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Wang Yibo has always been in love with music. All his life music has been a big part of him. His passion for dancing had bought him closer to the other side of it, singing. Although Wang Yibo would not describe his voice as melodic at all, it’s still pleasant. Although if he had said that in front of Kim Sungjoo and Cho Seungyoun then he would have received a punch to his shoulder and a smack to his head respectively.
It’s one fine morning when he hears it for the first time, a faint strum of the guitar followed by an angelic voice that just orders Yibo to notice it. He moves hurriedly on his feet from the couch to the window. The sound, the voice is there waiting for him.
Yibo is unable to recognize the song that’s been sung but whatever the name is, it doesn’t matter. For the unknown song makes it way into his heart, weaving deep into the walls, warming him up.
He doesn’t know how long he remains near the window, entranced by the spell the voice had put upon him, like the Sirens the pirates had been warned about. One song and they lose themselves into it, submitting to all the whims of the owner of their hearts. Now Yibo knows how it must have been like for them.
He only moves from his spot, broken out from the spell when a hand squeezes his shoulder and his friend's voice enters his ears “Hey Yibo. I have been calling you for a while dude. What’s up with you?” Cho Seungyoun asks, his voice concerned.
Yibo only gives him a look and turns back to the window, his ears trying to pick up the sound again. But to his utter dismay, only silence greets them.
He knows he is being a little dramatic here, but he really is quite annoyed at being put out of his little bubble of peace as he swats Seungyoun’s hand away harshly, “What?” He barks out.
Thankfully, Cho Seungyoun is rather amused by his odd reaction and only laughs loudly, “Hello to you too Yibo. What’s gotten into you to make you so cranky?”
Yibo merely ignores him, walking away from the window and slumping onto the sofa. He wants to hear the voice again; he wants it to consume him whole and-
“Oh, wait it should be more like What’s not gotten into you to make you cranky?”
“Shut up” He grits out, throwing the cushion to the laughing figure of his friend.
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The next time Yibo manages to hear the Siren’s voice again is after he is eating his soggy bowl of cereal after one particularly intense night of dance practice. The practice had taken all his energy from him leaving him more like a zombie than a human.
It’s then when a bright tune fills his silent apartment, the sound bringing all the colors back into Yibo. He moves so quickly that the chair he is sitting on screeches loudly before flopping to the floor. But Yibo pays no mind and runs to the window. He opens the latches holding the window close before propping his head right out, trying to find his Siren.
But to his utter dismay, his eyes only meet the crowd of people circling around what he thinks is his Siren. Situated in the Park right behind the window of his apartment, his siren sits under the shade of the tree.
Yibo realizes that will how loud the sound is this time; this might be a new spot for him. Something unfurls in his heart when he realizes how close they are to each other now, at least, well distance-wise.
He smiles when the crowd bursts into applause. His Siren deserves this, he deserves more.
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This almost becomes like a routine of his. His Siren is not consistent with his schedule, leaving Wang Yibo waiting like a lovesick fool waiting for him to enchant him again. But when his and Yibo’s schedules line up, Yibo brings his chair next to his window just basking in the voice.
All the pieces that he sings are surprisingly new to him. Every single time Yibo records them, hearing the audio whenever he is stressed and burnt out. They feel like an instant energy boost, like a phone connected to a fast charger, well wait that sounds like a bad comparison, but you get the point.
He searches for the songs every night, listening to them on repeat before they are imprinted deep into the crevices of his brain by the morning. Sometimes he even likes to choreograph one dance piece to them, just to feel closer to his Siren, to understand and analyze what kind of person he might be.
Not many people understand how the language of music can tell you more about a person than anything else. The notes, the lyrics speak more than any kind of portfolio or biodata ever will, if only one is ready to hear and understand.
Wang Yibo soon realizes one pattern in the songs. Presence of one particular name that now occupies his playlist, Stefanie Sun.
