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In the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way, no plot point was too senseless or convoluted for great master Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky to use! If it cranked out 10,000 words in one sitting, then it was just as valid as any of the other plot that paid his rent! Doubly so if he could charge a bit extra for a chapter locked behind a special event paywall. Money was money! He had bills to pay and noodles to buy! Shamelessly earned money spends the same as money earned with dignity!
One such plot point involved a wife that inexplicably developed the ability to hear the thoughts of anyone she touched. This was, of course, a thinly veiled excuse for her to be feeling up the protagonist for three chapters, oooh-ing and ahh-ing at his sharp intellect to see beyond the broody facade life had given Luo Binghe. It all culminated in one of Proud Immortal Demon Way’s most successful chapters of smut that had a feedback loop of pleasure that was so well received that Airplane was able to buy a month’s worth of meat in bulk to freeze. Life was good! The best! It didn’t matter that the arc concluded without the reticent wife realizing that papapa had been the cure, the wife had woken up the following day with a quiet mind and a new respect for her husband and emperor.
After the final chapter of that arc was posted and Airplane’s bills were paid in advance, he immediately forgot about that plot point and moved on with his life. It wouldn’t, after all, ever come up again.
-
Shen Qingqiu doesn’t notice his new affliction for quite some time.
His reputation as a reclusive immortal keeps everyone at a distance out of either fear, resentment, or respect. Perhaps even a healthy combination of all three. Even during lessons, the Qing Jing peak disciples know to expect the corrective touch of a fan instead of their shizun’s hand.
Ning Yingying, of course, is always the exception.
Familiar light footsteps are Shen Qingqiu’s only warning before his favored disciple rounds the corner of the teaching halls to throw her arms around his waist. Shen Qingqiu is readying the chastisement for impropriety when he hears an energetic crow of, Shizun’s so pretty today!
Shen Qingqiu blinks once, pausing from where he had moved to pick a leaf out of Ning Yingying’s hair, then blinks again. Resting her chin against his sternum, Ning Ying Ying’s smile widens further, the gap in her teeth becoming extra pronounce. There was no mistaking it, he knows what he heard but…he had been staring right at her. Her lips had not moved. Primly, he picks out the offending leaf and raises an accusing brow.
”What is this?”
In a move more reminiscent of a street dog, she tilts her head to the side and stares up with big brown eyes. “….A hug?”
The corners of her lips slightly tremble in the silence, morphs into an uncertain closed mouth smile when he hears, ‘is that not okay?’
Quite frankly it’s pathetic, and worst of all, endearing. Shen Qingqiu has always been weak to the sweet sincerity of girls. It’s why there are so few on Qing Jing Peak. Rearranging the mess that has been made of her braids, Shen Qingqiu pats them down in place and snips, “See to it that it doesn’t happen again.”
The toothy beam of Ning Yingying’s full smile is back in place when she runs off, he sees it several more times as she turns around to wave back at him every few steps. Hidden behind a paper fan is a much subtler echo of that joy. She seems to see it all the same.
-
Shen Qingqiu is back in his office reading subpar essays when it happens again.
Ming Fan is juggling multiple scrolls, ready to receive another when their hands touch for the briefest of seconds. Shen Qingqiu’s mind is invaded by the laundry list of tasks that Ming Fan needs to catch up on before Shen Qingqiu notices he hasn't turned in the inventory report for the week. While such outbursts are expected, even welcomed, from Ning Yingying, Shen Qingqiu is all too aware by how the desperate need for approval makes such a slip up from Ming Fan extremely unlikely. It’s easy to deduce what’s happening after that, ever the scholar, Shen Qingqiu runs a few more tests to be sure.
On his next trip to the Warm Red Pavilion, he makes opportunities to brush against strangers in the crowd and reaffirms several key beliefs of the world, most importantly this: men are disgusting.
-
Qing Jing Peak is alight with a buzz of excitement the following week, hall masters swear up and down that they’re being threatened while disciples fight over whether or not shizun’s guiding hand was a chastisement or silent approval. Ming Fan, certain that his position is about to be stolen right from under him, spends the entire time in a nervous panic.
The inventory report has never been written so neatly!
