Xian grinned at Azure's sweet red cheeks. Those forehead kisses might have started on a whim, but now they hold much more meaning. Each time Xian kissed Azure on his forehead, he'd blush like a sweet teenager.

Clearing his throat, Azure didn't meet Xian's eyes, and the latter was amused by such innocence.

"Are you hungry? Do you wish to eat anything?" Azure asked.

Wei Wei was still fussing in his arms, and Xian shook his head in negation. "Nothing to eat, but maybe a cup of tea?" 

"Sure." Azure was quick to answer and made his way towards the kitchen counter. 

In Xian's eyes, the whole scenario was comforting. Probably the closest he came to feel like a part of being in a family. 

A sudden pang of pain hit his heart, and he slowly recalled an earlier conversation when Azure had asked if this is how being in a relationship felt with him.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying was surprised Azure could even hear his voice. 

"Mn?" 

Xian slowly leaned against the table with Wei Wei carefully tucked in his arms as he said in a gentle voice, "I don't ever think I can be a bottom." 

When he didn't receive any reply from Azure, Xian raised his eyes to meet the latter's and waited patiently.
When he still received none, he asked, "Lan Zhan, did you hear me?" 

"I did. What do you mean by that?" 

Xian's eyes widened in surprise, and he stammered, "Bott... Bottom bottom, as in during Se*... Top-"

Raising his arms mid-air to stop Xian's blabber, Azure's face was impassive when he said, "I know the semantics. That's not what I'm asking. I meant, what is the ideology behind sharing this piece of information?" 

"Lan Zhan, earlier, you asked me if this is how being in a relationship with me would feel like."

"Mn. So?" 

"Lan Zhan, if we take this forward, you and me being in a relationship... I don't think my scars would allow me to be a bottom."

"So you want to top?"

"Maybe..." Xian bit his lips, and for an unknown reason, this time he was on the verge of having tears. 

In his peripheral vision, he observed Azure switching off the gas and trudging his way towards Xian. Standing in front of him, Azure clasped one of Xian's hands, gently tugged on it, and said, "Come with me."

Xian was confused at first as they entered the bedroom and walked into their walk-in closet.

"Lan Zhan-"

"What do you see here?" Azure asked.

"Clothes." Xian frowned as he answered.

"Right. Can you differentiate between yours and mine?"

True to the entire set-up, Xian indeed found it difficult to differentiate. Their clothes were neatly folded or were hung in order. It would indeed be difficult to sort them out.

"Come." At Azure's command, they next moved into their bathroom, pointing to the counter where their colognes were placed side by side, their toothbrushes together in a holder, their gels, and other such amenities were all mixed.

"Can you tell me what's yours and mine?" 

Xian was amazed. He couldn't find the differences. Azure and he had very similar styles and tastes.

Clasping their hands together, Azure tugged them towards the entrance of their house and turned to face Xian.

"Wei Ying, can you tell me what's the most sacred thing for an Ice Hockey player?"

"His skates."

"Precisely." Pointing to where they had been placed, Xian was astounded to see how, without much thought, he had placed his skates next to Azure's, as if it were the most normal part of their lives.

"Can you see how integrated our lives have become? It's probably been just a month since we met, but I am at a point where I can tell you this, Wei Ying: I cannot fathom living the rest of my life without you in it.

"Top or bottom, I seriously don't care for such semantics. Even if you don't wish to ever have any physical intimacy with me, that's fine by me, but your being in my life is what matters.

"Wei Ying, right now you aren't perceiving yourself through my eyes, because what I can see is a man so close to my heart, wearing shorts, naked feet, and using his own t-shirt to wrap another soul he just met, with the sole intention to see that soul alive. You brought another one a few weeks ago to save her, and right now, it's midnight, and you're still thinking about my needs."

Except for Wei Wei's faint noises, silence surrounded them.

"Wei Ying?"

"Done."

"What do you mean by done?" It was Azure's turn to frown.

"You. Me. Let's eat ramyeon, watch Netflix, and chill up in the bedroom."

Azure was back to being impassive as he asked, "What?"

"Let's go and have se* Lan Zhan. You and me. Come on!"

If it weren't for the sly smirk on Xian's face, Azure might have taken those words seriously, but for now he rolled his eyes, called Xian an As* and walked away.

"Hey! Language!" Xian laughed as he followed Azure.

"Remember not only your things are in my place, but your pets too. Try being a smartmouth with me, and next time you won't be able to see them."

"Aw! Lan Zhan, don't be mean." Xian was loving their banter. "Which reminds me, can you feed Fur Ball some milk?"

"Why?" Though he asked, Azure was quick to bring out a bottle that Ms. Lee had prepared for Fur Ball.

"Because you like me, and because you like me, you need to take care of our pets."

"Yours. Not mine. I only have Sahara."

Xian laughed at Azure's words and continued caressing Wei Wei. Soon he was asleep, and Xian quietly made his way towards the living room, only to find Azure lying down on the carpet, with Fur Ball tucked inside a blanket, sleeping next to him.

Xian placed Wei Wei next to Fur Ball and got them a blanket and pillows from the closet. Joining Azure, he placed a pillow under his head and covered them and asked, "Why are you sleeping here? There's a comfortable bed in your room."

"She'll fuss at night. It's easy to feed her from here. I can look after Wei Wei too; you go and sleep. The ground isn't good for your injuries."

"Nah! Where you are, there I am."

Xian could detect a faint smile on Azure's face.

"Good night, Wei Ying."

Seconds ticked by, and Xian suddenly whispered in shock, "F*ck"

"Language!" Azure sounded sleepy, yet he indulged and asked, "What?"

"You showing me around the house made me realise that I haven't packed my bags. I'm leaving the day after, and I -"

"Don't worry. I'll get it organised."

Azure's voice was almost in the background when Xian's eyes widened and whisper yelled, "Fu*k!"

"Language! Now what?"

Xian failed to acknowledge Azure's mild annoyance when he shared, "I forgot to water my plants back in my condo. Who will be taking care of them? I-"

"Don't worry. I'll get them all here. Now sleep."

"Mn." Xian replied.

Xian could count Azure's heartbeats when he groaned, and before he could spout more choice words, Azure pinched his waist lightly, making Xian yelp, and asked, "What is it now?"

"I forgot -"

"Good thing your pets are here. I wonder what would have happened if I had left them at your place. What is it that you forgot this time?"

Azure's eyes were still closed, so he did not see Xian leaning forward and kissing the side of his lips.

Shocked by this moment, he opened his eyes instantly and glanced at Xian in the semi-darkness. "What was that for?"

"Just." Xian smirked, but Azure was not the one to leave the gesture alone.

"This is probably the fourth kiss you've given me. What's with all this sweetness in you, Mr. Wei?"

"I will be leaving soon and don't know when we will get to spend time this way. So, I made a promise to myself: that until I'm here, I'll shower you with all these kisses."

"I like it. You're the only one who can kiss me. I won't ever stop you."

"Lan Zhan."

This time Azure was wide awake, as he asked, "Mn?"

"Good night."

With that, Xian turned his back and giggled as he heard a frustrated groan from Azure, but when the latter kissed the back of his head and whispered goodnight, Xian was glad for this second chance.

Standup goalie:

A goalie who often stays on their skates when a player shoots, as opposed to a butterfly goalie.

(A/n: Can we all give them a hug? They're so sweet and wholesome. I'm in love with their love.)