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]

Kevin nods his thanks to Lofthouse, even if she didn't hear the sentence that prompted it, and she nods back anyway.

"Oh," she adds, suddenly, "before I forget..."

She picks up a small shopping bag from the corner and passes it over. As well as the evidence bag containing Xie's switchblade, underneath is a fabric wrapped set of throwing knives - the very edge of legal.

She glances at Kevin, who gives a quick explanation: "London-made. Scrap from London yards, melted and reforged in London; crafted in a London-based armoury. They'll protect against London magic. Thanks for getting them, Ma'am."

[xie_er]

Xie snatches up the switchblade with a grateful look and it almost immediately vanishes into his sleeve. Something in him relaxes to have the comforting weight of it back.

He pulls out the fabric wrap with a confused look, though he doesn't waste any time unrolling it to see what's inside. His eyes widen a little and he draws one out to inspect it as he listens to Kevin's explanation.

"Thank you." He says genuinely, then after a moment thinks to repeat himself out loud to Lofthouse.

He tosses the knife a few times, getting a feel for it, then flicks his arm straight out to the side without even turning his head. It flies, arrow-straight, and buries itself right in the centre of the taped X over Zhao's picture. He smiles, a little smugly.

"They're good."

[weird_cop]

"Good shot," says Costain, obviously reveling in the sheer violence to a photo that had it coming.

Kevin looks down at the floor, to all the world looking like he's too shy to accept real thanks, especially with the way he blushes.

"That was so fucking hot."

[xie_er]

Xie smirks and stands, sauntering over to the board to pull the knife out so he can slide it back into place within the fabric and roll it back up. It probably looks like he's just smug about Costain's praise, but that confident swagger is all for Kevin.

"How much longer do you have to work?"

[weird_cop]

"Are we done here, Ma'am?" Kevin asks casually. "Gov?"

Lofthouse and Quill share a look, and he nods.

"Yeah. Get some rest, you two," Jimmy says. "Kev, you wanted to go meet up with your contacts, you can do that tomorrow."

Kevin nods, and then allows himself eye contact with Tony, who is smirking like the cat whose best friend is about to get the cream.

He doesn't say anything out loud, thank god.

[xie_er]

Xie thanks them and says goodbye, apparently completely casual, but there's still that lingering air of smugness just underneath it all.

He even helps pick up the bowls and cups that belong in their house... except they're barely through the portal into the loft before he's shoving them onto the nearest shelf so he can turn and drag Kevin in for a kiss.

He should probably check that the portal is closed or that they can't be seen through it or anything like that, but he leaves Kevin to worry about that part. He has, at least, stepped out of the circle of boxes so that's something, right?

"Did you really think that was hot?"

[weird_cop]

Kevin kicks a box out of the cross formation the instant he's out, breaking the portal instantly, because he knows what Xie is about to do and he doesn't want to be too obvious in front of his superiors.

"Are you kidding me? You're an artist."

[xie_er]

Xie turns them - without breaking the kiss - so he can back Kevin up against the wall, pressing into him. The hands curled into the fabric of his shirt loosen, sliding down to tug the hem up and slip underneath, stroking over his abs.

This kind of compliment he can take without getting nearly as flustered, when it's about his skill he's practically hungry for it. It doesn't hurt that it's about his skill being attractive.

"Like most art, it's easier with the right tools." He replies smoothly - and he'd very much like to show Kevin just how grateful he is for those tools.

[weird_cop]

"The right tools are essential, Kevin agrees. And because Xie is already pulling on his shirt, and because its easier to do now, he tugs off his entire T-shirt and tosses it in the direction of the loft door before cupping Xie's head in both hands.

"They're probably not the best you could get, but they're going to be useful if you do come out with me."

[xie_er]

"They're perfect. You're perfect." Xie tells him, diving in for another kiss. He barely even knows what's got into him, really, but now that he's started he doesn't want to stop.

It's true, they're not the 'best', but they were chosen specifically, for a purpose, with him in mind. That makes them better than anything given just because it was the most expensive that money could buy.

[weird_cop]

Kevin has his hands back at Xie's shoulders, draped loosely behind his head, happy to let Xie control the intensity of the kissing - he seems to know what he wants.

He'd make a comment about buying gifts more often.if he gets this attention, but he doesn't want to imply he's trying to buy affection.

"And you're sexy as hell when you're doing what you're good at."

[xie_er]

"Keep talking" Xie says, almost demanding, kissing him fiercely once more before moving again to his neck, his hands dropping to undo Kevin's jeans.

He mouths at Kevin's neck until he has the jeans undone and shoved down Kevin's hips, then he drops to his knees.

[weird_cop]

Kevin keeps talking. Through the link, though sometimes the groans coming out of his mouth supercede words even in his brain.

