Work Text:
The time photo studio had barely received any customers, which was to be expected on Wednesdays. Today, only a regular, an old woman who wanted new photos developed was the studios only client, so it was safe to say it had been a slow day.
Lu Guang sighed. He decided it was time to close up for the day. The sun had started to disappear, masking the shop from the warm glow of golden yellow to a deeper, slightly unsettling red. Sunset was always his favourite time of day as he always thought it had the best lighting to take photos. He wouldn’t admit he also liked it because it reminded him of certain persons eyes, someone who he felt so innately drawn to like a moth to a flame.
Now, the studio was bathed in the dying red light of the sunset. God, he hated the colour red.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and he turned to see his new visitor.
“Qiao Ling, what brings you here?”
“Just here to see my two favourite boys, that’s it!” She explained whilst bringing out her phone Speaking of which, where’s Cheng Xiaoshi, I was hoping to order some takeout, I mean it’s been a long day, so I’m exhausted you know?”
Lu Guang narrowed his eyes. “Cheng Xiaoshi really fancied bubble tea, he should be back soon”
“Don’t tell me he left you here to do all the work whilst he slacks off” She grimaced. “Seriously he can be so annoyi- “
“Hey, don’t you dare insult me landlady!” Cheng Xiaoshi was back from his mission, storming up to Qiao Ling. “I’ll have you know I’ve done my fair share off work, and I’ve so graciously and kindly bought three drinks! Maybe you don’t deserve the result of my hard work!”
“Cheng Xiaoshi…” Lu Guang tried to get him to calm down, but it was too late. Qiao Ling had already snatched the bag out of Cheng Xiaoshi’s grip and started bickering with him about respect and all that.
Lu Guang could only sigh and smirk silently as he watched the seen unfold- they really did act like siblings, he thought. Times like this with his favourite people, he treasured deeply. He could only turn towards the window watching as the last light from the sky disappeared into the evening.
***
He suddenly awoke and was running. Fast. What was he running from? Gun shots echoed from down the corridor. His heart stopped for a second, but he didn’t stop running. His legs burned as he raced onwards, turning and pushing through random obstacles. The gun continued to shoot.
What’s happening and why? Where’s Cheng Xiaoshi?
He didn’t have time to finish his thought as he somehow tumbled to the floor. Instead of hitting it he seemed to fall through it, entering a dark and inky void. He tried to scream but no sound came out.
“This is your punishment for changing the past” a voice echoed as he fell through the seemingly endless space. He recognised it, a man he hated to death. Vein…
All of a sudden, the cold embrace of the abyss ended. He awoke gasping. Sunlight shone down on him as he looked around-he was on the sofa in the sunroom, he was back home?
It was just a nightmare. He realised. Cheng Xiaoshi was standing opposite him, smiling like he usually does.
“Did you have a nice nap, Guang Guang. Heh, it makes sense you had one after all that hard work the landlady forced us to do today, right?”
Lu Guang blinked, chuckling nervously “Yeah, of course…”
Without warning, Cheng Xiaoshi ran up to him, wrapping his arms around his torso, the motion being so sudden Lu Guang couldn’t help the blush forming on his face. He was so close to him, the lack of proximity was daunting, it was so perfect it made him giddy, but Lu Guang felt in his gut something was wrong.
“You gotta start putting more effort in, or else whose gonna run the studio, we don’t want it out of business”
Lu Guang felt his blood turn to ice. Something warm was spreading across his abdomen, something red and sticky, blood… Gasping, he looked back up to face Xiaoshi, who was no longer hugging him, but sprawled out on the floor, blood forming a massive pool around him.
“Cheng Xiaoshi…?” he muttered, breathing rate increasing as he watched his partner bleed out.
The studio was no longer bathed in that sweet, yellow sunlight but had changed to a sickening, vile red.
“We’re all dead, remember?” Cheng Xiaoshi replied, smirking slightly.
This is wrong, this shouldn’t be happening yet, he still had time, he could still change the past! He started to hyperventilate.
He felt something cold and metallic touch the back of his head. A disgustingly silky voice whispered in his ear. “The more you change the past, the more painful I’ll kill him. I’ll keep on doing it until you learn your lesson, because after all this is your punishment”
The gun fired.
***
Lu Guang woke up in a cold sweat. All he could hear was the soft sound of Cheng Xiaoshi’s snoring and his own hitching breaths of panic. His pyjama shirt was completely soaked, and he was sure he looked a mess. He needed the sticky sensation of sweat of his skin- it felt like needles.
As he climbed down from the bunk, he saw his partner waving his arms about, having an imaginary battle with in his dreams. Cheng Xiaoshi’s face was peaceful when he was asleep- and although Lu Guang often teased about his snoring habit- as much as the black haired man denied it- he found it grounding and frankly- adorable.
Lu Guang suddenly realised he was staring and rushed into the bathroom to wash his face.
When he came back, Cheng Xiaoshi was no longer asleep but now staring at him as he entered the room again.
Cheng Xiaoshi’s face softened when he saw him.
“Did I wake you?” Lu Guang asked, turning his head down feeling guilty.
“Yup, but I don’t mind. Normally I’m the one waking you.” Cheng Xiaoshi chuckled lightly.
Lu Guang sighed, “Idiot” he retorted.
Cheng Xiaoshi swiftly recovered from the common but welcomed insult
. “Did you have a nightmare?” he asked. Lu Guang avoided eye contact.
Xiaoshi waited patiently, which was one of the things Lu Guang liked about him. However, he guessed being awoken in the middle of the night, whilst being groggy from whatever dreams he was having, his patience was a lot smaller- because he suddenly grabbed Lu Guangs arm and pulled him over to his bed.
“I’ll take that silence as a yes” Cheng Xiaoshi decided whilst dragging Lu Guang. Lu Guang- who wasn’t expecting the sudden movement, tripped and fell onto the bed.
Lu Guang was a bit shocked by such assertiveness, whilst Xiaoshi thought Lu Guangs stunned face was really cute.
“Do you want to sleep next to me tonight then?” Cheng Xiaoshi sheepishly asked, who suddenly felt a bit self-conscious “Cos normally you comfort me after a nightmare, so I thought maybe I could do the same- you’re always looking out for me so umm yeah? “
Lu Guang was at first going to refuse, he didn’t need his problems to bother Cheng Xiaoshi, but the heartwarming puppy eyes Xiaoshi was giving was too hard to refuse.
Lu Guang sighed in defeat “I’d like that”
Cheng Xiaoshi smiled, which melted Lu Guangs heart as they were both swallowed by the blanket.
As he was laying next to Xiaoshi, he could feel the heat coming from him. Lu Guang heart beat raced, but not in a bad way in which it did in the nightmare, but in nervous happiness. He was too nervous it fact to notice as Xiaoshi’s limbs curled around him like a koala. He tensed up in surprise from the action but didn’t refuse it.
“Don’t leave me, Guang Guang…” Cheng Xiaoshi slurred, seemingly half-awake half asleep.
Lu Guang, suddenly feeling quite sleepy, could only answer,” I made a promise, didn’t I, that I would stay with you as long as I can”
He didn’t know if Xiaoshi had heard him, but I didn’t matter.
Feeling exhaustion start to form over his body, he returned the hug, seeking comfort in his embrace. As he began to drift off, he could feel Xiaoshi’s heart pumping against his own chest and could hear the soft sounds of his breathing, all signs that his world was safe and alive.