Work Text:
The truth is that Mu Siyang has a weakness. And it starts by meeting Zhuo Zhi.
Awkward, silent and emotionally constipated Mu Siyang learns what Zhuo Zhi's favourite flower is; suddenly, he starts finding them everywhere, to the point it starts to drive him insane.
Mu Siyang, master of avoiding being photographed, lets himself ONLY be photographed by Zhuo Zhi. He only finds it comfortable to smile when he’s with Zhuo Zhi, to walk home with Zhuo Zhi, to go fishing with Zhuo Zhi, to spend time in comfortable silence with Zhuo Zhi.
Finally, he has a realisation.
Shit. He likes Zhuo Zhi.
And for the life of him cannot get himself to approach first.
So, he does something silly in his books, something so uncharacteristic of him that it throws the whole team off.
He impulse buys a perfume of Zhuo Zhi's favourite flower and wears it daily, the lingering scent enrapturing his teammates even in practice.
Qiao Chen is flabbergasted.
"Captain… is that- are you wearing perfume?"
Siyang clears his throat, slightly glancing at Zhuo Zhi, who's already amusedly looking at him.
The taller's ears turning a slight shade of pink.
"It was a gift; one should not waste other's efforts."
"But wearing it to school, xuezhang?"
"Being in top shape also includes how you present yourself." and when he sees the regulars all stopped training to watch the incredulous exchange happen: "Back to practice, ten laps after you're done."
In the background you could hear Jiale whining to Dayong, while said man slightly chuckles and shakes his head. Qiao Chen loudly groans and whines, while Baiyang simply lets out a "tch" before going back to adding weights on his ankles, inciting bickering between them both. Yan furiously scribbling down on his notebook this newfound information that seems to shake his captain enough to be so secretive about it. Lu Xia grabs his racket and heads to a court. Xinglong simply smiles and goes back to practicing his Earthquake smash.
And Zhuo Zhi?
Zhuo Zhi just... stands there, looking at his captain, analysing him momentarily before letting out a brief smile.
He approaches Siyang, and the taller man sharply intakes a breath. Zhuo Zhi lets down his water bottle on the bench where his captain was, and picks up his racket next to it. He pauses a second.
"It suits you."
He nods shortly but firmly and walks away, towards Xinglong to practice his returns.
Siyang was afflicted. He turns towards the bench and subtly grips the back of it, using it as support while he, himself grabs his own racket. He then heads towards Lu Xia, who's only looking at him with a small knowing smirk, prepared for what his xuezhang will ask of him next.
"Lu Xia, practice with me." now this is something he was hoping to hear for a while, who knew all it took was a simple recognition from Zhuo Zhi?