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The radio blared Christmas tunes with a constant static crackle in the background as Feng Xin carried the last cooler in from the garage. He dodged as E’Ming and Ruoye barreled past his feet, hot on each other’s tails. It was crazy to think both puppies were barely six months old but still so large. One was fully blind, a common thing from the albinos of Ruoye’s breed, and E’Ming was half blind from neglect of its previous owner. With some love and nurturing, they were now rockstars of their own home, rushing around like racecars with little to no breaks and howling voices that echoed through the home. Feng Xin held his tongue out of respect for Xie Lian and placed the container next to the other, popping the lid open to grab a soda can as his obligated reward.
Somewhere, just sitting in front of the sliding glass door at the back, the homeowner who had graciously sacrificed his home for the Christmas party was half sulking in the arms of his lover, the true mastermind behind this whole thing. Xie Lian innocently smiled as he consoled his precious husband. Hua Cheng had a pout on his lips and stared out at the snow gathering on the terrace. Feng Xin could tell he was upset at having to host people he inherently tolerated at most.
Not that he was any different. He would have preferred to stay home under different circumstances.
“Oh, Feng Xin, there you are!” a high-pitched voice called. Feng Xin paled when he turned and saw a devious-looking Shi Qingxuan heading straight for him. He sported a festive pair of reindeer sweatpants and an ugly green sweater with tinsel and pompoms shimmering off the front. Each puff bobbled as he took a step. Feng Xin spotted He Xuan following like a lost child, face impassive although he wore a pair of antlers on his head, no doubt the work of his lover.
Feng Xin tried to back away only to bump into a solid mass. He whirled around with wide eyes to come face to face with an equally shocked Mu Qing. Before he could say anything, Shi Qingxuan lunged and held a bundle of leaves tied together with a bow.
“Would you look at that? It appears you’ve both stumbled under a mistletoe,” he said with a glimmer of mischievousness in his eyes. “Time for a smooth!” Mu Qing was the first to react and blanched.
“Hell no, why would I kiss this prick?!” he sneered with bared teeth like an angry kitten. Xie Lian laughed a bit from the back.
“One peck won’t hurt, Mu Qing,” he tried to propose. Feng Xin felt his neck grow hot, and he took a sharp breath. Mu Qing glanced at him momentarily, silently begging him to say something. But, his instincts overrode his brain.
He almost didn’t register what he’d done until his fist collided with Mu Qing’s face.
A collective gasp rippled through the house, drawing even the onlookers from the other room. Ling Wen sighed and just looked away, Yushi Huang mirroring her disinterest. Jun Wu loomed from the corner of the room ready to step in, but Mei Nianqing pulled him back to the floor to finish their 1000-piece puzzle and hot chocolate. A few other people all seemed to be stuck between wanting to help or just letting things play out.
Mu Qing stumbled back, knees buckling. Pei Ming appeared and caught him before he hit the ground.
“Mu Qing, are you okay?!” Xie Lian abruptly tossed Hua Cheng out of his lap with a grunt as he stomped up to inspect his face. Mu Qing’s eyes welled up a bit at the stinging in his cheek, but he blinked it away.
“I’m fine,” he muttered. His gaze flickered over to Shi Qingxuan. “Do me a favor and burn that stupid thing.” He pushed himself away from everyone before grabbing Feng Xin’s wrist. All of a sudden, his own fist raised and pummeled Feng Xin in the face. He went tumbling to the floor.
“Feng Xin!” Xie Lian was frozen, frantically looking between the two and stressing with each second. Feng Xin huffed and stood back up.
“You really want to do this?” he scowled. Mu Qing smirked as Shi Qingxuan slowly backed away before snagging He Xuan and running away. He Xuan turned and mouthed an ‘I’m sorry’ to which Hua Cheng shrugged and went to Xie Lian’s side. With a masterful presence, he stepped between them, a palm of each of their chests before they could take another swing at each other.
“With all due respect,” he calmly said, “my home is not a brawling ring. Either calm down and behave. Or if you cannot resist the urge to act like squabbling children, escort yourselves out.”
Feng Xin bristled and clicked his tongue. “Forget staying. I’m leaving.” Mu Qing crossed his arms.
“Well, I guess you had better take me home, too,” he muttered. Xie Lian nervously laughed.
“Are you sure that’s okay? I’m sure San Lang could take you on his motorcycle—” Mu Qing cut him off.
“Feng Xin drove me here; the least he can do is drive me back. And don’t worry, I’m not stupid enough to smother him while he’s on the road. After though, I make no promises.” The other man rolled his eyes at Mu Qing and held his tongue.
“I am amenable to that,” Feng Xin declared. Xie Lian nibbled on his lip, but Hua Cheng wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Then, it’s resolved. Now, please leave.” Their gracious host gave a threatening glare from his single eye, and Feng Xin angrily stomped away. He dug through a bowl on the counter for his keys and snagged his coat before bursting out of the house. Mu Qing was hot on his heels after grabbing his own coat.
Thankfully, the snow was still light, and Feng Xin had parked on the street. He would have lost even more face if he had to ask other people to move. Mu Qing climbed into the passenger seat as he started the engine. Silence passed between them as the air started to turn into bearable heat.
Feng Xin fidgeted in his seat until he finally broke the silence.
“Sorry. I, uh panicked,” he said quietly. Mu Qing looked at the house, and seeing no one peeking through the windows, he twisted over and suddenly kissed Feng Xin on the bruise he gave.