He grins, his Siren must be a fan of hers. See? He already is much closer to find more about him!
He can only hope that one day, he gathers enough courage to step outside his apartment and see his Siren for himself and listen to him with no distance between them. But for now, he is content to hum along to another recital of the song, Kepler.
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Wang Yibo is on a call with Zhou Yixuan, his friend at the dance academy when he first hears the familiar tune outside of his apartment. He almost drops his phone and loses his footing but he barely registers that. He hears the distant concerned “Hello Yibo? Are you okay buddy? What happened?” but he does nothing.
Almost like he is once again under the spell of his Siren, his feet gain a mind of their own and they walk and walk and walk until Yibo finds himself standing right in front of the Siren.
His eyes are trained on the figure sitting on a long stool under the tree, one basket next to him, his guitar cover draped carefully on a pale green blanket. Yibo can’t see much for his siren’s face is hidden by his bowed head as his fingers fidgets with the strings of his guitar. When did the music stop? He didn’t even realize it had stopped.
And then, his siren raises his head and their eyes meet.
Wang Yibo almost goes to his knees right then and there, for this man in front of him can’t be a human. He means it is a good way of course. Yibo definitely thinks he is a siren now, seeing him confirms it.
Even in a plain blue shirt draped over one simple white t-shirt and black jeans, this man is…. this man is……beautiful.
Yibo doesn’t look away even when the man gives him a smile that is so bright and radiant that makes all his body freeze. For the sun should be ashamed now, for its rival for the brightest entity in the entire universe has arrived.
A very obvious, what the hell are you thinking about, cough is heard from him and Yibo quickly shakes his head before letting out the most awkward laugh he has ever heard.
“You sing good” Yibo says, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head before realizing how badly he had said what he said.
Get it together Yibo! Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your crush!
The man grins and the way his eyes crinkles at the end and his face just scrunches up so cutely makes Yibo lose all his composure and he just blushes bright red. Hiding his face behind his hands, he hears the man laugh.
A beat of silence passes between the two. All the time Yibo keeps his face hidden behind his hands, too ashamed to look at him. And just about Yibo is about to run to his apartment as fast as he can, the man begins to say “Thank you”
As if the previous instance was not enough for him, Yibo blurts out “Yibo”
The man lets out a confused sound “Huh?”
“My name” He wishes he could shut his mouth off but the man just has all the controls of his body, so he says “Wang Yibo”
Yibo is blessed with another angelic laugh and then a soft whisper that does incredibly warm things to his poor little heart “Hello Wang Yibo” Can just ask the man to say his name like that again and again, please?
“I’m Xiao Zhan”
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Since the fateful day of Yibo’s encounter with his sire, his angel, hiss, not his yet Xiao Zhan, they have come to a silent agreement of sorts. All the Sundays Yibo is free (If he is skipping some dance classes, then that’s between him and his dance mates) he accompanies Xiao Zhan.
Yibo never misses the way his smile just seems more genuine and his shoulders relax when their eyes meet, how Xiao Zhan just unfurls like a little bud, blooming into the beautiful flower that he is, but that might just be his mind playing a trick on him.
Some days they talk after the session ends. He gets to know how Xiao Zhan works as a freelance graphic designer and fulfills his dream of becoming a singer by busking around in the city. This has been the third place that he chose before completely abandoning the other and just deciding to stay here.
Yibo is highly surprised to hear that Xiao Zhan is six! Six years older than him! How the man manages to look even younger than Yibo sometimes is beyond him. Since getting this information, Yibo never leaves any chance to not call him Zhan-Ge. Xiao Zhan always just slaps his arm playfully, a little blush adorning his beautiful cheeks every single time.
Wang Yibo also tells him all about his week. How he had messed up his choreography and how he had struggled to manage his temper then. Xiao Zhan had just put his hand on his shoulder, gently coaxing him to look at him. Yibo had seen no judgment in those eyes, just understanding, and gentleness.
