They were sitting in a bus, travelling to the better side of town.

Wei Ying knew these places existed; he'd grown up in one similar to these houses after all.

But that was another life, a long time ago.

All the houses had high gated security, tall trees to stop people seeing inside, and where Wei Ying could see into their property, he saw multiple garages and expensive cars costing more than what he made in a whole year.

Probably.

The gardens were meticulously well kept with pruned bushes and freshly mowed lawns, pillars at doorways and cameras everywhere. After a while, Wei Ying closed his eyes and sank further into his seat.

"Tired?" Lan Zhan asked him.

Wei Ying nodded.

The smell of old sweat, body odour and stale cooking was strongest in the bus when they first got in, now as more and more people left because the ones that lived in those houses certainly did not travel by bus, the smell lessened considerably.

Lan Zhan had twice more felt hungry enough to bite his lip and was discreet about it so that Wei Ying would not ask him questions.

Exposing anything about himself felt like peeling back his skin by his own hand and Lan Zhan felt too vulnerable to start a conversation like that. But he knew without a doubt that he was running out of time.

Luckily, he spotted the familiar building that housed their condo.

"This is our stop." He said, waiting until the bus actually stopped before attempting to stand up.

Why were all bus drivers lacking in that one all-important skill of gently stopping and gently taking off?

They all needed to go back to driving school, in his opinion.

Again, he displayed that same fluid agility when rising, holding out his hand for Wei Ying to take and enjoying that beautiful pink blush on his face as they walked towards the exit.

"You're so graceful, Lan Zhan." Wei Ying commented, stepping off the bus.

Lan Zhan refused to say anything about that.

"So...do you live alone?" Wei Ying wanted to know.

He was having secret tingles of joy in his heart, well aware that Lan Zhan could probably hear the steady faster beating of his heart, and knew his blood should be smelling much sweeter...but Wei Ying simply couldn't help feeling so happy over such a small thing.

Lan Zhan still hadn't let go of his hand, his bigger one encompassing Wei Ying’s with a solid presence. Wei Ying felt looked after, and comforted too.

He couldn’t explain it either because no one had held his hand like this...and then kept a hold of it. It was the sweetest thing.

"I live with my brother." Lan Zhan said.

Wei Ying screeched to a halt.

"W-whatdya mean? Your brother? We can't go in there!" His panicked gaze landed on the building as if Lan Zhan’s brother was already storming towards them.

Lan Zhan had to smile at him, because Wei Ying looked way too cute.

He used some of his super strength to pull Wei Ying closer, and then he pressed his lips against Wei Ying’s forehead. His other arm came around to hold Wei Ying closer.

"Thank you for caring about me." He said in a low voice, causing Wei Ying to shiver.

"Lan Zhaaaan!" He whined, when the other went to the keypad and typed in a number.

"Xiongzhang usually spends his Saturday afternoons at his boyfriend's place. We should be in and out without having to meet him." Lan Zhan explained.

"Omg...and you!" Wei Ying playfully smacked his arm lightly. "If I had collapsed of a heart attack, it would totally be your fault."

"And yet, here we are." Lan Zhan replied drily. But he was smiling.

Wei Ying was too busy looking at everything as they entered the foyer. There was a security guard standing to one side and a concierge behind a desk.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lan." He nodded at Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan was going to walk past, but then he must have thought of something and backtracked to the man, who stood to attention.

"I would appreciate it if nothing was mentioned to my brother about my visit today." He slipped a hundred dollar bill across the counter.

"Of course, Mr. Lan. I have a bad memory...it seems." He winked at Lan Zhan.

Wei Ying was right there.

Right there.

Where this shameless flirting was going on!

He scowled and glared at the young man, who had dared to wink at his Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan walked up to the elevators and entered as soon as the doors opened. He did not even have to say anything to the bellboy in the lift as it travelled up to the right floor...however, he was too aware of what Wei Ying was feeling.

Lan Zhan wrinkled his nose in distaste once more as the smell of Wei Ying's blood only got stronger.

