𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 | Genshin Impact

ɴᴜʙɪꜱ ᴄᴀᴇꜱᴏʀ

SEVEN

THICK CLOUDS ROLLED over the harbor that morning. The wind was stagnant, a mild chill to the atmosphere. (Y/n) had awoken to find a note left behind on her bed, sighed by none other than Childe. He assured her he wouldn't forget the previous night, and if she ever needed anything, he'd happily oblige.

The young woman wore a shawl over her shoulders, using her hand to pull the front over her lips. It was a bit colder than she imagined, but the weather has never stopped anyone from going about their day.

But there he was again, the boy with the white attire and silken blue hair she saw the other day sitting over the rail. Only this time, he sat where the sun would've shone if it weren't for the cloudy skies with the same looking popsicle in hand.

"What a weirdo, am I right?" A voice said from behind.

(Y/n) looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting a pair she'd never seen before.

Golden-amber pools framed by asymmetrical navy blue hair. They cut right through her, as if reading whatever thoughts lingered inside her head. (Y/n) blinked her eyes a few times, taking the opportunity to catch a glimpse of his frilled-attire in between.

"You're new here," He commented without a care. "I've never seen you around before."

"That's right," She gave him a nod. "I am."

The boy smiled. He then motioned towards the other boy with his head. "Why don't we join him?" He asked. "He could use the company."

"...You know him?"

The boy stared at her before the ends of his lips grew wider. "Of course I do," A chuckle escaped his throat. "It'd be weird to sit next to him if I didn't."

His legs began to tread towards the boy. "I'm Xingqiu, by the way."

"(Y/n)," She kept it brief.

Xingqiu nearly startled the boy when he lifted a leg over the wooden rail, his hands holding on tightly as he proceeded to do the same with the other.

"Oh!" The boy's eyes slightly widened. "Apologies. I wasn't expecting you."

Xingqiu shook his head. "I wasn't needed today at the commerce guild," He followed with a sigh. Then, he looked over to the opposite side, his eyes meeting with (Y/n)'s. "You gonna stand there?" He asked with a grin.

(Y/n) felt the tips of her ears go red.

The popsicle boy looked past his friend, and when he spotted the young woman, a look of familiarity washed over him.

"...You're the girl from the other day," He spoke softly.

(Y/n) slowly approached the two. Her head peaked over the railing, watching and listening as the water below rushed beneath their feet. She slowly raised a leg over, and then the other once she was sure her body was balanced over the wood.

She then looked over at the two, becoming a bit shy at their warm smiles.

❦

"So then... you lose control when that happens?" Her head was tilted for a better view of Chongyun's face.

The boy looked off to the side, a bit embarrassed at the topic.

Xingqiu leaned closer to (Y/n), his hand hovering over his mischievous lips as if to keep his friend from listening. "Yeah, you really don't want to see him when he turns red!" He teased.

"...H-Hey!" Chongyun furrowed his brows. He watched as Xingqiu and (Y/n) quietly snickered to themselves.

(Y/n) made an attempt to shake the wide grin off her face. "I'm not so sure I believe it," She admitted.

Xingqiu glanced over at her. "If you hang around enough, you'll eventually see him first hand."

The boy threw his legs over the railing, his shoes hitting the wooden floor of the bridge. He then turned back to the two, "Time flies by so fast. I have a few things to do before returning home."

"Enjoy yourselves," Xingqiu waved them goodbye.

The heels of his shoes tapped along the bridge, the only sound beside the rustling branches of the leaves above their heads.

(Y/n)'s gaze flickered from Xingqiu's fading figure back towards Chongyun, who now stared ahead into the distant horizon.

"...You can't find a truer friend than him," His lips spoke.

"You mean Xingqiu?" She repeated.

Chongyun nodded his head. "Second-born son of the family that runs the Feiyun Commerce Guild. He's the encouragement when there is none," He said. "If I hadn't met him, I wouldn't begin to fathom where I'd be."

"Sounds like you admire him," (Y/n) commented.

The young man, without moving his head, glanced over at her. "I do," He responded honestly. "But I must warn you, Xingqiu has a mean side to him."

(Y/n) became intrigued. "Oh?"

Chongyun fully faced her, a smile in tow. "That being said, come to me if you ever find yourself victim to his antics and we'll form a Victims of Xingqiu alliance."

SEVEN