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1.
Lang Qianqiu has been looking for Qi Rong for a few months, then that idiot sacrificed himself for
his son. Qi Rong had burned to death and became a ghost fire. He was now living in the god's palace, well technically in a lantern on his son's windowsill.
Guzi was doing rather well, the best he could with all going on, he had started cultivating and was slowly socializing with the other gods and disciples. Though he was still talking to that damn lantern every night.
Around three weeks ago something strange happened to the little green ghost fire; it had simply disappeared. Guzi ran into his room in the middle of the night, face covered in tears and snot, speaking some incoherent nonsense about fires, lanterns, missing and his dad. His dad?
It finally occurred to him that the flame was missing and Qi Rong was probably around again.
Qianqiu slapped a hand over his face and groaned, it really was too early for this. He had stayed awake until dawn comforting the boy and woke up to more sniffling next to him.
God, he really wasn't the best parent.
One of his deputies told him there was a few prayers mentioning disappearing farm animals and some other petty crime. He was back for less than a day and was already doing this; at least he wasn't targeting humans anymore?
He appeared near one of his temples, in the village where the ghost supposedly was. Thankfully it wasn't much of a hustle to get the ghost tied up and brought back to the heavenly capital, as he was still pretty weak.
All Qi Rong could do was spit curses and spit on the ground occasionally.
Lang Qianqiu should’ve just killed him right there, but he had promised Guzi to bring his dad back.
When they entered the capital, he was thankful for everything out there that it was empty.
It wasn't that he didn't want to be seen with the ghost (at least that wasn't all); it was that Qi Rong probably hasn't looked worse in his entire 800 year existence.
In his stolen robes (most likely of a man twice his size) and disheveled hair. Even if Qianqiu wasn't trying to be mean the guy reeked worse than a dumpster. Obviously, he stank he hadn't showered for three years! But he was a ghost fire. Fires can't shower! Can they?
“WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?! I DON'T WANT TO BE IN YOUR STUPID PALACE, YOU FUCKING MORON!” Qi Rong yelled, right next to Qianqiu’s ear. He could still hear the ringing a full minute later. At least he was snapped out of his thoughts.
“Can you tone it down a little?” Qianqiu mumbled “And yes. Obviously I'm taking you there.”
The ghost rolled his eyes and continued murmuring curses under his breath.
After 10 excruciating minutes of walking across the whole heavenly capital, they were finally at his front door. Previously he told his deputies to leave and take Guzi for a walk. So they were alone; Gods, this was going to be awkward.
He decided to get Qi Rong in the bath as soon as possible.
“I suppose you can't really take off your clothes by yourself,” Qianqiu said, seeing as the man was still tied up. The ghost nodded his head no. “Nor will I leave you here alone” he continued, making the ghost’s eyes widen.
He really had no energy for Qi Rong’s usual nonsense. Shockingly nothing had happened yet; the man was staring at the floor quietly.
Qianqiu untied the ghost just to undress him more easily. Putting his hands on Qi Rong’s collar and pushing the oversized robe down his shoulders. There was still an inner layer which he decided to take off after filling the bath.
Rummaging through the drawer at the completely other end of the room, he found no particularly good soaps or scented oils.
Though he thought Qi Rong wouldn't mind, as he usually (the only few times they actually saw each other) wasn't the best smelling.
Pouring the most acceptable thing he found and turning back to Qi Rong, who was still acting strange. He was staring at his own feet, occasionally playing with the hem of his robe. Was this really Qi Rong?
“Can you do the rest yourself?” Qianqiu asked, meekly gesturing to the garment the man was still wearing. Qi Rong nodded and hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his pants, reluctantly pushing them down. He returned to staring, but this time it was Qianqiu’s face.
“Will you get out or are you going to watch me bathe?” Surprisingly, the tone wasn't mocking or accusing; more like a real question.
Qianqiu responded with a hum; he wasn't going to leave him do whatever. They were both men anyway. This wasn't weird in any way!
Maybe he had jerked off to the thought of Qi Rong calling him a worthless, pathetic, stupid m-
Lang Qianqiu shivered at the mere thought.
Turning his attention back to the ghost who was sheepishly staring at nothing in particular. If Qi Rong wasn't going to do anything he might as well take the matter into his own hands.
Moving forward and untying the small bow holding the garment in place, letting it fall to the heap of his other clothes on the floor.
There was one more fucking layer of fabric, this one wrapped tightly around the man’s chest. His hand reflexively shot out then instantly retreated after the man took a few steps back.