“Yibo, struggling is fine. Sometimes you are just not….... how can I say this?” Xiao Zhan had furrowed his eyebrows while thinking and Yibo had only wanted to kiss that furrow away.
“Not in the right space to do things and that’s okay. Getting angry at yourself is normal but if you let it define you and you act upon it in the wrong way, then that’s bad”
“Let yourself a little lose when that happens. I usually go to have ice cream whenever I’m feeling low and that boosts me up every time. You know what?” Xiao Zhan had picked his guitar and bag up before pulling Yibo on his feet.
“Zhan-Ge” Yibo had said as Xiao Zhan dragged him around like a little puppy before they stopped in front of an ice cream truck. “Let’s have some!” Xiao Zhan had said and beamed at him and Yibo had felt all his worries and stress seep right out of his body.
The two had gone for a little walk in the park, eating their ice creams, their shoulders brushing against each other.
As the two had reached the lake and watched the sun go down, its various hues leaving an ethereal glow to his Xiao Zhan’s face as he hummed the familiar tune of Kepler almost unconsciously, Yibo had come to a conclusion.
He was in love with Xiao Zhan.
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Wang Yibo learns a lot from Xiao Zhan. H teaches him how to play the guitar, how to sing the higher notes, and in return, Yibo teaches him his favorite choreographies, even a bit of skateboarding. The two of them spend their days together, laughing and learning. It’s like no one else exists but just the two. They grow closer and closer until only the barrier of someone taking the first step remains between the two, waiting to be broken.
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The next time he sees Xiao Zhan is not well, one of his best moments. Exhausted after one very intense dance session leaves him completely unaware of his own body. His body is numb, his mind is blank and he is pretty sure he is shivering. Is he running a fever?
But being the stubborn person he is, he insists to walk back home alone. And before any of his friends could see him, he disappears out of the studio. He can’t miss meeting Xiao Zhan. It had already been a week since he last saw him and he is running low on his Zhan-Ge energy. He needs to see him right now. So, Yibo power walks to the park. It takes him longer than he wanted to.
By the time he sees Xiao Zhan, he is already putting his stuff away.
Even when his eyes are on the brink of closing, Yibo smiles and whispers almost like a prayer “Zhan-Ge” He doesn’t know how Xiao Zhan manages to hear him but he does and turns around quickly.
Xiao Zhan’s eyes widen as he takes in Yibo’s condition. “Yibo, are you okay?” Yibo sees the words form on his lips but before he can do or say anything, Yibo feels his body starting to tilt. The ground almost meets his face before a blur of something catches him midway. Strong arms wrap around his waist, pulling him into a warm chest.
Xiao Zhan, Yibo whispers. Cold hands touch his forehead, a concerned blurry face looking at him. “Yibo, can you hear me? Yibo! Wang Yibo” Not being able to see the pain in those eyes, Yibo whines out, squirming in Xiao Zhan’s arms. “M’Kay, Zhan-Ge”
“Like the hell you are” Xiao Zhan mutters before he picks him up in his arms carrying him to the bench nearby. He gently lies him on it, one hand gently cupping the back of his head, placing the blanket underneath it.
Yibo tries to tell him again that he is okay and he just needs to walk into his apartment and maybe sleep for another fifteen days or something but his mouth refuses to cooperate. So, with feverish eyes, he only watches Xiao Zhan fiddle with his backpack and retrieved a water bottle from it.
Xiao Zhan crouches next to his face, his warm eyes swirling with concern. His hands come to rest under his head again and Yibo realizes that just how much he wants that hand there at all times.
Something cold and wet touches his lips. Yibo is clumsy as he drinks the water, some dripping down his neck. Xiao Zhan pulls the bottle away and gently dabs the water away from his mouth with a handkerchief.
