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Crane glanced towards his friends and fellow Masters as Po ordered their food. "Um," he angled his head around the panda. "Is it alright if I get my tofu buns to go?" He caught the others looking at him. "Just wanted to get out and stretch my wings a bit." The master put on his best avian grin, "Enjoy the day while we've got this calm."

Tigress' tail twitched, "You've been spending an awful lot of time away from the village."

Mantis perked up on Crane's back, "Now that you mention it, he really has been spending a lot of time out and about." He crawled up closer and dropped his voice, "Which could only mean one thing."

Viper's eyes narrowed as she slipped up, "Yes..." She looked to the others and nodded.

"Crane's got a girlfriend!" They all chimed together.

He was glad that feathers didn't show a blush very well. "What? No, I don't have a girlfriend." Crane huffed and looked at the window. When would his food be ready? As the others pressed in, he felt the urge to just fly kick in. Feathers ruffled as he tried to think. "Just found a spot that I like to go to meditate. It's really hard to get to unless you can fly."

"Ahh," Monkey nodded, "Sounds like a good place to meet your girlfriend!"

Crane clapped his bill and stepped back, "I do not have a..."

Mr. Ping showed up at the window with a cloth bundle, "Your order is..." Crane darted over his companions and kicked. In one, smooth motion, he dropped his money, grabbed the bundle, and took to the skies. The goose blinked at the coins in his hand, "ready. Hey! You forgot your change!"

"Keep it!" Crane called over his shoulder.

Couldn't believe those guys. Thinking Crane had a girlfriend like that. Just because he kept sneaking off to somewhere private without telling them did not mean that he had some secret girlfriend. The truth of the matter was actually far worse than that. He was kinda afraid of what they might say if they ever found out.

His secret place wasn't far from the Valley of Peace, well at least not for someone that could fly as swift as he. He'd been entirely truthful about how difficult it'd be to reach by foot. Doubtless one of his peers could make it, but it'd take them hours, if not longer. Assuming that they even knew of this abandoned temple. Hell, he hadn't even known what it was until a couple years back. And he'd flown past it countless times.

The master took a wide, looping path around the mountain. His gaze dropped to the ancient temple. The ancient building mostly hidden behind trees and among the mountain side it was built into. Sheer cliffs flanked the abysmally small clearing, that being the only hint of what lay in wait.

Crane dove towards a frighteningly small patch of green. Pulling up at the very last second to land with every bit of skill earned over his years of training. He paused, listened for any sound. Nothing beyond the quiet rustle of trees and the distant sound of an instrument. His feet brushed the outside of the food pack. Good, still warm.

He swept it up in his wings and happily trotted towards the temple.

When he'd first found the abandoned temple, it had been spooky as fuck. Not to mention in a horrible state of disrepair. Yet he'd found himself drawn to it time and time again. Maybe it was the seclusion, or maybe it was something about the location. Couldn't quite put his feather on why he liked it here, but he did. Hell, he'd started sneaking away late at night. Bringing supplies here to repair the structure. First a bedroom. Then a sitting room. Another room. More and more, he brought the temple back up to... well not pristine. He wasn't a master carpenter, but it was livable. Most of his efforts had been put into a handful of rooms and keeping the rain out.

Crane wandered empty halls, wondering what the temple had been used for. He hummed quietly along with the music as it grew louder. Claws lightly scratching off the freshly sanded and polished wood floors. Light spilled from behind partially open panels. "I'm back," he called as he approached the partially renovated living area, "Brought some food."

The music stilled, "Oh joy. Take out again." Shen rolled his head towards Crane as the master entered the sitting room. Feathers brushed the guqin's strings as the peacock frowned slightly. The sour mood only lasted a second. He sighed, "Suppose I'll fetch the dishes."

"The tofu buns are good," Crane said a little defensively, "and I think Mr. Ping put in some of his special soup. Could smell it the whole way here."

Shen winced, "I didn't..." The peacock hung his head, "I'm sorry if I came off rude. Just been trying to amuse myself." He pushed away from the instrument, "Still can't play well." He rolled his head just a little and sniffed. Wiping at the corner of his eye quickly, "Does smell good."

