Work Text:
"Oh," Shen Qingqiu says.
He just so happened to look outside. The sky has been grey all day, with thick clouds hanging low on the horizon, almost close enough to touch. It's approaching the end of the year and it gets colder every day - today has been no exception.
The bamboo house is nice and warm, a cozy sanctuary Shen Qingqiu is unwilling to leave. But he had to , today, there are children on his peak he is supposed to be teaching about poetry and music and art and not even the cold of the approaching winter is enough to keep him from doing his job!
Or well, at least that's how it was supposed to go .
In reality, Shen Qingqiu has set one foot outside the door, bundled up in a gorgeous fur-lined coat (the pelt on it a gift from none other than Bai Zhan's War God, Liu Qingge) and he'd decided: fuck this, it's too cold!
His breath had formed little puffs of white clouds immediately! The cold had bitten at his skin relentlessly and how is he supposed to teach his impressionable disciples when he looks like a cartoon character, sniffling and with a nose so bright red that it would put Rudolph to shame!?
So he had done something he wished his teachers would've done at least once: he'd canceled all classes and advised his beloved disciples to study diligently and quietly on their own. Inside. Bundled up, preferably with tea.
Luo Binghe had gone teary-eyed - Shen Qingqiu still hears him mutter praise about how smart and easygoing Shizun is to them!
Well, Binghe, forgive this shizun. He had ulterior motives calling today's lessons off!
And looking out of the window now and into his beloved garden, where the plants and paths and statues are slowly getting covered by a white, fluffy layer of snow?
He's glad he did it.
Snow is beautiful, don't get him wrong! But it's the kind of weather best enjoyed while sitting inside , maybe near a fireplace to keep warm and with no plans made other than to relax, nap a bit, and read.
And for when there isn't a fireplace to keep you warm?
Shen Qingqiu looks down at the man in his lap.
A certain War God will do a great job, too.
Liu Qingge is his ulterior motive for canceling the lessons. Last night, his beloved shidi had returned from a five day solo mission and it had worn him out enough to be downright docile now, accepting of and indulging any of Shen Qingqiu's whims.
Like this, for example! It's almost midday and save for the one attempt at going outside, they haven't left the bed yet. Liu Qingge is a warm, solid weight draped across Shen Qingqiu's lap - his dark hair unbound and just ruffled enough to pierce the impeccable Peak Lord aura he usually has. He looks domestic .
There's not a bit of armour on him, nothing that keeps him sharp around the edges. He is not some sort of God in this very moment - he's very human instead, curled up around Shen Qingqiu as he is.
There's softness to him too, an air of approachability that he never shows to anyone that's not Shen Qingqiu. It's a privilege to see Liu Qingge so trusting, so open and Shen Qingqiu is aware of it.
He can't help but smile. With the position they're in and Liu Qingge's face pressed gently against his stomach, eyes closed, seemingly asleep… Shen Qingqiu desperately wishes for a camera. This is the kind of picture you'd set as your phone background!
(Not that Shen Qingqiu has any… experience with that , or anything remotely romantic but. It's nice to get a chance at his own happy end with a man who loves him and whom he loves in return.)
"What is it?"
Ah, that's Liu Qingge's sleepy voice. Raspy and low and definitely something to think of during lonely nights. Shen Qingqiu clears his throat and lets his hand descend into smooth, black hair, gently scratching Liu Qingge's scalp.
He gets an even sleepier hum in return, a noise almost reminiscent of a cat purring. The thought makes him smile.
"Nothing, Qingge, nothing," Shen Qingqiu soothes, smile growing wider when Liu Qingge snuggles impossibly closer. "It started snowing. I was surprised to see it."
" 's been cold for weeks, " comes the reprimand without missing a beat. Shen Qingqiu waves an imaginary fan around to dismiss the sentiment. He's aware of that, Qingge! But in his humble opinion, mentioning that it snows is an obligation.
If the snow doesn't melt away and piles up, they could go for a walk. Shen Qingqiu imagines boots crunching through fresh, white snow glittering in the sunlight and it almost makes him excited. He could deal with the cold for that.
Shen Qingqiu smoothes his hand down the long line of Liu Qingge's back, feeling along the knobs of his spine just to feel him shiver.
The gesture is answered with Liu Qingge craning his neck until Shen Qingqiu feels his lips against his stomach, warm through the thin fabric of his sleeping robes.
He blushes only a little. Then he finds one of Liu Qingge's hands, laces their fingers together and leans comfortably back against the headrest of his bed.
He reaches out next for the coat he'd so rudely tossed onto the bed as soon as the decision was made to stay in today and tugs it over Liu Qingge's sleepy form. It's not really necessary, to be very honest - the bamboo house is kept warm after all with the fire wood Binghe so diligently prepared.
But something about putting the coat around Liu Qingge and pulling it up to his shoulders, hiding him away from his responsibilities makes Shen Qingqiu's chest feel fuzzy and warm.
Liu Qingge makes another soft noise full of appreciation and Shen Qingqiu can't resist bending almost in half to drop a kiss into smooth dark hair.
Liu Qingge belongs to him.
And at least for today, no one will come to steal him away.