You Can't Save Me

It was already past midnight when Xu Rouguang made it back home. He kept on accepting late-night pick-up of his items, and he felt free to do so since he could get anywhere within a minute. The general used his card to unlock the door and get inside. The lights responded to his presence, but only a dim light would show. After making his way to the fridge to stuff all the fruits and wine he had gotten, he just wanted to cuddle Lai Mingjie in his bed.

Xu Rouguang entered the bedroom and saw that no one was there. However, the light from the private bathroom was also on. His eyes flickered at the thoughts running in his head, but he decided to play. The general walked up to the door and softly turned the knob to a click. He pushed the door open carefully and peeked in. There Lai Mingjie was, brushing his teeth... hair still wet from his shower. He was only in his towel alone.

Unlike what Xu Rouguang thought, Lai Mingjie could see him from the reflection on the mirror. He only shook his head and turned to the door, catching the naughty princess. His glare was warning him and telling him to close the door. Then again, the general only laughed and walked in the bathroom.

Lai Mingjie got water in his mouth, gargled, and spat out the contents. He then barked at the man. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?"

"Sorry. I wanted to see you as soon as I get home." He tried not to have his eyes stray lower than Lai Mingjie's face. "I suddenly left. I didn't mean to do that... I was just..." His eyes grew dimmer, and he couldn't help but lower his head.

"Jie—!"

As soon as he lifted his face, a karate chop arrived at his head, hitting him squarely at the forehead. Lai Mingjie grinned in fury, with his eye twitching. "I haven't forgotten. You even made me pay for that ceiling. Also, the immortals outside the café almost barged in without a cause." He sighed sharply and crossed his arms on his chest. "So? When you left, where did you go?"

Xu Rouguang only consoled his forehead before making a distressed smile. "It somehow jived with the findings Serpent East had about that Dunzhao demon. I felt something was bigger than just randomly summoning demons. They seemed to be starting a rebellion... putting you in the center."

"Me? Hmph, wise." Lai Mingjie only shook his head. "Well, if they plastered my name all over them, even the other demons would go flocking like mindless flies. Then again, if the rebellion would be on earth, I doubt Nuwa hadn't acted on it yet."

"...Could it be that they were hiding in the Abyss?"

"I don't know. As far as I know, the Abyss is an inescapable prison." He twitched and twisted his lips before turning to the direction of the door, thinking about his phone. "Maybe we could ask around the oldest demons and the ones who weren't killed so early in the fall. I'm sure they'll help me save my own ass. Even if they are not willing, this had also become your business." He made a toothy grin, gazing at Xu Rouguang by sliding his eyes to the side. "You could easily kick..."

The look on Lai Mingjie's face froze as he noticed something with the way Xu Rouguang stared at him. It was as if he was dazed just by looking at the other.

To be honest, he was.

Xu Rouguang fixed his eyes on Lai Mingjie's face because he didn't want to get hit by looking at places he shouldn't be. However, the moment Lai Mingjie makes a serious face—and given his gorgeous profile, Xu Rouguang could feel his heart skipping beats and his mind flying off to places. More when Lai Mingjie grows smug and awfully confident like a god who could do everything.

For some reason, Xu Rouguang was like a maiden at heart; and this showed a lot.

Lai Mingjie could only blush faintly when he was getting gawked at. He had not forgotten that he was basically naked, and so getting stared at was making him feel humiliated. Then again, he would have felt fine if his body wasn't skinny and small like this.

"Hey, Rouguang, snap out of it." Lai Mingjie reached out to knock on the other's head, but his wrist was caught by Xu Rouguang. Then, he was pulled closer, one of the general's arms wrapping behind his waist. Lai Mingjie's eyes grew wide before realizing the position they were in. Automatically, his hand flew to block Xu Rouguang's mouth from touching his. "Hey!"

"Jie..." The general whined a little as he chuckled despite having a hand on his face. "I can't help it."

"Not funny. Stop pulling me around." Lai Mingjie tried to pull himself away, but what could his shrimp body do against Xu Rouguang's grip?

"...I thought it's okay for me to kiss you now."

"Yes, it is, but don't fling me around a whore." The demon king finally made it out as Xu Rouguang let him go and dropped both arms to the side. He took a step back but still kept his hand on Xu Rouguang's mouth. "No pulling, no pushing. Or else, I'll beat you up for real. Do you even understand that?"

The general nodded before catching Lai Mingjie's hand that just left his face. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but feel scared whenever I think about what they will do to you. But don't worry, Jie." Instead of eyes filled with determination, the gaze Xu Rouguang gave off was murderous and maniacal like what he was famed for. "I won't let them hurt you."

Lai Mingjie used another hand to cover Xu Rouguang's eyes. "Didn't I tell you I hate those eyes?" He slid his hand to brush his finger along Xu Rouguang's face and finally hold his chin. "Rouguang, you don't have to be really aggressive. Chances are... when the heaven's court passes judgment, it would be very hard to be overturned without shedding blood. Push comes to a shove, just try your best to annihilate those demons attacking the city. I can deal with myself.

"It's a hard pill to swallow, but you can't save me. Not from heaven."

His hand in Xu Rouguang's grip slipped off, but he used it to comb through Xu Rouguang's unruly hair. He also stepped closer and leaned so close that he could brush the tip of his nose against the other's cheek. Their lips touched, and a soft kiss landed on Xu Rouguang's mouth. Lai Mingjie pulled back a little.

"See? No pulling, no pushing. If you mess it up again, I won't sleep next to you anymore."

"...I'll do my best."

Whether it was about holding back or kissing, Xu Rouguang only whispered an answer. He then moved to chase the mouth he wanted to taste again and again. Lai Mingjie didn't pull back and had given him the liberty of sucking on his lips. Perhaps, they both found security in their own world—a world without fear of pain and separation.

None knew where this feeling came from, but they would make use of it as much as they could.

Lai Mingjie finally pulled back after a few minutes to catch his breath. He also wanted to escape the snakes that Xu Rouguang's arms had become. "We should stop here for now. It's getting really cold."

"Can't I take you to bed, Jie?" Xu Rouguang smiled at him, a spark of lust glinting in his eyes.

"Do you even know what to do after that?" Lai Mingjie glared while grinning in mockery.

"Do you?"

"...How about knocking you out?"