Work Text:
Da Qing hears the hiss and pop of oil in the pan and Li Qian’s sharp intake of breath, and he’s at her side, hand caught in his, and he’s kissing the angry red mark on the back of her palm before he even registers his movements. He freezes when the realization hits him, lips still pressed to her skin, then flinches back, dropping her hand as though it’s hot as the oil.
For her part, Li Qian’s initial reaction is a dull red flush on her cheeks, and then she smiles.
“Chief Zhao is wrong. You move quite quickly, and gracefully, I might add.”
Da Qing can’t help the answering smile he gives Li Qian, and his chest puffs up a little.
“Of course I can,” he says, preening under her attention. “It just helps if I’m properly motivated.”
“Oh?” Li Qian arches an eyebrow, and her grin turns mischievous. “And what motivated this swift and gallant response?”
“Well, hot oil hurts, and I don’t like it when you’re hurt.”
“And do you do this for all your friends?” she asks, still grinning.
“Psssh,” Da Qing says, waving a hand dismissively, “they can take care of themselves.”
“And I can’t?”
Da Qing drops the casually insolent pose he’d adopted and blinks at Li Qian. She’s still smiling, and her voice is still light, but he senses a potential trap. He reaches for her hand again and gently caresses the faint red mark left behind.
“Of course you can,” he says, “but you’re very nice to take care of.” He watches her face and grows bold as her expression softens. “And I like kissing you. A lot. But I don’t want to be too pushy.”
Li Qian’s blush deepens, but her smile is the brightest thing Da Qing has ever seen.
“I like kissing you, too,” she says, bolder than she’s ever been in her whole life, “and I’d like to do more, but I would also like to make this fried shrimp for our dinner. Do you have a preference?”
And there is the trap. He studies Li Qian for a moment, then sighs. “I suppose we should eat dinner first.”
“Well, it would give us energy for later.”
Da Qing brightens at this. “You’re right!” He kisses the back of her hand again. “Just to be sure you’re better.”
Li Qian strokes his cheek with her free hand.
“Everything’s better with you.”