“Qi, I don’t think your boyfriend has ever heard ofRepo! The Genetic Opera,” I point out rather seriously. Because it is, this is a very serious matter!
Qi raises an eyebrow at me with a look on his face that does not convey the proper amount of censure. “Well, I don’t know how that got brought up, but I guess I know what we’re doing while we eat dinner tonight.”
“I’ve never heard of it either,” I hear Marcus say from behind Qi.
I pinch the bridge of my nose while shaking my head in disappointment. “Fuck, we live in a house full of heathens, Qi,” I lament a bit dramatically.
On the one hand, I’m completely waylaid by the fact that they have not seen the movie. On the other hand, it’s airing out some of the lingering heaviness from the earlier conversation. Tristan and I both made our points and agreed on the next step. I’d rather spend the rest of the evening watching movies and eating good food than continuing to dwell.
Qi snorts at that and rolls his eyes at me. “I’m sure we can work together to correct the error of their ways, but in the meantime, as nice as my boyfriend’s backside is, I was kind of hoping to see his face,” he says, and from where I’m standing I can see the side of Tristan’s face and the immediate grin that spreads across it at Qi’s words has me rolling my eyes. The full-on sap this man is!
“Oh my gawd, Tristan, you’ve been dating for months now; you don’t have to smile that fucking big just because Qi said you have a nice backside,” I call him out, and everyone laughs.
The coils around my chest ease up just that much more, and I look over at Qi with a grin. “Are you guys ready?”
It’s hilarious how simple a moment it is, yet both Qi and Marcus are riveted to Tristan’s back. I chuckle lightly and tug on Tristan’s arm to let him know he can turn around. Marcus’s eyes widen at the look, but Qi simply drinks him in.
Marcus whistles with appreciation. “Wow, it’s so good. I came up to tease him, but there’s nothing to tease. You’re a miracle worker, Qiang.”
Qi lets out a hiss of air. “Hey, Marcus, it’s not like they had that harsh of a canvas to start with!” he points out defensively.
Marcus just shrugs at that. “True, but still.”
Tristan looks at me, then flicks his gaze towards the bathroom. “Should I take it off before we head down?”
Qi pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and shakes his head. “No, leave it on for a bit. I’ll help you take it off later,” he says suggestively, and I roll my eyes.
I place all my bets that it’s not even a sexual suggestion; it’s just him getting all giddy about making out in the bathtub laterifthey make it that long, since they’ll most likely be making out before the movie is even over.
Tristan’s grin only grows as he flits his hand down the length of Qi’s arm. Qi and he exchange a glance that holds the universe that exists only for them in it before Tristan turns to look at Marcus.
“Okay, Marcus, come down with me and help me choose what to order for dinner.”
Marcus just shrugs and leans against the doorframe. “I want the pad kaprow from the Thai place.”
“Okay, but come help me order it,” Tristan prods, giving Marcus a ‘not even a little bit subtle’ look.
Marcus frowns and looks at Tristan. “I already said what I wanted.”
“Marcus,” Tristan hisses again while flitting his eyes meaningfully between Qi and me.
“Oh,” Marcus exclaims, finally catching on. “But I need to see if they have the mango sticky rice or not,” he chimes in ridiculously.
It’s taking everything in me not to laugh at these two right now. What’s sad is that this isn’t a gimmick at all; it’s very much how they always are. It’s hilarious how people on the outside seem to think these two are suave heartthrobs, instead of the very awkwardly adorkable men they actually are. It doesn’t help at all that it only makes Marcus that much more desirable. The ever-present ache in my chest throbs a bit mournfully in agreement with the thought before I tuck it away and focus on Qi.
Qi looks over at me after they leave the room and shakes his head with bemusement. “They are about as subtle as a freight train in the living room.”
I snort at that. “Right?!?”
We both start laughing for a moment before the reality of why Tristan wanted to get Marcus out of the room settles back in. As our chortles die down, I look over at Qi.
“I’m going,” I say simply.
Qi frowns and looks up at me, his eyes probing mine. “You’re going where?”
“Tristan is gonna help me look for a therapist, and then I’m gonna go do what I should have done four years ago,” I explain, focusing more on putting my makeup away than on his face for a moment.
“Yeah?” His voice is quiet, but there’s so much hope in the one-syllable word that it just chips further away at that crack Tristan put in my chest earlier.
