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The heavy pressure of ocean water yielded underneath his powerful maneuver, scales cutting through the waters with quick efficiency. Darkness was all he'd ever known, the embrace of the twilight depths of the ocean was his only home, light was a mere guilty pleasure that he partook in when the murk of the sea provided no comfort in his ancient existence.
Fish scattered as he came into view with a single dart, the light scattered above the surface of the roiling tides. The waters stirred as he broke through, waves as huge as huts disturbing its very own reflective surface.
What a pretty sight, he mused, soaking in the sun on his midnight blue scales and his wet mane.
Today, he was going out to indulge himself in seeing the surface world. The Deep Abyss had already been monitored. It was time that he also surveyed the above. Possibly for potential rogue dragons that may run rampant.
The first time he'd seen another of his kind, he was flying across the skies, soaking in the wind that harshly whipped against his skin, dark clouds partially obscuring his body. Light easily penetrated this very denseness of the clouds, but the scent of incoming storms were most prominent in the smell of ozone and distant thunder.
A noise had caught his attention as he slowly made his descent to find shelter from the upcoming bad weather. So, Shen Wei looked down, caught by a fascinating sight on the bottom of a hanging cliff where grass and flowers scattered in their beds. It was of two long serpentine bodies, chasing each other, one black blur swiping at the larger, green one who tried to swerve and jolt away.
Another dragon, Shen Wei thought to himself.
Normally he'd go on ignoring others of his kind. He had done so in the past, it was not like he couldn't do it all over again; but the green dragon, with plumes of colorful feathers and a messy but chaotically organized mane, was holding down the fluffy and smaller coiled body of the other dragon underneath his talons, not even enough to force the black dragon into submission, just... Holding the squirming body down like it was a little kit.
Snapping and hissing from the black dragon was met with a small scolding rumble from the green one. Belatedly, Shen Wei realized that he had landed up top on the cliff, watching their interaction like some sort of... Whatever did humans call it? Ah yes, voyeur of sorts.
“You didn't bring me any fish!” the black dragon whined. “Do you think I'd survive the next day without fish?! How dare you, Zhao Yunlan!”
“Yes, yes, whatever, you fat lizard. We'll get your fish.” The green dragon— Zhao Yunlan— said with a small rumble.
“You're so embarrassing! Here I thought you were one of the smartest and most powerful dragons in the realm, and you can't even remember to bring me a fish? Me, the king of black dragons?!”
Shen Wei blinked at the claim. That was rather straightforward. Black dragons were rare but to declare themselves as king? Shen Wei didn't know what to make of that audacity.
This dragon is not an Abyss Dragon, Shen Wei observed the fluffy and silken black serpentine creature. He must be from the Sky Dragons then.
“Aiyah! Damn fatty! I'll get your fish!”
Shen Wei's fins flexed, his tail curling and uncurling like an interested cat. His claws gently dug on the earth as he slowly stalked closer, to hear more of that voice that had spoken just now. It reminded him of the smooth stones that usually slid underwater, of rivers running gently down the plains, and of mountains that yielded to no one.
His claw accidentally kicked a rock to the edge of the cliff. He froze, watching as the two beasts that he had been observing turned to whatever the sound was. Zhao Yunlan's eyes traveled up and up, feathers on his tail flexing and his whiskers twitching. The bright slitted golden eyes were on him, staring straight into his soul.
Or what was left of it. If he had any.
Shen Wei didn't stay there, having had his fill and his presence unwelcomed. He took off into the air, his long body sailing like a bird that had been disturbed in its languid rest.
Shen Wei was basking underneath the sun on top of huge boulders near the sea cliffs, when that green dragon from before managed to find him.
He'd just been soaking the warmth while it lasted when the sound of air being cut reached his ears. Shen Wei raised his head, his growl cut off early when Zhao Yunlan appeared in his sights, landing on his fore and hindlegs gracefully, tail feathers fanning and flexing. The golden eyes of the other dragon were fixated on him, making Shen Wei stare back, his body curling a little on itself, tense like a spring ready to bounce.
Shen Wei's eyes scanned the messy but smooth looking mane, the half-lion, half-serpent face, the whiskers set near his mouth, and the pearl that sat on the middle of his forehead. He avoided looking at the other's tail. There was no need to go there, lest his thoughts perish and his instincts go haywire?
Zhao Yunlan lowered himself, raising his tail and fanning out his feathers.
Shen Wei tilted his head but copied the movement, his tail fin however, did not fan out. He'd rather die than let his tail do what the other dragon did. It was too atrocious, too coquettish.
