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Xingqiu had read many a novel in the seventeen years he’d had the pleasure of existing in Teyvat, whether they be light novels from the depths of the Inazuman suburbs or the more western styled ones that hailed from Mondstadt, he’d read many. He’d also experienced his fair amount of different genres: action, historical, fantasy, historical fantasy, romance, you name it. And he’d even just so happened to attempt some writing of his own, though those were nowhere near ready to be published just yet. Not when, of course, he had to get the interactions between the exorcist and author, the character, not Xingqiu himself, just perfect. Anyways, besides all that, Xingqiu lately found himself more interested in the current happenings of Chenyu Vale High School, than his own work.
Specifically, the late interactions between the second half of the friend group Xingqiu shared with his boyfriend. The ones between Gaming and the new kid, Freminet. Xingqiu didn’t really know Freminet all that well, despite the guy having been a part of the friend group since he’d just so happened to appear on that very first day, and just happened to take the seat next to Gaming. Since then, it had been subtle, but Xingqiu liked to believe he had enough experience to pick up on the signs, even if a year ago, Gaming would’ve looked at him like he’d grown a second head. Anyways! That wasn’t the point! The point was, Xingqiu would like to think he was smart enough to realize that Gaming had fallen, and fallen bad for his desk neighbour.
Gaming’s signs were all textbook. While the four of them would be hanging out together, whether at that S place, or wherever else, Gaming’s eyes would without fail manage to find Freminet, when Xingqiu had had the opportunity to catch him in the act of course. Even in the absence of Freminet, Gaming’s discussions would somehow land on the guy, and then his eyes would sparkle or light up in that way that someone in love’s would. Privately, Gaming would let the Fremfrem nickname slip, and that was honestly the first hint that either Xingqiu or Chongyun had gotten, and he would continue to use it, even though Freminet didn’t seem to really like nicknames in general. Gaming was also acting a lot more airheaded and excitable than normal, and at least for Gaming, that was saying something. It was even to the point that Xingqiu couldn’t keep up with him, and before Freminet, Xingqiu was one of the few people who could keep up with him. It takes an extrovert to know an extrovert, he guessed.
That was another thing about their friend group, though, and not just related to the interactions of Freming, as Xingqiu had taken to collectively calling them. A mashing of their names, a perfect way to do so, in his opinion.
…It also was a bit of revenge for Gaming calling him and his dear Chongyun, Xingyun, but he digressed!
Anyways, not the point.
Their friend group, now that Xingqiu thought about it, was a collection of introverts and extroverts, as Freminet was much closer to Chongyun in terms of energy than Gaming or Xingqiu himself.
Gaming’s signs were so textbook, in fact, that Xingqiu was honestly dumbfounded as to why Freminet hadn’t picked up on it at all, when he and Chongyun had. It was honestly odd. How does one witness your friend being oddly jumpy around you, blush when you accidentally brush each other, or catch them staring at you when you look at them and remain oblivious to that? When that just screams ‘I like you, and I’m kind of dying’ or whatever? Maybe Freminet isn’t used to it? Or doesn’t know it? Xingqiu wouldn’t know, truly, he wasn’t living in Freminet’s head.
Also, the other, more true reason that Xingqiu was so Archon-damned sure of the status of Gaming’s feelings?
He was the same with Chongyun.
Even thinking about it now, made Xingqiu cringe at his past stupidity. It had been so obvious that his beloved Chongyun had reciprocated and he was oblivious to it, or maybe he just hadn’t allowed himself to think about the possibility. He’d read all these novels where the main pairing gets together at the end, and yet it still had taken Gaming straight up telling him that Chongyun reciprocated for him to even confess to that, and Xingqiu had no doubt that Gaming had had the same conversation with Chongyun too if the reaction he’d had was any indication. Even thinking about him calling Chongyun YunYun privately kind of made him feel a little embarrassed, even if Chongyun did like the nickname. Past him was something that Xingqiu would like to forget.
