xiaohitsdifferent

[xiaohitsdifferent]

lament

pairing: albedo x reader

genre: hurt/comfort

word count: 920

warning(s): attempted self-harm, mentions of past self-harm, depression

it hadn’t been too long since you’ve moved to monstadt, the nation renowned for its freedom. the atmosphere was welcoming and there was always an amusing event occurring. it was practically impossible to feel lonely. everything was going great, but there were still days where you were haunted by your past.

today happened to be one of those days.

the curtains adorning your glossy window was drawn, preventing the rays of sunshine to spill through. the air was eerily tense, the lights were turned off and you were bundled in a heap of blankets.

you never understood the conflicting emotions that was buried deep within you. you’ve tried everything to distract the feeling, from slicing the tender skin on your arms to burning your arms until a scathing burn mark was present. it worked, but it was only a temporary solution.

fortunately, you’ve stopped this habit after befriending the members from the knights of favonius. they were so kind to you and they brought in a feeling of haven. it wasn’t too long before you found your eyes focused on one person: albedo. you’d be lying if you were to say you weren’t smitten by the peculiar chief alchemist. he was just so diligent in every matter.

...but what chances did you have with him?

he was better fit with someone like sucrose, his beloved student. you didn’t deserve him. you didn’t deserve all the friends you’ve made. you didn’t deserve any of the happiness you had at the moment.

you don’t deserve anything. you’re useless. so useless. what makes you think you deserve happiness? just die already.

before you knew it, your body was shivering despite the warmth that the blankets provided. “you’re right.” you mumbled, shaky legs making its way towards your desk. the blade. you had to get the blade. you had to soothe the feeling.

when you approached your desk, you wasted no time in snatching the sharp razor from its place and positioning it on your right arm. salty tears fell from your eyes and you were trembling all over the place. sweat glands were starting to form as you inch the razor closer to your skin. some part of you was begging for you to stop, but the other had a stronger voice. it urged you to start your habit again.

no one can stop you. you must do it. no one can save you. you’re so worthless. just end it all right now. it’ll be easier that way. go ahead and-

a sudden gloved hand tightly held onto your very own. you yelp in surprise, grip loosening on the razor, causing it to fall towards the ground. a soft clank resounded from it. who had stopped you?

your watery, wide eyes clash with familiar turquoise ones and the world seem to freeze altogether. “albedo? how... how did you get in here?”

“i came to check up on you and the door was unlocked. i thought that something urgent had happen to you.” a deep frown was present upon the usual stoic face of your savior. you dare say he even looked worried for you.

your breath hitched, adrenaline wearing off, and you felt a feeling of shame washing over you. how were you supposed to explain this situation to him? it was too late to make any excuse, he had witness far too much now.

“tell me, how long have you been doing this?” he gestured to the multitude of scars, ranging from thin to downright deep, littering your arm. it was quite evident that these scars were achieved through a controlled precision rather than from accident. you couldn’t lie.

you gulped down a ball of anxiety, eyes faltering and avoiding the hardened gaze of albedo. “a few years now, but i swear i’ve been clean for several months already!” it was true. you hadn’t been harming yourself for a while, but at this point, it wouldn’t matter if you even said that because you had almost broken that record today.

“...why?” his question came out weak and pitiful, taking you by surprise yet again. his fingers caress your marred arm, a pleasant feeling spread from his careful touch and you couldn’t help, but lean closer, the tension long forgotten.

“i was lost for a while and i didn’t know how else to cope.”

“why didn’t you seek help from the knights? or even from me?” his hand move unsteadily away from you and you could sense the frustration from his tone, “i admit, i’m not well-verse with human emotions, but i’d try... for you.”

a pinkish blush settle upon the apples of your cheek. was he admitting that he cared for you more than you had thought? the weight of shame was getting heavier and you bit on your lips nervously, “i... appreciate that.”

“if you truly do, then please,” he pulled you into his lean chest, arms protectively encircling your petite form, “don’t shut me out. i will do my utmost to help you. i care about you. genuinely.”

never once have you ever imagine that the alchemist would break face and show any emotion towards you. frankly, it was too much for you to handle.

without warning, all the feelings you felt came flooding out. you desperately clutch onto the back of his pristine, white coat, face burying in the safety of his shoulder as you cried to your heart’s content.

perhaps there is a light of hope beyond the dark place you’ve been stuck in for far too long.

