Crane glanced towards his friends and fellow Masters as Po ordered their
food. "Um," he angled his head around the panda. "Is it alright if I get my tofu
buns to go?" He caught the others looking at him. "Just wanted to get out and
stretch my wings a bit." The master put on his best avian grin, "Enjoy the day
while we've got this calm."
Tigress' tail twitched, "You've been spending an awful lot of time away from
the village."
Mantis perked up on Crane's back, "Now that you mention it, he really has
been spending a lot of time out and about." He crawled up closer and dropped
his voice, "Which could only mean one thing."
Viper's eyes narrowed as she slipped up, "Yes..." She looked to the others
and nodded.
"Crane's got a girlfriend!" They all chimed together.
He was glad that feathers didn't show a blush very well. "What? No, I don't
have a girlfriend." Crane huffed and looked at the window. When would his
food be ready? As the others pressed in, he felt the urge to just fly kick in.
Feathers ruffled as he tried to think. "Just found a spot that I like to go to
meditate. It's really hard to get to unless you can fly."
"Ahh," Monkey nodded, "Sounds like a good place to meet your girlfriend!"
Crane clapped his bill and stepped back, "I do not have a..."
Mr. Ping showed up at the window with a cloth bundle, "Your order is..."
Crane darted over his companions and kicked. In one, smooth motion, he
dropped his money, grabbed the bundle, and took to the skies. The goose
blinked at the coins in his hand, "ready. Hey! You forgot your change!"
"Keep it!" Crane called over his shoulder.
Couldn't believe those guys. Thinking Crane had a girlfriend like that. Just
because he kept sneaking off to somewhere private without telling them did
not mean that he had some secret girlfriend. The truth of the matter was
actually far worse than that. He was kinda afraid of what they might say if
they ever found out.
His secret place wasn't far from the Valley of Peace, well at least not for
someone that could fly as swift as he. He'd been entirely truthful about how
difficult it'd be to reach by foot. Doubtless one of his peers could make it, but
it'd take them hours, if not longer. Assuming that they even knew of this
abandoned temple. Hell, he hadn't even known what it was until a couple
years back. And he'd flown past it countless times.
The master took a wide, looping path around the mountain. His gaze
dropped to the ancient temple. The ancient building mostly hidden behind
trees and among the mountain side it was built into. Sheer cliffs flanked the
abysmally small clearing, that being the only hint of what lay in wait.
Crane dove towards a frighteningly small patch of green. Pulling up at the
very last second to land with every bit of skill earned over his years of
training. He paused, listened for any sound. Nothing beyond the quiet rustle of
trees and the distant sound of an instrument. His feet brushed the outside of
the food pack. Good, still warm.
He swept it up in his wings and happily trotted towards the temple.
When he'd first found the abandoned temple, it had been spooky as fuck.
Not to mention in a horrible state of disrepair. Yet he'd found himself drawn to
it time and time again. Maybe it was the seclusion, or maybe it was something
about the location. Couldn't quite put his feather on why he liked it here, but
he did. Hell, he'd started sneaking away late at night. Bringing supplies here
to repair the structure. First a bedroom. Then a sitting room. Another room.
More and more, he brought the temple back up to... well not pristine. He
wasn't a master carpenter, but it was livable. Most of his efforts had been put
into a handful of rooms and keeping the rain out.
Crane wandered empty halls, wondering what the temple had been used
for. He hummed quietly along with the music as it grew louder. Claws lightly
scratching off the freshly sanded and polished wood floors. Light spilled from
behind partially open panels. "I'm back," he called as he approached the
partially renovated living area, "Brought some food."
The music stilled, "Oh joy. Take out again." Shen rolled his head towards
Crane as the master entered the sitting room. Feathers brushed the guqin's
strings as the peacock frowned slightly. The sour mood only lasted a second.
He sighed, "Suppose I'll fetch the dishes."
"The tofu buns are good," Crane said a little defensively, "and I think Mr.
Ping put in some of his special soup. Could smell it the whole way here."
Shen winced, "I didn't..." The peacock hung his head, "I'm sorry if I came
off rude. Just been trying to amuse myself." He pushed away from the
instrument, "Still can't play well." He rolled his head just a little and sniffed.
Wiping at the corner of his eye quickly, "Does smell good."
Lord Shen, once ruler and heir of Gongmen City, exiled, then returned with
an army and strange weapons to reclaim it from the Kung Fu Masters set to
guard it. The very Shen that had wiped out Po's family, slaughtered countless
people, killed a Martial Arts Master, and tried to kill Po and the Furious Five.
