The night air was cool, carrying the scent of the distant sea and the rustling of the trees that surrounded the high mountain where Ne Zha often sought solace. His mind had been in turmoil ever since that day—the day Ao Bing had revealed a side of himself that Ne Zha never expected to see.

Ao Bing, the dragon prince, always so proud and fierce, now stood before Ne Zha, a vulnerability hidden behind his usual confident demeanor. The dragon had always been a figure of pride, but tonight, his posture was different. There was a certain softness to his gaze as he looked at Ne Zha, something that spoke of trust, a trust that Ne Zha wasn't sure he was ready to accept.

Ne Zha ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts heavy. For as long as he could remember, their relationship had been defined by rivalry—an immortal warrior and a dragon prince, destined to clash. But over time, something had shifted between them. A bond had formed that neither of them could easily explain, something deeper than friendship, more complicated than animosity.

"Ao Bing," Ne Zha called out, his voice quieter than usual, as he turned to face the dragon. Ao Bing was perched on a rock nearby, his scales gleaming faintly under the moonlight, the tips of his wings flicking as if restless.

Ao Bing's head turned, and their gazes locked. There was a moment of silence before he spoke, his voice almost a whisper. "What is it, Ne Zha?"

Ne Zha hesitated, a wave of emotions crashing against him. He wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. His heart pounded with an unfamiliar excitement, and for the first time in his life, the bravado and pride that he wore like armor felt heavy and hollow.

"I..." Ne Zha started, his words faltering. He had never been one to be vulnerable, never one to express his emotions freely. But there was something about Ao Bing—something about the way his dragon eyes seemed to hold a depth of understanding—that made Ne Zha want to open up, to say everything he had been holding inside.

Ao Bing tilted his head, his sharp gaze softening. "What's on your mind, Ne Zha? You're not yourself tonight."

The honesty in Ao Bing's voice cut through the fog of Ne Zha's thoughts. He took a step closer to the dragon, his body betraying him, inching forward despite every instinct telling him to remain distant. He had fought against this attraction for so long, convinced that their differences would always keep them apart. But in this moment, as Ao Bing's eyes seemed to look right through him, Ne Zha couldn't fight it any longer.

"I don't know," Ne Zha finally admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't know what's happening to me. You... you make me feel things I don't understand, Ao Bing. Things I've never felt before."

Ao Bing blinked, confusion flickering in his gaze. "What do you mean? What things?"

Ne Zha's heart raced, and before he could stop himself, his body surged forward, closing the space between them. Without thinking, he reached out and cupped Ao Bing's face gently, his thumb grazing the soft skin of the dragon's cheek.

"I don't know," Ne Zha whispered again, his breath shaky as he looked into Ao Bing's eyes. "But I can't ignore it anymore."

Ao Bing's eyes widened, a flush creeping up his neck at the sudden closeness. For a moment, he seemed frozen, caught off guard by the intimacy of the touch. He had never expected Ne Zha to act this way, and it left him momentarily speechless. His usually proud and unshakable demeanor was cracking under the weight of Ne Zha's gaze.

Ne Zha leaned in, his heart pounding louder than ever. He wasn't sure why, but he knew in that moment that he had to kiss Ao Bing. He couldn't hold back anymore. His lips brushed against Ao Bing's, soft and hesitant at first, a tentative touch that spoke of all the unspoken words between them.

Ao Bing gasped, his body stiffening at the contact. It was as if the world itself held its breath, the wind pausing, the trees silencing their rustling. Ne Zha, despite his usual bravado, felt a rush of warmth spread through him at the softness of Ao Bing's lips against his. He wanted more—he needed more. But as his kiss deepened, he felt Ao Bing freeze beneath him, as if caught in the grip of his own uncertainty.

When they finally pulled away, Ao Bing's face was flushed with a deep shade of red. His eyes were wide, his breathing uneven. "Ne Zha... I..."

Ne Zha stepped back, his chest tightening with a mix of frustration and relief. He had kissed Ao Bing, but the dragon looked utterly bewildered, and the uncertainty in his expression made Ne Zha's heart ache.

"I'm sorry," Ne Zha murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what came over me."

Ao Bing shook his head, his usual confidence shattered. He looked away, his cheeks still flushed with the aftermath of the kiss, as if unsure of what to say or how to react. "No, it's not that," Ao Bing stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... I wasn't expecting it. I—I'm not sure what to do now."

