Work Text:
A silent movie buzzes in the background on the television, the dialogue muted and subtitles scrolling across the bottom of the screen. There's a stack of sketchbooks shifted from the left to the right of the desk, choked with sticky notes and colored tabs like overzealous post-its.
A popcorn bucket litters the floor, accompanied by candy wrappers and cookie crumbs to be vacuumed away in the morning. The television casts a warm light across the small living room of the room, illuminating the features of the boy asleep on the bed.
Coated in the soft light, Xiao Zhan jolts awake, only half surprised to be abruptly woken up in the middle of the night by someone banging repeatedly on his front door.
He reaches an arm out, hitting the home button of his phone and squinting at the sudden, bright new light source. He can barely make out the time through his eyelashes, the clock reading close to three in the morning. Sighing, Xiao Zhan grabs the remote on a desk beside his bed, giving the movie on the TV an uninterested glance before turning it off and plunging his room into darkness.
Struggling out of bed in a hurry, body moving at its own accord to the living room as he rubs his eyes and tries to gain some consciousness. There’s one more hit to the door before he opens it and the house falls into silence again.
“Hello, Baobei.” Yibo pants, a tired smile on his face as if he has run all the way there just to see Xiao Zhan.
But Xiao Zhan knows the truth. He can see it in the way Yibo is barely holding himself up, one arm wrapped around his waist, and the other firmly holding his treasured helmet. Face covered in soon-to-be dark bruises as his nose bleeds just enough for Xiao Zhan to worry about the carpet as he pulls the other boy inside his parents' house.
Xiao Zhan remains quiet as he guides Yibo, grabbing him by his wrist and leading him upstairs and into his room. Yibo smiles gleefully, shifting his hand so that Xiao Zhan is holding that instead of his wrist.
At least for now, Xiao Zhan has given up trying to argue about his boyfriend's behavior after the fifth or sixth time Yibo showed up to his house in this same state. Xiao Zhan hopes that his parents, by some miracle, are still asleep as he retrieves the first-aid kit from their bathroom.
Xiao Zhan takes the time to lock his bedroom door and turn on the lamp on his nightstand before sitting cross-legged on the bed facing Yibo, noticing that his boyfriend had taken his boots and jacket off while he was left alone. His helmet is positioned in the center of Xiao Zhan's desk, on top of some art books.
Xiao Zhan frowns while rummaging through the box in his hands, thinking that he should refill its contents before his parents notice he’s been using way too much of it.
It's warm in his room, and his skin is prickling when he sees Yibo taking off his shirt. Instantly, Xiao Zhan's eyes take in the multiple artworks inked on Yibo's arms.
There's no colour, just black ink, and the lines look beautiful traced across Yibo's pale skin. Xiao Zhan once thought tattoos to be gaudy, but on Yibo, they are the most precious form of art.
After collecting everything he needs and setting to work, Xiao Zhan does not utter a single word as he bites his bottom lip and wishes Yibo would just stop with the fighting.
Seriously, Yibo could be a high maintenance brat sometimes. But Xiao Zhan doesn’t mind taking care of him, in fact, he loves that the younger boy is so keen on letting him do it, however it’s not easy for him to worry about Yibo all the time, aware of how explosive he can be. Still, Xiao Zhan knows he can’t force Yibo to change, so he just sighs and does his best to keep his boyfriend pieced together.
“It’s gonna burn,” Xiao Zhan warns almost inaudibly, dipping a cotton bud into the bottle of antiseptic and cupping Yibo's face. The younger boy tries to relax, letting Xiao Zhan dab away at the wound on cheekbone. “Does it hurt?”
"Not anymore," Yibo shakes his head. He chuckles, but his voice has lost the usual playful tone. “You know, I never had a nurse before you. Maybe I should start getting into more fights so I can get you to take care of me.”
“Please, don’t say that,” Xiao Zhan says, and it sounds painful. He worries too much about Yibo, even though the younger one always tells him not to. “I hate seeing you in pain like this.” Xiao Zhan whispers, as his finger traces along a bruise next to Yibo's shoulder tattoo, a sunflower facing the sun. It's the only one that is fully coloured.
It feels vaguely soothing, and Yibo recognizes it as a concerned gesture, as if Xiao Zhan is checking up on him but doesn’t want to ask what happened, at least not yet.
“You know, as my boyfriend I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be supportive of all my decisions.” Yibo says, immediately reaching for Xiao Zhan's cheek and placing a sloppy kiss on his forehead.
“Actually, as your boyfriend I’m supposed to keep you from making stupid ones.” Xiao Zhan counters, pushing Yibo away. “So far I’m not doing so great.” his voice remarkably even as he tosses the gauze to the trash can under his desk with a little more force than necessary.
