his love finger, in my teeth [FIC]

[notturnito]

Title: his love finger, in my teeth
Fandom: 王者荣耀 | King of Glory (Video Game)
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Liu Bang/Zhang Liang
Warnings: AU - Modern Setting, established relationship, slice of life, romantic fluff, liu bang being insensitive over heart diseases to flirt with zhang liang. 
Notes: 

For Shinku_Tsuuki. happy birthday kak shin!!! as a disclaimer: the beloved murong xueli belong to shinku_tsuuki, and i am but a humble creature who is happily playing in her yumeverse sandbox!

 

cw: liu bang being insensitive about heart disease to flirt with zhang liang.

 

title adapted from junior wells' "she's a sweet one"
 

---

My bad, my bad- Zhang-daifu. Let me ask you this. A stolen heart. What is the recommended treatment for such a case?

*
At 7PM the Ba City's Han TCM Clinic should have been completely devoid of life, its warm lighting completely snuffed out in favor of darkness. Yet one office remains alight, the soft yellow glow seeping out beneath the crack of the office door.

Liu Bang smiles at the sight. The cute doctor inside is probably still busy with paperwork.

Three short knocks on the cherry wood—a material he carefully curated when he designed this clinic for a certain someone—Liu Bang saunters into the office, inviting himself in even before he can hear any answer.

There he is. A fluffy mop of familiar white hair, shoulders hunched over a couple of open medical journals and a whirlwind stack of papers. On top of the stack, however, and placed neatly as though to deliberately to catch attention, is—

"So, you're a fan of surnamed Zhuge as well, now?"

For all the effort Liu Bang tries in keeping the sourness of jealousy out of his voice, it is wont to be unnoticed, as Zhang Liang merely blinks up at him.

"Ah," he says, adjusting his glasses. Sparing a glance to the clock, as Liu Bang drags the patient seat to sit next to him, Zhang Liang deftly closes the journal at hand. "Is it dinnertime already? Sorry. Thanks for picking me up."

How unfair. Liu Bang feels all the sourness melt away as he's rewarded by a small, yet true smile. It is wiped completely by the ensuing words.

"But this is not mine. Classmate Murong accidentally snagged her keychain on the door when she's hurrying home tonight." No doubt to watch her idol's scheduled livestream. "I told her about it through text, and she says that she will pick it up in a bit."

"Hoo. And as we both wait for our daughter, have this first, A-Liang."

Zhang Liang's exasperation at Liu Bang's nickname to his former classmate is successfully distracted when Liu Bang brings out a thermos from his bag.

Uncapped, the steam wafts up bringing out the familiar sweet scent of soymilk, with a hint of red dates. Uncle Su's corner stall has recently started a new soymilk blend, and while Liu Bang himself prefers something more savory, they are already at dinnertime. He should feed his A-Liang something more filling in the comfort of their shared home.

Liu Bang pours the creamy drink into the cup attachment, then offers it to Zhang Liang for the first sip.

Judging from the pleasant squint of his eyes and the way Zhang Liang hums, savoring the taste, Liu Bang has made the correct pre-dinner meal choice. Internally dancing in victory, Liu Bang merely laces his fingers together, leaning his chin on both hands, smiling. If he is smiling a tad wider than the usual, then none would know better.

"Uncle Su's new drink?" After Liu Bang's affirmation, Zhang Liang nods in approval, handing the cup back, the other half for Liu Bang to finish. A habit of sharing. "Customers must like this very much."

It's decided; Liu Bang will pick up this red date soymilk for the rest of the week.

Rotating the cup to drink from where Zhang Liang's lips have taken a sip, Liu Bang gulps down his share- resisting the urge to lick the rim once he has finished. He is not that thirsty; he can be so calm, see?

So, he pours more soymilk into the cup and hands it over instead. "What are you reading about, this time, A-Liang? Difficult patient case?"

Unlikely, and it'll also be unusual for his family's Zhang-daifu to consult with journals, given his mind's absolute brilliance. And judging from the lack of furrow between Zhang Liang's fair brows and the relaxed manner he was flipping through them when Liu Bang first entered the room, it doesn't seem to be a particularly tough nut to crack.

