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 laughs again. Yeah, she probably does remind him.of Kexing, at that.

His smile doesn't go away when Xie continues - if anything, he smiles a bit more. Reassured, mostly. He's glad Xie has someone taking care of him. Kevin doesn't feel like he can take credit for that to be him - so far, but that doesn't matter.

"Good," he says. "I'm glad I do. I want to. Take care of you, I mean."

It's the closest he can get right now to saying he wants to be Xie's boyfriend, he's not just here because he's been told that's who he is.

[xie_er]

Xie stares at him for a moment, a very faint hint of pink touching his cheeks as he tries to process that particular statement. He's saved from having to come up with a response in the moment by the owner coming back with drinks for them, although he isn't saved from her knowing smile when she sees the look on his face.

"I want to take care of you, too, you know" He says when she walks away again, having regained some of his composure.

[weird_cop]

The part of Kevin that lacks his usual confidence, is still unsure of himself, bites against the inside of his lip as he sees that reaction.

Did he overstep? Should he had kept that distance, waited for his memories to return?

He has a crush, but that's obviously not enough to fill the gap that's between them, left by whatever history and connection Xie had with the old Kevin.

"You do, he assures him. "You've been taking care of me from the start."

[xie_er]

"I'm glad" Xie smiles softly. It's good to know that he's been successful in that - it still feels like it's nothing compared to everything Kevin has done for him, is still doing for him even now, but it's good to redress the balance even a little, to feel as though he isn't just taking.

He pauses for a moment to take a sip of his drink before he speaks again, changing the subject.

"I'll keep you in the loop, tomorrow." he says "I know you can't be there, but I'll share as much as I can with you"

[weird_cop]

"Thank you," Kevin's genuine with the thanks. It's a twin source of frustration for him; firstly that this is something else in a operation that revolves around him that he can't actually help in, leaving him useless and on the sidelines where the rest of the team imply he would be taking the lead.

The other is genuine curiosity about what these thjings involve. He wants to go because he wants to go.

"I haven't decided if I'd be better off just sitting at home watching movies or something and trying not to think about it."

[xie_er]

Xie considers this for a moment and then nods slightly.

"If that's what you want to do, I'm sure the others can suggest some good things to watch" He says first, wanting to support whatever he chooses, but also knowing he can't really make any suggestions himself "but if you find it isn't working, just tell me and I'll start sharing"

He doesn't think Kevin would be able to not think about it, but he also doesn't know if this Kevin would be different.

[weird_cop]

Kevin grins a bit wider.

"Oh I will. Sorry if the voice in your head gets a bit distracting while you're trying to work."

Though, he doesn't believe ot will. Xie is obviously an expert at telepathy while doing other things, and it seems to come naturally to Kevin.

Though they're not being subtle about it now. He vaguely wonders what it looks like - two men making eyes at each other on a corner table without saying a single thing out loud.

[xie_er]

"I don't mind being distracted by you"

He realises, belatedly, that it might be a bit of a loaded thing to say, but he also doesn't want to take it back because it's true.

"I can usually focus on both things at once, anyway" He adds, trying to soothe over any awkwardness before it starts.

[weird_cop]

Kevin smiles quickly, eyes dropping as he feels himself flushing slightly, feeling the warmth of being flirted with more than the awkwardness of unrequited attachment.

"It's a useful skill," he agrees. "I bet when I know what I'm doing, we're pretty good at it - carrying on two conversations at once."

[xie_er]

"Honestly I think you're better at it than I am" Xie admits - he can do that, inside their head, admit that somebody else is better at something than he is. It doesn't cost him anything, when it's Kevin, but there was a time he never would have even contemplated it.

"I got most of my practice using the link in animal form, so I didn't need to worry about what my face was doing, or saying something out loud."

[weird_cop]

"Right," says Kevin, remembering the scorpion. Xie had changed pretty quickly then, but now Kevin realises that yes, that would be a useful way of talking.

He thinks about the first sentence though, not feeling any expectation on that either, because while it took come getting used to, he's found that his face doesn't necessarily react to conversations in his head.

"Do you think it's because I was undercover? Seems like keeping that kind of secret might be part of the job."

[xie_er]

Xie nods.

"I suppose that would make you pretty well practiced not showing what you're thinking on your face, so that probably includes having conversations in your head" he agrees.

Kevin is, he has realised, a really good actor - the difference between Kevin The Apprentice and Kevin The Cop is practically night and day. It makes it a little easier to reconcile the fact he used to hate him - he didn't hate Kevin, he hated the man Kevin was pretending to be.

[weird_cop]

Kevin is once again not sure how he feels about it, about being a professional liar. He's assuming the person he is now is the real him, and Xie seems to agree, so at least he hasn't been lying to the people who are important to him, but it's a weird thing to be good at.

He's saved from replying though when his phone buzzes, and he pops it out of his pocket to read the text.

"Tony says he and Lisa are coming over this evening," he reports. "Wants to know if we want take out and what they should bring."

[xie_er]

Xie, of course, doesn't have any issue with Kevinbeing a professional liar when he himself used to be a professional murderer - pretending to be somebody you're not in order to catch criminals and saves lives sort of pales in comparison. He doesn't even really worry about the possibility that Kevin is lying to him, not anymore, he trusts Kevin and that's that.

