Chapter Text
He Tian has been gone for a couple of months now. And yes, Mo Guan Shan misses him. And yes, Mo Guan Shan hated that fact. When Mo realized that He Tian had actually left, he couldn’t get a grasp of his emotions. Why had he left? Why didn’t he say anything beforehand? This isn’t the first time that he had left, though. The difference now is that he has surpassed the previous one week mark, and by a long shot. Not only that, but there has been no contact. Mo has absolutely no idea where he is or how long he’ll be gone. Better yet, if he’s ever coming back.
Mo tried to prepare himself for the worse. There was always the chance that He Tian would, in fact, never come back. He would never see him again. Mo had a hard time imagining that, so he tried his best to ignore that possibility. They had come so far in such a small amount of time that Mo had a hard time believing it himself.
Mo Guan Shan’s birthday is tomorrow. In a few minutes, actually. Normally, he wouldn’t care. Normally, it would always be just him and his mom. She would make a nice dinner and give him a gift they both knew they couldn’t afford. Regardless, it was still nice. And normally, that was enough. This year, however, it didn’t seem to be. This year, Mo Guan Shan thought, was going to be different. He thought it was going to be more . He had made friends. Well, more or less. He knew they were his friends, but he didn’t dare to say that to them. The teasing would never end and he would rather spare himself the headaches.
He had embarrassingly often imagined how much different his life would be (has been) with the three of them. Birthdays, holidays, summer break, and even just the weekends would all be worthwhile. When he realized his birthday was approaching, he had kind of hoped that He Tian would make a big deal out of it. He wanted them to spend time together and Mo get onto him for being so rich and affording whatever god awful, extravagant gift he would inevitably get him. Hell, he didn’t even mind the idea of the other two being there as well. In fact, maybe he wanted that.
He Tian wasn’t here to make this year any different, and he hated it. When He Tian had started distancing himself from Guan Shan not too long before he left, Mo was beyond conflicted. Had he done something wrong? Probably, was his answer. God knows that his mouth and attitude push people away. He had to have said something that pissed He Tian off, and now the latter was ignoring him. He isn’t petty though - He Tian would just annoy Mo into apologizing. Maybe He Tian was just tired of him? No, that seemed...unlikely with how obsessed and consistently pestering He Tian is.
Something must be off with him then. Hm, maybe he has something going on with his family? Mo stopped for a moment. That was likely. They don’t seem to get along too well, He Cheng and He Tian, that is. Perhaps they had a siblings quarrel? That wouldn’t make He Tian ignore Mo, right? Maybe it would. When He Tian is moody, he’s unpredictable. If he was being honest, He Cheng was someone whom he wasn’t sure if he would rather be related to or not. The brothers seem scary at first glance and well, while he knows He Tian isn’t the bastard he looks (or was), he has yet to be corrected by anything He Cheng has done. Aside from that, he’s pretty sure they’re involved in the mafia or something of the sorts. Their auroras are too dark, mansion(s) too big, and the owning of an island for there to be nothing sketchy going on behind the scenes was unlikely. Maybe they were in the midst of some shady shit happening.
Is that the only family He Tian has? He never speaks of anyone else. Well, there was once the mention of his asshole father, but they never seem to keep in touch and his mother has never been brought up. Mo doesn’t know what to think of that. If He Tian was going through something, would he be alone? Mo’s heart clenches. He knows he isn’t the person for He Tian that He Tian is for him, but he hoped that He Tian could see that he was trying.
Until he bolted off to God knows where.
Fuck, Mo is tired of He Tian driving him crazy when he isn’t even here. Who does that bastard think h-
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A phone call? No caller ID?
Mo glances at his alarm clock... 12:02? Why would anyone be calling me, and at this hour?
What if it’s-
Guan Shan answers the phone immediately, not waiting for his brain to finish the thought.
“...Hello?”
“Mo Guan Shan.”
Mo shoots up, body stilling as the darkness bathes him and his room. His breath hitches - it was him. He hadn’t heard that voice in so long. He knew he missed it but hearing it now-
“Momo?”
Fuuuck.
“He Tian? Where- how did you-”
“Mo, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for leaving you like that. I wouldn’t have done it without a good reason. You know that, right? I was...you-” he takes a deep breath, “my family is dangerous, Mo Guan Shan. It’s never been something I’ve wanted to be apart of, especially after I met you. I want you to be safe, but being around me with my background makes it hard to ensure that. Something bad was going on, so I had to leave to make sure you wouldn’t get hurt because of me. I was putting you in danger by simply being there. I started to distance myself before I left so it wouldn’t be as hard for us. Or, maybe just me. I don’t know how you feel…” A beat of silence from both of them. “There’s not much more I can say right now, I want nothing more than to explain everything to you. I hate that you’re being kept in the dark. I wish-”
Okay. He knows he said he missed him and his voice, but he wants a chance to talk too, dammit.
