“A-Yao.”

“Hmm?”

Mengyao lay in a grassfield next to Longwei. He didn’t know how they got there but all he knew was the sky was beautiful. The vast galaxies and stars twinkled and danced across the skies.

“A-Yao. Did you miss me?”

Mengyao chuckled. “Of course I did.”

Mengyao turned his head over to Longwei but his eyes widened as he scrambled away. 

Fire.

There stood Longwei, his glossy black hair whipping to and fro loose in the wind as fire surrounded him. It seemed like...the entrance to his family’s residence? But that didn’t matter! He needed to save Longwei!

“Wei-ge!” Mengyao shouted, running toward Longwei.

Why was Longwei looking at him with such a sad smile? 

As Mengyao tried to reach for Longwei, fiery debris fell ontop of him.

“Wei-ge!!!”

Mengyao’s eyes shot open as he shot up in his bed. He needed a moment to regain his breath. He held his head until he noticed his hand was wet with water. What was this? He wiped his eyes to realize he was crying.

Crying? He hadn’t cried in so long! Why did that dream cause him to cry?

“Hey, A-Yao! I thought you’d be hun--Are you ok?” Longwei asked as he entered the room, placing the tray of food on a table beside the door. 

Mengyao looked to Longwei as he approached. Before Mengyao could think about it, he jumped up and ran into Longwei’s arms. He hugged Longwei so tight, he was sure that Longwei would never go.

“Wei-ge…” Mengyao said, his voice quivering. “You’re ok…”

“Of course,” Longwei responded as Mengyao felt Longwei’s arms wrap around him. “I’m ok. What happened?”

Mengyao looked up at Longwei, as if to memorize the features in his face. Longwei wasn’t the soft face boy he remembered. He was taller, darker and handsome. And…

Mengyao felt his face and ears burn before he parted from Longwei and turned away from him. He cleared his throat as he looked back at Longwei.

Longwei had raised an eyebrow at Mengyao before he smirked. "Did you dream about me? Was I just as handsome in your dream as I am now?"

Mengyao shook his head. "It was just a nightmare. Nothing more. It's about time for me to get dressed."

Mengyao’s eyes widened and he felt his face burn even more. He remembered he wasn’t at the Yi residence. He was in Longwei’s residence. If he could, he would crawl underground and never come out.

“I can see if I have any robes for you,” Longwei chuckled. “But to be honest, I think a nice light robe would be better fitting for you.”

"Wei-ge! Be serious!"

"I've given no indication that I wasn't." 

"get out!"

Longwei laughed as he took the rested the tray of food down and left. Mengyao swore he was going to die of embarassment as long as he hung around Longwei. He felt heat burst in his cheeks. Why does Longwei like to tease him so much?

He sat at the small table next to the bed. He sighed as he ate.

Mengyao thought about the dream. Usually when he had that dream, it involved his family or it’d be him alone left in a burning residence. This time, it was Longwei that stood there. Why?

Mengyao sighed as he ate. Maybe it was the simple fact it had been so long he had seen his childhood friend and the universe was punishing him by giving him this vision.

He was going to protect Longwei at all costs!

Once Mengyao finished his breakfast, a servant knocked at his door. Judging by the silhouette, it was a servant girl.

“Come in,” he called as the door opened.

“Young Master Mengyao, I’ve brought you robes at the request of Young Master Longwei,” the servant girl said, bowing as she came in with dark blue robes in her arms. 

Mengyao made a small face as he looked at the robes. He gave a small glance at the servant girl, who seemed to be visibly shaking. Was she nervous?

“Longwei has nothing...brighter? Than this?” Mengyao asked.

“All of Young Master Longwei’s robes are dark in color, Young Master Mengyao,” she replied.

“Of course he doesn’t,” Mengyao muttered. Giving a smile, he patted the servant girl on the shoulder and said, “Tell him “thank you” for me and that I'll join him in the main hall shortly.”

