do you like him or something? // xingyun

1

TW for homophobic slurs! i can reclaim any used in this, basically self indulgent fic

Something was off.

Xingqiu took Chongyun everywhere. And that's not even an exaggeration, whether it was family trips, making him stand outside the entrance of the men's restroom in public because of the hoard of teenagers his age that usually stood outside, he wasn't about to walk out of there alone, he needed someone there to save the embarrassment of practically nothing. The last time they were at a cafe with some other friends and Xingqiu needed to go, he did the usual, drag Chongyun there with him.

After finishing his business, Xingqiu walked out, "Hi," he spoke whilst walking ahead of Chongyun.

Chongyun timidly followed behind before speeding up to stay in line with his friend. "Why do you always make me wait for you out here?" He asked.

"Have you seen how many teenagers stand outside there? It's embarrassing to be there alone."

An eyebrow was raised. "Isn't that technically the position you put me in every time you need to pee?"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

And on the family trips, Chongyun was always confused as to why he was dragged onto those adventures, doesn't it give away in the name that they're for family? But from another approach, it's flattering to be so close to someone that they take you to spend weeks with them and their family.

"Aren't those supposed to be family trips?"

"We're best friends, its different."

But something felt so weird. They had been friends for years, they would talk to each other whilst giggling and were never formal. They could tell each other opinions whilst knowing that the other would agree, even if it was straight up offensive, they somehow shared the same views on everything.

Recently, however, they had been so awkward towards each other, and it was seriously starting to bother Chongyun. He hated how Xingqiu suddenly started being so blank towards him, so formal, which just wasn't normal towards Chongyun, everyone else Xingqiu was totally formal to but his best friend? You'd have to be dreaming.

And he had a terrible feeling that it was because of something that had been said a few days prior.

"Do you like him or something? Are you two together?"

Said by a classmate, it made Chongyun receive a gut twisting look. You couldn't even call it disgust, it was just pure sadness. It made Chongyun so, so confused, why would Xingqiu look at him so sadly? He'd expect a look of disgust but that expression had him itching all over; so confusing

The entire situation was a blur, it made their relationship so different. It made Xingqiu aware of how their physical platonic affection could make the wrong impression, and so it all stopped. And so did the jokes, it was the stiffest friendship you could imagine. And Chongyun had always thought that if you're still friends in over a decade, the possibility of it going awkward was slim, he was so incredibly wrong.

His heart had just about broken when he overheard Xingqiu say, "Seriously? Me liking Chongyun? I'm not some faggot." It wasn't even the words that hurt Chongyun, it was the fact that Xingqiu was joking around with someone that wasn't him. He was jealous at the thought that someone else could laugh with Xingqiu. What the fuck was wrong with him?

"Chongyun?" Xingqiu's voice called out to him even whilst his thoughts smothered his brain. "Chongyun-"

The boy in question responded, accidentally cutting the other off. "Sorry, I was spaced out." He sighed, "Do you need anything?"

"I really need to talk to you."

///

to be continued