He tells Xie just how sexy he is, in great detail. He mentions his looks and his body, obviously, but tells him how much he loves watching him with his knives - carefully skirting how Kevin does not find murder sexy - and how much he loved listening to Xie play guitar.

He tells Xie over and over again how fucking skilled he is with his mouth as well. And when his legs give way and he sinks to the floor of the loft, jeans still around his ankles, he pulls Xie to him before he's even finished swallowing, and kisses him messily.

"What can I do for you?"

[xie_er]

It's a little bit crazy how good it makes him feel, he knows some of the arousal is a feedback loop from Kevin, but so, so much of it is just from the thrill of being complimented - and not just for his looks, though those compliments still make him flustered and pleased, but for the things he can do, the skills he taught himself, the things he's proud of.

Xie has known for a long time he just wants to hear nice things from the people he respects (which, admittedly, for the longest time wad basically just Yifu), but he never quite realised until now that the desire had turned into a legitimate praise kink. It would be embarrassing if he wasn't so shockingly turned on right now.

The kiss (another thing Yifu would have never done in a million years) sends another thrill of delight through him and he kissed back hungrily, already fumbling for his own jeans.

"Your hand" He says instantly, urgent almost - he doubts he has time for anything else. One day, he thinks, he's going to get himself under control and last more than five fucking minutes, but right now he's still drunk on the arousal of being with somebody who actually cares about his pleasure too.

[weird_cop]

Kevin doesn't care how quick it is - especially not when he's lying on the floor of the loft that is only a magic stone's throw from his colleagues.

He spits on his hand, makes Xie do the same so there is a wet mix of saliva and his own come before he gets to work, carefully striking a balance between drawing it out too much and ending it all too quickly.

He covers Xie with kisses, and continues to tell him how hot he is.

[xie_er]

It isn't long before Xie comes messily between them, slumping against Kevin with a contented sigh.

That, he thinks, was perfect - the urgency of it, the need, it was everything he wanted.

He did not want to be on the floor of the loft, sticky with come and needing to do more laundry, but he can deal with that in a moment, he'd just like to enjoy the satisfied feeling for a little longer.

He does, eventually, move to pull his jeans up and stand, offering Kevin a hand so they can get downstairs and get cleaned up before dinner.

[weird_cop]

Kevin puts the cleaner of his hands in Xie's to pull himself up, planting another kiss on his mouth when he does so.

"Do you want the shower first or are you going to take ages?"

Because he knows he can be clean in minutes, at least.

[xie_er]

Xie gives him a slightly offended look.

"I washed my hair yesterday, I won't take that long." He points out, but he leans in for another kiss so he's clearly not that mad at the implication.

[weird_cop]

"Like your hair is the only thing you take your time on."

But Xie does have a more urgent need to be clean, so Kevin carefully gathers up the dishes as far as he can without being too gross.

"Let me know when you're done."

[xie_er]

"You can't rush perfection." Xie responds haughtily, breezing out of the loft - he'll come back to help clean up after he's showered, if it's still needed - and heading to the bathroom.

He throws his clothes into the laundry bin and tucks his hair up into a loose bun so it's out of the way before stepping into the shower - he doesn't actually take that long since he really is just rinsing off, so it's only about ten minutes after leaving the loft that he's calling through the link to tell Kevin he's out of the shower.

He heads through to the master bedroom in a towel and then has to stop and head back to the other room, since that's where his clothes are.

[weird_cop]

Kevin has by this time managed to wash his hands and put a pot of water on for pasta, but comes up when the shower is free and catches Xie heading from one room to the other.

He catches him by the towel and kisses him on the cheek as he passes.

"Did you go into the wrong room?"

[xie_er]

Xie nods, stepping a little closer to take advantage of Kevin's warmth while he's still just in a towel.

"Just wasn't thinking." He admits, a little sheepishly - he isn't sure if it's weird to already think about their room when they've only been sharing a bed for two days.

[weird_cop]

The room is question has never been Kevin's room, though, so he barely even thinks about it.

"Might as well just grab a drawer or two, if you're going to be sleeping there. I don't need that much room."

His hoodies don't take up that much space.

[xie_er]

"Okay" He says softly, smiling a little and leaning in to give him another kiss.

He nudges Kevin towards the shower and continues on to the other room, getting dressed and then grabbing some things as suggested, taking them through to the master bedroom and spending a little bit of time rearranging drawers until he was happy with them.

He doesn't need to move many of Kevin's things, since he doesn't have that much either. He leaves a few things in the other room, but he doesn't think it'll stay that way for long.

[weird_cop]

Kevin goes to the bedroom first to undress and grab a towel, leaving his warrant card and pendant on the dresser as he goes in.

He doesn't take too long either, mostly because he knows he has a pot on the boil downstairs, so he goes straight down in a towel while Xie is still rearranging drawers.