Xiao Zhan tries to move away from him again and Yibo just whines like a needy kid, grabbing onto anything Xiao Zhan which happens to be the sleeve of his pink shirt. He tugs him closer with all the strength he can manage and Xiao Zhan yelps. “Aiya, Yibo sweetheart I’m just going to get my stuff so I can get you to your apartment, okay? Let your Gege take care of you please” His voice is so sincere and earnest yet desperate that Yibo’s grip loosens immediately. This earns him a little chuckle from Xiao Zhan as he tucks a strand of hair away from his clammy forehead.
By the time Xiao Zhan picks his weak body again, Yibo is deep asleep.
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Yibo comes back to his senses in small installments. The first time he wakes up, a cold hand is clenching his hand tightly, a soothing voice humming a tune he will recognize anywhere. “Zhan-Ge” He croaks out. The humming stops and Yibo starts to squirm again on the soft bed he is lying on and a hand rests on his chest, pushing him back.
“Shhh, Yibo. Go back to sleep sweetheart” And the humming resumes immediately. The effect is just like a lullaby and Yibo is under the spell again and falls asleep once more.
The second time Yibo opens his eyes, he is alone in the room, the curtains pulled back. The early morning sun basks the room in cool light. He has more control of his limbs now and clearer with his thoughts. But something feels off as he pulls himself off the bed. It feels like he is missing something big.
He had a fever, right? And then he was in his room? How did he get here? Did someone from his dance crew get him back here or did he get back on his own?
A severe headache starts to form in the back of his head and Yibo groans in pain. Just then the door opens. Yibo instantly moves to his feet, grabbing the nearest thing he could use as a weapon, a pillow.
And if the fever did not make him dizzy then the image of Xiao Zhan in his bedroom does it. He sways dangerously on his feet and just in a millisecond Xiao Zhan is next to him, pulling him into his chest. Yibo gasps as his face squish against the solid frame of Xiao Zhan, his arms wrapped around his waist.
They stay like that for a while, not moving, completely unaware of how to detangle from each other. Yibo is a whirlwind of emotions. He is screaming inside. Xiao Zhan had been taller than Yibo, that he knew. But being this close to him, he sees just how much their height difference allows him to tuck his head neatly in his neck and just breathe in his calming scent.
Wang Yibo remains frozen, his whole body unsure how to respond. And then Xiao Zhan shuffles away from him, his body already cold from the lack of warmth. Even in the low light Yibo can make out his flushed face, his hunched shoulders.
“Zhan-Ge” Yibo says tentatively because everything else seems like the wrong thing to say. He doesn’t know what exactly happened the last time he was awake, so he just lets the tension hang between them.
Xiao Zhan opens his mouth and then closes it again. If the situation was a bit different, then Yibo might have thrown a joke around but not right now.
After the longest awkward silence between the two just staring at one another with their mouths closed, Xiao Zhan asks “Are you okay now Yibo?” Yibo’s body visibly relaxes and he slumps to the bed.
“Kind of? The fever is gone but I still feel like shit” And then, “Did you…. umm, did you get me to my apartment? How long was I out for? What happened?”
Xiao Zhan deflates and takes a step to sit next to Yibo. He scoots over, making space for him.
“You little rascal” Xiao Zhan begins and Yibo’s eyes widen in shock. Did his Zhan-Ge just curse?
“Ah?” Yibo laughs, his face scrunching in pure delight.
Xiao Zhan looks scandalized though “Hey! How dare you laugh like this Wang Yibo! You scared the hell out of me fainting like that in Infront of me. You were burning up and yet you walked to the park instead of going home and I was so scared!” His voice breaks at the end just as Yibo’s eyes widen. Xiao Zhan was worried for him?
“I was so scared and worried Wang Yibo. Please don’t do that again” His voice is so low that if Yibo was not paying attention to it, he might have missed it.
Yibo takes in a shuddering breath, shifting closer to Xiao Zhan until their shoulders are meeting.
“I’m sorry Zhan-Ge” A small huff reaches him.
