Take flight in the Night Sky

He found himself smiling at the way Xue Yang sighed at the fruit. He’d missed his friend quite a bit t0 the point that even the silliest things Xue Yang did was a comfort. Mo Xuanyu let go of his sleeve to sit down properly at the table. It was a little dusty but nothing he wasn’t already used to.

Plus, he wasn’t going to complain about having another meal so soon. He’d almost forgotten that three meals a day was pretty standard.

“It might be the soil here. Native plants are easier to grow than invasive. Making the soil fertile for most plant life is pretty hard… but I can help tilling some of it.” He had to do all sorts of chores back in Mo Village. Only this time he wouldn’t have to do it on an empty stomach.

“You know..” He said as he started to eat. “You’ve matured a lot. Your mannerisms are a little different and your face looks really nice— not that you didn’t look nice before!” He hurried.

“You look like an adult, is all.” He was sure once he gained some weight he’d look better, too. But right now Xue Yang was ahead of him in being more handsome.

No matter how much he cleaned, it seemed the house got filled with dust pretty quickly. Xue Yang was as thorough as he could be, cleaning every day to adhere to a routine, but something about this place just refused to give him a day off, it seemed. 

Maybe he had to clean outside, too, to prevent dust from coming in. 

Sitting down with his apples and a knife, he began to cut them up as he listened to Mo Xuanyu speak. It was still so surreal, having him near. Having him be himself, here with him… A single thought haunted him as he took in the presence of his friend.

Would this last?

“Huh. You become a farmer since the last time I saw you?” He teased, offering Mo Xuanyu a little smile. “I’ll take any help you can offer. I don’t wanna starve, and I’m sure you don’t want to, either.”

Placing the apple slices in the shape of a star on a plate, he looked up from his task with an eyebrow raised. Was Mo Xuanyu praising him? Was he — flirting with him? 

Surely not. The mere idea made him snort.

“Right, last time we saw each other, I was…” He stopped to think for a moment. “Seventeen? Eighteen? Can’t have been much older than that. It’s been a long fucking time, wow.”

Yet it felt like Mo Xuanyu himself hadn’t changed at all. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he’d seen ‘him’ fairly recently. “Would suck if I still looked like a kid. You…”

He gratefully took a few apple slices, eating them withiut thought. The taste of fruit alone almost made him tear up. He'd been eating scraps for years but he couldn't keep crying when presented with actual food.

"Not necessarily. They made me keep the garden up and I was growing some radishes and potatoes. Nothing fancy." He explained, thoughtlessly grabbing more to eat. It just tasted so good, the fresh fruit

He sneezed after a moment, covering his face with hiis sleeve. Mo Xuanyu was used to dusty places but a whole town? They had work to do and things to fix up it seemed. At least he had managed to swallow before sneezing, though.

Clean, fresh robes felt amazing after a much needed bath. His body felt lethargic and much more relaxed than it had been previously when he’d woken up. Stretching his arms up over his head for a good moment he let a smile tug at his lips.

When his eyes opened again he witnessed Xue Yang tossing his old robes into the fire. Briefly he reached out to stop him only to pause and deflate. It wasn’t like he had anything left in them. Not even from his mother. His Aunt had found everything he had ever tried to hide from her. His lips pursed.

Though at the mention of fruit his stomach growled. He was still hungry after all.

“.. Yeah, alright.” Mo Xuanyu said, retreating from the bath and stopping close to Xue Yang. “Erm, thanks… again. That was really needed.” He spoke sheepishly.

Yet he reached out to tug a little on Xue Yang’s robes with a bigger smile. Not by much but he looked happier. “It’s nice to be with you again.”

Though he caught the brief hesitation on Mo Xuanyu’s part as his robes hit the fire, Xue Yang couldn’t bring himself to apologize for doing so without permission. Saying sorry was still difficult, and he really didn’t think he’d done anything that warranted the apology. This was only cemented by how Mo Xuanyu bounced back, walking up to him and holding his sleeve. 

The sooner his friend left his old life behind, the happier he’d be, right?

