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

[xie_er]

"Oh, but that means we don't have to bother with all the boring things and I can find out what you're really like." She says with a smirk, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Those boring things are sort of important to us, which is why I want to know what you've heard." Xie says sharply, and Du Pusa pouts playfully at him.

"Still so bossy, Da Wang," she teases. He raises an eyebrow at her and it softens into a more genuine smile.

"I haven't heard a lot," she admits

[weird_cop]

Kevin sips his coffee as he glances between Du Pusa and Xie; amused by both of them, fond of one.

They're both right, in a way - if what Xie said yesterday is right, then the quote-unquote 'important' bits of who Kevin really is are still there. On the other hand, he still feels like so much of him is what he knows, what he can do, and that is tied up in his memories. So he appreciates Xie's efforts to put his own needs first.

"Anything you have got would be useful," he says, meaning it but also feeling like he's probably said it a hundred times - something in the words sounds like recitation.

"But if you want to talk to me, you're welcome to. I'm just saying that an endless string of 'I don't remember' from me is probably just as boring as anything else."

[xie_er]

Du Pusa looks, for a moment, like she's about to start asking questions all the same, leaning in a little to Kevin with a speculative look. A warning glance from Xie, however, seems to dampen her urge for mischief and she leans back, takes another sip of her coffee.

"I've heard there's been someone asking around about where Zhao Jing's things ended up," she admits "I don't know what's being looked for specifically, but somebody's after something. It's not just curiosity either, they want something."

"Do you know anything about who's asking?" Xie asks. Du Pusa shakes her head.

"They're working through intermediaries, it's all 'I represent someone who is very interested in...' etc." She shrugs apologetically.

"At least that would explain why they might have wanted your memories," Xie says thoughtfully "most everything from Yifu is in police hands, maybe they were hoping your memories would tell them where it was..."

[weird_cop]

Kevin was also about to indulge her mischief, leaning towards her when she does.
When she leans back however he
just comtinues forward so one arm is folded across his lap and he sips his coffee speculatively.

"Did they... no, it's too early to tell. Even if they did find what they wanted in my head they might not have been able to call the search off yet. But -"

He switches to the link, not anywhere near as smoothly or an imperceptibly as he'd usually manage.

"You should definitely go to that auction, then. They might be after some of that stuff."

Knowing that it's obvious what he just did, he smiles apologetically at Du Pusa.

"Thank you."

[xie_er]

"I might even be able to convince them I have more of it" Xie agrees, feeling hopeful. Du Pusa is right, it's not much, but it's a lead and it feels like they're on the right track, and that's not nothing.

"You're welcome." She replies smugly "To be clear, though, I did it for him, not for you. I haven't decided if I like you enough to do you favours, yet."

[weird_cop]

"That's fair," Kevin agrees. "I don't know if I'm likeable enough to deserve them."

He pauses for a second however, glances over at Xie, wondering how he can say without embarrassing him I want to deserve to be looked at the way he looks at me.

"Thank you for doing it for him, then."

[xie_er]

"You are" Xie says without thinking - Du Pusa lets out a bark of laughter that is immediately smothered by the look Xie gives her, but amusement still dances in her eyes.

"You must be quite likeable," Du Pusa says thoughtfully "Da Wang only likes the best."

Xie raises an eyebrow at her - he doesn't want to be the one to say that his judgement might have been somewhat lacking previously, because he doesn't like to admit it, but he knows they both know it.

"You do." She says smoothly "Whatever else you felt for him, I don't think you ever liked him."

[weird_cop]

Kevin listens to this, not having the information to chime in: he knows that they're talking about Xie's father, but he deliberately avoided researching that too much right now - while they're so sure he'll get his memories back, he doesn't need to find out anything that might be hard for Xie to recount and that doesn't help with the task at hand. So he pulls his curiosity back and tries to look reassuring. He can imagine having complicated feelings around someone without actually liking them.

"So far the only friend of his I've met is you," he says instead. "And you seem okay."

He's deliberately uncommittal, but offers a small smirk to suggest he's downplaying the compliment - she cares about Xie, at least, and that's a mark in her favour.