#genshin impact #albedo x reader #angst #comfort #fluff #genshin albedo #genshin scenarios #albedo imagines #albedo #genshin impact x reader

[xiaohitsdifferent]

saudade

pairing: xiao x reader

genre: heavy angst

word count: 868

warning(s): death, blood

blood. that was all xiao could focus on amongst the heaping piles of, seemingly dead or unconscious, abyss mages and hilichurls. a sense of panic overwhelmed him and he couldn’t help, but quicken his pace, following the traces of crimson blood. it was wet. he noted as he trailed on, anxiety eating him from within.

as if his own nightmares came to life, there you were, covered in blood and scratches. you were laying flat on the grass and the blood from your fatal wounds were starting to seep into the grass. without a second wasted, he scurried over to you, resting your head against his lap. there was no way you were going to die. no. not here. not now.

“x-xiao?”

a sigh of relief escaped his mouth. you were still conscious. he had a chance. a chance to bring you back to wangshu inn and get immediate medical attention. a tight reassuring squeeze urge you to stay awake, “(y/n), you need to stay conscious while i-.”

“xiao, you know it’s too late,” you paused and let out a throaty cough, “these wounds are fatal.” you added to your previous statement, hazy eyes piercing into his very own. you were barely hanging onto life.

“don’t say that. there must be some other-.”

“please... just stay here with me.” you softly whisper, your hand moving to squeeze his bicep. the desperation lacing your vulnerable voice was clear as daylight and he couldn’t bear to deny your final request.

“...very well.” he should be used to it, used to dealing with blood and the consequences of war, but he couldn’t face the devastating state that you were in. never once had he ever imagine you would slip away from his grasp so soon. you were the only person keeping him from going insane by his karmic debt.

the whole world was silent—or at least it felt like it—aside from the soft pants that came from your mouth. soon enough, your breaths were going to stop altogether and he wouldn’t be able to see those gorgeous eyes nor would he be able to listen to the beautiful melody of your voice.

“the moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” your sudden question snapped him out of his mourning and caused him to avert his eyes towards the moon. it was breathtaking, but its beauty was lackluster compared to you. he didn’t respond, but merely nodded. “i’m really happy i got to meet you.”

his eyes flicker back to your weaken form, noticing the small smile you gave him and the way your eyes were starting to droop from the blood loss. you’ve barely lived life and yet you were happy, satisfied with the life you had. even he, who had lived far longer than you, was unable to find any happiness for centuries. he grew livid at the fact that the world had to take you away.

“how can you say such things? i-,” his voice falter and the anger subsided. with a more leveled voice, he spoke again, “i never got the chance to ask for your hand in marriage.” it was one of his biggest regrets, not being able to marry you earlier. if he had known this fate would befall upon you, he would’ve asked earlier.

“it was enough for me to have you by my side.” your speech was, but a mere whisper now. you were losing your spark in life and he couldn’t do anything. for once in his life, xiao felt helpless.

he press a chaste kiss against your forehead and without hesitating, he pronounced his love for you for the last time, “i love you.”

a serene smile etch on your lips as you took your final breath and closed your eyes permanently.

“i love you too.”

————

the vigilant yaksha leaned against the railing, amber eyes watching the starry sky. a plate of almond tofu—sat carefully on the railing—glisten underneath the moonlight, the sweet syrup dripping from all sides. the plate of food was left forgotten as he dwelled upon his thoughts.

usually, time was nothing that xiao kept in mind. he was practically immortal, there was no need to keep track of time. however, he had meticulously counted every second since your departure.

he missed you. more than ever today. especially since today marked the anniversary of your death. he missed everything about you. the feeling of nostalgia was eating at him and he wanted nothing more than to join you in the afterlife, but he had a duty to fulfill: protect all of liyue.

xiao shook his head, deciding to plunge his spoon in the pile of almond tofu and shoving it into his mouth. the gelatinous dessert melted onto his tongue and slightly eased the tension from within. he wouldn’t stress about it now. for one day, he’ll be able to cross paths with you once again, whether it was in another life or in the afterlife. either way, he would find his way back to you, his one and only beloved.

the corners of his lip quirk up into a bittersweet smile as he stared up at the same moon of that fateful day.

“the moon is beautiful, isn’t it (y/n)?”

