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It doesn't take long for Zhao Yunlan to figure out that his boyfriend—husband to be?—really seems to like being a tiny dragon. Or at least he spends a significant amount of time around Zhao Yunlan as a tiny dragon. He's ridiculously adorable, and Zhao Yunlan has some small inkling that it's probably some kind of sign of trust from Shen Wei, so he really doesn't mind. And it's not like Shen Wei doesn't turn into the human version of himself when Zhao Yunlan wants someone to hold him instead.
Mostly, dragon Shen Wei is around when they're at home, which might just be because that's where they've spent most of their time together so far. Da Qing and Shen Wei seem to have made a permanent arrangement to share Zhao Yunlan as their sleeping space, and Zhao Yunlan finds himself with cat and dragon curled up together on his chest or in his lap quite frequently. He hasn't told them yet how unbearably cute it is. He will, once he's sure it won't make them stop doing it.
One thing he's noticed though is that Shen Wei doesn't really sleep unless he's a dragon. And even then Zhao Yunlan is pretty sure it only happens when he's actually sleeping on Zhao Yunlan. He wouldn't swear to that—he doesn't spend all of his time with Shen Wei—but he really doesn't think he's wrong. He'd worry about it, but clearly, Shen Wei isn't human and Zhao Yunlan hasn't noticed anything wrong really, and Shen Wei says he's fine. Maybe things just work differently when you're a dragon.
(Zhao Yunlan hasn't asked Shen Wei about what he is. He'd assumed Yashou at first, but Da Qing had disabused him of that notion with a scoff and a roll of his eyes, telling Zhao Yunlan that, "He's a dragon," like that explains everything. It seems to him like both Da Qing and Shen Wei assume he should know what that means, and he just hasn't gotten around to telling them that he might really not, actually.)
So, Zhao Yunlan isn't terribly surprised when he wakes up alone in his bed in the middle of the night. Da Qing hadn't gotten home at all, which isn't unusual, but Zhao Yunlan had definitely gone to bed with Shen Wei. He blinks his eyes, the room is very dimly lit and Zhao Yunlan fumbles for his phone to check the time. He squints at the screen until his eyes focus and it tells him that it's just past two. Definitely not a time for him to be awake.
Part of him really wants to just fall back asleep, but the rest of him very much misses Shen Wei. So he pushes himself up and… there Shen Wei is, sitting on the couch, probably grading papers, or something. Because there always seems to be something for Shen Wei to do.
He drags himself over to the couch, and Shen Wei looks up at him, putting down whatever paper he was holding. "Zhao Yunlan," he says, his voice low and soft, and slightly worried. "You should be sleeping."
Zhao Yunlan hums in agreement and tiredly flops down on the couch next to Shen Wei. Shen Wei lifts one arm, wrapping it around Zhao Yunlan's shoulders as Zhao Yunlan snuggles against him. "Missed you," Zhao Yunlan mumbles, letting his eyes fall closed.
"I need to finish these," Shen Wei says apologetically.
Zhao Yunlan hums in answer, too tired to manage to form more words and tell Shen Wei that it's fine, Zhao Yunlan can just stay right here.
Shen Wei sighs softly and brushes a small kiss against Zhao Yunlan's hair and doesn't say anything at all. Zhao Yunlan snuggles in a bit more comfortably and lets himself drift off, listening to the quiet rustle of Shen Wei moving papers around.
Zhao Yunlan wakes up in bed, which doesn't surprise him in the least. He is slightly surprised by the weight on his chest. He props one arm behind his head before lifting a hand to carefully pet the sleeping dragon and instantly regrets it as it makes Shen Wei shift slightly, his head rising up from the coil of dragon to rub against Zhao Yunlan's fingers.
A helpless soft feeling spreads through Zhao Yunlan and he smiles softly. "I didn't mean to wake you," he says quietly.
Shen Wei hums, the sound making all of his small body vibrate against Zhao Yunlan for a moment. "Napping," he says, sounding adorably sleepy.
"Of course," Zhao Yunlan agrees, his smile broadening. He can't help it, Shen Wei is too adorable like this.
Shen Wei moves again, and this time it feels like a wave going through his long body, his muscles tightening and then relaxing again like he's trying to shake the sleep off him. "Breakfast is nearly done," Shen Wei tells him a moment later, sounding far more awake now.
Now Zhao Yunlan regrets waking him up even more since that sounds like he really hadn't been sleeping for very long, if he'd already managed to prepare most of breakfast.
"I have class soon," Shen Wei says before Zhao Yunlan can try to suggest that they both just stay in bed for a while longer. He knows Shen Wei would never be late for work unless it was really unavoidable. There's a hint of regret in Shen Wei's voice like he too would be happy to just snuggle down against Zhao Yunlan's chest and continue sleeping.
Zhao Yunlan runs two fingers down Shen Wei's back and Shen Wei makes the tiniest, little content noise that maybe bears a faint resemblance to a purr.
"Are you sure you don't need more sleep?" he can't quite help asking. It still kind of feels like Shen Wei definitely doesn't sleep enough most days, even if he does frequently nap on Zhao Yunlan in his dragon form. Shen Wei insists it's only because Zhao Yunlan is warm and comfortable, not because he actually needs to.
"I'll be fine, Zhao Yunlan," Shen Wei says fondly. He presses himself against Zhao Yunlan's hand briefly and looks expectantly at Zhao Yunlan. With a sigh, Zhao Yunlan moves his hand, and Shen Wei quickly wraps himself partly around Zhao Yunlan's wrist and settles the rest of himself in Zhao Yunlan's palm. Zhao Yunlan sits up and moves Shen Wei down onto the bed, and pulls his hand away.
There's a moment where his eyes don't quite know what they're seeing and then Shen Wei, the human version, is sitting next to him on the bed.
"I'll finish breakfast while you go wash," he says.
Zhao Yunlan grabs his wrist before he can get up. "Alright," he agrees and brushes a kiss against Shen Wei's cheek before letting him go.
Zhao Yunlan doesn't take very long in the bathroom. He's rather used to getting his morning routine over with very quickly because he's usually running late. That's definitely changed with Shen Wei around, but he still automatically hurries through everything. Besides, if it gives him a few more moments together with Shen Wei before Shen Wei leaves for work, then it's definitely worth it.
When he gets out of the bathroom Shen Wei is setting out the table for them. Breakfast, quite predictably, both looks and smells delicious, and Zhao Yunlan has no doubt it'll taste the same too. He walks up behind Shen Wei as he's setting a plate down on the breakfast bar, wrapping his arms around him, nosing at the back of his neck, before pressing a small kiss there. He rests his cheek against the back of Shen Wei's shoulder, and Shen Wei's hands cover his own at Shen Wei's waist.
"Ah, Shen Wei… You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," Zhao Yunlan says softly, the affection inside him swelling over until he has no choice but to try to put some of it into words.
"Zhao Yunlan," Shen Wei whispers, helpless and fond. Zhao Yunlan smiles and tightens his grip around Shen Wei's waist, holding him for just a moment longer.