Chapter Text
It was a busy morning in the human realm, as per usual. The streets were bustling with merchants trying to sell their goods and folks ranging from rich nobles to commoners who barely make a living. There's also those who live like rags, dirt poor and made to be stepped on by everyone else. The majority of them are composed of orphaned children or the elderly, maimed or too fragile to earn their keep. The rest of the humans look at them with disgust or pity, it was always one of the two.
"You're stealing again, you vile rat!" A merchant who sold overpriced grain shouted at the top of his lungs in the middle of the street, flinging a little girl who looked roughly 8 or 9 years of age to the hard ground. It was hard to tell how old she was because her growth seems to be stunted by malnutrition and she's made up of mostly skin and bones. The girl, instead of standing up and running away, desperately gathered the grain that was scattered on the ground – trying to salvage what she could. This infuriated the merchant even more, he used all his force to stomp on the child who didn't even whimper underneath his heavy foot. As he was about to kick her one more time, his foot was blocked by a sturdy arm which caused him to stumble back and fall on his butt. It was quite a sight that even passersby couldn't help but giggle and whisper among themselves.
"I'll pay for the grain, but kick her one more time and you'll pay with your leg." He Bo's glare sent shivers down the merchant's spine who scrambled to get up. He helped the girl up and shook the dust off of her already tattered clothing before handing her a bag of grain which she hurriedly took without a word. She looked up at He Bo with the eyes of a wounded feral animal who has been offered kindness for the first time in its life, it was filled with confusion and gratitude – so much so that He Bo didn't need to hear it for him to know how thankful she was. The girl ran off without looking back.
"Stop right there, brat." Shuiguan waited for the girl at the exact alley she was going to take to go back to the other kids she sticks with and took advantage of He Bo being busy paying the merchant. He blocked her way without much effort earning him a sharp glare from the girl who hugged the bag of grain like her life depended on it.
"Relax, I'm not after your food. Let me give you something else." He knelt down in front of her and placed his palm that suddenly glowed gold on her head, she tried to break free from his touch but it felt like she was glued to the ground. This time, she truly felt fear.
"You will have a pretty decent life going forward, brat. I've given you quite a lot of luck." Shuiguan released her and she bolted immediately finding the whole event strange and terrifying. A few moments later, he saw He Bo who probably walked around the street to look for him after paying at the entrance of the alley.
"Why did you suddenly disappear?" He Bo asked, his brows furrowed in annoyance.
"You were starting a fight and I would not want any part in it. I've told you already, I am knowledgeable in a lot of aspects, with the exception of martial arts." Shuiguan raised his hands innocently as he walked over.
"Are you even a man at all? Why are you such a coward?" He Bo rolled his eyes and started walking the street again with Shuiguan following suit.
"There are many ways to prove that I'm a man. Care to elaborate on that, Xiao Bo?" The back and forth teasing continued as they strolled the market.
Suddenly there was the sound of hoofs clacking at full speed, pots and stalls breaking, people running, and a series of horrified screams from women and children rang in the area which caught He Bo's attention. Shuiguan didn't seem too alarmed when he followed He Bo who made his way to where the commotion was. He squeezed his way in to find the merchant he argued with trampled to death by a horse. The steed escaped from a nearby stable after it was uncharacteristically spooked and went mad. It was a gruesome sight, blood splattered all over his stall and the rest of his grains. He Bo felt like someone poured cold water on him, his body went numb from the sight and scent of blood. He stumbled backwards and fell right into Shuiguan's arms who remained calm and uncaring about the situation at hand.
Shuiguan is the God who averts misfortune, but like Tianguan said, divert is a much more suitable term for his power. He can only provide fortune to a human if he takes their misfortune and puts it somewhere else. In a sense, it was like switching people's lotteries after finding out the results. It was precisely why he didn't like using it. Unlike Tianguan who can grant wishes without repercussions and Diguan who can forgive sins as he deems worthy, Shuiguan's power relies on blessing a life while at the same time cursing another.
He dragged He Bo away from the crowd and back to a house he created for himself in the human realm, their fingers were intertwined the whole way as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The house was in a small and simple yard close to the woods, even Diguan and Tianguan are unaware of it. This hideout was made specifically to seem more human and to watch He Bo closely – a hideout solely for him and He Bo. Shuiguan sat him down in his cramped dining area and sat beside him. He was still pretty pale from the shock and his hand was still cold and sweaty. He's all tough on the outside but he folds with the slightest sight of blood. Shuiguan thought to himself as he released He Bo's hand and placed it on his back instead, stroking it in slow, calming circles.