“You should be sorry to your body, not me Yibo. Take care of yourself better” As Xiao Zhan whispers the words, the air that envelopes the two changes into something more fragile and intimate, prompting Yibo to just lean into his shoulder. Xiao Zhan freezes beneath him for a second before he merely sighs and a hand slides to his waist, bringing him closer to him. Xiao Zhan’s hand rubs gentle circles on his back that tickles him and he moves closer to Xiao Zhan, his thigh almost in Xiao Zhan’s lap.
Xiao Zhan’s heartbeat and the unconscious humming, that Yibo finds completely endearing almost lulls him back to sleep. But he remains awake. The moment they have right now and the drug of courage his fever had given him, he cannot let it go to waste. He needs to tell him, he needs to tell Xiao Zhan he loves him, been in love with him for almost a year now and he wants him to know and-
“Yibo, can you hear it?” Xiao Zhan’s voice breaks him out of his train of thoughts.
“Hear what?” Yibo asks, confused by the sudden question.
Xiao Zhan only looks at him with an unreadable expression before easily manhandling him to his lap. Yibo yelps in surprise, his arms automatically wrapping around Xiao Zhan’s neck. “Zhan-Ge?” He squeaks out. He tries to look up at Xiao Zhan’s face, to understand what the hell is going on because his heart is beating too fast and he is going crazy but his head is only pushed to Xiao Zhan’s chest.
Xiao Zhan leans into his hair, breathing in as he whispers, “My heart has been singing for you since we met. Can you hear it?”
As understanding starts to fill his head, Yibo’s heart quickens, his arms wrapping tightly against his neck, “Zhan-Ge” He gulps, “Are you asking me that…”
“I’m asking that……” He trails before his cold lips rest against Yibo’s clammy forehead and he mummers against his skin “Can you hear the song my heart sings for you?”
Yibo shivers against his body, chanting almost like a prayer “Yes, yes, yes, yes, Zhan-Ge”
And then, “I love you so much, Xiao Zhan. I have been in love for so long. I love you, Xiao Zhan”
That’s the only thing he gets to say before Xiao Zhan is cupping his face between his hands and kisses him, soft and gentle.
Yibo melts under the feel of his lips against Xiao Zhan’s, pulling him closer by his neck to deepen the kiss. He feels Xiao Zhan’s lips curve against his. “I love you Wang Yibo”
“Since when?” Yibo whispers.
“Since the day I saw you freeze in front of me” Xiao Zhan teases, the glint in his eyes making Yibo hide himself in the crook of his neck. “Zhan-Ge! I was already embarrassed that you had this first impression of me looking at you like a lovesick fool!”
Xiao Zhan’s laughter is like the sweetest melody that Yibo would love to hear all day, every day.
“Oh, you did look like a little lost puppy then” He coos, ruffling his hair.
“Zhan-Ge!”
“Alright alright, I won’t tease you anymore”
They sit wrapped in each other’s warmth in complete silence for a long time before Yibo decides to tease his Xiao Zhan back “What song is it?” Xiao Zhan only gives him an adorable confused smile.
Yibo smirks, and pouts “The song that your heart sings for me?”
Xiao Zhan is stunned into silence, not knowing how to handle his own words thrown at him. “Yibo, you really…” He hums thoughtfully before twirling a strand of Yibo’s hair with his finger, “It’s a love song”
“Which love song?” Yibo asks.
“My sweetheart, All the love songs in the entire world cannot describe my love for you, Wang Yibo” Is what Xiao Zhan says and it’s so sincere and full of love that Yibo is rendered speechless and just shoves his lips against his.
They don’t know how long they kiss but at that moment nothing else mattered, just Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan in their own little bubble of pure love.
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The months' turns to years and years bleed into decades. But one thing remains strong and consistent. Two figures, one tall, the other a bit short, roaming the country and then the world, together, sharing their passion for singing and dancing with everyone. Teaching everyone the language of love, the language of music.
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