For his part, Shen Qingqiu carries an air of annoyance regarding the whole ordeal. There’s not a single moment that he can think of where someone would have had the opportunity to curse him with this condition. It also doesn’t seem to impede his life in any way, nor dull his senses, or sabotage his position. If anything, it gives him an advantage when dealing with people he would otherwise avoid. Shen Qingqiu comes to the conclusion that this is either a very poorly planned out sabotage, or it is simply one of those things that just happens to cultivators. Like encountering aphrodisiacs on a mission with someone you hate or qi deviating into a child. Occupational hazards.
The list of people that have regular access to Shen Qingqiu is exactly eleven names long. The first suspect is none other than Wei Qingwei, whose open mouth shock to Shen Qingqiu pulling a conveniently placed leaf out of his hair is almost worth the disappointment. Never one to waste time, Shen Qingqiu efficiently crosses the names off his list in a matter of days. With every interaction he teases out answers to long held assumptions and rewrites his own opinions of the peak lords accordingly. His martial siblings, much like his disciples and hall masters, have mixed feelings about this change.
Shen Qingqiu is suddenly willing to engage in some skin ship and is surprisingly insightful about his martial siblings these days. While nothing short of miraculous, this also has the drawback of his remarks cutting more deeply and accurately when he wants something. But-
Could they… finally… be growing closer?!
Gossip, once again, becomes the preferred pastime amongst the peak lords! Countless hours are wasted away over tea and speculation during secret meetings across the peaks. Some are suspicious over this sudden change of behavior, Hong Jing having been requested multiple times, while others are taking it as Shen Qingqiu's heart finally melting a little.
The sect leader oversees this all with a tight smile.
Yue Qingyuan watches as Shen Qingqiu grows closer to their martial siblings, whether it is because of an underlying plot or not, it doesn't disguise the deterioration of the thinly veiled loathing in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes over time. Or how his acerbic words no longer have the sting of a venomous snake bite but are once more similar to the playful kitten scratch of their youth.
It appears that Shen Qingqiu has decided to open his heart up to everyone but Yue Qingyuan, and while he deserves this for failing him, it doesn't ease the hurt or jealousy coming to roost in the sect leader’s chest.
Unbeknownst to him, Shen Qingqiu is fighting an internal battle to not march over to Qiong Ding Peak and throttle the sect leader until every question that has haunted him since their ill-fated reunion is answered. The temptation to cross off the final name on his list (and really, he abandoned those suspicions long ago) is only met with the fear that he might accidentally confirm his suspicions in the process. Shen Qingqiu has been avoiding Yue Qingyuan like the plague, terrified that a look into his inner most thoughts will be an echo of all the worst things Shen Qingqiu thinks about himself.
It is one thing to believe that the person who used to know you best thinks of you as scum, it is another thing entirely to have it confirmed.
So Shen Qingqiu keeps his distance, speculating as to why the sect leader looks so defeated lately. Surely he must think Shen Qingqiu is attempting to turn the peak lords against him!
And while he loathes to admit it, the sudden insight he has on his martial siblings has made them more.... tolerable. Or at the very least, less irritating.
Imagine Shen Qingqiu’s surprise when he discovered that they didn't actually hate him like he had spent years convinced that they did. The other peak lords only found him infuriating! As they should, Shen Qingqiu puts in the effort to inconvenience them when he's feeling vengeful. They should feel thankful he has never actually put his heart into it. None of them would survive, of this he is sure.
There had only ever person one person that he dulled his blade for, and that ended in betrayal.
But why?
Why?
Wasn’t Xiao Jiu good to Qi-ge? Why wasn’t he enough? Was he really so terrible? Could Yue Qingyuan see that in him, even then?
Pacing around his room on Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingqiu comes to the decision that enough is enough. There is no reason to cross off that last name, he has no desire to ever touch that man again. He’ll simply live with this affliction for the rest of his days, carefully avoiding contact with that bastard Yue Qingyuan.
It’s fine.
This is fine.
-
The arrival of Sect Leader Zhang a month later is accompanied by the usual fanfare of such a visit, banquets, negotiations, and insufferable attempts at socializing between the two sects. Representatives from each side discuss an exchange of disciples and all that such an arrangement requires. As the meetings goes on, those representing Cang Qiong find themselves holding back their tongues as it becomes apparent that none of them can stand the self-important sect leader. For such a small sect, Zhang Yinbo made his mound seem like a mountain, attempting to negotiate at every turn in their favor.
As if their research on arrays were so valuable!
