Work Text:
After finishing your last bit of conflict in Inazuma, it was time for you to chill before you headed off to Sumeru. You were eating with Paimon when they suddenly disappeared into space.
When Paimon came back, she held a freezing cold letter in your face. "We got a letter~ Brr, it's so cold! I wonder who it's from.."
Paimon rubbed the cold off her fingers, gently peeling open the envelope to reveal a baby blue sheet of paper. "Ahem.."
'If you have time today, please come visit me.
Please excuse me, I don't know how to properly express how I am feeling. I actually thought about it all day... My face feels hot, but I still can't find the right words. But if I don't take this opportunity to tell you, I know i will regret it for the next year.
No need to fret! This won't be about training or searching for evil spirits. I just wanted to take this time to casually chat with you.
I want to tell you about the strange things that have been occurring and also hear about all the experiences you have had on your journey.
Besides, I feel that my martial arts has progressed slightly and I would like some advice from you regarding martial arts techniques.
I have already prepared enough popsicles! No matter what happens, I'll be in control and not ruin our gathering. I hope you can come. I'll be waiting for you.
Regards,
Chongyun
"Aww, Chongyun's so cute! It's very nice of him to send a letter. Oh, wait- Wowee! Look at all these pressed asters! How'd he know?" Paimon squirmed in happiness, holding the flowers out to you like a deck of cards because of their flatness. You didn't even get a word in before Paimon dragged you up(they failed and you had to get up yourself), basically begging you to teleport to the harbor to find him.
time skip to you getting there~
The first idea that you two decided to look for him at was the Wanmin Restaurant. Chongyun, Xingqiu, and Xiangling always hung out there, so maybe they were chilling while Xiangling made him a.. chilling cake!
You two pulled up, seeing the exact people you were hoping to see when you got there. Chongyun dropped the popsicle hanging from his mouth when he saw you, the other two simply waving at you with an excited smile. Chongyun jumped out of his seat, skipping over to you and grabbing your hands to hold them in his own.
"Thank you so much for coming. I really appreciate it." You could tell he was really excited even if he didn't say much. His hands were squeezing yours really tightly, and he didn't seem to bother 'controlling' his burst of happiness.
"Haha, I read your letter and just knew that I had to come up here. I'm delighted to have come back for your birthday. -Also, you're kinda.. squeezing me right now. " You chuckled, standing there awkwardly waiting for him to let you go.
"Oh- yes. Sorry, I was just kind of excited to see you, I didn't think to control said excitement." He scratched his nape, looking at his two friends who had suggestive expressions on their faces. What the hell is that about? You thought to yourself.
"Um, come. I had Xiangling make the noodles for me so I could make you something." You watched as Chongyun let you to a seat, running over to the counter so he could prepare his special dish for you. You watched him freeze the steaming noodles with his cryo vision, seasoning them with whatever sauces and garnish he chose. When it was finished, he slid it down the counter towards you like a bartender.
"-There. It's like Noodles with Mountain Delicacies, but.. cold. I hope you like it. If you want, I can make it hot for you if you want it that way. I think I can bear that much heat."
"Nono, don't do that. It's not good for you. It tastes great anyway." You complimeted, holding out a forkful for Paimon like she was your kid. Both of you showed a great interest in the dish, no matter how strange it was that they were cold. My, loved- excuse me, liked ones can change your view on anything.
"Oh, wow- Was it really that good? I thought people wouldn't be interested in 'Chongyun-safe' foods. " He said, taking the empty bowl from you and passing it to Chef Mao. Almost anyone would be concerned with how comfortable he felt doing that, but Xiangling's father was familiar with these two boys being her close friends, so he treated them almost just like her.
Finally, after you two finally had your moment of reunion, Xingqiu chimed in. "Excuse me, my dearest friends, but might I suggest that you two go out? I heard of some evil spirit over there. I think you two would be the epitome of compatible when it comes to what could defeat it. Go, we will be waiting when you two are done with your adventure."
"But Xingqiu, I didn't plan on doing that today-"
"No. Go. It is very important that you two do so~" Xingqiu covered all his face but his eyes with a book, turning to Xiangling and snickering behind it. There was definitely some scheme behind this.
"If I remember correctly, the location it was at is somewhere near Nantianmen's moonlit tree. You must go check it out with out dear friend y/n." Xingqiu took you two by your shoulders and led you off to the exit of the harbor, giving you any 'information' you needed on the case before skipping and jumping away.
"My goodness, I thought you were the one who was strict on exorcism.." You commented, heading off in the direction of the said spirit.
time skip~
The entire trip was full of silence, only the occasional comment coming from Chongyun or the sound of him eating an ice pop breaking it. Every time you tried to start a conversation, he looked away and shoved another pop in his mouth. At this point, you finally understood the heat he was talking about in his letter and a sense of relief came through to your heart.
"Alright, we're- here?" Chongyun said, crouching down and touching the scattered qingxin petals at the base of the tree.
