Chapter Text
Part dampened sand, part porous rocks awash, the trail scratched at the skin, twisted ankles and sucked shoes under its slimy surface. A treacherous path to take for those without patience nor caution, which was obviously something the pair following it decided to overlook.
And indeed, at the pace those two were running, it was a certain recipe for disaster.
“My boot is stuck… Chongyun!”
One step away from an actual accident, Xingqiu put a literal foot down to stop them, while his friend - forehead coated with sweat - was carried on grabbing his sleeve and pulling him with his formidable might.
This is not going well, Xingqiu thought, he’s getting agitated for all the wrong reasons!!
“Please make a, hmpf, an effort,” Chongyun chided. “If we don’t make haste, we won’t be back in time. If I don’t return the young master to the guild this very evening, your brother will worry. And if he worries, what do you think will happen?! No more outings, I won’t be allowed to escort you anymore.”
You silly thing, I was the one who brought you here! Why on earth would anyone hold you responsible?
“Slow down, at least…”
“Show some good will, we’re halfway there anyway!”
“You’re hurting me,” Xingqiu suddenly exclaimed. “Stop! Right! Here! Chongyun, when will you listen to reason?! Can’t you see it’s already too late? The sea’s still rising, the path almost submerged and if we press on, we’ll lose our footing.”
The bubbling sea instantly covered Xingqiu’s exasperated sighs. As if he’d heard nothing, Chongyun ignored his friend’s muted plea and continued doing as he pleased: the exorcist certainly gave up their race against the clock, but not his attempts to move forward, still pushing and pulling Xingqiu’s puffed sleeve. Xingqiu needed to find a better argument, or else…
“I can’t swim!!” he lied through his teeth.
Chongyun’s cold and inquisitive stare went right through him. Since when? it seemed he was asking. Xingqiu pursed his lips and threw him a haughty, disarming glance - one of those leers he used to give from above his books’ pages to regain his tranquility.
Since when, indeed, did a water vision holder struggle in the middle of his own element? And since when, especially, did the young aspiring knight acknowledge and disclose his own weaknesses-- even imaginary ones?
Xingqiu stuck to his lie, staring at Chongyun until he gave up the fight. Not content with this victory, Xingqiu carried on looking hard and shamelessly at his companion. The latter averted his eyes, dropping his virgin eyelashes to the floor and twisting his hands on his great sword’s pommel while a subtle blush crept across his milky white skin.
Xingqiu smiled widely. His friend’s clumsiness was like honey for his greedy and mischievous soul.
Once full of the young exorcist’s embarrassment, he finally allowed them a brief respite. Chongyun went to adjust his belt while Xingqiu reached over to pull up his boot. At least… He tried to. Instead of leather, his fingers were met with algae and water.
Xingqiu paused for a second, then surveyed the horizon. As expected, stealthy waves had come to lick their ankles during their bickering. Right on cue , he congratulated himself. However, Xingqiu hadn’t thought his plan through: as sure as there was nothing but seawater in front of them, beyond too, dry land had vanished. High tide had almost trapped them, cutting off their retreat.
One look at his friend made Xingqiu realize the delicate situation he got himself into. Chongyun was already on the look-out. The high levels of Yang energy affecting the young exorcist hadn’t had time to cool off yet that it was on the rise again, and it soon showed in his clouded azure gaze…
A drop of sweat slid down Xingqiu’s neck. His own blood froze while Chongyun’s was boiling mad.
“Xingqiu…”
“Chongyun, don’t you dare …”
“Come on, don’t make a fuss!”
Xingqiu didn’t have the final say. Thrown upon the exorcist’s shoulders and tossed around like a potato sack, the young master’s dignity took a serious toll. Chongyun failed to see the sudden shame overtaking his friend’s face, nor the sword of Damocles which thus hung over his own head. In his manic state, deprived of his usual wits, the consequences of this indelicate mistake completely escaped him. Xingqiu wouldn’t let this slide. He should-- no, he would regain the upper hand. It was a matter of honour…
Like two cats fighting over territory, the two boys started to wrestle.
