Chapter Text
“Switch back,” Luo Binghe says irritably.
They’ve cornered Liu Qingge in a cave. Liu Qingge snarls at Luo Binghe while inching closer to Shen Qingqiu.
“Do you need this?” Shen Qingqiu asks, pulling Cheng Luan out of his robes.
Liu Qingge touches it and turns human again.
“Leave me alone,” he tells Luo Binghe as soon as he’s able.
“You’re the one who disguised yourself as a dog and lived with us all these years,” Luo Binghe says.
“You think I wanted to be a dog?” Liu Qingge snaps. “I was cursed.”
“Sure did a lot of nothing to break the curse,” Luo Binghe says, judgementally.
Liu Qingge grits his teeth. “I don’t need to explain myself to you,” he says.
“Shidi,” Shen Qingqiu says. “I— Did you decide to stay a dog to help us?”
Liu Qingge stiffens. “It wasn’t like I could turn back anyway,” he mutters, not answering the question.
Shen Qingqiu smiles at him, and Liu Qingge’s heart skips a beat. “Thank you,” he says.
Luo Binghe scoffs. “For tricking us?”
For half a second, Liu Qinge imagines the satisfaction of punching Luo Binghe, even knowing the demon would never let him. “I’m leaving,” he says instead. “Don’t follow me.”
—
Liu Qingge doesn’t return to Cang Qiong for another month.
It’s a good thing he stayed away, because after the very first night he spends on Bai Zhan Peak, he wakes up to find himself a dog, once again, curled up in front of Shen Qingqiu’s door.
Luckily, he wakes at dawn and leaves before either Shen Qingqiu or Luo Binghe discovers him.
He doesn’t know what Luo Binghe would have to say about Liu Qingge’s unintentional transformation, but he doesn’t want to hear it.
—
Liu Qingge dreams of traveling with Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe.
He’d grown used to it.
Being carried in Shen Qingqiu’s arms as they flew from place to place. Running alongside Luo Binghe as they hunted down some beast.
He misses them.
Outside of this dream realm, Liu Qingge is probably a dog sleeping outside of Shen Qingqiu’s house again. Because he can’t control the way he misses Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe, but they’ll never want him, not as a human.
It wouldn’t have been right to continue masquerading as a dog. Liu Qingge knows that.
But sometimes, he wishes Cheng Luan had never been found.
—
Luo Binghe visits Bai Zhan Peak and asks to spar.
Liu Qingge is suspicious, at first. But as weeks turn to months, and Luo Binghe keeps coming back, Liu Qingge lowers his guard.
Luo Binghe invites Liu Qingge to eat dinner with him and Shen Qingqiu, and Liu Qingge agrees.
Eventually, Liu Qingge doesn’t need an invitation. He just shows up on Qing Jing Peak, and they welcome him inside.
Liu Qingge returns to them late one night, after a long and tiring mission to defeat a horde of demons harassing a small town.
He could have gone to Bai Zhan Peak. But he didn’t want to.
He falls asleep in Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe’s home, and wakes up to find himself being petted. As Bai Lang.
Liu Qingge decides to stay.
—
“What triggers the transformation?” Luo Binghe asks.
Liu Qingge glances at Luo Binghe. “Strong emotions,” Liu Qingge answers.
“What strong emotions do you have in your sleep?”
Liu Qingge’s ears burn. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he says, brusquely.
Luo Binghe pouts. “If I win our next spar, will you tell me?”
“You always win,” Liu Qingge grumbles. “Why would I agree to that?”
“Is shishu scared?” Luo Binghe teases.
Liu Qingge rolls his eyes. “Drop it,” he tells Luo Binghe.
—
Luo Binghe doesn’t drop it.
Liu Qingge gives in after a week of pestering.
He figures it’ll be less embarrassing to admit what triggers the transformation after fighting Luo Binghe compared to confessing in Shen Qingqiu’s living room.
It is not less embarrassing. It is much more embarrassing.
Liu Qingge doesn’t know if Luo Binghe planned this, but he’s face up underneath all of Luo Binghe’s bodyweight, wrists pinned above his head, so he can’t even try to hide his face.
“What are you doing,” Liu Qingge demands. Luo Binghe has never— never stayed on him like this before. “Get off me.”
Luo Binghe smiles. “Your side of the deal first.”
Liu Qingge frowns. “I’m not going to go back on my word,” he says.
Luo Binghe tilts his head. “I know, but you’re going to hide your face.”
What? “What does that mean?”
“I want to see your face,” Luo Binghe says nonsensically.
Liu Qingge can’t keep looking at Luo Binghe. He closes his eyes. “Missing you,” he spits out. “I turn back when I dream of you,” he says, voice growing steadily quieter.
“Qingge,” Luo Binghe says. “I’m going to kiss you.”
Liu Qingge’s eyes fly open and immediately slam shut again when Luo Binghe’s lips touch his.
There’s not a single thought in Liu Qingge’s head while Luo Binghe’s lips are on his, but as soon as Luo Binghe pulls away, Liu Qingge panics.
“Wait, you— Shen Qingqiu— I—”
“This master is here, Liu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu says. Liu Qingge turns to see Shen Qingqiu standing a few meters away. “And as long as Liu-shidi gives this one a kiss, it’ll be even.”