Work Text:
When Vein hears the doorknob being turned, he immediately has a list of the people in mind who will bravely do so without knocking — and in return he doesn't shoot a bullet through their skulls:
One, it's his personal assistant.
Two, it's Xia Fei.
Third, it's Liu Xiao.
Then, he mentally crosses out the possibilities.
It's not his personal assistant, as he is on leave to his countryside home to celebrate Christmas.
It's not Xia Fei, as this morning, he had informed he would be attending a Christmas party around midnight. The tracker is showing him somewhere at the other side of town, probably at a college friend's house.
That leaves only one, so he isn't surprised when he sees the brim of the hat peeking through the gap before Liu Xiao fully opens the door, standing there with one hand in his pocket and a friendly smile on his face.
"I hope I'm not intruding anything." He says, jovial.
Despite wearing glasses, Vein knows Liu Xiao has no selective sight whatsoever. That means he has surely noticed the stacks of paperwork on the desk or even the leftover liquor shots. This is not the first time Liu Xiao makes his presence known during a work matter, but it remains unexpected. Maybe he should put a tracker on him too.
He goes back to his current paper detailing about a new business venture, not sparing him a second glance. "What brings you over?"
Liu Xiao sits on the nearby couch, kicking up his feet onto the low tea table. He certainly gives off the pampered young master look, lounging as he pleases and staining Vein's favourite table with his dirty boots. Xia Fei will throw a fit if he knows.
"It's Christmas. I wonder what you're up to."
Just paperwork, and more paperwork. Endless paperwork. "Work to do." Vein glares at the offensive boots. Liu Xiao smiles and doesn't put his feet down. "Not attending any Christmas parties?"
"I prefer to not spend my Christmas partying. That said, is there no Christmas party around the company?"
"We have a party on the 8th."
Liu Xiao raises an eyebrow. "Am I invited?"
"If I invite you, Felix will be mad."
"Good point." He nods. "Am I invited?"
"Yes." Vein flips to another page. "Just don't provoke him too much."
Liu Xiao hums, meaning he will definitely provoke him. Vein makes a mental note to be at the best position possible to watch their squabble. Sometimes, they give him a headache by acting like the energetic youngsters they are, but they do make good, non-lethal entertainment at least.
Liu Xiao moves to grab a rubik cube off the cabinet, leaning against the desk as he works with it. "Does your work ever actually finish? I don't think I've ever seen your desk empty."
Slide. Slide. Slide. His fingers are making quick work with aligning the same colours. Vein answers. "It does and it will replenish itself soon after."
"There's never an end to your work." Liu Xiao sets the fully-done cube on the current paper he's signing. "Let's have a game of chess."
"So sudden."
Liu Xiao tosses him a smile. "That isn't a no."
Tapping the end of his pen on his cheek, Vein thinks of saying no anyway — he has endless paperwork to be finished by morning and has to do a couple of rounds around the block. He needs all the energy and concentration he can get, and Liu Xiao will surely suck them dry through the chess game he is offering. He is an absolute beast at chess, it doesn't take him another grueling match to admit it.
He looks at Liu Xiao, who has moved to slide his hand up his arm. "Come on now." He leans down, pressing his weight until he's close enough for Vein to smell him; frosty and a steeped sweetness reminiscent of blood. "It's Christmas."
Vein thinks it through.
"Mahjong."
Liu Xiao leans away, huffing in resignation. "Have it your way."
As he retrieves the mahjong board, Vein pushes his paperwork away, clearing the table for Liu Xiao to place it. Usually, they'll play mahjong in one of the outdoor patios, but Vein hates venturing outside in this cold, ugly weather. It cools his blood too much that he prefers coping indoors in the sweltering heat rather than to trudge through the gloomy Bridon winter.
"Siamese?" Liu Xiao asks after they've set everything up.
Vein nods. "You start first."
To this, Liu Xiao glances upwards from his decks. He teases. "No, you're older."
Huffing out a laugh, Vein makes the first move, plucking a tile. Hm, he glances down at his first deck and switches one of the tiles. Liu Xiao moves next and plucks his own.
