Chapter Text
“Nezha, you can't keep doing this,” Jinzha said in a serious voice as he applied some healing gel onto Nezha's back.
Usually if someone tells Nezha that, he will definitely do it out of spite. Can't is a word that he doesn't have in his dictionary.
But this time.. he thinks that his eldest brother might be right.
“Of course he can!” Muzha snorted from beside them, “If he runs out of skin, then maybe he can ask Ao Bing to tattoo his dic– Oof!”
He clutched at his stomach where Nezha had punched him with a whimper. “How could you treat your brother like this? I was on your side!”
“What kind of brother gives that kind of shitty advice? Get lost!”
Muzha turned to Jinzha.
“Ge!” He whined unjustly. “He hit me!”
“You deserved it,” was the unsympathetic treatment he got.
“Tch, fine! You want to know what I really think? I think Nezha just needs to grow some balls and ask Ao Bing out instead of repeatedly getting tattoos from him!”
“Shut up! If it's so easy, why haven't you asked Ao Jia out then?” Nezha snapped.
“I– Am I not also just waiting for you to make a move! If you and Ao Bing don't work out, why will I still want to get close to that family?”
“Whether you and Ao Jia work out or not, I'll still want Ao Bing,” Nezha informed him ungratefully.
“Your mouth says one thing but your actions show another. You really want Ao Bing? Let me tell you, staring at him through the mirror while he tattooed your back does not count as courting!”
“You–”
Muzha expertly dodged the second punch with a cackle.
Jinzha sighed, holding Nezha back by his shoulders. “As much as I hate to agree with Er Di, he has a point. Why don't you start with giving him some flowers from our shop?”
Nezha groaned as he messed his already wild hair in frustration. “Don't remind me.”
“Hahaha! Da Ge, haven't you heard? He panicked and told Ao Bing that they were leftover flowers from a customer who got dumped!” Muzha crowed gleefully from a safe distance away.
“It's all because his second brother suddenly came in and glared at me like I had spat on his ancestors’ grave!” Nezha defended hotly.
Jinzha chuckled. “He always looks like that, don't mind him.”
Both of the younger brothers whipped their heads towards him. “How did you know that?”
Jinzha cleared his throat. “..Just an observation.”
Muzha hummed thoughtfully with narrowed eyes.
Nezha gave a harsh sigh. “I just don't know what I should do. I asked him for a meal after work but he has to eat with his family. And we can't even meet on our off days since his schedule is not fixed.”
Muzha raised a brow. “So you thought meeting during work hours was the way to go?”
“Then do you have any better ideas?” Nezha shot back.
“I don't want to pour cold water but have you considered.. maybe it's just not meant to be?” Jinzha suggested.
“Ge, you don't understand!” Nezha insisted stubbornly, “He's the only one who gets me and the meaning behind my tattoos!”
“I know you can't relate but that's basic courtesy in his line of work, Nezha.”
“Fuck off, Muzha. Ao Bing is a terrible liar, I saw him once laugh when a customer asked for a big tattoo of Albert Einstein on their neck!”
“Okay, fine. So what if you become his boyfriend, then? You two still won't have time to spend together,” Muzha pointed out.
“Maybe then I can properly ask for his schedule and work mine around it, or join his family dinners and sleepover everyday!” Nezha felt giddy excitement at the thought of it.
“Alright San Di, let's take things one step at a time,” Jinzha dragged him back down to reality by the ankles. “Maybe.. if you can't say it out, you can write it down instead?”
Nezha considered his words.
“...Huh.”
***
“This, I want this on.. here,” Nezha pointed to the left side of his chest after shoving a piece of paper at Ao Bing. He could feel his heartbeat underneath his finger like a drum.
Ao Bing unfolded the paper slip and blinked.
“Ermm, is this the right design? It just has my name on it.”
Nezha studiously avoided eye contact. “It's correct.”
“O..kay.. you.. why do you want to tattoo my name on your chest?”
Nezha swallowed, feeling red creeping up his face.
This was it, it was now or never.
He took a deep breath.
“It's because I–”
Ding! The bell above the studio door rang as a blonde-haired man skipped in.
“Bing Bing, I got your lunch!” Ao Jia announced cheerily, putting the takeaway food onto the table.
He turned towards the only other person in the store at that hour. “Oh? Isn't this the Young Master Li from next door? Here for another tattoo?"
Nezha's face instantly blackened, opting to give a grunt in assent.
