Chapter Text
The front door suddenly opened, protesting with high-pitched creaking sounds as it did so. A fairly tall lady stepped forwards, making her way towards the front desk and peering over the top of it. There didn’t seem to be anyone there right now.
“Xiao?” She called out, her voice loud- yet not loud enough to disturb the other customers in the shop.
A groggy voice shouted back out in response. “Coming!” it stated, the curtain behind the front desk suddenly opening. A short man walked out from behind them and made his way towards the chair in front of the computer. The way he moved was slow, and there were very visible bags underneath his eyes.
“What do you want now, Yelan?” he asked, seemingly unamused by the sudden intrusion of his best friend.
Her eyes glinted mischievously in response to this, as she reached her hand up towards a loose strand of hair and pushed it behind her ear. “Sooo… I was wondering-” she started to ask, extending the vowels of her words in a teasing manner.
“Just ask normally.” Xiao muttered under his breath. He was very aware of the fact that Yelan was about to ask a favour from him- one that he would most likely reject, seeing as she’s being all sweet and caring right now.
“Ok, fine .” Yelan sighed, “Apparently Yanfei is gonna be at the club tomorrow evening- and I really want to see her but I don’t want to go alone.”
“Are you serious ?”
“ Please , Xiao?” Her voice suddenly containing a hint of anxiety. “And besides, maybe you’ll meet someone new. ”
“I’m not looking to meet anyone new.” Xiao scoffed, pushing up his glasses and tearing his gaze away from the woman in front of him. He turned to look towards the computer that sat atop the desk, scrolling his finger over the wheel of the mouse.
“ Seriously!? It’s been five years , Xiao. You’re gonna have to get over him someday.”
Xiao’s eyebrows furrowed. “It’s not that , I just-”
“Oh nooo, Yelan- It’s not that I’m still in love with the criminal I met five years ago, I just think about him everyday and still have him as my lock screen and my walls are still littered with photos of us. But yeah, It’s not that.” Yelan teased, putting on her best impression of the man in front of her, who looked even more unamused.
“If you want me to go to the club with you, then this really isn’t the way to persuade me.”
“I’ll buy you a drink? Or two?” Yelan pleaded, trying to come up with any sort of way to make Xiao come to the club alongside her.
“Alcohol tastes like shit , I wouldn’t be missing out on much by rejecting your offer.”
“Well fine, then. I’ll go alone.” The taller girl tutted, swishing her hair away in an insolent manner.
“Good. Couldn’t you have just decided that in the first place?” Xiao peered over his glasses at her. His face showed clear signs of irritation, yet he wasn’t all that annoyed by the whole scenario. This was kinda how his relationship with Yelan was- they’d pretend to hate each other and would constantly be bickering, but they did truly care about one another. Even if it didn’t seem like it.
“ Well.. The local club is always a little scary. Last time I went on my own this weird drunk guy tried dragging me home with him..” She explained, clearly trying to make Xiao feel guilty for refusing her request. “If only I had a strong, 5’1 best friend who could protect me from the scary men..”
A heavy sigh sounded from the shorter of the two, his thumb and index finger moving towards his face to squeeze at the bridge of his nose. “ Fine, I’ll come. But we have to be leaving the establishment by 11:00, and not a minute later.” he simply stated, and then a few seconds later he decided to add on another condition, “And you’re paying for the drinks if I have any.”
“Got it!” A large grin wiggled its way onto her face. “Thank you, Xiao-Xiao, I know I can always rely on you.”
Xiao waved her off, still clearly unamused. “Yeah, Yeah. Whatever- I have a client in fifteen minutes, can you go away now?”
“Of course! I’ll send you the details!” She exclaimed, making her way back out of the creaky door.
Xiao let out a very long groan, before making his way back into the main area of the shop. He barely had enough time nowadays to manage both his work, and his hobbies- and now Yelan wanted him to accompany her to the club ? And it just so happens that the club is one of Xiao’s least favourite places to go. It’s not sensory friendly, the music is always too loud, it usually smells utterly awful , and everywhere you turn, there’s a couple making out on one of the sofas.
Not Xiao’s idea of fun.
And what didn’t help was Xiao’s six years of experience as a detective prior to the job he currently had. Because in order to be a detective, you have to be aware of everything- even when you don't want to be. So Xiao noticed when women would stare at him from afar with that look in their eyes, or when the music got louder to disguise the sounds of people puking in the bathrooms.
And overall, Xiao just really didn’t want to do this.
But it was for Yelan’s sake.
And Yelan had saved him from uncomfortable situations more times than he could count on his fingers- and she’d always been there for him despite whatever he did or whatever happened in their lives. And whenever they’d fight or argue, she’d always apologise first- and make sure that they resolved whatever went wrong. She was somewhat like an older sister to him, in many ways.
And so, he’d have to brave the club- for Yelan.
It can’t be that bad, right?