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Chung myung felt himself relax under the kiosque as he lays down on the bench. He and Tang Bo had just finished another sparing session and with all his pent up energy finally out, Chung myung felt like he could finally rest. No more energy buzzing inside him or turning around restlessly.
Chung myung rarely spared with any other members of his sect now days. Not just because he was strongest, after all he was stronger than Tang Bo and yet the other always find new and creative way keep him on his toes. No, the main reason for that, was mostly because the others didn't want to spare with him. When he wanted to spare, Chung myung wasn't necessarily looking for someone on his level but someone who would at least try and make an effort to put up a fight.
And the problem was that people knew they were going to lose against him, so no disciple or sane person wanted to spar with him, knowing they would end up beaten up. Except Tang Bo. But it's - well it's Tang Bo so he doesn't count.
Another thing that pissed off Chung myung beyond imagination, was people attribuing his strength to being a genius. Not only do they use it as an excuse,
"oh you're a genius I can't compare"
"you're a genius you can't expect me to be able to put up a fight with you"
"well you're a genius you can't understand our struggles"
Chung myung gets it. He's strong, he's never lost to anyone, he has a pretty good reputation. At least outside the sect. But that doesn't mean other people can't become good or great martial artist. They would need to work twice or even thrice as hard as him but it wasn't impossible. To Chung myung it just seemed that passed a certain rank they just didn't want to spar against stronger than themselves. Do they think that once they're first disciple they've learned everything? That they become stronger?
Besides that he can't just go up to newly joined disciple and suggest a spar. Unless it's to teach the new disciples it would be ridiculous to expect anything from someone who just started learning. So he is left at that. With his choices reduce between training alone or a leech.
Problem is, training by himself could only take that much of energy. Running up and down the mountain was now child play for him. If he wanted a real challenge he would need to run between two different region and even that he was already doing it whenever he payed Tang Bo a visit. He was also forbidden from training with wooden dummy by his sahyung after breaking too many of them, as it apparently cost too much to the sect. The only thing left was his imaginary opponent and it was too predictable. So he just did again and again the same sequences of movement and that did nothing to help him.
So he was left with only one option : Tang Bo.
Tang Bo always had new tricks in store for him, new techniques to try, always something to keep him on guard. Chung myung had to think, he had to be careful, plan how to take him down. Tang Bo never won, they probably had tied a couple of time but never actually won. But that was fine. Because after every fight, chung myung felt satisfied, like the surplus of energy he always waken up with had been taken care off. His legs weren't twitching anymore, and there wasn't some kind of restless feeling that made him twitch whenever he was laying down or walking.
So now he can lay peacefully on the bench of the kiosque, in his lover's garden without buzzing off. He let the sun warm him up as Tang Bo sit on the ground - why he sits on the ground Chung myung will never know - leaning his back against one of the pillars beside his bench.
Tang Bo for his part, is carefully and methodically sharpening his blades. They are his main weapon and he always makes sure to take good care of them. He clean them up after every fight and Tang Bo is especially careful if Chung myung was his opponent. The other man strikes are powerful and precise so Tang Bo wants to be sure none of them have been fragilize by the fight, that they aren't fissuring or something else because of the powerful shock when they meet with his sword at full speed.
Chung myung strikes makes dents in the polish metal more often than not, so Tang Bo has no choice but to polish and sharpen them after every session so they don't become dull. Tang bo look at the one currently in his hand glistening as he put it in under the sun light, making sure he didn't miss anything. He put it back in its place before moving on to the next dagger.
He starts doing the same process without thinking about it, more of a habit than anything. Tang Bo look slightly to the side where Chung myung is resting and a small smile crep up on his face. Seeing his hyung this relax is rare. He honestly wonder how the other isn't out of breath. Tang bo knows that Chung myung isn't easily tired but he 's always amaze at how much energy he has.
He look at Chung myung again. He is half tempted to cover his face so he isn' t disturb by the sun. After all how dare the sun get in the way of his hyung' sleep. However tang bo isn't sure if the other would perceive this as a form a kindness. It still makes him smiles.
Because when he looks back at their first fight, Tang Bo knows he came from a long way. He is almost equal to the plum blossom sword saint now! Today tang Bo is able to give Chung Myung a good fight, he's able to make him spent this exces of energy. It's not everyone who can do that! So yes, Tang Bo pat himself on the back for forcing his way through his hyung hearts, as today those moment are the one he cherish the most.
