Work Text:
Shen Wei walked through the hallway of his apartment building when he heard something strange coming from inside his home. It’s muffled but it sounds heavy, like something drop and then another sound was introduced to the mix.
Shen Wei is confused. Since when does he have a radio? Also, since when does he listen to music? Working as a professor and as the Envoy didn’t give him enough time to indulge in any other things as mundane as listening to music. He had paper to grade, research articles to go through, Dixingren to catch, and a boyfriend to keep safe. Needless to say, he didn’t have time to indulge himself.
Then, he belatedly realised that he had Zhao Yunlan staying in his apartment. How he forgot, he didn’t even know. Maybe all the stress of handling the asshole chancellor, university students and research papers finally corrodes his memory.
Shen Wei fumbles for the keys in his briefcase. He knows he can just ‘dark energy’ the lock but it defeats the purpose of having and carrying the key with him. He inserts the key into the hole and his auditory senses was blasted with loud sound by the time he opens the door.
His ears hurt from the heavy sounds and his eyes widen as he sees Zhao Yunlan in the living room, banging his head to the beat of the song –which is more screaming than actual singing, mind you-, hands beating an invisible drum in sync with the beat, both hands holding empty lollipop sticks.
Shen Wei saw beads of sweat gathered at Zhao Yunlan’s temples and his hair is a bit damp from sweat and the tank top that he was wearing is wet on the back and sides. Shen Wei didn’t think it was appropriate to be aroused at the sight of a sweaty Zhao Yunlan, and the scent of his sweat lingering in the apartment didn’t help his case but it is what it is.
He closes the door behind him, place his shoes on its place, walk to his work table, put his briefcase on the back of the chair and take a sit. He put his clasped hands on the table and observe Zhao Yunlan. Zhao Yunlan didn’t even notice Shen Wei is back from work because the music is loud enough to block any sounds from penetrating through.
When the loud music finally ends, he saw Zhao Yunlan pants and let out a content sigh. Then the start of another song filled the atmosphere and Zhao Yunlan let out an excited hum. Then he starts singing. Shen Wei never knew Zhao Yunlan could sing. His voice soothing and captivating. The tune drawled out in an enchanting way.
The words were foreign and quite catchy, he found himself bobbing his head unconsciously to the beat. He saw Zhao Yunlan puts his left hand on his chest and his right hands was clutching a lollipop stick as a faux mic. The sight is adorable. Who knew this is what Zhao Yunlan actually do when Shen Wei’s not around?! Hahaha.
It was delightful!
Then, when Shen Wei thought it was about to end, Zhao Yunlan started rapping! The foreign words, now that he identified it as Japanese, spewed out of his mouth in a rapid succession. Zhao Yunlan’s eyes are closed as he throws himself into the rap and Shen Wei can’t contain the fondness that surge from his heart. He just wants to go and grab Zhao Yunlan and kiss him senseless because he’s so adorable! Shen Wei can’t believe he’s this lucky to have Zhao Yunlan. However, he let Zhao Yunlan enjoys himself and waits for him to notice Shen Wei.
When the song ends, Zhao Yunlan retrieves his thin machine, -cellphone, Shen Wei, cellphone-, and pause the start of the next song, sounding more heavy than the previous loud music he walked into.
‘What does his love listens to in his spare time?!’, Shen Wei thought, baffled at the choice of music. Shen Wei won’t lie and say that he didn’t enjoy listening to music because he does. However, his choices lean towards classical and folk-tale-like songs. The kind of songs that you sing while you sit around a bonfire. He is 10,000+ years old, you know.
Zhao Yunlan’s taste is abysmal.
It hurts his ears and all that head banging can’t be good for his neck and head. Can people get concussion from that?
“Oh man, it’s almost time for Shen Wei to get home. I’ll have to clean up a little.” He heard Zhao Yunlan muttered while he’s busy poking his electric device. “He must be tired. Handling those kids can’t be good for his health. He’s a good teacher, though.”