The men that accompany Zhang Yinbo have the unenviable task of trying to clear up the mess he’s makes, sweeping behind him like stable boys after a procession. Their asks are unreasonable, the man himself is a shameless braggart intending to ingratiate himself to Cang Qiong Mountain sect, or more specifically, Yue Qingyuan while shit continues to spill out of his mouth.
Shen Qingqiu watches the disaster in amused silence as the man digs himself deeper and deeper in Yue Qingyuan’s distaste. The smile of a skilled diplomat never drops but Shen Qingqiu has been in enough of these meetings to know when the sect leader thinks someone is an idiot. There’s the slightest tilt to his head, a tension at the corner of his eyes, that Shen Qingqiu would know anywhere. At least here, the echo of Qi-ge remains.
The last of their meetings drags on, Shen Qingqiu lazily waves his fan as he watches Yue Qingyuan push through the ending remarks and dodge every invitation Sect Leader Zhang can subtly, and then blatantly, imply. It takes Shang Qinghua calling in his lackeys to start picking up after the abandon tables of food for their efforts to come to a stand still.
The final stragglers are filtering out of the room when Sect Leader Zhang breaks into what he assumes is an amusing story about a band of street children that tried to pull one over on them on their journey over. He's practically salivating describing how easily his disciples took care of the street rats for the crime of trying to take advantage of a rich envoy.
"And in the end, all they could do was throw dirt at us! The audacity!"
It is at that moment that someone ahead of them trips over the hem of their robes, cultivators abandon all grace and shuffle to an abrupt stop as well. In the startled rearrangement of bodies, Shen Qingqiu stops too late to avoid brushing his hand against Yue Qingyuan's own. It’s the barest of touches yet Shen Qingqiu still braces hear Yue Qingyuan revulsion at the contact but instead what comes out is: ‘They should have thrown bricks.’
It is just too unexpected!
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes widen, a wrong breath sends spit down the wrong pipe and he erupts into a choking fit as he tries to disguise his sudden bark of laughter. He's barely composed enough to bring out his fan to hide behind when Yue Qingyuan turns to him and asks, "Qngqiu-shidi, are you alright?"
What kind of question is that?! He’s dying! There are tears in his eyes!!
Ever the composed peak lord of Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingqiu attempts an unaffected non-response but the sincere expression on Yue Qingyuan's face nearly sets him off again. To think that the illustrious sect leader of Cang Qiong Mountain sect still thinks such things!
Wasn't Qi-ge the one always lecturing Xiao Jiu for arriving to a brawl with a brick in hand?! What was with this sudden turn at his grand old age!?
Ridiculous!
Absurd!
Stupid Qi-
A heavy hand lands on his shoulder, entirely too warm, and a little distracting. The gentle squeeze makes his muscles contract and a shiver go down Shen Qingqiu’s spine and back up to the base of his skull. At a distance he hears, "Let us part ways here Sect Leader Zhang, my head disciple will show you to your quarters while I discuss matters with peak lord Shen."
Despite this, Shen Qingqiu hears, Even if Xiao Jiu kicks and bites me, it will have been worth getting away from this bastard.
What kicking!?
What biting?!
Is he not Shen Qingqiu, lord of Qing Jing Peak? Paragon of dignity and elegance!? Has he not held that title for 20 years now?!
Behind his fan, Shen Qingqiu feels his face growing hot in a mix of embarrassment and fury, how dare Yue Qingyuan think of him as if he was still a street dog snarling and biting any perceived offense! Has he not earned his respect?
Waiting just long enough that they were away from prying eyes, Shen Qingqiu harshly shrugs off the sect leader's hand. This time, all he catches is a fragment of ‘Ah, already?’ when he turns to glare at the sect leader.
"Zhangmen-shixiong's concern is unnecessary, this one is fine."
There is a moment where he thinks Yue Qingyuan will protest, Shen Qingqiu is half expecting the older man to insist on walking him back to Qing Jing peak as he often does, but just as quickly Yue Qingyuan's expression shutters into the polite genial given to guests.
"Of course Qingqiu-shidi."
Shen Qingqiu is left standing dumbfounded as he watches Yue Qingyuan walk away without another word. Without a single imploring look or ‘should we have tea, Shen-shidi?'
No one would ever dare to admit it, but there exists an equivalent to stomping away while flying on a sword. It is neither dignified or graceful, but high up in the sky, that matters very little. Shen Qingqiu does exactly this as he turns over the interaction in his head, prodding from every which angle.
Since when was Yue Qingyuan the type to give up so easily where Shen Qingqiu was concerned?
