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Chapter Text

Shu Yi's wet and scared and small and wrong. One minute he was plotting how best to prank Gao Shi De and the next minute it's raining and his clothes are swallowing him up as he shrinks and shrinks into the body of a small furred animal. Cat? Fox? Squirrel?

He's still trying to figure it out when his nemesis, the one and only Gao Shi De walks his way, eyebrows furrowing.

"Shu Yi?" Gao Shi De looks around, head swiveling as he looks off into the distance.

Shu Yi's offended beyond words. As if he would just strip off all of his clothes, leave his backpack, and go traipsing naked around campus!

"Ow!" Gao Shi De looks down at him. "Did you just bite me?"

Shu Yi glares. What are you going to do about it? Unfortunately it comes out as a distressed meow. Cat then. Fantastic. He's soft and vulnerable and whoa, whoa, whoa, why is Gao Shi De manhandling him?! He could have rabies. He could totally have rabies!

"You're scared, right?" Gao Shi De pets him a little and Shu Yi refuses to acknowledge how nice it feels to be cradled against a firm body, dry and warm. "Do you know where Shu Yi's gone? I've heard of werewolves but not werecats. Are you Shu Yi? That'd be ridiculous right? But he wouldn't just leave like this."

Shu Yi settles a little. At least Gao Shi De acknowledges facts.

Gao Shi De looks at him. "Let's get out of the rain first then we'll figure it out."

Shu Yi's mollified when Gao Shi De grabs his clothes and backpack. He's mortified when Gao Shi De calls Yu Xin and Zheng Wen and Bing Wei too.

Of course none of his friends have heard from him tonight! He's a cat, hello?

Then Gao Shi De takes him home and stows him away like a fugitive in his bedroom. Shu Yi could hear Auntie outside, could smell the dinner, which smells fantastic, but dammit, is he going to get served cat food?

But when Gao Shi De steps back in, it's with a small plate of leftovers, bits of meat and some rice. "Hope this is okay." Gao Shi De scritches under his chin and Shu Yi growls at him. Not your pet!

"Okay, okay," Gao Shi De puts his hands up, conceding as if he understands cat.

Shu Yi digs into the food. It's so good and he's so starving. Do cats metabolize faster? Why is he a cat? Gao Shi De should be the cat! That'd be a great prank. Then Gao Shi De would have to miss classes, exams, swim meets. Shu Yi could win for once, could finally shine. But no, he's the one trapped in the body of a small feline.

"Drink some water too, okay?"

Shu Yi doesn't bother answering and Gao Shi De watches him a while longer before turning away. "I'll wash these clothes for y- Shu Yi."

Once Gao Shi De leaves and closes the door behind him, Shu Yi finally edges over to the water bowl to drink. It's bottled water, not tap, he notes. He laps it up, greedy.

Once he's done, he jumps up on the bed and to his horror, starts licking his paw and then wiping his face with it as if he's done this all his life. What if- fuck, what if he's stuck like this? How does one break curses? Because this has to be a curse. His dad has enough enemies. And also -- well, there's Gao Shi De, not that Shu Yi wants to think about him being powerful enough to carry out curses. Knowing Gao Shi De, he'd be the best at it and that'd spell permanent disaster.

Shu Yi is lolling on the bed in despair when a picture on the desk catches his eyes. It's half a face (the other half hidden under a book) but it looks like his face. Did- did Gao Shi De draw him? Why? Is this like voodoo dolls except voodoo drawing? Is this-- is this proof?!

Shu Yi storms over to the desk to unearth the picture. And the more he looks at it, the more it's unmistakably him.

"Have you finished eating? Did you have enough?" Gao Shi De asks when he comes back in.

But Shu Yi's in no mood to discuss food when there's blatant sorcery underfoot. What is this? He angry points to the drawing with his paw. Why did you draw me with cat ears? Why did you curse me, Gao Shi De? Isn't winning everything enough for you?

"What's wrong? Oh, you found my drawing? It's not very good, is it? Shu Yi is much cuter. Much, much cuter." And then Gao Shi De smiles a little smile and that -- that doesn't look like the face of an evil sorcerer.

Shu Yi blinks. What.

"Do you think Shu Yi's noticed me more recently? He's been trying to prank me. It's cute."

Shu Yi blinks. What! His pranks are gigantic failures if Gao Shi De thinks they're cute. Pranks are not meant to be enjoyed!

Then Gao Shi De sighs and digs out his homework. And nope. If I cannot work on mine, you cannot work on yours. Shu Yi sprawls over the book, all limbs outstretched.

Gao Shi De blinks at him. "You want me to pet you?"

And no! Wait! But… ah, why do the long drags of Gao Shi De's fingers down his spine feel so good?

"You like this?" Gao Shi De smiles at him. "You're purring."

Shu Yi makes his purrs angrier. At least he tries. He doesn't know how cat physiology works. He never thought he would need to.

What do I do? He blinks at Gao Shi De. I cannot stay a cat. Save me, Gao Shi De. We may be enemies but if you save me, I'll-- I'll be nice. At least I won't prank you anymore.

Gao Shi De blinks at him. "Your eyes look so much like his. Shu Yi, is it you? If not, where did you go? Is this your cat? But you don't have a cat. Your otousan doesn't let you have pets."

How do you know? Shu Yi only gets a second to wonder about it before Gao Shi De's scooping him up in his arms and whoa there! He escapes and jumps, landing on the bed.

Gao Shi De sucks in a breath and then shakes his head. "I guess you're not Shu Yi. Zhou Shu Yi would never willingly get on my bed."

Shu Yi stares at him. What? Why does it sound like... why does it sound like Gao Shi De likes him? That cannot be right. Shu Yi walks in a few circles to calm down. No, no, no, no, no. No. What? And he's back where he started, confused down to his bones as he stares at Gao Shi De.

"If you were Shu Yi…" Gao Shi De starts. "But I really hope you're not. Shu Yi's potential would be wasted as a cat. You -- you're only cute, no offense. But Shu Yi is cute and feisty, smart and sexy. He-"

Lalalalala! Shu Yi throws himself at the window blinds just to make a noise, to stop Gao Shi De from saying those things. It's seriously messing with his world view. Gao Shi De hates him. Gao Shi De must hate him, right? Because, because otherwise why would he enter every single competition Shu Yi's ever been interested in? Why would he sabotage everything just to make sure Shu Yi always comes second to him? Why?

"Are you okay? You didn't look like you're rabid…"

Shu Yi snarls at him and ducks under the bed before Gao Shi De could grab him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Gao Shi De retreats, gathering the empty bowl as he leaves again.

In the dark, quiet underbelly of the bed, Shu Yi catches his breath. Gao Shi De… likes him? Gao Shi De likes him? He knocks his face onto his paws. Fuck.

The next time Shu Yi comes to, the room is completely dark, a small beam of moonlight drawn across the wall like silver chalk. He's no longer under the bed but on it. Gao Shi De is not far away, sleeping. Shu Yi shuffles over and stares at Gao Shi De's face.

Shu Yi's never been this close, not really. The last time was probably when Gao Shi De leaned in to sniff him in the music room, to sniff out his prank. Has- has Shu Yi been the bad guy all along?

And then Gao Shi De shifts in his sleep, an arm encircling him and Shu Yi freezes. It's bad enough he's sleeping in the same bed as his nemesis, but cuddling? No, thank you.

He shifts away and tucks himself under the covers too. He's exhausted from the metamorphosis, all of the surprises. Maybe- just maybe all of this has been a hallucination. Surely in the morning he'll no longer be a cat. Shu Yi curls his tail securely around his torso and sleeps.

~

Gao Shi De wakes before his alarm and turns it off as an act of kindness for himself. At least he tries to, but his arm is stuck under a head. What? His eyes fly open.

Shu Yi. Human Shu Yi.

Gao Shi De blinks. No way. He really thought it had to be some weird coincidence, some oddball explanation as to why a cat was in Shu Yi's clothes and Shu Yi nowhere to be found. Did he really confess to Shu Yi last night? Did he blow his own cover? All for a cute, scared cat he wanted to talk to, to soothe?

Gao Shi De blinks again. Shu Yi is unspeakably beautiful in the morning light, eyes closed, face serene.

Then Gao Shi De notices the naked shoulders and collarbones. Shu Yi is... holy crap, Shu Yi is naked in his bed, head on his arm. Gao Shi De swallows and gently as he could, removes his arm from under Shu Yi's head.

Clothes! Gao Shi De grabs his phone to turn off the alarm and trips out of his room. He needs to give Shu Yi his clothes back. He needs to distract his mom so she doesn't notice a whole ass naked boy on his bed.

He's thinking so hard he almost bumps into her in the living room.

"Zao!" Gao Shi De swivels and almost salutes her.

His mom looks at him oddly. "Oh, g'morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Mmm." Just woke up next to the love of my life, no biggie. He rushes to the balcony to check on the clothes but they're still slightly damp. Rise faster, he thinks at the rising sun. He can't lend Shu Yi his clothes because then Shu Yi would wear his clothes and then Gao Shi De would be done for, for life.

His mom pokes her head out onto the balcony. "Do you need me to iron those for you?"

Iron! His mom's a genius. "I love you."

She snorts. "Here, hand them to me."

~

Shu Yi wakes up naked in a room not his own. That should be enough of a shock. Then he remembers last night and whose room, whose bed. "Oh my god."

He pushes down the panic. No, no. At least I'm human again. That's good news. The curse is lifted, thank fuck.

Then Auntie enters the room without knocking and they both jump in surprise.

"Ah, are these--" She gestures to the clothes hung over her arm. "-- yours?"

Shu Yi gulps. Can the curse come back now? He thinks she'd like him a lot better as a cat. "Thank you, Auntie," he bows to her from his sitting position and then, mortified, snatches up the blanket to cover his chest again.

She turns around to give him privacy. "I'll just leave these here," she drapes the clothes over Shi De's chair. "Come and eat breakfast, okay? You must be starving after eating so little last night."

The door clicks after her and Shu Yi throws the cover over his head and silently screams. God, what a way to meet a parent of a guy he's enemies with. God.

He dresses quickly and darts straight into the restroom. No matter how much water he splashes on his face though, Shu Yi cannot wash away the mortification. Does Gao Shi De's mom think they're together? Shu Yi panic brushes his teeth with the new toothbrush set out for him and tries not to think about who is taking care of him like this, if it's Gao Shi De or his mom. There's even a brand new face towel with a picture of a cat on it. He scowls at it. This has to be Gao Shi De.

Shu Yi pads softly out of the restroom, hoping Auntie is still preoccupied in the kitchen and Gao Shi De elsewhere, but no such luck. Both Gao Shi De and Auntie look up at him from the dining table with matching big eyes. Gao Shi De looks sheepish and Auntie looks amused and Shu Yi just wants to run out of the house as soon as it would be polite.

He inclines his head at her instead, trying to get a handle on his blush.

"Mom, this is Zhou Shu Yi. Shu Yi, this is my mom."

"Auntie, hi." Shu Yi bows again and wants to die.

"Shu Yi, come sit next to me," Auntie pats the chair next to her. "I don't know what you like but we have soymilk and congee and danbing. Choose what you like, okay?"

Shu Yi nods at her. "Everything looks good, Auntie. But I don't usually eat breakfast-"

"Xiao Yi!" Auntie scolds in the sweetest voice. "Can I call you Xiao Yi?"

Shu Yi's flustered. Why is Gao Shi De's mom so adorable, such an opposite of her son? "Ah, of course, Auntie."

"Xiao Yi, you should eat breakfast. It'll start your day off right."

Shu Yi blinks at that. Right. Of course starting the day off right consists of waking up buck naked in your nemesis' bed. "I- thank you." He accepts the bowl of congee. When Auntie nimbly picks up a piece of danbing to place on top of his congee, Shu Yi has to fight a wave of nostalgia so thick it almost hits his eyes.

"What's wrong? You don't eat eggs?"

"I do," Shu Yi touches it with his chopsticks. "It just reminded me of my mom, when she used to do this for me as a child."

There's silence for a beat and then Auntie's leaning close to say, "Xiao Yi, I'm happy to do this for you anytime. Come over again for breakfast or dinner. Tell me what you like and I'll make it for you, okay?"

Unlikely scenario. But Shu Yi nods at her. "Thank you, Auntie. This is delicious." Because it is. He hasn't had a home cooked meal in so long.

"Our Xiao Yi eats so well and is so polite. Here, have some more." She moves more eggs into his bowl.

Gao Shi De finally speaks up. "Where's mine, mom? How come it's all for Xiao Yi? Who's your son here?"

"I don't know. Shall I just adopt Xiao Yi?" She shares a warm smile with him before turning to Shi De. "Okay, okay, here, son, eat up."

Shu Yi looks at the two of them and wishes for one crazy moment to be included in this household. But he comes to his senses when he locks eyes with Gao Shi De. Right. Nemesis.

~

Gao Shi De waits until his mom's disappeared into the morning traffic before turning to Shu Yi. "Sorry."

"For what?" Shu Yi's holding onto the strap of his backpack with one hand and staring off into the distance. Then Shu Yi's gaze sharpens and drills into his. "Did you curse me? Are you admitting it?"

"What?" Gao Shi De sighs. "You think I cursed you? Shu Yi, if I had powers, that's not what I would wish for."

Shu Yi blinks, looking unconvinced but less angry anyway. "Then why are you sorry?"

