Title: Trending War Chapter: oneshot Pairing: TinCan
Summary:
5 times Can tried to trend #TinCan and one time he didn’t have to
Prelude
Can stared at Tin’s head and wondered how he ever had found that stupid stupidhead attractive. He was ugly… maybe not in the common sense ugly, because he had this stupid face, which was stupidly handsome but he was ugly. Because…
“Why are you staring at me?” Tin asked but didn’t look up from his laptop.
Can thought about throwing his phone at Tin’s face, but he really liked that phone.
But he also kinda hated that phone because it had shown him the TinPete hashtag and how it was trending, because Tin and his stupid face had learned on a bench outside of the IC building instead of inside like any normal person.
Can frowned at the picture his sister had attached to one of her tweets. Pete was looking over Tin’s shoulder to see the display of Tin’s laptop. It was an innocent picture. They didn’t even really touch. They were just close.
Can hated it.
‘They would make such cute boyfriends’ one of Lay’s friends had commented under her tweet and he wanted to shout at her that HE was the cute boyfriend… which he was not come to think of it.
They dated. And kissed. And Tin’s hand had been on places of Can’s body only his own hand ever had been. Which Can liked a lot. Tin had nice hands, they were big and warm and…
Stop thinking about his hands!, he scolded himself. He was mad! He was mad because some dumb girls thought Tin was the perfect match for Pete! Pete!
He should sent screenshots to Ae.
“You are still staring.”
“Am I not allowed to look at…” at my boyfriend he wanted to say… but they were not. Not officially.
How would one make the change from dating each other to being official boyfriends? Should he just ask? Or did they just transition naturally to a point where they start to call each other boyfriends? He could google it right?
“What happened?”
Can startled because Tin flopped down next to him on the couch without announcing himself. He hid his phone instinctively.
Tin looked at him and Can knew that he was going to snap that phone from his hands, so he twisted sideways to prevent Tin from doing so.
“Can,” Tin said while looming over him, “what is on your damn phone?”
“Nothing!”
“You stare at it, then you stare at me and those are not nice stares.”
“How would you know? Maybe I am being seductive?”
“I know your seductive face, it is very similar to your feed me face.”
“Hey!”
He had to twist away again because Tin was so damn tall and why had he never realized that his arms were also freakishly long? Can turned around to lay on his belly hiding his phone between his body and the couch.
He felt Tin’s sigh against his neck and tried to suppress a shiver.
“Can,” he said in an exasperated tone but Can shook his head.
“Not showing you.”
“Can,” he said again, but softer this time, just a whisper against his skin. Can turned around and stared at Tin who frowned in light of Can’s serious face.
“What happened?”, he asked, ready to conquer all of Can’s enemies. It was funny that he was always ready to fight those non-existing threats but wouldn’t let Can punch his brother.
“Be my boyfriend,” he said, because he wanted to. He wanted to be Tin’s boyfriend. He wanted to change his facebook status, and he wanted to comment on those stupid tweets that Tin already had an adorable boyfriend, thank you very much (and no offense Pete).
And he wanted to see that look on Tin’s face everytime he said boyfriend.
Can took hold of Tin’s face to caress the skin around his mouth and eyes and marvel in the soft and astonished look in his eyes.
“Be my boyfriend,” he repeated himself and smiled at Tin’s huff because he used his hold on Tin’s face to make him nod.
“This is a binding nod,” he said.
“My boyfriend is very cute, but also an idiot,” Tin said and Can had to grin.
“Oh, Ae and I are having lunch together today. Do you and Can want to join us?” Pete asks as he prepares his notebook and pen for class.
Tin widens his eyes and raises his eye brows. “Lunch? Today? What a shocking surprise after yesterday. Where you both had lunch together. And the day before yesterday too!”
Pete’s eyes narrow. “Sarcasm does not become you, Ai Tin.” Pete carefully writes the date in the corner of his page. “At least not basic sarcasm like that.”
“Maybe not,” Tin says with a shrug. “But it does sustain me.”
“If that’s all you’ve got sustaining you, then clearly I need to talk to Can.” Pete rolls his eyes. “He’s not feeding you properly.”
“I ate just fine this morning,” Tin sneers. “Besides, I know something you’d rather be eating right now.”
