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It was a clear and tranquil night with only the soft glow of the moon and the light rustling of leaves. However, if one were to be lingering close to the peak of Mount Tianheng, the faint bickering coming from a certain wanderer and his lover certainly wouldn’t go unnoticed.
“Who said this was a good idea again?” Scaramouche groaned, slowly coming to a halt. “If it were anyone else who suggested this, they would be lying dead in a ditch.”
Kazuha sighed, turning around to let out a little chuckle at his overdramatic boyfriend. “Since you need the reminder, I said it was a good idea. You decided to come along because you simply adore me.” He smirked. “As I am not lying dead in a ditch, I think you knew that already.”
Even in the relative dark, Kazuha could make out Scaramouche’s glare, though there was a softness behind the gaze.
“Correction, I hate you. Despise you, even. Another correction, you wouldn’t stop reading all of your haikus about the ‘magic’ of the lantern rite out loud until I finally gave in.”
A gentle breeze blew and Scaramouche shivered, softly closing his eyes. “This was a terrible idea.”
The cold the night brought along with it was suddenly replaced by a comforting warmth. Looking down, Kazuha had interlaced their fingers and began to pull his lover up the mountain.
“Such an infant for a harbinger, eh?” Kazuha quipped. He turned and smiled reassuringly at his boyfriend. “We’re only five minutes away Scara, I promise you.”
Scaramouche looked down and sighed, not meeting Kazuha’s face. They walked together in silence, hand in hand, until Kazuha could faintly hear: “Childe exists but I’m the infant?”
They both paused and softly laughed with one another, then continued their journey onwards.
Scaramouche believed his boyfriend to be many things: kind, loving, poetic, charming; the list goes on. There was, however, something Kazuha was not - a liar.
It wasn’t long at all until the couple reached the peak, and oh my was the view enchanting.
From the very top of Mount Tianheng, they could observe Liyue Harbor in all its grandeur. The city was painted in golds, reds and yellows of all hues which were enhanced by the faint glow radiating off of the array of Xiao lanterns. Though the people resembled pinpricks more than anything from such a height, the vast number of visitors brought more beauty to the canvas that was Liyue Harbor. The sky, void of clouds, was filled with the brightest of stars that cloaked the humble city.
Kazuha beamed and let go of his boyfriend’s hand, running closer to the edge to take in the splendour of the city.
Scaramouche’s hand indeed felt a little empty but the feeling quickly dissipated upon seeing the excitement of his lover. Scaramouche knew that his boyfriend was a wanderer at heart, always yearning for new experiences to keep himself content. As someone who was yet to find his happiness like Kazuha had, deep down he adored that the person he loved the most had what he currently desired. Perhaps he had found this happiness already, standing right in front of him. He’d never admit it though, especially not now that his beloved had dragged him up a mountain. Childe would also never stop short of flaming him for such. Scaramouche could already hear his taunting: “You’re so soft, you’re getting weak.” This was untrue as a matter of fact: he was just as sadistic as ever. Being with his lover hadn’t quelled his thirst for revenge and the perpetual anger against those who had wronged him. The thing is: he didn’t feel any of these things towards Kazuha. When they first met, he was beyond awful to this man with the deep red eyes. And yet this man never ceased to show him nothing but love, kindness and understanding. No one that he could remember had treated him in such a way in the past. Eventually, he came to understand that he loved Kazuha and that Kazuha loved him, too. This love that he felt was something that he wished Kazuha could feel too - a love that came from him and him alone. So he learnt, slowly but surely. He started to emulate the actions of his other half when it was only them in one other’s presence. Only Kazuha was allowed to feel the little bits of love that Scaramouche discovered he still had left inside of him. And tonight that no one else was around to see him like this, he fulfilled this desire.
Scaramouche stifled a yawn and slowly stepped forward to meet his other half. He decided to wrap his arms around Kazuha’s waist and rest his head on his shoulder. Kazuha softened into his touch and sighed peacefully.
“This was worth it and more, Scara. Don’t you agree?”
Scaramouche gently lifted his head up and spent a few seconds gazing dreamily at the wonderful view down below.
“Next time we’re flying up to the peak one way or another, I don’t care how you'll make it happen.”
Kazuha chuckled softly. “So there will be a next time then? I see you are enjoying yourself.”
