Title: Sweet Future
Fandom: Guardian
Rating: Teen
Length: 880
Author notes: Hand-wavey post-canon fluff.
Summary: Shen Wei experiments in the kitchen.

Zhao Yunlan returned from work to find their house permeated with the sweet smell of raspberries. Delighted—Shen Wei didn't often make desserts—he headed to the kitchen. Sure enough, Shen Wei was there, in what he considered casual clothes and an apron, stirring something in a pan.

Zhao Yunlan realised, objectively, that he never had any chance of surprising the Black Cloak Envoy, but sometimes he wanted to sneak up on his husband and hug him hello, so he pouted when Shen Wei turned at his approach.

"Yunlan," he said, and his bright smile immediately wiped the pout of Zhao Yunlan's face: he couldn't not smile back.

And then he grinned in delight, because Shen Wei, perfectly composed in every other way, had a spot of raspberries on his cheek.

He only realised he was staring when Shen Wei frowned at him. "Something wrong?"

"The contrary," Zhao Yunlan said, at last crossing the remaining distance to embrace Shen Wei tight from behind. "What're you making?"

"I thought I'd try my hand at making jam."

They'd gone to a popular cafe last week to observe their suspect. Zhao Yunlan had ordered an inordinate amount of jam pastries—solely to blend in, of course—and then, as soon as he'd bitten into one, the suspect had taken off. Zhao Yunlan had jokingly complained, of course; he hadn't expected Shen Wei to actually try and prepare home-made jam. He wasn't even sure he realised you could even do that in your own kitchen. Before Shen Wei, he used to think food came from delivery apps.

Sometimes he thought it was unfair, all the ways in which Shen Wei took care of him that he couldn't reciprocate. Shen Wei had given him his heart ten thousand years ago and in return, Zhao Yunlan had abandoned him—the fact that it wasn't of his own free will didn't make him feel any better—and Shen Wei still, still loved him.

But they'd had this conversation, many times, and Shen Wei only ever said one thing, You're worth it, and it wasn't like Zhao Yunlan didn't know that he meant it, meant it to a terrifying degree, so he didn't mention it, just hugged Shen Wei closer.

"Aww, xiao-Wei." Zhao Yunlan nuzzled the back of Shen Wei's neck and Shen Wei let out a soft, content sound. Shen Wei, always a bit tense whatever he did, relaxed into Zhao Yunlan's touch. He didn't lean against him—he never did that—but his posture changed and he no longer looked immediately prepared for a battle.

He frowned when Shen Wei moved, but it wasn't to push him off. Shen Wei just resumed stirring the jam-in-progress, apparently perfectly content to do so with Zhao Yunlan's arms still wrapped around his waist.

Zhao Yunlan was not complaining. He hooked his chin over Shen Wei's shoulder to watch the jam boil, little bubbles dancing on the surface.

"Lectures went well?" he asked. Shen Wei liked to cook to de-stress, but he probably wouldn't be experimenting if that were the case. He only had third year today too, which usually didn't give him any trouble. All of his students adored him, smart kids, but first years usually required more guidance, and especially now, with new Dixing students, Shen Wei worried a lot.

"Yes. They asked good questions. Proposed good answers, too." Shen Wei sounded proud.

"They have a good teacher," Zhao Yunlan told him.

Shen Wei ducked his head against the compliment like he usually did, even though Zhao Yunlan was behind him now and couldn't see his face anyway.

"It's almost ready," Shen Wei said at last. He gently extricated himself from Zhao Yunlan's arms, pressing a kiss to both his palms before letting go.

Zhao Yunlan pulled himself a chair and watched Shen Wei check the consistency of the jam on a plate he'd pulled out of the freezer. He nodded in satisfaction and proceeded to fill three jars, which promised many happy, sweet mornings. Zhao Yunlan absolutely couldn't wait to taste it. Speaking of . . .

"All done?" he asked.

"Yes." Shen Wei smiled. "I just need to clean up—"

"Can wait," Zhao Yunlan said, already walking to Shen Wei. Shen Wei clearly decided to indulge him, because he didn't protest as Zhao Yunlan cupped his right cheek and ran his thumb down to the corner of Shen Wei's mouth. Zhao Yunlan leant in and licked along Shen Wei's left cheek where he'd stained himself with raspberries, at last tasting both his skin and the fruits, a heady mix. Maybe he should talk Shen Wei into letting him taste the jam off him, too.

"You had fruit on your face," he explained.

Shen Wei laughed quietly and kissed Zhao Yunlan thoroughly, as if he wanted to taste the raspberry back from his tongue—or maybe he just wanted Zhao Yunlan, whole.

"I'm aware," he said, which made no sense because Shen Wei would've wiped it off if he'd noticed, unless—

Zhao Yunlan tilted his head to look at his tease of a husband, but Shen Wei looked the very picture of innocence before leaning in to kiss him again, and again, and again, and it wasn't as if Zhao Yunlan ever minded doing things to Shen Wei with his tongue, so. All good. Better than good.

Excellent.