Work Text:
Mu Qing and Feng Xin grumbled every time they were assigned as partners on missions, but their current predicament was probably the worst thing that had ever happened to them. Not only were they ‘blessed’ to be lumped together, they were also stuck with Xie Lian and his gremlin husband.
The only thing that made this whole situation worse was Xie Lian’s exclamation when they met up in front of Puqi shrine.
“It’s like a double date!”
Mu Qing made an indignant sound and looked away, highly offended, while Feng Xin sputtered, his face bright red. Hua Cheng downright cackled, kissing his husband who just smiled brightly, as if he hadn’t just said the most scandalous thing ever.
“Let’s kill some fucking ghosts,” Feng Xin muttered, striding ahead.
It was as if the weather knew Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s state of mind; although it was still summer, dark and threatening clouds started swirling soon after they left. There was an ominous feeling in the air, and all four of them looked around warily. The forest was eerily quiet, as if every living being had disappeared and was pretending not to exist.
Feng Xin’s warm hand landed on Mu Qing’s forearm. “Stay next to me.”
Mu Qing rolled his eyes. “Where would I even go? With the love birds?”
He gestured at Xie Lian and Hua Cheng walking hand in hand in front of them, and Feng Xin made a pained expression. Mu Qing rubbed his arm where Feng Xin had just touched him, not wanting to admit even to himself that he missed the warmth.
A lightning flashed across the sky, and loud thunder followed soon after, making both Feng Xin and Mu Qing jump. In front of them, Hua Cheng looked around and opened his umbrella above Xie Lian the exact moment before it started raining.
Fortunately, it was a mild summer rain, warm on the skin, though Feng Xin could barely hide his glee at seeing Mu Qing sneer as he brought his cape over his head. His fancy hairdo would probably not fare well in this weather.
Mu Qing glared at the sky. “I wish it stopped raining, this mission is frustrating enough without that extra annoyance.”
“Yeah, multiplying ghost are the fucking worst,” Feng Xin agreed. “You start with ten and then suddenly there’s fifty of them. Annoying fuckers.”
Xie Lian looked over his shoulder, perhaps trying to cheer up the two grumps behind him. “The reports came from a place not too far from here. We’ll get there soon and get rid of them in no time.”
“As if the Red Menace couldn’t do it by himself,” Mu Qing huffed in his private communication array with Feng Xin.
Feng Xin looked at him and pulled a face. “Yeah, he could probably sort it without lifting a single finger. I don’t even know why the hell we’re here.”
“I think Dianxia wants us to bond with Crimson Rain.”
Feng Xin could feel the eye roll even in this method of communication. He mimed throwing up, and was rewarded with a very rare genuine Mu Qing laugh, which was quickly suppressed.
Not quickly enough if Hua Cheng’s glare was anything to go by. Mu Qing hit Feng Xin’s shoulder, though his black eyes shone with mischief. Feng Xin let it go, opting to smile cheekily instead. He loved being on the same side as Mu Qing.
Unfortunately for them, however, the weather became worse by the minute: the rain intensified and suddenly, thunder sounded so loudly that both Feng Xin and Mu Qing reached out towards each other. Their grips were tight, steadying, and they didn’t even notice they were holding onto each other until Xie Lian and Hua Cheng looked back at them.
Xie Lian’s smile was overjoyed and Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows, then glanced at Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s clasped hands.
“They’re very close, aren’t they, gege?”
Feng Xin and Mu Qing let go of each other as if burnt.
“Shut up, I just know Mu Qing doesn’t like thunderstorms,” Feng Xin replied, cheeks flushed. “I was protecting him.”
Mu Qing bristled. “Excuse you , you’re the one who practically jumped in my arms. If anything, I was the one protecting you !”
Before the discussion could devolve into a fight, Xie Lian stepped forward. “You’re such good friends, of course you’d want to look out for each other!” Xie Lian pointed ahead. “Look, the road splits in two here, I’m sure you’re okay following the left path while San Lang and myself check the right one. Let us know if you come across any ghosts, and we’ll join you.”
Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing nodded reluctantly, not looking at each other. They set off on the left path, though they could still hear Xie Lian laugh at something Hua Cheng had said. The sky was still rumbling, the sound echoed by the mountains.
“Are we really that?” Mu Qing asked quietly, kicking a pebble.
“Are we what?”
“Good friends.”
After so many years, Feng Xin could hear the insecurity underlying the question and didn’t get mad. “I thought you were the smarter one out of the two of us. Course we are, you and Xie Lian are my best friends.”
