Work Text:
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a peaceful warmth over the training ground. The usual bustle of the Demon Hunting Bureau seemed to have paused for the day—no demons to chase, no urgent cases to study. Everything was serene, as though the world itself had decided to take a breath.
Ying Lei sat cross-legged on the training ground of the Demon Hunting Bureau, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. Bai Jui sat nearby, watching him with mild curiosity that had long since turned into boredom. Ying Lei had been at this for hours—trying to absorb the energy from the transit cup so he could internalize its power rather than relying on it physically.
Bai Jiu, sitting nearby, yawned and glanced around. The excitement that had once marked his interest had long since faded, replaced with the weight of impatience. Ying Lei had been at this for hours, and the sun had already shifted its position in the sky.
He sighed, about to call out, when suddenly, Ying Lei vanished before his eyes. Bai Jiu froze, blinking in disbelief. A second passed before Ying Lei reappeared, standing right in front of him, his grin wide and triumphant.
"You did it!" Bai Jiu exclaimed excitedly, jumping up.
"I did it!" Ying Lei grinned, and the two of them leaped in joy, celebrating the success.
Their celebration was cut short by a soft voice—gentle but laced with curiosity.
"What’s the good news that has you two so happy?"
The two turned to see the Baize Goddess approaching, her serene expression calm but warm. Pei Sijing walked beside her, his sharp gaze flicking between them with a curious glimmer.
Bai Jiu wasted no time, his excitement pouring out in a rush as he bounded toward the goddess. "Ying Lei finally did it!"
The Baize Goddess looked down at Ying Lei, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That’s wonderful."
Pei Sijing, ever the skeptic, tilted his head and smirked. "Then why don’t you show us?"
Bai Jiu’s eyes lit up. "Yeah! Show them, Ying Lei!" He turned to the young man, his face a mixture of anticipation and eagerness.
The Baize Goddess and Pei Sijing exchanged a quiet laugh, their amusement apparent in the shared look they exchanged.
Ying Lei nodded with a chuckle. "Sure."
Ying Lei smirked, clearly amused by Bai Jiu’s antics. "Where should we go?"
Bai Jiu wasted no time with his suggestion. "To Xiao Zhuo gege!" he exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over.
With a soft laugh, Ying Lei closed his eyes, focusing on the image of Zhuo Yichen’s quarters in his mind. He imagined the familiar surroundings—the elegant simplicity of the room, the scent of incense that always lingered in the air, and the soft hum of the wind that swirled through the open windows. Everything about the place was soothing, a place where one could feel safe and at peace.
A beat of stillness passed. Then, with a surge of energy, the world around them blurred. The wind whooshed around them, and the familiar sensation of teleportation enveloped their bodies. Within seconds, they arrived at their destination.
Ying Lei and Bai Jiu stood in the middle of Zhuo Yichen's quarters, but they were facing the door. Bai Jiu beamed, unable to contain his joy. "We did it!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ying Lei smiled, giving him a thumbs up. "We did."
Bai Jiu, still grinning, glanced around the room before muttering, "I wonder if Xiao Zhuo-ge is here."
Ying Lei was about to respond, his voice light with a suggestion, "Maybe he’s—" But his words faltered, and his body froze.
He felt a strange sensation wash over him, as though his soul had left his body. His face burned, his heart hammering in his chest. His eyes widened in realization.
Bai Jiu, oblivious to the reason for Ying Lei’s sudden stillness, was about to turn when Ying Lei swiftly moved, his hand coming up to cover Bai Jiu’s eyes.
“What are you doing?” Bai Jiu protested, trying to push Ying Lei’s hand away, but Ying Lei’s grip was strong, and he failed to break free.
Ying Lei kept his hand firmly in place, and his face was flushed deep red. “NO!” he whispered in urgency, his voice strained.
Bai Jiu's protests grew louder, but Ying Lei didn’t relent. Slowly, with his hands still covering Bai Jiu’s eyes, he turned around, facing the door. He started walking toward it, guiding Bai Jiu along. Every step he took felt heavier as he moved closer to the exit, his heart still racing.
