Yiling had realized early on the odd dichotomy in a prostitute's life. Days were mostly routine. He could just glide through with a cursory glance. Nights were anything but. Every moment with a john he had to be alert. It only took a minute change for everything to go horribly wrong and if he couldn't salvage the situation, it was usually his body that paid the price. It was exhausting mentally, physically and emotionally.

Sleep was his friend for a variety of reasons.

Last night he had dreamed of the detective. Why his mind had chosen Lan Wangji he didn't know.  They had been walking in Ithilien. Barefoot on sunwarmed grass. Smiling. Talking and laughing together.

He had played his dizi for him. Not the simple one in his room. The one waiting in his home. A beautiful antique with jade beads on its red tassel. A black dizi with notes so clear it touched the heart. Sometimes,  when the moment was magical, it had brought tears to his eyes with its purity.

In the dream, he had played while standing in the sun with Lan Wangji beside him.

Safe. Clean. Whole.

He turned his alarm off and laid with his eyes closed. Reliving the dream.  Lovingly memorizing each cherished piece. He would hold this dream close in his heart of hearts.
~~~

When Lan Wangji first became a police officer, his inspector had just seen him as a handsome young man and made the mistake of sending him to an elementary school. It wasn't that he didn't like children.  He did. How to interact with them however was another matter entirely.

Children have an inate ability to sense who likes them and they usually respond with enthusiasm. The kindergarten class had been no different. Lan Wangji had sat stiffly on a chair almost painfully too small for someone of his height. He had very matter-of-factly talked about his job. He was there to help people and keep criminals off the street so everyone was safe.

The children had cheered and then swarmed Lan Wangji. All you could see was his head sticking out of the pile of little people hugging him. He had froze. It took the teacher ten minutes to get the pandemonium back under control. It was one of the longest ten minutes of Lan Wangji's life.

When the last child (a smiling boy asking if he was a super hero who could fly) was peeled off him, he had stood and smoothed his mauled uniform. He had thanked the teacher for the opportunity to talk to her students.  Thanked the children for listening and reminding them not to run in the hallways. He had then escaped as quickly as possible.

He had believed the experience was over.

He was wrong.

Within forty-eight hours he had the worst case of flu he had ever had. Apparently, kindergartners were adepts at germ warfare.

He had been stumbling to get to the bathroom to throw up yet again. Leaning on the wall for balance and to steady his shaking. Coughing in deep tearing convulsions. Peering through eyes that were hot, gritty and unfocused.

Yu Bin was showing him how to move when he was 'drunk'. Stumbling, leaning on the wall, coughing and looking at the world as if his eyes weren't working properly.

The light bulb went on.

The detective stood and walked shakily to the wall. Leaning his back against it, he pulled out his water bottle and took a swig. A cough as if he swallowed wrong. A swipe at his mouth and nose. Half open eyes gave Yu Bin a side long glance. Another swig and he slid down the wall with a grunt to sit awkwardly.

Yu Bin was watching with an open mouth. The detective looked, well, drunk. He couldn't believe it. All the work yesterday hadn't shown the results that today's fifteen minutes had.

"Sir! Sir, that's perfect! That's - WOW!" Yu Bin started laughing. Mostly out of relief.  "How? How did you do that so fast?"

Lan Wangji stood and was his customary upright self again. "I had a horrible case of the flu once."

Yu Bin only laughed harder.
-----
By the time Lan Wangji buzzed Nie Huaisang through the gate, things were coming along nicely.

After working on his 'drunk', they had worked on their clothing and props. Dirt had been ground in. Carefully saved bits from their meals had been dropped on the front of the shirts and thighs of the pants then pressed in to ensure the stains. Yu Bin had put his hat on over his shoe and dragged it around the driveway.

It was a good thing no one could see what the two police officers were doing. They would have thought they had lost their minds.

Nie Huaisang arrived with a bag, three drinks on a carrier tray and his second favorite fan. He smiled broadly as he knocked on the door with his knee.

Lan Wangji opened the door and gestured for the Inspector to enter. Nie Huaisang  had thrust the paper bag at the detective then continued into the house.

