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A servant entered the room, bowing his head to the floor. Xie Lian's mother turned to look at him; he was out of breath.

"Is something wrong?" she asked. 

"Ma'am, our guest is late because something went wrong with her carriage."

"Ah, so that's what it is... what's wrong with it?"

"One of the wheels broke. And also, the horse had some kind of fit and refused to continue," the servant said. Xie Lian put his tea cup down and got up calmly. He walked out of the house slowly, because he knew servants might be watching him. He did not need to draw attention to himself right now. He had a suspicion of what happened with the carriage. He walked into the woods behind the house. After about five minutes of walking, he had reached the clearing. He looked up, and sure enough, there he was. Hua Cheng lay on the branch, facing away from Xie Lian, stretched long like a cat. Xie Lian could see he was not really sleeping; it was something subtle in the pose. When Xie Lian had heard of the wheel, he'd done the math on the distance. The carriage was several hours late, and it took the servant some time to reach their residence with the news. Someone had made it to the carriage, destroyed the wheel, scared the horse, and made it back hours ago. It couldn't be anyone besides Hua Cheng. Only the demon had that kind of speed. Xie Lian remembered the day about two years ago when he learned about it. He had been curious about how quickly Hua Cheng could run. He'd asked the mountain demon to run to the lake and back. It was the nearest body of water from the Xie residence, three miles away. Hua Cheng was to catch a live fish and bring it back as evidence that he'd reached the lake. The boy took off, and Xie Lian started counting. He did not reach two minutes when Hua Cheng was suddenly in front of him. His hair and clothes were wet; he held a squirming, gasping fish in his claws, grinning at the older boy. Xie Lian had felt almost nauseous, trying to picture the sheer distance in this time. Hua Cheng's wide eyes stared at him, unblinking, waiting for praise. Xie Lian marvelled loudly at his speed, and Hua Cheng tore into the fish happily, its blood flying everywhere. 

"San Lang?" Xie Lian said. The boy remained still. 

"Can you come down, please?" Xie Lian called. "I'm not mad at you, I promise." Hua Cheng's leg, dangling off the branch, started swaying gently. Xie Lian felt a familiar tenderness in his heart. He knew this had been a difficult few months for the demon. Xie Lian had turned 18 recently, and his mother had immediately started accepting guests from neighbours and families in the area. They sent their eligible daughters, accompanied by chaperones, to visit Xie Lian, in hopes of a connection. Xie Lian had begged his mother to give him a bit more time before starting all of that, but it was no use. So far, four girls had visited him. They were perfectly nice; there was absolutely nothing wrong with them. Xie Lian just did not feel ready for marriage in the slightest. Truthfully, he had no interest in the matter at all. And when the visitations started, he had noticed a change in Hua Cheng's behaviour. The 12-year old was clearly not happy about the new kind of attention Xie Lian was getting. Xie Lian could feel the demon boy in the trees when he was on walks with the girls. Hua Cheng would smile a lot less, staring at Xie Lian like he had been gravely wounded somehow. Xie Lian wished he could ease the boy's mind, while at the same time finding it a little bit endearing. Demons had the ability to favour individuals, just like people did. He had always been Hua Cheng's favourite, ever since the day they met. And Hua Cheng had always been dearest to him; no amount of forced visits to humour Xie Lian's mother would change that. The guest they had been expecting was yet another girl; it was clear why and how her carriage had been so suddenly sabotaged. 

Xie Lian took a step closer and tilted his head.

"San Lang, please come down," he said. "I'm honestly not mad at you." Hua Cheng seemed to sigh, swinging his leg faster, his air a bit stubborn somehow. He could be really adorable. Xie Lian sighed and turned around. 

"Alright, if you don't want to talk to me..." he said. It worked; he heard the noise and turned around. Hua Cheng had propped his body up; it looked like he might stand up. But he rolled to the side and fell down limply from the height of 20 yards. Xie Lian's heart plummeted down and he rushed forward, arms extended. Hua Cheng flipped in the air and landed soundlessly into the tall grass on all fours. Xie Lian was still, panting, his heart beating against his ribcage. Of course he knew mountain demons landed like cats. He had seen it a hundred times; Hua Cheng had been able to do it since he was five. But from a distance, he really did look a whole lot like a human, so naturally part of Xie Lian's brain always had that fear reaction. Hua Cheng straightened up like nothing had happened. Xie Lian rushed to him and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. 

"San Lang, I told you not to do that anymore! You know I don't like it so don't do that, alright? Promise me," he said, slightly out of breath. Hua Cheng glanced at him from beneath his brows. Xie Lian sighed and patted the shoulders.

"Look... you don't need to be mad at the visitors we get, you know that, right? Nothing is going to change, I'm not getting married anytime soon," he said gently. "So don't go breaking carriers or anything like that, alright?" The demon knit his brows, almost glaring at the human.

"Why's gege always accusing me," he muttered. "I didn't do anything..." His pout made one of his fangs stick out and sink into his lower lip. Sometimes Xie Lian saw something so adorable that the tenderness in his chest almost turned to aggression, and he'd want to crush boulders or punch his fist through a 200-year oak. Hua Cheng's fang had to be the most precious thing in the entire world, it was almost unbearable. Xie Lian smiled brightly and tilted his head. 

"Well, let's hope they have better luck and their horse won't get spooked by nonexistent things!" he said. Everyone knew animals were wary of demons. Hua Cheng glanced at Xie Lian sneakily. Even this expression was charming. Out of old habit, Xie Lian patted the demon boy's head. He used to do it all the time when they were younger. He'd squeeze and pinch Hua Cheng's chubby cheeks and say things like 'who's the cutest boy in the whole world, you, yes you are, you're the cutest.' And then one day Hua Cheng decided he didn't like that anymore because it was 'for babies.' What a devastating day it had been for Xie Lian. Now, the demon shook his head once, slowly, and Xie Lian pulled his hand away, slightly embarrassed. He knew Hua Cheng was growing up; the boy had grown a foot in the past year, and was now as tall as Xie Lian. Still, it felt a little bittersweet. 

"I'm glad to see you're not upset by all our new guests," Xie Lian said gently. "They're just visiting, but for us, this is home." The demon boy stared at the ground.

"Is San Lang alright?" Xie Lian asked.

"I'm fine," he said, sounding a touch grumpy. A mushyness filled Xie Lian's chest again. It seemed the boy needed alone time to deal with the stress of all the new guests, but at the same time, Xie Lian felt badly about leaving him all alone. He thought Hua Cheng could probably really use some attention from him. Xie Lian had felt fiercely protective of the demon ever since the day he had found the boy, shivering and hungry, curled up at a small shrine, and carried him home in the rain. One of their servants, an old woman who feared nothing, had taken him in, and he grew up on the Xie compound. Xie Lian smiled. 

"Good," he said. "I'm glad." He turned around and started walking back. 

"Where's gege going?" Hua Cheng's voice sounded a touch accusatory. Xie Lian felt a rush of affection, smiling to himself. 

"I have to be there when the guest arrives, or mother will be cross with me," he said. He heard the boy stomping and kicking grass behind him as he followed. 

"I don't have any plans tomorrow," Xie Lian said, trying to keep the laughter out of his voice. "Why don't we spend the day together and go fishing and hunting and swimming and so on? We can spar like old times?" The footsteps sounded slightly less irritated.

"If gege wants..." the demon muttered. Xie Lian bit his lower lip to stay serious. Hua Cheng really did sound like he was nearing puberty at times. 

*****

"You have to stop fidgeting!" Xie Lian said quietly. He knew this was an uphill battle. Demons seemed to consider clothing a necessary evil at best. Being measured for a new outfit was even worse. Every time Xie Lian tried to get the measuring tape around Hua Cheng's chest or waist, he'd start squirming like an eel. He had to do it because Hua Cheng would not let their seamstress touch him. He never let anyone besides Xie Lian touch him. Xie Lian sighed and crossed his arms. 

"If you don't wear something nicer, you can't come," he said. He knew Hua Cheng wanted to join him on the trip, not because he wanted to attend a wedding, but because he didn't want to go a week without seeing Xie Lian. The demon's stance looked irritable; he glanced around the room, clearly weighing the options in his mind. Xie Lian took a step back, relaxing. He knew Hua Cheng was trying to do something that didn't come naturally to him. The mountain demon was 15 now, almost a foot taller than Xie Lian. His shoulders had shot out abruptly and his hands and feet looked a bit big on him, but he was still quite slender. The shirt and pants he was currently wearing were already getting too small; the sleeves were tight in the armpits, and the pants almost looked like shorts. He huffed and spread out his arms. Xie Lian smiled and managed to take the chest measurement, saying it aloud to the seamstress. Finally, they were done and Hua Cheng wasted no time getting out of the room. Xie Lian slipped a comb into his pocket and followed the demon nonchalantly. In the clearing, Hua Cheng flopped into the grass on his stomach. It had been 'their' place for years; none of the staff ever came here. Xie Lian sat next to the demon. He looked at the little twigs and leaves stuck in the long, messy, wavy hair. 

"San Lang?"

"Mmh."

"You know clothes aren't the only part of going to a wedding," Xie Lian said. The demon looked at him from the corner of his eye.

"What?" he asked cautiously. Xie Lian pulled the comb out; Hua Cheng's eyes widened slightly. Xie Lian smiled and tilted his head. 

"I'm afraid they won't let you in," he said. "I really need to braid your hair." The teenager stared at the comb for a while. Then, he sat up slowly, turning his back on the human.

"Thank you, San Lang, for making the effort," Xie Lian said and took the mane into his hands. The hair was much coarser and blacker than his. He began by plucking all objects out; then he started to slowly brush the tips. He gradually worked his way up, until he was brushing all the way from the hairline down the scalp. He noticed Hua Cheng's posture relaxing. The sun had moved so that they were directly in the light. He knew being in direct sunlight for a while could make Tonglu demons sleepy. He quickly braided the hair, holding the comb between his teeth. Xie Lian sat back and smiled.

"All done!" he said. "San Lang looks so handsome with his hair like this!" Hua Cheng turned his head; his eyes were closed. Being sleepy made him look even cuter. 

"The outfit won't be ready for hours," Xie Lian said. Hua Cheng leaned back, resting his head in Xie Lian's lap, stretching his legs out. Xie Lian touched his mouth, feeling moved. The demon used to do this all the time when he was little, before he'd become a pre-teen. The hair brushing and the sunlight must've really gotten to him. Xie Lian decided to sit here quietly as long as he could, and took his own braid out. He started brushing his hair, even though it didn't need it. Hua Cheng yawned, all his fangs flashing, and nuzzled his head against Xie Lian's knees.

"Gege's always primping and preening..." he mumbled sleepily. Xie Lian grinned and tapped the demon's nose with the comb.

