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The sun was high in the sky when Lan Xichen made his way through the maze of reeds to the spot he'd been returning to every day for weeks. As he neared the outcropping of rocks, he slowed, careful to not make a sound or get his antlers tangled up, and nosed through a gap to peak out at the beauty sleeping on top of the highest rock, soaking in the warmth of the sunlight.
Gorgeous black and purple scales gleamed in elegant coils, and a cute forked tongue flicked out now and then to taste the air. His heart skipped a beat at the sight, as it had done every time since the start. Such divine beauty this alluring snake possessed! It was enough to bring any dragon to the ground in worship. Lan Xichen's eyes widened when he spotted the string of glittering amethyst and sapphire gems wrapped snugly around the snake's tail.
His gift had been accepted! His whiskers quivered in excitement and his lips parted in a toothy dragon grin. The trinket was a mix of their colors and seeing it worn by the other filled him with pure joy. It took his entire willpower to choke back a yearning whine deep in his throat. He must keep quiet and hidden, for now.
Lan Xichen did not know the beautiful snake's name yet, still too shy to approach the object of his desire and affection. Instead he left gifts, tasty treats to eat and pretty things he found and made, the latest of which had been his greatest work yet, each gem carefully found and cleaned to sparkle brightly before being strung together and left out on the rock for the snake to find.
It had been love at first sight, when he had spotted the enthralling snake resting on these very rocks one day weeks ago. An all consuming love that shook him to his very core. He knew, he knew, that the snake was his other half, his destined one. There could be no other. His every thought had been occupied by this ever since then.
And so in secret he left many courtship gifts while he worked up the courage to approach the beauty directly. Hopefully he would be able to be brave and take the first step soon, and by then he will have shown himself worthy of consideration by showing the other that he could provide food and comfort and pretty, shiny things to have.
Oh how he dreamed of being the snake's mate, to earn the right to be near him and admire his beauty up close. So many hours he had spent fantasizing of what it'd feel like to run his claws gently along those perfect scales, to wrap himself fully around the other's body and give him warmth. To join their bodies together, and make many, many adorable children.
Lan Xichen inched forward silently, daring to get closer and drink in the snake's beauty one more time before slinking away to come back again the next day. However-
"You're back again, hmm?" The snake murmured, raising up his head and slowly blinking gorgeous slit violet eyes at a shocked dragon. "Why don't you come out and introduce yourself?"