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i want that can't sleep love
[ truth be told, dan feng is a little bit nervous.
they've been waiting to try this for quite a long time, after all, and with the kemmering finally approaching, well.. what better opportunity could there be? his mate's heat will stimulate dan feng's own rut, they'll both be at their most fertile, there's no reason not to at least give it a chance. no reason to be pessimistic, however low the chances might be. if they don't try, the chances will always be zero.
dan feng has made everything as comfortable for them as possible. their shared sprawling penthouse is clean, dinner is prepared, and anything they could possibly need or want is laid out. he's cleared out a space in their sunken common area, and lined it with thick blankets, pillows and cushions, like a nest, so they can be close to the kitchen and bathroom if necessary, and they can enjoy the view of the city together. there's even a bottle of white wine chilling in a silver bucket on a low table, beside two glasses.
he's dressed lightly, in simple hanfu, one pale green robe with a sash, his feet bare and his hair loose, all ornaments and jewelry removed and laid aside.
when aphelios arrives home, he will find dan feng sitting comfortably in the nest in the half lotus position, eyes closed as he meditates, eyes closed, and in his lap.. are several soft, beautiful, pearlescent eggs wrapped in silk, and kept close to absorb his warmth. he breathes deeply, calming and centering himself as he waits. ]
texting
they've been waiting to try this for quite a long time, after all, and with the kemmering finally approaching, well.. what better opportunity could there be? his mate's heat will stimulate dan feng's own rut, they'll both be at their most fertile, there's no reason not to at least give it a chance. no reason to be pessimistic, however low the chances might be. if they don't try, the chances will always be zero.
dan feng has made everything as comfortable for them as possible. their shared sprawling penthouse is clean, dinner is prepared, and anything they could possibly need or want is laid out. he's cleared out a space in their sunken common area, and lined it with thick blankets, pillows and cushions, like a nest, so they can be close to the kitchen and bathroom if necessary, and they can enjoy the view of the city together. there's even a bottle of white wine chilling in a silver bucket on a low table, beside two glasses.
he's dressed lightly, in simple hanfu, one pale green robe with a sash, his feet bare and his hair loose, all ornaments and jewelry removed and laid aside.
when aphelios arrives home, he will find dan feng sitting comfortably in the nest in the half lotus position, eyes closed as he meditates, eyes closed, and in his lap.. are several soft, beautiful, pearlescent eggs wrapped in silk, and kept close to absorb his warmth. he breathes deeply, calming and centering himself as he waits. ]
no subject
Thank you! I'll pass it on to him, along with your number.
[ and then he and the other man part ways, as is normal in an interaction like this one, leaving aphelios completely without suspicion as he makes his way to the checkout to pay for the snacks and veg. the walk back home feels even shorter than the walk to the store had, and before long aphelios is letting himself in to the penthouse, toeing his shoes off in the doorway before he makes his way into the kitchen with his spoils. ]
Babe? [ he calls out as he goes to put the bell peppers in the fridge. ] Are you home?
no subject
dan feng is in the kitchen currently, beginning to prepare the ingredients for the stir fry, chopping the chicken and vegetables, washing the bean sprouts and water chestnuts, all of his ingredients neatly gathered on the kitchen island. he hears the door, and aphelios' sweet, singsong voice, and smiles. ]
In the kitchen.
[ he calls out, then rinses his hands and dries them so he can meet aphelios halfway, arms around his husband, leaning in to kiss him. smiling, he filters his fingertips through phel's short hair. ]
Did you get everything you needed?
no subject
I did. [ aphelios cups dan feng's handsome face in both hands, then brushes his own fingertips back through long strands of hair. ] And I only got two snack bags, praise me for my restraint.
[ with a laugh and another quick kiss, aphelios pulls away so he can wash his hands too, just a precaution after being outside and also in preparation in case dan feng wants him to help with the stir fry. ]
I met someone at the grocery store who said they knew you, [ phel says as he lathers up his hands. ] He said to give you his regards—from the Forge Master? I'm just now realizing I didn't get an actual name from him so I hope you know what that means, 'cause I don't.
no subject
the forge master.
blade. blade is here. but that is not entirely what has dan feng so petrified. blade was with aphelios, with his very pregnant husband, and that shock of realization is like a kick to the teeth. phel can defend himself in many circumstances, yes, but dan feng knows well how lethal yingxing has become, how ruthless, and aphelios is in no condition to be fighting anyone right now. he's never been more vulnerable than he is right now.
the safety of the life he has led here, and all of its moving parts, shatters in an instant, their idyllic little life instantly in peril. dan feng should have guessed that this would happen, that this day would one day come, and yet now that it has, he feels helpless - helpless and furious that that man had come so close to someone he cherishes so deeply. blade is certainly not above using dan feng's loved ones to threaten him or draw him out if need be - the man is mad, mara struck, a shadow of the person he once was. ]
.. Yingxing.
