AN: Hi! Just like I promised here's the next chapter I hope you guys like it ^-^
Chapter 4: Second shot, Two down.
In the year 2053 – Bangui, Central African Republic
"Try to catch some rest, we'll move at midnight" Yu Jin informed, laying back against his back pack, he took out his Agram 2000. A small but handy submachine gun, personal favourite for the commander due to its fast rate of fire.
Guan Ping lay down and covered himself with the blanket, though he was tired he remained wide awake, there was no use attempting to sleep now, after all there was only 2 hours left till midnight. He rolled onto his right side, observing his commander polishing his guns. "What's the plan?" Guan Ping murmured.
"There is no plan." Yu Jin dismissed.
Guan Ping sat up, cocking his brow.
Yu Jin glanced at him with a slight smirk on his face. "What? There is no plan, we'll just go with the flow"
Guan Ping's brows furrowed, somehow that didn't sound assuring, but he chose to not argue it further, the sooner the better right? He wanted to leave this place after all. He stood up taking a big stretch. "Why don't we move now?" He suggested.
"Fine by me" Yu Jin shrugged. He was fast onto his feet, eager to use his newly polished firearms.
Guan Ping attempted to put on his holster, but Yu Jin felt the need to help him, pulling him closer to him using his belt suddenly. "I can do it myself" Guan Ping insisted. But Yu Jin chose to ignore him, tightening the holster around him and ensuring it's secured. Guan Ping watched him the whole time but Yu Jin's eyes didn't meet his own and once he was done he went on to pull out more of his firearms from his bag. That backpack was like a treasure chest of guns and goodies, and it was evident that Yu Jin favoured his stash, from the way he treated it, almost like his own baby.
He threw an M12 Guan Ping's way, and since he didn't warn him, Guan Ping barely caught it, which resulted in him receiving a death glare for getting a scratch on it. Guan Ping rolled his eyes, picking it up and fitting it into his larger holster pocket. Yu Jin placed the second one on Ping's bag, wise choice if you don't want a scratch on that on too. Guan Ping picked it up adjusting it into the other pocket. While Yu Jin was heaved with holsters, two around each leg, upper and lower, one around the chest and one around the waist, Ping was only allowed one around his waist. Probably easier in terms of movement, but Yu Jin valued his weapons more than his life.
Yu Jin pulled out the rest of the weaponry inside his back pack emptying all the magazines, and getting rid of pretty much everything except his laptop and blanket.
The two munched on the leftovers of food on their way, and by the looks of things it was like this could be their last mission, promising right? If they make it out alive that is.
As they continued to walk Yu Jin was relieved to see a barrel of water where he threw all the bullets to prevent them from being used in case someone did find their guns.
Guan Ping felt overwhelmed to be given this much freedom so fast, he was almost starting to like not being allowed to carry a weapon, the scenes from before were reoccurring in his head making him feel sick again. He attempted to focus his head and ignore it.
"Get down!" Yu Jin commanded, taking cover behind a half broken brick wall. Guan Ping crouched beside him but without warning Yu Jin rose back up and opened fire. Guan Ping gasped quietly, hoping this goes as smooth as possible. Yu Jin was known for his recklessness. That was usually why he needed Dun, the latter was much wiser than his commander who preferred a hasty approach.
Yu Jin blew on the cap of his overheated weapon once he was done. "Come on let's move" He walked around the wall not taking longer to ensure the area was cleared.
Guan Ping pulled out his M12 before proceeding to follow him, a man appeared on their right, but just as Ping was about to ready his weapon, Yu Jin's arm stretched right and man down! "Try reloading your weapon beforehand" He scolded. Ping was becoming uncomfortable with Yu Jin's behaviour, he barely flinched or jumped, while Ping panicked the minute he noticed someone. Yu Jin wasn't scared of death, but arrogance could beat experience any day.
"After 3" Yu Jin told him as the approached the next area. Guan Ping nodded, awaiting the signal.
"One"
"Two…"
And Guan Ping was up on his feet firing, the marshal resisted the urge to smack him with the back of his weapon on the head, but just then he spotted more men approaching from behind them, Using his support arm he quickly grabbed Ping from the waist swinging him to face backwards while he took his place, perfectly timed as though Ping hadn't stopped firing.
Guan Ping was almost confused for a few seconds, wondering on how he got there and where he was, but he continued to shoot anyway, that wasn't the weirdest thing he had encountered by far.
They had the upper hand for a while, for a while until the tank showed up again, from there on they fled the area instead.
Yu Jin and Ping paused to catch their breath, the two men were slanted against a wall breathing heavily. "That tank is constantly on to us" The marshal pointed out.
"Maybe it has a tracker or some kind of motion detector" Guan Ping suggested. "It does seem to be following us"
Yu Jin's eyes lit up when he realised. "The laptop!" He exclaimed, pulling it out and tapping away at the key board quickly.
Guan Ping observed him making an assumption of what he was about to do.
Slamming the screen down quickly, he threw it through the window into one of the houses.
"Run! It's going to self destruct" Yu Jin yelled, and the two rushed to as far as they could, both jumping when they heard an explosion, it was loud for such a small device.
