Oh, oh, oh it's magic (Xie and Kevin)
Oct. 15th, 2023 01:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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...
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 10:27 am (UTC)"It's really the whole building" Xie confirms, and though he sounds amused he's a tiny bit self-conscious that he might have chosen poorly. It soothes a bit when Kevin makes his 'vibe check' comment, though.
"Mr Zhao?" the estate agent looks to Xie, stepping forward with a hand outstretched. If she recognised him from the papers she was doing a great job not showing it, so that's something, even if he is making a mental note to change his name because it took everything in him not to flinch when she said that.
"Louise, right?" He says, taking the offered hand and shaking it "Call me Xie, please, and this is my partner Kevin."
"Lovely to meet you," Louise says, holding her hand out to Kevin as well "shall we go inside?"
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 03:45 pm (UTC)"Nice to meet you."
He's registered the flinch, and makes his own mental note to suggest to Zie what he's already thinking.
"I like the ivy."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 04:13 pm (UTC)"Mm, I thought it looked nice." Xie agrees. Louise agrees as well, talking about how it gave the house character as she shows them towards the front door.
Inside the house is spacious, the decor neutral if a little dated (Xie already has ideas to change all of it anyway). She suggests they start at the top of the house, where the loft has been converted into a currently empty room she suggests would be good as home-office space.
"I thought it might be useful, like the basement before, if we need to use the house for anything work related again" Xie offers as they look around.
The upstairs features three bedrooms - one with an en-suite - and Xie suggests the third might be a good place for storing Kevin's notebooks and other work things, like a study or library. The room with the en-suite also features a small balcony, because Xie liked the one they already had.
The bottom floor has a spacious living room, a dining room that is - according to Louise - ideal for entertaining, and, most important to Xie, a large kitchen. Like the rest of the house it's somewhat dated, but Xie suggests that if it needs redoing anyway, they may as well kit it out to Kevin's specifications.
Lastly, the garden - big, but a little overgrown and in need of some TLC, much like the rest of the house. Xie doesn't want a house that's perfectly ready to move into, Xie wants a house he can make theirs.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 04:30 pm (UTC)The study suggestion he moves into the loft, as if they need to have an ops room at home, he says, thenn the notebooks might be useful.
"We can soundproof the third bedroom" he suggests instead. "studio space for your guitars."
Or anything else they want to do with it.
He grins at the kitchen idea, taking a minute to imagine what a good kitchen would look like, and says that the fridge and dishwasher are in entirely the wrong spaces and need to be moved. That's not a no, though.
He's vaguely aware Louise is being made to feel awkward at the way they say so little out loud, but he still forgets to open his mouth.
"I like it," he says at the end. "Big, but I think we could fill it up."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 05:00 pm (UTC)The fact that Kevin suggests they use the third room for him gives him a little glow of pleasure, because it's just not something he's used to - he's getting better at asking for the things he wants, at choosing the house that suits them both, but Kevin taking it a step further and actually offering things that are purely for Xie is new, and nice, and he clings to it every time it happens.
(And stubbornly ignores the little voice in his head that says it's just because Kevin doesn't want to listen to him play, wants him out of sight and out of mind, because he knows that voice is wrong)
"I like it too" Xie agrees, smiling at him.
"I can give you two a moment to talk, if you like?" Louise offers "I'll just be in the living room if you have any questions."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:01 pm (UTC)"Do you have any questions? It looks like there's a lot of work involved."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:03 pm (UTC)Xie kisses him back happily.
"None that I can think of, should I?" He doesn't really know that much about buying a house, or anything really, he isn't sure if there's supposed to be questions.
"I don't mind the work. I wanted a place I could decorate the way I wanted." He stops, considers this for a second before amending "The way we want."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:26 pm (UTC)But he can't think of any questions he hasn't already asked, so he squeezes Xie's hips excitedly.
"You wanna buy a house together?"
Well, buy a house and have Kevin live in it.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:29 pm (UTC)Xie smiles fondly - as much as he's trying not to be selfish about the decor, that's exactly what he wanted to hear. He'll make sure Kevin has final say on everything about the kitchen (as long as his tastes aren't terrible) but the rest of the house? He has a vision.
The question makes him smile, bright and actually excited.
"I do" he says, leaning in for another kiss.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:41 pm (UTC)He laughs softly at the words, and leans up to return the kiss, taking Xie's face in his hands for a second.
One day he's going to broach that subject, the I don't actually want to get married but I'll civilly partner you if you want a big party subject, but not until Xie is completely independent of Zhao.
So he kisses him instead and eventually breaks away.
