Flowers are the Language of Love - Kokomi x Hu Tao

Chapter Thirteen - 𝔹𝕦𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕡

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Hu Tao looks up into the sky, she's been finding herself looking up a lot recently but she can't seem to help it. The stars and moon would comfort Hu Tao a lot growing up but recently the entrancing abyss was always clouded. She felt a kin to the sky her head also being cloudy, Hu Tao was sober enough to feel guilty for blowing up at Zhongli but still drunk enough to trip over every speck of dust.

Hu Tao could suddenly feel her mouth water and her gut thrashing in pain, she runs into a nearby alleyway and throws her entire gut up.

"What a waste of a good meal..." Hu Tao uses her sleeve to wipe her mouth of all the remaining saliva.

"Hu Tao, Is that you? Are you okay?" Hu Tao turns and is greeted by two boys, one with choppy navy blue hair and the other having pointed, icy blue locks.

"Ahh, Xingqiu, Chongyun my dearest friends-yes I'm fine, I was just feeling a bit sick from nervousness. But I'm fine!" Hu Tao lies through her teeth, it didn't take a genius to realise she was drunk.

"Hu Tao it isn't wise for a young lady to patrol the streets when drunk, and at night of all times," Xingqiu was usually pretty laid back however he did scold Hu Tao somewhat harshly.

"I'm sorrrrrryy~ I didn't mean to get this drunk..." Hu Tao slightly pouts, she really didn't mean to drink so much she just wanted something to feed the anxiety she'd been feeling.

"It's fine, Chongyun is it okay if you help me carry her home?" The other boy sighs, but is quick to cave and agrees.

"W, wait I can't go home I need to sober up otherwise I'll have a hangover for the burial tomorrow-" Xingqiu sighs loudly, it doesn't seem like he was in the best mood before this and now he's stuck picking up after Hu Tao's alcohol misconduct.

"Then why did you get drunk?! You usually take your work seriously, what's gotten into you?" Hu Tao doesn't reply she merely looks down, being scolded by her usual cheery friend hurt quite a bit.

"Also why have you been ignoring my letters?" Xingqiu starts to get increasingly more frustrated, Chongyun tugs the other boys shirt.

"Ugh, never mind that let's help get you home," this time Hu Tao willingly wraps her arms around both Xingqiu and Chongyun, they attempt to drag her but Hu Tao had made it pretty difficult.

Soon they arrive at Hu Tao's front door, Xingqiu asks for the key location. Hu Tao reaches into her pocket and drops the key into the well dressed boys hand.

"Y'know what this gives me Déjà vu, like a month ago I met a pretty lady and she stayed the night with meeee~" Chongyun raises an eyebrow however Xingqiu ignores her. The door opens after a few attempts on Xingqiu's side, which Hu Tao teased him for.

The rest of the house felt cold and empty but it was home, whilst Chongyun waited outside the house for Hu Tao to enter, Xingqiu barged in like it was his own home, and made his way over to the kitchen rummaging for something.

"Chongyyyy you can come in~ there aren't any ghosts or demons in here...I think?" Hu Tao attempted to make her way inside but she tripped over on the first step.

"Ah! Miss Hu Tao are you okay?!" Chongyun asked rushing inside to check on her.

"All good! My knee kind of hurts but not that badly, though it'd be nice if Koko could come back and heal it again..." Hu Tao's eyes began to tear up and Chongyun's curiosity peaked, just who was Koko?

"If I help you to your room can you tell me more?" Chongyun asks softly, making sure to hold eye contact.

"Hmm, I can't tell you everything because it's a secret~ but I agree to your terms of conditions!" Hu Tao proclaimed like that one kid that was always on the top of the playground.

"Wait! Chongyun, whilst your at it can you give this water to Hu Tao, I'm going to make some food so her hangover isn't too bad tomorrow," Chongyun smiled taking the cup out of his boyfriends hand, Xingqiu really does care about Hu Tao and her well being despite his foul mood.

"Okay, and sorry for earlier it wasn't polite of me to say that," Xingqiu turned away his face slightly red.

"It's fine...I'm going to make Hu Tao food now, you just keep her busy!" Chongyun was seeing a new much more nurturing side to Xingqiu and he couldn't help but smile.

"Oi, Oi, I'm heartbroken over here don't flirt in my kitchen!" Xingqiu denied Hu Tao's words whilst Chongyun chuckled.

Once Hu Tao is placed onto her bed Chongyun removes her hat and jacket, making sure to place them somewhere out of the way. Hu Tao is quick to wrap herself up in her blankets, loving every second of the warmth.

"So Hu Tao...tell me more about 'Koko' is it short for anything?" Chongyun grabs a chair from the corner of the room and places it next to night stand.

"Its short for Kokomi~ ahh she was so pretty and pink, she's going to be the girl I marry! We've already made love-" Before Hu Tao could continue a flustered Chongyun slaps his hand over Hu Tao's mouth.

"Wait don't t, tell me about that part! T, thats private and I'm sure Koko wouldn't want you sharing that information!" Hu Tao bites Chongyun's hand which garners a yelp from the boy in response.

"I wasn't gonna you pervert! But it's not like it matters anyway, Koko is all the way back in Inazuma now and she'll never be able to return because of their dumb war!" Drips of salty water drips from her eyes, however Chongyun doesn't pay much mind to Hu Tao's grief, and instead focuses on her previous words.

"Isn't travelling in and out of Inazuma next to impossible without a warrant?" Chongyun feels as if he's swapped places with Xingqiu, it's not like him to be so curious and gossipy but he can't seem to help it.

"I'm not too sure about that information, but she is definitely from Inazuma. That's all I'm willing to tell you about that part!" Hu Tao lays back down her eyes not drying up. Before she falls asleep Chongyun lifts her head up.

"You gotta drink this first, then I will let you nap for a bit. You will be having some food soon okay?" Hu Tao doesn't fight back, she drinks the entire cup in a matter of seconds.

Xingqiu enters the room a wooden bowl in hand it seems to hold some variant of Miso soup. Hu Tao sits up, making sure to properly consume the food.

"Thank you, Xingqiu. I feel a lot better now," Hu Tao beams as brightly as possible.

"Im going to leave an extra bowl here, make sure to eat it in the morning," Hu Tao nods, her eyes becoming hazy.

"Well goodbye then Hu Tao, we're going to head home. Please be sure to sleep well," Xingqiu doesn't receive a response, he sighs looking over to Chongyun.

"Let's go home now okay?" Chongyun smiles to Xingqiu, the tense atmosphere between them melting away. Xingqiu nods, he makes sure to place a note next to the miso soup.
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"Okay, let's go."

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