Crane had saved him from the remains of his warship, brought him back here,
and nursed him back to health. Even now, Shen's body was still bandaged and
seemingly sluggish.
"You stay right there," Crane waved the peacock back down. "I'll get the
bowls."
Shen hissed, "I am not some invalid, incapable of even getting my own
dishes!" He started to stand and staggered. "Fffffffuck!" the peacock cried
out.
Crane froze, "Are you okay?"
Beak snapped, "I am fine. Just..." Shen winced and pulled himself to the
table. "Get the damned dishes." He refused to look towards Crane as the
master hovered nearby. "I cleaned them earlier. Bathed myself too," the
peacock coughed, "tried my hand at changing my bandages too." He laughed,
a weary sound as he lifted his hand to show the blood there. "Think I pushed
myself too far."
"I keep saying to take it easy." Crane swept up the bowls. A glint of metal
caught his attention. Shen's toe-claws hung on the wall. Scorched and badly
damaged, but still possibly usable. He'd been the one to hang them up. Just in
case someone found Shen while he was out. The former lord's daggers hung
on the wall as well. As well as...
He turned his focus back to the peacock, "Should let me take you to a
healer. I can only do so much to patch you up. Especially if you insist on
breaking yourself every other day. Here," he pushed the bundle towards Shen,
"take off your robe and start serving.
"We both know why I can't go see a healer anywhere in the kingdoms. Just
have you. And you're always so eager to get me undressed. Should be
ashamed."
Shen hid his wince as he rolled his shoulders. The rather plain robe slid off
his body to reveal more bandages. It was a miracle he hadn't been killed when
the canon crashed down on him. The fire had weakened his ship's deck
enough that it just knocked him out, rather than crushed him. He didn't
remember much. Red, stabbing pain, black water. Vague images of being on a
shore. Of Crane hauling him up. He'd been in and out of consciousness for
days.
Crane didn't comment on wanting to see Shen undressed. Wasn't an inch
of the peacock's body that he hadn't seen in his treatments. He kept his
touch light and quick as he undid the bandages, treated the open wound, and
did his best to bind it again.
"You make a good nurse."
He looked up, finding himself bill to beak with the peacock, "Think that's
the nicest thing you've said to me all week. There, try that."
Shen offered a smile, "Well, it's true." He sighed and stretched. The
bandages were far better when Crane used them. Why even the tinctures he
used seemed to smell more palatable. "Your worrisome mother was wise in
teaching you all about first aid." He rolled his head as Crane gently stroked his
chest while fitting the bandages into place. "Feels like only avians know how
we should be treated." Shen's voice dropped, "Brutish wolves nearly broke my
arm once tending a cut." He pushed a plate towards Crane, "Here. Eat some
before it gets cold."
"Right right," Crane shifted to perch near Shen. Both tucking into their
meal. "You, um... been wanting anything else?" The master twisted his head
some, "I know I haven't been able to get much up here, but..."
Shen interrupted, "I could use something to drink." He looked towards the
kettle that he kept near the fire.
Crane perked, "Right, tea. I forgot. Sorry, is the pot full?" He hopped up and
darted for it.
"I'd filled it recently, should still be warm." The peacock sighed and leaned
against the table. Propping his head up with his hand in a very un-noble
gesture, "Though honestly, I could go for something that isn't tea." When
Crane looked from him towards the door, "Or water."
Thankfully, it only took him a second, "Ah..." Crane rubbed his head, "Sadly
I don't have anything... um... harder than that."
Crane sighed wistfully, "Tea then, please." He hummed and narrowed his
eyes as Crane put the pot back on to warm up. "And no, I appreciate what you
have been able to bring." It wasn't anything exotic, but it was better than
when he'd first been exiled. At least he knew how to cook now. Not a great
deal he could do while Crane was out training all day except sleep, cook, and
explore. Which exploration had turned up some rather interesting details
about the place.
"Reminds me," Crane plucked a bag from his hip, "I picked these up in the
market earlier." He swept back to the table and laid the pouch down. The
avian nibbled at his meal, watching nervously as Shen opened the bag. A
handful of bronze disks fell out, followed by a small assortment of files. All
meant for jewelry.
It wasn't the best, the metal was a little thin. Though what he needed them
for, he didn't need a great deal. Shen swept the metal back up, "These will
do." He hesitated a second before adding, "Thank you."
