Chapter 2: A Commission for Wangshu

"Good luck!" the man shouted. "We're counting on you!"

They nodded and waved. Departing Wangshu Inn with their backs to the sun. Xingqiu and Chongyun could hardly recall the last time they'd worked in the field together. Although work was work, regardless of who they were working with. In any case, neither of them were focused. Their minds absent and in the clouds, deep in thought.

What did I feel last night? Chongyun thought as they parted the streets of Liyue.

That excitement I felt...could it be? Xingqiu pondered, loading his satchel with the proper tools they'd need for the mission. Bandages, rations, maps, and other easy to carry necessities that would prove useful if they were needed.

It was a simple search and retrieve commission. A group of thieves had stolen a priceless art piece from the Wangshu Inn. An art piece they were looking to steal back for its rightful owner.

"It shouldn't take too long to catch up with them," Xingqiu said, picking up his pace.

Chongyun nodded, "Right." There was a tone of unease in his voice. Will that feeling return again? He thought to himself.

For ordinary adventurers tracking down the thieves would've taken days. But they were experienced. Very experienced. And both Xingqiu and Chongyun had the gift of a vision. A powerful blessing given to them by the Archon of Geo which could unleash a powerful elemental aura.

They spent the late morning searching for the thieves, until they caught sight of them. Some dozen or so figures gathered around a carriage turned on its side.

"There they are!" Chongyun shouted, reaching for his claymore.

"They seem to have been burdened by their ill gotten gains," Xingqiu spoke, noticing the carriage. It's wooden wheels were mired in a patch of thick mud, the weight of whatever they were carrying bogging it down in a quagmire.

"Then now's our chance," Chongyun darted forward in a blur of motion. His large claymore raised over his arched back. "Submit for judgement!"

With a sudden turn of his shoulder he slammed his blade into the nearest thief. Crashing the full weight of the blow into his torso.

"What the—!" the lead brigand shouted, turning to face his opponent with an outstretched sword.

Before he could react, a flurry of swift blows struck his side. Followed by the emergence of a large set of blades made of water. "Rain cutter!" Xingqiu rose to his friend's flank, covering the slower strikes of Chongyun's claymore with more rapid thrusts of his short sword.

The whole ordeal was over in a few minutes. Ending in a cascade of steel, glittering frost, and drifting water droplets.

"That's the last of them," Chongyun spoke between heavy rapid breaths. He wiped sweat off his brow, and reached into his satchel.

"Yeah," Xingqiu took deep breaths, stretching his arms and legs as he did so.

It was just past noon. The sun was high in the sky beating on their backs.

"Phew it's hot," Chongyun panted, pulling a popsicle out of his satchel.

Struggling to catch his breath, Xingqiu replied, "You…always...say that."

Even Xingqiu had to admit the day was unusually hotter than normal. And the adrenaline coursing through his veins didn't serve to help.

Chongyun felt light headed, he could sense the temperature begin to overcome his body. The popsicles he'd taken with him to relieve the heat were already starting to melt. Leaving him scarcely any time to consume their contents before they withered away.

Xingqiu took notice, holding up a flask of water to offer relief. "Here, you need it more than me."

"Thanks," Chongun reached for it. Pouring out its contents before freezing it instantly with his vision. The ice cubes provided temporary relief, but it would be far from enough if he was to make it home.

His breathing grew more and more rapid. Even his sight began to waver, the edge of his vision fading into blurs of color.

"Are you ok?" Xingqiu asked with a look of deep concern.

"Yeah...," Chonyun insisted. "I just...need to...cool off." Regathering his senses, he removed his shirt, exposing his bare skin.

"That should help," Chongyun spoke, his tone beginning to clear up. "Let's head back to Liyue."

"R-right," Xingqiu nodded. He felt his chest tighten. His heart skipped a beat.

Doki Doki

He didn't realize it, but his gaze was locked in place. Unmoving and unflinching away from Chongyun.

This feeling, Xingqiu thought. It's just like before…

Chongyun stretched his arms, trying to relax the tightened muscles in his upper body. "You should try and cool off too."

