Together

Fan Jin turned to find him staring with wet, glistening eyes. Suddenly, he couldn't tell whether Shan Ye was drunk at all.

"Come on, let's go home." He helped Shan Ye up.

Only then did Shan Ye realize he was downstairs at Fan Jin's place.

"I can walk by myself. I'm fine." He took Fan Jin's hand on his own and felt his way upstairs, one step at a time.

The stairwell in Fan Jin's building was dim, and Shan Ye nearly stumbled with every step. Fortunately, Fan Jin kept his other hand at his waist to support him.

As soon as the door opened, Shan Ye pressed against him, wrapping his arms around Fan Jin's waist and refusing to move.

"Fan Jin..." His voice was almost coaxing, not at all like something he'd only say because he was drunk. "You're so warm."

Fan Jin held his waist too, keeping his voice restrained. "Stand properly."

"...No. I just want to hold you."

Helpless, Fan Jin slowly guided him toward the bedroom.

Shan Ye sat on Fan Jin's bed, still refusing to let go.

"Let go."

"No..."

"You reek of alcohol," Fan Jin said.

Shan Ye seemed to snap awake. He sniffed himself and realized how strongly he smelled of alcohol.

He sprang to his feet. "I'm going to take a shower."

With that, he headed for the bathroom without looking back. The moment he went inside, he started stripping, pulling his shirt off in one motion.

Fan Jin couldn't stop him in time. "Wait a second..."

Shan Ye had already moved on to his pants. Seeing that he was about to pull them down, Fan Jin turned away. "...Then be careful. Call me if you need anything."

His ears bright red, he stepped outside and pulled the door closed for him.

Fan Jin returned to the bedroom to find him a change of clothes. He picked out a pair of underwear he'd never worn, along with an athletic T-shirt and shorts.

Once the sound of running water stopped, he knocked on the door. "Shan Ye."

There was no response from inside.

"...Fan Jin, my clothes got wet." A soft voice came from inside.

He did that on purpose.

Fan Jin opened the door a crack. "These are clean. Put them on."

"There are toiletries in the second drawer on your left. Help yourself."

Shan Ye obediently murmured, "Okay."

Soon, Shan Ye came out. He looked around but couldn't find him.

At last, he found Fan Jin smoking on the bedroom balcony.

He walked over and wrapped his arms around Fan Jin's waist from behind. "I don't smell like alcohol anymore. Can I hold you now?" His voice was soft and clingy.

Fan Jin's fingers paused. He stubbed his cigarette out against the railing, then turned to look at Shan Ye.

They gazed at each other for a long time before Shan Ye asked, "...Fan Jin, have you ever kissed anyone?"

Fan Jin stared into Shan Ye's eyes. "No."

"Want to try?" Shan Ye's lips parted slightly.

As soon as he said it, Shan Ye felt cool lips press against his own.

Fan Jin kissed him.

Then he pulled back and looked at Shan Ye. "Yu Chuan said he wants to pursue you."

Shan Ye tilted his head up and kissed him again. "Are you going to give him that chance?"

"...I can't."

The words had barely left his mouth when Shan Ye felt a pair of hands clamp tightly around his waist. Before he could react, the balcony's glass door banged, and he was pushed down onto Fan Jin's bed.

Their lips pressed together, their tongues entwining. Kissing was unfamiliar to both of them.

Especially Fan Jin, who didn't know the first thing about being gentle. All he wanted was to suck hard on Shan Ye's lips and conquer every inch of his mouth.

Shan Ye wrapped his arms around his neck and pressed a hand against the back of his head, deepening the kiss.

His mouth was filled with Fan Jin's taste. He'd just smoked, and there was a minty flavor, almost cool.

They kissed for a long while before pulling apart. Fan Jin's eyes were reddened, his voice hoarse. "Shan Ye..."

"Let me be your boyfriend... okay?"

Shan Ye froze for a moment, then kissed him, mumbling against his lips, "There's nothing I want more..."

Their lips, barely parted, met again.

Fan Jin had spent a long time thinking these past few days. He knew he'd liked Shan Ye for ages, but he'd never dared admit it. When it came to love, he wasn't as bold or as willing to take the initiative as Shan Ye.

It was Shan Ye's affection that taught him how to face his own feelings and follow his heart.

Fan Jin pinned him beneath him and sucked on his lips.

After kissing for a long time, Shan Ye was getting short of breath. He pushed Fan Jin away, his eyes slightly unfocused. "Fan Jin... why am I dizzy?"

Had he been kissed dizzy?

"It's probably because you drank." Fan Jin's voice was low. He lifted himself off Shan Ye and stroked his face. "Go to sleep."

Shan Ye tugged on Fan Jin's hand. "Sleep with me." His voice was almost pleading.

Helpless, Fan Jin let himself be pulled under the covers.

Fan Jin held out an arm for him to use as a pillow. As soon as Shan Ye got under the covers, he pressed close, clinging to him like a sloth.

"Are we... sleeping like this?" Fan Jin didn't understand.

Shan Ye blinked. "You're my boyfriend. How else would we sleep if we don't cuddle?"

"Can you fall asleep like this?"

Shan Ye looked at their position. It did seem a little too intimate. They'd only just gotten together, and they were already sleeping in each other's arms-a huge leap forward.

But he'd finally gotten Fan Jin to say it, and he didn't want to let go.

"I just want to hold you." Instead of letting go, Shan Ye burrowed deeper into his arms.

Fan Jin let him cling to him, held so tightly he couldn't move. Shan Ye was wrapped around him like an octopus, a leg draped over his body and his face buried in the crook of his neck, his gentle breaths brushing Fan Jin's collarbone.

There was no way he could feel nothing. Fan Jin had gone without for so many years, and even now that he had Shan Ye, he still had to hold himself back.

He closed his eyes, trying to slow his heartbeat.

"Fan Jin, your heart's beating so fast," Shan Ye suddenly said. "I can hear it."

"...Are you testing my willpower?"

After so many years in the military, his willpower was certainly strong. But Shan Ye seemed determined to tempt fate and even started feeling his abs.

Fan Jin caught his hand beneath the covers. "...What are you doing?" He turned his head to look at Shan Ye.

Shan Ye saw how tightly his jaw was set. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his ears were flushed crimson.

"Exercising my rights as your boyfriend," Shan Ye declared righteously.

Fan Jin frowned. "Your idea of exercising your rights is groping me?"

Hearing it put so bluntly made Shan Ye a little embarrassed. He smiled and asked, "Are you nervous?"

"..."

Fan Jin pried his hand off his shirt and tucked it under the covers, then rolled over with his back to him. "If you keep touching me, I'll have to sleep outside."

Shan Ye immediately backed down. "No, no, no. I'll stop."

Fan Jin couldn't handle being teased. He really shouldn't come on so strong right away.

Shan Ye looked at his back: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, his spine held rigidly straight, his breathing not quite steady.

He edged closer to Fan Jin, pressing against his back and wrapping an arm around his waist.

Fan Jin's body stiffened again.

"We'll sleep like this." Shan Ye's voice was soft against his back. "I won't move anymore."

Fan Jin said nothing, but he didn't push him away either.