Once Again | Xiao x Reader

Part 8 - A Child

"OIII! Teucer! Where are youuuu?" our conversation was interrupted by a high pitched yell.

Looking in the direction of the voice, I noticed none other than Paimon and Aether looking around frantically. Once their eyes scanned our general direction, they started running towards us, their gazes fixed on the boy next to me.

"Teucer, you can't just run away like that." Aether scolded. Teucer gave them a guilty look.

"I'm sorry. But!" his spirit immediately shot back up. "The nice miss here said she knows a place to fly kites!" he looked up at me with a bright smile which I returned.

"Oh! Y/n!" Paimon exclaimed finally noticing me.

"Hi Y/n. Sorry, we didn't see you." Aether wore a sorry look.

"It's fine. Plus, it looked like you had your hands full." I laugh at the beat looks on their faces.

"Oh right! We haven't introduced you yet."

Paimon proceeds to introduce the two of us and explain why they're looking after Childe's brother. Aether asked if I could take him to fly the kite as they had received an urgent commission just before the ginger dropped his brother onto them.

" Yeah! I have nothing to do anyway. We're gonna have lots of fun, right Teucer?"

"Yeah!"

The two of us high-fived in excitement.

"By the way, Y/n. You should probably have someone else with you. Teucer can be quite the trouble maker and tends to disappear a lot." Aether informed me, feeling bad they put their responsibility on me.

"It's okay, I won't be alone." I smiled at them before leaving with Teucer.

~~~

After I left Liyue harbor, I turned to Teucer.

"Is it okay if a friend of mine joins?" I asked the boy with a smile.

"Of course! The more the merrier!" we both giggle.

As we almost made it to the place for Teucer to fly his kite, I called his name.

"Xiao." the said man appeared before us causing Teucer to stare in awe.

"You calle-"

"Wahhh! Mister! That was amazing!" Teucer had sparkles in his eyes while starring at Xiao, the latter looking shocked and confused, causing me to giggle.

"Xiao! This is Teucer. You'll be helping me babysit." I declared to the man.

"No." he turned around to leave, but I caught his hand before he could.

"Come on Xiao. Pleaseeee?" I begged, giving him my best puppy eyes and nudged Teucer next to me to do the same.

He looks between Teucer and I giving him our best puppy eyes before he groans and sighs.

"Fine. Only because you asked."

Teucer and I both cheer and high-five. "Success!" we cheer in unison.

Teucer starts running ahead, and before he can get too far from us, I once again clasp Xiao's hand and start running after the boy. The three of us make our way up a hill where not much will be in the way of the kite and the wind could pick it up for it to fly higher.

"Okay Teucer!" I turn to the boy "Do you know how to fly a kite?"

"Yes!" Teucer cheers with a confident look.

Teucer begins to run around making his kite fly and I followed after, both of us laughing childishly. Xiao watched us the entire time, sitting on a nearby rock. I would steal glances at him from time to time; every time our eyes met I gave him my best smile and I could see him look away.

After some time, Teucer and I sat on the grass making flower crowns. I was teaching the boy after I made one and placed it on his head. The one he successfully made himself got placed on my head.

"How do I look?" I asked the boy while striking a silly pose.

"Very pretty!" he said excitedly causing both of us to giggle.

I could hear a loud grunt behind me, causing me to turn around and look where Xiao was sitting. The man looked bored out of his mind while watching us. An idea came to me and I turned back towards Teucer, letting the boy in on my idea.

Not long after, we have completed our third flower crown. We slowly stood up and walked towards where Xiao was sitting trying to look the least suspicious. I was in front of him and gave him a wide smile. He looked up at my face, confused. Before he could check where Teucer was, the boy jumped from behind, placing the third flower crown on Xiao's head. He looked slightly shocked on what was happening.

"Hey Teucer! Doesn't Xiao look pretty too now?" I asked the boy, holding in my laughter.

"Yes! Less scary now." he confirmed. "All he's missing is a smile."

I looked at Xiao and placed two of my fingers on the corner of his mouth, turning it up in what's supposed to be a smile.

"Hmmm. Maybe not." I say while I look down at the frowning male.

~~~

I started getting really tired so I left Teucer to go back to flying his kite. Xiao watched me silently as I sat down next to him and layed my head on his lap. Taking a last glance at his face, he didn't look uncomfortable or shove me off so I thought it was okay. The hand he gently placed on my head was all I needed to close my eyes and fall asleep.

☆★☆

Aether POV

"Phew! That was not an easy task! Paimon's starving after all that hard work."

"It's about time we go get Teucer." I told her.

"Oh. Paimon completely forgot! That Childe better pay us double this time!"

"Well Y/n is the one who's looking after him. Let's hurry. I think she should be somewhere on the hills outside Liyue harbor."

We made our way in the direction we last saw Y/n go with Teucer. It wasn't long until we found her. What we didn't expect was to see Y/n sleeping on Xiao's lap and the latter, wearing the most peaceful expression we've ever seen on Xiao's face while wearing a flower crown.

"Hey. Isn't that Xiao?! And Teucer didn't run away after all this time! Looks like they had an easier time then us the last time we looked after him." Paimon complained as we made our way towards the sleeping god and the adeptus.

"Thank you for looking after Teucer for us." I thanked Xiao as Paimon went to collect Teucer.

Xiao nodded his head and looked down at Y/n's sleeping face. He is behaving quite unusual from what I've seen of him until now.

I glanced at Y/n and furrowed my eyebrows.

" How is she? She's been looking quite pale from the last time I saw her." I asked worried about the girl.

"There's nothing a mortal can help with. These are our matters." his voice may have sounded cold, but it was different from usual, I could sense a hint of guilt lacing his words.

With that, he picked up Y/n without waking her up and disappeared, leaving us to take Teucer back to his brother.