"W-why do you say that?" Xingqiu stammered, trying to contain whatever this 'feeling' was.

"Your face is red," Chongyun stated bluntly.

"What?!"

Chongyun eyed his friend with concern, "Now it's even redder."

"I'm f-fine," Xingqiu replied, shaking his head. "I'd be more concerned about you in this weather."

He nodded, "Let's try to keep to the shade then."

They walked for some time, taking great care to keep to the shade at the roadside. Any cover provided by the trees surrounding them was a welcome relief.

Will that feeling I felt, Chongyun thought. Come again? He glanced over at his friend. No, that's impossible.

Xingqiu noticed where Chongyun's focus was, "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

"Aww, come on I know you're thinking about something," Xingqiu leaned in with a smirk.

"It's just about last night," Chongyun admitted. Running a nervous hand through his ruffled hair.

"Oh? What about it?" Xingqiu tilted his head in curiosity.

"I don't know," he shook his head. "I felt something last night."

"Oh?!" Xingqiu's smirk widened. He struck his friend on the shoulder, "Could it have been love perhaps?" He rolled the pronunciation of love with a long 'l' and vowel, emphasizing the word as he leaned in closer to tease him.

"No, that's impossible," Chongyun reasoned. It couldn't have been love, he thought. I was with you when it happened. There's no way I'm in love with...

"What's impossible about it?" Xingqiu leaned in closer, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Did someone catch your eye last night?" He asked, perking his head over Chongyun's right shoulder.

"Err...well," Chongyun's gaze met with Xingqiu's. Just as before he felt as though he could lose himself within those jewel-like eyes. "You could say that."

"Who was it? Describe her to me," Xingqiu's eyes were glowing as his smile widened. He was enjoying himself too much.

Chongyun felt embarrassed, although it was different from the usual embarrassment he felt whenever his friend teased him(which was often). There was something deeper about this feeling. Something closer to him that made it much more unbearable. That made him that much more vulnerable.

Chongyun cleared his throat, blushing lightly. "Well. H-h-she had long blue hair."

"I need more details Yun."

"And…," Chongyun took a close look at his friend. "Fair skin."

"That's still pretty vague. Lot's of girls in Liyue fit that description."

He can't know it was him, Chongyun thought to himself. "They had brown eyes. And they were wearing normal clothing."

"Normal? Normal," Xingqiu chuckled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chongyun's face grew redder. "Well you know, normal."

"Come on, what were they wearing Yun?" Xingqiu teased, flicking his friend on the forehead.

Chongyun stayed silent, trying to come up with an answer.

"Well? A dress? A skirt? A nightgown?"

"A night-skirt, err I mean nightgown." Chongyun rushed out his reply, trying to distance himself from his friend's questions.

"A nightgown? In public," Xingqiu laughed with disbelief. "I can see why they caught your eye then."

Chongyun shook his head, and tried to hide his embarrassment by covering his face with his palm. He won't let me hear the end of this.

"Hahaha, Yun's in love! Yun's in love!" Xingqiu teased, skipping around his friend.

"Uggh," Chongyun groaned. I shouldn't have said anything.

Wangshu inn was in sight, it's towering presence was something to behold. A massive structure built into an even larger tree, whose architecture was both intricate and ancient. It was a popular resting point for travelers journeying through Liyue, one that even the Adepti frequented on occasion.

"Yun's in love! Yun's in lov—," tripping over a large tree root Xingqiu couldn't finish his sentence.

He fell face first into Chongyun, collapsing onto him completely. Xingqiu felt his chest tighten. He could feel his heart pounding. Realizing where he'd landed he couldn't hide his embarrassment. His face turned red as a beet, buried into Chongyun's bare chest.

Doki Doki

S-s-so warm! Xingqiu tried to collect his scattered thoughts.

Chongyun was startled as his friend fell forward. Although he took the brunt of the impact, landing his back on the ground, he was more concerned for Xingqiu. "Are you ok—?!" It took Chongyun a brief moment to realize what had happened. And where his friend had landed.

His face lost all of its color. His muscles and nerves tightened. And his heart stopped.

Doki Doki

S-so soft! Chongyun could feel Xingqiu press against him.

