The Unspoken Bond

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...

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