Work Text:
.
.
.
The morning air was crisp and clear as Xingqiu and Chongyun were taking a morning stroll together in heart of Liyue. A smitten Xingqiu was eager to ask Chongyun about doing the “Test of Courage” together as a pair now that Xingqiu has been freed from the shackles that is the commerce guild. Admittedly, Xingqiu may have sprinkled some lies in his “clues” about the strange occurrences happening over at the Test of Courage.
Well, okay, they weren’t just sprinkles of lies: it was a full on cake of lies.
You see, Xingqiu had overheard some folks chatting about taking the Test of Courage, the ultimate test for a couple to see if they can together withstand the “ghosts” and “evil spirits” that linger. It’s just like the common trope in those romance novels Xingqiu frequently indulges in, where the main character whips up an excuse that convinces their love interest to go out, unbeknownst to the love interest that it’s really a setup for a date. Xingqiu was positive this was the perfect plan: they would look for the “evil spirits,” Chongyun’s hopes would fall once he inevitably realizes there are no leads, and then Xingqiu would seize the opportunity to cheer the icy boy up with a proposed dinner date.
Nothing could ever ruin this plan, right?
.
.
.
“Oh, my dearest Chongyun!” Xingqiu beamed at the boy next to him, stopping the two in their tracks. “I forgot to tell you this earlier: I finally have some time off from the guild!”
“Oh, that’s good news.” Chongyun replied.
“Yup, so now that I’m free… How about we check out what’s going on with the Test of Courage? You recall those clues I gave you, right?” Xingqiu clasps his hands together as butterflies begin to emerge in the pit of his stomach. A sheepish Chongyun scratches the back of his head. “About that… I already went. A few days ago, actually.”
Xingqiu’s smile dropped a bit. “Oh?” He hesitates before continuing. “And did you find anything odd?”
“Hmm… Not particularly…” Chongyun shrugged, until his eyes widened as if his memory got jogged. “Oh, right, my partner and I did find a ghost! I didn’t exorcise her, though. She wasn’t a malignant spirit.” Chongyun sighed. “That whole test, though? It was nothing but a scam for some easy Mora. The guy running it even tried to kick me out when I called him out on it! Oh gosh, you should have been there, Qiu.”
Chongyun is right, Xingqiu thinks, he really should have been there to witness it for himself. It was unfortunate he had to…
Wait a second.
Did Chongyun mention a “partner”?
A pang of jealousy hits Xingqiu as he forces a grin. Who did Chongyun go with? And, dear Archons, they didn’t pair up as a couple, did they?
“Mm, that is too bad, I suppose. Who… Did you do the Test of Courage with, if you don’t mind me asking?” Xingqiu inquires. “I didn’t know I got replaced.” He teases, pinching Chongyun’s nearest cheek, but he cannot tell if his sudden touchiness towards his friend is a result of this festering envy budding inside of him.
Chongyun murmurs a “quit it” before swatting Xingqiu’s hand away. “I met this traveler and they offered to help me out. They were really nice and understanding about my whole yang energy problem, too.” Chongyun responds contentedly.
In fact, a little too contentedly for Xingqiu’s liking. That was supposed to be his time with Chongyun. He should have been the one to help Chongyun search for the “evil spirits,” he should have been the one to have been kicked out alongside Chongyun from the Test of Courage, then they could have had a laugh together before offering to take Chongyun out to the Wanmin Restaurant as Xingqiu’s “apology” treat for the false leads he…
“Are you alright? Xingqiu?” Chongyun tugs on Xingqiu’s wrist, snapping Xingqiu out of his own thoughts to reality. “You feel warm, you know.”
Xingqiu nods and clears his throat. Chongyun is still holding onto Xingqiu’s wrist, though not as tight of a grip now, but it is making Xingqiu’s struggle to find his words more difficult.
“Sounded like a wonderful evening.” That poor exorcist really has no idea he’s the only one who can bring Xingqiu to his weakest as a hopeless romantic.
Chongyun’s cheeks fade into a light shade of red, quickly releasing Xingqiu’s wrist once he realizes he was still unconsciously holding him. “Uh, anyway, I think I had a good time, regardless of what had happened. So, thank you. For those leads. Even if they were just rumors.” Chongyun gives Xingqiu a warm smile, but Xingqiu is not satisfied with Chongyun just yet.
“So, now what?”
“Pardon?” Chongyun asks.
Xingqiu crosses his arms against his chest. “You and the Traveler. Are you two friends now, or what? Judging by your attitude towards them, it seems like you two had a grand evening together. Mm, maybe you two can go on your own adventures, exorcising spirits!” Sarcasm oozes from his mouth as he continues. “Without my help, and without my clues.”
