Work Text:
The thoughts circled and taunted Cheng Xiaoshi once again in the morning. They were there at night when he tried to sleep, and in the morning before when he woke up. He didn’t understand why he thought about Lu Guang so much.
His long-term partner in crime, and overall best friend.
There, he was thinking about him again. Fluffy, white hair. Pale skin. Those sharp, narrowed grey eyes. Xiaoshi touched his stomach gently as he felt a flurry of butterflies fluttering inside of him. He got butterflies a lot these days, which was something he wasn’t used to. He didn’t hate it though.
After careful consideration and thought, Xiaoshi had come to the conclusion that Lu Guang was guilty of slipping a love potion into his coffee in the mornings. He was so sure of it, he was determined to prove his theory correct and expose Lu Guang once and for all.
“Cheng Xiaoshi, have you finished with my Harry Potter books yet? They were shipped all the way from the UK, and they’re special edition. I’ll beat your ass if you’ve damaged them at all!” Qiao Ling smacked her magazine against the back of his head as he sat on the stairs, examining from afar as Lu Guang brewed the two of them coffee.
Qiao Ling lowered beside him. “What are you doing?”
Xiaoshi turned to her and smirked. “Watching Lu Guang.”
“Obviously. I mean why ?” Xiaoshi scowled at Qiao Ling, crossing his arms. He wasn’t yet prepared to share his thoughts with the world. Not until he had the proof he needed.
“Don’t worry about it. And don’t speak so loud. He’ll hear you.” Xiaoshi stood up, almost losing his balance for a moment. He scoffed and crossed his arms, feeling smug as he made his way downstairs.
“I’m pretty sure he could already see you, dumbass.” He ignored Qiao Ling’s rude comment as he slipped into the open kitchen. He sat down, squinting his eyes as he leaned on his elbows.
Lu Guang effortlessly navigated his way through the kitchen, carefully making one coffee at a time. Suspicious , thought Xiaoshi, since he could make them together at the same time! Nevertheless, Xiaoshi silently watched, before Lu Guang placed a cup of warm liquid in front of him and smiled faintly.
“One coffee for you.” Lu Guang reached out towards him and patting his hair. Xiaoshi liked it when he did that. Guang’s touch was gentle, almost considerate. Xiaoshi brought the mug up to his lips and sipped.
There it was again. Mixed in with his feelings of satisfaction and warmth was the butterflies! Xiaoshi glanced down at the mug of coffee, pressing his lips into a thin line as he brought his face down towards it. He raised an eyebrow, before sniffing it.
“What ... are you doing?” Xiaoshi looked up instantly at the sound of Guang beside him. He smiled sheepishly.
“Nothing.” Embarrassment welled up within him – for some reason – and he took another sip of coffee to drown the feeling down deeper. He’d have to continue his investigation another time.
-
“Xiaoshi, stop using the chopsticks as wands!”
-
Lu Guang stood in the kitchen; his hair illuminated beneath the lighting in such a way that it seemed to glow. To be honest, Xiaoshi was convinced that he was angel. He was beautiful.
In a partner way, of course.
Xiaoshi’s eyes roamed down to the two mugs in his hands. His stomach fluttered as he grinned out of glee, taking the mug from Guang’s hand. He sat down at the breakfast table and revealed a spoon.
Guang chuckled at the sight, sitting in the seat beside him with his own mug of black, bitter coffee. “Have you been holding onto that all morning?”
Xiaoshi didn’t respond. He took a moment, before silently nodding. Guang pressed his lips into a thin line out of confusion, holding his mug in both of his pale, skinny hands. Xiaoshi noted how elegant he looked, even when he wasn’t doing anything at all.
Xiaoshi placed his cup of coffee down on the table and began to use the spoon to scoop and examine the coffee. The process went as followed: look at closely, sniff, pour back out. He was bound to figure out whether a love potion was being used using this. Maybe not the most discreet but-
“If you really don’t like my coffee that much, I’ll stop making it for you.” Xiaoshi’s attention was snapped to Guang. Guang stood up; his eyes narrowed further. He looked offended, upset. It made Xiaoshi feel guilty, but also a tinge of confusion.
“I’ll let you make it yourself in that case,” Guang snapped, before leaving the kitchen and storming up the stairs. Now that, Xiaoshi thought, was odd. Why would Guang offer to let Xiaoshi make his own coffee? How would he slip the love potion in his coffee if he couldn’t make the coffee?
Xiaoshi pondered on this for a majority of the day, whilst sorting clients’ photos, while sweeping the floor, even when feeding the orange tabby stray cat Lu Guang had named Elizabeth. Guang must have been worked up over Xiaoshi almost discovering his plan, that he had snapped by accident! Although genius, it didn’t stop the uncertain feeling welling up inside of Xiaoshi.
Evening approached, and Xiaoshi found that Lu Guang was still giving him the silent treatment. Xiaoshi lay outstretched on his back, eyes boring into the ceiling as he groaned on repeat. Lu Guang was out on an errand to the store, buying supplies for an upcoming client.
“Will you shut up?” Xiaoshi flinched at Qiao Ling’s voice, forgetting that she was seated in the armchair by his head.