He thinks about it as he lands on his peak, he thinks about it while evaluating his senior students guqin performances, he thinks about it while Ming Fan takes away the dishes of his evening meal.
He is still thinking about it when he takes down his hair for the night, combing in the hair oil that Yue Qingyuan gifted him earlier this year.
Just what is that man thinking?
There is another meeting with the visiting sect the next day, Shen Qingqiu takes in the information relevant to his position and response accordingly. The rest of the meeting is spent watching Yue Qingyuan like a hawk.
In a stark contrast to the last several years of their lives, Yue Qingyuan only glances over at him unnecessarily twice. Shen Qingqiu fights off his growing irritation by staring even harder, counting the subtle shift of Yue Qingyuan's shoulders as a victory when it happens.
Just as the meeting ends, Shen Qingqiu catches Shang Qinghua’s eye as they rise from their seats, with a flick of his wrist, he gestures the end of his fan in the direction of the sect leaders and raises his chin.
In return, the An Ding Peak Lord scrunches up his mousey face into a scowl which Shen Qingqiu stares down until Shang Qinghua concedes. His shidi throws his head back to glare up at the ceiling only to take a deep breath and jump up from his seat.
"Sect leader Yu, a word!"
Shen Qingqiu follows behind him, hawk eyes following sect leader Yu is pulled into a conversation regarding the expected cost of borrowed robes during the exchange. The incessant chatter slowly fades away as sect leader Yu’s pace increases, Yue Qingyuan is left behind with a blatant look of relief that Shen Qingqiu doesn't need to read his mind to know what he's thinking.
And yet-
Taking advantage of Yue Qingyuan's momentary distraction, Shen Qingqiu quickens his steps to maneuver himself in the way just as Yue Qingyuan turns to face the other peak lord. What Yue Qingyuan says at their contact is, "Ah! Pardon me shidi."
What he thinks is, 'as always, Xiao Jiu looks lovely today.'
Once again, Shen Qingqiu's composure is knocked right out of him. He misses a step and stumbles forward only for strong arms to catch him and continue the connection. Shen Qingqiu turns with wide eyes to spit and hiss at the sect leader like the flustered mess that he is only to be met with more heresy.
'If Xiao Jiu could stare at me like this forever, I would be happy.'
It is-
That is-
Impossible!
Doesn't he-
Why would he-
Shen Qingqiu's face grows as hot as the forges of Wan Jian Peak, forgetting himself he shoves a hand against Yue Qingyuan's chest (firm!?) and blurts out, "What is wrong with you?"
There is a moment where Shen Qingqiu can do nothing but drop his mouth in aghast when he hears Yue Qingyuan's self deprecating thought of, 'What isn't wrong with me?'
But what he says is, "This shixiong doesn't understand? Is every thing-"
'Xiao Jiu waist is so small. Cute. I could-'
The slight squeeze is all the reminder Shen Qingqiu needs to break out of his hold, a sense of delirium and mania growing as he shouts, "Everything is FINE." and flees.
There is really nothing else he can call it. No semblance of dignity to be seen in the action.
The dignified peak lord of Qing Jing Peak makes it as far as a stock warehouse at the edge of Qiong Ding Peak before he hides away to bring shaking hands to his burning face.
Of all the things to be thinking, how could he-
Small!
Cute!!
Just what kind of thoughts are those????
When has anyone ever thought of Shen Qingqiu, lord of Qing Jing Peak, in those terms?!
And what was that with how he could see-
Shen Qingqiu cancels his evening lessons.
Instead he runs through sword forms in the Bamboo Forest, when that fails to clear his mind he flies over to Bai Zhan Peak to pick a fight with Liu Qingge.
In the second biggest twist of the century, Shen Qingqiu has learned that Liu Qingge doesn't actually hate him.
Surely too many concussions in their early years has kept Liu Qingge's head is too empty to carry such a heavy burden as hatred.
Shen Qingqiu holds no guilt in interrupting the rare occasion Liu Qingge has to practice his ill-informed pedagogy of beating his students bloody (oh but when Shen Qingqiu does it it's a problem?!) with a "Fight me."
The dog almost looks relieved to abandon his disciples, they definitely are is the grateful looks they shoot Shen Qingqiu are any indication.
The brute doesn't question it, he simply draws his sword and dashes towards Shen Qingqiu. Steel clashes for several strikes until Shen Qingqiu's heart has a real reason to pound against his chest.
