Work Text:
Yours
“You are my Fate; no words can express it enough”
.
I have to go save him. He’s bleeding. Pangzi’s words echoed through Wu Xie’s mind as he rushed while holding the raincoat on fire high above his head. His reckless, rapid steps hit the floor with full-strength. His blind determination incited him on moving forward relentlessly, any delay forbidden by himself. If he had been more cautious, he might have had recalled Pangzi’s advice to walk slowly to not provoke the snakes.
He’s bleeding. Well, the snakes had provoked Wu Xie, he couldn't care less about "precaution".
He had his priorities clear in his mind. He always had.
“Xiaoge!”
As soon as he heard him, Xiaoge’s head quickly turned in his direction. Wu Xie came into his field of vision like a wild, blazing fire. Hot, dangerous, all-consuming fiery Wu Xie, who had burnt and kept on burning (in) Xiaoge.
Somehow, they managed to get inside the tent. Wu Xie’s held Xiaoge’s wrist demandingly, adamantly in a way he had never been. He pulled him further inside urgently, feverishly afraid of losing him to the darkness or the depths of Time. He’s bleeding. The words swirled obsessively on Wu Xie’s mind, and the twisted venom in them projected by Wu Xie's mind didn’t subside when the needle went inside Xiaoge’s marble skin. He was still bleeding; he could still disappear.
Would he disappear?
Wu Xie raised his head and found Xiaoge’s still lucid but exhausted gaze fixed on him.
He was here.
He was still here.
Suddenly, the sounds of the of the snakes hitting desperately against the tent reminded Wu Xie that they weren’t alone and that the creatures were obstinately trying to penetrate their frail defence of fabric and bite them to death. Which reminded him, he’s bleeding, so he should refocus on his priority, on what he was doing. Almost there. Almost… he sustained his breath… almost done… Done. The serum had been fully administered. Xiaoge was still there. Wu Xie had arrived on time. They were together. Xiaoge was still there.
Wu Xie’s tried to regain control over his worked-up breathing, but his attempt to exhale a breath of relief was abruptly stolen the second he heard surreal emergency in Xiaoge's voice, warning him:
“Watch out!”
Without questioning, Wu Xie instantly threw himself to the side, hitting awkwardly against the floor, and covered his head with his hands. Next second Xiaoge’s body fell in a calculated and controlled way over him, embracing him, covering him, and he became fully aware of the imminent threat: the tent’s fabric could be torn apart by the snakes at any moment.
The noise was nerve-raking.
His heart was beating like crazy.
Dread crept through his ribcage.
The suspense of wondering when the snakes would fall on them was maddening.
His heart was beating like crazy.
The tent succumbed and its upper part fell.
His heart was beating like crazy.
Xiaoge’s body weight was tantalizing.
His heart was beating like crazy.
A twisted thought crossed his mind: if he died, he’d have no regrets.
And then, silence.
Wu Xie held his breath.
Everything seemed to be suspended in Time.
Xiaoge and him, both of them, suspended in Time.
Together, wrapped and protected by the tent’s sealed fabric which had miraculously resisted and hadn’t completely fallen over them.
A moment passed.
Nothing happened.
After that, Xiaoge let his body fall over to the side with a soft thud, finally giving his restrained body the opportunity to slightly relax. Wu Xie was able to strangle a guttural noise of embarrassed surprise but had to bite his lip to prevent it from forming a pout of displeasure due to the lack of contact. If he had any remnant common sense, maybe he’d feel ashamed of his 'concerns' in such life-threatening moment or maybe he'd recall he should be focusing on survival.
However, he felt no shame about it; he could easily admit to himself that his concerns and priorities revolved around Xiaoge. It wasn't rational, but it felt natural.
Xiaoge was his anchor; Wu Xie was certain that his presence would be enough to drive Wu Xie insane and inspire him to be outrageously reckless and, hopefully, irrefutably genial. Therefore, Wu Xie had never felt any shame. On the contrary. Despite his weaknesses and limited capabilities, he wanted to be there to Xiaoge, to help him, and, on his wildest dreams, maybe even become his compass. If he thought about it and reasoned, Wu Xie would conclude it was too much to ask for, but he was willing to learn and to try and fail as many times as it was needed. He’d keep on trying, for Xiaoge. If it was for Xiaoge, even if he failed every single time until the very end, he’d still feel grateful for having the opportunity to try over and over again, to show, over and over again, that he cared.
