I'm like, on a roll right now. I've had time off from school so I've been focusing on this.
This chapter is a bit longer. I feel proud.
I'm thinking about updating mainly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, just so I don't overexert myself.
If I don't update during those days, then I'm probably busy or have writers block. Feel free to rant if you want. :)
Okay, no more talking. I'm done. :x

xoxo

3. No More Denying

"Hey, wake up, sleeping beauty!" Gan Ning's voice pounded through Ling Tong's head. "You need to get up now," the pirate pronounced the last three words bluntly.

"Go away," the other man mumbled, voice hoarse from sleep. He blindly threw a pillow at the intruder. What I would give to punch him now, he thought glumly.

The next thing Ling Tong knew was that he got roughly shoved off of the bed, ending up face first on the floor. He quickly got up, rushing over to the smirking pirate, bringing his fist to collide to the man's jaw. It was a millimeter away, when he stopped himself, coming back into natural thought. Why would this arrogant buffoon—of all people—burst into his tent without explanation? He slowly processed this. Something bad must have happened for someone to summon Gan Ning to get him. Did something happen to Lord Sun Quan? Did we get attacked in the middle of the night? His mind scanned all the possible scenarios that could have happened, his mind landing last on Lu Xun. Did something happen to the strategist he took care of but a few hours earlier?

"Oi, this is no time for you to be zoning out!" Gan Ning's loud voice resonated around his skull. Ling Tong finally took notice of the killer headache he had, willing it back down.

"What happened that's so important, Gan Ning?" he asked, massaging his temples. "It better be good or I will punch you in the face."

The stubborn pirate just stood there, wondering how he should word it. "This morning," he started slowly, "I went to go check on Lu Xun, because that's how good of a friend I am." Ling Tong had to suppress a snort that worked its way up his throat. "When I got there, I found his tent to be empty. His bed had been slept in, seeing as how the sheets were messed up—"

Gan Ning didn't finish. The other man had sped out of his tent and went to Lu Xun's, the pirate barely able to follow.

"—so, I assume that he either went out for an early morning walk, or he got kidnapped," he finished, watching as Ling Tong scanned the room. The taller man walked over to the bed, gently taking the sheet between his index finger and thumb, rubbing it gently.

"I doubt he got kidnapped," he spoke after a moment. "I wonder where he could have gone." He whispered the last bit mainly to himself, but Gan Ning heard as well. "I'm going to go look for him," he announced suddenly, dropping his hand back to his side.

Gan Ning scratched the back of his head. "All right then, you do that." Ling Tong simply rolled his eyes, not feeling like involving himself in why the pirate won't go with him.

Trudging out of the tent—but going back to his to change into his normal clothes—and walking towards the forest, the one place he suspects the strategist to be, he thinks to himself, I'll find you, Lu Xun. I hope you haven't gotten too far…

xoxo

He needed to leave.

He felt like he was being strangled. He stiffly struggled out of the scorching hot sheets, running out of the tent as fast as he could, not bothering to put on decent clothes. The forest, he sighed happily, wanting nothing more than to be close to nature at the moment. The forest is where I should go. No one would think to look for me there, except maybe—, No! He shook his head to clear the thought. He especially wouldn't try to search there for Lu Xun, and the young man knew that, at least, he tried to tell himself he did.

Slowing down to a walk at the edge of the forest to catch his breath, he traveled through the trees. He could barely see the sunrise through the thick branches, but still admiring it nonetheless.

He felt so free out here, like no one can tell him what to do or complain to him about what he may have done wrong. His eyes started watering, thinking about all the things he could improve on; his personality, his strategies, his weaknesses, just about everything that could be criticized. He blinked several times, just to end up weakly rubbing his eyes. He wondered what Gan Ning and Ling Tong saw in him as a friend. He didn't think of himself that highly to actually consider all the reasons as to why, expecting that they just felt sorry for him.

He became tired of thinking about all of this, it only upsetting him even more. He found a nice tree, so he sat down in front of it, leaning his back against it. He closed his eyes and let his other senses take over, so he could focus on what he heard, felt, smelt, and tasted—which was the inside of his mouth.

He loved nature, he really did. He heard the familiar call of a swallow and a smile slowly made its way onto his features. He smeared a hand over his face. Since when did he become so corny all of a sudden?

He ran a hand through his hair, getting lost in thought once again. He didn't even realize that Ling Tong had found him. The older man just sat down in front of him, watching his expressions change with every pleasant or unpleasant thought. Ling Tong's eyes widened when he saw a single tear work its way down the flawless face of Lu Xun, who rubbed fiercely at it, accustomed to showing no signs of weakness. The boy took a shaky deep breath in, and slowly released it. Ling Tong's eyes softened at this action, getting the sudden urge to cup the strategist's face with his hands and wipe away his imperfections. He held his hands down at his sides though, suffering, watching Lu Xun mentally battle with himself.