Mu Qing knew he was all flushed and he regretted asking, but now his heart was overflowing, so maybe it wasn't that bad. Best friends . His sixteen year old self would never believe it. He sneaked a look at Feng Xin’s waiting expression, then mumbled, “You’re mine too.”
Feng Xin wanted to hug Mu Qing, lift him and twirl him in the air, but he suspected his gesture would not be appreciated. So he patted Mu Qing’s shoulder instead, smiling at him. “Good, because if you had said otherwise, I would have told you off. And I’m sure Xie Lian would too. Remember that time when we visited him and-”
Mu Qing had suddenly become attentive to strange noises coming from behind them. He froze, and his fingers grabbed Feng Xin’s sleeve, listening intently to a subtle noise that he wasn’t sure was really there. Then he saw them.
“Watch out!” Mu Qing yelled, pushing Feng Xin away as he whipped his zhanmadao out, slashing two ghosts at the same time.
Unfortunately, the rumours were true, and these were the replicating ghosts they heard about. Just as he cut them, four more rose in their stead. Mu Qing cursed as he slashed at them again, his efforts wasted as the ghosts doubled in number.
“Mu Qing, cut their heads!” Feng Xin shouted, taking out two ghosts at the same time, the arrow through their necks blocking their replication process.
That was how they fought after, consciously making an effort to kill the ghosts definitely. Mu Qing managed to slay the last ghosts on his side, and he expected to turn around and see Feng Xin finishing up as well. However, it seemed that the last three ghosts had driven Feng Xin into a corner - they had probably realised that he was unable to use his bow in such a short range, and did not give him a chance to take his sword out.
Without wasting another moment, Mu Qing leapt ahead and cleanly cut through the throats of all three ghosts in a swift movement. Feng Xin was somehow on his backside and looked up at him wide-eyed, Mu Qing smirking at him.
“Wow, that was… impressive,” was what Feng Xin ended up saying, though what he actually meant was fucking hot.
Mu Qing looked at him funny, but there was no time to be awkward - the unmistakable sounds of another horde of ghosts was fast approaching.
“Come on, we need to get out of here,” he said while helping Feng Xin up, and they both ran in the pouring rain.
“I’ll contact Dianxia and ask them to come over, there’s too many fucking ghosts.”
Mu Qing nodded, and steered them deeper into the forest, hoping that they could get rid of the ghost army chasing them and find cover from the rain.
"There's a cave over there." Mu Qing grabbed Feng Xin's hand and they ran together, the noise of their steps covered by the thunderstorm.
Once inside, Feng Xin leaned against the cave wall, breathing deeply. They had barely set out a shichen ago, and yet, this tiny amount of time in their immortal life was abundant with excitement and confusing feelings. He looked at Mu Qing, who was also catching his breath, sharp eyes trained on him.
“What’s that?” he asked and stepped closer to Feng Xin.
“What?”
“There’s a cut on your cheek, you idiot,” Mu Qing mumbled, his cold fingertips touching just underneath.
The barely-there graze of skin was infinitely gentle, so in contrast with the insult. But Feng Xin found even the insult warming, the affection just bubbling up in his chest. While Mu Qing was examining the cut, Feng Xin couldn’t look away from Mu Qing’s eyes. Even in the low light of the cave, they shone intensely. His long eyelashes were particularly enticing, slightly clumped together due to the rain.
“You should be more careful,” Mu Qing said as his thumb gently wiped over the cut, making it disappear.
He looked up and found Feng Xin staring at him with a look he sometimes got late at night, when they would stay up with a cup of tea and talk quietly.
“Your eyelashes are pretty,” Feng Xin said, as if announcing the most natural thing.
“What?” Mu Qing’s cheeks flushed, and his hand that had just been on Feng Xin’s cheek fell onto his shoulder. Surely he didn’t hear that right.
“Your eyelashes, they’re a bit stuck together because they’re wet, and they make your eyes look like stars,” Feng Xin said quietly, but confidently. “They’re really pretty.”
Mu Qing could not move, could not speak, until Feng Xin placed his hand on his waist. “I’m going to kiss you, is that okay?”
His heartbeat was louder than the rain, but Mu Qing managed to whisper his consent, hands grasping Feng Xin’s wet robes as soft lips pressed against his. The thunder was now rumbling in the distance, and Feng Xin’s arms encircled his waist, which was a good thing, because Mu Qing thought his knees might buckle soon.
“Feng Xin…”
“I know, I’ve wanted this for so long,” Feng Xin mumbled in between kisses, making Mu Qing shiver.
“Are you cold, baobei?” Feng Xin asked, his big hands rubbing Mu Qing’s back.