A hands width apart, swords pressed together in a battle of strength, Shen Qingqiu hesitantly asks, "What does Liu Qingge think of Zhangmen-shixiong?" Shifting his stance, Shen Qingqiu steps forward enough to touch the edge of the idiot’s boot with his own.
What Liu Qingge says is, "shixiong is strong. Admirable…a good leader."
What is transmitted into Shen Qingqiu's brain is not words but the image of a younger Yue Qingyuan with his robes torn and covered in blood, chest rising and falling with deep breaths, the tantalizing flirtation of a dusky nipple peeking through tears in the fabric as sweat drips down his neck. A genuine smile and 'Good work, shidi.'
'Handsome, strong, shixiong is good, so good he-‘
Shen Qingqiu wraps his leg around Liu Qingge’s calf and uses more force than strictly necessary to knock him off balance. In the same moment, Shen Qingqiu releases Xiu Ya and punches the beautiful bastard in the throat on the way down.
A scuffle later ('Shen Qingqiu has improved.' 'His tells aren't as obvious.' 'Why does he smell like that?') Shen Qingqiu is limping back to his peak thoughts just as full of Yue Qingyuan as when he left.
Except now....
'If Xiao Jiu could stare at me like this forever, I would be happy.'
'As always, Xiao Jiu looks lovely today.'
The image of a sweaty panting Yue Qingyuan…
'Xiao Jiu’s waist is so small. Cute. I could-'
Shen Qingqiu dreams of all the ways that sentenced might have ended, all the things Yue Qingyuan could do.
The thing he would let him do....
-
Something is wrong with Shen Qingqiu.
Yue Qingyuan has no interest in addressing it.
Finally, finally, after watching Shen Qingqiu with covetous eyes as he grew closer with their martial siblings, he finally has turned his attention on Yue Qingyuan!
It started with whatever that was when sect leader Yu visited.
And since then, at least once a week, Xiao Jiu finds a reason to come to him. To look at him, to talk to him.
To touch him!
Part of Yue Qingyuan doubts that Shen Qingqiu is aware of what he's doing, the other reasonable part of him gleefully counters, that Shen Qingqiu has never been the type to touch people casually, accidentally, or otherwise. Not unless it served some ulterior motive. Which means, he wants to be touching Yue Qingyuan.
It's intentional!
Even if Yue Qingyuan ends up cursed or poisoned or merely dead as a result of all this, it would have been worth it.
Xiao Jiu is touching him!
Him!
And he’s flustered and cute about it each time!
Yue Qingyuan isn’t much better, his thoughts stuttering and looping in a delighted chant of 'Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu touched me! Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu!’ He can’t believe his luck, even if the heavens are only smiling down on him before sending a calamity his way.
And as the weeks go by, Shen Qingqiu’s touch lingers for more and more time. The scholar start 'bumping' in him with more frequency, finding excuses to seek him out, fix his collars, pull a leaf he planted from his shoulder. Any little excuse that sends Yue Qingyuan’s heart into the stratosphere.
Though he tries to remain realistic about it, Yue Qingyuan's delusions tell him that perhaps Shen Qingqiu is becoming as addicted to this as he is.
Everything comes to a head when a well known merchant comes to renew their silk contract with Cang Qiong Mount. The sect has worked with his family nearly the entirety of Yue Qingyuan's tenure as the sect leader, he’s a dependable man, fair in his prices, and consistent in his work. The meeting is more of a courtesy than anything else. Accompanied by Shang Qinghua the three men spend the meeting catching up and swapping stories, it's as ideal of a meeting as these things can be.
"My son must be finished unloading the carts by now, strong boy, he's probably outside cursing his old man’s yapping as we speak.”
Yue Qingyuan smiles to hear it, he first met the boy when he was the age of his youngest disciples, mouth of full windows as he lost his last baby teeth. Despite the merchant’s words, he knows from previous meetings that they get on well enough for a family in business together.
"Is that so? How old is he now?"
The merchant's bones creek as he rises, Yue Qingyuan brows furrow in sympathy.
Though he will never feel the weight of age on them, his bones were never quite the same after the caves. He's been living with it long enough that the pain has become baseline, but still, it's enough to propel him forward to help the man up. Between old acquaintances, such a presumption can be forgiven.
