Yu Xi's arms locked around Jian Ci, his breath ragged, his heart pounding so hard it hurt. Just the thought of what might have happened that night, of how close he had come to losing him, made his chest seize.
If he hadn't been near enough, if he hadn't intervened, Jian Ci might have slipped away forever.
He held him tighter, as though sheer force could anchor Jian Ci to this world, as though letting go for even a second would mean watching him vanish.
It wasn't until warmth streaked down his chin that Yu Xi realized he was crying. The tears had come unbidden, silent and unstoppable. He blinked, startled, and wiped at his eyes with a shaky sniffle.
Jian Ci, still fragile in the aftermath of his collapse but no longer critical, looked up at him. His gaze was hazy, but his hands were steady as they cupped Yu Xi's face. Slowly, tenderly, he leaned forward and kissed away the tears. Then his lips found Yu Xi's.