The blush forms on Pete’s cheeks despite his annoyance at his friend. “You’re being such an asshole right now. Did you eat Can’s this morning?”
Tin actually sputters into his coffee. “Did you just-”
“So,” Pete says primly folding his hands together in front of him. “Lunch?”
“Oh my good friend Pete, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
“I’m so glad!” Pete mirrors Tin’s tone. “Truly, it’s also very kind of you to offer to pay for everyone.”
Tin’s eye twitches but the teacher walks in before he can give his next retort. He figures he’ll get his revenge by taking everyone to eat grilled pork intestines. Can will be pleased at least.
“Thank you for agreeing to our request for an interview P’Arthit, P’Kongpob,” the freshman says while she offers a wai. “Especially with your busy schedules. My name is Elle.”
Kongpob smiles. “We are your seniors. Something this small for your class project is no problem, N’Elle.”
“I was going to see this one today anyway,” Arthit grumbles, nudging Kongpob with his elbow. Kongpob only smiles indulgently as Arthit’s elbow digs into his side. “So please, don’t worry about it, N’Elle.”
“R-Right then.” Elle presses a button and the recording starts on her phone. “Now, please introduce yourselves for the recording.”
“Hello, I am Kongpob Suthiluck.” Kongpob’s smile grows wider. “And this is my ex-boyfriend, Arthit.”
Arthit’s face turns pink before he shoves Kongpob nearly off his stool. “You’ve got to stop introducing me like that!” Arthit takes a moment to compose himself and straighten his shirt despite it not being a video recording. “Hello, I am Arthit Rojnapat. And I’m his husband.”
“Oh!” Elle offers an excited round of applause. “Congratulations P’s! When did you propose? When did you get married?”
Kongpob starts to speak, but Arthit cuts him off again with another jab to his ribs and a glare. Kongpob pouts and rubs the sore spot on his ribs while Arthit talks. “I proposed on his Graduation Day and he said yes.” Arthit actually smiles, a small soft, and precious one. It calms Elle’s gitters over the whole interview. “We got married after he passed his probation period at his job.”
“Wow!”
“And yet, Ai’Oon still smiles so nicely when he talks about our wedding,” Kongpob teases. Elle wonders if Arthit will hit him again. “I remember how he cried the most when we said our vows.”
This time Kongpob does fall off his stool. Elle makes a note to cut Arthit’s swearing out of the transcript later.
“Na Ai’Oon,” Kongpob says in his softest and cutest tone. Arthit ignores the flutter in his chest that still happens whenever Kongpob says his name that way. “Can you sleep over tonight?”
“Oi, Kongpob! I slept over last night!” Arthit successfully avoids blushing over remembering what happened last night. “And I could barely stay awake in class today. No way am I staying over tonight!”
“Naaa, please? For me?” Kongpob adds just the right bit of pleading to his voice to make Arthit waver. Like always. Damn him. Kongpob also doubles down by wrapping his arms around Arthit’s waist and resting his chin on Arthit’s shoulder.
“Don’t do that,” Arthit says, looking to the side.
“Do what?” Arthit refuses to look because he knows Kongpob has schooled his face into the picture of innocence.
“You think whenever you say, ‘Please, for me,’ that I’ll just do whatever you want. Well, not this time!” Arthit stomps his foot. “I’m sleeping in my dorm room tonight.”
Kongpob pulls Arthit even closer, his smile curls up at the ends, more endearing, cute, and cat like. “Please, for me?”
With Kongpob’s warmth and smell and sunny smile, Arthit feels his resistance crumble. He curses his weakness even as he shyly says, “Fine.”
Kongpob’s smile brightens even more. “Thank you, Ai’Oon,” Kongpob whispers into Arthit’s ear. “I’ll make sure you sleep well and wake up on time in the morning.”
“Like hell you will!” Arthit storms off. “And I want two pink milks tonight with dinner!”
Kongpob sighs and watches his boyfriend storm off to class, scaring a small group of freshmen standing in his way. An extra cup of pink milk is a small price Kongpob would gladly pay to have his boyfriend stay the night again.
Pete owns the pool. He’s grown up swimming in it. But Kao is the one who looks like he belongs there. And Pete can’t stand it for much longer.
