The weather forecast said that it wasn't supposed to rain on Sunday, so Lan Zhan was confused when tiny drops of chilled liquid splashed through the open window of the car door. No matter, the rustling wind that accompanied said drizzles indicate it would pass. Well, that's what Lan Zhan hoped for when he winded up the windows and switched the channel from the car stereo until the weather report program came on.

The weatherman announced a passing storm was ahead. It made Lan Zhan tightened his grip upon the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. He had plans for today and rain being one of them wasn't what he had in mind. Lan Zhan had planned on taking Wei Ying out on a date. It was supposed to be special, a real date with candles and flowers and chocolates and fancy food. It was supposed to be nothing when compared to the cos-play convention they went to. It was supposed to be extraordinary.

But following the unexpected attack on Wei Ying three nights ago, Lan Zhan knew a dinner date would have to wait for some other time. Perhaps when the waters are all settled. Anyway, the idea of having some alone time with Wei Ying still crossed his mind, and at the same time, he wanted Wei Ying to lean more about his newfound strength. So a decision was made last night when Lan Zhan sat down with his brother for their afternoon tea. 

Just like Lan Zhan, Xichen too agreed it was the best time for Wei Ying to experience what it truly meant to be a werewolf. And although Lan Zhan wanted his brother to tag along, as Xichen had his fair share of coaching turned werewolves in the past, Xichen argued the most fitted person who could help Wei Ying achieve his full potential was his alpha. Lan Zhan was left with no other option than to agree. So when morning came, Lan Zhan rented a car - a white Chevy and took Wei Ying on a little field trip. 

Lan Zhan intended to take Wei Ying out of town and into a secluded forest down north, a ghastly dense forested place where he was sure no one would be of bother to them. And despite the looming threat of them being followed by any member of the Shaung's pack, Lan Zhan made sure no one was trailing behind them when he took a shortcut down the road.  

Taking a few glances over at a silent Wei Ying in the passenger seat before turning his attention back on the road, Lan Zhan wondered what was on the younger man's mind as he leaned his head against the glass window, and using his finger to trace the heavy drops of rainfall that came pouring down one by one until they became countless for Wei Ying to continue. Wei Ying had been quiet most of the time throughout the drive, it was rather odd since he was usually a chatterbox when they were together, especially when they were alone. 

They've gradually been spending more alone time together these passing days. From watching TV dramas to playing board games, Lan Zhan even made it a habit to take Wei Ying out on afternoon drives. They frequently chat about random things, things that Lan Zhan would normally find uninteresting, like the latest celebrity gossip and cartoon characters. Wei Ying talked about himself a lot too. His likes and dislikes, his past and future plans of becoming a doctor after graduating college. He talked so much, Lan Zhan sometimes found himself lost in a childhood memory that didn't quite belong to him. Lan Zhan never went into details about himself though. Especially his past. Wei Ying never asked and Lan Zhan never brought it up. 

Recently, at night it became a routine to make dinner for Wei Ying. They never skipped dinner time, Lan Zhan even made sure to add extra pepper sauce by the table for Wei Ying. Unfortunately, dinner alone will soon come to an end. Yesterday Wei Ying announced Jiang Cheng would be joining them every so often. Lan Zhan hated the thought of Jiang Cheng and his screwed, judgemental face sitting at the table, but if it would make Wei Ying happy seeing them conversing like grown adults, so be it.

He just wished Wei Ying could find the time and energy for them to have more alone time. By alone, Lan Zhan meant sleeping together. The thought had crossed his mind once or twice or twenty times a day. They were soulmates now - for life, it shouldn't be an issue. Then again, Wei Ying still hadn't marked him. Every time the topic came up, Wei Ying was good at straying away from it. It made Lan Zhan wonder if Wei Ying truly sees them as one.

The rain picked up, slamming deadly against the hood of the rented car. Accompanied by a cold, hideous wind, the showers almost blocked Lan Zhan's sight from the road ahead. It was a good thing for werewolf vision, or he was sure they might've ended up in an accident long gone. However, despite the heavy rainfalls and the man's eerie voice from the local broadcasting channel playing on the stereo, the noises couldn't drown out the deafening stillness of growing boredom and uncomfortable silence inside the car.

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Wei Ying stretched his arms out and sighed for the tenth time. Lan Zhan tried paying him no mind, but when Wei Ying leaned forth and changed the channel on the radio, Lan Zhan couldn't help but steal a quick glance before eyeing the slippery road ahead. 

Wei Ying tsked and turned the radio off completely. Apparently, the classics weren't to his liking, and Lan Zhan understood why. There was once a time Wei Ying complained about the classics being old people music. 

