Work Text:
There were... fresh buns on his doorstep, still steaming from the heating talisman that was considerately attached to the side of the basket.
Very familiar buns. The sort that Xie Lian had had a particular love for during his first ascension at 17, as he roamed the vast expanse of the heavens with his regal robes cascading the marble stone behind him.
The sort that Xie Lian had brought down to the mortal realm to share with his two closest confidents, caretakers, friends.
The sun had just risen to the early morning sky and Xie Lian had truthfully been dreading the long trek to the village market today. Something in the night had plagued him, infiltrated his dreams, left him wrung dry with cold terror and a deep-rooted chill he could not shake.
Sometimes... life worked out in strange ways.
The absence of Feng Xin told Xie Lian exactly who these were from. Because Feng Xin would have stayed to chat, to inspect the temple and see how Xie Lian was taking care of himself. He'd nag and mother hen him in that familiar way that Xie Lian found endearingly infantalising--they'd always been like that, and old habits were hard to change.
Mu Qing would have left. He does that.
It was a bitter reminder. Old habits were hard to change. But Xie Lian was grateful nonetheless and the tea was a welcome comfort on the brisk autumn morning.
If the buns were saltier than he recalled, seasoned with silent tears as he thought about the life he could have had if Mu Qing had just stayed, no one else was there to know.
Alternatively,
I had an unexpected guest visit me today.
Of course, it had to be when the shrine was in complete disarray. The bed hadn't been made, the dining table still had last night's dinner out on display. And of course, the ash from the incense hadn't been cleaned out yet.
But Mu Qing was there. Knocking on the door that San Lang had recently fortified. Mu Qing had come down to the mortal realm to our shrine here in Puqi village and... I didn't know what to think.
Maybe... despite all the years, Mu Qing still remembers--maybe even cares--more than he lets on. Because he brought me some Heavenly bao zi and ji dan gao (My old favourites).
So, I welcomed an old friend into our messy home for some tea.