My first Kiss Me Again fic! I might have to re-watch a few cuts to get a better handle on Pete and Kao’s relationship, but I imagine this could happen later on…
Also is my crush on Newwie from his time as Apo showing? It might be. Just a little.
Elegant fingers was plying the strings of a guqin.
The player’s features was empty of expression. Fair like the most exquisite of jade, craved with perfection.
Though the melody was that of a familiar song, known to everyone with a Haixing ancestry, it was however imbued with a strange melancholy, deep and helpless, tugging at the feelings of any listener.
The sorrow and yearning, cried out by this instrument, sung of truths that the young gentleman carefully hidden from view. Only now, in the relative privacy of a solitary pavilion within the lavish gardens of the Dixing Envoy’s embassy compound, that he dared to unfold a glimmer of his emotions. Pouring all into the wooden guqin placed upon the polished floor in front of his folded knees. His back remained straight, posture impeccable, even as his hands danced with abandon upon the guqin.
A storm had raged fiercely, leaving devastation within his soul. Only his eyes, crowned with charming lashes unfairly long, gave hint of the unhappiness within.
His identical twin entered the structure, kneeling carefully behind the musician, and encased his elder brother in a hug. Hooking his chin on his brother’s shoulder, the younger of the two began to softly hum, a jarring counterpoint to his twin. An old folk ditty from their Dixing motherland.
Faced with such provocation right next to his ear, the musician’s fingers left the guqin. “Ye Zun,” he softly chided, turning to face his mirror image.
His little brother smiled an unrepentant grin, familiar and so comforting. For a moment, Shen Wei felt as if they were back at the Palace, still in the safekeeping of their old guardian the crafty Lord Justice. Giving in to nostalgia, Shen Wei sighed and rested his forehead against his twin’s. Ye Zun lowly complained that he “preferred your drum playing, our clan’s energetic beats, rather than this slow nonsense!”
Shen Wei chuckled. Ye Zun never took to any Haixing culture with grace. That he agreed to forgo the Dixing mode of dressing was already a great concession. There were even tantrums thrown on the day their clan beads were combed out of the twin’s intricately braided hair, as they exchanged their customary Dixing robes for Haixing’s garments.
A gentle breeze flew by, playing with the unbound half of the brothers’ long tresses, styled in the common Haixing fashion meant for unmarried youths. The ticklish sensation of unbraided hair flying against their faces broke the moment and their embrace.
Pushing the guqin out of the way, Ye Zun threw his head in his brother’s lap, forcing Shen Wei to change his seat, the better to accommodate his twin’s antics. They had always been close, such behavior was nothing out of the ordinary for the openly affectionate Ye Zun. The only difference between him and the politely reserved Shen Wei.
Grabbing Shen Wei’s left hand, Ye Zun grumbled at the reddened marks left by the sharp strings of the guqin on his twin’s fingers, before launching into a litany of complaints, strings of grievances against the current Dixing ambassador tasked with hosting the twins. Shen Wei felt his face broke into a helpless smile at his brother’s bratty deportment.
He knew that Ye Zun was trying to distract him from the encroaching despair that was haunting Shen Wei.
With each sunset, his wedding —sight unseen— to the sole heir to Haixing’s Grand Duke Zhao Xin Chi, the famous young Lord Guardian Zhao Yun Lan, grew nearer.
…•…
Crouching on top of a wall, three young gentlemen was trying their level best to catch a glimpse of the Dixing nobleman betrothed to their good friend and ringleader Zhao Yun Lan. Accompanied by one apathetic guide, the son of the diplomat who’s courtyards they were intruding.
One hapless soul, the innocent Guo Chang Cheng was pressed to be the lookout, despite his many protestations and teary eyes.
“Old Chu, which one of them?”
Lying on his back along the wall, eyes closed and head resting on folded hands behind him, Chu Shu Zhi carelessly answered, “They’re identical twins. One face is as good as the other.”
He was soundly shushed for his pains.
“Lower your voice!”, one baby faced individual hissed. “Old Chu, you might be safe from the swords of your father’s guardsmen, but we’re not!”, another one added, his normally cunning face twisted with anxiety.
Their leader, too busy focusing his questing eyes towards the secluded pavilion, choose not to admit the inadvisable nature of their antics.
Zhao Yun Lan refuse to be wedded to a groom —no matter how prestigious— sight unseen, traditions and superstition be damned.
