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“Lin Ling, on your left,” the aforementioned Lin Ling bodily slams into the wall on his right, wincing at the impact but otherwise unharmed save for a throbbing head. He hears the monster roar gutterally behind him and watches the floor get gauged deep where he was standing just seconds before, the wooden panelling splintering and sending debris flying in every direction. He calls his name.
“On it.” The deafening roar behind him is swiftly silenced, save for the metallic ring of an uchigatana being drawn from its sheath and swung towards the enemy.
Lin Ling doesn’t turn, not until he could hear the dying howl from the defeated enemy and the ring of metal from the uchigatana being returned into its lacquer sheath, at which point he hugs the wall for support as he lets out a relieved sigh. Expensive dress shoes click against the floor, careful to side step the damaged parts before coming to rest by his side.
A gloved hand reaches to brush his messy bangs from his face. Lin Ling allows it, leaning into the touch slightly. He then smiles dryly up towards the other man.
“Good job, Nice.” The man smiles, perfectly polite and practiced. His suit practically glows under the moonlight, the pristine white appearing a softened powder blue as gold embellishments glint proudly under the cool light. Nice offers Lin Ling his arm, which the younger man takes with gratitude, hauling himself up with a soft groan.
Being a Saniwa had its perks, having the power of summoning Touken Danshis for combat against the History Retrograde Army who threaten humanity’s future by attempting to alter past events. Lin Ling chances a glance towards his companion, Nice.
An All-Rounder Uchigatana, one of the best in the system, and he came to Lin Ling on his first try at summoning. Perfectly coiffed hair in snowy white, dressed smartly in a white three-piece suit lined with gold, Nice was every bit the legendary sword he was rumoured to be.
Lin Ling approaches the corpse of their enemy, the body already disintegrating into ash once they’d been vanquished as usual. He marks down the type of enemy found in this location on his Commission issued tablet, frowning in displeasure as he notices a pattern in the attacks.
“They seem to be targeting Hero Smile this time,” Lin Ling murmurs, scrolling back to their previous encounters and checking the dates. Nice is silent next to him, peering over his shoulder casually to watch Lin Ling do his thing. “The dates line up, think they’re trying to prevent him from becoming X?”
Nice shrugs, nonchalant. Lin Ling hums thoughtfully, not really expecting an answer from the other man as he takes a few more notes before sending them off to Miss J for further information gathering. Not much was known about Nice’s owner, only that Nice himself had taken on his likeness upon summoning and he’d been a hero.
Lin Ling wasn’t sure what to feel about their similarities but otherwise tamped down that emotion in favour of entering a contract with Nice. The uchigatana had accepted with a soft smile.
“You don’t seem phased, I thought you’d be more excited that you’re meeting your owner’s idol?” Lin Ling teases, tucking the tablet back into the cross body bag he brought along for this mission. Typically, Saniwas were required to dress in traditional kimonos and hakamas for easier identification but they’d made a compromise for Lin Ling and allowed him to wear his own modern Hanfu instead. Perks of being a foreigner, he guessed.
Nice simply smiles in lieu of an answer. Lin Ling knows better than to push more, bringing his focus back to the task at hand. His communicator beeps, alerting him of an incoming voice message.
Moon’s voice comes through with a slight static overlay. Lin Ling frowns as he registers her coordinates, yanking out his tablet once more and entering them in, Nice watches this all unfold with a look of interest. Though he does scrunch his nose in distaste at the sound of Moon’s voice.
Lin Ling hums as the message ends, shoving his communicator into his pocket and marking the coordinates for their next location.
“This is going to be a long night, Moon is overwhelmed on her end, it seems they’re targeting someone different today.” Distracted as he was with his new orders, Lin Ling doesn’t notice Nice’s presence until he looks up. His shoulder knocks against the wall he’d unconsciously been backed into, one of Nice’s arms bracing against it and blocking him into the corner.
He stares up at the other man, pupils blown wide with shock as Nice leans in with a sly smile. Lin Ling doesn’t even get a chance to protest before his lips are claimed.
Nice slants his lips over Lin Ling’s possessively, a mischievous tongue swiping over the seam of Lin Ling’s lips, seeking entry. The younger man parts his lips unconsciously, probably to protest against the kiss but Nice only seizes the chance to map out the insides of Lin Ling’s mouth with an eager tongue.
The slick sounds of transferring saliva ring loud in the empty building they’d previously crashed into and Lin Ling could feel his face heat up as Nice attempts to coax his own tongue into a sensual dance. He stubbornly resists, attempting to refuse any invitation in prolonging the kiss.
Lin Ling attempts to put an end to the kiss by bracing his hand against Nice’s chest, but dammit the tongue in his mouth is too skillful and his mind is going blank from the lack of oxygen. They part finally, Nice reluctantly pulling away as Lin Ling takes a heaving gulp of air, almost choking on his pooled saliva.
Nice is just about to lean in for another hungry kiss before Lin Ling slaps a hand over his lips.
Dishevelled and panting, no doubt also flushed red from the exertion and lack of oxygen, Lin Ling was sure he didn’t cut a very threatening figure. But he scowls at the other man anyway as he gently pushes Nice away.
“Nice, we’ve been over this, kisses like that are only to happen between lovers.” That seemed to be the wrong thing to say, implying that they weren’t lovers. (But they weren’t, Lin Ling cried internally, they were coworkers at best!)
The Uchigatana frowns at him, tilting his head slightly in a way that casts a shadow over his aquamarine eyes, darkening it to a deep sapphire. Lin Ling curses vehemently in his head, cursing Nice for being so goddamned pretty and himself for being so weak to a pretty face that he found his stance wavering immediately.
But no, he had to remain strong. Lin Ling wasn’t sure where the Uchigatana learned how to kiss like that, but he had to set firm boundaries as Nice’s Saniwa. At the very least, this couldn’t be happening every time they’re dispatched.
He sighs softly, glaring up at the other man as Nice raises an elegant eyebrow, Lin Ling’s hand still covering the lower half of his face.
“No kisses on missions, I’ll punch you if you try anything again, got it?” Nice’s smug expression wasn’t something Lin Ling wanted to think about, but he gingerly removed his hand from the other man’s mouth, finally allowing him to speak.
Nice smiles serenely, nodding. Obedient and pleasant once more, Lin Ling narrows his eyes in suspicion but otherwise brings out his tablet again. He swipes through the coordinates, settling on the nearest one before turning back to his Uchigatana.
“Let’s go, we’ve wasted enough time here.” Nice’s smile twitched a little, but he offers no comment. He moves towards Lin Ling, wrapping an arm around his knees and hauling him up so Lin Ling sits comfortably in the crook of his arm.
Lin Ling should not be attracted to the casual strength, he really shouldn’t. And Nice’s knowing look as he carefully maneuvers the rooftops with ease feels heavier than usual.
Lin Ling shakes his head, Mission first, everything else can be addressed later, back at the citadel.