Zhao Yunlan straightened up, his chest rumbling. Shen Wei reared back, tail slapping the ground underneath him with a force that could knock two full grown humans off of their feet.
“I haven't seen you around here before,” Zhao Yunlan said with a toothy grin. “a little elusive?”
What is he doing? Shen Wei tilted his head, trying to decipher what the other dragon's intention was, but the feathers that remained fanned out and displayed were far too distracting to his brain.
“I am from the sea,” he replied instead. “You shouldn't flaunt your feathers so readily.”
“Oh? Why do you think so?”
“It is inappropriate.”
Zhao Yunlan trilled with laughter, his feathers still spread. The lizard brain didn't even have the self preservation to keep them down, no hint of shame in his every action as he crawled forward and welcomed himself into Shen Wei's space.
“Ah? I'm not flaunting. This is how I am.”
“No dragon readily flaunts their feathers unless they want to deal with the consequences,”
“Well a mix of earth and sky dragons do,” Zhao Yunlan pointed out. “but if I am to be honest, you are... Compelling.”
Shen Wei recoiled back as if he had been stung by the spines of another dragon in a fight; his tail did a funny thing by slapping the ground again, words dying on his tongue.
Zhao Yunlan seemed to take great amusement in his dilemma because he bent back down and grinned, tail rising again and feathers spreading out even further like a peacock flaunting itself for show.
Shen Wei stiffened then bowed swiftly, heat washing over him as he quickly turned and took off into the sky in a flurry of sharp and crisp winds that could cut ordinary human and animal skin.
From the distance, he could hear Zhao Yunlan's surprised trill and whiny noise that called him to come back. Shen Wei ignored the urge to obey it and forced his body to fly even faster through the blackening skies.
Shen Wei should've just evaded Zhao Yunlan ever since their first encounter, he should've just stayed in the sea and never tried to swim up again lest he crossed the other in his endeavors again. He should've just been content with swimming in the seas his whole life, basking in the darkness of the murky abyss.
But Zhao Yunlan... Shen Wei couldn't help but think of him, a deep rumble resonating deep in his chest at the mere thought of the other dragon. His tail flicked back and forth as he walked along the ground filled with greens and trees. It strangely reminded him of the feathery green dragon and Shen Wei could. Not. Stop. Thinking. About. Him.
A deep burning ache resonated in his very soul. A cry so hard to ignore he had to force himself to dig his claws into the dirt and bite down a frustrated roar. Flashes of feathers, of a fanning tail, of the coquettish draconic expression, of the slow blinks. All of that he tried to forget but ultimately failed.
Because he wanted. He wanted so much that it drove him feral. He slapped his tail on the rocks again, huffing out smoke and steam as he tried to compose himself.
Ineffective, seeing as he had to take a dive back into the ocean and disappear for a while, but at least he wasn't doing anything remotely stupid like waxing poetics or building a nest for Zhao Yunlan.
Shen Wei let out a sharp hiss, bashing a rock in with his tail.
Their encounters became more frequent, chancing upon one another in the skies and on the land. More often than not, Shen Wei tried to stay away from Zhao Yunlan, keeping a huge gap around himself that the other dragon couldn't cross.
Unfortunately for him, he had been caught in a scuffle with a troublesome white Abyss dragon underneath the depths of the sea— one that Shen Wei regretted he hadn't killed back when they were still hatchlings. Only a few of his scales had been ripped, something easily fixed and mended within a couple of hours if he put his healing powers to use. He had come up on land to bask in the sun, unsure if it would speed up the process, but wanting the sweet escape and soaking in the sun nonetheless.
Shen Wei let out a soft pleased rumble. This was nice.
“What happened to you?” the voice that haunted his every waking spoke, too close for his comfort.
Shen Wei's tail slapped the ground, his fins springing open as he whipped around with the force of a tornado. There was Zhao Yunlan, staring right back at him, a frown on his draconic face, slitted eyes looking at his torn hind scales. Shen Wei stood up and hid his wound, frowning.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was taking a flight,” Zhao Yunlan replied, craning his neck to try and see his injured side. “and then I saw you so I had to say hello. Now tell me what happened to you?”
“A fight,”
“Over what?”
There was a momentary silence before Shen Wei carefully picked his words. “Just a nuisance that wants a dispute over territory.”
“Really? Why would they do that? You don't look like you go looking for a fight. What a strange wish, to dispute over territory if it's already claimed.”
