Night fell fast and everyone was sitting around in the living room watching tv. Jing and AiLin were sitting on the floor laughing and getting along. LiYun and Kong were on the couch picking on each other like they always do. Finally, LiYun and Jing went to bed leaving Kong and AiLin alone to watch tv.
''Tomorrow we will clean the other room for you. Hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch tonight'' Kong said tapping AiLin on the shoulder.
AiLin looked back at him and smiled ''No, it's ok. It will be better than sleeping on the cold stone floor'' AiLin said.
Kong sat up ''Hey, I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you really ok with being around humans. I mean they aren't all that good. Look what happened in Chongqing'' Kong said.
AiLin stood up and walked to the window looking down on the street that was lit by lanterns below. He crossed his arms and didn't speak. Kong was right not all humans were good and that seemed to scare him the most. AiLin didn't know what to say. Even if he stayed would LiYun be able to save him all the time if he got into trouble with humans? What if LiYun wasn't around and something happened?
Kong could see AiLin was now lost in thought. He didn't mean to upset him if he did. Kong walked over and patted him on the back.
''Sorry'' Kong said in a soft voice ''Just know that LiYun is happy you're here. We all are.'' He smiled and patted him again ''I'm going to head off to bed. Try to get some sleep, little fox.'' Kong headed to his room and closed the door behind him.
He sighed and sat on the floor near the door. He hugged his knee and laid his head on it. Unlike the others he didn't sleep as well as them. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep there was a small knock on his door.
Kong stood and opened the door to see Jing standing there ''What's up'' he said tired.
Jing walked in and shut the door behind him then grabbed Kong's hand and walked over to the bed. Kong followed without saying another word. Kong finally sat down on the bed and looked up at Jing who reached out and ran his hand through his hair. Kong closed his eyes. When he opened them, he found that Jing had changed into one of the boys that used to beat him when he was a kid. Kong yelled.
Kong jerked awake as he realized he was still sitting on the floor leaning against the wall near the door. Kong breathed heavily trying to catch his breath. He leaned his head against the wall looking up. Once he was able to breath he stood and opened his door. He walked down the hall to Jing's room and knocked on his door.
When Jing didn't answer he pushed the door open to find that Jing was fast asleep in his bed. Kong walked over and sat on the other side of the bed. Jing felt something and turned over. When he opened his eyes, he saw Kong there.
''I'm sorry if I woke you. I just can't sleep'' Kong said hanging his head ''In truth when we were sleeping downstairs I slept soundly.''
Jing sat up and placed his hand on Kong's back ''Do you want to sleep here then'' he asked.
Kong turned and looked at him for a moment ''Is it ok?'' The last thing he wanted to do was make Jing uncomfortable.
''It's fine'' Jing said with a smile almost laughing.
Kong kicked his shoes off and laid down, placing his head on Jing's lap. Jing laughed softly and played with his hair.
''You're acting just like a little puppy, Kong'' Jing said.
''If you don't want me here say so'' Kong said getting up sliding his feet into his shoes. He stood only to get pulled back down by Jing.
When he fell, he landed on top of Jing face to face with him. Kong could feel the burning under his cheek start to grow as he looked at Jing who was looking back at him. Neither of them moved. Jing reached up slowly and placed his hand on Kong's forehead.
''Do you have a fever'' he said softly.
''No'' Kong said
''Your face is red'' Jing smiled and pinched his cheek.
Kong grabbed a hold of Jing's hand and pulled it away. Jing watched him as he did so. He slowly placed Jing's arm around his neck. Unable to withstand it anymore Kong slowly leaned down till his lips softly touched Jing's. Jing was so taken back that he didn't move an inch.
Kong kissed Jing softly as he placed his hands on his waist holding him close. Jing started to blush a bit but then pushed Kong away from him.
''Kong'' he said.
Kong didn't say anything for a bit ''Sorry'' was all he said. He got up and left the room closing the door behind him. He went downstairs and left locking the door behind him.
Jing laid there unable to gather what had just happened. He touched his lips gently. He could still feel Kong's lips on his. He sat up and looked at his door. He figured Kong just went back to his room, but what he didn't know was that Kong left. Jing laid down trying to go back to sleep.
AiLin stood at the window for so long that he didn't notice LiYun walking up behind him. LiYun hugged AiLin from behind placing his chin on his shoulder.
''Ai, why are you not sleeping'' LiYun asked
AiLin looked back at him and smiled ''It's new to me so it's a little hard to sleep'' he said looking back out the window.
