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Chapter Text

This timeline was truly a horrible mess.

Case in point: being blindfolded and gagged in the back of a van did not happen before.

Quite honestly, Lu Guang should've expected it. He'd messed it up from start to finish. Partially on purpose, like killing Vein. But also partially by accident, for example by getting them involved in the serial killer case.

Either way, this was the first time he got kidnapped in this fashion. Not that getting kidnapped by Li Tianchen wasn't the first time getting kidnapped in that manner either.

It had been a normal day. Cheng Xiaoshi had gone out to get boba with Qiao Ling, elated now that he could walk freely again and wasn't on bed rest. Lu Guang stayed back to run the studio. They'd only be gone for an hour at most.

Technically they'd need maybe half an hour, but he knew Cheng Xiaoshi. He got attached easily, and it was the boba shop from DouDou's parents. They'd babysitted for them since leaving the hospital a couple times, since normal work had still been a bit of a chore.

So he'd definitely goof off with the kid and chat a little with the parents, no doubt.

And everything had been fine for the first twenty minutes, really... until he'd heard Cheng Xiaoshi shout for him. He'd headed outside, confused on why he's back so early. He'd shouted again, and Lu Guang had followed his voice into the alley by the studio.

By the time he'd realized his error, he'd felt something sharp pierce his neck. Sinking past skin and muscles.

He'd lashed out in a panic, but his body only cooperated for a moment. Then he'd staggered. His balance gone. His vision had started to grow blurry, and suddenly the world tilted.

That's how he found himself slowly waking up in the back of a van. Or what he assumed to be a van, given the way the world rattled and shook. It wasn't like he could see it, given the blindfold. Or ask, for that matter.

His wrists ached, his hands were numb. They were tied behind his back at an uncomfortable angle, already rubbed raw from the zip-ties. His ankles were free, but he couldn't see, couldn't talk and couldn't move his hands... even if running was an option, even if he wasn't in a van, he wouldn't get far.

The van lurched to a stop, and a muffled shout escaped him when he was sent flying forward and against cold metal. He blinked behind the blindfold. Were those bars? Was he in-

Hinges squeaked. His attention diverted to whatever was going on behind him. A lock clicked, then a hand grasped his hair. Another muffled noise escaped him, but he didn't fight it. That wouldn't do him any good, especially not when he was being dragged by the hair.

His back hit the ground hard, and he had to bite down on the fabric in his mouth at the sharp pain shooting through his arm and shoulder. Curling in on himself made it worse with the angle his arms were tied back, and he desperately tried to breathe through the pain.

Orders were barked around him, but through the haze of pain he didn't hear it. He was dragged up to his feet and his knees buckled. His shoulder hurt. His entire arm, really, in a weird mixture of pain and numbness. Dislocated, he guessed with dread. He wasn't looking forward to having that fixed.

He was dragged around, with little regard to the state he was in, and pushed down. A chair, he guessed.

A hand cupped his jaw, tilting his head up. His skin crawled at the contact and he was tempted to bite. He knew better, though. If he wanted to get out of this in one piece? He had to play along. For now.

Another hand brushed through his hair and he fought to not recoil in disgust. Then the blindfold was tugged off his head.

Lu Guang squinted against the light, even though it were only some broken lightbulbs. When his vision cleared, he found himself facing three men.

One short and stout, reminding him of a pig with his small eyes and thin, balding hair. One large and bulky, probably the guy who'd grabbed and dragged him around earlier, who reminded him a hint of a hairless gorilla.

The last one was neither very tall nor short, well-clothed with a top hat though, his grin wide. He reminded him of a ringleader. He was the one holding his head up.

"Well, well. Hello there" the ringleader wiggled the fingers of his free hand at him, and Lu Guang half-expected him to drop some cards. But no, wait, that was more of a magician thing, wasn't it?

Lu Guang wasn't quite sure. Circuses and the like didn't interest him much. Cheng Xiaoshi found more joy in childish party tricks, despite the powers they both possessed.

At the thought, his mind screeched to a halt. Eyes widening. He glanced around, past the ringleader and his two friends. Around the room. There was no one else.

The grip on his chin tightened, and Lu Guang fought down a wince. That would leave bruises. Probably. "Don't bother, no one's here. No one's gonna come. They won't find you" the ringleader laughed lightly, and if it weren't for the gag, the seer would've assured him that he was entirely wrong on that front.

Lu Guang knew his friends- he knew Cheng Xiaoshi. He knew Qiao Ling. It was only a matter of time until they'd show up.

He didn't know how much time passed between getting a needled stabbed into his neck and waking up, nor how much time passed between waking up and being shoved into the chair here, but surely they were back at the studio by now.

Cheng Xiaoshi shouting his name echoed through the air, and a hint of hope and dread stirred in his chest. On one hand, he was hoping it meant this would be over fast and that he could get the timeline back on track. On the other, he dreaded his idiot getting in trouble.

Then his eyes caught on the recorder in the pig-faced man's hand.

Ah, so that's how... He narrowed his eyes, glancing back to the ringleader. If he was the target, what did they want? This hadn't happened before. This was new. Did they assume he was the one who could change the time?

If so, they were half-right. He had. But it wasn't like he still had the ability. Even if he did, he'd never use it for anything but his one, selfish goal.

The dirty rag was finally, finally pulled from his mouth. He almost spat out the dust that he'd been tasting since waking up.

He refrained. Barely.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, and watched as the ringleader stared at him. Almost dumbfounded, but schooling his expression fast. Had he expected him to scream? To beg? Lu Guang didn't see a point to do so.

Kidnappers, at least in his limited experience, tended to have a goal. They didn't get swayed by words alone.

The ringleader put a hand on his shoulder, and Lu Guang bit down on the inside of his cheek. Hard enough that he could taste blood. That was the injured shoulder.

"Well, it's simple, really. Boss asked us to get rid of you. Said you're the mastermind out of the three of you" the hand on his shoulder flexed, fingers digging in. A strangled noise escaped Lu Guang. "But I also heard you lot got freaky powers, and he seemed convinced. Claimed he sent in a customer as a test and was proven right about who actually runs the show"

Lu Guang, through the pain, tried desperately to think. Which of their customers had been sent as a test? Worse yet, who snitched about their abilities? Who sent these men? Who even knew about their abilities for sure?

Liu Xiao? Across all the timelines, he was the one constant threat, a fellow mastermind pulling strings beyond what Lu Guang could predict and see, subtly making his attempt of saving Cheng Xiaoshi harder every time. But no, this wasn't his style. He'd have sent Vein for sure.

Li Tianchen? He'd have a reason. He knew about their powers. But also a no. He was too young, not influential enough to get not one but three men to do his bidding. Even if he'd have somehow gotten influence by using his powers, he doubted it. Besides, if he wanted revenge? He'd be right here already.

That left Qian Jin, who definitely would want revenge and absolutely knew. Except... no. Being in prison didn't mean he'd be unable to get contact to the outside world.

All three didn't need to test it, but they certainly could lie about it.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Lu Guang responded slowly, evenly. Forcing his voice to be steadier than it wanted to be. "Powers? I think someone was-"

A harsh pain bloomed across his jaw and cheek, his head snapping back from the force. Seconds later, his hair was gripped. His head tilted so he was facing the man before him again.

The ringleader chuckled, thin lips stretched into a grin. His eyes shining when he stepped back, spreading his arms wide. "Ah, ah, ah... don't try to lie. Look, say the truth and this'll be so much easier. Who knows- maybe I'll even let you live!"

Lu Guang severely doubted that.

"Let's try again. What's your power, hm? If you don't answer, Zhong Qiang might have to get the answer out of you" the ringleader laughed, and behind him, the bald gorilla cracked his knuckles.

He offered the calmest smile he could muster. "Alright" he said, as if he really had nothing to hide.

~

Somewhere else, nimble fingers danced across a keyboard. Dark eyes flickering across security cameras.

One of the tabs on the screen kept replaying the same scene over and over- a storefront, Time Photo Studio written on the sign above it, a young man with white hair stepping outside and an old shoddy van driving past only minutes later.

The white haired man never appeared again. The video looped back to him stepping outside. Over and over and over.

The other tabs showed various security footage, from all over the city. The same shoddy van, half the time.

A phone buzzed near by.

A simple text message. (Located them yet? Trustworthy source said the kidnapping victim has been injured)

A respond followed quick. (Scouting out a possible location now. Calling for backup if necessary)

Chains clinked softly when the person who'd been typing away slowly got up, jewelry glinting in the dim light.

~

Lu Guang panted, eyes squeezed shut. His ribs ached. His face ached, too. Actually, no, that was a lie. Everything hurt. With the brief break, he was left to figure it out. Slowly, quietly, cataloguing every ache away.

Shoulder still dislocated, ribs likely bruised but unlikely to be broken, jaw probably the same, stomach hurting from a hit with a bat, shin aching from the same treatment.

His pride more than anything, though.

It was humiliating, how fast he'd caved once their threats had shifted from harming him, or outright harming him, to telling him what they'd do once they were done with him. What they'd do to Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi.

He refused to let them come to harm, so he'd 'admitted' about a fabricated ability. When that resulted in pain and further promises on what they'd do to his friends, he tried half-truths.

It only got worse.

By the end of it, he had to fight with the urge to retch.

One half-lie he did manage to get through though, and it was the only reason there was a break in his kidnapper's... well, 'fun' was likely the best word, seeing as Zhong Qiang's face had lit up with sadistic glee once Lu Guang had proved himself as stubborn.

"They can see your faces" he'd said, calm and deathly quiet. Had watched Zhong Qiang pause in the middle of rearing his fist back. "Right now. I can feel it. I'm sharing my sight with one of them. They can see each of your faces and they're likely already informing the police"

Zhang Qiang had turned to the ringleader with a questioning look as if asking for orders. Meanwhile the pig-faced man, who he vaguely thought had been called Tian Xueyin before, had turned pale: "Hey, man you said nothin' about that- you know I'm on probation right now"

The ringleader had scowled, waving his hand dismissively. "Bah, I'm sure he's lying" he said yet didn't sound too sure, and Lu Guang had smiled, tilted his head just so. Intended to, at least. His chin dropped down and against his chest, exhaustion making it hard to keep his head up. He'd tasted copper.

"It's your choice on whether to believe me or not, but it's simply the truth. They can see you" he'd said, tone even and low, not even thinking about the ability Qiao Ling had acquired. If he had, he'd have asked them where they were.

That was twenty minutes ago. At least if he'd counted right. They'd taken his wristwatch away. Then again, his arms were behind his back. Even if he still had it, he wouldn't be able to check.

Finally, the ringleader stepped back over to him. Leaned down. Grabbed his chin harshly, turned his head up so he'd look him in the eyes. It hurt. Added onto the rest of the pain. A knife was poised in a quiet threat. "Tell the truth. Can they see us?"

And Lu Guang? Lu Guang did something that was usually more Cheng Xiaoshi's fort. He usually wasn't the impulsive one. Didn't usually act without thinking. But his day had been terrible so far.

He'd been lured out of the studio, drugged, kidnapped, blindfolded and gagged and had his shoulder dislocated and was tortured for what felt like an entire day but was likely only an hour or two...

So no, he usually wasn't impulsive.

But in that moment of spite, he let his eyes flash blue.

Activating his ability without a picture to look into was pretty much useless, nothing more than a brief flicker before it faded away uselessly, unable to hook onto anything. Nothing more than a party trick that caused mild dizziness.

It was enough to make the ringleader stumble back with a shout, before he moved to slap him across the face out of shock.

One thing the man didn't take into consideration was the knife. 

Chapter Text

"I found the van, sharing my location now"

A motorcycle was parked within the tree line, dark eyes narrowing in on the front door of the abandoned hotel. Next to it crouched a young man with spiky bangs, his hair dark blue. Almost black.

"Stay where you are, we're sending backup now- no, you two are not going anywhere!"

Captain Xiao's voice filtered through the speaker of the young man's phone, and he hummed absentmindedly in response. A hint amused at his superior having to argue with someone.

The man laughed lightly as he listened in on the muffled argument, eyes flicking to the shoddy van. If the police arrived, they might have issues with the kidnappers trying to flee.

While orders had been to stay where he is... well, he liked going by the saying work smarter, not harder.

So he hung up, forgotten by his superior, and slowly slid down the slope leading down from the tree line. His steps were quick and light, and he ducked down to avoid detection. Just in case.

Once he was close enough, he slashed the tires one by one with a glass shard he'd found. Likely from a beer bottle. Not the safest method, but it did the job. 

He'd just finished with the last one, quite content with himself and the fact that they could no longer use the vehicle to flee, and turned to head back to the tree line when he heard it.

In his line of work, it was inevitable to see or hear horrifying things. He'd seen countless dead bodies on the job, has had people pass away right in front of him. Could see the blood on his hands, if he imagined it hard enough. 

But the scream, muffled as it was through the walls, left the hair on the back of his neck standing anyway. 

It was loud, if brief. Cutting off with as little warning as it started. 

The alarm bells in his head went off immediately. 

He paused, stared at the building. Torn between orders and the urge to help. That, after all, was why he was a cop. To help. 

And then moved. Not towards the tree line, where he was supposed to wait for backup. Towards the building. 

Fuck orders, he thought, what's the point of all this if the victim ends up dead? 

Call him cocky, but he could handle three kidnappers. Hopefully. 

He managed to get in undetected, eyes scanning over the lobby. There was a door in the back, and he narrowed his eyes. Frantic voices echoed out from there. 

With quiet steps he headed over, drawing his gun. The door was slightly ajar, allowing him to listen in on the three kidnappers' squabbling. Muffled sobs reached his ears as well. That was all the confirmation he needed. 

This is where the victim was. 

He kicked the door open, aiming his weapon with an accuracy born of a strict field training officer. "Guidu police, hands in the air!" he shouted, eyes mapping out the situation fast. 

Three suspects. One nearest to the victim had a baseball bat in hand. One further to the back paused mid-pacing, clutching a bloody knife. Third one unarmed. The victim was on a chair, shaking. 

The one with the knife pushed past the unarmed one, as if aiming for the white haired man. Either to kill or to take as a hostage. He assumed the latter. Leverage was useful, and both sides knew. 

The officer didn't hesitate in pulling the trigger.

The bulled only grazed the man, but he dropped his weapon all the same. That was where the chaos began, for the ensuing scuffle could only be described as a mess. 

The now former knife wielder had dropped back, the brute with the bat had come in swinging. The kidnapping victim falling to the back of the three's minds, it seemed, as they zeroed in on the officer. 

By the time the dark haired man had subdued two, leaving them as groaning heaps on the ground, the top hat wearing one had vanished. 

"Fuck" he muttered, grabbing the zip ties that laid on the nearby desk. There was not much else he could do. 

At least the kidnappers had given him the means to make sure they wouldn't run. 

~

Lu Guang didn't bother fighting the sobs clawing their way up his throat. He couldn't if he tried. He'd been in plenty pain before, he'd been stabbed just a couple months ago after all, but this? This was a whole different kind of pain. 

His shoulders shook, and each tremor sent a fresh wave of agony through the dislocated one.

His sobs were muffled. They shoved the rag, or what he assumed to be the rag, back into his mouth when he'd started screaming. It made breathing hard, left his chest heaving with strained gasps.

Vaguely, he heard the trio shout at each other. He barely registered more than "We could've made money off that guy- shit, what if he's useless now!" and "They SAW us" mixing with "I panicked- I panicked, okay?!"

His head ached. From the pain, from the adrenalin, from the panic. The shouting didn't make it better.

Neither did the sound of a door getting kicked in.

His hearing kept fading in and out between waves of pain. 

"-in the air!" more shouting, he only caught what felt like half of it. Lu Guang barely paid it mind through the haze of pain, busy hyperventilating and gasping for air between sobs born of agony, but part of him took note that it at least sounded like the police was finally here.

There was a lot of noise, then a resounding bang.

Lu Guang felt as though his breath stopped. In an instant, his sobs died down. Instead, he tried desperately to breathe at all.

The sound of the gun going off bounced around his aching skull like a logo bouncing on a TV on standby. Leaving him shaking and thinking "Not again, not again" over and over. It could've been minutes, it could've been hours. He didn't know. He couldn't tell anymore.

A hand touching his dislocated shoulder snapped him out of it. A muffled cry escaped him, and he jerked back.

For a moment, there was silence. Then a hand touched his chin. Firm but careful. The rag was pulled away. Lu Guang choked back a sob. Panic, pain? He couldn't tell anymore.

"Hey, hey- calm down, calm down. I'm an officer, I work with Captain Xiao" the other sounded calm in a way that was painfully clearly faked. "Can you tell me- hey, careful-"

Despite the assurance, Lu Guang tried jerking back, even though it only made the pain worse. Frantically, he shook his head. Fought a wince when it made the headache spike. Unable to bring himself to form words.

Something pressed against his face, over his eyes, and he jolted. A noise stuck between a shout and a sob forcing itself up his throat.

"I need to stop the bleeding, try to hold still-"

He did, if only because he didn't have the strength to fight back. Trembling like a leaf in a storm.

There was a moment of silence, then: "I went in, suspect one has been shot but is on the run, suspects two and three are uninjured but zip-tied in the first room of the property. Requesting an ambulance- victim is injured. I repeat, victim is injured and one suspect escaped"

Lu Guang strained his ears, and almost sobbed in relief when he heard Captain Xiao respond and ask about him. Because that meant this was real. He wasn't being tricked again.

"Hey, Lu Guang, right? Can you say something?" the officer asked him, and the young man opened his mouth. Nothing more than a wheeze escaped him, and it left him hyperventilating yet again.

A hand settled on his uninjured shoulder. Firm, steady. Almost reassuring. "It's okay, take your time... hm? No, sorry, Captain. I don't think he's in a state to talk. Shock, probably. The injuries are... "

There was shouting over the line, and Lu Guang felt like crying when he recognized the voices to be Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling. He couldn't make out much, but it wasn't something anyone could pre-record.

Despite the pain and fear, a part of him calmed instantly. Because they were okay. They were safe. No one was dying.

So when he felt his consciousness fade?

He didn't fight it any longer. 

~

The police arrived quicker than anticipated, but with the lack of an ambulance, it mostly left the dark haired officer annoyed.

Silent, he watched from his spot on the floor as the three suspects were taken outside, while carefully keeping the head of the whitehaired man elevated on his lap. Eyes scanning his coworkers until one rushed in through the door.

"Captain Xiao" he greeted his superior, lifting a hand to wave him over. Watched as the other quickly made his way over.

The older officer knelt down next to him, eyes scanning over the limp body. "Officer Jae. Report?" he asked, and the dark haired young man straightened out of reflex.

"Presumably dislocated shoulder. Bruising and abrasions on both wrists from a zip tie- which I've already cut. Likely to have sustained further injuries. And... well" vaguely, Jae Lee gestured to the young man's face. 

More specifically, the strip of clothed tied around his eyes in a quick attempt at first aid. 

It was from his own, seeing as his clothes were cleaner than the injured young man's. 

He'd been keeping tabs on him and the other two, since Bridon. Even more so since being pulled out of his vacation. Clearly, he hadn't kept a close enough eye on things. Otherwise he may could've prevented this.

Captain Xiao's face was dark. "What happened?" he asked, and the younger man grimaced. Shook his head.

"I was outside when the victim screamed, and when I came in the suspects were in a frenzy and arguing. One was holding the knife. The victim sustained a facial injury- perhaps eyes as well..." Jae Lee trailed off, frowning. "I'm not entirely sure, he was been squeezing them shut, but with the blood..."

His superior looked quite ready to commit a crime, but a glance to the unconscious man seemed to have him rethink that.

It was fascinating to the young officer from Bridon. He'd heard about it shortly after coming to Guidu, what with his coworkers talking about it occasionally during breaks. 

Captain Xiao Li had found not one but three 'strays' during his latest big case. Jae Lee was still lacking all the details about that case. Something about a serial killer and Qian Jin getting arrested, a suspect getting away.

It was a running joke among the police force. That Captain Xiao had gotten attached to the trio despite them being young adults as opposed to kids or teenagers as most 'strays' tended to be. He'd visited them a couple times during a hospital stay, and that was the nail in the coffin, regarding the remarks. 

It wasn't a rarity- a lot of officers had cases where they got attached. Still, as someone who'd gotten attached to some petty pick-pocket while still a rookie and had ended up rooming with a 17-year-old at 22 for a while, Jae Lee had found it a hint funny that the captain got attached to three. 

Now? Oh, there was no humor in the situation.

"He's been unconscious for around ten minutes" he mentioned, watching his coworker carefully for a reaction. Captain Xiao said nothing at first, merely nodded. A deep frown on his face.

It took a couple moments before his superior's expression evened out. "Let's not move him. Ambulance will be here soon" he muttered, before getting up. Gaze wandering about the room. Taking in the blood staining the ground and the bullet lodged in the wall. 

"You said one of the suspects got away?" Captain Xiao asked, glancing down at him. There was no judgement to be found- it happened, even if none of them liked to admit it. 

Jae Lee nodded, sighing. "Fucker slipped away" he admitted easily. There was no point in hesitating. Not when a kidnapper was on the loose who stooped low enough to do something like that. 

It wasn't like he was really sure if what he suspected was true, but with the given evidence... he was more than glad to hear the sirens of the ambulance. 

"Finally" the dark haired young man shook his head, the links of the chain connecting his earrings clinking together not unlike the chain of handcuffs. 

Captain Xiao stepped aside when the paramedics rushed in. Letting them do their jobs. "Any idea why they targeted him?" Jae Lee asked absentmindedly and narrowed his eyes when his superior's expression turned stormy. 

"I can imagine" was all he said on the topic, much to Jae Lee's dismay, before shaking his head. "Check in with Xu Jan, we need phantom pictures out there soon. The faster we identify him, the faster we can find and arrest him" 

The older man sighed again, looking like he'd gained years of age in an instant. Then he tossed him the keys. 

"I'm going to the hospital. Join me once you're done with Xu Jan, take those kids with you. Don't let them go on their own, we don't know if anyone's going to go after them too" 

Jae Lee nodded.

"Yes, sir" 

Chapter Text

When Lu Guang came to, it was to darkness and the smell of antiseptic. 

The smell wasn't unfamiliar. Something being wrapped tight enough over his eyes to prevent opening them was. To make matters worse his head felt as though he were under water, leaving his thoughts sluggish. 

Where was he? The hospital? 

No, he hadn't gotten injured in the face... had he? He shook his head weakly. Thinking made his brain hurt. Moving his head certainly wasn't helping. Then again, everything hurt.

What happened...? 

Piecing it together, he found that some things were missing. 

He remembered leaving the hospital, cleared after what felt like ages. Babysitting DouDou a couple times. Working at the studio. 

He remembered four dives. 

Lu Guang made a face. As best as he could, at least. He didn't want to remember those. Especially given that this was the furthest he'd ever gotten. 

But as he let his thoughts wander, clarity began to set in, memories returning piece by piece like those of a puzzle. Slotting together seamlessly. 

I got kidnapped. 

The thought slammed into him like a tidal wave. Dread and panic leaving him breathless. 

This wasn't a hospital, was it? In a panic, he sat up. Ignored the way everything hurt. Breaths coming in fast, short bursts that left his already aching ribs protesting. There was nothing restricting his hands, and he scrambled to reach for the blindfold.

Except it wasn't a blindfold at all. 

He froze when his fingers made contact with bandages, slowly letting them drop down and onto his lap. Breath catching in his throat. 

His own scream echoed in his ears. 

"What if he's useless now!" pig-face 

"I panicked- I panicked, okay?!" the ringleader 

"I need to stop the bleeding.... Victim is injured" the stranger

Something acidic burned in his throat. He couldn't see. He couldn't breathe either. His chest ached. He couldn't see. There were bandages over his eyes. He couldn't see. 

His hands returned to his face, fingers dancing over the bandages. He didn't put pressure for fear of causing more damage. He didn't want to know the current damage. 

Surely... surely it hadn't been that bad... right?

Slowly, his fingers moved up. Into his hair, gripping at the strands. It wasn't the best coping mechanism, pulling on his hair, but it was the only thing he could currently do. 

It wasn't until hands grabbed at his wrists that he froze, grip on his hair tightening. Fight or flight instincts fighting and leaving him all but paralyzed. Because what if this wasn't a hospital? What if that was one of the kidnappers? Worse, what if this was- 

"Kid, hey- quit that" 

The fight drained from him in an instant, shoulders slumping. The lack of tension alleviated the pain, just a little. It did make him more aware of the fact that he was shaking, though. 

His mouth felt dry. He couldn't get a word out, but the second his wrists were let go, he dropped his hands again. One dropped on his arm, and it was only now that he noticed the IV. Or at least what felt like an IV. 

"Lu Guang? Are you with me?" 

Lu Guang swallowed, hard. Fought down the urge to cough. The feeling was disgusting, but nothing a glass of water wouldn't fix. "Captain Xiao?" he finally asked, wincing at how scratchy his voice was. 

There was a sigh. Distinctively relived. "Yea, kid, it's me" the police captain confirmed. "Gave your friends quite the scare, y'know?" 

