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The door closed behind Gong Jun with a thud. He kicked off his shoes while he chuckled to himself as he heard the two loves of his life once again in an argument. After a quick stop to get some water, Gong Jun followed Xiao Yu’s groaning and Zhehan’s fervent speech. He stopped in the doorway to Zhehan's study, leaning against the door frame as he took in the sight before him.
Xiao Yu, a love he never expected and had shied away from for a long time, sprawled across the loveseat, one leg hooked over an arm, hands covering his face as he shook his head.
Zhang Zhehan, his zhiji, the whirlwind romance he never thought he’d get to have in any lifetime, paced around the coffee table he had insisted on squeezing into the room, hands moving wildly as he spoke. Amusement and passion sparkled from his eyes, the quirk of his lips betraying how much he enjoyed riling up his childhood friend and husband.
“Hanhan, that is not how *anything* happened,” Xiao Yu groaned while he rubbed his temples.
“Of course it is! You were there, how do you not remember this?”
“You know what I remember?” Xiao Yu sat up, caught Gong Jun’s gaze and rolled his eyes. The laugh it pulled from Gong Jun betrayed his presence to Zhehan who whirled around.
“Junjun! You’re back!”
Gong Jun scrambled to set the glasses on the side table kept by the doorway specifically for this purpose and caught Zhehan, who threw himself at Gong Jun, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
“I’m home.”
They shared a brief kiss before Zhehan, arms wrapped around Gong Jun’s neck, leaned back to look at Gong Jun seriously. “Junjun. Please tell our husband exactly how we met.”
Gong Jun blinked at Zhehan before looking over at Xiao Yu. “What?”
Xiao Yu huffed. “He’s writing a book based on us, and he is misconstruing everything.”
“I am not.” Zhehan stuck his lower lip out, puffed out his cheeks and gazed up at Gong Jun from underneath his eyelashes. “Junjun, you believe me, don’t you?”
And what could Gong Jun do but melt at that gaze. He pressed his lips to Zhehan’s forehead. “I’m sure what you’ve written is not only completely accurate, but eloquent as well.”
Zhehan beamed, the gremlin edge still in his eyes as he turned to face Xiao Yu. “Told you!”
“Junjun hasn’t even read it yet!”
“And you clearly need a refresher on history.” Zhehan stuck his tongue out, and squealed when Xiao Yu leapt from the loveseat at him. Gong Jun lifted Zhehan and spun him around, laughter from both of them filling the air. Xiao Yu thudded onto Gong Jun’s back, which caused him to stumble, but Xiao Yu’s firm hands caught him and stabilized him.
“It’s called artistic license, Xiao Yu!”
“It’s called willfully misrepresenting the events, Hanhan! And do you really need to include all the sex details, isn’t your mother going to read this?”
“You mean our mother, and that’s up to her.”
Xiao Yu groaned again. He leaned his forehead on Gong Jun’s back, snuck his arms around Gong Jun’s waist. “Junjun, help me here.”
“I haven’t read it yet.”
“You should, Junjun, it’s so good!” Zhehan beamed at him, pecked the tip of his nose before he wormed his way out of Gong Jun’s embrace and hurried over to his desk. “Get snacks and the photobook, I’ll read this aloud to you both and point out where everything happened.”
And even though Xiao Yu cursed, Gong Jun knew there was no other way they would rather spend the evening than indulging Zhehan.
Two moons
Brethren and yet not
In space far off
Where we set our scene
The governments of which seek to always bind stronger ties to avoid unseemly acts
It is four families we find
Though only three are relevant to our tale
Bound by law and tradition, but well
When have the young ever let that stop them?
“ That’s how you’re starting it!”
“What’s wrong with that opening?”
“It’s so…poetic.”
Zhehan rolled his eyes and flicked Xiao Yu on the forehead. “It’s supposed to be, now hush so I can continue.”
Gong Jun scratched his neck, nails deep in the skin, red blooming in their wake, as he skirted around the balcony, relishing in the fresh air.
Well.
As fresh of air as it ever got on either moon.
He stopped at the railing of the veranda, eyes closed, and lifted his face up to the starry expanse of the sky. He allowed the weight of the moment to pull at him until he sighed and the scuffle of a shoe pulled him back. His eyes flew open as he spun to face the intruder.
His breath left, as did the weight, the dragging sensation of weighty expectations, smothered by awe and light at the person standing in front of him.
Their long hair was up in a half ponytail with beads set throughout it, face framed by loose strands. The red of their suit gleamed, perfectly broken up by the black harness wrapped around their torso.
The person chuckled, eyes turning to crescents with the strength of their smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Gong Jun breathed out, not blinking as the person walked up to him, head tilted to the side.
“What’s someone as handsome as you doing out here?”
Gong Jun grimaced. “Hiding.”
A quirk of the eyebrow. “Oh?”
Gong Jun nodded, shoulders hunched and glanced to the side. “I’m here to meet my fiancé for the first time.”
“Oh.” The man blinked. “And you have to do it in front of everyone, huh?”
Gong Jun nodded, eyes once again drawn to the vision in front of him. The tension which lived in his shoulders lessened, and while the nerves which had turned his stomach all week were present, he realized that he could breathe easier than in the last month. “Why are you here?”
The man shrugged one shoulder, giving an impish grin. “I’m here to support my bro, but he wanted a moment alone, so I started walking.”
Gong Jun nodded, breath stuttering as the man stepped closer.
“You still look pretty nervous.”
Gong Jun tried to swallow but couldn’t. He nodded.
The person tsked, grabbing one of Gong Jun’s wrists and holding his hand up. “You’re trembling.”
Another nod..
A returning smile, eyes sparkling. “I can help with that.”
“Oh?”
Gong Jun barely finished speaking before the man pulled him to an alcove in the wall, shoving him in and immediately falling to his knees. Gong Jun watched as the man grumbled and repositioned a bit, seeming to favor a leg, before fumbling with Gong Jun’s pants.
“Wha-” Gong Jun choked as within the blink of an eye his cock went from soft and being hit with the chilled air to surrounded by wet warmth and quickly growing hard. A hand immediately landed on the other’s head as his own hit the wall.
The man hummed, swiping his tongue over the tip of Gong Jun’s cock before he began to bob up and down, slowly taking more and more in until he gagged. Gong Jun tried to pull him off, or at least to stop him from trying to take more in, since he knew his cock was too big for most people, well, everyone up to this point, to handle.
But the man batted at his efforts, popping off his cock with a saliva trail connecting them and blinked up at him. “Let me?”
“Fuck.” Gong Jun nodded, bending his knees and pushing his hips out to hopefully make it slightly easier on the other, and allowed himself to just feel as the man’s wet mouth worked further and further down, to feel as his throat protested at the first poke of the tip of Gong Jun’s cock, and then relaxed and allowed it to enter and slide until the man’s nose was buried in hair.
Gong Jun gasped when the man swallowed, hand clenching in the man’s long locks, hips stuttering without intention.
The man hummed, and that was all it took for Gong Jun to groan and release down his throat. The man kept sucking as Gong Jun panted, slowly returning to his body. Once he could control his limbs, he pulled the man off his cock, drinking in the red lips and cheeks as he slumped to the ground, pulling at the band of the man's pants.
“Shit.” The man stood, pulling his cock out in haste and wasted no time in filling Gong Jun’s mouth with it.
Gong Jun sighed, sucking and swallowing and dragging his tongue over the hard, silken cock, enjoying the way his head was pinned between the wall, cushioned by a hand, and the hips in front of him. A thumb brushed across his cheek, pulling a low, deep moan from Gong Jun, and the next second, he sputtered and tried to swallow around the fluid suddenly in this mouth.
“Shit, fuck. Sorry.” The man panted, rubbing his head while he immediately crouched down to help Gong Jun lean forward.
Gong Jun managed to chuckle through the burning in his nose and throat. “What, you weren’t ready?”