Shen Wei didn’t know what to think. He knows Zhao Yunlan, to some extent, love him, even though he didn’t know if he deserves such an amazing human being, but to hear that Zhao Yunlan cares about him, where no ears can hear the words he uttered (well, Shen Wei’s ears at that cause everybody else knows), well, that just makes Shen Wei’s heart swell with affection.
“Eh… Maybe I should offer to cook?” he heard Zhao Yunlan mutter again. “But that will just make him sick. I can’t risk poisoning him.” He heard Zhao Yunlan continues his monologue. He didn’t move an inch or make any sounds that give his position away.
Shen Wei love this man. The man that he thought only resembles Kunlun’s face but his essence, his core, his heart, his tenderness, shows him otherwise. He is Kunlun, inside and outside. There’s no mistaking that lips and beard but the manners, the soft touches, the lingering kisses, the warm gazes, are all Kunlun. Well, he’s Zhao Yunlan now, perhaps he’s Kunlun in the making.
It lifts Shen Wei’s spirit to think that he contributes to Zhao Yunlan’s growth. See him grow from that angry teenager to a slightly less angry and more relax adult. It made warmth and something akin to pride, blooms in his stomach.
“I’ll just clean after myself then. He did everything else. The least I can do is take care of myself.” Zhao Yunlan mutter again, hands pocketing the cell and look at the couch where a few lollipops cover and sticks lay around and at the coffee table, where a few opened book about Dixingren lay. He walks to the couch and collect the litter, holding it in his left hand. His right bookmarked the book he still wants to read and closes the book he had finished and collect it in his arms.
The book was the size of a tome (it is a tome, the author doesn’t know what is wrong with their head), so, it’s no wonder Zhao Yunlan’s arms are totally full by the time he straightens back up. He turns his body towards Shen Wei but his head is still tilted towards the table, contemplating whether he wants to put other books back on the shelves or not.
Shen Wei saw him shrugs and he starts walking towards where Shen Wei was sitting. When he turns his head, Shen Wei can see his pupils shrunk and he clamp his jaw to stifle his scream at the sight of Shen Wei watching him like an eagle, gaze fond but sharp.
Zhao Yunlan clutch the tome close to his chest and close his eyes as he tries to get himself back under control.
“When did you come home?” Zhao Yunlan let the word out through clenched teeth.
“A while ago.” Shen Wei answered, eyes shining with suppressed amusement, tone light.
Zhao Yunlan dropped his head on top of the tome he’s clutching and groan in embarrassment.
“That means you witness everything else, right?” Shen Wei heard the muffled words Zhao Yunlan let out. Shen Wei hummed in answer.
He got up from his chair and walk towards the reddening Zhao Yunlan. Shen Wei’s heart stutter as he looked at his shy lover. Shy Zhao Yunlan is as rare as a painite, considering how shameless Zhao Yunlan can get. This is a sight he’ll cherish forever.
“I didn’t know you can sing.” Shen Wei state, affection, humour and amusement colouring his words. Zhao Yunlan whined -fucking whine!- in embarrassment and continue to hide his face on top of the tome. Shen Wei had to stop his advances because he felt his heart constrict in adoration at the sound and he needs to take a moment to steady his heart and stance a little.
He waved his hand and tendrils of dark energy enveloped the tome and the litter in Zhao Yunlan’s hands and direct it towards where it belongs. Zhao Yunlan resist a little, still embarrassed but he let go after a while and let his hands falls at his side, head bent low, hair covering his eyes.
Shen Wei walk forward and cupped Zhao Yunlan’s face, bringing his face in line with Shen Wei’s and look into his lover’s eyes. There’s emotions that he can see and name. Embarrassed being the most prominent, love, adoration, warmth. Shen Wei’s own surely reflected that and more. The heat from his forgotten arousal came back when he remembers sweaty Zhao Yunlan and his scent filling the apartment, and Zhao Yunlan can surely see the lust in there.