Lord Shen, once ruler and heir of Gongmen City, exiled, then returned with an army and strange weapons to reclaim it from the Kung Fu Masters set to guard it. The very Shen that had wiped out Po's family, slaughtered countless people, killed a Martial Arts Master, and tried to kill Po and the Furious Five. Crane had saved him from the remains of his warship, brought him back here, and nursed him back to health. Even now, Shen's body was still bandaged and seemingly sluggish.

"You stay right there," Crane waved the peacock back down. "I'll get the bowls."

Shen hissed, "I am not some invalid, incapable of even getting my own dishes!" He started to stand and staggered. "Fffffffuck!" the peacock cried out.

Crane froze, "Are you okay?"

Beak snapped, "I am fine. Just..." Shen winced and pulled himself to the table. "Get the damned dishes." He refused to look towards Crane as the master hovered nearby. "I cleaned them earlier. Bathed myself too," the peacock coughed, "tried my hand at changing my bandages too." He laughed, a weary sound as he lifted his hand to show the blood there. "Think I pushed myself too far."

"I keep saying to take it easy." Crane swept up the bowls. A glint of metal caught his attention. Shen's toe-claws hung on the wall. Scorched and badly damaged, but still possibly usable. He'd been the one to hang them up. Just in case someone found Shen while he was out. The former lord's daggershung on the wall as well. As well as...

He turned his focus back to the peacock, "Should let me take you to a healer. I can only do so much to patch you up. Especially if you insist on breaking yourself every other day. Here," he pushed the bundle towards Shen, "take off your robe and start serving.

"We both know why I can't go see a healer anywhere in the kingdoms. Just have you. And you're always so eager to get me undressed. Should be ashamed."

Shen hid his wince as he rolled his shoulders. The rather plain robe slid off his body to reveal more bandages. It was a miracle he hadn't been killed when the canon crashed down on him. The fire had weakened his ship's deck enough that it just knocked him out, rather than crushed him. He didn't remember much. Red, stabbing pain, black water. Vague images of being on a shore. Of Crane hauling him up. He'd been in and out of consciousness for days.

Crane didn't comment on wanting to see Shen undressed. Wasn't an inch of the peacock's body that he hadn't seen in his treatments. He kept his touch light and quick as he undid the bandages, treated the open wound, and did his best to bind it again.

"You make a good nurse."

He looked up, finding himself bill to beak with the peacock, "Think that's the nicest thing you've said to me all week. There, try that."

Shen offered a smile, "Well, it's true." He sighed and stretched. The bandages were far better when Crane used them. Why even the tinctures he used seemed to smell more palatable. "Your worrisome mother was wise in teaching you all about first aid." He rolled his head as Crane gently stroked his chest while fitting the bandages into place. "Feels like only avians know how we should be treated." Shen's voice dropped, "Brutish wolves nearly broke my arm once tending a cut." He pushed a plate towards Crane, "Here.Eatsome before it gets cold."

"Right right," Crane shifted to perch near Shen. Both tucking into their meal. "You, um... been wanting anything else?" The master twisted his head some, "I know I haven't been able to get much up here, but..."

Shen interrupted, "I could use something to drink." He looked towards the kettle that he kept near the fire.

Crane perked, "Right, tea. I forgot. Sorry, is the pot full?" He hopped up and darted for it.

"I'd filled it recently, should still be warm." The peacock sighed and leaned against the table. Propping his head up with his hand in a very un-noble gesture, "Though honestly, I could go for something that isn't tea." When Crane looked from him towards the door, "Or water."

Thankfully, it only took him a second, "Ah..." Crane rubbed his head, "Sadly I don't have anything... um... harder than that."

Crane sighed wistfully, "Tea then, please." He hummed and narrowed his eyes as Crane put the pot back on to warm up. "And no, I appreciate what you have been able to bring." It wasn't anything exotic, but it was better than when he'd first been exiled. At least he knew how to cook now. Not a great deal he could do while Crane was out training all day except sleep, cook, and explore. Which exploration had turned up some rather interesting details about the place.

"Reminds me," Crane plucked a bag from his hip, "I picked these up in the market earlier." He swept back to the table and laid the pouch down. The avian nibbled at his meal, watching nervously as Shen opened the bag. A handful of bronze disks fell out, followed by a small assortment of files. All meant for jewelry.

It wasn't the best, the metal was a little thin. Though what he needed them for, he didn't need a great deal. Shen swept the metal back up, "These will do." He hesitated a second before adding, "Thank you."

