Summary: Chongyun And Xingqiu Goes On A Commission...

Summary: Chongyun and Xingqiu goes on a commission in Dragonspine. Chongyun isn’t bothered by the cold but Xingqiu is the opposite. (XingYun)

Xingqiu regretted lying to Chongyun about a spirit haunting the summit of Dragonspire. He wished that he had told him that the ghost was living on a warm beach. The relentless wind acted as a wall and it was difficult for him to move forward. He had to wonder how Chongyun was able to endure the cold. In contrast to Xingqiu, the cold didn’t bother Chongyun and he dressed in light clothes.

He rubbed his hands together and breathed onto his fingers but the small heat that provided was quickly overtaken by the cold. They faced a group of hilichurls earlier and the battle made the journey more difficult. The combination of their hydro and cryo visions were compatible and allowed them to fight well together. Unfortunately, his elemental burst made his clothes wet and he found himself frozen a few times. He did his best to dry himself next to a fire but his clothes were still a little stiff from frost.

They were close to the summit so he forced himself to take another step. He knew that Chongyun would insist they return to the base of the mountain if he told how the cold affected him. Xingqiu didn’t want the journey to end early though. Between his family business and Chongyun travelling to practise his exorcism, they weren’t able to spend time together as much as they wanted. He created the story of a ghost as an excuse to go on a quest with Chongyun.

“We cleared out the hilichurls from the area but we should make camp in a different area.” Chongyun said and he looked over his shoulders to Xingqiu. He noticed how he shivered slightly even as he tried to hide it. Xingqiu was bundled beneath layers of clothes but Dragonspire was covered in snow. “I can see a cave ahead of us. Do you think you can make it?”

“My dear Chongyun, I don’t like what you’re implying. A little snow isn’t going to stop me.” He pouted at him. Xingqiu often wore a composed mask in front of others but Chongyun was one of the few he could be himself with. Chongyun understood him and he responded to his words by simply holding out his hand to him. Xingqiu’s small frown faded away as he placed his hand in his.

Xingqiu’s fingers were long and slender but Chongyun knew how strong they could be. He respected his dedication to swordsmanship and his ideal of justice. A part of him wanted to protect him though. He squeezed Xingqiu’s hand lightly before he turned back to the mountain.

His body felt like a small furnace next to him and Xingqiu wondered if his intense body heat was caused by his excess yang. The thought of pressing close to him and hugging his arm crossed his mind but he quickly pushed it away. He could only imagine Chongyun’s reaction. Xingqiu pictured Chongyun blushing and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. However, Chongyun might also feel awkward if he only saw him as a friend.

They had been friends for years and Xingqiu’s feelings eventually changed. He struggled with the question of how to confess to him when he didn’t know whether he felt the same. He feared he would reject him and he would lose him. Xingqiu decided to settle for being a friend until he was certain Chongyun liked him as well. He didn’t imagine the silent longing would be so painful though. The happiness he felt spending time with him only strengthened his longing.

They reached a small cave. Xingqiu lit a match and he held the flame over the darkness to examine the cave. He found the remnants of a firepit and several supplies littering the ground. He reasoned that someone had made a campsite in the cave but it was now abandoned. Kneeling next to the firepit, he threw the match into sticks. The flames quickly grew and it filled the cave with warmth.

“We’re lucky we found this place before it became dark. Chongyun, will you be a sweetheart and use your ice to block the entrance. A door will keep the heat in and shut the ghost out.” Xingqiu would use endearments sometimes with him to tease him. Chongyun would hold himself back to manage his rare constitution but Xingqiu liked seeing the other side to him.

Xingqiu was facing the fire with his back turned to him but he sensed the moment he stood behind him. A jacket fell over his shoulders. While the fabric was thin, it held Chongyun’s warmth. In the small space of the cave, Xingqiu’s heartbeat echoed against the walls. He had meant to tease him with the comment yet he was the one with a racing heartbeat in the end.

“Thanks, Chongyun.” He turned around to face him and he only caught a glimpse of his expression before he left to block the entrance. Was he blushing? Maybe he had mistaken the fire’s glow for a blush?

“I know it’s not much.” Chongyun shrugged. He wished that he had a proper jacket to give Xingqiu so he would be warm. His exorcist uniform was handmade to be thin so he wouldn’t overheat in the jacket. He leaned against the wall of ice to keep himself cool with the fire blazing nearby. He was always careful to keep his yang from overflowing— especially around Xingqiu. From the tales his friends and family told him about his episodes, he might accidentally tell him that he loved him.

“You know, you don’t need to be so humble all the time. Just accept my ‘thank you’. Or should I further show my gratitude by cooking you a homemade meal?” He laughed when he saw Chongyun’s face turn pale. He was infamous for his terrible cooking. Xingqiu pulled out packed food from his bag and said, “I asked my family’s chef to make us chilled soba.”

Chongyun sat next to the entrance and he looked through the ice to watch for enemies nearing the cave. He offered to take the first watch shift so Xingqiu could be warm next to the fire. He knew he should be focused on the area outside of the cave but his gaze would always drift back to Xingqiu lying a few feet from him. There was a book peeking out of his sleeping bag so he knew that he was merely pretending to sleep. He didn’t say a word even though it was better for him to rest.

He simply couldn’t deny Xingqiu anything.

A sneeze pulled Chongyun out of his thoughts and he knew that it was from Xingqiu. They hadn’t faced many enemies during their quest but the cold was unbearable to most. He hoped that he didn’t regret agreeing to accompany him to Dragonspine. Chongyun liked spending time with Xingqiu and they rarely had a chance to be together.

He pushed himself to his feet and he walked to his side. Chongyun knelt next to him and he lightly nudged his shoulder. He heard a book close before he sat up with the blankets still wrapped around him. He pretended to be sleepy by feigning a yawn. Even Chongyun could see through his act though. “Is it my turn to keep watch?”