“Yeah, you too,” he nodded, heading over to the cabinet to pull some fruit out to accompany their leftovers. “No need to thank me. I couldn’t just leave you like that.”

He reached for the lone persimmon and breathed a sigh of relief as it didn’t turn to mush in his grip. Still, this was a shameful offering, so he took a couple of apples as well.

“I should really go to the market soon, this is pretty embarrassing,” he chuckled, placing the persimmon next to Mo Xuanyu’s bowl. “I’m bad at growing fruit. Honestly, I’m bad at growing anything that wasn’t already there. It’s not stopping me, though. I’ll figure it out eventually.”

Plus, he wasn't going to complain about having another meal so soon. He'd almost forgotten that three meals a day was pretty standard.

"It might be the soil here. Native plants are easier to grow than invasive. Making the soil fertile for most plant life is pretty hard... but I can help tilling some of it." He had to do all sorts of chores back in Mo Village. Only this time he wouldn't have to do it on an empty stomach.

"You know.." He said as he started to eat. "You've matured a lot. Your mannerisms are a little different and your face looks really nice— not that you didn't look nice before!" He hurried.

There was no offense in Mo Xuanyu’s demeanor. He was used to the way he and Xue Yang spoke to one another. It was almost calming how familiar it all seemed, soothing him in knowing this truely wasn’t a dream despite how unreal it seemed to run into him again.

With his knees up and hair pulled over his shoulder he waited patiently for Xue Yang to bring robes over. His own were caked with dirt and sweat. Perhaps some dried blood, too.

He took them gratefully, admiring the color of the fabric for a moment. They were nice… nicer than his own even though they clearly weren’t made of silk. That was fine. These looked comfortable enough and they were clean. Standing to dry off he placed them to the side until he was ready to get dressed. And once the fabric was covering him he was grateful yet again that it protected him from the coolness of his surroundings.

Even with the fire he could feel the cool weather from outside but it was tolerable.

“Thank you.” Mo Xuanyu expressed with a small bow, wet hair tied up as he had yet to dry it. He offered Xue Yang a small smile as he straightened back up. “I feel much better.”

Xue Yang watched out of the corner of his eye as Mo Xuanyu got dressed in the set of robes he’d provided. As he’d always thought, blue was his color; it was hard to explain, as it wasn’t like he’d actually ever seen him wear it. Jin robes were yellow, these he’d discarded were black, regardless of whatever color they’d been before he got here. 

Maybe it had to do with thinking of Mo Xuanyu as a blackbird. Having him against the blue of the sky would make sense, then.

“Good, now come eat,” he gestures to the table, assuming Mo Xuanyu won’t need any help walking there. He does look much better after a bath, unsurprisingly. It makes him feel relieved. “Suits you, by the way. Unlike these.”

Without hesitation, he gathered the discarded robes and threw them into the fire, watching it roar as it engulfed the fabric. 

Less shit to wash. Less pain to shed. 

Mo Xuanyu didn’t need any lasting reminder of what he’d left behind. 

When his eyes opened again he witnessed Xue Yang tossing his old robes into the fire. Briefly he reached out to stop him only to pause and deflate. It wasn't like he had anything left in them. Not even from his mother. His Aunt had found everything he had ever tried to hide from her. His lips pursed.

Though at the mention of fruit his stomach growled. He was still hungry after all.

".. Yeah, alright." Mo Xuanyu said, retreating from the bath and stopping close to Xue Yang. "Erm, thanks... again. That was really needed." He spoke sheepishly.

A sound of amused offense left Mo Xuanyu’s throat. He probbed back lightly at Xue Yang before shaking his head. His hair needed to be focused on at the moment. It felt so gross with all the oil and dirt tangled in the strands. He flipped his head forward, gathering his hair in front of him as he worked on wetting it and scrubbed soap through his scalp.

“I’d get far enough.” He murmured, using his bitten down nails to scratch at his scalp. It felt so good to do as it loosened dirt and such from his hair. He spent a good while tending to it, rinsing it multiple times until he was satisfied. No doubt he had tangles now but a comb through would easily fix that.

