30 Chapter 27: Fluffy Fantasies/Arc 4.2

Two blurry figures could barely be seen as they dashed through the forest. Jumping from tree to tree, the two raced to their destination. The only signs of their presence were the blurs and rustled leaves of the trees. Arriving at a spring, the two figures came to a stop.

Wang Tao sat down by the water and peered into the clear spring. Zhou Jian stood beside him and began to take off his tank top. The Celestial peeked at him and blushed. Hastily looking away, he took off his boots to soak his feet in the spring.

Suddenly, Wang Tao froze, having been soaked by the water which rose when his friend jumped in. His eye twitched as he glared at the grinning boy.

Moving his hand, he caused the water to form a wave and submerge his friend, pushing him back a few feet. Feeling satisfied, he dried his shirt after taking it off and jumped in.

.With a grin, Zhou Jian swam back over to his friend.

"Aren't cats afraid of water?"

"Well I'm not a cat."

"You're related to them."

"So? I don't act like them."

"That's not true. You purr every time I rub you're head."

Zhou Jian pointed out, trying his best to look serious as he watch the blushing boy. Wang Tao averted his eyes and turned around. He could not help it but it was incredibly humiliating.

He's just relieved that Zhou Jian didn't mind. He knows the other doesn't though, after all it's been 3 whole years and they're 18 now. He doubts Zhou Jian would continue if he didn't.

During those years, Zhou Jian became more and more certain that the other was a cat. His friend was lazy, purred and loved milk. He wasn't afraid of water or lactose intolerant though.

It made sense since Niols were related to cats but Zhou Jian that Wang Tao was always like this.

[ Sometimes I wonder how I didn't grasp his cat like behaviour before? I should really be more observant. ]

- - - - - -

Wang Tao lay on a white leather couch as his tail slowly swayed beside him. His eyes were half closed when his ears twitched.

Listening to the sound of footsteps, his body relaxed further as he immediately identified the owner. Closing his eyes fully, he snuggled into the pillow he was hugging, planning to sleep.

"A Tao."

Zhou Jian whispered and softly nudged the other's cheek with his left hand. When he discerned that Wang Tao had fallen into a deep sleep, his guard down, he smiled slightly.

[ I'm glad he feels so safe. ]

Zhou Jian stood up, resting the glass of milk in his right hand on the coffee table, before heading to his home office.

Taking his seat, Zhou Jian thought over the past two years. He and Wang Tao were 20 now and had moved out of the forest about a year and a half ago. They were living in the city of beast men and rapidly made their way up the ranks.

Beast men were the type to follow the strong, so being the strongest meant having the most power. This was now the case of Wang Tao and Zhou Jian after challenging and easily beating the top 10 from the weakest up.

.

Wang Tao's eyes fluttered open, revealing the dazzling silver color. His clouded eyes cleared after a few seconds and he looked around. Noticing the glass of milk in front of him, Wang Tao smiled lightly and drank it before standing up.

Thinking of something, he felt various fluctuations in his mood as he made his way to the garden which was filled with flowers.

Zhou Jian had asked him what he wanted to add to the place when they first moved here so he picked these flowers. This caused Wang Tao to feel incredibly happy, knowing that the older man cared that much about him.

Even then, despite all the good things, Wang Tao felt his mental state worsening. Lying down in the flowers, the silver eyed male thought over their years together.

The two had become so close which filled the Celestial with joy but also other emotions such as frustration.

[ The more time we spend together, the more I realize that I have no chance. ]

.

[ I wish I could give up. Give up on this hope that just wouldn't go. It's so stupid of me. ]

.

[ A Jian is never going to love me. I know that but…but my heart…my heart is so stubborn and I hate it! ]

Wang Tao could feel himself sinking. Sinking slowly into the cold depths of something. Every time he thought of this he felt this suffocating feeling choking him. Clenching his shirt, he took in a shaky breath to calm himself down.

He wiped away the tears that were forming and could feel himself having difficulty breathing. Blocking his breathing, he closed his eyes as his body grew colder than before.

A while later, Zhou Jian headed downstairs.

"A Tao?"

The older man furrowed his brows as he looked around the empty room. The young man wasn't there but the glass was now empty.

Picking it up, he placed it in the sink before heading outside to the garden. Just as he expected, Wang Tao was lying down in the grass, surrounded by his favorite flowers.

They were peculiar flowers which the Celestial himself created and had yet to name. The flowers were silver and would turn crimson red whenever it rained. The now red flowers would drip a red substance that looked like blood which would richen the soil below.

Reaching his friend, Zhou Jian touched the other and was immediately startled. Zhou Jian felt his heart drop as his trembling fingers felt the stone cold body of Wang Tao.

________

Cold.

.

So cold.

.

Really cold.

.

Freezing cold.

.

Why?

.

Is it my body?

.

It feels so nice.

.

Like I'm sinking into the deep ocean.

.

