Epilogue

They were enjoying a quiet meal at Wei's house, one that Wei cooked himself in an attempt to resume his healthy habits, when he noticed that Yunlan seemed distracted, like he had something on his mind.

"What is it?"

Yunlan shifted on his seat and set aside his now emply plate.

"There's something I wanted to ask you, but if you don't feel comfortable with it I will understand. I just thought you had to know and make your own choice."

It was a weird start, and Wei didn't know if he should feel worried. He kept his eyes on Yunlan encouraging him to go on.

"Well, it seems the chief suggested my name for a commendation for having solved the missing cases of the whole city."

Wei jumped up. "That's wonderful, Yunlan. Aren't you happy?"

Yunlan cleared his throat. "Well, it's not like I did much. Anyway," he quickly went on to interrupt Wei's protests.

"Anyway, the guys at the station want to throw a little celebration and I wondered if you'd like to come with me. There will be most people from my department, there will be a lot of talking and drinking, and maybe some music."

Wei digested the new information. Yunlan was inviting him to a party with all the people he knew and saw every day. Once upon a time he would have avoided it like he always avoided any kind of human interaction, but now he almost jumped on his seat again.

He knew why Yunlan was so nervous. A public appearance like that would make their relationship official to everyone Yunlan knew. It was such a big step that Wei was almost speechless.

He found the words though.

"I'd love to, yes!"

He reached his hand across the table to find Yunlan's and squeeze it. They exchanged a warm smile and talked about details such as the date and place of the event.

That was why Wei found himself one Sunday afternoon surrounded by police officers wearing their uniforms. He had almost fainted when Yunlan went to pick him up and he opened the door to such a sight. He had never seen him in uniform before, and Yunlan looked so good in it that Wei wished he could take it off. Sadly, they had a party to go to.

For the occasion they had taken over the gym used for police training. There were a lot of men and women in uniform, but nobody looked as good in it as Yunlan did.

Many of them approached Yunlan to congratulate him, and every time Yunlan introduced him as "Shen Wei."

Only one man had the audacity to inquire further, moving a finger between the two of them and asking, "Are you two...?"

Yunlan put an arm around Wei's shoulder. "Yes, so back off."

Wei grinned in victory, it seemed like he wasn't the only one jealous after all. He was in such a good mood after that that he even drank a glass or two for company. They sat down at one of the chairs by the wall and listened to the music.

A few people gathered in the middle to dance with their partners, either life ones or work ones, and Wei stole an hopeful glance at Yunlan not daring to say a word.

Yunlan didn't even turn.

"I don't dance."

Wei groaned. "But I love music," he complained watching the couples on the improvised dance floor. There was even officer Hong dancing with Ling, and Wei felt envious. Maybe he shouldn't have drank that third glass of alcohol.

"Go on then." Yunlan's words startled him. "I don't dance, but I can watch. Come on, ask your friends and enjoy yourself. It's a happy occasion, you ought to have fun."

Yunlan's grin was challenging, and Wei got up. "Alright," he said. "I will."

Wei began moving with the music, smiling at someone in front of him that Yunlan couldn't see. Wei was feeling so free that it was like dancing on air. Yunlan watched him laugh under the puzzled looks of everyone who saw him and he laughed as well. I bet it's LiLing, he thought to himself.

He got distracted by a girl approaching him. Reluctantly, he turned his eyes away from the man apparently dancing by himself and laughing freely and delighted. The girl was now close to him, and there was no mistaking who she was looking for. Yunlan wondered who she was and who let her in.

She was a big girl with green hair and chubby cheeks, wearing a black dress with boots. There was a charismatic air of self-confidence about her that was fascinating. Her only makeup was a natural coloured lip gloss, and her smile was very pretty.

"Are you Zhao Yunlan?"

He nodded and she congratulated him like many others had done before. He looked at her curiously: she looked somehow familiar but he had trouble placing her. He shook her hand and invited her to sit down.

Half a minute later Wei joined them. Yunlan saw him and turned to the girl. "This is Shen Wei, the man who found you. He's the one you should thank, really."

Taken aback, Wei's eyes shifted between the two in confusion. The girl offered her hand, and he shook it.

"I'm Li Fan, and I'm happy to finally be able to thank you both. Thank you for saving my life."

Wei's eyes grew wide, he had not recognized her. He hadn't been able to see her eyes before, and they were her most remarkable feature. The colour was a very common shade of brown, but there was a light in there. They were full of life.

"Can I ask you how did you find me?" Her voice was polite, humble, and extremely curious.

Wei opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. What should he say?

Yunlan's grin was no help as he tried to suppress a laugh.

"What is it?" Li Fan looked from Wei to Yunlan, to Wei again. "Please, I want to know."

Yunlan took pity on him and spoke first, but his grin didn't vanish.

"I guess one of his ghost friends told him."

Wei shot him a look she didn't know how to interpret. She wasn't sure what kind of joke that was, but she had come here for a reason.

"Well, pass my thanks on to them, will you?"

Yunlan laughed out loud as Wei opened and closed his mouth for the third time.

She frowned, suddenly unsure if he was laughing at her, if she was making a fool out of herself. It didn't matter though. She was breathing, she could hear the music that was still going on, whatever they thought of her she would have her life to live the way she wanted. And she owed it to them.

"You don't have to explain if you don't want to. However, I'm very grateful."

Wei could not explain what came over him suddenly, but when his mouth opened this time, he wasn't prepared for the words that came out.

