She stared vacantly at you, before looking around hesitantly, as though finally taking in her surroundings. Slowly, she reached for her little bag and pulled out a small notebook, flipping the pages until something akin to realization flickered in her eyes.
"I am looking for herbs," she replied, voice flat and quiet as she looked up at you with an unreadable expression.
"Oh? What herbs?" you asked, your voice perking up as you spoke to the girl - the one upside of her foggy memory would most likely be that she probably wasn't even aware of your status as a wanted criminal.
She slowly listed off a couple, and you listened patiently, paying no mind to Xiao who was stood nearby, watching the interaction awkwardly.
"Well, I think I should have some of these," you told her, plucking them out of your little makeshift bag and holding them out for you.
"Thank you...but I ordered myself to gather them..." she mumbled, lowering her gaze.
Right. She worked on orders.
Still...
Your gaze landed on the setting sun. Zombie or not - capable in combat or not - you felt uncomfortable allowing the young girl to be out that late all by herself.
Then, you recalled your knowledge of the girl.
Hesitantly, you reached your arms out and pulled the girl closer. She stumbled into your embrace, making a surprised noise.
"I love you the most, Qiqi," you said softly, closing your eyes and meaning every word you said.
The girl slowly placed her hands on your cheeks, and you opened your eyes, a smile still upon your lips.
"Thank you...kind traveler," she spoke softly.
You chuckled and offered her the herbs once more. This time, she accepted them with a gentle thank you.
"How about we get you back to Liyue, Qiqi?"The
The Yaksha followed quietly, still on his guard, as you gently held the undead girl's hand in yours despite the coldness of it. She occasionally gazed up at you with a strange expression - one that could almost be read as fondness. Xiao supposed he shouldn't be too surprised - you were the Creator, after all. Of course your warmth would call forth love for you.
You escorted the small girl to the edge of Liyue, before coming to a halt.
"I think you can find your way home from here," you ruffled her hair gently and she stared up at you.
"Why are you not coming to the city?"
"Well..." you glanced at Xiao. "We aren't welcome in Liyue."
She lowered her gaze, seeming a little befuddled.
"I see...But how will I be able to meet you again, then?" she asked, her voice earnest despite its flatness.
You all but melted at her words, tears brimming in your eyes.
"You want to meet us again?"
She nodded.
"Well..." you bit your lip. You were constantly on the move, after all.
"Just call my name, whenever you wish to see us," Xiao spoke up, breaking the silence. Your eyes widened as you stared at the adeptus.
Qiqi allowed him to take her notebook and write simple instructions for her, his brows furrowed, but you could tell he was trying his best to not come off as intimidating.
Soon, you bid Qiqi farewell and were on your way again. You couldn't help the smile stretched upon your lips as you walked beside the Yaksha.
"That was sweet of you, Xiao."
He glanced at you from the corner of his eyes, and despite the darkness falling upon the earth and hiding his features, you could tell his cheeks were burning up.
"Just doing my duty."
You chuckled and shook your head.
"If you say so."
Over time, you grew used to life on the run. Every now and then, you would meet up with Qiqi, who you pampered with affection she clearly wasn't receiving from Baizhu. She began writing more about her days in Liyue - something you and Xiao found most useful when avoiding the milileth and other forces of Liyue sent to hunt you down. You felt a sense of ease around Xiao - and he had to admit that during all his years upon this land, he had never felt quite as free and even...happy as he did when you.
However, all good things must come to an end.
The ground below you erupted - pillars of stone bursting out and cornering you and Xiao as the Geo archon glowered down at you in distaste.
"Any final words?" he spoke, his low voice rumbling with an anger akin to earthquakes. Xiao pushed you behind him as he clutched his weapon, glaring back with a fiery fury of his own.
"I will not allow you to harm the creator!" he spat, any loyalty to Morax long gone with the winds that carried him to his journey with you.
Zhongli simply scoffed.
"You have been led stray, Xiao. Led astray by the deception of this imposter." He aimed his weapon at you, causing you to flinch. It only made Xiao shake with anger as he did his best to shield you from Zhongli's view.
"You're wrong, Morax."
"I will admit, the disguise is quite convincing. If I wasn't as knowledgeable and loyal to the true Cretor - I may have fallen under their spell too, Xiao." He smirked coldly.
"Xiao. Step aside and allow me to end this preposterous farce, and you will earn forgiveness. I am sure the Creator will be kind enough to forgive you your sins."
Xiao bared his teeth.
"Over my dead body," he spat.
Zhongli sighed, a glimmer of regret flashing across his face as he stared down at the two.
"Very well, Xiao."
His polearm came down with the swiftness of a rolling stone, gaining momentum as it plummeted downhill.
Your lips parted in a soundless scream of agony as you watched it mercilessly pierce Xiao.
You could barely see his limp form slump onto the ground through your tears as you sank to your knees beside him.
"How could you?!" you spat angrily, tears flowing across your face in angry rivers as you cradled Xiao's bleeding body.
The blood.
So much blood.
