Chapter Text
- Chapter Start -
"How much closer do you think we three are?" Jia KeZi persists. His voice doesn't sound as steady as before.
Jiang ZiSuan is relieved that Jia KeZi's asking so he doesn't have to. His heart is racing in his chest and he knows Jia KeZi can hear it.
Li JiaLe turns to them, shoulders tense beneath his jacket and eyes glittering.
"Not close enough."
Jiang ZiSuan stares at him. He can't pretend he doesn't know what Li JiaLe's getting at. Ever since the bronze poisoning incident with Er Jing a month ago, he's felt something between Jia KeZi, Li JiaLe and himself. And Huo DaoFu. Something unspoken; a weight in his chest that only eases when he's with them.
Despite the soft smiles, meaningful looks and light brushes of arms and hands that are anything but accidental, none of them have alluded to it. Jiang ZiSuan's lost count of the number of times he opened his mouth only to close it again. It's not that he isn't interested, he just doesn't want to jeopardise the first few firm friendships he's ever made.
Looks like Li JiaLe's the only one brave enough to bring it up. He's stubborn and quick tempered, but he's also fiercely loyal and never backs down from anything. Right now, his cheeks are flushed and he looks almost desperate.
And handsome, Jiang ZiSuan's mind whispers.
"Not close enough. To ZiSuan?" Jia KeZi asks with a swift, almost nervous glance at Jiang ZiSuan.
Shaking his head, Li JiaLe sets down his beer bottle hard enough to crack it as glass meets stone.
"No. To both of you." His voice is shaking. "Ilikebothofyou!"
The words come out in a jumbled rush. There's an answering rush going through Jiang ZiSuan, borne of sheer relief.
"Do you think-"
"Yes," Jiang ZiSuan cuts him off. "Yes, I - both of you."
Li JiaLe huffs and gives a trembling smile, shoulders slumping. He turns to Jia KeZi.
"KeZi, I - I know your divorce is recent, but do you think-"
"Yes," Jia KeZi interrupts him as well, eyes bright and cheeks - even in the dim light - equally flushed. He's kind and gentle and just as loyal and brave.
And handsome too, Jiang ZiSuan's mind insists on whispering, like he doesn't already know that.
"Oh God, I've been going crazy!" Li JiaLe exclaims with a laugh that's part groan. He rubs his palms on his jeans and grabs their hands with fingers cold from holding the chilled beer. "And you two are okay with it?"
"I am," Jiang ZiSuan says with a firm nod. He sounds like he hasn't drunk water in days and quickly clears his throat.
Li JiaLe's smile widens, his fingers twitching around Jiang ZiSuan's. When he turns to Jia KeZi, Jiang ZiSuan does the same.
"I am too," Jia KeZi says and gives a little laugh, ducking his head.
"I was afraid you'd both think me mad," Li JiaLe admits.
Pulling his hand free, Jiang ZiSuan grabs Li JiaLe's trembling one in a firm grip.
"No, you're not."
"You're not, JiaLe," Jia KeZi agrees and does the same with Li JiaLe's other hand. "Otherwise we all are. So we... we'll figure this out. Right?"
Jiang ZiSuan doesn't know who moves first, but they're suddenly in a three way hug, heads bumping. His heart is racing like it wants to escape his chest. He feels giddy and silly like a teenager with their first crush. But this is his first crush. His parents died when he was young so it's always been only A-Ning and himself. After she died, there was no one and nothing else but work and his vendetta against Wu Xie.
"Uhm. Wait, wait." Jia KeZi pushes until they separate.
"KeZi? You've changed your mind?" Li JiaLe looks stricken.
"No! No, but - Huo DaoFu. Do you two feel the same about... him?"
Jiang ZiSuan lands back on earth with a figurative bump, stomach clenching tight. Taking a chance, he nods. To his relief, he gets two nods back. The tightness in his chest eases, allowing an incredulous laugh to bubble out of his throat.
