Work Text:
Qiao Chusheng allows the mellow tones of a violin to lead him upstairs and through the wide-open front door. He makes a mental reminder to berate Lu Yao for not locking his door, especially when he’s alone. The aforementioned detective stands next to the couch with his back turned, slowly swaying as he continues the soft, melancholic melody.
Ask anyone else, and they’d say the song doesn’t match Lu Yao’s blunt, haughty personality at all. But Qiao Chusheng often feels like Lu Yao is the most fragile being he’s ever come across. Beautiful and breakable all at the same time. It’s difficult to believe himself capable of taking care of one so untainted by the harsh world he lives in. He’ll try anyway. For now, Qiao Chusheng sits down and listens.
After a few minutes, the last note draws out. Lu Yao lets out a sigh, plucking at the strings. Qiao Chusheng decides to make his presence known now that the song is finished.
“I didn’t realise you could play so well,” he casually remarks.
Lu Yao turns in surprise, violin and bow lowered. A sickening wave jolts through Qiao Chusheng’s spine as he registers the reddened eyes accompanying the tears running down his pale cheeks. The inspector quickly rises and moves to Lu Yao, gripping his shoulders tightly.
“What’s wrong? Did someone bully you? I’ll take care of it, I swear.”
“Lao Qiao,” Lu Yao falters in a daze and closes his eyes. “No, nothing like that.” He drops his instrument onto the seat and wipes away the tears.
“Then what’s the matter? Are you injured?” He backs away, examining Lu Yao over.
“...In a way. My eyes are a bit sensitive, I think they’re reacting badly to the air from the factory yesterday.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?” Qiao Chusheng asked anxiously.
“Nah, I’ve flushed them clean, just have to wait it out now,” Lu Yao sighs, rubbing his eyelid absentmindedly.
Qiao Chusheng gently catches his wrist to move it away. “Let me check.”
Lu Yao obediently opens his eyes halfway. Qiao Chusheng carefully pulls the bottom lids open a bit more, looking for anything that would require immediate attention. Fortunately there are no signs of bleeding, or debris that might have caused more irritation. But while the redness and tears is one thing, the cloudy haze of the pupils is rather alarming. Before he can look any closer, Lu Yao pulls back and squeezes his eyes shut, eyebrows furrowed in a grimace.
“Sorry,” Qiao Chusheng apologises, instinctively brushing through Lu Yao’s hair in an effort to comfort him.
“It’s fine, it only stings a little. I just… My vision isn’t right.”
“You can’t see clearly?”
“I can’t see at all right now,” Lu Yao begrudgingly reveals. “It’s just grey. When I open my eyes, I expect to see something, anything. But I’m just lost in a vast, endless fog. I’m afraid I’ll… it’s rather silly, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not. I would probably feel the same way,” Qiao Chusheng mutters. “Does playing the violin help?”
“It was something to do when I was alone. But now, you’re here.” Lu Yao faintly smiles.
It catches Qiao Chusheng off guard. From the very start, he chased after Lu Yao, desperate to become someone important to him. Qiao Chusheng readily acknowledges the dependence that grew within. He’s always a step behind, orbiting and admiring one-sidedly. It happened with Bai Laoye, and now with Lu Yao.
Qiao Chusheng never expects reciprocation of the same level in either relationship, especially with how aloof and self-centred Lu Yao can be. And he knows Lu Yao doesn’t mean much with his words. Probably just considers Qiao Chusheng as another simple distraction. It doesn’t matter. The surge of anticipation washes over him. He craves nothing more, in that moment, than to serve.
“What do you need me to do for you?” Qiao Chusheng asks fervently.
Lu Yao laughs, and Qiao Chusheng shrinks a little.
“I don’t need you to do anything, Lao Qiao. What I want is some help cooking breakfast. Okay?”
“Okay,” Qiao Chusheng breathes. He’s not quite used to this dynamic, but Lu Yao seems to know what he’s doing.
“Good! Come on, then. I’ll teach you how to make a classic English-style breakfast; bacon and eggs with toast on the side.”
Impressively, Lu Yao has almost no issues navigating to and around the kitchen. He takes out four eggs and a tray of bacon from the fridge and holds them up in the air.
“Here! I’m not confident enough to actually cook anything blind, so you’ll have to do that part. But don’t worry, I’ll tell you every step!”
Qiao Chusheng takes the ingredients from him. “You’re assuming I don’t know how to make eggs and bacon.”
Lu Yao raises an eyebrow. “I’m not assuming. I can easily tell you’ve never cooked anything that's not Chinese.”
Qiao Chusheng grumbles, “I don’t understand why you like this type of food so much. It’s so oily, it can’t be healthy.”
“It’s not that bad!” Lu Yao pouts. “Actually, maybe it is, but it tastes good! How about this, eggs and bacon for breakfast, then we go out to Xiaomanlou for dinner, hmm?”
The bribe works, of course. Not that Lu Yao had to, Qiao Chusheng would have cooked Lu Yao’s choice of breakfast regardless.
While the bacon sizzles in the pan, Lu Yao leans against his back, arms wrapping across his chest and chin resting on Qiao Chusheng’s shoulder. The detective hums, snuggling close.
“Thank you,” he whispers.
“You don’t need to thank me,” Qiao Chusheng responds quietly.
“No,” Lu Yao agrees candidly. “But I want to.”
Qiao Chusheng stays silent, wretchedly craving for even more.
End