Their game continues accompanied by the frequent click clacks of the mahjong tiles, none of them making a voluntary sound. This is the main reason why Vein likes playing mahjong with Liu Xiao — he doesn't break under pressure and isn't fazed by the risk of a game well-played. A gambler by nature, he will not hesitate to put his life on the line. He is raised with the honed skills of a businessman while Vein has to carve them into his flesh. They have different ways of playing, but Liu Xiao still remains to be a lucky find in this boring world. Vein mulls it over, cataloguing his tiles before lifting his head.
Liu Xiao is deep in concentration. Not surprising and also not fun. Vein wants to elicit a reaction out of him.
He can do that in many ways, really. It's way too easy to get under Liu Xiao's skin:
1) He can ask him something nasty. Maybe about his family. Liu Xiao may shut down at this because they both know he doesn't like answering questions about his family, which is more reason for Vein to ask, but a pissed Liu Xiao is an annoying problem to handle.
2) He can ask him something fun. Maybe about Xia Fei because Liu Xiao will never leave him alone. The question is just about what? They've talked a lot about Xia Fei and their most recent conversation is yesterday about his college lunch (Two ham sandwiches and an apple personally delivered by Liu Xiao, with a note from Vein).
3) He can ask him something mind-boggling. Maybe about the city's current butcher industry. Although, Liu Xiao may just smile politely like he usually does in that way of saying: I understand, I simply do not care.
All of the above has been done, Vein has seen his reactions to such topics. What he needs is something new and far more interesting. He wonders, staring at Liu Xiao's face.
"Like what you're looking at?" Liu Xiao says as he picks a tile.
Vein shrugs. "Thinking how delicious you'll be for breakfast."
Liu Xiao declares. "You'll get food poisoning."
"Very confident." Vein tilts his head, tacking on. "Jellybean."
Liu Xiao immediately looks up, blinking in disbelief. He has an adorably confused look on his face as he registers the nickname.
"Did you just call me." He stops, furrowing. "A candy?"
"It's only a matter of time, jellybean."
Liu Xiao looks like he has something to say, except he soon controls his expression into the same mask of cool indifference. Vein wishes to see it longer.
He exhales. "Why a jellybean, exactly?"
Vein hums, sorting his deck. "You look like one."
Liu Xiao looks as if he doesn't believe it, which is smart of him. Despite that, what Vein said is the truth. He does look like a jellybean; squishy, chewy and sweet.
Seeing as he's distracted, Vein picks up a previously-discarded tile and calls out. "Mahjong."
Liu Xiao's eyes narrow at the winning hand. "Another round?"
Vein smirks. "Thought you'll never ask."
Their second round goes shorter, more intense as Liu Xiao refuses to rise to the bait this time, completely aware that Vein's trying to get a response out of him. It ends with him winning, a satisfied smile on his face. Vein pretends it affects him, just to catch that expression a little bit longer.
As they begin to start their third round, he asks. "What is your favourite dessert?"
"I don't like dessert." Vein picks up the tile. "You?"
Liu Xiao hums. "I like scones."
Very Bridon of him. Vein had seen him devouring a plate of scones before ordering another, nodding once in a while as Xia Fei chattered about his day. He wonders if the liking developed before or after he came here?
"Why don't you like dessert?"
"Too sweet for me."
"What's with the nickname, then?"
"What nickname, berry pie?"
Another twitch of Liu Xiao's face muscles. He's showing discomfort, interesting. Is it due to the meaning or the general use of it? Vein takes a shot in asking. "Has no one called you berry pie before?"
Liu Xiao smiles politely.
Boring. Vein focuses back on the game. Liu Xiao has a slight advantage at the moment despite the blunder that occurred, obvious as he ruminates at the leftover tiles. He plucks one up, eyes sharp behind his glasses when he casts a look at him. A few seconds pass before he puts it onto his deck. Tch, Vein clicked his tongue. Ruined his quick victory there.
"What about you?"
"About what?"
A short exhale. "Do you have a nickname?"
He stops, fingers around a tile. Liu Xiao is waiting patiently, curiousity not hidden behind his glasses.
Vein smiles. "What do you think?"
It's not obvious, but Liu Xiao is dissatisfied with the lack of a clear answer. He may be an expert in his complicated mind games, but Vein has never cared to indulge in them all the time. He does whatever he please — it's the foundation of their relationship.