The seer grimaced. "Are they alright?" he asked, just to be safe. He frowned, hoping his head was at least turned into the right direction. There were steps, then something was pressed into his hands. A cup, from what he could tell.  

"They're both fine. An officer is with them" Captain Xiao assured him, something tired creeping into his voice. "They would've been here already, but there was a change of plans due to the surgery" 

Lu Guang froze in the middle of taking a sip of the water. The dread returning, coiling around his chest like ropes, forcing the breath from his lungs. "Surgery?" he forced out, hating how weak his voice sounded. 

Clothes rustled, then something dragged across the ground. Plastic on tiles. A chair, probably. It creaked. He assumed he'd taken a seat. "It was an emergency one. Took one look and immediately wheeled you off to surgery" Captain Xiao explained, and the younger man grimaced. 

That was not good. He settled for downing the water first, to get rid of the dryness in his throat. "How long until...?" he lifted his free hand. Gestured vaguely at his face. Felt the cup being taken from the other now that it was empty.  

"... doctors didn't say. It's been a couple hours, no updates for another few, I fear" the older admitted, voice apologetic. His clothes rustled again. Lu Guang assumed that he'd moved. "Do you remember-"  

"Three men" Lu Guang didn't hesitate to cut him off, knowing how vital it was to get the images in his head out before they faded. "One was a taller guy, broad shoulders, bald, Zhong Qiang according to the ringleader. I think one was called Tian Xueyin. Tattoo on his neck, said something about being on probation. Last one-" 

A hand landed over his. He paused. Only now noticed that he was digging his fingers into his lower arm. Let them relax. "Breathe, kid" Captain Xiao admonished, and waited until he did before he continued: "We got the identities already. I meant what happened" 

Lu Guang's shoulders drooped. "Oh" he murmured, head lowering. He let out a breath. Took another. Resorted to a stiff nod. He did, now. Pieces coming back more and more clearly. Part of him wished they didn't. 

"Any idea what they wanted from you?" the police captain asked, voice careful and level. And Lu Guang opened his mouth, ready to say "Qian Jin sent them for revenge". But that... that wasn't all. 

Couldn't be all. There had been many threats of violence- to hurt him, which they had. Further threats that they'd hurt Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling... and one detail left his stomach sinking. They had never once made death threats, not outright, but they hadn't been hesitating to use their names around him.  

But also...

"We could've made money off that guy-" 

A tremor went through him. The acidic taste was back. Weakly, he pulled his knees against his chest. Didn't fight the shudder. He felt sick. 

This was it. This was why his father had told him over and over not to show people is ability, wasn't it? 

"I think Qian Jin sent them... but I don't think they..." he rasped out, trailed off. He couldn't see Captain Xiao's expression, but he felt the way the air shifted. Taking a deep breath, he tacked on, gesturing vaguely towards his face once more: "They were after... that" 

Clothes rustled. Then the sound of a pencil scraping across paper. "If they wanted that, why did they...?" Captain Xiao paused, waited. Lu Guang ducked his head further. It made his headache spike, so he instead angled his head straight. 

He didn't want to explain, but... 

"My fault. I startled the top hat guy. He went to slap me. He forgot the knife" he muttered, unable to keep the bitterness from his tone. 

Because that was how things were, weren't they? It was his fault. He'd been careless, he'd acted impulsively, he'd gotten himself and by extension his friends in trouble. 

Near him, he could hear Captain Xiao sigh. "I wouldn't call it your fault, kid" he said, but didn't continue. Lu Guang heard him write. Pause. Scratch something out. Write again. Almost as if he were indecisive on how to formulate things. 

"Are Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling going to visit soon?" he found himself asking, and the quiet noise stopped. Focusing on the noise led him to at least notice that there was a clock. 

The steady tick-tock resonated through the air. Usually, he wouldn't pay it much mind. Now, it was the only way he could tell the passing of time. 

Captain Xiao cleared his throat. "It's late. Or early. However you want to see it" he said. Lu Guang barely resisted the urge to point that he could, in fact, not see it even if he wanted to for the unforeseeable future. 

Instead, he took a controlled breath. Counted the clock ticking away. Waited ten seconds. Then: "What time is it?" 

"Four in the morning" 

Lu Guang balked. Four? That... was a very different time than he expected. "Why are you...?" he let the words hang in the air, unfinished. There was hardly a question on what he meant, though. 

The police captain sighed. "Making sure nothing else happens" was all he said, and Lu Guang slowly shifted under the covers until he was laying down again. Despite the late, or early, hour he didn't feel very tired. Not mentally, at least. But there was no point putting further strain on his body. 

He took a deep breath. There was no reason to panic. Not yet. Everything was fine. Everything would be fine. He'd be back to making sure everything went as it was supposed to as soon as the bandages were off. 

There was no reason to worry. 

"I understand" 

~

"It's five in the morning, why am I smelling congee?"

Cheng Xiaoshi glanced up, not unlike a deer in headlights. In the middle of a kitchen that looked as though a storm had come through.

Not far from him, Qiao Ling sat atop the counter. Sipping coffee.

The two shared a glance, then looked at the officer before them. "Because Cheng Xiaoshi stress-cooks" the older of the two announced with a shrug, ducking under the balled up paper towel thrown her way.

"Rude, landlady- what if he thinks I'm uncool now?!" 

"Your lack of fashion sense probably already did that"

"Why you-" 

A snort broke up the two's squabble, leaving both their heads to snap to the officer. 

The dark haired young man was failing at stifling his laughter, arms wrapped around himself and shoulders shaking. "Sorry, sorry- I didn't realize you two were siblings" he managed between chuckles. 

Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi exchanged a glance, shrugged. "Well, not technically-" "Not by blood" 

Glancing between them, Jae Lee huffed. The sound amused. "You're not too far off from my little sister and I" he waved his hand slightly, brushing past Cheng Xiaoshi to get himself a coffee as well. "So, stress-cooking at five in the morning, hm?" 

"... neither of us could sleep" Qiao Ling admitted, when the time diver made no move to explain the situation. Watched the young man she considered her little brother turn back to his early breakfast. 

He hummed in acknowledgment, but refused to look at either of them. "You were on a call with Captain Xiao earlier" he murmured, more messing with his food than showing any signs of actually intending to eat it. "Has he... is there...?" 

Jae Lee took a sip out of his coffee. Nodded. "He woke up, no major news yet since the doctor left around midnight and didn't want to give a prognosis until your friend's up. But the captain said he's coherent and remembers what happened" 

Cheng Xiaoshi turned around, relief plastered across his face, despite wishing that Lu Guang didn't have to remember- he didn't know how extensive his injuries were, but Qiao Ling had warned him that what she'd seen wasn't pretty. 

Unused as she was to this new power, that she'd admitted to possessing a couple days after they left the hospital, she hadn't been able to keep the connection for long. Given what he'd picked up on, he guessed it was for the best that the connection cut when it did. 

Though, it didn't explain the odd looks she tended to give Lu Guang. 

"So he'll be okay?" he finally pressed, and watched as the officer paused. An odd feeling reared its head. He pushed it down. Kept an eye on the strange officer. 

He didn't wear an uniform, hadn't from the start. Special Agent Jae, one of the officers had mumbled to another when the man with midnight blue hair had brushed past and disappeared into a different room at the station with only a brief, polite nod. 

Cheng Xiaoshi had been distracted by the smell of gunpowder and blood clinging to the man. Lu Guang's blood? He prayed not. He feared it was. 

That smell was now gone. 

Jae Lee hummed in thought. "He'll live" was all he said, and Cheng Xiaoshi frowned. Because that? That he already knew. 

But the officer didn't seem inclined to elaborate, and Qiao Ling sent him a look that made it clear that digging for more information, at least for now, would bring no further results. 

So, shoulders sagging, he turned back to his congee. 

He couldn't wait until he saw Lu Guang again. Maybe he'd sneak some food into the hospital, if he wasn't being watched by the knowing eyes of Qiao Ling or the officer. 

Their last stay had taught him one thing well: his best friend hated hospital food. 

Which, in all honesty, he understood. 

Somehow, even instant noodles were leagues better. 

Chapter Text

Captain Xiao Li had spent most of his morning outside the hospital room, doing the job he'd volunteered for. 

"Guard Duty", as Officer Wang called it on occasion. At the thought, he glanced at the sign near the elevator further down the hall. Maybe he'd make time to visit her. 

Occasionally, he checked in with some coworkers. 

As far as things went, the suspects Jae Lee had arrested weren't giving them much trouble. 

Tian Xueyin, as Lu Guang had mentioned during his rambling, was indeed on probation and didn't want his prison sentence to fall out too badly. Making him all too willing to tell anything he knew. Zhong Qiang proved of the more stoic sort, but the second he heard that his colleague had cracked? He'd started talking quickly enough. 

With a sigh, the police captain flipped through his notes. So far, what they said added up. 

They were a group of three, with Mao Zhilong being the one to accept 'commissions'. He'd been given a job to get rid of the trio from the photo studio from someone the other two didn't know, but they both mentioned remembering Mao Zhilong mentioning that the call came from within Guidu's prison when he'd informed them. 

Tian Xueyin had claimed to have been only the driver and that Mao Zhilong and Zhong Qiang had been the ones to hurt Lu Guang. Zhong Qiang denied it at first, before admitting that he had indeed caused harm on orders of Mao Zhilong until they'd gotten answers about the ability. 

Both of the suspects were ready to throw their de-facto leader under the bus once they realized he'd ditched them. 

Zhong Qiang had mentioned that their job had been to kill the trio, but that Mao Zhilong thought that they could make money off of someone who possessed extraordinary abilities. Tian Xueyin had confirmed it, but claimed he hadn't wanted to be any part of that. 

Captain Xiao had to take a deep breath upon being relayed that part, concentrated on relaxing his hand before the pen snapped in two. 

Was that why the two had been cautious about their abilities?, he wondered, staring at the words he'd written down. Because of the risk of people finding out about them and seeing them as nothing but tools? 

He sighed, rubbed a hand over his face. Exhausted. "Poor kids..." he muttered, shaking his head. Checked the time on his phone and noticed that Jae Lee had sent him a message. 

At the hospital, heading in now. 

Five minutes ago? That meant... 

The elevator opened, and a familiar duo stepped out, a muffled "Crap, I forgot my hair tie!" being what greeted him. 

Well, it was less stepping out and more stumbling with how tired the younger of the two looked. Cheng Xiaoshi was half-heartedly glaring at Qiao Ling, who was passing him a hair tie with a shake of her head. 

"I swear you're impossible!" she complained, glaring up at him in a way that reminded Captain Xiao of an older sister having to deal with the antics of her little brother. She didn't seem to notice him standing there. 

A hint amused, he watched them pass by. 

Cheng Xiaoshi balked, as if offended, but swiped the hair tie. "Me?! You're the one who took ages in the bathroom, landlady!" he countered, tying his hair back without noticing Captain Xiao's presence in the hallway either. 

"Excuse me-? At least I didn't try leaving the house in my pajamas!" 

The door to Lu Guang's room slid open, before shutting behind them. 

Only a minute later, the other elevator opened and Jae Lee stepped out. "Kids these days" the midnight blue haired man shook his head, a coffee in hand. It didn't smell like discount hospital coffee, and the older man wished he'd asked him, or anyone really, to bring a coffee. 

"You're one to talk. Aren't you only five years older?" 

~

Lu Guang was more than a little glad when Captain Xiao had left the room. He was less glad upon realizing that it was due to a nurse checking in on him, followed by the doctor. 

He was told nothing and he hated it. 

The bandages had been changed, with a strict order to keep his eyes closed. They didn't need to tell him twice. 

But once that was over and he was alone again? Slowly, the dread returned. It was too quiet and too loud at once. The only noise the ticking clock and the rustle of the fabrics and plastic. Once, a bird chirped outside his window. 

Lu Guang was unsure on the time, but as far as he was aware, it was past seven in the morning. 

The adrenalin was out of his bloodstream now, but it was replaced by fear. The fear of the unknown and the unknown variables thrown into the mix, at that.

Logically, everything was fine. He was fine. He was alive and mostly well, being hospitalized aside, and Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling were alive and safe at home. 

But fear was slowly gnawing at him. 

Because he didn't know everything, and that was what scared him. 

He didn't know if it had really been Qian Jin. He didn't know if the last of the kidnappers would come back. He didn't know long he'd be stuck in the hospital. He didn't know how long it'd take for his injuries to heal. He didn't know- 

He didn't know if there was permanent damage. 

And that, specifically, scared him more than anything. 

Because what if there was permanent damage? He wasn't a fool. He knew that injuries like this one could leave lasting effects. 

And from there, he spiraled. 

If there was permanent damage, it would affect his future. It would affect his ability, and consequently Cheng Xiaoshi's. It would affect business. It would affect his ability to keep Cheng Xiaoshi alive and safe. 

His worries, somehow, kept circling around that last point. 

That it would affect his daily life didn't even come to mind for him at all. It simply wasn't important. 

But then another thought struck- and it was as much ridiculous as it was terrifying. What if there was permanent damage, and what if Cheng Xiaoshi didn't want anything to do with him anymore? 

It was truly a stupid thought. Cheng Xiaoshi was the kindest soul he knew. Forgiving and open-minded, if an impulsive idiot. 

Still, the fear had taken root, irrational as it was. 

Being left to spiral certainly didn't help. 

Part of him was tempted to tug the bandages off, to check what would happen if his eyes opened- but he refrained. It wouldn't do anything but potentially make his injury worse. 

He barely touched the food the nurse brought him, it smelled unappetizing and tasted no better. He murmured a quiet "Thank you" to show his gratitude anyway. That, and a calm reassurance that he'd be fine on his own.   

Part of him wanted to ask for a book, but then he remembered that he couldn't read. So he remained quiet, said nothing else. 

Idly, he wondered if Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling would bring him one. Then, he wondered if they even knew. 

The birds chirped a lot more frequently outside his windows now. 

Another nurse had shown up, to check his vitals he assumed, who took the rest of his breakfast away. He mentioned that he felt fine. Partially because he hoped to get out of the hospital sooner. 

Lu Guang was picking at the band aid around the IV when he heard it. Tilted his head towards where he assumed the door to be and strained his ears. Fought a small smile. 

"I swear you're impossible!" 

"Me?! You're the one who took ages in the bathroom, landlady!" 

"Excuse me-? At least I didn't try leaving the house in my pajamas!" 

He heard the door slide open, the muffled argument cutting off. A loud "Guang!" reached his ears followed by quick steps, before arms wrapped around him. 

It knocked some air out of him, but after a moment he slowly hugged back. Let out a quiet breath of relief when he reached up to push Cheng Xiaoshi's face against his good shoulder and his fingers brushed over his neck, felt a steady beat. 

His friend pulled away from the hug far too soon, and Lu Guang felt a hand brush against his jaw, tilting his head gently. He didn't protest, simply let him. If it put him at ease, he was fine with it. 

A finger brushed by his temple, paused at the edge of the bandages. 

"Who did this?" he could hear the frown in Cheng Xiaoshi's voice, the anger. It was rare, to invoke such an emotion in the time diver. 

Lu Guang shook his head slightly. "It's fine, it'll heal" he muttered, with as much certainty as he could, despite not being certain at all. 

If Cheng Xiaoshi noticed his voice sounding off, he didn't comment. The white haired man was grateful for that. He wasn't quite sure what he'd have done if he had. 

His fingers flexed slightly. Holding onto the soft fabric of Cheng Xiaoshi's clothes - that black jacket, most likely? It had the same texture - when the other moved to pull away entirely. 

It wasn't quite on purpose, but Cheng Xiaoshi seemed to understand. Gently maneuvering Lu Guang until there was a bit more space, it seemed, because soon enough the taller was next to him. 

The nurses would complain. They had done so back when they'd been admitted for the respective shot and stab wounds. No one quite managed to make Cheng Xiaoshi quit it, though, and Lu Guang's protests hadn't been anything but show. 

Right now, he didn't feel like pretending to dislike his closeness. 

"Did the doctors tell you anything yet?" Qiao Ling asked, and Lu Guang barely managed to avoid flinching. He'd forgotten that she was there. 

"No" he muttered, a hint bitter. He understood why she asked- because she likely had a similar train of thought as he did. 

There was the rustling of clothes, accompanied by steps. Then the chair creaked. Qiao Ling must've sat down. "I'm sure it'll be okay" she said, and he hummed noncommittally. 

He heard Cheng Xiaoshi take a breath beside him, likely about to say something, anything, when the door slid open again. For a brief moment, Lu Guang thought it might be Captain Xiao. He was quickly proven wrong. 

"Ah, I see you have visitors, Mr Lu" 

The doctor. 

He nodded stiffly, turning his head into the direction of the man. If there was any judgement regarding his best friend being on the hospital bed next to him, they weren't voiced. 

So Lu Guang listened to him as the doctor introduced himself to his two friends. Remained silent while Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi thanked him for his work. 

Eventually, papers rustled. The doctor cleared his throat. "Well, let's get to it... there are mild abrasions on your wrists, they aren't severe and should heal within the week. Bruising on chest, stomach, left lower leg and right side of the jaw. No bones fractured- you were lucky there, young man" 

There was a pause, more paper rustled. Next to him, Cheng Xiaoshi had tensed. 

"Dislocated right shoulder. Don't strain yourself the coming weeks, please take the prescribed meds until the pain stops. Depending on the check-up you might have to do some physical therapy, but there are some easier exercises for you to do" 

Lu Guang's fingers twisted into the blanket. Head lowering slightly. Letting out a shaky breath. There was one more thing to come. The air had grown heavy. They all knew what the last bullet point was. 

The doctor cleared his throat again, something apologetic seeping into his voice. "There was a severe corneal laceration horizontally across your eyes. Surgery was performed to close the laceration and hopefully prevent infection" paper rustled. 

The seer tensed. Swallowed hard when an acidic taste coated the back of his teeth. Hopefully?, he couldn't help but think. 

Cheng Xiaoshi threw an arm around him, pulled him closer. He sat on his left. It didn't jostle his injuries much, but even if they had, he wouldn't have cared. Not with the current topic at hand. 

"I'm afraid to say that the current prognosis is permanent vision loss"

And just like that, he felt as though his entire world shattered.  

The doctor mentioned further check-ups, potential surgeries. Lu Guang didn't hear him. He barely even breathed. He didn't hear Cheng Xiaoshi calling his name, either. 

Chapter Text

Cheng Xiaoshi paced about the studio, double-checking... well, everything. An anxious wreck, knowing that Lu Guang was going to come home today. 

Usually, he would've been released on the day of their visit. Given the rest of the injuries and the severity, the hospital had wanted to keep him under supervision a full three days. 

Lu Guang hadn't objected. 

Scratch that, he hadn't said anything. Ever since the doctor's news, he'd gone silent. 

Qiao Ling watched him from the couch, a deep frown on her face. Part of her just... knew. She just knew that the silence was about that. 

"You used Cheng Xiaoshi's ability" she said, cornering Lu Guang one early morning not too long ago after chasing Cheng Xiaoshi out to get groceries. He'd complained, but ultimately caved when she pulled the "I'm a girl and I want chocolate. What more reasons do you need?" card. 

She'd rarely seen him run that fast. Not out of disgust, but because he knew Qiao Ling long enough to be mature about it. They'd grown up together, after all. 

Now, with Lu Guang alone, it was the perfect moment to ask about the things Li Tianxi had shown her when the life had seeped out of her. 

Lu Guang offered her nothing but a calm stare. "I have not" he said, with as much conviction as he could. 

With a sigh, Qiao Ling crossed her arms. "Don't bother lying to me. I saw it" she told him, watched his shoulders tense. 

That, honestly, was all the confirmation she needed. 

"Why?" she asked, despite 'how' being just as important a question. Because his ability certainly wasn't diving. 

Lu Guang turned away from her, crossed his arms. "... he died" the seer whispered, voice cracking. 

And that? That made her heart shatter. "He died?" she asked, didn't fight the quiver in her voice. It was pointless to try. 

"You said-" 

"I know what I said!" Lu Guang's voice was sharp and cutting like broken glass. "I know. I know that I'm a selfish hypocrite. You don't have to tell me that. But I can't... I couldn't..." 

Slow, careful, as if approaching a wounded animal rather than one of her best friends, she moved closer. Rested a hand on his shoulder. Paused when he moved away. "Lu Guang" she murmured. "How many times...?" 

There was a moment of silence. Then: 

"Four times" 

Qiao Ling blinked. Stared at him. Waited for a punchline that never came. Because of course it didn't. This was Lu Guang. He'd never joke about things like that. 

"... you died the last two times. I'm sorry" 

It should've been concerning. Knowing that. Knowing that in the past - future? - she died. Somehow, she felt numb more than scared. Maybe because this was just confirming what she already knew. 

Slowly, she nodded. "I see" was all she said. Then she cleared her throat, frowned. "Did you... will you tell Cheng Xiaoshi?" 

Lu Guang glanced to her, his expression bordering on cautious. "He doesn't need to know" he responded, voice hollow. "He won't know. You weren't supposed to find out either"

She'd guessed as much, didn't bother pointing it out. "Lu Guang, if you don't tell him I will" it wasn't a threat. It was a promise. 

He seemed to pick up on that, expression twisting into something she couldn't quite decipher. Fear, maybe? 

"... I'll try to do it next Friday"

She swallowed, hard. 

Next Friday, huh? Friday came, and they'd gone out to get boba- and to give Lu Guang some peace because he'd been off all morning. She knew why, of course she did. That's why she'd insisted on letting him run the shop alone.  

They'd come back to him gone, the door open and his watch by the side of the alley. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was wearing it, at the moment. Lu Guang, due to his injury, had no use for it anyway. At least not right now... then again, given what the doctor said...

"You should quit pacing before you wear a hole into the ground" she chided, if only to get a rise out of him. 

Her brother in all but blood didn't even look at her. "Qiao Ling what do I do?" he asked, clearly stressed. 

She sighed, tossed a pillow at him. It smacked him right in the face, but even that didn't get his usual energy back. He just tossed it back onto the couch. 

He'd been like that ever since the doctor had dropped that particular bombshell on them. 

"I'm afraid to say that the current prognosis is permanent vision loss"

Lu Guang hadn't taken it well, if the sudden bout of silence was anything to go by. But Cheng Xiaoshi was upset as well. 

As far as she could tell, there was no judgement. Just worry and most of all guilt. 

"I should've been there to protect him" 

Qiao Ling doubted his presence would've changed much. She'd watched him riffle through photos frantically, as if ready to change something, anything- but Lu Guang rarely took pictures. There was nothing he could do to prevent this. 

What happened, happened. There was no changing it. 

Besides the self-blaming, there had been the concern. The worry of Lu Guang hurting himself by accident on a sharp corner. Tripping over the carpet or stuff just laying around. The bunk bed. 

Oh, Qiao Ling doubted Lu Guang would let his bunk bed be taken away. 

Then again, he'd need to talk to refuse. And during none of their visits had he done more than nod, shrug or shake his head. 

It was concerning, but none of them intended to push him. Not when he'd gotten such crushing news. 

"Have you considered... being calmer about it? Freaking out won't help him, you know that" she pointed out slowly, smoothed out her skirt. "You already made sure the studio is safe. You can calm down"

Cheng Xiaoshi looked almost offended at her comment. "I'm totally calm" he claimed, despite his current style being anxious mess. 

She sent him a deadpan look, and he seemed to get the message. Sighing. "Okay, fine" he mumbled, sitting down beside her. 

"I'm just... worried, y'know? I really care about him- I mean... I mean he's my best friend, obviously I do, but he's already gotten hurt because of me, and now-" 

Qiao Ling smacked him with a pillow. "I get it, I get it. Jeez, can you be any more obvious?" she asked, and watched him stare at her like a lost puppy. 

"Obvious?" 

Sometimes she really wanted to shake him by the shoulders. 

"Oblivious. Forget it. Just... take a breath. Captain Xiao said they'll be here at two, it's almost two" she pointed out. Smacking him again when he got that anxious look again. "Calm down- it'll be okay. We'll be okay. He'll be okay" 

She paused, thought for a moment. "And before you start to worry about that- I'm not asking for rent this month. I'm lowering it, too" she told him, watched his eyes widen and shoulders tense, before he visibly deflated. 

"Oh god... thanks so much, I completely forgot about-" 

"A guest has arrived" 

The familiar doorbell going off had both on their feet. They exchanged glances, before heading to the front together. 

Cheng Xiaoshi relaxed, just a little, when he recognized the mop of white hair. He was standing next to Captain Xiao, arms crossed and with his head down. The officer looked stuck between something akin to concern and defeat. 

His heart cracked, just a little, when he realized how uncomfortable his best friend looked. As if he were a stranger in his own home- because wasn't that what the studio was? Both of their home? 

"Hey, Guang" he greeted him, watched him startle. Had he not realized that him and Qiao Ling were approaching? 

Then a thought struck him: with the studio closed, both Qiao Ling and him were wearing socks, they'd snuck up on him without meaning to. 

Though even after the seer - former seer? Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't quite sure - took notice of him, he said nothing. 

