Chapter 1: Red Light Go
Chapter Text
Xie Lian wasn’t a stranger to out of body experiences. Actually, when he was younger he experienced them quite often and at one point was able to trigger them deliberately. He had found it fascinating to be able to just take a step back and watch his life play out like a movie on a screen. The fact that he had a great love of action films only made it easier.
He just wished the movies he watched in his head had happier endings.
He would later learn that his neat little trick was called disassociation and wasn’t considered “healthy”. Mu Qing had made that quite clear after catching Xie Lian slipping out of his headspace during an appointment. After a stern talk Mu Qing had provided him with a pamphlet with numerous resources listed inside. Xie Lian had tossed it away as soon as he left the clinic, the idea of therapy sitting uneasily in his chest.
He didn’t deserve their pity. Not everyone could be saved.
In any case, after he had set up a life for himself in Puqi Village he found those moments of disassociation happening less and less to the point where he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d let himself slip. That was until now…
He hadn’t done it intentionally. In fact, it had taken him a moment to even realize what was happening. One moment he had been following after his best friend through the maze of stores in the downtown mall, dodging crowds and trying to steer clear of more risque looking shops, and now he was watching himself trying on clothes far too revealing and expensive for his own comfort. The silk was too soft, the pants too tight. He didn’t even want to think about the shoes. The only article of comfort he had was a white silk band around his neck that covered his tattoo. It was something he typically reserved for summer when it was too hot for turtlenecks, but the uniqueness of the item never failed to attract stares anyway as it had today. The looks had been suffocating and—“oh..that’s why I’m in here probably” he thought, watching his body try on another tank top with a plunging neckline and a hemline that sat right above his waist, leaving a sliver of skin on display.
All of this was very much out of his comfort zone, but Shi Qingxuan had been so excited at the chance to dress him up and go out together. He had thought he could manage..but apparently he had been wrong.
He managed to snap back into reality just as there was a knock outside his dressing room door. “Lian-ge open up! I found some more cute tops for you to try!” Shi Qingxuan called, and Xie Lian could hear the bright smile in their voice. He swallowed down the nausea in his stomach and made sure he was really present before opening the just enough to let Shi Qingxuan slip inside.
“Oh—My—god! You look so good!” They beamed, circling him like a hawk. “Even if I didn’t touch up your hair and skin I bet the whole club would be all over you,” they praised, their eyes practically shimmering with stars. Xie Lian fidgeted nervously, knowing he needed to say something before things went too far. He just wished he could do so without feeling so guilty about it.
“Qingxuan I’m not so sure about this anymore,” he said lamely, glancing warily at the pile in his friend’s arms. Some of them looked like bundles of scrap fabric than actual clothes. “None of these are really something I’d wear..”
Shi Qingxuan tilted their head to one side, studying the farmer for a moment. Their eyes softened into understanding. “You know, you’re right. This isn’t you, even if you do look hotter than the actual sun right now,” they said and Xie Lian felt a weight slip off his shoulders. Of course Shi Qingxuan wouldn’t be mad at him, he’d been worried for nothing.
“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, but fortunately I think I know a way we can both be happy! Here, play around with these while I’m gone. I’ll be back in a few!” they said, a dangerous twinkle in their eyes as they passed the pile into Xie Lian’s arms. Before Xie Lian could blink he was alone in the dressing room once more, feeling maybe he had gotten his hopes up too soon. Still..he supposed it couldn’t hurt just to see what Shi Qingxuan had in mind in regards to a compromise.
He sighed and put the pile of clothes aside and sat down on the bench, resting his eyes for a moment. His phone pinged a few seconds later and he dug it out of his pocket, opening up a text. He had to cover his mouth to refrain from laughing out loud. Ban Yue had sent him a photo of Ol’ Nianqing with what looked like an entire bush tangled in his horns. Her follow up text explaining the situation only made it even funnier.
[Ban Yue: Silly old thing was spooked by a crow and tried to charge it. Got his horns tangled and ripped an entire shrub out of the ground. Pei Xiu helped me get it off though so no worries! Hope you enjoy your trip!]
He chuckled and texted her a quick thank you in reply. He’d have to show the photo to Qingxuan. He bet San Lang would get a laugh out of it too. Thoughts of the dark haired man drifted into the forefront of his mind and he could feel his heart being smothered in a sense of longing. He really hoped he’d be able to see him again. Shi Qingxuan returned as he was daydreaming and Xie Lian let them in, surprised by the volume of material in their arms.
“Ok, ok. Sorry it took me so long, I pulled some items from the women’s section and had to get creative with sizing. Anyway, just try these on and see if you feel any more comfortable. If not we’ll go for plan C” Qingxuan said cheerfully as they hung everything up on one of the hooks.
“What’s plan C?” Xie Lian asked curiously, wondering when they had even gotten to plan B.
“Worry about Plan C when we get to plan C,” Qingxuan said with a wink. “I’ll be right outside so let me know when you’re ready,” they sang, slipping out to give Xie Lian some privacy. Xie Lian was torn between amusement and concerned, but looking at the new clothes he felt a little more optimistic. He started with the pants which were a lightweight denim material that, apart from his waist, hung loose around his legs. The top was next, which was a cropped, sleeveless, turtle neck made of a white knit fabric. He felt like he was being hugged and while the amount of stomach exposed was still new to him, he was happy to have his neck so thoroughly covered. The top also included separate sleeves that started a quarter of the way down his toned arms and ran all the way to his knuckles, kept in place by a simple thumb loop. The last item was a red flannel that Xie Lian wasn’t sure what to do with so he left it alone, looking himself over in the mirror. It was different, but at the same time familiar.
“Lian-ge! Are you done? Do you need help? I want to see how it looks so bad so don’t keep me waiting ok,” Shi Qinxuan called excitedly through the door. Xie Lian gave a fond chuckle and quickly let them in.
“Qingxuan I have to admit..this is definitely a lot better,” he confessed, scratching his cheek shyly. Shi Qingxuan started happily bouncing in place.
“It’s 10 times better! You look amazing! And so much more relaxed. I wasn’t sure you’d like the crop top but honey you are doing the world a disservice hiding away those abs. Like, are all farmers built like that? Do I need to come out to the countryside to visit all your farmer friends to find out?” They asked, and Xie Lian could already see the wheels turning in their heads.
“Haha, no need, no need,” Xie Lian said, certain Shi Qingxuan would be disappointed. “But yeah..I’m not used to being so exposed, but it’s not awful.”
“See? And besides that is what the flannel is for,” Shi Qingxuan explained, grabbing It from off the wall. “You can throw it on if you get too cold, but also you can keep it wrapped around your waist. Covers a bit more skin and gives you that slight grunge look which will be perfect for the club we’re hitting up tonight.”
Xie Lian tilted his head curiously as he wrapped the red material around his waist. It felt warm. “What club is that then? I don’t think you’ve actually told me where we’re going,” Xie Lian hummed and watched as Shi Qingxuan start to glow with excitement.
“Lian Lian you’re not going to believe this. But you know a couple weeks ago I ran into this guy and went on a coffee date with him?” they asked and Xie Lian nodded, recalling Shi Qingxuan’s extensive text. Most of it had been emojis, but Xie Lian had been able to get the gist that Shi Qingxuan met someone they thought was attractive and had become rather obsessed after their sudden and rather brief date.
“Well I decided I was tired of waiting on him to make another move so yesterday I texted him and let him know I planned to go out clubbing with a friend and invited him to join. And not only did he say yes, he said he could do one better and is going to get us into only one of the most exclusive new clubs in town! Paradise Manor!” They said, dropping their volume on the last part, but the pure excitement in their tone seemed to fill the whole room.
“Oh? That’s awfully nice of him,” said Xie Lian, not really sure what sort of place Paradise Manor was, but if it was exclusive it sounded expensive. Shi Qingxuan seemed to understand that he had no idea how big of a deal this was, but let it slide. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to join though?” Xie Lian asked, starting to fold up all the other clothes he fortunately would not have to ear. “You seemed to really like this guy, I wouldn’t want to get in the way,” he said, not sure what he would do if he ended up having to fend for himself. He’d probably just retreat to Shi Qingxuan’s apartment.
“Oh don’t worry about it. Ming Yi knows I’m bringing a friend and said he’d bring one too. Like a double date!” Shi Qingxuan beamed and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Tonight was certainly going to be a long one.
“I don’t know Qingxuan..” He started, but he made the mistake of looking at his friend who was already pulling out their best impression of a puppy, their hands clasped together in front of them as if in prayer.
“Please Lian-ge? I know this is sudden, but this will be great for both of us! You need to socialize more and I really really really need a chance to get laid. I promise if at any point you really want to go home, we’ll leave, but just give it a shot? For me?” they asked, and Xie Lian bowed his head with a defeated sigh. He supposed it really couldn’t hurt just to try.
“Alright. I’ll do it for you then,” he said softly, and Shi Qingxuan squealed in joy as they glomped onto him with a tight hug.
“You’re amazing Lian Lian. I promise you’ll have fun. And besides, if anyone gives you any trouble, I know you can handle yourself. No one would stand a chance,” they laughed and Xie Lian managed to smile in agreement, hoping the night wouldn’t come down to more fighting. At least if it did this outfit was flexible enough to handle it.
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Paradise Manor, as it turned out, didn’t even open its doors until 11 at night, which meant Xie Lian had plenty of time to relax before Shi Qingxuan descended on him with makeup brushes and hair ties. The younger hadn’t done much really, apart from some concealer, eyeliner, and a bit of lip gloss. His hair had been tied up in a partial up-do leaving the rest cascading as it normally did down to the center of his back.
“I call it farmer chic,” Shi Qingxuan teased as they put the finishing touches on their own look. They had their hair tied back in a pony tail, leaving their slim face framed by curtain bangs. Their outfit was more certainly more risque than anything Xie Lian had tried on back at the mall, featuring a halter top, something called a body chain, and a pair of denim shorts that looked like they were nearly torn to shreds. On top of all of this they wore a dark blue flannel tied around their waist in a similar manner to Xie Lian.
“It’ll mirror your red one! They’ll think we’re together so randos don’t bother us,” they explained cheerfully before dragging Xie Lian out the door. Neither of their outfits did much for the cold, so Xie Lian was glad they were taking a cab. He had offered to drive but Shi Qingxuan had made it clear that under no circumstances would they be rolling up to any club in Rouye even if it was the last car available. “I love you Lian Lian, but your beloved truck is not going anywhere near Paradise Manor, end of story.”
Xie Lian supposed that was for the best. As they finally pulled up in front of the club he realized just how silly driving themselves here would have been. Even the cab could barely get through the waiting crowd which seemed to be made up of very..interesting characters. Honestly, Xie Lian felt better knowing his beloved Rouye was parked somewhere safe and quiet. Doubly so as he found himself having to duck as someone was thrown clear over his head.
“Haha, Ming Yi did say the crowd could get rowdy,” Shi Qingxuan said, trying to hide their nervousness behind a smile as they clinged onto Xie Lian’s arm.
“They’re certainly lively,” Xie Lian mused, wincing in sympathy as he watched a group of women converge on a rather desperate looking man while others watched on in amusement.
“Let’s just go to the entrance. Ming Yi should be waiting for us,” Shi Qingxuan urged, dragging him along towards a building lit up in blood red lights. There were two long banners cascading down from the roof, each featuring rather artistic calligraphy that Xie Lian thought looked slightly familiar. He wasn’t sure if the brush strokes were meant to be legible, but in any case they certainly seemed at home with the chaotic energy building up on the streets.
The pair managed to make their way to the main entrance without too much trouble, but Xie Lian worried that might change as they swept passed all those waiting in line. Their envy and anger was almost palatable by the time they reached the bouncer.
He was a large, boar of a man who took one look at the pair of them and began sizing them up like his next meal. Xie Lian gave an awkward smile, trying to pull Shi Qingxuan back but the younger was already introducing themselves.
“Hello! We’re on the VIP list. Should be under Shi Qingxuan? Or maybe Ming Yi, he’s the one who invited us,” they said cheerfully and Xie Lian watched the man’s brow furrow in annoyance.
“Ain’t never heard of no—“ the man began, but was interrupted as a figure stepped out of the club and put a hand on the bouncer’s shoulder. Xie Lian’s eyes widened in shock when he realized he recognized exactly who it was.
“It’s fine. They’re with me, Zhu,” the newcomer said, barely finishing his sentence before he had an armful of Shi Qingxuan.
“Ming Yi! You look so cool! I can’t believe you work here!” Shi Qingxuan beamed, clinging onto the other man to the shock of Xie Lian, the bouncer, and several of the people in line.
“I don’t work here, I just know the owner,” Ming Yi huffed, making zero effort to reclaim any of his personal space to everyone’s further surprise. His gaze slid to Xie Lian and gave the smallest shake of his head before turning to lead them inside. No questions here then, Xie Lian thought to himself, hurrying to follow after him.
Shi Qingxuan stayed glued to the taller man’s side, rambling on about how excited they were about the night, but Xie Lian was too caught up in his own thoughts to pay much attention. His heart felt like it was racing as he tried to process everything. Does this mean the guy Shi Qingxuan had met before had actually been He Xuan? Was that how they had actually tracked down San Lang in the first place? Did Shi Qingxuan know? They had only referred to the mafioso as Ming Yi though, so perhaps not. Plus, Shi Qingxuan was honestly terrible at lying and keeping secrets, so whatever information He Xuan had gotten out of them might have been through trickery. Xie Lian frowned, not liking the fact that they had gotten his friend involved, but he wasn’t sure what he could do about it at the moment. He supposed at least it was one of San Lang’s men, maybe he could— Wait, if He Xuan was here did that mean that..?
Xie Lian felt his heart skip a beat and came to a stop, taking a proper look around for the first time since he’d entered the building. The lower floor was clearly reserved for dancing and there was a thick crowd of people doing just that and possibly more beneath the dim, pulsing lights. Xie Lian had to look away, cheeks bright pink, as the visuals of wandering hands and rolling hips became too much. On either side of the dance floor there were two bars, both packed to the brim with patrons desperate for a drink of liquid courage. Towards the back there was a grand stair case that led up into the upper floors. There were two more floors in total, each wrapping around the exposed atrium and offering unobstructed views of the grand glass ceiling above. On the second floor Xie Lian could make out more faces peering down at the dancing crowd, some wearing masks that when paired with the red lights at their back seemed reminded him of old ghost stories. The third floor looked less inhabited, but it featured a singular balcony that overlooked everything else and he could only imagine it was reserved for actual VIPs, or possibly the owner himself. Xie Lian took a closer look at that balcony and caught sight of an imposing figure leaning out over the edge. It was hard to make out exact details, but the sight of them seemed to set off butterflies in his stomach. Could it possibly be? Before he could step out onto the dance floor and try to get a better look he found himself being yanked back by Shi Qingxuan.
“Wait, Lian-ge! Ming Yi says we have a private booth upstairs! We can come dance after we have a drink and get settled” they chirped, dragging him along. Xie Lian followed, but took another look back at the balcony. Whoever had been looking over the edge was gone, but for some reason the butterflies in his stomach seemed more frantic than ever. Ming Yi was waiting for them by the stairs and gave Xie Lian an exasperated look.
“Stick close,” he said, and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How was it that he was the one being labeled as the troublemaker? He supposed it couldn’t be helped. After all, they had thought he’d kidnapped their boss.
The second floor, it turned out, housed the kitchen and dining area. Or at least, it seemed like a dining area, but Xie Lian couldn’t help but notice that at each table people seemed to be playing betting games. One lively game seemed to reach its conclusion as they passed and both Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan jumped in alarm when the loser let out a desperate wail, falling to his knees to plead with the winner for one more round.
Ming Yi ushered them along and gave a nod to a man dressed in black who had been standing against a wall as if he were part of it. The mysterious man nodded and spoke quietly into a walkie talkie mounted on his shoulder.
“Don’t pay them any mind,” Ming Yi said, leading them further along towards a set of thick curtains. “Gambling is a common vice here, and sometimes people aren’t willing to accept when they’ve lost.”
“Haha, is that all?” Shi Qingxuan chuckled, looking back a little uncertainly as the “loser” was dragged off by a couple of bouncers. “How unfortunate. Do you ever gamble Ming Yi?” they asked as they stepped past the curtain and into the private booth. It was a little quieter, which was nice, but still allowed them to listen to the music pulsing up from below.
“I don’t have anything to bet,” Ming Yi replied, collapsing back into a plush leather seat. “Drinks are on the house by the way. And feel free to leave anything you don’t want to lose on the dance floor here. No one would dare steal anything,” he reassured.
“Really?!” Shi Qingxuan asked, plopping down beside him and grabbing the drinks menu. “You and the owner must be really close! Thank you again for inviting us here,” they beamed and Xie Lian wasn’t sure if it was the poor lighting or his imagination, but He Xuan had looked a little flustered for a moment. If Qingxuan noticed, they didn't point it out, redirecting their attention to the third wheel named Xie Lian.
“I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use a drink before hitting the floor. Do you know what you want?” Qingxuan asked, practically dancing in their seat already.
Xie Lian hesitated, still standing just at the entrance to the private lounge and feeling rather distracted. He had been a little disappointed when they’d stepped past the curtains and found it empty. Maybe He Xuan was here by himself after all, but hadn’t Shi Qingxuan mentioned he was bringing a friend? Still, he imagined San Lang might be too busy to come to a place like this.
“Xie Lian, did you hear me?” Shi Qingxuan asked, and Xie Lian snapped out of his thoughts and gave an apologetic smile.
“Oh right, sorry. I uh..um, why don’t you pick for me? It’s been a while and I’m not actually sure what I’d like,” he said honestly. That seemed satisfactory enough for Shi Qingxuan, who began perusing the menu with a new level of determination. They leaned into Ming Yi, who draped an arm around them as they pointed out various items on the menu they wanted to try.
Xie Lian studied the pair for a moment, wondering if maybe he could find a time later to pull Ming Yi aside and have a chat. As he brooded on exactly what he might say he heard what sounded like the chime of a bell, followed by the rustle of heavy curtains being parted. Someone stepped into the booth behind him and a large hand came to rest on his waist. Xie Lian’s breath hitched, and he primed an elbow ready to turn and knock the handsy newcomer away, but his body froze as a familiar voice reached his ear.
“Hello again, Gege. Miss me?”
Chapter Text
He had spotted him from the balcony first. He had been watching, waiting, and now that he had seen him he was glad he had sent fish breath down to escort them in rather than going himself. If he had, he might have started carving out eyes just to prevent any of these unworthy heathens from setting their sights on his beautiful angel.
Now he watched as the trio move through the crowd, his Gege standing out like a bright star, and maintained a white knuckle grip on the railing, trying to calm the beast inside him. It wasn’t fair. He had spent the last two weeks dreaming of the moment he’d see him again, but even then he hadn’t been prepared for something like this. Had his gege really chosen that outfit himself? Did he know how good he looked? Was he hoping for attention?
A flash of jealousy had Hua Cheng biting on his lip until it bled. Xie Lian, unless He Xuan had fucked up, didn’t know he was here yet, so the idea that he had dressed himself up for others made something ugly twist and writhe inside his chest. He pulled away from the balcony and paced behind the thick veil of gauzy red curtains, fingers tugging at cloth, chain, and hair, trying to make sure everything looked perfect. His phone buzzed in his pocket.
[Fish for Brains: We’re heading to the second floor private booth. You better not make this weird you creep ]
Hua Cheng huffed and didn’t dignify that with a response. He supposed he shouldn’t waste any more time though. He Xuan’s presence was enough to signal that the two new comers weren’t to be messed with, but Crimson Rain’s presence would guarantee no one in their right mind would dream of even breathing the same air, lest they forfeit their lives. The curtains parted around him like the red sea, and he stepped down from the dais, the silver bells on his boots chiming softly with each step as he made his way towards the stairs.
The men he had on the third floor watched him go, whispering excitedly among themselves.
“Chengzu is going downstairs?”
“Dumbass! He’s Chengzu, he can do whatever he wants!”
“But he never goes down unless there’s a fight. Is there a fight? Can we start one?”
“You green eared twit. We’re not allowed to start fights anywhere but in the basement. Mess with the patrons and Black Water will feed you to his fishes if Waning Moon doesn’t get to you first!”
“So what’s he going down for then?”
The man shrugged and another leaned in conspiratorially. “Maybe he saw something he liked.” The other two men blinked, then erupted into shouts as they began debating what Chengzu’s type was.
On the second floor Hua Cheng drew similar attention, though it was more muted. A mix of awe and fear claimed the atmosphere, but Hua Cheng paid it no heed, his eye focused on the set of heavy curtains on the far side of the room. People and chairs parted before him and chatter followed, all mixing over the thrum of the music from below.
Hua Cheng stopped just outside the private lounge and listened for a moment. He could just make out soft chatter as an unfamiliar voice about drinks..and then a lovely, familiar tone answering. It was like a siren’s call and Hua Cheng was far too weak a man to resist. He stepped forward, parted the curtain, and slipped inside. His eyes immediately landed on long chestnut hair and pale skin above a flash of red fabric. His hand reached out before he could think better of it, following the desire to touch, to claim, to tease..
The man before him tensed, and Hua Cheng's brain warned him of a shifting arm, but he ignored it in favor of leaning closer anyway, murmuring softly into a soft looking ear.
“Hello again, Gege..Miss me?”
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Xie Lian gasped excitedly as he realized who was behind him and then turned so quickly he nearly tripped over his own feet. He might have actually fallen had two hands not grasped onto his waist to keep him steady and-- oh..his cheeks heated up as he realized just how warm those hands felt. He lifted his gaze and his breath hitched as he finally got a proper look at the man who had been haunting his thoughts for weeks.
San Lang looked different then when he last saw him. He now had an undercut to start, a shaven area only exposed because the rest of the loose raven locks on that side had been tucked back and out of the way. Xie Lian wondered if this was to stop them from covering San Lang’s one visible eye as he seemed to let the rest of his hair cascade wild and free apart from one singular braid tucked behind his ear.
Xie Lian’s eyes drifted down further, landing briefly on a black choker and a set of silver chain necklaces, one of which seemed to be made entirely of tiny butterflies. Xie Lian followed the delicate chain down past San Lang’s collar bone until his gaze became fixed on a certain spot. San Lang was wearing a wine red, silk button down with the top few buttons undone, exposing just enough of his chest to show a hint of his tattoos. For some reason the sight was causing Xie Lian’s brain to short circuit and he couldn’t seem to look away, time becoming a distant concept.
The chest he was staring at moved, and a chuckle rumbled in Xie Lian’s ears, drawing him out of his trance. Xie Lian snapped his gaze away, as if suddenly the curtain was now far more interesting, and tried not to think about why the room suddenly felt so much hotter.
“You can stare, Gege. I don’t mind,” San Lang murmured and Xie Lian felt like his whole body might combust if this continued. He couldn’t even talk, as if the words from his mind were just getting hopelessly lost and jumbled up in route to his tongue. He thought he was starting to see his whole life pass in front of his eyes when Shi Qingxuan finally came to his rescue.
“Hey, buddy. I don’t think we’ve met, but that’s my friend and if you want to keep those hands you better move them,” Qingxuan huffed, stepping forward and jabbing a finger against Hua Cheng’s shoulder. “Don’t just grab people” they scolded, while Ming Yi mumbled something behind them that suspiciously sounded like 'you're one to talk'
Hua Cheng’s dark eye slid over to Qingxuan, giving them a look as cold as the depths of hell for a brief second, before he glanced back at Ming Yi, who looked ready to throw himself off the nearest balcony. He then shifted his gaze back down to Xie Lian, who was presently slapping his own cheeks as if trying to wake himself from a dream.
Hua Cheng let go of Xie Lian’s waist and took hold of both his hands instead, keeping him from doing any further damage. “Apologies, Gege. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles with just the smallest hint of a smirk. “This lowly one is simply delighted to be in your presence once more.”
“Ah hahahahaha San Lang you're really..I mean it's..I-I'm glad to see you again too..” Xie Lian replied, laughing through the threat of tears. He could feel of the holes being bored into his head by Shi Qingxuan’s questioning stare.
“Lian-ge you know him?” they asked, looking suspiciously between the two.
Xie Lian gently pulled his hands back to his chest, ignoring the pouting expression on San Lang’s face. “Yes, we um..We uh..”
“We met in Gege’s town. He gave me a tour,” San Lang answered, giving a cat like grin. “He was very accommodating, so I am glad I can finally return the favor.”
Shi Qingxuan blinked, then gave a strained smile as they grabbed Xie Lian’s arm. “Hahaha, Excuse us for a moment,” they said before dragging Xie Lian off to the far corner of the lounge. Xie Lian gave San Lang an apologetic glance before his head was pulled down so that Shi Qingxuan could yell at him quietly.
“Xie Lian what the hell? When were you going to tell me you met a guy! I didn’t even know you were into guys! I could have set you up on so many dates Lian Lian,” they cried, then snapped their head up when they seemed to realize something. “Wait, is he why you’re staying so long on this trip? Did you know he was going to be here tonight?” they asked, an excited spark in their eyes.
Xie Lian quickly held up his hands, warding off that train of thought. “N-no..I mean, I didn't know he was going to be here but yes, I came to see him....but it’s not like that! We—we’re just friends. He was just very nice and I just thought it’d be good to see him again..” He said, trailing off as he processed the look on Qingxuan’s face. They clearly didn’t believe anything he was saying.
“Uh-huh..well is it nice to see him again?” they asked, waggling their brows and even as Xie Lian tried to think of an honest answer, all he could do was blush.
“Lian Lian, you’re like an open book,” Shi Qingxuan giggled. “Look, luckily I’m here and I’m going to help you out okay? I’m going be the best wingman you’ve ever had,” they teased. “But really, you should have told me. We could have bought you so many more cute outfits,” they pouted, already starting to fiddle with Xie Lian's current clothes.
Xie Lian gently pushed their hands away, feeling overwhelmed enough as it was. “Thank you, but we're really just friends and I didn't know I was going to see him tonight” he said, glad he could be honest this time. He didn’t like lying as he wasn’t particularly good at it. He still felt a bit bad now that Shi Qingxuan was entirely unaware of the mess they had been dragged into and cast a wary glance back at Ming Yi, who seemed to be having a staring contest with San Lang. Maybe now that San Lang was here maybe he could talk to him and make sure that his friend wasn’t being put in any danger. He couldn’t explain why, but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to /not/ trust the man, mafia or not, so if San Lang said he guaranteed Shi Qingxuan would be safe, he’d believe it.
Shi Qingxuan nudged his ribs again. “You’re staring again, Lian Lian. We're friends and you don't stare at me like that” they teased. “But ok. I’m going to grab Ming Yi out to go get us some drinks while you hang out with your friend. Just remember to use protection and text me if you go anywhere,” they hummed, looking far too pleased with themselves as they ran over and latched onto Ming Yi's arm, leaving a bright red Xie Lian in their wake.
“Ming Yi, take me to the bar! I wanna see if the bartender can make this new cocktail I saw online!” they insisted, dragging the dour looking man back through the curtains before they could protest. The thick fabric fell back into place, shuffling quietly as it swayed back and forth until finally it sat still once more. Now it was just Xie Lian and San Lang, both gazing quietly at each other from across the small lounge.
Xie Lian didn’t move, but averted his gaze first as he tried to figure out what to say. He had thought he’d have more time to prepare. He awkwardly rubbed his neck, eyes focused on the floor as the sound of soft chimes rang out over the muffled noise of the club.
“San Lang, I um..I like your new hair” he finally said lamely, raising his eyes as San Lang came to a stop in front of him. Xie Lian had to look up just to meet his gaze, but the look in San Lang’s eye made something hot coil inside his gut. He suddenly felt the urge to tug on his shirt, feeling a little too exposed.
San Lang gave an amused smile, tilting his head to one side. "Really? I'm glad Gege finds it flattering. I'll admit it was an unexpected development, but if Gege likes it maybe I'll keep it this way for a while," he purred and Xie Lian wondered if there was any mundane question San Lang couldn't turn around and answer with such a flirtatious tone.
“I have to say Gege looks quite stunning tonight. I didn't know you had clothes like this hiding away in that trunk of yours," he teased and Xie Lian wished he could hide his face somewhere.
"Haha, no actually..Shi Qingxuan bought these for me earlier today. Most of my clothes would be too old or dirty for a place like this," he confessed awkwardly.
"Anything Gege wears would be acceptable here," San Lang replied. "If anyone said otherwise I'd throw them out," he said so casually, as if he was discussing plans for dinner. It was really too much and Xie Lian found himself laughing at the absurdity of it all. San Lang smiled and shifted just a little closer, hands lifting for a moment like they wanted to reach out and touch before the taller man brought them back to heel.
"I'm glad Gege is enjoying himself. I wasn’t sure how’d you react to seeing that slimy imbecile with your friend,” San Lang murmured, sounding possibly a tad apologetic, but it was outshone by the smug look on his face. “It was selfish of me to take advantage like that, but when I learned you would be going out to enjoy the nightlife I insisted that that eel bring you both here.”
Xie Lian blinked, then looked off to the side, scratching his cheek. “ I’ll admit it was a little alarming realizing who Ming Yi really was. I-I understand why they must have approached Shi Qingxuan when they thought I had kidnapped you, but San Lang if anything had happened to them—if He Xuan hurts them—“
“Your friend is under my protection. Even with fish food for brains, He Xuan knows better now than to do anything that would risk their safety,” San Lang said quickly, reaching a hand out and gently playing with a lock of hair. Xie Lian tried not to let himself get distracted by it, ignoring thoughts of where else he'd like those fingers to touch.
“If He Xuan hurts them, it won’t be you he has to fear,” Xie Lian said coldly, catching the look of surprise as it flashed over San Lang’s face. “So you’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt them, right?” Xie Lian asked, shifting into a softer tone, hoping the man didn't take offense. Most people in San Lang's position wouldn't take kindly to being told how to deal with their own men, but San Lang wasn't most people.
“If he does I’ll offer myself up as well to be punished,” the man said, sounding a little strained. He swallowed thickly and Xie Lian’s eyes flicked back down to that choker, watching it shift, before San Lang’s voice brought his attention back up. “I’ll make sure to have a good chat with him. For now, sit with me? I want to hear what you’ve been up to. Are your crops still doing well?”
With that, Xie Lian eagerly began talking about the new seedlings he’d been gifted by one of his neighbors and his plans for a greenhouse, letting San Lang guide him to sit down on the sofa while he rambled. He was still talking when Shi Qingxuan and Ming Yi returned with drinks and happily let Qingxuan take over as he sipped at his..well he wasn’t sure what it was, but Qingxuan had said they had ordered it for him specifically. It tasted nice, a little sweet, but it didn’t burn going down his throat. He wondered if there was any alcohol in it at all.
He found himself relaxing and gradually leaning to rest against San Lang as Shi Qingxuan animatedly regaled the story of the time the two of them had gotten locked in an old storage unit and ended up making an escape through the ceiling vent. An arm drifted up around his shoulder, and Xie Lian caught Shi Qingxuan giving him a knowing look. He blushed and pointedly stared down at his half empty glass.
He had thought after seeing San Lang, he would be able to push away the phantom fantasies that had been teasing his mind for weeks, but that had all fallen apart the moment he’d laid eyes on him again. It felt so natural just sinking into San Lang’s touch like this, almost like coming home after a long day. He wondered if he might be going insane because surely this was too quick. They knew so little about each other, but for some reason Xie Lian felt like that didn’t matter. He could know nothing and everything about San Lang and it would all be the same. His gaze wandered up, tracing over the sharp edge of San Lang’s jaw, the slight upward tic of his lips, the sight making his own mouth feel a little dry. He’d never wanted anyone like he wanted San Lang and he wished he had more experience with this sort of stuff. How could he know if San Lang felt the same?
“You look tough, Ming Yi, but I bet Xie Lian could take you in a fight,” Shi Qingxuan declared loudly, redirecting Xie Lian’s attention back to the conversation. “Never underestimate us little people! We are small but scrappy and I’ve seen Xie Lian kick a guy so hard he went flying!”
“I’ll take your word for it. Not interested in getting my ass handed to me,” Ming Yi muttered, pointedly avoiding looking towards the other pair in the room. Shi Qingxuan giggled and downed the last of their drink in one go. “I think it’s time for dancing! Who’s with me?” They asked, already rising to their feet. There was no immediate response.
“Drag Ming Yi with you. He loves the dance floor,” San Lang said with a Cheshire grin.
Ming Yi snapped his gaze to him, gritting his teeth. “As if! The only way you’ll get me into that crowd is by dragging my cold corpse with you,” he snapped, then glanced to his left to see Shi Qingxuan’s pout. He glowered and looked away with a huff. “You can still go dance. I..I’ll keep an eye on you from up here,” he muttered.
Qingxuan pursed their lips and turned their puppy dog eyes to Xie Lian instead. “Lian-ge, you’ll come with me right? Just for a few songs?”
Xie Lian hesitated, glancing at San Lang who gave a small shrug. “I won’t stop Gege from going an enjoying himself, but I’ve been cursed with two left feet. You’ll have to forgive me, but I’ll be best if I wait here for you.”
“Alright perfect! Lets go!” Shi Qingxuan said, reaching for Xie Lian’s arm who went without a fuss. Xie Lian himself still wasn’t sure how he felt about dancing, but the drink had definitely made him more relaxed and besides, he didn’t want to ruin Shi Qingxuan’s fun after all the effort they had put into tonight.
“Ok, but just a few. I don’t think I’m a good dancer either,” he said as he followed Qingxuan outside the lounge, feeling like there was suddenly a lot more eyes on them now. However, Qingxuan seemed oblivious and whenever Xie Lian tried to see exactly who was watching them, everyone else in the vicinity was conveniently looking the other way.
“You’ll be fine. Just do what I do, it’s easy,” they said and gave a teasing grin. “Besides. This is our chance to make those two a little jealous,” they added, giggling a little maniacally.
“J-jealous? Why would..Qingxuan San Lang isn’t—“
“Lian-ge, you’re cute. Like really cute. That man couldn’t stop looking at you,” Shi Qingxuan said pointedly. “By the time we get back up there he’s not going to be able to keep his hands to himself and if I’m lucky Ming Yi won’t be able to either,” they said and Xie Lian wondered if maybe Shi Qingxuan wasn’t the one who needed protecting tonight. Qingxuan could be quite persistent when they wanted something and sometimes their ability to manipulate a situation in their favor left Xie Lian both awed inspired and a little bit terrified.
Shi Qingxuan pulled him down to the first floor and instead of making a bee line to the crowd they went to one of the bars instead. It happened so quick, and Xie Lian couldn’t hear anything that had been said over the volume of the music, but a minute later he had a shot in hand and Shi Qingxuan was miming at him to down it. Xie Lian took a second to question how he got to this point before downing it in one go, grimacing a little at the sour taste. He put the glass down and then his world spun as he was suddenly guided into crowd. His head swam and his body seemed to pulse to the beat of the music. Bodies seem to shift and press around him, and he found himself apologizing more than once after being accidentally bumped into. Qingxuan seemed to navigate their way easily enough, shifting with the current until they found a spot that they were pleased with. They pulled Xie Lian close and nodded their head up to the second floor and Xie Lian turned his head. San Lang and Ming Yi were both leaning against the balcony looking down at the pair, fresh drinks in hand.
“Do as I do,” Qinxuan shouted in his ear, and Xie Lian wondered if maybe he could just die now instead. Even if he had any rhythm in his body there was no way he could move as naturally as the rest of the crowd around him. He debated making a run for it, but Qingxuan grabbed his arms and began dancing closer, forcing his body to move. Admittedly it was a little easier like that, just following the push and pull of his friend.
Shi Qingxuan seemed to notice he was relaxing and smiled, lifting Xie Lian’s arm so they could do a little twirl beneath it. They must look ridiculous, but it didn’t seem to matter and Xie Lian wished he could be so easily carefree as his friend. The dj faded into a new song, and Xie Lian thought he was starting to get the hang of what to do when suddenly panicked cries began to rise up from nearby. Xie Lian turned to look only to have a wall of bodies shoved against him, crushing him against the people behind. He grimaced and pushed back if only to get himself some air and looked around, spotting Qingxuan slamming their fists against the person in front of them.
Xie Lian reached over and pulled them free and together they began to make their way with the rest of the crowd away from the chaos on the floor. The music cut out completely then, and Xie Lian found himself temporarily blinded as bright lights lit up the whole space. As he blinked away the dots he looked back to the now empty space and realized that there was a fight going on, with a few men already on the ground. To Xie Lian, it might not have seem all that interesting of a fight except for the fact that it clearly wasn't an even fight. Instead of one vs one or even one group vs another, it seemed to be one vs all as a tall youth with dark curly hair stood at the center, knuckles bloody and eyes wild. In contrast the rest of their face almost seemed almost apathetic as they looked around, sizing up the remaining opponents. The other fighters seemed hesitant, but the youth wasn’t having it. He charged forward, fist at the ready, and Xie Lian's eyes widened as a moment later a body was suddenly flying directly towards him.
Notes:
Made it! Been doing a lot this week so didn't have a lot of time to write, but ta-da!
I thought of making this chapter extra long, but needed to save some material for next week. Ghost City Fight Club is open for business lol
Chapter 3: More Footwork, More Passion, More En-er-gy
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Xie Lian didn’t have time to hesitate and knew if he ducked some other poor soul behind him would just take the blow, so instead of moving out of the way he charged forward and caught the thrown man midair. Their momentums cancelled out and Xie Lian grimaced as they both collapsed awkwardly to the floor, his tail bone aching in protest. He hoped it wouldn’t bruise. He looked to the man he’d caught, who looked to be in pain as he tried to sit up.
“Ah..are you okay?” Xie Lian asked, realizing the person he just caught seemed to be part of the club’s security team.
“Fucking hells… I’ll be okay once I teach that punk ass a lesson. Outta my way” the bouncer grunted, shoving Xie Lian aside as he scrambled to his feet and charged back towards the fight. Xie Lian winced when the man was KO’d almost immediately with a powerful backspin. Maybe he should have stopped him, but in the end the man chose his own fate. Still, things seemed to be getting out of hand and if the fight wasn’t stopped someone innocent might end up getting hurt. He sighed and rose to his feet, sometimes wishing he knew just to keep his nose out of matters that had nothing to do with him, and approached the battle.
“Excuse me..” He began, pivoting just in time to avoid being bowled over by another unfortunate bouncer. None of the fighters seemed to have heard him, though there weren’t many left standing. In fact, some of the remaining seemed to be backing off, leaving the brunt of the fight to be handled the large bouncer who’d been working the door when they’d arrived.
“Take him down, Zhu!”
“Show him the strength of the Boar!”
“Teach him not to cause trouble with Ghost City!”
Zhu seemed fueled on by the encouragement and charged, reigning down a series of heavy blow. The curly-haired brawler was fast, but not infoulable and Xie Lian clutched his own nose in sympathy when the young man’s made an awful crunching nose beneath Zhu’s knuckles.
“Um, excuse me..” Xie Lian tried again, trying to get their attention, but his voice was drowned out as the younger fighter sent Zhu crashing into the bar, bottles breaking around him. The bouncer roared and got back up, but this time he had half a broken bottle in hand and didn’t hesitate to launch it at his opponent. It missed, and startled screams pierced the air as a group of onlookers realized they were now in the line of fire. One woman raised her arms to shield herself from the blow, but it never came. There wasn’t even the sound of shattering glass. A chorus of murmurs rose up around her and she opened her eyes, gasping when she saw the bottle had been caught just a few feet from her. The man holding it looked back at her with a reassuring smile and she wondered if maybe this was what guardian angels looked like.
“You should get further back. This is getting dangerous,” Xie Lian said kindly. The woman and everyone with her blushed and nodded and quickly they moved back, heading as far away as they could manage. Xie Lian looked back to the fight, dropping the bottle to the ground. Something warm and wet trickled down his fingers, but he ignored it. It was time to end this.
Zhu and the young brawler were still locked in battle, both bruised and bloodied, but the large bouncer was quickly losing stamina. He’d need to end this soon or risk loosing. The young man seemed to be equally ready to end the fight, and both of them let out a roar as they made one last charge. Neither of them are sure what happened next, but their hits never landed. Instead, Zhu suddenly found himself tumbling over the bar while the younger fighter stumbled in the opposite direction, crashing into a small table and falling to the floor. Confused and bewildered, the curly-haired man looked back over his shoulder, eyes widening as he saw a man with long brown hair standing behind him, gazing at him with a cold and fearsome expression.
“That’s enough,” Xie Lian said firmly, bracing himself in case the young man refused to see reason.
The man blinked in confusion. “What’s enough?” he asked, his expression and tone wholly sincere.
An awkward silence trickled over the crowd and Xie Lian found it hard to maintain his stern expression when the man seemed to be so genuinely perplexed.
“Enough fighting..this isn’t the place for it,” Xie Lian said carefully, raising a brow as the youth rose to his feet, looking around as if he was seeing the place for the first time.
“Isn’t this Paradise Manor? Did I get the address wrong?” he asked, and Xie Lian didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t know what sort of personality he had expected the man to have, but lost puppy wouldn’t have been among his top guesses. He felt a headache coming on. All around them hushed whispers rippled through the crowd.
“Did this kid really come here looking for a fight? Is he stupid?”
“Obviously. Can’t even tell he’s in paradise manor. You think Hua Cheng will kill him?”
“No no I heard he doesn’t like making messes here. He’ll take them else where.”
“Them? The hot one too?”
“Probably. Fighting isn’t allowed..”
“Do you think we’ll see him!? I heard he’s so sexy that women faint just by looking at him!”
“Don’t be stupid. He wouldn't come down here. I heard the whole third floor is for his men. He’ll probably send them down to take care of things.”
“Aww..I would give anything just to see him in person”
“You’d probably die if you ever did. I heard he’s a monster. He as an eye that can turn you to stone!”
“Don’t be stupid. You’re just thinking of Medusa. He can’t turn you to stone but he can burn you to ash if you cross him!”
“Your both stupid..clearly he can—-oh shit is that him?”
“Oh my god it is! Crimson Rain!”
“Chengzu!”
“Hua Cheng!”
“San Lang..” Xie Lian breathed, his eyes locked onto the familiar figure as he made his way through the crowd. People stumbled over each other just to get out of his way, only to turn around and climb on top of each other just to get a look. Xie Lian felt his heart skip a beat when that dark eye landed on him with such intense focus it made him feel like he was suddenly the only person in the room. He blushed and looked away, thinking he might die of a heart attack before the night was through.