#genshin impact #xiao #xiao x reader #xiao imagines #gn reader #genshin impact xiao #xiao headcanons #angst #genshin scenarios #genshin impact x reader #heavy angst #death mention #alatus #vigilant yaksha

[xiaohitsdifferent]

for one night

pairing: xiao x reader

genre: fluff + angst

word count: 552

warning(s): slight nsfw

“you’re so pretty, xiao.”

you mumble and stroke the teal streaks that adorned his raven hair, humming in satisfaction when you felt him shutter underneath your soft touches. xiao was hovering over you, both forearms used to prop himself up along with trapping your head in between.

it was rare to see the strong-headed adeptus in such a vulnerable state, but you were grateful that he was willing to show this side of him to you.

“i’ve been called many things... but never ‘pretty’.” an expression of displeasure contorted on his face, yet he made no movement to push away your delicate hands. maybe he was scared of hurting you. or maybe he simply enjoyed—or tolerated—your touches.

your fingers ghosted along the side of his right cheek, a teasing smile growing upon your lips as you cup his cheek, “i’m simply stating the truth.”

a threatening growl erupted from the vigilant yaksha, “enough of this teasing.” xiao inched closer to you, the sudden dominance taking you by surprise. just as suddenly as he had gotten closer, he paused in his tracks.

you could practically feel his breath fanning against your lips. the anticipation was gnawing at you like the viscous claws of an angered geovishap. you weren’t a patient person, but for xiao’s sake, you would become one temporarily.

“may i kiss you?” he asked, the air of dominance still lingering in his tone, but you swore you could hear the hint of softness behind his words.

without missing a beat, you finally enclose the empty space between the two of you, lips crashing against each other. you encircle your arms around his neck, bringing him closer to you. your lips move in sync, almost as if they were being meld together. his gloved hands gripped your hips harshly in return. it would probably leave a purplish bruise once this was all over.

his tongue flicker against your wet lips, a silent request. you slightly part your lips, granting him access to the caverns of your mouth. without hesitating, his tongue dove right in, desperate to leave every crevice of your mouth explored. muffled moans elicited from your mouth as you arch your back in response. you were melting right underneath his touch.

before you knew it, his hands were starting to linger towards the hem of your shirt, signaling the start of an intense love-making session.

————

pain. that was all you felt as you groggily woke up, eyelashes fluttering open. instantly, the rays of sunshine hit you straight in the eyes, making you groan tiredly, “it’s so bright.”

for a few peaceful moments, you bathed in the warmth of the sun, enjoying the way it caress your bruised body. a tint of red blew up your face at the sudden thought of what happened with the stoic man. last night was thrilling to say the least. not to mention, it was your first time as well.

speaking of last night... where’s xiao? a look of curiosity cross your face as you glance towards the side of the bed. a spark of hope blossomed within you. you were hoping that xiao was still by your side.

however, instead of being met with the said man, you were met with a disappointing view of an oddly cold and empty spot.

he had left.

#genshin impact #xiao x reader #xiao imagines #genshin impact xiao #xiao #angst #gn reader #genshin scenarios #oneshot #genshin impact x reader

[xiaohitsdifferent]

a foolish love

pairing: xiao x reader

genre: fluff

word count: 1,302

warning(s): none

author’s note: hey guys! i’m currently taking requests for genshin impact x reader right now so feel free to drop by and send one.

“in the thousands of years that have passed, i have taken countless wraiths. if you want no trouble, stay away from me. see me as a weapon, and nothing more.”

xiao had clearly stated this after he swiftly finished off the last tainted hilichurl. there was no reason to get close to you, a mere mortal

yet, you didn’t falter at his harsh statement. if anything, your eyes shone brighter than ever, a new spark of determination settling upon it. without a word, he disappeared. he could already tell that you were going to be a rather troublesome mortal

days passed and xiao had long forgotten about the fateful encounter with you. after all, he had other worrisome tasks to do like purging demons and protecting liyue

however, today seemed slower than usual. the gleeful wind tickled his choppy hair, almost like it was teasing him. his hardened amber eyes scanned the scenery below, admiring the peaceful view of trees swaying and small critters frolicking around. it was mornings like these that made him temporarily forget about his internal turmoil

however, xiao wasn’t able to relish in the quietness for too long. the familiar wooden creaks from behind him caught his attention