A hint helpless, he glanced over to Captain Xiao. Though the older man merely shook his head. It saddened him- knowing that Lu Guang really hadn't broken his silence yet. Not during their visits, not outside their visits... not even now that he was home. 

Without warning, Lu Guang started moving. Cheng Xiaoshi was torn between making space and offering help- but ultimately did nothing when Lu Guang reached out an arm until he found the wall, palm remaining pressed against it while he used it to navigate to the sunroom. Probably. 

The time diver's shoulders sagged. 

"Any progress?" Qiao Ling piped up, in an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence. Mentally, he thanked her. At least one of them seemed to know what to say- or, maybe, her confidence was as fake as his current optimism. 

Captain Xiao took a deep breath, then sighed. Shook his head. "Nothing yet. I've set Jae Lee on him. Kid's got a knack for hunting suspects down" he said, arms crossed in front of his chest. 

Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn't have called the guy a kid- but then again, Captain Xiao was older than him. It seemed like a habit he'd taken up and couldn't shake. 

Not unlike how Qiao Ling used to call him a kid once in a while when she turned eighteen... until he eventually also turned eighteen. Though, in her case, it had been more on the teasing side. 

At the same time... didn't that mean the guy was free to try this all over again? 

His apprehension must've shown on his face, because the officer raised a hand. "We're increasing patrols around the area. If anyone tries anything, they won't get far" he assured them, and for a split second, Cheng Xiaoshi resisted the urge to point out that anyone with an ability like Li Tianchen would have easy pickings anyway. 

But the longer he thought, the more he realized that an officer around wouldn't lower the risks. Honestly, it elevated them. Because Lu Guang was... Lu Guang was currently not himself, and he doubted his best friend would do well with strangers around. He already hated it before, he'd hate it even more right now. 

So he nodded, accepted the situation. 

"Thank you, Captain" he said, offered a smile that was only half-forced. He was genuinely grateful, really, he just... really didn't feel like smiling. 

If Captain Xiao noticed, he didn't point it out. He simply nodded, glanced to the back. "Take care of each other, you hear me?" he murmured, likely to avoid Lu Guang overhearing. 

Cheng Xiaoshi glanced to Qiao Ling, and the two of them nodded. Steadfast. 

"Don't worry, we're a team" 

"Whatever the world throws at us, we'll deal with" 

Chapter Text

He pretended that everything was normal. Really, he did. Tried to, at least.

Fact was, nothing was normal. 

Work had gone from fun to stressful, now that he was doing everything alone. 

Getting groceries was stressful- because Lu Guang showed no interest in leaving the studio, and Cheng Xiaoshi was unwilling to leave him on his own. In the end, Qiao Ling got the groceries. 

Lu Guang's quietness had turned into silence. Broken up only by the occasional hum of... honestly, agreement and disagreement he could only differentiate based on body language.

They visited the doctor twice more for checkups, but nothing had changed. Cheng Xiaoshi asked, each time, "Do you want me to come in with you?" and each time Lu Guang shook his head. 

The only checkup he'd been let into was the one that discussed all the things they'd need to keep in mind for the near future. 

By week two he was no longer stressed. Just deeply exhausted. 

Not from work. 

From trying. 

He'd tried everything. 

From just sitting next to him, to rambling about any and all topics Lu Guang might love or hate, to cooking him the best meal he could manage with their meager savings, to wrapping an arm around him. 

He tried the last one only once. Lu Guang had shoved him away with more force than probably either of them anticipated. Expression, at least from what he could see, panicked.

Cheng Xiaoshi had felt horrible for the rest of the day.  

So yes, nothing he'd tried worked. 

He was at a complete loss, which made day 16 all the more startling. 

He was in the kitchen when Lu Guang slowly made his way over from the sunroom- which the other had been sleep in, ever since coming home. Now, he was shuffling along the wall. Using it to guide his way. 

Cheng Xiaoshi had greeted him with a simple "Morning" and the most cheerful tone he could, putting down Lu Guang's tea in the same spot he always did. After day three he'd seemed to notice the pattern. 

"I need to wash my hair" 

The words were slow, stilted. Hesitant and with a crack to them that showed that Lu Guang really had gone a little over two weeks saying nothing at all.

Cheng Xiaoshi blinked. Stared. "Yea, I was wondering when you'd realize that your hair is a mess" he commented, watched his best friend's lips twist into a scowl. 

It was a small victory, but he wouldn't complain. Not when he finally, finally got a reaction. 

Lu Guang took a sip from his tea. Stayed quiet for a moment. "... I'm asking for help" he finally muttered, with a reluctance that made Cheng Xiaoshi remember that yes, this was Lu Guang, the guy who hated admitting when he needed help. 

He beamed, the smile audible in his voice: "Don't you worry, Guang! I'll help you right after breakfast" 

"Guang, you know I'm not one to say anything about style, but we both know the doctor said you can stop wearing the bandages" 

Lu Guang turned away from him, arms crossed. "I feel better with them on" he muttered, and that was a whole new can of worms Cheng Xiaoshi did not want to get into. 

Idly, he wondered how fast Lu Guang figured out how to wrap them... and promptly felt bad for wondering. 

"You'll hate them once they soggy" the time diver pointed out. "If this is about your face or your eyes... I really don't care what they look like"

There was a moment of silence. Then, sighing, Lu Guang turned back to face him. Fumbling with the bandages. 

Carefully, gently, he put a hand over his. "Let me" he murmured, waited for him to nod, and proceeded to unwrap them. 

The scar wasn't entirely healed, still pink and raised. That was the first thing he noticed. The second was that Lu Guang's eyes, once they fluttered open, were still as mesmerizing as before- even though the pupils were... off. Smaller, maybe? 

It didn't matter, really, because-

"See? You're still handsome" he announced, smiling. Lu Guang blinked rapidly, stepping back. His cheeks a hint red. 

There was a moment of silence, then he cleared his throat. Frowning. "My hair?" he mumbled, gestured vaguely. 

At the reminder, Cheng Xiaoshi's face quickly started matching Lu Guang's. Laughing it off, he took his hand. Gently pulling him over to their shower. "Oh, yea" 

He paused. The blush on his face darkening. Wait... a shower meant... Slowly, he glanced down at himself. Then at Lu Guang. Oh. Oh no. Not that he'd mind seeing, because he really wouldn't mind- but... no. That was crossing boundaries he didn't know how to ask about without sounding like a fool. 

Oh, this was a conundrum. 

"... why did we stop?" the younger questioned, tilting his head. The usually fluffy hair was anything but that, hanging limply. He was still cute, but he definitely looked cuter with clean, dry hair.

Mentally, Cheng Xiaoshi smacked himself. 

"Shower" he uttered and internally chided himself for how dumb he sounded. "I mean. We'll shower. Easiest way to clean your hair. Uh- clothed. Obviously"

Lu Guang frowned. "Obviously" he echoed, and Cheng Xiaoshi could tell that he'd picked up on the fact that he'd been anywhere but mentally present until just now. 

He grinned awkwardly, then remembered that Lu Guang couldn't see the forced smile. So he simply dragged him under the shower. 

It was a bit awkward, at first- the shower was definitely not made in mind for two people to be in it at the same time. Eventually, though, they managed to sort themselves. 

Cheng Xiaoshi got to work, quietly humming a pop song from Bridon he'd heard on the radio recently. 

Back when they were a bit younger, before Lu Guang had moved into the photo studio, and he'd stayed over at Qiao Ling's place more often, they'd occasionally had hair care days. So while he'd never helped Lu Guang with his hair, he at least knew what he was doing. 

It was only now that he realized that they had a perfectly fine sink, though. 

He blinked, glanced down at his soaked clothes. 

Oh well. It was summer anyway- so it wasn't like he needed to worry. 

Eventually he dragged him out of the shower gently, laughed lightly when he glanced back and saw him looking not unlike a drowned cat. 

While drying off his hair, he paused. Took a moment to look at him. "... your hair's getting longer" he pointed out absentmindedly. 

Lu Guang frowned, reached up to touch his hair. "Hm... it's fine for now" he murmured, shrugged. He'd always preferred his hair shorter, but Cheng Xiaoshi bit his tongue instead of pointing it out.

They were silent, for a while. Though talking with the blow dryer running was a little hard. But it was nice, in a way. The silence was less oppressive than it had been before. 

By the end of it, Lu Guang's hair was back to it's fluffy state and his own starting to air-dry. 

They'd definitely both have to change, though.  

When he clicked the blow dryer off, he ruffled Lu Guang's hair. Grinned at the indignant noise from the shorter man. Then his expression turned a hint more serious. "Are you feeling better? At all?" he asked, cautious and hesitant. 

Lu Guang froze, then nodded. "I'm fine" he said, voice level and controlled. He didn't sound off in the slightest- as if it was any other day. He could very well see the way his shoulders tensed. 

Cheng Xiaoshi didn't believe him, but he refrained from calling him out on the lie. 

"That's good. We... kinda need to talk about some stuff... but for now, I think we both should change into dryer clothes" he kept his tone light, acted as though he noticed nothing off.

It was half an hour later that they were in the sunroom. Lu Guang sitting down on the couch, Cheng Xiaoshi pacing in front of the coffee table. 

"So..." he sighed, tried desperately to figure out where to start. It wasn't easy. He was used to sharp, cat-like eyes tracking his every move. 

Said cat-like eyes were unfocused now, 'staring' into empty space. 

With a frown, he turned to Lu Guang. "You can't work" it came out more blunt than he wanted, and watched the other frown. 

"I can work" he refuted, just as expected. Cheng Xiaoshi honestly hadn't expected anything less. 

So, he headed for the nearest shelf and took the photo album. Flipped through until he found the right one. Then marched right back. 

Idly, he noted that Lu Guang wasn't trying to face him. He did keep tilting his head this way and that way, possibly to keep track of his footsteps? 

Either way, he crouched down next to the couch. Gently, he put a photo into Lu Guang's hands. "Could you tell me which photo this is?" he asked, watched him for a moment. 

Pale, thin fingers ghosted over the photo. Turned it this way and that way. Then, slowly, Lu Guang shook his head. "... no" he murmured with a weary sigh. 

For a split second, grey eyes flashed blue. It vanished almost immediately, the photo fluttering to the floor. The seer rubbed at his eyes, lips twisted into a scowl. Clearly, that hadn't been the wanted result. 

The ability was still there- but without sight, it was useless. 

Cheng Xiaoshi's heart broke, just a little. "Exactly" he murmured, a hint apologetic. "You'd mix up the customers' orders, you can't develop photos like this, and your powers..." 

Lu Guang's expression turned blank. "So you're saying I'm useless" he noted, something sharp and bitter in his voice that he couldn't quite hide. 

"No- No, I'm just... I'm saying we'll work something out. Maybe we can find a way for you to do all the stuff you used to-" 

"Stop pretending I'm still worth anything, Cheng Xiaoshi" the white haired man hissed, not unlike a feral, injured street cat. Perhaps not the wrong comparison, given everything. 

For a moment, he was speechless. Then he grabbed the other by the front of his shirt. Shook him a little. "Don't you dare talk like that about my best friend- you're worth everything" he told him, both angry and hurt. 

Because how dare Lu Guang believe he was worthless, when he still meant the world to him? 

Lu Guang seemed a hint stunned. Either from getting grabbed out of nowhere, or being shaken. Perhaps it was the mild shouting. 

He didn't  care, as long as he got his point through that thick, stupid skull of his supposedly smart best friend. 

After a moment or two, Lu Guang sighed. "I'm sorry" he murmured, and there was a certain weight and guilt to it that seemed too much for just... this. 

Slowly, he let go. Let him sink back against the couch. "I'm sorry too. For shouting and shaking you" Cheng Xiaoshi watched him for a moment, then picked up the photo. A sunset- a picture Lu Guang must've taken it.  

Idly, he wondered how their powers would- no. Right now, their powers were unimportant. He'd show Lu Guang he was still perfect. Abilities and sight be damned. 

"You promised you'd stay. I'm promising the same. I'll stay, no matter what" Cheng Xiaoshi told  him quietly, placed a hand on the other's knee. Watched his throat bob as he swallowed. 

Lu Guang said nothing, at first. Simply kept his head low. Then, slowly, he sighed. Nodded. "I'm not expecting you to stick to that" he said, as if he knew something Cheng Xiaoshi didn't. 

That was fine. He'd prove that he'd never leave, simple as that.

Chapter Text

Quiet steps echoed down the dark, cold hallway. 

It was dark, safe for the flashlight the trembling man clutched in his hands. His head swiveled this way and that way, until his eyes caught on the door leading to the basement. 

A small note had been all his clue to finding this place. 

"Meet me here" was all it said, with the exact coordinates. 

Now here he was, heading down into the basement. Head ducked not unlike a dog waiting to get struck by its owner. 

He'd royally messed up, he knew, but surely he'd be forgiven... 

Finally, finally, he was in the basement. His steps seemed to echo in the silence. Louder than they really were. 

He clicked the flashlight off, he didn't need it. There were candles, lighting this room. 

Then, he saw him. Froze in his tracks. Dropped to his knees. His shadow was there as well, face mostly obscured by the darkness, but his eyes shined from within it. 

"I gave you clear instructions, didn't I?" 

His tone was calm, but Mao Zhilong could sense his disappointment. "I did follow them- I followed your instructions. I lied to Tian Xueyin and Zhong Qiang about who called" he quickly assured him. "They believe someone from prison called. Even if they get caught, they'll assume it was the other guy" 

His heart raced. The beat was loud in his ears. Can he hear it too?, Mao Zhilong wondered. It was terrifying, being faced with his disappointment. 

"Hmm... but you ignored all my other orders, didn't you?" he rose to his feet, slunk down from his seat and towards him. His shadow followed suit. 

Slowly, Mao Zhilong backed away. Because that was true. He had ignored all the other things he'd been told. Deliberately. Because he'd thought he could get away with it and find out more information for himself- thought he could turn a profit by spinning the lies he was supposed to tell further and further. 

Capture the time diver first. He'd captured the seer. 

Do not bring harm to him. He'd injured him... probably permanently.

(At least it had been fun, the sadistic part of him thought, we could've turned him into a golden goose if that guy hadn't shown up...)

Bring him to me, kill him to take his ability if you must. What had he done instead? Tried to hide him away, considered using keeping the seer alive to use his gift to gain money. 

It would've been so, so easy to kill him. To take the ability for himself- but then again, he had no experience with abilities. Didn't know how to properly control it. 

It was easier to keep the young man alive and make him use that gift. 

The only order he'd obeyed was lying- to Zhong Qiang and Tian Xueyin and the seer in case... well. In case things went wrong and he escaped. Which he had. Because he disobeyed orders.

Clearly, it had backfired horribly. Was this why people said not to go against his orders?

Mao Zhilong lowered his head. "I apologize" he murmured, tried to force shame instead of fear into his voice. "I swear I can turn this around- I can... I can get the right one, or... or..." 

He scrambled to his feet when he turned away. A hand raised, fingers snapped. The shadow moved. The muzzle of a gun dug into his temple. 

"They have a third power now" he blurted out, quick and panicked. 

Both of the other men in the room paused. He didn't turn around, but a tilt of the head showed attention. Curiosity, maybe. 

"They... the white haired one said they can... see him. See us. And they did- they somehow found us-" 

He didn't know, really, that he was both right and wrong. He didn't know that there genuinely had been another ability at play. He didn't know that, in truth, an officer had tracked their location down by himself. 

But the laugh startled both, the shadow and Mao Zhilong. Both gazes snapped to him, watched as he leaned against the far wall. 

"So that's how it is... one of them took Li Tianxi's power... thank you for that particular bit of information, truly" 

For a long, long moment Mao Zhilong felt relief. Perhaps he was forgiven. Perhaps he was going to get another chance. Perhaps he could make this right- 

Fingers snapped. 

The last thing he heard was the bang of a gun. 

~

It was still May, almost June. That was okay. That meant he still had time to turn things around and fix everything... somehow. 

If there was an ability that can travel back in time, there had to be a... a magic-healing ability, right? One that could fix his eyes and give him back the ability to use his own power? 

Then again, there would be rumors if such an ability existed... he couldn't remember any such rumors. Also, how would he even go about looking for an ability like that? 

Or perhaps- 

"How is the braille learning going?" 

Cheng Xiaoshi's voice greeted him, tore him from his thoughts. He let out a breath, steadied himself. Placed down the braille slate. 

Easy. It was easy. He'd always had an affinity for... well, learning. He'd been good in school, would've been better if he'd put in more effort. 

There was little motivation beyond having nothing else to do beyond accepting calls and taking customer's orders. 

Luckily, his memory was sharp as ever. 

With a slight delay, he sighed. "Well enough" he muttered. Shrugged. Tried to downplay it, because learning braille made it feel... final. It was like hitting the last nail in the coffin. 

But he had to be himself. He had to be fine. Not for his own sake- for Cheng Xiaoshi's. To make sure he lived. 

Arms wrapped around him, squeezed. "Typical Guangguang, always so smart!" his best friend cheered, practically smothering him. 

"Get off me, you idiot!" he complained, but didn't shove him off this time. 

They spent a while like that. Lu Guang trying to work on his braille, Cheng Xiaoshi leaning against him. It was nice, even if he refused to admit it out loud. 

How long has it been since he'd realized? He couldn't remember. He just knew he longed- but there was no future. Not yet. 

Even if there was, Cheng Xiaoshi... he'd never. Not for him. 

Eventually, a guest arrived. Cheng Xiaoshi went to greet them, returning soon with a happy skip in his steps. A second pair of steps followed, lighter. 

"Hey, Lu Guang" Qiao Ling. Of course it was Qiao Ling. Did it have to be Qiao Ling? 

Well, that was a little rude. 

He didn't mind Qiao Ling, really. Aside from Cheng Xiaoshi, she was his only friend. He cared about her, truly. 

Otherwise, he wouldn't be desperately trying to fix the timeline so all of them could live- even if, first and foremost, all of this was happening because he got Cheng Xiaoshi killed. 

Maybe his presence was the actual reason the death node existed in the first place. Would it vanish if- 

"I wanted to talk. Alone" 

He froze, torn from his thoughts yet again. Slowly, he nodded. "Sure" he murmured, ignored Cheng Xiaoshi's confused protest. 

He turned into his best friend's vague direction. "Could you get us some boba? Please?" he asked, waited patiently. 

He could almost hear the way Cheng Xiaoshi slouched in his "Yea, okay", before his steps faded. They waited until the front door shut. 

Qiao Ling walked away, steps fading, then returned. "He's gone" she announced, and the couch dipped beside him. 

He nodded. That was good. That meant they had time. Cheng Xiaoshi would take half an hour, most likely. While it would take an hour under normal circumstances... a curious Cheng Xiaoshi meant less chit-chat. 

The silence felt heavy. He cleared his throat. Swallowed hard. "If this is about the death node or work, I swear I'll figure it out" he finally muttered and for a split second, he was glad not to see her expression. 

"What?" Qiao Ling sounded startled. "No- no, no. This is... I wanted to apologize. Though... the death node is something we should... probably discuss too" 

Lu Guang blinked. At least he felt like he did. Tilted his head. "... apologize?" he asked, confused. Unsure where that one came from. 

What did Qiao Ling, of all people, have to apologize for? 

"I'm the reason you were alone" she said, slow and careful. He hated it. He was blind, not fragile. Granted, it was probably not even connected to that, but still- 

Then his brain screeched to a halt. "What? Qiao Ling, this wasn't your fault" He frowned, shook his head. Even when he thought about it... no. It simply wasn't her fault. "Things just lined up badly, this time. If anything it's my fault for causing the timeline to get out of control" 

Because that was the truth. It was his fault- always had been. From start to finish. 

"Let me apologize, dammit-" 

Lu Guang heaved a sigh. "You're forgiven" he muttered sourly. There was nothing to be forgiven. This entire thing was pointless. 

But then a warm weight sunk against his side and he felt his shoulders relax, just a hint. "Thanks" Qiao Ling's voice was fondly exasperate. Then the air turned serious. "What's going to happen now?"

The question was a painful reminder of his predicament. "I'll fix the timeline and prevent all of you from dying" he said, steady and flat. Rehearsed. How many times had he said that to himself? Probably too often. 

He wondered if she believed him. He didn't. 

Apparently, telling yourself the same thing over and over did, in fact, not always work. Was self-gaslighting not a thing? 

"Lu Guang... do you even know what you're doing?" Qiao Ling asked him quietly, but less cautious than before. No wonder, this topic concerned her brother in all but blood- and her own life, too. 

It stung all the same. He couldn't blame her though. 

Did he know what he was doing?

No, not really. 

With a sigh, he tipped his head back. "This loop is... I think I messed too much with it" he finally admitted, his voice hollow. He tried blinking back tears, but he felt one slide down from the corner of his eye. "None of this happened before" 

"A guest has arrived" 

He barely heard it. Not enough time had passed for Cheng Xiaoshi to be back. A hand landed on his shoulder. "Lu Guang..." Qiao Ling sounded stressed. 

He swallowed, hard. Shook his head. His mind was running over time now. "I messed with the timeline too much. Everything is spiraling out of control-" he felt another tear slide down. Hunched over to bury his face in his hands. 

"Qiao Ling I can't... I can't use my ability. It doesn't work anymore. How am I supposed to prevent Xiaoshi's death node?" he asked, and for the first time in a long, long time he felt his age. The age he was supposed to be. 

He'd never aged past twenty. 

Even with the loops- he was still twenty. Physically and, even if he wished to deny it, mentally as well. 

Sure, he was mature most of the time, acted older than he was in a silent prayer of being able to keep things under control... but he was still twenty. 

And twenty really, really isn't an age where the potentially impending death of two of your friends should be your main concern. 

Especially not if you're in a fucking time loop. 

He was twenty. He didn't know what he was doing. He was trying his best. That's all he could do. Try again and again and again- until he can't anymore. 

So sue him, he was finally forced to admit it out loud. He was finally forced to admit that he doesn't know what he's doing... and he was not coping well. 

He hadn't been coping well in a while. 

The mixture of his predicament and the loop being entirely out of his control simply put it into perspective for him how utterly useless as a friend he was. 

Lu Guang was dimly aware that there were tears in his eyes and running down his face, but truly, he couldn't care less. 

A floorboard creaked, Qiao Ling's grip on his shoulder turned painful when she hissed his name in warning. 

He didn't care. 

He was so, so tired. This loop had been horrible and painful and he'd lost his sight and now- 

"My death node?" 

Oh.

Oh no. 

No, no, no-

"Xiaoshi-" he startled, got to his feet. Stumbled against the coffee table, managed to round it, somehow. 

He didn't get much further. There was no bigger warning than a warm breath brushing over his face before the front of his shirt was grabbed. 

Lu Guang froze. Cheng Xiaoshi, meanwhile, sounded furious when he shook him: "This entire time, you kept that from me? Is that why I'm not supposed to-"

The room turned silent. A needle dropping to the floor could've been heard. 

"... prevent?" Cheng Xiaoshi's voice sounded horribly hollow. It didn't suit someone so lively. "You... you said- Emma. Chen Xiao's mom- all those other people..." 

Cheng Xiaoshi shook him. He said nothing, honestly, he was half-sure he'd stopped crying. There was no point anyway. His worst fear was slowly coming true, but it was his own fault. 

He may be twenty, but all of this was his fault. He had no right to cry. 

"I'm sorry" he whispered, when he heard Cheng Xiaoshi inhale. "I'm sorry. I'm a hypocrite" 

He was pushed back. Stumbled, but caught himself. There was silence. Then, Qiao Ling murmured a quiet "Cheng Xiaoshi". Perhaps to calm him down, perhaps because she saw what Lu Guang couldn't. 

Cheng Xiaoshi's silence felt suffocating. 

"Get out" his best friend - and did he even have the right to continue calling him that? - told him. Deadly quiet, but furious. Hurt lining every letter. 

Lu Guang barely knew where he even was right now, but he lowered his head and complied. Slinking away until his hand touched the wall. 

Cheng Xiaoshi told him to leave, and that was all he knew. So he did what was asked. He left. 

He didn't bother grabbing his things. 

It wasn't like he could properly pack them, anyway. 

~

"Did you seriously just-" 

Qiao Ling sounded beyond disbelief, but Cheng Xiaoshi was done with today. He was tired, and hurt and his best friend of three years lied to him. 

He felt like crying. He probably would, once he was alone. In the bathroom, because Lu Guang probably went upstairs to their bedroom. 

"You knew?" he asked, less accusing than he wanted to. The anger was slowly fizzling out and leaving him exhausted. 

Qiao Ling nodded. "He was going to tell you the day when he... you know..." she trailed off awkwardly, and Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't sure how to feel. 

He was still hurt, but part of him felt relived to know that he had intended to tell him. 

"A guest has arrived" 

The front door opened. Later. He'd deal with that later. They could wait for a moment. Hopefully. 

Cheng Xiaoshi took a deep breath. Released it. Closed his eyes. "I can't believe he... Sis, why would he..." his voice broke. 

