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When a Cycrane landed on my shoulder…
When a Cycrane landed on my shoulder, it was around 7:31 PM. No, maybe 7:49 PM. An hour where the artificial sun of the Luofu had set.
Jing Yuan thought, a gentle breeze from the open window left him wistful, as a dreamy, moony memory came to view.
He was seated in his gazebo, drinking with his glaive in the chair opposite to him.
Half of the bottle was empty? He tried to remember… Ah no, it was half full. The general smiled, remembering the spotty shapes that had began to take form from his inebriated brain.
Despite that circumstance, Jing Yuan remained rather controlled. His sun-kissed skin’s pink blemish only grew hotter, and yet he stood up with stride, carrying the heavy weapon and throwing it off his shoulder. A silly thing,
I may have knocked the chair down…
Boots to the dirt, off the wood of his gazebo; the divine foresight had no one to slow him down. Nothing but this heavy glaive, that my shoulder still aches from.
The sun had set, and the breeze of the night mixed with his boozy breaths. He struggled with the keys to his home, but to his surprise, the door would be unlocked. It was a surprise that nearly sobered him, had the memory of giving Yanqing access to his abode not resurfaced that is. When it did, his tipsy walk came back in full.
What this general neglected to consider is; why would his young lieutenant ever leave his front door unlocked? Oh silly me.
His glaive was rest upon its hold in the living room, and soon he stepped inside his bedroom– Goodness, what a mess. Yes, he had forgotten to take his boots off. He had made a complete mess with his house, with dirt prints leaving his struggled steps. Jing Yuan cringes at the memory, but it can’t be helped; a drunk was a drunk, all they knew to make was a mess.
What difference it was? Was if it was a big one, or a small one.
His wasted head tiptoed, one leg in the air kicking blind in the hopes the boot fell. All that did end up on the ground was him, with an audible THUD, and a small clammer from his surroundings. He groaned, but the boot did fall, just in a sad manner.
I remembered then, why I stopped drinking all together.
Nevertheless, Jing Yuan bore a stupid smile on his face, properly taking off the other boot and crawling up his feet again. And what a delight it was, to stand again and take in the homey feel of his room. The window beside his bed was shut, but in that moment, Jing Yuan wondered just how good it’d be to have it open by a little bit.
So that when he rises from his sleep, the morning air would kiss him good morning. A cute thought, I wish I could think like this at all times. Sluggish, the divine foresight stepped bare-foot to his window, the carpet warming his cold feet.
With each step, he took apart one piece of armour at a time. By the time he had finally reached his window, he wore only a simple shirt, and his maroon work-pants with its belt undone.
He stood there, enjoying the cold air outside before reaching to open the window… Ah, the cold air outside?
Just what was I thinking, hm? To his surprise, the window was already open.
His sozzled brain had completely betrayed him once more, leaving him dumbfounded and swaying. Again, why he did not think once why his window was open is a mystery his foresight couldn’t answer for. Maybe Lady Fu could, in fairness…
In that moment, Jing Yuan shrugged and directed himself back to his second love; his comfortable, fuzzy, warm bed with a mattress indented in his shape. He smoothed the surface of his bedsheets, his cold duvet lay there, waiting to take up the weight of today, and cozy his weary shoulders.
Little did I know. Nevertheless,
something had pushed him off, nearly sending him to the ground.
Had he not balanced himself properly, he’d be as well as his dirty boots.
With a blink or two, he caught the fabric of his bedsheets and sat upright.
A looming, dark figure stood right at the center.
Now, what would a drunk general do in that moment? Maybe pick up their weapon, and ask kindly “Who is there?” With a nudge using the tip of their blade… Maybe throw themself at the possible threat and subdue them before it gets out of hand…
Yet instead, Jing Yuan quirked a catty grin, and simply sang;
“Oh mimi, you got a bit tall!”
because of course, this large, humanoid figure had to be his sweet little cat, who not too long ago, he had seen sleeping in the living room couch. Such a stupendous response left the growing darkness pause. Moments later, the covers fell.
And wouldn’t I know, With the window being open, his front door being unlocked, such a person being here began to make sense. It had dawned on his drunken head a bit belated.
A little Cycrane had found itself in my bed!
He was a grouchy, sulky, and dirty Cycrane, that one. His hair raven and unruly, frown so familiar, it might as well become a signature. Those striking, scarlet eyes and suit that had torn many times; one would wonder, when will he buy a new one? Just like a Cycrane would, he powered off and deflated in bed. Eyes open, but not caring to see Jing Yuan.