“What's that for?” Qianqiu asked, genuine interest in his voice. Working something on his back loose and letting yet another piece of fabric fall down. Thankfully there wasn't another layer underneath. Sweeping his eyes from Qi Rong’s collarbones to the two mounds of fat on his chest.
He couldn't even get a proper reaction before Qi Rong slid his underwear off too; where a wet spot had formed connecting it to his pussy with a string of slick.
Lang Qianqiu was completely dumbfounded. This was the last thing he could've predicted. Now this might be getting awkward. He should've left the moment he ran that bath!
“Is this your real form…” he really didn't know where to look, he settled for Qi Rong's face “Or a very bad joke?”
“No, I just like walking around like this!”
“Really?”
“Gods, you really are stupid. Obviously it is!”
Qianqiu fought the urge to reach his hand out. “But uhm…” he tried, before being cut off by the ghost pushing him out of the way and walking to the bath.
He tested the water with his hand before stepping in fully. Watching him move about was enticing; seeing how the skin pulled taut with every step and the soft flesh shifted. The god could feel blood pooling in his groin.
“You gonna stand there and be a creep or get in the bath?” Qi Rong had never seen someone take off their armor so fast. As it was a god's palace the bath took up a better part of the room and so was big enough for at least five people.
Getting in next to the ghost and returning to the awkward silence from before. Qi Rong let out a soft sound and brought his knees closer to his chest, soaking almost all of his hair in the process. He looked too normal like this, too calm and too domestic. Entirely unlike the Qi Rong all three realms knew.
“I could wash your hair, uhm, if you want” He didn't know it was going to be this awkward! The man made a small hum of agreement and turned around to give the god better access.
Brushing his fingers along the ghost's scalp, who in turn leaned his head into the touch. Letting his fingers travel lower to lightly press on the nape of his neck. Seeing Qi Rong shiver under his touch was getting him even harder. He could faintly see the ghost move his legs around.
Qianqiu wondered what it would be like to get his hands on other places; smooth them down his sides to the soft flesh on his stomach, then between the man’s spread thighs. He swallowed thickly, the thought made him want to buck his hips desperately.
The ghost leaned back and buried his face in the god's chest, letting out a hiccuping sob before begging to cry in earnest.
“I don't want to be back” he mumbled between sobs “I don't want to fuck him up, to end like me. A loud, annoying wrath! A FUCKING NEAR SUPREME! NEAR! 800 years of what?! Nothing but names and petty gossip! Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!” The words turned from coherent to mumbles to more sobs.
Qianqiu wasn't the best at comforting people, not even close, but he still remembered how his mother used to do it. Making small circles on Qi Rong’s back and humming a soft melody, as old as the kingdom he was once heir to.
The water had gotten cold by the time the ghost quieted down, reduced to weak sniffles. Qi Rong had gone completely still against the man’s chest before slowly lifting his head up, eyes swollen from crying.
“Why are you still here, why haven't you killed me yet?” his voice was hoarse from all the crying he'd done.
“I promised your son he was going to see you again” his hand cradling the ghost’s head “other than that I kinda don't know.”
Gods, he just had to ruin the moment! At least it made Qi Rong smile, not one of his mocking ones but a slight uptick of his lips.
By now it was freezing, sitting in the same water for well over an hour. He gathered the ghost up, pulling him closer to his chest he noticed the man had started shivering again. This time more likely from cold than anything pleasant.
Could ghosts get sick? He couldn't let Qi Rong disappear again! He had promised Guzi (who he was doing this for, only the kid, not himself!).
Lang Qianqiu wrapped the ghost in the fluffiest towel he found (he also put some other towel around his own hips, so he wasn't as exposed). It was excruciating to not touch the man further than necessary; he was really thankful for the towel.
“Do you want to eat something or sleep or…”
“Stop treating me like a damn child!” That was a bit of a bold take, considering he just bawled in the man’s lap.
The god decided to carry the ghost to his own bedroom to let him rest. There was just a small problem: he didn't have any robes in Qi Rong's size! There was a huge size difference between them and Guzi obviously wasn't an option. Making him sleep buck naked was weird? Not that he wanted to see Qi Rong like that again, obviously! Even the ghost didn't want that, judging by the hurt expression he wore at every look at his own body. Qianqiu knew the man was frequently getting hurt (maybe even liked it) but this was so, so much different.
“I don't have any clothes for you,” Qi Rong gave a small nod in answer “But you can wear something from one of my deputies, or mine”
Qi Rong settled for the god's, he selected one of the only dark one there was and retrieved the strap of fabric from before. Leaving his hair out of the braid he usually wore. Without all the makeup and his sharp green nails.
The calamity almost didn't look like himself, almost human.