The journey didn't end there, the two men continued to walk till daylight came through, and when their feet could no longer carry them they settled into one of the houses.
Guan Ping laid his head back letting of a sigh of relief, "finally a chance to rest" He told himself.
Yu Jin crawled into the blanket next to him, as that was all they had now, and something about that made Ping feel uneasy. Maybe they were too quick to judge whether they needed the equipment they had disposed off. Guan Ping sunk down into the blanket, and rolled onto his side trying to tell himself he shouldn't worry, for now he should only sleep. He felt Yu Jin's back against his own, and something about it felt comforting, his body was warm, and considering the situation they were in, they only had each other.
Guan Ping turned onto his other side facing Yu Jin's back, he found himself fascinated by his commander's hair, maybe that was the first time Yu Jin had made himself that comfortable when preparing for sleep ever since they had left camp. His hair looked soft and silky, tempting to touch but Ping tried to remind himself that was Marshal Yu Jin in front of him. While he was caught in thought the commander had turned around finding him staring at his back.
Guan Ping swallowed a lump in his throat, and quickly attempted to hide his face by turning the other way but Yu Jin shifted himself so that he was on top of him. Ping wasn't sure about what to think or how to feel about it but he could feel the nervousness take over him, he stared blankly at the other, wondering what he was trying to do, but Yu Jin didn't take long to reveal his intentions, sliding his fingers into Ping's hair to pull his head back, and went in for a rough kiss.
Ping felt himself become tense holding his breath until Yu Jin pulled back, the usual, blank hard to read expression on his face. Guan Ping held onto his shoulder as to give permission since his mouth had froze, Yu Jin went in for the second one, adjusting himself this time so that he was right against Ping's chest when their lips met. He was surprised when his love was returned and before they both knew it, it was turning into a heavy make out session.
The second time the commander pulled back to catch his breath, he studied Ping's face, and if it wasn't for the light Ping would find himself less embarrassed by how clear they could see each other. This time however Ping turned his face sidewards before Yu Jin could lock lips with him causing the latter to look puzzled as to why he avoided him, once he sat up, Guan Ping took his hand off his hair, sitting up also. That was it. He was hurting him without realising; Yu Jin had a way with being aggressive with everything.
Guan Ping's gaze turned down, as the closeness was causing him to feel embarrassed. He still managed to do more than what he did with Dun, but maybe because the embarrassment he felt when it was Dun was due to loving him, while in this situation it was just the intimidation of it being his commander.
Yu Jin cupped his chin in his hand raising it up, Ping's lips parted before he touched Jin's. The older man pulled his body closer against him. Just as Ping was about to close his eyes into the kiss, Yu Jin paused, biting his lips eagerly he took a few more seconds to catch a glimpse of Ping's heavy eyes, then he went in for it.
The lip movement was slow and passionate at first, until Ping felt him push his tongue past his lips and into his mouth. It took the younger man a few seconds longer till they found their rhythm.
And by god he tasted good.
The fourth time Yu Jin had moved the younger man's hands so that they were on his hair, while he allowed his own to trace back and forth the tender skin of his back and chest.
Ping was allowed to entwine his fingers through his locks, and just like he thought, his locks were soft and tidy, the same way they were in a bun. But maybe he preferred it this way, let go and free.
Both of them knew this was going too far but neither was going to tell the other to stop, they both awaited the other to say it, but either of them would be lying if they said they didn't want it. But at the same time it was wrong, and they had made an unspoken agreement that that was the case.
Yu Jin pushed him back, so that he was lying on top of him, he shifted Ping's legs so that they were around him and he was between them. The younger officer was beginning to feel overwhelmed but Yu Jin himself didn't need to take it that far.
Guan Ping felt butterflies in his stomach but he would have never assumed Yu Jin felt the same way, the latter went in for the last one he told himself, a slow and sensual kiss and Ping returned a more passionate one, but Yu Jin only took it as a challenge urging his lips harder against his lips. But then he moved back since neither of them was going to put a boundary, but Ping wrapped his arms around his neck pulling him down against him, and the commander took it from there to wrap around him tighter, he rested his head against his shoulder, relaxing against him.
As heavy as he was, it was warm and comforting. Yu Jin told himself he shouldn't have but he still didn't budge, and the two were slowing dosing off to sleep in each other's embrace. Ping didn't allow himself to think too hard about it, he convinced himself it'd be gone like it never happened when he'd wake up.
Guilt or whatever, he needed it, or maybe wanted it, but neither mattered for now, neither mattered till it was back to obliging with the rules, commander and soldier, marshal and cadet.
A wide gap for love, but no one mentioned love.
"Marshal… Yu Jin…. Yu Jin wake up" Guan Ping shook him but the commander was in deep sleep. "Yu Jin…" Guan Ping attempted to crawl free but his commander's weight was too much for him to shift. Guan Ping sighed loudly, but that wasn't enough to wake him up, a random urge to punch him awake or pull his hair came to him, now that the need for love and comfort was gone, now they were back to Ping and Commander Yu Jin. Yu Jin turned his head so that his nose was pressed against Ping's cheek.
