Chapter Text
Wu Suo Wei first realizes he’s in danger when the feelings toward Yue Yue are not of longing and lost but of resentment and bitterness. He brings it up with Xiao Shuai, but all his friend gives him is a knowing, pitying glance before he has to return to attending to his patients.
It’s even worse when Chi Cheng can scent it on him. Mentions the acrid taste of Suo Wei’s scent and he wants nothing to do but slap the smirk off Chi Cheng’s face. Every time Yue Yue calls, he goes sour and the response of Chi Cheng’s amused glee is apparent and Suo Wei feels stupid and foolish.
When it’s just the two of them, with no phone calls interrupting, Chi Cheng can’t get enough of Suo Wei. It should alarm him at this point. Things are going fast, too fast, and he feels himself spiraling and craving the smoky, bergamot scent of Chi Cheng too. Suo Wei is convinced it’s just because his heat is coming up. It has to be. And when that happens, he needs to be as far from Chi Cheng as possible.
He has felt on edge all week. Every time Chi Cheng shows up unexpectedly, holds his hands, enters his personal space, threatens to sleep with him, Wu Suo Wei can’t make sense of the way his heart races and breath catches in his throat. Then one day the confusion all falls into place in ways that make him want to never see Chi Cheng again. For the safety of his heart.
Wu Suo Wei sits on the edge of a bench tossing bread to the fish in the pond before him and Chi Cheng. It’s a beautiful autumn day and the sun sits high in the sky, but it’s not too hot. In fact, there’s a slight breeze that has him slightly curling in on himself. Chi Cheng puffs on his cigarette beside him, watching him occasionally from the corner of his eye, his mouth quirking into a smile when Suo Wei cheers on the fish as they fight for the bread. The smoke used to bother him, but it’s almost a welcome presence now. It’s comforting in a way and Xiao Shuai finds Suo Wei ridiculous for it. He shifts in his seat without conscious awareness of how close Chi Cheng and him already are and when he finds himself leaning into the warmth of Chi Cheng’s side, it’s too late for him to pull back. Chi Cheng takes the opportunity to wrap an arm tight around his waist, pulling him closer and stealing the breath from his lungs. He drops the bread into the grass and startles, bending to pick it up as a distraction to the way Chi Cheng’s scent flares with a heat that has him dizzy and how Suo Wei is resisting every temptation to bury his nose in Chi Cheng’s neck.
He doesn’t get far before Chi Cheng pulls him back to him, curling him against his chest. “You look cold,” he says in response. It’s nonchalant and seemingly uncaring, but Suo Wei can hear the compassion beneath it as well as possible ulterior motives. And yet, this close, Suo Wei can smell the cracked embers of his earthy scent mixed with a sweetness that has his eyes closing without his control and nuzzling underneath Chi Cheng’s jaw.
He stills immediately, movements completely halted. It’s as if time stands still, but Suo Wei barely notices Chi Cheng’s frozen form. He presses into the scent gland and breathes in the crackling campfire that warms him to his bones.
“Suo Wei,” Chi Cheng’s voice is strained and it snaps something in Suo Wei. He jolts back, but only so far. Chi Cheng grips him tight against him, refusing him to go too far from him.
“I’m sorry,” Suo Wei breathes, refusing to meet Chi Cheng’s gaze that burns through him like embers of a beckoning inferno. “I–I don’t know what came over me.”
He finds the courage to meet Chi Cheng’s eyes and what he sees there makes his mouth go dry. His pupils are blown wide, a stark darkness, and he stares into him, deep into parts of Suo Wei that he’s just learning to reckon with and make sense of. He swallows thickly and his eyes dart to Chi Cheng’s lips then away with a sudden fear of the realization dawning on him. He feels heat simmer low in his belly and a sharp gasp escapes his lips at a sudden ache filling him.
“I need to–” He stands abruptly, ripping himself from Chi Cheng who reaches for him, but he’s not quick enough. The panic coursing through him propels his movements at a speed that Chi Cheng can’t match, not when he looks both dazed and frustrated by Suo Wei’s dichotomous reactions. Suo Wei sprints in the opposite direction, out of the park, and runs down the street back toward the clinic, praying Xiao Shuai has seen his last patient for the day.
“You’re in heat,” Xiao Shuai says after examining Suo Wei. He bites his lip then sighs.