"Why are you so calm after... Seeing that?" He Bo asked after a long moment of nothing but silence.
"Death is a natural thing. Everything that lives will eventually die. Death is not something that fazes me." Shuiguan smiled as he explained this to him. In their existence, death is the most natural occurrence after all.
"I know, but death still scares me... Your death scares me... I definitely won't allow you to die before me." He Bo swore it so stubbornly that it made Shuiguan laugh at how endearing he was. The sincerity He Bo had shown him was something undeniable at this point. They've spent a year together now and he thinks he can actually do this for longer, maybe even forever if it was possible at all. He Bo made him feel like being a normal human is actually quite nice – so much so that it sometimes leads him to forget that he isn't Shui, the know-it-all friend of He Bo. He is Shuiguan, the third rank water official of the Jade Emperor.
"Why are you laughing? Doesn't my death scare you?" The question from He Bo came out quite offended by his laughter, only meant to bicker with him, but Shuiguan went silent. His expression was one He Bo hadn't seen before and couldn't quite read. The realization came like waves inevitably crashing on the shore. Ah, I am afraid. Shuiguan thought to himself. He met He Bo's worried gaze, he was waiting for Shuiguan to say something to break the awkward silence, or to even just laugh it off.
"It does, He Bo. It's become the only thing I fear in this world." He reached out to He Bo's cheek, cupping it in his palm and feeling the warmth slowly spreading across it. The other caved in to his touch, although visibly confused as to what was happening.
"I will not allow you to die either." On the outside, it was a simple statement, but for him, it was an oath. A promise to protect him with all that he has. A confession of the love that he realized after the fear of losing He Bo crept into his heart. Shuiguan leaned in after the words left his mouth. His lips just slightly grazed He Bo's, merely asking for permission – testing his reaction.
He Bo's eyes were screwed shut, flushed red from his cheeks down to his neck and even up until the tips of his ears. After a few seconds of silence, he slowly opened his eyes just to meet Shuiguan's who never stopped watching him.
"Stop me now if you wish to, He Bo. If you don't do it now, you will not be able to later." Shuiguan whispered right into his ear sending shivers down his spine. There was no answer from He Bo, just a light tug at the sleeve of his robe, his round eyes glazed with tears brimming with want and it reflected Shuiguan – only him – Just as it should be.
Shuiguan dove in without another word, biting at the bottom of He Bo's lip to beg – or rather, force entry, to which the latter gave in to with a gasp. His tongue explored the expanse of He Bo's mouth, not leaving a single corner of it untouched. He Bo couldn't do anything but melt from the continuous attack, and Shuiguan couldn't have that – not when he hasn't even started yet. He carried He Bo hooking his legs onto his back for stability without breaking the kiss, it was done with so much ease that it annoyed the inexperienced human who was barely keeping up with him. Although Shuiguan's aggressive advances felt more like an assault than a proclamation of love, nicking and bruising He Bo's lips as if he wanted to swallow him whole, he still managed to softly place him on the bed that just barely fit two full-grown men. He Bo didn't know where to put his hands so he grasped the sheets underneath him instead, worried that his inexperience would put Shuiguan off without knowing that it was actually arousing him more. Shuiguan pulled away from his lips and went down to the side of his neck, licking, tasting, and marking the already red skin as he worked on undressing He Bo, desperate to touch more of his skin. The latter couldn't help but tilt his head towards the touch of Shuiguan's lips, his breath hitching every time making his head all fuzzy. He felt the kisses going down from his neck to his exposed chest, it seems Shuiguan had an expertise with the art of undressing and it irritated him for some reason. His thoughts were wiped out and reflexes kicked in when he felt a mouth on his nipple, his hand immediately went to grab Shuiguan's hair who grunted and looked up at him from the sudden pull. Their eyes met and Shuiguan smiled into his skin, teeth grazing on the hard and sensitive bundle of nerves. He Bo couldn't help but tug harder at the locks of hair in his hand, but that wasn't going to stop the man above him at all. Shuiguan's hand went to caress the other side of his chest, flicking and occasionally pinching hard enough to pull out gasps and suppressed moans from He Bo. His free hand went down slowly, tracing the latter's slim waist and going even further down to the evident bulge in his pants. He Bo involuntarily bucked his hips, yearning for that sweet friction – and who was Shuiguan to deny him anything? He slid his hand inside He Bo's pants and grasped his leaking cock which earned him a soft moan. He would love to just watch him fall apart and be unable to control his voice, he can't help but wonder what his hoarse moans would sound like after he screams with pleasure for the rest of the night. He swiped his thumb over the sensitive head and used the wetness as lubricant, stroking the rest of the shaft that was painfully hard in his hand. He Bo loosened his grip on Shuiguan's hair and brought his arm to his mouth, biting and breaking his own skin to stifle his moans.