He truly, genuinely, honestly cared.
And he had been successful, for a change, hadn't he? Yes, he had.
He turned towards Xiaoge, moving his body to get closer to him. He slowly placed a hand on Xiaoge’s chest and gently pushed, helping him to lay on his back instead of leaning on the arm which had received the shot with the serum. After, instead of recoiling his hand, he let it stay still over Xiaoge’s chest and he hovered over him, analysing his state.
Xiaoge’s breathing seemed less rushed, and his heart-rate felt stabilized against his hand, but his skin was still covered with an unhealthy sheen of sweat and he was slightly trembling. His onyx eyes were fixed again on Wu Xie’s and his facial muscles were relaxed; a perfect, beautiful and unreadable mask, for anyone, aside from Wu Xie.
Wu Xie could see the storm of admonishment and regret in the black sea of his eyes.
“How do you feel?”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Wu Xie scoffed dramatically for emphasis. He could accept that his question might have had a probably very obvious answer which Xiaoge would never voice out; but Xiaoge’s affirmation could be qualified as useless and unnecessary as his question, at least to him. In accordance with his own priorities, his actions had been perfectly reasonable and understandable, and that is what mattered.
Therefore, Wu Xie stubbornly repeated his question, intentionally stressing each syllable, with his eyebrows arched to make his point even more clear. The answer would probably never reveal the extension of the damage and pain to a common, regular civilian, but he hoped it would encourage Xiaoge to elaborate.
“Fine.” Xiaoge answered.
Wu Xie sighed with exasperated affection.
He was certain that if Xiaoge had been ‘fine’, he’d have argued the moment he’d seen Wu Xie running with the raincoat and would insist and hold on to the (false) fact that he shouldn’t be there instead of conceding an answer to Wu Xie’s repeated question. This reasoning made Wu Xie smile despite his worries, pleased once again with himself, for he had been able to understand Xiaoge’s actions and correctly assess his state. It meant that, even though Xiaoge wasn’t ‘fine’, he was getting ‘better’ due to the serum Wu Xie had timely delivered and administered.
Jogging alongside murderous snakes had been a walk in the park and absolutely worth it.
Having the snakes all over the tent in which he was inside, together with and as close as he could be to Xiaoge, had been so damn worth it.
“I’m glad to know you’re feeling better.” Wu Xie corrected, grinning, teasing.
“Why are you…?”
“Here? I came to help.” His grin grew wider, prouder.
“But Pangzi…”
“No.” It had been something Wu Xie wanted to do, had to do.
“Why?”
Wu Xie felt his grin threatening to turn into a grim expression so he tried to relax his facial muscles and keep a soft semblance to cover-up the lurking shadows at the sombre corners of his mind. The reason why he had rushed in this time… He suppressed a cold, frightened shiver. Would he be considered dishonest if he didn’t voice out his immediate thoughts? If he carefully chose his words? The balance between brutal honesty and careful consideration was too thin and frail, Wu Xie hadn’t mastered enough balance over it yet. Xiaoge had been injured and poisoned, he didn’t want to burden nor hurt him. However, masking out his real feelings would also hurt Xiaoge, wouldn't it?
What if he shared his thoughts about wanting to become someone trusted, someone on who Xiaoge could lean? Well, that would just burden Xiaoge, for now, and it hadn’t been the primal reason why Wu Xie had come. He could have reflected on how he always searched for the right words and spectacularly failed 80% of the times, but he realized that this time there simply were no “right” words, no “better” words, that could be able to faithfully transmit his honest thoughts.
His heart sunk.
“I couldn’t sit still and wait,” he whispered the confession quietly, softly "I had to come."
Xiaoge’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, in a silent question that was easily understood.
Wu Xie swallowed with difficulty and inhaled to find courage and try to keep his voice steady and measured.
“Pangzi told me you...” his voice trembled, he failed and tried again “I feared that..., I... I’d be lost without you.”
Xiaoge blinked, confused, curious.
“I’m– ”, Xiaoge tried to reason, soothingly, but the only effect those words had was ignite mild fury in Wu Xie’s gut.
He cut off Xiaoge's words and stated, peremptorily:
“Poisoned. Bleeding.”
Xiaoge shifted slightly his position, a very unimpressed look replaced his effort to understand Wu Xie. Wu Xie had risked his life because Xiaoge – whose blood had always been used for the most diversified purposes and who had an inhuman tolerance to poison – had a few scratches and had been poisoned?
