author: Jets_adjacent

modern AU.

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when dragging your friend to spy on your brother, be certain he is not going to make things worse.

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aka: you can't take Pei Ming anywhere

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Shi Wudu is busy spying on his brother (who's in a booth at this wretched place, getting far too cozy with some scrawny goth) to notice Pei Ming come vaulting over. Crashing into him with the force of a cowardly avalanche, his broad body cramming itself against Shi Wudu's side.

"Oh god she saw me! Help!"

"Fuck off." He snarls, pushing at the man's face, trying to pry him off before their commotion at the bar catches Qingxuan's notice. Which might actually be a good thing as his little brother, who claimed he was going to study with Xie Lian, is now nuzzling his nose into some man's jaw!

"No really she's going to kill me." Pei Ming gave a whine, hands squeezing Shi Wudu around the waist as he tried to hide himself behind a man a fraction his size.

"You probably deserve it!"

"Hey now, don't say that." Pei Ming halted pushing to frown down at him. "Some women just can't let go."

"Yea. I'm sure they're the problem. " Huffs, glancing over Pei Ming's shoulder to the object of his terror. Needing to hug the thick torso half trying to climb him in a mockery of escape just to see around the fool.

Shi Wudu catches a familiar face in the crowd, parting a busy dance floor by the sheer power of her murderous aura.

"I thought Xuan Ji moved across the country." He asked, spiritually aging ten years.

"She came back two months ago, her job reopened the office in the capital."

Shi Wudu is silent for a moment before digging fingers painfully into the small of Pei Ming's back.

"And how do you know that ? You have a restraining order against--"

"Wellll..."

He's going to kill him. He's actually going to kill this oaf and bury his body beneath the oak floorboards of his summer home - and when Pei Ming's ghost tries to haunt him Shi Wudu will shoot it with a salt gun for sport!

"I haven't spoken to her, we just still exist in the same social media circles I swear! Just help me ok??" The man whines too loud, all these muscles pure vanity for the slimy coward inside.

"No, let her eat you, it's out of my hands."

"!! Wait! That's not fair, you're the only one she's afraid of and if she kills me you'll miss me, I know you will. Who else will come with you to super creepy spy on your brother's date like a crazy person?!" Pei Ming slapped his shoulder. "You owe me."

"Unlikely."

His life is a joke. His brother is lying to him, sneaking off to horrible little clubs like this. His friend (title pending revaluation after tonight) is dragging him into his own personal problems - and Xuan Ji may be a bitch straight from hell but he knows Pei Ming did this in the end.

Why do these things happen to him? Shi Wudu pays the world enough to bend to his every whim and yet it seems he still owes more.

She's close enough now to see them both, her approach wavering when spotting Shi Wudu. Pei Ming was right, she was afraid of him - or more specifically his team of lawyers who helped facilitate their break up last time. He hoped he'd be enough to send her away but no luck. It seemed it would take more than that to remind her how pointless it was to keep chasing this wretched man.

A thought came to mind and Shi Wudu pretended it was clearly the best option.

"Come here you useless..."

Pei Ming is taller than him by enough to be irritating, but nothing a firm hand clenching the man's face can't fix - forcing his chin down at an awkward angle for lips to meet in the space between.

Pei Ming lets free a startled noise, jaw lax and still with surprise, that it's easy for Shi Wudu to lick inside his mouth with an obscene flick of his tongue. Switch his hand to a fist at the nape of Pei Ming's neck and draw him closer. Deeper so Shi Wudu bears the weight of this man down his chest and where his legs trap a shaking thigh between them.

Over Pei Ming's shoulder Xuan Ji has frozen. She's watching them, not with expected rage or revulsion, but with wide eyes rocked in confusion. Mind trying to process what she's seeing.

Shi Wudu bites Pei Ming's lip when he meets her gaze, eliciting a sharp hiccup of breath from the man who grabs his hips in return. Pawing suddenly frantic up his body - the perfect display as Shi Wudu sucks the tip of a greedy tongue and feels Pei Ming's hands rough and desperate on his ass.

If he rips these slacks I'm going to tear his tongue out , Shi Wudu decides as Pei Ming is too handsy ( he needs to be trained) . Clamoring for more and the low moan rattling out of the warm body is enough to echo through the nearby patrons of the bar. Some look on in amusement, some not so much, but Xuan Ji just snarls and waves a hand in the air.

"You liar! I knew it!" She declares, confusing Shi Wudu who suddenly has a thick thigh pressing hard between his legs, forcing even him to lose his concentration. Doesn't see the woman go, but he pries his eyes open after Pei Ming's lips drift, attaching to his pulse.

"She's gone-" he tries and feels a hand go up the back of his shirt, Pei Ming's breath hot and harsh against his throat. "You asshole let go of me she's-"

He pushes Pei Ming back by the clavicle, teeth bared and annoyed at the sudden rise of heat in the packed club. Head dizzy and whatever sugary-bright drink Pei Ming had earlier was sticky against his tongue.

Before Shi Wudu can think, he's being lifted. His ass hits the bar counter behind him, the sudden cheers or notes of annoyance fall on deaf ears when his pulse screams against the vision of Pei Ming's dark eyes and kiss bitten mouth below.

The bartender is yelling at them, rightfully so, and Shi Wudu wraps legs against Pei Ming's torso for balance, pretty sure he's going to be paying the club hush money to destroy security cameras. That's fine. He's rich and it's worth it to tug Pei Ming's skull back by the annoyingly perfect coif of his perfect hair, kiss a begging mouth with a sting in his lips and large rough hands on his thighs.

Big shoulders big stupid shoulders - he eagar to test if Pei Ming's knees can reach his shoulders or if all that big dumb muscle gets in the way.

"Ge???!"

Shi Wudu opens eyes he hadn't realized were closed to meet the scandalized face of his brother.

Shi Qingxuan stood at the parting of the cheering crowd, perfectly shaped brows raised to his hairline and grip on the tall, bean-pole goth tight and startled.

"Qingxuan!" He breathes, heart in throat and the swell of terror replaces the pleasing heat with a wash of cold.

He lets go of Pei Ming's hair, flushed face snapping back with a hint of pain.

"Ge??? What are you doing here???" Shi Qingxuan points accusingly, looking ready to faint. " And with Pei Ming??"

"Well hang on, your brother started it.." Pei Ming grouses, shifting his hold on Shi Wudu like he weighed nothing. And the bastard smirked like he had enough lives to risk it. "Don't be too hard on him, I mean, how could he resist?"

Shi Wudu is rich.

He takes solace in knowing he has enough money to pay off any witnesses at the club who will see him murder Pei Ming.