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“Please, Ming-Xiong?” The shorter God begged, pulling on The Ghost’s sleeve. “Ming-Xiong! Ming-Xiong! Don’t be like that!” The god whines. Tugging harder on He Xuan’s robes.
He Xuan doesn’t speak. He sends The God a sharp glare, making Shi Qingxuan subconsciously let go of his sleeve. Instead, grabbing her own. “Ming-Xiong..” Her tone softens. And her eyes are starting to redden. As if she’s about to start sobbing uncontrollably.
“What?” The ghost finally replies. Not because He wants to cheer The God up. ’No, of course not.’ He Xuan just doesn’t want to hear Shi Qingxuan’s obnoxiously loud cries.
The God’s expression immediately brightens. Shi Qingxuan grabs onto the ghost’s sleeve again, leaning uncomfortablly close to the Other’s face. “Ming-Xiong! You finally answered!” The God exclaims.
“Ming-Xiong, come with me? Come with me to the festival?!” He Xuan cringes slightly at the fake name.
“No. I hate—” He Xuan’s sentence was abruptly cut off when The shorter God slams her palm against his lips. “Ming-Xiong, I need you!” The moment the words ‘I need you’ left her lips, Shi Qingxuan’s face flushed a soft pink. “Ah—I mean I’ll need you to take me home—Haha!” He Xuan didn’t know how to respond. He grabs Shi Qingxuan’s wrist, pulling The God’s hand off of his own lips. “I don’t—” He Xuan tries to refuse—but—
“Ming-Xiong! Please?!” Shi Qingxuan begs. He Xuan absolutely hates when The God begs him to do things. Somehow, The Ghost always ends up doing what The God asks of him. ’Not because he wants to make Shi Qingxuan happy, No. It’s not like that. It’s all just a part of The Ghost’s revenge.’
“I don’t want to go.”
“But— You’ll have fun!”
“I won’t.”
“Mooncakes?”
“…”
Shi Qingxuan is now in his male form, holding onto He Xuan’s arm as he wobbles. “MmMing-Xio..ng!” The God stutters. He Xuan doesn’t care to look at him.
“Mn.” The Ghost hums in response. “I—Mmm..” The God can barely manage to get out full sentences. His brother, Shi Wudu, is probably wondering where The shorter God has already waddled off to.
He Xuan doubts The Water Master would approve of seeing him, walking with Shi Qingxuan, The drunk Wind Master pressed so close against him.
The night had been a mix of laughter, drinking, eating, and playing games. He Xuan mostly just sat back and watched, not really interested in anything but his plate. Occasionally, The God would stumble back over to The Ghost’s table and pull him around, Trying to get The Ghost to play stupid games and drink with him.
“Mm..Ming—Ming-Xiong, catch me!” The God shouted, falling over quite dramatically. He Xuan almost, for a second, thought to just let the man fall. He Xuan catches Shi Qingxuan. The Ghost’s left hand supporting The shorter God’s lower back, and his right hand gripping The God’s wrist.
A rather romantic pose, though it wasn’t on purpose.
It’s as as if The Wind Master fainted. Not moving a muscle, just flimsy in The Ghost’s arms. Though The Ghost technically doesn’t have a heartbeat, it’s like He Xuan could feel his heart racing. He’s not sure why though. ‘Maybe anger? It’s not like it’s racing because of The God. No, It isn’t like that.’
“Qingxuan.” No response.
He tries again: “Qingxuan, get up.”
And again.. “Shi. Qing. Xuan.” He Xuan emphasized every syllable, tightening his grip on The God’s wrist.
“Ah—! Ming—!” Shi Qingxuan shrieked, snatching away his wrist and blowing on it like it’s a burn. “Ming-Xiong is so rude! Can’t you just—hold me for a little!” The God shouted, very obviously offended at He Xuan’s actions. “AH—Hahhahah..haha! Not like that, not like that! Haha. I just meant I’m tired—Haha.”
’Gods don’t get tired.’
He Xuan raised a brow, “Tired? Then go back home.” ‘It’s a much more effective solution. Better than making someone hold you so you can just sleep where you’re standing.’
Shi Qingxuan was pressed against He Xuan’s arm, giggling and rambling about the new friends he’s made, new makeup looks and other off-topic things. Walking back to his palace, The God would occasionally stumble, He Xuan had to catch The God about fourteen times before they reached Shi Qingxuan’s bed chamber. Shi Qingxuan also tripped, while entering the room.
“M..Ming-Xiong..” The drunk God mumbled, “Hn.” The Ghost hummed in response. He Xuan stood near The Wind Master’s bed, watching The shorter God removing his makeup and jewelry. ’He’s..’ He Xuan didn’t seem to notice he was staring until The God turned around to look at him, “Ming-Xiong?” The drunk God questioned.
The Ghost hadn’t noticed, but while he was spacing out, starring at The God, Shi Qingxuan had already taken off his outer robe. Along with his silver hair pieces. The God now sat near a white, marble vanity. Combing his soft, wavy—almost curly, hair.
“Qingxuan—” He Xuan blurted, trying to distract himself from The Beautiful God. “I—I’m leaving. Goodnight, Qingxuan.” He Xuan tried to hurry out the door—when he feels a strong tug on his arm. The ghost almost stumbled back from the unexpected force, but keeps his balance.
“N—No! Ming-Xiong stay! Ming-Xiong!” The drunk God stammered out. He Xuan was slightly taken aback by The God’s sudden protest. Though, Shi Qingxuan always begged The Ghost to stay the night. “No, Qingxuan.” He Xuan tried to refuse—but The God yanked him back into the room.