When they reached the door, Ying Lei opened it with a flick of his wrist, stepping out of the room. As he closed the door behind them, he held his back to the space, his powers instinctively locking the door shut. Still facing away from it, he dropped his hands from Bai Jiu’s eyes.
“What the—” Bai Jiu began, his voice confused. He turned to face Ying Lei, his curiosity evident in his expression. “Why did you cover my eyes?”
Before the younger could continue scolding Ying Lei, his gaze fell on the older's face. Ying Lei's cheeks were still flushed a deep red, and his eyes were wide, embarrassed.
Bai Jiu’s words died in his throat as he noticed Ying Lei’s pupils flickering erratically. Then, without warning, Ying Lei’s eyes rolled back into his head, and his body collapsed to the ground.
“Ying Lei!” Bai Jiu screamed, rushing to his side.
Zhuo Yichen’s quarters were bathed in the soft light of the morning, the stillness only interrupted by the occasional rustle of wind outside. Inside, the room was quiet—peaceful. Zhuo Yichen lay in his bed, curled under the blankets, deep in the comfort of sleep. His body was relaxed, his mind drifting through a world far from the chaos of the past months.
But then, something heavy pressed against his chest, disturbing his slumber. A weight he couldn't ignore, a sensation he was too familiar with. With a grunt, he tried to shift, to push whatever it was off him, but it didn’t move. His brows furrowed in confusion and mild annoyance.
The pressure on his chest remained, and he opened his eyes slowly, the sunlight dim through the curtains. His gaze landed on the very thing—no, person—blocking his peace. A familiar, mischievous face grinned down at him, lips curling with an expression that could only belong to one being.
Zhao Yuan Zhou.
Yichen sighed, his irritation clear as his eyes met the great demon’s. "Will you let me sleep?" he muttered, his voice rough with the remnants of sleep.
Zhao Yuan Zhou’s grin widened, his gaze never leaving Yichen’s face. He shifted closer, hovering over the commander with a playful glint in his eyes. "You're just gonna sleep the whole day?" he teased, the words carrying a weight of longing and mischief. "I missed you. We've been busy these past months. So please, let me love you, and don’t sleep on me."
Yichen’s eyes flickered with both exhaustion and amusement. He could feel the heat of the demon’s presence so close to him, his chest still weighed down by Zhao Yuan Zhou’s deliberate position. With a roll of his eyes, Yichen half-heartedly tried to wiggle free. "We could spend our time together," he said, voice tinged with a mixture of annoyance and affection.
"By sleeping?" Zhao Yuan Zhou said and Yichen's only nodded.
But Zhao Yuan Zhou only smirked, shaking his head. "I have a different idea," he said, his tone deep and suggestive, a playful promise in his words.
Yichen opened his mouth to retort, ready to give the great demon another sarcastic remark, but before he could, Zhao Yuan Zhou acted.
In a swift movement, the great demon crashed his lips onto Yichen’s, silencing him completely. The kiss was fierce and unexpected, full of hunger and the weight of weeks apart. Yichen’s heart skipped a beat, his thoughts momentarily vanishing under the intensity of the kiss. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a demand, a declaration of all the feelings Zhao Yuan Zhou had bottled up over the months of absence.
Yichen, momentarily caught off guard, felt the familiar warmth of Zhao Yuan Zhou’s embrace. His chest tightened, but his mind was too scattered to process the surge of emotions flooding him. A part of him wanted to push him away, to return to his quiet, peaceful sleep. But the rest of him… the rest of him melted under the demon’s touch.
The kiss was relentless, a storm that swept through the calm of their lingering tension. When it finally broke, Zhuo Yichen was left breathless, his chest heaving with the sudden rush of heat that consumed him. His body flushed, still tingling from the intensity of the kiss. He blinked, slightly dazed, the warmth of Zhao Yuan Zhou’s lips still imprinted on his own. Despite the annoyance that still clung to his surface, there was no hiding the quiet fondness in his eyes as he stared at the great demon.
"You're insufferable," Yichen muttered, his voice a mix of annoyance and something softer, warmer. But the words lacked the usual bite, the real heat absent as his hand found its way to Zhao Yuan Zhou’s chest. He gave a light push, though it hardly acted as a deterrent.
