zichen | IC CONTACT

How would you like to fight me? [Zichen can't help smirking, arching a brow.] In bed?

[ Xue Yang grins playfully and gently headbutts Song Lan's chin. ]

Mm... why not?

[He is surprised into a chuckle. Rubbing his cheek against Xue Yang's soft hair, he sighs.]

I could be convinced.

[ Xue Yang giggles softly and traces his fingers down along Song Lan's chest. ]

Oh? And how would I go about convincing you?

State a challenge. [Zichen purrs, watching the hand on his chest contentedly.] Have I ever backed down?

Hmm... [ Xue Yang considers it for a moment. ] I bet you can't... catch me!

[ With a playful glint in his eyes he pulls free from Song Lan and starts to crawl towards the edge of the bed, hips swaying. He's not even really trying, but it's not like he doesn't want Song Lan to catch him~ ]

Oh? [The pathetic attempt just makes Xue Yang cuter! Zichen gives him a small head start before lurching forward and grabbing those tantalizing hips.]

Now you're being adorable.

Edited 2024-01-24 11:09 (UTC)

[ Xue Yang giggles and wriggles against Song Lan's grip as he half-heartedly tries to pull away. ]

Oh no! He caught me!

[Zichen pulls him back into his arms and peppers his face with soft kisses. The punishment!]

I plan to always catch you.

[ Xue Yang lets out a mock-horrified gasp when he's "punished". ]

Ah! It's a kiss demon!

[ Soon he dissolves into giggles, squirming happily in Song Lan's arms. ]

[Zichen can't help laughing too, nudging their noses together.]

You summoned them! [He ends his kisses with a long kiss to Xue Yang's lips.]

[ Xue Yang wraps his arms around Song Lan's neck and laughs softly, humming pleasantly as he's kissed like that. He likes making Song Lan laugh... ]

Mmm... I guess I can let the kiss demon defeat me this time...

[Zichen tickles Xue Yang's stomach and grins. Seeing Xue Yang so light and happy makes breathing easier. And his heart lighter.]

A-Yang, you are good. I wasn't lying. You're just...late...in realizing it.

[ The tickling has him squirming again, giggling as he bats at Song Lan's hands. ]

Oh no, he turned into a tickle demon! Begone!

[ Then he's flustering at Song Lan's next words. ]

I want to... be good to you.

[Zichen bends down to kiss Xue Yang's stomach before laying them on the bed, side by side.]

Never.

[He softens at the flustered expression and kisses Xue Yang's lips tenderly.]

You have been. I wouldn't want you with me if you had treated me poorly.

[ Soft, sweet giggles bubbles up from his throat as he's kissed on the stomach. He's still slender, but he's noticeably gained weight and is not as sickly skinny as he had been back home during those years... His body is softer now, no longer all sharp angles and protruding bones. ]

I'd question you if you did! [ He smiles and snuggles up against Song Lan's chest. ] You've been good to me too...

[Even though his heart doesn't beat, Zichen feels his body fill with warmth. It's a different sort of heat from passion. When they had first slept together, he had noticed Xue Yang's sharp angles. Now... He knows the man is healthier. His appetite must have improved and just thinking that he is part of the cause... Well... It leaves him extremely pleased.]

Good. You should. [He holds Xue Yang immediately, enjoying those new curves with gentle caresses.]

I want to be. I... [Now he pauses.] I tried to heal away from you. I tried to forget you. But even when you were dead, you haunted me. I'm beginning to wonder if this is how we should have always been. The way it turned out back then was unnatural.

[ He's definitely been getting healthier overall. He's less pale and he's started to care about his appearance again, taking regular baths and keeping his hair brushed and shiny. Lately, he's been thinking about expanding his wardrobe and maybe start doing more elaborate hairstyles...

Song Lan can definitely take credit for a lot of this progress. It's easier to care about one's own health and appearance when you're happy.

He reaches up and gently plays with the ends of Song Lan's hair as he listens to him. ]

Mm... maybe if all three of us had met under better circumstances... [ But he's not so sure that that had ever been a possibility. ]

Mm we should have set out for you immediately the moment Xingchen and I met.

[Zichen leans in and whispers against Xue Yang's ear:]

I would have left sooner if I had known you existed. And that we could be happy together.

[ Xue Yang blushes and immediately imagines a scenario where he meets Song Lan (and maybe even Xiao Xingchen) while still on the streets of Kuizhou. Where they teach him cultivation and they travel together... It's a sweet, impossible dream.

He can feel the tears coming and buries his face in Song Lan's chest. ]

I-I'm sorry... [ For everything he'd done instead. ]

[Zichen wraps his legs around Xue Yang too, holding him snugly, securely. He closes his eyes and kisses the top of his lover's head.]

That's all you need to say. [He smiles sadly.] I'm not holding a grudge. I love seeing you heal, A-Yang.

[ Xue Yang still doesn't understand how Song Lan isn't angry at him, but he's starting to accept that that's just the way it is.

He sniffles and glances up at his lover's handsome face. ]

I know you're not mad at me now, but if that ever changes... it's okay. I get it. Chances are pretty big I'll do or say something that pisses you off... [ He chuckles tearfully. ] B-But you don't have to hide your feelings from me, good or bad.

[Anger is exhausting. Zichen had his fill of it for years and Xue Yang's death hadn't given him any respite. Seeing him again on the Barge had irritated him, but then he had been curious. Could Xue Yang be redeemed? Part of him had laughed and called it impossible. But another part of him had wondered.

Now, after everything, he has put the past and his tormented feelings behind him. He has let himself get to know Xue Yang again.

Using the blanket, he dabs at Xue Yang's teary eyes.]

I'm not exactly reserved when I'm furious. You will know. [Zichen shakes his head.] Like you, I'm sad sometimes. I feel...hollow. But then the feeling goes away when we are together.

Edited 2024-01-24 12:59 (UTC)

[ Xue Yang just gravitated towards Song Lan when he'd arrived. He hadn't been able to explain it then, but now he realizes it was probably because Song Lan had been his one connection to Xiao Xingchen. As much as he had been in denial, deep down he had known even before Xiao Xingchen left the Barge that he was going to lose him for good.

There's obviously more to it now, between him and Song Lan. ]

Mm... it sucks to look back and wish you'd done things differently... knowing that... that you can't change it. [ Guilt and regret are still concepts he struggles with, but he can at least recognize that that's what he's feeling. ]

[Knowing Xingchen was alive, somehow, but still out of his reach had been difficult. Arguing with Xue Yang had been comforting and then... They had both lost him. The silly arguments had turned into something else; something real.

Now Zichen wants to hold onto what they have with all his might.]

Xue Yang, I'm right here. [He smiles faintly.] If you want to do better by me, you've been doing that, haven't you?

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