#background fuba

Now, Wu Xie doesn’t know much about Ba Ye except that he was part of the Mystic Nine and disappeared under mysterious circumstances during an expedition in the tomb the Iron Triangle had been exploring a couple of weeks ago. He had presumed that even if they were not friends, Zhang Rishan and him were at least allies given that Ba Ye and Fo Ye’s friendship was just as well-known as Zhang Rishan’s devotion for his superior officer.

It doesn’t take long for Wu Xie to re-evaluate his assumptions. The two men haven’t yet reached out for each other when Wu Xie figures that the bond between them must be something akin to the one him and Xiaoge have. He’s never felt it himself, but Pangzi has complained often enough about it for Wu Xie to realise that this feeling of having completely faded away from the two men’s world is how people usually feel whenever him and Xiaoge share eye contact.

He has to admit it’s slightly awkward, but he doesn’t care enough about others' comfort to stop doing this himself in the future. He’s pretty sure he can’t control it anyway.

It gets even more awkward to stand there watching when Ba Ye more or less throws himself into Zhang Rishan’s arms. From this distance, he can’t hear what they say to each other, but he sees the way Zhang Rishan’s fingers cling to the fabric of Ba Ye’s clothes.

Sees his expression.

Relief is warring with pain and disbelief and it speaks of a fear Wu Xie is intimately familiar with. He still wakes up sometimes convinced that he’s only dreamed the past few years and Xiaoge is still out of his reach.

In fact, as he silently bear witness to the two men’s embrace, he’s gripped with the terror that Xiaoge has disappeared again, even if he can still feel him behind him. Even if they are standing so close together that he can feel his warmth. Yet, right at this moment, it feels like they are worlds apart.

He reaches out to grab at his arm, his irrational panic slowly abating when Xiaoge takes hold of his hand and links their fingers.

“I guess we’ll give you both a moment,” Pangzi announces after clearing his throat. If he’s been heard, neither Ba Ye nor Zhang Rishan aknowledge it.

Not that it matters because Pangzi is already pushing them out of the room.

Of course, he notices at once how Xiaoge and him are holding hands and he lets out a not-so-falsely irritated groan.

“Of course you’re-! I’ll just go and find an empty room or something. Come find me when you remember someone is after that guy’s ass!”

He leaves but Wu Xie isn’t paying attention because Xiaoge takes a step into his personal space and it’s just so easy to lean into him and press his face in the crook of his neck.

Like this his senses are filled with Xiaoge, as if he’s the only thing tangible left in the universe. He doesn’t think it would be too bad if his world was reduced to Xiaoge only.

He’s not sure how long exactly they stay like this until Pangzi ventures back, except maybe that it’s a too short eternity. However, he can’t say he’s surprised to find that Zhang Rishan and Ba Ye are still lost into each other when they join them again.

“You’re a terrible cook,” Tiezui snorts, amused in spite of himself and judging from the slight tilt of his head, Zhang Qiling doesn’t dispute the claim.

Now he understands why Wang Pangzi had threatened Zhang Qiling so colourfully whenever he approached the kitchen the few days Tiezui had had to share a safe house with the Iron Triangle a couple of years ago.

If this is the usual result of Zhang Qiling’s attempts at cooking, he can see the wisdom in such a strong reaction.

And while their situation isn’t as dire as the last time, Tiezui would still rather not burn this house down before Rishan and Wu Xie find their way to them.

“I guess we’re lucky I’m not.”

Another shrug and Tiezui gets the distinct impression that, edible or not, Zhang Qiling would have eaten whatever burnt mess he would have ended up with.

It’s a wonder he hasn’t died from food poisoning yet.

Tiezui quickly rummage through the fridge and pantry, selecting ingredients for something quick but filling. He doesn’t eat that much himself, especially not when he’s still worried for his husband, but he remembers that Zhang Qiling is something akin to a black hole when it comes to food.

The nice thing about staying in one of Xie Yuchen’s safe-houses is that there is a surprising amount of fresh produce to choose from. Not that he would have snubbed instant food or cans, but Rishan has rather spoiled him over the last two years when it comes to home-cooked meals.

He sets his ingredients on the counter and push the vegetables towards Zhang Qiling along with a cutting knife. “Come on, you’re on chopping duty.”

His eyes widen with surprise at the gentle order, before eyeing the knife dubiously.

“Come on,” Tiezui insists, “I’ve seen what you can do with a blade. You can definitely chop some vegetables. You’ll get to eat faster if you help.”

Zhang Qiling looks up from the knife to stare at him, silently expressing his skepticism at Tiezui’s faith in his skills.

It’s a mistake.

He’s trying too hard to sell the narrative of his ineptitude and unfortunately for him, Tiezui is neither Wu Xie nor Wang Pangzi. He doesn’t get fooled easily, even by a Zhang.

Yes, everyone has their own limitations in life. But you don’t get to live as long as Zhang Qiling without picking a few basic skills. Even with the memory loss, the other man is stubborn enough that he’d quickly learn again whatever he’s forgotten.

And while the Iron Triangle spend a lot of time together, it’s a known fact that Zhang Qiling sometimes goes off on his own for extended period of times. And Tiezui rather doubts there would be that many people willing to feed him during those expeditions of his. Or that Zhang Qiling would even trust anyone enough to accept their food.

“Don’t worry, even if you help, your secret is safe with me,” Tiezui reassures him with a roll of his eyes. “Anyway, even if I told them, I don’t think it would change anything. They like being able to take care of you too much for that.”

That’s one of the first thing anyone notices about the Iron Triangle. How much they care about each other. In a tomb, it’s slightly more obvious with Zhang Qiling’s propensity to push the other two behind him and take head on whatever is threatening them on his own, but that’s only part of it.

If you were to ask Tiezui, what really shows the level of Zhang Qiling’s commitment to his two friends is his willingness to let them take care of him. It’s in how he accepts them worrying over him, even if they all know that there’s very little that is actually a challenge to him. It’s in the small contented smiles he can’t never quite hide from someone watching closely whenever Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi nags at him to eat or sleep more.

Tiezui is used to the Zhangs. He’s married to one after all.

They don’t like having to rely on anyone but themselves. They don’t like appearing weak.

A Zhang willingly showing any kind of vulnerability is a show of trust. It’s a proof of devotion.

It’s just too bad that they’re so emotionally stunted. They never completely realise that the people who want to take care of them understand that perfectly. They never realise that those same people would rather rip their own heart out of their chest than to ever betray them.

“It’s either that or you wash the dishes afterwards.”

There’s the tiniest moue of disgust appearing on his face before Zhang Qiling picks up the knife and Tiezui wisely says nothing.