Chapter Text
Hong Lu never had the same outlet as they did when at home; saying they had a rough upbringing is a bit of an understatement and not entirely accurate. Their siblings, always picking fights with one another, often turned bloody, but none of them ever had to worry about money or a place to sleep, all from the same very affluent family. Limbus Company was the opposite; while the fighting between those closest to them was no less bloody, sometimes fatal, it never held the same malice of home.
Hong Lu was far from the most disliked sinner; they often kept to themselves, listening to their fellow sinners ramble on about this or that, trying not to attract much attention while chiming in from time to time for their input. This solitary behavior didn’t stay as such; while little words were exchanged, Ryōshū accompanied them in this act. There was an unspoken bond between the two, drawn to one another for some reason while never truly speaking to each other but still learning each other in more unique and subtle ways.
Hong Lu always kept a corner of their vision on the sadistic woman who chose to make her nest next to them. Through the days and nights on the bus, it became apparent how much Ryōshū truly hated Don Quixote's ramblings or Heathcliff's loud and brash nature, gripping her ōdachi a little tighter in response. They also knew how Ryōshū, during long and boring stretches of road, would glance over and try to inspect Hong Lu without them noticing or how Ryōshū would often meet the eyes of the Red Gaze to gain some insight on how he committed his signature goring.
Ryōshū, on the other hand, preferred to look into Hong Lu’s physical being rather than their actions, almost sizing them up like they were about to fight. It didn’t take long for Ryōshū to discern some strange details about them. First of all, their appearance was only ever comparable to Rodya or Ishmael, caring much more about looks than practicality which was quite the oddity for this group. As for Rodya, it matched her boisterous personality, but her movements were far from the discrete actions of Hong Lu, and Ishmael had adopted her appearance over sentiment in a way that seemed more of sorrow or fear, again unlike Hong Lu. Though she knew there was far more that connected the three, even if they themselves were unaware. This constant racking of her mind led her to various conclusions, but none that seemed plausible To unravel this mystery, Ryōshū took it upon herself to learn by whatever means it might be, with the exclusion of the pointless act of simply asking, so why not just take the files.
Ryōshū didn’t wait the next day when she decided to enact her plan; she didn’t care if anyone saw her, as she’d kill them in an instant if they caused her too much trouble, with an exception of four. When she was sure that they weren’t going to be bothered by anyone, she strode into the manager's office and started rummaging through the countless files and notes left in the room. While she dug through the desk, it took her a little too long to realize there was a giant cabinet next to her labeled "SINNERS." After taking a drag of her cigarette in disbelief she didn’t see it, too busy analyzing the strange art the manager kept, she grabbed the entire box of files relating to Hong Lu and started heading out of the office before she listened for any bothersome people. But her hearing caught nothing out of the ordinary, no breath or heartbeats, just the odd ticking of a clock. A clock.
"<Ryōshū, what are you-?>" Dante ticked at her in a confused manner, only to be completely ignored by their coworker, who seemed to not even register them as a threat.
Dante, one of the few sinners without the gall to do anything about the strange actions. Ryōshū was glad they were only met with the socially awkward manager who was far too new at this job to know what to do with this information and let her go on her way.
After arriving in her room, she threw the box onto the floor and scoured all the documents for some sort of information regarding the oddities. Mostly full of drab, boring topics like work results and contributions to the company outside of combat. After looking over the documents well into the day, throwing unimportant files onto her messy floor, she saw it. It was too obvious; she should have seen it a mile away, all the puzzle pieces in her head fitting into place with the final part finally being provided.
She messily stuffed the files back inside the box and marched right back into the manager's office where they were in the middle of reading “Fabulous Fixers” as recommended by Don Quixote. Ryōshū walked right behind their desk and slotted the file cabinet into place as Dante pretended not to notice, thinking it was better to not interrogate the most brutal sinner.
It was nearing the end of the day, and it was none other than Friday, Ryōshū’s least favorite day, as most of the sinners went to find a bar or restaurant to loudly express their fervor about work and perhaps later take each other back to their private rooms, something many of the sinners, Ryōshū included, were still apprehensive about.