“I thought I heard you sneeze.” He said and he placed his hand over his forehead. His face was slightly flushed but Chongyun didn’t know the true reason behind his blush. He leaned closer to him and Xingqiu unconsciously leaned away from him. He was so close that Xingqiu was certain he would be able to hear his heart racing. “I don’t want you to catch a cold. I’ll sleep with you.”

“Pardon?” Xingqiu’s mind began to spin. He wanted to learn how Chongyun felt for him but he never expected for it to be so sudden.

“When I was preparing for our quest, Childe told me that people can stay warm by sharing a sleeping bag. I never had to worry about the cold before so I asked him for advice in case you felt cold.” He explained. A part of Xingqiu was disappointed and he tried to hide the reaction. He was certain he would kick the harbinger for the current situation.

Without a word, Xingqiu laid down and he lifted the corner of his blanket. Chongyun understood his silent invitation and he slipped beneath the covers to lay next to him. Immediately, he felt warmer. The pillow was large enough for them to share and he adjusted the blankets around them. He pulled the fabric to his neck and he noticed that Xingqiu was wearing his jacket to bed.

Chongyun had to admit that he thought he looked cute in his jacket. The jacket was a little big on him and it made him feel protective of him. Before he could stop himself, he brushed his fingers over his cheek. When he felt his touch, Xingqiu asked: “What about you? If you get too warm, you’ll lose control.”

“I’m going to sleep soon so it shouldn’t affect me. The night is quiet so I doubt we have to worry about hilichurls attacking us.” Chongyun rolled onto his back and he closed his eyes. Still, he was distinctly aware of Xingqiu. His hair held the subtle scent of silk flowers, books and ink. He couldn’t describe how his presence was so soothing and it could make his heart race at the same time.

Next to him, Xingqiu shifted closer until he rested his head on his chest. He listened to his even breathing for a few minutes and the sound lulled him. Xingqiu reached up and he tenderly ran his fingers through his bangs and he gently pushed them aside so he could see his face better. His eyes were closed and he assumed that he had already fallen asleep.

Xingqiu’s next words were a whispered mumble but Chongyun was able to hear him. “Goodnight, my dear Chongyun.”

Chongyun woke at dawn and he tried to rub his tired eyes. A weight on his shoulder kept him from moving his arm and he looked down at Xingqiu sleeping beside him. He remembered climbing into his sleeping bag so he would be warm but he didn’t know when they started to lay so close to each other. The fire had died overnight but neither of them felt cold while they were together.

He debated whether he should leave the haven of Xingqiu’s arms to light another fire. Chongyun told himself that he didn’t want to wake him by moving. Honestly, he was captived by the rare sight of Xingqiu’s open expression as he slept. The sun filtered through the ice and he studied his face washed in the light. His soft features hid how mischievous he was. Chongyun wouldn’t change any aspect of his personality though. Xingqiu was honest and true and he respected that.

Xingqiu started to move and Chongyun knew he would be awake shortly. His friend would often play childish pranks on him and he thought he could play a small trick in return. He could pretend to sleep and scare Xingqiu while his back was turned. Chongyun was curious to see how he would react. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing as if he were sleeping.

“Morning, Yun.” Xingqiu said with a large yawn. He didn’t answer him immediately and he thought that he was sleeping. “I guess you’re tired. You usually wake up at sunrise to train. Let’s hope you don’t sleep in and miss our little ghost.”

Xingqiu was careful not to wake him as he untangled himself from his arms. He also gathered the blanket into his arms so Chongyun wouldn’t overheat in the sleeping bag. He didn’t bother to fold the blanket and he stuffed it into his backpack instead. He intended to pack the rest of their things but he paused next to Chongyun.

He leaned down and he pressed a quick kiss onto his forehead. “My apology for when we don’t find the ghost that I told you about.”

Xingqiu pulled away and he returned to the firepit. He collected the lunchboxes and he struggled to fit them into his disorganized backpack. He couldn’t fathom how his cooks were able to do so. A sudden noise startled Xingqiu and he turned around sharply. He stopped himself from using his vision after he saw that the sound was caused by Chongyun.

He had jumped to his feet with his face a bright shade of red. He accidentally struck his head on the stone wall behind him. Worriedly, Xingqiu reached out to him. Chongyun’s voice was a frantic ramble that Xingqiu couldn’t understand. “Apology… Warm… Need to cool down…”

He ran out of the cave and left Xingqiu in his confusion. He managed to pull himself out of his shock quickly enough for him to follow him out of the cave. Xingqiu immediately spotted Chongyun lying in the snow. He assumed the warmth of the cave caused him to panic. “What are you doing, Chongyun? You can’t feel the cold but you can still catch a cold.”

The warm laugh ringing through his voice made Chongyun bury his face deeper into the snow. He had hoped the cold would calm his racing heart. In the end, Chongyun could never win against Xingqiu.

“Hey, look, Chongyun! A ghost!” The cry made him look up and his breath was almost taken away by the sight before him. Xingqiu grinned down at him with mischievous laughter in his golden eyes. He found himself drowning in those eyes time and time again. How could someone be as beautiful as an angel and alluring like a devil at the same time? Xingqiu turned away from him and he nodded towards Dragonspine’s summit. “My mistake, the ghost was just a rabbit. But isn’t the sunrise beautiful?”

“Yeah.” His voice was a little breathless. Chongyun’s gaze wasn’t on the sunrise peeking over the mountain but Xingqiu before him. “Beautiful.”

Tags: genshin impact chongqiu xingyun genshin impact chongyun genshin impact xingqiu chongyun xingqiu chongyun and xingqiu fanfiction