Chapter Text
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The pickup sputtered before jolting violently, the engine coughing out a sound that made your stomach drop.
“What was that?” You gripped the edge of the seat, your eyes looking around before turning your head towards Shiu.
He furrowed his brows, tapping the gas pedal a couple of times. And unfortunately, the truck responded with another groan before finally giving up entirely, coasting to a stop on the side of the desolate road. Shiu leaned back in his seat, sighing as his head fell back onto the headrest of the seat. “That,” he said dryly, “was the sound of our luck running out.”
“Wonderful,” you muttered, throwing your hands up before crossing your arms over your chest. “Will you be able to fix this? The last thing I want to do is walk.”
“Do I look like a mechanic?” he shot back, climbing out of the truck. Despite the frustration of the situation, Shiu made sure not to let it show and instead, kept himself level headed as he figured things out as he walked over to the front of the truck.
You followed right after, your shoes crunching against the gravel. The night air was cool and carried the distant sound of crickets. For a moment, it was almost peaceful—if not for the fact that the two of you were stranded.
Shiu popped the hood, inspecting the engine with the kind of focus that suggested he was either an expert or pretending really hard. After a moment, he straightened, wiping his hands on his pants.
“Well?” you asked, glancing between the truck and Shiu.
“It’s dead,” he said simply, slamming the hood shut.
“Dead?”
“Kaput. Deceased. Rest in peace,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Unless you’ve got a magic wand, we’re walking.”
You groaned, glaring at the truck as if it had personally betrayed you. “I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it,” Shiu said, already grabbing a bag from the cab. “Come on, princess. Road’s not getting any shorter.”
You muttered something under your breath but followed, your steps reluctant at first. The road stretched endlessly ahead, lined by shadowy trees that swayed in the breeze. The sky had gotten dark by now and you were thankful the weather wasn’t bad. Otherwise, you would’ve turned right back around and called it quits.
The two of you walked in silence for a while, the only sounds of footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. As the minutes stretched, your pace began to falter. You questioned how long it’s been since leaving the truck and it certainly didn’t help when you felt the hunger and exhaustion creeping in.
“You alright back there?” Shiu asked without turning.
“Fine,” you lied, though the slight limp in your step betrayed you.
He stopped, looking over his shoulder, his eyes immediately noticing the limp as you walked. “You’re limping.”
“I’m not,” you responded stubbornly, picking up the pace despite the obvious discomfort.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead before turning to face you fully. “You’re such a terrible liar y/n.” Instead of letting you go on like this, Shiu crouched down in front of you, motioning for you to climb onto his back.
“What are you doing?” you asked, blinking in surprise as you looked down at Shiu.
“Saving time. Hop on.”
“I can walk--” you protested.
“And I can hear you wincing with every step,” he shot back. “Stop being stubborn. It’s not cute.” Shiu gestured with his head, waiting for you to get on. He did not want to have to forcefully carry you and neither did he want to keep arguing with you, knowing they had people looking for them.
After after a moment of hesitation, you relented, climbing onto his back. “Happy?” you muttered, your voice muffled against his shoulder.
“Ecstatic,” he replied, adjusting your weight easily. “Now, hang tight. I’ll find us a place where we can rest for a bit.”
“Alright…” you rested your head on Shiu’s shoulder. Despite everything that had happened and your reluctance in trusting how he did things, you felt completely safe with him. There wasn’t much reason to worry about him running off and leaving you on your own. Once again, you felt that glimmer of hope that things will turn out well. That you will get to have that freedom.
The journey continued, his steps steady as the two of you crossed a shallow stream. The cool water soaked his boots, but he didn’t complain. Instead, his focus was more on keeping you dry.
Your chin continued to rest on his shoulder, your earlier irritation fading into a quiet gratitude. “You’re not as insufferable as I thought,” you murmured.
“Don’t spread that around,” he replied with a faint smirk. “I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”
You chuckled softly, your laughter blending with the night’s stillness.
Eventually, the two of you came upon a small clearing tucked away from the road. A fallen tree and the soft bed of moss offered a makeshift campsite.
“This’ll do for the night,” Shiu said, setting you down carefully and making sure you were comfortable.
You sat with a sigh, leaning back against the tree as you looked around the area. “Are we really safe here?”
“It's hidden pretty well. We should be alright to get in a few hours of rest. Don't worry.” he responded, rummaging through the bag he’d grabbed from the truck. He pulled out a small blanket, tossing it over to you.
You caught the blanket, not hesitating to wrap it around your body. “What about you?”
“I’ll manage,” he said, settling down a few feet away.
For a moment, the silence stretched between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Shiu finally pulled his cigarette box out, grabbing his lighter. He looked out ahead, his eyes looking up at the bright stars as he silently took a drag of his cigarette.
“Shiu?” you said quietly.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks,” you murmured, your eyes meeting his in the dim light.
He leaned back against the tree, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. He saw the twinkles in your soft eyes, the look of complete trust in him. He had to admit, by this point, there was something stirring within him. Something that made him not want this journey to end anytime soon. “Get some sleep, princess. We’ve got a long day tomorrow.”
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