But… now Gaming was going through that…
A smirk found its way onto Xingqiu which roused a, “Uh oh, you’re thinking about that again, aren’t you?” From where Chongyun was lying beside him, and Xingqiu was brought back to reality. Xingqiu looked at what they had supposedly been doing, watching an anime on figure skating or something or other, or maybe it was just full-on figure skating, but it seemed like neither of them had really been paying attention to it for a while. Chongyun sat up from where his head had been lying on Xingqiu’s chest and he gave him an accusatory look, but there was no actual malice in it. “You’ve… been concocting something for a while, haven’t you,” Chongyun added, and Xingqiu was kind of delighted at the fact that he had read him like a book and he sat up himself as well, Chongyun moving away so that they didn’t but heads. “Okay, spill it, Viktor,” Chongyun murmured, referencing something on the laptop, and Xingqiu smirked.
“Oh, referring to me as the character? How quaint. Anyways, it involves Gaming,” Xingqiu hummed, and Chongyun let out a little exasperated sigh.
“This is what I think it is, isn’t it?” He ran a hand through his hair. “You do remember he doesn’t even realize that he does like him, right? I thought that was quite clear.” Chongyun deadpanned at him but Xingqiu only giggled, and Chongyun started holding back a smile. Xingqiu cupped Chongyun’s cheek his hand and looked at him.
“Hey, I never said it was going to be easy,” Xingqiu conceded. “But that only makes the story better, doesn’t it? That they don’t get together within the first few pages? For a romance, I’d say that’s pretty boring.” Chongyun deadpanned again, and then facepalmed, making no noise accept for a groan. “Obviously Freming isn’t a novel, they’re real people but, Gaming not realizing that he likes him is the first step in building their story, so to speak.”
“You know I don’t get the book analogy, Xingqiu- wait, ‘Freming’?” A spark of curiousity entered Chongyun’s voice, and he tilted his head. “That’s what we’re calling them now? Isn’t that just like Gaming calling us Xingyun? Wait, that’s the point, isn’t it?” Xingqiu smirked and Chongyun sighed.
“Precisely,” Xingqiu answered, and Chongyun looked at him. “Think of it as a little revenge.” Chongyun looked at the long forgotten laptop screen, where the silver-haired skater was doing a complicated jump, and his gaze was conflicted.
“I don’t like the idea of calling it revenge, but… I guess it would be nice to have them not be dancing around each other like they are currently. I mean, I’m sure we were pretty bad if it resulted in Gaming doing what he did with us. Maybe he can get a bit of his own medicine? I guess? Though that phrase is also kinda like getting revenge I guess. Anyways, what’s your plan?” He asked as he shut off the laptop and put it away for the time being. “Are we gonna split up into different groups or not? Or will we do it together?” He paused. “I guess what I’m asking is what would it entail?” He rejoined Xingqiu on the bed.
“Currently, our first priority would be to get Gaming to admit it. But that might prove difficult based on how deep he’s sorta buried that realization? It… it seems words are failing me,” Xingqiu said, blinking. “What I’m trying to say is that the wall blocking that realization might be too great too- No that’s not it.”
“That might difficult based on how in denial or ignorant he is,” Chongyun surmised. Then, a small smile appeared on his face. “Though I didn’t expect someone as self-admittedly eloquent as you, would have trouble explaining that,” he teased, and Xingqiu felt himself blush out of embarrassment.
“I-I don’t know why I was having such a hard time. But, anyways! The second step might prove even harder, depending on Freminet.” Chongyun gazed at him.
“What’s the second step?”
“Find out how Freminet feels,” Xingqiu said practically immediately, causing Chongyun to blink. “Unlike Gaming, he tends to keep to himself, and you and I don’t know him as well as Gaming does, so finding out if he reciprocates is gonna prove difficult.” Chongyun hummed and looked thoughtful for a moment, before sighing in defeat.
