Lucien was oblivious to the fact that he'd been treated like a midnight snack. He just felt like the mountain bugs were exceptionally aggressive.

He found several red marks on his skin while dressing. His inner thighs ached with a strange, dull throb.

He narrowed his eyes at

Leon

. "Did you...?"

Leon's expression was a mask of innocence. "I was drunk, baby. I crashed early. Must have been the bugs".

Lucien, still a bit dazed from the wine the night before, let the lie slide.

The descent was no different from the hike up. Leon carried him the entire way down.

Lucien felt a prick of embarrassment when they reached

Freya

and Arthur. Then his sore calves reminded him of the alternative, and he settled back against Leon's broad shoulder.

A few days later, Freya and Arthur were ready to head to the airport. Usually, they'd pack their own bags and slip away without a word, valuing their freedom above all else.

But this year was different. They had a "lamb" clinging to them.

"Don't cry," Leon said, wiping a stray tear from Lucien's cheek. "We'll visit as soon as your semester break starts".

Lucien gripped Freya's sleeve, his eyes rimmed with red. "Will you come back for the wedding?".

Freya froze. She looked at Leon. Leon looked like he'd just been struck by lightning.

"Wedding?" Leon rasped, his heart hammering. "Baby, you... you're serious?".

Lucien didn't answer him. He sniffled and gave Freya one last, floral-scented hug.

The car ride back was tense. Lucien stared out the window, looking miserable.

Leon couldn't help himself. "What did you mean back there? The wedding? Where do you want it?".

"Did I say that?" Lucien muttered.

"Lucien—".

"I'm tired!" Lucien pulled his jacket over his head, effectively ending the conversation. "Just drive".

He stayed mad once they got home. He ignored Leon's attempts to talk and eventually locked himself in the bedroom.

Lucien paced the room, then collapsed onto the bed to call

Jamie

. "He's obsessed with the wedding, but he doesn't get it".

"Get what?" Jamie asked.

"You don't just go to the registry office! Where's the proposal? The nice dinner? The photos? He expects me to just wake up and get a license?".

Jamie let out a heavy sigh. "Men are dense, Honey. Give him a hint or he'll never figure it out".

Lucien eventually emerged from the room. He found Leon sitting on the living room sofa, looking like he hadn't moved in hours.

"Why are you still sitting there?" Lucien asked.

Leon's face was uncharacteristically grim. He couldn't stand even a second of Lucien's cold shoulder. He crossed the room in two strides, hauling Lucien into his arms.

He buried his face in Lucien's neck, his lips grazing the boy's sensitive ear. "Baby, tell me what I did wrong. I'll change it. Anything".

Lucien pouted. "The wedding...".

"We won't do it," Leon interrupted, his voice dropping an octave. "I was pressuring you. I get it. We'll just stay like this".

Lucien pulled back, staring at him in disbelief. "Really? You don't want to marry me anymore?".

Leon went silent. Of course he wanted it. He dreamed about it every night—claiming Lucien legally in front of the world.

Lucien kicked Leon's shin. "I'm hungry. I want a snack".

Leon took the cue. "I'll make something".

At 11:00 PM, the kitchen was bathed in the warm, amber glow of the stove light. Lucien watched Leon work.

He'd never imagined finding someone who would tolerate his whims so completely. Someone who would boil wontons in the middle of the night just because Lucien asked.

Leon set the steaming bowl down. "Careful. It's hot".

Lucien looked at the food, then up at Leon. His eyes welled up again.

"What is it now?" Leon asked, his heart sinking. He gathered Lucien into a gentle embrace.

"If we do it," Lucien whispered, his face pressed against Leon's chest. "I want it at the beach. Just family and friends".

Leon's voice was a jagged rasp. "Okay".

"And you haven't said it today," Lucien muttered.

Leon smirked, kissing the boy's forehead. "Lin Yu'an, I love you".

Lucien finally smiled. After the wontons were gone and Leon had carried him through a warm bath, he fell asleep with his heart synced to the steady rhythm of Leon's chest.

Leon held him close, finally feeling a sense of peace. "Baby, why were you really mad?".

Lucien just closed his eyes, pretending to be dead to the world.