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[True romance: whispering sex positions like vows. Ling makes a face, caught between lustfully delighted and just laughing again, god, Greed— but he lets his head fall to rest against Greed's shoulder before he gets accused of talking back again.

He does like it, of course, he likes everything about Greed and that's why he's here, handing over his life to be part of Greed's no matter the cost. It's more than just the helpless desire to let Greed do whatever he wants to him. That is a lot, but...

Sleep; soon, someone will realize he and Lan Fan have disappeared completely, but that's as far as he lets his mind wander. Whether they're searched for or not isn't something he can care about, now that he's here. He hums, a little less excitable than he'd been.]

Okay.

[Time... to sleep. Let him at least roll off Greed to wiggle out of his jeans, first. Sleeping in jeans is actually criminal.]

Okay.

[He rises up to his elbows, watching Ling as he shimmies out of his jeans. It's a sight worth watching, yeah? But the smile fades off his face as he looks at him.

They're going to have to face reality when they wake up. They're going to have to deal with Ling's family; they're going to have to deal with Greed's family. Shit, he might even have to deal with Ling changing his mind, because it's one thing to run off into the evening and another to face that kind of decision in the morning light.

But for now . . . for now, he's got Ling on top of him, curled up and sighing in contentment. Greed haphazardly kicks the blankets up over them, and even manages to fall asleep, once he settles down and closes his eyes.

They manage to get a whole five hours before somebody's pounding at the door, and Greed groans, more than a little tempted to just bury his face in Ling's neck and ignore the world.

But ah, ah, business calls . . . he drags Ling along with him for this, because he might as well see the place his money is helping to buy. It's a three story building, which would work well for them. Area for a bar, plenty of open space for dancing . . . the first floor could be more of a food area, he tells Ling, and they lease it that day.

The rest of the week is busy, and not in a fun way. Finding a shady doctor, making sure each of his people got to their designated locations, throwing himself into renovating the club . . . it's a huge pain in the ass, and Ling is there for it all.

It's on purpose, of course. It's to show him this life isn't always so fun, and that he's still got a chance to back out if he wants to.

The last day is particularly hard. It's a lot of fussy things, fucking around with the electric wiring in the club, buying paint, yanking up carpet and laying out tile . . . it's hard work, difficult and unrewarding, and Greed collapses onto the couch the moment they return home. The apartment is empty, thank god, those few who were on bedrest well enough to at least return to their respective homes. So it's just the two of them, stuck in this hot little apartment, and idly Greed thinks it might just be worth the risk to go back home.]

[Business- Greed's business- is new and different compared to what he's used to. Sitting around long tables, bored, passing papers around to be signed - those things pale in comparison to actually getting to go out and look at things, to feel like he's participated in some way that makes an impact. It is, after all, his money that pays for the building, and the doctor, and more than a few renovations...

It's a long couple days for sure, and it's not fun, but there's a satisfaction that builds up in Ling's chest and settles there, a satisfaction for work worth doing and money well spent. So he's tired - and he whines, unsurprisingly, when he's exhausted and hungry, but he doesn't once say he wants to go back to his family, or wish he hadn't come along. A handyman and a professional worker he is not, but he can carry supplies back and forth and hammer a few nails, and at least his sunny attitude (before the Hungry Times) keeps morale a little higher than it would have been otherwise.

He's helping! Even Lan Fan is helping, grudgingly at first, finishing Ling's tasks for him before, by the last day, she volunteers in her quiet, scowling way. It's the only indicator that her opinion of Greed and company might be on the rise; Ling, for his part, cheerfully refuses to share anything they might have talked about between the two of them. The mystery!

On that last difficult day, when work is over, Ling doesn't even make it to the couch; he slumps face-first against the arm of it, legs on the floor before he tips forward and smushes head and shoulders into the seat cushion next to Greed. Hello, dearest...]

Tired... Is there still paint in my hair?

[There is definitely still paint in his hair.]

[He will never say so out loud, lest he encourage Ling even more, but it's sort of cute when Ling just emits one word to let people know what the problem is. It's way better than passive-aggressive little sighs and hints. ]

Mmhmm.

