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]

"I love you too" He returns, squeezing his hand. If he was in his right mind, he'd move aside for the doctor, but he doesn't budge an inch.

The doctor gives him a concerned look, but focuses on Kevin.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, checking over the chart and looking at the readings from the machines first of all.

[weird_cop]

"Everything hurts," Kevin croaks out helpfully. "But apart from that, great."

Behind the doctor, Tony stands in the doorway for a second, before coming forward and resting a hand on Xie's shoulder: a gentle hint that he should move back.

"You should have got a request to move him to a London unit," he's saying. "It's not personal, it's just that these are the kind of burns our unit deal with."

This is not true, but they haven't figured out a good story. It's just important to get Kevin back into the boroughs ASAP so he can access the magic.

[xie_er]

The doctor chuckles slightly.

"That is to be expected, but we can look at your pain medication." He says, looking down at the chart again.

Xie flinches at the touch to his shoulder, and though it looks like he's going to resist for a moment, he does finally let go of Kevin and push his chair back to give the doctor more room.

"I believe we did get that request, yes," the doctor agrees, glancing up at Tony "it's being processed, I just need to confirm that your friend here is well enough to travel. I don't expect there'll be any issue."

[weird_cop]

Tony stays by Xie, but moves his hand to the back of the chair, smiling at the doctor. "We'll be out of your hair as soon as we can," he says.

He glances down at Kevin and smiles a bit wider.

"You want anything?"

Kevin shakes his head. "Pain medication," he repeats. "And a full report of everything you found in the houses."

"Get healed up first, mate. Work later."

[xie_er]

"Ah, one of those types are we?" The doctor says jovially "Rest is part of the healing process, young man, so I would follow your friend's advice." He says to Kevin, stern but kind.

"The nurses will bring you some more painkillers soon," he adds "but I'm happy to clear you to be moved, someone will be by later to let you know when we can get that arranged. Get some rest."

He glances over at Xie before he leaves, frowns slightly.

"That goes for you as well." He adds. Xie doesn't respond, so the doctor glances at Tony instead "See if you can get them both to get some sleep?"

[weird_cop]

Tony smiles reassuringly at him.

"Will do," he confirms. "Not sure if that's possible but I'll do my best."

When the doctor's gone, he looks at Xie, and hardly needs Kevin to explain: "I need ot be at full magic strength before I can do the ritual."

"Right," Tony says. At least all Kevin needs is painkillers, but Xie is a different problem.

"I'd lose my job if I suggested downers," he says after a second. "You had anything to eat, even?"

[xie_er]

Xie drags his gaze away from Kevin to give Tony a slightly glassy-eyed stare, like he can't quite understand what he's being asked.

That's a no, in case he hasn't figured that out. Xie hasn't eaten since breakfast yesterday, he didn't sleep at all last night and he quite possibly hasn't even drunk anything in about twenty four hours. In short, it's not just the lack of bond that's making him a bit weird right now.

"I'm fine." He finally says, in defiance of literally all the evidence.

[weird_cop]

Tony stares at him steadily for a second, his blank face carrying all the 'you are fucking kidding me' he can manage, before looking at Kevin, shaking his head and turning out of the door.

"Gege, come lie on the bed with me."

It's probably not approved of in the hospital, but Kevin shifts on the bed to make room.

A couple of minutes later, Tony returns with a protein shake and a bottle of water from the vending machine, and a blanket from charming the prettiest nurse he could find.

(It was the nurse form last night, just coming off his shift.)

[xie_er]

Xie is as helpless to resist the instruction as he would be if the bond was still in place. He stands on shaking legs and climbs, somewhat awkwardly, onto the bed next to Kevin, curling into him as much as possible while still being careful of his injuries.

He actually drinks the water and the protein shake without much complaint, which is something, before immediately lying back down next to Kevin.

"I'm sorry" he says quietly "You're hurt."

He shouldn't have to be looking after Xie, Xie should be looking after him. Neither of them should be looking after anybody, actually, because Kevin should have enough power to heal himself. Xie's power.

[weird_cop]

"Yes," Kevin says, kissing the nearest part of Xie's head that he can reach.

"But only for now. I'll be fine in a few hours. I need to rest first."

Rest, recuperate his power, then bond with Xie and he'll fix everything.

[xie_er]

Xie nods. He knows he should try to rest as well, but he feels too on edge. Still, it's a little better now he's actually put something in his stomach, and being close to Kevin and knowing he's okay, he just has to wait a little longer.

Maybe if he just closes his eyes he'll be able to sleep...

[weird_cop]

Whether Xie can sleep or not, Kevin can - or at least he can when he's given a nice dose of the good painkillers, and finds himself unable to do anything else. The staff do lok disapprovingly at the partner curled up next to their patient, but the honour guard of police and analyst taking up seats in the waiting room have all been adamant that whatever's up with him, being by Kevin is the best thing for them both.

He's woken up to be moved, but doesn't say anything in the ambulance. Instead he lies quietly, staring up at the vehicle roof, and quietly meditates.

No one at the new hospital is exactly sure why he's moved there - they certainly don't have the specialist burns care that the other trust believed they had. But it's within the M25, and there's a spare bed, and Lofthouse pulled some fantastic sleight of hand with the paperwork.

"I call it the Quill maneuvre," she explains to Xie. "After James walked out of a morgue, no one likes to pay too much attention to my team's medical records."

Either way, eventually there is a bed, in a room, in London, with some privacy.

[xie_er]

Xie might sleep, he might just straight up pass out, he doesn't actually know. He doesn't feel like he's slept, but time moves in fits and starts so maybe he did after all.