Crane breathed a sigh of relief and got up to fix their tea. The avian pair fell
silent as shared the meal. Shen's gaze a bit low as he picked idly at the meal.
Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. Crane was used to silent meals, well at least
he had been before Po showed up. Now every meal was lively and full of
chatter. This silence made him fidget.
"So," he mused after a very long moment, "why all," he waved his hand
towards the pouch and beyond.
The peacock didn't look up, "You know the rule. You answer my question
and I answer yours. That is our arrangement." Shen looked at Crane and tilted
his head, "And this 'I don't know' won't do. Everyone has a reason for what
they do." No one does things because it's the right thing, he added silently.
Beaming the statement silently to his companion.
Crane held Shen's gaze for but a second before looking away. "Where'd you
find that?" He motioned to the instrument.
"Oh that," Shen didn't look towards the guqin. "I was roaming through
some of the storage areas and found some instruments. Most were ruined, but
I found a couple in good shape." He reached out and ran his fingers over the
large instrument, drawing a quiet hum from the strings. "Doubly lucky that I
found a set of strings."
Feathers ruffled as the master leaned in, "It's beautiful too." Crane started
to reach for it, but stopped. "I still don't know what this place was."
Shen smirked, "Garden of the Singing Flowers." He caught Crane's look, "I
found a fair bit in my exploring. I do believe you had been up to some of the
rooms, but stopped short of going in. They're all deeper inside and rather..."
He wiggled his fingers and made spooky noises.
Crane shivered, "Yeah, there's a lot of rooms that put my feathers on end."
"Indeed. Well, I pulled this out and cleaned it up. The guqin was always a
favorite instrument of mine as a child." He shifted at the table and drew it
closer. Feathers dancing over the strings to pluck out a haunting tune. "As a
child, I'd heard a story of this wise city elder."
His eyes narrowed as he just let his fingers move on their own. "An army
bore down on his walled city, but he only had a few retainers. They could close
the doors and hold the army off. Not for long though, any battle would have
lead to the destruction of the city. No matter what path he thought to follow, it
was a lost cause." Crane leaned in, listening intently. "So here was this Lord.
Facing the destruction of his home, his own death imminent at the hands of
this great army. He ordered his servants to bring his guqin to the city walls,
throw open the doors, and bring him some tea."
Crane blinked, "What happened?"
Shen paused to take a sip from his own tea before continuing. "The army
stopped. Their general moved to the front and stared in disbelief. No soldiers
in sight, gates open, and the lord just sitting on the wall, having tea and
playing his guqin. 'This must be a trap' he said to himself. There was no way
that any man could look out at the sea of soldiers and be that calm. His city
must be filled with soldiers, ready to battle. So he ordered his men to turn and
leave."
"But..." Crane pulled back, "He didn't have an army. You said he just had a
few retainers."
The peacock smiled, "The general didn't know that. I remember hearing
that story and falling in love with it. I wanted to learn to play just so I could
get closer to that wise leader's mindset. Deception and misdirection." He
tilted his head, "Completely forgot your question, didn't you?"
"I..." the master blinked, huffed, and turned his head away. "Didn't want to
interrupt your story." He leaned back and clicked his bill, "So, you said this
was a garden?" Shen hummed his acknowledgment. Crane clapped his bill
again, "How do you know?" He stopped to think, "Who would put a garden
way up here in the mountains? Seems a bad idea for just some flowers."
Feathers ruffled with a soft laugh, "Depends on the flower." The look Crane
gave him was one of utter confusion. "You told me that you just had your
mother, and eventually started working as a janitor?"
Crane narrowed his eyes some, "Yes, not all of us were born as nobility."
"I mean no offense. Just have to..." Shen thought about his phrasing,
"consider the difference in upbringing and knowledge. Well," he reached
under the table, "I found some brush paintings." He offered a small stack to
Crane. Some were landscapes, but most were civil scenes. People gathered
about, being entertained, playing games, so on and so forth. "Each bore this
mark," he reached over to tap the symbol, "I recognized it from my readings."
The avian blinked as he flipped through the aged, and some stained,
paintings. "These are beautiful. Though..." he frowned, "why was this
abandoned?"