"I don't know why he looked cuter yesterday" He told himself. "Yu Jin!" Guan Ping yelled down his ear, and then held his breath presuming he might regret that action.
"Why are you yelling" Yu Jin grunted irritatedly, and only jumping up when he realised the way his arms were wrapped around him, almost like he just came to his senses. Guan Ping stared blankly as Yu Jin stretched his neck left and then right, almost like he was expanding it for his barking to begin. "Did your father not teach you to respect the sleeping, why do you have to yell like an animal!" Yu Jin scolded.
Ping blinked a few times, that was not the man from yesterday night. As the commander quietly packed their supplies, Ping remained seated in the blanket refusing to help, probably throwing a strop because he yelled at him. Yu Jin might have met his match when it came to pettiness.
Just as he was finishing up, Ping stretched his feet before he got up, kicking something that produced a metal clang against the floor. He stood up, lifting the blanket to find the source, only to discover a close to empty hip flask on the floor.
Guan Ping stared at it with half lidded eyes. Picking it up, he clenched it for a few seconds before throwing it at Yu Jin. "Really commander? Alcohol? Makes a lot of sense"
Yu Jin put down what he was doing slowly picking up his flask and launching it back Ping's way even harder, luckily it didn't hit, but right after Ping found himself retreating against the wall with his commander above him. Ping was probably saying his prayers in his head that minute. Yu Jin grabbed his collar pulling him closer to him. "Who am I?" He whispered harshly, the intimidating threatening type of whisper.
"Commander Yu Jin" Guan Ping muttered.
"Louder I can't hear you" He smiled sarcastically.
"Commander Yu Jin!" Guan Ping yelled, flinching when he pushed him back against the wall.
"And who are you?" He asked.
"Ping…"
"Ping who?" Yu Jin asked.
"Ping, just Ping, spear me! I apologize!" Guan Ping pleaded.
"Okay just Ping, don't forget your place" He fixed his collar in an unsettling calm way. He let him go and walked away, but Ping had a feeling he wasn't safe yet, and he was right, the hip flask came flying in his direction again, but he managed to avoid it again.
"Pick up the damn bottle!" Yu Jin yelled, before stomping off to pick up his bag.
Guan Ping picked it up mumbling in his head this time; he'd be lying if he said he wasn't scared.
By god what happened to cuddly Yu Jin?
The two strolled around aimlessly, the usual quiet walks, until it was heard again. The tank, except this time they didn't hear it approaching, they heard it shooting down a house, and it was the explosion that had altered them of its presence.
But that wasn't the strange case of the matter; it was the sound of people yelling after. They hadn't seen many citizens upon their arrival, so this was rather peculiar.
Yu Jin began to run and Ping followed, their target was to follow the screams. "Stay close!" Yu Jin instructed.
"Roger that" Ping replied not sound sarcastic for once.
It wasn't till the house next to them blew up that they realised how close the tank was. Both of them were attempting to look around but the dust was covering the air, and the marshal felt the need to grab Ping's arm to reassure himself that he was still beside him. They coughed their way out of the dust, and Yu Jin hadn't let go of him till then. Probably the only way to ensure he was behind him although it was a little too much for a soldier.
Yu Jin paused for a minute letting go off him, he drank the last few drops of alcohol in his flask before casting it into the rubble, Ping didn't seem too impressed with his commander's actions but he wasn't in a position to question it, and when he thought about it now, it was almost like he forgave him, he forgot about everything that happened with Dun, he reminded himself he shouldn't have been over it so quickly, but by the two days that had gone he almost felt like a wall between them has disappeared, though Yu Jin hadn't said much, he felt like he understood him better, better in a way of seeing his human side.
Lost in thought Ping snapped out of it when his eyes locked on a woman running across with a child in her hands. Both of their hearts sank, and that's when Yu Jin yelled out "Don't go there, stay out of the-!" But before he could finish the woman was through the door and an explosion happened.
The two watched the silence that followed, and the dust rising to the sky after the rubble had met the ground. Ping felt the world pause for a second, and he had closed his eyes to pray this wasn't the reality of the ugly world he was living in, but his thoughts were interrupted when Yu Jin took his arm and walked him to the house.
As much as he wished they were safe he didn't want to go in there and find out they were dead. However amongst the rubble laid the infant crying her eyes out yearning for her mother's comfort, and as loud as the cries were the more reassured Ping felt, it's like the loudness was a confirmation for him that she was still alive and breathing after watching everything fall to pieces.
Yu Jin had an unsettling face expression, it was rare to read a trouble look on his face, his usual dead eyes had more of a glow to them, but in a scary manner, it was more like a haunted dark glare at the child. His mind had wandered far, and though Guan Ping had called him many times he failed to hear him, but after a few attempts he turned slowly, almost lost and confused as though he was absent the whole time.
"Huh?" He questioned, his eyes narrow in a more pained manner, and it was only then that the crying of the child had sunk in, almost like the sound was faded in the background and had now gotten louder, but even then he didn't try to comfort her. He turned back to glance at the child as if he had just noticed her presence in the room, though he had been seated in front of her watching her cry for a while now.
"I can't find it? Where did you put it?" Guan Ping asked quietly, something about the mood was eerie. Ping had recognised the strange vibes coming from Yu Jin.
