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It started off small, as most things do. They would spar together more often, the durations longer. Each meeting between their clans would have some more time put into it to just talk as friends rather than grandmasters.
Then it evolved. They did small favors—tiny acts that wouldn't be seen as off by anyone else. Kuai Liang would carefully brush the hair out of Hanzo's face when it became loose and in turn Hanzo would offer to re-tie his headband when it fell off. Their hands would brush when they stood next to each other, their gazes meeting before they break it off with the same smiles on their faces.
And after an agonizingly long few weeks of that… Kuai Liang was ready. To court him. Or at least that's what he tells himself—the alpha didn't know anything of how to properly court an omega. He never really learnt about it.
So he observed instead.
He watched Hanzo's little movements: his smile, his frown, the furrow of his brows when he's annoyed. He finds out the omega likes traditional, almost bitter candies in contrast against his own sweet tooth. He finds out that Hanzo's past time is spent relaxing at the fire gardens or painting. He finds out that he has a soft spot for children.
(And maybe, just maybe, the first time he saw Hanzo with the pups of his clan—letting them use him as a teddy bear as he read from a storybook—Kuai Liang's mind rushed with images of the two of them in that same spot. With their own pups.)
(He quickly brushed his mind off after that and left.)
Kuai Liang can't even hope to have the same skills as he does, the same proficiency. In fact, his own creations would probably look like something a pup made. But damn it all, he's going to try.
It was a week before Hanzo could meet Kuai Liang again, and when he did, his heart fluttered. He watched as the man walked near the gate, his guards so used to him by now that they wished him well. Then he stops when he's in front of him, smiling wide.
“Hanzo,” he bowed politely and Hanzo bowed back, a hint of amusement in his tone, “It pleases me to see you well.”
“As does it please me to see you well, Kuai Liang.” The pyromancer chuckled, the scent of cherry trees more prominent and showing his genuine joy, “Come, let's take a walk around the fire gardens.”
Kuai Liang followed with perhaps too much excitement. The weight of the gift he stored in his pouch was heavy on his soul, both excitement and fear in the alpha's mind. What if Hanzo accepted or rejected his offers—he wouldn't know the answers. At least, not yet.
The sounds of their voices conversing mixed together with the soft rustling of leaves and chirpings of birds. The fire gardens of the Shirai Ryu were always breathtakingly beautiful, even to Kuai Liang's standards. He couldn't help but be reminded of the omega next to him every time—the beauty and grave yet the deadliness of some of the poisonous flowers and plants he knew reminded him so much of Hanzo.
Hanzo was talking, he didn't know what, because the urge to brush his hand against his was tempting. Kuai Liang never believed himself to be strong against such temptations. The way Hanzo's eyes widened slightly and a small blush crept to his cheeks before he smiled and squeezed back his hand was worth it.
“You are happy today,” Hanzo pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
“I am, always,” Kuai Liang's voice was soft, tender, “I'm happy when I'm with you.”
Hanzo looked like he wanted to talk back, but just as they reached the large tree in the middle of the gardens, Kuai Liang made them stop. Hanzo's brows furrowed in confusion as he watched the alpha stand nervously—catching a whiff of it in his scent.
“Kuai Liang?” He asked, worry clear in his tone, “Is something the matter?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” the cryomancer sighs. “I wish to give you something.”
He pulled out the gift he had made for Hanzo. It had taken him a full month—first finding the right materials and familiarizing himself with the art of actually doing it first. While he was proud of his results at first, now he can't help but feel nervous.
He heard Hanzo's gasp when he pulled the kunai out and presented it to him in his hands. It was made from the best of carbon steel—shining under the sun, smooth and sharp. At the bottom was a small hole for a rope if Hanzo would want to connect it to one. The blade itself was adorned with intricate carvings colored in a golden yellow, depicting fires and flowers.
Kuai Liang took a gulp before he spoke, “I… Hanzo, you do not know how important you are to me.” He started softly.
“We have been through much. I have seen your faults and mistakes, as well as your pride and joy. In turn, you have seen mine. Our strengths cover our weak spots—your fire warms against my cold ice. You have saved me countless times, protected me even when I couldn't protect myself.”
His hands began to tremble as he stared at Hanzo's face. The omega's eyes were glued to the kunai, then back to Kuai Liang, disbelief but also… hopeful. It made Kuai Liang's heart throb.
“You are a wonderful man,” Kuai Liang's words were barely a whisper, “and an even wonderful omega. So I… Kuai Liang, grandmaster of the Lin Kuei and its head alpha- to you, Hanzo Hasashi, grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu and its head omega…”
He sucked in a sharp breath.
“I ask for your permission to court you officially, and, whenever, and only when and if you are ready for it… a bond.”
Kuai Liang didn't dare look away once he finished speaking. He felt like he couldn't breathe as the world around them turned silent. Even still, he felt some form of relief at the fact he had let his feelings out.
The silence stretched to what felt like an eternity—and for a moment, Kuai Liang feared that Hanzo had rejected him silently. The alpha's heart clenched, almost wanting to pull back.
“I… I apologize, Hanzo, if this is not—”
“Yes.”
Kuai Liang froze. He stared wide eyed as Hanzo's shaking hands slowly took the kunai from his hands, mouth agape as he watched the omega. Hanzo's eyes shone over every detail of the weapon in his hands—the weapon Kuai Liang gave.
He looked up to meet the alpha's eyes, and his voice was a whisper, “Yes, Kuai Liang. I accept.”
He walked closer to the frozen cryomancer, lifting a wrist up to his face. Kuai Liang was mesmerized, caressing Hanzo's cheek with his hand, heart leaping when the omega began to purr.
Hanzo accepted him.
A smile broke out on his face and he chuckled, wrapping an arm around Hanzo's body. He wanted to scream it to the world, to jump in joy. Instead, he pulled the omega close, taking his wrist and scenting him, delighting in the shiver that he earned.
“How… How did you make this?” Hanzo spoke, voice still tinted with awe.
“I had some practice,” Kuai Liang murmured. “I wanted to make it perfect. Something that was rightfully you. ”
“I will cherish it,” Hanzo said firmly, smiling at him, “It is a work of art.”
Kuai Liang blushed. He felt he couldn't say anything else, just soaked in Hanzo's warmth. Their scents mixed against one another—a safe haven for them both. They both dreaded the fact they had to pull away but still kept close.
Then, Kuai Liang groaned, making Hanzo stare confusedly.
“Johnny will be talking about this non-stop, won't he?” He muttered.
Hanzo laughed, bright and full at that, “Then we will just have to pretend that we didn't hear him.”
Their laughter mixed together, hand in hand, as they resumed their walking. Kuai Liang could not wait for the future he'll have with the omega—in any way he'll have him, he will cherish Hanzo in every way. It was like their hearts beat in sync together, a puzzle piece meant to click, two souls finally settling in peace. And he wouldn't trade any of it for anything.