Chapter Text
The day was still young, and Shi-Long Lang wasn’t a morning person.
He hadn’t slept at all the night before, but was feeling so restless that he felt no tiredness.
His car was speeding in the empty countryside roads, even though he knew how early he already was.
His gaze was fixated on the horizon, yet lost in his own thoughts.
He had taken up driving again as soon as he could, his leg wound now healed and physiotherapy having been efficient.
Still, the scar ached sometimes, not from movement but from the memories that he kept turning around in his head.
It had been five months since he had been shot by Tyrell Badd who was targeting his former subordinate, whom he knew by the name “Shih-na”.
He took the shot for her, and took advantage of the chaos to disarm and handle her.
While she was thrashing in vain against him to free herself, he was grinning in an attempt to look strong against the pain of both the bullet and the betrayal.
She had just thrown away years of trust and affection, or at least his. And made fun of his faith in her.
Even then, even as she was clawing at his arm (probably to try and shoot him herself), he couldn’t entirely believe that what she had said was true. About her being Shih-na as an alias, only to take advantage of him and his trust to sell intel to the smuggling ring she was a part of. It couldn’t be.
But she kept proving him wrong, until he only could watch her getting taken away to be arrested and judged.
He kept his strong act and let her go, assisting Edgeworth on his investigation.
He hadn’t seen Shih-na thereafter and his wound ached as well as his heart each time he thought of her betrayal.
Since then, he had been demoted from his functions, and was now definitely unable to restore his family name. His former dream had vanished.
His 101 subordinates were of course still loyal to him and his cause, but this all seemed a far away dream now.
He had found his president’s body and assisted Edgeworth in uncovering the truth, not completely letting go of investigations.
However, he couldn’t actually conduct any or resume his activity as an official investigator.
He sighed, his frown only deepening.
Shifu the wolf, now finally truly “lone”, had reached his lowest point.
The reality was harsh and reminded to him everyday through the fact that he lost his title and authority; and yet, he couldn’t seem to control the direction of his thoughts.
He entered the penitentiary, stopped the car once parked, and undid his seatbelt.
Arms crossed over the steering wheel, he rested his head there, eyes closed for an instant.
How would it feel ? How would she act ? Parole was granted, and she had accepted his request to see her. Did this mean that she wanted to see him ? If that were the case, what for ? Did she…miss him ?
He had turned things over and over in his head these last few days and couldn’t settle on a definitive answer on any of those questions.
He hated not being certain. Yet he realized he had never been sure of anything about her. Even then, when he would have given anything for her.
Since the moment he had laid eyes on her, years ago, he had known something was off. Wolf’s sixth sense.
And yet he had thrown himself at her. Why ?
His memories brought him back, to that day when he had heard a light knock on the door of his brand new office.
He scratched his throat and barked “Come in !”, in an attempt to live up to his brand new title of top agent of Interpol.
He watched as she stepped into the room, immediately followed by her flowery perfume; one that wouldn’t ever leave his mind.
“Good morning agent Lang. I am Shih-na, and am tasked to assist you from now on.”
He suddenly rose from his seat, granting her his more than usual lopsided smile as well as a hand to shake.
“I- I wasn’t made aware I had a…what would be the title…erm…”
She relieved him of his embarrassment.
“I am your subordinate. I was sent to accompany you on investigations and to handle diverse tasks such as intel checking or evidence securing.”
She stared at him, big orbs piercing through his uneasiness. And finally took his hand.
Her glove was soft, her fingers thin. Her face unreadable.
“Ah yes, okay, I see, thanks for the… headsup !” He let go of her hand, which she rested to her side. He cleared his throat. “No one told me I’d get a… subordinate.”
Her stare left his face to scan the room. “I was sent by the higher ups. I know this must be pretty sudden to you.” Her eyes on his, again. “But I will be making myself useful, do not worry.” Finally, a smile cracked her face, independent from her eyes.
He chuckled, in an attempt to regain composure and grabbed his coat. “I know you will ! And let’s start right now. We have a crime scene to get to, let’s go Shih-na !”
And just like that, their relationship began.
Shih-na was succinct, concise and had a sharp eye.
Everything he needed and sometimes tended to lack.
She walked in his shadow, providing everything he could need when he needed it.
He had gotten accustomed to her odd appearance, pale face and hair.
Strangely enough, she blended while he was the one sticking out; he could look very well assured, order around his subordinates and revel in being his charismatic self.
This seemed to suit her; she showed up on time every morning. They would spend hours going through files, often until late.
