A/N: You guys!!!!!!! How on earth did this story end up with 700 reads? Seriously?! I know that there are fan fiction stories out there with thousands of reads but I never expected this to be read at all... let alone by multiple people, multiple times! It does have me interested though; how did you find this fan fiction?
There'll be an extra long chapter tonight (instead of splitting it) to make up for no update yesterday; @Beloved_Sienna introduced me to the side stories that Gu Man wrote about this couple and I may have read them multiple times, instead of writing this chapter. I'd say sorry but.... I don't regret a thing! I have fallen even further in love AND have more of an idea for character development etc. It's also determined that YES, when I finish writing their story in alignment with the series, I will have a break while I finish my final semester of undergraduate study and then will reward myself with a Hao Mei/KO sequel. Speaking of which; how does HOK sound as a ship name? Otherwise I was thinking MeKo? (pronounced like neko? Which I know is another language but now tell me you didn't just picture Hao Mei with cat ears. You're welcome.)
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The trip to Chengde the next morning flew by. Mainly because KO's definition of "first thing in the morning" was very different to Hao Mei's definition of the same. While Hao Mei had expected an early morning, possibly waking up just after dawn and catching the train at 7:56, when KO shook him awake it was pitch black. Luckily, he'd fallen asleep without changing so KO simply had to haul him to his feet and prod him in the right direction. One taxi ride later and the bright lights of the station had burned Mei's tired eyes; he decided to keep them shut and blindly trust KO not to let him run into anything. Or onto the tracks. That would be a horrible way to wake up.
Having been directed, with KO's hands on his shoulders, into a sleeping berth with four bunks, Mei flopped onto the narrow mattress and promptly returned to slumber. As a result, it was not until he rolled off the bunk, landing on his face with a painful thud, that Hao Mei realised exactly what KO's definition of "first thing in the morning" was... it really was first thing in the morning. Light infiltrated the room from underneath the shutter and he used it to read his watch. 6am? What happened last night? The bunks opposite were empty; two black bags, that he recognised from KO's room, were tossed on the bottom bunk. He rubbed his eyes. It was inconceivable that he'd slept through boarding a train. Remaining on the floor but wriggling to lean his back against the opposite bunk, Hao Mei reached his arms over his head, arcing his back and feeling his spine stretch. Despite what the evidence was showing had been an eventful night, he felt well rested and calm; something he hadn't felt upon waking up since the last time he'd stayed over at KO's. Come to think of it, he'd used his old blanket then, too... maybe he should take it back? Get some good sleep at home with his comfortable blanket from his dorm days?
An arm flopped over the top bunk, giving Mei a heart attack. Nothing else was visible but the burn scar on the wrist- from hot oil- and the thin white scars on the fingers- signs of daily duelling with knives- told Hao Mei whose body part it was. He stood, looking at KO's sleeping face. A wave of affection rolled over him. He'd never seen his friend sleep before, and in sleep his face relaxed; softening to look sweet... the sleeping man stirred and Hao Mei hastily added 'in a very masculine way' to his inner thoughts. He'd never proven that KO could read minds but the evidence was stacking up that way. Better to be safe than sorry.
Rather than remain in the compartment and risk being caught staring, Hao Mei went in search of food; returning to the sleeper with porridge and steamed buns, the smell of which woke KO with just enough time for them both to eat before reaching their destination. The remainder of their journey was completed with a shorter than expected taxi ride, with a driver who was way too cheerful for such an early hour. No one, thought Hao Mei, should be able to make jokes about something as inane as the weather, before 8am in the morning.
It was when the taxi stopped at Bishu Shanzshuang (Mountain Resort of Chengde), that Hao Mei felt a slight weight in the bottom of his stomach. He shooed that thought away, deliberately concentrating on the intricate carvings that covered the woodwork within the resort, and ignoring the conversation between KO and the concierge. Even when they were shown to their rooms- yes, a suite with bedroom (singular and he thought he'd have issues with that later but he reminded himself that he was ignoring reality right now so staying mute was the best plan), lounge and kitchenette- Hao Mei paid attention to the beauty of the old palace, rather than listen to the apologies of the staff for only having a single room and KO's reassurance that the friend who booked must have forgotten to clarify further. He took a huge breath when they were finally left alone and his mental voice came to a juddering halt.
"Do you want to wash before we go out?" KO carried the bags into the bedroom and Hao Mei followed.