"Because he cares. Because he watched you die and he watched both of us die and he... Xiaoshi he cares. So much. It's not my story to tell, but... what would you have done, if it had been him?"

He opened his mouth, then froze. Because... because he didn't know. Sure, he'd held himself back. But would he have forever? Would he have broken seeing the corpse? The funeral? The empty, painfully lonely studio? 

In all honesty, he would be no better. 

"Probably the same... but I'm mad at him" he found himself saying, a hint childishly. He was an adult- he was supposed to be better than this! But then again, you don't find out you have a death node looming over your head every day. 

Qiao Ling nodded slowly. "And that's okay" she said. Because that was the truth. It was okay to be mad. 

Lu Guang would be mad too, if I broke the rules, he told himself. Because he would be. He'd been plenty mad about Cheng Xiaoshi endangering himself by diving alone, and- oh. Oh. So that's why he was so...

It had never been anger, had it? It had always been fear. Worry. Panic.  

He heaved a sigh. Oh, he definitely needed to have a serious talk with him. And apologize. Later. He needed... some time. An hour, maybe two. Then they'd talk. He'd apologize. Lu Guang would probably do the same. 

They'd had plenty arguments in the past three years. They'd be fine. They always ended up fine-

The floorboards creaked. 

"Is this a bad time?" 

Cheng Xiaoshi felt his soul leave his body when he turned around. 

"Mom?" 

Chapter Text

Once the initial shock wore off, mostly after getting hugged by the blonde woman and subsequently pushing her back a little, Cheng Xiaoshi found himself in an awkward predicament. 

Namely, a very confused Qiao Ling staring at a smiling woman who, decidedly, looked nothing like Shao Yuanyuan. 

Which was likely the only reason the young woman hadn't slapped the blonde yet and Cheng Xiaoshi was painfully aware. 

"Can someone please explain what's happening?" Qiao Ling asked, glancing between the two of them, and he wished he'd refrained from calling Wang Qing "mom"- except this was definitely his mom possessing her again. 

Wang Qing wouldn't have hugged him.

Cheng Xiaoshi heaved a sigh. Today was going from bad to worse to... he wasn't actually sure how to define this yet. Except last time a crazy guy had knocked him out. Pity. Vein had seemed odd but kind until then- he did still feel bad for the guy having a heart attack, though. 

Vaguely he gestured towards the blonde, who smiled happily at Qiao Ling. "Sis, this is... technically Wang Qing. A therapist from Bridon. Right now she's... kinda being possessed by mom?" he grimaced. 

There was no point in lying. His sister, in all but blood, knew about abilities anyway. And if his mom was here...

Qiao Ling glanced between them. The aura she exuded screamed murder when she marched up to the blonde. 

"You" she hissed, and Cheng Xiaoshi wisely stepped aside to avoid getting in the middle of this, watching his sister as she pointed a finger right at Shao Yuanyuan's no longer smiling face with rage painted across hers, "have some nerve showing up here" 

His mother blinked, then laughed softly. "Oh, fierce as ever-" she reached out to pat Qiao Ling's head, shameless as always. The laugh stopped when the younger woman slapped her hand away. 

Qiao Ling glared, and Cheng Xiaoshi was glad it wasn't aimed at him. "What kind of mother are you?! You left your own son behind!" she told her, plain and simple and he did, in all honesty, kind of agree with her. 

Then again, this was his mother. He loved her. Of course he did- she was his mom. 

"She had a reason-" he piped up, and only paused for a second when the glare turned to him, "And she's... more or less here right now. So... uh... let's hear her out?" 

The ensuing silence was awkward, until his mother laughed again. 

Shao Yuanyuan shook her head, well, Wang Qing's. Just like last time, he wished he could see her actual face. See what she really looked like now. "So, I believe a certain someone has been messing with time" his mother started, sending him a look.

Cheng Xiaoshi's expression fell when he realized where this was going. "It wasn't me" he said, and it slipped out without even thinking. Qiao Ling tugged him back slightly, as if to chide him for his straightforwardness, but he'd already said it. 

And his mother had heard. 

Oh, he was going to have to explain a lot to her, wasn't he? 

"Xiaoshi, explain?" she asked, as if reading his mind with some sort of witchy mom-magic, and he winced. Fought a grimace. Not very successful, if the worried frown was anything to go by. 

He glanced to Qiao Ling, but she only made a gesture as if to say 'You dug this grave yourself'. Cruel landlady. 

Sighing, he sunk down on the couch. "It's... complicated. And it'd be better to explain that with Lu Guang present" he muttered, glancing to the door that led upstairs. 

He was still mad at him. 

He did also feel bad though. 

"Lu Guang?" his mother asked, and he realized only now that she hadn't met Lu Guang back in Bridon. Lu Guang had stayed behind with Vein. But... what had happened, when those two were waiting? Had Vein knocked him out too? Or lied to him in favor of going to the therapy room? 

He banished those thoughts. Right now, it didn't matter anyway. 

He lifted a hand to gesture vaguely. Dropped it. "He's my..." he trailed off awkwardly, hesitated. "Best friend and partner" he finally settled on, despite it all. Because that was the best way to describe them, wasn't it?  

They'd worked together for three years, they ran the studio together... 

Even if he was a little mad at him still, he still meant the world to him. Who knew where he'd be without him?

Qiao Ling audibly face-palmed. He didn't get why. He didn't get why his mom looked so elated either. Was it because he'd struggled with making friends as a kid? Eh, probably. 

"Aww, where is he?" his mother asked him, excitement glimmering in her golden eyes when she clapped her hands together.  

The mood immediately turned sour. Even his mom could tell, and that was saying something. 

Cheng Xiaoshi exchanged a glance with Qiao Ling. "We... kinda had an argument" he admitted slowly, and Qiao Ling scoffed in disbelief. 

"You call that an argument?" she asked dryly, and he chucked a pillow at her with a glare. Then sighed. 

He got back to his feet. "He's upstairs. I'll go get him" he mumbled, feeling like a dog who's about to be hit for misbehaving, and prayed that leaving his mom and Qiao Ling alone for five minutes would be safe. 

Except... 

Lu Guang wasn't in their room. 

He wasn't in the bathroom either. 

Panic seized him when he realized three things in quick succession: 

One, Lu Guang was recently kidnapped and the kidnapper still free. Two, Lu Guang was currently very much in a state of mind where he probably should not be left alone- not even counting the fact that he couldn't see where he was going. 

And three... 

"Get out" 

Cheng Xiaoshi royally fucked up. He'd told him to get out, not to leave him alone. 

Slowly, his eyes widened in horror and he all but stumbled his way down the stairs, running straight for the sunroom. Qiao Ling glanced over from where she was setting tea up in the kitchen. He could smell the familiar scent of Lu Guang's favorite. 

That made him feel so, so much worse. 

His mother stared at him, clearly concerned. Cheng Xiaoshi felt his eyes burn. Shame and horror and panic swirling in his chest and making him nauseous. 

"Mom" he croaked out, because for the first time in years he could... and now he was frantically glancing between his mother and his sister, chest heaving with quick and panicked breaths, "Mom. Qiao Ling. I messed up" 

Qiao Ling was quick to abandon the tea and hurried over. Grabbed him by the shoulders before his mother could. Shook him gently. "Xiaoshi- Xiaoshi, what's wrong?" she asked, clearly concerned. 

He felt horrible. 

"Lu Guang is gone" 

~

In all honesty, things were a blur.

Not from a visual standpoint, given the lack thereof, but more so of a... Point A to Point B standpoint.

He vaguely remembered stumbling out of the studio and bumping into someone on the sidewalk. He remembered the steady "That's it. This is it. He knows and he hates me" hammering through his head.

He also dimly remembered the screeching of tires and a hand grabbing the back of his shirt, yanking him back with no warning.

There was a lot of blank space between then and now, though he vaguely remembered muttering something about needing a drink to a familiar voice who'd asked him if he was alright.

He didn't find it in himself to complain about the blank space in his memory, given that there was a cold glass of something alcoholic in his hand and what sounded and felt like a cat sprawled across his lap.

He did, however, curse his high alcohol tolerance.

How was he supposed to drown his sorrows if the only thing happening was a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest that he didn't deserve and his head feeling just a bit foggy? He wanted to forget.

He certainly wasn't taking into consideration that 'a little foggy' meant he was certainly at least tipsy.

"Why were you wandering around alone?"

Lu Guang startled, hand gripping the glass tighter. Lowered his head. He did not feel like airing... all that. Bad enough that Cheng Xiaoshi...

"... he kicked me out" he finally muttered after all, hating how his voice cracked. He didn't deserve to be sad. It was his own fault.

There was a long beat of silence. He used it to pet the cat with his free hand. Then Captain Xiao swore louder than Lu Guang thought possible, causing the younger man to jump. To his dismay, the comforting weight of the cat disappeared.

The police captain cleared his throat, and glass clinked against wood. "He what?" he asked him, and Lu Guang had trouble telling what emotions lined his voice.

At best, he'd describe it as a mixture of worried, confused and angry.

Odd.

Slowly, he shrugged. "It was my fault" he said, feeling utterly hollow, and all but felt the stare the other man must be giving him.

"I have trouble believing- what happened?" Captain Xiao asked him, leaving the younger to question how, exactly, he was supposed to explain this issue.

Four timelines, at least, told him that Captain Xiao Li was a reliable, trustworthy person.

Still, the one time he did tell him everything...

Lu Guang settled for taking another sip of his... hm. He wasn't quite sure, actually. Baijiu? Yes, probably baijiu. It didn't really matter to him what he was drinking, though.

In the end, he sighed. "I kept a... big secret from him and he didn't take it well" he finally murmured. Blinked away tears.

He didn't deserve to cry.

"That doesn't justify him kicking you out, kid. You almost got ran over by a car" Captain Xiao pointed out dryly, and Lu Guang let out a shuddering breath.

The screeching tires echoed in his ears, and he downed his glass in one go. "I'm aware" he managed to force out, felt a hint of disappointment at the lack of liquid. "He told me to leave. I left"

He took a deep breath. It wasn't as steadying as he'd hoped. "I'll get out of your hair soon" Lu Guang assured him, despite being unsure where to go.

He'd lived with Cheng Xiaoshi the past three years. He barely remembered a different life anymore, especially given the loops.

Lu Guang refused to give up, though. He'd stay close. Maybe... maybe he could protect him from a safe distance. Somehow.

Oh, who was he kidding... this was a mess. He hated this loop. But he was stuck here. Without his sight, he couldn't go back.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. The good one, luckily. "There's still the threat of the kidnapper, kid" Captain Xiao reminded him, and at the thought, his already horrible mood worsened.

"I know. I'll..." he trailed off. Unsure. He really, really hated this loop. All the loops, really.

Next to him, the police captain sighed. "How about you rest some, sleep off the alcohol and give your friend some space until tomorrow?" the older man asked, and Lu Guang sighed.

The idea, in itself, was logical.

Sadly, logic and alcohol was not the best mix. Especially when you're unable to tell if your cognitive thinking is affected or not.

"... fine. He won't want to see me tomorrow either, though" Lu Guang insisted, despite many of their arguments truly going like that. The earthquake... had been more extreme. This felt worse than the earthquake argument.

It was worse. Still, Lu Guang was at least slightly drunk and he already hadn't been thinking clearly before he'd started drinking.

And during all of that, Lu Guang was painfully oblivious to the mess his absence would soon cause.

At least he had a safe space to stay until tomorrow and a cat that was pushing its head back under his hand for now.

He gently pet the cat. He couldn't help but miss Cheng Xiaoshi.

~

A telephone rang, all but drowning out the sound of the keyboard of a computer clicking quietly. 

Dark eyes glanced at the caller ID, before long nimble fingers picked up the phone. Eyes already back on the cameras of the city. 

"I hope this is important? I'm quite busy" the young man sighed, and reached for his coffee. Took a sip. 

He tilted his head. "Is that so?" he asked, a hint curious, only for his expression to darken. "No, truly?" 

Slowly, his fingers tightened around the mug. He frowned. 

The chair rolled back when he rose to his feet. 

"I'll be there in ten, inform the captain. This smells foul" he announced, downed his coffee and set the mug aside. 

"Send me the address, please? Thank you oh so much, dear"

Chapter Text

Cheng Xiaoshi paced. 

He was probably panicking. No, actually, scratch that. He was. He was panicking so, so bad. 

"This is my fault" he mumbled for the nth time, because he was at a complete loss on how to fix this. Any of this. 

He'd told his best friend to leave. Over something he'd honestly done too if the roles were reversed. After all, he couldn't imagine a life without Lu Guang by his side.

Cheng Xiaoshi had stormed outside, but he was nowhere in sight. Yelling for him had done nothing except cause some people to stare at him as if he were crazy. 

Stupid, judgmental people...

His mother seemed at a loss, unaware of what exactly was even happening, while Qiao Ling had taken to calling the station in hopes of contacting anyone who might be able to help. 

It was just their luck that there was a new case and that the captain had called out of work due to... family emergency?

For some reason, that felt very much like a lie. Not that it mattered.

Cheng Xiaoshi dropped onto the couch and buried his face in a stray pillows. It smelled like Lu Guang. Who was who-knows-where. 

God, he missed him. He was mad at him and he felt bad about getting mad and he's gone and he's panicking and he should probably try to breathe-

A miserable, quite frankly pathetic noise escaped him. 

"... I did not know humans can make that kind of sound" Qiao Ling commented, mildly distracted by... he couldn't quite tell actually. 

Cheng Xiaoshi ultimately didn't deign it with an answer. 

A hand settled on his back, the couch dipping. "I'm sure he'll be back soon, son" his mother's tone was warm. He did not deserve that. Not right now. 

"Ohh- so that's how it is" he heard Qiao Ling from the distance. She sounded... weirdly relived. Relived enough that he felt hope. Though when he glanced up she was still... hm. Probably checking the police website?

Wait. 

Maybe a dive...? Maybe he could just... change the present. Would Lu Guang know? Would he realize? Knowing him, he definitely would.

His face promptly hit the pillow again. 

He sighed. Miserable. 

"What if he got lost and can't find the way back?" he muttered, frowned. Prayed it was that rather than the kidnapper returning before the police got him. 

His mother patted his shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't" she said, likely trying to be optimistic and reassuring. The next part... kind of ruined that attempt: "There's so many street signs, you can hardly miss them" 

Slowly, he glanced up. Stared at her. "Mom," he said, unsure on how to break the news that weren't technically his to tell, "Lu Guang is blind"

There was a moment of silence. Clearly, his mom wasn't sure what to say to that. Finally, she cleared her throat. "Oh. I see..." 

Then, her expression went from awkward to disbelieving. "You sent your blind partner out of the house over a secret?" she asked in a way that, somehow, made him feel like he was a kid again and being chided for doing something very very stupid. 

Huh. He kind of forgot what that was like. 

Sure, Qiao Ling chided him plenty over anything and everything- but she was his sister. Sort of. So it was different. 

"... I didn't intend to send him away-" he argued weakly, sighed at the look he was given. He felt truly miserably. 

His mother huffed. "Well, we have elven hours to find him or it'll take a while before I can meet him. I can hardly possess Wang Qing constantly" she pouted. Actually pouted. 

Cheng Xiaoshi sent her a deadpan look. 

"I'm more concerned that the kidnapper got him" he muttered, glancing towards the front. Sighed... and promptly had his head turned back by his mom. 

She looked... startlingly serious. "Kidnapper?" she asked, and there was no more humor in her voice. 

He blinked at her. "Yea-? Oh right you don't... uh... so. Two- no, three months ago... there was kinda a murder spree. And we got involved. Kinda. There were twins with powers, Lu Guang got stabbed and kidnapped because he saved me by letting me possess him, then I got shot and... and there was a crazy lawyer who's pissed with us and he sent kidnappers?" 

His mother had a horribly, horribly far away look in her eyes when he glanced to her. As if slowly working through the information. Then she looked at him with pure horror. "My baby almost died?" she shouted, her voice shrill. 

Qiao Ling actually glanced over at that despite being in the middle of looking through the phone book, and Cheng Xiaoshi had the most deer in headlights stare known to man when his mother hugged him. "My babies almost died?!" 

Huh. Well. At least she'd already mentally adopted Lu Guang? That was nice. 

On the other hand, yea. Yea he'd almost died- had died apparently. She'd know that if she'd actually been here. Which she wasn't. 

His mood soured. 

"... I'm going to go look for him" he finally announced and got to his feet, ignored the protests rising from both his sister and mother. 

The door slammed shut behind him and he took a deep breath, stared up at the cloudy sky. 

His heart ached at the thought of his searching being in vain. 

"Dammit... I'll find you, Guangguang. I swear"

~

Did that idiot seriously just... 

"That idiot-" Qiao Ling griped out loud in utter disbelief when the door slammed shut, almost dropping the telephone book. 

He did not just leave her with Shao Yuanyuan. Right before she could inform him that she knew where Lu Guang was.

Actually, no, this made perfect sense for him. 

Qiao Ling facepalmed. "That idiot" she repeated in utter disbelief. 

Which was precisely when Shao Yuanyuan, who still looked nothing like the woman she once called 'auntie' leaned over her shoulder. 

"Oh my, he's pretty" the blonde noted happily and picked up the photo of Lu Guang that Qiao Ling had used her powers on. "My boy has such good taste! Oh- he's the boy who ran into me on the street..."

At that, the younger woman scoffed. "No thanks to you... and great, good to know you let him get away" she muttered without even taking a second to think about it. It was definitely rude. Qiao Ling certainly didn't care. 

Because truly, who did this woman think she was, waltzing in and acting as if she'd been gone for a week, not... not- Cheng Xiaoshi had been eight. 

If there was a list of people Qiao Ling disliked, and there were plenty for such a list, no matter what Qian Jin and Li Tianchen and... and whoever else did! No one, really no one, would beat the two people atop that potential list. 

Shao Yuanyuan and Cheng Weimin. 

Her best friend's, her brother's, parents. 

She she blame her for letting Lu Guang leave, in all honesty. She couldn't have known. Still, that part too left her more than slightly annoyed. The majority of her anger, however, stemmed from Shao Yuanyuan leaving her child behind. 

"Pardon?" Shao Yuanyuan sounded hurt, and she glared up at the older woman. Her parents always said that she was a little... oblivious. Apparently they were right. 

"You heard me" Qiao Ling hissed, eyes narrowing. "What kind of mother even are you, huh?" 

In silence, she thought about her own parents. Her parents, who'd always tried to do their very best. Who were supportive of her dreams and ambitions and took her serious even when she was being silly and overthought something. 

Her parents, who'd desperately tried taking in Cheng Xiaoshi despite the boy's hostility at being anywhere but the studio, despite his hostility whenever someone spoke badly about his parents. 

His parents, who'd vanished. One after the other, with barely a few days in between. When he was eight years old. In the middle of the night. 

His parents, who'd been gone for thirteen... almost fourteen years without so much as an explanation! 

The most they did was try and prevent Cheng Xiaoshi from visiting Bridon, for whatever reason.

In light of all that, she found herself well in the right to question the woman who called herself Qiao Ling's brother's mother. 

Shao Yuanyuan looked at her with golden gleaming eyes, expression startlingly blank. 

"He's still my son" she pointed out, slow and unhappy. "You have no idea what I've been going through- why I did what I did" 

Qiao Ling scoffed. "And he's my brother. Maybe not by blood, but he's my little brother and you abandoned him! You left an eight year old child on his own!" she pointed her finger right at Shao Yuanyuan's nose. 

The older woman's expression twitched. The corners of her lips turned downward. "I did what I had to. I had to... I have to save my husband" 

The answer gave her pause, for just a split second. 

Save her husband? So Cheng Weimin..., Qiao Ling tried wrapping her head around it and it gave her a headache. 

"So you abandoned your son for your husband?"

"I didn't abandon-" Shao Yuanyuan looked horribly offended. Qiao Ling didn't care. 

"No, no you did. You left him behind. My parents tried to take him in- do you have any idea how long it took until he agreed to join us for dinner? Lunch? Breakfast? Months! And he still refused to sleep anywhere but at the studio!" 

Qiao Ling glared, and Shao Yuanyuan seemed taken aback. Guilt and sorrow shimmering in her eyes. "I didn't know" the older woman whispered. "I just... I had to go. I can't return until I succeed in saving my husband"

With a huff, Qiao Ling turned her back on the woman she used to see as family. She had a police captain to call. However, she did glance back briefly: 

"Be glad my brother is so forgiving" 

~

Xiao Li prided himself on one thing, and that was knowing what he was doing. 

Except he'd given alcohol to a young adult who was now napping on his couch with his cat in his arms.

In his defense, Lu Guang had looked like he needed a drink. 

Except, he was now napping with Zhen and sleeping off his alcohol. His cat seemed happy. Captain Xiao meanwhile found himself at a loss. 

Hadn't the kids claimed they'd stick together? This certainly didn't look like sticking together. 

Exhausted and in need of a drink himself, he rubbed a hand over his face. He'd already called in sick for work, in the middle of his break, after finding the white haired young man wandering about and almost stepping into traffic. 

"Family emergency" was going to get him so much teasing from officer Wang and officer Jae, wasn't it? 

Well, problem for future him. His current problem was getting a call. He sighed, declining... only to get another call. Twice. 

By the fourth, he finally accepted the call with a disgruntled "Xiao Li speaking" and headed out of the living room and to the kitchen. There was no point risking waking the young man who clearly needed the rest. 

"Captain- it's Qiao Ling" she sounded relived, and Xiao Li narrowed his eyes. "Is Lu Guang okay? I know he's with you, but..."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He almost walked into traffic. What were you kids- why is he drunk-sobbing about Cheng Xiaoshi hating him?" 

Qiao Ling sighed across the line. "There was a really, really big misunderstanding- Xiaoshi didn't realize Lu Guang would misunderstand it this badly, and I guess Lu Guang really wasn't in a good headspace... and one half of the result is currently moping on... I'm guessing your couch? While the other half is running around Guidu looking for him"

What was he even supposed to say to that? 

"You kids, I swear..." he shook his head with a sigh. "What's your plan now? If Cheng is already running around looking for him..."

He glanced over to the other half of the duo, who was still sleeping off his stupor. This is why he didn't want kids. 

"I'll locate him and get him to calm down. Hopefully. He's feeling really bad about this" Qiao Ling answered, then huffed. Annoyance evident. He heard her snap at someone over the line. 

He cleared his throat to hopefully get her attention back. "Not sure how much you saw, but as I said, he's drunk currently. He can stay until tomorrow, so both can... sort themselves out" 

There was some silence over the line. Then a woman's voice. Qiao Ling responded, seeming to relay what he'd said. He wasn't sure if he was imagining things or not, but the stranger sounded upset. 

He waited patiently until the back and forth between Qiao Ling and the stranger was over, and the young woman finally reported back:

"Sounds great" 

~

"Hm... interesting" 

Jae Lee crouched down next to the dead body they'd fished out of the river, eyes catching on the single bullet hole in the temple. 

He glanced up to his coworker. "Has the murder weapon been recovered yet?" he asked, before his eyes went back to the corpse. 

The river did a number on the dead man, but he could recognize Mao Zhilong's face with relative ease. He'd been looking for the man for almost three weeks, after all. 

It had been an interesting search. Qian Jin had denied knowing the man, and nobody remembered him making any calls. 

It was quite odd. 

"No. Do you think someone killed? Or do you think he...?" one of his coworkers stepped up next to him to examine Mao Zhilong as well and take a photo of the evidence. Not that there was much. 

The dark haired man tilted his head. "I don't know" he said eventually, shaking his head. "There doesn't seem to be any signs of a struggle, so it's entirely possible. Get him to the pathologist and tell Dr Luo to send me the findings immediately" 

Jae Lee huffed. 

"Something about all this is fishy..."

Chapter Text

Twelve hours were almost over. His mom would be gone again, soon. 

Part of him was sad about it. She was his mother. He hadn't seen her since Bridon... although 'seen' was a stretch, given that both times she was simply possessing Wang Qing. Which meant he was about to meet the real Wang Qing again soon. 

... honestly, having a therapist in Guidu who knew about time travel would probably be a good thing. 

He didn't want to imagine what kind of trauma Lu Guang had gone through seeing him die... once? Twice? He didn't want to know. He'd probably ask, at some point. Knowing himself, soonish. Later today, maybe tomorrow. 

Though that wasn't important. Not right now. No, what was important was that Lu Guang was safe, and he was about to pick him up. 

Alone. 

Because Qiao Ling was convinced it'd be smarter, and quite honestly, he felt the same. 

For one, it was his fault that Lu Guang left in the first place. This was about them, as another reason. 

And also... his mom was weirdly interested in meeting Lu Guang, and she was... not very good at reading the room. She'd probably derail any attempt of communication by simply being herself. 

Which wasn't a bad thing, really - hopefully? - but he'd rather talk with Lu Guang first. Especially because she was exactly the type of person his best friend tended to be awkward around. 

During school, he'd occasionally dragged him to parties their peers threw. Tried to help him socialize. He'd learned quickly that it just ended with Lu Guang withdrawing from everything and hiding himself as far away from the crowds as possible. 