Well he'll cherish it in the future when his muscle don't scream at him anymore and his heart isn't beating hammering his toraxic cage. Right now he's mostly cursing himself because why did he think he would fine after sparring with Chung myung?he knew that Chung myung barely hold back anymore, and while yes it's does inflate his ego, this guy hit are mean! Because yes, in a spar Tang Bo isn't the only one who's allowed to attack, Chung myung can do that too.
And when Tang Bo says his attacks are mean, it's heavy, precise on your weak point and clean hit. If doesn't dodge, he's dead. Or heavily injured. Which says a lot bout his hyung's trust about his skills. Or his hate for Tang Bo. But he thinks it's more likely about his skills. After all if Chung Myung hated him he wouldn't be laying down sleeping next to him -
Tang Bo suddenly stops. Sleeping? He looks at his right and yes. Chung myung is sleeping. In an open space. Beside Tang Bo. And oh does he feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Chung myung has fallen asleep besides him before, but indoors. In a place he had dimmed safe beforehand. The sight only makes Tang Bo preens more. Chung myung trust him with his safety. Tang Bo scoot a little closer to Chung myung and hesitate.
He wants to take his hair and play with them, god he would love to just pet his head. Chung myung's hairs look so soft to the touch but he doesn't dare too scared of waking him up. Not only would Chung myung beat him up for that but Tang Bo would be mad at himself for waking Chung myung of his deep slumber. No, instead he just watched Chung myung sleep. He put his head on his knees and he takes time to look at every single details while he can.
Tang Bo starts feeling sleepy too, and he feels his eyes closing and his head dipping down. He tries to fight it after all he need to keep guard. As his head hits the bench he notices the blood that had drip down. Tang Bo wants to wipe the blood off but notice two needles lodge in his finger.
Oh. Tang Bo is dumbass. A dumbass that just poisoned himself when putting back his daggers in his coat. Maybe the heart palpitations should have been a warning sign. He should start cleaning the poison from his body. He really should.
Tang Bo groggily sit up watching the world spin. Curse him and his genius for poison. He takes some time to sit in the lotus position, his body staggering back and forth. He probably hit his head a couple of time. Oh well, he'll notice if he gets a concussion.
Tang Bo takes his time. Breathing is hard, he can feel the blood trailing down from his nose and gathering in his mouth. Still he tries to gather the little energy left after his spar to clear it up. Tang Bo knows he won't be able to wash the poison from his system completely, but hopefully he can do enough so his body can purge the rest by itself. He is a Tang after all, they're raised young to resist poison by consuming it. He should have enough resistance at his age to handle that much.
As he meditates, there's rush of clear energy that comes through. It wash over him like a river, soothing and helping him cleanse the remaining poison. Once most of it is taken care of Tang Bo let his consciousness fades a bit.
After that he is mostly in and out. He just knows that, wherever he is, it's nice. He is warm but not excruciating hot. The material underneath his head is good, the breeze is nice and not too strong. Also there is something patting his head. And then his cheeks.
Wait no, someone's hitting him! Tang Bo forces his eyes open only to see Chung myung's worried face. Then two hands grabs him by the shoulder and start shaking him violently. Chung myung's hold is tight and bruising. Tang Bo decides he doesn't like the worried look on Chung myung's face so he grabs the other face and place a kiss on top of the head. He place another one on the forehead hoping to ease the wrinkles on it, and then on each cheeks just for good mesure.
Tang Bo still isn't sure about what's going on, and now Chung myung is laying him down on his knees. He use that opportunity to kiss both of their hands, and interview them with his own.
Chung myung sight audibly "just go to sleep Bo-ya. You'll explain when you wake up".
Chung myung watch as Tang Bo just smiled and easily fall asleep. He honestly has no idea of what happened, he doze off for barely ten minutes and then he gets hit by head. Just as he is about to tell off Tang Bo for playing dumb game he realizes that his leech is poisonned. How, why, by who he doesn't know. Chung myung didn't even think there was a poison Tang Bo wasn't immune to.
He honestly though that Tang Bo's body would just - erase it or something. But sseing him struggle to hold the lotus position and meditating he may have underestimated the strength of the poison and the energy left in Tang Bo after their fight. He did do better than usual, but Chung myung didn't think much of it. He's used to Tang Bo progressing fast. When the other started loosing consciousness he panicked. What do you mean his leech isn't immune to all the existing poison?
He wake him the only way he knew and. decides to help. So now it seemed like Tang Bo was just... High. Or drunk. Maybe a strange mixed of both. He starts petting the other head, to reassure himself that it was fine. He can't wait for the explanation that Tang Bo has in store for him.