LiYun nodded then pulled AiLin to sit in his lap as he flopped down on the couch. He wrapped a blanket around them as he held AiLin close to his chest. LiYun flipped through the channels on the tv till he found a movie. AiLin sat there for the longest time not saying anything. Just as he looked up at LiYun, LiYun looked back down at him and smiled.
AiLin sighed and wiggled free from LiYun's arms moving back over to the window.
''What is wrong'' LiYun asked, worried AiLin was thinking about leaving again.
''If I was to leave, what would you do'' AiLin asked without looking at him.
''Why would you leave'' LiYun stood up.
''Just answer the question please'' AiLin turned and looked at him.
''I would want to lock you up so that you couldn't ever leave, but I wouldn't be able to do that to you. So, if you want to leave, then I won't stop you'' LiYun tossed the blanket on the couch and headed to his room slamming the door behind him.
At that time Kong came out of Jing's room. He had heard what happened between them.
''He doesn't want you to leave because he cares for you more than he wants to say'' Kong said letting out a sigh. ''Look, LiYun is new to finding out what feelings are and everything. We all are in truth. Same with you, but one thing is for sure he is scared to lose you. He is scared to lose all of us really. We are all he has left.'' He pats AiLin on the head ''Just think about it. If you still want to leave tomorrow, I'll help you myself.'' He turned and headed towards the stairs.
''Where are you going this late'' AiLin asked.
Kong rubbed the back of his head ''I kind of did something bad and now I need to go get some air.'' He looked down the hall to Jing's room then looks back at him ''I just hope he forgives me.''
AiLin smiled ''Jing cares for you, so I'm sure he will.''
Kong nodded and left. AiLin watched, then slowly made his way down the other hall that led to LiYun's room. AiLin knocked a few times. Finally, the door opened with LiYun standing there without a shirt on and a pair of pajama pants. AiLin looked down at the floor.
''I...I'm sorry'' he said softly ''I didn't mean to upset you and I didn't mean that I was planning on leaving. I just wondered what you thought if I did.''
LiYun grabbed AiLin pulling him into the room and pinned him against the wall, shutting and locking the door. AiLin looked up at him. Once again LiYun's blue eyes drew him in. He couldn't look away from him at all.
''Li, why do you wish to keep me close by'' AiLin asked.
LiYun placed a hand on AiLin's cheek and looked back at him ''In truth, I can't explain that myself. All I know is that if you are not here with me, then I feel as if something is missing.'' LiYun moved in closer then moved away and sat on his bed leaving AiLin against the wall. ''When we first meet you were in your fox form so at first, I didn't notice anything, but when we meet again in Chongqing and saw you in your human form something inside of me clicked telling me to hang onto you.''
AiLin started to walk over to him as he listened.
''I want to hold you all the time and not let go. If someone was to hurt you, I would kill them. It pisses me off to think about someone else touching you as well'' LiYun looked down ''I just don't get it. I don't know what is wrong with me. I don't feel this way with Kong or Jing. Just you.'' When he looked up AiLin was standing in front of him ''I don't know what to do.''
AiLin didn't know what to say. He moved in close to LiYun sitting on his lap and wrapping his arms around his neck hugging him tightly. LiYun hugged him back holding him as close as he could. Finally, LiYun reached up and cupped AiLin's face rubbing his thumbs over his cheeks. AiLin laid his hands over LiYun's and smiled at him.
''Will you allow me to kiss you, Ai'' LiYun asked softly.
AiLin nodded.
LiYun pulled him in close, placing his lips against AiLin's softly. AiLin blushed hard and closed his eyes as he ran his hands up through LiYun's hair. He couldn't believe how sweet LiYun's lips tasted as they kissed. LiYun picked him up and laid him on the bed lying next to him, his lips never leaving AiLin's
He held onto AiLin's small waist. LiYun used his tongue to part AiLin's lips so he could explore his mouth even more. This made AiLin blush to the point his whole face was now red as he used his own tongue to play with LiYun's. LiYun finally leaned up and looked down at the now bright red little fox that laid beside him. His long white hair fanned over the pillow under him. LiYun reached out and ran his hand through it. He knew if he wasn't careful, he would end up eating him alive till morning.
LiYun rubbed his nose against AiLin's and smiled ''We should get some sleep. I have to teach a class tomorrow in the morning and Jing has one in the afternoon.''
AiLin nodded and sat up ''Then I should head back to the living room'' he said.
LiYun pulled him back down and hugged him close ''No, you will sleep here with me. Don't think about leaving my side even for a second'' he told him as he covered them with a blanket.
AiLin laughed and nodded as he laid his head against LiYun's chest ''As you wish, Li.''
LiYun smiled and closed his eyes ''My little Ai'' he said before drifting off to sleep.