Well… Gao Shi De had meant to guard his bedroom door until Shu Yi got dressed again. But he didn't count on his mom asking him to pop down to the corner store to buy some soymilk. By the time he ran back up the stairs, it was too late.

His mom had taken the bag from him and said, "He's cute. You were safe?"

And Gao Shi De had blushed until he stammered. "We're not- I- mom! We're just classmates."

Shu Yi definitely does not look any friendlier this morning. Gao Shi De sighs. "Sorry my mom… Your clothes were still damp so she ironed them. I should have waited until she was done to get the soymilk. I'm sorry."

"Oh." Shu Yi nods. "Your mom's nice."

"I think so."

"Look, Gao Shi De, thanks for taking me out of the rain last night and letting me crash at your place. But let's never do this again and don't tell anyone I was..." Shu Yi clears his throat and shuts it as more people gather around the bus stop.

"You were what? I didn't see anything."

Shu Yi sighs noisily but doesn't reply otherwise. "What happened anyway?" He seems to be talking to himself.

Gao Shi De wonders the same too. Shu Yi seems to think it was a curse, but why would anyone curse Shu Yi into a cat for one night? Out of curiosity, he pulls out his phone to check the phases of the moon. Full moon… last night was a full moon.

Gao Shi De checks the calendar for the next full moon. And sets an alarm.

Chapter Text

"Don't ask." Shu Yi doesn't need Zheng Wen's questioning look at his shirt. He knows he wore the same one yesterday.

Zheng Wen lets it go, but Yu Xin's a different matter.

She launches into all the questions as soon as Shu Yi sets down his lunch. "Shu Yi, what happened yesterday? I told your dad that you were with Zheng Wen but where were you really? Why are you wearing the same shirt? And I heard you got off the bus with Gao Shi De this morning. What happened? Did he kidnap you?"

More like kit-napped.

Shu Yi shakes his head. "No, I just--" turned into a cat, slept over at his, and met his mom "--had a study group."

"A study group? With Gao Shi De?"

"Mmm." Shu Yi stabs at his lunch and doesn't look either of his best friends in the eye.

"Are you even taking the same class?"

Shu Yi shovels up a mouthful to bid his time. Right. Of course they don't buy it. They know how he feels about Gao Shi De.

How he felt? Shu Yi is a man of his words after all. He's not going to prank Gao Shi De anymore, not after Shi De housed and fed him and kept his secret.

"We're not but I asked Shu Yi for his help."

Speak of the devil. Shu Yi almost chokes. When did he get here? What are you doing?!

Gao Shi De stares back and arches a brow. "We're helping Dr. Pei Shou Yi with his research."

No, we're not! Who even is Dr. Pei Shou Yi? What research?! Shu Yi chases down his food with a gulp of water and grabs Shi De by the arm to drag him away.

"What are you doing, Gao Shi De?" Shu Yi rounds on him once they're out of earshot.

"You got bitten." Gao Shi De points, a finger grazing his neck.

Shu Yi shivers and shakes it off. "What? So?" He brings up the camera on his phone and sure enough, there's a red spot low on his neck. "It's fine. It doesn't even itch."

"Then maybe it wasn't a mosquito. I did some research and..." Gao Shi De leans in, too close yet again. "Have you considered that you might be a werecat? What if it happens again?"

"Are you cursing me again?" Shu Yi cannot believe this. What is Gao Shi De's deal? Does Auntie not let him have a pet?

But Gao Shi De just rolls his eyes. "The health center -- you'll be safe there."

Shu Yi has no idea what that means and he doesn't ask because Gao Shi De's finally leaving, moving towards… Zhe Yu? Is that his name?... anyway, the angry eyebrows guy that always hangs around him.

"The health center?" Shu Yi's never even been there before.

~

Gao Shi De doesn't mean to eavesdrop. It's just -- he was crossing campus and saw Shu Yi in a dead sprint. Is Shu Yi transforming again? He thought before running after him.

"... Yu Xin baka! Zheng Wen baka!..."

Gao Shi De leans against the post behind which he's hiding. Oh. This is a different problem.

Unrequited love - he knows it well and would never wish it on Shu Yi. But here they are. Unwelcome to heartache.

Gao Shi De turns on his phone and uses it to watch Shu Yi without being noticed. Shu Yi is crying, the sound echoing around the length of the swimming pool, the benches, the high ceiling and back. And Gao Shi De wishes they were friends, that he had any right at all to walk up and hug him, pat his hair, and tell him it's going to be okay.

But of course he doesn't. Shu Yi barely acknowledges his existence as it is.

The sudden splash into the pool jerks Shi De alert. Is Shu Yi going for a swim at this time? He peers out from behind his post.

But Shu Yi isn't swimming. The water is too calm, the blue skin of it just barely rocking back and forth. Gao Shi De speed walks to the edge and there Shu Yi is, hanging out at the bottom of the pool with his arms up in surrender.

Gao Shi De counts off the seconds in his head. And counts and counts.

And no. No!

He dives in and swims to Shu Yi to grab him, to shake him to his senses.

Shu Yi finally opens his eyes but definitely doesn't come to his senses.

Up! Let's go up and talk! Gao Shi De tries to gesture.

But Shu Yi shakes his head and pushes him away. Does Shu Yi intend to drown himself along with his sorrows?

Stay, please. Just stay with me. Gao Shi De reaches for him but Shu Yi fights him off again. So much for rationality. Gao Shi De swerves in the other direction and kisses him.

Only, he's never kissed anyone before. He's only thought about it, wondered if it's worth the hype. Now, chlorine in his nose and water in his eyes, Gao Shi De thinks maybe this is as good as it gets because it's Shu Yi. And Shu Yi is warm in his arms, no longer kicking to get away. Gao Shi De thinks 'stay, live' as hard as he could in Shu Yi's direction. You're loved. Please.

Then Shu Yi breaks away but instead of backwards, he finally swims up.

They surface, both gulping in air and wiping away water.

"What's wrong with you?" Gao Shi De is surprised by the sharpness of his anger. But can't Shu Yi see that he's special? That nothing is worth him throwing away his life?

"That's wrong with you?! Why did you kiss me?"

"Why did you try to drown yourself?"

"None of your business, Gao Shi De!"

"Of course it's my business. You're a person."

"Well, this person would like you to go away!" But as he says this, Shu Yi starts changing, fingers into paws and Shu Yi stares at them in horror.

Gao Shi De scrambles up out of the water to kneel in front of Shu Yi who's still transforming, mewing now in distress. "Shu Yi," Gao Shi De reaches out and scoops up a wet, angry cat for the second time in as many weeks.

~

Fuck, fuck. Shu Yi keeps still as Gao Shi De towels him dry.

This is the second time now. The second time he's lost control of himself today. The first was earlier when Gao Shi De kissed him out of the blue.

Does he really like me then? Is he in unrequited love with me the way I am with Yu Xin? And Shu Yi had a moment of sympathy for Gao Shi De, a moment of insanity when he pressed his lips back against Gao Shi De's.

Before he came to his senses, that was. But now instead of sending Gao Shi De off or storming off himself, Shu Yi is once again stuck, beholden to Gao Shi De's good graces.

Except Gao Shi De seems out of sorts too, all frowns no smirks and Shu Yi feels an odd pull to comfort him. He butts him in the head and drags his tail over Shi De's face.

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De throws the towel over him. "Stop. I'm just getting you dry enough so we can go to the health center. I'm sure there's a hair dryer there. And I can borrow some clothes."

The health center again. Shu Yi doesn't know what Gao Shi De's fascination is with that place, but he supposes being dry again sounds good. He's starting to feel cold and irritated with water the way he's never felt as a human.

"Wait a little. I'll get your clothes."

Gao Shi De dives into the pool and gathers up his things, his watch, his shoes, and necklace too. The slick of irritation is still in his steps as he hauls himself out of the water and shoves everything unceremoniously into a big plastic bag.

"Let's go." He hefts Shu Yi in a side carry and marches them across campus. And Shu Yi really shouldn't marvel at the strength of Gao Shi De's arms. It's really not the time.

~

Gao Shi De's almost shaking by the time he pushes through the door of the health center. He takes Shu Yi straight to one of the beds and then sits on a chair himself. That was close. What if he wasn't there? What if Shu Yi drowned while in his cat form? Can one teach a cat how to swim?

"Is it raining?" His cousin asks in the driest tone.

"I'm sure it's raining somewhere. Do you have a hair dryer? I need to--" He gestures at Shu Yi where he's still huddled obediently on the bed.

Pei Shou Yi stares at him, eyes sweeping down to the dripping legs of his jeans and back, and fine, Gao Shi De is sure he looks worse.

"Okay, okay. Do you have a towel? Some dry clothes?"

Pei Shou Yi throws a towel at his face and sits down on the bed next to Shu Yi. "Is it a stray? I can't keep it. I don't keep strays."

Gao Shi De doesn't know what that's about but Shu Yi is so far from a stray. He rubs the towel through his hair and sighs. But that's exactly what the students are going to think, isn't it? He's going to have to get Shu Yi a collar. Gao Shi De pulls his cousin away, closing the drape divider as he goes.

"That's Zhou Shu Yi, the one I told you about." He says under his breath when they're far enough away, past the skeleton and all the way to Pei Shou Yi's desk.

Pei Shou Yi gestures in the direction of the bed. "That's him?" He reaches for his stethoscope and nope.

Gao Shi De grabs his hand and shakes his head. "Don't scare him."

"Calm down, lover boy. You wanted me to help him. I can't help him without examining him. I don't wear this coat just for fun, you know? I'm Dr. Pei Shou Yi."

Gao Shi De does know. His cousin has always patched him up. But this is Shu Yi they're talking about. This is Shu Yi morphing into a cat off schedule.

~

Shu Yi is not sure if he should be happy that he can hear the whispered conversation between Gao Shi De and the muscled doc. They certainly look close. Are they friends? Does Dr. Pei Shou Yi like Gao Shi De?

Not that Shu Yi cares. It's none of his business. It's just normal, healthy curiosity. If he had a human tongue, he'd ask his questions out loud.

But he's still a cat. Shu Yi hops up to the top bar of the bed frame. The metal underneath is cold but the sunlight on his face and back feels nice. He settles in.

"What are you doing there? Come here, kitty kitty."

Shu Yi gives the doctor the stink eye. As if he would dignify that with a response! He has a name too.

"I've met a werecat before."

Oh? Shu Yi perks up. Who? What happened to them? Are they cured? But his questions come out as meows. Of course.

"I bet you're curious about him, huh? He couldn't control it in the beginning either. He'd get bullied and I'd have to turn into a vet. At least you have Shi De protecting you."

Shu Yi blinks at that. Is Gao Shi De protecting him? By kissing him? Stop thinking about the kiss!

Shu Yi jumps down to the bed and headbutts the doc in the arm. Please keep talking! How do I control the change? How do I make it stop? Tell me I can make it stop!

But Dr. Pei Shou Yi reaches out and lifts him and whoa, whoa, no. Shu Yi jumps right out of those arms.

"Want me to hold him?" Gao Shi De comes back dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts that cuts off high on his thighs. And Shu Yi isn't noticing anything on purpose. The thighs - they're just there.

"Are you asking me this question?" Dr. Pei Shou Yi gestures towards Shu Yi anyway, the universal be my guest gesture.

Gao Shi De approaches slowly and picks him up gently. And it's not entirely horrible to settle on Gao Shi De's thighs, he supposes. They're warm and comfortable.

Then the doctor sticks a cold stethoscope to his chest. Shu Yi yowls and backs away on instinct, crashing into Shi De's chest. This is terrible. He's being attacked on all fronts!

"His heart rate is a little high even for cats."

"I told you not to scare him!" Gao Shi De starts toweling him off again. "Shu Yi, do you want the hair dryer? I read some cats are scared of loud noises. Should I just towel you dry?"

Shu Yi looks back at the spot of sun. That was nice. He wants to go there.

"You want the sun?" Gao Shi De shuffles them fully on the bed and backs up towards the window into the stream of sunlight. "Better?"

Shu Yi settles. Much better. Now he just needs Dr. Pei Shou Yi to tell him all the secrets. Can I meet the other werecat? I could use a friend who understands.

Gao Shi De towels off his paws. "Don't be scared, Shu Yi. It'll be okay." Gao Shi De himself looks worried though, a frown marring his face.

Shu Yi moves the paw Gao Shi De's drying and places it atop his hand. It's okay, Gao Shi De. Thank you for bringing me to an expert.

Gao Shi De blinks at him and looks back at the doctor. "Does he need to sleep it off every time? How can he turn back? He has a class at two."

And whoa. How does Gao Shi De know his schedule? Also, damn it, he has a class at two.

"Do you have a class at two?"

Gao Shi De shakes his head.

"Then just take him to class. Hide him in your backpack or the desk. Or sit in the back."

Shu Yi looks up at Gao Shi De. He couldn't ask that of him. They're not even friends.

But Gao Shi De is nodding and smirking for the first time this afternoon. "Speaking from experience?"

"Go away! This is the health center, not your house."

And Gao Shi De chuckles, his smile a bit pretty. Not that Shu Yi cares. Lots of people have pretty smiles. Lots.

Lot of his classmates smile at him anyway. And he finds himself judging them. Not as pretty. Passable. A bit creepy. Some try to pet him. He almost bit one. That's when Gao Shi De moves him to his lap.