“Xingqiu, what in the world are you doing?!”
“I’m not your damsel in distress! Put me down, you dumbass! Let! Go!
“Carry on like this, and the two of us will get soaked, it is really what you want? Can’t you wait to reach land?!
“No-- no way! AH!”
“Aaahh !!”
*
Back to square one.
Chasing the water out of his ear - in which still resonated the clamor of their battle cries and of the waves that steamrolled over them -, Xingqiu was contemptuously following a very sheepish Chongyun in search of a shelter for the night.
Washed out and thoroughly exhausted, the two young men looked as somber as the degrading weather and as pitiful as the lonely residence they’d set off to, perched on the heights of the island. And that was saying something. Like them, the house was doused with rainwater, its walls turning grayish and grim.
At least it’s finally looking like a proper haunted house, Xingqiu thought. Originally chosen by himself as a temporary place to stay during their journey, this was how it was introduced to Chongyun to make it worth his while. Truth was, it wasn’t haunted. No ghost inhabited these grounds, Xingqiu made sure of it in advance-- he wouldn’t have tolerated any disturbance. For this had been his plan from the start: what better way to spend time alone with his best friend than by taking him without his knowledge on a secluded isle, only accessible on foot at low tide? They hadn’t been together just the two of them since forever, and Xingqiu was totally willing to force the hands of Fate for his own desires to prevail. Only now, Xingqiu too happy with this trap he laid; he hadn’t considered that it could turn into a disaster.
Looking on the bright side, their involuntary bath in iced water had at least sobered Chongyun up enough for him to get a grip.
“I’m so sorry, Xingqiu…” he would repeat during their ascension.
But the exorcist’s apologies only elicited eyerolls from the involved party. Even though his ploy had backfired, Xingqiu wasn’t willing to show good faith yet. After all, without Chongyun’s stubbornness…
No, you reap what you sow, his conscience whispered. Xingqiu shut it off immediately.
Once they arrived, just to make sure and for the second time this very day, Chongyun took the trouble to go around the property to ensure their safety. As expected, his over-the-top positive energy had already cleaned the place. If any spirit was still around, it would have now certainly dissipated…
Defeated, the exorcist went to sit down in the center of the room. Since there was nothing else to do but wait, he chose to meditate.
“What it is, you’re not reading?” he asked after a while.
Xingqiu stopped in his tracks. After getting them out of their mantles to let them dry, he’d done nothing but restlessly pace the hall. The young man turned to Chongyun contemplatively. True, reading was his favorite pastime, and it went well with his friend’s peaceful activities. Whenever the latter went cultivating, Xingqiu usually came to sit in harmony next to him, flicking through pages of his chivalry novels without fearing any disturbance. But not this time.
“My book got soaked through, I can’t read it”, Xingqiu answered, not knowing whether to cry or to laugh.
Chongyun’s head hung low, and Xingqiu did nothing to comfort him. All of this had put him in a nasty mood; he knew he had no right to do so, but he just couldn’t help but bully Chongyun. Halting his wanderings, he came to kneel beside him.
“C-cold”, he finally said, shivering.
Chongyun’s eyelashes fluttered open, his narrow pupils circled with ice showing only the most sincere worryness for Xingqiu. The exorcist ceased his meditation. How could he concentrate when his companion wasn’t having a great time? He stood up promptly to find a way to warm him up. Once his small bonfire ablaze, he sat back a little farther away, anxious to preserve himself from the flames that could easily rekindle his Yang.
For some reason though, and to his demise, this did not seem to satisfy Xingqiu at all.
“It’s still too cold,” the blue-haired boy nagged. “Help me. Come closer”.
No answer.
“... Please.”
Chongyun remained perfectly still, helplessly staring back at Xingqiu. No… He wouldn’t risk playing with fire.
“Chongyun,” Xingqiu insisted. “I know you don’t like the heat, I know it’s not ideal with your condition and all, but you’re as wet as me and your body can still get sick from it. Think about it, what if it triggers a bad fever? Stop fretting, and come here.”