Crane breathed a sigh of relief and got up to fix their tea. The avian pair fell silent as shared the meal. Shen's gaze a bit low as he picked idly at the meal. Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. Crane was used to silent meals, well at least he had been before Po showed up. Now every meal was lively and full of chatter. This silence made him fidget.

"So," he mused after a very long moment, "why all," he waved his hand towards the pouch and beyond.

The peacock didn't look up, "You know the rule. You answer my question and I answer yours. That is our arrangement." Shen looked at Crane and tilted his head, "And this 'I don't know' won't do. Everyone has a reason for what they do." _No one does things because it's the right thing,_he added silently. Beaming the statement silently to his companion.

Crane held Shen's gaze for but a second before looking away. "Where'd you find that?" He motioned to the instrument.

"Oh that," Shen didn't look towards the guqin. "I was roaming through some of the storage areas and found some instruments. Most were ruined, but I found a couple in good shape." He reached out and ran his fingers over the large instrument, drawing a quiet hum from the strings. "Doubly lucky that I found a set of strings."

Feathers ruffled as the master leaned in, "It's beautiful too." Crane started to reach for it, but stopped. "I still don't know what this place was."

Shen smirked, "Garden of the Singing Flowers." He caught Crane's look, "I found a fair bit in my exploring. I do believe you had been up to some of the rooms, but stopped short of going in. They're all deeper inside and rather..." He wiggled his fingers and made spooky noises.

Crane shivered, "Yeah, there's a lot of rooms that put my feathers on end."

"Indeed. Well, I pulled this out and cleaned it up. The guqin was always a favorite instrument of mine as a child." He shifted at the table and drew it closer. Feathers dancing over the strings to pluck out a haunting tune. "As a child, I'd heard a story of this wise city elder."

His eyes narrowed as he just let his fingers move on their own. "An army bore down on his walled city, but he only had a few retainers. They could close the doors and hold the army off. Not for long though, any battle would have lead to the destruction of the city. No matter what path he thought to follow, it was a lost cause." Crane leaned in, listening intently. "So here was this Lord. Facing the destruction of his home, his own death imminent at the hands of this great army. He ordered his servants to bring his guqin to the city walls, throw open the doors, and bring him some tea."

Crane blinked, "What happened?"

Shen paused to take a sip from his own tea before continuing. "The army stopped. Their general moved to the front and stared in disbelief. No soldiers in sight, gates open, and the lord just sitting on the wall, having tea and playing his guqin. 'This must be a trap' he said to himself. There was no way that any man could look out at the sea of soldiers and be that calm. His city must be filled with soldiers, ready to battle. So he ordered his men to turn and leave."

"But..." Crane pulled back, "He didn't have an army. You said he just had a few retainers."

The peacock smiled, "The general didn't know that. I remember hearing that story and falling in love with it. I wanted to learn to play just so I could get closer to that wise leader's mindset. Deception and misdirection." He tilted his head, "Completely forgot your question, didn't you?"

"I..." the master blinked, huffed, and turned his head away. "Didn't want to interrupt your story." He leaned back and clicked his bill, "So, you said this was a garden?" Shen hummed his acknowledgment. Crane clapped his bill again, "How do you know?" He stopped to think, "Who would put a garden way up here in the mountains? Seems a bad idea for just some flowers."

Feathers ruffled with a soft laugh, "Depends on the flower." The look Crane gave him was one of utter confusion. "You told me that you just had your mother, and eventually started working as a janitor?"

Crane narrowed his eyes some, "Yes, not all of us were born as nobility."

"I mean no offense. Just have to..." Shen thought about his phrasing, "consider the difference in upbringing and knowledge. Well," he reached under the table, "I found some brush paintings." He offered a small stack to Crane. Some were landscapes, but most were civil scenes. People gathered about, being entertained, playing games, so on and so forth. "Each bore this mark," he reached over to tap the symbol, "I recognized it from my readings."

The avian blinked as he flipped through the aged, and some stained, paintings. "These are beautiful. Though..." he frowned, "why was this abandoned?"

