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

Ch. 7

4 years later

Over the course of his life, Xingqiu had always had the thought of his curse in the back of his mind.

I mean, how was one just supposed to find their true love, anyways?

He'd never had a crush on anyone before, but his feeling about who he would want to date had definitely changed.

He'd found that while thinking about the matter and who he'd like to 'fall in love' with, he would want them to be a boy.

He'd kind of always known that he didn't want them to be a girl, and the very thought of how his parents would react brought a bad feeling to his stomach.

He knew that they weren't very well receiving of homosexuality, and that exception wouldn't just suddenly be him.

He had a year before he turned 17, and as a result he hadn't been able to stop thinking about the curse and what he was going to do about it.

It had gotten to the point that Chongyun himself had noticed Xingqiu's change in attitude, and how his teasings were far less frequent, so much so to the point that he didn't bother asking Chongyun if he needed any hot sauce for his dishes (of course, he never did).

Chongyun brought it up one day when they were both out to eat for lunch at Wanmin Restaurant, when Xingqiu had been silent the whole meal and hadn't made a single poke at Chongyun's condition.

"Have you been feeling alright Xingqiu? You've been acting off for a few weeks." Chongyun frowns, setting down his chopsticks.

"H-huh? Oh, it's nothing my liege. I'm just...occupied by my thoughts is all." Xingqiu sighs before eating some of his noodles.

Chongyun looks at him blankly underneath his light eyelashes, letting Xingqiu know that he doesn't buy a word of that.

To anyone else, Chongyun looked the same that he always did, but to to Xingqiu, the difference couldn't be more apparent.

When he wasn't amused, the corners of his mouth always curved downwards a little bit more, and his eyelids fell to cover his pupils a little more than halfway, the light shining off of them barely a dot.

"What's that look for? I am telling the truth, aren't I? I am simply 'occupied by my thoughts'." Xingqiu forces a smile at him.

Chongyun's annoyance is made more apparent when one of his eyebrows raises in an oh really? Sort of way.

Xingqiu smile falters a bit, and when he realizes Chongyun's isn't going to let up at all, it falls apart altogether.

"Alright, alright, I'll indulge your spark of curiosity. But only because you and I are so very close." Xingqiu tells him matter-of-factly:

"My mind has succumbed to thoughts about that dreadful curse, and I can't seem to rid any idea of it from my day to day life." He says in a high manner before he wilts a bit and lowers his voice to a bashful inside voice. "It's become almost a habit nowadays..."

Chongyun's blank demeanor changes slightly again so the innermost sides of his eyebrows raise up a bit in concern and his lips even out, tilting his face up slightly and his shoulders relaxing.

"I'm sorry Xingqiu. I wish I could do anything to help. All I can do is stay by your side on your birthday." He sighs, taking a sip of water.

"But, if it helps, maybe you could use that free weekend you have to go on a trip to clear your head." Chongyun suggests.

"A trip?" Xingqiu inquires. He'd told Chongyun a while ago that he'd finally managed to get 2 whole days of free time - that of which he was more than likely going to spend reading and writing. With the way his train of thought was going nowadays though, he doubted that was going to work now.

"Mmhm. Why don't you go someone you like for a few days? Maybe just leaving Liyue Harbor for a bit could help you." Chongyun suggests. His voice elevates towards the end of his sentence a little, telling Xingqiu he's getting excited by his own ideas even if isn't showing it.

"I think that may be a good idea. I wouldn't mind just wandering outside of Liyue Harbor for a bit and looking for a break." Xingqiu muses, taking another bite of his food.

"I'm glad you found a solution, Xingqiu. I hope you have good luck on your trip. Ooo, maybe I'll make you an evil warding talisman for-"

"Wait, you're not coming with me?"

The two shared a silent look for a moment before Xingqiu continued his thought.

"I thought you were going to come with me." He explains.

"I figured you wouldn't want me to since I'd just be another distraction. I wouldn't want to be the reason you continue to have it affect your daily life." Chongyun shakes his head.

"I suppose that line of reasoning makes sense, but-" Xingqiu's face falls a bit and he almost feels...disappointed. He was so used to having Chongyun come with him almost everywhere that going on a small trip like this and not having him come along sounded simply weird.

He runs his hand through the tassel at his side and tries to mask his disappointment. "I just thought it'd be better to have you along since you could help keep me on track to not think about it."

Chongyun nods at his explanation, clearly buying Xingqiu's false reasoning for wanting him along. "I understand now. I'd be more of a distraction for your thoughts than a distraction from a solution to your thoughts."

He finally turns to his own meal now that it has fully cooled down and starts to dig in. "I'll come with then in that case."

Xingqiu inwardly sighs and smiles at the thought of his best friend being along.

"That's all. It wouldn't be the same without him." He thinks while he and Chongyun finish lunch. On the way home, he starts preparing his things and what he wants to bring, excited to spend a trip with his friend.

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Written: May 28th, 2023

Finished/Published: July 15th, 2023

(Word Count: 1,038)