[ dan feng finally croaks out, his voice as dry as desert sand. ]
no subject
but then he turns, and his smile falters at the look of... terror on dan feng's face, more abjectly devastated than anything aphelios has ever seen before. his heart stutters in his chest and as he moves toward dan feng he hears that one word, croaked out— ]
Ying—Yingxing? [ dan feng's ex, yingxing? the one who hates him now? the one who almost definitely wants dan feng dead, quite literally, not in the exaggerated drama queen way but in the would put a knife through dan feng's eye if he had the chance way?
phel's knees go weak, and he braces himself briefly against the counter before he forces himself upright again to go to dan feng. one hand at his waist, the other at his jaw, coaxing, steadying as aphelios rests their foreheads together. small comforts. there's nothing he can do that will make this better, but he hopes at least dan feng can draw some small bit of strength from him now. ]
I'm so—I'm so sorry, I had no idea... he seemed so... polite—oh, sweetheart... [ it's not aphelios' own safety he worries for now, as he pulls back a little to look at dan feng properly. ] Are you going to—is he coming after you? Baby, I'm sorry, you know I hate to push, but if this man is a danger to you I need to know exactly how much.
no subject
it isn't until aphelios draws near, and touches him, that dan feng snaps out of his brief fugue. swallowing thickly, he takes a moment to close his eyes and center himself, pulling in a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before he shakes his head. ]
You're not pushing. It's all right.
[ this involves aphelios, after all, it involves their entire family, their safety, he has every right to know everything he could want to know about yingxing, and how threatening he truly is. but dan feng isn't worried about himself, he's worried about aphelios, about their unborn twins; blade is unpredictable, angry and mara-struck, he could have easily driven shard sword straight through phel's stomach without warning and without remorse.
the very thought - dan feng's arms coil tightly around aphelios. he just needs a moment.. a moment to register that his husband is safe, that their babies are safe, though his heart is pounding against his ribs. ]
He is.. very dangerous. Now that he has found me, he will stop at nothing to take me down. Nothing is sacred to him. It is likely that he will try to use you to lure me out.
[ he closes his eyes tightly. ]
I need to think..
no subject
[ aphelios' belly presses to dan feng's, and he is momentarily blindingly grateful to have married this wonderful man. how strong he is, with his arms around phel. there is strength and beauty even in his vulnerability, in the way he lets himself be afraid. ]
The label has security firms we contract with for our artists. I can start there, for you and me.
[ the column of dan feng's spine, the strong shape of his shoulderblades through his shirt. aphelios draws his hands over them slowly, as if memorizing the lines of his husband's body. reassuring himself. ]
But we're safe right now, and we're gonna stay that way. [ after a moment, phel draws back to look into dan feng's face again, meeting his eyes with determination. ] Are you okay, A-Feng? Be honest.
no subject
I.. no, I'm not.
[ aphelios had asked for honesty, and he will give it. swallowing tightly, dan feng pulls back just enough to cup his beloved's cheek in one gloved palm, exhaling slowly in an attempt to calm his racing heart. ]
I was a fool to think that he would not find me here, and Pheli, you - he could have killed you..
[ killed him, and their beautiful babies, still so new and unborn. ]
I cannot lose you. [ he whispers, touching their brows together, his free arm tightening around aphelios' waist. ] Aphelios..
[ they need to think of a plan, and quickly, but right now dan feng needs to calm himself enough to be able to think straight. ]
no subject
still. he brings one arm up so he can cup the back of dan feng's neck, holding them together. ]
But he didn't. [ his voice is low and reassuring, soothing as much for his own sake as dan feng's. ] He didn't, and you won't. I'm not going anywhere.
[ although at this distance dan feng can't quite see it, aphelios' expression grows determined, his jaw setting as he thinks about it. he can admit, knowing what little he knows about the circumstances of their parting, that yingxing might have the right to be angry, but he sure as hell has no right to come anywhere near either of them. ]
We will do everything in our power to stay safe and make sure he can't get to either of us, and we'll involve whoever we have to involve to make that happen, [ he says. and then, because he knows they're both thinking it: ] And if he so much as looks sideways at our babies I'll tear his fucking throat out myself.
[ it's easy to forget that aphelios spent much of his young adulthood being trained as an assassin... ]
no subject
I trust that you will do just that.
[ his fierce, wonderful aphelios.. dan feng knows that he would do anything in his power to keep their children safe from harm. though his chest is tight with painful anxiety, dan feng takes a deep breath, and another. ]
You should get in touch with Alune, I'll contact security. We shouldn't stay here, it's dangerous and indefensible. Not to mention, civilians..
[ blade is a wanted criminal with a bounty on his head that's likely twice the amount that the two of them make together, he's reckless and desperate, and by now the mara is surely chewing at him. civilian casualties will hardly be on yingxing's mind. he presses a kiss to aphelios' brow, then another to his mouth, before he's quickly reaching for his phone to dial up the proper contacts. ]