Work Text:
Some people just love to tease, endlessly, whether by accident or on purpose.
That playful innocence comes from a sense of security, an inexplicable feeling of safety. Maybe the person never worries about being noticed, and they act carefree, smiling without a care in the world.
Leaving hearts racing, pounding like drums, echoing steadily in the ears.
...
"I miss you. Let’s meet somewhere?"
Officer Seth Lowell’s long, sleek tail puffed up twice as large as soon as the message appeared on his screen. Thankfully, this time, his precious phone didn’t hit the ground — countless times before, Wise had tested both his phone’s durability and Seth’s heart, a man who wasn’t accustomed to such teasing or romantic jokes.
Maybe the video store owner truly saw Seth as a little cat, always twitching its tail when lightly teased, or perhaps that’s just how Wise connects with his friends, openly expressing his feelings in a way that even Seth, known for his bluntness, would blush.
Seth’s face turned bright red, and he quickly replied to the message, before the few knowing smiles from the office, mostly from Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, and the robot girl’s casually comment: "Is the video store manager inviting Seth to hang out?"
Seth’s ears drooped, and he nervously fiddled with his nose, nodding awkwardly.
If Wise had been there watching the reaction, he would have teased him, saying, "Oh, how cute." With a rare, playful smile and crescent-shaped eyes, he’d ruffle Seth’s soft hair like pampering a big cat. Wise loved cats, and since becoming closer, he often patted Seth’s head, ignoring Seth’s embarrassed protests.
But Seth didn’t want him to stop.
The large tail swished, then shot up straight, a sign of happiness and joy. Seth’s contented growl, though rare, was the best sign that Wise wasn’t overstepping and that Seth was enjoying the affection.
Unaware, Wise didn’t notice that sometimes, Seth’s fangs would show slightly, wishing to bite the skin beneath his thin black shirt, but pulling back in the end. Seth wasn’t yet sure of his feelings; the sweetness of gazing at Wise’s face felt like sugarcane, making him both fall in love and feel a knot of confusion.
He wasn’t quite ready, but one day, he would understand.
...
"I miss you" didn’t have much of an effect on Asaba Harumasa from Section 6. He’d never been shy about teasing or joking with others. He might not have been in a romantic relationship, but with his personality, the shy one was always someone else, never Harumasa.
"I miss you too," he smiled mischievously as if the person on the other end were right there with him. It was just a casual remark, and after a few seconds with no reply, he asked again: "What, surprised by my response?"
Harumasa patiently counted down, sipped his hot black coffee, squinted, and licked his lips, until the "ting ting" sound from his phone went off again.
"What if I’m being sincere?"
It was impossible to know if the grey-haired boy on the other end was blushing, if the message was just a playful response to a failed tease, or if he was genuinely bold enough to continue this flirtatious exchange.
"Of course, I’m sincere too," Harumasa typed, at the same time muttering to himself. Compared to work, Wise’s presence made him feel relaxed, and it would be even better if he invited him to hang out. Harumasa was looking for an excuse to slip away, and whatever consequences came afterwards, he’d deal with them later. Harumasa took pride in his efficiency at work.
The time and place for their hangout could be decided by Wise. It didn’t matter to Harumasa where they went.
He could already imagine Wise’s tall, slender figure running toward him, knowing he would always be punctual for dates with Wise, never letting anyone else know about it. Otherwise, Harumasa would lose his privilege of being late to meetings.
He closed his eyes, spun his fountain pen, and hummed a random tune, thinking of the twilight and the sunset glowing in Wise’s emerald eyes. He could feel the breeze lifting his sleeves, with the other person right next to him, leaning against the railing with a camera in hand, saying: "Harumasa is so handsome."
He knew those words weren’t just for him. He wondered how many others had seen a fleeting smile or their reflection in those calm lakes, imagining, like him, that this person was looking only at them. That the soft voice, as if gently caressing someone, was directed solely at him. Or perhaps it was. But not forever.
That truth made him feel uneasy, and maybe, just maybe, Harumasa wasn’t as calm as he thought.
He closed his eyes to ignore the signs of something stirring in his left chest. Time was already cruel, and even more so to him.
And yet, in the end, Harumasa couldn’t hide his happiness as he curled up in the arms of this grey-haired boy, hearing the soft hum of a lullaby that made him drift into a short midday nap.
