Work Text:
‘Are you even watching lol’ Li Ming scribbles out, before nudging Heart’s shoulder.
The movie is one they’ve seen before, a Taiwanese one, so Heart doesn’t mind the distraction. Taking the paper, he glances at his boyfriend. ‘Was until u distracted me’. He pauses, before adding a little demon emoji at the end.
Li Ming eyes the crudely drawn emoji, a bemused smile curling on his lips. ‘Who are you calling the devil huh’, he writes, sliding the paper back. Something on the screen flashes, filling the room with a red glow.
Heart sits up straighter, turning fully towards his boyfriend. ‘U obviously <3’ he writes, and watches with amusement as Li Ming pulls his expression into mock outrage, crossing his arms for added emphasis.
‘Because u’re so hot’ Heart writes, grinning. ‘Wasn’t done w my sentence. Patience.’
Raising his eyebrows, Li Ming laughs, the vibration travelling through the sofa. He holds his hand out for the pen. ‘You think you’re so funny don’t you’
Blinking innocently, Heart tilts his head. Am I not? he signs, biting his lip to stay in character. Don’t you think I’m funny, darling?
Li Ming gapes at him for a moment, mouthing the word ‘darling’ to himself before waving the pen in Heart’s face, exasperated. ‘You’re the devil, not me’ he writes, sliding the paper back to Heart.
Taking the paper, Heart looks at it thoughtfully. He looks back at Li Ming, then back at the paper, then promptly puts down the paper and takes Li Ming’s face in his hands.
Li Ming blinks, surprised. He starts to say something, but Heart doesn’t give him enough time - he reaches up and plants a kiss on his forehead. He knows it’s a weak point - Li Ming always melts when he’s kissed on the forehead.
Then he lets go and turns back to the movie, keeping his expression as neutral as possible.
A beat later, there’s a tap on his arm and a paper in his lap. ‘The devil!!!!!’ He turns to look at Li Ming, who is laughing again.
—
Heart is deaf.
It’s an irrefutable fact. He’s not a teenager anymore, waking up to a desperate hope and a half forgotten dream. He’s long since accepted that it’s a part of him as much as anything else is.
And it’s fine - Heart’s learned to exist with and around his deafness, and he’s learned to ask for accommodation and take up space and exist. He’s learned to be okay with pitying looks and patronizing glances.
Sometimes, though, the ringing in his ears feels like it will never stop. Head tucked between his knees, Heart tries to breathe through the words echoing in his head. He’s not - they’re not right, he knows, but -
There’s a gentle tap on his shoulder, and Heart nearly tumbles off the sofa in his haste to turn around. There’s someone - someone’s here, and Heart doesn’t know - didn’t know - because he can’t hear them come in, he can’t -
Sorry, Li Ming signs quickly. Of course it’s Li Ming - no one else here has the key to their apartment. Right. You didn’t - he pauses, probably noticing Heart’s red rimmed eyes. Heart?
Scrubbing at his face, Heart straightens, trying to take a deep breath. I’m okay. Don’t worry. It’s fine, he’s fine. He’s fine.
Li Ming stares at him for a long moment before climbing onto the sofa, facing Heart. His gaze makes Heart want to flinch, turn away, because it feels like Li Ming can see through him no matter how much he hides. But his gaze is so soft, so reassuring, that Heart can’t do anything but lean in closer.
Tell me what’s wrong. Did something happen? Li Ming is so - gentle, concern lining his features and knee reassuringly pressed against Heart’s.
Swallowing, Heart glances away for a moment before looking back. He knows Li Ming will understand, will comfort him, but he doesn’t want his boyfriend to know how much it hurts.
Li Ming just looks at him intently, a familiar heartbeat-red, and Heart crumbles. Raising his faintly trembling hands, he signs. Someone said today - Heart shakes his head, pausing. They said they couldn’t understand why anyone would want to learn sign language just to talk to b-
His hand stumbles over the sign. To broken people.
Instantly, the soft expression on Li Ming’s face melts into fury.
Don’t worry, Heart signs quickly, my friends shut them down. But. I was just… he trails off, hands hovering in the air uselessly.