“I noticed,” he mused. “Sorry for hitting back. I didn’t mean to go so hard, but I was matching your spontaneous energy. Besides, in the end, it worked. We got to leave the party together and everyone is none the wiser about us. Although, you’d best start driving or they might start to question if one of us is committing murder.”
Feng Xin snorted and shifted into drive.
“I wouldn’t mind dying by your hands, I think,” he said. “My place or yours?”
“Yours. I like your detachable showerhead,” Mu Qing answered.
“Well, you’ll be able to use it every day soon. Your lease is up after New Year’s, right? I’ll help you move everything into my place around then.”
“You are amazing. Although, first I want a damn ice pack. You have a truck in those hands or something?” Mu Qing chuckled under his breath and glanced at him with a glimmer of amusement.
Embarrassment flushed up his neck, and he didn’t answer. Instead, he focused on the road. Feng Xin gave a hearty laugh at the mental image of little trucks on his knuckles. Unfortunately, the reality wasn’t quite as striking. His boxing trainer had just given him a new set of exercises to build up even more body strength. He supposed that it was successful, all things considered.
Eventually, they arrived at Feng Xin’s house, a modest two-story home with a wide yard that he’d inherited from his grandparents. He pulled the car into the driveway and acquired some ice packs from the garage freezer before he took them into his living room. Mu Qing immediately draped himself across the plush cushions, sighing as the cold hit his face.
Feng Xin sidled up to him, and gently dragged Mu Qing into his arms, resting his head on his chest and started to rub circles into his back.
“Do you think that was enough to convince everyone that we’re not dating?” Feng Xin asked. Mu Qing hummed and tilted his head up. He stroked a thumb down his lover’s chin.
“For now. It’s enough for now,” he concluded. “You know, had things been different, I would have loved to kiss you under that mistletoe.” Feng Xin felt his heart churning at such words. Suddenly, he pulled Mu Qing’s hands down and pulled the ice pack away.
“What are you doing—Umph?!”
Feng Xin sealed Mu Qing’s sentence with a deep kiss. Mu Qing groaned into his mouth, clasping an arm around Feng Xin’s neck and turning his head. He gasped and briefly pulled himself away to rearrange himself. He straddled Feng Xin and threw a leg on either side with a light huff.
“Kiss me properly, you ass,” he demanded. Feng Xin cheekily grinned and leaned in again.
All of a sudden, there was a shriek from the front door. Feng Xin and Mu Qing whipped their heads and came face-to-face with one Shi Qingxuan.
“Uh, hi, t-the door was unlocked. Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Xie Lian sent me over with some leftovers since you left early. He wanted to give it to you on the way out, but you were already gone by the time he packed it up. I’m, uh, going to just leave this here,” Shi Qingxuan rambled on. He set down a neat stack of bagged Tupperware on the floor by the door and gave a nervous smile. “I was also going to apologize for the mistletoe stint, but I see that the intervention wasn’t necessary. I—Congratulations!”
Mu Qing crawled off Feng Xin’s lap and stomped for the poor man.
“Shi Qingxuan! Get out of our house!”
“Eek!” Shi Qingxuan turned tail and immediately ran out. Feng Xin and Mu Qing noticed at this point that the man wasn’t alone. Shi Qingxuan threw on his floral tree-patterned helmet and jumped onto the back of a scooter. He gripped the driver who bore a black and white cow helmet and bopped him on the head. “He Xuan, go, go, go! If you don’t we’ll die!”
Mu Qing was convinced he could sense He Xuan glaring even at this distance. He could probably chase them down easily and kick them each once, but he felt pity as He Xuan struggled to carry two full-grown adults on his old scooter, the neon purple and black paint still peeling over the years.
“Did he come here while Shi Qingxuan held the food?” he muttered to himself. It was honestly a commendable feat. He closed the door with a shake of his head and made sure it was locked this time.
“Probably.” Mu Qing flinched at Feng Xin’s voice sounding so close. He turned to see him picking up the food and taking it to the kitchen. “That was kind of Xie Lian.”
“He always does too much,” Mu Qing said. “I suppose that’s… It’s just how he is.”
“Yeah.”
“... Shi Qingxuan is definitely going to tell people, isn’t he?”
Feng Xin sighed and was mentally resigned to their fate. “I suppose we have been hiding this for a while.”
“Seven years to be exact,” Mu Qing added. Feng Xin’s lips twitched into a smile.
“Well, you seem prepared. I guess I can be, too.”
Mu Qing raised his brows. “Me? How so?” Feng Xin stalked over and hugged him into his chest. He whispered into his ear.
“You told Shi Qingxuan to get out of OUR house, Qing-er,” Feng Xin crooned. “That was very sexy.” Mu Qing stammered and frustratingly shoved his face into Feng Xin’s shoulder.
“Fuck you for catching things like that,” he grumbled. “Take me back to the couch. I want to finish what we did earlier.” Feng Xin rolled his eyes but obliged all the same.
“I love you so much.” Mu Qing swallowed and held him tight.
“I love you, too. My handsome Xin-er. Maybe… Next year, we can go as a couple and actually kiss under the mistletoe.”
“I am holding you to that promise, but indulge me for tonight as if we did,” Feng Xin said, as he fell into a vat of sweetness, drunken on Mu Qing’s tongue and warmth.