[xie_er]

"I'm the only friend he has." She says, managing to make it sound like a compliment to her rather than an insult to him. Xie tilts his head in agreement - she really is.

Well. She was. Lisa and Tony probably count now, he has to admit, but of all the people Xie has had in his little gang of scorpions, Du Pusa is the only one he's ever really considered a friend. Even Qianqiao isn't quite at that level, though he trusts her more readily than a lot of people.

"She's tolerable." He adds dryly, but that only makes her laugh

[weird_cop]

"I don't count?"

He doesn't need to say it out loud, his exaggerated offended look should broadcast to Du Pusa what he means.

But then Kevin turns to her and says:

"We'll obviously he's got high standards."

And the fact that Kevin apparently meets them is more meaningful than that entire storage unit of boxes.

[xie_er]

"She's the only friend from before" Xie corrects smoothly - even though in some ways he wants to say no, Kevin doesn't count, because he's so much more than just a friend. Even not counting the romantic aspect of their relationship, he's closer to Kevin than he ever has been to anyone before - even Du Pusa - and friend just doesn't seem like a strong enough word for what Kevin is to him.

But he also feels like saying that right now is just more of that pressure he's getting from everyone else.

"Of course I have high standards." he says, tilting his nose up a little, expression disdainful "I wouldn't associate with just anyone"

"Lucky for me that I'm not just anyone, then." Du Pusa smirks, flipping her hair over her shoulder theatrically.

[weird_cop]

Kevin smiles quickly at Xie - he's happy to assume that it's because of the romantic aspect, and possibly the witch thing, and not add too much to that assumption. He turns that smile a lot more brightly on Du Pusa, though, laughing softly at the theatrics from both of them.

"I can tell that," he says. "Sorry we didn't get to meet earlier, even if I wouldn't remember it."

[xie_er]

"Maybe you would have, I'm very memorable." She smirks. It softens, ever so slightly, into something that almost seems genuine "I'm sure we'll get a chance to meet again... and then I can give you a proper interrogation."

Xie just rolls his eyes.

"Did you get the other things I asked for?" He says then, glancing over at Du Pusa, who nods and slides a carrier bag under the table to him with her foot.

"Everything I could." She says "Yes, including the daylily" She adds when he opens his mouth to ask. He nods, satisfied, and thanks her.

[weird_cop]

Kevin echoes the thanks, genuinely grateful that she's helping, and partly curious to have the chance to watch Xie brew a potion, even if it doesn't work.

He nods as well at her suggestion. They will have to meet properly, and he'll submit to the interrogation, for Xie's sake if nothing else.

For now, he's happy to sit and enjoy his coffee, and let them have the time to catch up.

[xie_er]

They chat a little more - this time mostly in English for Kevin's sake - but once the drinks and treats are done they're both ready to get moving. Xie gathers up the bag of ingredients she brought and stands, thanking her again.

"Don't leave it so long next time, Da Wang." She says softly.

"Things are settling now, so I won't have to." He says - despite everything that's going on with Kevin, this is sort of settling, or at least there's less legal stuff to deal with.

[weird_cop]

Kevin doesn't know if that's true or not, but he agrees with the sentiment. He nods to Du Pusa, and tells her he's looking forward to seeing more of her, before they head back out.

"Well I like her," he says. "I can see whay you're friends."

[xie_er]

"She seemed to like you too" He says with a soft smile - he's glad the two of them got along. Du Pusa isn't exactly the type to hold back when she doesn't like someone, and he doesn't think Kevin would just take it even for Xie's sake, so that had the potential to be dramatic.

Instead he seems like they might actually get on well with each other. Even when Kevin's memories are back, he doesn't think that will change.

[weird_cop]

Kevin hopes that's true - no one's seemed to think he's had a major personality shift so that's hopeful at least.

The encounter buoys his hope a little as well, and he's feeling optimistic. Enough to be a bit experimental in the kitchen and try to use up some of the perishables in the fridge, and rather than staying up all night reading, he contents himself with taking the one notebook to bed with him.

He's hopeful, but he still can't wait to remember who he is.

