Long ago, you had found yourself in an unknown world. No memories to define you and no home to return. The world was dangerous and maze-like in how it's wonders and horrors collided.
You wandered for a long time, through dry dessert lands to snow capped mountains. Time was irrelavant to you. Each year that passed was the same as the last, never once did it occur to you that time was never truly a factor to even worry about.
One day, while exploring through the region known as Liyue, you came across a stange boy. He seemed distant, different, and....inhuman. he resided in an inn and came and went as he pleased. You'd asked the inn keeper many times about him, curiosity filling your head. She answered what she could, but never was it enough for you.
Because of his distant and lone-wolf appearance, you had never tried to approach the boy. That is, until her approached you.
Tonight you gazed longingly at the stars from the Inn's balcony. Many thoughts plagued your mind, so much in fact, you hadn't sensed the presence that was creeping up behind you. Slowly the figure approached you, a mask upon his face. He reached his hand out-
"Who are you?" He asked. Pulling you out of your thoughts and startling you.
"By the seven! You scared the hell out of m-" you paused. The boy took off his mask, revealing a cold expression dispute his sharp golden eyes.
"I-um, are you...Xaio?" You asked with a confused expression. The inn keeper had told you his name but you were never sure.
"I asked first, who are you?" He said flatly. He took a step forward closing the distance between you. He was quite tall, about a head taller than you. His eyes however, they stood out to you more than anything else.
"(Y/n)....I think..." you spoke the last part barely above a whisper. Turning your head so you wouldn't be caught staring at his eyes. Your face felt slightly warm, a pink blush adorning your face.
"What do you mean 'I think'? You must at least know your own name mortal". He seemed skeptical of you, seems he was as stand-offish as you thought.
"Hey! Answer my question! I answered yours!" You interjected. He wanted to play question for a question than you'd play. His response however was simply scoffing and turning to leave.
"Hey wait!" You called out. You grabbed onto his hand, pulling him back to you.
"Don't touch me mortal, I've no obligation to play twenty questions with you" he spoke bitterly and turned once more to leave. Unbeknownst to him, you were persistent.
The next night you looked for him, and the next after. This continued for months, sometimes you'd see him and sometimes you wouldn't. Even though you didn't see him sometimes, it wasn't like he hadn't been watching you run around like an idiot looking for him. It felt nice, to be directly wanted, but Xiao knew better than that.
Being an adept would mean watching you die, and so he refused to get close...right?
Once night you sat at the balcony. A certain adepti waiting to hear you call his name. When he heard nothing he looked down from his perch on the tree.
You were silently looking out at the sky. Your eyes were dull, yet a thousand thoughts filled your mind. So many things and so many possibilities. Xiao felt somthing he shouldn't have: worry. The nagging feeling pulled at his heart and messed with his thoughts. When you were leaving to go back in, he jumped down silently.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked, feigning indifference. When you turned around however, the lack of worry in his eyes broke. Eyes wide he saw your expression, your eyes refusing to meet his.
"...nothing" You said simply, then turned to leave. Now it was Xiao's turn to reach out.
"Did I say you could ignore me?"
"Didn't you say you have no obligation to play twenty questions with me? Look I just wanted to tell you I was leaving the inn and going somewhere else okay? At least I can stop humiliating myself when I call out your name at night and you don't have to worry about me annoying you anymore..." you spoke quickly and bitterly. The pain in your voice apparent.
Xiao was taken aback, leaving? How long had you been here? The adept looked passed you at the inn keeper and his eyes widened. Looking back at you he grabbed your shoulders.
"How long have you been staying here?" He asked, urgency in his tone.
"I-I dunno, a few months maybe?" You responded, Xaio looked at you confused. Months?
"...may...I ask that we talk?" He said slowly, his tone gentle and warm compared to his usual demeanour. You took a moment to think then simply nodded, might as well since after tonight you might never see him again.
Xiao sat on the wooden railing and you hopped on next to him. You both were silent at first until Xiao broke it.
"May one ask what's bothering you?" He said gently. A moment passed as you attempted to gather your thoughts.
"I...remember when you asked my name?" He nodded "I...don't remember my name, I just chose one. When you asked I just...it got me thinking..." you trailed off.
Xiao looked at you, eyes gentle, almost as if he felt the slightest thing would break you in such a fragile state.
"(Y/n), how long have your memories been lost?"
You shrugged, time was such a strange thing to you. To determine how long ago it was was almost impossible.
Xiao placed a gentle hand on yours, his gaze serious.
"(Y/n)....when you arrived the inn keeper was twenty-four years old..." He stood up and hopped down, helping you behind him. He never let go of your hand as you went to see the inn keeper. Standing at the top of the stairs Xiao pointed to the desk. Your eyes widened.
The woman behind the desk was short and older. Her hair was white and she was talking to a customer. When she caught your gaze she smiled and waved slowly.
You dropped Xiao's hand in shock. Your heart felt like it stopped. Your face went pale and your steps backwards got caught up. Falling on the ground your shaking refused to halt. The world was spinning and nothing made sense yet did all at the same time.
Xiao slowly crouched down next to you. His gaze one of pure worry and concern. Sitting down, he took your hand in his and with the other he grabbed your opposing shoulder.
"Breathe" he said in a whisper. Using his element, he helped you calm down. Tears of pain and confusion fell from your Eyes, you couldn't breathe from hyperventilating. Luckily for you, Xiao helped you through your mental breakdown. Your breathing stabilized but your body refused to stop shaking.
In that Moment Xiao raised your arm around his shoulder. Helping you stand and guiding you to a less populated space. After settling you down he crouched to your level.
"Do...you understand?"
"....."
Your silence was an answer in and of itself. Xiao sat next to you, looking at the starry night. Despite the fact you were okay enough to be alone he seemed to refuse the idea. Slowly everything sunk in and now a thousand more questions played your mind. The longer you thought about it the more tired you became. Soon you lost yourself in a seamless sleep, your head falling on Xiao's Shoulder. The wind he brought that night was warm and comforting. Despite the fact he hardly knew you, he had more than enough time to.
The next day when the sun rose the bright light of the sunrise brought you back to the world of the awake. Shifting slightly you felt a weight upon your head and a body of a boy to your right.
Xiao had fallen asleep, his head gently resting on yours.
The future was infinite in time, and now it was time to learn more.
Later that day you began speaking to Each other. The time went on as it always had. The inn keep retired and her daughter took charged but before she left she spoke to you once.
"Thank you dearie, now that I know he won't be alone I can leave him to you" was all she said before she left. Shortly after her retirement you got word she passed in her sleep. You were sad and Xiao, as much as he tried to hide it, was just as affected.
One day, many years later, Xiao and you sat upon the balcony of the inn. The sunset in the distance.
"(Y/n), one had somthing they must confess..." He said lowly.
Turning to you his hand brushed your hair behind your ear. His hand remained there, slowly he moved closer and sealed your lips with his. He was gentle and inexperienced. When you parted you had tears in your eyes.
"Although I may never know who I was before, I don't think it matters now that I'm with you" you smiled and pulled him in for another kiss.
The past was left behind but the future remains unexplored. Together the both of you will explore that future and no amount of time will ever rip you apart.
I had a concept in mind for this, but the execution is messy and weird. I hope y'all like it tho. If there are errors please let me know.
Unedited