He didn’t comment on Xue Yang trailing off. If the man wanted to speak his mind then he would do so. It seemed they’d both had a bit of a hard time these days.

“.. Do you have any clean robes by chance..?” He called out, squeezing the water from his hair and finally lifting his head. He’d scrubbed his skin thoroughly. Though if he stood bare directly in front of Xue Yang then surely that would be a bit awkward.

He felt he had embarrassed himself enough after all.

“Mm, yeah, sure,” Xue Yang continued to tease. He didn’t mean it, though. He was just hoping to fall back into the rhythm of how things used to be. Staring at the leftovers from the day before, he figured they should eat those before thinking of making anything new.

It would be a waste if they rotted, after all. He had to be careful with his food.

As for letting his sentence hang, well. Some things were better left unsaid. He was certain Mo Xuanyu felt that way about things from his life, too, and as curious as he may be about them, he wouldn’t pry.

Washing their bowls from the night before (even as he intended to use new ones!), he kept an ear out for the flapping of wings or the chirping of birdsong. Sometimes the little sparrow didn’t show up for a few days, so he wasn’t worried, merely curious.

“Clean robes?” He echoed, thinking all of a sudden that he should’ve washed Mo Xuanyu’s clothes while he bathed. “I have an extra set you can borrow, yeah…”

With his knees up and hair pulled over his shoulder he waited patiently for Xue Yang to bring robes over. His own were caked with dirt and sweat. Perhaps some dried blood, too.

He took them gratefully, admiring the color of the fabric for a moment. They were nice... nicer than his own even though they clearly weren't made of silk. That was fine. These looked comfortable enough and they were clean. Standing to dry off he placed them to the side until he was ready to get dressed. And once the fabric was covering him he was grateful yet again that it protected him from the coolness of his surroundings.

Even with the fire he could feel the cool weather from outside but it was tolerable.

Mo Xuanyu did not like thinking back on his time spent in Lanling unless it was the days spent fooling around and making trouble with Xue Yang. Those days were better than most of his childhood. So to have Xue Yang here and promising things to be okay meant a lot to him. He squeezed his hand with a light smile. He would’ve nuzzled his cheek to his friend’s but he really wanted to bathe first afterall.

“Thanks.. but whatever you plan to do, I would like a part in. It was me they hurt, so I want to see them suffer, too.” As Mo Xuanyu spoke he spotted the old rag hanging on the edge of the tub and reached for it.

Layers of dirt clung to his skin and he wanted to start working to get rid of it. To feel refreshed and clean for once instead of just having water dumped on him. He could snuggle up to warm by the fire later.

“I’m happy I came here. I don’t know how long I was going to end up wandering around for.”

Leaning back to let Mo Xuanyu have his space to bathe, he watched him with a crooked half-smile. He was plotting revenge in his head, after all, so he couldn’t offer a full, sweet smile. Would he be as brutal as before, or would he be worried about falling into a pit he couldn’t easily crawl out of? What else was he doing with his time, though? If he reverted to how he used to be, what better person to do it for than an old friend? He had absolutely nothing to lose this time around. 

“Of course,” he nodded slowly. “You’ll have front row seats to the whole thing. Just let me do the heavy lifting, is all. Bet you wouldn’t be able to get very far anyway.”

This was meant as a light tease, accompanied by a gentle prod to Mo Xuanyu’s shoulder. He really didn’t want to see him get hurt, though, so it would be best if his hands stayed clean.

To be happy to be in such a desolate place, though… Xue Yang felt something twist in his stomach. He sighed and stood up to see about breakfast. His little bird friend might be around soon, too. 

"I'd get far enough." He murmured, using his bitten down nails to scratch at his scalp. It felt so good to do as it loosened dirt and such from his hair. He spent a good while tending to it, rinsing it multiple times untile he was satisfied. No doubt he had tangles now but a comb through would easily fix that.