Hua Cheng’s boots chimed softly as he approached Xie Lian and everyone seemed to hold their breath in anticipation, eager to see what Crimson Rain was about to do. With a gentle hand he reached out and cupped Xie Lian’s wrist, raising it up so his injured hand was resting palm up between them.
“He’s not hitting him..maybe the hot one isn’t in trouble?”
“Ah San Lang, you’ll get blood on you,” Xie Lian protested, moving to pull his hand away, but the grip on his wrist tightened, not enough to be painful, but enough to keep Xie Lian’s injured hand in place.
“Who did this?” San Lang growled, and Xie Lian felt a shiver race down his spine. He didn’t realize San Lang could sound so dangerous. He didn't know how much such a tone could excite him. He looked sheepishly at his injured hand.
“It was my fault..a broken bottle was thrown and I caught it before it could hit someone” Xie Lian explained, but that clearly wasn’t the answer San Lang wanted. He looked to the crowd and his eye landed on one of the bouncers who was sitting in a chair now nursing a dislocated shoulder.
“What happened?” Hua Cheng demanded, and the man began shaking and it took a moment for him to answer. When he did, he stumbled over his words as he tried to recount exactly what went down.
“Ch-Chengzu sir--that kid showed up and asked who our fighters were..we thought he was joking and then he started throwing punches. We were all trying to stop him, I swear. We know you don’t permit fighting here. Zhu tried—Zhu was only..”
“I threw the bottle Chengzu” Zhu interrupted, limping his way out from behind the bar. “I injured your guest. I’ll take responsibility. My children and my children’s children will all be yours to serve you until their dying breath. May my blood be spilt to make up for what your guest has lost..” he said, his suddenly eloquent words causing several jaws to drop, including Xie Lian’s. The man hobbled over and fell to his knees before them and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Surely this was too much.
“Its okay, really,” Xie Lian said quickly, hoping to soothe things over before Hua Cheng could take the man’s offering seriously. “Hahaha, the bleeding is stopping already, see?” he said, pointing to his hand just as fresh blood trickled from the wound and bled into the formerly white fabric of his sleeve.
“It’s obviously still bleeding..” The crowd thought, their eyes shifting to Hua Cheng, who eyed the wound with an unreadable expression. He snapped his fingers and Xie Lian jumped as a moment later as a familiar mask bearing a pained smile appeared beside them.
“Waning Moon see that this wound is properly taken care of,” he said and Xie Lian’s heart sunk a little when he realized San Lang seemed unwilling to even look him in the eye. Had he already become such a burden?
“San Lang..” He began, but Hua Cheng already had his back turned to him as he approached the curly-haired man who had allegedly started it all.
“If you’ll please come with me,” Waning Moon said, pulling Xie Lian’s attention away from the pair. Unwilling to look at the smiling mask, Xie Lian set his gaze on Yin Yu’s shoulder instead and noted how tense he seemed. He didn’t want to cause any more trouble, so he let Yin Yu lead him away, hoping he’d get a chance to apologize properly before the night was through.
Yin Yu ended up leading him through a door that read “Staff Only”. Xie Lian thought it would be a break room, but it turned out to be an entrance to a service corridor instead that Yin Yu explained allowed for staff and other personnel to move quickly around the club without having to worry about navigating through customers.
“I was wondering how you appeared so quickly..” Xie Lian mused and Yin Yu said nothing in reply. They continued down a short flight of stairs and Yin Yu turned to lead him through a set of double doors. The room inside looked like it was pulled right out of a hospital and Xie Lian found himself looking back out the door they’d just come through to confirm he hadn’t somehow been teleported to somewhere entirely new.
Nope, same building. He looked back around the room, taking in the cabinets filled with medicine and medical equipment, the row of beds, and even the rolling stool that Yin Yu was now seated on as he rummaged through one of the drawers to pull out supplies to clean and dress Xie Lian’s cut. What was a room like this doing in a night club? Mafia activity aside, it seemed excessive.
“If you could sit there and lay your hand palm up I can check to make sure there’s no glass trapped in the wound,” he said, his mask now removed much to Xie Lian’s relief. He rolled up his sleeve did as instructed, watching quietly as Yin Yu shone a light over the wound and set to work. Xie Lian winced as he began flushing the wound, his fingers twitching slightly.
“Apologies, there will be discomfort..but fortunately the cut looks shallow,” Yin Yu said and Xie Lian felt guilty immediately.
“Oh no, it’s fine. I’ve had worse,” he reassured, doing his best to sound like he was joking. Yin Yu didn’t answer, but his brows furrowed and Xie Lian wondered if the man just wanted him to shut up. He probably didn’t like him very much. Xie Lian sighed and did his best to distract himself while Yin Yu patched him up. Unfortunately the most interesting thing in the room was Yin Yu himself and Xie Lian found himself studying the quiet man, realizing that something about him seemed a little familiar.
It was strange..there wasn’t anything wholly unique about the man’s appearance. Nothing that would make him stand out. He’d noticed it at the farm too, that slight sense of deja-vu, but he’d been too worked up to give it much thought. Now, however, he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he’d seen the man before. Maybe he’d run into him on one of his trips to the city? Or perhaps back when he’d been camping among the cities destitute? It wasn’t unusual for mafia to recruit desperate men and Yin Yu seemed to be a master of blending into the background. If he came dressed in rags, no one would bat an eye.
“Done..you don’t need stitches, but I’d recommend going to a doctor and getting prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection,” Yin Yu said and Xie Lian blinked in surprise to realize that his bloodied hand was now clean and neatly bandaged.
“Oh wow. That was quick, thank you,” he said, admiring the man’s handiwork. Yin Yu nodded and began to clean up, as silent as ever and Xie Lian was really starting to think the man hated him. He supposed it couldn’t be helped. He was wondering if he should just head back on his own when the double doors burst open and a distraught looking Shi Qingxuan came stumbling through, fat tears threatening to fall until they saw sight of their friend.
“Xie Lian you’re okay!” they cried in relief, tackling him in a firm hug. “What were you thinking just going into a fight like that? You should have just let security handle it! The crowd got so thick I couldn’t get to you!” they complained, lightly hitting Xie Lian’s shoulders.
“Hahaha, you’re right, I probably should have. I’m sorry for worrying you,” he said sincerely, glad they seemed ok. He looked behind them to see Ming Yi leaning up against the far wall, seemingly bored by the whole thing. He wondered if they had pulled Shi Qingxuan out of the chaos while the fight was on going. If so, he supposed he should be grateful.
“Lian-ge” Shi Qingxuan whispered, still wrapped around Xie Lian in a tight hug. “Lian-ge I heard a lot of gossip while the fight was happening. Like this place is run by Mafia? Can you imagine? And your San Lang is actually a big deal! He’s dangerous so we should get out of here before we end up kidnapped and kept as beauties for private entertainment!” they said, sounding completely serious, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but picture himself as some “kept beauty” in San Lang’s home. He blushed and gave an awkward cough. He glaced to Ming Yi, who didn’t seem to be paying attention, but he was certain Yin Yu could hear everything, whispers or no, and he really hoped he didn’t pass any of it along to San Lang. He could already imagine the younger man teasing him about it and he was certain he wouldn’t be able to handle it.
“Well I suppose I’m all patched up now, so we can leave,” he said slowly, doubting they’d stop them if they really wanted to leave. In fact, they’d probably show him to the quickest exit. Still, he wanted to see San Lang before they left. He needed to know if the man was truly upset with him
“Just follow my lead. I have a plan~” Shi Qingxuan said, oblivious to Xie Lian’s inner thoughts. Xie Lian wanted to tell them to wait, worried about what this ‘plan’ might entail, but they suddenly started laughing loudly and slapping their hand against his back, keeping him from talking. “Oh my god you’re so right Lian Lian! I think I did forget to turn the oven off! We should go check right now before the whole building goes up in flames!” they shouted and suddenly Xie Lian was being pulled towards the door.
Ming Yi looked confused, but made no move to block their path, only watching as the pair passed him by. “I’m sorry Ming Yi, I’ll have to do a rain check. You’re a doll! And hot! Please don’t kill us ahahaha!” Qingxuan called out as the double doors swung shut behind them
“Shi Qingxuan we don’t—“ Xie Lian began, but then they were taking off to a run down the hall and it was all Xie Lian could do to keep up. Shi Qingxuan mentioned before that they’d use to do track and in moments like this it really showed. “Qingxuan hold on!” he tried again, but the other just wasn’t listening.
“Don’t worry! I know how to get out of here!” they called back, sprinting down a hall that Xie Lian was certain wasn’t the way back. He gave a weary sigh, hoping they didn’t run into trouble. All they needed to do was find a door leading back out to the main club and they’d be in the clear. He imagined that’s where most of the doors led so the odds were in their favor right?
He let Shi Qingxuan lead on, figuring he would explain that they hadn’t been in any danger later once they’d calmed down. However, as they worked their way deeper through the network of tunnels with no sign of an exit he began to think that maybe he should try to convince them to at least stop running.
“Qingxuan hold on! I think we’re—“ he said, only to cut himself off as he barely avoided colliding into Qingxuan’s back. They had come to a sudden stop in the middle of a long, dark hall lit with only a few scattered florescent lights.
“Ha..haha Lian-ge I’m sorry I think I got us lost—isn’t that funny?“ they said, their whole body shaking as they turned to face him and Xie Lian felt guilt start to gnaw at him from the inside. They didn’t deserve to suffer distress like this so needlessly.
“Qingxuan it’s alright. Take a deep breath..I was told staff use these tunnels all the time. We just have to go through the next door we see and that should let us out into the club..” He said soothingly. “Besides..no ones chasing us. We’re okay.”
Shi Qingxuan sniffed, nodding. “Right. You’re right. I panicked, but my brother always warned me that mafia men were cruel and mean and would kill me the second they saw me..Ming Yi was so hot though! It’s not fair!” they cried and Xie Lian pressed his head into his hand. He really shouldn’t be surprised that /that/ was what Shi Qingxuan was more upset over.
“If it helps, I don’t think Ming Yi wanted to hurt you. Still, your brother was right trying to warn you to stay away. I’m sorry things didn’t work out,” Xie Lian said sincerely, knowing how easily Shi Qingxuan could give away their heart sometimes. He would try to buy them some ice cream tomorrow and maybe they could do a nice quiet movie night to help them move on.
“I’m sorry too. You really liked that San Lang guy yeah? It looked like he liked you too,” they said as they pair made their way down the dark corridor, the overhead lights seemingly more dim. “I don’t suppose we could turn this into some sort of hallmark movie where we convince them to leave their dangerous lives behind just in time for a romantic Christmas getaway hm?”
Xie Lian laughed softly, shaking his head. “Unfortunately no. But maybe we can try the barista trope instead? You said once you wouldn’t mind someone who could make you fancy lattes at home” he hummed, glad when Shi Qingxuan giggled at the memory.
“Yeah. Yeah lets try that,” they said, wiping at their eyes. “Gods, you know it’s always an adventure with you Xie Lian. I’m really glad we’re friends, even if it might be stripping a few years off my life,” they joked, giving Xie Lian a playful nudge. “Oh hey! There’s a door!” They exclaimed, pointing down the hall. “Finally!”
Xie Lian observed it, and it looked like any other door, but his gut suggested he should be wary. “Qingxuan can I go first? Just in case?” he asked, and Shi Qingxuan frowned, but nodded.
“Be careful, ok? We can just run the other way if we need to,” they said, sticking close to Xie Lian’s back as they approached the door.
Xie Lian paused just outside it and pressed his ear to the door. He couldn’t hear anything and he wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. He supposed there was only way to find out. Quietly, he turned the handle and opened the door, which announced his presence with a loud creak. Shi Qingxuan peered out behind him and gave a shocked gasp at the scene inside.
It wasn’t the club, or even stairs leading up to the higher floors like Xie Lian had hoped. Instead, on the other side of the door was the curly-haired man from before, now beaten black and blue and laying face down in his own blood. Before the fallen man stood Hua Cheng, his form radiating danger and a promise of death. A few other men stood behind him, who had been watching the beating with amusement until the intruders showed up.
“Hey! Who the hell are you?” one shouted accusingly, reaching for a weapon on his belt. Hua Cheng’s eye flicked to Xie Lian, then towards the man and whatever expression had been on his face seemed to have struck fear into his own men. They immediately backed away, mumbling hasty apologies.
“Put him in the holding room for next week’s fights,” Hua Cheng ordered, gesturing to the figure on the floor. “If anyone comes looking for him he was never here.”
“Yes boss,” the chorused, and Xie Lian could only watched as they grabbed the fighter by his legs and dragged him away through some other door, a thin trail of blood left in his wake. He didn’t realize how quickly his breathing was, his eyes still focused on the trail of blood, the after image of a limp body..
“Gege? Gege breathe for me?” Hua Cheng said, sounding so soft and gentle in a way that didn’t match the demonic presence he had held only a moment ago.
“Don’t touch him!” Shi Qingxuan shouted, their voice shaking badly. “Just let us go, we didn’t see anything, we promise, so let us go!”
Hua Cheng raised a brow, but ignored them in favor of Xie Lian. He crouched in front of him, trying to seem less imposing, but Xie Lian didn’t seem to be registering him at all, his gaze focused back on the empty room. Hua Cheng frowned in worry, trying to work out what had triggered him so badly..and then it clicked. He tsked, and genlty cupped Xie Lian’s cheeks, moving to block his view of the room.
“Gege..gege he’s alive, I didn’t kill him, I assure you“ he said, brushing a thumb across a soft cheek. “He’s alive. Your safe. Your friend is safe too see,” he said, looking pointedly at Qingxuan who, after a second of looking utterly bewildered, reached a hand out to touch Xie Lian’s arm.
“Lian-ge? Are you okay?” they asked, startling when Xie Lian’s gaze suddenly whipped towards them. They’d never seen those eyes look so terrified before, but the fear was gone in an instant and they almost wondered if they had imagined it.
Xie Lian blinked, and suddenly he was back with them in the present. “I—I’m sorry. I’m sorry—“ Xie Lian stammered, trying to shift his focus to anything but on the blood stained floor and struggling to do so. Hua Cheng stepped forward then and forced them to take a few steps back. Out of the room he closed the door behind them, leaving the three of them to stand along together in in the dimly lit corridor.
“How did you get down here?” Hua Cheng asked, his tone still gentle like he was coaxing a startled animal.
“It wasn’t his fault. We know your mafia, we were trying to leave,” Shi Qingxuan said quickly, still clinging to Xie Lian’s arm. “Everyone was talking about it when the fight happened, so it's not like its a secret yeah? haha, so there's no reason for you to worry. We'll just be going... ”
“Where's Ming Yi?” he asked, looking unimpressed.
“Left in the dust,” Shi Qingxuan muttered. “Look, just let us go. We’re not a threat—“
Hua Cheng scoffed and rolled his eyes, and for some reason Xie Lian found comfort in that ordinary, mundane behavior.
“I told that bastard to tell you the truth already so we wouldn't have to deal with issues like this. Everyone here is associated in one way or another with Ghost City, either as members or locals benefiting from our protection. You two included. I’ve already given Gege my word that Ghost City won’t bring you any harm..though I recognized that I failed to protect you none the less,” he said, looking to Xie Lian’s hand with a morose expression.
“Wait, no I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t have gotten involved and I only caused more trouble,” Xie Lian protested, effortlessly shedding his own discomfort in order to soothe San Lang’s. Life was easier when he could just focus on someone else after all.
“You can’t be serious, Gege,” San Lang said, looking even more upset. “You succeeded where all those useless pieces of trash failed. You stopped that fight so easily, as expected. But they should have handled it..no I should have handled it before you even felt the need to intervene. You got hurt because of our incompetence.”
Xie Lian sighed, seeing that arguing wasn't going to solve anything. He could already tell San Lang was going to be stubborn about this. “Alright, If I’m free of blame then I think the same extends to you. Besides..I guess the real culprit was caught in the end. His behavior was a little odd though. Did you interrogate him before you beat him up?” Xie Lian asked and San Lang looked mildly offended.
“Gege thinks I’m just a brute who can only talk with his fist?” he asked, and smiled when Xie Lian only answered with a raise brow. San Lang chuckled and shrugged, dismissing the implied insult with a wave of his hand.
“His name is Quan Yizhen and apparently he had been told that my club is the place to be if he wants to partake in some unofficial fights. The information wasn’t wrong, but whoever told him didn’t explain that we only host fights once a week and they’re not held upstairs in the main club,” he explained. “He thought he could show up and start swinging and since he was so eager to fight I even gave him the honor of sparring with me. Pity he couldn’t keep up,” he hummed, giving a dangerous looking smile.
Shi Qingxuan processed this all looking slightly horrified while Xie Lian was trying very hard not to think about how badly he wanted to see San Lang in a real fight. Would he spar with him if he asked?
“Gege looks excited. The fights we hold aren’t to the death, but they can get quite bloody. I would invite you to watch but I understand if that seems a bit too much,” San Lang said, and Xie Lian looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed for the episode he’d had. It was true he hadn’t been quite prepared to walk into such a scene (far too familiar but it should be him in Hua Cheng’s place, gazing over his victim as the blood pooled around his boots..) But that didn’t mean the sight of just any fist fight was going to send him spiraling. Still, perhaps it was better not to risk it.
“I’ll think it over, but you might be right. I wouldn’t want to worry you again,” he said softly, then decided to brave a question he might be better off not knowing the answer to. “You said you didn’t kill him, so what are you going to do with him?” he asked curiously.
“Well, he came looking for a fight and he did cause a significant amount of damages, so he’ll participate in the underground matches until his debts are paid off. After that he can do what he’d likes, it makes no difference to me,” San Lang answered with a shrug. “But enough about that trash. You still look pale, Gege, and I want to make things up to you if you’ll give me the chance. I promise I can treat you to a nice evening..” He hummed, the confidence in his tone conflicting with the look in his eye.
“You can’t be serious..” Shi Qingxuan said, feeling like they were about to lose their minds. “Xie Lian are you really not afraid of this man?”
Xie Lian bit his lip and shook his head, missing how San Lang’s eyes widened in surprise. “Qingxuan, I’m sorry, this must all be terrifying..but I promise you that San Lang won’t hurt us. I know you don’t trust him, but you trust me right?” he asked, knowing he owed Shi Qingxuan a very lengthy explanation.
Shi Qingxuan hesitated, and then their shoulders slumped in defeat. “Lian-ge I swear you’ll be the death of me. But fine, I believe you. However, I have a million questions and I demand they be answered,” the huffed and Xie Lian nodded, chuckling softly.
“Of course. When we get home I’ll tell you everything I can,” he promised and then turned to San Lang, who was gazing at him in a way that brought blood rushing back to Xie Lian’s cheeks. He should stay away. He should turn San Lang down right this moment and never look back, but he his heart was so greedy and try as he might he couldn’t resist the invisible string that pulled him ever closer to the dangerous mafioso.
“San Lang, if it’s alright with you, could you make things up to me tomorrow?” he asked, reaching out to gently squeeze one of San Lang’s hands, minding the blood still coating his knuckles.
San Lang smiled and bowed down slightly as he placed a tender kiss to the back of Xie Lian's hand. “It’s a date, Gege..” He murmured, and Xie Lian’s resulting blush lit up the entire hall.
Notes:
First off all your comments give me life and I read each and every one. You guys are amazing. <3
Secondly, don't think too hard about the logistics of this building lol.
Also, my fingers have developed a mind of their own and type what they want so if there's anything weird let me know lol. I did my best to spell check this chapter, but I don't have the patience to be my own beta reader XD
PS Quan Yizhen will definitely be fine.... Probably (<_<)
Chapter 4: Worlds Collide
Summary:
*Kicks open door and walks in late with starbucks*
'Sup? -(O_O)-\_/
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
When Xie Lian had promised he’d answered all of Shi Qingxuan’s questions, he had meant it. They deserved to know just what sort of company they’d been keeping and if by the end of the night they had decided it would be best to part ways, Xie Lian was willing to accept that. Associating with him had always been an inherent risk, even if he’d been able to live peacefully for nearly eight years now.
He’d been bracing himself for the impending interrogation the moment they had they had stepped out of the club, but Shi Qingxuan had remained oddly quiet and Xie Lian assumed they were processing. He’d let them be. He figured once they’d entered Shi Qingxuan’s apartment the dam would finally burst, but as they finally slumped kicked off their shoes and relaxed in the glorious warmth, they still said nothing. Xie Lian was growing concerned by this point, but Qingxuan had already slipped away to shower and he decided to do the same, hoping afterwards the other would be ready to talk.
Now, freshly showered and dressed for bed, his silk collar secured a little tighter than usual around his neck, Xie Lian found himself sat on the sofa in Qingxuan’s living room and was finally presented with the first question of the night.
“Do you want a sheet style face mask or do you want to try the clay based?” Shi Qingxuan asked, presenting both options out in front of them.
“..I’m sorry?” Xie Lian asked, feeling more than a little lost. Qingxuan gave a dramatic sigh and took a closer look at both options until they seemed to come to a decision all on their own.
“I’m going to give you the sheet mask. Less clean up and I think it’s a better match for your skin type. Need help putting it on?” They asked, putting the jar aside and tearing open the simple paper packaging.
“I..um..I might, but Qingxuan what are we doing?” Xie Lian asked, wondering if he had missed something. “I thought you’d want to discuss what happened at the club.”
Shi Qingxuan waved off his confusion and gave a smile that seemed slightly forced. “We’ll get to all that, Lian-ge, I promise. But right now I need you to sit still. You have a date tomorrow after all, and as if I’d let my best friend go out looking anything less than flawless. You’ll look like a literally god by the time he comes to pick you up,” They said, then pursed their lips when they caught Xie Lian looking awkwardly off to the side.
“Lian-ge..he is coming to pick you up right?” they questioned in a warning tone. “After all he already knows where I live apparently, haha. Which is no big deal. I mean, it’s easy to look people up these days right? So I shouldn’t be surprised a scary mafia man knows my address. Actually I’m flattered,” they joked, as if their fingers weren’t trembling as they unfolded the paper mask.
“A-xuan..” Xie Lian said softly, feeling guilty for being the source of their stress. “I’m really sorry. I don’t know if there’s anything I could have done differently to change things but..”
“No..no no hold on. Not yet. Masks first. Then you can start from the beginning because I still don’t understand why you’re not freaking out. I know Zen is like your default state, but it’s not mine, so I need to get myself relaxed. That means face mask, tea, and then pretending I’m a teenager again at a slumber party,” Shi Qingxuan said firmly, not looking Xie Lian in the eye as they pressed the mask over his skin, taking the time to smooth it out so it sat properly. They then pulled out a similar mask for themselves.
Xie Lian waited patiently as they got settled, wishing he could help, but perhaps sometimes the best thing to do was nothing. He leaned back on the sofa, feeling the cool serum of the mask soaking into his skin. It wasn’t the first time Shi Qingxuan had put products on his face, but it wasn’t a regular occasion either. He had forgotten how nice it could feel.
“Ok,” Shi Qingxuan breathed, their feet outstretched on an ottoman and looking about as relaxed as they could be given the situation. “Okay. I’m ready. Haha, It’ll be like playing twenty questions!” they mused. They finally looked to Xie Lian and raised a hand, holding up a single finger.
“First question: How did you really meet your San Lang?”
Xie Lian was glad the mask covered most of his face as he blushed at the implication that San Lang was his in any way, shape, or form. “Um, well..you remember those thugs from a couple weeks back? They had been looking for someone else and found us instead?"
“Yeah, I remember those jerks,” Qingxuan said, raising their fists and throwing a couple light jabs. “You fought them off like some sort of martial arts master! It was amazing!”
Xie Lian shied back under the praise. “I..yes well..it turns out the person they were looking for was San Lang. And San Lang, as it turned out, had been hiding in the bed of my trunk under the tarp. I ended up taking him all the way back home with me by accident.." He confessed, fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
Shi Qingxuan's jaw gaped and a part of their face mask fell past their lips before they spat it back out. “You’re kidding! So he was back there the whole time and then you just drove off with Mr. Crimson Rain himself? Hahaha, that’s insane! It’s almost like you kidnapped him!” they laughed hysterically.
Xie Lian at this point was starting to wonder if he really had kidnapped San Lang since everyone seemed to make the same assumptions. “I didn’t know he was back there until I was almost home, I swear. And he was a little roughed up so I decided just to take him all the way back to my place rather than turn around and go back to the city. I didn’t mean to kidnap anyone,” he groaned. Shingxuan was lifting their face mask to wipe away tears from laughing too hard.
“Xie Lian I swear only you could get into these kind of situations. You found a mafia boss and took him home like some stray kitten? With you I believe it, but it's still so wild...Oh! So wait, what happened when you discovered him? Wasn’t he mad? Did he threaten you?” they asked, already given up on keeping track of how many questions they were asking in favor of just getting the whole story.
“Well, actually, he was very nice about the whole thing," Xie LIan confessed sheepishly. " I think because he hit his head he might have been a little disorientated at first. He kept trying to convince me that I should try to ransom him back to his own gang, can you believe that?” he chuckled weakly. In hindsight it had been a rather funny joke on San Lang's part. In the end he'd just been asking Xie Lian to ransom him back to himself!
“Did you?” Shi Qingxuan asked with wide eyes and Xie Lian briefly lost track of the context.
“Did I what?”
“Did you try to ransom him? How much money do you think he’s worth? Did he say?” They asked eagerly, crowding into Xie Lian's space.
“What? No! No I could never..I kept telling him I’d think about it, but I was just playing along,” Xie Lian pleaded, wondering if Shi Qingxuan thought him capable of something like that. However, instead of looking pleased at him for doing the right thing (or at least not doing the wrong thing), they gave him a disappointed pout.
“You could use that sort of money, Lian-ge. I’ll have to teach you to be more sensible about these things in the future,” they hummed and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Ahaha..I’ll make sure to consult you the next time I bring home a stray mafioso,” he joked, rubbing nervously at his neck. He supposed he felt relieved that the atmosphere was so light, but maybe that was just him being selfish again. He liked having Shi Qingxuan as a friend and if he really had a choice he wouldn’t want to give that up. He remembered just how much his luck had turned around since meeting the cheerful volunteer at the shelter and he was certain part of that was undoubtedly due to their unrelentless support and encouragement. Without them he might have given up on the world entirely by now, but they had shown him that there was still so much joy to be found in just the little things. He wondered if Qingxuan had any idea how much of an impact they could have on people, even just from a small interaction.
“Okay, okay. Moving on. So when you learned San Lang was actually Hua Cheng, because it seemed that you knew that already, what did you do? Certainly that must have been a little nerve wracking,” they pestered, eyes glued to Xie Lian as if waiting for any little tell that might hint at his true thoughts.
“Well, I was a little nervous, but not for the reason you think. By the time he confirmed who he was I had already suspected he was someone powerful. After he told me I was more nervous for his sake. He seemed far more happy to just hang around helping me on the farm rather than get back to his men. And then his men did show up and..”
“Wait, some of his goons came for him?" Shi Qingxuan interrupted, and Xie Lian watched as the puzzle pieces suddenly clicked in their mind. "Oh my gods. That’s why Ming Yi was loitering in the alley that day wasn't it? Because you kidnapped his boss and he was trying to find him! Oh my god and I had been such a blabbermouth too!” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed, possibly a little too loudly for one in the morning. They slapped a hand to either cheek as their mortification grew. “Oh my god, Xie Lian I’m so sorry! They must have figured out it was you because of what I said! I’m so terrible!” they wailed.
Xie Lian blinked, at a loss for a moment. He had honestly just assumed they had tracked his truck, but it made sense that, if they had known Shi Qingxuan was there that night too, they might have tried to go to them for information. He supposed they were fortunate that Shi Qingxuan was such an easy talker and had been treated to a meal rather than a locked away in a cold dark cell. He bit his lip, trying not to dwell on things that had never happened.
Qingxuan was still sobbing out apologies and Xie Lian reached out for their hand. “Qingxuan it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. I know how you are, you like to talk about your friends. Honestly, I’m glad you did,” he said sincerely, waiting as they calmed themselves down.
Shi Qingxuan gave a soft sniff. “R-really? You’re not upset with me?”
“Not at all. Besides, I’m certain they would have found their boss one way or another. It worked out for the best,” he soothed, not quite sure if that last part was true, but he supposed they still had time to figure that out.
Shi Qingxuan fell quiet and looked down at their lap for a moment in contemplation. “Xie Lian..do you think Ming Yi would have done something to hurt me if I hadn’t been so willing to talk?” they asked quietly, their hand trembling against Xie Lian's.
“Honestly I’m not sure. I would like to say no, but that wouldn't be honest. He..I mean Ming Yi is very loyal to San Lang, and loyalty in the mafia world isn’t cheaply earned or easily thrown away. That’s why I’m glad you told him. While I don't know if he would have done anything, I do know you kept yourself safe by just being honest.”
Shi Qinxuan leaned over, still holding onto Xie Lian’s hand while resting their head lightly on his shoulder. “I suppose bros before hoes applies to all sorts,” they joked weakly, then sniffled. “I think for tonight I just have one more question,” they murmured and Xie Lian gave an encouraging hum.
Qingxuan took a deep breath and gave Xie LIan's hand a nervous squeeze. “Lian-ge…can you tell me why you seem to know so much about the mafia?” they asked and raised their head so that Xie Lian could meet their soft blue eyes. Just with a look Xie Lian could tell they had already guessed the reason. . He swallowed thickly, remembering his promise, and reached a hand up to remove the collar from around his neck.
"I know..because I was part of that world once too.."
————————————————————————————————————————————
“Red or black?” Hua Cheng asked briskly, standing in front of a mirror as compared two different shirts.
“Black. Just go all black. It’s easier to hide blood stains,” He Xuan muttered from his perch in a shadowy corner of the room. It was late afternoon now and he had been hiding from the sun all day like a vampire in order to nurse his hangover. Hua Cheng was fairing mildly better after a long night of drinking. After Xie Lian and his friend had gone home he had found He Xuan drinking alone back up on the third floor and had joined him, knowing the resulting hangover would punish the man far more thoroughly than any beating would. He had even let the man crash in one of the guest beds just so he could enjoy waking up to see him suffering.
Hua Cheng held the black shirt in front of him and decided for once He Xuan wasn’t wrong. He tossed the red one aside and slipped the black one over his muscled torso, making sure to keep just a hint of his tattoos exposed. Apparently his gege had a thing for them, which was honestly too cute. He wondered if he should tell Xie Lian just how far down the tattoos go, of if that would be too much for him. Perhaps he’d wait to see just how the night went first.
“I can’t believe you’re going on a date tonight,” He Xuan grumbled. “You know how ridiculous that sounds? Infamous Crimson Rain..on a date. If I was dead I’d be turning in my grave,” he sneered.
“You’re only saying that because your date literally ran away from you,” Hua Cheng replied goadingly as he pulled out some of his jewlery collection. He eyed a pair of red coral earrings that almost resembled drops of blood for half a minute before deciding to put them on.
“Get over yourself. Not all of us are lovesick fools going around getting the hots for crazy enemy assassins. If he was as innocent as he tries to act he’d have run away too” He Xuan shot back. “Also, why the fuck am I here helping you get ready for this?”
“Because Yin Yu is busy and I enjoy watching you sit in agony. However, I’d advise you to watch your tongue unless you want to watch me feed it to E’Ming ” Hua Cheng replied in an icy tone, cold and smooth. He Xuan promptly shut his mouth, still not stupid enough to test his patience.
Hua Cheng looked to his watch to check the time. He would need to head out soon if he didn’t want to risk running late. He hoped gege didn’t mind the gifts he sent over earlier, wanting to make sure he had something comfortable to wear for the occasion. Then again, if Gege didn’t want to dress up they could go somewhere simpler. So long as Xie Lian had an enjoyable evening he’d be willing to go wherever the smaller man desired.
“You should wear the other necklace to go with the earrings, you half-blind freak,” He Xuan finally said after no doubt filtering through a long list of insults and expletives before landing on something that was the closest to ass-kissing as the lanky thug would ever get.
Hua Cheng hummed approvingly and picked up a silver plate necklace with blood red gems. Fashionable, but intimidating. He only hoped Xie Lian would appreciate the sight.
“I’m off then. I trust I don’t need to remind you of your responsibilities for the night,” he said, meeting golden eyes as he slipped into a long, dark jacket.
“You don’t” He Xuan grunted, reluctantly rising to his feet and following him out into the main living area. He watched quietly while Hua Cheng eyed a row of keys on the wall before finally picking up one particularly shiny set.
“I just put new tires on that one..” He Xuan huffed.
“All the more reason for me to pick it. I’ll see you here at 9am with that report. Don’t get caught,” Hua Cheng warned and with that he made a swift exit while thoughts of a certain angel began to run rampant in his head.
———————————————————————————————————————————
“Remember to text me every hour to check in. You are capable and have permission to beat him up should he be anything less than respectful towards you. And remember if you’re offered wine your limit is two glasses. I’ve seen you at three and you don’t want that,” Shi Qingxuan fussed, hands nervously picking at Xie Lian’s clothes. “I will track your phone if you don’t check in, so keep that in mind. Also I slipped you some condoms so—“
Xie Lian held up a hand, the other covering his bright red face. “Please Qingxuan..I don’t think I can take it,” he said meekly, suddenly far too aware of the two deep pockets on his coat. It had bee delivered today, to his surprise, along with a few other items and a note explaining it was from San Lang.
Wear it if you like it. Trash it if you don’t. I’d be honored to treat Gege to a meal tonight. Dress warmly - San Lang.
Xie Lian had been overwhelmed and had planned to give the far too expensive gifts back, but Shi Qingxuan had taken the bag from his hands and ripped off the tags, saying this was one of the things he needed to be sensible about.
“Besides! These are designer items, Xie Lian! Quality! If you don’t want them, I’ll certainly take them,” they mused and Xie Lian didn’t have the energy to argue.
“Okay okay, I’ll stop nagging. Just..be safe and remember to have a good time. Make him work for it okay? And you can text me to come get you at any time,” they hummed, giving Xie Lian a quick hug. “I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get home.”
Xie Lian gently hugged them back. “Thank you Qingxuan. I appreciate you looking out for me, but I promise I’ll be okay. I’ll do my best to remember to check in. And you’ll be okay on your own?” he asked, feeling a little bad for ditching them especially after last night.
“Pshh, I’ve got wine, chocolate, and the hallmark channel. I’ll be fine. Now go before your date things I’m holding you hostage,” they teased.
Xie Lian laughed and waved and finally exited the apartment to head towards the elevators. He looked at his phone again, reading the message from San Lang letting him know he had arrived. Xie Lian’s heart thrummed with nervous excitement. He had almost thought San Lang had been teasing last night, but this really was a date wasn’t it? He thought of all the romantic movies Shi Qingxuan had shown him and wondered how close to reality those films had been. He thought of flowers, of candles, of holding hands, and most importantly, he thought of how often the couples would share a small little kiss. He blushed brightly, slapping his hands over his cheeks. His thoughts really had grown quite bold recently and he hoped he’d be able to keep his head in check. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass San Lan by having the wrong expectations. Even if it’s just a nice, quiet dinner Xie Lian would be happy with that. It would be enough.
He steeled his heart and mind as the elevator doors opened to the building’s lobby. Out the glass doors he could see a sleek red car and standing in front of it was a tall man with dark, wild hair, wearing a dark suit and carrying a bouquet. Xie Lian’s heart skipped several beats and he was nearly jogging as he hurried to go out and meet him. In his haste, he bumped shoulders with someone coming in from the cold and offered them a quick apology before continuing on his way.
“San Lang!” He cried out cheerfully, suddenly just unable to control himself. He was so happy to see him and it looked like San Lang was the same. The taller man was smiling broadly, his single eye casting a gaze that could only be described as fond.
“For you, Gege,” he murmured, offering out the bouquet. It was a beautifully simple arrangement, composed mostly of white gentians and speckled with little pink flowers throughout. Xie Lian held them to his nose was surprise with just how fresh they were. It was like spring come mid-winter.
“These are beautiful..San Lang is too kind,” he said shyly, clutching the bouquet gently to his chest. “You didn’t have to get me flowers when you’ve already spent so much. The gifts from earlier were already so expensive..”
“I’m just glad Gege liked my present enough to wear it. I hope you know you could have refused. I’m happy just to have an evening alone with you in any state of dress” San Lang murmured softly, looking him over head to toe.
Xie Lian blushed brightly “Ahaha, well..these were such nice clothes and it seemed like you put a lot of thought into it. Shi Qingxuan said it was only proper I let you spoil me. But I’m also just happy to spend an evening with you..and just you” He murmured, fidgeting with the ribbon on the bouquet. San Lang turned his head away, clasping a hand over his mouth for a moment and Xie Lian wondered if he was fighting a sneeze.
“Gege you might just be the end of me,” San Lang murmured and before Xie Lian asked what that meant San Lang had turned and opened the passenger door. “Well, your friend was right about one thing. It is only proper that I spoil you and since we're already so nicely dressed..will Gege let this lowly one treat him to a nice meal?”
Xie Lian took in the earnest look on San Lang’s face and gave a shy nod, biting back a smile. “Since San lang asked so nicely, it would be rude of me to refuse,” he said, and taking San Lang’s hand he let himself be guided into the car. As he settled into the passenger seat and waited for San Lang to climb into the drivers side he found himself starting to think that maybe the movies hadn’t been so far off after all. He grinned, and allowed himself a moment of unbridled joy.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Shi Wudu held his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he walked onto the elevator to take him to the top floor. His hands were too full of gifts to otherwise hold it properly. He waited impatiently as the dial tone repeated over and over until it was finally answered.
“Hi..no I’m still going to see her..no I’m fine just let me talk…. I wanted to tell you that I believe I’ve just seen a ghost.”
Notes:
Lol this is late and I apologize.
Also I will most likely not be posting next week. I need a little time to catch up on other projects and to be honest I felt a little rushed on this chapter and would like to make sure future chapters get the quality attention they deserve.
Thank you all for your patience and all your kind comments! Next chapter will be pretty much all the fluff!
Chapter Text
Hua Cheng tried to keep his eye focused on the road as they drove through the city, but it was hard when the human embodiment of all things beautiful was sitting in his passenger seat idly admiring a handful of flowers as if they were one of the seven wonders of the world. He was almost grateful for red lights now, as they offered him a moment to pause and safely glance over to his right. He couldn’t be subtle about it, not with the eye patch, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when Xie Lian caught him looking.
Xie Lian’s doe eyes seemed to grow impossibly wider before he bashfully bowed his head. “I’m sorry, San Lang, I’ve been quiet haven’t I?” he apologized sweetly. “I’m not very good at this, am I..”
“You’re fine, Gege. You looked like you were admiring the flowers and I was happy just to admire you” he hummed, feeling his chest swell at the fact that the man was wearing clothes he had provided and enjoying to like the flowers he had bought. He had made Xie Lian happy and comfortable and he was certain that he had never experienced a greater joy.
'I really am gone for this man. I’ve wrapped myself around his finger and tied my heart in knots and couldn’t be happier', he thought to himself, looking to the road as traffic began moving again.
“They’re very pretty,” Xie Lian murmured, interrupting Hua Cheng’s internal narrative. “It’s been a while since I’ve been gifted flowers like this.”
Hua Cheng accidentally ground his foot down onto the gas peddle before he caught himself and eased back, keeping their speed closer to the legal limit. “Oh? Has Gege had many admirers?” he asked in a strained tone, trying to sound calm and collected while his mind wondered about potential competition.
Give me names I’ll see they understand how unworthy they were to even stand in your presence..
“I..Well, admirer perhaps isn’t the right word. In any case, I like these flowers more,” Xie Lian hummed, sounding so casual as if he hadn’t just made Hua Cheng’s heart skip several beats. At this rate he might die of a heart attack. Perhaps this is what it meant to be lovesick. Images of He Xuan’s brooding visage mouthing I told you so flashed in Hua Cheng’s mind and he shoved it back into the dark depths where it belonged. Lovesick or not he wasn’t a fool and he wasn’t blinded by his feelings like some prepubescent teen. If anything, with Xie Lian’s presence he felt like he was now seeing the world all the clearer.
Hua Cheng was used to power at this point. With a simple look he could have men crawling like rats, groveling for his scraps one moment and fleeing his wrath the next. He could bring this whole city down in a day if he wanted and if it hadn’t been for Yin Yu and He Xuan he might have already done so multiple times over. He had fought and killed and clawed his way up to the top of this trash heap of an undercity and now all that dross society had tossed aside was his base of power. His to control, his to build up, his to knock down…all subject to his whims. He’d become the monster under the bed, his name whispered like a curse, but as he sat in the dark watching the shadows dance outside his cave he had realize he had forgotten what it had all been for.
And then he met Xie Lian, and now the shadows had weight and meaning and potential. He was cursed with the knowledge of what could be and now there was no going back. It was terrifying.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian called gently and Hua Cheng realized he had zoned out, driving on autopilot. He gave his shining light a reassuring smile.
“Apologies. I’m flattered Gege appreciates my gifts. Though it’s the least I can do to make up for last night,” he murmured, giving a brief glance to Xie Lian’s bandaged hand. Maybe he should have killed that punk after all, but there was still time he supposed, assuming he survived Yin Yu’s interrogation.
“San Lang, you know it wasn’t your fault right? I got myself involved,” Xie Lian said softly, lifting his injured hand and waving it a couple times in demonstration of how well he had recovered so far. “It doesn’t even hurt. Shi Qingxuan took me to the clinic to get it looked at again and the doctor said whoever patched me up did a good job. It’ll be healed in no time.”
“Gege is too forgiving, I feel, but I won’t dwell on it tonight. I want you to enjoy yourself,” Hua Cheng replied sincerely, his anger overpowered by the more immediate desire to simply have Xie Lian smile. “Whatever you desire, this lowly one is here for your pleasure,” he crooned, grinning as Xie Lian began to blush and ramble. He made sure to lock the doors before his flustered passenger could try to escape out into the street.
———————————————————————————
The first thing Hua Cheng had planned for the two of them was dinner. He had booked a private room in one of the city’s best restaurants and had made sure they wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone but the staff waiting on them. There would have been romantic candles, a view overlooking the city, and decadent food..everything Hua Cheng had found during his research for “romantic dates.” All his time and effort, however, would end up being for naught as they never made it to the restaurant.