The man returned the laugh. “I really wasn’t, fuck.” He sat next to Gong Jun, leaning into him, head on his shoulder, eyes closed.
“Zhang Zhehan!”
Zhehan cackled, tugging at Gong Jun’s red ears. “What, bao?”
“You can’t put that in there?”
“That’s what I told him!” Xiao Yu smacked Zhehan’s arm, earning an elbow to the stomach in return.
“Why not, there’s nothing wrong with it!”
Gong Jun sputtered. “What’s this nonsense about Xiang-ge and I being betrothed?”
Zhehan rolled his eyes. “Artistic license, it makes the story more fun, don’t you think?”
Xiao Yu reached behind Zhehan to pat Gong Jun’s shoulder.
“If you two are done complaining, we can continue.”
The man had been called away just as he and Gong Jun had gotten themselves sorted -
“No you weren’t.”
Zhehan poked at Gong Jun’s cheek. “Shush.”
The man had been called away just as he and Gong Jun had gotten themselves sorted, to go help his friend finish getting ready. It wasn’t until he was gone that Gong Jun, heart sinking to his feet, realized that they had never shared their names.
The rest of the night was spent in a daze for Gong Jun. He entered the ball when cued, eyes distant and his infamous cold prince face on as he bowed and shook hands with his betrothed, who, as far as he would be able to remember later, greeted him with the same impassivity. Gong Jun was barely at the ball for five minutes before he was ushered away. Excuses of feeling sick spread and reassurances that no, this meant nothing bad for the betrothal, the wedding * would * still happen, he was just so excited and full of nerves, poor thing, that it had all gone straight to turning his stomach.
Gong Jun didn’t care. Let them say what they wanted.
He now had one goal in mind.
To find the man in red.
The following days, when he and his betrothed -
Xiao Yu sputtered and heat instantly colored Gong Jun’s cheeks.
“Betrothed! You have us betrothed? Zhang Zhehan!”
Zhehan cackled, flopping onto Xiao Yu’s lap and swinging his legs over Gong Jun’s lap. “There needs to be a conflict in the story, that’s just basic storytelling.”
Without waiting for a response, he continued.
The following days, when he and his betrothed were supposed to be on outings and getting seen and showing how much of a good match they were, Gong Jun instead spent his time searching both moons for any sign of the man.
Eight days later, with still no sign, Gong Jun wandered into the nearest park and slumped on a bench. How could it be so hard to track down one person?
Shouts and cheers of triumph interrupted his wallowing, pulling his attention over to the field. Curiosity peaked, Gong Jun wandered over, his breath instantly catching when he saw who was playing.
Dripping sweat, smiling wide, and in the middle of a pile of shouting men, stood the man Gong Jun had been searching for. As the artificial breeze blew by, he could hear the conversation from the field.
“Alright, alright. One more game, come on.” The man casually tossed the see-through, lines highlighted with neon lights, ball up and down, catching it one-handed before tossing it again.
Gong Jun instantly sat and watched, mouth growing dryer and dryer as the game progressed. At one point he swore he caught the eye of the man, whose grins and demeanor seemed to take on a more determined edge.
With a shout, he scored the final point to end the game, evaded everyone on the field, and jogged over to where Gong Jun sat.
“Didn’t think you were the sporty type.”
Gong Jun tried to swallow the dryness from his mouth. “Ummm, I prefer the video gaming leagues.”
“Ah, that makes sense. Most people seem to, the gravity fields can get weird and make physical sports harder to play.”
Gong Jun nodded as if this was common knowledge. “You’re really good.”
A shrug. “It’s a team effort.”
“And you’re really good.”
The man laughed, sitting next to Gong Jun and leaning into him. “You liked what you saw then?”
How did his mouth grow even dryer at that? His face flushed, mouth opening slightly as he nodded, unable to break the hungry stare focused on him.
The man placed his hand lightly on Gong Jun’s leg as he leaned in, “Wanna have some fun too?”
A sigh of yes barely passed his lips before they were crushed by the man’s, mouth instantly invaded by his tongue. Almost without thinking Gong Jun’s hands landed on the man’s waist, fingers nearly touching and causing him to groan.
“So stranger,” the man stared up at him, smile wide and eyes sparkling, hair plastered to his forehead from the sweat of their exertions, “can I get a name this time?”
Gong Jun huffed, leaning down to brush their noses together without thought. “Gong Jun.”
“Junjun.” Somehow the smile brightened more. “I’m Zhang Zhehan.”
“Are you going to put in how you completely avoided and stopped talking to everyone for the next three weeks?” Xiao Yu jabbed his elbow into Zhehan’s ribs, mock glaring.
Zhehan laughed, “That’s not what happened.”
Even Gong Jun raised an eyebrow while Xiao Yu snorted.
“Sure it’s not. I’m absolutely making it up that your ma sent me after you once we figured out what was happening between you two on set.”
Zhehan rolled his eyes, throwing a wink at Gong Jun before burrowing into his side, dragging Gong Jun’s arm to sit over his shoulder.
“Maybe that’s what happened, but yes, if you must have the story spoiled for you. I have written something along that line.”
“Something along that line?”
“Mmm.”
Over the course of the next two weeks, which were thought of as the most crucial and important time for newly announced couples to be seen together, Gong Jun skipped all of them.
“He doesn’t mind,” Zhehan commented at one point as they were walking along a replica river boardwalk, the holographic river today set to be gently flowing and covered in flower petals.
Gong Jun blinked at Zhehan.
“I could hear your brain running a mile a minute, Junjun.” Zhehan squeezed Gong Jun’s. “How hard has your fiancé been working on meeting and being seen?”
Well, he had a point there, Gong Jun had to admit. Excuses were always accepted, and some even reached him before he could send his.
“See? He doesn’t mind.”
“And do you?” Gong Jun stopped walking.
Zhehan hummed, leaning against the railing and staring at the holographic river below. Gong Jun leaned against him, arms pressed close together.
They stood in silence until the projected daytime sky faded, revealing the unending universe beyond.
“Push it back.”
Gong Jun’s father sighed. “You know it’s not that easy.”
“I’m not ready.”
“The betrothal committee doesn’t care.”
“Please, ba, there’s gotta be some way to push back the wedding date, especially since we haven’t yet hit the minimum outings.”
His father chuckled. “You’ve both been evading those, don’t think your ma and I don’t know what you’re up to.”
Gong Jun’s ears turned red, but he kept the earnest expression in place.
Finally his father sighed. “I will see if we can get you some more time for whatever plan it is you have in your head. But Gong Jun. You can’t avoid this forever.”
Gong Jun hugged his father, heart light and bubbling. “Thanks, ba.”
Meanwhile on the other moon, Achilleon, Zhang Zhehan sat with Xiao Yu on a low wall at the cujo court, passing a cujo ball made to look like a basketball with the neon lights between them.
“You have to be seen with him sometime, Xiao Yu. You are marrying him.”
Xiao Yu scoffed. “We really don’t. Neither of us want this, it’s not like he’s made any effort to honor any of the planned dates.”
Zhehan chuckled. “Neither have you.”
“Besides, what if there’s a way out of this?”
Zhehan raised an eyebrow. “Like what? Usually I’m the fengzi one coming up with these plans.”
“Then why don’t you?”
Zhehan shrugged. “It’s not like it changes anything between us.”
Xiao Yu scowled at him, grabbing the ball with both hands and leaning against Zhehan. “You think it won’t?”
“It’s not like we lose our ability to visit and go places. Nothing has to change, Yuyu.” Zhehan rested his head on Xiao Yu’s, hand settling on the other's knee and squeezed it.
Xiao Yu sighed. “It seems wrong.”
“We said we’d stay together and we will.”
Xiao Yu hummed, the air around them still tense with the unsaid and unknown.
“It would be different if we could pick and decide for ourselves.” Zhehan muttered.