"Is that the design?" Ao Jia glanced over to the piece of paper in his brother's hands. "Wait, why does it just have Ao Bing's name on it?"
Both of them immediately flushed red.
Nezha hurriedly snatched the piece of paper away.
"W-Who says that it's Ao Bing's name? Is Ao Bing the only one on earth with that name?" He defended hotly.
Ao Jia raised an amused brow.
"So.. it's referring to another Ao Bing?"
"Of course! It's the name of..." Nezha ransacked his frankly, pretty empty brain. "My.. my new pet!”
Ao Bing blinked.
“Your new pet?”
“Yes,” Nezha answered with the confidence of a Master Bullshitter. He felt like he was digging a deeper grave for himself but it was too late to stop the shovel.
“I..I thought that the name Ao Bing was nice, so I named my new pet, 'Ao Bing'.”
“Is that so?" The older Ao brother probed skeptically, "Then what breed is it?”
Nezha froze.
He knew jackshit about pets and their fancy breed names. The only pet he'd interacted with was.. his mentor Taiyi’s.
“Uhh.. pink,” He stuttered out.
Ao Bing tilted his head curiously.
“Pink?”
“It's a.. pink pig,” He answered with an internal wince.
Ao Jia covered his mouth to hide a snort, as if he wasn't the sole cause for this disastrous conversation!
Nezha wished he could incinerate the other man on the spot with the force of his own glare.
“You named.. your pig after me?” Ao Bing said weakly.
“It's a cute pig,” Nezha added and felt that he had just hammered the last nail of his coffin.
The light in Ao Bing's eyes were a little dimmer than before. “Ah.. that's sweet. I hope I can meet it someday.”
I hope you won't because it's not real.
"Don't forget to invite me too! I do love animals," Ao Jia chirped knowingly from the side.
Irked, Nezha clucked his tongue and growled, "Don't you have other better things to do with my brother?"
"Right," Ao Jia snapped his fingers, "thanks for reminding me! Alright, I'll leave you guys to it, then!"
He waved and left the store with a spring in his step. He had hilarious news to update Muzha on their two younger brothers.
“Anyway, I guess I’ll make a stencil and give you a temporary tattoo of this for a week. If you still want it, then we'll proceed with the actual one next week,” Ao Bing tells the other man when they have been left alone.
For a moment, Nezha wanted to admit that he whatever he had just said was all just a lie, but when his mouth had opened, all it could produce was a defeated, “..Okay.”
A few hours later..
Ao Bing removed the stencil from his chest and blew on it. Nezha felt goosebumps raised on his skin as he clenched his fist.
“Alright, it's done.”
Nezha’s eyes had never once strayed from him. “It’s great,” He commended immediately.
Ao Bing chuckled, a tinkling sound that was music to his ears. “You haven't even taken a look at it yet!”
“Tch, I don't have to see it to know. Whatever Ao Bing does is the best,” He insisted like it's a matter of fact.
“You don't have to sweet-talk me to get a discount,” Ao Bing replied in amusement as he lifted up the mirror.
Nezha reluctantly tore his gaze away to look at himself with the words ‘Ao Bing' on his chest. It was in a thick, brush stroke calligraphy that reflected Nezha's unrestrained and bold character well.
His heart warmed. Ao Bing truly understood him. Having his name permanently imprinted on Nezha felt right.
“I really like it,” He professed with feeling, hoping the other man understood that he wasn't only referring to the tattoo.
Ao Bing flashed him the same sweet smile he did after every time Nezha told him he did a good job.
Usually, that would be the highlight of his week but this time, it just reminded him of his failed confession…
***
“Arghhhhhhh, Li Nezha, you useless piece of trash!!!” Could be heard from the backroom of the floral shop, followed by the sounds of aggressive snipping.
“Ge, Di Di is cutting roses off their stalks again,” Muzha droned at the doorway like the snitch that he was.
“Shut up!” Nezha pointed the cutters at him threateningly. “Or your head is next!”
Jinzha did not even pause from his counting of dollar bills at the cashier.
“Nezha, pluck the petals too so we can sell them to the bakery opposite,” he called out, ever the opportunist.
“You really know how to run a business..” Muzha scoffed as he left the doorway.
Left alone inside the backroom, Nezha plucked at the rose petals with the delicacy of an angry farmer pulling weeds.
“He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not… Fuck! Who the fuck bought these stupid roses!”
