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Chapter Text

Being an immortal can be boring at times. So, they, that is Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu, keep trying to come up with new ideas to entertain themselves once in a while.

No, founding a vibrator that vibrates with the spiritual energy of your partner does not count. Thankyou very much Shang Qinghua. The smooth pieces of carved and polished wood are still lying in their wardrobes ,hidden from their husbands- if nothing else then for the safety of their own behinds.

While lying and lazing around during one of their usual get togethers , this time without any peeping demon lords thankfully, is when the idea comes to Shen Qingqiu's mind. They had been lamenting the loss of video games and their absence, and it comes to Shen Qingqiu's mind suddenly that though video games can in no way ,be assessed in this world, they could still indulge in card games after all. It cannot not be that difficult to make a bunch of cards and write or paint on them.

After sharing the idea with Shang Qinghua and being met with enthusiasm, the responsibility falls on Shen Qingqiu's shoulders as Shang Qinghua had been the volunteer for modern(ish) food they had a few times now.

The task proves to be a little difficult because he has to keep the whole thing hidden from Luo Binghe, but Shen Qingqiu manages. With his hardwork and immaculate resources, he manages to finish before their next meeting. The cards come out extremely well, written with his neat penmanship and painted with his skilled hands and to be on the safer side he writes everything in Chinese letters instead of English in case they are found by someone else.

So after a gap of years ,once again they sit down to play - Uno.

And have loads of fun with it. Shen Qingqiu didn't realize how nostalgic it was going to be on the top of everything else ,to reminisce something from their old world.

Shang Qinghua is fairly competitive while playing the game and every time one of them takes the lead, he flips off the other. Between the two of them, it seems more like a match of flipping off rather than uno but it is still quite entertaining. Up until Shang Qinghua emerges as the winner. By sheer luck of course- Shen Qingqiu refuses to believe that guy has a functional brain.

So he demands another match and then another until he finally wins the fourth one. Then and only then does he allow Shang Qinghua to pack up and go home who after the second game ,kept shuffling in his seat after every few seconds like a worried wife who had left his kid unattended at the home.
The analogy is not that far off maybe.

After that day, the game becomes a recurring part of their outings.

After nth time of playing, Shang Qinghua winning during most of them much to Shen Qingqiu's dismay, they both mutually decide to include their husbands. There is only so much fun two people can have with uno and as they say, the more the merrier.
Secretly, Shen Qingqiu just wants someone other than Shang Qinghua to win for once. His Binghe will surely beat the too smug idiot who is getting too cocky for his own good because surprisingly Shang Qinghua is really good at Uno. But Luo Binghe is the protagonist after all.

When Luo Binghe and Mobei Jun are told that they are to be included in one of Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu's regular meetings , they seem as if they have found the secret to immortality. Not that any of them needs it.

But still, the two demon lords seem beyond happy, Binghe vowing to cherish the lucky opportunity and Mobei Jun looking quite pleased with the invitation too. Although, the happiness does not last very long when Shang Qinghua explains all the rules of Uno to them for the first time.

He and Shen Qingqiu had fought over a few of them in the start but now they have agreed on a bunch of common ones that they slowly try to explain to the confused demon lords.

To protect their privacy, they had decided to play in the bamboo house on Qing Jing peak and are now seated on the four sides of a small square table with snacks on the side, a few of them handmade by Binghe and reserved only for his shizun while the rest are making a round around the table.

"Riverc? What language is that?" Luo Binghe protests, the word sounding almost funny out of his perfect mouth.

"Uhhh..."Shang Qinghua tries to wiggle his eyebrows at Shen Qingqiu to communicate something but ends up failing and looking only ridiculous so Shen Qingqiu ignores him and answers Binghe himself.

"Your Shang Shishu picked up this game when he was really young so we are not really sure. But somewhere down the mountain probably." He looks at Shang Qinghua, subtly asking him to go along with it with his expressions.

"Ahaha! Its a miracle I remember the game itself. Since I was really young back then." Shang Qinghua laughs nervously and tries to communicate something else with his wiggling eyebrows to him. Which honestly, Shen Qingqiu does not understand again. So he ignores the shorter man again.

Mobei Jun and Luo Binghe give eachother a peculiar look , a look of understanding passing between them and then nod at the same time.

"If shizun says so."
"Whatever Qinghua says."

When that is off their shoulders, Shen Qingqiu patiently explains the rules once more. This time both demon lords pick them up after a short while only ,smart as they are. But the foreign terminology doesn't roll very easily off their tongues so Shen Qingqiu decides to translate all the words except Uno to Chinese to make it easier.

Everything sounds a little funny and awkward like this but at least Mobei Jun and Luo Binghe are not frowning anymore so both peak lords roll with it.

