The Dragon's Dilemma

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...

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