Bai Yutong’s arm is wrapped around him. With his back pressed against Bai Yutong, his head is resting on the outstretched arm underneath him. Zhan Yao takes in the warmth. The closeness. The familiarity. He lets his fingers run over Bai Yutong’s arm, drawing little patterns into the skin absent minded.Trying to calm his nerves.
“Don’t worry”, Bai Yutong says, breaking the silence. “We’ll find a way to break this curse.”
Zhan Yao can’t fight the sad smile blossoming on his face. He wishes he could feel just a tiny bit as sure as Bai Yutong sounds. With a swift motion he turns around, burying his face in Bai Yutong’s chest and breathes in deeply. He’s so close he can feel the steady heartbeat underneath his ears. Can feel the subtle rising and falling of Bai Yutong’s chest. Suddenly there are fingers carding through his hair, scraping down softly. He leans into the touch. Eagerly. It’s almost like nothing is wrong, like this is just a normal day.
Zhan Yao wants to secure this memory in his brain, wants to remember it forever.
But he can’t.
He won’t remember.
Nothing. Not this moment. Not the things they’ve talked about. Nothing. Zhan Yao will forget everything.
Everything. Even Bai Yutong.
Again.
He screws his eyes shut. Shutting his eyes from the inevitable. Just like a small child unwilling to face what he doesn’t want to acknowledge. But he doesn’t care if he’s childish, not tonight, he thinks and presses himself closer against Bai Yutong.
“Don’t worry.” Bai Yutong whispers into his hair, arms tightening around him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. This will end.”
Zhan Yao gets cursed to loose his memory (over and over and over again) But who has cursed him in this world of unknown powers and wild intrigues undermining the oh so secure established order?
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Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
fandom: SCI 谜案集
pairing: Bai Yutong/Zhan Yao
words: 1000
additional information: prequel to #3 (x), sequel to #3 (x)
A pained groan escapes Bai Yutong’s throat.
He’s been slipping in and out of consciousness for some time now. Bound to a steely chair by heavy chains. His head hurts like hell, the throbbing behind his temples is driving him crazy. His body aches all over, heaviness inching into every fiber of his, pulling him down. The pain runs through him, adding up bit by bit, turning into one big maze of pure hurt surrounding him. It’s making it impossible to him to tell where what kind of pain starts and where it ends, giving way to another. No chance to determine which kick and which punch hit where, leaving behind which trace. It’s only one blur of pain.
Cowards, he thinks, as he fights against the mist clouding his brain. Medication, drugs. Only cowards do it like this.
The darkness around him claws at his mind. It’s pulling at him.
He’d been careless. How could he let them get him?!
At least, he thinks as another wave of pain shakes his body. Sweat runs down his face, shirt already drenched. He feverishly blinks at the sweat drops trying to keep them from dripping into his eyes, willing away the burning the salt leaves behind.
At least Zhan Yao got out in time.
Another violent shiver takes over his body. His muscles strain against the unmoving chainsas he rears up with last bits of strength.
At least he’s save, he thinks as the dark claims his mind and the world around him goes out.
~~~
Cold fury takes over Zhan Yao’s mind at the sight presented to him behind the metal door.
He finally found Bai Yutong.
Bound to a chair, steely chains trapping him. His eyes are closed. Sweat is running over his face.
An icy clasp opts for Zhan Yao’s heart, as he sees the dark bruises forming on Bai Yutong’s skin. He can see them, even from where he’s still standing at the door. Frozen. Just the sight of the faint raising and falling of Bai Yutong’s chest keeps him from bursting completely, turning around and ending the person responsible for this, right on spot.
But he found Bai Yutong. And Bai Yutong is his priority.
He steps into the room, at first cautiously, then his steps fasten. Suddenly he can’t shorten the distance between them fast enough and in the next moment he’s already by Bai Yutong’s side. He stops in front of him. The quick motion in front of him causing Bai Yutong to stir in his sleep and suddenly his eyes snap open. The first thing Zhan Yao sees is wild panic. The eyes are glassy, pupils unfocused. Zhan Yao’s tenses at the sight, teeth grinding against each other, his hands ball into fists by his side.
Someone will pay for this. The thought shoots through his mind. He’s gonna make them pay.
Despite the turmoil fighting inside of him, his voice is quiet and calm as he speaks. “Bai Yutong? Bai Yutong it’s me.”
Bai Yutong’s head turns to him, eyes still dazed.
