Work Text:
"Here." Lu Guang handed a packet of food to Cheng Xiaoshi, who took it without any complaints whatsoever. Having returned from the dive into Xia Fei's body, Cheng Xiaoshi paused ever-so-slightly at the familiar design on the bag of dry noodle snacks, his eyes lighting up.
"Eh? Lu Guang, you're a fan of this too?" he murmured, "I loved this when I was younger. Qiao Ling would buy them in bulk since they were cheaper that way."
A frown graced his lips. The more important question was how could he not? Everything that Cheng Xiaoshi shared with him was seared into his memory. He doesn't think he could forget those times even if he wanted to. Each time he so much as closed his eyes, he could visualise the photograph of the cat which Cheng Xiaoshi said looked like him, the horribly drawn-on watch on his wrist, and most importantly his smile which never changed even after all these years.
Cheng Xiaoshi scooted closer to him, mischievously pointing at his mouth. "Won't you feed me some? I'm oh-so-tired from the dive, I can't even lift a finger..." he even flopped onto the couch to make it seem more life-like.
Lu Guang's eye twitched. Ever since Xiaoshi figured out his fever was gone, all his theatrics just about came back in full force. "Weren't you against it when you were in Xia Fei's body?"
"How is that the same thing here?" Cheng Xiaoshi's eyebrows nudged together.
"Enlighten me. How is it not?"
"Guang Guang's the one feeding me. Of course it's different," Cheng Xiaoshi said with total confidence, the affectionate nickname causing him to make a face. "You're really going to leave me suffering like this? Lu Guang, you-"
Lu Guang's shoulders sagged in defeat as he fed him a piece. Satisfied, Cheng Xiaoshi stopped talking and focused on eating, his head just barely touching Lu Guang's leg from how close they were on the couch. He let out a satisfied hum as Lu Guang begrudgingly fed him another piece.
"It would have been nice if we got to know you sooner," Cheng Xiaoshi said suddenly, mouth full of the snack, "I was the same back then, if not more brash than how I am right now. But if I knew you, maybe I'd have gotten into less fights." He chuckled. "Or maybe we would have fought more people together? Who knows."
Lu Guang dropped the packet of snacks on Cheng Xiaoshi and stood, prompting him to sit up. "Hey! Lu Guang- where are you going?"
"Taking a nap."
"Oh," he sounded bewildered. "I thought you were angry, with the way you stood up like that."
"You thought wrong." Lu Guang looked away. He returned to his room and climbed back into his bunk bed, curling up into a familiar fetal position.
... He thought that he was over Cheng Xiaoshi forgetting their promise. It had been a long time since after all, but hearing those words made him uncomfortable, like it peeled at wounds he thought were healed but were just badly concealed.
Lu Guang shut his eyes. Whatever it was that he felt, it didn't matter. All he needed to ensure was nothing would happen to Xiaoshi again.