Shen Wei refused to deign that response with an answer of his own. He had to escape or else he'd do something he would regret. He did not want to do something that would have him wound around Zhao Yunlan's body and taking a huge bite at the nape of his long neck, or worse to mount—
Shen Wei pulled back his inching tail towards the object of his interest with a fast snap, reeling back in shock. His fins flexed and quivered, a low growl escaping his throat. So different from his composed self but so true to what his very nature was. Dark, hungry, and selfish for every drop of attention that came with his draconic instincts when they chose upon a mate.
“Aiyoh, alright, don't tell me,” Zhao Yunlan let out small disapproving clicks that soon turned into salacious purrs. “How about you tell me your name, beautiful? I can't keep calling you Big Beauty in my head forever.”
Shen Wei blinked, tail going rigid and his whole body quivering slightly. He hoped Zhao Yunlan didn't notice, but judging from the other dragon's preening, he might've been unsuccessful in that endeavor. “Why Big Beauty?”
“Well, you're beautiful, that's one of the reasons you deserve the Big Beauty moniker. You are pretty massive and eye-catching, with that black regalia and golden eyes of yours. Any dragon would love to have you as their mate. Second, you're intelligent and cunning, which makes me want to pick your thoughts. Third,” Zhao Yunlan crooned softly, shaking his feathers at Shen Wei in that enticing manner of his. “You are very intriguing and mysterious, so perfect and good. It makes me want.”
Shen Wei felt his whole body fluster, all the muscles in his serpentine body tense and ready to spring up like a trap. Did— Zhao Yunlan just said that. He just said that and—
Said dragon bowed to him and shot up into the sky in a long, spiraling twist. A trill and a shriek echoed in the air as he did a dance composed of rolls, circles, and complicated twisting motions, one with his feathers being stroked in the wind and his eyes, fixed on Shen Wei, boring heat into his soul.
Then Zhao Yunlan took a plunge, falling down from the sky in a graceful twirl and then swerving up again, mean and crisp winds caressing Shen Wei's mane and body with a delightful shiver.
When he looked up, Zhao Yunlan's tail feathers were spread open, a grin so coquettish it would beckon any dragon to him if he wanted.
Shen Wei felt a surge of possessiveness go over him. He wanted. He wanted this dragon so badly. Yet the thought of possessing him and doing something unimaginable to him made shame creep into Shen Wei's darkened heart.
Instead of responding, Shen Wei took off again, away from Zhao Yunlan, ignoring the same cry that tried to beckon him back into the vicinity of the green dragon, one with the most beautiful ruffled feathers that Shen Wei wanted to preen and groom and lick like a loving mate.
Shen Wei should've just stayed in the depths of the sea. He should've just stayed there for all eternity because now that Zhao Yunlan had shown him that dance and his want, he could not. Stop. Following. Him. Around.
It should be scary, Shen Wei tried to reason, it would be scary if it were by human standards. Dragons themselves, if they weren't interested in others pursuing them, would snarl and snap at the unwanted suitor. Yet Shen Wei hadn't done any of that. If anything, he accepted the audacity of the other dragon, open tail feathers and flirtatious behavior, and coy purrs.
“My lord,” Chu Shuzhi, a royal blue and sleek sea dragon who had come out in the open to see the surface world, asked, trailing after Shen Wei. “What is on your mind?”
This particular dragon had been saved by Shen Wei after a rather nasty encounter with that bastard of a white Abyss dragon, who wanted to make Shen Wei's entire existence a living hell hole. Ever since then, Chu Shuzhi had been nothing, if not a devoted follower who vowed to serve Shen Wei. Even more surprising, was that this dragon knew Zhao Yunlan and was a part of his coven of sorts.
“Tell me, Chu Shuzhi,” Shen Wei said as he continued his trek to the upside hills that overlooked the plains. “have you met someone so audacious and so bold that they haunted your every waking thought?”
“I haven't, my lord.” Chu Shuzhi replied. “May I dare ask if you are experiencing such woes?”
“Perhaps,” Shen Wei replied and tilted his head. “return to the dragon coven that you incorporated yourself in, Chu Shuzhi.”
Chu Shuzhi paused and bowed before drifting away and over to the horizon where five other dragons were lounging about on the plains. Or well five, if a white giant serpent could be considered as a dragon, but Shen Wei's eyes weren't on that. No, they stayed on the green dragon who was lounging about lazily on top of a boulder, his long body coiled around it and his head resting on the flat surface of the boulder.