Zhao Yunlan dropped his eyes from that scorching gaze and pout. ‘No one was supposed to know I sing! I bet I sound awful.’ he thought. Oftentimes he forgot that Shen Wei loves him, even with some of the humiliating baggage that he carries with him.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.” Zhao Yunlan mumbles as Shen Wei continues to hold his face, lips still pouting.
“Which one?” Shen Wei teased him again, his heart filled with joy when he can reduce Zhao Yunlan to a bashful state. Usually it’s the other way around.
“Shen Wei!” Zhao Yunlan whine Shen Wei let out a little laugh. Then he kissed Zhao Yunlan’s forehead and embrace him. Zhao Yunlan was pliant in his arms, his hands coming around Shen Wei’s waist, cheek rested on Shen Wei’s strong shoulder.
“I love it when you sing.” Shen Wei commented. His hands rubbing Zhao Yunlan’s back in a soothing motion.
“You do?” Zhao Yunlan asked, uncertain undertone could be heard.
Shen Wei hummed in agreement. “I think your voice is captivating. I was rooted on my seat while I was watching.”
Shen Wei can already imagine the redness that blooms on Zhao Yunlan’s cheek. Zhao Yunlan nuzzled his nose on Shen Wei’s neck but he can feel the hidden smile on Zhao Yunlan’s lips.
“But what was that song about? I can’t understand it but you were so passionate when you were singing that I felt the need to ask.” Shen Wei inquire, swaying their body a little.
A moment of silence passed with the both of them engulfed in the motion and then Zhao Yunlan answered.
“I watch a lot of anime when I was young. Anime is Japanese cartoon, by the way.” Zhao Yunlan paused, “I think the song is about a person that’s grateful for someone. When they were down, there was always that one person that they could trust and lean on. There’s this line in the song that goes ‘the things we felt for everyone seem to leave without a trace, but as I stand and look around, I can’t see them in this place’. Which made me think that through actions, we can make them see that we care for them.”
It was quiet for a while after that.
“I always wish that I will have someone like that. Someone to share joy and sorrow with. Someone to lean on and be a shoulder to lean on. Someone that cares and cared for, in return. Someone I can cherish.”
“Luckily, I got you.” Zhao Yunlan pulled back, gazing at Shen Wei with love in his eyes and softness on his mouth. “Someone who understands my quirkiness and shamelessness and still love me.” Zhao Yunlan duck his head down, hiding his face. He’s been spending too much time with Shen Wei, he’s starting to act like Shen Wei when he doesn’t know what the other person’s reaction will be.
Shen Wei cupped his cheek, his heart flutter when Zhao Yunlan nuzzles the palm, and said, “I’m glad you choose to be with me. Thank you, Zhao Yunlan.” He kissed Zhao Yunlan’s lips softly.
The romantic bubble from before was popped by Shen Wei when he pulled back, the amusement coming back with a vengeance.
“Now, what was the song before that one? It was dreadful.” Shen Wei asked, his lips tremble a little in his attempt to supress the grin that threatens to break.
Zhao Yunlan pulled himself from Shen Wei and gasped in disbelief. “Well, I’ll let you know mister, that is heavy metal. It was performed that way.” He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his face away from Shen Wei.
Shen Wei chuckled at his antics. He reaches out again and encircle his arms around Zhao Yunlan’s shoulder, trapping him in his arms as Zhao Yunlan faux struggle.
“Well, next time you want to listen to that kind of song, make sure I’m not around.” Shen Wei teases. Turning to rest his cheek on Zhao Yunlan’s head.
“I wasn’t even aware that you would be coming home. I truly counted the hours of when you will get back home.” Zhao Yunlan whines again but settle down in Shen Wei’s arms and rubbed his cheek on Shen Wei’s shoulder, breathing in his scent. Shen Wei chuckled again.
No more words are spoken as the both of them sway to their own kind of music.