“why have you seek me out, mortal?” he kept his eyes glued on the view, a growl threatening to erupt from his voice. xiao knew there was something wrong with you the moment your eyes sparkled in determination after being near death’s door

“i wanted to thank you for saving me by making this,” out of curiosity, he turned to face you. you wore a bright smile, one that was far too innocent for this world. he adjusted his vision to your outstretch arms. a beautiful pile of almond tofu sat on the porcelain plate you held out, its light syrup glistening in the sunlight

ah, it seems that this mortal knew how much i love this dish. he thought disdainfully, keeping a stoic expression upon his face. with a sigh, he reached out and accepted the offering, making you grin even wider. there was no harm in doing that... right?

he had expected you to leave right away, or even break down under his adeptal energy, but you remained rooted to the spot. you looked up at him with those darn puppy eyes, “well aren’t you going to taste it?”

“and why should i eat in front of you?” he retorted back and took a step back to distance himself from you. he wasn’t sure if it was just your stubbornness that prevented you from feeling his adeptal energy, but he wasn’t willing to risk it by staying too close to you

he watched as you place your pointer finger on your lips and pouted, “i mean shouldn’t it be normal for a person who cooked it to see their taster’s reaction?”

“i... suppose so,” he hesitantly spoke. you did make a good point, and he couldn’t possibly ignore your kicked-puppy expression for far too long. “but there seems to be no utensil for me to eat it.” he deadpanned, maintaining eye contact with you

you owlishly blink, eyes widening in embarrassment, “oh my archons! how could i-? i’ll be right back.” he couldn’t help, but chuckle at your scurrying form. you were a mortal, but an amusing and forgetful one nonetheless

after that, you and the sole yaksha got close like two peas in a pod. whenever you tend to adventure out in liyue, xiao offered to go with you, grumbling that you wouldn’t be able to last without his protection

if anything, he was secretly thankful for you. you often visit him at wangshu inn with offerings of almond tofu, despite complaining that it would be more convenient if he lived closer

eventually, months had passed and liyue harbor was bustling with people due to the upcoming lantern festival

the traveler, aether, had tried desperately to convince xiao to come, but only managed to get him close to the gates of liyue harbor, which wasn’t a complete loss

bright, yellow paper lanterns painted the nightly sky, outshining the full moon. the conquerer of evil sat himself down on the, somewhat dry, grass, his mask clinking along his hips. he paid no mind to the world around him, instead focusing on the sky. it was beautiful. but even so, he couldn’t help, but feel like something, or a specific someone, was missing.

as if the archons had heard his wish, he hears the familiar, light footsteps emitting from behind him. “xiao?” you question, tilting your head to the side. upon hearing his name, he takes a look at your attire. you were wearing, what seemed to be, a beautiful jade qipao. the tips of his ears brighten up at your color of choice. “it’s rare to see you outside of wangshu inn.” you continue as you take a seat next to xiao, adjusting your qipao.

he could feel your heat from how close you were to him. his heart was racing at the proximity between the two of you and he was sure that his whole face was now beet red. had he always had these feelings for you? the thought of falling for you was absurd. it wasn’t possible for him, a killing machine, to fall for someone as faultless as you.

xiao shook his head to clear his thoughts, “i suppose so.” the atmosphere went silent, but it wasn’t one of those awkward ones. rather, it was the peaceful ones where the two of you were simply enjoying each other’s presence.

that was, of course, until he felt the harsh winds brushing against his exposed biceps. xiao was used to the winds, he was an anemo user after all. but were they used to it? he glanced over to you, watching as you seem to slightly shiver from the chilling winds. your attire definitely wasn’t enough to keep you warm on this particular chilly night.

a frowned fell upon his face. he didn’t have a jacket nor did he bring along any outerwear. how exactly was he supposed to keep you warm? body warmth. he quickly thought, but scowled at himself. wasn’t he already ashamed of himself for having romantic feelings for you? at this point, he was just digging himself a hole to die in.

but he couldn’t possibly see you shiver any longer. “come here,” he mumbled underneath his breath as he pulled you in between his lap, wrapping his muscular arms around your midsection. you yelp in surprise and your back straightened against his chest. “i know this may be... unpleasant, but bear with it a bit longer.”

you were so close to the point where he can smell your scent. stop acting weird. he absolutely didn’t want you to be scared of him so he tried to stay as still as possible. a few moments passed before he felt your body finally relax underneath him, “thank you, xiao.”

he tighten his arms around you, letting you know that he heard your appreciation. “hey, xiao,” he hummed in response, “is it... is it okay if i sleep right now? you’re really warm.” he could clearly hear the tiredness seeping from your melodic voice.