"You call her in, then."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 06:47 pm (UTC)Xie smiles and nods, going to the door to call Louise back into the kitchen and tell her that they love it and want to put an offer in.
(He's read up enough about the house buying process to know the right things to say, at least - he doesn't mind admitting to Kevin that he doesn't know, but he wants to look competent in front of the estate agent)
She's obviously thrilled and talks him through what to do next, and asks if they have a mortgage broker yet, looking slightly surprised (but pleased) when Xie says they don't need a mortgage.
"That should speed things up for you a little." She says with a smile "And what about your current house, do you have a chain?"
"I have some property to be sold, but we don't need to wait for that before we buy." Xie says easily. Her eyes light up a little and she offers Xie her card, smoothly moving in to talking about their services for selling property as well. He takes the card and says he'll be in touch, mostly just to cut the conversation short. Buying a house comes first, dealing with all of Yifu's other properties and his old apartment comes later.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 07:25 pm (UTC)He shakes her hand as they leave, and kisses Xie in the car before starting home.
"That makes this morning's failure a bit easier to swallow."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 07:32 pm (UTC)Xie wraps up the conversation, shakes her hand as well and says goodbye with a smile - a smile that only gets more genuine once they're in the car.
He kisses Kevin back and then sits back with a pleased expression - it softens a little at the comment and he nods.
"It does" he agrees "I was thinking... maybe tomorrow I should stay home? Take a break and make a start on the house buying and everything..."
He doesn't want to leave Kevin on his own, but he also knows part of the reason this morning happened was because he'd been pushing himself too hard. Besides, it was Kevin's job anyway, he was just.. also there.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 07:53 pm (UTC)"Are you sure you don't mind?" Xie asks, sneaking a glance over at him to try and judge from his expression - he tries so hard to take Kevin's words at face value, but sometimes the insecurities sneak in.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 08:01 pm (UTC)"Joking, I'm joking. I don't just not mind, I want you to have a break."
Sometimes he feels the strain of being constantly second guessed. He understands why, but this was just meant to be a joke.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 08:10 pm (UTC)Xie relaxes, smiling slightly sheepishly back at him.
"I'm sorry" He replies softly - and then, because he doesn't want it to become too much of an issue and cause tension where there didn't need to be any, he adds, teasing "if he hurts your feelings I'll beat him up for you, I know what teenagers are like"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-08 07:44 pm (UTC)"I don't know, that kid's got the vibe of someone who could take your switchblade away from you."
After a second he thinks more seriously and says:
"It's easier than I thought it would be, being around teenagers. I've kind of avoided kids once I stopped being one. Too many bad experiences, you know?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-11 11:30 am (UTC)"Maybe," He concedes - he doesn't mind so much when it's a joke, and also that kid does seem remarkably resourceful "but I think even he would struggle to get all my knives"
It had taken Kevin a solid ten minutes or so to get all his knives off him when he was cooperating. Mostly cooperating.
His smile softens when Kevin turns more serious and he reaches over to squeeze his thigh reassuringly, nodding slightly at the confession.
"I know what you mean," he says, remembering the story Kevin told him about what he'd gone through growing up "I'm glad it's been easier. You've been pretty great with those kids, I think."
Certainly better than Xie, but even from an objective view he's been handling them pretty well, in Xie's opinion.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-11 01:45 pm (UTC)And then he rests his hand on top of Xie's, squeezing back in thanks for the reassurance.
"Thanks, that means a lot. As long as we can keep them safe and out of trouble, That's all I need."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-11 01:59 pm (UTC)"Probably easier said than done, with those two" Xie admits, since both of them seem like they might be good at getting into trouble, and he knows from experience that being an unbonded Familiar practically invites trouble no matter what you do "but if anybody can do it, you can."
Especially with Xie at his side to help him.
He almost says something about Kevin being good at keeping him safe and out of trouble, but he doesn't want to invite a dozen examples of that not being the case. He still thinks it is, it's just... more like he always got him out of trouble rather than keeping him out in the first place.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 07:48 pm (UTC)Back at the house, with a couple of pans simmering on the stove, he pulls Xie to him and wraps his arms around him.
"I know you've got my back, and I love you."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-30 02:35 pm (UTC)Xie leans into the embrace, sliding his own arms around Kevin's waist with a soft smile. He responds with a kiss, first, though of course he doesn't even need to draw away before he can respond with words.
"I love you too. And always. I know you've got mine, too."
It's nice, he thinks, to actually have that kind of partnership with someone, to know that everything he gives to Kevin he'll get back in some other way. None of it, from either of them, is giving with any kind of expectation, but it's always returns all the same.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-10 08:28 pm (UTC)He starts by explaining to Ezra that there are multiple ways of doing magic, but he was going to teach him the safest, and probably the most reliable way, albeit the way that was probably the slowest for results. He doesn't mention familiars, or the Sight, to start with; instead he starts the boy on simple meditation techniques and Tai Chi, learning to bring magic into himself and cultivate it there.