"He used to look up to you! Worship you for saving him!" your voice was raw and filled with emotion that ricocheted off of the pillars surrounding you, sending wide cracks through them.
Zhongli - no, Morax, stared at you, stared at the weapon in his gloved hand, and said nothing.
What could he say, when the Creator themselves was before him, crying shimmering tears brimming over with the stars of the galaxy?
He had been blind, after all.
Your shimmering tears fell in raging fury, never-ending as the rain that took over the clear blue skies of Liye. Your heart heavy, and cracked as the earth below you when you held Xiao's limp form close.
"Xiao, please..." you whispered, shaky fingers attempting to stop the bleeding - attempting to ease the pain he was undoubtedly in without bringing any more to him.
You ran a bloody hand through his hair, brushing aside the strands as you gazed at his face - growing paler by the minute as blood seeped from his wound.
You choked back a sob and gently laid him down. You could see the way his chest was rising and falling - but it was growing slower and more strained with each passing moment.
"You idiot," you muttered, voice hoarse from your emotional outburst. You tore at your clothes, barely able to rip off pieces to attempt to bandage him up.
Your furious eyes burned at Zhongli, who was frozen in place, drenched from the sudden onslaught of rain.
"Do something!" you shouted, cut off by your own sob. "Get a healer - do something useful!" you clenched your fists as you received no answer and simply stared at the unconscious man before you, tears unceremoniously dropping onto his form - not that you cared to pay it any mind as your own wet hair clung to your face. It was cold. It was all so cold and lifeless as your heart raced but left your mind empty of nothing but pain.
You watched Xiao take one more shaky breath, before his chest stopped moving.
You screamed. At Zhongli. At Teyvat. At everything that had lead to this injustice being allowed to occur. Screamed until your voice was raw and you could taste blood in your throat - and then some more.
Finally, you clung to the bloody and damp shirt clinging to Xiao's form, burying your face in it - allowing the coppery scent of blood to wade into your nostrils as you choked out wails.
It was all so cold.
And then, suddenly - it was warm.
You looked up in surprise - only to see the wound soaked in crimson blood just moments earlier - starting to close rapidly. You slammed a hand in front of your mouth as you watched it close up and leave behind only a golden mark in the shape of a diamond where it had been.
Your hands, still soaked with the red blood, move to cup his face, staining it - not that you cared at the moment. Your eyes stared at his face in desperation.
For any sign of life.
"Your...grace?" he mumbled, slowly opening his golden eyes. Eyes that shone much brighter and more golden than ever before.
You choked out another sob and pulled him closer, pressing your forehead against his - not caring that your drenched hair clung to your face and that your hands were still dirty. You stroked his cheeks, shedding tears of joy as he stared up at you.
"Have I finally reached the afterlife?" Xiao murmured, his own hand weakly brushing against yours.
"No, you idiot!" you tried to scold, but the smile on your cracked lips gave away your true feelings.
Slowly and gently, still unaware of how healed he truly was, you aided him to his feet, allowing him to lean on you. You could see Zhongli on his knees, a horrified expression etched onto his features.
Good.
You'd deal with him later.
"How could you say something so stupid?" you whimpered, holding the adeptus close. "I thought you were dead!"
"I was fulfilling my duty to protect you, your grace."
You stared up at him in exasperation.
"What about your duty not to break my heart?!" You clutched his shirt, glaring up at him.
"What do you mean, your grace?" he looked confused and ashamed nonetheless, for upsetting you.
"If you had died - then how could I have gone on? I love you, you stupid, stubborn, edgy Yaksha!"
He stared at you in awe, tears shimmering in his own eyes.
Your hands crept into his hair - crunching under your fingers from the dried blood within it - and you gently pulled his face closer, your eyes clashing as both of you stared into the other's soul.
"I love you too, your grace," ha managed to say, voice barely above a whisper.
You laughed, before giving his lips a gentle peck.
"I'm glad that we see eyes to eye on that."
You allowed yourself that moment of peace, embracing Xiao, before turning back to Zhongli.
He was still on his knees, his eyes staring up at you in shame.
"You are...god. Such an asshole!' you sputtered, your anger resurfacing.
Zhongli lowered his gaze without daring to say a word.
"I expect you to...call off your minions from chasing us. And to leave us the fuck alone after that!"
He nodded quietly, his shoulders tensing.
You paid him no further mind.
You held Xiao close, allowing his weakened form to lean on you as you carried his weapon for him.
"Would you like to see Wangshu Inn again?" you asked gently. "We could get some almond tofu...and some rest.."
He sighed.
"Adepti need no-"
You cut him off.
"No. You will have a nice long bath. Have Almond tofu. And get some damned sleep, you stubborn Yaksha."
He sighed.
"Yes, your grace."
You simply smiled and pecked his cheek.
Perhaps life would become a little easier now - for both you and Xiao.
You could hope for nothing more.
ok i really rushed the end cus i was. REALLY STRETCHING IT OUT. but anyway as an afterthought...imagine reader and xiao adopting qiqi basically <3