Ne Zha's heart clenched, the tension in the air thick and uncomfortable. He had wanted to prove something to Ao Bing, to let him know how he felt, but now he felt like he had made everything more complicated. He couldn't handle seeing Ao Bing so vulnerable, so unsure. It made him feel guilty, even though he had no reason to feel that way.

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," Ne Zha said softly, his voice full of regret. "I just... I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry, Ao Bing."

Ao Bing's expression softened, and after a long pause, he finally met Ne Zha's gaze. "It's not that, Ne Zha," he said quietly. "I'm just... not used to this. I've never been in a situation like this before. It's confusing."

Ne Zha bit his lip, taking a step closer again. His heart felt like it was about to burst with the intensity of his emotions, and despite Ao Bing's uncertainty, he couldn't pull away. "You don't have to be shy, Ao Bing. You don't have to pretend that this doesn't mean anything."

Ao Bing looked at Ne Zha, his eyes still wide but with something new—something softer and more understanding. "I'm not pretending," Ao Bing admitted. "It just feels... different. I've always been the strong one, the one who doesn't show weakness. But with you... I'm not sure what I am anymore."

Ne Zha stepped forward again, his hand reaching out to rest on Ao Bing's shoulder, the touch comforting and firm. "You're not alone in this, Ao Bing. I don't have all the answers, but I know that I don't want to fight this anymore. I don't want to push you away."

Ao Bing's face softened, and for the first time that night, the uncertainty seemed to melt away from his expression. His eyes shone with something tender—something Ne Zha had never seen before. "I don't want to fight it either," Ao Bing whispered, his voice small but filled with a growing warmth.

...____________________...

...To be continued...

The days following their unexpected kiss were filled with a tension that neither Ne Zha nor Ao Bing could escape. Both of them tried to return to their usual routine, attempting to act as though nothing had changed between them. But the truth was undeniable—the kiss had changed everything. It had opened a door to something neither of them was prepared for, and now it lingered like a shadow in their every interaction.

Ne Zha couldn't stop thinking about the way Ao Bing had reacted—how his lips had frozen beneath Ne Zha's touch, how he had seemed so unsure, so vulnerable. It both pained and thrilled Ne Zha, this feeling of seeing Ao Bing in such a raw, human light. And yet, he couldn't help but wonder if Ao Bing was regretting it, if the kiss had meant as much to the dragon as it did to him.

For Ao Bing, the aftermath was equally confusing. The kiss had shaken him in ways he hadn't expected. Ao Bing had always been proud, a creature of strength and pride. But in that moment, when Ne Zha had reached for him, something inside Ao Bing had shifted. It wasn't just the touch—it was the feeling of being wanted, the sense of being seen not as a dragon prince, but as Ao Bing, the person he longed to be. But now, the uncertainty had settled in. Was Ne Zha serious? Or was it just a fleeting moment of weakness, something to be forgotten?

The two of them sat in silence the next time they met, a tension between them that neither could break. Ne Zha stood by a small, bubbling stream, absently tossing pebbles into the water, watching the ripples spread across the surface. His fingers were numb, his thoughts in a whirl as he tried to figure out what to say. There was so much he wanted to express, so much he needed to say to Ao Bing, but his pride stood in the way, just as it always had.

Ao Bing was sitting a little further up the bank, leaning against a rock with his wings folded neatly behind him. He seemed distracted, his gaze distant, lost in his own thoughts. Ne Zha glanced at him from the corner of his eye, his heart aching at the sight. The usually confident and poised dragon now seemed so... fragile. Ne Zha's chest tightened. He couldn't ignore it any longer. He couldn't continue pretending that nothing had changed.

"Ao Bing," Ne Zha said, his voice soft, tentative, as he took a step closer.

Ao Bing blinked, startled out of his reverie. His eyes found Ne Zha, and for a moment, there was a long, heavy silence between them. Ne Zha felt the weight of it, the unsaid words pressing down on him. But he refused to back away now. He couldn't.

"I... I wanted to apologize," Ne Zha began, his voice barely above a whisper. "For the kiss. I shouldn't have done that without considering how you might feel. I don't want to make things uncomfortable between us."

Ao Bing's gaze softened, and for the first time, he truly seemed to understand Ne Zha's words. His lips parted, and he stood up, taking a slow, measured step toward Ne Zha. "No... I don't regret it," Ao Bing said quietly. "I just... didn't know what to do in the moment."