"Okay?"

And what is Shu Yi supposed to say? No? He understands the luxury of laps now. He stays and dozes off when Gao Shi De runs a light finger through his fur.

Chapter Text

"Your cat's adorable," coos the fifth girl in as many stops. "What's its name?"

"Zhou Shu Yi."

"Zhou Shu Yi? You named him like your child, how cute! Can I pet him?"

"My child does not like to be petted."

Gao Shi De could swear Shu Yi lets out a snort, if that weird cat face he's making is any indication. Shi De strokes a finger between Shu Yi's shoulder blades in apology. He will splurge for a taxi next time. Taking the bus during rush hour is torture for the both of them.

Flirting in his general direction has always felt double edged - flattering yet uncomfortable. Today it's even more so because Shu Yi is here. Gao Shi De's reminded with every bat of lashes that Shu Yi must be aware by now that Gao Shi De likes him. First, there was the verbal admission they both chose to ignore. Then today there was even a kiss, which Gao Shi De is definitely going to ignore.

He doesn't want Shu Yi to ever feel this way about him, caged in and uncomfortable. That'd be the worst.

Right now Shu Yi is boneless, a pile of fur on his lap, and this is progress. He's achieved friend status with cat Shu Yi. Next up on the agenda: winning over human Shu Yi. He did transfer schools for this after all, to make friends with Shu Yi before graduation, to make memories he can pack with him when he leaves for the U.S.

"Next stop is us," he tells Shu Yi and gets a few funny looks.

Shu Yi stretches and turns to him, eyes so expressive that Gao Shi De almost hears 'thank fuck' in his head.

~

At long last, Gao Shi De steps out onto the sidewalk. Thank fuck. That was the worst bus ride of Shu Yi's life. Why did all of those people want to touch him? Why did all of them want to touch Gao Shi De too? Not that he cares, except at times Gao Shi De's heartbeat grew so loud and distressed it made him distressed too.

"Ma!"

Shu Yi snaps his head up. Oh fuck.

"Gao Shi De!" Auntie sounds alarmed. "What are you wearing? Is that a cat?"

Clop-clop clop-clop. Her shoes sound on the concrete. And then she's here, a hand in front of Shu Yi's nose and Shu Yi automatically sniffs it in greeting. It smells clean, slightly floral. Then the hand's gone and petting him in between the ears and Shu Yi is confused and comforted and ah, nice. Right there. He arches into her palm.

"What happened? Did you steal a cat? It looks too pretty to be feral, aren't you, baby?"

"He's not feral, ma. And I didn't steal him. He's-" Gao Shi De looks down at him. "I'm sorry. I have to tell her. You could change back at any time. At least that's what Pei Shou Yi said."

I could? Shu Yi thinks about it, about gaining fingers and losing a tail and then promptly halts that train of thought. Auntie's here. They're outside. He has no clothes!

"Pei Shou Yi?" Auntie stops petting him as the light turns green and a throng of pedestrians heads their way. "Let's go home first. It's too hot. I need to put these groceries away."

"Yes, ma. Sorry, ma."

"Yes, ma. Sorry, ma." Auntie mock imitates him with a funny face and Shu Yi adores her.

Especially when Gao Shi De shoots him a furtive look and whines, all embarrassed, "Ma!"

This time, Shu Yi, a welcomed guest, non-fugitive, hangs out on the sofa as Gao Shi De and Auntie both busy themselves with washing up and changing into indoor clothes, with putting away the groceries and putting on the kettle.

"So. What do you have to tell me?" Auntie finally asks as they pause for tea.

Gao Shi De looks over at him and then back at his mom. "So, technically, you invited him over last time."

Auntie puts down her cup. "I invited him? Last time? But no one's been over lately except your…" She looks over at him, and Shu Yi blinks, tries to sit up pretty, paws lined up neat. "Xiao Yi?"

"Mmm," Gao Shi De nods. "Apparently werecats are real."

There's a long stretch of silence.

Then Auntie claps her hands. "So that's why Xiao Yi was naked in your bed last time!"

"Ma!"

Auntie! Shu Yi flattens down to the sofa and hopes she can't see him over the pillows. Do cats blush? Or do they just get fevers? Cause he thinks he's getting a blush fever.

Especially when Auntie comes over and crouches down to look at him. "Xiao Yi, don't be scared. I'm not going to kick you out, okay? I'll just kick Shi De out of his room for tonight."

"Ma!"

"What? You can stay with me or you can sleep on the sofa. You choose."

Gao Shi De's groaning in the background but otherwise not protesting. Shu Yi counts it as a win. He gets a whole room to himself tonight, free to try to change back.

"Xiao Yi, make yourself at home, okay? When you do change back, help yourself to Shi De's clothes. You don't look that different in size, so his clothes should fit you."

Shu Yi looks at Gao Shi De, but Gao Shi De is facing away, clearing his throat. Shu Yi turns back to Auntie and nods. Mmm! And earns himself an exclamation of "oh, hao ke ai!" and "do you want shrimp for dinner?"

~

Gao Shi De cannot stop thinking about Shu Yi alone in his room. Shu Yi as a cat needs a lot of help. At dinner Gao Shi De peeled his shrimps for him and fed him by hand. After dinner, Gao Shi De brushed his teeth for him with a small toothbrush he'd picked up just in case. Now Shu Yi is all alone in his room. What if his claws get stuck in something? What if he wakes up scared and confused? What if he's human again tomorrow morning and wearing Shi De's clothes?

He groans and turns his face to the ceiling.

"Do you like him?"

Gao Shi De freezes, stunned into silence. Does his mom know?

"He's cute even as a human, polite even as a cat."

Gao Shi De has to snort. "He's only polite to certain people." He's seen how fast Shu Yi's hackles could rise in both forms.

"So you don't deny that he's cute?"

Damn it. He takes too long to answer, which is in itself an answer. Why did he choose to sleep here instead of on the sofa? Why?

"Does he like you?"

"No." Of this Shi De is certain.

His mom squeezes his arm. "Well, he doesn't know what he's missing."

"He's not missing anything, ma. He likes girls."

"Did he say that?"

"No, but-" Yu Xin's a girl.

"Gao Shi De," his mom scolds. "I thought I raised you better than this. Never assume. You don't know until you ask. You don't know until you try. And here I thought I raised a smart son."

"But this is different! Shu Yi…" is an impossible dream. "I just want to be his friend," he deflects.

His mom tsks at him. "Then be his friend, sha gua."

Trying. Out loud, Shi De yawns. "Okay. G'nite, ma."

~

Gao Shi De's room without Gao Shi De in it feels like an open diary. Shu Yi pokes at the maps and drawings, the posters and pictures, the clothes and all the spines of the books that Gao Shi De owns. Last time, he didn't get to explore, to really look around. But now there's light and privacy, an explicit permission to roam, to make himself at home. So Shu Yi does.

His favorite spot is the bookshelves. It's a trove of treasures. On the topmost shelf, behind a shoebox, is a picture of a young Gao Shi De with Auntie and a man who must be his father, their smiles are so similar. On a lower shelf, closer to the center, is an extended family photo. Pei Shou Yi? Shu Yi guesses he must be a cousin. How has he not noticed the resemblance before?

On the bottom shelf, there are fun books: comic books, cook books, travel guides, coloring books. So you're not only about winning, are you?

However, Shu Yi finds zero magic books, which is highly disappointing.

Also disappointing is the fact that he's still stuck as a cat despite his efforts. He'd visualized his human face and form. He'd lifted his front paws and tried to stand as tall as he could. He'd even stared into the mirror and thought 'abracadabra!'

But so far nothing. Gao Shi De's not even here to brainstorm with him. Shu Yi shakes it off. No, he's not missing him. That's ridiculous.

By midnight, Shu Yi gives up consciously trying to transform. After all, he did it in his sleep last time. Maybe it'll happen the same way this time.

Unfortunately, with as many naps as he's taken today, Shu Yi feels extra alert. He jumps up to the chair Gao Shi De has placed by the door for him and turns the knob.

A ray of light shines from the kitchen. Auntie?

But it's Gao Shi De by the fridge. "Shu Yi. You can't sleep either? Want some milk?"

Shu Yi would like some fingers but he supposes milk would do. He sits and waits.

"I've been texting Pei Shou Yi. He says extreme distress, injury, and the full moon could all trigger the transformation into a cat. But he's less sure what triggers the transformation back. He said one time Zhen Xuan -- that's the werecat he knew -- transformed back while he was restocking ramen. So, it seems pretty random."

It does. Ramen? Shu Yi has no idea why ramen would trigger a transformation. Does he need to be in the presence of certain foods? Favorites? But he already had seafood tonight and he's still a cat.

Gao Shi De takes out the glass of milk he's stuck in the microwave and pours some into a bowl for him. "Want me to blow-"

But Shu Yi is quicker, a paw already wet from the milk. He licks it clean. Then the bowl.

And while the milk is delicious, it fails to make him sleepy. Music! That's what he needs. Urgently, he steps up to Gao Shi De and taps at his mouth.

"Do I have a milk mustache or something?" Gao Shi De wipes at his mouth.

No! He meows, trying to make it melodic but well, there's a reason why cats are not pop stars.

"One second." Gao Shi De disappears into his mom's room and reemerges with a tablet. "Can you type with this?" He pulls up an oversized keyboard app.

Oh, that's brilliant! Shu Yi rubs his face against Shi De's in appreciation before freezing. What the hell is he doing?!

Nonchalantly, he steps away from Gao Shi De and nudges the tablet flat on the table. One tedious tap at a time, he writes: sing.

"Sing? Me?"

What, do you want me to sing? Shu Yi bats an annoyed eye at him.

"Okay, okay." Gao Shi De takes breath in and Shu Yi taps his mouth closed again.

And spells out on the tablet: sofa.

"On the sofa?" Gao Shi De carries him over. "Do you want to sit on my lap?"

If you insist. Shu Yi gets comfortable and waits for Gao Shi De to sing.

Which he does with a soft voice, a nice cadence. Shu Yi taps along to the beat. He likes this song. He likes how Gao Shi De sings it.

~

Gao Shi De sings the song that he heard Shu Yi play on the piano before and hopes he gets all the lyrics right. Shu Yi taps along, paw soft and warm against his wrist.

When the tapping stops, Shu Yi's leaning his cheek against his arm. It really is him. Gao Shi De thinks he can recognize cat Shu Yi now even without seeing him transform. As a human and as a cat, Shu Yi keeps to the same mannerisms, the same stares and the same glares.

Gao Shi De carries him to bed and tucks him in. The image of human Shu Yi asleep on his arm comes unbidden. Beautiful. Shu Yi really is unbearably cute in all his forms. Unable to stop himself, Shi De drops a kiss to the top of his head. "Good night, Shu Yi."

Of course there's no answer. And then, Shu Yi's transforming, cute nose into cute nose, fur into hair and skin. Gao Shi De's mouth drops open. That was close. If he'd waited even a while longer, he would have ended up with a naked human Shu Yi on his lap. He gulps.

~

Shu Yi wakes to sunlight and the smell of breakfast, a blanket over him and opposable thumbs. He sits up in excitement. So it did work, the not working for it. Maybe that's the trick after all.

He gets dressed in a hurry, the outfit already picked out yesterday in his head - jeans and a t-shirt that could have been from his own closet.

It's Saturday and otousan's not due back from his business trip until tomorrow, so he's free to do as he pleases today. And what he needs is to go shopping. He'd thrown away his backpack yesterday in his hurry to get away from Yu Xin and Zheng Wen. Yu Xin and Zheng Wen… his heart squeezes at the thought. It still stings to think of them.

Luckily, he hasn't had time, what with the werecat business and the distraction of Gao Shi De and Auntie. Shu Yi runs a hand over his hair and wipes at the corners of his eyes. He wants to look presentable. For Auntie.

But Gao Shi De's the only one he sees when Shu Yi makes it to the living room.

"Zao!" Gao Shi De's staring at him like he's never seen him before, eyes extra large, face a .jpg.

"Ta-da! I'm me again!"

That crooks a smile out of Gao Shi De. "You changed back last night as soon as I carried you to bed and tucked you in."

"Oh." So sleep did do it. It makes no sense. What's the difference between napping and sleeping? "Where's Auntie?"

"Mom had to go into work today, but she made breakfast and said you have to eat something before you leave or she'd disown me."

Shu Yi snorts. "I like your mom."

Gao Shi De rolls his eyes. "I like my mom too, so you better eat. I don't want to get disowned."

Whatever. As if Auntie would actually disown him. He's her favorite, even Shu Yi could tell. "I'm going to shower first. I didn't get to last night. I can use your soap and shampoo, right?"

Gao Shi De nods dumbly at him and doesn't say anything. Maybe he isn't a morning person? Shu Yi shrugs it off.

"Here, want me to dry your hair?" Gao Shi De asks when he comes back out. The hair dryer he's holding looks like it weighs a ton.

Shu Yi thinks about his wrist and sits. "Thanks."

True to its form, the hair dryer turns on noisy and blows out hot. But Gao Shi De shields his face and neck from the worst of it and Shu Yi closes his eyes and enjoys being human again, being pampered and clean again.

"What are your plans today? Do you need to go back to campus to get your backpack?"

Shu Yi shakes his head. His phone and wallet, all of his important things were in his pockets, so he doesn't need his backpack. "There was nothing in there, just pens and notes. I'll buy another one today."