“Fuck,” Suo Wei grumbles then groans as he clutches his abdomen as another wave of pain blurred with a heated need takes over him.
“Does Chi Cheng know?” Xiao Shuai asks, hesitant to know the answer.
“No, I ditched him in the park.”
“Smooth.”
Suo Wei has enough energy to glare at him.
“Did something trigger this? Did he kiss you? Or did he get too close?”
Suo Wei refuses to meet Xiao Shuai’s searching eyes as he chokes out. “I scented him.”
“You what?” Xiao Shuai screeches and sits down with an interest that takes over his concern. Forever the gossip. “You are so in over your head, Suo Wei.”
“I know,” he groans as another cramp takes over. “If he stops by, you need to lie to him and tell him I went home.”
“Suo Wei–”
Suo Wei glares at his friend with a severity muddied only by his desperation. “He can’t know. Not about my heat. Not about my–”
Xiao Shuai sighs and gives him a kind, sad smile. “You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?”
Tears prick his eyes. “I don’t know. I–”
His friend sits on the bed next to him and cards a hand through his sweat-damp hair. “It’s okay to like men, Suo Wei.”
Suo Wei scoffs not unkindly. “Says you.”
“For what it’s worth,” Xiao Shuai adds. “I think he’s crazy about you, too.”
“Yeah, emphasis on crazy.”
Xiao Shuai huffs out a laugh. “Do you want to go to an omega hotel? I can bring you supplies once I get some organized. The sooner you get there, the better.”
Suo Wei nods and moves to stand, but his legs crumple underneath him. “Fuck,” the pain shoots through his abdomen in an undulating pulse and slick leaks from him. He stands on shaky legs with Xiao Shuai’s help. He leans into his friend as he helps him out into the lobby. He has a small emergency bag packed for unexpected heats like this and he asks Xiao Shuai to grab it on their way out of his room. As they turn the corner to his room and enter the main part of the clinic, Suo Wei is met with the heady scent of smoke and summer and crisp, sweet earth and he nearly collapses.
“Fuck,” Xiao Shuai mutters under his breath, but Suo Wei is too out of it to fully register the presence of the man he was trying to avoid. A resounding growl echoes from across the room and Suo Wei feels himself leak more slick and he groans, curling into Xiao Shuai who tenses. Even though Xiao Shuai is also an omega, Suo Wei vaguely, distantly, supposes there is no limit to Chi Cheng’s possessive nature.
“Let me see him,” Chi Cheng’s voice is thick and Suo Wei can feel the heat of his stare. He finds himself leaning toward it, but Xiao Shuai keeps his friend steady and away from the intimidating presence of Chi Cheng.
“He doesn’t want to see you right now.”
“Chi Cheng,” Suo Wei mumbles, delirious and needy and aching.
“Traitor,” Xiao Shuai mutters under his breath.
“I can take care of him,” Chi Cheng says, an urgent demand that leaves no room for argument, but as long as Suo Wei has known Xiao Shuai, he isn’t one to back down too easily.
“He doesn’t want you to.”
Suo Wei can feel the moment Chi Cheng advances and it’s a siren call beckoning him closer he whines and leans out of Xiao Shuai’s hold. “Suo Wei,” Xiao Shuai warns. “Are you sure you–”
Chi Cheng wraps a tight arm around Suo Wei’s waist, dragging him from Xiao Shuai’s arms who grumbles out a curse, but Suo Wei is too gone to care. He staggers into Chi Cheng’s embrace and settles his nose against his neck, breathing in and he groans, pressing closer. Chi Cheng’s around grips him tighter and Suo Wei can practically feel the smirk against his forehead as Chi Cheng presses a kiss to his sweat-damp forehead.
“If you hurt him–” Xiao Shuai starts, but Chi Cheng interrupts him with a severity taking over his tone that silences him immediately.
“I won’t.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” Xiao Shuai bites back. “If I don’t hear from you by noon tomorrow, I’m calling the cops.”
“Fair.”
Suo Wei mumbles Chi Cheng’s name and the only response he earns is a soft hush as he’s swung into strong arms. He grips Chi Cheng’s shoulders with a gasp that turns into a heady groan as he nestles back into the arms of the person he’s treacherously fallen for. What will come next will only end badly, but Suo Wei can’t be bothered to care. Not when Chi Cheng smells so good and he’s holding him so tight to his frame as if he never wants to separate from him.
