Title: Prelude to Gravity
Fandom: Guardian
Rating: Teen
Length: ~800 words
Notes: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan. Also for trobadora, for her prompt "Fake relationship", and for the 15kisses prompt "Obscure". No Warnings. Much thanks to trobadora for beta. Title from Rickie Lee Jones.
Summary: Shen Wei pulled his hand free. “Well,” he said, calmly, “it appears there’s no longer any need for the deception.”



Even after Zhao Yunlan’s office door closed behind Minister Gao, the Minister’s “Chief Zhao, given your personal involvement with Hei Pao Shi, I have no option but to review your position as head of the SID” lingered in the air.

Zhao Yunlan didn’t want to move. He’d taken Shen Wei’s hand in a defiant gesture that had frozen the moment they discovered Minister Gao was already aware of Shen Wei’s other identity, and if he let go now, he might never get another chance to—

Shen Wei pulled his hand free. “Well,” he said, calmly, “it appears there’s no longer any need for the deception.”

Coming from him, with his myriad secrets, the irony cut deep. And how could he be calm? Two weeks of pretending to be close to protect Shen Wei’s identity — both of his identities — from being linked and provide him with an alibi when needed, two weeks of spending nearly every waking moment together, and now Shen Wei was stepping away as if it really had all been pretending?

“Shen Wei—” Zhao Yunlan followed, backed him against the desk without crowding too close. “—what are you doing?”

“Protecting your position, Chief Zhao.” Shen Wei’s tone might be steady, but that pointed emphasis on Zhao Yunlan’s title, that muscle moving in his jaw—

Zhao Yunlan met his eye, and the regret there was like a punch to the gut. “Shen Wei,” he repeated, low and urgent this time. “Don’t.”

“It doesn’t seem as if the Department of Supervision is offering us a choice.” Shen Wei looked away. “They have a point. After all, I am the Dixing ambassador. From a diplomatic perspective, fraternisation would undoubtedly be— discouraged by both sides. Chief Zhao, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your—”

“Fuck the DoS,” said Zhao Yunlan, savagely. “Fuck diplomacy. I’m not—” It was laughable, really. He’d spent his whole life avoiding romantic attachments. And he’d never rebelled against the DoS before, not really, despite his less than formal work attire. But if they thought he couldn’t do his job properly because of Shen Wei of all people— Zhao Yunlan ground his teeth at the implied insult, then despite everything, he did laugh.

Shen Wei’s face was grave, shuttered, but his eyebrows quirked in silent question.

“We just spent a fortnight lying to them that we’re involved.” Zhao Yunlan stuck his chin out. “We can sure as hell lie to them that we’re not.” He offered his hand in invitation.

Shen Wei stared at him as if gauging Zhao Yunlan’s sincerity, maybe weighing the risks, and Zhao Yunlan held his breath. This wasn’t a favour. It wasn’t necessary, and Zhao Yunlan couldn’t sugar coat it. Shen Wei had to want him enough to stomach the complications, the potential ire of the DoS and Dixing. How could he? There was no way Zhao Yunlan was worth—

Shen Wei took his hand and pulled him close. “Yes.”

Zhao Yunlan exhaled as Shen Wei's arms came up around him. “In that case—” He leaned back just enough to check in, to make sure they were on the same page, not wanting to rush things if Shen Wei wasn’t—

Shen Wei’s hand curled around his neck, and Shen Wei kissed him, soft, lingering, a kiss that deepened as soon as Zhao Yunlan responded. Shen Wei’s touch fizzed through Zhao Yunlan’s body and between them till it felt like they were both glowing with it, both pressing forward helplessly. Damn, he’d known they had chemistry. He’d spent the last two weeks walking the fine line between putting on a show for the DoS and damping down his true feelings so things wouldn’t get awkward between them. But if he’d had an inkling— Their charade had been small and tame, dinner theatre compared to this, this wildness, this heat. Shen Wei’s hands were dragging across his back like the brakes had come off completely, and Zhao Yunlan hated to be the one to call time out, but they were in his office. Which had glass walls.

“Hey,” he said against Shen Wei’s mouth, grabbing his hand and holding tight so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. “Hey, we can’t—” He pulled away just a little. “I want to, but not here.”

Shen Wei was flushed, breathing hard, his glasses smeared and slightly askew. He blinked at Zhao Yunlan, glanced past him at the office. Then made a gesture—and whoa, Zhao Yunlan could feel the dark energy flowing through him like electricity, a physical reality—and the room faded away.

Zhao Yunlan laughed, breathless and aroused. “What is this?”

“Camouflage,” said Shen Wei, and pulled him close again.



END