"Can I go with you? We need to get you a collar and some clothes for the next time you stay over."

Shu Yi wants to object. He has clothes at home. He doesn't need a collar. But it'd be suspicious if he packs a bag, so he shrugs. "Okay."

"We should also get some flash cards. Or make some. It'd be easier than typing. And toiletry. We should also-"

"Gao Shi De!" Shu Yi has to stop him. "I'm not moving in here."

"No, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable when you are here. Unless you don't plan to come over any more. Do you want to tell your friends-?"

"No!" Shu Yi is quick to reply. He can't face his friends. Not even Bing Wei. He can't face more people knowing, especially not when he has no control over what he does in cat form. What if he bites Zheng Wen?

"What about your dad? Do you plan to tell him?"

"Not even if he catches me as a cat. Otousan would freak if he knows his son is… different."

Gao Shi De's silent as he dries the rest of Shu Yi's hair and Shu Yi's glad for the respite. In return, he digs into breakfast as promised.

~

Gao Shi De is having a hard time, a hard day. Shu Yi emerges sleep-soft in his clothes and then Shu Yi re-emerges bright and clean, smelling like him. Then Shu Yi sits in front of him, trusting as he gives Shi De access to touch his neck and his face, his hair and his ears. It's torture of the highest order.

Now Shu Yi's grabbing his wrist and pulling him to the different shops as they look for clothes and backpack and toiletry. Shu Yi is definitely buying too much. With all the bags on their arms now, it certainly looks as if Shu Yi is moving in. He's going to need to clean out a space in his room just for Shu Yi's things.

"We still need to get you a collar. Maybe something stretchy that would fit your neck in both forms."

"Kinky." Shu Yi smirks at him and Shi De cannot. Especially when Shu Yi continues, "I know a place."

The place turns out to be a high end accessories shop. True to Shu Yi's words, there are many neck attires, most of them very tame.

Shi De's drawn to one, a simple black wrap-around with a secure closure.

"That looks nice." Shu Yi comes up behind him. "Put it on me?"

"I think it's a bracelet."

Shu Yi holds out his wrist. "That works too. I can just move it to my neck when I change."

Shi De loops the bracelet around once, twice, three times, and secures it. "How's that?"

Shu Yi turns his wrist and smiles and Gao Shi De hurries to grab another one, a back-up, he tells himself firmly, not a set. "Let me buy this for you. You already brought so many things today."

"Mmm." Shu Yi is still admiring his new bracelet. "Hurry. I'm starving."

If later that night, Gao Shi De slips on the extra bracelet around his own wrist, it's just to try it out. If Shu Yi loses his bracelet, then well, Gao Shi De will have the backup.

Chapter Text

"Very smart," Bing Wei crows at him from out of nowhere. "You've breached enemy camp to spy on him, right? Attack from within -- that's the new strategy?"

"Huh?" Shu Yi shoves another piece of chicken in his mouth as he writes out homework with his other hand. Who knows when he'll turn into a cat again? Every moment counts.

"Gao Shi De -- you're hanging out with him a lot lately. That's why, right?"

Oh, right. Where is Gao Shi De? He should be here by now. Shu Yi takes a cursory look around but doesn't see him, just Bing Wei's expectant face. Shu Yi shakes his head. "No, I'm not going to prank him anymore."

"Really? But Zhe Yu and I saw you guys at the library yesterday and Zheng Wen said you turned him down for dinner because you were eating with Gao Shi De. Why are you hanging out with him so much if you're not pranking him?"

Because I feel safe with him. But that sounds like a weird thing to say.

Because he's actually a really good study partner. That sounds lame.

Because we're kind of friends now. That sounds unkind to say to a friend he's neglecting. Avoiding? For fear of outing his new cat status.

"Research," he falls back on Gao Shi De's lie.

"Research?"

"Mmm. With Dr. Pei Shou Yi. About werecats."

In actuality, Shu Yi's had one full conversation with the doc so far and only because his stomach acted up after hot pot.

Dr. Pei Shou Yi gave him lip then medicine. Then he answered Shu Yi's questions about the other werecat, though most of his answers were: I don't know. I don't know where he is now. I don't know how he gained control of his changes. I don't know what made him a werecat in the first place. No, you don't look like him in cat form. What do you mean how? He's scrawnier and you're fluffier.

"Werecats?"

"Humans who turn into cats on full moons," Shu Yi says, then considers. "And other occasions."

Bing Wei blinks rapidly, half pouting, half frowning. "So... you're studying it in film? Or TV? Books?"

"Books. And in person. In… cat?" Pss, I'm the cat, he doesn't say.

"Oh?" Bing Wei gawps. "They're real? Aiya, I've never seen one before!"

Because we hide, Shu Yi thinks. And then -- oh. Is Zhen Xuan hiding too?

~

"What's wrong with you?" Pei Shou Yi snaps his fingers.

Gao Shi De leans back and sighs. Honestly, can he get no peace anywhere? "Nothing." He thumbs at his bracelet. It's been a week of wearing this and spending all of his time with Shu Yi. He should be happy -- and he is -- but he's also dying a little inside. Every time Shu Yi smiles at him or says something smart or smartass, which is often. Every time Shu Yi eats the food he offers like it's a given. Yesterday when Shu Yi practically hugged him as he used him like a human shield to hide from Yu Xin. This morning when Shu Yi showed up dressed in Gao Shi De's shirt that he never returned.

His cousin presses a palm against his forehead.

"I'm not sick."

"Then get out. If you're just going to mope about Shu Yi, go mope somewhere else."

Gao Shi De groans. Honestly, he didn't even say anything.

"Your face. It's very loud."

Gao Shi De points at it. "Do you think Shu Yi can tell?"

Pei Shou Yi flashes him an overly sweet, overly fake smile. "Lucky for you, he's also very dumb."

Gao Shi De rolls his eyes. His cousin doesn't know anything. "Zhou Shu Yi's one of the smartest people I know."

"He ate spicy hot pot until he keeled over."

"That was one time! And it was my fault. I didn't know his stomach couldn't handle it."

Pei Shou Yi stares at him. "You're really not going to confess?"

Gao Shi De shakes his head. No way. Shu Yi has just gotten comfortable around him. He can't make it weird. He won't. "What color did you say Zhen Xuan's cat form was?"

"Tuxedo - black and white. Why?"

"Next week's the full moon. I'll keep an eye out for him."

Pei Shou Yi glares at him and takes a long drink from his chipped cup like he's some beast in a fairytale.

Gao Shi De lets him be. "Bye!" He heads for the cafeteria. Shu Yi might still be there if he hurries.

~

Shu Yi turns to Gao Shi De to ask him… something. Shu Yi doesn't remember what anymore. Gao Shi De is asleep, head pillowed on his arms and breaths even. Shu Yi's never seen him asleep before. Gao Shi De's lashes are long. His nose perfect. His lips are… were on Shu Yi's once before, so he knows they're warm, they're soft.

Shu Yi shakes himself out of his thoughts, out of his stare. No. What's happening? Why is he looking at Gao Shi De? He brings his eyes back to his notes, but there too scribbled in blue ink lies betrayal -- Gao Shi De, Gao Shi De, Gao Shi De all over the place in Shu Yi's scrawl.

Shu Yi tears out the page and crumples it. What is this? He's never done this before, not even with Yu Xin.

Beside him, Gao Shi De stirs, stretching his arms and arching his head back. Shu Yi gulps. Shit. Why is he staring at Gao Shi De's neck?

He snaps his eyes up. "Bored?"

Gao Shi De blinks at him. "A little."

Shu Yi's surprised into a laugh. It's true. These were-animal references they've been poring over are the driest texts he's ever come across. They're not even informational is the worst part. "Let's go."

"Where to?" But Gao Shi De is already standing and gathering his things.

"Shilin?" The night market has some of Shu Yi's favorite snacks, not to mention some of his favorite games. He hasn't been to an arcade in so long.

"Let's go."

The bus ride is interminable, Gao Shi De pressed up against him in the too small seats and Shu Yi trying not to look at him. He can't not feel the wall of heat though. Gao Shi De is warm and Shu Yi wants to lean into him. Except as a human, cuddling Gao Shi De is out of the question. For once, Shu Yi's jealous of his cat form. Gao Shi De takes such good care of him. Shu Yi sighs.

"We're almost there."

"Mmm."

Shilin is crowded like always, with people, with smells and noises, crowded with colors and languages (and sometimes colorful languages). But even here, Shu Yi is highly aware of Gao Shi De walking beside him, of Gao Shi De's low throaty voice every time he points something out.

"Shu Yi -- spicy kebabs!"

"You like them too?" Shu Yi's surprised. None of his friends do.

"Let's get one to share." Shi De's already reaching for his wallet. "If your stomach acts up again, Pei Shou Yi won't let me live it down."

Shu Yi has to snort. "Your cousin is something else."

"He told you he's my cousin?" Gao Shi De hands him a skewer. It's hefty and smells heavenly.

"No." Shu Yi slides a careful piece off and chews. "Mmm!" It's so good, the spice and warmth of it hits the spot. He hands it off to Gao Shi De to try.

"Then how do you know?"

"Secret." Shu Yi grins. "No, when I was in your room I saw the family photo with you and auntie and your grandma and everyone. I guess he does look a little like you." Not as handsome though.

"So when do I get to see your room? And find out about your secret cousins?"

Shu Yi steals back the kebab. "My cousins are not secret. They're just boring." He thinks about taking Gao Shi De to his house, his room, and his stomach does a funny swoop. "My room's boring too."

"I doubt it." Gao Shi De steals the kebab back. "Nothing about you is boring."

Shu Yi looks away. Is Shi De flirting? Why is it working? Fuck. "I'm getting bubble tea," he walks faster. "You want to share?"

~

Gao Shi De follows Shu Yi around Shilin and learns new things. Like: Shu Yi's even more animated at night. He likes oyster omelettes to the point of burning his mouth from impatience. He hogs the bubble tea. He's good at games but not as good as Gao Shi De.

Shi De does almost falter once on the balloon pop when Shu Yi turns to him and makes a finger gun, cocks it and shoots, lips almost a kiss as he goes, "pew!" Gao Shi De goes weak in the heart and almost weak in the knees and has to look away to breathe.

Now Shu Yi's sleepy and leaning his head against Shi De's shoulder as they take a taxi to Shu Yi's place. Gao Shi De stays still. Shu Yi's face is painted in reds and blues from the lights outside the windows. Yet somehow, even like this he's beautiful.

~

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De calls him softly and Shu Yi doesn't want to wake at all, wants to snuggle closer into his heat instead and be carried.

"Zhou Shu Yi!"

Shu Yi wakes at once. Why's his tousan here? Don't those galas end much, much later? "Tousan!"

His dad sniffs him. "You're not drunk. Why are you all over him?"

"Otousan," Shu Yi puts on his best wheedling voice. "I've been studying so much lately I got sleepy." He yawns extravagantly for show.

"Hmm." His dad glares at Gao Shi De anyway.

Gao Shi De bows. "Hello uncle. I'm Shu Yi's friend Gao Shi De."

"We'll be back." Shu Yi grabs Shi De's arm and tugs him inside. "I need to return a book to him."

"What book?" Shi De asks when they're safely in his room.

"Baka! There's no book. You wanted to see my room. So, this is it." He gestures at his space. It's shinier than Shi De's room, less cozy and more expensive. But it's his room and Gao Shi De asked to see it.

"Oh." Gao Shi De walks around, going immediately to Shu Yi's most prized photo -- the one of him and his mom and tousan from years ago, all of them smiling and leaning into each other like it's the best day of their lives. "You have her smile."

"You have your dad's smile."

Gao Shi De looks up. "You saw?"

"Mmm."

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De turns to him, all of the sudden too close. "Thanks for showing me your room, but I think I should go."

"Oh." Shu Yi nods. That's probably for the best. He feels on edge with Gao Shi De here and he doesn't know why.

"I'll just take this." Gao Shi De swipes the nearest book. "Good night, Shu Yi."

"Mmm, thanks for taking me home."

"Thanks for taking me to Shilin. I had fun."

Shu Yi flushes. Why does this feel like the end of a date? It wasn't a date! "Me too. But next time, I'm definitely going to beat you!"

Next time? Fuck.

~

Gao Shi De can't turn off his smile all the way home. Shu Yi had fun. Shu Yi said there's a next time.

Gao Shi De turns Shu Yi's book over in his hands. It's his macroeconomics textbook.

Shi De flips through the pages. On the margins, Shu Yi's written notes, a combination of numbers and characters and Japanese. It's chaotic but charming, a record of Shu Yi's thought process in pen.

Then Shi De flips a page back. That- that's his name. There's zero context, but Shu Yi's written 'Gao Shi De' five times on the margin in successively larger and larger loops.

Gao Shi De blinks. Is this Shu Yi thinking of him or is this Shu Yi cursing him? Either way, it's his name under Shu Yi's pen. He slips out his phone and snaps a picture. There. Now he has a record of tonight, an earmark for these new memories.

~

"Is that too many pillows?"

Shu Yi piles on another one. "There's no such thing as too many pillows when you're making a pillow fort, Gao Shi De!"

"Should we make a separate smaller one? In case Zhen Xuan shows up?"

"Do you think he will?"