“What’s the deal with Lu Guang?” Xiaoshi turned over onto his stomach, blinking several times at Qiao Ling. She looked up from her phone.
“Meaning?”
“He’s been avoiding me all day!” Xiaoshi burst. “And giving me the silent treatment.”
Qiao Ling only scoffed in response. “What did you do this time?”
“Nothing, I swear! I was trying to work out how exactly he was slipping a love potion into my coffee every morning-” Xiaoshi stopped as Qiao Ling burst into laughing, her short, black hair bouncing as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth. Xiaoshi pouted.
“What’s so funny?”
“Xiaoshi, a love potion ?! What makes you think Lu Guang is feeding you a potion?” Qiao Ling still wore a smug look on her face. Xiaoshi felt offended; it was as if she didn’t believe him! Still, he decided to let Qiao Ling in on his thoughts.
“Hm, well, first off, I can’t stop thinking about him! Yeah, and I get butterflies in my stomach just before he gives me the coffee. Then, after drinking the coffee, I feel are warm and fuzzy inside! Don’t you see, Qiao Ling? Lu Guang is ... well, he’s a wizard!”
Qiao Ling only laughed harder, causing Xiaoshi to lift his nose up and cross his arms. She obviously didn’t understand his thinking, so he had no reason to try and make her understand. He stood up and pouted, leaving Qiao Ling to her laughing fit.
-
“Xiaoshi, your Harry Potter merchandise is here!”
“Yes! I’ll be right down!”
-
Qiao Ling collected up dirty plates from dinner, her expression neutral and shoulders slightly slumped. She was unbothered and relaxed, though not oblivious to the tension between the two boys. Something like this had happened before – after the diving incident concerning an earthquake, but she didn’t have many of the details on that. All she knew was that business would only do well if the boys worked together, and right now they were not working together.
“Qiao Ling, could I talk to you?” Qiao Ling almost let the plates slip from her hands, catching herself just in time. She slowly twisted her body around, her gaze trailing up to the face of Lu Guang. His face was emotionless but even Qiao Ling could see the small hints of uncertainty etched in his expression. That, and he continuously fidgeted with the watch on his wrist, twisting it around.
Qiao Ling offered him a smile and nodded, gesturing with a jerk of the head to follow her into the kitchen.
“What is it you want to talk about?” she asked gently as she placed the three plates in her possession in the sink. Although, Ling did have an inkling on what he wanted to talk about was.
“You see, it’s about Cheng Xiaoshi.” Bingo. Her inkling was correct. Ling took her hands from the sink, turned around, and leaned against the side. She crossed her arms, though careful not to appear intimidating.
“What’s wrong?” She watched as Guang sat down at the breakfast table. He fiddled with his white hair – which Ling couldn’t figure out whether it was natural or not – his eyes remaining trained on the table’s surface.
“I think it’s got something to do with the Harry Potter books you let him borrow. But, uhm, he thinks I’ve been lacing his coffee with ... a love potion?” Guang seemed embarrassed to even utter the words, and it took all of Qiao Ling’s willpower not to just laugh it off. It was obvious was he was distressed about it – apparently being apart from Xiaoshi for too long plunged him into some depressed state.
Qiao Ling twirled a strand of her dark hair on her finger, pursing her lips. “Meaning he’s in love with you?”
Lu Guang’s eyes widened as he let out a noise – somewhere between a gasp and a splutter. His face went red and he brought his hand up to his mouth. “Is he?”
They’re both hopeless, Qiao Ling thought sharply, and I’m stuck in the middle of it.
“If he thinks that you’re putting a love potion in his coffee, wouldn’t that mean that he’s in love with you?” Ling asked, her hand falling to her side. “Xiaoshi isn’t exactly the brightest. He’ll come around.”
“Are you sure? What if he’s just messing with me?”
“Then I’ll beat his ass.” Guang looked up at that, and Qiao Ling couldn’t help but smile. He nodded awkwardly.
“I think that I’ll talk to him,” he mumbled. “But, thank you, Qiao Ling.”
She adored his gratitude and politeness, lifting a hand up and smiling even brighter. “No worries. Anytime. And good luck!”
-
“Xiaoshi, have you seen Lu-”
“Do not say his name! Refer to him as ... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!”
“I hate you.”
-
Lu Guang lay in bed, his head shifted to side ever so slightly so that he could sneak glances at Xiaoshi. He lay there, so still, scrolling on his phone. Guang couldn’t help but feel jealous that Xiaoshi’s phone was getting more attention than he was. Guang had to put things back to the way they had to be. He took a deep breath.
“Hey, Xiaoshi?” Guang was careful to keep his voice low and soft. Xiaoshi responded with a gentle grunt, not looking away from his phone.
Guang sat up. “So, about the whole ... love potion thing-”
“I knew it!” Xiaoshi leapt from the top bunk, pointing at Guang. His hair cast a shadow over his eyes, but it didn’t hide the smirk present on his lips. “You are a witch- wizard!”
Guang felt a little overwhelmed, blinking several times. Xiaoshi moved towards him, crawling onto his bed, inspecting him more closely.
