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It was a small difference, really.
Not many would have noticed or even cared to check. But Shenhe was so painfully aware.
She wasn’t close with Xiao – she didn’t think anyone was. He was closed off from everyone and everything. All he knew was to protect Liyue and Shenhe had to admit, she admired him for that. The first time she met him, he held a spear to her neck, asking for who and what she was.
She truly had gratitude for the red ropes stopping her from wanting to impale him in the face. She never really understood them in the past, but she supposes it all came easier to her recently.
Shenhe related to Xiao in some way. She never knew how or why, but she understood that she acknowledged him in an eccentric manner. And Shenhe would realize sometimes that Xiao was in fact one of the rare people – or adepti – that she looked up to. And there weren’t many she idolized.
Shenhe thinks Traveler is an amazing person – talented and caring. If people called the adventurer stunning, it would be an understatement. Shenhe trusted Traveler, a lot. So, when they requested that Shenhe join their team, she did not hesitate to agree.
On one particular visit, Traveler seemed to ask Shenhe about Xiao. It made her wonder. What did she think about the adeptus?
He for sure, was not an open book. Maybe he was, only with most of the pages ripped out. Shenhe didn’t understand his karmatic dept, but she knew enough to know that he was suffering under its pressure.
But lately, she’s noted how calmer he’s been. He’s neither stiff nor tensed, not stressing as much as he was before. She’s happy for him, of course she is. But Shenhe was sure that Traveller already took notice of that.
So, she shrugged off Traveler’s question, replying that she wasn’t so sure about him. And to her luck, the adventurer didn’t push her to go more into detail.
It was another marrow night, the sky painted in stars of different glows. Shenhe let Traveller take off to their own issues in Monstadt for a bit, letting her have some time to herself. She sauntered around Wangshu Inn, keeping her chin up, ignoring the glances and whispers she received.
She brought herself towards the creaky stairs of the place, carrying herself up, straight to a dainty little balcony where a certain adeptus hung around. She didn’t know why she beckoned to indulge herself into his affairs but some part of her wanted to check in on him – If someone questioned whether she wanted to see him from worry, she’d quietly deny.
On the rim of the top staircase, Shenhe took notice of a giggle. That definitely could not be the conqueror of demons in any circumstance. She peaked through the hollow gateway, and to her surprise, it indeed was Xiao.
Xiao with a friend, it seems.
Shenhe didn’t mind at first, hoping to leave them be. She was curious though - anyone in her situation would be. She decided to stay by for a while, listening around and would scurry away if caught.
Shenhe sees a bard – from Monstadt probably. He’s dressed top to bottom in green, twirling a cecilia in his hand as he seated himself on the ledge of such balcony. Shenhe spots Xiao beside him, vigilant as ever, a sharpened spear draped along his back.
“You flatter me too much, Alatus.” She could assume the bard said that, their voices too muffled from the distance. Shenhe wanted to move closer, listen contently to what they were discussing so heartily.
“I believe I could do better with the praise,” Xiao replies, his words blunt but there was sincerity in each word. He leans against the fringe of the porch, unintentionally showing his scarred and bloodied arm to the bard – and to Shenhe but he probably didn’t know that.
“Liyue’s your duty, I’m aware. But you must take better care.” The bard whispered, and Shenhe could barely hear him from where she’s hiding.
“It’s truly alright, Bar–, I mean Venti," Xiao remarked, and to Shenhe’s surprise, he was smiling. It wasn’t obvious if you weren’t staring intensely but Shenhe was sure it was there – an enigmatic yet warm grin.
Venti brings Xiao’s injured hand into his lap, squeezes it a little to be a type of comfort. He leans himself into Xiao, moving closer till such a word like personal space didn’t exist anymore.
Shenhe watched quietly as Venti dragged his fingers from Xiao’s gloved wrist to the mesmerizing tattoos blanketed on his shoulders. Shenhe was sure Xiao would tell the bard to back off, and dissipate away, but to her surprise, he didn’t.
Xiao mumbles something, looking away slightly before turning his gaze back to Venti. Shenhe didn’t quite understand what he meant, but she supposed she’d find out.
Venti puts down the cecilia he was holding before, getting up from his seat and shuffling around till he was right in front of Xiao. Before Shenhe even knew what was happening, Venti leant himself right into Xiao, their lips connecting with the adeptus’s hand slithering their way around the bard’s waist.
It was a pretty kiss. A gorgeous one. Not like the messy and young teenage kisses Shenhe saw Chongyun and Xingqiu share. And for once in that evening, Shenhe realized that maybe she was meddling too much with Xiao’s affairs.
“Aren’t you lucky? Getting a kiss from the anemo archon?” Venti let out a hearty laugh. And Shenhe took that as her cue to leave, her face flushed – definitely from shock.
Archons, she can’t wait to have her monthly visit with Cloud Retainer. She has a lot to talk about.
And if Traveler wants to know where she’s been, Shenhe would grin unnoticeably and explain that nothing special happened. Traveler would probably send a glance or two and then they’d be off on their next adventure.
A week after, Shenhe found herself under the blazing heat of the sun, wandering around the lands of Guili Plains in search of four distinct jade plates. Shenhe leaned herself against an eroded piece of stone, glancing at Traveler as they sit down to rest.
“What do you think of Xiao?” Traveler queries quietly, biting into their food, as their floating friend requests some too. Shenhe laughs a little, her voice raspy from exhaustion of their long journey.
“My first impression of him was that he's not one to smile.” Shenhe began, a smile tugging at her lips, threatening to ruin her posture. She brought her hands to her hips, watching Traveler stare at her as she answers.
“After meeting him again more recently, however, he's still as reserved as ever, but–” The cryo user pauses, trying to find the right words.
“But?” Traveler repeats, encouraging Shenhe to continue. So, she does.
“–he seems a lot more relaxed now.” Shenhe looks down at the ground, playing around with the edges of her bluish-black cloth.
“Maybe he met someone special.”