He shivers as he’s met with cool, autumn air. The setting sun does nothing to warm his sweat soaked skin and clothes. Chi Cheng settles him into the passenger seat, and as he reaches over to buckle him in, Suo Wei cradles the cheek closest to him. Chi Cheng startles at the affection and Suo Wei wonders how he is becoming so brave. He blames the heat. He traces his thumb along Chi Cheng’s cheekbone and smiles softly when he leans into the touch, pressing a kiss against Suo Wei’s palm. His eyes are dark and his gaze, heavy with lust, devours him whole. Suo Wei licks his lips and Chi Cheng watches the movement like a hawk. “I want–” the spasm in his stomach cuts him off and he gasps against the sharpness of it. “Chi Cheng,” he whines, desperate and needy, and it must summon something in him because he ensnares Suo Wei’s lips in a kiss so harsh that Suo Wei’s mouth opens, welcoming his tongue and groaning as it meets his own.
With a sudden and swift movement, Chi Cheng reclines Suo Wei’s chair and it snaps back with a sharp click. Suo Wei gasps and grips Chi Cheng’s shirt by the lapels and pulls him closer. The kiss is full of a sinful promise of more and soon and not yet enough and he moans helplessly as Chi Cheng’s hands find his waist and hold his jerking hips in place. Chi Cheng has kissed him before, with some semblance, near performance of resistance from Suo Wei, but he secretly, deep down in the recesses of his heart longed for the connection. The claim that Chi Cheng sought to stake makes him weak and as Chi Feng bites his bottom lip and sucks it into his mouth, he can’t imagine why he ever fought in the first place.
Chi Cheng releases his mouth to bury his face in his neck, nipping and sucking kisses into his throat as he follows the line of it. He nestles his nose and lips against his scent gland and Suo Wei chants his name over and over. He’s never spent his heat with anyone, but gods, he wants to spend every single one in the future with Chi Cheng. He grips the back of Chi Cheng’s nape, threading his fingers through the soft hairs there and pulls him deeper and closer. Chi Cheng tongues his unbonded mark and Suo Wei turns into putty, melting into his touch. His hands slide down Chi Cheng’s back and find his hips pulling him farther into the car, he skates his fingers around his waist. Brave and brash and bold are words he would never use to describe himself but it’s as if all this pent up emotion and longing and luring has caught up with him and he can’t get enough. He’s denied himself so long and fuck he doesn’t want to anymore. Damn the consequences.
He drags his fingers along the zipper of Chi Cheng’s pants and with a sudden force his hands are ripped from their place and held above him, fingertips gracing the ceiling of the car. “Fuck,” he groans but it sounds more like a whimper. “Chi Cheng, I–”
“You’re driving me insane. You know that, right?” His hand that isn’t pinning Suo Wei’s wrists tracks a path down Suo Wei’s heaving chest, panting with every breath that he inhales like he’s desperate for more of Chi Cheng’s scent.
“Me too,” Suo Wei says, breathless and eager in ways he’s never been before. A liquid heat fills him to the brim and full to the point of bursting. He’s the moon tethered to Chi Feng’s sun, stuck in a gravitational pull he worries will drag him into its depths to only set him aflame and leave him when he’s nothing but ashes to be swept away in the wind.
The release of his wrists and the absence of Chi Cheng’s body against his is immediate and Suo Wei’s keen catches in his throat. “Chi–”
“Hush,” he says not unkindly and full of a tenderness unbeknownst to Suo Wei–only reserved by the formidable man watching him with lust addled eyes that darken at the sight of Suo Wei’s kiss swollen lips and undeniable erection. “You don’t want me to help you through your heat in a car in front of your friend’s clinic, do you?”
Suo Wei has enough clarity to feel embarrassed and he darts his gaze away from Chi Cheng, but he won’t allow it. He grips Suo Wei’s chin between his thumb and forefinger and kisses him once: firm and unrelenting. “Don’t shy away from me now, Suo Wei.”
Suo Wei gulps and Chi Cheng smirks.
“I’m not letting you go.”
And Suo Wei shouldn’t find that so reassuring. It shouldn’t be exactly what he wants.
But, fuck, it is. It’s all he needs.