When Sehun woke up in the same exact position as the day before, he didn’t recoil in surprise. Instead, he inched closer, wrapping his arms that little bit tighter and burrowing his nose into the other’s neck. Strangely, the small body in his arms felt cold, far too cold for someone who was sleeping in his arms, amidst thick swaths of blankets. Luhan was even shivering, his hands grabbing onto the edge of the blanket as if his life depended on it, whimpering slightly. Worried, Sehun decides to wake the older up, shaking his shoulder gently. “Luhan?” The mentioned suddenly sits up with a loud cough, sweat glistening on his forehead. “Luhan? Are you okay?” Sehun has to try hard to not panic, since Luhan was now coughing to the side, covering his mouth with a palm. “Y- Yeah, I- Fine,” he manages to say in between coughs, not that it reassures Sehun much. “This usually happens when it’s time for me to return to the castle, since it means it’s almost time for the ceremony because my body is getting weaker.” Somehow that statement sends chills to Sehun’s spine. His body is getting weaker? That can’t be a good thing, right? “You’re still not going to tell me what exactly this ceremony is though, will you?” questions Sehun, raising an eyebrow at the older. “I’m sorry.” Luhan had the decency to look embarrassed, but that didn’t mean that he would budge. “Some things, you’re better off not knowing,” he thinks to himself, biting his lips.
“Well, that’s okay, I respect your decision.” Although he says that, the sigh he releases says a whole different story. “We’ll just stay in bed today, since you’re probably feeling tired,” he suggests, pulling Luhan back into his arms. The blond giggles, happily returning the hug. “You warmed up to me quicker,” he says happily, smiling up at the confused face above him. “You know, for the me that remembers you when you were just a little squirt,” Sehun makes a small whine of indignation at the description, “and seeing you all grown up and handsome,” another sound, but one of self-consciousness this time, “I can’t help but fall in love with you.”
Sehun’s eyes widened at the sudden confession, but a part of him wasn’t surprised. A part of him wanted to say ‘Me too’. But before he could get a word out, he was distracted by Luhan’s blue eyes staring right into his. They were no ordinary or generic blue, but an icy blue, just like icy waters of Měirényú itself. They were almost white, with a hint of pale blue that emphasized the permanent twinkle that glimmered in his eyes. Knowing what he did, it was easy for Sehun to see how Luhan was in fact the merprince of Měirényú, with the way his body basically represented the things that made up the seas. It wasn’t just his eyes, the pale expanse of skin, blond hair, everything just screamed the icy waters.
Sehun was captivated by the beauty that was Luhan, subconsciously inching closer and closer, until their noses brushed, their breathing in sync as they continue to gaze into each other’s eyes. “Was that what you wanted to tell me yesterday?” whispers Sehun, still moving closer. Luhan nods, hands finding purchase at the front of Sehun’s shirt. “Every time you got close enough to me for me to confess, it would be time for me to leave… So I never got the chance.” “How about now?” “Now? I think I just made it.” And with that, they both surge forwards, lips meeting in the middle. Teeth clashed against teeth as they hurried to strip themselves, but neither could give a care in the world. What was most important was catching up on lost time, and time that both knew would continue to be lost.
"Wait." Sehun pulls back, holding on to Luhan's slender figure. "You said that you being cold means it's time to leave... And that you've just made it this year. What's that supposed to mean? Are you leaving?" His questions were firing out quicker than Luhan could answer, taking an almost an interrogative tone. "Please, Sehun, not now," pleads the blond, pushing them down so that he was lying on top of the taller. He dives down for another kiss, more passionate, more desperate. Sehun responds, understanding that he was being brushed off; but to be completely honest, maybe he wanted the topic to be ignored, maybe the truth wasn't what he needed. So instead, he pretends that everything will work out, pretends that he has all the time in the world to savor the taste of Luhan.. He licks Luhan's bottom lip, sucking on it gently to elicit a soft moan and gaining entrance to his wet cavern. But it wasn't enough, just their tongues doing all the work.
What he needed was Luhan's delicate frame in his arms, Luhan's pink lips against his pale skin, Luhan's bare body against his. Even then, kisses and touches weren't enough, the passion quickly overtaking them. After an intense session of kissing and leaving marks of love to bloom on each other's skin, they take it further, Sehun pushing himself into Luhan. They were connected, finally intimate after years of waiting on Luhan's part, and a sense of completeness filled them both.
A steady rhythm of thrusts, moans and whispers of love fills the cabin, their bodies hidden by the blanket that covered them. It was a miracle that if hadn't fallen off during their lovemaking, but Sehun made sure that it was there to keep Luhan warm, despite his own body burning with love. Instead of warming up with the act if sex, Luhan was starting to cool down further, a cold sweat on his skin. Sehun presses himself down harder, transferring the warmth, the heat, his everything.
Too cold. Still too cold. Sehun begins to thrust harder, desperation driving his limbs to move faster, trying to attain the release that they both needed. But he could feel Luhan growing weaker in his arms, his muffled cries of pleasure turning weaker, turning into sobs, turning into silence. His breathing had become shallow, his movements lethargic as he stills beneath the other, his face against the pillow. But his grip on Sehun never weakens, doing the exact opposite as he tries to hold on, tries to stay. His back arches beautifully every time Sehun finds his prostate, hitting it with uncontained emotion, his cock driving deeper each time as they peak.
With a final groan, Sehun releases into Luhan, who could only muster a weak call of the other's name, his face paler than usual, a pasty sheen compared to his usual glow. "Sehun, I love you." Sehun doesn't manage to say his reply, the words stuck in his throat as Luhan succumbs to sleep, fingers loosening their grip on Sehun's. Not yet allowing himself to sleep, Sehun interlocks their fingers once more, placing a chaste kiss on each of the knuckles on Luhan's hand. He noticed that his lips met with ice-cold skin, and he couldn’t help but feel a sudden pang in his heart. "I love you too."
The next day, he wakes up alone, the other side of the bed colder than it has ever been.