"We can't all be as naturally charming as San Lang!" he said. Hua Cheng's nose twitched, and he raised his arms, giving his body a huge, trembling stretch. He was like a big cat. Xie Lian felt a familiar warmth spread in his chest. He loved Hua Cheng so much. He sat in that spot for several hours, letting the teenager sleep, until a servant came to inform him dinner was served. 

*****

Xie Lian sat in the carriage opposite of Shi Qingxuan. He could feel the nervous energy buzzing in his friend. The wind cultivator couldn't stop smiling. Xie Lian wasn't able to be quite at ease.

"You really didn't have to come for me personally," he said. Shi Qingxuan grinned. 

"I'm no help at home, I'm just in the way, it's almost better like this!" he assured. Xie Lian had his and Hua Cheng's formal clothing wrapped in a package, sitting on the bench next to him. He glanced out the window once again, looking up into the trees. He sighed and leaned back.

"Are you completely sure?" he asked softly. "I mean... it's quite young to get married?" His friend blushed and fanned himself.

"Not to me!" he admitted. "I feel like I've waited ages for this!" They were travelling to Shi Qingxuan's place for his wedding. The trip would take several days. Xie Lian wanted to keep talking, but his mind was simply too distracted. He looked out the window, pushing the curtain aside. 

"San Lang!" he called into the bright, sunny woods. All he heard was the horse and the carriage. Then, a reply.

"Yes, gege," the demon called from somewhere above.

"Wouldn't you sit on the carriage?" Xie Lian called. After a moment of consideration, he continued. "It would make me feel safer." A few seconds went by. Then the carriage shook with a loud thump as the teen landed on the roof, making the horse squeal a bit. Shi Qingxuan looked pale all of a sudden. Most of Xie Lian's friends were a bit nervous around Hua Cheng. They didn't know him like Xie Lian did. 

"He doesn't HAVE to sit there if he doesn't want to," the wind cultivator said politely, trying to hide his unease. Xie Lian would've liked Hua Cheng to sit inside, but that was never going to happen so he didn't even bother asking the demon. They heard the driver try to calm the horse down, himself sounding quite on edge as well. Xie Lian's family paid their driver triple since it was difficult to find someone willing to drive with a demon on board. Xie Lian listened to Hua Cheng's claws against the roof of the car as he settled in; he laid down, his legs poking out over the side. Xie Lian looked at the bare feet pointing to the ground, and sighed. He felt much better now that Hua Cheng was on top of them instead of flying around all over the woods. It felt warm and secure, having the teenager near. Xie Lian turned to Shi Qingxuan and smiled. 

"How many proposed to you before you accepted?" he asked. His friend blushed.

"Nobody," he said. Xie Lian's eyes widened. He had not expected this. Shi Qingxuan covered the side of his face with a fan in a conspiratory manner. 

"Apparently he made it clear all across the region that if anyone dared propose to me before he could they would have to answer to him," he muttered. Xie Lian's eyes widened. It was so dramatic. Shi Qingxuan hid his face behind his fan.

"Xie Lian!" he hissed. "I can't wait, I'm so excited! I've been in love with him for years!" Xie Lian smiled. 

"What does it feel like?" he asked. 

"Huh? Don't you know?" his friend asked. "You've had a crush at least, haven't you?" Xie Lian shook his head. Shi Qingxuan puckered his lips.

"How do I describe it," he mused. "A little bit like having a stomach bug, or a nervous breakdown."

"That can't be right," Xie Lian said. "That doesn't sound enjoyable at all!" His friend laughed and blushed more, fanning himself. 

"I'm bad at explaining," he admitted. "It's wonderful. It's like he's more important to me than anyone else." Xie Lian looked out the window. All he knew was he'd never been in love, and that Hua Cheng was more important to him than anyone. 

"Is it a bit like..." Xie Lian mused. "Like you would kill thousands of people, entire cities of people, if they as much as considered harming one hair on his head?" Shi Qingxuan's eyes were wide. Xie Lian cleared his throat.

"I mean you wouldn't DO it of course, but the idea of someone harming him fills you with so much rage?" he added quickly. His friend was blinking slowly. 

"Nooot really, no," he said. "I mean, I don't think of it like that... it's less dark and more... joyous?" Xie Lian looked out the window, sighing. 

"Like I said, I don't know anything about it," he chuckled. He felt a bit embarrassed about what he had just said out loud. His mother and cultivation teacher would be mortified to hear such things from him. He was not a violent person at all. It's not like he fantasized about killing people. It hadn't really occurred to him until right now. He felt like if something happened to Hua Cheng, everything would just be... over. And that felt too morbid to say to someone about to get married. Xie Lian rubbed his neck, his face feeling warm. He wondered if he should say something to take it back, or make Shi Qingxuan feel more at ease. He felt like he had somehow let someone down by saying such a thing out loud. His hand slid over his face slowly. Should he say something now? This tension was so uncomfortable. And Shi Qingxuan had been so cheerful up until that point. Xie Lian decided to say something, and opened his mouth. The carriage rocked suddenly; Hua Cheng had jumped on his feet. Xie Lian looked at the ceiling of the car. He felt the demon's alert energy. He exchanged looks with Shi Qingxuan. 

"What's going on, San Lang?" Xie Lian asked.

"Nothing as far as I can tell," came the driver's voice. Shi Qingxuan frowned. Xie Lian felt the tension from the teenager. Mountain demons had far superior instincts to humans, especially non-cultivators. Xie Lian felt a tinge of discomfort.

"Why don't you come sit with us, San Lang?" he asked, trying to sound casual. The silence stretched as the carriage kept moving. A hint of nausea sat at the bottom of Xie Lian's stomach. 

"San Lang-"

"Stay inside, gege." He had never heard the demon's voice this low; it was almost like a different person. Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan stared at each other. The wind cultivator was gripping his fan; in a dense forest like this, he would not be able to do much with wind. Xie Lian always travelled with his sword, but it was in the trunk of the carriage along with his belongings. All he had on his body was a knife. He had never been attacked while travelling. Then they felt it; a cluster of energies that weren't there before, rapidly approaching them. The carriage came to a halt; they heard the driver jump down and run to the back. Now they could hear the horses coming. Xie Lian thought of Hua Cheng all alone on the roof, exposed, and a nauseating fear ripped through him like a cold pick. He flung himself at the car door, trembling hands trying to push it open.

"San Lang-" The door smashed back shut loudly by a clawed hand.

"STAY INSIDE!" came the growl. Xie Lian's body froze; the voice was not Hua Cheng's. It belonged to a truly demonic creature. He felt like ice was running through his veins. Shi Qingxuan's eyes were just as wide, his mouth open and silent, his face pale. The horses were loud now, almost here. The car tilted and rocked; the weight had disappeared. Xie Lian stared out the window, not seeing or hearing anything. Then, a screech and horses whining. Screams filled the air and Xie Lian sprung into action. He jumped out of the car and ran to the back, tearing the trunk open, blindly looking for his sword. Why had he not kept it by his side!? Why had he felt so comfortable!? A riderless horse flew past him, dragging a limp man's body behind it, hanging from one stirrup. There were so many screams, thuds and cracking sounds he had no idea what was going on. He found his sword and filled it with qi, running to the front of the carriage, into the middle of the horses. 

"SAN LANG!!" he screamed. A heavy weight hit him from the back, sending him flying on the ground. A man's body loomed over him like a cover, hiding Xie Lian in shade. He blinked wildly.

"San Lang!!" he yelled again, trying to get up but the massive palm pushed him down like a ragdoll. Xie Lian's face turned to the side, and he saw the hand on the ground next to him. Claws. It was Hua Cheng's! The teenager was crouched, breathing heavily, observing the surroundings, tension radiating off his body. Xie Lian twisted himself around, looking up. Hua Cheng wasn't looking at him; there was blood splattered on his face. Panic filled Xie Lian. His hands shot up to touch the demon's face, wiping the blood.

"San Lang!!" he cried. "Is this your blood!? Answer me!!" The mountain demon didn't seem to hear; he kept moving his head around slowly, a vacant look in his pale eyes, breathing hard through his mouth. He looked like he was ready to jump. Xie Lian saw more splattered blood on his shirt and grabbed it in horror. Why was there so much blood on Hua Cheng!? Two horses ran past them loudly, their hooves making the road dust billow. Xie Lian slapped Hua Cheng in the face.

"San Lang!!" he yelled. Now the teenager was blinking, and looked down at him. He backed away an inch and stared at Xie Lian's face, then his clothes, like looking for something.

"IS it your blood!?" Xie Lian yelled, his knuckles white. Hua Cheng shook his head, still panting. Xie Lian flung his arms around the demon, pressing his face into his shoulder. He felt like the world was spinning, holding on too tightly. Hua Cheng was alive. He wasn't bleeding. He was alright. For a moment there he thought... Xie Lian drew in ragged breaths, shaking against Hua Cheng. He felt like he might never let go. He still couldn't let himself believe the demon was really safe. The afterwaves of the shock were rolling down his body. He clenched the back of the teenager's shirt. 

"You can't fight without me," he wheezed. "Promise me, San Lang, you can't do dangerous things alone, say it. Say you won't do it!" Hua Cheng let out a low sound; it was impossible to decipher if it meant a yes or a no. 

"Gege has to stay inside when told," he grumbled; his voice was still different. Xie Lian shook his head, eyes closed. 

"San Lang does what I say, I'm older," he muttered. Slowly, Hua Cheng stood up, Xie Lian still hanging off his body with a steely grip. The teenager wrapped his arms around the human, breathing heavily. The cacophony from just a moment ago made the forest feel far too quiet. Shi Qingxuan approached them, and Hua Cheng jerked his body, putting it between the two men. A low snarl escaped his throat; the wind cultivator froze. Xie Lian's eyes blinked open; he looked up.

"San Lang," he muttered. "Come on, it's just Shi Qingxuan. You can tell there's nobody else here, right?" The demon glared at Shi Qingxuan from the corner of his eye. Xie Lian patted Hua Cheng's heaving chest.

"It's ok, it's just him," Xie Lian mumbled. He looked at his friend. Shi Qingxuan did not seem well; his face had a greenish hue. He was staring down. Xie Lian took a step back and looked down. Hua Cheng's hands were almost elbow-deep in blood, dripping on the ground. Now that Xie Lian had noticed, he could smell it. His stomach clenched unpleasantly. He glanced around; a dozen corpses were scattered around the carriage. A few of the horses were standing around nervously, most of them had fled when Hua Cheng started killing. The teenager lifted his hand, like seeing it for the first time. He did not look surprised or nauseous. He sniffed the blood on his palm, then wiped his hands casually on the hem of his forest green shirt. Xie Lian stared at the demon with wide eyes. He remembered the first time Hua Cheng had accidentally hurt him. The demon was around six at the time, and they were wrestling. Hua Cheng loved to mock-fight and wrestle. Xie Lian used to very vocally pretend that Hua Cheng was completely overpowering him. Hua Cheng had sunk his teeth into Xie Lian's arm, making him wince and gasp. Hua Cheng had looked horrified and ashamed, immediately bolting out of the room. Xie Lian had run after him. He found the demon in his room, under a pile of furs he liked to sleep on in the winter. Xie Lian had spent a long time whispering that it was alright and soothing the shivering boy with his voice. Apparently demon young, like cats and dogs, bit during play. Xie Lian had pulled the fur away eventually, telling Hua Cheng he wasn't mad and it didn't really hurt. Hua Cheng fell into his lap, curling his little arms around the human, pressing his face into Xie Lian's stomach. Xie Lian kept petting his hair gently and slowly, assuring him everything was alright. 

