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Nezha stands at the edge of a cliff, staring up into the night sky. It was a full moon tonight—the celestial body shining down on him like a spotlight. He takes a deep breath, savoring the view one last time before the sound of approaching footsteps pull his attention away.
He glances over his shoulder, finding Xiang Liu's slender form approaching— a blanket slung over one arm, a bamboo box in the other. The snake demon stops beside him and gestures for him to move a little to the side.
"Ah, right. Sorry," Nezha said, taking a few steps back.
Xiang Liu kneels down, carefully laying out the blanket and setting the box down in the center. As he stands, his gaze moves to Nezha—and he pauses. Him and Nezha are eye level. Slowly a grin creeps across Xiang Liu’s face as he tries and fails to stifle a laugh.
"Pfft… Nezha?"
"Hm?"
He looks away from the sky once more and back at his serpentine friend on the cliff floor beside him.
"Do you plan on wearing those the whole night?"
Xiang Liu’s eyes dropped to Nezha’s feet, eyeing the flaming wheels beneath them.
"Oh, no I-"
He cuts himself off, kicking his fire wheels up from under his feet. Nezha catches both of them in one hand, making them disappear in a flurry of lotus petals.
"There."
The lotus prince now stands three inches shorter than Xiang Liu, a sight which amazes him to no end. The proud Celestial warrior forced to look up at the lowly demon. But he wouldn’t laugh in Nezha’s face, of course. But teasing? That was always on the table!
"See, doesn't it feel a little better to be closer to the ground?"
Nezha looks away from Xiang Liu and crosses his arms, settling himself on the blanket the demon had laid out for them.
"Right..." Nezha replies flatly.
This spot, this cliffside, is was where him and Xiang Liu first met—or rather where Nezha met him. It's a funny story, really. Xiang Liu had discovered the place long ago, and one day, the Celestial guard arrived at its edge, staring off into the horizon. From then on, this became a pattern of behavior.
Almost twice a week, Nezha would arrive, stand at the cliff’s edge, and silently stare off into the distance. Then after thirty minutes to an hour, leave. It didn’t take long for Xiang Liu to realize that Nezha had chosen this place as an escape, a place to get away from his demanding role and his even more demanding peers.
Xiang Liu had decided to just observe things this cycle buuut... How was he supposed to resist something like this? A chance to befriend a Celestial at their most vulnerable? Far easier than an ordinary encounter. So, he made his move. And before long, they’d become close. But lately, something had changed. Nezha had grown distant—seemingly overnight.
The forked-tougued demon began to notice as such some weeks ago. One moment, he was visiting him nearly every day to talk and sit with him, but now he didn’t even want to join him to watch the meteor shower together?! He claimed he had plans to watch it with someone else yet now here he was. Sat right beside him... and he'd barely even laid an eye on him.
Xiang Liu had assumed something like this might happen eventually. Good things could never last forever. He knew this fact far too well by now. But he was still disappointed their relationship had reached its end so soon already.
But Xiang Liu couldn’t have been more wrong.
Nezha had been drawn to him from the very beginning. On the day they first met, Xiang Liu mentioned he lived in the cave behind the cliff and had watched Nezha come and go—always from a distance. He’d said he never approached out of respect because Nezha “looked like he needed the space.”
Nezha appreciated that more than he realized at the time. It had embarrassed him back then, but looking back, he was beyond grateful. Over time, their visits grew warmer. Xiang Liu invited him into his cave, shared meals. They’d talk for hours. The cliffside, once an escape, became a place Nezha looked forward to—a place where he could simply be.
But then something shifted.
It was subtle at first, lingering at the cliffside longer than usual, dreading the return home. Then came the his dreams. Xiang Liu’s laugh. His voice. That of his grin. It followed Nezha into sleep, into fantasies he couldn’t control. In one dream, Xiang Liu was a Celestial guard like him. A warrior at his side, equal in strength and status. In another, they were just themselves, living simply in the Mortal Realm—no titles, no responsibilities... just them.
The truth was undeniable—he’d fallen for him!
His heart longed for Xiang Liu, but he couldn’t just ignore his duty as a Celestial guard, not for something as uncertain as a relationship with a demon he barely knew. Slowly, his visits to the cliffside became fewer and farther between.
But he couldn't stay away for long.
It was around this time he heard about the upcoming meteor shower. Everyone he knew already had plans—with their partners, friends. The news reached Xiang Liu too, who invited Nezha to join him.
Nezha was surprised—this was exactly what he wanted, and he hadn’t even needed to ask. Yet, in that moment, he panicked and he said no, claiming he had already made plans.
Yet in the end, he found himself here anyway—right next to Xiang Liu, under the stars, just like he’d wanted. Yet that didn't make things between them any less awkward. Nezha knew Xiang Liu hadn't just forgotten how he'd been avoiding him. He probably thought Nezha hated him too. Not to mention, it would explain why he invited him here in first place.
To mend their straining relationship.
He glances over at his scaly companion, Nezha notices Xiang Liu’s gaze was downturned, as if lost in thought. He looks almost... sad. Gods, this was his fault, wasn't it? Despite the distance Nezha put between them, he never wanted to hurt him. He just needed some space.
Nezha should say something. But what?
His eyes drift to the bamboo box in the center of the blanket.
"Sooo..." Nezha begins, drawing in Xiang Liu's attention.
"What's in the box?"
A wide grin spreads across Xiang Liu’s face.
"Ah," He exclaimes, clapping his hands together.
"I thought you'd never ask."
