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The first time Jingyuan sees Ren is at a meeting between Jingliu and Ren. He apologises for interrupting but is curious about who this man is. He hasn't seen him around the Luofu before.
"I'll go tend to this matter. Show Ren around the gardens, will you?" Jingliu instructs him after introducing them to each other and leaves.
"Yes, Master." Jingyuan says and bows. In the meantime, Ren gets to his feet and Jingyuan has to look up slightly to make eye contact.
"It's nice to meet your acquaintance, you may call me Jingyuan."
"Ren."
Jingyuan hesitates, usually the people who seek Jingliu out have a purpose, and they normally make their purpose known the moment she walks off. He learnt this quickly amongst the leadership of the Luofu, to pick up people’s intentions. This man, on the other hand, seems perfectly comfortable despite being new to the Luofu.
“This way.” Jingyuan smiles politely and leads the way to the gardens. When he turns back, there is a mysterious smile on the man’s face as well.
“You don’t have to bring me here if you don’t want to,” Ren chimes in, after the completely silent walk, “I can see myself out.”
“Is there something you would like to see?” Jingyuan ventures. After all, many reveal their true intentions at this juncture.
“I spend most of my time in the forge since coming to the Xianzhou. I suppose you don’t spend your time in the garden,” He looks down at Jingyuan’s sparring attire, “Maybe the place you spend most of your time in?”
The forge? He makes weapons? Jingyuan supposes that not all of the forgers come from within the Luofu, or even the Xianzhou Alliance. In fact, Jingyuan has never personally been to the forge; he spends most of his time training or sitting in on the military meetings Jingliu makes him attend.
“Once again, you don’t have to bring me around. I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable. I understand that I’m a foreigner here after all.” Ren adds when Jingyuan is quiet.
Jingyuan looks up then, and Ren looks shy almost. He looks young, and maybe he actually looks his age if he does come from outside of the Xianzhou Alliance. In fact, they might be around the same age. Jingyuan grins then, “If you bring me to yours as well.”
Ren smiles then, brighter than Jingyuan has seen yet. “I won’t tell Jingliu.” Jingyuan hasn’t felt comfortable around someone in a long while and he smiles back, genuinely.
--
Fire is red.
Red like the sunset that sets over the training ground that Jingyuan is alone in. He’s been training alone since a few months ago, since the battle with the mara-struck increased around the Luofu. Jingliu has been locked in meeting with the other leaders of the Luofu, leaving him to his own devices.
He wants to help out, so he trains. As much as he can.
“There you are,” a familiar voice rings out across the courtyard.
“Ren!” Jingyuan smiles and turns, running up to Ren quickly, “Are you finally free from your work?”
Ren dips his head in apology, the constant battles have required the forgers to work harder to keep up the supply of weapons.
Jingyuan drags Ren by his sleeve to the table he set up in the nearby pavilion earlier, already laid out with a dinner for two. Ren looks at him so fondly; Jingyuan is almost shy at the constant attention. He pushes Ren to sit, and hurries to pour a cup of tea for him. Ren doesn’t speak yet, though Jingyuan doesn’t mind. They’re so used to each other’s company now, even in silence. So, Jingyuan just starts to ramble on about his training, and how Jingliu has barred him from yet another battle.
Jingyuan is picking up another piece of chicken, just as Ren stands and walks around the table and comes to stand behind Jingyuan.
“What are you doing?” Jingyuan questions, turning slightly, catching only a glimpse of red in Ren’s hand.
“Stay still,” Ren reaches for Jingyuan’s white, unruly hair, smoothing it together into a half-ponytail. Jingyuan stills, the piece of chicken dropping from his chopsticks. “How do you spar and eat with this mane in your face?”
“It’s fine. I can do it myself,” Jingyuan says weakly.
“Use this from now on,” Ren twirls the red ribbon in his face, and uses it to quickly tie his hair together.
Jingyuan turns quickly then, also catching a glimpse of the red ribbon in Ren’s outfit. Ren looks shy again, just as that first time in the garden. It tugs at something in Jingyuan’s heart. Before Ren can return to his seat, Jingyuan pulls at his collar and pulls him close.
“Can I?” Jingyuan asks, eyes on Ren’s lips.
Ren breathes out and nods.
Jingyuan leans in and kisses Ren, feeling Ren pulling him closer by the hands around his neck.
Love is red. Red like fire.
--
Fire warms.