“Don’t look at me like that, Xiaoge, I’m serious.” Wu Xie lectured, and then sighed, resigning himself. He knew they weren’t in the right place nor in the right condition to have this kind of conversation. Wasn’t he trying to be considerate and respectful of Xiaoge’s condition? That and telling him the whole truth weren’t compatible things. Furthermore, he didn't even know if he would ever be able to put into words the whole truth. Hadn’t he said enough, for the time being? He had, so he added: “Let’s not talk about it now, okay? You should rest.”
“Why lost?”
“You should rest.”
“Later.”
“Xiaoge… I don’t want to burden y– ”
“You won’t.”
“I really d–"
“Tell me.”
“Xiaoge…”
“Wu Xie.”
Silence.
Xiaoge seemed so much better now, Wu Xie thought, and inwardly, automatically scolded himself. Then he huffed out his frustration and recognized he had no way out.
“Damn, fine, okay, but promise you won’t worry nor reminisce about it.”
Xiaoge took a moment before nodding.
Wu Xie took a deep breath before keep on sharing with brutal honesty. It was ridiculous of him, to succumb to a request which wouldn’t bring any good thing. Yes, he'd always hold his head high and stand by his truth, but partially sharing it now, even though it had been a request, wouldn’t be considerate; it would certainly burden or hurt Xiaoge.
“I really don’t want to burden or hurt you, Xiaoge…” he lamented, unconsciously exerting slightly more pressure with his palm over Xiaoge's heart.
Xiaoge shook his head, slowly, without breaking eye contact, clearly telling him that not understanding was a heavier burden, that it hurt more.
“Please. I want to know.”
“It is something very personal, very obvious and as natural as the flow of a river to me. It’s part of my truth. I just know I can’t lose you. I'd lose me if I lost you.” Xiaoge listened intently and placed a comforting hand over Wu Xie’s hand on his heart. It gave Wu Xie courage to share the last piece of this part of his truth, the tone of his voice soft, almost inaudible, firm yet apologetic: “I can accept better dying with you than surviving without you.”
“Don’t.”
“I am not ashamed of feeling this way, not the least. It’s just that… I feel selfish and ruthless for sharing it with you in these circumstances, I know I shouldn't yet I should, I… I'm sorry.”
“Don’t.”
“It’s okay, Xiaoge, you don’t have to–"
“Don’t die, Wu Xie.”
Oh. Did Xiaoge feel the same?
Wu Xie refrained himself for entertaining even in the slightest that line of thought.
He also was about to say ‘I won't’, but was able to prevent the empty promise from falling out of his lips. He couldn’t promise that. He didn’t know if or when he’d do something so incredibly stupid to the common bystander but so aligned with his ideals that it was worth dying for. He didn’t want to tell Xiaoge that, if it ever came a time when, by some illogical and cruel twist of Fate, Wu Xie’s life could save Xiaoge’s, he’d maybe be selfish enough to give his life away. Maybe.
Nonetheless, he also was absolutely certain that he would never, ever, leave Xiaoge if he could prevent it from happening - and this wasn't nonsense nor a contradiction. Only under very specific circumstances over which he’d have no control over would he even think about leaving. With Xiaoge laying partially under him, still sick and fragile, he didn’t want to reflect about it. He’d never leave Xiaoge behind if the opportunity to choose was given to him. He hoped he’d have the strength to deal with the situation, to look for, search for, wait for, prevail, and endure for Xiaoge. However, he was also aware that the Future was (evidently) uncertain. He didn’t know what could happen to them nor the challenges they’d have to face.
He didn’t want to be pretentious or naïve.
He didn’t want to speak empty, vulgar words.
But he wanted to assure Xiaoge about the very least:
“If it is within my power, if I can prevent it, I will hear your words.”
Xiaoge’s muscles contracted, and sorrow wallowed in his ebony, utterly mesmerizing eyes.
It wasn’t a satisfying answer.
Wu Xie knew why.
It wasn’t enough.
His hand travelled from Xiaoge’s chest to his left cheek, and he caressed it, hoping that it’d give him some comfort.
It wasn’t enough, but he wanted Xiaoge to know that he’d never be alone.
That Wu Xie was always thinking about him.
That he existed and was adored beyond reason.