"It won't be much longer until I can't make it up the mountain anymore. Soon you'll be dealing with just my boy, in his thirties now, he is." The merchant hums a bit then stares at Yue Qingyuan up and down with scrutinizing eyes, Yue Qingyuan recognizes the look and holds back his amusement, waiting for the pitch.
"He's a tailor too."
"I see."
"Skilled."
From across the room Shang Qinghua puts his face in his hands.
"Makes all sorts of fine things."
"Is that so?"
"Surely the illustrious peak lords of the great Cang Qiong Mountain have need of ceremonial robes often enough."
Shang Qinghua’s groan accompanies Yue Qingyuan’s hum of agreement. Part of him wants to humor the merchant as a friend, a greater part of him wants to tease Shang Qinghua.
"Take a good luck when you see him, you’ll see, perhaps there’s room-"
"-the contract has been finalized-"
"I'll make sure to look."
"Zhangmen-shixiong!"
If Yue Qingyuan could read minds, surely the look on Shang Qinghua’s face would say something along the lines of 'I'll kill you!' or ‘I hope you fall down every step of the mountain and shit yourself on the way!’ He’s funny like that.
Yue Qingyuan exaggerates his sect leader smile to its fullest degree, his shidi’s grumbling dying down to bitter mumbling that he pretends not to hear. It's not like he doesn't have discretionary funds that sit untouched in the sect’s coffers, and if they robes are nice enough, he might by a set or two for Xiao Jiu. With the way things have been going, maybe he'll actually accept them this time!
Once again, Yue Qingyuan’s luck is too good to be true. As if summoned by his thoughts, Shen Qingqiu is waiting outside Qiong Ding Hall, strands of silk black hair are teased by the wind as he gazes over the rim of a fan. Yue Qingyuan’s traitorous heart knocks against his chest, joy and admiration spinning together like twin comets in the night sky.
"Qingqiu-shidi."
"Zhangmen-shixiong."
An unsubtle cough draws their eyes apart, the merchant tilting his head towards another person that had gone unnoticed in the background. Ah, this must be the child, the boy. And while Yue Qingyuan is loathed to tear his eyes away from his Xiao Jiu, he did say he would look. Turning to face the child, the man really, he lets his eyes linger on different details of his robes as they exchange pleasantries. He takes notes of every seam, the richness of the color, the details in the embroidery, and agreeably decides that yes, this will do. By the end of their talk the boy is flushed red and beaming when Yue Qingyuan tells him to make an appointment with his head disciple to talk at a later date.
It's not Yue Qingyuan is unaware of the killing intent waiting behind him, it's just that, as always, he unsure of what he's done now to deserve it. Shen Qingqiu is silent fuming, surely cursing him with every step, and all Yue Qingyuan can think about it how relieved he is that they are still having tea together. The pastries that he bought Xiao Jiu wouldn't have been as fresh if they waited any longer to meet. The Shen Qingqiu of several weeks ago would have expertly shut him down with a perfectly crafted excuse.
Arriving at the sect leader's residence, Yue Qingyuan takes the time to release the protective wards he's been bullied into making, when he feels a subtle press against his side. His heart almost melts at the familiar ache of a sharp elbow digging into his ribs. A curious glance reveals him that Shen Qingqiu is turned away to avoid his gaze.
Yue Qingyuan takes the rare opportunity to ogle him, while he has immensely enjoyed having those dark eyes turned to him, it has cut down significantly on how shameless he can be in appreciating Shen Qingqiu’s fine face and elegant beauty. His eyes trace the line of teal robes from neck to waist and Yue Qingyuan mentally pats himself on the back, certain that he made the right decision. The merchant boy’s robes were high quality, he'll order four- no maybe six- robes for Xiao Jiu and stagger them as gifts throughout the year.
He'll look stunning in them.
Though he would look better without them, spread out on-
Next to him, Shen Qingqiu starts in a coughing fit, a once rare occurrence that happens nearly weekly now. He's tried to push him to see Mu Qingfang about it, maybe he'll bring it up again today. "Is shidi alright-"
"Open the door!"
Yue Qingyuan opens the door, has barely enough time to it close behind them when he's shoved against it. When there is no knife in his chest, or boots crushing his toes, he finds himself genuinely confused.
"Shidi?"
A musician's graceful hands reach for his neck, and while he isn’t sure what is going on, Xiao Jiu could choke him right now, and he would welcome it. If Yue Qingyuan leans into the touch a little-
"Shut up!"
