An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
âSizhui,â Jingyi appears in the courtyard where Sizhui is meditating in a flurry of motion and sound. He bounds up to where Sizhui is sitting and holds out a hand, âcome with me!â
Sizhui reaches out, and Jingyi threads their fingers together. He pulls Sizhui to his feet and pulls him out of the courtyard and out of the Cloud Recesses all together. Sizhui lets himself be tugged along with a faintly amused smile on his face. Â
The forest around them is beautiful, and the path is dappled gold and green in the afternoon light, but Jingyi is so vibrant, so bright, that Sizhui canât look away. Jingyi bounces slightly as he walks, his energy spilling over into his every movement. Â
âWhere are we going?â Sizhui asks, lengthening his strides to keep up with his partner.
âI donât know exactly,â Jingyi says looking over his shoulder to smile at Sizhui, and his smile is like the sun. It makes Sizhuiâs heart flutter in his chest, and he smiles back because he canât resist. Â
Jingyi shrugs and the motion is relaxed, unburdened. They live in a world of four thousand rules, of structure, and of obedience. But Jingyi is different, even the way he moves is carefree; itâs like a breath of fresh air when Sizhui canât breathe. Â
Jingyi hauls him along, never letting go of his hand for an instant until they find their way into a clearing. Jingyi spins him around a bit by his hand before pulling him close. Sizhui leans into his embrace. Strong arms hold him tight, but he never feels caged, not with Jingyi.
Sizhui looks up into his face.  His bangs are, as ever, falling into his eyes, and Sizhui brushes them aside. He loves Jingyiâs eyes; they are grey, the color of dark thunder clouds, and yet they are almost never stormy. Right now they are dancing light across the surface of a mountain stream. Â
Sizhui presses himself up on his toes so their lips meet. His lips are soft, and Sizhui can taste his smile. A hand on the small of his back pulls him closer, and he presses himself as close as he can get. This is where he belongs. Â
He would kiss Jingyi forever if he could. In these moments, he can feel free too. Kissing Jingyi is like opening a window to sunlight and fresh air in Sizhuiâs soul. Their lips part and Jingyiâs hand finds its way into his hair. Sizhuiâs heart is thundering in his chest as if it wants to fly free. Jingyi tastes like white tea and sugar and something thatâs unique to him that Sizhui will never be able to put words to.
Jingyi is a wildfire, and Sizhui is burning. Warmth floods through him, and Jingyiâs touches kindle fires under his own skin. In these moments, they are one soul, one core, one being, and Sizhui happily loses himself to the feeling. When they break away, Sizhui settles back into his own skin, enveloped in a warm embrace and comforted by the soft smell of pine trees and fresh mountain air that somehow always clings to Jingyi.
Jingyiâs joy makes his smile all the more radiant as he smiles down at Sizhui. His laugh peals like bells around them, unrestrained and free and it is better than any music Sizhui has ever heard.
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