#fatealigned

Mao Mao is flapping and landing on Xia Fei’s head!! She wants treats !! Please give her treats!!

So now, tucked safely into Vein’s lap in the quiet of an empty room, Liu Xiao let the world fall away. He reached up, his fingers gentle as they traced the tense line of Vein’s jaw, then drifted to cup his cheek. “You’re tense,” he murmured, the words soft as a secret. He watched Vein’s face with a tenderness that made his own heart ache—knowing full well he was the reason for the fire smoldering in those eyes. Flirting with Jae Lee had been nothing but a game, a harmless spark, because there was only one person Liu Xiao truly wanted. Only one who could make his pulse race like this.

“If you keep your jaw clenched so tight,” Liu Xiao whispered, lips barely brushing Vein’s skin, “how are you ever going to kiss me?” // he’s sorryyyyy

It's an impossible thing to forget - Jae Lee with his hands on Liu Xiao's hips, waist, shoulders, the two of them so close that it made Vein's blood boil. Jealousy is such an ugly, ugly thing, and Vein hates feeling it, but in that moment it had climbed up his stomach into his heart and throat like ivy, suffocating everything else. And even now that the two of them were apart from everyone else, now that Liu Xiao was wrapped up in his arms, sitting lightly on his lap, just as he should be, Vein still felt that jealousy like poison on his tongue.

Liu Xiao's touch, cool and gentle on his skin, should have been a comfort. His murmured words, teasing and quiet, drew Vein from his reverie, and red eyes flickered upward to meet amethyst. Whatever dwelt deep in Vein's heart, it was more than simple envy, really, more than just his desire to possess Liu Xiao for himself alone; no, this was about Jae Lee, too.

Vein wrapped his arms around Liu Xiao's waist, pulling him close enough that their chests pressed together. He wanted Liu Xiao to hear the uneven pace of his heart, to know without saying anything that something inside him hurt.

Fingers wrapped in the loose, thin fabric of Liu Xiao's shirt and tugged, then loosened. Vein sighed, and pushed his forehead into the crook of Liu Xiao's neck.

He still smelled like Jae Lee.

“I’d hope so,” Liu Xiao drawls, swirling his drink with deliberate slowness, eyes sliding over to where Xia Fei and Cheng Xiaoshi are stationed together. “Though it does look like he’s pretty enamored with his own partner, don’t you think?” He lets the words hang, then grins, sharp and knowing. “Honestly, I’ve seen the way he glares at you. It’s like you shot his dog or something—pure murder in his eyes.” // a pure menace

It's always a question of who will break first. It's usually Vein - Liu Xiao knows every single one of his buttons, and he presses them like Frederic Chopin might play a piano. It wouldn't do to let himself get riled up where others could easily see his reactions, but Liu Xiao knows all his tells. He can see the way Vein's grip tightens on his glass, almost to the point of shattering it; he can see the twitch of Vein's eyelid, especially when Liu Xiao mentions Xia Fei and Cheng Xiaoshi; he can see the dangerous spark that goes off in Vein's eyes as he narrows them towards the tablecloth, rather than looking at Liu Xiao.

They were sitting together like nothing was different. As if this was just another day in the life, the two of them across from one another with food and drinks and pleasant conversation. But Vein didn't feel very pleasant, especially when he perceived the teasing nature of Liu Xiao's tone, and knew exactly what he was trying to provoke.

So, he tried to ignore it, even as that burning irritation from the very thought of Jae Lee crept up in his stomach.

" Just fine, at least on my end - for some reason, my assigned partner doesn't seem to enjoy my presence very much. " Surely, Liu Xiao wasn't having this same problem.... all he did was talk and talk about the mysterious gentleman he was cozying up to. And every time he did, Vein felt like breaking something. " Poor kid seems a bit nervous. It's probably just stage fright. "

Deliberately, he avoided asking the same question of Liu Xiao, instead rather petulantly turning his gaze away as he bit into his meat bun.

She watches Vein with little amusement, she's seen this trick before. Give her the nut.

for the vehement / @fatealigned

" i would never dream of controlling you, xavier. " why would he ? vein's not a fool - he knows better than to think he's the manipulator between the two of them. and he is perfectly fine with this, for the most part ; actions always speak louder than words, and vein clearly recalls how liu xiao becomes pliant and submissive under his fingers, his mouth, his body.

outside of those moments in the dark, vein knows that it's liu xiao who pulls the strings that tug him to and fro, that raise his hand and strike down those who dare to oppose them. he is fine with this, too, as it still serves him. he will pay liu xiao what he owes, with interest, perhaps more than liu xiao ever bargained for.