Shadow Refraction No. 2

[Two people secretly in love, one step away from confessing. A little sharp-tongued. The writing is serious one moment and ridiculous the next.]

[Shameless / reliable / Shadow Hunter / brawler seme X solitary / unhinged / Shadow Breaker / obedient only in front of the seme uke]

On the night the Shadow Hunter squad first surrounded the second Shadow Breaker, Chou Zheng, the squad members witnessed their captain, Xing Chengyang, shamelessly confess to his mortal enemy, whom he'd just thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Still bent to the side, Xing Chengyang leaned over Chou Zheng, who was pinned beneath him, and flashed a sincere smile that looked as if he were intrigued by his prey. “The first time I laid eyes on you, I thought you were right up my alley. That's when I knew I liked you.”

“Want to be with me?”

Before Chou Zheng could react, the vice-captain, Jing Xu, who was busy doing two things at once, raised his moral standards another notch and shouted, “Can you stop acting like a pervert?”

Whatever little decency the squad had left was gone.

Of course, that didn't dampen Xing Chengyang's enthusiasm. If anything, it made him bolder. After that, he kept showing off in front of Chou Zheng, over and over. “Want to be with me? I really like you.”

Chou Zheng, pinned down by shackles: ...

Confirmed. This guy was crazy.

After they began working together, Chou Zheng still carried a sense of distance and loneliness.

“I was an orphan no one wanted.” Chou Zheng remembered a little about his past and shook his head calmly. “Even if I find them, someone like me would only be an even bigger burden. What's the point?”

Sitting beside him, Xing Chengyang let out an “Hm?” that was full of disapproval.

“The sponsors at the lab practically worship the ground you walk on. What are you feeling inferior about?” Xing Chengyang flicked him on the forehead.

After thinking it over, he edged a little closer and looked earnestly into Chou Zheng's eyes. “If you're a burden, then what do you call all the effort I put into talking you into coming with me?”

Perhaps he was too close. Chou Zheng's gaze darted away awkwardly.

“See? You just don't believe I like you.” Xing Chengyang's eyes followed the small movements of Chou Zheng's evasive gaze, as if he were about to seize the opportunity and make a move.

“Yeah, right.” Jing Xu looked at Chou Zheng, then at Xing Chengyang's ridiculous behavior, and choked on his words before quietly answering for Chou Zheng. “Tch. It's just love at first sight.”

Xing Chengyang heard every word. “...”

Xing Chengyang was admiring Chou Zheng's handsome, refined features and swallowed the retort he was about to make.

Great.

He had no shame.

A few notes:

1. This is a modern alternate-universe story. Don't rule out the occasional flight of fancy that goes completely off the rails~ (?)

2. If anyone comments or discusses plot clues and foreshadowing, I might spoil things in my reply. I may answer in a way that seems completely beside the point, or dodge the question by acting cute. Sorry in advance! It'll all make sense as the story updates! Heart!

3. The writing is serious one moment and ridiculous the next. I hope everyone who stops by has fun reading.

Theme: Buried against his neck is the love etched into his bones