He never said that the noise and amount of people were the issue, but Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't stupid. He could tell. So he stopped doing that. 

But without Lu Guang it was boring, so he eventually stopped going as well. Especially because Lu Guang tended to force himself to attend- for Cheng Xiaoshi's sake. 

Point was, Lu Guang had just started talking again after going silent for over two weeks. 

(And he'd possibly ruined that progress. He prayed he didn't. He wouldn't forgive himself.)

If the argument wouldn't cause him to go quieter again, or outright silent while he tried to talk, his mom would. He knew well enough that he wouldn't be comfortable around her right away- if at all. 

Point was, he dug himself a grave and now he was going to dig himself out. Alone. 

The irony of that statement, sadly, didn't escape him. 

On his way to the milk tea store, he had a lot of time to think. 

However, as his eyes wandered, he found himself pausing. Not because of the dark clouds looming overhead, forecasting his least favorite weather, but because at the corner of the street, he saw familiar red eyes and vivid pink hair. 

No, it can't be, he thought. But it looked like him, and he was staring back with an unsettling intensity. 

His eyes darted to the street he was supposed to take. He was... what? Ten? Probably ten minutes away from Lu Guang. Five if he sprinted. 

But Li Tianchen... he worked with Qian Jin. The man who had his best friend kidnapped. The man who was at fault that Lu Guang was blind. 

It was a spur of the moment decision. 

Cheng Xiaoshi turned back to Li Tianchen, watched him dip around the corner.

He felt bad for what he was about to do... but this wasn't just about what happened a few months ago. This was about recent events, too. Because if Qian Jin sent kidnappers- who was to say he wouldn't find a way to send Li Tianchen? 

Maybe he even had sent the pink haired boy, somehow. 

So Cheng Xiaoshi broke into a sprint, chasing after the serial killer. 

He knew it was stupid. He knew the dangers. But this may have been the only chance he'd ever get again. 

So he ran. 

Dodging and weaving past other people going about their business, trying desperately to catch up. Once or twice he bumped into people, uttering quick apologies. At one point, he even crossed a street and just barely evaded being hit by a car. 

It was truly not his proudest moment, and something he vowed to never do again. Especially given what Lu Guang had done. 

Every time he thought he had Li Tianchen, the other somehow managed to be multiple steps ahead. It was annoying. How could he be so fast? How could he remain out of reach ever so slightly, no matter how fast he ran? 

Still, he persisted. Stubbornly chasing him. Li Tianchen had hurt his best friend before- had caused them so much trouble together with Qian Jin. He didn't want a repeat. Not again. Never again. 

So he persisted, stubborn as ever. 

He'd managed to call Captain Xiao, had ignored the officer's chiding  in favor of pointing out the obvious: this might be their only and last chance to catch Li Tianchen. 

Cheng Xiaoshi had hung up fast, after getting a confirmation that his phone was being tracked, in favor of breaking into yet another sprint. Further and further away from the boba shop he was supposed to visit. Further and further away from the place he was supposed to meet up with Lu Guang. 

By the time he'd thought he'd finally cornered him, he was out of breath. Face red from running so much. 

But when he rounded the corner, the police sirens shrieking in the distance, he found himself facing an entirely empty alley. 

Li Tianchen was gone. 

~

Lu Guang sighed, absentmindedly fidgeting with the hem of his sleeves. 

Captain Xiao had left him at the milk tea shop of DouDou's parents at least twenty minutes ago, assuring him Qiao Ling would come to pick him up. 

He'd picked up on the lie- Qiao Ling wouldn't come to  pick him up. If it was her, she'd already be here.

No, the person he was about to be picked up by was Cheng Xiaoshi... or it would be him, if he ever showed up. 

Truly, Lu Guang was starting to doubt it. Especially because Li Liang had offered him a free milk tea thrice now, probably taking pity on the young man who'd helped bring his son home months ago, who was now waiting next to his shop not unlike a lost cat waiting for its human. 

... he hated the comparison he'd made in his head immediately. He was not a cat. Even if Cheng Xiaoshi kept saying he acted like one. 

After the fourth time, he finally agreed to the free milk tea. 

While he was sipping it, he quietly waited for Cheng Xiaoshi. Tried to figure out what he'd say. How he'd say it. How he should apologize. 

"It's been a while" 

He felt his muscles freeze, brain going into fight or flight- leaving him frozen in place. His heart raced in his chest. Slowly, he lowered his milk tea. 

The tension refused to leave him, despite logically knowing that they were in public. Nothing could happen- and it wasn't like he had ever hurt him. 

Except he couldn't form words anyway, his tongue like lead when a hand landed on his lower back and gently pushed him. He tried to stand his ground, but found himself pushed along easily. Causing him to stumble. 

"Careful there," the all too familiar voice sounded amused, loud enough to make bystanders hear, "I know it's hard to find your way blind" 

Lu Guang felt his expression go blank. He knew what he was doing- knew that he was trying to make himself seem like a helping hand. A good Samaritan, or a friend lending a hand.

Finally, he managed to push his elbow back. He hit empty air. His upper arm was grabbed, fingers digging in with enough pressure to make him hiss in pain. "Now now, I just want to talk" Liu Xiao warned, letting go after a couple more steps. 

He didn't know where the other had brought him, but he could still hear the idle chatter of the people by the boba shop. 

"I was waiting on-" he started, voice as calm as he managed. 

Liu Xiao chuckled, cutting him off almost immediately: "Pardon my manners, hm? And pardon Mao Zhilong's. None of this was meant to happen, as you're surely aware"

Lu Guang felt his blood run cold, felt himself grow nauseous. 

Despite only learning the name after the kidnapping, he knew all too well who Mao Zhilong was... and he knew all too well that only few people were supposed to know. 

"You sent him" he accused, panic gripping him like a cold vice. "You sent those three- you meddled with the timeline" 

Liu Xiao hummed, certainly sensing his panic. "As if you didn't... but yes, I did. This wasn't the plan. Pity, truly. I thought he'd be better than this" the other answered, calm and serene. 

Something brushed against Lu Guang's chin, then along his jaw. A hand. Liu Xiao's. He flinched back, wincing when the gentle touch turned into a firm grip. 

For a moment, he considered biting. Then he realized that he'd lost the second Liu Xiao had appeared. 

There was a moment of nothing, then the grip returned to a gentle touch, tilting his chin up, this way and that. 

He assumed Liu Xiao was examining his face, which he thought to be proven when a finger brushed against the tender skin near his eyes. 

Shame and disgust burned in his chest like a raging wildfire upon realizing that he wasn't wearing the bandages. He'd forgotten them when fleeing the studio. 

Lu Guang swallowed, hard. Tried to ignore Liu Xiao's thoughtful hums.

"You see nothing?" the other asked him, almost curious. Tilted his head again. Lu Guang let him. It wasn't like he could do anything. 

He vividly remembered Liu Xiao being physically stronger- and he himself was in no state where he could fight. He couldn't even dodge, if it came down to it. 

"No" 

Another hum, low and intrigued. "Interesting. Your ability?" Liu Xiao asked him, almost idly. As if the answer didn't truly matter. He knew it would. Liu Xiao wouldn't ask for no reason. 

Lu Guang narrowed his eyes, attempted to glare. "None of your business" he replied, a hint harsher than would be smart if this was anyone else. 

He received a low laugh in response. It was all too familiar, and he scowled at the way he instinctively calmed, just a hint, at the gentle sound.  

"Careful now" Liu Xiao sounded almost amused, "I know it's not September 13th yet... but we could always have fun messing with the timeline further, couldn't we?"

It felt like an empty threat, but his heart stuttered anyway, the tension returning tenfold. He shook his head as well as he could with a hand still on his jaw, hands balling to fists. 

Because as much as it felt like an empty threat, he knew the other could very well turn an empty threat into a very real one. 

"Don't- please. Please don't" he found himself whispering, eyes burning as he pleaded, "Liu Xiao don't hurt him-" 

The grip returned. Firm enough that it ached, just a little. Idly, he hoped Liu Xiao wouldn't leave bruises. He'd rather not have to explain those. 

"Your ability?" the question had him scowling, ever so slightly. This obsession with powers... 

Then, he sighed. Thought back to the photo he'd tried to get a read on. His eyes had burned, but nothing had happened. Cheng Xiaoshi had commented nothing, so... 

"... I don't know. I think it's gone" he admitted quietly, the words like ash on his tongue. Admitting it made him feel ill. 

Because it meant he couldn't go back, if worse came to worst.

Liu Xiao slowly loosened his grip again, let a finger drag along his jaw. "Hm... pity. I do apologize for this, truly" he said, and didn't sound sorry at all. "It was never the plan to make you lose the only good quality you had left" 

Part of him couldn't help but think that he probably saw it as some form of karmic retaliation. Who knew, perhaps it was. At this point, he wouldn't be surprised. 

... maybe he deserved it, too. For messing with the timeline. 

But Liu Xiao wasn't wrong. This was the only good- or at least useful thing that had been left. And Liu Xiao's stupid plan, whatever it may have entailed and however it was likely supposed to go, had taken it away. 

He was useless now. 

Lu Guang scoffed, not believing him at all that he felt genuine regret. "Somehow, I don't believe you" he muttered, rubbed his chin and jaw when the other finally, finally quit touching his face. The subtle warmth of his hand vanishing. 

His skin crawled uncomfortably in a mixture of disgust and sudden coldness where Liu Xiao's touch was now absent.

Part of him wanted to scratch at the skin until the phantom sensation was gone. Another part of him longed for it to return. Yet another wished it were replaced by warm, calloused ones that worked with photographs day in and day out.   

"Believe me or not, it's your choice" Liu Xiao sounded calm as ever when he finally spoke, but there was an undercurrent of something sharp and annoyed. "It truly is a pity though, the only quality that made you worth to keep around for him, and it's gone" 

He narrowed his eyes, felt his throat close up. But Liu Xiao wasn't done: "Aren't you tired? You've tried so hard, but in the end, September 13th marks his end. Fate made a choice, and you should as well..."

He tensed, narrowed his eyes despite it doing nothing. "I-" he started, voice shaking, but Liu Xiao cut him off. Spoke over him as if he hadn't even heard his attempt: 

"Do you really think you still have a place by his side, anyway? It was your abilities that tied you two together. You're nothing but a burden on him now. Poor you. You still haven't realized that? Has he not admitted it yet, hm?" 

Lu Guang opened his mouth, rage and hurt coiling in his chest because that wasn't true- couldn't be true, despite having had similar lines of thoughts, but the ringing of a phone cut him off. Left him straining his ears. But Liu Xiao didn't accept the call, just sighed. Almost disappointed.  

"Hm... what a shame. I believe our time is up" he said, and the grip on his arm vanished. Leaving Lu Guang stranded in a spot he didn't know. Helpless and lost. "Don't forget, there's always a place for you somewhere else, hm?" 

Liu Xiao sounded like he was smiling when he bid his farewell: "Good bye, Guang. Until we meet again~"

Steps faded, and Lu Guang stumbled a few back himself. He brushed against a wall, pressed his palm against it. His heart ached and his eyes burned. Something wet slid down his cheek.  

For a moment, he stood motionless. Then, slowly, he sank down against the wall. Pulled his knees to his chest. 

Quietly, he sat and pressed his face into his knees. Didn't even bother fighting the tremors running through his body.

He didn't know where he was, exactly. There was no point in trying to find back. He'd just get lost.  

Liu Xiao was right, wasn't he?

Lu Guang was nothing but a burden. 

Chapter Text

It was raining by the time Cheng Xiaoshi finally made it to the milk tea shop- meaning there were barely any people around anymore. Maybe three or four at most. 

Technically, that meant he should be spotting Lu Guang fast... except, he wasn't there. Not by the store front, not by the table... nowhere. 

Panic seized him, so much colder than the rain dripping from his hair and into his eyes, and he hurried up to the counter. "Li Liang," he greeted the man, tried to keep the fear out of his voice, "have you seen Lu Guang?" 

Li Liang looked at him oddly, frowned. "Didn't one of your friends come to pick him up?" the man asked him. "I saw him leave with a dark haired fellow, about this tall? I was a bit busy, so I didn't-" 

He kept talking, but Cheng Xiaoshi stopped listening. Eyes wide. 

Lu Guang was gone. 

Lu Guang was gone. 

Lu Guang had left with a stranger, possibly been kidnapped again. His stomach flipped at the thought, and he felt sick. He felt like crying, too. This couldn't be happening- not again. 

"Where did they go?" he asked, and if he wasn't so worried, he'd have felt bad for cutting the older man off so abruptly. 

He received a concerned stare in response, before the man gestured into a direction. "That way, son. Is there-?" 

Chen Xiaoshi didn't bother waiting, or answering, Li Liang. Just hollered a quick "Thank you, greet DouDou from me!" over his shoulder and took off running into the indicated direction, desperate to catch up to his best friend- to find him before worse could happen. 

His lungs protested, aching from chasing Li Tianchen and rushing to the shop so quickly, but his heart protested the thought of slowing down even more, unable to bear the idea of leaving Lu Guang in potential danger. 

Panicked, he looked around while he ran, eyes scanning his surroundings in a frenzy. He almost rushed past a close-by alley. It was by pure coincidence that he looked, and he'd forever be grateful that he did. Because the sight made him skid to a stop. 

There in the rain, soaked to the bone, sat Lu Guang. 

He looked... horrible, in all honesty. Curled up miserably against the wall, knees against his chest. Trembling like a leaf in a storm and looking like he wasn't in the here and now, stuck somewhere far away in his mind.

He kind of reminded him of a stray cat that had been left in the rain. The sight broke his heart, more than just a bit. 

Lu Guang had always seemed composed, safe for the fight against Qian Jin. Had always acted so much more mature than his age despite being a bit younger than Cheng Xiaoshi. 

Right now, the marble facade had cracked in a way unlike the rage he'd shown when Cheng Xiaoshi had gotten shot. He didn't seem wise beyond his years- he looked as helpless and vulnerable as the diver himself felt. 

Slowly, almost cautious, he approached his best friend. Knelt down in front of him. He didn't care about the rainwater soaking into the fabric of his jeans. Even as the cold made him shiver, just a hint. 

"Lu Guang?" he murmured carefully. Watched him with worry that he didn't even try to keep from his voice. 

Grey eyes blinked open, unfocused. More reflex than anything, he guessed. In his haste to leave he must've forgotten the bandages- as far the dark haired young man knew, he still disliked leaving his eyes uncovered. 

"Xiaoshi?" he asked him, voice cracking ever so slightly, but something hopeful- almost desperate was in his voice. 

He nodded, then realized that he couldn't see him. Realized that the motion was useless. Swallowed hard. "Yea, it's me" he confirmed softly, watched his expression go from cautious to filled with quiet sorrow. 

"I'm sorry" Lu Guang's voice shook with more emotion than he'd ever heard, and Cheng Xiaoshi almost recoiled in surprise. "I'm so sorry. I know I'm a hypocrite. I know I lied- but watching you die... I couldn't... I can't..." 

His heart didn't break. It shattered. 

All the anger that had been left evaporated at the sight of his best friend's eyes welling up with tears from emotions he must've held back for a long, long time. He couldn't bear to see his friend like that- couldn't bear seeing Lu Guang like that. 

Without warning, he pulled him into a hug. Held him tightly when the other seemed to try and recoil. "No" he mumbled against his shoulder, rubbed a hand over his back. Desperately trying to calm him down. "Lu Guang, please. I didn't mean to kick you out" 

Lu Guang fell silent, still. He didn't hug back, but he didn't recoil again either. He counted it as a win. "I'm sorry. Back when I thought you died... I didn't dive. I only had one brief chance before seeing you alive... but I... Guang, I'm sorry. Me getting angry was hypocritical. I would've done the same" 

He found his own eyes burning with tears, squeezed him gently. "Lu Guang I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry for being late too, but there was- I'm sorry" 

The white haired young man froze in his arms, then slowly hugged him back. The motion stiff and hesitant. "... you don't hate me?" he asked, and Cheng Xiaoshi wondered how much more the other wanted to break his heart. How much more his heart could even break. 

"No" he murmured, shaking his head. Held him tighter. "Never. I swear, I don't... oh, Guang. I'm so sorry-" he mumbled again, shushed any attempt of apologies on behalf of the other. 

After all, why apologize for something they both would have done in such a scenario? 

In the end, they barely talked. They would, most likely. But for now, forgiveness was a step into the right direction. 

They sat in silence, for a good while. Silently clinging to each other, letting the rain soak them to the bones. Neither of them cared about the cold seeping through their clothes. 

Eventually, Cheng Xiaoshi pulled away slightly. Just enough to see his face- and frowned. His eyes were a hint red- as if he'd been crying. That in itself made sense, but there were small crescent shapes on his skin. 

For a moment, he assumed he may have caused them himself- but the angle was all wrong. 

"Hey, Guang? What happened to your face?" he asked cautiously, watched the younger when he tensed at a gentle touch to one of the small marks. When he didn't answer, he continued: "Did someone grab you?" 

Lu Guang turned his head away, and Cheng Xiaoshi frowned. However, the other shook his head before he could ask again. "Got mistaken for someone else" he muttered, quiet and almost hollow. 

For some reason, he didn't believe him. But he had no way to refute the claim. 

So he simply sighed, slowly helping him up despite every fiber of his being screaming that something was wrong- that something just wasn't right, and: "Alright" 

Cheng Xiaoshi started leading him home when he heard it- when both of them heard it. A tiny meow. 

"Wait here" he requested, waited for him to nod, before heading over to the boxes near the dumpster. 

He crouched down, carefully lifting the lid of one, and blinked in surprise. A pair of bright blue eyes blinked up at him, pointed ears flicking  when rain droplets dropped onto the tiny head. 

It reminded him of another white cat he'd found in a similar state, just a bit earlier. Except this was an actual cat, staring up at him with large eyes. 

Someone must've abandoned the poor thing, and his heart melted at the sight. 

Carefully, he scooped the kitten up and tucked it into his jacket, mumbling a small "Aww" when it purred, before heading back to Lu Guang. 

"It's a cat- we can't leave it here" he explained at the questioning head tilt. Watched Lu Guang frown. Clearly about to argue. 

In a split moment decision, he gently pushed the still purring cat into Lu Guang's arms. Because he knew all too well that it'd kill any argument he could plan to make. 

It was mesmerizing to watch his frown melt into something soft, and he carefully helped him tuck the kitten into his jacket, before grabbing Lu Guang's free hand and placing it on his own shoulder. 

The white haired man didn't argue about the cat, for now, so he slowly and carefully started leading him back to the studio. 

~

Qiao Ling walked up and down fretfully, ignored Shao Yuanyuan's occasional remark that the boys were taking too long. 

They should take as long as they needed, in Qiao Ling's opinion. So what if Shao Yuanyuan had to leave? Better those two make up first. 

It was kind of concerning though, how long they took. 

"When did they get together?" Shao Yuanyuan piped up somewhere behind her, and Qiao Ling almost laughed. 

Together? That'd require her idiot of a brother to open his eyes... and for Lu Guang to stop being a coward. 

She couldn't blame the latter, though. Not with what she knew. 

Qiao Ling didn't want to imagine how horrible it must be for him. It was terrible for her- and she only knew, saw second hand snippets of his memories. But for him? 

The amount of therapy he likely needed... 

She sent a side-glance to Shao Yuanyuan. Who was possessing... she forgot the woman's name, but Cheng Xiaoshi had called her a therapist. 

Maybe there was one good thing about the older time diver appearing back in their lives.

"Lu Guang moved in a few years ago" she responded with a shrug, because it was by no means private information. Probably. She kept it vague just in case. 

Shao Yuanyuan hummed, intrigued. "But when did they...?" she tilted her head, right as the doorbell rang. 

"A guest has arrived!" 

Both of them headed for the front, and Qiao Ling sighed in relief at the sight of her two favorite idiots. 

The two of them were drenched head to toe, clothes clinging to them in a way that couldn't have been comfortable. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was leading Lu Guang, murmuring something to him when he caught sight of Shao Yuanyuan standing there, and Qiao Ling saw the white haired man's expression twitch into something uncomfortable and reluctant. 

Right, this wasn't a customer. This was a person he potentially would have to have an actual talk with. 

Qiao Ling frowned when she noticed something bundled in Lu Guang's arms, held carefully against his chest. 

However, just as they stepped forward for her to see, Shao Yuanyuan's watch beeped. The diver sighed, clearly displeased, and clapped her hands together. 

There was no 'Good Bye' with the lack of time, and the blonde stumbled, grasped onto the counter for support as if disoriented. 

It made Qiao Ling wonder how jarring these powers must be for the one possessed. 

As far as she was aware Li Tianchen's mind control left his victims unaware of what was happening, as Cheng Xiaoshi had told her. Meanwhile the possession of the twins' combined power had left her entirely aware of what she was doing and only disoriented for a brief time frame. 

She wondered, idly, how the people possessed by Cheng Xiaoshi felt after he jumped back to the present. 

When the blonde finally raised her head, her posture had changed to something... softer, calmer. Less energetic and more approachable. Qiao Ling could see her as a therapist much more easily now as opposed to before. 

"Oh- uh. Hello" Cheng Xiaoshi offered an awkward smile to the blonde, who seemed to take everything in and reorient herself. Golden eyes jumping between the room they were in, Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, the bundle in the - former? - seer's arms and Qiao Ling. 

Then she offered a gentle, pleasant smile. "It's nice to meet you again under better circumstances" she said, righting herself. 

"I believe re-introductions might be in order, hm?" 

Chapter Text

While introductions were important- so was preventing a cold. 

Cheng Xiaoshi went upstairs with Lu Guang to get changed, and noticed with no small amount of rage bubbling up in his chest that there were bruises wrapping around his upper arm. 

Lu Guang hadn't been entirely honest about whatever happened before, he knew. Li Liang had mentioned a dark haired individual leading Lu Guang away- and if he'd gone all the way to the alley, that meant there must've been more to it. 

He wasn't about to pry, though. Simply helped Lu Guang change after doing so himself and bundling the kitten in a soft towel, before letting him hold the cat again. 

After all, he knew all too well how fond the younger man was of cats. 

"... hey, Guang? Why did you never tell me?" he finally asked him, watched his shoulders tense. 

Lu Guang looked uncomfortable, still trembling a little from the cold rain despite wearing one of Cheng Xiaoshi's fluffiest sweaters. He looked adorable in it, at least in the photographer's eyes. 

With a sigh, the other lowered his head. "I was afraid" he murmured with a vulnerability he wasn't used to, not from him, "that you'd think I'm... that you'd only see me as a hypocrite, or hate me" 

At that, Cheng Xiaoshi stepped closer and hugged him again. Careful, to avoid squishing the kitten. "I'd never hate you... yes, I got mad... but I'd do the same thing and I've realized- I'm so, so sorry, Lu Guang..."

His heart cracked a little, when he noticed that the tension remained. Tried to bite his tongue, but: "How many times...?" 

For a long, long moment there was pure, utter silence. Then Lu Guang turned away, as best as he could while being clung to. "This is... the fourth time" he murmured, then shook his head. "I don't... don't make me talk about it. Not yet. Please" 

There was a crack to his voice that seemed so unlike Lu Guang, and Cheng Xiaoshi sighed. Squeezed his best friend gently. "Alright..." he murmured, despite the many thoughts whirling through his mind. 

Because if this was the fourth loop... how high were the chances of defying fate? 

They headed downstairs after that, where Wang Qing had taken a seat in the arm chair. Qiao Ling was still in the kitchen, the smell of tea reaching them.

After they finally settled in the sunroom as well, he sat as close to Lu Guang as he dared. Which meant pressed right up against him, or at least the blankets he'd wrapped around his best friend and the kitten. 

He did wrap the outmost one around himself as well- naturally running warmer than his white haired friend.  

Qiao Ling eventually returned, handing out the mugs to each of them before taking a seat on Cheng Xiaoshi's other side. 

To his relief, the tea's warmth seemed to help with Lu Guang's trembling. It made him smile, just a little. 

"You've barely changed in the last couple of years" Wang Qing's voice got him out of his thoughts, and he offered an embarrassed smile. He had changed a little- hopefully. 

The therapist cleared her throat. "My name... is Wang Qing. Please, do call me Chris though" she requested, offering them a smile. 

"As you know... I'm Cheng Xiaoshi" he smiled, then turned to gesture at his sister, then his best friend. "And these are Qiao Ling and Lu Guang" 

Wang Qing - or Chris, as she seemed to still prefer - glanced between the three of them, tilted her head. 

Her stare was almost a hint unnerving, when it fell upon Lu Guang. A moment longer than it had remained on Qiao Ling. 

Then she shook her head, eyes snapping back to him. Cheng Xiaoshi, that is.

For some reason, he couldn't help but think that she knew something he didn't. 

"It's nice to meet you" Qiao Ling offered a smile, seeming a lot more at ease in Wang Qing's - Chris' - presence than she had been in Shao Yuanyuan's.

He tried not to be disappointed. He understood why, truly.  

Next to him Lu Guang inclined his head, looking a hint lost. Cheng Xiaoshi gently elbowed him in the side. "Lu Guang, say something" he whispered encouragingly. 

