slicings: (67)
ʙʟᴀᴅᴇ ([personal profile] slicings) wrote2025-05-03 11:45 pm

band au;

[ yingxing exhales hard.

his ears still ring with the music, his blood thrumming with excitement. for all the years that highcloud has been together now, he never really tires of this work. he loves what he does, loves his bandmates no matter how often they butt heads, loves everything about their music. it's hard work, exhausting even at the best of times, and there are certainly many downsides to fame and celebrity status, but this.. playing together, making music, performing, he's passionate about it. the riches and fame are secondary to doing what he loves.

they're halfway through their rehearsal now, splitting up to take a break and rehydrate, and it's as he's guzzling down some water from a bottle that yingxing spots dan heng, dan feng's quiet, elusive little brother.

they've met before, but only briefly, only in passing. while dan heng is supportive of his brother and the band, he's a bit of a recluse, and he's never really gone out of his way to interact with any of them beyond dan feng - so what's he doing here right now? yingxing can't resist the urge to pester him, not when he knows he might not get the chance to again for some time now.

so, wiping sweat from his brow, yingxing wanders toward the table where dan heng has set up shop, surrounded by books and papers, lit by the glow of his laptop and tablet. ]


Long time no see.

[ entirely uninvited, yingxing pulls up a seat across from dan heng, straddling it backwards, leaning his forearms on the back of the steel chair. his hair is wild and his skin is flushed and dewy with sweat, adrenaline still pumping, his grin broad and easy. ]

Surprised you can concentrate with all this noise.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 05)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-07 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's a comment that earns Yingxing a soft laugh, amused as it is embarrassed, something fond in those glowing eyes just before they close under that touch, the feeling of that thumb smoothing over his lips and to his chin, the mess he's made of not just himself, but the older man too. ]

We'll need another shower, [ he responds in the same tone as his laughter, shaking his head as his eyes open again. Part of him feels as if he should apologize, but... well, he gets the feeling Yingxing enjoyed himself, and that makes it all worth it.

What he can say, though, is... ]


I'll try to make less of a mess next time.

[ And he will. He'll practice, if that's what it takes... ]
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 13)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's one timer internally set for two minutes that, during the next five days, becomes many, the two of them entangling themselves in one another over and over again—so much so, in fact, that Dan Heng is almost disappointed the first time he wakes up feeling finally free of his heat, the cloying fever and gnawing need entirely absent for the first time in a week.

There's a part of him that almost doesn't want to tell Yingxing. Now that he's back to himself, the logic of their situation settles on him as cold as ice. Who Yingxing is, who he is, their age difference... just a few barriers among many...

But he's nothing if not honest. It's with a soft sigh that he nudges the other awake, a soft kiss pressed to the underside of his chin. ]


It's over, [ he says, voice soft, once he feels Yingxing stir. ]
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 18)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Is he feeling better? It would be so easy for Dan Heng to throw up all his usual walls, to tell Yingxing that he's fine now.

But after the week they've spent together, the other man deserves more from him, doesn't he? And if Dan Heng is honest... ]


Yes. Physically, at least. But I have to admit I'm a little disappointed, too.

[ It's a bold swing, but an honest one, and that's what's most important as far as he's concerned. Maybe it's selfish, but all that cold logic aside, he knows that he doesn't want this to just end, so... ]

Everything that happened this past week, I've wanted it all for a long time. I was just too much of a coward to say anything before I had no other choice in the matter. First, you were my brother's friend, and then mine, and... I did not want to put that friendship at risk.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 17)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Dan Heng's head tilts in surprise. And here he'd thought that was his line, that Yingxing might be the one who wanted to back off, that his words were said only out of kindness in the middle of the younger's heat. And yet...

Yingxing's nose nudges against his, and Dan Heng turns his head slightly, catching the other's mouth in a brief, soft kiss. ]


I haven't changed my mind, [ he responds, and his voice is quiet, but as serious as it's ever been. His eyes open, glowing teal peering into soft lavender. ] I like you a lot, Yingxing. So it doesn't matter how complicated any of this is.

[ Idly, his fingers smooth down over the other's chest, skating over firm muscle. ]
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 03)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ His head tilts at that, something like confusion coming into his eyes as he looks up at him—and as Yingxing curls his arm under his head, Dan Heng notices not for the first time—but processes for the first time—the scars that litter the skin, and he frowns, because now he has two questions...

