title: with my own little eye
fandom: Guardian
words: ~300
characters: Da Qing, Ying Chun
contents: character spoilers
author's note: I am a terrible gardener, so I'm only guessing that was a forsythia bush!

summary: Da Qing is hunting for clues on the university campus.



A fat black cat meanders his way across the Dragon City University campus. Once in a while, he deigns to let a hopeful student pet him; he yowls for treats outside the campus cafeteria. He doesn’t exactly go unnoticed, but he does appear to be an ordinary cat.

A vibrant forsythia bush blooms outside the teachers’ dorm, waving gently in the breeze. The gardeners have grown accustomed to her presence, though no one remembers planting a forsythia right there.

The cat wanders over to sit underneath, tail tucked neatly around his paws. There are no fallen blossoms under his feet.

He waits for a break in the throng of students passing by.

“Cousin,” the cat says politely. How a cat speaks is anyone’s guess, but the word is clear.

How a bush responds is even more impossible, so it’s probably a good thing that she doesn’t.

The cat sighs. “Strange things going on around here lately. There’s likely to be a lot of attention. Unless you can help us out?”

The branches of the bush rattle softly in the total absence of wind for a moment, then subside.

“Huh. Your choice.” The cat gets to his feet and stretches, as full of nonchalance as a cat can be. “But think about it. The students here haven’t taken a side, either, for all the good it does them.”

“Da Qing.” The voice is shimmering bells and the rustle of leaves, distinct and unmistakable. “You should take your own warning.”

“Who, me?” The cat flicks an ear dismissively. “I’m always careful.”

Then he darts off, weaving recklessly between the feet of on-coming students to leap over the garden wall. He heads back across campus, still meandering as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But he can’t help wondering why the head of the Flower Tribe is spying on this particular university campus right now, and whether there’s a lot more going on than he knows.