Xie Lian looked up into Hua Cheng's calm face. As a child, he had been so upset for causing Xie Lian a tiny bit of accidental pain. And now, he had murdered a dozen humans in an instant, and seemed completely at peace with it. Was this normal for Tonglu demons? No wonder Shi Qingxuan looked so disturbed. The wind cultivator cleared his throat. 

"We don't know when people will appear here, so we can't stay and wait," he said. "I left a note if someone sees what... happened here." He pointed at a tree nearby; his glowing, qi-enhanced Shi family paper was stuck on it. Xie Lian read the paper while Hua Cheng threw the bodies on the side of the road, releasing the horses. Luckily, the paper didn't mention Hua Cheng was responsible. The rest of the trip was tense. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng had argued over seating arrangements. Xie Lian wanted to be with Hua Cheng on the roof; he refused. Ultimately, Xie Lian had to give in; demon stubbornness was nothing to be trifled with, and Shi Qingxuan was getting restless. So Xie Lian sat tensely at the edge of his seat, his sword drawn and ready, paying keen attention to their surroundings, just in case the teenage demon would need help. There was no more chatting in the carriage. 

*****

Three days later, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were getting ready for the wedding ceremony. The mood had eased considerably once they got off the road. Xie Lian had gotten dressed first, knowing the demon would need some help with the finer touches. It was unusual to see Hua Cheng in colors that didn't exist in nature. His collar was not quite straight. Xie Lian smiled and stepped closer, adjusting the ribbon. 

"San Lang looks so handsome!" he said. The teenager had a grumpy expression.

"Gege... stop teasing."

"What? It's true!" Xie Lian said. "You're the handsomest boy in here!" Hua Cheng looked almost wounded. It was so precious Xie Lian nearly squealed. 

"Gege!"

"What??" Hua Cheng straightened up, sticking his jaw out. 

"I'm not a boy, I'm a man," he huffed. He was so cute Xie Lian wanted to pinch his cheek or touch the tip of his nose with his finger, but that stopped being an option years ago. Xie Lian sighed, putting a serious expression on his face.

"San Lang is a man," he said solemnly. "A big, grown, handsome man." Hua Cheng strutted off irritably; Xie Lian may have laid it on a bit thick. He just couldn't help himself; the teenager was even more adorable when he was miffed at him. An hour later, they were standing at the back of the wedding space. It was full of people; they had decided to stay in the back to avoid causing discomfort among guests for seeing a demon. Hua Cheng was scanning the crowd slowly. Xie Lian was well acquainted with this; Hua Cheng had always had a habit of taking in the dimensions of a space along with the number of animals in it. Xie Lian saw a man staring at him. He'd never seen the man before. He waited, but the man kept staring. He started to wonder if they had met at some point, and he'd simply forgotten. Then the man smiled at him, much like some of those girls had. Xie Lian felt a sudden aura of bloodlust and tensed up. It was coming off of Hua Cheng, who took a sideways step and blocked the man from view. Xie Lian started to sweat. 

"San Lang!" he whispered urgently. "Calm down, there might be cultivators here!" He tugged on the teenager's tensed up shoulder. Was prolonged eye contact considered a sign of aggression by mountain demons? The man paled and turned away, and Hua Cheng let Xie Lian pull him back.

"Please try to act human while we're in here," Xie Lian whispered. "It's an important day for Shi Qingxuan, I don't want people to pay attention to us, alright?" Hua Cheng stared to the front of the room, his mouth a tight line. Xie Lian focused on the ceremony about to start. He watched the look on Shi Qingxuan's face as he was standing in front of his fiance, his cheeks flushed, eyes wide and shiny. He was fully glowing, his entire being radiating. Xie Lian had never looked at anyone like that. He wondered if there was something wrong with him, not for the first time. He had once seen two servants kissing at night when they thought nobody could see them. Seeing their kiss had felt a bit like watching two dogs sniff each other's behinds. He supposed one had to be a dog to understand the appeal. 

"Gege," came the quiet voice. Xie Lian stirred, looking up at his friend. Hua Cheng kept his gaze on the couple. 

"At some point your mother stopped sending girls," he whispered. "Why is that?" It had stopped years ago. Why was Hua Cheng asking about it all of a sudden? Xie Lian smiled sheepishly. 

"I made a deal with her."

"What deal?"

"She agreed to give me more time," Xie Lian said. "If I stopped my aging." Hua Cheng looked at the human, taking his face in.

"Gege has not aged since 18."

"That's right."

"How much time did she give gege?"

"A decade," Xie Lian said. 

"And then what will happen?" Hua Cheng's voice was low and serious. Xie Lian smiled at him. 

"That's an issue for the future," he said. "Besides, maybe by then I'll feel like getting married! Who knows?" He looked at the couple. He could feel the teenager still staring at him intently. Hua Cheng's energy was not cheerful. Xie Lian glanced at him.

"What? Don't tell me you're still mad at me from earlier!" he whispered. The demon watched him solemnly.

"I'm never mad at gege," he said earnestly. Xie Lian felt his vision sting, and rubbed the corner of his eye. If Hua Cheng's sincerity made him tear up, at least he could blame it on the wedding! 

******

Xie Lian sat by his window, writing a letter to a cousin. Hua Cheng jumped into view and landed on the windowsill soundlessly. A two-story jump was like hopping one step for Xie Lian. The human looked up and smiled. 

"Did you find game?" he asked. The teenager nodded, stepping in and stretching, his head almost reaching the ceiling. He had turned 17 a while back, and his clothes were once again getting too small. Sometimes the earth-toned, torn and ragged attire he walked around in upset Xie Lian's mother. Supposedly it made her look cheap, or like she couldn't be bothered to clothe him properly. Xie Lian had tried to explain demon culture to her, but it was no use. Hua Cheng laid down on Xie Lian's bed and rolled around and squirmed on it. Xie Lian bit his lower lip to not smile or laugh. The demon looked like a dog rolling around on grass. Xie Lian didn't want to ask what it was about; he might hurt the teenager's feelings. Hua Cheng sat up and grabbed Xie Lian's pillow, rubbing it against his face and neck, his eyes closed. Something about it made it seem like it was important. He put the pillow down and got up, walking to the desk. Hua Cheng leaned over, looking at the letter.

"What's gege doing?" His voice had dropped from what it had been a few years back. Xie Lian still remembered his own voice change. It had happened in the course of months, and by the end of the year, it stopped. His voice remained tender; the change had not been very dramatic. Hua Cheng's, on the other hand, seemed to drop lower each year. His species appeared to have a more gradual adolescence somehow. Xie Lian smoothed one of the papers. 

"Just writing to a cousin," he said. "Mother insisted." Hua Cheng picked up the sheet and looked at it. Mountain demons could not read or write human text; their brains were wired differently. When Hua Cheng had been little and saw Xie Lian writing, he had dipped his hand in ink and pressed it on a half-written page. He just wanted to participate in what his gege was doing. Xie Lian wasn't even mad at it; the little hand print was too adorable. Xie Lian smiled at the teenager and pulled a drawer open.

"Does San Lang remember this?" he asked innocently, showing the sheet of paper with the tiny print. Hua Cheng's cheeks flustered, and he looked away. 

"Why does gege keep baby things!?" he muttered. Xie Lian pressed the sheet against his face.

"I could never throw away something San Lang gave me!" he said. "This will be in my coffin!" Hua Cheng frowned, putting the letter down. He looked out the window, hands on the ledge. 

"Gege's always going to see me as a baby," he mumbled, sounding crotchety. Xie Lian stopped himself right when he was about to 'awww' out loud. That would really not have gone over well in the moment. He slipped the print into the drawer and stood up, leaning out the window next to his friend. 

"I don't keep it to remind you of when you were little," Xie Lian said softly. "I like it because it's something you gave me. I'd like anything you give me." They watched the orange leaves fall to the ground. The air had a certain chill in it already. Xie Lian thought about the shift in Hua Cheng in the past months. It was hard to describe, but it was like something in the teenager had changed course. Xie Lian would catch him staring north all the time, a vacant look in his pale gold eyes, like he could hear something the human couldn't. Something about it unnerved Xie Lian just a little bit, deep in his gut. He looked up and saw a swarm of birds heading south. For some reason, it made his heart sink. After a while, Hua Cheng spoke.

"I have to leave," he said quietly. Xie Lian's fingers tightened around the windowsill. He tried to keep his breath even. So. This was the ominous thing.

"Leave where?" Xie Lian asked.

"Tonglu," Hua Cheng muttered. Xie Lian bit his lower lip. It looked like the sky was darkening. 

"Why?" he whispered. The teenager searched for the right words. 

"It's a thing we all have to do," he said tersely. A rite of passage. Some kind of demon thing, perhaps. Xie Lian took a deep, slow breath.

"How long will you be gone?" he asked, his voice thin. 

"I'm not sure."

"Is it weeks, or months?" Xie Lian asked. "It's not years, is it?" He looked at the demon. Hua Cheng kept staring north.

"It takes as long as it takes," he said. Xie Lian felt lightheaded, nauseous. He didn't want to think about what the words meant. His back broke out in cold sweat.

"But you will come back, right?" he asked quietly. Hua Cheng kept staring out.

"I'll come back, gege," he said. His voice already sounded distant. Xie Lian stared at his own knuckles, trying to swallow the taste of bile in his throat. He had to push all of this aside right now. Hua Cheng was going through something important, and needed him to be supportive. 

"Good," he said weakly. "I'll look forward to seeing San Lang again." They didn't speak for the rest of the night. They just sat by Xie Lian's window, watching the sky turn every shade of pink and orange before finally settling into deep blue. The sky turned black, and Hua Cheng got up. He turned to Xie Lian, and pressed his hand on the human's chest, over the heart. Xie Lian looked at the hand, his throat feeling tight. He looked up at Hua Cheng's vacant expression. Then, the taller man let his hand drop and jumped down into the grass, walking towards where his room was. Xie Lian hadn't asked him when he would leave.

