Chapter Text
Mu Qing was taking one of his regular walks under the cherry trees, wearing the white trainee uniform, carrying a basket of shiny deep blood-red cherries, glistening with dew from the spring rain. Stepping carefully, trying not to get the edge of his robes dirty from the wet earth under his feet.
It was a rare instance of Feng Xin not being by the Crown Prince’s side. Xie Lian was having a private lesson with the Guoshi, and so he left Feng Xin and Mu Qing alone to kill time. Feng Xin, with no one to guard, and Mu Qing with no one to tend to, ended up going out together. Well more so Feng Xin following Mu Qing around, wishing he hadn’t agreed to this. Wishing he could go cultivate and not pick fruits.
Feng Xin was following behind Mu Qing. His eyes followed the sway of the white robes. The pristine white fabric hanging above the ground. His eyes trailed from the robes to the wicker basket, filled with thick cherries.
“Are you done yet?” Feng Xin asks, overly exasperated. “Seems like you’ve got enough cherries for a whole village…”
Feng Xin didn’t come up the mountain very often. He didn’t have a need to. Sometimes he would go up here to try and find a good spot to spar, but… He didn’t… cherry pick. But for some weird reason Mu Qing had invited him. Asked him, without really much room for complaints. It was a completely unexpected request coming from Mu Qing. A troubled and easily angered servant who felt personally insulted by any little comment. Easily offended, and easily pissed off.
Mu Qing shakes his head, “No.” He said. “And it is for a village. I want a full basket to bring some to the children at the bottom of the mountain.”
Feng Xin clicked his tongue, but he wasn’t completely unimpressed. Despite Mu Qing’s snappy personality, it was nice to know he wasn’t a complete asshole. At least he cared for the grubby orphans?
“You feed them?”
“En.”
Feng Xin tilted his head and bounded a few steps forward to catch up with Mu Qing, grabbing at his sleeve. “But… The cherry trees are meant for the palace and the royal family.”
Mu Qing sneered, his face full of disdain. “Doesn’t his Highness and his family have enough food?”
Feng Xin paused and stared at him, unsure. After a few moments of silence, Mu Qing rolled his eyes, shoving Feng Xin out of his way and kept walking. “I can be loyal to many things at the same time, can’t I?”
Feng Xin silently followed, pondering Mu Qing’s words. Was he not acting just like the others if he stopped Mu Qing? Xie Lian himself wouldn’t stop him. Xie Lian would probably blabber on with some speech about the common people. Feeding the common people:..
Feng Xin slowed to a halt as Mu Qing suddenly paused under a thick trunked cherry tree, ducking under the branches, the leaves veiling part of his face from passerbyers. Mu Qing picked off the ripe cherries, sorting through them all. The sun hit him in little sparkly patches, chasing his pale through the gaps in the leaves. He pulled down a branch and picked a large funny shaped cherry off the tree and bit into it, leaving red juice on his lips. It was, in the strangest way, extremely enticing. It made him look a bit like the women in the brothels, with bright red lips.
Feng Xin’s loyalty was to Xie Lian— Fully and completely dedicated to the beautiful crown prince. He was always by his side, he was willing to dedicate his life to the Crown Prince— But in the moment, something overcame him.
He pushed the branches out of the way, joining Mu Qing under the shadow of the tree. He leaned in, and with two fingers, Feng Xin pulled the stem of the cherry out from between Mu Qing’s lips, flicking it to the ground.
Mu Qing made a strange noise, looking up at him. Feng Xin wasn’t too much taller, and Mu Qing would probably catch up within a year, but for now he was stuck looking up at Feng Xin. “What the hell are you doing?” He snapped, having to lean back into the poking and prodding branches so as to not be too close to Feng Xin.
The boy in question bit his lip. His loyalty is to the Crown Prince! But… Just once couldn’t hurt? Right???
Feng Xin leaned down and pressed his lips to Mu Qing’s. He feels the other jump slightly. Mu Qing froze in place, before trying to shove at Feng Xin’s chest. Feng Xin grabbed Mu Qing’s hands, pushing them away and wrapping one hand around Mu Qing’s wrist, pinning it between their chests, using the other to hold the back boy's head, protecting his silky clean hair from the bark. He can hear the rain of the cherries tumbling onto the forest floor.
The kiss was aggressive at first, with Feng Xin trying to prevent Mu Qing from pushing him away, pinning him to the tree. But when he was sure Mu Qing wouldn’t try to flee, he loosened up, his hand letting go of Mu Qing’s wrist, and instead grabbing his hip. His tongue darted out, tasting the cherry left over on Mu Qing’s lips. It was sweet. His thoughts stuttered and he let out a shaky breath into Mu Qing’s mouth. His fingers curl into the smooth hair, tangling themselves in it, pulling Mu Qing’s head back slightly. Mu Qing’s hair was so long. Feng Xin’s reached only just past his shoulders, but Mu Qing’s was all the way to his waist. It made Feng Xin wanna tug on his ponytail every single time.
“Ngh–” Mu Qing managed to break away for a few seconds, enough time to scold him; “Feng Xin, stop… Stop fucking yanking on my hair…”Feng Xin gave a barely apologetic smile and ducked back down, pressing their mouths together, teeth clicking. His tongue worms its way into Mu Qing’s mouth and runs along his teeth, his bottom lip, against Mu Qing’s own tongue and the roof of his mouth—
A distant yell reaches Feng Xin’s ears, cutting into what he thought was a silent empty hill., The young voice, probably another palace trainee, called out, “—Hey you can’t take all the pears! Save some for me, bro!”
Mu Qing suddenly breaks away, shoving Feng Xin back with all his force, making him stumble backwards, before sending an instant follow up attack, bitch slapping Feng Xin across the face. The servant was panting, chest heaving. His lips are redder than they were with the cherry juice on them... But. so are his cheeks.
“Wh… What the hell…”
Feng Xin stares at him for a while, before feeling slightly guilty. He was going to apologize, but before he could do anything, Mu Qing scowled, roughly wiping his lips and brushing himself off before getting on his knees and trying to quickly pick up all the tens of cherries that had tumbled into the grass in front of him.
Feng Xin didn’t do anything for a moment before quickly bent down to help Mu Qing collect all the cherries. Quietly clearing his throat, he mumbled, “let’s not talk about this… Like ever fucking again.”
Mu Qing didn’t respond, picking up his basket and left Feng Xin standing there, watching him stomp down the mountain.
Fuck. He kinda wanted to do it again…