Ling Tong watched as Lu Xun's eyes softly fluttered open, revealing a much disheveled Wu general in front of his eyes.

"M-Master Ling Tong?" Lu Xun's eyes grew wide, blinking several times in disbelief. "I-I didn't think you knew where I would be…" he blurted out meekly.

Ling Tong's head tilted to the side, studying the younger male's expression wordlessly, searching his eyes for emotion. Lu Xun looked away, becoming uncomfortable being caught in such a predicament. "Of course I knew," the general said, voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry," Lu Xun murmured. There was no doubt in his mind that Ling Tong had caught him crying, but why did he feel like that was a bad thing? Everyone cries some point in their life, right? He furrowed his brows, frowning slightly, looking at the ground in front of his feet. Perhaps it was because he got caught.

"Wha—?" Ling Tong sounded confused. He was confused. "What are you apologizing for?" What's to be sorry about, anyway? It's not like he's committed a crime, so why was he looking so abandoned?

"F-For allowing myself to have given up self-control and to have cried," the strategist sounded defeated and hopeless. It tore at Ling Tong's soul.

The taller man pulled Lu Xun to his chest, hugging him tightly. Both knew no words were needed; the hug said it all. It said more words than a complete sentence could have done and it affected the young boy immensely. He was glad he had Ling Tong in his life. He let up all his defenses when he was around him and he's never been able to do that before. It felt kind of… nice. He smiled into the hug, thankful for the comfort and warmth it provided.

They released each other, Ling Tong standing up first, and then helping the strategist up. They started walking back to camp together. There were no words spoken, leaving them both feeling like this was a comfortable silence. Then Ling Tong spoke up suddenly, having a brilliant idea pop into his head.

"I'll have a surprise for you soon," he smiled warmly at the shorter boy. "But first, I'll need Lord Sun Quan's permission for it to be for sure." He knew that Lu Xun would very much enjoy this surprise, so by the time they reached camp, the strategist mentioned that he was going to have the tailor remake his outfit so he'll have something suitable to wear, but Ling Tong stopped him, not mentioning why yet exactly.

They walked to Lu Xun's tent and Ling Tong left him there to do what he needed to do. After saying goodbye to each other as they parted ways, Ling Tong was never once able to remove the smile plastered on his face. He practically started running to Lord Sun Quan's tent, full of happiness.

xoxo

"So," reconfirmed Sun Quan one final time, "while we're here, in Yiling, you wish for me to allow you to take Lu Xun to the village, is that correct?"

"Yes, my lord," Ling Tong bowed politely. "Lu Xun has been down for quite a while and I want to try to make him happy as best I can, so what better way than this?" He hoped the strategist wouldn't mind being away. It's what he needs, after he's been through so much by himself. He needs time to rest and relax. Besides, he promised, didn't he, that he would make Lu Xun happy? This is just step one, he'll work more on it. Ahh, I really hope he won't mind.

"Yes, I see," Sun Quan rested his head on his hands, thinking about what Ling Tong had mentioned. He smiled. "I will then leave Lu Xun in your hands, Ling Tong." Those words made the general visibly brighten. He felt like hugging his lord, but refrained.

"Thank you, my lord," he bowed once again, and left respectfully. He couldn't wait to find Lu Xun. Boy, did he have news for him.

As he walked back to Lu Xun's tent, doubts finally settled in his mind. What if he didn't like the surprise? What if he thought I was a fool to think he'd enjoy this? What if—, he stopped himself. He caught sight of Lu Xun and he was smiling, talking with Gan Ning. He looked genuinely happy. Yes, the surprise would help him on the road to gradual happiness, and if Ling Tong gets to see that rare smile more, he'll ask for more vacations.

"Hey, over here, Lu Xun!" Ling Tong waved him over. The strategist smiled at him. He bowed to Gan Ning and said a quick goodbye, jogging towards the taller man.

Ling Tong patted his head and messed up his hair. "Come along with me," he said. "It's time for you to see your surprise." The strategist smiled from ear to ear, never seeming so thrilled in his life.

"Master Ling Tong, really. You didn't have to do anything for me." Lu Xun is too selfless for his own good, Ling Tong mentally sighed. We're also going to have to fix that 'Master Ling Tong' thing. I want us to be equal, neither one better than the other.

The strategist was just staring at him. Maybe he was special to Master Ling Tong, having done this for him. He just couldn't wait for them to do whatever they needed to do. "Please, just call me Ling Tong," the general's voice cut through Lu Xun's thoughts. He nodded.

"Okay, L-Ling Tong," he smiled sheepishly. It felt too awkward to call this man by just his name, no title. Lu Xun felt like he was wronging him somehow by saying his name so simply, even though his voice did crack.

Ling Tong chuckled. "Close enough," he grinned down at the young boy, messing up his hair one last time. "Let's get going, I can see that you're on your toes," he winked at him, walking ahead to lead the way.

And so, they were off on their trip.