Xiao Yu nodded. “Yeah. It would. And then we could be sure we could stay together.”
Zhehan hummed and turned his head to place a kiss on Xiao Yu’s temple. “Maybe you’ll like this guy and fall hopelessly in love with him and it won't matter if he makes us get divorced.”
Xiao Yu snorted, pulling a laugh from Zhehan.
“More like you'll fall hopelessly in love with your match and then convince him that it doesn’t matter if we are already married.”
“Maybe.”
Xiao Yu lifted his head to stare at Zhehan. “Maybe?”
“I’ve met someone.”
Gong Jun’s stomach dropped, announcement in his hand shaking as the words sunk in.
:ANNOUNCING THE ENGAGEMENT OF MERXAT YALKUN OF DEIDAM TO ONE ZHANG ZHEHAN OF MOON ACHILLEON. THE BALL CELEBRATING THIS ESTEEMED MATCH IS…:
The announcement fluttered to the floor, landing softer than a feather on water. Gong Jun’s eyes burned as he pulled in a shaky breath before grabbing his coat–the atmosphere for the day had been set to be reminiscent of a chill earthen fall day–and ran.
Past the cujo court, out of the park, no sign of Zhehan. Gong Jun cursed himself for never getting the other’s address as he steered his feet towards the river covered in autumn leaves, and hoped. Hoped that Zhehan wouldn’t vanish, hoped that maybe, just maybe, he’d agree to his half-formed plan.
And there, a figure, leaning against the rail, head upturned and looking somehow more breathtaking than ever before.
Zhang Zhehan.
Gong Jun gasped, nearly choking on the half-sob that threatened to leave his body as he slowed, stopping just short of the other man. He drank in the way Zhehan’s neck moved as he swallowed, the brief quiver of his lips as if he fought off a smile, instead pushing them into a tight line.
“Zhehan.”
Zhehan blinked rapidly before lowering his head to look at Gong Jun. “Junjun.”
They stared at each other, the air vanishing from their lungs as the moment extended between rapid heartbeats.
Feeling his heart tremble and nearly break, Gong Jun reached out, cupping Zhehan’s face in his large hands and stepping into his space until they were pressed together, head to toe as their lips met for a kiss full of teeth, tongue, and desperation.
Breaking apart for air several minutes later, Zhehan’s hands white-knuckled on Gong Jun’s shoulders, Gong Jun marveled at the unshed tears which sat like pearls in Zhehan’s eyes.
“Junjun. You saw.”
Gong Jun nodded. “Don’t go through with it.”
Zhang Zhehan chuckled. “What are you thinking, bao?”
Gong Jun crouched in the shadows, bag by his feet, nervously checking the time every few minutes.
Zhehan was late.
Not his normal five to ten minutes late, no. It was now two hours past the time they agreed to meet.
Chewing on his lip, Gong Jun made up his mind. He grabbed his bag and made his way to the area he knew Zhehan lived in on the other moon, grateful that the usual build up of traffic on the lunar bridge was lower than usual. He paced down the street, trying to look as unobtrusive as possible and pondering how to decide which house to try when he saw him.
On a small balcony, bathed in virtual moonlight, stood Zhang Zhehan, hair up in a sloppy ponytail with jewels strung through it. His white top had small black bows all over it, round, perky ass shown off in the black pants he wore. Gong Jun watched his shoulders lift and fall in what must have been a sigh as Zhehan leaned, bracing his arms on the balcony railing and resting his head on a hand.
Gong Jun snuck closer, enchanted, pausing under a tree when he could hear what Zhehan spoke.
“Oh Junjun. My dear Junjun. If only you were here to hear my words. I fear we shall not see each other, my dear Junjun. I can only wish that you and your betrothed will be happy.”
Gong Jun blinked. Zhehan couldn’t be backing out, he had been so excited for their plan, for their life. Before he could step forward, Zhehan continued.
“I hope you can forgive me, bao. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think you would be better off this way. As much as I am loath for you to, you should forget me as well.”
Hurt pierced through Gong Jun, cutting his breath short and setting his hands to tremble. He stepped forward, unable to help the puppy eyes and pouty lip he pushed out as he stared up at Zhehan. “Zhang Zhehan.”
Zhehan blinked, looking down right at Gong Jun. Gong Jun’s heart eased as the expression on Zhehan’s face turned from one filled with sorrow to one beaming sunlight.
“Junjun!”
Gong Jun couldn't help the chuckle pulled from him. “What’s wrong, Hanhan. Why are you here?”
Zhehan’s face dropped. “It’s my aunt. She’s put me under lockdown, Junjun.”
“Can’t you sneak out?”
Zhehan hesitated.
Gong Jun tilted his head. “Hanhan?”
“It’s just. Ma is here.”
Gong Jun nodded, understanding blooming. “Can I come up?”
An amused smirk tugged at Zhehan’s lips. “And how are you going to do that, bao?”
Gong Jun stared at the trellis, full of fake vines and flowers, but with plenty of room for him to scramble up.
He thought so, at least, until he was halfway up and his foot slipped, a gasp escaping and pulling an accompanying one from Zhehan, who reached out to him.
“Junjun!”
Gong Jun panted, fingers tight on the trellis as he repositioned his feet and pulled himself as close to the wall as he could. “I’m fine, Hanhan.”
He managed to climb the rest of the trellis, Zhehan grabbing under Gong Jun’s arms to help pull him over the railing, falling backwards with Gong Jun landing on top of him.
“Fuck, are you alright, Hanhan?” Gong Jun pushed himself up to stare at the vision below him, soft smile clearing the worry from his face and Zhehan cackled.
“Yes, I’m fine, Junjun.” He slipped a hand behind Gong Jun’s neck, pulling him down into a long, slow kiss, teeth dragging over lips, tongues teasing and testing.
Gong Jun groaned, settling between Zhehan’s legs.
“Don’t put in another fucking scene!”
“Why not?” Zhehan demanded, slipping a bare foot under Xiao Yu’s shirt and causing him to yelp.
“Because, A-Han, this is already over the top. What is that whole balcony scene?”
Zhehan stuck his tongue out, pushing his feet against Xiao Yu to cuddle into Gong Jun more. “Can I continue? Don’t think I didn’t notice you being interested, Xiao Yu.”
Xiao Yu scoffed, but began to massage the calf of Zhehan’s left leg, catching Gong Jun’s eye and rolling his own. Gong Jun let out his hihihi laugh before pressing his lips to Zhehan’s head.
“Keep going, bao.”
Zhehan pouted up at him.
Gong Jun now rolled his eyes and squeezed Zhehan closer. “You can continue with the smut.”
He warmed at Zhehan’s beaming smile, noticing from the corner of his eye how Xiao Yu settled seeing it as well.
They lay, panting, on the cold balcony, both shivering but unwilling to move. Zhehan lazily dragged his fingers up and down and across Gong Jun’s back, humming low under his breath. Gong Jun lifted his head from where it lay on Zhehan’s chest, placing a kiss over Zhehan’s heart and pushing up to his elbows to stare down at him.
“A-Han.”
Zhehan smiled, turning his head into the hand cupping his cheek. “Junjun.”
Gong Jun brushed their lips together, yearning in his heart already growing and aching at the thought of leaving, even for a short amount of time. “You’ll come with me?”
“I’ll always be by your side, Junjun.”
As they shared another long kiss, tender and sweet, hand beginning to roam once more, the opening of a door and a gasp broke them apart.
Next thing Gong Jun knew, hands had grabbed him and were pulling him back. He struggled against them, reaching out to Zhehan who was struggling against his own guards, tears flowing down his cheeks, hand outstretched.
“Zhehan!” Gong Jun shouted before the world turned black.
Gong Jun woke to someone pounding on his door. He groaned, forcing himself to roll out of his bed and stumble to it. He pulled it open and stopped, blinking, trying to understand who he was seeing in front of him.
“About time! Come on, we need to go now.”
