Xingyun Oneshots

with you, things are easy

Xingqiu had never considered himself to be a patient person. He was right about that, in most regards, always rushing around the harbor, rushing his guild work, advancing in almost any hobby he picked up at incredible rates. So he had always assumed that, should he ever fall for anyone, he would be the first to confess, and that he would do so as soon as he recognized his feelings.

But things were not that easy, as it happened. Because he didn't fall all at once, and the feelings didn't just appear one day. It was a process that took years upon years of building and building in a way that made romantic feelings seem inevitable.

There was never an 'aha' moment where he realized he was in love with Chongyun. It was a feeling that he had carried with him for many years, always faintly aware of, never enough he felt the need to act. Just a comforting aspect he had come to accept as a part of himself. If things were falling apart, at least he loved Chongyun. If all was going well for him, he had loving Chongyun as a little bonus of 'good things in his life.' When he was spiraling, he had loving Chongyun to anchor him. It seemed to be a constant in his life. A thing that would always remain true.

But he never once voiced his feelings, he never thought it necessary. Because he had a sneaking suspicion the other already knew. He had never hidden it. He had never said it directly, either, but it was certainly not a secret, at least he didn't think so. The way they would walk hand in hand through the harbor. The way Xingqiu would rest his head on Chongyun's shoulder as he read quietly to himself. The way he would press comforting kisses to Chongyun's forehead when he was upset in the most delicate and loving way he knew how. He didn't need to say it out loud. Not when it was so obvious.

But he never asked to be loved in return. He always thought that that would be his end-game with romance. That once he had found 'the one' the obvious next step would be to try to romance them, date them, and eventually marry them. But it seemed that the fantasy didn't truly apply to his feelings for Chongyun. All he had ever asked from his was to be allowed to love him. And it was all he wanted. Anything more would simply be an added bonus. One that he would always secretly long for in the back of his mind, but knew deep down he didn't need to be happy.

He was content as they were.

However, his lack of need to be loved in return seemed to dissipate the moment he found out what it was like to be loved. He thought he was happy before, but it paled in comparison to after Chongyun had started doing little things in return. They had never officially discussed it, what they were. But it had clearly crossed the line of friendship. Friends didn't share shy kisses in the solitude of a forest. Friends didn't have picnics at sunset, spending more time gazing into each other's eyes than the view. Friends didn't wake up in each other's arms almost every morning. And yet here they were.

The two were not friends. They were not a couple. They simply were. And years went by with both of them not saying a word about whatever their relationship was. It wasn't needed. Words weren't needed when they were both so content as they were.

But eventually, words had to be spoken, because Xingqiu's father was determined to rid him of his joy. Time and time again, he was set on dates with various women of the harbor, his father hoping to have them wed. And every time Xingqiu would explain to the poor women why it would never work out. But he couldn't go on like that forever. He had to solidify things with Chongyun in a way his father would recognize. And, unfortunately for him and his amorphous relationship, the only way his father would properly recognize is if they were together in the eyes of the law.

And so, he and Chongyun, finally, had a proper conversation about their relationship. And they both got every answer they expected to hear. And for the first time, they finally put words to feelings out loud. "I love you," they had both said that day. But a simple 'I love you' was not enough to give Xingqiu the freedom to be with the one he adored so dearly, and alas, Yanfei had to be brought into their mess.

Their 'wedding' was not a big affair. It was hardly an affair at all. It was sitting over a table with Yanfei, and signing some papers in front of Wanmin. It did not suit Xingqiu's ideas of grandeur that he had had for whatever wedding he would have one day. He had expected it to be a large affair full of romance and joy and fancy clothing, and everyone they had ever been acquainted with in attendance. But this, whatever this was, truly felt more like them. A big party sort of thing wouldn't have suited Chongyun. This just made sense for them.

They spent the rest of their adult lives in relative peace. They continued what they had always done through their teen years. Chongyun continued his work as an exorcist, Xingqiu took up some of the duties of the family business. Both often snuck away from their duties to go "adventuring together" even though the both of them had traveled almost the entire expanse of Teyvat together by then.

They spent the rest of their lives content. Reveling in the joys of youth long after they were still considered 'young.' And maybe it wasn't the fantasy Xingqiu had thought he would have one day, but he would never trade what he had for any grandiose delusions he had come up with when he was young.

Little A/N rq!! If you enjoy my writing and want to see more of me, I'm on Archive of Our Own as washer_and_briar, this is just where I reupload the things that are finished and that I like, but if you wanna see my multi-chapter fics that aren't done yet (or see things when they're posted instead of months later) I'm over there and significantly more active. If you just wanna stick around here for oneshot and complete works here tho, totally chill!! Any support is good support, and I'm glad if you like my work either way