Chapter Text
Chongyun vibrated with nervous excitement.
He’d been waiting a few hours already, Xingqiu’s letter said he’d be returning today but he couldn’t specify what time, yet Chongyun still kept careful watch on the sea’s horizon, eager for any sign of the large merchant ship sailing towards the harbor.
When Xingqiu told him he was leaving for Inazuma, Chongyun couldn’t help the pang of sorrow he felt at the thought of being separated. His duties and strict training regimen didn’t allow for an overseas trip, and with how much convincing Xingqiu had to do to even be allowed to go, there was no wiggle room to bring a friend along too.
And Xingqiu had been so excited when he told Chongyun about the true purpose of the trip; that he was secretly going to be attending the Irodori festival under his pen name. He was going to meet fans of his books, and maybe the most exciting of all- he was going to meet the person who provides his illustrations face to face, after so much time corresponding only by letter.
Chongyun didn’t know who this Calx person was, but for Xingqiu to be so flustered and excited to meet him, he must surely be quite the remarkable person. How lucky they were to receive Xingqiu’s unbridled affection. Chongyun hoped they would live up to Xingqiu’s expectation.
He let out a heavy sigh.
To the left of him, Chongyun could see fishermen beginning to pull in from their long workday; their boats laying anchor as their riders gathered the day’s haul in preparation to sell at the nearby markets and restaurants. The sun was descending with every hour that passed and now the surrounding sky was a mesmerizing gradient of oranges and pinks. Chongyun wondered if Xingqiu was looking at the same sight, somewhere out there beyond the horizon.
The hustle and bustle of the fishermen around him somehow made him feel even more alone.
-
The sun was now touching the horizon, creating a golden river of light in a sea of darkening blue. It was too bright to be looked at directly, so Chongyun averted his eyes for the moment and decided to stroll along the harbor while he waited for it to set. The lanterns were beginning to be lit and people were milling about, either leaving their jobs for the day or doing some last minute shopping for dinner. Chongyun stopped to buy an order of fried radish balls, waited until they had gone cold, and ate them on his way down the pier.
At last the sun had set.
Chongyun watched the last vestiges of light sink below the horizon from the other end of the docks. Surely enough time had passed? The tension in his heart rose as he watched the light fade in its entirety, finally revealing-
Emptiness.
The breath he’d been holding left him like he’d been knocked over by a cryo slime. His disappointment was immeasurable. What was taking so long? He thought with increasing anxiety. Maybe their ship got delayed by some storm? He knew that Inazuma was famously surrounded by temperamental weather. Or perhaps- perhaps they’ve been attacked by seafaring treasure hoarders?
He also knew that the Feiyun Commerce Guild’s ships were not built to handle combat. If they were attacked in the middle of the ocean, the enemy would have the advantage. Xingqiu was the only member in their party who held a vision, and even though his martial prowess was exceptional- to face off alone against an army of hoarders was suicidal. And knowing him, he would prioritize protecting the merchants onboard before even thinking of himself. Of all the reckless, foolhardy things he could do, how could he-
Wait.
In the midst of his panic, Chongyun’s eyes never wondered from that empty spot on the horizon. But there, now, he could see a faint light. In the advancing evening darkness, a sole ship had lingered in the shadows while it lit the lanterns aboard, which now illuminated the dark waters as it moved towards the harbor.
It was hard to make out the details of the ship from so far away, but by the size and shape and the warm feeling of certainty in his chest, Chongyun knew it was Xingqiu’s.
-
A throng of people exited the ship, rushing and pushing each other in their haste to get on with their business for the night.
Chongyun stood a little out of the way and watched. He lifted himself up on tiptoe and turned his head left and right, looking for the familiar crop of dark blue hair in the sea of people. His heart thudded in his chest with every person that passed him by. And then-
“Chongyun?” A tired voice called out.
