give me this

protection

"So many luxury cars," Mo observed as they walked down the street aimlessly.

He Tian hums, "Around here are lots of nightclubs and bars."

He notices Mo trying to discreetly look at all the cars.

"Which one do you like?"

"How dare I like any..."

"I'll earn money to buy it for you in the future."

The smile on He Tian's face when he says it makes Mo's stomach flip. What's with the talk about their future...is He Tian planning on bothering him until the sun burns out?

He grunts. "I'll make the money by myself..."

He Tian huffs a laugh at Mo's confidence. It's attractive on him, he has come to notice.

"I'm going to buy a bottle of water, wait for me~"

Mo rolls his eyes and shoos the other off. He turns back to the cars, humoring the idea of ever actually owning him. Peering inside, he lets his mind wander to living a lavish lifestyle. I wonder how much this car would cost. Maybe if he keeps He Tian around, he could own a car like this. If He Tian keeps insisting, Mo might just break. There's no use, really. Maybe then he could run over He Tian and laugh as he drives off into the sunset? Maybe not. That would be too messy. It's an expensive car, after all.

His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a man's voice yelling.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

The man, clearly drunk, is definitely yelling at him. He eyes the car, presumingly his, and they go livid.

"Fuck! Did you make this scratch?"

Mo doesn't even need to look to know he hadn't done anything to damage the car. Suddenly, he's being grabbed and pulled around.

"What? I didn't!"

"Don't you dare leave!"

"Let go of me! There are cameras everywhere, just check them and you'll know!"

"I've seen a lot of sly guys like you before. Don't even think about escaping without giving up some money!"

Mo is shoved back, losing his balance. He expects to hit the ground but is caught by a strong hand. He Tian. He decides to make no effort in leaving He Tian's grip. Not because he feels safer, no. It's just easier this way. After all, He Tian is stronger, taller, quicker, scarier...

"I just walked away and you're already causing trouble?"

Annoying, he adds to the list.

"He slandered me," he says, pointing at the man. His mind briefly supplies the image of He Tian breaking the man's arm that touched Mo. Or maybe he would hold his head to the ground with his foot until he apologizes. Maybe he'd make the man kiss Mo's feet. He wouldn't put it past him, weird bastard.

"Your husband will seek justice for you," declares the boy next to him. He looks so stoic when saying it, Mo almost didn't catch the title.

"Fuck..."

*   *   *

"Reasoning with drunks is just a waste of time...how is it possible to be insulted by someone like you. You will be held accountable for your actions. Apologize for the damages."

The drunk man answers He Tian by throwing a bottle at Mo's head, who barely dodges it.

Mo steals a glance at He Tian, ready to prevent a murder if needed. He might have to, judging by one of the most sinister glares he has ever seen on his face. He hates to admit, but he kinda feels bad for the man. He knows what it's like to be on the other end of He Tian's anger. Not recently, however. Their...well, they moved past that. Progress? Maybe? Forget it. It doesn't need a name. That would make it more real. What's real right now is the possibility of actual blood on He Tian's hands. Mo wishes He Tian would stop caring so much (except not really), stop involving himself in Mo's business (his business is He Tian's business these days). It's never ended well and he can't imagine tonight will be any different.