Chapter Text
It’s been strange, not having Li Lun at the bureau. Zhuo Yichen got used to him; started to rely on him. He doesn’t begrudge him his freedom, of course- if he wants to go, he should go. But he wonders after him: where he is, what he’s doing.
The strangest part is that Ao Yin didn’t follow. Everyone expected that she would- barring, strangely, Wen Xiao. She just smiles when it’s brought up, tapping her fingers on the Baize flute as she bounces her daughter. Like she knows something she’s not sharing.
But instead, Ao Yin is still hanging around the bureau, sitting in all the directors’ meetings and determining their next actions like she has been. Pei Sijing seems confused for a short time, and then- if you believe Bai Jiu- relieved.
“I think she’s come to rely on her,” Bai Jiu confides to Zhuo Yichen in a stage whisper, tilting their heads together. Zhuo Yichen’s mouth quirks in a smile; Bai Jiu’s mannerisms always cheer him up. Ying Lei nods sagely next to them, placing another piece of vegetable in Bai Jiu’s bowl.
“We wouldn’t know about half of the demonified humans’ locations without her,” he agrees cheerfully. “And I’ve gotten used to her smell, at this point.”
“Can you try to sound less weird?” Bai Jiu demands, flicking a bit of water at Ying Lei. Ying Lei dodges with a dramatic yelp, grin stretching his face, and Zhuo Yichen thinks about Li Lun. His courtyard is empty, now; just an overgrowth of plants that he hasn’t had the heart to ask someone to cut back. “Xiao Zhuo gege?” Bai Jiu’s voice comes after a few moments of silence, hesitant.
“Hm?” Zhuo Yichen says, pulled out of his reflections. He smiles at him, and Bai Jiu relaxes.
“Let’s try these desserts,” Ying Lei says, and takes the cover off.
—
Li Lun visits, occasionally. He’s still rebuilding his cultivation, so he seeks Zhuo Yichen out for energy transfers. It’s nice to see him each time- to get to hold him- but he doesn’t linger; doesn’t sleep in Zhuo Yichen’s arms. He seems eager to leave the bureau as soon as he can. Doesn’t bother to go to the courtyard he once stayed in; just waits in Zhuo Yichen’s rooms, or finds Zhuo Yichen wherever he is.
Today is different, though. Zhuo Yichen is fetched by a panicked servant who directs him to Bai Jiu’s office, where a discombobulated Bai Jiu is being glared at by a black-clad, looming Li Lun. When Zhuo Yichen calls his name Li Lun turns- slowly, very slowly- and directs the same glare at him. It gradually loses a few degrees of heat the longer his eyes rest on Zhuo Yichen.
“Come,” Li Lun says stiffly, stepping forward and seizing Zhuo Yichen’s wrist. A flutter of leaves immediately surrounds them, and in a flurry of whispering, ticklish murmurs, they’re deposited in Zhuo Yichen’s rooms. Li Lun shoots a slow, vicious look around; his shoulders gradually relax when no one else appears. He moves into Zhuo Yichen’s space, hands resting at his waist, and exhales slowly, head ducking toward Zhuo Yichen’s shoulder. Zhuo Yichen carefully brings a hand up to his back and Li Lun makes a quiet noise, leaning the side of his head against Zhuo Yichen’s. The cool press of his hair, contrasted with the warmth of his cheek, makes Zhuo Yichen’s stomach twist pleasantly. He stokes his hand cautiously up Li Lun’s back and Li Lun sighs quietly, pressing into it like a cat.
Something is definitely off; Li Lun is never this expressive.
“Are you all right?” Zhuo Yichen tries; Li Lun presses his head more closely to Zhuo Yichen’s, jaw grazing his. Zhuo Yichen carefully reaches up to brush Li Lun’s hair out of the way, turning his face in an attempt to look at him. Li Lun doesn’t follow Zhuo Yichen’s movement; his eyes are closed.