Chongyun pivoted so hard he almost fell over. There, a few feet up the ramp that connected the ship to the dock, stood Xingqiu. He looked a little worse for wear, his face paler than usual and his shoulders slumped with fatigue, but it was him. They locked eyes immediately and Xingqiu’s face shone with surprise, like he didn’t expect Chongyun to be there waiting for him. Quickly though, his surprise turned to wild delight and he broke away from his nearby attendants and sprinted straight for him.
“It is you! Chongyun!”
Most of the people had dispersed at this point so there was no one to prevent Chongyun from running straight for Xingqiu.
“Xingqiu!” he laughed.
It was only seconds and yet the distance between them felt as large as Inazuma was from Liyue, so when they finally fell into each other’s arms Xingqiu felt like he’d truly come home.
Chongyun wrapped his arms tightly around Xingqiu, pulling the boy closer with an urgent fervor, while Xingqiu held him back just as tightly, burying his face against Chongyun’s shoulder and letting out a deep, contented sigh.
“You wouldn’t believe how good it feels to be back home.”
Chongyun felt the warm weight of Xingqiu in his arms and noticed the way his all fears and anxieties disappeared as soon as he saw Xingqiu’s face. Chongyun mumbled, “I bet I could guess.”
They stayed like that for a few moments, relishing in the easy comfort the other brought that they’d each sorely been missing these past few days.
Then, without warning, Xingqiu slumped forward.
“Xingqiu?!” Chongyun exclaimed, alarmed.
He sank to the ground with the other boy, holding him carefully so he didn’t collapse. Pulling away a little, he saw Xingqiu’s eyes flutter and his arms shakily reaching for Chongyun’s chest, like he was trying to brace himself, like he didn’t have the strength to hold himself up.
Chongyun was frantic as he looked over Xingqiu’s listing frame for obvious signs of injury.
“Are you hurt? Xingqiu! Please, tell me what’s happening.” He begged, lightly shaking Xingqiu’s shoulder in an attempt to keep him conscious.
Xingqiu’s attendant, Xu, who had been left behind in Xingqiu’s mad dash to Chongyun, had now caught up. Seeing Xingqiu on his knees with an increasingly desperate Chongyun fretting over him, he intervened.
“Ah, Master Chongyun, do not worry, the Young Master is unharmed. He’s merely sleep deprived. He’s been working nonstop for the majority of the trip and hasn’t slept much, it’s taken quite the toll on him.” He stated, matter of factly. Like collapsing from sleep deprivation was a completely normal thing and that Chongyun had no reason to be worrying so much.
He was relieved that Xingqiu wasn’t injured, but to be exhausted to this extent… Chongyun had never seen him like this before. Sure, there were nights he stayed up all night reading and couldn’t manage training so easily the next day, or he stayed up long hours filling out documents to help his brother, but nothing to tire himself out so thoroughly that he couldn’t even hold himself upright. Just what had happened to him in Inazuma?
He felt Xingqiu shift a little and he turned his back to Xu to look at him. From the way his eyes slowly blinked open, it was clear he was struggling to stay awake.
“Apologies, my dear Chongyun… I didn’t mean to frighten you. I think I just need a moment to compose myself… then I’ll be ready to stand.”
The thought of him pushing himself when he was clearly so tired made Chongyun tighten his grip. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If you fall again like that you could injure yourself.”
Chongyun stated, “I’ll carry you.”
“Hmm,” Xingqiu seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding softly, too tired to be hesitant. “Alright.”
Chongyun turned around, carefully pulling Xingqiu’s arms over his shoulders so they looped around his neck, then pulled his own arms back, wrapping them around Xingqiu’s knees, and lifted him up as he stood.
“Ah, I’m sorry about all this,” Xingqiu muttered sleepily. His breath tickled the back of Chongyun’s neck. “And you must’ve been waiting so long already…”
“This is hardly any trouble, you know I can lift you easily. The most important thing is getting you back home safely.”
“Still… I really wanted… to catch up with you….” Xingqiu protested.