Gong Jun shook his head, blinking again. “What?”
The person sighed, rubbing at his temple. “You two are perfect for each other. Did you just wake up?”
Gong Jun nodded, then quickly stopped as the world tilted and he stumbled back. The person swore, grabbing Gong Jun to keep him on his feet, and guided him to sit in a chair. Gong Jun groaned as fingers prodded at his head, wincing as they hit upon a bump.
“They got you good, fuck. Okay, stay here.”
Gong Jun propped his head on a hand, eyes squeezed shut and tried to think. All he could hear was the sound of Zhehan shouting his name, reaching for him. Tears burned in his eyes.
“He’s fine. Here.”
Gong Jun peeled an eye open to see a glass being offered, bubbling with carbonation and, he suspected, something for the pain. He accepted it, sipping at it.
“If Hanhan has mentioned me, he’s probably called me Xiao Yu.” The man held out a hand.
Gong Jun hummed, shaking it. “Thank you, Xiang-ge. What…what’s happened -”
“Wait wait wait.”
Zhehan glared at Xiao Yu, who rolled his eyes.
“You’re the one who has us fucking betrothed, but have we even met yet?”
Gong Jun chuckled, it turning into a guffawing hihihi when Zhehan elbowed him in the side. “I’m sorry, bao, but he has a point. Have we met yet? I was only at the betrothal ball for a few minutes.”
Zhehan humphed, and glared at the tablet he had been reading from. When Xiao Yu pulled his left leg up to start rubbing around the knee, Zhehan merely side-eyed him before sniffing. “No, you two have not met yet.”
“Alright, that’s all I wanted to know.”
Zhehan stuck his tongue out and turned back to the tablet.
Gong Jun hummed, shaking it. “Thank you, Xiang Ge. What…what’s happened to Zhehan?”
Xiao Yu grimaced. “He's been sent to his family's country estate. From what I’ve been able to gather, they’re keeping him locked in just one room.”
Gong Jun chewed at his lip. While not altogether horrible, the countryside of both moons was rather lackluster for any sort of permanent living, being full of nothing but greenhouses to attempt to feed the cities for each moon.
“His aunt plans to keep him there until the wedding, which has now been moved to the other planet, and none of us are allowed to attend.”
“What! We have to go, why are you still here?” Gong Jun jumped to his feet, immediately sinking down again with a groan as his head throbbed.
Xiao Yu grimaced. “It may take both of us to get out of the cities, and I don’t know how much time you’ve spent in the countryside, but to be frank, it fucking sucks and is boring.”
“Company, then?”
Xiao Yu laughed. “Yeah. Here.” He handed Gong Jun another glass. “Drink this and don't move for ten minutes. It should help. I’ll get us packed and ready.”
Gong Jun stared at the… was it an actual car? that Xiao Yu led him to.
“Xiang-ge?”
Xiao Yu glanced at Gong Jun, flashing a quick smile. “You like it?”
“It’s gorgeous, but…”
Xiao Yu laughed. “Yeah, that’s everyone’s reaction. It’s not an original, no one has those here. But it is modeled as close as possible while still maintaining all the changes and necessities for moon travel outside of the cities.”
“Wow, amazing.” Gong Jun’s eyes stayed wide as Xiao Yu took his bags, throwing them in the back of the not-quite-a-hover-car-but-not-quite-an-Earth-car and opened the passenger door for Gong Jun.
“Let’s go get that idiot.”
Gong Jun barked a laugh, sliding in and marveling at the dashboard in front of him. Somehow the extra buttons and gauges needed for the moons fit the refined style perfectly.
Sliding in the driver’s seat, Xiao Yu pushed the start button and set to easing them onto the street, and out of the city, having already gained the sticker needed to leave the gates and being able to drive right through.
Gong Jun at first watched the passing area with curiosity. He had hardly been out of the cities of the twin moons, the last time being years before on a school trip to one of the greenhouses. What began as interest in peaked ice caps and craters of various sizes quickly wore down to boredom as the area flattened and dug on.
Xiao Yu chuckled. “Told you. It’s really not that bad. Closer to the Zhang estate the scenery picks back up and there’s actually some really cool stuff over there.”
“Have you been there a lot?”
Xiao Yu hummed. “A fair bit, yeah. We’ve been friends for ages.”
“So why weren’t you -” Gong Jun cut himself off, blushing and biting his lower lip. Risking a glance at Xiao Yu, he saw that he was unbothered by the question, a quirk to his lips betraying his amusement as he stared at what passed as a road ahead.
“Maybe because we were already friends. Does anyone really know why the Councils decide the matches they do?”
“I suppose not,” Gong Jun whispered, staring down at his hands. He startled, heart beat racing, when Xiao Yu reached over to squeeze a hand.
“We haven’t talked about it much.”
“We haven’t.”
“Maybe -” Xiao Yu’s sentence was cut off as the car bounced once, twice, and then jostled from side to side. Gong Jun grabbed onto his seat, staring out the windshield and gaping at the number of craters he saw dotting the road.
“What the fuck! These weren’t on the report!” Xiao Yu roared, both hands on the wheel as he attempted to navigate around as many as possible. A particularly hard THUD made them both wince.
With a growl that went straight to Gong Jun’s cock, Xiao Yu pushed some buttons on the dashboard and accelerated the vehicle. The jostling lessened slightly, enough that Xiao Yu’s white-knuckle grip could relax, and a few minutes later, they were through.
No sooner had they each breathed a sigh of relief when a high pitched whining noise began, and the car slowed, puttering to a stop.
Xiao Yu slammed a hand on the steering wheel as he swore. “Those fuckers! They swore these panels were next level and wouldn’t buckle or let lunar dust in.” He opened his door, leaning the seat forward to grab some rags and a mask from the back, threw a mask at Gong Jun, and slammed the door shut.
Gong Jun quickly put the mask on and followed Xiao Yu, stopping in his tracks, eyes widening, as he caught sight of Xiao Yu.
His face already smeared with some sort of oil, lunar dust kissing his hair, eyes intense and focused with arm muscles moving and bulging as he leaned over the engine, wiping at it furiously. He glanced at Gong Jun, a delighted sparkle appearing in his eyes.
“Jun-di, can you grab the jack? I need to hammer out the worthless bottom panel before we can get going.”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
In a daze Gong Jun found the jack in the back of the car and carried it over to Xiao Yu, who wiped his forehead with his shirt, exposing his stomach which made Gong Jun suddenly in need of water, before accepting it and crouching down to lift up the car.
Gong Jun was so focused on the movement of Xiao Yu’s muscles and the general grime that one picks up doing car maintenance that next thing he knew, he was back sitting in the passenger seat, the car humming happily, and Xiao Yu wiping at it his face and hair, grimacing as the lunar dust refused to be removed.
“I was thinking of dyeing it anyway. Guess now I don’t need to.” Xiao Yu muttered under his breath.
“It looks good, Xiang-ge.”
The words slipped from Gong Jun before he had fully thought them through. Heat flooded his cheeks and he clasped a hand over his mouth, groaning.
Xiao Yu chuckled. “Thanks, Jun-di.”
Without another word they continued on their way, the air between them now thicker than before.
Xiao Yu pulled the car over when they could just see the Zhang estate on the horizon. They stared at it, Gong Jun’s stomach sinking as he took in the walls and the overall…bleakness which greeted them.
“It looks worse than it is.” Xiao Yu commented, hand briefly settling on Gong Jun’s shoulder before vanishing just as quickly.
“How are we getting him out?”
Xiao Yu smirked, sliding on a pair of sunglasses Gong Jun hadn’t noticed sitting on the dashboard. “Zhehan and I would sneak out all the time as kids. I know a way to get in.”
Even though a part of Gong Jun felt like he shouldn’t be impressed by that, he was.
“Oh, okay. I’ll follow you, Xiang-ge.”
“Da-ge, no!”
