Oh, oh, oh it's magic (Xie and Kevin)

[xie_er]

Zhao Jing used to be a nobody, born into influence and wealth but always in the shadow of those around him. In magical circles he was even worse, a barely-remembered witch that didn't have enough power for any familiar to even consider looking twice at him.

Somehow, though, after many years (and a few suspicious deaths), he's managed to climb his way to the CEO of Five Lakes, his power - of both kinds - growing exponentially.

The previous CEO was surrounded by some unfortunate rumorus before his death, so Zhao Jing has been focused on repairing the reputation of he company and solidifying his support, mundane and magical, which means it is far too delicate a moment for Xie to be in the spotlight, even if he was promised he'd be allowed to stop hiding when the position was in Zhao Jing's hands.

He just has to wait a little longer, that's all, and it's not like it's difficult to only appear in his animal form whenever Zhao Jing is in public, just uncomfortable, and the last thing they need is for somebody to recognise Xie for any of the things he's done to help his witch get where he is today, when his position is still so precarious...

He tells himself all the excuses he's heard from Yifu, repeats them in his head like a mantra as he sits through all the meetings and negotiations, a little black cat and Zhao Jing's feet, watching the men and women he's speaking to for anything Yifu can use. He hangs around when Zhao Jing steps out the room, listens to what they say behind his back - that's his job with normal people, to be a pair of ears they don't realise are there. Even paranoid types who scan for bugs would miss him, which he finds funny, privately, because he is a bug of a sort.

Not that he's allowed to take his original animal form - a scorpion would be out of place if anybody caught sight of him, and Yifu doesn't like the idea of him hiding in pockets or anything like that. He says it's dangerous, that something could happen to him, but Xie privately thinks he just finds the form creepy. Even around other magical people, the cat is preferred - his job with them is to be a reminder that Zhao Jing has a familiar, and a relatively powerful one at that.

It's hard for familiars to change the form they can take, but he did it, for Yifu.

He tells people the cat is called Scorpion, and that somebody else named him - which is technically true, Xie does mean scorpion, and his parents named him - and that he's vaguely embarrassed to have such a fiercely named cat.

(He doesn't tell magical people anything at all, they know Xie isn't a pet so they're less likely to ask, at most they will wonder why his familiar always stays in animal form. Zhao Jing just tells them he's shy. He isn't, he doesn't care about people seeing him, but it's easier to do the things Yifu wants him to do when nobody knows what he looks like)

Xie hadn't always known he was powerful - when Yifu had taken him in he'd been told he wasn't much, but that maybe he could be useful. Later, when some witch had made an offhand comment about it, the story had become that Yifu recognised his power and took him in before anybody else could steal him away, that he just wanted to protect Xie from the people who would use him for his power. Xie was already so far gone by that point that he accepted it, that he told himself he was lucky he had Yifu to protect him, to guide him.

It's funny how easy it is to lie to yourself.

When the meetings are over for the day he finally shifts back to human form, spending a few minutes stretching out the kinks that come from forcing himself into a form that isn't quite his, especially with how much he's had to do it over the last few weeks, and then going in search of something to eat. He could probably just head back to his own apartment since he doesn't think Yifu needs anything else from him, not today, but the outsiders have all left and everybody in Yifu's manor at least knows Xie, even if they don't know that Xie and Scorpion are one and the same, so it's safe to be around them.

He likes to spend as much time here as he can get away with, likes to remind Yifu he can be useful in other ways... and maybe he likes to keep an eye on this new apprentice Yifu has taken on. He doesn't understand why he needs anybody else when he has Xie, but the last time he'd questioned somebody new in the house Yifu hadn't spoken to him for a week, so he doesn't voice that thought out loud - he just watches the guy suspiciously every chance he gets, and wonders how easy he would be to get rid of.

He's halfway to the kitchen when something makes him stop. A tug of power, the vague echo of chanting, there's a ritual happening and something about it is drawing him close. He frowns, confused, and follows the pull...

Comments

[weird_cop]

Even Lisa notices this, looking at Xie and then Kevin as she tries to figure out what's been said that provoked that reaction.

Tony distracts her by asking a direct question - he'll explain later.

Kevin hesitates, trying to figure out if Xie is mad at him for apologising, or doesnt believe the apology, or if he's genuinely confused, or what.

"Yes? It's not a big deal. I'll watch something else if youre not down."

[xie_er]

Right... it's not a big deal. It isn't, it shouldn't be, and Xie's making it one...

It's an easy thing to apologise for, especially when he's not doing it out loud, and it doesn't really do him any harm to just back down and say he's sorry... it's not something Yifu would ever do, even over something so small, but at the same time it's sort of familiar. He'll make amends because Xie is being unreasonable and he's oh so magnanimous...

"Do what you want. I don't care."

[weird_cop]

"Oh come on.

