author: Jets_adjacent

warning: canon compliant, major character death

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After Shi Wudu's second Heavenly Trial, Pei Ming makes a promise.

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He wears the gossamer robe like ocean water dripping down his arms.

Sheer and shameless, the soft body a pale silhouette beneath the blue sheen. Sleeves bunched like waves caught on a sandy shore where his arms bend. Delicate fingers sweep the collection of bound chests, polished furniture, and silk laid jewelry boxes.

The inner rooms of the Water Master Palace are expansive. Framed with cold stone pillars carved from the deep ocean rock, a reflection of the sea always twisting beneath one's feet against a cool floor. Lighting the bed chambers with the illusion of bright waves rocking gentle through the dark. Illuminating their master in blue and white, catching the eyes like pale jade framed in dark lashes. The easy bow of eyes while taking in the room of gifts sprawled and spilled across the floor. While beneath Shi Wudu's feet, black shadows of ocean beasts follow the natural tide, unaware.

Pei Ming sits up, silk covers bunching at his waist and the ocean light begins to trace his bare skin. Turning his sun-warm complexion into a canvas of their design. His palm turns against the reflected tide and gives a pleased sigh while his loose hair falls down his face.

"Admiring your bounty?" He calls softly towards Shi Wudu who doesn't seem startled by his voice. The thick curtain of black hair heavy down his vulnerable back, the unpinned waves catching around sleek shoulders and dancing against the backdrop of the sheer robe.

Pei Ming has witnessed this man in many states, but he's come to find peace in how every glance of Shi Wudu leaves him struck dumb and adoring.

"Seeing who didn't submit a congratulations." Shi Wudu answers with a barb at the edge of his tongue. Fingertips tracing a box of finery and stroking the swollen diadem of pearls and blue gems.

"Who would dare not congratulate you on your second heavenly trial?" Pei Ming teases, brushing hair back with his hands and when Shi Wudu turns to face him his belly tenses with awe.

The Water Master wears more rings on his fingers than he has room. They clack together with the chime of silver against jade - coral and gold and turquoise. Shi Wudu admires the display of gems and manipulated metals with an obsessive gleam in his eye. One Pei Ming knows is not rooted in greed, but excitement to have gods submitting worship onto him.

"You tell me." Shi Wudu snips, approaching as Pei Ming pulls himself to the bed's side, legs spilling off the edge and ducking against the canopy curtains. His body brushes Pei Ming's inner thighs as Shi Wudu moves to stand between their mass. Those ring-heavy hands cupping the other's face and thumbs pet beneath his enraptured gaze. "You're the only one who failed to send an offering."

"What would you call last night?" Pei Ming huffs with a childish noise, pushing into the palm against his cheek. Nosing the star-pale wrist smelling of orange peel and jasmine.

Above, Shi Wudu looks unimpressed.

"Here then," Pei Ming grins, taking the lean wrist and guiding a milk and honey soaked hand to his bare chest. Letting his pulse echo against the other's touch. And not for the first time does Pei Ming wish he kept his mortal scars, the impression of battlefields, just to feel them under this man's touch. "Here is your gift."

Shi Wudu pulls his hand back, a curl to his lips which showcase the pearl teeth.

"I'd rather have gold." He sneers and Pei Ming chuckles instead of pouting at his cruelty.

"Shui-ge," His voice sings at the man, drawing back the hand to his chest and letting the touch find the familiar path to his pulse. Rings cold against his warm skin, glittering when the ocean lights fell upon their shapes and Pei Ming watches the seas dance in Shi Wudu's gaze.

"You can't gift me something that's already mine." The Water Master frowns and leaves Pei Ming to fight the gasping tremor which strokes up the back of his spine at such a declaration.

"What would you like then?" He can't compete with the flaming chariot gifted by their Heavenly King. It leaves him hoping for Shi Wudu's instruction, for the other to understand that there is nothing Pei Ming would not grant him.

Silence takes sharp lips as the Water Master watches his companion for the moment. Eyes heavy in thought while Pei Ming can only wait, admire the shape of this beautiful body beneath barely concealing attire. Seek the jut of hips with warm hands, follow that tantalizing curve down his backside until he's cradling the backs of thighs.

It takes Pei Ming by surprise that Shi Wudu doesn't fight the guiding touch. Allows himself to be held, weight beared by Pei Ming's hands while he rises to kneel around the man's waist. Straddling thighs until he can settle across the basket of his lap and those decorated hands sweep to Pei Ming's shoulders. Kneading muscle with exploring hands as though not all of Pei Ming has been conquered and commanded.

"Suddenly out of ideas of how to please a lover?" Shi Wudu hums, pulling back when Pei Ming tries to kiss him. Resulting only in exposing his throat to the other's mouth. Gentle kiss on his pulse, the smallest brush of teeth at his clavicle, and Pei Ming thinks Shi Wudu tastes like honey and salt.

"Hardly." He defends, drawing the man higher into his lap. Hugging his body low and trying to ignore the stirring of interest between them. "But you're so picky."

He's punished by knees squeezing into his ribs, harmless but pointed. Shi Wudu looks displeased.

"Apologize.*

"Lord Water Master, forgive me." He says without shame, nuzzling Shi Wudu's jaw with a soft smile. Soaking in the brush of hair like soft waves and the scent of the ocean bright after a storm. "Anything that's mine, is yours. Just ask it of me, you know I'll proudly give." He speaks against cool skin and terrible beasts of the water depths swim in shadow around them. The Master of their realm combs Pei Ming's hair through fingers. Pressing a kiss like a spark against his temple.

"Anything?" Shi Wudu asks, voice distant - and perhaps if Pei Ming were not distracted by palming the flesh beneath the robes he would have understood the sound was fear.

Fear to trust another. To give too much of himself.

"Anything." Pei Ming vowed and tipped them back onto the bed with a delighted laugh.

=

"You really don't have to do this." Shi Qingxuan frowns, their face so alike and yet so different from their elder brother that Pei Ming catches himself unfocused at times. Hoping to see the shape of Shi Wudu in the smile of Shi Qingxuan.

"It's nothing! C'mon now, what are friends for?" He chuckles and unloads another crate from the dull cart. Letting beggars and nomadic eyes watch him with suspicion and uncertainty.

Shi Qingxuan doesn't argue about the friends declaration, and Pei Ming doesn't start up with his urging of returning the Wind Master to their rightful place. Shi Qingxuan says they won't go, and Pei Ming can't bring himself to just drag them.

"Besides," He shrugs and can't look at the twisted arm or the leg that will always limp - the scars of that horrible day where all things were changed.

The day he failed to protect the one he loved.

"I promised someone to look after you."