Half way there Xie Lian had spotted a street filled with tents and lights and milling crowds and had excitedly pointed out. “San Lang look! I didn’t know there was a festival going on. Do you know what it’s for?” he asked, pressing his face up to the glass as he tried to take a closer look.
“It looks like the night market,” Hua Cheng replied, finding it cute how Xie Lian seemed to be unable to contain his own excitement. Suddenly a fancy dinner seemed cheap and he squeezed his hands nervously around the steering wheel. “Would Gege like to stop and have a look?”
“Can we?!” Xie Lian asked eagerly, before catching himself and settling into a more demure posture in his seat. “I mean, I’d like to, but San Lang has already made plans right? I can go some other time now that I know it exists,” he said, picking at his sleeves in a clear attempt to quietly expel his excited energy . It was all Hua Cheng needed to officially throw his plans out the window.
“The night market is unpredictable. The restaurant will still be there tomorrow, but I can’t guarantee the same about the market” he said, spotting a public parking garage up ahead and changing course for it. “I would be a poor host if I let you miss out on a rare opportunity like this.”
He didn’t need to look to his right just to know how much Xie Lian was smiling. His happiness was practically tangible, filling the air around them and pressing it’s way into Hua Cheng’s lungs. It felt warm.
“Have you ever been before, San Lang? There were so many people, it must be popular! I wonder if there are any antique booths. I wonder if I could trade some of the furniture I’ve repaired,” Xie Lian rambled as they walked from the parking lot to the pedestrian street that the market had laid claim to.
Hua Cheng kept close to Xie Lian’s side, answering his questions and listening to him chatter about things he hoped to find. His one eye scanned the crowd while his hand hovered just behind Xie Lian’s back, aching to touch, but holding himself back. He locked eyes with one of the vendors at a nearby booth who gaped at him in shock and recognition. Hua Cheng glowered and with one hand flashed a quick series of gestures. The vendor nodded, scrambled for his phone and then turned away as he made a call. Hua Cheng only watched him a moment longer before turning back to Xie Lian, only to find himself alone in the crowd.
His breath hitched and he swept his gaze around the nearby booths until, to the relief of his racing heart, he spotted Xie Lian excitedly chatting with an old woman who seemed to be selling festival masks. Hua Cheng let out a deep breath and strolled over. Few here would recognize him for who he truly was, but even so the crowd parted before him like minnows around a shark. He made it to Xie Lian’s side easily and gently rested a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
“Oh San Lang! Look at these!” Xie Lian said, eagerly holding up a couple of animal themed mask. One boasted a bold red color and fox like features while the smaller one was white and resembled a winter stoat. “They’re handmade. Do you think the white one suits me?” he asks, holding it up over his face.
It covered only the top half of his face and in doing so seemed to emphasize Xie Lian’s honey-brown eyes and his soft pink lips. Hua Cheng might have stared at his mouth just a little too long before his brain finally processed Xie Lian’s question.
“Gege makes a very cute stoat,” he mused, glad that even with the mask he could tell if the shorter man was blushing. “Did you pick out the fox one for me then?”
Xie Lian shyly handed the red mask over. “Mm..I thought San Lang would make a-a handsome fox..” He replied timidly. Hua Cheng had to look away lest he lost control and devoured the poor man here and now.
“We’ll take both,” he told the woman, who seemed to have been enraptured by the whole exchange.
“Oh! Of of course. I’ll ring you up,” she said, fumbling to write out their receipt. She rattled off a price and Hua Cheng dropped the cash onto her counter before Xie Lian could pull out his wallet.
“San Lang, I want to buy you something too,” Xie Lian protested weakly as he let himself be guided away, his mask now secured comfortably over his face. Plenty of other festival goers were wearing similar style masks so Hua Cheng followed suit, finding no harm in blending in a little.
“My apologies, Gege. I got ahead of myself. Perhaps you’ll need to tie me up so that I behave,” he joked, watching Xie Lian’s blush spill down into the collar of his turtle neck.
'Cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white...'
“San Lang shouldn’t joke like that..I might take you seriously,” Xie Lian said, scratching along the edge of the mask. Hua Cheng almost forgot how to breathe for a second, then sucked in a breath so quickly he began to choke.
“San Lang? Are you alright?” Xie Lian asked in alarm, patting a hand against Hua Cheng’s back to help clear his airway. Hua Cheng waved off his concern, his coughs morphing into laughter.
“You know, Gege, I think I’ve underestimated you,” he chuckled, and before a puzzled Xie Lian could pull his hand back he reached out to grab it, lacing their fingers together. “I don’t have any rope for Gege to secure me with, but perhaps this way works just as well?” he hummed, giving Xie Lian’s hand a small squeeze. “I’ll let you keep me hostage just like this.”
Xie Lian’s mouth hung open in shock, then burst out into a fit of giggles that reminded Hua Cheng of bird song. “You won’t let that go, will you?” Xie Lian laughed, keeping their hands laced as he pulled Hua Cheng to his side. “Very well. I promise I’ll take good care of you this time. You won’t have to worry about concussions at least,” he teased.
“I’m spoiled,” Hua Cheng replied with a grin, his heart thrumming like an engine in his chest. Hands intertwined, he let Xie Lian lead the way. They went from booth to booth and he waited patiently as the brunette examined every little thing that caught his eye. It wasn’t a fancy romantic dinner. There weren’t soft candles, amazing views, or rich food to be enjoyed in a quiet ambiance. It was noisy, chaotic, and messy, and so ridiculously normal that it made him feel like he was watching a movie play out through someone else’s eyes. But then Xie Lian was squeezing his hand, was holding up cheap jewlery to Hua Cheng’s ears to see if they suited him, was asking him if he wanted to split a mantou as if buying two was too expensive, and Hua Cheng found himself diving headfirst into a dream turned reality.
'So this is what she meant,' he thought as his old world crumbled down around him. His cave was gone and now all he knew was Xie Lian.
———————————————————————————————————
Xie Lian was almost dizzy from the whirlwind of energy and emotions that had been raging around him nonstop since San Lang had picked him up a couple hours earlier. This hadn’t been his plan when he had been driving to the city not even two days ago. He had meant to find a way to climb down from the ledge, not throw himself off of it left with no other choice but to fall into San Lang’s arms..and yet here he was. He felt like he could barely breathe and his cheeks hurt from smiling too much and what was he supposed to do with all this energy? It seemed so long as he was in San Lang’s presence it never stopped.
Was it normal to panic from being too happy? He wasn’t sure, and while he was sitting at a small table waiting for San Lang to purchase a couple hot ciders he had sent out a text to Shi Qingxuan asking just that.
[SQX: Babe you have it so bad don’t you? Just kiss the man already! ]
[SQX: Also guess what? My brother is in town! He swung by just after you left as a surprise. Don’t feel rushed to come home tho one day you two will have to meet in person! He’s paranoid I’ve been letting some evil goblin crash in my guest room >_>]
[SQX: Anyway glad it’s going well! Keep me updated or I will ride out to your rescue. Love you! Don’t forget safe sex!]
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he supposed it was good to know he probably wasn’t dying. He was just stupidly infatuated with a handsome man and gods, all of this was just so new. Was this how it was for everyone? Did San Lang feel anything close to this right now? He shook his head, unwilling to dwell too much on that right now. They were having fun, why ruin things by bringing feelings into it? Holding hands was enough, teasing was enough. He didn’t need anything else but he wanted so much more..
He sent Shi Qingxuan a quick reply to assure them that he was safe and that San Lang was treating him well. It was both heart warming and a little worrying to know that his friend really would ride out to his rescue despite knowing how dangerous San Lang was. He looked at the bag sitting on the table in front of him containing a green silk ribbon and a set of earrings that he had bought as a thank you gift and hoped Shi Qingxuan would like them.
“Is Gege getting tired?” came San Lang’s cool timbre as he rejoined him at the table, placing a cup in front of him that smelled like apples and spices. Xie Lian put down his phone in favor of wrapping both hands around the cup, relaxing as the heat soaked into his cold hands.
“Not tired, but I suppose we have been here quite a while. It feels like we’ve been walking for miles,” he joked, looking at the space between them and wondering how bold it would be if he slid over and closed the gap.
“We’ve managed to see most of the market by now at least. Gege found so many interesting treasures. Is there anything you want to go look at again? Or, if you’re satisfied with your haul perhaps you’d like to go somewhere quieter?” San Lang asked, fiddling with the straps of his mask as it now laid resting on the table. It was a side of the man Xie Lian was realizing that not many people got to see. He almost wondered if perhaps he was the only one to see the man act almost diffidently, as if he thought there was a chance he’d be rejected. 'Show me more..,' Xie Lian thought, and quietly shuffled just a little closer.
“Does San Lang have somewhere in mind?” he asked, picking at the cardboard sleeve on his cup with the edge of his thumbnail as his gaze stayed locked on the taller man.
San Lang nodded, lifting his eye to meet him and Xie Lian felt like he might end up swallowed in the depths of that gaze. “Would Gege like to come home with me?”
Xie Lian swallowed thickly, suddenly feeling far more parched, and he gave a couple shallow nods. “Yes..please..” He breathed, and then they were holding hands again, weaving their way back to the car while Xie Lian’s heart pounded like a drum, its steady beat drowning out the world until all he knew was San Lang.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
Waning Moon stared wordlessly at the figure laying out like a starfish on the floor of the cell. Their eyes were closed, and their breathing pattern suggested they were sleeping, and if it wasn’t for the dried blood, split lip, and a myriad of other cuts and bruises, Yin Yu might have described them as peaceful.
He reached up and adjusted the mask on his face, making sure it was secure, and then with both hands upended a bucket of cold water all over their hapless victim. They awoke with a gasp, bright eyes flying open and locking onto the intruder and Yin Yu only had to take a step back to stay out of range of a sweeping leg. The man was bound by two chains secured to manacles on his wrist, limiting his range of motion without making him a complete invalid. Yin Yu had no desire to spoon feed prisoners, particularly this one.
“Why are you here?” Waning Moon asked, watching Quan Yizhen’s eyes furrow in confusion.
“I’ve said before, I’m here to fight,” he answered and behind the mask Yin Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After all these years he really hadn’t changed. More direct questions then.
“We know why you came to paradise manor. Why are you in Yong’an?”
Quan Yizen sat crossed legged on the soaked floor and offered a bright smile as understanding dawned on him. “Oh, because my seniors brought me here! They told me I would be allowed to fight a lot of people,” he said brightly. “Are you a fighter too? Are you as tough as the one-eyed man?” he asked and Yin Yu felt sorely tempted to throw the bucket at his head.
“Is fighting all you think about?” he snapped, glaring as Yizhen tilted his head, looking far too much like a puppy.
“No? I also think about food. And my shixiong,” he said, trailing off thoughtfully.
“Shixiong?” Waning Moon echoed despite his better judgment telling him it might have been wiser to drop it.
Quan Yizhen brightened. “Yes! I’ve been watching Wuxia shows with my seniors. I’ve learned a lot,” he explained and Yin Yu wanted to bang his head against the wall. He could practically picture Yizhen sitting in front to the television watching a ridiculous drama, his imaginary tail wagging all the while. “I’ve been told if I do as I’m told I’ll be able to see my Shixiong again,” Yizhen continued eagerly.
“Is that why you came to Paradise Manor? Because your seniors told you to?” Waning Moon pressed, finding it suspicious that the man seemed to be on his own in the first place. A fighting prodigy he may be, but he was foolishly naive and the word ‘secret’ held no place in his head. Honestly, he was as much a risk as he was an asset.
Quan Yizhen shook his head at the question. “No. They don’t know I’m here. They sent me for groceries and I heard some people talking about a fight club. They didn’t want to tell me about it so I demonstrated how good I was..and now I’m here…” he said, and he almost seemed almost embarrassed about the whole thing.
“Who are your seniors?” Waning Moon asked and Quan Yizhen shrugged.
“I just call them my seniors. I don’t care about anyone’s name but Shixiong’s. Have you met him? His name is—“
“How many seniors are you with,” Waning Moon interrupted coldly. Yizhen blinked, frowning.
“Two,” he mumbled, picking at his trousers. “They said I’m not suppose to talk to people. I’ll get in trouble. If I get in trouble I won’t be able to see Shixiong,” he said, his fists clenching tightly such that his arms began to strain against his cuffs. “I won’t tell you anything more..”
“If I were you I would worry more about yourself,” Yin Yu muttered. “Your shixiong is probably long gone.”
Chains snapped harshly and Yin Yu blinked as those bright eyes were now much closer and burning with a merciless fury. “HE’S…NOT…GONE” Quan Yizhen shouted. “I’ll find him! He wouldn’t have left me, so don’t you dare talk about him like that!”
The two men remained in a standstill as the echos of Yizhen’s anger faded into silence. Yin Yu looked away first, wordlessly crossing over towards the cell door and stepping outside for a brief moment. When he returned he was carrying a tray laden with simple food and a canteen of water.
“You’re scheduled to fight next week. You’ll be provided basic meals until your debt’s been paid. Eat this and then push your empty tray towards the door,” he said, setting it down on the floor and pushing it towards him with one foot. Yin Yu then turned back towards the door, unable to take another second in this cell. He wanted to run. He wanted to scream.
“Wait!” the man called and despite everything Yin Yu found himself stopping in his tracks. He tilted his masked face wordlessly back in Yizhen’s direction.
“…Thank you,” Quan Yizhen said, and Yin Yu stepped out of the cell and slammed the door shut behind him.
Notes:
FLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
But add a little bit of...spice? XD
Chapter Text
After sending Xie Lian off on his date, Shi Qingxuan had been genuinely looking forward to having a quiet evening in just by themselves. They had placed an order for takeout, had loaded up new episodes of their favorite show, and had laid out all the luxury home-spa products they owned. It was going to be relaxing and cute and was exactly what they needed to calm their frazzled nerves from the night before.
“I deserve this because honestly what the heck is my life right now?” they told themselves as they began mixing bath salts with hot water in a small bucket, planning on soaking their feet in it while waiting for their food to arrive. They set themselves up on the sofa, lit a scented candle, pressed play on the remote, and had just slipped their feet into the foot bath when, naturally, the doorbell rang.
“Oh come on!” They cried, slumping back into the sofa and grabbing their phone to give it a quick glance. No messages, so it couldn’t be the food yet and Xie Lian always knocked, so perhaps it was just someone who was lost. Maybe if they ignored them for long enough they would just go away.
The doorbell rang again, and Shi Qingxuan wanted to cry as they paused their show, dried their feet off on a towel, and stomped over to the door. “Yes, hello? Can I help you?” They gritted out with a forced smile as they wrenched the door open, only to find themselves face to face with a pile of wrapped boxes. "What on earth?"
“Really, is that how you greet guests? I’m sure I raised you better than that, Qingxuan,” chastised the gift bearer and in a flash Shi Qingxuan’s irritation was gone and replaced with a mix of shock and joy.
“Wuwu!” They beamed, leaping forward for a hug, but realizing that there was no way to get their arms around the man with all the boxes in the way. “Ge, why do you have so many things? Get in here and put them down and let me hug you properly,” they said, opening the door all the way sand quickly ushering their brother inside.
“Wuwu? Really?” Shi Wudu groaned, placing the pile down on the small table near the door.
“Well it was that or Dudu,” Shi Qingxuan replied cheekily before launching themselves at the taller figure and trapping them in a tight hug. “Gah! It’s been so long! Why didn’t you text me that you were coming into town? When did you arrive?”
Shi Wudu stumbled slightly under the friendly assault, but returned the hug politely and patted their head. “Not too long ago. I wasn’t sure if I would have time for a visit Meimei—“
“Meimei? No Ge, I'm nonbinary so I'm not meimei anymore,” Shi Qingxuan protested. “I've told you this,” they pouted, lightly pounding their fists against his shoulder.
Shi Wudu looked perplexed, then sheepish, casting his eyes off to the side. “Oh, You probably did. I'm sorry I forogt..” he said, glancing to the packages, then at his sibling. “I bought you some gifts, since it’s been a while. I’ve missed a few of your birthdays,” he said, looking so lost and awkward that Qingxuan decided to forgive him out of pity if anything else.
“You really didn’t need to buy so much, Ge. You already keep sending me money every month,” Shi Qingxuan pointed out, though their eyes were already analyzing every box trying to guess what was inside.
“That’s different. That’s family money. If you want me to return these though..” He began and Shi Qingxuan was already grabbing the top most package, clutching it protectively to their chest.
“No no no, I wouldn’t dare be so rude to my dear brother,” they chimed, ignoring the smug look on Wudu’s face. “Anyway, are you able to stay and talk? I have a guest, but he’ll be out for a while. You could join me for my at home spa date! I bet you’ve been on your feet since you’ve arrived. Are you still working for that same company? Are they still running you ragged?” they asked, rambling off questions as they began to move around and tidy up the space to look a little more presentable. As they carried some empty cups to the kitchen their phone beeped with a text alert. They pulled it out to check and snorted at the message. Xie Lian really was such a funny guy. They typed out a response, the distraction allowing Shi Wudu a moment to start answering the slew of questions.
“I can’t stay long, unfortunately. I have a dinner I must attend, courtesy of that company that runs me ragged,” Wudu drawled wearily and Shi Qingxuan didn’t have to turn around to know he was assessing every inch of the apartment visible from the entryway. “But who’s this guest staying with you? A friend?”
Qingxuan rolled their eyes at the inquiry, knowing exactly what Wudu was digging for. “Yes, Ge, just a friend. And I’ve told you about Lian Lian before. He’s crashing at my place for a few days this time but the sneaky little ferret got himself a date right under my nose! Apparently it’s going well too” they said, waving their phone excitedly before slipping it back in their pocket. They hoped that would be enough to ease their brother's worries. If Wudu was like this just towards people they were friends with, they couldn’t imagine how he would react if they met any of the guys they had actually dated.
'Especially Ming Yi--Not that we were actually dating, but Ge would definitely have a heart attack if he found out,' Qingxuan thought wryly.
“Lian..right. Him. Have you ever told me his family name?” Wudu asked conversationally, idly picking up and examining one of the many knick-knacks Shi Qingxuan had laying around as decoration.
“Hmm? I feel like I must have, but if I haven’t then it's probably for the best. Knowing you you’d run a full background check on the poor man before giving him the shovel talk just for being my friend,” they huffed. “I won’t let you bully him, he’s such a sweet heart, Ge. He's the nicest person you'll ever meet."
'If you ignore the fact that he can kick major ass and apparently used to be Mafia too..but Wudu didn't need to know that.'
“You know I just worry. I supported you moving all the way out here for University, but there’s a lot of people who’d take advantage of you me— I mean A-Qing,” his brother said, pausing when a soft buzzing came from his pocket. He pulled out his phone and made no effort to hide the disdain on his face, clearly not pleased with whatever message had just come through.
“Work stuff?” Qingxuan asked curiously, trying to hide his disappointment when Wudu gave a small nod.
“Yes..unfortunately. I wish I could stay longer and catch up properly, but my coworker needs to discuss some things before the dinner meeting."
“Maybe we can meet up another time then? Are you going to be in town long?” Shi Qingxuan asked, walking back over to the door to see their brother out properly.
“With any luck,” Wudu hummed, pocketing his phone and giving them a rare little smile. “How about we schedule a lunch this weekend? If your friend is still here then he should join us too. My treat,” he suggested and Qingxuan gave an awkward little laugh, not sure if that was a good idea or not. On one hand they'd love for their brother to finally meet Lian-Ge and see that he's mostly harmless, at least in anyway that mattered. On the other, they couldn't help but feel that if those two were to meet, something would end up going terribly wrong.
“I’ll pass along the invitation,” Shi Qingxuan conceded, thinking worst case they could just lie later and say Xie Lian left town early. “Thank you so much for coming by and for all the presents. It’s always nice to see my Ge,” they cooed, trying to nonchalantly shepherd him back out the door.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything else before I go? You hardly text me even though you can ask for anything,” Wudu said, hand on the doorknob as his phone buzzed irritatingly in his pocket.
“You worry too much, Ge. I have everything I need! Now go on, you’re going to be late and I don’t want you getting in trouble,” Qingxuan insisted, shooing him along. “I’m looking forward to our lunch date though so don’t forget okay?”
Shi Wudu hummed and gave them a fond look. “I won’t. Enjoy your evening and stay out of trouble for me, alright?” he murmured, finally stepping out into the hall.
“Hahaha, when have I ever gotten into trouble?” Qingxuan laughed, ignoring the millions of examples springing to mind from the past year alone, most of them involving a certain farmer. 'Yeah there was no way Wudu and Lian-ge should ever meet,' They decided, giving a final wave to his brother. They waited until Wudu was long out of sight before closing the door and locking it behind them. They slumped back against it with a weary sigh and then lifted their bright eyes skyward.
“God if you’re listening, I know how I kept going on about wanting a bad boy, but I think I’ve changed my mind. The men in my life are all insane, so when you finally send me my soulmate can you send me someone nice? Still hot, but very normal? Please and thank you,” they prayed, then paused reflectively before returning to their mini spa. Feet soaking, show playing, Shi Qingxuan let all thoughts of men slip from their mind with a blissful sigh and focused instead on the most amazing and beautiful person they knew—themself.
---------------------------------------------
Xie Lian was not unfamiliar with wealth and the spoils that came with it, but after living in abject poverty for nearly a decade he had almost forgotten what it was like on the other side of the tracks.
“San Lang, is this really where you live?” Xie Lian asked in awe as they stepped off the elevator and into the foyer of the largest apartment he’d ever seen. Did it even count as an apartment at this point if it had two floors? He was certain he could fit his whole farm on the first floor alone and the thought made him feel more than a little humiliated thinking back to his own humble shack. San Lang really had been too kind of a guest, though he supposed it had been San Lang himself who had insisted on hanging around for as long as he did.
He felt the presence of the man in question behind him and couldn’t help the small shiver that ran down his spine as two warm hands slipped over his shoulders and helped peel off his outer coat. “I’m not sure if I can claim to live here, Gege. Admittedly most of my time is spent elsewhere, but it is my primary residence” San Lang mused, hanging both their coats up in little closet nearby.
“It’s a beautiful home, though. You must keep it well maintained,” Xie Lian praised, neatly leaving his shoes by the wall before wandering further inside to admire the place fully. There were floor to ceiling windows, gleaming tiles, soft rugs, and a black and silver color scheme with soft splashes of red that made it clear that this was definitely the home of Crimson Rain. “San Lang really does have bold tastes,” Xie Lian mused, thinking it was nice that San Lang really seemed to know what he liked.
“Is Gege teasing me now? How cruel,” San Lang admonished, feigning offense with a fox like grin.
Dangerous Xie Lian’s brain supplied, his eyes lingering just a moment too long on those upturned lips. He forced himself to turn away, pretending to have his focus captured by some abstract looking sculpture. San Lang’s amused laughter brought blood to his cheeks.
“Are you thirsty, Gege? Would you like some water? Or perhaps something stronger?” San Lang offered, slipping into the kitchen and pulling out a couple crystal tumblers. He set them on the kitchen island with a soft clink. Xie Lian weighed his choices, but his nerves had the majority vote. Perhaps a small drink would help put him at ease.
“What do you have that’s stronger?” Xie Lian asked curiously, not particularly knowledgeable when it came to alcohol. On the rare occasions he imbibed he usually just went with whatever someone else had ordered for him.
“Has Gege had whiskey before?” San Lang asked, pulling a small bottle of the amber liquid and holding it up for Xie Lian’s inspection.
“I..I’m not sure, but I don’t think so?” he confessed, thinking he’d remember drinking something like that. If San Lang thought his response to be strange, it didn’t show on his face. Instead the man paused to give this due consideration and then set the bottle down on the counter next to the glasses.
“If Gege trusts me, I’ll think I can help suit it to your tastes. Have a seat. Make yourself at home. I’ll bring it over to you when I’m done,” he said, turning to fetch something from the fridge. Xie Lian left him to it and was all to happy to take a seat on the leather sofa nearby. After hours of strolling the market it was nice to officially be off his feet. San Lang’s sofa was large and cozy and seemed to swallow him like a blackhole. He felt so small and smiled thinking about how ridiculous he must look, like a little white cat curled up in an empty void.
As he waited he let his gaze continue to wander around the apartment, admiring the furniture and the view..but what caught his attention most was a large painting on the back wall. It was of a white flower blooming on a dark hill, while in the background heavy storm clouds loomed. It was raining in the painting-- thick, heavy drops that seemed to land everywhere but on the flower itself, staining the ground even darker. It was hard to tell, and Xie Lian wondered if it was just a trick of the light, but the rain seemed to have a red tint to it. He thought of getting up to take a closer look when he realized San Lang had finally come over to join him, a drink in hand for each of them.
“Try this, Gege..Whiskey on the rocks with a twist,” San Lang hummed, placing the glass in his hand before sitting down beside him.
“Thank you, San Lang. Is the orange peel the twist then? I didn’t realize you could make it curl like that,” he said, delighting in the look of the thing before taking a cursory sniff. He wondered if San Lang made this drink often because the scent seemed familiar. Like oak and spice with a warm citrus undertone. Xie Lian had to quickly bury the intrusive thought that begged him to lean over and check to see if the man beside him really smelled just like this or if it was a figment of his imagination.
“Sip it slowly, Gege. It can be an acquired taste,” San Lang coached, taking a small sip of his own as an example. Xie Lian followed suit. He took a small sip at first, letting the liquid linger on his tongue a moment before it rolled down his throat. His face scrunched up before he could help it and as the burn of the alcohol hit the back of his throat he began to cough.
“Gege?” San Lang called worryingly, reaching out to place a soothing hand on his back. Xie Lian, more embarrassed than anything, waved off his concern, massaging his throat as the coughing subsided.
“Sorry..it’s stronger than I’m used to. The taste isn't bad though,” Xie Lian said, trying to mentally prepare himself for a second sip.
“Gege doesn’t have to drink if he doesn’t like it. I can fix you something else instead,” San Lang offered, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but think that the taller man really did spoil him too much.
“I don’t want this to go to waste though,” he confessed, holding up the still full glass, certain San Lang would just pour the rest down the drain. The other man glanced at it in thought for a moment, then reached out and took it from his hands.
“It won’t go to waste if I drink it then, will it?” San Lang grinned, and before Xie Lian could say anything in protest the shameless man brought the glass up to his lips, pressing them to the same spot Xie Lian's had been just a moment before, and took a sip.
A blush rose from the base of Xie Lian’s neck all the way up to the top of his head and suddenly he felt dizzy. “S-San Lang why would you..I already drank from that?” he stammered weakly, his eyes once again helplessly drawn to that wicked mouth.
“Somehow, knowing you’ve already tasted it has made it all the sweeter,” San Lang purred, his dark eye glinting with mirth. Xie Lian thought he might as well dig a hole and die now because he had no idea how to respond to that. Was the room this hot when they had walked in? Perhaps he should open a window, or just go out onto the balcony he spotted. It would certainly be nice and chilly out there, cold enough to help with a certain issue at the very least.
“Gege?” called San Lang’s voice, sounding just a little concerned, and Xie Lian realized that probably wasn’t the first time he had tried to get his attention. A hand rested on his shoulder and Xie Lian felt his body respond on it’s own. In a flash he had shoved San Lang away and flown down the length of the sofa, where he curled up into a ball of shame and embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry San Lang,” he wailed, hiding his face in his hands if only to save himself from having to look the man in the eye.
“..Gege, why are you sorry?” San Lang asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. He shifted closer, the sofa creaking softly as he moved, but came to a stop a healthy distance away, much to Xie Lian's relief. He wasn't sure how was he supposed to explain his current situation and come out of it looking like a calm, rational adult. Perhaps if he just stayed curled up like this for long enough and ignored San Lang entirely, things would resolve themselves. It seemed like a decent plan, but San Lang was having none of it.
“Gege, if something’s upset you, could you let me know? This lowly one promised you a nice evening and I would be remiss if I couldn’t fulfill that promise,” he soothed, his voice soft and gentle and deep. It reminded Xie Lian of a calm sea. WIth a sniff, Xie Lian peeked out beneath his arm, catching sight of San Lang’s chest and a gentle hand held outstretch, as if he want to touch but wasn't certain if it would be welcomed. 'San Lang really is too good' he thought, wondering how he had been so lucky to meet someone like him. With a deep breath Xie Lian decided he didn't have it in him to brush off the man's worries.
“It’s not something San Lang did,” Xie Lian confessed, slowly raising his head, his cheeks still burning hot. “It’s me..I’m not used to this. I’ve never—I’ve never been on a date before. I've never had the desire to be close to someone like this. Shi Qingxuan showed me some movies about first dates and stuff like that, but movies aren’t reality and in reality I have no idea what I’m supposed to do," he groaned, burying his fingers in his hair and pulling just enough to feel the sting.
A silence lingered in the air after that, heavy and stifling and Xie Lian wondered if San Lang was going to tease him now. He buried his face back into his knees again, waiting for a snort or laugh, but neither came.
Instead, there came a soft sigh as San Lang slumped back in his seat and let his head fall back to gaze up at the ceiling. “Gege, would you believe me if I told you this is a first for me too?” he asked, his confident lilt from earlier replaced with something softer, more vulnerable. It was enough to get Xie Lian to unfurl from his cocoon and cast the handsome, powerful man a look of disbelief.
“Really? You’ve never been with anyone before?” he asked, watching as a splash of pink seemed to dust San Lang’s cheeks.
“No...Not romantically. Sexually, I’ll admit I have some experience but not with anyone that mattered,” San Lang confessed, then turned his head to meet Xie Lian’s gaze. “You matter to me, Gege. I could never treat you so frivolously,” he murmured, his dark eye holding such a wealth of sincerity that it stole Xie Lian’s breath away.
Something clicked inside Xie Lian’s head then, and he realized just how little it all mattered. How could there possibly be rules to follow when it came to something like this? Experienced or not, this moment between them was always going to be the start of something brand new. They were on an uncharted course with no compass, so the thing they could do was simply to take the path they wanted. As Xie Lian gazed into San Lang's eyes, he realized he knew exactly what path he was going to take.
He moved closer and pressed himself into San Lang's space until there was barely a hair's breadth between them. “San Lang said he wouldn’t treat me frivolously…so how would you treat me then?” he asked, body buzzing with nerves as that singular dark eye dipped down to the narrow space between their lips.
“Like a God,” San Lang breathed, and the space between them disappeared.
Notes:
They see me trollin'~
They hatin'~Looks like next chapter might get extra soft and flirty ;)
Chapter 7: To Map the Constellations Across Your Skin
Summary:
There's no plot here.
What are you looking at?
Move along, now (<_<)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Xie Lian had never understood kissing in the past. The idea of pressing your mouth to some else’s simply hadn't appealed to him, though that didn’t mean he wasn't curious. Everyone else seemed to describe it as some life-changing sensation, capable of making your heart race and your mind go blank. Shi Qingxuan even said if a kiss was particular good, because apparently there was such thing as a bad kiss, their legs would turn to jelly. To Xie Lian, it sounded a lot like being poisoned and for a time he had thought he could forever be satisfied leaving kissing for everyone else.
What a fool he had been. Now San Lang’s lips were pressed to his, soft but unyielding, and Xie Lian’s whole world had been set alight with the flames of passion and desire. It was too much and yet he wanted more. As the fire inside his chest grew hotter he chased after the kiss like a man desperate for a single drop of rain. Someone made a noise, low and breathy, and hands found their way to Xie Lian’s hips, tugging him closer. He let himself be pulled, a liquid heat pulsing from his core as he found himself sat astride San Lang’s lap.
Xie Lian’s own hands wandered hopelessly across broad shoulders, unsure of what role to play until San Lang took pity and pulled them into his own grasp. “Around my neck, Gege,” he murmured, guiding Xie Lian’s arms into position. They were so close like this, foreheads pressed together as their breath mingled between them. Xie Lian closed his eyes as his lungs greedily gulped down the oxygen they’d been deprived, quelling his dizziness and allowing a moment to orientate his thoughts. He couldn’t believe he had never done this before, but at the same time he was glad his first experience was with San Lang.
“Gege,” San Lang crooned, nosing against Xie Lian’s jaw before placing a kiss to the delicate skin underneath his chin. Xie Lian’s breath hitched, and his hands clenched tightly onto the back of San Lang’s shirt as a burst of heat bloomed in regions long neglected. “Gege let me worship you,” the man begged in a voice that sent little shivers up along Xie Lian’s spine. “This lowly one promises to be good.”
Xie Lian bit back a whimper, his hips rolling in small circles seemingly of their own accord. He didn’t know what to do with all these new sensations, but San Lang did, and he desperately wanted to learn. “Show me,” he pleaded, cupping San Lang’s cheek to lift his gaze. “San Lang, teach me how to feel good with you..”
San Lang’s eye grew impossibly wide and Xie Lian thought he might drown in it's abyss before the man surged forward for another kiss. It was rougher than before but Xie Lian liked it even more because of that. He felt as if he was brimming to burst, quivering with barely restrained energy. It wanted out, but he didn’t know how to focus it. He almost wished they were sparring instead because at least then his urge to dominate and conquer would make sense. As things were now, if making out was to be compared to sparring, what would it even look like to be the victor? Would he want to win? Or was the possibility of San Lang forcing him to submit even more thrilling? He didn’t know. He eagerly wanted to find out.
The kiss grew more heated and Xie Lian felt like he was at risk of being devoured. Hands slipped down over the curve of his ass and beneath his thighs, eliciting a small squeak of surprise as Xie Lian found himself being suddenly lifted into the air.
“Wrap your legs around me, Gege,” San Lang ordered in a deep, breathy tone like the rumble of distant thunder. Xie Lian did as he was asked, cheeks flushed as the man began carrying him towards the stairs.
“San Lang I can walk..” He protested, but there wasn’t a lot of strength behind it. The fact that San Lang was holding him up so easily had his nerves going haywire and he wondered just what else San Lang could do with that strength of his.
“Let me take care of you, Gege,” San Lang teased, playfully adjusting him in his hold. “It’s no burden to me to carry you. Very much the opposite in fact.”
Xie Lian blushed and hid his face in the crook of San Lang’s neck as they rose up the stairs. His heart was beating out of control. How did San Lang seem so calm when he himself could barely think straight? Xie Lian’s eyes looked to the pale column of San Lang’s neck, eyeing his pulse point and wondering if it would be weird to reach out and touch it, curious if San Lang’s heartrate matched his own. His fingers slowly began inching towards it when he licked his lips and another thought came to mind. If they were both in the mind of going after what they wanted, then surely it wouldn’t be out of line if he just leaned in and—
——————————————-
Hua Cheng was going crazy. He had his angel, no, his God in his arms and was taking him to bed. He didn’t know how far things would go, but he was ready to die happy at any given moment. Though at the very least he hoped that before he met his timely end he could help show Xie Lian the true meaning of pleasure. Images flashed across his mind and Hua Cheng bit the inside of his cheek hard, reigning in his imagination before he made a further embarrassment of himself.
They had reached the top of the stairs when he felt Xie Lian nuzzling into the crook of his neck followed by soft lips lightly brushing over sensitive skin. It made it a little difficult to focus on keeping upright, but he didn’t want him to stop. He wanted his god to take anything and everything he wanted, to use him however he saw fit. He had braced himself for more gentle caresses, at no point considered that Xie Lian would act in any way beyond the shy and timid nature of a virgin. As such, the worldly Crimson Rain had been wholly unprepared for the feeling of teeth biting down onto the side of his neck. His brain short circuited, and it was only by some miracle that when he tripped and stumbled he was able to keep them both upright by twisting his body and crashing backwards into the nearby wall.
“Gege—“ he croaked, fingers digging into the man’s thighs so tightly he was worried they might bruise.
Xie Lian tensed in his hold and then pulled back with a mortified expression. “Ahahaha, San Lang I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did that. That was weird wasn’t it” he rambled, starting to squirm as if he was trying to get away, but the movement seemed to only trigger something more animalistic. A growl escaped Hua Cheng’s throat and Xie Lian froze, pupils growing impossibly wide and..’Oh..he liked that’ Hua Cheng thought, swallowing dryly. He took a deep breath and stood up straight, pressing a chaste kiss to Xie Lian’s nose. “Gege is free to bite, but perhaps wait until we’re on the bed. I wouldn’t want to drop you,” he hummed, watching with amusement as Xie Lian’s brain seemed to take a moment to process the permission he'd been given.
Certain Xie Lian wouldn’t try devouring him again anytime soon he continued down the hall to the bedroom, only letting his frazzled passenger down once they had reached the bed. The smaller man still looked dazed and Hua Cheng couldn’t help but find it endearing. He leaned down to press a soft kiss to the corner of one eye, then slowly trailed his lips over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, keeping things innocent for now as he tried to coax Xie Lian back to the real world.
“Is Gege still with me? I hope this wretch hasn’t caused any offense,” he teased, watching those gorgeous eyes slowly focus on him once more.
“Sorry,” Xie Lian mumbled sheepishly, casting his gaze down to his lap, only for whatever he saw there to make him more flustered. Hua Cheng smirked and lifted Xie Lian’s chin to steal another sultry kiss, letting it last long enough to leave them both breathless.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. I am yours, Gege. Your every word is my command and I'm more than happy to oblige your fantasies. Whether it's kissing or having you swallow me whole,” he murmured in a low tone, not missing how Xie Lian’s breath hitched, only to be released with a soft, heady moan. Hua Cheng sucked in a breath and wondered just what other heavenly sounds he might be blessed with this night.
“Gege said that you wanted this lowly one to teach you,” he said, utterly entranced by that longing gaze that followed him unwaveringly as he lowered himself down onto his knees before his deity. “I'll start simple then. The first lesson is this—we can stop whenever you want, no matter the reason. Do you understand?” he asked, sliding a hand down one leg and gently lifting it so he could peel off a sock, and then repeating the same action with the other foot.
Xie Lian’s cheeks flushed shyly and he gave a small nod, but seemed to be too distracted by Hua Cheng’s slow, reverent movements to answer properly. Hua Cheng placed the foot down and began caressing both of those perfect legs, letting his hands run slowly up and down the long expanse between ankle and knees. “Repeat it back to me, Gege. It’s important that you know this,” he pressed, pulling his hands back just an inch as he waited for a verbal response. The distance ached, but it was enough to coax Xie Lian to finally find his voice.
“We..we can stop whenever I want,” Xie Lian echoed, then cast Hua Cheng a meek glance. “..And that goes for San Lang too right? You can stop when you need to?”
Hua Cheng smiled, wholly endeared to this absolute blessing of a human being, and gave his legs a rewarding squeeze. “Yes Gege. If I want to stop I will,” he promised, though he highly doubted it would come to that. He wasn’t a good person like Gege was and knew that tonight alone he'd likely burn up every ounce of will power simply controlling the beast inside him.
“Now..the second lesson,” Hua Cheng continued, sliding his hands further up until they reached Xie Lian’s thighs, mouth watering as they began to part before him. How he ached to bury his face between them and show Xie Lian just how sinful his mouth could be. ‘Not now..later..’
“Has Gege ever touched himself before?” he asked thickly, continuing his soft caresses as he willed himself to look up towards the heavens to resist his own temptations.
“Y-yes..not often, but I tried it before. I-it was odd,” Xie Lian stammered, very much focused on Hua Cheng’s wandering touches. “I think it might be better with you though,” he added in a timid whisper that had Hua Cheng bowing forward, burying his face against the inside of Xie Lian’s knee to muffle his groan.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian called worriedly, reaching out to card his fingers through Hua Cheng’s inky locks. Hua Cheng gave a weak, manic chuckle and turned his head enough to be able to meet his concerned gaze.
“Gege, you’ll drive me mad saying things like that. I promised you I would be good,” he whined playfully, a desperate play in this battle of will. “Don’t tease me or else I might not be able to hold back,” he cautioned, nuzzling against the fabric covering a soft inner thigh. The hand in his hair stilled for a moment, then slipped down along Hua Cheng’s jaw and lifted his chin.
The look on Xie Lian’s face then was worth a thousand paintings alone. “San Lang is the one whose teasing,” Xie Lian mumbled petulantly. “You said you would teach me. We haven't gotten to the practical lessons yet..”
Hua Cheng gave a toothy grin, turning and pressing a kiss to the palm of that precious hand. “If this lowly hostage is failing in his duties, then he apologizes. Though perhaps Gege could state clearly what he wants from this unworthy servant?” he asked, eyes roving unashamedly over Xie Lian’s form.
“I..I want San Lang to touch me..please,” Xie Lian rasped, slowly retracting his hand. “Show me how to make it feel good,” his god begged and how could any worshiper refuse such a divine calling?
“As you wish,” Hua Cheng growled, then pounced and captured Xie Lian’s lips as he pushed him back onto the bed. Xie Lian gasped as he landed on his back and Hua Cheng took the opportunity to slip his tongue past those perfect lips, moaning as he delved into that wet heat. He teased and explored, coaxing a beautiful melody out from his gorgeous prey until they were forced to break apart for air. He let Xie Lian catch his breath then, trailing lips down along his jaw line and to that sliver of skin above the neck line of the turtle neck sweater, murmuring praise and worship in his wake. As he brushed his lips over a frantic pulse, he couldn't resist the temptation for a little pay back and lightly pinched the delicate skin between his teeth.
Xie Lian gave a soft, strangled noise before throwing his head back to offer more room. Hua Cheng didn’t hesitate to take advantage of such a perfect canvas. He set to work on leaving a mark while his hands began to slip beneath cashmere fabric, ghosting over supple skin as they slipped up and up until--
“Ah, San Lang!” Xie Lian startled, his hands flying to seize Hua Cheng’s wrists and gripping tight enough to bruise. Hua Cheng stilled then, but didn’t pull away. Instead he let his hands rest where they were, rubbing soothing circles with his thumbs until he felt Xie Lian began to relax once more. “It’s alright, Gege..I have them too,” he said, feeling where soft skin was split by rough scar tissue. “Do you want to see mine first?” he asked, lifting his head so he could better observe Xie Lian’s expression.
The man looked conflicted, and Hua Cheng didn’t miss how his eyes darted to the eye patch before quickly looking elsewhere. Hua Cheng clenched his jaw, a nervous tic, and took a deep breath as he rose up so he was lightly straddling Xie Lian’s legs. The grip on his wrists loosened enough for him to pull a hand away and before he could think twice about it he reached up and pulled off the leather strap, revealing the worst of himself in one swift motion.
