Broken Bones are Fixed With Love {Beefleaf//2xuan}

Look Towards the Future

(4814 words)

He Xuan thought whilst Shi Qingxuan slept. To say he'd already gotten used to the other's bubbly presence was an understatement. He Xuan truly enjoyed their time together. Perhaps it was the natural charisma, a thing which had charmed so many others. Shi Qingxuan was infectious, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. He had a way about him that made others care, He Xuan included. It was a strange thing to accept, but Black Water did it nonetheless, sensing there was nothing to do about it.

Well, he'd accepted the fact a long time ago, though the conscious realization only struck him recently. Shi Qingxuan whimpered gently in his sleep, snuggling closer to He Xuan unconsciously. There wasn't anything either of them could do about it now, those feelings couldn't be retracted.

Sleep didn't come easily to He Xuan—it hadn't for many centuries now. Whenever his mind drifted enough to come close to sleep, his nightmares took the chance to slip past his defenses. Sleep had long since become something he'd dreaded. Thankfully, it was no longer something he needed. In the time he wasn't sleeping, He Xuan planned, he thought, he learned.

Shi Qingxuan was a fun person to be around, it was no wonder He Xuan enjoyed his presence. The gentle teasing tone, childish humor, and overall confidence served to draw all towards him—even someone as opposite as He Xuan. This was just a fact.

The boat rocked gently on the waves and the presence of his domain felt stronger. As they approached, dark shapes began appearing beneath the water. An unsettling feeling laid itself between the shoulderblades of all who weren't supposed to be there, though that didn't apply to any of the present party.

Shi Qingxuan stirred and He Xuan gently grabbed his shoulder to shake him awake. The island was almost in view, and knowing Shi Qingxuan, it would take him at least an incense time to wake up fully... unless there was a party... or a guest... or– well maybe it wouldn't take that long. Taking a deep and conscious breath, the man in question opened his eyes. He Xuan held up a hand, blocking the other's gaze from the bright sun rising over the water.

"Five more minutes," was the mumbled reply, his voice deep and gravelly from lack of use. Everything felt better in the morning, before waking, when nothing is remembered of the world.

He Xuan didn't bother arguing. Shi Qingxuan sat up only a few minutes later, having decided he couldn't fall back asleep despite his groggy movements.

"Are we there, yet?" he asked, rubbing the dreams from his eyes. As a response, He Xuan pointed at the island in the near distance.

There was a slight pause in Shi Qingxuan, though quickly overcome. The trees were the same, and even some half-made canoes remained on the shore. He Xuan had never bothered to clean them up since he never went to the beach. Besides, he'd had enough dealings with heaven to last the rest of his eternal lifetime... at least, that's what he thought before he reunited with Shi Qingxuan.

"Pei Ming was so annoyed we never used those," Shi Qingxuan snickered. He Xuan smiled indulgently. There was nothing he could say. He didn't know why he did it since Shi Qingxuan couldn't see the gesture.

"Black Water?"

"Mm?"

"Are we going to stay at Black Water Manor?"

"Do you have another suggestion?"

"But it's just so gloomy there!" Shi Qingxuan protested.

"You haven't even seen it for a while," He Xuan retaliated, feeling a little defensive even if he knew it to be true. Black Water Manor hadn't changed since the last time Shi Qingxuan was there, but it was his home and he liked its solitary feeling—though that was coming into question now. After all, Shi Qingxuan was exactly the opposite of isolation.