Chapter Text
When Xia Fei came to, the room was cold and sterile. He didn't like it. He couldn't remember what happened, not really, which he liked even less.
The last thing he remembered was... someone died. He couldn't remember who.
Ava? It must've been her. They'd killed them all, so why was he still here?
He blinked away tears. There was no point on crying about it. Tears wouldn't save him... but at this point, nothing would.
Not even a hallucination of Vein coming to save him.
Yet when he turned, he found that he wasn't tied to the bed. He was moving freely and it sparked just the tiniest hint of hope that, for once, his captors might have made a mistake.
When he managed to sit up, it ignited into just big enough of a fire to get him to move.
The room was empty. He wasn't hooked up to any machines aside from a heart monitor, and he decided against copying the movies and instead got to work shutting it off lest he caused an alarm to go off.
Only when he was sure about no alarm being about to go off did untangle himself from the wires and sneak towards the door. From behind it, two pairs of steps echoed down the hallway. Paused briefly a distance away. A door opened, then closed. The steps didn't continue.
Xia Fei took his chance, sliding the door open just enough to look outside. The hallway was empty, leaving him to grasp the brief shot at freedom he had.
He took a couple steps, then broke into a sprint when the door opened again. There was shouting behind him, but he didn't turn back to look. Simply continued running- though his escape attempt led him crashing right into a shorter person with bright pink hair.
For a long second, they simply stared at each other. The next, Pink Hair grabbed his wrist and Xia Fei knew no more.
When he came to, not all that much later, he was back in the room, sitting on the bed. Pink Hair was letting go of his arm, heading for the door while Xia Fei held his head with a confused noise. He couldn't tell what just happened, but his head ached a little.
"Where are-" he started, turning to watch the guy, when he noticed the person stepping into the room. The words dying on his tongue.
Tall, with long red hair. Actually... even longer red hair than he remembered. The braid reached past his hip now, the top portion still short like in his memories. Yet he still looked the same as always, in his opinion. He even still smiled the same.
It was Vein, no question asked.
Unsteadily, he stumbled to his feet. "Boss" he stammered out, looked him over as if staring at a ghost. Wasn't sure whether his eyes were deceiving him, or if he was face to face with someone he'd assumed to be dead.
"Felix, you're awake! And already causing trouble, my, you haven't changed~" the not-ghost sounded cheerful, approaching him with a calmness that was simply, unmistakably Vein. "It's been a while, hm?"
And Xia Fei, in that single moment of realizing that this was indeed his former boss and former closest friend, narrowed his eyes and swung his fist at him. "You fucker!" he shouted with more rage than he'd have thought he even had, tears brimming in his eyes, and felt more annoyance than surprise at his fist getting caught inches from the other's face, "I thought you were dead!"
A choked sob escaped him, and he weakly threw another punch with his free hand. Managed to hit Vein's chest with the strength of a light breeze. The older man didn't even bat an eye. "I thought you died" he repeated with another sob, voice breaking like a glass that got dropped.
His knees buckled, giving out underneath him, and the redhead just barely managed to catch his fall and help him back to the bed. Xia Fei didn't stop cursing him out and repeating that he'd assumed him to be dead the entire way. Simply remained quiet.
"Are you done?" Vein asked him, when Xia Fei finally went quiet. The blond stared at him, a hint out of breath from rambling on, and didn't even think before throwing another punch. This one, Vein did not manage to block. Leaving his head to snap sideways.
Xia Fei felt his blood run cold upon realizing that he really just managed to punch Vein for real, but forced out the calmest "Now I'm done" he could muster, all while freaking out internally.
Vein rubbed his cheek, face twitching. Then he laughed, just a little. "Didn't think you had that in you, despite seeing the mess you caused" the redhead commented idly, and took a seat next to him.
The blond only forced an awkward shrug, staring at his feet. "... why didn't you tell me you were alive?" he asked, refused to look at him. "I was... I mourned you for three years, you were my closest friend!"
Beside him, the taller man sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't want you involved in... all this" he told him slowly, with a half-shrug, and Xia Fei scowled. Seeing that, Vein held his hands up defensively: "What, do you think I'd want you involved in organized crime?"
He froze, for a split second. Simply staring at him. "... organized crime?" he croaked out, shocked despite himself. He'd always assumed Vein had shady connections, that maybe, that he used to be a criminal himself... but he'd never assumed that he was an active part of it.
Considering his apparently fake-death and disappearing off the face of earth, perhaps he shouldn't be surprised.
"I run a mafia, Xia Fei" the man told him, plain and simple, and the blond swallowed hard. It sounded far fetched, but at the same time... this was Vein. He never lied. Not to him. At least, he hoped so.
Vein crossed one leg over the other, stared at the wall across from them. "I can still drop you off back in Bridon. Pretend like this never happened, hell, leave you some money and an alibi on why you were gone. Say the word, we'll pretend like this never happened"
With a frown, he hopped to his feet. Glared down at his sitting boss. "Absolutely not" he found himself saying, shook his head. "You... you're an idiot if you think I want to go back and pretend like my best friend is still dead. Just don't make me kill anyone"
Don't make me lose my best friend again, he didn't say.
Vein looked him over, silently. Seeming to think. Then he nodded along. "You have a deal" he said, and stood as well. Offered a smile that was equal parts show and indulgence as he headed for the door. "Now, I think there's someone you'll likely want to check up on?"
With wide eyes, Xia Fei stared at his boss. "You mean-" he started, hope blooming in his chest. Didn't dare finish that sentence, for what if he had a different line of thought? But Vein waved his hand, beckoning him along.
"Come now, doctor's visit should be done by now"