Work Text:
Guo Changcheng had spent hours staring at his computer screen as he slowly typed out his report with his signature hunt and peck technique. It always got some scolding from Wang Zheng about how he needed to learn proper typing technique, but anytime he tried to learn it took twice as long to get through half the amount of work he needed to and then something would interrupt him and then it would be like all that knowledge had fled his mind the instant he wasn't looking. So with his struggle over and the report complete, he didn't hesitate to wander over to the couch in the middle of the office and collapse onto it. His head leaned against the arm of it as he stared up at the ceiling and debated taking a much needed nap. Chu-ge would wake me up if I needed to do anything else… or if Zhao-chu returned in an annoyed mood he'd kick my foot and make me get up… That last thought was enough to give him a spike of anxiety, but his eyes drooped with exhaustion and he couldn't fight it off.
He woke up disoriented, having no idea how much time had passed, with a heavy weight on his legs and the tingling sensation of his feet being numb from lack of circulation. "Wha–" His voice broke without even getting the question out. Looking down at his legs, he immediately found the source of why he felt pins and needles down to his toes. "De– Deputy Chief?!" he stuttered out at the sight of the man, still in his human form, curled up and resting on top of him.
"Shh," someone nearby shushed, making Guo Changcheng's head snap over to them. On the nearby armchair sat Chu Shuzhi with his eyes closed and his feet kicked up on the nearby table.
"Chu-ge," he whined, but did speak quieter. "Deputy Chief is on my legs!"
"I know."
"I– Why?" the young man asked desperately.
"It was his nap time. That's his spot," Chu Shuzhi said nonchalantly.
"I didn't know that." Guo Changcheng felt his panic growing. Had he offended the Deputy Chief? He hadn't known. He would have just slept at his desk if he knew he would be in the way. Why didn't anyone wake him up?! "I should move. Ah, my legs are asleep."
Still without opening his eyes, Chu Shuzhi waved his concern off. "It's fine. Da Qing takes naps on people sometimes. If it bothered him, he wouldn't have laid down at all. Surely, you've noticed?"
"I mean… As a cat, yes. I've not seen him cuddled up like this and he's never cuddled me."
Chu Shuzhi just shrugged. "Just a sign things are finally calming down here."
At that moment, the main door opened and Zhao Yunlan walked in with Shen Wei by his side. They were mid conversation, immersed in whatever they were talking about, until they reached the lounge area. The moment Zhao Yunlan caught sight of the display on the couch, he paused, a faint smile already starting to spread across his lips.
"Zhao-chu–" Guo Changcheng started, but stopped the instant that his boss brought a finger to his lips. He watched as the older man steadied himself with a hand on the back of the couch before leaning forward and brushing Da Qing's hair out of his face, not too unlike when he would pet the other in his cat form. The touch caused a subtle reaction, but one very obvious to Guo Changcheng as Da Qing's claws came out and dug into his leg slightly. It made him hiss in pain and tense up, but he didn't dare move.
"It's been a while since this lazy fuck slept around like this," Zhao Yunlan whispered as he straightened back up.
"But Zhao-chu…" Guo Changcheng mumbled nervously.
"He used to do this a lot when I was younger. When I worked too hard. He used to try in his cat form, but that didn't stop me as much as this would." Then, his boss looked directly at Guo Changcheng, studying him closely. If it wasn't for Da Qing's weight on him, he would be squirming around under the attention. "You've been overworking yourself?" The concern was clear in his voice.
Before Guo Changcheng could defend himself, Chu Shuzhi hummed a confirmation. "He's been using his new ability more and more. It drains him."
This wasn't something new to Guo Changcheng. At home, his boyfriend had been strict with him resting and not doing as much to recover, but he thought at work it was okay for him to push through like he had been doing. After all, it was their jobs. What they did was important and Guo Changcheng wanted to contribute. "I… I was just trying to help." He looked away, unsure if he was in trouble now.
"And you have. You've done well, Xiao Guo," Professor Shen spoke up in his gentle, calm voice. He put a hand on his husband's arm as Zhao Yunlan looked ready to start scolding the young man further.
As always, the Professor's presence was a relaxing one. Guo Changcheng nodded to himself, glancing over at Chu Shuzhi too. By now, the man had opened his eyes and was watching, but he didn't look upset. If anything, he just looked relieved. Have I been worrying him this whole time? "I'm sorry."
Chu Shuzhi leaned forward and rested a hand on his boyfriend's cheek. "You're helping people. I would never want to stop you from doing that, but I can't let you destroy yourself for this."
Guo Changcheng felt himself tearing up as he nodded and tilted his face into the touch. Then he felt those claws in his legs again, making him wince. "Deputy Chief?" he called out hesitantly as he glanced down and saw the man's eyes open.
"… Why are all of you disturbing my nap?" Da Qing growled.
Zhao Yunlan laughed. "You're sleeping in the middle of our workplace, but it's our fault?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation in the answer.
"You lazy cat. Have you worked at all today?"
"No work to do."
"Somehow I don't believe that."
"Hmm." Da Qing closed his eyes again. "Working right now."
"Didn't realize we had an emotional support cat in the office. I'm not paying for your certification in that."
Da Qing didn't hesitate to swipe out in Zhao Yunlan's direction, but it was easily dodged since he was attacking blindly. "Go away."
Zhao Yunlan chuckled as he actually did as he was told, but not without one last teasing, "Sleep well, you fat cat." Professor Shen followed, looking fondly at his husband as he shook his head.
"Sorry, Deputy Chief," Guo Changcheng apologized while he started to shift to move out from under the man, but those claws dug into his pants leg.
"You stay."
Guo Changcheng looked hopeless over at Chu Shuzhi as Da Qing curled back up again on top of his legs and settled in to sleep again. "Chu-ge."
"You can force him off if you want," he suggested, clearly having no intentions of actually helping his boyfriend.
That made Guo Changcheng collapse back into the couch. I can't do that!!! It's wrong to move a sleeping cat off of you. Deputy Chief is a cat! I have to stay. He whined, but all Chu Shuzhi did was lean forward after he stood up to kiss his forehead.
"Sleep. You need it."
Guo Changcheng sighed. "Fine."
It seemed Da Qing was satisfied with that answer as well, because he stretched out until he was splayed fully across the young man's legs before going limp with sleep at record pace. There was no doubt, even in human form, their Deputy Chief was a cat through and through.