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Qi Rong yelped as he was slammed against the hut at his back, pinned in place by a sword against his ribs on one side and a broad hand digging into the flesh of his shoulder on the other.

He cackled at the irony. The one fucking time he wasn't looking for trouble and here it was pinning him up by the neck.

He was almost sorry his outing had been ruined as Lang Qian Qiu leaned in, close enough for the god's hot breath to warm the ghost's pale skin, and snarled, "I am going to rip you apart limb from limb."

The martial god's eyes shone like glowing coals, almost manic as he snarled.

He had the cutest little fangs, just overly sharp incisors that only showed when he fully spread his lips like this. Qi Rong had never seen them before.

And that was the moment his little, traitorous heart decided to go, "Holy fuck, he's so hot like this."

Lang Qian Qiu's face went pale and he pulled back a few inches like he'd been slapped. "What the fuck?!?!"

"Oh." Fuck. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" Qi Rong wiggled against the blade nicking at his ribs and laughed his little off-kilter laugh that he lothed when it came from his lips. "Brain to mouth filter is something I never accomplished, much like everything else my godly cousin got. I meant: fuck you, your hot."

He paused, head dropping to the side as he realized he'd actually restated the same thought process.

Lang Qian Qiu took another step back. The god's eyes were clouded, his lips pulled up in a confused, self-righteous sneer. "What the fuck is wrong with you, ghost??"

"Everything, according to almost everyone." Qi Rong wiggled more, kicking out with one foot but his legs weren't quite long enough to connect with Lang Qian Qiu's crotch.

Lang Qian Qiu wasn't dressed in his armor like when they normally fought. This was the first time Qi Rong had seen him dressed down in loose robes with his fluffy hair waving free around his unfairly handsome face.

It wasn't fair, all the gods were so pretty.

The martial god cocked his head, split eyebrows drawing together in a confused, partly repulsed look as his hair bounced. It was super fluffy - like it reminded Qi Rong of the vague memory of an old toy he couldn't quite place in his head, back in a time when someone actually cared about him.

He grinned, "Going casual today, General Tai??"

Qi Rong hadn't actually intended to run into Lang Qian Qiu today. Actually, if he was being honest, he'd been fucking around. It wasn't like he was out for revenge twenty fucking four hours a day for his entire life. He could have days off too!!

Like today. This sleepy little town was actually one of his favorites to visit when he felt like doing nothing. It was way back in the mountains, pretty quiet and the view was nice - just because he wasn't the fucking crown prince of Xianle and people thought he was gutter trash didn't mean he couldn't appreciate the scenery.

Besides, he enjoyed coming to this town for the lantern festival. They were loud and there was singing and dancing and occasionally fireworks.

He liked coming to this one every year, hood pulled up and just drifting through the crowd. He'd nicked himself some candy, felt a little bad about it because he did like this town, so he nicked someone else's purse and left it at the vendor's stall before starting away through the crowd, chewing on his treat.

They always had a good fire show and as a fire based ghost he could tell talent when he saw it. He was enjoying watching the handsome boys on stage swallowing down tongues of flames – he only thought about how nice the performers would taste once! – when he happened to glance over in the crowd and his gaze landed on a similarly cloaked Lang Qian Qiu.

A Lang Qian Qiu who was staring straight back at him.

Qi Rong was not particularly afraid of throwing down with Qian Qiu, his pride as a ghost of almost Supreme level wouldn't let him be, but he also didn't particularly want to turn the whole town against him and risk them falling directly under some god's protection so he couldn't visit any more.

So he ran.

Unfortunately, Lang Qian Qiu had longer legs and caught him at the end of the first alley.

Which led to this unfortunate confession to his rival.

"I don't need armor to kill you." Lang Qian Qiu's low growl snapped him back to the present and Qi Rong grinned in pain as his shoulder was squeezed harder.

"I like you better in this, way sexier." His traitorous little mouth spat out. "Wear it more often when we fight, ok?"

The martial god froze again, face twitching, "What the fuck is wrong you?!" He yelped again, shaking Qi Rong's shoulder.

It shook free another warbled laugh from the ghosts ribcage, and Qi Rong honestly couldn't tell if he was laughing in response to the sudden pain in his shoulder or because of all the fucking things, he never thought Lang Qian Qiu would be so fucking shy.

"Can't I appreciate the view when it's so nice and pretty in front of me?" He felt his lips forming a pout, and blinked sad little eyes up at General Tai Hua. "You shoved those tits in my face, pretty boy, don't blame me for staring."

Ah. Shit. Yeah, he was gonna get skewered today.

Instead, Qian Qiu released his shoulder with a jerk and practically jumped out of range, looking pissed and baffled and sort of like a confused guard dog all at the same time. "You're all sorts of fucking messed up, bastard! I still gonna kill you, fucking green ghost!" He snapped, but sounded a little wobbly, like he was faking the confidence in the tone of his voice.

Qi Rong knew a thing or two about fake confidence.

"I have a fucking name, Tai Hua. It's Qi Rong." Qi Rong's mouth was running again before he could stop it and he laughed again. God, he hated his laugh. "You could use it for once and make this play date a lot more personal."

"I don't care about your name! Just shut your fucking face!!" Lang Qian Qiu hissed, baring his teeth again and lunging back in, fingers digging into the ghost shoulder once more as his fist drew back to presumably to punch Qi Rong in the fucking face for being so... well.

"Hot." Qi Rong's brain spat out the word again, his lips echoing the sentiment and again, the fucking martial god of the east stopped short, looking shaken.

"Why do you keep saying that, you creep??" He snarled, taking a step back again, almost defensively.