The white haired young man blinked, unfocused eyes briefly flicking in his direction and missing by inches, before he tried facing Wang Qing again. He was not all that far off. "Oh- right... it's a pleasure to finally meet you" he murmured. "May we ask what brought you here?" 

The blonde rummaged through her bag, before throwing a small notebook onto the table. It was small, unassuming- safe for the eye-like pattern on the cover. 

"This notebook... used to be your father's" Chris explained. Voice painfully gentle. He knew why. He'd experienced Bahati's fire when he possessed that man. He knew.

Whereas Lu Guang tensed, Qiao Ling sat up straighter. "So you knew both of them?" she asked, voice lined with disbelief. 

Cheng Xiaoshi watched Chris nod, though her attention seemed to drift to the blind seer, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. 

"Cheng Weimin was a teacher at Bahathi- a language school in Bridon. However, simple as that may sound... it wasn't, not truly" the blonde murmured, attention snapping back to Qiao Ling. "Bahathi, in truth, was a school for people like me. Granted, most were still regular people. But it was made for us. For people like Shao Yuanyuan, and for people like the three of you" 

Cheng Xiaoshi froze when golden eyes fell on him. The intense stare distracting him from the Wang Qing seemed to study him, her head tilting. 

"You share your mother's ability. It wasn't until I met her that I learned what happened that day. It's all so fuzzy now, but I remember it well. The anger I felt towards Amy, so unlike me. The way I struggled with such an easy test. The rage I felt when Mr Cheng talked about his son- that was you, wasn't it? You're the reason I looked through the records" 

Slowly, almost ashamed, he lowered his head. Never before had he been called out for his ability like this. "Yes" he admitted, nodding. "Yes, that was me. I'm sorry for possessing you. It was the only way to find... well. You"

Absentmindedly she nodded. Took a sip of her tea. "You're forgiven" she said. "The point is, that book was written by your father. It documents any and all people wielding a special power that he's come across" 

Curious, he reached out to take it. Only to notice that Lu Guang was trembling. "Guang? You okay-?" he murmured, watched him with concern bubbling up in his chest. "Hey, say something? Please? Do you know-" 

"... don't fear the deviation" Lu Guang's whisper cut him off, the words spoken more to himself than the room, as if trying to reassure himself, then he shook his head. "The book won't be safe here" 

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. 

All eyes turned to Lu Guang, who didn't seem entirely aware of it. "What do you mean it won't be-" Cheng Xiaoshi started, at the same time as Wang Qing started asking about the deviation. 

Lu Guang tensed, clearly uncomfortable. "She knows about the whole... traveling through time, Guang. And this is important. Please?" the diver pleaded, despite not wanting to force his best friend to explain things he clearly didn't want to explain.

The white haired young man sighed. Clearly uncomfortable. "The book will be stolen. You've left it in our care before- never personally. What made you bring it here personally?" he asked, turned his head towards Chris. 

The blonde seemed taken aback, glancing between the seer and the diver as if slowly connecting dots. "Shao Yuanyuan. She suggested I come by and drop it off personally, but I doubt she's aware of...?" 

Now Cheng Xiaoshi glanced towards his best friend as well, who's expression fell. "No. Cheng Xiaoshi's mother didn't... this is a first" he answered slowly. "Which is strange, unless..." 

It was at that moment, that the dark haired young man realized that Lu Guang hadn't been home the past twelve hours. 

"My mom is... kinda doing the thing you keep telling me not to do" Cheng Xiaoshi cautiously explained, and watched as understanding bloomed on his friend's face. 

Lu Guang seemed lost in thoughts, rubbing his hands over his face. "Everything in Bridon... it wasn't me causing butterfly effects, it was her" he murmured, sounding like he was struck by one or more revelations. 

Suddenly, he shook his head. Sat up straighter. "Why are you trying to hide it with us, anyway?" he asked, with an intensity that suggested to Cheng Xiaoshi that he's been dying to ask this for a long time. 

Given the time loops... he could imagine that to be true. 

"Someone is trying to take it- back in Bridon, Vein attempted to steal it. Shao Yuanyuan managed to fend him off long enough to keep my body conscious, so that I could cause a heart attack in him after she ended the possession" 

Both Lu Guang and him startled. They'd forgotten about Wang Qing, in all honesty. "But Vein's dead" the diver pointed out, watched an odd expression appear and vanish on the therapist's face. It was gone as fast as it appeared. 

"He wasn't the only one to try" she admitted, and Cheng Xiaoshi felt a gentle nudge. When he glanced over, he found Lu Guang trying to pass him the kitten, so he gently took it from him. 

Lu Guang... honestly, his stare was intense, despite him being unable to actually look at anyone. "So you're saying there's one or more hitmen after you, and you led them here?" he asked, voice dangerously quiet. 

"Shao Yuanyuan-" 

"Is going to get her own son killed!" 

Cheng Xiaoshi exchanged a wary glance with Qiao Ling. This was not going well. Though his sister seemed as unsure on what to do as he felt. 

With a sigh, he placed a hand on Lu Guang's shoulder. "It's fine, Guang. We can do this. Together, right?" he told him, reassuring. Tried to keep his voice light and confident.   

His friend's expression remained unchanged. Angry, a hint panicked. "You don't get it-" Lu Guang started, and the diver sighed. 

"Lu Guang. I do get it- but you said it yourself. Don't fear the deviation. You said this isn't how it's supposed to go, right?" he asked pointedly, ignored the stare burning into his back from Chris' direction. He himself paused, hesitated. 

Cheng Xiaoshi felt sick, just a little, thinking about it. Swallowed hard. "Maybe outside help will... change things" he murmured, aimed for a light tone despite knowing just how grim the future might be. 

But he was optimistic. He had to be. They couldn't both overthink and worry. 

He watched the other lower his head. It took a moment, maybe two. Then he nodded. A sigh leaving him. "Right, yea..." he mumbled, and something about his tone struck Cheng Xiaoshi as off. 

He didn't question it. Lu Guang had been off since the incident- it only made sense, that he wasn't as optimistic. Probably. 

~

"So, why did you make me run all across town? I could've gotten the time diver!" 

Li Tianchen scowled up at the other, walking side by side with him through the dark alleys. 

It was rainy and cold, but Liu Xiao at least brought an umbrella that protected them from the rainfall. Not that it did all that much against the cold.

"I needed to talk with his friend alone. And I already told you, the plans have shifted" Liu Xiao shrugged, shifting the umbrella slightly to glance up at the sky and hide Li Tianchen more from view. 

The pink haired boy scowled. "You're not even telling me the plans!" he pointed out, a hint bitter. 

At that his oldest, and quite frankly only, friend laughed lightly. Offered him a grin. There was something knowing in his eyes. 

"Because you don't need to know... yet" Liu Xiao told him, tone light and unbothered. Calm. Whatever it was he knew, he didn't seem to plan on sharing. 

Li Tianchen tilted his head. Narrowed his eyes. Even his ability would be useless. It didn't give him the ability to read minds, after all. "It's because of the white haired guy, isn't it? He a threat?" 

Something odd flickered across the taller man's face. Eyes darting over his shoulder. As if looking for someone or something. When Li Tianchen checked, there was no one there. 

"... Lu Guang is of no concern" 

Somehow, he doubted that. There was something going on, especially if Liu Xiao had felt the need to have a private conversation. "What, got a crush on him or something?" he asked, more as a joke than out of seriousness. 

"Heavens, no" There was something strange about the older's tone, and he shook his head. Glanced down at his shorter companion. "He's... a valuable chess piece, though"

"He can't see anymore" Li Tianchen pointed out bluntly, eyes remaining narrowed. "Does his ability even work?" 

"Doesn't make him less valuable, Li Tianchen. Don't underestimate a desperate man" Liu Xiao bonked his head lightly with the umbrella, causing the shorter one to scowl. He wasn't all that convinced, but he didn't ask further. 

"Hm..." 

"To answer your question, time will tell" Liu Xiao offered him another smile. "The strings of fate are pulling taut, and I do so wonder which ones will snap if we pull hard enough..."

Li Tianchen didn't point out that he hadn't mentioned anything about the ability. He just watched his only friend stare at the sky, glasses dappled with droplets, a knowing smile on his lips. 

"This is the final round, I just know it" 

Chapter Text

Lu Guang liked to clean. 

It gave him time to clear his mind and occupied his hands.

There was just one issue- cleaning was a lot harder when your roommate-slash-best-friend was hovering. 

He couldn't see him, oh no, but he could sense him.

One advantage of living in the studio through multiple loops was that he, mostly, knew where everything was. Better than Cheng Xiaoshi probably assumed. 

He did prefer sticking to the walls, since it was the easiest way to prevent getting lost in the middle of the room for now until he could memorize how many steps he needed in any given direction to reach his goal, but he knew this place. 

From the couch to the wall, to the door to the hallway downstairs. Left. Stairs to their bedroom, up fifteen steps. Hallway upstairs. First door opposite the stairs, their bedroom. To the right, only one door, the bathroom. To the left, second door. That's where the washing machine, dryer and cleaning products were. The first on the left led to the attic. 

He did make a stop in their bedroom, today. Grabbed a random sweater since it was still raining. It ended up too big on him. One of Cheng Xiaoshi's, probably. He wore it anyway. 

Lu Guang made it over to their bunk bed, touched the cold steel of the frame. He didn't feel up for climbing the ladder yet, so he turned and walked to the door. One hand loosely outstretched. 

Ten steps, then his hand found the smooth wood of their bedroom door. He didn't manage to open the door, for it already opened. Vanishing from his touch. 

"Oh- thank god, there you are, Guang" 

Cheng Xiaoshi's relived voice greeted him, and Lu Guang found himself torn between confusion and guilt. On one hand, he'd worried him. On the other... why had he been worried?

He hummed noncommittally, hand finding the doorframe, before he started walking. Pausing when he didn't hear Cheng Xiaoshi step away. Based on how close his voice was... 

He lifted his free hand and nodded to himself. Just as expected, Cheng Xiaoshi stood directly before him. Blocking the way. "Can you move? I wanted to get the laundry into the washing machine" he told him, a hint impatient. 

"... I was gonna do it" Cheng Xiaoshi announced, much to his disbelief. Xiaoshi? Putting the laundry into the washing machine? He'd assumed Qiao Ling was doing it.

His disbelief must've shown, for his friend laughed nervously. "Hey, don't look at me like- I mean- er-" the diver stammered a little, and Lu Guang sighed. 

"You can say look, idiot" he muttered flatly, unimpressed, and settled for pushing past him. Ignored the fact that Cheng Xiaoshi hadn't moved. 

Steps chased after him. 

He shrugged the hand landing on his shoulder off. "Can you please just let me do the laundry?" he sighed, a hint impatient. 

"C'mon, Guangguang. I'm doing it today" Cheng Xiaoshi seemed stubborn on that, and Lu Guang yelped in surprise when the other picked him up as if he weighted nothing. Which... was probably true, for him. 

He scowled slightly. Hitting the older's chest a couple times. Or perhaps his shoulder. It felt more like a shoulder. "Xiaoshi- where are you taking me?" he complained, tried to guess based on the way the other walked.

Am I being carried down the stairs?, he wondered in disbelief and found his thoughts confirmed when he found himself dumped on something soft. The couch. 

Cheng Xiaoshi pat his head, and he fought another scowl. "Just sit here and look pretty, yea?" his friend's tone had something teasing in it, but Lu Guang felt nothing but offended. 

Did he not trust him to do something simple as collect the laundry? It wasn't even something he needed eyes for! He just needed to follow his mental map! Go to the bathroom, stick to the wall until the laundry basket, get the clothes, stick to the wall and go to the washing machine. 

Sure, turning it on... would require some help until he figured it out for himself, but he could bring the laundry there, at least! 

"Where's Yue?" he asked with a heavy sigh, referring to the cat Cheng Xiaoshi had described as 'looks exactly like you, Guangguang! White hair, pretty blue yes-' where he'd wisely refrained from pointing out that his eyes would never turn blue again, and crossed his arms. "I'll feed her" 

Feeding a cat... surely couldn't be that hard, right? Cheng Xiaoshi had insisted they keep her, and unlike the previous time, he wasn't bothering with denying that a cat sounded... nice. 

It wasn't supposed to happen. But then again, nothing that was happening was supposed to happen. 

"Oh- Qiao Ling took her to the vet" Cheng Xiaoshi answered, voice and steps already fading. "Think she'll be back in a couple hours- you know how the busses are" 

Lu Guang's face fell when he heard Cheng Xiaoshi's steps vanish up the stairs. Leaving him alone. For a good few moments, he simply sat there in silence. Then heaved a sigh. 

Porcelain hitting wood reached his ears, alerting him of a new presence that had silently approached. Unlike Cheng Xiaoshi, the only other person currently in the studio didn't trample around like a bull in a China store. 

Another tea cup was set down, in front of him, based on the distance of the quiet sound. 

"Chris" he finally greeted the therapist, voice carefully neutral. The name felt foreign on his tongue. Both because he hadn't spoken English in a while, and because he'd only heard the name once. 

Vein had been the only one to refer to Wang Qing with this name- Lu Guang had called her Wang Qing in his mind all this time, finding out... six? No, more than six years later that she actually preferred being called Chris. 

"Lu Guang" her voice was calm, warm. A bit like honey. It didn't surprise him much that she worked with people- the aura she held was kind and inviting. "How are you feeling?" she asked him, and his mood soured. 

Still, he offered a forced smile. "How about as well as one can feel when an active threat is being invited to the place my best friend and I live" he responded, a hint clipped. 

For all the inviting kindness and warmth, Lu Guang was still angry. The book painted a target on her back, and now it would paint one on theirs. To make matters worse, he was still no closer to cracking the code... and now he likely never would. 

There was a soft sigh, then the couch dipped. "I apologize... this must be hard on you especially, no? You're the one who dove back in time" she said, matter-of-factly. 

His heart dropped. "My ability-" he started, shoulders tense. 

"The way you spoke yesterday gave it away. I have little room to judge, seeing as I'm... more or less helping Shao Yuanyuan" Chris reassured him. Idly, he imagined her smiling. Tried to, at least. The mental image felt off.

With a sigh, he let his hand ghost over the table until he found the tea. Carefully taking the cup. "... why are you?" he finally asked, tilted his head. Didn't bother trying to fake looking at her. It wasn't like his condition was a secret. 

He hated it. 

He heard her move, clothes rustling, the backrest of the couch creaking softly. Usually it was a louder noise- Cheng Xiaoshi tended to throw himself onto the couch with no care in the world. 

"Cheng Weimin was my teacher. He may didn't help me with Amy and her friends, but..." Chris sighed. "It's a lie, you know? I wasn't the only survivor. Not that it really matters... officially, I'm the only one. And no, they don't know more about your friend's father, either" 

It felt like a punch to the gut, receiving the confirmation. He'd always assumed that there was more to it, but actually hearing it? It was something entirely different. 

Still, he could worry later. There was a different topic at hand. "So why help her?" he asked again. 

Chris sighed next to him. "I never found out who caused the fire. It wasn't an accident, I'm sure... but Shao Yuanyuan seems convinced that we can save her husband and find the culprit. To boot, I was a broke teen who'd lost everything. She helped me get a new identity and start a new life. I'm kind of in her debt" 

Absentmindedly he nodded, took a sip of his tea. 

Information he'd never learned before... he filed it away mentally until he could note it down. Somehow. Maybe he'd test that speech-based app out. 

~

The next day, Wang Qing moved out and into a hotel. Assuring them she'd stay in touch and visit again soon. 

Lu Guang decided to try washing the dishes in the sink. Cheng Xiaoshi stopped him and did it himself. 

He tried feeding Yue. Cheng Xiaoshi was already on it. 

He wanted to grab himself a glass of water. Cheng Xiaoshi ran to get it. 

It continued like that, the entire rest of the month. Day after day, seven days straight. Different situations, the same result. Cheng Xiaoshi beat him to all of it. 

Lu Guang felt horribly useless. 

He wasn't even allowed to try. 

You're nothing but a burden on him now, echoed Liu Xiao's words in his mind, and mentally he responded with a very eloquent: Fuck you. 

He imagined his offended expression at being cussed at, and it made him feel a smidge better... but never for long. The feeling of 'I'm useless' returning tenfold whenever he attempted to help with anything shortly after. 

It's not like you could help him..., a voice in his mind whispered. He was starting to be unsure if it was Liu Xiao's voice or perhaps his own. 

The only small comfort among it all were Yue, who seemed to take a shine to laying on his lap, and the evenings. He was still sleeping on the couch, sure, but Cheng Xiaoshi and him spent the evening together listening to audiobooks and podcasts. 

It wasn't exactly the same as watching a random show, but it was a nice new routine, cozying up on the couch with Cheng Xiaoshi's phone playing on the table. A fuzzy blanket draped over both of them, Lu Guang's head on Cheng Xiaoshi's shoulder and their legs tangling in the limited space. Yue curling up between them.  

Selfishly, he wished they could do this forever. 

Though the doubt crept up every day anew, with every attempt at help that was thwarted. Their daily routine one of waking up late because Cheng Xiaoshi kept letting him sleep in, Qiao Ling coming by to check on them, Captain Xiao calling in every couple days to update them on the case - new leads, nothing certain - and Wang Qing - pardon, Chris - showing up and absentmindedly mentioning that Shao Yuanyuan wanted to talk to them again soon. 

Captain Xiao's updates felt... off, as if there was something he wasn't telling them. 

Lu Guang knew the truth- Liu Xiao had sent them. It was a truth he couldn't say aloud. Not because of the consequences- but because they knew from Liu Min's case that it was nearly pointless to start anything with the Liu-Family. 

They had money, and if the traces were almost non-existant? Well, it'd be pointless. Liu Xiao knew how to worm his way out of even the trickiest situations. He was smart and crafty, regretful as he was to admit it. 

The other thing that was off to him was Shao Yuanyuan's claims to want to talk soon, but Chris never getting possessed. She'd mentioned something about Shao Yuanyuan being busy in the past, attempting... something. Chris seemed as clueless about Shao Yuanyuan's moves as the rest of them were. 

May eventually turned into June 1st, the sound of his phone quietly vibrating on the table alerting him of it being midnight. 

The clock kept ticking. 

Time kept moving as it always had, no matter how desperately he wanted to freeze it and preserve the time they had. 

There was nothing he could do, but figure out how to fix all this on his own. If he dragged Cheng Xiaoshi further into this, told him even more... he'd eventually lose him again on September 13th, wouldn't he? 

You know, by his side isn't the only way you can fight fate, whispered a voice into his ear, with an almost gentle chuckle, and he scowled. Quiet and faded like an old photo by time and space, just as the memory accompanying it. 

He scowled into the quiet of the night. 

Shut up, he thought, but the lighthearted laugh refused to fade. 

He couldn't quite tell, with the last one, if it was Liu Xiao's voice or one of someone who'd left the world ages ago. Perhaps, he dimly thought when Cheng Xiaoshi rushed off to make tea, it was his own. 

You're such a burden.

~

"Alright, let's back up a bit" 

Jae Lee took a step back with his words, staring up at the evidence board before them. Photos of places, people and evidence, notes and reports as well as seemingly random newspaper snipped were pinned against the cork, red threads connecting everything and nothing. 

"Nothing is adding up" Xiao Li heaved a sigh, shaking his head while glancing down at his notes. "We know it wasn't a suicide, but the river washed away the fingerprints on the weapon. It's a run-of-the-mill handgun, easy to acquire, nothing fancy" 

The sergeant hummed, examining the board. "And we know it wasn't Qian Jin sending them" he pointed out in a quiet murmur. "Mao Zhilong lied about it. There was no call from Qian Jin, and all the people who had contact with him were innocent in aiding him. Ms Qiao checked, after all..." 

The older man scowled. "Mao Zhilong's house was empty when we checked. No phone, no computer- nothing. No fingerprints but his own, Zhong Qiang's and Tian Xueyin's in the entire place. We checked it top to bottom" 

Jae Lee tilted his head, eyes unreadable. 

"Either he was prepared for failure, or his employer is good" 

"Too good, if that's the case" 

Chapter Text

The night was cold, the stars bright. 

The pines swayed softly in the wind, a mesmerizing sight. Their branches creaked softly, the only noise besides his steps. 

Finally, he reached a meadow. It was vast and beautiful. The ground covered in thousands of white and light blue flowers. 

Daisies and forget-me-nots. 

In the middle of them stood a familiar face, and his heart began to race. No word managed to escape him, but his steps started carrying him towards the other. 

The soft petals turned red under his heel, the color spreading until it was surrounding the one he cared about most. 

His lips pulled into a gentle smile, despite a trickle of blood slowly forming and running down from the corner, then he fell like a puppet with its strings cut. 

A scream was stuck in his throat when he raced towards him, but it refused to come out. When he fell onto the blood stained petals next to the other, it was too late. 

He shot up with a gasp, chest heaving. 

It was a nightmare. Just a nightmare. Nothing had happened, he could hear him quietly breath in the otherwise silent room, when he held his own. 

Sleep eluded him the rest of the night. 

~

Qiao Ling took him out shopping on June 3rd, and that was quite possibly the smartest decision anyone could've made in Lu Guang's humble opinion. 

He loved the studio, truly, but ever since he'd become nothing but a ghost in what he considered his home? It was unbearable, being allowed to do nothing but drink his tea, cuddle the cat all of them unanimously decided to keep and listen to podcasts and audio books. 

Cheng Xiaoshi had been unhappy about it, worried there would be another kidnapping attempt despite the trio who'd done it being dealt with.   

That was no secret, though. He had voiced his concerns multiple times, to the point Lu Guang had heard a resounding smack. At that time, he wondered if either of them had been aware that he'd listened in. 

Either way, here he was now, a couple hours later. Loosely holding onto Qiao Ling and idly scratching at the bandages wrapped around his eyes. They were itching a little, near his temple. The scar, probably. 

Their mutual friend was, hopefully, none the wiser. He was clearing out the attic today, had closed the shop down. The shopping trip going well would prove that he needn't worry. 

Qiao Ling was happily dragging him along. Technically, they were on a grocery run. In practice, they were in a random store and his friend was sifting through clothes. He didn't mind it. It was nice to listen to her excited rambles. 

Her complaints about Cheng Xiaoshi's, and thus his, fashion sense were equal parts amusing and embarrassing, given that they were in public, but he didn't mind. It was nice, a breath of normalcy after everything. 

Here and there he actively had to fight a small laugh when Qiao Ling's complaints shifted from their fashion sense to the one of the editors at her work, which then shifted into complaints about their social media manager being terrible at his job. 

Really, it was the most at ease he'd felt in weeks. Years, perhaps. It hadn't happened in the other timelines, like almost everything that was happening now. The timeline had shifted entirely, but it was equals parts terrifying as it was refreshing. 

He wasn't sure if it was the normalcy of not having to follow a script, or the knowledge that they both knew more than they had ever before... but for once he let himself breathe. There was no improvising, when there was no vague script to follow. 

For an hour or so, everything was nice. Eventually, though, Qiao Ling told him she'd go try on some of the clothes she wanted to buy. 

Lu Guang leaned against the wall outside the changing rooms. He didn't mind having to wait, and he was grateful that Qiao Ling hadn't voiced concerns about 'leaving him alone'. She'd simply told him what she was doing, asked if he was fine with waiting and left when he'd assured her it's fine. 

It didn't feel like judgement and walking on eggshells- didn't feel like she was asking because of his condition. It was the same phrasing, same tone, as she used to use before all of this happened. 

But that made it sound like Cheng Xiaoshi was judgmental, which he wasn't. He didn't judge- he just... hovered. As if he were fragile. It bothered him, but he simply didn't know how to tell him. 

Though, he assumed it would be like after the hospital trip that one time. He'd hover and fret for a while and then eventually forget. But until then, it would feel like Cheng Xiaoshi was walking on eggshells around him. 

Qiao Ling did not give him the same feeling so far, she was... certainly better at it than her brother. Even if she, too, tried helping him with things. She hovered less, though. 

It felt normal, hanging out with her, and he couldn't help but cling to the normalcy. 

While he waited, he toyed with a thread of his hoodie. Cheng Xiaoshi's, technically, going by the smell. The only difference between their clothes' smell tended to be that Cheng Xiaoshi's reeked of the liquid they used to develop photos. 

He used to hate the smell, but it had grown on him over the years. 

A hand landed on his shoulder. Too large to be Qiao Ling's. 

"Fancy running into you here" Liu Xiao's voice reached his ear, calm and smooth, and he couldn't help but scowl when the other tugged him into a sort of side-hug. As if they were friends. 

Lightly, he tried pushing away from him. To no avail. No surprise, Lu Guang had always been weaker than him and he vividly remembered seeing the other fight that thief in Bridon's airport. "What do you want now?" he asked, flinched when he felt gentle pressure against his temple, running along the edge of the bandage. 

"You're hiding" the other commented idly, and Lu Guang mentally mapped out what he could feel. When he adjusted his stance and kicked, he fought a smug smile at Liu Xiao's audibly repressed noise of pain. 

