Work Text:
Mornings, Shen Qingqiu has long decided, should start slow . Ideally, no one will bother him until he wakes up on his own and in the most dreamlike scenario, breakfast will be waiting for him when he does.
Of course reality is different.
It has been different and cruel in his old life as Shen Yuan (no, he's not being dramatic) and it's different now, even though he's a Peak Lord.
Well, maybe that's not entirely fair. Breakfast is waiting for him every morning after all, delicious and flavourful, along with a pot of tea steeped so perfectly it brings tears to his eyes. Heaven on a plate, truly, and it's worth the intense puppy eyes that he gets from Binghe while he eats. The food is almost worth getting up for, even though it's far earlier than Shen Qingqiu would like.
However, there has been a slight change in his routines and like most things in his life, that change came with Liu Qingge.
You see, there have been some… significant changes . Moments and realizations that required a lot of thinking and a whole lot of panicking, all of which eventually led Shen Qingqiu having to face the one and only truth: he wasn't as straight as he'd thought to be.
(In his defense, he'd very much like to see the man who would take one look at the beauty that is Liu Qingge and not immediately change his ways.)
To make a long story short: after a lot of gay panicking, denial, a very embarrassing evening spent drunk in Shang Qinghua's company crying over Liu Qingge and even more panicking and pining, Shen Qingqiu has somehow managed to confess to Liu Qingge and miraculously, his feelings had been returned.
He still can't believe it sometimes and then he'll have to touch Liu Qingge to make sure it's real. (It always gets him a confused frown, immediately followed by that soft, faint smile Liu Qingge would only show in Shen Qingqiu's company. Ah, it never fails to make him swoon!)
Liu Qingge being by his side isn't the significant change Shen Qingqiu is talking about, however. No, Bai Zhan's War God has stuck around before, always close to Shen Qingqiu like a very overqualified bodyguard and personal taxi. What's different now is the routine they share.
Liu Qingge comes to Qing Jing Peak whenever he can. He drops off the beasts he slays, he brings trinkets that he bought in nearby villages (and Shen Qingqiu is never going to get over the mental image of his shidi shopping ) and most importantly, he stays over for the night.
That's where the change is.
As mentioned, Shen Qingqiu firmly believes that mornings should start slow. In a perfect world, he can sleep in for as long as he wants to. Before Liu Qingge, that had sometimes been the case.
Now, with Liu Qingge in his bed, mornings are Hell.
No it's not because the man kicks in his sleep (though he does sometimes) and it's also not because of some super creepy habit, like sleeping with his eyes open or anything (which Shen Qingqiu almost would've expected from someone who breathed only for fights and battles and who thought that blood could exist outside of his body).
No, it's because Liu Qingge gets up at an ungodly hour every day.
The sun isn't even out yet, shidi! Please relax!!
Whenever Liu Qingge spends the night, he'll be up before the sun even has a chance to rise. He's quiet about it, at least, so you'd think Shen Qingqiu can peacefully continue sleeping - but unfortunately for everyone, Shen Qingqiu has grown used to having a personal space heater by his side and a strong arm curled protectively around his waist, and he wakes up as soon as Liu Qingge disentangles himself to get up.
And yes, he will complain and whine loudly about the terribly cruel treatment he receives. (It's worth it, sometimes. Liu Qingge is beautiful all the time but he's radiant when he smiles and Shen Qingqiu can forgive the early mornings as long as he gets to kiss that smile.)
On very rare occasions, Shen Qingqiu even succeeds in keeping his lover in bed. Usually that happens when Liu Qingge has just come back from a mission that kept him away for longer and the need to be close is urgent. Those nights and mornings are Shen Qingqiu's favourites.
So what if he's spoiled!
Stop with the argument, kiss me and go back to sleep, Liu-shidi!
Of course there are more circumstances under which Shen Qingqiu gets a calm morning. Though the current reason is one he really, really wishes hadn't happened, because it isn't a good reason at all.
Liu Qingge has been out on a mission.
Nothing unusual and nothing that would've worried Shen Qingqiu under normal circumstances. He would've even tagged along, if only because the beast of the week sounded interesting, but teaching duties had kept him on Qing Jing Peak.
Which is okay! He adores his disciples, after all, and there's something endearing about the way they're all so eager to do well, just so he'll pat their fluffy heads and praise them.
Really, his lover's mission hadn't even been on his mind all that much until he had received an urgent summon from Yue Qingyuan and was then informed that the mission Liu Qingge had taken was, in fact, no job for one person alone.
It's a whole herd of Ironclad Brinebugs (one of these days, Shen Qingqiu will kill Airplane-bro for these stupid names that all seem to have come from a Monster Name Generator) instead of one, as originally reported, which is unfortunately very bad. One of these beasts is difficult enough to deal with already, truly a boss enemy, and a whole herd of them just asks for trouble.
Even for someone like the War God of Bai Zhan.
Shen Qingqiu was hell-bent to fly over to the village as well to help as soon as Yue Qingyuan finished speaking, he's practically already on his sword to fly away - which was precisely the moment a bloodied, barely conscious Liu Qingge stumbled into the office to report.
So here Shen Qingqiu is now on this next morning, sitting in the gentle light of the rising sun and watches as it paints golden patterns on Liu Qingge's too-pale cheeks. He's still asleep, brows furrowed slightly. Shen Qingqiu reaches out to smooth the frown away, relieved to find the skin under his fingers cool now; Liu Qingge had come down with a fever during the night, a result of his qi burning out the poison from the Ironclad Brinebugs.
All things considered, it's a calm morning but Shen Qingqiu doesn't find a trace of tranquility or peace in his heart, restless with worry. He knows Liu Qingge's cultivation is high and he's not in danger, but seeing him so weak, so… human … gives Shen Qingqiu's heart a painful sting.
He hasn't slept at all last night, too busy keeping watch over his beloved, checking the bandages Mu Qingfang had applied and gently circling qi between them to help speed up Liu Qingge's healing. Shen Qingqiu still has one hand gently curled around Liu Qingge's wrist, thumb smoothing over soft skin.
He's tired. He may be an immortal cultivator but the stress and anxiety from the past day and night really have taken a toll on him.
Shen Qingqiu allows himself exactly one deep sigh.
He cups Liu Qingge's cheek in his hand. To his surprise, Liu Qingge makes a soft noise and turns his head to nuzzle into Shen Qingqiu's palm.
It's so unexpected and so achingly sweet that Shen Qingqiu is certain he now has a puddle for a heart.
"Qingge," he calls softly, moving closer. A hum answers him and then Liu Qingge opens his eyes; his gaze not nearly as sharp as usual. All of his defenses are down right now and Shen Qingqiu feels warmth wash over him. He leans forward to rest their foreheads together, heaving a sigh.
"I was worried for you," Shen Qingqiu whisper-yells and there's a puff of air against his face that has to be suppressed laughter. Liu Qingge tugs his wrist out of Shen Qingqiu's grasp to properly lace their fingers together.
The kiss he presses to Shen Qingqiu's lips is sleepy and slow and as uncoordinated as can be. It's absolutely perfect.
"I hope Liu-shidi is aware he will not be allowed off-peak for at least three days," Shen Qingqiu threatens. "You'll have to make up for that stunt."
"Mhm," is all Liu Qingge says to that and tugs at Shen Qingqiu's hand until he gets the hint and climbs into the bed right next to him - decorum be damned.