The black crow nestled into the warmth, knowing it was selfish, but it had no regrets.
...
Seth had always been loved by cats. Whenever they went for a walk, whether it was in Lumina Square or on 6th Street, there was always one or two cats that would run up and nuzzle against his legs.
Was it because he was a Thiren from the Cat family? Wise smiled with interest as he watched Seth, once again, surrounded by a group of stray cats. They gathered around him, meowing in a clingy way, wanting to be picked up and held, like children asking for gifts from an adult.
"You really have a special charm, Seth~"
"W-Wise, stop teasing!" Seth sighed, both hands busy with the cats around him. Honestly, Wise envied Seth in this regard. Both he and Belle loved spoiling small animals, especially the stray cats near their home. That’s why Wise didn’t hesitate to adopt Inky. Every time he heard the deep purring from his black cat, Wise found it impossible to stand up or do anything else.
So, for someone like Seth, who attracted cats so easily, Wise couldn’t help but feel both jealous and impressed.
"It’s true, I’m not joking. I’m jealous. You’re not just charming to cats, you know?"
He showered Seth with praises, hoping to make him blush, which he always enjoyed doing when he saw the pale-haired boy. Wise’s words were also true—no matter how cute he found Seth to be, first and foremost, Seth was a young man full of vitality and responsibility, which is an attractive trait. And everyone had to admit he was handsome. Wise truly felt that he and his sister had always been surrounded by good-looking people.
Seth still wasn’t immune to Wise’s affectionate teasing, and it might take him a while to get used to it. Blushing, Seth covered his face with one hand, waving his other hand in protest: "Wise, you’re charming too!"
"Me? Not really, haha," Wise laughed at the sudden compliment. "If we’re talking about charm, Belle is more fitting than me. She’s like a little sun, so cute and easy to talk to. Compared to her, I’m pretty ordinary, right?"
Indeed, Wise’s face wasn’t the kind that made people swoon. His clothes were simple, and he usually blended into the crowd as a habit.
But…
Seth grew quiet for a moment, looking closely at him.
His face might not have been the most striking, but it had a certain harmony. Every time Seth saw him, even before they had become as close as they were now, it felt like being washed by clear water. Qingyi once said, "The heart shapes the face," meaning that a person’s inner soul eventually reflects in their appearance.
There was nothing particularly remarkable.
"But to me, Wise is very special."
Seth accidentally blurted out his thoughts, caught up in his random musings.
He saw Wise staring at him in surprise, a look he had never seen on him before. Then Wise’s familiar laughter rang out, steady and clear, as he ruffled Seth’s hair.
Seth instinctively wrapped his tail around Wise’s leg, and Wise let him do so without a second thought.
"Today Seth is bolder than usual, huh?" Wise’s voice was right by Seth’s ear, making him want to pull away, but also stay close, though too shy to say it out loud.
The cats around them suddenly grew quieter. As though they understood what was happening, they focused on Seth, mewing softly before settling down. Some stretched out to bask in the sunset.
Seth’s heart raced, and he silently prayed that the person with him wouldn’t hear it.
He didn’t even know how to explain it—all his words were stuck in his throat with no way to get out.
...
In contrast, Harumasa wasn’t exactly popular with the cats. He puffed his cheeks in a sulking manner, and Wise couldn’t help but laugh at how well that childlike expression suited him.
"It’s probably because I smell like medicine," Harumasa had once said to Wise while trying to befriend a stray kitten near the cinema and Lumina Galleria. They spent a long time trying to get the kitten to trust them, feeding it and petting it.
Wise had even jokingly asked Harumasa to try meowing like a cat to see if it would help, but it didn’t work. However, the fact that Harumasa actually tried to meow at Wise’s request stuck with him, making it a funny and memorable experience.
Today, they ran into the same kitten. They skipped the "getting-to-know-each-other" phase, and Harumasa eagerly scooped it up, sitting down on a bench. The kitten curled up in his lap, letting him pet its soft fur, content. Wise sat beside him, leaning in to watch them both relax amidst the bustling street.
Harumasa and Wise had developed a habit of syncing their lives during walks like this, whether it was complaining about work or discussing a new drink they had tried at a café. Today, the topic was: "How’s your health lately?"