They would generally work in silence, Shih-na not being one to be talkative.
This was a difficult thing to admit, but one part of big strong Shi-Long Lang felt uneasy in her presence and he did not wish to annoy her with one of his usual punchlines or stories.
One evening however, he let a pun escape while handing her a file.
She glared in return at him, just as he dreaded. He gulped.
“Hehe…he...” Her hand went to cover her mouth, and she exploded, laughing. “Ahahahahaha !!”
Lang laughed as well, for good measure.
She wiped a tear off her eye.
“Oof, I’m so sorry Agent Lang… You caught me off guard… Your expression right now… Looked so idiotic !!”
He stopped laughing, placing his hands in his defensive stance. “Hey !! I’m just trying to make you laugh, no need to be rude.”
She fanned herself with her hand, still snorting.
“I… oof… So sorry…” She looked up at him and resumed laughing. “It’s just too much, even just now !!"
He couldn’t help but genuinely smile at the situation, his ego put behind for the sake of the moment.
“I guess I did succeed in making you laugh, in the end.”
Still wiping her tears, she answered. “Yeah, you did. You’re a funny man, Shi-Long Lang.”
He leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “You can just call me Lang, you know.”
“I will then, thank you.” She reported her attention to the file inbetween her hands. “It is getting late, shouldn’t you leave ? I’ll get done with that and go home.”
Her sudden query surprised him, but he mistook it for a show of good spirit.
"Okay then, I’ll leave you to it.” He took his coat and winked at her. “I trust you on that then, good night !”
She giggled. “Good night Lang.”
The following days spent together felt different, a proximity seemed to have settled between them, at least when they were alone.
In public, she had stayed her old impassible self, solely tending to her duties.
She even had a tendency to full-on ignore Lang’s subordinates talking to her, for which he had to scold her.
Now, when they were left late in the (it wasn’t ‘his’ anymore, as a desk had been installed for her in the week following her arrival) office, they would chat.
Lang felt way more comfortable; he wasn’t one to shy away from people, but again, he had felt afraid to trigger something in her by disturbing her peace. He still wasn’t certain of what to think of the uncanny vibe he more than often caught from her.
Still, he had confided in her, telling her about his family back in Zheng Fa, and their tragic upcoming. His dream of restoring his family’s ruined reputation. The work he put up to get to his current place.
She had listened, putting her pen down and genuinely catching the pieces of information he was handing her. She even gave her thoughts, and promised with a smile to help him reach his goal.
However, she did not return the favour and Lang couldn’t seem to get her to open up about herself. One day, she would. Or so he kept hoping.
In the meantime he didn’t mind giving himself all over to her.
He sensed a fragility within her, something to treasure.
He had as one of his principles to protect each and everyone of his subordinates; but she felt special.
Now that he understood how laughing was the key to her, he did not hold back on jokes, puns and insights he had on the people they met on the same day.
She would giggle, scoff, burst out laughing, to the point of tears sometimes.
He liked the attention, wherever it came from. He felt special, as she wasn’t like that with anyone but him.
After a few months, they came to be very at ease with each other, playing music in the office, sharing their personal tastes. At least, one thing he knew about her is that she liked latin pop, even speaking spanish quite well to his surprise.
He, on the other hand, did not share her taste in music. But was too happy to have her open up on this one thing to shut her off it.
One evening, as he went home after she told him to (again), he pondered on his own intentions. He couldn’t get his mind off of her.
Was that simple curiosity, the want to know more of the person he spends his days with ? Or something stronger ?
He couldn’t seem to understand her, her reactions, what brought up to be the person she is today.
He felt obsessed, constantly scared of crossing boundaries he shouldn’t.
Is Shi-Long Lang a creep ? Certainly not. Lang Zi said “Respect women.”.
But that wasn’t the problem, he did respect her.
He technically was her superior, wouldn’t that be weird ?
Lang Zi also said “One should fulfill their desires, or die full of regrets.”.
“Lang. Do you not like my playlist ?”
He froze, his back to her while he was looking out the window, overlooking the city lights.
“Why would you think that ?”
She chuckled. “I can tell.”
He turned around. She had stood up from her chair, smiling while rearranging files on a shelf.
He scratched his chin, embarrassed. “You got me. But it’s alright ! I like…Knowing what you like.” He paused. “That’s kinda like knowing a part of you. And sometimes I wish I knew more of you”
She halted. “Oh.”
Something had changed in the air.
He opened his mouth to apologize. She was quicker.
