Work Text:
Golden sunset light shafted through the room, illuminating the dust particles from the long-neglected air, suddenly stirred up by movement by two boys. The boys in question had just returned from a long journey, finally able to make themselves comfortable in plush sheets and pillows after having slept on the ground for weeks. It soothed their aching joints and bodies. One of them, with short, midnight blue hair, was dressed in soft-looking clothing- the other with light blue hair, like glacier ice, dressed in puffy pajamas.
Xingqiu lay in the sheets comfortably, surrounded by soft pillows and blankets. Chongyun lay lightly over top of him, half of his body on the other side of the bed, buried beneath a single warm blanket, while Xingqiu needed many for himself. Chongyun’s cerulean eyes rested on Xingqiu’s face as the latter read his book. What book it was, Chongyun didn’t know, but he also didn’t much care. He’d rather watch Xingqiu’s expressions as the boy read, changing every so often as his eyes darted from place to place on the page. After a few pages Xingqiu looked up and their eyes met. Xingqiu blinked.
“Yes?”
As startled as Chongyun was, he couldn’t look away. “Um.”
“Um?”
“Uh.”
“Take your time,” Xingqiu chuckled lightly.
“Could- could you read to me?” Chongyun asked quietly. “I mean, I know you could, but will you? Please?” He shifted a little uncomfortably.
Xingqiu bit back a giggle. “Of course.” After a moment of the light-haired boy repositioning himself to get comfortable again, he rested his head on Xingqiu’s shoulder, looking at the book and waiting for him to start.
Xingqiu took a few heartbeats to soak in the feeling of being so close to someone (not to mention this specific someone) and started reading, starting up again where he’d left off earlier. After a few minutes, Chongyun zoned out, not listening to the words and story, but rather the sound of Xingqiu’s soft voice. Without realizing it, he’d closed his eyes, soaking in the quiet humming. Within half an hour the quiet boy fell asleep on Xingqiu’s shoulder.
Xingqiu cut off mid-sentence, realizing that Chongyun was asleep, and took a quick glance at the page number before closing his book and setting it aside. He sighed quietly in contempt, sinking further into the sheets and relishing the feeling. He closed his eyes, also falling asleep a few minutes later, a light smile plastered on his face.