Shen offered another set of paintings. These showing the women of the Garden in recreation with their guests. Offering drinks, smoking pipes, and some obviously in carnal acts. A devious smirk flicked over his beak when Crane found those and stared. "Not abandoned, Crane. Shut down. A long time ago, decades before either of us were born, this was a lively, thriving place. The women here were protected, educated, each one a scholar." He gently took the paintings and spread them on the table, "They mastered the Four Arts. Qin," he nodded toward the instrument. "Qi," he brushed his fingers over a painting of people engaging in a game of Go. "Shu," he waved at the elegant calligraphy on some of the paintings. "And, of course, Hua."

Crane frowned quietly, "So why shut it down?"

"That," Shentapped his fingers on the table, "is hard to tell. Histories say that this place was a den of vile corruption. That it tainted one's body and spirit. Granted, opium was offered here, but I have the inkling it was some other reasons." He offered up another painting, "There was evidence that this was a house of martial arts as well. A house to rival the Jade Palace during its height." A painting looking over the front gardens and a group of students. "Tell me, Crane. What does your great and wise Shifu say about..." Shen leaned in and nearly whispered the word, "Sex."

Oh the way Crane blushed was downright adorable. Others might not have noticed, but Shen saw all the little signs. The slight reddening of his nares, how is feathers shifted, and how his pupils narrowed. "Ahh," he coughed, "Well, Shifu encourages us to focus on training our bodies and spirits."

Shen's eyes widened as he leaned back. He lifted a wing to cover his beak, not wanting to burst out laughing in front of the avian. "Oh... don't tell me." Crane's eyes flicked away quickly. "Oh my heavens, you're a virgin aren't you?" Crane's cheeks flushed hotter. "There's nothing wrong with that," Shen added quickly. "There are plenty of reasons to," he waved his hand, "not have indulged. Although," he reached under the table for another set of paintings, "one wonders what your Shifu would say if he saw this."

Glad for anything to distract himself, Crane looked towards the paintings and froze. Some of the greatest Masters to have ever lived adorned the paintings. Some engaged in games, others music, and others still caught mid-carnal act. Master Boar, Master Golden Takin, Master Dog, Master Badger Twins, and...

"OOGWAY?!"

"Yes," Shen leaned back, "That is far more of the old tortoise than I'd ever wanted to see."

The ancient master featured in several paintings. Most of them displaying the tortoise in one form of bliss or another. Admittedly, it was a lot more of the old teacher than Crane had ever wanted to see either. He'd never imagined that Oogway would have been into such... well suppose that he was young at one point. Didn't change the fact that he had been so... so...

"Crane."

He turned his head, but didn't look towards the peacock fully, "Yeah?"

Shen leaned forward, the motion drawing Crane's full attention. The peacock got up close enough that the crane found himself leaning back some. Blinking at the other avian in confusion. "You," Shen's voice dropped so low that Crane had to lean in to listen, "have an erection."

Crane dropped his gaze, flushed bright, and immediately covered his tapered length with both hands. The peacock leaned back with a warbling laugh. Crane's cheeks flushed hotter, "Ahhhh, I should probably go..."

The peacock smiled, "Do you want to take a couple of the paintings?" He rolled a wing, "I could certainly offer you a hand if you..." Shen watched as the crane bolted for the door. "wanted one." He listened to the claws as they clicked off the hardwood, retreating from the peacock's rooms.

He clicked his beak, "Might have teased him a bit much. Oh he'll be fine." Shen settled back and began to scoop up the scattered papers. His gaze dropped to the pouch. Beak clicked a few times as he thought. Suppose he should start on his project with those. It'd take several hours to file the disks down to proper gears. Shen looked from the pile of parts over to the ruined tail fan that hung beside his weapons. He sighed, got up, and got what was left of his tail.

The peacock carefully pulled up a section of fake feathers near the base. He carefully disassembled the geared section. Grateful that he'd noted the tooth count on each gear. Several gears were broken or bent, some missing teeth. "Well," he sighed, "there were things I'd wanted to fix."

---

"So, why do you think the Council shut down the Garden?" Shen looked up from where he was carefully filing another gear tooth. Crane seemed more collected than he had the day before, but only just. The others might not have noticed it, but another avian would. "It can't have just been the sex. It had to be a combination of things."

"Perhaps," Shen clicked his beak.

Crane waited a long moment, as if he expected Shen to elaborate. "Just a perhaps?"