Just as he begins his move, a chime rings out. Liu Xiao pulls out his phone, saying. "Felix started a live stream."
Hearing it, Vein grabs his own personal phone. He had put it on mute before diving into work, and now he can see the unread text messages, mostly from Xia Fei about random topics and one from Liu Xiao saying: I'm coming over. Above it is a notification that Felix2707 is now live!
"Didn't he say he's at a party?" Liu Xiao asks across their now forgotten game of mahjong.
"Yes." Vein taps on it. Simultaneously, Liu Xiao opens up his own.
"Hey, hey, hey! Merry Christmas, everyone!" Xia Fei greets. He's decked in a red sweater topped with a reindeer headband, and in his left hand he's gripping a bottle for dear life. He's clearly also wasted, cheeks flushed and eyes way too bright. He hiccups soon after, to which Liu Xiao laughs at.
"Where 'm at? At ol' — Wait, I can't tell you that! Nu uh, no doxxing! But I can tell you, I'm havin' the besh Christmas party of my life!"
Vein quietly sighs. What a troublesome, reckless drunk.
Xia Fei rambles on. "They have the yummiest turkey. It's so good! It's not alcohol, hey! I mean, I totally tasted it before I drank some of the good stuff. Anyways," He waves a hand absentmindedly. "How you guys' Christmases? The view count is uh, two hundred …? Two thousand? I can't see, I don't have my glasses on … but I think you guys are not even half the usual lot." He mumbles, face smushed to the camera.
On the other side, Liu Xiao is quietly laughing, his shoulders shaking as he no doubt records the entire stream.
"Damn. You spent your Christmas Eve all alone? So sorry to hear that, mate. Go grab a bottle and, and open up the telly — does anyone even watch it nowadays, you ask? Yes, of course! I don't, but. My laoban does. He sits in front of those like a grandpa and he reads the news every morning. How old is my laoban? Why should I tell you that?!" Xia Fei squawks. "He's not 50! He's like 25!" His eyes bulge out in horror. "Don't tell my laoban I said that! What? You want to marry my laoban?!"
Liu Xiao is still laughing. Vein sighs loudly this time even thought he's amused. Xia Fei will surely regret this in the morning.
"'You make your laoban seem like the kindest, smartest, hottest man on earth, I wish I can —' I'll pretend I didn't see that, user XFMyDeer." He motions with his fingers. "No more talking about him! Let me tell you guys something funny that just happened."
He continues to tell his story, animatedly gesturing while also bringing himself around the house, squeezing through the crowd. Some of them greet the camera, inviting Xia Fei for a quick game to which he denies. Others smartly offer more alcohol, to which Xia Fei quickly accepts, downing shot by shot, spurred by the crowd and viewers.
"Let's shee," He drawls out, drunker as he sprawls all over a couch. "'Your most favourite person is laoban?' 'Course it is! 'Who do you least like?' Hm, hnghh. The least, huh." Pulling himself up, he thinks. "There's this one guy who's annoying. I don't like him much."
Vein voices out. "I wonder who's he talking about."
Liu Xiao lets out an amused huff.
Xia Fei appears lost in thought before he reads another comment. "Hate? No, hate is a strong word. I don't hate the guy, he just gets on my nerves a lot. Like yeah, he's annoying but I can't hate him. 'Is he good in anything?' I guess … he's smart and has money. What do you mean, Felix2707? I don't have a type!" He roars out.
It's Vein's turn to laugh now, wheezing as Xia Fei fumbles, face tomato red. "'You like smart, rich men —' I don't! 'I bet he's hot too'. No, he isn't! He wears these glasses and thinks a long coat is so cool when it's not — 'Isn't that how your laoban dresses'. I mean — " He flusters, mouth failing to say any words as the blush creeps up to his face.
Liu Xiao shakes his head, a grin on his face as he types up something. On his phone, Vein sees what it is.
LXavier gave a rose:
I never thought you would think so highly of me ^^
Xia Fei's expression morphs in horror, blood draining out of his face. "You —" He sputters, caught off-guard before he screams. "Why are you watching my stream?! I'm so offended, what the heck."
Vein chuckles, sending his own message.
Vein gave a rose:
Thank you for the compliment, Felix.
