Work Text:
Warm feeling of safety, wrapped inside your blankets that smell sweet like you.
Your heartbeat, steady and safe, telling me that your alive, alive, alive
☆
Heart awoke through the soft sunlight forcing its way through the poorly closed blinds. It was cold and he subconsciously wrapped himself further in the blankets, still drowsy with sleep.
He slowly blinked his eyes open when he felt the bed shift next to him and was met with soft skin that pulled at the same blanket, trying to cover himself.
Heart reached out his free hand to linger over the naked arm that was peeking out of the covers, pretending to paint the smooth edges and shadows, drawing every mole and freckle, dot by dot.
His fingers grazed over the soft hair that was lifting itself up from the sensation and finally, Li Ming shifted, shaking his head into the pillow before turning over to face him with his eyes still halfway closed.
His breath tickled Heart's face from how close he was and he scrunched up his nose at the feeling. Li Ming fully opened his eyes and blew straight into Heart's face, eyes crinkling with laughter as he saw Heart turning away his face with a frown.
"Happy new year", Li Ming mouthed and Heart's focus shifted to the soft curve of his mouth, his nose, his jaw, his adams apple moving as he swallowed.
Happy New Year, Heart signed with one arm still under him carrying half of his weight.
What do you want to do today?, Li Ming asked. Heart watched his hair flopping back onto the pillow with a little bounce. The sunlight made his skin glow golden and he wanted to reach out and catch it, feel it warming up the soft flesh.
Stay in bed all day, he said, grinning.
With you, it's bearable, he thought.
Li Ming reached out and intertwined their fingers, swinging them around in an uneven rhythm. Heart counted the times they hit the blankets.
At eleven, Li Ming yawned and stretched out his arms, purposely hitting Heart in the face.
He turned back to fully face him.
We can't do nothing all day on the first day of the year, he said.
Heart frowned. Why not?, he spelled out.
It's special. We need to go out and welcome the new year.
Heart shook his head. He didn't want to go out and welcome the new year. He didn't want to get up and get dressed and eat breakfast and see other people. He wanted to stay in bed with the comforting warmth and the dizzying smell and the soft hands that would always reach out to him and touch him gently and tell him what was going on.
Heart wrapped himself around the boy like a Koala, face buried in the crook of his neck. Maybe his hair was tickling his face. Maybe Li Ming could hear the rising Heartbeat in his chest. Heart could feel Li Ming's. A steady du-dum. du-dum. du-dum.
Heart's fingers danced on the boys chest, started to walk in circles before landing on his belly.
Li Ming tried to shove him away, insisting on getting up and ready for the day. Heart smiled up at him, feeling almost tipsy with the sight of his face still so close to him. He wanted to kiss him again. Maybe he could, if he leaned forward just a little.
Li Ming tapped his pointer finger lightly against Heart's chin and shook his head.
Let's get up and go out, Li Ming said
Heart rolled his eyes and rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling and counting the dust particles floating around until he felt the bed shift again.
Suddenly, Li Ming was hovering directly over him, one leg swung over his hip so he could tug at his arms to get him into a sitting position. Heart didn't move a limb and giggled as he watched Li Ming struggle to move him.
His head hit the pillows again and Li Ming let out a frustrated sigh before he gave up and let himself fall onto Heart's chest.
Satisfied to have him so close by now, Heart carefully wrapped his hands around his back and intertwined his own fingers, caging Li Ming.
The bed creaks. Let's not wake up uncle, he signed.
Heart nodded in understanding before grabbing the headboard behind him, shaking until he could feel it hit against the wall.
Li Mings eyes widened and he quickly grabbed both of his wrists, pinning them down on either side.
"Are you crazy?", he mouthed, concerned eyes watching the closed door. When nobody came, he looked at Heart again, shaking is head.
Heart freed his right hand out of Li Ming's grip and reached above him to smooth out the frown on Li Ming's face, tracing along his eyebrows, the curve of his nose, his upper lip. Li Ming opened his mouth, threatening to bite off his finger, eyes crinkling up again.
He could kiss him now, if only he pulled him by the neck, reaching forward a little.
I like your face in the morning. All puffy, he said, pinching Heart's cheek.
I always like your face, Heart thought.
Li Ming turned over to grab his phone from the nightstand, unlocking it before opening up the camera app. He reached above his head to get them both in frame, snapping about twenty pictures before turning the camera and holding it right in front of Heart's face, making him giggle and turn away his face in embarrassment.
Heart managed to snatch the phone out of Li Ming's and put it under his pillow.
Look at me, not your phone, he said, pouting.
Jealous over an object?
Heart tilted his head, nodding with big eyes. Li Ming laughed and grabbed his face with both hands.
He brought their foreheads together and Heart felt drunk again. He closed his eyes and breathed in the lingering scent of fire and something like home, belly tingling with excitement. Kiss me, Kiss me.
Li Ming kissed him. On the temple first, then on the tip of his nose. Further down on his left cheek, the corners of his mouth. On the lips, with a smile, clumsy teeth clicking together. Heart wanted to tear up. He might really tear up.
His hands found Li Ming's chest again, feeling his heart beat fast and steady.
"Your fault", Li Ming mouthed. Heart grinned. He might actually burst out in tears.
When Heart felt his stomach grumbling out of the blue, Li Ming laughed and pointed at it. Loud, he said and Heart rolled his eyes. He didn't want to get up. He didn't want to leave this moment. He wanted to put it in a glass jar and seal it and treasure it forever and lock himself up in that glass jar with the key thrown away.
I'm going to make breakfast. Look through my closet for clean clothes. I'll be quick, Li Ming said, getting up for real this time, leaving Heart sighing in disappointment.
"Cheer up", Li Ming said, sending him a flying kiss as he closed the door on his way out.
I want to hold you forever, Heart thought. I want to bathe myself in your scent and keep your warmth with me when my mind is screaming cruel things at me at night. When it is the only voice I can actually hear, I want you to come back to me.
After about ten minutes, Li Ming came back through the door with a tray in his hands, closing it with his foot and setting it onto the bed.
Don't tell uncle, he said.
Heart beamed at him, reaching over to pull at his collar, kissing his nose, the mole under his eye.
He came back because he promised he would. I wouldn't need to worry anymore. He would always come back to me.