Fluid Ice (Xingyun)

Chapter 2 ~ The Realization

As the two headed over to Wanmin Restaurant, they talked and joked together as they always had. Xingqiu gasped, "Is that an evil spirit?!" His tone indicated that he was clearly teasing, "Oh, c'mon Xingqiu! You shouldn't joke about that so lightly!" Chongyun voiced. Even so, the young boy found himself laughing along with Xingqiu. Before they knew it, they were in front of the Wanmin, and chef Mao stood idly behind the counter. "Hey chef Mao!" Xingqiu exclaimed, as he walked to the counter. Chongyun stayed just slightly behind his friend, his body language made it clear that he was nervous.

"Chongyun, over here, seems to have run out of popsicles." From behind Xingqiu, Chongyun was shaking his head and making different motions for chef Mao, in hopes that he would catch on and not actually make the popsicles. Xingqiu, of course, didn't see this because his back was turned away from his friend. "Oh?" The chef questioned, he had clearly noticed Chongyun's desperate hand motions. "Well, you see..." Mao tried to think of many excuses for the poor boy, "We've just run out of those ingredients, so we cant really make any new popsicles until we get a restock."

Chongyun held back a sigh as Xingqiu began to speak, "But these are really important! Could we just bring the ingredients, so you could make them?" Xingqiu then felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to face Chongyun, who wore a small smile. "It's alright 'qiu. I'm already feeling better anyways!" With a smile, Xingqiu nodded his head, "If you say so." Xingqiu turned back towards chef Mao, "Sorry if we were a bother." The chef scoffed, "It's alright, have a good day, boys."

The two friends walked off with no set destination in mind, they only talked about whatever interested each other and did that to pass the time. Eventually, the two began holding hands as they walked. They felt comfortable with each other so it didn't seem to change much. Although he didn't show much, the small action made Xingqiu's heart give a flutter. Why do I feel like this? He thought, I guess I can't say I'm surprised. Something was bound to happen eventually, I suppose. "You alright, Xingqiu? You stopped talking all of a sudden."

Xingqiu smiled and nodded his head, "I'm perfectly fine! Just had a small thought, ehe." With a grin replicating Xingqiu's own, Chongyun spoke, "If you say so~" Chongyun's smile... Xingqiu thought, it was always so genuine. I love it, it's so... unique. Chongyun's blue lashes shone through bright eyes. Blue lashes. Xingqiu let out a laugh. "What are you laughing at?" Chongyun questioned playfully. "I remember," Xingqiu began, "when you asked me to teach you how to use mascara." Xingqiu began laughing loudly as Chongyun looked away and blushed. "Really, Xingqiu?-" 

"Oh c'mon! It's cute that you still use it, even now." Chongyun felt his face heat up even more with that sentence. "Yeah, yeah, whatever..." after a few more seconds of silence, Xingqiu spoke suddenly, "Hey, um, Chongyun?"

"Yeah?"

"H-have you ever 'liked' somebody?"

"I've liked everyone I've ever met, well, except for maybe a few people-"

"No, no, I mean, as in, love."

"Oh..." Chongyun twiddled his fingers around in embarrassment

"I-I don't think I have..."

Xingqiu choked back a laugh, Chongyun really is blind to his own emotions. It had been quite clear to Xingqiu for the last few days, the way Chongyun acted around him made it quite apparent that he had a crush. Under no circumstance was that nosebleed a side effect of "excessive yang energy". Xingqiu desperately wanted to tell Chongyun how he felt, but he wanted the moment to be perfect. So he waited, and waited.

"I must go now." Xingqiu said hesitantly. "Alright then." Chongyun responded as Xingqiu stood deep in thought, "how about we meet up tomorrow at Mt. Tianheng? Just for fun?" Chongyun smiled while hearing this, "Sure! I'd be down for it. Is the early morning an alright time to meet?" "Mhm!" Xingqiu nodded excitedly, "I'll see you then, 'yun." 

"Cya!"