Xia Fei screams more, gripping his hair. "You're watching too?! I'm, I'm ending stream now, guys. Merry Christmas. See you all later, or never!"
The stream ends. Vein stares at the screen, knowing Xia Fei must be panicking at the moment from his public humiliation and will presumably drown himself in more liquor. "Xavier, send over the recording and get your car."
He goes to grab his coat, putting it on while Liu Xiao sighs. "Not going to let him loose for a bit?"
Tugging on the lapels, he makes sure nothing is amiss from his person. "Letting him do it once is already indulgence. Besides, he is way too drunk to know when to stop."
Liu Xiao doesn't argue on this, simply following his movement with his eyes. He sighs again.
Liu Xiao had to navigate smartly through Christmas Eve traffic, seeing as the house is at the opposite side of the city. Beside him, Vein is mostly quiet as he watches the road, his heartbeat calm in the silence of his car.
When they've reached it, it's almost 3 in the morning. It's easy to find the house, considering the rambunctious music and spread people around the lawn. Stopping the car, Liu Xiao watches from the corner of his eye as Vein dials his number.
"He's not picking up."
Clearly wasted. Xia Fei can be very oblivious once he's drunk, becoming the life of the party and detaching himself from reality. Liu Xiao's not looking forward to hunt him down, considering that the look Vein is shooting at him means he will definitely not be the one to step inside a house full of drunk college students. Resigned to his fate, Liu Xiao leaves the car, ignoring the night chill as he walks up the staircase.
There's some sort of mixed Christmas song playing accompanied by raucous cheers. He slips in through the front door, grimacing inwardly as he pushes through the throng of people, eyes alert for any sight of bright blond hair.
He spots Xia Fei sprawled all over a couch, very much dead to the world. He pokes his cheek. "Felix."
Xia Fei mumbles something unintelligible. Squinting his eyes open, he swats his hand as if chasing a very bothersome fly. "Go away … stupid Xavier."
Sighing, Liu Xiao notes that Xia Fei is way too drunk to even move. Bending down, he hoists him up by the shoulder. "You got your phone and keys?"
Xia Fei pats his pockets twice before patting Liu Xiao on the thigh. "Yeah." He hiccups.
Dragging Xia Fei outside of the house is a chore — not because he's a limp rag doll at the moment, but because nearly everyone is stopping them to wish Xia Fei a very pleasant Merry Christmas. After the fourth person passed on their greetings, Liu Xiao decides that that's enough and veers them through another direction where it leads them out through the backyard instead.
They nearly trip when walking across the lawn, as Xia Fei makes it his ultimate mission to lose all body control and sabotage Liu Xiao's insistent attempts to go back to the car. By the next time he trips over a non-existent rock, Liu Xiao is there to prevent him from falling face first.
"Just how much did you drink?" He grumbles, knees pressed deep into the grass.
Xia Fei hiccups, wrapping his arms around his neck. God. Liu Xiao scrunches his nose. He smells. "Not much!"
"I believe you." He states calmly, trying to breathe. "Let's get you up."
Putting his hands under his knees, he hoists him up, stumbling back a bit from Xia Fei's dead weight. It's evident how out of it he is when he starts to giggle instead of freaking out, the high-pitched sound turning to a wheeze as he slurs out. "The mighty hatman pickin' me up. Xavier, where's your Santa hat? Ya need a Santa hat. It's not Christmas without a Santa hat!"
Liu Xiao endures it all with a pained smile when Xia Fei ruffles his hair. As they walk past the gates, he belts out a horrible song that is too loud in the silent night.
"Deck the halls with boughs of fo'y. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la ~"
They finally reach the car, Xia Fei still singing as Liu Xiao puts him in the backseat. He instantly lies down, seemingly unaware of Vein peering at him in amusement.
"Fast away the old year passes. Fa-la-la-la, la-la-la-la~"
"Where did you find him?"
Liu Xiao watches through the mirror as Xia Fei makes himself comfortable, his singing muffled as he snuggles into the cushion seat.
"Passed out on a couch."
Vein closes his eyes in response. Xia Fei speaks up, kicking the back of the driver seat and nearly launching Liu Xiao forward. "Why do I hear laoban? Hey, Xavier! Stop imitating laoban, you creep!"
