If, and Only If || (Xiao x Reader)

十九

He sat down cross-legged on the grass, in front of a tree, hoping the tiger would come and find him again.

And the tiger did in fact find him again.

Xiao saw them huff from their nose, but seemed tired with seeing him again, because one time was enough. But not for Xiao.

Xiao carefully stood up from the grass, and pat his pants of the leaves that had fallen on him from above him. He handed a plate of grilled fish, and placed it on the ground in front of the white tiger.

Xiao asked his friends who the white tiger was, and were told, they named the tiger 'Xiwangmu.' He was lucky to have seen Xiwangmu once, and now twice.

"Um..." He felt nervous as Xiwangmu's gaze on him hardened. "I wanted to thank you for uh— helping me find a way out." Xiao played with his fingers nervously, while looking down at his shoes. Then looked back up to see Xiwangmu stalk slowly to the plate. And upon seeing them eat the grilled fish, he smiled widely happily.

Xiao felt that Xiwangmu's huff, was a a translation of their sigh.

He heard Xiwangmu 'huff' again, then they turned their head away from him.

Xiao didn't know what to do again, and sat back down in front of Xiwangmu. Their ears twitched as they heard the rustle of his clothes and as they rubbed on the grass of the ground. He slowly pet their head, and he smiled at how soft they were.

Truthfully, Xiwangmu couldn't do anything. And sat down.

Company was nice.

"Can we be friends?" Xiao asked, the tiger. After spending a day with them, he just thought that they would understand what he was saying. Cause they had understood what he had said.

Xiwangmu sat down in front of him, and kept their back tall, looking around in case anyone were to come in and disturb their time together. Seeing the white tiger look slightly protective of the young kid, Xiwangmu looked like a mother. But more like friends, granting Xiao's wish.

Xiao visited as well, everyday. He would tell Xiwangmu what he had experienced throughout the day, and various other things.

But the time when Xiwangmu had expected him to come to the mountain, he didn't come and visit. They had thought that he might have been sick, and waited another day, but he still didn't return. Months went by, and a few years. Feeling dejected, they had thought of not expecting Xiao anymore, or wait for him. And continued on with their immortal life of protecting the Incessant Mountain.

Xiao didn't remember this memory. Because of the various scenarios and events that had happened after, which had completely had him washed of his innocent and childlike mindset.

He opened his eyes, and adjusted to the sudden light. Feeling awakened, he slowly made a fist with his hands to adjust again. He studied his surroundings, and found himself under a roof.

Of Wangshu Inn.

Xiao's gaze slowly moved to his forearms, and saw them wrapped in white sheets of bandages, carefully. Then brought a hand to his head, feeling another set of bandages around his head.

Feeling a sharp pain through his forehead, he placed the palm of his hand over the pained spot. And closed his eyes, as his eyebrows scrunched together in irritation.

He was fighting... fell on the grass... and slept...?

The door opened, and he quickly turned his head to the direction of the noise, to find Zhongli enter the room with a tray of almond tofu. The old man's eyes widened slightly, as he saw Xiao awake.

"Xiao, lay back down. You must be tired still." Zhongli walked over, and placed the tray down. Then sat on the chair next to his bed.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"For 1 month."

"A month?! But..."

Zhongli stared at him with concern visible in his eyes, as his frown deepened.

"You have used your powers for far too long, my friend. And you were deeply injured. But as an immortal you are still alive. Would you like some almond tofu?" He lifted some chopsticks for him, and the adeptus seemed to be in much deeper thought again.

"I feel like I am missing something..." Xiao mumbled to himself, as he thanked Zhongli for the almond tofu and utensils.

"Missing...? Missing what?" Zhongli asked. Of course, Zhongli is one of the most densest people out there. I doubt he will help with remembering or understanding how you feel.

The door opens again, to reveal the green bard holding up a wine bottle.

"Xiao! You've awakened!" He rushed over, as his dark locks almost slapped his face as he rushed over next to Zhongli looking at Xiao intensely.

"Venti..." Xiao said, as he wasn't very excited. He had remembered to call Barbatos Venti since he requested it.

"Hey! Don't look at me like that! I came to visit, and mind you, I am a very busy person." Venti huffed as he placed the wine bottle on the side table with a hand on his hip.

"I appreciate the visit, but I feel fine now. I have been resting for an entire month. I can't stay here—" Xiao attempted to flip the blanket off of him, but Zhongli and Venti both stopped him from getting up. And Zhongli gently pushed his shoulder back into the mattress.

"You need rest, Xiao. You may have rested for a month, but you are still tired. And your body may not react immediately after resting for so long." Zhongli stared at him intently, hoping to convince him.

"Yeah! In other words... YOU'RE STILL IN PAIN!" Venti exclaimed flailing his hand around above his head, in a very exaggerated way.

Xiao furrowed his eyebrows again, in refusal.

"Say, where's Y/N?" Venti scratched the back of his head and looked around the room.

"Y/N...?" He slowly said the name. Xiao felt a rush and surge of various emotions shower his thoughts. Happiness, ease, pain, loneliness, lost... He put another hand on his forehead as a headache started again.

Zhongli quickly handed him a painkiller, and Xiao reluctantly took it, and calmed down.

"Was it something I said? I was only wondering where Y/N was. I thought she would be here..." Venti pouted.

Zhongli put a hand on his chin in thought.

"She hasn't visited once whenever I had taken a watch over Xiao for the past month."

Xiao stared at the two.

"Who's... Y/N?"