Help! I'm the Plot Device: Just Here to Save the Heroes

Mission Failed: We Fell in Love Instead

Yan's balance slipped again, his palm skidding and landing beside Jerry's hip. His breath shuddered against Jerry's mouth.

Jerry's other hand threaded into Yan's hair, turning his head upward, guiding him gently but firmly. Jerry ended up hovering over him on the floor, their legs tangled, their breaths crashing unevenly together.

Yan's voice cracked, barely audible.
"Yichen... w-what does all this mean?"

Jerry didn't answer immediately.

He looked at him-really looked-and Yan's breath stuttered. Jerry's eyes weren't confused. They weren't angry. They were clear. Certain. Burning with a choice he had already made.

Jerry leaned closer, shadows sliding over his face like ink.

"This means," he whispered, nose brushing Yan's, "I don't want to lose you."

Yan inhaled softly, lips parting.

Jerry kissed him again.

This time Yan didn't freeze-he melted.

Jerry's weight pushed Yan back against the floor, their robes whispering softly as they shifted. Yan's hands rose to Jerry's shoulders, fingers curling into the fabric. He didn't push away. But he didn't pull him closer either. Not yet. His instincts fluttered confused and warm, like static beneath his skin.

Jerry tilted Yan's chin, deepening the kiss-slow, aching, consuming. His hand slid down-confident, intentional-finding the knot at Yan's waist. He tugged at the sash, loosening it. Silk slipped, falling open to reveal the soft line of Yan's collarbone.

Yan gasped, grabbing Jerry's wandering wrist-
not forceful, but trembling.

"Yi... Yichen," he managed, pupils blown, voice torn between warning and wanting.
"You'll regret this."

Jerry's gaze dropped to his lips again.

"I'll regret it," he murmured, leaning closer until their breaths mingled,
"if I let you go like this."

He pulled his hand free from Yan's grip with a slow, dragging slide of fingers across Yan's palm-an intimate touch that made Yan shiver.

Yan swallowed hard.

His lashes fluttered once. Twice.

He exhaled-broken, trembling.

"...Won't you?" Jerry whispered.

Yan didn't answer with words.

He reached up, his hands sliding behind Jerry's neck, drawing him down and opened his mouth to meet Jerry's in a deep, unrestrained kiss.

Yan's lips were warm and soft, yet his breath trembled each time Jerry's tongue brushed lightly against his lower lip, asking-no, claiming-another kiss. The moment Yan responded, head tilting just enough to meet him, Jerry's hand slipped down, tracing the slope of his throat again, feeling each jump of his pulse.

Yan gasped quietly, the sound breaking against Jerry's mouth.

Silk rustled.
Breaths tangled.
Hearts hammered.

"Yichen..." Yan's voice wasn't steady anymore.

Jerry leaned in, their foreheads brushing, breath mingling-hot, uneven, hungry with something neither of them had dared to name before now.

"You keep saying my name like you're afraid," Jerry whispered, thumb brushing Yan's jaw.
"Are you?"

Yan's breath caught. His pupils dilated, the faint flicker of his demonic instincts shimmering through-sharp, feline, unguarded.