晓星尘

IT'S ALMOST SHAMEFUL, how easily he lets the words slip from his lips, daring, begging — the shroud of darkness makes whatever distance Xiao Xingchen managed to ensure between them almost palpable. Electric, warm breath brushing against his skin, so close until A-Qing's loud voice interrupted something he couldn't have even imagined before. But he could've relented. Could've pulled away, pretended it was nothing, an accident, a blind man is easy to forgive for standing too close, for yearning for someone's touch a little too much. He chooses to be a coward. He wouldn't be able to save face if they ever talked about it again — at least this way, his regret would be a sweet one.

The first brushing of lips tastes like warm caramel, and it's sweet indeed, it's sweet enough to unravel the tension that's been building up between them for weeks, gentle enough to leave him breathless. But the other doesn't relent either — a thief without a name who isn't stealing his first kiss because he asked for it, but it might be too late to try and give anything in this room a name. Lips part again, less awkward than expected, he can feel the warmth of a smile too close to his own... ❝ I like the sound of your voice, ❞ he exhales at last. Fingers trail slowly towards the other man's cheek, feeling their way up his neck — heated skin and raw, rushing pulse. He isn't leaving, he isn't running away. All Xiao Xingchen can do is offer his warm beating heart upon the palm of his hand.

NOTHING BUT A FRACTURE OF A MOMENT that lasted too long — he couldn't possibly explain the desire to know, something so simple, so unreachable to him. Beyond the thin white veil that covers his eyes, his companion must be silently mocking him. A-Qing indulged his curiosity with ease, beaming as fingers danced carefully around her gentle features ( 'daozhang is so pretty', she teased then, entrusted to a similar luxury; the blind leading the blind ). It's not too difficult to empathize with the staggering halt, and he is almost ready to step back when warm fingers wrap around his wrist — and Xiao Xingchen is more than grateful for the guidance, and the lenience.