“Yes Young Master,” the servant girl said as she backed away and closed the door.

Mengyao had to admit: he wasn’t very fond of dark blues like this. But he couldn’t blame Longwei; it wasn’t as if Longwei knew Mengyao was going to be kidnapped without any robes to wear.

Mengyao sighed a bit and began to dress himself. He walked near a mirror and looked at himself. Sadly, the dark blue washed him out a tad bit too much but he did appreciate what Longwei did for him.

Mengyao collected his tray of empty bowls and plates and began to walk from his room. He noticed this residence was quite large. Maybe even larger than Madame Tung-Mei’s residence? 

A servant bowed to Mengyao as she approached. 

“Master Longwei is awaiting you in the Main Hall. I will escort you there,” the servant said. “Changpu will take your tray.”

Mengyao raised an eyebrow until he noticed another servant behind him, causing Mengyao to almost drop the tray.

“Very sorry to startle you, Young Master. I will take your tray,” the one named Changpu said, bowing and holding his hands out for Mengyao to hand him the tray.

“No worries! Just...please make noise next time,” Mengyao said, chuckling nervously as he handed the tray to the servant.

How is he that tall and yet so quiet?

As the servant girl escorted him, Mengyao noticed the many dragon motifs adorning the residence. He expected nothing less from a Duan. They were proud of having a dragon be their family’s symbol.

When Mengyao and the servant girl arrived at the Main Hall, the servant said, “Young Master Longwei; Young Master Mengyao is here as you requested.”

Longwei turned and nodded. “Thank you LiHua. You’re free to go,” he said as he walked over to Mengyao.

Mengyao watched as LiHua walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. Mengyao turned back to Longwei, who stood before him. Mengyao had to dart his eyes away. Longwei’s gaze was fairly intense.

“I’m sorry I don’t have any robes of the light colors you usually go for,” he said. "But it's nice to see you wearing something of mine."

Longwei went close to Mengyao and fixed the collar, lingering his fingers a little too long near Mengyao's chest. Mengyao felt his heart pound so hard, he was sure Longwei could feel it. Mengyao moved Longwei's hand away and turned away from him, hoping to put his heart as ease and his face to stop flushing.

“Have you contacted Madame Tung-Mei?”

“Yes I did. And we’ll be heading back to her residence in the morning tomorrow,” he said. “You’re gonna have to pack.”

“Pack?”

“Yeah, pack,” Longwei said as he went to sit down.

“Wei-ge, I appreciate your offer but I don’t think moving here will help me nor could I think of moving in!”

“Moving? As much as I love that suggestion, you won't be moving in with me. Not yet, anyway,” Longwei chuckled, folding his arms. Mengyao was confused.

“But you want me to pack,” Mengyao said, walking closer to where Longwei sat.

“Because we’re gonna find out what happened to your family,” Longwei said. “I wasn’t kidding when i said I’d been lookin’ for you for a long time. I was also looking for the people who killed your family.”

Mengyao’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Longwei. Longwei would truly do this for him?

“Wei-ge, are you sure you want to do this?” Mengyao asked, “I don’t mind doing this on my own.”

“No. I want to do this. The most I can do for someone so beautiful,” Longwei said, reaching out and taking Mengyao’s hand. "Let me help."

Mengyao sighed before taking his hand back. “Alright. You can help me. Are you fine with me exploring your residence just a bit?”

“You’re welcome to look around. There’s a library on the far West end of my residence if you’re interested,” Longwei said.

Mengyao gave a bow to Longwei before calmly walking out the doors. Mengyao walked as calmly as he could.

"And my bedroom is to the far East of the residence. I'll be sure to met you there!"

Mengyao began to walk faster.

After a good few feet away from Longwei’s main hall, Mengyao placed one hand against the wall and another over his mouth. 

He felt heat burst in his cheeks as he thought about Longwei’s insistence in helping him find out who killed his family.

Did...did his heart skip a beat?