Zhao Yuan Zhou only laughed, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down Yichen's spine. His lips curled into a satisfied grin. "I missed you too, Yichen."
Yichen let out a chuckle, his breath still unsteady, before he kissed Zhao Yuan Zhou again. His fingers tangled in the demon’s hair, his body responding with an intensity that mirrored the great demon’s hunger. Zhao Yuan Zhou’s hand slid down Yichen’s robes, tugging at the tie with swift precision before loosening it. His lips traced a path down to Yichen’s neck, biting and licking with enough force to leave marks, reminders of their passion.
Yichen's body arched as Zhao Yuan Zhou’s hands moved to his chest, the demon's mouth devouring him like a feast. A breathy moan escaped Yichen as he felt a sharp sting on his right nipple, where Zhao Yuan Zhou’s teeth had claimed a part of him. His legs instinctively wrapped around the great demon’s waist, pulling him closer as his other hand roamed down the demon’s back, tugging him even nearer.
The tension between them grew, palpable and hungry, as Zhao Yuan Zhou’s hand slid to Yichen’s exposed skin, fingertips grazing across his legs. Yichen felt the air shift between them, growing heavy with unspoken need, and for a moment, neither of them could feel anything beyond each other.
Then, the sound of a voice sliced through the haze of their desire.
Yichen’s heart stopped. His body froze, his eyes snapping open. He turned, catching sight of the intrusion. His gaze locked with Ying Lei’s wide, shocked eyes. Before he could say anything, another voice followed, one that made his stomach drop.
"Oh God," Yichen mumbled, his breath shaky.
Thankfully, Ying Lei quickly covered the younger boy’s eyes, attempting to shield him from the scene.
"Stop," Yichen mumbled, his voice hoarse, eyes still fixed on the stunned expression of Ying Lei. But Zhao Yuan Zhou, unbothered by the interruption, didn’t listen. He simply continued, as though the world hadn’t shifted around them. His hand found its way back to Yichen’s skin, intent on continuing their private moment.
Yichen, however, wasn’t about to let this go on. He grabbed the great demon’s hair, yanking his head back, forcing their eyes to meet. Zhao Yuan Zhou glared at him, confusion flickering in his gaze.
"What?" the demon growled.
Yichen didn’t answer. Instead, he gave a subtle nod of his head, motioning toward the direction of the others. But before Zhao Yuan Zhou could react, a voice rang out.
"Ying Lei!" Bai Jiu’s voice was sharp with worry.
Yichen’s heart skipped a beat. He turned toward the sound, but the pair was no longer visible. Without thinking, he pushed Zhao Yuan Zhou off him, stumbling to his feet. His robe was disheveled, his chest exposed, and his hair was a mess, but he didn’t care. His mind raced.
He rushed toward the door, not pausing to gather himself. When he stepped outside, his eyes immediately found Ying Lei, sprawled on the floor. Bai Jiu was kneeling beside him, shaking him gently, trying to rouse him.
Then, Yichen felt the weight of Zhao Yuan Zhou’s presence behind him. The demon had followed, of course, but Yichen couldn’t afford to think about that now.
Then, footsteps.
He barely had time to compose himself before Wen Xiao’s voice shattered the quiet. "What happened? We heard Bai Jiu scream."
Yichen tensed. He turned, ready to respond, but before a single word could leave his mouth, he felt Pei Sijing’s gaze land on him. A slow, deliberate sweep—from his face to the person behind him, then back again. He saw the moment realization hit her, the shift in her expression as her sharp eyes took in every telling detail.
Tousled hair.
Wrinkled robe.
And most damning of all—the faint red marks scattered across his exposed collarbone, trailing down to where his robe hung loose.
Pei Sijing’s lips curled into a smirk, amusement flickering in her eyes as she tilted her head. "Oh, I know," she murmured, just loud enough for Yichen to hear.
His face turned crimson in an instant. A rush of heat spread from his neck up to his ears, and his hand flew up to his chest in a feeble attempt to cover the evidence. "It’s not—" he stammered, but the words died before they could form.
There was no way to deny it. The damage was done.