A Blade and an Arrow

Warmth In Each Other's Embrace

It's been almost a month since Mu Qing had Feng Xin alone, atleast in more than just an hour. Or alone with no monsters trying to kill them, or alone with no scrolls and inks everywhere around them. It's exhausting honestly. Mu Qing had been craving for some kind of affection from the man who wouldn't even look at him in the eye without having to glance back to whatever scroll he was reading in a second.

He was tired and restless. But after the fall of the Heavenly Capital, they basically have no choice anyway. Work here, work everywhere. Even when they practically forced Ling Wen back to her job, things still weren't easy for them. It's been months since the Crimson Rain pulled up that three thousand blessing lanterns indicating that he's back from who knows where, and they were happy that Xie Lian was also happy, considering that he was their savior after all.

Mu Qing threw open the hundredth scroll for the day on his table, almost smashing the glass of ink by how hard he dipped the brush before harshly signing whatever needs to be signed. He'd been sitting here for the whole day, no food, no drink and no Feng Xin to annoy the shit out of him. He knew Feng Xin was as restless as him and knew that he was probably also sitting on his own desk in his own newbuilt palace but still, he couldn't help but feel lonely or the urge to just call him by their communication array.

Just for today. It'll be fine.

But won't he be bothering Feng Xin as well? He let out a tired sigh and shook his head, the option quickly disappearing. All his junior officials were busy trying to answer all his follower's prayers for the time being so he was alone in his own palace, stuck inside his office. It took everything in him to not pull Feng Xin away from his own and pull him in their bed chamber were they both could rest.

Angrily, he put two fingers on his temple just in time as Ling Wen called for him in the communication array. "General Xuan Zhen, there's another attack in the Southwest, do you have any junior officials left?"

"No. I'll handle it myself."

"Pass by the Palace Of Ling Wen, I'm giving you the scroll."

Another tired sigh left his throat, standing up and grabbing his zhanmadao that for some reason, felt heavier in his grasp. Maybe it was his exhaustion that caused it.

Or maybe their lack of contact.

He moved his tired limbs as he walked towards the said palace, not noticing any of Ling Wen's subordinates that carried a shit ton of scrolls as they ran to one place after another. Once he reached her table, Ling Wen quickly looked up. "Are you sure you can handle it? You look dead, General."

Mu Qing frowned and took the scroll, tucking it inside his robes, "It's fine. Not like I'm going to die."

Ling Wen nods before pointing just beside him, "Maybe General Nan Yang could accompany you?"

Only then did he glance beside him where he saw Feng Xin grin at him. He knit his eyebrows in confusion and bit back the impulse to tackle him in an embrace. "Don't you have work?"

The other shook his head, "I gave it to some of my attendants."

Oh wow.

"If it doesn't bother you then sure, whatever." He says, already walking pass him as he yawned. Atleast he can have the luxury to fight along side with Feng Xin, that's enough for now. It didn't take long for him to hear the footsteps behind and eventually come to his side where he ignored the smirk the other gave.

Time passed and it was already dawn. Mu Qing hoped that they could have spend the day together with less fighting and more resting. But things doesn't really go well with him now does it? It took them almost a day to capture the taunting ghosts that lured around here but eventually they did.

And now they were under a tree, with Feng Xin's head resting on Mu Qing's lap as his fingers lightly combed the hair that was once always in a bun. The latter had his eyes closed, relishing on the gentle fingers that removed the tangles from his hair as the other hummed quietly. Mu Qing observed the bruised cheek and the dried blood that stayed on the corner of his lips. He frowned to himself, he knew he shouldn't worry about small injuries like this, knowing that they've been through much much worse. God's life threatening worse, but imagining that Feng Xin could've had died easily if he wasn't careful, he felt chills ran to his spine at the thought of him not being able to see Feng Xin again.

He softly traised the bruises with his other hand as he breathed out a tired and pained sigh. Eventually making Feng Xin pop open an eye, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Feng Xin snorts, opening both his eyes as he sat up and leaned beside Mu Qing who refused to meet his gaze, "I know you better than that. What's wrong?"

Mu Qing could've just said that he doesn't want to talk about it and Feng Xin wouldn't press any further, because that's just how Feng Xin is. He was extremely grateful for that, more than his lover knows. Respecting the boundaries between them that Mu Qing had set and being careful with him whenever Feng Xin takes the initiatives, giving him time to pull away–to which he doesn't most of the time anyway–or push him off.

Feng Xin quietly intertwined their fingers together, resting them on their thighs as Mu Qing stared at it before huffing, "Random thoughts." They're in the middle of a forest where people could easily recognize them if they wander to where they were, but he had no energy left in his mind or in his body.

"About what?"

Mu Qing leaned his head on Feng Xin's shoulder. "Not much." He closed his eyes as he let his hair fall over his shoulder, squeezing the other's hand for a bit.

Feng Xin tilts his head before using his other hand to lift the other's chin towards him. Mu Qing just let him, tiredly opening his eyes to see Feng Xin observing him. "Ling Wen's right, you do look dead. Have you even slept?"

Mu Qing rolled his eyes and huffed, "I don't have the luxury to have many attendants as you." He watches as Feng Xin let out a soft laugh before slapping the hand that had was gripping his jaw before moving to sit on the other's lap and hide his face on the crook of his neck, relishing on the warmth and scent that he had missed. "I'm tired. Don't move."

Feng Xin chuckled before wrapping his arms around his waist and pulled him closer. He wasn't going to lie if he says that he likes this side of Mu Qing, in fact, it's one of the things he loved the most. Resting his head on the other's shoulder, he sighed in satisfaction, pointedly ignoring their surroundings or where they currently were.

Wrapped in each other's embrace, they took the limited time they had with each other before having to go back to heavens where they need to go separate ways for their own individual work.