Something of Time

By SMYGO4EVA

Even as the air grew cold, neither one of them moved from their spot, under the canopy of a looming tree, its leaves floating to the ground.

If Feng Xin knew anything for certain, it was that the changing colors of the leaves brought either good fortune or terrible omens.

Which one was it this time, he didn't know.

He wasn't even sure that Mu Qing thought about it either. Maybe he did, perhaps, or perhaps not.

Feng Xin had grown tired of the fanfare and festivities, so he took off to steady himself from all the noise, and Mu Qing soon joined him.

Autumn had arrived, after a seemingly never-ending summer, and the quiet finally settled for them.

Neither could tell what the other was thinking half the time, when it wasn't annoyed glances or scathing comments. It was always something with either of them.

Mu Qing smiled, and Feng Xing straightened himself.

"What is it?"

"Are you feeling better now?" Mu Qing asked, though he had an inkling of what the other man would say. "Now that you've had some time to recollect?"

Feng Xin stilled for a moment, and then breathed out a sigh, nodding his head.

"Do you feel like joining the others again?"

Feng Xing shook his head. "Not yet."

Mu Qing shrugged. "Yeah, me neither. I mean, anyone else would do just fine, but I'm glad you're here to keep me company."

"I resent that." Feng Xin quipped, his face pink, but Mu Qing just chuckled.

There was much to see in the coming season, and though they wouldn't admit to the other, they very much hoped so.