--Cultivate--

[eyesofaproxy]

[When Wise was very young, or at least younger than he is now, he'd gotten lost in the forest outside Helios. He was only saved by a passing wandering cultivator, and to this day he's wanted to meet the man again to thank him. It doesn't matter that Helios fell and he and Belle moved to Yunkui Summit, he wants to find that man and thank him for what he did that day. He changed the trajectory of Wise's life, he's pretty sure, and he deserves to know that.

Granted, a wandering cultivator isn't why Wise (and Belle) is now the heir to Yunkui Summit, that is entirely because of Yixuan-shifu and their own unique abilities, but all the same. That man inspired Wise to get with Belle to create Phatheon, a nameless somebody who is able to hire people to handle things the larger temples and sects can't or won't.

Right now, though, Wise is not acting in the guise of Phaetheon. Wise is acting in the guise of a very annoyed older brother being strongarmed into going down the mountain for an annual check up, since apparently the doctors are all afraid of coming up the mountain after last year's run-in with Eous the spiritual monster rabbit. Cowards.]

I don't need to go right now, Belle, really.

Yes you do! And because there's bandits on the road, I even hired you a bodyguard!

Belle...

Comments

[fuegor]

[Ah, fuck he has to remember. Think, Lighter... it was around the time the Sun Capital fell... Helios, or whatever it was called locally. And that was...]

I wanna say... ten years ago?

[eyesofaproxy]

Ten years ago...outside Helios?

[fuegor]

Yeah! That's exactly it. I was there in the midst of it falling. I remembered seeing a kid with a moon on his shoulder...

[Was that Wise?]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise turns around, smiling.]

Did you save the kid, by any chance?

[fuegor]

... Yeah, I did. Just in time.

[The only time he did manage to save someone.]

[eyesofaproxy]

I'm only here because of you, then. That was me--I was lost in the forest, and those fierce corpses were closing in, remember?

[fuegor]

Yeah, it's all coming back to me now. There were two of them and one came real close to you. But they must not've been that smart in life let alone in death. The way they were moving it was easy to get between you and them. And that was before I learned to cleanse with fire.

[A laugh.]

Well, I did end up using some fire anyway. [Just from external sources.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Yeah, because I handed you a fire talisman, right? And then they were gone and you were literally hauling me back to the city.

[fuegor]

Well, I wasn't gonna let a kid run around in the forest alone.

[Said while laying a hand on Wise's back.]

What a small world we live in, huh...

[eyesofaproxy]

[His hand is warm. Wise smiles a little, blushing.]

Yeah. You saved my life, Lighter. Thank you.

[fuegor]

... I'm glad you're still alive, Wise.

[He was smiling, but it was weak. His feelings were genuine, but there was a pain in his heart and behind his eyes he held back. And the way they were standing by each other, Wise had a much clearer view of how Lighter's eyes looked.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[He does get a better look, and--]

Your eyes. What happened to them?

[fuegor]

... An old injury. I used to be part of a sect that was coming up in the ranks. Huo Dan. But it fell apart because of a huge mistake I made. A few years later I ended up in much more life threatening work, fighting day and night. And one day I fought so hard I nearly qi deviated.

["I should have qi deviated. I should have died with everyone else before that."]

Since then my eyes have been pretty sensitive to light.

[And that's the full truth of why he kept the blindfold on and his fringe long.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Oh. Wise starts to reach up and brush Lighter's bangs away but remembers himself and doesn't.]

...you know, I think I might be able to make or get you some shaded eyeglasses?

[fuegor]

[Oh. But Lighter notices every little movement.

And now he's blushing slightly.]

Really? It'd sure be helpful... make things easier to see and all.

[eyesofaproxy]

Belle and I made Yinhu-xiong's, so we can probably make some for you. Then you wouldn't have to wear the blindfold.

[He likes Lighter's eyes...]

[fuegor]

Well, if you're making the offer it'd be pretty messed up to refuse. I'd appreciate it. ... Thank you.

[Lighter liked Wise's eyes too.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Of course.

[He should move and start washing up. But he doesn't. He just stays there, smiling a little up at Lighter.]

[fuegor]

[They should, yeah. But how was Lighter supposed to do anything else when Wise was looking at him like that? Wise was so... cute. He was cute and delicate. But he was also sharp and clever.

God, why's his heart racing so much? He's very clearly blushing too.]

Is, uh.... is everything okay? You're kinda um... staring.

[eyesofaproxy]

[Ah. He glances away.]

A-am I? Sorry, everything's fine. I was just...thinking.

[fuegor]

[Lighter also glances away, shuffling awkwardly and grabbing around where he wore his red scarf. But nothing was there so he just. Ran a hand through the hair flowing down his shoulder.]

N-No, don't worry about it. If you wanna... talk about what's on your mind I'll listen.

We ought to finish bathing while we do that.

[eyesofaproxy]

Y-yeah.

[Wise ends up talking about the novels he likes, all of them romantic or extremely artsy, because if he doesn't he may end up doing something stupid.

Eventually, though, they're both done washing up. Wise hauls himself up to sit on the side of the spring.]

Oh, I needed that.

[fuegor]

[Lighter didn't mind Wise going on about his novels. He wasn't much of a reader himself, but he even asked for some recommendations! He ought to read more anyway, it's good for the brain. A good way to pass time and well, as a cultivator he's going to have a lot more of that.

Lighter sat next to Wise at the edge of the spring, wringing his hair out then letting it fall naturally against his back. He leaned backwards a little as he sat with a pleased sigh.]

Same here. It's been waaaay too long since I got to bathe in a spring for a good long while.

[eyesofaproxy]

We have bathtubs and all, but sometimes it's nice to just...relax outside, under the moon, yeah?

[fuegor]

Yeah, it is. The moon's real bright but it's not so bright it hurts my eyes. So I've really taken to appreciating it more.

[He leaned a little closer to Wise without thinking.]

It's a lot nicer with good company too.