Shen offered another set of paintings. These showing the women of the
Garden in recreation with their guests. Offering drinks, smoking pipes, and
some obviously in carnal acts. A devious smirk flicked over his beak when
Crane found those and stared. "Not abandoned, Crane. Shut down. A long
time ago, decades before either of us were born, this was a lively, thriving
place. The women here were protected, educated, each one a scholar." He
gently took the paintings and spread them on the table, "They mastered the
Four Arts. Qin," he nodded toward the instrument. "Qi," he brushed his fingers
over a painting of people engaging in a game of Go. "Shu," he waved at the
elegant calligraphy on some of the paintings. "And, of course, Hua."
Crane frowned quietly, "So why shut it down?"
"That," Shen tapped his fingers on the table, "is hard to tell. Histories say
that this place was a den of vile corruption. That it tainted one's body and
spirit. Granted, opium was offered here, but I have the inkling it was some
other reasons." He offered up another painting, "There was evidence that this
was a house of martial arts as well. A house to rival the Jade Palace during its
height." A painting looking over the front gardens and a group of students.
"Tell me, Crane. What does your great and wise Shifu say about..." Shen
leaned in and nearly whispered the word, "Sex."
Oh the way Crane blushed was downright adorable. Others might not have
noticed, but Shen saw all the little signs. The slight reddening of his nares,
how is feathers shifted, and how his pupils narrowed. "Ahh," he coughed,
"Well, Shifu encourages us to focus on training our bodies and spirits."
Shen's eyes widened as he leaned back. He lifted a wing to cover his beak,
not wanting to burst out laughing in front of the avian. "Oh... don't tell me."
Crane's eyes flicked away quickly. "Oh my heavens, you're a virgin aren't
you?" Crane's cheeks flushed hotter. "There's nothing wrong with that," Shen
added quickly. "There are plenty of reasons to," he waved his hand, "not have
indulged. Although," he reached under the table for another set of paintings,
"one wonders what your Shifu would say if he saw this."
Glad for anything to distract himself, Crane looked towards the paintings
and froze. Some of the greatest Masters to have ever lived adorned the
paintings. Some engaged in games, others music, and others still caught midcarnal
act. Master Boar, Master Golden Takin, Master Dog, Master Badger
Twins, and...
"OOGWAY?!"
"Yes," Shen leaned back, "That is far more of the old tortoise than I'd ever
wanted to see."
The ancient master featured in several paintings. Most of them displaying
the tortoise in one form of bliss or another. Admittedly, it was a lot more of the
old teacher than Crane had ever wanted to see either. He'd never imagined
that Oogway would have been into such... well suppose that he was young at
one point. Didn't change the fact that he had been so... so...
"Crane."
He turned his head, but didn't look towards the peacock fully, "Yeah?"
Shen leaned forward, the motion drawing Crane's full attention. The
peacock got up close enough that the crane found himself leaning back some.
Blinking at the other avian in confusion. "You," Shen's voice dropped so low
that Crane had to lean in to listen, "have an erection."
Crane dropped his gaze, flushed bright, and immediately covered his
tapered length with both hands. The peacock leaned back with a warbling
laugh. Crane's cheeks flushed hotter, "Ahhhh, I should probably go..."
The peacock smiled, "Do you want to take a couple of the paintings?" He
rolled a wing, "I could certainly offer you a hand if you..." Shen watched as the
crane bolted for the door. "wanted one." He listened to the claws as they
clicked off the hardwood, retreating from the peacock's rooms.
He clicked his beak, "Might have teased him a bit much. Oh he'll be fine."
Shen settled back and began to scoop up the scattered papers. His gaze
dropped to the pouch. Beak clicked a few times as he thought. Suppose he
should start on his project with those. It'd take several hours to file the disks
down to proper gears. Shen looked from the pile of parts over to the ruined
tail fan that hung beside his weapons. He sighed, got up, and got what was
left of his tail.
The peacock carefully pulled up a section of fake feathers near the base.
He carefully disassembled the geared section. Grateful that he'd noted the
tooth count on each gear. Several gears were broken or bent, some missing
teeth. "Well," he sighed, "there were things I'd wanted to fix."
------------
"So, why do you think the Council shut down the Garden?" Shen looked up
from where he was carefully filing another gear tooth. Crane seemed more
collected than he had the day before, but only just. The others might not have
noticed it, but another avian would. "It can't have just been the sex. It had to
be a combination of things."
"Perhaps," Shen clicked his beak.
Crane waited a long moment, as if he expected Shen to elaborate. "Just a
perhaps?"