He didn't comment on Xue Yang trailing off. If the man wanted to speak his mind then he would do so. It seemed they'd both had a bit of a hard time these days.

".. Do you have any clean robes by chance..?" He called out, squeezing the water from his hair and finally lifting his head. He'd scrubbed his skin thoroughly. Though if he stood bare directly in front of Xue Yang then surely that would be a bit awkward.

Hearing Xue Yang return with more water, Mo Xuanyu lifted his head to greet him with a little smile. He had very little shame at this point as he’d been humiliated so many times throughout the years back home but less so because he knew Xue Yang wouldn’t stare or make fun of him. Though the touch to his back was a bit startling and he had to remember the state of his body.

Xue Yang was concerned. Of course he was. Mo Xuanyu had never been beaten so badly in Jinlin Tai by the other disciples like this. Just a few black eyes and scratches.

Gently he took his friend’s hand into his own to silently tell him that he was okay. “.. In Mo Village. Couple li away from Yunmeng and many li away from here. I don’t know how long I traveled.” He admitted. Then he looked toward the buckets of water with interest. He’d use those to rinse his hair when he was finished, he decided.

“Not even the servants are nice. The townspeople pitied me but no one interferes with family matters. They look on and gossip but do nothing.” He sighed.

Xue Yang allowed Mo Xuanyu to take his hand as he thought on what to do. He’d never traveled too far away from here, a few towns over at most for sales, but he couldn’t just let this slide. He couldn’t let these people get away with what they’d done. Him getting battered and bruised, well, that was one thing. 

Mo Xuanyu, though? He’d never known him to do anything that would warrant a beating. Even with what they got up to in those golden halls, he’d always been the one to do the heavy lifting in terms of anything genuinely immoral. Mo Xuanyu was a meek, frightened little mama’s boy who had been taken in as a threat to his half-brother. He wasn’t a snake like the rest of them; he was genuinely curious about demonic cultivation, in large part due to his own powerlessness.

How had things ended up this way?

"Thanks.. but whatever you plan to do, I would like a part in. It was me they hurt, so I want to see them suffer, too." As Mo Xuanyu spoke he spotted the old rag hanging on the edge of the tub and reached for it.

Layers of dirt clung to his skin and he wanted to start working to get rid of it. To feel refreshed and clean for once instead of just having water dumped on him. He could snuggle up to warm by the fire later.

“Persimmons..” He murmured. Those were so sweet. Mo Xuanyu noted to go for one after his bath.

The cup was placed down on the table as he stood, making his way over to the partly filled tub. It looked warm. Mo Xuanyu seemed to have little shame left as he was quick to disrobe and step in even as Xue Yang went to fetch more water. He was in desperate need of this bath so who could blame him?

The hot water soaked into his bones, relieving some of the tension within them and his bruises. Bringing his knees to his chest after letting his hair down, he rested his cheek against his knees and shut his eyes. This was nice. Especially while still waking up. He could fall asleep like this before he could scrub down but he needed food, too.

It was best not to fall asleep in the tub afterall.

Rushing back inside, Xue Yang was surprised to find that Mo Xuanyu was already in the bath! He hadn’t even gotten him the rag he used to clean himself with… 

Bringing the buckets over to rest beside the tub, he decided pouring cold water into it would be a bad and unnecessary move. If Mo Xuanyu was happy with this amount, then he was too.

He stood up to retrieve the misplaced rag, but paused when he finally got a good look at the state his friend’s body was in. He really didn’t mean to stare, nor did he want to make Mo Xuanyu feel bad by pointing them out, but the white hot rage he felt surge through him made him drop down to the ground again, his hand (gloved, curiously) now resting against his friend’s back, in an area hopefully not beaten or bruised.

“Where did you say these people lived again?” He asked quietly.

Xue Yang was concerned. Of course he was. Mo Xuanyu had never been beaten so badly in Jinlin Tai by the other disciples like this. Just a few black eyes and scratches.