Gao Shi De shrugs. "Probably not? Pei Shou Yi says he hasn't seen him in seven years."

"Let's make him a place anyway." Shu Yi decides. It's best to be prepared. The sun will set in a couple of hours. Then it will be the full moon, his first where he's aware he will morph into a cat.

"Are you sure you're okay here in the health center?" Gao Shi De asks for the hundredth time.

"You'll be here with me. We have food and water, a shower, a restroom, and beds. We have extra clothes. Also! A laptop!"

"It's nowhere near as nice as your room. It's not my place either."

Shu Yi huffs. Seriously, maybe Gao Shi De is affected by the moon too. He's fretting so much that Shu Yi can't help but reach out and shush him with a finger over his lips. "Shh!"

Gao Shi De stills immediately and stares at him.

"But your otousan-"

Shu Yi surges forward to kiss him impulsively, to shut him up. But Gao Shi De turns his face to the side.

Then Gao Shi De is pushing him away. "Shu Yi, what are you doing? Don't- stop messing around." He looks upset and Shu Yi can't let him go this way.

"Gao Shi De," Shu Yi tugs him back. "I'm not messing around. I like you, Gao Shi De."

Shi De makes a wet, broken noise. "Because I helped you out a couple of times?"

"Because you were always there! You were always looking at me. You know my favorite foods and my class schedule. Honestly you're a bit of a stalker, and that should put me off but-" Shu Yi shakes his head, understanding now that he's put his feelings into words. "But you're all I can think about these days! You know why I was actually looking forward to changing tonight? Because I get to sit on your lap again and have you carry me places and cuddle me and all these things I don't get to ask you for when I look like this."

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De shakes his head. "Don't confuse gratitude with love."

"I'm not! I'm grateful to Auntie. I'm grateful to your cousin. I am grateful to you too, but Gao Shi De, you are the only one I want to kiss. You're the only one I can't stop thinking about. It makes me happy we're wearing the same bracelets!" He lines up his arm with Shi De's so at least their bracelets kiss. "The other day, I even noticed your neck! I like you, Gao Shi De."

But a simple 'like' is not right. He switches to Japanese. "Dai dai dai daisuki. Sekai de ichi ban daisuki!"

Gao Shi De hugs him and laughs (and maybe cries) a little. "Shu Yi. Shu Yi, you don't have to yell."

"Do you believe me now?" Shu Yi hugs him back tight, face turned into the crook of Gao Shi De's neck.

Gao Shi De sniffles and nods and also shakes his head.

And Shu Yi feels about the same, like they were in a shipwreck, like they were just rescued.

This time when they pull back, when Shu Yi leans in again and kisses him, Gao Shi De doesn't duck. Gao Shi De kisses him back, and it's a mess of tears and feelings and lips and hands.

"Was that your first kiss?" It was mine.

But Gao Shi De shakes his head.

"Really? Then who was it?" Shu Yi is ready to make a new nemesis.

"The swimming pool," Gao Shi De says, almost shy.

And oh. Oh. "That doesn't count." Shu Yi reels Gao Shi De in for another kiss. So they're both new at this. They need a lot of practice. A lot.

Chapter Text

Shu Yi liking him back, Shu Yi holding his face and straddling his lap, Shu Yi kissing him until he thinks he's going to combust -- Gao Shi De's never dared to imagine any of this. And yet.

"Shu Yi."

Shu Yi slides a hand over his neck (warm fingers, cold rings) and closes the distance between their mouths again. And Gao Shi De thinks no, maybe he doesn't need to say it. Maybe they can just kiss forever.

Only, Shu Yi pulls back, "mmm?" stuttered out breathy, breath-taking.

Gao Shi De blinks and gets sidetracked by a flash of tongue over pink lips. When a smirk blooms there, pushing up a corner of that mouth, Gao Shi De looks up, caught.

That face. He loves that face, has loved it for a long time, and always will. The last time he saw Shu Yi gloating was when Shu Yi pranked him at the gym, when the bottle of coke exploded all over Zhe Yu and a little over him, got them both sticky. That was barely over a month ago and yet feels like ages. So much has changed.

Shu Yi likes him now. Shu Yi likes him best. Gao Shi De swallows. He does have to say it. Even if Shu Yi knows it already, he has to tell him again, out loud, clearly and emphatically. "Dai... daisuki," he says haltingly. "You're my favorite, Shu Yi. I don't know how I got so lucky to-"

"To?"

"To meet you, to get to know you. To-" he holds Shu Yi tighter "-hold you." To kiss you, he thinks, still dazed. Is any of this real?

Apparently not because Shu Yi says, "The luck's all mine, Gao Shi De, that you liked me first."

Which -- yes, true, but also what? The luck is his? Is he hearing things? Gao Shi De opens his mouth to argue but Shu Yi thinks it's for kissing and kisses him soft and kisses him sweet. "How long has it been? Since high school?"

Gao Shi De shakes his head. What just happened? And also no. "Earlier."

"Middle school?"

"Earlier."

"Really? Since elementary?"

"Earlier."

Shu Yi frowns at him. "How is that possible? We met in elementary! If you say in our past lives, I will break up with you, Gao Shi De!"

Shi De has to smile. This is so Shu Yi with that temper. "So we're together?"

"I'm sitting on you!" Then the words register. They register all over Shu Yi's face. He blushes and looks away, blinking and folding in his lips as if flustered to find himself here. God, he's cute. Shi De likes him so much.

Gently, he rubs circles over Shu Yi's back. "We're together," he affirms. "Today's our first day."

"You're that happy about it?"

More, Shi De thinks. Whatever happiness you see, it's more. He nods and tells Shu Yi about the first day they met, why he hasn't been able to look away since.

"Oh." Shu Yi tilts his head to the side. "I... vaguely recall..."

"I see. Somebody falls in love and somebody vaguely recalls." Gao Shi De teases him.

Shu Yi doesn't fall for it, doesn't smile and doesn't roll his eyes. What he does do is look Gao Shi De in the eyes and say "I'm in love now." And yeah, okay, right, he wins. (He always does.)

This time their kiss slots deeper, the swipes of their tongues hotter, the nips of their teeth bolder. Shu Yi pushes him down to the bedding and Gao Shi De's mind goes blank. Everything is Shu Yi, Shu Yi, Shu Yi -- the sounds of him, the weight of him, the smell of him, the taste of him, the texture, the warmth. Gao Shi De's so flushed and dizzy that at first he thinks he hallucinates it.

But the noise grows in volume, a clear clearing of the throat. "Ahem! Is this a hotel?"

Damn it. He's completely forgot that he asked his cousin to bring more blankets.

Sheepishly, he peers up from under Shu Yi. "Biao ge."

~

From this angle, Dr. Pei Shou Yi looks especially like the hulk. But with Gao Shi De's arms still wrapped around his waist, Shu Yi feels no fear.

He does feel light embarrassment though and clambers off of Gao Shi De despite how much he wants to stay. (They're together.) "Hi."

The doc stares at him as if that's a proper greeting. "Why did you want these?" He drops a duffle bag at their feet. "You already have so many blankets here you can make a whole bed out of them."

"That's kind of the point." Shu Yi turns to Gao Shi De. "You didn't tell him?"

"Tell me what?"

"They're for uh…" Gao Shi De trails off, looking reluctant to mention a certain name.

Luckily Shu Yi has no such qualms. "We're making a blanket fort for Zhen Xuan." He unzips the bag and pulls out the blankets, one in wildflower prints and another in solid blue. They'll do.

"What did you say?"

Shu Yi blinks at him. Oh. So Gao Shi De was right. The doc is sensitive about it for someone with no feelings. "...blanket fort?"

The doc sighs. "He won't show up."

"Then more treats for me." More attention for me. More cuddles. More...

"Stop! Stop thinking whatever you're thinking."

...privacy.

"I'm leaving."

At the door, Dr. Pei Shou Yi looks back and jabs a finger at them. "Clean up. Tomorrow when I come back to my office, it better be clean. Don't leave anything behind."

"Commit theft. Got it."

Gao Shi De snorts at his comment, but the doc looks like he's about to commit some other crime.

"Hao hao hao," Gao Shi De gets in between them and pushes at his cousin. "We'll clean up. I promise. Thanks for letting us stay."

Shu Yi wins the newest round of rock-paper-scissors and takes the chopstick from Gao Shi De. With gusto, he digs into the ramen for another bite. He's going to have to remember this brand. It actually tastes pretty decent.

"Do you think Zhen Xuan will show?"

Shu Yi finishes chewing. "I don't know. Your cousin was pretty harsh for leaving him. Imagine getting adopted and then un-adopted. That's not cool."

They go again with rock-paper-scissors. Again Shu Yi wins. "Hmm!"

Gao Shi De smiles back at him then turns pensive. "I've tried to ask about it, but he doesn't want to tell me. From what I can tell, biao ge doesn't think he's adopted Zhen Xuan yet, and he doesn't feel up to the task."

Shu Yi grumbles at that. "Cats are not even that much work."

"I don't think it's the cat part that's the problem."

"Oh." Shu Yi balls up his fist and loses to Gao Shi De's paper. He hands the chopsticks over. "So, he doesn't like him or he doesn't want to like him?"

Gao Shi De swallows his mouthful. "Biao ge would probably say the former, but I think it's the latter."

Shu Yi nods along. Right. He could understand that. But he got over it and Dr. Pei Shou Yi could too. "Gao Shi De, can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything."

Shu Yi hesitates. He doesn't know if he should. It's been weighing on him but Gao Shi De doesn't strictly need to know and might be hurt if he does.

"What is it, Shu Yi? You can tell me."

But, right. This is Gao Shi De. This is Gao Shi De who has liked him all these years, through all of his pranks and in spite of his enmity.

"The day after we went to Shilin, I asked Zheng Wen to set me up on a blind date. I think I knew I liked you and I didn't want to like a guy."

The look on Gao Shi De's face makes Shu Yi reach out and hold his hand. "But she showed up and all I could think about was you, how you looked at me and took care of me. How you treated me when I turned into a cat. How you never judged me. How warm you are."

"Shu Yi."

"I felt terrible afterward, like I've cheated on you even though we weren't together."

Gao Shi De shakes his head. "You didn't. We weren't together yet. And even if you chose not to like me, that's your choice to make, Shu Yi."

"What choice?" Shu Yi asks, because he tried. He tried not to think about Gao Shi De. He tried not to smile thinking about Gao Shi De. He tried not to daydream about him (or night dream about him). But- "It's you, Gao Shi De."

Gao Shi De squeezes his hand. "And it's you, Shu Yi." He kisses the back of Shu Yi's hand and Shu Yi cannot help but lean over and kiss his cheek. It's his boyfriend. He gets to.

When he leans back, Shu Yi lets out a yell and startles out of his seat.

"Oh my god," he presses a hand to his chest.

There by their bowl of ramen is a cat. A very unimpressed cat. It's scrawny but pretty, tuxedo-patterned in black and white.

"Zhen Xuan?"

~

Gao Shi De slides out his phone and checks. The cat matches the picture his cousin sent.

"It's him." He shows Shu Yi. "Probably. The patterns match."

"Oh my god." Shu Yi crouches to look at Probably Zhen Xuan. "You actually showed up. I'm sorry I yelled at you but you were really quiet and I didn't expect you so soon. Why are you already a cat? I haven't changed yet. Am I late? Are you early?"

"He's early," Shi De pets over the back of Shu Yi's head. "The alarm hasn't gone off."

"Oh, right." Shu Yi slumps back against him.

For a moment they silently watch the cat who pays them no mind. The cat who seems intent on sniffing the entire inside of the ramen bowl.

"Can cats eat ramen?" Shu Yi wonders out loud.

But Zhen Xuan doesn't seem interested in that. He flicks his tail and jumps off the table. Quickly, quietly, he moves towards the smaller blanket fort, the one they built out of Pei Shou Yi's sheets. He paws at it and sniffs all corners of it and then throws himself down on it and rolls around as if drugged.

"You're welcome." Shu Yi tells him. Then -- "Am I that cute when I'm a cat?"

Gao Shi De leans in close and whispers, "Cuter." It's true. Shu Yi's the cutest in the land (and in the pool, everywhere).

Shu Yi snorts. "He can hear you. Even if we go to the other end of the health center, he'll hear."

And oh. Oh. Gao Shi De tries to think about what he's said before. But just then the alarm goes off.

~

"Already?" Shu Yi looks at his hands. They're still hands. "Why am I not changing?"

Gao Shi De pulls him into his lap. "You still have fifteen minutes."

"Oh." Shu Yi settles back and lets himself be hugged. It feels different sitting in Gao Shi De's lap as a human. The relative space is smaller and the heat on his cheeks much higher. He forces himself to look away from their tangle of limbs, to look at Zhen Xuan instead.

The cat's walking in circles. And now in random shuffles. It almost looks like it's dancing, but well, Shu Yi's never seen a cat dance before. He sighs. "I wanted to talk to him. I have so many questions!"

"You can ask them tomorrow." Gao Shi De smoothes a hand down his arm.

And yes, true, but Shu Yi isn't known for his patience.

"Or you can try asking him with the flashcards."

Shu Yi lights up. Yes! Flashcards! He scrambles to dig them out. The 'yes', 'no', and 'maybe' are at the top. He takes them to the bed and spreads them out in front of the cat.

"Hey, can I ask you some questions? Are you Zhen Xuan? Can you choose a card?"