Shen Wei was close enough to cop a look but not enough to be noticed. He admired the way those green scales glimmered in the sun, his mouth not dry perse but watering. He wanted to bite so badly. To claim.
His tail curled around itself, the fins at the tip flexing open and closed as he tried to prevent it from deciding to point itself at Zhao Yunlan's general vicinity.
Zhao Yunlan didn't seem to notice, and perhaps that was for the better, because Shen Wei wouldn't know what to do if he had gotten caught staring at the object of his interest.
I want him. He bared his teeth, a soft throaty noise escaping him as he slinked back into the shadows, thinking of how best he could have Zhao Yunlan and make him his.
The white snake found him skulking around the area. Shen Wei had only been following Zhao Yunlan's trail and flight pattern for a while, watching his every move and gesture in the darkness when the giant serpent noticed him.
“You,” she hissed. Zhu Hong was her name, as far as he had known based on what he had heard from Chu Shuzhi and the occasional clicks of the conversation that he had snagged. “You've been following us for a while. What are your intentions?”
Shen Wei gazed back right at her. Her body was coiled tight like a spring. One wrong move and she would attack him if she dared. Shen Wei knew to pick his battles, he didn't think a youngling like her was worth his savageness and talons. Besides, if he did hurt her, Zhao Yunlan would never forgive him so he'd like to avoid that, thank you very much.
“I am not here to hurt you and your coven,” Shen Wei said.
“With the way you've been following, I'd say you are trying to intimidate us, aren't you? You sure have some metal scales and bones.”
Shen Wei's tail twitched minutely. It was amusing to see the way that the white serpent tried to appear valiantly unaffected. Shen Wei had to commend her bravery and courage for trying to stand up to him. It made his lip twitch slightly, revealing a sharp fang underneath. He did not deign to answer her questions, letting Zhu Hong stew in silence, her glare unfaltering.
The sound of a loud trill momentarily arrested Shen Wei's attention— the next thing he knew, he was caught once more on the distant form of Zhao Yunlan, flying and twisting up in the air with the fluffy black dragon yowling at him like an aggravated cat. Zhao Yunlan was so free, his scales catching the iridescent light of the breaking dewdrops of sunlight it reminded Shen Wei of the diamond glitters on the sea waves. The feathers on Zhao Yunlan's body reminded him of the colorful anemones and corals with equally colorful fishes, teeming with lustrous life.
Shen Wei's tail swayed gently, pointing gently in Zhao Yunlan's direction while resting on the grass.
“You!” Zhu Hong hissed, snapping Shen Wei's attention back to her. She looked aggrieved, her tail rattling and her body coiling tighter. “You followed our coven because of him?”
Shen Wei, having realized what his tail had done, felt a little embarrassed with how obvious his body language could be. However, the interest in his chest kindled into that of a scorching flame, which resulted in a growl: “If you must know, I would never hurt him.”
“You better not!” Zhu Hong hissed. “what can you offer him?!”
Everything.
Shen Wei stared into Zhu Hong's unblinking eyes. The intensity of it made her rear backwards with another mean hiss. Without another word, she slinked away, leaving Shen Wei behind in the dust with the clear rigidity of her slither. A challenge for Zhao Yunlan's affection?
No. She wouldn't succeed. That selfish part of Shen Wei preened. The green dragon had already tried to win his attention. He had gotten it and pursued it further. Shen Wei would return it with his whole life and blood. He would do everything just for Zhao Yunlan, if it meant having him.
But first, he had to check the sea cliffs and the areas around the beach again. He had to keep a closer eye in case some sea dragons might get out of the sea and get entangled with human civilization. After all, an Abyss Dragon guarded the depths to prevent the sea dragons from getting in danger. Shen Wei guessed that Zhao Yunlan’s duty had something to do with guarding the land and sky dragons.
With another glance at the wild and unbridled dance of Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei could only yearn to have himself coiled around that form, never to be separated again.
It wasn't Zhao Yunlan who introduced Da Qing to him. No. If anything, Da Qing found him on his own accord and went up all over his space, sniffing at him like a hungry little kit. Shen Wei had to reel back at the sheer shamelessness of the other dragon but he did not make a noise— this was Zhao Yunlan's probable companion and friend in the coven, he wouldn’t want to cause offense.
“I noticed that you've been trailing after us and looking at Lao Zhao every chance you got,” Da Qing licked at his paw, his tail swishing lazily. “caught your fancy, didn't he? I must tell you, he can be a nuisance!”
