Chapter Text
The place Zhuzhi-lang spoke of was a quiet meadow hidden deep within the forest. As the setting sun dipped low in the sky, its brilliant glow bathed small clusters of flowers and the surrounding greenery in a soft golden hue. An ephemeral beauty, soon to be lost in dusk.
It was one of Zhuzhi-lang’s favorite spots; a quiet haven for him and his snakes to sit beneath the sun and bask in the day’s pleasant heat.
“It’s better at sunrise,” Zhuzhi-lang said as he watched Wen Ning’s deep black eyes take in the scenery. “Warmer.”
“That sort of thing would be lost on me.” Wen Ning gave Zhuzhi-lang that sweet wobbly half-smile he was prone to. “But I’ll take your word for it.”
Zhuzhi-lang tilted his head in consideration. “Can A-Ning not feel any temperature?”
“Nope.” Wen Ning shrugged helplessly. “Dead skin.”
“Interesting,” Zhuzhi-lang mused as he leaned down, holding his sleeve just above the grass to allow restless snakes the opportunity to venture out amongst the flora. “Does that mean your skin can’t grow warm from any external force or is it just that you wouldn’t be able to tell?”
“The latter...I think.”
Zhuzhi-lang took a seat on the ground and adjusted his robes, attempting to restrain his natural curiosity. A tiny serpent cautiously slithered over his calf and Zhuzhi-lang clicked his tongue at it before gently ushering it to join the others.
“But if…” Wen Ning sat hesitantly next to Zhuzhi-lang after meticulously checking to make sure there were no more snakes underfoot. It was sweet of him to worry but Zhuzhi-lang had already told his little friends to stay clear. “If Zhuzhi-lang wants to find out for sure…”
Wen Ning offered up his hand, keeping it just barely above Zhuzhi-lang’s thigh.
Zhuzhi-lang swallowed; the tips of his ears flushed red. Could he…did Wen Ning want to hold his hand? Ah. He shouldn’t fuss over it lest Wen Ning think that Zhuzhi-lang was averse to the idea.
Zhuzhi-lang’s heart sped up as he intertwined his fingers with Wen Ning’s chilled ones. Who needed the sun to warm their blood when close proximity to the Ghost General was an option?
“We will probably have to wait a while.” Zhuzhi-lang rested their joined hands on his thigh. “I run cold too.”
“That’s okay. I have nowhere else to be.”
Zhuzhi-lang smiled. It seemed he would be able to show Wen Ning the meadow at sunrise after all.
“Zhuzhi-lang,” Wen Ning called softly. “It’s morning.”
“Mn?” Zhuzhi-lang blinked awake, rubbing at his eyes with his free hand. He lifted his head from where it rested against Wen Ning’s solid shoulder. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“I’m sorry I kept you up all night,” Wen Ning said sheepishly.
“Don’t be.” Zhuzhi-lang squinted at the sky. The bright half circle of the sun was just cresting the horizon. “Your hand feels warm.”
Wen Ning stared at him. “It does?”
“So my secondary theory was correct.” Zhuzhi-lang’s hand had gone slightly numb from being held for an entire night. He had no designs to let go, however. “But I believe further investigation may be in order.”
Zhuzhi-lang purposefully looked away from Wen Ning after saying so, mildly anxious about Wen Ning’s response. He closed his eyes and tilted his face back to meet the sun, indulging in the first gentle rays.
He might have fallen back asleep, lulled into drowsiness by the warmth, if it weren’t for a sudden cool brush of lips against his cheek.
Zhuzhi-lang smiled and squeezed Wen Ning’s hand.
That was answer enough.