Xie Lian’s eyes went wide, and Hua Cheng cast his gaze down, shifting his weight so his heart could make a quick escape. Xie Lian did move, slipping out from under him, but that’s as far as he went. Instead of leaving, Xie Lian knelt before him on the bed and reached a tender hand out towards him. Hua Cheng let out a stuttering breath as a felt the feather light touch of a finger, calloused from years of labor, brush over the jagged scar carved beneath a blood red eye.
“San Lang..” Xie Lian breathed, a gentle call that Hua Cheng was too weak to ignore. He lifted his gaze to meet those warm brown eyes and found them void of pity or disgust. Instead, there was awe and adoration, and something more he didn't dare name. Hua Cheng felt his hands began to tremble, wondering how he had managed to lull this perfect creature into his grasps. He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve him.
How could he ever let him go?
“Show me more?” Xie Lian asked, his fingers trailing down to rest over the buttons of Hua Cheng’s shirt. One by one those buttons came undone and the shirt fell away to the floor, landing in a rumpled heap. Blessed hands moved slowly then, following a haphazard path between tattoos and scars and piecing together their sordid tales. Hua Cheng kept himself still, a perfect specimen, while beneath the surface of his skin his muscles quivered with every gentle touch. He ached for more, but didn't dare let his greed get the better of him.
When Xie Lian finally pulled his hands back Hua Cheng might have cried, but his pitiful tears were avoided. He watched as Xie Lian reached for the hem of his sweater and pull it up over his head, revealing inch after inch of tantalizing skin.
A tough life and hard work kept Xie Lian’s body tone, but his brutal past remained carved into his flesh. Across his chest and drifting down towards his stomach was an array of scars, and the first thing Hua Cheng noticed was that a lot of them seemed far too identical to each other and were disturbingly precise. They weren’t the sort of scars one earned in a fight, though Xie Lian had those too..a few jagged marks criss crossing over his chest that were a closer match to Hua Cheng’s own. No, the majority of Xie Lian's marks were thin and narrow, healed to the point where they were only just visible in the dim light, and all Hua Cheng could think of was the fact that whenever Xie Lian had gotten those wounds, he hadn’t struggled.
As Xie Lian pulled the sweater over his head Hua Cheng lifted his gaze, shoving his burning curiosity aside to focus on the present. If Xie Lian wanted him to know his history he would tell him, but for now what he needed from Hua Cheng was to be shown just how much he was desired. And Gods did Hua Cheng desire him, hands desperate to reach out and touch once more, forced to keep waiting like a dog called to heel.
Xie Lian tossed the sweater aside and crossed his arms demurely over his chest, one hand resting delicately beneath the tattooed collar on his neck. Hua Cheng wished he could make it disappear, but if he couldn't do that then he could at least show his angel that he had nothing to be ashamed of. He wanted Xie Lian to know that there was no need for him to hide anything, not from him.
“Gege..may I touch you?” Hua Cheng asked, slowly extending out his hands. “Just like before,” he reassured, waiting patiently for the smaller man to respond.
A nod and a look was all it took for Hua Cheng to place a hand once more on his waist. He gently pulled him closer while the other hand cupped a soft cheek, cradling it as he pressed lips to Xie Lian’s forehead, then his nose, then his cheek, next his lips, and so on, trailing his way downward as he gently laid him back down onto the bed. It was a pilgrimage, with each step just as important as the last. He paused as he reached Xie Lian's chest, bowing his head in prayer as his lips read scripture from an ancient wound. He continued on a little further then, only to stop once more as he came across the beautiful sight of a rosy little bud, pebbled from arousal, and wrapped his lips around it.
Xie Lian responded beautifully, singing out a blissful cry and pressing up into Hua Cheng's touch. One hand came flying to find purchase in Hua Cheng’s dark locks, gripping as if he meant to tug him away, but the pull didn’t come. Hua Cheng took this as permission to keep going and flicked the bud with his tongue, reveling in the sweet sound blossoming from angelic lips.
“S-san Lang that feels..it feels odd..” Xie Lian moaned, turning his head to the side and throwing a slender arm across his eyes.
“Odd in a good way, or bad?” Hua Cheng mused, slipping a hand up to caress the other nub with a rough thumb, wondering if he could come just from the noises Xie Lian was making.
“Mn, good—it’s good,” Xie Lian stammered, squirming beneath the teasing touches. “San Lang what do I do?”
“Enjoy it, Gege. Don’t hold back. I’ve got you,” Hua Cheng promised as he turned his attention back to that sensitive little nub. He continued to tease it with tongue and teeth while he rolled it’s twin beneath his thumb, then switched to ensure both sides got fair treatment. He let out a moan of his own as Xie Lian pulled at his hair, the sting a welcome reminder of just who was meant to be enjoying this.
He pulled away a moment later and admired the fruits of his labor, two tender looking buds red and wet, gleaming in the soft light. He licked his lips and glanced up at the very flushed face of his god as he panted for breath, one arm still draped across his eyes as if to hide from the world. Hua Cheng reached a hand up to remove it, revealing in the erotic sight underneath.
“Beautiful,” Hua Cheng breathed, doubting even with his artistic skills he could replicate such sensual beauty. Xie Lian met his eyes with a teary pout and gave Hua Cheng’s hand a questioning squeeze.
“Why did you stop?” Xie Lian asked, sounding so pitiful that for a moment Hua Cheng was torn between amusement and begging for forgiveness.
“I thought you didn’t want me to tease you,” Hua Cheng smirked, watching with delight as the flustered farmer squirmed beneath him.
“Gods, please San Lang..I’m so..I need to..I want you to—“ Xie Lian babbled desperately and Hua Cheng took pity on him, sitting back on his knees and sliding his hand teasingly down towards his groin.
“Gege wants me to touch him here?” he asked coyly, grinning as Xie Lian gave a frantic nod.
“Please,” Xie Lian begged, pressing his hips up towards him.
Hua Cheng flicked open the button on Xie Lian’s pants, licking his lips as he pulled down the zipper at a excruciatingly slow pace. “Does Gege want me to make him come?” he asked, slipping Xie Lian’s pants and underwear down enough to finally free his cock, his own throbbing in sympathy.
“Yes,” Xie Lian cried, reaching down to touch himself, but Hua Cheng grabbed his wrist before he could make contact. The look Xie Lian shot him made Hua Cheng momentarily fear for his life before a jolt of arousal hit him so hard he nearly came right then.
“Fuck..let me, Gege, please,” he prayed, slipping a hand down to grip Xie Lian’s weeping length. He only managed a couple strokes before his hand was seized in another tight grip, keeping him still. Hua Cheng gave him a puzzled look, waiting as Xie Lian took a moment to collect himself.
"Together..I want to feel good together. With you," Xie Lian panted, flicking his eyes down towards where Hua Cheng's pants sat low on his hips.
"Gods, are you sure Gege?" Hua Cheng asked, pulling his hand back as Xie Lian loosened his grip. The smaller man gave a demur nod, reaching to give a light tug at Hua Cheng's belt.
"Please," he whispered, batting his honey brown eyes and Hua Cheng was gone. A moment later all their clothes were strewn discarded on the floor as the pair kissed on the bed, tangled in each others grasp.
"Gege," Hua Cheng groaned, wrapping a single hand around both their weeping lengths and pressing them together. "You're doing so well, Gege. You're so close," he encouraged, mouthing along the side of his neck, wondering just how many marks of his own he could leave behind before the night was through.
Xie Lian rutted up into his fist, fingers digging into the meat of his shoulder as he struggled to hang on in the throes of pleasure. "San Lang! Ah San Lang please," he cried, reaching his own hand down to join him. It didn't take much more after that. With a final cry Xie Lian came undone, spilling himself over their joined hands and Hua Cheng followed right after.
The two men laid collapsed side by side in the aftermath, catching their breath while their mixed seed cooled over sweaty skin. Hua Cheng recovered first, taking Xie Lian's soiled hand and bringing it to his lips, licking off the salty residue.
“That's dirty, San Lang,” Xie Lian gawked, watching as Hua Cheng wrapped his lips around his thumb to clean it off.
“Not dirty," Hua Cheng hummed, eyes glinting mischievously. "You taste amazing, Gege," he teased, enjoying just how pink Xie Lian's face could get. "Did it feel good?" he asked after a moment, nuzzling into Xie Lian's now clean(er) hand.
Xie Lian nodded shyly, gently brushing his thumb across Hua Cheng's cheek. “It..it felt really good, just like San Lang promised,” he said and Hua Cheng was certain he could have purred in satisfaction.
“I’m glad this lowly hostage could provide,” he chuckled with a fond gaze. "Would Gege like a shower? After we're both cleaned up, we could go down and watch a show? Unless you have a curfew I'm not aware of?" he mused with a cheeky grin.
Xie Lian giggled softly and shook his head. “No curfew. I’ll stay until San Lang kicks me out,” he replied in an equally playful tone.
“Gege would be here a while then,” Hua Cheng joked, squeezing his hand as his heart did somersaults in his chest. “I’d keep him here forever if he let me."
“Haha, forever might be too long, but maybe for the night?” Xie Lian asked, looking up with a hopeful expression that made Hua Cheng realize just how soft he was for this beautiful man.
He leaned in, pressing a light kiss to ruined lips. "Mn..I'll keep you for the night then," he whispered, wondering when was the last time he had ever smiled this much. His cheeks ached, but he couldn't make himself stop. Maybe he didn't need to. Perhaps, tucked away in this corner of the world, pressed up against the man who had so effortlessly dominated his heart and soul, it would be acceptable to allow himself a night to just enjoy how it felt to be truly happy. Later, as they sat curled up on the sofa watching a rerun of some baking show, Hua Cheng wondered if this was what it felt like to truly be home.
Notes:
Everyone's feral screaming in the comment section last week gave me life XD
Love you all!
Also I am so brain dead so hopefully this chapter reads as well as zombie me thought it did.
Chapter Text
It was 9 AM on the dot as He Xuan stepped into the elevator to take him up to the penthouse and he was in a foul mood. He was tired, hungry, and pissed off that all his messages had seemingly been ignored.
'That half blind fucker really did have some nerve' He Xuan thought, clenching his hands into fists at his side. He was debating the risk of adding more to his debt when a cold nose brushed against the back of his hand. He cast a scathing glare down at the offender.
“Don’t even start. You had one job to do and you slipped up big time. And for what? A grimey hot dog? Should have left you behind,” He Xuan groused, refusing to be wavered by his stakeout partner’s innocent expression. Sitting beside him tall and proud and gazing up with one baleful eye was E'ming, a large, black mutt that Yin Yu had theorized was at least part malinois, if the dogs physical features were anything to go by.
They had acquired him as a pup after disrupting an animal fighting ring run by the Green Lanterns. He had been a runt back then and already missing an eye, but when Hua Cheng had strolled through the kennels it had been the only one who hadn’t cowered from them. In fact, the pup at launched a rather ferocious attack on Hua Cheng’s boot. The merciless mafia boss had picked the puppy up by the scruff and then, to everyone’s shock at the time, tucked it under one arm and ordered Yin Yu to locate a trainer. Years later the dog was fully grown, highly trained, eager to please, and yet somehow the most chaotic creature He Xuan had ever dealt with.
‘Or was the most chaotic creature,’ He Xuan thought dryly, shuddering at the dark memories of hooves and horns.
The elevator doors opened up and He Xuan gave a release cue. E'ming took off like a shot into the apartment while he moved to the small closet to strip himself of his coat and shoes. He had barely opened the closet door when he heard a sharp yip followed by a startled cry and then the sound of a body hitting the floor. He Xuan’s eyes went wide, then darted to the elevator to consider a quick escape.
That definitely hadn’t been Hua Cheng crying out in surprise. And that certainly wasn’t only Hua Cheng’s coat hanging up in his closet. The fearsome Crimson Rain didn’t have regular guests and really there was only one possibility as to whom he had just released E'ming onto. He was so dead.
He Xuan began inching towards the elevator and jabbed repeatedly at the call button when a cold chill raced down his spine.
“Going somewhere, Blackwater?” Hua Cheng greeted, letting the pseudonym fall from his tongue as if it was worth less than the dirt on his boots.
He Xuan clenched his fist and gave himself a moment to collect himself. If fleeing wasn’t an option than he needed to be ready to fight. He couldn’t give the bastard any advantage that he didn’t have already. He turned, eyes sharp and tongue loaded with vitriol when a bright burst of laughter rang out from the living room.
'Oh thank fuck he hasn’t been maimed..'
“San Lang he’s so cute! What’s his name? Is he yours? How old is he?” asked a soft voice laced with giggles.
He Xuan watched as the murderous gaze in Hua Cheng’s eyes..'Wait, eyes?' He Xuan blinked, gazing at the bright red pupil and trying to remember the last time he’d seen the man without his security eye patch. He pointed to his own eye and raised a brow in question. Hua Cheng simply sneered and turned away from him. Well at least it didn’t seem like his head was on the chopping block anymore.
“Gege should shove that mutt away. E'ming knows better than to jump on guests without being told,” Hua Cheng lied before barking out a harsh command. He Xuan followed him into the main area, admittedly a little relieved that instead of a blood bath he simply saw the brunette sitting on the living room floor, scratching E'ming behind the ears with the biggest smile.
“What a good boy,” Xie Lian praised, ruffling E'ming’s coat and laughing as the dog’s tongue lolled out happily. Hua Cheng let out an annoyed tsked and that’s when Xie Lian finally looked up at the two men, his smile becoming a little more strained when he caught sight of He Xuan.
“Oh, hello. Sorry, San Lang had mentioned you’d be coming. I was just on my way out,” he said politely, standing up and brushing off his trousers. E’ming began circling him like a four legged moon.
“There’s no rush, Gege. You can take your time,” Hua Cheng reassured. He Xuan cast him an irritated look, but decided not to protest. If Hua Cheng was going to drag this out then he might as well take advantage.
“Yeah, no rush,” he muttered. “I’m raiding your kitchen. I’m fucking starved,” he griped, walking as briskly as he could to put some distance between himself and three weirdos.
“Oh! There’s some left over congee on the stove if you want,” Xie Lian suggested, instantly earning himself a point in He Xuan’s book. He thought he heard Hua Cheng starting to protest, but he ignored him, making his way over to the pot on the stove and lifting the lid. He took one look, blinked, then slammed the lid back on and whipped his head around.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, feeling like he had been played. Hua Cheng looked amused enough while the brunette tilted his head innocently to one side. 'Seriously, this guy was an assassin? Did he specialize in poisons?'
“It’s congee? It’s a special recipe! I added coffee grounds for flavor! And some peppers. There were tomatoes too, but I’m not actually sure what happened to them..” He said, putting a thoughtful finger to his chin. For the life of him He Xuan couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or not. Whatever that thing in the pot was, it definitely wasn’t congee and there was no way it was edible. In fact, he was certain it had been trying to escape before he had put the lid back on.
He leveled a gaze with Hua Cheng, who was giving him a challenging look, and he decided today was not the day. “I just remembered I’m allergic to tomatoes,” He Xuan gritted out and then made his way to the fridge, relieved to find normal looking food in there.
“Don’t mind him, Gege. He’s always had poor tastes,” Hua Cheng hummed.
“It’s alright. I know my cooking is unique. Oh, are you putting your eye patch back on now?” Xie Lian asked curiously, his voice growing more distant as he followed Hua Cheng to the elevator.
“The sun is out today and this eye is rather sensitive to the light,” the mafia boss explained, and He Xuan couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation that followed. He figured Hua Cheng had climbed into the elevator to escort Xie Lian out. Fine by him. Now he could eat in peace, or so he thought. E'ming padded into the kitchen, annoyingly trying to nose his way into He Xuan’s space and beg for a scrap of food.
When Hua Cheng finally returned He Xuan was already at the table with his miniature feast. He didn’t pause his meal even as the man sat down across from him, crossing one leg over the other. In fact he began to eat a little faster, determine to devour as much as he could before it was either taken away or his appetite ruined. E’ming wiggled over to Hua Cheng, tail wagging as he was rewarded with some light head scratches.
Neither man spoke and the silence was starting to sour his breakfast. He realized it would be up to him to get the conversation rolling. He swallowed what was in his mouth and decided to open with his most pressing issue.
“Did you really eat what was in that pot?”
Hua Cheng chuffed, leaning back in his seat. “Of course. Gege made it after all,” he replied as if it was the only obvious choice.
He Xuan resisted the urge to gag, stuffing his mouth to allow the taste of real food to stop him from imagining just what that goop must taste like. “You’re some fucked up monstrosity, you know. Do you even have taste buds? Or did they rip those out when they apparently failed to take your eye” He Xuan jabbed, wanting badly to press the man’s buttons now.
Hua Cheng gave a cocky little smirk and shrugged. “Don’t talk like there’s anything worse than the gruel we used to dig out of the dumpsters. Anything Gege makes is heaven compared to that.”
“Seriously? That was so long ago. I get you’re completely gone for that guy, but I didn’t realize it was possible for you to somehow become more insane,” He Xuan grunted. He looked down at the food on his plate, grimacing as the dregs of those memories killed his appetite. What a waste.
“Enough. I might be in a good mood, but my patience is still limited. Tell me what you found out,” Hua Cheng ordered, shooing E'ming off and sitting up taller in his seat.
He Xuan rolled his eyes and pulled out the camera he had taken with him last night on his recon mission. He queued up the photos, then slid the device across the table. “Here. Yin Yu’s intel was solid. Saw these two enter one of Qi Rong’s favorite little clubs. The little prick himself arrived almost an hour later with his usual entourage.”
Hua Cheng hummed, scrolling through the photos. “Were you able to plant any bugs inside?”
“A few, but there must have been another room that I missed. I didn’t pick up anything interesting on the audio. At least, not while they were still in the bar.”
Hua Cheng raised a brow, waiting for him to continue.
“When Qi Rong’s guests finally left I planted a bug on E'ming and had him follow close enough to listen in, that is until he smelled hot dogs from an all hours vendor and decided that had higher priority,” he explained, giving the furry scoundrel a cold side eye. E’ming licked his chops, still gazing longingly at the food on the table.
“Don’t waste my time with trivial complaints. What did they talk about?” Hua Cheng asked tersely.
He Xuan leaned back and met Hua Cheng’s impatience with a smirk of his own, knowing what he said next would get the man excited. “They were talking about organizing a ghost hunt.”
A dangerous, wicked look bloomed in that dark eye as Hua Cheng gazed down at the photo showing the men in question. “That little cockroach thinks these two pricks can help take me down, does he? Though it’s not like him to seek aid. Maybe its the other way around. Either way they’re all useless idiots,” he sneered darkly. “Have we confirmed their affiliation yet?”
“Not yet. Yin Yu only pinged me half an hour ago. He wants to meet at the garage once we’re done here.”
Hua Cheng hummed and passed the camera back over. “Fine then. Clean up your filth when you’re done emptying out my kitchen. I’ll just tack on the cost to your debt, shall I?”
He Xuan nearly choked. “Asshole! This is what you owe me for pet sitting!”
“Is it? I don’t remember making such an agreement,” the bastard shrugged and He Xuan had to resist the urge to spear him through with a chopstick.
“Tch! Whatever, but the mess on the stove wasn’t me so you can clean that up yourself! That is if it doesn’t try to eat you first,” he snarked, his appetite back if only as a means to quell his anger.
Hua Cheng only gave an amused look as he rose up and made his way to the kitchen, E'ming trotting at his heels. He Xuan watched first in confusion, then in horror as he lifted the lid, scooped out a small bit of the mystery goo, and then swallowed it in one bite. “Fucking lunatic” He Xuan breathed, waiting for him to fall over. Unfortunately the demon of a man appeared entirely unaffected.
He offered some to E'ming next, who happily licked it up and then sat neatly to try and beg for more. Curiosity and disbelief overrode He Xuan’s rationality and he found himself stomping into the kitchen and grabbing a spoonful for himself. Pride somehow on the line, he glared at Hua Cheng as he took a bite. He was ready to spit it out in the man’s face if it was too vile to swallow, but he never got the chance. As soon as the brown sludge touched his tongue alarm bells rang out in his head and his whole system went into shock. The last thing he recalled was Hua Cheng’s stupid mug looking down at him before everything finally went to black.
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Yin Yu was parsing through the audio recordings He Xuan had sent him last night when the garage’s roll up door rumbled to life. His eyes flicked briefly to the security feed, then back to his primary monitor, continuing on with his task. A few minutes later He Xuan stumbled through the door, dropped his gear bag, and then shuffled a few feet over to fall face first down onto the sofa.
Yin Yu frowned, wondering if the man was injured somehow, but before he could bother going over to check Hua Cheng stepped inside, looking entirely unperturbed. E'ming entered behind him and made a quick loop around the room before jumping up on the sofa and laying heavily across He Xuan’s back. Blackwater, surprisingly, made no move to shove him off.
Yin Yu looked to his boss with a raised brow.
“Ignore him. Glutton apparently has a weak stomach,” Hua Cheng said plainly. He Xuan grunted out some sort of retort into the cushions and Yin Yu decided he really didn’t need to know. Instead he got up to go grab the camera so he could start uploading the images onto his computer. As he worked he felt hyper aware of Hua Cheng tracking his every movement. He really couldn’t blame him for being suspicious, as inconvenient as it was, but it did mean he would have to work a little harder to prove his loyalty.
“So..Did our guest have anything to say?” Hua Cheng asked, his tone like the warning rattle of a snake hidden in the grass. Yin Yu took a calming breath.
“Unfortunately not much. I know he’s a heavenly official and he’s here with two more senior members, but he’s just hired muscle in the end. If they’re here with a plan, he wouldn’t know any specific details,” Yin Yu said, certain that even if they had told Yizhen any specific details they would have gone in one ear and out the other. He opened up the first few photos and found himself entirely unsurprised by what he saw. Two men he hadn’t seen in years standing outside a sleezy strip club, one looking far more at home than the other. 'Of course it would be them,' he thought wearily.
“Do you recognize them?” Hua Cheng asked, as if he couldn’t already tell.
Yin Yu swallowed, the tattoo around his wrist stinging with old memories best forgotten. “The larger man on the right is known as The General. The other is called The Tyrant. They’re two of the most senior officers in the Heavenly Court, only taking orders directly from White No Face himself.”
And Quan Yizhen is here on a mission with them..that idiot..
“I guess that means they got our message then,” Hua Cheng mused, grazing his fingers across the shaven side of his head, a casualty of the fire getting a little too out of control. “He Xuan overheard them planning a ghost hunt.”
Yin Yu nodded as that too came as no surprise. “White No Face likely isn’t keen on wasting more resources, so he sent these two to try to persuade the city’s most powerful to his side. I suspect they want to use Qi Rong’s crew as fodder to incite a gang war. Doing so could push the city’s law enforcement to act against us and weaken our control.”
“You sound certain about that,” Hua Cheng observed.
Yin Yu shrugged. “He’s done it before. White No Face used the exact same strategy when he took over Wuyong. He created a war between two families, then swooped in like a white knight to end the violence. The city handed itself over thinking he was their salvation, not aware that they were only throwing themselves out of the fire and into the spider’s web.”
Hua Cheng clicked his tongue in irritation and furrowed his brow in thought. “Put out our crawlers. I want to know if that rat took the bait. What else do we know about the two interlopers?”
“The General is also known as Pei Ming. Notorious for his fighting abilities and his, um, voracious sexual appetite. The Tyrant is Shi Wudu. He’s responsible for managing the Heavenly Court’s major business dealings, both on and off the record,” he replied. Behind him He Xuan stirred on the sofa, forcing E'ming to relocate.
“..did you say Shi?” He Xuan asked, sounding a little more alert. Yin Yu sighed and cast a look over his shoulder. He supposed it was best to lay everything out on the table now. He pulled up a different file on his computer and moved out of the way so both could see.
“I did my research into Shi Qingxuan after your first interaction. There are no records connecting them to Shi Wudu and anyone who didn’t care to dig deeper might have just assumed their names were coincidence. However, Shi Qingxuan’s records are falsified. Birth certificate, family history, school records..all fake.”
“Seriously? How?” He Xuan asked, and Yin Yu could see him struggling to picture the perky little brunette being involved with anything shady enough to demand a fake identity, especially given how they reacted after finding out He Xuan was mafia.
“I’m not sure. We had more pressing issues to deal with, so I stopped digging, but creating a fake paper trail would have required a lot of money.”
He Xuan gritted his teeth, glaring at the screen. “Does Shi Wudu even have any siblings?”
“If he does, I haven’t been able to find any official records of them. From my time as an official I only heard rumors that Shi Wudu’s family been wiped out, and that Bai Wuxiang had offered him a path to revenge” Yin Yu explained, knowing it didn’t offer any answers. He Xuan frowned and furrowed his brow, seemingly deep in thought. Yin Yu let him be and turned his attention back to Hua Cheng, who also seemed to be reevaluating Shi Qingxuan’s threat level.
“Yin Yu, send out the order to have the Green Lantern’s movements tracked and reported back to me. After that, I want you to dig more into the Shi’s. I want to know if they’ve ever come into contact with each other,” he said, rising to his feet. “Blackwater, get up. We’re going to Paradise Manor.”
He Xuan blinked and shot the man a suspicious look. “What? Why?”
“To set some bait. I want everyone to know I’ll be at the fights next week and accepting challengers. You’re going to spar with me for practice today.”
He Xuan blanched. “Fuck no. I don’t wanna—“
Hua Cheng glared hard, cutting him off. He Xuan stood his ground. “I’m already dying. Take Yin Yu instead!”
Yin Yu made a determined effort to not to look up, pretending to be highly focused on typing out an encrypted message to his most reliable informants.
The two men continued their argument silently until He Xuan finally gave in. “Fine! But I want 10% off my debt!”
“3%” Hua Cheng countered.
“Done,” He Xuan gritted out before storming down to the car.
Yin Yu didn’t look up until he heard the sound of the garage door closing once more. He slumped in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. He had a lot of work to do, but at least he was still trusted to do it and allowed to work in peace and quiet. A whine came from behind him and Yin Yu wanted to smack his head on the keyboard. “Those bastards left me with the dog,” he groaned, turning around to see a pitiful looking E’ming, lying on the floor with his head between his paws. He perked up as soon as he realized he had Yin Yu’s attention. Yin Yu sighed and got up to go find the dog some food, repeating to himself that things could be so much worse.
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He Xuan had contemplated death a few times in his life. Once when he was 12 he considered ending it after realizing he had been the only member of his family to survive the blaze. He considered it again when he was 15 and following a crazy, eye-patch wearing kid around Yongan’s underground, both of them barely managing to survive the day-to-day. And now, in the present day, he toyed with the idea of an eternal sleep once more as he laid flat on his back, every part of his body wailing in pain, while his torturer lazily prodded at him with his boot.
“You’re out of shape,” Hua Cheng commented dryly.
“And you’re out of your damn mind. Go fight someone else,” He Xuan muttered, doubting he could go another round even if he wanted to. They had been at it almost the whole day, save for a few hours where the leader of Ghost City had had no choice but to oversee some meetings.
Hua Cheng pursed his lips, apparently giving this some due consideration as he looked around the room for potential new victims. They had drawn quite a crowd, which was good, because if the lower dregs of Ghost City were good for anything it was spreading gossip. Word would get out that Hua Cheng was preparing for the fights, and that word would no doubt reach Qi Rong, which was exactly what they wanted. Everyone and their mothers knew that the egotistical freak wouldn’t be able to resist the chance to put on a show, especially if it came with the opportunity to humiliate Crimson Rain himself in front of his own men. Naturally, Qi Rong would fail and they would use the opportunity to squash out the Green Lantern’s for good.
It was almost embarrassing that such a simple plan was nearly guaranteed to succeed to the point that He Xuan had asked why they hadn’t done so sooner. Hua Cheng had merely shrugged and replied that he simply hadn’t wanted to get his hands dirty up until now.
He Xuan flopped over onto his stomach and began crawling away as the crowd began to all but prostrate themselves at Hua Cheng’s feet.
“Chengzu! Chengzhu! I’ll spar with you! You can pummel me into the ground as much as you’d like!”
“Chengzhu, please drink this! You need to stay hydrated!”
“Chengzhu, do you need a massage? My sister is one of the best!”
“Chengzhu, use me as your towel!”
He Xuan finally escaped off to a quieter corner, glad that the crowd was at least keeping the madman distracted. He closed his eyes, wondering if he could steal just a few minutes of sleep when his phone began ringing. He ran through every curse word he knew, debating just ignoring the call entirely, but suspected it was likely Yin Yu. He sighed and pulled the phone out of his pocket, not caring to look at the screen before he answered.
“You better have some good news for the Chengzhu,” he drawled, the last word drenched with sarcasm.
“Chengzhu? Who the hell is that?” replied not Yin Yu, but Shi Qingxuan. He Xuan blinked, then cast a glance at the caller ID to confirm that it really was Qingxuan calling from their own number. He brought the phone back to his ear.
“What the hell? Why are you calling me?” he asked, suspicions starting to rise. They had made it clear they didn’t want anything to do with him, so what had changed?
“Hahaha, yeah funny story. Um..so you know how you’re well, uh, of the shady variety? And I was like “no thank you” and ran away? Are you mad at me about that?” they asked, their voice sounding a little shaky.
He Xuan frowned. “Why would you care what I think if you want nothing to do with me?” he replied shortly, boosting up the volume a bit. In the background on Shi Qingxuan’s side he could hear the familiar ambient noise of a car being driven and he wondered just what they were up to, not that it mattered to him
Shi Qingxuan sniffed, and He Xuan winced, really hoping they weren’t going to start crying. He considered hanging up for just a brief moment before Shi Qingxuan spoke up again. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I know I said that but I didn’t know else to call. It all happened so suddenly and well, Xie Lian claims your friend was really nice so I just thought— Look, I really need your help. I promise I’ll never ask for anything again and owe you a million favors and I won’t tell anyone you’re Mafia and if you wanted a kiss that’s fine too cause, I mean, you’re still really hot and honestly this is all so confusing and—“
“Qingxuan!” He Xuan barked, breaking the other off their tangent. “Just tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Qingxuan sucked in a shaky breath as they tried to steady their nerves. “…t-they took Lian-ge. We were leaving dinner and heading to the car when these goons came out of nowhere and grabbed us. Xie Lian was fighting them off, but then I fucked up and distracted him and it’s all my fault Ming Yi. We have to get him back, but following this van is harder than I thought—shit!”
He Xuan blinked as the sound of squealing tires and angry horns blared through the call and something strange began to weigh down on his chest, as if his lungs were being pressed in a vice.
“S-sorry. Some assholes don’t understand driving, am I right?” Qingxuan joked weakly.
“Qingxuan where are you right now? What did you mean by following the van?” He Xuan asked, knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“What do you mean? I’m following the van they took Xie Lian in! They’re taking him to a secondary location Ming Yi! Secondary locations are never good! We got to stop them before they do something awful! Oh wait, let me share my location with you,” they said, and He Xuan’s phone pinged as a notification came through.
“You idiot! Stop following them! You don’t know what you’re doing,” He Xuan barked, knowing he was drawing attention to himself. He caught Hua Cheng’s gaze through the crowd and nodded at him to come over.
“I have to do something! Xie Lian’s my best friend!” Shi Qingxuan argued. “And if you don’t want to help me that’s fine, but you should at least let your friend know. He seemed to really like Xie Lian so he’d help right?”
“I never said I wouldn’t help,” He Xuan snapped, startling himself. He realized he actually did want to help, not for Xie Lian’s sake, but for Shi Qingxuan’s. Why though? He shouldn’t care. He didn’t care. He pinched his brow and took a deep breath.
“Look, you need to fall back. If they haven’t noticed you already they will soon. Tell me about the men who attacked you. Did you see their faces? Was there anything unique about them?”
“They wore demon masks, so I couldn’t see their faces. They reeked too. Like what do criminals have against hygiene? Not that you’re unhygienic but— Oh! One of them had a tattoo on his neck. A green flame! Does that help?”
'Oh that fucker is so dead,' He Xuan thought. Hua Cheng was standing directly in front of him now, the crowd long gone to give them some privacy. “The Green Lantern’s took Xie Lian,” he explained, pausing as he awaited the man's reaction.
Hua Cheng said nothing, but He Xuan didn’t miss how his jaw clenched. He turned and walked away without a word, but enough could be read from the murderous intent left rippling in his wake. He Xuan followed after him.
“Qingxuan, we’ll handle it from here. Go home, or better yet come to Paradise Manor. Tell them you’re here for Blackwater” he said, wondering why he was so insistent. He couldn’t care. He didn’t care.
“Really? You’ll save him then? Ming Yi you’re amazing! I—“ Shi Qingxuan cut themselves off with a sharp gasp. The next thing He Xuan heard was the sound of screaming breaks followed by the unmistakable crunch of crumpling metal. His heart stopped. He didn’t care, he didn’t care...
“Qingxuan?” he called, listening for their bright voice while in the background there was a faint hissing noise and then the sound of heavy boots stepping on broken glass.
“Qingxuan?” he called again as he followed Hua Cheng into the armory, holding his breath as he heard a car door scream in protest as it was pried open.
“Grab her. Boss says she can join her friend if she’s that determined,” someone grunted.
“Give me a hand then. Cops won’t be far behind now,” their accomplice replied.
There was a pained groan and something shifted inside He Xuan's chest. He shouldn’t care, it was stupid to care, but he did, and as he listened to the sound of Shi Qingxuan being dragged away he felt himself filling to the brim with a cold fury. Those bastards wouldn't live to see another sunrise, he would make sure of it.
“The Green Lanterns have Shi Qingxuan now too,” he said coldly, hanging up the phone and looking at the location he’d been sent. He forwarded it along to Yin Yu with a brief message.
As he waited for a response he began to gear up, grabbing a couple handguns, plenty of ammo, a hunting knife, a switchblade, and lastly his prized machete that he tended to reserve for special occasions.
His phone pinged and he checked it to see a text from Yin Yu with an updated location along with feed from a security video. It was followed by another short text. “He thinks they might be heading for the old red light district. Says he has men on the inside keeping an eye out.”
Hua Cheng nodded, idly flipping a butterfly knife through his fingers, it’s blood red gem gleaming menacingly beneath the fluorescent lights. “Let’s go then. It’s time to see just how much those green flames can bleed.”
Notes:
I'm crying. I spent 2 hours editing this chapter only for nothing to get saved. I then flipped a table as you do and spent in hour wallowing in self pity before finally trying again. 2 more hours and here we are...
I'm going to go sleep for ages now it's so late..
Anyway love you guys! Hope you like this chapter :)
Chapter Text
Slide…drip..plop!
Sliide..drip…plop!
Slide…..drip….
Plop
Plop
Plop
Shi Qingxuan groaned softly as consciousness began to trickle through the thick fog surrounding their mind. Everything felt heavy, like someone had replaced all their bones with lead. They seemed to be sitting on a hard floor propped up against a wall with their chin slumped down to their chest, leaving their neck feeling stiff and achy from the odd position. Something long and narrow with a hard, curved surface was digging into their spine. Shi Qingxuan winced as they tried to shift away from it, only to realize they couldn’t. There was something wrapped around their chest, keeping them secured to what they could only guess was a metal pipe.
Slowly they blinked their eyes open, watching blurry shapes morph into recognizable objects, all illuminated by a dim light. Looking down at themselves they spotted a thick, black electrical cord tied around their chest. Qingxuan stared at it questioningly, then made an attempt to reach for it, but was interrupted when sharp steel tugged at their wrists, keeping their hands pinned down near Qingxuan’s waist.
“What the…was I arrested?” Qingxuan pondered out loud, jiggling the cuffs to see how much leeway they had. It seemed that they were looped around the pipe behind them, the connecting chain trapped between two mounting brackets to keep Qingxuan from being able to move around too much. They lifted their head, gritting their teeth through the sharp pain, and finally took a good look around.
It wasn’t a prison cell, or at least it didn’t look like one. It was a simple room solely furnished with what looked like a salvaged sofa and a small table. The floors were covered with thin, cheap carpet tiles that were likely original from whenever the building was first made, and the walls were mostly barren apart from some old, faded posters of women in rather provocative poses.
Confusion continued to drill into the small area between Qingxuan’s brows and they tried to recall how they had even gotten here. The last thing they remembered was going to dinner with Xie Lian and then—
Shi Qingxuan gasped as the rest of their memory slammed into place. They hadn’t been arrested, they had been kidnapped! “No no nonono, not good,” Shi Qingxuan whimpered, struggling against their bindings. “Think, Qingxuan think..you’re already at a secondary location and that’s not good..” They rambled, wondering how long they had even been trapped here for.
Plop!
Drip…plip plop!
“Mmph..”
A whimper startled Qingxuan out of the grasp of their looming panic attack. Heart pounding they looked towards their right, but could see nothing past the garish sofa next to them. If someone else was in the room they were likely hiding on the other side.
“Hello? Is someone there?” They called out nervously, hoping it wasn’t one of the kidnappers.
Silence, then the faint splashing of water crashing onto a hard surface, followed by another muffled whine. Whoever it was, they weren’t having a good time and Shi Qingxuan could only think of one other person that would be trapped in here with them.
“Xie Lian?” Qingxuan called out, worried that he was hurt. “Hold on, bestie, I’m coming,” they said, and took another look at their bindings. The cuffs around their wrists were secure..but not necessarily tight, and Shi Qingxuan grinned as memories from a particularly wild college party came back to them. They slipped their thumb towards their palm and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly as they began pulling their hand through the metal ring. There was a sharp pop that made Qingxuan hiss in pain, but the throbbing discomfort was quickly overtaken by the joyful feeling of success as their hand easily slipped free.
“Oh thank gods that worked,” they breathed, now sporting a new handcuff style bracelet on one hand and a dislocated thumb on the other. They grimaced at the odd angle, but took the thumb in hand and with another quick pop lodged the joint back into place, whimpering quietly. “That had been so much easier to do when I was drunk,” they sighed, glad it was over with at least.
More dripping, another whimper, and Shi Qingxuan was slipping out from the cord and making their way around the sofa in a half walk, half crawl, their injuries from the crash making themselves known with every little movement. /Once we get out of here someone is going to pamper and baby me like I deserve/, they thought, planning on being on all the pain killers for at least the next month.
As they reached the other end of the sofa though, all thoughts of themselves vanished as their heart suddenly felt like it was plunged into an ice bath.
“Xie Lian? Oh my god, Xie Lian,” they gasped as they finally laid eyes on him.
He was cuffed and bound to a pipe, not unlike Shi Qingxuan had been, but with a few additional security measures that made it clear which one of them had been considered more of a threat. In addition to the handcuffs and the rope wrapped around his chest, another length of rope had been secured around his neck and between his lips, gagging him while forcing him to keep his head tilted slightly back or risk suffocating. A strip of damp cloth covered his eyes, blinding him, and Qingxuan could just make out something bright orange stuffed into Xie Lian’s ears.
“What the hell..” They breathed, wondering why anyone would go to such measures when something fell down from the ceiling, glinting familiarly as it passed in front of them.
Slide….
Drip….
Plop!
A splash of water hit Xie Lian squarely in the forehead and it might as well have been a slap for how much the man flinched. Shi Qingxuan looked up and saw that he had been placed directly beneath a leaky pipe. Another drop fell and Shi Qingxuan instinctively shot out a hand out to block it. “What the hell?” They repeated, more alarmed now as a disturbing thought came to mind. Was this some sort of torture set up?
“Lian-ge, hold on. I’ll get you out of here” Shi Qingxuan promised, deciding there wasn’t much time to waste. They kept one hand over Xie Lian’s head and began removing what they could, starting with the ear plugs first. They then went to remove the blindfold, only for Xie Lian to jerk like a wounded animal. Qingxuan’s chest ached, bewildered and heartbroken to see their friend so vulnerable. "He had been so happy just earlier too…"
“Lian Lian, it’s alright,” Shi Qingxuan soothed, voice trembling despite their best efforts. “I’m just going to take off the blindfold now,” they explained, reaching for it again. It was soaked through and when they finally tossed it aside it landed on the floor with a heavy plop. Though now unobstructed, Xie Lian’s eyes remained closed, lashes flickering as stray beads of water sat heavily along their lengths.
“I’m going to remove the ropes now, okay?” Shi Qingxuan warned, deciding to start with the one binding Xie Lian’s head in place. It was a two handed effort, so they leaned forward to use the back of their own head as a shield, determined not to let any more drops hit their friend. The knot was tight, but Qingxuan managed to work it loose after a minute. As the rope fell away Xie Lian’s head fell forward, coming to rest heavily against Qingxuan’s chest.
“Lian Lian? Lian-ge are you okay? Can you talk to me please?” they fretted, worried he had passed out. Another drop of water fell and Xie Lian flinched as some of it splashed onto his neck, making it clear he was still somewhat conscious.
“Shit, ok hold on,” Shi Qingxuan said, quickly removing the rest of the rope until all that was left was the handcuffs. They didn’t want to cause Xie Lian any pain, especially in his current state, so they mulled over their options for a moment, then face-palmed. “Gods, I’m an idiot. Almost forgetting everything I learned at university,” they huffed as they reached up and pulled a sturdy bobby-pin out from their hair.
“Let’s see now,” they hummed, folding the pin back and working it into the small key hole. They stuck their tongue out in concentration as they jostled it around until finally the cuff released with a satisfying click. With Xie Lian’s hands free they grabbed him around the shoulders and pulled him out of the splash zone, giggling hysterically at their own triumph.
“Haha! And my brother worried I didn’t learn anything practical at university,” they laughed, unsure if they were just suddenly a bad ass or if this was all some weird fever dream. The figure in their arms groaned, dragging Qingxuan back down to reality. “Hey, Xie Lian. Are you alright” they asked, helping him sit up and lean against the sofa. Honey-brown eyes finally met their own, but it seemed like Xie Lian was looking both at them and at something far off in the distance at the same time.
“Shi.. Shi Qingxuan?” Xie Lian finally spoke, sounding so uncertain that Qingxuan had to wonder if maybe he was sporting a concussion. They really needed to get out of here soon.
“The one and only,” they soothed, attempting to hide their worries behind a smile. “I’m here to be your knight in shining armor today. How are you feeling? Are you hurt? Did they hit your head?” they asked, trying to look the farmer over. They had both been stripped of their coats, but that was about it, so it was hard to tell if there were any injuries hiding under Xie Lian’s sweater. The only bruises that they could see where the ones Xie Lian had picked up the night before, peaking out just above the silk ribbon around his neck.
“Shi Qingxuan?” Xie Lian repeated, sounding more awake now and his eyes becoming a little more focused.
