Becoming close

The outside world is incredible.

The landscapes are so beautiful and diverse that they did not hesitate to stop to immortalize them on paper. They crossed mountains and rivers and helped thousands of people. They enjoyed the varied gastronomy and the picturesque festivals where they played and had fun.

Everywhere, people are always astonished to see that "unusual pair". The one in white talked non-stop and looked like someone who did not know sadness since his beautiful face was always decorated with a kind and bright smile. On the other hand, the one in black was quite serious, his voice being for many a mystery; he proved to be kind too, but the cold dancing in his pretty eyes made him look rather listless.

That being the case, the people did not understand how they got on so well! Sometimes, only an exchange of glances —and perhaps a smile— was required to understand the thinking of others.

Many cities and towns they visited and varied stories were told them: legends of heroes defeating beasts or facing demons, the origin of some misfortunes thrown or of the celestial graces granted.

Young Xiao and Song were ecstatic about everything. In each new place they arrived, there was something new to know ... or defeat. Because not everything was happiness and good sunny days. If beauty exists, ugliness also.

They met new evils, and faced demons and creatures they only thought existed in their textbooks. The people were not entirely good: some hid their mean side very well, and others who were more brazen did not even bother to hide it.

But those were so few ... not enough to destroy their pure worldview.

And so, for the naivety of their youth, they preferred to believe that everyone deserved the benefit of the doubt until something very concrete is reached. Ah! What will become of them in the future!

Between fun and a couple of sorrows, two months passed without notice.

Certain morning everything must have ended.

It was a Sunday before noon. The atmosphere was lazy both on the streets and in the room where they were. They just woke up; they were still sleepy, reluctant to move away from the pillow, and less from the bed. They were exhausted: for three days in a row, they had fought a great demonic beast, so powerful that they failed to exorcise it, only weaken it enough to subdue it inside a spiritual pot.

Exhausted, last night they did not have the energy to think of any solution, so they decided to discuss the next day the plan to exterminate the creature. But right now ... they just urgently needed sleep and healing! They did not even feel good enough to first take a bath or eat!

And that is how they ended up sleeping in the room of the first decent inn they found. For hygiene reasons, they only cleaned their entire body with a cloth before going to bed together.

Yes, in the same room. Yes, they used the same bed.

After so much time and so many adventures, what is there to be ashamed of or look bad about? They have eaten with the same utensils from the same plate and have bathed together in the rivers and springs; they know each other like the back of their hand and they only had each other for everything. This pair is so intimate that their relationship became deeper than that of a simple friendship... although they did not fully realize it. They consider the other to be their best friend of all life, so last night, they saw no problem sleeping together as usual to save a few coins.

Anyway, it was winter; it is okay to keep warm... right?

They did not give it much thought at the time.

Fortunately.

Otherwise, they would have noticed strange looks directed at them of the rest of the visitors to see them go to the same room holding hands.

Returning to Sunday morning: after whispering good morning and conversing for a while without moving from their close positions, these friends finally decided it was time to get up. The youngest, Song Yewan, was the first to do it. He got out of bed stretching his body and simply tied his hair into a ponytail; he dressed in his outer robes before going to the innkeeper to ask him to fill the wooden tub of the room and pay him for two breakfasts. That settled, he went to wash his face.

After this morning routine, he already felt more awake and thereby he returned to the room: in a good mood and with a basin full of clear water and a white handkerchief for his partner.

Upon arrival, everything was ready. The host was retiring, the bathtub was full, breakfast was ready on the table, and behind the screen, Xiao Qingchen was dozing sitting down on the bed.

...

Well, not everything was ready.

Song Yewan approached silently and crouched in front of him, arranging what he was bringing aside on the ground. He carefully observed his sleepy friend: his long and wavy hair was quite messy as was his tunic, which slid down his soft shoulder threatening to reveal it and part of his chest.

His expression was serene and even a little exhausted; his cheeks were rosy.

