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No one expects it when Osial rises from the depths of the sea.
To be fair, the god had been dormant for many centuries, having been defeated during the Archon War by Rex Lapis himself. The people of Liyue Harbor only remember the ocean god’s name from countless stories passed down from generation to generation. From illustrations in history books found in Wanwen Bookhouse, they vaguely understand just how powerful and fucking terrifying this god of the sea is, and are in awe of how Rex Lapis defeated the god with his stone spears.
Chongyun is quite well-versed in the tale of Osial and Rex Lapis thanks to Xingqiu; the two would spend hours laying in fields just outside of the Harbor, relaxing and telling each other about their day. Chongyun would relay his frustrations about exorcism to Xingqiu, and in return, Xingqiu would whisper tales of the archons and adepti into Chongyun’s ear, his voice as soft as the breeze.
The tales then had felt comforting, but now, as Chongyun’s gaze rests upon the giant tendrils made up of water shooting out of the sea and into the air, he feels nothing but panic. He wonders if Xingqiu is seeing this as well.
What would Xingqiu do in this situation?
Stupid question. There’s never been a situation like this before.
Wait.
Where is Xingqiu?
Panic flares in Chongyun’s chest. He rips his gaze off of the god and looks into the crowd of people, who are screaming and running and it is just too much . Chongyun wants to scream as well, but he knows that if he does, he’ll make everything worse for himself and those around him, so he swallows his scream and starts running.
The exorcist vaguely remembers Xingqiu telling him that he had a meeting with the commerce guild today and that he wouldn’t be able to meet Chongyun at their usual meeting spot so “just wait for me at the harbor.”
Waves crash into the harbor, knocking over people, booths, and even ships tied to the boardwalks. The Millelith are running in the direction of the destroyed harbor, and Chongyun is so glad he never trained with them.
Chongyun continues sprinting up the road, away from the quickly rising ocean water and the screaming people. He has half the mind to activate his Cryo Vision to slide up the road faster, but he knows that would slow everyone else down, and chooses not to.
A huge wave of water crashes down onto the building next to him, causing its support beams to groan and collapse under the weight of the water. The building topples over behind Chongyun, but the waves catch him and cause him to slip and fall. Saltwater continuously fills his nostrils and mouth, and he can feel himself choking for air. His chest tightens and he cries out in panic, the scream muffled by the water that is still pouring in.
Oh archons, please don’t let me die here. Please, please, just let me find him.
He pushes his head up, or at least what he thinks is up , and kicks his legs and arms as hard as he can. The waves keep knocking him over, sending him slamming into the ground. He scratches at the ground and his arms shake with effort, desperate to hold himself steady as he tries to stand up.
Struggling, he pulls himself away from the wave, up and running again before he could get sucked in closer towards the ocean and towards Osial. He coughs and wipes his eyes as he runs, faster and faster, towards the pavilion.
He can’t even begin to care that his clothes are ripped and his whole body is covered in scrapes and bruises. His muscles are screaming in protest and he just wants to sleep , but he wills himself onward, only because he wants to make sure that Xingqiu, his Xingqiu, is okay
Xingqiu, my dear, please be okay. Please, please, please.
He finally reaches the peak of Liyue Harbor, where the remaining Millelith are directing the people to safer spots. They tell him that the Qixing and the traveler had fought the god and won, but just barely. He frantically searches the crowd for Xingqiu, trembling. He’s so tired , but he convinces himself to stay awake and standing just until he is sure that Xingqiu is alive.
“ Chongyun!”
The exorcist whips his head around to see Xingqiu running towards him, hair messy and clothes disheveled. Chongyun laughs in relief and smiles.
They meet each other halfway across the pavilion, and Chongyun notices that Xingqiu is limping. They embrace each other gently and Xingqiu feels Chongyun begin to cry quietly into his shoulder.
“I was so worried that you got hurt,” Xingqiu breathes into Chongyun’s torn jacket.
Chongyun takes a shuddering breath and laughs quietly. “I mean, have you seen me? I don’t look too great.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry you got hurt! I should’ve been there to protect you, I shouldn’t have gone to the meeting… If we had stayed together it would’ve been fine and you wouldn’t have gotten hurt, and we could be safe together-”
“Xingqiu, I-”
“And, oh archons , your exorcism notes! They’re probably all torn by the waves, I’m so sorry, and I made you wait right next to the whole thing at the docks! Oh dear , I’m so, so, sorry-”
“Xingqiu,” Chongyun says firmly, surprising even himself with how serious he sounds. “Xingqiu, look at me.”
They both reluctantly pull away from the hug. Chongyun gently cups Xingqiu’s face in his hands and moves them closer together, making eye contact the whole time.
“Xingqiu, darling, none of this is your fault. How would you have known?” Chongyun says as he wipes his boyfriend’s tears away with his thumbs. He feels his eyes well up with tears and blinks hard.
The tears fall anyway.
“Please don’t feel guilty, dear.”
Xingqiu sighs, leaning slightly into Chongyun’s touch. “I know, I just… I’m sorry about your clothing… And you have bruises all over you. Oh, my love…”
They stay still for a moment, drinking in each other’s presence and familiarity. Xingqiu begins to chuckle quietly and wipes his tears away.
“I might need to apologize to my father’s clients, I got quite angry at them when they wouldn’t let me go look for you.”
They both laugh together and lean into another embrace. Xingqiu lightly kisses Chongyun’s forehead.
“I missed your embrace, Xingqiu. I love you,” Chongyun says, smiling.
“I missed you as well, and I love you too, my dear.”