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The hatred that seeped inside his body was suffocating, it burned at his soul while the rain pouring froze his body, but he had to keep fighting.
Xiao didn’t know what was the cause behind the sudden rise in monsters being affected by the resentment of bygone gods, the negativity that plagued the land infecting so many, and he couldn’t really care. Whatever the cause was, his fight couldn’t stop until every single abomination was dead.
The corners of his vision were blurry with black miasma and by that point, it was hard to tell whether it was caused by the karma or his own exhaustion. He’d been battling for days now, in different corners of Liyue—swiping his spear at every threat to the land and its people. He had to blink away the water from the rain that got in the way as he dodged the axe of a mitachurl, only to then immediately jump up to avoid the incoming wave of rocks caused by a lawachurl.
There were a few electro slimes he had to look out for, but as long as they didn’t get too close while he dealt with the big enemies, he would be fine. The last thing he needed was to be electro-charged.
He took advantage of the jump to plunge into the mitachurl and swiftly used his wind cycling to get closer to the lawachurl. Circling it, once he found an opening, he swung at it with most of the strength he had left, managing to wear its shield down.
Mentally bracing himself for the incoming pain, he donned his mask and didn’t waste another second to get rid of his biggest threat; the spears that sprouted from the ground dealing some damage to the mitachurl and finally ending it. When Xiao saw the lawachurl fall down to its knees, he was able to spot the approaching slimes amid the black flames that invaded his field of sight and simply sliced them with his Anemo-infused spear.
One look around to make sure there were no enemies alive left, the mask dissipated and Xiao fell to his knees with a pained groan, panting and clutching onto his spear for support while the last wisps of dark energy from the recently fallen got closer to him.
His grip around the shaft of his weapon tightened and he closed his eyes as he felt the invisible karmic binds around his limbs tighten just as well, the coils of darkness, anger and wishes for revenge wrapping around his soul more, tainting him even further.
Xiao knew better than to try and fight it, though. He silently, and with some struggle, accepted them but didn’t allow them to take over him completely—only enough so he wasn’t in constant pain. The voices would hopefully become a little quieter in a couple of weeks, if he was lucky.
It was still raining, which explained why it was hard to open his eyes again, and he wasn’t fazed by the sight before him; the tenths of bodies lying around; hilichurls, mitachurls, remains of slimes, abyss mages, and more that were unrecognizable.
The moment of lucidity allowed him to realize that he wasn’t bleeding, he only had a few superficial cuts, but he knew for a fact you would still make a fuss over every minor injury, no matter how small. As he stood up, he pondered over whether it was a good idea or not to visit you right then; completely soaked and exhausted.
He didn’t like seeing you worry.
But, Xiao knew you would be livid when you found out that he’d dealt with his injuries alone, and that was worse.
With a sigh, he mustered up whatever energy he had left and teleported right outside your house… and knocked on the door.
Despite the time, you answered almost immediately and even though you gasped at seeing him and ushered him in a haste, the turmoil inside his mind calmed down at simply basking in your presence. He still didn’t know what made you so different, what made it so that you could help him so easily.
Maybe it was because of your Vision.
Maybe because of something unique in your biology.
Or maybe it was simply because he loved you, and he wasn’t afraid to admit it anymore.
“What happened to you?!” you asked as you paced around, handing him a towel once you found one and coming back to sit next to him on the couch with your Vision in its pendant clasped around your neck.
“There was an increase in monster activity,” he summarized. Xiao was busy taking off his items, like his shoulder plate and necklace, but he could tell you were staring at him. It was after he’d begun to take his gloves off that you spoke up.
“When was the last time you rested?”
Of course you asked that. Of course you somehow knew that he’d been fighting nonstop for a worrying while.
And of course his silence served as an answer; you cupped his cheek, making him meet your eyes, and you were inspecting him. His eyes, his face, everything. It was something he’d learned you did to tell just how tired he was, and you’d yet to be wrong whenever you voiced your guess.
You didn’t this time, carefully thumbing the area just below his eye before leaning in close to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. With a gloveless hand, he placed it on top of yours and lightly turned his head to return the kiss, the only difference being he pressed his lips against the palm of your hand.
“Okay, let’s take care of you,” you sighed, pulling away after a moment to focus on healing him.
With his free hand, whilst you worked on the cuts on the other arm, he dried his hair with his Vision—it was something you’d taught him how to do out of convenience. Usually he wouldn’t mind the rain, or getting wet, but his hair was sticking uncomfortably to his face and he was very well aware you would make him dry it, or you would dry it yourself, anyway.
The minutes passed by in comfortable silence, with Xiao entertaining himself by watching you work your magic; the ghost of a touch grazing his skin and closing any cuts or healing any bruises visible.
He frowned in confusion when you gradually stopped and just blankly stared at his arm.
“Is something wrong?” he inquired after a moment, causing you to close your eyes and take a deep breath, all before leaning your head on his shoulder.
“I don’t like seeing you hurt, or tired,” you murmured.
Xiao wasn’t a stranger to your worries since you were never afraid to voice them, but they still made him sigh. Months earlier, he would’ve reprimanded your lack of confidence in his strength and resistance, but now? Now he understood why you were worried. If the positions were switched, he would do everything in his power to avoid seeing you hurt in any way, no matter if it was physical or not.
“I won’t tell you to stop, I know I can’t make you, but…” you trailed off. One of your hands searched for one of his so you could intertwine them, giving it a fond squeeze. “Please… Now that this wave is over, take a break. Please, Xiao.”
He rarely took breaks, as you liked to call them. The most he allowed himself to indulge in were short moments with you and in the years that the two of you had known each other, he’d only ever ‘taken a break’ once before, after a particularly severe injury of his.
Looking down at you, he found you looking up at him, hopeful eyes expecting an answer.
In spite of the fact that his karmic debt had increased exponentially the last few years, he would still consider them the best years of his life, all because of you.
You, who he loved and who loved him back.
You, who healed his body and his spirit.
You, who he cherished more than anyone in the world, in the universe.
He had been unable to deny your way into his heart, with your warmth and light taking root in the deepest parts of him and making him devote himself to you—there was no way he could deny your request when you asked so earnestly.
“Alright,” he said, squeezing your hand a tad bit too gently. “… I love you.”
The way in which your eyes lit up could rival even the brightest and most beautiful of stars, and your smile outshone the sun itself.
Xiao seldom said the words first, given he wasn’t accustomed to vocal affection, but seeing your reaction afterwards made the effort worth it.
“I love you, too, and thank you.”
It was cold outside, it hadn’t stopped raining, but inside, in the comfort of your home and company, Xiao’s soul was warm and at peace.