“Shh. We’ll have plenty of time for that later.” He softened his voice. “You can rest now. I’ll wake you when we’re there.”
Xingqiu hummed in agreement. The warmth of Chongyun’s back was pulling him under, and before he could think another thought, he was fast asleep.
Xu, who had been standing off to the side, marveled quietly; “I can’t believe he yielded so easily. I’ve been trying to get him to take proper rest for days, but no matter how much I insisted, he just wouldn’t fall asleep. He’s been incredibly tense this whole trip. Even on the journey back he was still working, going over investment paperwork and making sure everything was ready to present to his father.”
Chonygun could only imagine how stressful it must’ve been keeping his identity as an author under wraps while still managing to complete the guild’s investment venture. But even so, Xingqiu was exceptionally clever and resourceful, especially when dealing with guild affairs. This shouldn’t have been enough to phase him as much as it did. Something else must have happened in Inazuma.
Xu looked over Xingqiu fondly.
“You know, as soon as he was reunited with you he fell straight to sleep. He must feel incredibly at ease around you.”
Chongyun felt the heat rise in his cheeks. He sputtered for a response but Xu merely waved him off with a smile.
“Rest assured. I wouldn’t dare say something like this if the Young Master were awake. He would have my head! But I would also like to say, thank you, Master Chongyun, for being someone who always looks after our Young Master. Who puts his worries to rest.”
The heartfelt acknowledgement gave Chongyun pause.
He thought of how deeply he missed Xingqiu while he was gone, how eager he was waiting by the docks for his return. He thought of the sorrow he felt when Xingqiu told him he’d be leaving, and of how worried he’d been in the days after. They were always together, fighting, training, running around Liyue having adventure after adventure. The days spent without him were duller, fighting and training more tedious. Even the beautiful sights surrounding Liyue lost their usual splendor.
It was like a physical weight had been placed on his chest, making everything just a bit harder to endure, getting a bit heavier with each day that passed, and the only thing that lifted it was seeing Xingqiu’s face smiling down at him just moments ago.
Chongyun spoke his next words with surprising clarity, as if it was obvious from the start.
“I’d do anything for him.”
It felt like he’d just discovered some all encompassing truth, and he was as sure of it as his conviction when he manifested his vision. To be able to see Xingqiu’s cunning smile, to hear him laugh after he pulled a successful prank, to have his back in the midst of a battle. To be able to stay by his side. He would do anything.
Xu looked taken aback for a moment before he closed his eyes and smiled.
“I have no doubt that you would, Master Chongyun.”
-
The night sky was deepening now, most of the ship’s crew had disembarked and the remaining Feiyun Commerce Guild members had gathered up their luggage and began to set off. Xu finished speaking with them and turned to walk back towards Chongyun and the slumbering Xingqiu.
“Everything is in order and we’re ready to head back to the guild. However, there are a few stops that need to be made along the way. Would you be willing to bring the Young Master home while the rest of our party make the necessary preparations and bring the luggage ahead?” Xu asked hopefully. He looked a little haggard. Trying to calculate all that needed to be done, now that Xingqiu was unavailable to help manage their affairs, must’ve been tough on him.
Chongyun didn’t hesitate. “Of course, he really should be resting in a proper bed. I’ll get him home straightaway.”
Xu sighed in relief.
“Thank you, Master Chongyun, I trust you to take care of him. We’ll be waiting for you at the guild, then.”
And with that, Xu picked up two bags of luggage and nodded at them in goodbye, walking off toward the rest of his group. Chongyun watched them walk away towards what seemed to be Northland Bank.
He took a second to think. The fastest way to get to the Feiyun Commerce Guild was through downtown Liyue, though he was a little worried it might be crowded and noisy this time of night. He really didn’t want to accidentally wake Xingqiu after hearing how hard it was for him to finally fall asleep. If he kept to the side streets instead of the main road he should be fine. He straightened himself up, carefully adjusting his hold on Xingqiu’s legs to make sure they were secure, and headed off.