They go back to not talking, and Xiao Zhan swallows as he cleans Yibo's knuckles, applying ointment and wrapping a bandage around his hand. He can feel Yibo's eyes on him the entire time but refuses to look up, knowing all too well that if he does, he will cave in and his hard façade will slip from him.
It’s a bit more difficult when Xiao Zhan has to tend to Yibo's nose. He watches Yibo's shudder with pain, chest rise and fall, and sees that his boyfriend's hands are balled into fists, his bandaged knuckles starkly red. So Xiao Zhan carefully and slowly checks if Yibo's nose is broken (it’s not) before starting to clean the dry blood running down his face.
He doesn’t react when Yibo nuzzles against the hand that’s holding his jaw in place and keeps his eyes trained on what he’s doing, and he hates the smile that appears on Yibo's lips when he realizes what’s happening. “You’re staring.”
“You’re so beautiful.” Yibo says it like it’s nothing, that damn mischievous smile still in place, and Xiao Zhan is thankful for the darkness in the room hiding his flushed cheeks.
“And you're ridiculous.” Xiao Zhan whispers as he shakes his head and finishes up, throwing the bloody cotton balls in the trash can and putting the first-aid kit aside, already softening up and giving up on his attempt at looking disappointed.
After all, Xiao Zhan loves every single part of Yibo, from the musty scent of smoke that lingers on his clothes, to his cunning eyes, his demanding wide smile, his laugh, his witty jokes and especially his flaws, everything.
“It’s a miracle, really, that you’ve survived this long.” Yibo sighs exaggeratedly, as he leans in and wraps his arms around Xiao Zhan's waist, pulling him into his lap. “Why do you put up with me?”
“I have no idea.” Xiao Zhan whispers against Yibo's lips, his arms wrapping themselves involuntarily around Yibo's neck. “How are your ribs?”
“They're fine.” Yibo kisses Xiao Zhan softly then, but Xiao Zhan pushes him away. Yibo tries to swallow around the lump in his throat, both at the worried expression on Xiao Zhan's face and at the pain that’s now radiating up his waist.
“But can you breathe properly?” Xiao Zhan insists, small hands coming down to touch the reddish expanse of Yibo's chest and abdomen, checking his reaction to make sure he isn't playing it down.
“I’m fine, Zhan-ge.” Yibo grabs both Xiao Zhan's hands in his and kisses his knuckles, Xiao Zhan's skin is in stark contrast to the bruises under Yibo's cheekbones. “I’m sorry I woke you up. I wanted to see you.” He says while gently strokes Xiao Zhan's wrist with his thumb, trying to comfort him.
Yibo's blue hair is longer than he’s ever had it, curling past his ears and falling in front of his eyes when he keeps his head down too long. Xiao Zhan sighs as he brushes his boyfriend's hair away from his eyes and settles himself more comfortably on his lap. “I’d rather you come here where I can patch you up than some place where you won’t take care of yourself.”
“My own personal angel.” Yibo smiles as he leans in for a kiss, rejoicing in the way Xiao Zhan melts instantly against his touch. “Do you think your parents heard me?”
Xiao Zhan shrugs. “My dad could sleep through a war, really, and if my mom had woken up, she would’ve come here by now and you would be listening to a speech.”
Yibo only hums, smoothing out the wrinkle between Xiao Zhan's brows with his fingertips. He doesn’t say anything for a while before his hands grab at Xiao Zhan's hips. His smug wink is enough to light a bright, burning fire within Xiao Zhan as Yibo pushes him onto the bed, standing in between his legs.
Yibo licks his lips when Xiao Zhan's sweater rises up, and he’s graced with the sight of his boyfriend’s perfect thighs, marveling at the way they feel so soft under his calloused hands. “Why do you never wear pants to sleep?” Yibo asks as his fingers trace an invisible path to Xiao Zhan's hips. “Not that I’m complaining.” He adds with a smirk as he leans down to bite Xiao Zhan's earlobe.
“It’s too warm, I told you.” Xiao Zhan answers breathily, body already craving more. He whines when Yibo sucks a hickey right on his jaw, visible for the world to see. “How am I supposed to hide that?”
“You’re not supposed to hide that.” Yibo breathes out a laugh on Xiao Zhan's neck, and Xiao Zhan shivers, biting down on his bottom lip to stop himself from moaning when cold fingers meet his nipple.
Yibo's hands slid down Xiao Zhan's sides reassuringly, going lower and squeezing Xiao Zhan's ass. Xiao Zhan moans softly into Yibo's mouth, and pulls away from the kiss, blushing slightly.
“Yibo, stop.” Xiao Zhan gasps and weakly pushes at his boyfriend’s chest. Yibo's reaction is immediate, and he sits back with wide eyes looking for any sign of discomfort that he may have caused, but only finds a blushing Xiao Zhan trying to cover up his face. “My parents will hear us.” He whines again, just because he can, and because he knows it’s Yibo's weak spot.