"Ohh, Ryōshū~, why don’t you come and join us tonight? The pretty new moon is rising tonight~” Rodya ambushed her with a heavy arm over her shoulder in an attempt that seemed to be inviting a harsh rebuttal. Ryōshū simply threw her arm off of her shoulder and walked away to take her place in her nest, feeling a little colder without Hong Lu.
"Ryōshū~,” the much more relaxed and calm voice emanating from Hong Lu, greeting her with the same strange smile and confidence. “You should join the others for this week's get-together!” She always had a way of trying to make their dreary job sound like some office internship.
“She’s busy being a sourpuss as usual; c’mon grab your bag Greg babe~!” Rodya interjected while grabbing Gregor by the arm like he was her belongings for their little outing while heading for the door.
Hong Lu, looking like she was still waiting for Ryōshū to respond. In a more confused tone she finally gave way to reality, “Alright then. 再见(zài jiàn)!” Was all she was able to get out before quickly being pulled away by Rodya towards the front of the bus to exit.
“S.T.F.U. I’ll go where I want,” was all Ryōshū said before grabbing her ōdachi and standing up, Hong Lu already a little more content. Following behind the other sinners who were already on their way to a bar Rodya scouted while gathering “bus fuel.”
As they exited the bus, they were greeted by the vile, warm air of the backstreet city, with just the sound of a draft of air pouring through the city's grid pattern in the sunset sky. While this area was less of a hazard than other places, they still needed to keep an eye out for any bus fodder, so it was better to keep in groups when traveling through the city. This common law of the backstreets was already routine for the sinners, always sticking in groups of at least three, making Ryōshū’s actions all the more surprising to Hong Lu.
As the two of them were at the tail end of the train of sinners, Ryōshū grabbed Hong Lu’s wrist and guided her down one of the alleys and into one of the large, abandoned buildings. Hong Lu was all too interested in the sudden action to call any attention to the other sinners, letting themselves be left behind.
As they climbed the bleak concrete stairs, still being dragged by Ryōshū, Hong Lu finally questioned the strange occurrence. “What's to happen to me now? Will I become your next ‘art project’?” Her half joke met only with silence as their march up the building continued.
“HARK!!!” Don Quixote yelled out before running to the front of the rest of the sinners. “Where hast thee noble swordsmen Ryōshū and the gentle Hong Lu dispersed?”
“Approximately 5 minutes and 36 seconds ago, the ‘noble swordswoman Ryōshū’ took ‘the gentle Hong Lu’ into an abandoned K Corp. service center building.” The assessment provided by Meursault, while clarifying, left far more questions in its wake.
Rodya excitedly burst out with her assumption, “OH, DO YOU THINK THEY ARE Y'KNOW?” Rodya then started making kissing hand motions with as much detail as she could muster. “They have been eyeing each other for some time now, y’know~!”
“Dost thou speak truth?!”
“Or even perhaps..." Rodya continues her hand signs with a finger going through a loop in her other hand, looking genuinely surprised and intrigued.
“Such actions in this area would result in serious consequences; I shall suggest to our diligent manager what punishments should be executed.”
“Arghh… You lot are all a piece of work.” Heathcliff nearly whispers as he’s hiding his blush.
“Even if they are joined in an amorous congress, we must not let our comrades fall victim to the city's depravity! The night shall be dark; and the new moon shant’ radiate the same!”
“Faust calculates only a nine percent chance they are involved in any such actions. Ryōshū is a top-performing member of our LCB branch and will not succumb to the city, and Hong Lu is perfectly able to take care of herself”
“‘ Herself’?! ” Many of the sinners exclaimed as Faust finished her sentence.
