Xiao and Lumine - Part 5: I promised I would be back

Lumine took a step back and looked at Xiao. Her adventures in Sumeru had taken longer than she had expected – one commission had turned into three, and she couldn't say no to the high pay from the Akademiya. And then it was all the problems with Balladeer. Or Wanderer. Or whoever he was now. She didn't know what to call him anymore. When he erased himself from Irminsul, she feared he had changed the past, changed the people he inflicted so much pain upon hundreds of years ago. She had to make sure they were all okay.

      She told Xiao what had happened. That she had traveled to Inazuma to make sure her friends there were okay. That she had found Balladeer in Sumeru City when she came back, that he was now a completely different person. Even though he got his memories back, she could feel that he was someone else. "That's a lot," Xiao said. "Are you okay?" Lumine nodded. "Nothing I can't overcome." She smiled at him, but Xiao didn't seem sure. He stood there, just looking at her. Lumine gently touched his hair. "This is kind of awkward but… I kind of need somewhere to sleep. And something to sleep in." She looked down at her bloody dress, and Xiao suddenly remembered the peaceful night he just had.

      "Did you clear the roads of threats?" he asked. Lumine nodded. "I thought… I mean… Was that wrong of me?" Relief washed over her when she heard him laugh. It was a short laughter, more like a chuckle, but still. "No," he said. "Thank you." He turned around and walked back into his room. He came back shortly after with a new, clean shirt. "Here. You can borrow mine." He handed her the shirt and Lumine took it, their fingers briefly gracing each other.

      "I should…" Lumine said and pointed at the stairs. Xiao nodded. He looked after her when she slowly walked down the stairs. Lumine turned around and looked at him, surprised to see him still standing there. "Good night," she said. He nodded back, then walked back into his room and closed the door.

      Paimon was waiting for her when she came downstairs. "How is he?" she asked. Lumine shrugged. "He seemed grateful for us clearing the roads. But other than that… I couldn't really read him." Paimon yawned. "Well, Paimon is tired. Maybe we can join him on his patrol tomorrow night, but tonight Paimon just wants to eat a nice big meal and go to bed."

      Lumine chuckled. "We'll order some food to our room." She laughed even harder when Paimon started floating around, getting all excited over the thought of a nice, big meal. "Paimon can't wait. The food here is always so nice too. What do we order?" Lumine crossed her arms, thinking. They had eaten so much food from Sumeru that ordering a Liyue special seemed in order. "Let's go with the Almond tofu," she said. Paimon danced around in the air. "What are we waiting for? Paimon is starving!"

      They went down to the kitchen to order the food. "Why did you order three?" Paimon asked. Lumine smiled. "I was thinking we could invite Xiao too. And if not, you would probably be able to finish his serving too." She chuckled and Paimon crossed her arms. "Just so you know, Paimon doesn't eat that much." Lumine looked at Paimon. Paimon sighed. "Okay, Paimon does it that much. But it's just so good!"

      Lumine chuckled. In moments like this she was happy to call Paimon both a friend and a traveling partner. They got their servings and headed upstairs to their room. "You go ahead," Lumine said. Paimon shrugged and flew upstairs while Lumine headed for Xiao's room again. She knocked on the door.

      Xiao opened it. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair was dripping wet. She blushed when she saw him. "I… Uhm…," she stuttered. Then she held up the food. He gestured for her to step inside. "Are you hungry?" she asked. He nodded. Then he turned around and walked towards the closet. Lumine turned around as he got dressed, her face still red.

      They sat down on his bed and opened up the boxes of food. "I remember this was your favorite," Lumine said. Xiao nodded. "Thank you," he said. He threw away the boxes as they finished eating. Lumine sat on his bed, watching him. Seeing him like this, dressed in casual, comfortable clothes, cleaning after them, made her smile. It gave off the illusion of them living a normal life, even though she knew that would never happen.

      Xiao turned around and looked at her. "It's getting late," he said. Lumine nodded. "I should head out again." He turned around and Lumine blushed again when she realized he was about to change clothes in front of her. "I… I should go," she said. Xiao looked at her as she headed for the door. She turned around and looked at him. "Good night." He didn't say anything, just looked at her with a yearning look on his face. As if he let her go now, she would be gone forever. "Will you…?" His voice faded, but he took a deep breath and gathered some courage. "Will you stay?" Lumine could barely hear his words, but her heart knew what he had said. She nodded.

      She sat down on his bed, not knowing what to do next. His question had both made her happy but also frightened. She had never shared a bed with anyone besides Paimon in some special cases. But she had never done it with anyone as special as him. Her heart beat fast as he tucked her in. "I still have to head out," he said, his voice sad. "But I'll be back in the morning. Sleep well."

      Lumine quickly fell asleep to the calm presence of Xiao, and she didn't wake up until he opened the door the next morning. She opened her eyes and looked at him as he came stumbling into the room. "Are you okay?" she asked. He looked at her, startled at first, then he relaxed and gave her a tiny, reassuring smile. "I'm fine." Lumine crossed her arms and he sighed. "Just tired. Can I…" His voice faded but Lumine made space for him in the bed.

      He came closer and lied down next to her. She put her head on his shoulder, and he stiffened, but then awkwardly put his arms around her and relaxed. Lumine looked up at him, his eyes were closed, and his breath was slow and steady. But when he felt Lumine's eyes on him, he opened his, and looked at her.

      "Thank you," he whispered. "What for?" Lumine's heart started to beat faster when she heard his words: "For coming back to me. Being away from you was unbearable. I wish we could stay like this forever." His words warmed her heart, and she gently stroke away some hair from his face. Then, she sat up and started gently kissing him on the neck, smiling as she felt him quivering under her. She sat over him now, stroking her hands over his body. He was trembling and he closed his eyes. She took his hands and placed them on her hips.

      He looked at her, his eyes questioning her moves. Neither of them had made a move before, and they both hesitated a bit. Then, Lumine reached for the bottom of her shirt, slowly pulling it up, revealing more of her naked body underneath. She could hear Xiao's breath hitch but when she was about to pull the shirt over her head, she could feel herself fall onto the mattress. She caught herself right before she was about to faceplant into the bedframe and found herself sitting alone in the middle of the bed. She whispered Xiao's name, while looking around. But he was gone, and for the first time since they had met, he didn't come when she called his name.