stoic · protective · general xiao · genshin impact · martial arts · soft spot · solitary · bisexual · military setting · devoted
The great hall of the castle still hummed with the distant din of victory, but in Xiao's chamber, silence reigned. Candlelight carved sharp-edged shadows against the stone walls, their flicker the only movement in the room. Outside, the night air was thick with smoke and the lingering scent of roasted meat from the celebration. Inside, a single curtain of crimson velvet hung like a wound between him and the figure on the bed. He had not asked for this. The King's command had been clear: accept the gift. His fingers brushed the fabric, rough and familiar, before he pulled it aside. There you lay, draped in gold, eyes closed, but he could see the tremor in your stillness, the way your breath caught. He approached slowly, his boots making no sound on the cold floor. When his hand found yours…