The cat stops twisting about to look at him. Quickly, it taps the 'yes'.

Oh, thank goodness. He shares a look with Gao Shi De. "Are you hungry, Zhen Xuan?"

The paw switches to slap the 'no'.

"Are you comfortable?"

The paw moves over 'maybe'.

"Maybe? What does that mean? What do you need?"

The paw comes up to his face and gently pushes.

"You want me to go away?"

Lightning fast, the paw lands on 'yes'.

Okay then. Shu Yi pulls back. Good thing they built the second blanket fort on its own bed, even if that bed is pushed up flush with their bed.

"Are you okay?" Gao Shi De cups his face and inspects his nose.

Shu Yi opens his mouth to answer and a meow escapes. Oh. It's happening. He looks towards the door they have propped open for Zhen Xuan and sees nothing outside but darkness.

~

Shu Yi shrinks in front of his eyes again. This time Gao Shi De is ready and catches him in his arms, clothes and all.

Zhen Xuan stops batting at something on the bed to stare at him and cock his head in question.

Gao Shi De nods at him. "Yes, Shu Yi is a werecat too." He takes Shu Yi to the bed with the larger blanket fort, the one meant for them and sets him down, frees him from the tangle of shirts and things. Carefully, he loops the bracelet around Shu Yi's neck.

Shu Yi head butts him in thanks and walks past him. And oh god, Shi De almost jumps. No distance away is Zhen Xuan, staring intensely at Shu Yi. Gao Shi De holds very, very still.

~

Zhen Xuan sniffs him and Shu Yi, not to be outdone, sniffs back. Zhen Xuan smells of grass and chips and the doc's blankets.

When Zhen Xuan puts a paw atop his back and pushes him down to bed, Shu Yi doesn't think much of it. Are we play-wrestling now? But no, Zhen Xuan flicks a rough tongue over the top of Shu Yi's head. Kisses?

Cleaning. You're a mess. He hears. And holy!

Can you hear my thoughts?

Obviously, newbie.

Shu Yi's too happy to be mad about it. He is new. He's so new at this. How long have you been a werecat? How do you control the changes? Can you make it stop? How did it start?

Nine years. You were probably cursed. You can't control the changes when it's the full moon. You just have to wait it out.

Wait, wait, wait, I was actually cursed?!

Probably. Unless you were bitten by a were-animal and it broke skin.

What kind of were-animals are there? Are there were-bugs? Because Shu Yi remembers the mystery bite on his neck, the one that looked like a mosquito bite but didn't itch.

Probably. Zhen Xuan lets him go and marches back to his blanket fort.

Wait! Shu Yi runs after him. What about when it's not the full moon? How do you change back into a human? What do you do with all the nudity?

Zhen Xuan hisses at him.

Wha-? What did I do?

"Don't- don't fight." Gao Shi De hovers, looking between them.

Don't come in here. It's mine.

Oh, sorry. Shu Yi takes a couple of steps back. I won't. I'll stay out here.

Zhen Xuan rubs his cheeks against the blanket over and over again, re-scenting it, and Shu Yi sits watching him.

You must like Dr. Pei Shou Yi a lot.

Zhen Xuan blinks at him. He's my person.

Gao Shi De's my person. He's that handsome guy over there.

Pei Shou Yi is right. This is not a hotel.

Shu Yi freezes. Wait, that means… You were here this whole time?? Why didn't you say hi to him if you were here?

Zhen Xuan starts licking his foot. He's very thorough about it. And Shu Yi thinks he's not going to answer his questions anymore and slumps down, sad.

But then Gao Shi De pets him, a gentle hand over his back, and Shu Yi musters up some energy to purr.

I sneak in here sometimes. It's nice to pretend he hasn't left, that he's just out to the store to buy some snacks and ramen. I should say hi but I'm afraid he'd say bye. I just want some more time to stay next to him.

Do you want me to bite him for you? Didn't you say were-animal bites can turn a person?

Don't touch my person!

Okay, okay. Or I can try to talk to him or get Gao Shi De to talk to him. They're cousins.

Maybe. But not now.

Okay.

"Are you guys okay? I'm just going to go brush my teeth. I'll be right back. I'll close the door. Play nice, okay?"

Shu Yi watches him go. Gao Shi De is so considerate. It has started getting chilly.

Ugh, can you not?

Not what? He's my boyfriend.

I hate you.

No you don't. I made you a blanket fort out of his sheets.

Fine. You want to know how to turn back to human again?

Yes! Is there a way?

Not on full moons, but on other days what works for me is calming down and thinking about my favorite things.

Oh! Like ramen?

Not ramen. Are you nuts?

But-

Him buying my favorite brand of ramen and replacing all the inferior brands with my favorite. Him thinking about me. That's what made me happy.

Oh. Then what about the nudity?

What about it?

Shu Yi stares at him. Oh my god, he's a nudist.

I can hear you! And I'm not. If you can change right back, then your clothes would all still be there. If you can't, then shove your clothes into your backpack and drag it somewhere safe and then change.

Oh. Shu Yi nods. He's learning so much. Where are your clothes now? We can ask Shi De to get them for you.

They're under this bed.

What? How? When?

You two were too busy making out to notice me.

Okay, fair.

~

By the time Gao Shi De gets back from the restroom, all washed up, both Shu Yi and Zhen Xuan are napping. They're each in their own blanket forts but their front paws are touching. They're cute as hell and Gao Shi De cannot help but snap a picture.

You're welcome. He texts Pei Shou Yi.

Chapter Text

Shu Yi wakes up warm, wrapped in a silk blanket from home and back hugged against a solid heartbeat. An awake heartbeat. "What time is it?" He yawns, eyes stubbornly closed as he tries to slip back to sleep.

"Six oh seven."

Too early, Shu Yi whines in his head and is about to whine out loud when it registers -- that wasn't Gao Shi De's voice.

"Zhen Xuan?"

Crouching on the other bed is a stranger, a skinny stranger hugging his kneecaps and wearing Dr. Pei Shou Yi's sheets. Then the stranger blinks, and the stranger nods.

"You're dressed." Shu Yi notes the jeans and black t-shirt sleeves. Zhen Xuan's even wearing socks.

"Told you I'm not a nudist!"

"Told him?" Gao Shi De pipes up, a warm puff of breath over his ear, distracting. "When?"

"Last night."

"Last... night?"

"It's true, Gao Shi De!" Shu Yi rolls over to tell him about the telepathy.

But Gao Shi De's averting his eyes, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows. "Shu Yi, don't move."

"Huh? Why?"

"Clothes…" Gao Shi De blinks at the ceiling, jawline angled up sharp and kissable. "You... don't have..." them on, Shu Yi's brain finally catches up.

His breath hitches and Shu Yi clutches the sheet to his chest. Oh. Right. "Zhen Xuan, can you give us a minute?"

"Why?"

Why? "I need to get dressed."

"What about him?"

Gao Shi De shoves the rest of the sheet in Shu Yi's direction, tucking him in. "I'll leave too."

Shu Yi tries not to examine why he's disappointed. He doesn't need Gao Shi De to help him get dressed. He doesn't.

~

If ever silence is a book, it is now.

Zhen Xuan clutching both of Pei Shou Yi's sheets around him and wiggling his toes in a fidget is awkward enough. But add in the stony shadow of Pei Shou Yi himself in the doorframe, and voila -- a dense soup of a book.

For a moment no one moves or says anything. Even Gao Shi De's silently rooted to his spot just outside the drape divide.

Then -- a creak. Pei Shou Yi pushes the door all the way open and hangs up his bag. Still taking his time, he shrugs on his white coat and turns to survey the room.

"I cleaned up, lo!" Gao Shi De cannot help saying. The ramen bowl has been put away and the empty chip bags too.

His cousin barely acknowledges him with a nod before sliding a pair of slippers in Zhen Xuan's direction.

Immediately, Zhen Xuan hops into them and grins, and Gao Shi De thinks this is the happiest he's ever seen anyone look at a pair of slippers. It's vaguely disconcerting.

He doesn't have time to contemplate it though because Shu Yi emerges, dressed now and wearing the cutest disgruntled pout.

"Still sleepy?" Gao Shi De cups his face before he even thinks about it.

But it's a good call because Shu Yi leans into his hand and nods - "mmm" - cheek soft against his palm. Shi De really can't help leaning over and kissing the other cheek.

"Ah-em," his cousin starts and that's just unfair. They're not even doing anything.

It catches Shu Yi's attention though. He straightens and heads for Zhen Xuan.

Gao Shi De guesses they must have bonded last night in cat form, through some sort of telepathy?

Whatever it is, Shu Yi is acting like a mama cat now, face fierce as he shields Zhen Xuan from Pei Shou Yi. "He did nothing wrong! We invited him. You can't kick him out."

"Did I say I was kicking him out?"

Shu Yi relaxes a fraction but his one arm is still out, shielding Zhen Xuan anyway. "Then come eat with us."

His cousin flattens the line of his mouth and blinks at Shu Yi. It's his intimidate-people-out-of-their-suggestions look. It's the one that works on most.

Shu Yi juts out his chin. "You don't have to work until seven thirty. You have time." God, he's perfect. Gao Shi De can't believe they're together.

"Come on," Shi De pats his cousin's shoulder. "I'll treat."

Pei Shou Yi doesn't shrug him off but he does stare at Zhen Xuan's feet. "Where are your shoes?"

~

Shu Yi has never seen denial in motion the way he is seeing it today. Dr. Pei Shou Yi barks at Zhen Xuan and then touches him like he's a wound to be dressed.

Exhibit one: after pointing out the lack of shoes, which neither Gao Shi De nor Shu Yi himself was wearing either, Dr. Pei Shou Yi fetched Zhen Xuan's sneakers for him and put them on for him. Those big hands encircled those tiny ankles like they were hearts beating outside of the chest, not feet.

Shu Yi tugged on his own shoes, grateful he couldn't hear Zhen Xuan's thoughts anymore. By the pleased smile on his face, Zhen Xuan must be thinking even more inappropriate thoughts than Shu Yi ever did about Gao Shi De last night.

Exhibit two: now, after their breakfast double date, the doc is still a bundle of contradictions. "Why are you following me?" is what comes out of that mouth. But when Zhen Xuan hunches and turns away, muttering, "my bag's still there," Dr. Pei Shou Yi huffs and throws him over his shoulder like some caveman.

"What is he doing?" Shu Yi can't hold back anymore.

Gao Shi De shakes his head and snakes an arm around him, holding him against his side. It feels warm and sturdy, like a sideways bed made just for him. And Shu Yi realizes that he can cuddle now if he wants to, even as a human. He leans, taking full advantage.

Gao Shi De rubs his arm. "Are you cold?"

Not with you here. He cringes at himself. Geez. What is happening to him?

A gust of wind whips hair into his eyes, giving him an excuse. He shivers. "A little."

Gao Shi De adds his other arm to loop around him, and Shu Yi can't help the smile on his face. Can't help squeezing Shi De's arm either. Who needs coats when one has a boyfriend?

~

Gao Shi De, through sheer will, keeps his eyes on the page. But really, cryptography? What about it? The key is that right now he's got Shu Yi in his peripheral vision, head on a pillow on his lap and Shu Yi's not even a cat.

Shu Yi's hair is sliding off his temple as he shifts his textbook to his other hand. Gao Shi De's not sure he's reading it. It's been a while since either of them have flipped a page. Then he realizes Shu Yi's holding his book upside down.

He cracks a smile. "You…"

"Hmm?" Shu Yi looks up at him.

"Are you that nervous?" Gao Shi De turns the book for him, setting it right side up.

Shu Yi closes the book and huffs. "Are you?"

"I am." So much so. There's a lot he can mess up here. Everything.

"Really? You're not just saying that?"

"Really." Gao Shi De stares back. "It's you. I still can't believe you like me back, that this isn't all just a dream. And also... I've never had a boyfriend before."

Shu Yi blinks at him and licks his lips. "Me either."

Gao Shi De can't help the drag of his eyes down to the pink of Shu Yi's mouth. This time when their eyes meet, the air feels charged, like it's made of skin, too thin and all nerves.

Gao Shi De gulps. This is worse than this morning with Shu Yi naked in bed with him because this is them in his house alone. This is them without chaperones.

"Gao Shi De." Shu Yi gets up and pushes his book down to the sofa, takes away Shi De's book too.

"Hmm?" He realizes he's holding his breath, waiting to see what Shu Yi might do.

Shu Yi shifts closer. And then closer still. Then he breaks into a grin and lunges for Shi De's armpits.

"Heee-ya!" Shi De goes on the defensive, hands out even as he laughs. Shu Yi's fast. Shu Yi's hands have made it to his waist. And Shi De feels giddy with how ridiculous they're being, how ridiculous they can be now.

He rocks back, chin tipping into the air as he tries to squirm away. When he tips his chin back down, it grazes the side of Shu Yi's cheek. He's close, so close, half draped across his torso, lips near enough to kiss.

One tug at Shu Yi's arm and the pillow goes tumbling off his lap. Another tug and it's replaced by Shu Yi draping himself over his thighs.

"Gao Shi De." Shu Yi sounds breathless.

And then they both are as Shu Yi holds his face and leans down to kiss him. Gao Shi De's arms wrap around Shu Yi's waist of their own volition, to press him closer. It's unbearable that Shu Yi should be any further than this.