"I'm the only one allowed to mark you, He Bo, keep that in mind." Shuiguan released his abused nipples and slid two fingers inside He Bo's mouth as he licked at the dribble of liquid down his chin. He only stopped shoving when the latter made choking sounds – and even that was like music to his ears.
He pulled his fingers out of He Bo's mouth and replaced it with his own tongue, trapping him in another aggressive kiss, swallowing every sound that ripped out of his throat from Shuiguan stroking his length relentlessly with just the right pace and amount of pressure – it was perfection. He Bo impatiently – and quite clumsily, started to undo the ties of Shuiguan's robes. He wanted to see all of him and feel more of his skin, but most importantly, he wanted to prove that he wanted him just as much. Shuiguan understood without him asking, he leaned back a little to give him room and waited for him to undo the rest of the ties with shaky hands. He watched He Bo with so much endearment, tucking the stray strands of hair that was in his face to the back of his ear and teasingly caressed the lobe with his finger. His robes fell open after some time revealing his wide chest and toned abdominal muscles that were quite unexpected to He Bo. He's more fit than I am and he doesn't know martial arts? What a waste. He couldn't help but get lost in thought as he scanned Shuiguan's body.
"I know that you like what you see, but you can save that for some other time. We still have a lot to do." He smiled sweetly – a contrast to his hand vulgarly sliding He Bo's inside his pants. It was quite satisfying for him to watch the little human's eyes widen after touching the shaft that only barely fits in his hand.
He Bo looked at him in question, but there was no time to back out now – He had warned him once, and that was more than enough. He pulled down He Bo's pants, completely exposing him from head to toe – and oh – the sight was so glorious that he made sure to carve it into his brain. Now he knows that He Bo's skin doesn't flush red just up until his neck, it goes further down – across his chest, and even up to the beautiful thing between his legs. He planted another kiss on his lips, a brief one this time, before going straight down to the inside of He Bo's thighs. He planted soft kisses and occasionally bit and marked the expanse of milky white skin. He then headed over to He Bo's cock that has been begging for his attention. He had been with men before, but pleasuring them in this way is not something he has done. He had an innate pride of a God after all, why would he stoop low in front of a mere human? He smiled as he met gazes with He Bo, a mix of anxiety and anticipation danced in his pretty little face – such an unlikely pair of emotions to be felt together. This is no mere human now, this is my human. He thought to himself before giving an experimental lick along the length of the shaft, earning him a shiver and a soft moan from his little human. His reactions were so delicious making Shuiguan feel like he can do this all day. He took the shaft in one hand and began stroking it as he licked the precum leaking from the head. It was a bit salty – earthy, it was a taste he couldn't quite explain, but he liked that too. He liked tasting him and the fact that he was obviously the first to do so just makes it even more enticing than it already is. He took the head into his mouth at first, testing his capabilities and watching He Bo's reaction. He wasn't disappointed when the human gripped the sheets and bit his lip to suppress a moan, but his throat still made a pleased raspy sound. That was all Shuiguan needed to take it further in his mouth, moving his head up and down at a leisurely pace. It was a discovery that he doesn't have a gag reflex, it made things much easier and much more pleasurable for He Bo who didn't know where to grip on at this point. He wished he could look away from embarrassment, but it was impossible to do so when their eyes were locked at each other – deeply enthralled by the sight they offer. Shuiguan could feel that He Bo was getting close to his climax from the way he was moaning softly without realizing and impatiently bucking his hips to seek out the warm wetness of Shuiguan's mouth. He pulled the length completely out, making a wet sloppy noise as he did and He Bo let out a gasp in response – it sounded like a complaint as he looked down at Shuiguan, confused and very very aroused.
"Shh. I'll give you more soon, and you will do nothing but take. Do you understand?" Shuiguan came up to him again, planting soft kisses at his temple as he reached out for something on his nightstand. All He Bo could do was nod obediently like he was under some sort of spell.