Yibo sighs and lies back down in between Xiao Zhan's legs, capturing Xiao Zhan's lips in a sweet kiss. “Yeah, we both know how loud you are... actually, I think everyone that lives in my building knows.”
“Yah!” Xiao Zhan slaps Yibo on the arm, and the younger boy laughs quietly, taking Xiao Zhan's hands and pinning them above his head.
“You’re so fucking adorable” Yibo says in awe, staring right into Xiao Zhan's eyes. “How is it that you’re my most impossible dream come true?” Xiao Zhan squirms under Yibo's touch, dying to cover his blushing cheeks in embarrassment. He is never one to take Yibo's words lightly. “I don’t deserve you, Xiao Zhan.”
“Of course you do.” Xiao Zhan whispers, looking away. “You deserve even better.”
Yibo lets go of him then and sits back up, pulling Xiao Zhan with him. He uses one of his hands to pull his boyfriend’s chin up so they’re facing each other. “There’s no one better than you. Not for me.”
Xiao Zhan's eyes soften as he tries to suppress his giggles when Yibo begins to press kisses against his neck. “You're so cheesy. Nobody believes me when I tell them how romantic and soft you are for me.”
"That’s because I’m the campus badass, Baobei. I’m cool, I'm not supposed to be romantic and soft, I'm supposed to be scary and unbreakable,” Yibo shrugs, tone playful, dropping a light kiss on the tip of Xiao Zhan's nose. Xiao Zhan bats his eyelashes shamelessly. Definitely cute, Yibo thinks. “I just have that youthful charm, huh?”
“But you aren’t like that with me,” Xiao Zhan points out. He brings a hand up to pinch Yibo's cheek. Yibo's eyes crinkle as he smiles at the gesture, and Xiao Zhan feels his heart skip a beat.
"Only for you," Yibo says, kissing Xiao Zhan lightly on his temple, a soft smile dancing on his lips, and Xiao Zhan can't think of anywhere else he’d like to be rather than right here, in Yibo's arms. “Because I love you a whole lot.”
Xiao Zhan doesn’t say anything for a while, and Yibo doesn’t think he can add to his words without turning them into a clichéd mess. It hasn’t been easy for him, letting Xiao Zhan in his life when they belong in completely different worlds, but it has been possibly the best decision Yibo has ever made for himself.
Yibo is still impulsive, hot headed and just as much of an asshole as he was when they first met, but the difference is that now he has the encouragement to change and the motivation to be better.
Xiao Zhan awakens something in Yibo that he can’t name. It has been like this, since that one afternoon when they bumped into each other while Yibo was running from someone he doesn’t even remember the face of, and Xiao Zhan worried about his wounds without even asking where they came from.
Yibo looked over, saw Xiao Zhan, and thought oh, I’m in love. It was a fact, Yibo had such certainty over his feelings that he instantly accepted them. A few weeks later, he kissed Xiao Zhan for the first time when he was hyped up on adrenaline after winning a race, ready to run away if Xiao Zhan reacted badly. But Xiao Zhan just called him reckless and kissed him back. They’ve been together ever since.
His own personal angel, Yibo has called Xiao Zhan from the start, and it couldn’t be more truthful.
“I love you too.” Xiao Zhan says, interrupting Yibo's reminiscing, and it rings loud in the quiet room. Xiao Zhan seems hesitant about the words, as if Yibo is going to reject him even after everything he just said, after everything they've come through, but he forces himself to maintain eye contact anyway.
“I never thought I would love anyone as much as I love you.” Yibo answers without missing a beat, one hand going to cup Xiao Zhan's face as he takes in everything this moment represents. Xiao Zhan laughs, a quiet exhale: the sound of relief.
Yibo leans in closer to Xiao Zhan's face, fluttering his lashes playfully at his boyfriend. Xiao Zhan just glances back at him, his arms encircling Yibo's neck with what can only be described as a look of pure adoration gracing his features.
Xiao Zhan tilts his head down to press a kiss to Yibo's lips. He is happy to allow Yibo's mouth to explore his as Yibo dips his tongue into his mouth and hums in satisfaction when a high noise escapes from Yibo's throat. "Baobei," he smiles against Xiao Zhan's lips. His voice is deep and velvet-like, and Xiao Zhan can't stop the whimper that bubbles out of him. The ball-shaped piercing on Yibo's tongue hits off of Xiao Zhan's teeth as he deepens the kiss.
A few months back Yibo had found interest in tongue piercings, and now a simple silver jewelry is decorating his tongue. The metal repeatedly rubs against Xiao Zhan's mouth, whose heart is still beating fast against his ribcage as he slowly pulls back from the kiss, resting his forehead against his boyfriend's. Yibo keeps his eyes closed, breathing in the moment of pure contentment, as Xiao Zhan smiles fondly at him, rubbing their noses together.