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I guess I’ve always known your family was fucked up in one way or another. I bet it’s the mafia...fucking bastard.” That earns a small laugh from the other male. Damn, did Mo miss that sound. ”I get that you have to hide things, but why couldn’t you just tell me you were leaving and that you’d be back? You didn’t have to explain anything. Do you have a problem with goodbyes? Idiot, you left that time when I was in the hospital without saying anything either. What a child, tsk. That would have been better than noth-...wait, are you coming back? Were you planning on leaving without a single word? Where the hell even are you? You on some stupid island that your brother owns? Or are you on vacation in the fucking mountains? Hm? And how come when I asked your brother what the fuck happened to you, he said it wasn’t any of my business? Are you all assholes over there? Does it run in your blood?”
A soft chuckle interrupts his interrogation.
“Momo, I called you to tell you sorry and happy birthday.”
“Happy bir-? Why, you-”
“You only get one present, Guan Shan. What will it be?”
One present. It didn’t take long for Mo Guan Shan to figure out what He Tian means. It wasn’t a physical present, or even He Tian himself. He Tian was trying to get out of answering all of Mo’s questions. Chicken dick. One present...what does Mo want the most?
“Taking our time, are we darling?”
“Cut the bullshit, asshole. When will you be back?”
“When?”
“Yes, fuck face, when .”
When. Not “are you coming back”, but when.
“Hmm...are you sure this is what you want for your birthday, Mo?”
“Answer me before I hang up.”
“Be my guest, Momo."
Fuck He Tian.
“Shut up. Just answer so I can go to sleep.”
“If you’re tired then maybe we should talk another time!”
No, really. Fuck He Tian.
“I swear-”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Oh.
“...how soon?”
“Eager, Guan Shan? I can only get there when I get there~”
"Fuck you.”
Another soft chuckle from He Tian fills the air between them, then silence. Mo feels light. He’s still mad...and anxious. Of course, He Tian couldn’t give him a numerical response. It wouldn’t hurt to not be vague for once, idiot. But “soon”, nonetheless, means he’ll be back. And Mo Guan Shan will wait. There’s still silence, and Mo is afraid of the conversation and call ending. He wants to talk to He Tian all night. He wants to spend his entire birthday talking to He Tian. In an attempt to keep things going, he questions He Tian again.
“He Tian?”
“Hm?”
“How did you manage to call me right after midnight? Does that mean you’re near?”
“Ah, no. I did the math, babe~”
“Don’t call me that! And what do you mean math?”
“I’m pretty far, Momo. A different time zone, even. I watched the clocks though - knew when your special day arrived. I counted down the days, really. Probably more than you did.”
Another timezone? Just how far away is this bastard? Why did he need to distance himself this much? These, of course, were questions he knew wouldn’t get answered.
"Why my birthday? Why couldn’t you call any other day?”
“It just makes this moment that much more special, ya know? Plus, I’m under strict rules and surveillance, Momo. I can’t have contact with anyone. But ah...do you want me to break them for you~? It’s dangerous, but we both know you like that~”
Mo can practically hear the stupid, satisfied smirk on He Tian’s face. He wishes he could see it. He decides to not voice these thoughts as he feels the blood rushing to his face. He’s burning up and He Tian isn’t even here.
“No contact, huh. Then why can you call me right now?”
“Everything has an exception, sweetheart.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Mo groans. He Tian is ridiculously impossible.
“Momo? I have to go.”
...Oh. Mo’s heart sinks. Will he have to wait until “soon” comes to talk to him again?
“Why?”
“Surveillance, Momo. It’s not safe for either one of us to keep talking.”
I don’t care, Mo thinks.
“I do. I can’t do anything to help if something were to happen to you. I rather not risk that. I don’t like being helpless.”
And apparently speaks it, too.
“Is this it?”
Mo knows He Tian understands the question.
“Until I get back, yes.”
He hums in response. What now?
“Guan Shan. Won’t you say goodbye to me~?”
“You really have a problem with goodbyes, huh? How pathetic. I’m not saying it, asshole.”
“You don’t wanna say it either though, hypocrite. I think I deserve the goodbye, hm? I found a way to call you and give you a birthday present.”
Mo snorts.
“Don’t act entitled. I could’ve waited a little longer for soon to come. Whenever the hell that is.”
He mumbles the last part, only halfway wanting He Tian to catch that he still wants a better and less vague answer.
“Mo!” He feigns disbelief with a fake, exaggerated gasp. Mo knows he’s happy with what he has done to Guan Shan. “Have I got you curious and anxious? I promise I won’t keep you waiting long, Don’t Close Mountain .”
He then pauses for a moment, and Mo can feel as much as he hears the shift in the conversation. He stays quiet, not wanting to interrupt whatever is making He Tian take so long to say what’s about to come next.
“Wait for me, okay?”
He says it so soft and quietly that Mo would’ve guessed it wasn’t even He Tian who had said it - it was beyond uncharacteristic of him. But really, fucking He Tian, of course he’ll wai-
“I really have to go, Mo.”
“O-ok.”
“I promise I’ll be back. It won’t be long.”
“I believe you.”
He hears the other’s smile, even though he doesn’t say anything. He can’t help but smile as well.
“Happy birthday, Mo Guan Shan.”
He allows himself to bask in this moment before it ends. Sure enough, before he can respond, the call ends. He isn’t mad, though. He’ll be back. Soon. Until then, Mo will wait.
A happy birthday, indeed.