Work Text:
He Tian
Honey, I've waited so long for you
I wanna waste, waste away with you
We're moving slow with glitter on our face
I gotta stay, gotta stay in this place
This night is electric
And I won't forget it
You're so heavenly
You're so heavenly
But don't you know it
Don't you know it, baby?
Mo Guan Shan
Oh, nothing can feel this good
We're getting wasted on what we love
Be the dream, be the dream in my mind
Stay here wasting my time
We can dance forever and pretend
I wanna, I wanna stay 'til the end
We can dance forever and pretend
I wanna, I wanna stay 'til the end
Heavenly - Pale Waves
It takes longer than it should for them to make it back to He Tian's apartment with Mo's injury though He Tian never gives the impression that Mo's weight is a burden or an unwelcome load in his arms. He barely seems to register Mo's weight at all and not for the first time, Mo wonders just what secrets He Tian has in his past. Regular people don't tend to have this kind of strength. Mo lets his mind wander but keeps his head tucked into the crook of He Tian's neck throughout their trek to avoid the disapproving and bewildered gazes that he's sure they are receiving from the people they pass by.
He doesn't stir from his position until He Tian has them indoors and once inside he gingerly sets Mo down on the couch instructing him not to move until he gets back. For the second time that day Mo concedes and agrees with He Tian, something he never thought he would do.
After a few moments He Tian returns with pain medication, fresh bandages and some hot tea.
“Take these.” He says while handing Mo a small grip of pills. “I'm going to take a quick shower and change but I'll be right back. After that we'll get you in a bath and replace your bandages. Don't move from the couch. I swear if you get one more injury Little Mo I'm going to have you committed.”
Mo rolls his eyes at the threat but he nods and He Tian takes it as acceptance. The sky is starting to become a shadowy purple as the day draws to a close and dusk falls upon the city. The sight makes Mo's heart clench in his chest and he reaches up to rub at the spot as if he can massage the feeling away.
It's just a regular Sunday evening, he tells himself, so why does he feel so uneasy? He can't deny that he has anxiety about what tomorrow will bring. He's worried about what his mom will think and he feels terrible knowing that she's going to flip when she sees him. Being the center of attention has never come easily to him and there's no chance he will be able to avoid the curious stares of his peers. He has no doubt that he won't receive looks of sympathy but rather ones of judgment. They'll assume that he was involved in some fight that he must have started or brought upon himself. To them he's a delinquent. An ill tempered asshole. He's no one.
Hopefully his mom will insist that he stays home for at least another day until he recovers from his injuries a bit more
He doesn't even allow his thoughts to venture to the subject of She Li.
Before he gets the opportunity to spiral further into his vicious thoughts, He Tian returns, hair still wet but looking more refreshed than he did a few minutes ago.
“Come on, let's get you up.”
He Tian carries Mo to the bathroom where there is already a steaming bath waiting for him and after Mo bathes He Tian changes his bandages. Mo tries to ignore the way his heart stutters in his chest when Tian inspects his injured foot again.
“Really wish you would stop collecting bruises like this.” He Tian chastises him again for good measure.
Mo opens his mouth to tell He Tian to lay off him but he yawns instead. Instantly He Tian's attitude towards him softens. “It's early but you're probably exhausted. I'll move you to the bed.”
For the third time that day He Tian picks Mo up and he goes willingly but this time Mo wraps his arms around He Tian's neck and loops his legs around his waist crossing them at his ankles behind his back.
“Little Mo?” He Tian whispers shakily, the trepidation clear in his tone.
“Just shut up, chicken dick.” Mo counters as he holds Tian tighter. He's being gripped with a nearly overwhelming desire to be close to He Tian in this moment. He doesn't want He Tian to let go.
This is why he feels so upset because today coming to a close feels like a real ending. Like a goodbye.
The words he read in He Tian's notebook run through his mind again.
Somehow He Tian is able to recognize his discomfort even if he doesn't know the cause. He runs one hand up and down Mo's back in an effort to soothe him and soon he starts rocking them back and forth. Mo can't quite call it dancing, more like a mockery of what dancing should be but it's the closest thing he can relate to what they are doing right now.
His grip on He Tian tightens when he feels the other boy's lips graze against his temple, it's so light that he can easily pretend that he didn't feel it which is exactly what he does.
Should he say something about what he saw? Is He Tian going to tell him what's going on? Will he explain where he's going and why he has to go in the first place? He's terrified because every single thought he's having right now revolves around the feeling of want which is a first for him. He just wants to be held, he wants to feel comforted, he wants attention, he wants He Tian.
How dare He Tian ask Mo not to abandon him when he was the one that would be leaving all along. How dare he make Mo feel this way without his fucking permission. It makes Mo angry but not enough to ruin this moment. He wants to stay like this just a bit longer.
“I don't want to ever let you go.” He Tian murmurs and Mo wants to scream but he can't find his voice. How can He Tian say things like that so easily when Mo struggles so hard to express himself? The worst part about it is Mo is genuinely starting to believe He Tian when he says shit like that.
It takes an unreasonable amount of effort to will his vocal chords to form the two words that he finally manages to say, “Then don't.”
Mo feels He Tian's breath hitch and then his hold on Mo tightens to a degree just shy of painful.
“I won't.” He Tian promises and Mo believes him.
He believes him because he wants to.