"I brought drinks. I hope they are acceptable." Glancing at the tops of each cup he passed them out appropriately. Lan Wangji looked up startled. Jasmine green tea. A sip. Beautifully brewed. How did the man know?

Yu Bin looked at his Americano as if he expected an evil sprite to leap out. A sip. Definitely a shot of espresso. He was convinced Nie Huaisang could read minds. He kept his eyes on his coffee in case the inspector did it through eye contact.

Nie Huaisang happily slurped his caramel latte. Gods, he loved the hot sweetness. He surreptitiously watched his companions. An internal smile. Ahhh, he loved his job...

"Well? Try on your jackets! No, wait. Put on the entire persona. I want to see what you've come up with. Who knows? I may have some pointers that will help." Nie Huaisang smiled.

"Mn." and Lan Wangji headed to his room to change. Not wanting be left alone with The Spider, Yu Bin had scurried off to change as well.

Having effectively given himself some time to enjoy his coffee, The Spider took out his phone and pulled up the video streams from several traffic cams in the red light district.

"Where are you today, Wen Chao?" he whispered with a smile that should have had fangs.
-----

Yu Bin peeked out of the guest room. 'Damn, where is he? I'm not going out- ' His thought was cut off as the inspector caught sight of him. He stayed with just his head stuck out of the door. Like a deer caught in headlights.

Nie Huaisang  gestured for him to come out as the man slid his phone back into a pocket.

"Don't be shy! I'm sure you've done a wonderful job." The smile was sincere. Or at least it appeared that way.

Yu Bin shook himself. He was a police officer and he had a job to do. He sank himself into his persona, Chen Li. A never do well who had gradually fallen to the bottom of society's rungs. He wasn't even reviled. He was invisible. If he disappeared, no one would notice.

Shuffling out, Chen Li pulled his back pack off. Taking a moment to try and tuck a long thread out of the way of the zipper, he finally bit it off and spit it on to the carpet. He slumped against the wall. A ratty piece of cardboard was laid out. In barely legible writing, Please everything helps could be seen.  The sign was followed by a can with the rim beaten down by a rock to remove the sharp edges. Chen Li scrounged in a pocket and pulled out something he quickly popped into his mouth and chewed rapidly.

Nie Huaisang was enchanted. Yu Bin was a natural and totally wasted as a beat cop. Details in mannerisms and clothing, posture and props all left a viewer's eyes passing right over the man. He was a beggar. No one would question it.

He applauded wildly scaring Chen Li who looked ready to run.

His voice was kind. "Come back, Yu Bin. By the gods, you have talent!"

Yu Bin pulled his tattered cap off and stood. "Any suggestions,  sir?"

"Only one." The fan was in action once again.

"Yes, sir?"

"Come work for me. You have a gift, Yu Bin. Under cover work doesn't get the accolades other areas of police work do but it is often the information we so painstakingly gather that makes the difference between life and death for our brethren."

Yu Bin was gobsmacked. Nie Huaisang's voice was honest, calm. Perhaps colored by a touch of regret. He had the sneaking suspicion he was getting a glimpse of the real Nie Huaisang. He was both very nervous and wildly flattered.

'I - " Yu Bin was cut off by Lan Wangji's entrance. The inspector turned and wafted his fan leisurely as he watched the detective's alter ego, Huang Feng, descend into inebriation. The man pulled a paper bag covered bottle to take a swig. The inspector could smell the pungent bijou from his end of the room.

"A paper bag?" A raised eyebrow questioning the choice.

A belligerent glare. "I'm -" 
A cough. "I'm a tradishionalist." Huang Feng slurred. A pause then a lopsided satisfied smile as if he was pleased with his own answer. Another slug from the bottle.

Nie Huaisang snapped his fan shut and nodded enthusiastically. "Well done, Detective!" He used his fan to indicate Lan Wangji should slowly turn for him. "Very nice. I think you will do just fine."

The fan was open again. Moving gently back and forth as the inspector thought for a moment. "May I suggest we plan possible locations, code words etcetera as well as learning how to use the lovely toys I've brought?"

"Mn." Lan Wangji headed to off to change.

Yu Bin picked up the thread he had spat on the carpeting, tucked it into his pocket and sat down at the table still dressed as the beggar.

Nie Huaisang hid a smile with a sip of his now cooling coffee. 'A natural indeed..."
~♡~♡~♡~

Our police officers are almost ready.  Keep your fingers crossed for them!

Remember to share a smile with someone today!

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