When Xie Lian opened his eyes, something about his window seemed different. He rubbed his eyes and sat up; something caught the cold sunlight. It was a folded sheet of paper wedged between the window and frame. He walked to the window, forcing his steps to remain calm, and pulled the paper out. When he opened it, he felt his throat close up. It was Hua Cheng's hand, pressed in ink. It took out all the space on the sheet. Xie Lian noticed his hands were trembling. He pushed the window open and jumped down, the grass cold and dewy under bare feet. He tried to walk slowly but his legs did not listen; he was running now. He slammed the door to Hua Cheng's room open. The lady who cared for him had died a few years back; it was his own little dwelling now. Xie Lian's gaze tore through the dark space; the cold, dead fireplace, the rumpled furs in the corner, the bottle of ink on the desk. He hurled around and sped out, heading to the clearing. He heard his pulse coursing in his ears, his chest tight, like no air was moving through him. His body was cold and slick with sweat; he felt like he was escaping something that was right on his heels. Xie Lian burst into the clearing, looking up. Hua Cheng's favourite tree was bare and empty, all the leaves gone, like a skeleton against the pale sky. Xie Lian felt dizzy, turning round and round, not seeing the demon anywhere up there. He walked up to the tree, his knees weak. He saw the scratch marks on the bark, waist-high, that Hua Cheng had made as a child. His gaze travelled up to where the recent marks were; deep, long, over a yard above his head. Something broke in Xie Lian and he slumped on the ground. He wailed out loud.

Loving Hua Cheng was like having your heart outside your body all the time.

Xie Lian rocked back and forth, hands clamped over his wet face, eyes burning, no sound coming out. He tried to pull in short, stabbing breaths; he felt like a hot rake was dragging over his back, over and over, trying to pull his spine out. He saw Hua Cheng's face, young, round, innocent, when he was afraid of the dark and cuddled up against Xie Lian's side, leaning against him, eyes closed, trusting, his slender arm wrapped around Xie Lian's waist, and Xie Lian would slowly, gently pet the demon's hair, watching his pointy ears twitch ever so slightly as he passed out. He saw Hua Cheng climbing rapidly up his favourite tree, remembering the full-body tension of waiting for something horrible, waiting for the boy to fall. He saw adolescent Hua Cheng rubbing his eyes sleepily, grumpy, hair messy, as Xie Lian gently teased him for something or other. He saw Hua Cheng sprawled out on Xie Lian's bed, bored, throwing a paperweight up and down, as Xie Lian practised his handwriting on the floor. His legs long and gangly, looking like an adult trying to fit on a doll bed. And now he was all alone out there in the wilderness, soon hundreds of miles away, and Xie Lian could do nothing to protect him. Xie Lian cried out loud, doubling over.

What was the point of anything if he could not protect Hua Cheng?

He was in his room. He pulled out the old sheet, looking at the small hand print over faded text. It wasn't even half his hand size. He put it next to the new, giant print, a message Hua Cheng had left him. He could not take it, he could not take seeing them side by side. Xie Lian cried all day. He did not get out of his bed. His body would stop every now and again, quiet, gathering strength, and then it would rip him open all over again. For the next two weeks, Xie Lian cried every day. He felt like something had shattered irredeemably. Every day he would wake up, opening his eyes, and for a moment he wouldn't remember. And then he would sit up, and it crashed all over him again, and he would continue crying, as if it had just happened. He felt like a part of his body had died; a necrosis nobody could see by looking at him. The servants visited his room every day, bringing trays of food, and then collecting them away, untouched. After 14 days, the tears suddenly stopped. His body had run dry, or maybe it was exhaustion. Xie Lian had never understood how tiring crying could be. A soft grey wrapped around him, blissfully, mercifully numb. He felt nothing. He slept. His body had decided to protect him by pulling away; it was so much easier. He wasn't sad, and he wasn't joyful, either. There was simply nothing. After a month, Xie Lian came out of his room. He started bathing and eating again, his body going through the motions like an empty puppet moved by qi. The staff, along with his mother, was visibly uncomfortable around his new demeanor; he did not mind. 

Xie Lian decided to turn his attention outward. Cultivation was out of the question. The inner calm it required was gone, maybe for good. Xie Lian began helping people in his community again. The days went by, more or less bearable, a soothing numbness within him. He worked and listened to people's problems and assisted from dawn till dusk, falling into his bed and passing out each night. He tried not to hope. He made a point of not thinking about when Hua Cheng would return. There was no telling how much time would pass. Winter started to turn to spring, and horrifyingly, he noticed his body starting to fill with anticipation. He could not fight it; he didn't understand why the change in season caused such a shift. But spring stretched into summer, and nothing happened. The feeling faded, a familiar gloom settling in as leaves began falling. Xie Lian welcomed the protective shroud around his head, making everything subdued and hazy. The lack of light made it harder to see the orange of the foliage; harder to remember last fall. Xie Lian was grateful for it. 

It was a winter colder than anything Xie Lian could remember. The frost snapped outside his window, snowflake patterns on the glass glowing in the soft light of the oil lamp. He was drifting between sleep and wake, buried underneath several heavy blankets, the air in his room cool. The night looked black; his body felt heavy and warm. His breath was slow and deep. It should have been easy to fall asleep, but something was clinging on. A very quiet, almost undetectable restlessness. Xie Lian meditated, emptying his mind. He wanted nothingness, but the more he wanted it, the more it pushed back. Xie Lian turned on his side, pressing his face into the pillow. His body started to soften, a weight slowly descending on him. Xie Lian startled, his eyes snapping open. There was a tingling sensation. He shot up and turned his body to the lamp, tearing his neckline down and looking at his chest. There was nothing there. He could have sworn his chest had prickled and turned red. Xie Lian stared out the window, his breathing heavier. He couldn't go back to bed. His feet flung onto the floor, he got up and walked to the window. His breath fogged up the glass. A tension sat in his gut, small, quiet, undeniable. Hands shaky, he pushed the window open, ice cold air hitting his skin. He stared down; he saw the orange square in the snow left by his window. He watched his body step on the ledge and jump, bare feet sinking into five inches of crunchy snow. His toes numbed immediately. 

Xie Lian stared into the blackness of the trees, just a touch darker than the midnight blue of the sky. Faint starlight sat quietly above the tree tops. Xie Lian watched his own warm breath fog out of his mouth, disappearing into the cold. His body stood alert, every hair on his skin up. A tightness sat, lodged around his insides, waiting. He couldn't feel his fingers, his nose, the tips of his ears. The tingling was back, somewhere. Xie Lian stared into the dark. Then, he heard it. A crunching sound, muted, slowly coming closer. Steps in the snow. Xie Lian's heart sped up, drumming quickly against his ribcage. He heard gentle clincing sounds, metallic, almost musical. A shape appeared in the moonlight, the outline of something tall and wide. Xie Lian's chest froze. He saw boots slide into the faint, orange light from his room; silver chains hanging off them. His gaze travelled up the man's body, dressed in red, thick fur hanging off the shoulders, black waves of hair cascading wildly down the broad chest. He had to be seven feet tall. Xie Lian took a step closer, staring at the face he could not see. The man took one step closer, nearing the dim light. One pale golden eye stared down at him, a patch over the right one. A hard, angular face. Xie Lian's lips parted. He saw fog slowly escape the man's mouth. 

"Gege." The word, in such a low, foreign tone, spoken so softly, squeezed around Xie Lian's throat like a snake. His eyes stung, blurring, and he was running, throwing himself at the other man blindly, arms open. His body slammed into Hua Cheng's ribcage; it was a brick wall. His hands clasped the fur tightly, the air on his wet cheeks even colder. Xie Lian dragged in uneven, panicked breaths.

"San Lang!!" he cried weakly, rubbing his face into the red cloth. Hua Cheng's arms slowly slid around him; Xie Lian felt his chest humming deeply. It was the first time in a year he felt peace. 

"Did gege miss me?" Hua Cheng's voice was like the earth; Xie Lian felt he could stand on it, lean his whole weight on it. He sobbed quietly against the demon, his hair being gently stroked.

"Is San Lang here for good?" Xie Lian's voice sounded muffled. 

"I'm not going anywhere."

*****

The fire in Hua Cheng's room was roaring. He had aired out the sleeping furs and laid down in them after sliding out of his boots, shirt and travel fur. Xie Lian ran his hand over the fur Hua Cheng had worn. It wasn't from an animal; it was purple. It had to be from a demon. Xie Lian had no idea such demons existed. He had so many questions for his friend. Why did he have an eye patch? Why did he have so many scars on his body? Why did he suddenly wear red and loud silver when he had always camouflaged himself with simple cloth? What was the red leather of his belt made from? What had he been up to, and why did it take him so long? But all of those things could wait. Xie Lian turned to the demon, dropped his outer robes and hurried to him. He slid under the furs, facing the other man. Hua Cheng was too big; Xie Lian had to scoot up until they were eye-level, and pulled the fur up to his shoulder. Xie Lian's bare feet kept rubbing together; he couldn't help it, he was so content. He laid on his side, watching Hua Cheng's face, feeling the fire on his back and Hua Cheng's warmth on his front. Xie Lian's lips kept turning up; his hand ran over the fur between them slowly, distractedly. Hua Cheng's hand was resting on the fur, one inch from his. He smiled at the human, fangs showing. Xie Lian felt completely, deeply happy; he hadn't felt anything for a year. He never wanted to get up.

"Is San Lang really here to stay?" he asked again. Hua Cheng watched him, eyes lidded, his expression tender.

"I'm never leaving again," he murmured. Xie Lian felt a warmth expand in his chest, and hid his mouth behind his hand. 

"I missed San Lang so much," he whispered. 

"I missed gege," the larger man whispered. Xie Lian felt like he was in a nest; nothing beyond these furs existed. They kept trying not to smile, looking at each other and smiling anyway. Hua Cheng's smile quieted, and he watched Xie Lian, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Xie Lian nuzzled the fur, running his fingers through it. 

"What?" he asked. Hua Cheng's gaze took Xie Lian's entire face in. 

"This is the last time we sleep like this, gege," he said. Xie Lian blinked.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Hua Cheng's eyes looked over Xie Lian's head for a moment.

"I've matured," he said. Xie Lian nodded, still confused.

"I know," he said. Finally, Hua Cheng looked into Xie Lian's eyes again. His teeth ran over his bottom lip briefly. 

"I can't share a fur with someone who isn't my mate, Xie Lian," he said quietly. Xie Lian stared at him. They had slept next to each other a hundred times as children. He had slept on Hua Cheng's furs, or the demon had crawled into his bed when he was scared. Sleeping like that had always felt natural and safe. Why did it have to change now? Xie Lian looked at Hua Cheng's face; how angular and severe it had gotten. How strong his jawline was. His handsomeness was like a punch in the gut. The light glinting off the silver chain caught Xie Lian's eye; the chain had nestled into the groove between Hua Cheng's chest. A chest that was truly well-defined, paled little scars scattered down the ribs and the curve of the shoulder. Hua Cheng really was enormous. Xie Lian remembered when the demon was half his size, and now he himself was the small one. Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng; his gaze was serious. Xie Lian felt his face heat up for some reason and sat up quickly. He was suddenly aware of his shirtlessness, the nakedness of his skin. He had never been aware of his body around Hua Cheng before. What was he doing? Why was he half-naked in bed with another hald-naked man?! Hua Cheng was right. It wasn't the same anymore. Xie Lian's face was beaming now; he covered it with his hands, his back sweating. He couldn't understand what was going on. He heard the floorboards creak as the other man sat up. He felt the heat radiating off Hua Cheng's body on his bare back. The air between them was very still, very quiet. Too warm. Xie Lian pushed his hair out of his flustered face and cleared his throat delicately. 

