Past

Shen watches in shocked surprise as the black web-like lines covering YiJun's neck and shoulder start retreating, and the bite wound seals itself close on its own, leaving behind unblemished skin.

He looks at YiJun's broke wrist and hears the sounds of bones rearranging themselves. He would have missed it, had it not been for his strong hearing sense.

Shen waits and watches as his nephew goes through a change.

A few minutes pass in dead silence, and then suddenly, YiJun opens his eyes.

"YiJun, how are you feeling?" Shen asks, catching YiJun's eyes.

YiJun stands up without any help.

"I feel fine, Uncle. Help me get to Xian."

"As you wish," Shen replies with a dazed look in his eyes.

"Uncle!" YiJun snaps at Shen, and the older man's eyes become clear again.

Shen avoids YiJun's gaze.

"I think you have the power of persuasion. YiJun, there are a lot of guards outside. Use this power to control the guards." Shen suggests.

"Mn." YiJun nods, and the two men walk out of the room.

They face a dozen or so guards when they try to take the stairs to get to Xian, but the guards are no match for YiJun's persuasion power and Shen strength.

Finally, when the last guard hits the floor, YiJun throws open the doors to his room.

"Xian... Noooooo!" YiJun screams and runs towards Xian, who is lying in a pool of blood.

The scent of blood hits YiJun's senses, and his iris turns red. He sways. He feels a need to lick the blood on the floor, but he pushes the feeling down.

At the sound of his name, Xian turns his head to look at YiJun.

"Xian..." YiJun mutters under his breath and takes Xian into his arms.

"Who did this to you?" He asks, looking at his lover's slit wrists and bloodstained chest.

"Why are you here, Jun?" Xian asks in a low voice.

"I killed her, Xian. I was pretending to be under her spell. That was the only way to gain her trust. Xian, I didn't touch her. Xian, are you listening to me?"

"I waited for you at dusk." Xian whispers, looking at the open window and continues, "You didn't come to me at dusk. You left me all alone to face the dark. You know I hate it, right? You didn't come to me at dusk. " Xian repeats.

"I am here now. I will never leave you." YiJun reassures, caressing Xian's cheek.

Xian's breaths become shallow, "I thought you didn't want me anymore. I thought you left me. So I thought it's better to leave."

"Xian, hold on. I will take you to the Royal Physician." YiJun lifts Xian as if he weighed nothing, and starts running towards the physician's quarters.

Xian winces at the pain caused due to movement.

"Sorry," YiJun apologizes, slowing down.

"Why are you here?" Xian asks, making YiJun look at him questioningly.

"He has lost too much blood. I think he is delusional." Shen guesses.

"Xian, I killed her. I was merely pretending to be under her spell. Do you understand? I didn't abandon you."

"I waited for you at dusk," Xian mutters hopelessly.

"I am sorry I was late. I will never be late again. I promise you, Xian. Please, believe me." YiJun begs as they near the physician's chamber.

Xian's eyes clear up a little. "You killed her?"

"Mn."

"You didn't abandon me?"

"I can never abandon you."

"Sorry, Jun," Xian whispers.

"It's ok. We are ok. You are going to be ok." YiJun mutters, more to himself than to Xian.

"You know it, don't you, my love... " Xian says, bringing his hands to YiJun's face and stroking it, "You know you can't save me."

Tears start making their way down YiJun's eyes. It's not water, but blood, that stains YiJun's cheeks.

Xian's eyes widen. "What happened?"

YiJun doesn't answer; he asks, instead, "Are you in pain?"

"Of course, I am in pain, Jun," Xian answers, giving YiJun a weak smile.

"Look into my eyes... "

Present

As soon as Wei Xian walks out, he regrets not borrowing a muffler from Aunty as well. He puts his hands inside the jacket-pocket, and tries his luck, hoping to find something useful.

'Thank God for the face mask. At least it will keep me from becoming Rudolph.' Xian chuckles, pulling out the mask and wearing it before mounting his bike and starting his journey back home.

On his way back, he comes across a man lying in the middle of the road. Xian stops and dismounts. But when he approaches the man, Xian notices that there are no visible wounds on him. 'This doesn't seem right.' He observes. Sensing foul play, Xian decides to turn around, but before he can do that, someone grabs him and holds a knife to his throat.

Xian remains calm and tries to reason, "Listen, I don't have any money or valuables on me. There is nothing that I can offer you guys." Xian says and watches as the man lying on the floor stands and walks towards him.

The second man pulls Xian's mask down and smiles. "Let us decide your worth." The second man says before punching Xian's stomach hard.

"Ahhh!" Xian winces and doubles over in pain.

The knife at his throat breaks skin, and blood starts oozing out of the small cut.

"Why the fuck did you do that, Zhuo? He is bleeding now! And it's right where anyone can see it. Boss told us not to damage the merchandise!" The man with the knife says, removing it from Xian's throat.

Xian falls to the floor.

"Relax, no one will care about it." The second man says before lifting his leg to kick Xian.

Xian closes his eyes and braces himself, but the kick he expects never comes.

He opens his eyes slowly and sees a man dressed in black. He watches the new arrival hold his attackers by their throat.

The men struggle to get out of the strong ironlike grip of the man in black.

"Shhhhhh." The Xian's savior whispers, and the men stop struggling. They calm down.

"Who sent you?"

"We didn't see his face. He wants the boy. He paid us good money to bring him."

"Where?"

"The park next to Lan Pharmaceutical head office."

The Savior takes his hands off their throats.

"Forget me. Forget the boy. You got drunk and forgot about your Job. Now Leave."

The two men nod and walk away.

'What the hell is happening? Who the hell is he?' Xian wonders, covering his face with the mask once again.

Once the men have gone away, the Savior turns to look at Xian.

He walks towards Xian.

His eyes fall on Xian's neck. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" The man enquires emotionlessly.

"No, thank you," Xian replies, trying to catch his savior's eyes.

"You are safe now." the man in black reassures and walks closer. His eyes remain fixed on the small bleeding cut on Xian's neck.

The man stops and looks into Xian's eyes. Xian's hand unknowingly moves over his chest. 'Why is my heart racing?' He wonders.

The man in black puts his hands on Wei Xian's waist and pulls him towards himself.

Xian doesn't resist.

"Look into my eyes..."

{Note:- Word Count 1238

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