Shen Wei was still processing how easily this dragon was opening up to him. “N-Nuisance?”
“That lizard forgets to feed me or leave me fish! This is dragon abuse! He won't even give me scratches or listen to me anymore! I raised him and he dares disrespect me? Me?! The King of the Dragons?!” Da Qing whined like a dramatic child. “The horror! The disgrace and shame! A dragon king shouldn't even beg!”
“Ah..”
Da Qing let out a frustrated growl before he plopped down and grumbled to himself. “The foolish, idiotic wyrm has no self preservation! He doesn't just forget to feed me, he forgets to feed himself too! He's trying to kill himself by starvation!”
Shen Wei's draconic instincts reared itself in alarm. Thoughts ran through his head a mile a minute because not only was this dragon complaining but he was also informing him that Zhao Yunlan had a penchant for starving himself.
Is he trying to die of stomach issues? Shen Wei thought, rigid and tense.
“How many days does he usually go without eating? What does he eat?”
Da Qing looked up at Shen Wei in surprise like he had just sprouted meadows and skies on his head. Probably? No one must've questioned why Zhao Yunlan wasn't eating before, or maybe no one bothered to know the green dragon deeper? Shen Wei desperately wanted to hoard Zhao Yunlan away and feed him.
“You care about him, huh?” Da Qing said.
Shen Wei would've just answered with a bland tone but what came out sounded more sincere than he thought. “I do.”
“Huh, well. He doesn't eat for two weeks straight. If he does, he gorges himself on his hunts and gets stomach cramps and lies in his cave for days,” Da Qing said with narrowed eyes. “If you're planning to feed him, there better be fish!”
Shen Wei ducked his head. He knew where Zhao Yunlan hid himself away, of course. Shen Wei cataloged it and memorized the path where the green dragon went and laid himself to rest for the night. He spent countless nights following them after all. With a huff, Shen Wei's tail swayed a little.
He wanted to desperately feed Zhao Yunlan and show him that he could be a good mate for the other dragon. Who knows what else Zhao Yunlan would eat if he starved himself and went into a hunger fever? Shen Wei couldn't imagine what could happen if Zhao Yunlan collapsed from stomach pains after gorging himself with food. He'd rather not have him hurt, even by his own actions.
“Of course,” he answered. “I will keep that in mind, thank you.”
Da Qing made a gurgling noise. He stood up, raised his chin and said with that proud and deep voice of his. “You better! If you don't treat him right, I will claw your eyes out and scratch every nest that you make!”
“Damn fatty! Where are you?!” Zhao Yunlan's bellowing call echoed through the long and grassy valleys that hid everything in sight. “we've got to get a move on, there's a dragon that needs help!”
Da Qing turned to Shen Wei and said “I have to go,” then he answered the bellow of Zhao Yunlan with one of his own. “I am coming, you lazy hatchling! Don't rush me!”
“Lazy?! You're the one who's lazy, you fishmonger!”
“You take that back! I love my fish! How dare you insult my food?!”
Shen Wei smiled and ducked his head. Zhao Yunlan's head emerged from above one of the hills looking annoyed as Da Qing went to his side. The expression was replaced with a look of surprise and delight when he saw Shen Wei staring right back at him. Unblinking. Unwavering. Intense.
Those beautiful feathers fluffed up.
Shen Wei made a rumbling noise, swayed his tail and then twisted away, flying off to the areas where food would be most abundant in this time of summer. His home, the ocean, sounded like a good start to get something for Zhao Yunlan to eat.
The next few days were filled with satisfaction and delighted possessiveness when Shen Wei gifted Zhao Yunlan with freshly caught fish, game, and wild animals. All of it made his draconic instincts purr and growl as he brought all these hunted gifts to the cave of the subject of his interest.
Of course, he didn't present them in broad daylight for all the coven to see. It was too much of a hassle if everyone saw him offering all this courting gift to Zhao Yunlan, they'd question him and then try to barr him away from the green dragon. So secrecy it was.
The first few days, Zhao Yunlan woke up confused about who had left him such gifts. He asked around the coven on who had given it to him but received no answer. Resigned, he retreated back to his cave, shared some of the fresh meat with his coven and then ate his fill happily. Shen Wei felt pride and satisfaction at seeing Zhao Yunlan eat with gusto and brought him more self-hunted meat, leaving it every night in front of Zhao Yunlan's cave like an offering.
Then one chilly evening, when Shen Wei snuck in on Zhao Yunlan's home, a wild boar snagged on his jaw, the green dragon had caught him just as he placed the offering down and nudged it close to Zhao Yunlan's sleeping form.