This feeling! they both thought to themselves as they regathered their composure.

"Hehe, sorry about that," Xingqiu darted off his friend, trying to conceal his flustered expression.

Chongyun was at a loss for words. This feeling...he thought to himself. He glanced up at Xingqiu, making brief eye contact before he quickly shifted his gaze.

"Are you ok?" Chongyun stood up.

"Y-y-yeb, I mean yeah!" Xingqiu grabbed the end of his hair, and ran his fingers through its length. It was a nervous gesture conducted with a trembling hand. He probably thinks I look stupid, he thought to himself.

Chongyun could feel his temperature rise, along with his heart rate. There was a sort of internal panic in his mind as he tried to understand what was happening. To understand what emotions it was experiencing.

I feel hot, what is this? He thought to himself.

"Umm, stay back," Chongyun said, whatever was causing this feeling he needed time and space to sort it out. Xingqiu shot him a look of confusion.

"Wait, no, I mean," he shook his head. "Let's hurry back to Wangshu Inn."

I look so stupid, he thought. Xingqiu won't let me hear the end of this.

"Alright," Xingqiu snapped his gaze forward, nervously trying to keep it off of his friend.

Together they walked back to the inn to deliver the stolen goods. The journey was short, but it felt much longer, their mind's clouded by an emotional frenzy they found difficult to manage. Every few steps they glanced back at one another, to see if they were ok. And every time they darted their gaze back, afraid to make eye contact with one another. Afraid to reveal their feelings or any signs of them to one another.

The man from before was waiting for them at the entrance, wearing a smile on his face, "Welcome back!"

Chonngyun replied meekly, "We brought it back." Reaching into his satchel he revealed the stolen goods. A gilded bust of Rex Lapis that looked older than both of them combined.

The man eyed the shirtless adventurer in front of him with perplexion, as well as the other one to his right. He had longer, darker hair, and he seemed quite flustered. His hair was a mess, and he seemed to be absent minded.

"I can't thank you enough," the man spoke. "It's good to see this returned to the inn."

"No problem," Xingqiu replied, trying to fix his hair. "Anytime."

"Although there's something I must admit," the owner of Wangshu Inn placed an anxious hand on his neck. "I don't have enough money to pay you for the commission."

"Are you—," Chongyun was outraged. It was one thing to not get paid, but he spent all day walking in the hot sun for this.

"That's fine," Xingqiu cut his friend off before he could escalate the situation. "We'll accept other forms of payment."

"Hmmmmm, alright then," the man pondered for a moment. "How would you two like free exclusive access to our new hot spring?"

Chongyun looked mortified, "Hot spring?"

"It's almost ready to be opened in Liyue, but you two could be its first guests," the man spoke confidently. "I know it's not the same as a mora, so in addition to this I'll give you two lifetime discounts every time you visit in the future."

"Hmmmm," Xingqiu gave the offer some consideration. On the one hand, Yun wouldn't fare well with the heat. On the other, we're both exhausted…He smirked. But I bet he'd look hilarious. His imagination ran wild, Chongyun in a hot spring. Xingqiu could see it now, the expressions on his flustered face, the way his personality would distort, his bare body, his frantic movements and efforts to cool down. Wait, Xingqiu double checked his train of thought. His bare body…

He could feel his heart begin to beat rapidly. The same feeling from before struck again, and this time it was much stronger. His face turned a bright red. Why am I thinking about this?!

"Yes!" Xingqiu exclaimed. "That sounds perfect." His eyes were gleaming with anticipation.

Chongyun shot his friend a puzzled look that read: 'are you serious?'

"Great! That settles it then," the man rejoiced, his debt repaid. "We'll have the spring ready for you by the end of tomorrow."

"That soon?" Chongyun asked.

The man nodded with a smile, "See you then."

They both returned to their homes in Liyue that night. For ordinary adventurers a hard day of work and travel would earn itself a night of good sleep. But they weren't ordinary adventurers, both Xingqiu and Chongyun had a question on their mind that kept them awake long into the night.

Am I in love with my best friend? they thought, dwelling on the feeling until night drifted into passing dawn.