"Cuz your hot." Qi Rong rolled his shoulder under Lang Qian Qiu's hand and was almost surprised when the god released him. "Your fucking little fangs are so goddam cute. We match!"

He opened his mouth to show Qian Qiu, grinning widely, his own much longer fangs on full display, and cackled. He hated his laugh.

Lang Qian Qiu's face twitched through about three different emotions before he shook his head, growling, "We are nothing alike! Shut up!"

"They're super cute." Qi Rong repeated, eyeing the blade at his side for a moment, "I just noticed them. Not like you usually smile at me, Qiu Qiu."

The smack across his face came as a surprise, and he blinked, staring at the dirt for a moment before lifting his head up to lock eyes with Tai Hua. "Did you just bitch slap me??" He could feel his own indignation in the pitch of his voice.

Lang Qian Qiu was trembling, his fangs bared in a gritted teeth snarl as he stood, fists clenched, feet planted in the dirt in a fighting stance before Qi Rong. "Don't you fucking dare call me that, you monster."

Qi Ronf felt the blade by his side vibrating with the anger of it's master, and suddenly felt very small.

Geez. He'd just wanted to spend a few hours having a good time -- an innocent good time at that!! -- and this shithead showed up.

"Why not, was that your baby name?" His mouth didn't seem to get the memo, spitting out the mocking insult before he could clamp his jaws shut tight. "Little baby Qui Qui??"

Lang Qian Qiu might have been a martial god, assended to heaven at a sweet and tender age, and he might have been a little simple, a little like an overgrown bulldog...but he hit like a fucking brick wall and Qi Rong doubled over in pain, suspended by the sword still wedged again his ribs under his armpit.

He felt the god's fingers tangling in his hair and his face was yanked up by the roots. He had time to gasp before the next blow landed squarely in his face and then a knee crashed into his belly.

He heaved, doubling over again as the contents of his stomach landed in the dirt by his feet - mostly candy and a couple apples he'd grabbed earlier - and then Lang Qian Qiu was yanking him back up by his hair again, pinning him bodily against the rough wooden wall.

"Don't you ever call me that again." The martial god's eyes were almost sea dark and full of thunder. "My sisters called me that, you fucking bastard, and you murdered them!!"

Qi Rong gagged as the god wrapped a hand around his windpipe and started squeezing, his legs scrabbling in the dirt for any kind of purchase as Lang Qian Qiu slowly strangled him.

Hs couldn't die, not really...but that didn't mean Qian Qiu didn't know how to make him ache for weeks. Qi Rong would feel the phantom sensation of his thick fingers around his throat for days...which in a very different setting he totally wouldn't have minded...

"Fucking..." He managed to get his fingers wedged between Qian Qiu's and his neck, gasping for air, "Your foreplay sucks!"

Lang Qian Qiu's hands went limp almost instantly as his face went slack.

Qi Rong sucked a mouthful of air as he watched the crown prince of Yong'an's face turn three different colors while his jaw flapped like a fish.

"What??" Qian Qiu finally squeaked, his deep voice nearly cracking. "What did you say???"

"I SAID." Qi Rong hacked for a moment, making a show of trying to draw breath even though he really didn't need to breathe, "YOUR. FOREPLAY. SUCKS. FUCKER."

And this time Lang Qian Qiu was close enough that when he lashed out with a kick, his knee drove into the martial god's crotch.

Qi Rong was not an exceptionally physically strong ghost, but he fucking knew how to kick a guy in the crotch, even if that guy was a god from the high court and one of the five regional martial god's.

Lang Qian Qiu staggered backward, doubled over, a tiny squeak coming from his lips, his face screwed up in agony.

Yeah. Qi Rong was getting fucked up tonight. Not the fun way either.

"Fucker." He spat after the martial god, finally freeing himself of the giant sword which was vibrating more and more angrily at his side. "I come here to have some time off and maybe do some shopping and see a few shows, and what do you fucking do? You gotta show up and ruin my night. You absolutely gross, pig-faced, fucker!"

He stamped his foot in the dirt for good measure and then turned on his heel and stamped off.

He was not dumb enough to wait around for General Tai Hua to recover. No. This was his day off, he was not fucking looking for a fight.

At least until the sword blade clipped his ankle and he went sprawling into the dirt, cussing loudly.

He didn't even have time to get his hands under himself to leaver himself to his feet before he was yanked backward by his hair, and found himself on his knees, bent backward to stare up at a glowering Lang Qian Qiu who's sword was resting over his shoulder.

The god's fingers tightened in his hair, his little fangs showing again as he snarled, and Qi Rong's brain which apparently wasn't gonna shut up tonight immediately went-

"Kinky."

Lang Qian Qiu froze, the rage in his face crystallizing. "....what...??"

Qi Rong felt himself grin and arched his back into the tug against his scalp a little more, just to accentuate the position. "Most people want the first blow job from the front, but I can work with this, Qiu Qiu...."

Qian Qiu's eyes went wide, and he scrambled to get his hand out of Qi Rong's hair as quickly as he could. "God! No! What is wrong with you?!"

He yanked hard, trying to pull his fingers free of Qi Rong's knotted mess of hair, and Qi Rong let the moan slide from his lips mostly intentionally.

The martial god froze.

Qi Rong smirked up at him, blinking as innocently and coyly as he could manage. "Something wrong, Qiu Qiu??" He purred.

The god's fingers twitched in his hair again and he let out a little gasp. Mostly just to keep the tight laced Yong'an brat off balance, but also because he didn't mind a little hair pulling.

Not that.. you know... he'd gotten any before. He was definitely gonna picture this next time he got himself off.