The exorcist furrows his brows in utter confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Xingqiu’s arms fall to his sides in frustration. This boy is denser than a pile of rocks. “ We were supposed to go together, no? And yet, you jumped at the opportunity to go with someone else.” And someone who you had just met, Xingqiu wanted to add.
“I did want to go with you, but you told me you had to tend to your business. What is the issue?”
“You could have waited until I was available again.”
Chongyun sighs. “Matters like those are urgent, though. I wanted to find and exorcise those spirits as soon as possible before my yang energy scares them off. I thought you would have understood this, Qiu.”
It was unusual for Xingqiu to be overrun with jealousy, and it was even more unusual for Xingqiu to be the initiator of such a petty argument.
Xingqiu’s voice and expression soften, in a disappointed sort of way, before responding.
“Well, maybe I wanted to spend more time with you. The two of us, together,” His voice lowers, his amber eyes breaking eye contact with the other boy.
“As a couple.”
A thick silence grew between the two, and to Xingqiu, it felt like the seconds were growing longer, heavier. He has never exposed this much emotional vulnerability before, not even to Chongyun. Xingqiu always daydreamed different scenarios of the moment he confesses how absolutely whipped he is for his dear friend, professing his love in his typical cocky, yet bewitching, manner, all while Chongyun is so embarrassed he would look like he would pass out from his high yang energy. But never did Xingqiu imagine that he would be the flustered one here.
Hesitantly, Xingqiu peers up to gauge Chongyun’s reaction to what Xingqiu believes was basically a love confession. Chongyun looks so… soft, and precious, with the sunlight augmenting the exorcist’s frosty hair and eyes. Xingqiu just wanted to take the boy’s face, cup it in between his two hands, and —
“Qiu, there are still other ways we can spend time together. Like, right now, for example,” Chongyun offers a tiny smile before he suddenly perks up in excitement, like a light bulb went off above his head. “Oh, I know! Here, how about we go to Wanmin Restaurant? Would that make up for the lost time?”
Oh Archons… Chongyun still doesn’t get it. Xingqiu’s face immediately sours. “You must be fooling around right now.”
Chongyun’s bliss does not last long once he catches wind of Xingqiu’s attitude. Before Chongyun could muster a reply, Xingqiu swiftly lifts up Chongyun’s chin with two fingers, taking a second to stare longingly into the other boy’s eyes, before crashing his own lips onto his. The kiss lasts no more than a few seconds, but to Xingqiu those few seconds feel like an eternity. He feasts in the salty taste of Chongyun’s chapped — reminder to buy him some chapstick later — lips, and the softness of Chongyun’s skin that Xingqiu’s fingers glaze delicately as he pulls away.
Xingqiu takes a quick second to catch his breath. There is no way Chongyun is not catching on now, not after an intimate moment like that.
“Do you understand — Ah Archons, your face! Is your yang energy acting up?” Xingqiu asks with abrupt concern in his voice, the back of his hand grazing Chongyun’s now heated cheek. Chongyun is wide-eyed and completely frozen in place like one of his popsicles, and it only takes a few seconds for his face to turn into a deep shade of red. Xingqiu hopes it’s not Chongyun’s yang energy getting out of control, not right now of all moments.
Chongyun knocks Xingqiu’s hand away and drew himself back to extend the distance between the two boys. Chongyun’s cheeks were now puffed up and he was obviously taken aback by Xingqiu’s sudden advancement. He looks cute that way, Xingqiu quietly muses. Like a little puppy.
“I — You — I’m fine. I… I’m… going to eat my popsicle now.” Chongyun stammers, refusing to make any eye contact, but Xingqiu knew he needs to take Chongyun somewhere less crowded before the exorcist’s yang energy overflows.
.
.
.
They found a quiet pond to sit by as Chongyun sifts through his bag to find one of his emergency popsicles. Xingqiu has a feeling their relationship has changed… but not in the direction Xinqiu had been hoping. Should he have not been so… direct? But, knowing Chongyun, Xingqiu would be hopelessly pining for an eternity. Oh, just strike me with the Wrath of the Rock, Xingqiu sighs in thought.
If Chongyun is going to let him down, it’s best they get it over with. After a minute of silence, Xingqiu clears his throat while fiddling with the gold accents on his sleeve. Chongyun attentively side-eyes the boy, popsicle in mouth.
“Are you feeling alright now?” Xingqiu asks, his words dripping with unease. Chongyun only nods in response. Not giving me much to work with. Xingqiu discerns Chongyun is more focused on his popsicle and Xingqiu lets out a heavy sigh; his tensed composure relaxes, slumping forward.
“I apologize. I don’t know what came over me all of a sudden. I completely understand if you, I don’t know, want to forget it ever happened.”
Chongyun wasn’t feverishly sucking on his popsicle anymore, but his face was still painted with a blush. “It’s… okay. I was just afraid of being overcome by yang energy,” His blush deepens as he awkwardly fiddles his hair with his free hand. “You don’t need to apologize for…” Chongyun trails off.
