Red Light

Day 6 Part 1

Lan Wangji was awake but refused to open his eyes. Unheard of but true. He stretched. Scruffled his hair. Scratched his belly lightly. Cracking his eyes open, he peered at his watch. Seven? He grunted as he sat up and headed for the bathroom. Undercover work was not good for him. It disrupted his internal schedule even more than being a detective did.

Twenty minutes later he was heading to the garden for his morning tai chi. That should clear his mind. Reset his internal balance. After last night, he needed it.

The dizi had played in his dreams again. He had searched through the cloudy dark terrain it seemed to inhabit to no avail. The song luring him ever forward to some unknown location? Memory? Event? He had no idea but he knew he had to follow it or lose a part of himself. Find it or something precious would slip away. He had finally been frantically running. Never getting closer. It was terrifying. All of it seemed completely against his nature but he couldn't help the fear that ached in his chest and forced his legs on. He had followed and searched all night leaving him tired, disturbed, agitated.

He would flow into the tai chi and leave the nightmare behind. He would consider it dispassionately. He would find an answer. Tonight, he would sleep well.

As he reached the door, he saw motion and paused. He carefully peered and then snorted in annoyance with himself. It was Yu Bin doing pull ups off the side of his decks' partial roof. He opened the door and went out into the cool of morning.

Yu Bin, dressed in a ratty pair of sweat pants and hoodie, dropped back to the deck looking guilty. "I made sure I wouldn't damage it before using it for my pull ups. I hope it was okay."

"Of course." Lan Wangji gave a small smile. "Good morning."

"Good morning!" Yu Bin's smile was relieved. He was used to working out most mornings but he had been lazy while staying with Lan Wangji. That mattress just lulled him into the best sleep.

A nod and Lan Wangji headed to the center of the garden. He tied his cloud patterned bandana into place and began the slow, noble rhythms of tai chi.

Yu Bin started his sit ups. He hated them but having a six pack was kind of cool so he did it. Each time he sat up, he saw Lan Wangji in a new pose. Maybe he would learn tai chi. It looked beautiful. Peaceful.

His morning run had given him time to think. His usual thoughts about work or needing to call his sister who he loved dearly were being interrupted. Nie Huaisang kept popping up. The way he had laughed with utter abandon when Yu Bin told him he was scarier than the rumors said. The way he just knew what his preferred coffee was. The look in his eyes as he had fixed Yu Bin's hair so a lock of it fell on to his forehead. The glance when telling them to eat last night. Nie Huaisang was worried he wouldn't have dinner.

Yu Bin realized that he was running with a large happy smile. No one ran like that. While necessary if he wanted to catch bad guys who always seemed to think running was a good idea, just running was boring for most of the five miles he usually covered. Especially since his thighs and calves were complaining already and he wasn't three miles in. But here he was, running and smiling like a fool.

'And I thought I didn't like spiders...'  The thought made him laugh so hard he had to stop with his hands on his knees.

The very idea The Spider, as complicated as the man was, would even be interested in plain old Yu Bin was dumbfounding. Flabbergasting. Wonderful. His smile softened. Maybe Nie Huaisang needed some simple in his life. He hoped so.

The run had cleared his thoughts and made him feel ready to face whatever the day would bring.

With his hundred sit ups done, he stripped off his sweatshirt and wiped his face on it. He started on his hundred pushups.

Nie Huaisang stood in the doorway and smiled. 'I have excellent timing.' he thought to himself.

The sight of Yu Bin's back and shoulders sprinkled in sweat was enough to set up a warmth in his belly he hadn't felt in years. The muscles were moving and shifting beneath his pale skin as he did each push up making Nie Huaisang want to run his finger tips over them. To feel the movement for himself. To touch Yu Bin. To look in his eyes and just be Nie Huaisang. To touch and be touched. To care without worry. To feel all the things he had denied himself for so long.

As Yu Bin stood, he was startled to see Nie Huaisang standing in the doorway lost in thought. He had smiled but before he could say anything, Nie Huaisang looked up and into Yu Bin's eyes. It was all there. Desire. Affection. Concern. Hope.

Yu Bin couldn't breathe. The intensity stole his breath. He couldn't look away. He wasn't sure how he ended up in front of Nie Huaisang. He only knew what he had to do.

Yu Bin reached out and held Nie Huaisang. Felt him shiver as he pulled him gently, firmly, into his chest. Felt his arms slowly reach around Yu Bin's waist to hold him as well. A soft kiss on Nie Huaisang's forehead. No words were necessary.

Nie Huaisang leaned his head on Yu Bin's chest and felt safe. At ease. If there was a better place for him to be, he couldn't imagine it. The beat of Yu Bin's heart was more than music enough for him in this moment. He felt his body shiver again as his muscles began to relax into Yu Bin's hold.

He wasn't sure where this would go but Nie Huaisang desperately wanted the chance. Looking up at Yu Bin, he could see that innocence again. The honesty that came with it. It was all in his eyes.

Yu Bin leaned down and oh so softly kissed Nie Huaisang.

It was a brush of a butterfly's wing.  A moment of beginning.

The kiss was returned in all the innocence it was offered. And time stopped.

Small movements, exploration of the kiss as it became closer. Firmer. A final brief kiss before Yu Bin lifted his head and smiled at Nie Huaisang.

"Good Morning." His voice was low and whispered affection. Nie Huaisang found himself wishing every morning could begin this way.

"Good Morning." Nie Huaisang smiled back. Yu Bin's eyes told him everything. He didn't ever have to worry about machinations or manipulations with him. It wasn't who Yu Bin was. The innocent core of Yu Bin whispered a word he hadn't been able to believe in for years. Peace.

He reached up to cup Yu Bin's face. "You are so amazing." his quiet voice shook slightly but he didn't try to hide it. If he was going to be with Yu Bin, he would give with the same honesty Yu Bin did. This precious man deserved it.

Yu Bin blushed pink across his cheeks. His smile was shy. Not knowing what to say, he kissed Nie Huaisang again and let himself savor it.

-----

Lan Wangji finished his tai chi and turned to go take a shower. He definitely felt more calm. He glanced up at the deck and stopped dead. If someone had told him he would ever see Yu Bin and Nie Huaisang sharing a kiss much less on his own deck, he would have had the person in for a full psych eval.

But here it was.

Happening in broad daylight.

He turned and went back to his tai chi. "Shameless" was muttered under his breath before he smiled.
~♡~♡~♡~

For all the YuSang shippers. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Go say hello to the sky! 😊
❤️🍫🫖❤️