“I’m here.” Zhan Yao reaches out, carefully placing his hands on Bai Yutong’s shoulder. He can feel the muscles tense up at first, only to relax immediately underneath his fingers. And just like that the nagging, that had been at the back of mind since the moment Bai Yutong was taken from him, quiets down. The moment his hand touched Bai Yutong his nerves got soothed. He takes a deep, grounding breath, eyes quickly skimming over Bai Yutong’s face and body. Assessing the damage done to him.
“Zhan Yao-“
The voice is small, not much more than a breeze. The sound is strange. Too thin. It sounds wrong. Zhan Yao’s heart aches.
Without warning Bai Yutong’s face contorts, eyes furrowing. Feverish eyes glare up at him.
“Zhan Yao- Nonono! Why are you here?! You shouldn’t- it’s too dangerous-“
Zhan Yao ignores the slurred protest, placing his finger on Bai Yutong’s chapped lips, thus stopping the wave of words spouting out.
“Shhh”, he hums. “Stop.”
Zhan Yao leans in, finger still on the lips, firm eyes staring into Bai Yutong’s.
“I’m gotta get you out of here. Now.”
Bai Yutong holds his stare for another moment, still a feverish glace to them, before his eyes fall shut once more and letting out a shaky smile.
Zhan Yao reaches up with his other hand, carefully placing it on Bai Yutong’s cheek.
“You are safe now, Bai Yutong.”
A small smile blooms on Bai Yutong’s face. There, a small nod, making the turmoil within Zhan Yao quiet down.
“Okay”, Zhan Yao exhales slowly, ignoring the swelling in his chest. Reluctantly, he retreats his hand, reaching for his communicator instead.
“I’ve got him”, he barks into it, quickly putting it away again, getting his hands back on Bai Yutong. He gives him another quick once over, crouching down next to him, busying his hands with the chains.
“Bai Yutong”, Zhan Yao starts, waiting for him to react, “can you stand?”
Bai Yutong’s eyes flutter open, confusion visible on his face. After a moment, he answers. “Yes.”
The chains hit the ground with a metallic clink.
“Hold on tight.” With that he lays Bai Yutong’s arm around his own shoulder, the other hand gripping onto Bai Yutong’s waist. With a quick motion he hieves both of them up to their feet. Bai Yutong’s weight lays heavy on him, but Zhan Yao ignores the aching in his muscles, instead concentrating on the feeling of Bai Yutong pressed against him, seeing it as reminder, that he’s still with him, that he’s safe now.
Bai Yutong stumbles but Zhan Yao tightens his grip on him, keeping him up. “I’ve got you.”
“I’ve got you”, he repeats, more a murmur than anything.
Once he’s got Bai Yutong out of the immediate zone of danger, he will come back. And he will make them pay.
He glances at Bai Yutong’s face, sees the tiredness, sees the pain and at the sight his heart darkens.
“You should have known better, than to touch what’s mine.” Zhan Yao’s voice cuts through the air like a knife. “That was rather dumb of you.”
The man kneeling in front of him breathes heavily, holding desperately onto his side. Blood drips to the ground.
Situations like this had grown on Zhan Yao. He had even started to put a liking to it. Usually, that is. Today however, he just wants it to be done.
Zhan Yao can sense the panic clawing at the pitiful excuse of a man. The desperation, the distress, the pure fear he’s emitting. It fills the air, like a tarry goo, until it’s almost tangible.
Zhan Yao doesn’t bother much about it, barely even registers it at all, to be honest. His own anger boiling within him too heavy, too hot, to let him care about much else.
Yet, seeing the man, broken in front of him – fractures of a familiar kind of satisfaction start settling in.
He takes another step towards the kneeling man, watching him scatter away in panic, stumbling over his own feet and hands, as he desperately tries to keep the distance between him and Zhan Yao.
Pathetic, shoots through Zhan Yao’s mind.
The fumbling mess collapses to the ground, shivering and Zhan Yao stops in front of him, eyes hard.
“I will come back for you. And when I do, we’ll finish this little game. Oh!” Zhan Yao leans in, voice calm and of deceptive sweetness. “Don’t bother hiding. No matter what little crack you varmint will crawl into. I will find you.”
With that he turns around, strutting towards the door, leaving a shivering mess behind him. Zhan Yao stops at the door one last time, not bothering turning around and facing him once more.
“By laying your hand on what’s mine, you forfeited your life. You are a dead man.”