Chongyun finally relented, but not without finding a parade for his discomfort. Going through his Qiankun bag, he found one of his trustworthy popsicles to help keep his temperature - and temperament - in check.
“Ah, crap… it’s my last one…”, he mumbled.
Xingqiu pretended to pay no mind to his ramblings, but the mischief apparent in his eyes didn’t make it too hard to guess what he really had in mind. Without warning, he suddenly rammed into his friend’s arm, knocking over the popsicle which fell into the dusty ground, unretrievable.
“Xingqiu!” Chongyun shuddered angrily. He was ready to fight, but the innocent, full of repentance face Xingqiu made caused him to stop. He didn’t have it in him to scold him after their recent misadventures. Poor Chongyun… Trusty to a fault, he still hadn’t the slightest idea of Xingqiu’s part in all this.
For the second time, he backed away from the fire and his friend. As if Xingqiu would leave him be, though. As soon as the exorcist left his side, he’d close the distance between them again.
Well, we’re screwed anyway, so what have I got to lose… The young lad sat across Chongyun’s lap and wrapped his arm around his neck, making him cry out again.
“What- why?!”
My thoughts exactly?! Xingqiu mused. What was wrong with him? Why did he feel more wronged than Chongyun himself, to the point of acting without thinking?! It was as if, for the first time in his life,he was having a first hand experience of his friend’s condition, unable to master his own body and actions, lacking inhibition.
But while chaos obstructed his mind, what came out of his mouth still made perfect sense:
“Come on, my dearest Chongyun, it was you who got us in this situation, isn’t it? I’m freezing. What, don’t wanna right things up?”
Saying this, Xingqiu gave a tiny smile. Forgive me, Yunyun, but you’re too easy to tease.
Chongyun was probably giving his everything to keep calm… but still managed to hold on. Xingqiu should have applauded him for his resilience. He could’ve kept it at that. But the pink shade crawling up his friend’s neck, cheeks and ears did little to quench the fire awakening in his heart. Not that these feelings were really new to him; but contrary to Chongyun, Xingqiu knew too well how to contain them. Or disguise them. Betray them, even… But maybe today was the day he finally grew bolder? The situation they were in almost gave him wings, as well as butterflies… It was now or never.
Xingqiu leaned towards Chongyun and kissed his cheek.
It was a chast, speedy but yearning kiss full of a throbbing nostalgia. It turned Chongyun’s subtle blush into a bright red flush, his skin white-hot while he froze on the spot, as if encased in ice. Xingqiu himself didn’t dare to move - Just for a minute, that was. Curiosity soon got the best of him, and he repeated the operation a few times, eager to see which shade of red Chongyun would turn then.
Chongyun came to his senses - or lost them again, who really knew? - and started struggling. But the more he tried to escape Xingqiu, the more the latter gripped him. His kisses became more insistent. First innocents, they turned risky. First on his cheek, they then slid to his lips.
That was one too many kisses for Chongyun. Losing his mind for good, he pushed Xingqiu onto the floor to make him taste his own medicine.
Xingqiu’s eyes opened wide. The exorcist had just kissed him full on the mouth with more strength, more roughness than he would’ve ever dared to himself-- but then Chongyun suddenly retreated.
"Xingqiu, I-- I'm so sorry, but if you… I-i'm warning you" Chongyun tried to explain confusedly.
Xingqiu stayed silent for a while. To be honest, he didn’t really care about his companion’s word of caution. Getting past his first surprise, all he felt now was the exciting pressure of Chongyun’s body on his body, his abdomen brushing against his own, his erratic breath on his skin.
There’s no way this is all due to his Yang energy, right?! He likes me too, he does, Xingqiu thought.