Mu Qing wasn’t going to confess that it was Feng Xin’s words that provoked the reaction, even though the sweet pet name took his breath away too. He put his arms around Feng Xin’s neck, and batted his eyelashes as he voiced his request, “Warm me up, Feng Xin.”
The effect was instantaneous; Feng Xin looked at him wide-eyed and yanked Mu Qing against his body, kissing him deeply as his hands roamed everywhere, seemingly with the intent to transfer his body warmth to Mu Qing. He felt those hands before, mostly in a more violent context, and now he didn’t know how to contain the rush of emotions and sensations. Mu Qing thought there was a buzz in his ears, but he ignored it, suddenly entranced by the feel of Feng Xin’s tongue against his.
Mu Qing wasn’t sure how much time had elapsed since their run-in with the ghosts; he could only focus on Feng Xin’s collarbone ever since he got his fingertips under his robe. Feng Xin was now completely dedicated to worshipping Mu Qing’s neck, laying kisses upon soft kisses. Mu Qing tried not to think of the strained sound he made after the first one, since it was clear Feng Xin liked it, if his smile was anything to go by. So he resorted to gripping Feng Xin’s upper arm and playing with the short locks of hair at his nape.
“Uh… Mu Qing? Feng Xin? Are you guys in the cave? Please answer if you can hear me, I’ve been trying to reach you for a while.”
At first neither of them reacted, too busy making up for eight centuries of no-kissing, but then another ice cold voice joined in.
“Can you losers stop hiding and come out?”
Feng Xin and Mu Qing finally let go of each other when Hua Cheng’s voice rang so loudly, they couldn’t ignore it any longer.
“Get the fuck out of my head, Crimson Rain!” Feng Xin shouted.
Although it was only through the shared communication array, Mu Qing hit his shoulder.
“You have such a big mouth!!”
“You seemed to like it just a moment ago,” Feng Xin retorted very smugly, and kissed Mu Qing again.
“Come on, let’s not make them wait,” Mu Qing said, and smoothed down Feng Xin’s robes, to make him look somewhat presentable.
It was only drizzling now, the heavy thunderstorm banished to the mountains. Not that Feng Xin had noticed, his thoughts completely focused on Mu Qing and the fact that he seemed to like him back. He could have bounced on their way to Dianxia and his weird husband, but Mu Qing had adopted a serious expression, so it was probably best to act like nothing had happened.
Xie Lian was leaning against Crimson Rain, smiling up at him. When Feng Xin and Mu Qing were getting close, Xie Lian waved at them with a big smile.
“Glad to see you found shelter from the storm.”
“Have you encountered the ghosts on your way here?” Feng Xin asked.
“Yes, gege and myself took care of them while you two idiots were making out,” Hua Cheng replied, and Xie Lian tried to hide his snickering behind his sleeve.
“What are you talking about?!”
Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing started protesting, but Xie Lian pointed at a spot on his own neck while smiling indulgently at Mu Qing. Feng Xin looked at Mu Qing’s neck and gulped as he noticed the rapidly forming hickey, paired with Mu Qing’s darkening expression.
“You careless oaf!”
“Ouch!” he yelped as Mu Qing hit him several times, but didn’t try to fight back.
“Ah, young love,” Xie Lian sighed as he hooked his arm with San Lang’s and they started their trip back to Puqi shrine.
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were walking behind them, embarrassed that Xie Lian and Hua Cheng had solved the case without their help, and on top of that, had found out about their kissing session. If they were lucky, it would stay between them, but one could never know with the Crimson Bastard.
“Sorry about the hickey ,” Feng Xin said to Mu Qing in their private communication array.
Mu Qing sighed, and turned his head away. “ It’s fine.”
Feng Xin really hoped he hadn’t messed up. He would never forgive himself if this ruined his relationship with Mu Qing.
“I can heal it before we go back to Heaven.”
“NO!” Mu Qing looked at him with wide eyes, then continued. “ I mean… I don’t want it to be erased.”
A burst of sunlight escaped from between the clouds, a deep golden glow settling over everything, just like the hope blooming in Feng Xin’s heart. Maybe things were okay between them.
“Would you maybe like to come back to my place when we’re back? We could dry off and have tea. And talk.”
Mu Qing’s eyelashes fluttered and Feng Xin could barely stop himself from pressing a kiss to the corner of his eyes.
“And continue what we started in the cave?”
Feng Xin gulped. “ Yes! I mean, only if you want to.”
Mu Qing smiled to himself, then took Feng Xin’s hand. “I’d like that.”
Feng Xin couldn’t stop smiling after that, even when Crimson Rain told them to get a room.