He allows himself to be removed from the bed when Kevin is moved, and stumbles after him, zombie-like. He won't be kept from the ambulance, but at least he doesn't make a fuss, just sits there quietly on the journey and continues to watch Kevin intently, like he's going to disappear if he looks away for too long.

He does let himself be pushed onto the spare bed when they arrive in the new room, partly to get out of the way so they can get Kevin properly settled, and partly because he still doesn't look like he's had any sleep. He nods at Lofthouse's explanation, even manages a soft huff of something like laughter, though speaking is far too much effort.

Once they're finally left on their own, he's out of the bed like a shot, moving to Kevin's side to take his hand again.

[weird_cop]

Kevin is already moving, albeit slowly, out of his bed. He huffs his own laugh when Xie takes his hand.

"Alright. Help me. I want to sit on the floor."

He shouldn't. He shouldn't be moving out of the bed, his hip screams from the effort and he can't sit properly, just lounges slightly with a tilt to one side. He's probably doing damage to himself, but if it goes to plan he can fix this.

He also shouldn't have to. He's not intending to have to use the power of London for this, but he's not willing to give up this time. He wants to be able to draw a circle and make a sacrifice as soo as he needs an extra boost.

But despite the tears in his eyes, he's smiling as he reaches for both of Xie's hands.

[xie_er]

Xie wants to protest, wants to tell him it's fine, to keep resting, that he should stay in bed and look after himself.

But the ache of need is making him selfish and even as he hates himself a little bit for it he helps Kevin out of the bed and on to the floor. Kneels in front of him and takes both his hands with an eager desperation.

[weird_cop]

Kevin isn't even thinking of resting further. It's not fine - not for Xie, definitely, but Kevin himself also feels wrong in a much less physical, more psychological way.

He closes his eyes and squeezes Xie's hands as he reaches in, thinking his way through the ritual rather than trying to chant or do anything complicated. He knows the way through now.

With his own power much more replenished, he feels it rise around and in him, reaching out with certainty towards the bond.

It still takes most of his power, he grips hard on Xie's hands and rocks forward with the effort, straining with the effort.

And then he finds it, feels the strong bright power that he knows so well, and pulls it into him, his groan of effort giving way suddenly to a laugh, as he feels it flood his soul.

Physically, Kevin lets go of Xies hands, just so he can roll back and lie on his back and laugh in delight.

[xie_er]

Xie knows that forming a bond doesn't hurt, but he wasn't quite expecting it to just sweep away all that lingering ache in one immediately burst. He had expected it to be like feeling the grasp of a hand pulling you from the water when you're drowning - perfect, relieving, an end to the torment, but you were still drowning.

It's more like the bond reasserted and suddenly it's like he was never drowning at all. He feels whole and full and right again, with nothing to show for everything he just went through beyond a little tiredness and a rumbling in his stomach.

He ignores that, though, in favour of diving forward so he can lean over Kevin - careful to keep his weight on his own arms, knowing Kevin is still injured (for now) - and kiss him.

"I love you. Thank you. I'm sorry."

He can use the link again! He doesn't have to stop kissing him to talk! Everything is at it should be and yes he still feels horrible and guilty and selfish but he also feels so, so relieved.

[weird_cop]

Kevin doesn't stop with the binding ritual. He lets Xie's magic flood into him, sends it swirling into his burns and his injured throat, and just drinks it all in. He'll do some more focused healing later, but for now there's a bit of a boost that already makes the pain lighter.

He lifts the hand on his uninjured shoulder and cups the back of Xie's head, kissing him deeply and reveling in how right it all feels.

"Don't ever do that again."

He can't sound mad though. There's too much relief, too much joy at finally feeling right after all this time of being wrong.

[xie_er]

"I won't, I'm sorry" And he really does mean it, because for all he did it to save Kevin's memories he absolutely does not want to go through any of that again. Even being bonded to somebody else was vgauely uncomfortable in a way he doesn't want to experience a second time.

He's pretty sure he's crying from the relief of it all but he doesn't care, all he wants in the world right now is to lie here and kiss his boyfriend until they're both breathless. He should maybe, at some point, get Kevin back into bed, but that can wait.

[weird_cop]

"I love you." Twice, in English and Mandarin, because now he's remembered Kevin's going to make an effort to be more bilingual.

He leans back again, makes himself a bit more comfortable, because as much as he wants to kiss Xie he's still in pain, and with Xie in his arms he focuses on that for a little while.

"I'd rather have you then any of my memories."

[xie_er]

"You'll always have me. I'll never do anything like this again. I don't ever want to be apart from you"

He doesn't regret it entirely, because he did want Kevin to have his memories back, to be himself again, but he regrets it enough to think twice if they're ever in a similar situation.

He does, eventually, break away and pull back enough to take Kevin's hand.

"You should get back into bed" Preferably before somebody comes and yells at him for getting Kevin out of it in the first place.

[weird_cop]

"Okay."

He stands a lot more easily now, though there's still a lot of pain, and kisses Xie again when they're standing.

"Thank you," he adds again, "for looking after me. And getting them back, even if I'm mad at you about the 'how.'"

[xie_er]

"I haven't done that much looking after you." Xie says with a sigh, but he kisses him back and helps him into the bed - he's not thinking about how much he looked after him while his memories were missing, just how helpless he's been since the house.

"I know you're mad. I'll make it up to you somehow." He promises, leaning over for another kiss

[weird_cop]

Kevin smirks into the kiss. "Oh I know you will," he replies, heavy on the innuendo.

"And you have. All week, you've been looking after me."

[xie_er]

Xie laughs against his lips and thinks "God I've missed you" through the link before pulling back a little just to smile at him.

"I've been doing my best," he admits, glad that it seems to have been enough, at least "I'm glad to have you back, though. You were still you but you weren't... my you. I lost count of the number of times I almost kissed you and then realised I couldn't"