A tail suddenly curled around his own, a serpentine body almost draping on his side. Shen Wei froze, breath knocked out of his lungs as Zhao Yunlan's beautiful eyes, still drowsy and lidded, opened.
“I knew you couldn't stay away,” Zhao Yunlan's sleep-addled voice droned. “But did you really have to leave all these gifts in secret and not out in the open?”
Shen Wei tried to struggle but Zhao Yunlan's whole body curled around him in an embrace. The sea dragon could do nothing but freeze, looking at Zhao Yunlan like a deer caught in a snare. If he could blush, he would. Instead, his tail fin flexed open and closed and his throat rumbled with clicking noises.
“You should take better care of yourself,” Shen Wei tried to compose himself, not moving from the silken embrace. “it would do you well if you would eat properly and have someone take care of you.”
“Ah, Big Beauty, I made it clear who I wanted to take care of me. Aren't you already doing that? Why should I find another?”
Shen Wei was struck speechless. In the cover of darkness, Zhao Yunlan raised his head, his mane tousled and looking like a bird's nest. He looked like he had been in some sort of scuffle, his expression that calculating but adorable look as he leaned closer, nuzzling at Shen Wei's neck.
It made Shen Wei's brain stop working all together. A small barely suppressed possessive growl was cut off before it could form. The dark and selfish part of his nature reared its dragon instincts, like a predator ready to spring, Shen Wei's last sense of control was fraying.
“An Abyss dragon and an Earth-sky dragon cannot be together,” Shen Wei slowly said, trying to remind himself of all the reasons why he kept his distance. “It can only bring disaster.”
“What nonsense are you speaking? There is no such thing as different species not being able to cohabitate or be together!”
“I am from the depths. You are aware of what I am and what I can do,”
“Yes, I am aware. You're a powerful one at that too, the only existing one surely, hm? I don't care about your status or power, I want you for you.”
Want him for him. Shen Wei's jaw fins flexed, his whole body shuddering as he yanked himself free from Zhao Yunlan, his tail slapping the ground as his teeth itched to bite on the scale of that graceful neck.
Control it. Don't.
“And I know you want me too,” Zhao Yunlan continued with a coy bat of his eyelashes. “I even found a cliff by the nearby sea in case you were interested.”
Shen Wei's control frayed even more. The last straw that broke the camel's back was another low trill coming from Zhao Yunlan. “If you must know... My name is Zhao Yunlan... And I want you to stay the night in my nest. If you'd be willing... I'll even show you my human form to convey my sincerity.
“Or if you'd like,” here Zhao Yunlan stared straight into Shen Wei's eyes. “You could stay with me forever and be my mate.”
Shen Wei turned, and just like the paragon of self control that he was, he took off into the night in a frantic flight. The winds whistled as he shot through like a falling star, landing a distance away from everything that haunted his every dream and waking. With nothing else to bite, Shen Wei twisted around himself and bit his own tail, cutting off the howl that threatened to break his throat at having Zhao Yunlan freely giving Shen Wei his name at last.
He wanted him. He wanted him so much that he ached with the physicality of it.
And that cave by the sea-cliffs that Zhao Yunlan found. He was going to make sure to take Zhao Yunlan apart in that chosen space, the cave he had selected for his new home, one he would share with a foul beast like him... One at a time. Scale. Talon. Apart.
Anything to make sure he would never leave once he becomes Shen Wei’s.
After a few more days of trying to rein himself in, Zhao Yunlan found Shen Wei in one of his basking spots, soaking in the sun.
Shen Wei would've loved to offer him a greeting, but no words came out from his muzzle. He didn't exactly know what to say. He had prepared for this, had practiced over and over again on what he was to do and how to proceed with what he wanted but in his years of inexperience and the desire to snatch Zhao Yunlan in his coils, all of it brewed in a cauldron of emotions that he couldn't quite explain.
Zhao Yunlan stared at Shen Wei, looked him up and down and said in that voice of his that held no flirtatious note or play. “If you are not open to my advances, then say so and I will stop.”
Shen Wei's heart squeezed painfully in his chest, feeling as if a sharp piece of coral was slicing him open. He didn't yet speak, letting Zhao Yunlan go on, his tail swishing and twitching behind him. There was even a hint of a vulnerable coil that he noticed before the green dragon stiffened again.
