Chapter Text
The first time was after Xinyan's show.
She was setting up a little concert in Liyue Harbor, this time with the authorization of the Millelith, but not only that, the Tianquan in person, Ninguang, was the one who told her that she should do a concert soon. (And it definitely wasn't Beidou’s influence, saying that “Xinyan has been down lately”, “I really wish she threw a concert soon") So, naturally, she was really excited.
Obviously, Xingqiu wanted to support her. He would go with Hu Tao, Xiangling, Gaming, and even Yunjin, but Chongyun wasn't so sure.
“Chongyun, you don't need to worry, all of us understand that a Xinyan concert isn’t the best for your condition” He and his friend were having lunch as usual in the Wanmin restaurant, when Xiangling approached their table. “Yeah, all of us know that, you don't need to worry Chongyun” she told them, leaving their plates on the table. They thanked her, and as soon as she finished, she left to take care of more clients.
Xingqiu started to eat his food, but he noticed Chongyun staring at his cold noodles.
“Chongyun, it’s okay. If you continue with that puppy look in your eyes, I’m going to get sad” he said. The mentioned looked at him and put a little warm smile on his lips.
That smile did things to him.
Trying to stay composed and not expose himself, Xinqiu returned the smile and continued eating, until Chongyun talked again.
“I'm going”
“What was that again, dear?” He really needed to stop calling him dear
“I’m going to Xinyan’s concert” The boy looked determined “Maybe if I bring enough popsicles and a fan, I won't overheat”
“Are you sure?” Xingqiu loved spending time with Chongyun, and he loved seeing him in a yang state too (It was kinda obvious with all the pranks he played on him), but the last time they went to see their friend’s performance, Chongyun overheated and put on a show, it was so bad that the boy didn't leave his house for about a week.
“I’m sure, I want to go support Xinyan, besides…” Chongyun put his hand on Xingqiu's wrist, which was resting on the table, and gave him a little squeeze “I wanna spend that time with you”
Truly, it was not fair what Chongyun did to his heart.
♡ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ౨ৎ ‧₊ .ᐟ
Xingqiu tried to reassure Chongyun that it was okay for him not to show up; nobody can say that he didn’t. So, surely, this wasn’t his fault.
Right, he was the one who asked if he wanted to go. You’re not wrong about that one, but he didn’t insist when he said no! The boy changed his mind alone! He decided to go! Chongyun said it was okay! He reassured him that it was fine! That the last time he overheated was just because he didn't have enough popsicles with him!
Okay, maybe it was his fault, he should have recognized the lame excuse when he first heard it, and maybe he did, but he really wanted to go support Xinyan, so he bought it, hoping that Chongyun wasn't actually lying and he was assuming the wrong thing.
He wasn't.
Everything happened so quickly, he remembers all of his friends screaming their lungs out, (except for Yun Jin, who was just clapping and enjoying the performance), the people crowded all together, being so energetic, and Xingqiu, just by standing there (He was the guild second child, of course he could not lose the composure) could feel how the heat was getting to him.
The heat was getting to him.
That's when it hit him.
He quickly turned to the left, where Chongyun was standing, his eyes sparkling as he watched the show, his face completely red.
“No, this is not happening today” He said, grabbing his hand and making his way out of the crowd.
He ran away, as fast as possible and as far as possible. He liked seeing Chongyun overheat, especially at a Xinyan performance. Last time was hilarious (and cute), but this time? Absolutely no, no after Chongyun tried really hard not to overheat just because he wanted to go to see Xinyan’s performance.
Not after he put in all the effort, just to spend time with him.
Just because he wanted to be with him.
Once they were far enough from Xinyan’s concert, he stopped.
“Chongyun, dear Chongyun are you alright?”
The boy’s face was all red, his eyes shining looking straight into his soul. He tilted his head to the side, like a little dog.
He was so cute- No! He was overheating! Focus Xingqiu! Focus!
“Yunnie you are all red, where are your popsicles?”
No response
“Damn it Chongyun, why would you say that you are fine when you are not? Let me check your temperature” He put his hand on his forehead, checking his temperature.
He was hot and sweating, his eyes still looking at him. If he said that his knees weren't getting weak after that, he would be lying.
“Okay, I’m going to use my vision to refresh you a little bit, where did you put your popsicles again?” With his hand still on his forehead, Xingqiu reaches for his vision, and that's when a sudden grab on his wrist makes him startled.
Chongyun took his wrist and redirected his hand to his cheek, rubbing it like a cat.
“Chongyun?” was the only thing the blue-haired boy managed to say, he truly didn't know how to react to such an interaction.
The mentioned took his free hand, intertwining his fingers with his. Xingqiu's heart skipped a beat.
“You are really pretty Xingqiu, did you know that?” He said, before leaving a kiss in his hand that was still on his face. He could feel his skin burning for the touch of his lips.
Pretty? He heard that right? He just called him pretty, Chongyun called him pretty.
Okay, maybe he was hallucinating, because there's no way that Chongyun, his best friend, his childhood best friend, the person with whom he has a huge crush, just out of the blue, called him pretty.
He. Called. Him. Pretty.
Forget Chongyun, Xingqiu is the one that is gonna pass out
“wha- Chongyun you are overheating, we need to-”
Since literally, everything could be something that could activate Chongyun’s yang condition, he wasn’t very touchy, so he was really surprised when the boy pulled him into a hug.
A hug .
Chongyun was hugging him, by the waist.
And of course he was happy, actually, he felt like he could jump in his room and scream into his pillow all night, but that's not important right now, he needed to focus.
“I’m really happy Xingqiu, I love you so much” He sounded so happy and giggling, rubbing his face on his best friend's neck.
Oh well, he just said that he loves him, that's nothing, not a problem at all, it’s not like all the concentration Xingqiu had in his system just decided that he doesn’t need them and went to vacation leaving him with just the thought of how he didn’t want this to end, and how lovely Chongyun’s hugs feels, and how he will probably dream about this.
God, this was too much for him.
He needed to stay composed, Chongyun's well-being was more important than his indulgences.
“O-Okay Chongyun, that’s enou-”
He distanced himself a little bit, his hands on his waist, looking straight into Xingqiu's eyes. If someone passed by, they would think that they were about to kiss.
But that is not the case, right? That is impossible, Chongyun just was acting like this because of his condition, the intense glaze in his eyes, the way his hand’s touch burned in his waist, the way he was so close to him…
“I really like you”
Xingqiu didn't even have time to process the situation before Chongyun passed out in his arms.
“Xingqiu! Chongyun!” Xiangling was running towards them “What the hell happened?! Everything was fine and from one moment to the next, you were running! Did something happen? Wait, what happened to Chongyun?! Did he overheat?! Man, he said he was fine! Xingqiu wha-”
She looked away from Chongyun, finally noticing the state his other friend was in.
“Wow Xingqiu, your face is all red, what the hell happened? Are you going to overheat too?”
He heard him right, right?
“I really like you”
Chongyun liked him?
What.
What.
What the fuck
What the fuck just happened.