"What is it?" He asked Wei Ying.

Wei Ying was in no mood to talk when he was one half of the guilty party.

So he remained completely silent, all the way up.

Lan Zhan walked out from that small confined space to the second door of three on this massive floor, glancing at him now and again, but he couldn't fathom what had put Wei Ying in such a foul mood.

He could smell something...was it anger?

He had never smelled anything like it before and was at a loss to explain what it could be. The closest emotion he could compare it to was anger...but no...his instincts were telling him that wasn't correct either.

They were still holding hands...so that was something.

Lan Zhan typed the security code into his apartment and entered.

Wei Ying followed behind, his curiosity getting the better of him.

This was where Lan Zhan lived.

The door to his apartment opened up into a huge foyer. All white marble with platinum trim. There was a white stool in the centre of open room, directly under a huge circular skylight. On top of the stool was a vase of blue gentian flowers, the only colour in that otherwise spotless place.

Wei Ying was already feeling self-conscious by simply being there, afraid his shoes were going to leave messy footprints. He paused, unwilling to go further inside with his shoes still on.

Lan Zhan saw him looking and pressed a hidden button; a shoe rack slotted into the wall opened up and they were able to put their shoes away.

Wei Ying looked at both of their attire...feeling out of place.

Lan Zhan was wearing a pair of his joggers which were obviously too short on him, and a ratty old t-shirt with a yellow pokemon gasping, under a grey hoodie. Wei Ying was all in black.

They both stood out.

"Would you like a tour?" Lan Zhan inquired, his manners kicking in.

"I feel like I'll be told off for touching anything." Wei Ying admitted.

He looked down, trying to fight off the feelings of inadequacy and not belonging.

Lan Zhan smelled sadness.

With a single finger, he tilted Wei Ying’s face up so he could look into those bright crystal eyes, always so dazzling to look at...but now suddenly dimmed.

"This is my home too...it is open for you as well. Wei Ying may break anything he likes."

That unexpected comment caused Wei Ying to suddenly giggle.

"I'm not a lunatic, you know!" But he seemed much happier and linked their arms together. "Alright, show me watchya got...."

Lan Zhan smiled at him for a moment, making sure he really was better, before leading him straight through.

Wei Ying’s curious gaze spotted two doors opposite to each other off separate corridors on either side, but there was no time to say anything because Wei Ying was looking at the biggest, widest window he had ever seen. The view was phenomenal.

Skyscrapers dotted the horizon and he could see the sun, getting ready to dip between two high-rise buildings.

The wide open sky was what stole his heart though.

Today was a sunny day and there wasn't a cloud to spoil the beauty of the cerulean skies. Wei Ying looked down and saw tiny objects moving like toy cars, people resembling insects, they were so far away.

Two hands rested on his shoulders as Lan Zhan pressed up against him.

This weight was nice...grounding.

Lan Zhan’s face was right next to his, looking at everything he was seeing.

"This view would be so distracting...I'd never get anything done." Wei Ying whispered, watching his breath fog up the clean windows.

Lan Zhan privately agreed.

He spent many a morning just watching the clouds go by. His jobs, both of them, meant he could work from home...whenever he wanted actually. His new way of life...nothing much would change in the architectural side...but he could no longer in good conscience do the other one.

How could he plug healthy eating and its benefits, when his own diet had become one of pure blood? And that, of human origin. His face twisted in disgust at himself.

Wei Ying noticed.

His hand came up and joined Lan Zhan’s one, on his right shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, softly.

The way Lan Zhan was looking...it couldn't be anything good.

"I will have to give up one of my jobs...I did not think I would miss it...but I am going to."

"The Influencer one?" Wei Ying guessed.

"Mn."

"Well...you have to admit...it is a fat free diet..." Wei Ying spluttered out a laugh.

He wasn't even sure what made him say that, but he got a smile out of that melancholy expression.

And that's what mattered the most.