Ne Zha's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Ao Bing's voice. He had been preparing himself for rejection, for the harsh reality that maybe Ao Bing hadn't felt the same way. But now, hearing those words, Ne Zha felt a rush of warmth flood through him.

"You don't?" Ne Zha asked, his voice full of surprise.

Ao Bing shook his head, the corners of his lips curling into a hesitant smile. "No. I... I just wasn't prepared for it. But now, I think I understand. I've been so focused on what I'm supposed to be, on being the perfect dragon prince, that I never stopped to think about what I want. What I truly want."

Ne Zha stepped closer, his heart racing with hope. "And what do you want, Ao Bing?"

Ao Bing's eyes darkened slightly, his gaze shifting to the ground for a moment. It was as if the question had broken something open inside him—something he had been too afraid to acknowledge. When he finally looked up again, his eyes were full of determination.

"I want you," Ao Bing said simply, the words coming out with a surprising clarity. "I've never wanted anything like this before, Ne Zha. I don't know what it means or how it works, but I know that I want you."

Ne Zha's breath caught in his throat. He didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to say. His heart was racing, and everything around him seemed to fade away as he stood there, frozen by the intensity of Ao Bing's words. The dragon wanted him. Ao Bing, the powerful, unshakable dragon prince, wanted him.

Before Ne Zha could speak, Ao Bing moved forward, closing the distance between them. His hands reached out, gently cupping Ne Zha's face as he pulled him into a soft, lingering kiss. It was different this time—there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. Just the warm press of lips against lips, a gentle, sweet connection that spoke of everything they had been too afraid to say.

Ne Zha's mind swirled, his body responding instinctively. He had kissed Ao Bing before, but now, it was different. This time, it felt real. There was no more confusion, no more doubt. The kiss was an unspoken promise, an affirmation of everything they had been dancing around for so long.

When they finally pulled away, their faces were close, breaths mingling in the quiet air. Ne Zha's eyes were wide with astonishment, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He had never felt anything like this before—this raw, overwhelming connection that seemed to tie him to Ao Bing in ways he couldn't describe.

"I... I don't know what to say," Ne Zha whispered, his voice shaking.

"You don't have to say anything," Ao Bing replied softly, his thumb brushing over Ne Zha's cheek. "Just be with me, Ne Zha. That's all I need."

And in that moment, Ne Zha realized something. He had spent so long running from his feelings, denying what was right in front of him. But Ao Bing had never been just the dragon prince, never been just his rival. Ao Bing was the person he needed, the one who could make him feel complete in a way no one else ever had.

Ne Zha closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Ao Bing's touch wash over him. "I'll be with you," he whispered back, his voice steady now, full of conviction. "For as long as you'll have me."

Ao Bing's smile grew wider, and he pulled Ne Zha into an embrace, holding him tightly as if afraid to let go. "I'll always have you, Ne Zha. Always."

And in that moment, under the quiet sky, surrounded by the stillness of the mountain, the bond between them was sealed—stronger than any rivalry, deeper than any duty. They were no longer enemies. They were something far more precious. And neither of them would ever be the same again.

...____________________...

...To be continued...

The days following their confession were filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Ne Zha and Ao Bing were no longer just rivals, no longer just the warrior and the dragon prince. They were something more—something they had both been too afraid to acknowledge before. But with this new understanding came new challenges, and as the days passed, both Ao Bing and Ne Zha began to realize that their feelings for one another were not as simple as they had hoped.

For Ao Bing, the change was disorienting. He had always been the proud son of the Dragon King, heir to a legacy that demanded strength, power, and control. He had been taught to keep his emotions in check, to never show weakness, especially in front of others. But now, with Ne Zha by his side, he felt a surge of emotions he had never experienced. It was like a flood breaking through a dam—exciting, but also terrifying.

Ne Zha, too, was struggling with the weight of their new relationship. Though he had never been afraid of emotions, his relationship with Ao Bing had always been complicated. They had been enemies, allies, and then... something else entirely. He had never imagined that someone like Ao Bing, with his fierce pride and unyielding nature, would ever want him in return. And yet, here they were.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day of training, Ne Zha found himself sitting by the edge of a cliff, overlooking the valley below. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow across the landscape, but Ne Zha's mind was far from peaceful. The kiss, the confession—it had all felt so perfect in the moment. But now, as the reality of their situation set in, he couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of doubt.