A pitiful sight it was, truly. The general recalls how worried he felt, his inebriated mind could only do so much. And yes, technically, this Cycrane was an intruder. He wasn’t expecting any visitors at a time like this, nor in the shape he was in. But it didn’t matter, not to him. He crawled to the laying figure, using his elbows as he got a closer look. There were no wounds, but he seemed to be in pain. That is what he thought then, and so he acted accordingly.
“You are hurt. Let me help you.”
The Cycrane said nothing, his scarlet eyes were losing their glow, and his unruly state simply remained. Maybe he had used all his strength to stand up just now, and he was recharging then. It didn’t matter, as the drunken foresight collected whatever is that was the wounded Cycrane to his bathroom.
And I cleaned the dirt from his face, and brushed the hair covering his eyes away…
Looking after this Cycrane sobered him. He smiled to the mirror when he pulled his hair up into a high ponytail just to see how it’d look,
“We look the same, don’t we?”
He asked, but the Cycrane offered only a blink. But at least then, he wasn’t frowning so much. His divine foresight ruffled up the smoothed raven hair only a little, returning it to its usual beautiful texture.
I’m sure it felt good, to have his bangs tended… I know it felt good for me, to finally change my clothes… Hm, yes, that may be the same experience, no?
Jing Yuan helped him out of his suit, taking his hands to wash the dirt from beneath his nails.
“Just what did you do before coming? Were you also drunk?” He talked, knowing that this Cycrane wasn’t in the mood. Still, he didn’t really mind it. The man knew himself to be quite the talker, not because he liked the sound of his voice as much as he knew that quiet would put his silly head to sleep.
And in that moment, he needed this little Cycrane tended after.
“Hmmm…” He stood behind the expressionless man, holding two robes of different colours on each hand.
“Now, would you prefer… Brown, or white?” Jing Yuan asked, lifting each robe by its hanger with crescent eyes.
And once again, the Cycrane made no sound, no reaction, nothing…
“I see, I see… I’m glad you trust me to make the choice.” And his foresight ‘foresaw’, resting the white robe to the side and helping the patched Cycrane into his robes for bed. His hands then found the Cycranes then-clothed elbows, helping him up his feet to stand between the general’s arms.
“Clean, and warm.” Jing Yuan commented, letting his thumb delicately brush the Cycrane’s cheek. “You’re much calmer now, aren’t you?” He smiled, his lips growing thin when the little Cycrane’s cheeks blemished in pink.
Wordlessly, effortlessly, he guided the weary Cycrane to his bed, retracing his footsteps to ensure they don’t dirty their feet with his dirt prints from earlier.
Such a weary soul, this one.
He remembers the way the Cycrane yawned, his body trembling as he inhaled the venty air in his bedroom. Jing Yuan had to help him lay, rubbing his shoulders as to lull him to sleep.
“What a tired thing you are.” The general spoke sweetly into the Cycrane’s ear, aweing when he murmured under his breath.
How he kept averting my gaze, acting shy and strange. Jing Yuan lay him down, then lay beside him. His gaze never once leaving those scarlet irises, not once. He only clasped his hands with the Cycrane’s, letting their fingers tangle and brought him closer. The weary, sleepy thing sagged into his embrace, his throat pressed onto Jing Yuan’s collarbone, and the crown of his head met Jing Yuan’s chin.
Oh how sweet he was; a blessing in disguise, a quiet aching thing.
“You’re alright now.”
The general quipped in a hum, eyelids shut and arms busy cradling the shivering Cycrane.
“You’re safe.”
His nose buried in those raven locks, the scent of the outside stuck, with a ghostly scent of fresh water. This Cycrane made no effort to escape, nor the effort to get closer.
It made no effort for anything at all…
He remembers how ticklish his skin felt, as the Cycrane’s fluttering lashes caressed the skin of his collarbone, his cold breaths sticking to his chest… And his hands, how they had turned to small fists bundged between Jing Yuan and him.
Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours…
They had rolled deeper in bed, and now this Cycrane—his Cycrane had settled across his body.
His divine foresight opened one eye, feeling something cold roll down his stomach.
It would seem that his Cycrane had fallen into a deep slumber, his lips parted with a wet drool dirtying both his chin and Jing Yuan’s skin.
Maybe leaving my robe open wasn’t the best idea, in hindsight. He thought, but at the time Jing Yuan was still tipsy, which made him feel hotter. He didn’t expect this Cycrane to be the type to make a mess in his sleep, and he didn’t mind either.
