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[bringingdowndisaster]

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[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang grins and shakes his head. "Nope! Gege is the best." He can tell that much even from just how little he's seen.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen smiles bashfully and kisses the top of Xue Yang's head.

"You can always call on me."

He will never leave his little brother to fend for himself!

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang grins happily.

"Who else would I want to call on?"

It's not like he knows anyone else on the mountain! But Xiao Xingchen is also the only one, so far, that he trusts even a little.

[gentledawn]

"You'll make plenty of friends." Xingchen loves that happy grin nonetheless, "The lessons help with that. We're usually put into teams." and given problems that are quite common, but difficult to solve.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang pouts playfully. "But if I only want to be friends with gege?" he teases, though he does mean it - at least at the moment. He's already bonded to Xiao Xingchen.

[gentledawn]

"I'm never far from you, Xue Yang, I promise." Xingchen kneels down beside him so they are face to face, "If you want to depend on me, I won't fail you."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang nods, turning around in the tub so that he can rest his arms on the side of it and look directly at Xingchen. "I believe you."

[gentledawn]

Xingchen dabs suds onto Xue Yang's nose, grinning.

"Thank you." he rests their heads together before standing up, "When you're finished, I'll help you back to our room."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"Okay." Xue Yang stays in the bath a little longer. He soaks his broken hand and tugs off the brace for a moment, just to properly clean it, before he decides that he's done. He gets out of the tub on his own and grabs a towel to dry off.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen is waiting for him, holding out a dry, warm robe. He even takes the towel and dries Xue Yang's hair.

"Feel better?"

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang gets into the robe and nods, smiling at the older boy. "Mhm!" He can definitely get used to taking regular baths! He leans into Xingchen when his hair is dried off, nearly putting his head on his shoulder.

[gentledawn]

What a cutie. Xingchen grabs a comb once those dark strands are dry. He brushes out the tangles gently, never tugging too hard on Xue Yang's scalp.

"Getting sleepy?" he wraps an arm around his friend and leads him back to their room.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang nods, yawning. It's been a long day so the thought of another night's sleep in a proper bed is definitely tempting. He leans into Xingchen as they return to the room. "Will you stay here too?" he asks, a little hopefully.

[gentledawn]

"Of course." Xingchen motions at another bed near Xue Yang's, "I won't be far while you rest." which means he can help the boy if he has nightmares. Besides, adjusting to a new place is...scary...to do alone.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang nods, relieved. "Can we... push them together?" he asks, a little shyly. He wants to be as close to Xingchen as possible to feel safe.

[gentledawn]

The request is too adorable for him to deny. Xingchen goes to his bed and makes the proper arrangements, pushing the piece of furniture over to Xue Yang's bed.

"Get under the covers. I don't want your feet to get cold." he encourages, ready to tuck his little friend in.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Pleased, Xue Yang gets under the covers and curls up. He can hardly believe that he's going to stay here. To have his own bed to sleep in... No more cold nights spent shivering in some alley, or worse - nights where he lets some man use his body so he'll have a warm place to sleep.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen tucks the covers around his little friend and smooths over his hair affectionately.

"Don't be scared of the dark, A-Yang. Do you see that candle over there?" he points to a tall candle across the room, "My Master keeps it lit every night with her core. You will never be in complete darkness."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"I'm not scared of the dark," Xue Yang says, but he can't deny that the words are comforting. Without even thinking about it, he then moves close to Xingchen and snuggles up to him.

[gentledawn]

"It's still something to look to if you wake unexpectedly." Xingchen soothes, beaming when he suddenly has company! He tucks himself under the covers and wraps an arm around Xue Yang.

[bringingdowndisaster]

"Mmm..." Xue Yang falls asleep quickly, feeling safe and warm in Xingchen's arms.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen stays awake for a little while and then snuggles against Xue Yang, letting himself sleep too. The morning light is somewhat dimmed by curtains, but Xingchen stirs out of habit anyway, lifting his head from their warm cocoon.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang whines out a soft complaint as he feels Xingchen stir next to him. He doesn't want to get up yet! And he doesn't want to lose the warmth of the older boy, so he clings onto him like a stubborn little barnacle.

[gentledawn]

Oh no! Xingchen is immediately enchanted by his cute bed-mate. He lays down again and hugs Xue Yang to him, stroking over his hair. His barnacle is wonderful and no one can tell him otherwise!

"Mornings are difficult."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"Mmmm..." Xue Yang grumbles, though he's feeling pretty content when Xingchen lays back down with him. He presses his face into Xingchen's chest and nuzzles him. Much better.