Qingxuan gently reached down and squeezed one of his hands. “Still me, Lian Lian,” they reassured.
Xie Lian’s brows scrunched together, his skin pinching between them. “..you shouldn’t be here,” he said with a frown.
Shi Qingxuan couldn’t help but give a satirical little chuckle. “No kidding. You shouldn’t be here either, which is why we’re going to leave,” they stated, lightly booping Xie Lian’s nose. “Now lets see about getting out of here.”
They rose to their feet, wanting to get a better evaluation of their escape options, when a sharp pain stabbed into their leg just behind their knee, sending them crashing back down with an undignified cry.
“Qingxuan!” Xie Lian gasped, quickly moving to help them roll over and sit back up.
“Oooowww” Qingxuan groaned, tears springing in the corner of their eyes. “I’m okay..I think. That surprised me. It kind of felt like when I tore my ACL during a race..” The grumbled, then frowned. “Oh..” They added, realizing that maybe it had felt /exactly/ like when they had torn their ACL all those years ago.
“Is it painful?” Xie Lian asked, voice a little strained. Shi Qingxuan quickly put back on a smile, not wanting to stress him out any more than necessary.
“Nothing I can’t walk off. Just no more morning runs for me for a little while,” they hummed, hoping that really was the case. “I guess outrunning the bad guys won’t be part of our escape plan though,” they joked weakly.
Xie Lian gave a faint hint of a smile, but his worry was still clear. He looked to Qingxuan’s knee, then to the door, and finally to a small window perched high up on the wall. “Stay right here. I’m going to try to scope things out,” he said, rising to his feet. He went to move the coffee table towards the window as Shi Qingxuan shuffled to rest up on the sofa, trying not to think about how old and disgusting it was. /It’s better than the floor at least/ they thought, not entirely sure if that was true but choosing to believe it was.
“Can you see anything?” Qingxuan asked as Xie Lian climbed on top of the coffee table and peered out.
“Not much..just an alley. I could probably break the window, but even if I did I’m not sure we could fit through it,” he sighed, turning to jump back down. Qingxuan might have been disappointed by the news, but they mostly felt relieved that Xie Lian was starting to act more like his usual self.
“I guess that just leaves the door then,” Qingxuan said dryly, looking towards the wooden slab. It seemed like an ordinary enough and they wondered if picking the lock would be any more difficult than it had been to pick the handcuffs.
“Unfortunately, but there’s too many unknowns. We have no idea where we are, who has taken us, or how many of them are on the other side of that door. All we know for certain right now is that they want us alive, so we should focus on keeping it that way. Until we learn more, we should try to cooperate and avoid offending them,” Xie Lian said, sounding like he didn’t enjoy suggesting the idea any more than Shi Qingxuan enjoyed hearing it.
“Can’t we just break the window and scream or…oh wait!” they exclaimed, bouncing excitedly in their seat. “Maybe we won’t have to do anything at all! I was talking to Ming Yi before I crashed!”
“You crashed?!” Xie Lian asked in alarm, but Qingxuan waved him off.
“Yeah yeah, I’ll explain later. What’s important is that I called Ming Yi. I told him you were in danger. What if he and your beau are on their way here right now to get us! They’ll swoop in like bam! Kapow! Then they’ll carry us off into the sunset..or sunrise? I suppose it doesn’t matter so long as they get us out of here,” they beamed.
Xie Lian gave a hesitant smile, the corner of his lip twitching in a way that suggested he wasn’t willing to put as much faith in Ming Yi as Shi Qingxuan was. For some reason that stung. “You don’t think he’s coming?” they asked, their excitement from a second ago already faltering.
“Ah, no, it’s not that,” Xie Lian quickly reassured. “It’s great you called him, but…it’s just that there’s still no guarantee he’ll find us and if we’ve been taken by a rival group then things could get complicated. Ming Yi or even San Lang for that matter might not be able to come get us without risking a full out war. We might be on our own here…” he explained, dropping his gaze down to the floor.
Shi Qingxuan gawked, then bristled with rage. “You’re kidding! They’d just leave us to die? Or worse become servants forced to do nothing more than be pretty and satisfy some creeps perverted desires?” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed, ignoring Xie Lian’s wide eyes and gestures suggesting they keep their voice down. “Don’t shh me! You should be furious too. You had such a lovely time last night and if that man is just going to abandon you over the tiniest bit of trouble then I’m going to hunt him down and cut off his—“
“Qingxuan please!” Xie Lian begged, hurrying over and slapping a hand over their mouth. “I understand, I do, but I also know how this business works, remember? It might hurt, but if it means less bloodshed then I’m okay with him not coming for me,” he said, offering up that fake smile that he only wore when he definitely wasn’t okay. Still, the pleading look in Xie Lian’s eyes convinced Shi Qingxuan to drop it for now.
“Fine..we’ll discuss this after we’re free, but it will be discussed,” they said with a pointed look. “So what do we do now? Just sit and wait?” they asked petulantly, looking around the bland room. Anxiety aside, having to just twiddle their thumbs for who knows how long sounded awfully boring.
“That’s my plan for the moment. If you want you can try and get some sleep and I’ll keep watch. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” Xie Lian murmured softly, settling down beside them.
Shi Qingxuan frowned and jabbed a finger into his chest. “That’s nice and all, but who’s going to protect you then? I said I was here to be your knight in shining armor, remember?” they groused, unable to shake the haunted look Xie Lian had worn just moments ago.
Xie Lian offered up yet another one of his calm little smiles, the visage starting to grate on Shi Qingxuan’s nerves. Would it hurt for the man just to admit he wasn’t alright?
“I’ll be just fine. I promise. Besides, you already saved me once tonight. Let me return the favor just a little by keeping watch. I doubt anything will happen this late anyway,” Xie Lian gently argued.
Shi Qingxuan hesitated, exhaustion starting to tug at the back of their mind. Xie Lian seemed to notice he was winning and quietly moved over, patting his lap. “You can lay your head here. That way if I move you’ll notice right away.”
"And I won’t have to put my face on the grimey cushion either," Shi Qingxuan thought, sighing as they gave in. “Fine..but it’ll be your turn to rest next,” they said, shifting to lay down, eyes already growing too heavy to keep open.
“Of course. Thank you A-Xuan..” Xie Lian murmured softly, gently brushing some loose hair out of their face. Shi Qingxuan felt themselves relax, soothed by their friend’s gentle touches, and it wasn’t long before they fell fast asleep.
When they woke a couple hours later, the darkness of night still pressed up against the window, Qingxuan found themselves laying alone on the sofa. Xie Lian was gone.
Notes:
AWEUGFAWUGHALSKHDGASN - The language of my people XD You all are amazing.
Shorter chapter this week but it was my birthday and wow things got chaotic. Had a whole adventure involving a burning truck, a check engine light, a haunted mining town, and a sprained ankle. Everyone survived (except the ghosts) so overall 10/10 what a time.
Anyway hope you enjoy! See you next week :)
Chapter 10: A Wolf Creeps Amongst the Sheep
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“This place reeks,” Blackwater grumbled as he slipped back down into his seat, a freshly poured drink in hand. He took a sip and immediately spat it back out. “The hell? Does that weasel really have no tastes at all? I can’t believe you made me actually spend money here,” he snipped, glaring across the table at his partner in crime.
Crimson Rain shrugged, his gaze directed out towards the room at large. “We’re supposed to be blending in remember?” he replied in a dry tone, but despite the illusion of apathy, Blackwater could see how tense he was. Crimson Rain could bear the patience of mountains most days, but today he reminded Blackwater more of a starved beast ready to make the kill.
”We need to figure out where they’re keeping them first and ideally why they were taken. I can only theorize that their association with you two put them on the radar, but with Xie Lian’s history I can’t be certain,” Yin Yu had explained over the phone as Hua Cheng tore through the city streets like he was out pacing hell itself.
‘Or because he is hell itself,” He Xuan mused to himself as he sat in the passenger seat preparing some comm equipment.
“Your little spies haven’t found them yet?” Hua Cheng gritted out, switching gears as he blasted through a changing light.
“Not yet, but it hasn’t been that long. I need more time—“
“Why waste time on recon when we can just go exterminate them all?” He Xuan asked, handing Hua Cheng an ear piece.
Yin Yu didn’t make a sound but He Xuan could practically hear him pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look. They took those two alive, meaning they have value being /kept/ alive. If you two storm their territory and start killing indiscriminately, then they might just kill Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan out of spite. We should go about this more discretely until we find out what Qi Rong’s goal is. Maybe he plans to use them as part of a negotiation,” Yin Yu argued, though based on his tone even he thought the theory was a stretch. “Regardless, I promise if you give me more time we can come up with a less risky plan, one that prioritizes getting them both out alive.”
He Xuan frowned, realizing Yin Yu had a point, but it was disappointing to be dressed up and ready to go, only to be told the bloodshed would have to wait. He looked over at Hua Cheng and waited for the boss’s decision. A frustrated snarl was all the warning He Xuan got before Hua Cheng abruptly changed course, taking them down a small side street and into an abandoned parking garage. He Xuan found himself gripping the handle above the door as they climbed floor after floor, tires squealing painfully with each turn, until finally they came to a stop on the roof.
“I will peel the flesh from Qi Rong’s bones inch by inch, layer by layer, until I finally reach that thick skull of his. Then I’ll make sure he finally understands how big of a mistake he made for ever crossing paths with me,” Hua Cheng growled. He Xuan resisted rolling his eyes, feeling like the world was spinning enough already.
“I’ll make sure to have a room and tools prepared just for that, sir,” Yin Yu replied in the carefully curated tone of the impassive assistant.
There was a long pause and He Xuan could see the gears turning in Hua Cheng’s head. The steering wheel creaked under an ever tightening grip until finally the man managed to tamper his rage.
“Fine. We’ll do this your way. You have half an hour to get me something useful” he warned and He Xuan sighed and leaned back in his seat, making himself comfortable for the long wait.
Naturally Yin Yu hadn’t failed to deliver and the original plan to go in and cause chaos had been replaced with something a little more refined. To start, Black Water and Crimson Rain had met up with one of Yin Yu’s contacts, who had provided them disguises in the form of some second hand clothing and a couple of demon masks that would cover at least the upper half of their faces. The nervous man had then likely shaved off a few years of his life trying to convince the ghost city pair to actually put them on.
After that he had rattled off directions to Qi Rong’s favorite joint and all but ran off into the night. He Xuan had taken lead at that point as he was far more used to going undercover. He had thought Hua Cheng would protest, but the man followed along in silence, lingering behind He Xuan like a shadow as they wound their way through the pock-marked streets of Yongan’s long forgotten red light district.
Unlike the rest of Yongan, which was mostly a civilian population, the inhabitants in the old red light district were strictly part of the Green Lanterns in one way or another. If you weren’t an active member running the boss’s errands then you probably ran a business to rake in more money for the crew. As such, with a neighborhood full of criminals, the unspoken rule was so long as you keep to your own no trouble would come to you. With that in mind and aided by their shitty disguises, Crimson Rain and Black Water were easily able to make their way into the depths of Qi Rong’s turf until they reached the decaying remains of an old burlesque club.
By this point it had already been hours since the pair had been taken and Yin Yu’s men still hadn’t been able to confirm where they were being held, which meant their best chance of finding them was to get as close to Qi Rong as possible and hope the fool would lead them right to them.
Which was what led to the present moment, with Black Water and Crimson Rain sat inside the club surrounded by drunk idiots, loud music, and awful drinks. Black Water has just finished downing his latest glass and looked towards the evening’s entertainment, which was primarily women in various degrees of undress dancing along a long cat walk that jutted out into the center of the room. Men crowded around the stage, some masked and some not, and made noises more reminiscent of a pack of beasts than humans. He Xuan sneered at them in disgust and redirected his gaze back at his empty glass, trying hard not to think of what creeps like that might do to Shi Qingxuan. He hoped that before the night was through he could have the luxury of at least cutting off some of their hands.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Hua Cheng announced, snapping He Xuan out of his murderous chain of thought.
“Yeah? About time,” He Xuan said, rising to his feet and wondering who their first victim was going to be. Yin Yu had been constantly reminding them to be patient, but it had been so long already and He Xuan personally couldn’t stand being in this place another second. He began counting just how many men there were and debating making a bet as to who could take out more when their ear pieces crackled to life.
“If you tell me I need to keep waiting one more time, I’m going to torture you along side Qi Rong,” Hua Cheng warned darkly.
There was a pause on the other side of the line before Yin Yu managed to clear his throat and find his voice. “…Qi Rong’s arrived at the club. My man outside saw his car pull into the back.”
“What of his captives?” Crimson Rain demanded lowly.
“No visual, but I suspect they’re at the club too, if only because I’ve ruled out other possibilities,” Yin Yu replied.
“If they’re here I bet they’re backstage,” He Xuan mused, glancing towards a set of guarded doors. “I could try to sneak back and look around,” he suggested and was starting to weigh his options when the music suddenly stopped and the lights cut out, temporarily plunging the room into darkness.
He Xuan crouched low, unsure what was happening but ready to start fighting. His eyes had started to adjust to the dim light when a new song began to play, building and building into a steady crescendo as excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. When the song finally reached it’s peak a bright spotlight sprang to life with a heavy clunk, lighting up the back of the stage as well as a slim man with long brown hair that cascaded down his back in a loose braid.
He Xuan grimaced. “How tacky can you get?” he muttered, recognizing Qi Rong’s gaudy appearance anywhere. The reviled leader of the Green Lanterns stood in the lime light wearing black leather pants, knee high boots, and a lime green jacket that featured a peacock blue feathered collar. Combined with the matching makeup, the overall effect made He Xuan wish he was colorblind.
The crowd didn’t seem to share his opinion though, roaring in appreciation as their boss strutted his way down the catwalk, slipping pass the lingering dancers without a glance before they bowed and retreated out of sight.
“Hahaha look at all your stupid faces!” Qi Rong laughed, pointing out at the lively group. “You’ve been enjoying yourselves without daddy around, haven’t you” he teased, earning an enthusiastic response. Qi Rong grinned.
“You better be prepared to keep going hard because this gracious leader of yours has a surprise for all you fuckers! So listen up! How many of you remember when our dear Lil Pengtou nearly brought down that ugly, loathsome crimson dickhead?”
He Xuan frowned and glanced to Hua Cheng, who remained expressionless as the crowd jeered, chanting demands for his head.
Qi Rong raised a hand to silence them before continuing. “Poor Pengtou, so close to glory,” he lamented, pretending to wipe at a tear. “Only to be thwarted by a scrawny dog-fucker who wanted thought he could make it big!” he snapped, earning another round of supportive jeers.
Black Water clenched his jaw, suddenly getting a bad feeling. He looked towards the doors leading to the back, now half abandoned by the guards who had wandered off in favor of listening to Qi Rong’s performance. This was his best chance. He adjusted his mask and kicked Hua Cheng to get his attention. The man glowered at him, but as He Xuan stepped towards the door he seemed to understand and gave an approving nod.
“Where is our Lil’ Pengtou huh?” Qi Rong cried out, leaning forward to scan the room. “Xiao Pengtou! Get up here! Your boss has a gift for you,” he crowed in delight. A young man from the back began to worm his way through the pack and leapt up onto the foot of the stage. Maskless, he looked more nervous than excited, but offered Qi Rong a shaky bow. “I’m here boss..”
Qi Rong smirked and walked up to him, slinging an lanky arm around the younger man’s shoulders. “Oh jeez you’ve been unlucky in life haven’t you? Who blessed with such an ugly mug,” he laughed, lightly slapping Pengtou’s cheek before looking back out at his audience. “So young, but this little ugly fuckling came closer than any of you to bringing me Crimson Rain’s head! You all should be kneeling at his feet and calling him Uncle!”
“Cheers to Uncle Pengtou!”
“You were so close, little brother!”
“We’ll get ‘em for you next time Boss Qi Rong!”
“SILENCE!” Qi Rong snapped when the crowd became a little too overeager in their praise.
“Now. Because I’m such a good boss, I forgave our Lil’ Pengtou for failing to deliver. How was he to know Crimson Rain had a new guard dog? The gods of misfortune must have shone on our little brother that day..but because I’m so kind and merciful I’ve managed to figure out a way to let our precious Pengtou enact some vengance,” he cooed, sweeping a hand towards a set of parting curtains. “Behold!”
More lights came to life and illuminated the rest of the stage once more. From the rafters a new figure was lowered down, arms tied over his head as he dangled from an old trapeze. Black Water cursed and turned away, slipping past the doors and into the back halls. He needed to find Shi Qingxuan fast before all hell broke loose.
Qi Rong cackled manically as he watched his captive’s descension, which continued until his feet were just barely able to touch the ground.
“Hahaha, how the mighty have fallen!” Qi Rong cackled, dragging Pengtou with him up the catwalk to get a closer look. He paused a few feet a way, tilting his head to one side and then the other as he stared hard at the man’s face. “You know, you look familiar. Have I tortured you before? Is that why you thought you could beat up my men?” Qi Rong asked, sounding almost delighted that he was the focus of someone’s revenge.
The man said nothing, likely because he couldn’t. The gag he had been fitted with had been bound so tight that the corners of his mouth were already rubbed raw. He didn’t seem to be afraid though, meeting Qi Rong’s gaze head on with a calm look. Qi Rong gritted his teeth, not seeming to appreciate the man’s cool demeanor. He stormed forward, snatching his chin up in one hand with enough force to bruise.
“You little shit-stain. You think you’re tough? I know what you really are~” he sneered, forcing the man’s head up so that his neck was revealed to the room. “Where’d you get these love bites from, hmm?” he asked, eyeing a mark that sat just over the silk band around the man’s neck.
“I know you were at that crummy club with Crimson Rain a few days ago,” Qi Rong hummed. “Looks like you’re not just that dickhead’s body guard his whore too! I didn’t even know that half-blind bastard could get it up!” he laughed, earning a chorus of vicious taunts from his gathered followers.
“What else are you hiding, you dog-fucker? I bet he’s fucking feral” Qi Rong snickered, reaching for the silk band to remove it. The man tried to jerk away, but bound as he was he had nowhere to go. Qi Rong hooked a nail beneath the material and began to tug, only to stop at the first hint of the tattoo.
“What the fuck?!” Qi Rong muttered, his brain seeming to short as he processed the black marks. He looked back up at his captive’s face once more and then his eyes lit up in crazed delight.
“You mother fucker,” he breathed, breaking into a deranged fit of giggles. He didn’t seem able to stop himself, clutching at his sides as he laughter grew more and more frenzied. Pengtou stepped away uncertainly, debating leaving the stage entirely when someone else jumped up and joined them.
Qi Rong whirled, brow furrowing in confusion and then anger. “Who the hell are you?! Get off my damn stage” he barked.
The newcomer ignored him, his hands clasped behind his back as he strode forward. “You insolent brat—“ Qi Rong began, readying to deal his wayward minion a heavy blow, but he was already too late. In the span of a blink it seemed that the masked figure had moved behind him, one eye flashing with murderous intent. With one large hand he gripped the back of Qi Rong’s head and yanked him up, nearly pulling him off the ground entirely
“Who’s insolent?” the attacker growled and Pengtou saw Qi Rong’s eyes widen in fear before the man sent him smashing face first onto the stage with a sickening crack.
Silence fell, and Qi Rong didn’t move. The masked figure rose and went to the captive, undoing his bonds with a quick flick of a knife before anyone in the crowd had recovered from the shock.
Pengtou snapped out of it first. “H-hey! Stop!” he called out, taking a few brave steps forward only to come to a dead halt when the attacker turned back around, his mask now laying uselessly on the floor.
Hua Cheng towered before him, the gleam of a butterfly knife circling his hand like a halo as he gazed around at the increasingly pale faces of his enemies. “Did any of you miss me?” he asked with a dark grin that sent chills down Pengtou’s spine. “Because I can’t say I’ve given much thought to any of you at all. How unfortunate that you had to draw my attention.”
Pengtou swallowed thickly, eyes darting to his fellow green flames. Most already seemed to be looking towards the exit. All were too stiff with fear to make the first move.
"Fuck it’s Crimson Rain…Crimson Rain is here..”
“I don’t want to die..”
“What about Boss Qi Rong?”
“What do we do?”
A groan rose up above the frantic whispers as Qi Rong stirred, rolling heavily over onto his back. Blood streamed from his nose and mouth, marring his pale skin as it trailed down his face and dripped onto the black linoleum beneath him. Hua Cheng glanced down at him with a disgusted sneer.
“Pity. Seems I’ll have to get my hands dirty again,” he said, taking a step forward just as a hand shot out and grabbed his arm.
“San Lang, wait...“
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backstage, still locked away in the dingy old room, Shi Qingxuan was miserable. Everything hurt, they felt unreasonably hot, and worst of all they were alone, which meant no one was here to talk them out of making stupid decisions. It was wholly unbearable, which was why they now found themselves trying so hard to get their captor’s attention.
“Hey! Hey you stupid jerks there’s no bathroom in here! You better let me out unless you want to clean up something gross!” they called, banging on the door. There was no answer. They glowered and slammed their fist against the hard wood a few more times before hobbling off to the side and slumping to the floor, tired of standing on one leg for so long. “Alright you assholes I warned you!” they called, craning an ear to listen for any frantic movement.
Still nothing. Shi Qingxuan sighed and hung their head, taking a few deep breaths. It hadn’t really been that long since they had woken up, but it seemed like forever. Where the hell had Xie Lian gone? Was he hurt? Was he coming back? Would they take them next and do something awful?
Shi Qingxuan shuddered and wrapped their arms around themselves, tears pricking in the corner of their eyes. “Ming Yi, you jackass.. you were suppose to come get us,” they sniffed. “Now I have to rescue myself. What kind of bullshit is that? I’m not hero material,” they groused, glaring hard enough at the floor to start burning holes in it. Perhaps they had been dumb to think Ming Yi would actually come for them. After all, the man likely found them more annoying than anything. He had probably only been acting so cozy at the club to help his boss get with Xie Lian. It was a common enough wingman move, Shi Qingxuan just happened to be ditzy enough to fall for it.
They sighed and closed their eyes, allowing themselves a moment to stew in their own self pity. There was a heavy grunt outside the door. Shi Qingxuan frowned, then crawled over and pressed their ear to the slim crack between the door and the frame. Another grunt, then a dull thud. “What the hell are they doing out there?” Shi Qingxuan muttered quietly, straining to listen for more when the handle began to rattle. They rose to their feet and hopped away, looking around for a makeshift weapon
They settled on the handcuffs, giving them an experimental swing and nearly clipping themselves in the face. It would have to do for now. The door began to open and Shi Qingxuan turned around, wobbling dangerously on one leg before managing to steady themselves. A face appeared in the doorway and before Shi Qingxuan could take it in properly they launched the cuffs with a panicked cry.
The figure ducked and let the handcuffs sail over his head where they clattered uselessly against the opposite wall. “What the hell?” he said, and Shi Qingxuan felt their heart swell with relief.
“Ming Yi!” Shi Qingxuan gasped, fresh tears springing to their eyes. “You actually came!” they said as they hopped over to throw their arms around them.
“Idiot, I said I would. Now keep it down, would you?” Ming Yi grunted, placing a steadying hand around their waist. “Why are you hopping around like that?”
Shi Qingxuan looked down at their swollen knee with a sad frown. “I think I tore something in the crash..I’m not sure. But I can’t walk on it,” they explained.
Ming Yi muttered a few choice curses and rubbed his temple. “Can you walk if I support you?” he asked. Shi Qingxuan nodded.
“Ok, lean on me then. We’re going to sneak out the back. Keep quiet and don’t stop moving,” he ordered, crouching down slip under Shi Qingxuan’s arm.
He took one step forward and Shi Qingxuan immediately yanked him back. “Wait! What about Xie Lian? We can’t leave him here,” they protested, scanning the hall for any sign of their friend, but saw nothing but the disturbingly still bodies of two strangers. They decided not to think too hard about what Ming Yi did to them.
“He’ll be fine. Hua Cheng is with him. The best way you can help him now is getting the fuck away from here so stop stalling and lets go,” Ming Yi snapped, wrapping one arm around their waist and forcing them forward.
Shi Qingxuan wanted to argue, but admittedly Ming Yi was probably right. After all, Xie Lian only got caught in the first place because they hadn’t listened when they’d been told to run. If they hadn’t come back to try to help, Xie Lian wouldn’t have had to intercept that blow and..Shi Qingxuan pushed the thought down, knowing this wasn’t the best time for a guilt trip. Later, when they were all safely back home, they would apologize properly and beg forgiveness. For now, Shi Qingxuan silently vowed to just do their best not to give their dark knight in ragged armor a hard time.
Xie Lian please be okay..
Notes:
POV you're a little stinker who keeps dragging things out lol.
TBH the next chapter is going to be so satisfying i promise :)
But also I won't be able to update next week so you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. Thank you so much for your patience! You guys are amazing and I hope you are having a great weekend.
Chapter 11: What Lurks in the Dark
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Earlier...
Xie Lian wasn’t okay. His head hurt and he couldn’t see and his body was bound so tight that he could barely move. Something was dripping on his face, cold and harsh. He couldn’t avoid it. Rope dug into the soft skin of his neck, burning a mark and forcing him to keep still while each drop seemed to grow heavier and sharper, cutting into his flesh like steel.
Blood coated his skin, staining pale skin like ink on paper. He couldn’t feel it’s warmth. He could only feel pain...
"It hurts..," He thought, and something warm began flowing down his cheeks.
When the blindfold finally came off he couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes, afraid of who's face he might see hovering over him.
♦ ♦ ♦
Xie Lian wasn’t okay, but neither was Shi Qingxuan and that made it easier to ignore the way the room around him kept changing and how his old wounds ached. He stroked their hair, focusing on their sleeping face if only to keep himself present, because if Qingxuan was here, that meant Xie Lian couldn’t be back there. He let out a shaky breath. He wasn’t okay, but he could pretend to be for Qingxuan’s sake.
When men finally came for him he quietly rose to his feet, making sure not to disturb his friend, and stepped out wordlessly out into the hall. They didn’t need to tell him his cooperation would buy Qingxuan’s safety. He already knew that, so he took every insult and every blow without uttering a single sound. He’d been through worse. This was nothing.
As he was dragged through the hall he kept his head down and ignored the growing presence of a bone white mask pressing into the corner of his eye. He kept telling himself he was fine.
He was not fine...
♦ ♦ ♦
Xie Lian wasn’t okay, but he told himself he had it control. His shoulders burned in their sockets as they struggle to bear his dead weight, but he breathed through it. As the leader of the Green Lanterns approached he made sure to look him in the eye, to show he wasn’t someone to be broken so easily. He wasn’t ready for a face so similar to his own to be looking back at him. His head throbbed as the man tried to goad him, but Xie Lian wasn’t paying attention. Instead he found himself distracted as fuzzy memories began to rise from the depths of his broken mind.
A hand reaching for the silk band around his throat jerked Xie Lian back to the present and on instinct he tried to move away, but bound as he was he had nowhere to go. A sharp nail dug against his skin, and the man’s eyes widened in recognition. He knew him. He knew whose marks he bore.
Xie Lian wasn’t okay. Panic clawed it’s way out of his lungs, suffocating him from the inside out and Xie Lian couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t—
-CRACK!-
Xie Lian wasn’t sure if the deafening silence that followed was real or simply due to the fact it was hard to hear anything over the blood roaring in his ears. His vision blurred, dancing between reality and nightmares and before him a demon rose to it's feet. It stalked forward, its presence drowning out all others, and drew a single knife with a blood red eye embedded in the hilt. Xie Lian’s belly clenched, and he could already picture the blade plunging into him, ripping apart the seams of faded scars. A whimper built in his throat. His eyes squeezed shut.
'Don’t..it hurts it hurts ithurtithurtsithurtsITHURTS!'
The ropes on his arms were cut loose and gravity gave a harsh pull as he fell that last inch to the floor. An arm caught him about the waist, keeping him from collapsing entirely. “Gege, breathe,” the demon whispered, gently pulling the gag away. The harsh material was replaced by a cool thumb which softly caressed around the sores at the corner of Xie Lian’s lips. His eyes widened. He knew that voice.
He whipped his head up and he felt a mix of awe and disbelief as one dark eye shone down on him like a solitary star. The mask was gone now, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but reach up and trace his fingers across San Lang’s face, finding the same dips and contours he had mapped out the night before.
San Lang smiled softly and pressed a soft kiss to Xie Lian’s palm. “A moment, Gege,” he murmured, and then turned back to face the crowd. As he did so he kept Xie Lian tucked behind his broad back, like a shelter in the storm. Xie Lian let his head rest between San Lang's shoulders as the shocked murmurs of the crowd rippled through the air.
'He actually came for me. He's here. He's real..' Xie Lian thought as he took a deep breath, and then another, and another. He could breathe. He was alright.
”It’s Crimson Rain…"
“I don’t want to die…”
“Boss Qi Rong..”
“Qi Rong…”
Xie Lian blinked as the unsettled whispers of their audience began to filter through. He knew that name. Slowly he peered out from behind San Lang and looked to the prone figure. He watched as they groaned and rolled onto their back. He knew that name. He knew that face. Memories flickered in his mind like candles in the dark.
'How could this be?' Xie Lian thought, clutching his aching head. 'Has he been here all this time then?'
The warm body sheltering him stepped away, and Xie Lian nearly forgot that San Lang and Crimson rain were one in the same. A blade flipped around nimble fingers, thirsting for blood, and Xie Lian shot a hand out to stop him.
“San Lang, wait!”
♦ ♦ ♦
Now...
To Xie Lian’s relief and the shock of everyone else, San Lang did stop and turned to gaze down at him with a puzzled brow. Suddenly Xie Lian felt nervous, like a student unexpectedly called upon by the teacher. He looked down. “San Lang, if it's alright I want to talk to him first. Don't kill him just yet, please” he said in a timorous voice, and only then did he risk glancing up again.
San Lang’s gaze softened. “I would say Gege needn’t waste his time but—“
“San Lang?! You call that ugly beast San Lang?!” Qi Rong shrieked, rising unsteadily to his feet by using Pengtou as a crutch.
Xie Lian startled, then paled as he realized his mistake. Of course San Lang likely didn’t want others to know he went by that name. “Sa—I mean Hua Cheng I’m sorry,” he whispered, feeling like a fool. He was causing the man so much trouble.
“Gege can call me whatever he pleases,” Hua Cheng murmured, giving him a doting smile before fixing Qi Rong with a glare cold enough to freeze hell over. “You, however, may simply refer to me as your cause of death,” he threatened.
“As fucking if!” Qi Rong shouted. “Half blind asswipe you couldn’t kill this ancestor in 1000 years! I’ll have your eye before you ever come close!"
Hua Cheng smirked, dark and dangerous. “I’ll take that bet,” he said and Xie Lian quickly stepped out in front and placed a hand on his chest to hold him back.
“Wait! No one needs to kill anyone right now,” Xie Lian pleaded, feeling a little like a teacher trying to pacify their unruly students. He gave San Lang a pleading look, begging for his patience, before turning around to face his past.
"Qi Rong, I want to negotiate with you," he stated, glad the tremors in his hand weren't mirrored in his voice. "I feel we have a lot to discuss so perhaps we can so somewhere more private?" he suggested, at least hoping that if Hua Cheng did end up murdering Qi Rong, it would be somewhere where they were a little less exposed.
“Huh?! Negotiate? Who the fuck would negotiate with a cockstabbing blood sucker like you!" Qi Rong sniped as he shoved Pengtou away. "Or did you think I couldn't recognize you, cousin?” he sneered, grinning with bloodstained teeth.
Xie Lian felt San Lang stiffen and his own heart grew cold in his chest. He glanced back at San Lang’s face, but the man’s expression was unreadable. “San Lang, I can explain,” he began, not sure how to make this look like anything less than some sort of betrayal.
”Cousin?”
“They’re related?”
“Look at them, of course they are!”
“Think Qi Rong will still let us have fun with him?"
"I think Crimson Rain might take him out first, the sucker.."
Qi Rong looked smugly between the two and began laughing. “Oh that’s fucking rich! My cousin, whore of the Mafia world! You want me to add a green flame along to those red and white marks on your neck!” he cackled as his men offered up canned laughter in support of their manic boss. Spurred on he set his eyes firmly on Hua Cheng, pointing at him with a crooked finger.
“The mighty Crimson Rain? HA! You act like you’re above it all, but even you still think with your cock! Do you even know who you've been fucking? Here I thought you were only half blind and yet you walked headfirst into this honeypot—“ Qi Rong suddenly paused mid tirade and looked down at his shoulder. There was a knife sticking out of it. He blinked and looked back up the stage where Xie Lian still stood, one hand still outstretched before him.
“You..did you just stab me?” Qi Rong gaped, his voice laced with the giggle of the unhinged.
Xie Lian blinked and seemed to be coming to the realization that yes, he had actually just stabbed his cousin. He must have stolen the knife from San Lang. He had just been so upset that Qi Rong was insulting him and his body had acted of it's own accord before his mind had caught up.
Qi Rong guffawed, then clutched his belly as if the whole thing was just some amazing joke. “So cold cousin! Already trying to kill me after all these years. Daddy did raise you well didn’t he?!” He laughed. He then yanked the knife out and made a show of licking his own blood off the flat of the blade. “Hehehehe it's all clean now so why don't you take it back!" he snarled and sent the blade flying back up the stage. Xie Lian thought of moving out of the way, but if he did there was a chance the knife would hit San Lang. Xie Lian wasn’t willing to risk that so instead he braced himself and raised his arms protectively in front of his face. The blade made a sickly, wet noise as it buried itself into the meat of his forearm.
Behind him San Lang’s breath hitched.
He Xuan was breathing a little heavily as he peered around a corner, scoping out the dark alley the best he could. Behind him, Shi Qingxuan slumped against cold brick, looking ashen-faced even in the low light. Getting this far hadn’t been easy for either of them, but there was a trail of bodies behind them making it hard to stop and rest.
“Yin Yu, how much further?” He Xuan muttered into his mic, wondering if Shi Qingxuan could even manage to make it to the end of the next alley let alone all the way to the extraction point.
“300 meters -- close. The car -- driver are ready for you,” Yin Yu replied, coming in slightly broken over the comms. “ Is Crim-- Rain -- with you?”
“No, but that’s his own damn problem. I’m getting out of here with or without him,” He Xuan huffed and moved to try to pull Qingxuan back up and onto their feet.
“C’mon, it’s just a little further,” he murmured, the words coming out softer than even he had expected. Eyes unfocused and brow covered in a sheen of sweat, Shi Qingxuan nodded and tried to limp along, but they had only made it a few feet before their good leg began to wobble dangerously. He Xuan cursed and wrapped his arm firmly around their waist to stop them from falling to the ground.
“Sorry, Ming Yi,” Qingxuan said weakly as they were propped back up against the wall. “I think I’m a bit out of shape..”
“Your shape is fine,” He Xuan muttered absently as he looked around to make sure they were still alone. A rat rummaged its way through a nearby trash heap, but otherwise all was still. Usually that would be a relief, but He Xuan found the silence more disturbing than anything. He decided he didn’t care to waste any more time and moved to crouch in front of his rescuee.
“What are you doing?” they asked in confusion. He Xuan didn’t answer right away, grabbing their arm and pulling them down over his shoulder as he rose back to his feet in one swift motion.
“Carrying you,” He huffed. “This is probably more like the rescue you wanted isn’t it?” he mused, securing them in place with one arm while his other held his gun up and at the ready. He hadn’t taken any time to reload yet and had already wasted two bullets on a couple of nosy goons that had been loitering behind the club, but unless they ran into a mob he should have plenty of rounds left. He just silently hoped they would be able to make it to the getaway car without running into any more trouble.
“Ming Yi this isn’t how heroes carry away the damsels in distress! I’m meant to be cradled in your arms like a princess! You’re hauling me like a sack of potatoes,” Qingxuan wailed, squirming in his hold. He Xuan should have found that irritating, but instead it was almost comforting just to hear them being so vocal. He felt his lips twitch in a small smile before he corrected himself and returned to his trademarked scowl.
“Stop whining and keep quiet. And stop moving so much! You’re too heavy for that” he grunted, hauling his wriggling sack of potatoes down the dark alley.
Shi Qingxuan gasped in offense and began slapping him on the back. “Ming! Yi! That’s rude! You’re supposed to tell me I’m light as a feather!” they hissed and He Xuan supposed he should be grateful that they were at least whispering now. He was ready to continue on and ignore them until a hand shifted a bit lower than He Xuan was prepared for.
Qingxuan snorted. “Actually, you know what? This position isn’t so bad,” they giggled and gave He Xuan’s ass a light slap.
“Hey! Cut that out!” He Xuan snapped, struggling to understand what it was about the tiny pest on his back that his lizard brain seemed to like so much. As said lizard brain began to provide a detailed list (including pictures) he caught sight of a slim, feminine figure appearing almost out of nowhere at the end of the alley, blocking their only exit. He Xuan stopped in his tracks, then cursed as he quickly dove off to the side, managing to duck behind a dumpster as a single shot rang out.
Shi Qingxuan shrieked in alarm. “What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?” they stammered, hands scrabbling at He Xuan’s clothes as he dumped them on the ground. He slapped a hand over their mouth and pressed his fingers to his lips with a harsh “Shh!”
Shi Qingxuan’s eyes widened, but they gave a nod of understanding, pressing their lips together tightly as the sound of clacking heels began echoing down the alley.
He Xuan glanced around to quickly take stock of the situation. The alley was dark, but narrow. Even if the shooter was blind it would be hard to miss a target. As soon as he stepped out he’d be a sitting duck, but more importantly so would Qingxuan. He looked at the dumpster. It was one of those thick, metal ones, made to be long lasting and he figured if he needed a place to take cover during a shootout, that would be his best bet.
The sound of footsteps grew closer and He Xuan moved quickly. “You can hate me for this later,” he said before scooping Shi Qingxuan up in both arms and rising to his feet. The dumpster lid was already open, so he managed to toss them inside, slam it shut, and duck back down just before another bullet went whizzing past.
“Ming Yi!” Came Qingxuan’s muffled cries, and He Xuan wasn’t sure if they were worried for his safety or offended that they had been thrown in the trash. Possibly both.
“Just shut up,” he hissed back, steadying his breathing as he tried to listen out for their shooter. They had been less than 20 meters away with that last shot. If he kept low maybe he could--his gun was shot out of his hand as soon as he tried to leave his cover.
“Fuck!” he swore, gripping his hand to his chest as he ducked back behind the metal bin. He hadn’t been hit directly, thankfully, but it had still hurt and worse yet his gun was now lying far out of reach and likely out of commission entirely. He regretted letting Hua Cheng take his backup one. Now all he had left were a few knives and his machete. Not ideal in a gun fight, but he supposed he would have to make due.
“I thought I smelled something foul. Come out, come out, ghost boy~” sang a disturbingly familiar voice.
“For fuck’s sake, anyone but her,” He Xuan groaned, wondering if this night could get any worse.
Soft giggles echoed between the high walls and He Xuan realized that their source was a lot closer than he had expected. He looked to his right and his breath hitched as the wide eyes of one Xuan Ji stared back at him. “Mother of fuck—“ he cursed and swung his machete around hard. Xuan Ji dodged easily and laughed as the blade bounced harshly against the dumpsters steel frame.
“You’ll have to be faster than that, ghostie” she grinned, dancing past him down the narrow path, her bare feet making barely a sound. He Xuan realized she must have abandoned her shoes to conceal her footsteps. What right did she have to be both clever and insane?
She paused once she was out of his reach and leveled her gun at him once more. “Get up,” she demanded.
Not interested in dying immediately, He Xuan slowly rose to his feet, keeping his hands raised as she looked him over. She frowned in disappointment. “Two eyes..wrong color. You’re not Hua Cheng,” she sniveled.
“Sorry to disappoint, though you’ll probably be interested to know that he’s currently with your boss. Maybe you should go run along and make sure your precious Qi Rong hasn’t been disemboweled yet,” he suggested, happy to take any opportunity that meant not having to deal with the insane woman before him.
She grinned, wide and unsettling. “Darling Qi Rong won’t fall to a bastard like him. I won’t steal my boss’ prey, so you’ll have to do,” she cooed, taking a step towards him. He Xuan’s grip tightened around the hilt of his blade. “You’re quite handsome aren’t you. Sharp jawline..pretty eyes. Yes you’ll fit in nicely. Want to be my new pet?” she asked with a predatory smile. As she swayed slowly back and forth, waiting for his answer, He Xuan found himself thinking of a dancing cobra trying to lull it’s prey.
To his humiliation it almost work as without warning a shot went off and sent his machete flying down the alley. He Xuan swore and Xuan Ji cackled in delight. “What should I shoot off you next hmm?” she mused, eyes sparkling with excitement as she adjusted her aim to an uncomfortable point between He Xuan’s legs.
He swallowed thickly. Xuan Ji was arguably one of the more dangerous members of Qi Rong’s crew, if only for the fact that she was certifiably insane and always fought as if she had nothing to lose. On top of that, she had a reputation for collecting men from rival groups like trophies, earning herself the nickname of the Ghost Bride. And should those men make the mistake of letting her know they had a partner, well..Xuan Ji would see to it that they were well removed from the picture.
“Don’t look so nervous, darling. Don’t worry, I think I’ll let you hang onto that. ” Xuan Ji teased, raising the barrel a little hider. “Why don’t you be good for me and tell me who or what you’re hiding. Was it a body?” she asked, seeming morbidly curious as she took a step closer.
He Xuan shifted to block her path. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied in a deadpan tone. That apparently was the wrong answer as another bullet flew past his ear, ricocheting off the alley wall. From the dumpster came a faint shriek and He Xuan hoped that Xuan Ji hadn’t heard it over the fading echo of the gun shot.
“Why must you stupid men always lie to me!” Xuan Ji screamed, gesturing at him harshly with the gun. “Everything you say is a lie! I should cut out your tongue just to make sure you can’t utter another word! Haha yes! If you let me do that maybe I’ll forgive you hmm? Wouldn’t you like that? I see how you look at me. You still want to be with me don’t you?” she asked, moving ever closer. “You can be part of my collection. I have a few pets right now. They didn’t understand what I had to offer at first, but now they can’t run,” she said, grinning madly as she reached for him with one hand.
