Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of Cloud Retainer's Home for Sad Cryo Children
Collections:
Genshin Impact Golden Collection, head empty just misu being sad and lonely, Magnolia's Favourite Fics, Gamefics, miQ_y's fav fav fics, TAFox's Portfolio!
Stats:
Published:
2022-01-06
Completed:
2022-01-06
Words:
4,578
Chapters:
4/4
Comments:
62
Kudos:
1,208
Bookmarks:
125
Hits:
9,811

Sometimes “Family” is an Immortal Crane and Three Lonely Cryo-Wielders

Chapter 4: Family

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

A window had been left open for night air. A window that was high above his head, situated in the rafters of the room. He couldn't reach it. Of course he couldn't. He was small for his age, and even if he wasn't a full grown adult still needed to use a ladder to get to it. 

But he had to try.

His vision pulsed with his wish, and Chongyun raised his tired arms, sore muscles throbbing with pain as he did, and called upon the power of cryo.

“S-spirit blade..!” His voice was but an arid whisper, and yet his vision still answered his call. Ice struck down from the sky, forming an uneven staircase close enough to the window. He winced at the loud BANG it created, hoping that his father didn't hear the commotion. 

A minute passed and no one came through, so he took a breath and leapt up the icy stairs. The window above was open just lightly, and the smell and sound of rain neared his senses the closer he got to it. He grasped the frame, pushing his lithe body through the small opening and squeezing his eyes shut. Rain hit his body and he gasped as he finally got through the window, the momentum of his force catapulting his body down the jagged roof of the Liu mansion and onto the dirt path below. 

Free. He was free.

His body ached even more from the fall, and he was quite certain he twisted his wrist the wrong way, but he was still free. 

Sneaking away from the prying eyes of the populated Harbor, Chongyun ran.

 

Tears had begun to fall from his face. Shenhe’s heart seized, and she reached out to touch the boy. He flinched only gently as she put a hand on his shoulder. Shenhe was taken by surprise when the boy launched himself into her, wrapping his tense arms around her torso and crying into her shoulder. Shenhe froze for a minute before wrapping her arms back around him, eyes closing. His crying was silent, save for a few sniffles and the shaking of his body. Shenhe’s hold was awkward, and she assumed it was probably uncomfortable, yet he didn't let go. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that Ganyu had awoken, and had a melancholy smile on her face. 

Chongyun drew back after a while, wiping his face with his sleeve. “I…I’m sorry. I don't know what came over me. It was inappropriate a-and I won't do it again.”

“N…no.” Shenhe said, confused at the sudden change in his attitude. “No, Chongyun. I…” She looked helplessly at Ganyu.

Ganyu let out a sad chuckle. “It's okay, Chongyun. No one here will get mad at you for being upset.”

“M-miss Ganyu-?” Chongyun turned around, surprised to see her awake. 

“I won't allow you to go back to that place.” Ganyu said, teary-eyed but determined. “I can't stand by while you are abused.”

“Abused-?!” Chongyun’s eyes widened in fear and he waved his hands around, face flushing. “No, no! That- I’m not being abused! Abuse is much, much worse than what is happening to me. This is- this is just the training every member of the Liu clan goes through. My training is just a bit more rigorous because of my pure yang spirit, but I assure you both, it's normal!”

At first, Shenhe was naively convinced, but it only took one look at Ganyu’s horrified face to realize that Chongyun’s words were lies he had been fed, whether he knew it or not.

“No, no, Chongyun.” She shook her head. “But…we can discuss this later, once you’re healthy. Just because your fever has broken does not mean you are well yet.”

“I…” Chongyun’s hands fell, and he looked drained from just talking. “O…okay.”

Shenhe looked at Chongyun for a little bit before turning around to face Cloud Retainer. The crane had woken up sometime during the conversation, staying silent to observe. For once, Shenhe was proud of her master for not butting into the conversation. 

Of course, she never would say that outloud. Instead, she asked another question.

“May we adopt him?”

“What?” Chongyun and Ganyu said in unison.

Cloud Retainer stretched out her feathers, examining Chongyun. The adepti sighed.

“One assumes that one has started a collection of cryo-wielding children.”

“What?!” Chongyun exclaimed. “Y…you don't need to adopt me. I don't need adopting. I don't!”

“One has already grown a fondness for you, Liu boy. It would do you good to keep quiet and out of the harbor for now.” Shenhe let a smile slip onto her lips at her master’s words. She looked over at Chongyun. The boy’s face was flushed, and his eyes were conflicted. 

“May I…may I have another iced tea chip…please?” He asked Shenhe. The woman only laughed, abiding his request.

There were still many problems to be dealt with. The most concerning one being Chongyun’s family. But away from the harbor, in a ruin that only the most skilled of adventurers knew about, she could forget her worries for the future and focus on the boy in front of her in the present.

Yes, Shenhe thought as Cloud Retainer began to think aloud ideas for Chongyun’s room, I think he will fit into our odd little family perfectly.

 

Everything had been blurry after that point. The rain had obscured his vision, and his mind was slowly shutting down. But just as Chongyun felt that all hope was lost…

A white haired savior scooped him up and brought him home.



Notes:

WHOOOOOO I WROTE THIS IN ONE DAY CAN U BELIEVE IT
thats a big achievement for someone who can barely write a thousand words

Series this work belongs to: