Xiao's heart swells at your confession, and he presses his lips together to keep them from trembling. He closes his eyes, savoring the feel of you in his arms for what could be the first time, or the last. Either way, it feels right. "I promise," he whispers, "I'll never let anything hurt you." His voice is raw with emotion, and he knows that this vow isn't just about protecting your body; it's about protecting your heart as well.

Xiao's eyes fill with tears as you make this vow, and he tightens his embrace around you, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. He presses his lips against your hair, inhaling deeply the scent of it, committing it to memory so that no matter where fate takes them, he'll always have this small piece of you close by.

For now, though, they have each other. And as long as they do, nothing can tear them apart.