“And… we can’t just outright ask him. He may be friendlier with us now, but… you saw him on that first day. That might cause him to close up if we approach him too quickly. Well, then again, he is friendly with us-“
“Isn’t that kind of infantilizing him?” Xingqiu asked simply and Chongyun blinked.
“I didn’t mean for it to come across that way, but I am trying to be mindful of his… you know.” Xingqiu simply nodded and looked away.
“Let’s just observe him from afar for the time being-“
“Wait, isn’t his brother performing at your dad’s work function tomorrow? Maybe you could ask him? He’s the closest guy to Freminet besides Gaming isn’t he?” Xingqiu blinked as he was suddenly reminded of that function. That was supposed to show him what working there could be. Which was just… eh. Xingqiu didn’t really like that concept. Oh but wait! The function! The one he was supposed to ask Chongyun about. And well, he supposed he could ask Freminet’s brother about it too.
“Actually about that, I was going to ask you to come with me. My father said that me and my brother could bring plus ones so, I was wondering if you could come too. You don’t have any work due to tomorrow, do you? I mean obviously. There’s homework and all but besides that.” Chongyun looked at him and smiled softly.
“Of course I’ll come with you,” he replied before a smirk found itself on his face. “I mean I think the author and the exorcist could use a dance between them, now do they?” Xingqiu blinked and reddened causing a small laugh to escape from Chongyun.
“You know about thAT?” Xingqiu’s voice cracked. Sure, he had been writing about an exorcist and author in the novel that wasn’t ready to publish, but he hadn’t expected Chongyun to find it! All traces of Freminet and Gaming left his mind at that point and he just gaped at his boyfriend, who had burst into a fit of giggles, which would sound adorable if Xingqiu hadn’t just been blindsided by this very fact.
“Qiuqiu,” Chongyun giggled, the nickname almost sounding patronizing rather than affectionate. “Only two of us can read your handwriting, and besides yourself, who else can? I do believe it’s me, my dear Xingqiu,” he hummed, sounding nothing like Chongyun, and Xingqiu stared at him.
“Are you having a Yang episode?” He said and Chongyun blinked. He started feeling himself and looking around as if trying to figure it out.
“No, it doesn’t feel like it.” He looked back at Xingqiu and smiled. “I just think you’re rubbing off on me, but I can’t be too sure.”
A few hours later, Xingqiu, Chongyun and Gaming all met up at a cafe in some mall that Xingqiu hadn’t cared to learn the name of, and sat down at a table, the seat next to Gaming noticeably absent. It’s where Freminet would’ve sat if they had joined them, but he’d had somewhere else to be, and Xingqiu and Chongyun had hidden it well, but they were glad he wasn’t here. It gave them an opportunity to set phase one of the plan into action, where they could have a full on discussion regarding Gaming’s feelings. The cafe they were are was out in the open and there were people walking by, and Xingqiu saw the likes of Hu Tao and Xiangling talking about something the three of them were too far away to hear. Xingqiu then turned his gaze on Gaming. “Gaming,” he began, keeping the conversation fairly not Freminet related, just to see if Gaming would bring him up at all, “have Chongyun and I ever told you about Xiangling and rest?” It seemed like a topical idea to start with as the three of them had just witnessed them.
“Xiangling?” Gaming repeated, somewhat distantly. “Is she the one with the Chow Chow called Guoba?” Xingqiu blinked and he and Chongyun shared a look.
“Well, yes, she is,” Chongyun decided to respond. “Only, Guoba isn’t purebred Chow, I don’t think, or if he is, he’s a little small, but that’s not the point. You seem a little… drained today. You almost look like me when I’m coming out of a Yang episode without help. Is… everything okay?” Gaming looked at them and smiled.
