Work Text:
"Lu Guaaaaaang," Cheng Xiaoshi whines and drapes himself over his boyfriend's shoulders. "Come to bed..."
Lu Guang looks at his unfinished work. "Not now, Cheng Xiaoshi. I'm almost done, I'll join you in a bit."
"You say that every day..." Cheng Xiaoshi pouts, nuzzling against the other's cheek. "Please, can't you finish tomorrow?"
One hand comes to pet Cheng Xiaoshi's hair. "I'm sorry, but if I stop now it'll take more time to go back to it."
Cheng Xiaoshi pouts, but relents. He pulls away and trudges himself to bed. "...don't take too long," he sighs as he slides under the covers.
Lu Guang sends a regretful look towards him before going back to his work.
Cheng Xiaoshi is fast asleep when he finally joins him.
•°☆°•
Cheng Xiaoshi wakes to a warm feeling engulfing him, and slight wind tousling his hair and bare feet.
He scrunches his face in confusion before he opens his eyes.
Lu Guang is staring back at him, gaze soft, and his arms are tightly wrapped around him.
"You're awake," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Lu Guang?" He asks, trying to straighten up.
Lu Guang's hold tightens as he does, and it's then that he notices none of his body seems to be touching a solid surface that isn't Lu Guang's chest or arms.
"What—" A wave of panic takes over him, his heart skipping a beat as he looks around.
His breath catches in his throat as he sees a soft-looking wall of white—
Feathers. Large wings surround them, big enough to hide him from his head to the end of his legs.
As he follows their structure, it seems they're sprouting from Lu Guang's back.
He stares in confusion, his gaze shifting to meet his partner's blue eyes.
(...blue? Aren't they grey?)
Lu Guang is smiling at him. The sight has Cheng Xiaoshi calm down, his body melting into his partner's hold.
Wherever they are, he knows he can feel safe if they're together.
Lu Guang nuzzles into his hair, his arms tightening around Cheng Xiaoshi. Cheng Xiaoshi sighs contentedly and looks above Lu Guang's shoulder.
The city look up at them, the little dots coming from the lights mapping the roads.
"Woah," he says, shifting closer to take a better look. "It's so pretty..." His gaze flits from one light to the next, trying to figure out where the studio is. "How far up are we..?"
Lu Guang hums, "pretty far up." His wings shift, unfurling, and they start to spin slowly. "Are you cold?"
Cheng Xiaoshi takes a second to assess the situation. This far up, the wind sends a chill down his arms, but it's not too bad. Compared to the smoldering heat during the day, it's perfect.
He shakes his head.
Lu Guang nods in acknowledgement, then— "hold tight."
Just as he does, Lu Guang flaps his wings forcefully, propelling them.
Cheng Xiaoshi cries out in surprise, eyes wide as he stares at the stars above them. His legs have wrapped around Lu Guang's waist, though he trusts Lu Guang not to drop him.
The wind blows through them, ruffling his hair and shirt.
"Where are you taking me?" he tries to ask.
"You'll see," is all he gets in answer.
It's a few minutes of flying until they slow down, Lu Guang straightening them up before slowly landing. Soft grass meet Cheng Xiaoshi's bare feet.
When they let go of each other, Lu Guang turns to the side. Cheng Xiaoshi follows—
They're on top of a hill, overlooking the entire city. The buildings look small enough to be considered toys, and the entire view is magnificent.
"This is amazing..." he awes, "we never see the city from this angle. I wish I had my camera..."
Lu Guang tilts his head with an apologetic smile and wraps an arm around Cheng Xiaoshi's waist. "Seeing it with your own eyes is also a good memory. Next time, I'll think to bring the camera."
Cheng Xiaoshi's heart soars at the idea of 'next time'.
"Next time, maybe we can come at sunrise or sunset," he says. "I bet the view would be amazing too!"
Silence answers him, and when he turns his head, Lu Guang is frowning at the ground.
"I'm sorry I'm so busy," he says.
Ah. "I know," Cheng Xiaoshi hums. "Don't worry, I understand."
Lu Guang shakes his head. "It doesn't make it better." He leans in and rests his head on Cheng Xiaoshi's shoulder. "I'll take better care of you. I promise."
Cheng Xiaoshi turns and wraps his arms around him. "You do take care of me."
"But less than I want to."
Cheng Xiaoshi hums. He pulls away, and brings a hand to Lu Guang's hair, smoothing it down from when it sticks up after the flight. Lu Guang closes his eyes and leans in the touch.
Cheng Xiaoshi notices the wings flutter behind him, and brings a hand to lightly brush it.
Lu Guang shivers but doesn't pull away.
"Since when did you have wings?" he asks, still petting them.
Lu Guang looks at him. "... I've always had them."
He frowns. "But you never told me." When Lu Guang doesn't answer to that, he continues. "They're really soft. I love them."
Lu Guang doesn't answer verbally, though his wings unfurl to give Cheng Xiaoshi more access. When Cheng Xiaoshi looks at him, his cheeks are red. Cute.
"Hey, Lu Guang? I love you."
Lu Guang looks up at him. "...I love you too."
"Thank you for bringing me here," he adds, and leans to kiss him.
Lu Guang answers the kiss almost shyly.
They stay embraced for a few minutes, until a gust of wind makes Cheng Xiaoshi shiver.
"We should go back home," Lu Guang says.
Cheng Xiaoshi agrees, albeit reluctantly. It is getting cold, and he still feels tired too.
He barely remembers the way back, fighting against the wind and the tiredness, and falls asleep almost immediately after laying in bed, Lu Guang's arms still wrapped around him.
•°☆°•
When Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up the next morning, he feels better rested than he has in a while. Lu Guang is still in bed with him.
Cheng Xiaoshi studies him. Does he really have wings? Or was it all a dream?
It all feels surreal, so it could be a dream.
He'll have to ask Lu Guang when he wakes up.
. . .
Lu Guang seems confused when Cheng Xiaoshi talks about their night escapade, so Cheng Xiaoshi chalks it all up to a dream.
A shame, really.
Unbeknownst to him, a white feather drifts on the windowsill.