"Stop kicking my seat please, Felix."
"Stop kicking Xavier's seat, Felix."
Xia Fei whines, kicking his seat one more time. "Stop doing that! No one is allowed to imitate laoban, you hear me?"
"I'm limiting his drinking sessions." Vein replies, although his humorous tone isn't actually helping.
Liu Xiao rubs his back where Xia Fei had dealt a good damage at. It doesn't hurt much, but the pain is there. "Calm down. We're getting you home."
Xia Fei mumbles unintelligibly. It may be along the lines of wishing Liu Xiao will crash the car, or another creative insult seeing as Vein is raising an impressive eyebrow. Liu Xiao doesn't bother confirming which one as he shifts down the gear and begins driving, the sound of the engine drowning out another performance of Xia Fei's creative namesake abilities.
He eventually quiets down, and the ride is spent mostly in silence up until they enter the highway. The traffic isn't easing up anytime soon despite the fact that midnight has already passed, and there is no other route for them to go through. Liu Xiao taps his finger on the wheel as he waits patiently for the cars in front to move while Vein looks outside the window, the lights framing his jawline as he appears lost in thought.
Snores rumbling from behind, Xia Fei sleeps without a single care. The snore stops when he burrows himself deeper into his jacket, loudly shivering. Liu Xiao checks the heater. Hmm, still working fine.
Pulling off his coat, he leans back to drape it all over him. Xia Fei immediately snuggles into it, leaving only some tufts of blond hair.
Vein checks the time. "It's nearly 4."
With the current state of traffic, they may reach Xia Fei's apartment around 5 then.
Leaning back in his seat, Vein says. "My place is closer. Go there instead."
Liu Xiao glances at him, asking with a smile. "You're letting us inside your abode?"
Vein says. "You've been there plenty."
"Has Felix?"
"Not many."
As if on cue, Xia Fei lets out his loudest snore yet.
"If you say so." Liu Xiao says, entering the nearest exit lane.
Vein's penthouse is not that far. It's in the middle of town, somewhere with smooth foot and road traffic. It's only a 15 minute drive from where they were, and in a matter of no time they've arrived. Liu Xiao has been here on business or Vein's sudden calls to come over so we can play mahjong, but never on his own whim and certainly never with Xia Fei. After all, with his temperament, there's a high probability that he will kick him in the shins if he ever suggests going together to Vein's place.
Both of them standing at the open car door, they exchange glances as said Xia Fei remains dead to the world.
Patting Vein on the shoulder, Liu Xiao walks away. "You carry him this time."
"Is this how you treat people who are older than you?"
"You both are older than me."
Xia Fei secured — he lays limp dangling from Vein's shoulder, unconscious as they walk to the elevator. Just for fun, Liu Xiao crouches down, waving a hand and poking his head. "Earth to Felix~"
As expected, there is no response. Not even a single, annoyed go away, Xavier. "I've never seen him drunk this heavily before."
"Rare occurrence." Vein replies in a sorrowful manner. "He usually knows when to stop, but tonight is not one of those. Did you just take a picture?"
His tone goes accusatory at the end. Liu Xiao replies truthfully, pocketing his phone. "Yes."
Vein rolls his eyes, a silent agreement that they both won't tell Xia Fei about it. The elevator ride is smooth and in a small amount of time, they've reached the large penthouse overlooking the city of Bridon. Liu Xiao takes in the view, the mass gathering of lights that seem to stay in permanence and how colourful they are with the colours resembling the Christmas spirit scattered all over.
Xia Fei has been settled down on the huge couch, where he is not shy of claiming by stretching his body to its limit. The next time Liu Xiao casts a cursory glance all over him, he had gone back to sleep, undisturbed by the change of environment or his own drunkenness. What an absolutely terrifying drunk. Liu Xiao notes to never make Xia Fei too drunk even with how silly it is. The second-hand embarrassment he will surely get in the morning is not worth the scrutiny after as he curses him.
"Want some wine?"
"Sure."
Vein brings over a glass for him. He wraps his fingers around the stem, sipping the delicate wine as they both watch the scenery beyond the windows.
"Bridon is a beautiful city." He off-handedly comments.