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 2
Perhaps it was a stray breeze that carried their voices beyond sight, perhaps it was the cracking of tiles burdened with unaccustomed weight, or perhaps it was the sharpness of Zhao Yun Lan’s intent gaze.
Both of the twins froze and, in an eerily synchronized move, turned accurately towards the interlopers.
In a flash, a few throwing knives thudded home into the wall, right where those young Haixing aristocrats were huddling. Sunlight glittering on their edges. With a yelp, two of the trio tumbled down and scrambled to get away. Leaving one apathetic son of Dixing diplomat to continue with his sunbathing and one newly appointed Lord Guardian standing his ground and seizing the opportunity to meet with his mysterious future groom.
Smirking a significantly bloodthirsty expression, Ye Zun slowly rose from his brother’s lap, twirling a throwing knife between his fingers.
“Didi, remember what we promised to Lord Justice,” Shen Wei cautioned.
“Don’t worry, Ge. There won’t be a diplomatic incident if there’s no body to be diplomatic over.”
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 3
Unfortunately, there was a diplomatic incident.
Zhao Yun Lan, unsure of the identity of his attacker and not wanting to accidentally maim his own fiancé, chooses to return the strikes he received from Ye Zun in an exaggeratedly careful manner. Softening his stances and turning aside the full potential impact of their exchanges. And as per his manner when facing an unexpected opponent, his lips was jokingly running full tilt with his usual stock of flirtatious words. Each of his sentences either begun or ended with a variation of praises on the charms of his sparring partner.
Da Qing and Lin Jing simultaneously facepalmed. From a safe distance, of course.
Chu Shu Zhi, still on the wall, was content with shouting out critiques.
Ye Zun, recognizing the way that he was being handled, was incensed at the perceived disdain from someone who was clearly a capable fighter. This snooping young lordling was pulling his punches, as if Ye Zun isn’t capable of answering his blows! To one from the noble House of Gui, widely acknowledged as one of the best pugilist in his motherland, this was a slight that could not be tolerated. Can’t this moron tell what skill it took to not kill someone in a blow when each of his attack was meant to be a singular death strike?
When his ears finally caught up with the nonsense that was sprouting from that smarmy mouth, his irritation ignited to honest fury.
The fight turned into a brawl, with Ye Zun chasing after Zhao Yun Lan all over the place.
Passersby —attracted by the noise of the fight— alerted the nearby station of the Capital Guardsmen. Who then arrived with alacrity. To witness the young Lord Guardian in a spar was a great treat to these enthusiastic fans of the popular Zhao clan. The Grand Duke, veteran of countless battles, was held with high esteem by all those who served to protect the nation and everyone shared great hopes and pride for his sole heir.
The cheerful nature of these patrolmen changed when they finally got to the scene.
Hapless Guo Chang Cheng was cowering by the walls of the Dixing embassy. Too scared to move. His crimson and burgundy attire, paired with elaborate golden embroidery and a gilded crown on his head, instantly proclaimed his identity to all. The fight between the Lord Guardian Zhao the younger and this unknown youth took on a different story.
Even the most illiterate beggar can tell you that there stood the Dowager Empress’ eldest grandson, in mortal peril.
With a shout the guardsmen surrounded the two fighters, a ring of spears appeared with grim determination. The sole survivor of the decimated MuShi Wangfu must be protected!
Because the plot bunny decided to go back to the depths of Dixing motherland ……here’s a cover?
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 4
“Didi, please step back.”
A clear voice broke into the commotion, during a lull in the standoff between the two combatants, metaphorically taking in the deep breath before the plunge.
One half of the fighters surrounded by a forest of spears abruptly changed his tack and nonchalantly shrugged, appearing to be as if he’s out on an extremely boring stroll. A noble gentleman that wasn’t —just seconds ago— doing his level best to take Zhao Yun Lan’s head.
Nonplussed, everyone was searching for the owner of the voice, and taking cue from the strange youth in silver and grey, they looked up towards the walls of the Dixing embassy. Another copy of the miscreant opponent of Lord Zhao the younger was standing up there, with his white and azure robe fluttering in the wind. Exactly the same, down to the shape of their brows, and yet completely, unmistakably different.