"I don't mind, if you have a preference?" He offers "Or is your preference not having to choose when you don't remember what you like?"

[weird_cop]

"I could get them to choose," Kevin offers. He's already typing out a reply anyway, and explains what he's saying:

"I'm telling him to suggest a movie I should watch for the first time. I know that's all of them and that's too many to pick."

[xie_er]

"That sounds good" Xie agrees, happy to let them make the decision.

The comment about them suggesting a movie earns an approving noise as well - they're better to ask than he is, and Kevin may as well get some benefit out of the memory loss by getting to enjoy things for the first time again.

(Xie can think of a few other things Kevin should enjoy for the first time, but he also knows they're things it's inappropriate to suggest)

The food comes, then, delivered by an older man who seems just as happy to see Xie as the woman was, and is just as talkative.

[weird_cop]

Kevin listens to the conversation without understanding any of the Cantonese, smiling faintly with the genuine pleasure of watching the interaction.

He thanks the man for the food in English, and after the first bite makes a seriously appreciative noise.

But it's not until he leaves that Kevin takes advantage of the ability to talk with his mouth full.

"He missed you too, then."

[xie_er]

The man smiles and nods at his thanks, looking pleased with his obvious appreciation, and says something to Xie in Cantonese that is obviously complimentary. Xie smiles fondly and nods in response.

Once he leaves, Xie immediately digs in with obvious satisfaction - Kevin's food is excellent, of course, but he's missed the food here all the same.

"They both did" he agrees. He's quiet for a moment, staring down at the food as he eats before he finally admits "I missed them too"

[weird_cop]

"I'm sorry i'ts been so long," Kevin says, slightly hollow with it, because without his memories he doesn't feel truly connected to the responsibility for that time. But it's so far away from their current place that he can understand why they haven't been in that often.

"When my memory's back we'll have to come back so I can meet them properly and you don't have to say it's complicated."

And quietly he decides they should come back more often anyway.

[xie_er]

Xie shrugs slightly - part of him wants to say it isn't Kevin's fault, but also it very much is, in a way. It's not that he couldn't have come back here weeks ago, but there was a very long period of time that he couldn't visit because of what Kevin did - except that he doesn't blame Kevin at all for doing it (not anymore), in fact he's grateful. Bringing all of that up, though, seems like a bad idea.

"That would be nice" he agrees - because he would like to make proper introductions and for it to not be so complicated, but mostly because he would like to come back here more often.

[weird_cop]

"Also because I know I'm going to want to try more of this food," Kevin adds. "Make them like me enough to give me the recipe."

His phone buzzes again and he glances at it... "Tony's asking if he can go to my storage unit and get my games console, apparently that's what I should do while you're out tomorrow."

He's just sharing, before sending his permission back. Then he lets the conversation become casual, small talk mixed with observations about the food, restaurant, neighbourhood.

It's nice, he likes it, this chance to do something that seems normal.

And it feels a bit like a date.

[xie_er]

"I'm sure you will. They like me, and I'm not nearly as likeable as you" Xie tells him with a smile.

He nods along with the comment about Tony - there's no reason for him to interject and he understands that Kevin is just sharing the conversation he's having. It's funny, he thinks, it's such a small thing, Kevin probably doesn't even realise he's doing it, but that kind of openness is one of the things that Xie loves so much about him - with or without his memories. There's no secrets, no hiding what he's doing or who he's talking to, Xie doesn't even need to ask because it's just offered up freely. It makes him feel... secure, loved, trusted, even though he knows that's probably stupid.

He settles into the casual conversation as well, appreciating it for the same reasons Kevin was - and because he was glad to be back here, to bring Kevin here.

Once they're finished eating he has to spend a little time assuring the owners that he won't leave it so long next time, and, again, that Kevin is taking good care of him, but as much as he plays up the exasperation, there's a smile on his face as they leave.

[weird_cop]

The funny thing is, Kevin doesn't know he's doing it right now. And the reason he's doing it now is because he's unsure about himself, still finding his way, and by telling Xie he knows that he can be guided if something seems off. So if Xie feels trusted, there's a reason for that.

Of course, Kevin doesn't realise the implications, he's just grateful for everything Xie is doing for him.

He repeats his thanks to the owners, is enthusiastic with his praise for their food, and acquiesces when they demand, in English, that he look after Xie and make sure he comes back soon.

He will, as well - he can see the smile on Xie's face.

[xie_er]

Xie leads them back to his apartment to check on the potion - it's cooled enough for him to work with now, so he gets started on fashioning it into the incense form it needs to be.

"It will need to rest for a little bit to finish drying out," he explains as he works "but it should be ready by this evening. We can take it with us and try it at home after dinner?"

[weird_cop]

Kevin nods his agreement.

"Sounds good," he agrees, happy to take Xie's lead on the best way to approach all of this. He settles back into the same chair to rest his chin on his hands and watch him work, partly seeing what he can learn about the process, but mostly admiring the evident skill involved (and how attractive Xie's face is when he's concentrating.)

When Xie is finished, Kevin helps pack everything up, but pauses before they leave, reaching out to take Xie's hand.

It shouldn't mean anything - he's been taking his hand a lot over the last few days, looking for reassurance and contact.

"Hey, thanks for everything. I know it's a long shot, but I just wanted to say it doesn't matter if this is what finally works. I'm just grateful that you're doing so much for me."