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“Katy, are you done yet? We’re going to be late.”
Katy made a face in the bathroom mirror. “I’m coming out, Shangqi. Just keep your shirt on.”
“It is on. We’ve got to go, or we’re going to miss the bus.”
She wanded a fresh coat of lip gloss over her lips, took one last look in the mirror, and opened the door to his tiny bathroom. He stood impatiently in the center of his garage apartment, in slacks, a dress shirt beneath his letterman jacket, and a tie.
“Just give it to me straight,” she said, hesitantly moving toward him. Her knee-length black cocktail dress swished against her thighs as she walked. “If it looks awf-”
“Beautiful.” He blinked, scanning her from head to toe. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled. “You’re not just saying this because we’re about to miss our bus, are you?”
“No. That dress really suits you. Hang on, the tag’s sticking out.”
She lifted her right arm, and he swiftly yanked the tag off. “There.” He glanced at the price. “Damn. You got a great deal on this.”
“I know, right?” She beamed. “It was on the clearance rack. And good thing, too, because I spent all my money on that plane ticket to Macau. It’s amazing what twenty-five dollars will get you. Where are the shoes?”
He grabbed a shoebox off the bed. “Here. Let me help. We really have to get going.”
He kneeled and helped her into the black, low-heeled pumps she bought. She held onto his shoulder as she stepped into them. “Such a gentleman. Hey, while you’re down there,” she intoned, smirking. She waggled her eyebrows.
He shook his head, exasperated. “You’re trouble and a half today, woman.”
“Aren’t I always?”
He cracked a smile as he stood, taking her hand. “C’mon, we’re going to be late for the dinner.”
She noted the bulge of the rings on his arms beneath his jacket as he locked up. “Just don’t kill anyone on the bus, okay? I’d hate to get blood all over my new dress.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
They barely made the bus, packed with people commuting home. Shangqi guided her into the one seat available, and he stood clutching the bar next to her like a sentry. A few people whispered when they recognized him, but he simply watched Katy in his usual polite manner. She noted the color in his cheeks. “You look like you’re hot. Are you okay?”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just stuffy in here.” She looked up at the air conditioning on the roof, which was working fine. He hesitated, shyly. “You do look really pretty in that.”
Katy ducked her head, pleased. “Thanks, I guess. It feels weird not wearing pants. Good thing we only do this every once in a while.” She’d curled her hair and put a little more effort into her makeup than usual.
They got off at the stop nearest the place Soo and John wanted to meet at. Shangqi took her hand as he helped her step off the bus and kept hold of it as they walked to Eight Tables, an upscale Chinese restaurant. They hadn’t seen Soo and John since Wong whisked them away over a month ago, and so much had happened that Katy’s head could explode.
While they’d explained their involvement with the Avengers to her family, Katy’s mother frowned on all the time she was spending with Shangqi. “You’re giving too much of yourself to him,” she’d admonished. “He’s always been a good boy, but you shouldn’t stake your time and future into someone who doesn’t love you.” Katy had done her best to reason with her mom that this wasn’t about her following Shangqi, it was about them finally making something of themselves, together. It was about serving others. Lately, she’d taken to staying at his place more frequently to escape her mother’s disapproval. Shangqi seemed more than fine with her as his proxy roommate – he got great breakfasts, cuddles, and conversation, and it made life easier for Wong to grab them both at a moment’s notice.
“I wonder why they wanted to meet here and not at the bar,” Katy murmured as they stood in line for the concierge.
Shangqi shrugged, his thumb grazing her palm as he held it. “I guess we’ll find out. Hi,” he greeted the maitre d’ when they moved forward. “We’re here for the Choi party.”
The tuxedoed young man scanned his tablet. “Ah, yes sir. If you and your wife would follow me, please.”
“Oh, we’re not-”
“Save it,” Katy said. The maitre d’ already turned to lead them in. “He doesn’t care.”
“Alright. C’mon then, wife.”
“Right there with you, husband.” They giggled and followed the maitre d’ inside.