His hand lifts from the older man's chest, fingers tracing lightly over those scars instead, a reminder for when they're done with this conversation. ]


You don't seem like a creep. Why would you? I'm the one who came here.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 21)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 08:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's quick to shake his head. ]

Responsible, maybe. But it also would have been cruel. Besides... it's become clear to me that I did a terrible job at hiding my interest before. Maybe in the moment I couldn't consent properly, but...

[ He frowns, a slight heat to his cheeks—but sincerity in his gaze as he looks up at the other quietly. ]

At least in my mind, my consent was always clear, and I think you knew that too. Even then, you asked questions and sought as much of it as you could. So... if you're worried about that, you don't have to be.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 18)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 08:31 am (UTC)(link)
I don't regret it either.

[ There's a soft insistence in his voice, a stubbornness borne perhaps of the fact that he can still see some hesitance in Yingxing's acceptance of what has happened. Sure, maybe things didn't go perfectly, but when do things go perfectly? Maybe he's biased, but it all worked out for the best anyway, so...

He presses another small kiss to the corner of the older man's mouth—and then pulls back just slightly, looking down to where his fingers are still tracing over old scars. ]


Yingxing... Will you tell me about these?

[ Scars are rarely from anything good, so he might be asking a lot, but... ]
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 04)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-08 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ For a moment, he thinks to stop, to tell the other man he doesn't have to share if he doesn't want. But Yingxing continues before Dan Heng can stop him, pointing out marks first that are distinct from the others, likely at a glance left by cigarettes. His brows furrow—it's no secret to anyone that Blade doesn't talk about his family, but this...

Before he can say anything, though, the other continues to talk, frowning as he explains the truth of the scar. Dan Heng feels his heart break for him. Just as human as anyone else, he's made mistakes—and how could he not, when he's lived so much pain?—and yet there's something on the other man's face that almost reads like... is it guilt? Shame? He can't tell, but...

He looks at him in silence for a moment before he leans forward, a soft brush of his lips against the scars. He says nothing—there's nothing to say, not from someone who can't even begin to comprehend the whole of what he's been through. But at the very least, he can offer acceptance and comfort. ]
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 17)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-09 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Dan Heng shakes his head for a brief moment before he sighs and leans his head into the soft kiss pressed against his skin. ]

Just because it was a long time ago didn't mean it wasn't terrible. [ No doubt the other will hear the genuine sincerity in his tone as he looks up at him with a thoughtful, quiet expression. ]

I don't really know what else to say, but I want... I want to make sure you know I'm not judging you. I'm just sorry for the things you went through that drove you that far. And... and I'm proud of you for fighting back and coming as far as you have.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 04)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-09 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ Dan Heng smiles back, his expression gentle and quiet, patience written all over him as he just watches and waits... the things he said weren't just said, he means them, and stubborn as he is, he wants Yingxing to listen, for the truth of them to settle on his heart. ]

You don't have to say anything, [ he responds quietly, and he presses another kiss against his skin before curling into him and just breathing, letting himself relax for the first time in the better part of a week. What Yingxing came from... it doesn't matter to him.

The only thing that matters that they're here now, like this.

...And like this they stay for a little while, curled up and just enjoying one another until with a soft, reluctant sigh, Dan Heng stretches, looks up at Yingxing. ]


As much as I've enjoyed the last week... I probably need to think about heading back home. Everything's probably a complete mess.
Edited 2025-06-09 11:25 (UTC)
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 14)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-09 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ He finds a smile creeping onto his lips. ]

Mm... going home will be strange, too. [ If he were Stelle, he might make some silly comment about being without his personal chef. A way to separate himself from it a little, to make it easier. But while he can be awkward with his feelings at times, he still wants to be honest, and so he doesn't do that. Instead, he takes the other's hand, and squeezes it. ] I'll miss you, but.. yeah, I do. I know you do, too.

[ Those skipped practices didn't go unnoticed, after all. ]

Besides, we can..

[ A pause. Ugh. How does he say this? ]

I'd like to see you again soon, though. If that's okay.
nonperson: (ᴅʜɪʟ: 16)

[personal profile] nonperson 2025-06-10 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ He laughs, eyes closing and forehead bumping back up against the other man's in response, a soft smile on his lips. He's content like this, and he really would stay if he could...

He sighs, and tightens his grip on the other man's hands for just a moment. ]


Good. Because I meant it too. So... we'll figure it out from here.

[ Ugh. He's stalling. It's obvious he's stalling. He doesn't want to go home, even though he needs to. Study catch-up aside, he's pretty confident he left a sweaty pile of clothes on the floor... ]

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