Chapter Text
"Let me get this straight... you suspect Lu Guang to have been kidnapped again?"
Jae Lee slowly pushed away from his desk, head tipping back to glance past his coworkers. Eyes falling upon Captain Xiao.
"I'm not- yes, I understand, but-"
The man looked to be in mild stress, and given what he was hearing, that was little surprise. After all, the name wasn't new.
There was a heavy sigh from the older officer. "Alright, I get the pictures. You two come- what do you mean Cheng Xiaoshi sent you a text that he needs to- right, no- and what about your-? Ah. That's certainly an issue"
If his interest hadn't been caught before, the mention of the photo studio trio being split up, from the sound of it, certainly did.
Intrigued, Jae Lee watched his current boss pinch the bridge of his nose, looking increasingly like he'd prefer some wine instead of his cold coffee.
Eventually, he hung up. Glancing to Jae Lee. "Qiao Ling is coming over soon, move your work to my office until she arrives, Sergeant. If anyone can track someone down, it's you" he called over, and the dark haired young man was quick to comply.
Vaguely, he heard someone mutter something about the Captain being terrible at keeping track of his strays. If anyone heard Jae Lee stifle a laugh, no one snitched.
It was around half an hour or so later when the door to Captain Xiao's office slammed open, no knocking or anything to warn him of the sudden 'guest' in a room that didn't belong to him in the first place.
Jae Lee glanced up from where he was sifting through some photos from the case he was working on on the side, feet propped up on his de-facto boss' desk.
Most probably wouldn't have dared such a thing, but he did enjoy a special sort of immunity. The benefits of being on a job you couldn't be fired from...
"Is this how you treat a potential kidnapping case?"
The young woman looked livid, and it was almost a hint amusing. Clearly, she had no idea that he was the one who'd located her friend last time.
Then again... he could hardly blame her, considering her friend seemed to be missing again. Jae Lee could still vividly remember the guy.
"I was here waiting for you, Ms" he countered lightly, earning himself a scowl. It was a hint amusing. "Captain Xiao requested I work with you"
Qiao Ling glanced to the photos in his hands. "Looks like you're already... working on something... else. Hey, isn't that the manager from Bridon who died?" she asked, a frown flitting across her face.
At the question, Jae Lee sat up straighter. "Why indeed, didn't think you'd know about that old case" he commented idly, putting the photos away.
Old was a stretch, considering it was three years ago rather than three decades... but most cases nowadays didn't need three years to be concluded.
"My brother and friend were... they were in Bridon, did a shoot for him together with an actual model, shortly before it happened" she admitted, and Jae Lee paused. Eyes dropping to the file.
He vaguely remembered the report, though in truth, he'd entirely forgotten about the 'witness'- who couldn't really be called one. After all, being knocked out didn't give you a clear view of what happened, now did it?
He could vividly remember the case, he'd been one of the officers called to the scene. They didn't matter to him much. The events surrounding his death had been noted as a natural cause, anyway, though. It didn't matter how he died. What he was investigating was the disappearance of his corpse.
So, he shrugged, offered a smile. "Makes sense, then" he said, tapping his fingers against the file. Eyes narrowing when he remembered a crucial detail about the young woman before him. "Say... you help the special taskforce as well, correct?"
If he remembered correctly... this might just work.
Qiao Ling frowned. "I'm here because my friend is missing, not for work" she pointed out slowly, as if he were stupid. Though seemed to at least catch onto the fact that Jae Lee, too, knew about the existence of special powers.
With a sigh, he threw the file to her, fought a grin. Watched her catch it with ease. "Yea, but I need to boot up the security cameras and search through a bunch to hopefully get even a glimpse. You can do me one small favor, no?"
He watched her eyes narrow at him. "You are so shameless" she complained, and Jae Lee smiled lightly. Shrugging to himself when the young woman continued ranting: "I wouldn't even need your help if Lu Guang wouldn't keep evading photos-"
"Yes, yes" he waved his hand dismissively. "Now, please? Could you try locating his corpse?"
Qiao Ling balked, then rolled her eyes. "I don't like you" she told him, plain and simple. Jae Lee only smiled, refraining from making a snarky remark.
Despite the annoyed look, her eyes already flashed white.
For a long moment, she simply stared. Frozen in place, eyes locked onto the photo. Then she dropped it, stumbling back with a gasp: "How-?"
Her eyes were back to their natural color, but wide and frightened. A hint confused as well.
Jae Lee couldn't help but think that this, certainly, proved his theory correct. Vein couldn't be dead. Not with a reaction like that.
Which was such an interesting theory to be correct- after all... the man had been announced dead. No heart beat. No signs of as much as a twitch. And wasn't there an autopsy report as well?
No, by all means, that man should not be alive.
But he didn't need to be a genius to recognize that look of shock.
He didn't, however, expect the shout of "Lu Guang!" before the young woman raced out the door.
Fascinated, he picked up the picture.
"My... this really is shaping up to be an interesting situation"
Absentmindedly, he wondered if he should've warned her that the weather forecast had predicted rain.
~
It was raining again.
Rain always seemed to follow him.
It didn't matter, not really. That's what umbrellas were for.
His phone pinged. When he checked his messages, a location was the only thing he found. The sight left him with a light chuckle.