“I don’t see a scar, though.” Xiaoshi brushed Guang’s bangs up, scowling at his discovering. “So you aren’t the chosen one.”
Guang’s breath caught in his throat as he edged away from Xiaoshi, his face heating up from the proximity. “No, I’m not the ‘chosen one’. And I’m not a wizard either! And ... keep your voice down. We don’t want to wake Qiao Ling.”
Xiaoshi sat back and nodded. Guang noticed how his smug expression faded suddenly. It was quickly replaced by a look of ... pure shock? He looked horrified. His face was pale, his mouth hanging open.
“XIaoshi?” Guang tried to lean forward to get his attention, but Xiaoshi stumbled from his bed.
“Holy shit.”
“What? What happened?” Guang asked, looking behind him. Was the problem him?
“Lu Guang. It wasn’t a love potion, was it?” Guang’s lips formed a thin line at this, his expression rearranging to one of disdain.
“Uhm, no. Like I’ve been saying for-”
Xiaoshi clambered back into Guang’s bed. “It wasn’t a love potion.”
The two stared at each other in silence for a beat, before Xiaoshi shook his head. Guang had never been more confused, so he decided to remain quiet and let Xiaoshi explain himself. Xiaoshi, who was only just realising what had been happening the entire time, gripped Guang’s shoulders.
“Don’t you understand what this means?! Lu Guang, I’m in love with you!”
Guang was sure that anybody walking by the shop – as unlikely as it was – would have heard Xiaoshi’s confession. Xiaoshi seemed to become self-aware in that moment, once again falling from Guang’s bed in utter shock. Guang didn’t know what to say. He was expecting an apology for the misunderstanding, nothing more. But this – this was something he hadn’t even considered possible. Out of everything Xiaoshi could have said, a confession wasn’t something Guang had pieced together. Sure, Qiao Ling had told him of the possibility, but he had brushed it off.
“... Lu Guang? Hey, GuangGuang! You in there?” After three pokes to the head, Lu Guang snapped out of thoughts. Xiaoshi was sitting on his bed again, though keeping his distance. He was flustered, more awkward, and fidgety. Very fidgety.
“Good. I thought you died or something,” Xiaoshi mumbled, looking down as he brought a finger up to scratch his cheek. “How about we just forget this ever happened? Like, what was I thinking?! Haha!”
Guang shook his head. No, he couldn’t let this slip away. After all of these years, he would not let this opportunity disappear just like that.
“Xiaoshi, you idiot. I’m in love with you too!” he burst out, smiling. “And we are not forgetting about this.”
Xiaoshi’s face lit up. “Seriously?! You? Love me?”
“I have for a while now.” It was Guang’s turn to look down in embarrassment. Xiaoshi laughed, before leaping forward and wrapping his arms around Lu Guang.
“You’re terrible with hints.”
“You’re terrible at picking any of them up. Even Qiao Ling beat you to it.”
“Shut up! She did not!”
The door creaked open, and as if summoned, there Qiao Ling stood. She had her hands on her hips, her expression stern.
“First of all: I did beat you to it, Cheng Xiaoshi. Second of all: wake me up again and I’ll make sure you remember this moment for the wrong reason,” she spat, her threats directed completely at Xiaoshi. She then turned to Guang and smiled softly. “And congratulations! Lu Guang, I'm glad it all went well in the end.”
She gave him a quick thumbs-up as all of her seriousness seemed to melt away, before closing the door. Guang buried his head in Xiaoshi’s broad chest and listened in silence to the beating of his heart. He smiled to himself, tightening his arms around Xiaoshi. Just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating.
Fortunately, he was not.
-
The scent of fresh coffee wafted through the air as Xiaoshi bounced his way down the stairs. These past few months had been busy ones, yet with the help of his partner – and super amazing boyfriend – Lu Guang, they were able to push through and make time for just the two of them.
Xiaoshi strolled towards the kitchen, slipping into a chair at the breakfast table. Qiao Ling was on the couch, flicking through a magazine of top male models. Xiaoshi watched as Guang twirled towards him with two cups in hand. Xiaoshi went to grab for one, but Guang retracted his hands. He leaned his face forward and closed his eyes. That made Xiaoshi’s stomach flutter; the familiar presence of butterflies that had haunted him months before. Xiaoshi leaned forward and kissed Guang, before sitting back down.
“One coffee for you,” Lu Guang said, his voice smooth as he placed the mug down. He sipped his own, his eyes never leaving Xiaoshi.
“Laced with a love potion, I assume?” Xiaoshi raised an eyebrow as he smiled.
“Oh, yes. Except this one takes effect all year round. So, I guess you’ll be in love with me for-”
“Forever?”
Guang smiled and shrugged as he leaned forward, his finger tracing Xiaoshi’s jawline.
“I suppose so, yes.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
“Okie dokie, then!” Xiaoshi took a sip of his coffee, the warmth of it tickling his throat and stomach. “Made well, Mr Barista, made very well.”
“When is it not?”
Xiaoshi nodded and smiled, not bothering to come up with an answer. This made him happy. He’d never felt better actually. Perhaps now he just hoped that this happiness would last forever.
Lu Guang had promised that after all.