Zhang Liang gives a shake of his head.

"No, it's- tomorrow, I'm having a couple of interns accompanying me for a patient. Heart disease. Afterwards, it would be beneficial for them if I present some cases and quiz them."

His devious A-Liang must mean that he's mixing the cases, thus complicating the diagnoses and treatment processes. Well, young minds must be forged through trials of fire and blades, after all. And if his A-Liang wants to be King Yama, then Liu Bang will gladly become Hell's warden.

"Hoo. That sounds complicated. Though all matters with human hearts are."

As expected, as Zhang Liang's eyes start to glitter, Liu Bang's casual flirting flies over that intelligent, yet oblivious head of his. Par for the course. Yes, yes.

"Indeed, though I do think that it is further complicated if the symptoms present themselves in different parts of the body, not just in the heart. In the case of yang energy deficiency—"

As Zhang Liang launches into a tirade of his plans for the poor interns, having handed over the cup, Liu Bang sips his drink portion, letting Zhang Liang's voice soak the air, the way the subtle sweetness of dates permeate the usual taste of soymilk, making the addition of sugar needless.

Just like the drink, Zhang Liang's presence sweetens this mundanity. At the thought, Liu Bang has to hide a forming smile behind the cup.

He waits until Zhang Liang finishes his lecture, voice slightly strained at the end. The drink will help. So he hands over the last bits of the soymilk to Zhang Liang, smiling, filled with the urge to tease.

Zhang Liang finishes his drink, then Liu Bang begins.

"Then, Zhang-daifu, I can be your next case study tomorrow. More heart diseases are better for the young pupils, right?"

Zhang Liang blinks, then he frowns. He sets aside the cup at once. "You have a heart disease? When was this? Give me your hand, I'll take your pulse—"

Liu Bang bursts out laughing. Ah, his A-Liang is so cute when he's worried. "My bad, my bad- Zhang-daifu. Let me ask you this." His laughter subsides into a smile, taking Zhang Liang's hand into his own for reassurance. Worry not, A-Liang. He gives a playful wink. "A stolen heart. What is the recommended treatment for such a case?"

It takes a while for Zhang Liang to register Liu Bang's sentence, but once he does, a smile blooms on his lips. Helpless. The good thing is, he doesn't take his hand out of Liu Bang's hold, even after the early shenanigans.

"I'm afraid I haven't come across this disease before," he dryly admits. "So I cannot help you on this matter, sorry."

"Ey, don't be in such a rush~" Slowly, Liu Bang's thumb begins to rub Zhang Liang's hand in circular motions. Soft and gentle. Rhythmic. "Zhang-daifu, you can in fact help me with treatment. More precisely, the key of the cure lies in you. Will the great Zhang-daifu hear this humble Liu out?"

Zhang Liang gestures with his free hand for Liu Bang to continue, still with the same helpless, yet patient smile.

Drawn out by some giddiness bubbling deep within his chest, Liu Bang grins. He pastes on his most charming smile, beaming at Zhang Liang. "If the person who stole the patient's heart is a doctor like yourself, Zhang-daifu, then naturally it's best to confront the thief directly. Better if the patient comes with some food to fill up the thief-doctor's stomach… so that the doctor can say 'I love you' to the patient."

It's the most bizarre thing he's ever schemed in the span of minutes. But Zhang Liang still hasn't let go of Liu Bang's hand, even returning the caresses.

He cocks his head at the thermos, though, an eyebrow raised.

In return, Liu Bang raises his own free hand; guilty as charged.

With a sigh, Zhang Liang shakes his head. "What am I going to do with you?"

It's not hard to hear the care and fondness, beneath that veneer of deadpan. It makes Liu Bang's chest swell, tenderness and sweetness filling within. His family's A-Liang is the cutest.

"'What are you going to do?' I've outlined it for you, though, Zhang-daifu."

"I love you," Zhang Liang deadpans. This time, he does take his hand out of Liu Bang's hold, though it seems almost worth it to see the redness creeping up Zhang Liang's ears.

