Work Text:
"Xingqiu, what're you eating?"
Xingqiu looked up at Chongyun and smiled. "Just some mints, I need to focus in my work and it helps. A lot."
Chongyun hummed, "Could it be of use for me? I'd like to try it. Then maybe I can finally focus on my mantras."
Xingqiu stopped sorting the papers and froze for a bit. "Uh- Sure." He reached for his pocket and got a packet. "Here."
Chongyun grabbed it and immediately placed it in his mouth. Xingqiu could only stare, where could this ever lead?
"Hmm, it's really cold. And refreshing and... ahm.."
"Minty?" Xingqiu stood up, staring at his best friend's expressions.
"Yeah..." He slightly opened his mouth to let air out. "Seems like it has the same effects as when I eat something hot."
The heir only smiled with his hands behind his back looking so innocent. "Would you like some help with it?"
"Yes, please take it away from me." he stuck out his tongue, with mint on it.
Xingqiu only nodded, he grabbed Chongyun's wrists as he tilted his head a bit to the right, before leaning in with no more space left between them. Chongyun made no move of dislike, it wasn't the first time Xingqiu had helped Chongyun like this.
Xingqiu took the shrunken mint out of Chongyun's mouth, and pulled away for a moment before going in again. He placed the young exorcist's hands on his shoulders so he could hold his waist, pulling him closer.
This was something new. After the thing is done, usually Xingqiu would've pulled away and gone back to his tasks. Chongyun liked this new experience. However, with the thought of Xingqiu not helping him... what is he and his friend doing, then?
Kissing, no? Simply kissing? Do friends kiss? Thinking about it, they've kissed like this numerous times before. Do friends even kiss oh, so passionately like this?
The thought drove him crazy. The heat getting to him.
Xingqiu must've noticed since he pulled away. "Are you okay? Are you overheating?" he asked, caressing Chongyun's face. "You're heating up. Your breath also became warmer."
"I... I think I am." Chongyun couldn't think straight.
"Okay then, wait here."
Xingqiu lets go of his waist, and a yearn for it grew within him. He didn't want to be let go anymore. He wanted to feel Xingqiu's touch, it was hot yet it felt rather calming than dangerous.
"Sit there for a while, try to steady your breath. I will get some popsicles from chef Mao." Before he knew it, Xingqiu was off and out of the building.
Chongyun sat on Xingqiu's seat and trying to calm down. Trying to stop thinking about the hand holding his waist. What was he feeling? Why was it so strong? The events kept replaying in his head which kept him unable to think of anything else.
Moments later, Xingqiu came back with a popsicle in hand. Chongyun took it from him and started eating it. Come to think of it, Xingqiu had always been like this. So caring when it comes go Chongyun's condition. Despite being the one triggering it both intentionally or not, he takes full responsibility.
Xingqiu took another chair and plopped down next to Chongyun, looking tired.
"Are you, phew.. alright now?" Xingqiu was already sweating, seems like he ran from here to Wanmin.
"Yes, but what about you? You look tired, you didn't have to run if you did. I was doing fine." Chongyun looked down instead of his eyes. He didn't want to heat up again.
"Oh, that's okay. I'll just sit here for a while then I can go back to working." Xingqiu reassured, he still saw the small smile. "What you need to worry about is yourself."
"...I do have a question."
"Ask away."
"Uhm..." he hesitated. "How come your ways of helping me are so... intimate?"
"Oh, do you not like it? I can change my ways anytime." He didn't dislike it, he was only wondering. He may even like it though that's a bit too awkward to admit, no?
"I didn't say I did.."
"Then, you like it?" That grin. He knew what that was. He was teasing again.
"I- well- I WAS ONLY ASKING FOR YOUR REASON!" He was caught off guard, all while he was thinking about it too.
"Well, would you like the truth or the fabricated one?" His grin turned into a smirk.
"The truth, of course." His sentence sounded like a question, still unsure.
"I simply do them because I want to also experience those with someone. It helps with my novels." Xingqiu explained, to which Chongyun nodded to. "...Is the fabricated reason."
"What?" Chongyun glanced to Xingqiu to meet his face inches from his.
"People say that if you did want to do those things with someone. It would be to someone special. Since you're my best friend, why not?"
"Because we're friends...? Friends don't kiss or do other too intimate things." Chongyun only looked at the popsicle stick in his hand.
"Then maybe I don't want to be just friends."
Silence was between them. Both red from Xingqiu's words.
"I wouldn't mind that, if you were being serious..." Chongyun bit the popsicle stick nervously.
"Why don't we start now?" Xingqiu stood up from the chair and walks in front of Chongyun. He proceeds to lean down and connect their lips together. This time with a more passionate feel in the kiss.
Xingqiu pulls away to sit on Chongyun's lap, he cupped Chongyun's cheeks, making him look up. "Are you sure you'd want to continue? Can you handle it?"
"I'll treat this as some training. I wouldn't want to not exchange the affection you give me." Chongyun wrapped his arms around Xingqiu's waist.
"Oh please, I wouldn't mind. You're already perfect just as is." Xingqiu leaned in, closing the gap between them.