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Gao Tu is puttering around, making him tea, and Shen Wenlang feels like he can breathe again for the first time since the Omega incident.
Until he spots the suppressant patches anyway.
And then he's triggered all over again. Omega, Omega! He's cursed, surrounded by them like this. He's about to say something about it too, when the walls shook.
Wenlang's out of the chair before he knows what's happening. His only thought is to get to Gao Tu.
"Shen Wenlang!" Gao Tu sets down the kettle. But his normally unflappable friend is shaking, which makes Wenlang clutch him that much tighter in the circle of his arms.
"Let's get away from the windows."
"Oh, mm." Gao Tu doesn't protest as Wenlang moves them back further into the apartment, to the bedroom, to sit on the bed.
"You really need a better place, Gao Tu. I'm taking you home after this."
"What?"
"You're not safe here."
Gao Tu blinks at him and cracks a small smile. "I'm fine."
Shen Wenlang studies him, this face he knows like the back of his hand, and Gao Tu's gaze is open as always, so sincere. Then Wenlang spots a hickey on his neck. That damn possessive Omega of his! "I'm not fine. You want me to worry the rest of the weekend about you?"
Gao Tu falls quiet for a second and then his smile is back. "There's a grandma who lives on the first floor, you know. If she's fine, then—"
"Are you the same?!"
Gao Tu blinks about it. "Well, no, she's lived through a lot more but—"
"Gao Tu!" Wenlang shakes him a little. "How thick is your head?"
Gao Tu looks away and swallows. "I can't impose on you, Wenlang. And this earthquake is pretty much over."
As if in answer, the walls shake again, harder this time, like an admonition. A few knickknacks fall off the bedside table with a loud clack!
Wenlang cups Goo Tu's head in a flash, shielding him and bending him closer to tuck against his shoulder.
Gao Tu flails a little, a hand landing on Wenlang's thigh before he gasps and snatches it back.
Gao Tu's heart is beating so fast. Wenlang can see it from the veins in his neck. And without thinking, Wenlang releases calming pheromones.
"Shen Wenlang."
Wenlang doesn't think it's all in his head that Gao Tu melts against him, shoulders rounded down and eyes closing, pretty lashes fanned against his pretty cheeks.
"Just—stay still."
Gao Tu doesn't fight him for once. He just... stays. And it feels so right to hold him like this but also so wrong to see the evidence of someone else on his neck. Shen Wenlang huffs and looks away.
"Are you okay?" Gao Tu looks up at him, worry in every feature.
"Your Omega is so damn possessive. Not only did they leave behind their suppressant pack to mark their space, they also marked you. Just look at your neck!"
Gao Tu double blinks and looks away, a hand coming up to touch a bruise.
Shen Wenlang has a flash of an insane thought—that he should put bigger hickeys on Gao Tu, ones that last even longer so that Omega doesn't think they own him forever. Gao Tu's his, too. His—friend.
But friends don't put hickeys on friends and Shen Wenlang sighs, shaking off the crazy thought. He's just so distraught. That's probably it.
"Did you know what happened to me at the banquet after you disappeared?"
Gao Tu looks up at him and for some reason, there's fear in the gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The walls shake again, violently, like they want nothing better than to collapse on them. And Shen Wenlang tightens his hold, shifting Gao Tu closer.
"Do you enjoy worrying me? Move in with me, Gao Tu, and we'll look for a better place for you."
"Shen Wenlang! I'm not your—"
Wenlang holds his breath, already feeling hurt.
"—burden. You already did so much for me and my sister."
"Obviously not enough." Wenlang bristles, irritated. "You still live here."
"You can't house the whole company at your place, Wenlang."
"Did I say I was housing the whole company? I just want you to move in, Gao Tu."
"Then I really can't. That's preferential treatment."
Wenlang tsks. Really, Gao Tu and his stubborn noble streak!
"Just one day," he tries. "Until we're sure this quake is over."
"Are you sure?"
Wenlang chucks him under the chin. "Do I make offers I don't mean?"
"No."
And then they're smiling at each other, and it's so nice. Wenlang wants this, just this. It almost makes up for the disaster that was the Omega incident, the one where Gao Tu wasn't there to protect him.
And when Gao Tu looks at his lips, Wenlang has to physically restrain himself from leaning in and kissing him. And isn't that ridiculous? He's not one to kiss his friends. Just thinking about kissing Hua Yong makes him shudder. And yet.
Gao Tu is Gao Tu and he's never been the same as anyone else in Wenlang's life. Wenlang supposes there are just special best friends like this. No one else can replace them.
He hugs Gao Tu in gratitude, feeling his tension evaporate as he does. "I'm glad I was here. I would have been worried about you here alone."
"Well, I wish you were at home, where you'd be safer."
"So you do admit my place is safer?"
Gao Tu looks away. "I'll go pack."
"Mm." Shen Wenlang doesn't bother reining in his smile. Gao Tu's coming home with him!