He brushed his chin clean with a napkin he had in his drawers just beside his bed, then cleaned himself too.
“How silly you can be, Yingxing.” He pulled him higher, giving the back of his Cycrane’s head gentle scratches. Without much resistance, he kissed his forehead a time or two, and pulled the covers higher over them both; high enough to reach his Cycrane’s shoulder, high enough to keep them both warm.
Which returned him to the present: the now.
His cycrane was sleeping into his arms, his head had wound up on his shoulder, and his arms had relaxed alongside his hands. Jing Yuan let his hand stroke his Cycrane’s back till downwards till he reached his open hand, taking it and squishing those calloused fingers into his own. Jing Yuan nearly sang when his Cycrane clutched him back, his heart oh so weak to this thing in his arms…
Goodnight, little Cycrane… He yawned, And thank you, for keeping this bed warm, and this heart full. Jing Yuan slept, soundly, contently, and safely.
A distant memory played in the sleeping general's head. A memory of an artisan fixing a Cycrane, his eyes glued to the twitching machine. Jing Yuan watched in awe, as the little thing came to life and kissed the artisan's shaky hand, a small 'thank you!' maybe. Jing Yuan looked at the flustered artisan, and called him out playfully.
It has the same strand as you, would that make you too, a...
Peaceful as it was, his drunken night had come to a close, and soon he’d wake to a sober morning. Jing Yuan first felt the warmth of the sun kiss his nose, then spread across all the features of his face, down to the dip of his neck.
“... Goodness.” He cried, stretching his weary limbs outwardly. Tearfully, he yawned, smacking his dry lips– that likely dried, from his snores during his slumber –and itching his throat. It felt strange, why did he feel lighter than he should?
… Oh, my Cycrane!
He awoke, knees kicking upright as his eyes darted around his bed. No one was there but his shadow and blanket. Mimi had wound herself in his lap, her ears flicking as she meowed for his attention.
“... Hum, maybe…” It was just my imagination?
His hand reached for the small feline’s head, brushing the short hair behind her ears and cooing her.
“I’ve woken up, mama will make your meal.”
He promised, eyelids turning into a crescent when she pawed his abdomen excitedly. The thought of yesterday’s visitor had slipped past him, just another symptom of his delusions while drunk.
I would have loved to see him.
Jing Yuan pushed his feet into his fuzzy slippers, making his way to the window and shutting it nice and tight. He stood there, letting the sunshine cover him just a bit more.
I would have loved to invite him for breakfast.
He made his way across his bedroom, going to his quiet, and comfy living room.
I would have loved to stay up a bit longer…
To feel his heartbeat thump, along mine.
Jing Yuan recalled, blushing to himself. Playfully, he mimicked the dreamy thumps his make-believe Cycrane had produced. Thump, thump, thump…
“Ah—”
He unexpectedly fell backwards. His back hit the floor, making Jing Yuan grit his teeth and hug his rear with his hands, rubbing himself woundedly. “What in the world…”
Whatever stopped him? There is no wall so obnoxiously tall to stop him so–
“I’m sorry.”
His eyes blew wide, pupils dilate as they made contact towards the direction of that voice. Jing Yuan breathed, utterly defenceless and taken aback. “Yingxing.”
His make-believe Cycrane had become a reality; staring down at him, with the same robes from his dream, carrying a tray of something he couldn’t see from the floor.
The general staggered a bit, nevertheless got himself up on his feet again. His Cycrane's bangs still ever-so present, the ones he refuses to cut evenly. His expression… Goodness, he was perfect.
“Good morning.” He spoke in short sentences, not at all fazed with his own presence in Jing Yuan’s home.
Which was good.
“Good morning.” It was better like this. To interlock arms together and walk back to bed. Jing Yuan settled down first, his hands holding his Cycrane’s elbows as he crawled beside him.
“Careful, careful…” He cooed, stroking his elbow slowly with his thumb till he had finally relaxed by him. He let his arm wrap around his lower back, hugging him fond till he deflated. The general watched with a smile as his Cycrane rest the tray between them both. They had to cross their legs together to make space.
“You’ve outdone yourself.” He complimented, pressing a peck on his Cycrane’s cheek, admiring the way it blemished pink like in his dreamy thoughts from last night.
“It’s fine.” The other huffed, such a pouty response made Jing Yuan chuckle.
“Mmm…”
He savoured each bite of his bowl of congee, stirring the hot porridge and chowing onto another bite till it made his cheeks full.
