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The first thing Shen Qingqiu noticed as he woke up was a lack of warmth. That meant Binghe had already gotten up and was probably preparing breakfast. As much as Shen Qingqiu loved his husband’s cooking, sometimes he wished he would stay in bed just a little longer. Especially on cold mornings like this. He needed his personal heater ok! He couldn’t feel his fingers! Bracing himself for the cold, Shen Qingqiu quickly scurried out of bed and slipped on an outer robe before taking a fluffy white blanket that Luo Binghe had made from the fur of a Snowy Jackel Bear. It was incredibly soft and fluffy and shielded him from the immediate cold. Properly equipped with blankets, Shen Qingqiu began his journey to find his live furnace of a husband before he fully woke up.
He stumbled around the house before finding Binghe speed-walking towards the kitchen they had attached to the bamboo house after Binghe moved back to Qing Jing.
Luo Binghe stopped just before the door to the kitchen when he heard his Shizun walking after him. Turning around to see why his Shizun was out of bed this early, he was faced with the sight of Shen Qingqiu still blinking sleep out of his eyes with a fluffy blanket draped around him. At the sight, Luo Binghe almost forgot why he wanted to hide away in the kitchens.
Last night while sleeping he had accidentally dropped control over his more demonic features and now they were out for everyone to see. Luo Binghe had planned to make his escape to the kitchens to both cook breakfast for Shizun and get the unwanted features under control. But now he couldn’t do that. Luo Binghe had forgotten to take into account that Shizun was always a little clingy on cold mornings and wanted to lay in bed using Luo Binghe as a warm pillow, but since he wasn’t in bed Shizun had gone looking for him in a half-asleep search for warmth.
Luo Binghe tensed slightly as Shen Qingqiu attached himself to Luo Binghe’s front. He didn’t know if Shizun had taken notice of the abnormal features on Luo Binghe’s body or not yet. He didn’t think Shizun would dislike them, he really didn’t know what he would do if Shizun was disgusted at the sight of them. Shizun looked up at him, sensing something was wrong. He now had to crane his neck back to look Luo Binghe in the eye. Due to his more demonic features being present, his height was also affected, and he was now just over a head and a half taller than his Shizun. Shen Qingqiu slowly drew his eyes back down to Luo Binghe’s chest where he had been resting his head, before slowly looking back up at Luo Binghe.
“Binghe?”
“Shizun…” Luo Binghe answered, not able to bring himself to meet his Shizun’s eyes.
“How…” Shen Qingqiu trailed off as noticed that it was not only his Binghe’s height that had changed. On top of his head sat two blood-red horns that curved and twisted backwards. Like someone had mixed a dragon’s horns with a goat’s horns. They stood out amongst his mess of black curls. His demon mark was also visible, only it was slightly larger and more spread out than it normally was.
Shen Qingqiu stepped back from Luo Binghe to observe him in full. His eyes were the same blood red as his horns and were glowing slightly. His iris seemed to take up more space in his eye and his pupil had contracted into a slit under the morning light that shone through windows. Looking closer, Shen Qingqiu was quite sure he could see a stripe-like pattern on Luo Binghe’s face running down his neck that was one or two shades darker than his actual skin tone.
Trailing his gaze down, Luo Binghe’s hands drew his attention next. The claws he usually kept neat and short were now half the length of Shen Qingqiu’s pinkie finger and looked as though they had been dipped in ink. Really, his whole hand looked to be stained with ink! While marvelling at Luo Binghe’s hand he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Looking to see what it was that had caught his eye, Shen Qingqiu gaped at the sight of a tail flicking out behind Luo Binghe. Binghe had a tail. The tail looked a regular tail one would find on a demon in a story. It was long with a sharp, almost kite-shaped point at the end. It was the same inky black as Binghe’s claws, though when it shifted under a patch of sunlight Shen Qingqiu could see a beautiful red shimmer across the tail.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a Binghe who sounded on the verge of tears (let's be honest when does he NOT sound like he’s about to cry when he’s around his Shizun?). “This disciple understands if Shizun thinks this Binghe is ugly and doesn’t wish to see his face anymore now that he has seen him like this.”
Shen Qingqiu felt a mixture of exasperation and panic at Binghe’s words. How could Binghe still think Shen Qingqiu hated him?! It was the exact opposite! He was so happily disgustingly in love that the Peerless Cucumber inside of him cringes!
“Binghe… How could you think this master would hate you if your appearance changed? Don’t talk down on yourself, Binghe is the most beautiful.” Shen Qingqiu extends a hand and reaches up to cup his Binghe’s cheek. “This master could never hate you.”
