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What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
The proverb ghosted around in Hei Xiazi's head as he struggled against smooth yet hard scales tightening their hold around him.
He'd miscalculated when he'd jumped huge serpent.
Now he was wrapped up like a mummy while the creature tried to squeeze the life out of him.
It wasn't succeeding yet but he could feel his strength starting to fade.
Hei Xiazi was literally in a tight spot and lacking in options.
All he could do was hold out for as long as he could and hope Xiaoge somehow arrived in time and cut him loose.
On the bright side, Hei Xiazi thought to himself, he hadn't been swallowed whole.
Or poisoned. That one time in front of Xiao Hua had not only been ugly but embarrassing – even for him.
At least Liu Sang was safe in the tunnel. The big snake was too busy with him and wouldn't even fit it's noozle into the opening.
Perhaps he was even hammering against the wall in the Iron Triangle's knocking language for urgent support.
It would be a very Liu Sang thing to do.
Aside from some unhealthy self-sacrifice tendencies that Xiazi had done his best to subtly influence and train out of him ever since their adventure to save Wu Xie in Thunder City.
As if in answer to his thoughts something appeared to have caught the snakes attention.
He could feel it's movement and could tell his position was raising higher.
Instead of feeling some sort of impact or hearing and feeling the snake respond to the pain that a slash or stab attack of Xiaoge would inflict there was sharp hissing exchanged.
Oh boy. Just his luck to get a 2 for 1 deal.
But maybe it could turn out to be luck. It sure sounded like two snakes were fighting over him.
Which meant that Liu Sang was still safe AND he might just be able to escape if the creatures were to battle it out.
Or his captor distracted enough that he could slip from the hold and dash out of danger.
A careful wiggle confirmed that he was still stuck at this point.
However the snake was no longer squishing him to death so that was a plus.
Now that he was listening in the second snake sounded off.
Like someone talking broken English.
It kept repeating the same snake hissing.
Not that he was an expert on snake talk but he had admittedly a rather long list of encounters with various species and survived.
As far as snake talk went Wu Xie or Li Cu would be the ones closest to that he supposed. The later better not be around this trip and live his university life and the former... hopefully somewhere near Xiaoge or Pangzi to keep him from stumbling into even bigger trouble.
“Xiazi! Shift!”
Hei Xiazi blinked beneath his sunglasses and then did as instructed.
His much smaller raccoon body got tangled in his clothes and he cursed as he considered his escape messed up as he got lifted up even higher.
Before he could shift back and try to run he felt the snake actually tremble in fear.
That... wasn't good. What kind of predator could possibly make a creature of this size cower?
To his surprise the snake held him up to the cliff he'd jumped off.
Except there was no sign of Liu Sang.
His jaw dropped as he laid eyes on the fearsome monstrosity that had the large serpent surrender it's prey.
It was a meerkat.
A tiny fucking meerkat was hiss-dominating one of the most dangerous tomb guards.
As Hei Xiazi found out it also had the meanest side eye he'd ever seen safe for one person.
And that was the moment Hei Xiazi found out that the meerkat pointing angrily at him then behind him was actually Liu Sang telling him to move his ass without words.
Never one to take an opportunity for granted Xiazi jumped and dashed past Liu Sang, using his bigger built to snatch him around the middle and carry him along.
To his surprise meerkat Liu Sang kept hissing sharply over his shoulders.
Something made a dull thump behind them.
His clothes and equipment, Hei Xiazi noted once he stopped safely several feet inside the tunnel they had come from.
Releasing his hold on Liu Sang who was shaking his tiny paw like a fist at their enemy Xiazi turned again.
Just in time to saw the snake slithering away backwards, not daring to take it's eyes off angry hissing meerkat Liu Sang.
“Did you just speak snake?” Hei Xiazi asked the moment he was human again and straightened his sunglasses that had miraculously stayed on his head.
He got an impressive eye roll in return that only further cemented Hei Xiazi's conviction that the meerkat was indeed Liu Sang.
A paw was stabbed in the direction of Hei Xiazi's belongings. A clear order to get his stuff and get his naked ass dressed.
“Yes, boss! Will do, boss!” he cheerfully saluted at the meerkat and carefully kept eyes and ears out in case the serpent changed it's mind and went for a quick attack.
Nothing happened however and by the time he returned with his arms full Liu Sang was already back in his pants and fumbling for his shirt.
Hei Xiazi got a good look on the nicely toned torso and a certain tattoo that he'd only heard about so far.
“Looking good.” he whistled at the other who rolled his eyes again despite his clear amusement.
“I know.” Liu Sang smirked and put his glasses back onto his nose before slipping into a very familiar leather jacket.
Hei Xiazi's jacket to be exact.
He'd given it to Liu Sang earlier since Liu Sang had to give up his green coat as it got caught in a trap. Since Hei Xiazi tended to run hot and had his own coat it had been no trouble to make certain Liu Sang didn't catch a cold.
And it suited him so well too.
“Can't get enough of me or why aren't you getting dressed?” Liu Sang teased him making Hei Xiazi laugh.
And this was exactly why he'd liked Liu Sang from the start.
Snarky and confident with the skills to back up that attitude. Among other personality traits.
“You know I usually charge for this so better enjoy your free show!” Hei Xiazi called back and dropped his things to do some model poses.
Liu Sang laugh-snorted and averted his gaze after.