That was his shin, he thought, or more like hoped. Out loud he commented: "And you can't keep your hands to yourself"

 He could almost imagine Liu Xiao's pout, and he hated it. "You mind it that much?" he asked him, the pout audible in his voice, as if he hadn't noticed any of the attempts of shutting the repeated contact down. 

Lu Guang scowled in his vague direction. "If you keep this up, I'll get a perfume with cilantro scent" he warned, and it wasn't an empty threat. He'd go through with it, if he had to. They both knew it. 

But Liu Xiao took a step back, based on the way his heels clacked against the floor. He put more weight into it, he noted absentmindedly. To make it audible for him that he'd complied. 

"... my friend will be back in a moment" he murmured, quietly. More warning than statement. Crossed his arms. "You should leave" 

He heard Liu Xiao click his tongue. "Shame. Here I thought we could catch up some more" he said, as if they were friends. As if they were anything. 

Perhaps they were, once upon a time. Perhaps they weren't. Past and future was a mess, and Lu Guang could hardly remember a time when- 

No. 

"Leave me alone, Liu Xiao. I don't want to talk to you" he told him, plain and simple. So that even this stubborn man should understand. 

But he only laughed lightly. "I'll go, I'll go... but keep this up and I might slam my door in your face after all, when you come crawling to me. That'd be a shame, no?" 

A warm breathe hit Lu Guang's ear, and he flinched slightly. Startled. Then his features twisted into an annoyed frown, most likely half-hidden by the bandages. 

"You will come crawling, Guang. For now it might seem okay... but time is ticking, September is coming, and you? You can't stop death. Not without your power. Not without either of your powers, as a fail-safe" 

Another laugh. Still gentle and soft. This time, it left Lu Guang feeling nauseous. 

"How are you adapting, hm? Are you even pulling your own weight? Or are you just another burden for the poor boy who lost both his parents? Just a ghost hovering uselessly in your own home?" 

The words stung and turned to static in Lu Guang's ears and he backed away. Felt his back bump into the wall he'd previously leaned against. 

If he'd been in any better state of mind, he'd have perhaps realized that there was intend in Liu Xiao's words. 

"I'm not" he finally defended himself weakly, despite recent times making him feel like exactly that was happening, yet he repeated himself anyway: "I'm not" 

He hated that Liu Xiao knew exactly which buttons to push. 

He heard Liu Xiao talk, almost through a fog. But it was all static to him, the other may as well have been reciting Shakespeare for all he knew. Nothing made sense, but all words were drowned out by the whispering in his ears anyway. 

He slid down the wall, pressed his hands over his ears. 

In the end, he didn't snap out of it until Qiao Ling came back.

~

When they came home Cheng Xiaoshi was utterly relived to see his friends back, despite Lu Guang looking a hint paler than normal, eyes a hint red as if he'd been crying when Qiao Ling helped him tug the the bandages off now that they were in the safety of their own. 

That relief lasted about two minutes. Then the door swung open. 

There was no greeting- just a flurry of blond hair and black clothes. Chris was back, expression  void of anything. Like a woman possessed. 

She brushed past Cheng Xiaoshi, who was holding Yue, and Qiao Ling. Heading straight for Lu Guang. 

Wordlessly she grabbed his face, tilting it this way and that way. Much to the white haired young man's displeasure, given how he recoiled with a startled noise. 

Chris- no... his mother, from the looks of it, didn't seem to notice. Or she simply didn't care.  

"Oh my, you really do look like a model. My Xiaoshi really has great taste" his mother beamed, brash and straight forward about her opinions as ever, and Cheng Xiaoshi died a little inside. 

What is she doing?, he wondered frantically, feeling horrible upon noticing the discomfort on his best friend's face at having his cheeks squished. Taking a step forward to tell his mother to calm down. 

Distantly though, Cheng Xiaoshi wished he could do that. 

Lu Guang frowned , clearly unhappy with this, and recoiled before Cheng Xiaoshi even had a chance to open his mouth. "You are not Chris" he said, and managed to catch her wrist to push her back lightly. "Shao Yuanyuan?"

Somehow, his mother's beaming face seemed to light up more. "And so smart, too!" she said, pulled her wrist free. She moved to pat Lu Guang's head, but Cheng Xiaoshi didn't let her. Grabbing her wrist tightly. A little tighter than he probably should've, but she was making Lu Guang uncomfortable and- 

"Mom" he said, voice carefully level, and didn't back down when she gave him a 'Disappointed Mom' Stare. "Mom... quit that. Lu Guang doesn't like being touched by strangers" 

His mother had the audacity to intensify her disappointed look, but Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't backing down. Simply gave her a warning look. 

"Actually," Lu Guang piped up next to him, "I'd like to have a talk with her. Alone" 

Chapter Text

The door clicking shut felt like a sign that he'd stepped into the lion's den. 

"So, you're Xiaoshi's partner?" Shao Yuanyuan did not sound like he'd expected, upon being left alone with him. Or at least nothing like Qiao Ling's parents had, when he'd met them for the first time. 

Shao Yuanyuan sounded, if he had to compare, more like Xiaoshi does whenever Qiao Ling brought someone around who she fancied or intended to go on a date with. 

The two time divers seemed similar, in that regard. Both were protective of those they call family... yet his best friend's mother certainly had a quite different way of actually being there for her son. 

Which is to say, she wasn't at all. 

Still, he understood the implication loud and clear. "Something like that" he responded evenly, shrugged. "But that's not why I want to talk to you"

"Oh, and bold as well" Shao Yuanyuan laughed, and it was nothing like the light chuckle of the therapist she was possessing. "I like you, kid" 

He settled against feeling offended. She was a lot older, over double his age- but that was a given. She was Xiaoshi's mother, after all. 

Another difference, he couldn't help but think, seeing as Chris was only pushing thirty and so far refrained from calling them kids. 

It was odd though, hearing the difference in Chris' voice. He wasn't quite sure how different the two women looked to someone who could see their mannerisms, but at least from an audible standpoint the difference was clear as day to him. 

Even the way they walked was different. Shao Yuanyuan walked almost silently, making it hard to keep track of where she was. Chris let her heels clack against the floor lightly to make her presence known. 

Lu Guang crosses his arms. "You're a time traveler" he said, instead of reacting to what she'd said. Kept his head turned towards where he assumed her to be standing. "And you have a lot of experience, don't you?" 

There was a beat of silence. 

Shao Yuanyuan's laugh was loud and unabashed. "Bold" she repeated brightly, and Lu Guang flinched when a hand came down on his head and ruffled his hair. 

He hated it. He kept silent on the matter, though. 

"Shao Yuanyuan, with all due respect," he started, despite said respect being none, "I need to speak with you seriously on the matter" 

There was a beat of silence, and he could all but feel her stare. 

Was she judging him? He didn't care much about her judgement and opinions. Never had, never will. Neither in the first nor this timeline. 

He has no respect for someone like her, who left her child behind, no matter how thankful he was that it led to meeting Cheng Xiaoshi.  

"About time travel?" she finally asked him, voice painfully neutral. He couldn't tell what she felt, and after her so far unashamedly open personality, it was a hint jarring. 

He merely nodded, crossed his arms. Waited, patiently, for her to react at all. 

Lu Guang disliked it, truly. The way he could only guess what kind of expression she may be making and not know. 

Eventually, she hummed. "What is it you want to know?" Shao Yuanyuan asked, her voice back to casual. As if they were talking about the weather rather than supernatural abilities able to bend time and space. 

"Death. Do you truly believe it can be changed?" He asked. Voice as steady as he could muster. 

And to his disbelief, she laughed. Loud and unapologetic. 

Clearly unaware of the depths of his question. Of course she was. This was a secret he'd guarded close for a long time. 

Bad enough that Liu Xiao knew-  that Vein had known by proxy. 

Worse was that Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling knew. 

But... Shao Yuanyuan might be the one who would actually understand. 

Yet she was laughing. 

"I'm serious" he told her, unamused, heart racing. Earned himself another hair ruffle. 

Shao Yuanyuan's voice was light when she spoke: "Of course. Don't worry, I'll bring Xiaoshi's father back. No matter what it takes" 

Lu Guang fought a scowl. "So death is a node that can be changed?" He asked, persistent. Unwilling to entirely admit to everything but equally unwilling to drop the subject. 

He'd spent this entire loop wondering again and again if his last chance was going to make a difference. And this? This was his ray of hope. 

"It's a little more complicated than that, kid. It can be changed, but you will pay a price, somewhat. You'll gain something, and lose something" 

He froze, frowned. "What do you mean?" He asked, wary. A deep pit forming in his stomach. 

Clothes rustled. He assumed she shrugged. "Why, I'm changing events that happened years ago. It will affect the world as we know it" she said, as if it were no big deal. "Bringing my husband home will change plenty"

Lu Guang dug his fingers into the fabric of his sleeve. "What if you never go an hour past the death? Will you still lose something, if you don't know the future?" 

A laugh. He couldn't tell if she was amused or disbelieving. "Only a future you never experienced in the first place, so there is nothing you'd lose" 

Absentmindedly, he nodded. That made sense. He'd never stuck around all that long- couldn't bear it. Not if Cheng Xiaoshi was gone. 

Idly, he wondered if she really knew this or if she was working based on assumptions as well. 

"It's not like it matters, though. I'll bring Cheng Weimin back, and everything will be okay" Shao Yuanyuan proclaimed with a boldness Lu Guang had never been able to muster, ripping him from his musings. 

"What if he doesn't wish to return to Guidu?" He asked, before he could stop himself. 

Shao Yuanyuan fell utterly silent for a long, long moment. Then she giggled. As if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. 

She patted his shoulder firmly. He barely suppressed a wince. This woman certainly didn't know her own strength. 

"He's my husband. I know him" she declared, full of a conviction he did not share. It must've shown on his expression: "He'll be happy, and Xiaoshi will be happy too. We'll be one big, happy family"

Lu Guang bit his lip, hesitated. "... He left on his own accord, before his death. Became a teacher instead of being a father" he found himself saying, instead of something, anything, kinder. "Your husband deemed himself a bad one, rightfully"

Was saying something such as that rude? Most likely. But this woman seemed to see no error in what she was doing, seemed to feel no shame. 

There was a beat. Then: "Weimin will come to his senses, I know it"

He fought a scoff. "Your husband didn't want to stick around, Ms Shao. Have you ever considered just coming home? To your son? Who you've left alone for years?"

 "Are you trying to tell me how to parent my son?" Shao Yuanyuan asked, voice deadly quiet, and the former seer did scoff at that. 

He crossed his arms. "I wouldn't need to, if you had. His father left. You left. Both of you left him- an eight year old child. He always struggled forming relationships because of it" he told her icily.

Shao Yuanyuan fell silent, and he had the hunch that he just officially made her dislike him, instead of talking sense into her. 

"Once I saved my husband... everything will be fixed. It'll be fine. He won't remember any of this, neither will anyone else. It won't matter what I or my husband did"

Lu Guang froze. Felt dread coil in his chest. Didn't react or stop her when she left the room. He was too numb by the thought that had struck him to even realize until it was too late. 

There was one variable he'd never accounted for- the possibility of a timeline where Shao Yuanyuan and Cheng Weimin were there for their son. 

In a way, it was the ideal world for his best friend. Yet it also meant he wouldn't be the same Cheng Xiaoshi he knew. He'd never meet him, most likely. 

While it would keep him safe... selfishly, he hated the thought of a world where they never met. 

At the same time, he wondered if Shao Yuanyuan really knew whether this would work out as she claimed. 

~

"You're doing that thing again" 

Cheng Xiaoshi blinked, peering up from where he was petting Yue. Staring up at his sister in all but blood with a frown. "... what thing?" he asked, tilted his head. 

She sat down next to him, sighing. "That thing. Where you hover" she explained slowly. "Lu Guang's... you should give him air to breathe" 

The time-diver looked almost offended. "I don't hover-" he denied, shaking his head. 

Qiao Ling, though, frowned at him. Doubt written clearly across her face. 

His sister seemed confident. But that couldn't be true. He hadn't bee hovering. No, the thought was ridiculous. 

Yet then again...

He thought back to the last couple weeks- to how things had been going ever since Lu Guang left the hospital, and even more so how they had been since the incident where he'd accidentally sent him away.

After a moment or two, Cheng Xiaoshi finally heaved a sigh. "Okay, so maybe I hover" he admitted, pouting just a hint. 

His pout only intensified when she pat his shoulder. "You should trust him a little more. Things were fine when I took him shopping" she pointed out. 

A frown crossed his face. "He looked like he'd been crying when you came back" he didn't mean to sound accusing, but he couldn't help it. 

The image was branded into his mind. Lu Guang's pale face, the still pinkish scar, the lightly indented skin where the bandages had pressed into it, pale grey eyes red rimmed. 

He'd looked a hint distant, as if he wasn't entirely in the here and now. 

Cheng Xiaoshi hadn't had time to ask. 

"What happened?" he asked quietly, concerned. Lu Guang had always felt like a steady presence he could lean on, yet the more time since the reveal of the loops passed, he felt as though his best friend's steadiness was crumbling. 

He hated it not because Lu Guang wasn't a steady pillar to lean on anymore, but because he still seemed to refuse leaning on Cheng Xiaoshi for help. 

Qiao Ling sighed, and she seemed just as concerned as he felt. "I'm not sure. I left him for... maybe five to ten minutes to try on some clothes. When I came back, he was zoned out" 

"... I'm worried about him" Cheng Xiaoshi mumbled. Shook his head. "Like, some stuff is making sense now, y'know? The secrecy, the lack of communication, how he just knows so much stuff" 

His sister nodded along slowly. "The way he seemed to know exactly what he was doing... until the trio kidnapped him" she slowly agreed. 

A soft, resigned little "Exactly" came over the time diver's lips, and he buried his face in his hands. "After I picked him up from near the boba store, I thought... I thought we're done with the lies and secrets. I thought we're open with each other now, no more keeping stuff from each other" 

"So why are you still in denial?" Qiao Ling asked, and he sent her a confused look. Though his sister only sighed, shaking her head. "Nevermind... point is, he's still keeping stuff from us, right?" 

Vaguely, he gestured at her. "You're basically reading my mind" he confirmed, voice cracking a little, and settled for asking about the 'denial' bit later. "I'm just... I'm worried. Something's wrong and he won't tell us and... and I'm going to die" 

Guilt welled up in his chest when he saw Qiao Ling physically recoil. "Death is a node that can't be changed. He can't... I'll die. There's no preventing that" he whispered, voice cracking. He hated himself for that. 

"You don't know that" Qiao Ling protested, shaking her head, and he wiped his eyes. Sighed. Eyes wandering to the collage he'd made after they'd finished dealing with Li Tianchen. 

Cheng Xiaoshi smiled, sad and regretful. "I do know" he whispered, and found that he couldn't look away. Eyes scanning over the pictures he'd carefully arranged in the frame. 

A lot of the photos were ones he'd used in his fight against Liu Min- or rather, the possessed one. Pictures of the people Li Tianchen had killed. Among them Emma. 

Looking at the pictures hurt, but they also gave him strength, in some way. He couldn't help any of them. Couldn't prevent any of their deaths... but he could live for them. Keep their memories alive, try to prevent more such things from happening. Could help people who weren't yet lost- like with DouDou. 

Distantly, he thought he heard the steps creak. He couldn't spot their little cat. She must've headed upstairs. 

His throat felt tight, but he continued on anyway. Sighing heavily. "I tried. I tried with Chen Xiao's mother. I tried with Emma. I tried with so so many more... but none of them survived, Qiao Ling. None" he whispered. "Lu Guang... I don't think he knows what he's doing. So much for no more lies, huh?"

He'd die, and it was best to come to terms with that. Maybe he should make a bucket list. Kiss someone, maybe? 

For a moment, grey eyes and white hair danced through his mind, and his cheeks felt warm. Qiao Ling sent him a look, clearly curious about what he was thinking, and he waved a hand. 

He didn't know where that thought came from, anyway. 

Another creak. Then the sound of steps. 

The two of them glanced up and at each other. After a couple moments, Lu Guang shuffled into the sunroom, following along the wall. 

He was wearing the bandages again, and Cheng Xiaoshi silently loathed that he felt the need to hide. 

Yet he remained utterly silent about the matter... for now. 

"Hey, Lu Guang" he greeted, a hint wary. Prayed he hadn't heard them talk. "How did the talk with my mom go?" 

But Lu Guang turned his head, what he could see of his expression the same as ever. "I'd rather not talk about it" he said, and that was that. 

For some reason, Cheng Xiaoshi had a bad feeling. 

Chapter Text

The talk with Shao Yuanyuan weighted heavily on his mind, even a week later. Even though towards Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi, he pretended as if nothing had changed at all- laughed along at jokes, even started going out with the two of them a bit more often. 

Cheng Xiaoshi's behavior seemed to have shifted, just a little, since the day of his mother's visit. He still hovered, but he wasn't trying to take every single task away anymore. Mostly. Sometimes he did, and tried making them do it together instead after a moment or so. 

Despite the steps in the right direction, Lu Guang couldn't deny having started to hide away in their room whenever Shao Yuanyuan visited and avoided Chris like the plague as well just to be safe. 

He felt guilty for it, really, but his mind was in a whirlwind. Sure, he laughed along at whatever jokes his friends made, talked to Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling as if nothing was wrong... but he was trying to be more careful about it. Especially given the conversation he'd overheard. 

"I tried. I tried with Chen Xiao's mother. I tried with Emma. I tried with so so many more... but none of them survived, Qiao Ling. None"

Cheng Xiaoshi didn't believe he could be saved. Qiao Ling, most likely, believed the same. Neither had dared bring it up to his face. 

It made him feel worse. 

"So much for no more lies, huh?"

Silent, he curled into himself. Pressed a hand against his aching chest. 

They didn't trust him anymore. He understood. He didn't trust himself anymore either. Not since Bridon. 

It was self-defense, he reasoned over and over. Vein was going to try and kill them... and he wasn't the murderer anyway. Not really. That had been the butterfly-effect. 

But he still felt horrible. There was blood on his hands. Would Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling still look at him the same, if they knew that he'd caused Vein's death? That he'd killed their future killer?  

A burden and a murderer, the little voice in the back of his head whispered, is not something they'd keep harboring under their roof.

A choked sob threatened to escape his throat, and he felt his eyes well up with tears. 

Briefly, he considered coming clean. Telling them everything. About Vein, the butterfly effect, the details of that horrid night. About Liu Xiao's reoccurring 'visits', few as they had been. About the man's involvement in... everything.  

But then he thought. He thought and, with slowly building horror, he realized he couldn't. He couldn't tell them. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was like the sun. But the sun is a star, and the stars do not shine, they burn. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was warmth and kindness and laughter and smiles... but he was also fiercely protective and had a strong sense of justice, a force of nature impossible to hold back when he deemed one of his friends wronged. 

If he told him about that horrid night, he would become protective. If he became protective, he'd demand to know who wronged them. If he found out about Vein, he'd have to tell him what was going on in Bridon. 

He didn't put it past him to accept things as 'It was self-defense'. That went for both his friends... but they'd want to know why Vein was after them. That would bring them to Liu Xiao. 

If he touched on Liu Xiao at all... god, no. That was a can of worms he'd rather forget in general. 

In the silence of their bedroom, he wondered if they even still wanted him around at all, given that they knew he wasn't entirely truthful even now. 

It could've been minutes or hours by the time the door creaked, alerting him of Cheng Xiaoshi's presence. 

He'd stopped crying a bit ago, at least. Wiped his eyes with the bandages as best as he could. Sadly, that meant he had to take them off. 

It felt... unpleasant, otherwise. 

The ladder creaked, and Lu Guang tensed, just a hint. Turned his back. He didn't want Cheng Xiaoshi to see his face. 

Alas, his mattress dipped. "Lu Guang? Hey, Guangguang. I know you're awake" Cheng Xiaoshi nudged him gently, and the younger man fought a sigh. Fumbled with the bandages. 

"Can you... not look at me?" he requested, and felt the mattress shift when his best friend moved. 

A confused huff reached his ears. "I've seen your face since the incident, Lu Guang" the other pointed out, all too lightly. "And I mean it. You're still handsome. Is it okay if I touch your face?" 

Lu Guang hesitated, then turned. Remained utterly silent, settling for a nod instead of trusting his voice. Saying no to Xiaoshi was the easiest thing in the world, what with how many jobs they'd done, but he couldn't find it in himself to refuse the request. 

The nod seemed to be enough enough because the next thing he knew was a gentle touch to his temple, tracing along the scar. It was odd, but he couldn't help but lean against Cheng Xiaoshi's warm palm when he rested it against his cheek. 

"You're still really pretty, Guang. Promise..." the time diver whispered, then chuckled quietly. Lu Guang wasn't all too surprised about the teasing remark that followed his quiet laugh: "And you're still like a cat" 

The former seer made a face, but refrained from moving away. "... I'm not a cat" he muttered, mentally lamenting at the way his face heated up. "And I really don't feel pretty, Cheng Xiaoshi" 

He felt the other's thumb gently rub over his cheek. "Yea, feared as much... which is why I asked Qiao Ling for help with a little something. Trust me for a sec?" Cheng Xiaoshi requested, voice soft and careful. 

"Always" he murmured, perhaps a hint too fast. But had it even been a question? Whether he trusted him? Not to him, never. 

The other's touch was gentle when he smoothed his hair back, something soft pressing over his face- specifically his eyes. It didn't take long before Cheng Xiaoshi ruffled his hair. 

Confused, he reached up. Fingers trailing over soft fabric. "This is... a blindfold?" he murmured, frowning. Tilted his head. "Right?" 

"Mhm! It's got a moon embroidered on it. Because... y'know. Moonlight. There's... uh... it's a crescent so... there's also... it looks kinda like a clock too? Ticking away at the hours?" Cheng Xiaoshi sounded stuck between proud and a hint bashful, and Lu Guang blinked when he felt his eyes sting with tears. 

"Oh! And I added a small tag at the back that says return to Time Photo Studio if lost!" 

He couldn't help it. He laughed. It was weak and shaky and he was quite sure he did start crying, but he was laughing. Shoved him. Gently. They were still on the bunkbed, after all. 

"Idiot" he murmured, then patted across the bed and Cheng Xiaoshi's arm to find his shoulder and drag him into a hug. 

They sat like that for a while, and it felt like a weight had been lifted. "... did you really?" he whispered, despite knowing all too well the kind of mischief the older tended to get up to. 

A quiet, bright laugh rang in his ears. It felt like sunlight. "Obviously. Qiao Ling whacked me for it" Cheng Xiaoshi told him, all too happily, and he gently whacked him too. 

"Idiot" he repeated, but there was no heat to it. Only fondness. 

He wasn't sure why he'd worried. This was Cheng Xiaoshi. No. This were Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling. His closest friends. 

No, deep in his heart he knew the two of them were loyal to a fault. Granted, too loyal, but loyal nonetheless. 

It made the thought of them keeping him around out of loyalty, despite him being a burden, all the more bitter... but at least he was wanted, right?

~

Cheng Xiaoshi stared at his hands. 

Qiao Ling was holding them, skillfully painting his nails black. It was the only color he'd agreed to- after being told quite plainly that blue would look horrible on him. 

It was a pity, really. 

In truth, blue was his favorite color. A very specific shade of blue, and he couldn't help but feel mesmerized whenever he saw it shimmer in... 

No. He really, really needed to stop thinking about it. 

He'd never see that blue again, anyway. 

A sigh left his lips, and Qiao Ling glanced up, raising a brow questioningly. He smiled awkwardly in response. 

"Remember how we used to do this a lot when we were kids?" she asked, conversationally, and Cheng Xiaoshi blinked. 

His sister huffed, shaking her head. "Painting our nails. Back before I became friends with Xu Shanshan?" she tried, tilting her head. 

At the reminder, he slowly nodded. A soft laugh escaping him. "I got so much crap for that from my classmates... didn't let that stop me, though" 

He'd gotten in plenty fights over painting his nails, of all things. So what if he did? He'd looked great, and matched his back then favorite person: His big sister.

"And then you picked up basketball and I met Xu Shanshan and we stopped" Qiao Ling concluded, and Cheng Xiaoshi hummed. 

He did remember that. They had been... what? Fifteen? Sixteen? It felt like so much longer than it had actually been. 

"You were so jealous" 

At the accusation, his mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? I wasn't jealous-" he shook his head quickly, half-glaring at his sister. 

But Qiao Ling only laughed. "Oh, no. You were. It was kinda funny" she told him, utterly delighted. 

Childishly, he pouted at her: "This is why I call you a witch!" 

In truth, he had been jealous... and scared. 

Qiao Ling had been his only friend, his sister really, even before his parents vanished. So her hanging out with someone else? It hadn't mattered who she was hanging out with- he'd just wanted to be included. 

Xu Shanshan and him... had not hit it off well, though. 

Playing basketball with a bunch of teens a year or so older than him had been nice, but they had not been friends. He'd been tolerated, respected... and that was that. 

Point was, he'd been lonely. 