"Then we should tell him. He's already here," Jia KeZi says, glancing over his shoulder at the path where they came from earlier.
"Here?" Jiang ZiSuan echoes, turning the same way.
"Actually, he's leaving."
"I'll get him," Jiang ZiSuan releases Li JiaLe's hand and stands up. "Wait. What if he doesn't want... this?"
He blinks when Li JiaLe and Jia KeZi exchange looks and start chuckling.
"What?"
"He does," Jia KeZi assures him.
Jiang ZiSuan nods, feeling unaccountably nervous. "Alright, I'll get him."
"No. KeZi and I will," Li JiaLe says and they both get to their feet.
"Why?" Jiang ZiSuan asks.
"It's better coming from us. Just wait here."
Jiang ZiSuan doesn't get the cryptic look Li JiaLe and Jia KeZi exchange, but he nods anyway. He also has no idea what they're getting themselves into, nor does he even want to think about the complications or logistics or whatever. He just knows he... well, he wants Huo DaoFu to be a part of whatever this is.
- o -
Huo DaoFu's throat is tight and his chest hurts. He came out here to escape the karaoke. Not Kan Jian and Liu Sang's singing, but the glint in their eyes that says he's up next. Also, because he wondered where those three have gone.
Now he wishes he hadn't.
So that's how it is. Jiang ZiSuan, Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe. The three Musketeers, firm friends and soon to be... more.
And Huo DaoFu?
Alone again, naturally. Turning sharply on his heel, he strides along the pathway, retracing his steps.
"Huo DaoFu. Huo DaoFu!"
"Wait up!"
Huo DaoFu stops and takes a careful breath, breathing in through his nose and out his mouth. He wipes his face clean of expression before turning around.
"What?" His voice comes out harsher than he intended. Pressing his lips together, he ignores the fact that Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe are holding hands right in front of him.
"Don't go."
Huo DaoFu's lips twist.
"Why not? You two already have each other. And him."
He winces at how bitter he sounds.
"You can have him too," Jia KeZi suggests.
Huo DaoFu blinks at him.
"What?!"
"He won't say no," Li JiaLe assures him.
"But you three-" Huo DaoFu breaks off, confused.
"... could be four?" Jia KeZi shrugs with a self-deprecating smile, like he knows how crazy it sounds.
Huo DaoFu stares at him. It is crazy. It's Jiang ZiSuan he's attracted to, but something about that helpless, sweet smile makes his chest ache, makes him wonder if he's wrong.
"What do you say?" Li JiaLe asks, giving a nervous smile.
Huo DaoFu feels his chest twist again. Li JiaLe too, then.
Oh God, this is crazy. Beyond crazy. Beyond even Iron Triangle level of crazy. Huo DaoFu isn't even someone who shares. Still, he doesn't resist when Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe lead him to the courtyard with the fountain where Jiang ZiSuan stands waiting, hands in his pockets.
Whatever this is, he wants in on it.
- o -
Seeing as Huo DaoFu has escaped the karaoke, Liu Sang passes the microphone back to an eager Pang Zi.
"Walk?" Kan Jian mutters under his breath.
Liu Sang gives a tiny nod and smile. They go to the kitchen to get more beer and then walk out back. When Kan Jian turns right, Liu Sang tugs on his arm.
"This way," he suggests, tipping his head to the left.
"I want to show you the fountain," Kan Jian objects.
"Later," Liu Sang says and when Kan Jian frowns, adds, "that place is occupied right now."
A frown appears between Kan Jian's straight eyebrows and then he blinks.
"Oh. Those three are there?"
"Yup. Plus our good doctor."
"Wait. Four?"
Liu Sang chuckles and then he gives a small cough.
"What is it?" Kan Jian asks at once.
"Nothing," Liu Sang says a little too quickly.
Kan Jian squints at him before his mouth falls open.
"They're kissing!"
Biting his lip, Liu Sang nods and regrets it when Kan Jian brightens.
"No. We're going the other way."
"But - at least tell me who's kissing who!"
"Nope."
- Story End -