“You’d like to know me better ? It’s true, I can’t say I have given much.” She turned to face him. She was smiling, her eyes half-lidded. “While you have given me so much to know.”
He smiled in return, and buried his hands in his pockets. “Exactly my thoughts.”
He turned to look at the city lights again; headlights and street lamps illuminating the night, giving him a good distraction. “I respect your wish to keep some things private, I guess we all need some… secrets ?” He shook off his head, feeling as he was getting lost in his speech. “Well maybe not exactly secrets but… Ugh.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, gathering his thoughts.
“I see what you mean.” He heard her steps coming closer.
“What I’m trying to say is : feel free to trust me. I see you as more than a coworker, we’re partners. You’re a part of my life, and as such, I would never ever do anything to wrong you, whatever happens.”
It wasn’t his first time saying something like this, as he tended to all his subordinates closely. However this time, he was feeling his face flaring up.
Her perfume was now all over his space.
He felt her arm passing under his. She was looking at him, her face tilted up.
“I know that.” Her eyes gleamed of a peculiar light. “Thank you Lang.”
She wasn’t smiling, but her face didn’t seem as stoic as usual. She opened her mouth to speak, but for the first time couldn’t seem to go through with it.
Lang didn’t dare to move or say anything, too afraid of scaring her away.
She closed her mouth and looked down to his chest. “I don’t show anything much, you’re right.” She squeezed his arm lightly, now pacing to the music. “But I am glad to have met you. You’re a good man.”
“Gee thanks.”
She laughed lightly, his self-consciousness fading away. He chuckled, now swinging at her pace. This one song wasn’t so bad. Soft spoken, somehow jazzy.
Both were now looking out the window.
“Do you dance ?” He had suddenly blurted out this question, which had been on his mind for weeks now.
A smirk. “Do you ?”
And so for the first time they danced, putting down the uncomfortable distance that had settled for months now.
This also made her laugh, and this time he knew it wasn’t to his expense.
She had kicked off her shoes, he had settled a hand on her waist and another one holding hers. They turned and swung around, Lang trying his best not to let himself get overtaken by his own awkwardness.
He made her twirl once, twice and thrice, each time giggling at his clumsy receptions.
She wasn’t particularly good at it either, to be fair.
Her eyes shined peculiarly, this time smiling along with the rest of her face. It seemed genuine, a moment of glee.
They had never been so close before, as they came to be pressed against each other, her arms over his shoulders and both his hands on each side of her waist.
The music had slowed, but he was barely even paying attention to it now.
Their eyes locked together, both smiling.
She caressed his neck, going up to his cheek.
The music had now stopped, having come to the end of the mix.
“Shih-na, can I kiss you ?”
She put her hand back on his shoulder, and rested her head against his chest, simply just pacing with him for a few seconds.
He opened his mouth to talk.
“You should go home Lang.”
He froze, immediately letting go of her body.
“Have I done something wrong ?”
She stayed against him, her hands lingering on his arms.
“Not really.” She released him, took a step back and crossed her arms. Looked at his face with a glint of… Sadness ? “It is getting late, and we have a full day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“...Right.” He looked at her, hesitant on what to say. “Thank you for tonight. I meant what I said”.
“And I heard you.” Her unemotional self was back on, as she turned away to put her shoes back on. “Good night Lang.”
“Good night Shih-na.”
The following days, weeks went back to normal, as if nothing had happened.
He didn’t know what to make of this moment, no matter how he tried to look at it.
They hadn’t particularly drifted away from each other; Lang had put up a distance at first, scared of making her uncomfortable after she declined kissing.
Did she actually decline ? To him, ignoring is declining. She declined, but did not get away.
Anyway, she was her usual self; strictly professional in public, familiar when it was just the two of them.
They had come up with a gimmick, after they both came with sunglasses on, one sunny day.
That same evening, she confided how funny she found that to be, and they rehearsed a pose to make with their shades.
It was a nice way to throw people off balance and Lang was happy enough to share that with her.
He would order take out for both of them during their evening working together, which they would share while talking about cases at hand.
He did not learn much about her; she would dodge his questions, or even clearly say that she did not wish to answer.
“I would rather not talk about that, Lang.”
“Okay okay, I get it.”
And they would carry on to their conversation, his lopsided smile answered by a chuckle.
He was past his initial curiosity and was now simply just content to be in her presence.
As the anniversary of their first day working together came up, he decided to get her a bouquet. This may be straightforward, but he had thought about it and concluded there was nothing wrong with it… Right ?
He watched as the florist cut the thorns off the burgundy roses, same colour as the accents of her dress.