And then he'd miscalculated a throw and smacked the pretty guy taking photos in the face with a basketball, knocking him off his feet. 

Lu Guang never blamed him for it, luckily. 

Half the time he pretended to be sorry about it, but he was actually glad he'd hit him. Accident it may have been, but it was the reason he was where he was today. 

Then his thought process caught up to him and he almost dropped his head on the table. Qiao Ling luckily caught his head in time to prevent a mess of nail polish in his hair. 

"Qiao Ling," he found himself asking despite already regretting opening his mouth, "do you think Lu Guang is pretty?"

His sister stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. As if he were stupid, an idiot, dumb. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and he wondered if he shouldn't have asked this. 

"Cheng Xiaoshi," she said, and her voice was unsettlingly sweet, "you're a fucking idiot" 

Baffled, he stared at her. "Excuse-" 

She smacked the back of his head lightly, cutting him off. "You're a boy. Of course you're an idiot. Boys are so stupid" she complained, clearly frustrated, and Cheng Xiaoshi was too confused to say a word. 

"You've been pining for three years" Qiao Ling deadpanned, with the confidence of someone who watched countless seasons of their favorite show and decided that two characters MUST be secretly in love despite it never being stated outright. 

And Cheng Xiaoshi found himself scrambling for the ability to answer. "I- what? I don't even know if he likes... No. No no no- nope, he's my best friend, I'm not-" 

This was ridiculous. 

Was it because he called Lu Guang pretty? He called plenty people pretty. Sure, not as pretty as Lu Guang, no one was prettier than Lu Guang, but no one else was Lu Guang period. Lu Guang was special to him, he was more important than anything else to him, stupid as that may have made him sound.  

Wait a second...Oh. Oh no. 

"I'm not pining for my best friend" he claimed again, but even to his own ears the claim sounded weak. 

~

It was late in the night. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was quietly snoring in his bed after having snuck in some time ago, after having been oddly silent during dinner, while Qiao Ling had left hours ago. 

The two of them hadn't chatted much during dinner. It almost felt like a sibling fight, but as an only child, he couldn't quite tell if he was right or wrong about the theory. It felt different to their usual fights. 

But now, it was late and the former seer was the only one awake. 

Quietly, Lu Guang snuck down the stairs after finding his phone with some trouble. 

They'd downloaded an app that was supposed to help him with using it- and tonight was the night he'd attempt to use it. 

Nervous, he tapped his fingers against the back of his phone. Listened to the sounds of the night. Faintly, he wondered if this was smart. 

But he'd thought and thought and thought... and he'd come to a conclusion. 

Vein was dead. Cheng Xiaoshi knew about the truth- Qiao Ling as well. They both knew and still wanted him, even if he was a burden now.

So he made his decision. He initiated the call. 

For a few long, agonizing seconds he wondered if it worked. Then he wondered if he'd even pick up, if it did. It was late, chances were- 

"Hello?" a voice reached his ears. There was no trace of sleep. He hadn't woken him up. Pity, he'd have been happier if he did. 

Lu Guang hesitated, voice catching in his throat for a moment. Then he took a deep breath. Squared his shoulders, even though neither of them could see the other right now. 

"It's game over, Liu Xiao" he murmured into the phone, channeling the happiness and relief he'd felt when he'd realized that he really was still wanted despite being useless into confidence. 

There was silence from the other end of the line. Then, an inquiring hum: "Game over, you say? I knew this was the final round, but what makes you think the game is already over, Guang?" 

His confidence wavered, just a hint. "Vein is dead" he pointed out, his biggest win in this round in all honesty. "Vein is dead, and my friends know about the node and we're still a team" 

He didn't mention that there were... still some trust issues and missing details, but it wasn't important. Not right now. 

What was important was that they were still a team. 

Liu Xiao laughed softly, and it sent chills down his spine. "Well, dear? Want to add anything?" he asked, and Lu Guang opened his mouth. Then closed it. 

Add... anything? He wasn't sure what to add. Did Liu Xiao expect him to mention something specific? 

With a frown, he shook his head. Then froze in place when a different voice filtered through his phone. Laughter that was horrifyingly familiar. 

The voice was too deep to be Liu Xiao. 

Lu Guang stopped breathing. Felt as though his lungs weren't working anymore when the dots connected. "Liu Xiao..." he forced out, slow and cautious and unable to comprehend the sheer horror. 

It wasn't Liu Xiao who answered. Perhaps that was why, in his shock, he'd dropped his phone. Why he'd recoiled and stumbled back and away from his phone. Unable to breathe, to scream- to do anything but crash into the wall and slide down. 

Horror and nausea climbing their way up his spine and curling around him like invisible claws, sinking deep and leaving him shaking. 

The voice of his nightmares ringing in his ears over and over, like a broken record. The sound of his phone breaking against the ground not enough to snap him out of it. 

"Missed me, sweetie~?" 

Chapter Text

It was eerily quiet that morning. 

Cheng Xiaoshi was used to being the first one awake, but usually he was greeted by the soft breathing of his roommate, up on the top bunk. It was soothing, waking up to it as opposed to nothing. 

But today, the bedroom was silent. 

Just to be safe, despite knowing his hearing was perfectly fine, he climbed up the ladder. The bed was empty, unmade and cold. Lu Guang had gotten up a while ago, despite the early hour. Maybe he'd been unable to sleep again. 

The bandages were still laying around. The blindfold was not. It made him a little happy that the other was wearing that rather than the irritating bandages, but a hint sad anyway. 

It was a shame he felt the need to hide, when the scar didn't take away any of his beauty.  

Finding Yue sleeping on the windowsill brought him a small amount of comfort, because it meant he wasn't entirely alone. There was another living, breathing being by his side, despite the eerie quiet. 

Though that thought process was silly. He was never alone- Lu Guang was always by his side, after all. More or less. If he wasn't in the same room, he usually was in a different one. Never all that far away, unless counting the kidnappings. 

He must've already been up, is what he decided to settle on. 

He shrugged to himself, chalking up the eeriness of the silence to the fact of him usually waking up first. Got dressed and messed around on his phone, checked the news. Lu Guang probably wouldn't be mad if he came down late. 

Concern bloomed in his chest when he found out that Xia Fei was missing. Was that why the model stopped responding to his texts recently? He'd desperately needed another friend to talk to, and he'd written back and forth with the blond ever since Bridon. He'd thought he could maybe talk to him, but all his texts remained unread.  

Maybe... maybe he just wanted to get out of the public's eye for a bit? But no, if that were the case... wouldn't he have left back when everything in Bridon went so horribly wrong? Or still written him, at least? Xia Fei surely knew he'd never share anything they talked about... right? 

But then again... no, there was no point in dwelling on it. Maybe he could ask Lu Guang- oh. That's right. 

His power wasn't working anymore...

He heaved a sigh, worry and sadness and anxiety mixing in his chest and leaving him with a feeling of nausea. 

"Xia Fei is Lu Guang's friend too..." he murmured to himself, petting Yue gently between her ears. He should tell him. Maybe they could figure something out together? 

Yet as he wandered down the stairs, he heard... nothing. No rustling of someone moving about and cleaning the studio. No sound of cutlery clanging against plates. Nothing. 

He felt his stomach drop at the lack of noise and headed for the couch. Nothing. 

There was no mop of white hair. 

There was no familiar face. 

There was no one there. 

"Lu Guang?" he called out, quiet and hesitant. His voice shaking with unease. "Lu Guang, answer me, this isn't funny!" 

There was no answer, only more silence. Quickly, he fumbled through his pockets until he found his phone. Straight to voicemail. 

Had he been blocked? Was his phone turned off? Where was he? 

Oh, god. Was Qiao Ling right? Had he hovered too much? Was Lu Guang trying to leave him, because he'd been too much? Too overbearing? 

The unease slowly melted into pure dread, and he called Qiao Ling instead of trying to call Lu Guang again, hurried outside. "Pick up, pick up..." he chanted under his breath all the while, only to freeze when glass crunched beneath his shoes. 

"Hello?" 

He didn't register Qiao Ling's voice. Only stared down in mute horror at the broken phone laying on the steps of the studio. 

"Hello?! Cheng Xiaoshi, this isn't funny!" 

Through some stroke of luck, his hand dropped to his side but he didn't let go of his phone. Slowly he crouched down to pick the broken phone up. The small cat charm hanging onto it by a bright blue thread was unmistakable. 

"XIAOSHI!"

The brunet startled, and took a sharp, shaky breath. He hadn't even realized he'd stopped breathing. 

Slowly, he lifted his phone. Blinked away the sting in his eyes. "I think Lu Guang's in trouble" he croaked out, because that... that really was the only logical conclusion, wasn't it? 

There was a beat of silence. For a moment, he wondered if the call disconnected. If he was alone. Then: "So the mastermind behind the kidnapping started a second attempt?" 

Silently, he glanced at the broken phone. Forced back tears. "His phone was in front of the studio, it's broken, I think" he tapped on the screen, tried turning it on. "Wait- it's battery is empty! Maybe I can get it running and figure out if he, like, took a picture or something-" 

"You do that, I'll get Captain Xiao on the case" Qiao Ling sounded calmer than he felt, and not for the first time he was grateful to have her as his big sister. Even if it wasn't by blood. 

He uttered a quick "Thanks" and hung up, quickly rushing into the studio to look for a charger. 

The phone was a wreck, and refused to charge properly. He only got it running long enough to check his photos, finding nothing, and his contacts. 

Cheng Xiaoshi froze when he saw that one call had been issued last night. Lu Guang was the one who'd called. 

The how was simple enough- he must've tested the new app. 

There wasn't enough time to memorize the number, the screen glitched and sent him to the home screen. He hurried to try and get back to the call page.

Instead he found himself staring down at a glitching screen displaying Lu Guang's chats. The most recent one being a text from a "Noah Evans", dated from just a day after the incident. No wonder Lu Guang hadn't opened it before.

That and the word "Bahati" were the only thing he managed to see before the phone flickered out for good.

"Bahati-?" he whispered, voice cracking with utter disbelief. 

Who was Noah, and what did he know about the school in which Cheng Weimin had taught and died? Why would he hide a contact who might know something about the school that had burned down, years ago? 

Who was this person, that Lu Guang had kept it a secret from him?  

Well, he knew the one person who might have answers. 

~

His feet ached, and he was plain exhausted. 

Lightly, his palm dragged across the building he was using to figure out when the sidewalk curved left or right. 

He wasn't quite sure where he was anymore, he'd gotten lost ages ago, but he had to find Chris and request to speak with Shao Yuanyuan. Or Chris. Both of them? He didn't know. He just knew that his entire plan had rested on the fact that Vein was out of commission. 

 Except he wasn't. He'd assumed Chris' power had killed him, but there he was. Alive. His voice and laugh haunting his mind. 

This had been a horrible idea, but he couldn't stop now. 

He was going to fix this. He had to fix this. Somehow. Before things spiraled even more out of control. 

Lu Guang paused when he heard the rattling of a train shooting across the railroad in the near distance, fighting a groan. This was not where he was meant to be- the train station was in the opposite direction of the hotel. 

With a heavy sigh, he leaned against the building. Bowing his head. 

"Should've woken him" he muttered to himself, the panic slowly subsiding and leaving him realizing how utterly stupid he'd been to leave the house by himself. 

Steps echoed behind him, and he startled a hint. They were close- he hadn't realized anyone was behind him. Especially not that close. 

He didn't pay it much mind, though. It was early in the morning- most likely someone was on their way to work. 

Then a warm breath ghosted over his ear. Far too close for a random passerby, and far too close for comfort. Lu Guang stilled, frozen in place as though a statue. 

"My, the little morsel looks a little worse for wear~" 

His knees shook, and he had to hold onto the building for support. Otherwise, he'd surely have collapsed then and there. 

Lu Guang's heart pounded, the noise almost loud enough in his ears to drown out the light chuckle from right behind him. 

"Vein" he croaked out, and prayed it would break whatever spell held him in place. It did not. If anything, it made it worse. 

Something dragged across his cheek, right beneath the blindfold Cheng Xiaoshi had gifted him. A nail, maybe? It felt like one. There was no pressure, but it left him flinching anyway. 

The man laughed. It sent unpleasant chills down his spine. 

A hand landed on his shoulder. Large and heavy. The click of a gun echoed through his ears. "Run" whispered the man haunting his nightmares, and Lu Guang did just that. 

He had no idea where he was running, but he heard a car screech to a halt. Felt the ground turn softer beneath his feet- asphalt turning to... earth? Grass? He wasn't sure. It didn't matter. 

Lu Guang barely heard the steps beside him. "My, the little kitty is slow~" Vein's voice taunted him, and he scrambled to rush into the other direction. 

It didn't matter where he ran... or more like stumbled. 

Vein always caught up, never letting him get further than ten steps. Always appeared like a ghost haunting him, taunting and sending him scrambling away from the direction of his voice. 

"Too slow" 

"Aww, nice try" 

"Too predictable" 

He must've looked like a headless chicken, with the way the other chased him about. He heard him laugh, and that was when he realized the situation for what it really was: a game. It was nothing but a joke to the other man. 

Eventually, Lu Guang tripped and hit the ground hard. It was still grass, but he could feel pain shoot along his forearms from the small rocks hidden within it. He could feel them, at least. 

He didn't dare attempt to get up. Just laid there, arms over his head in a desperate attempt to at least try to protect himself. He couldn't die- not before Cheng Xiaoshi was safe. 

... or would this save Cheng Xiaoshi? 

"What are you waiting for?" he croaked out, voice weaker than he would've liked. He felt as though he could barely breathe, his chest aching with the effort. "Kill me"

No bullet was fired, no pain come to him. Vein's laughter rang in his ears: "Aww, Prometheus' little changes to the timeline really did a number on you, didn't they?"

His blood felt like it froze in his veins. The name was unfamiliar, but he felt ill regardless. There weren't many people who would call themselves Prometheus- and it woke long-buried memories.

Memories of leaning over books together, late after school, knees knocking together with someone else, whispering and arguing and laughing over mythology because some seemed surreal and fantastical, and other things just plain silly to a child.

There was no urge to laugh now. He didn't have the air for it. He wasn't sure if he was even breathing anymore.

"I came to deal out your punishment... but you're no longer worth the effort, sweetie~"  

Lu Guang faltered, confused. Brain going a mile a minute. Not worth the... oh. 

Even Vein deemed him useless. Deemed it pointless to harm or kill him. Because wasn't that so much of a bigger punishment to a seer like him? Leaving him alive and suffering, unable to see nothing at all?

Silently, he turned on his back. It didn't make breathing easier. Wished he could stare at the sky. See the clouds and sky and the sun. Though rather than the sun, he'd wished to see his best friend's smile again.

What did it say about him, that even a killer saw no worth in killing him anymore? 

What did it say about the killer, that he deemed his suffering a better punishment?

Mostly, he wondered what it meant for Cheng Xiaoshi. His own life be damned.

The laughter faded. He wasn't sure if it was because Vein was leaving him like this, crumpled uselessly on the ground, or because he was losing consciousness.

And then, he knew nothing at all.

Chapter Text

"Let me get this straight... you suspect Lu Guang to have been kidnapped again?"

Jae Lee slowly pushed away from his desk, head tipping back to glance past his coworkers. Eyes falling upon Captain Xiao.

"I'm not- yes, I understand, but-"

The man looked to be in mild stress, and given what he was hearing, that was little surprise. After all, the name wasn't new.

There was a heavy sigh from the older officer. "Alright, I get the pictures. You two come- what do you mean Cheng Xiaoshi sent you a text that he needs to- right, no- and what about your-? Ah. That's certainly an issue"

If his interest hadn't been caught before, the mention of the photo studio trio being split up, from the sound of it, certainly did.

Intrigued, Jae Lee watched his current boss pinch the bridge of his nose, looking increasingly like he'd prefer some wine instead of his cold coffee.

Eventually, he hung up. Glancing to Jae Lee. "Qiao Ling is coming over soon, move your work to my office until she arrives, Sergeant. If anyone can track someone down, it's you" he called over, and the dark haired young man was quick to comply.

Vaguely, he heard someone mutter something about the Captain being terrible at keeping track of his strays. If anyone heard Jae Lee stifle a laugh, no one snitched.

It was around half an hour or so later when the door to Captain Xiao's office slammed open, no knocking or anything to warn him of the sudden 'guest' in a room that didn't belong to him in the first place.

Jae Lee glanced up from where he was sifting through some photos from the case he was working on on the side, feet propped up on his de-facto boss' desk.

Most probably wouldn't have dared such a thing, but he did enjoy a special sort of immunity. The benefits of being on a job you couldn't be fired from...

"Is this how you treat a potential kidnapping case?"

The young woman looked livid, and it was almost a hint amusing. Clearly, she had no idea that he was the one who'd located her friend last time.

Then again... he could hardly blame her, considering her friend seemed to be missing again. Jae Lee could still vividly remember the guy.

"I was here waiting for you, Ms" he countered lightly, earning himself a scowl. It was a hint amusing. "Captain Xiao requested I work with you"

Qiao Ling glanced to the photos in his hands. "Looks like you're already... working on something... else. Hey, isn't that the manager from Bridon who died?" she asked, a frown flitting across her face.

At the question, Jae Lee sat up straighter. "Why indeed, didn't think you'd know about that old case" he commented idly, putting the photos away.

Old was a stretch, considering it was three years ago rather than three decades... but most cases nowadays didn't need three years to be concluded.

"My brother and friend were... they were in Bridon, did a shoot for him together with an actual model, shortly before it happened" she admitted, and Jae Lee paused. Eyes dropping to the file.

He vaguely remembered the report, though in truth, he'd entirely forgotten about the 'witness'- who couldn't really be called one. After all, being knocked out didn't give you a clear view of what happened, now did it?

He could vividly remember the case, he'd been one of the officers called to the scene. They didn't matter to him much. The events surrounding his death had been noted as a natural cause, anyway, though. It didn't matter how he died. What he was investigating was the disappearance of his corpse.

So, he shrugged, offered a smile. "Makes sense, then" he said, tapping his fingers against the file. Eyes narrowing when he remembered a crucial detail about the young woman before him. "Say... you help the special taskforce as well, correct?"

If he remembered correctly... this might just work.

Qiao Ling frowned. "I'm here because my friend is missing, not for work" she pointed out slowly, as if he were stupid. Though seemed to at least catch onto the fact that Jae Lee, too, knew about the existence of special powers.

With a sigh, he threw the file to her, fought a grin. Watched her catch it with ease. "Yea, but I need to boot up the security cameras and search through a bunch to hopefully get even a glimpse. You can do me one small favor, no?"

He watched her eyes narrow at him. "You are so shameless" she complained, and Jae Lee smiled lightly. Shrugging to himself when the young woman continued ranting: "I wouldn't even need your help if Lu Guang wouldn't keep evading photos-"

"Yes, yes" he waved his hand dismissively. "Now, please? Could you try locating his corpse?"

Qiao Ling balked, then rolled her eyes. "I don't like you" she told him, plain and simple. Jae Lee only smiled, refraining from making a snarky remark.

Despite the annoyed look, her eyes already flashed white.

For a long moment, she simply stared. Frozen in place, eyes locked onto the photo. Then she dropped it, stumbling back with a gasp: "How-?"

Her eyes were back to their natural color, but wide and frightened. A hint confused as well.

Jae Lee couldn't help but think that this, certainly, proved his theory correct. Vein couldn't be dead. Not with a reaction like that.

Which was such an interesting theory to be correct- after all... the man had been announced dead. No heart beat. No signs of as much as a twitch. And wasn't there an autopsy report as well?

No, by all means, that man should not be alive.

But he didn't need to be a genius to recognize that look of shock.

He didn't, however, expect the shout of "Lu Guang!" before the young woman raced out the door.

Fascinated, he picked up the picture.

"My... this really is shaping up to be an interesting situation"

Absentmindedly, he wondered if he should've warned her that the weather forecast had predicted rain.

~

It was raining again.

Rain always seemed to follow him.

It didn't matter, not really. That's what umbrellas were for.

His phone pinged. When he checked his messages, a location was the only thing he found. The sight left him with a light chuckle.

"Everything is falling into place, just as planned..." Liu Xiao murmured to himself and headed off to the train station.

The speck of white was easy to spot, even from a distance.

With the rain, no one was out and about to notice anything off.

Though the thing that was off was, by all means, only one thing: the young, white haired man laying on the field near the train station. Trembling in the cold rain.

He crouched down next to him, gently tugging the blindfold in place from where it had slipped. The motif on it left him scoffing, but then he smiled pleasantly. Even though Lu Guang couldn't see him.

"My, look what the wolf lead me to" he murmured lightly, watched the younger man freeze with a smile on his lips.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then: "Liu Xiao"

Liu Xiao smiled at the quiet whisper, adjusting the umbrella so it covered both of them. "Enjoying the rain?" he asked lightly, tilted his head.

"Vein is alive" the white haired man murmured, instead of reacting to his question. Shoulders tense.

In response, he hummed. "Alive and well, yes" he confirmed with a smile. "You're losing this round, Guang"

"You made me believe Vein is dead" Lu Guang pointed out, sounding as if he had a hard time coming to terms with it.

Liu Xiao could only laugh. "Did you think I would play fair?" he asked, a hint amused. "I think it's time you stop, and we both know it"

At his words, Lu Guang went utterly still. Shook his head after a long moment. At first so light he barely saw- then quite a lot more clearly.

"No" the younger man croaked out, sitting upright in seconds. Almost hitting his head against Liu Xiao's. "No, I can't-"

He dropped the umbrella in favor of firmly grabbing Lu Guang's shoulders. He didn't mind the rain all that much. His hat proved useful in such a weather. "Look at yourself, Guang. Who are you trying to fool? You have no use for them anymore. Make it easier on the three of you and come with me, instead of forcing them to carry your weight"

He waited, but received no answer. Smiled broadly. "Mhm, you're only trying to fool yourself. I promised you, didn't I? Play by my rules, and everything will go fine in the long run, just as you want~"

"... I promised him" Lu Guang finally whispered, voice nearly breaking. "I can't break my promise, Liu Xiao"

He hummed, more in acknowledgement than answer. "But you also promised you'd save him, didn't you? You won't ever fulfill that promise, not like this... you want to prevent his death node, don't you?" his hand landed on Lu Guang's shoulder.

The other flinched, but didn't move away. Not this time. "... more than anything" he confirmed almost hollowly, and Liu Xiao smiled.

"Then come along. You might be a burden on them... but you're not on me. And I can make sure the node won't happen. You know that, don't you?"

At the almost hypnotic whisper, Lu Guang lowered his head. Nodded, utterly silent. The gesture spoke more than words, anyway.

Liu Xiao's eyes trailed over the blindfold, and he traced the stitching on it. "Return to Time Photo Studio if lost, hm? I don't think you'll need that, will you?" the older asked lightly, back to his usual tone, watched the other flinch.

Trembling fingers reached up, glided across the stitching. "Don't take this from me" Lu Guang murmured, emotion return to his voice, shaking his head. Almost desperately. "It was a gift- at least let me keep it"

Unbeknownst to Lu Guang, Liu Xiao made a face. Displeased with that particular turn of events. Then he sighed, almost dramatically. "Fine, fine" he said, tugged him to his feet. "But let's go, hm?"

In the distance, he saw a young woman and fought a pleased smile. "And Lu Guang? Don't forget what will happen if you don't stick to the new plan" he whispered in his ear.

The white haired man stiffened beside him. "Don't hurt them," he mumbled, shook his head, "please, don't- you have to promise-"

Liu Xiao shushed him, pat his back lightly. "They are safe... for as long as you listen" he assured, at the same time as the call of "Lu Guang!" reached both their ears.

They stopped, just long enough for the young woman to catch up to them. "Lu Guang, thank goodness you're okay... thank you for watching him, Mr. I was looking for him" Qiao Ling's voice was filled with relief, but her tone quickly shifted to suspicion.

Lu Guang tensed, a deep pit forming in his stomach. "Qiao Ling" he murmured, hesitant. Head lowering out of pure reflex. "I'm... sorry. I need to leave"

Qiao Ling froze, glancing between the two of them with growing suspicion. "Lu Guang...?" she took a step closer, hand hovering but not touching.

Something about the dark haired young man unsettled her, despite his kind appearance. "Tell Cheng Xiaoshi I'm sorry, and that everything will be fixed. Everything will be as it should"

At his words, she faltered. Eyebrows drawing together. "As it- Lu Guang?" her voice shook a hint. Confused and lost.

The white haired man smiled, forced and not just a hint sad. "Let's face it, I wouldn't have been much help. I'm just a burden, nowadays"

It physically pained him, admitting it out loud. Made his heart ache and stomach revolt. But it was what neither Qiao Ling nor Cheng Xiaoshi had dared to admit, after all.

"Lu Guang-" Qiao Ling sounded almost desperate, shocked at what he was saying, but the former seer backed away. Bumped into Liu Xiao. Found himself spun around into a random direction and gently pushed to walk.

Somehow, he knew without having to see, that the man was smiling at having finally won their cat and mouse game.

"Good bye, Qiao Ling. I really am sorry"