He shifted a little, letting the grin stretch further over his lips to show his fangs. "See something you like, pretty boy?"

Lang Qian Qiu's whole face was twitching, his fingers still trapped inside Qi Rong's long hair trembling slightly.

"Wh..." the martial God of the east's voice nearly cracked and he stopped, tongue darting out to wet his lips before he tried again. "Why are you like this...??"

"You started it." Qi Rong shot back, tipping his head back as far as he could to give the god a nice view of his pale throat. "I was just minding my own goddamn buiness for once, Tai Hua, and you had come in and fuck shit up."

Lang Qian Qiu's throat bobbed visibly as he swallowed, and his fingers slowly relaxed it Qi Rong's thick hair. "Fine," He breathed after what seemed like an eternity. "Just go then."

Qi Rong stiffened, his grin fading. "What??" He demanded, the words leaving him off balance. Qian Qiu never let go until he'd beat him to a pulp. "You feeling OK, Qiu Qiu???"

He was almost surprised at the sincerity in his tone.

General Tai Hua finally worked his fingers free of the ghost's hair and turned away, his face down. "You weren't eating people, so as long as you don't try anything tonight I'll let you go. I didn't come here to fight tonight."

Qi Rong rolled over in the dirt and pushed himself up to his knees, watching Qian Qiu's blade shimmer as the man swung it from his shoulders, expecting to find it in his throat the next instant.

Lang Qian Qiu only sheathed it quitely and it disappeared entirely against his back, cloaked in a spell to keep mortals from seeing it. The martial god glanced up at the narrow strip of sky between the two buildings and heaved a sigh, his broad shoulders rising and falling with the moment.

Qi Rong stared at him, at the broad shoulders and wide chest that lead down to slim, youthful waist and hips, his thighs that could crush Qi Rong in two if he really wanted to.

He had the sudden, silly, stupid urge to just... jump on Lang Qian Qiu's back and B I T E. Anything. Everything.

Not to eat, though he had an overwhelming desire to taste the god boy's blood...but so everyone would know he's been here with Qi Rong.

In the same alley with Qi Rong. Let Qi Rong live of his own volition.

It was a dumb, stupid, silly idea that would get this body absolutely slaughtered, so instead his mouth blurted the next best thing.

"Hey Qui Qui! Wanna go to the festival with me??"

Lang Qian Qiu's head snapped around so quickly Qi Rong thought his neck might snap in two. The god's mouth gaped open for a moment before he shut it and shook his head. "Get the fuck out of here." He snapped back.

Qi Rong pushed himself to his feet, doing his best to wipe down his once clean robes and straighten his hair, wishing, just once, he was actually good at looking presentable. "Ah, common, Qian Qiu. It's kinda obvious you're here for the same reason I am. Let's just... go together ok?"

He giggled, his stupid, sing-song, half mad laugh and hummed through his nose. "Like maybe one night we pretend we don't hate each other, or somethin'? I don't push you, you don't stab me, no one gets eaten, we send up some lanterns for peace or somethin’ and everyone leaves happy, huh?"

He huffed, shuffling a little in the dirt under Lang Qian Qiu's unreadable gaze. "It's.... just.. sucks to always be alone, you know?" He mumbled, and bit his lip.

He thought he heard the god's breath hitch, and then Lang Qian Qiu's dark eyes drifted down from the sky to settle on his face and he offered an unsteady grin.

No malice, just... the one he hadn't really smiled that much since his mother had died and everyone left him in Xianle so long ago. The one that was always a little shaky because he wasn't entirely sure how to smile.

"Or you could just carve me up here and tell the villagers you saved them from a desperate man-eating ghost." He felt the grin tick up into a slightly unhinged smirk, more comfortable on his face because he knew how people would react to that one.

He knew how Lang Qian Qiu would react to it.

Only this time the god just stared at him, lips screwed to the side as his fingers drummed anxiously on his thighs.

"You can't eat any one." General Tai Hua finally spat. "And as soon as we leave, I'm going to bind you up and force you to tell me where your ashes are."

Wait, was he actually...actually...agreeing??

Qi Rong rolled his weight forward and bounced on his toes as a wave of childish glee washed over him, cackling, almost clapping his hands. No one had ever agreed to anything with him, not unless he begged or pleaded or cried big fake crocodile tears or threatened them.

Sure, there was a caveat, but so what? He could not eat people for a night. It wasn't like he was planning on it anyway.

"Okokokok!!" He gasped out, sing-song, rocking back to his heels and letting himself sway a little in delight, "No people, but you owe me some candy, Qui Qui!!"

The material god's jaw twitched again and he took a step toward his nemesis, half threatening, half almost curious. "Don't call me that."

Qi Rong turned on his heel and sauntered down the alley, almost skipping as he heard the god take another step after him. "Qiu'er?" He inquired.

"No." Came the bitten off reply.

"Lang Gege?"

"You're older than me."

"By like, I dunno, a few fucking years, if that?" Qi Rong gave another laugh, hating the sound and hummed instead. "A-Qiu??"

"Shut up." Lang Qian Qiu was right behind him and Qi Rong swung around to face him, hands behind his back, childish, right before the end of the alley.

"You're gonna be nice to me tonight, right, A-Qui?" He grinned, watching the way the god's jaw clenched and his dark eyes darted away from Qi Rong's, "And I'll be really good so when you bind me up and ... force me to make noise... You'll maybe do it the fun way, right??" He winked.

It took the wink for the brunette god to understand how sexual his threat had been, and his ears turned red as he spluttered, "Fuck you!!"

"Nah, I kinda want your dick in me instead." Qi Rong's brain to mouth filter was absolutely gone tonight and he dropped another wink before spinning around and practically waltzing out into the crowd of people.

