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A young boy was running around looking nervous, trying to find a certain someone who'd ran away a little earlier.

"N/n!," he shouted, bringing both his hands outside his mouth with the intention to make his voice louder.

"Where are you!" he yelled once again frantically looking around the area.

He lowered his hands to his sides as the light of the moon hit his face. A young petite boy who had an out of this world features, his hair shaded dark while some strands were teal while his cat-like amber eyes shone brighter when the moon light hit his face.

He wore an anxious face, thinking of many possibilities of where you headed.

Were you just close by?

Or did you officially run away from this wretched place?

But you were still a kid as he was, how would you live out in the real, cruel world all by your own?

His eyebrows furrowed even more when he thought,

Did you leave him like she did too?

The young boy shaked his head, no you wouldn't do that. You've said it a bunch of times before and besides you're not like her.

"Y/n!" he shouted again,

"Y/n! It's me, Xiao!"

"Where are you?"

"Please answer me!" he shouted as loud as he could. He can't leave you alone now not after what he had witnessed back in that place. The audacity of some adults to do that to their own kid has him angered at them.

"Y/n!..." he shouted and shouted repeatedly. He wasn't going to give up on finding you, he doesn't even want you to come back to that place. He just wants to find you.

"Y/n, please where are you..." he whispered, hands shaking and his breathing rapid.

He started to walk slower, turning to every corner hoping to find you there even if it meant that he'll get lost in that unknown place, he just desperately wanted to find you.

He stopped on his tracks when he heard muffled sniffles along with faint mumbling,

"Why are they like this..." he perked up at the familiarity of the voice where he heard the mumbling and slowly walked closer to the wall.

"Am I not good enough for them... I just..." the closer he got to the wall, the clearer the voice became.

"I'm trying my hardest..." he peeked behind the wall seeing your figure bent up, your head on your knees while you tightly hugged it.

He walked towards you standing right infront of you. He looked at you sadly, if his anger at your parents wasn't high enough it was now.

Xiao bent down to your level. He slowly tapped your arm to gain your attention, "Y/n.."

Startled you raised your head up to see his worried face right infront of you.

He brought back his hand to his knees taking in your puffy eyes and the tears that were streaming down your face.

"Are you okay?.." he asked, now that he found you he had no clue how to help or comfort you. He'd never done it before after all but he'll try his best and basing it off on how you comfort him whenever he was feeling down.

Sniffling one last time you hurriedly wiped your tears away hoping that you didn't look like a fool crying your eyes out infront of him.

Xiao watched you do so, "...I'm okay." you mumbled still wiping your teary eyes.

After you were sure that there were no more tears you faced him once again inhaling deeply and repeated what you said, "I'm okay."

You flashed him a small smile that he noticed didn't even reach your eyes. He sighed scooting closer to you while you watched him with confusion.

Your eyes widened when you feel him hesitantly wrap his little arms around you, afraid that you'll push him away.

"Xiao..?" you looked at the side of his head, was he hugging you?

He shut his eyes, "You were crying,"

You blinked once then twice. You lifted both your arms and slowly hugged him back which he sighed relieved.

"And it's because of them." he mumbled with anger. As he said that you noticed how he hugged you tighter this time.

A few minutes of silence passed by, you didn't mind though. It was cold outside but the warmth Xiao was emitting was enough to not make you notice how truly cold it was.

He noticed how you relaxed your arms around him as you rested your head on his shoulder.

"Were they always like this to you?" he asked earning a low hum from you.

"I'm here for you y/n." he said slowly opening his eyes to look at you from his shoulder, noticing how your breathing started to speed up again.

"...You don't have to hold back your tears you know," Xiao said. "I won't judge you for it like they do." he reassured.

After his statement you broke down, hugging him tightly. Warm tears falling down your cheeks as you try to silence your sobbing but to no avail.

You couldn't stop it anymore not after he assured you. While you allowed yourself to cry you mumbled incoherent words that only Xiao could hear properly 'cause of the close distance.

You were saying words between 'trying so hard' and 'am I not enough'. He was dejected hearing it from you. He wanted to tell you that you were enough but he didn't know how to say it properly so he kept quiet and just rubbed your back hoping it would comfort you.

After an hour, you're sobs died down. You felt upset at yourself that Xiao had to witness that for an hour.

You pulled away and avoided to look at him, "..Xiao I'm sorry i-"

He pulled you back to him hugging you again, cutting you off. "You don't need to say sorry."

"But you-" you wanted to speak but he cut you off again.

"I offered." he stated and that made you shut your mouth.

You hugged him back looking at the ground, "Thank you..."

He patted your head, "My other offer still stands."

Confused you looked at him, "Huh?"

He looked back at you and replied, "Mister Zhongli is okay with taking you in our home."

"He knows of your situation and he said he's willing to report it to the authorities." he continued.

Xiao looked back down rubbing your head and hugging you tighter. "...I don't mind with you living in our house instead of living in that place."

Speechless you looked down as well, "oh.."

A few seconds of silence Xiao thought that maybe he had pressured you so he spoke up, "I'm not pressuring you or anything.. I'm just uhm.."

You chuckled tiredly all that crying had surely taken all your energy, "I know, I'll...think about it."

Xiao nodded while you closed your eyes, "Hm, I love you Xiao."

He looked at you, observing how you're off to sleep. He slightly smiled while whispering his reply, "I..love you too n/n."

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"...n!.." you heard a muffled sound.

"/N!, Y/n!!" you slowly opened your eyes seeing figures blurred right infront of you, frantically shaking your shoulders.

"Y/n! Wake up!" they kept roughly shaking and shaking your shoulders which made you annoyed.

Slapping their hands off you they shrieked, "OUCH!"

You wiped your eyes and stretched while another person spoke up.

"I told you to wake them up softly and now look what that did to you." you looked up seeing Xiao with his arms crossed.

"Well why didn't you wake them up!?" now that your eyesight was clear you could see Venti fuming while he repeatedly rubbed his hands which you had slapped earlier.

"You said you'll wake them up instead." Xiao retorted narrowing his eyes at Venti.

"Uh..Hi?" you slowly said as both their heads turned to you.

"Your finally awake!" Venti said too loudly.

"Too loud..." Xiao muttered under his breath that the braided hair boy did not miss to hear.

"What was that shortie!?" he shouted glaring at Xiao who nonchalantly went to you and helped you stand up.

"It's break time y/n, the others are waiting in the canteen." Xiao said taking your bag and carrying it on his free arm.

"Oh.. Well then let's go!" you said, your dream was weird but you decided to just ignore it for now. You grabbed Xiao's wrist and dragged him away towards the canteen leaving Venti alone in the room.

"OI YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME!!" he shouted running after the both of you.

While he was catching up to the both of you he mumbled, "Stupid lovebirds, this is why I hate third wheeling to the both of you..."

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A/N;
Heyy y'all!! New chapter ><
It kinda sucks for me but I hope y'all like it! TT

If anyone is confused the italic first part of a chapter happened when both Xiao and Y/n were kids (though y/n thought it was just a dream cuz y'know not many people remember their childhood memories TT)

But uh yea that's all ig?
School has been frantic so I have less time to sit down and write a long ahh chapter so apologies for that :''>

Anyways I hope y'all have a good day/afternoon/night!!<33

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