Xingqiu tightened his thighs around Chongyun’s waist. He wanted more. He would get more. As if spurred by this move, Chongyun swooped down on Xingqiu again to share with him his blazing fever. The exorcist’s tongue slipped through his lips, found its way into his mouth. Xingqiu felt his face getting hot and hotter, his skin tone probably matching Chongyun’s own flush by now. His head started spinning; it was more than he could’ve ever dreamed of. One arm firmly hooked around Chongyun’s neck, the other around his waist, Xingqiu carried on encouraging the assault of the wild beast he’d awakened willingly, and the latter delivered to his heart's content, so much so that things started to get a bit too spicy.
Xingqiu yelped despite himself, and the dominating boy above him turned into stone. From being scrunched up, Xingqiu’s eyebrows raised. The silence between them stretched out. It was going so well, why stop now? He thought.
Opening his eyes, he found Chongyun scrutinizing him closely, very closely. His friend’s icy gaze was deciphering his own expression, stopping at his lips. From their diffuse heat, Xingqiu guessed they were probably a little swollen. He licked them, and sure enough, tasted blood where Chongyun’s teeth had pierced them. A teeny tiny wound, really; Xingqiu didn’t mind it at all. He was mostly eager to resume exploring their shared feelings.
Xingqiu stretched out his neck towards Chongyun who immediately shrank back, leaving him greatly perplexed.
Chongyun still looked very excited, Xingqiu could see his Yang beating at his temples… Yet something had changed in the atmosphere. It took Xingqiu at least half a minute to realize it, and another half till he actually saw them: the beads of water gathering and weighting on the white eyelashes at the corner of his friend’s eyes. Xingqiu’s mood darkened. Chongyun’s tears finally rolled down and off his cheeks to land on Xingqiu’s face underneath.
"Why, Xingqiu?? Do you have a death wish!? You do know I can't control myself--"
Oh-oh.
“Yunyun,” said Xingqiu, as things were turning sour. “I… Wait, where are you going now? Chongyun-- Ouch!!”
Rushing to get himself out of Xingqiu's embrace, Chongyun pushed him a little too hard and Xingqiu hit his head against the hard floor. Guilt flashed in his eyes, but he still fled, slamming shut the door behind him, leaving both the house shaking and Xingqiu to his own devices, dizzy, unkempt… and distraught.
*
Chongyun spent the rest of the night working his claymore against the rock of the shore, under the harsh elements, anxious to flush the remaining of his Yang energy out of his system. Dazed, Xingqiu stayed in the house. He had tried to apologize, explain himself to Chongyun, but the latter refused to get back inside, and the thunder and heavy rain were way too loud to allow them a proper discussion. Besides, Chongyun clearly didn’t want nor need to have this talk after how Xingqiu treated him. The young master took things way too far.
Through the window panel, Xingqiu witnessed the lighting make a clear cut of the hardworking exorcist’s silhouet on the sand. He shivered. Weary, disheveled and having had his fingers burnt, he slid against the glass and closed his eyes. His shirt was still damp with salt and sweat, it stuck to his skin and bothered him… And he was now truly freezing. Though it was nothing compared to the piercing chill he felt in his heart. His fever down, Xingqiu was realizing little by little the scope of his undignified actions.
Really, for a stolen moment, he had lost way more than he’d gained. He thought himself clever, he was only cunning. He felt stupid. Dirty. Moreover, he smeared Chongyun with his own filth…
His eyelids wavered and the corners of his mouth dropped, but Xingqiu wouldn’t allow himself to flinch. Afterall, Chongyun could still forget everything that happened; didn’t he always lose all memories of his actions while suffering from his excess of passion?
Yes, Xingqiu still had some hope left. But it wasn’t hope that he could leave to chance. Xingqiu already played too big… In seventeen years of existence, the young man had rarely prayed to Rex Lapis. If it wasn’t to fulfill his duty for the Guild, Xingqiu preferred to stay far far away from any contract. Chivalry, which he revered, implied to never expect anything in return for their rightful deeds. He wasn’t really keen of the way his god was making a transaction out of each and every prayer adressed to him, but for Chongyun, he would gladly swallow his pride and creeds.
Hands clasped tightly, Xingqiu started to silently implore.
Please, make him forget…
If only…
If only he wouldn’t come to hate me.