Shen brushed the bronze filings into a pile. "It was never deeply expounded
on in my lessons. Not that I was ever a great student of histories." He sighed,
"Had to convince my parents to give me the lessons they did as it were. No, I
was more interested in the sciences than the arts."
"Ah."
There was a disappointment in his voice that Shen found uncomfortable.
He sighed, "Okay, but bear in mind, I can only theorize." Crane leaned in to
listen. "And bear in mind that the general attitude of the Kung Fu Council has
shifted over time. While they do uphold traditions they have become more
relaxed in certain ways."
"Which ways?"
"Well, for one they are allowing female masters now." Crane fixed him with
an odd look, so he elaborated. "There was once an ideal that a woman was
only virtuous if she were ignorant. Her task was to sit there, look good, cook,
clean, and bear children. If a man wanted stimulating conversation, he would
turn to other men. Or," Shen held up a file and tapped his beak, "Or, if he
were so inclined to find stimulating conversation with the opposite sex, then
he would come to a place like," he waved a hand towards the room they were
in. "Here, one could find women who were not only beautiful, but skilled,
knowledgeable, so on and so forth. A great many were equals to, if not better
than, their male scholar counterparts."
Crane blinked, "So you think that some of the old masters were intimidated
by the people here?"
Shen rolled his shoulders, "Only speculation." He went back to filing,
carefully setting the file into place before starting the cut. "Some of the older
masters still have some... biases, as do some noble houses."
"So that's why you..."
Crane trailed off as Shen shot him a sharp look. The avian leaned back,
"Um... I mean... I didn't mean it like that. Oh look, the tea is ready!" He leapt
to his feet and hurried across the room to the pot.
Feathers crawled as he felt that look dig into his back. Crane clicked his bill
and tried not to shiver. What had he been thinking? He looked into the teapot
and stared at his own reflection. Why had he dragged Shen here? The peacock
had been unconscious, on the verge of death. He'd been so weak that Crane
thought the fallen lord was going to die in his arms. Yet he'd secretly taken
him away, brought Shen here, fixed him up as best he could. He'd been
shocked to discover that the peacock's tail was mechanical, and that he was...
"I wanted to give you a second chance." Crane stared into the pot. "I," he
spoke a little louder, "thought maybe you deserved one." He laughed quietly,
"Po said that he was sorry he couldn't help you. When I saw you, I thought
maybe..."
"You could reform me?" Shen put his tools down. "That I would be eternally
grateful for you for sparing my life? That I would be so grateful for you that I
would throw my legs wide and..." The peacock sighed, "That's rude. I
apologize."
Crane brought the pot over. Shen kept staring at the table as the master
sat down. He shifted, opened his bill to speak, but Shen beat him to it. "I
wanted to die. My army was in shambles, my weapon destroyed, my city..."
Shen let out a strained noise. "Have you ever been told that your role in life is
set from the day you're born? That you're fated to do something and nothing
else?"
His laugh was dry, the noise sour. "My mother was the ruler of Gongmen
city. Her family discovered fireworks. Her family brought the city prosperity,
they did everything to make that city great. Yet, when she was of age, she was
married to my father. He became the Lord and she his consort." Shen spat the
word. "Then I was hatched. I... I never felt right. It's," the peacock traced the
grain of the table; "it is impossible to put into words how I felt. Like I didn't
belong to the body I was born with." He laughed again, "I used to make tails
out of colored paper. I wanted to be a strong leader like I thought my father
was. Wanted to become a great master.
"Yet everything I did, all I accomplished, it felt like the world was pressing
down on me. Forcing me into a role I never wanted. Fate wanted something
else for me. So I changed who I was. Nanny offered what encouragement she
could, but her wise words never helped like she wanted. Not just her, my
parents, the council, everyone in the world expected me to be something else.
Someone else. So I pushed back. Every time the world tried to fit me into the
role I was fated to take, I would shove back. Dig my spurs in and fight back as
Lord Shen." He turned his head to look at the shambles of the room about
him. "Now look at me. Lord Shen, ruler of an abandoned building. I have
nothing. Not even the clothes on my back."
Crane started to reach for Shen's hand, but stopped. Nervous feelings
fluttered around his gut as he looked at the peacock, sure he should say
something. He tried to think about some wise saying, something Shifu might
have said. Or better yet, in this situation, something Oogway or Po would have
said.
"You..." Oh heavens, he hoped he wasn't about to fuck it up. "You're
beyond the reach of the whip." Shen lifted his head a little. "You are still you.