"San Lang is right, I'm sorry," he mumbled and got up quickly, reaching for his robe. He felt Hua Cheng's gaze on his back; he felt it too much, somehow. 

"Gege doesn't need to apologize," the demon said, his voice deep. Xie Lian tied the robe with trembling fingers and smiled, even though he was facing the wall. He swallowed. 

"Alright, see you tomorrow, San Lang!" he said, his voice too uneven, and left the room. 

Xie Lian woke up with a start, panting, staring at his ceiling. His body was drenched in sweat; his sheets felt sticky. He had a dream, the first of this kind. He had been beneath a man's body, burning, writhing, the man kissing him. A man with no face; it had been dark. Xie Lian had been beside himself; he had never felt like that, never had a dream like that. A large man's body on top of him had made his mind unbearably excited. Xie Lian looked at his crotch; the wetness... it had to be because of the dream. His face red with embarrassment, he tore the sheets off and shoved them into the hamper. After washing up and breaking fast, he returned to his room. The morning sky was bright blue. He wanted to go to Hua Cheng right after waking up, but for some reason the dream was stuck in his mind and he simply couldn't. Xie Lian sat by his desk and glanced out his window. Something was there. He frowned and got up. It looked like a frame for hanging meat. A strange location for the servants to build one. He saw the lower branches rustling, and pushed the window open. 

"Are you hunting?" he called, not sure which worker it was. Then he saw the boots with silver chains and his heart sped up for some reason. Hua Cheng bent over to get past the low, heavy branches; snow fell on the ground in large piles as he came out. He was carrying a 300 lbs buck on his shoulders. Xie Lian's eyes widened. He had seen Hua Cheng feed, but he never carried game home. He ate it immediately and moved on. Xie Lian had never seen Hua Cheng use a frame to process animals, either. What was going on? The Tonglu demon looked up and saw Xie Lian. His expression was serious. He seemed like the animal on his shoulder weighed no more than 10 lbs. Xie Lian remembered how Hua Cheng had looked last night, shirtless, right in front of him, under the furs. He remembered the dream he had, and shifted his weight awkwardly. He didn't know what to say. 

"Gege," Hua Cheng said. He rolled the deer over his head and dropped it in the snow. 

"For you," he said. Xie Lian blinked wildly. 

"What?" he asked. 

"Gege said he likes getting things from me," the demon said solemnly. Xie Lian's eyes widened. He stared at the animal, his mouth open. Hua Cheng observed him keenly. 

"Gege doesn't like it," he said flatly. Xie Lian snapped out of it and smiled, reaching out of the window.

"Of course I do! San Lang knows I like venison!" he said quickly. Hua Cheng's posture seemed to relax a touch. He strung the buck up and started cleaning it. A pool of blood spread beneath the animal, vibrant against the white. Xie Lian leaned back, watching him work. He was feeling warm, the skin of his back tingling a little. Why did he feel this way? It was just game. Hua Cheng had never brought him game before, but there was no reason to feel strange. It was thoughtful. The demon had rolled his sleeves up, blood up to his wrists. He glanced up at Xie Lian, his gaze intense. Xie Lian fell to the side, hiding behind his wall. Why was he out of breath? He fiddled with his bangs, his cheeks hot; he was being ridiculous. It was just a deer. That his friend had gifted him. Men gave their friends deer all the time, surely. He had to compose himself. He was probably just rattled from that dream last night. Xie Lian took a moment, and once he felt calm, he jumped outside. 

"That is a really big one, San Lang," he said. A small smile appeared on Hua Cheng's lips.

"I found the biggest one for gege," he said. Xie Lian averted his gaze. Why did this all feel so... intimate? 

"The servants will be pleased, we haven't been able to find anything proper for weeks!" Xie Lian said. Hua Cheng halted abruptly, his eyes widening. His expression became guarded. Xie Lian felt his face grow hot. He motioned to the animal, waving his hand up and down. 

"It's so enormous, I could never eat this by myself before it went bad!" he said. "Because San Lang is just too good at hunting and too generous!" Hua Cheng watched him for a moment, eyes assessing. Then his jawline softened and he looked at the buck. 

"I can dry the meat," he said. Xie Lian tilted his head and pressed his hands together; he didn't feel quite out of the water yet. 

"I would feel bad denying our staff, they really like meat. I'd be so selfish to eat it all myself. And it's always better when it's fresh!" he said. Hua Cheng kept his eyes on the meat as he worked. 

"It's a gift, gege can do whatever he wants with it," he said softly. Xie Lian was chewing his bottom lip furiously. He felt like he had hurt Hua Cheng's feelings. Maybe the demon wanted to give Xie Lian a gift because they hadn't seen each other for over a year. A gift only for him. Xie Lian had to figure out a way to make it better. 

"San Lang?" he asked.

"Yes, gege."

"I was wondering, could I have another gift from you?" Xie Lian asked. Hua Cheng straightened up, staring at him. 

"Whatever gege wants," he said. Xie Lian pointed at his chest.

"Can I have one of your necklaces?" he asked. Slowly, a flush spread across Hua Cheng's pale cheeks. He nodded quietly. Smiling, Xie Lian stepped right to him and grabbed one of the chains, pulling it over the taller man's head. He looped it over his head, gasping at the pendant.

"It's a butterfly!" he whispered. He twirled a finger into the necklace and looked up at the demon, beaming. 

"Thank you, San Lang! I'll never let anyone else wear this!" he said, turned around and left. At last, he managed to find a way to make up for the venison thing. Hua Cheng stared after him, his face red. 

*****

A week later, the two were sitting by the lake. Hua Cheng had drilled holes into the ice with his claws and stuck bait deep into the water. All they could do now was wait. It was a sunny day, the warmest day of the winter yet. Spring was still a few months away. Hua Cheng looked at Xie Lian rubbing his arms.

"Gege needs a fur," he said. Xie Lian smiled. 

"Don't tell me I'm not wearing enough!" he said. Hua Cheng had not bothered with the demon fur since returning. It was starting to look like it had been more for show than necessity. He had his thin red tunic on, nothing else. The sleeves were rolled to the elbows, and the neckline plunged almost to the bellybutton. Xie Lian looked at the color; he wondered if it was acceptable to ask now.

"San Lang?"

"Gege will scare the fish." Xie Lian slapped the taller man's arm, pretending to frown. 

"They can't hear me from here!" he said. A small smile played on Hua Cheng's lips. Xie Lian stuck his hands in the pockets of his coat.

"San Lang, can I ask you something?"

"What." Xie Lian hesitated for a moment. 

"Can I ask about what you did there?" he said. Hua Cheng watched the lake calmly. 

"What does gege want to know." Xie Lian didn't know where to start.

"Was it a rite of passage?" he asked. Hua Cheng considered.

"In a way," he said. 

"The fur you have," Xie Lian said. "It's from a demon, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Why do you have it?"

"I needed something warm," he said casually. Xie Lian slapped his bare forearm.

"You clearly don't! Look at you! San Lang, don't lie..." he complained. The demon sighed.

"Some trophies are expected," he admitted. 

"Like the leather? Is that from a demon, too?"

"Yes."

"Did they attack you? Is that why you killed them?"

"They were an invasive species," Hua Cheng said flatly. Xie Lian looked at the other man's boots. 

"I used to think San Lang wore green and brown as camouflage," he said. "But now you're wearing red."

"I don't need camouflage, gege. Red isn't allowed until we mature." 

"But aren't you afraid your jingling boots will make it harder for you to hunt?" he asked. Hua Cheng tilted his face towards the human; the sunlight made his pupil narrow. 

"Ruin my hunt like having a companion whose babbling scares the fish away?" he asked. Xie Lian tried to smite his arm, but the demon easily pulled it out of the way. Xie Lian tried to frown at a grinning Hua Cheng. It was very difficult; he was so glad Hua Cheng was back. Xie Lian bit his lower lip, trying not to smile. 

"Did you get all that silver jewellery on Tonglu, too?"

"Yes. I collected it." Xie Lian pulled his knees to his chest, tensing his abdomen. 

"Where did you get the boots? From killing someone?" he asked, shifting his weight on his feet. 

"Yes." 

"Incredible," Xie Lian said, nodding. "San Lang spent a year wandering a mountain and collecting a large variety of times, but was unable to find a single tunic with a virtuous neckline." Hua Cheng's face snapped towards Xie Lian, his eyes wide. His arm swung, but Xie Lian was ready and scooted back, avoiding it easily. Xie Lian failed to control his face, grinning fully. 

"San Lang has to calm his energy or he'll scare the fish," he whispered, and then he was off, the mountain demon chasing after him. Xie Lian ran as fast as he could, smiling from ear to ear. When Hua Cheng came back, he had been too happy to even notice the tunic. Once he realized how comically revealing it was, he had an urge to tease the demon, but wasn't sure how it would go over. The old Hua Cheng would have probably been hurt by it; a lot of things had offended him in the midst of puberty. Xie Lian had noticed a slight change in Hua Cheng after he came back; there was a new confidence there, a playfulness. 

"There's nothing wrong with my clothes," came the demon's voice, much closer behind than Xie Lian had anticipated. "Gege needs to stop staring at people's chests."

"Nobody's staring at San Lang's chest!" Xie Lian protested with a laugh, veering left abruptly to lose his follower. He felt the air from the claw that had almost reached his back, and his stomach tensed up deliciously. His blood was pumping in his veins, his breathing shallow, and he had no idea if it was the running or something else. The sudden mental image of Hua Cheng's naked, firm, broad chest rattled Xie Lian and he lost his instincts for a second, almost running into a tree. He tried to save himself with a sudden turn right but ran straight into a huge demon hand. The grip on his sleeve sent a chill down his spine.

"NO!" he laughed, trying to pull away; the grip reeled him in. It was Xie Lian who was the fish, and Hua Cheng had caught him. Xie Lian felt himself turned around and pushed against a pine. His face felt hot, the bottom of his stomach quivering. Hua Cheng leaned down, his face close, a warm flush on his cheeks. Their breaths fogged and mingled in the cool air.

"Gege is going to apologize now," the demon ordered with a mishievous undertone. Xie Lian shook his head, squirming.

"Apologize for what?" he complained. 