Shen brushed the bronze filings into a pile. "It was never deeply expounded on in my lessons. Not that I was ever a great student of histories." He sighed, "Had to convince my parents to give me the lessons they did as it were. No, I was more interested in the sciences than the arts."

"Ah."

There was a disappointment in his voice that Shen found uncomfortable. He sighed, "Okay, but bear in mind, I can only theorize." Crane leaned in to listen. "And bear in mind that the general attitude of the Kung Fu Council has shifted over time. While they do uphold traditions they have become more relaxed in certain ways."

"Which ways?"

"Well, for one they are allowing female masters now." Crane fixed him with an odd look, so he elaborated. "There was once an ideal that a woman was only virtuous if she were ignorant. Her task was to sit there, look good, cook, clean, and bear children. If a man wanted stimulating conversation, he would turn to other men. Or," Shen held up a file and tapped his beak, "Or, if he were so inclined to find stimulating conversation with the opposite sex, then he would come to a place like," he waved a hand towards the room they were in. "Here, one could find women who were not only beautiful, but skilled, knowledgeable, so on and so forth. A great many were equals to, if not better than, their male scholar counterparts."

Crane blinked, "So you think that some of the old masters were intimidated by the people here?"

Shen rolled his shoulders, "Only speculation." He went back to filing, carefully setting the file into place before starting the cut. "Some of the older masters still have some... biases, as do some noble houses."

"So that's why you..."

Crane trailed off as Shen shot him a sharp look. The avian leaned back, "Um... I mean... I didn't mean it like that. Oh look, the tea is ready!" He leapt to his feet and hurried across the room to the pot.

Feathers crawled as he felt that look dig into his back. Crane clicked his bill and tried not to shiver. What had he been thinking? He looked into the teapot and stared at his own reflection. Why had he dragged Shen here? The peacock had been unconscious, on the verge of death. He'd been so weak that Crane thought the fallen lord was going to die in his arms. Yet he'd secretly taken him away, brought Shen here, fixed him up as best he could. He'd been shocked to discover that the peacock's tail was mechanical, and that he was...

"I wanted to give you a second chance." Crane stared into the pot. "I," he spoke a little louder, "thought maybe you deserved one." He laughed quietly, "Po said that he was sorry he couldn't help you. When I saw you, I thought maybe..."

"You could reform me?" Shen put his tools down. "That I would be eternally grateful for you for sparing my life? That I would be so grateful for you that I would throw my legs wide and..." The peacock sighed, "That's rude. I apologize."

Crane brought the pot over. Shen kept staring at the table as the master sat down. He shifted, opened his bill to speak, but Shen beat him to it. "I wanted to die. My army was in shambles, my weapon destroyed, my city..." Shen let out a strained noise. "Have you ever been told that your role in life is set from the day you're born? That you're fated to do something and nothing else?"

His laugh was dry, the noise sour. "My mother was the ruler of Gongmen city. Her family discovered fireworks. Her family brought the city prosperity, they did everything to make that city great. Yet, when she was of age, she was married to my father. He became the Lord and she his consort." Shen spat the word. "Then I was hatched. I... I never felt right. It's," the peacock traced the grain of the table; "it is impossible to put into words how I felt. Like I didn't belong to the body I was born with." He laughed again, "I used to make tails out of colored paper. I wanted to be a strong leader like I_thought_ my father was. Wanted to become a great master.

"Yet everything I did, all I accomplished, it felt like the world was pressing down on me. Forcing me into a role I never wanted. _Fate_wanted something else for me. So I changed who I was. Nanny offered what encouragement she could, but her wise words never helped like she wanted. Not just her, my parents, the council, everyone in the world expected me to be something else. Someone else. So I pushed back. Every time the world tried to fit me into the role I was _fated_to take, I would shove back. Dig my spurs in and fight back as Lord Shen." He turned his head to look at the shambles of the room about him. "Now look at me. Lord Shen, ruler of an abandoned building. I have nothing. Not even the clothes on my back."

Crane started to reach for Shen's hand, but stopped. Nervous feelings fluttered around his gut as he looked at the peacock, sure he should say something. He tried to think about some wise saying, something Shifu might have said. Or better yet, in this situation, something Oogway or Po would have said.

