Hello! This work has been a passion project of mine for several months now, and it's been cooking in my mind for even longer. Once I heard Xingqiu's voice line about "putting on an act around other people," I immediately fell in love with his character and knew he had to be my main protagonist. I also happen to enjoy the found family trope and connecting characters who seemingly have nothing to do with each other.
I've got some great ideas in the works, so I invite you to pull up a seat and imagine for a moment: Xingqiu and Zhongli discover a Fatui heist that turns into an international crime fighting escapade. We've got romance, we've got action, we've got hurt and comfort. This is Genshin Impact as I play it: Venti, Xiao, Xingqiu, Chongyun, Noelle, Zhongli, and Lumine work in tandem towards a common goal.
Chapter 1: A Deserted, Moonlit Night
'Twas on a deserted moonlit night that the hero approached the vile dragon's limpid lair.
Xingqiu's brain repeated that line ad nauseam, and it cushioned the silence between the strokes of his pen and the ticking of the clock. It was midnight already. The cheerful glow of the moon through his window starkly contrasted the gloom of the carbon copy paper, which bore tired, even messier squiggles than usual.
He set his head down on the giant stack, although he was quickly interrupted by the meticulous tapping of fingernails. With the refreshing wind behind him, Chongyun precariously perched on the windowsill gesturing to its latch. One of the servants must have shut it. Rubbing his face, he kneeled against the other side and pushed the frame open, giving his friend just enough room to wiggle through without detection.
"Greetings Chongyun," he yawned. As he shuffled by the exorcist raised an eyebrow,
"Greetings? After ghosting me for a week that's what you have to say to me?" His tone wasn't so much incredulous as it was confused.
"Heh, ghosting..." he yawned, "sorry. I forgot I don't have to be customer service Xingqiu anymore."
"Wait you're still filling out paperwork? I thought you finished this part." A gentle breeze graced his cheeks as Chongyun walked past, leaning over his work table with a discerning expression. Despite the late hour he looked awake, lively even. Unlike his own, his hair was carefully combed and his eyes were wide as they scanned the fluttering documents.
He suppressed the urge to lie on the ground and instead shut the window behind them, joining him by staring through the table.
"Yeah. My brother needed me to do his half. Something about a project he's working on."
"That's not fair," Chongyun pouted, "it's busy season isn't it?"
"Doesn't matter. He's got seniority." Clearly he had no idea what seniority entailed.
"...That sucks. Are you almost done at least?"
"..."
"Xingqiu?"
"What? No. I'm not."
As if on cue, "You should get some rest, then."
"That actually sounds like the opposite of what I should be doing." He continued reading where he left off, only half paying attention to the growing scowl beside him.
Then-
-it suddenly occurred to him that Chongyun might not actually be in his room. Xingqiu had entertained conversations between himself and only himself in the past. Given the fact he hadn't slept in 72 hours he wouldn't put it past himself. Archons, he wanted to take a nap so bad, but if he kept working at this rate he might be able to meet with Lumine at the end of the week.
"You should take a break."
"Can't," he sat down again on his tea-stained seat, "but I thank you for coming to visit me. I know you don't like having to sneak into my room." He startled at the chilled touch on his shoulder. He was there.
"Xingqiu."
"Whaaat?" His voice probably sounded childish, but he checked and no one else was around to hear.
"I know you want to be able to train with the Traveler, but if you don't sleep you're more likely to get your head sliced off or something." Actually, that sounded preferable to his current situation. But he sighed, because he knew he had a point.
"Thirty more minutes?"
"And then you'll sleep?"
"Yeah." He was rewarded with a gentle smile.
As was his nightly routine, Zhongli bid Hu Tao farewell and he began his evening walk. Blessedly, the lanterns emanated a warm glow that provided just enough light. His eyes, which now needed the illumination, could make out the harbor beyond without distraction. Though his mind was far from clear.