He heard Lang Qian Qiu's choked sputtering behind himself and grinned, content to let himself be dragged along with the crowd.

He could feel the god chasing him after a few steps, and made his way to the edge of the crowd, stopping by the same sweet booth he had swiped the candy from earlier.

He glanced up at Lang Qian Qiu as the god drew abreast of him, scowl on his brow and arms crossed over his chest.

He almost looked petulant, like a scolded puppy, and Qi Rong was reminded that neither of them had ever really grown up.

Just two Immortal kids, always caught up in their own emotions and the rivalry between their old states, no chance to grow up and become someone else.

He wasn't sure what came over him then, but then again, this whole evening had been weird, and he swayed to the side and bumped his elbow against Qian Qiu's side.

"You ever had the candied nuts here??" He whispered, like he was confiding a secret, and Qian Qiu's eyes turned to him slowly with a shake of his head.

"They're divine." Qi Rong confessed, hand digging into his sleeve for any loose change he might have. He'd swipe 'em, but that was probably the quickest way to get General Tai Hua back on his murder kick.

"Don't tell the rest of the heavens, or some selfish god is gonna come down and claim this place as their own, just to get those nuts and then where am I gonna go on my days I want to be civil??" He giggled.

His search for coins yelled nothing, so he glanced up at Lang Qian Qiu with big round eyes, putting on his best please gimme face. "A-Qui, we gotta get the candied nuts."

Lang Qian Qiu stared at him for a moment, his lip half raised in a confused snarl, the tips of his ears pink, before he shook his head and reached for his money pouch. "You're a leech."

Qi Rong shrugged, unrepentant. "Been called worse. Gotta make the most of the one night we're gonna be friends, right?" He found himself laughing again, hating the way the sound was jarring and sharp.

Lang Qian Qiu hesitated, coins in his hands already stretched out to pay, and looked at him sharply. "Friends??" He echoed.

The merchant looked between them in confusion and Qian Qiu huffed and handed over the coins anyway. "We're never going to be friends."

"Civil. Then." Qi Ronf was rocking on his toes again, humming to himself in anticipation as the merchant scooped them two cloth bags of nuts and handed them over to Lang Qian Qiu.

The god accepted the treats and turned. Qi Rong jumped up to get his and Lang Qian Qiu held them both out of his reach above his head.

"You gotta be good if you want them." He leveled a stare at Qi Rong, his pretty face unfairly attractive when his full, not rageful attention was focused on the ghost.

Qi Rong grinned, cracking his knuckles and glancing significantly toward Tai Hau's crotch. "Oh I'm very good. Want me to show you??"

He was absolutely bluffing, he'd never done a blow job in his life.

Qian Qiu however, turned red as his mouth dropped open, "F...What - no! I!"

Qi Rong had already snatched his bag of nuts from the god's slightly lowered hands and was strolling on his way, laughing over his shoulder.

He heard Qian Qiu's heavy steps behind him, and then the god was glaring at him as they walked side by side, his fists clenched around his own bag of candies.

"Why do you do that?" He demanded. "Say such vulgar things? In public?? Always to me!"

Qi Rong popped a nut into his mouth and rolled it around his tongue, letting the sugar coating dissolve before he answered with a shrug. "Cuz you're cute and easy to fluster."

"I am not!!" Qian Qiu protested vehemently, his teeth clenched again.

"Are too." Qi Rong stopped dead in the middle of the street and called out to a cluster of young women on their way to find seats for the fireworks. "Hey ladies!!" He waved and jabbed a thumb at Lang Qian Qiu, "Is he cute??"

The women looked at the two of them and started giggling instantly, whispering to each other behind their sleeves before there was a chorus of "Yes!"

Followed by, "Such a cute couple!!"

"You're both adorable!"

"Aww, wish my man would take me out to the festival!"

Qi Rong heard the martial god give a strangled sound before a hand latched onto his collar and he was half marched, half dragged down another street and away from the giggling women.

He risked a glance up at the god dragging him and saw Qian Qiu's cheekbones and nose were completely red, like bright scarlet, his jaw clenched even tighter.

This... this wasn't a bad look on him either. Qi Rong almost pefered it to the murder one.

"Whaaaaat??" He whined as Qian Qiu hauled him around to glare down at the shorter ghost, fingers still clenched in his collar, "All I did was ask them if you were cute!! You can't hate me for thaaaat!!"

Qian Qiu's lips peeled back in a snarl even as his cheeks bloomed a deeper shade of scarlet. His little fangs flashed as he snapped, "Stop flirting with me!!"

Qi Rong blinked up at him, almost as taken aback as the god was pissed off. He hadn't...is that what... but he always thought these things around Lang Qian Qiu, his tongue just never let them slip out until tonight.

"What the fuck." He snapped back, "I...I'm not flirting with you!! Why would I flirt with you?! Gross!!"

"Yeah!!" The martial god hissed right back, "So why do you always do it??" He shook the ghost, not quite hard enough to hurt him, not quite soft enough to not rattle his bones a little.

"It's not my fault your really sexy when you're pissed off and my mouth has no filter OK!!" Qi Rong loosed himself from Lang Qian Qiu's hold by wiggling free of his outer robe, leaving it hanging in the god's hand, and stuck out his tongue at the other young man. "You can consider this date over, General Tai Hua!!"

He sniffed, exaggerating his annoyance and stuck his nose in the air, turning on his heel to march off.

He felt.... like he'd just... lost something he almost had his hands on. Like something he didn't know he wanted had slipped between his fingers. It was a weird feeling.