"Full of corpses."
Liu Xiao smiles. "Yes, beautiful."
"It does smell like it."
He sighs.
It must have been way too loud as Xia Fei stirs from his slumber. At first, Liu Xiao thinks it is a response to their conversation, but then he hears the mumbled: "Xavier … Xavier … You suck."
"He's dreaming about you." Vein observes.
"Clearly a pleasant dream."
Vein laughs. Xia Fei mumbles more. "Yeah … Take off those ugly glasses. And the hat … Your tattoo is so stupid —" He rolls over and continues snoring.
Crouching down near him, Liu Xiao says, staring at Xia Fei's smushed face. "I don't know he's a sleep-talker."
Vein stands next to him. "He says some of the most delightful things."
"Does he talk a lot about me?"
Vein hums in thought. "Quite a few." He then smirks. "Not that it's my story to tell."
"You're the only one who knows."
"True." Vein doesn't drop the pleased expression. "But I can tell you this. If dear Felix knows what he said about you, he'll be mortified."
That catches his attention. "Oh?"
"Yes, oh." Vein takes another sip of his wine. "Maybe if he lets you see more of this side of his, you'll know."
The idea of making Xia Fei absolutely drunk once again doesn't seem too bad now. As he comes up with a list of scenarios where Xia Fei can accidentally find himself wasted beyond his years, Vein has brought out his favourite table game.
"Another round of mahjong?"
Liu Xiao chuckles. "Isn't it late?"
"Never too late for mahjong."
Not seeing a reason why he should refuse, he joins him. On the couch, Xia Fei curls tighter into a ball from the dip of weight, mumbling something he doesn't fully catch. Vein has begun to scatter the tiles, no sign of tiredness as he moves them with excitement, eyes glinting. "Best out of three, berry pie?"
Xia Fei sleeps, completely ignorant when he presses his knees to his back, tucking himself close. He's warm, Liu Xiao notes as he smiles, a challenge to Vein's grin. "Best out of three."
"Laoban, why is Xavier acting weird?"
"Acting weird as in?"
"He's been acting friendlier than normal."
"I don't believe that is weird by his standard."
"It's just that it's so creepy!"
"How is he exactly acting friendlier than normal?"
"Well, he keeps offering me drinks, for once. What if he's trying to poison me? And he also offers to give me rides."
"That sounds just like Xavier."
"It doesn't! He wants something from me. I don't know what it is though."
"Maybe it's the Christmas present you bought for him."
"What? No! There's no present for him. It's 2026. Laoban, don't spread misinformation. Laoban, stop laughing!"
"Apologies. Don't fret over him, it's Xavier acting like Xavier."
"God, can you give me a straight answer? You're starting to sound like him!"
"Do I?"
"You are playing way too much mahjong with him. You're really talking like him."
"If you become better at mahjong, maybe this could've been avoided."
"Stop — stop imitating him! Laoban, stop!"
"I'm doing nothing of the sorts. Now, I think I see Xavier over there."
"He's here?! But I thought he isn't invited?"
"I invited him."
"Laoban, why?"
"He's an important business partner."
"I'm so disappointed in you. Can you chase him away? He's bothering other people."
"Xavier won't take kindly to that."
"Who cares about his feelings? Say, it's easy. You just tell security to move him — why is he walking this way?"
"I believe he's walking your way."
"Why is he walking my way? Oh no, he's coming. I have to go to the bathroom now. Excuse me, laoban —"
"Happy New Year, Felix."
"…"
"Where are you going?"
"…"
"Felix, have you tried the sushi? It's very delicious."
"Stop talking to me! Don't you have anything else to do, you —"
Vein watches amusingly from the sidelines as they bicker, or Xia Fei is as Liu Xiao shoots down every single statement with the ease of a person who has done it too many times. The push-and-pull of their interaction soon evolves into Xia Fei throwing his hands in defeat and storming out, to which Liu Xiao continues to tail after him. Vein contemplates going after them, thinking of the juicy drama that will occur whenever the two are in close proximity with each other. He doesn't when he remembers that either Xia Fei or Liu Xiao will go to him anyway and spill all the details.
Pleased with himself, he goes to grab that delicious plate of sushi. What an eventful Christmas and New Year.