“Shizun!” Binghe cries, tears finally spilling over. Luo Binghe fell to his knees and latched onto Shen Qingqiu, hiding his face in his Shizun’s robes. Shen Qingqiu felt wet patches form on his robes from Binghe’s tears.
Shifting the blanket so he could hold it around himself with one hand, Shen Qingqiu used his other hand to pet his Binghe’s curls. “Don’t cry Binghe, this husband is here.”
Luo Binghe looked up at Shen Qingqiu had rested his chin against his chest with eyes that were still brimmed with tears. These tears never failed to tug at Shen Qingqiu’s heart. Letting go of the blanket and letting it fall to the floor, he used his now free hand to wipe away his husband’s tears.
“Shizun is really not disgusted by this Binghe’s appearance?” Binghe whispered.
“This husband would never,” Shen Qingqiu whispered back with a gentle smile. Luo Binghe beamed brightly at those words. The protagonist’s smile was so bright that Shen Qingqiu almost had to squint his eyes to prevent being blinded. The tail behind Binghe swayed and curled, and for a moment Shen Qingqiu was mesmerised by the movement. “Let's go back to bed, hm? This husband wishes to spend more time with his dear Binghe before having to get ready for the day.”
“Husband!” Binghe all but chirps, arms tightening around his Shizun and burrowing his face into his chest. This drew a small huff of amusement from Shen Qingqiu as he resumed petting Binghe’s untameable curls.
They sat there a few more moments in a comfortable science before Shen Qingqiu felt Luo Binghe shift against him. He thought Binghe was going to stand up, but he did not expect to be swept off his feet into a bridal carry, so forgive him for letting out an undignified yelp. His arms automatically locked around Binghe’s neck to stabilize himself.
“Binghe!” Shen Qingqiu scolded.
“Sorry Shizun..” The culprit said. Luo Binghe did not look sorry one bit.
“Hmph.”
Shen Qingqiu allowed a small pout to form for a few seconds before his thin face made him get rid of it. Looking up at Binghe, he couldn’t help but notice how much taller his husband was like this and how far away the ground looked. Unclasping one of his arms from where they were locked around Binghe’s neck, he reached to stroke Binghe’s hair. It was so soft and fluffy! He couldn’t help it ok! Leave him alone!
Following a sudden spark of curiosity, Shen Qingqiu lightly stroked one of Luo Binghe’s horns. He felt a slight shiver run through Binghe’s body and feared that he had hurt his husband in some way. Though a quick look at Binghe’s face looking at him like he created the stars told him otherwise. Reassured, Shen Qingqiu resumed his petting. The horns felt just like nails, only a little smoother and a lot harder. They were sharp where they twisted and spiralled and ended at a very dangerous-looking point. They were the same gorgeous blood red as Binghe’s eyes and demon mark.
“Does Shizun like them?”
“This master likes them very much, Binghe is the most beautiful person this master has ever seen,” Shen Qingqiu says mindlessly, still focused on tracing the small ridges at the base of the horn he was holding.
He felt Binghe huff a laugh before lowering his head and pushing it further into Shen Qingqiu’s hand. Like a cat asking for more pets. “This Binghe is glad Shizun is so fond of this form. This Binghe doesn’t know what he would have done if Shizun had rejected it.”
“How could this master reject Binghe? This husband would love his Binghe no matter what form he assumed.” Shen Qingqiu knew that Binghe was more than likely just fishing for compliments, but he was more than happy to give them to him. After all, if not him, then who else would let his husband know how gorgeous and amazing and talented he was and give him all the head pats he deserves? Shen Qingqiu knew it sounded corny, but he would still love his white lotus even if some magical plot device turned him into a worm.
Shen Qingqiu ceased his petting and used his hand to cup Binghe’s cheek. Binghe turned his head into it and kissed the inside of his palm, the ticklish feeling drawing a small laugh from Shen Qingqiu. Leaning closer, (he can now confirm that yes, his husband now has stripey markings) he places a kiss on Binghe’s forehead, right at the centre of the demon mark.
“I love Shizun. This husband is the luckiest to have Shizun by his side,” Binghe sighs, sounding as Shen Qingqiu has come to realize as ‘completely lovesick’.
“I love Binghe too. Now let's get back to bed, hm?” Shen Qingqiu felt heat rise to his cheeks at the drop in formalities. He wanted to go back to be and snuggle up to his furnace of a husband and hide from the world by burying his face in Binghe’s even larger chest.
“As Shizun says,” Binghe presses a chaste kiss to Shen Qingqiu’s lips before tightening his hold on his Shizun and carrying him towards their bedroom. Tail happily curling and wrapping around one of Shen Qingqiu’s ankles. Breakfast could surely wait a little while longer.