Mixed Robes [FengQing]

Waiting

"Aiiiiish, my back hurts," Mu Qing grumbled. Despite that, Mu Qing hobbled around to make dinner.

It had been only two months, yet Mu Qing's stomach grew. Although it was practically nothing compared to a mother's who was nearly due, he still complained because he'd never had such weight put on himself for such a long amount of time. Two months felt like two centuries, who knew how long it would feel until he was due? 

Mu Qing stirred the contents of a soup that he was making in a pot. Gods didn't need to eat, but Mu Qing was pregnant, so it was a must. He was happily [?] making chicken soup when Feng Xin embraced him from behind.

"Heh. Hubby is so big," he snickered, burying his face into the crook of Mu Qing's neck. Mu Qing sneered, yet blushed, and shoved him.

"Who's so big, huh?! You get pregnant and see what it feels like. Now you have to be lucky that... that you're a top. Otherwise, who would stand your moaning and groaning for two months straight?" Mu Qing snapped. Feng Xin giggled [yes, giggled] and patted Mu Qing's stomach.

Strange enough, Feng Xin was excited to have a mini-him. He would spend some of his time kneeling and dead-staring Mu Qing's stomach down. Sometimes he would rest his face against it and say, "Comfy in there, isn't it?", making Mu Qing slap his head. Feng Xin loved his husband, and that strange baby inside his husband. 

"Flower flower strawberry flower," Feng Xin said. Mu Qing slowly turned around.

"What..." Mu Qing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. That was the most random thing Feng Xin said. Seeing Feng Xin stare into space, he turned back around. He continued to stir the soup. Then, Feng Xin embraced him again.

"What is it now?" Mu Qing asked.

"Hungry," Feng Xin mumbled. Mu Qing was dumbstruck. Wasn't Mu Qing the one who was supposed to be acting all moody and strange, not the one who was taking care of Feng Xin and making soup?!

"What's with you now, so childish and idiotic?" Mu Qing snapped, putting down his ladle. 

"Waiting is so long... I want to see the child now..." Feng Xin sniveled. Again, Mu Qing was dumbstruck. Feng Xin wouldn't have said that if only Lan Ning had filled them in on exactly what made birthing a child painful and all. 

"Don't be so impatient. Lan Ning said that the child would come in five months," Mu Qing muttered. 

"Well, fine. I can wait, then." Feng Xin replied. With nothing else to do, Feng Xin played with Mu Qing's long hair, twisting and braiding it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Lan Ning came to visit.

"Hi, generals," Lan Ning greeted with a smile. Feng Xin, who led her in, returned the smile. 

"Ah, Miss Lan Ning," Mu Qing greeted. He was brewing some tea by the table.

"So, shall we?" Lan Ning asked. Mu Qing nodded, pouring the tea out into three teacups. 

"I'll be visiting a little more often, just to make sure that things are going okay," Lan Ning started. "Maybe about once a week? Is that alright?"

"It's fine. We don't have much to do anyway," Feng Xin replied. Mu Qing nodded.

"All right. I have a little more information gathered by my palace. I assumed Xie Lian dianxia got pregnant before General Xuan Zhen did, so I asked him if I could examine him. Although... although Crimson Rain Sought Flower was unwilling, dianxia persuaded him to agree. I can confirm that the child will be due in five months." Lan Ning said in one breath. Mu Qing and Feng Xin nodded, and Lan Ning took another breath in.

"I have made assumptions that the baby would come out normally, as a woman's," Lan Ning cleared her throat. "I don't want to go in-depth with the details, so I'll leave it at that. Truly, though, it's a miracle that General Xuan Zhen and the child have held out this long," Lan Ning finished, with an amused look on her face. She sipped at her tea.

"Thanks, Miss Lan Ning," Mu Qing said. Lan Ning nodded.

"May I see your pulse?" Lan Ning asked. Mu Qing nodded and held out his arm for her to examine. She rolled up her sleeves and pressed two fingers to Mu Qing's wrist. After a moment of contemplation, she released her grip on Mu Qing's wrist and rolled her sleeves back down.

"Everything seems to be fine, nothing abnormal," she said with a gentle smile. Mu Qing nodded, and Feng Xin let out a quiet sigh. 

"Mm. Thanks, Lan Ning," Feng Xin said. Getting up and pushing her chair back into where it was, she lightly bowed. 

"There's nothing left to do, so I will take my leave now. Bye, generals, and don't forget to take good care of yourselves. General Nan Yang doesn't need much good care, but you do have to prepare yourself mentally! I've dealt with first mothers and fathers, and you certainly have to prepare mentally!" Lan Ning said with a smile. Feng Xin raised his eyebrows and shrugged. 

"I will. And I'll make sure A-Qing- General Xuan Zhen takes GOOD CARE of himself," Feng Xin replied. Mu Qing scoffed and crossed his arms. 

"Who needs to make sure that I take care of myself? I already do," Mu Qing scoffed. Lan Ning chuckled.

"Well, I'll see myself out now. You two should enjoy each other while you still can," Lan Ning finished. She walked out with a wave, closing the large doors behind her. That left the couple alone together. 

It was a little later in the day, so the sun was starting to set. Mu Qing got up from his seat and pushed it back in. 

"Let's go back to our house in the woods," Mu Qing suggested. He looked like he was in a good mood. 

"Sure. Come on," Feng Xin said. Without further delay, Mu Qing ran ahead and grabbed Feng Xin's arm as he dragged him along. He was still as agile as ever, running as if he had nothing to lose. Feng Xin set his eyes on him, smiling. The gentle clinks of Feng Xin's armor sounded as he ran along with Mu Qing. To where they didn't know. Soon, Feng Xin quickly summoned a draft of wind and gently pulled Mu Qing on it along with himself. Mu Qing tumbled onto the draft of wind, laughing. Feng Xin laughed, too, hugging and lightly wrestling with Mu Qing in ways that [probably] won't hurt the child. They were happy, and perhaps, happiness could last long too.

～～～～～～～～～

As Mu Qing and Feng Xin walked together in the forest, the setting sun cast an orange glow across their faces. They sat under a willow tree, close and intimate. Nobody said anything. Nobody needed to say anything. Mu Qing moved to lean his head onto Feng Xin's shoulder, but seeing that sharp golden shoulder armor, he tore it off and then rested his head on Feng Xin's shoulder. Mu Qing gently patted his stomach, making a sound of amusement. Feng Xin heaved a breath and placed his hand over Mu Qing's. Just then, they felt a gentle movement. The movement was minute, but depending on their instincts, they felt it. Mu Qing jerked his head and looked down at his stomach. Feng Xin chuckled in amusement and hugged Mu Qing closer.

"Hello, little one," Mu Qing breathed.

*adorable or corny, I can't choose between the two. Ah... to have a loved one beside you...*