“Yeah I think I’ll pass,” He Xuan grunted and as she faltered under the blatant rejection he made a lunge for the gun. Xuan Ji shrieked and tried to jerk away, but she wasn’t quick enough. They both fumbled, wrestling for control, but before He Xuan could get a firm grip she leaned in and bit his wrist, causing him to let go. The gun fell between them and as it hit the ground it misfired, sending a bullet careening directly into the metal wall of the dumpster.
This time Shi Qingxuan’s panicked scream was loud enough for all to hear. Xuan Ji whipped her head towards the source, mad fury contorting her features. “You have another bitch!” She screeched before trying to drive her knee up between He Xuan’s legs. He shoved her off just before the hit could land and made a grab for the gun, only to fumble it as Xuan Ji tackled him around the waist. It was sent sliding beneath the metal bin, well out of reach for either of them.
Xuan Ji, to He Xuan’s misfortune, was just as willing to fight hand to hand as she was with a gun, and just as skilled as well. He shoved her off with a well placed kick, only for her to return the favor a moment later. She moved with the fluidity of the dancer, dodging blow after blow. He Xuan made a grab for her long hair and yanked her towards him, thinking he had the upperhand, but Xuan Ji caught him off guard as she turned into him, pressing her back to his chest. She flipped him over her shoulder with a well practiced move and he felt the air leave his lungs as his back slammed heavily into the ground. Dazed by the impact, he didn’t have time to react before she landed on top of him, pinning him to the ground and wrapping her hands tightly around his neck.
“WHO IS SHE?” she demanded, squeezing harder as He Xuan tried to buck her off. “IS SHE WHY YOU REJECTED ME?! YOU BASTARD I’ll MAKE YOU WATCH AS I RIP HER UGLY FACE OFF!”
“Hey bitch!” a voice shouted, and He Xuan realized with dread it was Shi Qingxuan’s. Xuan Ji snapped her head around to look, teeth bared in pure fury, and was met face first by a large, heavy trash bag. The impact jarred her and knocked her off balance, and He Xuan didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation and throw her off completely.
“YOU’RE DEAD!” Xuan Ji screamed, rushing towards them. Shi Qingxuan froze in fear and He Xuan wasn’t certain if he had ever moved so fast before in his life. He covered the distance in the blink of an eye and before Xuan Ji could reach her target, he had driven his knife deep into her back. She came to a stop with a stuttering gasp.
He pulled the blade back out and Xuan Ji stumbled to the side, falling onto her hands and knees. She clutched at her chest as blood began to pool in her lungs. “You…bastard..” She rattled, feebly making a grab for his legs. He glowered and shoved her away with a heavy boot.
“Crazy bitch..” He muttered, watching as she began to bleed out onto the pavement. It didn’t seem like she would be getting up again any time soon, if ever.
“Is she..is she dead?” Qingxuan asked, peering out from over the dumpster’s rim. Their whole body seemed to be trembling now.
“She will be soon,” He Xuan reassured, cleaning his blade and putting it back in it’s sheath. He then grabbed his machete and the remains of his gun, before finally coming to help Shi Qingxuan climb out of the trash.
“Good job with the trash bag,” he said as he set them down. “It was a good throw,” he said, blinking as his vision blurred for a moment. He licked his lips, feeling parched.
“I picked up some skills from other track and field events,” Shi Qingxuan said, voice still a little shaky as they began to hobble along, still leaning heavily on He Xuan for support. “I’m glad it came in handy..”
He Xuan hummed, and realized he hadn’t actually heard what they just said. He blinked, and suddenly his shoulder was hitting a wall.
“Ming Yi? Ming Yi are you okay?” Shi Qingxuan asked worryingly, tugging at his arm.
He Xuan tried to shake the fog from his head, but the action only gave him a headache. “Fuck..” He groaned, realizing he’d been hit with something, drug or poison he wasn’t sure yet. Either way it wasn’t good. “C’mon..gotta keep moving..”
“Ming Yi, you can’t even walk straight,” Qingxuan fretted, limping slowly along and trying to keep him from crashing back into the wall. He Xuan managed to drag himself a few more meters before the entire alley went completely dark. For a moment he thought he had gone blind, but then He Xuan realized his eyes had simply fallen shut. “Ming Yi c’mon, you can’t sleep here. We have to go remember?” Qingxuan said, patting at his cheeks to try and wake him up.
He Xuan’s brow furrowed. That was right. Alley’s weren’t for sleeping anymore. He had a bed for that. A bed for Qingxuan too if they wanted. He just had to..had to..
“Black Water—keep moving—help you—“ came Yin Yu’s voice, crackling uncomfortably in his ear.
“Yin Yu..right..the car..” He Xuan mumbled, gazing blearily down to the end of the alley. Who the hell designed it to be so long? “Yin Yu, you bastard...tell your men to come closer..I won’t make it..”
“Don’t say that, Ming Yi,” Qingxuan gasped and it sounded like they were crying.
He Xuan frowned and leaned into their space to get a closer look. He frowned as something wet dripped down their face and prodded their cheek with a bloodied finger. “..stop that,” he groused. “You’re noisy. S’not safe..” He said, then frowned in confusion when the tears kept coming.
“If you can -- end of that alley they’ll -- meet you,” Yin Yu said. “Just a little further--”
He Xuan groaned in complaint, but between Qingxuan and Yin Yu he found himself being pestered enough to keep moving. They were only a few feet away from the alley exit when a car pulled up and two men hopped out and raced towards them. He Xuan tried to pull Qingxuan closer, glaring at the men in warning, but in reality all he managed to do was slump his entire weight on top of an already unstable Shi Qingxuan and suddenly both of them were on the ground. He Xuan couldn’t will a single muscle to move.
”Black Water, sir!”
“Get them up. We have to go”
“Ming Yi!”
“Black Water—made it—“
“..mn..shuddup..” He Xuan grumbled, his head throbbing at all the noise. A soft hand gently clutched at his own, and that was the last thing He Xuan was aware of before his mind finally submerged into the dark, quiet void.
Notes:
So funny story! Remember how I said this chapter would be satisfying? I lied! 😈 moar trauma! Moar stress!
Buahahahahahahahaha 👻
Also this is the part where I begin messing with family trees.🙃
Love you all 🥰
PS: Next week I'm going on a writing retreat to focus on an original story I'm working on so I'm not sure if I'll post next weekend. We'll see what happens 😉
Chapter 12: Go Out With A Bang
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Xie Lian let out a shaky breath. Blood, warm and viscous, slowly ran down his arm, soaking into the soft woolen fabric of his sleeve. He found himself lamenting the loss of yet another perfectly good sweater. He had really liked this one too. He lowered his arms and focused on keeping calm as he assessed the wound. Pulling the knife out was certainly going to hurt, but it would be a better asset in his hand rather than buried in his flesh. He gripped the handle, vaguely aware of his audience, and in one swift motion pulled it straight out. More blood bubbled from the wound and Xie Lian could only frown in disappointment as the red stain grew. Perhaps he could repurpose it. Maybe Shi Qingxuan could help him cut off the sleeves and turn it into a sweater for Ol' Nianqing. 'That's assuming we both make it out of here, of course, Xie Lian thought with a weary sigh.
Further down the catwalk, Qi Rong was doubled over and in tears from laughter. “Oh man! Oh man! You really just took that one didn’t you, cousin? Then again, you probably liked it. After all you seem to like being pene—Hey! WHAT THE FUCK?!”
Qi Rong screamed and dove behind the nearest body just as a deafening gunshot rang out. Xie Lian’s hair danced in the wake of the passing bullet and he watched as Pengtou’s head snapped back from the impact. The young man staggered, and then collapsed into a crumpled heap on top of his former boss.
“The fuck?! Get off me!” Qi Rong shrieked. With a firm shove he sent the fresh corpse tumbling off the stage where it landed with a heavy thud. No one had been standing close enough to catch him. No one had even been watching. They had all taken a step back, trembling hands feebly clinging onto their weapons as they gazed in wide-eyed terror in the direction of the smoking gun.
Xie Lian felt a chill in the air as nervously he turned to follow their gaze. What stood behind him sent a shiver racing down his spine and he suddenly understood why no one was retaliating.
Fury did not even begin to do justice to describe the look on Hua Cheng’s face. How could one eye hold so much cold rage? How could anyone be expected to do anything more than freeze in terror before such a savage looking beast, because for a moment Xie Lian wasn't sure if Hua Cheng was entirely human. Unbridled ire seemed to radiate from him like the howling winds of a storm and if Xie Lian had been a weaker man, he too might have thought of turning to run.
Still, even though his feet stayed rooted, Xie Lian could feel his heart pounding. Hua Cheng’s gaze darkened and he took a single step towards him. The fall of his boot barely made a sound, but it might as well have been another gunshot for how much Qi Rong’s men flinched. Another step, and Xie Lian had to raise his head as Crimson Rain towered above him. Everyone in the room seemed to be watching the scene with baited breath. Everyone, that is, except for Qi Rong.
“Pfft! Oh this is too good! Cousin, look how angry he is! He looks ready to riddle you with new holes!” he cackled, rolling on the floor. “Cousin, I might cry!”
Xie Lian looked into Hua Cheng’s eye, searching desperately for anything, even the tiniest little hint that could tell him what the man was thinking. To his dismay, Hua Cheng’s features remained frigid and unreadable. “San Lang?” he said in a soft voice broken by uncertainty. Hua Cheng said nothing in response. Xie Lian's heart sank. Was this really how things were going to end? Did Hua Cheng really intend to kill him now? Perhaps coming back to the city had been a mistake after all. He should have known to just leave well enough alone. If he had, perhaps he wouldn’t be feeling his heart tearing to pieces right now. Xie Lian lowered his gaze and in that moment he just felt so tired. He wondered if he asked nicely, if San Lang would at least do him the courtesy of ending him quickly.
“HAHAHahaha! Are you just going to give in?! Are you that ready to die? Then again, dear aunty and uncle were also eager for death so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised” Qi Rong snickered, rising to his feet. “Unfortunately, I can’t let you go so easily, so you better get ready to get down on your knees and thank me properly for saving your shit-stained hide, dear cousin!"
Xie Lian stiffened at the mention of his parents and a flash of anger coursed through him. He gritted his teeth, fists clenched at his side, while venom coated words built up in the back of his throat. Perhaps if he asked nicely, San Lang would at least let him punish his cousin first before placing a bullet in his skull.
A hand, surprisingly gentle, pressed up under Xie Lian’s chin, encouraging him to look up. A breath caught in his throat, and Xie Lian’s eyes widened as Hua Cheng leaned down towards him. Soft raven locks brushed against his cheeks, blocking out the rest of the world like a curtain, and Xie Lian's lips parted softly as a thumb lovingly caressed the delicate skin of his lower lip.
“Does Gege still want to talk to that trash?” Hua Cheng asked in a low voice. Xie Lian trembled once more, but this time it wasn’t out of fear.
“Hey! What are you saying over there? Oi! Crimson Fucker, I need that traitorous cousin of mine alive, so pay attention! I’m trying to offer you a deal! Give him to me and then just maybe I’ll let you leave with your tail between your legs!” Qi Rong shouted.
Hua Cheng didn’t even spare the Green Lantern leader a glance. Instead, his gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on Xie Lian. The thumb made another gentle pass and within the dark abyss of that single eye Xie Lian saw a flicker of warmth.
‘Oh…Oh San Lang’s upset, but not at me,' Xie Lian realized and the relief he felt was almost enough to make him cry. He pressed his lips together, chin wobbling as he fought to keep himself from giving into his emotions. He was always prepared for rejection. How pitiful was it that he had no defense against acceptance?
“Whatever you want, Gege, I’ll make it happen. Just say the word,” San Lang coaxed.
Xie Lian bit his cheek and leaned forward, just enough to let his forehead rest against the taller man’s. “I— I think I just want to go home…” he confessed quietly. “…with San Lang, if that’s alright” He added with a hopeful gaze.
For a moment San Lang looked taken aback, but then his features softened and the small smile that graced his lips thawed away the last of Xie Lian’s worries. “Stick close to me,” San Lang whispered before pulling away. As he rose back to his full height the mask of Crimson Rain fell back into place and that merciless eye landed on Qi Rong once more.
“You want a deal? How about this? I’m feeling rather generous, so if you start bowing now maybe you won’t feel it when I crush you beneath my heel,” Hua Cheng sneered, disgust and loathing for the other mob boss laced in his every word.
Qi Rong’s jaw dropped in shocked offense. “You— HOW FUCKING DARE YOU! Does having one eye mean you can’t count? We have you outnumbered! I only have to say so and my men will carve you up and serve me your head on a fucking platter!”
Hua Cheng smirked. “Outnumbered? By these useless idiots? Unlikely. Especially not when they’re already scattering like insects,” he mused, cocking his head playfully to one side.
Qi Rong quickly looked from left to right, his face turning a livid red as he realized a majority of his goons were already halfway out the door. “YOU TRAITORS! YOU DARE ABANDON THIS ANCESTOR? COME BACK HERE AND FIGHT OR I’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE! I’LL FEED YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES! AND THEN I’LL FEED YOUR FAMILIES TO PIGS AND HANG WHAT’S LEFT OF YOUR CORPSES IN THE STREETS! YOU SNIVELING RATS, GET BACK HERE!”
Unsurprisingly, the Green Lantern dregs only began to flee faster and Xie Lian had to press his hand to his mouth to keep himself from laughing too loudly. His soft chuckles caught Hua Cheng’s attention and he placed a hand on Xie Lian’s waist, giving him a small squeeze.
“Gege, do you trust me?” he asked as Qi Rong whirled back around and began screeching orders at what little men he had left. Xie Lian watched as they began to climb up onto the stage, feet moving forward but their eyes still looking longingly towards the exit. He looked back at Hua Cheng, relaxing into his gentle touch.
“I trust you,” Xie Lian murmured in reply.
Hua Cheng gave him a fond smile before returning his attention to the enemies at hand. He leveled his gun in Qi Rong’s direction.
“Waning Moon, are we ready?” he asked, and Xie Lian glanced around in confusion. Was Yin Yu here as well? A faint voice came from the direction of Hua Cheng’s ear and that was when Xie Lian finally realized he was wired.
“On your cue, sir,” Waning Moon replied. Hua Cheng’s eye seemed to glow with a dangerous intent and with his free hand he pulled Xie Lian closer to him. “Bring it down,” he ordered, and then fired off a single shot.
Several things happened in quick succession after that. First, Xie Lian watched as several men dove off the stage to avoid a bullet that had already passed them by. He then watched as his cousin fell with a painful cry, disappearing over the edge of the catwalk. After that, there was an eruption of smoke and fire as several explosions went off in the front lobby. The building shook violently, and as Xie Lian tried to orientate himself in the chaos a hand grabbed his and pulled him along towards the back.
“DON’T JUST STAND THERE YOU WORTHLESS PIECES OF SHIT! GET THEM!”
Hua Cheng tsked, obviously annoyed that the shot hadn’t been fatal and looked ready to stop and try again, but Xie Lian knew this wasn’t the time. Another explosion and pieces of ceiling began to crash down around them. “San Lang, the place is collapsing,” he urged, and glancing back he realized that wasn’t their only problem. To his surprise some of Qi Rong’s men were still coming after them. Perhaps his cousin had actually been able to cultivate some loyalty among his men, or perhaps they had motivations of their own. Either way, Xie Lian didn’t care to stick around and find out. A shadow moved to his left, and Xie Lian turned and raised his arm just in time to block a heavy bat. It hit hard against his gaping wound and Xie Lian nearly saw stars from the intensity of the pain. The attacker raised his bat for a second swing, but Xie Lian had no plans to take another blow. The knife found its way into the man's arm, and then between the hollow space between his ribs. The bat dropped and Xie Lian grabbed the man's wrist and turned, throwing him over his shoulder. His dead weight crashed into several others, sending them sprawling to the ground.
Hua Cheng gave an impressed whistle and Xie Lian gave a sheepish little bow before remembering they still very much needed to run. He took Hua Cheng’s hand again and they continued behind the curtains, following the route he had been dragged along earlier.
“Out that door, Gege. Then take a right,” Hua Cheng said, firing off a few shots behind them.
Another blast, more muffled this time, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but wonder just how on earth Hua Cheng had managed to plant so many bombs. They turned down a familiar hall, and Xie Lian felt his heart stop for a moment as he caught sight of several bodies lying prone outside an open door.
“Shi Qingxuan!” he shouted as he let go of Hua Cheng’s hand to race ahead.
“Gege, wait!” Hua Cheng called after him, but Xie Lian didn’t slow down. His focus was fixed on that door, knowing that was where he and Shi Qingxuan had been held. He had to get to them. He had to know if they were okay. Reaching the bodies he was relieved to see none of them were his friend, but worry still gnawed at his chest as he looked into the room. Apart from the tattered remains of their former bindings, there was no sign of Shi Qingxuan at all.
“Shi Qingxuan?” Xie Lian called out, wondering if they were hiding. “Shi Qingxuan, are you here?”
Hua Cheng caught up to him then, placing a light hand on his shoulder. “Gege, it’s alright. I was trying to tell you they were already out. Black Water grabbed them earlier,” he explained. “They’re safe, so let’s keep—“ the sound of gunfire cut him off and both of them quickly dove into the open room to take cover.
Hua Cheng cursed and pressed up against the wall and quickly began taking stock of his own ammo. As he did so, Xie Lian spotted a gash along his upper arm, already slick with blood. “San Lang, you’re hurt..” He said in alarm and his concern was met with a rather pointed look. Xie Lian paused, then laughed awkwardly as he glanced down at his own bloodied arm. “Ahahaha right. Fair point,” he chuckled, hiding his injured arm behind his back as if that would help put it out of San Lang’s mind.
“Come out, you Ghost City shites!” Someone roared from further down the hall. Xie Lian frowned. As things were they were sitting ducks and making a getaway wasn’t going to be easy. Regardless of how quick and agile they could be, at the end of the day dodging bullets was a near impossible feat.
“Gege, listen carefully, “ Hua Cheng murmured, keeping one ear strained to listen for the sound of approaching feet. “I’ll lay out some cover fire. Our exit is at the end of this hall. Make a run for it, and then once you’re in the alley head north. That’s the quickest way back to my turf.”
Xie Lian furrowed his brows in confusion. “And what about you?” he whispered. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you?"
San Lang smirked. “Gege doesn’t need to worry about this lowly thug. I won’t be brought down so easily,” he reassured, and while Xie Lian wholly believed that the raven-haired man would be just fine, the plan still didn’t sit right with him. He pursed his lips and cast his eyes around until he spotted a holstered gun in the waistband of one of the bodies in the hall. He dropped to his knees and grabbed the man’s feet, hauling him through the door in one quick motion.
“Gege what are you—“ San Lang began, stopping as Xie Lian pulled out the dead man’s gun and started inspecting it.
“I'm changing the plan. You can cover for me until I reach the door, and then I’ll take over. This should have enough rounds,” Xie Lian said, rising back to his feet with a pleased smile. “This way we can go home together. San Lang did say he would give me whatever I wanted, didn't he?”
Hua Cheng blinked, looking a little dumbfounded and for a second Xie Lian was worried the man had broken somehow. Then he surged forward and Xie Lian’s lips were captured in a heated kiss that left him feeling more breathless than their earlier sprint through the hall.
“That kiss was for luck,” Hua Cheng murmured when he finally pulled away. “If Gege is amenable, perhaps we can share another once we’re home. Are you ready to run?”
Xie Lian hummed dreamily, still dazed from the kiss, and it took another muffled explosion to snap him out of his stupor. “Uh right. Running. Escaping. I’m ready,” he said, and moved himself into position, cheeks burning hot. Behind him Hua Cheng gave an amused chuckle before moving to stand just at the edge of the doorframe.
A small nod, and then Hua Cheng stepped out into the hall and began firing. Xie Lian didn’t hesitate. He ducked out and took off the other way, bolting straight for the neon exit sign. When he reached it he did a quick about face and readied his stolen gun. “San Lang! Now!”
The man dropped down, and Xie Lian fired off several rounds in quick succession, covering the width of the hall. The other end was shrouded with hazy smoke, and Xie Lian wondered if anyone was actually still back there when there was a flash of light and a bullet whizzed past, burying itself into the wall behind him. Perturbed, Xie Lian adjusted his aim and fired back, and from the other end he heard a pained curse. He readied to take another shot. He wasn’t supposed to leave survivors after all. Survivors were witnesses and witnesses were messy and… an arm looped around his waist and suddenly he was hauled out the door. The shock of cold brought him back to his senses.
“Keep moving, Gege!” Hua Cheng panted, just audible over the ringing in Xie Lian’s ears. Xie Lian stumbled at first in his efforts to match Hua Cheng’s pace, but the arm around his waist kept him upright and soon the pair were sprinting through a maze of darkened alleys.
“San Lang, where are we going?” Xie Lian asked sometime later as they made yet another seemingly random turn.
“Blackwater made off with our primary getaway car,” Hua Cheng muttered. “We’ll have to secure something else, but I wanted to put some distance between us and anymore of those annoying pests,” he explained before stepping out onto a narrow road. His eye lit up as he spotted a sleek motorcycle parked along the curb. “That will do. Have you ever ridden one, Gege?” he asked, jogging over and taking a look at the ignition switch.
“I can’t say that I have,” Xie Lian admitted, following behind and keeping watch. He could just make out a hint of dawn blooming in the eastern sky.
Hua Cheng mounted the bike and using a knife pried off a small panel. Xie Lian continued to scan the street and only looked back when he heard the engine roar to life. Hua Cheng beamed proudly and Xie Lian found it so endearing he almost wished he had his phone to take a picture. Then again, maybe it was better he didn’t. It wasn’t just because a photo could be used as evidence, but also because he just didn’t want anyone else to see. This moment and that expression would forever be his and his alone.
“Come here, Gege. Sit behind me,” Hua Cheng said, patting the space behind him. Xie Lian stowed the gun and did so, then waited awkwardly for further instructions.
“Now lean against my back and wrap your arms around me. Excellent Gege, just like that,” he praised, and Xie Lian felt his heart flutter as he timidly snaked his arms around the man's waist.
Hua Cheng revved the engine and Xie Lian found himself holding on a little tighter. “Squeeze as tight as you need to, Gege. And whatever you do, don’t let go.”
'Easy,' Xie Lian thought, smiling to himself as he rested his head against Hua Cheng’s back. Then, the bike began to move. Xie Lian thought he had been holding on tight already, but apparently he underestimated his own strength. He almost began to worry he might be crushing San Lang’s ribs, but if he was the other man didn’t seem to mind. In fact, over the roar of wind Xie Lian was certain he was laughing.
“Open your eyes, Gege!” San Lang called out excitedly and Xie Lian had no idea how San Lang knew he had closed his eyes in the first place. Timidly he willed them open and watched as the world past them by at high speed. They tore out of the old redlight district, swerved around a few early commuters, raced down emptied streets, and earned the ire of a few street dogs who tried to give chase. It was ridiculous. It was dangerous. It was exhilarating. Laughter bubbled forth, spilling from Xie Lian’s lips to be carried away on the breeze. His body shook with almost childlike excitement.
A hand rested on top of his own, giving a small, questioning squeeze. Xie Lian squeezed back and nuzzled his cheek against a broad shoulder to let him know he was alright. Bloodied and bruised, and perhaps a little broken, but just fine all the same. Xie Lian knew that this wasn’t the end of their troubles, but as the early morning light finally broke over the city, flooding the streets with a soft, pale glow, he found he didn’t have it in him to worry. In San Lang’s company, it was far too easy to just be happy instead.
Notes:
*Crawls out of the crypt and leaves this chapter on your doorstep*
Guys my trip was great, but of course I had to catch a bug and oh my god..
The number of times I re-edited this chapter was possibly too many, but I hope you liked it. I found myself drawn to the idea of giving Hua Cheng a moment to just be unapologetically happy and thus I present motorcycle rides at sunrise with your Bae who probably really needs stitches lol.
Also, as an FYI I am going to maintain an every other week posting schedule. With all the holiday stuff, and work stuff, and the fact that I (in my insanity) decided to pursue two active fanfics, I just need a little more time to get these chapters out. So you can expect my next post for this to be the weekend of the 16th, and then every other week after that. Thank you so much for your patience!
And Thank you as always for your lovely comments and kudos! It's amazing just to realize how many of you are out there enjoying my work. I began writing as a sort of leap of faith and holyshit what a leap XD. It's been such a joy.
Anyway enough sappy rambling. Imma go lay down now lol and clean Qi Rong out of my head.
Chapter 13: Within the Shelter of Weary Hearts
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The long, empty halls of Paradise Manor echoed with the sound of footsteps as Hua Cheng guided a fatigued Xie Lian down to the medical ward. “This is twice in one week, Gege,” he had teased, if only to disguise his own nerves. “I do hope you know our clinic doesn’t have a rewards program.”
Xie Lian chuckled softly at that, the sound sending Hua Cheng’s heart fluttering. He really was weak for this beauty of a man.
“Really? What a shame. I was sort of hoping for a discount,” he joked back, offering up a sweet smile. Hua Cheng greedily admired the gentle visage, but he could still see the tension which lingered just beneath the surface, tugging down at the soft corners of Xie Lian’s lips. Now that the excitement was over, fatigue and blood loss were no doubt starting to take their toll.
“We could amend your ransom request to cover the medical fees,” he mused, aiming to keep the mood light. As if he would ever dream of charging Xie Lian for anything. The farmer snorted, shaking his head in amusement and then stopping when the action seemed to make him dizzy. Hua Cheng wrapped an arm around him and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Just bear with it a little longer, Gege. The doctor we have is very skilled. Once you’ve been seen to I’ll take you home and you can rest as much as you’d like,” he promised in a soft, gentle voice just before guiding him through the familiar double doors.
As soon as the pair stepped into the room they were greeted by the feeble wail of an aghast Shi Qingxuan. “Lian Lian!” they cried, doing their best to sit up amongst a mound of pillows. Xie Lian gasped and all too easily slipped from Hua Cheng’s grasp in favor of running over to his friend. Hua Cheng trailed just after him, fingers itching to reach for him once more.
“I was so worried, A-Xuan. I’m glad you made it out,” Xie Lian breathed, hands hovering awkwardly as they fretted over the other. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
Shi Qingxuan stared at him in shock before gesturing with an accusing finger towards his arm. “Am I alright? What about you? You disappeared and now you look like you crawled out of a horror movie! That can’t all be your blood, can it?” they asked in alarm, reaching for the bloodied sleeve.
Xie Lian gave an awkward laugh and quickly moved his arm back out of reach before ultimately deciding to just keep it tucked behind his back. Hua Cheng didn’t miss how it trembled. “Haha, it looks worse than it is. In honesty, it doesn’t even hurt,” he claimed with a reassuring smile. Hua Cheng and Shi Qingxuan both frowned in disapproval. Xie Lian’s shoulders hunched and for a moment it seemed like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I promise I’m fine,” Xie Lian said, still trying to comfort his friend whose eyes were already welling with tears. “I’ll get patched up in a moment..but look at you,” he murmured worriedly, reaching forward to pick a bit of slimy refuse from Qingxuan’s hair. “What happened, A-Xuan?”
The tears Shi Qingxuan had been fighting to hold back finally spilled over. With a broken cry they leaned over and buried their face into Xie Lian’s chest. “Lian-ge, it was awful! I had to hide in a dumpster because some crazy lady was shooting at us and Ming Yi..Ming Yi he..” They didn’t seem able to finish their sentence, the words getting caught in their throat beneath a layer of sobs. Xie Lian frowned and hugged them with his good arm, then glanced over and gave Hua Cheng a worried look.
Hua Cheng pursed his lips and glanced down to the other end of the room where two figures could be seen conversing behind a flimsy privacy curtain. He clenched his jaw and crossed over to them in a few easy strides, opening the curtain with a harsh pull. “He Xuan what the hell are you—“
He stopped in mid sentence. The two figures that had been standing behind the curtain stared at him in mild alarm. One of them was Yin Yu, the ever present dark circles beneath his eyes somehow even more pronounced in that moment. The other was a short, older man, with the countenance of a village elder whose seen far too much to be truly shocked by anything anymore. His name was Dr. Jiang Shi, but most in Ghost City simply called him Little Uncle. Hua Cheng didn’t call him that of course. His titles for the man were usually far more creative and vulgar.
“Out of the way, Old Prick,” Hua Cheng muttered.
Dr. Jiang sighed wearily, then quietly shuffled to the side, offering a clear view of the figure laying on the bed behind him. An uncomfortable weight settled in the pit of Hua Cheng’s stomach.
“Is he dead?” he asked, the question leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
The doctor quickly shook his head. “No Chengzhu. He’s not dead, I can assure you.”
Hua Cheng ground his teeth, glaring at He Xuan’s chest which rose and fell in shallow breaths. “Is he dying?”
Dr. Jiang shared a look with Yin Yu, both men seemingly uncertain on how to answer. Hua Cheng felt a flare of anger in his chest and squared his shoulders at both of them. “I believe that was a simple question. Is. He. Dying?” he repeated, gritting out each word.
The doctor hesitated, but shook his head once more. “No. Not presently, at least,” he said quietly, and Hua Cheng felt that weight inside him grow heavier. He hated it. He hated that He Xuan of all people was making him feel this way. The bastard was proving even to this day that he could find new and novel ways to irritate him. He would have to raise his debt, and then blame it on the cost of medical care.
The room around him had grown oddly silent and he realized that Xie Lian’s friend had stopped crying. He didn’t need to look behind him to realize the two of them were listening in.
He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “You have a new patient,” he told Dr. Jiang. “Stab wound, a few inches deep. You have my permission to use whatever you need to treat him and to do so comfortably,” he said, and then leaned in closer to place a firm hand on the man’s shoulder. “Subject him to any unnecessary pain or discomfort and there will be consequences,” he warned, keeping his voice low so that only the doctor could hear.
Dr. Jiang seemed like he was considering arguing, but whatever he saw in Hua Cheng’s eye made him change his mind. “I understand, Chengzhu. I’ll see to him now,” he conceded before taking a long step to the side to escape his hold. He paused just past the curtain, turning to look back at Yin Yu. “If his vitals should change in any way, please let me know.”
Yin Yu gave him a firm nod and with that the doctor turned and crossed the room to greet Xie Lian. Hua Cheng watched from a distance as the pair exchanged quiet words. Xie Lian seemed hesitant, and for a moment Hua Cheng was worried he wouldn’t let himself be treated at all, but then Shi Qingxuan tugged at Xie Lian’s sleeve and said something that made him finally surrender. He followed the doctor over to another bed and cast Hua Cheng a final nervous look just before a curtain was closed between them.
'He’ll be alright,' Hua Cheng told himself, as though every part of him wasn’t aching to rip those obstructing curtains to shred. 'Just focus. Xie Lian is fine.'
He forced himself to look back at his haggard Waning Moon officer, but even as he turned away he kept his ears strained, listening for any sounds of distress that would warrant his intervention. “Alright. Explain,” he demanded firmly, fixing Yin Yu with a hardened stare.
Yin Yu didn’t ask for clarification. He glanced down at He Xuan, his face as blank as ever, but Hua Cheng knew him far too well by now. He could see the tinge of worry etched into the lines of Yin Yu’s face.
“From what I gathered, he ran into Xuan Ji on his way to the extraction point. She had them pinned down in an alley, forcing a fight. The wounds on his neck are from her. We suspect she poisoned him.”
Hua Cheng muttered out a quiet curse. Of course Black Water would be so unlucky as to run into her of all people. “Do we know what he was injected with?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Did she escape?”
Yin Yu shook his head. “No. Black Water took her down and I’ve sent a small team to see if they can retrieve the body. If she had any sense of self-preservation, then she was likely carrying an antidote on her, or potentially more of the poison itself. Dr. Jiang has done what he can to at least slow down the absorption, but without knowing exactly what he was drugged with, we’re stuck playing a waiting game. That said, we don’t know if the poison was meant to be fatal. Xuan Ji had a reputation of torturing her victims for days at least, so it’s possible she only intended to weaken him.” he said in an uncharacteristic display of optimism. Hua Cheng found comfort in the fact that he wasn’t the only one suffering odd effects resulting from He Xuan’s incompetence.
“Xuan Ji was also known at best to be pyschotic. Qi Rong was practically a beacon of sanity compared to her,” Hua Cheng muttered. He studied He Xuan’s clammy complexion and scowled in annoyance. “Use whatever resources you need to. Charge additional expenses to He Xuan’s accounts,” he ordered, then gave Yin Yu a pointed look. “He’s not allowed to die before he pays his debts. I’ll drag his worthless soul back from hell itself if he thinks death will free him.”
A soft sound, almost like a cough, burst past Yin Yu’s lip and Hua Cheng caught the fleeting remnants of a rare smile. Yin Yu stood up a little taller. “I’ll make sure to remind him there’s no food in hell, Chengzhu,” he said with a small bow.
Hua Cheng smirked. “Threaten his fish too while you’re at it,” he said, and then turned to step away. He couldn’t bare to look at Black Water’s still form any longer. He wanted to fight again, but after blowing up Qi Rong’s den he wasn’t sure there was anyone left in this city that would be stupid enough to face him. He paused, briefly considering the idiot down in the cells. He could fight him, but then again he still needed him in decent shape for the fights next week. The man had a debt to work off after all. Hua Cheng frowned in disappointment and began to mull over his rather pitiful list of potential victims until he heard a soft gasp sound out from behind the closed off curtain.
“Gege?” he called out questioningly, focusing hard on keeping his tone calm.
“Ah, San Lang. It’s alright,” Xie Lian called back, seeming to pick up on his concern anyway. “The disinfectant stung a little, that’s all.”
Hua Cheng’s brows pressed together as he analyzed the little discrepancies in Xie Lian’s voice. It hadn’t been an entirely sincere response, which given the man’s tendencies to brush away his own pains and discomforts came as no surprise. If he could keep Xie Lian with him longer, he would make sure to teach him how to be honest, and to let him know when things hurt or were simply too much. Whatever his burdens were, Hua Cheng would gladly bear them with him, if not take them from his shoulders entirely.
“Gege, may I come in?” he asked, already reaching a hand towards the edge of the curtain.
A pause, and then a quiet shuffling sound like a person might make while fidgeting over scratchy sheets. “If San Lang isn’t busy..” Xie Lian answered timidly, and that was all the permission Hua Cheng needed to finally step inside.
He found Xie Lian laid back on the bed, his arm outstretched and resting on top of a sterile surface as Dr. Jiang hovered over it, a large suture needle in hand. The ruined sleeve had been cut away, exposing the arm, but leaving the rest of Xie Lian still covered, clearly a decision made by the farmer himself. Hua Cheng took a moment to mentally berate himself, feeling stupid for not having considered how Xie Lian might feel exposing himself to someone else, even a doctor.
He quietly walked over to the bedside and knelt down, offering out his hand for Xie Lian to take. The brunette smiled gratefully, his calloused palm resting lightly in Hua Cheng’s as their fingers slotted together like matching pieces of a puzzle. Hua Cheng couldn’t resist pressing a simple kiss to the back of his hand.
“I’m closing him up, now, Chengzhu,” the doctor said without looking up. “He’s lucky. The knife was sharp and left a clean cut. Should heal neatly with proper care.”
Hua Cheng frowned at the reminder that it was one of his own weapons that had left yet another unwanted scar on such a perfect being. He felt Xie Lian give his hand a small squeeze, as if he was the one who needed comforting right now.
“Are you alright?” Xie Lian asked gently. “I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about He Xuan,” he confessed in a quieter voice, aware that Shi Qingxuan was still up and likely listening.
“I’m fine, Gege,” Hua Cheng reassured, pressing his cheek against their joined hands. “And don’t worry about that idiot. He knows better than to die so easily. I have no doubt he’ll continue eating me out of house and home by this time tomorrow.”
Xie Lian gave him a small smile. “It’s good he has people who care about him,” he whispered kindly. Hua Cheng didn’t have it in him to try and correct him. It would take a single-celled moron to truly care about a fish-brained pain-in-the-ass like He Xuan, and Hua Cheng liked to consider himself at least somewhat intelligent.
He watched as Xie Lian’s gaze gradually drifted down towards his right shoulder, concern pressing down on his brow “How’s your arm?” he asked.
Hua Cheng glanced down, realizing he had nearly forgotten about his own wound. “Oh that? It’s just a scratch. I—“ he paused. He had been ready to simply brush it off, but then realized the opportunity that had been laid out before him. His lips twitched into a playful smile. “Actually, it does sting a little. Perhaps if Gege gave me a kiss it would help me feel better,” he hummed, watching with delight as the tips of Xie Lian’s ears blossomed into a lovely shade of red.
“San Lang, how can you be so shameless?” Xie Lian groaned, turning his head one way and then the other as he seemed to realized he presently had no free hand to hide his face behind. Hua Cheng had never felt so blessed.
“Oh, but this shameless one worked so hard last night just to impress you. Did he fall short and disappoint instead? If so, this poor soul would be more than happy to try and make up for it,” he teased, ignoring the bewildered glances Dr. Jiang was sending his way. No doubt this was a shock to the older man, but Hua Cheng could care less about maintaining his image. The only thing that mattered right now was Xie Lian’s health and his beautifully embarrassed expression.
The smaller man was pouting now, gazing up at him with those precious eyes. Hua Cheng wanted to lean in and kiss him, but resisted and pressed his lips once more to Xie Lian’s hand instead. The farmer seemed to eye his own appendage with envy.
“That’s quite the expression, Gege. Do you have something to say?” he asked coyly, glancing over to see Dr. Jiang quietly returning back to his work. It looked like he was already on the last stitch. Hua Cheng had to admit that regardless of his attitude towards the man, Dr. Jiang was rather efficient.
Xie Lian bit his lip, his gaze flicking to Hua Cheng’s mouth and then away again. Hua Cheng smirked knowingly. “If Gege has need of something, he only needs to ask for it. Perhaps I should fetch you some water? Or breakfast?” he suggested, and found himself seriously considering where to order a good meal from after this. Jokes aside they all needed a good meal. Xie Lian opened his mouth to speak, but before he could begin Dr. Jiang gave his arm a light tap and pulled his attention away.
“Stitches are in. I’m going to apply an antibiotic cream and then a bandage. You’ll be all set after that,” he explained. “You’ll want to apply the cream and change the bandages daily,” he continued, trailing off when Hua Cheng gave him an irritated look. “..of course Chengzhu is very familiar with caring for stitches and can explain all this to you later,” Dr. Jiang concluded gruffly, possibly rolling his eyes as he turned away to change out his gloves.
“Thank you for your help, Doctor” Xie Lian said politely, looking relieved that the worst of it was over. Hua Cheng waited until the doctor finished with dressing the wound and had walked away before gently coaxing Xie Lian’s attention back towards him.
“We should get you something to eat, Gege,” he said softly. “And a change of clothes too. I could run and fetch those for you now, or if you’d like I could take you back to my apartment. The choice is yours.”
Xie Lian’s gaze flicked past his shoulder in the direction of Shi Qingxuan’s bed. “I don’t want to leave Qingxuan here by themselves,” he replied, sounding apologetic. “Would it be alright if we ate here? And then afterwards I would want to make sure they get home safely. They deserve that much at least,” he added, guilt evident in his tone. It was clear he blamed himself for their involvement. Hua Cheng wished he knew how to help him understand that he wasn’t responsible for the actions of others. Perhaps in time he could help free the smaller man of those self-imposed chains, but for now it would have to be enough to simply see that his wishes and needs were met.
“I’ll send for breakfast and a change of clothes for all of us, then. As for returning back to your friend’s home, I’ll have to selfishly request you hold off a little longer. You’re both exhausted and I would feel better having you close by, at least until we’re sure there won’t be any more problems,” he murmured, not wanting to risk Xie Lian running into more goons in his tired state. “Stay with me a little while longer, Gege. I’ll take care of you.”
Xie Lian smiled shyly, rolling over onto his side, his bandaged arm tucked against his chest. “I suppose I wouldn’t want San Lang to worry. If Shi Qingxuan is okay with it, I don’t mind staying here a little while longer,” he said, then dropped his gaze down to their joined hands, clearly falling into deep thought. Hua Cheng softly reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
“What’s on your mind, Gege?” he asked softly.
Xie Lian bit his lip nervously. “San Lang mentioned if I wanted something, I need only ask. When you said that, were you being sincere?” he questioned, shifting his free hand to fiddle with the cuff of Hua Cheng’s sleeve.
“I’m always sincere with you,” Hua Cheng replied with a fond smile. “Does Gege have a request?”
The smaller man hesitated, then nodded quietly. “Two requests, actually,” he admitted and Hua Cheng leaned in, intrigued. Xie Lian took a deep breath and continued. “First, after we’ve eaten and rested a bit, I would like a chance talk. I..I have some things I want to tell you, and I think it would be good for Qingxuan and Yin Yu to know as well. He Xuan too if he wakes up.”
Hua Cheng tilted his head, not sure what else he could do but nod in acceptance. “Gege can tell me as much or as little as he wishes. Just know that you don’t owe me an explanation and I never intended to ask you for one.”
Xie Lian raised his gaze, looking at him with bewilderment. “You..you can’t really mean that, San Lang. Given what you’ve learned about me so far, you should want to know just how much danger you’re risking just by being near me. You can’t tell me you aren’t interested to know more about my past.”
Hua Cheng shrugged. “Gege is Gege, no matter what has happened before. All I care to know is how to keep you safe and happy. As for the danger, I’m wounded Gege thinks so little of me. What out there could possibly be a threat to me? Should anyone be so stupid as to come for you, especially in my territory, a slow and painful death would be the least of their concern” he promised with a confident grin. He knew he sounded smug, but he was being honest. Being the leader of Ghost City and surviving all life has thrown at him thus far has left him feeling confident that there was nothing in this world he couldn’t conquer or destroy should he set his mind to it. He didn’t fear death and he certainly didn’t fear Bai Wuxiang.
Xie Lian didn’t seem to know how to process this, looking half ready to scold him for being so reckless while at the same time struggling to accept how much he was cared for. Hua Cheng took pity and gave his hand a small squeeze. “I don’t say that to dismiss you, Gege. I would be honored if you trusted me enough to tell me more about your past. I simply want to make sure you do so because you want to, not out of obligation. The choice is yours.”
Xie Lian relaxed, a soft blush on his cheeks, and offered up a grateful look. “Thank you, San Lang. That means a lot..truly. But I'm certain about my choice. I want you all to be prepared, so I would appreciate it if the mighty Crimson Rain granted me an audience," he replied, the confidence in his eyes unmistakable.
