Work Text:
The balloons are all set up, the “Welcome Home” sign front and center; Everything looks great, Cheng Xiaoshi thinks to himself, nodding. The last thing is bringing home the patient, and stationing Qiao Ling with the poppers. He heads out, throwing Qiao Ling a text, who was out at the moment picking up the cake.
The ride back from the hospital is uneventful and quiet, and Cheng Xiaoshi hopes he’s putting up a good poker face, not betraying that he’s excited to get home and see Lu Guang’s reaction. If Lu Guang notices he seems a bit more fidgety than normal and overexcited, he doesn’t say anything.
Lu Guang is still a little unsteady on his feet as they slowly approach the photo studio, but that’s okay; Cheng Xiaoshi figures it gives Qiao Ling more time to prepare.
“Ready?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks with a grin, turning to him. Lu Guang blinks.
“For what? To open the door?” he deadpans. Cheng Xiaoshi rolls his eyes.
“Come on! It’s your first time back since the hospital! Aren’t you a little excited?” Lu Guang shrugs.
“I guess…?” he murmurs, knowing he’s just playing his part: he really is happy to be back. Cheng Xiaoshi smiles anyway.
“Party pooper. Well, c’mon then!” He grabs Lu Guang’s arm and pulls him forward, opening the door. The “welcome” sound chimes, and Lu Guang is immediately bombarded by a bang! as Qiao Ling pulls the string of the party popper, confetti falling to his feet.
“Welcome home!” she exclaims, and Lu Guang takes a minute to take it all in. The balloons, the banner, the decorations. It’s ridiculous, it’s way more than he deserves, it’s over-the-top and silly…He feels overwhelmed, in the best way possible. He’s back. He’s home, and they decorated it all for him, and—
“Well, whattya think? Pretty great, huh?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks, pulling him out of his thoughts. He’s waggling his eyebrows, hoping to get a reaction out of Lu Guang. But Lu Guang isn’t giving him the right expression, he supposes. Cheng Xiaoshi is clearly taken aback. “Lu Guang, are you…crying?” he asks softly. Lu Guang hadn’t realized he was. He blinks and turns his head away.
“No,” he mumbles. Cheng Xiaoshi smiles to himself.
“C’mere, big guy,” he says, and brings him into a tight hug. Lu Guang melts into the embrace despite himself and brings his hands to Cheng Xiaoshi’s back to tightly hug him back. “Crybaby,” Cheng Xiaoshi teases, and Lu Guang ignores him. He says nothing when he feels a stray tear fall on his own shoulder.
“Alright boys, tearful reunion done! Now let’s eat some cake!” Qiao Ling chirps a minute later, and they pull away, a little embarrassed.
“Right, cake! The most important part!” Cheng Xiaoshi exclaims, heading over to the sunroom. Lu Guang wipes his tears away as he watches Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling start bickering about something dealing with the cake. He feels himself smile.
“Right, Lu Guang?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks him. Lu Guang didn’t hear the topic of the question, and looks over to them, only to see Qiao Ling glaring at Cheng Xiaoshi. He’s wont to agree with Qiao Ling, as he usually does. Instead, he snorts.
“Whaaaaaat!” Cheng Xiaoshi pouts. “Don’t laugh at me, that’s mean!”
“You deserve it, you dunce!” Qiao Ling snaps, and Lu Guang walks over to join them. Despite the bickering and chaos, it’s how it’s always been, and the feeling of being home washes over him again. Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling eventually stop, as they notice Lu Guang’s silence. They give each other a knowing look and smile at him.
“Welcome home, Lu Guang,” they say in tandem. Lu Guang smiles back. It’s good to be back.