Work Text:
Yukong stood by the edge outside of the Palace of Astrum, watching the glowing Jade Gate among the sea of the night sky. Everyone was exhausted from preparing for the coming wardance festival, and they from the Sky-Farring Committee are swamped with the paperwork and monitoring of those entering and exiting the Luofu. Even now, there are ships coming into their part of the alliance and Yukong, admire those ships that drifted by.
Security was top priority for everyone in Luofu. After the events relating to the emanator of the Ruin Author, she took it as a personal mission to ensure the ports of the Luofu will be safe. She no longer wanted to lose anyone else—all she had left in Luofu was Qingmi.
“I was wondering when the helm master would greet their visitor. Turns out, she is once again, yearning for the sky.”
Pointy ears twitched and the helm master of the Xianzhou Luofu turned to the direction of the voice. Few feet away from her was a silvery-white haired foxian, dressed in white and green garments. The said foxian had a lazy smile on her face as she approached Yukong, waving her hand.
Recognizing the woman who now stood in front of her, Yukong couldn’t help but inhaled a strong spicy scent from her. She can assume that the foxian had a spicy hotpot courtesy of a certain military doctor of the fleet they belonged to. She bowed her head in courtesy and met her gaze with the taller foxian.
“A pleasurable evening, general Feixiao.” Yukong greeted her with respect deserving of the one of the seven Arbiter-General—the great general—of the Xianzhou alliance. “I was not informed by my commission that you and your delegates already arrived.”
Feixiao smiled dashingly at the helm master of the Luofu. “I do want to surprise a certain… lady.” She looked at Yukong and reached her hand out to hold Yukong’s hand, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. “It has been a while, Yukong. Or will you once again slap me if I call you bǎobèi?”
Yukong blushed and retracted her hand from Feixiao’s hold and pinched the general’s cheek. “You and your unprofessionalism, Feixiao.”
It was something between her and the general of the Yaoqing fleet. After the Third Abundance War, it was hard for her to pick up the pieces in her life. She raised Qingmi on her own, then adopted Tingyun. Everything was a mess for her and her dream of being back in the sky was pushed back. Then she met the infamous general Feixiao during one of her visit in Luofu. And like an unknown force, they end up seeing each other a lot.
But duties are far more important in their lives. And with Feixiao’s duties—they have a rather…unusual setting.
The general of the Xianzhou Yaoqing smiled and pressed Yukong’s hand flat on her cheek, savoring the warmth of it. “It has been years, bǎobèi. You are as beautiful as the day we first met, yet…” she kissed the palm of Yukong. “Those eyes of yours that I adored so much, they are sad.”
Yukong was reminded of why she was watching the Jade Gate. She was reminiscing on Caiyi and Tingyun.
“Things… happened.” Yukong whispered, exhaling the breath she did not even know she held in.
“So I have heard. Do you feel our little kit is gone?”
The one Feixiao was referring to was Tingyun. The always goal-oriented, soon-to-be replacement of Yukong in the Sky-Faring commission. The one they both raised along with Qingmi.
The green-haired foxian sighed heavily and pulled her hand back then turned around to look at the Jade Gate. “I did her soul-soothing ceremony, but I know… I feel… she is out there. That one day, her ship will enter those gates, and she will come back.”
Feixiao shrugged off her coat and draped it on Yukong, who pulled the clothing close. “She may be out there. And if she is, she will come back.” She looked at Yukong with a soft smile. “Speaking of come back, have you reconsidered it? Will you accept my offer now?”
“Hm? And what offer are you referring to?”
The taller foxian faced Yukong. “To join me, in Yaoqing. I offered you time and time again, the title of helm master of Yaoqing. My protection to you and Qingmi. My overall fleet if you wish for it. But—”
Yukong leaned her head on Feixiao’s chest. “I still chose the Luofu.” She sighed heavily once more.
“You will always choose this fleet. Be it because of Caiyi. Or the skies you loved so much.”
“You offered the same thing before. You offered me the protection only you can give, yet it comes to being caged in your fleet. in Luofu, the skies...” Yukong titled her head up, looking at Feixiao with a soft gaze. "Yet I chose only you to share my moments. I chose your scent—your clothes—to cover me. I chose you. My heart chose you. But I know this place is where I need to be."
Feixiao smiled in defeat and shook her head, holding Yukong close. She admired how the foxian in her arms was always firm and certain. She loved how Yukong always stood back up despite everything that came her way. “I should just kidnap you next time and hold you in my quarters for a few Amber Eras.”
"And what?"
"I dunno, maybe Qingmi wants a new sibling--ouch!" Feixiao's ear was tugged by Yukong.
Yukong chuckled and sighed, feeling her chest lighten from the heaviness it felt earlier. In the arms of the general, she once again the peace she was yearning for after the events that happened.