Keyword: almost.
But, as Lang Qianqiu found out even if Qi Rong was as respectable as anyone has seen him since before the fall of Xianle, he was still himself. The Night-Touring Green Lantern.
Cursing and spitting on every floor, seemingly having forgotten his earlier meltdown.
This man was gross, maybe disgusting even.
Why was the god doing this? He didn't like the calamity at all! On the contrary he despised the calamity. But Qi Rong could be good company, in his own weird way. If you warmed up to him, he could be normal; just like he was with Guzi.
Guzi! The kid was still out with the deputies. Qianqiu brought two fingers to his temple to call over one of the lower-rated gods.
“Are you calling that dog to come get me?!” Qi Rong shrieked. Who was he calling that? (He faintly wished it was him.) Was it Hua Cheng, he could recall something about Guoshi, the ghost king and dogs being said once.
“No, I'm contacting someone who is with Guzi” If the ghost were a dog his ears would've perked up at the mention of his son “And who are you calling that?”
“That one-eyed freak,” Qi Rong started then proceeded to tell the entire story of how he caught his cousin, the esteemed crown prince of Xianle (there was some other bootlicking stuff people used to call him, but Qianqiu already felt a headache coming) and that one-eyed freak making out. By the end Qianqiu was honestly tired; the ghost's storytelling skills weren't as bad as they were nonexistent. He kept pausing every few sentences to curse someone out.
Thanks to everything out there; there was a knock at a nearby wall, one of his deputies trying to get their attention. It was a young man with dark green eyes, who always had his hair braided; looking at them side by side they were alike. Perhaps it was why Guzi always hung out around him.
After the deputy exchanged pleasantries with Qi Rong, he walked off with the god.
Realizing he was alone, the ghost quickly got to his feet. He wasn't going to run off! Simply look around the room!
He made his way to the nearest closet, then another and some drawers; opening each door rather dramatically and finding… NOTHING?
There was literally nothing everywhere he looked. Was this guy so boring and bland; it reminded Qi Rong of plain rice. The ghost slumped in an armchair, defeated.
Did that idiot leave him here? It has been some time since the god left. Well whatever, it's not like he wanted to hang out either! He crossed his arms and flung his legs over the armrest.
“Lang Qianqiu! Qianqiu! A-Qiu! Langlang!” He yelled into the empty room “If you come back now, I can give you a blow job later!”
This seemed to bring the very much flustered god back. “Do you have to be so crass? There are other people here.”
“You came back!” the ghost laughed, making the god flush deeper “Right after I said that too!”
“Because I wanted to tell you to shut up!” Qianqiu knew arguing was entirely pointless.
“Will you be quiet and let me speak now?”
“Yes, your highness!” Qi Rong mocked, then proceeded to break out in a fit of laughter at his own joke.
The ghost was reduced to an occasional snicker and cluthing his stomach on the ground; he looked up “Okay, tell me.”
“That man you just saw was with Guzi the entire day; they're back but-” The ghost was already up on his feet and out the door “He has to practice his sword techniques.”
The god finished, to no one in particular.
Gods, this was going to be tiring.
2.
His sweet boy was crouched down in the garden, looking at a butterfly flying by. He seemed so much older than the last time Qi Rong saw him; it had been three years after all. In the ghost's 800 years (and a lot more to come before he inevitably got killed) it was nothing, but to a mere mortal like Guzi it was a valuable time he should've spent with his father.
An immense amount of guilt hit the ghost. He’s never felt guilty for anything he did; not even for killing hundreds upon hundreds of people. But this was different; this was his son, the boy who had shown him he wasn't completely unlovable.
He stood at the entry of the garden like his feet were bolted to the ground, until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“What if he hates me?”
“Why would he?” Qianqiu asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
“I left him” he sniffled, then seemed to realize he was being vulnerable with the man he ‘hated’.
“No, no he wouldn't hate me; I'm good to him!” It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than anyone else.
The god looked like he had something else to say and opened his mouth before being cut off by an abrupt cry of ‘a-die’. Guzi ran up to them and crashed into Qi Rong so hard they both fell to the ground. Clearly, the boy didn't hate him.
“Is it really you?” the boy asked, fingers poking all over the man’s face to check “It is! It is! You're back!”
Qi Rong sat up and adjusted the boy in his arms, pulling him closer. He made a shoo motion at Qianqiu, who left eagerly. Finally he could have some peace and quiet, away from the annoying near-supreme.
“Are you going to leave again?”
