Work Text:
"-just don't see why we have to be holding hands."
The full moon glows golden as the Moonchase Festival is in full swing. The streets of Liyue are lined with makeshift stalls peddling everything one can imagine, and the ground is painted with orange leaves as far as the eye can see. In short, it's the perfect night for mischief.
"It's a necessary component of the ploy, Chongyun!" Xingqiu squeezes Chongyun's hand as a reassuring (or perhaps teasing) gesture as they navigate through the throngs of people. "Would Hu Tao really believe we're dating if we didn't do this?"
"She's not going to believe us anyway." Chongyun retorts. "Your pranks never work on her."
Xingqiu holds back a sigh. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of his friends, Hu Tao has shown incredible resistance to his attempts to pull the wool over her eyes, but tonight will be different! He's absolutely positive that this time, she'll fall victim to his prank. There's a first time for everything!
He's feeling on top of the world right now: it's a beautiful evening, all the pieces of his plan are falling into place, and--most importantly--his best friend is by his side. Nothing could ruin his night. Nothing, except perhaps-
"Hide!" He whisper-shouts at Chongyun, ducking into a nearby alley. In doing so, he forgets that his and Chongyun's fingers are still intertwined, so he ends up dragging him along, sending Chongyun stumbling and bumping into Xingqiu's back with a muffled oof at the sudden stop.
Xingqiu's father is some ten stalls away, no doubt mingling with important clients in an attempt to mix business with pleasure. Of course, Xingqiu is expected to be in his room, working overtime on reports as a punishment for his last little excursion. He absolutely cannot afford to be discovered!
Beside him, Chongyun shifts, trying to peer at whatever disturbance caused Xingqiu to alter their course. "What was that for-"
"Shh!" Xingqiu presses a finger over Chongyun's lips, and Chongyun instantly goes silent.
Their hands are still intertwined. Chongyun's palms are rough with calluses, and Xingqiu's thumb brushes over a small scar in the groove between his thumb and his pointer finger.
His heart is thumping in his chest like a slime on the chase. Try as he might to convince himself otherwise, he knows it's not from their sudden escape.
Even in the dark, Xingqiu can tell that Chongyun's cheeks are suffused with pink, and he watches as his friend scrabbles for a popsicle with his free hand. "I think the coast is clear," he says. "Um-" His eyes drop to Xingqiu's hand, still clutching his own.
Xingqiu could let go, laugh it off. Instead, he squeezes Chongyun's hand, feeling the warmth, the way their fingers fit together perfectly. The way they fit together perfectly. "Let us away, then!"
As they make their way out of the alley, bathed in the autumn moonlight once again, Xingqiu knows one thing: that he's absolutely, positively moonstruck.