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]

"Yeah."

And now Kevin is remembering when he had to deal with all of... this.

He considers his options, and under the guise of 'minimising use of the core muscles' he brings his feet up on to couch and shifts along to lean on Xie.

"You're not going to have to deal with it alone, though."

[xie_er]

Xie leans back, partially to lend him the support he's seeking and partially because he just wants to lean in to the contact.

"I know" He replies, soft and grateful. This, he thinks, is what a bond is supposed to be - mutual partnership, support and trust. Everything he tried to convince himself he had with Yifu but never even came close to.

[weird_cop]

It's not dissimilar to a good relationship, Kevin thinks, and then immediately blames that for the feelings he's been struggling with.

Yeah, must be that.

Now though, there's just a bad movie to watch and make fun of.

[xie_er]

Xie just lets himself get absorbed in the movie, using the link to make his sarcastic commentary.

He can't decide if he likes Lestat or not. He reminds Xie of Yifu in some ways, but himself in others.

Then he thinks maybe he's probably Claudia.

He enjoys it, though, and more importantly he enjoys it with Kevin.

[weird_cop]

Kevin focuses mainly on making fun of the acting, although he does eventually admit that Antonio Banderas was a bit of a sexual awakening for a teenage Kevin Sefton.

"I can't decide if I'm disappointed or relieved that I haven't been able to confirm the existence of vampires."

[xie_er]

"There were rumours that some or all of Ghost Valley were vampires, but I think Kexing started them himself" He offers with a faintly amused tone.

He doesn't make fun of him for fancying Antonio Banderas as a teenager, that just indicates he has taste.

[weird_cop]

"I'm pretty sure he himself is not one," Kevin replies, as if that helps.

There was an edge to their home, some very strong elements of the Sight, but it wasn't the two of them.

He's hit by an almost familiar pang he's used to when talking to anyone outside their circle of five; how much he wishes they could see what he sees.

It's followed by the thought of how comfortable and right it feels that he actually can share this sense with Xie.

And then he starts thinking that, in some idealistic future where Xie is not in jail but an equal partner in Kevin's work, how Kevin should get used to showing him these things as a matter of habit.

But it will have to start with taking him out to see the world through Kevin's eyes.

[xie_er]

"He definitely isn't." Xie agrees, and then smirks slightly "Though I have seen some marks on Zishu that might be evidence to the contrary."

Thinking about Kexing and Zishu makes him think, again, about Quill and the conversation he had with Lisa. Had he seen something, he wonders, that made him ask it? That made him wonder about Xie and Kevin?

Admittedly right now they're leaning against each other on the couch and that would probably give anybody ideas, but Quill hadn't seen anything like that...

[weird_cop]

Kevin chuckles, the pain it causes pleasingly dull at the moment, something he puts up with patiently.

"Well now that's all I'm going to think about next time I see them," he complains.

He should see them again; he owes them thanks for the conversation they forced, the reason he is finally just happy to have this bond, the reason he stopped fighting it and realised he didn't want to lose it.

Or Xie.

[xie_er]

Xie just smiles smugly, unapologetic.

He should probably thank them to, for the same reasons, but that would involve admitting his stubbornness to Wen Kexing of all people and he wasn't inclined to do that. He could play nice with him when he had to, but that didn't mean he liked him.

He does wonder if he should ask their advice about his situation, though.

[weird_cop]

Kevin rolls his eyes fondly.

The insult on the tip of his mental tongue is 'brat,' but he holds back on it for now, enough self control to recognise where banter might actually hurt.

And as the movie ends, he stirs.

"I need an early night while I'm still healing. Are you staying up?"

[xie_er]

Xie pulls away, stretching a little to ease the stiffness from sitting in the same position for too long.

"I might for a bit, but I'll probably just go upstairs and play." He decides - it is, really, a form of meditation more effective than any of the actual meditation techniques Yifu made him learn.

[weird_cop]

"Okay."

Kevin starts upstairs, undresses, inspects his dressing and then eases himself into bed, where he reaches out again to wish Xie good night, but then changes his mind.

"Hey. You know what I just realised? I've never heard you play."

[xie_er]

Xie is already settled with the guitar and his headphones when Kevin speaks to him. It's not like he has to stop when Kevin is talking to him, but he pauses in surprise.

"Isn't that the point of the headphones?"

[weird_cop]

"Yes. But still."

Still. It feels... not wrong, exactly, but they've lived together for so long and Kevin has never shared this? Xie watched football with him.

"Can I listen? I won't disturb you."

[xie_er]

"You... want to listen?" Xie stares at the wall like he can see Kevin through it.

"Okay" He says after a moment, reaching to unplug the headphones from the amp. He turns the volume up a little and opens the bedroom door so Kevin can hear without having to leave the bed if he doesn't want to.

He settles back on the bed and thinks for a moment before starting to play, the first song that pops into his head.

