Work Text:
“11th November, what day is that, you ask?”
After receiving such a question, Shao Long replies bluntly：
“It's Singles Day in China, and the most lucrative day for every single company involved in e-commerce. Our quarterly reports are counting on this day's profits. If there's nothing else, I have to keep an eye on the market's trend today. Sorry that I can't continue this conservation.”
However, Charles stops him from leaving, and replies with a hint of glee:
“Well, I heard from my friend that today is Pocky's Day in Japan or in South Korea, Pepero's Day.”
“And does that matters anything to me? Stop disturbing my work, or are there any tricks in your sleeves right now that you want to use them on me?”
Even being confronted with such a direct question, Charles still maintains his cheerful composure.
“I know I can't delay your precious time, but why don't we play a little fun game?”
“Fun game?”
“Yes, and the bet will be...”
Charles points at himself, and points to Shao Long:
“...who gets to stay at Momos Academy.”
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Dusk approaches, signalling the end of school session at Momos Academy. People are getting back to their hostels and home, except for the two people that still remains in a laboratory, a rarely used one secluded among the huge area of the campus.
Charles shakes the rectangle red box in his hand, a crisp sound came from the insides of the box:
“I choose chocolate for the game, or you rather prefer strawberry?"
“Never mind the flavour, just hurry up and start this game."
Arms crossed, Shao Long leaned upon the edge of the long laboratory table. He is still frustrated that he can't continue his work. Night is approaching, and he needs to monitor the last minute's sales.
“What's this 'fun little game' that you're rambling about?"
Charles opens the box's cover, he tears the shiny silver packaging, and takes out a long chocolate Pocky stick.
“You and me, we bite each side of this Pocky stick.”
“W, What?”
“Just hold your end in your mouth while I'll finish the Pocky stick slowly. If you or I forcefully bite off the chocolate stick midway, that person loses. Do you understand the rules?”
“……What kind of stupid game is this? I ain’t interested.”
Shao Long promptly walks towards the lab's door.
“I have matters to attend to, sorry for not playing this stupid game with you.”
“But this is such a perfect opportunity to get rid of me! Does this 'stupid game' scares our dear young master? OH, the horrors! So, you're gonna run with your tail between your legs like that?”
Faced with such provocation, Shao Long stops by the door.Charles's hand gently presses against his hand that is holding the door handle, and whispers by his ear :
“It’s just a little game, don't you want to play along with me? Don’t worry, no one will come here at this time, and I have already handled the lab's surveillance system."
He shakes the box once again, reminding Shao Long of the game, and the bet.
“We shall finish this game quickly, and I promise that I won't use any underhanded tricks. Shao Long, it's time to settle our grudges once and for all.”
The devilish whispers finally lure Shao Long back to this game.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
The Pocky stick is sweet, sickeningly sweet.
Even tiptoeing, a 10 cm height difference still stops Shao Long from reaching Charles. The blonde teen in front of him doesn't seem too eager on lowering his figure.
Just when Shao Long is about to protest, Charles suddenly lifts him up like a cat, putting him down on the lab table. The sudden gesture startles Shao Long, and he accidentally drops the Pocky stick from his mouth.
“Never thought that you are such a careless person.”
Charles takes out another new Pocky stick and put it into Shao Long's slightly gaping mouth.
"Don't let it fall again, or it will be an automatic lost. "
He finds a lab stool and positions himself between Shao Long's legs, his gaze aligns with Shao Long's. Shao Long instinctively closed his eyes tightly. Seeing this, Charles just smiles and gently nibbles the other end of the Pocky stick with his mouth.
“Now, let us start the game.”
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
3cm。
Shao Long feels that time was flowing very slowly at this moment. All he could hear is the sound of each other's breathing and the slow nibbling of the Pocky stick. In his mind, he tries to deduce the reason Charles chooses to play this game, but he refutes all the possibilities he could think of. Because looking from his perspective, Charles doesn't want his precious friends to be harmed by Shao Long, and hence the suggestion of this game.
But, what if, there is another reason veiled behind this game?
No, it can't be.
Right now, Shao Long decides to just focus on the game, so that he won't make the same mistake as just now.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
5cm。
Curious as to how the progress is going, Shao Long opens his eyes , once again meeting Charles's face.