You don't have your city, your army, weapon, or any of that." Instinct drove
him to lay his wing on Shen's. "You don't have the weight of fate on you
anymore. You can be whatever you want. Do whatever you want."
Shen hung his head, "You..." he started, then stopped. "Are really bad at at
this." He offered a shaky smile and squeezed Crane's primaries, "Thank you
though."
He pulled his hand away and stood, "I don't know about you, but I am too
emotionally drained to deal with any more of that. I need something good to
eat." Shen swept up and grabbed the bag Crane had brought with him. "Ah
good, you got the garlic. How does garlic noodles sound?"
"That sounds amazing. Do you need me to do anything?"
"No, just stay right there. I've been at that damned table almost all day. I
need to stretch my legs." Shen stretched and curled his toes. Which gave
Crane a good look at the peacock's toned thigh.
His gaze drifted up the peacock's thigh to the robe. Or rather, lack thereof.
Shen tended to walk around with a long, elegant robe when he could. He'd
been practically naked when Crane came in, just a set of belts about his
thighs and waist. The peacock didn't even have those on, since he'd taken
them off to fit to the tail. As it was, Crane's eyes darted over Shen's snowy
plumage. Over the thigh, across the expanse of his shorter tail, and under. His
gaze falling between the peacock's thighs. Widening just a touch as he saw
the pink edges of the fowl's vent. That flash of color drew his attention in. His
eyes following it as Shen's hips shook as he cooked. The sway and bump
hypnotic.
Crane immediately became aware of his own vent swelling. He hadn't
gotten a chance to take care of that excitement from the day before. His
erection having faded by the time he reached the garden. Embarrassment had
kept him from returning to Shen to talk, so he'd just ignored it. Now though,
all he could think about was the history of this building. Well... that and
imagine Shen lording over the building. A regal peacock that would indulge in
discussion, painting, martial arts training, and...
"I'm not the best chef," Shen called over his shoulder. "I can cook enough
to feed myself, but that's about it. However," he tipped the wok over into a
bowl, "I am rather proud of my garlic noodles." Crane shifted and felt
something on his thigh. A look down made the male's cheeks flush. He was
rock hard again, cock twitching against his feathers.
He shifted forward, hiding his shame under the table. "It does smell good.
Oh!" he perked up. "That reminds me." He reached for another pack he'd
brought and lifted a jug.
"Oh," Shen breathed out, "baijiu." He set the bowl down and dropped next
to Crane, "May I?" Crane barely had the chance to nod before Shen swept the
jug up and broke the seal. He took a deep breath, savoring the smell from the
jug itself. "Oh I have been aching for some of this." The crane downed his tea
in a single gulp before pouring a mug. "Join me?"
Crane held up a hand, "I really shouldn't..." he trailed off as Shen stared to
nod. "But why not? A single glass can't hurt." Crane drained his cup and
offered it.
"Ever indulged before?" Shen tilted his head as he filled Crane's to the
brim.
Crane shook his head, "No, anything I should be aware of?"
Shen smiled, "Well, it's polite to fill your neighbor's glass. Always to the
brim. Offer and return toasts." The peacock lifted his earthenware cup, "To...
not being bound by fate."
"To new beginnings."
The peacock shifted his cup, tapping rim against the side of Crane's.
"Never let the rims touch either. Much like bowing, it's a sign of respect to try
and be lower than who you're toasting. And usually you want to down the
entire drink in one go." Crane nodded and threw his head back, swallowing it
all in one gulp.
Only to start coughing as it burned its way down his throat. "However,"
Shen smirked, "I was going to say we could take smaller sips, since these are
full mugs."
Crane coughed, "Oh sure now you..." he watched as Shen tossed the entire
mug back as well, "tell me."
Shen smirked, sat upright, then coughed. "Oh..." The peacock clenched his
eyes and shook his head, "If I'd known you were bringing that, I would have
broken out the baijiu glasses."
Feathers perked, "There's some of those?"
"Yeah, down the hall, third door on the..." Crane stood up, giving Shen an
eyeful. The peacock blinked at the sight of the male's cock throbbing there,
inches from his beak. Without thinking, the kung fu master turned and started
down the hall.
Well, not exactly what he'd been expecting to see there. Shen leaned
forward and froze. Just realizing that he'd been naked the entire time he
cooked. A quick look traced line of sight easily. Oh, so he'd had his back to
Crane this entire time, and was undressed? Well, certainly explained the
male's current state. A slight smile crossed his features as he waited.