Gently he took his friend's hand into his own to silently tell him that he was okay. ".. In Mo Village. Couple li away from Yunmeng and many li away from here. I don't know how long I traveled." He admitted. Then he looked toward the buckets of water with interest. He'd use those to rinse his hair when he was finished, he decided.

Xue Yang was always so… nice to him. If he hadn’t known about all of his misdeeds he would’ve thought the man a saint. But he personally knew it was because they were friends. If Mo Xuanyu were a stranger then Xue Yang wouldn’t give a damn about him. But as of now, after everything, they were friends and Xue Yang truely treated his friends well. Morals or not.

Mo Xuanyu thanked Xue Yang with a light smile for helping him so much. Slowly he slid off the bed reluctantly due to his protesting body but managed to stand just fine. Taking steps was a little hard but he quickly got used to it again.

Water certainly motivated him. When he got to it he wasted no time in treating himself. The water was cold and refreshing. Thankfully his stomach wasn’t entirely empty so it didn’t feel odd. More satisfying than anything.

The cold within the coffin home didn’t bother him much but he did place a few more logs and sticks into the fire to get it going again. The warmth was incredible that he sat huddled next to it with a cup of water while waiting for Xue Yang to get things set up. He was still overwhelmed by the fact he was safe here. No one would harm him..

His eyes got a little misty.

Carting the water back indoors, Xue Yang made quick work of carrying it over to the tub, a small thing propped up against the wall. He didn’t have a screen for it, and figured he’d better set it up in the warmest part of the building, despite the space only having a grand total of three rooms. He could always sit in his room if Mo Xuanyu had a problem with being seen naked.

He smiled slightly at the sight of him drinking, gesturing lazily to the stove as he pulled the tub down and began to fill it, warming the water as he went. He had a rag around here somewhere, right? Fuck, he hoped it was clean.

“There’s leftovers if you need ‘em. Sorry it isn’t anything more exciting,” he spoke, though it was tricky to tell if he was being serious or not. He figured Mo Xuanyu would’ve been fine with any food he got. “I have fruit, too. Apples and a persimmon that needs to be eaten before it rots into the wood.”

He pointed up towards the space where the fruits were stacked. He burnt through them pretty quickly in the absence of candy.

The cup was placed down on the table as he stood, making his way over to the partly filled tub. It looked warm. Mo Xuanyu seemed to have little shame left as he was quick to disrobe and step in even as Xue Yang went to fetch more water. He was in desperate need of this bath so who could blame him?

The hot water soaked into his bones, relieving some of the tension within them and his bruises. Bringing his knees to his chest after letting his hair down, he rested his cheek against his knees and shut his eyes. This was nice. Especially while still waking up. He could fall asleep like this before he could scrub down but he needed food, too.

Of course Xue Yang noticed his pain, it had been obvious for anyone to see. Especially considering Xue Yang knew a little of what Mo Xuanyu’s family did to him often. If he could even call them family to begin with. He would’ve preferred being an orphan kicked out of the Mo Estate after everything but as it stands that hadn’t been the case. No matter though because he was safe here.

Even if Xue Yang did tease him for needing a bath. Making a light face at the joke he grunted in approval for a bath. He knew very well he probably smelled a bit of earth and grime. Possibly iron from dried blood from weeks ago. He hadn’t had a chance to bathe. Not very often. And when he had back at that sorry excuse for a home he was humiliated by being forced to bathe in the courtyard where the servants and head of the house, his Aunt and Uncle, could see..

It wasn’t something he liked to think about. But he was surprised Xue Yang had slept next to him despite this.

“Please..” He croaked, throat parched. He licked his dry from sleep lips and reluctantly let his body stretch a little more before sitting up. Damn, even his lower back hurt…

There was no way Xue Yang wouldn’t have slept beside Mo Xuanyu, even if he’d smelled of… Well, alright, had he smelled that badly he would’ve maybe insisted on a bath first, but the truth is he didn’t care that much. He only cared that he had him near again. 

Holding a hand to his back to support him as he sat up, Xue Yang slid off the bed and gave Mo Xuanyu a little nod. 