"Oh, check… check in all the pockets-" Yu Jin told him staring back in confusion, unsure of what he had asked him to get him or what Ping was even doing.
He turned back but didn't look at the crying baby in front of him, his gaze was fixed to the ground, as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Ping looked at him, growing tired of the cries and screams of the infant, why was Yu Jin not comforting her, why didn't he try to stop her crying?
Surely Yu Jin wasn't familiar with handling children but you'd think the way he was, the sound of loud cries would pester him but he appeared unmoved.
He pulled out his pistol from the holster around his chest, pressing on the release, allowing the magazine of the gun to drop into his hand, he played with it as though it was a toy in his hand. It was like a child who was trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle. He repeated himself over and over as though he was going to receive a different outcome every time the magazine fell into his hand.
The baby carried on to cry, and every minute of it sounded like hours of cries of pain and agony, it was like torture to both their ears, and though she was a child, it felt different. It felt as though her screams were filled with sorrow, but what sorrow could it be? What sorrow when she hadn't seen nothing from the world yet and was probably too young to recognise that her mother had just died from being crushed by the rubble of someone's home which fell down on her without warning taking away her life and leaving her child alone.
Guan Ping sat down on the ground, a cold empty feeling filled his chest. Though he felt the need to cry, his eyes were dry, it was the helplessness that teared him more. The feeling that there is nothing you can do… And for that second he hated life, saw it as a dark hell filled with suffering. He covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes, just like a child would, hoping for the monsters to go away. Except that didn't help him escape and not even for a second, her voice rang in his ears over and over.
Guan Ping almost thought he heard the hammer of the pistol click but the sound was muffled by the overly loud crying, and just then to confirm it Yu Jin had pulled the trigger, sounding a loud gunshot which had caused the crying to cease. Guan Ping gasped loudly, he stared at the lifeless small body which was now covered in blood wide-eyed, he was frozen right then, his face drained from colour unsure of what to think and how to feel. It took him a few minutes to process what had happened, he shot up when it kicked in almost too suddenly that he felt light headed and disorientated, struggling to reach Yu Jin, he grabbed his arm for support. Staring at the dead soul in front of them, he was still lost for words, his mind was buzzing and unfocused from shock. He still couldn't believe how Yu Jin could bring himself to do that, and what pained him more was he was as hard as a rock, no expression, no feeling, no reaction.
Yu Jin pulled his arm out of Ping's grip leaving him standing on his own, he made his way to their backpacks and swung his own one onto his back. "Let's get moving…" He ordered with a dead quiet tone.
Guan Ping fell to his knees unable to take his eyes off the dead girl. "Yu Jin why?" His voice sounded shaky and as though he was about to cry, but the older man had no response, instead he looked away from the girl as though he'd expect Ping to do the same and pretend it never happened.
"Yu Jin why? She's a little girl…" Guan Ping's voice sounded weak and though he had always despised Yu Jin, in that moment he hated him and wished he had never joined the military or came across him.
Closing his eyes earlier hoping for the monsters to go away only made him realise they could never leave, only because he was surrounded by them, all of them… Every living creature which claimed to be human but proved otherwise, hiding under human skin, wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, they were all just monsters.
Guan Ping wiped his tears with his sleeve, getting up to his feet he paced over to Yu Jin angrily grapping him from his clothes. "Yu Jin why?!" He yelled. Yu Jin swallowed hard, avoiding to look at the youth in the eyes, he frowned turning his head. "What are you?!" Ping's angry tone faded into a more quiet one.
Yu Jin closed his eyes for a second, grabbing Ping's hand's and removing them off him, he opened them again, leaning closer he pressed his forehead against Ping's but even when they were that close he didn't fully meet his gaze. "She has no one, who was going to care for her? Look around you Ping, this house isn't the only one that's turned into rubble. Where was she going to grow or what was she gonna become…?" He explained quietly. "The country's at war, there's no schools, no hospitals. She would grow up to the fear of not knowing whether she would make it till the next day or not, where would she get her food from, and above all she was going to take every step of her life on her own, no father, no mother, no brother nor sister. No one to protect her or guide her from what's out there, and then a day would come when she would wish it all ended"
"None of what you just said justifies what you did…" Ping argued angrily pushing him back from him.
Yu Jin gave off a tired sigh. "you're too young to see things for what they are"
"And even if? Maybe she would have made it, maybe she would have found-"
Yu Jin interrupted him before he could continue. "There's nothing for her to make it through, Ping there's people in this world that come to life their fate is sealed… they have nothing. I did her a favour…" Yu Jin threw his bag to the side and sat down the haunted look on his face from earlier had returned.
Guan Ping backed away from him. "You're not human…" He shook his head, both disappointed and shocked to be exposed to this heartless side of his commander. "You're sick" Guan Ping glared at the man with hurt and anger in his eyes.
"She's in heaven now…" Yu Jin muttered.
"Who are you to decide whether someone should live or not" Guan Ping asked.
"Ping we're taking away lives every day, we're killing people. Why's one life more valuable than another" The commander snapped at the lack of experience the youth had.
Yu Jin didn't have a reply to anything.