His Cycrane, unlike him, had a smaller bowl, eating only so much… Jing Yuan eyed him, hiding his frown when his Cycrane’s hands trembled with each bite. Of course, how could I turn a blind eye to your wounded hands?
“You must have truly out done yourself… How about this.” The general rest his bowl back down, carefully taking away his Cycrane’s. He used his own chopsticks to stir, the pent-up heat in the congee releasing as smoke. Jing Yuan picked up a good bite, blew the smoke away, and parted his own lips with a short ‘aah’.
This flustered his Cycrane, but thankfully he accepted this gesture; wrapping his lips around the utensils with ease.
“How good it tastes, Yingxing.” He praised, pressing the tips of his chopsticks to his Cycrane’s lips, as though it is an indirect kiss.
His Cycrane said nothing at first, chewing slowly before swallowing the bite down. Silently, and sounding even a little shy… He muttered a “Maybe.” and awaited the divine foresight to continue.
It didn’t take long for Jing Yuan to pick up where they left off, awing with each scoopfull he fed his Cycrane. His heart ached a little when his trembling hands twitched and fidgeted involuntarily between his legs. How kind he is, my sweetheart.
I needn’t know, why your hands hurt if you won’t tell me. Just as long as you let me take care of you.
His bowl soon emptied, with it Jing Yuan fed his Cycrane egg crepes.
Then came after a couple steamed veggies; asparagus, mushroom… It came to a point that his Cycrane had to ruffle his own feathers to get the general to slow down.
“I’ve had enough.” He’d growl, pushing away Jing Yuan’s hand with his head turned to the side. His foresight laughed, apologetic when he took his Cycrane’s calmer hand and kissed its palm. Silence hung over their heads now, as his sweet thing’s face tinged a deeper pink.
Just now, I want to take you in my arms and kiss you. He sighed, instead letting it settle and picking up the warm cup of tea.
“Do you want honey in it?” The man asked wistfully, earning a short nod from the other.
Jing Yuan had finished his own breakfast, not paying too much mind to his Cycrane watching him closely. He had no idea why his sweetie was keeping such a close eye on him, it only clicked when his chopsticks rest on the clay plate in its tray…
My Cycrane expects me to compliment? He got his bearings, turning to his sweetheart who didn’t hesitate to avert his eyes and pretend he was doing something else. Jing Yuan hummed, lowering his head to catch his attention before whispering in his ear. His Cycrane’s breath hitched.
“Could I kiss the chef, for his wonderful company, and food?”
Head now a bit further away, he grinned at the sight of his Cycrane pink in the face. So delicate it was, when his sweetheart picked the finished tray and let it rest on the floor of their now shared bed. Jing Yuan had his hand now wrapped around his Cycrane’s. Eyes locked, and breaths mingling. Their noses brushed, soon their cheeks as they snuggled close.
Shyly, his Cycrane pressed forward and locked their lips in a tight embrace. Soft, and plush lips Jing Yuan was addicted to. His hands carefully rest on his Cycrane’s lower back, tugging him close enough to rest on his lap. Their heads angled on their own, chasing one another, stealing one another’s breaths.
When they parted, it was his Cycrane who heaved for another breath before sinking onto him again.
And again, and again.
I wanted to lay, and let him have however much of me he missed.
Such a thought popped in his head, as his sweetie breathlessly kissed all over his face. Jing Yuan had to slow him down, rolling them side to side in bed. Now their hair had become unruly, and their faces pink… Poor Cycrane, his lips had become more rosy, puckered in a ghosted frown.
Such a sad expression on display was an unforgivable offence for the dozing general. He brushed his sad Cycane’s cheeks, and gently guided him to his chest. Without a word one more time, his Cycrane climbed higher and kissed his lips. An unhurried, gentle kiss.
Maybe his weary heart in his arms had realised that his foresight won’t be leaving his side, not now
not ever.
A hand on his jaw, Jing Yuan locked their lips once more, tasting the morning and breakfast they had shared not too long ago.
I mind not your departure. He promised, caring after the sleeping Cycrane once had his fill of Jing Yuan. And I mind not your arrival. He fixed his bangs, sighing at the display of his pink cheeks.
In a whisper, followed suit with a soft chuckle. Jing Yuan spoke simply.
“I’m glad to see you again, Yingxing.” He squeezed the two of them close, pulling up the brown robe his Cycrane wore just to keep him warm.
For a moment, though he didn’t hear it, he felt his sweetheart’s lips move against the skin of his throat, mouthing a short response that made the general question: Must I really go to work today?
He responded, addicted to the way he said his Cycrane’s name. “I love you too, Yingxing.”