The heavy steel door falls shut behind him.
-
He knows where to go. Knows where to find Bai Yutong. He had made sure he’s okay, before he took the time to deal with the man responsible for all this. He had debated on whether or not he would leave the “garbage disposal” to his team, staying with Bai Yutong instead. But it had to be him. Had to be Zhan Yao.
He struts down the empty halls. No henchman of the enemy showing their face. Good.
Nervousness is taking over his body, replacing the cold anger bit by bit.
What if Bai Yutong’s condition has worsened since he had left him an hour ago? What if-
Zhan Yao forces himself to push away those thoughts. Still, it’s not until he pushes open the door and sees Bai Yutong, that his brain can relax.
Bai Yutong is asleep and if Zhan Yao heard anything of the briefing earlier correctly, it’s that they gave him a cocktail of pain killers. Despite that knowledge, seeing him this still doesn’t help the panic taking over Zhan Yao’s heart.
They are alone. The team clearing the room without a comment, the moment he had opened the door. So, he takes another step towards the bed, not caring about upholding any kind of carefully crafted cover up. It’s just them.
His limbs feel very heavy all of a sudden. As if somebody had stripped tons of weights onto them.
His hands are shaking as he reaches up to cup Bai Yutong’s cheek.
There’s an ugly cut crossing the cheek, hidden under a thick bandage, but Zhan Yao knows it’s there. Can still see the blood dripping from it. Familiar anger reboils within him. The sudden urge to have done more to the person responsible for this. To have made him feel even more pain. To have broken him just that fraction more… Zhan Yao takes a deep breath, centering himself in the moment. He’s not used to his feelings and emotions taking over like this. But this time. This time it’s different. They had tried to use Bai Yutong to get to him. Used him as cheap bait, knowing fully well how Bai Yutong was nothing close to cheap for him.
Well in one way or another it had worked, he got to admit. He’s come to their base after all. The rest however… probably didn’t got too much according to plan as the man had hoped.
A movement of Bai Yutong makes him jump out of his dark thoughts. Bai Yutong frowns, a little grunt escaping his throat, but his eyes remain closed.
Zhan Yao reaches out, taking Bai Yutong’s hand in his, eyes glued to the other man’s face.
He’s too pale. Zhan Yao thinks, worry deepening.
Zhan Yao sits down next to the bed, not letting go of the hand for one second.
His team will deal with the mess of a man down in the cellar and the possible flock of mindless henchmen. He has more important things to do with his time.
“I made him pay, Yutong”, Zhan Yao says, pressing his lips quickly to the other’s hand in his own. Trying to concentrate on the familiar feeling of skin underneath his touch. Trying to block out the coldness of skin. Trying to block out the smell of antiseptics. Trying to ignore anything that made it horrificly clear that this situation isn’t normal.
“I made him pay. But he will suffer some more. I promise you.” He takes another shaky breath. Looking back at Bai Yutong’s face. “He will regret ever even thinking about laying a finger on you. Nobody will ever dare to try something like this again. And-“, Zhan Yao stops, not knowing what to say. Suddenly his mind is full of clouds. He lets out another sigh. “Please”, Zhan Yao says after a short pause. “Please wake up.”
Bai Chi tightens his grip on his bag, thrown half way across his shoulders and takes a deep breath. He can hear the whispering behind him and he’s trying to ignore it, he really is. But he can’t.
“Have you seen the new coach?”
“He’s super handsome!”
“And athletic! Have you seen his arms?”
“I wonder if he…”
A snort escapes Bai Chi, who’s been careless for a second. Surprised by his own public reaction, he quickly covers up his mouth with his hand, looking around mortified. When he turns, he can see his classmates staring at him. A wicked grin appears on Zhi Ruo’s face. Normally Bai Chi likes Zhi Ruo and finds her presence in class pleasant. Right now, though, she’s scaring him a little with the grin around her lips and mischievous shine in her eyes. He tries to make a run but it’s too late.
“Ah! Bai Chi! Come over here!” Zhi Ruo waves him over to the little group of her two best friends and her. Bai Chi would love to decline the offer, but he knows when he has lost. Besides, it would be rude to not go over. They beckon him to sit down and he follows, pressing his bag against his stomach, as if it could give him strength.
“So”, Zhi Ruo starts looking at her friends, “tell me, Bai Chi, you’ve been away some time with your internship. Have you met the new coach yet?”