The rest of the afternoon passe slowly and he can tell when Tang Bo isn't sleeping anymore but he tries to fake it just so he can get more attention. However Chung myung decided he wait enough time for the explanation so he nudge him slightly.
"do you mind explaining, what was that about? What the hell happened? "
At that Tang Bo forced out a laugh before looking away.
"Bo-ya." Chung myung frown. Tang bo lay be one of the best martial artist in the world but sometimes it feels like he has a small child "Bo-ya who poisoned you?"
Tang Bo look at Chung myung hesitantly "I'll tell you only if you swear you're not going to hit me. Or kill me. Or anything"
Chung myung grit his teeth "Tang Bo. What. Happened."
Tang Bo cough awkwardly before extanding his right hand where two holes are still bleeding, the black fingers emphasizing the blood coming out of it.
Chung myung breaths in deeply. "Tang Bo. Please. Tell me that it was someone from your sect."
"...." Tang Bo doesn't say anything for some time "it was someone from the Tang Sect?"
He suddenly gets hit on the head and honestly? It's deserved. "how." Chung myung sigh before getting up "how the fuck did you managed to poison yourself with your own needles?! No, better question why didn't you do anything about it until it was well in settle in your body?"
"well it's - I didn't notice" Tang Bo trails off.
"what."
"well you see - " tang Bo barely started his sentence before getting cut off
"No! No I don't see actually Bo-ya! So please, enlighten me, how for the love of everything that's holy, you didn't notice, two needles getting stuck in your hand?"
" - I didn't notice" Tang Bo finish
Chung myung looks at him beliwered like Tang Bo just announced that it would rain money "what do you mean you didn't notice?"
"I mean I didn't notice! How is that unclear?" Tang Bo repeat himself getting agitated
Chung myung claps his hands toghether in front of his face like he was praying. He's still fixing Tang Bo before smirking for a second and scoffing "What - what do you mean how is that unclear - Ta'g Bo how the fuck do you not notice?! There's two needle sticking out of your hands how do you not notice you idiot?!"
Tang Bo looks down before grumbling muttering under his breath
Chung myung for his part, feels the little patience he has leaving his body at an alarming pace. "Speak up. I dare you"
Tang Bo huffs "I said I don't feel anything"
Chung myung breaths in deeply. Ah the art of communication is truly difficult to master for the both of them. He claps his hands back on Tang Bo shoulder "What do you mean when you say you don't feel anything Tang Bo? Please develop"
"it's just as I said! I don't feel it, I don't feel anything in my finger, in any of them." Tang Bo takes a breath trying to think about he can simplify it in a way that doesn't make it sound like he is dumbing it down for Chung Myung and that he takes him seriously " basically, the nerves in my fingers are dead. So I feel little next to nothing in it. Small wound, burns, those types things I don't - I don't notice it."
At that Chung myung's frown "that's dangerous"
Tang Bo just shrug "well you get use it. It's not like you can feel anything and it the same for everyone. Our fingers are over saturated of poison and testing poison again and again on it we slowly kill the nerves. It's another sides effect"
Chung myung frowns doesn't ease "hm. Well maybe be more cautious of it, check more regularly or something"
"well it's not usually a problem since, we'll we have a pretty strong immune system. And a way to clean out the poison"
Chung myung look at him judgementaly dead in the eyes "yea obviously it works well"
Tang Bo for his roll his eyes annoyed "come on it's a poison that I made. That's how much it takes to put me in a bad state. A deadly poison of my own concotion and a completely energy depleted body. I think that's a nit a bad criteria, is it?"
"I guess it could be worse" Chung myung reluctantly admited
Tang Bo tries to get up "come on let's get some food at an. Our fight sure tired me out and being poisoned didn't make it easier."
He is almost immediately drag down again by Chung Myung. "hey stare here for now. We can go later"
Tang Bo doesn't complain. He gets to lay down on his hyung legs and that's definitely not an everyday occasion "you're sure?"
Chung myung click his tongue in his mouth "just rest when I tell you too, you dumb leech".
Tang Bo smiles. Chung myung may call him a leech, he can call him dumb and every other curse words, at the end if day he still let Tang Bo rest against him. Chung still makes sure that his robe is tightly secure around the both of them and hide his eyes from the sun so he can sleep peacefully. Tang Bo just knows that Chung myung's way of showing his love is to show concern. And when he is concerned he curses.
Still Tang Bo is sitting up in between Chung myung's legs, placing his head right on his collarbone and Chung myung doesn't say a thing.
And if Chung myung ends up taking Tang Bo's hands in his own, we'll it's nobody's business but their own.