When Rose's Thorns Attack my Sides (But my Eyes Stay Trained on You) (Xingyun)

Ch. 6

1 year later

Chongyun followed Xingqiu back sadly from the supposed ghost hotspot he's been told about.

It hadn't turned out to be true, and as a result he was rather dejected - and distracted.

His ears quickly perk up when he hears the yell of a hilichurl before a couple of them come hurdling towards him, and he's pushed out of the way by Xingqiu just in time so he doesn't get hit.

Xingqiu puts his arms up in defense, taking the hit before drawing his sword and fighting back against them.

Chongyun quickly took up his claymore and helped him out, and within a few minutes they had the whole ordeal done and over with.

"Whew! That was quite the surprise." Xingqiu smiles, breathing heavily and putting his sword back while his dimples are still clearly visible.

"Mmm. I'm sorry you had to take the hit for me like that. I was distracted thinking about the turnout of going to look for evil spirits, and you had to take the consequences of it." Chongyun looks down at his shoes guiltily.

"It's no big deal, I'm not hurt terribly bad. Nothing I can't walk off." Xingqiu hums, smoothing out his clothes.

"I shouldn't have been distracted though! That was my fault! It-" he angrily scrunches his face and pulls his lips into a line. "It's always my fault because I can't do anything right."

He pants heavily from his outburst, and Xingqiu turns to face his friend with concealed concern.

"Sure you can. You do plenty things right all the time. You're bound to have a few times where something goes wrong, but that's just being human." Xingqiu says lightly.

Chongyun's sighs before lifting his bangs, sifting them through his fingers. "I just wish I didn't put the burden of having to rely on you every time I fall short."

"You don't." Xingqiu states, swinging his tassel a little as a reminder. "Because I have your back, and you have mine. We're a duo, remember?"

Chongyun's eyes soften at the sight of the tassel and his words and he feels that fluttery feeling again, but they're both suddenly blinded by a bright light, causing them both to stumble back.

From the sky, two items assigned by Celestia descend upon their respective owners.

Chongyun's in complete shock when he sees it floating in front of him, so much so that he almost doesn't believe he's supposed to take it.

After a moment though, it's almost like it's calling him to take it, to claim it as his, and he wraps his fingers tightly around his cryo vision.

"Woah. Xingqiu, did you see tha-?"

When he looks up at the other though, he too is holding a vision in his hands and looks twice as shocked to see that he received on as well.

Instantaneously, they both shout at the same time:

"You got a vision?"

"How did we both get visions at the same time? What kind coincidence is that?" Xingqiu wonders out loud, turning his over in his hand to examine it.

"I dunno. I think it might have to do with what you just told me though..." Chongyun says quietly. "What's your vision?"

"Hydro. What about you?"

"Cryo."

Xingqiu's face lights up with excitement as he comes closer to look at them both right end to each other. "Our visions even match! It can't be a coincidence."

"How do they match? They're not the same element." Chongyun asks.

"Hydro and Cryo. Water and Ice. Think of how effective that would be in battle! Plus with Xiangling's vision too? This will also greatly enhance my skills as a martial artist." He grins in determination.

"Plus, I think I have the perfect spot for it to go."

Xingqiu quickly fastens his vision just above his tassel from Chongyun, showing it off to him with another dangerous smile. "What do you think?"

Chongyun puts his right next to his tassel on his belt and smiles back with a nod and a red blush gracing his face. "It's perfect."

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Written: May 25th, 2023

Finished/Published: July 14th, 2023

(Word Count: 688)