[xie_er]

Xie settles himself at the kitchen table while he cooks, watching him work and enjoying the familiar comfort of it while they make plans - or rather, while he talks about his plans with Kevin. Tomorrow he thinks he'll have time to work on the potion, so he'll need to go and find a space to do that, and then the day after is the auction.

He's glad when Kevin comes to bed at a reasonable hour - glad enough to say he doesn't mind having the light on so Kevin can keep reading, even as he curls up to go to sleep.

[weird_cop]

There's not even any inappropriate cuddling - at least not from Kevin. Though when he wakes in the middle of the night, and finally turns the reading light off, Kevin rolls over in bed and watches Xie sleep for a while. He thinks that he wishes he did feel that cuddling was appropriate, and that he wouldn't mind cuddling him a bit more.

He thinks he can understand why he loves Xie, a little. Thinks that maybe he's falling for him anyway.

He drifts off to sleep soon enough, feeling loved and as comfortable as he can, while still having that sense of loss that he's had as long as he can remember.

[xie_er]

The inappropriate cuddling comes in the morning, as usual, from Xie drifting towards him during the night. He's a lot less self-conscious about it now, though, he thinks Kevin understands why it keeps happening and he seems to accept it without too much awkwardness. He's grateful for that, because it's not like he can stop himself doing it, and Kevin gently extricating himself in the morning is normal enough that it doesn't mean he has to start the day already on a bad foot.

After their usual breakfast, Xie heads to the station - he asks Kevin if he wants to come or stay with his books, and he privately hopes he does want to come along, because the idea of going to the station on his own is a little bit weird.

When they get there he reports what they heard from his 'source' and they discuss the plan of action for the auction before he decides to get started on the potion. After some back and forth about available space he decides the most obvious choice is for them to load up the equipment and ingredients he has and take them to his apartment. He barely used the kitchen there but it is a good size, and he doesn't really care if anything goes wrong and he accidentally does some damage.

[weird_cop]

Kevin, predictably, tags along, partly to keep Xie company, partly to touch base with the others, find out what progress they've been making and also, of course, as designated driver. He's curious about the auction, and a little frustrated when it's agreed that he needs to not be present.

But he comes along to Xie's place, curious to see what the apartment looks like, and although he does bring a notebook to read while Xie works, he can't suppress his curiosity at all, especially when he sees how nice the neighbourhood is.

[xie_er]

Xie leads him up to the apartment, this time slipping the key into the lock and leading him inside. It has the musty smell of a place left unoccupied and he can see a stack of mail on the side table where someone - Lisa, at a guess - has at least picked it up from the mat. It's weird, honestly, being back here, because apart from the extra dust and the faint evidence of police rifling through his things (tromping through his place without taking their shoes off, no doubt) it looks exactly as he remembers it.

He's pretty sure anything illegal has been removed, and obviously he knows that his guitar and hair products have already been taken, but otherwise it's just... his apartment.

"Make yourself comfortable wherever..." He tells Kevin, slipping off his shoes on autopilot and switching to a pair of house slippers still sitting by the mat before heading through to the kitchen.

[weird_cop]

Kevin follows suit, kicking off his own shoes and trailing after Xie. The urge to start rifling through his stuff is almost overwhelming, but he can't figure out a way of making that remotely acceptable. So he contents himself by admiring the size of the kitchen.

"Oh, this is a nice place," he says, and finally gives in, opening the fridge to get a good look inside.

It's criminally empty.

[xie_er]

Xie nods, because it is - of course it is. It's a nice place, all the things in it are nice, because Yifu cared about appearances more than he cared about Xie. Even though barely anybody would ever actually see it, everything was top of the line, the best that money could buy.

It's a good job the fridge is so empty, really, given how long it's been since he was actually living here.

"I mostly lived on takeout," he admits with a shrug, guessing more than sensing what Kevin was thinking "or whatever Yifu's chef was making at the manor."

The cupboards are much the same, there's a few condiments here and there and some out of date snacks, but otherwise not so much as a bag of rice. Other cupboards contain blatantly unused cookware.