But as he talks through the theory, Kevin realises that this is just what he needs; the chance to articulate exactly how the magical techniques he learned with Zhao work and to contrast it to the magic of London and the sacrifices. He might not tell Ezra about familiars, or blood sacrifice, or the ghosts that haunt so much of London, but he delightedly tells Xie everything, talking his metaphorical ear off nearly constantly, day and night, as he pulls it all together.
"It's all the same," he realises, "cities like London have just cultivated their own flow through history and architecture and the people who live there. Familiars generate it yourselves, I think. Maybe. That's why your power is so... clean."
Like spring water, rather then the E. coli ridden mess of the Thames. It's the best metaphor he can come up with at the time.
And Ezra, he finds, is a natural. It's almost annoying, how quickly the boy picks up what Kevin had to work his arse off to acheive. He struggles with meditation at first, but Tai chi and movement proves more effective at getting him to apply himself. Then he pools a healthy source of power within himself and starts asking for spells.
So Kevin teaches him simple things - nightlights, water manipulation, and then basic healing. And Ezra applies himself eagerly, dutifully keeping the secret that he promised to keep.
Until a couple of months down the line, when Ezra takes a nasty fall in the skate park when messing one evening after school. After the initial shock as worn off and he realises that he can't stand up on his own, Ezra takes one scan around to make sure there isn't anyone watching, then places his hands on his torn open knee, and focuses on knitting it back together.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-22 08:43 pm (UTC)Xie, meanwhile, has thrown himself into the admin of buying a house. He still comes along with Kevin most days, but he takes more breaks so he doesn't over-exert himself again. At first, the whole prospect had seemed a little daunting - the kind of thing that Yifu would tell him not to worry about, contracts and documents and finance, all things that Xie had no experience of and somebody else could take care of for him.
He quickly realises it was just another way Yifu kept him from being independant. It's not entirely untrue that somebody else takes care of most of it, but that somebody else is the lawyer and that's just how the process works. It's also a somebody else who actually shows him the documents he needs to sign, and gives him a chance to read through them and ask questions and actually understand.
Most of the process just seems to be waiting, though, so while all of that's going on Xie turns to the important part. Decor.
Some of his self-imposed days off are taken up making calls and reading contracts, most of them are taken up creating pinterest boards and researching local contractors. He has a vision.
It's a vision he shares with Kevin - in between listening with genuine interest at Kevin's various revelations about the nature of magic and sharing his own thoughts, he sends mental pictures of mood boards and colour schemes and asks his opinions, always taking them into account and making revisions where he needs to. Especially for the kitchen.
When he doesn't have his days off, his focus is on Spot. He keeps a close eye on the young familiar, watching for signs that he's getting too close to needing a bond, still trying to reach out to all the contacts he can to try and find some options for him. Since he's not sure how much they want to reveal to Spot about what's going on with Ezra (and vice versa) he starts having lessons of his own, whenever Kevin is busy with Ezra, Xie is busy with Spot. They talk about shifting, about learning different forms and what it feels like, about bonds and what to look out for and all the tricks that Xie has picked up over the years - some that he learned from his parents, but most that he had to learn for himself.
And Spot takes to the lessons surpisingly well - it takes a few weeks for Xie to draw him out of his sullen disinterest, but eventually he starts paying attention, starts embracing being a familiar as something kind of cool and not just a thing that's brought him no end of trouble.
(Xie gets it, he really does)
Unfortunately some of Xie's stories are perhaps not the best for an impressionable teenage audience, and Spot gets it into his head to start doing a few of his own patrols of the local area, just to make sure the cops are keeping up their end of the whole 'making sure he's safe' deal. It's probably something of a miracle that the first notable thing that happens on one of his little trips isn't him attracting unwanted attention.
Ezra might not see anyone watching, but crouched in a nearby bush is a certain scrawny bengal cat. Spot had been keeping half an eye on Ezra as he passed, knowing how the other boy liked animals and not wanting to catch his notice. He'd hesitated when he saw Ezra fall, caught sight of the mess he made of his knee, and wondered if he ought to go and get help or something. The hesitation is long enough to see Ezra start healing himself and think what the fuck...
He moves forward, sliding out from under the bush and trotting over to Ezra, sitting in front of him with a pointed look... or as pointed as a look can get while he's still a cat. He realises belatedly that he's in the wrong form for this kind of confrontation.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: