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"What are you looking at?"
Ma Yongzhen made sure to grip the serving tray tighter before turning around, just in case Long Qi attempted to kick it out of his hands again. But no, Long Qi didn't seem to be ready for another round of playing — his body was relaxed, calm exterior hiding that explosive power of his. He was watching Ma Yongzhen intently, a curious tilt to his head.
"I'm just looking at the dancers."
Long Qi hummed as he moved closer, draping an arm across Ma Yongzhen's shoulders. "Join in, if you want."
"I don't have anyone to dance with. Besides, I don't know how."
"Any girl here would be glad to dance with you," Long Qi replied. He said it with a finality that made it clear he'd make it his business; any woman who refused would no doubt find herself asked to leave the club. "And you do know how to dance! Don't you remember when we were on the bridge? You danced for me then."
"I was just..." Ma Yongzhen began, before cutting himself off. 'I was just trying to make you smile,' was what he'd almost let slip, but that might not be a wise thing to say. There were times at the club, where he'd look across the room — his eyes automatically seeking out Long Qi — only to find him standing alone. Sometimes he'd seem so sad, lonely even, that it was almost physically painful. Those were the times he'd drop everything and walk over, only to be given the pleasure of seeing Long Qi's face lit up in a brilliant smile as he spotted Ma Yongzhen.
"You were just showing off?" Long Qi hazarded when he didn't finish the sentence. "Yes, yes, I was very impressed by your moves. Which is why I say that you can dance."
"It's not the same. Dancing with someone else, and having to use certain specific steps..."
Long Qi seemed to consider this, lips pursed in thought. Then his hand moved to deliver a few hard claps to Ma Yongzhen's back. "I'll teach you!"
"You will?"
"Of course! Let's go, come on." Long Qi's hand came down to grip his, tugging him along.
One day, Ma Yongzhen would ask something of Long Qi that he was not willing to give. But today was not that day. Smiling, Ma Yongzhen let himself be led outside.
The nighttime air was cool, and the music and noise from the club could only be heard faintly. Instead of releasing his hand Long Qi pulled him in even closer, pressing their bodies together. "I'll lead first, then we switch positions," he said, sending small puffs of warm air against Ma Yongzhen's skin with every word. "So learn well, brother."
His right arm encircled Ma Yongzhen's waist, holding him tightly in place. "Put your left arm over mine," he instructed. "That's right, grip my upper arm."
Ma Yongzhen had watched closely enough to know a few things, at least. He took hold of Long Qi's free hand, and lifted it up. "Like this?"
He grinned. "You're a fast learner. Let's try moving. You can still hear the music, right?"
They moved slowly, at first, Long Qi counting the steps out loud for him. Then after a few minutes he grew silent, as Ma Yongzhen found the rhythm. It felt nice, really nice. Not the dance itself, really, but rather the close proximity to his best friend. The way Long Qi held him, looked at him, the warmth from his body seeping right through Ma Yongzhen's clothes... All of it added up to the most amazing feeling.
"And then," Long Qi said, voice quiet, "there's the dip. There are many variants, some small, others to the point of holding the woman almost horizontal to the floor."
There was no surprise when Long Qi went for the latter. Ma Yongzhen let him take his weight, and stared up at his face with a smirk. "This is fun."
Long Qi grinned. "Could be even more fun. This is the perfect moment to give your dance partner a kiss."
It felt like his heart stopped beating. Long Qi's grin faded, giving way to a slight frown and a searching look in his eyes. Whatever it was he saw in Ma Yongzhen's face must've been the wrong thing, for he pulled them both upright and took a step back.
They stood in silence for a moment, before Ma Yongzhen stepped in. It was his turn to lead, wasn't it?
Arm around Long Qi's waist, he slowly began moving them to the distant melody. There was a different mood to their dance now, or maybe it was his imagination. He couldn't concentrate the way he should, and came dangerously close to stepping on Long Qi's toes on more than one occasion.
Then the music swelled before stilling completely, and it was time for the dip. Long Qi was pliant in his arms, leaning back without a trace of hesitation. Their faces were close, so close. And there was nothing in the world that Ma Yongzhen wanted more than to erase that final distance between them.
But it might prove to be the one thing Long Qi wasn't willing to give. And as much as he wanted to, it just wasn't worth the risk. He wouldn't be able to take it, if he lost their friendship. It was about so much more than his job, or even his followers' jobs. It was... It was something he couldn't even put into words. Something that had become so important to him, so utterly vital that he couldn't imagine living without it.
And so he couldn't take the chance that Long Qi didn't feel the same way. He kept his distance, pulling his head back slightly.
A look of disappointment crossed Long Qi's face — but it was hard to tell for sure as he suddenly lifted one of his legs to deliver a hard kick to the back of Ma Yongzhen's knee. He just barely had enough time to roll with the momentum so that it was his arm that took the brunt of the fall, rather than Long Qi's head.
Ma Yongzhen groaned. The fall had been bad enough, but now Long Qi was lying halfway on top of him. He glared, hoping it'd get the message across. But Long Qi only responded by bursting into that reckless laughter of his, completely uncaring that his skull had almost been cracked open against the pavement.
Again, the urge to kiss him was overwhelming. It might even shut him up, who knew? But Ma Yongzhen didn't move. Not even when Long Qi grew silent, looking down at him with a glint of that lonesome sadness in his eyes, did he move.
He firmly told himself to be patient. To wait, until he was completely sure. Then he'd act. Long Qi gave him a somewhat gentle punch in the stomach before he got to his feet. He held out his hand, and Ma Yongzhen took it and let himself be pulled up.
Long Qi smiled at him, holding his hand for few heartbeats longer than strictly necessary. Ma Yongzhen returned the smile, feeling good about his decision to wait. After all, they had all the time in the world.