“No, never again.” His voice was unusually calm, soothing even. He pulled the boy even closer and buried his head in the crook of the boy’s neck, murmuring a soft “I'm sorry”
One of Guzi’s small hands came up to lightly pat at his father’s head “A-die, are you crying?”
Qi Rong immediately brought his head up, staring his son directly in the eyes.
“Unbelievable! This ancestor doesn't cry!” He said, acting cocky. It made his son laugh, this high-pitched fit of giggles. Oh how has the ghost missed the sound. Eventually he started laughing too.
3.
Lang Qianqiu had taken a nap, then stared at a wall for 20 minutes trying to figure out what to do next. It had been quiet for a few hours now, almost like he could forget that the ghost was here. But he couldn't, because of the constant reminder in his pants. Every single thought about the ghost or even worse: an interaction; was making him uncomfortably hard.
Hiking his robes up and pulling his pants past his aching balls, finally easing the pressure on his dick. He spat on his palm then brought it down, hissing at the cold feeling of spit on his hot length. He stared stroking himself slowly; he imagined it was Qi Rong's hand - those long fingers forming a fist on his cock while the other hand scratched lightly along his scalp, those chapped lips pressing kisses on his face and whispering praise in his ear - and sped his hand up.
Jerking himself at an impossible pace until his hips were bucking into his own fist - then circling his thumb over the sensitive cockhead, smearing the beads of precome forming until his hips start twitching and he can't hold back the moans from his lips; hugging out a mocking laugh and telling him to be good and hold it, that he can't cum yet, ask him what his believers would think of their god falling apart in the hands of a calamity - he came all over his fist and robes with a low groan of the ghost's name.
The god dragged his clean hand over his face and stared at the ceiling, embarrassed by what he'd just done. He was supposed to hate the ghost, and he did just not entirely; he had seen that Qi Rong could be a decent enough person (person? ghost? creature? Whatever!) if he let himself be. If he wasn't holding up his persona for others.
‘Maybe I can do something’ Lang Qianqiu thought. He was still so foolish, believing anything could be fixed.
4.
He decided to go look for said ghost.
Both Qi Rong and Guzi were curled up on the couch, asleep. The boy sprawled out across his father's lap and his forehead pressed to his to the man’s sternum. The calamity had his arms wrapped tightly around the boy, probably trying to protect him from nonexistent danger. Maybe making sure he was still here and hadn't disappeared, or proving to himself that he was still here; convincing himself he was a good father and wouldn't leave.
The deity spent a quarter of an incense time simply staring at the odd pair: a near-supreme ghost king and a mortal child. It made his heart swell with an emotion he didn't have the energy to address. And so he let them sleep a little longer.
Instead, he went to fetch some offerings one of his deputies brought from the mortal realm. Qi Rong had never answered when the god asked him if he was hungry. Does he even eat normal food? No way he was getting anything from his usual diet!
“Lang-ge?” A small voice tore him from his thoughts; the boy walked up and was tugging at his sleeve “Thank you, for bringing my a-die back.”
“It's okay kid.” The diety answered, ruffling the boy's hair. He had finally found the meat buns he was searching for “You think your a-die can eat this?”
The boy nodded and grabbed the food from the god’s hands so he can bring it to his father himself. Seeing Guzi happily skip out of the room reminded him a lot of himself at that age, although it was centuries ago. He followed soon after the boy, leaning against the doorway to watch Guzi attempt to wake Qi Rong up. Only getting a weak groan and a swat of his hand.
“Fuck off Qianqiu! I don't want to take another bath!” Qi Rong buried his face into a pillow and murmured. HUH? He talks in his sleep? Lang Qianqiu couldn't help but huff out a laugh that slowly turned into him hunched over, clenching his stomach. And this, inevitably, woke the ghost up fully.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS SO FUNNY?!”
“Y-you talk in-n your sleep!” The god giggled, breathless from so much laughing.
“I'm fucking sure you do much worse shit in your sleep, y-you you!” It looked like the ghost couldn't find the right words which made the god laugh even harder. Guzi was just staring at the both of them; like he was watching a tennis match. Until he too started giggling.
“Whatever!” Qi Rong huffed and made a face Qianqiu found rather cute.
What? He didn't just think this creature cute! He must be really tired; yes that must be it, so much happened today (he was still embarrassed by a better half of it too).
“Just eat and go to sleep” The god did his best attempt at being stern. It didn't seem to work because Qi Rong responded with a yell of ‘Yes, your highness!’
Gods, was this really going to be the rest of his immortal life; getting ridiculed by a man who was practically a joke himself (a really beautiful one) and a child! It made him tired already, but maybe it wasn't all that unpleasant; like having a family he hadn't had in centuries.