Ao Bing had been distant for the past few days. Not cold, exactly, but there was a hesitation in his eyes whenever their gazes met, a tension that hadn't been there before. Ne Zha wasn't sure if it was because Ao Bing was still processing everything, or if it was something more.

Ne Zha sighed and rested his elbows on his knees, staring into the horizon. He had to admit it—he was scared. Scared of losing Ao Bing, scared of their relationship being too fragile to withstand the weight of their respective duties and the expectations of their worlds. But more than anything, he was scared of how much Ao Bing meant to him. The thought of him slipping away, of their bond breaking, was a fear that clenched at his chest like a vice.

"Ne Zha."

The voice startled him, and he quickly turned to see Ao Bing standing behind him, his figure framed by the fading light. For a moment, Ne Zha's heart skipped a beat. Ao Bing looked different today—softer, somehow, but there was a sadness in his eyes that Ne Zha couldn't ignore.

"You've been quiet lately," Ne Zha said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Is something on your mind?"

Ao Bing stepped forward, his feet barely making a sound on the rocky ground. He sat beside Ne Zha, but there was a noticeable distance between them. His eyes were downcast, his expression thoughtful, as if he were trying to find the right words.

"I've been thinking a lot," Ao Bing said after a long pause. "About us... about everything." He hesitated, his hands fidgeting in his lap. "It's strange, Ne Zha. I've never felt this way before. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all of these feelings."

Ne Zha felt his heart clench at the vulnerability in Ao Bing's voice. He reached out, placing a hand gently on Ao Bing's arm, his touch reassuring. "You don't have to figure it all out at once, Ao Bing. We'll take it one step at a time."

Ao Bing looked at him, his golden eyes glimmering with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. "It's not just that," Ao Bing continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... the expectations. My father, my people... they all expect me to be something I'm not. I don't know how to reconcile that with what I feel for you."

Ne Zha's heart softened as he listened to Ao Bing's words. He could feel the weight of the dragon prince's burden, the pressure to live up to the expectations of a kingdom that demanded perfection. It was a pressure Ne Zha understood all too well. As a warrior, he, too, had been molded by others' expectations. But this... this was different.

"We don't have to let anyone else define us," Ne Zha said firmly. "You don't have to carry that burden alone, Ao Bing. I'm here. We'll face whatever comes together."

Ao Bing's gaze flickered to Ne Zha's hand on his arm, and for a moment, there was a quiet understanding between them. But then, Ao Bing looked away, his face clouded with doubt.

"I want that," Ao Bing murmured. "I want to be with you. But I don't want to drag you into the mess that is my life. You don't deserve that."

Ne Zha shook his head, his heart aching at the thought of Ao Bing pushing him away. "I've never been afraid of a little mess, Ao Bing. I've always fought for what I believe in. And I believe in you... in us."

Ao Bing looked at Ne Zha, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and emotion. For a moment, Ne Zha wondered if Ao Bing would pull away, if he would push him out of his life the way he had pushed so many others. But instead, Ao Bing reached out, his hand gently resting over Ne Zha's.

"I'm scared," Ao Bing admitted softly. "Scared of what might happen if we go forward. Scared of losing myself, losing you. But I don't think I can stop this, Ne Zha. I don't think I can stop wanting you."

Ne Zha's breath caught in his throat at Ao Bing's words. He didn't know what the future held for them—he didn't know what kind of challenges they would face, or what kind of sacrifices they might have to make. But he did know one thing: he couldn't lose Ao Bing. Not now, not ever.

"I won't let you lose yourself, Ao Bing," Ne Zha said, his voice low and steady. "And I won't let you push me away. We'll figure it out together, okay?"

Ao Bing looked at Ne Zha, his expression softening. For the first time in days, the weight on his shoulders seemed to lift, if only a little. He reached out, pulling Ne Zha into a gentle embrace. Ne Zha's arms wrapped around him instinctively, his heart swelling with the warmth of their connection.

"I don't deserve you," Ao Bing whispered against Ne Zha's shoulder, his voice full of sincerity.

Ne Zha smiled softly, his fingers running through Ao Bing's hair. "You don't have to deserve anything, Ao Bing. You're perfect just the way you are."

For a moment, they sat there in silence, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them fading away. They both knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But as long as they had each other, they could face whatever came their way.

...____________________...

...To be continued...