Without hesitation, Li Ming pulls him into a hug, squeezing. The familiar warmth makes something tense in Heart’s shoulders melt. When he pulls back, there’s a determined set to Li Ming’s jaw, eyes lined with certainty. You’re not broken, Heart. You - I love you, there’s nothing wrong with you at all.
Heart nods - he knows, he does. Logically he understands. But -
Heart, Li Ming signs, hands curling around the well practiced motion, and then pauses.
Swallowing, Heart tries to smile. I should be used to it, right?
Li Ming’s eyes widen. No. No, Heart. Not at all. That’s - you shouldn’t have to be used to anything. Something flickers across Li Ming’s face, too quick to understand - before Heart can try to decipher it, there are gentle hands cupping his face, pulling him closer.
From this close, Heart can see the slight dampness in his boyfriend’s eyes, the way his mouth slants downwards. Like he’s upset for Heart.
It still takes him by surprise, sometimes - that someone else can be upset for him.
You’re perfect, Li Ming mouths, slow and clear, and suddenly Heart feels a burning behind his eyes again. He trusts Li Ming more than anyone else in the world, and the fiercely honest expression on his face makes Heart’s head spin.
Li Ming just being here, holding Heart, promising - it’s so much. It means everything. Maybe it doesn’t - fix anything, but Heart’s breath steadies.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he rests his forehead against Li Ming’s. His hands automatically find space on Li Ming’s waist, and the steady warmth under his palms feels like a promise, a certainty.
Pulling back slightly, Li Ming furrows his brows, running a gentle thumb under Heart’s eye. He leans forward to close the tiny gap between them, and Heart’s eyes automatically slide shut - but instead of familiar lips on his, Heart feels a feather soft touch on his ear.
That - it’s so -
Something in his chest stutters. When Li Ming pulls back, eyes gentle, Heart’s eyes swim with tears. The ringing in his ears isn’t as loud anymore.
—
How do I look? Heart signs, looking down at his suit. I feel awkward. He’s still not quite used to this - the not-quite-formal parties and the schmoozing that come with being the son of a relatively rich family. He doesn’t mind it - Heart’s glad his parents are acknowledging him now, at least - but it’s just so exhausting.
Li Ming grins at him, delight evident in his expression the way it is every time Heart wears a suit. Not at all. You look so handsome. He reaches out to straighten Heart’s collar, smoothing down the front of his vest. I think you look better without it, though.
Heart grins. The vest?
The clothes, Li Ming corrects. You look better without clothes.
Scrunching his nose, Heart can’t help the laugh that tumbles out of his chest. You’re terrible.
Li Ming just reaches up to tickle his Heart’s chin, smug. ‘You like it,’ he mouths, and Heart can’t even deny it because it’s true - he does like Li Ming. So much it’s almost absurd.
I’ll miss you, he signs, because it’s true. Usually, Li Ming is his plus one - a comforting presence next to Heart who manages to make even the most boring of dinners entertaining. But he has a big project due soon, and Heart doesn’t want to take up his time with something that isn’t even his responsibility.
Like he can read Heart’s mind, Li Ming’s eyes soften for a moment. Kissing his fingers, he reaches out to press them against Heart's chest. I’ll be in Heart's 'heart', he signs in ESL, and it makes Heart laugh again. He loves Li Ming so much.
Wrong. That’s not where my heart is.
Li Ming tilts his head in confusion.
Smiling, Heart kisses his own fingertips and brings them to Li Ming’s chest. That’s my heart.
Li Ming stares at him for a beat, ears red, before shaking his head with a smile. ‘Sappy,’ he mouths, before pulling Heart in for a proper kiss.
Heart obliges, grinning against his boyfriend’s lips.
—
Heart's breath stutters as familiar fingers leave a blazing trail down his sides and then lower, lower, settling on his waist.
Li Ming looks up at him, smiling, before slowly and intentionally pressing a hard kiss into his inner thigh. It punches the breath out of Heart, and he reaches down to wrap his trembling hands in Li Ming's hair - a way to ground himself, because it is all too easy to lose himself in his boyfriend's eyes and smile and mouth and hands.