[weird_cop]

Kevin laughs gently at his surprise, and settles back into the bed to just listen, letting the music wash into his room and over him, just listening to it.

He likes the music, which he doesn't recognise, but he likes listening to Xie more, likes the knowledge that he's sharing something with him; that he's sharing in his art.

It's as meditative for him as Xie, and while he doesn't start the work of healing at this time of night, he can feel his own power replenishing as he drifts off to sleep.

[xie_er]

Mindful of the time of night, Xie sticks with more soothing tunes, rolling straight from one into the next without even thinking about it - he plays the way he normally does, just losing himself a little in the music. He sings, too, when the song calls for it, but softly, under his breath and not loud enough for Kevin to hear.

Eventually, he finishes, feeling even more contented than he usually does after playing. When he does go to bed, he's so relaxed he falls asleep almost immediately.

[weird_cop]

In the morning, Kevin already has a routine. He wakes, slips into a dressing gown to make breakfast (French toast today) and waits patiently for Xie to stir before greeting him and starting his morning meditation.

He will never not ask for permission before borrowing, even if it already feels like a courtesy - asking your roommate before borrowing their games console even if you know the answer is yes.

Unfortunately his plans are ruined when Tony opens the basement door and calls that they might both want to see this.

[xie_er]

Xie has decided it's a little too soon after their last power argument to point out that Kevin really does have blanket permission and he doesn't have to wait to ask, but at some point he'll say it.

He's just waking up when Tony calls, and something about the tone of his voice has him just throwing on a tshirt with his boxers and going downstairs before he's even done his hair.

It's a measure of how comfortable he actually is around them that he's willing to (deliberately) let them see him like that.

"What is it?" He asks, using the link automatically as he descends the basement steps, before remembering the part where other people in the house can't hear that and repeats himself out loud.

"What is it?"

[weird_cop]

And Kevin will, at that point, probably concede but maybe also say he likes asking. Likes to acknowledge a sharing of it, and at the moment wants Xie to be aware that he can refuse at any point.

Kevin was already down, and responds to the first time the question is asked by sharing what he's looking at, before he realises he can just physically hand it over.

It's a daily newspaper. Running today with the headline that Five Lakes CEO Jing Zhao has been killed in a shootout with armed police.

"Any details?"

"None printed. One of the uniforms is on the phone right now to find out what they haven't published. But they're not talking."

[xie_er]

Xie stumbles slightly on the stairs when Kevin shares the image, but he catches himself before he actually falls. He isn't sure he wants to look himself, but morbid curiosity compels him to take it when offered.

"If they're not talking they probably want to publish more, they don't want to be told not to." He comments, probably unnecessarily. He doubts this is their first rodeo with the press either.

He turns his attention to the contents of the article skimming over it and just letting bits and pieces jump out at him.

Shock to many...upstanding community member... darker side.... possible criminal ties...

Then he reaches the bit that nearly makes him throw down the paper in disgust.

Zhao is survived by his adopted son, Xie Zhao, who is rumoured to be in police custody. A statement released by Zhao's lawyer indicates Xie has requested investigation of misconduct surrounding his father's death.

"I feel like that lawyer is going to have a very bad accident soon." He says darkly.

[weird_cop]

"Let's keep accident-free for now," Kevin suggests, the fact that he's not bantering a sign that he's thinking hard. He takes the paper and spreads the story in front of him, with both hands on the table as he stands and stares at the text, looking for information between the lines.

They've left the portal to the portakabin open this morning, and Lofthouse drops in now, two other papers in her hands which she drops off. They are running much smaller stories, having heard something but not managed to secure any scoop.

"Higher ups are out for blood," she says, "but a normal amount of blood and this time it's not ours. Kevin, what do you think? Is this going to edge back into our specialism?"

"Do you mean someone might be trying to get him remembered?" Kevin asks. "I don't know - he obviously had some idea about this kind of magic, because he picked that pendant, but he was kind of stumbling around it, despite his own power."

He glances up at Xie, and adds: "until we can find out more, I'm more worried about the more mundane aspects.

"Do you want to call your lawyers?" He slips into the link automatically when addressing Xie directly, hardly thinking about their company.

[xie_er]

Xie would be offended by Kevin taking him seriously if it wasn't for the fact that he was deadly serious. He isn't stupid enough to actually do it, but the intent is genuine.

"And fire them?" He replies harshly, because right now that's the only thing he wants to do with those money-grubbing assholes.

[weird_cop]

"If you want," Kevin replies, then realises that Tony's facial expression says he's talking through the link.

"You could find out why they've been spinning it that way, find out if they're actually playing an angle. If they're not interested in working for you, then yes, fire them."

It's weird, he thinks. He's not used to being able to access both sides like this - the lawyers out for his blood working for the one person he trusts to be on his side.