"Washing sounds good. I feel sticky after the train trip." Mei rummaged through the nearest bag until KO cleared his throat, holding out a pile of clean clothes from the other bag. He looked back the bag he was holding, noted the amount of black, and rolled his eyes. "One of these days I'll get you wearing colour and then where will we be?"
"The end of the world."
"Pah! And A Shuang says you have no sense of humour."
"He is right."
"Whatever you say. Your secret is safe with me." Hao Mei quickly freshened up, but as quick as he was, KO still had fresh coffee waiting for him when he came out of the bathroom. He closed his eyes and groaned as he inhaled the fragrant steam rising from the cup. "You are amazing. Even in a hotel kitchenette, you can make coffee that smells this good? Talented. So talented."
KO grunted then quickly left to wash. Mei stared after his retreating back. What bug bit him? Shrugging it off, he settled down on the couch with his coffee. When KO returned, his coffee was finished and Hao Mei was stretched out on the cream couch.
"This is very comfortable. More comfortable than the couch at work. I could sleep here tonight."
"Childish."
"Eh?"
"When there is a perfectly good bed and you want to sleep on a couch? Childish. We will share the bed."
Hao Mei stared at KO. "Are you okay?"
"Hmm?"
"No... seriously. You're not coming down with a fever?"
"Why?"
"That was like..." Hao Mei made a show of counting on his fingers, "a lot of words. Are you sure you're okay? You didn't pull a muscle?"
It was a slightly rumpled Hao Mei who decided that, due to his physical oppression by KO, he was choosing the first item on their itinerary. He had originally thought to torment KO with a visit to Kuixing Pavilion, assuming that KO, like many of his peers during university, would be uninterested in the structure. His plan was foiled when KO proved not only interested in the architecture of the pavilion, but also informed of its history, and the history of the original pavilion upon whose remains Kuixing Pavilion had been rebuilt. As they'd walked from the palace to the garden, Hao Mei had been surprised with the appreciation KO showed for the abundant colour and delicate carvings.
"So you do like colour?"
"Hmm."
"That surprises me."
It was KO's turn to be surprised. "Why?"
"You always wear black. Sometimes you wear black with white, or with brown, but it's always black. I thought you might have an allergy to colour." The dimple winking from Mei's cheek gave away his good humour.
"I like black."
"Is it your favourite colour?" The pair paused under a brightly painted arch and Hao Mei traced the path of a trailing gold vine painted on the wooden beams.
"No."
"What is?"
KO looked at him silently until Hao Mei turned from the painted carving, humour making his eyes dance. His laugh was swallowed before it could surface when his eyes met KO's; held in place for several long breaths. Reaching out, KO ran a finger over the collar of Mei's shirt, the side of his finger lightly grazing the skin of Mei's neck. "I like blue."
Mei gulped. "I like blue too. Most of my clothes are some shade of blue."
"I know."
After that, the tension seemed to rise as the sun set. They spent the afternoon exploring, and grass sliding, at Mulan Imperial Hunting park before agreeing to return to the Mountain Resort for dinner. If Hao Mei had expected outdoor activities to act as a buffer, then he was wrong. Never before had he realised that a simple activity like grass sliding could be used to shower a person with so much innocent skinship he barely recognised when a stroke of fingers at an elbow meant something more... or when knuckles grazing along the nape of a neck would send shivers down his spine. There was nothing overt. Nothing he could pinpoint. Just constant. Light. Teasing. Constant. You already said that. Find a new word. Or better yet, stop thinking about it. Hao Mei was starting to get frustrated with his own preoccupation for over thinking KO's actions. Because that was all there could be too it, right?
It didn't stop during dinner either. Their knees bumped under the table, feet tangled when they tried to move them, hands brushed as they reached for the water jug at the same time. And throughout it all, KO kept looking at Mei with those deep brown eyes and unfathomable gaze. How Mei managed to make it through the meal without his face setting off a smoke alarm, he would never know.
The walk to their room dragged on; their hands brushed against each other as they walked but Mei couldn't bring himself to put his hands in his pockets. His heart rate picked up, breathing shallowed and when he finally saw the door to their suite he visibly relaxed; obviously seeing it as a safe haven... and just as obviously not quite thinking things though.
(A/N: I wrote the following chapter and then wrote this one... so Chapter 18 is ready to go... But I'm tired (it's almost midnight and you'll see just how long a night it's been in the A/N of the next chapter) so I'm only posting this one tonight. You get the next chapter tomorrow. Mwahahaha...)