Xiao would need his medicine delivered in the coming days, else his karma would increase to uncomfortable levels. Well, more uncomfortable than usual. The thought occurred to him that the Traveler would be in town soon, though he didn't want to trouble her.
The moment she learned of the Sumeru entry requirements she took off across the plains like a young geovishap. Though she could teleport, she often walked instead, because apparently the value of gaining strength and additional materials was too enticing.
He was sure her help was highly sought. No, it was probably best that he visit Xiao himself. He could find a reason to head north, one that pleased both his mortal and adeptus counterparts.
Speaking of mortals, as he attended once more to his surroundings he found more of them about than was typical for this hour. The elegant blue and gold robes adorned by members of the commerce guild rushed about him in a flurry of silk and speed. A handful spoke in hushed voices beside the guild's front doors, one or two trotted past with purpose, and a third group appeared to be loading shipments for the following day.
He stopped for a moment, content to watch them pass. Several suspicious glances were cast in his direction, and a strange conglomeration of elemental energy traced the streets around them, though no one wore visions. The strongest traces were that of hydro, which made sense given the second son's presence, but that still didn't account for the others. Most of Liyue's vision users had long since retired.
"Excuse me, young sir..." He gestured to a young man who clearly bore the Feiyun family traits. The midnight blue hair was impossible to miss of course, as were the several tassels and jewels on his person. Curiously, he also wore a large brimmed hat which obscured most of his face.
"I must pardon myself, sir. I have a meeting with a client that I cannot, under any circumstance, be late for."
"That's quite alright, I was simply going to ask what-" before he could finish his sentence the man had trotted off. Perhaps he was too long winded. At a loss, he decided to continue his trek. If the guild was too busy this evening, he could ask the next day on his way in to work. The parlor was across the street after all.
Now, if only he could shake the strange feeling in his chest before then...
"It's been an hour now."
"Okay, okay I'm done." He replaced the lid on the ink well once again, before he forgot like last time, and he set another stack in the incredibly extravagant outbox. Why the Northland Bank had thought it necessary to gift him what was essentially a giant, polished block of noctilucous jade he would never know. As he stood, Chongyun swiftly returned his whetstone to his nightstand.
"Good. It's about time." Chongyun's voice was clear of impatience. He was always very good at entertaining himself in silence, which was an important trait in a friend as close as him. Though he often interrupted his reading sessions, he clearly understood the importance of companionable silence. Xingqiu collapsed backwards onto the foot of his bed without a sound, toeing his shoes off in a way that bent the heel. Today he couldn't force himself to care.
"Thanks for waiting for me."
"I don't mind." He stood as if to leave, and suddenly Xingqiu sat up again, the blood strangely swooshing in his head.
"You aren't leaving now are you?"
"You want me to stay over? Your family doesn't know I'm here, so I'd have to stay in your room."
"I don't care. We've shared a bed before. Look, I won't even move." He rebelliously tore off his jacket without unfastening each of the buttons, revealing a wrinkled white undershirt that he hadn't changed since he last slept, but it was fine because no one in Liyue greeted each other by first unbuttoning their shirts. No one could tell.
For a moment Xingqiu considered the implications, and the consequences if someone walked into his room without knocking. Maybe the tabloids, if they were particularly dry, would cry that they were secret lovers or some such nonsense. Maybe, he thought as he shuffled under the covers, but ultimately it would be dismissed as white noise. Still, his father would probably give him shit if he found out.
He dismissed the thought. It was going to be a long week, and he was just grateful that someone, who saw him as himself and not as a machine, was near. Chongyun was Chongyun. There was no need to overcomplicate things. "Thanks 'yun." After setting his claymore against the bed frame, he smiled as he laid flat on his back.
"You're welcome. Now you're safe from ghosts."
"That isn't what I meant and you know that, stupid."
His voice poorly hid behind his smile, "I know."
Author's Note: You can find my work here on or on AO3 (I'm BucketStorm there too). If you see my work anywhere else, then that is not me! I will always inform you if I decide to post on another platform.
