The Serpent and the Lotus Blooms

Cloudy is the Mind that Revenge Smothers

(TW: Grief, Violence, Gore, depictions of death)

The night passed swiftly. Zhou Qiqiang was the first to rouse from sleep. Carefully, he detangled himself from Bai Yusheng’s limbs to sit on the edge of their shared bed. He stood and as quietly as he could he dressed, trying to let Bai Yusheng get as much sleep as necessary. It was when he sat back down to put his boots on that he felt them roll, slender arms wrapping around his waist and squeezing.

“Shixiong?” They murmured tiredly, rubbing their face against his lower back with a yawn. “Shixiong, come back to bed. We don’t have to leave this early.” Zhou Qiqiang’s face brightened into a soft smile as he reached back to pet the mess of black hair and brush it from Bai Yusheng’s face. Their eyes were still stubbornly closed, and he stopped their mischievous fingers from undoing his belt again. “The sun only just rose, Gege. Lay back down with me for a while.” He chuckled then, tugging at their arms to release his waist and leaned down to press a kiss to their temple.

“Shidi should stay in bed. I’m just going to go down to make accommodations for breakfast and run some errands. I’ll be back before you wake.”

                Bai Yusheng groaned a soft complaint, and he turned their head to press another kiss to their lips. They rolled and wrapped their arms around Zhou Qiqiang’s neck, parting their lips to kiss him deeper. It could be said he humored them, but in all reality, he loved Bai Yusheng like this. Sleepy and pliant. Their witty tongue replaced by small whines and soft morning kisses. For all their strength and martial skill, in the early morning light, Bai Yusheng was like a tender and delicate flower that made Zhou Qiqiang’s protectiveness flare in his gut.

“Yusheng, Shidi,” Zhou Qiqiang murmured, and they tried to drag him back down, as he pulled away, catching under their arms and ducking his head out of their embrace. “Go back to sleep, Shidi. I won’t be long. We’ll head home soon.” With that, he stood, strapping his sword, Huojin, to his side and stepped out, taking one last look at his lover who had already fallen back asleep with a fond smile.

                The sun trickled in, lighting the small room of the inn and roused Bai Yusheng from their rest. They pressed up, rubbing their eyes tiredly. “Shixiong?” They called, managing to open their eyes against the bright rays as they looked around the empty room. Breakfast was sitting on the low table in the middle of the room, looking like it had long since cooled. There was an empty silence that permeated the space. Bai Yusheng slid off the bed, grabbing their discarded night robe to slip over their form as they glanced around. Their packed bags and Bai Yusheng’s LienHua sat by the door, but missing from their things was Huojin. Had Zhou Qiqiang not returned yet? Bai Yusheng frowned, making their way to look out the window. It was late morning by now. At least 3 hours had passed since he had first left. What errands did he have to run that would take so long? Bai Yusheng huffed even as their brow creased a bit in worry.

                They made their way to the small table, folding themselves down on a mat and picked up their chopsticks. Zhou Qiqiang must have been caught by some civilians who needed his help. He would return soon. Bai Yusheng began to eat their cold breakfast and sipped their cooled tea. An hour passed. Zhou Qiqiang had not returned. Bai Yusheng began to feel anxious as they paced the wood floors. They had dressed and readied themself for travel, LienHua strapped to their side securely. “I will have to go look for him. Perhaps someone around town has seen him,” they said to the empty room. Silence met them in response, but they had made up their mind. They gathered both their travel bags and headed down to the ground floor, greeting the innkeeper.

“Young Master, are you about to leave us?” The innkeeper asked, a smile on his face that Bai Yusheng matched, though they didn’t feel it in their heart. Something was gnawing at them. Eating them. Something didn’t feel…They wouldn’t say that. Zhou Qiqiang had just gotten caught up assisting someone.