Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"What's a guy like you doing out so late, hm? Don't you know it's dangerous?"

The poor snow-coloured boy startled and turned around, a small flurry accompanying the movement.

"G-get back," he said to the voice, his eyes failing to locate it in the dark. It giggled.

"Don't worry," a boy's voice said, stepping closer into his line of sight. "I won't hurt you, promise!"

He couldn't have been much older than Chongyun. He had blue hair, darker than Chongyun's own, and golden eyes. He was dressed rather fancily, with ruffled sleeves and short pants. He was... cute.

The startled boy lowered the greatsword that he held in his hands, the weapon much too big for such a little boy. "Who are you?"

The boy smiled. "I'm Xingqiu! What's your name?"

"...Chongyun."

"Chongyun!"

The exorcist sighed with the long-suffering exhaustion of one who is used to the youngest son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild.

"Good evening, Xingqiu," he replied, not turning around. He knew that Xingqiu would catch up quickly.

"Hey! Don't just walk away from me!" The young noble hurried to catch up to him, his shoes clicking on the paved street. He placed himself in front of Chongyun and placed his hands on his own hips. A mischievous look gleamed in his eye, and Chongyun mentally sighed.

"Are you busy right now?"

Yes.

"No," Chongyun said aloud.

He could never be too busy for Xingqiu.

The aforementioned boy smiled, his face almost glowing with satisfaction. "Good, come with me!"

"No, no, you're holding it all wrong! Here, let me show you."

Chongyun felt his face warm up as the boy stepped closer to him, taking his hands and placing them properly on the claymore.

"There, now give it a swing. Feel better?"

Chongyun struggled a bit, but managed to get a decent swing in at the tree he was practicing on. He nodded.

"It's less strenuous this way," he remarked, giving another few experimental swings. The darker-haired boy giggled.

"Such a big vocabulary for such a little guy!"

Chongyun felt himself blush again. "I-I'm seven years old," he protested, earning another giggle.

"I like you," Xingqiu decided. "Let's be friends!"

Chongyun tilted his head. The boy was nice, and good with weapons. And... it would be nice to have a friend.

"Yeah... Alright."

"Up here, 'Yun!"

The energetic boy turned around, ushering Chongyun forward.

"Hurry, hurry, before it's gone!"

"Relax, 'Qiu, I'm hurrying," Chongyun huffed, following him up the hill. "Where are we going, anyway?"

Xingqiu bounced in place impatiently. "You'll see if you get moving! Come on!"

Finally Chongyun reached the top of the hill, and his breath caught in his throat. In front of them was the most beautiful sunset Chongyun had ever seen, rivaling even  the ones that he had witnessed with Auntie Shenhe.

There was a bit of blue still on the horizon, with layers of clouds catching and reflecting various yellows and pinks. The peak of the sky was a deep purple, fading to magenta and orange the closer it got to the receding sun.

And there stood Xingqiu against all of it, his dark clothes creating a silhouette that ruffled in the breeze.

"Chongyun?"

The exorcist startled. "Yes?"

"Do you ever feel lost?"

Chongyun didn't know how to respond to that. "Lost how...?"

Xingqiu sighed. "Oh, nothing. Forget I asked."

"...Alright. We should head back."

"...yeah."

Chongyun walked Xingqiu back to his house. For protection, of course. Not because he wanted to spend more time with him.

Xingqiu's mother smiled at him as she waved her son inside. Chongyun waved back to her, calling 'goodnight' to Xingqiu before going on his way.

It was a beautiful night.

Chapter Text

Chongyun had known Xingqiu since the two of them were still in short pants. They each knew all of each other's strengths and weaknesses, their favorite food, least favorite food, all their tells and ticks. They always knew when something was up with the other.

And something was up with Xingqiu.

It was small things here and there. Maybe he would space out, or lose his train of thought, or ask a dark question out of nowhere. Chongyun began to notice that these instances were reoccurring. Ever since the night he walked the noble home, Chongyun suspected that something was bothering Xingqiu, but he never wanted to talk about it. He always dodged the question, or ignored the worried glances from Chongyun.

And there were a lot of those glances.

Chongyun felt he had every right to be worried. After all, his best friend seemed to be in a bad place. He was moody and despondent, very unlike himself. The last tike Chongyun had seen him so down was that night he spent crying in the exorcist's arms after scratching up his own.

Chongyun had been terrified that night.

Xingqiu had shown up in the middle of a late-night training session with his sleeves rolled up and stained, his wrists red and puffy from being scratched. The noble had simply walked up to Chongyun and placed his head on the other's shoulder. He had never told Chongyun what happened. He just pretended it never happened, smiling and joking the next day. So Chongyun went along with it. After all, he seemed fine. That meant he was fine, right?

...right?

They were lying on their backs, looking up at a sky full of stars. They had just finished sparring; Chongyun was getting better and better at wielding his greatsword.

"Hey, 'Yun."

The exorcist turned his head to look at his friend. "Yeah?"

Xingqiu raised one of his hands above him, as if he were trying to catch a star. "If I die young, I want you to promise me something."

"...Xingqiu?"

"If I die young," Xingqiu repeated, lifting himself up onto his side to better look at Chongyun. "I want to be buried in satin. I want to be laid down on a bed of roses, and be sent down the river at dawn, and I want to be sent away with the words of a love song. Nobody shall mourn my death; I wish for it to be a joyous occasion."

Chongyun laughed nervously. "I think you've read too many novels, 'Qiu."

The noble giggled. "Nonsense. I think you just haven't read enough." He sighed and flopped onto his back again. They lay there in silence for a few moments, and then Xingqiu spoke again.

"You didn't promise."

Chongyun closed his eyes. "Xingqiu, you're not going to die anytime soon."

"Promise me."

"'Qiu-"

"Don't you ''Qiu' me," he said heatedly. "Promise."

"...Alright. I promise."