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1. Sometime after the Ran Yi case; the Demon Hunting Bureau
It’s nearly choushi, and Zhuo Yichen is sitting alone in the Archives, poring over mission files lit only by candles. For once, Wen Xiao has gone to sleep earlier than him, and only the quiet murmuring of the night accompanies him. That is, of course, until Zhao Yuanzhou settles down beside him and picks up the next file on the stack next to Yichen.
“Xiao Zhuo-daren works too hard,” Yuanzhou says, leaning over Yichen, brushing against his arm to grab another unlit candle. Shameless, Yichen thinks furiously, ears turning bright red, he has his One Word Spell, what did he need to do that for?
Yuanzhou sits back down, smiling widely at a flustered Yichen. “When’s the last time you took a break?”
“When’s the last time you took anything seriously?” Yichen snaps back quickly, heart pounding in his throat as he looks determinedly at the case files in front of him. The characters blur on the page and he can’t make out a single word.
Zhao Yuanzhou nods, barely suppressing a smile. "Xiao Zhuo-daren is as quick-witted as ever. But won’t you let this Da Yao help?"
Zhuo Yichen is a little stunned when Zhao Yuanzhou, the Great Demon Zhu Yan, actually earnestly starts reviewing the file. He can’t quite tear his eyes away from him.
2. After the Qing Geng case; Sinan Water Town
The night sky sparkles with stars above them as the Demon Hunting Bureau’s vanguard team sits at a table lit by soft warm lamps, steaming hot food in front of them. Zhao Yuanzhou is sitting on Zhuo Yichen’s right hand side, an infuriating presence that Yichen is constantly reminded of, the warmth radiating off the da-yao seemingly burning through Yichen’s embroidered robes.
Yichen grits his teeth, unable to get the events of not a few hours ago out of his head; Zhao Yuanzhou, pressing Yichen against the cave wall, red haze caressing the edges of their robes, Yuanzhou’s burning gaze as his eyes flickered down to Yichen’s lips, saying; “Now? I don’t think it’s a good time…”
Zhuo Yichen is abruptly jolted out of his rumination by Zhao Yuanzhou suddenly shifting to his right. Yuanzhou looks askance at Yichen, smirk playing about his lips. “To our esteemed Xiao Zhuo-daren,” he says, raising his cup. Wen Xiao nudges Pei Sijing across the table, covering her smile with her hand. “If it weren’t for him, we would never have found Qing Geng so quickly. Truly, there is no one more capable than him!”
Yichen flushes, looking at the food in front of him instead of at the infuriating yao. “...Are you done?” he demands. Yuanzhou downs his cup and moves to refill it, Bai Jiu and Ying Lei snickering in the background. “Not even close,” he declares. Ying Lei gags.
As the conversation resumes, thankfully without any more exaggerated toasts, Zhuo Yichen finds himself smiling slightly at the sound of Zhao Yuanzhou’s voice, a strange warmth glowing next to his heart.
3. After Yinglong’s trial; Bingyi Ancestral Grounds
They’re back in the tunnels leading out of the Bingyi Ancestral Cave, bones underfoot as the penetrating sensation of ice slowly leaves their bones. Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing are a ways behind them, and Zhao Yuanzhou grabs Zhuo Yichen’s arm, pulling him closer so that their faces are only a few cun away from each other. His grip is tight, nails undoubtedly indenting Yichen’s skin through the layers of his robes; it feels as if Yuanzhou will never let go.
Yuanzhou grips Yichen’s chin with his other hand, forcing him to look directly into Yuanzhou’s eyes. “Don’t do that again,” he barely whispers, eyes roving hungrily over Yichen’s face, much as they did when the ice broke and Yichen turned around to see Yuanzhou right behind him, tears clinging to his lashes. Yuanzhou’s grip tightens on his chin. “You’re going to make this Da Yao die early from stress.”
“As if you wouldn’t have done the same,” Yichen whispers back, but nonetheless, he turns his hand over to grip Yuanzhou’s arm tightly. They’re interrupted by the sound of Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing’s voices echoing up the tunnel, their footsteps getting louder. They break apart just as the girls turn the corner, and Wen Xiao evidently takes note of their proximity before smiling softly, tear track still visible on her cheeks. “Time to go,” she says, “no more self-sacrifice, ok?”
Zhao Yuanzhou wrinkles his nose. “Wen Xiao-daren, it was an emergency back there! You couldn’t possibly have expected me to—”
The sound of their bickering fades into the background as they resume walking.
Yichen has known since before they walked into that godforsaken cave. He’d said so to Yuanzhou himself. He doesn’t want Yuanzhou to die, and he’ll cling to him, pulling him back from Yanluo Wang’s unyielding grip until his skin peels and the very flesh is torn from his fingers.
The next day, Zhao Yuanzhou finds Zhuo Yichen meditating in a small cave, the others visiting Bai Jiu’s unconscious form. Yichen hasn’t quite worked up the courage to visit the young doctor yet, and so he works to stabilise his newly formed demon core.
“Xiao Zhuo,” Yuanzhou says, settling across from Yichen, smoothing out his robes as he does so. His tone is light, teasing. “Meditating again? Should I be worried you’re avoiding me?”
Yichen doesn’t open his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitches, unable to avoid betraying the faintest hint of amusement. “If I were avoiding you, Zhao Yuanzhou, you’d know it.”
Yuanzhou smiles widely, leaning forward slightly, hair swinging forward in the same motion. “Ah, so you are thinking about me. Good to know.”
This time, Yichen does open his eyes, exhaling softly, a small huff that could be a laugh. “Don’t push your luck.”
Yuanzhou’s eyes light up at the response, and he leans back, satisfied smirk decorating his face. “Did Zhuo-daren just smile? Did I finally break through that icy exterior?”
Yichen glares at him, but there’s no real heat behind it. “You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?” Yuanzhou’s voice is playful, but there’s a softness in his eyes that suggests he knows better. “I don’t think so. You’ve been different lately. Softer.” This time he smiles a genuine smile. “I like it.”
Yichen looks away, his focus returning to the faint ebbing of his demon core. “Don’t read too much into it.”
Yuanzhou watches him for a moment, his teasing demeanor giving way to something more contemplative. He reaches out to grasp Yichen’s hand, thumb stroking gently over his skin. “Surely our Xiao Zhuo-daren knows he doesn't have to shoulder all these burdens himself?”
Yichen looks at him, and smiles. “I know.” He grips Yuanzhou’s hand back; he never wants to let go. “Da Yao doesn't have to shoulder everything himself either. We're here for you too. Always.” Yuanzhou tilts his head to the side a little, eyes unfathomable for a second, but then he smiles the warmest smile Yichen has ever seen. Yichen is helpless. He smiles back.
The moment is broken by the sound of Ying Lei’s stomping footsteps barrelling towards them, but even as they separate, even as they go to meet Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing to discuss what next to do with Bai Jiu, even as the utter despairing chaos of it all consumes them again, Yichen can feel that tiny ember of warmth cradled next to his heart, behind his ribs, burning softly.