“Oh me? Yeah, everything’s fine. I just kinda wish he was here, you know? Not that you guys aren’t good company! It’s just… I guess I’m just used to all four of us being here. Not that I’m lonely with only guys here, of course. I’m just kinda used to feeling his breath on my-“ Gaming paused and reddened and backtracked so quickly that Chongyun and Xingqiu shared a look. “I-I mean, not that I want to feel his breath on my neck!! He’s, uh, jus-just always there! So I’m kinda used to it. Also, I’m just used feeling his presence there if that makes sense? So yeah. I’m fine.”
“It seems like you care about this guy a lot,” said a new voice from the side of them and all three turned their heads to find the man at the table to the side of them, his piercing green-and-orange eyes looking at them warmly, despite his otherwise unassuming appearance, with the short mane of black hair and clothing full of conflicting shades of green, yellow and black, but somehow, the man made them work, in Xingqiu’s opinion. Though, it was kind of strange to see the man without the nightmare of a Chihuahua he usually had with him. Xingqiu had only seen the man in passing, coming to his father’s work to get things for the zoo he worked at or something along those lines. The man turned his head towards Gaming and tilted it. “Hm, I recognize you actually. You’re Gaming, aren’t you?” At this Gaming paled and quickly glanced at Xingqiu and Chongyun as if they knew what was going on. The man seemed to realize how he had come off and explained himself, “You’re Lyney’s brother’s friend, right? Freminet’s?”
“Oh, you’re Kinich, no wonder you know me,” Gaming said after relaxing, and it was Kinich’s turn to be surprised. “Freminet’s mentioned you before. That Lyney likes to ride your grappling hook?”
“What?” Kinich spat out, acting nothing like he had before, and started to blush, though his darker complexion hid it well. Gaming blinked himself and then also reddened at the misunderstanding.
“No, no, no! Not like that! I meant that literally!” Xingqiu couldn’t hold back a laugh and brought his hand up to his mouth to hide it, while Chongyun just facepalmed with a small sigh. Gaming, on the other hand, continued to try and defuse the situation. “I swear on Morax’s name that was an accident, I swear that was meant literally! I didn’t mean that you guys were an item or anything. Oh Archons, Lyney already doesn’t like me, and if he finds out this happened…”
“I don’t think Lyney would mind too much,” Kinich responded after calming down. “Besides, the only people it would affect would be him and me.” He then let out a small chuckle and looked away from the group of teenagers and to the ceiling. “Plus, that accidental joke of yours might have even been up his alley. He’s no stranger to jokes of that nature, I’m sure he would take it in stride, once he’d you know, get over the initial shock of it. He’s even used jokes like that when he’s hanging out with me. Though, Ajaw makes that difficult sometimes,” he sounded almost frustrated at this and that brought Xingqiu’s mind back to the topic of the missing Chihuahua.
“Actually Mr. Malipo, I was wondering about that. I noticed you don’t have Ajaw with you at the moment, and I as far as I know, you take him everywhere with you,” Xingqiu asked, a curious tone entering his voice as he completely forgot about why they were here in the first place. Kinich blinked as if he was just realizing there were other people at the table and turned his gaze on them.
“Ajaw is currently in timeout, and by that I mean he’s with Mavuika, or as Lyney says he’s with his grand-mère. I felt I needed a break, from his yapping, especially around Lyney.” He turned back towards Gaming. “If Lyney hates you, then Ajaw hates Lyney. I’m not sure why, but I cannot speak dog.” Kinich then looked thoughtful a second. “Going back to what I was saying earlier, you seem to care for Lyney’s brother. Judging by what you were saying earlier.”
“You… speak Fontainian?” Gaming asked before realizing what Kinich had actually said. Xingqiu and Chongyun decided to hang back as it seemed as if Kinich was doing their job for them. “Also, you heard that?” Kinich’s smile grew amused as he seemingly got more comfortable with the conversation.
“I’m quite sure the entire café heard that,” he responded. “And with Fontainian… I do know a bit, I have… a good teacher, let’s just say that. So, anyway, you and Freminet, hm?” Xingqiu watched the two interact with interest, Kinich’s tone was neutral, maybe bordering on curiousity, but nowhere near the kind of curiousity that an older brother might have on with this particular topic.