Wu Xie kept on studying Xiaoge’s beautiful features, without caring about the sticky, sweaty hair plastered to his forehead nor the coldness of his skin. Xiaoge was agonizingly perfect. Every inch of his body, every corner of his soul, was unbearably perfect. So perfect it made Wu Xie’s heart swell, fill and overflow with emotion. Xiaoge was so, so, so adored beyond reason, and Wu Xie loved to be mad-crazy in love with him, though he’d never say it out loud; at least not in the next ten years.
"Not in the next ten years."
Xiaoge blinked, his eyes shining with curiosity, as if trying to solve a mystery.
Wu Xie’s eyebrows twitched in a silent, expressive interrogation, but it dawned on him while his eyes grew comically wider.
“Uh… did I say it out loud?” He asked, making a face.
Xiaoge nodded.
“Damn, I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry.”
"Contradiction."
"No, I promise that if I can, I will hear your words, now, during and in ten years."
"Then..." Xiaoge made an effort to not deviate from the topic, because Wu Xie wanted him to be in his life for ten years. "Is there something else?"
Wu Xie swallowed hard in response.
It was enough for Xiaoge.
“Don’t want me to know?”
“No, not that. I mean… well, I…” he swallowed heavily. “For now, I don’t think I have enough words.”
Wu Xie did not have enough words? A flash of mirth crossed Xiaoge’s face and was gone the next second.
“It’s true! I wish I could put it into words or show you but... I don’t believe I’ll be able to properly, conveniently, express it.” Wu Xie knew that he didn’t have yet enough vocabulary to make clear who Xiaoge was to him, how vital Xiaoge was to him. However, gestures and actions could easily be considered intrusive and unwanted, and, although they could unveil Wu Xie's feelings, they wouldn’t be enough as well. Furthermore, Wu Xie didn't want to make Xiaoge uncomfortable and refused to take advantage of the situation. Hadn't he already overstepped by caressing Xiaoge’s cheek? He believed he was.
“Try.”
“You need to recover, instead of–“
“Don’t want to.”
“Xiaoge.”
“Try.” He repeated, staring intently at Wu Xie.
Wu Xie was perfectly aware that both of them knew that whatever he’d be able to do now would not have more meaning than running towards Xiaoge over a ground full of snakes while holding fabric on fire. Xiaoge wasn’t asking him to try to show him a gesture of pure brotherhood or undeniable loyalty right now, was he?
Wu Xie had fallen so low already, if he got an opportunity to try to show Xiaoge how much he meant to him in every way, what could effectively prevent him from doing it in that moment? His sense of morality? Gone. As gone as his balance between brutal honesty and careful consideration. The moment itself and the timing? Well, it obviously didn’t seem to be the right moment, but… would the right moment ever come? What if Wu Xie ended up not making it back home? What if Xiaoge disappeared after they got back? What if he forgot? At least now he knew who Wu Xie was and was asking him to try. Wouldn’t Wu Xie regret it bitterly for the rest of his life if he did not try to do it, after Xiaoge had asked him to? What did it matter if Wu Xie was not capable of fully express himself? He had been searching for the right words to express his thoughts and feelings but hadn’t found them. Would he ever find them? Did he want to gamble it and not give in to Xiaoge’s request?
The answer was obvious.
As if he could ever chose to not give in to Xiaoge.
(He didn’t even want to be able to not give in to Xiaoge)
“There is only one way I can think of showing you, at the moment.”
“Okay.”
“I…” Wu Xie felt heat aggressively rising up to his face and tried to reason, because apparently Xiaoge hadn’t understood the implications. He took a deep breath and explained, in a mixture of embarrassment and pedagogical intentions, which Xiaoge found almost comical and very endearing. “I am talking about a kiss, Xiaoge–”
Funny.
“Do it.” Xiaoge stated seriously, calmly, without a hint of nervousness; as if it was the natural and obvious outcome.
On the other hand, Wu Xie was bewildered.
“Uh, really? Can I?...” He asked partially to Xiaoge, partially to himself, to be sure that his brain was, indeed, still correctly processing information.
“Hm.”
“I can kiss you.” Wu Xie repeated, dumbly marvelled, as he registered the confirmed data.
Endearing.
“Hm.”
A pause.
Wu Xie had been allowed to kiss Xiaoge. He could kiss Xiaoge. He felt his cheeks burning even hotter; his inner self squealed in astonished delight. A kiss. He could give a fucking kiss to Xiaoge and Xiaoge hadn’t changed his mind about it. Even better, he confirmed it. Damn.