If the one in silver was a smiling demon incarnate, sent to sow chaos amongst mortals, then the one in azure was an icy celestial, descending to taunt hopeless human infatuation.
A few of the more green patrolmen were openly gaping at the sight. Those of the more “seasoned” ones just coughed or made some other small movements to get a better grip over themselves.
And then with nary an effort, the gentleman on the wall floated down whisper-soft as a willow leaf blown by the wind. As his garments settled down from the controlled flight, a subtle display of qinggong mastery, he walked towards the amassed crowd who hastily put away their sharp implements and parted to make way.
Lin Jing whistled with admiration. That kind of presence, a silent command that expected and compelled instant obedience only came from those who had spent years in power, or those who was bred with them.
‘There comes a time in a man’s life that you just have to admit that sometimes there are humans too pretty to be considered real’, Zhao Yun Lan philosophically thought to himself. And hoped really hard that it’s this one that he’s betrothed to, instead of the devil in front of him. Wedding night might get a bit troublesome if otherwise.
“Touch a single strand of his hair, and I shall slay each and every single last of you.”
The threat, delivered by such a soft expression and a cultured voice, was such a whiplash to those present that they were rendered speechless. Zhao Yun Lan dearly wished to restart today. Ignoring them, the azure gentleman then turned around towards Guo Chang Cheng and gracefully apologised for “the sudden fright” before holding out a hand towards his brother. He swiftly flew away —with his twin in hand— into the embassy before anyone could gainsay a word.
“What… just happened?” one brave guardsman piped out, right before a side door to the embassy banged open and Dixing soldiers poured out, sabers rattling, like an overturned jar of bees.
The captain of the embassy’s forces, beard bristling with agitation, stomped over and loudly demanded an explanation.
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 5
Madam Zhao had her son kneeling in the family altar chamber until her ire was satisfied. His body aches afterwards.
The Grand Duke had Yun Lan overseeing the monthly patrol rosters as well going over the budget for both their household security forces and also the capital patrol. His fingers cramped up from all those writing and calculations that he had to do and Zhao Yun Lan swore that his sight went cross-eyed for a while. His brain hurt.
Being summoned to an audience with the emperor was, in comparison, an evening stroll. It also helps that —next after Guo Chang Cheng— he was a favourite of the Dowager Empress, who was present in the chamber.
Armed with his usual bullshitting and sweet talking, he got out of the meeting fairly intact.
However, he did not escape unscathed from the second meeting with his prospective husband.
That very same evening.
Meeting that beautiful pair of eyes across the street as he was about to be dragged over the doorways of the capital’s foremost flower bower, all Zhao Yun Lan could think about was,” … well, fuck.”
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 6
“Zhao Yun Lan, you idiot!” Chu Shu Zhi hissed under his breath. Had he knew that the moron was planning on a carousing spree with some of his more feckless acquaintances, the ambassador’s heir would’ve taken the twins he was entrusted with to a sightseeing jaunt somewhere else. But Lord Ye Zun was curious about the nightlife of the capital and Lord Shen Wei was interested in the various businesses established by their Dixing countrymen. On the way, he arranged it so that they would pass by the many song courts and flower houses flourishing in the city. Two bird, one stone.
But that man just had to ruin it.
“Well, now we can be certain that the reputation of my future brother-in-law was earned honestly,” said Ye Zun with a cynical twist to his lips. Glancing at his brother’s frozen countenance, the Dixing princeling felt a surge of venomous wrath. No one should ever get the chance to hurt his brother! “Shall I skin him for you? We might even get a small drum out of it.”
Shen Wei drew in a steadying breath. Seeing the nobleman tripping into a pleasure house, only a bare week away from their own wedding, had crushed something small and fragile within him. A flower chaser! Who seemed to hold the opinion that Shen Wei deserves none of his consideration.
He held no illusions over this marriage contract between the two of them, it was nothing more than just another skein of thread being used to add new colour to the old embroidery of peace held by his motherland and the Haixing kingdom.
There was never any dream for a great love. Shen Wei realized the foolishness of such notion from an early age. Not with his position in the Dixing aristocracy. He knew that their bloodline was an asset to the empire and will be utilized for the greatest profitable conclusion by the Great One on the throne. And with an ailing guardian rapidly succumbing to old age —his power base gobbled up by various factions, leaving none for the twins to work with— the orphan grandsons of the previous emperor could only bow their head and danced a life between constant blades of suspicion and paranoia. With Ye Zun’s life and happiness as his incentive, Shen Wei was the model of an obedient royal nephew.