"You..." Oh heavens, he hoped he wasn't about to fuck it up. "You're beyond the reach of the whip." Shen lifted his head a little. "You are still you. You don't have your city, your army, weapon, or any of that." Instinct drove him to lay his wing on Shen's. "You don't have the weight of fate on you anymore. You can be whatever you want. Do whatever you want."

Shen hung his head, "You..." he started, then stopped. "Are really bad at at this." He offered a shaky smile and squeezed Crane's primaries, "Thank you though."

He pulled his hand away and stood, "I don't know about you, but I am too emotionally drained to deal with any more of that. I need something good to eat." Shen swept up and grabbed the bag Crane had brought with him. "Ah good, you got the garlic. How does garlic noodles sound?"

"That sounds amazing. Do you need me to do anything?"

"No, just stay right there. I've been at that damned table almost all day. I need to stretch my legs." Shen stretched and curled his toes. Which gave Crane a good look at the peacock's toned thigh.

His gaze drifted up the peacock's thigh to the robe. Or rather, lack thereof.Shen tended to walk around with a long, elegant robe when he could. He'd been practically naked when Crane came in, just a set of belts about his thighs and waist. The peacock didn't even have those on, since he'd taken them off to fit to the tail. As it was, Crane's eyes darted over Shen's snowy plumage. Over the thigh, across the expanse of his shorter tail, and under. His gaze falling between the peacock's thighs. Widening just a touch as he saw the pink edges of the fowl's vent. That flash of color drew his attention in. His eyes following it as Shen's hips shook as he cooked. The sway and bump hypnotic.

Crane immediately became aware of his own vent swelling. He hadn't gotten a chance to take care of that excitement from the day before. His erection having faded by the time he reached the garden. Embarrassment had kept him from returning to Shen to talk, so he'd just ignored it. Now though, all he could think about was the history of this building. Well... that and imagine Shen lording over the building. A regal peacock that would indulge in discussion, painting, martial arts training, and...

"I'm not the best chef," Shen called over his shoulder. "I can cook enough to feed myself, but that's about it. However," he tipped the wok over into a bowl, "I am rather proud of my garlic noodles." Crane shifted and felt something on his thigh. A look down made the male's cheeks flush. He was rock hard again, cock twitching against his feathers.

He shifted forward, hiding his shame under the table. "It does smell good. Oh!" he perked up. "That reminds me." He reached for another pack he'd brought and lifted a jug.

"Oh," Shen breathed out, "baijiu." He set the bowl down and dropped next to Crane, "May I?" Crane barely had the chance to nod before Shen swept the jug up and broke the seal. He took a deep breath, savoring the smell from the jug itself. "Oh I have been aching for some of this." The crane downed his tea in a single gulp before pouring a mug. "Join me?"

Crane held up a hand, "I really shouldn't..." he trailed off as Shen stared to nod. "But why not? A single glass can't hurt." Crane drained his cup and offered it.

"Ever indulged before?" Shen tilted his head as he filled Crane's to the brim.

Crane shook his head, "No, anything I should be aware of?"

Shen smiled, "Well, it's polite to fill your neighbor's glass. Always to the brim. Offer and return toasts." The peacock lifted his earthenware cup, "To... not being bound by fate."

"To new beginnings."

The peacock shifted his cup, tapping rim against the side of Crane's. "Never let the rims touch either. Much like bowing, it's a sign of respect to try and be lower than who you're toasting.And usually you want to down the entire drink in one go." Crane nodded and threw his head back, swallowing it all in one gulp.

Only to start coughing as it burned its way down his throat. "However," Shen smirked, "I was going to say we could take smaller sips, since these are full mugs."

Crane coughed, "Oh sure now you..." he watched as Shen tossed the entire mug back as well, "tell me."

Shen smirked, sat upright, then coughed. "Oh..." The peacock clenched his eyes and shook his head, "If I'd known you were bringing that, I would have broken out the baijiu glasses."

Feathers perked, "There's some of those?"

"Yeah, down the hall, third door on the..." Crane stood up, giving Shen an eyeful. The peacock blinked at the sight of the male's cock throbbing there, inches from his beak. Without thinking, the kung fu master turned and started down the hall.

Well, not exactly what he'd been expecting to see there. Shen leaned forward and froze. Just realizing that he'd been naked the entire time he cooked. A quick look traced line of sight easily. Oh, so he'd had his back to Crane this entire time, and was undressed? Well, certainly explained the male's current state. A slight smile crossed his features as he waited.