Their teeth crash together on impact, they might have even chipped, he hears Xiao Jiu hiss before readjusting the angle to a gentler pressure. Yue Qingyuan freezes and stares down his nose to long lashes and flushed skin.
Is he awake?
He hasn't had this dream in-
Then a bite fierce enough to taste blood and a frantic "Stop thinking!"
Well.
If the gods have smiled down on him today then who is he to deny Shen Qingqiu?
Yue Qingyuan reciprocates eagerly, desperately, matching Shen Qingqiu’s fervor his hands wander and grope at forbidden mountains and plains. The tantalizing feeling of cool silk, the sharp gasps, and copper tastes of the kiss unravel in his mind and pool at his lower dantian. Yue Qingyuan makes a life long wish come true and squeezes Xiao Jiu's waist with both hands, wondering if he would be allowed to-
"Yes!" Xiao Jiu moans as if hearing his thoughts, raising a leg up against Yue Qingyuan's thigh, a pressure against his hip makes the interest clear.
There is, Yue Qingyuan acquiesces, perhaps a kindly god in this world. And though it has taken the better part of a century, they have finally smiled down on stupid, undeserving, Yue Qi.
(Did Xiao Jiu just snort?!)
-
Yue Qingyuan is a moron.
Who has their shidi’s tongue down their throat and thinks ‘ah this must be divine intervention.’
What a stupid, stupid, man!!
Shen Qingqiu clearly needs to try harder to get him to stop thinking such foolish things! There’s another squeeze that has him pushing back against the hands at his ass one last time before slapping them away so he can fall to his knees. The sharp gasp above him is so satisfying that the moment he feels the overflowing disappointment comes through the connection it’s as if Shen Qingqiu had been slapped. Flinching from where his hands had been at Yue Qingyuan’s belt, shame and nausea bubbling up when-
‘Xiao Jiu let me taste you after, I’ve waited so long to have your cock in my mouth, Xiao please, beloved, I should go first, please-‘
The dawning horror of regret fades away just as quickly as it emerged, hands still clasping at Yue Qingyuan’s belt, Shen Qingqiu leans forward to rest his forehead against a firm thigh. A bubbling warmth starts near his core, spreading to every finger and toe until he can’t breathe from the laughter escaping out of him. Ridiculous man!
“Qingqiu-shidi?”
‘Xiao Jiu?’
Shen Qingqiu shakes a little longer until he can control himself, lifting his head up he rests his chin on Yue Qingyuan’s thigh, a tent of fabric radiating dizzying heat just inches away from his cheek. He makes the mistake of meeting Yue Qingyuan’s gaze, its soft and uncertain and yet-
‘I missed his laugh.’
‘I miss you. I missed you so much, Xiao Jiu-’
Shen Qingqiu bites at his lip hard enough to draw blood, a warm heat prickles behind his eyes. Yue Qingyuan must think he’s crazy.
“We’re ridiculous.”
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes flicker shut, head tilting towards the hand moving to cup his cheek, a touch so gentle it makes Shen Qingqiu almost feel like he’s deserving of it.
Like he’s something worth having.
“Yeah.”
‘I love you.’
‘I love you.’
‘I love you.’
‘Xiao Jiu, I-‘
Shen Qingqiu allows himself to be pulled up, Yue Qingyuan bending over to pick him up in a bridal carry garners only a token of complaint. Shen Qingqiu electing instead to hide his pleased face into Yue Qingyuan’s neck and take a bite.
‘I love you.’
There had been a time, right after he gained this ability where he went into the city and bumped into the vilest of men, disgust growing steadily through Shen Qingqiu as he heard the most sickening things. In that moment a seed of doubt was born, had Qi-ge ever had thoughts like these?
At his core, was he as lustful and monstrous as them? Was he not also a man?
Now, as he’s gently laid down on a bed, unwrapped with shaking hands, he knows better. Every wave of desire comes with an undercurrent of devotion.
“Xiao Jiu is so beautiful.”
‘I love you.’
“So handsome.”
‘I love you.’
Yue Qingyuan was certainly a man, the hot press against his thigh was as sure as a reminder as any. But he was also-
“Xiao Jiu can I-“
“Don’t call me that, not now.”
Hurt, regret, shame. “Shen Qingqiu-“
“Not that either.”
“…A-Jiu?”
Shen Qingqiu turns his head into the sheets, he feels the flush spread further down his chest and knows Yue Qingyuan appreciating it from the direction his thoughts have turned.
