A/N: I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas Day!
This chapter contains a bit of violence, anxiety and adult content.
⊂ (▀▿▀) つ
"Lao Wen." Zhou Xu's eyes are locked on the man who's hips he is wrapped around.
Wen Ke Xing's eyes, however, are piercing through the ant who's life he so easily can end with just a flick of his wrist. Why not? I have done it so many times before.
"Lao Wen.", Zhou Xu's voice is calm but firm, placing his palms on each cheek, turning Wen Ke Xing's face back towards him. Looking into those black ones, he can see the subtle change at the outer edges, slowly transforming him into the death god from the plateau, the Guzhu from their wedding nights, the man who likes the taste of his blood.
His voice still steady, his eyes not blinking, he repeats, "Lao Wen, let her go."
"Why?" Looking into those walnut colored ones, the biting cold that flows through his meridians almost freezing his core, slows down. With the two forces fighting for internal control, Wen Ke Xing continues, "She is mine to do what I want with."
Sensing the transformation and the struggle within his man, Zhou Xu holds firm, calm and steady, "Lao Wen, let her go."
Letting go of that cold right cheek, Zhou Xu traces his hand along the silky sleeve until he reaches those cold slender fingers that are wrapped tightly around Daiyu's throat. Shifting his gaze from those cold and detached black ones to look at Daiyu he can see that she is hanging still, her toes just reaching the ground. Though her eyes are starting to bulge, they are eerily calm and focused on Wen Ke Xing.
Zhou Xu slowly releases one finger at a time, knowing full well that he would not be able to do this if Wen Ke Xing didn't let him. Daiyu drops to the floor, her legs giving out instantly sending her to her knees, panting and coughing. She reaches for her throat, her pale hands covering the bruise that is already forming in the shape of a handprint.
"Daiyu, leave."
Looking up at Zhou Xu, her eyes calm and her voice no more than a whisper, "Nu Zhuren?"
"Daiyu, I said leave−now. You will be going back to Wu Ying with Gu Xiaojie tomorrow."
"Nu Zhuren, I−"
"Do not talk back to me. I said leave."
"..." Sulking, she slowly gets to her feet and looks at the food that is scattered along with broken plates and bowls. With a sigh, she presses her lips together in a straight line, then turns and walks out the door.
With his eyes focused on those black murderous ones, Zhou Xu hears the receding footsteps on the wooden walkway outside until there is nothing but silence, not even the sound of their breathing.
Zhou Xu's legs are still wrapped around Wen Ke Xing's waist, slowly moving to the rhythmic rise and fall of his slowed breathing. They stay that way in silence for a moment, until Wen Ke Xing's lips suddenly comes crashing down.
Feverishly.
Hungrily.
Violently.
Zhou Xu lets go of his hold around the hips, sliding down as he pushes Wen Ke Xing away, his voice still calm and firm. "No."
Moving in to take what he wants, Wen Ke Xing places his arms on each side of Zhou Xu in an attempt to trap him in place. Without a word, he presses against him, seeking his mouth.
Pushing him away once more, and quite easily with his newfound strength, Zhou Xu repeats, "No, I don't want to be with you when you are violent."
"I just... I..." His voice fading and almost soundlessly whispers, "You're mine."
Though his exterior is marble, it feels like his heart is going to break out of his ribcage beating as hard as it does. "Yes, I am." Taking his hand to trace those cold lips with his fingertips, he continues, "I will go talk with Ah-Xiang and tell her to head back to Wu Ying tomorrow and take everyone with her. You can leave if you want, but I want to stay here a few more days. I would like it if you stayed with me."
"..."
"After I have seen Ah-Xiang I will head up to the hot spring. I really need a bath after today's ride. Lao Wen, if or when you calm down, I will wait for you up there." Turning, he takes a soundless deep breath and steps over the broken plates and scattered food.
"Wait."
Stopping, he turns to face Wen Ke Xing, his face still marble but with his eyebrows raised in a questioning expression.
"I have something for you... I was going to give it to you yesterday, but... I got distracted."
Trying his best to ignore the fact that he was the one that had distracted Wen Ke Xing, and how he had distracted him, he asks with a touch of innocence in his voice, "... what is it?"
Wen Ke Xing walks stiffly towards one of his chests and opens the lid, taking out something long and slim, wrapped in azure blue silk. Walking back towards Zhou Xu, he unwraps it showing an ice blue scabbard (1) with a white metallic hilt (2), shimmering like it has been dipped in dust from both crystals and pearls.
Stopping a few steps from his man, he holds it out and with his right hand throws it towards Zhou Xu, who catches it expertly, automatically weighing it in his left hand.
"Ah-Xu, I think it's time that you get this back."
"... back?"
"It was taken off you when we... When you came to Ghost Valley. It's yours."
"Mine...?" Holding the scabbard in his left hand, he pulls the hilt and exposes the thin blade. Reading the characters on the ricasso (3) out loud, as if tasting the name and testing his memory, "Bai Yi?" (4), he feels a bit disappointed when nothing is triggered.
Looking at Wen Ke Xing, he slips the sword back into the scabbard and smiles, "You're not worried I will use it on you?"
"The happiest life ends before death." (5)
Not fighting his feelings and that beating heart, he walks over to Wen Ke Xing and kisses those cold lips, softly, tenderly. "I'll see you in the hot spring later." Walking towards the door, he picks up one of the wine bottles that has survived the crash, before leaving.
( >﹏<。)
Author's Notes:
(1) Scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade.
(2) Hilt – reminder, this is the handle of a sword (or bayonet) and consist of a (rain guard), grip and pommel.
(3) Ricasso is a blunt section of blade just below the guard.
(4) Bai Yi (白衣) – Means white clothes. It is a Whip sword, and the sword that Zhou Xu's shifu gave to him when he passed.
(5) 'The happiest life ends before death' is a Chinese proverb. It has a few interpretations: One is that life is a happy life until the very last moment. Another is that even those who are happiest must die. Basically, what Wen Ke Xing is saying is that he is happy right now and if Zhou Xu chose to kill him, at least he dies happy. (̂ ˃̥̥̥ ˑ̫ ˂̥̥̥ )̂
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