Past

YiJun opens his eyes to find Xian standing by the window; it's almost dawn. YiJun loves to look at Xian during this time. When the first rays of the morning sun hits his face, he looks beautiful, almost like an elven creature. Xian glows, and YiJun loves it.

Xian turns and smiles at YiJun, before running towards him and throwing himself on top of the older boy, "Good morning, Jun."

YiJun smiles and holds the younger boy close, "Xian, do you remember what I told you yesterday?"

Xian nods, his face buried in YiJun's neck, "Kissing is not allowed, and no one must know that my wound has healed." He pauses and looks at the older boy before continuing, "But hugging is allowed, and I can hug you as much as I want." He breaks the embrace and asks in a timid tone, "Jun, are you going to tell mom that I kissed you?"

Jun knows that Xi Xi might get upset, but he had decided that she needed to know, "Mn. I promise, aunty will not be upset with you."

"No, if mother has to be upset with someone, it should be me. No one should be upset with My Jun. I will tell mom that it was all my fault."

YiJun's heart fills with affection at the love and loyalty Xian always shown towards him. He smiles and gives Xian a brief hug before going to meet the king.

When he enters the king's chamber, he is surprised to find Xi Xi waiting for him.

She stands and bows, "Prince YiJun, I hope you are feeling better today. I hope Xian didn't bother you much."

YiJun returns the bow before walking towards her, and embracing her, "Sorry, aunty Xi Xi, I should never have behaved so coldly with you."

Xi Xi holds him away and looks at both YiJun and Xian, who is standing next to the prince without meeting her eyes. She purses her lips and turns to the King, "King, if it's ok with you, I would like to talk to YiJun and Xian in private. It is regarding the position of confidant that you want to bestow upon Xian."

The King knows better than to refuse the lady, "As you wish." He agrees, and the three make their way towards YiJun's room, but before Xian can enter, Xi Xi stops him, "Xian, I need to talk to Jun alone for a moment."

Xian nods and stands outside; Xi Xi and YiJun go inside and close the door.

Without wasting any time, Xi Xi gets to the point, "Did you touch him?" Her usual calmness is gone.

YiJun decides to start from the very beginning, "Yesterday at the beach, he cut his finger on a shell, I got worried and sucked his finger..." YiJun pauses, his ears turn red, "I... I don't... something happened to me... I felt powerless against my desire to hold Xian...I held him and..." YiJun pauses, tips of his ears turn red.

Xi Xi tries to keep a stable voice, but YiJun knows she is furious, "YiJun, tell me you didn't take him!"

"Aunty! No. I never...I just licked his wound and it... it healed... and then he kissed me." YiJun pauses and blurts out the next words as fast as his mouth allows, "Then I kissed him, but it was brie. I know it was wrong. I told him that we can't do that and that he was too young and that hugging was alright since we have always held each other. I promise I was on my way to tell you all of this, and that is why I had come to my father's chamber. I didn't want to hide anything from you. I can never do anything to hurt Xian or you. Please, believe me." Then he lets out a breath.

Xi Xi visibly calms down, "How long have you had feelings for him?"

YiJun had not expected this question. 'How did she know?' YiJun wonders, before telling the truth, "Since the night of my fourteenth birthday."

"Is that why you pushed him away?"

"Mn. I knew that what I felt for Xian was not right. I didn't want to hurt him."

Xi Xi sighs, "So you decided to stay away from him."

"Mn." YiJun nods, but before he can ask anything, Xi Xi speaks, "YiJun, you can never stay without Xian, you belong together. But you were not supposed to bond this early. His blood, our blood is special for the one we are fated to be with."

YiJun looks at Xi Xi questioningly, "Aunty, I don't understand."

Xi Xi holds the prince's wrist, "Right now, all you need to know is that you are too young. Your desire to be with each other will be strong. Xian is too young, so it's up to you to manage this situation. YiJun, promise me that you will not be with him till he is at least eighteen."

YiJun's face goes red, 'Did aunty just give us her consent to be with each other?'

When YiJun doesn't speak, Xi Xi opens the door and lets Xian in, "Xian, you have to listen to me very carefully, if you want to stay near your Jun, you have to listen to him. You can't act like a child and do whatever you please anymore. There will be rules you must never break, and boundaries that you must never cross."