Wu Xie took another deep, trembling, breath to prevent himself from loosing it and start cackling like a flabbergasted mad man, drunk in utter happiness.
A kiss.
He was about to kiss Xiaoge’s skin.
He could explode with how much he wanted to do it, with how he wished it to be the most perfect moment in the Universe which should be enchanted and frozen in time, with how he desired for his feelings to somehow travel, come across, and be laid bare before Xiaoge.
Only for Xiaoge.
Always for Xiaoge.
Wu Xie bent down so slowly he tingled with anticipation. The hand which was over Xiaoge’s cold left cheek supported him, preventing him from sloppily falling over Xiaoge and from losing his mind to the disarray of powerful emotions that threatened to wreck his body. In the back of his mind he hoped he would be able to recover from the short circuit his brain had suffered. And, was that really about to happen?
Even in the middle of such an overwhelming tempest, Wu Xie was still able to register that Xiaoge had his eyes open, studying carefully all and every single movement, patiently waiting and undeniably trusting. Willing.
Wu Xie wanted to weep.
On the second immediately prior to his lips touching Xiaoge’s right cheek, Wu Xie felt the buzz of electricity.
The softest meeting of lips and skin; the most careful, cherished touch.
A kiss given by Wu Xie, while his mind had been wiped out and painted in intoxicated white noise but still voiced out Wu Xie’s muscle memory, desperate to show Xiaoge just how insanely precious he considered him to be; how treasured he was.
After, he retreated, raised his upper body and supported himself on his elbows, looking at Xiaoge. He felt insecure and expectant at the same time. Had he been able to convey, even if scarcely, his message when his brain had been incapable of following a single coherent line of thought?
Xiaoge kept his steady, secure gaze on him, contemplating his adorable embarrassment and his barely contained hopefulness.
It was magical.
Wu Xie was magnificent.
He would never, ever get enough of Wu Xie.
“Repeat?”
Wu Xie bit his lip, thoughtfully. Repeat? Another kiss? Hadn’t he been clear enough? Hadn’t his gestures properly conveyed his feelings? Maybe not. Maybe they’d never do. However, if Xiaoge was willing to give Wu Xie the opportunity to keep on trying, to keep on repeatedly kiss him, the disheartened feeling would certainly, immediately, be replaced by gratefulness. Wu Xie couldn’t think about a more marvellous, bittersweet way of simultaneous failure and achievement.
He felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth but the overpowering wave of feelings he wanted to try to convey provided him utter focus on the task and the extraordinary opportunity he’d been given. He let his left-hand travel down Xiaoge’s neck and placed his right arm aligned with his head to have another place of support. He leaned in under Xiaoge’s attentive gaze and, this time, his lips feather-touched Xiaoge’s left cheek. Wu Xie ravelled once again in the sensations of being allowed to do so and how much it meant and deeply overwhelmed him. Then, he pulled away again and faced Xiaoge, wishing that, this time, he had come a tiny bit closer of conveying and share his feelings.
Xiaoge looked at him with such tenderly, soft expression he could melt. He’d never seen his eyes shine in this way; he’d never seen this amount of intensity, of emotion, in his expression.
It was hypnotizing, pulling his essence into Xiaoge’s gravity.
After seeming to hesitate for a moment, Xiaoge slowly raised his hands and placed them on Wu Xie’s cheeks, framing his face; they were cold and the caress sparked a shiver which ran down Wu Xie’s spine. Another moment passed as Xiaoge waited for Wu Xie to understand and acknowledge his actions. Then he gently pulled him down, without a question, but providing him all and every opportunity to break free before Xiaoge closed his eyes and reduced to nothing the distance between their lips.
Wu Xie was wide-eyed in pure, raw amazement when their mouths finally touched.
Boisterously euphoria exploded in his heart and his brain imploded.
Mouths.
Not mouth and cheek.
Their mouths were touching each other.
Their mouths were touching each other because Xiaoge wanted them to kiss each other in the most intimate way possible.
And made it happen.
They were kissing.