Shuiguan started kissing him again prying his mouth open with his thumb to make way for his tongue. He was making good on his words that he will give, and all He Bo will do is take it. His hand went back down to the cock, still hot and heavy with arousal after being pushed back from the edge. His free hand snaked around He Bo's waist, stroking his skin downwards, until he reached the perfectly plump bottom, giving it a squeeze – just hard enough for his fingers to leave a reddish mark on it. He Bo's breath hitched but the sounds of protest were just swallowed in their kiss. He reached out to the small porcelain container that he took out from the stand and dug his fingers into the gel-like mixture made from aloe that was usually used for wounds. He took an ample amount – all this without breaking the kiss, keeping He Bo as busy as he could be with his mouth and the hand slowly stroking his cock.
"Do you trust me?" He broke the kiss, stopping his hand as well to ask He Bo who just impatiently chased after his lips again. Shuiguan chuckled as he avoided contact, trying to get an answer before anything else.
"I do..." He Bo answered with a notable frustration in his voice.
That was all Shuiguan needed. He continued to stroke He Bo's length, slowly with the right amount of pressure just to keep him on the edge but not enough for release, he then pressed his lubricated finger to the rim of the chaste hole between his thighs. He Bo's eyes widened in surprise and he tried to close his legs, but Shuiguan immediately squeezed in between them – shockingly, he couldn't overpower him at all. Shuiguan plunged a finger in, eliciting an uncomfortable groan from He Bo. He then pulled him in for another hungry kiss, adding another finger in to help loosen up the tight hole, or how else would it fit something bigger? He Bo struggled underneath him at first, finding this whole situation uncomfortable and humiliating, but then, Shuiguan pressed on a spot inside him that made him unable to form any thought. He couldn't even suppress the embarrassingly high-pitched moan that came out of his mouth as he arched his back from the touch, precum dribbling from the tip of his cock. Shuiguan's patience was wearing thin and the sounds He Bo made wasn't helping him. He took out his fingers and lined his painfully hard length up on He Bo's entrance that was still slightly open. He pushed the head in without much warning and he was met by resistance and a strong pull at his loose hair that was hanging from the sides. He Bo writhed underneath him and bit his lip to endure it but he was obviously in pain.
"You're taking me in so well, Xiao Bo. Relax... Just breathe.. It will be better soon." Shuiguan said through gritted teeth as he kissed He Bo's eyelids that were shut tightly from the pain. He was also in more or less the same pain from how tightly he was being squeezed but he managed to fit the head in with the help of more gel. He Bo remained still, his hands holding tightly on to the locks of Shuiguan's hair.
"It hurts... Bastard..." He Bo muttered under his breath but he didn't push him away. It was surely painful – how could it not be when Shuiguan was... well-endowed... but the feeling of being connected with him was something he couldn't hate.
"Shh... Look, it's all in now." Shuiguan whispered so softly and it made He Bo finally open his eyes and look down at where they were connected – vision still blurry with tears. His brows furrowed when he thought he saw it wrong but the wicked smile on Shuiguan's face was enough of a sign to know he was tricked. The bastard barely had the head in but when He Bo relaxed at the same moment he looked down, Shuiguan shamelessly slammed it all in at once – skin flushed against skin. He didn't even let the human react, he swallowed whatever protest He Bo was going to make with a deep kiss, shoving his tongue as far as he could into He Bo's mouth. The feeling was divine for Shuiguan – It was nothing like he ever felt before, and that was odd because from how long he lived and how most of that life was spent on carnal pleasures, he thought he'd already known and felt everything there was to know and feel. Yet, here he is, proven wrong by a mere human who hasn't even passed 30 years of age.
Shuiguan tried to hold back as much as he could, alternating between pulling out shallowly before plunging back in and drawing circles with his hips in a slow and steady rhythm to ease He Bo into the feeling of his cock inside him. It took some time but the pained groans eventually turned into soft, quiet moans, the tight hole that was threatening to snap him into two was now quite used to his shape, He Bo's hands that were restlessly holding on to Shuiguan's hair had slowly crawled up to his naked back, clawing at him every time he moved a little too fast to his liking. That doesn't stop Shuiguan from his assaults at all though, he just responds to He Bo with whispered praises right into his ear, melting him – reducing him to a mush. The pace quickened without the human even realizing, not when Shuiguan's hand was wrapped around his cock with the perfect amount of tightness – stroking it at just the right pace to keep him on edge, occasionally rubbing the head to send electrifying pleasure coursing through his body. While he was succumbing to the feeling at the front, Shuiguan managed to hit the spot that made him see stars. The high-pitched moan that slipped from his mouth, and the way his toes curled was a telltale sign for Shuiguan to keep pressing on that same spot.