But Shen Wei had steadfastly held on to a small hope that perhaps there was room for a quieter sort of affection. Surely his new Lord-husband might desire to cobble together some form of courtesy and cooperation with Shen Wei, to comfortably weather out the rest of their life together. It fueled his actions, ever since the identity of his future spouse was made known. Shen Wei had painstakingly laboured over skills and knowledge that might be useful to a new life in Haixing soil. Perhaps, he had mused, he might even pleased that unknown person, who was also snarled together in this cobweb of power and politics.
But this blatant show of disrespect put paid to even that tiny gleam. ‘So, he’s not even going to allow me some form of dignity as his mandated legal spouse’.
It hurts.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. If there’s any skinning to be done, I shall do it myself.” Shen Wei was thankful that his voice managed to come out even and composed.
“Let’s go. The scent these flower powders are rancid.”
…
“Eh, Lao Zhao, isn’t that your Dixing twins?” Zhu Hong, dressed up as a boy for tonight’s adventures, remarked curiously.
“Yep.”
“Lao Zhao, you’re dead meat.”
“Yep.”
Guardian Fic Attempt, Part 7
Lord Mao’s son Da Qing swayed, face flushed with the alcohol in his belly.
“Lao Zhao! Why’re –hic– you still here?”
Catching his flailing limbs, the young Lord Guardian said exasperatedly, “Because someone needs to look after your fat ass, what did you think! Why else would I be here?!”
“But, you said –hic– you said you saw your –hic– your pretty Dixing!” Turning to an equally red Zhu Hong, who had been drinking in solidarity, he demanded “Right?! You saw too, rig-” before giving a huge burp and slumping over the table, moaning softly. “You should go. Go and –hic– and say something.”
Glaring with bleary eyes, face half smushed to the table’s surface, Da Qing shooed him away amid his hiccups. “Go and chase your –hic– pretty Dixing! Don’t be like me –hic-! Was too late, and now –hic– my pretty Dixing is too angry to –hic– to talk to me –hic– anymore!” Grabbing another wine jar, the inebriated Mao heir tried to tip the liquor into his mouth without moving his head.
Taking the alcohol away, Zhao Yun Lan sighed.
This latest conflict between Da Qing and his Dixing sweetheart, the feisty Da Ji-er, seems to hit him harder than usual. Resulting in tonight’s incident. Alerted by Zhu Hong —favourite niece of the owner to this glamorous establishment, the merchant prince Master She— that the lovelorn fool had been gulping down alcohol like it was water, Zhao Yun Lan had immediately came after his oldest best friend, and in his worry, completely forgot about how such actions could be misunderstood by outsiders.
“Bad” would be the least of it. “Catastrophic” might be nearer to the mark. A Haixing fiancé would be marching straight to the nearest matchmaker’s office to log a complaint, on the spot. And sent for runners from the Magistrate to catch him red-handed.
He’s surprised to be still breathing, to be honest. The glare he received from his soon-to-be brother-in-law was lethal enough to strip skin from flesh.
(Zhao Yun Lan was immensely thankful to found out that it was the other one that he’s betrothed to. Not the happiest-at-maiming one.)
He inwardly winced as he remembered that look in those pretty eyes of his promised future spouse. And horribly sick at being the one who placed it there.
Of all the places that he could go to drown his woes, why the heck did Da Qing choose this one?!? That useless cat!!
Zhu Hong broke into a drunken singing, and was soon joined by a caterwauling Da Qing and an off-key Lin Jing. San Zan, the Lin young master’s bodyguard, was content to sway and hum along the trio’s performance. Seeing his peaceful nature, with a slightly foolish look on his face, it’s hard to believe that this man was a jianghu master contracted by the Rites Minister to look over the safety of his harebrained eldest son.
But a sheathed sword remained unblunted, and the man sensed Zhao Yun Lan’s growing disquiet.
