Work Text:
On the fringes of Jinzhou, Jiyan and the Rover sit together, the sunset painting the sky in hues of gold. "Isn't it lovely?" Jiyan asks, his voice low and contemplative.
The Rover hums a soft agreement, the vibrations thrumming through the air between them.
"I'd watch the sunset with my men," Jiyan says, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. "It brings back memories." The Rover's hum takes on a questioning note. "Why so?"
"Some of them never saw the dawn," Jiyan replies, his voice dropping to a whisper.
The Rover's hum falters, a pause heavy with regret. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
Jiyan reaches out, his hand brushing against the Rover's. "No apologies. I could... Tell you about them."
The Rover searches for a way to comfort Jiyan. "May I braid your hair as you speak?"
Jiyan is taken aback, but nods. "If you want to..."
The Rover's fingers gently comb through Jiyan's hair, the strands feeling like silk against his skin. "Thank you for this," he murmurs.
Jiyan nods, his eyes locked on the Rover's. "Where to start..."
"Every seed I plant feels like a failure," he admits, his voice raw.
The Rover begins a slow, soothing braid of Jiyan's hair. "Talking about them might help you find peace."
Jiyan's sigh is shaky. "Maybe it's time I tried."
Jiyan takes a deep breath, letting the memories wash over him. "There was Ling, always quick with a joke, even in the darkest of times. And then there was Wei, our young one, barely more than a boy when he joined us… He had such potential, such a bright future ahead of him."
The Rover's hands move deftly through Jiyan's hair, the gentle tug and smooth slide of strands forming a soothing background to Jiyan's words. "They sound like they were good people," the Rover says softly.
"They were," Jiyan confirms, his voice cracking. "The best. And I... I couldn't protect them. I couldn't keep them safe."
The Rover's hands still for a moment, then resume their task. "You did everything you could," he says, his voice full of conviction. "You led them, you fought alongside them. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things are simply beyond our control."
Jiyan is quiet for a moment, letting the Rover's words sink in. "Perhaps," he says finally. "But it's hard not to wonder... What if I had made different decisions? What if I had been faster, stronger?"
"You can't blame yourself for things that were never within your power to change," the Rover says firmly. "All you can do is keep moving forward, keep fighting for what's important. Just as you're doing now, with your flowers and your hope for a better future."
Jiyan nods slowly, feeling a weight settle onto his shoulders. It's a heavy truth, but one he knows he needs to accept. "You're right," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just wish... I wish they could be here to see it. To see the world heal, to know that their sacrifices weren't in vain."
The Rover finishes the braid, his hands smoothing over the finished plait. "They may not be here in body," he says, "but I believe their spirits live on, in you, in the seeds you plant, in the hope you carry forward. They will always be a part of this new world you're helping to build."
Jiyan closes his eyes, letting the Rover's words wash over him. It's a comforting thought, one that brings a small sense of peace to his troubled heart. "Thank you," he says, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for understanding, for being here with me."
The Rover squeezes his shoulder gently. "I'm here, Jiyan," he says. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. We'll face whatever comes next together, as… whatever we are. Just as you and your soldiers did."
Jiyan opens his eyes, meeting the Rover's gaze. He sees the truth of the Rover's words reflected there, the sincerity and determination. And in that moment, he knows that he's not alone, that he has found a new comrade to stand beside him. "Together, then," he says, a small smile on his lips.
The Rover smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Together," he agrees. The Rover leans in, pressing a soft, chaste kiss to Jiyan’s mouth. And as the sun dips below the horizon, they sit there, side by side, united in their determination to build a better future, to honor the memories of those who came before.