The Winter Boy's Novel (Xingyun FanFic)

Chapter 11

Xingqiu's POV

I wasn't completely sure when I was going to speak to my father. But I knew I had to do it soon. I couldn't hide forever. I've told this to Chongyun many times, and myself many times more. Nothing can be avoided forever. Including my father. Though most things through many are better off avoided.

I slipped through Torches before sliding it into my bookshelf between the Legend of The Shatter Halberd series and A Legend of Sword. It turned out to have an igniting ending, playing a pun on words. Chongyun waved his popsicle at me. Even in winter, he always had one nearby. "Are you sure you wanna talk to your dad? It sounds about right, but if you're not ready for it..." he trailed off. "Yes. I do. Thank you for your concern. But I do. Possibly before New Year's." I mused quietly. Today was Christmas Eve. Tomorrow was Christmas. The days were fading, just as my contemplations were. "So... it's your New Year's resolution, then?" Chongyun sat next to me. "In terms, yes. Though... it's been... ah... previously set before. What's yours? For next year, I guess." "To help you. I don't really have anything else in mind." "R-Really...?" "Yeah. It just feels right." "Thank you... I... that means a lot."

"I think it's snowing again. I'm going to go check it out. But... maybe you should stay in here, it could make your fever worse, more or less." Chongyun said. "Alright. But take a blanket. I don't want you freezing out there." "I live on popsicles. I'll be fine. But thanks." He laughed and grabbed a blanket off of his bed. I watched him leave as I situated myself on the windowsill with a book, titled, Mondstadt's Glory through Barbatos' Story. It seemed as if I'd read it not too long ago, though it was really several years ago that I read this book. I watched Chongyun as his breath crystallized in front of him, mine fogging up the window glass. I leaned against the window and opened up the book. I'd forgotten how Xingaling had gifted me this after she accidentally burnt my Inazuma edition with Gouba. I remembered it clearly. Though I didn't find it funny at the time, I caught myself laughing at it now. I laid my head against the window and began to read. I'd forgotten how dated this book was, it had no recognition of the new traveler, Aether, or Paimon, nor Venti/Barbatos' more recent achievements or appearances.

I eventually put down the book due to a headache and let my contemplations take over. Over how I was supposed to approach my father. Writing to him seemed to be already ruled out. I fell onto my bed on my back, finding myself thinking like this for hours. Nothing else could reach its way in. No matter what I thought of, it always led back to my father. Always a connection. I remember how when I was younger, my father would help me with everything. Everything was tied to him. In this world, it seemed, everything was to kill or be killed.

I must have spaced out for a while, because Chongyun had re-entered the room when I snapped back to reality. "Welcome back, my liege." I said. "Oh, Xingqiu. Thanks. You looked kind of distant. Something on your mind?" Chongyun asked, pulling out a popsicle. "Nmmmm... Not really." I replied, sitting up. He licked his popsicle, looking rather dubious. "Okay. But if there's anything you want to talk about, I'm here. I know what you've been going through is... hard." There was a dazed silence. "T-Thanks. You really have no idea how much that means to me. You have no idea."

Chongyun's POV

Xingqiu didn't sleep. I knew by his expression in the morning. Though of course, he didn't say anything admitting it or why. "Merry Christmas, my liege." he greeted me when I woke up, not taking his eyes off of his book. "Merry Christmas." He closed his book. "Excuse me for a minute. I have something for you." he said, disappearing into our room. I opened my mouth, but closed it, knowing he would be defiant if I told him anything. He came back with two neatly wrapped boxes clutched to his chest and a third balanced surprisingly evenly on his head. He set them down on the couch. "These are for you, my liege." he said. It looked like a lot. I brought the two books, which I'd placed in a gift bag (with a koi fish on it) and filled with tissue paper. I handed it to Xingqiu. "And this is for you."

"So," I paused. "Do we open these at the same time, or..." Xingqiu shrugged. "If that's what you'd like." There was a drawn out silence with both of us staring at our gifts, and I think we were both wondering why the other went through so much work for them. "Let's do that." Xingqiu said, breaking the silence. I was terrible at saying something after nobody else had, so that helped. We both agreed on opening out gifts at the same time. I reluctantly tore through the wrapping paper to see a box of popsicles. It was very funny, really, that Xingqiu got me popsicles. I was planning on hanging the glass snowflake that he'd bought on my wall, and the blanket... probably for the hours I'll spend standing in the snow. I glanced up at Xingqiu to see if he liked the gift or not, and apparently, he did. He was already reading Serpent-Drake of Tokoyo no Kuni with Heart's Desire: Sapphire in his lap. He looked at me and turned red, but smiling shyly. "Apologies, my liege. Thank you for the books, I'll be reading these a lot."

I got to hanging up the glass snowflake in my room, just above my bed and next to the yin yang painted on my wall. Xingqiu was sitting at his desk with his headphones on, completely mesmerized by Serpent-Drake of Tokoyo no Kuni. I tapped him on the shoulder lightly. He seemed a bit startled by it and his grip tightened on the book, loosening when he turned around and realized that it was me. "Er... my liege, can I help you with something?" "Sorry to bug you. But do you want to take a walk through the snow somewhere?" I asked. He set his book down after bookmarking his page. "Sure. It sounds fun." he said. "Okay. So maybe in an hour, I guess?" "Yes."

I let Xingqiu read for the next forty five minutes or so before he got up and put his shoes on. He was wearing an oversized blue sweatshirt that covered his hands, which I think he personally liked. I wasn't sure; it's just a guess. Though I did see him slip a tiny book into his pocket, which I couldn't help but laugh at. If I'm being completely honest, this snowfall hasn't really stopped. Just drawing out longer and longer. Most people didn't like long snows like that, but you know me. Snow is magical, in my opinion, and some people question why I think that (and why I eat popsicles year round, including in the winter). It was funny, actually. People judge you all the time but they never take any time at all to think about who might be judging them and for what reason. I had a feeling Xingqiu knew the same thing.

To my luck, it was still snowing when Xingqiu and I left. It was cold too, but I didn't mind that. Cold was a bit of an understatement, especially for Xingqiu. He assured me that he was fine, though I caught him shivering more than once. Looking around, everything was still festive. People were doing gift exchanges outside, discounts were being started in shops, and people were bundled up like eskimos. Lights were up and snow was coming down as there were several people holding mistletoe over couple's heads. The snow just made everything all the more magical. Just pure magic raining down from the heavens. I felt like there was something behind me. Xingqiu looked uncomfortable, like he felt it too. I glanced at him, only to realize that there was a person holding mistletoe over his head without him even noticing. So I did the first thing I could think of and-