To think that he hasn't looked that close at the blonde's face ever since that day where everything spiralled down. How many years had passed since their days at the elementary school? The blonde young boy from back then has now become such a handsome teenager.
The slanting evening sunlight from the windows dances among his golden hair strands. His pair of blue eyes still clear yet seemingly endless, like the more you stare, the more you will get dragged into it. Just like his personality, acting like a cheerful and friendly person yet in reality , he is an astute and cunning jerk.
These two features combined with his well-chiselled face and fair complexion, no wonder he was popular even when he was still in elementary school.
And just like that, Shao Long gazes upon Charles silently.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
7cm。
When his hand is being touched upon by another pair of hands, only that Shao Long realizes the truth.
It's getting closer, way closer.
The Pocky stick gradually disappears, and Charles is getting closer to him, even beginning to lean forward as the stick is getting shorter. Shao Long instinctively backs away, but is stopped by Charles's hand. The distance between the two is nearer with each bite. They feel each other's warm breath, and the atmosphere becomes fuzzier. Charles' nose brushed against Shao Long's, sparking sensations throughout his body.
Please, just let this game ends as soon as possible, I can't just give up here!
Shao Long hopes his pleads and prayers can be heard by God right now.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
9cm。
Even though Charles is taking his sweet, sweet time to bite the Pocky stick, like enjoying the most exquisite dessert, the Pocky stick had shortened into a quite dangerous distance.
In what way will you describe this distance as "dangerous"?
Because right now, both of their lips inadvertently touch with each decreasing length, and with each centimetre or even millimetres of the stick disappear, they might k...
For God's sake, stop it!
Realizing the meaning behind this game, Shao Long's ears begin to redden. Gripping tightly the edge of the lab table with both hands, he hopes he could last throughout the game.
For Charles's side, he is getting really close to Shao Long's face due to the short Pocky stick. He had to stand up from the stool, holding Shao Long's face on one hand while another props on the table for support.
Just when their lips are getting close to the point of no return....
Snap!
A sound of the Pocky stick breaking echoes throughout the lab.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Awkwardness fills the atmosphere, and the two become silent, unable to exchange a single word to each other.
It is Shao Long who first breaks the silence.
“Enough.”
Still biting the Pocky stick that he forcefully bit off just now, he pushes away Charles.
“I lost, ok? I will leave this stupid academy immediately. Seriously, why did I agreed on playing this game with you? Did you had fun just now, like when you framed me that day, did you get any pleasure out of it? "
Nothing comes out from Charles's mouth,and Shao Long sneers as reply. He storms out of the lab. If only that jerk had said anything to him ， any reply, no matter what the answer is, Shao Long will still accepts it, even though he might have some complaints. Yes, even if it was just a confession that indeed, that was a trick of Charles to boot him out of the academy.
But silence? That’s the worst reply to this situation.
Slam!
The door separates the two from each other. In the end, they don't even notice the slight expression of each other.
Not the inexplicable expression that flashes across Charles's eyes, nor the moment of Shao Long who lingers behind the door for a short while, before turning away and leave. The pink blush on his face gradually fading with each step out of the lab.
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
“Did you saw anything？”
Raven comes out from the shadows, and promptly replies: “No, nothing.”
“Good, after getting rid of Shao Long, I can now focus on Gion and his gang.” Charles straightens his waist and laughs heartily: “He is still as easy to deal with as before. I thought he had improved since that ordeal.”
“Pardon me, Prince Charles, but in my opinion, I think that there are better ways to convey your feelings.” Is this the only gentle way his superior can think of? Raven wonders.
“...I thought you saw nothing.”
“......I mean, I didn't saw it, but I heard it.” Seeing Raven's darting eyes, Charles who is about to reprimand him, decides to just let it go. Well, for now.
Seeing the remaining Pocky sticks, he takes one out and bites into it. The Pocky stick is sweet, sickeningly sweet.
“This is nasty. Why it isn't so just now?” Charles muttered. He thinks back to the game just now and smile to himself. If Shao Long hadn't break off the Pocky stick, how far things would have gone?
Maybe someday in the future, both of them will forget, but only this lab will remember, the short yet bittersweet moment that transpired here.