Clean white linen and sparkling glasses adorned the tables. This place was lit, and it smelled amazing. Shangqi’s thumb grazed the inside of her wrist, and she smiled at the mischievous gleam in his eyes.
She loved that she could be silly with him. They had fun together. He was hardwired to be slightly OCD, and the immigrant in him had a strong desire to constantly prove himself and make a good impression with people in every situation. But she loved the balance they both brought to each other. She was good at coaxing the real Shangqi out, and he brought a sense of security and gravitas to her craziness. She could always count on him to set her right.
She had worked her tail off at Berkley, desperate to get in her mother’s good graces and at a 4.0 with honors to boot, and a hell of a lot of knowledge about counterterrorism tactics, she could have had a job much higher up than Soo after graduating, had she sought it out. She’d been headhunted by the FBI, a fact she never mentioned to anyone, not even Shangqii. But the truth was, by the end, she was so burned out after a lifetime of trying to live up to other people’s impossible expectations, that all she wanted to do was hang out with Shangqi, or Shaun back then – she still laughed her ass off at that one. He’d gotten her hired as a valet while she took some time off to relax, and she’d loved every second of it. Driving sweet cars, karaoke, booze, and good times with her favorite person in the whole world was the best medicine after pushing herself to the brink. Not only had she and Shangqi strengthened their bond, but they were also now official Avengers.
Life had a funny way of taking everything she knew and shaking it up in a giant blender.
Soo and John waited at the table for them. John stood, shaking Shangqi's hand. “Hey, you guys. Long time no see.”
Katy gave Soo a hug. “Hey, girl.”
“You look gorgeous, Katy!”
“Aw, thank you. I got this on clearance.” Katy pressed her lips together as she rounded the table. I got this on clearance? She wanted to smack herself. She shrugged. Whatever. It’s not like Soo was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, even if she was making loads of money now. Who the hell cared where she got the dress and how much she paid, anyway? The other day she and Shangqi had taken out an alien from a different dimension. Everyone had their priorities.
Shangqi scooted out a chair for her. She caught his eye. He looked so handsome these days. He’d always been good-looking, but seeing him in a new light since the battle of Ta Lo had really done a number on her. The man had it going on. She nodded her thanks, and he pushed her chair in, then took a seat beside her.
A waiter breezed by to take their drink orders, then floated off.
“So, you’re probably wondering why we wanted to meet here and not at our usual place,” Soo chatted.
“We were, actually,” said Shangqi.
Soo clasped John’s hand over the table, her diamond ring sparkling in the soft light. She grinned. “We have some news. John?”
John fished into his dinner jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope. He pushed it across the table. “Have a look.”
Katy took the envelope and slid her finger beneath the flap. Shangqi leaned in close as she extracted two ultrasound photos. Her jaw dropped, and she gawked at Soo. “No.”
Soo nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh, Soo.” Katy jumped out of her chair and hugged her friend.
“Congratulations,” Shangqi said to John, clapping him on the back. ”That’s great, man.”
Katy’s eyes stung, and she brushed a few tears away. She and Soo had their differences, but she was genuinely happy for her. Her mother would give her left arm for Katy to marry some hot doctor or lawyer, and give her gorgeous grandkids. “Okay, girl, you better give me all the deets.” She learned Soo was twenty weeks along, barely beginning to show, and they were having a girl. “We have got to go shopping for baby stuff,” Katy gushed.
“Completely. When you two aren’t out saving the world, let’s go have a girl date, just the two of us.”
“Oh, it is on. That baby girl is going to get panda this, panda that. Aunt Katy is going to spoil her rotten.”
Their food arrived, way over expensive and more a piece of modern art than a dish. Katy exchanged a glance with Shangqi, who seemed to be thinking along the same lines. It tasted excellent, but she still preferred Waipo’s homemade dumplings and a packet of Pocky sticks over dressy food any day.
“So, how is the saving the world stuff going?” John asked. “We see you guys on the news all the time now. It’s insane.”