Song Yewan smiled upon seeing this image. It was funny and adorable to him, even more so when he compared it with the fierceness that the oldest showed the day before when he fought the beast. Arranging his clothes, he called out to him in a soft and deep voice:

—Hey... Qingchen.

Did not answer.

—Xiao Chen...

Nothing.

Seeing that he would not respond easily, he decided to try something new, not having hope that he would ever hear it. He lowered his head and whispered:

—A-Chen...

—Mhm?

Surprised and somewhat embarrassed, when he looked up he met the blue eyes of the other and a small smile on his lips. He did not know what to say.

—…The tub is ready.

—Say it again~

He fled from facing the other concentrating on getting up from his place, taking the basin, and the handkerchief in his hands again.

—Go take a bath.

—Say it again. —Xiao Qingchen requested making a small pout and pulling the sleeve of Song Yewan. Is he really the oldest?—. I heard you, don't run away. Repeat it~

—Go take a bath. —He repeats obediently.

—Not that! Hahahaha

Seeing him so self-conscious, he understood that he should not keep insisting (if he wanted to hear what he wanted soon). Then, he just laughed a little more without releasing it yet.

—I'll go, I'll go. Have you already done it?

—No...

—So I go in first? How considerate is this little bro~. As a thank you... hmm... I will brush and comb your hair. Okey~?

—Do not you always do it already?

—Yes, but this time it will be with gratitude.

Very subtly, Song Yewan smiled in amusement. Xiao Qingchen noticed this very easily and did so as well before getting up to stretch. Despite this, it was not easy for him to drive away from sleep and he went back to bed.

—...

—Don't say anything... I just want to sleep. —He whimpered—. Just for today ... can't we take the day off? Say yes~?

Song Yewan is weak to his requests, so he nodded in response. Xiao Qingchen saw it, yawn a "yay" and he celebrated quietly.

—Sit down, you will rest after cleaning yourself.

—Mhm... I'm so tired, can you wash–?

Before finishing, Song Yewan had already taken his small face in his hands. Xiao Qingchen fell silent in surprise and even blushed a little.

—Song Zhen...?

—Close your eyes.

—For what–? —He was surprised, but, noticing the soft gaze of the other, instinctively he stopped and obeyed—. Okay...

The next thing he felt was something wet on his cheek. And then it slipped to the other cheek.

Xiao Qingchen smiled: —Thank you, didi.

—Mhm.

Song Yewan was washing his face carefully. This touched him too much. What nation did he save in his past life to meet such a good best friend in this one? So lucky~

The gods laughed from the heavens at his innocent thoughts. Meanwhile, on earth, he just let himself be groomed smiling and in silence.

They both thought they could be like this all day, but ... the face is small and soon it is over.

Song Yewan placed the cloth in the bowl and took out a qiankun bag from his robe: from it he collected a pair of bathrobes and a talisman. He handed one of the robes to his partner and the other left on the bed; with talisman in hand, he withdrew to where the tub was.

—I will heat the water again, A-Chen... —He warned before hiding behind the screen. How shy.

The face of A-Chen turned colored again.

—Ah, Yewan! —He called before he managed to escape. Seeing him so condescending to him this morning, he was really tempted to try more of it. He saw him stop to listen—. Oh, I... I haven't so much energy today, you could help me... to–

He was interrupted by the appearance of a paper butterfly before his eyes. Where did it come from?! Instinctively, seeing her, he caught her with one hand. The writing on his wings was familiar, could it be ...?

The soft voice of his shifu reached his ears. She sounded somewhat anxious.

—Yewan… —When he returned his gaze to the other, he noticed that he also had a communication talisman camouflaged in his hands. His expression was serious, focused on the message that only he was hearing.

The voice of the teacher of Song Yewan is firm in his instruction, but the concern hidden between his words is still —a little— noticeable.

The order of their teachers is clear: they must immediately return to the sect.