"Everything is falling into place, just as planned..." Liu Xiao murmured to himself and headed off to the train station.
The speck of white was easy to spot, even from a distance.
With the rain, no one was out and about to notice anything off.
Though the thing that was off was, by all means, only one thing: the young, white haired man laying on the field near the train station. Trembling in the cold rain.
He crouched down next to him, gently tugging the blindfold in place from where it had slipped. The motif on it left him scoffing, but then he smiled pleasantly. Even though Lu Guang couldn't see him.
"My, look what the wolf lead me to" he murmured lightly, watched the younger man freeze with a smile on his lips.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then: "Liu Xiao"
Liu Xiao smiled at the quiet whisper, adjusting the umbrella so it covered both of them. "Enjoying the rain?" he asked lightly, tilted his head.
"Vein is alive" the white haired man murmured, instead of reacting to his question. Shoulders tense.
In response, he hummed. "Alive and well, yes" he confirmed with a smile. "You're losing this round, Guang"
"You made me believe Vein is dead" Lu Guang pointed out, sounding as if he had a hard time coming to terms with it.
Liu Xiao could only laugh. "Did you think I would play fair?" he asked, a hint amused. "I think it's time you stop, and we both know it"
At his words, Lu Guang went utterly still. Shook his head after a long moment. At first so light he barely saw- then quite a lot more clearly.
"No" the younger man croaked out, sitting upright in seconds. Almost hitting his head against Liu Xiao's. "No, I can't-"
He dropped the umbrella in favor of firmly grabbing Lu Guang's shoulders. He didn't mind the rain all that much. His hat proved useful in such a weather. "Look at yourself, Guang. Who are you trying to fool? You have no use for them anymore. Make it easier on the three of you and come with me, instead of forcing them to carry your weight"
He waited, but received no answer. Smiled broadly. "Mhm, you're only trying to fool yourself. I promised you, didn't I? Play by my rules, and everything will go fine in the long run, just as you want~"
"... I promised him" Lu Guang finally whispered, voice nearly breaking. "I can't break my promise, Liu Xiao"
He hummed, more in acknowledgement than answer. "But you also promised you'd save him, didn't you? You won't ever fulfill that promise, not like this... you want to prevent his death node, don't you?" his hand landed on Lu Guang's shoulder.
The other flinched, but didn't move away. Not this time. "... more than anything" he confirmed almost hollowly, and Liu Xiao smiled.
"Then come along. You might be a burden on them... but you're not on me. And I can make sure the node won't happen. You know that, don't you?"
At the almost hypnotic whisper, Lu Guang lowered his head. Nodded, utterly silent. The gesture spoke more than words, anyway.
Liu Xiao's eyes trailed over the blindfold, and he traced the stitching on it. "Return to Time Photo Studio if lost, hm? I don't think you'll need that, will you?" the older asked lightly, back to his usual tone, watched the other flinch.
Trembling fingers reached up, glided across the stitching. "Don't take this from me" Lu Guang murmured, emotion return to his voice, shaking his head. Almost desperately. "It was a gift- at least let me keep it"
Unbeknownst to Lu Guang, Liu Xiao made a face. Displeased with that particular turn of events. Then he sighed, almost dramatically. "Fine, fine" he said, tugged him to his feet. "But let's go, hm?"
In the distance, he saw a young woman and fought a pleased smile. "And Lu Guang? Don't forget what will happen if you don't stick to the new plan" he whispered in his ear.
The white haired man stiffened beside him. "Don't hurt them," he mumbled, shook his head, "please, don't- you have to promise-"
Liu Xiao shushed him, pat his back lightly. "They are safe... for as long as you listen" he assured, at the same time as the call of "Lu Guang!" reached both their ears.
They stopped, just long enough for the young woman to catch up to them. "Lu Guang, thank goodness you're okay... thank you for watching him, Mr. I was looking for him" Qiao Ling's voice was filled with relief, but her tone quickly shifted to suspicion.
Lu Guang tensed, a deep pit forming in his stomach. "Qiao Ling" he murmured, hesitant. Head lowering out of pure reflex. "I'm... sorry. I need to leave"
Qiao Ling froze, glancing between the two of them with growing suspicion. "Lu Guang...?" she took a step closer, hand hovering but not touching.
Something about the dark haired young man unsettled her, despite his kind appearance. "Tell Cheng Xiaoshi I'm sorry, and that everything will be fixed. Everything will be as it should"
At his words, she faltered. Eyebrows drawing together. "As it- Lu Guang?" her voice shook a hint. Confused and lost.
The white haired man smiled, forced and not just a hint sad. "Let's face it, I wouldn't have been much help. I'm just a burden, nowadays"
It physically pained him, admitting it out loud. Made his heart ache and stomach revolt. But it was what neither Qiao Ling nor Cheng Xiaoshi had dared to admit, after all.
"Lu Guang-" Qiao Ling sounded almost desperate, shocked at what he was saying, but the former seer backed away. Bumped into Liu Xiao. Found himself spun around into a random direction and gently pushed to walk.
Somehow, he knew without having to see, that the man was smiling at having finally won their cat and mouse game.
"Good bye, Qiao Ling. I really am sorry"