"For insulting my attire," Hua Cheng crooned. Xie Lian looked up into Hua Cheng's eyes. He was going to say something very clever; it would come to him any moment now. Xie Lian panted, staring at Hua Cheng, his mind blank. The demon's hands around his arms were so big, so powerful. The running had made Hua Cheng's hair even wilder; a strand of hair danced back and forth with the demon's breath. Xie Lian felt the bark pressing into the back of his scalp; for some reason, it made him shiver. He felt completely surrounded by Hua Cheng. The demon's eyes had paled, become even more piercing. Xie Lian felt his body relax against the tree. There were four inches between their faces. Hua Cheng's eyes widened. Slowly, he pulled back and straightened up, releasing the other man. He took a few steps back, looking away; his face had turned red. Xie Lian's face was on fire. He gazed to the side, straightening his coat as if something was wrong with it. He had no idea what had happened; all he had wanted was to make Hua Cheng laugh. The demon cleared his throat. 

"Have to see if the fish bit," he muttered, walking away. Xie Lian leaned into the tree, eyes closed. He breathed for several minutes, perfectly still. Then, he followed Hua Cheng. 

*****

A week had passed. Xie Lian sat on the floor of his room, old correspondence on his lap. He had searched for a specific letter, but seeing the text he had written in the year of Hua Cheng's abscence had made him melancholy. It was like he was taken back to that numb, grey, flat mental state. He couldn't remember which letter he was looking for. Xie Lian thought of the last night they had sat by his window, and his pain the next day when Hua Cheng was gone. There was a thud; a pebble against his cracked window. A loud thump on the wall, and a hand pushed the window open. Hua Cheng's head appeared. He looked inside the room slowly, then at Xie Lian.

"Can I come in?" he asked. Xie Lian felt his neck warm up. Hua Cheng had never asked before. He'd always just come in. Why was he asking now? Nothing in Xie Lian's bedroom had changed. The human nodded, and Hua Cheng climbed inside. When he straightened up, the room around him seemed so small. It hadn't looked like that last time. Hua Cheng walked to Xie Lian, long legs stepping over his lap, and sat down, back against the wall. A finger ran over one of the pages, the claw careful not to tear the paper. 

"What's gege doing?" he asked. Xie Lian stared at the pages, his thumb moving in a small circle on the sheet. He was quiet for a while.

"Was it difficult?" he asked.

"What?"

"Leaving home," Xie Lian said softly. Hua Cheng looked at him without speaking.

"Yes," he said. Xie Lian stared at the text, no idea what it said. His hand moved to his thigh, balling up. 

"Did San Lang... miss home?" he asked. 

"Every day," the demon murmured. There was a tightness in Xie Lian's chest. He swallowed. 

"San Lang didn't say goodbye..." he whispered. Hua Cheng's hand slid over Xie Lian's fist, cupping it warmly. His thumb slowly ran down the side of the palm.

"It was too difficult, gege," he said. Now Xie Lian's throat felt tight. 

"Ah." His voice was strained. 

"Is gege mad at me?" Hua Cheng whispered. Xie Lian felt his face heat up. He watched as his fist unclenched; Hua Cheng's long fingers covered his. Then, they slid between Xie Lian's fingers. Xie Lian closed his eyes, swallowing again. A warmth was opening up all over his body, his chest tingling faintly. Surely male friends intertwined fingers all the time. He was doing nothing wrong. He tried to breathe evenly. Hua Cheng's claws grazed over his palm so delicately. 

"I'm not mad..." Xie Lian mumbled. His hand turned over for some reason; Hua Cheng's fingers slid against his. Xie Lian's skin had never felt this sensitive. 

"Gege should know," Hua Cheng whispered. "I didn't want to leave home. I would never want to leave home. Because I love home so much." His thumb slid over Xie Lian's palm. "I love home more than anything. Nowhere else feels right, gege." Xie Lian breathed slowly and quietly, eyes closed, his face and body radiating heat. His room felt like a cocoon, no air, just the two of them. 

"I can tell gege is upset with me," Hua Cheng murmured. His voice was silk. "What can I do for gege?" Xie Lian's mouth felt dry. He couldn't say what he wanted. He could never say it. It would have to come from Hua Cheng. Xie Lian blinked, opening his eyes. His face turned to the other man; he gazed into dark golden eyes. Hua Cheng's expression was so intimate. Xie Lian could not say it. He looked down, at the demon's chest. His free hand grabbed a silver necklace. 

"I want this," he whispered. A lie, but he had to say something. He felt Hua Cheng's chest heaving under his hand. The demon watched him carefully.

"Gege can have whatever he wants," he whispered. Xie Lian freed his hand from Hua Cheng's reluctantly. He leaned closer, not looking at Hua Cheng's face, and reached around the taller man's neck. He felt Hua Cheng's warmth, his breath on his shoulder, smelled his scent, as he tried to open the lock. Their faces were so close. If Hua Cheng turned his face and leaned two inches forward... Finally, the lock opened, and Xie Lian pulled back, relief and disappointment soundlessly wrangling in his chest. He put the necklace on himself and smiled, not looking directly at the demon. 

"Is San Lang really alright with this?" he asked, running the chain between his fingers. "It's so nice." The demon stared at him quietly.

"It looks better on gege," he murmured. Xie Lian felt his face warm up again. 

Next morning, Xie Lian woke up and opened his window to let fresh air in. He looked down and frowned. There had been scratchmarks under his window for as long as Hua Cheng had lived here. Now, it looked like the wood around his window had been shredded on purpose. Xie Lian tilted his head; it was all around, the slashes covering the entire wall. Was Hua Cheng angry with him? Was it boredom? He knew what it looked like when the demon sharpened his claws. This was different. He would have to remember to ask about it later. Xie Lian went to break fast and wash up. When he returned to his room, Hua Cheng was standing in it, carrying something. Xie Lian froze when he saw where Hua Cheng was looking; the paper on the ceiling above Xie Lian's bed. It was the sheet with Hua Cheng's adult handprint. Xie Lian enjoyed looking at it as he fell asleep; now he felt like he had been caught doing something wrong. Xie Lian cleared his throat awkwardly. Hua Cheng managed to tear his attention away from the paper and onto the human. His expression was complicated. Xie Lian shifted his weight.

"Morning!" he said a bit too loudly. 

"I brought gege something," Hua Cheng said and handed the item over. Xie Lian looked at it; it was a fox fur. He took it from the demon, eyes wide. 

"Where did you get this?"

"I made it." Xie Lian felt his cheeks warm up.

"The worst of the winter is behind us..." he said quietly. 

"Gege can wear it next winter." Xie Lian wasn't sure why his face was so warm. That intense look was back on Hua Cheng's face. Xie Lian stroked the fur, biting his bottom lip. 

"Does gege not like it?" the demon asked quietly. Xie Lian smiled immediately, squeezing the fur. 

"Of course I like it! I like everything San Lang gives me! Thank you!" he said. A small smile appeared on Hua Cheng's mouth.

"Does gege want to go hunting?" he asked. 

"Sounds good! Let me get ready," Xie Lian said, put the fur on his chair, and went down. As he walked down the hall a servant rushed to him, telling him there was a surprise guest. Xie Lian frowned, following him into the sitting room. It was Feng Xin; Xie Lian hadn't seen him in a few years. He was passing by and decided to see if Xie Lian was home. Xie Lian had servants bring food and drink, and they spent the next couple of hours talking. Around noon, Feng Xin said he had to get going, and Xie Lian saw him off. He went into his room, looking for something. He wasn't sure what, he just felt like something was missing. He saw the fox fur on his chair, and his eyes widened. Hunting with Hua Cheng! How did he forget so completely? Xie Lian jumped out the window and ran to Hua Cheng's room; it was empty. Xie Lian sighed, his face burning with embarrassment. Was Hua Cheng hunting by himself? There was no finding him now, he just had to wait for the demon to come back so he could apologize. Xie Lian waited for the rest of the day and didn't see Hua Cheng. He'd never been hunting this long. At night, Xie Lian climbed into bed and stared at the huge print on the ceiling. It took him a while to fall asleep.

Xie Lian woke up and ran straight to Hua Cheng's room. When he pushed the door open, he could already feel it was empty. There were embers in the fireplace. He let out a deep sigh; at least Hua Cheng had slept here in the warmth. Xie Lian walked back slowly. Something felt strange. When Hua Cheng was younger, he would get jealous sometimes if Xie Lian spent a lot of time with someone else. Some kind of juvenile insecurity, or maybe Xie Lian had failed to make him feel safe and loved enough. But there was no way that was still an issue; Hua Cheng wasn't that boy anymore. Tonglu had changed him. Xie Lian knew it couldn't be such a big deal for him to forget and spend time with someone else. Why, then, did it feel like something was wrong? Was the timing coincidental? Xie Lian kept himself busy all day long, resisting the urge to check if Hua Cheng had returned. Late at night, he allowed himself a moment of weakness and snuck to Hua Cheng's room. He could feel the demon was in there. Xie Lian knocked and waited. Silence. He knocked again and pushed the door open. The room felt warm; he could smell the burning wood. Hua Cheng was sitting in front of the fire, shirtless, one knee pulled up, an arm resting on it. He didn't turn to look at Xie Lian. The human smiled and cleared his throat.

"Sorry I forgot about the hunt," he said with a light tone. "Did you get any game?" He saw a pointed ear twitch; it happened when the demon was sleepy, or irritated. Xie Lian felt a potent, strange mix of guilt, shame, love and endearment. He shifted his weight.

"Well, better luck next time," he said, doing a fairly good job of sounding cheerful. "I was worried when San Lang didn't come back for so long." Hua Cheng turned his head slightly; Xie Lian saw his profile. His expression was closed off. The silence in the room stretched. 

"What did he want?" the demon asked quietly. Xie Lian blinked.

"Who?"

"Your friend."

"Oh! He just wanted to catch up."

"So he didn't propose?" Xie Lian stared at the sitting man, then burst into laughter. Hua Cheng's mouth became a tight line. Xie Lian wiped his eyes.

"N-no, he didn't... why would you think that?" he wheezed. "And San Lang knows I still have three years before I have to entertain anything like that!" Hua Cheng turned to look at the fire again. Xie Lian was wiping his face, trying to calm down. It seemed Hua Cheng was still in a bad mood for some reason. 

"Is San Lang mad at me for forgetting?" he asked. 

"No." The answer did not sound fully convincing. Xie Lian tried to think of a way to make the demon feel better. He remembered the time he took one of Hua Cheng's silver necklaces, and how it had seemed to shift his mood. 

"San Lang, can I ask for something?" he said. Hua Cheng turned to look at him, guarded. Xie Lian pushed hair behind his ears, suddenly feeling foolish. He turned around.

"Nevermind..." he said. He heard the other man get up quickly.

"What," Hua Cheng said. Xie Lian turned to him. 