You didn't say a single thing, being that you were focused on your jaw stuck to the floor while you tried to summon Paimon. Each time you tried, they popped out to say "Figure it out!" and gesture to the petals.
"Chongyun, I don't think there's a spirit here.." You said, crouching down next to him.
"Do you think this was a diversion? Did the spirit put these here to get away?" Chongyun ignored you. He already forgot about his plans with you, and was neck deep in the idea of catching this spirit.
"...Wait- Did you say something?" He finally turned to you, his eyebrows curled.
"Yes, I did. I was telling you that I don't think there's a spirit here."
"Oh.. Then why are these here?"
"Do you not know what a date is?"
"Oh yeah, I do. I just didn't know one could be set up like this. Could the spirit have been on one? Is it like a succubus? If so, we have to go. I'm not built for dealing with one of those."
"No.. no no no... I think, Chongyun- we were set up for one."
"But why? Who would- Xingqiu! I told him not to do anything..! I'll-" You cut him off, taking a popsicle from his pouch and stuffing it in his mouth.
He finished it up like no tomorrow, wiping his hand under his covered forehead. "Whew, I was really worried there. Now then, I need to go give Xingqiu a piece of my completely calm and neutral mind." He was about to walk away when you grabbed his shoulder.
"No, wait- Why don't we enjoy it? I- I wouldn't want to leave this place without taking advantage of it, right?" You suggested. Maybe if you two stuck around, a thing or two (like a confession) would pop out of the blueberry's mouth.
"Okay then... we can stay."
You two talked and talked for hours, you telling Chongyun about your experience in Inazuma and Him telling you about all he's done while you did so. He yelled at you with the most concern he could every time you told him about the dangerous things that got you hurt in the region, and you gave him compliments as he told you his improvement in all the things he does.
Every time you spent time with someone dear to you, the time flew by like crazy. It was like one moment you were arriving at Liyue harbor, and now the two of you are sitting in the dark with the moonlit tree giving you enough light to see eachother and nothing else.
"Oh dear. It's almost eight already." Chongyun said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Before we head back, I have a present for you-" The both of you said, pausing when you both realized you said the same thing and reached into the same pocket.
"..Uh, you first." Chongyun said, holding his present behind his back.
"Okay then!" You said, revealing the sterling silver bracelet in your hands. "Extra-cold metal, that isn't conductive so you won't get hot! And it's on your wrist, so if you get too hot, it won't match your body temperature!" You glided your fingers against the cor lapis that was encrusted on the top, a little decoration to remind Chongyun of the material that brought him to such great strength.
"..Wow," You know the boy wasn't a man of many words when it came to his emotions, so you were more than happy to see him take it from you and put it on. He watched it shine on his wrist, before jumping and remembering that he had a present of his own to give you.
Before he said anything, He took a couple deep breaths and chowed down on a popsicle one last time. Was his present really that stressful?
"I apologize, but the present I have for you isn't really an object."
"Oh? Then what do you have for me?" You asked, resting your head in your palm.
"It's- It's uh, it's something I wanted to tell you."
"Well then, go ahead!" You smiled. You really hoped what he was going to say was what you wanted, even though his body language guaranteed it to you.
"I uh, I- Excuse me.. If I could get it out already.." Chongyun looked behind him, very obviously talking himself into getting out the words like the proud exorcist boy he is.
"Y/n... I wanted to tell you that.. ever since we went to that test of courage in wuwang hill, i've felt like you were someone really special to me. And I wanted to be with you.. like, a lot. I can't really tell you what I mean by that, but it's like you're a human popsicle. Like the ones I eat. You calm my flare-outs the way the popsicles do. And when I think about you, the heat inside gets too unbearable and I start wishing I lived in Snezhnaya.. Do you get it? Do you understand what I mean?" He confessed, his head in his knees.
"Chongyun... You- You love me?"
"Is that what it is? If so, yes, I guess I do. I do love you, y/n. "
You had no words. It made you want to scream and squeal and roll all over the floor knowing that the boy who knows close to nothing about love.. loves you! Of course, you loved him so dearly like he did. Thank Xingqiu, because he clearly has a talent in this stuff.
"Wow.. I- Thanks for telling me all that.. And, I- I.." You had no idea how to tell him the feelings were mutual, but of course you could tell him through actions. And with that, you shut your mouth and leaned in to plant a kiss on Chongyun's lips.
You could see the red shoot to his face faster than a thermometer touching the sun. You squinted your eyes shut, giving it a couple more seconds before you broke away and shoved a popsicle in his mouth. The anxious heat that rushed over you and him could melt an entire planet of ice if one was nearby.
As he finished the calming snack, he stood up and pulled you along the way.
"..Does that wrap it up now? Is- Is there something more?"
"No, not really, unless you want to be my boyfriend?"
It took him a moment before he responded. "My heart would be higher than the Jade Chamber if I were to be blessed with that privilege." He said, gesturing for you two to walk back to the harbor.
"Great then!" You chuckled, heading back with your newfound boyfriend. Little did you know, you were going to be met with a whole scrapbook full of "Chongyun x Y/N" love photos.