It didn't take long for Crane to return. His erection had faded, though the moisture about his feathers suggested maybe a dunk in the well water had helped there. "Stopped to clean the glasses," He held up two sparkling glean dishes. "I got the right ones, didn't I?"

"You did," Shen poured them some tea, then poured Crane a glass of baijiu. A smile crossing his lips as Crane took the jug and filled Shen's glass in return. "Why thank you. To..." he hummed, "A good dinner."

"To new friends." Crane waited until Shen's glass dipped before he swept the glass lower, tapping his rim against the side of Shen's glass.

The pair shared a smile and the drinks. "Oh," Crane wheezed, "that is easier to handle for sure."

"Mhmm," Shen hummed, "Much better when you're not trying to drink yourself dead. Oh," he offered Crane some chopsticks, "and don't worry about getting a little sloshed. It's to be expected." He nodded towards one of the sliding doors, "Certainly wouldn't mind you staying the night, rather than trying to fly back while tipsy. Now," he nudged the bowl, "Eat."

Dinner was good. It was nice to sit down with someone, chat, and share a good drink. Shen had shared many meals like this with his men. Or at least he had with the leaders. He couldn't stand the common rabble. Though even the leaders wore on his nerves. Now? Well, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been with another avian. Maybe it was the talk, maybe it was the company, could very well be the booze, but Shen felt himself relaxing for the first time in... well he couldn't remember.

"To..." Crane held his glass up and blinks, "To... um... First times!" he grinned and swayed a bit.

Shen lifted his glass, "First times and new experiences." The avian pair tried to sweep the glasses in, each trying to get their glass lower than the other before they clinked. Which would have been a graceful battle of who was quick and agile, if they hadn't drank most of the jug between the two of them. As it was, Crane pulled back to try and get away, only to have Shen topple on top of him.

The pair burst into laughter as they lay there on the woven mats. "Oh jeez," Crane snorted, "I've never felt..." He wave his hand.

"You," Shen tapped his chest, "are drunk, my friend." The peacock sat up and looked towards the bowl, "Well... dinner is done..." The peacock wobbled a moment before slumping against the crane with a huff. He leaned in, half-laying atop the other male. "Unless you want dessert."

Crane clapped his bill, "What do you have for des..."

His eyes went wide as Shen pressed his beak to the bill. Crane gasped in surprise, which only invited the peacock to deepen the kiss. Shen hummed and nibbled on Crane's tongue, licking at it gently. All while his feathered fingers danced over the male's keel bone and further down. His light touch quickly awakened the male's lust. Crane's manhood surged up to meet Shen's touch. The tapered length twitching by the time the peacock's wing dipped that far.

Without a word, Shen pulled away from the kiss and tilted his head. "Hmm?" he smiled.

"Uhuh," Crane gasped, head reeling from the touch and wine.

Shen turned and coaxed Crane onto his side. The peacock arched, nuzzling the crane's cock with a huff. His tongue brushed over the flesh, drawing a gasp from the master. Crane tried to turn to look at what Shen was doing, but the peacock's thigh trapped his bill. Shen hummed, stroking the cock as he used his legs to guide Crane down. The tall male's longer bill readily danced over snowy white thighs and between. There he was greeted by an up close view of the peacock's vent. Lips already starting to glisten.

"Mmmaaa," Shen licked over the tip. A smile forming as he heard Crane moan and felt those hips twitch. The master twisted his head and nuzzled into the fine feathered lap. Prompting Shen to squeeze his head lightly and pant. Thighs squeezed as he arched, grinding into that beak.

Crane tried to follow Shen's lead, but it was hard. Especially as those thighs squeezed his head. Bonus, it did give him a very up close look at the peacock's slit. Juices matting his feathers and smearing over his nares. His beak clattered with a moan as he took a deep whiff of the peacock's scent. He'd never smelled anything like it before. It made his body arch and drove a huff from him. The scent was intoxicating, exciting, it drove spikes of raw pleasure through his senses. In a word, it was overwhelming.

Shen moaned as that bill shook between his legs. Oh that felt wonderful, certainly far better than his fingers were. And that cock... Oh he'd fucked wolves before, but again had never had the chance to enjoy another avian. To have this cock throbbing before him, proudly waiting his attention? He licked over the cock. Quick little swipes as his hands danced over the shaft. Bringing himself to the tip so he could sample Crane.