“It’s going well,” Shangqi said as he speared a few vegetables. “Busy and hectic.”
“But well,” Katy added. Below the table, his hand dived into hers as they shared a gaze. She’d become very good at archery, and she was even learning self-defense, though her predicament was being short. She’d need to learn to work around the body than directly attack it. She’d never be a Kung Fu master, but she’d been indispensable to Shangqi and quick on her feet when push came to shove. The last month had delivered wonders for her self-esteem.
“Can I…” John paused, and they looked at him. “I hope you guys don’t mind me asking this, because I know you get asked it a lot. But I just wonder after knowing you, why you’re not together. You make such a perfect couple.”
Katy’s cheeks burned. She withdrew her hand from Shangqi’s and disappeared into the brim of her wine glass. Her eyes darted to Shangqi. You want to answer that?
“We’re just friends,” he said, his automatic response every time. His autofill worked like a charm during high school, but lately, it didn’t seem like enough of a response.
John leaned forward. “I know, and again, I’m sorry to be pushy here. But have you ever I don’t know, thought about being more?”
Katy nearly choked. Shangqi patted her on the back but didn’t miss a beat. “We have a lot more important things going on right now.” His crisp tone was firm. Let that be an end to it.
They barely spoke on the bus ride home.
Katy removed her earring studs and toed off her pumps the second they got through his door. Shangqi removed his rings and put them in the chest he’d brought back from Macau. He secured the lock, and took off his tie in an irritated sort of way, unbuttoning the first two buttons of his shirt. “Do you ever get sick of people asking about us?”
“All the time.” She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her foot. He plopped beside her and patted his knees. She turned and put her feet on his lap. He grabbed her right foot and massaged it.
“It’s like, what business is our relationship to anyone else?”
“I know, right? Mm, that feels good.”
He applied more pressure. “Do you want me to rub your insteps like last time?”
“Yeah.” He smoothed his thumb along her insteps, and she relaxed. The man could give good foot massages. “That’s nice. Thanks.”
“Mhmm. I’ll get your other one in a second.”
“It’s like, first we’re slackers who aren’t living up to our potential, then we save the world, many times over, thank you very much, and now all of a sudden because we’re not together or banging, something’s off?”
He brushed his fingers over her toes, then slid his hand up and massaged her calves. “It’s like they don’t get it.”
“I know. God, there’s more to life than having a boyfriend or a husband.”
“So much more.”
“I mean, I date. I’ve gone on dates.”
“I know you do,” he added, almost defensively.
“Maybe it’s been a while, like…” She racked her brain, trying to remember the last time she’d gone on an actual date that didn’t involve her and Shangqi eating, drinking, watching a movie together, singing in a bar, falling asleep on each other’s shoulders, or living it up. She’d gone on dates in high school, but they were always pressure-free group dates… and usually involved Shangqi. “I don’t know how long, but there are more important things than having a love life.”
“Like saving the world.”
She snapped her fingers and nodded. “Exactly. Like saving the world. See, you get it.
“Of course I do.”
“So why don’t they?”
“No clue. Other foot?”
“Other foot. Besides, who we kiss or make love to isn’t really anyone else’s concern, is it?”
He gently slid her leg down and went to work on her other foot. “Not at all.” He went quiet, and she watched him, curious.
“Hey, have you?”
“Have I what?”
She bobbed her head. “You know.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Have I kissed someone or had sex?”
“Yeah.”
He glared and stopped massaging her foot, though his fingers held her there. “Have you?”
She glanced away. “I asked you first.” She’d had a niggling feeling he probably had. Shangqi was a master at keeping secrets. Who knows what he’d gotten up to during their high school years at night when he wasn’t working in her parent’s shop.
“No.”
Hope burst through her, and she clamped her eyes on him. “No, you haven’t kissed anyone, or no you haven’t had sex?”
“No to both.” He went to work on her foot again, irritable. “I’ve had a little more on my plate than most people, jeez.”