When Wei Ying groaned and began fidgeting with his fingers, Lan Zhan smirked. At least, he wasn't the only one dying of boredom. 

"Aya!" Wei Ying flung his hands in the air before heaving out a tiring sigh. "Lan Zhan, I'm bored." Wei Ying faked a pout. "You know, I'm bloody hungry too. I haven't eaten this morning. How long more till we get there?"

"The road's too messy, I don't don't want to take any chances at driving speed," Lan Zhan replied. It shouldn't have taken them this long, but with the sweeping rainfall, it was better to be safe than sorry. "I haven't eaten either. The next diner we come across, I'll pull over."

Wei Ying let loose an exacerbated sigh. Folding his arms, he nuzzled his face near Lan Zhan's shoulder and said in a whiny voice, "Lan Zhan, make the boredom go away. Talk about something - anything. I can't take any longer, Lan Zhan!"

"Wei Ying, I'm driving," Lan Zhan replied, not taking his eyes off the road. When Wei Ying whined again, Lan Zhan sighed. "Fine, what do you want to talk about?"

Wei Ying extracted his face away from Lan Zhan and cheered almost soundlessly. "Tell me about your past, and the first time you turned into a wolf," he went on to say. "You haven't told me much about baby you. I think it's time that you do. What was little fuddy-duddy like?"

Lan Zhan remained stoic. Though his face revealed nothing, his insides felt all warm and giddy that Wei Ying, after so long, finally thought about bringing up the topic regarding his childhood. When the thunder crackled from above followed by a lightning strike, Lan Zhan pressed the heater and began reminiscing about his childhood memories he'd wanted to share with Wei Ying for far too long.

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The drive took much longer than anticipated, and not because of the heavy rainfall. As promised, when their conversation died down Lan Zhan stopped at a roadside diner. Covered in chipped paint and a crooked signboard, with the name, 'Yang's Fine Dine,' the place wasn't much to look at. The owners, an old married couple were nice though, and the food was rather pleasant. Lan Zhan ordered congee, it somehow reminded him of his mother's cooking before she passed away when he was a child. Wei Ying took the liberty of getting hotpot. Lan Zhan tasted it. He liked that too, despite the number of chilly spices Wei Ying dumped inside.  

They stopped for a second time when they came across a newly opened arcade center. Built to resemble NASA's space station, Wei Ying urged it appeared rather futuristic, and Lan Zhan agreed. They ended up spending an hour and forty-five minutes there playing space-invaders and Dragon's Lair. When Lan Zhan realized they'd been wasting precious time, he had to drag Wei Ying away from the Dance Pad before he could hit the play button. The third stop was by an ice-cream cart. 

When they arrived, the rain eased and the foggy clouds cleared. The forest consumed both sides of the road, followed by a slope, rendering it impossible to drive the car inside. So Lan Zhan had to park the vehicle at the side of the highway before making the journey on foot with Wei Ying. It wasn't a long walk. When the open road couldn't be seen anymore through the densely forested trees, and their phone signals died, they stopped and rested for a while before Lan Zhan broke the silence.

"Here is where your training begins," Lan Zhan said, dropping his backpack to the floor. "Since you have the purple eye, your wolf is strong. Stronger than most born werewolves. But in order for you to activate your strength, you must first learn what it feels like to be in your new skin. You're going to turn into a wolf. It'll help you build your strength from within."

"What!?" Wei Ying bolted off the ground where he'd been relaxing. Seemingly afraid, a nervous chuckle willed his lips. "Ah, Lan Zhan when you told me you're going to bring me out here to train I thought we would be doing some kinda kung-fu stuff. Lan Zhan, I don't think you quite understand how much it hurts when I do that. I'm not doing it."

"I understand," Lan Zhan replied in his stony voice, earning an eye roll from Wei Ying. "Wei Ying, you need to do this," he continued, shrugging his leather jacket off. "We can't afford a repeat of what happened that night. I can't lose you."

Wei Ying tsked. Waving his hand dismissively in the air, he scrunched his eyes and said, "Alright-alright. I'll do it," Wei Ying pulled his T-shirt off in agitation. "But when I'm screaming in pain, I just want you to know it's all your fault," Wei Ying joked. But when Lan Zhan took his words to heart and pouted, Wei Ying quickly rephrased himself. "Aya, Lan Zhan you big fuddy-duddy, I'm joking. Don't be sad." 

When Lan Zhan looked away, "Kissie Kissie," Wei Ying pouted, making grabby hands until Lan Zhan finally caved in and gave a kiss for forgiveness. 

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