But a second later thick fingers closed on his forearm and spun him around, and the outer robe was thrust into his arms.

"Get fucking dressed, you can't be out like that, you pervert." Lang Qian Qiu wasn't looking at him, his face dark as he glowered over Qi Rong's matted hair. "And stop calling this a date."

Qi Rong generally didn't think too deeply about things, it was safer and easier not to get too attached to things or people you eventually lost that way, but he knew he was gonna be thinking about this for a long time.

He wiggled back into his robes and made sure to close them carefully, instead of his usual haphazard mess. He just wanted to show Lang Qian Qiu he could be proper too. Just like his fucking cousin.

"Happy?" He inquired as his fingers finished the last knot on his tie, and Qian Qiu spared him a moment to scan him up and down before nodding briskly.

"Good." Qi Rong shoved another handful of nuts into his mouth and didn't think about speaking again.

The martial god of the east shifted next to him, also looking uncomfortable, and finally mumbled, "I gotta get a lantern yet."

"Mn." Qi Rong made a sound around his mouthful of candies and waved toward the street he knew carried his favorite lantern seller.

Qian Qiu stared at him, expressionless in confusion, and the ghost huffed through his nose.

He grabbed out, pulling Lang Qian Qiu behind him through the crowd, down another alley and over to the street that carried all the lantern sellers.

It was only once he pulled the god up to his favorite booth, where the lanterns were all green and painted with the most vivid scenes in all different colors, did he realize he was holding the god's hand.

He released it immediately, whipping his palm on his robes in mild panic. Shit. He was so gonna die tonight.

Lang Qian Qiu was still staring at him strangely, his brow furrowed, and Qi Rong shuffled his feet in the dirt and gestured mutely toward the stall, all the pretty lanterns hung there.

He usually stole one, but he hadn't gotten that far tonight before his nemesis had jumped him.

Lang Qian Qiu swallowed and bit the inside of his lip, shaking his head to whatever thoughts were flooding his probably always empty brain, and he stepped around Qi Rong to browse the patterned lanterns.

Qi Rong couldn't help it, really, it was right there. The broad shoulders, slim waist. The ass and thighs of a well honed martial god.

He sucked his teeth, flitting his tongue along the tips of his fangs inside his mouth, fighting the very urgent need to taste Lang Qian Qiu's ass that had just risen up in him.

Not eat. Just... bite a little. Maybe suck.

He cleared his throat sharply and grinned as the martial god glanced back at him, shifting his eyes to the lanterns.

He let his gaze roam over the pretty colors painted on them, the scenes and patterns and animals.

His gaze stopped on one with a little gold flower, like the ones his mother used to braid into chains for him as a child.

He reached up for it, annoyed it was toward the back of the booth and just slightly out of his reach, and then Lang Qian Qiu's weight was leaning solidly over him to pluck the small paper lantern from it's hook and place it beside the slightly larger one that he himself had picked out.

"These two, please." Qian Qiu pulled a few coins from his pouch and passed them over, and the boothkeep smiled and wished them both a prosperous evening.

Lang Qian Qiu handed the lantern with the little golden flower over to Qi Rong without a word.

Qi Rong took it, folding it gently to tuck carefully in his sleeve before he glanced up at the god again.

Qian Qiu was staring at him again, his split brow raised, like he had a million questions in his head and couldn't spit out one. "Flowers?" He finally managed to pull out.

"Mother liked them." Qi Rong replied with a dismissive shrug, glancing away. He didn't feel like going into his sob story with his rival, of all people.

General Tai Hua just hummed in sudden understanding, and Qi Rong shook it off, patting Qian Qiu's arm with a grin and a wink.

"I know a really good place to watch the show." He bragged, grin stretching across his lips, "If you don't mind being a little sacrilegious."

Lang Qian Qiu held back as he tugged on his arm. Qi Rong could feel the stiffness in his limbs. "This better not harm anyone." The god finally voiced, voice strained.

It wasn't a solid no, and Qi Rong's grin just widened. "Nah, no one alive anyway. Common."

Qian Qiu finally let himself get tugged along, and Qi Rong finally gave up getting him to match his quicker pace and just let go to hurry ahead, trusting the god could follow him well enough.

Sure enough, he could hear Lang Qian Qiu's steady foot falls behind him as he left the town behind and started climbing up into the foothills along an overgrown path.

"Where the fuck are we going??" The martial god of the east sounded cross, like a small child being dragged around against his will, and Qi Rong laughed.

The uneven sound bounced back at them from the boulders and hills around them and the ghost just waved a hand behind himself, "You'll just have to trust me, General!!"

He could practically feel Tai Hua's glare on the back of his neck, but there wasn't any sharp prick at his ankles or slash to his ribs, and he was well within saber distance.

That was an improvement he supposed.

He scrambled over the last few rocks that had fallen across the path and rounded the bend, spreading his arms wide."Ta-Da!!" He proclaimed, giggling as he started skipping toward the temple ahead of them.

Lang Qian Qiu climbed up after him and stopped in confusion, "Where are we??" He cocked his head, trying to make out the faded and chipped sign above the temple's door.

Qi Rong swung around, skipping backward, and waved at the temple he was approaching, "Best place in town to watch the lanterns go up!!"

Qian Qiu watched him bouncing backward for a few moments, his open face baffled at how Qi Rong was doing that, and then shook his head, following the ghost. "You can't enter temples, they're consecrated."

Qi Rong felt his grin widen, "Awwwwww." He cooed, stopping at the foot of the temple steps, still facing Lang Qian Qiu, "You're such a considerate date, A-Qiu!"