He lifts the lid, revealing many a soft, pale-skinned pastry, their fluffy tops shimmering in the moonlight. Their sweet scent filling the air.
"It's doushabao! I thought it be rather comforting treat to watch the meteor shower with."
Nezha smiles, sincere and warm.
"Thank you, Xiang Liu. These look delicious!"
He picks one up, savoring it, the pastry's creamy red bean filling as it melts in his mouth.
"Mhmm!"
"I'm glad you like it!" Xiang Liu comments.
"This will no doubt the last meal we share together so, please indulge yourself."
The royal pauses mid-chew, nearly choking as he swallows a large bite of his doushabao."
"Xiang Liu I-"
Xiang Liu raises a hand, silencing him before he can utter another word.
"Save it, Lotus Prince. You've made it very clear what you think of our relationship as of late."
"But-"
"Its fine. It's not like I care really."
"Xiang Liu, please wait, I-"
"Aha, stop it would you!? You're no longer obligated to spare my feelings. Let tonight be our last hurrah, and then you never have to see me again."
Nezha was stunned. This was far worse than he had thought! Xiang Liu convinced himself Nezha wanted nothing to do with him. He knew he only had himself to blame—but it still stung. He turned away, giving up on any further attempts to explain himself.
Perhaps this was for the best...
Soon enough, the meteor shower began. Streaks of light tore through the night sky like flaming arrows. The sight almost distracting him from the tension in the air.
Almost.
Despite the urge to leave things as they are now, Nezha glances back at Xiang Liu. His gaze fixed on the sky. Nezha watches as his eyes track each meteor that appears and descends, the streaks of light reflecting off his scales, making Xiang Liu look as if he was glowing.
Nezha couldn’t help but be enamored. He just couldn’t take his eyes off of him.
He looked beautiful lit up under the passing meteors. Ethereal, even… His eyes wide with wonder as each one streaked across the sky. It made Nezha’s heart ache. He couldn’t believe he’d almost missed out on this—chosen duty over what he really wanted.
Nezha’s hands twitched at his sides—an urge rising to reach out, to close the short gap between them. The tension between them was thick, sure, but hell! When was the last time he let himself do something without overthinking it?
“Why are you... staring at me like that? Heh…?”
Nezha didn’t look away. Couldn’t look away. For once, he didn’t retreat or deflect. His gaze stayed tethered to Xiang Liu, and before he could talk himself out of it, he leaned in—one hand curling into the demon’s tunic—and kissed him.
Xiang Liu’s eyes widen in shock. What... was this? Why did he...? He pulled Nezha off of him, a hand hovering over his lips as he sits there, collecting his thoughts.
"Ah! Xiang Liu, I..."
Nezha... kissed him... Is this an attempt to make things right? But then why a kiss? A hug would've sufficed just fine yet...
"I'm...I'm sorry I shouldn't of..."
Is this some attempt to sway him into a romantic relationship? Kiss him, then spin some tale about how he’s been in love with him all this time—only to lead him on further and leave him in the dust like he already is planning to?! No, no... That doesn’t sound like something Nezha would do at all.
"I just..."
Like most Celestials, Nezha is nearly earnest to a fault, and unlike most, he’s kind and considerate. He isn’t the type to play with someone’s heart or lead them astray. So, that would mean...
Nezha’s pleas fell quiet. Deep down, he knew—no excuse he could offer now would make a difference. Not really. What mattered was what Xiang Lui himself said next. So, he stayed still, sitting there with bated breath, waiting. Then, Xiang Liu moved. Oh? This could be interesting...” the demon mutters under his breath, giving Nezha’s shoulder a slight squeeze.
Nezha stilled. Had he imagined that? Xiang Liu had finally said something, but... Nezha couldn’t quite make out the words. Then another squeeze followed—gentle, from the same hand that had pushed him away just moments ago. Not in rejection, but almost like he was trying to get his attention. Nezha let out a hesitant huff and spoke once more.
“Um, Xiang Liu?” he asked cautiously.
“Yes?” the multi-headed demon replies, his voice now dripping with mischief.
"Did you say something?"
With a dramatic lunge, Xiang Liu closes the gap between them, resting his arms on Nezha's shoulders.
"Ahahaha! You like me, don't you?"
Nezha blushes, unsure whether if it from the closeness or being so blatantly called out, he couldn’t tell. He scoffs, crossing his arms.
"I suppose that's one way of putting it..."
He let out a sigh, his gaze softening.
"I'm sorry I didn't just tell you sooner, but-"
"It's fine." Xiang Liu reassures.
"Really. I thought I was losing a friend… only to gain a mate.”
The royal sat up, straighting his back.
"Wait—so you do feel the same?"
"I..."
Xiang Liu pauses, his shoulders slumping.
"I won't lie to you, Nezha. No, not really." The serpent admits.
"Oh."
"But... I wouldn't mind learning to!"
A short moment passes, stretching out between them as Nezha mulls over Xiang Liu’s words. He didn’t know what to expect after suddenly kissing him like that, but... this wasn’t it. Still, a strange sense of contentment washes over him.
"I...I can accept that."
“Good. Now sit back down. We still have plenty of doushabao—and the meteor shower’s only just begun.”
"Of course!"
And so, Together, they watched the meteor shower to its end, savoring each pastry until the box lay empty between them. Nothing about tonight was perfect—but it was theirs—and by the end of the night, that was enough.
"You're still staring, you know?"
"I know. You... don't mind, do you?"
"...No. I suppose I don't."
"Hm. I'm glad."