“do as you please.” and with that, your breath started to steady into a soft rhythm, your body limp against him. with a sigh, xiao picked you up bridal-style, careful to not rustle you too much. compared to the hundreds of lit lanterns, you looked so ethereal underneath the moon. hesitantly, he placed a soft kiss on your forehead and pulled back, admiring your sleeping face.

“look what you’ve done to me, (y/n),” he chuckled lightly and shook his head, “you’ve made me a love-sick fool.” perhaps he would confess to you how he truly felt once you woke up.

#genshin impact xiao #genshin scenarios #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #xiao imagines #xiao x reader #fluff #alatus #gn reader

[xiaohitsdifferent]

a love like this

pairing: albedo x reader

genre: fluff

word count: 627

warning(s): none

“relationships are... quite troublesome. once you establish a relation with someone, you must continue to maintain it; if you lose contact, you must reestablish the relation. this taxing cycle requires a lot of time...”

albedo had little to no interest in maintaining decent relationships. in fact, he found them rather arduous. what was the point of establishing a relationship if you had to place continuous effort that could be spent doing other important matters?

for archons’ sake, he was albedo, chief alchemist of the knights of favonius. he had no desire to dwell upon relationships. he never understood this concept and made no further effort in wanting to understand it

until he met you

he couldn’t understand his sudden interest in you. you were... normal. you did everything any other biological organism did, yet he still couldn’t quite explain why he liked you more than he should

albedo wanted you. desperately. unfortunately, he did not know any way to express his feelings

he thought about asking sucrose, his soft-spoken student, but realized that she was not well-versed in this subject. and so, he opted for kaeya (which he learned to regret later)

“charm them in bed.” kaeya had said, a shit-eating grin plastered on his punchable face. if albedo could, he would’ve used his geo vision to murder the cryo user, but being the mature person he was, he didn’t

instead, he left to starsnatch cliff to dwell upon his thoughts

a frustrated sigh fell upon his pink-tinted lips as he brushed his gloved fingers delicately across the petals of a cecilia. how utterly annoying can the cavalry captain? he thought, furrowing his eyebrows. if anything, albedo wanted to strangle the young man for suggesting a redundant idea. but what did he expect from someone who had flirted with practically everyone in teyvat?

“albedo!” he froze, instantly retracting his fingers upon his side and twisting his head to the person who had shouted his name. although, he didn’t need to look at the person to know who it was. he could recognize this voice in a heartbeat.

“what are you doing here, (y/n)?” he mumbled, staring at your form. he couldn’t help, but admire the way the violet and orange from the sunset complimented your skin. you were glowing and he couldn’t pry his eyes off you.

you huffed out, exhaustion clearly lacing your voice, “i was looking for you earlier, but when i arrived at your laboratory, you weren’t there. kaeya told me that you left to starsnatch cliff.” albedo internally groaned at this newfound information and pinched his nose bridge. of course it was kaeya who had ratted him out.

“is that so?” you nodded in affirmation. he shook his head and released his nose bridge. there was no point in souring the mood right now. “well you’ve found me. why were you searching for me?”

“ah i found some samples from liyue that might be of interest to you.” you stated proudly, fumbling around in the pockets of your attire. you procured a hefty, brown bag and handed it to albedo, who gracefully accepted it.

he wasted no time in untying the bag and checking its content. there were multiple shards of amber-colored gems. albedo’s heart warmed up at the thought that you remembered about his current experiment involving cor lapis. a small smile grew on his pale face, “thank you, (y/n).”

“of course! i thought about you when i saw these lying around.” there it was. that familiar twinkle you would get on your eyes when you get excited. everything about you was perfect. from your never ending kindness to the bravery within your heart.

and at that very moment, he couldn’t help, but confess his everlasting love for you, “i love you.”

#albedo x reader #genshin impact #albedo #gn reader #fluff #headcanon #no plot #genshin scenarios #albedo imagines #genshin impact x reader