[ bury xiao does the moment zhongli gives him the chance, too overwhelmed to properly process anything other than the desire for somewhere dark and safe. it's embarrassment that fuels the need to hide, to clamp his eyes shut so tightly that the rest of the world disappears ─ what else would one feel when you suddenly turn into a small bird in front of your father's work friends? the chaos proceeding it was utterly forgotten and forgiven in favor of the mortification he feels at the sudden change of form.
how did he do it? why did he do it? how does he undo it? is this something he could have always done? is this something he could have done in his past life? they must surely think ill of him now, right? becoming so overwhelmed that he turned into a bird...
if xiao would bury himself in the fluff of feathers he would, even as they pass into the threshold of their home and the familiar scent of incense washes over him. it's mortifying that it happened in the first place, that zhongli had to swoop in to rescue him. even so, his feathers seem to flatten a little more against his body when zhongli places him down on the cushion, stroking gently at his feathers. it is calming, familiar, enough to ground him a little more than before.
thank you he would say were he able to speak, but all xiao can muster is a small chirping noise. he wishes he knew how to change back... ]
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how did he do it? why did he do it? how does he undo it? is this something he could have always done? is this something he could have done in his past life? they must surely think ill of him now, right? becoming so overwhelmed that he turned into a bird...
if xiao would bury himself in the fluff of feathers he would, even as they pass into the threshold of their home and the familiar scent of incense washes over him. it's mortifying that it happened in the first place, that zhongli had to swoop in to rescue him. even so, his feathers seem to flatten a little more against his body when zhongli places him down on the cushion, stroking gently at his feathers. it is calming, familiar, enough to ground him a little more than before.
thank you he would say were he able to speak, but all xiao can muster is a small chirping noise. he wishes he knew how to change back... ]