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Finding the opening for the gate, Jinwoo and Wuxian paused before it before glancing towards each other and stepping inside.
The reporters stood stunned as the gate turned ruby red, causing instant chaos as they swarmed the area. The guilds were being called, but they weren’t really needed in this instance.
Glancing around, Wuxian frowned as the portal just looked like your every day gate. Though he wasn’t even entirely sure what that looked like if he was being honest, he’d only ever been in one and it hadn’t been by choice.
“Is it usually this quiet?” Wuxian asked, senses alert.
Jinwoo had his gaze ahead, a stillness to him that wasn’t usual but just went to show that no; nothing about this gate was normal.
“It feels like a C Rank, but there’s a feeling that is making the hair on the back of my neck raise. Wuxian.”
The other glanced up at him, brows furrowed in worry.
“There’s something I need to tell you, I haven’t told anyone this.” Jinwoo said, a slate-colored gaze turning an icy violet.
“What is it?” Wuxian asked.
“The me you see now traveled back in time; I still don’t know how. But I was given some kind of system that allows me to power up and get stronger.” Jinwoo told him, voice low. He wasn’t even sure if the other would believe him, but he needed him to know.
Wuxian’s brows raised before tilting his head. “Was I there in your other life?”
Jinwoo froze, staring at him for a moment before slowly shaking his head no. “No, in fact, quite a bit has changed in this life compared to the last.”
Arching a brow, Wuxian gave him a little smile. “Guess I was a bonus?” He laughed a little, cheeks going a delicate pink.
Jinwoo softened, reaching to cup one side of the other's face. “You’re a gift, and I’d accept everytime.”
Inhaling sharply, Wuxian searched his eyes before blushing harder and reaching out to nudge his chest. “Keep talking like that and we’re gonna give these beasts a show, and then we really will have to kill them.”
Jinwoo let out a laugh, lips curling up into a grin as he followed after the other who had tried to run away in embarrassment.
They didn’t make it far before they ran into a group of Orcs that were attacking a group of Hunters. Jinwoo frowned, not having realized this Gate actually had anyone inside.
“Do you know them?” Wuxian asked, stepping closer to him.
Shaking his head, Jinwoo murmured, “No, the insignia on some of them is familiar though. Most of them are A-Rank, a few high-tier B-Ranks.”
“Jinwoo…” Wuxian trailed off, his head turned down a tunnel that was nearby.
Jinwoo followed his gaze and saw carcasses scattered about, causing his eyes to glow faintly as his hand reached out for the other. “Did they tell you what kind of Gate this will be?”
Wuxian furrowed his brows, head tilting as he listened to something the taller man couldn’t hear.
“High Orcs?” He murmured, wary.
Jinwoo stiffened before he made them both invisible and hurried to keep up with the group ahead. He listened intently as they followed, Wuxian eerily silent as his eyes began to crackle a deep crimson.
The dungeon’s tunnel shook, alerting the strike team to a wave of enemies incoming, but what they saw had them all turning whiter than sheets.
“High Orcs? In a C-Rank?!” Someone uttered, absolutely terrified.
They attacked, their movements aligned but barbaric as they surged for the strike team that attempted to fight.
The fighting wasn’t going well at all; for the humans.
Wuxian took a step forward, and Jinwoo leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. “Stay quiet and the invisibility will keep you hidden.”
Wuxian nodded before vanishing from his side, while Jinwoo took the other. Orcs went down left and right, their tendons sliced and sides stabbed. It looked as though the melee hunters were winning, but the mages could tell something else was happening.
The orcs were out, though it was only a matter of time before more headed their way. Jinwoo dropped the invisibility, alerting the group to newcomers.
“Did… The Grand-Master send you?” One man panted, kneeling on one knee while he kept himself up with his shield.
Jinwoo shakes his head, glancing towards Wuxian who held a hand out as faint, silvery outlined talismans appeared before each person that was too wounded to move. Energy flowed into them, healing them.
“We’re here because the Gate turned red, we didn’t realize anyone else was in here.” Jinwoo replied.
“Red Gate?!” Someone choked out, nearly fainting in her spot.
“Why would you willingly come in here!?” A man said, voice aghast.
“Why does anyone?” Jinwoo shrugged, though he sent some shadows ahead inconspicuously.