He could practically hear Lang Qian Qiu grit his teeth from where he stood and he flopped back on the steps, delighted. "Nah, that only works at temples that are maintained. This is some old fart god who fell from Heaven probably around the time you ascended. Protection charms don't work if you ain't a god any more."

Qian Qiu stopped before him and inclined his head up, observing the cracks running through the temple walls that could be seen closer up. "If this really is that old, it's been well maintained by someone."

Qi Rong had a flash of realization that showing his arch enemy one of his lesser used hideouts might have been a mistake. He didn't spend a lot of time here, but...still.

He hadn't been thinking.

Lang Qian Qiu's eyes were on his face as he finally raised his gaze to the god again. The god just sighed and shook his head, starting up the steps. "I haven't heard of any ghost problems out this way." He muttered, almost consenting he wasn't going to pry.

"Maybe whoever uses this temple really likes this place, ok?" Qi Rong flipped around and pushed himself up, following the god up the steps into his lair. "Sometimes ghosts can be protective too."

"Heh." Qian Qui gave a grunt, stepping over the threshold and stopping with his hands on his hips to sweep his eyes around the interior. "I've never heard of a ghost being kind to anyone."

Qi Rong rolled his eyes, poking Qian Qiu's side as he passed the god and flopped down into the nest of pillows on the stone floor. "Maybe you don't know everything you think you know, Qiu Qiu."

He kicked out his legs and made himself comfortable in the pillows, letting his head roll back to stare up at the ceiling, humming to himself.

He didn't come up this way often. Mostly when he ran afoul of that fucking red bastard and his butterflies and need a place to lick his wounds for a while.

It was way cleaner and less in the way of gorey decorations then his other lairs for that reason.

Qian Qiu huffed through his nose, his lips twitching in a scowl. "I told you not to call me...." He cut himself off and shook his head, stepping farther into the temple. "Forget it, you won't listen."

Qi Rong shrugged and pulled out his candied nuts to munch on again, still humming to himself as he pulled a scroll from under one other pillows and peeked at it.

He wasn't much for reading, but typically when he was here it meant he was healing from a wound that could have been fatal to the body he was using, which meant no movement, so he had a few books scattered around.

This one was apparently one of Pei Ming's porn stories.

He snickered to himself and tossed the scroll aside, glancing up as Qian Qiu settled into the pillows opposite him.

The god's broad nose was wrinkled in distaste, and he sat as though he were expecting the pillows to come to life and take a bite out of him. They didn't, but Lang Qian Qiu didn't relax much once he was seated, just crossed his legs and stared at Qi Rong with folded arms.

"I didn't know you ate anything other than humans." The god finally spoke.

Qi Rong paused, his jaw still working on the nuts, and shrugged. "Can't eat the same thing every day." He finally replied. Of course he ate other things. Dumbass.

Speaking of.

He poked Qian Qiu with one of the longer pillows in his nest and when the god glared at him he popped another candy into his mouth pointedly.

Tai Hua got the idea and begrudgingly took out his own bag of candied nuts, finally putting a few in his mouth.

Qi Rong grinned, his fangs on full display as Lang Qian Qiu's face lit up like a candle.

"Good right??" He giggled, popping another one of his own into his mouth.

Qian Qiu nodded, staring at the bag in his hands. "Surprisingly good." He admitted quietly.

"See?? This ancestor knows good food when he tastes it!!" Qi Rong crowed, triumphant.

"Why do you eat people then??" Lang Qian Qiu asked, his face wrinkled in a frown, his dark eyes grazing at the ghost across from him.

Qi Rong froze a little, his mouth slightly ajar. How...how did he explain that?

How do you tell someone that ... old habits die hard? How do you tell them about the horrors you had to endure before you finally curled up and died, only to find out you were still here??

"You wouldn't like the answer." He finally choked out, forcing a wide, ragged smile, "So don't ask questions you don't want answered, stupid god."

"Now we're back to insults." Qian Qiu rolled his eyes, putting a few more candies in his mouth. He chewed on them for a moment and then added, "I do want to know."

Qi Rong eyed him, again, half tempted to lie... but it didn't seem like he was in control of his mouth tonight.

"I have to." His tongue was spitting the words out, and what the hell. They were already sitting waist deep in fluffy pillows in his favorite lair munching on candied nuts and gonna send up lanterns later. What was one more thing?

"It maintains the bodies I've possessed better." He shrugged, wiggling himself down so he was slouched against the pillow at his back, idly staring off at the pile of cookware on the far side of the temple. He hadn't cooked any people here, but he did like cooking.

"And it's...hard to stop a habit you had before you died." He admitted slowly.

Qian Qiu stopped chewing. "What?" He echoed, his eyes widening in something like horror, "What did you say??"

"It's not that different from Black Water's eating problem, ok?" Qi Rong curled into the pillows more. "Or that fucking red snake and how he hides one eye. It's just... it's a thing, OK."

Lang Qian Qiu looked horrified, his jaw slightly agape, fingers trembling on his thighs, "Why would you do that?? Why would you eat people before -??"

Qi Rong granted him a crooked smile. "I told you, you wouldn't like the answer, pretty god. Not everyone got to have a spoiled happy life."

"But...you were prince of Xianle??"

Qian Qiu hadn't reached for his sword yet, that was... that was something, and Qi Rong just rolled to his side and shook his head.

"They left me behind. When my cousin and my aunt and uncle left ... they left me behind. Left me to the people. Ha, what a joke.

“Nobody liked me, that's never changed. So they just handed me over to the fucking Yong'an dogs in hopes of lightening their own sentance."

Qian Qiu shifted in the pillows, but there still wasn't a sword between his ribs, so Qi Rong kept talking.