“mm..Ming-Xiong..” He murmured. “Don’t leave—I’m lonely!” He Xuan rolled his eyes, “That isn’t my problem.” The God whined and threw himself onto the bed. “It is! You’re my—best friend! Please, Ming-Xiong?” He said, turning his head to face The Ghost. “I’m not your best friend.” He Xuan mumbled, almost inaudible. “If you’re lonely, get your brother to stay.” The Ghost tried to leave again—but was stopped by the sound of muffled sobs.
“Wahh..” The drunk God sobbed. ’Great..’ He Xuan frowned. “G—Ge is great,, b—but Ming-Xiong I don’t want Ge!” He dragged the last words out for a few seconds. The God looked ridiculous. Sobbing and sniffling, throwing a tantrum like a small child who didn’t get their way.
From all of the choked sobs and sniffles, He Xuan’s head began to hurt. He didn’t want Shi Qingxuan’s obnoxiously loud cries to somehow alert his older brother. He sighed and said a quick apology to himself in advance. “Qingxuan. Stop crying.” The Ghost took a few steps towards The weeping God.
He ignored The Ghost’s words and continued to sob. “But—But Ming-Xiong is leaving me! Wahh…!!” The Wind Master’s cheeks and nose were now flushed rosy pink, with salty tears running down his face. Although hough he was just brushing his hair—it was messy from falling onto the bed a moment before. Truly an inappropriate sight.
If it were anyone else seeing this sight, The God crying so hard, sounding absolutely heartbroken, they would think The God’s soulmate, The God’s lover, had just left them forever.
But No.
The truth is that this God, this Wind Master, is just a really, really overdramatic drunk.
“I’m not leaving, okay? Is that better?” He Xuan’s tone was hard to describe—Annoyed, hurried, yes. But it was also soft. The Ghost’s headache finally disappeared when The God had stopped crying.
“Really?! Ming-Xiong isn’t leaving? haha..hahaha—Hahahaha-ha!” The Wind Master wiped his tears and looked at He Xuan “Stay here tonight. Please, Ming-Xiong?”
The Ghost was hesitant, He hated the idea of staying with this God. He hated the idea of ever being soft with someone, so close, to the person that ruined his life. He hates that his non-existent heart only beats for this person. He Xuan hates Shi Qingxuan.
The Ghost sighed. He Xuan was reluctant. Thinking for a while before replying. “Okay.”
…
He Xuan laid in The Wind Master’s bed. The Wind Master on his left. Hugging his arm tightly, unconscious.
Gods and Ghosts do not need sleep. But here these two are. A Ghost King and a God from the Upper Court; sharing a bed together, one fast sleep and one staring at the ceiling.
He Xuan eventually falls asleep as well. ’This is a part of the plan. It’s all for the plan. It’s.. for the..’
The Ghost reassures himself.
Knock Knock!
“…”
“…”
Knock Knock!
He Xuan is the first to wake up. He opens his eyes and turns his head to see The Wind Master. Unconscious, and still, holding on to his arm.
“Hello? Qingxuan?” Theres a voice outside of the door. It’s The Water Master, Shi Wudu. He Xuan curses under his breath. The God beside him starts to wake up, still in a daze and not aware of the situation.
“Ge?” The Wind Master questions. A mistake. “Ah. There you are, can I come in?” The Water Master asks, turning the doorknob and cracking the door about an inch. “Ye—” Shi Qingxuan tries to answer but is quickly cut off by a hand covering his mouth. The God looks over, and to his surprise, he sees his best friend, ‘Ming Yi’. Shi Qingxuan immediately starts to panic. The Ghost cautiously removes his hand from The Wind Master’s mouth.
Unfortunately, He Xuan wasn’t fast enough in stopping the man’s reply. The door opens and Shi Wudu walks into the room, “Qingxuan where did you—”
Silence.
Complete silence from everyone in the room.
Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan’s faces both held a deep blush while Shi Wudu tried to figure out what exactly he’s looking at. His little brother, cheeks bright pink, hair messy, inner robes wrinkled and barely covering his shoulders. And his little brothers ‘best friend’ that he despises, also flushed a deep red, wearing his inner robes, in his little brothers bed. ’They..They s..’
“Ah—Haha..Ahahah..Hahahaha—Ha—!” Shi Qingxuan laughs nervously—a bad habit of his. Shi Wudu stood there in the doorway absolutely terrified.
“N—No..Haha- Ge! Ge— It’s ..Not what you’re thinking..Ha…” Shi Qingxuan panicked.
He Xuan finally snaps out of it. “Lord Water Master.” He had to take a deep breath before continuing, “Nothing happened between us. Qingxuan was drunk and made me stay the night. Nothing more, nothing less.” He Xuan wore a very obviously fake smile. Barely using any effort to fix his expression.
“You..” Shi Wudu tried to speak, but couldn’t find the words to say. After a short argument with ‘The Earth Master’, The older God stormed out the room, leaving the Ghost and the shorter God alone in the room.
The Wind Master’s cheeks were still dusted with a soft pink, “Ming-Xiong…” He Xuan couldn’t imagine what The God next to him would say next. “I—I’m Sorry—! Ming-Xiong, I’m sorry!” The God started sobbing again, not actual tears though. It wasn’t a genuine apology. He Xuan assumed it was for causing him trouble so he replied “Mn.”
He Xuan will forever remember that night, The Wind Master sobbing, shouting: “Ming-Xiong don’t leave me!” like a child.
If only..
If only The God had called the right name.