It didn't take long for Crane to return. His erection had faded, though the
moisture about his feathers suggested maybe a dunk in the well water had
helped there. "Stopped to clean the glasses," He held up two sparkling glean
dishes. "I got the right ones, didn't I?"
"You did," Shen poured them some tea, then poured Crane a glass of baijiu.
A smile crossing his lips as Crane took the jug and filled Shen's glass in return.
"Why thank you. To..." he hummed, "A good dinner."
"To new friends." Crane waited until Shen's glass dipped before he swept
the glass lower, tapping his rim against the side of Shen's glass.
The pair shared a smile and the drinks. "Oh," Crane wheezed, "that is
easier to handle for sure."
"Mhmm," Shen hummed, "Much better when you're not trying to drink
yourself dead. Oh," he offered Crane some chopsticks, "and don't worry about
getting a little sloshed. It's to be expected." He nodded towards one of the
sliding doors, "Certainly wouldn't mind you staying the night, rather than
trying to fly back while tipsy. Now," he nudged the bowl, "Eat."
Dinner was good. It was nice to sit down with someone, chat, and share a
good drink. Shen had shared many meals like this with his men. Or at least he
had with the leaders. He couldn't stand the common rabble. Though even the
leaders wore on his nerves. Now? Well, he couldn't remember the last time
he'd been with another avian. Maybe it was the talk, maybe it was the
company, could very well be the booze, but Shen felt himself relaxing for the
first time in... well he couldn't remember.
"To..." Crane held his glass up and blinks, "To... um... First times!" he
grinned and swayed a bit.
Shen lifted his glass, "First times and new experiences." The avian pair
tried to sweep the glasses in, each trying to get their glass lower than the
other before they clinked. Which would have been a graceful battle of who
was quick and agile, if they hadn't drank most of the jug between the two of
them. As it was, Crane pulled back to try and get away, only to have Shen
topple on top of him.
The pair burst into laughter as they lay there on the woven mats. "Oh
jeez," Crane snorted, "I've never felt..." He wave his hand.
"You," Shen tapped his chest, "are drunk, my friend." The peacock sat up
and looked towards the bowl, "Well... dinner is done..." The peacock wobbled
a moment before slumping against the crane with a huff. He leaned in, halflaying
atop the other male. "Unless you want dessert."
Crane clapped his bill, "What do you have for des..."
His eyes went wide as Shen pressed his beak to the bill. Crane gasped in
surprise, which only invited the peacock to deepen the kiss. Shen hummed
and nibbled on Crane's tongue, licking at it gently. All while his feathered
fingers danced over the male's keel bone and further down. His light touch
quickly awakened the male's lust. Crane's manhood surged up to meet Shen's
touch. The tapered length twitching by the time the peacock's wing dipped
that far.
Without a word, Shen pulled away from the kiss and tilted his head.
"Hmm?" he smiled.
"Uhuh," Crane gasped, head reeling from the touch and wine.
Shen turned and coaxed Crane onto his side. The peacock arched, nuzzling
the crane's cock with a huff. His tongue brushed over the flesh, drawing a
gasp from the master. Crane tried to turn to look at what Shen was doing, but
the peacock's thigh trapped his bill. Shen hummed, stroking the cock as he
used his legs to guide Crane down. The tall male's longer bill readily danced
over snowy white thighs and between. There he was greeted by an up close
view of the peacock's vent. Lips already starting to glisten.
"Mmmaaa," Shen licked over the tip. A smile forming as he heard Crane
moan and felt those hips twitch. The master twisted his head and nuzzled into
the fine feathered lap. Prompting Shen to squeeze his head lightly and pant.
Thighs squeezed as he arched, grinding into that beak.
Crane tried to follow Shen's lead, but it was hard. Especially as those thighs
squeezed his head. Bonus, it did give him a very up close look at the
peacock's slit. Juices matting his feathers and smearing over his nares. His
beak clattered with a moan as he took a deep whiff of the peacock's scent.
He'd never smelled anything like it before. It made his body arch and drove a
huff from him. The scent was intoxicating, exciting, it drove spikes of raw
pleasure through his senses. In a word, it was overwhelming.
Shen moaned as that bill shook between his legs. Oh that felt wonderful,
certainly far better than his fingers were. And that cock... Oh he'd fucked
wolves before, but again had never had the chance to enjoy another avian. To
have this cock throbbing before him, proudly waiting his attention? He licked
over the cock. Quick little swipes as his hands danced over the shaft. Bringing
himself to the tip so he could sample Crane.