“You bring me courting gifts and yet you run away, I try to court you and yet you do not respond to my gestures. If you don't want all of this, then I know when to step away. Just say the word and I will stop. I won't even bother you. I will leave you alone, I will—”
“I want you.” Shen Wei interrupted before he could panic even more.
The change in Zhao Yunlan's expression flickered in a span of a few seconds. First shock, then disbelief. His tail coiled and swished, feathers on his sides fluffing like a bird in winter.
Just as quickly as he had reacted, Zhao Yunlan slumped in relief... Or probably exhaustion. “You're saying that now, after I poured my heart out to you?”
“I mean it. I want you.” Everything. You. Everything that you are.
There are many reasons why they shouldn't be together. They are different worlds apart, their species incompatible with each other. An Abyss Dragon's nature isn't as warm and friendly as those of the Land Dragons, they're hostile, possessive, and feral. Considered as the most violent of species if provoked— they would devour anything and everything, fight till they collapsed to death, and drag their mates down to the sea and keep them there for a long time in their coupling. Such a union would taint and suffocate a land dragon, even kill them in the long run if they were kept underwater for an extended period. Even more so when that land dragon had a sky dragon parent.
He would taint Zhao Yunlan if he accepted, this he had reasoned a long time ago. That was why he had stayed away.
“You are not playing with me, are you?”
Now, face to face with this decision, Shen Wei let go of all those beliefs and let out a breath, steam coming out of his mouth and nose.
“No. I wouldn't dare.” he said decisively.
Shen Wei took long steps back, gaze not leaving Zhao Yunlan. In this empty valley with nothing but clear skies and the grassy hills filled with many flowers of different kinds, Shen Wei bowed his head and spread the fins of his tail open wide. In reciprocation to what transpired the first time Zhao Yunlan stumbled upon him.
Zhao Yunlan's gaze was immediately caught at this change. His whiskers and muzzle quivering as if he was unable to believe his senses.
“Come,” Shen Wei said in a deep, rumbling purr, masking the quivering of his heart and allowing his possessiveness to take over. “Dance with me.”
Zhao Yunlan's claws dug into the earth.
Come to me, my chosen mate.
“I won't run or fly off,” Shen Wei assured, now feeling self conscious as he slowly lowered his tail. “I could go away if you want me to—”
Zhao Yunlan shot up like he'd been hit by a lightning bolt. The ferociously determined expression now set in stone on his face. All flirtations and masks fell away, giving way to what he had long wanted. The green dragon took to the skies with a trill, his feathers once more spreading out and caressing the winds as he began his dance anew. Determined, poised, and untamed like the very spirit of Zhao Yunlan.
The sun could only highlight his beauty. Like green valleys and fresh springs, his scales shone iridescent in the mid-morning light in between twisted white clouds.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Shen Wei could only stare, the fins on his jaw flaring open and closed as he watched the green serpentine body in the air, with tastefully decorated feathers, twist and turn as if he ruled the skies.
Mine.
Zhao Yunlan had not brought his other companion today. The fluffy black dragon that was a bit smaller than him. He came alone and with a purpose to finally make Shen Wei his after his long advances; if the sinuous twist of his coils were anything to go by, practically flexing in front of Shen Wei's eyes and making a spectacle of himself. The abyss dragon would've believed that he was just showing off.
If it weren't for the way that this dragon tried to dip low and then swerve in the air, sending cutting waves of wind over to Shen Wei's direction. Before he even knew it, he was taking off into the skies with a deep growling rumble, black mane whipping about as his own long body coiled around the one dancing for him. Shiny dark scales as smooth as a snakeskin brushed against that of the other, making a pleased growl rumble in Shen Wei’s throat.
Zhao Yunlan let out a happy sound, feathers fluffing as he shot away. Shen Wei chased him through the air as they spun, twisted, curled, and coiled higher and higher into the sky.
He'd been teased enough and he was done pretending and holding back. Zhao Yunlan had vyed for his attention for a long while. At every chance encounter, at every observation, this particular dragon had circled him right back, showing audacious behavior that could very well make other dragons flee. Fluffing up his feathers, curling his tail at him, staring and blinking slowly at him with his gorgeous eyes; and then there was getting the Abyss Dragon's attention. Every dragon would scatter away from Shen Wei's sight if they knew what was good for them. Yet Zhao Yunlan didn't, and that was exhilarating enough.
They came to a halt in the sky, wind whipping voraciously around them as they broke away. Shen Wei's gaze traveled up and down the length of the other dragon's body, admiring the feathers and graceful whiskers on that half-lion, half-serpentine face. He couldn't help but flex his own fins and horn in return to impress the other dragon's eye.
