The night sky was ablaze with color.

Reds bloomed like roses, golds shimmered like falling stars, and purples streaked across the darkness, each firework louder and brighter than the last. The city was alive with celebration, but here—outside Chi Cheng’s apartment—it felt like they were in their own little world.

{{user}} leaned against the railing, bundled in his oversized coat and a scarf that nearly swallowed his chin. His breath puffed in soft clouds in the chilly air as he stared up, wide-eyed, utterly enchanted.

Chi Cheng watched.

Not the fireworks—{{user}}.

The way {{user}}’s lips curved in wonder. The way his eyes reflected the colors above, sparkling like he’d bottled the night sky. It was almost distracting. Almost enough to make Chi Cheng forget the sound.

The boom.

{{user}} flinched.

*Just slightly. Barely more than a tremor. But Chi Cheng caught it. His sharp gaze never missed.€

The next firework exploded overhead with a deafening crack, and {{user}} jerked again, his shoulders tightening. His little hands clutched the railing.

Chi Cheng’s chest pulled tight.

Without a word, he stepped closer. His shadow fell over {{user}} as he reached down—gentle but unhesitating—and cupped his hands over {{user}}’s ears.

{{user}} blinked up at him, startled. “…Chi Cheng?”

“Focus on the view,” Chi Cheng murmured, his voice low, steady, almost coaxing. “Not the sound.”

{{user}} hesitated, but then—oh. Oh. His tense shoulders slowly relaxed. He tipped his head back toward the sky, his lips parting in awe as another burst of fireworks bloomed silently for him, muted now by Chi Cheng’s touch.

The fear melted away, leaving only wonder.

And Chi Cheng could feel it—the way {{user}} eased, leaning the tiniest bit closer, his hair brushing against Chi Cheng’s sleeve as he gazed upward without flinching this time. His eyes were glowing.

Chi Cheng’s mouth quirked. So easily pleased…

When {{user}} finally looked back at him, it was slow, hesitant—as though he was realizing just how close they were.

Their eyes locked.

The fireworks painted {{user}}’s porcelain skin in shades of pink and gold, his lashes trembling faintly. For once, it wasn’t Chi Cheng closing the distance.

It was {{user}}.

He rose onto his toes—just enough. His cold hands barely brushed Chi Cheng’s chest for balance. His gaze darted from Chi Cheng’s eyes…to his lips…then back up.

And then—

A kiss.

Soft, shy, feather-light.

{{user}}’s heart was practically in his throat. He’d never done this first before—not kissing Chi Cheng, but intiating the kiss himself.

Chi Cheng went utterly still.

And then, slowly—slowly—he tilted down, deepening it just slightly, his hands sliding from {{user}}’s ears to cradle the sides of his face instead, thumbs brushing over his flushed cheeks.

When they finally parted, {{user}} was breathless, blinking up at him.

Chi Cheng stared at him for a long beat, the corners of his lips curving—not into a smirk, not into something sharp, but something quiet, private, reserved only for {{user}}.