Work Text:
“Shang Chao wants to go out with us,” Xia Qing says, out of the blue, and the sip of tea Yang Cheng was just about to swallow comes flying out of his mouth in a coughing fit.
Did… did he hear that right? Did she just say ‘us?’ Wiping his mouth, he turns back to face Xia Qing, who’s taken another sip of her bubble tea and is just gazing out the window, chin resting in her palm.
“Oh,” Yang Cheng starts, unsure, hands fidgeting in his lap. “What, ah, what did you say?”
“Well, I like you and him, and he likes you and me.” Xia Qing’s voice is still calm, steady, like she didn’t just drop a bombshell on him. There’s something unreadable in her eyes, but he honestly can’t decipher that right now. There are, quite frankly, more pressing things on his mind.
Xia Qing and Shang Chao like him? Two of the best people to ever come into Yang Cheng’s life, and they like him?
“What… what does that mean?” he hesitantly asks. There’s a tremble in his voice; whether from daring to hope or trying not to, Yang Cheng isn’t sure yet.
“It means we’re waiting on you,” she responds, before pocketing her phone and standing up in one swift motion. “Now come on. Let’s see what surprise Shang Chao has prepared.”
——————————
Yang Cheng slowly turns, eyes flickering around to engrave as much of their base into his memory as possible while Shang Chao’s excited voice washes over him like a warm blanket. His chest burns with a quiet intensity, a steady bonfire in the midst of winter. And when his eyes meet Shang Chao’s, the sparkle of faith he sees in his eyes fans the flames.
He tells Xia Qing and Shang Chao how amazing it is to be able to dream. To dream about being a hero, to save people with courage and uphold justice, to see the rising Trust Value fluctuating ever higher on his wrist, and to one day meet E-Soul: his savior and inspiration.
Privately, to himself, the dream of a future with all three of them. A future where Yang Cheng can feel safe in the knowledge that he’ll never be left alone again.
Having not one, but two people, supporting him with everything they have. It’s more than anything Yang Cheng has ever wanted, even wished for; more than anything he ever could’ve dreamed of. More than anything he’s ever deserved.
And isn’t that the crux of the problem? Yang Cheng, an orphan with zero Trust Value, became a beloved hero overnight. A Cinderella story, the stuff of anyone’s fairy tale dreams, and yet.
And yet.
He can’t quite shake that feeling. That feeling that he’s holding them back. Shang Chao and Xia Qing are picture-perfect together. With their combined talent and experience, they could back any number of people who would make a better hero than him. Except somehow, for some reason, they want him. Someone they really shouldn’t want; Yang Cheng, the boy-teen-adult, all unwanted time after time after time, again and again.
Maybe that’s why, after the flashing headlights of the police car turn on him, he loses the will to fight so quickly.
Hesitant once again.
——————————
Side by side and walking down the hallway together, Xia Qing and Shang Chao really do look like the perfect couple. Despite Yang Cheng being the one who was questioned, he didn’t feel as if he contributed much to his own defense, if anything at all. From getting into the police car to exiting the negotiation room, the night blurs together in Yang Cheng’s mind in a haze.
Xia Qing kept the pressure off of him and on the E-Soul representative, just in time for Shang Chao to storm in like a knight in shining-yellow-cardigan, with vital evidence and an established hero to back his testimony. And not just any hero, but the Eye of Truth, Enlightener.
Meanwhile, Yang Cheng still can’t bring himself to turn over his wrist, as if it’ll show him that glowing blue 0 that haunts his mind like some sort of neon sleep paralysis demon.
Shang Chao and Xia Qing suddenly stop and turn towards him, expressions unbelievably open and earnest, and Yang Cheng wants.
They’re both such capable people, he thinks mournfully to himself, with skills and connections and time that would be better spent on someone else. But still, he wants.
He’s wanted a lot of things throughout his life — confidence, financial stability, trust value — but never like this, as if everything he’s ever wanted was nothing more than a drop in the bucket compared to the tidal wave of absolute yearning that threatens to suffocate him every time he catches even just a glimpse of Xia Qing’s soft, shimmering smile, or that infallible conviction always sparking in Shang Chao’s eyes.
“Yang Cheng? Are you okay?” Xia Qing’s voice floats towards him from where she’s crouched down in front of him and— oh. He hadn’t even noticed when he’d ended up on the floor.
“I was going to ask if you were ready to greet your fans, but I suppose this reaction speaks for itself,” Shang Chao says, leaning down, but his wobbly smile and attempt at humor do nothing to hide the worry creasing his brow.
