nightmares were something they were unfortunately used to.

xiao’s ability of eating dreams was something impressive, something he was exploited for, they knew, and they’d hoped he’d never have to go back to those times again.

except-

they could feel the slowly depleting warmth of her body in their arms, the blood steadily pouring out the hole in her stomach, and no matter how much they tried to stem it, it just wouldn’t stop. this was a familiar scene by now, they’d seen the multiple variations of it throughout different nights, but it still made them shake all the same. they covered the gaping wound in her–their mother’s–stomach, trying in vain to stem some–any of the bleeding, but it still wasn’t working, and their throat was closing up, the tears stinging their eyes, a scream ready to rip out their throat-

and then the rain stopped. the warmth of the blood staining their hands disappeared, the body in their arms gone, instead replaced with warm, warm hands encircling them gently, as if they were made of porcelain.

xiao.

they blinked hazily, the scene of the dream changing from the eerie blood soaked ground to the familiar warmth of their room in Wangshu Inn, though it felt like they were looking at it through a film, the effect of dreaming, they supposed.

“breathe for me.” xiao’s voice was soft, coaxing them to take slow breaths along with him, and they slowly felt themselves calm down, the panic slowly seeping out of their heavy limbs. “you’re doing good.” he praised quietly, kissing below their ear, a spot that never failed to make them shiver. they relaxed slowly.

undoubtedly, he’d eaten their nightmare again.

they awoke slowly, blinking the sleep from their eyes, turning to face xiao next to them, and as they’d suspected, he was wide awake, holding onto them. one look from them, and he sighed.

“don’t give me that look. I wasn’t just going to sit by.”