Should I stay like this?

.

I want more.

.

So so cold.

.

I want to drown.

.

To sink.

.

To freeze.

.

To forget.

.

To stop loving.

.

.

.

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

Why is it so painful?

How could love cause such a horrible feeling?

.

.

.

I want to die.

.

.

.

.

I want to see him.

.

.

Why can't he love me?

Is there something wrong with me?

Am I not good enough?

Am I not pure enough?

.

Was I too late?

.

.

.

I hate this.

.

That bastard doesn't even love him.

.

Why? He's so perfect.

.

He's hurting him!

Should I kill him?

No!

He'll hate me.

But then he'll be in pain.

.

.

.

Should I help?

.

.

I don't want to.

I'll just kill him.

No!

He'll never forgive me.

But he cares so much about me.

He loves him more.

I don't want him to hate me.

I want him to love me.

If that bastard's alive he'll never love me.

.

.

No.

He'll still love him.

He'll never stop.

I'm hopeless.

I'm an idiot.

I'm a fool in love.

I should stop loving him.

But I can't.

.

.

.

I want to see him.

I can't bear to hurt him.

I want to be near him.

I love him.

"A Tao!"

.

.

.

Who?

Whose voice?

Sounds familiar.

They have a nice voice.

I like it.

"A Tao!"

They sound worried.

.

.

.

Why?

Who are they calling?

Is something wrong?

"A Tao! A Tao!"

They're shaking me.

His hands are trembling.

.

.

His?

Do I know him?

Him?

How do I know its a him?

.

.

I seem to know them.

Did I forget?

"A Tao! A Tao wake up!"

Something's really wrong now.

I hear it in their voice.

Who is it?

.

.

A…

A Jian?

A Jian.

It's A Jian.

My A Jian.

No.

Chen Xiang's A Jian.

.

.

Still no?

Ah.

Chen Xiang's Jian Ge.

.

.

.

.

Why?

Why Chen Xiang?

Because…

I don't know.

I must've done something wrong.

"A Tao please, please wake up!"

He's trembling again.

I should wake up.

I don't want to.

If I wake up,

I'll just see him and Chen Xiang.

.

But if I don't, I'll never see him.

I'll hurt him.

He's panicking.

He's still shaking me.

I can hear it.

His worry.

His dread.

Why though?

I don't know.

But I should wake up…

Wang Tao finally opened his phoenix eyes and he came into view with Zhou Jian's face ridden with worry. The man was a mess and his breathing was ragged. It seemed like he would've gone crazy in the next second.

Hesitating, Zhou Jian pulled back slowly. Scrunching his brows in confusion, silver eyes watched as shock, relief and confusion twisted on the man's face, he himself seemingly unaware.

"A Jian, what's wrong?"

[ He's normally so calm...]

.

.

[ He's alive...He's...breathing. ]

Zhou Jian suddenly understood what was going and was filled with relief and a fatigue came over him. He felt the urge to hug the other but just rubbed his friends head to reassure the Celestial but in truth it was an attempt to comfort himself.

The Zion had just remembered that Celestials didn't need to breathe and could stop their hearts at any time. They weren't like humans who needed a heart to live. Zhou Jian didn't understand how he only recalled this now.

"I'm fine, I just came to check on you."

"Are you sure? You seemed really worried."

"Mm-hmm."

Wang Tao was pulled up by his friend who then led him back into the house. Sitting him down on the couch, Zhou Jian could not hold dismiss his worries and patted the other down.

He knew Wang Tao was okay and that the cause wasn't even physical but he couldn't explain this fear he had when he felt the other's ice cold body. He knew he wouldn't sleep well until he was absolutely sure the other was fine.

Obediently raising his arms, Wang Tao looked at his fretting friend curiously. He didn't understand what was going on, but the familiar warm feeling thawed his frozen body.

Everywhere the man touched left this burning sensation. His ears turned red as he tried to hide his blush. This was the first time Zhou Jian touched him this much.

The furthest the man had gone was his hand and head. Now Wang Tao found that he liked the other's touch more than he thought. Once the check was over, Wang Tao was a bit disappointed but didn't mind.

Zhou Jian was a bit like him, in the case of not liking to touch others. His friend only felt comfortable touching Wang Tao and his lover so he actually felt quite special, even if there intimacy was quite limited.

Zhou Jian finished his check and was once again relieved. His trembling hand held Wang Tao's as he rested the still cold hand against his cheek. Once his hand stopped shaking, he begged.

"A Tao, please don't do that again. You scared me. I-I...I thought you were dead."

Wang Tao nodded, now understanding the cause for the other's worries. He held back the smile forming at the thought the other cared so much that he panicked. The Celestial felt bad for scaring Zhou Jian and made a note not to do it again.

Wang Tao's chaotic mind settled a little as he thought to himself that things weren't as awful as he thought. Having Zhou Jian care so much for him was a miracle which he used to believe was impossible.