"Shui'er... Not... there..." He Bo protested in between a mess of gasps and moans that he couldn't contain as he scratched and clawed at Shuiguan's back, hard enough to redden and eventually draw blood – which the latter couldn't care about as he was lost in his own lust. The strange feeling coiling at the pit of his stomach every time the head of Shuiguan's cock grazed that spot inside him, accompanied by his dangling climax from the relentless hand that played with him was too much to handle. The pain and pleasure mixed into such an intense feeling that was driving him to the brink of insanity and the way he couldn't control his own body was scaring him. He called out to Shuiguan's name over and over between moans that were now closer to sobs, tears streaming down his cheeks from the intensity of it all – the name leaving his lips and the sight of him reduced to an oversensitized, sobbing mess made Shuiguan's last bit of self control snap.
"You're so pretty when you cry..." Shuiguan whispered against his cheek – his breath hot with arousal that sent shivers down He Bo's spine.
The next thing he knew, Shuiguan had already adjusted their position, hanging one of He Bo's legs over his shoulder, and trapping the other in between his own thighs making him flip to his side – all this without even taking it out. The human couldn't resist as Shuiguan pulled almost all the way out before slamming himself back into the hilt, he moaned in a low – almost animalistic tone from satisfaction. He started out slow but it didn't take long for him to quicken the pace, the contact of their skin making obscene, wet noises that filled the room. He Bo was pliant underneath him, unable to do anything other than say his name like a prayer that Shuiguan answers with each thrust sending him closer and closer to heaven.
"You're so good for me, Xiao Bo... It feels so good to be inside you... Do you feel good too? Hm?" Shuiguan pulled him up, changing positions once more. He Bo was now on top of him, his arms crossed around Shuiguan's neck while the latter's arm was wrapped around his slim waist to keep him steady. The human was unable to answer, so lost in the midst of the mind-blowing sex – his mouth gaping slightly, allowing tiny moans to escape past it, his cheeks were flushed red and sweat built on his temples and trickled down his neck and chest that were all filled by bite marks and hickeys. Shuiguan's free hand went down to caress the bulge of his own cock on He Bo's abdomen, pressing on it. The human gasped and his hole squeezed him tighter in response. A titillated smile danced across Shuiguan's face – clearly liking the reaction he earned from He Bo. He placed both his hands at He Bo's waist, his thumbs pressing as hard as he could at the bulge as he moved him up and down on his lap. He Bo tilted his head back, moaning and crying with each thrust – so lost in the pleasure that he would've fallen backwards if Shuiguan wasn't holding him so tightly. He was getting closer and closer to his climax, and Shuiguan could feel it from the way he was squeezing down on him. He slammed his cock deeper and faster each time, helping He Bo reach the peak while chasing for his at the same time. It took one final thrust, and He Bo was cumming all over him – moaning his name. Shuiguan was put on the edge as well from how tight He Bo's hole was around him, taking only a few more thrusts before he came, hard – painting the insides of the human's tight wetness with his own seed. Shuiguan left his half-hard cock inside, cum trickling down He Bo's thigh as they kissed once more – slowly this time. They went on just like that as they let the height of their climax go down naturally.
"Sleep, my love." Shuiguan muttered in between the kiss a few words that was actually a spell. He Bo's head immediately dropped to his chest, the feeling of his steady breathing and his heartbeat was such a delightful thing. Now he knows why humans cuddle after sex. He tucked the stray hair that was sticking to his face from the sweat to the back of his ears that were still burning red. He kissed the top of He Bo's head, inhaling the distinctive scent that comforted him.
He is a God that has lived for many years, watching mortals, demons, and even Gods, come and go. He felt some sort of familiarity with Tianguan and Diguan, they had known each other all their lives after all – but that was it. He Bo was different. In the short time they have spent together, he felt like he had a home – not a place, but a living, breathing human who had a twisted fate. He is confident in his abilities, Diguan and Tianguan couldn't save him because he was a special case, but he's sure that he can. What's easier than switching his fate with another human? He'd pick the one with the best fortune out even if it meant disturbing karma. Yes. Everything will be fine. He thought to himself as he held He Bo tighter in his arms.