Zhao Yunlan let out a low rumble. He took a dive to the top of the cliffs, feathers and scales glowing and shifting. Shen Wei dived after, black-blur energy coiling around him as he landed with his human feet, black robes surrounding him like armor.
The energy dispersed. Shen Wei was left to stare at another human figure right across from him, in a green hanfu, with long hair, and intelligent but playful eyes. There was a smirk on those red lips.
Shen Wei wanted to bite them and taste them. Perhaps coil their tails together. Or maybe share another dance. Either was fine. There were a lot of books about what possible things they could do, in any form they chose.
Zhao Yunlan stepped closer, opening his arms and tilting his head in invitation. ‘Well?’ he seemed to say.
Shen Wei licked his lips, eyeing him up and down. It was not everyday that anyone had the audacity to just come up and court him like this almost relentlessly. He huffed and dipped his head in acquiescence. This one was good. Perfect despite his rather flirty nature. It made Shen Wei's draconic heart flutter.
“Shen Wei,” he finally introduced himself.
Zhao Yunlan's eyes widened, his mouth parting slightly.
Shen Wei held back the urge to just bite down and hoard Zhao Yunlan to himself right in the open.
“I accept your courtship.”
Shen Wei smirked and transformed back into his dragon form. Zhao Yunlan followed suit with a pleased hiss. They didn't know who moved first; now they were shooting up into the sky twisting and coiling around each other, getting closer and closer, Zhao Yunlan's body wrapped around Shen Wei's. Shen Wei's entwined with Zhao Yunlan's. Just a little more and their tails would be brushing.
Zhao Yunlan extended his claws. Shen Wei grabbed them with his own and locked their tails together, squeezing tight around Zhao Yunlan but not enough to hurt him. A decisive and final harmonious roar rang through the air.
They fell from the sky as one, their tails and talons locked together, bodies intertwined so closely that one couldn't tell where the other started and ended.
The sea-cliff cave brought them enough privacy and comfort that they spent days there, tangled in each other's coils. No one knew where Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan went. They had disappeared from the very face of the surface world without informing their friends while they hid in their shared shelter, basking in their newly formed bond.
A week later, Zhao Yunlan, coiled around Shen Wei, his body sore with the bites and marks left over his scales, and felt the tongue of his mate licking over his cheek.
Zhao Yunlan let out a pouty gurgling noise. His lizard brain was still swimming in its drowsy state, content and happy. Ultimately, he decided that he did not want to get up and that Shen Wei deserved a scolding. “Why did you have to be so rough? Don't you know any self control? My poor lower body is going to be sore for days and everyone will see these marks.”
Shen Wei ducked his head and looked away, his tail coiled around himself. He looked like he wanted to run off again. It was like he was the one who had been thoroughly mauled and violated, judging from his forlorn and gentle expression. Zhao Yunlan couldn't believe it.
“You—” Zhao Yunlan groaned, unable to move even a muscle. “Why must you be like this?”
Shen Wei nervously ran his talons over Zhao Yunlan's scales, trying to soothe the bites that his teeth had left on the green scales. If Shen Wei were in human form, he'd probably be blushing red like a tomato! “I'm sorry.”
Zhao Yunlan let out another growling groan and just bumped his head on Shen Wei's chin, grumbling. “Shut up and take responsibility. You did this to me, you're going to answer to everyone when they ask you why I look like I've been mauled ten times over. You took me so roughly that I probably won't be the same ever again! Couldn't you have been more considerate?”
Shen Wei's jaw fins flattened even more. He looked like the perfect picture of a bullied dragon with those big and regretfully sad eyes. “I— I don't— I really didn't mean to—”
Zhao Yunlan couldn't help it. He let out another complaint but curled his tail with Shen Wei's again, nuzzling the underside of that strong jaw. Those damned eyes were going to be the death of him. Damn it. “Don't you dare pretend that you're innocent here, Shen Wei. We're doing this again.”
Shen Wei stilled, stared at Zhao Yunlan as if he'd said something incredulous. Then in a flash, he was wrapping around Zhao Yunlan again, tight but not hurtful as he bit Zhao Yunlan's already sore nape. They tumbled in their nest of straws, trinkets, fabrics, and grass beds, their forms unable to be distinguished where one ended and the other started.
Zhao Yunlan stopped thinking, sinking into the warmth of their union and just letting his instincts take over as Shen Wei took care of him.