The heat of the forge emanates from the building even before Jingyuan enters it, hands full with snacks that Ren likes and cooling drinks recommended by Lord Yinyue.
Just because Jingliu told him to check on the progress of the forge’s weapons doesn’t mean he can’t carve some time out for himself. He’s a Lieutenant now and part of the High Cloud Quintet, though he still feels like a child when he slacks off.
“Ren, I’m here.” He says, cringing when he realises that there are other forgers in the vicinity. They look at him knowingly, before pointing him in the direction Ren is. He walks gingerly past the benches filled with weapons and other equipment, heading towards the heat that is the main forge. Ren seems busy with something, bent over his workbench as he is, completely not realising Jingyuan is in the room.
Just as Jingyuan gets close, Ren looks up and seems utterly surprised that Jingyuan is here. He looks down at his desk and quickly draws a nearby cloth over it.
“You’re here,” Ren smiles, but it doesn’t hide the nervousness Jingyuan can sense emanating from him. Jingyuan hands him the drinks, and starts to open the snacks.
“Surely you can spare me some time from your busy schedule,” Jingyuan jokes, which only get him a ruffle in his hair.
They sit quietly, until Jingyuan cannot hold it in and asks about Ren’s work. Ren only deflects, which makes Jingyuan want to tease him and see that shy expression that he never shows anyone else.
“Show me, please,” Jingyuan breaks out the puppy eyes he knows Ren cannot resist. As expected, Ren only sighs and draws the cloth off the table. Now, Jingyuan is the one rendered speechless.
On the desk is a glaive. A elegant, golden glaive made from precious metals that are reserved only for certain members of the military.
“It’s yours,” Ren hugs him from behind, arms crossed around his waist. He’s grown so much now, or Ren has changed so little that it doesn’t take much to land a kiss on Ren’s lips.
Fire warms, between the hearts of lovers.
–
But fire burns. Like the day Ren left.
Was there no other way? Could I have done something? Could I have saved him? Jingyuan asks himself multiple times over.
But he knows better. He couldn't save his master either.
Lord Yinyue promised he would do whatever he could. And he did. At least Ren was alive. At least he was alive. Even if Jingyuan cannot see him anymore.
It hurts. It hurts even more when Lord Yinyue is taken away for sedition.
He's all that's left. Maybe he should have died by Jingliu's hand. Maybe he shouldn't have left Ren alone. Maybe he should have left with him.
Fire burns, and it hurts.
--
Just like that, their fire can be snuffed out.
After the crisis (how dare they call what happened to Jingliu that?) and the Sedition of Lord Yinyue (how dare they tarnish his reputation?), Jingyuan is dragged from place to place in preparation to take the position of General of the Luofu.
Ren, he thinks, how are you? Are you hurt? Have you found a place to hide?
The glaive Ren gives him is still in his room. As is that red ribbon in his hand.
A soft knock on his door draws his gaze.
"I will be out soon, leave me." He hastens to say before one of his helpers decides to just barge in.
"Yes, General. We do need to leave soon."
He doesn't deign that with an answer. He doesn't feel any more prepared to be responsible for the Luofu, but they've already begun calling him by that honorific.
Tears fall onto the red ribbon and he quickly rubs them away.
You'll always be with me, Jingyuan thinks as he ties his hair quickly with the ribbon.
He wipes away his tears quickly and heads for the door.
It rains on the day he becomes General, snuffing out the fire in his heart.
--
Fire can reignite, with the right conditions.
"Do you remember me?"
Jingyuan doesn't know what he expects. Memories together flood back as he heard of a possible Stellaron Hunter intrusion on the Luofu. He's seen the IPC wanted posters. He's heard of the notorious group. It's just all part of the job.
Ren looks better than he expected. But also worse, from the way he drags his feet, the way he sneers at the guards, and the way there's no light in his eyes.
He wants to run up, wants to hug him, wants to ask him how's he's been, if he'll come back. But the position of General stalls him.
"Of five people, three must pay a price"
Jingyuan narrows his eyes and thinks "do you hate me for what happened?" He draws his arm out to prevent Yanqing from jumping in with his sword.
"You are not one of them, Jingyuan."
Jingyuan could have collapsed from that voice calling his name, as it was many moons ago. Jingyuan feels the embers in his heart ignite again.
Red eyes meet golden ones, before Ren’s taken into the depths of the Shackling Prison.
Perhaps Ren could feel it too.