Guan Ping paced over to him down to his knees. "Why? How do you feel nothing? Where's your sense of morality" The son of Guan Yu became more quiet as he spoke, looking into the older man's eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of his soul, but it was like he was dead inside. Ping crawled closer to him, placing his head onto his lap. Yu Jin swallowed a lump in his throat; as he looked around the rubble. He wanted carry on like it never happened without feeling anything, just like he always did with every situation in his life.
It was Ping who had revived it in him and even though it may have been just for a moment, he couldn't remember the last time he felt this sad, his hardened heart had protected him from sorrow, but it had also deprived him of happiness, to be dead inside meant you felt nothing, never happy, never sad, stuck in between, just numb.
And the question remains, what had he done to his soul that it had become so dark and empty, hardened and cold as ice, or was it life that had done the favour.
He placed his arm around the younger man to comfort him, or maybe to thank him for bringing back what he had lost even if it was for a few minutes, he had missed what it felt like to be human again… If he had sold his soul at least he would have known who he gave it too, but that wasn't the case, he lost it and learned how to live without it.
Or maybe that's not what they call living.
As for Ping, it hurt a lot that night , feeling as though life had betrayed him, though he knew suffering was present, a part of him still believed life was beautiful with all its problems and pain, it's the beauty of making it through the roughest of times that kept you going and maybe even though there's no time to rest because things get tougher that's the beauty of it, you get tougher, you fight harder and you keep going.
In the end no one's heart remains that pure. And in the end, no one cries about the same things anymore. We all begin to live as human robots, without emotion, and without expression.
They hadn't moved far till noon, and Ping had been very upset and maybe Yu Jin also this time. Yu Jin was walking a head while Ping followed him slowly, both the soldiers were starving and exhausted but its not like they could find any source of food or human trace, they had attempted to follow the direction in which the citizens had fled once the tank showed up, but it's like they all vanished. At least if they were dead there'd be bodies but there was no clues for where they went or what could have happened.
Yu Jin paused suddenly, letting off a loud sigh. Guan Ping almost walked into his back, since his eyes were on the floor the whole time and he hadn't noticed him stop. Yu Jin sat down, and rested his chin on his palm closing his eyes to think of what to do.
Guan Ping frowned looking around, only taking notice of his surroundings now. The place was dead quiet, uncomfortably dead quiet. He took a minute to inhale and exhale at his own pace, the type of breathing carried out to ease off a heavy weight. He turned over to his hopeless looking commander who was still sitting in his place. "Marshal…" Guan Ping called.
"Hmm?" Yu Jin grunted as though he didn't want to be disturbed.
Guan Ping took a detour pacing over to stand in front of him.
Yu Jin opened his eyes as he felt Ping's shadow cover him from the burning sunlight. "What?" He squinted attempting to look up.
"You can change... I don't think you're a bad person" Guan Ping lamented.
Yu Jin bit his lower lip glancing to his side before looking back at Ping. "Your father… What's his occupation?" He asked.
Guan Ping raised an eyebrow wondering why Yu Jin would care. "He's a farmer… Why?"
"Maybe he should consider being a man of god and you can be his little helper" Yu Jin teased, grabbing onto Ping he pulled himself up and continued to walk.
Guan Ping wanted to slap himself for falling for that one, did he really think Yu Jin was serious for a minute there. "Yu jin!" Guan Ping yelled angrily, it was infuriating how he brought up his dad every now and then.
"Marshal Yu Jin!" He yelled back, pointing his finger at Ping, before resuming strolling again carelessly.
"Commander-" Guan Ping was about to scold but Yu Jin interrupted.
"Shut up with your nonsense, you're giving me a headache"
Guan Ping huffed angrily before stomping past him.
Yu Jin shrugged. "There's nothing wrong with me"
Guan Ping paused turning slowly. "Really commander?" He tried to remain as calm as he could while awaiting his response. "I could make a list for you, if that helps" Guan Ping suggested sarcastically. "Without disrespect-"
Yu Jin placed his finger on his own mouth. "Shhhhh" Guan Ping stared at him blankly. He then moved his hand to place it over Ping's mouth. "You look much nicer like that, don't talk so much" He smiled sardonically, and continued to walk.
Guan Ping wiped his face. "Heavens grant me patience" He mumbled to himself.
Yu Jin pulled out a hip flask out his pocket. Guan Ping looked again at it to make sure his eyes weren't lying to him. "You're unbelievable!" He complained.
Yu Jin looked back at him and turned back shaking his head. Uncapping the bottle, he chugged down the alcohol.
"You can't drink away all your problems you know" He pointed out, letting off a tired sigh.
"What happened yesterday, I just woke up-" Yu Jin referred to waking up finding him in his arm.
"Oh no, don't you go there, you weren't that drunk when that happened" Guan Ping argued offended how he could lie about it. "You were drunk when Dun was sick, that's why you didn't react, but you do care" Guan Ping pointed out as though all the puzzle pieces in his head have matched together. "You know you might be a really good actor, but there's a limit, you can't hide that you're human"
Yu Jin rolled his eyes and huffed causing his bangs to fly up and come back down.