"Nothing to cook...no time wasting cleaning dishes..." god, it was getting funnier as Wei Ying listed the plus points of Lan Zhan’s new preference.

Lan Zhan slowly turned him around to see the room in its full glory.

There were white leather sofas with two baby blue blankets thrown over their backs for chilly nights. There was a fireplace with logs ready to burn and a grate to keep the sparks away, there was a massive television set almost the size of the wall above the fireplace and a soft plush rug on the beech flooring.

Everything looked impeccably clean and neat, not a thing out of place.

All the decor matched in muted shades of beige, cream and white with the baby blue the only splash of colour in a very peaceful looking living room. On the side, there was a white trophy cabinet.

Wei Ying drifted towards it, fascinated when he saw Lan Zhan’s name.

On most of them.

Some were sporting trophies, but the ones dated most recently were to do with social media and Lan Zhan’s contributions to furthering health consciousness.

Wei Ying was impressed.

Lan Zhan was embarrassed.

And then, Wei Ying spotted the rabbits.

Two bunnies, the cutest, softest little things were sniffing the air, munching on hay and watching them with floppy ears and twitching noses.

Wei Ying squealed.

Of course, that frightened the bunnies and they began trembling.

Lan Zhan frowned as Wei Ying performed a goal scoring footballer's knee skid to the edge of the enclosure.

"Oh. My. God! Lan Zhan!! They're so cute!!" He whispered loudly.

Transfixed, Wei Ying put his hand close to their noses, waiting for them to sniff and accept him. With his other hand, he stroked their soft fur. One was the darkest shade of night, while the one with the powder blue collar was pure white. Wei Ying fingers the red bell hanging off the red collar on the black one.

"Are they girls or boys?" He asked, reverence in his voice.

"Boys." Lan Zhan was secretly thrilled that Wei Ying was obviously smitten by them.

"And why does that one have a bell and that one doesn't?" He whispered as the bunnies accepted him and leaned into his touch.

"That's Tofu. He has a tendency to...escape. Noodle...not so much."

Wei Ying crammed his free fist into his mouth, trying not to scream out loud.

Lan Zhan was so cute!

Lan Zhan’s rabbits were so cute!!

The whole thing was too much for him.

With great difficulty, he pulled Wei Ying away from them and to the right hand side corridor where his room was located.

Lan Zhan’s room was similar to the living room in terms of colours but the main difference was the wall to ceiling wardrobe.

Wei Ying looked at the silver and white bedding, his thoughts not at all safe to expose, and Lan Zhan was just about to ask him what he was thinking about, because his blood smelled awfully interesting suddenly...when they heard the unmistakable sound of keys being thrown on a table.

Lan Zhan panicked.

He grabbed Wei Ying and dived into the wardrobe, the part he had opened was full of shirts on hangers, and once the door closed, they could see into the room through the narrow slits in the frame.

"Is that your brother?" Wei Ying asked, suddenly pressed up against a cool neck.

Every part of their bodies were aligned, and Lan Zhan was...obviously interested.

Wei Ying was too...he had been staring at Lan Zhan’s bed after all...the result of those thoughts was painfully apparent to both of them.

Lan Zhan nodded.

"Don't worry though, he rarely comes in here."

Wei Ying thought that was good because there was a coat hanger rammed up somewhere where it absolutely shouldn't be.

He was going to attempt to dislodge it, but then...the door opened.

It was as though the Universe was laughing at him, Lan Zhan thought, not even breathing. By contrast, Wei Ying was breathing heavily and Lan Zhan reached for his hand. Once their fingers were entwined, he could feel Wei Ying calm somewhat. For the second time that day, Lan Zhan kissed Wei Ying on his forehead, hoping to soothe his anxiety.

Lan XiChen wasn't supposed to be home right now...

Lan XiChen wasn't supposed to be in his room right now...

And he certainly wasn't supposed to be walking towards them as if he already knew they were there...just inches away...

XiChen opened the door next to them.

Lan Zhan heard him press his face against Lan Zhan’s cardigans and jumpers, inhaling deeply.

