Chapter Text
In a time and place lost to history, there was a boy with nothing good left.
It was all Chongyun ever knew, really. He didn’t have anything to grieve, because he never had anything at all, except scorn and abuse and the sting of cold metal on his hands and loneliness.
There was nobody to comfort him, nobody that could give him a kind word. He had seen other people before, getting the treatment he so desperately wanted. But this wasn’t so bad, really. He had three meals a day and a place to sleep, even if the meals were apples and the place was a dungeon. It felt like it had been trillions of years here.
He had gotten used to the chill, so he didn’t need a fire. But he felt the cold all the same.
***
In a time and place lost to history, there was a boy with everything good handed to him.
Xingqiu had every luxury at his fingertips. His every curiosity was sated by the libraries of books his family owned. Well, except for one. That little trapdoor behind the house. He was forbidden to go there. He wanted to see the space below so badly, even if it was just a wine cellar. He wanted to know for sure.
He was 16 when the key fell into his lap. And by “fell”, I mean he stole it.
He wasn’t the type to let a little rule stop him.
***
In a time and place lost to history, two worlds collided.
Clink.
A lock opened. It was too early for lunch. So it was a punishment. Chongyun still hadn’t figured out what they were for, and nobody bothered to tell him.
Except, no stinging pain came. There was only a boy, staring at him, horrified.
“...What’s your name?” he asked.
But Chongyun couldn’t answer. He could only give a sad smile.
“Oh, you…” Xingqiu paused. “You can’t tell me, can you?” Xingqiu’s voice faltered. “You’re not… I can’t… Oh.” He offered a hand. “Let’s go home.”
Home. Home. Nobody had ever said that to him. Home, home, home. He took the word and cherished it like the gods themselves had said it. He smiled again, taking Xingqiu’s hand.
“Close your eyes.” Xingqiu asked, and Chongyun did it. Not out of fear, no. Not this time. This time, it was more… trust.
And, when he opened them, it was to the sound of metal clattering to the ground, and to the feeling of metal falling off of him. He stared, in awe. How did he-?
“Doesn’t matter,” Xingqiu told him, while pocketing the other stolen key. “Come on.” He waved Chongyun out.
And off they went, into the searing sunset.
***