“Young Master Zhao, if there’s other matters to oversee, leaving now would still be appropriate. As for these three, leave them to this San Zan.” Giving a small smile, the man added in a lower voice —as if imparting a great hint— “Whenever Wang Zheng got unhappy, I always apologize first. No matter who was wrong.” He then gave a very obvious wink, as if mentioning his harmonious courtyard —where he and his wife never once argued— was in anyway helpful to Zhao Yun Lan’s current dilemma.
Lightly clapping Zhao Yun Lan’s back in a vaguely encouraging manner, the “lovetap” sent the young Lord Guardian skidding to the doorway. Skilled as he was in the Zhao Family’s martial discipline, it’s nothing compared to the experience and raw power that the gentle giant possessed.
Nodding to send Zhao Yun Lan off, the man then turned back towards his charge and his intoxicated companions. Clapping his hands to the beat of their terrible warbling.
With a bemused smirk at the trio —judging by their current behavior, the stupendous hangover tomorrow shall be a thing of beauty— Zhao Yun Lan hurriedly left the flower pavilion. He has a fiancé to find and a misunderstanding to untangle. He hopes to be successful in both task and that he didn’t left too late to catch their trail.
He really needs to be given a sainthood after he dies. Saint Bai Yutong — patron saint of criminal psychologists who can’t look after themselves. That has a ring to it.
(Or, the one where there are “platonic kisses”. Emphasis on the quotation marks.)
Can felt pin pricks hit his eyes, as he watched Tin and Pete from a far. The two looked so good together, Can gulped.He hated the way Tin looked at Pete, his eyes were so gentle, how could they not be. Pete was pastel colours. Soft, pretty and totally sweet. Can was like fluorestant, far far to bright. And would hurt Tins eyes if he looked to long at him.
Just then Good came to Can side, he gently pat Can sweaty shoulder. Leading to Can to sigh softly.
‘Oh Ai Good, Why do I care so much about this?’
‘Can…what…is..this????’ Good replied with his usually slow tempo of speech. It reminded him of Tins slow heart beat when he rested his head on Tins well built chest.
Why doesn’t his heart beat as fast as mine?
‘Oiiiiii!’ Can shook himself like a dog and pointed at the sight of Tin and Pete studying together.
‘Your….boyfriend…is….just…studying?’
‘But he’s with Pete!’ And he looks at him like he’s the whole world.
Good just looked even more confused, his black hair blowing in the wind. Can studied his face, he felt so frustrated, even Good would be a better fit for Tin. Handsome face, quiet. God what was Tin doing with a boy like Can???
‘Whatever I’m going to the toliet!’ Can rushed off, stomping in to the bathroom, looking at his face in the mirror. He frowned. He looked like a kid, a dumb stupid kid with a bad hair cut. Not a man who could take out one of the most rich teenager of Bangkok. A man who could kiss that same teenager, make that teenager moan his own name. Sex with Tin felt unreal, it was unreal that Tin wanted to be that close to someone like him.
Can left the bathroom with a huff.
He felt a hand grab his wrist, a large hand, smooth to the touch. Can hated that touch, that touch made him feel weak, and he didn’t want to seem weak in front of him. Without hesitation Tin pulled Can in to his strong arms.
‘I missed you.’ Tin breathed in to Cans shoulder
Yeah, missed what? Cans annoying noises or Cans clumsiness?
‘Hmmmm’ Can said, he loosed himself from Tins grip.
‘You could see me, but you always seem so busy with Pete.’ Damn Can thought, he wish he could stop his motor mouth.
Tin looked in his eyes. A small smile appearing on his lips.
‘You’re jealous, eh Cantaloupe?’
Can felt his chest tighten, a hot steam seemed to hit the bottom of his stomach.
Why did Tin do that? Giggle at Can? Aren’t boyfriends meant to be sweet?
‘No!’ Can said, too quickly. He suddenly wanted to hide, hide away from Tins smile, hide away from Tins soft inviting lips and his all knowing eyes.
‘ I have stuff to do,bye!’ Can said quickly again, he nearly tripped over himself to get away from the older man.
‘ Can-‘ Tin called after him but Can pretended not to hear him.
-Time Skip-
Tin stood outside his car, waiting for the smaller excited boy. He wondered what was fully wrong with the boy. His cold edged face didn’t show it, but he was shaken to his core. He’d only been dating Can for a couple of months, but he felt like he was walking on the worlds thinnest glass. He didn’t derserve someone so sweet, who smiles lit up the whole world. What if this is it, he thought, that Can would see what Tin was, a stupid broken boy. And break his heart. It would hurt more then last time because he’d already had a taste of the boy.