“Shut up. But…yeah, it’s beautiful.” He sighed in contentment while admiring the harbor, then tilted his head to cast a smile at his boyfriend. “It’ll never be more beautiful than you, though.”
He pressed his lips into Kazuha’s cheek and the blonde could feel his face heat up, even against the chilling breeze.
He pulled himself away from his boyfriend’s grasp and headed over to a patch of grass to settle down on.
“Care to join me, oh mighty Balladeer?” Kazuha asked, looking up brightly at his lover with his hand outstretched. The wave of self-consciousness had quickly passed though he still felt fuzzy inside.
“That title only sounds right when it’s coming from you.”
Scaramouche’s lips were slightly upturned as he held onto his lover’s hand. Kazuha gently pulled him down to the ground to settle by his side.
They both sat in a comfortable silence for some moments, seemingly lost in thought. The wind had picked up slightly, sending a chill through the both of them. Kazuha could stand it although tonight was admittedly colder than usual, especially from being at the top of the mountain. His thoughts quickly drifted to his boyfriend who probably didn’t climb mountains very often and he felt pity on him.
“Scara.”
He turned.
“Yeah?”
“Can you hold me?”
Scaramouche playfully rolled his eyes but didn’t hesitate to let his other half shuffle onto his lap so he could wrap his arms around him.
He used one arm to support Kazuha’s waist while he used the other to idly run his hand through his boyfriend’s smooth hair.
They sat like this for a while, appreciating each other’s company in silence. Up here there was nothing - no one - to disturb them. The cold melted away and became a thing of the distant past. All they had was each other: Kazuha and Scaramouche; Scaramouche and Kazuha.
After a while, Kazuha remembered something he was hoping to say to his lover.
He turned gently to gaze up at his boyfriend’s face and take it all in: his dark blue eyes, his jet black hair, his soft lips. They both smiled longingly at each other, but it didn’t take long for Scaramouche to raise an eyebrow.
“You have that look in your eyes. What’s on your mind?”
Kazuha sighed but didn’t lose his smile.
“I wanted to tell you my wish.”
Scaramouche was listening.
“I never thought that I would be in a relationship. You know I long for freedom.”
“No—“
Kazuha looked amused. “I know you’re about to say no haikus but don’t worry, seventeen syllables sadly do not fit the word count for what I’m about to say, I apologise.”
Scaramouche playfully nudged him but quickly regained his composure to channel all of his focus and attention into Kazuha’s words.
“I thought that being tied to someone opposed the freedom that I desire. But I have never felt tied to you. I choose to be here. I choose to be with you. I am free with you.”
Kazuha turned his body to fully face his lover and cupped his face.
“My wish here tonight is that you won’t leave me. Being up here tonight, appreciating this view, it’s all so freeing. But I don’t think I can ever find freedom again like the one that I feel when I’m with you.”
The blonde was still smiling heartily but his vision had started to glaze over.
He leaned in and his other half met him halfway.
Their lips connected and the two melted into the warm, intoxicating feeling washing over them.
Kazuha could feel the desire behind the way that Scaramouche sucked on his lips which warranted a few sounds that only his lover could behold.
He snaked his arms around the other’s waist to pull him in closer, all the while their lips danced with each other in harmony.
Kazuha let the tears run down his face as he deepened the kiss. He wasn’t sad; quite the opposite in fact. He felt so happy to exist in this very moment. Every moment with his lover was a moment worth savouring.
Pulling away, Scaramouche pressed his forehead onto Kazuha’s and let out a shaky breath. He lifted his hands to cup his face and used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears trickling down.
“Kazu?”
“Yeah?”
“I guess both of our wishes will be coming true this year.”
“They will?”
“They will.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
They leaned back in to kiss one another, spending a while enjoying how good they felt together.
Later on, they were sitting on the ground expectantly. By this point, the time at which the fireworks show would commence was just around the corner.
“Here you go, Kazu.”
“Thank you.”
Kazuha and Scaramouche stuck their ear plugs in and interlaced their fingers.
Even though the fireworks were breathtaking, the pair decided to forego the loud sounds and enjoy the sights in the comfort of each other’s presence.
Life becomes all the more beautiful when you experience it with the ones you love.