Outside the store, Muzha sneezed in the midst of transporting a crate of camellias. He rubbed his nose with a scoff. Must be that crabby brother of his again!
Nezha flung the last handful of petals into the bag and starfished on the floor beside it.
Ao Bing Ao Bing Ao Bing. His head was just full of the blue-haired man with his soft smiles.
Nezha could still remember vividly the day they first met.
He was riding the flower delivery motorcycle at a speed that would make his parents frown in disapproval when he had noticed another blue motorbike on par with him heading in the same direction. Their gazes met through their helmets with a glint and the game was on.
They raced all the way back to the store where he realised that the other man was from the newly moved-in neighbouring tattoo studio.
Ao Bing took off his helmet, releasing his long, luscious hair with a bright laugh and Nezha almost fell to his knees at his new-found god.
To avoid instantaneously asking for his hand in marriage, Nezha's mouth opened to blurt out, “I want a tattoo,” instead.
“Oh, what kind?” Ao Bing had asked with such an excited smile, and so he had to commit .
Now, Nezha wasn't lying when he said that he wanted a tattoo. He had even gone to several tattoo parlours before but the artists there just couldn't get his Vision.
Apparently, they think that his ideas are “unhinged” and they “don't know what the fresh hell was he talking about". Was it really that hard to design a lotus flower engulfed in flames and six arms sprouting from it, surrounded by golden hoops, a red floating sash with a blue dragon coiled around it all???
Nezha thinks not. Which was proven completely right by Ao Bing, who drew such a beautiful piece exactly as he had envisioned it that it almost brought tears to his eyes. He definitely did not hug the sketch in bed at night crying himself to sleep, shut up. Anyway, since then, he had been dropping by the others' studio for tattoo appointments and the occasional sharing of leftover snacks – anything to bask in his glorious presence.
Ao Bing was like the sun to his fiery sunflower, without which he would wither and – well, sulk around and destroy more roses.
Of course, Nezha would like to think that the other man enjoyed his company too. Ao Bing brightens up everytime he sees him, in a way that is different when meeting other people. He might chide Nezha's mischievous ways but you could tell that he likes it from the laughter in his eyes. Ao Bing had even confided in him a secret – that he doesn't have tattoos at all because he's afraid of pain.
Nevertheless, there's still just something.. keeping them apart. Something Ao Bing isn't telling him. He could tell it in his hesitation when Nezha had asked when he's free, and was told that he's on shift all the time. The painful expression he has when he rejects the florist yet again for a meal outside together.
Nezha doesn't know what to do to overcome that gap. Let Ao Bing know that no matter what the problem was, he would always be by his side ready to raze the world for him.
He thought that a tattoo of his name above his heart would do the job, but that stupid Ao Jia had to foil his plans and now all the damn credit went to that nonexistent pig!
Nezha sighed forlornly.
The road to love truly isn't easy.
***
A few days later
“Nezha, can you help me look after the store for a while? I have to go collect a parcel,” Ao Bing had asked.
“Fine,” He answered casually, as if he wouldn't say yes even if Ao Bing had asked him to jump off a building.
He was rewarded with a blinding smile that made his life worth living.
“Thanks, you're the best!”
Nezha was spinning around in the tattoo chair when suddenly the bell chimed and a crowd of people in black suits and sunglasses poured in.
They were fronted by a huge man in a light blue suit and a white ponytail. He towered over everyone else with his broad shoulders that looked like they could hold the weight of the world. Silver rings decorated his fingers and dragon tattoos lurked under his sleeves.
It felt like a scene from a draggy K-drama where loan sharks would ambush a poor store owner and demand for repayment with exorbitant interests.
What was going on? Was Ao Bing in some kind of trouble?
Nezha jumped out of the chair, preparing himself for a fight. He shot a quick text to Ao Bing that said, ‘Don’t come back yet’.
The leader glanced around the place before his eyes landed on Nezha, who raised his brow in silent question.
“Where’s Ao Bing?” He demanded, his voice a low baritone.
“Do you have an appointment with him?” Nezha asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, Ao Bing's not in,” He shrugged nonchalantly. “If you have any issues, you can take it up with me instead.”
Gangster Thranduil looked at him like he was the dirt beneath his shoe.
“Who are you?”
If this guy was truly here for money, then Nezha was willing to take one for the team! He only spent his salary on food and tattoos from Ao Bing anyway. And that's excluding his generational wealth!
