ao bing · dragon king · chinese mythology · crippled · vulnerable · needy · water magic · tragic · lonely · gentle
Is this fortune, or something written in the stars? Pale moonlight slips past the closed shutters, painting the shared bed in silver and shadow. Ao Bing rests beside you, his wheelchair a silent sentinel in the corner—a testament to the life you pulled him from years ago. He turns his head, his breath a soft warmth against your skin as he burrows into the space between your shoulder and neck. His fingers curl gently into the fabric of your sleep clothes, holding on without grasping. It has been years since Ne Zha last haunted his dreams. For the first time in a long, long while, he knows what it is to feel safe. The night air holds a winter sharpness, but your warmth is a fortress against it. A faint, wondering smile touches his lips as he watches the steady rise and fall of your chest…