I wrote this at the beginning of the month and kept forgetting to post it. @theeyeofeverything convinced me to share :]
"this isn't the place for this."
"Oh? Would you prefer some privacy?"
Yi snapped his mouth shut before he gave Jiequan more ammo to get on his nerves. They're in a bar on the fancier side of town, sitting on a booth overlooking the street. The chill of the night blows on Yi's fur. He can't remember the last time he wasted time indulging in an outing like this, much less as a.....
"Are you enjoying our date?"
He bites back the urge to remind Jiequan none of this is real. He doesn't need another lecture on 'commitment.'
Jiequan grins. Smug bastard. The expression looks genuine, but he's not about to fall for that.
...Yi understands why this type of thing was necessary. Objectively. This act needs to be as convincing as possible for the sake of avoiding flimsy (and correct) accusations. This is meant to appease his relatives. He doesn't need to be called a liar on top of everything else.
However, they didn't need to go somewhere this public and this expensive. Jiequan is clearly showing off his wealth and spitting on Yi's pride in the same move. When the food arrives, he's more than ready to get this over with.
And it's then that Jiequan takes his chopsticks, gets them on his dish, and to his absolute horror he lifts a piece of porkchop to Yi's mouth.
"What are you doing." It comes out more panicked than intended.
Yi sinks back into his chair. Oh. Oh fuck no.
He will not– refuses to be seen doing something this– something so–
Jiequan clicks his tongue, leaning his head on the palm of his hand. "No need to make such a fuss, young master. Is it such a big deal to feed my beloved?"
People are staring. They're murmuring and eyeing and he wants to storm out of the room.
"It's just a bite, dearest."
Yi's expression twitches, caught between indignation and bewilderment.
Jiequan is challenging him. No doubt.
He inhales throughout his nose, glaring at the offensive meat, then back at Jiequan. The freak purrs at the sharpness of his eyes. He will not prove him right. Yi is perfectly capable of committing to their act.
...and so, he opens his mouth and accepts the food offered. He makes sure to not bite his tongue with how tense his jaw is as he chews. He hears some customers on the opposite side of the room giggle. Whatever.
"There. Was that so bad?"
Jiequan makes a face. Fake sadness. "So cold! I take it you're not a fan of spicy foods?"
Yi is momentarily confused by the statement, but then a familiar tingle spreads on his tongue.
Huh. It's.... Not unpleasant.
The prince of Jie hums. "I'll take that silence as a positive answer."
He almost rolls his eyes. "I enjoy some spice every once in a while. Wouldn't call myself a fan of it, though." Yi lies. He's not telling Jiequan more than what he needs to know.
The bastard smiles at that too. "I don't believe you. I think you're downplaying it. But I must say, your reactions are fascinating, young master. You're a terrible actor."
Yi huffs, and ignores Jiequan's rumbling laughter when he turns his head to look at the street instead of him.
"I find foods like these enjoyable too. There's a certain satisfaction in the way it burns."
Of course he would say that. Yi tries not to think on how this means they have something in common.
"Perhaps next time we can go to a place that specializes in these?"
"Why, of course. You didn't expect us to have only one date, did you?"
Yi decides to stop talking and focus on his food for the rest of the night.
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