“Fine,” he murmurs, low voice softer than usual. He seems completely out of it. Zhuo Yichen, concerned, guides him to the bed, coaxing him into sitting down. Li Lun makes a small sound of contentment and pulls Zhuo Yichen down on top of himself, body loose and relaxed below Zhuo Yichen in a way it seldom is. Zhuo Yichen’s face heats. For all that he and Li Lun have had quite a lot of sex, seeing Li Lun so open, so unguarded like this is…
He cautiously extends a tendril of qi into Li Lun. There’s something wrong, all right; but he can’t quite determine what it is. Circulating his energy with Li Lun’s doesn’t seem to be making a difference; but maybe it will just take continued application?
Li Lun makes another pleased noise between them as Zhuo Yichen’s energy enters him. He runs his hands up Zhuo Yichen’s back; brings them around to the front to start undoing his robes. Testingly, Zhuo Yichen slides his palm over Li Lun’s forehead, brushing his hair back out of his face. Li Lun opens his eyes, looking at him hazily. “What?” he murmurs, frown barely present. He looks- soft, almost. Content. Zhuo Yichen’s ears go hot. “Let’s dual cultivate.”
He seems a bit loopy, but well enough aware of where he is and what they’re doing- he probably won’t get startled and fracture Zhuo Yichen’s ribs or anything. And an energy transfer is likely to help. Zhuo Yichen nods and begins to undress, and Li Lun’s hands fall off him to rest lazily against the bed sheets by his shoulders. He barely moves to help as Zhuo Yichen starts on his robes as well; just lets Zhuo Yichen pull back layer after layer, revealing his familiar chest and stomach, warm and smooth and soft when Zhuo Yichen runs a hand along it. Li Lun’s abs flinch then go firm under his touch, his skin shivering. Is his touch too light? Zhuo Yichen firms it and Li Lun relaxes, watching him under half-lidded eyes.
“Come on,” Li Lun murmurs, raising one hand in a too-strong motion and hitting Zhuo Yichen’s waist instead of resting on it. His face flickers with a frown, and he adjusts his grip. “Let’s do it,” and he tugs at Zhuo Yichen’s pants. Eyebrows raising, Zhuo Yichen slips them off himself, then takes off Li Lun’s as well. When he runs a careful palm along the warm skin of Li Lun’s thigh Li Lun makes a low noise, parting his legs. Zhuo Yichen swallows, pulse heavy in his neck. If Li Lun keeps being so demonstrative…
It doesn’t matter. Zhuo Yichen leans down to kiss him, and Li Lun raises his chin to meet him part way, mouth opening immediately and tongue licking its way into Zhuo Yichen’s mouth. He’s not usually this active in kissing- usually lets Zhuo Yichen lead, deigning to respond only when it suits him. His head tilts and raises beneath Zhuo Yichen, coaxing him into kissing deeper and making his blood warm. His long, dark eyelashes rest, relaxed, on his cheeks. He’s so beautiful under Zhuo Yichen.
“Ah,” Li Lun murmurs as Zhuo Yichen’s fingers cup his soft cock. Zhuo Yichen’s scalp breaks out in tingles; Li Lun never makes noises at being touched. He squeezes gently and Li Lun hums into his mouth, slowly rocking his hips up into Zhuo Yichen’s palm. It makes Zhuo Yichen go a little lightheaded: he’s never seen Li Lun this reactive, this open. His cock pulses with it. He releases Li Lun to gather ointment on his hand, then rubs it gently into the soft skin of Li Lun’s cockhead. Li Lun shivers beneath him and grinds slowly up into the touch, lips parting to breathe quietly and unevenly into Zhuo Yichen’s mouth. He’s so, so handsome. There’s a slight wrinkle between his dark brows, as if he’s distracted by the pleasure even though Zhuo Yichen has barely started touching him. His fingers dig into Zhuo Yichen’s side like he’s forgotten to be careful of his strength. Zhuo Yichen hadn’t suspected that he was being careful in the first place.
“Come on,” Li Lun murmurs, still rocking his hips up into Zhuo Yichen’s touch. Zhuo Yichen testingly slides his fingers down and Li Lun exhales in satisfaction, spreading his legs further, knees pressing against both sides of Zhuo Yichen’s hips. “Yes,” he breathes when Zhuo Yichen’s fingers slip inside, and Zhuo Yichen pulses with sudden, shocked arousal. Yes? Li Lun has given more encouragement today than in all of their previous coupling combined. Heartbeat throbbing in his wrists and throat, he rubs coaxingly against where he knows Li Lun likes it. Li Lun moves with the motion, a slow, steady rock that’s mind-numbingly hot. What if Li Lun moves like this when Zhuo Yichen is inside? The idea makes his hard cock twitch. Li Lun’s gorgeous face is creased, his brow lightly furrowed with pleasure. Those red lips are parted, a hint of tongue showing past his teeth. Zhuo Yichen wants to press his thumb inside- follow it with his tongue. But then he won’t be able to see the pretty expression on his face.
“There,” Li Lun groans, and Zhuo Yichen makes a small unexpected noise of arousal. He intensifies his efforts, rubbing firm and slick around the spot inside until he feels the familiar clench and release of Li Lun coming, shivering through it as his eyebrows go high and loose. It happened so quickly, today.
“Okay?” he asks, voice husky. Li Lun doesn’t bother to open his eyes; just grabs at Zhuo Yichen’s waist and pulls at him- without any particular force- until Zhuo Yichen moves between his legs, lined up and cock slick.
“Inside,” Li Lun says breathily, and Zhuo Yichen, helpless, obeys.
The first push is a revelation. Li Lun’s expression goes completely loose, his eyelashes fluttering; his hips arch up into Zhuo Yichen’s press. It slips inside so easily and Li Lun exhales a shaky moan with it, almost making Zhuo Yichen forget himself and shove the whole way in at once. “Is that good?” he asks, startled and optimistic.
“Yes,” Li Lun breathes, completely surpassing Zhuo Yichen’s anticipations and leaving him breathless. “There- mn,” and he squeezes Zhuo Yichen’s hips with his thighs, rolling the entire length of his muscular body up to meet Zhuo Yichen’s thrust in a sinuous wave. And not just once- twice, thrice, more. He keeps moving, each delicious arch of his back and waist in response to the slide of Zhuo Yichen’s cock. They’re moving together, chasing pleasure in perfect time with one another. It leaves Zhuo Yichen’s heart hammering, his insides twisting with pleased warmth. Li Lun feels so good around him, wet and slick and squeezing encouragingly, low breathless noises goading him on. Zhuo Yichen is helpless with it; he reaches down to rub a hand down Li Lun’s chest.
Li Lun groans and arches into the touch, making Zhuo Yichen’s hand falter momentarily. He breathes in shakily and lets himself squeeze- lets his fingers find the nipple. Li Lun goes tight around him, abs shivering with it as another beautiful noise escapes the O of his lips. Zhuo Yichen carefully rubs at his nipples; gently pinches and watches, disbelieving and horrifically aroused, as Li Lun shudders. He really is sensitive there.
“Come on, come on-” Li Lun breathes, and Zhuo Yichen gets his other hand on the other side of his chest just in time to feel Li Lun begin to come again. He doesn’t slow the motion of his hips; keeps rocking into him, wet and slick and even as Li Lun shivers and lets a quiet, high pitched noise escape him, both of Zhuo Yichen’s hands planted firmly on his broad chest. His hands come to Zhuo Yichen’s wrists, clinging loosely to them as Zhuo Yichen rubs and pinches and squeezes, lips parted as he watches Li Lun breathe and shudder and slowly recover his composure. He doesn’t get very far; there’s a flush painted over his cheeks, one that Zhuo Yichen can’t stop staring at. Zhuo Yichen finds that he’s unable to help himself: he releases one side of Li Lun’s chest to stroke his slick cock and Li Lun moans, loud and open, eyes fluttering open. It provokes an answering moan from Zhuo Yichen, and a stutter of his hips. He starts to thrust in firm and regular- faster, harder.
“Zhuo Yichen,” Li Lun manages, voice breathy and shocked; Zhuo Yichen’s hand is fondling his soft cock, teasing and rubbing the sensitive head as he slides in and out. Li Lun’s eyelashes flutter again, his teeth fastening in his lip; he meets Zhuo Yichen’s eyes. Arousal pulses through Zhuo Yichen so strongly that he feels his thigh muscles start to clench, warmth bleeding into his core. His yao qi is flooding into Li Lun, the connection just as open as it’s ever been; Li Lun’s strange, disturbed energy is rippling with it, accepting it easily. Li Lun is so easy for him, right now.
“I’m going to-” Zhuo Yichen manages, face hot. Li Lun leans up and grabs him by his dangling ponytail, yanking too hard and almost overbalancing him. Zhuo Yichen manages to meet his kiss anyway, lips parting eagerly. Is this the first time that Li Lun has initiated a kiss like this? He’s not sure- all he can think of is how good it feels with Li Lun. The warmth of his bare skin; the light, inhuman taste of his mouth; the slick clench of his body, working itself onto Zhuo Yichen’s cock like Li Lun wants him there, wants Zhuo Yichen inside him.
“Oh,” Li Lun moans, and his cock twitches under Zhuo Yichen’s fingers, come pulsing out of it in streak after streak. He goes so tight around Zhuo Yichen that Zhuo Yichen is almost unable to pull out for a moment- and the pressure of that long, slow draw out, the sudden ease of the sharp thrust back in- it sets him off. His waist spasms; his knees jerk where they brace on the bed. He watches Li Lun’s face, lovely and unguarded in pleasure, as he pumps come inside him, body shuddering with long, drawn-out waves of satisfaction even as his heart hammers with something he can’t identify.
It takes a long time before he manages to come down from the peak; Li Lun is still panting beneath him, eyes closed and eyebrows high and loose. He looks remarkably well fucked: hair loose across the sheets, lips red and wet, a soft sheen of sweat coating his pretty muscles. He looks contented, as well- relaxed and well taken care of. Zhuo Yichen tingles with satisfaction looking at him.
Slowly, Li Lun’s eyes open. They meet Zhuo Yichen’s, still half-lidded. Zhuo Yichen, attempting to be polite, carefully pulls out, watching Li Lun’s face as he does. Li Lun’s expression flickers when the head pops out, the slickness of come slipping out after it; but he doesn’t look away from Zhuo Yichen. His gaze is half dazed, but unwavering. When Zhuo Yichen attempts to move back a little to give him space, Li Lun presses forward after him, tucking himself close to Zhuo Yichen’s chest. Zhuo Yichen freezes as Li Lun’s head tucks under his chin, an arm laying itself across his waist. Li Lun lies there for a few moments as Zhuo Yichen stays unmoving; then impatiently nuzzles into Zhuo Yichen’s neck and chest. Cautiously, Zhuo Yichen puts his arm around him- brushes loose strands of hair back from his face, fingers tracing along his scalp. Li Lun makes a low, contented noise against him and Zhuo Yichen, heart beating fast, runs his fingers through his hair again. He swallows hard when Li Lun melts into him. It’s like embracing a bonfire; a particularly sharp sword; a violent wild animal that has, for some reason, acquiesced to sleeping in the circle of your arms.
“Don’t leave,” Li Lun murmurs into his chest, quiet enough that Zhuo Yichen just makes it out.
“I won’t,” Zhuo Yichen says, still stroking his hair. This is his room; he would hardly go anywhere, especially with Li Lun in such a state as this. The dual cultivation feels like it barely helped- Li Lun certainly doesn’t seem to have improved outwardly, still all uncharacteristically soft. Maybe if he sleeps for a while it will improve?
A few seconds later, he feels Li Lun’s shoulders hitch. He glances down, but all he can see is the black sweep of Li Lun’s hair. A shuddering breath against his bare throat; Li Lun presses a little closer, shaking slightly. The coolness of liquid against Zhuo Yichen’s skin. A foreign warmth rises in him; a protectiveness that is largely unfamiliar. He gathers Li Lun closer, arm tightening around him.
“Try to sleep,” he says- and after a few minutes, Li Lun’s breathing evens out.