"Commander I just want to help you" Guan Ping confessed tiredly.
"Well maybe I don't want your help" Yu Jin dismissed turning to walk the other way to avoid him.
Guan Ping relaxed his shoulders, giving up completely. "I'm sorry…"
"Have you ever thought that I don't want your help, why do you want to help me, I never asked you" Yu Jin scolded.
Guan Ping had nothing to say back to that, he walked in the opposite direction where they were originally heading.
Yu Jin followed chugging down more of the alcohol. "And I don't drink away my problems" He insisted.
"Yes you do" Guan Ping murmured.
"I don't have any problems" He persisted.
"Yeah right" Guan Ping murmured sarcastically.
"Tch. You're my only problem" Yu Jing scoffed. Guan Ping rolled his eyes annoyedly.
"I'm drinking cause I'm starving, we don't have anything else" He yelled, placing the hip flask into Ping's hand and overtaking him to lead the way again.
Guan Ping hesitated for a second, he sniffed the drink, curly his nose in disgust. He held his breath and took down a big gulp, forcing it down. He pulled out his tongue in disgust right after, the taste was unbearable.
He rushed to catch up to him handing him the flask back. Yu Jin shook it to check how much was left, satisfied to find Ping hadn't drunk much. He looked to his right to find the cadet sharking at him irritably.
Yu Jin turned his face the other way to drink in peace. "Russian vodka" He announced.
After hours of walking they settled into a small abandoned house, it would be wrong to say they were resting, they were starving and cold. Yu Jin had his eyes closed and his head rested on his bag. Ping was seated a few meters away. His commander had gotten on his nerves enough for him to want to avoid him for the rest of the night.
"How can you even sleep?" He criticised.
"I'm not sleeping" Yu Jin growled, turning to face the opposite direction. "Is it judgement day?"
Guan Ping chose to ignore his sarcastic remark and their constant bickering had ended there for that day. The cadet rested his head on his knees holding himself close as he lightly shook. The hunger was adding to the coldness.
Just as they were about to leave Yu Jin threw his hip flask against the wall. "Go pick it up" He commanded.
Guan Ping furrowed his brows hesitant at first, then he complied but just as he turned around, Yu Jin had reloaded his pistol. "Hand's above your head" He instructed.
Guan Ping lifted his hands, something told him Yu Jin wasn't messing this time. Just as his hands reached past his hair…
Yu Jin took a few steps back and pulled the trigger hitting him in the right far side of his waist. Guan Ping fell back from shock, not shock that he shot him but a shock caused by the bullet ripping through his skin, he let off a loud wince of pain. "Aghhh" He pressed his hand hard against the wound.
Yu Jin rushed towards him taking off his jacket. Guan Ping closed his eyes resting the back of his head against the wall. The commander tightened the jacket around his waist and urgently headed for the door, but before he left, he threw over a fully loaded hand pistol his way. "Get yourself out of this one soldier" he saluted but paused when he heard the gun scrape against the floor and the hammer release. He turned around sniggering. "You're gonna shoot me? Go ahead, don't hesitate" Yu Jin encouraged.
Guan Ping aimed his gun as he breathed heavily.
"Aim for the middle, right here, in the head, I'll stand still for you" He closed his eyes and opened his arms out wide. "You can't do it can you?" He yelled. "You know your problem cadet, you're a coward" He snarled.
Guan Ping mumbled something, and Yu Jin paced over to him and bent down placing his ear close to his mouth. "Couldn't hear you from up there, what was that?" He whispered sardonically.
"You know your problem commander, you're an army dog, like what everyone else said, you're disgusting" Guan Ping shouted.
Yu Jin shook his head placing his hand over his lips mockingly. "Shhhh… I'd worry about myself if I were you, oh and one last thing, grow up. Good day soldier" He walked off not turning back after that.
Guan Ping banged his head with the wall multiple times and ceased when it hurt. He blamed himself for trusting that two faced psychopath. Wasn't it dumb to trust a man who had no sympathy for the man he knew for years, and then for an infant. What was he expecting exactly?
Hours later he had found that he had dozed off for a bit, he was woken by the sound of the ground shaking. Bad luck! The tank. He used the wall for support, struggling onto his feet, he clenched the wound with his left and readied his weapon with his right, he plodded out the door way only to see the tank behind him. His mouth fell open, and he felt his heart sink, but just above it in the distance a helicopter was approaching, his eyes widened, and for a minute he swung himself to face the opposite way and sprinted for his life. He almost forgot he was hurt all together, his fear overcame the pain, or maybe just an adrenaline rush for that moment.
The son of Guan Yu could swear he had never ran that fast in his life, but the tank was very fast and he could be blown up any minute, but that didn't look like what they were intending to do. The helicopter had already reached above his head, then he heard the voice of his obnoxious commander. "Look at you, you lil fucker, thought you'd be where I left ya, looks like you're in good shape" He remarked sarcastically.
Guan Ping took a detour, moving in between the houses to lose the tank of his tail, the helicopter had followed him even then. "Grab the damn ladder" Yu Jin threw down a rope ladder. Guan Ping had stretched his arm out as far as he could but he wasn't quite reaching the ladder even then and the helicopter was flying too fast.