[He's going to need a proper shower. Greed is too, frankly, but getting up and going to the shower seems so much effort. Better to just stare at the ceiling and listen to the shouts of the streets, kids screeching as they open up a fire hydrant and adults talking and yelling.]

C'mere.

[It's his status update... Roll him outside to the fire hydrant and let the water revive him, and maybe even get some paint out of his hair, too. Or, Ling lies there in this stupid pose for another couple seconds, before he moves with considerable effort to whap his hand blindly in Greed's direction. He does not move more than this, but he does make a pathetic noise to demonstrate that he is, again, very tired.

He's here, please love him.]

That's pathetic.

[With a relationship comes honesty. But he groans and leans forward, grabbing his hand and yanking him towards him. It'll take a fair bit of wriggling on Ling's part, but he ought to end up atop Greed sooner or later.]

Lan Fan told me your family's sniffing around.

[Surprise! She doesn't hate him so much she won't speak to him. Progress?]

[Greed's dumped for the time it takes Ling to wiggle properly into his lap, then they're back on as Ling automatically curls up against him. It's hot, this is going to be uncomfortable soon, but he's too tired to think that far ahead.

Why are they still talking... he exhausted himself with the paint question.]

Let them. [...mm, okay,] I'm eighteen and I didn't take anything that wasn't mine, they can't do anything about me.

[He hums softly. He doesn't quite agree with that, honestly, because he's twenty-two and look at his father, but. He doesn't quite have the energy to argue. He's just trying to lead into his real topic.]

You miss em?

[Oh, are they doing this now? They seem to be doing this now. Ling doesn't move from his spot, but he's quiet for an extra moment, contemplative.]

No. I'd only miss Lan Fan.

[And she's not even his relative!! It works out.]

[Mm. Maybe that was a stupid question. Ling had long since expressed his disinterest in his father, and his mother had barely come up. Never mind all those siblings . . . so yeah, maybe not his family, but--]

And living like that? You miss it?

With money? Not really. You think because I got paint in my hair and you made me move the same stack of tiles four times [slave driver] I'm going to run away?

[That's the real million-dollar question, isn't it, whether Ling is having second thoughts. Most people could just ask that, without making it a whole circular thing, but Ling is used to Greed's inability to face his emotions head-on by now.

You can't break up with me and go home three months down, he'd said. It sounded like an insecurity then, and it is one now, only a week later.

But Ling wants him to answer the question, so. He'll wait.]

I think this is a hell of a shitty life sometimes, and you're not used to this kinda thing.

[Which isn't to say Ling never went through hardships of his own, but they also didn't end with crashing on a lumpy couch in an apartment with no AC and a laundry mat that's five blocks away.]

And it's easier to agree to this kind of life when you don't know what it means.

[Ling reaches up and pokes him in the cheek. Stop, first of all. Just hush.]

I think I'm figuring it out. I'm not going to leave you because it's shitty sometimes.

[He scowls right back down at him. Don't poke him?]

Why?

[It's a snappish, automatic little response, more prompted by that poke than anything. He doesn't mean it to come out the way it does, but there it is nonetheless.]

I just mean-- this isn't exactly a great life.

[Ling shrugs, moving to cup his cheek instead of poking him again. He's not going to wax poetic about how terrible it really is to be rich and well-provided for, he's not that much of an oblivious moron (anymore, maybe six months ago, not now), but - well, so what? Greed already knows his family isn't worth it, and the money is good, sure... but.]

It has you. I can't complain about that.

[Cupping his cheek has far better results. Greed's mouth is still twisted, but at least he relaxes into that touch.]

Just don't change your mind a few months, huh?

[It's said like a joke.]

[Could they have done this at any point besides when Ling is more tired and gross than he's ever been... Greed is lucky he likes him so much.]

Don't look at me like that. [All tragic and not joking at all, he can't take it.] I won't.

