GusuTortleFloof 🏳️‍🌈

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Not to get too nerdy about this but, Gusu Centre for Performing Arts is modelled on my favourite building in Norway, The Oslo Opera House.

It's walkable in the same way. And I, too, shared LWJ's very minor freakout about falling.

It's one of my favourite places in the world.

He walked him backwards into the barrier, kissing him again and again— swallowing each one of LWJ’s little gasps and murmurs, and chasing every ghost of a smile he could reach.

Good lord.

This boy was going to be the end of him.

----------

WWX tilted his head, slotting their mouths fully together and kissed him back, his hands wrapping around his body, as LWJ’s went up to his hair, grazing his undercut

— the sensation sending shivers down his spine.

He pulled back— about to suggest that they head back— when LWJ launched forward, crashing their mouths together in a heated kiss.

It was clumsy, and frantic

It was everything.

LWJ's entire body shuddered.

He made his way back up LWJ’s neck, with a soft kiss behind his ear, as he slowly, excruciatingly rolled the patch back up, smoothing it over with his thumb like nothing happened.

Like he hadn't just tilted LWJ’s world on its axis.

He nuzzled along the newly exposed skin until he found the gland.

He paused.

He looked up.

And then gently grazed his mouth directly over it— a whisper of a thing.

He dropped his head down to LWJ’s neck, peeling the patch back further, as everything around him plunged into a dizzying concentration of sandalwood, honey and neroli.

LWJ’s scent felt like it was made for him. He wanted to drink it all up and hold it in his body forever.

He gently grasped the corner and began peeling it slowly, agonisingly downwards; releasing a heady burst of LWJ’s scent between them.

“Fuuuck.”

He continued touching— brushing his finger tips down the side of LWJ’s neck, pausing at the edge of his scent patch.

WWX looked up at him, his fingers scraping the edge— a question.

LWJ looked back and nodded once in answer.

When WWX grazed his finger along the shell of his ear, LWJ gasped.

His honey gold eyes flashing with something WWX had never seen before.

Nervousness mingled with open want.

It made his teeth itch.

It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

He turned LWJ around in his arms and held him close, dropping a small, reverent kiss on his forehead, on one eyelid, then another, and finally, one on the tip of his nose.

LWJ’s ears blushed crimson red.

His alpha instincts were screaming out for him to bundle this man up, surround him in the comfort of his scent, feed him, take him home, and never let go.

He had dated, of course, but he had never felt anything slam into his secondary gender senses quite like this before.

before looking back out at the water, watching it ripple and sway, shimmering with the city lights.

The urge to protect LWJ and keep him safe was becoming completely overwhelming.

WWX’s arms came up to wrap around his waist, holding him close against the cradle of his body as LWJ turned his head towards him.

He nudged his nose gently against the side of WWX’s face, in the most endearing of bunny greetings,

He felt the soft weight of WWX’s jacket being placed onto his shoulders, enveloping him in the comfort of lotus, clove, and amber.

Before WWX could pull away, LWJ leaned his body back, connecting them back to chest.

She sang to me until I felt better, then showed me all her own wires and explained why they were good things that were helping her get better, so I wasn’t scared anymore.

She was so kind, Lan Zhan.”

“She was.”

Said LWJ, with a shaky breath, looking back out onto the water.

“She used to come for her treatments at mama’s hospital. I was six and I got scared seeing all the patients hooked up to their machines.

She sat me in her lap and held me and let me cry.

WWX placed his hand up on the barrier, right alongside LWJ’s, their hands pressed in a line from pinky to wrist. A small comfort.

“I remember your mother.
I met her once.” Said WWX.

“You did?” He said, the look of naked vulnerability on his face, utterly heart wrenching.

“My mother… she used to play their music when I was a child.”

He said looking out at the water, his hand grasping the barrier.

“I've always wanted to see them perform live.”

“Thank you, Wei Ying.”

LWJ said, breaking the silence.

“—for today.”

“Oh. That's ok.”

WWX replied, a little dumbfounded.

As they turned each corner, more and more of the Gusu skyline unfolded before them until they reached the top.

WWX walked them right up to the ledge, where they watched the city lights dancing along the water below.

------

The walk was surprisingly gentle— despite the fact that they were, essentially, scaling a building.

The path was designed for tourists, winding around the cube in a gradual slope. Not quite the death trap LWJ had originally mistaken it for.

“Lan Zhan.
You can call me, Lan Zhan.”

The most beatific smile bloomed across WWX’s face.

“Ok, Lan Zhan.
Let’s do this thing.”

-------

“You wanna go up?” Asked WWX, nudging his chin in the direction of the path.

“Isn’t it too dark? We might fall.”

WWX laughed gently. He walked out in front of LWJ, placing one hand flat across his chest, raising the other.

“Lan Wangji.
I promise I won't let you fall.”

a scalable sugar cube that sat
right on the water's edge— an iconic part of Gusu’s skyline.

As they exited the building, LWJ found himself stopping at the foot of the walkway, glancing up at the gentle slope.

–—

The Gusu Centre for Performing Arts was a large, square glass fronted structure, the auditorium housed in a chamber at its centre. A large white pedestrian walkway wrapped around the outside of the building, leveling out on the roof—

Ok folx,

I need you to do some collective 🪄plinky plonky magic™🪄 with me and pretend that WWX has never called LWJ by anything other than his courtesy name.

If we all believe together, we can change the past. Or so my crow-mother grimoire tells me

🐦‍⬛ok back to the story!🐦‍⬛

They drew their attention back to the stage where SL and XX were taking their bows. Did they really miss the end?

They paid their respects through copious applause— a fitting penance— gathered up their belongings, and swiftly exited the box.

------

The house lights raised suddenly, flooding them in light, as riotous applause erupted all around them, dissolving their reverie.

LWJ winced at the sensory intrusion as WWX immediately backed away, clearing his throat.