Work Text:
You'd think that because they were friends, Shen Yuan would have an easier time talking straightforwardly with Shang Qinghua.
That was not the case.
Truthfully, it was mostly him, and not Shang Qinghua, that was to blame for it, but his friend certainly didn't help when it was needed!
He huffed from where he sat beside Airplane's bed. The fan in his hand waved lazily as the silence was prolonged.
“Airplane.” He tried again.
“Cucumber.”
“ Airplane .”
“ Cucumber bro .”
He sighed, snapping the fan shut, “You need to talk about it Airplane, this isn't healthy.”
Shang Qinghua just stared at him.
“You mean having flowers of unreciprocated feelings growing inside me and the aftermath of having an entire fucking forest removed from my chest isn't healthy? Gee, who would've thought.”
Which. Okay, that was fair, and while normally he'd be upset at being back talked, he was relieved that Airplane could still bite back.
He knew Airplane's version of Hanahaki wouldn't make him incapable of emotions, but the fear still lingered in the back of his mind during and after the procedure.
He frowned. He didn't want to force Shang Qinghua to talk about his feelings, especially when that's what got him into this issue.
It grew silent once more. What could he do? It's not like Shen Yuan had had many friends in his first life! He had his siblings, but that type of relationship was different from this, and he had acquaintances, kids from his parents’ friends. Airplane was the person he interacted with the most, and that had been all through Zhongdian!
…His chair was quite uncomfortable, huh? He couldn't sit still at all. He should tell Mu Qingfang to get better chairs. Wait, that would require requisition forms to go through An Ding. Nevermind, the chairs could wait, Shang Qinghua didn't need that on top of everything.
Shang Qinghua let out a long suffering sigh, “Bro, just get out with it, I know you want to bitch. Go ahead, I'm giving you full permission.”
“I don't need your permission, you hack writer!” He spit, on autopilot, and immediately regretted it. His fan snapped open once more to hide his quickly reddening face, Damn this pale white xianxia complexion!!! . “What I need is for you to get better , and Mu Qingfang said you need the support so. Here I am.” He gritted his teeth, “As support.”
“Aww bro, you care!” His friend beamed, “You're like my support bra! The wire that makes my boobs look good-” he squeaked, raising his arms to avoid the threat of an angry fan, “and also pokes me and hurts my under boob!”
“You don't have a- That doesn't matter!” Wait, fuck, he shouldn't scream to someone post-op!! He knows how much it sucks to be vulnerable like this and unable to go away!! He takes a deep breath, “Why is it so hard to accept our care? We're here for you, Qinghua.”
“I used to, y'know? Have boobs I mean.”
That. Is not what Shen Yuan expected. Although escaping the subject is what he expected, it wasn't like this .
“Hey, do I stop being trans since I died and transmigrated into a man's body? Or is it deeper than that? I know I'm still gay at the very least.”
“You're gay?!?!” He exclaims, his fan falls to his lap, and he can imagine how cartoonist he looks with his mouth hanging open and his eyes widened.
Shang Qinghua merely looks at him, “...Yes? Where do you think my son got it from? Besides, bro, we flirted so much, how did you not pick up on it?”
“We did not!!! ”
“ Shen Yuan . Do you have any idea how many words you commented on PIDW? How much time you spent defending the protagonist and criticizing every plot? You're a little obsessed with me. That's how you flirt, bro, accept it, it's okay, I'm a little obsessed with you too.”
Somehow, that makes his face go up in flames.
Shang Qinghua… isn't exactly wrong, if he thinks about it. But he won't , as this is soooo not the time for this. Or the place. He's married, for fuck’s sake! And Airplane just had major surgery!
“ALRIGHT ENOUGH WHATEVER.” He shouts, startling them both. His face is still aflame, but if asked, he'll definitely say it's out of rage, and not… whatever the fuck that was. “Just get better already! Hack author with hack plots… This is all your fault.”
“I know. I'm sorry.”
Out of all the things, in this transmigrated world, and the previous one, this is the last one Shen Yuan expected.
Shang Qinghua won't meet his eyes. He stares down to his hands, and whispers, “I know. I'm sorry, Shen Yuan.” When he speaks next, his voice fails him, “If I hadn't… If I hadn't written it like that, none of this would've happened. This is my fault.”
It floors him. He knows Shang Qinghua isn't just talking about their awkward little conversation slash confession. And as much as he once demanded apologies out of the author, now he feels as if he's the one who owes him one.
“There's nothing to be sorry for,” he starts, voice soft and quiet, but it steadily gains force, “Shang Qinghua, you… You had to live, somehow. I know you didn't write how you really wanted, I… I read your previous works too, you know? I know you're a talented writer, and that something must've happened for PIDW to be what it was instead of your usual thought through works. Besides, you always had interesting takes on forums and your replies to my comments were so detailed, it was part of why I… It's part of why I stuck around.” He swallows, but Shang Qinghua is looking at him now, and for all the shit Shen Yuan talks, he knows his friend deserves truthfulness from him now.
“This is not your fault, Airplane. You've done your best. I'm sure there were circumstances beyond the little you told me.” His tone is soft, but the grip he has on Shang Qinghua's hands is steady, and he refuses to let the man's eyes escape him, “You've done your best, Shang Qinghua. I'm proud of you . ”
“Bro, I-” His friend tries, but he's on a roll damn it! Who knows when he'll be capable of being this forthcoming with his feelings next? No, Shang Qinghua is going to listen !
“Besides, this is no longer the world you wrote. We've changed things, remember? Nothing that happened is on you. Relationship with Proud Immortal Demon Way ended, now… now Villains’ Transmigrated Danmei is my best friend.” He releases the hand he was holding, opens his fan and looks away, “After you.” He mumbles.
He pretends to not see the tears in Shang Qinghua's eyes, but he doesn't ignore the smile on his lips.
The chuckle Shang Qinghua lets out is wet, but full of warmth. He not so sneakily clears tears away, “That name sucks, bro.”
He rolls his eyes, “Come up with something better then!”
Shang Qinghua's smile is wide, his laughter is warm, and his eyes are soft. For some unexplained, weird, mystifying, baffling reason, Shen Yuan’s face feels warmer than before.