"You told me. You saved yourself."

There was curiosity in Yunlan's eyes and confusion in hers. Wei sighed inwardly, he couldn't leave it at that now but he struggled for the right words.

"Your... ghost told me wher..." he began, but she interrupted him.

"Ghost? But I'm not dead... was I really dead?"

"Dying," Yunlan corrected. "You hadn't given up yet, and I did my best to help you fight it." Yunlan's voice was lower now, remembering how he had felt having her life in his hands. He shivered.

Wei took a deep breath. "Your... life essence, if you want, refused to let go. You... she... you seemed rather... upset at what had happened to you."

Wei shifted on his seat, feeling uncomfortable, but not really in the mood for a full on explanation of what ghosts were or what he was. It was the truth, though. Even though she wasn't yet dead, her soul had been full of indignation for what had happened, and she had refused to let go of her life just like that.

Li Fan watched the faces of the two men, seeing no mockery there this time. Wei seemed so earnest, and one way or another he had saved her, she owed him. She replayed his words in her head, and smiled.

"That sounds like me alright."

Wei didn't know what to say, but he didn't need to say anything. Her eyes shone even brighter now that she was smiling, and she got on her feet. She had expressed her gratitude and now she prepared to leave. She gave them both a kiss on the cheek and left in a swirl of green.

Wei stared after her until she was hidden from his view by the many people present. Once he turned back to Yunlan, he saw him smiling.

"She was the first one you saved."

"You saved her, and the others were in danger because of me. Don't turn me into some kind of hero, Yunlan."

"Yeah, yeah, you keep saying that, but it's debatable."

Yunlan laughed at Wei's frown, it was not the first time they discussed that particular subject, and Wei always reacted the same way.

"It was nice to see she recovered well, and I certainly understand her feelings. I myself wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my mighty Guardian."

Wei's frown deepened and Yunlan laughed louder. Hearing that deep sound made Wei loosen up and he let himself enjoy it.

They stayed a while more, chatting with some officers Wei had already met at the station and with others that were introduced to him for the first time. He always had a good memory, but he heard so many names in such a short time that he feared he would never be able to remember them all.

Finally Yunlan took his arm and spoke the words he had been wishing to hear.

"Want to go home?"

Wei suddenly felt goosebumps all over, and his gaze became intense.

"Will you escort me home, officer? Make sure I arrive safely?"

Yunlan paused, wondering if Wei was drunk, but he had stopped drinking after the dance.

"Just doing my job," he answered with the same playful tone. "Maybe I should come in and check that it's all safe and clear."

They got out together walking side by side. Yunlan kept his hands in his pockets while Wei breathed in the fresh air of the evening.

"You know, I often hear strange voices at night. Maybe you could stay over and check that too."

Yunlan laughed again then grabbed him by the waist and pulled him close.

"I might do that, yes." Yunlan kept a firm hold on his waist, keeping him close to his own body, while looking into his eyes. Wei was so close now that he could breathe in Yunlan's scent, and he detected something different. He moved his head closer to better take it in, and inhaled deeply.

"Do you like it?" Yunlan's voice was low, sweet but with a hint of insecurity. "It's the one you gave me after our first time. I... I always shave at home so I took it with me. You don't mind, do you?"

He had tried to stay longer at Wei's place more than once, but he couldn't help it. At the end, he always went home to shave and change, and reboot his mind. He wanted to be with him, he really did love him, but every time his head started hurting and the sense of uneasiness threatened to make him sick. He needed his time alone, he needed his own apartment, so a few days ago he had acted.

After waking up in Wei's arms he had felt the need for a long, warm shower. He had told Wei that he wasn't hungry and had gone straight home, right after taking Wei's gift from his bathroom cabinet. Today was the first time that he had used it, and there was still a part of him that worried Wei might take it the wrong way, as if he wanted to keep a distance.

A part of him also wanted to close his eyes and lower his head in shame, feeling unable to give his man the healthy relationship he deserved, but the other, more obstinate part of his brain refused to escape from his problems and forced him to keep his eyes firmly on Wei's.

Wei almost drowned in those eyes, then lowered his head to inhale again.

"I'm so happy you used it." And he was, so incredibly happy that his gift had been appreciated, that he had succeeded in choosing something that mixed so well with Yunlan's natural scent. He planted a kiss on his jaw, than another on his neck.

Yunlan's heart was beating wildly. As unbelievable as it was, Wei seemed to be ok with that side of him that had always kept him apart from the rest, that had pushed away any chance of more meaningful relationships.

Not once had Wei complained about his need to be alone. Yunlan felt immensely grateful to have him in his life. He cupped his face in his hands and kissed him slowly but deeply, swallowing his moans and stealing his breath. When he let him go, Wei's eyes were wild, his breathing erratic.

"You look so good in uniform," he breathed out, moving his hands over Yunlan's shoulders and arms, before planting them on his chest.

They had quickly reached Yunlan's car, and Yunlan stood against it with his back to the door, once again pulling Wei close to him and resuming their kissing.

Yunlan then opened the passenger's door and asked, "So, what do you think about tinted windows?"

Wei noticed for the first time the peculiarity of Yunlan's car, and he quickly entered and pulled him inside.

"I love them," he said. They kissed again while Yunlan pressed against him and his hand went to properly lock the door.

A/N That's the epilogue. This story is now officially completed. Thanks to anyone who stayed with me till the end ^_^