Xingqiu would know as much. As much as he hated to remember past him and his stupidity, he did remember his own brother being particularly annoying about it, maybe even more so than Gaming.
“What are you saying?” Gaming asked, though his blush was giving him away. “What about us?” Kinich simply smiled at him, before a vibration sounded from his back pocket and with a sigh, he took out his phone and looked at the message, and then started smiling softly at the phone. “Uh, what are you doing?” Gaming asked after the sudden change of topic and Kinich sat up and then turned back to his table.
“I got to go, I have to go help someone figure out light arrangements for something that they’re doing. It was fun meeting Lyney’s brother’s cru-friend,” he said fairly quickly, sounding almost like he was in a hurry and Xingqiu could then only watch as Kinich paid for whatever he’d ordered from the cafe and then stroll out, putting on some headphones and then walking out of the mall.
Once Kinich left, Xingqiu and Chongyun turned their attention back on Gaming, who was looking all kinds of confused. “So,” Xingqiu started, a smirk finding itself on his face. “There’s a reason that Chongyun and I have brought you here, and as Mr. Malipo so kindly implied, it has to do with you and Freminet. He wasn’t in on this by the way, it was just… a marvelous coincidence that he happened to be here.” Gaming narrowed his eyes and he looked a little suspicious.
“Then, I ask again… what is it about me and Freminet?” His voice sounded cautious and Chongyun was the next to answer.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but me and Xingqiu have sort of been picking up on… signs. Blatant signs of certain… feelings surrounding Freminet.” Gaming’s gaze just grew more confused and Chongyun looked at Xingqiu desperately.
“Gaming, do you remember what you did with me and my dear Chongyun? About our feelings for each other. How exactly did we react to each other when we weren’t together?”
“Hm, with Xingqiu, his teasing got more intense, and yet softer, if that makes sense. Hm, I also suspect that he wrote fanfiction of you and him, but your handwriting is unduly illegible.” Gaming shook his head as if personally offended by that fact and Xingqiu could only chuckle. “Also, Xingqiu, you would constantly bring up Chongyun or somehow find yourself on the topic of Chongyun, saying things like: ‘Oh, Chongyun likes that one figure skating anime, which I suppose is like dancing in a way. It’s obviously not Wushou, that might break the ice, literally, rather than make people glide across it, and I don’t doubt that rolling a skateboard on ice would be a death sentence for anyone willing to try, even if the jumps are difficult enough that anyone could get hurt.’ And then I’d mention that in any sport you could get hurt, and you’d either not hear me, or you would, but your brain would be so Chongyun focused you wouldn’t know what to do. Actually I think I literally remember you being like: ‘Hm, I could honestly see Chongyun figure skating. He has this sort of grace to him, which adds to the sort of ballet dancing that figure skaters tend to do. I don’t think I would mind seeing him swaying across the ice to music, telling the kind of story that only music can. In the way that can depress and also invigorate you in a way that makes you feel the anguish of the skater’ and so on, you were insufferable Xingqiu.”
“Xingqiu said that all about me?” Chongyun asked, blushing in a way that was almost worrying. “I will admit I would’ve never seen myself as an ice or figure skater but.. that’s… good to know.” He glanced quickly at Xingqiu before turning his gaze back on Gaming. “What kinda of things did I do?”
