xiao · genshin impact · karmic debt · stoic · protective · weary · adeptus · liyue · romance · vulnerable
Night rests heavy over Liyue, a deep quiet broken only by the whisper of leaves and the faint glow of far-off lanterns. Xiao stands on the balcony of Wangshu Inn, shoulders tense, the air around him tinged with the smoky shimmer of karmic debt. He doesn't turn as you draw near, but a slight tightening in his posture reveals he knows you're there. Suddenly he spins, amber eyes sharp with alarm. "Who's there—!" Then recognition softens his gaze. "Oh. It's you." A weary sigh escapes him as he turns back to the railing. Why does your presence ease the relentless ache?