Zhehan cackled, leaning into Gong Jun and staring up at him. “Tell me that’s not what happened.”
Gong Jun sputtered, staring helplessly down at the gremlin in his lap. With a pout, he looked at Xiao Yu with the best puppy eyes he could muster.
Xiao Yu, however, was no help. He curled over the arm of the loveseat, one hand barely managing to hold onto the orange he had been peeling, as he laughed deep and hard from his stomach.
Zhehan sat up, wiping at his eyes and set the tablet on the table. He turned to face Gong Jun, holding his cheeks with both hands. “If you really want me to change it I will.”
Being hit with the sincerity which always beamed from Zhehan’s eyes, Gong Jun relented with a sigh.
“No, that’s alright, da-ge. Keep it in. It’s cute.”
Zhehan squeezed Gong Jun’s cheeks, kissing the puffed up lips and rubbing their noses together. “Thank you, bao.”
Xiao Yu led him to the back of the estate. He stopped at one point to fiddle with what looked to be a rock before motioning Gong Jun forward. He realized he walked through some sort of barrier when he stumbled, feeling more gravity on him than he was used to.
Xiao Yu grabbed his arm to keep him from falling. “Sorry, should have warned you. They keep the gravity just heavy enough to be able to grow things without strictly needing greenhouses.”
“How does that work?”
Xiao Yu shrugged, turning to fiddle with the rock again. Brushing his hands together he glanced at Gong Jun before clearing his throat and nodding to the back wall. “There should be an entrance back here we can use.”
Staying close to the wall once they reached it, Xiao Yu ran his hand over the fake stone facade as they walked, muttering to himself. With a small ‘ ah’ and a grin, he dug his fingers into a stone and a door slid to the side.
“Perfect, this should be right by Zhehan’s rooms.”
Gong Jun quickly entered, blinking at the sudden change in environment. Used to the cold greys of the moonscape, his eyes wanted to begin to ache at the green surrounding him now. Trees, bushes, and was that a small vineyard to the far right? Separated from the rest by a pond?
“Right?” That was definitely Xiao Yu’s hand on Gong Jun’s shoulder, squeezing as they both stared at the gardens around them. “Come on, we should be quick.”
They darted to the house, Xiao Yu pointing out Zhehan’s window before leading Gong Jun to the kitchens. They slipped inside and up the servant’s staircase (“Yeah, that’s not Zhehan’s or his ma’s idea. It’s all his aunt.” Xiao Yu had explained) and quickly down the hallway.
“That one.” Xiao Yu pointed to the last door which somehow felt as though it stood solitary and forgotten. “Go on.”
Gong Jun hesitated, even though he longed to see Zhehan. “No, Xiang-ge. You first.”
Xiao Yu studied him from the corner of his eye before snorting and shaking his head. He tested the doorknob, both of them releasing tense shoulders as it turned and swung the door open with no resistance.
Xiao Yu and Gong Jun exchanged a look before Xiao Yu stepped into the room. “A-Han?”
“Xiao Yu? Why are you here?”
With one more shaky breath, Gong Jun stepped into the room, heart sinking as he saw the two embracing and holding each other close, foreheads together and voices low, Xiao Yu’s hands cupping Zhehan’s cheeks, Zhehan’s hands on Xiao Yu’s shoulders.
Just when Gong Jun had resolved to quietly leave, they broke their embrace, a tender smile lingering between the two until Zhehan turned to Gong Jun.
In that instant, all of Gong Jun’s hesitations and doubts evaporated like earthly dew under the warmth of the old sun as a smile so wide Zhehan’s eyes vanished with the power of it and his nose crinkling hit him full force.
“Junjun!”
Next thing Gong Jun knew, Zhehan had thrown himself at him. He reacted on instinct, arms opening wide, and caught Zhehan. He hadn’t bent his legs to ground himself though, so the two fell backwards to the floor, Zhehan cackling, rubbing his head on Gong Jun’s chest as Gong Jun fought to regain his breath. After a few minutes, and a chuckle from Xiao Yu, they calmed, Zhehan straddling Gong Jun’s waist, hands on Gong Jun’s pecs, beaming down at him.
“My hero, coming all this way just to save little old me.”
Zhehan swiftly bent to kiss Gong Jun, who moaned into the kiss, hands immediately circling Zhehan’s waist.
He couldn’t ignore the confusion wiggling in the back of his mind, however.
“Where’s Lufei?” Xiao Yu had asked, frowning as he realized there had been a lack of barks and begging.
Zhehan grimaced, eyes focused on his task. “Aunt wouldn’t let me bring him.”
“So where is he?”
“I left him with ma.”
Xiao Yu nodded with a sigh. “We can stop and get him on the way back to either of our houses.”
“Ummm,” Gong Jun started before hesitating. He felt the weight of four eyes on him and sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “I don’t think I’ll be able to let Hanhan stay. It’s not easy sneaking stuff past everyone in my house.”
“That’s alright, Junjun. I’ll just stay at Xiao Yu’s.”
That did not make Gong Jun feel any better, growing queasier the longer he watched the two lifelong friends interact, feeling out of place.
This did not go unnoticed. Xiao Yu threw concerned looks at him whenever he thought Gong Jun wouldn’t notice, and Zhehan hovered closer and was more clingy than normal, although, Gong Jun rationalized, that could be because of the whole situation they were in.
Finally Zhehan was ready. He slipped his hand into Gong Jun’s with a shy smile, and they followed Xiao Yu back through the house, across the gardens, and out the same way he and Gong Jun had entered.
When they paused for Xiao Yu to fiddle with the rock and sensors again, Zhehan stood pressed to Gong Jun’s front, head turned to stare at the estate behind them.
“Hanhan?”
Zhehan shook his head. “Nothing. I just never thought -” he cut himself off. “Nothing, Junjun.”
A heavy silence filled the car as Xiao Yu drove them back, Gong Jun worried but slightly amused at the silent argument that Xiao Yu and Zhehan seemed to be having with just their eyes, eyebrows, and breath.
After one particularly hard huff from Zhehan, Gong Jun couldn’t help but to start laughing. “You two are fighting like an old married couple.”
The heavy silence froze, Gong Jun tensing as Zhehan went eerily still against where he leaned on Gong Jun’s side.
“What?”
Xiao Yu sighed, rubbing a hand down his face while keeping one hand on the wheel. “I told you to just tell him!”
“What was I supposed to say? Hey, I think I love you even though we haven’t been assigned to each other in this bullshit system we live under and I don’t care, I wanna be together anyway? And oh by the way, I’m already married to my childhood best friend?”
Zhehan’s eyes widened comically large as he gaped, hand coming to cover his mouth.
Gong Jun sat, processing what he had heard as the car slowed. He waited for it to stop before he said anything. “You two are married?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Xiao Yu glanced at Zhehan who still hadn’t moved. Gong Jun frowned at the back of Zhehan’s head and began to rub circles into Zhehan’s side where his hand rested.
“Seven years.”
“Longer.” Zhehan’s voice was barely above a whisper and deepened Gong Jun’s frown.
Xiao Yu cursed under his breath. “Alright, it’s been ten.”
Gong Jun nodded. He squeezed Zhehan, hoping that he would turn around to look at him. “Hanhan?”
Somehow Zhehan stiffened even more before letting out a shaky breath and moving his head to barely see Gong Jun from the corner of his eye. “You don’t have to say anything, Junjun. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
Zhehan turned more, but cast his gaze down to his hands which he wrung in his lap. “Not telling you.”
“Why would you?”
“I should have after we finally exchanged names.”
“We were both a bit busy and out of it.”
A small laugh, but one from Zhehan’s heart eased the weight Gong Jun felt. He sat forward, scooping Zhehan’s hands into his and pulling them up to place a kiss on one each. “Knowing would not have changed anything for me.”
Zhehan stared up at him from under his eyelashes, cheeks pink. “Really?”