"Can I have one of your rings?" he asked. The taller man stared at him for a moment in the dark room. His gaze was complicated. The embers were crackling. Then, without speaking, he nodded. Xie Lian took a step forward and Hua Cheng raised a hand. He had silver rings on each finger, all of them a different size and design. Xie Lian's eyes landed on the ring finger; it had a red stone on it. He grabbed it and gently pulled it off, holding it in his palm. He looked up. Hua Cheng's eyes had darkened, an almost amber. Xie Lian heard his own breathing, it was so quiet in the room. The ring felt heavy in his grip. He pressed his gaze down on the demon's long, elegant hand and grabbed it.

"Can I have another?" he asked softly. The air between them seemed to condense. 

"Gege can have anything he likes," Hua Cheng murmured. Xie Lian swallowed and pulled off another ring, a butterfly. Biting his lower lip, he glanced up quickly, his cheeks warming up. He pulled another ring off, a sphere of leaves. And another and another. Xie Lian's pulse had sped up. Once the hand was naked, Hua Cheng raised his other hand without saying a word. Xie Lian took every single thing off it without looking up; sweat beads were rolling down his back. He felt the demon's gaze on him; it was almost too much. Xie Lian had looted Hua Cheng, holding a pile of silver in his palms. It was so heavy; he had not realized. Hua Cheng's hands always moved with such ease. Xie Lian looked up Hua Cheng's naked torso, the hard abdomen, the broad chest, up at his face. He nearly choked at the demon's expression. Xie Lian felt like he was burning, his hips almost bucking. Hua Cheng had never so looked so devastating, so dark. Xie Lian was close to panting. He wet his lips, glancing at the one earring Hua Cheng had. He raised a hand, and Hua Cheng leaned down, their faces closing in. Xie Lian saw the parted lips, the fangs. His shaky hand reached the earlobe and pulled the ring out. Hua Cheng's face was far too close. 

Xie Lian took several trembling steps back, trying to thank his friend, but nothing came out. So he bowed his head quickly, and scurried out the door. Xie Lian dropped the pile of silver on his desk; it clattered so loudly. He leaned on his hands, catching his breath; he felt like his entire skin was pulsing. His face was burning up; he ran his fingers through his hair to soothe himself, rubbing sweat off his neck. He wanted everything. Every single thing on Hua Cheng's body, everything he had. His jewellery, his wrist bands, his boots. He wanted to take off the shirt, the pants, until there was nothing left and Hua Cheng stood naked in front of him. He wanted Hua Cheng himself. He wanted Hua Cheng in his bed. He wanted to know what it was two men did underneath the sheets. Xie Lian moaned, palms over his face. 

He was in love with Hua Cheng. 

His hand grabbed at the pile blindly, pulling out the ring with the red stone. Xie Lian watched it in the dark blue of his bedroom, feeling its weight. He closed his eyes and pressed it to his lips. He wanted to press his lips on Hua Cheng's. Xie Lian kissed the ring again, carrying it to bed. He slipped his finger into it; it was far too big for him. He didn't care. Xie Lian glanced up; even in the dark, he saw the outline of Hua Cheng's hand. He pictured the hand on his body and tensed up, letting out a sigh. It was the first night Xie Lian touched himself.

*****

Several weeks passed; Xie Lian tried not to see Hua Cheng too much. He was afraid the demon would notice something, like his feelings were a dirty secret his friend might smell. He did not try to avoid Hua Cheng, but he kept himself very busy. As far as he could tell, the mountain demon had not noticed anything. The days were getting longer and the snow started to melt. Hua Cheng's hunting intensified. The number of animals he brought beneath Xie Lian's window grew. Something about it had Xie Lian restless, a little heated, but he didn't ask. It seemed to make the other man content somehow. Whenever Xie Lian walked past the wall of Hua Cheng's room, he would see more and more furs drying in the sun. Summer was on its way; there was no need for so much fur. Again, he did not ask. It might be a cultural reason. One night, he glanced out his window. Hua Cheng was pacing, shirtless, in the dusk. He had the look of someone monologuing to themselves in their mind. All he had on were his pants; he kept raising a fist and biting it, opening and closing his claws. He did not look at ease. Xie Lian pushed his window open, eager to soothe his friend, and jumped down.

"San Lang," he said softly. Hua Cheng halted abruptly. Xie Lian noticed his shoulders were heaving; it wasn't very warm, but he was perspiring. The demon turned slowly, the look in his eyes distant, vacant. Xie Lian had seen that look before. He smiled and tilted his head.

"Hi," he said quietly. "What is San Lang up to?" Hua Cheng's complexion looked flustered. Xie Lian wondered if he was coming down with something. He looked at Hua Cheng's knuckles; he hadn't bitten quite hard enough to draw blood. Xie Lian took several steps closer, wondering what he could do to calm the demon. He wasn't wearing anything Xie Lian could request, at least not without sacrificing his dignity. Hua Cheng's pale eyes roamed over Xie Lian's face, his body. A low growl escaped his throat. Xie Lian tensed up; his reaction to the sound was almost embarrassing. He managed to keep a smile on his face, now turning red.

"San Lang, if something is bothering you please tell me," he said gently. He pulled the silver chain he wore at all times out of his shirt and rolled his fingers over it. Hua Cheng's gaze focused on the chain, his breathing hard. He walked closer, halting in front of the human, staring at Xie Lian's fingers. Hua Cheng raised his hands slowly, cupping them around the shorter man's. 

"Do you want it back?" Xie Lian asked quietly. Hua Cheng growled, revealing all his teeth; Xie Lian felt a chill up his spine. Hua Cheng grabbed Xie Lian's shoulders; his chest was heaving loudly. Xie Lian shivered as the hands travelled up the shoulders to the sides of his neck. He tilted his head back, looking up at the other man. Hua Cheng's thumbs slid over Xie Lian's throat, the claws graxing the human's jawline. Xie Lian let out a slow, shaky breath, almost closing his eyes. He couldn't get distracted now; Hua Cheng wasn't himself. Xie Lian put his palms over Hua Cheng's arms.

"Hua Cheng." His voice was low but firm. The Tonglu demon blinked, his pupils widening. Hua Cheng's eyes came back; he looked at his hands on Xie Lian's throat, and let them drop quickly. His face turning red, he looked away, taking a casual step back. Xie Lian willed his pulse to slow down, hoping his face wasn't too flushed. 

"Is San Lang getting ready for a hunt?" he offered like a gift. Hua Cheng took it.

"Yes," the taller man muttered. "I was just leaving." He turned to the woods and was gone in an instant. Xie Lian exhaled loudly, almost doubling over. Hua Cheng had had a few 'demon moments' as a child, but never anything even remotely like this. Xie Lian could still feel Hua Cheng's long fingers around his throat. It could not be helped; he had a situation. All he could do now was go to bed and take care of it. 

*****

It was the first truly warm day of the year. Even though the lake water was still cool, they had gone swimming. Xie Lian was walking out of the lake, wringing water out of his hair. He was careful not to look at Hua Cheng's body; they were wearing nothing but underpants. Hua Cheng had spread a sheet they had brought on the grass, and was laying down on it. Xie Lian flopped down and rolled on his side, away from the demon. He felt a bit safer doing so. The sheet was nice and warm in the sun. Birds were chirping in the trees. It was a perfect moment to fall asleep. He heard shuffling; the other man had probably propped himself up on his elbows. 

"Why's gege giving me the cold shoulder," Hua Cheng complained. Xie Lian smiled.

"What?"

"Turning his back on me..."

"I like my back to get sunlight!" Xie Lian insisted with a laugh. 

"Gege's so cold..." the demon mumbled. Xie Lian grinned and rolled onto his back, eyes closed, arms by his sides. He felt too vulnerable like this. Slowly, he slid his hands up to his chest, cradling them there as if to protect himself. It made his stomach and legs feel even more exposed. Xie Lian focused on breathing slow and steady. He felt Hua Cheng watching him. Even in the heat of the sun on his skin, he felt it. Xie Lian swallowed.

"San Lang?"

"Mmmm." Xie Lian's left thigh slid against the right one just a hint. He felt like he was on display. 

"Does your mate have to be a Tonglu demon?" Xie Lian's tone stayed light, casual. The only thing that could be heard was the birds singing. Hua Cheng's silence stretched. 

"No." His voice was quiet now, serious.

"Ah." Xie Lian's face felt warm. His fingers played with the necklace he had taken from his friend. 

"Can it be a human?" Xie Lian asked softly. He felt the light darkening; Hua Cheng had sat up, blocking the sun from Xie Lian's face. Xie Lian felt the demon's full attention honed in on him. He felt completely naked. His finger kept worrying the ring around the silver thread. The air almost vibrated.

"Yes." Hua Cheng sounded strained. Xie Lian's lower back tingled; he kept perfectly still.

"Ah." His voice was barely a whisper. The birds had fallen quiet, abruptly. Xie Lian felt like he was under an open fire. Never in his life had he been so aware of someone's eyes on him, aware with every fibre of his being. Keeping his movements languid, he sat up and faced away from Hua Cheng, opening his eyes. Xie Lian pretended to stretch, and got up. He picked up his shirt; he heard the mountain demon stand up. 

"Why does gege ask?" Hua Cheng's voice was hoarse. Xie Lian felt his face beaming. He slid the shirt over his head lazily.

"Just making conversation," he said faintly. He slid his pants on, painfully conscious of the taller man's stare. Xie Lian didn't know how long it took for them to get dressed; he felt like he was moving underwater. Neither said anything. The birds had resumed singing, tentatively. As they gathered the sheet, a few clouds had slipped over the sun. They walked beneath the trees; it was still warm, even in the shade. Xie Lian slowed down and stopped. Hua Cheng paused, looking back at him. He was carrying the sheet. 

"San Lang?"

"Yes."

"Can I ask for something?"

"Yes." Xie Lian walked to him and pressed his gaze down. 

"Can I have San Lang's belt?" Hua Cheng's face darkened; the other end of the sheet hit the ground. Xie Lian heard him breathing.

"Whatever gege wants," the demon muttered. Xie Lian ran his fingers along the leather belt, sitting on top of Hua Cheng's tunic; it was purely ornamental. He grabbed the buckle and slowly slid it open, keeping his gaze down. As Xie Lian yanked on the belt, it pulled Hua Cheng's hips forward an inch. Xie Lian had to bite his lip; he had almost bucked against the taller man. He coiled the belt around his hand and glanced up.

"Thank you, San Lang," he murmured. Hua Cheng's chest was heaving; his gaze had blackened. Xie Lian was acutely aware of his size. He wet his lips and turned, walking past the demon. He felt Hua Cheng looking at him; Xie Lian was walking away from the Xie compound. 

"Where's gege going?" Hua Cheng's voice sounded raw. Xie Lian worked his throat, rubbing a palm over his neck, sliding his hair over one shoulder. He turned his head a touch, a chaste smile on his face.