Wuxian crouched before a mage who was bleeding through her eye sockets and nose and ears. She gazed at him in shock when she watched blurry-eyed as he poured healing energy directly into her skin. The woman could feel it moving through her veins, repairing everything that had been damaged and then some.
“How…?” The woman asked, stunned.
Wuxian smiled a little, shrugging and moving to stand up and moving to Jinwoo. “Good question.” He laughed softly.
“There’s more incoming.” With that statement, everyone quieted down and listened.
The sounds of vicious barking and raucous laughter was heard off in the distance, echoing creepily as the patrols walked towards them.
“Are you ready to find the boss?” Jinwoo asked, turning a look towards him.
Smirking slyly, Wuxian murmured. “Lead the way.”
They gave up, and were brought back to the main room. It was expansive, numerous stained glass windows let in murky dark light. The room was glowing an ominous red, the High Orc at the front had 4 others surrounding him in what they could only assume were the Guards.
Massive chandeliers hung suspended from the ceiling, swaying slightly with the thunderous steps of the Orcs. Torn curtains barely concealed the windows, hanging in tatters.
“Fresh meat?” The High Orc at the front said, not even shifting in his leaned back position.
Both Jinwoo and Wuxian narrowed their eyes, not doing anything just yet.
“Ha! They understand nothing!” The Orc said, haughty.
“We understand just fine, just uninterested in hearing what you have to say.” Jinwoo said, hands shoved loosely into his pockets.
The High Orc glared, pushing to his feet. “You dare in my domain?!” He thundered, furious.
“We dare.” Wuxian replied, grinning.
Jinwoo glanced at him, brows raised slightly in surprise; another thing to add to the list of impossible things his lover could do.
With that, the High Orc ordered its army to kill them, and bring their bodies up for tribute.
Now that just wouldn’t do, would it?
Wuxian snapped a barrier over the strike team, impenetrable and shimmering. The strike team themselves were stunned, glancing around themselves as it settled around their group.
With that, both of their shadows slid free of the walls and floor, surging towards the orcs charging for them. Wuxian spun, a wicked grin on his lips as he moved. Jinwoo had his daggers out, slicing his way through every orc that passed him.
The silvery shadows rose with song, their power strengthening with every trill of the flute music that was echoing through the room; he wasn’t even playing yet.
Jinwoo’s shadows were fighting hard, the weaker ones being resummoned quicker than they could be taken down. He noticed his mp wasn’t draining as the flute music continued, his eyes shot over to Wuxian who simply winked at him.
Neither of them realized the Vice-Master of the Hunter’s Guild had shown up, or Hunter Woo and his men. The Grand Mage was dead, and Jinwoo was collecting the dead as more shadows.
Wuxian waved his hand and the strike team was released as he swayed slightly. It wasn’t even that he’d used a lot of power, he was simply still affected by the Rank assessment. Shaking his head, he startled slightly as he was scooped up into strong arms.
Slumping in relief as he realized it was Jinwoo, he let him carry him out. Hunter Woo and his men immediately moved for them, their dedication to the job sparking through as they made sure the two weren’t bothered.
“Are you both alright? The Chairman saw a report that you two had come in here and grew worried.” He murmured, walking past the Hunter’s Guild with them.
One of the Hunters, a woman that Wuxian had healed earlier, says, “Wait, please!”
Jinwoo turned with a slight furrow to his brows as Wuxian straightened up from his slouch.
“We know you need to rest, but we just wanted to thank you for saving us.” The woman said, bowing and causing all the others to bow deeply too.
Jinwoo glanced down at Wuxian who looked a little flustered. “No need to thank us, we weren’t going to let you all die if we could help it. Are you all still feeling fine?” He asked, a little nervous and wanting to make sure his power had worked well.
“We’re fine! Better than new actually!” A man replied, smiling brightly.
Nodding, Wuxian relaxed. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Hunter Woo stepped in, “If you’d like to get in contact with them, contact the Hunter’s Association and we’ll figure something out. For now we’d like to get them home.”
The hunters immediately nodded, bowing again and watching as Jinwoo turned away with the shorter man in his arms.
“We’ll call the Chairman tomorrow, I want to get Wuxian home.” Jinwoo murmured, arms tightening slightly around the other.
Hunter Woo nodded, and they left the dungeon quickly. “Are you flying?”
Jinwoo nodded before Kaisel appeared and he climbed on with help from the wyvern.
“Get some rest, we’ll be waiting for your call.” Hunter Woo said, inclining his head.