He hid them away in another room, and decided to gift them in the evening, as a surprise instead of going home and letting her finish her work as they were now used to.
After he finished with his last file, he put on his coat as usual and wished her a good evening; then once he had the bouquet, he came back to their office.
He swung the door open, flowers in hand. “Shih-na, I’ve got something for you.”
She immobilized instantly; she was scanning something on the printer.
A few seconds passed, only interrupted by the machine’s noises.
She smiled coldly. “I thought you had left.” Her eyes went from his face to the bouquet. “What’s that for ?”
He closed the door and took a few steps towards her.
“Today marks a year since we started partnering up so… I thought I’d get you flowers.” He smiled to conceal his odd sentiment. “I know you like them.”
She seemed puzzled.
“Well… Thank you Lang. One year, uh ?” She gathered her pages. “Time really does fly.”
“Yeah !”
He recognized the colour of the file she was handling; these were from a classified folder he had put away in the morning. “Um, what are you doing with those ? I’m not sure that these should be…”
“It’s fine, I was just about to put these away.”
She smiled and walked to him, staring intently at his eyes.
“They are beautiful, thank you.” She took the bouquet, holding it close to her chest. “Roses are my favourites. You remembered.”
“Of course I did. I read that when they’re pink, it’s a sign of… gratitude ? Well I’m grateful to be your partner.” He peeked above her head, bringing his attention back to the files, when she took his hand to give it a squeeze, catching his attention.
“You have been so good to me Lang; made me feel welcome since my first day.”
She put down the bouquet on the nearby desk and focused back to him, taking both his hands this time.
Lang blushed. “Shih-na, know that you don’t owe me anything, I just wanted you to-”
“Everything I do Lang, I do because I want to. Now, I want you to know how much…” she paused, looked to the side for an instant and let go of his hands to embrace him, her body pressed against his. “I want to be close to you. As… partners.”
Her face was just a breath away from his, mouth parted in a tentative, daring smile.
Lang saw his chance and took it, giving himself up to her lips.
Eyes closed, they stumbled to Lang’s desk behind him, on which he leaned.
She was devouring him, as he was passionately returning the favour, his hand on her cheek.
She kicked off her heels, took off her gloves and pressed herself against him, now kissing and biting at his neck as he held her close, reveling in her smell and the feeling of her bare skin.
This felt like months of built up anticipation coming to fruition; he finally had her affection, and realized that this really was what he was after.
After that evening, they stayed closer than ever; he was finally able to take her on dates on the week-ends; they would go to the movies, talk for hours in restaurants and she would even come to his place, staying the night.
They would stay in bed for hours together, in the dark; Lang whispering sweet nothings until her hands caressing his body would stop, seemingly as she fell asleep.
However, she would always be gone at the time he woke up, the only thing left being her lingering perfume in his sheets.
He had had lovers before, but not like her.
She always had him on edge; he was admirative of her quick witted remarks, and came to appreciate her apparent indifference. He took pride in knowing how she really could be, with him and himself only.
They had protected each other on many cases of investigations going downhill; she would not hesitate to shoot, or take difficult decisions for his sake.
He was catching himself looking for her when he was alone, accustomed to having her at his side.
He felt as if he finally had found someone worth his loyalty, his unconditional love.
He opened his eyes and checked the time on his dashboard. 9:15, it was time to go.
He exited his car, shivering in the morning cold. The weather was foggy, he couldn’t see much in the distance.
He walked to the entrance, let himself get scanned, body searched, filed the paper that finally allowed him to enter the visiting room and sat on the plastic chair.
Waiting in anticipation. His leg ached, but he couldn’t help but to let it twitch.
Finally a loud beep rang, and light steps approached.
Her handcuffs jingled as she sat in front of him. An agent came and took off her restraints before leaving them alone.
She looked so fragile, tired ; her prison uniform was too big for her, while she used to exclusively wear tight clothes.
Ashy brown roots had grown back in her hair, and freckles were scattered on her nose and cheeks. She had gotten rid of her bangs, now exposing her forehead. Still, her hair was neatly brushed.
He realized that he had never seen her without makeup.
Or rather that she had never let him see her.
She was staring at him, stone-faced and seemingly waiting for him to make the first call.
He now knew how that would feel, seeing her again. It hurted.
Her general indifference made it all the more painful. He wondered how he looked from her side of the glass.
He leant his elbow on the table in front of him in an effort to look strong and composed.
One more time.
“Yo, Shih-na… Or would you rather be called Calisto ?”