Our hearts, two stars, and the sea

Chapter fifteen- Zest Fest

Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe step through into the room, Shen Yuan grips onto Luo Binghe's sleeve. He doesn't want them to get separated again!

That's the only reason!

The room is lit by white torches and stretches far. The more accurate description of it would be a hallway. It stretches beyond what Shen Yuan can see.

Shen Yuan has read enough horror novels to know not to fuck with shit like this. However, he is curious. He doesn't like the feeling of being watched, but he can't shake the feeling after the multiple paintings of him on the walls.

"A-Yuan? Are you okay?" Luo Binghe asks. Shen Yuan realized he was squeezing onto Luo Binghe's sleeve tighter than before. He quickly released it and started to walk forward.

"I'm fine, we should go." Shen Yuan says. Luo Binghe follows after him.

"Is... are you scared?" Luo Binghe asks, his voice is irritatingly smug.

"No! Why would I be scared?" Shen Yuan scoffs.

"It's a big, dark hallway-"

"It's lit with torches!"

"A-Yuan is only a prince, it's natural if you're scared."

"Excuse you?!"

"Don't be mad, I was only being nice! If you're scared you can cling to me." Luo Binghe offers, stepping slightly closer to Shen Yuan.

Why is Luo Binghe such a zest fest recently?!

Shen Yuan steps away from him, then looks ahead and notices they've reached a room. Shen Yuan quickly steps into the room. As soon as he steps in he hears a click and slight sink of stepping on a trapped tile.

Luo Binghe seemed to have noticed too, he carefully scanned the room, looking for danger. Shen Yuan slowly removed his foot from the tile, looking too.

"Maybe nothing will-," Shen Yuan starts, but is interrupted when multiple arrows shoot at him.

He just had to open his mouth, didn't he?

Before an arrow could hit him, Luo Binghe tackles him out of the way. They land on more trapped tiles.

(Of course they are lucky enough to find a completely trapped room.)

The floor collapses beneath them and they fall into the abyss below. Shen Yuan wraps his arms around Luo Binghe as they fall with Luo Binghe's arms around him as well.
After a few more seconds of falling, they land on a hammock of vines. The vines are suspended above what seems like a dark abyss. Around them, small balls of light illuminate the area. The shape of Luo Binghe's face is too close to his own.

That's when Shen Yuan also realizes their position; Shen Yuan's arms tightly wrapped around Luo Binghe's neck and his legs around the others hips. Both of them are too close for comfort. His eyes blow wide as a blush creeps up his face.

It's not pride month anymore! Why is this happening?! Shen Yuan isn't homophobic... but this is pushing the line.

Shen Yuan doesn't have a moment more to dwell on it because the hammock of vines snaps and their plummet continues. They tumble through the air. Shen Yuan feels like either screaming or throwing up, but he doesn't have the face to do either.

They land in another vine hammock, this time in another position. Shen Yuan is on top of Luo Binghe, his legs bracketing the pirate lord's hips. His hands are planted on the other's chest. With his hair and robes slightly askew, he bets he makes a sorry sight.

"..."

"...nice of you to drop in?" Luo Binghe jokes. Shen Yuan rolls his eyes. He then shifts uncomfortably, Luo Binghe's eyes widen and reach to grab Shen Yuan's hips. He holds them down to keep him from shifting.