Work Text:
The sudden attack caught Luo Binghe off guard. Shen Qingqiu swiftly pushed him back and sent a blast of qi through his fan to the demon. The demon's tail whipped both as defense and offense. Shen Qingqiu raised his fan imbued with qi, blocking the spiked tail.
Shen Qingqiu was confident he could handle the demon by himself.
Too confident.
Shen Qingqiu's fan couldn't handle to channel his qi any longer and broke, letting the tail pass through his defense. Luo Binghe was quick to pull him away and land a killing blow on the demon. And it was over.
It all lasted for only several seconds. But Shen Qingqiu didn't come out unscathed.
Pain shot through his nerves coming from the gash that ran up his leg to his thigh.
"Shizun!" he could distantly hear Luo Binghe's worried calls. Luo Binghe doesn't need to worry, it was just a shallow wound.
"I'm fine," Shen Qingqiu would've said, if his vision didn't start to blur around the edges.
His gaze dropped to the broken fan in his hand. "Ah, I broke another fan. This was fairly new, too..." was his last thought before everything went black.
+ + +
A few days have passed since that incident. Shen Qingqiu was still bedridden. It turned out that the tail was poisonous. It could've instantly killed even a low level cultivator. Even for an immortal like Shen Qingqiu, it had drastically slowed down his recovery.
Ever since Shen Qingqiu woke up from a day of being unconscious, Luo Binghe barely left his side and fussed over him. Even so, Luo Binghe was too quiet and never looked him in the eyes.
Shen Qingqiu couldn't take it anymore. "Binghe. Look at me."
Shen Qingqiu cupped Luo Binghe's cheeks for them to see eye to eye, but Luo Binghe evaded his gaze.
"Look. I'm sorry for making you worry and for getting injured. But I'm not sorry it happened because I protected you."
"Does Shizun think that I am so weak to need protecting!?"
"No, of course not. But I am your Shizun and husband. I would never let you get hurt if I could help it."
Luo Binghe finally met his gaze, and Shen Qingqiu could see the sheen of unshed tears threatening to fall. "So you let yourself get hurt instead."
"I am not delicate, Binghe. Your Shizun could handle such a flimsy demon. It was just an unfortunate time for my fan to break."
Luo Binghe was about to say smth but instead decided to purse his lips and resolutely looked away. Shen Qingqiu sighed and let the matter go for now.
+ + +
That was not the first time Shen Qingqiu's fan got broken, and he's sure it won't be the last. Even spiritual fans would not last long when wielded by immortals of Shen Qingqiu's calibre. Shen Qingqiu learned this lesson a long time ago. And yet, he still got careless.
Now Luo Binghe is sulking.
+ + +
The next day, Luo Binghe was gone.
Luo Binghe didn't return the day after. And the day after that.
+ + +
More than a week passed until Luo Binghe returned.
"Binghe!" Shen Qingqiu was mostly healed by then and quickly ran towards Luo Binghe.
Pain shot up his leg at the sudden stress and almost toppled over. But Luo Binghe quickly caught him and Shen Qingqiu wrapped his arms around Luo Binghe's neck. "Shizun!"
"It's ok, I'm okay,"
Luo Binghe picked him up to a bridal carry and walked towards his bed. "Shizun hasn't completely recovered yet. You shouldn't overexert yourself."
"I was just happy to see you. That you're okay. Silly boy, you were gone for so many days, you made your Shizun worry." Shen Qingqiu's hold tighten and he buried his face against Luo Binghe's neck. "Are you still upset with me? I know I should've been less reckless. But I can't promise I won't do that again."
"No! Binghe is not upset with Shizun! I'm mad of myself because I couldn't keep you from harm." Luo Binghe gently placed Shen Qingqiu to sit on the bed, but didn't let go. "And Shizun is right. Shizun is powerful but doesn't have a suitable weapon. So I got you this."
Luo Binghe gave Shen Qingqiu a spiritual fan. It was the length of Shen Qingqiu's arm, with beautiful intricate designs. But what made Shen Qingqiu gasp was the inherent qi that pulsed within the fan. Shen Qingqiu couldn't believe this was possible!
"I'm sorry I took too long, Shizun. I had to track down Wandering Forge to commission this."
Wandering Forge. A legendary demon who carries his forge with him. A master who makes weapons so powerful and rare that everyone thought it's all just myth.
"Shizun... please say something" Luo Binghe's voice wobbled and started to cry. "I don't know if this is enough apology for letting you get injured. And for sulking and not talking to you instead of being grateful. And for leaving you and making you upset—"
"No, no... it's alright... I dont know what I would do if you're hurt again. And you must feel the same, so I understand you," Shen Qingqiu kissed away the tears and placed his forehead on Luo Binghe's. "I know logically that you're more powerful than I am, but I will never let you get hurt if I can help it. I love you too much to let that happen."
"Then I would never let my guard down again and make sure to protect Shizun from any harm. I will stay by his side for as long as Shizun will have me."
Shen Qingqiu smiled softly. "What if I want you for my entire immortal life?"
Luo Binghe held him tighter. "Good."
×××
=Extra=
A few days later...
Luo Binghe has been trailing Shen Qingqiu like a puppy for the past few days.
Shen Qingqiu: Binghe... can't you leave me alone for even a few seconds?
Luo Binghe pouting and teary eyed: I thought Shizun would keep me by his side for the rest of his immortal life??
Shen Qingqiu internally: *sigh* what did i sign up for?🤦🏻
×end×