Chapter Text
Zhengting is buzzed. Not full out drunk – that’ll take a few more drinks – but tipsy enough to not know quite where he ends and Ziyi begins. Ziyi’s arm is wrapped around his shoulders and it feels good. Freeing, but also grounding, like he’s floating on a blanket of clouds. Soft.
“‘Yi,” he slurs, giggling. From where his head is buried in the crook of Ziyi’s neck, he feels Ziyi swallow a sigh. “‘Yiii,” he starts again, words sticking together, “I like you, y'warm.”
Ziyi indulges him, nodding and reaching across Zhengting’s chest to grab the solo cup he’s nursing and oh, now he’s really wrapped all up in Ziyi. It’s the easiest thing in the world for Ziyi to separate him from his punch, because all Zhengting can think about is comfort and love.
It’s warm, so warm, Zhengting sticks by his words, and he likes Ziyi so much, Ziyi has to know. He says it again. He feels Ziyi’s responding chuckle with his entire body, the warmth spreading from the weight of Ziyi’s arm behind his shoulders to his head and toes. Ah, he wants to stay here forever. Exactly like this.
On his other side, he feels the couch dip and a cool hand touches his forehead. Zhengting’s brows furrow as he tries to burrow further into Ziyi the Human Furnace. “G’way,” he grumbles. This is Ziyi and Zhengting time. They’re one person, away from everyone else.
“Wow, Zhengzheng is drunk,” he hears, and he feels Ziyi shift in response, saying something back.
Zhengting whines indignantly, because he’s not. He’s just tipsy, and he’s working very hard right now to fuse with Ziyi. Distantly, he knows he’ll be embarrassed by his public display tomorrow, but dammit, why is it so hard to turn from one person into half a person?
“‘Ting,” Ziyi says, and it sounds like he’s speaking through water, “c’mon, let’s go to bed.”
Yeah, bed. Bed sounds good. Zhengting drops his entire weight onto Ziyi’s side, head smushed into Ziyi’s neck, where he blows a raspberry. “I love you,” he murmurs, “goodnight.”
He completely zones out for a while after that. Voices surround him, but they’re not directed at him, he doesn’t think, so he lets the noises serve as a blanket. Inconsequential, soothing, safe.
He’s so close to drifting off that it shocks him when teeth nip his ear. “Ah!”
Ziyi laughs, moving down to bite at his neck. “As much as I like cuddling with you here, my legs are falling asleep and it smells like puke and sweat. Let’s go.”
Zhengting’s nose crinkles at the sensory visual. He doesn’t understand what Ziyi’s saying – all he smells is Ziyi, which is nice. He likes it here. He wants to stay.
“I’m flattered, baby, but we need to go. It won’t be fun waking up here in the morning.”
Ah. He said some of that out loud. “Carry me,” he grumbles, flinging his arms around Ziyi’s neck. Ziyi can and will. They’re currently one person, after all.
“Ha,” Ziyi says, “No way. C’mon, I’ll help you up.”
Zhengting just clings tighter. Ziyi pulls at his arms, but Zhengting resists – he’s strong, he knows he is, even when tipsy. He’s strong and strategic. Zhengting pushes himself up with his arms securely grabbing onto Ziyi, and situates his legs around Ziyi’s torso as well.
Now completely on Ziyi’s lap, Zhengting leans back so he can look into his eyes and grin. He can’t help it, he has to gloat. There’s no way Ziyi can push him off now.
But that doesn’t mean he’s prepared for Ziyi to close the distance and kiss him. At the initial feeling of soft lips pressed against his, Zhengting balks, but he melts into it easily, parting his lips and letting Ziyi inside.
As Ziyi kisses him, the buzzing in his head grows stronger, his entire world focusing on Ziyi’s lips and body against his.
It feels good, really good, and warm. He loves being warm around Ziyi. It’s so safe and secure, and all he has to worry about is being happy. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he falls limp and lets the other man catch him.
Ziyi’s arms shift to hold him, one under his butt and the other around his back, keeping him close. Ziyi smiles against his mouth, and then Zhengting’s in the air.
Zhengting will swear by his life that there is no better feeling than this, being held securely in Ziyi’s arms and knowing there is no chance Ziyi would let him fall. He can completely let go, tune out the world around him, and focus only on Ziyi’s warmth wrapped around him, cocooning him against his chest.
Zhengting closes his eyes and rests his head on Ziyi’s shoulder, feeling the rumble in Ziyi’s chest as he announces something about leaving and begins to move.
He drifts on the currents of alcohol still buzzing in his system and Ziyi’s body heat, relaxing fully in Ziyi's hold. The lull of Ziyi’s even steps quiets his mind.
Zhengting will never admit it, but part of the reason he goes to parties with Ziyi and gets drunk is so that he can cling to Ziyi afterwards. And, if he’s lucky like today, convince him to carry him home.
“Cuddle me when we get back?” Zhengting asks into Ziyi’s collarbone, the question second nature by now.
Ziyi kisses the top of his head, and Zhengting hugs him tighter in response. “Of course, baby.”
Oh, yay. Zhengting wins again. He loves Ziyi; loves his warmth and his kindness, but most of all loves how they’re on the same page, almost one person.
They get back to their shared dorm room and change into their pajamas, throwing their outside clothes onto the spare bed.
It doesn’t take long to fall asleep, after that. They lie in bed, chest to chest, Zhengting’s nose buried in Ziyi’s collar. Their legs tangle together, and Ziyi’s arm drapes over him. Zhengting draws slow finger circles on Ziyi’s back and falls asleep like that, Ziyi breathing softly into his hair.
When he wakes up, warm and loose and slightly hungover, Ziyi is there with a glass of water, stroking a hand through his hair.