“A-Jiu?”
‘So beautiful.’
“W-what?”
A kiss to his neck.
“A-Jiu.”
‘-dearest, beloved-‘
“What?”
A suckling against Shen Qingqiu’s clavicle.
“A-Jiu.”
‘Xiao Jiu, my sweet Xiao Jiu-‘
Shen Qingqiu is going stab him if this continues!! He doesn’t have the face for the kind of gentleness saved for marriage beds! Tangling his hand in thick black hair he makes a fists and twists, pushing Yue Qingyuan’s love addled brain down, “Shut up and make yourself useful! Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Yue Qingyuan’s moan sounds in tandem with the ‘fuck!’ In his mind and Shen Qingqiu’s not sure which of the two makes his dick twitch with interest more. He guides Yue Qingyuan’s face lower and lower, meeting no resistance until he tries to let go.
Yue Qingyuan looks up from the where his face rests against Shen Qingqiu’s bony hip, an echo to his own earlier gesture, eyes blown, voice is thick when he says, “use me.”
‘Fuck me, fuck me, Xiao Jiu, make me choke-’
Shen Qingqiu throws his head back in a groan, hip jerking toward hot breath. Ridiculous man. Doesn’t he know what men in power are supposed to act like? What’s with this? Qi-ge is so-
Shen Qingqiu could say that it’s the anticipation, the inexperience, or the constant feedback loop of pleasure that makes quick work of his stamina. All these things may be true...
But more so…
It’s…
How shameless is Yue Qingyuan to enjoy something like that? To that extent? To treat Shen Qingqiu’s dick like the sweetest delicacy, his cum like honey, savoring each drop like it was the last thing Yue Qingyuan would ever taste. Chasing the movement until he couldn’t even breathe from it? Fat globules of tears coalescing at his eyes and running down his face as he fought to bury his nose in Shen Qingqiu’s dark curls.
How could Yue Qingyuan want that? Enough to come from just this?
“Because it’s A-Jiu.”
Shen Qingqiu knees him in the ribs, ignoring the jolt of desire that sends through Yue Qingyuan. Shameless! The second time Yue Qingyuan’s comes, Shen Qingqiu’s fingers are halfway down Yue Qingyuan’s throat, three fingers sliding in and out in unison to a litany of ‘I love you, I love this, Xiao Jiu, beloved, so good, so good to me, please, please-!’ Ringing in his mind.
On the occasions where Yue Qingyuan’s mouth is not busy suckling part of Shen Qingqiu, the senseless ramblings are doubled, overwhelming in their barrage as he buries his face into the sheets. Sweat cools against his back, the sound and sensation of Yue Qingyuan thrusting against his thighs setting the metronome to the song in his head.
“Qi-ge!”
At this point, Shen Qingqiu doesn’t know whether the thoughts belong to him or to Yue Qingyuan, he doesn’t care. All he can think of is the slick heat sliding in and out behind him, strong arms wrapped around his front pinching and groping, dancing away from where he desperately wants to be touched only to tease and squeeze down at his waist.
After a lifetime of feeling abandoned, he is finally surrounded by Yue Qingyuan, every part of Shen Qingqiu completely overwhelmed by him.
‘I love you.’
I love you.
‘I love you.’
I love you.
‘I love you.’
I love you.
Over and over and over again.
It’s never enough. Shen Qingqiu wants more, wants to bleed both of them dry until there is nothing left of their souls but two red strings tied together against fabric of time and space. Frayed edges and twisted knots barely holding together the thing that is Shen Qingqiu to the being of light and love that he has stolen from the world. With every sound, taste, sting, he feels himself growing larger, a black hole greedily swallowing up everything Yue Qingyuan has and still ravenous for more. He will never have enough, there will never be enough of Yue Qingyuan for the hunger that has haunted him all their lives to be satisfied.
Thankfully, they will have all eternity to try to sate it with soft words and heated touches, passionate fury, and devastating grief.
But for now, Shen Qingqiu is just a man, so he settles for sitting on Yue Qingyuan’s face, for the dopey cum covered smile of a fool in love.
Shen Qingiu wakes up the next morning too hot, too sticky in all the worst places, and with muscles aching from unfamiliar use. His head is oddly silent when he snuggles further into Qi-ge’s arms, and yet he hears the familiar refrain all day.
I love you.
I love you.
Qi-ge, I love you.