“Better hurry. Unless you want to give the Iron Triangle a free show as well.”
Hei Xiazi was barely done and just shouldering his backpack when Xiaoge landed silently between them.
As he straightened up he looked both carefully over then tilled his head in question.
“You are too late to save me.” Hei Xiazi dramatically lamented. “Liu Sang had to come rescue me in your place. It was the most ferious someone has ever fought for me. You should have seen it! Nothing can ever compare!”
Xiaoge's eyebrows rose in curiosity.
Hei Xiazi wondered if he was going to ask for details when Wu Xie and Pangzi came from the tunnel, nearly getting stuck as they tried to squeeze through a tight passage at the same time.
“Hei Xiazi! You are alright! What happened to the snake?”
“Liu Sang bravely fought me for it and prevailed!”
“Jinx did?!”
'”Can you all just get a move on and shut up? Not you, Ouxiang. Obviously you are the only sensible being here.”
Hei Xiazi laughed at Liu Sang's adorable hero-worship and promptly went over to throw his arm around him and pull him close.
If he didn't knew for sure he'd thread on thin ice if he were to pinch Liu Sang's cheeks he would be unable to resist.
Several hours later the group has set up camp outside the tomb under the starry sky.
“I never thought I'd see the day a tiny thing such as a meerkat would make one of these tomb guard snakes flee.” Hei Xiazi mused in their shared tent while Liu Sang was wrapping up a cut on his arm. “You were amazing! I can't believe you learned snake-talk. What were you hissing at it that convinced it to hand me over?”
Liu Sang faltered for a moment then shrugged and continued.
“I was winging it. Luckily it worked. This time.”
“Awww! Come on! You are a snake whisperer, Liu Sang! Tell me! Tell me, tell me, tell me!”
He knew he was being annoying on purpose and so did Liu Sang. Flat look and the one single eyebrow arching upwards not withstanding.
“No.”
“Pleaaaaaaaaaase? Pretty, pretty please?”
“No.”
“You know the more you deny me the more I want to know!” Hei Xiazi prodded. “It must be something utterly scandalous for you to resist my charms so.”
The bandage was tightened slightly painfully for his effort and Liu Sang slightly slapped his arm once he had secured the fabric.
“What charms? Any charms you might have were destroyed the moment I saw your chubby thrash raccoon form.”
“Chubby?! You take that back!” Hei Xiazi gasped in mock offense and snatched one of Liu Sang's hands to press against his abs through the shirt. “Feel that? I dare you to call me chubby again!”
“Fine!” Liu Sang snapped and jerked his hand back. “Still a trash raccoon.”
Hei Xiazi shrugged at that, unaffected. “That I am!” he beamed instead. “And you are the cutest tiny little meerkat with the most impressive attitude ever!”
Liu Sang's jab at his ribs didn't land but he hadn't put too much effort into it either.
“You are going to keep going about that, aren't you?”
Realizing he had the perfect weapon Hei Xiazi only grinned like a shark which got him another eye roll.
“Fine. I'll tell you about the snake if you never ever mention my shifter form again to me or anybody unless someone's life is in danger without that kind of information. Deal?”
“Deal!” Hei Xiazi beamed and leaned in in excitement but Liu Sang put a hand on his face to push him out of his immediate personal space.
“Your call. Don't complain if you are disappointed because you expected something bigger.”
“Don't stall.”
“I'm not. Just don't want to hear any whining after.”
“Yes, yes. I got it. No stalling. Just the translation of all that angry hissing. I got it. Trust me I am ready to hear it.”
Liu Sang exhaled the next breath in a whoosh before shrugging and avoiding Hei Xiazi's gaze.
“I only got a few... ideas about snake communication. I don't 'talk' snake at this point. But I told it to 'Go away' and told it you were 'mine'.”
“Is that what you kept repeating?” Hei Xiazi inquired. “And that worked?”
Liu Sang shifted uncomfortably. “Well, not just that. No. It... ah... noticed we smelled alike and... asked if you were my mate. It seemed important to it, so I confirmed that and demanded you again. It still seemed hesitant because, well, while I managed some broken snake I didn't look like a snake. And neither did you. So it wasn't convinced.”
“Ooooh! So that's why you wanted me to shift! Wait, that means you only went meerkat then as well?”
Liu Sang glanced up then and nodded. “I admit that was not quite the reaction I expected. I know that meerkat – real ones – can eat certain kind of poisonous snakes but I thought those would usually be closer in size and dimensions.”
Hei Xiazi laughed. “I can only imagine! I for one certainly never saw THAT coming! Good to know we got a true blooded snake-killer among us. Might actually be a secret trump card.”
Liu Sang pulled a face. “Let's hope not.”
Hei Xiazi pulled Liu Sang under his arm and into a sideways hug. “Don't worry. Any snakes trying to get to you? Your 'mate' here will be the one to fight them off next time. Can't always let you be the hero.”
The declaration was followed by a warm smile, letting Liu Sang know he wasn't just messing around but meant his promise to look out for the other.
A light flush crawled over Liu Sang's cheeks as he shivered slightly against him then turned away while pulling Hei Xiazi's jacket close at his front.
“Try to keep yourself safe first before trying to help others.” Liu Sang grumbled.
Hei Xiazi grinned fondly while resting his head on top of Liu Sang's, who stiffened for a few moments then melted a little. He neither protested nor pulled away which made Hei Xiazi very happy.