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It's raining.
It's pouring , actually, because of course it is and Shen Qingqiu mentally curses up a storm. Flying on a sword is dope and it's unironically one of his favourite activities these days - but it becomes significantly less fun with water permanently in his eyes and his elegant robes, usually light and airy, now weighing him down like stones, soaked as they are.
Also, long hair is a hassle when it's wet.
"You look like a drowned cat," Liu Qingge comments helpfully, zooming through the grey sky alongside Shen Qingqiu. He has the audacity to smile .
Shen Qingqiu wants to flip him off. It's just not fair! Liu Qingge is as soaked as he is, but he makes it look good.
His ponytail is loose and wet, but artfully disheveled, framing his beautiful face perfectly. Water drips from his temples along his cheek and down to his chin. His white and blue robes are soaked through, plastered to his muscles and Shen Qingqiu thinks about how Liu Qingge would win any wet t-shirt contest with no problems at all. (A shame though that the white fabric isn't see-through.)
In short, Liu Qingge is a vision on his sword. Beautiful as always.
Shen Qingqiu isn't jealous at all.
"I refuse to fly all the way to Cang Qiong in this weather," Shen Qingqiu says miserably, wiping at his wet face with his even wetter sleeve. It's futile. There's too much water coming down, washing away his dignity. "Isn't there a village nearby? Let's find an inn and wait until this rain passes."
Liu Qingge shoots him a look, one perfect eyebrow raised high, but thankfully he doesn't argue. "There's a village coming up," he replies, flicking his wet ponytail behind his shoulder like someone who stepped right out of a shower commercial. Shen Qingqiu's mouth goes a little dry.
They drop down and indeed it's not much longer before a couple houses appear beneath their feet; rain-soaked and dark amidst the grey hue of this miserable afternoon. Shen Qingqiu dearly hopes that there will be an inn.
It seems that Liu Qingge has been here before. He moves with ease along the main street after they dismount their swords, navigating through the village towards a slightly bigger building. It doesn't look like much, but Shen Qingqiu hears faint conversations from the inside, growing louder the closer they come.
He sticks close to Liu Qingge, slipping into the building; finally, mercifully, leaving the rain behind.
His beautiful green and white robes are dripping wet . He'll leave a puddle if he keeps standing in one place!
Shen Qingqiu looks around, while Liu Qingge marches forward, shoulders squared and face set in his usual frown; his boots squelch as he walks but it doesn't take away from the impressive picture he's cutting. All eyes in the little inn are on him.
( Get in line , Shen Qingqiu thinks, a little possessive. Liu-shidi is mine .)
It's not a well known fact and it is quite a recent development, but they are officially courting now. Shen Qingqiu thinks back to that awkward, stumbling confession and his cheeks heat up.
He's pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Liu Qingge's voice and snaps his eyes over to him, where he's talking to the reception lady.
"We need two rooms," Liu Qingge says without preamble. Shen Qingqiu feels mildly surprised. "And dinner."
The woman stumbles over her welcome, clearly distracted - Shen Qingqiu understands, Liu Qingge is quite the sight - and bows multiple times, assuring they'll have the rooms ready soon, if the esteemed cultivators are willing to wait.
It doesn't take long at all.
Shen Qingqiu heaves a deep sigh as he closes the door behind himself and finally gets to take off the soaked mess that are his robes. Thank the Heavens (and his sticky disciple) that he has a fresh set of clean robes in his qiankun pouch so he doesn't have to keep wearing the wet ones.
Once more presentable, warm and clean, Shen Qingqiu walks back out of his room to knock on Liu Qingge's door. He doesn't wait to be called in (get a taste of your own medicine, Liu-shidi! At least I knocked!) and is greeted with the sight of Liu Qingge with his hair down, a comb in one hand.
"Hey," Liu Qingge says softly; not at all surprised to see Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu bites back a smile. He points to the comb and asks: "Shall this master help you with that?"
