Yep, well, hey people, I'm back (you could say).
I had this idea for a while, just never really thought of more than the first sentence, until now.
But yeah, here it is, my new fanfiction. c:
xoxo
1. Only a Rescue
It was dark and cold outside, the only light provided was from the moon. Ling Tong was leaned back against a tree; his head drooped down, staring at his feet. His only company was Gan Ning. The pirate has been pacing back and forth for hours, showing no signs of stopping. Ling Tong scowled. He was becoming rapidly irritated by the stupid bells on the pirate's waist ringing nonstop.
Keeping his head down, he growled, "Would you please stop it?"
Gan Ning's pace hesitated slightly, but kept going even faster than before. "Hmph. At least I'm showing signs of caring about Lu Xun going into that damned Stone Sentinel Maze after Liu Bei. He should've been back by now." Gan Ning's boots scuffed the ground as he walked. We should've gone with him, he mentally scorned himself.
Ling Tong's head whipped around to the pirate, but his body never left the tree. "Then why don't you go in there and look for him yourself, since you seem to care so much?" He snapped, his eyes narrowing. In the back of his mind, he knew he would never let both of them go in there alone. Hardly likely he'd confess it to himself, though.
"Maybe I should. After having him practically risk his life for us and Wu, it's the least I can do." Gan Ning stopped pacing gradually as he said this, only to grab his sickle and walk straight through the entrance to the Maze.
Ling Tong's eyes stayed on him, only for him to sigh, grab his nunchaku, and run after him did he finally admit that he cared for the arrogant pirate, as well as the young strategist.
xoxo
"Ling Tong, where the hell are we?" Gan Ning questioned. He was becoming frustrated for putting himself in this situation. Now they were lost and hardly cooperating at all.
"How am I supposed to know? You said you knew where you were going. You were even leading me!" Ling Tong scoffed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and had to refrain himself from punching the pirate in the face.
"That's your problem right there!" Gan Ning realized in a sudden revelation. "You listened and trusted me for once, but at the wrong time!"
Ling Tong glared at the pirate. Just breathe. If you punch him, it'll lead to a bigger fight and you'll both end up in trouble, he reasoned with himself. "Let's just keep moving," he mumbled under his breath.
As they rounded the next corner, Ling Tong felt something fly past his ear. He was so startled that he jumped into Gan Ning who was behind him.
"Aye, watch where you're going, Ling Tong," the pirate complained, losing his balance with Ling Tong's weight added to his, toppling them over.
"Oh, dear God, I thought you two were enemies."
The pair glanced up and found to their utter disbelief and thrill that it was the one person they've been searching for all this time.
While they worked on untangling themselves, they heard hurried footsteps approaching. Ling Tong got up first and looked upon a very stressed and sleep-deprived Lu Xun. He was making such a fuss about how he almost killed his two most loyal friends and he wouldn't know what to do with himself if he did.
"Hey, hey, calm down, kid, and take a breather," Ling Tong soothed. He heard a snort and some soft rustling.
"Easy for you to say, Ling Tong. Just look at him! He looks like he's about to lose his head—" the pirate cut off as he noticed the icy daggers Ling Tong was sending him, along with the smack on his head.
Lu Xun eyes softened as he fondly watched the pair act so normal around him now, like nothing's changed. He's missed Wu. He has been gone for a while now anyway, even though in reality, it's been less than 12 hours.
So much time has gone by since he joined Wu. He witnessed Master Lu Meng's death, even though he knew in his heart, he couldn't be saved. They were successful in capturing Jing, but he had doubts. Was it really worth it, when it cost a valuable life in the process? Then after that, he was promoted to Supreme Commander in the battle of Yiling. Most of the officers disliked him being promoted, but he got through it and defeated the Shu army, all that leading to where they are now, in the Stone Sentinel Maze.
While Lu Xun was reminiscing, he barely comprehended the feeling of a warm blanket being wrapped around his shoulders, his friends noticing him shivering slightly. When he finally took notice of his surroundings, they were out of the Maze and back inside a tent. Had he not been paying attention that long? He really is losing his head.
He heard a chuckle from behind him. He turned around swiftly, becoming tense, but relaxing when he realized that it was only Ling Tong.
"Something on your mind?" The Wu general asked quietly. Receiving a slight shake of the strategist's head, he changed the subject completely, taking in Lu Xun's appearance. "Would you like something to eat, perhaps? Maybe fresh clothes as well?"
Lu Xun's eyes brightened immediately. "Yes, I would like that very much, thank you." His caramel-colored irises lingered on Ling Tong's form as he gathered the food for the strategist, setting it down on the table, and then moving to get the clothes as well.
Taking note of Lu Xun's gaze, Ling Tong smiled at him. "Eat up, don't let it get cold. You can get dressed afterwards if you'd like, or, of course, do whatever you feel like doing. Completely up to you," he said, letting the younger one have control since he was just found. "I'll be back; I need to do something important. But when I come back, I want to ask you how it all went, you know," he spoke calmly, unaware of how Lu Xun was already daydreaming again, even though he acted conscious of his actions, nodding and humming when necessary.
Just like that, Lu Xun was left alone again, with his own thoughts. He subconsciously ate his food, but the taste being bland to him. He knew within himself that he had to eat, to keep up his energy, and to also not get scolded by Ling Tong.
His eyelids were closing. He was on the very verge of sleep the more he relaxed his body and mind. He pulled off his burnt, torn, and dirty shirt, knowing he'll have to have a new one made. He traced the designs on it fondly. He loved this outfit, he really did. Maybe I can get one made as an exact replica, he thought hopefully. He folded it and set it down on his bed. He then slipped his new shirt over his head, his night clothes. It felt a bit scratchy on him, but it'll do. He wasted no time taking his pants off and putting his clean ones on. God, did it feel good to be in clean clothes.
He went to the wash bin to scrub his face off and wash his hair. He would have cleaned his whole body, but he doubted Ling Tong would have enjoyed coming back to see Lu Xun in a wash bin, drowned, because he fell asleep in it. No, he'll wash his body tomorrow.
After running his hands through his hair one last time, Lu Xun climbed in bed, as soon as the tent opened once again, the cool air wafting in. He snuggled under the sheets, breathing in deeply.
He heard a breathless chuckle. "Seems you're done for the night, then," Ling Tong sat next to him on the bed, his face barely visible in the candle light.
Lu Xun smiled, knowing that his friend wouldn't be able to see it. "No, not yet, at least. As promised, I'll tell you what happened..."