To his surprise the tank had run over some houses and was back on his tail again. "Grab the damn thing! They're gonna blow us sky high!" Yu Jin yelled.
Guan Ping would have yelled back but right now he was in too much danger to respond to Mr smarty pants at the top. Though he was panting heavily he still continued to run at the same speed, taking a right turn between the houses again.
He was back on the road again, and he could hear the tank on its way to catch up. Yu Jin this time had gone out of his way to help him strangely enough, going down the ladder. He reached out his hand and though Guan Ping hated to allow him to be his saviour he still reached out to take it, but he only managed to brush of his fingers.
"Hurry the fuck up! We're flying too low" Huang Gai yelled from above.
Yu Jin reached out further this time, but Guan Ping was losing his momentum and the pain of his wound was catching up to him. "Come on you shit head, not now!" Yu Jin scolded, swinging back to build up enough power to reach him. However Yu Jin had took his hand and Ping wasn't really holding on. The marshal struggled to heave him up and still hold on using his other hand. "Commodore pull up!" Yu Jin yelled, but there was no response, as though he hadn't heard him. He grunted loudly, attempting to pull him up again. "Come on!" He called out, but Ping's grip was still loose and his hand was beginning to slip off. Yu Jin struggled to reach his combat pockets, pulling out hand cuffs, he wrestled his way to hold on and not drop Ping till he managed to hand cuff their hands together. Proceeding from there he tried to pull him up now, but to his surprise when he looked ahead, there was wall, and they were heading straight into it. "Pull up! Commodore pull! Do you hear him?!" He yelled his highest but there was still no response from the pilot. And the next minute…
Bang….
It all turned black…
Yu Jin and Ping woke up, both finding that their body was aching from that hard hit. Guan Ping took a few minutes to try and remember what happened as most of it seemed a blur. Yu Jin stood up yanking Guan Ping with him. It was only then he realised how unfortunate that hit was. Guan Ping stared at the hand cuff questioningly.
"Agghhhhh!" Yu Jin screamed irritably, kicking the wall.
Guan Ping pulled out a pocket knife placing it into Yu Jin's hand with half lidded eyes. He didn't have to say anything but Yu Jin almost imagined him tell him "Who's the one that needs to grow up now"
"We're gonna sit here and saw at it till it breaks huh?" Yu Jin snarled.
"Thank to the genius that cuffed us together" Guan Ping replied.
Yu Jin almost felt like he no longer trusted him, something felt different. He took the knife and sat down, placing a rock between the two of them, he began to sand down the metal. Guan Ping sat back, he had already lost a lot of blood and wasn't sure if he was going to make it.
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have put a bullet threw you brain" Yu Jin pointed out, but Ping didn't respond, he wasn't going to hear any of it, all he wanted right now was to return to camp alive. And even if he didn't try to kill him; he caused him enough pain didn't he. After hours of cutting away there was still no use.
Yu Jin threw the knife on the floor, as though he gave up. Guan Ping leaned down to pick it up dragging him with him, that pocket knife held precious memories. Yu Jin sighed as though he was annoyed that everything he did somehow upset Ping, but his pride wouldn't allow him to apologize.
"Come on" He declared, pulling Ping to keep up with him. Ping plodded after him; he had no energy left in him to lift his feet. As for Yu Jin he looked aggravated, he had three good reasons for this. One that they had fell off the helicopter and he was now stuck with Ping, two was he could have gone home but he chose to come back for him, and three the dumb decision to handcuff himself to him, if he hadn't shot him none of this would have happened in the first place. Call it regret? No Yu Jin claimed to never regret anything, even if he did deeply.
Guan Ping was starting to lose patience with his commander's lack of consideration, he couldn't walk any further yet he was still dragging him around. The cadet rushed forward grabbing Yu Jin to make him stop. The marshal huffed turning his head down, but that's when Ping's eyes lit up. He dragged his head down again, and Yu Jin rolled his eyes at what dumb idea the younger officer had in mind now.
Guan Ping purposely pulled the bobby pin out his hair, and Yu Jin bit his lips to stop himself from cursing. The dark haired boy stuck it into the keyhole of the hand cuffs, fiddling with it for a few seconds till it became loose. Yu Jin looked relieved. But Ping didn't care to show that he was just as glad. He returned the pin to him and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Where you going?" Yu Jin called out.
"As far away from you as my legs can carry me" Ping hissed.
"We have to find the helicopter!" Yu Jin reminded.
"Go find it yourself, and leave me the fuck alone!" Guan Ping responded.
Yu Jin couldn't stand rudeness but he swallowed his pride for that moment and followed him even then.
"I thought I told you to fuck off" Ping snarled.
"You're gonna die" Yu Jin rolled his eyes, walking next to him.
"I never asked for your help, I can manage on my own" Guan Ping insisted shoving him to walk in the opposite direction.
Guan Ping jumped at the sound of a gunshot, and probably got startled more that he hadn't seen the man Yu Jin shot down. "You still flinch at the sound of gun shots" Yu Jin pointed out, contradicting the other's earlier statement.
Guan Ping continued to walk choosing to ignore him. His heart rate was still fast from earlier.