"I spent...it felt like a lifetime... in the dungeons there. Me and a few other Xianle prisoners of war. They didn't feed us. They didn't give us water except what rolled down the side of the walls when it rained." He laughed, cracked and strained, and the sound echoed. "So... people died. I wasn't the first one to... to ... eat what we had, but I was the last one."

He huffed, grinning, fist clenching in the pillow around him, "So tell me again how your fucking kingdom is just and fair and I shouldn't have murdered them??"

Lang Qian Qiu's breath was heavy behind him, and a moment later the god stood, his footsteps crossing the stone of the temple as he started pacing, agitation in the sharp movements.

Qi Rong watched him out of the corner of his eye.

Tai Hua stopped, spun to face him as if to say something, then just as quickly turned on his heel and kept pacing.

"I'm sorry." His voice was choked and hoarse.

Qi Rong sat up, staring. "Say what??" He blinked dumbly at the god before him, his rival.

Lang Qian Qiu stopped again, shifting his weight between the balls of his feet and his heels, his broad back to Qi Rong. "No one should have to endure something like that. It was wrong." He finally spat out.

Qi Rong blinked at him again, suddenly feeling like he was spinning despite sitting stock still. "....you... what??" He repeated.

"You should have been treated better. An honored captive, a prince. It.. it wasn't right what happened to you." Lang Qian Qiu's voice was coming out in sharp huffs, little gusts like he couldn't say the whole thing all at once. "So...on behalf of Young'an and my people, as a representative of the royal household, I apologize."

"Uh." Qi Rong sat there, mute for what felt like eternity but was probably only a few seconds. "......I.... wow."

The martial god's shoulder hunched, and Qi Rong watched his fingers clenching in his robes at his sides before Lang Qian Qiu raised his voice again, "I'm still going to kill you for what you did to my family."

Qi Rong collapsed back into the pillows, staring at the roof of the temple, feeling very exhausted. "Yeah, ok." He agreed after a moment. "Tomorrow."

Qian Qiu grunted. "Tomorrow."

They stayed there like that, neither one looking at the other, until Qi Rong rolled over and pushed himself up, looking out at the gathering of the shadows. "It's gonna be dark in a couple minutes." He mumbled.

"Yeah." Lang Qian Qiu shot a glance over his shoulder out the doorway of the temple and agreed.

"We should...um..." Qi Rong extracted himself from the pillows and moved toward the door. "Go out."

"Mn." The god agreed, turning slowly to follow him out of the lair.

The sun was very nearly setting across the plains below them, casting long shadows in the twilight, and Qi Rong led them right up to the edge of the mountain cliff the temple was seated on, staring down at the town below.

People bustled there, he could already see the flicks of candle light and blooms of red and white from the lanterns being lit.

He sat, dangling his feet over the edge, and carefully pulled the lanter with the golden flower from his sleeve, peeking up at Qian Qiu as the god stepped up beside him.

He offered his index finger up toward the god, tiny green flame of fire flickering there, and Lang Qian Qiu just stared at him for a moment.

Then he pulled the lantern from his belt and unfolded it, holding it out to Qi Rong and letting the little green flame light the wick inside.

He sat as Qi Rong unfolded his own lantern, smoothing the flower on the side, and lit it up as well. The green flames danced inside the paper covers like delighted little sparks and Qi Rong grinned a little.

"You picked a tiger." He couldn't quite keep the snicker from his voice.

"I love tigers." Qian Qiu replied softly, watching the green flame throwing lively shadows inside his lantern. "They’re fluffy.”

Qi Rong giggled at that, watching the last of the sun’s rays dip behind the horizon and the town below come alive with lantern light. "You kinda strike me as a cat guy, yeah."

Qian Qiu shrugged. "I have a tiger."

"I have a ..... um. A dead mouse I sometimes forget to feed." Qi Rong volunteered.

Qian Qiu gave him a long look at that, his first since leaving the temple. "I don't want to know." He declared, and leaned closer to the edge to watch as the town released their lanterns.

It was like a million earthbound stars all cut their tethers to the mortal realm at once and leapt toward the sky.

Light bobbed and danced, white and red and orange from the flames inside lighting up the paper.

This was Qi Rong's favorite part. Watching the lanterns rise, carrying little prayers up to the heavens. For peace, for prosperity. For reunions and health…

He liked to imagine his mother could see them, from wherever her soul was, could see the lanterns covering the night sky like a cloud of rising stars.

Qian Qiu bowed his head for a moment, his eyes solemn, and he released his lantern to rise into the sky.

Qi Rong added his lantern to the rising flock a moment later, silent plea leaving his heart as the paper slid from his fingertips.

Now was the part where he felt empty. When he watched the lanterns rising away, untethered from any mortal problems, and the families below gather together and hold each other close, and he remembered how very alone he was.

Tonight though, he didn't feel nearly as lonely. Perhaps it was the god at his side with his hands resting easily in his broad lap, or perhaps it was their two little lanterns, lit with green light among the dozens of white and red ones, dancing around each other but never straying far as they rose into the sky.

It made him feel warmer than he had in a long time.

He sighed, propping his chin in his hand and peeked a glance over at Lang Qian Qiu to find the martial god of the east staring back at him.

He grinned, long fangs on display. "See? Just one night being friends won't kill you, A-Qiu."

Lang Qian Qiu huffed a short laugh and shook his head, leaning back on his elbows in the dirt next to his sworn enemy and watching the lanterns rise toward the heavens. "I suppose it won't." He agreed quitely.

🔥🔥🔥💚💚💚🔥🔥🔥

Years later in the same temple, when the sun was still high in the sky and there were birds chirping outside, Qi Rong heard his god's footsteps approaching and buried his nose in his book to pretend like he hadn’t been waiting for this.