Gong Jun nodded. “I was hopelessly in love with you since the moment we met. How could that change over something like this?”
Quickly shifting both of Zhehan’s hands into one of his, Gong Jun reached a now free hand to catch a tear which fell from Zhehan’s eyes.
“Hanhan. You’re the one that I know. Nothing can change that.”
Zhehan let out a weak sob, falling into Gong Jun’s chest. Gong Jun placed a kiss on the top of his head, holding him close and rubbing circles into his back.
“Butwhataboutthemarriage?”
Gong Jun glanced at Xiao Yu, eyebrows raised. Xiao Yu shook his head.
“What, da-ge?”
With a sniffle, Zhehan sat back, throwing a quick smile to Xiao Yu when he rested a hand on Zhehan’s shoulder, before repeating the question. “But what about the marriage?”
“Whose?” Both Xiao Yu and Gong Jun asked in sync.
This caused Zhehan to giggle, which turned into a full laugh, which fell into his belly and had him leaning over, holding onto Gong Jun to try to stay upright and failing. Gong Jun chuckled, relishing in the warmth of the man in his arms, and feeling a small flicker of a new kind of warmth at the way Xiao Yu looked at the both of them.
A week after Zhehan was rescued and settled at Xiao Yu’s place, the three gathered with Xiao Yu’s and Gong Jun’s parents.
“What is the plan here, boys?” Xiao Yu’s father leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him as he studied the trio sitting on the couch.
They all exchanged quick glances with small nods. Gong Jun cleared his throat, standing and bowing to his parents and Xiao Yu’s.
“Xiang-ge and I have decided to go through with the arranged marriage, on some conditions to help improve the quality of life on both moons.”
A knock on the study door kept any response at bay, Gong Jun’s father immediately answering it. He bowed low before stepping to the side to let Zhehan’s mother, Zhang Xia, in. Xiao Yu and Zhang Zhehan quickly stood, all three boys bowing to Zhang Xia and Zhehan quickly moving to help her sit.
“Ma, why are you here? I told you it wasn’t necessary.”
Zhang Xia slaps her son’s arm, glaring at him. “Why shouldn’t I be here, it’s your future being decided, isn’t it? Shouldn’t a parent want to see the best happen for their child?”
“Maaa,” Zhehan whines, but smiles as he bends to hug her, kissing her temple as he straightens. He reaches out for Gong Jun, who nervously walks over, sliding his hand into Zhehan’s.
“Before you say anything, you can call me mama.” Zhang Xia motioned for Gong Jun to lean down, patting his cheek when he did so. “My rapscallion of a boy has talked about you quite a lot, Gong Jun. You’re good for him.”
Gong Jun’s cheeks flushed and he ducked his head. “Thank you, Zhang-mama.”
“Now.” She turned to face the rest of the room, smiling at Xiao Yu as her eyes met his. “What has been decided?”
“Umm, Zhang-mama. Xiao Yu and I have agreed to get married, and I was about to give the requirements we have for it.”
Zhang Xia nodded, staring pointedly at Zhehan and Xiao Yu. “And you two?”
Zhehan blinked, eyes wide. “What?”
She snorted. “As if I don’t know you two got married already.”
“Ma! You knew!” Zhehan’s voice rang above the shouts of the other parents at this revelation. Xiao Yu groaned, sinking to sit on the couch, head in hands.
“Of course I knew, you aren’t that sneaky.”
“And you never said?”
“Just like you,” she snapped back. Gong Jun smiled at the spark of affection present in mother and son even as they fought.
“Alright alright alright.” Zhehan sighed, head tipping back. Gong Jun wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pressing a kiss to his temple.
“And you and your Junjun clearly are meant for each other so,” Zhang Xia swept her gaze around the room, “what has been decided?”
“Does your ma know she’s in the book?” Gong Jun whispered into Zhehan’s ear as the man giggled under yet another onslaught from Xiao Yu.
“Of course she does.” Xiao Yu grumbled. “You know how she is.”
Gong Jun hummed, nodding.
“Oh, she wants you to call her soon, Junjun,” Zhehan said, throwing a leg over Xiao Yu’s lap.
Xiao Yu snorted. “She told you to tell him that, like, a month ago.”
Zhehan winced, smiling not faltering. “Oops?”
Gong Jun chuckled. “Xiang-ge told me like, a month ago. I’ve talked to her a few times since then.”
“You have? She didn’t tell me that!”
Xiao Yu snorted, pushing Zhehan’s legs carefully off his lap and standing. He stretched, arms overhead, before being to place a quick peck to both Gong Jun’s and Zhehan’s cheeks.
“I need some more snacks if we are going to finish this story tonight.”
Zhehan nodded. “Get the rest of that cheesecake, would you?”
“The one you’ve carved into a crescent moon?”
“Yes!”
After that meeting, the wedding was planned and happened without a hitch.
Gong Jun and Xiao sat to the side one afternoon, a week before, watching as Zhehan flitted from the seating chart to the final details on décor to once again checking the catering.
“Is this normal?” Gong Jun asked softly, forehead creased as Zhehan paused for the smallest of moments to take in a breath before buzzing across the plans yet again.
Xiao Yu took Gong Jun’s hand, interlacing their fingers together. “Mmmmm, it is, but something is off.”
Gong Jun nodded, eyes still focused on Zhehan. He returned the squeeze of the hand from Xiao Yu, tension easing as they settled so their shoulders touched.
“We just need to keep an eye on him. Sometimes his brain runs too fast and nothing can control it. We’ll be here to catch him when it crashes.”
“Mmm. We will.”
Except that crash didn’t happen. At least, not when they thought.
The day of the wedding saw Gong Jun and Xiao Yu in red suits, bowing and moving through the ceremony, Zhehan off to the side beaming at them.
The next day saw Zhehan visiting them at their new house, arms laden with gifts and smile strained around the edges.
“Da-ge, why did you get us all this?” Gong Jun stared at the pile on the table.
Zhehan just laughed, Gong Jun hiding the wince from the pitch of it. “So you’ll have no choice but to remember me, of course.”
“Hanhan?” Gong Jun set a hand on Zhehan’s arm, turning the other man to face him. “We said we’d find a way to get you out of it. We will.”
Zhehan refused to meet Gong Jun’s gaze. “I know but. Just in case.”
Gong Jun hummed, pulling Zhehan into a tight embrace, tilting his chin up to claim his lips in a heated kiss which left them both gasping for air.
“Fuck, Junjun.”
“Yes,” Gong Jun growled, bending to pick Zhehan up in a fireman’s carry, yelping as Zhehan quickly took advantage of the position to grab and squeeze Gong Jun’s small ass. He kept walking, though, without missing a step, until he could set Zhehan gently on the bed and loom over him, straddling his waist, hands on either side of his head.
Zhehan’s chest heaved with his already panting breath as he squirmed underneath Gong Jun, causing him to groan as their cocks rubbed against each other through the separating layers.
Leaning over, Gong Jun captured Zhehan’s lips again, wasting no time in sliding his tongue into the waiting and welcoming mouth below him. Gong Jun weaved a hand into Zhehan’s hair, grabbing it tightly and smirking at the gasp which broke their kiss, moving his mouth to instead lick and suck down Zhehan’s jaw and neck.
“Fuck, Junjun. Please.”
Gong Jun hummed, rutting a few times before he pulled back. His cock throbbed as he took in how debauched Zhehan already looked, hair undone around his head, flushed down his neck and below the collar of his shirt, pupils blown.
Slowly, Gong Jun slid a hand below Zhehan’s shirt, teasing his fingers across sculpted abs and a chest to make anyone jealous, taking care to intentionally snag a nail across a hardened, pierced nipple as the shirt slid up with the movement. With a whine, Zhehan sat up, pulling the shirt the rest of the way off and tossing it to the side before grabbing Gong Jun’s short-sleeved t-shirt and ripping it off.