And then there was a choked sob.

Wei Ying felt awful.

The man was clearly suffering...and yet Lan Zhan wasn't ready to talk to him. It was taking all of his self control not to burst through those doors and fall into his brother's arms, begging forgiveness...but Lan Zhan knew that this was the in-between stage...the bottom line was: he was not ready.

He tried to shut out the troubled sighs, the choked up breathing and the ragged clearing of a throat too used to crying.

Ever since their mother passed away, the two brothers were rarely apart. And these two days...it was hard for both of them.

Lan XiChen pulled away slowly.

He turned around.

Lan Zhan hoped that was the end of it, that his brother was leaving...

But no.

XiChen went and sat on the edge of his bed, looking at the wardrobe.

He looked terrible. There were dark circles under his eyes, on a face that was unnaturally paler than normal. He looked like he hadn't been sleeping.

Wei Ying closed his eyes.

The darkness was stifling, but more than that...was this delicious closeness that made his blood run faster in his veins, and it was so hard, not be affected when his heart was doing a bleep test all on its own.

Lan Zhan’s one arm was wrapped around his waist and the second one was cradling his head, pressing him as close as he could to his body.

And then the wildest thought occurred to Wei Ying.

His mouth could open...

His hot little tongue came out to taste that cool, sweet skin.

Lan Zhan stiffened immediately.

His arms tightened, hoping to convey to Wei Ying to stop.

Wei Ying understood alright...just that he didn't want to listen.

He inhaled that wonderful sandalwood fragrance, making sure Lan Zhan knew exactly what he was doing....and then, he pressed his lips over Lan Zhan’s Adam's apple.

Lan Zhan froze.

The sensations...they were incredible!

Mentally, he was begging his brother to leave, walk out, anything but stay sitting there...

The soft floral perfume was all around him, waves of it adding to his arousal.

Lan Zhan wanted to bite him...

This was the first time Lan Zhan was even close to losing control.

But Wei Ying was all around him and his hunger flared painfully in his gut...Wei Ying was so close right now...all it would take was one single drop to quench this misery, the thought that he didn't need anything as much as he needed Wei Ying right this minute.

Just a tiny nip...the smallest...

What would Wei Ying look like after he had done it?

The unmistakable sound of someone clearing their throat broke him out of his thoughts.

"Didi..."

For one frightful second, Lan Zhan was horrified that he had made a noise, something to alert XiChen of his presence...

"Wherever you are...I want you to know...nothing is too hard for us to overcome, together. I need you...I need you to know that I'm here for you. I hope..." He took another wet, rasping breath, "I hope you know that. Come back soon, Didi..."

XiChen wiped his face on his sleeve. He closed his eyes as if willing himself not to lose it.

A few deep breaths later and he was ready to stand up.

And then he left.

Of course, that was a sign to Wei Ying that he could basically do whatever he wanted, and while Lan Zhan was concentrating on listening out for the telltale sound of the front door closing...Wei Ying pounced.

All this tight, black space had heightened his senses, and the only thing he wanted right now was right here, in his arms.

Their lips crashed together and then they were tumbling out of the wardrobe, hands everywhere as the kiss deepened.

Lan Zhan registered the welcome sound of an empty home and he had the wherewithal to protect Wei Ying’s head from certain injury as they fell out, but they weren't going to let a small thing like gravity stop those hotter than hell kisses, one melding into another as breathing wasn't important enough to stop.

Wei Ying was on fire!

He had never felt this kind of urgency before, as if kissing Lan Zhan was the only thing he needed to exist, that he was born for the sole purpose of tasting that wild delight that was Lan Zhan’s mouth.

Someone was moaning but Wei Ying was past caring, not when those big palms were  on his back, molding him to that eight pack of abs that he'd never admit to dreaming about. Both of them panting and trying unsuccessfully to control themselves and when Wei Ying pulled away because he needed air, Lan Zhan continued to kiss him anywhere his mouth could reach.

Lan Zhan had finally found something irresistible to taste.