This is actually pretty nice, Tian thinks and takes another sip of coffee from the slightly banged-up mug.
The morning is bright and getting brighter still as the sun burns away the last wisps of lingering fog. Tian got a surprisingly good night of sleep (even if Chief’s bed was atrociously squeaky) and he’s enjoying the slow moments before he needs to head out to the school. At the table opposite him, Chief sits with his mug of coffee and reads through reports from the past two weeks with a small frown between his brows. He always looks so serious when he’s working. Tian thinks he should smile a bit more.
Tian leans forward, rests his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand, and lets himself Look. Chief doesn’t say anything but the corner of his mouth twitches, a clear sign that he knows Tian is staring at him. (Tian knows better than to point it out, though, because that would only lead to scowling Chief.)
He nudges Chief’s shin with his foot. ”How are the reports?”
”Professional,” Chief replies. ”Mostly.”
”Oh? Is Yod complaining about the lack of entertainment again?”
”Only in each report,” Chief says dryly. ”What time do you finish today?”
Tian hums. ”I think I need to tweak my lesson plan a bit but I don’t need to stay at the school for that. So…two? Three?”
”Okay,” Chief says. ”Get your stuff, I’ll give you a ride.”
The bike ride from the base to the school is as uneventful as ever, even though it feels like Chief is perhaps driving slower than usual? It might also be just in Tian’s mind. He leans against Chief’s back and holds on to him, matching his breathing to Chief’s almost by instinct. It’s a good back, strong and steady, and if Tian is being completely honest, he wouldn’t say no to mapping it with his lips.
”We’re here,” Chief says and sits up slightly, pushing against Tian’s hold slightly, prompting him to get off the bike. ”I’ll pick you up at three.”
Still somewhat lost in his daydream of a shirtless Chief, Tian leans in and pecks a kiss on his cheek before turning and starting toward the school—
—And then he freezes.
He just.
He.
Slowly, he turns around to meet Chief’s wide eyes. ”See you at three!” he yelps and then hurries in, feeling the heat on his cheeks and Chief’s eyes on his back.
The day goes by in a haze, so much so that Meejoo asks if he’s alright.
”Yes?” he says, genuinely confused.
”You are smiling a lot,” Meejoo says with a frown. ”And now you’re red. Do you have a fever? I can ask my granny to make the tea that helps with fever.”
”Uh,” Tian says. ”Okay! So, dividing—”
Chief arrives shortly after two and then he just stands there, leaning on the pillar while Tian stumbles his way through the last lesson, horribly conscious of his flaming cheeks and a splash of red paint on his shirt. Meejoo looks at him and then at Chief and then again at him and then her eyes go wide, at which point Tian decides to just give up and shoo the kids away.
And then it’s just him and Chief.
Who is watching him. With a small smile.
Tian ducks his head and gathers up his stuff, spending perhaps more time stacking his notes than actually needed.
”Ready to go?” Chief asks with a raised brow.
Tian nods. ”Uh-huh.”
Chief lets out an agreeing sound and takes a hold of the strap of Tian’s bag.
And then he kisses Tian on the cheek.
Just like that.