"Consider it granted then," Hua Cheng murmured. "Later though. Once you're rested. For now, I believe Gege had one more request?" he prompted, and found himself biting back a grin as he watched Xie Lian duck his head away shyly.
“Oh..um..well. Right. The second thing,” Xie Lian rambled, running his pink tongue nervously over his lips. “Well, you see, you had mentioned that maybe we could have another kiss once we were back home, and I know this is Paradise Manor so maybe it doesn’t count but then you asked for one earlier and I—“
Hua Cheng leaned forward and gently cut him off with a soft kiss, closing his eyes and letting it linger until Xie Lian fully relaxed beneath him. He then slowly pulled away, pleased at how even a chaste kiss like that could leave Xie Lian looking so happily dazed.
Hua Cheng grinned mischievously.
“Hmm, what do you know.. my arm really does feel better after that,” he smirked. Xie Lian blinked, then burst out laughing and heavy air in the room suddenly felt ten times lighter. It was like seeing the first ray of sunshine after a week of cold rain. Hua Cheng leaned down and peppered more kisses across his face, spurring on that delightful sound until it became branded into the depths of his being, scarring his very soul. Never before had someone else’s joy made him feel so alive.
He wasn’t the only one effected either, it seemed. As he helped move Xie Lian back over to his friend, he noted that they looked notably less gloomy, smiling weakly as they shifted to leave room for Xie Lian to sit beside them. The farmer wordlessly began combing through their hair, picking out bits of trash and moldy food and tossing it into a nearby bin. Hua Cheng made a mental note to have someone go and see that the staff shower was cleaned and made available for them, if only to help get rid of the lingering smell.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he promised, taking a step backwards towards the door. He glanced around and caught Yin Yu’s eye in the back of the room, conveying a silent order with little more than a tilt of his head. Yin Yu sighed wearily and pulled out his phone.
A second later Hua Cheng received a text.
[Forgettable: I humbly request as much caffeine as can be provided and a bagel]
Hua Cheng snorted and restrained from sending back a smartass response. 'Just this once,' he mused, putting his phone back into his pocket and finally slipping back out into the cold and lonely halls of his domain.
Notes:
This scene was supposed to be under 1k words. How it got to over 4k we may never know but it is now its own chapter lol
Enjoy the fluff!
If you hear evil cackling in the distance, ignore it. It's definitely not me. (¬‿¬)
Chapter 14: Here at the Beginning of the End
Chapter Text
This was a dream.
It had to be a dream.
He hadn’t thought of her face in years.
Delicate, warm, and kind.
Love filling her eyes.
“Lian-er, what’s wrong?” his mother asked, crouching before him and wiping the tears from his eyes.
Xie Lian sniffed and looked to scattered pile of golden cards around their feet. “I was making you a castle, but Xiao-Rong kicked it down. Now it’s ruined…” he explained, trying hard not to start crying again. The feat was made easier as his mother pulled him into her arms.
“Oh my darling, nothing’s ruined. This mother feels so blessed that her precious son was trying to build her something so beautiful,” she soothed, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. He couldn’t see it, but he knew there was a mark left behind; a faint echo of the red lipstick she used to love.
“How do you know it was beautiful?” Xie Lian asked quietly, curling into her embrace. “You never even got to see it.”
“That’s simple, sweetheart,” she answered, sounding so confident that Xie Lian was already inclined to believe whatever she told him next. “I know it was beautiful because you built it out of love. So how could it be anything but?”
Xie Lian smiled bashfully, tucking his face into her shirt. The faint scent of jasmine kissed his nose. “I want to build you another one,” he declared. “It’ll be even bigger this time. Prettier too. I’ll build it with lots and lots of love just for you.”
Her laughter washed over him like the trickle of a forest spring, bubbly and full of life. “I can’t wait to see it then. But perhaps you can build this grand castle tomorrow? It’s dinner time and I suspect my little Lian-er must be hungry. Why don't we have some of my famous “Exalted Summer’s Eve Cold Soup,” she suggested, rising to her feet and offering out her hand.
Xie Lian latched onto it eagerly, his sorrows easily forgotten as he followed after his mother like a little duckling. As they walked, pieces of paper began to drift down around them, shimmering in shades of gold as they spun lazily in their descent. Xie Lian watched them with wonder and delight, admiring their beauty. He found himself stopping and holding out a hand, catching a small piece in his palm. He examined it curiously. It looked like the corner of one of the cards he had been playing with earlier, a delicate Q embossed on one side.
“Mama…Mama, look,” he called, turning to show her, only to find that she wasn’t beside him. Instead, she was standing far away at the end of a long corridor, her hand outstretched towards him.
He began to run towards her, flakes of golden paper kicking up in his wake. “Mama, wait for me!” he shouted, already a little breathless. As he ran the corridor seemed to grow longer and the golden paper began to fall harder,
faster,
sharper.
Soon it was cutting into his skin. He winced as one particularly sharp piece sliced just along his brow, causing blood to drip over his eye.
“Mama, it hurts,” he whined, stumbling over his feet as he tried to clear his vision. More cuts and more blood, and he couldn’t bring himself to stop running. He had to get to her. She could make it stop. She could make it all better.
He finally managed to scrub away enough of the blood to open his eyes again and caught sight of his mother’s skirt. Relieved, he charged forward, colliding into her legs and clinging on with bloodied hands as her body swayed from the impact.
She moved slowly.
Swinging back...
...and forth.
Like a pendulum.
Xie Lian wiped his face on her skirt and looked down.
His mother's feet weren’t touching the ground.
His body began to tremble. He was scared to look up. He didn’t want to see.
Not again.
Please not again
A hand rested on his shoulder and Xie Lian turned...
and then all he saw was white.
Xie Lian jerked awake in a cold sweat and whipped his head towards the figure looming beside his bed. Yin Yu stared back at him with his usual blank visage.
“If you could release my hand, I would appreciate it greatly,” Yin Yu said in a quiet drone.
Xie Lian blinked owlishly at him and looked down, realizing he had the man’s hand twisted into a simple wrist lock. He gently rotated it back to a less painful position and let go. “Ahahaha..I’m sorry about that. I, um, sometimes startle easily in my sleep,” he explained sheepishly, still trying to shake off the lingering remnants of his nightmare. "Does it hurt?" he asked, hoping he hadn't actually caused any damage.
Yin Yu rolled it experimentally, his face giving away nothing. "It's fine," he finally answered. Xie Lian sighed in relief, but he couldn't shake the faint suspicion that Yin Yu might have given the same answer even if his wrist had been cut clean off. An awkward silence trickled into the space between them and Xie Lian began to look around the room, trying to recall the events leading up this point. He remembered being rescued, riding through the city, being sewn up, taking a hot shower…
A blush spread from the tips of Xie Lian’s ears all the way down to his shoulders as he recalled San Lang offering to help him with said shower. Xie Lian had almost been ready to accept his offer, his consent fighting his way through a jumble of vowels and consonants, but then Yin Yu had shown up and reminded them both that Hua Cheng still had an organization to run.
San Lang, true to his nature, had protested, claiming he had more important things to do, but once Xie Lian had assured him he could help him wash up some other time he had left to go face his responsibilities with a satisfied grin. Xie Lian himself had taken a rather cold shower after that, reciting excerpts from “Building Blocks of a Healthy Farm” over and over until his head was more occupied with facts about squash than conjured images of a wet, naked..
A polite cough drew Xie Lian’s mind back out of the gutter and he turned back to Yin Yu with a nervous smile, hoping the man hadn’t somehow been able to read his mind.
“How long was I asleep?” he asked, trying to refocus his thoughts. He made sure to keep his voice soft and quiet for the sake of Shi Qingxuan, who was still sleeping soundly nearby.
“A few hours. It’s early afternoon now,” Yin Yu explained. “I would have let you keep sleeping, but something has come up. Something I believe you need to be made aware of.”
The seriousness of Yin Yu’s tone sobered Xie Lian quickly and a sense of unease planted itself in his chest. He opened his mouth, a question hovering on the tip of his tongue, but Yin Yu shook his head and took a step towards the door. ’Not here then,' Xie Lian thought, realizing that whatever the man had to say wasn’t something he wished to be overheard.
Quietly, Xie Lian slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of shoes, following Yin Yu out of the room and into the hall. Zhu was sat just outside, leaning against the opposite wall with a block of wood in one hand and a knife in the other. A small wooden boar sat on the floor beside him.
'How cute,' Xie Lian thought, amazed by the sort of people San Lang had chosen to surround himself with. Zhu looked up, his face mottled with colorful bruises, and gave them both a polite nod before returning to his craft.
“Zhu’s been assigned to keep watch,” Yin Yu explained. “Not that there’s any risk of trouble at the moment. It’s more along the lines that Hua Cheng didn’t want you to be disturbed while you rested.”
“I see. That’s very thoughtful of him,” Xie Lian hummed, hoping that there weren’t other members of Ghost City in need of the clinic. He felt bad using up so many resources, especially knowing how hard it was to get medical supplies. He wondered if there was any way he could help pay San Lang back. Maybe he could bring him fresh produce from his next harvest and offer to help cook a hearty meal for his crew. That would be nice wouldn’t it? A voice of dissonance, one which sounded like Feng Xin and Mu Qing combined, piped up in the back of his head, reminding him that he barely grew enough to feed himself sometimes let alone a whole criminal organization. Xie Lian sighed despondently, realizing he’d have to think of something else.
He looked up at Yin Yu, wondering if he might have a suggestion on how he could help, when he realized he’d been trailing after the man rather blindly. Xie Lian took a glance behind him and noticed that nothing looked familiar. Or rather, it did look familiar, but only in the sense that every hall seemed identical. He turned back around and to his alarm just barely caught a glimpse of Yin Yu turning a corner. He quickly jogged to catch up, thinking it would be just his luck to fall behind and get lost. He rounded the same corner and immediately had to stumble to a halt, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest as he narrowly avoided a collision with the unassuming Ghost City officer.
“Please stick close,” Yin Yu instructed, appearing entirely unphased. “This place is designed to be confusing.”
“Haha, I think I’m starting to realize that. It must be terrible for new recruits to find their way. Hopefully you give them maps so you don’t end up with actual ghosts” he tried to joke. It was met with a flat look. A beat of silence, and then Yin Yu heaved a sigh that could only be registered as disappointment before he turned back around and led on.
Xie Lian hurried after him if only to avoid further embarrassment. “So…may I ask where we’re going?” He was aware that at this point it was a bit of a foolish question. After all, his only options now were to continue following Yin Yu or risk getting lost in the labyrinth-like corridors, likely to wither away before someone finally found him. He eyed his guide up and down, realizing perhaps he had gone about this rather naively. He wondered what the chances were that Yin Yu was secretly leading him to some dark cell to lock him away or potentially do something worse.
“My office,” Yin Yu answered simply. “This matter will be best handled in private.”
’That definitely sounds like he’s going to kill me,’ Xie Lian thought wearily, wishing he felt more surprised or apprehensive about his inevitable doom. Then again, he could probably fight back. Actually, he should probably fight back. It would be inconvenient if he died now. Banyue couldn’t keep watching over his farm forever. Though he supposed if he didn’t make it back the animals could at least find new homes easily enough. Or at least the chickens could anyway. Chickens were useful. Ol’ Nianqing was…well he had his charms.
Aside from the farm, though, he knew that if he died Shi Qingxuan would be sad and he really didn’t want them to suffer any more grief because of him. And then there was San Lang. Xie Lian liked to think it wasn’t foolish to believe San Lang would grieve him too. As short a time as they’d known each other, being with San Lang came as naturally as breathing. For better or for worse it felt like they were forever connected, bound by a red string between both their hearts. Xie Lian’s chest ached. He knew he would need to go home. He wasn’t sure he wanted to.
One thing Xie Lian had noticed about the latest hall was the small statues tucked away into narrow alcoves along the walls. They all seemed beautifully done, featuring dancers in flowing garbs, twirling and leaping while balancing silver trays in their outstretched hands. Yin Yu stopped in front of one in particular. It was of a smiling woman bending gracefully backwards in their direction, one arm stretched out as if offering her tray to them. Her skirt looked so delicate that Xie Lian was half convinced if he reached out to touch it he would feel like silk instead of stone.
“These statues are incredible. Did San Lang pick them out?”
“In a way. He carved these himself,” Yin Yu answered as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, velvet bag.
Xie Lian soaked that fact up like a sponge, his eyes widened in awe. “He made these? They’re extraordinary! I had no idea he was so talented,” he praised, turning back to the statue to admire every tiny little detail. He could almost picture San Lang carving it, holed up in some studio throughout the night as he coaxed life out of dead stone. He’d have to ask San Lang what else he had created. Maybe he’d even let Xie Lian watch him work on his next project.
“Chengzhu seems to have a natural talent for whatever he puts his mind to. It was fortunate that when we suggested he find a…” he paused, seeming to struggle to find the right words. “…I’ll say less destructive way to spend his free time, he gravitated to the arts. It’s better for the city he spends his hours idling away in his studio rather than growing restless and prowling the streets.”
Xie Lian didn’t really know how to respond to that other than to smile and nod. He hesitated to ask just how much destruction San Lang had caused before being introduced to the joy of creation. Then again, San Lang had blown up a building this morning while they were still inside it, so perhaps Xie Lian really didn’t need to ask at all. He could picture it easily enough on his own.
From the velvet bag Yin Yu pulled out what looked like a pair of metal dice and dropped them into the tray. Xie Lian noticed he rolled two sixes. A second later, a panel clicked open to the left of the statue and Yin Yu pushed on it to reveal a secret entrance. “This way, please,” he said, collecting the dice and stepping through. Xie Lian paused a moment to inspect the statue with bright-eyed curiosity before quickly following after him.
“How does the statue work? It can’t be as complicated as rolling a certain number right?” Xie Lian asked, looking around to find himself in a rather large room. Despite it’s size, it was decorated quite plainly, featuring furniture one might see in any corporate office…or at least the one corporate office Xie Lian had ever been to. During his homeless period in the city he had once been rather aggressively recruited into a program to help get people off the streets by matching them with jobs. Xie Lian had been showered, dressed an ill-fitting suit, and then driven to a corporate office for an interview with the promise of free food. He had failed the interview spectacularly, but at least the foot long sub he had gotten as a reward had been nice. He remembered he had been able to make it last three whole days!
Yin Yu hesitated, then reached out and dropped the bag dice into Xie Lian’s hand. He found that they were surprisingly heavy. “These are specially weighted. A gram more or less and the lock won’t release,” Yin Yu explained.
“I see. How clever!” Xie Lian praised before handing them back over. “It must be a pain should you ever misplace them though.”
At that Yin Yu almost seemed to smirk, or perhaps Xie Lian had simply imagined it because he blinked and it was gone. “It was Chengzhu’s idea to use the dice,” Yin Yu hummed, tucking them back into his pocket. “But fortunately he also agreed to my suggestion to include a secondary access panel.”
Xie Lian pressed a hand to his mouth to muffle his giggle. For all of Yin Yu’s perceived detachment and aloofness, the man certainly had a sense of humor. 'San Lang’s fortunate to have someone so reliable working for him,' he mused to himself, feeling less worried that Yin Yu had secret aims to try and get rid of him. The man was clearly far too clever to risk his life so carelessly.
“Tea?” Yin Yu offered, heading towards a small dry bar on the far wall. An electric kettle sat on top along with a stack of mugs and a simple selection of store bought teas.
“That would be lovely, thank you,” Xie Lian said, feeling rather parched. Yin Yu nodded and gestured for him to have a seat in one of the chairs by the desk. Xie Lian did so and as time passed by, marked by the echoing tick of the clock on the wall, all the questions he had been holding back began to nag at him. He had thought this was something urgent, but maybe he misunderstood? Why would Yin Yu be wasting time making tea otherwise? He bit his cheek, wanting to be patient, but with each passing second his imagination began to run wild. What if it had to do with San Lang? He hadn’t seen the man since this morning. Nothing had happened to him right? Or could it be Yin Yu wanted to interrogate him about his relationship to Qi Rong? He was already prepared to try to explain that, but that didn’t seem right either. Yin Yu had said that he had something to tell him, not the other way around.
As he stewed in his thoughts a warm cup of tea was gently placed down before him. Xie Lian cursed himself for getting so distracted again. He looked up just as Yin Yu was seating himself on the other side of the desk and for a moment Xie Lian felt he understood what it was like for a student to be suddenly sat before their headmaster.
“Um,” Xie Lian began, sitting up a little taller and reminding himself that they were two grown men and not a child and their teacher. “You said there was something you needed to tell me?” he prompted cautiously, uncertain if he really wanted to know what this was about.
“I do. But first I should show you something,” Yin Yu said, appearing to have trouble meeting Xie Lian’s gaze now. It was then that Xie Lian realized that perhaps the time spent making tea wasn’t only for his sake. Yin Yu was nervous.
“I ask you please keep this to yourself,” Yin Yu continued. “I’m sure you’ll understand why.” Xie Lian nodded and found himself fiddling apprehensively with the collar of his shirt. He watched as Yin Yu rolled up his sleeve to reveal a band of black silk wrapped from half way down his forearm up to the middle of his palm. Slowly it began to unravel and Xie Lian felt his heart stop as a familiar pattern of black ink was revealed, split along the inside of the wrist by a jagged scar.
“Your highness,” Yin Yu said and Xie Lian paled at the old moniker. It had been a nickname, nothing more, used at first to make light of his position. Over time it had simply become another name, one of many he’d been forced to accept in place of his own.
“Don’t call me that,” Xie Lian rasped, his hand trembling as it brushed over his own silk band. “Please don’t ever call me that.”
“I apologize. Xie Lian, please breathe. I wanted to show this to you as a form of trust. You know the weight of this mark, the threat it promises. Revealing this to you isn’t a decision I made lightly.”
Xie Lian swallowed thickly. He knew that. Of course he did. He understood the fear and paranoia that came from carrying his brand better than anyone. Removing it was technically possible, but even if Xie Lian could ever afford such a procedure it simply wasn’t worth the risk of being discovered. He looked at the scar on Yin Yu’s wrist. That too had been an option, but after his first failed attempt Xie Lian had never quite been willing to try again.
“Does San Lang know?” Xie Lian asked, wondering just how big a secret this was.
Yin Yu nodded, slowly wrapping his wrist back up. “He does. And so does Black Water, but that’s all. I owe them both my life in more ways than one. If you’re concerned that I may be a threat, I assure you that as things are I’m less of a threat than you. My face has always been easily forgotten. Yours, not so much.”
Xie Lian frowned, suddenly wondering if his concerns about Yin Yu possibly wanting to get rid of him weren’t so far fetched after all. “If you have something to say, do so plainly,” he warned, already cataloging every makeshift weapon in reach and trying to calculate just how many potential hidden weapons Yin Yu might have. If it came to a fight it would be best to take him down swiftly.
Yin Yu stilled, seeming to realize he might have unintentionally stepped into a minefield. He moved slowly, sitting back in his chair and eyeing Xie Lian like a caged beast. “Please don’t misunderstand. My goal is to aid both you and Chengzhu to the best of my abilities. As such, you need to understand that your presence risks trouble. Please take a look at this.”
Xie Lian watched cautiously, muscles coiled and tensed, as Yin Yu turned one of the monitors around on his desk so that Xie Lian had a clear view of the image on screen. It was of two men standing outside of Shi Qingxuan’s apartment. Xie Lian frowned and leaned in for a better look. One of them he was certain he didn’t know, but the other one however..
His head throbbed. A memory of a handsome, older man sparring with him in a padded room. Of that same man taking his hands and wiping away the blood, muttering about how his uncle wouldn’t care for the mess. He could see his broad back as he disposed of the bodies, tossing them into the river below because at the time Xie Lian didn’t have the strength to heave them over the edge. “Senior Pei?” He breathed out shakily.
Yin Yu nodded. “I assume you wouldn’t recognize the other. He joined after you had left. His name is Shi Wudu, also known as The Tyrant of the Heavenly Court. They were seen arguing outside the building briefly before going inside. This was about an hour ago.”
Xie Lian’s breath hitched, realizing while he didn’t know the face he certainly knew the name. How could he not? How often was it that Shi Qingxuan would bring up their absent brother, complaining about his overbearing nature one moment and then lamenting about how much they missed him the next. It was almost laughably absurd to think that this whole time Xie Lian had been dancing on the edge of a cliff, only a phone call away from the very man who haunted his nightmares. He honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He ended up doing both, no doubt looking like he had completely lost it.
Was his luck really so awful? And what about Shi Qingxuan? He doubted that they knew who their brother really worked for. And the fact that Shi Wudu had never shown up to meet him in person before shows that they likely hadn’t been telling their brother much about him. He could be grateful for that at least. Except now it seemed that Shi Wudu might have found out about him anyway. The how didn’t matter. What was important was that Shi Qingxuan was likely in serious danger, and they weren't the only ones at risk.
He breathed out slowly, willing himself to calm down. He needed to think clearly. He needed a plan. He glanced over at the man across from him, who had been eyeing him with some concern. Yin Yu had shown him his brand as a sign of trust and right now Xie Lian was going to have to hold him to it.
“Shi Wudu is Shi Qingxuan’s brother,” he said, in case Yin Yu wasn’t already aware. “But Shi Qingxuan doesn’t know he’s affiliated with Bai Wuxiang. It’s unlikely they’ve told him much about me, but I’ll need to speak with them to be sure. For now, though, if we assume they’ve told him nothing, what are the chances that those two know I’m in the city?”
Yin Yu took a deep breath, thinking carefully. “There’s not many here who really know who you are as well as the value of that information. If we exclude Shi Qingxuan as well as myself, Black Water, and Hua Cheng, then the only other person who might have known is Qi Rong, who just so happened to have been seen meeting with these two a couple nights back.”
Xie Lian took this into consideration, resting his chin in his hand. “I don’t think Qi Rong knew until last night that I was even alive. He seemed as shocked to see me as I was to see him,” he murmured, trying to swallow the familial guilt that came with knowing that he watched his cousin get shot and then left him to die. ‘Left to die… Meaning we didn’t actually see him die,’ Xie Lian realized.
“Yin Yu, did you send anyone to confirm if Qi Rong was actually dead?”
“Unfortunately it’s been less than half a day and there was a rather substantial amount of bodies. I have ghosts planted and on the look out, but have not received any word so far.”
Xie Lian frowned grimly, uncomfortable with the amount of uncertainty they were dealing with. If Qi Rong had somehow survived then he’d be more than happy to sell Xie Lian out to the highest bidder, which more than likely would be Bai Wuxiang himself.
Yin Yu leaned forward again, resting his elbows on the desk. “You must know that even if no one has told them directly, Pei Ming and Shi Wudu have been in the city for several days now. During his hunt for you, Bai Wuxiang made sure everyone in the upper court had your face burned into their memory. It would only take a passing glance for them to recognize you,” he stated gently. “As soon as he finds out you’re here…” he began, than trailed off, likely realizing he really didn’t need to finish that thought.
Xie Lian didn’t need to be told what Bai Wuxiang would do once he was discovered. He already knew from experience. His stomach churned as he pictured all the people he knew back in Puqi Village, all the faces of those who’ve suffered because of him and his mistakes. They had forgiven him far too easily. He hadn’t deserved their kindness, but they gave it to him anyway. Puqi Village had become the home he’d never thought he’d had, and while it wasn’t glamorous it had been truly his.
His shoulders slumped as he realized what had to be done. He needed to go back. They needed to be warned. And then after that he would need to do whatever it took to lead Bai Wuxiang’s gaze away from Yong’an.
He bit his lip, telling himself not to cry. His golden palace might be falling down, but it had been beautiful while it lasted.
“I need to get to Rouye. I need to leave the city before I’m officially discovered,” he said with a shuddering breath.
“I can have someone grab your truck, but it might be better if you took a different car,” Yin Yu suggested. “Yours is rather...unique. I can source an alternative ride for you and then we can use your truck as a decoy.”
Xie Lian’s fingers dug harshly into his legs. Yin Yu was right of course, but the thought of abandoning Rouye felt like another blow to the stomach. He forced himself to nod, not trusting himself to speak for a moment.
“I need to talk to Shi Qingxuan too. They need to know the danger they’re in and deserve to know why I’m leaving. When I’m gone do you think that…”
“Your friend is under our protection. We can set them up in a safe house if it’s too dangerous for them to go back home,” Yin Yu said. Xie Lian gave him a grateful look, glad that the man seemed to understand him so easily.
“One more thing,” Xie Lian said with a heavy sigh, knowing that this might be the hardest. He’d wish he’d known their time together would be so short. There was so much else he wanted to do. He just hoped the man wouldn’t be too upset. Xie Lian drew in a shaky breath and forced himself to meet Yin Yu’s gaze, a wobbly smile on his lips.
“Could you please tell me where San Lang is?”
Notes:
I'm not crying, you're crying.
Happy December!
Also there might only be one or two chapters left before I end Part II! Do not fear. There is a Part III.
TW: Implied/Ref Suicide Attempt
Chapter 15: UPDATE
Chapter Text
Sorry, not a chapter, I just didn't want to leave you all hanging 😄
I sort of had a last minute brain wave and now this chapter is under heavy construction, but it is coming! SOON!
Thank you for your patience!
Sincerely,
GhostThreads 👻
P.S. Feel free to roast me in the comments
Chapter 16: There's a Devil in the Church
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
San Lang, as it turned out, was in hell. Or at least that’s what he would claim as he sat in a private room at the back of the Rising Orchid. Cheap floral fragrances assaulted his senses, clawing their way into the depths of his mind to leave behind imagery he didn’t care for and dredge up memories he cared for even less. His nose crinkled into a slight sneer, catching the attention of the woman seated across from him.
“Is something not to your liking, Chengzhu?” she asked, batting her eyes playfully. “You’ll have to forgive me. If I had known you were coming instead of Black Water, I might have tried to cater more to your preferences,” she said, gesturing to the spread of food and drink in between them. “Though there’s still time to make corrections of course, whether to the food or perhaps the company itself? It’s a little early, but I have a couple workers around that might suit your tastes.”
Hua Cheng kept his face impassive as his gaze flicked around the room, briefly noting the small stage arranged for private dances. The Rising Orchid was Yongan’s worst kept secret, legally operating as a strip club, but well known as a reputable brothel. Hua Cheng never particularly cared for it nor any establishments of its kind, though that had less to do with the nature of the work and more to do with the sort of people it attracted.
At best they were sniveling pigs, greedy and gluttonous and desperate for intimacy in its most basic form; true representatives of the folly of man. At worse, however, they were vile, sadistic beasts, seeing the workers as little more than victims for hire. These were the sort of clients his mother had seemed to attract more often than not. Cruel men that would swing between smiles and sneers, gentle hands and heavy fists. These were the sort of men who would keep returning to their home, taking from his mother more and more and more, until one day even that wasn’t enough.
The scar beneath his eye throbbed and Hua Cheng clenched his jaw and shifted his focus back to the present. Madam Lan Chang was still there, still maintaining her “prim and proper” guise, as if he wasn’t already aware of her true personality. She had a vocabulary that could rival Qi Rong’s if anyone cared to try her, though fortunately that’s where their similarities ended. Unlike the (hopefully) recently deceased, Lan Chang tended to use her brash personality for the benefit of others, particularly her workers. In fact, when Hua Cheng had first taken over the neighborhood surrounding the Rising Orchid, she had stormed her way over to Paradise Manor and shoved her way up to the second floor where Hua Cheng had been enjoying a game of dice.
“Disband it?! The hell you will! That place is our livelihood! Most of us don’t know any other kind of work and honestly we don’t want any other kind of work. We just want protections. You hear me, fucking Chengzhu or whatever-the-fuck you’re called. I wanna bet for ownership of the Rising Orchid, so you can either accept or just shoot me right here.”
Needless to say, Hua Cheng had not shot her right there and in a quick game of high-or-low the fate of the Rising Orchid was decided. Disposing of the previous owner had been an easy job. After that, he had set up an arrangement with the newly appointed Madam. He would assign some of his crew to her establishment as security and in exchange, she would pass along whatever gossip and intel her workers seduced from clients. Black Water was meant to serve as the point of contact, attending these meetings and gathering up potential blackmail, but given that the idiot was still in dreamland and Yin Yu had other assignments, the job had temporarily fallen to Hua Cheng himself.
“What would suit my tastes right now is for us to wrap up this meeting as soon as possible. I’m afraid I have other places to be,” he answered her, his tone neutral as he reminded himself that being an annoyance didn’t make someone an enemy. Besides, it wasn’t as if she knew she was the reason he wasn’t lying in bed with god’s gift to mankind right now. No, if anyone was to blame it was Yin Yu for insisting that this meeting was somehow important. The traitor had even done so right in front of Gege, who had naturally insisted that he tend to his responsibilities.
‘Gege really must learn to be a little more greedy. If he was, we’d both be back in my apartment by now,’ Hua Cheng lamented, as if he wasn’t endeared by Xie Lian’s sense of duty and selflessness.
Lan Chang smirked and leaned forward, the front of her top drooping to reveal what, to most people, would probably be a tantalizing amount of cleavage. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can’t offer you, Chengzhu?” she asked coyly. “I employ some lovely men, you know. There’s one in particular who’s quite popular. Doe eyed, long hair, soft skin…” She trailed off as she found herself on the receiving end of Crimson Rain’s famous steely-eyed glare. To Hua Cheng’s further vexation she only seemed to revel in it.
“Naughty, Chengzhu. Is that a knife in your pocket or did I make you think of someone in particular?” she teased, wiping an amused tear from her eye. “No need to look at me like that, though. One of my girls saw you at the night market. Told me you were on a date. I didn’t believe her at first, but I guess at the end of the day you’re as human as the rest of us,” she snorted. “He must be quite something.”
Hua Cheng glowered and rose to his feet. He wasn’t about to show his hand and tell her that he was more than just something. He was everything. “If you’ve had your fun, Lan Chang, I’ll be taking my leave,” he said curtly, already formulating plans on how to make Yin Yu pay for wasting his time. ‘Important, he said. Bullshit,’ he thought to himself and then began wondering if Xie Lian had eaten lunch yet.
“Hey, wait a second,” Lan Chang called, rising up and blocking his retreat. “There is one thing you should be made aware of. No jokes this time, I promise.”
Hua Cheng frowned and studied her for a moment, annoyed to find that she seemed sincere. “You have five seconds then. Make them count.”
“I only need one,” she said, reaching into her shirt and retrieving a small, plastic bag. “This was snatched off a customer last night. Bastard came in high as a kite and started getting more handsy than he could afford. When your men tried to remove him he went ballistic, acting like a one man army. Unfortunately for him he didn’t have the strength to back it up.”
Hua Cheng took the bag from her and held it out into the light, examining its contents. It was filled with a chalky powder, light grey and, at least to Hua Cheng’s eye, somewhat familiar. “Where’s the man now?” he asked, opening the bag and giving a cautious sniff.
“Not sure. We took the cash he had on him and had him tossed in one of the skips out back. When I sent someone to check on him later he was gone. He’s a regular though. A Cheapskate. I don’t allow clients to bring in their own medications, if you catch my meaning. If they need assistance enjoying themselves I have plenty of herbal remedies in stock, but sometimes they’ll buy off the street and prep themselves ahead of time. Mostly that means they’re just on low-grade Land of the Tender, making them more horny than usual, but otherwise harmless. In this case though, I’m not sure what he bought,” she said, eyeing the bag warily.
Hua Cheng hummed and picked up a tiny amount of the powder on his pinky. He gave it a small taste before turning his head to spit it back out. “This regular, do you know where he usually gets his supply from?”
Lan Chang nodded, watching him carefully as if she thought he too would now succumb to the drugs effects. He just might, but such a small amount ingested orally would need some time to work its way through his system. “I talked to one of the workers he favored,” she answered, “A girl named Su. She says he orders through a runner kid named Guzi somewhere around the theater district.”
Hua Cheng pursed his lips. The theater district was disputed territory, which meant if the kid wasn’t operating independently he had probably been working for Qi Rong. Even in death the idiot continued to be an irksome pest. If the man got a grave he’d be sure to have some dogs trained to piss on it.
‘Focus,’ he told himself, realizing his thoughts were already starting to wander. ‘Strange. It’s stronger than I remember,’ he thought grimly. He’d need to leave soon before anymore of his self-control began to wane.
“Chengzhu?” Lan Chang called, eyeing him now with mild concern. He brushed her off with a dismissive wave.
“I’m fine. It’s Land of the Tender mixed with Tonglu Dust,” he explained, watching her eyes widen. It was a reasonable response, given the fact that Tonglu dust hadn’t been in circulation since Hua Cheng’s rise to power. Once Ghost City was established, demand for it had dropped and those supplying it had disappeared. Most people were happy to forget it ever existed, if only so they could forget the brutality of the monsters it had awoken.
‘All of them forgotten except you, the worse of them all’ a voice chided in the back of his head, as if he needed reminding. Of course he had been the worse. He had been a monster from the start. No one else had stood a chance. He could still recall the sight of their blood dripping like rain, staining the ground all around him as frightened lips gave birth to his new moniker. How old had he been then? He wasn’t quite sure. If Gege had met him back then, would things have turned out as they are now? Or would one of them have just become another bloodied print on the other’s path?
His phone buzzed and he surfaced from his thoughts, realizing he was drifting again. He needed to leave. “Check your stash before you dole it out to customers,” he instructed, pushing past her towards the door. “And keep an ear out for any more information on distributors. Ghost City will handle the rest.”
“Yes, Chengzhu,” she said, trailing after him as he slipped off towards the rear exit. She parted ways as he reached the company of the two men he had brought along with him, slipping back into the depths of her establishment as Hua Cheng stepped out into the chill. He felt warm. That wasn’t right. That was too quick. He hadn’t—
“Sir?” one of his men called, holding open the car door. Hua Cheng clenched his fists and breathed deep, trying to quell the steady rage rising inside him. He could still taste the acrid floral scents from the incense, disguising the drugs he had been inhaling for the past half hour. This meeting had been a setup.
“Back to Paradise Manor,” he instructed. “Quickly. And tell Waning Moon to clear the pit and have it ready.”
A quick affirmation and the man closed his door before climbing up front with the driver. Hua Cheng closed his eyes, digging his fingers into his thighs as he tried to maintain his rationality. Had this trap been for Black Water or for him? And who had been involved? Lan Chang was the obvious suspect, but not only did she not have a motive, she had been sitting in the room with him. She herself had been getting quite antsy towards the end, an effect of the drug, and no doubt would be suffering with her own battle of will power for the next several hours.
No, he was confidant that it had been one of her workers. Someone who had set up the room beforehand expecting Black Water to arrive. With the amount of food provided, the gluttonous bastard would have been breathing in that drug for an hour at least. He most likely would have started rampaging at the Rising Orchid itself. It would have been a blood bath. Black Water may not be a match for him, but that didn’t mean anyone else stood a chance. Hopped up on Tonglu dust it’s possible that fish-for-brains would have destroyed every last person in that building before turning his bloodlust on the rest of an unsuspecting city.
There would have been police, public scrutiny, and calls for action. Ghost City’s hold on Yong’an would have been weakened. Hua Cheng sneered as he realized that this wasn’t just some petty Green Lantern plot. Someone clever had concocted this plan. Someone dangerous. It was unlucky for them, then, that the impatient Crimson Rain had attended that meeting instead of Black Water. Even more so that he was experienced with the effects of Tonglu dust. So long as he managed to isolate himself things would be fine. It was just a shame that would mean it would be that much longer until he laid eyes on Xie Lian again.
His phone buzzed once again and he continued to ignore it. It was probably only Yin Yu and he didn’t need to be given more reasons to be irritated. Whatever the man had to say would have to wait, at least until the monster inside him was subdued once more.
Back in the medical ward, Xie Lian sighed softly as he lifted his head and took another look at the clock on the wall. Each passing second seemed to cause his nerves to pulse, building on his already fathomless anxiety. ‘Where is he?’ Xie Lian thought as he cast his eyes towards the door, hoping at any moment to see San Lang’s familiar figure burst through it. To his disappointment they remained firmly shut.
In an effort to distract himself he looked down at Shi Qingxuan, who was lying on the bed with their arms latched around his waist. Their grip had become slack in the last few minutes and Xie Lian hoped they had finally fallen back asleep. They needed the rest. Learning the truth about their brother hadn’t been easy and learning that Xie Lian intended to leave had seemed to hit them even harder.
..................
“I don’t understand why you have to go. You said Ghost City can protect me, so can’t they protect you too?” They had asked, clinging to him tightly as if he planned to run out the door right that second.
“I have no doubt they /would/ protect me,” Xie Lian answered honestly, “But that’s not the point. My presence will only aggravate the situation and distract San Lang. Heaven’s Court will use every tactic they know to subvert Ghost City’s hold and he needs to be focused and prepared to face them,” he explained. “Aside from that, there are people out there who are depending on me. They need to be warned that Heaven is approaching and I need to do what I can to see that they’re kept safe. I owe them that much at least.”
“But what if they still find you somehow? You won’t have anyone to help you.”
‘That’s not particularly true,’ Xie Lian thought, thinking that there were at least a few people back an Puqi that might offer him aid, if only because of their own personal vendettas against Bai Wuxiang. In fact, he’d probably have a hard time convincing them not to fight, but if all went well he wouldn’t have to.
His plan was simple: Return to Puqi, collect what little evidence there was of his existence, and then let Yushi Huang know of the danger. If the towns people were going to listen to anyone, it would be her, and she’s not the sort to let people throw away their lives so easily. By the time she’s called a meeting and passed along the news, Xie Lian would be well on his way, readying to make good on the promise he had made years ago.
“I have a plan,” he assured Shi Qingxuan. “And a backup plan,” he added with a false smile when they didn’t seem convinced. He decided not to tell them that both his plans were actually counting on him being found, just in a different city far away from here.
“Do either of those plans end up with you coming back here?” they asked skeptically. “Or me going with you?”
Xie Lian lowered his gaze then, slowly shaking his head. That was about the time Shi Qingxuan had tackled him about the waist, refusing to let go as they stained yet another shirt with their tears.
..................
Now, as Xie Lian gently extracted himself from their arms, he found himself moved by how much Shi Qingxuan truly cared for him. Words would never be enough to express how grateful he was for their kindness and friendship.
“I’m really going to miss you, Qingxuan,” he whispered, adjusting the thin hospital blanket over their shoulders to keep them warm. “I hope you keep being loud and happy. I hope you finally find love with someone who can match your crazy, just like you keep wishing for. You deserve someone who appreciates you for who you are, inside and out. You’re the best friend I could have ever had. I wish you a good life and I hope that one day, possibly in another lifetime, we’ll meet again.”
With that Xie Lian turned away, letting his final goodbye go unheard as he slipped back out into the hall. He found Yin Yu standing just outside the door, presumably waiting for him.
“Have you finished then?” Yin Yu asked patiently.
Xie Lian nodded, blinking the moisture from his eyes. “Yes. They’re asleep again, and might still be upset when they wake up, but I’ve said what I needed to. Have you heard from San Lang yet?”
“In a way,” Yin Yu replied cryptically. He began to walk down the hall and gestured for Xie Lian to follow. “He’s ignoring direct messages,” he explained, “but one of the men he was with passed along a request for the fighting pit to be prepared. I can only assume Hua Cheng is in a bad mood.”
Xie Lian winced, feeling a bit sorry for Yin Yu. The man looked as tense as a steel beam and he wondered if he was ever given any holidays to relax. “If he’s in a bad mood now, I don’t imagine I’m about to make things any better,” he commented, still unsure of how San Lang was going to take it.
“Probably not, but it’s unavoidable at this point. You don’t have time to wait for him to calm down,” Yin Yu sighed before he began mumbling to himself under his breath. Something about a will, flowers, and possibly a shidi? Xie Lian tried to pretend not to hear, but the Waning Moon officer seemed so despondent it was almost humorous. He hid his smile behind a closed fist and then gently cleared his throat.
“If you give me a burner I suppose I could call and explain later, once I’m on the road and he’s in a better mood,” he suggested, if only to try and be helpful. He didn’t want Yin Yu to suffer unnecessarily, especially since he was already helping him so much, but at the same time he still hoped he would be able to explain things to San Lang directly.
“If you leave now and he finds out after the fact there will certainly be mass casualties,” Yin Yu responded bluntly. “You might be the only one who can convince him to keep a cool head, so its better for the rest of us if he hears from you in person.”
“Ah. Then I’ll do my best to keep things amicable,” Xie Lian said, offering him a reassuring thumbs up. Yin Yu shot him a cursory glance before looking away again, no doubt questioning exactly whose hands he was entrusting his future to. ‘That’s fair enough,’ Xie Lian supposed. He had been emotionally inconsistent since realizing the peril of his situation, oscillating between states of happy denial and gloomy acceptance. Who knows what mood he’ll land on by the time he sees San Lang in person?
‘Hopefully I’ll be able to smile for him,’ Xie Lian mused to himself, trailing after Yin Yu as he led him into a large room. It was square in shape, featuring bleachers on all sides and a large metal cage in the center. Inside the cage was a fighting ring, made up of little more than a lightly padded floor. For a moment Xie Lian thought that the padding seemed too nice for an underground fight club, but then he recalled how easily blood absorbed into concrete. The plastic covering on the mats would be much easier to clean.
Still no San Lang in sight, Xie Lian busied himself by helping Yin Yu get things ready. They started by hanging a worn punching bag up inside the cage and then laid out some wraps and gloves. While Yin Yu left to fetch a towel and some water, Xie Lian couldn’t resist the urge to throw a few hits, smiling as the bag jerked under his fists. It had been a while since he’d been in a ring. He had still technically been a child then, yet he had been squaring up against grown men and bringing them to their knees. He recalled the feeling of satisfaction that came with winning, and he recalled how quickly that prideful sensation diminished when the fights became less about skill and endurance and more about underhanded tactics and survival.
He threw one last punch, wishing he could strike the bag harder, but it wouldn’t do to risk tearing his stitches. He examined his bandaged arm as he stepped away, wondering if it would be too much to ask Yin Yu to send him off with some spare medical supplies. Then again he could probably just borrow some from Yushi Huang once he made it back to town.
There was a muffled grunt behind him, and Xie Lian turned around just in time to see a body fly into the room and crash hard onto the floor. If that wasn’t alarming enough, Xie Lian soon recognized that the unfortunate victim was Yin Yu. He moved quickly, racing out of the cage and reaching his side just as the attacker stepped through the door.
