silver_sun | (no subject) (Reply)

Going to attept to post here more regularly. So here is some fic for Some Sentences Sunday - and it is still actually Sunday here for a whole five more minutes.

So more from Before the Dawn. This is from right at the start of the next part. I'm hoping to have it posted around mid week

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In the end Fang Duobing is gone for less than an hour before returning. He looks a little too pale and his eyes are red from the hurt and angry tears he's shed, but there is a quiet determination in them. Even if he has to hear all those hurtful things again he will.

Sitting at the table, Li Lianhua hasn't moved, his shoulder still leaning against Di Feisheng who hasn't found the need to move away either. His breathing has returned to normal now, but Li Lianhua can still see a lingering tension about him. Whatever fears or feelings he has are being suppressed by sheer force of will.

There is clear relief in his eyes as he turns to see Fang Duobing letting himself back in. All the same he isn't in any mood for further discussions or maybe he fears Li Lianhua denying what he considers already agreed. Before anyone else has a chance to say anything, Di Feisheng says, "He going to try."

Something like panic wells up, and Li Lianhua wants to tell them that it wasn't like that. It was a misunderstanding. He hasn't decided yet. He should say something. He should-

Fang Duobing closes the remaining distance between them in an instant. Wrapping his arms around them both, he hugs them tight, like he's never wants to let go.

"Really, Xiaobao, we do need to breath," Li Lianhua says, when he realises that Di Feisheng isn't going to be the one to complain. Not that there is really anything to complain about. Not unless he wants to direct it towards himself for thinking how easy it would be sink into those arms.

Fang Duobing does as requested and loosens his hold, but doesn't fully release either of them, keeping a hand on each of their shoulders. He looks at them both with that bright beaming look that he'd worn so often when they'd first met and which had in recent weeks become almost absent.

Beneath the relief, Li Lianhua can see how tired he looks. He's been pushing himself hard, taking on the role of looking after them both. Di Feisheng is almost better, at least physically, from what he has been through. He has no such hope of recovery for himself, even if they do push him into using the Styx flower, whatever the out come everything they have right now will be ruined.

It'll be ruined if you're dead.

Objectively that's true, he can't enjoy life with them if he isn't alive. Yet at least he wouldn't be there to feel awful about messing it all up. He wouldn't have to feel anything ever again. It feels completely callous, and for a moment all Li Lianhua can feel is disgusted with himself. How can they want someone who can find relief in the idea that they won't be around to see how much he's hurt those left behind?

He expects Fang Duobing's first question to be addressed to him, but it's not. Looking a Di Feisheng he asks, "How did you-"

"Does it matter?" Di Feisheng says, interrupting him with a bluntness that says he doesn't consider it to be something open for discussion. "It's decided."

Now would be a good time to say it's not, but the words once more stick in Li Lianhua's throat.

A wary look comes over Fang Duobing's face, and he pulls back a little from them both. "You didn't threaten anyone did you?"

"Why can't I?"

"He didn't," Li Lianhua says, not wanting to end up in the middle of a furniture breaking argument. "Lao Di is far more civilised. Sometimes at least."

"I told him the truth. It wasn't nice, but it rarely is."

Fang Duobing still looks doubtful that this is the whole truth, but doesn't argue further, knowing that he'll get nothing else from either of them.