Wise knew that, before their secret mission, whenever he asked Harumasa this question, he always got the same answer.
"It’s fine, no problem."
But it had been a while since Harumasa left the hospital, and about a week since he had handed his phone to Wise, asking him to pretend to be his family and listen to the doctor’s advice.
So today, Harumasa’s answer was more detailed. "Nothing serious," he said. "I had a bit of a sudden headache once, but it was probably because of the bad weather. Everything’s the same, no changes. I’m still taking my medicine regularly."
His voice was a little lazy, and he leaned against Wise until his head rested on his shoulder.
Wise could still smell the medicine on Harumasa, just as he had said. But it wasn’t unpleasant—the herbal scent mixed with the bitter aroma of coffee, both so familiar that it made Wise realize how long they had known each other, long enough for him to recognize and appreciate these small details.
Harumasa continued petting the cat, while Wise’s hand gently ran through a lock of his dark hair. His eyes turned to the sparkling river on the other side of the railing, watching the white clouds drifting by as the wind softly played its tune.
Harumasa’s golden eyes, hidden beneath thick lashes, focused on the young man enjoying the breeze, the blue sky reflected clearly in his gaze.
A little yellow would make it even more beautiful, Harumasa thought, steadying his breath. His heartbeat remained calm, and no sound would overpower the wind or drown out Wise’s sigh.
Wise stared at the distant blue sky until Harumasa, no longer wanting to keep his distance, decided he should say something to close the gap. Just as he thought about it, his figure once again came into focus in those spring-like pools.
"Are you comfortable, Harumasa? It’s rare to have such a mild afternoon. If you’d like, I can drive you around Elpis Harbor later."
His voice was soft, slow, and gentle, his smile warm and genuine.
Like the warmth of home. Like heading toward a safe place, with simple questions like, "What’s for dinner?" or "Good work today" and "Good night."
"Why so quiet today?" Wise asked again.
Harumasa’s heart broke open at such simple things. In these fleeting moments, life felt so ordinary.
He shook his head and buried himself deeper into Wise’s neck. He laughed when he felt Wise adjust his posture to make him more comfortable, wondering why this person could be so unguarded, even though there were still walls between them.
"I’m fine," he heard himself say. Thankfully, his voice didn’t tremble as much as he feared.
"Today, I’d rather take a nap at your shop. The Deputy Chief will drag me into overtime later~"
It was just an excuse. If he complained about his insomnia, Wise would probably end up comforting the "little black crow" and lulling him to sleep.
And that was enough. More than enough.
That was all he needed. He wouldn’t say another word.
He didn’t want to rush his feelings out too quickly, scaring off the precious treasure he had long set his eyes on.
…
Wise had always thought of Seth and Harumasa as complete opposites—like black and white—when it came to personality, values, and lifestyles. Every time he saw them standing near each other, the contrast between them became even more apparent.
"Seth, Harumasa, it"s been a while since I"ve seen you both together."
Wise waved as he walked up to them, breaking the awkward silence between the two. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he noticed their expressions soften when they heard his voice and footsteps.
"Wise!" "Is that you, Wise?" They both said in unison, which made Wise chuckle at how amusing the situation felt.
It had indeed been a while since he’d seen them talking—ever since Seth had approached Harumasa to apologize for his harsh words during the investigation into the illegal drug trade. And today, for reasons unknown to him, the two of them were standing near the parking lot. If Wise remembered correctly, they shouldn’t have crossed paths based on their usual schedules.
Almost as if reading his mind, they both explained at the same time: "I need to pick up more medicine," "The department meeting ended early, so I’m getting snacks for everyone."
They exchanged a look—Harumasa raised an eyebrow, and Seth froze, his expression difficult to describe. This time, Wise couldn’t hold back his laughter, causing him to bend over slightly and pat his chest to catch his breath. Both of them instinctively patted his back, and without needing to look, Wise knew they were once again perfectly in sync.
"You two aren’t as different as I thought," Wise said, still laughing. The two pairs of eyes—one purple, one gold—met in a sudden understanding, a connection and similarity that neither of them was willing to acknowledge at that moment.
Well, let"s leave it to the future.
The small drama between the three of them hadn’t ended yet, and the day continued on, unnoticed by anyone.
At last, unresolved tensions always seem to stir our hearts more, don’t they?