Work Text:
1. i still feel like i’m saying goodbye
Lu Guang walked through the park alone, camera in hand. Something he was relatively used to.
It happens when you’re the new kid, after all.
The sun was slowly starting to set, elongating the shadows as it went. Even so, the park still bustled with activity. Couples out on late walks and chats, children cramming the last of their play hours in, athletes continuing to clock in their practice time…
And Lu Guang kept walking. Waiting for something good to photograph.
He finally got a chance near the basketball courts near the high school, watching the birds take off into the dreamy colored sky as a group of students were in a match. He snapped the photo and checked it for any blurriness.
A basketball thudded to the ground nearby. Lu Guang picked it up out of instinct and turned around to find a boy with black hair tied into a small ponytail waving at him.
“Hey! Mind bringing that ball over?” the boy called.
Lu Guang slung his camera over his neck and brought the ball back to the other male, who accepted it.
“Thanks!” the boy said brightly before eyeing him up and down. “Hey, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around before.”
“I just moved here,” Lu Guang replied plainly.
“Really? Welcome to the neighborhood then!” the other boy exclaimed, smiling at Lu Guang. “What’s your name?”
“...Lu Guang.”
“Nice to meet you, Lu Guang! My name is Cheng Xiaoshi!” the bright-eyed boy introduced himself. “Wanna play ball with us?”
Lu Guang almost dropped his camera due to his hands going slack. He didn’t know why, but hearing his name come out of the other boy, Cheng Xiaoshi’s mouth felt like the best thing to ever happen. He almost didn’t catch the voluntary “Yeah, sure,” coming out of his mouth.
“Awesome! Let’s go then!” Cheng Xiaoshi said happily, extending his hand to Lu Guang. “You know how to play, Lu Guang?”
Lu Guang could feel the rest of the world falling away every time the dark-haired boy said his name. This faint warming sensation bloomed in his chest as Cheng Xiaoshi informed the other players that he would be joining the game.
It felt right when Cheng Xiaoshi said his name. Furthermore, Cheng Xiaoshi’s name itself fit just right on Lu Guang’s tongue.
Lu Guang felt the longing to hear Cheng Xiaoshi say his name again as he set down his camera to prepare for the game.
And he got his wish.
“The game’s about to start! Hurry up, Lu Guang!”
(Lu Guang looked at the photo of the birds flying in the sunset-colored sky and vowed to cherish it forever.)
2. maybe i was too confident
Nighttime was a serene time in Time Photo Studio. Pale moonlight shone through the windows, illuminating the room as Lu Guang stared at the ceiling from his bed
He sighed silently and turned his body toward the wall, closing his eyes in an attempt to get some sleep. But it wasn’t long before the sound of tossing and turning could be heard from the bottom bunk.
“Cheng Xiaoshi… what are you…” Lu Guang started to mutter before he heard the muted whimper from Cheng Xiaoshi.
“Cheng…?”
Lu Guang immediately made his way down from the top bunk and stopped at the head of Cheng Xiaoshi’s bed. The latter was starting to talk in his sleep.
“No… please…” came another panicked whisper. Lu Guang bent over and gently shook Cheng Xiaoshi by the shoulder.
“Cheng Xiaoshi, wake up,” he said as gently as he could. Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyelids fluttered open slowly.
“Lu Guang…?”
“Mmm, I’m here,” Lu Guang affirmed. Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand immediately latched onto his wrist.
“Don’t leave me, please…” The plea was sad, laced with the barest hints of desperation and sleepiness. For whatever reason, Lu Guang felt his heart pound against his ribcage painfully.
“I won’t, I promise,” Lu Guang said softly.
Cheng Xiaoshi’s next request caught Lu Guang off guard.
“Sleep with me, please?”
Lu Guang opened and closed his mouth awkwardly as Cheng Xiaoshi’s grip on his wrist tightened. “Are… are you sure?”
A nod, much like a puppy desperate for attention, and Lu Guang finally caved.
“Alright then,” he agreed. He saw the way Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes lit up underneath the silver light with relief and he pushed all other thoughts away.
Cheng Xiaoshi rolled over to his other side, making room for Lu Guang to slide into bed with him. Once Lu Guang did, he inhaled the light citrus scent that always surrounded Cheng Xiaoshi as he put an arm around the dark-haired male.
Had Lu Guang dozed off even a second earlier, he would’ve missed Cheng Xiaoshi’s last words before the latter fell asleep:
“Your hands are very warm, Lu Guang.”