A self satisfied expression settles on Li Ming's face, and he licks the same place he'd kissed. He's trying to kill Heart, maybe, and it's working. He's not sure what kind of sound he makes, but whatever it is has Li Ming pressing in even closer, expression melting into an awestruck smile.
Dizzy, Heart drops his head back against the bed, squeezing his eyes shut.
—
Does it hurt? Li Ming inspects his ankle, carefully tracing the injury.
Huffing in amusement, Heart shakes his head. Doesn't. You worry too much.
Frowning, Li Ming leans back. I'm allowed to.
You are, Heart signs. But I don’t want you to.
Almost despite himself, Li Ming softens. Sorry. I just - he pauses, searching for the right sign. Nervous.
Heart gets it - he’d probably be reacting the same way if Li Ming came home with a leg brace. But he doesn’t want to see the tense set of Li Ming’s shoulders, the worried tilt of his head.
Li Ming shakes his head slightly. How did this even happen?
Heart flushes. It’s embarrassing, really, and he’d rather not tell, but not telling would just make his boyfriend worry more. I tripped over someone’s bag in the hall.
Li Ming stares at him for a beat before his shoulders start to shake with laughter - but the tense set of his shoulders relaxes slightly, so Heart counts it as a win anyway. He says something to himself, shaking his head, before looking back up at Heart. Want me to kiss it better? he signs, a teasing slant to his smile.
Heart nods. Yes. He’s not going to turn down a kiss from his boyfriend, obviously.
Li Ming blinks before smiling even wider. He carefully lifts Heart's foot into his lap, hands gentle. With a soft reverence, he kisses the injured ankle, right over the brace. When he looks back up, Li Ming’s eyes are shining with mischief. There. Now you’ll be all better in no time. Magic kiss.
Heart feels laughter bubble out of him. I believe you.
—
Dry my hair? Heart asks, towel slung over his shoulder. He’s in his pyjamas - one of Li Ming’s old t-shirts and duck pants. (It still makes Li Ming laugh - he’d gotten the pants for his boyfriend as a joke gift, but Heart says they’re too comfortable to not wear.)
Sitting up, Li Ming shuffles closer to the edge of the bed. Of course, he signs, patting the space in front of him. Heart grins in response - he’s still so delighted at little things sometimes that it makes Li Ming’s heart hurt.
Handing over the towel, Heart sits down, shuffling around until he’s comfortable. Once they’re both settled, Li Ming starts carefully running the towel through Heart’s hair - it’s getting longer, he muses. Maybe it’s time for a haircut, though Li Ming personally thinks the long hair suits his boyfriend very much. It frames his face in a very handsome way and, more importantly, is very easy to run his hands through.
Distracted, Li Ming’s hands slow down, and Heart’s hands wander - just brushing over Li Ming’s calves, ticklish. Heart can always sense when he gets lost in his head, and it feels dizzyingly like being understood.
“Hey!” Li Ming laughs, aggressively rubbing his boyfriend’s head in retaliation.
After a beat, Heart tilts his head back and grins - wide and bright and devastating. Li Ming tries to hold his serious expression, but he is utterly helpless in the face of his boyfriend. An answering smile settles on his lips, and he taps Heart’s forehead twice. Done.
Heart nods, and Li Ming goes to pull back - but he’s stopped by a hand grabbing his wrist, familiar fingers pressing against his pulse point. He blinks curiously, and watches as Heart turns around so he’s facing him.
Then Heart presses a kiss to his palm, eyes hooded, and Li Ming’s breath gets caught in his throat - his boyfriend is a vision like this, bathed in the filtered sunset and hair damp from his shower. I love you, he signs, easy and soft, like it is the most obvious of facts.
A giddy feeling sits in the base of Li Ming’s throat, and he can’t help the fond smile that takes over his face. "I love you too," he murmurs, using his other hand to pull Heart up onto the bed. When Heart tilts his head, Li Ming just shakes his head and burrows his face in the crook of his boyfriend's neck. It's embarrassing to say it out loud, when Heart is looking at him with that expression - open and in love and so Heart. (And Heart knows, anyway. He always knows.)