His body slowed down as soon as he reached the other side and he hovered in the air for a moment before he slowly sank back to the ground, his boots touching the stone with a crisp sound.

Here in the realm of the gods, the sun was shining despite the tempest raging down below. Bao Feng Yu glanced at it, then followed the same path that Yang Guang had taken before. He did not take the time to look around or pause even when he finally reached the palace with the sand-colored columns. He just walked inside with crisp steps and passed by the servants that curtsied or bowed when they saw him before resuming their work when he was gone.

Bao Feng Yu’s steps carried him to the courtyard with the spring from where the faint sound of splashing water could be heard. When he arrived, Yang Guang had just stepped out of the spring, his white inner robe and golden hair still dripping wet, a handful of translucent drops trailing down the curves of his face and body before falling onto the stone floor that had been warmed by the sun.

Bao Feng Yu stopped in his tracks but his gaze traveled the rest of the distance, seeming to wrap around the other god, its touch as warm as the sunlight shining down from above.

Yang Guang turned around, a faint smile lifting up the corners of his lips. He reached up and gathered his hair into his hands, twisting it up and gently wringing it. The water dripped down, traveling over the curve of his shoulders and back, over his buttocks, and finally fell onto the ground as well, making the sandy stone seem darker.

Bao Feng Yu’s stern face slowly lit up with a smile as well. He walked over and gathered the other man into his arms, reaching up to brush through his hair. A trace of magic played around his fingers and those soft strands dried at once, feeling like silk against his skin once more.

Bao Feng Yu lifted one of them to his lips, leaving a faint kiss on it. Up here in the gods’ realm, their abilities did not have as much of an effect as long as they did not use them deliberately and they did not repel each other as they did in the realm of the mortals. Standing this close was not a problem, touching for more than a spell was not impossible. In fact, right now, the warmth of one body was transmitted to the other, any hint of coldness dispelled, making both of them smile.

Yang Guang craned his neck and their lips met again just that this time, they did not need to separate immediately. Those blue eyes met a pair of gray ones before the sun-kissed eyelids lowered, shielding them from view. The world reduced to a gentle embrace, a pair of strong hands, and a pair of slender legs wrapped in the thinnest of fabrics. The sound of their heartbeats and the occasional drop of water were the only sounds accompanying their kiss.

For all they cared, they could have stayed like this for eternity.

Still, Yang Guang pulled back after a while, his fingers resting on Bao Feng Yu’s chest to stop him from following when he turned. He didn’t go far though. He merely walked the few steps to the bench amidst the flowers and picked up the white outer robe lying there. He put it back on and carefully tied the golden sash before he turned back to his lover, smiling brightly, his blue eyes shimmering in the light.

Bao Feng Yu’s gaze turned gentler. He reached out a hand and waited for Yang Guang to come over and take it. He pulled him close and then shifted out of the small path between the flowers and onto the empty space next to it, his mind filled with the sight of Yang Guang on that meadow.

Yang Guang turned, his back leaning against his lover’s chest. He raised his other arm, the outer sleeve dropping down to his elbow while only the thin inner robe clung to his skin. His fingers brushed Bao Feng Yu’s cheek, light as a feather scratching his heart.

The god of storms leaned closer but when those fingertips reached his jaw and his lips were about to reach his skin, his lover turned in his arms again, dancing out of his reach. There was a twinkle in his eyes, a silent invitation to follow along now that they were no longer restricted by their powers.

Bao Feng Yu did not need more than that. With a swift motion, he shook out his gray sleeves and then took a step toward him. In just a few moves, he had caught up to him, reaching for his hand. This time, Yang Guang did not shy away. He stood on the spot, one arm moving up while the other moved down. It looked graceful and just like an invitation.

Bao Feng Yu inched closer, his hands following the motion and catching one of those hands, their fingers intertwining. He pulled and Yang Guang whirled around, finally facing him again. Their gazes met, entangling in the air.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, they leaned closer as if they were naturally being drawn to each other.

The God of the Sun reached up with his other arm, his fingers brushing his lover’s gray hair, his cheek, his jaw, and finally his neck before they swerved to the side, wrapping around his shoulders.

Bao Feng Yu tilted his head and tugged at his hand again, making him turn on the spot, whirling around with him. There was no sound in this courtyard save for that of their steps, the rustling of their clothes and the leaves of the flowers, and their faint breath.

They danced, their steps leading them around the spring. Their bodies would stick together for one moment before Yang Guang would disentangle from his lover’s embrace, whirling around by himself before he returned into the arms of the person already waiting for him.

Bao Feng Yu did not let him out of his eyes for a single moment, his gaze much softer than it had been down in the mortal world. With steady steps he kept up, with gentle motions he welcomed him, his heart beating like a steady drum accompanying their dance.

Finally, the sky that had long become orange turned into red, indicating the evening’s last hours. Yang Guang stopped where he stood and looked up to the clouds above. Bao Feng Yu made use of the opportunity and with one step, he stood behind his lover again, pulling him up against his chest and wrapping his arms around his waist.

Yang Guang closed his eyes and just quietly enjoyed the warmth of the evening sun and his lover’s embrace. Bao Feng Yu did not move either. He just held him and also raised his face toward the sun, closing his eyes just like his lover had done to enjoy the last rays of sunlight that still wrapped them in their warmth.

Only when the light had almost vanished did Bao Feng Yu move again. He cracked his eyes open and then bent down to pick up his lover. The ankle bracelets gave a crisp tinkling sound. The two smiled at each other and Bao Feng Yu carried him inside. There was a faint trace of magic in the air and in the darkened sky, some clouds gathered, rumbling faintly before, drop by drop, rain fell, prattling onto the palace’s roof like music.

Yang Guang held onto his lover’s shoulders and looked up to the ceiling, listening to the rain. His lips curled into a smile and finally, he rested his head on his lover’s shoulder, closing his eyes, and was slowly lulled into sleep by the rhythmic sound and the faint swaying of Bao Feng Yu’s steps.

His lover brought him into the inner chamber and laid him down on the bed in the middle of the room. He smiled when he saw Yang Guang’s closed eyes and the faint curve that remained on his lips. He carefully opened the golden sash and pulled the white outer robe from his shoulders, putting both aside. Taking off his own black robe, he slipped into bed next to him. He grabbed the thin blanket from the foot of the bed and gently covered their bodies with it. Then he gathered Yang Guang back into his arms and closed his eyes, falling asleep to the pitter-patter of the rain as well.