Gong Jun gaped, brain short circuiting, as Zhehan pushed him over, immediately working the button on Gong Jun’s pants and sliding them off. His brain didn’t restart until the sound of lube being squished over fingers reached it. Gong Jun stared down at Zhehan, gasping when Zhehan winked at him and latched onto a nipple, sucking and licking it, flicking his tongue across Gong Jun’s piercing and scraping his teeth across it as Zhehan’s now wet hand reached behind him to tease his tight hole with a finger.
Gong Jun hissed when Zhehan moaned, settling a hand once again into Zhehan’s hair, the other moving to play with one of Zhehan’s swollen, brown nipples, matching pressure and pinching whenever Zhehan bit on his.
Zhehan pulled off with a gasp when he slid a second finger into himself, forehead resting on Gong Jun’s sternum, saliva dripping to cover Gong Jun’s abs. As a third finger joined the other two, Zhehan slid down, biting and licking over each individual ab, causing them to twitch and Gong Jun to moan.
“Fuck, Hanhan.” Gong Jun, taking advantage of his long arms and the way Zhehan currently had himself bent, slid the hand in Zhehan’s hair down his back to cup his tight, round ass, squeezing hard enough to pull a whine from Zhehan and slapped it before probing Zhehan’s wet hole with a finger.
“Junjun, Junjun, please.”
Gong Jun grabbed the lube, squeezing some onto his own hand and quickly warmed it. “Not yet, baobei.” With a now wet finger, he rubbed at Zhehan’s rim before slowly slipping it inside to join the three already filling him.
Pumping the finger back and forth once, twice, three times, Gong Jun moaned, biting his lip as he closed his eyes.
That’s what Zhehan had waited for, however, as he slid his own fingers from his ass, pulling Gong Jun’s one with them and settled himself over Gong Jun’s red, throbbing cock.
Gasping as Zhehan grabbed it to position it, Gong Jun settled his hands on Zhehan’s hips, determined to help him take his time settling on his above average length.
Yet again. Zhehan threw those plans across the room to land with their clothes as he circled his hips just so to get the head in, and then smoothly sat on the full length in one go, leaving them both panting and gasping for air, Gong Jun dragging his nails across Zhehan’s thighs.
Gong Jun pushed himself up on one elbow, pulling Zhehan’s head down with the other to once again kiss him hard as he thrust up, encouraging Zhehan to move.
With a groan, Zhehan began to slide up Gong Jun’s cock, letting himself fall with minimal control.
After the eighth one, Gong Jun could feel Zhehan’s weak leg trembling. With another growl, he grabbed Zhehan’s hips, holding him down on his cock as he flipped them so Zhehan was now, once again, on his back. After quickly making sure Zhehan’s bad leg was extended and fine, Gong Jun grabbed the right one, hooking the knee over his elbow, and began to pound into Zhehan, causing him to arch as his sweet spot was hit with every single thrust.
Zhehan reached for his cock, whining and tossing his head side to side when Gong Jun knocked it away.
“No, baobei. You’re going to cum just like this. Just from my cock.”
“Junjun, Junjun, please.”
Digging his free hand into Zhehan’s hip hard enough to leave bruises the next day, Gong Jun sat back onto his heels, pulling Zhehan with him. Zhehan gasped, eyes wide and mouth gaping with no sound coming out as within a few more thrusts, he came, whole body stiffening then shuddering with the intensity of it, come covering him up to his chest.
Seeing a few drops hit Zhehan’s chin, Gong Jun groaned and buried himself deep in Zhehan’s tight hole as his own orgasm hit him, blinding him and stealing his breath. He vaguely noted that he managed to keep fucking them both through it, and stopped only when Zhehan weakly slapped at his arm.
Gong Jun pulled out, making them both whine, and flopped to the side, immediately pulling Zhehan close to him and tracing random patterns across his back.
“I’m not giving you up, Zhang Zhehan,” Gong Jun tilted Zhehan’s face up, kissing each eyelid, the tip of his nose, and his lips. “Not ever.”
Zhehan smiled blissfully, blinking sleepily like a cat and hummed as he curled into Gong Jun’s chest, nuzzling his face into Gong Jun’s neck.
A month later, Gong Jun woke with a frown and a sense of unease settling into his bones. He had fallen asleep the night before in between Xiao Yu and Zhehan.
And this morning he woke with the front of him cold, Zhehan missing from his arms.
Which was not entirely unheard of, as Zhehan enjoyed being up early and playing various sports. But that had not been the plan for today.
Even if it had, Zhehan never left without kissing them both awake before leaving.
No, Gong Jun thought, peeling his eyes open and taking in the rumpled sheets in front of him, something is wrong.
He rolled over, shaking Xiao Yu’s shoulder until he grumbled and tried to weakly bat it away. “Xiang-ge. Get up.”
“No.”
“Now.”
Xiao Yu opened one eye, staring at Gong Jun with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Zhehan is gone.”
The frown intensified and Xiao Yu sat up, rubbing at his eyes and then peering over to the side table on what had been Zhehan’s side of the bed. Gong Jun followed his gaze, heart stopping at what he saw.
A single white rose.
Xiao Yu swore, throwing the blankets off him and Gong Jun and bolting over to the closet to grab them each some clothes.
“Gong Jun! Come on, we have to go!”
Gong Jun couldn’t move. His limbs weighed him down, having turned to stone as his heart shattered into thousands of slivers as he realized what the rose meant, and where Zhehan had gone.
“Gong Jun! Didi! Fuck!” Xiao Yu paused, pulling in a deep breath with his eyes closed as he counted down from eleven. With a sharp nod, Xiao Yu dressed, then carried Gong Jun’s clothes over to him, setting them to the side as he crawled onto the bed to pull Gong Jun into his arms.
“Hanhan.” Gong Jun’s voice broke, eyes unblinking.
Xiao Yu wiped a thumb over Gong Jun’s cheeks, cleaning the already fallen tears and clearing the path for more. “I know. And I know where he is, and I bet if we get moving right now, we can catch him and stop him.”
“But why would he even go? We had a plan. We were working on a plan.”
“We were, but that dork has a bad habit of sacrificing himself for his friends, especially if he thinks they’ll be happier without him.”
Gong Jun sniffed and rubbed at his face. He leaned into Xiao Yu for a deep, fortifying breath and with a shaky exhale, rolled off the bed and began to dress.
Xiao Yu pressed a kiss to his temple. “We can catch him.”
“You still have Lufei?” Gong Jun turned to stare at Xiao Yu with wide eyes, phone held up to his ear so as to not distract Xiao Yu who was attempting to navigate them quickly through the bridge pass to get to the space field on the other moon.
“He called early and said he thought it’d be better to go ahead and settle in himself, and then have Lufei sent to him. I told him that was nonsense and that this whole thing is ridiculous, he clearly belongs here with you two, but that boy is more stubborn than an old earth mule.”
Gong Jun’s lips twitched with a smile, fright and anger easing with Zhang Xia’s frank attitude about her son.
“Thank you, Zhang-mama. We will do our best to stop him.”
Gong Jun hung up, glaring at the traffic around them. “There has to be a faster way. This is ridiculous.”
Xiao Yu snorted, chewing on his thumb nail. “Has he dragged you into his obsession with old earth movies yet? The really old black and white ones?”
“He’s mentioned a few of them, I haven’t watched any yet.”
Xiao Yu nodded as they slid forward. “This may be more like the later ones, around the turn of the twenty-first century. But this situation is just like that. Trying to get to our lover, and being held up by something as mundane as traffic.”
It was Gong Jun’s turn to snort. They fell silent as they creeped across the bridge, both breathing a sigh as they finally made it across and Xiao Yu guided them onto a less popular path to the space field.
A large ship, deep red with swirls and florals of gold over it (Xiao Yu snorted so hard when he saw that he hurt his nose, something Zhehan and Gong Jun would tease him about for the next five years) sat in its own field, at the end of the packing process.