“Coach Bai!”, Ying Yue quibs excitedly. The other girls nod.
“Wh-Why?” Bai Chi asks, trying to avoid looking at any of them.
“Bai”, Zhi Ruo begins letting the name roll off her tongue, “Bai… it’s not that common name around here, is it, Ying Yue? Funny, don’t you think Bai Chi?”
“I don’t know, Zhi Ruo.” Bai Chi says, looking down at his backpack and starts counting the rills off its zipper.
“Anyway, have you seen him, yet?” Zhi Ruo asks again.
“You work as a student employee, don’t you? So, you are around the offices a lot, right? Maybe you’ll meet him there”, Ying Yue adds, grabbing Bai Chi’s arm excitedly.
“So, you could ask him about his family!” The third girl in the group, Nian Zhen, says.
“And if he’s single!” Ying Yue tightens her grip on his arm.
“I don’t need to ask him that. He’s my cousin.” Bai Chi’s eyes go wide as he notices what he just said. Panic rises within him, only worsened by the looks the girls give him now.
Hell breaks loose.
“WHAT?!!”
“NO WAY!”
“TELL US EVERYTHING?!”
“Can you get me his number?”
Bai Chi doesn’t know which question to answer first.
He presses his eyes shut, shaking his head. “Y-Yes, No, No, I’m not gonna give you his number!!”
Zhi Ruo makes a clicking noise with her tongue, leaning back a little. “Of course, he won’t give you his number, Ying Yue. Besides, I’m pretty sure Coach Bai’s with our literature professor, anyway.”
“Or soon will be”, Nian Zhen adds.
“Professor Zhan? Really?” Ying Yue sighs, a pout forming on her lips. “Oh well then.” She finally lets go of his arm.
Bai Chi just stares at them.
What? Professor Zhan? Really?
His cousin doesn’t really talk about his love life a lot. He doesn’t talk about it at all, Bai Chi corrects himself. But he is sure that he would have noticed, if his cousin was in a relationship at this point. Or would he?
Bai Chi is so lost in his thoughts, he doesn’t notice Zhi Ruo’s eyes focusing in on him again. “So, do you know anything about that, Bai Chi?”
“What?”
“He’s your cousin after all.”
The girls look at him expectantly, nodding eagerly.
“What- No way! Have they even met yet? A-a-anyway, I thought Professor Zhan would be off campus for another week?”
“Ah, no I’ve seen him!” Nian Zhen exclaims. “If I remember correctly, he even showed Coach Bai around the campus!”
“They looked rather friendly”, Zhi Ruo nods.
“If tension and bickering is friendly to you”, Nian Zhen says, shrugging.
“It can”, Zhi Ruo says. A beep from her bag catches her attention, making it possible for Bai Chi to properly breath for the first time in minutes.
Zhi Ruo gets out her phone and opens whatever message she just got. Bai Chi looks away, not wanting to intrude. That’s why he’s not prepared for Zhi Ruo to squeal out loudly at whatever is on her phone. He thinks about finally breaking free from this conversation, when a phone display is shoved into his view.
On the screen is a picture of two men walking side by side. Professor Zhan and his cousin. It’s a normal picture, harmless, really, but there has to be something hidden there. Something Bai Chi can’t grasp if the downright embarrassing reactions of his classmates are anything to go by. Both Nian Zhen and Ying Yue are bowed over the phone, making high pitched noises. Zhi Ruo next to him is basically buzzing with energy. Bai Chi tries to scoot away discretely but is stopped by another outburst of his classmate.
“Bai Chi!”
Despite being slightly prepared, he jumps, sitting up straight, bag pressed so tightly against his chest it makes it hard to breathe.
“Ye-Yeah?” He doesn’t dare to look at Zhi Ruo.
“You’ve got to help us!”
“Help you?” Now he’s completely and utterly confused.
“You got to keep us updated!”
“Wh- what?”
“Oh, yes, Zhi Ruo!” The other two girls agree eagerly. “This is promising to get interesting!”
Bai Chi just looks from one girl to the others, still completely lost.
“Thi-this is ridiculous!” He finally exclaims, jumping up, backpack still pressed against his chest. “You are acting like little schoolgirls!”
“Oh, Bai Chi! You are no fun!” Zhi Ruo calls after him, as he hurries away, feet scampering on the ground.
This is ridiculous, downright ridiculous. Bai Chi shakes his head.
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