oceanic heart- Wangxian (English Version)

9-The mark

I'm not sure about a word. Look at the title. Does it make sense?

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Wei Wuxian walked without emotion. The last three days had been tough. Wen Chao hadn't let him out of his sight. He had violated him continuously, sometimes violently. But even shaken, as long as Jin Ling and Wen Ning were all right, he could take it.

A noise from a bush caught his attention. He squinted and stepped forward. When he got close to the noise, someone came out of nowhere and grabbed him violently. Wei Wuxian punched him and stepped back. The man got to his feet and Wei Wuxian took off running.

-Come back!" shouted the assailant.

-What the... Why always me...

Good thing he had stamina. Alas, at the bottom of the hill, a car was waiting.

-Hey, get him!" shouted the man chasing Wei Wuxian.

The two men near the car lunged at Wei Wuxian. He stopped, left the road and headed off into the forest. He had no idea where he was going. Far away, surely. The park came to a halt and the asphalt made its grand return. Wei Wuxian was delighted to see that he was standing on a quay. He threw himself into the water and swam as fast as his limits would allow. The men in the stern looked for him, until one of them spotted him in the water. Wei Wuxian didn't care, and swam on. However, the water's edge he wanted to reach soon became infested with soldiers.

Not knowing what to do, and with nothing left to lose, Wei Wuxian dived into the water and tried to escape that way. The water was murky, and he couldn't be seen from the surface. He wandered about at random, unsure of where he was going. He finally reached clearer water, a sign that he had reached the bay. He looked ahead: a huge underwater tunnel used for water treatment seemed like a good way out. However, once inside, he realized that the tunnel stretched for at least a kilometer, and that it was going to be a tough swim. But he took the plunge anyway. A few minutes later, he looked back and saw that he was already a long way from the surface. He hadn't been freediving for a long time, and the air was running out. At first, it was just an unpleasant feeling, but gradually he began to feel dizzy, unable to hold himself in place, and then unable to move. He felt himself sinking slowly, seeing death coming.

But miracles always happen when you think it's all over.

Despite his faint consciousness, he felt a pair of arms grasp him weakly, followed by lips on his own. At first, he didn't react, but gradually his consciousness returned, and he began to lose his footing.

Who could kiss so well?

Around him, white tentacles surrounded him, like a protective shield. He looked up at his gentle assailant and widened his eyes when he saw who it was. The next second, he felt a faint warmth on his back and was released from the warm lips of his assailant.

-Lan Zhan...!

He surprised himself. How could he have spoken? He realized that something had happened to him, that Lan Zhan had done something to him. He could breathe without difficulty, his vision was clear as well as his hearing, and he was able to speak. He touched his back, more precisely the part that seemed warmer than before, looking lost. Seeing this, Lan Zhan moved towards him.

-I've marked you.

-What?

-I've given you the minimum a mermaid needs to survive underwater.

Wei Wuxian looked at him in amazement.

-Did you just turn me into a fish?!

-No, I didn't. You're still a human. A human capable of going underwater.

Wei Wuxian wanted to speak, but he couldn't. He felt his neck, and felt a sort of gill-like hole. Then he stared at Lan Wangji. It was the first time he'd seen him underwater. His powerful muscles were visible, and anyone could have fallen in front of this wave of beauty.

-Sorry about the kiss," Lan Wangji continued. I needed it for the mark, and I didn't get a chance to ask your opinion...

-That's all right. You saved my life, thank you.

Lan Wangji stared at him, then took him to sit at the bottom of the water and recounted what had happened earlier on the quay, Wen Chao's betrayal.

-I knew he'd try something on you, so I reused the blindfold to find you.

-You did keep it... Right. The agreement's been destroyed. I must make sure that Wen Chao pays dearly and that Wen Ning is not put in danger.

-What are you going to do?

Wei Wuxian smiled slightly. He wasn't going to let Wen Chao get away with it. He stared at Lan Wangji and pressed himself against him.

-Lan Zhan, tell me more about this mark.

-It's a Level 1 survival mark. We don't use it very often, because we're not close to humans. It infuses a human with the abilities needed to survive underwater. In this case, these are gills, eye protection for clear vision, the ability to hear and speak, and a new layer of skin to protect against the cold and harmful things in the water.

-Oh, I see. Why are you talking about a Level 1 brand? Are there several?

-There are four marks in all. If a human is marked by all four, he becomes a full-fledged fish. However, the marks are getting harder and harder to obtain.

Wei Wuxian didn't answer. He rested his head on Lan Wangji's chest and closed his eyes.

-Lan Zhan, you may look like a block of ice, but I think I like you. And I think it's mutual, the way you threw yourself at me to kiss me.

Wei Wuxian laughed. Lan Wangji's expression didn't change, but his ears took on a pinkish hue.

-I kissed you because it was the way to give you the first mark.

-Of course.

Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji and stood a little above him, before looking into the whites of his eyes. Wei Wuxian gently touched Lan Wangji's lips with his fingertips. Suddenly, a tentacle wrapped around him and pulled him aside. Lan Wangji straightened up and moved a little further away.

-Lan Zhan? Hey, Lan Zhan!

Lan Wangji didn't answer. Wei Wuxian stared at his muscular back, before raising his gaze to his head. That's when he saw the blush on the taller man's cheeks. He approached him and put his hands on his shoulders, before moving up to his ear.

-Lan Zhan, are you embarrassed? I thought you'd be tougher.

Suddenly, Lan Wangji grabbed him and tackled him to the bottom of the water, before looking at him with a hint of desire. Wei Wuxian suddenly blushed.

-Hey, what are you doing?!

Lan Zhan approached his face, stopping just a few centimetres from his lips. Wei Wuxian held his breath.

-Who's embarrassed now?

He stood up suddenly and was about to leave. Wei Wuxian followed him.

-Lan Zhan, you can't hit on me like that and then leave!

Lan Wangji didn't listen and continued on his way. Wei Wuxian sighed and followed, puffing out his cheeks.

-You fool. I tell you I like you, and you do this to me.