Shen Qingqiu distributes the cards, keeping a deck on the table between them and splays his own cards on his fan to observe them. Finally he has got some good cards! Since the day he has started playing this game he has only got worse luck but seems like today is his day. He has at least two draw fours in his stash that he cannot wait to use on Shang Qinghua sitting on his left and the rest look promising too.

Two minutes later and Shang Qinghua is already screeching. Reason- Luo Binghe had enthusiastically shown off his cards to Shen Qingqiu like the obedient puppy he is. He hadn't even asked- Luo Binghe, you are too enthusiastic for your own good sometimes!

"This is cheating! We decided no undue bias!" Shang Qinghua screams, affronted while pointing at Luo Binghe. Mobei Jun nods to support him too.

Shen Qingqiu closes his eyes with a put upon sigh, while Luo Binghe glares at Shang Qinghua who is purposely avoiding his gaze and pestering Shen Qingqiu to start the whole game again since he has seen Binghe's cards.

To placate Shang Qinghua, they all put the cards back ,shuffle them again and then also shuffle their seats, so no two husbands are seated together.

On Shen Qingqiu's right hand is Shang Qinghua and on his left Mobei Jun, while Binghe sits opposite him. His husband gives him a pathetic look, sad to be parted with his shizun but rules are rules. Besides, Shen Qingqiu wants Binghe to focus and actually win because it seems like he has got no chance himself this second time.

He looks down and laments silently, all green cards except one red stare back at him like a cruel joke. They are all numbers except one red reverse card and he places that single one below the others to use it at a crucial point.

Shen Qingqiu is pretty sure his face already looks grim. Shang Qinghua on the other hand smirks at him with a gleam in his eye- that fucker , he has got good cards again.

Mobei Jun's face doesn't betray any emotion and Luo Binghe looks satisfied enough.

Its okay , if Shen Qingqiu can't win his husband can. Please Luo Binghe, turn on your protagonist charm and win this game for me!

"I will win for shizun." Luo Binghe smiles at him as if reading his thoughts.

Shen Qingqiu gives him a small thumbs up as encouragement.

Shang Qinghua snorts and mumbles beside him. "Just wait and watch. I will show you who is the father today."

A cough and glare by the Qing Jing peak lord does nothing to deter his high competitive spirit and he keeps shuffling over his folded legs like a nervous rabbit, exuding extremely chaotic energy. In front of Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe seems to be picking it up as well, straightening in his seat and putting on his going to war face, aura prickling with repressed demonic energy.
Mobei Jun's unbothered feathers seem to get a little ruffled too by the competitive spirit in the room and he gives everyone a and fierce glare , shuffling his cards solemnly.

Guys? Its literally just Uno!?

Chapter Text

It is with cold glares thrown all around that the game starts. Shen Qingqiu wasn't expecting to win at all but with everyone else being so on edge he can't help but be attentive himself.

The rounds starts from his left with Mobei Jun's turn ,going towards his right where Shang Qinghua is sitting and then Luo Binghe at last.

The first few turns are fairly quiet, almost everyone has playable cards that they throw down with a few skips here and there. Except him of course. He is able to get rid of two cards but then collects five more in a row.

At least they are colorful and the numbers are shuffled so he also has some playable cards for the next few rounds.

Besides him, Mobei Jun does not seem to have much better luck than him, hoarding a little pile of cards as well.

As for Shang Qinghua and Luo Binghe, they are constantly glaring at eachother while choosing and playing their cards as if they have sat down to fight and resolve the biggest issue plaguing humanity among themselves and not to play a measly card game. Their each and every move is calculated and Shang Qinghua is acting a little too fearless, smirking once in a while whenever Luo Binghe is at a disadvantage receiving a displeased snarl from the demon lord in return.

Mobei Jun reverses the circle on one turn so that Shen Qingqiu is to recieve cards from Shang Qinghua now and oh no, he gulps. On his right , the An ding peak lord grins.

"My dear brother. Let's see what do we have here." As expected, on his turn Shang Qinghua throws a Draw four for Shen Qingqiu.
"Draw four. The color is blue."
Shen Qingqiu is going to throttle him in his sleep. As if he needed any more cards. Why didn't Shang Qinghua try that card and attitude with Luo Binghe if he was so fearless huh? Shen Qingqiu would have loved to see that pan out.

Still, he picks up four cards to add in his pile that literally doesn't need anymore piling.
Luo Binghe gives Shang Qinghua a murderous glare on his behalf. "Shang Qinghua.Just wait." He grits his teeth as if gritting the peak lord between them, while Shang Qinghua remains unbothered as if mocking him.

Children! The two of them.

Shen Qingqiu has drawn a card in the color Shang Qinghua had asked to throw the card in so he throws the blue 3 card and waits for Mobei Jun to throw his.

Mobei Jun glances at Shang Qinghua then Luo Binghe who is vibrating in his seat while waiting for his turn. Both demon lord's eyes meet and Binghe's frown deepens.
"Mobei Jun don't you dare."

Mobei Jun contemplates silently for a moment and then throws his card. A blue skip.

"You dare defy your lord!!" Shen Qingqiu stops Binghe before he can jump and throttle Mobei Jun while Shang Qinghua cackles evily in his seat.

"My lord, your shizun said no intimidation." Mobei Jun replies coolly while looking at Shen Qingqiu as if saying, 'put a leash on your dog.'

"Binghe behave." Shen Qingqiu has to say in the end in name of playing fair.
"But shizunn -" Luo Binghe the demon lord whines like a kid.

"You will get other chances." Shen Qingqiu placates his husband with soft eyes that do the trick.

Binghe grumbles but sits back finally so Shen Qingqiu beckons Shang Qinghua to play his turn who throws down a blue 2 merrily.

After sometime and two reverses , the rounds are still going in the same direction. From Shen Qingqiu's right to his left where Mobei Jun is seated.

At his turn, Luo Binghe throws a blue 6 and then gives a wide grin to Shang Qinghua. A little too wide actually- he is definitely up to something. Shen Qingqiu is sure.

Shang Qinghua hastily throws down a red 6 and then narrows his eyes at Luo Binghe.

"You have one card my lord?"

"What is it to you?" Luo Binghe bites back, scrunching his nose in distaste at Shang Qinghua and oh shit. Shen Qingqiu knows what the An Ding peak lord is playing at. Binghe please no.

"Binghe do you have one card?" He asks.

Luo Binghe looks at him unsurely and then nods reluctantly.

"Ahahaha! I knew it and who was going to say Uno my lord! Respectfully, pick four cards please." The last line is spoken with a lot of disrespect actually and it is a miracle that Shang Qinghua is still sitting as a whole there, having crossed several limits with Luo Binghe today.

"What!" Luo Binghe screeches.

"Did my lord forget? One is to say Uno when there is only one card left or he has to pick up four." Shang Qinghua cackles , fully grasping the one in million chance to show down The Luo Binghe.

"I remember." Mobei Jun quips in too making Shang Qinghua beam at him while Luo Binghe glares at them both with contempt before picking up four cards begrudgingly, cursing Shang Qinghua to hell and back under his breath but which is still audible to the room.

Fuck! They were this close to winning against Shang Qinghua. Yes they, he and Luo Binghe are a team even if sitting on opposite sides so Shen Qingqiu is desperately wishing Luo Binghe to win.

He gives Binghe a sympathetic nod and the game continues with as much excitement as before. After two more rounds, Shang Qinghua exclaims Uno in an excited voice. It almost tears Shen Qingqiu's eardrums and fills him with the foreboding sense of loss as well. He hadn't even noticed Shang Qinghua losing all his cards. Fuck! He is like ten cards behind.

Shen Qingqiu looks towards Luo Binghe helplessly but his husband looks calm. Oh. He has a good card. Shen Qingqiu can feel it in his bones.

They can win. They can still win.

He happily throws a red 1 card over the
green 1 Shang Qinghua had thrown and then looks towards Mobei Jun to watch his turn.

Oh shit. He had almost forgotten about the ice demon during Shang Qinghua and Luo Binghe's intense rivalry but now he is regretting it as Mobei Jun's expression betray that he has caught onto the whole situation too and is planning to do something about it.
As Shen Qingqiu is silently rooting for his husband, Mobei Jun is obviously doing the same as well.

Luo Binghe glowers at Mobei Jun, daring the ice demon to try him with his eyes.

Shen Qingqiu had mindlessly thrown down a red card and now he prays that Mobei Jun doesn't have-

Mobei Jun maintains his staredown with Luo Binghe and throws down a red skip card confidently.

Two things happen at once. Shang Qinghua hoorays and throws his red card while shouting that he has won while Luo Binghe and Mobei Jun start scuffling while Binghe screams at the other demon.

"You cheaters! Shizun said no bias!"
"I just threw a card."

Shen Qingqiu watches with his mouth agape and Shang Qinghua stops his celebratory dance too to stare with wide eyes when he realizes what is happening.

It is the sound of someone's robe ripping that brings both of them back to reality from their surprised stupor.

"Binghe!"
"My king!"

They both shout at the same time. It is clear from afar that both demon lords are not using any cultivation but just pushing eachother around physically. Still, even there physical prowess is nothing to joke about making Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu worried.

"Oh fuck oh fuck! Stop them cucumber bro! What if Luo Binghe kills my husband!"

"They are not using cultivation. They are-"

It is unspeakable. The most powerful demons of there time,who can annihilate any and every being existing on the planet when standing together, have fisted their hands into eachother's locks, pulling hair like a bunch of five year olds.

Shen Qingqiu is embrassed. Shen Qingqiu is amused.

