(One Open + One Closed)

[eternallywandering]

Who: Zhou Zishu & Open
When: Mid-July
What: Practicing (i.e. Window of Heaven/Four Seasons Manor techniques) and eating snow. No, really.
Where: Around the home he shares with Wen Kexing. Feel free to see him launching himself around like some kind of superhero.
Warnings: TBD

(Spar)

The weather doesn't agree with him - it is too damn hot - but he has to stay in shape. Even immortals can be lazy and he isn't about to let his husband win their sparring matches. So Baiyi, his sword, is in his hand as he strikes at an invisible opponent. Zishu kicks up dust and grass-blades as he maneuvers his feet in complex rhythms and patterns. Then, suddenly, he launches himself into the air, landing on the roof of his house.

He continues his "battle" up there, dipping and weaving as if gravity has never held him down. When he finally lands - on the ground - again, he isn't even out of breath.

(Snow; Closed to Wen Kexing.)

Hunger pangs demand his attention when he lets himself into the house. They have magic to keep the ice and snow cold, at least, and he fills a cup with the latter, eating it steadily. He refuses to go into the town - or anywhere, truly - without enough snow on his stomach to keep him satisfied. Otherwise the scents...

They are very tempting.

"Lao Wen? Are you here?"

Comments

[flirtatiousdancer]

Ever since that day, Kexing has known without a doubt how much Zishu loves him. Every day is special because they have each other.

He pouts at the teasing admonishment. "Why? If they're jealous, they can find their own fun." The pout softens and he just steals one more bite before nodding, gaze also not straying from Zishu's perfect face. "Ready, A-Xu." Except he doesn't let go just yet.

[eternallywandering]

He has never loved anyone more. Kexing is his perfect match and it would be a waste to not show him affection daily.

"Not everyone is like you." Zishu presses his lips to Kexing's cheek when that bite is stolen, "Do you think I'm going somewhere? I admit, I liked my freedom when I first left the Window of Heaven, but now I would much rather travel with you."

[flirtatiousdancer]

As Zishu is his. Kexing is greedy for his husband's affection. Even their 'fights' are more flirting than anything else. He loves those too.

He hums as he eats that last bite, the lips on his cheek warming his heart. "A-Xuuuu, am I a chain?" He totally is. Except it's Zishu who does more of the guiding these days, and he prefers it that way. He smiles and nuzzles their lips together before sighing and letting go, hand sliding slowly from Zishu's waist.

[eternallywandering]

All fighting should be flirting. Between soulmates, that is. Everyone else gets actual fighting, which is no joke between the pair of them.

"No, you're something softer and warmer." Zishu sets the small bowl aside, surprising his Lao Wen with a gentle embrace. Kexing needs embraces now and then; they are much better for him than anything he learned in the Ghost Valley.

"I love my Lao Wen."

[flirtatiousdancer]

Exactly. Between them, fighting someone else, the other stands no chance at all.

He draws in a startled little breath when his beloved embraces him with those sweet words. Kexing relaxes after the brief freeze, then answers it with a soft smile and rests their foreheads together. Zishu means life, for him.

"I love my A-Xu too."

[eternallywandering]

Zishu smiles when he feels Kexing relax in his arms. He chuckles at the contact between their foreheads and peppers that soft smile with kisses. His joy, his reason for living is right here.

"So let's investigate the village together." he gives his beloved a longer kiss, a hint of what awaits them when they return home.

[flirtatiousdancer]

A little laugh escapes at those silly kisses and he happily presses into the longer one, one hand lifting up to cup his soulmate's cheek to deepen it a little more. Enough he's panting a little when their lips part.

"Mm, A-Xu...You know I will go anywhere you do," he murmurs.

[eternallywandering]

His lips part to welcome the deeper kiss, his eyelids fluttering almost closed. Heat fills him, insistent and sweet, and he grins breathlessly, stroking back his soulmate's stunning hair.

"I count on it." Zishu takes hold of Kexing's hand, smiling to himself as he leads them outside, "I need my Lao Wen to help guide me."

[flirtatiousdancer]

He grins back at his soulmate, anticipation already filling him at what awaits them after they return home.

Kexing lets himself be led and laughs, entwining their fingers as they walk. "I'm here, A-Xu. Always." Haven't they proven, and promised this? Every day it sinks in a little more.

[eternallywandering]

Their...spars...are always eventful. Zishu smirks at Kexing as he opens the door and tugs him outside. The fresh air feels nice - if, as always, too warm.