Somehow, their concern makes Yang Cheng feel lighter all the same.
Xia Qing reaches out towards his wrist, and he pulls his arm back before his brain catches up with the fact that she was trying to hold his hand, not expose that accursed number. She catches on, and her hands move up to his shoulders instead, holding him steady and leaving Yang Cheng no choice but to make eye contact with those steely hazel eyes.
“Yang Cheng,” she starts, voice hard and leaving no room for interruption. “Do you trust us?”
He looks at the hard determination in her expression, finding the same look that got her the unanimous vote as class representative for the past four years. He looks up at Shang Chao, finding that same confidence there that he always wears, whether he’s talking about last night’s homework or the hero company he’s wished to start since he was thirteen. Except now, that determination and confidence are directed towards him. About him. And so Yang Cheng nods. How could he not?
Xia Qing’s eyes are somehow blazing brighter as she nods back before continuing. “Then trust me when I say this: Shang Chao and I aren’t leaving. Not as long as you’re staying with us.”
“We’re your partners, Yang Cheng. We’re in this together now,” Shang Chao pipes in. Xia Qing sends him a quick look, something sounding like ‘we agreed not to rush him’ hissed under her breath, but Yang Cheng doesn’t even notice it past the wave of sheer faith and conviction the two are emanating. “And don’t forget about Little Youzi. He’s probably still cheering outside, so let’s not leave him waiting any longer.” Shang Chao reaches his hand down, and for once, Yang Cheng doesn’t hesitate to grab it, letting the other man pull him back up to his feet.
Xia Qing has pulled out a tissue sometime during this and wipes at the tears that Yang Cheng didn’t even realize were there, while Shang Chao straightens his jacket, fiddling with the zipper until it reaches whatever unknown requirement he was trying to meet, stepping back and nodding seriously. Yang Cheng meets Xia Qing’s eyes, and they share a small giggle as she also pulls away.
“Are you back with us, Yang Cheng?”
“Yeah,” he nods resolutely, letting false confidence sink into his expression and hoping he looks a lot less shaky than he feels.
Shang Chao cheers. “Then let’s go greet your adoring fans!”
As the double doors open to the large crowd, chants of E-Soul! already permeating through the walls, Yang Cheng thinks that maybe even the Trust Value of the whole world wouldn’t be worth more than the trust of the two people already standing behind him.
——————————
Under the bus stop, the rain sounds louder, more menacing than ever before. But maybe that’s just the pounding of Yang Cheng’s heart, the terrifying backing track to this almost-confession.
“I didn’t mean to lie to you. About Lucky Cyan,” he starts, managing to find some semblance of confidence in this private bubble, with just the two of them.
“I know,” Xia Qing responds, staring out into the rain. “But I want you to be honest about what you want. And be true to yourself by fighting for it.” She turns to face Yang Cheng, her gaze set resolutely on him. “You’re braver than you think. Don’t forget, you were the one to save Little Youzi, and stop those robberies, and every bit of good you’ve done as a hero.”
“And while Shang Chao’s impatient sometimes, he’s willing to wait for you to realize that yourself.” Xia Qing’s lips quirk up as she says that, and Yang Cheng can’t help but let out a little huff himself, thinking of Shang Chao’s ever-present, guiding idealism. “But I’m not as willing to wait,” she finishes, before reaching her palm out to feel the rain. “Speaking of Shang Chao, he’s probably bored waiting for us, huh?”
Yang Cheng lets out a full laugh at that and nods. “Let’s make a run for it, then. Can’t keep him waiting too long.”
As he steps out into the rain, with ice-cold droplets breaking through the serenity of the bus stop, Xia Qing’s words echo in his mind. He’s never been able to even consider fighting for what he wants. Not since his parents were killed and he was left alone, with 0 Trust Value, permanently putting everything he wanted far, far out of reach.
At least, not until them. Not until Xia Qing, the Lucky Cyan tickets, all his failed confessions, then Shang Chao’s surprise interest in him, their sudden integration into his life and belief that he: orphaned, lonely, unpromising Yang Cheng could be someone, could be E-Soul.
Yang Cheng rounds the corner and sees the kidnapper, the lightning scar on his neck, the gun and Shang Chao, (beautiful, idealistic, dependable Shang Chao) and the world slows.
In his mind, images flash of the future he’s only recently allowed himself to hope for. To be with Shang Chao and Xia Qing, to be a hero and finally meet E-Soul again, to maybe start their own agency, to even just attend the Lucky Cyan concert together. And he wants that — all of it — so bad.
Are you going to be brave enough to fight for it?