He hears Shang Qinghua's muffled laughter beside him when he notices their position as well. Shen Qingqiu opens his fan to hide his face.

"Dude- I wish I had a camera to capture this. What even- ahahaha!" Shang Qinghua lets out a loud laugh.

Shen Qingqiu's amusement though doesn't last very long, because during their scuffle both demon lords had moved closer to the wall and their negligently thrown hands had hit and broken Shen Qingqiu's crystal vase placed on a table there. It had been a rare aritfact gifted to him among other things ,by Luo Binghe on their first anniversary.

Shen Qingqiu feels himself fill with trepidation.

"Enough!" He furiously throws his fan to separate the two demons who haven't taken notice of the predicament. After falling apart from their scuffle because of the fan, Luo Binghe's eyes widen when he takes in the broken vase and Shen Qingqiu's ire , who is looking at them with furious eyes and a red face.

"S-shizun-"

"Both of you. Out of my home right now!"

Luo Binghe comes to wheedle him with a sweet voice while on the side Shang Qinghua moves towards Mobei Jun , checking him over for any injuries.
"But It was him who stared it! Shizun I am sorry."

"Have you no shame or face to speak of Luo Binghe! You are the heavenly emperor of both realms." Shen Qingqiu looks at his precious broken gift and feels renewed anger." Is this what this master has taught you?"

"This lord begs for his husband's mercy. I promise I will shizun three more like-"

"Are you injured anywhere?" Shen Qingqiu inspects his husband's body but doesn't find anything except torn robes and an absolute mess of curly hair. There could be a few scratches here and there but they will heal in seconds with Luo Binghe's blood.

"No. But this-"

"Good. Out of my home then. You both can come back when you have reflected on what you did today." Shen Qingqiu scolds while trying to look at Luo Binghe and Mobei Jun both. Keyword-trying. Because just when his eyes stray to Mobei Jun, Shang Qinghua gets on his tiptoes to press a placatory kiss to his husband's cheek.

The unprecedented display of affection burns Shen Qingqiu's ears. Shameless! The three of them!

When Luo Binghe feels like he can not persuade Shen Qingqiu except following his orders , he sullenly makes his way out." This one will do as Shizun commands."

"Take your general with you!" Shen Qingqiu booms while pointedly avoiding looking at the other pair in the room lest he see something else. Luo Binghe turns back and grabs Mobei Jun's arm before dragging him out as well while grumbling under his breath.

When the door is closed behind them, Shen Qingqiu finally focuses on Shang Qinghua who looks all too pleased, even with the way the evening had turned out.

"Have you no shame! Doing...that- in front of everyone?"

"Awww, come on Shen dada! What is a little PDA between friends-ouch!" His attempt to merrily snake an arm around Shen Qingqiu's shoulder is met with a smack of fan, making him wince over in pain.

Shen Qingqiu wants to spit , 'who are you calling your friend' but he realizes, in that moment - In both his lives , today was the first day that he had felt like he truly belonged in a group. Like he could be comfortable and be himself and noone would judge him.He hadn't even cared to hide his face behind a fan for a better part of time like he usually did. Shang Qinghua, stupid as he was, was always in to support any and every kind of idiosyncrasies Shen Qingqiu proposed. Mobei Jun couldn't care less and Luo Binghe- his beloved husband ,would bite off his tongue before using it to speak against Shen Qingqiu.

The lot of them, as uncultured as they were , were the closest thing to friends he had in both lifetimes. The realization, was a little heartwarming.

Today wasn't so bad afterall, he thought. Shen Qingqiu wouldn't mind a repeat if it didn't end in the destruction of a precious artifact he held close to his heart for sentimental reasons.

"Hmmm.", comes Shang Qinghua's teasing voice. " Cucumber bro you are getting sappy aren't you?I can tell by your face."

Shen Qingqiu rolls his eyes. He needs to change his habit to always let his face be ungaurded with Shang Qinghua present , but it is almost instinct at this point.
"Why do I keep you around anyways." Even Shen Qingqiu can hear the fondness creeping into his voice.

"Because you love me bro and wait- I almost forgot! I won the game! Ahahaha -"

Shen Qingqiu gives the cackling peak lord a menacing glare, reminded all over of yet another loss and Shang Qinghua's sun sized ego.

"Admit it bro. Me, Shang Qinghua is your father after all ahahaha- no wait, what are you doing?!"

Shen Qingqiu shrugs he drags Shang Qinghua to the door as well, from where he had thrown the two demon lords out.
"Someone needs to get you off your high horses."

He throws out the short man out despite his vehement protests and closes the door.
The last thing he hears is . " I'm begging you bro! Don't throw the little old me with those two- cucumber bro! Ahhhhh-"

Finally some peace. Shen Qingqiu sighs and sets to clean and throw away the broken shards, while humming a low tune under his breath.