INARTICULATION (MLM/MxM/M4M ORIGINAL)

20: Last Round: First Love

Baihu, the tiger, had fallen from the grasp of this noble soul. This great hero, who fought to end the demonic disputes at Dong Nan, had dropped his pride. He let it slip away after landing a final blow to the heart of that demon and was swallowed by a void that relieved him of his duties and the infamous title, TIGER OF JIAO XIANG PALACE.

MEMENTO MORI

The return home felt too easy. The only things that changed since Wen Jingyi's last visit to the apartment had been the year and the stronger circulation of demonic energy in the residence.

Though the apartment had never felt so cozy. They had only returned the night before the warm sunrise. It leaked through the window, complimenting the lazy atmosphere which added to a feeling that they hadn't left the bed in ages.

The warm lighting fell onto Wen Jingyi's face, rousing him from his sleep. He shifted under the covers and pulled himself closer to Xun Jie, crawling back into his arms. It was in his tight hold that he fell asleep in, but throughout the night had slipped out of.

This inevitably woke Xun Jie. He too had groaned and fixed his position to be closer to Wen Jingyi, wrapping his arms around his waist while their foreheads touched. They shared air, relishing the moment before they had enough energy to open their eyes and mouths to see and speak with one another.

"Good morning," Xun Jie started, his voice still groggy.

Wen Jingyi wrapped his arms around Xun Jie's neck and kissed him on the lips before mumbling back unconsciously, "Good morning."

He could feel Xun Jie's forehead heat up against his own as that kiss was elongated.

"Are you feeling better?" Xun Jie asked between kisses.

Wen Jingyi smiled into their last kiss before their lips parted. "Very," he said.

Xun Jie brought a hand up to struggle with the collar of Wen Jingyi's shirt. He stretched and maneuvered it, presumably trying to look at his injuries. But after much difficulty, he settled on removing the shirt from Wen Jingyi entirely.

His fingers grazed over what were now only scars decorating his once fair-jaded skin. The previous scar from the battle at Dong Nan had begun to fade after months of special treatment from Fu Qianqiu, yet after only one night under qi circulation regulation with Xun Jie, those bite marks and torn flesh had come to be in the same fading state as his previously sustained injuries.

Wen Jingyi gasped when he felt those gentle fingers grace a spot on his collarbone.

"I'm sorry. Does it still hurt?"

Unable to bear those hurt eyes looking into his own, Wen Jinyi closed his eyes.

"No...and I thought I told you to stop apologizing already."

Xun Jie frowned and instead of apologizing once more, moved to place his lips where those injuries had been.

Again, Wen Jingyi's breathing had faltered. Much worse, Xun Jie's hands had slid underneath his shirt to caress where the rest of his scarred flesh could not be seen.

"Is this...is this supposed to be another apology?"

Xun Jie retracted his lips from Wen Jingyi's neck but still rubbed soothing patterns on his shoulder as he spoke.

"Are you more willing to accept them this way?"

"No..."

Xun Jie grinned and brought his lips up to kiss Wen Jingyi. It was slow, but there was no hint of hesitation as they brought one another close into a full embrace.