The Fall

Si Jinyan's probing fishtail stiffened at once. His gaze turned tense as he stared unblinkingly at Chi Li.

Moonlight fell across the smooth eggshell, and the egg in Chi Li's hand reflected a silvery-white sheen.

Chi Li showed little expression, his lowered lashes concealing the emotions in his eyes.

Si Jinyan's heartbeat quickened, yet his breathing slowed unnaturally, as though he feared disturbing the person before him and causing a scene he did not want to see.

Si Jinyan had hoped Chi Li could accept him first. Letting the egg come into contact with Chi Li now would only make their already tangled relationship, still separated by barriers, even more complicated.

Looking at the egg sleeping soundly among Chi Li's clothes in the incubator, Si Jinyan ultimately decided to tuck Eggy into his arms. That way, Eggy could stay close to Chi Li and absorb some pheromones. Before Chi Li woke at dawn, he would put the egg back in the incubator.

However, that plan did not even survive the night.

Before sleeping, to keep the egg from rolling away, his fishtail had wrapped it up tightly. Yet after Si Jinyan fell asleep, his tail loosened around Eggy and habitually curled around the familiar body beside him.

That gave Eggy a chance to move. Free of restraint, Eggy slipped away and began sleepwalking about.

Until Si Jinyan woke and saw the scene before him.

Chi Li tossed the egg in his hand. He heard movement beside him and noticed the slight stiffness in the short section of fishtail pressed against him, but he did not look back and continued toying with the thing in his hand.

Sleep took up most of Eggy's day. Before long, the egg's reactions gradually slowed. As it fell from the air, its tiny body wobbled