Mo Xuanyu thanked Xue Yang with a light smile for helping him so much. Slowly he slid off the bed reluctantly due to his protesting body but managed to stand just fine. Taking steps was a little hard but he quickly got used to it again.

Water certainly motivated him. When he got to it he wasted no time in treating himself. The water was cold and refreshing. Thankfully his stomach wasn't entirely empty so it didn't feel odd. More satifying than anything.

The cold within the coffin home didn't bother him much but he did place a few more logs and sticks into the fire to get it going again. The warmth was incredible that he sat huddled next to it with a cup of water while waiting for Xue Yang to get things set up. He was still overwhelmed by the fact he was safe here. No one would harm him..

There was definitely no need to tell Mo Xuanyu twice. With the fire now going and Xue Yang pressed against him, he curled up against the other body some more as he drifted back off. A hand had loosely gripped itself in Xue Yang’s robes as if he were frightened he would wake up and the man would be gone. Especially in a cold foggy place like this.

It almost felt like limbo here due to how eerie everything was. But he wouldn’t mind doing his fair share of helping Xue Yang clean the place up and stock their necessities. Once he’d gotten enough rest though, that is.

It took some hours for Mo Xuanyu to properly wake up anyhow. And when he did, his body creaked and protested in aches and pain as he moved to stretch. It all hurt so much. How had he been walking a day prior to this?

An involuntary whine passed his lips the moment he rolled over onto his back. The bruises felt stiff and the cuts ached. However he didn’t feel his usual pain of hunger eating away at his stomach. This was a plus though he was definitely still hungry.

Xue Yang sat up almost instantly at the feeling of Mo Xuanyu moving. He looked down at him and ghosted a hand over his body, figuring he was probably littered in injuries he hadn’t been able to properly treat.

He wasn’t a professional at healing; he would never be able to pay forward the kindness shown to him by one who used to reside in this very room, but at the very least he could attempt to patch him up.

A bath would be a good start. It shouldn’t be too hard to get the water to keep warm if he kept all the windows shut and kept an eye on the fire. 

After Mo Xuanyu had a soak, he’d see about helping him out further. 

What an odd feeling, to want to help someone so much. To have this impulse to nurture. He couldn’t just leave him in pain, though, not after everything.

Even if Xue Yang did tease him for needing a bath. Making a light face at the joke he grunted in approval for a bath. He knew very well he probably smelled a bit of earth and grime. Possibly iron from dried blood from weeks ago. He hadn't had a chance to bathe. Not very often. And when he had back at that sorry excuse for a home he was humiliated by being forced to bathe in the courtyard where the servants and head of the house, his Aunt and Uncle, could see..

It wasn't something he liked to think about. But he was surprised Xue Yang had slept next to him despite this.

even as the seasons change, you will still be in my heart.

indie mdzs/cql oc. willing to interact with just about anyone~

Xue Yang moving around was hardly registered. It had been so long since he had slept this well and so deeply, too. It reminded him of when they’d take naps together to catch some rest after all they’d done throughout each day in Lanling. His hand had been loosely curled into Xue Yang’s robe but it hadn’t been strong enough to keep him from going and lighting the fire.

Besides, now coupled with the warmth of the flames washing over the cool room gently, he had curled right back around Xue Yang the moment he laid next to him again. He was extremely clingy to the one person who hadn’t ever hurt him.

Never on purpose, at least.

“Mm..” Mo Xuanyu leaned into his touch. It was so gentle that it did wake him up a little. Only enough for him to open his eyes a few times to recognize Xue Yang. Then he smiled and burrowed back into the man, arms wrapping around him.

He felt so happy to be safe here and to have his friend again. Even if the circumstances were strange.

Mo Xuanyu was real, alright, and he was just as happy to see him as the day before. Xue Yang was happy for that at least. He pulled back his hand and flopped down dramatically, allowing himself to rest in his friend’s embrace.

“Rest,” he commanded gently, as if Mo Xuanyu needed to be told. It didn’t seem like he was going to get up any time soon, and that was fine with Xue Yang.