"Hey." Lang Qian Qiu settled down behind him, thick arms scooping the ghost up easily and settling him into his lap. "How's things?"

Qi Rong tipped his head slightly into the kiss his god pressed to his temple and shrugged, raising his eyes from the pages to watch their son scampering around in the dirt in the sun outside the temple. "Ok I guess. I made dinner. Guzi learned some new hanzi he wants to show you. It's grossly domestic."

"Mmm." Lang Qian Qiu hummed softly, resting his head atop his ghost's clean, glossy hair. "It's nicely domestic though.... I drop-kicked a demon today, in battle. I thought you'd be proud."

Qi Rong snickered, setting the book aside to pull his god's hands around his waist, "I should come with you next time."

"Yeah." Lang Qian Qiu agreed, nodding softly. "When Guzi's old enough to take care of himself, you should come with me. We should... we should discuss moving back to the heavens...when he's older."

"This old temple isn't good enough for you any more, Qiu Qiu?" Qi Rong teased, tugging lightly on one of the braids he'd put into Tai Hua's hair.

Xianle braids. On the Young'an crown prince. Done by the Night-Touring Green Lantern himself.

The world was funny that way.

"You know how I feel about this place." Lang Qian Qiu's lips felt soft as he placed another kiss on Qi Rong's neck. "I love it here with you. With Guzi. It's home."

He hesitated, shifting his ghost higher on his thighs and then added, "Anywhere with you is home now."

Qi Rong huffed, pretending to be annoyed because it was easier than just sitting there all flustered and sappy, but his Qian Qiu knew him better now and chuckled softly into his hair.

"I.... I suppose we could talk about moving back to the heavens eventually." Qi Rong finally allowed, picking at a loose thread on Qiu Qiu's robe. "This place has been fine for us since I've been back but... I guess things change."

"Mmm." Lang Qian Qiu squeezed him lightly. Possessively. It made something warm flare up in the ghost's chest. "You needed a safe place to get stronger again, away from the other gods. We needed time to figure out what we were. I think we know that now...."

Qi Rong hissed, tempted to swat his sappy god with the book lying to their side, but Lang Qian Qiu switched the subject smoothly enough before he could.

"And you're much stronger now. A proper Savage level ghost king. A proper threat."

Qi Rong didn't need the hand inching higher on his thigh to hear the flirting undertone to Qian Qiu's voice. He grinned, twisting around to wrap both arms around his martial god's neck. "Oh??" He purred, nuzzling into Qian Qiu's soft cheek. "Enough of a threat you should tie me up? Make me behave?"

"Enough of a threat someone should keep an eye on you at all times." General Tai Hua's hand on his thigh squeezed possessively. "Someone should take you home and make sure you're being good every day. Keep you too busy at night to go haunting any villages. Keep you out of trouble."

"Oooooohhhhh." Qi Rong giggled, wiggling his ass in his god's lap, grinning as the same broad hand moved from his thigh to his ass and squeezed again. "Little old me? I deserve that kind of attention?? Really??"

"Yeah." A-Qiu's eyes were dark as he pulled Qi Rong farther into his lap, "You deserve all my attention."

"EWWWW GROSS!!" Guzi's screech split the air and they jerked apart, a little guilty. "DON'T DO IT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MEEEE!!"

Lang Qian Qiu cleared his throat and avoided their son's eyes.

Qi Rong glared at their cute little shit, noting the way Guzi's robes were already starting to look too small on him again. Yet another growth spurt from their nearly ten year old.

"You're too young to know what we're doing." He huffed.

Guzi folded his arms across his chest with a pout he had definitely learned from Qi Rong. "Not too young to swear, not too young to know what 'doing it' means." He huffed back.

Lang Qian Qiu groaned and buried his face in Qi Rong's neck. "Somewhere, my parents are very disappointed in my child rearing skills." He mumbled.

Qi Rong snorted a laugh through his nose and pinched his god's pink cheek. "Or just very happy you found a family."

Lang Qian Qiu hummed agaiant his skin, and the warmth of it sent shivers down Qi Rong's back.

"Hey. I made dinner, go help yourself." Qi Rong kicked a pebble at their offspring and Guzi avoided it nimbly, not that Qi Rong kicked it with any intent to even hit him.

"You can't bribe me with food!!" Their stalwart son declared, and Lang Qian Qiu covered his laugh with a sharp cough.

"Ok." Qi Rong kicked another rock. "I'll eat your portion then."

Guzi booked it into their little temple home as fast as he could, squealing, "Nooooooo!!!! My fooood!!!"

Qi Rong had a very vivid recollection of doing the same exact thing once, very very long ago.

He settled deeper into Tai Hua's arms, grinning to himself as the martial god of the east, the crown prince of Young'an, his Qiu Qiu, pulled him impossibly closer and pressed a kiss into his skin.

Him. The Night-Touring Green Lantern. The little prince from Xianle. The one no one wanted.

He had a home here.

Qian Qiu pressed another kiss into his neck, "Whatcha thinking about in that cute head of yours?"

"Eating you." Qi Rong replied, the now familiar tease between them.

Qian Qiu tickled his ribs lightly, enough to make him squirm. "You can eat me out."

"If our son hears you, you'll have to explain that."Qi Rong smirked at him.

The god just laughed softly and pulled him down into a kiss. He tasted like summer sun.

"Common. Let's go get some dinner before our growing child eats it all." He shifted Qi Rong into his arms and stood, walking them both in their old temple, into their home, as the sunlight faded slowly to twilight outside.