Work Text:
Chongyun
Chongyun had always wished for the gentle grace of Xingqiu’s hold. How he wished to be loved, enveloped in the warm folds of his garbs. To feel the gentle touch of his lips to his forehead to soothe him. Oh how he dreamed of it. Yet the heat of such action scared him. So he avoided such things.
Yet as he lay bleeding out on the battlefield, rain pelting down, love was the only thing he wished for. He reached out a weak hand to the sky above, hating how cold his body felt. He wished he to press his hand and caress the smooth skin of Xingqiu’s face. To hold him. To Be more then friends.
His eyelids felt heavy, as did his arm. Yet maybe if he waited just a little longer he’d see him again…
He had always been worried that he’d die before he’d have the opportunity to vanquish an evil spirit. Yet as he lay soaked in both the rain and his own blood, he was more disappointed he’d never had the opportunity to share his feelings about Xingqiu.
How much he loved the feeling of the boys hand in his; Their skin pressed together. Oh how he cherished the time spent together, though he wished he had more time. More time for teasing, more time for joking, more time for laughing.
Yet he had little time left. He could feel it. He could feel how the cold pain of death was creeping up in him. Would he too become a vengeful spirit? One wanting only to hear the soft voice of his best friend again?
He didn’t know.
All he did know was that he was dying.
And all he wanted was Xingqiu.
===
Xingqiu
“My liege?”
The rain had finally cleared up, yet that didn’t stop Xingqiu’s eyes from fogging up with tears at the sight in-front of him. His sword felt to his side and he ran to that oh-so recognizable body. He fell to his knees in the muddy ground, forgetting entirely about his attire. His heart pounding in his chest. The world spinning around him. He couldn’t face the reality in front of him.
He placed a shaky hand onto his friends bloody chest. His throat felt tight, yet part of him couldn’t believe what was in front of him. This had to be a prank right? He was just trying to get him back for all those Chilli’s he put in his cold noodles. Right?
“Ha- Yun Yun, this isn’t funny.” He gently shook him as he felt his own hot tears roll down his face. “Y-yun Yun, my Liege- this isn’t a good prank.” *He looked around in desperation, hoping and begging for Xiangling to pop out from the bushes. For Chongyun to sit up and smile that adorable soft smile and laugh. But that never happened.
He shook Chongyuns corpse harder. Gritting his teeth as his body trembled over his friends’.
“Get up, Yun yun. Get up- Archons Please!” The desperation in his voice sending echos through the eerily quiet air.
“Chongyun, Please. I can’t lose you-“
But there was no bargaining with death. Not even Morax himself could have changed the outcome. Yet as hours ticked by, all Xingqiu could do was beg and prey that his dear Chongyun, would open his eyes.
Yet he never would.
===
Xiangling
“There was so much I never got to say-“
Xiangling looked down to Xingqiu as he knelt in front of Chongyun’s grave. It had only been a few weeks yet his body was already buried. Gods work fast but Hutao works faster. They had picked a beautiful spot on the mountains overlooking the harbor. Xingqiu had brung a bouquet of the prettiest silk flowers and glaze lilies to place at his shrine. And Xiangling had cooked cold mountain noodles as an offering. Cooked just like Chongyun liked them.
Xiangling’s heart broke as she watched the blue haired boy sob for nth time. She herself felt tears prick into her own eyes. She had to squeeze her eyes shut to force away tears. It was so hard to smile, so hard to great costumers with the same bubbly persona. Even cooking seemed Mundane to her since the news reached her.
Yet she knew Xingqiu was the one hurting the most. She had been the one to watch the two swoon over each other. Xingqiu’s not so subtle remarks that Chongyun never seemed to catch the meaning behind. And Chongyun coming to her to admit his feeling for the blue haired boy when he was in the heat of his yang energy.
It was laughable how they seemed to orbit around each other, in an eternal push and pull of their feelings. Like an elegant glance that never seemed to end. Until it did end.
“It’s not fair-“ Xiangling felt herself snap back to the moment upon hearing the broken voice of Xingqiu. She could make out that he was hugging something, a leather bound book. She couldn’t qite read the cover, but she found that she better not ask. So she remained silent as she let Xingqiu grieve.
So many people were grieving along side them. Shenhe, the Traveler, even Adeptus Xiao; who had made and appearances knowing of Chongyuns admiration for him. Yet only Xingqiu and Xiangling stood there now. Flower petals falling down gracefully to the ground around them.
“Lantern Rite was just around the corner, Yun Yun. Why couldn’t you have waited just a little longer- Why?”
Xiangling had know of Xingqiu’s plan to confess to Chongyun. It was supposed to be this big deal. Traveler was even involved. Xingqiu was going to take Chongyun to all their favorite spots throughout the day. Then under the glow of the lanterns and fireworks he’d confess with a bouquet of silk flowers similar to the ones he was holding currently. Yet now that plan would never come to fruition.
The golden light of the sunset cascaded down on their trembling forms reminded Xiangling of the time. “We should head home now, Xingqiu.”
“But I can’t just leave him- he’ll be all alone-“
It broke Xiangling to have to tear Xingqiu away from where he knelt. But she knew she had too. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. Lets go.”
Xingqiu looked up to her his eyes red from tears, and a dribble of snot running from his nose.
“One more minute, please-“
“Okay.” Her voice was as soft and broken as his. Her throat sore from dehydration. She watched as Xingqiu reached out to place down the leather bound book he was holding. It was a hand made book with the title: ‘Poems and Letters to Chongyun.’ Then resting the bouquet on-top.
“Here you go, My liege. A book of all the poems and notes I’ve always written for you, but never had the courage to send. Funny right? I’m always talking about chivalry and honor yet I never had the guts to do what I spoke of. Heh..”
Xiangling stayed silent biting her lip as she tried so hard not to break out into sobs herself. Xingqiu finally stood, and turned to face the teary eyed chef. A somber smile on his face.
“Alright, Lets go.”
Xiangling nodded, forcing herself to turn her back to Chongyun grave. She and Xingqiu walked away in silence. Both knowing the huge loss they suffered. And the person they would forever miss…