He wanted to keep sleeping, away from tortuous memories or hollow dreams. Having Mo Xuanyu here beside him helped that, soothing his mind and easing his body until his muscles could relax.

They could worry about eating and all that shit later. Maybe Mo Xuanyu could help him hunt, who knows. Maybe he’d find a way to dispel this fog once and for all. 

It almost felt like limbo here due to how eerie everything was. But he wouldn't mind doing hiis fair share of helping Xue Yang clean the place up and stock their necessities. Once he'd gotten enough rest though, that is.

It took some hours for Mo Xuanyu to properly wake up anyhow. And when he did, his body creaked and protested in aches and pain as he moved to stretch. It all hurt so much. How had he been walking a day prior to this?

Mo Xuanyu was, deep down, delighted to have found Xue Yang again. Someone familiar and comfortable. Who wouldn’t hurt but only light heartedly tease and laugh at him. Though this Xue Yang seemed more… somber? Was that the right word? He didn’t know as he wasn’t really thinking about it.

He was finally getting some much needed rest so his mind was shutting down fully with no room for conscious thought. His limbs tangled with Xue Yang’s as he pressed closer for warmth. It left his back cold but he didn’t care. It was far warmer and more comfortable than that shed.

He did, admittedly, miss his dear donkey. She disliked most aside from him but there was no way he was going back for risk of being hurt. The only way he would return was to act out on his revenge toward the rest of the Mo Family. The way they took advantage of him, beat him, starved him. Humiliated him on top of the Jin Sect rumors. It sat bitterly in his stomach, making it feel rotten.

But right now, he felt warm. Content and dead to the world for a full nights of rest. And since there was little sun through the fog here it took some time for him to wake up.

Xue Yang wasn’t all that surprised to find that he still slept best when next to Mo Xuanyu. That had been his trick for catching sleep back in Jinlintai; since the opulence of the room was something he had trouble getting used to, and always felt like his throat was going to be slit as he slumbered, he’d taken to sleeping on the roof or in a quiet patch of grass up until he and his unique little friend had accidentally shared a bed.

He hadn’t gone back to sleeping alone for the duration of his stay, incarceration aside.

When he woke up, he felt groggy from the depth of his sleep. His hair was sticking up more than usual and his eyes were struggling to stay open. However, the fact he was in a bed, with Mo Xuanyu beside him, was enough to startle him into alertness. 

It lasted merely a moment, though, and he was soon gently attempting to untangle himself from his friend in order to light them a fire. Mo Xuanyu looked sickly still and warmth would do him good.

It didn’t take him long, though he disdainfully realized he was running low on firewood in addition to being out of meat. He’d deal with it later… Right now he wanted to go back to bed.

He was silent as the grave and light as a feather as he slipped back into his spot by Mo Xuanyu’s side and lay down beside him. Even though he was sleeping soundly, he still looked so worn, his skin a sickly color and the bags under his eyes heavy and sunken. Xue Yang knew he himself probably looked no better.

Besides, now coupled with the warmth of the flames washing over the cool room gently, he had curled right back around Xue Yang the moment he laid next to him again. He was extremely clingy to the one person who hadn't ever hurt him.

Never on purpose, at least.

"Mm.." Mo Xuanyu leaned into his touch. It was so gentle that it did wake him up a little. Only enough for him to open his eyes a few times to recognize Xue Yang. Then he smiled and burrowed back into the man, arms wrapping around him.

Unaware Xue Yang had been subconsciously wanting another kiss, Mo Xuanyu was too tuckered out to do anything but rest. The moment his head hit the pillow he was out like a lantern in a gust of strong wind. His body’s fatigue had caught up with him and hard.

With a full stomach and somewhere safe to sleep, who wouldn’t pass out after traveling for days?

Mo Xuanyu clung to Xue Yang, seeking warmth and comfort even as he slept. Xue Yang could easily wiggle away but Mo Xuanyu had his hands tightly curled into his robes subconsciously hoping he wouldn’t. Not for awhile, at least.

