Unforgettable Memories | Xiao x Reader

Prologue

"In the end, we only regret
the chances we didn't take."

~~~~~~

"Its such a beautiful view," you told your black and green haired companion, Xiao.

Both you and Xiao stared at the distant scenery from atop of a grassy cliff. It was without a doubt a sight to behold, the only peaceful place you had in the chaotic times.

While you looked lovingly at the view as your legs swung back and forth from your seat at the edge of the cliff, Xiao looked quite the opposite. His eyes only showed disinterest, though, it may have been because you had dragged him there with you. His amber eyes held a look of boredom as he stood hehind you leaning on his spear.

"Why are you so drawn to this place?" Xiao asked.

"Its because this was the place where we first met," you had replied, a small smile appearing on your face as you reminisced the past.

A few years back, you had gone to the cliff in hopes of finding some violetgrass. However, instead of finding that plant you had been searching for, you stumbled across a badly injured Xiao - though back then, his name had been Alatus.

He had lost a lot of blood and had a large dark karmic aura surrounding him. Taking pity on the boy, you had healed him from head to toe and asked Rex Lapis, the archon that you had been serving under to help him and take him under his wing. Seeing how you were genuinely worried about the boy, Rex Lapis had accepted the request and made a contract with him. The boy who was given the name Xiao agreed with the contract the geo archon had made which was to protect Liyue. Ever since then, the two of you had fought on the same side in the Archon War.

"I still don't understand why you hold such things important," Xiao commented.

Despite making that comment, inside his heart, Xiao understood why you so dearly loved that specific cliff. After all, he felt the same way. He cherished the place where the two of you had met. However, being the person that he is, he buried those feelings deep inside his heart.

"I love you Xiao," you told him.

"...I don't feel the same way," Xiao sighed as he avoiding looking at you.

"Hey Xiao," you said with sudden seriousness as you looked straight at his eyes. "I know this is selfish of me but, after all this is over, do you want to get married?"

"No," he bluntly replied. "I have no interest in getting tied down especially to someone like you."

"Just kidding," you laughed, however, the strain in your voice could clearly be heard. "I just wanted to see how you would react."

Xiao looked at you, his heart dropping as he looked at your melancholy face. He didn't understand what he was feeling at the moment. It was as if he wanted to hold you tightly in his arms and never let you go. He felt overly guilty and just wanted to comfort you so that he would be able to see your smile once again. The young adeptus wanted to preserve your smile. However, instead of following those feelings that were about to overtake him, he quickly buried it and looked away in hopes to never feel that way ever again.

Little did he know that the choice that he had made would be the biggest regret in his life.

Standing up from where you were, you held out your hand to your adeptus friend revealing a small charm in the shape of a wing.

"Here," you placed the charm on Xiao's hand. "Keep this with you. It will protect you in my place."

"I don't-" Xiao started but was shushed as you put your finger on his lips while shaking your head.

"Keep it. I don't really care about anything else. All I want you to do is keep it with you."

Xiao finally nodded and pocketed the charm. You had been the one that saved him all those years ago and he felt that it was the least he could do for you after all that you had given him.

"Let's make a promise Xiao," you grinned. "After this final battle is over, let's meet again here."

"Ok," Xiao agreed knowing that it would be useless to argue against you.

You gave a solemn smile as you turned your face away from his. Many promises are usually made to be broken and this was no different. All you could do was say sorry from the bottom of your heart. It was the least you could do for the one that you loved.

~~~~~

The two of you had gone your seperate ways. You had headed to the back of the battlefield as you were the chief healer and Xiao had headed towards the frontlines as one of the 5 adepti under the geo archon.

"Insignificant," Xiao muttered his signature line as he defeated enemies left and right in hopes of quickly ending the battle so that he would be able to see you once again.

He had pushed himself harder than any other time on the battlefield and because of this, the exhaustion continued to build up in him. Not realizing how defenseless he was after catching a breath, he felt something dig into his stomach.

Coughing up some blood, he fell to the ground, as the adrenaline that had once supported him started leaving.

"Y/n," he whispered as he felt himself losing consciousness.

"I'm here," he heard your voice before he blacked out.