Xian tilts his head to a side, "What do you mean, mother? You know Jun is mine, I can do whatever I...."

YiJun interrupts Xian and faces Xi Xi, "I will explain it to him, aunty." He says resolutely.

Xi Xi smiles, "YiJun, you are a smart boy, don't tell anyone what you told me today. Don't tell your father either." Then she turns to Xian, "Son, you need to come back home with me."

"Why!?" Both the boys protest at once.

Xi Xi chuckles, "Xian, I need you to take care of a few things at home. I will let you come back to Jun in a couple of days."

That said, Xi Xi takes Xian's hand and starts leading him away. YiJun feels like his heart has broken in two. But he doesn't move. He intends to prove to Xi Xi that she can trust him. YiJun sighs and closes his eyes.

The next second, he feels Xian's arms around him, "Mother, can you please give me a minute? There is something I need to give Jun?"

YiJun is too scared to return the hug, so he keeps his hands to himself. He looks at Xi Xi with pleading eyes, "Aunty, I will send him to you, can you give us a few minutes?"

Xi Xi nods and leaves, closing the door behind her.

As soon as the door closes, Xian's lips land on YiJun's cheek.

Present

*Nearing Dusk*

Wei Xian returns home to find two notes stuck on the fridge next to each other.

The first one reads:

Wei Xian, @Mianmian's place.

Pick me up at 8 pm.

The second one reads:

A Xian, am @Meng's place.

Will be back at 9 pm.

Go out and eat something. I noticed that you didn't even have your breakfast.

Love, Shijie.

Xian takes the cash his Shijie has kept next to the vast and leaves to have an early dinner.

He stops just before he reaches the diner to look at the setting Sun. His hand moves to his heart, as the usual restlessness fills him, "Dawn, I wish you could have stayed a little bit longer." Xian closes his eyes, and once again, the words whispered seductively, come back to him, 'Jun loves you... Always.'

Goosebumps rise on Xian's arms, when once again, just like at dawn, he feels someone's warm breath next to his ears, whispering, "Xian, is it you this time... Have you finally returned?"

Xian nods as if agreeing with the phantom voice. He wraps his arms around himself and whispers back, "Come find me... My Jun."

When he opens his eyes, Xian is still all alone. He sighs. He looks at the setting sun as it disappears into the horizon, before making his way to the diner.

*The Ever Night Club*

It's nearing midnight when the two men who had attacked Wei Xian in the morning walk over to a table that is a little hidden from view.

There, in the middle of the small round table, sits a man dressed in an expensive black suit and dark glasses.

"Ma..Ma.. Master, we couldn't get him." One of them stutters, cowering in fear.

The man in black smiles. His voice is sweet like honey, yet a chill runs down the men's spine, "And why is that?"

"There was a dog. It attacked us; wounded us." The shorter man says, pointing at his wrist.

The man in black suit inspects the wound, "A dog you say... but I haven't gotten any news about Jiang family getting a new pet."

"It wasn't there when we went inside. It entered after we tried to attack the target."

The man in black walks over to the two men, "It's ok. Why are you scared? It was not your fault this time, was it?"

The two men keep looking at the floor apologetically, "S... Sorry, Master." both say at the same time.

The man in black sighs, "I have a package being delivered at The Zhen Garden at 2 am. Bring it to me, and I will forgive you."

The two men finally look up and fall at their Master's feet, "We won't disappoint you again, Master."

The Master steps away, "Leave." He orders, and the two men scurry away.

The Master turns and gestures a man previously standing next to his seat, towards him, "Let us not rush things. We have attacked him twice within twenty-four hours. He will be on his guard now. Let's leave him alone for a few days before trying again." The Master tells his accomplice.

The other man nods, "Master, do you think they were telling the truth about the dog?"

"They were telling the truth," Master says definitively.

"Master, what do you plan to do next?" The accomplice asks, following his Master out of the club.

The Master smirks, "You will know soon enough."

{Note:- Word count 1748

If you have enjoyed this update, please Vote to show your support.

Thank you for reading.

Have a nice day.}