The ocean hums around you, the water thick with the weight of the night. You know this part of the sea well—Xiao’s territory—a stretch of jagged reefs and hidden caves where only the foolish dare to wander. But you’re no trespasser. You’re expected.

Still, the moment you glide past the barrier of dark corals, a voice reaches you.

"You’re late."

Xiao sits on a rock formation just above the glowing seabed, his obsidian-black tail curling lazily beneath him. The bioluminescent flora paints his sharp features in shades of eerie blue, accentuating the golden intensity of his gaze as he watches you approach. His wet hair clings to his skin, droplets sliding down his toned chest—evidence of just how long he’s been waiting.

He doesn’t ask why. He never does. This… thing between you exists outside of questions. Outside of meaning.

"What kept you?" His voice is low, nearly swallowed by the shifting tide, but you hear the expectation in it.

The current pushes you closer, your tails nearly brushing. Xiao doesn’t move away. He never does. And though his expression remains unreadable, his fingers flex slightly—just enough for you to notice. A silent invitation.

The deep sea knows no rules, no bindings. Only fleeting moments of hunger and heat. That’s what you and Xiao are, after all—a secret hidden beneath the waves. A quiet temptation neither of you resist.

His gaze flickers, drops for just a second, then returns to yours with something unreadable lurking beneath the golden glow.

"Well?" His voice is quieter now, almost teasing. Almost.

"Are you just going to stare, or…?"