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Pei Ming watched his sleeping boyfriend through half closed eyes, watching the way Shi Wudu's chest rose and fell in his sleep.
His dark hair with bright blue streaks - courtesy of Shi QingXuan's current career goal as a cosmetic god - was spread across the pillows around his face, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly as he let out a soft sigh into the pillows.
Pei Ming let his fingers run slowly up and down the bare skin of Wudu's back, using his spiritual energy to heal the worst of the scratches he'd left there last night.
The human lying next to him stirred softly and Pei Ming shushed him, propping himself up on one elbow to lean over and place a gentle kiss on Shi Wudu's forehead, right where he used to wear his beauty mark in his previous life.
Warmth spread through him as Shi Wudu let out another soft sigh and cuddled closer to him, fingers still tangled in Pei Ming's long glossy hair, and he tugged the covers a bit higher over his boyfriend's bare rear.
He was so lucky, and he knew it. Not everyone from back then reincarnated, and not everyone remembered who they were.
He was so lucky Shi Wudu remembered him. Remembered them. Knew him as more then a distant sex god who also handled sports and business affairs....
He let his fingers trace down Shi Wudu's side again, pausing at the tattoo just under his ribs, the one that matched his own tattoo around his temple.
Shi Wudu had told him, red in the face and refusing to look at him, he'd gotten it when he was eighteen, on a whim. Just to remember what they had once.
Pei Ming leaned down to kiss the skin there, feeling Shi Wudu's slight catch of breath as his lips grazed his sensitive skin.
He was so lucky.
He should get up, get dressed. Probably visit some temples, or check in with the other martial gods and his deputies. Pei Xu had left a number of messages for him so no doubt something -or someone- was exploding off the walls in heaven.
Rong Guang was currently just quietly there, lurking in his communication array in his head, making his presence known and being irritated as usual, but Pei Ming ignored his chief deputy to snuggle in closer to his sleeping partner.
Let them fuss. It was only for a bit longer, just a bit.
He was so lucky.
Some days he felt like he'd won the greatest prize in heaven, being able to wake up next to Shi Wudu like this again. Being able to see him. To hear his laughter, his sharp wit pointed at some poor soul. Or usually He Xuan.
It was like a wish come true. And Pei Ming was going to make damn sure he savored every moment this time.
He'd thought they had all the time in the world once, never quite valued what he had until it was gone. But never again. This time he was going to enjoy every second.
There was a soft cough from the bedroom door and Pei Ming looked up.
Shi QingXuan glanced awkwardly between him and their sleeping brother, their hair already done up and dressed in a cute jumper with a bag slung over one shoulder.
"Gonna be out late. With He-Xiong." The younger Shi siblings whispered, their voice very low.
Pei Ming nodded, still petting Shi Wudu gently.
QingXuan hesitated in the doorway, their green eyes flickering. "Don't tell Ge?"
Pei Ming snorted and rolled his eyes, but nodded. He wasn't exactly a fan of Black Water Sinking Ships, but Shi QingXuan's whole countenance had shifted ever since they reunited with the ghost king. There was something alive in their eyes now.
Pei Ming figured he understood what that was like.
Still, QingXuan hesitated in the doorway, and Pei Ming glanced up at them again, one eyebrow raised.
QingXuan nibbed on their lip a moment longer, and then blurted, "I guess you're not bad for an older dude."
Pei Ming bit back his laughter and shook his head, more amused than annoyed. Some things never changed.
"And...you make Ge really happy." QingXuan shifted their backpack higher and glanced away, almost sullenly admitting, "So I guess I'm glad you're around." They shifted and then were off, and Pei Ming heard the door to the house close behind them.
"Was that A-Xuan?" Shi Wudu's sleepy voice brought Pei Ming's attention wholly back to his boyfriend's as the human stirred in his arms.
"Mn." Pei Ming agreed, soothing the dark hair back from his boyfriend's face, "They're going out with friends. It's ok. I'll have Rong Guang keep an eye on them."
He heard the huff of annoyance from his best friend in his head and then the ghost severed the connection, and Pei Ming rolled his eyes.
"Thank you." Shi Wudu mumbled, his eyes flickering closed again as he cuddled back into Pei Ming's side. "You're so good to me, A-Ming..."
Pei Ming's heart felt light as he lay down again, settling next to Shi Wudu and pulling the former water master into his arms. "Of course, babe. Anything."
Shi Wudu's soft sigh fluttered against his skin and his heart caught, breathtakingly full.
"I love you, you know that?" He mumbled into the dark hair as he leaned in to press a sweet kiss to Shi Wudu's temple. "You're the most important thing in the world to me."
Shi Wudu's eyes flickered open as he smiled, lips parting in a soft look that made him seem younger, softened his features and made him look more like his sibling. "I love you too, A-Ming..." He agreed quitely. "I was afraid you'd forgotten me."
Pei Ming laughed, short and painful. "I couldn't. Not if I tried for a million years." He cupped the former god's face in his hands gently, tenderly. "You're my Shi Wudu. Do you know how many times I missed you smacking my ass with your fan?"
Shi Wudu's cheeks flushed red and he wiggled, trying to squirm away as Pei Ming held him closer, "Shut up." He demanded, eyes stubbornly nailed closed. "I did not ever do that."
"Only when you missed me." Pei Ming cuddled him, soaking in the real warmth in his arms, letting it chase away the old phantom nightmares when he woke up alone, clutching empty sheets.
Shi Wudu huffed and they just lay there for a long time, quietly together.
"Is it weird to pray to your boyfriend?" Shi Wudu asked after a long while, his long fingers playing in Pei Ming's loose hair as he slowly opened those beautiful eyes, dark like the sea.
Pei Ming shrugged, letting himself get swept away in the movement of fingers through his hair. "Definitely get your prayers answered if you do." He replied.
"Ah, stacking the odds in my favor." Shi Wudu smirked a little, that smug grin flashing across his face. "I like that."
Pei Ming laughed and nuzzled their noses together. Shi Wudu let him, a tiny smile landing in his eyes as he gazed at the god he loved.
"Do you know what I'd ask for?" He asked as they lay there like that, all wrapped up together with their faces a breath apart, very much alone in the whole wide world together. "Do you know what I'd wish for?"
"What?" Pei Ming smiled at him, "What would you wish for from General Ming Guang, Shi Wudu?"
The human flushed, his cheeks tianting crimson again, but his chin lifted slightly on the pillow, defiant, as if he were going to force the words out regardless of the humiliation.
"I'd wish we could stay like this forever." He whispered between them.
Pei Ming's breath caught as his heart burst, warmth seeping through every inch of his body as he wrapped Shi Wudu impossibly tighter in his arms in their bed.
"I think General Ming Guang would grant your request." He whispered back.