Xiaoge’s soft, electrifying lips, coldly refreshing, burning against his, which were thunderstruck. Wu Xie could see their faces, skin on skin, could sense Xiaoge lightly exhale, could smell Xiaoge’s scent, could feel their mouths pressed against one another, unmoving. What did it mean? Did it mean that… was it possible that Xiaoge…? W-
Suddenly, and far too soon for Wu Xie to even process what was happening, Xiaoge broke the kiss and looked up, peering through his fringe, waiting for a reaction that didn’t come. He blinked and softly, carefully asked:
“Bad?”
Bad? Wu Xie immediately, vehemently shook his head in absolute denial.
Far from it.
“Perfect!”, he corrected, flustered.
“Again?” Xiaoge asked, slightly tilting his head. “Do you want to?”
Oh yes, yes, Wu Xie nodded stupidly, too many times, desperate to convey how much he wanted it, how much he needed it, but… his curiosity and incredulity took the best of him.
Was he allowed to?
Why was he allowed to?
“What does it mean, Xiaoge?”
“Yours.”
Crystal clear understanding hit Wu Xie, for a change, and he felt he’d been enlightened.
“You… mine?”
“Yes.” Xiaoge confirmed in his pristine tone of voice, assertive and dignified, deprived of any embarrassment.
Xiaoge was pridefully telling him he belonged to him.
Xiaoge, who had seen everything and forgot most of it, who had been fearlessly enduring Fate’s cruelty on his own, proudly wandering on the border of Time, all alone, walking away on his own shadows, engulfed in mystery and secrecy, was telling Wu Xie – common, little, irrelevant, powerless Wu Xie – that he entrusted his self and his heart to him.
He deemed Wu Xie worthy of his heart.
Wu Xie had never dared to dream about it... He’d never dared to consider himself eligible for… of…
Tears fervently fell from his eyes to land on Xiaoge’s clothes.
Xiaoge kept his face cautiously blank.
“Too much?” He asked, kindly.
“N-no, I’m sorry, I–“ Wu Xie sniffled with teary-eyes, and smiled. “It’s just that… I never–, I mean, I’m feeling so impossibly blessed.” He chuckled, and everything in him glowed as he added “I never thought y – “
A long finger skilfully landed on his lips, silencing his words.
Wu Xie was a gift to the world. More than blessed, he was a blessing.
He was more than a blessing.
“You’re everything.” Xiaoge devotedly stated, as if it was a universal truth.
It was, to him.
Wu Xie let a wetly interjection escape from his lips before diving in again, his fingers combing back Xiaoge’s hair from his forehead while his tongue discreetly gave the tiniest lick to Xiaoge’s finger to get it out of the way and to properly claim his lips. He felt his heart pouring out and his soul intertwining with Xiaoge’s when he opened his mouth to kiss him back, pulling him in, closer to him. Their tongues didn’t fight, immediately discovering a dance that it seemed had always been engraved in them. Everything flowed perfectly. His hands held Xiaoge’s face, felt Xiaoge’s jaw sensuously moving at the rhythm of their hearts, of their kiss. Wu Xie felt his whole being calling out and receiving and answer. He basked in excitement when Xiaoge’s arms caged him possessively, but so very gently, as only Xiaoge could do. It was the fiercest answer, which he ardently tried to replicate, to give in unison or resonance. He was giving and receiving simultaneously in a synchronization that never in his life he thought would be possible to exist. Perfect. Their bodies seemed perfect for each other. Wu Xie deepened the kiss. No, they didn’t seem, they were perfect for each other. His purpose, his reason, his motivation, his soulmate. Wu Xie was losing himself in ecstasy for having been found.
The lack of air reminded him he had to part from Xiaoge’s tempting lips. He reluctantly let go, for now, and breathed in to simmer down. It felt like distance between them was no longer acceptable. However, from the recovered distance Wu Xie noticed, once again, the unhealthy sheen of sweat, and held back.
He smiled again to Xiaoge, wishing he could lose and find himself in his stellar gaze, for eternity.
“I’m yours.” He answered back, voicing out their shared truth, letting Xiaoge understand that he felt the same. Then he pecked Xiaoge on the lips with a glint of mischievousness and giggled gleefully, appreciating with utter satisfaction not only the fact that he could do it but also Xiaoge’s cutely surprised expression. After that, he settled himself next to Xiaoge, pulling him into an embrace which was immediately returned, burying his face in Xiaoge’s hair. After a few moments of silence, although his heart was still racing, he echoed, again, in a very serious tone, the promise that he, indeed, belonged to Xiaoge, and that he intended to keep on showing him just how much he meant to him and would always mean.
Forever.