He entered with the presence of a panther, his footsteps silent yet heavy, only given away by the delicate chime of silver chains. The rest of the man was equally familiar and Xie Lian sprang to his feet, leaping over Yin Yu to go and greet him.
“San Lang,” he called, but San Lang didn’t respond. Instead he seemed to grit his teeth and sway unsteadily on his feet. Xie Lian’s brow creased with worry. Something wasn’t right. He stepped closer, a hand held out and ready to help. “San Lang are you—“
“Watch out!” Yin Yu shouted, but it was just a second too late. A flash of steel and Xie Lian felt time slow as the man before him, who had showered him with unyielding love and affection just this morning, thrusted a knife straight towards his belly. He braced himself mentally and physically.
This was going to hurt.
Notes:
I have chosen the path of Krampus and I leave you all with this horrible cliff hanger.
But also you are all amazing and I love you! TYSM for being so supportive and understanding with the delay!
This will be the last post for 2024! I'll post the final chapter of part II early January :)
After that there will be a brief hiatus before I start part III.Happy Holidays and see you next year!
Chapter 17: Step over the edge, I'll chase you to the end.
Notes:
I am posting this from author jail. Apparently the last chapter did indeed have an illegal cliffhanger.
Plz give kudos for my commissary account so that I may acquire snacks and caffeine.
In exchange I give you shenanigans in the written form.
Many thanks.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
♢♢♢
♢
16 years ago, tucked away in the rear gardens of a grand estate, a man watched as a 10 year old child sparred against one of his top fighters. It was a hot day, disgustingly muggy, and the man could barely hear himself think over the obnoxious buzzing of cicadas nesting among the nearby trees. The conditions were overall miserable for a fight, but that only meant that they were perfect for training.
“Focus,” he instructed, his tone calm but firm as the boy narrowly moved out of range of a swinging blade.
“Senior Pei, I am focusing,” the child whined, a little more petulant than usual. It seemed that the heat and exhaustion were finally getting to him. He raised an arm protectively as his opponent swung again. The edge of the knife just barely managed to graze him, leaving behind a thin, shallow cut.
Pei Ming sighed wearily. “No, you’re not. You’re too distracted by the knife. Focus on your opponent. He’s right in front of you.”
The child pouted, but his brows were furrowed in determination, the overall expression befitting of a child prodigy still learning his craft. It was understandable that he was having a hard time. Defending against real weapons was still fairly new to him and the knife was practically begging for his attention, glinting like starlight beneath the noonday sun. A grown adult would have had a hard time not falling for its hypnotic dance, much less a child; hence the training.
He saw the moment Xie Lian finally took a proper look at his opponent. His eyes widened just slightly and his mouth spread into a nervous smile, and that too was understandable. His sparring partner, a scoundrel best known as Xiao Ren, was hardly friendly looking. Thin and gangly, with sunken eyes and a perpetual scowl, he seemed practically designed to inspire nightmares. To add to his fear factor, the man was deadly with a knife, wielding the weapon better than most fighters wielded their own fists. It was because of this proficiency he’d been chosen to be Xie Lian’s training partner, as he was the only one who could ensure the child left with nothing more than little cuts. On the boss’ orders, harming Xie Lian beyond that would be paid for in blood, or worse.
“Good. Watch his center. Continue,” Pei Ming directed, biting back a grin at Xie Lian’s pitiful expression. The kid was getting tired, but he wasn’t given time to voice any complaints before he was forced to duck out of the way of a particularly vicious swing. Xiao Ren snarled in frustration, then flipped the knife in his hand to drive it back the other way. Fortunately Xie Lian was ready this time, stepping inside the man’s space and blocking his arm before Xiao Ren could gain any momentum. He then jabbed his tiny elbow into the man’s side.
“Good! Just like that! Remember your anatomy! Groin and kidneys!”
Xie Lian nodded, but he wasn’t given the chance to throw another strike. Xiao Ren shifted again, spinning counterclockwise to throw an elbow at Xie Lian’s head. The child tilted back to avoid it, and then had to lean back even further as the knife made another appearance, slicing dangerously close to his neck. His eyes followed it, glued to its thin form until its path crossed in front of the sun. The light blinded him instantly. Unable to see, Xie Lian was wholly unprepared to have his legs swept out from under him. He fell with a gasp, and then crashed into the pact dirt with enough force to drive the air from his lungs. When Xie Lian recovered and opened his eyes again it was to Xiao Ren hovering over him, the flat of his knife pressed against his neck.
Pei Ming sighed and rose to his feet, ready to tell Xiao Ren to yield when the sound of crunching gravel caught his ear. He turned, then stiffened as the boss himself stepped into view, dressed in a crisp, white suit and carrying a red paper parasol in his left hand. The whole world seemed to go quiet in his presence. The cicadas held their tongue, and even the breeze seemed to have died down, letting the sticky humidity of summer settle upon them.
“Boss,” Pei Ming greeted, quickly falling into a bow. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Xiao Ren rising and doing the same.
“Uncle Wu!” Xie Lian beamed, giddily leaping to his feet and hopping over to him.
Jun Wu smiled down at his nephew and held his parasol out to Pei Ming, who wordlessly jogged over and took it from him. He held it in place, making sure his boss remained in the shade as he knelt down to Xie Lian’s level.
“Xianle, it looks like you lost another match,” he said, gently pulling the child towards him and brushing the dirt off his back.
Xie Lian frowned and glumly hung his head. “I’m sorry, Uncle. Senior Pei told me not to look at the knife, but I couldn’t help it…”
“Excuses won’t save you in a fight, Xianle. One fleeting second is all it takes. Never lose sight of your opponent and never drop your guard. Your real enemies won’t be as merciful as my men are.”
Xie Lian frowned, looking disappointed in himself. Jun Wu smiled fondly and gently reached out a hand to pat his head . “Keep your chin up. Use these failures as lessons, stepping stones on your path to brilliance. I have no intention of letting you fail, so we’ll keep training you as long as it takes until you’re ready.”
Xie Lian raised his doe eyes, giving his uncle an apprehensive look. “What if I’m never ready?”
Jun Wu’s hand fell to the boy’s shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. “You will be. If you don’t believe in yourself just yet, believe in me. You trust me, don’t you?”
Xie Lian nodded quickly, grasping at his uncle’s arm as if that would help emphasize his sincerity. The man smiled and opened his arms, inviting the child in for a hug. Xie Lian didn’t hesitate. Xiao Ren and Pei Ming both averted their gaze. “My precious Xianle. Stay with me. Listen to what I tell you. Follow the path I’ve set and I promise everything will turn out magnificently in the end. You will be a sight to behold and your parents— just know that they would be so proud of you.”
Xie Lian gave a sad smile, burying himself further in Jun Wu’s embrace. “Thank you, Uncle.”
“Anytime,” he murmured, giving his nephew one more squeeze before rising back to his feet. “Now, go again. One more round and then we’ll head inside. We need to get you washed up before your teacher arrives.”
Xie Lian nodded and with renewed determination bounded back over to Xiao Ren, who cast Pei Ming an apprehensive look. A quick nod, and Xiao Ren pulled his knife back out and drove it forward, aiming straight at the child's chest. Off to the side, basked in the red tinted shade of his umbrella, Jun Wu watched…and grinned.
♢♢♢
♢
“Watch out!” Yin Yu shouted, eyes wide as Xie Lian unknowingly reached a hand out towards death incarnate. It was too late though. Crimson Rain was already making his move, the dagger in his hand aimed to cut deep into Xie Lian’s stomach. In that moment, Yin Yu’s own life began passing before his eyes, certain that once Xie Lian was dead he would be next. The survivalist in him told him he should get up and run, but before he could even think of rising to his feet a miracle happened.
With the grace of a dancer Xie Lian managed to pivot on his feet, face locked in steely focus as he swept an arm down and across to redirect the blade. Now, instead of burying itself in his guts it just barely managed to graze his hip. He then clamped a tight fist around Hua Cheng’s wrist and pulled, locking the man’s arm firmly across his chest. With his free hand he forced Hua Cheng's head back and away, stealing his balance such that all it took was one daintily placed foot to send the might Crimson Rain falling flat onto his back.
It was a beautifully executed move. Yin Yu was almost too shocked to breathe and it seemed for a moment Xie Lian was as well until the clatter of the knife hitting the ground snapped him out of it. It was then that the brunette finally seemed realize what he’d done. “Ah, San Lang! I’m so sorry,” he wailed. “I didn’t mean to do that! It was just reflex! Are you okay?”
Yin Yu almost slapped a hand to his face. “Don’t apologize! Get away from him! He’s not himself right now!”
Xie Lian glanced over his shoulder at him with a raised brow, then quickly turned back to Hua Cheng as the man rolled back and pressed himself up feet first. Xie Lian moved his head just enough to avoid being clipped on the chin before shifting into a fighting stance, eyes focused ahead as Hua Cheng landed upright before him.
Yin Yu cursed and rose to his feet, wishing he could just have one day where things could be simple. When he had come across Hua Cheng in the hall earlier, he had already sensed that something was off, even if the two bodies on the ground hadn’t been a dead giveaway. He hadn’t had time to discern if they were alive or dead before he was being attacked, forced back the way he came until finally a heavy boot sent him flying. Going off of the pain he probably broke a rib or two, which was unfortunate but he could bear through it. He’d have to, at least until he could get things back under control.
“What’s wrong with him?” Xie Lian called, going on the defensive as Hua Cheng lunged, fists swinging with the promise of heavy blows. He leapt up onto a set of bleachers at one point, carefully working his way backwards across the metal benches as Hua Cheng followed in pursuit. Yin Yu was almost surprised his boss hadn’t pulled out another knife, but accepted it as a small blessing.
“I’m not sure. He must have been drugged with something while he was out. We need to get him secured until it can work its way out of his system.”
“Right. Haha…That might be easier said than done” Xie Lian mused, bearing a strained grin as he maneuvered his way along the bleachers in a snake-like pattern, managing either by skill or fortune to keep just out of Hua Cheng’s reach. Yin Yu almost questioned why he had bothered climbing up them in the first place, but then recognized the clever tactic for what it was. Being on the bleachers may have made it hard for Xie Lian to fight back, but it also made it harder for Hua Cheng to fight at all. The man was doing all he could just to keep pace, chasing after Xie Lian like a dog after a butterfly. Xie Lian wasn’t trying to beat him. He was only trying to keep Hua Cheng occupied, buying Yin Yu time to come up with a solution.
‘Think, Yin Yu, think. It’s what you’re paid for. Xie Lian won’t be able to keep this up forever.’
He took a glance back at the fight pit. The cage surrounding it was constructed of little more than chain-link wrapped around a steel frame and featured a similarly made door to allow fighters in and out. The door could be locked, but the lock in question wasn’t exactly robust. ‘Perhaps it doesn’t need to be,’ Yin Yu thought, unlatching it from where it hung off the cage. Hua Cheng wasn’t exactly in his right mind at the moment. If he did manage to break the lock it would more likely be out of luck than due to any sort of intelligent decision making. If it could hold Hua Cheng just long enough for them to come up with a better plan, or at least for Xie Lian to catch his breath, then perhaps it was worth a shot.
“Xie Lian!” he shouted, turning back towards the two fighters. They were quickly approaching the far end of the bleachers now and it didn’t seem like Xie Lian would be able to outmaneuver Hua Cheng for much longer. “Over here! Lead him this way!”
Xie Lian risked a quick look in his direction, then flicked his eyes back to Hua Cheng as the man tried to take advantage of his distraction. He dropped into a crouch just as Hua Cheng’s fist sailed overhead, then leapt backwards, performing an acrobatic flip as he descended from the bleachers and back onto solid ground. He disappeared from Yin Yu’s line of sight for a moment, but when he popped back up he bore an expression of giddy surprise.
“Haha did you see that? I can’t remember the last time I did a move like that! It almost felt like flying!” he laughed brightly.
Yin Yu groaned and pinched his brow, starting to understand that Xie Lian might be as mad as the rest of them. “Focus please,” he begged, pulling the door open wide. He’d be ready to slam it shut once Hua Cheng was inside.
Xie Lian flashed him a sheepish smile. “Right. Sorry!” he called, then looked back up to Hua Cheng who surprisingly wasn’t moving. In fact, he was standing nearly stock-still, staring down at Xie Lian with his hands clenched into tight fists at his side. From where Yin Yu stood he couldn’t see Hua Cheng’s face, but Xie Lian could…and he seemed unnerved by it. Something had shifted, and now the room felt so quiet that Yin Yu’s own heart seemed to echo off the walls like a pounding drum.
For a second nobody moved. Then, ever so slowly, Xie Lian began backing away. He shifted one foot, and then the other, keeping his breathing steady and his eyes unwaveringly fixed on the dangerous man lurking over him. Hua Cheng didn’t react, at least not right away, only turning his head to follow Xie Lian’s careful movements.
‘He’s playing with him,’ Yin Yu realized, stomach churning as he caught sight of a sadistic grin. It wasn’t a look he was unfamiliar with. He’d seen it many times directed at enemies or even at some of their own men after they’d been caught defying orders. There have been many who’ve turned tail and run at the very sight of it. As such, it was really no wonder that Xie Lian was now behaving as if he’d crossed paths with some sort of monster.
Another step, and then Yin Yu spotted a subtle shift in Hua Cheng’s posture. Xie Lian must have noticed as well because he immediately turned heel and broke into a mad sprint. Behind him Hua Cheng pounced, grinning madly as he landed just close enough to rake his fingers through the ends of Xie Lian’s long, flowing hair.
“Yin Yu! Brace the door!” Xie Lian shouted, now dashing straight towards him. There was no time to question anything so Yin Yu did as he was told, muttering a small apology to his ribs as he readied himself for a collision. He watched as Xie Lian moved closer and closer until he was only 10 feet away, now 5, now 2…Yin Yu turned his head and squeezed his eyes shut as Xie Lian finally jumped. He kicked off the door and leapt up, grabbing onto the steal bar marking the top of the cage opening. The impact shoved Yin Yu back a few inches, but fortunately wasn’t as bad as he’d been expecting.
And then Hua Cheng came barreling in, shoulder checking the door as he tried to make the sharp turn into the cage. Yin Yu was knocked off by the jarring impact, barely managing to keep silent as he dropped down clutching at his aching side. Fortunately, Hua Cheng was too focused on Xie Lian to even notice him. The man dove through the door, trying to make a grab for Xie Lian’s leg, but the surprisingly nimble farmer was too quick as he swung himself up and out of reach. Trapped under his own momentum, Hua Cheng stumbled further inside, making it as far as the center of the pit before he was able to turn around. By that point it was too late. Xie Lian had already dropped down back outside the cage and Yin Yu was moving, slamming the door shut and locking it in place.
Lips curled in a vicious sneer Hua Cheng charged, crashing into the door and forcing both men outside to take several steps back. The hinges screamed and the whole structure seemed to quake, but fortunately the lock held. Yin Yu sighed in relief, then turned around to find Xie Lian bent over, using his own knees for support as he caught his breath.
“I..should really…do more…cardio…” Xie Lian panted before rising back up into a more dignified posture. Yin Yu wondered if he should point out that after being kidnapped, tortured, assisting in his own rescue, and then fighting one of the most dangerous men in Yong’an, anyone would be exhausted, but then decided there wouldn’t be much point. Normal reasoning like that was only of value to normal, reasonable people, not former deadly assassins turned farmer turned rogue combatant.
“Do you think that will really hold him?” Xie Lian asked, looking skeptically at the cage. Just behind the latticework Hua Cheng stood watching them, eerily quiet as his one visible eye gradually shifted from Xie Lian over to Yin Yu himself. Yin Yu looked away, and even then he could still feel that eye piercing into the side of his skull. The sense of dread it imposed upon him reminded Yin Yu of a story he once read about sailors being marked for death. Discretely he turned his hand over and checked his palm, pleased to find it lacking any black spots. This did nothing to erase the sense of impending doom, but at least it confirmed he didn’t have any new horrors or skin diseases to deal with.
“Probably not, but it should give us time to prepare something better,” Yin Yu answered, then nodded towards a corner on the far side of the room. “We have other holding cells just through there. If I can just clear a path and set a trap, I can use it as a backup plan should he breakout.“
“I see,” Xie Lian murmured, glancing sadly at the man in the cage. “This…this isn’t how I thought this would go,” he said quietly, clutching at his own arm for comfort. He then winced and pulled his hand back, frowning at the sight of fresh blood clinging to his palm.
Yin Yu quietly recited a strings of curses in his head as he reached for Xie Lian’s arm and turned it over, grimacing as he realized some of his stitches had torn. “We can have our doctor look at you again before you go,” he offered, not wanting to send Xie Lian off injured.
The smaller man smiled nervously and waved the suggestion off. “Oh no, that’s okay. If you could just send me off with some supplies I can—“
‘I want a vacation,’ Yin Yu thought drearily, finding himself feeling oddly calm even as his doom descended upon him. He felt hands grabbing for him, likely trying to move him out of the way, but he knew it was already too late. He closed his eyes just as something cold and solid smacked into his temple, the force of it reverberating through his skull in bright, hot flashes of pain that left him in dizzying agony. One second seemed to span the length of an eternity when suddenly everything stopped. There was no more pain, no more sound, no more maniacs or threats. All that remained was the void, dark and blissful and welcoming. A perfect paradise.
“Yin Yu!” Xie Lian gasped, catching the man as he crumpled. He was out like a light, but fortunately still seemed to be breathing. Nevertheless, with a head injury like that he would need to try and get him some help. A blur of movement caught his eye and Xie Lian twisted around to shield the unconscious man as Hua Cheng tried to stomp down on him. He had been braced for the blow, but instead of hitting his back the boot slammed down onto the concrete floor beside him, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Xie Lian blinked in confusion. ‘Why didn’t he just hit me?’ he thought, before two arms snaked around his waist and hauled him up with embarrassing ease.
“Ah? San Lang, what are you doing?” Xie Lian asked, his internal alarm system going haywire as the man carried him away. He began to wriggle in his hold, trying his best to escape without throwing any strikes. He didn’t want to hurt him, and he was fairly certain San Lang didn’t want to hurt him either. He doubted the other man could even recognize him right now. Ever since San Lang had entered the room he had held a look in his eye that Xie Lian had slowly come to recognize. It was the same look he’d seen in his own eyes just a few times before, usually just as it was fading away in the reflection of a mirror.
‘He must be scared right now,’ Xie Lian thought, wishing he knew how to help. When he had suffered episodes before, usually all it took was a familiar voice to be able to ground himself back to the present. However, that didn’t seem to be enough for San Lang. Whatever he had been drugged with was clearly creating a hallucination that was too powerful for the real world to contend with. If he couldn’t snap him out of it than he would just have to follow through with Yin Yu’s plan and at least try to get San Lang locked up before he could accidentally hurt anyone else.
He took a deep breath, steeling his resolve, but before he could act on it gravity suddenly kicked in. He dropped to his feet, unexpectedly freed for one brief second until a hand wrapped around his neck and slammed him into the wall of the cage.
“San Lang!” Xie Lian rasped, choking as the grip on his neck tightened. San Lang, however, didn’t seem too concerned about his ability to breath. He tilted his head to one side, studying Xie Lian with a dark expression, and then without warning moved closer, pressing his whole body against him and burying his face in the crook of his neck. The hand loosened, and even though Xie Lian could now breathe he still found it hard to do so as sharp teeth scraped over delicate skin.
“S-San Lang?!” he squeaked, feeling his face grow suddenly hot. What was he doing? Was he going to eat him? That couldn’t be right, could it? And even so why did that feel so— A strong thigh pressed up between his legs and Xie Lian clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling the mortifying sound that threatened to escape from him. His head spun. How did it end up like this? He had thought San Lang was trying to kill him, but now as the man kissed and bit at the exposed column of his neck he wasn’t so sure.
Xie Lian tilted his chin up as San Lang’s lips trailed higher, biting back a whimper as a hot tongue trailed along his jaw. “San Lang,” he called again weakly, as if suddenly that was the only thing he could say. Lips then covered his own, and Xie Lian went weak in the knees. It was far from gentle. San Lang was pressing into the kiss with all force and teeth until Xie Lian finally yielded beneath him. Lips parted, a hot tongue snaked inside, filling up the cavern of Xie Lian’s mouth as if San Lang was claiming it for his own. It was overwhelming. They needed to stop, and yet Xie Lian wasn’t sure he really wanted to.
‘This isn’t right,’ he scolded, his hands gripping onto San Lang’s shirt. ‘He’s not in his right mind. He wouldn’t want it like this. I shouldn’t want it like this,’ he thought, feeling ashamed of himself. The other man likely didn’t know what he was doing. Then again, San Lang was kissing him, not attacking. Did that mean he recognized him at some level? Were the drugs finally wearing off? If they were, maybe he could start to reason with him. Though of course in order to do that San Lang would first need to let him breathe.
He could feel his eyes starting to water from the intensity of it all, his lungs begging for air. Yet San Lang didn’t seem like he planned to relent any time soon, smothering him from the inside out. If Xie Lian didn’t act soon he’d likely pass out, and who knew what trouble San Lang would get into after that. Just then he felt San Lang shift, moving his hips back in order to slide a hand down between them. Xie Lian, to his ever growing shame, recognized the opportunity presented and offered a brief, mental apology before driving his knee up and in between San Lang’s legs. The man jerked back in shock, then with a pained groan sank slowly to the floor, folding in on himself like a pile of laundry with his hands pressed uselessly between his thighs.
Xie Lian might have ended up on the floor with him had he not held onto the cage for support. Air refilled his lungs and as he massaged the ache from his throat a quiet, nervous laugh began to escape him. He couldn’t believe he had just done that. What was he thinking? Surely there had been another option. ‘San Lang is really going to be mad at me now,’ he thought, casting an anxious look towards the man on the ground.
Guilt tugged on him like puppet strings, urging him to try and fix this somehow. Shakily, Xie Lian started to reach a hand out, but pulled it back when San Lang groaned and began to move. It wasn’t even a sudden movement. It was actually barely more than a gentle lean, but it was enough to push Xie Lian’s sense of panic and embarrassment into overdrive. Sober or not, Xie Lian wasn’t ready to look San Lang in the eye after using such an underhanded tactic so there was really only one thing left for him to do. He turn tail and ran.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” He cried frantically, not sure how this day could get any worse. He wondered if San Lang would even remember any of this later. He hoped not. He had wanted to part amicably. He wanted to let him know how much he had appreciated every moment they had shared, but now it didn’t seem like he’d get the chance. Instead, it felt like he would be leaving the man in nothing but pain and misery, suffering under the misfortune that followed Xie Lian like a shadow. ‘Maybe I should have just left without saying anything,’ he thought in despair.
Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t realized he’d basically made a full lap of the ring until he nearly tripped over Yin Yu’s prone form. Xie Lian winced and stammered out more apologies, but was glad to see the man still seemed to be breathing, though the blood pooling around his head wasn’t any less alarming. Looking ahead he found San Lang just where he left him, now back on his feet and using the cage to steady himself. With gritted teeth the mafioso raised his head and cast Xie Lian a heated glare.
‘Yes, he’s definitely mad now,’ Xie Lian thought, nervously taking a step back before turning to run the other way. He heard the soft chime of San Lang’s boots as he followed behind him, but noted that they didn’t seem hurried. Glancing back, the man seemed to be following him at a leisurely pace, twirling a new blade that he had pulled out of who knows where. There was a certain beauty to the man’s prowess that Xie Lian wished he could pause to admire, but stopping would likely mean dying and he couldn’t afford to do that quite so soon. He had too many things left to do, starting with getting San Lang somewhere where he couldn’t hurt anyone else.
“The cells..where did Yin Yu say the cells were?” he huffed, looking around until he spotted a single door tucked near a stack of floor mats and other equipment. He made a beeline towards it, slowing his pace and glancing back to make sure San Lang was still following. The door led into a short, dark hall that quickly opened into a larger room. It was lined with two decent sized holding cells on either side and another exit that likely lead into the labyrinth of halls that made up Paradise Manor. In one of the cells was a sleeping figure that Xie Lian recognized as the young fighter from the brawl a few nights ago. The other cell looked empty, but sat right outside it was a large man with a larger stomach, snoring viciously as he dozed off in tiny chair.
‘He must be on guard duty,’ Xie Lian thought, pausing briefly to listen out for any others before approaching the sleeping figure. He shook his shoulder gently. “Excuse me? Sir you really need to wake up now. It’s urgent” he tried politely. The man grunted and shrugged his hand off, but didn’t wake. Xie Lian sighed and decided drastic times called for drastic measures. “Sorry about this,” he said, then reached forward and pinched the man’s nose. It took a few seconds, but soon the man jerked, his eyes flying open and arms flailing as he knocked Xie Lian’s hand away.
“Wazzat? Whozzit? Who the fucking hell are you?!” he snapped, shoving Xie Lian back as he rose to his feet.
Xie Lian flashed him a warm smile. “I’m an intruder!” he answered brightly. “Can’t you tell? I just took down your Waning Moon officer by the way. If you don’t run and get help now he might bleed out and I can’t imagine your boss will be pleased to learn you let that happen on your watch,” he chimed, flicking his eyes towards the door for any sign of Hua Cheng. It was a hasty course of action, but if he could shoulder the blame then any of San Lang's inadvertent destruction than he'd do so happily. It wasn't as if he had anything to lose by doing so.
The man blinked, then cocked his head to one side as he eyed him up and down, clearly not sure he believed him. Xie Lian mimicked his head tilt sweetly. “Of course if you don’t believe me, I’m happy to demonstrate my skills, but then you’d be dead. Your choice.”
The guard snorted, then reached out to loosely grab at a lock of Xie Lian’s hair, rubbing his greasy fingers through the soft strands. Xie Lian had to fight the urge to pull away, maintaining a serene appearance. “This is a prank ain’t it. Someone hire you from Lang Chan’s to try and scare me? Idiots. They’ll need to try harder than that” he sneered. He leaned in closer, licking his lips as he eyed Xie Lian’s. “You’re not my usual type, but I’m an experimental sort and your face is certainly appealing. Wanna have some real fun? Just tell me your rate we can do it right here in the cells. Promise you no one will bother us.”
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had been hoping to avoid additional casualties and scare the man off, but he supposed that would have been too easy. “I think I’ll pass,” he said through gritted teeth, reaching up to clasp a firm hand on the man’s wrist.
“Don’t be like that. How about just a kiss? I’ll be gentle” he grinned, pressing closer into his space only to stop as something small and metallic flashed past Xie Lian’s head. This was followed by something soft and fleshy landing on the ground by Xie Lian’s foot. It was an ear. The guard screamed in pain and Xie Lian acted fast, gripping him by his collar and yanking him out of the way just as another knife flew past.
“You fucker, that was my ear!” the guard screamed, shoving him off. He then caught sight of the looming figure past Xie Lian’s shoulder and broke into a nervous grin. “Ch-chengzhu? Oh shit, was that your knife? I mean— well— I didn’t need that ear anyway. Useless thing right?” he stammered, edging his way towards the only exit not blocked by murderous intent.
Xie Lian looked behind him as Hua Cheng stepped out of the shadows, another throwing knife in hand. The look in his eye held the promise of death and pain. The guard swallowed nervously. “I uh..I stopped this intruder for you, Chengzhu. Says he attacked Waning Moon. I’ll…I’ll just go alert the security team!” he shouted, turning with a surprising burst of speed and ducking into the hall as the knife missed his neck by a hairs breadth.
Xie Lian sighed in relief and hoped that was that, but then San Lang began to charge as if he planned to go after him. “San Lang wait!” Xie Lian cried. He stepped in his path and managed to grab onto the taller man’s shirt, twisting to redirect his momentum. Instead of breaking out into the hall San Lang was sent crashing into the bars of the occupied cell. Xie Lian winced as they rang out from the force. He hadn’t meant to throw him quite so hard.
“San Lang, are you alright?” he asked, before reminding himself he wasn’t going to get an answer. He watched as the other turned around, blood now dripping from his nose. Xie Lian wanted to cry. He was going to feel awful about this for the rest of his life. “For what it’s worth I’m really sorry,” he breathed. “I really wish I didn’t have to fight you.”
San Lang snarled and Xie Lian braced himself for an attack when a pair of arms suddenly shot out through the gaps between the cell bars. They wrapped their way around San Lang’s neck and chest and yanked him back into an unyielding hold.
“He said he didn’t wish to fight!” the young man grunted, apparently now very much awake. Hua Cheng growled and raged against him, but with the bars in the way the only part of the younger man he could attack was his arms. He didn’t let that deter him though. Nails dug into flesh, leaving behind shredded skin and ribbons of blood, but still the grip didn’t loosen. In fact it only seemed to grow tighter. San Lang’s pallor began to shift into unhealthy shades as the arm around his neck began to cut off his circulation.
“W-wait! Stop!” Xie Lian called out, afraid the prisoner would actually end up killing him.
The man frowned, but obediently loosened his hold just enough to remove Hua Cheng from any life threatening danger and he gazed at Xie Lian with a set of puppy-like eyes. “Sorry. Did you want to fight him after all?” he asked hesitantly, like a child asking if someone else wanted the last cookie. “I don’t mind taking over, though I’ll admit this would be better without the bars in the way. It doesn’t seem fair he can’t hit me back.”
Xie Lian stared at him owlishly. Did the man not recall what happened the last time San Lang was allowed to hit him back? It hadn’t been that long ago, but perhaps he was suffering some sort of concussion. “I..suppose that’s true,” Xie Lian agreed, secretly wondering why San Lang hadn’t simply tried to stab him yet. ‘Maybe he had finally run out of knives?’ He thought, feeling cautiously optimistic.
“Anyway, if you want to fight him you should make it quick. Others will probably be coming soon and they might misunderstand and get in the way. If you need a second I can keep holding him. I don’t mind. He reminds me of a cat I use to take care of. Big thing. I called him spotty!” he chirped conversationally.
Xie Lian resisted the urge to figure out exactly what kind of cat “spotty” was and turned his focus to the more immediate issue. San Lang was now breathing raggedly in the man’s hold, exhaustion finally taking its toll. ‘He hasn’t slept,’ Xie Lian wistfully reminded himself. ‘He worked all night to come save me, and then spent all day either by my side or dealing with business matters. It’s incredible he fought as hard as he did.’ He stepped closer and San Lang took notice, following his every movement and stretching a bloody hand out towards him. It gripped onto his shirt as soon as Xie Lian was close enough, and something in the depth of San Lang’s eye made him realize he might have been going about this all wrong.
“I get it now,” he murmured, offering San Lang a soft smile. Resigned, he gently pulled out of his grip and walked over to the other cell where he opened the door and stepped inside, taking his position just past the threshold.
“Okay,” he breathed, relaxing his shoulders, “I’m ready. Let him go.”
The man tilted his head, reasonably skeptical, but shrugged and released his hold. San Lang didn’t hesitate. Even as tired as he was he managed to cross the room in an instant to tackle Xie Lian into a fierce hug. Tears sprung to Xie Lian’s eyes as he hugged him back, pressing his face into the soft curve San Lang’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. You know me now don’t you…” Xie Lian breathed. “I’m not going to run anymore. You’ve caught me,” he assured, gently rubbing his hand along San Lang’s back as he guided him further into the cell.
San Lang’s hands began to wander, as well as his lips and tongue, caressing and kissing and tasting as much as he could even as his body began to lose strength. Xie Lian supported his weight as they sank to the ground, closing his eyes as fervent lips followed a trail of tears as they rolled down his cheeks. When those lips finally met his own Xie Lian didn’t resist, letting Hua Cheng take what he needed while Xie Lian gently slipped his arms over his shoulders. In the end, Xie Lian knocked him out with one swift blow to the back of the neck.
“That was an interesting fighting style,” the prisoner commented, watching as Xie Lian gently laid San Lang down. He took extra care to cradle his head so that it didn’t smack against the hard floor. “Seems a bit risky though. You were just as vulnerable as he was,” he continued.
“More so, probably,” Xie Lian murmured, softly running his fingers through San Lang’s hair. “It wasn’t a good fight,” he added mournfully. Silence followed, and then the young man spoke up again.
“You should go now,” he said.
Xie Lian bit his lip, but he knew he was right. With a shuddering breath he leaned down and pressed one final kiss to San Lang’s cheek and then rose to his feet. He thought he would have more to say, but the words kept getting stuck in his throat. He couldn’t bring himself to say goodbye.
He stepped outside and locked the door using the keys he’d picked off the guard earlier. He then went and unlocked the other cell. The young man brightened at his proffered freedom and eagerly stepped out, offering a wounded hand in greeting. “Quan Yizhen,” he introduced proudly.
Xie Lian gave him a polite smile and gingerly returned the handshake. “Xie Lian,” he replied.
Quan Yizhen grinned. “You’re an interesting person, Xie Lian. I want to fight you one day so I’m going to help you escape. Are you ready to go?”
Xie Lian hesitated, resisting the urge to take one last look back at San Lang’s sleeping form. If he gave into temptation now he knew he would never be able to leave and he couldn’t afford to be so selfish. Not anymore. It was high time he started paying back his dues, even if that meant paying with his own blood. He raised his head, steeling his heart and burnishing his mind with a renewed sense of determination. There was only one road ahead of him now and once he set foot on it there was no going back.
“I’m ready.”
END PART II
Notes:
Part II has reached it's conclusion!
When I started writing this fic last summer i had no idea it would grow this much! Or have so many readers! It's been amazing and has served as excellent practice for the actual book I'm writing XD.
As a reminder, while I have so many ideas already laid out for part III I am actually going to take a hiatus before I start posting again...I promise it's not just an excuse to give myself more time to think of a title lol.
Thank you all so much for all your support, patience, and keyboard smashing comments! You're all a delight and I can't wait to shower you with more hualian adventures and fluff. Until then, be good to yourselves!
Sincerely,
GhostThreads 👻
Chapter 18: This Animal I have Become
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
There was a beast in the cell across from him, lurking just beyond where shadow yielded to light. It laid still and quiet, the rise and fall of its chest barely discernible. Some might think it was sleeping and take comfort in its stillness, as if they couldn’t feel its piercing gaze latch onto the trembling column of their throat. Those people would be fools, and Yin Yu prided himself on being very much the opposite. He could feel that monstrous eye fall upon him, cold and calculating, and oh so very, very angry.
Wise as he was, Yin Yu stayed perfectly still, relying on a strategy colloquially known as “playing dead”. He was laying on the ground, head cushioned on Quan Yizhen’s former bedding, and staring blankly up at the ceiling, remapping the constellations of pockmarks for the umpteenth time. Doctor Jiang would have preferred him to be doing so from an actual bed, but circumstances as they were sacrifices had to be made. They had both known that someone needed to be there when the monster finally came to.
A whisper of movement, and then a cold, ominous energy rumbled like thunder across the room. Yin Yu reminded himself that the cell bars were made of solid iron, and if the thing looming in the shadows wanted to act on all that coiling bloodlust it would have to break through those first…Or so he’d hoped. Something bounced off the floor to his left with a metallic chink and he turned his head just in time to watch a butterfly knife skitter off to clatter uselessly against the far wall. Yin Yu swallowed carefully, then lifted a hand to gently pat down his neck and face. He was relieved when his fingers came away clean. He had thought he had removed all of the monster’s claws. Apparently he had missed one.
“Yin Yu,” the beast growled, voice ragged and strained.
Yin Yu took a deep breath, then slowly turned his head to face his inevitable end. He should probably sit up if he cared to be respectful, but between the concussion and the headache that resulted from dealing with the chaotic aftermath of Xie Lian’s “escape”, he felt like he’d earned a pass. Besides, if he was going to die soon he might as well be comfortable. “Chengzhu,” he greeted dryly.
Pale hands, stained with blood, gripped at the iron bars. Crimson Rain’s face appeared between the gaps, looking slightly feverish. Seeing him now in the light, face flushed and eyes unfocused, Yin Yu almost wondered if he had really intended for that knife to miss.
“Why...the fuck...am I in this cell?” Hua Cheng rasped, his dark eye darting wildly about the space as if expecting an enemy to appear at any second.
‘He’s still coming out of it,’ Yin Yu realized, turning his gaze back to the ceiling. He was trying to decide how best to explain the situation to a semi lucid Crimson Rain. He had only meant to pause and think for a moment, but that was a moment too long for Hua Cheng’s current patience.
“Yin Yu!” he barked, striking hard at the iron bars, which rang out from the impact like tolling bells.
‘Not solid iron after all then,’ Yin Yu thought morosely while recalculating the odds of Hua Cheng breaking free. The world was unfathomably lucky that the man was only human. “Apologies, Chengzhu,” he replied, carefully pressing himself up into a seated position, showing his boss that he had his full attention. “You might not recall right now, but you were drugged on your visit to Lan Chang’s. You returned here and went on a rampage. You were locked in there as a safety precaution, to prevent you from causing too much damage to both your property and your men,” he explained, confident in the information he had gathered since regaining consciousness.
Hua Cheng’s brows furrowed and his eyes seemed to drift out of focus, as if searching back through broken memories. Pain then washed over his features and he pinched his eyes shut, pressing his temple against the cool metal in an effort to get some relief. Yin Yu watched him patiently, wondering if he was starting to remember. A tendril of heinous guilt began to worm its way through his chest, growing fatter as that dark eye focused on him once more.
“I’m in here because I may have murdered everyone otherwise,” Hua Cheng began, speaking slowly as he dredged up bits of memory from the depths of mind. “I’ll accept that,” he groused. “What I don’t understand is why you are locked up as well.”
As he said this he gestured loosely across the way to the mirroring cell that not only Yin Yu had occupied, he had also locked himself in with the keys. He pulled them out of his pocket, if only to prove he was trapped by his own volition. “For my own safety,” he explained.
Hua Cheng gave him a flat look, then rolled his eye. After that he bowed his head and looked down at his hands, rubbing at the flakes of dried blood still clinging to his fingers.
“Did I kill someone?” he asked, brow twitching as some memory tried to pierce through the fog.
A flash of white stained red, brown eyes spilling salty tears, a knife slicing into flesh…
“No, Chengzhu," Yin Yu assured.
Hua Cheng’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Though our prison guard did lose an ear,” he continued.
Hua Cheng's shoulders relaxed further. "He probably had it coming," Hua Cheng mumbled, closing his eyes again.
Chestnut hair, smooth as silk, dancing just beyond his reach. He wanted to touch it, he could just feel it kissing the tips of his fingers..
Hua Cheng leaned heavily against the bars now, face pinched as dream like memories clashed with living nightmares. “How did you get me in here?” he asked, pressing a hand to his chest. His fingers dug harshly into fabric and the skin beneath, as if he could possibly dig out what was tormenting him.
A flash of jealousy, twisted into rage and anger. How dare he touch him.
How dare he
how dare he
how dare he
how--
“I didn’t,” Yin Yu answered, dropping his eyes to the floor.
He didn’t watch as Hua Cheng’s face paled. He didn’t see as the man dug his fingers deeper into his chest, still trying to dig in while something inside began to claw at his lungs, tearing them open and making it harder to breathe.
A heavy blade plunging towards a soft stomach,
aiming for organs,
aiming to kill,
until gentle hands knocked him away.
"San Lang..."
“Hua Cheng?” Yin Yu called out, rising to his feet as the mafia boss fell from his own.
“San Lang, what are you doing?”
“…Stop!”
“San Lang, are you alright?”
“I’m sorry…”
“S-San Lang..”
“I’m sorry…I won’t run anymore..”
“I’m sorry”
“San Lang!”
“Hua Cheng!” Yin Yu called again, now unlocking the door to the cell as the man began to claw at his own face. He reached a hand out to stop him, but as soon as he was in range his wrist was grabbed and he was grappled to the floor. When the chaos ended he found himself pinned face down by his neck while one arm was twisted painfully behind his back.
“I yield,” Yin Yu wheezed, pinching his eyes shut as he felt certain his shoulder was about to be twisted out of his socket. To his relief, his shoulder remained in tact, the grip on his arm relaxing just enough to offer him some reprieve.
“Where…where is he?” Hua Cheng asked, his normally steady voice starting to waver.
“He’s safe, Chengzhu, but he’s no longer here. He left.” Yin Yu told him, sticking to his strategy of short and simple answers. “Where he’s gone to exactly is something only he knows.”
Hua Cheng’s grip on his arm fell slack, and Yin Yu let it flop limply to his side, but otherwise remained still. The hand on his neck still remained an obvious threat, and he didn’t wish to suffer anymore unnecessary injuries. A few moments passed before Hua Cheng worked up the strength to ask his next question.
“Did I hurt him?”
The words were barely above a whisper, but the weight of them alone outdid that of all the rain in a monsoon.
“No. At least, no more than he did you,” Yin Yu assured, uncertain if that answer, honest as it was, would bring him any comfort.
The grip on his neck eased, and soon Hua Cheng’s weight was lifted from him entirely. Yin Yu pushed himself back up and turned around, finding his boss rising back unsteadily to his feet.
“I hurt him..” He mumbled, scrubbing a hand across his face.
“Only bruises, sir. He fought well against you,” Yin Yu assured, worried he would start hurting himself again.
“I hurt him…and now he’s gone…” Hua Cheng continued, Yin Yu’s words going seemingly unheard.
“He did leave, but—“
Hua Cheng’s fist struck harshly against the bars once more, cutting Yin Yu off with their ominous drone.
“He’s gone!” Hua Cheng growled, his whole body quivering with barely contained fury before just as suddenly falling deathly still. In an instant if felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving behind something ill and foreboding to take its place.
It felt heavy to breathe. Cold sweat began to bead along the back of Yin Yu’s neck. This wasn’t fury, or anger, or rage..this was something beyond that. Something Yin Yu wasn’t sure he had ever witnessed before.
“Get out,” he muttered darkly.
Yin Yu hesistated, flicking his gaze to the thin trickles of blood running down Hua Chengs’ face. “Sir, I think I—“
“I said scram!” Hua Cheng snarled, his face offering nothing but the promise of pain should Yin Yu fail to obey. This wasn’t a fight he could win. Jaw clenched, Yin Yu offered up a small bow before hurrying out of the cell, this time leaving the door unlocked. He continued out of the room without looking back. Each step he took came faster than the last, and before he knew it he was running, his legs carrying him further and further away from the potential horror he’d just unleashed.
Meanwhile, back in its cage, the beast lifted its head and howled with grief.
Notes:
*Author claws her way out of the grave*
Sooooooooooooooooooooooon
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