Shu Yi groans and presses him back against the back of the sofa. And Gao Shi De lets his hands roam. Carefully. Except each time he thinks Shu Yi is going to stop him, Shu Yi doesn't. Shu Yi just tilts his face and kisses him deeper.

~

Shu Yi knows in the back of his mind that he should be a little more on guard, a little more cautious. Should be. But it's hard with Gao Shi De touching him from nape to waist with those warm hands of his.

"Xiao Yi?"

Right. This is the reason. Auntie.

Shu Yi scrambles out of Gao Shi De's lap and narrowly avoids kicking him in the process.

"Auntie, hi!" He bows (god, again) and the blush on his human face this time is definitely visible. Visible from space.

Well, no. But it's definitely visible from across the expanse of the living and dining rooms.

"Ma," says Gao Shi De, also flushed and somehow in possession of (read: hugging) a pillow. "You're early today."

"Shi a, my meeting ran short for once." Auntie slides a box onto the dining table. "Do you eat pizza, Xiao Yi?"

"Chi," Shu Yi nods and wills himself not to bow again out of embarrassment.

"Good. They just made this so it's still warm."

"I'll grab the plates, ma."

"I'll help!"

"Mm. I'm going to wash up."

Once Auntie's out of the room, Shu Yi faceplants onto Shi De's shoulder. "Oh my god." What a way to greet his new boyfriend's mom. God.

"You okay?" Shi De rubs along his arm and peers at his face.

"Are you?" Shu Yi knows Auntie's miles cooler than his tousan but still. This is Gao Shi De's parent they're talking about. "Will Auntie be okay with us dating?"

Shi De nods. "We've talked about it before. Mom likes you." Shi De cups the back of his head gently and hugs him and all of Shu Yi's fears melt inside the circle of arms. Safe. As a human too, he feels safe right here in Shi De's embrace.

"That's because I'm awesome." He lifts his face and tries to lift his embarrassment too with a joke.

But Shi De just looks at him, all warm. "Mm." And steals a kiss. And Shu Yi has to push him away. They can't. Not again. There are plates to set and an Auntie to impress.

~

Gao Shi De doesn't know how they got here. To bed. Together.

Dinner alternated between his mom sharing embarrassing stories about him with Shu Yi and his mom advising them to cherish and take care of each other. Gao Shi De has never felt more loved nor more embarrassed. Especially when his mom turns him down for the sleeping arrangement.

"Why would you sleep with me? Your boyfriend's right here."

Gao Shi De snorts. "I can't believe she said that."

Shu Yi looks up at him from where he's snuggling close. "Is she wrong? You are. My. Boyfriend." He punctuates the words with pecks along Shi De's jaw.

When Shu Yi starts mouthing at his neck, Gao Shi De stops laughing. Gulps instead, tips his head back to give Shu Yi more space.

By the time Shu Yi crawls on top of him, Gao Shi De's making desperate noises he has to slap a hand over to cover. "Shu Yi."

"Shh." Shu Yi has the gall to shush him.

Gao Shi De hooks a leg over his and flips them over, kisses the smirk off of Shu Yi's face. This time it's Shu Yi who clutches at him with hands in his hair, his shirt. This time it's Shu Yi who makes little huffs of bitten off curses.

~

Shu Yi curls his toes and clutches Shi De closer. Between one kiss and the promise of another, Gao Shi De suddenly stops and groans into his neck.

"Sorry, but can we stop?"

Shu Yi breathes out ragged, heart beating overtime. "Oh, yeah. Yeah, we--" He gentles his hands in Shi De's hair. "--we don't have to do anything."

Shi De opens an eye to peek at him, sheepish. "I do want to."

Shu Yi raises an eyebrow at him. "But?"

"But my mom's down the hall and we don't have anything prepared and I don't want your first time to be… bad."

"Baka," Shu Yi hits Shi De's forehead lightly.

"Ow," the big baby says anyway.

"It's us. How can it be bad?"

Gao Shi De looks at him with a brand new shot of heat in his eyes. And then he blinks and takes a breath. "Being 'not bad' is not the goal. You deserve the best, Shu Yi."

Shu Yi doesn't know what to do with his face (or his hands or his heart) when Gao Shi De gets like this, all earnest.

"You deserve the best of everything. You know that, right?"

Shu Yi can't with him. "Are you saying you're the best?" He says in lieu of embarrassing words that claw at his throat. Words like: you deserve the best too.

"Why? Did you ever take the number one spot?"

Shu Yi hits him with a pillow.

Gao Shi De moves away laughing. "But it was critical to me, you know. I had to win to keep your eyes on me. Otherwise, you never looked at me." He's still smiling but the smile makes Shu Yi's heart clench.

"How much do you like me?" His question is rhetorical.

Gao Shi De answers him anyway. "A lot a lot. I'm still pinching myself. That you're here-"

"In your bed?"

"That too. But I wanted to say- that you're here in my life. I'm thankful."

Shu Yi shuffles forward and kisses him, to shut him up, to answer him. "Me too."

~

Gao Shi De wakes to a sore arm and Shu Yi's gorgeous head on it. They stayed up late whispering to each other, talking about everything and nothing. He could imagine a whole lifetime of this, being in Shu Yi's company.

"It's only six, isn't it?"

Gao Shi De smiles. Shu Yi's adorable when he's sleepy grouchy like this. "It's nine and we're late."

"What?" Shu Yi's eyes open in alarm. "It's nine?"

Gao Shi De only feels a little bit bad. "Seven."

Shu Yi draws in a breath and Gao Shi De moves into his space, kissing the angry words out of his mouth. This. He wanted time to do this, to hold Shu Yi and kiss him languidly into the new morning.

~

Their lunch break gets weirder and weirder. First they chance upon Bing Wei and Zhe Yu feeding each other. Then Zheng Wen and Yu Xin join them and act as if this is normal -- that all six of them sitting at the same table is a natural occurrence.

So of course that's when Zhen Xuan shows up with Dr. Pei Shou Yi on his heels. Shu Yi waves them over, but it's Gao Shi De who gets up to fetch the chairs.

"So this is the famous Dr. Pei Shou Yi!" Yu Xin starts. "How is your research going?"

The doctor levels her with a blank look.

"Oh, yeah, the werecat research!" Bing Wei says. He really is the best of them.

Zhen Xuan throws him a panicked look.

"It's okay, Zhen Xuan. Werecats are not scary." Shu Yi nods at him and wishes for their telepathy back.

"Are they cute?" Yu Xin coos even before any confirmation.

But confirmation she does get. "The cutest," Gao Shi De says. He slides out his phone and shows them a picture he had apparently taken of him and Zhen Xuan in their cat forms.

It's the first time Shu Yi's seen himself like this. He really is cute, if he does say so himself.

"Shu Yi, can I talk to you?" Zhe Yu tugs at him as the group gathers to aww over Shi De's phone.

Shu Yi doesn't think he's ever had a single conversation with Zhe Yu, but the guy looks the least pissed off that he's ever looked today, so Shu Yi nods.

Zhe Yu looks everywhere but at him once they have moved far enough from the group so not to be overheard. "I'm sorry."

"Huh? Why?"

Zhe Yu does meet his eyes then. "Gao Shi De only ever looked at you. I was jealous. That's why I did it."

"That's why you did what?"

"I bit you."

"What are you talking about? You didn't. I'd remember if you did."

"I'm telling you I did! Obviously not while I'm in this form."

Oh. Oh! "You! You're also a-!"

"Shh!" Zhe Yu throws an anxious look back at the rest of the group. "I'm really sorry."

"What do you turn into?" Shu Yi asks, genuinely curious. What bit him?

"It's different every time."

"What?!"

"The time I bit you, I was a mosquito and I almost got killed ten times that day!"

"Wait, go back. What do you mean it's different every time?"

Zhe Yu sighs. "So far I've been a mosquito, a dove, a bunny, a dog, and even a cat once."

"What the fuck?" Shu Yi slips into Japanese.

"What the fuck?" Zhe Yu asks.

And Shu Yi loses it and laughs. "Exactly."

Zhe Yu throws him a smile and looks sheepish again. "Really, I'm sorry. I hope you're getting used to the changes now. They're not too bad after a while."

Shu Yi nods. "They're not. Shi De has been helping me." As soon as the words leave his mouth, he wants to snatch them back. He's not trying to flaunt it. He really isn't.

"I know." Zhe Yu just grins. "I bitched about it with Bing Wei. That's how we started hanging out."

"Oh." So that's how that happened. "He's taking care of you during the changes?"

"Bing Wei has magic hands."

"TMI!" Shu Yi starts walking away.

"What? Don't tell me Shi De doesn't pet you when you're a cat. I've seen him do it!"

"Shut up!"

Zhe Yu just grins. And Shu Yi maybe smiles too. He can't keep up the facade of fake mad for long. After all, he's made another were-friend and the mystery of his curse/not curse is finally solved.

Chapter Text

Shu Yi's wet and furred and not furious about it for once. This full moon Zhe Yu turned into a capybara. That alone is fantastic. What's even more so is that within moments of moonrise, they realized telepathy works across species.

Oh my god, what am I? Why do I want to cuddle you?

Zhen Xuan scurries to hide behind him and Shu Yi lets him. He can protect him this much at least.

Zhe Yu makes a beeline for him, cuddling up against his chin.

You're a capybara. They're friendly. That's probably why you're all cuddly and chill.

Chill? Chill?! I'm not chill.

Guess that's just the resting capybara face then.

Great. Fantastic. Is that one hiding? I want to cuddle-

Zhen Xuan hisses at him, back arched and decidedly not up for cuddling. Zhe Yu startles so hard he falls into the swimming pool.

Shu Yi would laugh if he were human at the moment. As it is, he's fascinated with the speed of Zhe Yu under water. It makes him want to race.

He's off before he thinks about it.

"Shu Yi!" He hears Shi De call for him, a drip of alarm in his voice.

But he has no time to turn back. He wants to beat Zhe Yu to the other end of the pool. He knows he can. Shu Yi centers himself into the weight and shape of his current form and kicks forward.

I win! He thinks triumphantly as he reaches the edge. Only, when he looks back, Zhe Yu is spinning in circles in the middle of the pool. Bing Wei is there too, circling him. Together they look like a synchronized swim team. Minus the synchronization.

What are they doing? He thinks up at Gao Shi De.

"Are you okay, Shu Yi? Do you want to come up?"

Sure. Shu Yi raises a paw. That's enough swimming. It's Shi De cuddle time now. Shamelessly, he lets himself be held as Shi De towels him off.

Anyway, it looks like Zhen Xuan is currently occupying Dr. Pei Shou Yi's lap. They're not alone in the PDA.

"I think Shu Yi is a Turkish Van." Dr. Pei Shou Yi turns his phone screen to show them a collection of cats that resemble him. "They're a swimming cat."

"Makes sense. It's Zhou Shu Yi, one of the best swimmers on the team. Of course he's a swimming cat." Gao Shi De defends his honor. Shu Yi licks Shi De's hand in thanks.

Shi De kisses the top of his head and Dr. Pei Shou Yi gets up, irritated as he tucks Zhen Xuan against his side. "I'm leaving. We've established that Zhe Yu's not aquatic. I'm going back to the health center."

...so big and strong. Shu Yi hears the tail end of Zhen Xuan's thoughts and promptly whines. He doesn't want to know!

"Shh, baby. It's okay. I'll get you warm soon. Don't cry."

~

"Are you going to marry him?"

"Yes," Bing Wei answers and both Shi De and his cousin whip their heads around to look at him.

First of all, when did Bing Wei join them in the showers? And second of all, what?

"Why? Why are you looking at me like that? Gao Shi De would have answered the same. I can't be romantic? You're the only one who's allowed to be? Wah, that's unfair!"

"It just seems fast. I've been in love with Shu Yi since elementary."

"Quality over quantity though." Bing Wei sticks his lathered up head under the spray.

And he's not wrong. These past few months spent in Shu Yi's company, first as a tolerated human, then as a friend, then as boyfriend, have been priceless. Shi De still wouldn't trade loving Shu Yi all these years, but these past few months? One would have to pry them from his cold, dead hands.

His cousin turns off the water and starts toweling dry.

"You're done?" That was the most perfunctory wash.

"They're alone." Pei Shou Yi doesn't elaborate, but it makes Shi De smile anyway. Yes, it's two feisty cats and a sleepy capybara in the health center alone. And it's not the capybara his cousin's worried about.

~

"When were you going to tell me?" Yu Xin sounds hurt. "Never? You know how much I like cats!"

I didn't want you to pet me, Shu Yi thinks. But well, he couldn't say it without giving himself away. "Aiya! It's embarrassing. I'm basically naked when I change."

"Zhou Shu Yi. The three of us used to go skinny dipping!"

"We were five!"

Yu Xin hugs him fiercely, the way she rarely does with them, even though she bullies them into affectionate touches all the time -- an arm hooked through theirs or an arm slung over their necks. But this? A full-body hug where Shu Yi might lose a limb if he tries to disengage? She doesn't do this. Not usually.

"I thought I was losing you as a friend, Shu Yi. I thought you had some worse secret you were keeping from me. All of a sudden you didn't want to spend any time with us."

"I told you, Yu Xin. It's your couple time. I didn't want to third wheel."

"You can't be a third wheel if we want to spend time with you! Baka."

"You're baka."

"You're baka."

