Work Text:
“Look what I found,” Shen Qingqiu says, grinning as he lugs the giant book over to him. He grunts as he hefts it onto the desk and opens it up. Bai Zhan does not have a working library and Liu Qingge has come over to Qing Jing enough that the disciples here know to call for their Shizun. Shen Qingqiu never seems to mind, always hurrying over to find whatever information Liu Qingge has come in search of, even though one of his disciples could find some of it.
It is no doubt another beast that Shen Qingqiu has found record of, and Liu Qingge is interested enough to follow Shen Qingqiu. Sometimes they cannot find the creatures Shen Qingqiu’s bestiaries and resources talk about. At other times, the beasts are less than worthy prey, and Liu Qingge can never hide his disappointment well enough. But they’ve found enough rare monsters that Liu Qingge can admit it’s worth the time and effort.
Even if they were all busts, Liu Qingge would accompany Shen Qingqiu regardless, and he doesn’t know what that says about him. Surely if they were just friends Liu Qingge would find the matter irritating? But no, Liu Qingge never does, and instead he looks forward to the adventures they have set up.
Shen Qingqiu is muttering to himself about bookmarks, how they’re never around when he needs one, and he’s flipping through the pages. He makes a soft noise of realization when he lands on the page and looks up at Liu Qingge with a grin.
Oh.
“Liu-shidi? Does this one not look impressive? I thought the metal-like hide was rather fascinating.”
“No, no, it looks fine.” Liu Qingge forces himself to speak. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t look convinced. “Where did you say this beast resides? I want to hunt it.”
“Are you alright?” Shen Qingqiu is trying to peer into his face but Liu Qingge scowls.
“I said I’m fine. Hungry, maybe,” he says in a panic and Shen Qingqiu’s worry slides away.
“How can you forget to eat? Bai Zhan’s War God can’t be going hungry,” he scolds.
“I don’t need to eat,” Liu Qingge says with a huff. He’s been practicing inedia for so long, he can’t even remember the last time he ate; probably whenever Shen Qingqiu shoved something into his hands. Maybe two months ago, when they went to look over the eastern lands Cang Qing sect used to grow rare plants, and they’d passed by a festival. Shen Qingqiu had decided to go and Liu Qingge talked about how it would be more interesting than watching a plant grow.
The truth was he wanted to see Shen Qingqiu’s excitement; he hides it behind his fan but Liu Qingge can pick out the way his eyes glitter over it.
“Fine,” he says. “Let’s go eat. You pay.”
“Of course shixiong will pay. How could I let my shidi pay for our meals?” Shen Qingqiu says in amusement. He slides the giant book shut, one of his disciples having overhead his mumblings and retrieves a bookmark for him. “Where would you like to eat?”
“Anything,” Liu Qingge.
And he means it too. Any meal will be enjoyable with Shen Qingqiu by his side.