Oh? Was Chongyun being shy now? His yang energy seems to have calmed down, but Chongyun’s voice — heck, his entire stature — is trembling. Seeing the cryo user like this suddenly filled Xingqiu up with confidence. Xingqiu scoots himself closer to Chongyun and gazes into his eyes.
“Well, my dear Chongyun, your face is still a beet red. Not even that silly popsicle of yours could fix it, hm?” Xingqiu smirks in delight.
“H-Huh?”
This is more like it; Xingqiu has the upper hand. It pleases the boy to see Chongyun at a loss for words, and Xingqiu wants to see just what he can get away with now. “You can’t look me in the eyes anymore?” Xingqiu grins mischievously. “You liked it, didn’t you? The kiss, I mean. Look at you, you’re fumbling over your words now. I’ll bet your yang energy is —“
“You — Ah, don’t get so close.”
The space between the two was thinning and their faces are mere inches away now, so close that Xingqiu could feel each of Chongyun’s hot exhales against his face. Xingqiu could easily steal another kiss from Chongyun, but he decides to not get too selfish. Not if it makes Chongyun uncomfortable. Chongyun’s frame is stiff, almost like he’s trying to hold in his breath as Xingqiu has enclosed himself into Chongyun’s personal bubble. Xingqiu pauses to admire Chongyun’s pouty face — oh, he is too precious — but he reels back jesterly before making any further advancements..
“Dearest Chongyun, I’m only teasing you. You do look cute when you get embarrassed, though.” Xingqiu lowers his voice in the last sentence.
“It’s — It’s not like I can help it when you are that close to me. Like you were going to…” Xingqiu has an inkling as to what Chongyun was shying away from saying out loud.
“Mm, I bet you were yearning for another kiss.” Xingqiu laughs, but is interrupted by a playful nudge from a flushed Chongyun.
“So… You aren’t mad at me anymore?” Chongyun asks.
“I could never stay mad at you, silly. I mean, I’m not too thrilled over our date plans being ruined, but —“
Chongyun interjects. “Wait wait, our date plans? ”
Sheesh, this boy is a real tool. “Yes, Chongyun. I wanted to ask you out on a date. Did you not notice how there were only couples at the event?”
The gears in Chongyun’s brain clicked into place once he realized what Xingqiu was alluding to. Chongyun had supposed it was simply a coincidence and had not connected the puzzle pieces until now. He truly is oblivious, but Xingqiu finds it rather adoring: it’s what makes Chongyun himself.
Chongyun’s head lowers, his already obvious blush deepening as he clumsily scratches the dips of his collarbone. “Jeez, you could have just told me it was a date… I wouldn’t have declined. You had to make it cryptic instead; you’re really confusing, you know.” He glances off to the side.
“But where is the fun in that? I enjoy teasing you.” Xingqiu pokes Chongyun’s nose, causing Chongyun to flinch from the sudden touch. “Ah! Okay, okay, I get it.”
There is a new sensation bubbling inside Xingqiu’s chest; nobody has ever made Xingqiu feel the way he feels when he’s with Chongyun. As much fun as it is to mess with Chongyun, Xingqiu appreciates listening to Chongyun’s stories — yes, even more than Xingqiu’s collection of novels — and sees the exorcist in such a fond light. Xingqiu intertwines his fingers with Chongyun’s free hand and squeezes it. “Now that our feelings are out in the open…” Xingqiu sings, fixing his gaze onto Chongyun before continuing. “You are taking me out to Wanmin. Right now.”
Chongyun’s eyes light up, gleaming towards Xingqiu. “Yeah — Yeah, of course! I’ll buy you your favorite seafood and tell you all the details about my adventure, and, um…” His voice softens. “Can we keep doing this?” Xingqiu observes Chongyun’s eyes gesturing downwards to their interlocked hands. Chongyun’s hand felt clammy, but Xingqiu didn’t mind it in the slightest. Xingqiu wishes he could savor this moment tangibly; he wants to take it, place it gently into a bottle, and replay it forever. The chilly atmosphere, the manifesting feelings of lust, the gentle touch of Chongyun’s hand, all of the senses relived.
Xingqiu gives Chongyun’s hand another tight squeeze before he springs up to his feet. “Well, let’s not keep me waiting; I’m starving, Chongyun.”
Chongyun nods. “Oh, and Xingqiu?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re cute when you’re jealous.” Chongyun smirks while Xingqiu attempts to clear his throat in order to hide his raging blush.
“I was not…! Ahem, l-let’s just go, shall we?” Chongyun laughs as Xingqiu firmly grabs Chongyun’s arm to jolt him back to his feet.
The Traveler could never replace Xingqiu’s place in Chongyun’s heart.