It was sort of cold here but he didn’t mind. It was a thousand times warmer than the shed he had been forced to stay in during the cooler months.

Far be it from Xue Yang to disturb Mo Xuanyu’s well needed rest. He didn’t protest as he was clung to, finding that he actually enjoyed the contact and would seek out more of it, if only he found the words (and found it appropriate). He didn’t want to get too used to the idea of companionship, but it was hard not to lapse back into how things were when it seemed his friend was frozen in time.

He’d need to make sense of that eventually. Had the universe splintered in two? Xue Yang would be inclined to believe he was simply sent back in time, were it not for the state of Yi City. Who would allow these splintered universes to merge, though?

Maybe life was simply throwing him a bone and letting him have a friend for once. 

He was finally getting some much needed rest so his mind was shutting down fully with no room for conscious thought. His limbs tangled with Xue Yang's as he pressed closer for warmth. It left his back cold but he didn't care. It was far warmer and more comfortable than that shed.

He did, admittedly, miss his dear donkey. She disliked most aside from him but there was no way he was going back for risk of being hurt. The only way he would return was to act out on his revenge toward the rest of the Mo Family. The way they took advantage of him, beat him, starved him. Humiliated him on top of the Jin Sect rumors. It sat bitterly in his stomach, making it feel rotten.

Mo Xuanyu laughed as he shook his head cluelessly. How was he supposed to know when he’d been timid all his life? Letting other’s boss him around and show him what to do. Not speaking up when he was wronged like when he was escorted out of Lanling Jin. Mo Xuanyu even resented Jin Guangyao to a point for it.

But how was he supposed to do anything? He was useless as a person. And malnourished, beaten, and nearly broken. “I don’t know.” He said and suddenly a pensive frown was pulling at his lips. He leaned up against Xue Yang for a moment.

Then he tilted his head and pecked the other man on the lips. Out of habit maybe. Gratitude. Attraction. All of the above? He didn’t know, he was tired and he didn’t want to think about anything else. But moving away from the warmth of another person was a bit hard.

He managed to in order to lay down as he said, “thank you.” And then he shrugged his shoes off, rolled over, and curled up. He looked as small as a child then. Tired and hanging onto the last threads of hope. Mo Xuanyu thought it a miracle he’d bumped into Xue Yang at all.

It wasn’t long before he fell asleep, his body shutting down nearly immediately when his head hit the pillow.

Xue Yang figured as much. He sighed and placed his head in his hands, already picturing a great, failed disaster as Mo Xuanyu was just laughing beside him. Maybe he should have more faith in him; after all, at least one Mo Xuanyu had successfully resurrected the Yiling Laozu. Still, the one leaning against him didn’t seem to know the ropes of revenge, and his body would now be so weak from all he’d endured that he wouldn’t stand a chance if he attempted anything now.

But how long would he really be willing to wait?

He was about to take the plunge and say that he’d just do it for him, what’s a little more, when he felt Mo Xuanyu’s tired lips against his own. He jerked back only slightly, so unaccustomed now to human touch or company, but slightly leaned in for another as he pulled away.

That was embarrassing. He quickly played this off by supporting Mo Xuanyu’s arm as he lay himself down. He couldn’t just start macking on the poor guy, especially not out of something as pathetic and primitive as touch starvation, yet his lips were tingling and his cheeks felt just a twinge of warmth.

He didn’t bother with ‘it’s nothings’ or ‘you’re welcomes’. He merely mimicked Mo Xuanyu in kicking his boots off, loosened his belt just enough to be comfortable, and lay down beside him as he had for many nights back in Jinlintai. He hadn’t slept in this bed, hadn’t dared since he’d returned, but he would make an exception this time.  

With a full stomach and somewhere safe to sleep, who wouldn't pass out after traveling for days?

Mo Xuanyu clung to Xue Yang, seeking warmth and comfort even as he slept. Xue Yang could easily wiggle away but Mo Xuanyu had his hands tightly curled into his robes subconsciously hoping he wouldn't. Not for awhile, at least.