Liu Qingge wordlessly surrenders the comb to him and within moments, he's kneeling in front of Shen Qingqiu with his back to him, his half-dry hair falling smoothly down his back. Shen Qingqiu picks up the comb and gets to work. There are quite a few tangles; he supposes flying at high speed through the rain will do that, and he's trying his best to be gentle as he brushes them out.
"We should wear braids the next time we fly," Shen Qingqiu comments offhandedly, picking apart a particularly stubborn knot with his fingers. Liu Qingge only hums in response. His body is starting to relax, losing the tension that always seems to be part of him normally and he's leaning ever so slightly backwards, closer to Shen Qingqiu.
Shen Qingqiu feels fondness swirl warmly in his chest. Everything about this is still quite new to both of them. Shen Qingqiu thought himself to be straight for the longest time and Liu Qingge… well, his lovely shidi had always thought of battles first and everything else later. They're not terrible at this though, at least Shen Qingqiu doesn't think so.
Sure, ancient China courting rules and traditions are kind of complicated and he wishes for Google more often than not to search up what certain gifts or even symbols mean in a courtship - but overall, things are easy with Liu Qingge.
Shen Qingqiu finishes combing out the last few tangles and runs his fingers through Liu Qingge's hair, appreciating the smooth feeling. "All done," he says quietly; silence has settled between them, comfortable and safe and he's reluctant to break it.
Liu Qingge seems half asleep already - Shen Qingqiu bites the inside of his cheek.
There's an impulse tingling in his fingertips, the wish to reach out and hug Liu Qingge close. Shen Qingqiu tries to ignore it and fails; he reaches out, skims his fingers alongside Liu Qingge's side and shuffles forward when his shidi leans fully back against him.
It's hardly the first time they're this close, but Shen Qingqiu's heart races anyways. His face is hot and undoubtedly bright red (he's so thankful Liu Qingge has his back to him and can't see him all embarrassed like that), but he keeps his hand on the dip of Liu Qingge's hip, holding him close.
They haven't done much yet. They haven't even kissed .
"Qingge," Shen Qingqiu calls softly, feeling brave. Liu Qingge hums again, a soft, sleepy noise that tugs on Shen Qingqiu's heartstrings. Liu Qingge turns his head, his dark eyes half-lidded. He looks incredibly domestic right now, having shed all of his armor; this is not Bai Zhan's War God sitting in front of Shen Qingqiu, it's just Liu Qingge.
His Liu Qingge.
Shen Qingqiu's eyes drop down. Liu Qingge's lips are slightly parted and so, so close - Shen Qingqiu hasn't even noticed that Liu Qingge turned to face him fully but it's both a blessing and a terrible temptation.
" Qingge ," he breathes, helpless. One hand comes up to cup that beautiful face, thumb brushing under Liu Qingge's left eye, right where the beauty mark is. "This master- um, I mean, I would really… like to kiss you right now."
Liu Qingge shivers, then stills. His nod is a quick gesture, accompanied by the softest please Shen Qingqiu has ever heard and he doesn't register much more, leaning in to finally bridge the distance between them.
It's only a chaste kiss. A firm yet gentle press of lips, warmer than Shen Qingqiu ever thought possible. His heart is going crazy in his chest. He has a second to fret over the fact that he doesn't know what he's doing, System, help, I've never kissed anyone before!! before Liu Qingge sighs against him and positively melts .
They part, breathless. Shen Qingqiu feels like his face is on fire and it's very reassuring to look up and see Liu Qingge in a similar state. Hell, even his ears are pink! Shen Qingqiu bites down a whimper.
Liu Qingge's brows furrow for a moment, as if he's processing what happened. And then he breaks into a smile that's so devastatingly beautiful that Shen Qingqiu thinks he might cry.
Forget about the sword, that smile right there could bring armies to their knees!
"Again," Liu Qingge demands and somehow blushes more , but he tugs on their joined hands (Shen Qingqiu has no idea when they reached out for each other) and Shen Qingqiu follows willingly. It's easy. It's soft and gentle and Shen Qingqiu thinks with confidence that he could live solely for Liu Qingge's kisses.
Liu Qingge chuckles against his mouth and he realizes with a start he's said that out loud.
"We can try."