Yibo slowly opens his eyes, his lips parted as he leans over to whisper in Xiao Zhan's ear, making him shudder, “I’m going to marry you, Baobei, one day.”
Xiao Zhan shoves him with a giggle, face flushing with joy.
Yibo runs his thumb across Xiao Zhan's bottom lip, and when Xiao Zhan pretends to bite Yibo's finger, Yibo looks at him with dark, love-filled eyes. He put his hands on Xiao Zhan's waist, a faint sense of amusement flickering through him when he thinks about how tiny Xiao Zhan's waist is. But he dismisses that thought, tugging at the hem of Xiao Zhan's oversized sweater. “Let’s go for a ride.” he whispers softly.
Xiao Zhan pulls back and the look in his eyes would be hilarious if it wasn’t so adorable. “Yibo, It’s past three in the morning!”
“Exactly. There’s no one in the streets now, and we can go as fast as you want.” Yibo touches the tip of Xiao Zhan's nose with his fingers and resists the urge to crush him into a hug when the younger scrunches it in response. “I’ll bring you back in an hour or two, I promise.” Yibo promises with a bashful smile on his lips.
Xiao Zhan looks at Yibo under his long eyelashes. His finger traces along Yibo's sharp jaw, and he's staring at Yibo's lips. "I don't know, I have an early class tomorrow."
Yibo pecks Xiao Zhan's lips. "Please, just say yes." He runs his tongue over his teeth and biting, keeping it there, a dangerous habit that has any living being in a sixty foot radius falling for his charms.
Xiao Zhan just pets Yibo's messy hair after a long time of thinking. "Fine, let's go," he says, and for Yibo, Xiao Zhan's eyes seem enough to light up the dark room.
"You sure?" Yibo asks, raising an eyebrow. He tries to hide his excitement, as Xiao Zhan nods.
"I'm sure." Xiao Zhan smiles down at him, and Yibo smiles right back.
Yibo leans over and kisses the sensitive spot below Xiao Zhan's neck before kissing his lips, he tightening his grip on Xiao Zhan's waist before they start preparing to sneak out through Xiao Zhan's window.
Right after Xiao Zhan gets dressed, he makes sure that his door is locked so his mother won’t walk in and find him not there.
Yibo's motorcycle is parked just in front of the house, and he is careful when placing the extra helmet on Xiao Zhan's head, checking to make sure the clasp is securely closed.
Yibo climbs up, turning the engine on and putting on his own helmet, as Xiao Zhan climbs onto the seat of the motorcycle, right behind Yibo, arms firmly around his boyfriend's waist. Xiao Zhan hooks his chin over Yibo's shoulder and places his nose against his neck, taking in his scent as much as possible with the wind interfering.
“Ready to fly, Baobei?” Yibo asks, bringing Xiao Zhan back to his senses. Yibo closes the helmet's visor, making a move indicating that Xiao Zhan should do the same and takes off. He doesn't waste a minute before picking up speed, until the wind is messing up his clothes and Xiao Zhan can feel what being free is like.
Xiao Zhan presses himself against Yibo's broad back, warmth seeping through Yibo's jacket and onto his skin. He places a hand over Yibo's chest and feels his boyfriend's heartbeat. He thinks that, if he can feel that, then surely his heated cheeks and fast heartbeat is exposed to the younger boy as well.
Xiao Zhan loves riding on the back seat of Yibo's motorcycle and Yibo knows it. Xiao Zhan likes to watch the lights of his city pass by, the wind gathering drops of mist at his eyelashes, the bite of the cold at his skin and the burn from the adrenaline.
And years ago, if anyone had told Yibo that he would be carelessly driving around in the middle of the night after he and his friends got beaten up (You should’ve seen the other guys) he would probably laugh at them. If they told him that he would be doing it because he is hopelessly in love with a theatre kid, a boy with rosy cheeks and small hands, he would have straight up punched them.
After all, Wang Yibo got his way from the streets and the racings. He was all about being tough and skilfully concealed tattoos. Piercings, blue messed hair and leather jackets. Rings on his fingers and a cigarette or two snuck in secret.
All that before a certain caring, funny, gentle, intelligent and blindingly beautiful boy barged into his life like a storm during summer, leaving Yibo gasping for breath and thoroughly drenched in an ocean of emotions he didn’t even know he was capable of in his self-proclaimed tough guy persona.
To his parents' surprise, Yibo was able to finish another semester with some amazing grades, and even though he has attended a shockingly huge number of lectures compared to his previous sporadic attendance, he has had the best year of his life with Xiao Zhan by his side.
And now, as Xiao Zhan laughs in his ear and places the occasional kiss on his neck, so warmly pressed up against him, Yibo has no doubts that this is exactly where he is supposed to be.