The answer is easy. For once, what Yang Cheng wants is within his reach. The people that he wants want him too.
The sound of rain slapping against the concrete is deafened by the pounding of his own heart. The crackle of electricity sings in his veins. Yang Cheng doesn’t hesitate.
Like a lightning bolt in the night, Yang Cheng shoots forward and tackles Shang Chao to the ground, the bullet flying past his head and embedding itself somewhere in the walls of their base. He’s vaguely aware of Xia Qing’s steps coming up behind him, a pained grunt from the kidnapper, the clatter of the gun as it falls to the floor, but mostly he’s focused on Shang Chao. Shang Chao, head cradled under his arm, body warm in his embrace; warm from waiting inside but most importantly, warm with life.
“Yes,” Yang Cheng sobs into Shang Chao’s shoulder. Yes, he wants this future, and he’s going to fight for it. No matter what.
“Yes to what?” Shang Chao asks, taken aback. Yang Cheng laughs a little, relief flooding into him as he hears his voice. Yang Cheng can’t tell the difference between the tears and the rain streaking down his face, but Shang Chao comforts him all the same. “I’m okay, A-Cheng. You saved me. We’re okay. We’re all okay.”
——————————
“Xia Qing, I didn’t know you could fight like that,” Shang Chao says, in the aftermath of it all, as the police are arresting the kidnapper. While Yang Cheng and Shang Chao were on the floor, she had caught up, kneeing the kidnapper in the groin, then shocking him unconscious using the electric glove from Yang Cheng’s E-Soul costume.
“I picked up a little bit from all the training you guys did,” Xia Qing quips back, smiling. She’s still shaking though, so Yang Cheng and Shang Chao lead her inside their base and guide her into a chair.
Meanwhile, Yang Cheng is starting to feel the adrenaline wear off, and with it, the self-doubt begins to creep in again. Something must show on his face, because Shang Chao nudges him with his shoulder.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He asks, and when Xia Qing also turns to look at him expectantly, he can’t keep quiet anymore.
“Do- don’t you guys wish you picked someone else to be E-Soul?” Yang Cheng blurts out. He can’t seem to fight off that thought, no matter how hard he tries.
Xia Qing’s quick “no” is expected, but nothing could have prepared Yang Cheng for the look of pure confusion on Shang Chao’s face, as if he just told him the sky is green, or he found a UFO in the backyard.
“Where is this coming from?” Shang Chao asks, and he sounds genuinely confused. As if he never considered for a second that he E-Soul could’ve been anyone else but Yang Cheng. “Yang Cheng, do you not want to be E-Soul anymore?”
He suddenly gets a very serious look on his face, as if he’s made a grave realization. “Yang Cheng,” Shang Chao starts, voice suddenly very low. “You know, you don’t have to be E-Soul to date us right? Xia Qing and I, we love you whether or not you want to be E-Soul.” From somewhere behind him, Xia Qing coughs, and then Shang Chao seems to backtrack again as he tacks on, “Not that you have to date us either! We’re your friends, no matter how you feel about us.”
Yang Cheng shakes his head rapidly before the misunderstanding goes further. “No! I do want to be E-Soul, and I do want to d-date you. Both of you.” Yang Cheng pulls at his shirt collar as he feels his face start to heat up. “But, um, wouldn’t it have been easier to help someone else become E-Soul? You know, someone with more… Trust Value.” The last part comes out quietly, almost as a whisper. Everything always went back to Trust Value. And his was always too low.
The confusion is back on Shang Chao’s face. “Yang Cheng, what are you talking about? Who else could even be E-Soul?” Yang Cheng thinks for a second that maybe Shang Chao is lying for his benefit, but the bewilderment in his voice is so honest that that possibility is eliminated as soon as it pops up. “Didn’t I say this earlier? You’re E-Soul, even when the mask is off. Yang Cheng, you’re what makes E-Soul a hero. Not the other way around.”
“Your Trust Value is rising because of you. Because you’re following your heart and saving people. Not because you’re running around in the E-Soul costume,” Xia Qing adds, and both their voices leave no room for argument.
Two pairs of arms wrap around him, and Yang Cheng flings out his arms to hug them back. “We love you because you’re Yang Cheng, not because you’re E-Soul,” Shang Chao says, voice right next to his ear. Xia Qing says nothing, simply placing a kiss on his hair.
And despite being alone for most of his life, having only been loved by two people before this, Yang Cheng believes them. Believes that this is real, and that this is a life he can have, right within reach.
“I love you guys too,” he chokes out, quiet but sure, and as his vision blurs with tears, all is right in this world.