To Wield Such Prowess || ZHANYI/YIZHAN FF

8

"Zhan-ge."

Xiao Zhan lifts his head from the couch, turning towards Yibo. "Yes?"

"Did you sleep well—" Yibo shakes his head to himself. "Oh, right, you don't sleep."

"Yeah," Xiao Zhan says, smiling as he watches Yibo walk towards him. "How about you? You didn't sleep well, right?" Xiao Zhan asks, turning his body to Yibo who sits beside him. "You feel tired."

Yibo laughs awkwardly, clasping his hands together and grinning at Xiao Zhan. "Uhm, about that.."

Xiao Zhan glances down at Yibo's fumbling hands, confused. "Hm?"

"Do you remember what I said about," Yibo bites his lips as he laughs softly, "about four a.m.?"

"Four a.m..." Xiao Zhan echoes, squinting at Yibo. "Oh," he then breathes, looking up at Yibo with wide eyes. "Oh my god," he whispers.

Xiao Zhan turns his head away, blinking quickly and forcing himself to not rack his mind for all his knowledge about alpha werewolves' ruts.

"That's why I'm tired," Yibo says, and Xiao Zhan waves him away. "And—"

"Y-Yeah, yes," Xiao Zhan rushes to interrupt, flicking his gaze to Yibo. "I understand now," he announces, lifting an index finger. "Shh."

Yibo smiles, wrapping his hand around Xiao Zhan's raised fist. "Zhan-ge," he chirps, and Xiao Zhan swears he just heard himself short-circuit.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," Yibo mumbles, smiling at Xiao Zhan as he places their hands over his lap. He rubs his thumb against Xiao Zhan's, making Xiao Zhan gulp. "I just wanna be close to you."

Yibo's body heat spreads through Xiao Zhan's skin, and Xiao Zhan chews on his bottom lip at the sensation. "What are you doing?" Xiao Zhan asks, and even he is surprised with how nervous he sounds.

It's not like Yibo wants to eat him alive.

Or does he?

Xiao Zhan's gaze wavers when he finds that Yibo just keeps on staring at him. "Yibo," he mutters, looking anywhere but him as he hears Yibo hum in response. "You're staring again."

"I couldn't sleep because of Zhan-ge," Yibo says.

Xiao Zhan inhales. "Don't you openly admit your restless sexual desires to me."

"That's not what I meant," Yibo whispers, reaching out to hold Xiao Zhan's face, but Xiao Zhan pulls away.

"Then what?"

"I liked how you called me," Yibo states, humming in his throat. "So I want Zhan-ge to keep calling me that."

"Calling you what?"

"Uhm," Yibo breathes, "baobao."

Xiao Zhan clicks his tongue, ignoring the shy feelings that fill him. "What, so you can keep not sleeping and not having rest?" Xiao Zhan retorts, smacking Yibo's lingering hand away. "No way, Bo-di. Take a rest."

"Zhan-ge is so sweet," Yibo giggles. "So cute."

Xiao Zhan rolls his eyes. "Shut up."

"I wanna pinch your cheeks."

"I wanna pinch your cheeks," Xiao Zhan returns. He stares at Yibo's face for several seconds before he realizes what he's doing, but he doesn't look away. "I really can't believe how you don't seem to be in a rut at all."

Yibo maintains his gaze, looking fairly confident about himself, but Xiao Zhan notices how anxious Yibo's voice is when he speaks again. "Uhm. Actually, ge, that's because I—"