As the pair of sinners were being discussed by the rest of their company, they made their way to the roof, laden with sunset rays. Hong Lu had grown a sense of unease as they climbed the building with no regard other than a firm grip on her arm from Ryōshū. She acted oblivious, but deep down she feared what she suspected she would soon face. They finally breached the final floor as Ryōshū slowly took a spot on the edge of the building, she took a long inhale and subsequent puff of smoke, Hong Lu felt a sinking in her stomach as she may very well be confronted with reality atop this building. She wasn’t sure how to continue; she wanted more than anything to let free her wings that have been cocooned for so long but had no idea how, and if Ryōshū was to confront her here, how would she react? Would she feel safe? Of course she would; it’s Ryōshū, her friend. But what if she wasn’t? What if she was taken here so nobody could help her? What if-
Hong Lu’s mind raced for the first time in a long time, especially when in this company, relying on her manager's instruction.
“Need Help?” Was all Ryōshū said as she extended her arm with her cigarette in hand.
Hong Lu felt a slight bit of relief that she wasn’t met with hostility, but was still petrified. Only able to respond with a meek rejection of the tobacco offered.
“Come here, I won’t S.Y.N.C.”
They hadn’t known each other long, but Hong Lu knew this was the kindest invitation Ryōshū could manage. So she took her place, standing on the rooftop as the sun set over the distant waters of U Corp., only barely visible to them yet feeling a kind of familiarity in them. The setting sun soon to reveal the beautiful night sky of a backstreet without much electricity to spare, with a new moon's first step of reveal.
“I-” Hong Lu started and stopped just as quickly, trying to mask her sinking feeling with a smile.Though she could feel her twitching lip slowly being pulled into a frown as hard as she may try to fight it.
“S.T.A.N.” S top t hat a ct now. Ryōshū was well aware that Hong Lu was far too bubbly all the time to always truly feel that way. “I stole the LCB files regarding you.”
Hong Lu stood still as she felt a burning feeling in her chest and a slow welling in her eyes. She realized she had forgotten to breathe as she was confronted with a beautiful and painful truth that only Dante was privy to. She had been searching for a way to let herself out and have the other sinners know without letting herself fall into a distortion and embarrass herself further.
“I.K. Rodya would be better, but I found out first, D.W.I.” The plain statement was said into the breeze as a swift gust carried it to Hong Lu, almost feeling sorry to Hong Lu for not knowing what to say. “I’ll try my best; I’ll K.T.M. if it helps.”
“ahh. Thank you, Ryōshū.” Hong Lu was searching for the words but was unable to find them.
“It’s not your job to stress alone, probably.” She tried giving a kind look, but it came off as more murderous than intended.
Hong Lu turned to reply with a small smile in return, a real one this time as she understood Ryōshū’s gesture. The sun slowly fell beneath the skyline, the moon's beauty imminent, the sun stretching across the illuminated waters.
“Do you think the others will be...”
“They are all T.R.A.N.S. or trans.”
Hong Lu was quite shocked, of course Rodya was very open about it, and while none of the sinners objected to it, none of them were exactly socially acclimated. “I never picked up on that, perhaps you look deeper than I do!”
"Well, I.D.S. at Rodya’s chest,” Ryōshū began testing the waters to see if Hong Lu was less worried now.
“I suppose you’re right.” As she wore a new expression, one of hope she extended her vision to the sky, the sky was beautiful, a new moon preparing to shine down, taking its time to beam down across the city, while the stars reflected ever so brighter in Hong Lu’s ever so kind blue eye. Finding their place there, as where the moon would soon be held as it made its appearance known.
The pair descended the building after watching the sky, letting it set in. They began heading towards the bar the others had decided was going to be their evening stop.
“You ready?” Ryōshū looked for the approval of another for the first time since she joined the company. Hong Lu gave a slight nod and smile as they walked towards the others.
“Hate those F.C.”
Hong Lu softly laughed at the jab at the other sinners before she made her way into the room where the others were all celebrating their week.
She gave Ryōshū one last gesture of appreciation before confronting the others about her truth, something she’s been meaning to give for some time, her need elevated by circumstance. A light kiss on her cheek, made all the more relaxing by the sound of friends around the corner and a slight blush from Ryōshū.