With a squeal of tires across the moon dust, launching some towards the ship and sending the workers scrambling for shields to deflect it, Xiao Yu threw the car into park and followed Gong Jun, who had bolted out the instant his side of the car faced the ship.
They ran across the field, hearts in their throats.
Gong Jun gasped when he finally spotted Zhehan, halfway up the stairs to boarding the ship and leaving them forever.
“No! Zhang Zhehan!” the yell tore itself from Gong Jun’s throat, echoed by Xiao Yu as they forced themselves to move faster, dodging everyone who tried to grab them.
Zhehan paused and turned, eyes widening as he saw them. The hand holding his, belonging to his betrothed, squeezed his fingers, pulling his attention back.
“Hanhan! Zhehan! Please!” Gong Jun yelled. He grunted as a guard finally got an arm around his stomach, pulling him back and grabbing his elbows to hold him in place.
Xiao Yu swerved around them, making it a few more steps before he was tripped and tackled. His strangled shout as he fell drew Zhehan’s attention back to them, and Zhehan broke.
He pulled his hand from Merxat’s, launching himself down the stairs until he could safely jump over the side, running over to them as soon as he hit the ground. “Let them go!”
A guard glanced up to Merxat who sighed and waved a hand.
With reluctance, the guards holding Xiao Yu down climbed off of him, Gong Jun rolling his shoulders as his arms were released.
Zhehan knelt and helped Xiao Yu to sit, futilely dusting off the front of Xiao Yu’s shirt and shoulders. “Why are you here?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?”
“Because I’m just interfering.”
“And who the fuck told you that? Cause it wasn’t me, and it sure as fuck wasn’t Gong Jun.”
Zhehan grimaced, avoiding Xiao Yu’s eyes.
“A-Han.” Xiao Yu brushed his fingers gently over Zhehan’s cheek, catching some loose strands of hair and pushing them back behind Zhehan’s elfin ear. “We always knew this was a risk, but we promised each other forever anyway. It’s kind of hard to make good on that promise with one of us a few hundred light years away.”
That pulled a small smile from Zhehan, eyes watery and shoulders turning in.
“But more importantly, A-Han, you have him.” Xiao Yu turned Zhehan to Gong Jun, and pushed.
Zhehan stumbled, landing with an oof against a broad chest, surrounded immediately in a warm embrace. He buried his head into Gong Jun’s pecs, fingers closing in his shirt, pulling it taught.
“Hanhan.” Gong Jun’s voice was soft, gentle.
It warmed Zhehan from the very core of his being, making him want to luxuriate in it, drown himself with it until all he knew was his name from Gong Jun’s lips. His hands shook, lips wobbling, and he buried a small sob deep within.
“Zhehan, please.” The lightest feather of a touch guided Zhehan’s head up, encouraging him to look up into pools of the deepest brown wide and pleading. Gong Jun’s lips lifted in a small smile. “There you are, bao.”
Zhehan chuckled, a wet thing, and nuzzled his cheek into Gong Jun’s large hand. “Hi, bao.”
“Zhehan. Why would you leave?”
“You’ll be happier.”
“I won’t.”
“I see how you two look at each other.”
“Have you seen how we look at you?”
Zhehan blinked, and Gong Jun sighed.
“Bao, Xiang-ge and I are starting to ease into our relationship yes, but -”
“But that’s exactly why I should leave.” Zhehan interrupted, wanting to push back from Gong Jun, but instead holding onto him tighter, fingers moving up to his shoulders to dig into the flesh there.
Gong Jun shook his head. “No. There is no reason for you to leave.”
“The arrangement…”
“Xiang-ge is already taking care of it, as is your ma.”
“But Junjun.”
Gong Jun brushed his lips over Zhehan’s forehead. “What is it, Hanhan. Tell me, da-ge.”
Zhehan worked his mouth, trying to give life to the thoughts whirling in his head. Nothing, however, came out.
Gong Jun pressed another kiss to Zhehan’s face, then, hands firmly on Zhehan’s elbows, sunk to one knee in front of him.
Zhehan gasped, eyes widening and hands flying to cover his mouth as he swayed before steadying himself. He nodded when Gong Jun shot him a concerned look, finding his balance and focusing hard to continue breathing.
“Zhehan. You, above everyone else, are the one I know. While I may have a different form of love for others in this time and the next, none of that can compare to what I feel with you and for you. Never have I immediately felt so drawn to someone. Never have I felt so easily and readily seen and understood. Never have I understood or seen someone so loving and caring and kind and beautiful as you. You, Zhang Zhehan, are my zhiji, and I would be remiss to let you leave because of some paperwork that means literally nothing. Zhang Zhehan. Marry me?”
The words had barely left his mouth, still rang loud in the air, fresh and dripping with loving dew when Zhehan threw himself at Gong Jun, wrapping his arms tight around him and through heavy sobs, eyes squeezed shut and head nodding furiously, agreed. “Of course, of course! Gong Jun, Junjun. I want you. I want to marry you and be yours. Yes!”
Their lips slotted together, sweet and passionate as hands tightened in hair and on hips. Barely had they broken apart for breath and a small laugh when they captured each other again, unable to resist the pull between them.
A few minutes later they each felt an arm wrap around them, a kiss being pressed first to Zhehan’s hair, then to Gong Jun’s.
“Come on you two. I finished settling things with Merxat. Let’s go home.”
“You know you have this completely backwards,” Xiao Yu muttered, head in Zhehan’s lap, playing with the fingers of one of Gong Jun’s hands.
“How?”
“You and Gong Jun were an item before he and I were, or even me and you.”
“We have been flirting and fucking for years, what are you talking about Xiao Yu!”
Xiao Yu snorted, rolling his eyes, and Gong Jun laughed.
“He can change things up however he wants, Xiang-ge.”
“Sure he can, I’m just saying. It’s backwards.”
Zhehan snorted, tapping the tablet on Xiao Yu’s head gently. “Then you have plenty to expose me with when the book becomes an international best seller. You can do a tell-all in five years.”
Xiao Yu used Gong Jun’s hand to bump Zhehan’s sternum, glaring up at him, softness in his eyes betraying him. “Why would I do that?”
Zhehan shrugged, lifting the tablet to hide behind it. “Why do people do anything?”
Xiao Yu immediately sat up, shifting to press into Zhehan’s side, pushing him farther into Gong Jun’s as they both wrapped their arms around Zhehan. They each placed a kiss on a temple, forehead coming to rest where their lips had just touched.
“Da-ge. This book is wonderful, and I’m so proud of you.”
“You haven’t even heard the ending yet.”
“So? Do I have to, to be proud of you?”
A flush rose on Zhehan’s cheeks and he pulled his good leg up to curl into it. Gong Jun and Xiao Yu both chuckled.
“Come on, Hanhan. Finish reading it to us.” Xiao Yu prompted.
Zhehan shot him a side eye and stuck his tongue out, but woke the tablet up to continue.
The gossip around both moons for the next month was nothing but the story of the three defiant young men who dared to go up against the council, and how their parents not only let them, but supported them.
The biggest of the banquet halls was rented out at Xiao Yu’s insistence.
Not to be outdone, Gong Jun went to every restaurant which Zhehan enjoyed and regularly craved, and arranged for them all to cater.
Which meant Xiao Yu had to make sure their clothes for the day were not only of the finest, softest material available, but embroidered by hand with the best thread available.
Gong Jun, however, felt he won what had become an unofficial contest to give Zhehan the wedding they both felt he deserved when he arranged for Lufei to not only be in attendance, but to have his own little suit out of the same material.
Before the ceremony when Xiao Yu and Gong Jun took a dressed Lufei to Zhehan, he immediately teared up, holding his childhood pet close and pressing kisses to his face, beaming at his husbands.
A more perfect day, all three agreed, could not have been planned.
And they all lived happily ever after.