"Ah... AHH!"
Hot, thick cum splattered Shen's face and neck. Catching the peacock with
beak open and tongue out. He narrowed his eyes and sat there, perfectly still
as his partner peaked and made an absolute mess.
"Ah..." Crane twisted a bit, eyes rolling back as his climax died down. Oh
sure, he'd taken matters into his own hands before. Had even watched other
guys as they jerked off, but he'd never had anyone that close to him. Much
less someone playing with his cock like that.
Crane lifted his head and saw Shen staring down at him. The peacock
looking a little less than amused with cum streaking across his face. "Um...
sorry?" He grinned with a blush.
"Oh don't worry," Shen swept some of the cum up and licked it off his
fingers. "How about an arrangement, Crane? Whatever you do to me, I get to
do to you in return? You bring me food, I cook for you. Have a conversation, I
share one back. You cum on my face, I cum on yours. Sound agreeable?"
"Y-yeah, so, what should I..."
The peacock twisted about, pinning the martial arts master to the ground.
Shen planted both wings on Crane's back and pressed him to the floor. "Oh,
you just get to lay there..." The peacock huffed and curled his legs under
Crane's bill, lifting the head. "And do that bill clatter thing for me." Shen
arched, moaned, and ground his hips back into that bill. Savoring the feel of
the smooth surface as it parted his folds.
Crane started to click and chatter his bill. Which made it shake against the
peacock's privates. Shen arched with a blissful moan and began to grind. Nice
and slow, but picking up speed as his pleasure built. Which made his juices
drip and coat Crane's bill. Crane huffed, nose filled with the peacock's
intoxicating aroma. Which made his bill clatter all the more as his partner
hunched and arched.
He twisted his head a bit, barely able to shift within Shen's grasp. Not far,
but enough to let him lick at the lips. Getting a mere sample of the peacock's
honey.
Shen arched, a wing dipping down to rub his privates. Faster, he ground,
harder. Pressing between hand and bill. Then Crane licked him and he gasped.
Shen leapt off his partner and sat back, thighs spread wide as he hissed.
"Come here," Crane twisted, staying on all fours as he hurried over. "Use your
tongue here," he huffed as he spread his vent open.
Crane happily spread his bill as wide as he could, tongue darting out to lick
over that offered slit. Shen arched, huffed, thighs quaking at the feel of
someone lapping his pussy. The peacock arched, grabbing Crane's head and
pulling him in. Forcing Crane's bill wider as that tongue dove into him.
Powerful muscles twitched, gripping the invader. Squeezing it as he groaned,
shuddered. All while Crane's wings lifted to cup his head and draw him closer.
"AHH!" Shen called out as he came. Thighs quaking under the awkward oral
attentions from his partner. He huffed and arched, grinding into that beak and
tongue as he soaked Crane's feathers and beak with his nectar.
Then, Shen released his head and leaned back with a huff. Crane looked up
at the peacock, too keenly aware of how his own cock was throbbing against
his belly. The master shifted, instinct driving him to slide over the peacock. He
leaned forward and clicked his bill to Shen's beak. Tasting his own cum while
sharing the flavor of Shen's juices. Shen arched into the kiss, wings brushing
over Crane's side and up. Petting his partner as Crane leaned forward. The
warmth of his cock brushed the peacock's privates.
A touch stilled him. Shen's foot curled up and pressed to Crane's belly,
keeping the male from driving too far forward."No," Shen panted, "not tonight.
I'm..."
"It's okay," Crane offered a shaking grin, more caught in the moment than
he cared to admit.
Shen leaned up and nibbled at Crane's beak. "How about we bathe, then
get some rest?" The peacock's beak stretched in a wide yawn, "It has been a
long day."
The yawn was contagious, prompting a yawn from the crane as well. "It
has, hasn't it?"
"A long, exhausting day. Though not one I would want to forget." Shen gave
Crane's chest a swat, "Now get off me, you're covered in cum. Though
nothing quiet like a good bath after a good meal and find companionship.
Wouldn't you agree?" Shen hopped to his feet and smirked over his shoulder
at Crane. "Oh, and before we take it further. We are going to work on your
endurance. Fast strikes and quick, flashy finishes are fine in Kung Fu, not so
much in sex."
Crane's cheeks flushed, "Well, do you know how to fix that?"
"Oh I have some ideas..."