“You were more subtle in your feelings,” Gaming said immediately. “You still went on lengthy rants about Xingqiu though. You were more stolen glances, reddening slightly at the slightest touch, losing concentration. You’d tell me about the anime you’d like, but then Xingqiu would come up. Like, specifically for that anime, you’d be like: ‘The coach character reminds me of Xingqiu in terms of his mannerisms, if I’m being particularly honest with you. Please don’t tell him this as I can’t even tell him why I like the character so much. He’s… funny, a little boisterous, the flirting while not really flirting, well… I don’t want to spoil anything but… maybe it’s actual flirting, I don’t know. Also, while I can’t see Xingqiu as a figure skater, or in any sport really, he certainly has the elegance of one, and he has the grace to pull it off, and… the looks…’ you’d cut yourself after that but Archons above you act so much like Freminet when you’re in love, even if Freminet isn’t in love… with anyone.” Xingqiu’s attention was immediately drawn to the sad tone in Gaming’s voice on the last sentence.
Even if he isn’t conscious of his feelings, his subconscious sure is.
“Freminet is… sweet. He’s shy and has anxiety and all that, but he’s sweet. I’m still kind of in shock that he continued coming to S after that day, he really had me thinking that it would be a once off thing, but he surprised me when he said he wanted to come more than once! That penguin plushie he takes with him everywhere is just adorable. The way such a muscular guy just hugs the toy because it helps with his anxiety, I just… I can’t take it, I just I want to hug him, I want to hold him. He gets so passionate when anything mechanical just so happens to come across him, and it makes me wish that I knew even a lick of mechanics to help him with any project he finds himself fascinated with. Also hey!” Gaming turned around and pulled out his board, putting it on the table. “Look here! He fixed the rusty bits! Oh what’s this? He also changed the decal… what is it…” Xingqiu watched as Gaming’s eyes widened, and a wobbly smile found itself on his face. He then shoved the underside of the board in Xingqiu and Chongyun’s faces.
There on the underside of the board, where the lion dog that Xingqiu had remembered being there had been, was now that same lion dog, but it was now curled around a penguin as if the two were cuddling
The two of them hadn’t even had a discussion with Lyney yet but Xingqiu was already starting to suspect that Gaming’s feelings were reciprocated, and that this was Freminet’s way of flirting
Just a hunch.
“It’s us!!!” Gaming’s excited voice brought Xingqiu back to reality and he witnessed Gaming start hugging the board as if it had just suddenly manifested itself into Freminet right then and there. “He went and redid the decal… for it to be us…” Gaming’s smile had suddenly become the most in love one that Xingqiu had ever seen or read about, and he looked over at his own boyfriend and Chongyun was giving Gaming the same affectionate amused smile that Xingqiu was.
It didn’t even mean anything, but he felt like a proud parent.
Gaming was practically sobbing with happiness, and he was muttering to himself. “He really is so sweet, this is so Archon-damned sweet of him. Gods, this is adorable, he is adorable.” Xingqiu could only think of one thing, Gaming was well and truly gone , and personally, Xingqiu didn’t think that Gaming would be able to dig himself out of the hole that he had fallen into. “Freminet is adorable, I fucking love him so much,” Gaming murmured out, the swear surprising everyone, including Gaming himself and he seemed to blink himself back to reality.
The silence that followed was not unknown to Xingqiu, but it was still quite sudden.
Gaming was oddly quiet, and he slowly removed himself from hugging the skateboard, and he simply placed it back in his bag, before staring back at Xingqiu and Chongyun. Then, his face got very, very red, and he averted his gaze to the table. “It… I… How long… uh… um. I… I… have a crush… I… have… a crush… I-I…” he trailed off and his fingers clawed the table out of embarrassment and Xingqiu slowly nodded.
“Congratulations, you’re the last to know,” he couldn’t help the tease, and Gaming looked away. Chongyun only threw a sympathetic look Gaming’s way.
“Xingqiu and I have known for a while,” he added quietly. “You’ve kinda… been throwing signs for a while, so I guess, don’t crucify us for it?” Gaming played with his zipper and looked away. Xingqiu let out a quiet, yet amused snort.
“Yes, you’ve unfortunately fallen for your own ‘blue-eyed beauty’ I’m afraid,” Xingqiu commiserated. “It really isn’t the end of the world, you know. Sometimes, things just happen. But…”
“Are you doing what I think-“
“According to the books I’ve read, this was bound to happen. Extrovert and an introvert, you know. Though hm? What should your nicknames be? The dancer and the mechanic? An odd pairing, but nonetheless, it works.”