They swipe shoulders and slot back into their friendship as easily as if they've never left.

"Do you really want to see me as a cat?" Shu Yi figures it's the least he owes her, owes them, his besties, after a noisy capybara gave away their secret by mistake.

"Really!?" Her eyes light up like a star atop a Christmas tree, and Shu Yi's reminded why he used to nurse a crush on her. Although now he knows it was just a crush and nothing like the crushing tsunami of feelings he has for Gao Shi De. The kind that says stay, stay just like this by my side. Stay forever.

"I've never tried to consciously change before."

"Do you have to say a spell or something?"

Shu Yi laughs. A spell. If only it were that easy. "No, extreme distress or injury is supposed to do it."

"What?! Shu Yi, forget it. Don't hurt yourself." And then she puts him in a headlock. "Let's go find Zheng Wen. We have to tell him!"

~

"What is this?"

Gao Shi De looks at him, his boyfriend, the love of his life. His Shu Yi who's holding a pair of chopsticks aloft, a piece of carrot pinched delicately at the end like it's a live worm.

"Hong luo bo. It's good for you."

"So's medicine." Shu Yi sets down the offending cube at the edge of his bowl.

"Zhou Shu Yi!"

"Gao Shi De! I thought you were being nice when you said you would cook for me."

Shi De looks at his bowl, a fifth of the fried rice already gone, along with Shu Yi's earlier enthusiasm. "Do you really hate it?"

"No," Shu Yi pouts at him. "The rest of it's really good. Just -- I don't have to eat this, right?" He bats his eyes and tilts his head, looking cuter than usual, and Gao Shi De almost caves. Almost.

"I'll give you a massage if you eat it."

"Hostage massage." Shu Yi mutters but pops the carrot in his mouth anyway, chasing it down with two large slices of hot pepper.

Cute. His boyfriend's so cute.

~

Dinner was a whole production. Gao Shi De wielding a pan should not have looked as sexy as it did. But well, this is where Shu Yi is with his life. Absolutely doomed. He even missed a whole carrot that Gao Shi De sneaked into their fried rice.

Now, full but no longer drowsy, Shu Yi is getting hotter and antsier as he squirms against Gao Shi De, half -- okay, barely watching the movie. Documentary? Something. "Gao Shi De."

"Hmm?"

"When you said you'd give me a massage, you meant today, right?" Because Shu Yi cannot stand it. Being this close, holding Gao Shi De's hands and feeling Gao Shi De's chin hooked over his shoulder and hearing Gao Shi De's breathing in his ear -- he can't take this tension any longer.

"Massage?" Gao Shi De turns, cheek a hot scrape against his own. "Where?"

"What do you mean where?" Shu Yi's voice absolutely does not go up in pitch. "My shoulders! Back?"

"What about your arms? Hands? Fingers?"

Oh. Those sound safe. "Okay."

Of course he shouldn't have underestimated the heat of Gao Shi De's hands on him. The way they knead over his muscles and swipe across his lower back, firm and warm and perfect. He groans into the cushion under his face.

"Okay? You're not hurt? I'm not doing it too hard?"

"No. You can do it harder."

There's a pause behind him. Shu Yi hears the click of Gao Shi De's throat. But he doesn't have time to think before Gao Shi De's hands are back on him, doing their comprehensive sweeps. Shu Yi melts onto the sofa, head completely empty except for the single thought that he will absolutely have to endure more carrots for this.

~

Gao Shi De intends to take things slow. He does. It's why he chose the sofa and not his bed though the bed would have been more comfortable.

But the bed is inside his room. The bed is behind a door.

Out here is safer. Out here is a public space. His mom sits on this sofa. They can't possibly go fast if Gao Shi De gives Shu Yi his massage here. Here in this public, safe, mom-friendly place.

Except. Except he didn't expect Shu Yi to plop face down, prone on the sofa, limbs spread back, hands a handspan away from hips. It's a lot to take in. Visually. At all.

Then Shu Yi starts moaning. Gao Shi De has to dig his nails into the flesh of his palms before he puts his hands back on his boyfriend.

When he absolutely cannot stand it any longer, he runs tentative fingertips under Shu Yi's loose shirt. "Is this okay?" He asks, even though he himself is not okay. A shirt makes such a difference. Shu Yi's skin feels warm to the touch. Inviting.

"Mm." Shu Yi nods.

In a daze, Gao Shi De runs his hands up and up, maps out the whole of Shu Yi's back until he learns the slopes of them, the firmness and softness. Where each knob on the spine lives and the ribs. Where Shu Yi's breathing upticks the fastest.

(It's between the shoulder blades, when Gao Shi De presses down just so.)

~

At first, Shu Yi is relaxed to the point of falling asleep. Then Gao Shi De slips his hands under his shirt and shifts to sit on the back of his thighs. And Shu Yi couldn't fall asleep even if you paid him.

Yu Xin's advice of sexy underwear flashes through his mind. What if- what if his pants are not the perfect fit these pants are? What if Gao Shi De sees a hint of his underwear? Would that be sexy? Would Gao Shi De like that?

He finally asks.

Gao Shi De, already leaned to the side to massage his arm, falls right off the sofa.

"Gao Shi De! Are you okay?"

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De winces, clutching an elbow. "Why would you--? I like everything about you."

"But you think I'm cute," Shu Yi cannot help pouting. "Cute is not sexy."

Gao Shi De gawps at him. "Zhou Shu Yi," he gulps and looks away before looking back and holding his gaze. "Zhou Shu Yi," he starts again. "Whatever you want, I probably want it too. I want everything with you, Shu Yi. That's why I want you to be healthy so that I can hold your hands even when we're ninety."

Fuck. When they're ninety. That's basically forever. Did Gao Shi De just propose? Not that it matters. What matters right now is that Shu Yi really needs to kiss him.

"Gao Shi De," he clambers off of the sofa and into Shi De's lap and does just that.

~

"Shu Yi," Gao Shi De pants as he clutches at him. Somehow in the last twenty minutes they have moved from the sofa to the floor to now, the bed.

His door is not closed. But then again his mom is away attending a conference in Lyudao.

His shirt is lost in a pile at the foot of the bed, entwined with Shu Yi's shirt. There's so much skin and not enough skin and Gao Shi De is going out of his mind. "Shu Yi."

"Yes, yes, yes." Shu Yi answers him in three different languages. "Please."

~

Shu Yi doesn't know why he thought Gao Shi De didn't want him. But he's glad to be proven wrong. So wrong.

Twice.

~

"You were safe?"

This time when his mom asks, Gao Shi De gets even redder. But he nods. He and Shu Yi -- they were.

"Have you started packing? We're leaving for the US soon, you know."

"You're leaving?"

Gao Shi De turns and oh no. Shu Yi. He didn't want to cut short their time together with this worry.

"It's only for a few months," he blurts.

"I'm getting married, Shu Yi." His mom steps forward and squeezes Shu Yi's shoulder.

"Oh! Congratulations, Auntie."

"Can you come to my wedding? I would love to have you there. You can meet my fiance Brandon and his daughter Ashley."

"Really? I will ask my dad if I can go. I bet you'll look stunning in your wedding dress, Auntie."

Gao Shi De lets their chatter wash over him. This morning, he wanted to stay in bed cuddling Shu Yi until he woke. But he also wanted to make him breakfast. His final plan was to slip back into bed after making breakfast, wake Shu Yi up with kisses.

He just didn't count on his mom coming home early. But this is good too. Gao Shi De didn't know how to break the news to Shu Yi himself, news he doesn't particularly wish to acknowledge.

But now his mom is giving Shu Yi all the details, from flight number to house number. "Of course you're staying with us! Why would you go to a hotel? And this is my phone number. Tell your dad to call me if he has any questions."

Gao Shi De sets down the bowls of wontons and gives his mom extra fried scallions, just the way she likes it. His heart thumps in his chest. His heart is right here at this table, with his favorite people.

~

"What if tousan doesn't let me go?" Shu Yi kicks at a rock. But it doesn't dislodge the lump in his chest. Nor the one in his throat.

How does he go from such a high of Gao Shi De sort of proposing to him and making love to him to learning Gao Shi De is leaving for a whole other country soon. And for months? Even if Shu Yi makes it to the wedding, Gao Shi De would still be away for three months as he helps Auntie settle into her new life and home.

"I'm sorry, Shu Yi. Video call? I can stream from mom's wedding. And I'll take so many pictures."

Shu Yi doesn't feel better about it. Not really. Gao Shi De would still be so far away.

Gao Shi De stops him from walking forward and folds him into a fierce hug. "Shu Yi, I'm a terrible son, right? I just want to stay with you and cook for you and hold you and kiss you and-"

"Gao Shi De!" Shu Yi flushes. They're in the middle of campus. So many people are around.

"What? Are you ashamed of me?"

"Gao Shi De!"

At his look, Shu Yi leans over and plants a kiss on Shi De's cheek. "No, I just don't want to be away from you."

"Me neither." Shi De nuzzles in against his side.

"Put your faces away."

"What?" Shu Yi looks up to see Dr. Pei Shou Yi and a shy Zhen Xuan behind him giving him a thumbs up.

"Do you think you're filming a drama? Go get a room."

"We got a room last night." He mutters petulantly.

Dr. Pei Shou Yi blushes and drops eye contact. "Shut up. Stop talking. Just go away." But he's the one who starts walking, faster and faster away from them.

Shu Yi waves back at Zhen Xuan and cuddles back against Shi De. "We don't have to go to classes today, do we?"

"I have an exam."

"Oh."

"Do I get a good luck kiss?"

"You don't need luck." Shu Yi kisses him anyway.

~

Gao Shi De shifts from foot to foot. He doesn't want to leave. Shu Yi has made arrangements to come for the wedding a month from now but that is still one whole month without Shu Yi.

Shu Yi opens his arms for a hug and Gao Shi De steps into it, settling his face in the familiar crook of neck, in the warmth of Shu Yi that he's come to know like the back of his hand.

"I'll wait for you."

Shu Yi nods at him. "Mm."

And between one heavy step and another, Shu Yi's growing smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.

He's still out of it even as he buckles in his seatbelt on the plane. And then his phone dings. So soon? Did Shu Yi text him already?

But it's a new email. From [email protected]. Spam? But Shi De reads the summary and a smile curls over his lips.

"What's got you smiling like that?" His mom looks over at his phone. "Ah, sha gua, abruti means fool in French. Why are you smiling like a fool?"

"Because." Shi De explains the rest of it, the morse code, how it spells out I like you.

His mom's duly impressed. "Is that how you sophisticated young people flirt?"

Shi De doesn't know about that. He just knows that he likes Shu Yi so much. The most. Nothing will ever change that.

He emails Shu Yi back. I'll write to you everyday. I'll email you so much you'll get sick of me.

Impossible. Comes the reply.

~

I'll miss you, Shu Yi. Be careful around the full moon. I've asked Pei Shou Yi to look after you. But be careful anyway.

Shu Yi thumbs at his phone, fond. It's just like Shi De to worry about him when he's the one on an international flight.

I'll miss you too, he writes back, just as Shi De emails, I have to turn off my phone. I'll write you as soon as I land. Love you.

Shu Yi looks up at the sky. It's still the same blue as before, as if nothing's changed. He holds onto that thought. They're still boyfriends. They're just going to be separated for one measly month. And then he has a wedding to attend!

Shu Yi touches his bracelet, the same copy of the one that sits around Shi De's wrist. He can do this. One month is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Even three months is nothing compared to seventy years.

Still, Shu Yi is unsurprised when he morphs into a cat two minutes later. He drags his clothes and accessories one by one into his bedroom, curls up in the middle of his bed with his head on his phone.

It's his first day away from Gao Shi De. He's allowed to mope.

~

"Zhou Shu Yi!"

Shu Yi blinks blearily into the crowd. The plane ride seems to have locked up all his muscles and he's barely splashed some water on his face before rushing through customs.

Still, when he spots Shi De, a grin breaks over his face and he'd purr if he could. "Gao Shi De!" He waves back.

How do people stand being apart for years? One month was already hard enough.

Still, once Shi De tugs him into a hug, warm and all-engulfing, Shu Yi stops thinking the negative what-ifs, melts into the arms that have rescued him and fed him and loved him.

"Gao Shi De," he sighs and then god, yawns.

Shi De laughs. "Sleepy? You can take a nap on the way."

"I don't want to. I want to talk to you."

Still, later, when Gao Shi De buckles him in and kisses him sweet on the cheeks, Shu Yi's already half asleep. International flights, man. Still, he figures they have time. He's staying a whole week. They'll have time enough to talk. Later. Kiss. Later. Sleep. Well, sleep now.

~

Gao Shi De looks over at Shu Yi at least ten times during the ride. He's actually here. This is real and not some figment of his imagination, his dream.

He holds Shu Yi's hand all the way till they're in the garage of his almost step-dad's house. "Shu Yi, we're here."

He walks his fingers gently up Shu Yi's arm and neck and face, taps at that dear nose. "Zhou Shu Yi, my kitten."

Shu Yi grunts and twitches away, cuter than anything in the world.

"Zhou Shu Yi, it's nine o'clock. You're late for your exam."

Shu Yi startles awake and blinks. And glares at him. "We've graduated, Gao Shi De!"

Gao Shi De shifts over and kisses him in apology. Yes, yes, they have. They've graduated from friends to lovers to partners. They've made it this far, together.