Chapter Text
When Lu Yao wakes up, it's to the usual smell of fresh coffee. He positively loves that smell, but it's still notably dark out so coffee shouldn't actually be a thing this time of night. His body aches in a pleasant way and it reminds him of what happened earlier in the afternoon. He stretches his legs out and wiggles just the feel the oddly comforting burn. Chusheng did that to him, and he had loved it.
There a small noise off the the left of him and Lu Yao feels confused. Was there someone in his apartment? His eyes open and he's shocked to see that Chusheng is both still there and has acquired the means of making coffee for them. Lu Yao kind of hopes he stole it from downstairs and didn't go polite ask with that clear purple mark so high up on his neck.
God, he doesn't even remember scratching at the other man's skin like that, but Chusheng looks like he's been positively mauled. It's both hot and devastating to Lu Yao. He now knows what his bite mark looks on this amazing man's skin. Lu Yao feels hot all over again. Aroused? His skin tingles and he wants to reach out to trace the bruised skin.
Looking down, Lu Yao is also just littered in marks. It amazing and enough to him that he feels like he truly belongs to this man; with him. He'll be able to feel all of this for days afterwards and just remember everything. Not that he'd ever be able to forget the experience of having Chusheng inside of him. That will stay with him for the rest of his life, no matter what happens now.
"Hey." Chusheng greets him with softly when he notices him awake. The eyes on him flitter down his body, which is still naked and a bit on display as he sits up on the bed. Lu Yao tries to stay strong and not shy away, it's now easier then he thought it would be. He was just observing the marks himself after all.
"Hey." He softly parrots back, smiling softly and glancing out the window. It's open to probably air out the room, and the breeze is pleasant. It's a nice night. It makes the atmosphere of the room pleasantly soft, and the moonlight is fluttering in. It feels, romantic.
"Are you sore?" Chusheng asks sweetly, walking over to join Lu Yao on the bed. He sits down and reaches over, petting Lu Yao's hair like he's not a sticky mess. Then again, maybe Chusheng likes him to be a sticky mess. Lu Yao doesn't mind it himself this time, compared to his other experiences.
There's no used and tossed feeling with Chusheng and it's not just because he's still here. Chusheng is still being gentle with him, even after they'd explored sex together. It both is and isn't what Lu Yao expected. It only makes his heart swell with even more affection.
"A little bit." Lu Yao admits, feeling his face heat up as he speaks. No one has ever cared this much about him. He didn't even expect the inspector to be here when he woke up. This puts a halt in the plans he'd made. What does he do now?
"Do you want some coffee? I just made it." He offers sweetly, smile never leaving his face. Chusheng looks serine in the moonlighting and Lu Yao wants to drag him back to bed. He's sore, but that wouldn't stop him from having more of Chusheng was interested.
Oh yeah, he had planned on leaving hadn't he? Lu Yao didn't want to before and now he certainly doesn't. He'll have to break his own heart to leave the inspector now. What's unfortunate is that it would still be what was best for the both of them. And isn't that just the hardest thought to swallow?
"No thank you." Lu Yao says politely back and then worries his lip. Should he really ask? "What are you still doing here?"
The smile falls from inspector Qiao's face when he dares to ask and he sits a bit straighter on the bed. Less flirty and more serious. "I have no plans in leaving you Lu Yao. What we've done now, there's no going back from that. I'd like to move you into my apartment tonight, but it'll actually take a few days before we can. The precinct is busy with a new case."
He's not mad that Lu Yao thought he would leave. Or maybe he's too calm about it and masking his emotions. Either way, Lu Yao sits up too fast and then falls back down with a yelp. Okay, he's apparently more sore then he had previously thought. Years of not using certain muscles will do that to you.
"Move in? Inspector you can't be serious!" Lu Yao is once again reminded that this man is strong and cares not what other people think. He'll flaunt Lu Yao around in public given half the chance and rip anyone apart who dares to say anything. Maybe Lu Yao doesn't have to protect him then?
Chusheng gives him a hard look, but just leans forward to kiss Lu Yao once more on the lips. "You plan on running away again, I can tell. I won't let you." He growls and Lu Yao shakes a bit at the tone. He hadn't realized that he had been so obvious about it. He's not one to give in though, and it feels like it's time to argue about this. Why not, he's tried literally everything else.
"Yeah well, I'm not moving in with you. I like it here!" Lu Yao screech's back, eyes betraying how upset he is by watering. He hadn't wanted to ruin the moment or this feeling between them, but couldn't help but fear being hit for speaking out. It was perhaps stupid to feel that way after everything that had happened between them, but etched in feelings like that didn't just fade.
Chusheng gives him a moment and looks around the small place. It's one room with the bathroom closed off. There's no proper bathtub and the kitchen area has no sink so he had to bring everything into the bathroom to wash. The fan doesn't work and the window sticks when you try to open it. This place was home and better then anything else Lu Yao had ever scrapped together for himself.
"I can give you a better life at my place. Fresh ingredients for you to cook with, music to dance to." He reasons quietly, once again whipping away those stay tears. Lu Yao feels like all he's been doing is crying in front of the inspector lately.
"I'd like to spoil you. And if you're nervous about being out in public with me then we can take all the late night walks you want instead. I'll never bring work home if you don't want to see it and I'll protect you from anything." Qiao Chusheng goes on, like he has everything all planned out. Had he straight from the start? Probably not, but it sure felt that way in that moment.
"People will talk that you have a kept man." Lu Yao whispers, because that's honestly his very last defense. He's exhausted from fight against this and just wants to give in. Again and again. He doesn't want to go back to his father, nor does he want to break his own heart.
He wants to stay close to Chusheng, to cuddle and cook for him. To be praised and argued with about stupidly small details. Most importantly, he wants this safe feeling he gets whenever he's with Chusheng to always be in his life. There will be trouble from that fact alone, an outrage on the street. He feels weak in this moment, wanting more comfort then Lu Yao still feels he deserves. Chusheng has never even really asked about his past, just simply started to plan out a future for them. Like life is really that simple.
He hasn't even told the man about his family and what they would do if they found out about this. Lu Yao hasn't asked anything about Chusheng's past either. There is probably much more to the story then he grew up in the triad and was trusted enough to be put in a high position. Lu Yao knows that there just isn't enough information for him to have a smart opinion, but doesn't ultimately care. He wants to follow his heart for this, not his brain.
"Let them talk, I'm planning on changing Shenghai for the better. If this is included in that, then so be it. I'll tell all I'm happy you're waiting for me at home and beat anyone bloody who dares say anything bad about it." He growls and Lu Yao finds himself caving just a little bit farther.
Lu Yao is positive that Chusheng believes what he is saying and he is quite a powerful man. It wouldn't be that bad to put all his chips on Chusheng succeeding. If there is anyone who can do it, then it would certainly be him. So, Lu Yao finally kisses him sweetly on the cheek and nods.
Lu Yao gives in, and is happy to do so because now that he's had a taste he doesn't want to let go. From being chased by this man, to stalked, to protected, and now kept. He supposes this feeling is love. It has to be, because his heart has never beat so hard in his chest.
Qiao Chusheng takes a moment to kiss his lips, before pushing him back down on the bed and throwing the blankets that were covering his body aside. It feels like he's eaten by a hungry wolf throughout that night and even the next morning when Lu Yao tries to convince his man to just go to work already. It's wonderful.