“You’re not writing a story about us.” Gaming sent a glare Xingqiu’s way but Xingqiu only smiled.
“I never said I was. Besides, I’m too busy with my current project to start a whole new one, even if I am very inspired at the moment, but then again, I must first deal with author and the exorcist before I even think about doing anything with the mechanic and the dancer. Anyways, we’ve spent most of our time here and not even ordered anything, which is quite rude if I do say so myself, so let’s rectify that, shall we?”
~
The next day was the day of the function and Xingqiu was no longer all that excited about it, as the biggest possible hint that Freminet reciprocated Gaming’s feelings had already been revealed, and really the most that Lyney could say that would be bigger bombshell was to say that fact outright. The fact that Freminet liked him, that is, though that was highly unlikely in Xingqiu’s honest opinion. Sighing, Xingqiu focused on the eyeliner he was currently putting on. He usually didn’t care about making himself presentable for these functions, but since he’d actually decided on his own volition to go this time and since he wasn’t forced to be there, it only seemed fair.
Xingqiu ran the eyeliner over his right eye, making his eyes almost look fox-like, and then he brought up his hair into a tiny ponytail, not that his hair would really need to be held up, but, it did help frame his face, especially with his otherwise slicked back hair, and once he was satisfied, he walked over to his closet and pulled out the navy dress shirt and pants that had just been collecting dust. He slid on the pants and then put on the shirt and then looked at himself in the wall length mirror of his room.
He certainly did look presentable for such an event, even if he was only there for a simple purpose.
He also didn’t look too done up, which would help with the sort of casual conversation he and Chongyun would be planning to have with Lyney when he finished his show. Xingqiu obviously was curious to hear what Lyney would have to say on the matter of Freminet, but all of that remained to be seen, and so he waited until the function actually started.
It was about halfway through the function when Lyney’s show actually started, and Xingqiu had basically just been hogging the snack stand with Chongyun the entire time, avoiding as much conversation as possible, for as much as he was an extrovert, his father’s colleagues had the complete opposite effect on him and made him feel the introvert level of drained at just the first word of conversation. Instead, Xingqiu had spent his social energy on his boyfriend, merely waiting for the show to start, as that was the most important reason for even being here in the first place, and once it did, they took a seat, quietly hoping that when Lyney would show up, he would recognize them from Freminet (presumably) telling him about them.
When Lyney eventually surfaced on the makeshift stage, he was alone, and there was no assistant in sight which seemed almost unlike how he usually would to do it. At least, according to Freminet. “Hello members of Feiyun Commerce, and others. My assistant is running a little late, so, I’m going to fill the space with a bit of comedy, though I will admit that I’m not a comedian, I’m simply a performer, so don’t expect gold, oui? Anyways, let’s get started.” Xingqiu clocked out for most of the comedy section, though the half-hearted laughs from the adults surrounding him. Chongyun was cringing himself but he remained quiet. Then, when Lynette finally arrived, complaining about bad tea or something was when the main show started, and Xingqiu decided to appear more interested.
The differences between Freminet and his siblings was quite vast, though this was the first time Xingqiu had witnessed anything done by Lyney in person. Their small friend group had obviously heard many a thing from Freminet himself, but it was still a shock in person, as Lyney commanded the stage, whereas Freminet would probably run from it. He glanced over at Chongyun, who was clearly enjoying it, and he smiled. He didn’t really get many chances to truly take in his boyfriend when he was truly happy and it was kind of sad-
“Oh hey! Kinich told me he saw you guys yesterday,” Lyney’s voice surprised Xingqiu out of his gaze and he looked over at Lyney. “Said you were hanging out with that Gaming.” Without asking, Lyney took the seat in front of them and then scooted closer towards them. “It’s funny that, because while he was talking to you guys, Freminet and I were having a sibling bonding thing.” Xingqiu tilted his head at the odd tone in Lyney’s voice and Chongyun seemed to pick up on it himself.
“How’s that funny? It’s certainly a coincidence, but how is it funny?” Lyney threw a smile Chongyun’s way and he threw back a confused look.
“Well, certain things came to light yesterday. Mon frère has a secret,” Lyney hummed and Xingqiu felt a smirk form on his face. “And it’s funny, because it’s related to Gaming, and Kinich just so happened to run into you guys while you were with Gaming. That’s so coincidental, oui? Almost too much, oui?” Hm… if Lyney hated Gaming, this was certainly a weird way if expressing it. He didn’t even sound upset, he sounded suspiciously like Xingqiu’s own brother had when he had discovered that Xingqiu liked Chongyun.
“Wait a minute, back up. Gaming says you hate him, and yet you’re acting like Freminet likes him and you’re very okay with that,” Xingqiu felt a smirk form on his face and Lyney gazed at him. “Do you truly hate him? Because right now it seems like you’re very ready to get them together, if you know what I mean.”
“Well… I will admit I was suspicious of him at first, not really for a bad reason. As I’m sure you’re aware, Freminet doesn’t have a lot friends, so I’m always cautious of anyone who interacts with him. I can never be sure if they’re good or not, you know? And I’d rather my brother not get hurt-“
“Lyney, you almost scared Gaming off the first time you saw him,” said a new voice, and Xingqiu saw Lynette eying the tea cup. “Hopefully this tastes better,” she muttered before taking a sip and then seeming satisfied. “What are you on about, and who is this?” She sat on the small table.
“These are Zing-cho and Chong-yoon,” Lyney responded, and Xingqiu internally cringed at the horrendous pronunciation. Lyney was Fontainian but Archons above, that was terrible. Lynette’s ear flicked and her tail came to rest at her side. “And we were just discussing l’amour de Freminet, you know? That Gaming kid.” Xingqiu didn’t know a lick of Fontainian really, but he knew enough through the context clues. They were discussing Freminet’s affections, and that’s all he needed to know.
“So… Freminet likes him?” Xingqiu asked causing both Lyney and Lynette to pause from where they’d been having a full on argument in Fontainian. Lyney smiled and actually started laughing.
“Mais oui! Honestly, c’est magnifique. It’s sweet. First he makes friends, actual friends! In his new school, which he was unsure about, but he’s now experiencing love as well! It’s better than any of us could’ve imagined!”
“He wasn’t like this three weeks ago,” Lynette stated simply, sipping at her tea and Lyney started spluttering.
“Wha- hey! People can change! I can change!” Lynette simply deadpanned at him.
“You only did so once Gaming ‘proved’ that he wasn’t going to hurt him, Lyney. And when you did that, you almost scared him off. What if you had scared him off? What then? Freminet may not be going through this exciting phase of his life otherwise.”
“Are you still on my case about that ?! That was aeons ago Lynette! I apologized!”
“Did you?”
“Well, no, but-“ Lynette gave him a look.
“If Freminet turns into another version of you with Gaming, like you are with Kinich, I’m disowning you as my brother.”
“Wha- hey! That’s uncalled for! And why would that be my fault? I’m perfectly normal about Kinich.”
“You are nineteen years old and yet you act like a preteen about him.”
“Oh, that’s it? You’re the same age as me, Lynette, and you think you’re so mature?” Lyney glared at her. Xingqiu, on their other hand, burst out laughing.
“I’m suddenly glad I don’t have siblings,” Chongyun decided, an amused smile on his face. “Though bringing it back to what exactly we’re talking about here. Freminet likes Gaming? Well, Xingqiu and I have something to say about Gaming.”
“Gaming likes Freminet,” Xingqiu responded and the looks on Lyney and Lynette’s faces was priceless.
This just got all the more fun.