Work Text:
The noise of his heavy steps is softly silenced by the snow that covers the ground. The white snowflakes are falling from the dark sky, each of them, alone or enlaced with each other, seem to happily dance in the air before touching the icy pavement. With the street lamps, the snowflakes sparkle like little diamonds caressed by the rays of light. Doctor Chen Yuzhi is tired. He had a long and exhausting day at the clinic, and at the end he had to visit some of his older patients at their homes. But Chen Yuzhi doesn't complain, he likes being a doctor, he likes helping people. His work helps him to forget about his life, about his pain, about what he should have done better.
Chen Yuzhi sighs, tonight it's not the time for this kind of thoughts, it's a night to enjoy the moment, for keeping the sadness to later. At this exact moment, Chen Yuzhi is feeling good and he wants to keep it that way.
A smile caresses his lips, now, the snowflakes dance in a crazy farandole around him, it’s like time has just stopped and the world has been trapped in a snow globe. Chen Yuzhi likes it, it reminds him of the days when he was young, when time was like butterflies, where life was easy, where he was loved by his mom and dad. With a soft sigh, he remembers long hours playing in the snow, the cold, red cheeks, the freezing toes inside his boots, but also the laughter of his friends, the snowmen they built and the snowball fights with the neighbors’ children. Chen Yuzhi closes his eyes, he still can smell the scent of the hot chocolate that his mother made for him when he came back after long hours playing outside, he still can feel the soft caress of his mother on his freezing face, he still can smell the scent of his mother when she embraced him with her strong and warm arms. Chen Yuzhi smiles, it were such peaceful times, all he had to think about was a new strategy to win the next snowball fight and to find carrots and scarves for the future snowmen.
Chen Yuzhi laughs. He wants to remember those memories for a long time. He wants to keep old happiness well warmed inside his soul, to always keep smiling even if the present is holding him in the darkness now that he is a man. Alone. His parents, the kids and the snowball fights are long gone. Life gave him everything just to leave him with nothing later. Chen Yuzhi closes his eyes, they are all gone, even his little sister. He squeezes his eyes even closer, he fights the tears to explode inside him, he doesn’t want to cry, he has cried enough, he wants to smile, he wants to be happy for all who are gone.
Chen Yuzhi raises his head, the snowflakes fall on his face like icy littles kisses, like butterflies of happiness dancing on his lips. He likes winter’s night, it’s so beautiful and peaceful. I have the right to be happy… at least for ephemeral moments… While his steps take him home, his mind wanders.
*************
As time flies, he arrives at the corner of his street, lost in his reverie he doesn’t see the big ball of fur in the middle of his path. Only when the big ball of fur meows to greet him does he see it. But it's too late, in order to avoid the cat, he slips on the side and falls without grace full length on his back on the snowy road. Then, laying down, snowflakes falling on him, he feels a weight on his torso and a furry face appears in front of his eyes
“Meow,” the cat says.
“Xiao Bai, really?” Chen Yuzhi asks with a sigh.
*************
Jiang Yuelou looks through the window. It’s late, the hot chocolate he has prepared for Chen Yuzhi is cold by now. He had hoped that the doctor could come back early from this late home call, so he thought it could be a good idea to surprise him with something sweet and warm with this cold weather. He knows he is a fool, he doesn’t know him for a long time. And even, at the beginning he thought the man was just a sexy ass, a pretty toy to play with. But he was wrong, Jiang Yuelou saw something inside those dark eyes and since then, he has had the desire to get to know the other man better, to be with him, to make him smile.
Jiang Yuelou chuckles, what does this man do to him? He has never been like this before, always being the one who plays with other’s hearts, often breaking them. And now, only after a few weeks, he acts like a young college girl watching his crush by the window. He even prepared a hot chocolate! Really Yuelou?
Jiang Yuelou smiles, he doesn’t care what he looks like, the doctor makes him happy. And for now, even if their relationship is based on helping each other with work.
***********
The knock at his door makes him jump and snaps him out of his thoughts. When he opens it, the view makes him warm inside and giggles bubbling inside his throat. In front of him, there is his doctor with messy hair, snow all over him and Xiao Bai snuggled comfortably in his arms.
“Meow” his cat greets him, as if it is something totally common to appear at his door in the middle of the night with the neighbor looking like a snowman.
Chen Yuzhi, looking shy and uncomfortable, smiles and says “Hum, sorry to annoy you so late, I… I came back home and I happened to meet your cat on my way.”
Jiang Yuelou stares at them with surprise, all he can think of is that he has never had something so sexy and beautiful at the same time standing at his door. He has to restrain himself to not take him in his arms and devour his gorgeous red lips that tremble with the cold. But this is not the time, he has to take care of him first, but don't worry doctor I will take care of your gorgeous lips later. Then, without hesitation, Jiang Yuelou grabs Chen Yuzhi’s shoulder and pushes him inside in the warmth of his home, which seems to get warmer, more homey, the moment the doctor enters it.
***********
His first reaction is to resist him, to not enter like this inside Jiang Yuelou’s house. But, Chen Yuzhi is so exhausted and cold, that he doesn’t have the strength to resist anymore. And what for? If he is honest with himself, he has for a long time surrendered to his grin, to his warm eyes, to his sexy ass. So he lets Jiang Yuelou guide him to the living room. There, he lets the other man take Xiao Bai from his arms, who protest with a meow of indignation, he lets him take out his coat and push him gently on the couch. For a moment, Jiang Yuelou gets out of his sight, he comes back a moment later with a towel. Chen Yuzhi watches him taking care of him, drying his hair gently, carefully wiping his wet face, his fingers caressing at the same time his now burning skin. At this precise moment, Chen Yuzhi is feeling good. Then, he smells it, smells the scent of his childhood, of this old and so warm happiness, he smells home. In front of him, on the table, there is a cup with brown liquid inside.
Jiang Yuelou seeing what Chen Yuzhi stares at, smiles and says, “I thought you would come earlier from your work, so, hum, I made hot chocolate. But, I’m sorry, I think it's cold now… I can make another if you want?” And with these last words Jiang Yuelou tries to stand up, but he is stopped immediately by a strong hand grabbing his arm.
They stare in silence, their eyes burning with desire. With his other hand, Chen Yuzhi touches Jiang Yuelou’s face, caressing his soft skin with his thumb. Their faces are so close and too far away at the same time. Then, without hesitation, Chen Yuzhi tastes Jiang Yuelou’s red lips, he feels so good, so warm. With a moan of pleasure, he welcomes the other man kisses. While Jiang Yuelou feverishly devours his lips, pearls of tears sparkle in the corner of his eyes, Chen Yuzhi knows he's back home, finally.
La fin