Yu Jin huffed marching after him. "Halt right there soldier, that is an order!" He yelled angrily.
The cadet paused and was on the verge to turn around before a voice came from nowhere.
"Drop your weapons and lift your hands up where I can see them" The man commanded. He somewhat looked more important than a normal solider, probably a commander of some unit or something, but there was no one else with him.
The two complied, with no intentions to actually obey however. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" The man asked, he himself looked like a mercenary of some sort or maybe belonging to a private organisation, but he sure didn't belong in Bangui.
"I could be asking you the same question" Yu Jin replied.
"You are in no position to do so" The man responded angrily, pointing the gun into the Marshal's jaw.
"What is he to you? Your son?" The man asked pointing the gun at Ping instead.
"He's my commander" Ping replied defensively.
"I'm not that old" Yu Jin narrowed his eyes irritably, but without further conversation, Yu Jin punched the man in the stomach causing him to wince in pain, the marshal disarmed him pushing the man back to make sure he had the advantage. Yu Jin narrowed his eyes, as a mark of victory.
"Ping take your gun and go" Yu Jin commanded.
Guan Ping nodded taking his gun and walking away quickly, but just as he was leaving he heard the sound of Yu Jin grunting irritably.
"Not so fast! Drop the gun and get low" The man commanded. Guan Ping turned around slowly lowering the gun, the man was able to take back his weapon. "He's injured, he won't last long" The man reloaded his weapon. Ping's eyes widened, but Yu Jin was fast to react, moving the man's hands to shoot in a different direction. But to his misfortune, the bullet was much faster than his action and he ended up taking the bullet to the leg. Guan Ping gasped in his mind; he quickly crawled to his weapon, and closed his eyes the minute he pulled the trigger.
Bulls eye!
Perfect headshot, Yu Jin studied the man before he fell in front of him, still in awe at how straight that shot was. But it was only a few minutes after that he also hit the ground, by the close distance that bullet had gone in deep. Guan Ping crawled towards him. " Yu Jin!" He exclaimed.
"What irony, I did end up shooting myself in the leg didn't I" He confessed laying his head back.
"Shhhh, don't say anything" Guan Ping placed his hand on his mouth, he looked around in panic, but there was no one in sight. He crawled to his leg to look at the bullet but it was too drowned in blood to study its condition. He took his knife from earlier, ripping a part of Yu Jin's trousers, horrified at its terrible condition.
"It might-" Yu Jin attempted to speak but Ping was quick to interrupt him.
"Don't worry we'll get out of this… Some how" He tried to assure him.
Yu Jin let off an unserious laugh "I'm not worried"
Guan Ping sighed. "No listen, I'll help you walk, come on, try to get up" He took his hand but Yu Jin refused to make any effort.
"Ping just leave." He placed his hand on his face then pushed it, and closed his eyes.
Ping took his hand. " Yu Jin please, don't do this"
"go home" Yu Jin spoke his eyes still closed.
"I'm not leaving you behind" Guan Ping insisted, clenching his hand.
"I hope you're not convinced I took that bullet for your sake" Yu Jin denied, it was just not in his nature to admit to doing good, even on his death bed telling him he did a good thing was like you were insulting him.
Guan Ping gave a half smile and looked around again, reaching for the nearest gun reloading it and placing it into Yu Jin's hand. "Stay alive you, that's an order commander, I won't be gone too long" Guan Ping rushed, taking another gun for himself and hurrying to find Huang Gai as soon as possible.
That was Marshal Yu Jin for you, he never feared death, almost like he surrendered to his fate, he wasn't going to fight it, he wanted to leave peacefully, but then again maybe he gave up too early, welcomed death without holding it back or questioning if this was it, or whether he was going to give himself another chance.
As for Ping, he had managed to switch between hating him and respecting him at least ten times in the past few days, however he did stick to his promise, he came back for the commander, and on the way home both were lying as still as a rock on the floor of the helicopter.
"Ping…" Yu Jin called his tone sounding as though was leaving earth.
"Yes commander?"
"Just so you know I hate you" Yu Jin declared.
Ping sighed loudly with his eyes closed. "Marshal…"
"Yes?" Yu Jin replied.
"You're still breathing?" Guan Ping asked sarcastically.
"When we return to camp, I'm gonna knock some sense into you, teach you how to speak to your superiors like that" Yu Jin scoffed.
"When we return to camp, I'm going to reassign" Guan Ping snarled.
"If you don't shut up I'm gonna kick you off this helicopter" Yu Jin yelled.
"Which leg will you be using sir?" Guan Ping chuckled, but the smile wiped off when he received and elbow to the face.
"My arms are still in good shape you know…"
And so they never returned to that misfortune place again, their months of recovery were long but this was just the beginning.
The END!
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Let me know what you think of the characters, setting, and what's going on, points to improve and what you want to see more of in the reviews!
Chapter 5 will begin as a continuation of this chapter then it will move into 2 years later, the continuation of the team alpha chapter and what happened after the explosion
Also I think I'm accidentally starting to ship these two *cries* What have I done :_(((((
Don't worry Dunny, we'll figure something out D:
Till next time! Ciao! ^-^