“I'm.. I'm Ao Bing's partner!” He proclaimed, chest puffed.
“Partner?” The man's brows furrowed and his lips flattened to a thin line. “Never heard of you.”
“You don't believe me?” Nezha scoffed, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling his collar open.
He showed off his bare chest like a prestigious badge on a uniform.
“I even have a tattoo of his name on me!”
The man bent down to stare at his chest with both eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. The people behind him had also took off their sunglasses to look with dropped jaws.
Nezha smirked and rubbed at the tattoo to demonstrate its authenticity.
“Open your eyes wider and have a proper look! Let me tell you, I'm Ao Bing's partner – his problems are this master's problems!” He jabbed a thumb towards himself.
Nezha let go of his shirt and sauntered towards him cockily.
“Let me ask you one last time. What. Are. You. Finding. Him. For?” He poked at the other man's chest with each word.
At that moment, Ao Bing burst through the door with the frantic air of someone who had remembered that they left their stove on.
He hurriedly pushed through the crowd and looked at the scene of the two men.
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
DAD?!?!?!!!!
Nezha nearly choked.
He quickly stepped back and buttoned his shirt back up, rubbing his nose.
“Uh, hey, uncle,” He greeted the floor.
Ao Bing stood defensively in front of him.
“Dad, aren't you at the restaurant? I told you not to bring so many guards here, it'll scare all the customers away!” He chided.
Ao Guang crossed his arms with a frown. “You're late.”
“I know, I know, I’m sorry, I have a last-minute errand to run so I asked Nezha to look after the store for me.”
Ao Guang narrowed his eyes at the mentioned man. “What's your relationship with this punk?”
“We're f-friends!” Ao Bing sputtered with a red face and tried to push his father towards the door with two hands. “Dad, you go back to the restaurant first, I have things to speak about with Nezha.”
Ao Guang did not budge.
“I'll talk to you later, please, Dad?” Ao Bing pleaded, putting his puppy dog eyes on full blast.
Ao Guang finally relented with a harrumph, and brought all his guards away with him with a wave of his hand.
Ao Bing let out a sigh, turning back towards him.
“Nezha? Sorry about that..” He interrupted the florist's ongoing fantasy of jumping into the mouth of an active volcano.
“Hah? It's fine, it's fine, no harm done,” Nezha replied absently before asking, “Your dad, he.. doesn't force you to do anything right?”
“No!” Ao Bing rushed to clarify, “He really dotes on me! It's just that.. actually.. he used to be a triad leader. B-But not anymore! He left that life behind ever since my mum had passed away, to ensure the safety of us children. Now, he runs a security guard business, but he's always worried that his old enemies will come after us..”
The tattoo artist gave a sad sigh. “Sorry, Nezha, I didn’t want to get you involved with this.. I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore.”
Nezha instantly frowned at his words. “What are you talking about? Why wouldn't I want to be your friend anymore?”
“Because your life might be in danger just by associating with me!” Ao Bing answered with teary eyes, making Nezha's heart ache.
“Wait, is that why you said you never have time to meet with me out of work?”
Ao Bing ducked his head down in silent guilt.
“Ao Bing, I’ll say this once and I mean it from the very bottom of my heart.”
Nezha took the other man's hands and held his gaze seriously.
Ao Bing swallowed.
“I’m extremely good at beating people up.”
Ao Bing blinked. “W-What?”
“My parents.. are actually both the Chief of Police, so ever since young there were many kidnapping attempts on me and my brothers. But none of them ever succeeded, because I've beaten them all up,” Nezha explained with a prideful lift of his chin.
“Oh,” Ao Bing said faintly, not really expecting all that. “But you don't understand, Nezha, the people looking for us are really not to be trifled with.”
“You don't believe me? Here, try hitting me,” Nezha offered, letting go of his hands and patted his chest.
Ao Bing furrowed his brows worriedly. “How could I?”
“Don't worry, I have thick skin, I won't get hurt,” He reassured before taunting, “Come on, or are you actually a wuss?”
Ao Bing’s hand immediately shot out at him, which he promptly blocked with his forearm. The other man continued to attack him but was repeatedly countered.
Although just barely , Nezha would admit. Ao Bing’s speed and strength was waaaay better than any of his previous opponents.
He grinned manically. “Ao Bing, you can fight?”
“I'm an ex-triad leader’s son, how can I not know how to fight?” Ao Bing quipped with a smirk and Nezha had never seen anyone hotter in his entire life.