"I'm going for a little walk. San Lang can go ahead, I'll catch up." Xie Lian paused and slipped out of his shoes, then continued to walk in the grass. He heard the soft sound of the rest of the sheet falling. The bushes in these parts of the woods were high. Xie Lian dropped the leather belt on the ground before disappearing behind some shrubs. He felt the demon's aura light up. The bottom of Xie Lian's stomach quivered; he sped up his steps. He walked faster, dropping one silver chain at the root of a tree, then a demon leather wristband on a small rock. As he sped up, he slowly shed everything he had taken from Hua Cheng. He kicked off his pants and started running; all he had on him now was a thin shirt, barely covering his modesty. He felt Hua Cheng approaching and started panting. Xie Lian's skin was tingling all over; his lungs were burning, shivers running down his spine again and again. He was hopelessly, visibly aroused, feeling the other man drawing close. He had never felt an aura like that; his entire body was pulsing. Xie Lian ran as fast a he could, his heart racing, sensing Hua Cheng right behind him; it was almost enough to make him moan. A hand wrapped around his wrist and the world spun around. 

Xie Lian was flush against Hua Cheng's body; it was heaving, burning up, like breathing rock. He inhaled the demon's scent, a soft wail escaping his throat. His head was spinning with lust; he was losing his mind. Hua Cheng's breath was in Xie Lian's damp hair, raspy and tense.

"Why does gege tease?" he growled. Xie Lian whimpered, his face nuzzling the taller man's ribcage.

"I don't!" he plead. 

"Gege's been teasing for months!" Hua Cheng's snarl made Xie Lian buck his hips helplessly. He couldn't deny the truth in it. Hua Cheng was just as hard as him. Xie Lian tilted his head back; Hua Cheng's forehead pressed into his. Xie Lian felt the ragged breath on his mouth; Hua Cheng's teeth grazed his lips, making Xie Lian stand on his toes, desperate to touch. 

"San Lang, please!" Xie Lian whined, trying to reach the demon's lips, clawing at the red tunic. Hua Cheng's fingers were sliding in his scalp. 

"Gege..." Xie Lian's whole body was trembling.

"San Lang, I'm so in love with you--" And then Hua Cheng's mouth was on his. They gasped for air between kisses, fingers tightly in each other's hair, pulling closer. Hua Cheng swallowed every moan out of Xie Lian; he did not let a single one escape. They kissed so deeply and long Xie Lian's lips were flushed and swollen. He couldn't take his hands off the demon, running them under the tunic, over Hua Cheng's chest, up his heated neck. His hips were grinding blindly against the taller man; he was going wild feeling Hua Cheng's erection sliding against his abdomen. 

"Gege..." Hua Cheng panted into Xie Lian's mouth, his large palms roaming under the shirt, up and down the human's back. Xie Lian's arms wrapped around Hua Cheng's neck.

"I'm in love with San Lang," he whispered against the demon's parted, wet lips. "San Lang... please..." He was rubbing against the other man, not a trace of shame to be found. Suddenly, Hua Cheng straightened up, his gaze on the human blazing. He took one step back; Xie Lian whimpered from frustration. 

"Get dressed, gege." His voice was stony. 

"San Laaang... why?" the shorter man panted. Hua Cheng's expression didn't change. 

"It has to be in the furs," he said. Xie Lian's cheeks flustered when he realized what the other man meant. He started walking, speeding up, the mountain demon following him quietly. Somehow, this walk was more excrutiating than the run earlier. Xie Lian found his pants and pulled them on, glancing over his shoulder at his friend. Hua Cheng stared at him like he was game.

"Gege needs to hurry up," he gritted through clenched teeth. Xie Lian felt his perineum twitch involuntarily; he could not take that tone of voice. He walked past a silver chain on the ground.

"Pick it up," came the low command. Face hot, Xie Lian bent to the ground and grabbed the necklace. Having Hua Cheng watch him while he obeyed was making Xie Lian lightheaded. With shaky feet, he walked to a wrist band and picked it up. He walked back, collecting every item he had dropped, the demon's intense gaze on his back. As they neared the house, Xie Lian's heart sped up again. The wing with Hua Cheng's room came into view. Xie Lian walked to the demon's door, his hand full of loot. He saw Hua Cheng's hand move past him and push the door open. It was dark inside; all the fur had been piled up into a soft, inviting mound in the corner of the room. Hua Cheng was standing quietly behind the human.

"Gege." His voice was softer now, a tad hesitant. Xie Lian didn't look back.

"Yes, San Lang?" he asked softly.

"It's not like with humans," Hua Cheng muttered. "It's for good." 

"For the rest of our life?"

"Yes." Xie Lian smiled, his chest warming up. He stepped over the treshold, gently placed the items on the desk, walked to the furs, and fell down on them. He rolled over, looking up at the demon standing in the doorway. He didn't hide a single thing, he let Hua Cheng see everything on his face. Hua Cheng stood in the doorway, breathing heavy, the evening light outlining his profile. The look in his eyes almost made Xie Lian shy for a moment; he wanted to hide his face beneath a palm. Hua Cheng took a step in and closed the door. It was dim in the room. Xie Lian heard him pull his tunic off, and sat up, pulling his own shirt off. Hua Cheng stopped next to the furs, his pale gold eye light in the dark. 

"Gege..." His voice was tender. Xie Lian leaned back into the furs, sighing.

"I love San Lang so much," he whispered. 

"I love gege," Hua Cheng whispered. Xie Lian's chest tightened at the words; he couldn't stop smiling. Hua Cheng knelt over Xie Lian's legs, putting his large hands over the human's waistband. 

"Lift," he murmured. Xie Lian raised his hips, and Hua Cheng pulled his pants down, throwing them away. He leaned in, hands on both sides of Xie Lian's face. 

"Gege really wants this?" he whispered. 

"I don't want anything else," Xie Lian whispered against his lips. Hua Cheng closed his eyes, inhaling the other man's throat. Xie Lian's hands slipped under Hua Cheng's hair. He felt the demon's kiss under his jawline and exhaled shakily. 

"San Lang..."

"I've wanted gege for so long..."

"San Lang, please!!" Xie Lian felt impossibly heated, squirming, wrapping his legs around the younger man's waist. 

"And gege didn't even see me..." Hua Cheng's teeth grazed Xie Lian's collarbone.

"I see San Lang now!" Xie Lian whined. "San Lang, please, I want to be your mate, please..." At the word 'mate,' Hua Cheng growled, his hips bucking into Xie Lian. The fur seemed to soften, to give in under their weight. Xie Lian felt the tingling again, his eyes fluttering open. He looked at his chest but there was nothing there. 

"What?" Hua Cheng whispered, kissing up the human's inner arm. 

"My chest tingles," Xie Lian sighed. 

"Good," the demon murmured.

"What?" Xie Lian panted.

"I marked gege," Hua Cheng mumbled, planting soft kisses. 

"What's marking?" Xie Lian asked. Hua Cheng's teeth pulled slowly at an earlobe.

"Gege already knows," he crooned. Xie Lian's eyes widened, his face turning beet-red. He pressed his face into the groove of Hua Cheng's neck, completely besotted.

"Why would San Lang do something like that..." he complained, his voice brimming with joy. Little nips and bites travelled down Xie Lian's neck.

"Because gege's mine." His voice had deepened considerably. Xie Lian swallowed, feeling how hard Hua Cheng was against his thigh. He tightened his grip around the larger man, rocking up and down.

"Am I really?" he whispered. A low grunt escaped the demon, who pressed his full weight into Xie Lian.

"San Lang should show me," Xie Lian moaned. The demon had pinned him down so quickly; Hua Cheng was staring at him in the dark, his eye glowing pale, his breathing hard. Xie Lian writhed beneath him, his gaze nakedly deprived. He was starting to consider begging. Hua Cheng let go of one wrist and yanked his pants lower. Xie Lian closed his eyes, biting his lower lip; he felt Hua Cheng's erection, naked, slick, so hard, brushing against his inner thigh. A desperate mewl excaped him; he didn't even feel embarrassed at this point. Hua Cheng pressed Xie Lian's knees into his chest, sliding himself between his cheeks.

"Gege has to understand," he panted. "He has to be in my furs every night."

"Every night," Xie Lian agreed.

"For the rest of our lives."

"Yes."

"And never with anyone else, ever."

"N-never," Xie Lian moaned. "I'm all San Lang's..." Hua Cheng's mouth took his, their tongues sliding together breathlessly. Xie Lian moaned, feeling himself being filled up. Their kiss broke; they breathed into each other's mouths as Hua Cheng slowly pushed in. Xie Lian did not have words for how good it felt, being filled by Hua Cheng so completely. He rocked his hips ever so slightly, panting into Hua Cheng's ear, letting his body adjust. Hua Cheng's hot breath warmed his neck, his teeth nipping the flushed skin. 

"I love San Lang so much..." Xie Lian panted. Hua Cheng pulled his face back, looking at the other man, his eyes lidded. His palms slid underneath Xie Lian's knees, gripping firmly. The bottom of Xie Lian's stomach shuddered in anticipation; his fists balled around the soft fur. He felt himself twitching around Hua Cheng defenselessly, his face hot. 

"San Lang," he moaned. He felt Hua Cheng sliding out and almost panicked. Hua Cheng pushed in slowly, making the other man gasp. With each thrust, getting deeper and quicker, Xie Lian felt cords of pleasure pulling tight in his body. Hua Cheng stared into Xie Lian's flushed, damp face, driving his hips down hard. Xie Lian wailed and whimpered, his ecstatic voice in the darkness of the room getting higher. His shaking hands wrapped around Hua Cheng's neck as he begged and pleaded, calling out he demon's name over and over. 

"Gege's so loud," Hua Cheng panted, a smile in his voice. "And for what?" 

"San Lang!" Xie Lian cried in anguish. "I love you!!" Hua Cheng crushed his mouth on Xie Lian's with a growl, fucking him harder. One, two, three more thrusts was all it took; Xie Lian came with a hoarse yell, convulsing and shuddering around the larger man, making a mess between their stomachs. He clung to Hua Cheng like his life depended on it, slick with sweat, panting raggedly. Hua Cheng pressed his face into Xie Lian's neck, his body tensing up as he came, his back and thighs trembling. Xie Lian mewled, feeling his chest burn and tingle. He sighed deeply as Hua Cheng relaxed his weight on him. He never wanted to get out of here. Their breathing slowed down gradually, Hua Cheng running his hands over Xie Lian's thighs unhurriedly. He got ready to pull out; Xie Lian slapped his hands on his buttocks, keeping him still. Hua Cheng looked at Xie Lian, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

"What's with gege now?" he murmured. 

"More," Xie Lian said quietly. Hua Cheng's gaze darkened, less amused now. His body tensed up. 

"Gege's greedy..." he whispered, rolling his hips once. He was getting hard again. Xie Lian panted against Hua Cheng's lips, squeezing his ass firmly. 

"San Lang said I can have whatever I want..." 

"I'm very confused. What does gege want?" Hua Cheng panted, grinning.

"I want San Lang..."

Xie Lian got what he wanted.