[He doesn't think Ling is lying, but it's still hard to believe him. But the kid's right; he needs to stop sulking. It's been a week and he's still here, and that's worth a lot. It's gonna take a lot longer for him to believe Ling's truly here to stay, but-- well, it'll take time, that's all. Belaboring the point right now won't solve it.

So he flashes him a quick grin, shoving away his emotions once more.]

Yeah. All right.

[He leans down, kissing his sweaty, sweaty boyfriend very lightly against his forehead. And then:]

Hey. Come take a shower with me.

[Okay, shoving away his emotions isn't the point, but Ling will take what he can get right now. Later, another day, when it's not so hot and he isn't so tired and things are more stable, at least - then they can really talk. Maybe by then Greed won't be so afraid Ling will leave him, too! One can hope.

A shower sounds like the greatest thing in the world, and his face lights up accordingly. Ooh, babe, you always know just what to say!!]

Carry me. [pleeeeease]

You're so needy . . .

[Hark at who's talking. But no, no, he's bitching just to bitch; with an exaggerated groan he puts his arms beneath Ling's ass, hoisting him up and getting to his feet. Give a small apartment this: at least the trip to the bathroom is super short.

It's not really all that great in there. Tiny, yeah, just like everything else in this apartment, but whatever! Sexy showering! It'll probably be fine! Frankly, he thinks Ling is so eager to fuck that he'd be happy even if he ended up slipping and spraining his ankle a fifth time.]

Down . . .

[He'll get Ling down even if he has to pry him off. He has to start the shower, after all (cool to start, not exactly cold but it's a gross summer day)-- and then, way more fun, gets to undress Ling himself.]

Lift up your arms.

[The bathroom is cramped and in desperate need of new... everything, basically, but Ling is decidedly not very picky about this as opposed to, say, the alley behind the old bar. This is private! And cleaner! And he's so eager that it does take longer than necessary to pry him off; he's practically bouncing on his toes while he waits for Greed to start the shower.

This energy comes from thirst and it will expire before long, get it while it's hot. He lifts his arms obediently, but not patiently. So that's how this is going to go.]

Don't take all day. [it has been thirty seconds.]

What did I say about talking back?

[But he's grinning now, and at least he obeys Ling, tugging his shirt up and over his head swiftly. His jeans, though . . . that takes a little more time. Greed wants to savor this, which makes taking it slow.

So he doesn't just yank his jeans open and shove him against the wall. Instead: his fingers toy with the button, a smug little smirk on his lips, his head bent and his eyes focused on his task. Ling looks like a fucking treat already, shirtless and his skin shining with sweat, all those muscles on display . . . and he looks even better the more impatient he becomes.]

Tell me what you want.

[He can't help it, talking back is in his nature. Greed taking his sweet time is nothing new, he's done it for ages now, but the anticipation is cranked up to eleven now that this is actually happening, so of course - Ling is eager already, reaching for Greed with both hands and lacing his fingers over the back of his neck.]

First? [There are so many options! How is he supposed to choose! Give him a moment to look thoughtful before he comes up with the predictable,] You.

[Ha ha, anyway,] But down on your knees, since you're asking.

[He'd opened his mouth to retort to that sarcastic little answer-- no shit, really, I was gonna grab Roa to sub in-- but what Ling says next is way better. A proper grin flashes over his face, and his fingers suddenly pick up the pace, yanking at the zipper and pushing his jeans low on his hips.]

If you insist.

[He takes a step back, tugging at his own trousers, letting them drop to the floor with absolutely no shame. And yeah, Ling's seen him without pants before, but never entirely naked, so . . . here he is, admire him, love him, he is very proud of his body.]

Get in the shower.

[If there was any doubt that Ling's gaze would drop immediately down, dispel it now, because of course the first thing Ling does is admire his dick. And as the thirstiest boyfriend alive, he is thrilled. Very nice, very good, turn around so he can admire that ass while he wiggles the rest of the way out of his own clothes.]

I'm not tired anymore, are you?

[Hah... give him time. For now he abandons his pants and gets into the shower, looking pleased all over again about how cool the water is, this time.]

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