"I saw rabbits the other day. We should get ourselves a pair."

It isn't like they could have pets on the mountain. Why not enjoy some sweet soft companions?

[flirtatiousdancer]

As they should be! Kexing grimaces slightly at the heat that greets them when they step outside, but at least their home is nice and cold.

The unexpected comment has him laugh again and he grins at his husband.

"Have you ever taken care of one before?"

Not to say he's opposed to the thought, rabbits are cute!

[eternallywandering]

"No, but I can learn." Zishu responds confidently, walking leisurely towards the path that will lead them in-town, "They need food... Vegetables... Water... Bedding... Places to hide and call their own. And attention." he smiles proudly at Kexing as if he has solved a complex problem.

[flirtatiousdancer]

"We can learn," he corrects with another warm smile. As if he'd let his husband do it alone. Kexing tugs their entwined hands up to nuzzle the back of Zishu's, smile pressed to the skin.

"You're already ahead of your research, A-Xu."

[eternallywandering]

"You want to?" he sounds like an excited child, his grin brightening thanks to the nuzzling, "Little Lao Wen is waiting for us to pick him up!"

Is there a little A-Xu too? Maaaybe.

"All children deserve some preparation, don't you think?"

[flirtatiousdancer]

That excitement is too adorable for him to stop from laughing. His husband is too cute!

"We will find them and bring them home, my A-Xu," he promises with a wide grin.

[eternallywandering]

His steps quicken and he sighs happily, never letting go of his Lao Wen's hand.

"You like little animals. I would get you a dog, but I don't know where to find one."

[flirtatiousdancer]

Kexing shakes his head, amused.

"A-Xu, are you serious? Any animal we bring home would have to be protected from the cold. It wouldn't be fair to make them stay outside all the time."

Though he really would love to have a dog again...

[eternallywandering]

"So? I'll add on rooms that will be a normal temperature for them." Zishu watches Kexing intently, seeing the enthusiasm. Well that settles it. He is now looking for a dog that needs a home with two immortals.

"There are breeds that like the cold."

[flirtatiousdancer]

His amusement grows at those words and his grin is decidedly playful. "You will, A-Xu?"

He will, of course, help in adding said rooms. But the idea of his silly sweet soulmate doing that work threatens to make him snicker.

And then the last statement catches his breath and his fingers tighten around Zishu's. His soulmate knows him too well. "...We could look."

[eternallywandering]

"What? You think I'm incapable? I know how to use nails." Zishu presses his lips together to not snicker. Is that joke too premature? It is a little funny.

The tighter grip has him beaming, victorious. It isn't long before the sounds of the village surround them and he looks around eagerly.

"Maybe little Lao Wen has been a dog all along..."

[flirtatiousdancer]

"A-Xu!" He protests with mostly feigned horror and shoves at him before tugging him in close. He pouts at his beloved soulmate, but it's utterly ruined by the amused gleam in his eyes.

Kexing doesn't let go when they approach the village though, only when they step inside will he loosen his hold.

"Maybe little Lao Wen will bite A-Xu for his horrible jokes."

[eternallywandering]

He stumbles to the side, laughing, unrepentant. If they can't joke about such things, how will they know they have overcome them? Zishu is overjoyed to be free of the nails and he knows what a fool he was to put them in his body in the first place.

He has the best reason to live walking right beside him.

"Well I'll know it's him then!" Zishu entwines their arms as if they are going for a stroll.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Zishu's laughter has always been irresistible. Even with those jokes! So Kexing ends up laughing with him. And really, it's a relief to know his soulmate regrets taking that step. And that they're past it. He sees every day that they no longer hurt his husband.

He grins as their arms entwine, content to hold to that appearance. "True. We'll know when he comes to nip at your heels, huffing at you."

[eternallywandering]

He has learned and he has been able to understand his pain - rather than only reacting to it blindly. As such, he can poke fun at himself and since he loves Kexing's laughter equally as much, he considers himself well repaid!

"What a darling! How could I resist?" he admires the various vendors and pauses at a stall full of flowers.

[flirtatiousdancer]

When together, they can't hurt. Their pain can't stick to them. Kexing grins, walking contentedly with his beloved as they look over the vendors of the market. The flowers have him stop and he reaches out to gently touch some of the blooms.

"Do you want to get some, A-Xu?"

Maybe a garden should be added to their new home...Yes. He'll have to hunt down various bulbs so they can get pretty blooms all year round.