Kevin stands up, gathering mugs and asks Tony and Lisa if they want another cup. Tony says no, we've both got work to do take care Kev, and Lisa asks Xie if he's good for clothes and toiletries and things.

While the goodbyes are still happening Kevin is still trying to mollify Xie.

"Clearly you do care."

[xie_er]

Xie manages something approaching a smile, confirms that the last things she brought him are fine and he doesn't need anything else - he's regained his ability to have two conversations at once, at least. It isn't actually something he's very practiced at, given that most of the time he's having separate mental conversations, he's a cat and doesn't need to worry too much about what his face is doing.

"I don't. You were right, it isn't a big deal, I shouldn't have- It isn't a big deal."

[weird_cop]

Kevin puts the two done mugs in the sink and pours himself a fresh cup as Tony and Lisa go upstairs, and then he puts a hand to his forehead as if staving off a headache.

"It's not a big deal to me I meant," he says out loud.

[xie_er]

"And I'm just a spoiled brat making a fuss over nothing, I know," Xie snaps - bitter, but matter of fact at the same time, more like he's admitting to it rather than accusing Kevin of thinking it.

"I'm sorry. I just got... it doesn't matter. We don't have to talk about it anymore."

He hates this. He hates having familiar arguments that make him miss and not miss Yifu all at the same time. He hates the confusion and feeling like he's a traitor and not knowing how to handle anything that's going on. He hates that he's pushing Kevin away, that he probably wants to go anyway, and he hates himself for wanting anything else.

[weird_cop]

"Oh for frig's sake that's not what I..."

Kevin sighs, giving up on this before they can fight over the stupidest little thing.

"You're a lot of things, Xie. But you're not spoiled. Fine, let's not talk about it anymore.

"Do you want something to eat? Shall we get the chess set out?"

He doesn't have work to do, because he needs to wait for Lisa and Tony to come back.

[xie_er]

It's funny, because spoiled is usually the first insult people come up with for him. They see his designer clothes and the way he plays pampered prince around Yifu and they just make assumptions. It's one of the first insults Yifu comes out with, other than calling him a barbarian (which, really, is sort of the opposite, Xie's never thought about that before), so having somebody specifically deny it is... weird.

At least Kevin is willing to drop it so he doesn't have to think too hard about it.

"No, I'll just-" He's about to say he'll just have another cup of tea, that he isn't hungry, but then he's staring down at the mostly empty cup in his hand and realising he didn't offer to make one for anybody else when he made this. That's the rule, he worked that one out - he's allowed the tea if he makes it for everyone, or at least offers to.

Kevin hasn't said anything, so maybe it's alright, this time... it's not like he can offer now, Kevin just finished making himself a cup, what would be the point?

"We can play a game." He says, quietly. Maybe that will make up for the complaining, and the tea... he wouldn't have suggested it if he didn't want to play, right?

[weird_cop]

Kevin is frowning at him again, trying to figure out what's going on in that pretty head this time. So he shrugs, deciding that playing chess is better than sulking in his room - maybe. He knows the guitar has been a success but hasn't asked about it.

"Okay. I'll even let you win if you want."

He sets up the board quickly, tossing two pawns up and catching them before hiding them behind his back and bringing out two fists to present to Xie, so he can make the choice.

[xie_er]

Xie scoffs lightly, rolling his eyes. His heart isn't really in it, but still.

He finishes his cup of tea and leaves it in the kitchen, not wanting to push his luck by pouring another right now. He'll have another when Kevin does, maybe, when he can offer to make them both one.

Xie doesn't bother deliberating since it's entirely up to chance, and just lightly taps his fingers on Kevin's left hand when he holds them both out.

[weird_cop]

Kevin turns his palm over, revealing the white pawn in it which he hands over to Xie and spins the board so it's facing right for how they're set up.

He's a quiet player - deliberate and cautious with his opening gambit at least, but he isn't as conservative as he'd usually be against a brand new opponent. He's studied Xie's approach to these games as a side effect of studying Zhao's strategies, and he thinks he knows how Xie plays.

[xie_er]

Xie, however, has taken that flippant comment as tacit permission to win (or, to try to, but he's confident in his own abilities) so he isn't playing the way he normally would against Yifu.

He doesn't play chess often, since Yifu prefers weiqi, but he understands it well enough to strategise. While his tactic for strategy games against Yifu is a little reckless - bold and effective but prone to leaving (apparently) accidental gaps that a shrewd player can take advantage of - his play style against Kevin is softer, a little more thoughtful and cautious.

And a lot sneakier.

[weird_cop]

Something Kevin picks up on after a few moves and smiles.

It's not that he notices the exact change - he's not good enough for that - but it's when he finds it unexpectedly harder than he thought, the expected openings don't come.

"You're not making this easy for me."

He's amused, pleased by this if anything. He also doesn't want to break the silence that's fallen over the room.