And when Can walked up to Tin, a stromy look in his eyes, Tin opened his car door. Might as well get this over with.
The two sat quietly. It was unusual for Can.
‘Ai Tin…’ Can said at first and trailed off.
‘Hmmmm’ Tin braced himself for the blow, he shut his eyes waiting for the break up to come but instead
‘ Why do you like me?’ Can asked. The question came out all in one breath.
‘ you help me breathe.’ Tin replied his response automatic.
Can gave a whine ‘ No, Ai Tin, don’t talk in riddles, I mean ‘ he paused ‘ Looks wise’
Tin raised an eyebrow. He turned to face Can. He had seen this face in so many different emotions, hurt, happiness, wild laughter, smugness and of course absolute pleasure.
‘ Oh Can’ he ruffelled his hair ‘ I like everything, I like it your eyes, they are so bright I feel I’m being so blinded, I like your smile, I can’t describe the feelings I have when you smile at me Cantaloupe, ‘
‘Ah,Ai Tin don’t use that na-‘ Tin stopped him with a finger to his lips.
‘ You asked me a question, don’t interrupt me; I like how your ears go red when you blush, like they are doing now, I like your dark hair, it’s soft. Your fringe it’s so cute, you look so young. You are so cute. I like your body, I like how slim and small you are, but you are so strong it’s hot when you grab me, it makes me feel so wanted…’ Tin didn’t even know what he saying at this point but he couldn’t stop, his mouth felt like a run away train.
‘ I like that mole on the back of your neck, its like a little button, and your hands , your hands are so small, so soft, so gentle.’ He grabed Cans hand for effected and kissed it softly.
Can gulped as Tins eyes landed on his face. He replayed the sentenses over and over in his mind. His face was burning.
‘If you feel all that, why do you spend all your time without me, why do you not touch me that much anymore, am I just a stand for Ai Pete, I always see you with him, you better not be making things for him and Ae difficult!’ He knew he was being stupid, but he couldn’t help it, his mind told him not to believe the things that Tin said about him.
‘Do you not trust me, Can?’ Tin asked a steely quality in his voice ‘After all that, you don’t believe me, why don’t you believe me?’
Can was thrown by Tin edge in his voice.
‘Ai Tin! I don’t understand, its all so complex, why does it feel so easy and so complex at the same time, why is someone like you with someone,’Can couldn’t help it, he felt the pin prick of tears in his eyes ‘with someone like me? I don’t believe you can’ He felt the tears roll down his cheek ‘c-c-an feel like that towards me, to s-s-see me -like t-t-that,’ Can felt his protective walls fall, the ones that kept him so happy and unthinking, ones that hid his deep self loathing. ‘Pete looks be-b-etter with y-y-you, I-i’m’
He then felt Tin go towards him, he hugged him. He pated Can softly, trying to calm him down.
‘Can, its okay, look Im sorry, I promise you, I promise you, its you. You are never a stand in, Pete isn’t ever going to get between us, I promise. I’m sorry, its the exams, I really need to do well. and you are so distracting, I know if I study with you, I’ll touch you and If I touch you a lot, I’ll not be able to stop till your sore’
‘Ai Tin!’ Can hit his arm softly, but he was at least smiling now.
‘How long have you felt like this?’ Tin asked
‘Long time’ Can mummbled in to Tins shoulder
‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’
Can hiccuped, his voice shaking still ‘ I didn’t want to burden you with it, you are so strong Ai Tin’ he looked in to Tins shining eyes. ‘You’ve been through so much, I just wanna be your sunshine.’
‘You are’ Tin said ‘do you know how scared I am that you will lose interest in me, everytime I see you, and I don’t want you too, nothing in my life has ever made me this happy.’
Can looked at the older man, sitting in the car next to him. He had a way with words, Can wondered where he learnt how to spoke this way.
‘I always want to make you happy’
And with that Tin started his car, smiling softly. And if Tin had asked Can what he liked about Tins looks, he would say his smile, the one where Tins eyes shut slightly. But it would be a while until Can could tell Tin that.
The Last Good Bar 
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