Before the first rays of sun touch TengFei, the two men arrive at Kynlun. YiHuang- guided by the directions YiYang had left for him- finds the residence: the place they were planning to stay at while there.

None of them bring up the incident as they settle in, freshen up, and immediately set out for a stroll in the marketplace.

Zhang is excited at first, looking at and asking about the various items on display. "I guess the concept of the marketplace is the same all across the universe, hum?" He concludes. But soon, excitement gives way to curiosity as they enter deeper into the maze that YiHuang refers to as a hidden market.

"Why do I feel like we are on a mission?" He ask in a whisper, leaning into his companion and tugging on his sleeves.

"Because we are on one." YiHuang deadpans, holding on to the latter's wrist, he adds, "Stay close."

Zhang groans, "And here I thought we were going to play house."

"Playhouse? I am unfamiliar with the term." YiHuang turns to glance at Zhang, "We are here. Don't talk; don't ask questions. If anyone addresses you, tell them that you are not allowed to talk."

"What if someone takes a shine to me?"

"I don't understand that reference either." YiHuang rolls his eyes and knocks on a maroon arched door.
A second later, the door opens a smidgen to reveal large chocolate brown eyes, "Yes?" A woman's voice enquiries.

"I am here to meet Professor Hu Kwan." YiHuang holds his palm up.

The chocolate brown eyes widen; she lets the men inside and leads them to a giant hall.

"Ah-Huang, you didn't tell me what I should do if someone hits on me." Zhang presses on as soon as the woman leaves to find the Professor.

"I will not let anyone hurt you. Yuanjians are not like humans. We don't attack unprovoked."

Zhang loses it at the prince's response. He laughs, throwing his head back (much to the prince's annoyance).
"I was being serious. Why are you laughing?"

Zhang puts his arms up. "I am sorry." He suppresses his laugh that is trying hard to escape him yet again, but he somehow manages to reign it in, "There is still much you need to tell me about your people." The human leans in, invading the prince's personal space, "like, how does your dating culture work?"

YiHuang quirks his brow and leans away, "Please refrain from using colloquial terms. Also, respect personal space... while in public." He adds as an afterthought.

"Understood." Zhang chirps. However, instead of shifting away, he leans closer, "But, tell me, your highness, does the personal space thing go only one way? Because if I remember correctly..."

"Huang-ah," A man's deep gruff voice makes Zhang stop and lean away. He turns to catch the source and witnesses a man dressed in pale blue gab similar to them enter the hall.

YiHuang stands up and bows, "Professor, I am here as you requested. Why did you want to see me?"

The man addressed to as Professor, however, instead of answering, glances at Zhang suspiciously. "Who are you?"

Zhang bows and looks at YiHuang who replies, "Professor, he is my apprentice."

"This is a secret facility. How dare you bring an unknown here!?" The older man growls.

"He belongs to me, Professor. He has sworn his allegiance to me."

The Professor gapes. "I would've never..." He trails off. Then squaring his shoulders, he turns around, "There is something you need to see."

The Professor, Hu Kwan, taking an elevator, brings them to a large hall with high ceilings filled with what appears to be telescopes. "I am afraid I have bad news, Prince." He sighs, flicking his wrist. A hologram materializes in front of them.

Looking at the constellations, Zhang recognizes it as the area just outside Earth's solar system. He shifts closer subconsciously. His eyes linger on a spot where Pluto, the tiny planet, was supposed to be, but there is nothing there. 'I am sure it was there when I entered the system couple of days ago. Could I have been wrong!? Or is this what I have been...' He wonders.

YiHuang balks, "That's...not...I didn't...I thought we had more time, Professor." He moves closer to the hologram and zooms in. "When?"

The Professor hangs his head, looking like a defeated man, "A moment before you arrived."

"Where there any signs?"

The Professor shakes his head. "Nothing. One moment all was well, the next..." he lets the words hang. Turning to the prince, he speaks, "How much longer before we can test the Intex manipulator?"

YiHuang keeps staring at the hologram, feeling guilty and worthless. 'If I hadn't spent the past few days worrying about Zhang, could I have come up with a solution by now?'

"Prince YiHuang?" The Professor calls again. "Son, tell me we have a chance." The old man's eyes are full of hope as they hold the prince's.

YiHuang contemplates telling the truth, he almost does, but a touch of Zhang's fingers as they brush against the underside of his wrist stops him. His eyes drift over to Zhang, who seems to have read his mind. A look of understanding passes between them. "Professor, give me everything you have, however insignificant, don't leave out anything."

The old man brightens up instantly and starts barking orders at the uniformed men and women present there.
Within minutes, the two men leave with all the Intel the agency had acquired over the past month.

With both of them in deep thought, the journey back to their residence is silent. However, not once does YiHuang let go of Zhang's hand.

Arriving home, YiHuang immediately sets up the equipment: the Intex manipulator. And opens the virtual file they had acquired from Professor Hu Kwan.

