#𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷

[rayneyroses]

Someday, to Withstand Fire

Status: A birthday present for my friend @intljaystation 💜 Fandom: Genshin Impact Rating: General Audiences Shipping: Xingyun Content Warnings: n/a ao3: 🍨📘

Chapter 1

Chongyun’s voice was the only sound in the room, aside from the occasional flipping of pages and the rustling of fabric. He spoke quietly yet clearly as he read the contents of the book in his hands to his friend. Xingqiu’s head rested on his lap, his dark hair fanned out on Chongyun’s thighs. His eyes were closed while he listened, intent on enjoying the favour he was done. After all, there had been no time for such idle pastimes the last few days.

He had insisted on retiring to the privacy of their room for tonight. After a long day of traveling to Wangshu Inn and socialising with other merchants on the way, his excuse was that he needed a moment of solitude to recover. Unlike many other people, spending time with Chongyun was rarely draining to him. Perhaps he was spoiled, but he could never get enough of little story times like this.

“The heart was a fool. Rationalising such feelings was for naught since love is stronger than thought. Compelled by… passion roaring inside his body like stormy ocean waves, he…” Chongyun, despite having kept his composure for so long, trailed off. Heat stirred in the pit of his stomach and rushed to the tips of his ears. “Oh, Xingqiu will tease me if I don’t hurry,” he thought. Conquering his fears, he mustered his courage.

“…he crossed the distance between them and… united their lips in a first lovers’ kiss.”

Gauging whether he had been caught in his embarrassment, Chongyun peeked past the edge of the book. But much to his chagrin, his eyes locked onto amber ones full of mischief. He quickly averted his gaze. “Oh no,” he thought, “I won’t hear the end of this tonight.”

“Yunyun. Perhaps if you were brave like the protagonist of this book, that courage would make you a stronger exorcist too. What say you?” Xingqiu mused, squinting his eyes like a mischievous cat.

Chongyun huffed and shook his head in disbelief – at himself, since that statement somehow managed to make a little sense to him. After all, was a successful exorcist really someone who struggled with human relations? Or someone worried to face casual things such as affection? He had never given it much thought, since he was rather busy keeping his emotions tame instead of learning how to express them. Especially around Xingqiu. But even that was always giving him a hard time…

No, these had to be completely different things.

“You’re just teasing me,” he stated, more to himself than his friend. “Kissing has nothing to do with exorcising evil spirits, ‘Qiu.”

“But dear Chongyun, how can you be so sure?” Xingqiu smiled – then showed mercy by closing his eyes once more. “Oh, please continue. I was invested!”

“Alright, alright.” Chongyun cleared his throat and returned to the last line he had read. “Warmth blossomed forth from his chest like fireworks on a night-clad sky. Perhaps this was what he had been missing all along…”

Unlike before, Chongyun realised he was absorbing every sentence carefully. He wouldn’t dare give into such fantasies, scared of the repercussions. But perhaps there was a reason why so many people seemed fascinated by the concept of romance, enough to make a happy marriage their life goal. That was something he could never envision for himself… but craving a genuine bond with another person was relatable. Without Xingqiu, he knew nothing would be quite the same. He wouldn’t trade their friendship for anything in the world.

“…only empty dreams, until the morning hours bid the night farewell.”

That was the end of the chapter. Chongyun was about to ask whether he should read him another, but a glance at Xingqiu’s face told him that he was falling asleep. Icy blue eyes softened at the sight. He placed the book next to him and gave Xingqiu’s shoulder a gentle shake.

“Xingqiu… if you’re going to sleep, you should go to bed first.”

“Mmh…” Xingqiu uttered a sleepy noise in protest, unwilling to move. Who could blame him? These thighs were cosier than any pristine pillow he owned.

Chongyun gave him another shake, to no avail. He sighed. Once Xingqiu was set on something, he turned stubborn and clung to it with metaphorical claws. He, on the other hand, usually found himself getting the short end of the stick. But he was getting tired and his legs were starting to fall asleep.

“Alright… fine,” he mumbled. If it didn’t work this way, maybe he needed to change his strategy. Chongyun mustered his courage and reached for Xingqiu’s hand. Unsuspecting, the other made no move to complain or look.

Pale fingers were brought to his lips. Chongyun placed a tender kiss upon the back of Xingqiu’s hand.

“Chongyun…?”

Dark lashes fluttered against blushing cheeks. Xingqiu’s eyes shot wide open. Their gazes met and soon, the blush on his face outmatched the shade of pink on Chongyun’s.

“You said I’m not brave enough… so I’m proving you wrong. And it worked…! So,” Chongyun explained, then avoided his eyes. “…are you ready to go to bed now?”

Xingqiu gaped in disbelief. After regaining his composure, he covered his mouth with his kissed hand to stifle a laugh. The other seemed to interpret it as teasing, a good excuse to hide the spreading heat on his cheeks.

“Well, I can hardly say no after you tried so hard,” he conceded, “but a kiss on the hand isn’t the same as one on the lips, don’t you think?”

“Now you’re just trying to embarrass me,” Chongyun pouted, prompting another laugh from his friend. But indeed, he seemed ready to head to sleep now. Chongyun was simply happy that he hadn’t been punished for his audacious behaviour… but he was going to need some rest, lest the simmering heat in his stomach might overwhelm him.

Perhaps next time he’d be strong enough to withstand the fire.

#genshin #chongyun #xingqiu #xingyun #genshin impact #🔮【 mysterious storybook || writings 】 #𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷 #📘【 raincutter 】 #🍨【 frozen ardor 】