"Ah... AHH!"

Hot, thick cum splattered Shen's face and neck. Catching the peacock with beak open and tongue out. He narrowed his eyes and sat there, perfectly still as his partner peaked and made an absolute mess.

"Ah..." Crane twisted a bit, eyes rolling back as his climax died down. Oh sure, he'd taken matters into his own hands before. Had even watched other guys as they jerked off, but he'd never had anyone that close to him. Much less someone playing with his cock like that.

Crane lifted his head and saw Shen staring down at him. The peacock looking a little less than amused with cum streaking across his face. "Um... sorry?" He grinned with a blush.

"Oh don't worry," Shen swept some of the cum up and licked it off his fingers. "How about an arrangement, Crane? Whatever you do to me, I get to do to you in return? You bring me food, I cook for you. Have a conversation, I share one back. You cum on my face, I cum on yours. Sound agreeable?"

"Y-yeah, so, what should I..."

The peacock twisted about, pinning the martial arts master to the ground. Shen planted both wings on Crane's back and pressed him to the floor. "Oh, you just get to lay there..." The peacock huffed and curled his legs under Crane's bill, lifting the head. "And do that bill clatter thing for me." Shen arched, moaned, and ground his hips back into that bill. Savoring the feel of the smooth surface as it parted his folds.

Crane started to click and chatter his bill. Which made it shake against the peacock's privates. Shen arched with a blissful moan and began to grind. Nice and slow, but picking up speed as his pleasure built. Which made his juices drip and coat Crane's bill. Crane huffed, nose filled with the peacock's intoxicating aroma. Which made his bill clatter all the more as his partner hunched and arched.

He twisted his head a bit, barely able to shift within Shen's grasp. Not far, but enough to let him lick at the lips. Getting a mere sample of the peacock's honey.

Shen arched, a wing dipping down to rub his privates. Faster, he ground, harder. Pressing between hand and bill. Then Crane licked him and he gasped. Shen leapt off his partner and sat back, thighs spread wide as he hissed. "Come here," Crane twisted, staying on all fours as he hurried over. "Use your tongue here," he huffed as he spread his vent open.

Crane happily spread his bill as wide as he could, tongue darting out to lick over that offered slit. Shen arched, huffed, thighs quaking at the feel of someone lapping his pussy. The peacock arched, grabbing Crane's head and pulling him in. Forcing Crane's bill wider as that tongue dove into him. Powerful muscles twitched, gripping the invader. Squeezing it as he groaned, shuddered. All while Crane's wings lifted to cup his head and draw him closer.

"AHH!" Shen called out as he came. Thighs quaking under the awkward oral attentions from his partner. He huffed and arched, grinding into that beak and tongue as he soaked Crane's feathers and beak with his nectar.

Then, Shen released his head and leaned back with a huff. Crane looked up at the peacock, too keenly aware of how his own cock was throbbing against his belly. The master shifted, instinct driving him to slide over the peacock. He leaned forward and clicked his bill to Shen's beak. Tasting his own cum while sharing the flavor of Shen's juices. Shen arched into the kiss, wings brushing over Crane's side and up. Petting his partner as Crane leaned forward. The warmth of his cock brushed the peacock's privates.

A touch stilled him. Shen's foot curled up and pressed to Crane's belly, keeping the male from driving too far forward."No," Shen panted, "not tonight. I'm..."

"It's okay," Crane offered a shaking grin, more caught in the moment than he cared to admit.

Shen leaned up and nibbled at Crane's beak. "How about we bathe, then get some rest?" The peacock's beak stretched in a wide yawn, "It has been a long day."

The yawn was contagious, prompting a yawn from the crane as well. "It has, hasn't it?"

"A long, exhausting day. Though not one I would want to forget." Shen gave Crane's chest a swat, "Now get off me, you're covered in cum. Though nothing quiet like a good bath after a good meal and find companionship. Wouldn't you agree?" Shen hopped to his feet and smirked over his shoulder at Crane. "Oh, and before we take it further. We are going to work on your endurance. Fast strikes and quick, flashy finishes are fine in Kung Fu, not so much in sex."

Crane's cheeks flushed, "Well, do you know how to fix that?"

"Oh I have some ideas..."