They exchanged a glance and started to grapple with each other properly, no longer pulling their punches. Legs were kicked, flips were thrown. There were places that he definitely knew would be sore and bruised the next day but it was the most fun Nezha had in ages.
Finally, they came to a standstill with Ao Bing pinning him down on the ground, legs straddling the other's waist and arm holding Nezha's above his head.
The florist supposed he could break out of his hold, but he's kind of enjoying their current position, thank you very much.
Ao Bing panted heavily above him with a triumph glint in his eye and the light glowing behind him made him look like an angel framed by a halo.
Nezha really couldn't fall any harder in love.
Running on the adrenaline high and citing Reckless as his middle name, Nezha surged upwards to capture those soft lips.
Ao Bing startled backwards in shock and turned into a shade of pink that was prettier than any of the flowers the florist had ever seen.
“Y-You..” He sputtered.
“I like you, Ao Bing.” Understatement of the Year, but it gets the point across. “Be my boyfriend?”
His heart pounded like a gong as he held his breath, waiting for the answer.
“..Oh,” Ao Bing let out a shy giggle. "Alright."
He returned his kiss as proof. Nezha opened his mouth to deepen it but was abruptly pushed back by the tattoo artist.
“My dad's.. waiting for me,” He explained apologetically.
Nezha made a pained sound like a wounded animal.
“But.. we can go out together tomorrow if you want.”
“Want!” Nezha nodded his head eagerly. Mentally, he had already cancelled all his plans for the next day. Muzha can drown alone in flower orders for all he cares.
Ao Bing chuckled, standing up and pulling the other man up with a hand.
“Then, it's a date.” He gave a sweet kiss on Nezha's warm cheeks.
***
2 weeks later in the backroom of the floral shop after closing hours..
“Nnngh– Nezha- wait–” Ao Bing stuttered as Nezha sucked hard at a sensitive spot under his ear.
“I can't wait anymore!” He growled.
Nezha tore open his white shirt in one move, buttons popping off everywhere. He rucked up the black turtleneck to reveal a six pack and smooth, fair skin.
He paused. Because right in the center of his chest above Ao Bing's heaving heart, was.. a small tattoo of a blue dragon coiled around a flaming lotus flower.
“I thought.. you were afraid of pain?” He traced the inked skin lightly with his fingertips.
Ao Bing averted his gaze with flushed cheeks. “..I am. But I thought it's only fair since you have my name on you..”
Nezha abruptly let go and turned away from him.
“Are you.. mad?” He asked in a worried voice.
Then, Nezha turned back to hug him tightly with his face buried into Ao Bing's neck.
It felt.. wet.
Ao Bing stroked his back soothingly with a soft smile.
“You’re not allowed to laugh at me!” Nezha sniffled as he wiped at his face aggressively.
“Alright, alright, no laughing,” Ao Bing coaxed, still grinning.
His Nezha was so cute.
They stayed in that position for a while until he had calmed down a bit.
Nezha pulled back to hold the other's gaze with the intensity of a thousand suns. “Ao Bing, I feel that you.. really are my soulmate. Promise me that we'll stay together forever?”
“Till the end of time,” Ao Bing promised earnestly, leaving a gentle kiss on his forehead.
Nezha's eyes dropped low to his lips. “No matter what happens between our brothers?” He murmured, leaning in.
Ao Bing's eyebrows climbed.
“What's happening between our bro– mmph!”
He suddenly didn't feel like talking about their siblings anymore.
***
“My dad might look intimidating, but he's actually very sweet!” Ao Bing reassured him, giving his sweaty palm a squeeze.
They stood outside the restaurant where the next weekly Ao family dinner was held.
I’m not afraid of how your dad looks, I'm worried because I spouted too much nonsense in front him!
As usual, Ao Bing was able to read Nezha's mind with one look.
“Don't worry, I've already explained things to him. He’d agreed to forget about the whole matter!”
Can such things be forgotten like that?
Ao Bing gave a teasing smile. “Li Nezha, could it be that.. you are scared?”
Nezha was triggered. “Who's scared of who! Let's go!”
Hand in hand, they both stepped into the private room which Ao Guang had booked and was met with a too familiar face.
Muzha abruptly stood up from his seat beside Ao Jia, but was interrupted by another couple entering through the door.
Jinzha froze beside a grouchy-face Ao Yi, and they all pointed at each other accusingly with wide eyes.
“What are you doing here?!”