Wuxian was nearly asleep, but Jinwoo nodded and they were gone. It didn’t take long at all to get home, Jinwoo’s mother and sister asleep thankfully as he carried the other inside.
“We should wash up.” Jinwoo murmured, sitting him down on the bed.
Wuxian wrinkled his nose, not wanting to move but sighed and mumbled. “Help?”
Jinwoo looked endeared by the ask before he walked with him into the bathroom and turned the light on. The water was started, the bath being filled with warm water and the soaps being set down on the shelf resting above.
Jinwoo stripped and then helped the other strip before the larger of the two stepped in and helped the other in after him.
They were sitting across from each other, Wuxian leaning against the marble of the tub with a sleepy pout, while Jinwoo leaned back with his arms on both sides. His head tilted slightly to watch the other who shivered slightly before sighing softly.
“Jinwoo?” He asked, opening pale silvery eyes.
“Hm?” He asked in return, the edges of his fingers dancing along the top of the water where a mess of bubbles pooled.
“I’m cold.” He whispered, biting his lip.
Jinwoo froze, heart beginning to race as he heard that whispered confession. Moving, he crawled over to Wuxian and placed one hand against the porcelain just behind his shoulder, the other below the water and brushing the other’s hip slightly.
Their eyes were locked, breath catching as they gazed at each other with emotions neither knew how to admit just yet.
“Move up a bit.” Jinwoo murmured, watching as the other scooted closer to him. Their skin tingled wherever they touched, and breath catching, Wuxian finally moved far enough.
Clenching his jaw, Jinwoo leaned back against the tub and looked at him before lifting his arms. “Come here.”
Wuxian hesitated for the briefest moment, hands opening and closing beneath the water before he surprised both of them by moving over and straddling the other.
A groan tore from Jinwoo’s lips, hands moving to grip the other’s hips while Wuxian fell forward and buried his face against the muscular chest. His hands pressed against Jinwoo’s abs, breath stuttering against his pec.
They were silent for a few moments, strangling the urge to just move.
“I thought it’d be easier with bubbles.” Wuxian gasped, fingers digging lightly into the pale skin before him. “But your skin against mine is dangerous.” He breathes, moving slightly closer and feeling the slippery glide of their skin brushing.
Shaking slightly, Wuxian inhales sharply as he feels the other’s erection press up against his ass.
“Wuxian… If you’re not ready, tell me now.” Jinwoo growled softly, hands tightening on the others hips.
He shivered, biting his lip before he shook his head slightly. “I…” He trailed off, nibbling his lower lip. “I don’t know if I’m ready yet.”
Jinwoo closed his eyes, leaning his head back as his restraint was tested. Forcing himself to relax, he tugged the other against his chest and leaned in to press a kiss against his shoulder. “We’ll wait as long as you need too.”
Wuxian shuddered, breath hitching before leaning up and pressing his lips against the others. They kissed for a long time, hands careful as they wrapped their arms around each other.
The water grew cold long before they attempted to get out, the need to be close overwhelming their need to be comfortable.
Jinwoo lifted him out of the tub and grabbed two towels, wrapping one low around his hips before wrapping one around Wuxian. They walked into his room before he took another towel and dried the other’s hair as best he could.
It was too late for the hairdryer but they’d make do. Jinwoo knelt between the other’s legs while Wuxian sat on the bed, braiding his hair. “You want something to sleep in?”
He asked slowly, hands moving to the slender man’s interestingly muscular thighs.
Wuxian licked his lips slightly, a shaky breath the only answer for a moment. “Can we sleep bare?”
Jinwoo’s expression looked momentarily pained for a moment before he stood and pulled his towel free. Wuxian’s cheeks bloomed in color, his eyes falling to the other’s length before him before tearing his gaze away.
His hands reached for the other’s towel and slipped it off, revealing his lean physique and waved him back slightly.
Wuxian moved to lean back against the pillows, biting his lower lip. Jinwoo moved in, laying himself over the other and between his thighs before he buried his face against the other’s throat. “Okay?”
“Yes.” Wuxian breathed, wrapping himself around the other.
“Sleep.” Jinwoo murmured, pressing a kiss against the racing pulse.
“Goodnight.” Wuxian whispered softly.
“Goodnight.” Jinwoo breathed, before they both fell asleep wrapped in each other.
Things were progressing, only time would tell when restraint snapped for good.