(When Qiao Ling questioned him the next morning, Lu Guang denied anything ever happened until the other girl pulled out a photo taken from her phone.)
3. i want to say that it’s killing me
It hurts.
That was Lu Guang’s first thought as the snowy-white blade sank into his side.
He knew the second he saw Qiao Ling’s blood red eyes that she was no longer in her own consciousness. Unfortunately, he didn’t move in time to get out of harm’s way.
…Better him than anyone else though.
This wasn’t the first time blood had pooled from a wound in his side. Or the first time he was fighting with his life to stay conscious. The only problem was…
Cheng Xiaoshi.
Dimly, Lu Guang started to panic.
No.
No…
How was he supposed to protect Cheng Xiaoshi now?
Darkness was starting to creep in and his head was woozy. The loss of blood was starting to get to him.
Stay awake, Lu Guang, he thought. The room was starting to tilt. Get a grip.
Don’t pass out.
He needs you.
Lu Guang didn’t even realize the knife had been taken out of his abdomen until he collapsed over on the couch, trying to gulp in breaths. His eyelids fought against the gravity trying to pull them shut, but to no avail.
As he started to pass out, he heard a sickening familiar scream.
“Lu Guang!!”
(Lu Guang found that a knife to the side hurt less than Cheng Xiaoshi screaming his name in fear.)
4. there’s no other person for me
Lu Guang watched Cheng Xiaoshi devour the food like he hadn’t eaten for days, eyes glittering like an excited puppy.
He was still alive. All of them were.
Lu Guang had never felt more relieved.
“You’re not eating anything,” Cheng Xiaoshi’s voice floated over to him, muffled by his mouthful of food. “Are you not hungry, Lu Guang?”
This time, his name sounded sugary sweet. Maybe it was because of the cake that Cheng Xiaoshi was eating, or maybe it was the concern in his tone.
“Perhaps you should try feeding him,” Qiao Ling cut in jokingly.
“No,” Lu Guang immediately grumped, taking a slice of cake.
“Aww, so cold,” Cheng Xiaoshi fake-sighed dramatically. “After everything we’ve been through…”
Lu Guang huffed and stuffed the fork into his mouth. “I don’t need to be handfed.”
“C’mon, it’s not that bad,” Cheng Xiaoshi protested as Qiao Ling dissolved into giggles. “Open your mouth and say ahhh~”
“Go away, Cheng Xiaoshi,” Lu Guang said, pushing away the bite of cake Cheng Xiaoshi shoved into his face.
“Pleeeease!” Cheng Xiaoshi proceeded to beg, giving Lu Guang his best puppy-eyed look. Lu Guang’s stomach did several flips in quick procession.
“No! Stop making that face!” Lu Guang sputtered, turning his head away, flustered.
Qiao Ling was full on laughing now. Lu Guang screwed his eyes shut, trying to calm the heat heading to his face and ears.
“Please, Lu Guangggg~”
(Everything was fine, Lu Guang told himself over and over. Everyone is fine. You made it, we made it, we made… it…)
+1. it doesn’t hurt more than your name
Lu Guang was breathing hard.
He tried biting back the raspy screams rising in his throat. Blood was pooling around Cheng Xiaoshi’s side more rapidly now.
“Lu Guang…” Cheng Xiaoshi’s voice wobbled on his name. Lu Guang pressed his hands to his side to try and staunch the blood flow.
“Cheng Xiaoshi…!” Lu Guang immediately spoke as the other male coughed, blood bubbling in his throat. “Hang in there…”
Lu Guang didn’t know if he believed himself when he said that.
But he desperately wanted to, even as Cheng Xiaoshi’s crimson red blood stained his hands.
Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes cracked open and he immediately fixated on Lu Guang.
“Lu Guang…” Cheng Xiaoshi said again, his voice barely above a whisper. One of his hands found Lu Guang’s bloodstained ones and gripped them gently.
“I’m sorry…”
Why was he apologizing? Lu Guang’s head spun and his vision tunneled until he couldn’t see anything but Cheng Xiaoshi.
“Save… them…”
Lu Guang watched in horror as golden yellow filled Cheng Xiaoshi’s irises and slowly smothered out like a fire. Though he didn’t hear it, he could read the last words on Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips:
“Lu Guang.”
His name felt like a secret dying in the wind, losing its warmth as Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes did.
And the line inside that had been stretched so taut finally snapped.
“CHENG XIAOSHI!!”
(Cheng Xiaoshi had to come back. Lu Guang needed to hear him say his name again.)