Zhang sits facing the second prince, "I know what you are thinking, Ah-Huang, but trust me, you got this...I mean, you will be able to make it work." A pair of hopeless eyes meet his determined ones.

YiHuang's gaze drifts towards the window, "How can you be sure? You don't even know what has happened."
Zhang takes a deep breath and holds the latter's hand. "Pluto is gone. An inter-dimensional wormhole has opened up in its place. As of now, it is unstable. However, it is only a matter of time before it stabilizes. Once it does, it will be impossible for you to hide any longer. The Yuanjians and TengFei will perish."

Shock and surprise color YiHuang's countenance. "How..."

"I saw it. In fact, I saw multiple versions of it."

The prince's brows, "I don't follow." He doesn't understand how Zhang knew so much about what was happening when he hadn't even told him about the threat Yuanjians were facing since time immemorial.

Zhang gives YiHuang's hand a gentle squeeze and brings it to his lips, kissing the tips, "It's alright. We have a lifetime to discuss it. Now, give me access to everything related to Intex dimensions."

Zhang's words barely register as heat colors his face and blood pools under his stomach. He holds Zhang's determined gaze. His eyes drop to the latter's swollen lower lip. "It wasn't a dream."

Zhang nods, "No, it wasn't. Ah-Huang, I wish we could have met sooner...I wish we could continue..." he traces his lower lip, "but I guess I chose a really inappropriate time to arrive." He cups the latter's face between his palms, "So, I will have to wait...we will have to wait. Rest assured, you can do this. We can do this. Alright?" He shrugs lightheartedly before adding, "After all, the continued existence of your race is at stake."

As soon as the words leave Zhang's lips, YiHuang gets to work. He hands over the access code to the latter and gets busy fixing the Intex manipulator.
Hours tick away unnoticed as the men concentrate on their respective projects. The sun sets under the horizon, and the once bright room loses its cheer.

YiHuang finally looks up when a grumble breaks the calm. Zhang looks up as well. Embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." He squirms in his seat, looking embarrassed, and points at his stomach.

"My apologies. I lost track of time. I am an unworthy host." YiHuang mumbles, leaving the workspace and taking a step towards the small kitchenette.

"Wait." Zhang requests, wrapping his arms around the Yuanjian and pulling him close. As YiHuang's back collides with Zhang's chest, he gasps. "What are you doing?" The Yuanjian asks, tensing up.

"Relax, Ah-Huang, I am just energizing myself. You want it too, don't you? The energy, I mean." Zhang asks, slender arms finding purchase in the front of the latter's robes.

YiHuang sucks in a breath, "We must not...Ah!" He winces when the human nips on the supple flesh at the base of his neck, whether in pain or pleasure, he knows not.

"Think of it as a punishment, if you will, you know, for what to did to my lip," Zhang whispers in the latter's ears, tuning him around to peer into the scandalized mono-lids.

The two stare at each other, none of them wanting to be the first to look away, the first to accept subordination.

"We still have work to do." Zhang reminds, keeping his eyes fixed on his target, knowing full well what the outcome of his words would be.
YiHuang pulls away, clearing his throat. He wants to run away, scared of what he might do if...

Zhang chuckles, catching the unmistakable glint of possessiveness in his companion's eyes. "Fine, let's call it a draw."

Let off the hook, YiHuang asks lightheartedly, "Were we playing?"

"Weren't we?" Zhang teases back,  and stealing a peck on the latter's cheek, returns to the files. Before long, he hears his name being called and smirks, 'At least one hunger will be taken care of. As for the other, well, that will have to wait.'

Zhang sits in front of the neatly arranged table, where two bowls of green-colored, semi-solid substance, unappetizing as they look, still manage to make his stomach growl.

"This is all I could cook up." The man in a pale yellow apron says apologetically, "Remind me to stock up on sustenance, I mean food, when we go out next."
The Yuanjian's words, though ordinary, spread like fire through the human's veins. "Lovely." Zhang rests his chin on the table, resembling a cat waiting to be served.

YiHuang quirks his brow and sits from across the human, "I wouldn't use that adjective to describe this meal."

Zhang clicks his tongue and rises; closing the distance between them in two strides, he invades the Yuanjian's space, "I wasn't describing this meal, my prince." shrugging, the human returns to his place, "I can't wait." He says cryptically.

YiHuang pushes the bowl towards the latter and gulps down the green porridge elegantly.

After two mouthfuls, Zhang almost gags, "I miss fruits. Let's get fruits when we go out next."

"Is it that terrible?" YiHuang enquiries, looking like an abandoned puppy.
Zhang lies, "When did I say that!" He counters and attacks the bowl with renewed vigor, finishing the thing the Yuanjian had referred to as sustenance within minutes. Then, fighting to keep the meal down, he snaps his mouth shut and smiles.

'He hated it. Humans have more developed tastebuds than us. I should keep that in mind next time.' The Yuanjian reprimands himself and returns to work on the Intex manipulator.

A few minutes later, Zhang joins him, and silence engulfs the room once again.

{Note :- Word Count 1948

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