Before Liu Bang can bask in this small victory, Zhang Liang asks, tone dryer than even the sand. "Since when have I stolen your heart, though?"

"Since a long time ago."

"I thought I returned to you when we got together?"

"Nope," Liu Bang pops the 'p'. Ah, he cannot seem to stop smiling. Not that it's a bad thing. "It's still with you. The difference now is… you have it for safekeeping."

Zhang Liang shakes his head again, though Liu Bang can see how the corners of his lips are curving upwards.

He wants to touch them—to trace the precious line of Zhang Liang's rare smiles and commit them to memory. And since when is Liu Bang a man who does not follow his desires? Getting up from his seat, hovering over Zhang Liang, he bends down, one hand leaned on Zhang Liang’s chair and the other one slotted on Zhang Liang’s left cheek. Until Liu Bang’s thumb brushes the corner of his lips.

This up close, Liu Bang can see the way Zhang Liang’s beautiful eyes peer at the palm on his cheek, the slight rush of flush on the high of Zhang Liang’s cheeks, before he returns again to Liu Bang.

How clear it is Zhang Liang’s gaze. Clear and tender both.

“Zhang-daifu,” Liu Bang smiles. “Aren’t you going to ask, what is the treatment for keeping someone’s heart?”

Who is the doctor and who is the patient? Yet Zhang Liang folds his hands to his lap—the perfect picture of a model student, leveling Liu Bang with a patient yet expectant look.

It’s perhaps a slip of movement, but Liu Bang traces the ghost of Zhang Liang’s smile with his thumb nonetheless. He cannot help but glance down to Zhang Liang’s lips. Coy is he not today. But that seems to do the trick, as Zhang Liang’s eyes flick down to Liu Bang’s lips as well, before they flick back up again.

Zhang Liang raises his left hand as well, taking Liu Bang’s hand into his hold—palm cupping palm. He leans lightly to the touch, this lovely creature, tilting his head up, before he lets his eyes fall shut.

Such a tacit invitation. Liu Bang would be a fool to miss it.

He closes the distance between them.

It’s a close-mouthed, chaste thing—this kiss. His family’s A-Liang is rather shy, after all. But then Liu Bang can hear Zhang Liang sigh in contentment, can feel his other hand grasp at the front of Liu Bang’s clothes, as though to anchor. He’s rather active today. Pliant. He’s so… irresistible.

Heart seemingly pounding in his ears, Liu Bang cannot help it, pressing himself further into the kiss, holding Zhang Liang in place, their lips soft and tender and perfectly slotted with each other.

By the time Liu Bang separates himself, Zhang Liang is lightly panting, breathless, eyes hazy and gold under the light.

Liu Bang’s tongue flicks out to the corner of his own mouth, just because.

As expected, A-Liang tastes just like Uncle Su’s new soymilk blend. Sweet all over. Perfect.

Liu Bang wants to savor it again.

One hand cradling the soft, fluffy strands at the back of Zhang Liang’s head, Zhang Liang’s unfocused eyes meet him, and Liu Bang says, or more like, breathes out, “A-Liang, A-Liang, can I—”

The door of Zhang Liang’s office slams open, good cherry wood echoing nicely when knocked against the wall. It reveals Murong Xueli, breathless.

“Gah, sorry ‘bout that. Thank you so much, Classmate Zhang, for letting me-” The words die at once, when her gaze takes in the compromising position both Liu Bang and Zhang Liang have assumed.

Her mouth clacks shut—like a wooden nutcracker—and her gaze turns vacant and dead. Just like the rows of fish lying limp in the market.

“Sorry for interrupting.”

Calmly, politely is the door shut close. Then, a series of footsteps pattering away can be heard.

Both of them snap out of it.

As Zhang Liang groans and buries his flaming face in his hands, Liu Bang grabs the reason of this unfortunate interruption—Murong Xueli’s keychain. Under the light, Zhuge Liang’s winking photocard seems to give the impression of amusement.

“My daughter, wait!” A wheeze, in between huffs of laughter. Opening the door, Liu Bang yells into the corridor. “Your idol keychain—!”

“You can keep it! Just feed dogfood to others, not me!”