Work Text:
Why did I even agree to this?
That thought repeated itself over and over as Yue Qingyuan searched for his coworkers. They had decided to go to a bar as a team-building exercise. Yue Qingyuan had tried to decline their invitations on multiple occasions, but in the end, he gave in. He sighed as he leaned on a barstool, surveying the crowds of people for someone he recognized.
"You-"
Yue Qingyuan turned to look at the person speaking. He opened his mouth to reply but was speechless as he recognized the face.
"Yue Qi," he spoke, sounding just as Yue Qingyuan remembered. How could he have forgotten it when the same voice replayed daily in his dreams?
"Xiao Jiu," Yue Qingyuan spoke softly, as if not to scare him away. Shen Jiu just stared at him, a look of resentment clouding his face.
"Qingqiu."
"Qingqiu?"
"My name is Qingqiu," Shen Jiu spoke sharply, perhaps more so than Yue Qingyuan remembered.
Yue Qingyuan was silent as Shen Qingqiu stared him down. And then, Shen Qingqiu laughed. He laughed and laughed. Somehow, Yue Qingyuan knew he wasn't laughing in joy.
"You- You really are living the life, huh? Without me."
Yue Qingyuan was shocked.
"What? No! Xiao Jiu, I—"
"Qingqiu! I told you, it's Qingqiu now." If it weren't for the loud music they were blasting, everyone in the building could have heard him shout. Yue QIngyuan could feel the anger radiating off him.
“Why did I even think you cared?”
"What?" Yue Qingyuan was experiencing shock after shock, his mind couldn't keep up.
"You said you'd come back. You said you'd come back for me. I waited, Qi-ge. I waited. I stayed in that horrible house, with that horrible foster family. You never returned."
"Xiao—Qingqiu, I... I'm sorry."
Shen Qingqiu sneered. "Sorry, sorry, sorry! It's all you ever said when we were younger. Seems like you've stayed the same in some ways.
"You know, I slaved away in that house for years. And when I finally got out, I landed here! In this shithole of a bar, serving rude drunk customers and getting harassed by ugly old men. Clearly, you didn't have to deal with that, wearing that fancy suit and tie with those expensive dress shoes."
Yue Qingyuan couldn't blame Shen Qingqiu for thinking that way. After all, he did fail to keep his promise, didn't he?
He was too late.
He was too late.
And because of his incompetence, his Xiao-Jiu suffered.
"I really... I really am sorry—"
"Again with the damn sorry!"
"—I was late and—"
"You... You were what?" Shen Qingqiu stared at him, wide-eyed.
"I..."
"What did you say, Yue Qi? What the fuck did you just say!?"
"I said I was sorry, for everything."
Shen Qingqiu grabbed his tie and pulled him close.
"I wasn't asking about your stupid sorry. I was asking about what you said after that, you idiot!"
Yue Qingyuan could feel his cheeks heat up, unsure if it was from the proximity or something else...
"I... was late."
"What the fuck does that mean!?"
Yue Qi had tried to find Shen Jiu again, once he was free from his adoptive parents' influence. By the time he was able to do so, Shen Jiu had emancipated and completely cut contact with the people from his past. Yue Qi could find no trace of him; it was as if he had simply disappeared into dust.
"By the time I was able to search for you, you had already disappeared. I... I tried to look for you, after, but you hadn't left a single trace."
Shen Qingqiu was speechless.
His... His Qi-ge had tried to rescue him.
Shen Qingqiu turned around and started walking. He turned around and saw Yue Qingyuan standing still.
"What are you doing, are you an idiot!? Follow me."
Yue Qingyuan could only silently trace after him.
Shen Qingqiu led them to a private room.
As soon as Yue Qingyuan entered, the doors were closed behind them. Shen Qingqiu pushed him against the wall and pulled him down by his shirt collar.
"You—" Shen Qingqiu kissed him.
Xiao-Jiu... Kissed him?!
"—are going to tell me—" Another kiss.
"—everything."
Yue Qingyuan felt like he was dreaming. He only realized he had been silent for too long when his Xiao-Jiu screamed angrily at him.
"You idiot! Are you even listening to me!?"
Yue Qingyuan smiled, he smiled and just started giggling like a little girl. His laughing pissed his Xiao-Jiu off even more, and he felt his forehead being knocked against Shen Qinqiu's.
"Idiot! Dumb, dumb Qi-ge! Why are you laughing?!"
"Xiao-Jiu, I... I really missed you. I love you so much."
Shen Qingqiu sneered.
"If you love me, then just explain already!"
"Of course, anything for Xiao-Jiu."
...
"Idiot... I missed you too."