She rubbed his shoulder. “Hey. I know you have. Not everyone gets it. This is just between us, though. Thank you for telling me.”
“Have you?” he asked, quietly, not looking at her. “All those years at Berkley, you must have. Guys were always looking at you in high school.”
She snorted. “Yeah, because I had higher grades and they felt threatened.”
“No, you were cute. Still are. You got noticed.”
“Meh.” She shrugged. “You were always with me so they never came up and asked me out, which is a good thing too, or I never would have gotten into Berkley. You want to know what I was doing at Berkley?”
“Getting drunk with me every weekend?”
“Well yeah,” she cracked a smile. “But during the weeks, I lived at the library. I had a favorite table and everything. My mom sacrificed a lot so I could get a good education and be raised here, so I knew I couldn’t screw it up. So long story short, no… I’ve never kissed anyone, and I haven’t had sex, either.”
His hand traveled up her calf, and he gave her a deep massage. His shoulders relaxed. “Good.”
“Hmm?” She snapped out of the endorphin-induced haze of his massage.
“Nothing.”
She traced her finger along his back. “So, I guess we’re just a couple of lame-o’s.”
“Get it right, Katy.” He turned to her, his eyebrow raised. “A couple of world-saving lame-o’s.”
“Damn straight.” Her gaze drifted to his lips. “Hey.”
“What?”
“I have an idea.”
“Uh oh.”
“Shut up, will you? Oh my hell.” She cackled.
“Knowing you, this will get me into a lot of trouble.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” she chided. She rested her hand on his shoulder, and gently massaged it. “No, hear me out. Since I haven’t kissed anybody and you haven’t kissed anybody and we’re in our twenties, how about we have our first kiss with each other? No pressure, no romance, no expectations. Just to make it special since it’s you and me. What’d you think?”
He parked his mouth to the side as he considered her. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“I mean, you don’t have to shove your tongue down my throat or anything, just a peck will do.”
He chuckled. “Why not.”
“Good.”
He grinned and leaned into her. “Do you want to, uh, or should I?”
“I probably should-”
“Okay.” They awkwardly tilted their heads to the side, bumping foreheads. Katy laughed and angled his head to the left.
“We’re such dorks. There.” She tilted her head in the opposite direction, pressed her lips against his, and kissed him perfunctorily with a soft, swift peck. She pulled back. “Now we’ve both been kissed… what do you think?”
He didn’t look impressed. “I think I can do better.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, then, Casanova. Give it your best shot-”
He hauled her into his lap in under a second, fisted the back of her dress, and crashed his lips into hers. In the remaining few moments Katy still had coherent thought, he delivered a breath-stealing, soul-shattering kiss she’d never forget as long as she lived.
Everything disappeared, and there was only Shangqi, consuming her.
His hand slid up her leg to her thigh. He was kissing her for all he was worth, drowning her in the sensation of his lips and hands, and oh boy, what a ride. She simply couldn’t think. All rationale flew out the window.
A minute later, she came up for air, and his lips found her throat. Katy closed her eyes and clutched his hair as her insides liquefied. “Oh, sweet God. Shangqi,” she whispered.
He moaned, his hand moving along her back and the other beneath her dress. He turned them, and she felt him lowering her to the bed. He found her lips again, and oh, she was going to completely lose it.
“Ahem.”
Shang-Chi stroked her hair, his hand hitched beneath her dress and climbing higher along her thigh.
“Ahem.”
He pulled away from her lips, and they both looked to the right. Wong stood inside a portal, red-faced. “As much as I want to watch you two make out, and we’ve been praying for it, by the way, you’re needed. Get dressed and I’ll reopen this in a few minutes. Battle uniforms, on the double. Sorry, guys. And uh, congratulations.” He closed the portal, and Shangqi rolled off her onto his back. They both stared at the ceiling, panting.
His hand found hers, and he kissed her knuckles. “Good first kiss?”
Katy nodded, out of breath. She sat up on the edge of the bed and flattened her tousled hair. “Great first kiss. Now let’s go kick some ass.”