[xie_er]

Xie's a little surprised by the choice to use the link, but he's not unhappy about it. He's seen that little smile and feels pleased he's making the right choice.

He smirks slightly, moving a pawn within tantalising reach of Kevin's bishop - he doesn't think he'll be stupid enough to take it with one of Xie's knights poised to capture the bishop if he does, but even that is mostly a distraction from his real goal of opening a path for his queen.

"I thought you said you'd let me win?" he replies sweetly.

[weird_cop]

"If I get the chance tonlet you.."

Kevin pauses in his game, trying to figure out what's going on with this particular play before he decides whether to sacrifice a bishop or not.

He reaches for his tea, find it empty, and decides not to fall for it.

He's on his back foot though, and he has to work to be comfortable with it.

[xie_er]

Xie's gaze flicks to the tea cup and considers offering to make him another, but right now he's enjoying the game too much - which is rare, really. He still seeks out games with Yifu because he likes the company, likes feeling as though Yifu's attention is on him, but he doesn't enjoy the games, not when he's already developed a dozen strategies to let Yifu win without seeming to and he could practically run them in his sleep.

This is different - he might be smug about his chances, but Kevin is the one not making this easy, Xie actually has to think about this, and that's good.

He moves another pawn, still smirking a little at Kevin's comment - no, not really smirking, but smiling, like a contented cat.

[weird_cop]

Kevin wonders if he's imagining it, or that's a different smirk to Xie's usual one. Maybe it's different for Kevin because for once he feels like it's not a smirk that precedes him being murdered horribly.

Maybe his king is about to get murdered horribly but he can handle that.

He protects his queen in the end - sees that gambit early enough to fend it off, and even when he does lose a bishop he manages it bravely, pushing through and almost regaining his footing.

But there's still a large number of pieces on the board when he surveys the board and plays through what he can.

"I've lost, haven't I?"

In no more than five moves, and that's if he's lucky.

[xie_er]

This time it's definitely not a smirk that Xie gives him, but a saccharine sweet smile and an air of smug satisfaction.

"Yes." He replies simply "But you're welcome to keep trying if you think you can escape it."

He's being cat-like again, unfortunately this time it's like a cat toying with a mouse before it gets eaten. Still, at least he's enjoying himself?

[weird_cop]

Kevin hasn't had the chance to see Xie actually enjoy himself before - and that's worth the humiliation of being so soundly beaten.

So he squares his rook off like a boxer and gives his own defiant grin.

"I'm going to make you work for it."

[xie_er]

Xie seems delighted that he's refusing to surrender, that he gets to hunt him down a little longer. Maybe he has just a little bit of a sadistic streak, but this is a healthier outlet for it than, you know, murder.

"I'm sure you will," he agrees, which almost sounds like a compliment, but he's too caught up in his enjoyment to really worry too much about any of it "It's not going to do you much good, though.."

He moves his queen, looks up at Kevin with bright eyes.

"Check."

The game isn't over yet, and in fact he's left an opening for Kevin to prolong it just a little longer by making the move, he's just doing it to make a point.

[weird_cop]

Kevin looks up from the board and his grin turns from defiant to honestly delighted to see how much Xie is enjoying this.

He returns to his study, though and takes a long careful consideration of his options before his knight knocks the white queen to the ground.

He knows he's being played with, but he's going to go the full round.

[xie_er]

Xie does him the decency of not pretending to be sad about the loss of his queen - it's a sacrifice, of course, but one that he intended to make.

It's also one that doesn't matter when two moves later one of his remaining pawns reaches Kevin's side of the board and he gets a replacement queen.

Then it's only one more move before-

"Check mate." Xie leans back in his chair looking very pleased with himself, but there's a sense of hesitation creeping in there, too, a sense of waiting.

Now is where he sees how Kevin handles losing.

(He expects, from his behaviour so far, that he will be far more gracious about it than Yifu, but the caution is there nonetheless)

[weird_cop]

Kevin throws his hands up in defeat, his grin wide.

"You could have done that about four moves ago," he says aloud, breaking the silence of the game.

"Go again?"

He's enjoying himself - mostly enjoying watching Xie enjoy himself.

[xie_er]

The tension vanishes in a rush and he actually laughs lightly.

"I know." He says smugly - but it was funnier this way.

He considers the offer for a moment, but the pleasure of the game is still lingering and he'd rather hold on to it than let himself spiral again, so he nods.

"You set up, I'll make tea?" He offers, already reaching for Kevin's empty mug.

[weird_cop]

"That's a nice laugh."

It's just a though, unbidden, as Kevin realises that's the closest thing to a sound of real happiness he's heard from Xie since the start of this - probably before. He had no intention of sending it down the link, but he hadn't really thought about closing it.

He hands Xie his mug and agrees, like the only thing said had been audible.

"Switch sides? Or do you want to pick again?"